Folks looking to keep the LGBTQ Pride celebrations going in between the Los Angeles and Long Beach festivals can hop on a ferry — and head to Catalina Island.
Catalina will celebrate the first large-scale Pride festival in its history the weekend after LA Pride and a couple of weeks before Long Beach’s gathering. Catalina Pride will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 18, with the main events taking place on the Wrigley Stage in Avalon. There will be a march, live entertainment and more.
Though Catalina’s celebration will be smaller than either LA or Long Beach Pride — both of which draw crowds in the thousands every year — the event’s organizers say they hope the inaugural festival will be just the beginning.
“This is the first event of its kind on the island,” said Venice Henson, a spokesperson for Catalina Pride. “It’s hard to say how many attendees there will be — (but) we hope to use this year as a baseline to continue growing the event and make it an annual occurrence.”
The island has recognized Pride Month — held annually in June — and has held organized marches the past several years, Henson said, but has never hosted a coordinated pride event on this scale before.
Catalina Pride will feature performances at its Wrigley Stage from DJ Asha, who, according to her website, “is comfortable spinning a selection of Top 40, Hip Hop, EDM, Old School, RnB and Latin.” Asha is a Pride veteran — having performed at LA Pride six times.
DJ Groovesection, a three-time Long Beach Pride entertainer, will also perform.
Attendees will also get a sneak peek of “Mugs,” a new YouTube show hosted by drag queens Miss Patty and Anita Diemund, according to a press release. Scout Durwood, a comedian and singer known for her comedy album and the web series, “Take One Thing Off,” will also perform.
The event, hosted by the Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority, will also feature a Pride march — which will kick off at noon in the center of Avalon, at the Wrigley Stage.
“It is an honor to bring the first large-scale Catalina Pride event to the island,” said Love Catalina Island President and CEO Jim Luttjohann. “We are thrilled to be partnering with such incredible talent and invite all LGBTQ+ community members and allies to join us for a fun-filled day in celebration of love.”
One of Catalina’s most recognizable landmarks, the Catalina Island Casino, will be lit with vibrant rainbow colors to “showcase Catalina’s love and support for the LGBTQ+ community,” the release said.
Representatives from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will also be present at the event, offering support and informational materials to in-need members of the LGBTQ community. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 24 — and LGBTQ youth “are at significantly increased risk,” according to the Trevor Project.
Catalina Pride will help fill the gap between the region’s biggest pride celebrations.
LA Pride will take place Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12. Long Beach Pride will run from July 8 to 10.
To learn more about Catalina Pride, visit the Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority’s website.
Source: Orange County Register
Be First to Comment