[Press Conference: “Families with Pride 2025” on October 18, 2025.]
[00:00:16]
HAPPY L-G-B-T-Q HISTORY MONTH.
I WANNA WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR FOURTH ANNUAL FAMILIES WITH PRIDE FESTIVAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREATER HOUSTON L-G-B-T-Q CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHO HAS BEEN A STEADFAST PARTNER SINCE DAY ONE, AND OF COURSE DISCOVERY GREEN, WHO OPENS UP THEIR INCREDIBLE SPACE TO US AS A TRUSTED PARTNER.
I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE WAVE YOUR HAND OR STEP FORWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO, COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN, OUR AMAZING CONGRESSWOMAN, LIZZIE FLETCHER, OUR TAX ASSESSOR, ANNETTE RAMIREZ, REPRESENTATIVE ANN JOHNSON, REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN ASHLEY SIMMONS.
WE ALSO HAVE WITH US HPD CHIEF MEGAN HOWARD.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE I'M GONNA BE INTRODUCING IN A MOMENT, BUT I DO WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE STANDING WITH YOU AND FOR YOU, AND THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE RIGHT NOW.
SO THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHERS THAT WANTED TO BE HERE, AND I HOPE EACH OF YOU KNOWS HOW HARD THAT EVERYONE IS FIGHTING FOR YOU.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA IS BIKING HIS WAY HERE RIGHT NOW.
COMMISSIONER WANTED TO BE HERE, BUT SHE JUST STEPPED IN TO SAVE KATIE PRIDE.
SO LET'S RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER BRIANIS FOR HER HARD WORK.
SO EVERY YEAR I START OFF SHARING HOW THIS FESTIVAL BECAME A REALITY.
FAMILIES WITH PRIDE WAS CREATED FOR HOUSTON FAMILIES BY HOUSTON FAMILIES.
SO MY FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, I WAS APPROACHED BY DISTRICT C RESIDENTS, INCLUDING BLAKE AND HIS HUSBAND SEAN, WHO IS HERE TOO, WHO IS HERE WITH THEIR BOYS.
AND THEY WANTED TO CELEBRATE PRIDE WITH THEIR FAMILY IN A SAFE, INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.
SOME WERE LGBTQIA PLUS IDENTIFYING FAMILIES AND OTHERS LIKE MINE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN GROW UP UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIDE, THE INTERSECTION WITH THE IN INCREDIBLE WORK OF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
AND WE WANNA CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT THOSE THAT WE LOVE.
SO WE'RE IN OUR FOURTH YEAR, OH MY GOODNESS, HOW IT HAS GROWN.
BUT FOR THE MEDIA, I HOPE YOU'LL CARRY THIS MESSAGE OF UNITY, OF HOPE AND STRENGTH.
THAT IS SOMETHING EACH OF US CAN HOLD FAST TO.
IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR, BUT ALL OF YOU VIEW, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TO GO OVER TO THAT TENT, THE HISTORY OF PRIDE, AND REMIND YOURSELVES OF THE HISTORY TO REMEMBER HOW FAR WE HAVE COME AND THAT WE ARE STILL HERE.
THEY CAN TRY TO ERASE THE HISTORY OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
THEY CAN TRY TO ERASE RAINBOWS, BUT THEY CANNOT WIN.
AS LONG AS EVERY SINGLE CHILD KNOWS THAT THEY ARE VALUED, THAT THEY ARE LOVED, THEY ARE SPECIAL AND PERFECT EXACTLY AS THEY ARE.
SO TODAY ISN'T ABOUT POLITICS.
TODAY IS ABOUT FUN FOR OUR KIDS.
WE HAVE PRIDE, STORY TIME IF YOU NEED TO COOL OFF WITH, UH, WE HAVE OUR RAINBOW MARKET.
THERE'S FREE PLANTS FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE GOT OUR WILD ANIMALS OVER THERE.
I THINK WE SAW A SNAKE AND A LIZARD.
WE HAVE FREE VACCINES FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
PLEASE GET YOUR FLU SHOT AND OTHER VACCINES, ARTS AND CRAFTS.
