Star-Studded Pride Celebrations in 2023: A Look at Melissa McCarthy, Niecy Nash, and More!
A star-studded lineup including Melissa McCarthy, Niecy Nash, and Christine Quinn came together to celebrate Pride 2023 The festivities saw some of the biggest names from the entertainment industry, such as Tinashe, Lance Bass, and Idina Menzel, joining in on the fun The event was a colorful and joyous celebration of love, diversity, and acceptance
Melissa McCarthy, Christine Quinn, Tinashe, and Niecy Nash-Betts were among the LGBTQ+ allies and icons who proudly waved their rainbow flags during the 2023 pride celebrations. Lance Bass, who has been married to Michael Turchin since 2014, kicked off the West Hollywood Pride Parade coverage on June 4 by reflecting on the significance of Pride Month. According to the singer, Pride Month is a time to celebrate who we are, recognize how far we’ve come, and honor those who paved the way for us.
"The current climate for the LGBTQIA community is extremely hostile, hence why Pride has become a protest. It originated as a protest and continues to be one. It's inspiring to see many individuals standing up for their beliefs and fighting for what is right. It's also important to note that even celebrities who identify as straight are showing their support for the queer community. For instance, McCarthy was recognized as an "ally icon" at the WeHo event."
Quinn, a former cast member of Netflix's Selling Sunset, had a heartfelt message to share ahead of her participation in the California parade. In a Twitter post, she spoke of rising above hate and intolerance, embracing one's true identity, and celebrating love without any reservations. According to her, the parade was a platform to showcase the nuances of one's personality and the distance between who we are and who we aspire to be. She ended her message on a thought-provoking note, questioning whether everything we do is just a form of drag.
Among the reality stars spotted at the June 4 event, were the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills duo, Garcelle Beauvais and Sutton Stracke. The besties were seen carrying matching rainbow fans as they rode in a Sutton Concept convertible. While the West Hollywood pride parade served as the first major star-studded event of 2023, there are still several celebrations scheduled throughout the summer. New Orleans and Los Angeles are set for the second weekend of June, while Chicago and Portland will be celebrating during the third weekend. Finally, New York City and Nashville will wrap up the month with their pride celebrations on the last Saturday and Sunday.
Scroll down to see the stars celebrating pride in 2023:
Credit: MEGA (3)
Melissa McCarthy, Niecy Nash, Christine Quinn and More Stars Celebrate Pride 2023: See the Photos
Melissa McCarthy, Christine Quinn, Tinashe, and Niecy Nash-Betts proudly waved their rainbow flags during the 2023 pride celebrations, standing in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. The West Hollywood Pride Parade was kicked off by Lance Bass on June 4, where he shared the significance of the month with viewers. "To me, pride means celebrating who we are, recognizing how far we've come, and honoring those who paved the way for us to be here today," explained the singer, who is married to Michael Turchin since 2014, during a KTLA parade broadcast.
"The current climate for the LGBTQIA community is undeniably hostile," he expressed. "That's why pride is more than just a celebration, it's a form of protest. It's important to acknowledge that it all started as a protest and it still holds that powerful meaning today. Many individuals are standing up for what's right and fighting for their beliefs." It's not just members of the LGBTQIA community who are showing their support, as straight celebrities like McCarthy are being recognized as "ally icons" at events like WeHo.
Quinn, the popular former star of Netflix's Selling Sunset, had a powerful message to share ahead of participating in the California parade. "We are like phoenixes, rising from the ashes of hate, and our vibrant rainbow shines through the storm of intolerance. Today, we shed our masks and reveal our true selves in all their resplendent colors. This is a time of freedom, breaking centuries of silence. We are seen and celebrated today, and our love is loud and proud. Our performance is a celebration of who we are, who we want to be, and the journey in between. In the end, aren't we all just expressing ourselves through some form of drag?" Quinn wrote on Twitter.
Garcelle Beauvais and Sutton Stracke, known for their appearances on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, also made an appearance at the June 4 event. The besties were seen carrying matching rainbow fans while riding in a Sutton Concept convertible. While the West Hollywood parade was the first major pride event of 2023 in the U.S., there are many more celebrations scheduled throughout the summer. New Orleans and Los Angeles will hold their pride events during the second weekend of June, while Chicago and Portland will follow during the third weekend. Finally, New York City and Nashville will wrap up the month with pride celebrations held on the last Saturday and Sunday.
Scroll down to see the stars celebrating pride in 2023:
Credit: APEX/MEGA
Cara Delevingne
The model cheered on Megan Thee Stallion’s set at LA Pride on June 9.
Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock
Chrishell Stause and Emma Hernan
The Selling Sunset stars donned their rainbow best before they cheered on Stause’s spouse, G Flip, at their LA Pride performance.
Credit: Snorlax / MEGA
Melissa McCarthy
The Little Mermaid star was among the honorees at the West Hollywood event on June 4.
Credit: APEX / MEGA
Niecy Nash-Betts and Jessica Betts
The married couple were honored as "trailblazer icons" at WeHo pride.
Credit: APEX / MEGA
Christine Quinn
The real estate agent rocked a metallic mini dress during WeHo Pride on June 4.
Credit: Courtesy of Alexandra Shipp/Instagram
Alexandra Shipp
The actress wore Barbie pink while promoting the summer flick on the movie's float at the WeHo parade.
Credit: APEX / MEGA
Garcelle Beauvais and Sutton Stracke
"Happy #pride ️#lovewins," Beauvais captioned photos of the outing.
Credit: Courtesy of Twitter/Tinashe
Tinashe
"Happy mfn pride," the performer captioned a backstage photo before her performance at WeHo Pride on June 3.
Credit: Courtesy of Idina Menzel/Instagram
Idina Menzel
"My son was proud of me during #pride. That’s all that matters," Menzel captioned a photo after her June 3 performance at West Hollywood's Pride celebration.
Credit: APEX / MEGA
Laith Ashley
The star of Taylor Swift's "Lavender Haze" music video was honored as a "breakthrough icon" at the West Hollywood parade.
