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Los Angeles Times
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Archbishop Gomez starts to stand up for L.A. right when the city needs him
For years in this columna, I have repeatedly posed a simple challenge to Archbishop José H. Gomez: Stand up for Los Angeles, because L.A. needs you. The head of the largest Catholic diocese in the United States has largely stood athwart the liberal city he's supposed to minister since he assumed his seat in 2011 but especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. He has railed against 'woke' culture and refused to meet with progressive Catholic groups. When the Dodgers in 2023 honored the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag troupe that wears nun's habits while raising funds for the marginalized, he led a special Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels that amounted to a public exorcism. Most perplexingly, the Mexico-born archbishop stayed largely quiet as the Herod that's Donald Trump promised to clamp down on legal immigration and deport people without legal status during his 2024 presidential run. As head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at the end of last decade, Gomez wrote and spoke movingly about the need to treat all immigrants with dignity and fix this country's broken system once and for all. But his gradual turn to the right as archbishop has gone so far that the National Catholic Reporter, where I'm an occasional contributor, labeled him a 'failed culture warrior' when they anointed him their Newsmaker for that year. Gomez's devolution was especially dispiriting because L.A. Catholic leaders have taught their American peers how to embrace Latino immigrants ever since Archbishop John Cantwell helped refugees from Mexico's Cristero War resettle in the city in the 1920s. Clerical legends like Luis Olivares and Richard Estrada transformed La Placita Church near Olvera Street into a sanctuary for Central American immigrants during the 1980s and 1990s in the face of threats from the feds. Gomez's predecessor, Cardinal Roger Mahony, long drew national attention for attacking anti-immigrant legislation during his sermons and marching alongside immigrant rights protesters, a cross to bear that Gomez never warmed up to. So when L.A. began to push back against Donald Trump's immigration raids earlier this month only to see an onerous federal crackdown, I expected Gomez to do little even as L.A.-area priests bore witness to what was happening. Father Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries appeared in a viral video proclaiming the righteous, if well-worn, message that no human being is illegal, but also that 'we stand with anybody who's demonized or left out, or excluded, or seen as disposable … it's kinda how we roll here.' His fellow Jesuit, Dolores Mission pastor Brendan Busse, was there with activists during a June 9 migra raid at a factory in the Garment District that saw SEIU California president David Huerta arrested for civil disobedience. I especially admired Father Peter O'Reilly, who was a priest in the L.A. Archdiocese for 44 years before retiring in 2005. The 90-year-old cleric was at Gloria Molina Grand Park on June 8, the day protesters torched Waymo cars, just blocks away from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. O'Reilly told a television station in his native Ireland afterward that it was important for him be there to let immigrants know 'we were with them and for them.' Gomez? The archbishop put out a weak-salsa statement around that time about how he was 'troubled' by the raids. His Instagram account urged people a few days later to light a candle and pray for peace. That same day, Diocese of Orange Bishop Kevin Vann and his auxiliary bishops posted a letter condemning the raids, which they maintained 'invoke our worst instincts' and 'spread crippling fear and anxieties upon the hard-working, everyday faithful among us.' You know things are upside-down in this world when O.C. is more down for immigrant rights than L.A. I wanted to blast Gomez last week but held back, praying that he might change for the better. So I'm happy to report he's starting to. On June 10, the same day he posted his Instagram call for prayer, the archbishop also attended an evening interfaith vigil along with Boyle, Busse and other faith leaders to tell a crowd of over 1,000 people, 'Immigration is about more than politics — it is about us, the kind of people we want to be.' Gomez asked all parishes in the L.A. Archdiocese the following day to hold special Masses with L.A.'s current immigration troubles in mind. He led the lunchtime one in the cathedral, telling parishioners during his homily, 'We want to go out and console our neighbors and strengthen their hearts and encourage them to keep the faith.' Gomez saved his most stinging remarks for this Tuesday in his regular column for Angelus News, the archdiocese's publication. While not able to resist a shot at the Biden administration, the soft-spoken prelate nevertheless said of Trump's raids: 'This is not policy, it is punishment, and it can only result in cruel and arbitrary outcomes.' Accompanying his thoughts was a photo of a young woman holding a sign that read, 'Jesus was an Immigrant' in front of California Highway Patrol officers in riot gear. 