Pride flags raised downtown to celebrate the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
2Cooling Off
A vendor sells Modelo beers, Jell-O shots, ice pop margaritas, and light toys.
3Cooling Off
A vendor sells Modelo beers, Jell-O shots, ice pop margaritas, and light toys.
4Time for Shots!
Attendees of the Houston Pride Parade downtown doing Jell-O shots.
5Time for Shots!
Attendees of the Houston Pride Parade downtown doing Jell-O shots.
6Flags Flying High
Crowds were seen along the Pride Parade route downtown.
7Flags Flying High
Crowds were seen along the Pride Parade route downtown.
8Celebrate Inclusivity
Crowds filled the streets of downtown to celebrate the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
9Celebrate Inclusivity
Crowds filled the streets of downtown to celebrate the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
10Flags of Color
Pride flags raised downtown to celebrate the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
11Girl Power
Attendees celebrate Houston Pride 2022 dressed for the sweltering weather.
12Celebrate with Pride
Crowds filled the streets of downtown to celebrate the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
13Celebrate with Pride
Crowds filled the streets of downtown to celebrate the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
14A Great Turnout
Crowds filled the streets of downtown to celebrate the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
15A Great Turnout
Crowds filled the streets of downtown to celebrate the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
16Girl Power
Attendees celebrate Houston Pride 2022 dressed for the sweltering weather.
17The Pride Route
The party continued as the sun set on Downtown Houston.
18All Hail the Queens
Illustrious floats filled the parade route.
19All Hail the Queens
Illustrious floats filled the parade route.
20Grand Marshal
Travis Torrence, the “Male Identifying Grand Marshal” for the 2022 Houston Pride Parade.
21Grand Marshal
Travis Torrence, the “Male Identifying Grand Marshal” for the 2022 Houston Pride Parade.
22Pride Colors
Houston Pride was filled with stylish parade attendees, from detailed hair accessories to bold outfits.
23Pride Colors
Houston Pride was filled with stylish parade attendees, from detailed hair accessories to bold outfits.
24Cougar Pride
A University of Houston parade float made an appearance.
25Cougar Pride
A University of Houston parade float made an appearance.
26Houston Strong
A University of Houston parade float at the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
27Houston Strong
A University of Houston parade float at the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
28Defeat the Heat
Despite the heat, thousands were packed along the streets of downtown to celebrate the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
29Defeat the Heat
Despite the heat, thousands were packed along the streets of downtown to celebrate the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
30The Pride Route
The party continued as the sun set on Downtown Houston.
31Memories to Capture
Phones were high in the air to snap the passing parade floats and colorful costumes.
32Wave Your Flag
Crowds waving flags along the parade route downtown.
33Wave Your Flag
Crowds waving flags along the parade route downtown.
34It's a Celebration
Houstonians gathered along the 2022 Houston Pride Parade route.
35It's a Celebration
Houstonians gathered along the 2022 Houston Pride Parade route.
36Pride Chorus
A Pride Chorus Houston float at the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
37Pride Chorus
A Pride Chorus Houston float at the 44th annual Houston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
38Pride Strong
Signature rainbow flags making their way through the parade procession in Downtown Houston.
39Pride Strong
Signature rainbow flags making their way through the parade procession in Downtown Houston.
40Puppy Patrol
The Texas Puppy Club made an appearance at the 2022 Houston Pride Parade.
41Puppy Patrol
The Texas Puppy Club made an appearance at the 2022 Houston Pride Parade.
42Memories to Capture
Phones were high in the air to snap the passing parade floats and colorful costumes.
43Unicorn Rainbow
Beads and other goodies were thrown from parade floats.
44Unicorn Rainbow
Beads and other goodies were thrown from parade floats.
45Y'all Means All
Messages of love were bountiful, as paradegoers brought signs and banners of affirmation.
46Y'all Means All
Messages of love were bountiful, as paradegoers brought signs and banners of affirmation.
Hundreds of thousands of people descended on downtown Houston this past Saturday for the 44th annual Pride Houston 365 festival and parade, the third-largest Pride celebration in the United States. Pride Houston, which has been happening officially every year since 1979, was extra poignant this year considering its two-year absence as the city grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s Pride Houston occurred against the backdrop of a nation that is increasingly divided on key issues. In response to the June 11 arrests of 31 men affiliated with white nationalist group Patriot Front, who were stopped before they could stage a riot at a Pride celebration in Idaho, Pride Houston beefed up security this year at the festival and parade. The parade also came just one day after the US Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion established in Roe v. Wade; in a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested the court should likewise reconsider other cases that guarantee same-sex marriage, same-sex consensual sexual relations, and the right to contraception. It also comes during a time in which Gov. Greg Abbott and other members of his cabinet and party have been launching an unprecedented attack on the state’s transgender community.
Houston’s queer community is resilient, however, and in spite of increasing threats to their fundamental rights, they came out en masse to celebrate. The theme for this year’s parade was fittingly “The Beat Goes On,” and indeed it did, as throngs of both Houston residents and visitors alike participated in a jubilant celebration of all things queer.
Here’s the best and brightest from the city’s Pride month close-out.
