LA Pride Celebration
Keep Pride after the festival with The Pride
Can a play teach us how to battle prejudice and fears in the era of Trump-fueled socio-political retrogression?
Rehearsals of The Wallis’ production of The Pride, directed by Michael Arden (running June 8 – July 9). Pictured (l-r): Augustus Prew, Matthew Wilkas (at table in background: Giles Cooper, Michael Arden). (Photo by Blubomir Kocka for The Wallis)
Pride Season is here, and it’s in full swing. Naturally most of the excitement and expectations are focused on the Festival, but it’s also important to remember that Pride is much more than a party. It’s a movement, and this is the month in which we not only celebrate, but renew our determination to participate.
To help us keep the momentum, it’s important to be reminded not only of where we are in the fight, but also of where we have been- and this June, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is offering an opportunity to do just that with its presentation of Alexi Kaye Campbell’s play, The Pride. Stylish, witty and affecting, it presents a snapshot of two very distinct time periods by examining three characters- Philip, Sylvia, and Oliver- whose fate is governed by their eras.
The Pride alternates between 1958 and 2008. In the earlier timeline, Philip and Sylvia are married, but Philip finds himself secretly smitten with her colleague, Oliver; Half a century later, Philip and Oliver are live-in boyfriends, but Oliver’s sexual promiscuity threatens their relationship and he turns to their friend Sylvia for help. As the play progresses, it becomes clear that these three characters are echoes of each other across time, all of them struggling to make a better life for themselves than the one they have known before.
All of this sounds like a fascinating evening of theatre, to be sure, but does it really have anything to do with Pride? According to director Michael Arden, who is wrapping up his year-long stint as Artist-in-Residence at the Wallis with this production, the answer is “Yes, quite a lot.”
Rehearsals of The Wallis’ production of The Pride, directed by Michael Arden (running June 8 – July 9). Pictured (l-r): Neal Bledsoe, Augustus Prew. (Photo by Lubomir Kocka for The Wallis)
Arden, along with the Center’s artistic director, Paul Crewes, wanted to embrace the spirit of Pride, reaching out to the LGBTQ community through a project which would reflect the concerns that affect it. Obviously, that’s a tall order; how do you address such a wide range of issues in a manner which can also be entertaining for its audience?
A number of ideas were floated, one of which was a staged reading of The Pride, which Arden saw in its original 2008 production at the Royal Court Theatre in London, and which he felt would be a perfect match for the Wallis’ outreach effort. Crewes agreed; so much so, in fact, that he decided to go one better and mount a full production of the show.
Arden couldn’t have been more delighted. “The material resonated with me as a gay man; I connected to the experiences in the play on a personal, emotional level. I felt it was a story that hadn’t been told before and about an aspect of gay life that isn’t widely discussed.”
As to how it relates specifically to Pride, it comes down to a lot more than just a coincidentally appropriate title. When asked how the play reflects the spirit and purpose of the Pride movement, Arden is eager to answer. “By viewing these characters’ experiences in two different time periods, we get to see how things have changed, and also how they haven’t. Remember, part of the play is set in London in 1958; homosexuality was a criminal offense, and that had a huge impact on the way gay men and women lived and loved. When we get to scenes set in 2008 New York, we can see the ways a different social environment has affected gay life- certainly for the better, but also with deep shadows still being cast by the less accepting attitudes of those earlier times.”
In other words, there are direct threads between the obstacles faced by the play’s central trio across fifty years. As Arden points out, there is a third perspective on The Pride, created by watching it now- a decade after its original debut- from which we can see that those threads are still intact.
“The play was written before we had Marriage-Equality, so we can observe the differences in our own time from both the eras we see in the show; but right now we are very much in the middle of a time when there’s a strong backlash against the progress that has been made, and there are a lot of regressive forces at work in the culture that are directly tied to the same prejudices and fears that existed in the past.”
Can The Pride teach us a way to battle against those prejudices and fears in this era of Trump-fueled socio-political retrogression? Perhaps not; according to its press release, it is a play which “explores fate, love, fidelity and forgiveness,” and “asks questions about contemporary life (gay and straight), without presuming to answer any of them concretely.”
As Arden sees it, however, it can help us learn to fight that battle for ourselves. “Just like in any play, these characters are all fighting for what they want. What they do to win that fight is shaped by their environment, by the age they live in. That can help us recognize the ways our own struggles are affected by our current situation. Understanding how progressive and regressive cultural beliefs are tied to our history helps us to recognize how the roots of our current issues reach into past, and it can lead to change by allowing us to let go of the burden of shame we may have inherited and instead embrace the pride we need to live our lives now.” Or to put it another way, quoting a particularly colorful line of dialogue from the play, it can allow us to “stop sucking the dick of our oppressor.”
