After a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LA Pride Parade returns Sunday on a new route in Hollywood.
The parade is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. at Hollywood and Cahuenga boulevards. It will move west on Hollywood, south on Highland Avenue and east on Sunset Boulevard back to Cahuenga.
Following the parade, Pride Village will be open on Hollywood Boulevard, featuring sponsor tents, beverages, carnival attractions, vendors, performances and a mobile clinic from Equality California offering COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.
Paula Abdul will serve as “Icon Grand Marshal,” and other notable participants will be “Celebrity Grand Marshal” Mark Indelicato of “Ugly Betty” and “Hacks,” and “Community Grand Marshal” Sir Lady Java.
Miss Ukraine 2018, Veronika Didusenko, will ride in a car with Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred in support of Ukraine in its war with Russia and LGBTQ rights.
The LA Pride Parade, produced by Christopher Street West, has been described as the second-largest pride parade in the nation. Usually taking place in West Hollywood, the parade was canceled in 2020, in what would have been its 50th anniversary, because of COVID-19 precautions. The parade was canceled again in 2021 because of COVID-19 concerns.
“We considered many options for the parade, both traditional and progressive,” Gerald Garth, vice president of Christopher Street West programs and initiatives, said in February’s announcement about the location change. “Hollywood as the original historical location for the first Los Angeles protest 50 years ago was a natural choice to honor what Pride really means and where Pride will go in the future. We are continuing to work closely with the city and community stakeholders to confirm additional details that we look forward to sharing very soon.”
From 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Hollywood Boulevard will be closed from Highland Avenue to Vine Street, Cahuenga Boulevard will be closed between Yucca Street to Sunset Boulevard, Highland will be closed from Hollywood to Sunset and Sunset will be closed from Highland to Vine.
Additionally, Hollywood Boulevard will be closed between Cahuenga and Vine from 12:01 a.m. to 11:50 p.m. Sunday. Selma Avenue will be open to outgoing and residential traffic only.
People seeking to avoid the hassles of parking and traffic in the area can take the Metro B (Red) Line to the Hollywood/Highland Station to attend the parade. Metro is also participating in the parade with a 40-foot bus to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
Information about route, safety, security, float capacity, and further parade and programming will be available on www.lapride.org.
Are the masking their bungholes to prevent the spread of Monkey pox?
good grief
Hold your horses Wehoville! Is this deja vu all over again? Didn’t we already have the Pride Parade?