HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The city’s newest LGBTQ+ Pride celebration is officially underway with a full day of festivities planned in downtown Houston.
Leaders of Houston’s New Faces of Pride joined ABC13 to explain how the city’s newest LGBTQ celebration was formed.
Houston’s New Faces of Pride opened its festival gates at noon Saturday, drawing thousands to City Hall.
The celebration acknowledges the contributions and concerns of Houston’s LGBTQ+ community, with a focus on unity, inclusivity and empowerment.
ABC13 will livestream all the sights and sounds from Houston’s New Faces of Pride Parade tonight at 7:30 p.m. CDT
A big list of performers will take the festival stage throughout the afternoon and early evening, including sets by openly gay country artists Chris Housman and Billy Gilman.
Five grand marshals were announced last month for the 2024 parade, and New Faces chose “Rainbow Revolution” as the theme for their inaugural events.
Houston’s New Faces of Pride Parade Route
- Parade steps off on Smith St. at Lamar St., heading north
- East (right) on Walker St.
- South (right) on Milam St.
- Disbands at Milam St. and Jefferson St.
President Bryan Cotton told ABC13 he already feels a sense of accomplishment, even before the parade steps off onto Smith St.
“We saw a need in the community and we met it,” Cotton said. “That was supporting, uplifting and highlighting other small nonprofits in the community that are doing amazing things. That is our lane that we’re focused on staying in.”
The new organization made an entrance last fall, announcing it would stage its own Pride parade and festival one week earlier than Pride Houston’s celebration.
Vice President Felicia Flores said their team immediately went to work to serve the LGBTQ+ community, leveraging its platform to help supply homeless youth at Grace Place and Tony’s Place with jackets and backpacks for the winter.
Each month, the organization hosts a community happy hour to help amplify the work of inclusive nonprofit organizations.
Cotton also said New Faces sought in its first year to widen the tent on inclusion and representation, reflecting every part of the LGBTQ+ community.
After the parade, New Faces will take over Post Houston for its Planet Pink afterparty from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Click here for ticket information.
ABC13 is proud to be official media partner of Houston’s New Faces of Pride.
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