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Pride Special

LA Pride returns to its roots; Parade map, festival & talent lineup

The parade which returns to Hollywood Boulevard June 12, where it began five decades ago, will be a bit more star-studded than the last time

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4 years ago

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The cover of this week's print issue of the Los Angeles Blade 'LA Pride' special

LOS ANGELES – Paula Abdul, iconic recording artist with six number one hit singles, former host of American Idol, longtime LGBTQ+ ally, and one of the most influential choreographers in music video history, will be honored by Christopher Street West Association Inc (CSW), with the newly created Icon Grand Marshal title.

Sir Lady Java (Publicity still 1960’s)

Sir Lady Java, a trailblazing nightclub personality in the 1960s was targeted by LAPD for violating “Rule Number 9,” a ban on “impersonation by means of costume or dress a person of the opposite sex,” will be celebrated as Community Grand Marshal. She will be accompanied by Hailie Sahar, a former cast member of Pose, who will portray Java in an upcoming feature film about her colorful life, in a vintage convertible to experience the full parade route.

“It was very important to LA Pride that we lift history and legacy as a part of the parade this year, so this is a new and exciting moment,” says Gerald Garth, CSW’s Vice President of Community Programs and Initiatives.

Out actor Mark Indelicato, remembered for his portrayal of a gay teen on the hit comedy Ugly Betty and who is currently appearing as a gay assistant on the HBO series Hacks, will be honored as this year’s Celebrity Grand Marshal.

The parade is presented by LA Pride title sponsor TikTok. It will begin in Hollywood Sunday, June 12 at 10:30 a.m. on Hollywood Blvd and Cahuenga Blvd heading west, then south onto N. Highland, then turn east on Sunset Blvd, ending at Sunset Blvd and Ivar. 

L.A. Pride has announced that people who were interested in its former June 10 Community Day can now enjoy Pride Village, a community-led, free street fair at Hollywood Blvd. between Cahuenga and Vine St. in Hollywood. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Parade Sunday, so people can enjoy Pride Village before, during, and after the LA Pride Parade with music, art, booths, food and drink, and the famed Ferris wheel. 

For more information, go to lapride.org.

2022 LA PRIDE PARADE PARTICIPANTS
ABC7, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Accenture, ACLU of Southern California, Advance Auto Parts, AEG / LA Kings / Galaxy, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Amazon/Glamazon, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. /PRISM, Angel City Derby, APLA Health, Athleta, BELLA + CANVAS, Bienestar Human Services, Bimbo Bakeries USA, BuzzFeed, Inc., Cedars-Sinai, Celebrity Grand Marshal: Mark Indelicato, Cheer LA, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Christopher Street West/LA Pride, City of Angels Pipe Band, City of LA, City of Long Beach, City of West Hollywood, Classroom of Compassion, CLUB TEMPO / JASERED, Community Grand Marshal: Sir Lady Java, Congressman Adam Schiff Constant Contact: IMPACT@CTCT, Coolhaus + Brave Robot, Corona (Constellation Beer), Deloitte West Hub LGBTQIA+ & Allies Community, Delta Air Lines, Dignity Health, Discovery+, Disney, Enterprise Holdings, Equality California, Equity Residential, Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles, Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, GoodRx, Google, Grindr, GumGum Inc, H&M, Headspace Health, Henkel Beauty ERG, Hollywood Teamsters Local 399, Hollywood United Methodist Church, Hot Topic, Inc, IATSE, Icon Grand Marshal: Paula Abdul, iHeartMedia, Insomniac Events, InVision LA, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Johnson & Johnson ERG, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Keck Pride/Keck Medicine of USC, Kim Chi Beauty, LA28 – 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, LAC+USC Medical Center Foundation, LAFD with Chief Crowley, Lambda Legal, LegalZoom, Lionsgate, Los Angeles Blade, Los Angeles City Attorney Pride Association, Los Angeles Controller, Ron Galperin, Los Angeles County Public Defenders LGBTQ Group, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Los Angeles Football Club, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, Los Angeles Public Library, MAC Cosmetics, Macy’s, Men’s Health Foundation, Microsoft, Miss Los Angeles County Scholarship Organization, Motorcycle Contingent for Equality, National Gay Pilots Association & Unusual Attitudes Flying Club (Affiliated Groups), NBCUniversal, NFL, Nordstrom, Omnicon OPEN Pride ERG, Open Door Shakespeare, Optum (formerly Healthcare Partners), OUAI Pacific Center Groups and Events LQBTQ, Pepsi, Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD), Planned Parenthood, Project Angel Food, Providence, Raise A Child, Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corp, Riot Games, Saban Community Clinic, Senator Ben Allen, Sheppard Mullin, Society for Senior Gay and Lesbian Citizens (“Project Rainbow”), Sony, SpaceX, Starbucks, Stonewall Democratic Club, SVEDKA Vodka (Constellation Wine & Spirits), System1 #Pride, TGirl Nights, The AMAAD Institute, The Leather Contingency, The TransLatin@ Coalition, The Trevor Project, Tiffany & Co., TikTok, Toyota, Traditional Aztec Dancing, TruFusion, U.S. Bank, UCLA Health, Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica, United Airlines, Univision, UPS, VA Greater Los Angeles Heathcare System, Warner Brothers  Discovery, Wells Fargo, WERLDEF (Women’s Equal Rights Legal defense & Education Fund), WWE Superstar Sonya Deville
The very first LA Pride parade June 1970, Hollywood Blvd (Photo credit: UCLA Collection, Archives of the Los Angeles Times)


THE ultimate pop diva Christina Aguilera is set to grab more than headlines as the big name on stage during the June 11, 2022 LA Pride Concert at LA Historic Park. She’s as well known for grabbing LGBT hearts and souls as she is for her big voice, over-the-top wardrobe and pop hits like “Genie in a Bottle” and “Fighter.” But the superstar is set to prove her status as a gay icon all over again. She is beloved by our community for advocating for LGBTQ equality and representation over the course of her career. Christina has called her LGBTQ fans her fighters, heroes and the reason she loves what she does. “The LGBTQ community has never had it easy,” she wrote in Billboard. “The struggles each one of you faces daily on an individual level and on a broader political and cultural level are unimaginable, yet you keep fighting, you keep moving forward trailblazing and beating all odds with love always in your hearts.”In 2002, Christina delivered a special single called “Beautiful” to the LGBTQ community, earning a GLAAD Media Award. She stands up for us and “anyone who’s been discriminated against or unaccepted, unappreciated or disrespected just because of who [they] are.” She’s gonna deliver.

