‘Not getting along’: City calls for Pride organizations to privately address differences

Council member Mario Castillo has been optimistic that Houston’s two Pride organizations can come together or, at the very least, work together. But as Pride month gets closer, he’s adjusted his expectations.

“For me, what would be a success is for them to coexist as two organizations celebrating Pride and putting on activities for the community,” Castillo said. “I think the key is for them to work out their differences privately and not let that be part of the discussion or the narrative.”

Castillo has become the city’s most vocal proponent of unity between the two groups in recent weeks ever since the tensions reached City Hall. Other city officials and community leaders have echoed the need for the rift to be fixed behind closed doors. But as of Thursday, a meeting between the two organizations was canceled amid continuous disagreements.

Over the last few weeks, Castillo has organized and held meetings with each organization: Houston Pride 365, which is celebrating its 46th annual festival and parade on June 29, and Houston’s New Faces of Pride, which will hold its inaugural parade also in downtown Houston a week before on June 22.

The entire City Council and Mayor John Whitmire were introduced to the public feud between the two over the last month, as representatives stood before the council during public comments to air their grievances.

“They are clearly not getting along, which is unfortunate, because in my opinion, that is harming the community and goes against the spirit of what we celebrate in Pride,” Castillo said.

Whitmire has equally shared Castillo’s disappointment and vowed to do his part to bring the two parties together, but acknowledged that Castillo — an openly gay council member — was probably in a better position to spark unity.

Hunny Phillips, the founder of Fort Bend County Pride, which will host its inaugural pride celebration this August, attended the meeting and suggested that the two groups work through their differences privately.

“It’s affecting other people in the community,” Phillips said. “I’m representing Fort Bend County Pride and I’m not battling with Katy Pride…. We help each other.”

The meeting eventually became overshadowed by the lingering tension — so much so that two attendees stormed out in frustration. Toward the end of the meeting, both pride groups agreed to meet privately on May 10.

This agreement fell through by Wednesday, after back-and-forth email exchanges.

The board of directors for Pride Houston had sent a letter to leaders of New Faces of Pride asking them to “refrain from making any further negative remarks about Pride Houston,” as a condition to meet.

“We believe that mutual respect and professionalism are essential for productive discussions,” read a May 1 letter shared with the Houston Landing.

In an email response, Cotton called Pride Houston’s requests “outlandish.”

“I understand your desire to keep this from the public but that is not something we are willing to do,” he said. “We are more than happy to meet and discuss how we might work together but it will not be with any conditions. Our goal is what is best for the community, not what is best for Pride Houston.”

Shortly after this message from New Faces was sent to Pride Houston officials, Walker said the board was meeting to draft a response.

“Transparency and honesty are the cornerstones of Pride Houston, and we will only collaborate with organizations that engage with us in good faith and refrain from disparagement,” Pride Houston’s last response states.

What would a solution look like?

With two Pride Parades coming to downtown Houston in less than 90 days, Castillo acknowledged that there is little to no hope for these events to merge. But what he thinks can and should change is the overall message going out to the community.

“I think the key is just for them to work out their differences privately and not let that be a part of the discussion and the narrative,” he said.

Healthy competition could stand to benefit the community, Castillo said, but the negative narrative that has been slung between the two groups could hurt the organizations and the message of unity.

The next step for him as a city representative and member of the LGBTQ+ community is to attend both Pride events and stay connected to resources, he said, such as city advisory boards that might address challenges such as this one.

The Mayor’s Office LGBTQ Advisory Board, an initiative launched by former Mayor Sylvester Turner’s administration, serves to provide advice and recommendations on issues that impact the LGBTQ+ community.

The board has been in a “holding pattern” since November 2023 due to the election cycle, according to current board chair and Bunnies on the Bayou president Jacques Bourgeois.

But the board is in the process of revamping in time for Pride month in June, he said, with its first meeting scheduled for May 15.

Bourgeois said he wanted to give the new mayor time to settle into his role before bombarding him, but after hearing Whitmire’s comments at city council, he’s eager to meet with him.

“I was like, ‘Oh, we’re gonna be besties on this one,’” Bourgeois said, adding he wholeheartedly agrees with the mayor’s comments on competing prides being a waste of city resources.

He is not against having two Prides, Bourgeois said, but would prefer to see a second pride parade and festival in cooler seasons rather than a week apart.

“It’s less about community, and it feels more petty,” he said.

At the end of the day, the average person attending either of the two parades might not even realize which organization is behind the celebration they choose to attend, Castillo said. But he fears that the ripple effect of continuous divisive language can distract from the many challenges impacting the LGBTQ+ community.

“There might not be a resolution here,” Castillo said. “But I have to try because I know that the implications, they’re real.”