LONG BEACH, Calif. — At a kickoff reception earlier this week, the spirit of Long Beach Pride was already in full swing.
With bright beats, colorful outfits, and the steady click of selfies being taken, the celebration started early, led by one of the city’s most special voices.
Drag performer and longtime Pride ambassador Jewels was already doing what she does best: greeting guests, lifting spirits and showing out for the LGBTQ+ community she calls family.
“Pride is when we come out and we celebrate. Pride is you being allowed to be you,” Jewels said. “It’s that simple. Pride, to me, is freedom, baby.”
Jewels, a former Grand Marshal who once received the key to the city, is known just as much for her flair as for her fierce advocacy. This year, she’s stepping into her role as a Pride spokesperson with a message: celebration and solidarity can, and should, go hand in hand.
“I’m not only a fabulous superstar but also a big cheerleader for the LBC,” she said. “Long Beach is one of the best places to be seen, to be you, and to celebrate your community. It’s a big city with a hometown feel and it’s filled with [an] amazing, diverse population that celebrates Pride every single day.”
That mix of local Pride and national significance is something Christopher J. Duvali, Vice President of Production for Long Beach Pride, said is especially critical this year.
“What we are actually creating and manifesting with Long Beach Pride is that safe sanctuary. For not just LGBTQ+, but also the support and the friends. It is an area that everybody can come and just be liberated and be themselves,” Duvali said.
A 2024 Gallup report found that 9.3% of U.S. adults identified as being something other than heterosexual. Duvali said they aim to serve the growing community during this festival and beyond.
“Long Beach Pride is a 100% volunteer organization. We are a nonprofit. So this is a fundraiser and we do not just outreach for the festival. Our festival fundraiser actually funds our altruism of an LGBTQ+ organization throughout the year,” he said.
This year’s Pride arrives when LGBTQ+ organizations across the country are facing heightened scrutiny, funding cuts and political pushback. Diversity programs have been defunded, leaving several Pride events nationwide canceled or scaled back because of budget shortfalls or security concerns. But Duvali said that hasn’t stopped their plans.
“That has not prevented us from reaching out to other organizations in other communities for support. We have pounded the pavement and we are actually having a full-fledged festival, parade and a celebration,” he said.
For Jewels, the opportunity to stand at center stage this weekend is about more than just her signature sparkle. It’s about substance.
“This weekend is just another opportunity to show our pride in our city, in our allies, in our community, to stand up for our trans brothers and sisters, and to simply be you,” Jewels said.
With more than a dozen performers, themed festival zones, and a weekend packed with parades, community booths and live music, the message is loud and clear: the party is on and so is the power of community
The Long Beach Pride parade is free and kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 19.
Festival tickets and event information are available at longbeachpride.com.
