Long Beach Pride Weekend Draws Visitors, Possible New Residents

(May 19, 2013) -- Hotels and restaurants across the the city were filled with visitors for the Long Beach Pride Weekend. Exact figures weren't immediately available (officials routinely predict close to 50,000 visitors, second only to the Grand Prix) but the results were clearly visible.

Marie Parker and Georgia Workman from San Pedro. Photo credit: Joe Mello

Brian Alcantara and April Maldonardo and friends. Photo credit: Joe Mello

Gabby, Heather, Miranda and Deb. Photo credit: Joe Mello

West Hollywood friends. Photo credit: Joe Mello

Dining with friends on Saturday on Pine Ave. were Brian Alcantara from Orange County and April Maldonado from Riverside County. who said this was their first Long Beach Pride. While the guys drove back to Orange County, the gals stayed at the Hilton and planned on attending the parade.

San Pedro residents Marie Parker and Georgia Workman had just left the Pride Festival and walked up Pine Ave. looking for a place to eat downtown. Despite living close by, this was also their first LB Pride.

Taking the Blue Line down from West Hollywood were LB Pride regulars Adam Perez, David Lee Silvers and Gus Gonzalez and friends. Perez said they don't like the crowds at the bars after the festival closes so they come down for the day and return to West Hollywood for the after-parties there. Perez told LBREPORT.com, "A lot of people from L.A. just come for the day, then go back and celebrate in West Hollywood at night where it is less crowded. Our Pride is in just a couple of weeks."

The weekend's near perfect weather, and Long Beach's supportive community, local government and businesses, prompt some visitors to consider making Long Beach their new home. Laguna Beach residents Deb and Miranda said they were considering this. They told LBREPORT.com that they moved to Laguna Beach because of its reputation of being gay-friendly, but said many businesses that catered to the gay population had closed. Staying at a hotel in LB's Arts District, they were here for their first Long Beach Pride with friends Heather from Portland, Oregon and Gabby from San Diego.

Resting in Victory Park on Ocean Blvd. across from their hotel were Blake and Melissa from Santa Rosa, California, also attending their first LB Pride. Melissa said she's a frequent visitor to Long Beach and has already made up her mind to move to here by the end of the month.