The Culver City Pride & Ride event will take place on Saturday, June 29, with the bicycle ride portion scheduled to take place between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. starting at Syd Kronenthal Park.
“Rock your rainbow colors as we ride, scoot, skate, ?and cycle through over six miles of Culver City ?neighborhoods,” the organizers said. “Push and pedal together with ?friends, family, and neighbors toward a brighter ?future.”
Participation is free but cyclists are required to RSVP. At the conclusion of the ride, a Pride Rally will take place on Main Street.
“Join us at Main Street in Downtown Culver City for ?an exciting, evening party with music, speakers, drag performances, dancing, and more,” they said.
This too is free, and no RSVP is required.
Those taking part in the ride will require a bicycle or scooter (decorated is optional), bike lights (for riding home after rally), helmet (mandatory), reusable water bottle, sunscreen, snacks, and a bike lock.
Further information includes: riders must check in at Syd Kronenthal Park by 4PM; No bikes with training wheels; Children in child seats & family cargo bikes are welcome; E-bikes, scooters, and cargo bikes welcome.
The history of Pride events in the Los Angeles area is one of resistance, defiance and glorious rebelion.
“In 1967, the aftermath of a brutal police raid on the Black Cat Tavern, a Silver Lake gay bar, became the impetus for unprecedented resistance among the gay community and the most visible example of the simmering gay rebellion and local organizing locally here in the Los Angeles area,” the organizers said online. “Long before that incident, the Los Angeles area had been the site of dozens of “firsts” in gay history. It was home to the earliest known lesbian publication (Vice Versa, 1947), the first official gay rights organization (the Mattachine Society, 1950), the first homosexual magazine (ONE Magazine, 1953), the first gay motorcycle club (the Satyrs MC, 1954), the first Supreme Court decision in favor of gay rights (One Inc. v. Olesen, 1958), and the first mention of a gay riot in response to police harassment (Cooper Do-nuts, 1958).”
“The first march to commemorate Stonewall in 1970 was named ‘Christopher Street Liberation Day,’” they continue. “But leaders of the gay rights movement, in a nod to its origins in Los Angeles and the profound act of resistance at the Black Cat in 1967, eventually—and accurately—renamed the commemoration PRIDE. Decades later, we join together to honor the many trailblazers of our history and share our vision for the future: an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable community for everyone.”
Culver City Ride & Rally relies on donations, which can be made at laskatehunnies.com/culverpride. Other information, including how to RSVP for the ride, and how to register to volunteer, can be found at culvercitypride.org.
