Long Beach Pride is deeply disappointed by the City’s decision to cancel the Long Beach Pride Festival, a long-standing community institution built by volunteers, sustained by love, and rooted in the belief that every person deserves to live openly, safely, and with dignity.
For more than four decades, Long Beach Pride has stood as a symbol of visibility, resilience, and belonging. Founded by community members who understood the urgent need for LGBTQ+ representation and solidarity, Long Beach Pride has grown into one of California’s most significant Pride celebrations. Today, it remains a 100% volunteer-run organization powered by people who give their time, labor, and heart to create a safe and affirming space for LGBTQ+ people, families, youth, elders, allies, and the broader Long Beach community.
This decision comes at a moment when LGBTQ+ people are facing escalating attacks from the current federal administration and from political forces across the country. At a time when our community is being targeted and made vulnerable, Long Beach should be doing more to protect and uplift us, not taking away one of the most visible and meaningful expressions of inclusion our city has.
Long Beach has proudly held itself out as a national leader on LGBTQ+ equality. That promise must mean something in moments of pressure. Inclusion is not proven when it is easy. It is proven when leaders choose to stand with vulnerable communities when they need support the most.
Canceling Pride sends the wrong message. It tells LGBTQ+ residents, workers, students, small business owners, artists, families, visitors, and allies that their safety, visibility, and celebration are negotiable. It undermines decades of volunteer work and community trust. And it weakens the very values Long Beach claims to champion.
We call on the City of Long Beach to immediately engage in good faith with Long Beach Pride, community leaders, public safety partners, and elected officials to identify a path forward that preserves the festival and protects the community. We call on our Mayor Rex Richardson and the city council members to make the Pride Festival happen.
Long Beach Pride is deeply disappointed by the City’s decision to cancel the Long Beach Pride Festival, a long-standing community institution built by volunteers, sustained by love, and rooted in the belief that every person deserves to live openly, safely, and with dignity.
For more than four decades, Long Beach Pride has stood as a symbol of visibility, resilience, and belonging. Founded by community members who understood the urgent need for LGBTQ+ representation and solidarity, Long Beach Pride has grown into one of California’s most significant Pride celebrations. Today, it remains a 100% volunteer-run organization powered by people who give their time, labor, and heart to create a safe and affirming space for LGBTQ+ people, families, youth, elders, allies, and the broader Long Beach community.
This decision comes at a moment when LGBTQ+ people are facing escalating attacks from the current federal administration and from political forces across the country. At a time when our community is being targeted and made vulnerable, Long Beach should be doing more to protect and uplift us, not taking away one of the most visible and meaningful expressions of inclusion our city has.
Long Beach has proudly held itself out as a national leader on LGBTQ+ equality. That promise must mean something in moments of pressure. Inclusion is not proven when it is easy. It is proven when leaders choose to stand with vulnerable communities when they need support the most.
Canceling Pride sends the wrong message. It tells LGBTQ+ residents, workers, students, small business owners, artists, families, visitors, and allies that their safety, visibility, and celebration are negotiable. It undermines decades of volunteer work and community trust. And it weakens the very values Long Beach claims to champion.
We call on the City of Long Beach to immediately engage in good faith with Long Beach Pride, community leaders, public safety partners, and elected officials to identify a path forward that preserves the festival and protects the community. We call on
Tonya Martin
President “Lez Prez”
#LongBeachPride #StandWithPride #LGBTQCommunity #LongBeach #PrideMatters #FearlessAndFree
Pride Weekend starts with the next generation shining bright. 🌈✨ Teen Pride is all about creating a space where LGBTQ+ youth can show up as themselves, make memories, laugh loud, and feel celebrated by their community. From drag performances and bingo to music and nonstop good vibes, tonight is about being fearless, free, and unapologetically YOU.
Join us this evening from 5PM–9PM at Marina Green in Long Beach and help us kick off Long Beach Pride Weekend with love, visibility, and community. Look for the Teen Pride signs once you arrive on the grounds. 💖
Safe space. Strong voices. Bright futures.
#lbpride #longbeachpride #lbpride2026 #teenpride #lgbtqyouth #prideweekend #fearlessandfree #longbeachevents #lgbtq #explore
The stages are almost ready 🎶🌈
Long Beach Pride weekend officially begins this week, and the city is getting louder, brighter, and more colorful by the hour.
Start charging your phone, planning your fit, and texting your crew.
Pride weekend is almost here, and so is the Urban Soul Stage!
longbeachpride.com/tickets
#lbpride #longbeachpride #lbpride2026 #lgbtq #gaypride #trans #thingstodoinlongbeach #fearless #free #explore
This weekend is bringing the energy, the music, and the moments everyone’s been waiting for. From crowd-favorite performers to can’t-miss sets, the lineup is stacked all weekend long, and the vibes are already building. Whether you’re planning your full day around your favorite artist or discovering someone new between stages, now’s the time to start mapping out your festival weekend. See you in the crowd.
#lbpride #longbeachpride #lbpride2026 #festivalweekend #thingstodoinlongbeach #lgbtq #fearlessandfree
Long Beach Pride Week just got easier to plan. 🌈
The official Long Beach Pride Guide is live now, powered by Queer Calendar.
Explore 10 days of LGBTQ+ events, official Pride happenings, community celebrations, parade details, and everything you need to plan your Pride experience from May 8–17.
Start planning your Pride here:
https://qcal.app/prides/long-beach-pride-week
Then grab your Festival Fundraiser tickets for May 16 and 17 here:
/tickets/
#LongBeachPride #LongBeachPride2026 #FearlessAndFree #PrideWeek #QueerCalendar #LGBTQEvents #LongBeachEvents #PrideFestival #LGBTQCommunity
Join us Sunday, May 17 for the 43rd Annual Long Beach Pride Parade! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Celebrate diversity and unity within the LGBTQ+ community. This year’s theme is “Fearless and Free.”
The City proudly presents the following 2026 grand marshals:
💖 Celebrity Grand Marshal – XB Valentine
💖 Pride Progress Grand Marshal – Austin Metoyer
💖 Marilyn Barlow Grand Marshal – Scott Kaske (Dolly Levi)
💖 Robert Crow Grand Marshal – Bill Sive
💖 Judith Doyle Grand Marshal – Ellie Perez
💖 Bryan “Whitey” Littlefield Community Bridge Building Grand Marshal – Mark Ramos
💖 “Morris Knight” Political Grand Marshal – Keir Jones
💖 Dr. Robert Garcia @robertgarcialb Youth Grand Marshal – Helena Donato-Sapp
💖 Media Grand Marshal – Enrique Chiabra (@telemundo52 )
💖 Media Grand Marshal – Annabelle Sedano (@nbcla )
For additional event details, visit 🔗 lbcity.info/lbpride26
Long Beach Queers, your Pride week just got a whole lot easier
Over 50 official + community events. 📍Parade and festival maps
⏰Festival schedule
🚗Parking
⭐ Citywide afters, brunches, and everything in between — all in one place.
The Official Long Beach Pride Guide is live on Queer Calendar 💖
✨Plan your week
✨Save your faves
Head to qcal.app and download now.
See you on the parade route 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Fearless & Free!
#LongBeachPride #lbpride #QueerCalendar #PrideMonth #lgbtq
We kicked off Long Beach Pride week with an absolute queen: Grammy Award winner Thelma Houston! Catch her live on the Founder’s Stage at the @lbpride festival Saturday night at 7:40 PM.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, Councilwoman Cindy Allen, and other elected officials welcomed the guests, and Long Beach Pride President Tonya Martin honored this year’s Grand Marshals.
