A Life of Activism; Our Conversation with Stephen Miranda

As we celebrate Pride Month, we had the opportunity to sit down with Stephen Miranda, Board Chair, Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, to talk about what Pride means in today’s climate, the role of the Chamber in advocacy, and how his personal and professional journey fuels his leadership. His insights are both a call to action and a reminder of the power of showing up, speaking out, and building bridges across communities.

“I knew it was time to pick the torch back up.”

For Stephen, activism runs deep. Raised by gay parents, he was surrounded by advocacy from an early age. But after stepping away in young adulthood, the Pulse nightclub shooting reignited his resolve. Living in rural Minnesota, he found himself in a small nightclub, surrounded by grieving community members.

A drag performer spoke words that shook him: “If Pulse had happened here tonight, every single person in this room would be dead.”

After a call to his mother — who was preparing to march in the Houston Pride Parade despite bomb threats — Stephen felt a renewed sense of purpose. “This is how we fight back. We show up, and we come together,” she told him.

“My voice carries a little more weight with this title behind me.”

Stephen believes his role on the Chamber board, and specifically as board chair, comes with a responsibility — to be measured, strategic, and clear in his leadership.

“In this environment, I’ve felt a responsibility to be less reactive and more solution-oriented,” he said. “There’s a lot of splenetic, distracting, chaotic energy — and our role, as leaders, is to take a breath and be the hope, the plan, and the call to action.”

He sees the Chamber as a sanctuary for clarity and action, a space where overwhelmed individuals can find connection and purpose. “If we’re immobilized by fear or chaos, they can do whatever they want. Our role is to be the opposite of that.”

“We have over 550 members. 65 of them are major corporations.”

The Chamber’s power lies not just in its message, but in its numbers. With a wide-reaching membership base and strong corporate partnerships, the potential for rapid mobilization is immense.

“When I think about the community we can call upon for action, that number is in the thousands. That’s not an exaggeration,” Stephen shared.

He understands the Chamber’s unique ability to galvanize people — not just for resistance, but for tangible, actionable change.

“I solve problems for a living.”

Stephen brings a rare skill set to the Chamber’s leadership — one grounded in high-stakes strategy, negotiation, and empathy. He works in a conservative financial industry, often with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, many of whom do not share his lived experiences or political views.

“I sit in rooms with people who don’t think the house is on fire — because for them, maybe it isn’t,” he explained. “But I can speak both languages. I can advocate for our community in those rooms and build relationships. And I can come back to our community and help adjust our messaging so it actually gets heard.”

“Every single Republican office wanted to meet with LGBTQ+ business owners.”

Stephen has taken his advocacy straight to the Capitol. Alongside Chamber leadership, he’s met with dozens of lawmakers — many of them Republicans — to ensure LGBTQ+ businesses have a seat at the table.

“On our advocacy day in Austin, I met with 15 Republican offices,” he said. “And every single one was interested in connecting with LGBTQ+ business owners in their districts.”

His approach? Direct, respectful, and persistent. It’s a strategy grounded in both professional experience and personal integrity.

“We have to evolve our language if we want to be heard.”

Advocacy is not just about showing up — it’s about being understood. Stephen stresses the importance of adjusting the narrative so it resonates beyond the community.

“I think we need to change the argument sometimes. Other communities aren’t hearing us the way we expect. We need to work on our messaging, because otherwise, it’s not going to land,” he said.

His ability to straddle different worlds — business and advocacy, conservative and progressive — gives him a rare vantage point to shape that conversation.

“Get involved.”

Stephen’s advice for emerging LGBTQ+ professionals is simple, yet powerful: “Get involved.”

“That can mean going to a Chamber breakfast, attending a political caucus meeting, an HRC happy hour, an ACLU legislative update, or a Montrose Center mixer. Anything that puts you in community — that’s how you find your lane.”

For Stephen, Pride is more than celebration. It's a strategy. It’s visibility with a purpose. And it’s an urgent invitation to all of us: Show up, speak out, and keep the torch burning.