There seems to be some confusion about the official WeHo Pride 2021 weekend, which kicks off tomorrow, Friday, June 25 and runs though Sunday, June 27th. Based on a lot of the emails that we’ve been getting regarding Pride in West Hollywood, it seems some readers are under the impression that pride was either canceled this year, or it already happened on the weekend of June 12 and 13. However, the WeHo Pride celebration will be extra special in West Hollywood this weekend. The city has partnered with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to engage local businesses in a series of pride events, parties, and offer special discounts under a “Pride Lives Here” banner.
It’s true that due to the coronavirus crisis, there will be no festival or parade this year, but there will be lots of community-based Pride programming in local businesses and organizations, as well as virtual programming. This official WeHo Pride 2021 weekend is rooted in the idea that West Hollywood celebrates Pride 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It’s always Pride in West Hollywood and Pride isn’t limited to one venue or one spot.
For the weekend of June 25 to 27, the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will highlight LGBTQ Pride-focused activities at businesses and organizations throughout the city, such as the West Hollywood Pride Play Reading Festival on Saturday, June 26, 2021 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the 14th Annual Pride Party on the Kimpton La Peer Hotel rooftop on Sunday, June 27, 2021 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Businesses and organizations throughout the City of West Hollywood can still take part and are encouraged to decorate their storefronts as if they were floats gliding through a Pride parade. There are also ‘Pride Lives Here’ window clings available for display, welcoming everyone to West Hollywood and to WeHo Pride 2021.
Businesses are already lined up to make WeHo Pride 2021 weekend memorable. Bars and restaurants will take advantage of the Outzones for a more contained celebration.
Beaches is hosting a Pride Island, Rocco’s has been killing it with entertainment, eye-catching pride decorations and various events such as Drag Paradise this weekend.
The Abbey has a series of events that include a trans pride celebration on Saturday and will continue to host guests at OUT on Robertson.
Also, stores like K’anep CBD is hosting a meet and greet with TS Madison on Friday and offering free gifts and specials.
But not all events are centered around booze or pot. My 12 Step Store will continue their annual Sober Oasis event like it has every year. The recovery gift store will have a dunking tank where guests can “Dunk a Hunk” or “Sink a Twink” with proceeds going to the Van Ness Recover House.
Events and updates are posted on the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce website at www.wehochamber.com/wehopride.html. The website features a digital marketing kit to access Pride 2021 graphics; a digital ‘We are Family’ Pride album for community members to share photos of staff, customers, friends, family, and selfies, information about OUT on Robertson; and celebratory programs and promotions in various businesses throughout the City. The website also links to hotel offers in partnership with the West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board, giving June Pride visitors an easy way to connect to a stay.
In addition to the in-person events for the official WeHo Pride 2021 weekend, the City has also transitioned its One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival programming to a virtual environment to ensure health and safety. The theme for this year’s One City One Pride is For the Record — LGBTQ stories of the past that have often been hidden or undocumented. A complete list of this year’s One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival events is available at www.weho.org/pride.
For more information about WeHo Pride 2021 programming in West Hollywood during June Pride month in 2021, please contact the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce at (323) 650-2688 or at [email protected].
For additional information about the City of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, please contact the City’s Arts Coordinator, Mike Che, at (323) 848-6377 or at [email protected] or visit www.weho.org/pride.
