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.
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