Pride Special
Inside the battle over the fate & future of Los Angeles Pride
Wealth, the whiteness of West Hollywood is out of step with most LGBTQ+ Angelenos and their allies, activist says
WEST HOLLYWOOD ā Don Kilhefner is many things: pioneering activist, Jungian psychologist and co-founder of the LA LGBT Center in Hollywood, which is now the largest facility in the world providing multiple services for LGBTQ+ people.
When speaking by phone with The Los Angeles Blade on Friday from his bungalow in the strip between Western Hollywood and the city of West Hollywood, Kilhefner was most firmly in touch with his roots as a community organizer.
(Photo courtesy Ā©Lee Mason/ONE Archives at the USC Libraries via āMaking Gay Historyā)
āIt feels as if something is happening in the heart and soul of the LA LGBTQ community,ā he said. āIām smelling something larger going on.ā
That something might be recognizable and familiar to those like Kilhefner who survived through the early days of gay liberation, during which time the movement was perhaps at its most political. āStonewall was a riot,ā the refrain goes. (The subtext: as youāre dancing in your harness and downing vodka sodas next to the Merrill Lynch float, flanked by members of law enforcement who are there to celebrate with you, remember the LGBTQ+ rights movement was born of a riot. An uprising, a rebellion.)
This year in Los Angeles, to use the parlance of Gen. Z, Pride celebrations; āhit different.ā For one thing, last Sundayās parade in West Hollywood was the first after a two-year hiatus that began with Coronavirus pandemic lockdowns in 2020. For another, next Sundayās parade on Hollywood Boulevard will be LA Prideās first march since it split from West Hollywood after 50 years.
The June 5 WeHo inaugural Pride parade down Santa Monica Boulevard had a star-studded lineup. Janelle MonĆ”e was grand marshal. Cardi B sprayed whipped cream into parade goers’ mouths. YouTuber Jojo Siwa, clad in a rainbow-covered vest, danced on a float with girlfriend Kylie Prew. Attendees might have thought it similar to 2018ās celebration, which was headlined by Kehlani and Tove Lo and featured other artists such as Eve, Keri Hilson, Kim Petras and Icona Pop.
Kilhefner noted one departure, though, from years past. The City of West Hollywood and its powerful Chamber of Commerce enlisted an event coordinator for Pride 2022 – JJLA, a live event and digital production agency, in a move that he stressed was intended to maximize the amount of money attendees would throw down in West Hollywoodās bars, restaurants, hotels and shops.
WeHo, said the self-described gay tribal elder, ādoesnāt look or feel like LA. It doesnāt have the racial or class makeup.ā And over the years, Pride has āchanged from a vibrant community-based celebration to a celebration that is now based on the wealth of West Hollywoodās residents and powerful business community.ā The effect of hosting Pride in the city, as was done for decades, is analogous to an anti-poverty march through Beverly Hills, Kilhefner said.
The paradeās return to Hollywood Boulevard is not just a symbolic rejection of the idea that a community comprised predominantly of wealthy and white gay men should be the nexus of Pride celebrations, Kilhefner said.
It is also – regardless of what might have been behind the schism from West Hollywood – an acknowledgment of the very specific socio-political-cultural moment in which we find ourselves, the activist told the Blade. As the country grapples with another reckoning on polarizing issues concerning race and class, younger generations are leading the charge to make Pride more inclusive and more political as well as less moneyed and less corporatized, he explained.
As Kilhefner writes in a forthcoming essay;
āL.A. Pride must also keep the other eye on moving our history forward by creating a PRIDE celebration in Los Angeles that looks like the LGBTQ community hereāwith all its international flair and exquisite racial and cultural features on display; with all its socioeconomic classes welcomed and feeling like itās their PRIDE too; with L.A.ās gay north meeting gay south and L.A.ās gay east meeting gay west; a L.A. PRIDE that says something powerful about our political/cultural awareness and who we are becoming that we can genuinely take pride inānot an anachronistic bubble defined by white entitlement and extreme wealth.ā
āItās important to point out weāre entering very perilous territory,ā Kilhefner said. With the leaked draft of the U.S. Supreme Court opinion presaging the reversal of womenās reproductive freedoms established in Roe v. Wade, it is becoming clearer that even the most hard-won rights are not irrevocable, he noted.
