LONG BEACH — A city resident who helped make LGBTQ history, community activists and civil servants are on the list of grand marshals for this year’s Long Beach Pride Parade.
Several of them have shared it on social media, and Q Voice News has confirmed the remaining grand marshals.
Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride, which produces the city’s second largest event and party along the waterfront, couldn’t be reached for comment.
Grand marshals are nominated and chosen by the Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride board and membership.
The pride parade will take place May 21 at 10:30 a.m., stepping off at Ocean Boulevard and Lindero Avenue and marching west to Alamitos Avenue.
The Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival takes place May 20 and 21 along Shoreline Drive.
Here are the honorees:
- Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn: Elected in 2016, Hahn represents 46 cities and communities in the 4th District, including San Pedro, Wilmington, Long Beach, Signal Hill, Norwalk and Diamond Bar.
- State Sen. Ricardo Lara: The first openly gay person of color elected to the State Senate, Lara is serving his second term for the 33rd Senate District, which includes East Los Angeles, Paramount, Signal Hill and parts of Lakewood and Long Beach. He is an active member of the California LGBT Caucus and a board member of the Equality California Institute.
- Jannay Lima: Ms. Gay Long Beach Pride 2016 has helped raise money for LGBTQ charities.
- Michelle Molina: A Long Beach Economic Development Commissioner, Molina is the managing partner at Millworks.
- Sabreena: One of Long Beach’s favorite drag queens has volunteered and helped raise thousands of dollars for several LGBTQ charities.
- Rory Moroney: Moroney helped make Long Beach LGBTQ history when, after being arrested and prosecuted for indecent exposure and lewd conduct, he wanted his day in court — and he won. In a landmark ruling, a Superior Court judge dismissed Moroney’s case, saying not only does the Long Beach Police Department discriminates against gay men in their lewd conduct sting operations, but the City Prosecutor’s also engages in discriminatory prosecution of these cases.
- 2nd District City Councilwoman Jeannie Pearce: Elected in 2016, Pearce represents part of Downtown, the neighborhoods of Alamitos Beach and Belmont Heights as well as the area around the Long Beach LGBTQ Center.
- Abel Avalos: Youth grand marshal.
