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The big Pride Houston parade and festival are just the icing on Houston’s rainbow cake. Here’s a rundown of events, official and otherwise:
Kimberley Locke. Handout photo
ROKK THE RUNWAY
American Idol finalist and dance diva Kimberley Locke headlines this high-energy event, which also features a fashion show from Male UWear. Hosted by Jonathan Lovitz of Logo’s Setup Squad. 8 p.m. Friday at South Beach, 810 Pacific. Free before 11 p.m.
RAINBOW ON THE GREEN
Broadway star Anthony Rapp performs, along with Tye Blue, Miss Money, F Bar Dreamgirls Kara Dion, Tara Dion, Christina Ross and more. 8 p.m. Friday at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney. Free.
GIRL PARTY PRIDE HOUSTON 2011
Food, live music, DJs and a parking lot party. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday at Etro Lounge, 1424 Westheimer.
PRIDE HOUSTON FESTIVAL AND PARADE
The 33rd annual celebration features vendor booths, live performances, DJs, food and the country’s largest nighttime parade. Festival, 1-7 p.m. Saturday, features performances by Jessica Ferguson, Roxxi Jane, Freddy Cauley, Nina Lombardo, Pride SuperSTAR 2009 AJ Cabrera, Ben Montes, Osirus featuring Raquel Refuerzo, Mallorie and the Pride SuperSTAR 2011 finalists. The festival is on Westheimer, from Commonwealth to Yoakum. The parade, 8:15-11 p.m. Saturday, runs along Westheimer between Dunlavy and Crocker streets. Free.
OFFICIAL PRIDE HOUSTON AFTER PARTY
DJ Riley from Chicago and adult video stars Gavin Waters and Reese Rideout. 9 p.m. Saturday at South Beach. $15 advance, $20 at the door.
MARVELOUS SATURDAYS PRESENTS INVASION
With DJ Joe Gauthreaux.
Bright attire encouraged.
9 p.m. Saturday at Vue, 526 Waugh.
Not much going on for families except the Discovery Green thing. That's disappointing, but not as disappointing as Pride Houston hosting "official" events that are sponsored by porn sites and sex toy makers. Houston has always been better than that. Shame on you, Pride Houston.
I agree, Jason!
I'm glad they do, Houston has plenty of other family crap. Sometimes people want to not be surrounded by prudes. This is what makes Houston Houston.
this is not what makes houston, houston! events sponsored by pornography and sex shops. I don't want my city represented like that!
I have to agree, it is disappointing to see that there is an after party where the key attraction is porn stars. But then as a fifty year old gay man, I do remember when this started and thinking to myself, “this is nothing but advertisement for the bars”. Remember pre-aids when we had softball teams, bowling leagues, granted not much more than that. Now we have the Mayor of Houston riding high in the parade. Actually that’s not admirable….
I completely disagree with you all. Last year there were more church floats than anything else. I saw bar floats too but very few compared to the group organization and church floats. The parade is completely family friendly as evidenced by all the people I saw last year with children down there. I don't know what parade you all attended but it wasn't the Houston parade apparently.
Can't we all just enjoy the parade!
Pride is not for kids! It's great that straight people may want to come with their families to show support but it's NOT FOR YOU, it's for US. I will not apologize to you simply because you don't think what we do is appropriate to you and your family.
I'm kind of sad that Houston is embracing this sinful activity. This is a free country and everyone should be able to dictate their own lifestyle; however, I hate that this particular lifestyle is celebrated.
Out of curiosity, do you also protest Mardi Grad?
the relationship is what you moron
the relationship is what you moron
then mind your own business and don't read or partake in the activities. I find your opinion sinful, too.
I completely agree - that opinion is sinful. Judgmental - and if this person is a bible beater, they should know the bible says judge not.
The Bible says to Judge not lest you be judged, for with the same measure you judge others, you yourself shall be judged. I know and understand this, and fully accept it as truth. Thus, since the Bible calls homosexuality an abomination unto the Lord, so I too call it the same thing. It is acceptable to hate that which God hates. he loves the sinner, but hates their sin.
You say judge not lest you be judged, and I respond twist not scripture lest you be like satan.
keep thumping on your bible.
