Category Archives: Gay Texas
Gay Dallas Events This Month – Cedar Springs Art Festival and Purple Party
We just got back from
a great trip to Dallas!
With a diverse and vibrant GLBT community, Dallas welcomes travelers and residents to come out and enjoy the many things that make this progressive city one of the most gay-friendly cities in the United States. A huge selection of hot nightlife , fantastic dining options, fabulous shopping and the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation.
THIS WEEKEND,
is the 2nd Annual Cedar Springs Art Fest .
April 24th, 10 am – 7 pm.
Street closed from 7:00 am – 10:00 pm.
Free Community Art Festival with great artwork, fabulous artists, fun, food, drink and entertainment.
Cedar Springs road is the most eclectic street in Dallas and the heart of the gay neighborhood / Oaklawn.
Oak Lawn is known for its good restaurants, as well as its many bars and clubs. (In particular those catering to the LGBT community of Dallas.) Running through the center of Oak Lawn from downtown to Love Field is Cedar Springs Road, which has housed the center of the Dallas gay community for over 35 years at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Throckmorton Street.
This Arts Festival benefits the CSMA’s efforts to beatify Cedar Springs. “You won’t find us trying to sell fried sodas…or stuff with a ‘Made in China’ sticker.” Gus Klein, 2009 Event Director.
NEXT WEEKEND, is the annual Purple Foundation’s PURPLE PARTY . As they approach their 10th year, Purple Foundation is extremely proud of the accomplishments they have made thus far, donating in excess of $250,000 to beneficiaries. This year’s beneficiary is AIDS Services of Dallas.
The Annual Party Weekend brings together LGBT people from across the country to enjoy some of the top DJs, entertainers and performers both nationwide and local.
VOTED ONE OF THE BEST DANCE PARTY WEEKENDS IN THE COUNTRY, Purple Party offers 10 events total April 30th – May 2nd. Top DJs will include Chris Cox, Joe Gauthreaux, Bryan Konrad, Power, Alyson Calagna, and Michael Tank. While some party weekends can cost as much as $400 to attend all the parties, Purple Party offers an affordable pass for $120 which gets you access to ALL 10 events!
“For the first time all the many different influences, personalities and individuals who make up our dance community are unifying their efforts to help create this vision for a good cause. Purple is about COMMUNITY and showing our friends throughout the nation how this huge amount of talent, energy and resources can be pulled together for a common cause.”
Gay Houston Lesbian Mayor Annise Parker Brings Strength To This Texas City
Hopes to Help Turn Houston Into
a Gay Hot Spot.
Houston voters made history last December, electing the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city. Annise Parker, 53 leads the nation’s fourth largest metropolis.
As the fourth-largest city in the nation, MY GAY HOUSTON’s LGBT scene remains as diverse and vibrant as its more than 5 million residents. Its blend of world-class culture and an anything-goes attitude make this city on the bayou a great getaway for the discerning gay traveler.
From the pedestrian-friendly Montrose neighborhood to downtown and the historic Heights, Houston has something for everyone, all seven days of the week. Read on for picks on where to be and what to see..
The city launched a campaign titled “My Gay Houston,” featuring gay Houstonians in print advertisements and on a newly-revamped website, as their latest effort in a years-old gay campaign. For some time now, Houston has been trying to promote themselves as gay-friendly and gay-welcoming. Hopefully with Annise at the helm of the city, this campaign will get a boost.
Greg Ortale is CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. In an interview, he readily admitted that the city’s efforts to attract the gay and lesbian market had “clearly benefitted” from the election results.
“Whether in good economic times or bad, you want [gay and lesbian] travelers in your city,” Ortale told EDGE. “To assume we’re going to ignore a major traveling market is ludicrous. It doesn’t make a difference to us.
“We’re proud of what our city offers in arts, sports with our food scene and retail. We can back up our destination against anybody else’s.”
Despite pockets of liberal tolerance such as Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Austin, Texas ranks relatively low for gay rights. Its state constitution specifically bans same-sex marriage.
Regardless, Houston’s marketing team seems committed to its gay-friendly stamp. The tourism board continues its collaboration with the community’s LGBT organizations. More news from Houston soon!
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Houston Becomes Biggest US city to Elect Openly Gay Mayor
Houston became the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to City Controller Annise Parker after a hotly contested runoff.
Parker defeated former city attorney Gene Locke with 53.6 percent of the vote Saturday in a race that had a turnout of only 16.5 percent.
“This election has changed the world for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. Just as it is about transforming the lives of all Houstonians for the better, and that’s what my administration will be about,” Parker told supporters after Locke conceded defeat.
Parker, 53, has never made a secret or an issue of her sexual orientation. But it became the focus of the race after anti-gay activists and conservative religious groups endorsed Locke and sent out mailers condemning Parker’s “homosexual behavior.”
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