By Autumn Rendall
Happy Pride Month, y’all! The most colorful time of the year has returned, and Houston’s annual Pride celebration, themed “Summer of ‘69” in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, is right around the corner.
If you don’t know what to expect, Pride may feel a bit overwhelming. But don’t fret, first-timers! We’ve put together a guide for everything you need to know about the event, as well as essential ways to make the most out of this beautifully queer day.
Why do we have Pride?
Pride honors the Stonewall riots of 1969, which sparked the beginning of the fight for modern LGBTQ rights. The first Pride march was held in 1970 in New York and similar parades have since spread across the world. As fun as the festival and parade can be, remember to stand in solidarity with all of our forequeers who’ve made this celebration possible.
What exactly is the Pride festival?
At Houston Pride, downtown is filled with live music performances, queer artists, vendors and businesses selling their work, local LGBTQ organizations and media outlets offering information on how to support causes, an array of food and beverage trucks, and, most importantly, LGBTQ individuals and allies supporting and celebrating the history of Pride. The event is free, and a parade downtown follows afterwards.
What do I wear? What do I bring?
Pride is the perfect time of the year to show off your individuality and unique sense of style, but make sure to be prepared for the heat! Since you’re likely to be walking around the event, it’s important to wear clothes you’ll be comfortable moving around and doing a bit (okay, a lot) of sweating in. Of course rainbows are always encouraged!
Other useful items to bring include: sunscreen, sunglasses, water, ID if you’re planning on purchasing alcohol, a camera to capture the memories with your new and old queer besties, and of course, money for any LGBTQ swag you might buy.
Do I have to drink or party if I go?
Not in the slightest! The main focus of Pride is to mark the important history of LGBTQ rights and to celebrate with other members and allies of the community. We all have different ways we choose to do that, and all are deserving of respect.
What if I’m not part of the LGBTQ community but I still want to go to Pride?
All allies who support and honor the LGBTQ community are welcome at Pride. Just be respectful of the event, those attending, and its history.
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Those are all of the need-to-knows of Pride, but if you want to make the most out of your experience—whether it’s your first or 31st time attending—follow this checklist:
- Catch a live performance and dance your heart out!
- Find a new local queer business to support.
- Stop by the booth of an LGBTQ organization you’d like to learn more about. Take things a step further and find out how to volunteer with them!
- Try an exciting new food from one of the food trucks.
- Shop the vendor booths and take home a piece of merch or artwork that shows off your true colors.
- Scope out the event and pick up some free stickers or LGBTQ swag.
- During the parade, have a float–rating competition among your friends (most fun, loudest, most colorful, etc.)
- Make a new friend to go to next year’s Pride with, and take a fun picture to capture the memory.
The Houston LGBTQ Pride Celebration is happening downtown on June 22 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the parade following at 8 p.m. For more information, FAQs, history, and guidelines, visit pridehouston.org.
