CAROLINE SAVOIE | East Texas Reporter
CaroSavo@StoryDustSearch.com
LONGVIEW — Pride East Texas Longview held its 13th annual Pride festival Saturday, July 11, under the theme “Stronger Together,” bringing together vendors, food trucks and hundreds of community members for a day of celebration and visibility in East Texas.
Mark Vinson, one of the festival’s founders and current treasurer for the organization, welcomed attendees on behalf of the board of directors, volunteers and supporters. Vinson helped establish Longview Pride 13 years ago alongside Mallory Waugh Brown, Vic Verma and Craig Cunningham, and he previously served four years as the organization’s president.
Vinson is also known as Saint Sweet Tea and Justice, Patron Saint of Activism, Political Justice and Pride Flags with the DFW Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
“Thank you for being here as we come together in the spirit of community, visibility, acceptance and pride,” Vinson said. “Today, we celebrate who we are, where we have been and the future we are building together.”
Leadership and volunteers
Vinson recognized the organization’s board of directors: Dusty White, president; Jason Piña, vice president; Jason Wallace, secretary; Aryana Pearson, volunteer and engagement chair, and Vinson himself as treasurer.
He also thanked community committee volunteers, including Criselda Marquez, liaison to the city of Longview; Barbara Smilowitz-McDaniel, liaison to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Longview; Kim Taylor; Clete Taylor; Callie Nguyen-Stowe; Han Nguyen-Stowe, and Jon White.
The festival’s setup, vendor and food truck coordination, operations, breakdown and cleanup were supported by volunteers with Indivisible East Texas, organized by Niki Gayle Smith.
Sponsors and vendor
Organizers thanked the event’s vendors and food trucks, as well as sponsors including Eastman, Special Health Resources, Reliable Management, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Longview, Salon Pink, Cablelynx Broadband, Renew by Andersen, World Toys and Imports, MAC at Dillard’s, Sweet Williams Social Club, PetSmart and The Fab Furballs.
Looking ahead
Pride East Texas Longview announced several initiatives planned for the coming year. The organization is partnering with Special Health Resources to expand support services for the community, aiming to improve access to care and strengthen referral networks for people facing behavioral health and substance use challenges.
The group also said it is working to build stronger ties with Pride organizations across Northeast Texas, Deep East Texas and Northwest Louisiana, including groups in Lufkin/Nacogdoches, Tyler, Paris, Gun Barrel City, Texarkana and Shreveport.
Pride East Texas Longview also plans to roll out a refreshed logo and updated branding in the coming months. Organizers said the changes are intended to reflect the organization’s growth while honoring its history, as the group works toward a year-round community presence beyond the annual Pride season.
“The future is bright, and we are excited to continue growing, building connections, and serving our community,” Vinson said.
More information about Longview Pride is available on the organization’s Facebook page. Additional details can be obtained by contacting Pride East Texas Longview President Dusty White at pridelongview@gmail.com.