'For him to show up was meaningful,' Busse said. Since Trump's inauguration, Dolores Mission has hosted training for the rapid response networks that have alerted people about immigration raids. 'But I hope there's more. The diocese has a huge capacity for organizing, and I hope that his leadership can move people in a large way.' Busse said the first instinct of too many religious leaders is 'to step back into a place of safety' when controversy emerges. 'But there's also an invitation to be brave and courageous. What we need to do is step into the situation to bring the peace that we're praying for.' Joseph Tómas McKellar is executive director of PICO California, a faith-based community organizing network that co-sponsored the interfaith vigil last week where Gomez spoke. The nonprofit used to teach citizenship and English classes in the L.A. Archdiocese and McKellar remembered Gomez attending a gathering of social justice groups in Modesto in 2017 as an active participant 'in these small group conversations.' The PICO California head said Gomez's recent reemergence from his years in the political wilderness 'was deeply encouraging. … Our bishops and the leaders of our denominations have a special responsibility to exercise prophetic leadership. The prophets are the ones who denounce what is broken in this world, but also announce a different vision. I do see him more embracing more that call and that challenge to reflect.' An archdiocese spokesperson said Gomez was unavailable for comment because he was at a retreat for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Earlier this week , the group released a reflection declaring, 'No one can turn a deaf ear to the palpable cries of anxiety and fear heard in communities throughout the country in the wake of a surge in immigration enforcement activities.' I have no expectations that Archbishop Gomez's politics will ever fully reflect L.A.'s progressive soul. He remains the only American bishop affiliated with the orthodox Opus Dei movement and sits on the ecclesiastical advisory board for the Napa Institute, an organization of rich Catholics that has labored mightily over the past decade to tilt the church rightward. Its co-founder, Orange County-based multimillionaire developer Tim Busch, wrote earlier this year with no irony that Trump's administration 'is the most Christian I've ever seen' and told The Times in 2023 that Gomez 'is one of my closest advisors.' But I'm glad Gomez is moving in the right direction, right when the city needs him the most. I continue to pray his voice gets bolder and stronger and that the region's millions of Catholics — and all Angelenos, for that matter — follow the archbishop's call to action to help immigrants while pushing him to do more. I hope Gomez keeps in his heart what Busse told me near the end of our chat: 'If the faith community doesn't stand up when there's a moral issue to stand up for, then I don't know what happens.'
Boston Globe
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
This Pride Month, Sister Lida Christ manifests a message of joy and tolerance
Advertisement Sister Lida Christ and her companions departed for an evening out in Boston on Sept. 7, 2023. The group was going to attend the History Maker Awards ceremony, where the Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence would be honored with the 2023 Lavender Rhino Award for their, 'invaluable contributions to creating queer-welcoming space in Boston," and "efforts to protect queer freedom of expression, individuality, and joy.' Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Sisters Lida (left), Jessa Belle, Judy B Good, and Tori D'Affair had their picture taken during GAY BASH'D at the Roadrunner in Boston on June 8, 2024. Sister Lida was a cohost for the prominent Pride party. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff 'Pride is, jokingly, the high holy month,' she says. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up In their vivid makeup and distinctive outfits, the 15 or so Boston Sisters are ubiquitous in June. Their itinerary this year includes a fund-raiser for Sister Lida, a North Shore native who asked that the Globe keep her everyday identity private out of concern for her safety, joined the resplendent Sisterhood in 2013, attracted by the order's wit and irreverence, but also its outreach and commitment to community service. Most recently, the Sisters participated in a fund-raiser to replace the decrepit heating system at Arlington Street Church. (The drag nuns proved to be effective auctioneers, driving up the price of items with their antics.) Advertisement Sister Lida and Sister Rosetta Stone called numbers during Drag Bingo at Club Cafe in Boston on Sept. 11, 2023. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were hosting a fund-raiser for Harbor to the Bay, an AIDS benefit bike ride. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff 'I've always been that person who stood up to the bullies in the high school hallway,' says Sister Lida, who came out at 14 and attended prom with a same-sex date. 