What began as a celebration (read party) of queerdom and family became gathering of solidarity against hate after the Orlando shooting. It’s with a heavy heart that I sit down to write this recap of LA Pride.
But back to the beginning, when pride first kicked off
DAY 1: Hollywood: Pride Kickoff Party
I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off pride than with a night swim party at the iconic Hollywood Roosevelt hotel with Milk Milk Lemonade (a recurring party creating inclusive spaces for queer women to dance in Los Angeles).
Who let Brittani Nichols and Carmen Rios in? Just kidding.
DAY 2: Dyke Day LA, a show, some dancing
Dyke Day LA is my favorite part of pride. It’s just a bunch of queers hanging out in a park (for free) with DJs and dogs.
What is now an annual photo of us marching to our car during dyke day.
After some pizza we went to see a friend (Romy) play at Non Plus Ultra — it was tight and dark and wild.
Then to a Dyke Day after party at Akbar.
I’m so good at selfies I amaze myself.
And we swung by Swagger Like Us’s party at Los Globos where I took another killer selfie.
DAY 3: West Hollywood: the parade, a party, and LA Pride (Official)
We woke up to news of the shooting.
We all process pain differently. The only way I knew to process was to continue documenting what I saw and experienced.
I want to thank the members of law enforcement that helped create a safe space in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Us
We moved over to the Robertson which was wild but also loving.
And then into the official festival. This year, LA Pride became a music festival with increased ticket prices (which I personally have a lot of problems with but that’s for a later time). That being said, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Mostly because of Carly Rae Jepsen.
She was a light at the end of a dark day.
DAY 4: LA City Hall: Vigil for Orlando
On Monday night we went to Los Angeles City Hall for a rally and vigil.
As one speaker said, ‘a federal official suggested that maybe it was best to cancel the festivities – we said back, maybe you don’t know who we are.’ We stand up, fight hate, and spread love.
Happy pride season, march on.
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Well I’m crying again. Thank you so much this is beautiful. I loved that rainbow fist raised in the air, and I love this : “As one speaker said, ‘a federal official suggested that maybe it was best to cancel the festivities – we said back, maybe you don’t know who we are.’ We stand up, fight hate, and spread love.”
(the pictures are also super good)
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really really beautiful :”D
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(that’s crying with a really happy face)
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Beautiful thank you
Your selfie game is tight a+++
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Molly, I absolutely love your photos. You captured the emotions of each day beautifully. What camera and lens/lenses were you using?
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Thank you so much! Mostly a Fujifilm x100T, a Canon 5D mk iii with a Canon 24-70 f/2.8, and in iPhone – with some film and other things mixed in
Here’s a link about my kit though: http://mollyktadams.tumblr.com/post/144664018537/i-get-a-lot-of-questions-asking-what-i-shoot-on-so
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this is so freaking beautiful, and one of the rare things to bring a smile to my face right now.
i LOVE your selfies, and that pic of Carly Rae is PERFECTION
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OK THREE THINGS.
1. I need to talk to you about your floral button down. Where? How?
2. That picture of Carly Rae Jepsen is the best thing about this week.
3. This is really sweet and lovely and important, thank you <3
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1. Come to LA we’ll go floral button down shopping
2. Same
3. Thank you for being really sweet and lovely and you.
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This was lovely. Seeing these photos is really important. There are SO MANY QUEERS. We are SO MANY. We are not alone. We don’t have to hide. We don’t have to seek community exclusively through the internet. But we can use the internet to show everyone that we are SO MANY. Anybody in that crowd will give you a hug, or call you a cab, or maybe even let you crash on their couch if you need it. I met a young Mormon girl at SLC pride who had just come out, and all her friends had stopped talking to her. We told her, everyone here is your friend now. We all love you.
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these are beautiful, and sam’s flower crown game is really on point.
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“Maybe you don’t know who we are” just ruined me.
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That was beautiful thank you so much
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thank you for posting this, amazing.
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As always love the pictures. I take there was some film shots mixed in here?
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Thank you so much – yeah just one or two though – here’s a link about what I shoot on:
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“Maybe you don’t know who we are” hit me really, really hard as well. That’s been the beat that’s been running through me since I heard.
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so so beautiful.
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molly how are you so amazing. these are … fucking BEAUTIFUL
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Thank you for these. The picture of the parents holding signs about how proud they were of their gay kids really got to me. I went to a candlelight vigil the day after the shooting and got a really long hug from a PFLAG mom who I had never met before. Shout out to the parental allies of our community and thank you for your love.