Houston’s LGBTQ Mayoral Advisory Board

08/05/2026

From helping give voice to the community through KPFT’s Wilde-N-Stein and later Q***r Voices, to his early leadership within the Caucus, the Montrose Activity Center, and Houston Pride, Jack Valinski has been a tireless advocate, organizer, and historian of our community. Jack was instrumental in growing Houston Pride into its own organization and championed the move to a nighttime Pride Parade in 1997 (in Houston... we call that a lifesaver!)

Today, that same commitment is helping shape the future of Montrose. Thanks in large part to Jack’s persistence and collaboration with community leaders, the historic Montrose Banner District is being revived, bringing rainbow Pride banners back along Westheimer as a visible reminder of the neighborhood’s LGBTQ+ heritage.

Thank you, Jack, for your decades of service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to equality, visibility, and community. Houston is a more inclusive and welcoming city because of your work. Your efforts have helped preserve our history while inspiring the next generation of advocates to carry it forward.

Thank you as well to Mayor Whitmire, Council Members Castillo, Panzarella, and Salinas, alongside former Council Member Kamin and Houston Planning & Development Department for helping to ensure this important part of Houston and its history is acknowledged and preserved.

For more information on many of Houston's LGBTQ+ community heroes, check out The Banner Project - An Exhibition of Houston LGBTQ History: https://www.houstonlgbthistory.org/banner1.html

07/16/2026

The Advisory Board invites community members to join us at our August meeting to learn about board initiatives, hear updates, and share public comment. The meeting will be held in person at the Montrose Center and virtually via Microsoft Teams.

We are excited to welcome the community to the conversation and encourage your participation. Please note that public comments are limited to 3 minutes per speaker, and RSVP is required.

RSVP: https://forms.office.com/r/AJJ0QdBDxy

We hope you'll join us!

06/30/2026

Today is the LAST DAY to participate in this LGTBQ+ panel survey. Your voice… your perspective… your lived experience… is needed. If you identify, please consider taking 5 minutes to complete this survey.

06/16/2026

Join the Greater Houston LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce this week at its “Pride edition” 3rd Thursday Breakfast featuring a conversation on LGBTQ+ representation in civic leadership with our Chair, Clay Melder, and Kylie McNaught, Co Chair of the Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission

📅 Thursday, June 18
🕗 8-9:30 a.m.
📍 Cadillac Bar, 1802 Shepherd Dr.

Registration closes at noon on Wednesday, June 17. Reserve your seat… link in comments.

🌈 Fuel your morning. Power your network. Join us for a Pride Edition of the 3rd Thursday Breakfast.

The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce invites you to one of our most popular monthly gatherings—bringing together 130–150+ LGBTQ+ and allied business owners, professionals, nonprofits, and community members from across Greater Houston.

📆 Thursday, June 18, 2026
🕗 8:00 – 9:30 AM
📍 Cadillac Bar | 1802 Shepherd Drive
🌟 Sponsored by: Bering Memorial United Church of Christ

This special Pride Month edition will feature a powerful fireside chat on LGBTQ+ representation in civic leadership, moderated by our Director of Corporate Relations, Ryan Wilson, with guest speakers:
Kylie McNaught, Vice Chair, Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission, and Clay Melder, Chair, Mayor’s Advisory Board on LGBTQ+ Affairs.

Every pre-registered attendee will receive a Houston Astros Pride Vest—so be sure to register early and secure yours.

Registration closes at noon on Wednesday, June 17, with early bird pricing available through June 10.

Secure your seat, show up, and start your morning with connection, visibility, and community: https://ow.ly/LF9U50Z9wkU

06/11/2026

Today marks an important milestone for Houston’s LGBTQ+ community.

As part of the FY2027 budget, an amendment making the LGBTQ Empowerment Coordinator position a full-time role has officially passed. Beginning July 1, this position will be elevated to full-time status, ensuring greater capacity to serve, support, and advocate for LGBTQ Houstonians.

Thank you to Councilmember Mario Castillo for championing this effort, Mayor John Whitmire for supporting, and the current and former members of the Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board whose dedication helped move this initiative forward.

It is important every resident is seen, valued, and empowered in our city.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen.

06/06/2026

Update from Pride Houston 365 🏳️‍🌈

• • • IMPORTANT PRIDE UPDATE • • •

With heavy hearts, and out of concern for the safety of our community, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2026 Pride Houston 365 Parade due to severe weather and flooding conditions.

The safety of our attendees, participants, volunteers, and staff must come first.

The Pride Houston 365 Festival will remain open until 7 PM at Houston City Hall, and we welcome everyone who can safely attend to join us in celebrating our community.

We have spoken with the Mayor’s Office and have strong support from the community and state representatives as we explore options to reschedule the parade. A roundtable discussion will be held with stakeholders to review potential dates between July 19 and October 31. We will keep our community updated as plans develop.

Thank you for your understanding, support, and continued Pride. Please stay safe and take care of one another.

Board of Directors
Pride Houston 365

06/05/2026

Houston's Pride 2026 events don't stop after the parade and festival! Here is a comprehensive list of events throughout Pride Month to help folks keep the celebration going!

Plan your Houston Pride Month with our guide to 20+ all-out LGBTQ+ nightlife events, DJ sets, drag shows & more in Greater Houston in June 2026.

06/05/2026

Planning to attend Pride Fest and/or Parade this weekend? Here is everything you need to know! 👇

This year will mark the first time in Pride Houston's 48-year history that the festival and parade will kick off Pride Month instead of closing it, organizers said.

03/31/2026

Today, on Trans Day of Visibility, we honor and celebrate the strength, joy, and resilience of transgender and nonbinary people in our communities.

At a time when trans individuals continue to face disproportionate challenges—especially in access to affirming healthcare, mental health support, and basic safety—it’s more important than ever to center wellness in all its forms. Trans wellness means more than just care; it means dignity, protection, belonging, and the freedom to live authentically.

We see you. We value you. And we remain committed to building a community where trans people are not only visible, but supported, safe, and thriving—every day of the year.