Here it is, folks, the annual LA Gay Pride Festival and Parade in West Hollywood, the biggest weekend of the Creative City’s year.

In preparation for the event, the City Council approved this week the painting of a crosswalk in rainbow colors, an idea brought forth by a local artist, Martin Duvander, although WeHo Confidential owner/operator Lucas John also takes credit for suggesting it.

The event, which began last night with the Dyke March and free admission to the festival grounds for the handful of acts performing, culminates on Sunday with a parade that will draw non-profits and politicians from the LA County region to the streets of West Hollywood.

A major economic event – the weekend draws 400,000 people from around the state and infuses at least $16 million into the WeHo economy – the event is looked forward to by retailers as a kind of Christmas in June.

According to local clothier and swim wear specialist, LA Jock owner Nir Zilberman, the event, “brings more people and money than any time of the year.

If you plan to come to town for the festival today – it opens at noon – plan to arrive early and use this list of parking to drop the car.

The City of West Hollywood will suspend enforcement of permit parking for the PRIDE Festival 2012 from 4 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2012 to 7 a.m. on Monday, June 11, 2012. All meter parking will be enforced. 

Festival-goers are asked to observe the boundaries of West Hollywood; if parking occurs in the City of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, all parking restrictions must be observed.

Public Parking for the PRIDE Festival 2012 will be available at the following locations for a fee:

Friday & Saturday Special Event Parking Locations:

Kings Road Parking Structure $7.50
8383 Santa Monica Boulevard

Hancock Parking Structure $7.50
901 Hancock Avenue

 Sunday Special Event Parking Locations:

Kings Road Parking Structure $15.00
8383 Santa Monica Boulevard

Hancock Parking Structure $15.00
901 Hancock Avenue

La Jolla/Havenhurst Lot $15.00
1043 La Jolla Avenue

La Peer Lot $15.00
623 La Peer Drive

Orange Grove Lot $15.00
1114 N. Orange Grove Avenue

Spaulding Lot $15.00
7718 Santa Monica Boulevard

Pacific Design Center $20.00
Melrose & San Vicente (Enter off of Melrose)

The festival’s events make quite a long list; here is the complete rundown for not only this weekend, but the month of June:

The LA Pride Festival is a two-day event that will fill West Hollywood Park with hundreds of booths of various organizations, art exhibits and merchants. The festival will take place on Saturday, June 9, 2012 from noon to midnight and Sunday, June 10, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard.

The LA Pride Parade, which is expected to draw nearly a half million spectators, will commence on Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 11 a.m., traveling westbound along Santa Monica Boulevard from Crescent Heights Boulevard to the main entrance of the LA Pride Festival at San Vicente Boulevard.

            “One City/One Pride features a month of LGBT events including movies, art installations, concerts and of course the LA Pride Parade and Festival,” said West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Land. “One City/One Pride highlights the creativity and diversity in the West Hollywood community and those who visit during Pride month. A vast amount of planning goes into making Pride a success and we are grateful for all the people and organizations that contribute year after year,” continued Mayor Pro Tempore Land.

Two events during the month will shine a light on the LGBT community’s racial diversity, and open it up for discussion. On Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 7 p.m., there will be a screening of Marlon Riggs’ 1974 documentary “Black Is … And Black Ain’t.” It will be followed by a panel discussion on Black LGBT identity in America. Later in the month, on Friday, June 29, 2012 at 7 p.m., a panel discussion called “Creating Queer Asian-American Visibility in the Arts” will feature Asian-American artists and performers. Both events are presented in partnership with the California LGBT Arts Alliance, and will take place in the City Council Chambers, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.

Another one of One City/One Pride month’s showcase events is “On Staging LGBT Oral History: ‘Laramie,’ ‘Brokeback’ and ‘8’” with author and filmmaker Gregory Hinton. It will take place on Saturday, June 23, 2012, at

2 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. Produced in partnership with the Autry Museum, the event will recount how the oral histories of “The Laramie Project,” “Beyond Brokeback” and “8” were collected and the importance of staging these stories to preserve LGBT history. The lecture will be followed by an interactive workshop that invites the audience to recreate the emotional 2010 Missoula City Council hearing on a controversial anti-discrimination ordinance.

Many of the events for One Pride/One City will take place at the West Hollywood Library. Parking for these events will be available at the five-story West Hollywood Park/Library Parking Garage at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard (enter from Robertson Boulevard at El Tovar Place). For more information, please call (323) 848-6883.For the deaf and hard of hearing, please call (323) 848-6496.