Do you ever eat shellfish?
But that is mostly the OLD testament. Meaning it was OLD and that time things were a little different.
Exodus 21:7 - "And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do." However, according to Exodus 21:8, her new master does not have the power to "sell her unto a strange nation". How generous.
In the OLD days we could sell "his daughter."
DIDN'T know it was allowed! OH MAN! So it is ok to belittle a life such as "his Daughter", and gain a profit as if life was merely a product which can be sold. Hmmmm if life was so belittled, why care about what the homosexuals do anyway? And in is in the new testament Jesus only mentions
"What comes out of you is what defiles you. For from within, out of your hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile you. (TNIV, Mark 7:20-23)"
We can all say selling your daughter is evil. BUT IT JUST SAID WE COULD! Such contradictory! If we go by that rule, that it is evil to take a life (MURDER) BUT IT IS OK THE MURDER Or Take a life of a homosexual because it is a abomination unto the lord. We can't kill and we must respect and love ALL LIFE, but if it is different we can kill it...
BUT WAIT! WHATS THIS IN THE BIBLE!? OH EM GEE!
It is sometimes said that the friendship between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:3-4, 2 Samuel 1:26) was an example of a homosexual relationship. The relationships between Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:14) and between Jesus and John ("the disciple Jesus loved" in John 13:23; 19:26; 21:7; 21:20) are also mentioned.
In modern Western culture we associate touching, kissing and the word "love" with a sexual relationship. But that was not at all the case in Biblical era culture. Most Bible scholars say these relationships were no more than close friendships...Only to justify which huh? Only an excuse made upon which the facts have been laid down. Damn. This book keeps getting better and better to read. I can do some stuff but the stuff i can't do, I can do under certain circumstances! SWEET! I can kill only if I think they are doing acts of evil. SO WHEN PEOPLE CUT PEOPLE OFF IN TRAFFIC, An act which can lead to death, IT IS EVIL, and need to be killed? Or how about those driving a car while using a cellphone...It is an act of negligence which can also lead to death or harm upon another life. Oh man that is pretty evil to...putting the potential to harm others. Do they need to be stoned as well? or Killed?
Well, it wouldn't have to be "celebrated" if people like you didn't judge and maginalize the GLBT community. If you truly believed this was a free country, people with your point of view wouldn't be allowed to create laws and social stigmas that take away the freedoms of people's personal lives.
Otherwise, tomorrow would just be known as "Saturday."
Uh, tomorrow is Saturday.
Exactly.
Then don't celebrate it....it's not that difficult.
Sinful? And your bigotry is not? Being gay is something people are born with just as others of us are born straight. It's no more a "lifestyle" than being left handed is.
Homosexuals are not born Gay. It is a gender identity issue that is initiated in the early development stages of children. There is no scientific proof and no gene has ever been found that people are born gay.
The scientific proof that people CAN be born gay lies with in the mother AND father.
You don't look at the specific GENE that makes people a homosexual. The number of hormones a child can receive is totally what makes a person be born gay, and its something UNLESS ALTERED BY HUMAN BEINGS BY PLAYING GOD, is undetermined and is totally random how much a fetus receives. SO Lets say a MALE fetus receives a little bit more estrogen from the MOTHER, or has the thyroid gland produces a little more estrogen for that MALE. What do YOU think the male child will be more of? MORE MANLY? Or More Feminine?
Same goes with a FEMALE FETUS, a little more testosterone and what will happen to the FEMALE AFTERWARDS? Because I am pretty sure our hormones regulate our body to continue maintain homeostasis, which is all done by our pineal gland which is from our Brains! And our brains are made from cells who's DNA is coded to produce these brain cells!
Don't believe me that the more estrogen / testosterone can do something? Well Google a women taking testosterone pills and tell me if they look really manly, even more manly that some on the streets, or a male taking a little bit more estrogen into his body, and see if he can look and dress better than some women can.
So with hormones in play and where the DNA in certain pineal gland cells pretty much tell the body from the brain by involuntary actions from the body, I am pretty sure you can be born gay. UNLESS YOU CAN PROVE TO ME DNA which made to RNA doesn't make cells what they are coded to be, then I'll be dead wrong.
