ROSENBERG, Texas — A brand new Pride festival launches Friday in southeast Texas as part of a three-day event.
Hundreds of people are expected to take over the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds for the inaugural Fort Bend County Pride Fest celebrating culture, diversity and love.
"We are fully funded, I’m so glad, and everything’s just been working out so I know that this is my purpose," said an excited Hunny Phillips, the president and founder of Fort Bend County Pride.
For more than a year, Phillips has been in preparation mode ahead of the county's first Pride festival in the county’s 187-year history.
"We have over 60 plus vendors," said Phillips.
We asked Phillips why it's taken this long to see a Pride festival in Fort Bend County.
"Because we’re so used to and conditioned to going to Harris County, and it's just about people stepping up to the plate. I have an awesome team that’s stepped up, and we made things happen.”
A welcomed show of support from both allies and members of the community, in a county where less than one percent of household couples identified as same-sex, compared to two percent in Harris County according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
"I thought my wife and I was the only gay ones," Phillips laughed. "I felt like we needed representation out here."
Earlier this year, the office of Fort Bend County Judge KP George launched the ‘Queer Alliance Committee’ supporting LGBTQ+ initiatives which many county leaders, like Nadia Hakim, take pride in.
"It’s very vital to have that representation so that people know they’re not alone, especially when you get to these suburban and rural areas," said Hakim, the communications director for Fort Bend County.
A sense of pride fueling an opportunity with one mission.
"You don’t want to think that your neighbors just tolerate who you are, you know, this is such an important part of people’s identities. So what I'm hoping from this event is that our neighbors leave with open minds and open hearts," said Hakim.
Fort Bend County Pride kicks off Friday night with a Mixer at the Missouri City Library from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Saturday, organizers will host a community conversation in Rosenberg at The Pink Macaron from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Fort Bend County Pride Festival will take place Sunday on the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with free admission.
For more information on Fort Bend County Pride click here.