CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MORE COVERAGE OF OUTLOUD AT WEHO PRIDE
MAIN ARTICLE | RED CARPET | SUMMERTRAMP STAGE | PRIDE PARADE
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA- “I grew up in the 1980s on Christopher Street in New York City. The entrance to my apartment was a little green door nestled between a bodega and an erotic bakery, about 3/4 of a mile from the historic Stonewall. From a very young age, I’ve been a proud ally and have attended my fair share of pride parades, as the parade route often passed right by my doorway. This year, however, marked my first pride parade in West Hollywood. I was beyond thrilled to find out that Cyndi Lauper was set to be honored as WeHo Pride’s first Lifetime Ally Icon. I had adored her ever since I first heard that unmistakable synth sound in her hit single “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” She was the first artist I saw in concert at Madison Square Garden over 30 years ago, and I even dyed my hair red just to emulate her. She was slated to be the grand marshal of the parade, and to say I was excited to finally have the opportunity to photograph my queen would be an understatement… but more on that later.
I arrived at the parade site way too early and actually thought I had missed the entire event. An esteemed colleague corrected my mistake, freeing me from my time fumble. Although the sting of embarrassment lingered, I was able to secure a prime spot to photograph the festivities. I positioned myself right on the corner at the exit and crossing, allowing me to move back and forth as the parade passed by. Prior to finding my spot, someone had the brilliant idea of smearing lipstick on the barricade, and unfortunately, I accidentally put my hand right in it. It was quite annoying, but it did lead me to bond with the people standing next to me and make some great new friends.
I asked my noticeably glitter-covered new friends what they were most excited about, and they immediately exclaimed, “Dykes on Bikes.” To our surprise, the Dykes on Bikes were the first to kick off the parade, and they were exactly as described—loud, lesbian, and on bikes. How could you not love that? The flags, the steel, and the roaring engines were a perfect way to start the festivities. It felt as if the engines were saying, “Let’s go, gays! It’s time to kick off this celebration WeHo style!” My new friends and I probably would have exchanged high fives, but my hand was covered in nasty lipstick.
As the parade progressed, the diversity on display was remarkable. While there were many impressive, well-rehearsed performances and beautiful floats, the most touching moments for me were the quiet and courageous ones. Mothers offering hugs stole my heart while comforting others. Their reasons for being there didn’t matter; what mattered was their presence and the warmth of their long and sincere hugs. It was a beautiful sight to behold, and I found myself getting a bit teary-eyed, catching a few in my camera.
A close second for me was the smaller yet impactful representation of solo queens. Whether sporting a red beard, carrying a rubber chicken, or striding on stilts with silver wings, these individuals marching alone struck a chord with me. Perhaps it was their bravery in going solo or the fact that it was just them that afforded me the opportunity to fully appreciate the moment, but for whatever reason, a genuine connection was forged.
This is not to say that the extravagant party buses overflowing with balloons, feathers, and leather, the attractive firefighters, the enchanting floats featuring shirtless muscular men and drag queens powered by muscle and DJs, the 1 million-strong balloon display, the adorned cars with beautiful women, the adorable puppies dressed in rainbow colors, the abundance of pink, the presence of Gloria Allred and Trinity the Tuck, the politicians, police officers, Jedi, hospital staff, The Animation Guild, or dancers and cheerleaders with flag throwers weren’t impressive and spectacular. Because they truly were. Each spectacle was unique, charming, fun, and a dazzling representation of the diverse communities. The whips also added a thrilling element to the event—yes, magic was in the air, and everyone showed up to represent!
About two-thirds into the parade, there was a significant delay. Normally, this would have been frustrating, but what made this parade special was the ease with which I could engage with the wonderful individuals around me. We were all connected in some way by pride, fostering a sense of safety, camaraderie, and a shared appreciation for all bodies. It took about 20 minutes for things to resume, and the energy picked back up—it was game time. As Cyndi Lauper, my queen, drew closer, a woman suddenly jumped the barricade in front of me, found a security officer near me, and exclaimed, “There is a man…” I didn’t catch the rest of her statement, but I witnessed around 80 people following her lead and jumping the barricade, heading straight toward me. Before I knew it, a float passed by with a woman facing away from me, her unmistakable voice resonating as she wished, “Happy Pride, everyone!” And just like that, my queen passed by, so near yet so far… I’ll catch you on the farewell tour, no matter what obstacles come my way!”
Follow Outloud Raising Voices Music Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Follow WEHO PRIDE on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MORE COVERAGE OF OUTLOUD AT WEHO PRIDE
MAIN ARTICLE | RED CARPET | SUMMERTRAMP STAGE | PRIDE PARADE
*********************
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MORE COVERAGE OF OUTLOUD AT WEHO PRIDE
MAIN ARTICLE | RED CARPET | SUMMERTRAMP STAGE | PRIDE PARADE
