“Although I think this particular building doesn’t have much of a chance to (be preserved), I think that everyone needs to hear the importance of these gathering places.” The gay and lesbian community kept downtown alive when it was dying, and kept it alive in the warehouse districts,” Commissioner Kevin Koch said. “We’re losing all of our warehouses downtown – the warehouses where people gather, people of all sorts. The demolition permit sparked debate over the building’s architectural character, historic significance and community value during February’s Historic Landmark Commission meeting. A permit to demolish the bar’s West Sixth location is currently being reviewed by the city. Metropolitan Community Church of Austin Inc.The Iron Bear, an LGBTQ-friendly bar “for bears, by bears” that is open to all, is facing the prospect of relocating.Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival.Robert Talton, R-Pasadena, initially passes the House but is later defeated in consent committee. “I’m here to say thank you,” Garcia tells the crowd before the parade begins.Ģ005: May: A Texas legislative committee kills a measure that would have banned gay, lesbian and bisexual citizens from becoming foster parents. Mayor Gus Garcia and Sheriff Margo Frasier serve as the parade’s marshals. Still, many miss certain aspects of traditional gay culture and community, such as social spaces and businesses geared toward gay men and particularly lesbians.Ģ002: June: The Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce holds the inaugural Austin Pride Parade through downtown, drawing more than 10,000 spectators. The resulting report shows that most lesbians and gay men feel safe, comfortable and satisfied with their quality of life in the region. June: More than 1,200 gay Central Texans respond to a landmark survey conducted by the Austin American-Statesman. October: UT holds its first-ever Pride Week. October:, the first UT Web site focusing on gay issues, is launched. Several of the commissioners, however, contin- ue to express condemnation of “the gay lifestyle.”ġ996: February: The University Alliance is founded as a GLBT- issues discussion group.
A vocal champion of equality issues, Maxey would serve 12 years in the Legislature, passing more bills in his last terms than any other single member of the House.ġ992: September: GLSA changes its name to LBGSA to include bisexuals.ġ993: Williamson County commissioners reverse a decision to deny tax breaks for a new facility to Apple Computer because of the company’s policy of extending benefits to employees’ same-sex domestic partners.
Summer: GLSA successfully lobbies for the passage of UT’s Nondiscrimination Policy inclusive of sexual orientation.ġ991: January: Upon his swearing in, Glen Maxey, D-Austin, becomes the first openly gay member of the Texas Legislature. The group would expand to become the only organization in Central Texas providing support and services to sexual minority youth between the ages of 12 and 19. The festival, which was initially a four-day event focused on coming out and AIDS, grows over time to more than 150 films depicting issues across cultures, class, gender, age and region.ġ988: October: GLSA hosts the inaugural National Coming Out Day on the UT campus.ġ989: Student members of the Young Conservatives of Texas meet the annual gay rally with signs that say “Stop AIDS, Stomp Out Homosexuality,” and “Hooray for the Earthquake,” in reference to the earthquake that devastated San Francisco the Tuesday before.ġ990: January: OutYouth begins as a support group led by two graduate students from the UT School of Social Work.
In response to complaints that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is harassing gay bars around the state, Bettie Naylor and Bunch Brittain organize the Bar Owners’ Association of Texas to lobby the Legislature on behalf of the owners.ġ985: Spring: During the annual Round-Up for student organizations at UT, a float made by the Gay and Lesbian Student Association is pummeled with beer bottles, cans and trash thrown from the balconies of the Goodall-Wooten Dormitory.ġ986: December: The city of Austin passes an ordinance protecting people with HIV/AIDS from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.ġ987: Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival is founded.