No wait. I can't be wrong on it, Because Science adjusts its views based on whats observed, Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved.
So if you can show me that lets say homeopathy works, then I'd be really a fool than won't I.
Sinful? And your bigotry is not? Being gay is something people are born with just as others of us are born straight. It's no more a "lifestyle" than being left handed is.
And there are a lot of people who despise things like Black History Month and Women's History Month...oh, and of course, here in America, we're forced to celebrate Cinco De Mayo... So would you be willing to get rid of all of the other special little celebrations? Or would you be able to play like an adult and deal with it all?
When has anyone forced you to celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
Pride in the past worked with many community organizations to promote many different events that highlighted education, culture, health and the state of the community.
Pride in the past hosted with many other community organizations events that included cultural, educational and health related. Some years as many as 100 events were hosted with community cooperation.
Pride celebrations happen all over the world because brave queer people decided not to take discrimination.
Jack, thanks for the many years you have worked to make Pride an EVENT. It could use someone like you again...
As a gay man, my partner and I will avoid that area at all cost. Maybe curl up on the couch and watch a movie together with the dogs and cat.
ha. i am not gay but i live in the area. i will be locked indoors as well. i usaully just detour and take the long way to anywhere and back. so much traffic and drama going around. Redbox night.
It’s horrible, nothing but hordes of drunk straight and gay people, homeless people, and downright filthy people fighting over cheap plastic beads and candy. No thank you!
Did you not check out the neighborhood before you purchased your home. This area has always been known as the Gay Neighborhood and you invaded their space.
Jason, lighten up. Most people look at porn and have sex. The shame is that we live in a narrow minded society that makes such things taboo. Good job, Pride Houston.
ZING!!
Can you provide a link to proof that most people look at porn? thought not. Most deviants look at porn.
Yes, most of us watch porn and enjoy sex. Those of us that have self-respect and respect for others enjoy those things in the privacy of our own space. There's nothing narrow minded about it; we just have a little more respect for ourselves than those that think they need to shout it from the rooftops to make a point.
Whether it's gay, straight, bisexual, swingers or any other variation of sexual preference, I've never understood why anybody feels the need to shout information that personal from the rooftops. Do people really feel the need to be identified by what they do in the bedroom rather than something more substantial like their intelligence or human kindness?
I totally agree!
It's the "gay agenda", which is to force everyone to accept gays. It won't happen though.
Do you tell people whether you are married? If you're single are you open about dating? Then you're "shouting it from the rooftops." Nobody in this country is more in-your-face about their sex lives that heterosexuals.
When I can marry my lover of 20 years, leave her all my worldly goods without a stack of expensive legal paperwork, and have her make medical decisions without MORE expensive paperwork, then I won't feel the need. Right now I am being taxed without representation because I do NOT have the rights you so blithely own.
Until I can do the aforementioned just like any other heterosexual individual in this country I plan to celebrate, shout, declare, and march LOUDLY. You want us to be quiet? Give us our rights.
You tell 'em sister!
My partner and I of 20 years could not agree more.
I think the "taxation without representation" point ought to be better understood by heterosexuals of any political persuasion. I was born in the US, I have a good job, own a home, and contribute significantly to the tax base at a school district, county, and federal level. I vote, volunteer, and do all the things any Boy Scout would say constitutes a "good American." I even fly the US flag on national holidays.
But I'm sick of paying the "rainbow tax" - taxed on my family's benefits participation at work, taxed $5000 more this year alone than if we could file as a family, taxed on our estate at a rate that essentially would leave my wife penniless should I die first. We paid insane amounts to complete a second-parent adoption and get all of our paperwork completed, and we still carry copies of all our adoption paperwork in the car with us at all times, in case my wife has to take our daughter to the hospital. It's just a constant, expensive hassle. And we don't talk about that enough, because it looks like whining and because we don't want to make our friends uncomfortable. But it's real. And it will never end until we demand our equal rights as US citizens.
I'm perturbed by obnoxious homosexuals who try to frame their agenda as a struggle for equal rights. Cass, you have the same rights as anyone else.
