It was just one year ago, on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, that LGBTQ Angelenos and our allies flooded West Hollywood to show our pride as we have done for so many years prior. No one would have imagined that just a year later, we would be prevented from doing so on the 50th anniversary of the first LA Pride (the year following Stonewall in 1970). The coronavirus took away our ability to celebrate this meaningful time together, leaving us to seek alternative ways of doing so. And if being stuck in our homes instead of out and proud with each other was not hard enough, the events of the past week, highlighting how police brutality, discrimination and racism remain rampant in our country, have made it hard to feel like celebrating.

The gay people have come a long, long way in the last 50 years, and like all marginalized groups, we’ve faced tough times before, from our own police raids and rioting, to a devastating plague that ravished an entire generation. In the spirit of our community’s resilience, we won’t be pushed back into the closets again. This week and for the entire month of June, a plethora of live and on demand streaming events will provide LGBTQ Pride with an important digital presence that is still sadly needed. These events will help us remain visible and remind the world that we’re here, and no pandemic or curfews will change that.

Below, our guide to streaming Pride 2020. Check back for updates, including any postponements or adjustments that may occur in light of recent unrest in our country.

UPDATE (6/12):

“SaMo Pride At Home” listed in an earlier version of this guide and planned for June 20, has been canceled.

UPDATE (6/8):

LA Pride and CSW announced today that they are no longer involved with the June 14 protest. It is now being overseen by an advisory board of black LGBTQ+ leaders under the moniker “All Black Lives Matter.” More info on the event here.

UPDATE (6/6):

Following online criticism for planning its Pride Solidarity March in conjunction with the LAPD and without input from Black Lives Matter reps, LA Pride’s Black Solidarity March on June 14 appears to be on hold. LA Pride shared an apology on its Instagram. We are following developments on the status of the event and will update here.

UPDATE (6/3):

As highlighted below, Christopher Street West (CSW) had previously cancelled all in-person events due to COVID-19, but on June 1, its Board of Directors voted to peacefully assemble a protest in solidarity with the Black community at Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. in Los Angeles, where the first ever permitted Pride Parade took place, inviting protesters to march to West Hollywood and end at the intersection of San Vicente and Santa Monica Blvds. The event will take place on Sunday, June 14 at 10 a.m.

 

 

LA Pride 50th Anniversary Virtual Celebration

Los Angeles’ first-ever virtual Pride Parade will still air as a 90-minute Primetime special on ABC-7, Saturday, June 13 (7:30-9 p.m. PST), with an encore presentation on Sunday at 2 p.m. (the event will be livestreamed as well). ABC-7 Eyewitness News anchors Ellen Leyva and Brandi Hitt will host with special guest host actress Raven-Symoné. 2020 LA Pride Grand Marshals are CSW and LA Pride co-founder Reverend Troy Perry as the Community Grand Marshal and Project Angel Food as the Organizational Grand Marshal.

The program will include short video clips from celebrities and LGBTQ icons, allies and local unsung heroes, as well as a Virtual Pride Parade featuring a compilation of video submissions by viewers. Appearances include Alex Newell, Asher Entertainment ft. House of Ninja, Bob the Drag Queen, Carson Kressley, Erika Jayne, Greyson Chance, Hayley Kiyoko, Justin Tranter, Lance Bass, Lee Daniels, Leslie Jordan, Megan Hilty, Mj Rodriguez, Neve Campbell, Sandra Bernhard, Shea Diamond, The Pussycat Dolls, the cast of the upcoming Hulu series Love Victor, as well as a performance by Trixie Mattel presented by Virgin Fest at Rocco’s West Hollywood.

CSW will also be partnering with iHeartMedia Los Angeles across its local stations including 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 about the history of the LGBTQ movement and Pride celebration. In addition, every Friday in June, L.A. 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. To further celebrate Pride, iHeartRadio Los Angeles and CSW will launch a podcast entitled LA Pridecast and premiere its first episode in June. It will explore the issues and topics relevant to the LGBTQ community and its allies. More info on all of this at lapride.org.

Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter’s Virtual Pride Summit & Prom

The second annual Pride Summit goes virtual on Saturday, June 13 with a day-long event that includes conversations about the importance of representation in music, television and film. The event also promises performances, drag, artist cameos, glam sessions and dancing. Some of the big name celebrities announced so far as participants include Billy Porter, Cyndi Lauper, Lena Waithe and Todrick Hall. billboardevents.com/event/billboard-hollywood-reporter-pride-summit/.

Virtual Trans Pride Los Angeles

On June 19-20, the Los Angeles LGBT Center will host Trans Pride L.A., one of the oldest and largest trans celebrations in the country. Virtual Trans Pride L.A. kicks off on Friday evening at 7 p.m. with the center’s community forum series Big Queer Convo, which will feature the star of When They See Us and America’s Next Top Model Isis King and actress/teacher/singer/activist Alexandra Billings. Immediately following will be a virtual gallery opening/salon hosted by curator Micah Bazant and poet Féi Hernandez. Saturday’s virtual events run from noon-9:30 p.m. and include an online community resource fair, an online art exhibit, numerous workshops and even a variety show. Online registration ahead of the events is encouraged here: transpride.lalgbtcenter.org.

Virtual Global Pride

On Saturday June 27th, Pride organizations from all over the world will celebrate Global Pride 2020. The 24-hour event will be streamed live and will feature musical and artistic performances and speeches from activists and public figures. Global Pride plans to announce the platform where it will be streamed early this month. globalpride2020.org.

Porch Pride: A Bluegrass Pride “Queer-antine”

Festival airing over the weekend of June 27th and 28th that will feature more than ten hours of live music. Bluegrass Pride is an internationally-recognized non-profit started by the California Bluegrass Association in 2017. Its mission is to let the world know that bluegrass is for everyone, and the goal of Porch Pride is to showcase LGBTQ musicians while also generating financial support for them. A full weekend schedule can be found on the organization’s website, where fans can also donate to the cause bluegrasspride.net/porchpride.

San Francisco and New York City Virtual Pride Events

The two biggest Pride festivals in the country will both be going virtual June 27-28. Both will feature online celebrations, rallys, speakers and music. ABC will also broadcast a special on television June 28th featuring Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy as the Grand Marshall (sfpride.org and nycpride.org).

WeHo’s One City, One Pride

The City of West Hollywood’s annual Arts Festival runs virtually from Harvey Milk Day (May 22) through the end of Pride month (June 30). Events include Pride poets on Fridays throughout the month of June, the ALAP Pride Playreading Festival highlighting short plays on June 20th and highlighting a full length play on June 21st. On June 27th, NewStages and LA LGBT Senior Services will present Out of the Dark, a virtual online performance. Finally, June 30th will be a Circus of Books virtual panel discussion with Karen and Barry Mason (store owners), Rachel Mason (filmmaker) and her husband/transgender activist Buck Angel. pride.weho.org.

Digital Deviant’s Tour

LGBTQ historian and author Dr. Eric Cervini has announced an 18-city digital book tour, titled the “Digital Deviant’s Tour” in celebration of his forthcoming book The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America. The book tour will feature Eric in conversation with guest speakers including LGBTQ screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, local activists, openly LGBTQ politicians like Representative Brian Sims, intersectional activists and academics. crowdcast.io/ericcervini.

NYX Cosmetics Virtual March

NYX Professional Makeup is organizing a first-of-its-kind virtual Pride march and a digital educational resource platform developed in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center. On June 1st, NYX Professional launched a virtual Pride march called “I March For.” Customers are encouraged to participate in the virtual march by downloading and posting an image of themselves with a custom “Proud Allies” Instagram filter available on the @nyxcosmetics Instagram. Users can share who they march for and nominate someone to “join the march” by doing the same. The brand plans to post all “Proud Ally” images across social platforms to celebrate the virtual march throughout the month of June. NYX Professional Makeup will also launch a digital educational resource platform that will feature video training sessions like how to use correct pronouns when addressing members of the LGBTQ community. nyxcosmetics.com/proudallies.

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