Houston LGBT Parade

History

The Houston LGBT Parade has been a staple of Houston's annual LGBT celebration since 1979. The event is held on the fourth Saturday of June each year, and since 1997, the parade has been held on the evening after sunset. MayorAnnise ParkerDuring her tenure, the Houston Gay and Lesbian Parade, which amended city ordinances to allow nighttime parades, took on a New Orleans-like mardi gras atmosphere. Until 2015, it was held in Houston's most gay-friendly neighborhood, Montrose; its usual route was along Westheimer Road from Dunlavy Street to Crocker Street.

The Houston LGBT March is organized by The Montrose Center, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of LGBT issues and providing services to members of their community. According to their website, "The Montrose Center serves more than 40,000 people annually with programs ranging from mental health counseling, HIV testing and prevention services, and youth leadership development, making the Montrose Center one of the largest LGBTQ organizations in the United States." The Gay Pride Festival itself features a variety of events such as live music and entertainment, art exhibits, workshops and panels on a variety of topics related to LGBT individuals. There were also friendly vendors selling food and merchandise related to gay culture.

Similar events were held in other Texas cities, such as the Dallas LGBTQ Parade, the San Antonio LGBTQ Parade and the Austin LGBTQ Parade, which united the LGBTQ community in Texas.

City Profile

Houston's gay community is primarily located in the Montrose area. There are many places to shop, dine, and entertain. Galleria, located just a few minutes west of Montrose, is a great one-stop shopping destination with 375 stores, restaurants and entertainment. Houston has a small-town feel, in stark contrast to its high-rise buildings, and plenty of entertainment options, from upscale restaurants and bars to cowboy, leather, bear, and Latino-only bars or nightclubs.

Processions

As the saying goes, Everything is bigger in Texas! During the rally, local party brand DNVRMX will be hosting four parties in a row over the weekend.