Artistically speaking, you can be sure that The Pride will be a production created with integrity. Arden’s own “Pride” story dates back to when he was a student at Julliard, and Sir Ian McKellen came to the school to speak. It was not long after the actor had famously outed himself to the public (though his sexuality had long been known to his friends and associates), and one of the students asked him if his announcement had made his career better or worse. Without hesitation, McKellen said “Better. Much better. By being honest about who I am, my work as an actor can also come from a place of complete honesty.”
It was a statement that rang true for Arden, who has embraced that philosophy in his own artistic career. He brings his own true, gay self to his work, and then allows his productions to be shaped by the intertwining of that perspective with those of his collaborators (in the case of The Pride, he is particularly excited to add that his cast brings together the viewpoints of a gay English man, a gay American man, a straight American female– who is also a mother-, and a straight American man). “As an artist, my job is to reflect back to the culture what it presents to me, and not hiding behind a mask gives me a clearer surface when I ‘hold the mirror up to nature.’”
You can see that reflection for yourself when The Pride opens later this month.
— The Pride will receive its Los Angeles premiere in this new Wallis production that stars Neal Bledsoe as Philip, Jessica Collins as Sylvia, Augustus Prew as Oliver and Matthew Wilkas as The Man. Performances begin in the intimate Lovelace Studio Theater on June 8 through July 9 with opening slated for Wednesday, June 14.
Tickets:
Single tickets: $40 – $75 (prices subject to change)
Online – TheWallis.org
By Phone – 310.746.4000
Box Office – Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Service
9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd,
Beverly Hills, CA, 90210
Arts & Entertainment
Make Your Voice Heard at WeHo Pride: Join the Women’s Freedom Festival and Dyke March
FREE! FREE! FREE! Come celebrate Pride in West Hollywood with these free events
WeHo Pride is now fully underway with an arts festival happening now, leading up to a weekend-long worth of events celebrating the kick-off of Pride season.
On Friday, May 31, the Women’s Freedom Festival will take over the Celebration Stage, celebrating women’s rights — and wrongs. The event is co-sponsored and produced by the L-Project, featuring emerging and local artists from the LGBTQ and QTBIPOC identities, including activists, musicians, poets and comedians.
The exciting lineup of events features an arts festival that is currently hitting the streets of West Hollywood, the historic Dyke March featuring Dykes on Bikes and Pride Riders L.A. — an organization for queer and lesbian women motorcycle riders — and much, much more.
Katrina Vinson is the founder of Pride Riders L.A., working hard over the last few years to bring much-needed visibility to dykes, women who love women and nonbinary people who identify as sapphics.
Her application to start the first Dykes on Bikes Los Angeles chapter is about more than branding. It’s about connection to a legacy of activism — dating back to the group’s 1976 founding in San Francisco, when leather-clad lesbians led the Pride parade in defiance of the police force and society’s patriarchal norms.
“It’s not just about riding,” Vinson says. “It’s about showing up for each other and reminding the world that we’re still here, still loud, still proud — and still riding.”
Pride Riders LA will feature an all-women and nonbinary people lineup of motorcycle bike riders, revving their engines all up and down West Hollywood. Pride Riders LA will roll in following the Women’s Freedom Festival, creating a transition from stage to street. The call for riders is already underway—with an emphasis on inclusivity and outreach to younger riders, trans and nonbinary folks, and LGBTQ+ bikers of color.
Jackie Steele is a multi-faceted community organizer and longtime activist who has built a reputation in queer and sapphic spaces. She is the Los Angeles District Attorney LGBTQ+ Advisory Board Chair, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna LGBTQ+ Advisory Board Member, and was previously the Public Safety Commissioner for the City of West Hollywood, Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board of the City of West Hollywood and a self-proclaimed militant queer.
“Chris Baldwin runs the L-project and what they’ve put together is a concert and an event that is a true celebration of intersectional queer identities,” said Jackie Steele. “We worked really hard to work with the city to create a space that was accessible for everybody, where folks can just come out, enjoy the street fair and enjoy themselves.”
This year, they are expecting around 50 bikes to roll through for the Dyke March, so if you’ve never been, this will be a moment to remember, some might even call it a canon event.
“If you’ve never been, Dyke March is a celebration of dykes and what lesbians have done in the community — which is often under-celebrated,” said Steele. “There’s going to be bikes everywhere, engines roaring, a live program on stage and we will be fists in the air, standing together.”
WeHo Pride will take over Santa Monica Blvd., over the weekend. Check the West Hollywood Pride events page to keep up with street closures, parking information and full lineup of performers and events.
