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MAIN ARTICLE | SUMMERTRAMP STAGE | LIP SYNC BATTLE ROYALE | PRIDE PARADE
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA- Before June officially rolled in with all its rainbow-hued glory, Outloud Fest threw the ultimate pre-party on Friday, May 30th—a free kickoff concert that felt like the first spark in the month’s fireworks. Open to the public with just a simple RSVP, it was an accessible, high-energy way to say, “Pride Month starts now.” Maren Morris headlined the night with powerhouse vocals and allyship that resonated deeply, while Queen Herby and Jamie Fine amped up the crowd with genre-blurring, unapologetically bold sets. Vanessa Michaels kept the beats bumping, and Kaleena Zanders—one of last year’s main stage favorites—returned for a special performance that felt like a celebratory encore.
But perhaps the moment that really set the weekend’s tone was the Lip Sync Battle Royale, where Kori King, Lana Jarae, and Acid Betty brought high drama, fierce moves, and all the glittering confidence you’d want heading into Pride. Their performances screamed celebration and joy, setting the vibe for what was to come. Their performances were so amazing that we couldn’t help post a separate page of photos from their performances! CLICK HERE!
All around West Hollywood, there were even more free performances and community stages showcasing local talent. We didn’t get to explore them all this year—but here’s hoping next year we catch even more of the magic.
Outloud Fest once again opened its sun-baked West Hollywood gates to help usher in Pride Month. I may be biased because I live here, but it always feels like WeHo Pride bursts in with its beautiful exuberance and unbridled fun—and only then does it feel like everywhere else has permission to start their Pride festivities. Since 2020, Outloud has become a big part of that. This year especially, the energy of the festival and surrounding celebrations felt like much-needed resistance by way of joy.
From Lizzo paying tribute to pioneers of the queer community like Marsha P. Johnson during her phenomenal main stage performance, to the refrain of “protect the dolls” echoing from the crowd and stage alike, the reason for Pride was etched into every moment. Queer art and performance have always been forms of resistance and ways to keep our history alive. With our current administration actively erasing that history and passing legislation to harm the queer community, it warmed my heart to see that legacy carry on.
The main stage was graced with so much amazing queer talent and allies alike. Remi Wolf delivered a stunning performance with flawless vocals and visuals. Paris Hilton was the definition of an icon, bringing the best kind of camp with her pink, rainbow, and rhinestone-studded set. Kim Petras took the stage like a literal doll in her own light-up box and served us pop princess realness. I also finally got to see some of my favorite artists that I discovered on TikTok in real life—like Chrissy Chlapecka and Corook. The one and only Miss Rebecca Black gave her own spin on a religious experience, and Shygirl brought the most iconic DJ/performance set with surprise appearances by drag and go-go artists.
Speaking of drag artists, one of my favorite parts of the weekend was seeing legendary performers and Drag Racealumnae Alyssa Edwards and Sasha Colby. I’ve admired them from afar for so long, but to see them perform and show exactly why they hold their legendary status and crowns was mind-blowing. Drag Race winners were all over the Outloud lineup. Current reigning winner Nymphia Wind also took the Summertramp Stage with a Doechii number. Then Season 10 winner Aquaria performed with The Knocks and Dragonette.
The Summertramp Stage in particular stood out to me over the weekend. When I first moved to Los Angeles from a tiny Louisiana town, it was drag performers and other types of queer artists in small clubs who took me in. They made me feel instantly accepted and seen as a new transplant figuring out her identity outside of an oppressive environment. Summertramp—with its go-go performers and queens dancing up a sweat, keeping the crowd’s energy high all day—reminded me so much of those friends. Some of the performers on stage were even the same ones I’ve seen in those small clubs. Even though some of the DJs (like Honey Dijon, Real Housewife Meredith Marks, and Frankie Grande) were huge names, it felt like such an authentic expression of queer culture and joy.
With everything going on in the world seemingly determined to keep marginalized communities that celebrate Pride down, Outloud felt like an oasis in the chaos. It was a brightly colored bubble where everyone understood they were all there for a purpose: to have fun and express themselves wholeheartedly and authentically. While the queer community should be allowed to feel like that always, it’s nice to know that every year this festival—and Pride as a whole—is there to look forward to. It was also such a breath of fresh air to see that so many people weren’t just there to party and wear stunning outfits (though that is a definite plus); they were there to support queer art and expression at a time when it is desperately needed.
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CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MORE COVERAGE OF OUTLOUD AT WEHO PRIDE
MAIN ARTICLE | SUMMERTRAMP STAGE | LIP SYNC BATTLE ROYALE | PRIDE PARADE
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CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MORE COVERAGE OF OUTLOUD AT WEHO PRIDE
MAIN ARTICLE | SUMMERTRAMP STAGE | LIP SYNC BATTLE ROYALE | PRIDE PARADE
Outloud Fest 2025 Brought Unapologetic Queer Joy and Resistance to West Hollywood Park
