In a press release on Thursday, organizers for the fourth annual Unleashed LGBTQ+ Conference and Festival anounced its 2025 dates as well as its roster of special guests. This three-day event will spotlight influential voices and icons in LGBTQ+ film, television, music, business, tech and media.
“Our goal is to create a safe and empowering space where people from across entertainment, business, and LGBTQ+ culture can come together to explore what’s next,” festival founder Wesley Smoot said in the press release. “It’s a one-stop platform for launching new ideas and celebrating identity.”
This year’s festival will be held Sept. 19-21. Along with the dates, the first wave of special guests were announced in Thursday’s press release.
From Unleashed:
Confirmed talent and special guests include iconic director John Waters (Hairspray, Female Trouble), Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson, model and TV host Carmen Carrera, drag superstar Kennedy Davenport, Mean Girls actor stand-up comedian Daniel Franzese, transgender rights advocate Naomi Green and Sara Cunningham and Liz Dyer, founders of Free Mom Hugs and Mama Bears. More guests will be announced as the event nears.
Local special guests include Dallas Voice contributor Jenny Block and Dallas Museum of Art’s Brad Pritchett who will moderate the John Waters event to be held at The Melrose. Waters already addressed Dallas and Unleashed attendees in the video below.
Past Unleashed participants have included The Trevor Project, Black Tie Dinner, Virgin Hotels and iHeart Media. Previous celebrity appearances have included Billy Eichner (Bros), Indya Moore (Pose), Antoni Porowski (Queer Eye).
The full schedule of events will continue to roll out ahead of the festival weekend. This year’s Unleashed LGBTQ+ Conference and Festival is timed to coincide with the Pride in Dallas Parade on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Additionally, in response to the current political climate, Smoot declared that half of the event’s profits will go toward HRC.
This year’s Unleashed LGBTQ+ 2025 is made possible with support from Mark Cuban Foundation, Visit Dallas, Pride in Dallas, Deep Eddy Vodka, MINT Dentistry as well as News Is Out and Dallas Voice.
For more information, visit UnleashedLBGTQ.com.
–Rich Lopez
