Join us July 15th

Leander Pride and Cedar Park Pride are teaming up to host a joint event July 15, 2023 to raise awareness about issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community, provide a fun, safe space to celebrate everyone, and equip local allies with insight and information to help support our community. It will feature community speakers, vendors, performers, music, food trucks, and family-friendly activities.

Thanks to our sponsors, this event is free, but you must have registered in advance to receive a wristband for admission. Advance ticket registrations have ended, and we have released a limited quantity for day-of registration, subject to availability.

Livestream

For those who are unable to join us in person, the Live Oak team has limited broadcasting capabilities and will host a livestream of selected sessions as they are available.

Brought to you by our sponsors

Queer EmPower Schedule

July 15, 2023 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• Registration Check-In starts at 12:00 p.m.
• Opening Remarks 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. with Reverend Joanna Fontaine-Crawford, Cedar Park Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin, Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle, and Cedar Park and Leander Pride
• Closing with Poetry by Faith Janee 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

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Conference Sessions 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

• Workshop 1: Intersectionality Panel: LGBTQIA+ and Race with moderator Aira Juliet from Black & Queer AF, Adrian Melgar founder of RGV Trans Closet, President of Gentex who runs Casa Kimberly, and board member of South Texas Equality Project, Carlos Henderson & Enrique Torres: lifelong partners and long time volunteers with groups such as OutYouth and Hill Country Ride for AIDS.
• Workshop 2: Make-up Tutorial with Drag Queen Alysha Pretty
• Workshop 3: Looking Back: Dreaming Forward with Mx. Shane Whalley, MSSW Assistant Professor of Instruction at the UT-Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work
• Workshop 4: The Role of Advocacy in Tackling Anti-Trans Legislation in Texas with Sofia Sepulveda from Equality Texas

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3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• Workshop 5: LGBTQIA2S+: What does it all mean? and Looking Back: Dreaming Forward with Mx. Shane Whalley, MSSW Assistant Professor of Instruction at the UT-Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work
• Workshop 6: Make-up Tutorial with Drag Queen Alysha Pretty
• Workshop 7: LGBTQ+ Civil Rights 1 with Gabriel Sanchez from Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid’s  LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Project
• Workshop 8: The Role of Advocacy in Tackling Anti-Trans Legislation in Texas with Sofia Sepulveda from Equality Texas

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4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

• Workshop 9: A Restorative Approach to Managing Political Burnout with Max Casero LCSW-S from Prism Integrated Health
• Workshop 10: Drag Queen Storytime with Drag Queen Bish Ana Platter
• Workshop 11: Courage in the Classroom: Affirming Trans Youth Identity Amidst Sociopolitical Adversity with Leander ISD teachers David Barnes and Alexis Huddleston
• Workshop 12: How to Talk to LGBTQIA+ Kids about Sex and Relationships with Marie Mulling “Our Whole Lives” OWL instructor

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​​5:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

• Workshop 13: If You Were Accused of Being an Ally, What Would Be the Evidence to Convict You? with Reverand Joanna Fontaine-Crawford from Live Oak UU Church
• Workshop 14: Drag Queen Storytime with Drag Queen Bish Ana Platter
• Workshop 15: Growing Up LGBTQIA+ in Leander with Nadine Hughes
• Workshop 16:  Parenting Queer and Trans Kids: The Building Blocks of Support with Mandy Giles from Parents of Trans Youth

Silent Auction

12:00 – 5:00 PM

*Payment for silent auction items is Venmo, PayPal (including debit & credit cards), Cash, and Check only*

• Bodyworks by Elony massage gift certificate
• BookWoman 
• Brass Ovaries pole dancing gift certificates
• Buff City Soaps​
• Cajun Skillet gift certificate
• Guitar from Heather Sanders Jefts
• Hello Curious 
• Honda Leander gas and detailing
• Human Rights Campaign 
• Humble Pint pride t-shirt, gift certificate, stickers and patch
• John Bucy Texas Flag
• Karen Jane DeWitt – Juggling Joy Life Coaching for Busy Parents
• Leanderthal Distillery vodka and bourbon
• Mobius Gaming Books from Cassandra Maner
• Moonage Daydream Esthetics gift certificate
• Over the Top Quilting gift certificate
• Plush Yoga Wear & Jewelry 
• Pride Family Medicine gift certificates
• Pride Socks
• Pris Toys for adults
• Santuche Art
• Scentsy 
• SPIbelt
• Sugar Penguin cookies
• Sugar Shaker Bakery gift certificate
• Stephani Bercu handmade quilt
• Tammy Foskey handmade blankets
• The Little Gay Shop 
• Titan Moon Comics 
• World Toys & Imports

Food + Entertainment

ENTERTAINMENT

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• DJ Kimmy K 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• DJ JAH DUB HUT 2:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
• Drag King Julian Pax 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 
• ALL DAY
• Cheer Austin
• Bounce House, Bubbles, Kids Arts & Crafts

FOOD & SNACKS

• Downtown Burgers
• Heros Gyros
• Sweet Frida Italian Ice
• Texas Kool Cups
• Indoor Pride concession stand

Vendors + Exhibitors

• All In LISD
• Arike Agency
• Asian Family Support Services
• Aviva Dental
• Clover + Co.
• Equality Texas
• Firehouse Animal Health Center – Leander & Cedar Park
• Gilead Pharmaceuticals
• Hello Curious 
• Honda Leander
• Human Rights Campaign 
• Jubilee Episcopal Church
• Karen Jane DeWitt
• League of Women Voters of Williamson County
• LGBT eQuity Committee at ACC
• Ordani Tarot
• PinPen Merger
• Plush Yoga Wear
• Pride Family Medicine
• Pride Socks
• Pride Threads
• Primrose at Vista Ridge
• Prism Integrated Health
• Rainbow Connections ATX with Family Eldercare
• Renewal Central Texas
• Santuche Art
• Scentsy
• Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid’s LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Project
• Veterans Administration
• Veterans for Equality
• Vivent Health – Plus the HIV and STI testing van
• Williamson County Democratic Party
• World Toys & Imports

Why Attend?

• Learn about issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community in our area
• Celebrate being part of a creative, inclusive, supportive community
• Enjoy food, fun, and activities for the whole family and neighborhood
• Get insight and tools to empower our local residents and allies to advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community
• Join us FREE with RSVP

We’re so glad you’re here.

Leander Pride is a non-profit organization working to make our city a more inclusive place for LGBTQIA+ residents and community members. Join us at upcoming Leander Pride events, and help our community feel welcome and proud to belong here.