West Hollywood celebrated it’s annual WeHo Pride Parade and OUTLOUD Music Festival, kicking off Pride Month with full blown pomp and circumstance. Despite the difficult political climate, attendees danced and celebrated their hearts out amongst the revelry. The OUTLOUD Music Festival, a paid area at the West Hollywood Park, hosted famous names like Lizzo, Paris Hilton, Remi Wolf, and others during the weekend for hours of celebration as well as remembrance.
Within the limited hour setlist, Lizzo showed off her many talents as well as a different side to her. Admittedly, Lizzo’s public troubles—including her many legal battles—silently hung over the crowd. Coming onstage fierce and strong, donning denim shorts and a grungy black tank top, I wondered if she would tackle the stage with only a brave face and a fake smile. Yet, she stood on stage vulnerable and human as she vocalized her mental health struggles in front of the large crowd. She was rewarded with a warm welcome as a response to her honesty.
She dedicated part of her Saturday night set to honoring Marsha P. Johnson as well as other activists for their continued contributions to queer liberation. “Next song is dedicated to you, and most importantly the Black trans women who was out there fighting. We would not be able to celebrate today, and we still in some s–t right? But hopefully beyond this mother——- rainbow, we will see a place where we no longer have to fight to exist. This is for you.” As she was draped in a sparkling, red faux-fur coat, the singer delivered a passionate rendition of “Over the Rainbow” along with a flute solo. As historical images of the March on Albany faded in and out, festival-goers were moved to tears as they waved fans and flags in support.
In addition to playing guitar and pulling out unforgettable “Phone” from the concert vault, Lizzo introduced Jessabelle Thunder—an LA based burlesque dancer—who spiced up the appropriately timed track, “Everybody’s Gay.” The R&B singer didn’t shy away from referring to her backlash as lamp shaded it during as she debuted a new, untitled song that interpolates Meredith Brooks’ legendary “Bitch.”
Ending her set with a mashup of Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” and “About Damn Time” surrounded by a stage covered in Pride flags, Lizzo appreciatively thanked everyone for coming out to see her and kick off the month as the clock struck midnight.
On the second day of the music festival, Rebecca Black burst on stage with her dancers holding up mock Westboro Baptist Church protest signs. Because the WBC is known for their harmful, inflammatory anti-LGBTQ messages, the pop star used the same aesthetic while turning it on its head. With bold phrases like, “Warning to All Straight People, Orgasm Fakers, etc. Hell Awaits” and “Time to Repent Salvation is Coming – Rebecca 3:33,” the singer mocked their crude slogans.
“Now WeHo, this is a very special show for me. It’s the first Pride I get to do of the season,” said Black. “Every year is always a reminder as a queer person, when you get to bring these faces together as to just how much work needs to be done. It’s a place where we get to uplift aspects of our community that are being attacked; we know. Not only to celebrate those who are working tremendously hard for all of us, but to shine a light on what it means to be together.”
She would continue to share a personal story about her time in West Hollywood and discovering her identity. “My friends would call it home. We’d say, “We’re going home tonight at Flaming Saddles.” Rest in peace. I had some of the best memories of my life, coming into myself as a queer person at The Chapel at The Abbey on Ladies’ Night. Which is a dark place, but you know, necessary. West Hollywood will always be the place that birthed me and many other beautiful queer people that I know are here tonight.”
To honor the place of her awakening, she voiced her desire to sing “a song that I love very much.” This turned out to be a cheeky cover of Katy Perry’s midtempo song, “Ur So Gay.” Interestingly, this decision is paradoxically both layered in meaning and straight to the point as Black has been Perry’s supporting act on her 2025 Lifetimes Tour. “Give it up for this song! Give it up for all the people who hope to be gay, that wish to be gay, but don’t can’t do it.” Rebecca Black would then loudly and proudly replace the last word in the song with its female equivalent.
While halfway into the chaotic dance beat of “Sugar Water Cyanide,” Black commanded the audience to go hard as she prepped them for the remix of her infamous thirteen-year-old viral hit, “Friday.” Her infectious smile during the song that led to public ridicule for years showed just how the internet sensation has come. Like a butterfly, her metamorphosis from a cringey blip in internet history to a beloved queer icon was in full display as she embraced her past.
This year’s OUTLOUD Music Festival was a tremendous success, and a welcome reminder that there’s so much love and support for the queer community during a turbulent time. The performances provided a space to observe and commemorate the past and present, while looking towards a more hopeful future. After four years, the musical acts have become a staple to the WeHo Pride festivities. As all the merriment has come to pass, the softening echoes of cheers remind us that there’s still work to do. While the stages were short and sweet, they exuded the energy behind Marsha P. Johnson’s words, “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.”
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