Itās a lesson āthat Harry Hay used to tell me,ā Kilhefner said, referring to the late activist who co-founded Americaās first gay rights group, the Mattachine Society, as well as the Radical Faeries movement, of which Kilhefner is also a co-founder. It is intersectional; this idea that progress can backslide, that the fight for justice and equality is ongoing in perpetuity. Black people worked at all levels of the federal government until President Woodrow Wilson came to power and imposed a form of Jim Crow segregation, eroding much of the progress toward racial justice that had been made in the decades prior, Kilhefner noted.
Looking backward to move forward
It is important to acknowledge the historical significance of LAās first Pride celebration in 1970 to fully understand the importance of its return to Hollywood Boulevard this year.
āThe 1970 parade was largely created through Gay Liberation Front in LA,ā Kilhefner explained. āWe were contacted by leaders in the New York Gay Liberation Movement who said, āwe think itās important that first anniversary of Stonewall be commemorated.āā Stonewall, of course, refers to the series of riots that took place over three days in New York City’s West Greenwich Village around the mafia-owned bar, the Stonewall Inn in June of 1969 that are widely credited with inaugurating the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
āWe needed a permit from the Los Angeles Police Department to hold this march on Hollywood Boulevard,ā Kilhefner said. Then LAPD Chief of Police Edward M. Davis refused, arguing that to do so would set a precedent obliging him to award permits to prostitutes and thieves and others engaged in lawless conduct. Kilhefner explained, āWe took it to the ACLU, and eventually the judge forced the LAPD to give us a permit.ā
Reporting in the Los Angeles Times turned what would have been a sparsely attended march into an mega-event with 30,000 spectators and marchers, Kilhefner chuckled. āIt provided momentum to us pioneers,ā allowing activists to push the gay liberation agenda from the closets to the streets – attaining a degree of visibility that was critically important for building momentum to fight for LGBTQ+ civil rights.Ā
(Photo credit: Archives of the Los Angeles Times)
Nearly five years after that first march, Davis was Invited to the 1975 celebrations. He declined in a letter in which he wrote, āI would much rather celebrate āGAY CONVERSION WEEKā which I will gladly sponsor when the medical practitioners in this country find a way to convert gays to heterosexuals.”
Young people push for a different direction for Pride
Rainbow capitalism, as it is often derisively called, has long been associated with Pride celebrations, in cities from LA to Key West and across the globe including cities like Tokyo. It is now, as evidenced by these tweets and others highlighted in this story in The New York Times, fertile ground for jokes – a possible harbinger that young people want something different and more substantive from Pride than a show of solidarity from Exxon Mobil.
Kilhefner has seen the emergence, and then the saturation, of corporate actors in Pride celebrations, which he considers tantamount to the co-opting of gay liberation for capitalist gains by members of the ruling class. āThere were some people who felt it was progressā to see parade floats from multinational companies. āBy and large, this has changed,ā Kilhefner said.
āI spend a lot of time listening to young people and Iām impressed by their understanding of race and class issues in this country,ā he said. āThereās been a radical shift in consciousness. The younger generation has become more militant as well as sharper about race and class.ā
āWe are beginning to see pushback,ā he said. When employees at the Walt Disney Company flagged their objections to the companyās contributions to legislators and others responsible for Floridaās āDonāt Say Gayā bill, āit smelled like gay liberation.ā
Likewise, in Los Angeles, young people fighting for justice āsee themselves as being engaged in guerrilla warfare,ā Kilhefner said. āItās David versus Goliath.ā
Pride Special
South Los Angeles came out for Pride!
This yearās South Los Angeles Pride theme ā #WeOutside ā embodied the celebration of being outside and visible
LOS ANGELES ā 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.Ā
This yearās South LA Pride theme ā #WeOutside ā 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 visitĀ southlapride.comĀ 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; womenās tackle football; drag performances & an outdoor dance floor
LOS ANGELES āSouth 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 Womenās Tackle Football team, and an outdoor dance floor with various DJs mixing throughout the day.
This yearās 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. āWhile 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 yearās 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
āSouth 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,ā said Councilmember Heather Hutt. āItās 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, weāll ignite change, foster peace, and promote acceptance of all!ā
South LA Pride Chair and Director Jasmyne Cannick added, āSouth 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 donāt all live in West Hollywood. Celebrating pride means celebrating all of who we are, where we are. We donāt have to–and we wonāt–leave our community to celebrate pride.ā
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, TĆ¼rkiye in defiance of the ban on Pride by the government of Recep Tayyip ErdoÄan.
