How California is taking Pride Month to the next level
Pride Month
is recognized in cities across the U.S. and even around the world in June, but Californians in San Francisco, Los Angeles and elsewhere are pulling off some surprises and events like only Californians can.
isn’t until July 14 so you can expect bigger surprises and events next month.
June is
considered
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, which
many consider
to be the birthplace of the modern LGBT movement. Cities celebrate with festivals and other events on different weekends throughout the month, with
this weekend and
on June 24.
Here are just a few of the many ways you’ll see a California twist on Pride celebrations this month.
Resist March
https://twitter.com/RuPaul/status/872463795641212928
On Sunday, June 11, instead of an annual parade, the Resist March took place starting at the corner of Hollywood and Highland as part of Los Angeles Pride. The
said it was “an epic, peaceful human rights march.”
“Instead of a Pride Parade celebrating the past progress of the LGTBQ+ community, the #ResistMarch will be a gathering to ensure the community’s future,” a
from organizers said.
The march featured politicians like Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Los Angeles, as well as celebrities, businesses and activist organizations.
NFL teams getting involved
https://twitter.com/MayorOfLA/status/870745618293039104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sandiegouniontribune.com%2Fopinion%2Fthe-conversation%2Fsd-pride-celebrations-california-20170609-htmlstory.html
The Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams both signed up to sponsor the Venice Pride celebration. Individuals and organizations could sign up to sponsor a letter on a rainbow colored sign that spelled out “Venice.”
According to the executive director of the event, Grant Turck, the Rams signed up in May and the Chargers followed later in the month.
“It opens a place for our community within the NFL,”
Turck said. “The ultimate message is: inclusion wins.”
A rainbow life guard tower
The rainbow flag has
a symbol of support and pride for the LGBT community. So what makes more sense in California than taking that image to the beach?
On June 1, with support of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors and Los Angeles City Council, a lifeguard tower on Venice Beach was painted with rainbow colors ahead of Venice Beach Pride.
Read the full story behind the artists and what led to this project
The tower will retain those colors for spring and summer.
Rainbow french fries at McDonald’s
https://twitter.com/McD_BayArea/status/873243302358896640
OK, the fries themselves aren’t rainbow-colored (sadly) but the boxes are! You can find them throughout the San Francisco Bay Area during the month of June.
“McDonald’s has always been a company that has supported diversity and inclusion of its employees and extended McDonald’s family,” McDonald’s spokesperson Kim Knapp
“As an official sponsor of this year’s Pride festivities, we looked for a unique way to bring that celebration into our restaurants throughout the Greater Bay Area.”
Taking (California) pride to Washington
https://twitter.com/SenKamalaHarris/status/873213120814096386
Decorating a major airport
https://twitter.com/flyLAXairport/status/873226413813276672
Setting the perfect scene for Instagram
https://twitter.com/PaulSmithDesign/status/873072176374493184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sandiegouniontribune.com%2Fopinion%2Fthe-conversation%2Fsd-pride-celebrations-california-20170609-htmlstory.html
Paul Smith boutique in Los Angeles’ pink wall has been described as a “social media mecca” with thousands and thousands of people posing in front of it to post on Instagram.
Smith teamed up with Instagram to repaint the wall with rainbow colors. It features the hashtag #kindcomments which is meant to encourage “kindness and compassion,” says Marne Levine, COO of Instagram.
It will remain that color until L.A. Pride is over.Email:
abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com
Twitter:
@abbyhamblin
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