OUR LIBRARY DEPARTMENT HAS BOOKS.
I THINK ALSO LEGACY DOES TOO, RIGHT? YES, YES.
WE HAVE MAGICIANS FACE PAINTING A PHOTO BOOTH.
THERE ARE LOTS OF GREAT RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH TRYING TIMES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES AND A LOT OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE.
BUT NONE OF THAT WOULD BE MADE POSSIBLE WITHOUT TAMMY WALLACE AND THE LGBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
TAMMY, UH, AS I SAID EARLIER, TODAY IS A SHERO TO ALL OF US.
SHE'S THE CO-FOUNDER, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF HOUSTON'S LGBT CHAMBER.
[00:05:02]
YOU HAVE BEEN HERE, AS I SAID, SINCE DAY ONE.I CALLED YOU UP WHEN WE SPOKE WITH OUR FAMILIES.
HOW DO WE DO THIS? AND WE FIGURED IT OUT TOGETHER.
MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW THE HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE THAT YOU TAMMY HAVE MADE, THAT MERCEDES HAS MADE.
AND I'M GONNA START CRYING THE STAFF AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT THE CHAMBER, LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS TODAY.
BUT AS I CALL TAMMY UP TO SHARE A FEW WORDS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BE THIS BEACON OF HOPE AND STRENGTH, BUT YOU GIVE SO MUCH AND IT'S UP TO US TO GIVE BACK TO YOU.
IT IS TRULY WONDERFUL TO BE HERE SURROUNDED BY SO MANY BEAUTIFUL FAMILIES AND ALLIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CELEBRATING FAMILIES WITH PRIDE.
THIS EVENT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT REMINDER THAT PRIDE BEGINS AT HOME WHEN WE CREATE SPACES WHERE FAMILIES CAN SHOW UP TOGETHER AUTHENTICALLY, JOYFULLY.
I'M SEEING A LOT OF JOY TODAY AND SAFELY.
WE BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR THE INCLUSIVE FUTURE THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE.
ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER, WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO PARTNER WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN.
HER LEADERSHIP AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY CONTINUE TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER CAMAN, TRUE, TRUE CHAMPION FOR INCLUSION AND VISIBILITY.
AND A HUGE, HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNER AND ALSO OUR CHAMBER MEMBER DISCOVERY GREEN FOR WELCOMING THIS CELEBRATION AND HELPING CREATE A SPACE WHERE LOVE AND FAMILY CAN SHINE.
IT IS ABOUT JOY AND THE SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL TRUTH THAT EVERY EVERY FAMILY DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING A PART OF WHAT PRIDE IN ACTION LOOKS LIKE.
AND THIS IS THE LAST THING I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH WHEN YOU GET READY TO LEAVE TODAY.
VISIBILITY IS SO IMPORTANT, AS WE'VE LEARNED IN THE LAST WEEK.
PUT YOUR PICTURES UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA, HASHTAG FAMILIES WITH PRIDE.
BE PROUD THAT YOU ARE LGBTQ PLUS AND ALLIED FAMILIES.
BE PROUD OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GIVING UP.
AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE SO PROUD TO PARTNER WITH DISCOVERY GREEN AGAIN THIS YEAR.
CATHERINE LOT, OUR FEARLESS PRESIDENT OF THE PARK, HER THEIR TEAM IS INCREDIBLE.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR DISCOVERY GREEN REALLY QUICKLY.
UH, HERE'S TO MANY, MANY, MANY MORE YEARS IN THE PARK.
UH, BUT CATHERINE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS, I WOULD THANK YOU.
UM, WE HAVE A LITTLE SAYING HERE AT DISCOVERY GREEN AND THAT IS THE PARK IS ALWAYS BETTER WITH YOU IN IT.
UM, OUR MISSION IS TO BRING ALL PEOPLE, ALL COMMUNITIES TOGETHER HERE IN A SAFE SPACE TO CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES, TO CELEBRATE OUR SIMILARITIES, TO EDUCATE ONE ANOTHER AND SHARE IN A VERY MEANINGFUL WAY THE DIVERSITY AND THE VERY, VERY RICH CULTURAL FABRIC OF OUR CITY.
