As we prepare for this year’s Pride Parade & Block Party, Pride Corpus Christi is proud to announce our 2025 Grand Marshal and the launch of two new recognition categories: Emerging Leader and Drag/Diva of the Year.

These new categories were created to honor the growing forces within our community at a time when State and Federal pressure continues to escalate against LGBTQIA+ people. In the face of renewed efforts to marginalize our community—from attacks on drag to bans on GSAs—these honorees represent resilience, leadership, and the power of visibility. Each embodies the spirit of Pride by creating and holding space where our community can gather, thrive, and be celebrated.

Grand Marshal: Bill Williams

Bill Williams is a cornerstone of Corpus Christi’s LGBTQIA+ community. As the longtime manager of The Hidden Door, he has cultivated one of the city’s most welcoming and inclusive nightlife venues, providing a stage where local drag performers, musicians, and artists can shine. Under his leadership, The Hidden Door has grown into a vital cultural hub and the last remaining LGBTQIA+ bar in South Texas—ensuring our community always has a safe and vibrant place to call home.

Beyond the bar, Bill serves as President of the Texas Riviera Empire, the South Texas chapter of the International Imperial Court System. Through this role, he helps steward one of the nation’s oldest LGBTQIA+ charitable organizations, raising funds for causes ranging from HIV/AIDS services to youth support programs. Beloved for his generosity, humor, and steadfast commitment, Bill bridges entertainment and advocacy, embodying the enduring spirit of Pride.

Emerging Leader: Conor Rice

Conor Rice is a Gen Z organizer and advocate from Corpus Christi whose work has been dedicated to fairness, inclusion, and accountability. At the Texas Capitol, Conor has testified against school vouchers that drain resources from public schools, spoken out against book bans, and defended LGBTQIA+ Texans from political attacks.

Closer to home, Conor championed a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy at Corpus Christi ISD to make schools safer and more affirming for LGBTQIA+ youth. Though state-level opposition blocked the policy—and Texas has since gone further by outlawing GSAs—Conor’s advocacy underscored the urgency of protecting young people’s right to belong. From City Hall to the State House, Conor amplifies voices too often ignored, fighting to ensure every South Texan has the dignity, freedom, and community they deserve.

Drag/Diva of the Year: Isis Paris York

Isis Paris York is a dynamic performer, community leader, and proud Corpus Christi native who has graced stages across the Coastal Bend for the past eight years. As co-owner of AZUL Entertainment, Isis has brought shows to Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Robstown, Driscoll, Bishop, Ingleside, and beyond—creating opportunities for emerging entertainers across South Texas.

She is the host of the Isis Paris York Show, a recurring event at The Hidden Door for the past three years that invites talent from across Texas to shine in Corpus Christi. Beyond the stage, Isis is a founding member of Qommittie, a national organization advocating for drag rights, and has spoken powerfully about drag as both an art form and a protest. Through her platform, Isis continues to create space for drag and diva entertainers, using artistry and activism to uplift the LGBTQIA+ community.

Recognizing Strength, Celebrating Resilience

This year’s honorees reflect the diversity of leadership and vision within South Texas’s LGBTQIA+ community. Bill, Conor, and Isis embody what it means to fight back against efforts to erase us: by building spaces of joy, resilience, and solidarity.

To learn more about this year’s honorees and explore past Grand Marshal selections, visit our Grand Marshals page.