Dallas Pride Mission Statement
The mission of Dallas Pride is to strengthen, support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. By prioritizing inclusiveness, Dallas Pride fosters a feeling of belonging for everyone from youth to seniors by creating events, initiatives and programs that foster connections between members of the community, its allies and its supporters.
About Dallas Pride®
There are lots of questions and inquiries about who is running Dallas Pride® each year and so we would like to clarify that for everyone. The physical work, the growth and development of both the parade and festival are the direct results of the folks you see on this page. The members of the Steering Committee work 10 months of the year planning, revising and modifying the operations of Dallas Pride to resolve problematic concerns, create a bigger, better and more inclusive event for all our community and its allies. Countless hours of research, communications and many meetings all come together for one weekend each year to offer the what we hope to be the best event that we can put together. Those plans, ideas and recommendations are presented to the Dallas Pride Executive Director to make sure we are being financially responsible and keeping within the mission of the organization. These men and women, LGBT, and from all walks of life are a dedicated team of volunteers who’s only goal is to produce a quality Pride weekend that everyone can enjoy and participate in. None of this would be possible without them and we are proud and grateful for each and every one of them and what they contribute.
Dallas Pride is a tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our organization is dedicated to producing events that promote a diverse, inclusive and positive image of the LGBTQ community.
Dallas Pride Board
Frank Holland | President
(he/his/him)
Frank Holland is a dedicated leader who serves as president of Dallas Pride and a member of the Dallas Pride Board of Directors.
In his 15 years of leadership with Dallas Pride, Frank is most proud of the way the non-profit organization has grown to include more members of the LGBTQ+ community through events that have expanded exponentially in size and content for all audiences.
Holland has served in a variety of leadership positions with Dallas Pride, including chairing committees to hire executive directors and serving as the non-profit organization’s vice president and president. His calm and assured leadership style has helped Dallas Pride navigate challenges and opportunities along the way.
Holland looks forward to continuing to expand Dallas Pride to include additional events throughout the year that bring people together and provide an avenue for them to show their Pride. Holland’s ultimate goal is for Dallas Pride to one day host World Pride.
Holland owns and operates Pekers Bar, a friendly neighborhood bar that has been a mainstay on Oak Lawn Avenue in Dallas for almost 20 years. The bar grew out of his love of bartending, a passion shared by Holland’s husband and business partner, Ron Nelson. Holland and Nelson live in Dallas’ gayborhood and enjoy spending time together at their lake house escape.
Jessica Thompson-Castillo
(she/her/hers)
Artist, art educator and nonprofit consultant Jessica Thompson-Castillo is dedicated to fostering youth leadership and community engagement. With 10 years of experience in the field, her passion lies in amplifying the voices and visions of young people to foster vibrant, creative communities where everyone can thrive. She is the founder of work/shop, a nonprofit mobile studio that empowers young artists and entrepreneurs.
Jessica’s involvement with Dallas Pride began in volunteering with the Teen Pride Zone, co-hosting virtual events with Real Live Connection during the lockdown in 2021, and helping plan Teen Pride’s in-person events at Dallas Pride in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, she joined the Dallas Pride Board of Directors, where she is growing her passion for creating spaces in the community where people feel a sense of belonging. She is excited to contribute her expertise as a program manager to ensure Dallas Pride is fun, safe and impactful for all attendees.
A lifelong Texan, Jessica grew up in Plano and is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. She resides in Garland with her husband, Greg Castillo, and their two cocker spaniels. She also enjoys dedicating her time as a program partner and volunteer with Youth First at the Resource Center. She also enjoys pursuing her lifelong passion for art, working as an illustrator and printmaker.
Lee Daugherty
(he/him/his)
Lee Daugherty is a founding member of the Dallas Pride Board of Directors, and proudly continues to serve today to help advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Daugherty is the owner of Alexandre’s, a bar in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas that he started in 2004. Alexandre’s offers an environment where people can freely vocalize their thoughts on today’s political climate and educate themselves on how they can build a better future. Regardless of political affiliation, sexuality, race or creed, Daugherty encourages respectful political discourse at Alexandre’s, which often hosts debate watch parties and local activities and politicians as speakers. He wants the community to get involved in current events and politics that can have a direct impact on their own lives and families.
The former IT telecom professional knows the value of being involved with the world around us. A self-described labor activist, Daugherty has proudly championed the rights of workers and the importance of building solidarity within the community.
With Dallas Pride, Daugherty is committed to increasing public and private funding for the non-profit organization, and growing to include even more events year-round. He is excited about the recent expansion of the Dallas Pride festival to two days, seeing it as an important way to reach more people. He is committed to making progress and building solidarity inside the community and outside of the community with allies and supporters.
Daugherty has been a member of the Tavern Guild for 20 years and has volunteered for Take Back Oak Lawn. He also has served as a member and president of the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas and co-chair of the Democrats Socialist of America.
In his spare time, Daugherty enjoys what he refers to as the “simple things in life”: cooking, volunteerism and labor organizing.
Kevin Miller
(he/him/his)
Kevin Miller joined the board of directors of Dallas Pride in 2024. Miller believes strongly in supporting a community where everyone can feel welcome and feel a part of something bigger than one person. He wants everyone to feel confident in who they are and is dedicated to helping educate those still working to understand.
Miller’s parents are Gary Miller and Alan Pierce, who are original members of the Dallas Pride Board of Directors and owners of the Round Up Saloon in Dallas. Miller grew up in the LGBTQ+ community and, when he came of age, he began working as a bartender at the Round Up before pursuing a career in healthcare administration for 20 years.
In 2016, Miller came back to the Round Up, this time in a leadership role assisting Gary and Alan. Through his work at the Round Up and his personal background growing up in the community, Miller says he has learned so much and every day continues to learn more.
Miller is proud to be a volunteer for Dallas Pride and is proud of the community he serves. He looks forward to what he and others can do together to support the mission of this non-profit organization and its support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Dallas Pride CEO & Executive Director
Sherrell Cross
(she/her/hers)
The Dallas Pride Board of Directors announces that Sherrell Cross has been chosen as the organization’s new executive director. Cross brings a strong background in LGBTQ advocacy and leadership as well as experience and passion to her new role, Dallas Pride officials said, all of which will help Dallas Pride “pursue its mission of strengthening, supporting and celebrating the LGBTQ community by creating events and initiatives that foster connections between members of the community, allies and supporters.”
The Dallas Pride board is “confident that Cross’s vision and leadership will help the organization reach new heights in promoting LGBTQ rights and fostering unity within the community,” according to a press release announcing the decision.
Board President Frank Holland said, “We are delighted to welcome Sherrell Cross as our organization’s new executive director. Her deep commitment to our mission and her impressive track record make her the ideal leader to guide Dallas Pride into a bright and inclusive future.”
Dallas Pride® Partner Programs
Welcome to Texas Council of Resources (TxCOR)
Empowering Lives in North Texas
About Us
Our Mission
- Youth and Families: Creating supportive environments for growth and development.
- Veterans: Offering tailored programs to assist those who have served our country.
- Individuals Impacted by HIV/AIDS: Providing compassionate support and resources for health and wellness.
Programs We Offer
- TEEN PRIDE USA: A program focused on fostering acceptance, self-esteem, and community for LGBTQ+ youth.
- Reentry Programs: Comprehensive support for individuals reentering society after incarceration, including job training and counseling.
Get Involved
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Donation Information
- Contact Us for Services
