Houston Members' Reception

Since 1995, Texas Freedom Network has stood shoulder to shoulder with Texans fighting for freedom. Together, we’re building a powerful statewide movement to defend public education, protect the separation of church and state, and expand access to the ballot box.

With more than 180,000 supporters across Texas, TFN is organizing, mobilizing, and holding decision-makers accountable — because we’re going all in for Texas! Join us as we gather with our Houston community to celebrate our movement, honor local leaders, and fuel the work ahead.

2026 Houston Members’ Reception
Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 6 – 8 PM
Eldorado Ballroom
2310 Elgin St, Houston, Texas 77004

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Ian Haddock
TFN Power in Action Award

Ian L. Haddock is the Founder and Executive Director of The Normal Anomaly Initiative. For more than a decade, he has advanced the rights, visibility, and lived experiences of Queer People of Color through leadership roles across local, county, regional, and national organizations.

He currently serves a two- year term on the Houston Mayor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, as a Patient Ambassador for a pharmaceutical company, and as the Principal Investigator of a regional study.

From 2017-2021, Haddock served as President of Impulse Group Houston, and recently finished his term as a Board Member of the Texas Pride Community Foundation. He sits as an Advisory Board Member for Outsmart Foundation for LGBTQ+ News and Media. As a writer and cultural commentator, he has published work in Out Magazine, The Grio, Logo/NewNowNext, the Houston Chronicle, and The Statesman. His voice and advocacy have also led to appearances on The Jennifer Hudson Show and other local, regional and national television outlets. He has become a prolific keynote speaker as he delivers heartfelt speeches for entities such as The Baby Steward Foundation, St. Peter United Church of Christ, and The Montrose Center.

Haddock’s work has earned national recognition, including a GLAAD Media Award and induction into the prestigious OUT100 Class of 2025. He has also been named on the international list of 40 under 40 Public Health Catalyst in the Boston Congress of Public Health, curators of the Harvard Public Health Review Journal. He has been honored with the Legend Award at the National African American Gay Men’s Leadership Conference and has received numerous accolades such as the Living Legend recognition (Commissioner Rodney Ellis), Hometown Hero Award (Carolyn Taylor Lee Foundation), and the Bayard Rustin Civil Rights Award (Houston LGBT Political Caucus).

Hayden Cohen
TFN Emerging Power Builder Award

Hayden Cohen is an activist, student, and dedicated advocate for youth visibility in policy making. Their journey in activism began in high school, where they worked to improve health education curriculum and served as Gender-Sexuality Alliance president for three years.

Now, Hayden is the State Policy Director for Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), a movement of young people developing transferable skills and ensuring youth representation in policymaking. In this role, they’ve testified before Texas legislative committees and the State Board of Education, engaged directly with legislators, and empowered students to advocate for themselves. Their work has been instrumental in fighting censorship efforts and advancing policies that protect LGBTQ+ students and marginalized youth.

Hayden is also a passionate advocate for voter registration and education, serving as a Deputy Voter Registrar and introducing a high school voter registration bill. Their dedication to activism has earned them national and local recognition, including being named to Teen Vogue’s 20 Under 20 for 2024, OutSmart Magazine’s Most Prominent Youth Activist of 2024, and Houston Pride Grand Marshall for 2025. They are currently pursuing a degree in social work at University of Houston-Downtown and remain committed to building a more inclusive and equitable future for young people in Texas.

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