As a mother of a gay woman and the aunt of a gay woman I respect their lifestyle and I love them both dearly. Pride Festival gives them 1 day a year to be themselves among other persons be it straight or gay. I admire my daughter and niece for being who they are and enjoying events such as this.
We'll be avoiding Houston like the plague!
...and stay out.
I am gay, and i think the parade is a joke. I know who i am, dont need a parade to announce it.
You can thank all of the gay people who came before us for making it easy to be gay WITHOUT making a big fuss about it. Meanwhile, these people are trying to make it easier for the gay people who come after them.
David, you are so right. There are many in the younger generation who simply take their ability to go to SoBe for granted.
Lets also remember why its this weekend we celebrate Gay Pride. There were some very brave people in the 50's and 60's who we owe much. To all of you who fought the good fight, I am proud of YOU!
Ray, you have no idea what the parade is about. How about you look up the reason for the parade before making such a silly comment.
Too many churches with their floats. No thanks.
Too hot, too.
It's interesting that those he are against the "gay agenda" (whatever that is) clicked on this story and took time to comment. Hhhhmmm....bi-curious perhaps?
Free speech, genius.
I find it interesting that those so offended or uninterested in Pride would click on an article about Pride and then take time read it and then comment. If you're not interested, why are you even here complaining? It's a big city. There is plenty of room. And it's a big website. I'm sure there are plenty of other articles for you to read. Having said that, gays pay the same taxes you pay to the city, school districts, county, state, federal government and all their respective agencies. So I applaud the Chronicle for giving coverage to a segment of the community who pays their share just like everyone else. And there is no agenda about Pride. I don't see anyone being forced to attend or participate in anything. I also don't see anyone being forced to even click on this article and read it!! So who has the agenda now? It would seem to me the people taking time to comment on something in which they have no interest, no stake and plan to avoid at all cost are the ones who have the agenda. Take your nosey HATE party pooper agenda some place else. You don't have to be here, so get lost!
It's funny, I work with a proud homosexual who strongly condemns the pride parade. He says it "makes our community look like a bunch of drunk, confused college kids"... he's right.
And I find it interesting that people like you wave the big flag of "free speech" when it's something you agree with and label it hate when you don't. Where's all the so called tolerance??
Does Mardi Gras represent ALL Catholics?? Neither does Pride represent all Gays! I agree that it should be about showing the general "straight" public that gay people come in all shapes, sizes, ages and professions! It bothers me when the media only puts the drama, drunk teens with skant clothing on the news but face it, my friends and their partners plastered on the paper front page wouldn't sell many, we are just regular girls next door and you'd never know we are gay!
i'm not gay, nor am i a "gay basher" but what sucks about these events, is THE TRAFFIC that these events create, like beer fest, NOTHING against beer either, like i said, i'm not gay. But yeah, Houston is a big town, and we gotta show it by showing diversity, so Rick Perry wants to have a phony "pray-a-ton"... GOOD! FIFA wants to host Gold Cup semi-final matches involving the US and Mexico, GOOD! Gays want to do their thing?? GOOD! just wish the city did more to help traffic flow smoother.
Yeah, I lived in Montrose for years and the thing that always got me aggravated was traffic management, plus people coming in from suburbia and parking everywhere so that residents doing their daily activities couldn't drive or park anywhere.
LOVE the diversity and the events, but HATE the traffic and parking.
I agree! I wish I could watch the parade from the comfort of my own living room! It would be much cooler and I wouldn't have to spend so long looking for a parking space!
Too bad Metro does not recognize this huge event as it does the Rodeo, providing off-site parking and shuttles to and from the site.
It's ONE day. get over it.
I really dislike it when a large event is successful enough to bring out thousands of Houstonians to the heart of the city and generate revenue for hundreds of small businesses and their employees.
I would much prefer to able to drive down Westheimer and the surrounding areas and park with the ease of living in the suburbs everyday of my life without interruption due to those pesky traffic-causing revelers.
XO
Go PRIDE!
people have the right to celebrate what they are, whether its their religion, lifestyle, interests, whatever. and for those who throw the bible at everyone, give it a rest, that book you follow tells you that you are not to judge, and you do that everytime you put down, discriminate, or attack anyone who is different than you.
