Celebrating Family Acceptance is the theme of the fourth annual Valley Pride, which will take place Saturday at the Van Nuys Civic Center. Photo: Adam Bass.
VAN NUYS — Celebrating Family Acceptance is the theme of the fourth annual Valley Pride.
Organizers will create a music festival and community gathering that showcases the contributions of the LGBTQ community, family acceptance, embracing the power of love, and reiterating the message that “love is love.”
The free event will take place Saturday at the Van Nuys Civic Center from 6 to 10 p.m.
“For Pride Month, I hope Valley Pride will encourage families of all races and ethnic backgrounds to embrace and stimulate positive conversations in the home about self identity with love and compassion to those who identify as LGBTQ,” Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez in a said in a statement. Martinez, whose Sixth District includes North Hollywood, Sun Valley, Van Nuys, Lake Balboa, Panorama City, and Arleta, has been the main organizer of Valley Pride since it started in 2014.
Free parking will be available at Lot 601, 14401 Friar St.
Valley Pride will feature a variety of programming:
- Family fun zone
- Kids fun zone
- Senior fun zone
- Health and wellness zone
- Poetry readings
- Open mike
- Zumba workouts
- Panel discussions
- Food trucks
- Photo booth
- Product giveaways
Musically speaking, the main stage will showcase the sounds of Hamid Cooper Latin Jazz, Odious Ari DeSano, and transgender actress-singer Alexandra Grey (“Transparent,” “Drunk History” and “When We Rise”).
A battle of the DJs will spotlight DJ Les Ortiz and DJ Lickerish on the turntables.
The evening will end with a disco party.
Valley Pride also will present two special exhibitors whose mission is to help LGBTQ youth.
The Trill Project is an anonymous social network that allows members and supporters of the LGBTQ community and people struggling with mental health to safely express themselves in a supportive community.
It Gets Better tries to reduce the threat of suicide among gay teens.
Los Angeles’ Department Cultural Affairs Department and San Fernando Valley LGBTQI+ Coalition partnered with Martinez for Valley Pride.
The Coalition is a group representing several San Fernando Valley-based organizations that service the LGBTQ community. Its goal is to provide resources, host special events, and advocate for the LGBTQ community.
