June is Pride Month, and Los Angeles draws always some of the biggest crowds in the country with its annual celebration of LGBTQ+ culture.
Highlights this year included a headline performance by Ricky Martin at LA Pride in the Park, a WeHo Pride parade featuring Lifetime Ally Icon and “True Colors” singer Cyndi Lauper, and a Pride is Universal event at Universal Studios Hollywood.
The idea for Pride Month began on June 28, 1969, during the Stonewall riots in New York City when the LGBTQ+ community fought back against unlawful police raids of gay establishments. One year later, the first Pride marches took place in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Today, Pride events, marches, parades, and celebrations take place in June across the country. The cities of Los Angeles and West Hollywood host annual Pride events that have bounced back fabulously after the pandemic killed the party for a few years.
“People were definitely ready to get back to the more mirthful parts of life,” says David Reddish, managing entertainment editor of Wealth of Geeks and author of The Wrath of Comic-Con. “Pride epitomizes that. It remains as popular as ever from what I can see.”
Ricky Martin Headlines LA Pride
Former Menudo member and “Livin’ la Vida Loca” singer Ricky Martin headlined the LA Pride in the Park concert on June 8. The Puerto Rican singer-actor is not only the first openly gay Latin artist to take center stage at LA Pride, but this represents Martin’s first headlining performance at any Pride event worldwide.
Across 20 acres and with a capacity for 25,000 people, LA Pride in the Park is one of the largest Pride concerts in the country. The official theme for this year’s Pride season is “Power in Pride” to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community’s ability to live authentically through strength and resilience.
“With his electrifying stage presence and chart-topping hits, Ricky Martin has long been an inspiration to millions around the world,” explains Gerald Garth, board president of Christopher Street West Association/LA Pride. “His participation in LA Pride in the Park goes beyond mere entertainment; it symbolizes a powerful affirmation of queer Latin identity and a celebration of diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. We cannot wait to be ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’ while beaming with Pride!”
Martin gained fame as a member of the popular Latin American band Menudo before embarking on a successful solo career that garnered more than180 awards, including two Grammy and four Latin Grammy Awards. Also an accomplished actor, Martin was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. He currently stars on the Apple TV series Palm Royale alongside Laura Dern, Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, and Carol Burnett.
“I am thrilled to be headlining LA Pride in the Park because it’s an incredible opportunity to celebrate love, diversity, and equality,” said Martin. “LA Pride is a testament to the power of community, the power of visibility, and the power of standing up for our rights. Being part of this vibrant community fills me with pride and purpose.”
WeHo Pride Parade Features Cyndi Lauper
The WeHo Pride parade on June 2 along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood featured Grammy, Emmy, and Tony-winning artist Cyndi Lauper. The “True Colors” singer — a longtime LGBTQ+ activist and supporter — appeared as a Lifetime Ally Icon.
“Cyndi Lauper embodies the spirit of inclusivity, unity, and vibrancy that has defined West Hollywood throughout its history,” City of West Hollywood Mayor John M. Erickson told WeHo Pride. “Her unwavering dedication to advocacy throughout the years, coupled with her unparalleled musical legacy, makes her a perfect fit for this moment in time as Lifetime Ally Icon as we celebrate WeHo Pride 2024.”
West Hollywood is home to one of the largest Pride celebrations in America. Full of music, dancing, colorful floats, festive marching contingents, and creative flair to spare, the WeHo Pride Parade is always free and open to the public, embracing LGBTQ+ representation, inclusion, and progress. The parade celebrates diversity, love, and resilience in the heart of West Hollywood. Each year, Parade Icons are selected for their significant contributions to the LGBTQ+ community, visibility, community involvement, and advocacy.
Lauper is best known for songs such as “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” “True Colors,” “Time After Time,” “She Bop,” and the gay dance anthem “Into the Nightlife.” She won a Tony for composing the Broadway musical Kinky Boots, about a shoe factory owner who partners with a drag queen to make high-heeled boots to save the family business. In 2008, Lauper started True Colors United to help homeless LGBT youth. In 2022, she started the Girls Just Want To Have Fundamental Rights Fund to support organizations “fighting for the right to abortion and reproductive healthcare.”
LA Pride Unveils Event at Universal Studios Hollywood
LA Pride also took over Universal Studios Hollywood for the Pride Is Universal LGBTQ+ special event on June 15. Tickets included afternoon general admission to the theme park starting at 4 p.m. with exclusive extended park hours from park close of 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Additional after-hours elements included existing park attractions, dining, and retail offerings as well as live DJs, dance areas, Universal character meet and greets, photo ops, cash bars, and a drag show featuring Morgan McMichaels from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
New this year was a prom-themed experience for guests of all ages who may have missed out on their own inclusive prom experience. Live DJs, dancing under the stars, and prom-themed décor with photo ops to recreate favorite prom poses completed the event.
“What makes this event so special is the fact it is produced by our community, we hire our community, for our community, and a portion of proceeds go back to our LGBTQ+ community,” says Patrick Murphy, founder & CEO of Let’s Party L|P. “We are passionate about creating a safe space where you can be your authentic true self, regardless of age, gender, expression, or identity. There’s something for everyone here, creating a true sense of community to celebrate Pride.”
Pride is Universal is a fundraiser for Christopher Street West (CSW), the 501c3 nonprofit organization that produces the LA Pride Parade, Pride in the Park, and many other LA Pride events.
This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.