By Johnny Trlica

The coronavirus continues to disrupt the normal routine of Americans. After meeting with health and city officials, Pride Houston announced it is postponing the annual parade to the fall over concerns over the ongoing pandemic.

In a video statement posted on PrideHouston.org, Lo Roberts, president, and chief executive officer of Pride Houston said, “A month ago our team made the announcement that Pride Houston was monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic situation that has gripped the world. Since then, we have had conversations daily with health and elected officials and with our larger production team and Board of Directors to see how Pride Houston 2020 could and should take place.

“Given the impact of this pandemic, we have come to the unanimous conclusion that the only viable decision is to postpone Houston’s 2020 Pride Celebration with a target of Fall 2020.

“As a nonprofit that has vowed to support the LGBTQ+ community, we have no option but to delay our celebration so that we can ensure the safety of our supporters and attendees. We are still working out all the details for what our 2020 Celebration will look like so more details are to come. However, understand that we will still have smaller pop-up events throughout June until the fall as the city allows it to celebrate life, love, culture, the arts, and this beautiful DiverCity!

“What we do know: 1. Pride is all around us at all times! 2. Grand Marshal Announcements will continue as planned! 3. We could always use the help of new volunteers so please reach out to volunteer@pridehouston.org 4. At the end of the day we share in the sadness that many of you feel with so many things being put on hold and with everyone being asked to stay home and be distant — but if there’s one thing we would like to put out there in the world it is that while we’re all asked to be physically distant from each other to help curve the effect of this pandemic we encourage you all to be emotionally and empathetically close with your fellow human, with your family, with your friends, with your pets and with those who need it the most.

“Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind… Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can do.

“Always remember after every storm there is a rainbow — and for us that Rainbow is Pride Houston 2020!”

Dates for the parade and other festivities, attended by over 700,000 people last year, have not been determined. On a related note, Galveston’s Pride festivities have been rescheduled for September 18 through 20.