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:
Iāve been marching for LGBTQ+ rights since Pride was thought of as a protest ā and Iām 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! ā¤ļøš§”šššš
— 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 ālooking back and moving forward.ā https://t.co/HTIA85kueg pic.twitter.com/dHV3ZEOIBF
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) June 25, 2023
California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis:
Happy Pride, San Francisco šā¤ļøšššš
— 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 yearās @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 š³ļøāš pic.twitter.com/BEpUezcbWo
— Fine Gael (@FineGael) June 24, 2023
TĆ¼rkiye Ä°YÄ° LGBTÄ°:
Susmuyoruz, korkmuyoruz itaat etmiyoruz! š³ļøāšš³ļøāā§ļø#Istanbulpride #OnurYĆ¼rĆ¼yĆ¼ÅĆ¼ #DƶnĆ¼yoruz pic.twitter.com/nBNnh2inbp
— š¹š· Ä°YÄ° LGBTÄ° āļøš (@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 ālove who you love, and to be who you are!ā Happy Pride!! #cdnpoli #Whitby #Toronto #Pride2023 pic.twitter.com/I0R048VkCa
— Ryan Turnbull šØš¦šŗš¦ (@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 š³ļøāš #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 š³ļøāšš³ļøāā§ļø
— 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
— įŖį©įįį“ š³ļøāš (@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 outĀ abc7.com/prideĀ 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 ā including Senator Ben Allen, Senator Maria Elena Durazo, Board Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Council Member Hugo Soto-Martinez and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur ā 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 yearās 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.
āIām thrilled and incredibly honored to be the Icon Grand Marshal,ā said Cho. āWe 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.
āOn behalf of Leslie Jordan, we are overjoyed by Christopher Street Westās heartfelt recognition to name Leslie as LA Prideās Legacy Grand Marshal,ā said Jana āCricketā Jordan. āThis 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.ā
āFor a century, weāve been on the front lines fighting for people to be their true, authentic selves,ā said Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU SoCal. āWeāre honored to be the Community Grand Marshal and proud to love, live among, and protect LGBTQ Californians.ā
āChristopher Street West is honored and humbled by this yearās three grand marshals,ā said Gerald Garth, president of CSW. āEach have contributed to the LGBTQ+ community in their own unique ways, furthering our fight for acceptance, equality, and justice.ā
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 ā 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 MontalbƔn 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:Ā
- 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 LAās 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 MontalbĆ”n @ 2023 LA PRIDE: This special event at Hollywoodās famed MontalbĆ”n 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 MontalbĆ”n Theatre – 1615 Vine Street Hollywood, CA 90028
- 8 PM: LA Pride Village CLOSES
LA Pride in the Park: 6/9-6/10
Itās going down with Mariah Carey + Megan Thee Stallion! Don’t miss out ā tickets at lapride.org
This June in honor of PRIDE, Century Cityās Fairmont Century Plaza invites guests to an extraordinary two-hour live concert performance from the Gay Menās 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 TVMās supporting Pride event
LOS ANGELES – LA Metro, the officialĀ 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 TVMās 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 ā 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 Downtownās Financial District. Before the Regional Connector, thatās a journey only Metroās 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:
Pride Special
Mariah Carey & Megan Thee Stallion grab the spotlights at LA Pride
At the end of the day it’s not glitz, glamor or fabulosity. It’s about a deeper connection that Mariah & Megan have forged with our community
HOLLYWOOD – There is no doubt that the Christopher Street West Association, the group behind LA Prideās celebration for over 50 years, knows how to throw a party. This year, in a time when the community needs it the most, they have out done themselves.
Mariah Carey and Megan Thee Stallion. Mic drops both.
While words like ādivasā, āqueensā and āiconsā would not be inappropriate, those words are reductive as to whom these two woman actually are. Each is a master at her musical and performance craft. Each has re-defined and exemplified her lane in pop culture.
More to the point, each has lived and generously given of the true concept of āPrideā itself.
Pride is a consciousness of oneās own dignity. It is a confidence and self-respect for a community that has been socially marginalized. It is an empowerment that grows from a unified and shared identity, culture and experience.