LA Pride Celebration
Pride is a protest, even more so today
Pride is never just a party. It’s a political act — and an act of protest that reminds us how far we’ve come and that we must not stop fighting for the future we deserve
By John Erickson, City of West Hollywood
Every June, rainbow flags rise above Santa Monica Boulevard and all across West Hollywood. Music pulses from our parks and the city becomes a beacon for millions who come to celebrate LGBTQ Pride. But for those of us who live here, serve here and fight here, Pride is never just a party. It’s a political act — and an act of protest that reminds us how far we’ve come and that we must not stop fighting for the future we deserve.
West Hollywood wasn’t built on complacency. It was built with the mission of serving a greater purpose by activists, trailblazers, and everyday people who refused to be silent. In West Hollywood, we fought for safe housing for people with HIV and AIDS in the 80s and 90s — a fight we continue to this day. We marched in the streets for marriage equality and trans rights long before the national conversation caught up with us. We organized, advocated, and showed up — even when it was dangerous.
That’s what Pride means here and in 2025, as we confront the legacy of a second Trump administration and brace for what may come next, our fight is far from over.
We Must Protect What We’ve Won and Push Harder Than Ever
Let’s be clear: the Trump administration is leaving deep scars on our community. Every day, I hear from residents fearful of so many things, from rolling back healthcare protections for trans people and the proposed ban on transgender troops; to “religious freedom” laws that allow discrimination under the guise of faith — moves that are direct attacks on our rights, our dignity and our lives.
We cannot afford to be passive; we must not look away. The rise in anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country — from drag bans to book bans — is a coordinated backlash against our visibility and progress. And while Los Angeles County may feel like a haven, we must have a responsibility to lead by example. Pride in West Hollywood isn’t just about celebration — it’s about organizing. It’s about raising our voices in solidarity with our siblings in states like Florida, Texas and Tennessee who are facing existential threats. Just a few weeks ago, I was out in the community enjoying a wonderful evening and met a person from Florida. We began speaking and they said that they extended their stay for an extra evening because they didn’t want to go back to hiding their true identity in the state they were from.
The Fight for Trans Rights Is the Fight for Our Future
This leads us to one of the most urgent fronts in this fight: protecting our trans community. Statistics show trans women of color continue to face disproportionate levels of violence and discrimination. Black and Latinx trans people experience higher rates of homelessness, unemployment and police harassment. If we’re serious about equality, we must center trans lives in our activism and policymaking. Across L.A. County, we must demand that every city follow suit.
HIV/AIDS: The Fight Is Not Over
While medical advances like HIV prevention medication (PrEP) and undetectable equals un-transmittable (U=U), have changed the landscape of HIV prevention, the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over. This is especially true for communities of color and LGBTQ youth. Nationally, Black gay and bisexual men account for nearly one in four new HIV diagnoses and young people between the ages of 13 and 24 account for over 20% of new infections. These drastic cuts in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment funding at both the federal, state, and county levels are disastrous for our communities.
In West Hollywood, we have never wavered in our commitment to ending the epidemic and we won’t stop now. From free testing to access to treatment, we must continue to invest in the tools and care our community needs.
LGBTQ Youth Deserve More Than Survival
LGBTQ youth today are growing up in a nation that sends them mixed signals: celebration during Pride month, but censorship in their classrooms, validation on TikTok, but violence in their neighborhoods. We cannot let them down.
According to The Trevor Project’s 2024 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, 41% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year. Among transgender and nonbinary youth, that number climbs even higher. These numbers aren’t just statistics — they’re a call to action, and in West Hollywood, we answered that call.
This coming budget season, we’re investing in mental health resources, funding youth-led organizations, and creating safe, affirming spaces in our city, and we’re pushing for more across LA County. Because every queer kid deserves a future — not just to survive, but to thrive.
Pride Is a Promise
Pride is not a luxury. It’s not a brand. It’s a promise: to protect each other, to show up for the most vulnerable among us, and to never forget those who came before us. Together, we must fight for the existence, dignity, and respect of our entire community — for the queer kids back in Ripon, Wisconsin, where I come from and for the friends and family that we all know across the country.
In West Hollywood, we honor that promise every day, not just in June. We’re proud to stand on the frontlines of justice, love, and liberation. And we invite every Angeleno to stand with us.
Because Pride didn’t start as a parade — it started as a riot and we’re not done fighting.
Happy Pride Month, all. Let’s celebrate now, more than ever.
California
Long Beach Pride reaffirms community focus for this year’s festival
This year’s theme is ‘Power of Community’
Long Beach Pride 2025 will take place on May 17 and 18 at Marina Green Park, emphasizing focus on grassroots organizations and local community performers.
