New faces of Houston Pride 2024: Revelers flock to downtown to welcome city’s new LGBTQ+ celebration

Houston, Texas — The city’s new LGBTQ+ Pride celebration has officially kicked off with a full day of festivities planned in downtown Houston.

The new faces of Houston pride opened at noon Saturday, drawing thousands to City Hall.

The celebration recognizes the contributions and concerns of Houston’s LGBTQ+ community, with a focus on unity, inclusion and empowerment.

ABC13 will live stream all the sights and sounds of the New Faces of Houston Pride Parade tonight at 7:30 p.m. CDT

Many artists will take the festival stage throughout the afternoon and early evening, including sets from openly gay country artists Chris Housman and Billy Gilman.

Five grand marshals were announced last month for the 2024 parade, and the New Faces chose “Rainbow Revolution” as the theme for their inaugural events.

New Faces of Houston Pride Parade Route

• The parade starts on Smith St. at Lamar St., heading north
• East (right) on Walker Street.
• South (right) on Milam Street.
• Dissolves at Milam St. and Jefferson St.

President Bryan Cotton told ABC13 he already felt a sense of accomplishment, even before the parade started on Smith St.

“We saw a need in the community and we responded to it,” Cotton said. “It was about supporting, elevating and highlighting other small nonprofits in the community that are doing amazing things. This is our lane that we strive to stay in.”

The new organization made its debut last fall by announcing it would hold its own Pride parade and festival a week before the Pride Houston celebration.

Vice President Felicia Flores said her team immediately got to work serving the LGBTQ+ community, leveraging their platform to help provide homeless youth at Grace Place and Tony’s Place with jackets and bags backpack for the winter.

Each month, the organization hosts a community happy hour to help amplify the work of inclusive nonprofits.

Cotton also said New Faces has sought in its first year to widen the tent when it comes to inclusion and representation, reflecting all parts of the LGBTQ+ community.

After the show, New Faces will invade Post Houston for their Planet Pink afterparty from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Click here for more ticket information.

ABC13 is proud to be the official media partner of Houston’s New Faces of Pride.