Texas suburb denies permit for Pride festival despite approving it last year
Pride Kel-Sol participants walk hand in hand wearing Pride flags (Facebook/PrideKeller)
A Texas city has denied a permit for a Pride festival that was scheduled to take place at a local church this October, despite approving the same event last year.
The Southlake City Council unanimously voted against a permit for the Pride Kel-So festival on 15 September. Organisers say they have not been given an explanation for the decision, which came after the inaugural festival was approved and held in 2025.
The vote took place on 15 September. Reporting said the council offered no reason before rejecting the request, and that the decision came without debate or questions for co-founder April Dreyson, who attended the meeting.
Dreyson said the silence felt pointed. “I think that it sends a message because of them having no comment and just shutting down an event in what seemingly is because it’s an event for the queer community without any comment does send that message that you don’t belong here,” she told CBS News Texas.
What was Pride Kel-So planning for 3 October?
The festival was billed as a celebration of love, diversity and community spirit, with inclusive vendors, food trucks and family-friendly activities supporting LGBTQ+ and ally-owned businesses.
Organisers said last year’s event drew nearly 1,600 people, which meant they needed to apply for a special use permit this year due to crowd size. Another account from organisers put attendance at 2,500 at the 2025 festival, which was held at the same church.
Pride Kel-So is organised around the Keller-Southlake area, with its name combining the two neighbouring cities. Last year’s festival was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Southlake, with organisers saying around 2,500 people attended. The family-friendly event featured live music, vendors and activities celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
At the council meeting, resident Paul Segal spoke against the festival, saying: “I don’t believe that’s representative of the values of our community,” and: “Seeing these drag queens out there like last year, it was abhorrent.”
Rev. Ellen Singer, an associate pastor at St Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Reverend Ellen Singer, an associate pastor at the church, spoke in favour of bringing the event back.
“It’s clear there is conflict,” Singer said, adding that the purpose of an event such as Pride Kel-So was to bring people together and celebrate the community.
What do the council records show about the permit?
The official Southlake City Council meeting packet for 15 September 2026 listed Item 6G, Resolution No. 26-028 (ZA26-0037), a specific use permit for a mass gathering at St Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 223 S Pearson Lane. It also noted a Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation of 5-1 to approve.
Dreyson said: “I am just in shock still.” She added: “We followed all the recommendations and did not expect, especially with no comments, no questions. If they had concerns they didn’t bring them up.”
After the vote, Pride Kel-So posted on Facebook: “We will not be silenced. We will not be made to just ‘go away.’” Similar disputes have played out elsewhere, including when a Michigan city council voted to cut a drag queen story hour from a Pride line-up in June 2026.