“Long Beach Pride has always been more than just a festival—it’s a movement,” said Elsa Martinez, interim president of LB Pride. “This year, more than ever, we’re celebrating the strength, creativity, and unity of our local community.”
Martinez also notes that all the ticket sales directly go toward funding on-the-ground resources.
“As a nonprofit organization, every aspect of the Pride Festival—from ticket sales to vendor partnerships—directly funds our work in the community,” noted Martinez. “This is a festival with purpose.”
As LB Pride amps up for its 42nd annual celebration, the organization has stated that this year marks the return to the roots of Pride. LB Pride stated that they are committed to emphasizing what makes the local community so special and spotlighting local performers, musicians and entertainers.
The organization has also stated that they are committed to ‘justice, inclusion, and the celebration of queer joy.’
“Our strength has always been our solidarity,” said Martinez. “This year’s festival is a reminder of what we can achieve when we lift each other up.”
This year, the main stage will feature a lineup of pop, Hip-hop and Latin talent.
Performers include HYM the Rapper, George Michael Reborn Tribute, Tori Kay, Jewels Drag Show Extravaganza, Secret Service, Tiancho and music mixes by DJ BSelecta, DJ Icy Ice and DJ 360.
For updates, tickets, and volunteer opportunities, please visit https://longbeachpride.com and follow @LongBeachPride on social media.
Pride Special
South Los Angeles came out for Pride!
This year’s South Los Angeles Pride theme – #WeOutside – embodied the celebration of being outside and visible
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Council President Pro Tem Marqueece Harris Dawson, Councilmember Heather Hutt, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Lindsey Horvath, South LA Pride Board Chair Jasmyne Cannick, and hundreds of people came out to celebrate the intersectionality in the LGBTQ+ community at South LA Pride Sat. Jul 15 at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex.
This year’s South LA Pride theme – #WeOutside – embodied the celebration of being outside and visible while standing proudly together in South Los Angeles.
Presented by South Los Angeles Councilmembers Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Heather Hutt, and Curren Price, the epic free one-day festival centered on the talents of artists who are queer Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in South Los Angeles.
The 2023 South LA Pride Festival was sponsored in part by Community Coalition, Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the LGBT Center, Gilead, Los Angeles Chargers, and KPFK 90.7FM.
Additional details about South LA Pride are on social media. Follow the hashtag #SouthLAPride on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram, or visit southlapride.com for the latest updates.
Photo Gallery:
Pride Special
Durand Bernarr will headline the 5th annual South LA Pride
Activities include a ballroom voguing competition; softball game; women’s tackle football; drag performances & an outdoor dance floor
LOS ANGELES –South LA Pride announced today that following his sold-out tour and viral NPR Tiny Desk Concert, Durand Bernarr will headline the 5th annual event on JULY 15 at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex (formerly Rancho Cienega Park) in Baldwin Hills.
The epic FREE one-day festival lineup for South LA Pride will once again center the talents of artists who are queer Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and/or are from South Los Angeles including drag performances by Amber Crane, Sole Valentino, and Porshaa Lejayy. Additional performances include Ginger Roots, Devan M, the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Lost Angeles, Yalla the Melodica, disco queen Kiki Kyte, rappers Freaky Boiz, and more. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the stage and dance floors open at noon. A full lineup can be found here.
In addition to the main stage, other activations include a ballroom voguing competition with Season 1 winner of HBO MAX’s “Legendary” Torie Amour Bodega, a softball game hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Softball Association, yoga with WalkGoodLA at 11 a.m., a meet and greet with the LA Legends Women’s Tackle Football team, and an outdoor dance floor with various DJs mixing throughout the day.
This year’s emcees include journalist Shar Jossell and content creator and comedian Jade Fox.
Presented by South Los Angeles Councilmembers Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Heather Hutt, and Curren Price, South LA Pride is a family-friendly event that is free and open to all to attend. There will be food trucks, a vendor village marketplace, live DJs, games, and more. Attendees are welcome to bring their food and drinks or can opt to purchase food and drinks from the onsite food vendors.
(Photo Credit: City of Los Angeles Media Relations)
“I am honored to support the LGBTQIA+ community at the 5th Annual South LA Pride Celebration,” remarked Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “While love knows no boundaries, it is crucial to confront the harsh reality of unjust laws that infringe upon human rights. I stand united with my colleagues and our city in our dedication to champion freedom for everyone.”
This year’s honorees include:
- Garth Gerald, Executive Director of the AMAAD Institute
- Liliana Perez, Cultural Affairs Director for the Los Angeles Chargers; and
- Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
“South LA Pride is a powerful experience that amplifies the voices and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in South L.A., while also celebrating its diversity, resilience, and strength,” said Councilmember Heather Hutt. “It’s important that LGBTQ+ individuals in our community feel a sense of belonging and love from their constituents and their City, and this gathering is a testament to that commitment. Join us as we create a safe space where everyone can proudly express their authentic selves, and together, we’ll ignite change, foster peace, and promote acceptance of all!”
