Way back in 1999, when I first moved to Frisco, TX (from Australia), I realized that I wasn’t in Kansas anymore (or Melbourne for that matter). While I had a great group of friends, and we had a great social calendar, there was this sense of community that was missing. Later that year, my (now) husband, Chris, along with other friends talked about finding our community in Frisco. Our “gay” community in Frisco. We started small, and we grew. Quite quickly it seems as word spread that there were “others” like us who were planning social activities, and connecting members of the LGBTQ+ community together “all the way up here in Frisco.”
Our initial method of communicating was through email lists (thanks Yahoo! Groups), and gradually we expanded to listings in the Dallas Voice, and the Gay Yellow Pages. We held coffee socials every Friday night at our nearest Starbucks (initially at Park and Preston, but then Preston and Warren). We would have some nights with 4-5 people, and others with 20. It was a safe space to meet, or walk by, and check the group out, and join in … if that is what you decided. We continued these socials, expanding our activities to include progressive dinners, nights at the Frisco Roughriders, volunteering with city events like Frisco Freedom Fest, and working to support our LGBTQ+ veterans when they needed help. We did this for many, many years, and we created a community.
We still remain close friends with many of these people who decided to check us out at a Friday night social, and we continue to enjoy the love and support of a very diverse and caring community.
Over the past few years, Frisco Pride has remained active, and this year, a decision was made to seek to start a new version of Frisco Pride, as a charitable organization. You can read about our new mission and vision here, but the central part of this decision revolved around community. The question of how we support our community in a better way evolved into our current version of Frisco Pride.
Earlier this year, Frisco Pride applied for and received its public charity status (501(c)(3)), and today we launched a small fundraising donation page for those that may wish to contribute to the future work with the LGBTQ+ community in Frisco. Our fundraising efforts aim to work towards our mission of celebrating and empowering the LGBTQ+ community in and around Frisco, TX. Your donation to Frisco Pride is an investment in our community. 100% of all funds received from your donation will be used to support and empower affiliated groups, educational or informational initiatives, and most importantly, scholarships or grants for LGBTQ+ youth. 100% guaranteed!
We have been creating a community since 1999, and we are excited about how that community will grow in the coming years.
With pride,
James Nunn