Last year we excitedly reported on the formation of a new Austin-area Pride Coalition, a coming-together of reps from local groups including city of Austin, AIDS Services of Austin, ALLGO, Atticus Circle, Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Equality Texas, Human Rights Campaign-Austin, OutYouth, and Transgender Advocates of Central Texas. Then they seemed to disappear off the radar. What happened? And why weren’t they visible during the most visible time of year, Pride?

Well, just this week, we received word from Chuck Smith over at Equality Texas that after 13 years of presenting the main Pride Festival for Austin, the organization is handing the reins over to this freshly minted coalition. You can get involved with this new coalition through www.pridecoalition.org.

This is great news for Central Texas on many fronts. First, it means directly involving a wider variety of community activists in the decisions surrounding the annual event. Second, it means pulling from a much larger pool of already-engaged volunteers. And, third and most importantly, it frees up ET to do what it does best: represent us to the suits under the Capitol dome.

Way to go, ET, and thank you for 13 years of service and kickass coordination of one of Texas’ largest and most visible Pride Fests.

In the meanwhile, Equality Texas could use not only your financial support but your envelope-stuffing skills to boot. See Fri., Sept. 5.

This article appears in September 5 • 2008.

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