Thousands of people lined Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood today for the LA Pride Parade, celebrating the transgender, lesbian, gay and bisexual communities.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck, Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance and “Magic Mike XXL” stars Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer and Adam Rodriguez were
among the participants in the parade along with members of the West Hollywood City Council. It began at Crescent Heights Boulevard and continued west along Santa Monica Boulevard to Robertson Boulevard.
The Rev. Troy Perry and 13-year-old transgender activist Zoey were the grand marshals while the cast and crew of the Amazon comedy “Transparent” were the community grand marshals.
Perry is the lone survivor of the three organizers of the world’s first permitted Pride Parade in 1970, held in Hollywood to mark the first anniversary of the rebellion at the Stonewall Inn in New York City that launched the modern gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender liberation movement. Perry founded the predominantly gay Metropolitan Community Church and was the first openly gay member of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Rights.
Zoey faced bullying at her school when she was 11 after disclosing her gender identity. With the help of her mother and American Civil Liberties Union she fought school officials for her right to self-identify in school.
“Rev. Troy Perry and Zoey, along with the cast and crew of “Transparent,” represent the heroic legacy of activism and a continued commitment to advancing the rights of all people,” West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath said.
The parade has been held every year since 1970, except for 1973 when infighting over crude displays the previous two years left the organizers in disarray. The parade was held in Hollywood until 1979, when it moved to West Hollywood.
Photographer David Vaughn offers a look at more of the parade on the pages that follow:
the purpose of the LA Pride parade, festival and the entire month of June nationwide (fir that matter) is to promote ourselves! Our out and gbltq selves… The equality thing is an issue and a cause and a great rallying cry for activists and ordinary people alike to maybe have a parade and festival. But for one weekend a year – the second weekend in June, we are equal – gays and straights, blacks, browns, whites, standing in line to get a drink, buy a funnel cake or eat cotton candy!
OMG!! Thank you everyone!!! This was my first year as Parade Director for CSW….but none of this was possible without my partner in crime Geri who was the coordinator on this project. She was WONDERFUL!!!! We so look forward to 2016 and hope to make it even better! xoxoxoxoxxo…..Mikeee
The sirens were non-stop on Saturday and Sunday during the festival. It would be interesting to know the number of overdose/drunk unresponsive patients that were transported.
@don great idea. It’s no longer pride (nor really ever been) but equality.
It actually felt/looked and was a parade that was more adult; less sleaze and one I could actually feel Pride about – funny enough. There is hope.
ANOTHER COMMENT, next year the event needs to be RENAMED to fit the actual current purpose of promoting equality for everyone. So I suggest the 2016 EQUALITY PRIDE PARADE & FESTIVAL.
LA Pride started getting really good in the last couple years. Keep getting better gals and guys!
Best parade in 30 years…..
Next year we could use a few marching bands…..
Parade was less sleeze and more support participants this year. There were many companies some self promoting (MAGIC MIKE, TRANSPARENT, Products) but welcomed. Also there were many religious organizations who have long supported gay/lesbians. Bars, clubs there too…I’ve always believed that EVERY GAY/LESBIAN bar should participate either by being there or donating fees for others. After all they only exist because of our money..and many are heterosexual owned. And the organizations who support AIDS victims and homeless youth and other facets of the “community” were there in wonderfully large numbers. Politicians too participated (as they should) but welcomed. PFLAG was… Read more »
This was by far the most exciting & spectacular parade ever, mostly dignified & tasteful. I bet there was 1/2 million or even more. Extremely enjoyable to watch. I understand freedom of speech but I’m sorry the so-called religious demonstrators on the corner of La Cienega are given such freedom to cause such disruption. Much of the time they were so loud they drowned out the voices of the marchers & the spectators as well as the music, which to me leaves the area of free speech & becomes disturbing the peace, a public nuisance, harassment, among other things. I… Read more »