Pride Houston

Gay Pride Week has been going on in Houston since 1978. This year’s parade is going to feature something that no Pride Parade has yet — a high school Gay Straight Alliance. The group from Conroe High School is going to be an official part of the parade, the highlight of this year’s week long festivities.

To the gay community, the club's participation is important because the Houston GLBT Pride Parade and Festival's theme this year is "Say it Loud" — which refers to gay people "coming out" to the public about their sexual orientation.

Even more importantly, community leaders and experts said, the students' participation validates a trend that people now are coming out at a much younger age.

Oprah agrees that kids are coming out at a younger age. And if Oprah says it’s true, then it must be! One positive aspect is that younger parents can mean more acceptance at home, and a more progressive younger generation can mean the same amongst friends. But on the downside, that isn’t always the case. More often than not, according to Deb Murphy, a youth services worker for Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals, coming out can mean losing your family, friends, school, and more. Hopefully, public education and events like Pride Week can help bring about acceptance on an issue that wasn’t even talked about 20 years ago.

The parade will begin this Saturday evening, and of course there are other things going on, like the festival, the after-parade party, and the after-parade party after-party.

Pride Fusion (UV Party) // Fri., June 23 9 p.m. // Rich’s Houston // $5 cover
Pride Festival // Sat., June 24 2 p.m. // Westheimer & Commonwealth // Tickets $10
Pride Parade // Sat., June 24 8:45 p.m. // Westheimer between Woodhead & Whitney