Houston’s New Faces of Pride parade’s new grand marshal Ian Haddock is empowering LGBTQ community [Video]

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Ian Haddock became homeless at only 16 years old after his mother kicked him out of the house for being gay. Now, Ian Haddock is leading an organization focused on supporting and empowering Black members within Houston’s LGBTQ+ community.

It wasn’t always easy for Haddock to grow up in a religious family in Texas City. He enjoyed fashion, dance, theater, and art, but he remembers he was always made to feel like he was different.

“But I remember the mentality of that little kid, and he just really wanted to be normal. He just really wanted people to not look at him as crazy,” Haddock said.

In high school, he began experiencing feelings of same-sex attraction to his best friend. But before he could come out on his own to his family, he says school administrators broke the news to his mother. When she realized it wasn’t a phase, Haddock …