Long Beach City to Host and Fund 2025 Pride Parade Festival

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach announced it will once again host the Long Beach Pride Parade in 2025, continuing a celebrated tradition that highlights the city’s LGBTQ+ community and values of inclusion and unity. The parade, now in its 42nd year, will take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, along Ocean and Alamitos Boulevards in Downtown Long Beach.

While the announcement has been met with excitement and community pride, it also arrives at a time when broader conversations around city funding priorities are intensifying. With multiple pressing needs across Long Beach including housing, public safety, infrastructure repairs, and youth services some residents and local leaders are raising questions about how the City balances its financial commitments to large-scale events like Pride.

In 2024, the City of Long Beach allocated approximately $130,000 to host and fund the 41st annual Long Beach Pride Parade. This marked the first time the city took on the role of official host and primary funder, stepping in as the nonprofit Long Beach Pride organization underwent restructuring.

The funding comprised $80,000 in one-time funds from the city’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget, approved during the February 13 mid-year budget review, and an additional $50,000 from the Second Council District’s One-time District Priority Funds, championed by Vice Mayor and Second District Councilwoman Cindy Allen.

The City, Port of Long Beach, and Council District Two are co-sponsoring this year’s parade. Mayor Rex Richardson emphasized the event’s importance: “The Long Beach Pride Parade is more than just a celebration—it’s a cherished tradition that reflects the heart and soul of our city… reminding us of the power of living authentically and standing together.”

However, as the City continues to face budget constraints and rising costs of essential services, residents are asking for more transparency and deliberation around how much is being allocated to events, versus core needs. With no entry fee for participating organizations in the parade, questions also arise around whether the City is covering additional costs and what return on investment such sponsorships provide.

Councilwoman Cindy Allen, who represents District Two and has been named the Morris Kight Political Grand Marshal, reinforced the parade’s significance: “This year’s theme, ‘The Power of Community,’ speaks to what Pride is really about. But it’s also a reminder that supporting our community should be more than symbolic—it requires ongoing investment in housing, mental health, safety and economic opportunity.”

The 2025 Grand Marshals were announced as follows:

• Morris Kight Political Grand Marshal – Councilwoman Cindy Allen
• Whitey Littlefield Community Bridge Building Grand Marshal – Carolyn Caldwell
• Robert Crow and Celebrity Grand Marshal – Jennifer Kumiyama
• Marilyn Barlow Grand Marshal – Debra Kahookele, Josie Quiros, Rocio Rached, and the late Isa Rached
• Judith Doyle Grand Marshal – Pastor Tony Carreras, Christ Chapel Long Beach
• Dr. Robert Garcia Youth Grand Marshal – Alex Malleis-Sternberg

The Port of Long Beach, a major sponsor, expressed support through CEO Mario Cordero: “The Long Beach Pride Parade and Festival are treasured traditions… bringing together many communities to celebrate the belonging, mutual respect and compassion that everyone deserves.”

Applications for parade participation are open now through May 9, 2025, with no cost to join. The City has not released a full breakdown of budgetary allocations for the event, nor whether sponsorships will offset all public expenses.

In tandem with the parade, the Long Beach Pride Festival organized by the nonprofit Long Beach Pride will take place the same weekend. Festival details can be found at longbeachpride.com/festival.