It was June of 1978 when a sparse number of brave, determined gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people and their allies took to the streets of Houston for the first official Pride Parade. Nearly a decade before, the now infamous Stonewall Riots had galvanized the LGBTQIA+ community across the nation, and the movement that continues today, began.
In the 40 years since, Houston has seen a great deal of changes, as has the LGBTQIA+ community. Battles for equality have been hard fought, and won. Marriage equality in every state– a reality those who marched in the first Houston Pride Parade® probably thought they would never experience. This year, Pride Houston® looks back at the accomplishments of those that came before, honors those whose lives were taken, and seeks a path towards an even brighter future.
#Pride40 is about honoring the past, and celebrating the future.
#Pride40 is about you: your stories, your struggles and triumphs. It’s about those whose shoulders we stand on, and those creating history, today. #Pride40 is about celebrating each and every one of us that make up the beautiful LGBTQ+ rainbow. Happy Pride, everyone… wear your colors, and your history proudly.