Christopher Street West President Lawrence Carroll on Co-Parenting and Leading LA Pride
BY MARK ARIEL | PHOTO BY ALEXANDER SCHUELLER
Lawrence Carroll’s journey to the presidency of Christopher Street West (CSW), the nonprofit that produces LA Pride, is a story of Midwest roots meeting West Coast destiny. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Carroll spent 15 years in Los Angeles before taking the helm of an organization that organized the world’s first permitted gay pride parade in 1970. For Carroll, the values of the Midwest—patience, reliability, and community care—remain the bedrock of his leadership in a city that has blessed him in ways he never anticipated.
A Modern Blueprint for Family
Long before he was tasked with leading a movement, Carroll was focused on building a family. His path to fatherhood is as intentional as his leadership style, born from a deep, platonic bond with his friend Brandi Andrews, a lesbian woman. Having been roommates and coworkers in West Hollywood, the two realized they shared a singular dream of parenthood.
In 2018, they bypassed expensive fertility clinics in favor of an accessible at-home artificial insemination kit from Mosie Baby. The process was remarkably swift; Brandi became pregnant after just one week. Today, their son Hartley is the center of a thriving two-household family. “Hartley knows he was chosen and that he’s surrounded by people who show up for him on purpose,” Carroll says. The arrangement requires constant communication and a shared calendar, but it is grounded in a philosophy Brandi often champions: there is no wrong way to make a family.
From Moment to Movement: Pride 365
As President of CSW, Carroll is steering LA Pride through a vital evolution. His primary goal is to transform Pride from a weekend-long celebration into a year-round institutional presence. “I want LA Pride to fully step into being a year-round institution,” he explains. “The evolution for me is moving from moment to movement.”
This vision of “Sustainable Pride” focuses on infrastructure and advocacy that persists long after the June rainbows fade. This year-round commitment manifests through several key initiatives:
The Salon Series: Engaging the community in ongoing cultural dialogue.
Pride Makes a Difference (PMAD): Mobilizing volunteers for service projects across the city.
Trans Self-Care Sunday: Creating dedicated, safe, and affirming spaces for the trans and non-binary community.
Youth Advisory Board: Tapping into Gen Z to cultivate the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders.
Centering the Marginalized
Ensuring that the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum—particularly trans and non-binary individuals—feels centered in 2026 is a top priority. For Carroll, this isn’t about marketing; it’s about shared leadership. Trans voices are integrated into the core of the planning process, ensuring that visibility is always paired with tangible resources and the uplifting of trans-led organizations.
As LA Pride looks toward its 56th year, Carroll remains humbled by the history he inherits. He reminds the community that while the festival is a celebration, the organization’s soul belongs to the spirit of 1970—a time when people stood up for their dignity when no one else would. “Pride didn’t start as a party,” Carroll says. “It started as people standing up for their dignity. That responsibility still guides us today.