Since breaking through in Brazil six years ago, Anitta has become the leading artist of a new generation of Latin American music. As the biggest ever global female popstar to come from Brazil, she has amassed 55 million Instagram followers and over 15 million YouTube subscribers garnering more than 5.6 billion views. Anitta has been named among the world’s 15th most influential musicians on social media by Billboard. In July 2013, she released her self-titled first album, Anitta, which consisted of 14 new tracks, most of which were written by her. Anitta’s second album, Ritmo Perfeito, was released in July 2014, followed by her third album, Bang, in 2016. The album contained 15 original tracks and the music video for the album’s title song, “Bang,” has garnered over 412 million views since its release. Her latest album, Kisses, was released in April 2019 and marks Anitta’s first trilingual album with songs in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Kisses was nominated for “Best Urban Album” at the 2019 Latin GRAMMY® Awards. This year she also won “Best Female Artist” at the Latin AMAs. Most recently, Anitta released her new single, “Faking Love” featuring Saweetie. 

A Golden Globe®-winning and Emmy®-nominated actress, singer, and activist, Rodriguez will next star in Apple TV+’s new workplace comedy LOOT opposite Maya Rudolph premiering this June. In 2021, Rodriguez became the first transgender woman to earn an Emmy® nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as “Blanca Evangelista” in FX’s critically acclaimed series POSE. Earlier this year, Rodriguez won the Golden Globe® Award for Best Actress in a TV Drama Series, making her the first transgender actor to win a Golden Globe® award. Most recently, Rodriguez appeared in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature film TICK, TICK… BOOM!. She will also appear in ‘GIRLS CAN’T SHOOT (AND OTHER LIES)’ alongside Beanie Feldstein, Jameela Jamil and Kat Dennings. In June 2021 she released her debut single, “Something to Say” via Access Records.

Rossi

When it comes to Rossi, all you have to do is press play. Rossi transcends social norms and compels the masses to join his party. With a sound that is uniquely his own, there is no denying that underneath the glam and glitter the music speaks for itself. 

Rossi’s debut single “7 Minutes” is a glossy and catchy tune that will have you wanting to spin the bottle, and the song, again and again. He is here to bring the fun of dance music back, with a cheeky, queer, and nostalgic approach. 

SAN CHA

SAN CHA is a singer-songwriter, based in Los Angeles, increasingly known for her visceral and explosive live performances. Her name, derived from the Spanish word sancha, which translates to ‘mistress’, is a mischievous reference to the title of ‘San’, given to male saints in the Catholic tradition. Fans of cumbia and punk, bolero and electro, flock to see San Cha’s emotional renditions of traditional Mexican rancheras and original songs that queer conventions of identity, power and love. Her striking stage presence is accompanied by the one-of-a-kind garments she adorns, aesthetic reflections of the years spent performing in drag and club scenes in the Bay. San Cha was the headlining act at the kickoff of the 2019 Red Bull Music Festival, with recent performances at the Getty Museum, TBA Fest, Levitt Pavillion, HOCO Fest, Sonido Clash Music Festival and Santa Monica Pier. Her latest album, La Luz De La Esperanza, is written in the form of a surrealist telenovela and sounds like what

Pitchfork described it as ‘modernized ranchera with a rock edge and goth sensibility’. Effortlessly mixing Spanish and English, La Luz De La Esperanza calls for a bold confrontation of tradition while respectfully honoring it.

For emerging alt-pop icon Zolita, every song begins as an elaborate movie in her mind, irresistibly rooted in both riveting drama and viscerally real feeling. A truly multidimensional artist, the L.A.-based singer/songwriter/filmmaker matches her fiercely honest musical output with self-directed videos, each revealing the singular aesthetic she honed in part through her studies in film at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Recently signed to AWAL after earning massive success as a D.I.Y. creator (including over 120 million global streams to date), Zolita wants to elevate LGBTQ+ visibility with her music through songs like “Somebody I F*cked Once,” a video that went viral immediately after its premiere, amassing five million YouTube views in its first week alone. “One of the most mportant things for me is to normalize queerness, and to show happy endings for queer people. I never thought of that as a kind of activism before, until I saw firsthand what it can actually do.”

2021 is the year Rebecca Black put her stamp on pop culture with her song “Girlfriend” and she’s still having a major moment with her new release which  PAPER and Billboard highlighting her GLAAD Media Awards performance as the “best musical moment” of the night, notably “bubbly…fun… and… the exact kind of pick-me-up that so many of us are looking for.” Vulture said “she’s now serving up queer pop anthems.” The 23-year old singer, songwriter and creator, followed up the reviews by delivering a post-breakup bop “Personal,” to unapologetically cry and dance to; a song that melts bubble-gum pop and hyperpop glitches as smooth as The Secret World of Alex Mack! To celebrate the 10th anniversary of her song of the zeitgeist, “Friday,” Rebecca, who has racked up 1.5 Million YouTube subscribers and 1 Million Instagram followers (@msrebeccablack), released a “Friday” remix featuring an array of electro-poptasm, including Dorian Electra, Big Freedia, 3OH!3 & produced by Dylan Brady of 100 gecs. Rebecca advocates for anti-bullying, mental health initiatives and the LGBTQ+ community, across recent partnerships with the AdCouncil, GLAAD, and Best Buddies.

MIKE TAVEIRA

He could be called the pansexual Portuguese pop singer. But look a little closer and you’ll see a fully-rounded artist with a distinct point of view, a razor-sharp ear, and triple-threat talents that have already begun to win the world over (with over a million streams and a combined 150k followers). Taveira’s sonic references are rooted in his childhood: the booming Springsteen percussion from his Jersey suburb and the microtonal melodies he’d dance to in the summers of Northern Portugal. Turning to performance to escape abuse and instability, Taveira spent his teen years becoming a student of Prince and Bowie, learning to write and dance from late legends. After moving to New York City at 19, Taveira dove headfirst into acting (and starred in a few independent films, one of which accumulated over 50 awards and counting), but it wasn’t until 2018 – 4 years later – that he set out to record his own music. Between 2019 and 2020, Taveira independently released a string of singles – Heart, Curious, and Karma – racking up over 500,000 streams from his own hustle. Taveira explored themes of heartbreak and queer attraction over contemporary pop-R&B arrangements and won features from Billboard, Gay Times, Instinct, and Attitude. 

GESS

GESS is a pop/r&b singer-songwriter-producer. Self-identified love child of Zayn Malik and Sabrina Claudio, GESS delivers atmospheric, contemplative music that’s been described as “a heartbreaking and sexy exploration of self.” GESS hit the scene in 2018 with the single “Spilled Milk” & EP “Plastic City.” In that time he has accumulated 2.5 million streams on Spotify and appeared on Billboard 9+ times, with work featured on 4 of their LGBTQ playlists. His quarantine EP “Psyche” premiered in Gay Times Magazine and received rave reviews by Paper Magazine and others.  Aside from solo releases, GESS often produces and writes for LGBTQ acts globally, frequently collaborating with Shea Coulee (Rupaul’s Drag Race winner). Most recently, their song “Collide” premiered on VH1.  GESS has performed at major venues throughout California including the notorious Viper Room, as well as renowned events in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Amsterdam.

