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WEST HOLLYWOOD – About 100 people gathered at North Crescent Heights and Santa Monica Boulevard Sunday morning, for an ad hoc Pride Walk organised by the publisher of the Los Angeles Blade, Troy Masters, which also included more than a dozen members of the Southern California Motorcycle Contingent for Equality.
Though he had called for a simple no sponsor, non-permitted and organic march in an April editorial and again in early June in the paper and also created event posts on social media, only 120 or so people expressed an interest.
“I was having a little bit of trouble getting Pride Walk off the ground so I thought to myself, I need some lesbians,” said Masters to the delight of the crowd after being honored by West Hollywood City Council member Sepi Shyne for organizing the walk.
The City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce commissioned a number of business activities and turned Robertson Boulevard into a festival atmosphere, but there was no plan for a march for the first time in more than 50 years.
“Pride Walk was intended to make sure that did not happen, Covid be damned,” Masters said.
Marna Deitch, a Southern California Motorcycle Contingent for Equality leader and a social media organizer of Pride Walk, kicked off and led the walk with more than a dozen bikers, leading about 75 walkers with her motorcycle contingent.
“We wanted to be there “to show our pride openly and honestly and receiving the love back from the people in the street is the best. Seeing more of that over the decades keeps me optimistic to continue our fight, our Pride,” said Deitch.
Though the LASD presence was not requested, deputies showed up anyway at which point Deitch and Masters negotiated marcher’s access to the streets with the Commander of LASD West Hollywood substation, Lt William Moulder. The march was unpermitted and unsanctioned by the City of West Hollywood, however, Moulder allowed the bikes and the marchers to slowly navigate their way through the traffic along Santa Monica Blvd., escorted by several LASD units.
The spirit of the crowd was very matter of fact, with lots of socializing and flag waving, responding to the honking of car horns and the cheers and applause of bystanders on the sidelines.
Mary Jo Godges and Rene Sotile, the Emmy award-winning filmmaking team (and married couple) marched at the front of the crowd with Masters, holding a simple rainbow banner that read “Come out and Join Us” “WeHo Pride Walk” “#WeHoPrideWalk.” Sotile is also a member of West Hollywood’ Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board.
Among the walkers, which included WeHo City Councilmember Sepi Shyne, were several members of the Lesbian and Gay Advistory Board, LGBTQ and AIDS non-profit executive directors, business owners and activists, but the event was intentionally low-key and there were no speeches planned and no rally in advance.
At one point, Alex Mohajer, an actor, author, artist, and LGBTQ+ activist, gave a marching speech that reminded walkers of the history of Pride marches, walks and parades.
And it was even educational- Mohajer and Masters joked at the intersection of La Cienega and Santa Monica that “we should have a die-in right here.” “What is a die-in,” asked a young woman. Mohajer explained that in many instances over the years “it’s what we had to do to express our rage and get their attention. And we are not at a place yet that is safe.
A young lesbian couple expressed astonishment upon learning that Pride marches and walks once included die-ins. “I never heard anything about that. That’s amazing.”
“Stonewall was a riot, and 52 years later it’s more important than ever that LGBTQ+ people remember our own history of activism and dissent. Our fight is not over, and I’m proud to march today in honor of those who came before us in the fight for equal justice,” said Mohajer, who is also a candidate for President of the Stonewall Democratic Club.
Photo Credit: Project Angel Food ED Richard Ayoub, (Right) with Remi Beverly
Richard Ayoub, Project Angel Food Executive Director said “When I walk in the pride parade every year there’s always at least one person in the crowd who, is a Project Angel Food client, and mouths to me “Thank you. And although this walk was much smaller it had the sane impact— a client expressed his gratitude in a quiet and respectful way. This was the perfect way to cap pride month.”
“Only the Weho LGBTQ community can come together like this last minute and have the showing and support that it did,” Ayoub added.
The march continued along Santa Monica Boulevard to Robertson where the crowd gathered for a group photo.
As the first West Hollywood Pride Walk came to a conclusion in a parking lot across from the Abbey on Robertson, Masters stepped onto the “Born This Way” mural and kept his remarks brief. “I have a 4-word speech to give: Thank you for everything.”