LMAO. People... that parade exists in order to demonstrate for equal rights etc. Has nothing to do with "showing who they are". Well, maybe a little. The more gays people see or hear about, the more open they might become..
girl party might be fun
For me personally, it is a chance, as a parent, to walk with PFLAG and show that I love my child unconditionally, in the hopes that maybe some other child will know that there is someone who loves them too, no matter what. It is appalling to me that so many professed "Christians" can spew so much judgment and hatred.
Thank you ProudMom! I've been going to Pride Parades off and on (mostly off) for twenty+ years, and NOTHING gets the crowd as emotional and excited as the PFLAG group. Thank you for taking pride in your child, and as important, thank you for being vocal about it.
As I always tell my siblings, parents, and grandparents - since this is the South, people will generally be nice, to my face. So they have to field a lot more ignorant questions, bigoted commentary, and creepy, inappropriate interest in my life than I do. They handle it with a lot more grace than I would, too. PFLAG families are amazing. Thank you again!
True love reveals how every one of us feel...
It cannot hide
It is no lie
Do not hide
Inside
It should be shown
Known
By all -
:)
http://findurmessage.blogspot.com/2010/01/twinkle-toes.html
there will be live bands at Mangos & Avante Garden on 4 different stages!
I find it funny that people that live in the Montrose area are coming about a gay parade. Y'all do know you live in MONTROSE?
But that parade makes gays look terrible to the untrained eye.
I will have a blast at Pride this weekend.
But I agree it is a shame that there aren't more family friendly events.
I want my 6 year old god son to learn to love everyone and that it is absolutely no big deal to see same sex couples.
However, I would like to keep the exposure to more adult things minimal.
C'mon, Pride! Let' make sure the next generation doesn't think twice about same sex couples!
Whether you're gay woman or gay man, until it is physically possible for you to procreate together and have children then you cannot hope to be recognized as a married couple or definitively as parents. Male and female coupling is the natural order of things in humanity as well as in the animal kingdom, although in the animal kingdom most animals mate soley for procreation.
Whether you're gay woman or gay man, until it is physically possible for you to procreate together and have children then you cannot hope to be recognized as a married couple or definitively as parents. Male and female coupling is the natural order of things in humanity as well as in the animal kingdom, although in the animal kingdom most animals mate soley for procreation.
Whether you're gay woman or gay man, until it is physically possible for you to procreate together and have children then you cannot hope to be recognized as a married couple or definitively as parents. Male and female coupling is the natural order of things in humanity as well as in the animal kingdom, although in the animal kingdom most animals mate soley for procreation.
Listen Im straight and Gay Pride Parade is fun as hell. Ummm do you bring your kids to Marti Gra when its not family day?? UMM nooo because ppl take there shirts off and show their breast for beads LOL. Who brings their kids out to a party parade in the middle of the night anyways. Stay home and watch Toy Story.
Whether you're gay woman or gay man, until it is physically possible for you to procreate together and have children then you cannot hope to be recognized as a married couple or definitively as parents. Male and female coupling is the natural order of things in humanity as well as in the animal kingdom, although in the animal kingdom most animals mate soley for procreation.
Get a clue.... we are not a separate species. Not all married straight couples have children, but, the law still recognizes the relationship. Straight people adopt children and are recognized as parents. Straight people sometimes abuse children, and as such, are not "naturally superior parents".
Homosexual coupling exists among all mammals and some birds. Reptiles and Amphibians and Fish are incapable of homosexual conduct, because their brains are not complex enough.
Human homosexuals don't "need" to reproduce when that function is already performed very well by heterosexual humans.
Get a clue.... we are not a separate species. Not all married straight couples have children, but, the law still recognizes the relationship. Straight people adopt children and are recognized as parents. Straight people sometimes abuse children, and as such, are not "naturally superior parents".
Homosexual coupling exists among all mammals and some birds. Reptiles and Amphibians and Fish are incapable of homosexual conduct, because their brains are not complex enough.
Human homosexuals don't "need" to reproduce when that function is already performed very well by heterosexual humans.
WRONG.
I am a woman married to a man.
We have brains in our head and chose to never have children.
Our marriage is as valid as any other marriage.
