Houston
Pride Houston Kicks off 2007 Parade Season

May 22, 2007

Pride Houston will kick off its 2007 Parade season with a “Lone Star Pride” celebration event on Sunday, June 10, 6:30 p.m. at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Circle Drive.

Pride Houston’s kickoff party opens up two weeks of festivities leading up to the Pride Parade on Saturday, June 32. The festivities include social, charitable and educational events that commemorate Pride’s history and accomplishments over the years. In addition, a celebration of Houston’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community and its unified spirit will take center stage at one of Houston’s most popular parades.

“The Lone Star Pride kickoff party is the start to many festivities that celebrate and commemorate gay pride in Houston,” said Mary Urban, director of operations for Pride Houston. “This parade season aims to build spirit in Houston’s gay community by showcasing Pride’s history and goals for the future.”

As the country’s first nighttime parade, the event marks 38 years since the Stonewall Rebellion that launched the modern American gay rights movement in New York in 1969. That landmark event sparked a number of gay pride parades and festivities that are held all over the United States each year in June. This year, Houston’s “Lone Star Pride” event will shift its focus from a simple social gathering to a rediscovery of the true meaning of Pride’s mission.

Pride Houston’s kickoff party will feature performances by Miss Kofi, Alan Lett and Josh Duffy and speakers who will spotlight the importance of gay pride today.

Miss Kofi was crowned Miss Gay Texas USA in 2005. Alan Lett is a local singer/songwriter who has produced three albums since January 2003. He has worked with artists including the Backstreet Boys, Whitney Houston and Lionel Richie. Josh Duffy is also singer/songwriter in the Houston area who released his debut album “Artificial” in March 2007. The album has received international radio play and encompasses a mixture of pop, rock and alternative music.

The event is open to the public with a $10 entry fee. All Houstonians are encouraged to attend and support Pride Houston’s “Lone Star Pride” kickoff event. Tickets can be purchased at the Pride office, 1415 California, or online at www.pridehouston.org.

About Pride Houston:
Pride Houston, a volunteer organization, produces Houston’s Annual GLBT Pride Parade and Festival. Our 29th anniversary festivities, celebrating Houston’s gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender community are scheduled for Saturday, June 23, 2007. This year’s theme reflects our “Lone Star Pride.” The Festival kicks off at 11:00 AM near Westheimer and Commonwealth and concludes at 8:00 PM. The fabulous and unique Night-time Parade draws over 100,000 spectators! The Parade begins promptly at 8:45 PM at the corner of Westheimer and Woodhead and finishes around midnight at Westheimer at Whitney. To buy Festival tickets, join the fun, and learn more about Pride Houston, please visit our website at www.pridehouston.org or contact us at (713)529-6979. Pride Houston is a 501 (c) (3) organization.

About Our Sponsors:
Pride Houston deeply appreciates this year’s sponsors and hope that our community continues to support them when possible.

Kajmir Wine and Stockholm Vodka are sponsoring the kickoff party event.


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