Date: Thu, 4 Jul 1996 17:13:29 -0700 (PDT) From: Rex Wockner Subject: WOCKNER/300,000 AT L.A. PRIDE 300,000 AT L.A. PRIDE by Rex Wockner WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Around 300,000 people jammed Santa Monica Boulevard June 23 for the 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration, police estimated. Although this year's parade theme was "Pride Without Borders," the actual theme, judging from the signs carried by marchers, was the demand for legalization of gay marriage. Grand marshall for the parade was gay actor Scott Thompson, best known as a member of the Canadian comedy troupe Kids In The Hall. Thompson sat atop a convertible giving the Queen of England wave. Later, he took the main stage of the pride festival as one of his most popular Kids In The Hall characters, the alcoholic bar-fag Buddy Cole. In a dressing-room interview with [this newspaper] Thompson said that after several years of complaining, he's finally getting some recognition from the gay community. "It's changing," he said, in part because gay/lesbian leaders are beginning to let go of so-called political correctness, he suggested. Thompson said he was denied performing at the 1993 gay March on Washington because, organizers told him, "We already have enough white men." "I'm putting all that behind me," he said. Also joining the parade were singer Nancy Sinatra and numerous politicians, including Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and lesbian California Assemblywoman Sheila James Kuehl. A huge all-weekend festival at the West end of the Santa Monica strip featured scores of acts including the pop group Dead or Alive and bad-girl comedian Lea DeLaria. More than 300 booths dispensed information, crafts and gay paraphernalia. Dance tents featured country and pop music. Since it was Los Angeles, muscle boys were everywhere, of course. "I've seen a large number of buff torsos," said Mario Inchiosa, who drove up for the festivities from San Diego. The weekend was launched with a commitment ceremony hosted by the City of West Hollywood, one of several American cities that officially register same-sex couples. -end- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 1996 Rex Wockner. All rights reserved. Do not publish, broadcast, or cybertransport without permission. ----------------------------------------------------------------