Spring has sprung, and Houston’s Bunnies are out in force, celebrating 45 years of LGBTQ advocacy and community support. Jacques Bourgeois, president of Bunnies on the Bayou, Inc., highlights the organization’s evolution and its response to recent political challenges in Texas. As the largest LGBTQ fundraising festival in the state, the group has contributed over $2 million to local nonprofits since 2000, focusing on underrepresented community members.
Empowering Through History and Celebration
Originating from a modest gathering known as the ‘Bunny Fuck Party,’ Bunnies on the Bayou has grown into a significant philanthropic force within the LGBTQ community. The evolution from a casual event to a major festival and fundraiser reflects the organization’s adaptability and commitment to inclusivity. Bourgeois shares the journey from the group’s early days, through the challenges of the AIDS epidemic, to its current status as a beacon of support and celebration in Houston’s LGBTQIA community.
Expanding Impact and Representation
Under Bourgeois’s leadership, the organization has broadened its inclusivity, reflecting Houston’s diverse LGBTQ community in its board and beneficiaries. The festival now supports a wide range of causes, from assisting trans individuals and unhoused people to those with disabilities. In 2023, Bunnies on the Bayou adjusted its beneficiary model to invest more directly into the community, planning service-based projects alongside their traditional fundraising efforts.
Confronting Current Challenges
As Texas enacts laws that impact LGBTQ rights, Bunnies on the Bayou is taking a proactive stance. Bourgeois discusses the organization’s plan to establish a community LGBTQIA Resource Center in response to the exclusion of DEI and LGBTQ resources in educational institutions. This initiative represents a strategic shift from solely fundraising to actively participating in community support and resource provision. Despite political adversity, Bourgeois and his team are committed to ensuring the continuation of essential services for the LGBTQ community in Texas.
The resilience and adaptability of Bunnies on the Bayou mirror the broader struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ community in Texas. As the organization marks its 45th anniversary, its leaders look forward to a future of continued activism, support, and celebration, regardless of the political climate. Their efforts underscore the importance of community, solidarity, and proactive engagement in advocating for LGBTQ rights and welfare.