MALIBU BABIE

The 808s pack a punch and so does the vision: to be the first female producer/artist to top the charts. Collaborating with multi-platinum, Grammy award winning songwriters and producers Theron Thomas and Sam Sumser, Malibu Babie is armed & ready to take over the music industry in a lane all her own. The viral hit-maker is already garnering attention from Billboard and Idolator, and has song placements with MTV, Netflix, Apple and Sephora. Malibu Babie promises to not just be your new favorite artist, but a whole damn brand.

 JASMINE INFINITI

Born in the Bronx and based in Brooklyn, Jasmine Infiniti’s sound is a mesh of underground styles that New York City artists have long-shaped. Her DJ sets and original music oscillate between ballroom, hip-hop, house, industrial and techno; racing between fury and euphoria to create cathartic moments. While playing in just about every underground scene in North America – Jasmine put out releases with homegrown labels such as Club Chai and Molly House. It wasn’t until pandemic times, when she self-released her hard techno opus “BXTCH SLÄP,” that her sound truly took form. Starting as a bandcamp only release, it was reissued on wax by acclaimed label Dark Entries and quickly sold out. Jasmine also founded New World Dysorder: a label, collective, and club series that has been running strong for over seven years. In late 2020 they released “WW1,” an expansive compilation that showcased the dark corners of American club music. Jasmine Infiniti has been an integral part of modern North American club culture, and will continue spreading her message globally in the near future.”

GRAG QUEEN

If you were lucky enough to watch Queen of the Universe (which aired on Paramount +) then you’re well aware that on the season’s finale 26-year-old Grag Queen was crowned (literally!) the first winner of the competition.  Part RuPaul’s Drag Race, part Eurovision, ‘14 queens from 10 countries’ competed for the title in the 6-part series, which was an international success. The Brazilian singer wowed audiences with her show stopping performances of Andra Day’s “Rise Up” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” among others. Grag was thrilled with her victory. “I feel SO accomplished! This award symbolizes a dream come true. I am sure my family and my country are proud of me.”  She’s been lauded by fellow singing Queens Alaska Thunderfuck who said, “Grag is one of the most technically skilled singers out there, but it’s her stage presence, sense of humor, and charisma that make her an absolute superstar.”  Trixie Mattel added, “She’s a star before the song even starts, and then when she begins singing – it’s over bitch.” Her new single, “Party Everyday”, which she co-wrote and already has over 600,000 views on Youtube.  Grag will also have a track on the forthcoming “Love, Victor” soundtrack. The show’s new season premieres on HULU in June. A staunch supporter of the LGBTQ community in Brazil, Grag – born Gregory Mohd – say she’s very well-aware of how many young people are afraid to come out to be their true selves. “We live in a country that kills LGBTQ people more than any other, and our transgender people’s [life expectancy] is only 35 years old and it’s not fair. We are still trying to find some place of peace….I really want to use this platform to make people know that this situation is crazy and it’s real.”

EUREKA- (They/Them) started as a small country child in the heart of East Tennessee. Raised by a single Mom, scraping by in poverty. Doing their best to survive and thrive is what created Eureka’s work ethic today. Now, standing 6’4” (and that’s without heels, y’all), Eureka represents all the big guys, girls, and gender-fluid beautiful beings, as the PLUS SIZE DRAG SUPERMODEL OF THE WORLD! One of Eureka’s goals is to give bigger people around the world the confidence to go out and live their  dreams. Their passion led them to compete on nine national stages before the age of twenty-six. Today Eureka continues to STOMP their way onto the national scene with television, music, videos, songwriting, singing, acting, and modeling. Eureka sees themselves as the Elephant Queen because of her passion for elephants – their dedication to family, loyalty, and strength. They regard those family-oriented and brilliant pachyderms as the best representation of size-positivity, kindness, and love. Their fight is for those traits in all of us to never go extinct – and to give inspiration to their “HERD” of followers.

EDWARD FRAME

Being in love with music pretty much his entire life, Edward first became interested in music production at the age of 18 with a passion that ranged from electronic dance music, house music all the way down to disco. In the 6 years he has resided in Los Angeles, he has become the co-creator of a massively successful summertime event called “PEARL” which reignited the passion for curating music for parties and events. He has since then been the music producer and DJ for this event which has in turn opened doors to DJing at other venues and spaces such as a regular Sunday residency at HEART in West Hollywood and pop-up gigs around town at the W Hotel Hollywood, Doheny Room West Hollywood, and the Sonoran in Palm Springs just to name a few. He has collaborated with many producers and DJs and hopes to keep the momentum on the rise this year. His love and passion for music and creating moments on the dancefloor for just about everyone is what fuels his drive to continue to learn and grow and become the top-level DJ he aspires to be!

D.I.Y.

On his debut D.I.Y., drumaq introduces an unforgettably bold new voice into today’s R&B landscape. An accomplished songwriter, having written for various artists including Ant Clemons on his GRAMMY® Award nominated album, drumaq’s lyrics radiate a raw honesty, the L.A.-based artist details his experience as a queer twentysomething finding himself through the beautiful chaos of love and lust and heartbreak. In a departure from the bedroom-pop introspection of 2019’s Vitamin D (a self-released mixtape that’s now surpassed five million combined streams), drumaq brings that truth-telling to a more opulent and high-powered sound inspired by strong-minded female R&B stars like Jazmine Sullivan, Jill Scott, and Keyshia Cole. And as drumaq reveals, D.I.Y. ‘s unbridled confidence has much to do with the profound personal transformation he’s experienced over the past year. “I just want people to really feel themselves, and to know that it’s possible to change your whole outlook,” he says. “Instead of letting someone else’s negative actions destroy you, you can let them push you toward becoming a better person—someone who’s completely comfortable in their own skin,” he says.

BOY UNLIMITED and BOY APOCALYPSE

Comprising Boy Untitled and Boy Apocalypse, BOY2K is a forward-thinking experiment in the connective power of dance music. After meeting at a show in 2019, the pair began making music together, eventually resulting in the birth of a collaborative project that celebrates radical queerness and challenges assumptions about what (and who) dance music is for. Fusing house, techno, and pop music, BOY2K is committed to making people move AND think about the world. Their music addresses a wide range of topics including technology, social media, sexuality, and more. Boy Untitled has been noted as an “artist to watch” by such publications as Billboard, Earmilk, Gaytimes, Nylon, and OUT! Magazine while Boy Apocalypse has been a featured vocalist on tracks with global dance acts including Adventure Club and Blem. Together, the duo combines years of experience and diverse perspectives that make for an electrifying sound. In addition to their upcoming debut release, BOY2K is diving headfirst into the Web3 space and is currently collaborating with outlets like Yung Crypto to develop projects in the generative space. 

