News Summary
Houston’s New Faces of Pride has announced it will not host a pride parade this year, leaving Pride Houston 365 as the only major pride event for 2023. This withdrawal follows a period of inactivity for New Faces of Pride, which was established in 2023 in response to a scandal at Pride Houston 365. Local officials express disappointment over this division within the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing the need for a unified pride parade amidst increasing political pressures surrounding LGBTQ+ rights in Texas.
Houston Pride Event Faces Changes as New Faces of Pride Withdraws
Houston’s New Faces of Pride, a nonprofit organization established in 2023 as a competitor to Pride Houston 365, has officially announced it will not host a pride parade in downtown Houston this year. This revelation leaves Houston with only one major pride event for 2023, as Pride Houston 365 prepares for its annual celebration.
Remo Mazzini, a project manager for the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, confirmed the withdrawal of New Faces of Pride, stating that they had simply chosen not to proceed with the planned parade this year. The organization appears to have entered a period of inactivity, with no events scheduled for the upcoming LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June or throughout the rest of the year. Their Instagram account has not seen any updates since April 7, and the organization has not responded to requests for comments from the media.
Meanwhile, Pride Houston 365, which has been hosting the annual parade for nearly 50 years, is set to hold its celebrations on June 28, 2023. The organization recently announced its Grand Marshals for the event, including State Representative Jon Rosenthal, LGBTQ+ Liaison Jo Jones, and the local non-profit Tony’s Place.
The Rise and Fall of New Faces of Pride
New Faces of Pride was founded in October 2023 in response to a scandal involving financial misappropriation by the former executive director of Pride Houston 365. The scandal had a significant impact on the community’s trust in the organization, as a court mandated the former executive director, Lorin Roberts, to repay approximately $1.2 million for embezzling over $150,000 from the group. This crisis prompted several long-standing Pride Houston members to transition to New Faces of Pride, emphasizing a need to restore community trust.
Initially, New Faces of Pride announced plans for a parade on June 22, 2024, just ahead of Pride Houston 365’s event on June 29. However, tensions escalated quickly following a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by Pride Houston due to the original name of New Faces of Pride being too similar to theirs. The lawsuit was settled rapidly, leading to the rebranding of the new organization, but disagreements persisted between the two groups.
The Community Response and Future Directions
The withdrawal of New Faces of Pride has drawn disappointment from local officials, including City Councilman Mario Castillo and Mayor John Whitmire. Many believe that this division underscores a leadership gap within the LGBTQ+ community in Houston. Conventional wisdom suggests that a unified pride parade would allow for better management of city resources and enhance public safety during events.
Attendance figures from last year’s pride celebrations indicate a stark contrast between the two organizations, with Pride Houston 365 drawing over 800,000 attendees while New Faces of Pride reported an attendance of just 20,000, significantly lower than previous estimates of around 5,000. This disparity highlights challenges in engagement and popularity faced by New Faces of Pride, contributing to its decision to withdraw from this year’s center stage.
This split in Houston’s pride events comes at a time of increased political pressures surrounding LGBTQ+ rights in Texas. Recent legislation has targeted issues such as gender-affirming care for transgender youth, complicating the broader context in which these organizations operate. The upcoming Pride Houston 365 celebration aims to bring together various community members, with nine Grand Marshals representing diverse sectors set to participate in this significant event.
As Houston prepares for a singular focus on Pride Houston 365’s celebrations this year, the absence of New Faces of Pride marks a notable shift in the landscape of the city’s LGBTQ+ pride events.
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Additional Resources
- Chron: Houston Pride Event Faces Changes
- Houston Chronicle: Pride Houston 365 Grand Marshals
- ABC13: Pride Houston 365 Grand Marshals
- OutSmart Magazine: Pride Houston 2025 Grand Marshals
- MSN: Pride Houston 365 Grand Marshals Announcement
- Wikipedia: Pride Parade
- Google Search: LGBTQ Rights in Texas
- Encyclopedia Britannica: LGBT Rights
- Google Scholar: LGBTQ Pride Events
- Google News: Pride Houston 2023
