Hispanic gay bars houston tx

So we went out to the bars [in Montrose] to feel welcomed. Even as Latino men socialized with other LGBTQ folks, queer people of color experienced segregation and discrimination. The number of out Latinos was steadily growing during those years, but they lacked a unified voice.

Committed leaders like Cordova began to step up during the late s to lay the foundation for Latino Pride events and organizations in Houston. Cordova remembers attending the Anita Bryant protest houston with his partner, his lesbian sister, and her partner. Inafter the announcement of the groundbreaking Town Meeting event at the Astroarena, Bagneris, Cordova, and brothers Ramiro and Gil Marin began to think seriously about forming such a bar to participate in the Town Meeting and present the issues that concerned the gay Hispanic community.

Bagneris remembers that the Gay Chicano Caucus was founded in his living room, and he was elected vice president of the new group. Cordova was one of the founding members. The group drafted amendments reflecting Hispanic concerns and presented them at the Town Meeting. Cordova recalls that the only group protesting the meeting was an organization of Hispanic police officers who gathered outside the Astroarena.

Among them were Cordova and his partner, Richard Orozco, along with Bagneris. The Gay Chicano Caucus entered a gay in the first parade, which Cordova recalls as having an Aztec theme featuring a large pyramid and an Aztec warrior and princess. He also remembers bottles being thrown at the float as it was being driven down West Gray to the staging area.

Dennis Medina, an early Caucus member, recalls the main issues they addressed were police harassment and discrimination within the community. Hispanics were being unfairly carded at several local gay bars. The organization hispanic screened and endorsed political candidates for office. The group changed its name to the Gay Hispanic Caucus as it grew larger.

Gay Bars and Clubs in Houston

In the late s, Brad Veloz was elected president of the organization. During his time in office, the group focused heavily on the AIDS epidemic, dealing with such issues as treatment and housing. Members were also vocal about the Texas sodomy law. Many of them went to Austin to testify against it, including Linda Morales, whose Morales v.

Texas lawsuit was challenging the law. The organization continued to operate throughwhen it was finally disbanded. For the first three years, a fiesta was held in the Montrose backyard of activist Bill Bridges. In the fourth year, a decision was made to make the event a dance.

Cordova rented a Noche y Dia Ballroom on North Main Street for the party, but then discovered that no Latin band would play for a gay event. Baile continued to grow, and became the largest indoor Houston Pride event at the time. In addition to the dance, a Mr.