AND WE'RE SO PROUD OF HOUSTON AND HOUSTONIANS FOR STANDING TOGETHER AND MAKING SPACE FOR EVERY VOICE TO BE HEARD.
WE FIND THAT TO BE THE VERY PINNACLE ON WHICH WE STAND.
AND SO WHEN ABBY CAME IN CALLED AND SAID THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE HOME OF SUCH A SPECIAL, BEAUTIFUL EVENT THAT CELEBRATES FAMILIES, WE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE AND WE STILL CONSIDER IT SUCH A GREAT HONOR.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE HOUSTON THE BEST, RIGHT? AND SO I CAN'T SPEAK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT ABBY CAYMAN AND HER BEAUTIFUL TEAM AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK SO HARD ON THIS.
I KNOW IT'S HARD TO, UM, IMAGINE THE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT MAKE ALL OF THIS INCREDIBLE WORK POSSIBLE.
BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PASSION AND DILIGENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION, UM, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE THOSE TERMS WITHOUT THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE.
I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY CHROMA COLLECTIVE.
[00:10:01]
THAT ALSO CELEBRATES, UH, THE DIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SO THAT YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF REFLECTED TRULY IN THE ART.WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THIS AND WE HOPE THAT YOU KEEP COMING BACK AND CELEBRATING WITH US FOR YEARS TO COME.
AND MY GOD, I AM SO PROUD TO BE THE HOST, PARTNER OF THIS EVENT.
AND I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU ENJOY AND AND ENJOY YOUR DAY WITH PRIDE.
I WANNA THANK, UM, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, INCLUDING HPD, FOR GOING THE EXTRA MILE AND BEING WITH US.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM IN A MOMENT, BUT I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WHICH REFLECTS THE HOUSTON SUPPORT AND OUR BELIEF THAT Y'ALL MEANS ALL.
UH, FIRST COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS AND WE'LL HEAR FROM BLAKE IN JUST A MOMENT.
NRG, IKE SMART CITIES, CIGNA, COMCAST, CENTERPOINT, UNITED AIRLINES, OUTSMART MAGAZINE.
WE ALSO HAVE CHAMBER MEMBERS THAT CONTRIBUTED IN KINDS LIKE MICHAEL'S COOKIE JAR.
THERE'S PRIZES FOR ALL THE KIDS.
THERE'S FREE COOKIES, UH, DOG B AND B AND AUSSIE PET MOBILE GROOMING.
THEY HAVE PRIZES 'CAUSE AFTER THIS WE HAVE OUR PROUD PUPPY PARADE.
UH, COWBOYS AND INDIANS PROVIDED FOOD FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COCA-COLA PROVIDED WATER AND O OTHER DRINKS FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND IN ADDITION TO OUR SPONSORS, I REALLY HOPE THAT FOLKS WILL TAKE A MOMENT TO SEE THE GREAT STUFF THAT WE HAVE AROUND THE PARK.
THE BANNER PROJECT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND RICE.
UH, THEY HAVE THEIR PRIDE TENT, THE CAUCUS, WHOA, UH, HERE FOR A BIG GOTV PUSH.
EARLY VOTING STARTS ON MONDAY, RIGHT? DID I GET THAT RIGHT IN THAT MONDAY? NOT GONNA GO INTO TRYING TO STEAL ELECTIONS, BUT SHOW UP EQUALITY.
TEXAS, OUR LARGEST STATEWIDE NONPROFIT FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY, LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH MEETING, UNMET NEEDS AND GAPS IN HEALTH RELATED SERVICES.
GRACE PLACE, A SAFE SPACE FOR OUR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
MONTROSE CENTER, A COMMUNITY HUB WITH SUPPORT AND EMPOWERMENT SERVICES.
TONY'S PLACE OFFERS IMMEDIATE HOUSING AND LIVING NEEDS, UH, AND LIFE SKILLS SUPPORT FOR UNHOUSED YOUTH AND OUT FOR EDUCATION, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LGBTQI PLUS YOUTH.
AND WITH THAT, I TALKED A LOT ABOUT COMMUNITY.
