As Pride hits its 30 year anniversary, the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) will mark a first in its own history: partaking in a LBUSD-sponsored trip down Ocean Boulevard for Pride.
Much like the stake-bed setup the district used for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade earlier this year, a truck carrying Superintendent Christopher Steinhauser, the Board of Education members, and students involved in the Gay Straight Alliance will be waving and greeting onlookers in support of Pride.
“You are correct that this is a first,” said LBUSD representative Chris Eftychiou happily. “We want all students to feel that they can attend school in a supportive atmosphere, and our participation in this parade is yet another way to communicate that important message.”
That important message has, for the most part, distinguished LBUSD from surrounding districts since the passage of AB 9, the State’s anti-discrimination bill called The Safe Place to Learn Act. In an two-part article last year, the Press-Telegram discovered that LBUSD was the only district of any Long Beach-area school districts which complied with AB 9.
The 30th LBLGP Parade will kick off Sunday, May 19 at 10:30AM at Ocean Blvd. and Lindero Ave. The sitting stand which offers the public a heightened view of the parade is located across from Bixby Park. Handicapped parking and viewing is available at Ocean and Junipero Avenue. Other parking can be found at the west end of the parade route at the Long Beach Convention Center, located at 400 East Seaside Way.
For more information about Long Beach Pride, visit longbeachpride.com