Gerald Garth Named LA Pride Ambassador

Gerald Garth, an ambassador for LA Pride 2017

Congratulations to Gerald Garth, who has been named an ambassador for Los Angeles's annual LA Pride Parade and Festival. A video featuring Gerald, and other images of him, will be used to promote the celebration, which has taken place since 1970 as a response to and in commemoration of the Stonewall Rebellion on Christopher Street in New York City the year prior.

"I was absolutely thrilled when asked to serve as a Pride Ambassador," says Garth. "Pride—being proud of oneself—can look like so many things. It's important that individuals see representations of the spectrum of what it means to be proud. This year's theme is 'Own Your Pride.' To me, that means embracing those things about your experience that excite you."

Produced by the Christopher Street West Association, on June 11, 2017, the annual LA Pride parade is being transformed into a human-rights #ResistMarch in unity with sister marches taking place in New York, Austin, Seattle, Washington D.C. and other cities nationwide.

The LA Pride website states: "The LGBTQ+ community includes people of every race, religion, philosophical belief, immigration status, gender and sexual orientation. Members of our community and our allies are experiencing increased levels of hostility and discrimination and we must stand united to protect one another. We are calling on everyone to peacefully march with us as a sign of our solidarity with another. Instead of a Pride Parade meant to celebrate our past progress, we are going to march to ensure all our futures. In 1970, the first ever permitted Pride Parade was hosted in Los Angeles and it was a civil rights march. This year, we return to our roots!"

"There are moments in time when it is absolutely critical that people of goodwill stand up and speak out. Now is one of those times," says Phill Wilson, President and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute. "Audrey Lord said, 'When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid, so it's better to speak.' Our silence not only will not protect us against many of the attacks that are taking place against poor people, and people of color, and certain people of faith, and LGBTQ people, and people living with HIV and AIDS—our silence communicates a complicity with these acts. Now is not the time to be silent. Now is the time to speak up. Now is the time to resist. The Black AIDS Institute is proud and committed to participate in the #ResistMarch in Los Angeles."

Sponsored by organizations ranging from Bienestar, to The California Endowment, to the Teamsters, the march is "open to everyone who believes in compassion, tolerance and acceptance of all American citizens and Dreamers. We welcome all ages, sexual orientations and gender identities. We also welcome all who want to stand up for women's rights, immigrant rights, diversity, and truth. This is a day of celebration and a renewed focus on political and social activism."

"In this work, it's always been my goal to help people, and sometimes the best help you can give is to be yourself," says Garth.

To learn more about LA Pride, the #ResistMarch, or the many health or HIV events serving Black communities around the nation—or to add an event from your organization or community—visit the #30DaysOfHIV Online Community Calendar.