Tyler’s Rose City Pride brings joy, support, visibility to LGBTQ+ community
Published 8:03 pm Sunday, June 22, 2025
For one afternoon, no one had to shrink. No one had to whisper or second-guess holding someone’s hand. Inside the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center on Saturday, Rose City Pride offered more than music, drag performances, and food trucks — it offered safety, bliss and a sense of ease for the East Texas’ LGBTQ+ community.
The joy at Rose City Pride in Tyler was loud, bright and proudly on display.
“Everyone is having a great time,” said Billy Diaz, president of Tyler Area Gays (TAG). “It’s our biggest event of the year, and we always have fun… it’s always colorful, and we make sure to make it feel like home.”
The event, which featured more than 120 vendor booths, celebrated June’s Pride Month, honoring the fight for equal rights and recognition.
“Visibility is the most important because it reminds us that there are people like us out there,” Diaz said. “Most people — especially here — don’t realize how big of a community we are.”
TAG has been hosting Rose City Pride since 2008 when the organization got its start in the community. Diaz emphasized the importance of this event, especially in a challenging world.
“Part of why we hold these events is to remind everybody that, even with everything going on in the world, we’re still here,” Diaz said. “We’re still family… there’s a place for you.”
According to its website, TAG is a nonprofit organization serving gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight East Texans. The organization exists to educate the public on issues specifically affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender residents as well as their families and friends.
“We have all kinds of different events to try and make everyone comfortable,” Diaz said. “Maybe you might enjoy a game night, or a trivia night — we also have dinner once a month. We have a safe space for you here.”
This year’s event marked the second year of an indoor Rose City Pride — meaning air conditioning.
“We used to have Pride at Faulkner Park,” Diaz said. “When we first started, it was a picnic at the park, and now it’s grown into this amazing pride celebration each year.”
The event featured entertainment from the Tyler Belly Dance Company, along with drag performances.
“There is so much joy here… and so much love in the building,” said Stephanie Bergren, who offered “free mom hugs” to those in need.
Bergren is a volunteer with Free Mom Hugs, a nonprofit dedicated to providing support, love, and acceptance to the LGBTQ+ community — especially those who may have been rejected by their families.
“As a straight woman, I never doubted my parents supported me,” she said. “But I started to really think about those — especially the young people — who got kicked out of their homes, or not shown love, or their parents turned their back on them, just for who and how they love.”
For many attendees, the event was a chance to connect with others and witness the support in the area. Thomas Harris, who traveled from Plano with his husband, shared their experience.
“We didn’t know what to expect, but we wanted to come and support and be here and see what it’s like,” he said. “We’ve enjoyed meeting people and seeing the turnout and seeing the support they have in the area. And my husband loves a good drag show, so we’re happy to be here.”
But being able to hold his husband’s hand at a pride event wasn’t always acceptable.
“I didn’t come out until later in life because I played college sports,” Harris said. “But it was… not a good time to be a gay man in East Texas. My family exiled me.”
Harris even admitted to having thoughts of hurting himself at one point.
“When you don’t have a family, or you don’t have support, or the love or care you need from a community,” he said, “those thoughts can happen.”
Now happily married for 18 years, Harris said he sees the progress but also the challenges that remain.
“There’s still a lot of judgment — even in the gay community — that still holds us back,” he said. “We need to see who is there, get to know them, and open our arms and welcome them.”
TAG not only hosts the Rose City Pride event but also works on outreach initiatives such as supply drops for the homeless. For Diaz, it’s about building a community of acceptance in East Texas.
“We’re pushing our presence, making sure people know we’re still here and that we’re always going to be here,” he said. “I’ve been here in Tyler for 20 years, and I love it. I really love the community itself, so I’m trying to grow this community… people need to know they belong.”
For many, Pride Month is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made and the work still needed to ensure equality and acceptance for all.
“We need to be more thankful to the older gay community for what they went through and paving the way,” Harris said. “We went through it so that everyone has the right to be who they are and celebrate who they are.”
About Jennifer Scott
Multimedia reporter and animal lover on the education beat. I am an Alabama native with a bachelor's in journalism from Troy University. I've been married to my college sweetheart since 2012, and we have enjoyed living in East Texas since moving up from the Houston area in 2021. We love all things Disney and dogs!
Please send me story ideas or questions to jennifer.scott@tylerpaper.com.
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