Mariah and Megan are not mere pop participants of Pride, they are pillars in its modern architecture. āMimi (Mariah) emancipated us all,ā Jonathan Riggs of Shondaland2 has said. She herself has given her own definition of the LGBTQ community as āLegendary, Gorgeous, Beautiful, Tantalizing, and Quality.ā
Megan Thee Stallion has confronted homophobia in rap music and helped evolve the genre. She has said, “It is about time. Representation is important, and it is really crucial for us all to have compassion and acceptance of every human.”
Gerald Garth, the board president of LA Pride, positioned the entertainment choice this year, āMariah Carey and Megan Thee Stallion are the perfect artists to headline LA Pride in the Park ā¦ These empowering and iconic women are sure to take the stage by storm.ā Clearly, each of the artists are likewise enthused over the gig. Mariah declared, āIām thrilled and honored to be a part of LA Pride 2023. I am happy to be back in person celebrating with the LGBTQIA+ community here in Southern California and throughout all of the lands!!! Letās come together to celebrate love, inclusion, and Pride.ā
Megan concurred with, āI canāt wait to headline LA Pride in the Park and celebrate the phenomenal LGBTQIA+ community. This incredible event advocates for diversity, inclusivity and equality, so Iām honored to perform and have a blast with all of the Hotties in attendance.ā
From merely looking at the professional accomplishments of each woman, witnessing them live would be a lifetime landmark event. Mariah Carey is a cultural maven on many fronts, driving from her obvious success as a singer, songwriter, record producer, to actor, and a New York Times bestselling author. Guinness World Records calls her the āSongbird Supreme.ā She has been credited with helping to revitalize the music industry in the 1990s and is considered one of the most influential female singers of all time. She has sold over 200 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Carey has won five GRAMMY Awards, 19 World Music Awards, and 14 American Music Awards.
Can Megan Thee Stallion compete with that? Well, she doesnāt have to, nor does she have an appetite for such a conversation. She has said, “I donāt feel like Iām in competitive with anybody. If Iām worried about beating somebody else, Iām not going to be the best version of me. It shouldnāt be a competition because somebody else winning is not going to make me lose.”
Billboard has said of Megan, āMegan Thee Stallion is a force to be reckoned with. She has a unique style, a powerful flow, and a message of empowerment that resonates with millions of fans.ā Pitchfork concurs saying, āMegan Thee Stallion is one of the most exciting voices in rap right now. Sheās fierce, sheās funny, sheās smart, sheās sexy, sheās versatile.ā Time Magazine did not hold back on their view, āMegan Thee Stallion is a superstar whoās rewriting the history of rap music.ā
Like Mariah, Meganās professional pedigree is vast. She is a three-time GRAMMY-winning recording artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. From earning two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits with the āSavage (Remix)ā featuring BeyoncĆ©, and āWAPā with Cardi B to releasing her dynamic album āTraumazine,ā she has proven unstoppable. Her musical achievement recognitions, include three GRAMMY wins, nine BET Awards and back-to-back Billboard Music Awards for Top Rap Female Artist. Additionally, she has been honored for her advocacy efforts, having received the 2022 Special Achievement Award at The Webby Awards and the Trailblazer Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. Most recently, Megan made history in Nov. 2022, becoming the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Forbesā prestigious Under 30 issue. She was previously recognized as one of TIMEās 100 Most Influential People of 2020 after publishing her monumental āWhy I Speak Up For Black Womenā op-ed for The New York Times.
Those accomplishments by both notwithstanding, they each have also earned serious creds with the LGBTQ community. Their ability to do so does not seem to be superficial, but instead emanating from their own individual fabric. Mariah has spoken with great affection about the gay couple who helped raise her. Megan similarly has spoken about her motherās values. “I was raised by a woman who was her true and authentic self. So I feel like itās very important to put on for people who arenāt that confident or people who donāt realize the value in self-love.”
Mariah has also referenced maternal influence. “Itās in my genes. My mother was an opera singer. Iām clearly dramatic.”
Both have headlined and hosted multiple LGBTQ Pride and charitable events. Marah has orchestrated multiple surprise LGBTQ+ marriage proposals on stage during her shows, she is a proponent of GLAADās Spirit Day and last year released a Pride collection of merchandise. Megan has collaborates with many LGBTQ+ artists such as Big Freedia, MNEK, and Saucy Santana, she is a major contributor to LGBTQ+ organizations and celebrates LGBTQ+ fans and influencers on her social media platforms.
