CSW Announces Grand Marshals and a New Partner for the Virtual LA Pride

Christopher Street West, the non-profit that produces the annual LA Pride parade and festival, has announced that the 2020 LA Pride Grand Marshals are CSW and LA Pride co-founder Rev. Troy Perry (Community Grand Marshal) and Project Angel Food ( Organizational Grand Marshal.)  And it has announced special performances and appearances by an array of LGBTQ celebrities as part of its virtual LA Pride celebration in June.

At the beginning of this month CSW announced that it would forgo in-person events for the remainder of 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has since partnered with KABC, the local television station, to produce Los Angeles’s first-ever virtual Pride Parade. It  will air as a 90-minute special exclusively on KABC, on June 13 (7:30 to 9 p.m.), with an encore presentation on June 14 at 2:00 p.m. The event will be hosted by KABC  Eyewitness News anchors Ellen Leyva and Brandi Hitt, with special guest host, actress Raven-Symone.

The celebration will include special performances and appearances by Alex Newell, Amara La Negra, Asher Entertainment, The House of Ninja, Bob the Drag Queen, Carson Kressley, Erika Jayne, Greyson Chance, Hayley Kiyoko, Jake Borelli, Jordy, Justin Tranter, Lance Bass, Lee Daniels, Leslie Jordan, Megan Hilty & Brian Gallagher, Mj Rodriguez, Neve Campbell, Sandra Bernhard, Shea Diamond and The Pussycat Dolls. Also scheduled are Trixie Mattel’s performance presented by Virgin Fest at Rocco’s, the cast of the upcoming Hulu series, “Love Victor” as well as appearances by local businesses, non-profits, and drag queens with more to be announced.

CSW also has announced that iHeartMedia Los Angeles is the newest partner to join it in producing a virtual version of LA Pride.

iHeartMedia will commemorate “50 Years of Pride in LA” across its local stations, which include Real 92.3, 104.3 MYFM, KOST 103.5, 102.7 KIIS-FM and ALT 98.7. Each station will feature daily vignettes voiced by on-air personalities, artists, celebrities and members of the LGBTQ+ community focused on the history of the LGBTQ+ movement and Pride celebration.

Also, every Friday in June, Los Angeles radio stations will hold weekly “virtual Pride parties” streamed live on the station’s YouTube channels, and on “Pride Radio” featured on the iHeartRadio app. Details for all virtual Pride events will be announced on the iHeartMedia Los Angeles radio stations through the month, and can be found on www.1043myfm.com, keyword LA Pride.

iHeartRadio Los Angeles and CSW also will launch a podcast titled, “LA Pridecast,” with its first episode in June. Hosted by iHeart’s 104.3MYFM’s Lisa Foxx, the monthly podcast will feature conversations that explore issues and topics relevant to LGBTQ+ communities and their allies. Each episode will feature an in-depth conversation with a different member of the Los Angeles community. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks

There will be a countdown/pre-party featuring Lance Bass and Bubble Tap Trailer on June 13 from noon to 3 p.m. Guests will be able to order and pick up a party box at Rocco’s West Hollywood ahead of LA’s 50th Anniversary Pride Special. Pride Boxes can be ordered in advance online.

Those participating in the pre-party will receive both an email and a text message with the login info for the virtual celebration taking place from 3 to 8 p.m. where guests will enjoy multiple DJ sets, interactive games and surprise guests.