DERRICK CARTER

He is widely acknowledged as one of the best DJs in the world. With innovative productions, flawless technical skills and an effortlessly joyful attitude of rocking a crowd, his influence has infiltrated throughout the spectrum of dance music. Although known as one of the key players of Chicago’s house music wave in the ’90s, Derrick Carter began DJing at the age of nine, spinning disco records at family reunions. Raised in the western suburbs, Derrick was into music from a young age; during his teens Chicago’s house scene sucked him in for good and before long he became a strong presence in the city’s underground dance scene. “When I got my driver’s license at 16 my sneak ability was validated,” he laughs. “I was a fierce bedroom jock for a long time. After you mix for the love of it for six or seven years, you get it pretty tight and you can take it on the road.” Derrick’s sets are rooted in house, but he freely travels outside confirmative club tastes, seamlessly incorporating old-school disco, soul, jazz, and whatever else catches his fancy to jack the beat and rock the party.

Brooklyn based, singer-songwriter Allison Ponthier writes folk-pop music that’s auto-biographical in narrative, reflective of her queer identity and personal journey. Visually, the project lives in a universe where campy horror, lunar landscapes, and 80s westerns collide. It has a whimsical and theatrical feel to it, but embodies some darker humor and gracefully tackles some heavy concepts. Finding her own path from a conservative upbringing in Texas, Allison’s early records are reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers and Kacey Musgraves with a splash of Dolly Parton. In August 2021, Allison released her critically acclaimed debut EP “Faking My Own Death”. In September, she joined Lord Huron on his US tour and made her major festival debut at Austin City Limits in October.

Toronto native, Alexander Stewart is quickly becoming on of the top independent artists to watch out for in 2022! Previously breaking the top 20 Billboard charts in Canada with his single “Backwards”, he kicked off 2022 with his latest single, a new powerful pop ballad, “Echo”. “Echo” immediately amassed millions of views on his TikTok prior to its release along with a record number of pre-saves! He gained the attention of megastar Liam Payne of OneDirection who tweeted “Currently listening to a new unsigned artist I LOVE”. Alexander’s monthly listeners on Spotify have doubled in the first few months of 2022 to +2 million.”Echo” is now becoming his biggest record to date, and his catalog is now at an enormous 50 million streams across all platforms giving us a taste of what is to become a very exciting year for Alexander.

A drag performer and recording artist best known for winning the eighth season of Rupaul’s Drag Race. He has released various hit singles since his run on Drag Race (Purse First, Yet Another Dig) and appeared on television

(A Black Lady Sketch Show, We’re Here) and film (Cherry Pop, The Queens). He currently co-hosts the podcast “Sibling Rivalry” with Monét X Change and continues to inspire others with his iconic comedy chops.

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Pride Special

Your quick guide to West Hollywood Pride 2026

The City of West Hollywood will celebrate WeHo Pride Weekend on Friday, June 5, 2026; Saturday, June 6, 2026; and Sunday, June 7, 2026, with a packed schedule of events and festivities in and around West Hollywood Park

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June 4, 2026

By

West Hollywood Pride 2026

Pride Starts Here! The City of West Hollywood will celebrate WeHo Pride Weekend on Friday, June 5, 2026; Saturday, June 6, 2026; and Sunday, June 7, 2026 with a packed schedule of events and festivities in and around West Hollywood Park, located at 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard, and Santa Monica Boulevard.

Initial street closures will begin taking effect on Thursday, June 4. Starting on Friday, June 5 at 12 p.m., Santa Monica Boulevard will be closed in both directions from N. Doheny Drive to N. La Cienega Boulevard (through Monday, June 8, at 7 a.m.).

For all the latest #WeHoPride information, visit www.wehopride.com and follow @wehopride on Instagram, Facebook,and TikTok.

·       Free! WeHo Pride Presents Friday Night at OUTLOUD will take place on Friday, June 5 beginningat 6 p.m. at West Hollywood Park. Advance free-with-RSVP registration for WeHo Pride Presents Friday Night at OUTLOUD. This event is currently at capacity.

·       Free! WeHo Pride Street Fair, Women’s Freedom Festival, and live performances on the Rainbow and Celebration Stages on Santa Monica Boulevard will begin on Saturday, June 6 at 12 p.m. with theannual Dyke March beginning at 6 p.m. directly following the conclusion of the Women’s Freedom Festival at the Celebration Stage. The Street Fair will feature vendors, booths, and community organizations located along Santa Monica Boulevard between N. Robertson and La Cienega Boulevards. The Women’s Freedom Festival will take place at the Celebration Stage at La Peer Drive featuring emerging LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and non-binary musicians, comedians, poets, and activists. The WeHo Pride Street Fair will continue Sunday, June 7. For additional details and information, please visit www.wehopride.com.

·       OUTLOUD Music Festival at WeHo Pride, the flagship music festival and concert experience of WeHo Pride Weekend, produced by JJLA, will take place on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7 featuring a star-studded, high-energy line-up.

·       Summertramp will burn brightly from the sunny shores of OUTLOUD Music Festival at WeHo Pride all weekend long with hot-and-heavy headliners along with DJ sets, and dancing. Full artist lineup, event, and ticket information is available at www.outloudmusicfestival.com/weho.

·       Free! Thousands of people will gather in West Hollywood for the annual WeHo Pride Parade on Sunday, June 7. The Parade will kick-off at 12 p.m. from N. Crescent Heights Boulevard, making its way west along Santa Monica Boulevard to N. San Vicente Boulevard in the City’s Rainbow District. The WeHo Pride Parade is an imaginative and colorful tradition that embraces LGBTQ+ representation, inclusion, and progress. Full of music, dancing, festive floats, vibrant marching contingents, and creative flair, the WeHo Pride Parade celebrates LGBTQ+ people and contributions to community and culture. KTLA 5 is the official broadcast partner of the WeHo Pride Parade. Stream on KTLA+, KTLA’s mobile app, or KTLA.com.

·       New this year! Camp OUT! A Sober Pride Celebration will take place on Sunday, June 7, 2026 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the parking lot adjacent to the West Hollywood Recovery Center Log Cabin, located at 617 N. Robertson Boulevard. Camp OUT!  is a drug- and alcohol-free event open to all, where guests will enjoy an energetic afternoon of camp-inspired activities and community celebration immediately following the WeHo Pride Parade.

