Houston Chronicle

New Faces of Pride to be revealed at party

- By Joey Guerra STAFF WRITER

Houston’s New Faces of Pride will be revealed this week. And one of the city’s most popular drag entertaine­rs will be at the party.

Blackberri, who is currently competing on the Shudder TV series “Dragula,” will perform at the Houston’s New Faces of Pride Kickoff Celebratio­n. The free event runs 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Rich’s (formerly ReBar), 202 Tuam.

Bryan Cotton, president of Houston’s New Faces of Pride, will introduce the organizati­on and its plans for year-round activities. The 2024 parade and festival theme will be revealed, along with beneficiar­ies. You can RSVP online on eventbrite.com

The nonprofit, billed as a “dynamic and inclusive Pride organizati­on,” has planned a June 22 parade and festival to be held at the Fish Plaza, located at the entrance of the Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. The parade will start at City Hall and run down Travis to Jefferson.

Pride Houston 365, the city’s long-running LGBTQ+ parade and festival organizer, is holding its 46th annual celebratio­n a week later. Pride Houston 365 has filed a trademark infringeme­nt lawsuit against Houston’s New Faces of Pride, claming the similarity in names and logos has confused vendors, volunteers and attendees. Last year, Pride Houston 365 scrapped the festival altogether.

“Houston has been underserve­d and not given the Pride it deserves for years,” says Donald J. Simon III, treasurer for Houston’s New Faces of Pride. “We strive to build an organizati­on built on transparen­cy and diversity that will raise awareness and funds for the LGBTQ+ community in Houston.”

 ?? Yitty ?? Local drag queen Blackberri will perform Thursday at the New Faces of Pride kickoff.
Yitty Local drag queen Blackberri will perform Thursday at the New Faces of Pride kickoff.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States