Patch Reports Chaka Khan to Headline Long Beach Pride 2017

In late April 2017, Patch shared the lineup for the 34th Annual Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival, and it was a big one. Chaka Khan would headline the main stage on Saturday, May 20, 2017, with Jody Watley and SRL closing out the main stage on Sunday. The festival was set for May 20 and 21 at Marina Green Park.

Chaka Khan is a ten-time GRAMMY Award winner.

Patch

The story also marked a first. For the first time in the organization’s history, every stage at the festival would have its own headliner. Patch listed Monica and Mann on the Urban Soul Stage Saturday, with rapper Taylor Bennett and actress Bre-Z on Sunday. The Country Stage featured Honey County and Ty Herndon, and the Dance Stage brought Mike Bryant along with Angie Vee and Ashley Thrasher.

Denise Newman, president of Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride at the time, explained the thinking behind the expanded lineup.

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, as quoted by Patch

Patch highlighted the 20th anniversary of Fiesta Caliente, the festival’s Latin stage, with Kat DeLuna, Amanda Miguel and Sonora Tropicana on Saturday and Ana Victoria and a Selena tribute band on Sunday. For two decades that stage has been a home for Latinx families and friends at Long Beach Pride, and the anniversary lineup honored that history.

The article also named the parade grand marshals, California State Senator Ricardo Lara and celebrity grand marshal Lisa Vanderpump, and noted that the event typically draws more than 80,000 people over two days.

We loved building that lineup. Seeing every stage full, with music for every corner of our community, was exactly what we hoped for.

Read the full story at Patch.