Dallas-based actor Lee Walter poses in front of a mural between performances at the Arts District Pride Block Party in Dallas, Texas. Walter will play the role of Lola in the upcoming production of "Kinky Boots" by Uptown Players.
Dallas Southern Pride and Dallas Arts District hosted celebrations of Juneteenth and Pride month last week. Here's a look.
The weekend festivities kicked off June 17 with the Dallas Arts District Pride Party, featuring a special performance by Tommie Ross, who's held titles such as Miss Gay USofA, Miss Black America, Miss National, Miss World, and Miss Continental.
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Tommie Ross embraces an attendee during her performance at the Arts District Pride Block Party in Dallas, Texas. Ross is a Houston native with many national drag pageant titles under her belt.
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Lee Walter performs during the Arts District Pride Block Party in Dallas, Texas.
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The 2022 Mr. Dallas Southern Pride performs inside the Dallas Museum of Art as part of the Arts District Pride Block Party.
Saturday's entertainment at the Samuell Grand Aquatic Center included performances by artist Saucy Santana and hip hop duo City Girls, as part of the Dallas Southern Pride Unity Festival. The audience celebrated the convergence of Pride and Juneteenth.
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Saucy Santana performs for a packed crowd at the Samuell Grand Aquatic Center in Dallas, Texas. The performance was part of the Dallas Southern Pride Unity Fest.
2 of 6 — Dallas Southern Pride Unity Fest Crowd
Attendees of the Dallas Southern Pride Unity Fest cheer for the arrival of the hip hop duo City Girls as they open with their hit song "Take Yo Man".
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3 of 6 — Southern Dallas Pride/Juneteenth Pool Party
A lifeguard keeps watch over the pool at the Samuell Grand Aquatic Center in Dallas, Texas. Only a limited amount of attendees could enter the pool area at a time due to the scale of the event.
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Ashley Hawkins (left) poses with her friend as they wait for the next performance. Tickets to the Dallas Southern Pride Unity Festival quickly sold out online, with attendees pouring in well into the evening.
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5 of 6 — Southern Dallas Pride / Juneteenth Pool Party
Legend (left) poses with his husband Terrissiah at the Samuel Grand Aquatic Center. The two formed a band called "Badt Boyz", streaming one of their newest singles, "Make it Clap," on Spotify.
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6 of 6 — Southern Dalls Pride / Juneteenth Pool Party
Vic L. Martin poses outside of the stage area during the Dallas Southern Pride Unity Festival. Martin is a fashion designer and owner of the clothing brand THEE GODS.
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As Saturday night rolled into Sunday morning, the celebration peaked at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Dallas, where the second annual Emancipation Ball was held. Participants took to the runway, competing for championship titles in categories from Virgin Vogue to Femme Queen Realness.
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A contestant with the stage name "Tonka Truck" receives their trophy after winning the All-American Runway category.
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Taylor Namoi poses with her snake as she prepares her garments for competition during the Emancipation Ball in Dallas, Texas.
Alpha Omega Haus father Ricky Myers-Hill鈥� stage name 鈥淪utan鈥� 鈥� said it's important to create safe space for events like the ball.
鈥淚t's a way to kinda just express yourself and your creativity and to be around other people who are like yourself,鈥� Myers-Hill said.
Myers-Hill鈥檚 husband, Kirk Myers, is the CEO of Dallas Southern Pride. He created the ball because there wasn't enough being done to celebrate their community, said Myers-Hill.
鈥淎nd that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e doing here, we鈥檙e all celebrating life,鈥� Myers-Hill said.
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Alpha Omega Haus father Ricky Myers-Hill poses before his performance at the Emancipation Ball in Dallas, Texas. He was discovered at age 17, when someone at a club suggested he walk "face"鈥� one of the many competitive categories in the house-ballroom community.
Philadelphia resident Mbissane Diagne flew 1,300 miles from his home to attend the celebrations.
鈥淎nytime you go to the South, there鈥檚 always that vibe of hospitality. I felt welcome from the time I landed up until the present moment,鈥� Diagne said. 鈥淚t's just been a very moving experience.鈥�
Celebrating Juneteenth in its birthplace of Texas feels especially powerful, says Diagne.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just great to be among community during this whole weekend and really just celebrate each other, be with each other,鈥� Diagne said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what brought me here.鈥�
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Mbissane Diagne poses on the rooftop of the Crowne Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas.