SOMEBODY THAT IS STANDING UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN WASHINGTON EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SHE IS LEADING OUR TEXAS DELEGATION.
SHE IS RISEN TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL LEADERS IN CONGRESS.
WE ARE SO PROUD THAT YOU REPRESENT PRETTY MUCH THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICT C, BUT YOU REPRESENT ALL OF US, CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
I AM DELIGHTED TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN AT FAMILIES WITH PRIDE AT THE FOURTH ANNUAL FAMILIES WITH PRIDE.
AND I AM JUST DELIGHTED TO BE HERE WITH THESE INCREDIBLE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ON THE STAGE.
OF COURSE, ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE WITH THE CHAMBER AND WITH TAMMY AND ALL THE CHAMBER MEMBERS TO BE STANDING HERE WITH THESE INCREDIBLE ELECTED, UH, REPRESENTATIVES AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.
OF COURSE, I'M LOOKING AROUND ALL THESE CHAMPIONS UP HERE, UM, WHO ARE SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PARTNERS AND VOICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP.
UM, AND TO CELEBRATE WITH JOY, FAMILIES WITH PRIDE.
I THINK THAT THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING TO BE DOING IN THIS VERY DIFFICULT MOMENT.
YEAH, AND I DO WANNA THANK YOU IN PARTICULAR, COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN.
I WAS BACK IN WASHINGTON ON TUESDAY WHEN YOU LED PEOPLE FROM ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY AND RAISED THE ALARM ABOUT THE ATTACK FROM AUSTIN AND FROM WASHINGTON THAT IS HEADED RIGHT FOR THE PRIDE CROSSWALK IN MONTROSE AND RAISED THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY AND ACROSS THE STATE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THE EFFORTS.
AND WE'RE NOT GONNA FOCUS ON THEM TODAY, UM, TO, TO TO BRING US DOWN.
BUT WHAT I WANNA CELEBRATE TODAY IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO LIFT US UP.
AND YOU ARE A CHAMPION COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, AS ARE THE FOLKS WHO ARE STANDING HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AS HOUSTONIANS CAN CELEBRATE AND SHOW OUR PRIDE FOR THE INCREDIBLY DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE.
WHERE WE ARE EXCITED THAT YOU WANNA BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY, WHOEVER YOU ARE, THIS IS A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY HAS A HOME.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY AT FAMILIES WITH PRIDE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT CELEBRATING HOUSTON'S DIVERSE FAMILIES.
IT'S ALL ABOUT REMINDING EVERYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.
A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY IS WELCOME.
[00:15:01]
WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE A TEXAS SEVEN BOOTH HERE AND OUR CONSTITUENT ADVOCATES ARE HERE FOR ANYBODY WHO NEEDS HELP WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, WHICH COULD BE A LOT RIGHT NOW.UM, SO I JUST WANNA THANK OUR TEAM WHO ARE HERE AND WHO ARE HERE ON THE GROUND ALL THE TIME, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMAZING PEOPLE WHO ARE GATHERED HERE.
BUT REALLY, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE MESSAGE TO TAKE BACK TO WASHINGTON ABOUT WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE VALUE.
IT IS AN INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT EVERYONE IN THE SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND BEYOND IN SHOWING OUR PRIDE IN SHOWING WHAT THIS COMMUNITY IS.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
AND THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE COLLECTION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CELEBRATING TODAY AND WHO ARE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME AGAIN, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR STANDING UP.
I WILL ALWAYS FIGURATIVELY, IF NOT LITERALLY BE STANDING BESIDE YOU, SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTING OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY.
I'M PROUD TO BE A VICE CHAIR OF THE CONGRESSIONAL EQUALITY CAUCUS, WHERE WE ARE FIGHTING FOR THE EQUALITY ACT.
THAT IS THE MESSAGE FROM HOUSTON.
WE ARE GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN TOGETHER WITH EVERYBODY HERE.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
UH, AND NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BRING UP A FRIEND AND A TRUE FIGHTER.
