Houston will have two Pride parades. City officials say there should be one.
After nearly half a century serving as the primary organization behind Houston’s Pride celebrations, Pride Houston 365 is facing competition for the first time and Houston city leaders have voiced concerns.
Houstons City Hall lights up in support of Pride Houston, June 24, 2023 in Houston. (Darío De León for Houston Landing)
After nearly half a century serving as the primary organization behind Houston’s Pride celebrations, Pride Houston 365 is facing competition for the first time and Houston city leaders have voiced concerns.
“I was really disappointed to see that,” Mayor John Whitmire said during Wednesday’s city council meeting. “Quite frankly, competing parades is just not what we should be about. I will bring the parties together.”
District H Councilmember Mario Castillo was the first to bring up concerns regarding the city having two Pride organizations, saying two parades reflect a “leadership gap in the community.”
The new group, which goes by Houston’s New Faces of Pride, launched last summer, vowing to restore direction to Pride celebrations after Pride Houston 365 took a hit to its reputation when former executive director and president Lorin Roberts was accused of stealing more than $100,000 from the organization and misappropriating more than $50,000.
“We want to bring respect and transparency and organization back,” said Bryan Cotton, president of Houston’s New Faces of Pride.
Additional Info
Source : https://houstonlanding.org/houston-will-have-two-pride-parades-city-officials-say-there-should-be-one/