Donald Trump is not officially being singled out by name, but it’s pretty clear the president and his administration’s policies towards the gay, lesbian and transsexual communities are the target of a massive “Resist March” Sunday that replaces the usually outrageous fun floats highlighting the LA Pride Festival.
The parade celebration of the LGBTQ community that usually caps the annual two-day LA Pride Festival is being replaced with what has been dubbed #ResistMarch.
About 100,000 straight and gay people, minorities and not, stretched from Hollywood to West Hollywood for the annual march.
Helicopter video showed a crowd filling sidewalks and six traffic lanes on streets which had been closed to traffic. Trucks were positioned from building to building at cross streets: barricades, apparently to block any would-be assailants in cars.
March founder Brian Pendleton said he was inspired by the early pride demonstrations of the 1970s and the nationwide Women’s Marches held in January, one day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
“The mission is to march in unity with those who believe that America’s strength is its diversity,” organizers said in a prepared statement. “Not just LGBTQ people but all Americans and dreamers will be wrapped in the Rainbow Flag with unique, diverse, intersectional voices gathering together.
“We are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. We are people of color. We are people of different faiths. We are people of all genders and no gender. We are immigrants. We are dreamers. We are people with disabilities. We are parents. We are allies.”
As usual with West Hollywood street parties, Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards and some side streets were closed in West Hollywood.
Scheduled speakers include House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congress members Maxine Waters and Adam Schiff, West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman and LGBTQ pioneer the Rev. Troy Perry. Entertainers include singers Brandy and Adam Lambert and actress-comedian Margaret Cho.
Participants assembled at 8 a.m. near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. A rally with opening remarks and performances started around 9 a.m.
Marchers move south on La Brea Avenue, west on Sunset Boulevard, south on Fairfax Avenue, then west on Santa Monica Boulevard, ending at the Pride Festival in West Hollywood.
Motorists have endured major street closures to accommodate the parade.
San Vicente remains closed between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard until 8 a.m. Monday for the festival.
According to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Hollywood Boulevard remains closed between Highland and La Brea avenues from 6 a.m. to noon Sunday. The following streets are expected to remain closed until the march ends:
— La Brea between Hollywood and Sunset;
— Sunset between La Brea and Fairfax;
— Fairfax between Sunset and Santa Monica; and
— Santa Monica between Fairfax and into the city of West Hollywood.
Sunset is expected to be closed between Highland and La Brea for the event, as will westbound Franklin Avenue between Highland and La Brea.
–City News Service