10th annual alan ross texas freedom parade Page: 3 of 76
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DEDICATION
The 1993 Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
The Dallas Tavern Guild, sponsors of the yearly lesbian and gay pride parade for Dallas,
is very proud to be an active and vital component in the development and growth of our
community.
This year's parade has been dedicated to the memory of Bill Hunt, and the Celebra-
tion in Lee Park, which follows the parade, has been dedicated to the memory of David
Barton. Both of these men were very active in our community. Both died of AIDS. Both
are dearly missed.
The Dallas Tavern Guild dedicates this book to all the men and women who have
served our community in whatever capacity: Health, Politics, Sports, Religion, Social,
Music, Education. They are all our teachers. Many are called our heros. Those who have
departed have left a legacy, their footprint in the development of Dallas, Texas. There are
many who still survive and continue to fight each day so that we may all achieve our equal,
not separate, rights. There are those who continue to fight for our health and survival ... to
overcome a devastating plague called AIDS. With the financial support of many busines-
ses and organizations, several important sections of the history of our community are
in this book. It has become apparent that many people do not have knowledge of our history
as a community. This book is just a beginning to tell the story.
Page 7 gives a brief history of Texas Penal Code Section 21.06 as it has traveled
through the courts. The removal of 21.06 on August 17,1982 is the reason the Dallas Les-
bian/Gay Pride Parade was moved to September, and that story starts on page 9. Several
of our teachers have been asked to contribute to this book with their recollections. Den-
nis Vercher has written a perspective on the development of the community beginning
on page 17. Dallas' own gay historian, Phil Johnson, tells on page 27 of the first gay pride
parade in Dallas, while on page 65, Phil gives a nutshell version of the Stonewall Riots
of June 27,1969... a date we now call the Birth of the Lesbian and Gay Rights Movement.
Pages 38 and 39 list those people who have been honored in the past and present parades.
John Thomas, on page 41, has written a history of AIDS as Dallas has seen it, and how
we have answered the many needs of the disease. On page 49 are the meanings and brief
history of some symbols we use, while on page 59, the meanings of many slang expres-
sions commonly used today are given. Bruce Monroe recalls on page 71 the relationship
of the community with the Dallas Police Department throughout past years to Mica
England, who will be the main speaker during the Celebration in Lee Park.
Lesbians and gays throughout the state of Texas have been honored to have a state-
wide organization responsibly challenging the constitutionality of Texas Penal Code
Section 21.06. The Texas Human Rights Foundation [THRF] has been at the forefront
in the fight to remove 21.06 from Texas law. Dallas trustees on the THRF Board of Direc-
tors include Hector Garcia, Alan Levi, Dallas City Councilman Chris Luna, Jose Plata
and Worth Ross.
We are proud to salute the Texas Human Rights Foundation. Every person in our com-
munity has been influenced by this organization. Hopefully, the Texas Supreme Court
will rule in favor of removing 21.06 again from Texas law. Whether this happens or not,
we have much to be grateful for thanks to THRF. It has been the backbone of a long
and expensive battle. We urge your support of the organization. The many trips through
the courts have been costly. Your financial support through a tax-deductible contribu-
tion may be sent to:
Texas Human Rights Foundation
815 Brazos, Suite #801
Austin, TX 78701
3
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10th annual alan ross texas freedom parade, book, September 1993; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1457570/m1/3/: accessed June 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.