July 25, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

DTLA Proud Festival debuts in Downtown Los Angeles

BY TROY MASTERS  |  It was so gay Downtown Los Angeles, even the palm trees were sashaying and shantaying in Pershing Square for Downtown LA’s first Proud Festival, August 7, 2016.

Nearly 4,000 people attended Los Angeles’ first festival to showcase DTLA and the areas growing LGBT community.  Notably, WeHo peeps were everywhere.

Graham Kirkland was one of the attendees. He said he just moved to Los Angeles from London and had heard all about the controversies surrounding LA Pride 2016.  “This is so much more community oriented than I had expected.  Everything in this city is so choreographed and commercial.  I had expected much more exploitive corporate presence, but it’s virtually absent.”

“We were submerged, soaked and saturated in blessed white light. Our presence was powerful.” said Jazzmun Nichcala Crayton.

There was a sense of history making, said some.  “I love our community.  We bounce back and make gold out of air.  LA Pride dropped the ball or this fabulous event would not be happening.  This is history and legacy in the making,” said a prominent critic of LA Pride who asked to remain anonymous.

It was gay magic beneath the suspended sea of delicate silver strands rippling over Pershing Square, undulating moving shadows over the rainbow crowd.

The “Liquid Shard” art installation, created by artist Patrick Shearn, was made from holographic mylar, stretching across the park, rising and falling like a cloud of silver, shimmering with the gentle wind.

It was the perfect beginning to what is sure to become a major highlight of Downtown Los Angeles’ summer calendar.

Enjoy these attendee photos.

Check back for updates.

TRANS HOUR OF POWER
TRANS HOUR OF POWER
PHOTO BY GED, (FACEBOOK)
PHOTO BY GED, (FACEBOOK)
Wenzel Jones with MJ Brown as photographed by Steve Pride of of IMRU.
Wenzel Jones with MJ Brown as photographed by Steve Pride of of IMRU.
Zach Ament, Photo by Orlando Omar Tejada (FACEBOOK)
Zach Ament, Photo by Orlando Omar Tejada (FACEBOOK)
PHOTO BY JUSTIN PRESSMAN (FACEBOOK)
PHOTO BY JUSTIN PRESSMAN (FACEBOOK)
Carlos Moreno
Carlos Moreno
Ryan Black with James Cerne
Ryan Black with James Cerne
Camilo Arenivar
Camilo Arenivar
13906609_1138252202879786_7719088883855071822_n
Frankie Barcenas and Robert Gamboa
13873235_10154011987463318_7553064615383972425_n
Helen Back and her West Hollywood Cheerleader gals.
13879371_10154011995663318_8268144253139293407_n
Helen Back, Jay Harris, Johnny Glasser, William Smith, Michael Calderon and David Alfred Lerma Jr.

13886386_10210094045856799_4240906620313552262_n 13932766_10208434062943583_3519954919078393580_n 13924958_10210094046656819_8755460020711903307_n

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