June is the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, often regarded as the tipping point in the modern gay rights movement and earning its recognition as Pride Month. Houston Press met with members of the LGBTQ community to learn more about their experiences belonging to this group. These are their stories.
Founded in 2016, the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce has served as a catylyst to accelerate economic opportunity for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-plus community through a strong network of business allies, innovative programs, strategic partnerships and advance policies that foster economic inclusion and equality.
Strong and mighty Wallace may seem, but she didn't start of as the firebrand that most know her as. Before she became the powerhouse advocate she is now, she had her own path to forge that involved heartbreak and struggle before her eventual journey to the top. "I was thrown out if Bible school because they thought I was a lesbian ... and I was," she said."I had struggled as I was a kid and a teenager. Certainly, I knew I was different. I knew I was attracted to women, but I didn't understand it. I thought because I was in this deeply religious environment, I couldn't come to grips with , much less explain it with anybody else.
"Without a doubt, the work that we're doing at the chamber has become my mission," she said."This intersection of business and community and what I see we can do absolutely ignites me every day. It's what gets me up, knowing what we can do to make sure that we're making a better today and a better tomorrow for our community."