BLAKE ELLIS, UH, COMMISSIONER BONA SINCE DAY ONE OF THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SPONSOR, SUPPORTER ADVOCATE.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW SHE WANTED TO BE HERE, BUT I WANNA EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HER AND HER OFFICE'S WORK STANDING UP FOR THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN KATIE WHEN THEY CANCELED KATIE PRIDE AT THE LAST MINUTE.
COMMISSIONER BRIANIS STEPPED UP AND SAID, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE WELCOME ALL AND IS NOW THE HOST.
SO AGAIN, WE WANNA THANK COMMISSIONER BRIANIS FOR HER LEADERSHIP.
BLAKE, ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UM, ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER BRIANIS, WE ARE HERE TO SAY THAT WHEN THEY TRY TO SILENCE OUR COMMUNITY, WE ONLY GET LOUDER WHEN THEY TRY TO CANCEL OUR PARTIES.
AND WHEN WE HAVE ALLIES LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, WE WILL STAND WITH THEM AND WE WILL CELEBRATE THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR YOUR TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP.
LIKE, LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS ON THIS STAGE, SHE MAY TECHNICALLY BE STRAIGHT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, NOBODY IS PERFECT, RIGHT? NOBODY IS PERFECT, BUT HAVE, HAVE YOU SEEN MY HUSBAND? THAT'S RIGHT.
WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR HUSBAND.
SO WE ARE SO, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE ALWAYS SPONSORED THIS EVENT BECAUSE IT, AT A TIME LIKE THIS, WHEN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK AT A TIME LIKE THIS, WHEN AN EVENT LIKE KAD PRIDE CAN JUST BE CANCELED AT THE LAST SECOND, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO STAND UP, TO SHOW UP TO THANK OUR ALLIES AND TO VOTE.
SO ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS, WHO'S GOING OUT TO KATIE PRIDE AND WHO CREATED OUR LGBTQIA PLUS COMMISSION ON HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER COURT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A VOICE, I JUST WANT TO SAY WE ARE WITH YOU.
WE SEE YOU, WE STAND WITH YOU.
AND SO ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THIS STAGE WHO ARE INCREDIBLE FRIENDS AND LEADERS, WE AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
WE ARE GONNA KEEP SHOWING UP, WE ARE GONNA KEEP FIGHTING.
AND WHEN WE DO IT, WE KNOW THAT WE'LL BE IN THE TRENCHES WITH THIS LEADER RIGHT HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND AS I SAID, I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS ON A BIKE HEADED OVER, BUT I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO SOME MAY NOT KNOW, HE WAS THE FIRST HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF TO WALK IN HOUSTON'S PRIDE PARADE AND WAS ACTUALLY THE FORCE BEHIND A 2020 RESOLUTION THAT MARKED THE FIRST TIME THE COUNTY RECOGNIZED PRIDE MONTH.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, JUST LIKE COMMISSIONER BRIANIS IS FIGHTING WHEN THE GAY SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES WAS NOT, WAS DENIED THEIR GRANT FUNDING THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN EVERY YEAR, HE AND THE COUNTY STEPPED UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GAY SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES COULD HAPPEN HERE THIS YEAR.
SO LET'S THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND HIS STAFF AND NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE CITY LEVEL.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARIO CASTILLO, COME HERE AS LOUD OF AN ALLY AS WE CAN EVER BE.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT ON HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT REPRESENT AND ARE A PART THE LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY.
AND I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU.
I LOVE WORKING WITH YOU AND STANDING ALONGSIDE YOU, BUT MOST PEOPLE KNOW WHO HE IS.
IF YOU DON'T, YOU NEED TO KNOW AND FOLLOW THIS GUY BECAUSE HE IS BEING AN INCREDIBLE LEADER, NOT JUST FOR DISTRICT AGE, BUT FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
[00:20:03]
THANK YOU.UM, I OFTEN TELL PEOPLE I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM HER 'CAUSE I'M A FRESHMAN COUNCIL MEMBER AND SHE IS A SECOND TERM COUNCIL MEMBER.
BUT I WANNA THANK HER AND THE CHAMBER AND ALL THE SPONSORS WHO HAVE MADE THIS EVENT HAPPEN TODAY.