South LA Pride Chair and Director Jasmyne Cannick added, “South LA Pride is a celebration that recognizes and embraces the intersectional identities that exist within our communities. The queer community is not a monolith and we don’t all live in West Hollywood. Celebrating pride means celebrating all of who we are, where we are. We don’t have to–and we won’t–leave our community to celebrate pride.”
The 2023 South LA Pride Festival is sponsored in part by Community Coalition, Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, the LGBT Center, Gilead, Los Angeles Chargers and KPFK 90.7FM.
Additional details about South LA Pride will be made available on social media. Follow the hashtag #SouthLAPride on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram, or visit southlapride.com for the latest updates.
WHAT:
5th Annual South LA Pride
A free, family-friendly LGBTQ+ pride festival in South Los Angeles hosted by Councilmembers Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Heather Hutt, and Curren Price.
WHEN:
Saturday, July 15, 2023
12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
WHERE:
Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex
5001 Obama Blvd.
Los Angeles 90016
COST:
Free
Attendees are encouraged to pack their picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs.
MORE INFORMATION:
Hashtag to follow #SouthLAPride
Related:
Pride Special
Politics & Pride 2023 celebrations as Pride Month comes to a close
From San Francisco to New York and across the world too cities large & small marked the end of Pride Month 2023
LOS ANGELES – From San Francisco to Denver to Chicago and then New York, cities large and small marked the end of Pride Month 2023 in parades and gatherings. Across the globe there were also celebrations including the 40th anniversary of Dublin Pride in Ireland and in the true spirit of that very first Pride gathering, thousands took to the streets in Istanbul, Türkiye in defiance of the ban on Pride by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
As LGBTQ+ communities celebrated they were joined by elected leaders and representatives.
Here are some highlights of Pride 2023:
Illinois Governor Jay Robert “J.B.” Pritzker:
I’ve been marching for LGBTQ+ rights since Pride was thought of as a protest — and I’m proud to keep marching as a celebration of hope and recommitment to the fight for equality today. pic.twitter.com/kyjhROgh3h
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) June 25, 2023
Colorado Governor Jared Polis:
Happy Pride from Colorado State Employees! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
— Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) June 25, 2023
We love celebrating a Colorado for All! pic.twitter.com/fUmLq1SckG
New York Governor Kathy Hochul:
New York is the birthplace of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and today, thousands of New Yorkers came together to show our #StrengthInSolidarity. Happy #Pride! pic.twitter.com/GqdwuJuIAs
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) June 25, 2023
NBC Bay Area, KNTV 11:
San Francisco celebrated its 53rd annual Pride Parade Sunday, with a crowd nearing a million people. The theme of this year's parade was about “looking back and moving forward.” https://t.co/HTIA85kueg pic.twitter.com/dHV3ZEOIBF
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) June 25, 2023
California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis:
Happy Pride, San Francisco 🌈❤️💜💙💚💛
— Eleni Kounalakis (@EleniForCA) June 25, 2023
Proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our incredible LGBTQIA+ community today as we celebrate diversity and continue the fight for equality. California is with you! pic.twitter.com/TDJU9Mofap
Mayor of the City of Houston, Texas, Sylvester Turner:
In the most diverse city in the nation, we chose to continue embracing the unity, inclusiveness, and ability to express ourselves for who we are.
— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) June 25, 2023
It was great to see many Houstonians attend this year’s @PrideHouston parade last night in @downtownhouston. #Pride pic.twitter.com/t6DO3v6mrG
The prime minister of the Republic of Ireland, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar:
We marched in Dublin's Pride parade today! #HappyPride 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/BEpUezcbWo
— Fine Gael (@FineGael) June 24, 2023
Türkiye İYİ LGBTİ:
Susmuyoruz, korkmuyoruz itaat etmiyoruz! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️#Istanbulpride #OnurYürüyüşü #Dönüyoruz pic.twitter.com/nBNnh2inbp
— 🇹🇷 İYİ LGBTİ ☀️🌈 (@IYILGBTI) June 25, 2023
Maryland Governor Wes Moore:
In our state, no matter who you love or who you are, you are welcome and you are loved.
— Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) June 25, 2023
Happy #Pride, Maryland! pic.twitter.com/Ff6BtwOM9W
Toronto Pride 2023:
Happy Pride! #Pride2023 #TorontoPride pic.twitter.com/y5v7B8Ax8G
— blogTO (@blogTO) June 25, 2023
Member of Parliament for Whitby, Southern Ontario, Ryan Turnbull:
In Canada, we believe in the freedom to “love who you love, and to be who you are!” Happy Pride!! #cdnpoli #Whitby #Toronto #Pride2023 pic.twitter.com/I0R048VkCa
— Ryan Turnbull 🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@TurnbullWhitby) June 25, 2023
Pride Mexico City 2023 via Reuters:
Thousands of revelers crowded the streets of Mexico City to celebrate the Pride parade pic.twitter.com/5oRnAFBUIb
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 25, 2023
Twin Cities Pride via The Star Tribune; First Lady Dr. Jill Biden:
First lady Jill Biden made an appearance at Twin Cities Pride in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/1eoKz82mcC
— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) June 24, 2023
Pride in Edinburgh, Scotland 2023:
Happy Pride 🏳️🌈 #PrideEdinburgh #Pride2023 https://t.co/jaESsSOVpJ
— The City of Edinburgh Council (@Edinburgh_CC) June 24, 2023
Seattle Pride 2023:
Organizers estimate nearly 300,000 people were out and about, proud to be part of the 49th Annual Seattle Pride Parade. https://t.co/OBvR7q2sBK
— KING 5 News (@KING5Seattle) June 26, 2023
Metro Manila Pride, Philippines 2023:
Flags, Friends, and Feathers: The 2023 Metro Manila Pride March 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
— Ralph Revelar Sarza (@walphs) June 25, 2023
FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/ITqf9d2Jnq#TAYOangKULAYAAN#JUSTICEforCHADBOOC#JUSTICEforNewBataan5#Pride2023#PrideMarch2023#PrideMonth2023 @mmprideorg
Watch in 4K: https://t.co/HtfjqMpWsi pic.twitter.com/Hr8vhN3XWK
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY):
Happy Pride NYC! I've never missed a march in over 30 years, and with the LGBTQ+ community facing increased attacks, it's more important than ever to celebrate visibility & diversity. pic.twitter.com/zQa6pHsNST
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) June 26, 2023
Oklahoma City Pride 2023:
It was amazing to see our Indigenous brothers and sisters at OKC Pride today. Sending love and hugs to my Two Spirit siblings! pic.twitter.com/XOCsOzmnWp
— ᒪᗩᑎᑕᗴ 🏳️🌈 (@LanceUSA70) June 25, 2023
Pride Special
KABC: LA Pride Parade draws thousands to Hollywood
The 53rd annual L.A. Pride Parade rolled through the historic heart of Hollywood Sunday, featuring hundreds of marchers & colorful floats
HOLLYWOOD – The LA Pride Parade made its way through Hollywood on Sunday, highlighting the last day of this year’s weekend-long Pride celebration.
Pride Special
L.A. Pride Parade Sunday will be live on KABC7
ABC7 is your official L.A. Pride station! Join our hosts Ellen Leyva and Christiane Cordero as we broadcast the parade on ABC7
LOS ANGELES – (KABC7) The 53rd annual L.A. Pride Parade will be rolling through the historic heart of Hollywood Sunday, and you can watch the celebration on ABC7.
The grand marshals for the parade this year are Margaret Cho, the ACLU SoCal and the late Leslie Jordan – a family member will represent Jordan.
The parade will feature a special performance presented by the ACLU SoCal and staged by Morgan McMichaels to music by 14-time Oscar nominee Diane Warren.
The parade features hundreds of marchers, colorful floats, celebrity guests, and there will be a few big surprises too.
There is a new route and direction this year. The parade will start at Sunset Boulevard and goes up Highland, and then turns right on Hollywood Boulevard, rolling all the way to Cahuenga where it makes a final right turn heading back to Sunset Boulevard.
It all begins Sunday, June 11 at 11am.
ABC7 is your official L.A. Pride station! Join our hosts Ellen Leyva and Christiane Cordero as we broadcast the parade on ABC7, Hulu and wherever you stream ABC7 Los Angeles.
Check out abc7.com/pride for stories about the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies, and share your Pride with #abc7eyewitness.
Pride Special
LA Pride Parade and Village Details
Pride Village is the place to be after the parade with festivities taking place from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., just steps from the parade route
HOLLYWOOD – The second annual LA Pride Village on Hollywood Boulevard will bring the free, all-day street festival to a new location between Vine Street and Gower Street just steps away from the official LA Pride Parade route on June 11.
At 9:00 AM on June 11, The Hollywood Partnership CEO & President Kathleen Rawson will deliver a welcome note in front of Pantages Theatre, and at 2:00 PM elected officials – including Senator Ben Allen, Senator Maria Elena Durazo, Board Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Council Member Hugo Soto-Martinez and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur – will welcome festival goers at the Celebration Stage on Gower St. and Hollywood Blvd.
