2022 Pride makes for the most event-filled month that LA has ever seen, and this is due to a few things, most notable of which is the fact that organizers The City of West Hollywood and Christopher Street West have gone their separate ways, each holding its own events – which is a first. LA Pride will now feature a march on Hollywood Boulevard (the site of the inaugural Pride march in 1970), as well as a concert to be held at LA Historic Park. Punctuating these festivities we’ll have an event by The City of West Hollywood called “WeHo Pride”. LA Pride will see Christina Aguilera headlining, and in the meantime WeHo Pride will have Lil’ Kim and Jesse J. Both will have a slew of fun activities, and being slated for subsequent weeks, will offer the people a lot of merriment.
In fact there’s a lot to celebrate generally – the LGBTQIA+ community is now stronger, larger, and louder than it has ever been before. Society has certainly made leaps since the first events; however, we are still progressing in terms of respecting and better understanding the queer community, especially at a time when a new generation has highlighted the importance of both sexual identity and gender through social media, entertainment, and activism.
Admittedly there’s power in numbers, but this growth has also spawned backlash, with bigoted politicians attempting to suppress it through misinformation, legislation, and discrimination, simply because they cannot understand and will not accept a different way. What remains strong though is the fight for self-expression and equality in the gay community. They have support from cis/straight allies within these environments, which means Pride events aren’t simply parties, but also safe havens for people seeking to relate to each other, as well as to celebrate and educate. Since the pandemic receding, everyone is happy to get out and be with people they like, mostly celebrating life as well as love in all its forms. This year there are more options than before to do all that.
SaMo Pride (Through June)
The first major Pride event of June kicked off on the 1st, in many beautiful locations in Santa Monica including Santa Monica Place, the pier, and Third Street Promenade. SaMo Pride has arranged a vibrant light installation named “Miles of Pride”, stretching along the length of Santa Monica’s streets. It is a visual treat which instills in the city the colors of the Rainbow, not to mention featuring a lit-up City Hall and Main Street Santa Monica visitor’s center. You even have a complete calendar of events covering lively nightlife, and family activities combining vending, art, live performances and story time, each celebrating LGBTQIA+ culture.
Venice Pride (June 3rd through 9th)
June 3rd, 2016 was when Venice’s first Pride celebration was held, and it was subsequent to a popular gay bar named Roosterfish undergoing closure. The celebration aimed at recognizing the gay community as a part of the neighborhood, which itself has significant size as well as social involvement. While Roosterfish did reopen ultimately, in the intervening time, there opened a new bar named The Brigade; a Pride Flag Lifeguard Tower was erected as well. The conspicuous initiatives aided in mobilizing the event, which over time turned into a program which was dedicated to the saving of lives via acceptance and amplification year-round. This weekend is Venice Pride’s most important one, both figuratively and literally.
It’s all set off by the Global Rainbow laser installation, a large-scale art piece which features seven laser rays illuminating the California coast. The opening night has a viewing party held on the roof of Hotel Irwin on June 3, which is a superb way to start off, with proceeds from this going into Project Contrast, an NPO empowering LGBTQIA+ youth.
The day after is Venice Pride Festival, with a range of music, drag, and dance performers as well as DJs performing. There are also exclusive parties held by Gaywatch at Windward Plaza, and also a pull parade on Sunday.
Dodger Stadium’s LGBTQ+ Pride Night (June 3rd)
You can score a commemorative Dodger LGBTQ+ jersey if you attend this annual Pride event. Slated to sing the national anthem is gay recording artist Wils, and as part of pregame festivities you’ll also get to see the Dodgers recognize Glenn Burke (a former LA Dodger and the first MLB player to be openly gay). Post-game, you’ll get to see fireworks and a performance by DJ Bowie J.
WeHo Pride (June 3rd through 5th)
Since LA Pride left West Hollywood, the latter has faced the need to do a special party all of its own, with said party being just as grand. The inaugural WeHo Pride party starts off this weekend and covers celebrations all around West Hollywood Park, which includes an arts festival, a Women’s Freedom Festival, the Dyke March, and a WeHo Pride Parade on Santa Monica Boulevard.
The most in-demand event has to be the “OUTLOUD Raising Voices Music Festival,” which features meet-and-greets and performances with Lil’Kim, Jessie J, Years & Years, Marina and the Diamonds, Shea Diamond, Slayyyter, Gina Chavez, Ylona Garcia, The Aces, Greyson Chance, Madison Beer, Shaun Ross, Ninel Conde, Jake Wesley, Kaleena Zanders, Muna, Rogers, Taylor Bennett, Dorian Electra, Sam Tsui , and Mykki Blanco. There will be everything from food to beer gardens, bars, and photo ops.
The OutFronts (June 3rd through 6th)
Emphasizing the finest gay-themed entertainment that’s shown on TV, this is a four-day event by Outfest which has free panel discussions, inclusive screenings, and premieres. The main attraction is Queer As Folk’s world premiere at the Ace Hotel, and there is set to be a post-screening discussion that’ll have all the cast and creators. There will also be other in-person events such as Love, Victor’s final season premiere, which also will be followed by discussions with creators and cast, and then a glimpse of Legendary from HBO Max, with special guests.
