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.
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
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
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
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
- 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
Volunteer
Sign up to volunteer and help plan or staff our events.
Attend
Attendance is free for our July 15th event, but you must register for tickets to gain access.
Sponsor
If you own or work for an inclusive company, help make our events possible!
Get merch
Show your support for Leander Pride with t-shirts, stickers, and more.
Donate
If you need to pay sponsor or exhibitor fees or want to make a tax-deductible donation to Leander Pride, now you can!
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.
