Barbara Jordan Garden Party
An elegant garden party in Houston with light bites, teatime, and awards to honor the legacy of our beloved civil servant Barbara Jordan.
Our inaugural Houston event!
This signature event is English High Tea meets the Kentucky Derby, with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and musical entertainment. All debutants are invited to don their hats and gloves and join us at this special coming out party as we celebrate Pride and present our inaugural Barbara Jordan awards to honor the leadership and spirit of two Houston icons.
June 29, 2025 | 1:00pm-4:00pm | The Home of Angela Blanchard, Houston, TX
About Barbara Jordan
Born and raised in Houston, Barbara Jordan was a lawyer, politician, esteemed speaker, and powerful advocate for Civil Rights. Her command of public speaking drew national attention when she delivered the opening remarks during the impeachment trial of Richard Nixon.
Among her many accomplishments, she was a trailblazer in politics becoming the first Black woman elected to the Texas legislature in 1966; first Southern Black woman elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1972; and first Black person and the first woman to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1976. She also received many awards and accolades including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded to her by Bill Clinton in 1994.
Barbara Jordan is also considered to be the first queer woman to serve in Congress. While she never formally “came out,” she and Nancy Earl lived together for nearly 20 years, leading many historians to agree that they were romantic partners. Jordan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1973, and toward the end of her life, as her disability progressed, Earl became her caretaker.
Barbara Jordan died in 1996 at age 59 and is buried in the Texas State Cemetery, the first Black person to be buried there.
“If society today allows wrongs to go unchallenged, the impression is created that those wrongs have the approval of the majority.” -Barbara Jordan