'Sometimes, though, bullies are not a person, they're a concept. Sometimes bullies are the inequality in our life.' The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence originated in San Francisco in the 1970s, a whimsical response to so-called (The Sisters now 'You're creating a superhero. It's a temporary costume that I put on. It gives me anonymity. I become a conduit for people's stories,' says Sister Lida. 'You can tell me your most painful truth or what you're most happy about and you don't know who you're talking to. Sister Lida worked on her makeup during her 'manifestation' at her home in Boston on Sept. 7, 2023. 'It is definitely a moment for reflection and meditation. You're bringing forth your sister persona when you're manifesting. You're creating the work of living art. It's an opportunity to take whatever is happening in your life at the moment and go, 'OK, this goes on pause.' You're here to be part of community and to make sure you're leaving the house centered and ready to be a conduit,' she said. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Sister Lida mapped out a route for Sister Betty Esem (right) while departing for an evening out in Boston on Sept. 7, 2023. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff 'At the end of the night,' she says, 'I get to wash it off and when I do, it leaves me.' A Sister's persona evolves and the names tend to be playful: Sister Faith N. Humanity, Sister Bearonce Knows, Sister Nova Aggra. (Sister Lida Christ is a play on 'Light of Christ.') The outfits? They vary. Sisters typically wear a wimple with a habit or robe that approximates a nun's cloak. Some garments are custom, while others are gems found at Off the Rack, Marshall's, or, for Sisters on the West Coast, Ross. Advertisement 'This one is loosely inspired by Judy Garland's look toward the end of her life,' Sister Lida says, taking a sequined jacket from her closet. 'It's got a loose swing pant and this long, almost-kimono coat.' It's not all about face paint and garish get-ups. The Sisters' practice is focused on ministry, activism, education, entertainment, and service. On this particular day, once she's painstakingly applied her makeup, Sister Lida is driving to a studio to tape a public service announcement. Sister Lida used a water bottle while collecting donations before the Boston Dyke March in Boston on June 7, 2024. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence took donations from the crowd before and after the march to fund future events. Sister Lida explained the playfulness involved in their mission, 'I'm not manifesting drag. I'm manifesting my joy for the community." She said, 'I do think there needs to be room for comedy. If we can't be the jester in society, then society has lost its ability to commentate. We are the sacred clowns.' Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff @font-face { font-family: BentonSansCond-Regular; src: url(" format('woff2'), url(" format('woff'); } @font-face { font-family: BentonSansCond-Bold; src: url(" format('woff2'), url(" format('woff'); } .dipgrid { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: stretch; margin: 25px -28px; } .dip__main { position: relative; overflow: hidden; } .dip__image { position: relative; top: 50%; left: 0%; } .dip__image.portrait { height: auto; width: 100%; padding-top: 24px; } .dip__image.landscape { height: auto; width: 100%; padding-top: 10px; } @media only screen and (min-width: 700px) { .dipgrid { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; align-items: stretch; max-width: 1200px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } .dip { width: 48.5%; } .dip:not(:nth-child(2n)) { margin-right: 3%; } .dip__image.portrait { height: auto; width: 100%; padding-top: 10px; } .dip__image.landscape { height: auto; width: 100%; padding-top: 0px; } .dip__main { position: relative; overflow: hidden; } } .dip_cap_cred { font-family: "BentonSansCond-Regular", "Times New Roman", Times, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: .5px; text-align: left; margin: 3px 15px 0px 0px; font-weight: 200; } .dip_cap_cred span{ text-transform: uppercase; color: #6b6b6b; } .theme-dark .dip_cap_cred{ color: #fff; } .theme-dark .dip_cap_cred span { color: #fff; } Sister Lida Christ passed through the Public Garden on her way to the Boston Dyke March in Boston. Sister Lida Christ walked among the crowd at the Boston Common to volunteer for the Boston Dyke March. 'A comforting and inspirational message reminding folks that the arc of justice does swing, and to have faith, work together, and watch out for one another,' she says. To those who think the Sisters are 'I have nothing but the deepest respect for all faiths,' says Sister Lida. 'With the simple caveat that as long as those practicing their beliefs do no harm unto themselves or unto others.' Sister Lida of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence took a break backstage during GAY BASH'D at the Roadrunner in Boston. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Sister Lida of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence entertained the crowd while introducing the next act during GAY BASH'D at the Roadrunner in Boston on June 8, 2024. Sister Lida was a cohost for the prominent Pride party. She said she was reborn when she joined the order. 