I know a couple who married in their mid 70's. Is their marriage invalid?
Seriously, I'm not gay but these "Christians" are idiots at best. Self-righteous, ignorant, blasphemous fools, whose lives are so empty and malignant that they would chose to find solace in hating others than fix the issues that they themselves were born with. Sincerely maladjusted and fraught with frivolous belief in an abundance of absolute stupidity based upon notions that were first created by cavemen and similar such uncivilized, ignorant peasants. Get a life Jesus-Lovers, and realize that your "bible" was written by Man, and to put faith solely in such idiocy and justify your hatred on these lies only makes you into a civilized terrorist, for which this country has no tolerance.
Everyone needs to relax. These people are writing these comments to get you all flammed up. Need to reset the conversation. White Power!Just kidding.
Or, if you are STRAIGHT, you can protest all this BS by having sex with someone of the OPPOSITE sex. Best protest that I can think of...
Great idea! I think I'll 'protest' multiple times with my S.O. tonight!
It's sad that people in this day and age can't accept people as they are. Gay, straight or whatever your choice may be, it's our right to choose our life and live it as we pretty well please. The government don't care what we do in the privacy of our home, they just want to make sure they get paid their taxes so for all those idiots out there it's these people you spew so much hatred for keeping your children in school because if it wasn't for them alot more schools will be closing and you would be forced to have your kids travel way cross this big city of H-town just to get to school. So instead of trying to belittle them, you should be down on your knees thanking GOD they exist b/c they are in essence making it possible for you to be able to continue to go to work and not worry that your child has to travel more than 2 miles from your precious home to attend school. Pride is not based on your sexual lifestyle, is based on your human lifestyle, learn to appreciate the difference in people and stop judging them, b/c let it really be said it's the heterosexual people who make a mockery of marriage, so why not let same sex couple be married, they are more likely to stay together longer than a hetero couple. Celebrate human choices in PRIDE tonight~
While driving along Montrose/Studemont, I drove through the Smoothie King drive thru. There were a bunch of guys dressed only in underwear. I asked the attendant what the heck was going on. She said that it is Gay Parade Day. Ok, to each their own I thought.
Now I just checked the Chronic and learned that it is dubbed "Houston Pride."
My first thought was that when is there a heterosexual day?
My second thought was that if the word "Pride" should be even used. "Pride" to me means the men and women defending our country abroad and in the US. It does not mean supporting a sexuality.
Then I recalled that we have a budget deficit. Am I paying for this fiesta? Yes I am, and I don't like paying for specific agendas.
Who really cares what you don't like?
±150,000 Houstonians had a great time. You were welcome to come.
We spend a lot of time celebrating and media coverage on 10% of the USA population.
I like turtles
It cracks me up every year when I read the biblical references to homosexuality. The bible ACTUALLY admonishes straight, married couples MANY, MANY more times than homosexuality. Apparently God felt you needed much more supervision! Now do me a favor and FOCUS ON YOUR OWN FAMILY instead of mine.
lets all get together and pack skippy ! houston is still the gay capital of the world !
I'm married with two kids and I'm straight . Why is this , cause that's all I've ever knew and I went with it . I don't remember making a choice between male or female I just remember one day getting warm fuzzies about the blonde girl in 5th grade . Why is this important ... well ... I don't think it's a choice to be gay , ridiculed , or lectured when it's who you were born to be . I applaud y'alls bravery into not be forced into something your not and as far as god goes ... he wired you this way .
Sounds like a choice to me...
"Homosexual coupling exists among all mammals and some birds. Reptiles and Amphibians and Fish are incapable of homosexual conduct, because their brains are not complex enough."
Awaiting the day when Texans leaves the Middle Ages behind!
Listen to all the bitching and moaning. No one is forcing anyone to attend the parade or read the articles about it.
My sister and I took my 6-year-old nephew with us to the festival & we couldn't pull him away from one booth in particular, Houston Gaymers. Did anyone else stop by there? They had this Michael Jackson dancing game set up with on a huge flatscreen & they were reaching every age group, it was the most family friendly event out there. I will honestly say that booth added a lot of energy to the festival for us! Those guys really had the right idea of bringing the community together KUDOS!!!