For more than four decades, the City of West Hollywood has been home to one of the largest Pride celebrations in the nation. Hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ+ people and allies from around the world traditionally make West Hollywood their regular destination during Pride season. Since its incorporation in 1984, the City of West Hollywood has become one of the most influential cities in the nation for its outspoken advocacy on LGBTQ+ issues. No other city of its size has had a greater impact on the national public policy discourse on fairness and inclusiveness for LGBTQ+ people.

Home to the Rainbow District along Santa Monica Boulevard, which features a concentration of historic LGBTQ clubs, restaurants, and retail shops, the City of West Hollywood consistently tops lists of “most LGBTQ friendly cities” in the nation. More than 40 percent of residents in West Hollywood identify as LGBTQ+ and four of the five members of the West Hollywood City Council are openly gay. The City has advocated for four decades for measures that support LGBTQ+ individuals and the City is in the vanguard of efforts to gain and protect equality for all people on a state, national, and international level. #WeHoPride @WeHoCity

For more information about WeHo Pride Weekend, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Event Services Division at [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

For up-to-date news and events, follow the City of West Hollywood @wehocity on social media, sign up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, read news and feature articles at www.hellowweho.com, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar.

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Pride Special

Kathy Hilton out as Weho Pride’s Grand Marshal, title to remain empty this year

Hilton reiterated her support of the LGBTQ community in her joint statement

Published

1 day ago

on

June 4, 2026

By

Kathy Hilton

As we reported earlier this week, there was a lot of backlash to the announcement that Kathy Hilton was to serve as this year’s Weho Pride’s Grand Marshal. While Hilton has been a supporter of LGBTQ causes, her MAGA support and use of the f-word was called into question.

Yesterday, the City of West Hollywood issued a joint statement with Hilton and Weho Pride announcing, “After thoughtful discussions, the City of West Hollywood, the WeHo Pride production team, and Kathy Hilton have determined that the 2026 WeHo Pride Parade will not designate a Grand Marshal Icon honoree.”

No Grand Marshal this year? With the overwhelming number of activists and queer celebrities in the local community, surely there could have been another choice?

Hilton’s response in the statement reads, “I am honored to have been considered for this recognition and appreciative of the support I have received from members of the community throughout the years,” Hilton said. “My reason for wanting to be involved in this year’s WeHo Pride weekend was simple: to celebrate, support, and share in the joy of a community that means a great deal to so many people.”

She went on to clarify her support of the LGBTQ community, “I respect the thoughtful conversations that have taken place and remain deeply committed to supporting LGBTQ+ causes and visibility, including through my participation in GLAAD initiatives and events, and longstanding support of organizations such as the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation since its inception, Dr. Mathilde Krim, God’s Love We Deliver, and Project Angel Food. My support for the community and WeHo Pride is unwavering. This monumentally important event has always had a special place in my heart, and I will always cherish the experience I had acting as Grand Marshal of the LA Pride parade with my daughter in 2005. Thank you to everyone who works so hard to make it happen, and I wish the community nothing but love, joy, and a fantastic WeHo Pride weekend.”

The backlash to Hilton’s presence as Grand Marshal escalated this week as Indigenous Pride LA took to Instagram and announced that they were canceling their presence at this weekend’s Pride Parade, stating, “Many within our Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, and Indigenous LGBTQPAI+ circles feel this year’s Grand Marshal choice does not align with the values, lived experiences, and spirit of Pride we seek to uplift.”

Podcaster Tyler Oakley posted on X to his 4.2 million followers, “great choice for trailblazer icons! i’m curious why kathy hilton was chosen considering the last i heard about her she was attending trump’s parties & calling a dj ‘faggot'”

The Blade was on the scene last night at Beaches Tropicana in West Hollywood for this year’s Pride kickoff. The event was packed and full of good energy, undaunted by the Hilton debacle.

The City of West Hollywood thanked the community for its “thoughtful dialogue.” The City went on to state, “The City of West Hollywood and WeHo Pride Parade organizers thank Kathy Hilton for her grace and her continued support of the LGBTQ+ community. Pride has always been strongest when it genuinely reflects the community. WeHo Pride is strengthened by open dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to inclusion.”

The Blade will be on the scene at this year’s Pride Parade along with the LA LGBTQ Commission and Lindsey Horvath’s office. See you there!

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Pride Special

Controversy looms as Kathy Hilton is named West Hollywood Pride Grand Marshal

Her possible MAGA ties make the philanthropist a questionable choice

Published

4 days ago

on

June 2, 2026

By

Kathy Hilton

Pride is here, and we’re only 6 months into 2026. Yet for many LGBTQIA people, it’s felt like a decade. Homophobia on the rise, an active political mission by this administration to defund queer organizations, and we are getting close to the brick-throwing spirit that inspired pride in the first place. So the choice to name someone who’s partied at Mar-a-Lago as Grand Marshal of Weho Pride is a strange choice. 

“The City of West Hollywood and WeHo Pride producer JJLA announce that legendary television personality and philanthropist Kathy Hilton has been selected as the WeHo Pride Parade Grand Marshal Icon for her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, allyship in the entertainment industry, and unwavering support across pop culture,” says the City’s announcement. It goes on to say, “Hilton will also be celebrated as one of the 2026 WeHo Pride Parade Icons.” 

Hilton joins honorees, the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders, and the NFL’s first male cheerleaders, Napoleon Jinnies and Quinton Peron.  It’s worth noting that Hilton was also Grand Marshal with her daughter, Paris Hilton, at the 2005 Pride Parade. But then again, Kelly and Sharon Osbourne also had that honor in 2010. 

It’s not unheard of for women with big gay followings to be grand marshals. Elizabeth Montgomery, Carol Channing, Jennifer Tilly, and Kathy Griffin have all had that honor. But as queer visibility is needed now more than ever, was this a smart choice? 

Is Mama Hilton MAGA?

Ironically, the choice to award Hilton this title invokes all the drama and hearsay of her show. It’s a bit strange that since Lisa Vanderpump decided to open her restaurant in boy’s town, you can’t escape the Bravo of it all. 

Part of the controversy involves accusations by two of her castmates. It has been widely circulated that in 2022, Hilton skipped filming a finale party for Real Housewives to attend  Donald Trump’s Super Bowl party at Mar-a-Lago. This caused her castmate Lisa Rinna to post to her Instagram stories. 

There’s also the lingering accusation from another past OutLoud performer, Erika Jayne, who accused Hilton of using the f-slur about a DJ. Bravo launched an investigation and could neither confirm nor deny Jayne’s claims. Hilton has also formally endorsed Spencer Pratt for LA Mayor. 

