Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — This year’s pride celebration will be double the fun as competing events will take place over the next two weekends.
The city of West Hollywood will conduct its Pride Weekend for the first time since 2019 June 3-5, while Christopher Street West, the city’s longtime partner in planning Pride activities has broken away from the city and is holding its own events, culminating with a parade in Hollywood June 12.
The West Hollywood celebration will feature Janelle Monáe as grand marshal and JoJo Siwa as next gen icon during the Pride Parade June 5 starting at noon. The parade runs along Santa Monica Boulevard from Crescent Heights to Robertson boulevards.
“The city of West Hollywood is thrilled to be producing #WeHoPride for our community this year,” said Mayor Lauren Meister. “Pride celebrations have always been more than festivals or parades. Pride events give the diverse LGBTQ community a place to advocate for equality as well as a place to celebrate exactly who they are — exactly who they were meant to be.
“At this moment in history, with women’s rights and LGBT rights under attack, our icons stand as proud, outspoken beacons of light and hope for a better tomorrow.”
WeHo Pride Weekend will take place in and around West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd., and will include a free WeHo Pride Street Fair representing a diverse array of LGBT community groups.
The annual Dyke March and the Women’s Freedom Festival will take place beginning June 3 at 5 p.m. The Dyke March will feature the presentation of the Melissa Etheridge and Community Activist awards, a poetry reading, sign-making and supplies, speakers, a DJ and the Dykes on Bikes contingent.
The Women’s Freedom Festival will take place immediately following the Dyke March at the street fair stage on Robertson Boulevard and will feature emerging LGBT musicians, comedians, poets and activists.
WeHo Pride Weekend also will feature a three-day LGBT concert series at West Hollywood Park. Headliners, artist lineup, and ticket information are available by visiting https://weareoutloud.com.
The events also coincide with the ongoing WeHo Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, which began May 22 and continues through June 30.
Christopher Street West has announced its full talent lineup for LA Pride in the Park, a daylong concert to be held June 11 at Los Angeles State Historic Park near downtown.
The complete slate of performers includes Brazilian superstar Anitta, multi-genre singer-songwriter Syd, Grammy-nominated rapper Chika, groundbreaking trans actress and singer Michaela Jaé “MJ” Rodriguez, Rebecca Black, Bob The Drag Queen, Zolita, Alexander Stewart, Edward Frame, Grag Queen, Allison Ponthier and a special four-hour DJ set by A Club Called Rhonda.
“We’re thrilled to have women, the majority of them LGBT artists of color, lead our main stage event to celebrate our return to Pride,” said Gerald Garth, vice president of community programming and initiatives for Christopher Street West. “Los Angeles represents a broad range of cultures, backgrounds and identities. … Bringing influential and diverse artists is a nod to the many different people reflected within our community.”
The LA Pride Parade will take place June 12 in Hollywood, where the first permitted gay parade was held in 1970.
More than 120 parade entries will take part in the parade styarting at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Hollywood and Vine. It will proceed west on Hollywood Boulevard to Highland Avenue, south on Highland to Sunset Boulevard and then east on Sunset to Ivar Street.
The parade will be broadcast live by LA Pride’s longtime broadcast partner, ABC7.
All LA Pride events will follow health and safety guidance as outlined by L.A. County health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
LA Pride sponsorship support comes from SVEDKA Vodka, Kim Crawford Wines, Corona Beer, Corona Seltzer; Toyota, Grindr, Cedars-Sinai, Coca-Cola, Advance Auto Parts, lululemon, UCLA Health and Precept Wines.
