Hola Boyle Heights! Your community reporter, Alex Medina, is here to share some happenings in and around the neighborhood to get you out and about at the beginning of this Pride season!
But first, we’ve got a big announcement to make!
Our mission at Boyle Heights Beat has always been to be por y para la comunidad, by and for the community. That’s why our team is reflective of the neighborhood, from our Eastside high school youth reporters to our majority program-alumni staff.
And now, we’re happy to announce that Jessica Perez has returned to serve as our senior editor, managing all editorial staff at the newsroom she helped blossom as a mentor and deputy editor from 2010 – 2015. Youth reporter Sofia Peña had a chance to speak with Perez about her journalism journey and her return “home” to BHB. You can read that conversation here.
On the Eastside, we call it Orgullo
Over the years, the visibility of pride and the LGBTQIA+ community has grown on the Eastside and events revolving around the celebratory month have become more prevalent. Personally, as a gay Latino who grew up without seeing myself represented, that’s a beautiful thing to see.
My first real time feeling seen in my identity was during my time at the Beat when I learned and wrote about the Latino Equality Alliance, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting people like me in Boyle Heights. There’s other organizations on the Eastside doing amazing things for the community as well, including The Wall Las Memorias, Bienestar Human Services and others.
Our editorial team has a lot planned for our pride coverage this year, and we’re kicking it off with today’s newsletter sharing just some of the many LGBTQIA+ events happening this month. If you want to stay updated with any more programs and celebrations happening, we’ll be updating our events page regularly with all sorts of events starting June 1st, 2024. I hope you all have an amazing Pride!
Celebrate all things Pride this season
Saturday, June 1st
Over at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (501 N. Main Avenue), the cultural hub is kicking off pride month with their annual Jotería. A celebration of the Latino LGBTQIA+ community, there’ll be DJs, live performances, vendors, food, arts & crafts, resource booths, and more to keep you having fun. This all-ages event starts right at 2 p.m. and runs through the evening.
For youth ages 14-18, the Latino Equality Alliance is hosting a Queer Prom at Mi Centro (553 S. Clarence Street) from 5 – 10 p.m. Supernova-themed, this celebration features upbeat music, amazing food, drag performances, fun activities, photo opportunities, resource booths and much more. Those interested can register online.
Saturday, June 8th
This year’s Pride in the Park is being headlined by Ricky Martin at the L.A. State Historic Park (1245 N. Spring Street). The event is a huge celebration of everything pride represents, and there’ll be over 20 acres of activities, dozens of food & beverage options, tons of vendors, lots of performances and just great vibes for everyone to enjoy. You can buy tickets and find more details for the all-ages event, set to run from 1 p.m. through the night, online.
The Teragram Ballroom (1234 W. 7th Street) is hosting Preciosa Night, a queer reggaeton rave party. With a handful of cultural DJs, performers and more set to light up the venue throughout the night, you’re sure to be up and dancing from 10 p.m. through 2 a.m. I’ve been to the venue multiple times, and they’ve got great drinks as well! You can snag a ticket for the 21+ event online.
Friday, June 14th
At Dodger Stadium, the city’s iconic baseball team is hosting its annual Pride Night. There’ll be festivities starting at 5:10 p.m., with the game against the Kansas City Royals set to start at 7:10 p.m. A ticket package for the night, available for purchase online, comes with entry to the game along with a Dodger Pride-themed jersey. I went to the event last year, and it’s a special celebration I’m sure you’ll enjoy.
Saturday, June 15th
As I’m sure you know if you’ve been following our newsletter, the Queer Mercado happens every third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the East L.A. Civic Center (4801 E. 3rd Street). This staple Eastside event brings LGBTQIA+ artists, vendors, creators, entrepreneurs, performers and more on top of a farmers market to the Eastside. The market’s going all out for Pride month, so I wouldn’t want to miss it this time around!
Sunday, June 16th
Did you know Boyle Heights has its very own annual pride celebration? The now staple Orgullo Fest is the neighborhood’s grand celebration of queerness. The festivities start at 3 p.m. with a parade at the intersection from 1st and N. Boyle Avenue by Mariachi Plaza going all the way to N. Chicago Street. From there all the way up to Soto Street, there will be a festival full of entertainment, food, beverages and vendors to enjoy from 5 p.m. all the way through midnight. Entry to the community event is completely free.
Thursday, June 20th
Down at Other Books, Comics and Zines Los Angeles (2006 E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue), the local bookstore is collaborating with HIV.E LA for a horizontal discussion on the shop’s zine STIGMA KILLS Vol. 1. There’ll be yummy bites, refreshments and community discussion through the night from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. You can register for the free event online.
Saturday, June 22nd
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (501 N. Main Avenue) is hosting a free screening of Gaytino! Made in America. A 90-minute performance traveling through decades of Mexican-American history and its intersection with the gay experience, the film is a one-of-kind watch that’s sure to touch your soul. The screening’s set to start at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a Q&A discussion.
There’s definitely more events happening around the neighborhood, and we’ll make sure to share them with you as they are announced. If you know of any you’d like us to add to our events page, please let us know!
Join us in celebrating the next generation of BHB
As the semester comes to a close, I’d just like to celebrate our most recent cohort of seniors. Emilie Santana is off to Cal State LA, Ethan Fernandez is headed to Occidental College, Angela Caliz is going to Cal Poly Pomona, Kathryn Mora’s got a place at UC Santa Cruz and Janelle Quintero’s heading to UCLA. It’s always amazing seeing our youth grow and go off to do amazing things, always keeping Boyle Heights near and dear in all that they do.
Training youth to craft articles about their community is definitely an impactful aspect of the Beat, and we need your help to support our next cohort of students. Today, we are launching a campaign lasting through the end of June in hopes of raising $5,000 for our incoming class of students. You can donate by clicking here.