It is important to note that Hilton does partner with LGBTQ organizations and charities. She hosted a party at her estate to commemorate GLAAD receiving the Governors Award by the TV Academy and hosted the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles toy drive at The Abbey. So is this just a case of a socialite attending the wrong party, or has West Hollywood selected to honor someone a little to the right of center? 

It doesn’t help that the Saturday headliner, The Pussycat Dolls, are also in the same MAGA-ish grey area. Nicole Scherzinger, amidst her career-defining run of Sunset Blvd on Broadway, faced some blowback when she commented, “Where do I get that hat?” on a photo of Russell Brand wearing a red “Make Jesus First Again” hat… on Election Day. She did make a statement that the comment was not aligned with her politics or how she voted, but there was some goodwill lost. 

The Real House Prides of Los Angeles 

Meanwhile, LA Pride, yes, there are two prides, has elected Emmy-winner Jeff Hiller as their Celebrity Grand Marshal. They also named Mia Yamaoto as Community Grand Marshal and posthumously named Shirley Raines as Icon Grand Marshal. 

Like dueling housewives, Christopher Street West, the non-profit that facilitates Pride, famously separated from the City of West Hollywood in 2020 on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Pride. It offered to hold a parade in conjunction with Black Lives Matter, then later deferred to BLM to lead it. That has become the LA Pride Parade, which will be held on Sunday, June 14th. 

Meanwhile, the City of West Hollywood has expanded its Pride programming to include its OutLoud Music Festival, which is clearly going for a mini-Coachella vibe. This shift in values and politics cannot be ignored. Also, since its inception, the new LA Pride has consistently named Grand Marshals who are LGBTQIA, including Leslie Jordan, Niecy Nash, and Hacks star Mark Indelicato.

Comments on social media have come out on both sides, with obvious fans of Hilton happy she’ll be in attendance, while the official account of @theaidsmemorial commented, “Melania Trump not available?” 

It does beg the question, why are Bravolebrities constantly booked for Pride? While Hilton’s position is honorary and unpaid, Erika Jayne, Meredith Marks, and Countess Lu-Ann have all appeared on Bravo and are being paid to perform at the musical festival.

While there are many LGBTQIA fans of Bravo, Pride has always been political. It was a literal response to the Stonewall Riots and commemorates the day queer people stood up for their rights. Similarly, West Hollywood incorporated as a response to police brutality. While our community does value inclusivity and hopefully Hilton’s role does bring some much-needed visibility and goodwill to the LGBTQIA community, it does bring up an important question.

Given our current political climate, was there a more qualified candidate? While back in the day, having celebrities with gay fanbases lending their visibility to Pride was a boon. But with the state of LGBTQIA politics, can we afford to have anyone with even potential MAGA ties taking LGBTQIA money, prominence, and political goodwill?

As LA faces an election that could change the tone of the City, it’s strange to see that both our Prides are feeling like they have drawn stark political lines in the sand. Time will tell as Pride begins in West Hollywood this weekend. 

Regarding Hilton’s presence as Grand Marshal, the City of West Hollywood told the Blade:

“The City of West Hollywood recognizes that the selection of Kathy Hilton as Grand Marshal Icon for the 2026 WeHo Pride Parade has generated a range of opinions and emotions within our community. We understand that Pride is deeply personal and meaningful, and we respect the diverse perspectives that have been expressed.

WeHo Pride Parade Icons are selected in recognition of their visibility, allyship, and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Kathy Hilton has publicly supported LGBTQ+ causes and visibility, including through her participation in GLAAD events and initiatives. At the same time, we acknowledge that concerns raised by West Hollywood residents, stakeholders, and LGBTQ+ community members are important and deserve to be heard.

We are listening. We believe that WeHo Pride is strengthened by open dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to equality and inclusion.

The City of West Hollywood remains committed to ensuring that WeHo Pride is a celebration rooted in visibility, inclusion, and respect, and we welcome respectful conversations that help WeHo Pride and our community continue to grow and evolve.”

Click here for more information about Weho Pride.

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Pride Special

Beyond celebration: Pride as a commitment to care, equity, and inclusion

Jeffrey Deguia, LA Regional Policy Advocate at Asian Americans Advancing Justice SoCal, reflects on Pride from an AAPI activist point of view.

Published

1 week ago

on

May 29, 2026

By

AJ Socal

As we begin Pride month, I have a range of emotions. At the front of my mind is that I’m exhausted (and I say this with some humor). As policy and community advocates can relate, it’s felt like a nonstop barrage of actions in both response to anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies, but also, we’ve led and supported proactive action to ensure we’re protecting our community.

The second feeling is pride; I’m really proud of myself and my community. I know it sounds quite corny or at least obvious that one would feel pride during this month, but it doesn’t always come so easily. And I don’t think that, as advocates, we always have the time to reflect unless we’re scheduling it into our packed calendars. It is also my birthday month, and in recent years, I’ve come to realize how special (and maybe even chaotic) it might be to have AANHPI Heritage Month in May and then have Pride Month follow. It’s awesome, I get the permission to celebrate both major parts of my identity for eight weeks straight, but it also comes with a lot of work since I work at an AAPI civil rights organization. To be honest, it feels quite serendipitous to be in this position.

At my organization, I’m overseeing our first-ever official LGBTQ+ portfolio, and I am truly grateful to be able to be part of a long history of queer and trans resistance and community work, all while growing and learning more about my queer identity and how it can blend so beautifully with my Filipino heritage.

Our LGBTQ+ portfolio at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) was established officially in 2024, but the organization has been a strong ally for the LGBTQ+ community since its founding in 1983, including longtime support for same sex marriage. The portfolio started in 2024 after seeing a gap in representation of the queer, trans Asian Pacific Islander (QTAPI) community in statewide advocacy. My team knew there were numerous QTAPI organizations in California, many of which do local advocacy, and others that were historically involved in federal advocacy. We knew that the exclusion of QTAPI experiences had to change, and we started with our AAPI Queer Joy coalition.

Our AAPI Queer Joy coalition is AJSOCAL’s initiative to become more inclusive by recognizing the intersectionality of being both AAPI and LGBTQ+. It’s a partnership with QTAPI-serving organizations across the state. Together, we identify and highlight the specific needs of the QTAPI community; we advocate for inclusive policies that empower the QTAPI community and allow all in the larger LGBTQ community to thrive. My current partners in the coalition are Hmong Innovating Politics, Lavender Phoenix, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, and Viet Rainbow of Orange County. 

AJSOCAL at Golden Dragon March in Chinatown for Lunar New Year / Photo courtesy of Deguia

I feel so honored to do this work on behalf of my QTAPI and larger LGBTQ+ community. When I joined the policy team in 2023, I had no idea I’d be leading our LGBTQ+ portfolio shortly after joining. It feels like the timing was just right to have been between teams and have this opportunity. This opportunity to learn so much about my community, myself, and our long fight for equity and eventual liberation has truly changed my life.

