Image: Houstonia/Shutterstock/lazyllama

The first Pride march in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the queer community’s response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, New York. The celebration would soon become “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month” in 1999 and 2000, as declared by President Bill Clinton. Since then, Pride has become a month-long celebration including parades, parties and performances.

While the celebrations originate in New York, Houston has a rich history that deserves a celebration of its own. There are a handful of ways to celebrate Pride in the Bayou City, from amplifying queer voices in literature to celebrating at one of the many LGBTQ+ friendly bars in town. Not to mention the Magnum Opus of celebrations — the Houston Pride Festival and Parade, which are also making a comeback this month. 

We’ve culled through the city’s many happenings for Pride and compiled lists of events, venues and ways to support Houston’s queer community.