Not even the torrential June rains or the World Cup can stop the Houston Pride Parade from making its way though the streets of downtown. Much like a drag queen’s fake nail, the city’s LGBTQ community and supporters have pressed on to keep the twice-rescheduled parade on its slightly delayed yet indefatigable tracks for a 48th year. It is free and open to everyone.
On Saturday, the stage and grandstand will open at 5 p.m. followed by the parade at 7 p.m., sans its traditional daylong festival. The parade route will center around City Hall with the route taking floats and walking groups from the intersection of Lamar and Smith northbound to Walker. After a right on Walker, the parade will continue along to Milam. It will then turn right and conclude at the intersection of Milam and Pease.
The 2025 parade was attended by an estimated 200,000 people, which solidly places it as one of the most attended pride parades in the country.
To help the Houston Press understand what goes into the making the pride parade something to be, well, proud of, one upcoming participant shared the details of what it’s like to be publicly voted as a grand marshal and the meaning behind the yearly pride festivities.
“Pride is about being able to live openly and in your truth while remembering the people who fought to make that possible,” said Dr. Roy Rivera, Jr., owner of Elation Physical Therapy and this year’s male-presenting grand marshal. “Yes, it’s a celebration, but it is also visibility, community and standing up for one another.”
Having come out of the closet at 15 years old, Rivera, Jr. said he had no real role models or mentors to guide him through the process, so he views the parade as a way for a young person to see LGBTQ people living full, successful, happy lives.
“Pride reminds me that we get to be that example for the next generation,” he said. “We’re giving them permission and grace to be themselves. This is the soul of Pride in my opinion.”
He will ride in one of the grand marshal floats at the head of the parade, which is a little out of the ordinary for him. He usually enters a Pride float for his small business, which he says is very rewarding for him and his staff.
“Bringing the staff together to celebrate and make history is incredibly awesome to see. Plus, just seeing the sheer number of people who show up to celebrate and support our community is enough to make anyone never forget,” he said. “There is something powerful about looking around and seeing families, allies, young people, longtime activists and people attending their very first Pride all in the same space. Every year feels a little different, but that sense of community is always what sticks with me.”
Rivera, Jr. will be joined or represented by the other grand marshals:
- Organizational Grand Marshal Heavy Hitters
- Ally Grand Marshal Mandy Giles
- Female Identifying Grand Marshal Ashley Barnes
- Gender Non-Conforming/Non-Binary Grand Marshal Flawless Oz
- Distinguished Grand Marshal Jack Berger
- Distinguished Grand Marshal Brad Pritchett
- Distinguished Grand Marshal Kennedy Loftin (posthumously)
- Distinguished Grand Marshal Carl Han (posthumously)
- Distinguished Grand Marshal Judy Reeves
- Trendsetter Grand Marshal D’Trique Fitzgerald
Rivera, Jr. said being elected by the public as a grand marshal was a happy yet unexpected milestone for him.
“I was genuinely shocked at first but then was incredibly grateful. I thought about the 15-year-old ashamed version of me growing up in the Rio Grande Valley who never imagined something like this would happen,” he said. “To now have the opportunity to represent an entire community in one of the largest cities in the country that has given me so much is incredibly meaningful. I don’t take that responsibility lightly. I’ll definitely be wearing this badge of honor for the rest of my life. I’m part of Houston LGBTQ history, and I wouldn’t have things any other way. It’s truly a humbling experience.”
The parade, as Rivera, Jr. sees it, is a microcosm of Houston’s culture and part of the fabric of what makes the city’s composition so unique.
“I think Houston Pride shows people that our city is incredibly diverse, and our LGBTQ community is woven into every part of it,” he said. “We’re healthcare professionals, business owners, educators, parents, artists, public servants, neighbors and everything in between. Showing up visibly reminds people that LGBTQ Houstonians aren’t some separate community. We are Houston.”
The Pride Parade might happen only once a year, but Pride is something that happens each day of the year, and it’s something he feels is worth fighting for to preserve.
“I think it’s important that we never take Pride for granted. We absolutely should celebrate how far we’ve come [as a community and country], but there is still work to do around safety, healthcare, education, economic opportunity and making sure every part of our community feels represented. For me, being a Grand Marshal isn’t just about riding in a parade or walking with a bunch of my friends and family. It’s another opportunity to use whatever visibility I have to hopefully make a few more doors easier to open for the people coming behind us.”
The Houston Pride parade will line the downtown streets at 5 p.m. with a 7 p.m. start time on Saturday, August 15. For information, visit pridehouston.org. Free.
