OutInform: Houston Pride Guide 2015 Issue | Page 22

Britt Kornman

Q&A

Female GM

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What does it mean to you being named Grand Marshal of the
Houston LGBT Pride Celebration?
Just being nominated for an award that Mayor Annise Parker,
Marion Coleman and Phyllis Frye once won is truly an honor
to me. Winning was something completely unexpected and
I'm proud to represent in a year where the nominees were so
strong and have done so much for the community. Our city is
better for the work that Fran Watson and EXcalibur Augie do
and I'd be remiss to not thank and recognize them both.
What do you think makes Houston’s LGBT Community so
unique?
We're the 4th largest city in the country, the top rated city
in the country by Forbes, and the most diverse city in the
country ...and our community is representative of all of those
qualities. The people that live and thrive here are responsible
for making Houston what it is.
What sparked your fire to begin the work that you have done
for the LGBT Community?
I think it all started for me when I made the decision to leave
the United States Air Force Academy mid-way through my
freshman year. Attending USAFA and becoming a pilot had
been my dream and I thrived there my freshman year. I
was on the Dean’s List, the Military Honors List, and was
playing D1 basketball in the middle of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
and the election of George W Bush. I was also quickly
coming to terms with who I was, and that as a woman, and
a gay woman, my view of what military life would be like
was nothing but a fairytale. I was given the option to leave
because of a pretty severe basketball related shoulder
injury and decided to take it. It was the hardest decision I’ve
ever made, but all I could think of was that hopefully, some
other kid, smart as hell and wanting to serve their country,
wouldn’t have to make the same decision I did.

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pridehouston.org

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Who are your role models and why?
My Texas roots run deep so the only answer I can give is
the woman who first made me proud to be a Texan, Ann
Richards. I can only hope that we'll have someone as
brilliant, giving, and courageous as she at the helm of our
state sometime soon.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
What are your thoughts on where we’ve come to where we
are today?
We have come a long way, but still have so much to do. We
stand on the shoulders of giants who have done work for
decades to get us to where we are today and we can never
forget who/what got us here.
What challenges face the LGBT community moving forward
locally and nationally?
Violence against the transgender community, bullying in
schools, the resurgence of HIV/AIDS, underemployment/
unemployment, the exportation of hate abroad, LGBT
youth homelessness-these issues are all too prevalent in
our community. They remind me of how much vital work
we still have to do to impact the lived experience of our
LGBT brothers and sisters. We can’t leave any member of
the community behind and our work does not stop with
marriage.
With the LGBT community being more accepted in today’s
society why do you think Pride is still relevant?
Pride gives us, as a community, the opportunity to celebrate
our history and all that allowed us to get to where we are
today.
What is your favorite part about Houston Pride Week or the
Houston LGBT Pride Celebration and why?
Every year, Pride brings new memories and stories with
friends. I think my favo