The Path of El Paso Pride: How El Paso Built a Legacy of Pride over 25 years:

By: Esteban CoronaEl Paso’s PrideFest is officially returning Saturday, June 27. The annual event kicks off at 10 a.m. with the Sun City Pride Parade, which will run through downtown El Paso, followed by a family-friendly picnic at Houston Park. The celebration continues at 401 E. Mills Ave. with Neon PrideFest from 3 to 11 p.m., featuring food, music and drag performances.

With the official return of El Paso’s annual Pride celebrations, here is a look back at the path that led here.

Timeline: The Path of El Paso Pride

2001: The Birth of the Southwestern Pride Parade

Local LGBTQ+ organizers felt El Paso lacked visibility for the LGBTQ+ community and created the city’s first pride parade.

“The first parade started in 2001,” said Javier Aguilar, president of El Paso Sun City Pride. “It was organized before Sun City Pride was created. It was really small, that parade. It was small for a couple of years.”

The parade was organized by a local group called Southwestern Pride. It marked a small but momentous beginning for the Borderland LGBTQ+ community.

2002-06: Laying the Groundwork

Efforts to establish a formal Pride event in El Paso began, laying the groundwork for future celebrations. Aguilar said participation continued to grow through 2007, when Sun City Pride formed.

By 2005, LGBTQ+ advocates were having more official conversations about doing something larger for the West Texas LGBTQ+ community.

2007: The Establishment of Sun City Pride

Sun City Pride was officially established by Dave Castillo and a group of volunteers, maintaining its core mission to increase LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusivity in the Borderland.

2010s: Record Growth

The parade experienced substantial growth in participation, evolving into a major annual event. By 2019, it had reached record attendance, with tens of thousands of spectators lining the downtown route and a festival at Houston Park.

2020: Pandemic Adaptation

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, El Paso Pride celebrations continued through social distancing and social media. Instead of the standard route, community members took part in a Gay Pride Social-Distance Car Parade through downtown El Paso, showing support while keeping participants safe.

2021: Return From Quarantine

With a renewed sense of community, the full parade returned to the streets.

“The diversity that we see now in the parade, it’s in the support of the people,” Aguilar said. “Families take their kids to see the parade, so it’s really cool. We are open to everybody.”

Present: Neon Pride

With neon as this year’s official theme, the annual Pride Parade continues to celebrate community achievements and inclusivity. This year’s supporting partners include Raiz Federal Credit Union, El Paso Locomotive FC, Epic Bar & Nightclub, Ardovino’s Desert Crossing and Express Records.

El Paso’s Pride celebrations represent both a triumph of local history and a continued push for visibility in the Borderland. What began as a small 2001 parade has grown into a monthlong celebration rooted in community, resilience and inclusion. As the city celebrates this year’s glowing neon theme, the parade honors 25 years of progress while encouraging the community to keep shaping a more inclusive future.