Christopher Street West Association (CSW) announced its trio of grand marshals to be celebrated at the LA Pride Parade on Sunday, June 11 taking place at its original historic location in Hollywood.
The parade, which will feature a special drag performance presented by the ACLU SoCal and staged by Morgan McMichaels to music by 14-time Oscar nominee Diane Warren, will air LIVE on long-time LA Pride broadcasting partner KABC/ABC7 on Sunday, June 11 beginning at 11:00 a.m. PDT.
This year’s LA Pride Parade grand marshals include comedian, actor and activist Margaret Cho as the Icon Grand Marshal, an individual who needs no introduction and achieved major milestones within their career and industry; a posthumous tribute to Emmy-winner Leslie Jordan as the Legacy Grand Marshal, a new title this year in honor of Jordan for his everlasting impact on the community; and the ACLU of Southern California, that helped CSW obtain the permit for the first LA Pride parade, as the Community Grand Marshal, which celebrates a group or individual who has had a powerful influence through their work and dedication to and for the LGBTQ community.
“I’m thrilled and incredibly honored to be the Icon Grand Marshal,” said Cho. “We need this Pride more than ever. I have been attending Pride celebrations since 1978 and this time around the need to celebrate as well as unite is more urgent than it has ever been. Our love is greater than their hate.
“On behalf of Leslie Jordan, we are overjoyed by Christopher Street West’s heartfelt recognition to name Leslie as LA Pride’s Legacy Grand Marshal,” said Jana “Cricket” Jordan. “This honor further solidifies the positive impact he made in the world, but more importantly for the LGBTQ+ community. His spirit continues to bring love and light.”
“For a century, we’ve been on the front lines fighting for people to be their true, authentic selves,” said Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU SoCal. “We’re honored to be the Community Grand Marshal and proud to love, live among, and protect LGBTQ Californians.”
“Christopher Street West is honored and humbled by this year’s three grand marshals,” said Gerald Garth, president of CSW. “Each have contributed to the LGBTQ+ community in their own unique ways, furthering our fight for acceptance, equality, and justice.”
It will also air nationally on ABC News Live and Hulu, and wherever viewers stream ABC7 including abc7.com and the ABC7LA mobile app.
Anchor Ellen Leyva and reporter Christiane Cordero from ABC7 Eyewitness News will co-host the ABC7 broadcast. The parade route will begin at Sunset Blvd and Highland Ave heading north, then east onto Hollywood Blvd, then south onto Cahuenga Blvd, ending at Sunset Blvd and Cahuenga Blvd.
Additionally, The Hollywood Partnership, the non-profit organization that oversees the public realm in the Hollywood Business Improvement District (BID), has once again partnered with LA Pride to bring the LA Pride Village back to Hollywood Blvd.
LA Pride Village is the official place to be after the LA Pride Parade, with festivities taking place from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., just steps from the official parade route.
When the iconic LA Pride Parade returned home to Hollywood Blvd last year after more than four decades, it prompted the start of new traditions and celebrations in Hollywood, including LA Pride Village, a free and open to the public street festival.
The second annual LA Pride Village celebration promises to be even bigger and better, with a new location on Hollywood Blvd, between Vine St. and Gower St., to make room for more booths featuring local vendors and non-profits, an expanded beer garden, delicious food trucks, two performance stages for twice the entertainment, and more comfortable crowd space for dancing.
All details can be found here: https://lapridevillage.com/do/la-pride-2023.
Sponsors of LA Pride Village include Princess Cruises and Royal-bud.com.
Public transit and ride share services to LA Pride Parade and Village are strongly encouraged. For the Parade, connect to the L.A. Metro B (Red) Line and exit Hollywood/Highland or Hollywood/Vine Station. Metro has many Park & Ride lots servicing the county – parking is just $3.00 per day, payable onsite.
If self-driving to LA Pride Parade and Village, vehicles can access parking and the event site via Vine Street or Gower Street.