'When in my life would this have ever happened if I hadn't joined this organization and made a commitment not only to myself but to community? One thing I truly believe is when you say yes to the universe, the universe says yes back to you in ways that you can be not at all prepared for,' she said. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Her devotion to the work of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence has grown over time, in part because of the country's political climate, which she considers increasingly less tolerant of those who live, or love, on the margins of society. Advertisement 'What I'm seeing are words that we would never use — the n-word, the r-word, the f-word — all these slurs that are coming back,' she says. 'When you say to a kid that queer people don't exist, or you ban this or that book, they don't know. They think they can say the f-word. Then you've got a generation making decisions based on a reality that's not true. 'I'm going to try to make the world better,' Sister Lida says. 'As long as I'm physically able, I'll do this until I'm in the ground.' Sister Lida checked her makeup, wimple, and jewelry before taking the stage. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Craig F. Walker Globe Photo. Follow him on Instagram
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘We're here, we're queer' — Smaller communities in Indiana have Pride too
Volunteers for Harrison County Pride work a tent at a recent festival. (Courtesy photo) Pride celebrations in urban communities attract thousands — but LGBTQ+ Hoosiers in rural parts of the state are also celebrating. That's despite limited funding and, in some cases, threats. This year's events come as the climate nationally has changed. 'We received a lot of hate, especially messages, emails, over the top stuff – you know – 'we should die, they need to hang us up by our heels in the downtown square and let people beat us,' that kind of stuff,' said Tammi Shafer Bailey, Decatur County Pride treasurer and festival chair. 'I'm an old protester from back in the '60s and '70s. I wasn't afraid of any of that. But, people who aren't used to that kind of stuff would be.' Decatur County, located halfway between Indianapolis and Cincinnati, has approximately 26,000 residents. 'We saw a need for queer joy,' she said. 'We found out quickly when we took over the group that people were afraid to come out and we wanted to show them they didn't have to be.' Decatur County Pride was formed in 2023 by two allies. Those allies chose to step back, allowing members of the local LGBTQ+ community to take control of the group. Decatur County Pride hosted their first Pride Festival in June 2024. It hasn't been without challenges. Bailey's goal was to hold the festival no matter what, 'we wanted to come out and show them that you can say what you want to say. Tell me you're going to show up at the Pride parade, come on, we welcome everybody. I want to show you that we're no different than you. We're your neighbors, we're your coworkers, you just don't know it.' Hate and threats aren't uncommon. 'There's two things – one, always keep your head on a swivel when you're in public,' Bailey said. And two, 'the thing they need to remember is that most of these people are just bullies and you'll never get anywhere cowering to a bully. You have to stand up and say no, you're not going to do this to me. That's what we try to teach our youth group, that's what we try to teach people who are afraid.' This year, they're facing an additional challenge – funding. 'We pretty much cut back on everything. We would like to do more for the community, but pulled back.' They received a grant that'll sustain the youth group through the year from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Beyond the festival, Decatur County Pride members also do work in the community, filling a little free pantry, organizing a youth group and an adult support group. For Bailey, though, one of the most rewarding aspects of Pride fest is seeing the youth group members working the festival, 'meeting new people, being who they can be, who they really are out in the open, is so rewarding, because so many of them can't be. They have to hide in their school – hide everything about them and at Pride Fest we just open up and say you are who you are.' She also loves how everyone smiles at the event — 'they may not know who they're walking past, but everybody just smiles at each other – it's like, you're different but that's okay! That's the biggest accomplishment – having a space where everybody accepts one another, because it's very rare in this world.' LGBTQ+ Hoosiers also gather in Harrison County – Indiana's first state capital and home to roughly 40,000. 'Gay pride here in Corydon – it's anyone that feels like they've been on the fringes or not accepted into the status quo,' said Elizabeth Redding, co-founder of Harrison County Pride and Corydon Pridefest. She founded Harrison County Pride with Corydon native Adam Schneider. Redding is originally from New York City but moved to Harrison County a few years ago as a caregiver for her mother. 