Pride Houston hosted Houston Comes Out!, the group’s annual coming out party, Oct. 10.
Pride Houston is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organization that works on numerous events, such as the annual Pride Parade. This year’s Houston Comes Out! party marks the event’s 4th anniversary.
Held in the home of Gary Wood, founder and sponsor of the event, Houston Comes Out! is a fundraiser designed to raise money for community organizations such as the Montrose Counseling Center and the Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals (HATCH) Scholarship Foundation, which is a scholarship program for LGBT youths who have been marginalized due of their sexual orientation.
The party was held one day prior to National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, which is an internationally observed day of reflection for the LGBT community.
Thanks to generous contributions from the Houston community, including pieces of art for auction and the droves of men and women who attended, the party was an enormous success.
In fact, this year, despite the economic climate, the party saw an increase in attendance of 50 percent from 2008. ‘
The event has become so popular that Wood’s lovely albeit cozy home will need to be replaced by a larger venue next year. ‘
Despite the flood of participants, there was a small decrease in the proceeds from the art auction. ‘
For nearly an hour, men wearing donated pieces of art came down from the 2nd floor one at a time with progressively less clothing on as donations climbed. ‘
By the end of the event, the exhibitionists were wearing nothing but their underpants, and, in one person’s case, a mini skirt. ‘
The party ran smoothly, thanks to the presence of two police officers who even joined in the revelry, sans alcohol, of course.’
Despite the politically charged atmosphere surrounding many LGBT events-especially this month -the party was something else entirely.
Stephen Hill, an attendee who has been involved in gay political activism since coming out 34 years ago in college, said he was pleased with the event.
‘I was really impressed with how it was more a celebration rather than a political statement,’ Hill said. ‘It was really encouraging to see young and old come together for something like this.’
Hill also said that he had seen a lot of bad things happen to people for unfortunate reasons, and he wasn’t alone. ‘
Susan Lane told the story of her gay niece, who two years ago had been made to feel so distraught about her sexual orientation that she attempted suicide.
Her niece failed, and eventually got the help she needed to accept herself, but many are not so lucky.
‘I had no idea how much pain is attached to being in the closet,’ Lane said. ‘I see now how important it is not to live a life of lies, but be true to yourself.’
Since coming out, Lane’s niece has seen a marked increase in the quality of her life, and that’s what Houston Comes Out! is all about. ‘
This party and all those yet to come are about reminding people that it’s OK to come out of the closet.
