This year’s WeHo Pride Parade paid homage to the LGBTQ+ community in typical crazy technicolor style Sunday during the city’s weekend of festivities.
Pop’s rebel grand dame Cyndi Lauper, her towering headpiece giving celestial goddess vibes, was honored as the parade’s VIP — its Lifetime Ally Icon — for her time-tested commitment and strides in the fight for equality.
Officials from throughout the city and county were on hand and ready to party, including Congressman Adam Schiff, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, DA George Gascon, Assessor Jeffrey Prang, WeHo Mayor John M. Erickson, Vice Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers and Councilmembers John Heilman and Sepi Shyne.
Sorely missed was Councilmember Lauren Meister, who could not attend due to a family issue, the vice mayor told WEHOonline.
A motley crew of clubs, organizations, celebrities and entertainers filled the floats — everyone from the Gay Men’s Chorus and Lambda Legal to Sutton and Garcelle from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
The parade veered into the overtly political at times, with a large contingent of pro-Palestinian activists placed curiously at the vanguard of the line, holding a provocative banner that read “No Pride in Genocide.” Many crowdgoers were visibly disappointed by the sight of such a divisive message.
Other things seen included:
- Pickle, WeHo’s gorgeous Drag Laureate, towering at least two feet above everyone else
- A gay robot
- Transgender advocate Annie Jump Vicente, known for delivering obscenity-laden tirades during City Council meetings, embracing the opportunity to tear the city a new asshole via megaphone
- The filming of a movie about Anna Nicole Smith
- A gay Tesla Cybertruck
- Abbe Land
- Bagpipes
- Bubbles
- Every twink and muscle daddy in the realm
- Many queer women, a demographic that deserves more exposure amid hordes of attention-hungry gay men
- The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, whose approach to evangelism appears to be working
- Doomsday Christian fundamentalists, whose approach to evangelism is definitely not working
I’m old enough to remember when children at this event were a buzz kill. A hyper-sexualized event with half naked men…horning libidos up…and then the sight of kids…
Maybe the people who accused Gay men of being pedos were on to something…
If you’re comfortable with this…well…
WeHo, you had Pride too soon this year. Who made the decision to have the Pride festival the 1st weekend in June? Trying to complete with LA? It makes to sense to do so, who cares who goes first. The third weekend is the sweet spot. Please move it next year.
Here’s a thought…why not just one parade?
Is that Annie Jump Vicente with the blue and pink hair? You go girl! West Hollywood can’t get enough of you!
Whenever I attend a Pride event,I usually go on Saturday to attended the street fair and the bars.I skip the parade on Sunday because of the crowds and confusion.
I am not a parade guy,but I don’t mind others who enjoy the parades and the festivities.Looks like everyone there had a good time.
It isn’t a boys’ town anymore. More Wokeville meets a clownish sideshow with Dr. Erickson all over the place with Buyers and the redundant Shyne!
I think it was a great parade, even if I did not see every entry. There were long periods of lag time between the floats and groups. I think that WeHo did a great job considering that this only their second or third time doing it without CSW. My biggest disappointment that took me to anger and tears was the presence of the entry for the Pro Palestinian group. I realize that it is freedom of opinion and speech but this group supports the hate towards Israel and blaming them of Genocide. Do they realize that this was started by… Read more »
Abbe Land?? Representing whom – or what? Some people just won’t give it up
ABBE LAND – representing PRIDE. Not.
For what it’s worth, Land doesn’t have any reason at all to be in the parade, other than to expose herself.
Former council member Jeff Prang was there too but no comments about him? Sexist much?
What I saw was cartoonish and buffonish but oh so P.C.. I’m gloriously old enough to remember when the festival and parade were actually diverse and everyone came out to see the most gorgeous gay men from around the world. They must have missed the invitation this year. 😔
It was a festive day!
Nice photos Brandon! Captured the fun spirit of the day.