LA Pride Parade: Social Movement, Festive Occasion, and Educational Experience

Parade as social movement, festive occasion, and educational experience

The annual LA Pride Parade is a reminder of significant historical moments, as well as a stage for speaking about issues of the day. Past and present parade entries have referenced: the NYC Stonewall Riots, AIDS crisis, California Proposition 8 barring same-sex marriage, U.S. Supreme Court decision supporting marriage equality, criminalization of same-sex relationships in various countries, Orlando nightclub shooting, and numerous political issues and concerns of LGBTQ locally, nationally, and internationally. Each year, this parade serves as an event for addressing new and continuing issues and concerns.

As a festive event, it’s an entertaining and community-oriented opportunity that draws crowds. Groups in matching t-shirts, uniforms, and costumes fill the streets, representing a variety of organizations, businesses, and special interest groups. There are the standouts, too. Those one-of-a-kind designed costumes and accessories that capture the audiences' eyes. Sometimes it’s the attire, but often it’s the attitude and performance of the person or people that gets the crowd responding with claps and screams. It might seem outrageous to some to see parade participants wearing thongs, speedos, leather bondage, or dressed in elaborate drag, but this freedom and acceptance to express oneself in a variety ways are what makes the Pride Parade so welcoming to all.

In many ways, it’s an educational parade too. Those who represent and support the LGBTQ community in the parade are diverse. People of different ethnicity, race, religion, and personal interests participate. Families of same-sex marriages tow their dogs and kids in the parade. Parents carry signs supporting their children who identify as non-cisgender. Corporations and organizations bring large groups to walk the parade route, showing their support while passing out all sorts of swag (e.g., fans, stickers, candy, pins, condoms, band-aids, rubber bracelets, plastic beaded necklaces, rainbow wristbands, informational flyers, etc.). Other groups and individuals carry or wear flags denoting their gender, sexual orientation, or special interests. Particular colors, symbols, and pattern arrangements reflect bisexuality, pansexuality, polysexual, asexual, agender, nonbinary, gender fluid, pup pride, bear brotherhood, trans-gendered, and so forth (Queer Pride flags). And the traditional rainbow flag associated with gay pride since 1979 is a symbol that is ever present on clothing, faces, and floats.

Photographing the parade

LA Pride Parade, West Hollywood, June 9, 2019, showing the diversity of participants.

2019 theme: "just unite"