“It gives us more space to build experiences that represent the community.”
“Pride does not belong to any one neighborhood,” Garth said. Nineties diva Christina Aguilera headlined Saturday’s Pride in the Park concert at Los Angeles State Historic Park, where she sang her 2002 chart-topper “Beautiful.” And thousands are expected to attend the rowdy afterparty at Universal Studios. “We’ve completely shifted the way West Hollywood and actually made it our own for the first time.”Įighties pop star Paula Abdul is the inaugural “icon grand marshal” for Sunday’s parade. “As far as I’m concerned there’s no competitiveness,” said West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Sepi Shyne, who helped spearhead the city’s independent Pride effort. But Sunday will be the first time it has marched outside the city of West Hollywood in more than 40 years.Īs for the organization’s erstwhile partner, West Hollywood was still glowing from its own Pride celebration - WeHo Pride - two miles away and seven days earlier. L.A.'s first Pride parade was held in Hollywood in 1970. “We’ve been seeing this as a return to our roots.” “We’re really excited to be back in Hollywood,” said Gerald Garth, vice president for community programs and initiatives at LA Pride, “the original, official Pride parade of L.A.” and the first permitted Pride march in the world. JA previous version of this story misidentified the organization Craig Bowers works for.