The WeHo Pride Parade went off along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood as part of the grand ending to the WeHo Pride 2024 celebration.
The festival, which is billed as one of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations of its type in the world, first kicked off on Wednesday, May 22, which fell on Harvey Milk Day.
And after more than a week of celebrations the parade serves as a crescendo event of sorts, attracting hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world.
The parade has been described as an ‘imaginative and colorful tradition that embraces LGBTQ+ representation, inclusion, and progress,’ according to the non-profit’s website.
Full of music, dancing, festive floats, vibrant marching contingents, and creative flair, the WeHo Pride Parade celebrates LGBTQ+ people and contributions to community and culture with Cyndi Lauper serving as the WeHo Pride Parade Lifetime Ally Icon.
Cyndi Lauper, 70, joined in on the 2024 WeHo Pride celebration in West Hollywood on Sunday
Mayor of West Hollywood John M. Erickson honored Lauper with the Ally Icon Award during WeHo Pride by the City of West Hollywood
Lauper, 70, was honored with the Ally Icon Award for her ongoing vocal support of the LGBTQ+ community over the years.
The New York City native has said that she became involved in gay rights advocacy because her sister, Ellen Lauper, is a lesbian and because Lauper herself was passionate about equality.
And as always, the Girls Just Want To Have Fun star came dressed for the occasion wearing a huge silver headdress full of large and small bulbs hun over her head a couple of feet.
On this day she had her long locks dyed platinum blonde and styled with a part int he middle underneath the festive head piece.
In a perfect match for the headdress, the singer-songwriter wore a cropped silver jacket over an off-white bustier.
The unique outfit also featured dark blue jeans with small holes and round designs up and down each part leg, along with a pair of silver sneakers.
In an added touch of celebratory style, Lauper also had silver tinsel up the front of her right leg, and red tinsel around part of her waistline.
Of course, the iconic 1980s singer busted out a song or two during the day of celebration.
The Girl Just Want to Have Fun star angelic on stage with her large silver headdress
The head piece included large and small silver bulbs over her dyed platinum locks
The singer-songwriter has been an LGBT rights supporter throughout her career
Not long after being introduced the True Colors star’s sister Ellen came out on stage to be by her sister’s side in a show of support.
Eventually, Lauper was honored with the Ally Icon Awards by Mayor of West Hollywood John M. Erickson.
‘Cyndi Lauper embodies the spirit of inclusivity, unity, and vibrancy that has defined West Hollywood throughout its history,’ Mayor Erickson said in a statement as reported by Fox 11 LA. ‘Her unwavering dedication to advocacy throughout the years, coupled with her unparalleled musical legacy, makes her a perfect fit for this moment in time as Lifetime Ally Icon as we celebrate WeHo Pride 2024.’
The parade kicked-off 12:30 p.m. at Santa Monica and Crescent Heights boulevards, and then made its way west along Santa Monica Boulevard to N. San Vicente Boulevard in the City’s Rainbow District.
Like previous years, the popular annual event featured plenty of creative floats, vibrant marching contingents, as well as bands, drill teams, dance teams and various other entertainment.
The WeHo Pride Parade celebrates LGBTQ+ people and contributions to community and culture.
Not long after being introduced the True Colors star’s sister, Ellen Lauper ,came out on stage to be by her sister’s side in a show of support
The two sister also struck a pose together along the red carpet
The iconic 1980s singer showed off her trophy as Ally Icon for the cameras
Singer-songwriter Kehlani, 29, was also at the event to show support for Lauper who was honored with the Ally Icon Award during 2024 WeHo Pride
The were a number of different events scheduled for the final day of WeHo Pride 2024, including the OUTLOUD @ WeHo Pride, the flagship music festival and concert experience of the festival at West Hollywood Park.
The WeHo Pride Arts Festival also took place Friday through Sunday throughout the City of West Hollywood. First launched in 2008, and formerly known as the One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, this year’s Arts Festival featured a stellar range of LGBTQ+ dance, visual art, performance, literary arts, among other stimulating visuals.
And then theres the WeHo Pride Street Fair throughout the weekend that attracts thousands of supporters from LGBTQ+ community groups and allied organizations.
The Street Fair, which is a family-friendly free event to all, included a variety of exhibitors along Santa Monica Boulevard, which also features diverse participation and expression from the LGBTQ+ community groups and other supportive organizations.
