Los Angeles Blade Covers Pride Flag Raising at Civic Center

Pride Week in Long Beach began with a flag going up. On May 14, 2024, the Los Angeles Blade reported on the ceremonial raising of the Progress Pride flag at Civic Center Plaza downtown, a moment that opened the City’s Pride week and month activities ahead of our festival and parade.

Mayor Rex Richardson raised the flag as City Manager Tom Modica, Fifth District Councilwoman Megan Kerr, Parks and Recreation Director Brent Dennis and Ninth District Councilwoman Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie looked on.

Long Beach is a city of acceptance, and we proudly celebrate diversity and inclusivity across our entire community,

Mayor Rex Richardson, as reported by the Los Angeles Blade

The Blade explained that the ceremony grew out of a resolution the City Council adopted in June 2023. It recognizes the week of the annual Long Beach Pride Festival and Parade as Long Beach LGBTQ+ Pride Week, directs the City to raise the Progress Pride flag at Civic Center Plaza and light City assets each year during that week, marks May 22 as Harvey Milk Day and recognizes June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

This symbolic gesture demonstrates the City’s commitment to supporting and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community now and into the future,

Councilwoman Megan Kerr, as reported by the Los Angeles Blade

The story also looked ahead to the weekend. The 41st annual Long Beach Pride Parade was set for Sunday at 10 a.m., with more than 130 organizations, businesses and community groups, and coverage on NBC4 and Telemundo 52 platforms. Ivy Queen, the Queen of Reggaeton, was announced as our Sunday headliner at the festival.

A flag on a City pole is a small thing to look at and a big thing to feel. For many of our neighbors, seeing it fly over Civic Center Plaza each May says plainly that they belong here. We were glad to start the week together.

Read the full story at Los Angeles Blade.