Houston has one of the largest and most visible gay communities in the country, a fact that often surprises outsiders who think of Texas as being quite conservative. If you need any evidence that Houston's gay scene packs plenty of punch, check out the Pride Festival and Parade, which takes place in late June (June 27 in 2009). This will be the 31th anniversary of Houston's Gay Pride celebration.
Book rooms and compare rates at hotels in Houston during Gay Pride
Like many other cities that celebrate pride in June, Houston does so at this time in part to honor what many consider to be one of the foremost events in the history of lesbian and gay rights, New York City's Stonewall Riots, which commenced early in the morning on June 28, 1969 (making 2009 the 40th anniversary of this momentous occasion).
Many major cities around the world host their Gay Pride Celebrations around this same time, among them Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seattle, and Toronto.
Here's a preview of what you can expect at Houston Gay Pride in 2009:
During the days leading up to Pride, you can attend a number of related parties and gatherings. These include Pride Houston Fashion Show on June 26, Dine With Pride restaurant nights on Wednesday nights throughout June, a Houston Pride Idol competition, a Pride Houston Wine event on June 20, and several other events.
The Houston Pride Festival takes place on Saturday, June 27, from 11 am till 7 pm in the city's main gay neighborhood Montrose. It's Commonwealth Street and Yoakum Boulevard, just south of Westheimer Road. There's a main Pride Stage featuring performances by a range of prominent artists. There are also pop and other music performances on other stages, a food court, a Community Zone of local retail vendors and GLBT organizations, and a safe and secure Kids' Zone with fun activities. Admission to the festival is free.
More than 150,000 spectators and 1,000 participants take part in the Houston Pride Parade, also held on Saturday. This parade is unusual in that it takes place at night, following the Pride Festival - it commences at 8:45 pm and lasts until 11 pm. Festivities begin on Westheimer Road, at Dunlavy Street, and continues east along Westheimer for about a mile to Crocker Street.
Of course, additionally, numerous gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Week. Check local gay papers, such as Out Smart Magazine and Houston Voice, for details. To better plan your trip, check out the website of the Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
