The LA Pride Friday night
programming features a variety of opportunities for the community to
participate in the festivities at no cost. The Opening Ceremony begins
at 8pm with special remarks from a diverse mix
of community and spiritual leaders and advocates for the LGBTQ+
community. LA Pride’s presenting sponsor, Verizon, will also host the US
premiere of their documentary film,
5B, which follows the inspirational story of nurses and caregivers of the first HIV/AIDS ward in the country.
Additional entertainment for the evening includes a full night of music and dancing from local DJs.
“I’m so
excited to join the amazing lineup of this year’s LA Pride Festival. The
weekend is going to be unforgettable, and I can’t wait to get the Haus
Party started,” said Todrick Hall. “We are going to celebrate this
year’s #JUSTUNITE theme together as a community!”
The
Opening Ceremony provides a great opportunity for the community to
#JUSTUNITE and come together before the festival. #JUSTUNITE makes a
simple, yet powerful statement: that the work the LGBTQ+
community does together is ultimately what will make it stronger and
more resilient than ever before.
Ticket
sales and proceeds from the LA Pride Festival support and fund the LA
Pride Parade and CSW’s philanthropic efforts. This includes
community-wide programs like
Casa del Sol, a joint project with APLA Health that provides low-income housing to people living with HIV/AIDS, and
PLATform, a policy, leadership, and advocacy training program to
help amplify the voices of the transgender community. Additionally,
proceeds benefit the
USC GLASS Endowed Scholarship, a grant program awarded to
students to help them conduct research affirming the important role the
LGBTQ+ community plays in society today. Funds raised will also help CSW
prepare for its 50th anniversary in
2020.
