City to co-sponsor second-annual pride festival

In the absence of a Pride Month proclamation, the city of Dripping Springs has chosen to cosponsor this year’s Pride of Dripping Springs festival.

The unanimous vote was held at the Dripping Springs City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 7. It determined that the city would allow Pride of DS to hang a banner at Veterans Memorial Park (commonly known as “the Triangle”) for its 2022 festival. The event itself will take place on Saturday, June 25, in celebration of June as National LGBTQ+ Pride Month and in honor of International LGBT+ Pride Day on June 28.

This will be the second year for the annual event, which expects to attract 2,500 people — 1,000 more than last year.

A co-sponsorship, as according to city documents, allows the city of Dripping Springs to grant “funds or in-kind services for the purpose of supporting local festivals, special events, community projects or programs.”

“The granting of city funds or in-kind support is evaluated according to the effectiveness and impact the particular special event, community project or program has on the community at-large,” city documents state. “Special attention is paid to co-sponsorships that promote the attractiveness of the city as a place to visit and/or live, celebrate the heritage of the city and its environs, and/or enrich the character and quality of life of its citizens.”

Among other requirements, city co-sponsorship may only be given to registered nonprofit corporations or 501(c)3 organizations with taxexempt status. Pride of DS, a community-led nonprofit, fits in this category.

Given the co-sponsorship from the city and the event’s expected numbers, the festival seems to be quickly establishing itself as a staple event in the Dripping Springs community.

With an extra twist provided by the Texas Gay Rodeo Association this year, organizers say they believe the Pride of DS festival will help bring together a diverse group of people to help support local LGBTQ+ community members.

“[TGRA’s] shows are produced by members of their LGBTQ-focused organization, so they often have substantial participation from LGBTQ+ members,” said Joe Harris, vice president of Pride of DS. “But they also just draw a lot of rodeo folks, and some people are just there to compete. Basically, it’s just a way to bring people together.”

Proceeds from the event will go towards providing mental health resources, providing family guidance services, organizing future Pride events and distributing scholarships from Pride of DS.

For more information, visit prideofdrippingsprings.org.