On Friday and Saturday, June 14–15, the Los Angeles LGBT hosts Trans Pride L.A., one of the oldest and largest trans celebrations in the country.
The festivities will take place at two of the Center’s facilities in Hollywood: The Village at Ed Gould Plaza and, located directly across the street, the Center’s new Anita May Rosenstein Campus. Admission to the two-day annual gathering is free.
“As one of the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s signature events, Trans Pride L.A. continues to grow every year—as more trans, gender non-conforming/non-binary individuals gather the courage and resilience to live as their authentic selves,” said Gina Bigham, the Center’s Trans* Lounge program manager and organizer of the festival. “We are excited this year’s festivities coincides with the Center’s 50th celebratory year of building a world in which LGBT people thrive!”
For the eighth consecutive year, Trans Pride L.A. kicks off on Friday evening with the Center’s ongoing community forum series Big Queer Convo. This year’s topic will focus on the emergence of non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals and their place under the transgender umbrella. The panelists include Jacob Tobia, author of Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story, and Transparent cast member Alexandra Grey. Admission to Big Queer Convo is free; reservations are recommended by registering lalgbtcenter.org/tp19bqc.
Immediately following Big Queer Convo, the evening will continue with the opening of Free to Be Free—The Evolution of the Gender Revolution, an intergenerational exhibit that takes a historical look at trans, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals’ influences in the LGBT movement following the Stonewall Inn riots in New York. Inspiration for the exhibit comes directly from the original manifesto of the Gay Liberation Front authored in 1971, espousing the breaking of gender binary. The multimedia exhibit will include an interactive photo booth where guests can be added to the Future is You portion of the exhibit.
On Saturday, June 15, the celebration continues with a self-defense workshop; a clothing swap sponsored by TransTribe Los Angeles; and a discussion with gender non-conforming and non-binary panelists. The Center’s LifeWorks youth development and mentoring program will host two events focused on families: a story time reading for younger children and a workshop for parents of trans, gender non-conforming, and non-binary children.
Additionally, nearly four dozen organizations will participate in a resource fair held in Pride Hall of the Center’s newly opened Anita May Rosenstein Campus to offer information on a wide array of services and programs vital to the trans community.
Saturday evening activities include a happy hour event presented by Angel City Brewery and Tito’s Handmade Vodka; food trucks; and a VarieTy show starring an amazing array of performers, including host Ezra Michel; singers Alexandra Grey, Charlie Peck, Dean Passarella, Ryan Cassata, and LZ Love; comedians Pink Foxx and Mary Jane French; and the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles. More performers to be added!
THE FIGHT Magazine is the media sponsor of Trans Pride L.A.
The Trans Pride art exhibit, Free to Be Free—The Evolution of the Gender Revolution, is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
For more information and updates about Trans Pride L.A., visit lalgbtcenter.org/transpride.
