City Council holds Pride recognition; honors organizations and local leaders, City Hall to be lit in pride colors

The Los Angeles City Council held a Pride Month recognition on June 6, 2025, honoring dozens of community groups and individuals and announcing that City Hall will be lit in Pride colors for the weekend.

Councilmember Isabel Jurado, whose office led the presentation, said Pride remains both celebration and political witness. “Pride has always been a radical act of resistance and today is no exception,” Jurado said during the council chamber program, which included music, an award presentation, and a launch of the city’s 2025 LGBT Heritage Month guide.

The presentation ran more than an hour and included councilmembers from across the city presenting certificates to community honorees and nonprofit leaders. The Los Angeles LGBT Center, Reach LA, the Latino Equality Alliance, the Rainbow Book Bus and other organizations received recognition. Local artists and cultural figures also were singled out: Dr. Amina Humphrey’s artwork was unveiled for the city’s 2025 LGBT Heritage Month calendar, and singer Lila James accepted a city certificate as part of Black Music Month programming.

Council members described the event as both celebratory and a reminder of ongoing threats to LGBTQ+ communities. The chamber acknowledged simultaneous concerns about federal immigration enforcement and other public-safety matters raised by speakers and councilmembers during the meeting. Councilmember Jurado thanked partner departments including the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Los Angeles Public Library and the Civil and Human Rights Department for producing events and resources tied to Pride Month.

Highlights and honorees named on the chamber floor included:
- Reach LA (recognized on behalf of the organization by Greg Wilson, chief operating officer).
- Latino Equality Alliance (Eddie Martinez, executive director, accepted recognition).
- The Rainbow Book Bus (honored for national outreach; Adam Powell identified as executive director in comments).
- Local honorees presented by district offices, among them: Andrew Montelegre (CD1), Anthony Braswell (CD2), Amos Marville (CD3), Peter Nichols (CD5), Augustine Cabrera (CD8), Kelly Ravenscraft (CD7), Jasmine Cannon (South LA Pride co-founder), Pete Sedlmeier (Harbor Area Boys & Girls Clubs CEO) and Stephen Milley (owner of See Friends in Reseda).

Daniel Tarika, general manager of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and artist Dr. Amina Humphrey unveiled the official Pride-month book cover and cultural guide artwork in the chamber. Councilmember Tracy Park announced a gallery exhibit at the Central Library and reminded the public that City Hall would be illuminated in Pride colors that evening.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez invited Angelenos to LA Pride Parade and Pride Village events later in June; other councilmembers announced local Pride activities across council districts.

The council’s presentation emphasized the intersectionality of Pride with cultural programming, public services and community health resources. Organizers urged residents to consult departmental event pages and the city calendar for schedules and locations.

City Hall’s public affairs office said printed copies of the 2025 Heritage Month guide would be available at district offices and City Hall; the guide and event listings were posted online by the Department of Cultural Affairs and the LA Public Library.

As the program closed, multiple speakers reiterated that Pride remains both celebration and a political act and encouraged continued civic engagement around protections and services for LGBTQ+ Angelenos.