The 35th annual Long Beach Pride celebration came to a head Sunday, May 20 with a Rainbow Run and the parade, concluding the two-day festival.
LGBTQ+ running club, the Shoreline Frontrunners of Long Beach, hosted the Rainbow Run — a 5k or 10k along the Long Beach coast that ended at the beginning of the parade route. Local Drag legend and parade announcer Jewels, was there to award run finishers with their medals as they crossed the finish line before she got ready to help host the parade.
Grand Marshalls for the parade included: Grand Parade Marshal – Alexandra Billings; “Morris Knight” Political Grand Marshal – Long Beach Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez; Judith Doyle Community Grand Marshal – Reverend John P. Huffmans; Bob Crow Community Grand Marshal – Porter Gilberg; Marilyn Barlow Community Grand Marshal – Jessie Haase and Debbie Lambert; Dr. Robert Garcia Youth Grand Marshal Award – Kobe James; and “Whitey Littlefield” Community Bridge Building Award – Port of Long Beach.
A climax of fun for the weekend, Sunday’s festival was headlined by Sheila E. At the Main stage, Amara La Negra at the Fiesta Caliente stage and Dani Leigh at the Urban Soul Stage.
For more information about Long Beach Pride, contact Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride organization at www.longbeachpride.com.
