HOUSTON, Texas (May 23, 2025) — The Heritage Society will commemorate Pride Month with a special event featuring keynote speaker Bryanna Jenkins, a distinguished trans rights advocate, on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 6 p.m. at 1100 Bagby Street. The gathering will begin with an opening address from the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce and conclude with a wine reception and book signing.
The event will celebrate the life and legacy of Monica Roberts, a pioneering advocate for transgender rights who left an indelible mark on the movement. Roberts, a founding member of the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition, was a relentless champion for trans rights, particularly within Texas and Kentucky politics. Throughout her career, she worked across various levels of government, served on the board of the Louisville Fairness Campaign, and earned multiple accolades, including the Human Rights Campaign’s John Walzel Equality Award and the Susan J. Hyde Award for Longevity in the Movement. She passed away on Oct. 6, 2020.
Jenkins, the Policy Director at Lavender Rights Project, will delve into Roberts’ groundbreaking work and enduring influence on LGBTQ+ advocacy. She has an extensive background in legal scholarship, activism, and policy development, having founded the Baltimore Transgender Alliance and led the city’s first Baltimore Transgender Uprising March in 2015.
Alison Bell, executive director of The Heritage Society, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming event.
“We are honored to host this celebration and to shine a light on the powerful work Monica Roberts accomplished during her lifetime,” Bell said. “Bryanna Jenkins brings an important perspective to our conversation about equality, representation, and the ongoing fight for trans rights.”
The gathering will provide community members an opportunity to engage with Jenkins’ insights while reflecting on Roberts’ pioneering advocacy. The evening will also offer attendees a chance to connect over wine and discussion, furthering the spirit of inclusion and solidarity that Roberts championed.
“This event represents our commitment to honoring history while paving the way for the future,” Bell said. “Pride Month is a time for reflection and action, and we hope this event inspires both.”
The celebration is open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to participate in the conversation and book signing. For ticket information, visit https://www.heritagesociety.org/programs.