
People lined Santa Monica Boulevard on June 10, 2018, and cheered the participants in the LA Pride Parade. Photo: Jon Viscott/City of West Hollywood
All events related to LA Pride have been postponed due to novel coronavirus concerns.
Christopher Street West, the nonprofit group that hosts and produces LA Pride, made the announcement Thursday on Twitter.
“Due to the concerns of COVID-19, CSW will postpone all events related to the 50th Anniversary of LA Pride that were scheduled for June 2020. Organizers are assessing the situation. More information to be provided around the postponement as details become available.”
The LA Pride festival was scheduled for June 12-14 in West Hollywood Park and along Santa Monica Boulevard. The parade was scheduled for June 14.
This year’s event will be the 50th anniversary of LA Pride.
“This announcement comes with great sadness but with optimism that we will provide our community with an amazing celebration of our 50th at a later date,” Madonna Cacciatore, executive director of Christopher Street West, said in a statement posted on Facebook.
The LA Pride postponement came the same day that the City of Hollywood announced that all events (city-sponsored, city co-sponsored, city-funded,or requiring a city permit) scheduled until June 30 are postponed and canceled.
In a press statement, West Hollywood said its decision to cancel and postpone events and meetings is a “precautionary measure in
response to public health recommendations for social distancing,” which could help reduce the number of people who would be exposed to COVID-19.
Social distancing is the strategy of creating social distance and reducing close contact of people who are not regularly together, for example, limiting gatherings.
The city encouraged postponement or cancellations for private gatherings that cannot accommodate space for social distancing of at least 6 feet per person.
The city also suggested businesses in the community to develop plans to limit occupancy in order to encourage social distancing mindful of public health recommendations.