Participants in the Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade have a gay old time marching along Ocean Boulevard May 20, 2018. Photo: Stephen Carr / StephenCarrPhotography.com
Long Beach Pride officials want to organize a community focused picnic sometime this summer, but nothing has been finalized yet. In the meantime, Long Beach Pride 2021 will feature an online retrospective of Pride celebrations next week as COVID-19 restrictions prevent large, outdoor gatherings.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has said that if the decline in infections, deaths, and hospitalizations continue — as they have for several consecutive weeks — the state will re-open at 100 percent capacity June 15. Once the restrictions are lifted, large outdoor events will be permitted, though some safety guidelines might remain in place.
The 30-minute Long Beach Pride video will include a compilation of headliners from past Pride Festivals, including Jennifer Hudson, Big Freedia, Pablo Montero, and Ana Barbara, among other performers.
The virtual celebration will be broadcast 7 p.m. May 16, the same date the Pride Festival would have happened without COVID-19 restrictions, on Long Beach Pride’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels as well as their website.
The broadcast also will feature video highlights of parade festivities.
LA Pride 2021: No festival or parade, maybe live events later in the year
On Thursday, LA Pride announced they would not have any festival or parade in June, but said some in-person events might take place in the summer or beyond to celebrate Pride. The organization has not yet said if they have found a new home for their festival and parade.
Last year, LA Pride told the City of West Hollywood they would not produce any future events in the city. City officials said that regardless of LA Pride’s involvement, they would host their own Pride celebration. Those discussions have been in the works, but no finalized plans have yet been announced.
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Long Beach Pride was launched in 1984, and has has grown into one of the largest Pride events in the U.S., attracting more than 75,000 people during the two-day celebration.
