Niecy Nash, Jessica Betts to Lead Pride Parade as Grand Marshals in Year of Community and Courage
The 55th annual LA Pride Parade is set to return on June 8 with the theme “Pride Marches On,” honoring the resilience and strength of the LGBTQ+ community amid a year marked by adversity across Southern California.
Organized by the Christopher Street West Association, the 2025 celebration will feature an array of grand marshals, including Vanguard Grand Marshals Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts, Celebrity Grand Marshal Andrew Rannells, and Community Grand Marshals Trino Garcia and Adam Vasquez, also known as “TrinoxAdam,” a couple who gained viral attention for their story defying stereotypes.
This year’s theme underscores both the legacy and forward momentum of LA Pride, the longest-running Pride event in Southern California, organizers said. The parade will also recognize first responders and community members who supported local recovery efforts during recent wildfires with a dedicated “Heroes of the Wildfires” section.
ABC7/KABC-TV will return as the event’s official broadcast partner, airing the parade live from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT. Hosting duties will be led by “Good Morning America” weekend co-anchor and ABC News transportation correspondent Gio Benitez, along with ABC7 Eyewitness News anchors Ellen Leyva and Coleen Sullivan. Coverage will extend to ABC7’s digital platforms, Hulu, and ABC News Live. The station previously won a regional Emmy Award for its 2022 LA Pride Parade broadcast.
Field reporters David González, Sophie Flay, and Kevin Ozebek will deliver live updates from along the route, capturing performances, float processions, and crowd reactions.
Following the parade, the LA Pride Village street festival will take over Hollywood Boulevard between Argyle and Bronson from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The free event will feature more than 100 booths with vendors, nonprofits, food trucks, sponsor activations, and entertainment on two stages. Two full-service bars will serve guests 21 and older with beverages provided by sponsors, including STOLI, Casamigos, Corona, and Coca-Cola.
The Music Stage near Bronson Avenue will host a lineup of live performers to be announced in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Gower Community Stage will spotlight the return of the Ballroom Battle, a voguing competition rooted in New York’s Black and Brown LGBTQ+ ballroom scene. Prominent houses—Miyake Mugler, Gorgeous Gucci, and Ninja—will compete in categories such as Runway, Performance, Sex Siren, and Face. Comedian and activist Margaret Cho, who will also appear in the parade, will serve as one of the judges.
This year’s Trans Galleria program will unveil a new exhibition titled “Bring the T,” showcasing multimedia works by transgender artists. The exhibit explores themes of trans visibility, discrimination, activism, and empowerment.
All LA Pride Village events are open to the public and free of charge.
For more information, visit www.lapride.org.
