Texas Rising celebrated Pride Month 2025 throughout June as an act of resistance and community building amid constant attacks on LGBTQIA+ people at the state and national levels.
Each June in the sweltering heat, people across Texas and beyond gather to celebrate our queer and trans community for Pride Month.
A lot has happened since the first Pride Parade in 1970, a year after the 1969 Stonewall Riots.
Just this month, we honored the ten-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2015.
Yet this June 2025, that same Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to transgender youth with its ruling in Skrmetti v. U.S., which upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
From parades to markets and street parties, jubilant Pride Month moments often take place while very present attacks at the local, state, and national level on LGBTQIA+ people are happening in the backdrop.
Just as our LGBTQIA+ ancestors always knew, the only way forward is to build community and dedicate ourselves to creating a Texas where LGBTQIA+ people are safe and embraced.
Texas Rising, Texas Freedom Network’s youth-led program focused on promoting equality and social justice for all Texans – especially young Texans of color – by organizing, advocating, voting, and training future leaders, was out creating that community of resistance during Pride Month across the state this June.
As we reflect on another powerful, essential Pride Month, Texas Rising staff are here to share how our mission fights for queer liberation and the importance of Pride Month celebrations as we chart our path to progress.
Jasmine Tellez (she/they) | Texas Rising South Houston & Nacogdoches Regional Program Manager
“I looked forward to Pride 2025 all week! This is one of the few places in Texas where I’m not afraid of being alone or othered. There are people here who think like me, look like me, or believe like me. At Pride, there is a mutual understanding. Here we are free to just be without worry of judgment. Here we celebrate joy, love, and creativity! Everywhere you look, there is glitter, color, and love.”
“As I made my walk towards the Houston Pride festival entrance, poster and electrolytes in hand, the first experience you are greeted with at each entrance as a festival attendee is predominantly white, small, and scattered groups of people with microphones or on pedestals shouting and preaching. The top message? We are all going to hell and need to be saved.
“Being greeted with condemnation upon entry for pride has been my experience every year and serves as a reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done here in Texas.
“I looked forward to Pride all week! This is one of the few places in Texas where I’m not afraid of being alone or othered. There are people here who think like me, look like me, or believe like me. At Pride, there is a mutual understanding. Here we are free to just be without worry of judgment. Here we celebrate joy, love, and creativity! Everywhere you look, there is glitter, color, and love.
“As I stood in front of our table with my ‘ask me about voting, advocacy, and your rights’ sign, taking in the diversity of people and joy, a festival goer stopped and asked me what motivated me to be there helping others register to vote and pushing our advocacy efforts.
“I responded with a spiel, hoping it would motivate him to take action, not just ask about it. The reality is I was there because I can’t afford not to be! I love Texas, and I am personally affected by the hateful policies currently being pushed in our state and nation; it’s not ‘just politics’ to me.
“At the University of Houston, after SB 17 passed and the loss of the LGBTQ Resource Center, Texas Rising held an LGBTQIA+ Town Hall. We heard from our LGBTQ University of Houston Director and other students. As an organization on campus, we were left to deal with the fallout of losing a space that made everyone welcome and safe. This year, we’re hoping to strengthen the support and effort to continue filling those gaps on campus by starting an LGBTQ coalition at the University of Houston with other LGBTQIA+ organizations and allies. This Fall, we will also be hosting the Cougar Ally Training for students, faculty, and staff that was eliminated after SB 17 went into effect. Anyone on campus can take this training and we’ll help you become more well-versed on how you can be an ally to your queer friends and loved ones.
“All we are hoping to do is create safe and inclusive spaces—spaces where you are not told that you are oppressed, that who you are is wrong, and that you need to be saved or face damnation. We are looking to create a space on campus where everyone feels safe and welcome.”
Michael Gutierrez (he/they) | Texas Rising El Paso Regional Program Manager
“In Texas, Pride is necessary. Our existence is still politicized, our rights are under attack, and fear continues to silence too many. But in these spaces, we reclaim our power and show that we are still here, resilient, proud, and unafraid.”
“Being in the community during our Pride events felt like coming home. The energy was vibrant, joyful, and full of love. Folks showed up to celebrate not only who we are today, but where we’ve been and the future we’re fighting for together. We laughed, danced, hugged, and held space for one another, and it was a reminder that we are strongest when we’re united. In Texas, Pride is necessary. Our existence is still politicized, our rights are under attack, and fear continues to silence too many. But in these spaces, we reclaim our power and show that we are still here, resilient, proud, and unafraid.
“Through Texas Rising in El Paso, we fight every day for LGBTQIA+ equality, from pushing for inclusive policies in city and county government, to celebrating International Drag Day and Transgender Day of Remembrance, to supporting local coalitions and youth organizing. We advocate for a world where every queer person is seen, safe, and celebrated. We honor our queer ancestors by continuing the work they started, placing our love and hope in our people and our communities.”
Bella Nieto (she/her) | Texas Rising San Antonio & San Marcos Regional Program Manager
“Pride celebrations are still essential in Texas, especially in 2025, because they create spaces of safety, visibility, and collective power in the face of ongoing political attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights.”
“Being in community with folks at summer Pride events was affirming and magical. Feeling the joy and relief of people finally being able to show up fully as themselves is always so special. Pride celebrations are still essential in Texas, especially in 2025, because they create spaces of safety, visibility, and collective power in the face of ongoing political attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights. Seeing people connect, support each other, and celebrate reminded me why we keep fighting.”
Yesenia Mendoza (she/her) | Texas Rising Austin Regional Program Manager
“For us at Texas Rising, we know that being present at campus and community events is crucial so that we can continue being a safe space for everyone, but especially for members of the LGBTQIA+ community who are continuously being targeted by the far right.”
“Despite all of the bills passed this legislative session, there were still plenty of people willing to show up at Pride events this month, proving the resilience of the community and its allies. I think that for many folks, including myself, Pride events this year felt like a moment to celebrate the small wins but also served as a demonstration of resistance, which is why it’s so important that we continue to show up and show out for our communities. For us at Texas Rising, we know that being present at campus and community events is crucial so that we can continue being a safe space for everyone, but especially for members of the LGBTQIA+ community who are continuously being targeted by the far right.”
