Look across the vast regions of Los Angeles County and you will probably find an event marking LGBTQ+ Pride this month.
From the South Bay to the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys to, of course, West Hollywood and Hollywood proper, the queer community is putting on parades, flag-raisings, street fairs, arts festivals and marches. These are often seen as twofold: Part freedom of expression, part celebration of their differences with all-comers — both queer and straight.
There appear to be more events, though the numbers are not officially counted. Some reasons for an increase could be a backlash against the 515 anti-LGBTQ bills in the United States being tracked by the ACLU as of May 28. That comes on the heels of recent rules and laws stifling drag queen shows and restricting rights for transgender people — mostly happening outside of California.
“What is so enriching this year are the many events, from Venice, WeHo, city of San Fernando, the San Fernando Valley and others who all have their own Pride events,” said Third District Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, chair of the board, whose district includes the San Fernando Valley and the westside of Los Angeles.
“To see a collective of Pride events across L.A. County is remarkable,” she added during an interview on May 29. “We have to make sure we recognize people in all corners of the county. This is not just for the LGBTQ community but it is also welcoming to all of us.”
Gregory Winfrey and Benedicto Barnachea tend to the Progress Pride Flag which was raised over the LA County Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The county is raising the LGBTQ+ Progress flag on Tuesday, June 4 at the Hall of Administration for the second year. Horvath said the county is trying to put up rainbow flags at all county buildings, from firehouses to county library branches. to parks and administrative offices.
On Monday, the county will raise a Pride Flag at the Los Angeles County Office of Education in Downey, weeks after the Downey City Council voted to stop flying the flag on city property. “Despite the recent vote by the Downey City Council, I want our LGBTQ+ Downey residents to know they belong and that they are not only accepted but celebrated,” said Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn.
June Pride Month celebrates gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary residents who are estimated to number about 500,000 in Los Angeles County.
Flag-raising ceremonies are set for San Fernando City Hall on June 1; Pasadena City Hall on June 3 and the Redondo Beach Civic Center on June 4. Venice celebrated on May 31. Long Beach’s 41st annual Pride parade took place on May 19.
The West Hollywood Pride Parade runs on Santa Monica Boulevard on Sunday, June 2. Altadena Pride on June 8 will include a short “walkabout,” a “spiritual exploration” from LGBTQ+ affirming faith institutions, and a rainbow-colored crosswalk leading to the unincorporated community’s senior center and library complex, the site of afternoon speakers, resource tables and live music.
West Covina will launch its first-ever Pride event on Friday, June 7 with resource tables and performances by LGBTQ+ artists in the parking lot between Best Buy and Macy’s. The event is part of the SGV Pride Tour 2024 from the SGV-LGBTQ Center in El Monte.
But the queen of all Pride Month events is the 54th annual Los Angeles Pride Parade happening on Sunday, June 9, starting at 11 a.m. This year’s parade will be the biggest in its history, with 165 entries marching to the theme “Power in Pride.”
The organizers predict 130,000 to 140,000 people watching as well as attending the after-parade “block party” on Hollywood Boulevard that goes from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Chanel 7 (ABC-TV) will broadcast the parade live.
The parade route runs north on Highland Boulevard, then heads east on Hollywood Boulevard and south on Cahuenga Boulevard. The trio of grand marshals are “Star Trek” actor and L.A. activist George Takei; professional wrestler Cassandro El Exótico; and Los Angeles County Fire Chief Kristen Crowley, the first woman and first out person to ever hold that position.
At the step-off, you’ll find parade producer and director, Mariela Spillari with a megaphone, ushering each float and group onto the route. Spillari, who calls herself a passionate ally, has worked previous Pride parades and also chalked up experience with the Rose Parade in Pasadena and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.
The bigger number of entries comes from the community rallying support for LGBTQ+ rights, she said. But it also comes from knowing about the bills and groups that have tried to limit drag queen events, school curricula and trans rights, she said.
“This parade originated out of protest. That is what it is in spirit — a First Amendment parade,” she said on May 30. It will include an ACLU float with the message “Fight For Trans Futures,” as well as marchers from the GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society. Also participating, the Rainbow Book Bus supports keeping LGBTQ+ titles in libraries, not taking them off the shelves, Spillari said.
A year ago, conservative and Armenian-American parents protested against an LGBTQ+ assembly outside Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood in which students were read a book that talked about different kinds of families, including same-sex parents. Weeks later, protesters opposed to teaching children about sexual identities in school clashed with gay, lesbian and trans advocates outside the Glendale Unified School District building.
Sister Tootie Toot, of the L.A. Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, talks about the significance of the Progress Pride Flag being raised over the LA County Hall of Administration in Los Angeles, on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
And after the Los Angeles Dodgers honored the self-described “queer and trans nuns” group, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, at a LGBTQ game night last June, the Los Angeles Archdiocese called the group a sacrilege and objected to what they described as mocking the Catholic faith.
Aside from parade marchers carrying signs, displaying gay rights’ slogans on T-shirts and often wearing colorful outfits, there are other less pointed displays at the LA Pride Parade and festival, including a demonstration pickleball game. “There is a nice balance of celebrating, being happy and joyful, while continuing to keep the meaning behind it,” she added.
Spillari’s Prima Agency is a majority-female production team that she reminds to always be kind to visitors because participants and parade-watchers may have been the objects of scorn in the past.
She tells a story from two years ago when she received a call from a trans person in her 60s who was transitioning. The woman asked about parade logistics, then mentioned she flew in to L.A. just for the parade and block party, which marked her first attendance at a public LGBTQ+ event.
“How incredible to come to the community and find a connection,” Spillari remembered. “She found herself in a safe space, a celebratory space for the first time.”
Pride events in SoCal
• WeHo Pride Parade, Sunday, June 2, kickoff at 12:30 p.m. Santa Monica Boulevard between Crescent Heights Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood. 1 p.m. live coverage on KTLA 5.
• WeHo Pride Arts Festival, Friday, June 14 through Sunday, June 16.
• LA Pride Parade, Sunday, June 9, kickoff at 11 a.m. Highland Boulevard, east on Hollywood Boulevard, south on Cahuenga Boulevard. Block party, a free street fair with food, activities, live performances, on Hollywood Boulevard between Vine and Gower, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Chanel 7 (ABC-TV) will broadcast the parade live.
• LA Pride in the Park, Saturday, June 8 is headlined by entertainer Ricky Martin at the L.A. State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St. Tickets are for sale.
• Pasadena City Hall flag-raising, Monday, June 3, 12:30 p.m.
• Redondo Beach Civic Center flag-raising, Tuesday, June 4, 4 p.m., Redondo Beach Civic Center
• San Fernando City Hall flag-raising, Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m.
• West Covina Rainbowfest, Friday, June 7, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Plaza West Covina, 10 Freeway and Vincent Avenue.
• Altadena Pride Walkabout, Saturday, June 8, opening ceremony, 10 a.m., Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa St.
• San Fernando Valley Pride March and Block Party, Saturday, June 29, 11 a.m. rally at Van Nuys Boulevard; 12 p.m. march down Van Nuys Boulevard starts at Gault Street. Block Party, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Van Nuys Civic Center, 14410 Sylvan St., Van Nuys.
• Peninsula Friends of the Library, Saturday, June 8, “Celebrating Our Similarities,” a panel discussion celebrating Pride month, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Peninsula Center Library Community Room, 650 Deep Valley Drive, Rolling Hills Estates.
• LGBTQ+ Pride Night at Dodger Stadium, Friday, June 14; party at 5:10 pm in Center Field Plaza; first pitch 7:10 p.m.
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