Fran not only became the first African-American woman to hold the position back in January, the native Houstonian was also honored this year with a proclamation by Mayor Sylvester Turner declaring January 27 as Fran Watson Day!
The Rev. Carolyn Mobley was the first African-American female Houston Pride Grand Marshal, and she accomplished that feat back in 1993.
In the 2016 Female Grand Marshal race there were two additional outstanding candidates in Lynette Ross and Melissa Vivanco, so it was a tough choice for peeps voting this year..
That was also the case in the Male Grand Marshal race in which Lou Weaver was vying to become the first ever trans masculine Grand Marshal, and Brad Pritchett and Paul Guillory were also running for it. .
We've had two trans feminine ones in Phyllis Frye and Jenifer Rene Pool.
Brad Odom was elected 2016 Grand Marshal Male and in another tough choice race for 2016 Grand Marshal Ally, Dena Gray was elected over another deserving nominee in former HISD school board trustee Juliet. Stipeche.
Houston Pride Week will be June 19-26, with the Pride Festival and parade for the second consecutive year in Downtown Houston.
TransGriot Note: photo of Fran by Eric Edward Schell
1 comment:
Thank you for this Monica! And for always supporting me. From icons like you, this means a lot!
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