Special One City/One Pride events scheduled for June include:

• Lambda Literary Awards A reading of the list of nominees for the 24^th annual Lambda Literary Awards will take place, in anticipation of the June 4 ceremony in New York. “The Lammy” is the most prestigious and comprehensive literary award offered specifically to authors who write books about the LGBT experience. Luminaries of the LGBT literary community are also recognized during the awards ceremony for their contribution to the field of LGBT literature.  Sunday, May 20 in the City Council Chambers, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
• Jean Cocteau Exhibition Throughout June, an exhibition of art works by French artist, writer and filmmaker Jean Cocteau will be showcased at the West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The exhibition is curated by local Cocteau authority and collector Tony Clark.  Other events such as a film screening of Cocteau’s 1946 film masterpiece “La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast)” and a staged reading of a new play, “Cocteau, Collette,” will also take place during the month.
• Pacific Serenades Concert and Lecture A classical music concert by Pacific Serenades with works by contemporary LGBT composers and commentary by composer and musicologist Byron Adams will take place on Friday, June 1, at 8 p.m. in theCity Council Chambers, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The evening will feature a unique composition involving iPads and a string quartet by Laura Karpman.
• Outlaugh Comedy Festival MACHA Theatre and the Theatre Asylum will present various comedy events throughout the month of June. For details on shows, please visit http://outlaughfestival.com
• Screening of “El Fuego Dentro” Directed by Dante Alencastre, “El Fuego Dentro,” a documentary on the Peruvian transgender community and its efforts fighting for civil rights, will have its world premiere screening on Wednesday, June 6, 7:30 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
• Dyke March and Purple Party The Dyke March and Purple Party will celebrate the achievements of and raise awareness about issues affecting the local Lesbian community. The event will begin with the Dyke March down Santa Monica Boulevard, followed by a free after-party with music and refreshments. The event is sponsored by the Lesbian Visibility Committee and Christopher Street West and will take place on Friday, June 8, 7 p.m. at Santa Monica Boulevard and West Hollywood Park.
• LA Pride Festival The LA Pride Festival offers an opportunity for all who gather to be celebrated, entertained, educated and encouraged in finding new ways of generating Pride values for greater equality and social acceptance. The festival, produced by Christopher Street West, will feature refreshments and hundreds of booths from various organizations, art exhibits and merchants. The festival will take place Saturday, June 9, noon to midnight and Sunday, June 10, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
• Pride Run. The annual Pride Run/Walk will marry fun and fitness while celebrating the LGBT community.  The event will include 5K and 10K races, a 5K race/walk, a kids’ race and an Ultra Pride run. The event is sponsored by the LA Frontrunners, a walking/running group for the LGBT community and its friends. For more information, go to www.lafrontrunners.com  The Pride Run is Sunday, June 10 at the West Hollywood City Hall, 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard. The 5K begins at 7:30 a.m., the 10K begins at 8:30 a.m., and the kids’ race begins after the 10K.
• LA Pride Parade One of the largest and most inclusive parades in Los Angeles, the LA Pride Parade, produced by Christopher Street West, steps off at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 10, and travels westbound along Santa Monica Boulevard from Crescent Heights Boulevard to the main entrance of the LA Pride Festival at San Vicente Boulevard. The grandstand viewing area will be at the Sal Guarriello Veterans’ Memorial at Santa Monica Boulevard and Holloway Drive. More than 400,000 people will participate in this emotionally charged gathering showcasing the colorful diversity and creative community participation of the LGBT community. Attendees should plan to arrive early. Traffic will be closed on Santa Monica Boulevard between Fairfax Avenue and Doheny Drive starting at 6 a.m. on Sunday, June 10. Santa Monica Boulvard will re-open immediately at the end of the end of the Parade, which may be as late as 4 p.m.
• “Black is … Black Ain’t” There will be a screening of the 1994 Marlon Riggs documentary film “Black is … Black Ain’t” on Wednesday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at the West Hollywood Library, City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The film screening, presented in partnership with the California LGBT Arts Alliance, will be followed by a panel discussion on Black LGBT identity in America.
• Q.E.D.: Les Figues Press “Q.E.D.” is a short series of long conversations on queer art and literature funded in part by a grant from the City of West Hollywood through its Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission and presented by Les Figues Press. On Wednesday, June 13 at 7 p.m. the MAK Center for Art & Architecture at the Schindler House, 835 N. Kings Road, will host a discussion called “Authentic Objects” with panelists Dodie Bellamy and Terry Castle. General admission is $7. Admission is free for Friends of the MAK Center and members of the Les Figues Press with RSVP to office@makcenter.orgFor more information, please visitwww.lesfigues.com
