Splash Bash Parties, shows, workshops kick off summer in Houston and Galveston by Ann Walton Sieber

Huge festive crowds will gather at Stewart Beach in Galveston and at Incognito the Club for Houston Splash from April 30 to May 6. Last year, a record 2,500 people danced and partied at Incognito at the height of Splash, said Derick Miles, owner of the club and president of Houston Splash.

This year may be even bigger, since already three Medical Center hotels were completely booked–the Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and the Marriot–more than a month ahead of the event. The splashy Internet Splash site (www.splashhouston.com) is receiving more than 3,000 hits per day, Miles said. The site features a photo gallery, chat rooms, and personals, plus such sassy travel advice as "Never pack more than two outfits per day," and "[Bring] at least one Bourgeois, GRAND or CHURCH outfit for those ghetto fabulous / Fu Fu Events!!" as well as the more sober, "Always pack plenty of condoms & lube–this message was brought you by Windsor Village AIDS Ministry and the Donald Watkins Memorial Foundation.")

In addition, Club Incognito itself can hold a lot more people. Billing itself as "a place where gay men and women of color could party comfortably and safely," the former Incognito, located at McKinney at Live Oak, was 1,200 square feet plus a patio and tent. However, Miles was forced to move his club earlier this year when his landlord didn’t renew his lease. Incognito is now at 3704 Fannin, the former club Level, and his three-level club has 12,000 square feet.

Known as "the South’s largest African-American gay/lesbian beach weekend," Houston Splash kicks off the black pride circuit. After Houston Splash the first weekend in May, Gay and Lesbian Black Pride follows in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day weekend. Pride events then take place in both Chicago and Los Angeles over the Fourth of July weekend. The festivities end with Labor Day in Atlanta.

Splash began more than 20 years ago in Galveston, and was not a specifically black event. However, according to the promoters of Houston Splash, "as the times changed and more African-American gays attended, the Caucasian population moved Splash to Austin."

The first African-American celebration of Splash was held in 1988 at the El Mina Shrine Temple in Galveston. In 1996, Incognito co-owners Miles and the late Clifford Hunter formed Houston Splash, and through the years it expanded from a day, to a weekend, to a whole week. The number of women who participate is growing too. Miles said about 30 percent of the crowd is female.

Splash week features parties and shows every night, Tuesday—Monday, April 30—May 6, at Incognito. There are also "Black Dialogue Workshops" on Saturday, May 4, 1—5 p.m. at the Crown Plaza Medical Center. On Saturday night, the women party at Incognito, while the men head to the Hangar, 1205 Roberts (corner of Polk). The Blue Beach Party (wear something blue) is Sunday, May 5, noon—7 p.m., at Stewart Beach. Everyone is welcome at all events. For more information, call Incognito at 713/237-9431.