AND FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THIS WEEK STARTED WITH THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
UH, A NUMBER OF US WERE THERE AND WE WERE THERE TO FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS TO BE SEEN AS A COMMUNITY.
AND NOW WE'RE CAPPING THE WEEK OFF WITH ANOTHER PRESS CONFERENCE, CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY, CELEBRATING OUR FAMILIES, COMING TOGETHER IN A MOMENT OF JOY, CELEBRATION, AND PRIDE.
AND WE REALLY NEED THAT RIGHT NOW.
UH, THIS, THE TIMING IS PERFECT FOR THIS BECAUSE WE AS A CITY WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT YOUR FAMILIES ARE SEEN, THEY'RE WELCOME.
THEY ARE PART OF OUR DIVERSE AND VIBRANT CITY, AND WE CELEBRATE THEM.
WE CELEBRATE THEM TODAY AT FAMILIES WITH PRIDE.
AND SO KNOW THAT DESPITE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AT THE CITY, YOU'RE WELCOMED, YOU'RE LOVED, YOU'RE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS MOMENT IS A GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE THAT.
SO I WANNA AGAIN, CONGRATULATE AND THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN FOR HER LEADERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN YEAR AFTER YEAR.
HER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHAMBER AND EVERYONE THAT IS SPONSORING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE, UH, WE AS A COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE EACH OTHER, TO LIFT EVERYONE UP, AND WE'RE ONLY GONNA CONTINUE TO GET STRONGER.
AND NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BRING UP TWO VERY FEW FIERCE WOMEN FROM OUR STATE HOUSE.
THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINES TO LITERALLY PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR ELECTIONS, BUT ALSO TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANN JOHNSON AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN ASHLEY SIMMONS AT A TIME WHEN HATRED IS ASKING FOLKS TO STEP AWAY FROM OUR COMMUNITY, I AM GRATEFUL THAT COUNCILWOMAN ABBY CAYMAN, DISCOVERY GREEN AND OUR SPONSORS CONTINUE TO STEP UP AND SAY, AND OF COURSE, THE CHAMBER, WE WILL REMAIN PRIDEFUL.
WE WILL REMAIN PROUD IN OUR HOUSTON FAMILIES AND OUR DIVERSITY.
AND SO, AGAIN, JUST GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TO BE PART OF THIS AMAZING EVENT.
IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO STAND IN FRONT OF MY COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATE PRIDE BEGAN AS AN ACT OF RESISTANCE.
AND IT IS STILL AN ACT OF RESISTANCE.
WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO SHOW UP.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FIGHT.
LET'S CELEBRATE, LET'S CELEBRATE.
LOOK AROUND YOU, LOOK AT THIS BEAUTY AND THINK BACK.
WE HAVE ANCESTORS, WE HAVE LOVED ONES WHO DIDN'T GET TO RELISH IN THEIR IDENTITY AND BE WHO THEY ARE.
SO WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE FOR THEM.
WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PAST.
WE HAVE TO LIVE FOR THE FUTURE.
AND WE HAVE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED AND WE AIN'T GOING NOWHERE.
UH, ANOTHER SHERO OF MINE, UH, OUR TAX ASSESSOR, ANNETTE RAMIREZ, WHO IS DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS.
SHE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU COME ON.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK, UH, MY DEAR FRIEND ABBY CAYMAN AND OF COURSE THE CHAMBER.
UM, THEY CREATED A SPACE HERE WHERE FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND ALLIES CAN COME TOGETHER TO BE SEEN AND CELEBRATED.
AND AS A VERY PROUD ALLY, I STAND WITH YOU IN SUPPORT OF LOVE, PRIDE, VISIBILITY, AND INCLUSION.
BECAUSE EVERY HOUSTON FAMILY DESERVES TO BE EMBRACED EXACTLY HOW THEY ARE AS YOUR HARRIS COUNTY VOTER REGISTRAR AND VOTER REGISTRAR.
RIGHT NOW I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, YOUR VOICE AND YOUR VOTE MATTER.
THE BALLOT BOX IS WHERE WE MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD AND WE SHAPE THE FUTURE THAT WE WANT TO SEE.
