Proud Partnership Alex Slyvester, PRIDENTON committee member and Student Services Coordinator for the UNT Pride Alliance works on her zine page on the front porch during a zine workshop on June 12, 2019 at the Spiderweb Salon head quarters in Denton, Texas. Amid chatter, type writer clicks and music from a Pride playlist, participants use any space they can find to work on their zine pages on June 12, 2019 at the Spiderweb Salon headquarters. Spiderweb Salon is a 7 year old art collective focused on creating community around art and self-expression. For this year’s Pride, they opened their doors to PRIDENTON organizers and supporters in order to promote LGBTQ art. A banner painted with the phrase “LOVE IS” hangs in front of a window in the living room on June 12, 2019 at the Spiderweb Salon headquarters. The banner was created by the artist collective, three years ago to the day to commemorate the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. Craft materials liter the floor as workshop participant Emma Carnes (center) adds magazine clippings to her zine page on June 12, 2019 at the Spiderweb Salon head quarters. Courtney Marie, Spiderweb Salon co-founder and co- director outlines construction paper letters for the back cover of the “Love Is” zine on June 12, 2019 at the Spiderweb Salon headquarters. The multi-color words on the front and back covers were pasted on top of hand-written love letters. Holding her free zine, Gabby Rocha watches a performer during the Spiderweb Salon Loves PRIDENTON showcase at the Denton County Brewing Company in Denton, Texas on June 26, 2019. "It had me crying from the very beginning so it's been a good one," said Rocha about the showcase which featured musicians and artists sharing work centered around love, Pride and the LGBTQ community. George Ferrie, PRIDENTON committee member and local business owner recieves applause after sharing his poem on June 26, 2019 at the Denton County Brewing Company. His piece addressed the fight for equity and equality that is still underway 50 years after the Stonewall riots. A full audience listens at the Denton County Brewing Company on June 26, 2019 as Denton ISD teacher and writer, Em Ramser shares a poem about “the best day of my week” when she gets to go home and see her partners. Following a bit of audience participation led by PRIDENTON committee member Kamyon Conner, the crowd laughs and cheers on June 26, 2019 at the Denton County Brewing Company. Overcome with emotion, Alex Sylvester PRIDENTON committee member, shares her piece titled “A Love Letter to My BREASTS” on June 26, 2019 at the Denton County Brewing Company. Sylvester started her performance by asking the audience to “put a little love” on a part of their bodies they may have a tough relationship with. Sylvester was met with hugs from her friends and supporters following her reading.
