Pride House is set to make its way to West Hollywood for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Out Athlete Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, will officially announce the initiative during a free event open to the public at The Abbey on Nov. 20.
Pride House is a hospitality hub designed to celebrate and uplift the LGBTQ community in sports. Unlike traditional hospitality houses, which typically represent nations or corporations, Pride House focuses on creating a space for a community historically marginalized in the athletic world. Since 2010, Pride Houses have been present at every Olympics, excluding those in Russia and China.
Elected officials from Los Angeles County and the city of West Hollywood, along with professional and collegiate athletes and Olympians, are expected to attend the announcement event. Pride House LA-West Hollywood will serve as a vibrant venue during the 2028 Olympics, offering concerts, sports demonstrations, food and drink, speaker series, art installations, and interactive storytelling experiences aimed at engaging the community.
A smaller, temporary Pride House will also be established in Los Angeles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coinciding with the U.S. Men’s National Team’s first and third group-stage matches.
Mayor John M. Erickson expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing its significance for both himself as a former openly gay collegiate athlete and the city.
“As the first openly gay athlete at my college and now the Mayor of the City of West Hollywood, the center of LGBTQ+ activism and a hub of culture, creativity, music, and inclusivity, I look forward to welcoming the world to experience Pride House in West Hollywood in 2028,” Erickson said.
Athlete ambassadors for the Out Athlete Fund and Pride House LA-West Hollywood include Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy, former NBA player Jason Collins, Olympic beach volleyball player Nicole Branagh, Olympic figure skater Randy Gardner, professional soccer player Collin Martin, and Olympic dressage rider Robert Dover.
For updates, you can follow the Out Athlete Fund and Pride House LA-West Hollywood on Instagram and Facebook.
As a straight resident, I was unaware of Pride House and its place at most of the Olympics. What a wonderful idea.
Mayor Erickson will still be an elected official then, although in his last term.
He must be thrilled that he will still be a council member in 2028.
While I am a huge supporter of Pride House, I am not a fan of John Erickson nor his participation. Erickson is a pay for play politician who will compromise any cause or organization for personal gain.