Couples dance to a live band at Texas Latino Pride (Photo by Elias Cantu) Juan Contreras, founder and president of Texas Latino Pride, reflects on the non-profit’s growth in the past 10 years KAMILA VARGAS-GONZALEZ | Dallas Voice Intern editor@dallasvoice.com As he sits in his home, looking out the window, Juan Contreras reminisces on Texas Latino Pride’s 10 years of work for the community.
Contreras, founder and president of the Texas Latino Pride non-profit, emphasizes that the organization is a platform for creative expression and empowerment amongst the Hispanic/Latinx LGBTQ communities in Texas, primarily in Dallas. “We’re in it for a reason,” he said. “…so it’s been life-changing.
But I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.” The first year Before the team grew in numbers to handle bigger productions and more events, Contreras found himself funding most of the Texas Latino Pride’s endeavors.
It was 2014, and Contreras made the first Texas Latinx Pride Fest happen with only a few square feet available in Reverchon Park.