By: Valerie Milano
West Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/2/2024 – Leave it to Janelle Monáe to bring her own touch of style to OUTLOUD at WeHo Pride.
You might even say she “rose” to the occasion.
Monáe, who headlined Saturday night’s musical entertainment, took the stage at West Hollywood Park decked out in a bold cape featuring three-dimensional rose appliqués, accessorizing with a matching flower crown and boots.
The singer shrugged off her cape – and a 40-minute delay to the start of her set – to reveal a black bodysuit-and-blazer-inspired bodice, layered over a pair of fishnet tights.
Three-dimensional florals found their way into Monae’s wardrobe again, this time in shades of black and white, and paired her statement cape, a red beret and spiked shades.
Other performers of note on the first night of the two-day OUTLOUD ticketed concerts at this year’s festival included Keke Palmer, Noah Cyrus and Doechii.
The OUTLOUD at WeHo Pride concert Saturday night capped a busy day that began with the Pride Street Fair that stretched along Santa Monica Boulevard, between Hancock and La Peer Drive.
The two-day Street Fair was a free event and featured booths staffed by community group volunteers, exhibitors and various other sponsors. It also wrapped around the Women’s Freedom Festivals sponsored by the L-Project, which put the spotlight on emerging LGBTQ and BIPOC women, non-binary musicians, comedians, poets, and activists.
The Women’s Freedom Festival brought a diverse group of entertainers to its stage, including KingQueen, MariahCounts, Medusa, Theia, Gattison, Cheri Moon, Shiah Luna, Nekeith, DJ SterlingVictorian, DJ Boom Boom, Suri Chan, and Jen Cheng. Jackie Steele hosted the stage events.
The highlight of the daytime events was the annual Dyke March, also under the sponsorship of the L-Project. The annual motorcycle-led event, which commenced immediately after the conclusion of Saturday’s Women’s Freedom Festival, was very well attended and participation was high.
WeHo Pride wraps up today with the annual Pride Parade, featuring Cyndi Lauper (“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “True Colors”), who is the WeHo Pride Parade’s first Lifetime Ally Icon.
The WeHo Pride Parade is an imaginative and colorful tradition that embraces LGBTQ+ representation, inclusion, and progress. Full of music, dancing, festive floats, vibrant marching contingents, and creative flair, the parade celebrates LGBTQ+ people and contributions to community and culture.
