Members of the LGBTQ+ community were outraged after one of the largest Pride festivals in Southern California was canceled just hours before it was scheduled to begin.
Long Beach city officials shut down the festival on Friday, accusing organizers of failing to provide critical safety and operational documentation required for the event. The city’s attorney sent a cease-and-desist order to the organizers immediately prior to the start time.
“The City notified the organizer that it had failed to timely submit the required application materials and supporting documentation necessary for permit review and issuance. As a result, no special event permit has been approved or issued for the events,” Dawn McIntosh stated in the letter.
Long Beach Pride President Tonya Martin condemned the cancellation in a statement Friday, demanding the city “protect and uplift” the LGBTQ community but did not confirm whether organizers had submitted proper documentation. “Long Beach Pride is deeply disappointed by the City’s decision to cancel the Long Beach Pride Festival, a long-standing community institution built by volunteers, sustained by love, and rooted in the belief that every person deserves to live openly, safely, and with dignity,” Martin wrote.
“This decision comes at a moment when LGBTQ+ people are facing escalating attacks from the current federal administration and from political forces across the country,” she added.
On Saturday, the city issued a rebuttal described as aggressive. Officials stated most festivals of that size complete documentation 65 days in advance and had worked with organizers until the day of the event to resolve issues. The city also noted it had previously stepped in three years ago to keep the event running but intended this intervention to be one-time, continuing to fund and manage the parade since.
Despite the festival cancellation, the Pride parade proceeded as scheduled.