One major highlight this year was our AAPI Queer Joy Coalition’s presence in Sacramento for Equality California (EQCA)’s LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day. To represent the QTAPI community as a group of 14 at the largest LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day in California felt incredible. EQCA’s lobby day is notable because of the leadership role their organization takes in co-sponsoring bills, working with the LGBTQ caucus members, and keeping all the LGBTQ+ and allied organizations up to date with all the bills and actions. I knew that by bringing a larger group of the AAPI community members to this day of action and communicating with their staff about my plans (and the staff happily accommodating and supporting us), they would continue to understand why it’s important to continue to be intentional about reaching out to different communities within the larger LGBTQ+ community and building power and relationships with them (and us). 

EQCA’s LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day / Photo courtesy of Deguia

These advocacy days, community events, rallies, and townhalls remind me how important visibility and participation are, especially as QTAPI community members. We have experiences that bond us with the larger LGBTQ+ community, but also have our own unique set of challenges as AAPIs, many of us are children of immigrants, which means there may be language barriers, especially for certain LGBTQ+ terminology.

If we don’t show up and share those stories with other advocates and also members of the legislature, then they can’t work with us to make our lives better. It’s a reminder that all our stories are different and though we might share a common thread, it’s a moment to learn how our differences allow us to expand what the LGBTQ+ experience.

As I’ve worked with LGBTQ+ partners in Los Angeles and Orange County, I’ve learned so much, and I’ve been able to share a lot of data and stories with our partners who might not have experience with our QTAPI community. I’ve learned so much about our QTAPI community and the type of courageous history we have here in Southern California that spans back decades. I’ve met elders who were community organizers during the AIDS epidemic who worked together with Black and Latine communities to ensure that AIDS advocacy and education were inclusive.

I’ve heard stories of the queer and trans Vietnamese community leaders in Orange County claiming their rightful stake to march in their city’s and community’s annual Tet Festival in the 2010’s. And the list goes on. AAPIs have long been part of the fight for LGBTQ+ equality and equity, and oftentimes, our work and community are invisible. I’m hopeful that in my role, I can help to uplift this history and these brave community leaders and trailblazers. That I can foster even stronger cross-community solidarity. And that I can encourage the younger QTAPI generation to engage in these times to continue and lead the fight for progress. 

AJSOCAL on the scene supporting Okaeri benefit luncheon / Photo courtesy of Deguia

The work we do has truly felt nonstop; it has asked so many of us advocates to dig deep and lock in. Life has required a lot of balancing, asking ourselves, “how much more can I really give?” and I know for many of us the answer is usually, “I can give a little bit more, I need to push a little more.” In my own practice of balance and centering myself after I feel anger, disappointment, sadness, exhaustion, or some combination of all four, I remind myself that rest and joy are essential. It’s a response. It’s an act of resistance. Rest allows us to reflect, breathe, and slow down so we can come back to our coalitions and partners with new ideas, knowing that someone can fill in for you when you need to take a step back.

Joy is an act of resistance. It is what I have reminded myself of since the first Trump presidency. That the goal of the opposition is for us to feel bogged down, to give up, to not feel like life is worth living, but that’s the reason we fight and resist. We fight because we know the type of life we deserve; we know that we deserve to celebrate our survival, existence, and especially our futures. We celebrate our resilience, our ingenuity, our community care, and our commitment to change. 

In the spirit of this, and uplifting my QTAPI identity, community, and my AAPI Queer Joy coalition partners. I want to formally invite you (yes, you, the reader) to our coalition’s 3rd Jade Jubilee, a celebration of our state’s beautifully diverse QTAPI community. My partners are fierce, creative, loud, and brave, and we’re here with our 2026 bill priorities, fighting for our LGBTQ+ community’s future. Our Jade Jubilee will be hosted on June 10, at Cafeteria 15L in Sacramento at 5:30 PM. It’s a FREE event, and there will be free food and non-alcoholic beverages. We’ll be honoring Assemblymember Chris Ward, the Chair of the LGBTQ Caucus, and Shai Chang, co-founder of Queer Hmong Intersectional Pride in Fresno, and there will be performances from two QTAPI and some of Sacramento’s best drag queens, PrincessB and LOTUS. 

At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that I was feeling exhausted. But I’m also excited and looking forward to so many things while leading this LGBTQ+ portfolio. I feel honored to do this work, to work with my community partners, and see them and connect with them in person and at their events. In so many ways, it can feel lonely, especially as I do this work with only one other openly queer person on my team. With my community partners, I feel seen, understood, comforted, and strong. I feel blessed to be able to learn from them. As small as our community may be in relation to the state’s population, it doesn’t mean we have to do it alone, either as AAPI or LGBTQ+.

This pride season, I remind the community to engage even with how scary and daunting it feels, to remember that pride is for everyone and that inclusivity is a choice, and we should always ensure that we are listening to everyone in our beautifully diverse LGBTQ+ community – and not just during the month, but throughout the year as we build our movements.

By Jeffrey Deguia, LA Regional Policy Advocate at Asian Americans Advancing Justice SoCal

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Pride Special

Marching in LA’s Pride Parade? Gay clothes that do the most

Published

1 month ago

on

May 6, 2026

By

gay pride fashion

“What should I wear to Pride?” As June approaches, this question is filling search engines, Reddit forums, gay blogs, and TikTok reels. Gay clothes have become such an integral part of Pride Month, so much so that the annual blast of rainbow logos and “Love is Love” campaigns is hard to miss. 

This year, LA Pride is anticipating over 100,000 attendees, and 5,000 of those participating are estimated to be marchers. From vendors to celebrities to allies, walking down Hollywood Boulevard means being seen by thousands of bystanders, making it all the more exciting but also stressful. This brings us back to square one: what pride outfits will you be wearing this year? 

Gay fashion is a diverse representation of the LGBTQIA+ community itself, complex and intensely personal. Finding pieces that speak the same language requires looking beyond the mainstream, which is why we turned to Differio, a trendy online destination known for challenging the typical, one-size-fits-all menswear mold. From gay clothes to rave outfits to gala statements, the brand offers event-driven men’s clothing styles perfect for year-round parties, dinners, concerts, holidays, and beyond. 

Scroll on to discover Differio’s style guide on how to take your pride parade outfits from standard to standout. 

Parade Outfit Basics: What to Know Before You March 

Any experienced parade-goer will tell you there are a few things to keep in mind before hitting the march. Personal style is important, but never at the expense of comfort. Before you start building your look, keep these tips in mind to make sure your pride outfit works as hard as you do on parade day. 