As matrons of Pride courage, each woman has plenty advice for their LGBTQ+ admirers. āThe main goal of my music is to make people feel strong and confident,ā says Megan. She also points out, āI feel like, when people realize that they are the only person they need to impress, everybodyās life will be a lot smoother.ā She also adds, āItās not just about being sexy, itās about being confident and me being confident in my sexuality.ā
No one would cite Mariah for having a lack of confidence either. “Iām proud of what I am and who I am, and Iām just going to be myself,ā she has said. With that, she has laid the groundwork for a foundation of hope and courage for her followers. “If you believe in yourself enough and know what you want, youāre gonna make it happen.” She has also colored her philosophy with unicorn inspirations, “After every storm, if you look hard enough, a rainbow appears,ā she says. She is a proponent of grabbing life and truly living it. “You canāt live with regrets. Itās about the journeyā¦Whatever youāre going through in your life, donāt ever give up.” Her ideology is also experienced in her music, “Itās kinda like being on a roller coaster. If you donāt get on the ride, you wonāt experience the adventure.”
“So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong, and youāll finally see the truth – that a hero lies in you.”
Mariah, to be fair, has achieved a fandom that is unmatchable. She is a superstar of superstars and has earned homage from others who have their own outstanding presence in the pop world.
āMariah Carey is one of the greatest singers of all time. She has a voice that can move mountains.ā – Whitney Houston said of her. āSheās a genius as a musical artist, but also as a businesswoman. Sheās been in the game for so long and sheās still killing it,ā stated Rihanna. Ariana Grande is quoted as declaring āSheās a legend, sheās an icon, sheās the greatest female artist of our generation.ā
In short, audiences in Los Angeles on June 9th and 10th will experience moments they will never forget.
Two well spoke, brilliantly intentioned, and talented women will entertain and remind all how they got to be the icons they have become.
At the end of the day, however, it is not the glitz, glamor or fabulosity. It is about a deeper connection that Mariah Carey and Megan Thee Stallion have forged with our community. It is a bond like one that Maya Angelou wrote about when she said āPeople will forget what you said, people will forget about what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.ā
Our relationship with these two women is personal. āIf youāve got love for me, then Iām gonna have love for you, period,ā Megan has said.
When they take their respective stages, the love will be flowing, but that love and their music is more significant for when it reached us originally, when we werenāt in an adoring crowd.
It was significant in the moments when we were alone, and feeling particularly ALONE. As Ian Eagleton of the Guardian described, āAt my boysā school I was shoved, spat at and brutally bullied. Careyās songs made me dig deep and keep going, even when I had a breakdown years later.ā
Their music gave us spirit when we had none. It gave us hope, it gave us empowerment to rise above, it helped us believe it all might someday get better.
Now it has. Now we celebrate. Now we embrace Pride. Now we vow to fight on.
Now we dance.
**************************************************************
Rob Watson is the host of the popular Hollywood-based radio/podcast show RATED LGBT RADIO.
He is an established LGBTQ columnist and blogger having written for many top online publications including The Los Angeles Blade, The Washington Blade, Parents Magazine, the Huffington Post, LGBTQ Nation, Gay Star News, the New Civil Rights Movement, and more.
He served as Executive Editor for The Good Man Project, has appeared on MSNBC and been quoted in Business Week and Forbes Magazine.
He is CEO of Watson Writes, a marketing communications agency, and can be reached at [email protected] .
Pride Special
OutLoud rocks WeHo Pride; Day 2 took a packed park to church
āAmazing Graceā Jones takes WeHo Prideās OUTLOUD Festival to a fantastic arc of musical & dance performances
WEST HOLLYWOOD – More than just about any art-form, Music has the capacity to transform and lift up, define, celebrate and soothe. It also has the capacity to lead and heal. And, vividly, thatās what happened repeatedly, with artist after artist, at night two of WeHo Prideās OutLoud Festival, where a fantastic arc of musical and dance performances took a a packed WeHo Park to church, as Grace Jones herself put it.
Weāll start with her.
It was just hard to believe it, but there she was, her ever defiant and powerful self, aglow on an elevated stage, draped in a full frock, adorned with a Rainbow Crown made of pride colored knitting needles, appearing as triumphantly as the goddess she is.
Slowly she revealed her perfectly preserved 74 year young body, striking familiar angular profiles that are forever seared into world consciousness. She remains as beautiful in 2023 as the baby Grace who seemingly beamed out of nowhere in the mid-1970s, shocking the pop art world, inspiring the likes of Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, the Studio 54 crowd and every magazine cover on the planet. Grace became one of the worldās first superstars to brand herself globally in the mulit-verse of music, fashion, dance, art, modeling, film and even philosophy.
