El Paso, Texas, unveils rainbow street decorations for Pride Month

As we’ve previously reported, cities in Texas have recently had to remove their rainbow crosswalks after Governor Greg Abbott ordered his state to also remove its “non-standard” road crossings last October.

This has prompted some imaginative alternatives to circumvent the ban. In San Antonio, city officials installed a lengthy stretch of rainbow sidewalk. In Dallas, the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas painted its steps in rainbow colors after the removal of a local rainbow crossing in the city.

El Paso, on the border with Mexico, also has a Pride crosswalk that’s under threat. However, as we’re now in Pride month, the city wants visitors and locals alike to know that it supports LGBTQ+ Pride.

Officials recently installed “Pride-themed decorative cylinders on streetlights surrounding Pride Square.” The installation lies on Stanton Street, between Franklin and Missouri avenues.

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According to a press release, the gesture is designed “to create a welcoming atmosphere for residents and visitors during Pride Month activities and events taking place across the community.”

Sun City Pride

As for those actual activities, a wealth of choices await residents and visitors to this border city. Sun City Pride originated in El Paso in 2007. This year, a new board took over the running of the festival.

“Transitioning to a new board with a new vision, while staying true to the same mission, was not easy,” a spokesperson told GayCities. “It took dedication, teamwork, and countless hours behind the scenes, all for the community we love. Today, we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited to celebrate those successes with all of you as we light up 2026 Neon Pride together. This celebration of 18 events belongs to every person who believed in us and helped make it possible.”

Yes, the theme for this year is ‘Neon Pride’, and there are events taking place throughout June and into early July.

The organizers are keen to cater to all tastes. There’s a Miss Trans EPSCP Pageant tomorrow (June 4) at Epic bar and nightclub, a Roller Derby Pride event on Saturday (June 6) at Nations Tobin Rec, and a Pride 5k Run on June 20.

If the latter sounds a little energetic, there’s also a Pride Brunch at three different venues on June 21. Some may prefer a Pride Wine Night on June 24 at Pilón.

The biggest event, naturally, is the Pride Parade on Saturday, June 27. This is followed on the same afternoon by a ticketed Pride festival in Downtown El Paso. It usually pulls in around 2,000 attendees. Among those appearing on stage in 2026 will be RuPaul’s Drag Race competitor Aura Mayari (season 11).

Sun City

Besides Pride, there are plenty of other reasons to visit El Paso.

It’s dubbed Sun City because it has more than 300 days of sunshine each year. It sits at the crossroads of three states and two countries. This gives it a cultural richness unlike anywhere else in the American Southwest.

The city boasts a vibrant blend of Mexican and American heritage, reflected in its food, music, and architecture. The historic Union Plaza district pulses with art and nightlife, while for outdoor lovers, the Franklin Mountains offer hiking and dramatic desert scenery.

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