'I was introduced to this area and thought, if this is going to be the community I live in, then I want to have the things I'll miss the most – and one of them would be the Pride festivals in the big cities I've lived in,' she said. Not long after Redding moved to Corydon, she met Schneider, a gay man. Redding shared that she asked if Corydon does anything for Pride, 'and he was stunned, he's like, 'we've never even thought of it.' So I said, 'well, we're going to do this.'' That's how Harrison County Pride started in 2022. They hosted a small, informal Pride event that year, organizing the first official Corydon Pridefest in 2023. Turnout in 2023 exceeded expectations, drawing nearly 500 people. Last year's festival had approximately 1,000 attendees. This year, they expect 2,000 attendees. 'It's just amazing,' said Redding. 'Everything gets bigger!' There has been pushback – mostly from churches, Redding noted. However, they've also received support from other faith-based institutions, particularly Corydon Presbyterian and Corydon Methodist churches, which both sponsor Pridefest. They've also found the town council to be supportive, granting permission to host Pridefest in the face of objections from citizens, even when a drag show was added to the festival. 'Our first festival didn't have,' a drag show, Redding explained, 'so the drag queen show was contested by some of the religious members of the community.' But Redding said the town council held steady. 'They just told those people, 'look they applied to use the park. They paid their money. They've got this date set and they're going to do it.' It was really nice. This town council has conservative members but they were upholding that this is a public place. It was nice to have that backing,' Redding said.' A look at government support for Pride month — or lack thereof Pridefest, for Redding, is 'a heart warmer – it's very worthwhile,' seeing those who have felt like outcasts have one day where they can rejoice and feel accepted for who they are. Batesville hosted its first Pride Festival in 2022 with between 200 and 300 in attendance. Last year they drew 500. The city on the border of Franklin and Ripley counties has a population of roughly 7,200. 'It was a group of like-minded individuals' coming together and forming Batesville Area Inclusion and Diversity, that ultimately led to Batesville's Pride festival, according to BAID's chair, Ameilia Kubicek. Batesville, 'definitely has a bigger population than you would expect of people who are looking for diversity and inclusion and Pride,' added BAID's Pride Chair, Bee Copeland. 'We're here, we're queer, we're not going anywhere,' she continued. 'This is still small-town Batesville. There are obviously going to be people who are like, 'we don't really need that here, it's kind of in your face.'' But she said the organization fosters community. Pride, 'has created a community for people that maybe didn't feel like they were part of the area,' Kubicek explained. 'We've been able to find like-minded people,' they said, forming friendships and support systems. Visibility is crucial in the community, fostering greater acceptance and inclusion. The organization has advice for smaller communities like theirs who want to organize a Pride festival – be prepared for work, seek resources everywhere and don't be afraid to partner with larger communities or organizations such as the ACLU. 'It can feel daunting,' said Copeland, 'when you're a small-town group to go out and try to find those things, but it's possible.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Boston Globe
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Boston rally, vote calls for codifying LGBTQIA2S+ Office amid national rights rollbacks
The office, created by a Wu executive order, existed, until Wednesday's council vote, solely at the discretion of future mayors. 'In order for us to be a sanctuary city, we need protections in place,' Santana told the Globe. 'Codifying the LGBTQIA2S+ office ensures it stays here — no matter who the mayor is.' Speakers invoked the threats facing queer and trans people nationwide. The Trump administration has moved swiftly to Advertisement 'This year, we want to make a statement,' Santana said. 'People are living in fear. People don't feel safe.' City Councilor At-Large Henry Santana (right) listened to Sister Brother Freddie Anne Willing (both cq) of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence during a speech in the City Council chamber at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall Wednesday. Lane Turner/Globe Staff For many in attendance, the stakes are deeply personal. Lauretta Hearn, a member of the Transgender Veterans Support Group, said recent federal policy changes at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which halted gender-affirming surgeries for transgender veterans, have already taken a toll on their family. Advertisement 'I'm worried about my stepmom — she's 72. She's been transitioning for almost 30 years,' Hearn said. 'She feels not seen, and she gets upset because medically she can't do the surgeries, but the hormones make her still feel like she can be a woman.' Thepeer-led group offers virtual support spaces for trans veterans and their families across the country. Hearn, who co-hosts a weekly family and allies group, said they've seen the direct effects of recent care restrictions in Massachusetts and beyond. Boston, MA. 05/29/2025 - Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence members Sister Stella Tension-Hor (left) and Sister Brother Freddie Anne Willing (both cq) mingle at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall on June 4, 2025. Boston City Councilor At-Large Henry Santana and over 45 LGBTQ+ organizations hosted a Pride rally, reception, and celebration in and outside of Boston City Hall. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff) Lane Turner/Globe Staff Phoenix Lee, a transmasculine Boston resident, said he's also bracing for ripple effects. 'I'm worried that my legal documents won't match up and I'll be penalized. I'm on MassHealth, and I'm scared that my hormones or gender-affirming care will be taken away,' he said. Still, Lee said he felt fortunate to live in a state with stronger protections than most. 'I call it the Massachusetts bubble. I'm so grateful to be able to be visible without fear,' he said. Many who attended demanded lasting change. Kimberly Rhoten, director of policy and strategic initiatives in the Mayor's LGBTQIA2S+ office, said the council's vote is about more than symbolism. 'Right now, our office exists only by executive order. Codifying it into law makes it one step harder to remove us,' Rhoten said. 'Most other offices in our cabinet are already codified. We're one of the last.' They added that the office is already on the front lines of a public health crisis affecting LGBTQIA2S+ residents, particularly youth. Advertisement 'Youth who identify as queer are far more likely to contemplate suicide, to experience housing instability, and to engage in substance use,' Rhoten said. 'These issues existed before the election. But now we're seeing ripple effects that are going to make it worse.' In response, the office has expanded its grantmaking and policy advocacy. Each year, it distributes $150,000 in 'Beyond Pride' grants to dozens of local organizations working on everything from emergency housing to gender-affirming sports leagues. A recent initiative provided $50,000 to the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition to support name and gender marker changes on legal documents, Rhoten said. 'We're focused on helping our residents, not just survive, but thrive,' Rhoten said. LaNiesha Bowles listened to speakers at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall Plaza. Lane Turner/Globe Staff Joy, too, played a central role in the rally. Coley Kelly, an 82-year-old member of Boston Prime Timers, a social group for older gay, bisexual, and transgender men, said the event was a sign of progress. 'I think that the LGBTQ movement has been transformed over the years to be more socially acceptable — to be who you are, whenever and wherever you want to be.' He added, 'I'm confident that the movement and the acceptance of gay life is going to continue, because just about every family now either has or knows someone who's gay.' Freddie Anne Willing, abbess of the Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a queer activist and performance group known for using satire and spectacle to fight bigotry and support marginalized communities, urged the crowd to stay loud, visible, and unapologetically joyful. 'Just because we are joyful doesn't mean we are complacent,' she said. 'Just because we are joyful doesn't mean we're not angry. If it takes a little spite for you to be joyful — well, maybe that's Boston in 2025.' Advertisement Flags are held aloft at the Pride celebration at Boston City Hall on Wednesday. Lane Turner/Globe Staff Nathan Metcalf can be reached at
The National
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Edinburgh Pride 2025: All to know on date, route and line-up
Organisers are hoping that this "milestone" event will "build on the success of previous years" and bring the community together at a difficult time. Discussing the event, Brett Herriot, chair of Pride Edinburgh, said it "comes at a time where many within the LGBTQIA+ community are under threat and persecution simply for being who and what they are." He added that "standing together has never meant more" and that this gathering would be a "clear statement" to the world. When is Edinburgh Pride 2025 taking place? This year's Edinburgh Pride will take place on Saturday, June 21, with the attendees gathering for the march from around 12.15pm. It will set off at around 1pm following the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence's minute of noise and minute of silence. What is the route for Edinburgh Pride 2025? The route for the Edinburgh march will start at the Scottish Parliament before going past Canongate, High Street, George IV Bridge, Bristo Place, Potterrow, Crichton Street and Charles Street. See the full line-up for Edinburgh Pride 2025 The Pride march in Edinburgh will start at the Scottish Parliament. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) At around 2pm, there will be a main stage event featuring a number of big names, including pop icon and X Factor star Diana Vickers. X Factor star Diana Vickers GRAMMY-nominated vocalist Kelli-Leigh Drag Race UK finalist Ellie Diamond Drag favourite Chanel O'Conor Recommended Reading: Local drag talents Sissy Scorpio and Rozie Cheeks DJs Sylva, Darran Glasgow, and Lezzer Quest The main stage will be hosted by Edinburgh "drag queen royalty" Blaze. They will be accompanied by Blazin' Entertainment.