She is lightning in a bottle and her performance at OutLoud night two was nothing short of a direct strike, moving cautiously (some might say gracefully) and staying on point, delivering song after familiar song, Jamaican flavored. She even floated through the crowd, diva that she is, blessing thousands with touch.
Her entire body covered in Keith Haring style drawings, she featured numerous looks that are her unmistakable brand, including a crowd favorite Keith Haring hoop dress.
Her set included nearly every song youād want to hear from Grace Jones, including a crowd interactive rendition of āAmazing Grace.ā
The entire LGBTQ+ rainbow assembly of OutLoudās park packed audience erupted in a chorus of the song’s spiritual full rendition and with a gusto that surpassed even grace.
WeHo Park indeed did go to Church.
But even before Grace, Orville Peck, Ā the South African born country music singer-songwriter who wears a fringed leather mask who has never shown his face publicly, brought his chart topping Nashville sound to the park, featuring his song Pony in 2019 and his many standard hits, even his Lady Gaga approved rendition of āBorn This Way, a song he introduced with an announcement that Tennesseeās Drag ban had been revoked by a federal judge who deemed it unconstitutional.
The crowd erupted into chants of approval and then rocked out with Orville.
Peck’s music has been described as a mix of country, rockabilly, and glam rock. He has cited influences such as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Kacey Musgraves. His flamboyant style and mysterious persona have made him a global cult figure, and he is out, loud and proud of his challenge to gender identity.
This year Tennessee and the Drag ban along with the more than 500 anti-LGBTQ laws that are winding their way through legislatures around the country animated much of the event.
Backstage at OutLoud festival, Nashvilleās own Brooke Eden, the country music singer sat down with the Los Angeles Blade, revealing a surprisingly profound number of changes in Nashville that stand at odds with the culture wars the state government is waging. Her story will be featured in an upcoming article in Los Angeles Bladeās coverage of Nashville Pride.
But, as an industry, Nashvilleās music scene is embracing LGBTQ talent in ways that were once unimaginable, including Edenās own high-profile wedding at the home of Garth Brookās and Trisha Yearwood, her performance of a same sex love song on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry and even an industry staging even called Country Proud during Country Music Awards week next week in downtown Nashville.
Itās a great example of the power music has to move us through difficult times, elevate, evangelize and forge alliances against the headwinds, a theme repeated during the OutLoud weekend.
Earlier in the evening, the stage of OutLoud sizzled with Santigoldās eclectic mix of dance, hip hop, reggae, and rock, bringing the whole entire electric rainbow to the stage, presenting an enormous and energetic choreographed set, delivering hit after hit, including “Can’t Get Enough” and “Run the Road.”
The day had already seen a huge line-up of performances, Teyana Trendz, Eduardo Togi, Kento, Sizzy Rocket, Rayvo Owen, James Barre, Cub Sport, Yung Bae and Kylie Sonique Love, all combined to bring the next generation to the front and staking a claim to a proud, OutLoud movement.
Yes, weāre calling OutLoud Music Festival a movement, because it has indeed been born. And backstage, after Grace left the stage, Jeff Consoletti, the producer of OutLoud Festival, was a picture of serenity, seemed aware of it.
“Grace Jones delivered a performance making music history in West Hollywood. We created Outloud to champion queer artistry, and no one accomplishes that more assuredly than Miss Jones. We work hard to deliver a show that makes Weho proud, and I think this performance will be something the community looks back on memorably for many years to come,” said Consoletti.
“I feel immense pride and gratitude to have the opportunity to deliver for my community,” beamed Consoltti like Grace Jonesā Rainbow crown, this one made of sheer Pride.
Pride Special
The 2023 WeHo Pride Parade: Full KTLA Broadcast
Bar owner and singer Lance Bass joined the KTLA broadcast team at the 2023 WeHo Pride Parade on June 4, 2023
LOS ANGELES – (KTLA) Tens of thousands of people lined Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood for the 2023 WeHo Pride Parade. The Ally Icons for the parade were RuPaulās Drag Race, Laith Ashley, Niecy Nash-Betts & Jessica Betts, and Melissa McCarthy.
Watch:
Related:
Scenes from KTLA 5ās coverage of the 2023 WeHo Pride Parade in West Hollywood, California. (Linked here)
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