Pride in Dallas (not to be confused with the Pride march held during National Pride Month in June) is an annual LGBTQ+ parade that takes place along Cedar Springs Rd. in Oak Lawn, Dallas’ historic homosexual neighborhood.
Though it is frequently referred to as “second pride,” the parade on Cedar Springs is a forerunner of sorts, as longtime members of Dallas’ queer community recognize it as the home base for Pride events.
However, the separate occasions are not without controversy. Community leaders, fed up with years of overt rainbow capitalism and a move to Fair Park ($20 to park on the fairgrounds, it should be noted), wanted the parade back in the Gayborhood.
In summation, we in Dallas are fortunate to have two official Pride celebrations: one in Fair Park in June and this one in September. Cassie Nova, a local drag queen and 2025 Best of Dallas winner, provided valuable context for the discussion in her June Dallas Voice column.
This year, in especially, it was refreshing to see Pride so focused on community. Local gay organizations joined the parade, which was a welcome break from other parades’ large bank and real estate-sponsored floats.
This strengthened sense of community is especially reassuring in a time when LGBTQ+ people’s rights are under increasing attack from the Texas Legislature and elsewhere. population health groups that help the LGBTQ+ population, gay automobile clubs, local nightclubs, and many others received their due recognition.
The march was likewise well-organized, and the community turned out in large numbers. Of course, once the procession was over, everyone went into the air conditioning for a cold, extremely stiff drink—a gay bar tradition if there ever was one.
