Meet the Five Voices of the 2019 Long Beach Pride Parade

Every great parade needs great voices. Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride is proud to announce the commentators for the 36th Annual Long Beach Pride Parade: Jewels, Cory Allen, LaDawn Best, Mia Farrow and Missy Vee. Each one is a true advocate for LGBTQ+ Long Beach, and together they will carry the crowd from step-off to the curve.

The parade takes place on Sunday, May 19, 2019, under this year’s theme, “Millions of Moments of Pride,” which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. A 9:30 a.m. pre-parade show kicks things off at the Parade Grandstand on Ocean Boulevard between Cherry and Junipero avenues, and step-off is at 10:30 a.m. on Ocean Boulevard at Lindero Avenue.

Some of these voices will sound familiar. Jewels and Missy Vee were part of our commentator lineup in 2017 and 2018, and Mia Farrow joined Missy on the curve in 2018.

At Step-Off: Jewels

Jewels produces and hosts dozens of events, shows and fundraisers across Southern California, but her heart belongs to Long Beach. From the beginning, her mission has been to make sure everyone who visits Long Beach feels welcome, loved and entertained.

She is famous for her charity work: if you have never seen Jewels lead a parade of drag queens down Broadway on Easter Sunday to benefit St. Mary’s C.A.R.E. Center, you haven’t really lived. When she isn’t hosting fundraisers or turning up at community events all over town, you can find her hosting nearly every night of the week at Hamburger Mary’s, The Eagle 562 or The World Famous Falcon. She has hosted stand-up comedy shows at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood and Long Beach, made countless television appearances, and every Saturday and Sunday morning her “Brunchette” troupe entertains sold-out crowds in several cities with a drag queen brunch.

At the Grandstand: LaDawn Best and Cory Allen

LaDawn Best

LaDawn Best is executive director of Peer Health Exchange Los Angeles, a national nonprofit that promotes health equity through a near-peer education model that empowers young people to make healthy decisions. For more than two decades, she has taken an intersectional approach to building healthier communities, and she believes the voices of people of color, LGBTQ+ people and young people should be centered and uplifted. She served for several years on the board of the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach, including as board chair, and she is a commissioner on the Long Beach Human Relations Commission.

Cory Allen

Cory Allen is founder and principal of CA Blueprint Solutions, a full-service, LGBTQ+-focused political consulting and government affairs firm based in Long Beach. He has worked on dozens of local, state and federal campaigns across Los Angeles County and has served in staff roles for elected officials. In his spare time he is an active member of the International Imperial Court of Long Beach, the city’s oldest LGBTQ+ nonprofit, where he has helped raise more than $200,000 for local charities.

On the Curve: Mia Farrow and Missy Vee

At Ocean Boulevard and Alamitos Avenue, “on the curve,” the dynamic duo of Mia Farrow and Missy Vee will keep the cheers going.

Mia Farrow

Mia Farrow is a Long Beach drag entertainer, philanthropist and Empress 46 of the International Imperial Court of Long Beach. A behavior therapist for children with disabilities, she works tirelessly to raise awareness for people living with disabilities. She lives in Long Beach and gives back by organizing events, volunteering and donating to local organizations.

Missy Vee

Missy V Simply V is a multitalented drag entertainer based in Long Beach who has performed throughout Southern California with The DreamGirls Revue and The Brunchettes. She was crowned Miss Gay Pride 2016 and is part of the Imperial Court of Long Beach.

Parade Day Schedule

• 8 a.m.: The Shoreline Front Runners Pride Run starts on Junipero Avenue at Ocean Boulevard and follows the beach path
• 9:30 a.m.: Join the action at Parade Central on Ocean Boulevard between Junipero and Cherry avenues
• 10 a.m.: Cheer LA performs its stunts, with prize giveaways including free festival tickets and T-shirts
• 10:30 a.m.: The parade steps off, with entries featuring everything from drag queens and kings to zombies celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride

Street Closures

Closures along Ocean Boulevard on parade day:

• 5 a.m.: Redondo Avenue to Lindero Avenue
• 7 a.m.: Lindero Avenue to Cherry Avenue
• 8:30 a.m.: Cherry Avenue to Alamitos Avenue and around the curve to Broadway

Selling food, merchandise or drinks along the route is limited to registered parade vendors. Bring a chair, find your spot early and listen for Jewels at step-off.