To our LGBTQ+ community, our allies, partners, volunteers, vendors, and the City of Long Beach:
Thank you.
To everyone who attended our recent community meeting and spoke openly—about your concerns, your frustrations, your hopes, and your love for Long Beach Pride—we are grateful. Showing up took courage, and your honesty mattered.
Before anything else, we want to be clear: we heard you.
Many of the conversations that night were difficult. Some were painful. People spoke with anger, with grief, and with a deep sense of disappointment. You had every right to feel that way. Long Beach Pride has always belonged to this community, and when we fall short of what you deserve, you are right to demand answers and accountability.
So we want to say this plainly and without qualification: we extend our sincerest apologies.
We apologize to our community, our partners, our sponsors, our vendors, and the City of Long Beach for the ways this year’s Pride did not meet expectations. We know many of you felt dismissed, disappointed, or forgotten. Good intentions do not erase that impact. We hear you, we take responsibility, and we are committed to making things right.
Across the meeting, several themes emerged again and again—transparency, financial accountability, governance, community representation, and trust. You are right that each of these requires real action, not just acknowledgment. Here is where we are focusing our work:
Financial Accountability
We recognize the urgency around outstanding financial questions, vendor payments, and refund requests. Our team is actively reviewing all obligations and developing a responsible plan to meet them. Refund requests are being processed as resources allow, and we will keep you informed throughout this process. Silence is not acceptable, and we will not leave you waiting without updates.
Governance and Organizational Structure
You asked for clarity about how leadership is chosen and how decisions are made. We have begun a full review of our bylaws, board structure, and governance practices. As this work moves forward, we will create meaningful opportunities for community input. Long Beach Pride was built by this community—its future must be shaped by your voices.
Leadership Transition
As previously shared, Tonya Medrano-Martin will conclude her term in August. This transition was planned prior to the recent meeting. We are committed to ensuring a responsible, stable transition that supports the long-term health of the organization.
Community Engagement
One message came through loud and clear: you want access to be included in the process.
You want to participate, contribute, and help shape what comes next. We welcome that. We will continue holding open community conversations, and we invite anyone interested in volunteering, joining a committee, supporting programs, or helping plan future events to get involved. The work ahead belongs to all of us.
Youth and Teen Pride
Many of you spoke passionately about the importance of safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth. We share that commitment. We will continue working with community partners to strengthen and expand Teen Pride and related youth programs. We are currently organizing a free Teen Pride event with the city in September.
Looking Forward
We know trust is not rebuilt through statements—it is rebuilt through consistent action and inclusivity over time. We are asking you to watch and participate in what we do next.
We understand that some of you remain skeptical, frustrated, or hurt. Those feelings are valid, and we carry them with us as we move forward.
Long Beach Pride is bigger than any one person, any board, or any single event. It belongs to the community that has sustained it for decades. Our responsibility as a community is to ensure the organization we pass on is worthy of that legacy.
In the coming weeks, we will continue sharing updates on governance, finances, organizational improvements, and opportunities to get involved.
To everyone who spoke, listened, volunteered, and held us accountable: Thank You.
Your voices are already shaping the path ahead. We intend to rise to the standard you set.
With gratitude and solidarity,
The Long Beach Pride Board of Directors
Sign up with your email address to receive the latest news and updates.
In response to a rising climate of hate and rhetoric, “Fearless and Free” serves as a call to action for a community that has often been forced into the shadows. This year’s theme honors centuries-long history of resilience, reminding the world that standing fearlessly in love is the ultimate path to freedom.
Join us in celebrating this community-driven event alongside friends, supporters, and allies. Mark your calendars for May 16th and 17th, and be part of this extraordinary celebration of love, inclusivity, and pride.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The cancellation of the 2026 Long Beach Pride Festival Fundraiser was incredibly difficult for our community and for everyone who worked tirelessly to make the event possible.
Long Beach Pride extends its sincere apologies to the community, vendors, performers, sponsors, volunteers, ticket holders, and partners. We also reiterate our dedication to transparency during this difficult moment.
We acknowledge the challenges that arose during the permitting process and are committed to being transparent about the events that led to the cancellation. Long Beach Pride remained engaged, continued submitting materials in good faith, and worked urgently to resolve issues through the final days.
We will continue to acknowledge the challenges, review what happened, and improve our internal systems. However, we do not agree with any narrative that suggests Pride walked away from the community or failed to fight for the festival.
Below is the chronological order of events that occurred during the permitting process.
Long Beach Pride notified the Long Beach Office of Special Events and Filming of the 2026 festival dates and requested guidance on the permitting process.
To manage expenses, Long Beach Pride moved forward without a production company and notified the Long Beach Office of Special Events and Filming that assistance would be required to complete the permit packet.
Long Beach Pride submitted its initial permit application to the Long Beach Office of Special Events and Filming.
March 4: The Long Beach Office of Special Events and Filming notified Long Beach Pride that a new permitting system had been implemented.
March 18: Long Beach Pride requested copies of the previously approved 2025 festival permitting documents to ensure compliance for 2026 but did not receive a response.
Long Beach Pride met with the Long Beach Office of Special Events and Filming, Fire Department, Police Department, Marine Advisory Commission, and Event Recycling to review the festival layout.
A list of required documents was provided, and Long Beach Pride submitted them.
The Long Beach Office of Special Events and Filming scheduled an onsite permit inspection for May 15, suggesting that adequate documentation had been received.
Long Beach Pride reduced the festival footprint and sent updated documents to the Long Beach Office of Special Events and Filming.
The Long Beach Office of Special Events and Filming raised new concerns regarding structural documentation.
Long Beach Pride immediately worked to correct and resubmit materials.
The City abruptly cancelled the May 15 inspection the night before it was scheduled.
A City official also encouraged Long Beach Pride to continue preparing.
Updated structural documents were submitted early in the afternoon and sent to the Long Beach Office of Special Events and Filming.
Less than an hour before the scheduled Teen Long Beach Pride load-in, the City of Long Beach issued a Cease and Desist Order, even though festival infrastructure was already in place.
A late-night meeting with City of Long Beach leadership resulted in an offer to relocate the event to the Terrace Theater. However, the venue was not feasible. It would have added more than $100,000 in costs and only allowed seated attendance, with no dance area.
The City also proposed Bixby Park as an alternative, but the Long Beach Pride Board did not have enough time to set up the venue or meet the performing artists’ contractual requirements.
Long Beach Pride is collaborating closely with ticketing partners, vendors, sponsors, performers, and community partners to resolve the financial and logistical impacts of this cancellation. More updates will be shared soon.
We will also request a formal debrief with the City of Long Beach to fully understand what occurred and help prevent similar issues in the future.
Our priority now is to begin early planning for next year so that our community never has to experience a disruption like this again.
We remain dedicated to our mission and look forward to serving the Long Beach community with renewed vigor and service.
Moving forward, Fearless and Free!
Actor, Author and Activist