ABBY CAME IN, MENTIONED BEGINS MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS AND MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE.
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE CHANGE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AND A LOT OF THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UH, I DO WANNA BRING UP ASSISTANT DIRECTOR NAOMI MACIAS FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SHARE VERY QUICK REMARKS.
I'M NAOMI MACIAS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON BEHALF OF OUR DIRECTOR, UH, DR. THERESA TRAN.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE JOY TO BE HERE CELEBRATING LOVE, FAMILY, UH, COMMUNITY.
UM, AT THE HEALTH HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, OUR MISSION IS VERY SIMPLE.
[00:25:01]
WE PROTECT THE AGE AND WE DO THAT BY OFFERING SERVICES JUST LIKE YOU'VE SEEN HERE TODAY.UM, YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A MYRIAD OF HEALTH, UH, CENTERS ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHERE WE OFFER HIV SEXUAL HEALTH FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES, DENTAL SERVICES AMONG MANY OTHER MYRIAD OF SERVICES.
IT IS OUR ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE AND OUR PLEASURE AT THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
AND YOU MAKE WHAT HOUSTON IS KNOWN FOR, WHICH IS DIVERSITY, GREATNESS, AND, UM, ALL THINGS HOUSTON, TEXAS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WE APPRECIATE BEING HERE AND BEING OFFERED A A SPACE HERE.
WE, WE BELIEVE IN SCIENCE AND WE BELIEVE IN VACCINES.
UH, I ALSO WANNA THANK OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
THERE ARE FREE PLANTS, SO TAKE A PLANT HOME WITH YOU.
UH, HPD HAS BEEN HERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO ENSURE TODAY IS SAFE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE CHIEF HOWARD, UH, TO THANK LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR BEING A PARTNER, FOR PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY.
Y'ALL HAVE A LOT GOING ON TODAY.
UH, WE HAVE A BIG PROTEST DOWNTOWN A LITTLE BIT LATER AND THEY ARE THERE TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.
UH, JUST WANNA THANK FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A SAFE PLACE FOR OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS, OUR ALLIES.
UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, EVERY POLICE OFFICER AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDENT KNOWS FROM THE VERY EARLY STEPS OF THEIR CAREERS THAT THE POLICE ARE THE COMMUNITY, AND THE COMMUNITY ARE THE POLICE.
IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR OFFICER JONES AND I TO BE HERE TO REPRESENT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TO KNOW THAT WE ARE SAFE IN THIS SPACE AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
AND BIG SHOUT OUT TO OFFICER JOE JONES AND ALL THE OFFICERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, HFD UH, IS ALSO ON SITE IN EMS AND WE HAVE A TENT.
SO IF ANYONE GETS A LITTLE HOT OR NEEDS SOMETHING, A BANDAID, WE DO HAVE ASSISTANCE THERE.
BUT PLEASE DO REMEMBER TO DRINK WATER AND MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE STAYING HYDRATED.
A FEW FINAL THANK YOUS, I WANNA THANK MOS, OUR MAYOR'S OFFICE OF SPECIALIST EVENTS.
SHERRY, RICARDO, EILEEN, CARLOS, DALIA, THE LGBT CHAMBER, MAUREEN AND JACK, DISCOVERY GREEN, CATHERINE CANDY, FLOYD AND ELAINE.
DID I MISS ANYONE? SURE, EVERYONE.
FIRST, TODD, DIXIE, JOCELYN, MEGAN BAILEY, MARK BAILEY, NO RELATIONS, BUT ALSO A LIAISON FOR HPD.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, CAN MY STAFF COME UP HERE REAL QUICK? IF YOU JUST COME TO THE FRONT.
ANNA, JACOB, CRUZ, KATE, COME ON.
WE IN DISTRICT C HAVE A STAFF OF FOUR AND OUR INTERNS REPRESENTING A QUARTER MILLION PEOPLE.
IT TAKES A LOT TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
IT'S A YEAR LONG EFFORT, ANNA.
I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF TO JACK BERGER WHO'S ABOUT TO LAUNCH OUR PROUD PUPPY PARADE.