• TRIBE WeHo Gay Men’s Discussion Group: “Family” The City of West Hollywood’s ongoing TRIBE WeHo Gay Men’s Discussion Group fosters internalized dignity in gay men. On Thursday, June 14, the discussion will be about the definition of “family” for a gay man. Marriage equality, relationships, family traditions and mentoring will be some of the topics discussed. Admission is free to the discussion, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. For more information, please visit www.weho.org/tribeor email tribe@weho.org
• LGBT Youth Playwriting Festival: “Celebrating Youth Voices: Experiences in the LGBT Community” Middle- and high-school students’ LGBT-themed plays will be produced and performed by professional actors.The Celebration Theatre is a community of artists dedicated to presenting innovative, provocative and relevant work that examines the LGBT and queer experience. Thursday, June 14 through Sunday, June 17, at the Celebration Theatre, 7051 Santa Monica Boulevard. For more information, visitwww.celebrationtheatre.com
• “Celebrating the Muse” Concert by Vox Femina with Special Guest Chris Williamson A concert to honor the 15^th anniversary of Vox Femina, a choral group dedicated to giving women voice through the performance of quality choral literature. Diverse in culture, age, race belief and sexual identity, Vox Femina is committed to commissioning new works and raising awareness about issues that affect the family of all women. The concert is Sunday, June 17, 3 p.m. at Kol Ami, 1200 N. La Brea Avenue. For more information, please visit www.voxfeminala.org
• Gay and Lesbian Play Reading Festival The Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP) will present an evening of new Gay and Lesbian short plays at the Celebration Theatre. ALAP is a service and support organization dedicated to protecting the rights and addressing the professional needs of the Los Angeles playwriting community. Monday, June 18, 7:30 p.m. at the Celebration Theatre, 7051 Santa Monica Boulevard. For more information, visit www.celebrationtheatre.com
• Jean Cocteau Film ScreeningA free screening of the Jean Cocteau film masterpiece  “La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast)” will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19 at the City Council Chambers, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
• On Staging LGBT Oral History: “Laramie,” “Brokeback” and “8” with Author and Filmmaker Gregory Hinton An event produced in partnership with Autry Museum, recounting how the oral histories of “The Laramie Project,” “Beyond Brokeback” and “8” were collected and the importance of staging them to preserve LGBT history. The lecture will be followed by an interactive workshop that invites the audience to recreate the emotional 2010 Missoula City Council hearing on its controversial anti-discrimination ordinance. The event is Saturday, June 23, 2 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
• Gay and Lesbian Play Reading Festival The Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights (ALAP) will present a new Gay and Lesbian full-length play.ALAP is a service and support organization dedicated to protecting the rights and addressing the professional needs of the Los Angeles playwriting community.   Saturday, June 23, 11 a.m. at the Celebration Theatre, 7051 Santa Monica Boulevard. For more information, visitwww.celebrationtheatre.com
• “Cocteau, Collette” A staged reading of a new play by artist and playwright Jason Jenn will take place on Saturday, June 23 at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
• Rainbow Key Awards Hosted annually since 1993 by the City of West Hollywood’s Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board, the Rainbow Key Awards honor activists, artists, civic leaders, educators, and community organizations whose efforts have significantly benefited the LGBT community. Sunday, June 24, 2012. (The venue and time are still to be determined).
• LAMBDA Literary Book Club The LGBT Book Club meeting is sponsored by LAMBDA Literary and the Los Angeles County Library. An LGBT book will be discussed. Tuesday, June 26, 7 p.m. at the Community Meeting Room, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
• “Ser: L.A. vs. B.A.” This one-woman play is based on Karen Anzoategui’s life in both Los Angeles and Buenos Aires, and her examination of soccer fanaticism, sexual identity, political repression and economic woes. Wednesday, June 27, at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
• Creating Queer Asian-American Visibility in the Arts A panel discussion presented in association with the California LGBT Arts Alliance featuring Asian-American artists and performers, Friday, June 29, from 7-9 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
• Outfest: Film Discussions In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Outfest will present a series of four important or rare films, with either a Q&A with the director or an introduction by a notable figure that will speak to the significance to the film. Saturday June 30, 2012 and Sunday July 1, 2012. City Council Chambers, West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.

For more information regarding One City/One Pride films, art installations, concerts, plays and lectures, please call (323) 848-6883.For more information regarding the LA Pride Festival and the LA Pride Parade, please call Christopher Street West at (323) 969-8302. For the deaf and hard of hearing, please call (323) 848-6496.