On Sunday, May 18th the city of Long Beach celebrated Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people with the 31st Annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Celebration.
This is the 31st Annual Celebration, which began in 1983 with founders, Bob Crow, Marilyn Barlow, and Judy Doyle. According to the event pamphlet, the three started the Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Inc. (LBLGP) to “increase awareness of the Long Beach community, promote pride and to cultivate a greater sense of self worth within the city of Long Beach’s large gay and lesbian population.” The current mission of the LBLGP is, “To engage in and support bridge building activities that educate, encourage and celebrate LGBT inclusion and pride.”
A few of the attendees stated that they enjoyed the parade because it was their way to celebrate Pride in Long Beach without paying the price of admission to the festival. However, the entry fees have a purpose of LBLGP. In an interview with LN Magazine in 1998, board member Carol Hass stated “Funds that are raised, are granted to the community in the form of pride grants and volunteer designated grants for non-profits and college scholarships.” The organization’s website boasts of organizational grants and scholarships and their recipients.
The parade consisted of several businesses, both large and small, that represent the community of Long Beach and support LGBT people. Budweiser/ Bud Light is a large contributor to the Pride celebration, along with Wells Fargo, jetBlue, Ralph’s, Charter Communications, and more. Each of the named organizations showcased a float unique to their own culture, with Bud Light trucks throwing beads and Wells Fargo showing of their signature horse and carriage. Other organizations present during the parade include Human Rights Campaign, Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Center, CheerLA, and more.
Attendees not only received treats and trinkets from the paraders, they also gave to organizations, such as CheerLA, who used the parade as an opportunity to raise money for St. Mary’s Medical Center.
Sam Ruiz, a parade attendee said, “I grew up around this community. I think it is important that people see things like this. I have a friend who was punished by his mom after she found out that he was gay. She should see how many people support gay people and love her son… Just celebrate his life.”