7 Events To Show LGBTQ+ Support During Pride Month In Southern California

Rainbow flags, live music, family activities and community booths will return to Southern California this June as part of a Pride Month season unfolding against a backdrop of sharp political debate across the country.

Pride Month is celebrated each June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, widely viewed as a turning point in the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, according to the Library of Congress. What began as a day of remembrance and protest has grown into a month of parades, festivals, concerts, workshops and community gatherings across the country.

Here are seven ways to show support for LGBTQ+ neighbors in SoCal:

LA Pride

• When: June 4-14
• Where: Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles
• What: A week of Pride events will lead up to LA Pride on Hollywood Boulevard. The 56th annual LA Pride Parade will take place June 14 with more than 120 colorful contingents of bands, dancers, specialty vehicles, floats, marchers and surprises. LA Pride Village will offer over 140 vendors, exhibitors, food trucks, games, activities and more

Pride Night

• When: June 12
• Where: Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
• What: Pride Night at the Aquarium of the Pacific is hosted in partnership with The LGBTQ Center Long Beach. This all-ages event will include LGBTQ+ performances, rainbow-themed programming, and DJs spinning in locations around the aquarium.

Pride Nite

• When: June 16 and 18
• Where: Disneyland, Anaheim
• What: This separately ticketed event at Disneyland will offer after-hours park admission for shorter attraction wait times, special entertainment, themed food, character experiences, photo opportunities and more.

QCon

• When: June 20
• Where: Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park, West Hollywood
• What: QCon is Southern California's only LGBTQIA+ comic convention.

SaMo Pride

• When: June 13
• Where: Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica
• What: Santa Monica's SaMo Pride celebration spans the entire month of June and features activities for all ages. The highlight is Pride on the Promenade, a street festival with live music, games and a pop-up marketplace on June 13.

San Diego Pride

• When: July 11-19
• Where: Marston Point, Balboa Park, San Diego
• What: San Diego Pride takes place in July, culminating with the two-day San Diego Pride Festival and Parade July 18-19. The two-day festival is a fundraiser that draws 30,000 visitors to enjoy vendors, educational and art exhibits, cultural presentations, food and more, according to organizers. The Pride Parade is the largest single-day civic event in the San Diego region attracting over 300,000 people.

WeHo Pride Parade

• When: June 7
• Where: Along Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica
• What: Pride Month celebrations include the three-day WeHo Pride Weekend event, packed with music, performances and programming, including the WeHo Pride Parade. The parade features music, dancing, colorful floats, festive marching contingents and creative flair.

Pride events are being held around the country in June. Some of the other major festivals include:

• Boston Pride for the People on June 6 featuring a parade, festival and related events.
• Philly Pride 365 "Pride is Power" March and Festival on June 7 in Philadelphia, featuring a march and festival.
• Capital Pride from June 12-21 in Washington, D.C., an annual celebration that ends with the Pride Parade and Festival weekend.
• Chicago Pride Fest on June 20-21 and the Chicago Pride Parade on June 28.
• The 56th Annual San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration on June 27–28.

Are you planning an event this spring or summer? Feature it so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!