Kesha’s Long-Awaited Stage Return Kicked Off the Weekend
Fans thrilled to see the pop starlet back in top form at WeHo Pride held up ‘Save Kesha’ t-shirts as the singer/rapper slinked through her catchy, irreverent hits like ‘Blow’ and ‘Your Love Is My Drug’
By BRANDON ROSS GARCIA
WEHOONLINE.COM
This year’s WeHo Pride Parade paid homage to the LGBTQ+ community in typical crazy technicolor style Sunday during the city’s weekend of festivities.
Pop’s rebel grand dame Cyndi Lauper, her towering headpiece giving celestial goddess vibes, was honored as the parade’s VIP — its Lifetime Ally Icon — for her time-tested commitment and strides in the fight for equality. Kicking off the weekend, Kesha made her long-awaited return to the stage Friday night in front of a sprawling crowd of fans thrilled to see the pop starlet back in top form at WeHo Pride.
Crowdgoers held up “Save Kesha” t-shirts as the singer/rapper slinked through her catchy, irreverent hits like “Blow” and “Your Love Is My Drug,” at one point accompanied by a dancer dressed as a penis and balls.
Later, she donned a nun’s habit for a bouncy, blasphemous take on her biggest hit, “Tik Tok”
Kesha’s musical career had been sidelined for years as she fought a legal battle with her former producer Dr. Luke, which began in 2014 when she accused him of drugging and raping her nearly a decade earlier. The two settled out of court last summer.
American Idol hitmaker Adam Lambert opened for Kesha with a pitch-perfect, glam-soaked set of original songs including the hit “What Do You Want Me from Me?” Both artists were supported by spectacular dancers and choreography.
Mayor John M. Erickson and his colleagues on the West Hollywood City Council introduced the show with warmth and energy.
Artists including Owenn, Jessica Betts and Monet Xchange entertained the crowd earlier in the evening. Betts was introduced by her wife, actress Niecy Nash-Betts, who served as grand marshal of the WeHo Pride Parade last year.
Then at the parade Sunday, officials from throughout the city and county were on hand and ready to party, including Congressman Adam Schiff, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, DA George Gascon, Assessor Jeffrey Prang, WeHo Mayor John M. Erickson, Vice Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers and Councilmembers John Heilman and Sepi Shyne.
Sorely missed was Councilmember Lauren Meister, who could not attend due to a family issue, the vice mayor told WEHOonline.
A motley crew of clubs, organizations, celebrities and entertainers filled the floats — everyone from the Gay Men’s Chorus and Lambda Legal to Sutton and Garcelle from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
The parade veered into the overtly political at times, with a large contingent of pro-Palestinian activists placed curiously at the vanguard of the line, holding a provocative banner that read “No Pride in Genocide.” Many crowd goers were visibly disappointed by the sight of such a divisive message.
Other things seen included:
Pickle, WeHo’s gorgeous Drag Laureate, towering at least two feet above everyone else
A gay robot
Transgender advocate Annie Jump Vicente, known for delivering obscenity-laden tirades during City Council meetings, embracing the opportunity to tear the city a new asshole via megaphone
The filming of a movie about Anna Nicole Smith
A gay Tesla Cybertruck
Abbe Land
Bagpipes
Bubbles
Every twink and muscle daddy in the realm
Many queer women, a demographic that deserves more exposure amid hordes of attention-hungry gay men
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, whose approach to evangelism appears to be working
Doomsday Christian fundamentalists, whose approach to evangelism is definitely not working
Brandon Ross Garcia is the editor of WeHoOnline.com
Published with the permission of WeHoOnline.com
