HOUSTON – The Stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York were considered the beginning of the modern LGBTQ rights movement. The historical riot was the spark that helped ignite Houston’s first gay and lesbian organization in the early 70s. However, the city didn’t celebrate its first parade celebration almost a decade later.
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Since the foundation of the pride march in Houston, the city has supported, educated and promoted the LGBTQ community through marches, awareness and major events such as the Pride Parade.
Here we look back at the foundation of Houston’s Pride Parade, one of the country’s largest events celebrating Pride.
The beginning of Houston’s Pride Parade
According to Houston LGBT History, the first official Houston Pride Parade was held in Montrose on July 1, 1979. The parade was followed by a rally at Spotts Park, where 5,000 people enjoyed music, speeches, dancing and fireworks.
However, this was wasn’t the first parade of the LGBTQ community. Three years prior in 1976, a small march took place with a few hundred people.
On June 20, 1976, the University of Houston’s Gay Activist Alliance took its first steps in the gay movement with a Houston Pride Parade. Although there were no floats or bands, about 300 to 400 people met at The Exile parking block and marched down Main Street. The march was followed by a “Gayfest,” at the Liberty Bank located in Montrose.
The official Houston Pride Parade began three years later on July 1, 1979. The event was coordinated by the Parade Committee and Houston’s GLBT Political Caucus. This was the first time the parade included floats, bands and prominent leaders and allies from the LGBTQ community.
The parade’s first theme was “United We Stand” celebrating the solidarity within the community.
The grand parade moved down Westheimer Road from Shepherd Drive to Bagby Street and was lead by Thelma “Disco Grandma” Handsel, the event’s first Grand Marshal.
Throughout the years, Houston’s Pride Parade has grown tremendously, becoming an open atmosphere for all ages, genders, races, sexualities and walks of life.
In 2015, the Pride Parade made its move from the Montrose area to downtown Houston. The event continues to drive hundreds of thousands of individuals and has become the fourth-largest event in the country.
Click here to view Houston LGBT History’s 1979 Pride Parade Photos