By: Valerie Milano
West Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/3/2024 – With a bang and not even the hint of a whimper, WeHo Pride came to a rousing climax Sunday night as Kylie Minogue headlined an OUTLOUD concert that capped a day of parades and Pride in the park!
Sunday’s final day of WeHo Pride saw thousands of people take to the streets of West Hollywood to celebrate in what has become the nation’s oldest LGBTQ+ Pride event.
Starting with the second day of the Pride Street Fair, the Pride Parade brought icons and ideas to the front of everyone’s mind. Cyndi Lauper, a musical icon in her own right, was this year’s grand marshal and was deemed the WeHo Pride Parade’s Lifetime Ally Icon, the first such honor ever for the parade.
Several guests rolled out on floats during the parade, which wound along Santa Monica Boulevard from its origin at North Crescent Heights Boulevard and culminating at North San Vicente Boulevard, right in the heart of the city’s Rainbow District.
Among those guests were former NSYNC member Lance Bass, Lizzo, Garcelle Beauvais, Sutton Stracke, Kehlani, Pinktastic Plastixx, Gloria Allred, and Trinity the Tuck.
Also making a special appearance were members of the West Hollywood City Council and Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon.
But the day’s main event was OUTLOUD and the brilliant performance by Diplo + Friends and Minogue. Diplo DJ’d a set before taking to the stage ahead of Sunday’s headliner, Minogue, a spot he occupied a year ago at WeHo Pride.
Minogue, the Australian pop singing icon, gave the massive crowd in West Hollywood Park its money’s worth, belting out a string of her biggest hits including “Come Into My World,” “Spinning Around,” “All the Lovers,” “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” and “Padam-Padam.” The huge crowd sang along with Minogue’s hits.
She also performed a new song, “Midnight Ride,” with country singer Orville Peck joining her onstage for a duet. The song is produced by Diplo and he joined the duo onstage for the performance.
Peck, decked out in a fringed mask, was one of thew main headliners a year ago at WeHo Pride.
During her set, West Hollywood Mayor John Erickson, Vice Mayor Chelsea Byers, and Council Member Sepi Shyne joined Minogue on stage to declare June 2nd “Kylie Minogue Day,” and present her with a “Kylie Minogue Way” street sign in commemoration of the day.
Minogue delighted the crowd by holding up the sign and thanking the Council and the crowd for the honor.
Also taking to the stage Sunday were Ashnikko, Trixie Mattel, Big Freedia and Vincint, among others.
So, another WeHo Pride is in the books and the tired smiles that were seen leaving the West Hollywood Park concert venue were a testament to another successful celebration of LQBTQ+ Pride, kicking off a month of celebrations all around Southern California and the nation.
