On May 17, the West Hollywood City Council heard updates regarding the city’s annual “LGBTQ Arts Festival, One City One Pride,” a 40-day celebration which begins on Harvey Milk Day, May 22 through the end of pride month, June 30. All 2021 pride events, exhibits, and activities are designed to adhere to Public Health guidelines. This year’s theme is a continuation of last year’s: “For the Record,” LGBTQ stories of the past that have often been hidden or undocumented.
“There are 19 programs,” Michael Che, Arts Coordinator for the city of West Hollywood, said. “Everything is free to attend this year. And because when we planned it there was still an order to do everything in a virtual manner, all of these events will be virtual. However, there are a couple of events that are exhibitions that you can experience as a self-guided tour on your own, or as an outdoor exhibition.”
To kick off the “One City One Pride” celebration on May 22, there will be a reading of the play “Dear Harvey” by Patricia Loughrey, a documentary-style ensemble that tells the story of LGBTQ activist and politician, Harvey Milk. Other offerings include “Meringue,” an outdoor exhibit at the traffic median at Santa Monica Boulevard and Doheny Drive by LGBTQ artist Kim Kiduck. The City of West Hollywood’s Human Rights Speakers Series on May 26 presents “Breaking Fast: Exploring the Intersection of Faith and Sexual Identity,” an open discussion of the film “Breaking Fast” surrounding themes of faith, sexual identity, and community. The event will include panelists writer/director, Mike Mosallam, actor Christopher Hanke, Eman Abdelhadi, Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD), Rabbi Benay Lappe, SVARA, and moderated by Councilman John M. Erickson.
An Oasis Theater Company, NewStages, is holding four online events in a series called “Secret Lives: stories, music and original writings by LGBTQ+ seniors.” “Secret Lives” will explore the lives and sacrifices of seniors in the program and historical figures who had to keep secrets regarding their sexual identity to maintain their careers. The four events in the series will be held on June 1, June 8, June 15, and June 22 at 7 p.m.
From June 5 through July 1, ONE Archives Foundation presents “Pride Publics: Words and Actions,” a multi-site outdoor exhibition on the construction fence at 687 Robertson Boulevard that examines the intersection between pride and publicness. This exhibit is curated by Rubén Esparza, an artist, activist, and curator based in Los Angeles.
To learn more, see the full list of events, and RSVP, visit https://pride.weho.org/.
