Submitted by the Houston Pride Band

Rarely has a couple impacted an organization in the way that Connie Moore and Debbie Hunt have. These two women were accomplished beyond compare. Not only did they have one of the longest running relationships as a couple in the LGBA, they were pioneers in the legal community in the Houston/Galveston area. In the nomination for this award the Houston Pride Band wrote:

“BY ANY MEASURE, CONNIE MOORE MEETS AND EXCEEDS THE STATED CRITERIA FOR SOMEONE TO RECEIVE THE PILLARS OF PRIDE AWARD AND IT IS OUR HONOR TO NOMINATE HER. BUT TO SAY THAT CONNIE DID ANY OF THIS ON HER OWN WOULD BE ERRONEOUS. IN THE HEARTS OF HOUSTON PRIDE BAND SHE ALREADY IS A PILLAR OF PRIDE. BUT NO MIGHTY PILLAR CAN STAND TALL WITHOUT A SOLID FOUNDATION. AND THAT’S WHAT DEBBIE HUNT WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE FOR CONNIE: HER MUSICAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND EMOTIONAL FOUNDATION. DEB SERVED LGBA WITH EXCEPTIONAL LOYALTY OVER THE YEARS AS WELL, PERHAPS NOT IN THE SPOTLIGHT AS MUCH AS CONNIE, BUT SHE WAS THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY SERVING AS CONNIE’S “ROCK”, GIVING HER MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL SUPPORT AT EVERY TURN, ALLOWING CONNIE TO SHINE IN THE WAY THAT ONLY SHE COULD.”

Connie first joined the Houston Pride Band in 1988 and immediately set as one of her goals to become involved at the LGBA level, bringing her gifts of charm, business acumen, leadership, and production experience to the national organization. She served as Vice President of Special Events from 1990 until 1994.

Connie was instrumental (pun intended) during the 1991 fall conference held in Houston, where a formal massed band performed their concert “Stars Across America” in the elegant Jones Hall as the highlight of the weekend.

As LGBA next made plans to participate in the 1993 March on Washington, Connie fulfilled her VP of Special Events role in the production of a concert held the preceding night. This concert, called “Americans We,” was held at the restored Warner Theatre and featured mostly American music. It also featured celebrity appearances by Robin Tyler and Judith Light. Connie also coordinated the massed LGBA marching contingent that appeared on the streets of Washington D.C. the very next day.

By the time New York City’s Gay Games IV rolled around in 1994, Connie again took the reins as producer of a major concert: “Here and Now.” This formal performance, at Madison Square Garden’s legendary Paramount Theater, also featured solo pianist James Adler and a local mixed choral group. Under the Artistic Direction of LGBA veteran Nanisi Barrett, the concert featured some true artistic highs, all under Connie’s able direction. Producing this concert represented a huge financial risk for LGBA, something which Connie managed with grace under a heavy amount of pressure.

Connie never lost her cool, at least not publicly. Sporting a smile for any occasion, Connie’s laughter and positive attitude were infectious. Even after she stepped down from the LGBA Board and her production responsibilities, Connie always made herself available to offer input as subsequent major events were being planned.

Connie also participated in many other LGBA events, including Gay Games, annual conferences, and presidential inaugurations throughout the decades. In 2010, at Cologne’s Gay Games VIII, she received a Legacy Medal from the international Federation of Gay Games for her many years of contributions to the Cultural Festival at the Gay Games.

On the local level, the Houston Pride Band owes much of its decades of success to the numerous contributions of Connie Moore. She joined the band in 1988 during the height of the AIDS epidemic. The crisis took a devastating toll on the band, reducing a once thriving symphonic band of 80 musicians to a struggling 25-member (and dwindling) group. Connie and Debbie, along with a small core group of dedicated members struggled through the ’90s to keep the band alive… down to just twelve members at its lowest point. After years of hard work, commitment, and a passion for music, the band is thriving once again, performing beautiful concerts with 60-70 musicians on stage.

As attorneys specializing in family law, Connie and Debbie dealt with edgy, breakthrough issues for the LGBT community. During their 25 years of practice, they focused on securing legal rights for parents in same-sex relationships through adoption, surrogacy, and child custody litigation, estate planning, probate and guardianship litigation, contract negotiations, and corporate and small business formation. They have been voted “Best Attorneys – Houston and Galveston” in OutSmart Magazine’s annual Gayest & Greatest Survey from 2009 to 2014.

Noting it would be a tragedy to nominate one without the other because they WERE a team in every aspect of their lives the Houston Pride Band nominated Connie and Debbie as a couple and they were recognized as a couple who are a Pillar of Pride for the LGBA.