Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission

The Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission was proud to be a sponsor of the 3rd Annual Trot for Trans Visibility, meeting neighbors, sharing our mission, and supporting transgender and nonbinary residents in the region. 🏳️‍⚧️

This event brings neighbors and allies together for a fun run and market featuring local vendors and resources, while raising critical funds for legal aid and community-building efforts.

During Black History Month, we honor Black leaders whose courage and commitment shaped our communities. From the trailblazing leadership of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan to the fearless advocacy of transgender rights advocate Monica Roberts, Black changemakers have transformed Houston and beyond. We also celebrate members of our own Commission, Brandon Mack, Christopher Lester and Diamond Stylz, and those who continue to create space, equity and opportunity in Harris County.

We were proud to participate in a joint panel discussion with the City of Houston Mayor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board on the first day of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Community Summit. We shared the missions of our respective bodies and discussed where we hope to lean in next, continuing to center community voices in our work, expanding visibility, and strengthening collaboration with residents and community partners.

Our members also joined fellow summit participants in closing the event with a reading of the Houston Q***r Agenda, reaffirming our shared commitment to collective action.

Stay engaged. Attend the next Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission meeting on March 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Montrose Center.
📸: Nora Dayton

We kicked off the year strong with a presentation from Harris County Public Health leaders, highlighting the county’s public health landscape, available programs and services, and a focused discussion on HIV/STI rates, prevention, and treatment.

We were also joined by members of the City of Houston Mayor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board for a meaningful conversation on mission alignment and future collaboration. We hope to see you at the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Community Summit in February at the Montrose Center! 🎟️: https://bit.ly/4sV716V

Join us in welcoming Ryan Wilson to the Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission! 🌈 Ryan brings extensive LGBTQ+ advocacy experience to the role, from campus leadership positions to serving with South Carolina Equality and the Human Rights Campaign. He is currently the director of corporate relations at the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, where he helps foster economic opportunity for the LGBTQ+ and allied business community. We’re proud to welcome Ryan’s leadership and deep commitment to equality as we advance the Commission’s mission.

Join us in welcoming Christopher Lester to the Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission! 🌈 A Houston native, Christopher brings a multidisciplinary background spanning counseling, financial planning, entrepreneurship and grassroots community work to the Commission. He is passionate about empowering others through financial literacy and mental health awareness, and is a committed advocate for equity, ensuring all people have the tools and knowledge to thrive. We’re proud to welcome his leadership to advance the Commission’s mission.

Former Judge Phyllis Randolph Frye came out in 1976. Thirty-four years later, she became the first openly transgender person in the U.S. appointed to the bench. She is known as the grandmother of the trans rights movement, and began the national transgender legal and political movement with the six annual transgender law conferences and their grassroots training. Learn more at houstonwehavehistory.org.

Monica Roberts was an influential transgender activist and journalist who documented the violence against her community long before it gained mainstream attention. She broke barriers and opened doors to conversations about transgender lives. She raised national awareness of Black trans people by honoring their memory, legacy and accomplishments through her blog, TransGriot. Learn more at houstonwehavehistory.org.

Maria Gonzalez is an associate professor of English at the University of Houston and a leading authority on Mexican-American literature, Chicana writers, feminist and q***r theory, sexuality and pedagogy. An El Paso native, Gonzalez has a long history of political activism and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community in the Houston region. She was the past president, vice president, screening chair and board member of the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus. Gonzalez is currently a member of the Harris County LGBTQIA+ Commission. Learn more at houstonwehavehistory.org.

Under Linda Morales' leadership, Houston was home to the first Texas Le***an Conference. Along with other activists, Morales founded the Latino Le***an Gay Organization to focus on addressing health, immigration and other issues. In 1989, when the Texas Human Rights Foundation challenged Texas's homosexual conduct law, Texas Penal Code 21.06, Morales agreed to be the lead plaintiff. This action paved the way for the landmark case, Lawrence v. Texas. Learn more at houstonwehavehistory.org.

Dalton DeHart's event photography has filled the pages of local publications, including OutSmart magazine. In 2008, he was named Male Grand Marshal for Houston's Pride parade. DeHart's passion for preserving LGBTQ history through photography is what led him to establish the nonprofit Dalton DeHart Photographic Foundation in 2015. In 2021, he received the Montrose Center's Community Vision Award, and in 2022, he received the Pride in Business Community Legacy Award from the Greater Houston LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. Learn more at houstonwehavehistory.org.