WeHo Pride preparations stir up conflict

The chairman of the Public Safety Commission expressed concerns about this year’s WeHo Pride Parade over seating limits on the parade floats. Meanwhile, community groups that wanted to participate in West Hollywood’s upcoming Pride event are wondering why they were denied funding when nearly half of the budget remains unspent.

City Council authorized the use of up to $6,999,500 in total for the third annual WeHo Pride festivities and approved a Community Group Program budget of $150,000. Forty-seven groups and organizations applied for the program, but only 14 were selected, and only $77,240 of the $150,000 was allocated. 

Among those awarded funding were Satrang ($10,000 to host a South Asian pride night), Inglewood Pride Festival ($9,800 to host an event in Inglewood), and The Phoenix ($20,000 to produce #SIZZLE, a sober pride event).

Emerald Village, which markets the cannabis industry in West Hollywood, had applied for co-sponsorships for its Queen of Emerald Village drag event, Budtender Appreciation Drag Bingo at Micky’s and Come Out for Cannabis Panel Discussion, but the city denied their application, saying they were “unable to accommodate the funding requests” — despite the fact that $72,760 in their budget remains unspent. 

WeHo Pride Weekend 2024, starting on May 31, will feature a free community concert in West Hollywood Park, requiring RSVP due to limited space. The weekend will continue with the WeHo Pride Street Fair on June 1 and 2 along Santa Monica Boulevard, featuring live performances on the Celebration and Rainbow Stages, community booths, and sponsor activations, with the fair ending at 8:00 p.m. but music continuing until 10:00 p.m. each night.

The OUTLOUD Music Festival will showcase artists including Kylie Minogue, Janelle Monáe and others at West Hollywood Park, with tickets currently available. Special honors are being planned for Monáe and Minogue, recognizing their contributions to the festival.

Additional events include the Women’s Freedom Festival and the Dyke March on June 1, which promote visibility for LGBTQ and BIPOC women and non-binary artists. The Dyke March will follow the festival and traverse Santa Monica Boulevard. A family-friendly Rainbow Family Picnic is scheduled for June 15.

The WeHo Pride Parade, also on June 2, will feature a televised broadcast by KTLA and include three City floats, with City Council members and selected Advisory Board and Commission members participating. Applications for parade entries and street fair exhibitors are due by April 15, 2024.

Participation opportunities for Advisory Board and Commission members include riding on one of the City floats, joining the walking contingent, or the WeHo PickUp trolley during the Pride Parade. Due to limited space, only two members per Advisory Board and Commission will be randomly selected to ride on the City floats, with alternates prepared in case of absences. The new policy didn’t sit well with Public Safety Commission Chairman Tod Hallman when he learned about it last week, but he remains hopeful things might change and is excited to participate however he can.

“I am happy that our Public Safety Commission will be represented once again in this year’s Weho Pride parade, and I can’t wait to come out to support the city I love at the parade and festival,” Hallman told WEHOonline in a statement. 

The WeHo Pride Arts Festival is scheduled from June 14 through June 16, 2024, as part of the wider month-long celebration. Additionally, various street and facility closures are planned to accommodate the events, including major thoroughfares like Santa Monica Boulevard and Robertson Boulevard.

Significant street and facility closures include:
1. West Hollywood Park, reserved from May 26 to June 6 for the OUTLOUD Music Festival.
2. Plummer Park and surrounding areas, closed from early morning May 30 to midday June 3.
3. Major roadways including Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevard, with closures spanning from the evening of May 30 to the morning of June 3 to facilitate event setup and takedown.
4. Specific closures on June 2 to support the WeHo Pride Parade, affecting Santa Monica Boulevard and adjacent areas.

The city has initiated several measures to facilitate local participation and mitigate the impacts of street closures and other logistical adjustments. From May 31 at 4:00 P.M. to June 3 at 7:00 A.M., residential permit parking restrictions will be suspended citywide, aiming to accommodate the influx of visitors and participants expected during the event.

City staff are coordinating with the Community Safety Department, hired event producers, and external public safety agencies to minimize disruption to the community. 

City Council has eliminated fees for Special Event Permits and Encroachment Permits for low-impact activities planned by businesses on May 31, June 1, and June 2. The City will also cover the costs associated with mandatory Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) site plan reviews for these permits.

Outreach efforts include participation in West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce meetings and a business-specific meeting aimed at encouraging local business involvement in WeHo Pride. These meetings also serve to inform businesses about the street closures. Ongoing targeted outreach by City and JJLA staff will continue to focus on supporting City businesses and residents affected by the event. All residents and businesses in West Hollywood will receive a mailer with an invitation to WeHo Pride, including detailed information about the street closures and timings, to ensure community members are well-informed and can plan accordingly.