Sydney MP Alex Greenwich Joins Long Beach Pride Parade 2017

Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride is proud to announce that Alex Greenwich MP, Australian Member of State Parliament for Sydney, will join the 34th Annual Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade on May 21, 2017. His visit honors the Sister-Pride Program between Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride and Australia’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, one of the world’s largest LGBTQ+ parades.

Two Pride communities on opposite sides of the Pacific will share one parade route on Ocean Boulevard, and we could not be happier to welcome him.

How the Sister-Pride Program Began

Earlier in 2017, the Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride board voted unanimously to create a Sister-Pride Program with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The program pairs two LGBTQ+ organizations to establish ties of friendship, understanding and goodwill in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

California State Senator Ricardo Lara, who represents the 33rd District where our organization is based, met with us to help get the program started. The timing mattered. Advocates in Australia hoped to bring marriage equality to a vote in their federal parliament in 2017.

I am so proud to have one of the nation’s largest … Pride events in my district and to partner with them as they move forward in making their mark in supporting Marriage Equality internationally.

California State Senator Ricardo Lara, February 2017

Senator Lara made history in 2012 as the first openly gay person of color elected to the California State Senate, and he leads the 2017 parade as our Grand Parade Marshal.

We are honored to have the incredible support of our international LGBTQ+ community, especially a man that works tirelessly to bring marriage equality to Australia like the honorable Alex Greenwich.

Denise Newman, President of Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride

“The Sister-Pride Program is beneficial to both Sydney, Australia and Long Beach, as we work toward our common goal to support all LGBTQ+ community members in their plight toward equality,” Newman continued.

A Leader for Marriage Equality

In addition to serving as the Member for Sydney, Greenwich is Co-Chair of Australian Marriage Equality and has led the campaign for the freedom to marry for all Australians for 10 years.

I am truly honored to be a part of this year’s Long Beach Pride Parade and to recognize the importance of their partnership with Sydney, Australia’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. … We are at a time where LGBTQ+ partnerships like this are crucial for the advancement of equality for all the members of our community. By standing united, we continue the work of our trailblazers and we move toward international equality.

Alex Greenwich MP

Parade Day

The 34th Annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival takes place May 20 to 21, 2017, at Marina Green Park. Parade day begins at 8 a.m. with the Shoreline Front Runners Pride Run along the beach path. At 9:30 a.m., Parade Central on Ocean Boulevard between Junipero and Cherry avenues hosts the Orlando 49, a tribute to the lives lost at the Pulse nightclub in 2016.

At 10:30 a.m., more than 150 entries step off on Ocean Boulevard at Lindero Avenue. Look for our friend from Sydney among them, and give him a proper Long Beach welcome.