The L.A. Pride Parade, celebrating the transgender, lesbian, gay and bisexual communities, will be held along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood today, with organizers expecting more than 400,000 participants.
The parade begins at 11 a.m. at Crescent Heights Boulevard, and continues west along Santa Monica Boulevard to Robertson Boulevard.
There will be the traditional moment of silence at noon “to remember those who are no longer with us, or cannot be here today, to celebrate those who fought for pride and the freedoms we now enjoy and to think of those who cannot celebrate pride and remain oppressed,” according to organizers. The Rev. Troy Perry and 13-year-old transgender activist Zoey will be the grand marshals while the cast and crew of the Amazon comedy “Transparent” will be the community grand marshals.
Perry is the lone survivor of the three organizers of the world’s first permitted Pride Parade in 1970, held in Hollywood to mark the first anniversary of the rebellion at the Stonewall Inn in New York City that launched the modern transgender, lesbian, gay and bisexual liberation movement.
Perry founded the predominantly gay Metropolitan Community Church and was the first openly gay member of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Rights.
Zoey faced bullying at her school when she was 11 after disclosing her gender identity. With the help of her mother and American Civil Liberties Union she fought school officials for her right to self-identify in school.
“Rev. Troy Perry and Zoey, along with the cast and crew of “Transparent,” represent the heroic legacy of activism and a continued commitment to advancing the rights of all people,” West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath said.
The parade has been held every year since 1970, except for 1973 when infighting over crude displays the previous two years left the organizers in disarray. The parade was held in Hollywood until 1979, when it moved to West Hollywood.
The parade will prompt the closure of Santa Monica Boulevard from Fairfax Avenue to Doheny Drive; Crescent Heights Boulevard from Romaine Street to Fountain Avenue; and streets one block north and south of Santa Monica Boulevard from Fairfax Avenue to La Peer Drive from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.
Parking is available for $20 at:
— Kings Road Parking Structure, 8383 Santa Monica Blvd.;
— Hancock Parking Structure, 901 Hancock Ave.;
— La Jolla/Havenhurst Lot, 1043 La Jolla Ave.;
— La Peer Lot, 623 La Peer Drive;
— Orange Grove Lot, 1114 N. Orange Grove Ave.;
— Spaulding Lot, 7718 Santa Monica Blvd.;
— Pacific Design Center, Melrose Avenue at San Vicente Boulevard, enter off Melrose Avenue.