Safety First: Check the parade’s official website for its list of prohibited items, so you know what you can and can’t bring. 

Prep Your Feet: The LA Pride march is roughly 1.5 miles, so comfortable shoes are a must. If you’re ordering new shoes, give yourself enough time to buy them in advance so you know they fit properly for parade day. 

Weatherproof Your Fit: Choose gay apparel with June’s forecast in mind. Keep yourself cool with summer-friendly items, like hats, bandanas, headbands, sweatbands, sunglasses, and hand fans. 

Stay Hands-Free: Bring a small bag to keep essentials on you, like your ID and phone. You can also look for gay clothes with functional details, like cargo pockets and keyrings.

Dress Light: Don’t let heavy items slow you down. Consider lightweight, walking-friendly styles like micro shorts, cotton tops, and activewear leggings. 

Top Pride Outfit Ideas for Mainstage Marchers 

Marching in the parade? Your outfit might be begging for something more exciting than your average graphic tee. Check out these pride outfit ideas to help you style a look that’s more expressive and elevated this year. 

The Unexpected Pride Outfit: Reimagining the Rainbow 

Pride outfits might feel incomplete without a rainbow, but don’t feel boxed in by rigid stripes either. You can still rep the iconic pride flag colors with unexpected treatments. 

As an alternative to the traditional rainbow, try gay clothes in iridescent or holographic tones for futuristic, multicolored shine. For something softer, look for an ombré rainbow that’ll lend more of a gradient, high-fashion effect. Tie-dye gay clothing is also a great way to play around with rainbow shades while paying tribute to Pride’s beginnings in the late 60s. 

The Squad Pride Outfit: Coordinate for Impact 

Celebrating with your friends? They say there’s power in numbers, and this definitely applies to gay clothes. 

Make the most of your group’s size by dressing as your favorite queer pop culture icons, like The Golden Girls or The Village People. You can rep the pride flag by having each person wear a different color or play off of each person’s unique identity. Don’t forget, you can always enhance the look with face paint, body glitter, and other makeup items for added impact. 

The Kinetic Pride Outfit: Find Movement 

Ever find yourself drawn to all the streamers and flags at the parade? We’re wired to prioritize moving shapes over static objects (like the way inflatable tube men catch our attention). The same kinetic concept can work with gay outfits. 

Simply look for any garment or fabric that naturally sways with the wind or movement. Try gay clothes in airy, loose styles, like fringe pants, tassel earrings, pride capes, or rainbow kilts. You’ll also want to avoid skintight clothing if you want to maximize this motion effect. 

The Altitude Pride Outfit: Create Height 

Height is something you might not think about, but it’s a great way for your gay clothes to be seen from all angles, even spectators beyond the barricades. Plus, it’s right in line with LA Pride’s theme this year: Rise with Pride!

Start from the ground up with platform shoes, such as platform boots or chunky sneakers, to add a few inches to your height. You can layer more height with towering headpieces, such as flower crowns, spiked hats, feather headdresses, and similar items. 

The Hybrid Pride Outfit: Wear It on Repeat 

On a budget? Don’t limit yourself to wearing your gay clothes only once a year. When you dress with intention, pride outfits can be recycled for post-parade events, such as after parties, concerts, raves, pool parties, and much more. 

As long as you find pieces that can be worn for more than one occasion, you’re on the right track. For example, harnesses are a win-win because they can be styled as lingerie staples, nightlife tops, or even fashion-forward accessories. You can also look for garments labeled as “2-in-1” or “hybrid” for more styling options.

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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

Published

1 year ago

on

May 29, 2025

By

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.

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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

Published

1 year ago

on

May 29, 2025

By

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. 

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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

Published

3 years ago

on

July 17, 2023

By

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove & Los Angeles Council President Pro Tem Marqueece Harris-Dawson with 2023 South LA Pride honorees Sisters of the Perpetual Indulgence on Jul 15, 2023, at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex. (Photo credit: Malcolm Ali)

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.

The Freaky Boiz performs at South LA Pride on Sat. Jul 15, 2023, at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex. (Photo credit: Malcolm Ali)
Los Angeles Council President Pro Tem Marqueece Harris-Dawson addresses the audience at South LA Pride on Sat. Jul 15, 2023, at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex. (Photo credit: Malcolm Ali)
South LA Pride Chair and Director Jasmyne Cannick and co-char Ray Love, Jr. introduce the 2023 Planning Committee on Sat. Jul 15, 2023, at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex. (Photo credit: Malcolm Ali)
Marachingoa performs at South LA Pride on Sat. Jul 15, 2023, at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex. (Photo credit: Malcolm Ali)
Los Angeles Councilmember Heather Hutt addresses the audience at South LA Pride on Sat. Jul 15, 2023, at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex. (Photo credit: Malcolm Ali)
Various members from the ballroom community compete in a voguing competition during The Outside Kiki Ball at South LA Pride on Sat. Jul 15, 2023, at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex. (Photo credit: Malcolm Ali)
13-year-old Ally Marc Jacobs vogues during The Outside Kiki Ball at South LA Pride on Sat. Jul 15, 2023, at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex. (Photo credit: Malcolm Ali)
2023 South LA Pride honorees Sisters of the Perpetual Indulgence and LA Chargers Cultural Affairs Director Liliana Perez wth LA County Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Holly Mitchell on Sat. Jul 15, 2023, at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex. (Photo credit: Malcolm Ali)
Headliner Durand Bernarr performs at South LA Pride on Sat. Jul 15, 2023, at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex. (Photo credit: Malcolm Ali)
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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

Published

3 years ago

on

July 10, 2023

By

Los Angeles Blade/South LA Pride graphic

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.

LA Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson
(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:

Southlapride.com

Hashtag to follow #SouthLAPride

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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

Published

3 years ago

on

June 25, 2023

By

U. S. House Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA/Burbank) at SF's Pride Parade 2023 (Screenshot/YouTube ABC7 Bay Area)

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:
Colorado Governor Jared Polis:
New York Governor Kathy Hochul:
NBC Bay Area, KNTV 11:
California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis:
Mayor of the City of Houston, Texas, Sylvester Turner:
The prime minister of the Republic of Ireland, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar:
Türkiye İYİ LGBTİ:
Maryland Governor Wes Moore:
Toronto Pride 2023:
Member of Parliament for Whitby, Southern Ontario, Ryan Turnbull:
Pride Mexico City 2023 via Reuters:
Twin Cities Pride via The Star Tribune; First Lady Dr. Jill Biden:
Pride in Edinburgh, Scotland 2023:
Seattle Pride 2023:
Metro Manila Pride, Philippines 2023:
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY):
Oklahoma City Pride 2023:
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