LA Pride Cancelled

LA Pride recently released a statement acknowledging the recent Coronavirus outbreak and its plan to cancel the 2020 events that were in place to celebrate the 50th anniversary of LA Pride. On Thursday, March 12th, organizer announced that the LA Pride Festival and Parade will be pushed back to an unknown date, much like many other events that have been postponed, suspended, or cancelled. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists event cancellations as one measure that may slow the virus, which has claimed over 40 lives in the U.S. and 5,000 across the globe” (Shen-Berro, 2020).

The City of West Hollywood, the city where the march takes place, announced a city-wide cancellation of all city-sponsored and funded events that were set to occur prior to June 30th, 2020. The decision to cancel all of the events stems from the possibility of Coronavirus spreading through individuals present in the large crowds these events tend to bring. Estevan Montemayor “board president of Christopher Street West, the nonprofit that organizes LA Pride, said the decision to postpone the event was made in the interest of public safety” (Shen-Berro, 2020). 

Los Angeles Pride dates back to 1970, making its debut as one of the first events in country history. The festival and parade were planned in June in order to honor those involved in the Stonewall Riots in New York – the event that sparked the modern-day gay rights movement. Montemayor states, “we hosted the world’s first legally permitted Pride parade on Hollywood Boulevard on June 28, 1970,” he said. “That is a significant milestone. We are going to make sure we commemorate it.” Although the event won’t be held in June this year, city officials, public health officials, and the City of LA are ensuring attendees that they will get to attend the 50th anniversary of LA Pride, just at a later date. On the other hand, New York City currently has no plans to reschedule their planned Pride events. New York City, the site of the iconic Stonewall uprising, attracts millions of people from around the world every year.

For individuals in the LGBTQ community, this poses a temporary disappointment; however, the City of West Hollywood and Montemayor state that there is no way the event will be cancelled, they’re just focusing on find a new date to reschedule it for. The postponement has come as a “blessing” as it now allows public health officials and Pride planners to take their time on planning the event that is going to have an outcome that is safe for everyone in attendance.

Montemayor states, “our community has always been incredibly resilient, especially in the face of uncertain times. We’ve faced this before — we always have. We’ll come together, we’ll beat it, we’ll overcome it, and we’ll all rise up very shortly to convene and celebrate this big, bold, beautiful community” (Shen-Berro, 2020).

Although millions of individuals look forward to and attend this event every year, it is understandable as to why the event is being cancelled. The fact that Montemayor and city officials are working so hard to reschedule the event shows how important Pride activities are to the community. 

For all of you planning to attend, rest assured that you will still get to attend, just at a later date! 

Until next time,

Shayla Bannert