For the first time, HISD’s Pride Committee participated in Houston’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration on June 25. The 44th annual event, organized by Houston Pride 365, was the first following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The committee decided to establish a presence at Houston Pride in support of HISD’s LGBTQ+ students, staff, parents, and caregivers. Volunteers from various HISD departments including Social Emotional Learning, Communications, and College Readiness manned a booth at the festival’s entrance off Bagby St. by Tranquility Park in downtown and handed out paper fans to help attendees stave off the summer heat.
The fans were emblazoned on one side with the HISD Pride logo, and on the other, the slogan “You belong here.”
“I think it’s important for our students to know that no matter what they believe, who they choose to love, or how they identify, that we care about them,” said Maddie Robertson, teacher behavior specialist. “I think all schools should be the safest place for kids to be, and this is just one way that we can support that.”
HISD was the only school district with a presence at Pride this year.
“The fact that HISD is out here supporting the LGBTQ+ community is more than just words,” said Simone Harrow, a former HISD student. “I’m just now coming out, and this helps me to express myself. It’s just good to know that people are out here that actually care.”
The HISD Pride Committee is committed to providing resources for the district’s LGBTQ+ community as well as safe environments that encourage self-expression.