Slideshow: Pride on parade in Los Angeles, 45 years and counting
By the end of this month, hundreds of thousands of LGBT men, women, boys and girls will have been a part of Pride parades, from Israel to the Ukraine to the US.
The very first parade in the country and the world had humble beginnings, 45 years ago in Los Angeles. One of the organizers told Wehoville Magazine that the police chief at the time told him, “As far as I’m concerned, granting a permit to a group of homosexuals to parade down Hollywood Boulevard would be the same as giving a permit to a group of thieves and robbers.”
Forty-five years later that same organizer, Rev. Troy Perry, was honored as the co-grand marshal of the LA Pride and rode on a float in West Hollywood yesterday alongside marchers from churches, civic groups and corporations. Federal, state and local government officials also participated, including Mayor Eric Garcetti. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, who was also present, told FSRN, “I believe policing and society has changed in its views of the LGBT community and we absolutely view them as a strong and vital part of Los Angeles.”
Other signs of times were reflected in the two other people with whom Rev. Perry shared the float. One was his husband, Phillip De Blieck. The other was co-grand marshal, transgender activist named Zoey. At 13. she is the youngest grand marshal in the history of the parade.
Click on any image to launch slideshow. All photos by Lena Nozizwe.
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- Attorney Gloria Allred brought along the Supremes, as in faux Supreme Court justices, with her to LA Pride 2015 as a nod to the upcoming ruling on same-sex marriage. (photograph copyright Lena Nozizwe 2015)
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- Zoey, a 13-year-old transgender activist, served as the youngest co-grand marshal for the LA Pride parade. (Copyright Lena Nozizwe 2015)
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- Corporations were well-represented in LA Pride 2015, including Macy’s, Bank of America and Time-Warner. (photograph copyright Lena Nozizwe 2015)
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- Rev. Troy Perry was the co-grand marshal of LA Pride 2015. Rev. Perry founded the LGBT-friendly Metropolitan Community Church in the late 1960s. The church services started with meetings in his living room. MCC now has hundreds of congregations throughout the world. Phillip Ray De Blieck, left, is the reverend’s husband. )photograph copyright Lena Nozizwe 2015)
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- The signatures of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an LGBT charity and activist organization, are outrageously colorful makeup and costumes. (Copyright: Lena Nozizwe 2015)
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- Attorney Gloria Allred brought along the Supremes, as in faux Supreme Court justices, with her to LA Pride 2015 as a nod to the upcoming ruling on same-sex marriage. (photograph copyright Lena Nozizwe 2015)
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- Union Jacks in many shapes and sizes were on display as the British Consulate General in Los Angeles took part in the parade (Copyright Lena Nozizwe 2015)
