PHOTOS: WeHo Pride Day One

Mayor Lauren Meister welcomes the public to WeHo Pride:
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Mayor’s Kickoff of the City’s inaugural Weho Pride event — a weekend of celebration, music, LGBTQ arts and culture, and, best of all, community. I’d like to acknowledge my colleagues, Mayor Pro Tem Sepi Shyne, Councilmember John D’Amico, Councilmember Lindsey Horvath, and Councilmember John Erickson. On behalf of the entire City Council, happy Weho Pride!!

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone out and about at the Dyke March, Women’s Freedom Festival, the Out-Loud Music festival, and at the free Weho Pride Street Fair. It all starts Friday! Personally, I can’t wait for the Weho Pride Parade on Sunday. It’s an opportunity to take in a little sun, get in some steps, practice your queen’s wave, but most importantly, to be together, loud and proud.

West Hollywood is a special place – especially around Pride.  People come here from all around the world because, unlike FL and TX and some other G-d forsaken places, here you are free, to be!

I want to thank JJ-LA for somehow pulling this all together in a ridiculously short time frame. I want to thank our City Manager, David Wilson, City staff, especially Cleo Smith and Megan Reath from Special Events and Helen Collins from Facilties, Captain Bill Moulder and the LASD team, and the LA County Fire Department, for everything they do to keep the City organized and safe. I want to thank David Cooley and the Chapel for their hospitality tonight. Thanks to our residents for their patience and their parking spaces. And thanks to all of our hotels, restaurants, bars, and other Weho businesses that will be making this the best Pride weekend ever!

As I mentioned before, this is the City’s inaugural Weho Pride, but, as you may know, we’ve had a little experience doing this. After nearly four decades of Pride, I think it’s safe to say, there may be Pridecelebrations all over the world, but this is West Hollywood, and Pride starts here! Thanks, everyone,have a great evening, and a fantastic Weho Pride!