The City of West Hollywood will consider co-sponsoring a Black Pride 2021 kick-off event during tonight’s regular City Council meeting. The Black Pride event is scheduled to kick off at Rocco’s West Hollywood on July 1, 2021, from 6pm to 2am.
Item 2.DD initiated by West Hollywood Mayor Horvath recommends the City approve the co-sponsorship of the Black Pride 2021 Kick-Off; authorize the City Manager (or designee) to negotiate and enter into a co-sponsorship agreement with the producers of the event, including a City financial contribution up to $15,000; authorize the use of the City name and logo on invitations, programs, and other materials; direct the Communications Department to utilize all appropriate communication tools to promote the event including, but not limited to, the City’s website, a press release, and social media tools; and authorize the Director of Finance & Technology Services to allocate $15,000 from budgeted funds in the Special Council Programs account number 100-1-01-00-531001 for costs associated with the co-sponsorship.
Black Pride weekend will run from Thursday, July 1 to Sunday, July 4, 2021. The weekend will include various events throughout the Los Angeles region. The kick-off event will include a red carpet, fashion show, “I Am Legend” Awards, live performances, and much more throughout the night. Past kick-off events have drawn thousands of participants throughout the night from around the region.
According to the City Staff report, the event is being produced by Ivan Daniel, who has had more than 35 years of experience producing events for the Los Angeles Black LGBTQ community starting in 1986 with events focusing on a response to the deteriorating Los Angeles Black gay community because of HIV/AIDS and drugs. Mr. Daniel’s events focus on promoting, supporting, and empowering Black LGBTQ health and wellness, youth, HIV/AIDS awareness, post-incarceration populations, individuals experiencing homelessness, and other specific issues that related to LGBTQ people of color.
Prior Black Pride events, including prior kick-off events have been held in and around West Hollywood and have typically drawn thousands of attendees to the venues throughout the events.
If this item is approved staff will work with Mr. Daniels to negotiate and enter into a co- sponsorship agreement for the event. Within the agreement staff will identify the specific items and portions of the event that the City’s monetary contribution will apply to, such as components of the fashion show, welcome red carpet, performances, or reception. After the event, the producer will be required to provide the City with a follow-up report regarding the event, including the number of attendees and the overall success of the event.
This item also requests that staff work with producers of Black Pride events in the Los Angeles area to plan for events related to Black Pride 2022 and how those events can be incorporated into future Pride events in West Hollywood.
Members of the public who wish to comment on this matter before the City Council may do so in several ways:
TO PARTICIPATE BY PROVIDING AN E-COMMENT: Members of the public who wish to comment on matters before the City Council are strongly encouraged to visit www.weho.org/councilagendas and submit an E-Comment by no later than 4:00 pm on the day of the Council meeting. *Note: E-Comments received by 4:00 pm will be forwarded to the City Council and posted on the City’s website as part of the official meeting record.
TO PARTICIPATE BY PHONE: You are strongly encouraged to [email protected] by no later than 4:00 pm on the day of the Council meeting to be added to the Public Speaker List for the meeting. Please include your name, the phone number from which you will be calling, and which item you would like to speak on. Dial-in 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting (the meeting begins at 5:30 pm) Dial-in: (669) 900-6833 Meeting ID: 965 7964 4116, then #. PLEASE MUTE YOUR PHONE UNTIL YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK. Comments from the public are limited to 2 minutes per speaker.
There used to be a time when we all celebrated together.
This is great! Hopefully they will also approve money for the rest of us to celebrate our heritage too!
we have been celebrating our heritage for decades. they should get the approval to celebrate their heritage for a change