Trans Pride L.A. Returns, This Time With Kelly Mantle and Alexandra Billings in Tow

Every year the Los Angeles LGBT Center puts on the Trans Pride L.A. festival, which is one of the largest and oldest trans Pride events in the United States. This year’s event takes place at The Village in Ed Gould Plaza next Friday and Saturday, June 15 and 16. And this year’s guest of honor is none other than Andrea Jenkins, Minneapolis City Council Member. Jenkins is the first black trans woman to be elected to public office in the country.

Jenkins will be speaking at the Trans Pride L.A. edition of the Center’s Big Queer Convo series, which invites LGBT icons to speak. Last November, Jenkins handily won her election to represent Minneapolis’ Eight Ward with over 70% of the vote. While her talk will be free to attend, an RSVP is required.

Andrea Jenkins’ speech will kick off Trans Pride L.A. 2018, and immediately after Big Queer Convo is the opening of a new art exhibit, Let Me Show You Something Beautiful. The exhibit is a display of the stunning photography by Oscar-nominated filmmaker and photojournalist Kimberlee Acquaro.

Trans Pride L.A. continues Saturday morning. Attendees can attend a self-defense workshop, a clothing swap (sponsored by TransTribe Los Angeles) and a panel discussion. There’s also a resource fair featuring 40 organizations providing information about their services and programs for the trans community.

Saturday evening promises to be the most fun, though. There’s a happy hour event sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, plus a catered dinner and awards presentation. But we’re the most excited for the VarieTy show, which will star, among many others, Drag Race alum Kelly Mantle, Transparent actress Alexandra Billings and Kai Gloger, a 9-year-old trans girl who will read her coming-out essay.

Trans Pride L.A. takes place June 15–16 at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza in Los Angeles. Admission is free.

All photos courtesy of the Los Angeles LGBT Center