Hollywood hosts LA Pride Parade, Community Festival

Thousands of people lined the streets of Hollywood on Sunday for the 56th annual LA Pride Parade, one of the region’s largest celebrations of LGBTQ+ pride, visibility and community.

The parade followed a route through Hollywood that organizers said closely mirrors the path of the city’s original Pride marches in the 1970s.

The parade began at Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue, traveled north to Hollywood Boulevard, continued east to Cahuenga Boulevard and then headed south back to Sunset Boulevard, according to organizers.

This year’s grand marshals were actor Jeff Hiller as celebrity grand marshal, longtime transgender rights advocate Mia Yamamoto as community grand marshal and the late Shirley Raines, who died in January, who was honored posthumously as legacy grand marshal.

Organizers said the honorees were selected for their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community and their commitment to visibility, advocacy and inclusion.

Following the parade, Hollywood Boulevard between Vine and Gower streets was transformed into LA Pride Village, a free public festival scheduled to run until 8:30 p.m.

The event featured live entertainment, food vendors, nonprofit organizations, community activations, local businesses and exhibits reflecting the diversity of Los Angeles’ LGBTQ+ community, organizers said.

Scheduled performers included Bentley Robles, Princess Superstar, Cassidy King, Nekeith, the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Amber Ryann and CANDIACE.

Additional programming included a showcase featuring cast members from the first season of “King of Drag,” a celebration of queer Latinx culture presented by Preciosa Night and the LA Pride Ball presented by the House of Ninja.

Organizers said Pride Village also included Family Grove, a family focused area; Trans Galleria, an art exhibit featuring works by transgender artists; Erotic City, a space dedicated to the kink and BDSM community; nearly 20 food trucks; and more than 100 exhibitors, vendors and sponsors.

“LA Pride has always been about creating spaces where our community can come together in celebration, solidarity and visibility,” Christopher Street West Board President Lawrence Carroll said in a statement. “These events reflect the many ways Pride lives throughout Los Angeles, from cultural institutions and sports arenas to neighborhood gathering spaces and, of course, the streets of Hollywood.”

Christopher Street West was founded in 1970 and organized what is considered the world’s first permitted LGBTQ+ pride parade.