This being my 4th LA PRIDE celebration, I often depart the weekend affair with a sense of wonder at all that had been produced. The thought of how could they improve for next year occupies my mind as I walk down Santa Monica Boulevard. This year's event is no exception. The weekend festival is held in the shadow of the recently opened West Hollywood Library, on the grounds of the newly remodeled West Hollywood Park. Though it features a different layout, there is just as many vendors, attractions and entertainment to appeal to all who attend from as far as a few blocks or from distant shores. 

Every equal rights or GLBT focused organization seem to be represented in the white peaked canopies along San Vicente Blvd. While we should be eternally grateful to such groups as PFLAG, HRC, the Trevor Project and others, I can't help be moved by the growing number of exhibitors from GLBT supportive businesses such a Coca Cola, Bank of America, NBC Universal, Walgreens and more. Corporate generosity is evident by the array of free take away items from key chains, rulers, visors and travel beverage containers to coupons, tubes of sunblock and the popular light-up pens from Cedars Sinai which featured tamper proof caps. The variety of free canvas bags are more popular this year due to the city of Los Angeles passing a law banning plastic bags. 

One of the most amazing features of  LA PRIDE is the consistent theme of equality among thousands who display their individuality. Teens wander the lawn area wearing underwear and the words "drop pants not bombs" painted on their bodies. Transgender people wear outfits that best display the evolution of their predestined gender. Both straight and Lesbian women embrace the freedom of wandering the grounds bare breasted with tape or Band-Aids over their pierced nipples. Drag queens suffer the heat with feather boas wrapped around their throats attempting to hide Adams apples which are often larger than their breasts. It was a bit surprising that, perhaps due to media coverage of Gay Pride events across the country, the cliche image of leather men is rarely seen. West Hollywood's rampant collection of Marijuana dispensaries is evident as I observe a girl with a beverage cup in one hand and a joint in the other being stopped upon entry and told "No outside beverages," while the pot went unmentioned. Welcome to WeHo, people.

The diversity theme continued with this year's separate Latino Carnival Stage. I'm a bit confused as to the need for such a vast stage and designated area because it was actually contrary to the sense of equality. While the main stage provided interpreters for the hearing impaired, the Latin stage provided no English translations for those of us who do not speak Spanish. Every announcement I heard was only in Spanish. I find it hard to believe that this separate area will be considered successful enough to return next year as I never saw more than a dozen couples dancing at any one time. Perhaps its because Mariachi style music, which to me always sounds like it has an out-of-tune horn section, just isn't good to dance to in my opinion. Anytime I'm near the area, there are more people watching the Go-Go boys than dancing. 

This off-set was more than made up for with the first time addition of the Summer Tramp Water Park. Featuring two large inflatable pools with more floatation devices than you would find on a Playboy playmate, the party central area is flanked by two large inflatable water slides. One that looks like the sinking Titanic was the most popular due to the many Gay men who wanted to pretend they were Kate Winslett. It's opposite companion slide featured a lumber theme and is titled, rather questionably (or, perhaps, quite appropriately) for a Gay Pride event - The Log Jammer. A short distance away lies the main stage which offers quite a collection of talent. That is, among the performing acts where as the questionable emcees weren't experienced or talented enough to address the crowd without over using the phrases "How's everybody doin" or "When I yell LA, you yell PRIDE!"  over and over again. I understand the need to build a crowd's enthusiasm but asking an audience which half is hotter is just pathetic. It was both sad and amusing when emcee Billy Francesca yelled the word "Rich" an apparent catch phrase from his show at a local club, but no one repeated it back as he expected. Though not as well known as his talent deserves, singer Ben Roman really knows how to talk to the crowd with a natural attention grabbing consistency. A performer named Kelsey B and her dancers did too many numbers while reminding me what Auto Tune was made for. I couldn't grasp the reason for her telling audience members to get on each other's shoulders and thus block views of those behind them. Unable to catch all the acts I was impressed with the burlesque inspired stylings of Le Kat and shocked at how fast the crowd grew as Lil' Kim made her way to the stage without the help of parole officers or an ankle bracelet. 

While I've experienced over a dozen years of San Francisco's Gay Pride parade it continues to be a welcome contrast that the LA parade always starts on time. For early arrivals at the intersection of Holloway and Santa Monica Boulevard, comedian Alec Mapa entertains and introduces a number of performers. A dance troupe, Judy Garland impersonator and the music trio Decolletage perform right up to the roar of motorcycles announcing the start of the parade.  As the groups march by the overwhelming sense of pride is undeniable. Crisp uniforms of out and allied law enforcement, High School Gay Straight Alliance, and the generous volunteers of Project Angel Food as just some of the moments that remind us of what we are proud.   There were more than enough politicians riding in convertibles with signs announcing their representation areas. Yet after the 20th notice announcing their district 8 or district 12, I began feeling like I was in The Hunger Games. Opportunist attorney Gloria Alred got a well-deserved cold reception while introducing her latest client, an ousted beauty pageant contestant.  The gay cast member of the appropriately canceled reality series Shah's of Sunset sneaked by practically unnoticed in an electric golf cart. One I'm sure he uses to travel from one end of his Persian mansion to the other. Glee vet Nee Nee Leakes had hordes of fans running up to her car seeking autographs. Crowds applauded approval with the appearance of Ellen Degeneres' mother Betty. They cheered for 80s icon and Grand Marshall Molly Ringwald, and lusted after the best collection of hunks on a float as the Mickey's entry rolled by. Thanks to parade staff carefully encouraging groups to keep moving the parade ended after 2 1/2 hours. Amazing. Who ever was in charge of this year's parade should take over the Oscars. 

The end of the procession didn't mean the end of the festivities. Quickly, thousands and I do mean thousands began marching toward the West Hollywood Park to continue the celebration. Soon the line to enter the Festival was two blocks long heading East on Santa Monica Boulevard. The numbers soon became were countless, screaming for Charlton Heston to lead them to the promised land of booze, dancing and free lube samples. As the day moves on and the sun fades, our sense of unity is strengthened. North Carolina law or hypocritical religious leaders can not deter the GLBT community from being our best. We are a culture whose hearts are as big as our imaginations. A people who's love knows no boundaries. Though our numbers have been decimated by violence, suicide and disease we will never again be silent as to the injustice that continue to befall our brothers and sisters.  It's called LA PRIDE but it's really pride in the goodness of humanity.