Mission & History
Christopher Street West (CSW), a 501(c)3 non-profit, organized the world’s first permitted parade advocating for gay rights on June 28, 1970 as a response to and in commemoration of the Stonewall Rebellion on Christopher Street in New York City the year prior. Since then, we have built a rich history as an active voice for the LGBTQ+ community across the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. And today, we continue to produce the LA Pride Parade and Festival every June in the City of West Hollywood. We also organize a number of events throughout the year with our non-profit, philanthropic, community, and corporate partners.
Our mission is to create safe and inclusive spaces for self-expression, inspire an authentic sense of activism in the continued fight for equality, and celebrate the unique heritage and diverse cultures of Los Angeles’ LGBTQ+ community and its allies.
LA Pride Values
Be Aware We must never forget our past.BE INSPIRED We are all activists.BE UNITED We are one community.BE MINDFUL We must support each other..BE TRUE We must be our most authentic selves.
While it may be true that our community has come a long way since the Stonewall Rebellion in 1969, there is still a tremendous amount of work to do.
We believe that it’s absolutely critical for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community alongside our straight allies to acknowledge, celebrate, and learn from our rich history of social revolution. Constantly being aware our past helps to inform our future, making it better and more accepting for generations to come.
LA Pride was founded upon the spirit of activism – and today, continues in the footsteps of its founders.
We believe in inspiring today’s generation to come together as a community and take a stand for acceptance and equality. Our goal is to empower the LGBTQ+ community and its allies with essential information, education, resources, events, content, and communications so that everyone within our community can not only find their unique voice, but also use it to inspire positive change for all.
There are people from all walks of life in the LGBTQ+ community.
This incredible diversity has enabled the growth of niche communities – around shared lifestyles, cultures, identities, beliefs, and values – giving every person has a safe space to call “home” within the LGBTQ+ spectrum. We believe the vibrant diversity of our community is our greatest strength. And when we act as a single community, real change happens. This is the true meaning of Pride, and it’s something we celebrate in hearts and minds 365 days per year.
It’s easy to forget the impact we can make on each other’s lives.
Acting as a single community means being mindful and accepting of the diversity that exists within our community. For this reason, we believe that we must always be kind to ourselves, to our friends, to our colleagues, and to those we see as different from ourselves because, in doing so, we will make our community stronger and more able to overcome the political, social, and cultural headwinds that we will inevitably face as we continue to fight for our rights.
Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community means having the freedom to be our true selves at all times.
That’s why we believe it’s our responsibility to create safe spaces for self-expression, understanding that acknowledging, accepting, and embracing our differences are what make us stronger as both individuals and as a community. Bringing our true selves to everything we do is how we each play an important part in standing up for what we believe in as a community as well as what we want to inspire in the hearts and minds of those around us.
Board of Directors
Gregory Alexander
Board Member / Programming Lead
Gregory AlexanderBoard Member / Programming Lead
Board Member
Shayne Thomas
Board Member / Marketing Lead
Shayne ThomasBoard Member / Marketing Lead
Board Member / Marketing Lead
Open Positions
There are no open positions at this time.
CSW Financials
As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we are required by the IRS to publish our most recent tax returns. Please see our latest Form 990 (IRS) filings by clicking the links below. Due to the fiscal year schedule, financial statements from the year prior will not be available until the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year.
Board Emeritus
The role of Director Emeritus is a lifetime advisory position that recognizes the exemplary contributions of former CSW Board members who have demonstrated only the highest levels of service and dedication to the Christopher Street West Association. Individuals who have successfully served a minimum of four years on the CSW Board of Directors may only be considered for election to the CSW Board Emeritus.
- Rodney Scott (President Emeritus)
- Craig Bowers
- Sharon Donning
- James Fields
- Hope Hindrichs
- Danny Levy
- Jerry Lovell
- Raymond Rector
- Pat Rocco
- N. Lee Waddell
- Irene Williams
- Michael Yates
OUR PHILANTHROPY
Casa Del Sol
Casa Del Sol is a prime example of how Christopher Street West directly impacts the community. It is a joint project between Aids Project Los Angeles, and CSW to provide low-income housing for people with HIV/AIDS. CSW purchased the Hollywood property in 1988 and it opened for occupancy in 1993, following various bureaucratic issues and renovation needs. It remains a precedent-setting undertaking, laying the groundwork for all future independent living programs for persons with HIV/AIDS. Casa Del Sol was groundbreaking as it was the first low-income housing project for people with HIV/AIDS to receive HUD funding. Aids Project Los Angeles (APLA) manages the property, screening prospective tenants and providing ongoing tenant advocacy and support. CSW holds the mortgage and pays the yearly mortgage interest on the property.
