From June 1 – 10, CSW gives LA’s LGBTQ+ community multiple ways to #JUSTBE this Pride season

May 31, WEST HOLLYWOOD: Christopher Street West (CSW), the 501(c)3 non-profit that produces the annual LA Pride Festival and Parade, is excited to announce the full 2018 LA Pride Week event lineup. This is the second year in a row that CSW has expanded programming beyond the traditional LA Pride Weekend festivities (i.e. the annual LA Pride Festival and Parade), giving LA’s LGBTQ+ community multiple ways to #JUSTBE during one of the nation’s largest and most storied Pride celebrations.

“Pride means different things to different people; there’s no single definition of Pride,” says Estevan Montemayor, CSW Board President. “And knowing just how diverse LA’s LGBTQ+ community is, expanding our programming to allow the entire community to have a more authentic and deeply personal LA Pride experience was an absolute priority for the entire CSW team. This year’s amazing LA Pride Week lineup of events, programs, and collaborations is a testament to our continued dedication to supporting all facets of our community – and it’s only going to grow from there.”  

On Saturday, June 2, LA Pride Week officially kicks off with the 1st annual Trans Brunch at Flaming Saddles in West Hollywood, a new, invite-only LA Pride Week tradition that puts a spotlight on the diversity and strength of LA’s vibrant transgender community. Then, that evening, for the second year in a row, LA Pride is hosting LGBT Night at Universal Studios HollywoodTM for an exclusive after-hours theme park experience (9 p.m. to 1 a.m.) with live entertainment by DJ’s Ryan Kenney and Aaron Elvis, dance clubs, cash bars (21+), character meet-n-greets, access to all theme park rides and attractions, and a number of other surprises. All ages welcome. For tickets, be sure to visit https://laprideorg.wpengine.com/universal.

On Wednesday, June 6, LA Pride is celebrating the installation of John Duran as the new West Hollywood Mayor at the annual Mayor’s Reception. This invite-only event will take place at the recently opened WeWork location in the Pacific Design Center, with sprawling views across all of West Hollywood.

On Thursday, June 7, LA Pride and the Los Angeles Sparks have teamed up once again to host the 2nd annual LA Sparks Pride Night and Post-Game All-Women’s Party at the Staples Center. Following the game – where the LA Sparks take on the Seattle Storm – ticket holders will be invited to head up to the panoramic Staples Center City View Terrace Rooftop for an evening of mixing and mingling. For tickets, be sure to visit https://laprideorg.wpengine.com/sparks.

And while that’s happening, off in Hollywood, LA Pride and Los Angeles Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell have come together to host the 5th annual “Reel to Reel” VIP Reception at the famed Hollywood Museum, unveiling an exhibit that shines the spotlight on portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community in television and film. This year’s event will also honor actresses Stephanie Beatriz and Julie Newmar.

On Friday, June 8, LA Pride and the LA Dodgers are partnering on a “home run” Pride celebration, hosting the 6th annual LGBT Night at the Dodger Stadium. Fun for the whole family starts at 5:30 p.m. with the LA Pride Weekend kick-off party at the Right Field Plaza Pavilion until the first pitch is thrown against the Atlanta Braves. The evening will include a performance by singer Brian Justin Crum as well as a recognition of the biggest LGBT names in sports – including U.S. Olympian Gus Kenworthy; the first openly gay umpire in MLB history, Dale Scott; and founder of the Varsity Gay League, Will Hackner. After the game, all attendees will be invited onto the field to enjoy a fireworks show presented by Denny’s, featuring a live music mix by DJ Bowie Jane. Ticket holders will also receive a commemorative LA Dodgers “Pride-edition” t-shirt. For tickets, be sure to visit https://laprideorg.wpengine.com/dodgers.

And while Dodger fans are rooting for the home team, LA Pride will be proudly supporting a couple important LA Pride Week traditions: the City of West Hollywood’s Dyke March and the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Youth Pride Dance (age 24 and under only). Both events are free to the public.

On Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10, the annual LA Pride Festival will get into full swing at West Hollywood Park for two full days of non-stop entertainment and a whole lot of fun for the entire family – including amazing food, refreshing drinks, and enough activities to keep attendees busy all day. There will be new and improved Trans Galleria, Sizzle (alcohol- and substance-free zone), and Erotic City (Leather/S&M) activations as well.  

The music portion of the LA Pride Festival, headlined by Kehlani and Tove Lo, alongside some seriously fierce women and a wide array of LGBTQ+ artists across all of the LA Pride Festival’s three stages, will make this the most diverse LA Pride Festival yet. Festival hours are Saturday, 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. For tickets, please visit https://laprideorg.wpengine.com. Discounted tickets for seniors (65+), military (active/veteran), and disabled members of the community available at the Box Office only.

And finally, on the morning of Sunday, June 10, the annual LA Pride Parade makes its welcome return to West Hollywood from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. LA Pride’s 2018 Grand Marshal, transgender activist and entrepreneur, Michaela Mendelsohn will lead a colorful assortment of floats down Santa Monica Boulevard, helping to tell this year’s #JUSTBE story in all its beautiful glory. Attendees are recommended to take public transportation into West Hollywood during LA Pride Weekend and to arrive early to grab a front-row spot along the Parade route.  

LA Pride 2018 is just around the corner! Sign up for updates and be sure to follow LA Pride’s happenings on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About Christopher Street West (CSW) & LA Pride

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. Today, we continue to produce the globally-recognized 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. Visit lapride.org for more information.

Media Contacts

Elsa Remak
CK&D Public Relations
[email protected]

Shayne Thomas
CSW Board Member
[email protected]

All requests for media credentials for the LA Pride Festival and the LA Pride Parade must be sent to [email protected] no later than Monday, June 4, 2018. Please note that we receive a large number of requests each year. Unfortunately, we cannot fulfill all requests – even though we’d love to be able to!

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