Chaka Khan, Monica and More Lead the Long Beach Pride 2017 Lineup

The 34th Annual Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival and Parade comes to Marina Green Park on May 20 and 21, 2017, under the theme “Viva La Vida.” For the first time in our history, every stage has a headliner, and the lineup reflects the many cultures that make up our community.

We truly want to provide an environment for the community to come together and celebrate our eclectic blend of cultures, as well as, cultivate inclusiveness at every level.

Denise Newman, President, Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride

One of the big stories this year is the 20th anniversary of our Latin stage, Fiesta Caliente. Here is everyone coming to the shore.

Main Stage

Ten-time GRAMMY Award winner Chaka Khan headlines Saturday, May 20. It is a homecoming of sorts. “Long Beach is near and dear to my heart,” she said when her set was announced. “I was raised right down the street.” She also headlined our Main Stage in 2003.

On Sunday, May 21, GRAMMY Award winner Jody Watley and SRL, her vocal dance trio with Nate Allen Smith and Rosero McCoy, close out the weekend.

Urban Soul Stage

Saturday brings the soulful sound of Monica and hip-hop recording artist Mann. On Sunday, out rapper Taylor Bennett takes the stage, along with Bre-Z, known for playing Freda Gatz on Empire.

Fiesta Caliente Stage

Fiesta Caliente began as an idea from one of our founders, Bob Crow, who saw it as another way to welcome the Latin community. Its first lineup featured El Show De Lips, Angela Shelby and the emcee Lola, and it quickly became one of the festival’s most popular stages. Bob is quick to share the credit, especially with Jamie Awad, owner of Club Papi, who gave his time and often his own money to book talent in the early years.

To mark 20 years, the stage welcomes back some of the most popular artists to play it over the past two decades, including Kat DeLuna, who performed at Fiesta Caliente in 2008, and Maria Jose, who appeared in 2010. We are turning up the heat.

• Saturday, May 20: Kat DeLuna, Amanda Miguel, Sonora Tropicana and La Chiqui Baby
• Sunday, May 21: Ana Victoria, the Selena Tribute Band, Maria Jose and Mariana Seoane

Country Stage

Get ready for a boot-scooting weekend. Honey County, named by Rolling Stone as one of 10 new country artists, headlines Saturday. On Sunday, Ty Herndon, the first major male country artist to come out publicly as gay, takes the Country Stage.

Dance Stage

Mike Bryant brings the bass bounce on Saturday in the Dance tent. Angie Vee and Ashley Thrasher spin as Sunday’s headliners.

2017 Parade Grand Marshals

Each year our Board selects Grand Marshals for their service to the LGBTQ+ community. Several honors carry the names of people who shaped LGBTQ+ Long Beach: our founders Judi Doyle, Bob Crow and Marilyn Barlow, and Morris Kight, who co-founded Christopher Street West, the Los Angeles Pride parade. These honorees ride on Sunday, May 21:

• Grand Parade Marshal: California State Senator Ricardo Lara, the first openly gay person of color elected to the California State Senate
• “Morris Kight” Political Grand Marshal: Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, 4th District
• “Whitey Littlefield” Community Bridge Building Award: Long Beach Councilmember Jeannine Pearce, Second District, whose first agenda item on the council was to permanently raise the Pride flag at City Hall
• Special Recognition Grand Marshal: Michelle Molina, a generous ally to LGBTQ+ Long Beach
• Judith Doyle Community Grand Marshal: Jannay Lima, co-producer of Long Beach Festival Gay Latino, who raised more than $35,000 in 2016 for LGBTQ+ youth, immigration and AIDS support
• Bob Crow Community Grand Marshal: Rory Moroney
• Marilyn Barlow Community Grand Marshal: Sabreena, a mainstay of the Long Beach drag community for more than 25 years and three-time Empress of the International Imperial Court of Long Beach
• Dr. Robert Garcia Youth Grand Marshal Award: Abel Avalos, selected by the Mayor
• Celebrity Grand Marshal: Lisa Vanderpump

Giving Back All Year

Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride works year-round from a permanent office with one full-time staff member. Over 34 years we have grown into a philanthropic organization that has given more than $1 million back to the community through grants, scholarships and support for events and organizations across the region.

The festival and parade now draw more than 80,000 people over two days and rank as the second-largest revenue-generating event for the City of Long Beach. We work to keep it a place free from prejudice and bias, open to all of us. Pre-sale tickets were available through longbeachpride.com. We will see you at Marina Green.