Mo Cortez, Pride Fest 2019 Grand Marshall
The streets of downtown Beaumont will be full of rainbows — whether there are showers or not— Saturday, June 8, for PFLAG Beaumont’s second annual Pride Fest celebration.
“Pride Fest 2019 has grown since last year,” Donny Avery, Pride Fest co-chair, said. “Thanks to area sponsors ExxonMobil and Triangle Are Network, we are able to add an outdoor stage and bring in some high caliber talent.”
The festivities will kick off with a commemorative march honoring LGBT+ rights pioneers by celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots — from which “Pride” celebrations come. The march will begin at noon at Darrell Tropy Studio and commence through downtown streets to the Crockett Street Entertainment Complex where a free street fair with an outdoor stage and two indoor stages will be jammed packed with local and out of town bands, performance art and advocacy presentations.
The march will be lead by the 2019 Pride Fest Rand Marshal, Mo Cortez. Cortez is a Houston- based advocate and member of PFLAG Beaumont.
“It is an honor to be selected as the Grand Marshal of PFLAG Beaumont,’ Cortez said. “The value of the organization really resonates with me and is all embracing of all of me.”
Cortez is an intersex bodied trans Latino man. He is an advocate for intersex and trans people’s rights and visibility.
Cortez is the Co-Founder of (THIS) The Houston Intersex Society. He is the former the interim Vice-Chair of the Transgender Education Network of Texas; on the Board of Queers with Careers; Mr. OLTT 2018, and is a founding member of Mayor Turner’s LGBTQ Advisory Board.
He works educating the General Public about Intersex & Trans Topics at various venues. He lectures at colleges, universities, medical schools, law schools, hospitals; and various other places. He along with Koomah, and interACT Advocates introduced the very first known Intersex Protection Bill at the Texas Senate this past legislative session that was developed with intersex people for intersex people in North America
“I first came out as lesbian, then I came out about being Intersex, then I transitioned to a trans man. All of these identities are already treated like family with PFLAG Beaumont; that is something I never had back in my own hometown of San Angelo, Texas, growing up.”
The Pride Fest 2019 celebration centers around showcasing active allyship and advocacy.
“We are shining a light on LGBT history,” Jacqueline Hays, PFLAG Beaumont president, said. “Without those willing to rebel against oppression so many decades ago, there wouldn’t be Pride celebrations and there wouldn’t be any safe spaces for our LGBT family members and friends.”
Festival opens at 12:30 p.m. Outdoor festivities are free to all ages. Indoor venues may be accessed for a $10 door charge for those 18 and older and free for those underage and escorted by a parent or guardian.
PFLAG Beaumont is a local non-profit chapter of a national organization. All proceeds will go to fund education, support and advocacy for the LGBTQiA community, family and allies, including Pride Fest 2019.
For more information, visit PFLAG Beaumont’s Facebook page, or email bmtpridefest@gmail.com