SAVE THE DATE:
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021 - 12:00 PST/3:00 EST
THE LAVENDER EFFECT® presents
Live Virtual Pride Parade
Live via YouTube
Confirmed Celebrities: Alec Mapa (Event Host)
Lily Tomlin, Betty Buckley, Kathryn Hahn, Sally Kirkland, Alexandra Billings,
Bruce Vilanch, Charles Busch, Drew Droege, Jason Stuart,
Michael Musto, Kay Sedia
WHAT: THE LAVENDER EFFECT’s 2nd Live Virtual Pride Parade
WHERE: YouTube.com/c/TheLavenderEffect
WHEN: SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
TIME: 12:00PM - 2:00 PST
(Los Angeles, CA) - May 4, 2021 - Come celebrate this year's PRIDE live with THE LAVENDER EFFECT® Star-studded Live Virtual Pride Parade which will be broadcast on Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 12 noon PST/3p EST via YouTube.com/c/TheLavenderEffect.
This year's Virtual PRIDE Parade’s Host will be Alec Mapa. Mapa’s TV and film credits include Ugly Betty, Switched at Birth, Doom Patrol, You Don’t Mess with The Zohan and Connie and Carla. He lives in Los Angeles with his husband Jamison and Son Zion.
The Virtual Pride Parade will launch Pride Month and benefit THE LAVENDER EFFECT's mission to Advance the Future of LGBTQ+ Heritage & Culture. While many local Pride celebrations again are being canceled or modified this year due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, many members of the community will not be able to gather in person, so this live virtual event will safely bring the LGBTQ+ community together from across the nation to celebrate Pride.
This year marks the 51st Anniversary of the first PRIDE marches across the nation in June 1970, commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, and protesting for LGBTQ+ equality.
THE LAVENDER EFFECT has another stellar roster of some of the most well-known LGBTQ+ celebrities and allies, non-profits, and activists from around the globe, to help to bring the community together including:
Lily Tomlin (Tony, Emmy and Grammy Winner; Grace & Frankie; 9 to 5)
Betty Buckley (Tony Award winner for Cats, Eight is Enough)
Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision; Bad Moms)
Sally Kirkland (Golden Globe Winner for Anna)
Alexandra Billings (Transparent)
Bruce Vilanch (Emmy Winner; comedian writer/actor)
Michael Musto (journalist)
Jason Stuart (Smothered; comedian)
Drew Droege (Heathers)
Kay Sedia (AJ and the Queen; Chico's Angels)
Mel England (Best Day Ever)
Charles Busch (Drama Desk Award-winning Playwright & Actor)
City of West Hollywood
Colors Youth Counseling
Congregation Kol Ami
Freedom to Marry
Gay Elder Circle
IMRU Radio
LA LGBT Center
PFLAG Los Angeles
PFLAG National
Project Angel Food
Project 10 & Friends of Project 10
Last year, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, THE LAVENDER EFFECT® hosted the first “Virtual Pride Parade” to celebrate Pride and bring the LGBTQ+ community together. The live fundraising event featured celebrities, national LGBTQ+ organizations and politicians and over 10,000 viewed from around the country.
“As the LGBTQ+ community comes together for PRIDE again this year, we continue to find ourselves in a new normal. Once again, PRIDE will be celebrated safely throughout the country this year. We wanted to continue our outreach to everyone with our 2nd Virtual PRIDE Parade online this year.” said Andy Sacher, Founder & Executive Director of THE LAVENDER EFFECT®. He continued “We celebrate our LGBTQ+ PRIDE with our diverse sisters & brothers in a way that everyone can join, no matter where they are or how they express their PRIDE!”
THE LAVENDER EFFECT® is a nonprofit project of Community Partners that is advancing the future of LGBTQ Heritage & Culture. The organization helps to reduce shame, combat homophobia and empower LGBTQ+ youth through programs like the Virtual Pride Parade, Oral History Projects, and educational programs. For more information, please visit http://www.TheLavenderEffect.org.
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Virtual Pride Parade - Celebrity Press Quotes
LILY TOMLIN
“PRIDE is here again! I’m so excited to return to all the fun with THE LAVENDER EFFECT’S Virtual Pride Parade. PRIDE is LOVE and let’s share the love with each other. Happy Pride everyone!”
BETTY BUCKLEY
I'm so excited and honored once again to be a part of THE LAVENDER EFFECT® for their 2021 VIRTUAL PRIDE PARADE. Let's celebrate the diversity, the community and the love. Feel the PRIDE.
SALLY KIRKLAND
I'm honored to be a part of this wonderful Virtual Pride Parade again this year. THE LAVENDER EFFECT® does great work with educating and archiving LGBTQ+ culture and history. Pride is a time to celebrate and while it's been a tough year, I'm hoping everyone has a great pride and celebrate safely. Happy pride to all my LGBTQ+ friends.
BRUCE VILANCH
"You won't believe this year's Virtual Pride Parade. It will be the gayest thing to happen since I revealed that I changed my name from Caitlyn."
CHARLES BUSCH
It's time to let the world celebrate PRIDE once again. I am so happy to celebrate again with THE LAVENDER EFFECT's VIRTUAL PRIDE PARADE. Let's ALL raise our PRIDE flag high!
DREW DROEGE
“May we climb out of this year of solitude and fear as humans who are stronger, bolder, kinder, more inclusive, and gayer than ever before. Let's listen to the children, learn from our elders, celebrate our diversity, and DANCE, y'all!”
JASON STUART
"I stand on the shoulders of the LGBTQ folks who came before me. I would not be here without them… now that's what Pride is about!”
MICHAEL MUSTO
"I would never miss Pride--it's a highlight of my year, every year--and this year's Virtual Pride Parade will once again launch Pride month in a spectacular manner. The live-streaming event will bring a diversity of personalities who'll offer wisdom, inspiration and even festivity to our community. I'm thrilled to be a part of it again."