After a year of planning and a contract which was signed with a local venue in April, Katy Pride’s third annual celebration faced an unexpected cancellation last week—just 72 hours before the scheduled event. The original venue, Typhoon Texas, cancelled the contract, citing unspecified “security concerns.”

However, no credible threats or safety issues were confirmed by local law enforcement. “We were aware of several protests that were planned in the area of typhoon Texas during the event, but we have no knowledge of any credible threats,” Katy Police Chief Bryon Woytek told the Katy Times in an email.

Mayor Dusty Thiele said that the city had no role in Typhoon Texas’ decision to cancel the contract, he said in a telephone interview with the Katy Times.

The controversy erupted following a social media post by Katy ISD board member Mary Ellen Cuzela, who objected to activities scheduled at the event, including a kids’ zone, a free drink in exchange for a donation of a banned book, story time, drag performances, and a Transparent Closet fashion show. She urged her followers to call the sponsoring businesses and to “ask them to do better for Katy” and to donate copies of the Ten Commandments to Katy ISD classrooms. Fellow KISD trustee Morgan Calhoun followed with an Instagram post, expressing concern for safety of other children in the waterpark, specifically in restrooms. Former board president Victor Perez also shared his concern for children at the event, objecting to drag queen performances for all ages, story time and the Transparent Closet Fashion Show.

Typhoon Texas notified Katy Pride on October 15 that their contract had been cancelled and then issued this statement to the media: “Typhoon Texas has made the decision to cancel its agreement to serve as the venue for the Katy Pride event. This decision was made with concern for the safety and security of our guests and staff members, which must always remain our top priority. Typhoon Texas is a waterpark for everyone, and we welcome families and individuals from all communities to enjoy a safe, fun experience. However, when circumstances arise that prevent us from ensuring that level of safety, we must act responsibly to protect all who visit and work here. We appreciate our community's understanding and remain committed to maintaining a positive, inclusive, and family-friendly environment at Typhoon Texas.”

A company spokesperson said that “many” calls and in-person visits were made to the park on the matter, but was unsure of an exact count, saying that calls were taken on various lines as well as on cell phones.

“While recent online comments from a few individuals—calling the event ‘not family-friendly’ and encouraging venue pressure—led to misplaced concerns, only one peaceful, lawful protest was ever expected, consistent with prior community events,” said Kristina Shackelford, Katy Pride’s Director of Pride Celebration.

“I was grateful that Typhoon Texas chose to terminate its involvement with the Katy Pride Event,” said Perez in an email to the Katy Times. “The reason for the outcry by the community is that the event features drag queen performances in the presence of children, the Transparent Closet, which is a secret cross-dressing boutique. All of this is totally inappropriate for young, impressionable, confused children.”

Organizers of the Katy Pride event scrambled to find a new venue, moving their opening night “Speakeasy” kick-off party to First Christian Church.

Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones then reached out to the group and offered the rodeo arena at Bear Creek Pioneers Park as a location for the festivities on Saturday, October 18.

"Pride is essential in every community — especially now, when the rights of LGBTQIA+ Texans are increasingly under attack," said Briones in a press release. “When we learned about the last-minute venue cancellation of Katy Pride, my team and I went to work to find a new home for the event. I will always advocate for equality, and I will always stand with Harris County's LGBTQIA+ community.”

“We are so thankful to Commissioner Lesley Briones for coming in and saving our biggest event of the year,” said Shackelford. “The LGBTQIA+ community needs to know that they matter and are seen. While we are disheartened to hear about the baseless security concerns and public pressure, we are happy that elected officials like Commissioner Briones are fighting back against bullies.”

About 1000 people attended the event on Saturday, organizers said in an email to the Katy Times.

“With the success of this year’s event, Katy Pride looks forward to building an even bigger celebration in 2026, continuing to foster a space where everyone is welcome, respected, and free to be themselves,” the email said.