WHAT:
LA Pride Village is the ultimate free community street festival happening on Sunday, June 11, in honor of the LGBTQIA+ community. Hosted by The Hollywood Partnership and LA Pride, it’s the perfect complement to the LA Pride Parade, as it is located just steps away from the iconic procession on Hollywood Boulevard, between Vine Street and Gower Street. Festivities include:
- 90 local vendor booths
- Two entertainment stages featuring 14 performances
- An expanded bar garden
- 11 Food trucks
- 1 LGBTQ+ Cinema Film Festival by NewFilmmakers LA @ The Montalbán Theatre
- More comfortable crowd space for dancing and celebrating Pride on Hollywood Boulevard
WHEN:
Sunday, June 11, 2023
12 PM to 8 PM (all day)
KEY TIMES:
- 12 PM: LA Pride Village OPENS
- 12-8 PM: 14 Performances across two stages by Pride notables like Mariachi Arcoiris, Bob Baker Marionette Theatre, the Gay Freedom Band LA, Secret Circus, Dance Church, and LA’s favorite queer AAPI drag party, Send Noodz
- 2 PM: Elected officials welcome Pride festival goers to LA Pride Village
- Senator Ben Allen, Senator Maria Elena Durazo, Assemblymember Rick Zbur, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, LA City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez
- 2:15 PM-2:45 PM: Interviews available with elected officials
- 3:00 PM-10:30 PM: NewFilmmakers LA Presents LGBTQ+ Cinema with The Montalbán @ 2023 LA PRIDE: This special event at Hollywood’s famed Montalbán Theatre features LGBTQ+ films spotlighting emerging filmmakers telling stories from across the spectrum of queer identities by artists from diverse backgrounds, including a strong representation of BIPOC storytellers. The event also hosts a full bar with reception space for mingling throughout the day, and Q&A sessions with filmmakers from each program.
- Tickets by Donation at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/newfilmmakers-la-presents-lgbtq-cinema-with-the-montalban-2023-la-pride-tickets-644036980947
- Location: The Montalbán Theatre – 1615 Vine Street Hollywood, CA 90028
- 8 PM: LA Pride Village CLOSES
LA Pride in the Park: 6/9-6/10
It’s going down with Mariah Carey + Megan Thee Stallion! Don’t miss out — tickets at lapride.org
This June in honor of PRIDE, Century City’s Fairmont Century Plaza invites guests to an extraordinary two-hour live concert performance from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. Returning this year, the non-profit organization will be performing at the hotel with a mission to change hearts and minds through the power of music.
The event will feature a vibrant approach to an array of iconic songs from Queen, Motown, Sondheim, and more, taking place at the hotel on Saturday June 10th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. This will be their main West Los Angeles PRIDE performance. VIP tickets will be $55 and will include two cocktails. Free General Admission is also available and the performance will be open to the public.
Live music has been a prominent component of the Fairmont Century Plaza experience since its beginning and the hotel is looking forward to honoring PRIDE this year with this monumental performance.
Pride Special
LA Metro’s ‘Ride with Pride’ 2023
The transit system rolled out its Pride TAP cards which are available at Metro Customer Centers and TVM’s supporting Pride event
LOS ANGELES – LA Metro, the official Transit Partner of LA Pride, is back again for its 24th year, this year Metro plans to celebrate Pride all month with its very own Ride with Pride campaign.
Last Friday, June 2 the transit system rolled out its Pride TAP cards which are available at Metro Customer Centers and TVM’s supporting Pride events. Metro reminds Pride attendees they can avoid traffic, street closures, and overpriced parking with Go Metro to LA Pride events. Parking is only $3 – payable on the spot, at any of the numerous Park & Ride lots adjacent to Metro stations and every rail line has parking.
Just in time for Pride Month, LA Metro also announced it will officially open the Regional Connector transit project to the public on June 16.
The ambitious, complex project, which began in 2013, is unique among rail projects in the United States. The 1.9 miles of new track laid for the project will allow light rail trains to travel between Union Station and the busy 7th Street/Metro Center Station in Downtown’s Financial District. Before the Regional Connector, that’s a journey only Metro’s heavy rail lines could make. Bridging this gap allows Metro to merge the hook-shaped L (Gold) line with the A (Blue) and E (Expo) lines, creating two serpent-like train lines where there were once three. The Regional Connector includes three new underground stations:
- Little Tokyo/Arts District Station where riders will have easy access to historically rich and vibrant neighborhoods and cultural institutions.
- Historic Broadway Station features two nationally registered districts: the Broadway Theater District, with 12 original theaters within seven blocks and Old Spring Street, known as the original Financial District of Downtown Los Angeles.
- Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill Station connects riders to downtown’s performing arts institutions, museums, fine dining experiences and more.
These new stations will transform the way many riders can experience the Metro system, providing riders with a seamless, one-seat journey from as far as Azusa to Long Beach and from East L.A. to Santa Monica with no transfers required.
To mark this historic milestone, Metro will provide free rides on the entire Metro transit system including Metro bus and rail lines as well as Metro Bike Share services, during opening weekend. Metro encourages Angelenos and visitors alike to rediscover downtown and explore the fun, food, shopping, and cultural landmarks now accessible via the three stations on Regional Connector line and beyond.
Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, twitter.com/metrolosangeles and twitter.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.
LA Metro System map:
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