Everyone likes a party, and no one knows how to throw a better bash, soirée or fête than LA’s gay and lesbian community. From the urban streets of Downtown to the red carpets of Hollywood, every day in LA is cause for celebration. So put on your party hat, kick up your heels and let the fun begin.
March
The leather community, arguably the most organized cohort of LGBTs, chooses Mr. LA Leather every year at LA Leather Weekend. A mostly male crowd packs a slew of events for a week leading up to the crowning moment. A stop at The Eagle LA, The Faultline, or one of the many other participating establishments will open up a world of possibilities. www.laleatherweekend.com
Outfest presents FUSION: The Los Angeles LGBT People of Color Film Festival. The always-memorable opening night program and reception kicks off a fun and thought-provoking weekend of films curated for their contributions to the growing catalog of LGBT people of color cinema. www.outfest.org/fusion.html
April
The annual GLAAD Media Awards, which takes place each April, honors individuals and projects in the media and entertainment industries for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. www.glaad.org.
Women’s Night is one of the premier social and awards nights for lesbians, bisexual women and their partners. Held in the beautifully restored, historic Music Box Theatre, it’s wall-to-wall women honoring their own in a fundraiser for Women’s service at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center. www.laglc.org.
June
It’s a bit of Brokeback Mountain right here in the City of Angels during the LA Gay Rodeo. Events include rough riding contests (bull riding, bareback bronco riding, steer riding and chute dogging), roping events, speed events (barrel racing, pole and flag racing), steer decorating, a wild drag race and goat dressing. www.larodeo.com.
It’s the party of all parties during Gay Pride Month in Los Angeles. From family days at the beach and motorcycle-riding Dyke Marches to the crowning of Mr. Gay Prince and Ms. Lesbian Princess, it’s all good during the month of June. www.lapride.org.
July
For more than a quarter century, Outfest has screened some 4,200 movies. There are more than 100 public programs, including outdoor screenings, family-friendly gatherings, parties, live performances, music, celebrities and panel discussions. www.outfest.org.
August
In the heart of LA’s oldest gay community, the annual Sunset Junction Street Fair offers a vibe as diverse as the neighborhood. The fair includes an ensemble of stages, games, rides, arts and, of course, plenty of food. www.sunsetjunction.org.
Uncork a bottle or two and toast the evening at Simply diVine! Wine Tasting & Auction sponsored by the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. Savor bouquets of wine and plates of food presented by an array of vintners and restaurants, and bid on some incredible items during the auction. www.laglc.com.
August 8th brings the first annual Trans/Giving Film Festival to the LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theater. Programming includes short films by transgender, genderqueer and intersex filmmakers that entertain as they burst open contemporary definitions of gender, sex and identity. www.transgiving.com.
September
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Leadership Awards brunch pays tribute to community leaders, allies and organizations that fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through their leadership, advocacy and action. www.thetaskforce.org
Join Outfest’s Legacy Project and Laura Linney to honor Emmy-winning Producer and Director Alan Poul whose work on such shows as My So Called Life, Rome, Six Feet Under and Big Love dumped him straight into the mix LGBT representation in television. The screening of newly restored Queen at Hearts, a poignant glimpse into pre-Stonewall Transgender life, is testament to the amazing work The Legacy project commits itself to every day. www.outfest.org/legacysite/index.html.
October
Held at the backlot of CBS Studio Center in Studio City, LA/Valley Pride GLBT Awareness Festival features a mix of kitsch held on such famed streets as Gilligan’s Island Road and Mary Tyler Moore Avenue. There are plenty of worthy exhibitors, entertainment and a little Country Western dancing for those who like to two-step. www.lavalleypride.org.
The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center holds one of the largest silent auctions in the City of Los Angeles. The Anniversary Gala provides guests an opportunity to bid on more than 400 quality products, luxury trips, jewelry, fine dining, spa treatments, designer items and items on the wild side. www.laglc.org.
The queen of all Halloween celebrations, not to mention the largest street party in the United States, the West Hollywood Carnaval is not to be missed. The night belongs to the wildest of the wild while daytime events include a drag race, doggie costume contest, pageant and youth carnival. www.weho.org.
