PRIDE & PROMOTE EDUCATE, ADVOCATE, CELEBRATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATE OF LA BLACK PRIDE

"LA's Historic Black LGBT Pride dissolves and re-births into year round community agency to educate, advocate and celebrate."

February 5, 2012 (Los Angeles, CA)– On a beautiful Saturday, 4th of July weekend, several friends decided to pack their lunches and towels and have a day At the Beach, one of the most
beautiful in the world, Malibu's Point Dume.

Each year word spread of the warm energy of family, good fun and the exclusivity of celebrating who you are, no matter what you are under the sun and kicking up soft white sand.

Eventually this weekend would evolve into Los Angeles Black Pride (LABP), the premiere annual event for the Black LGBT community which a one point attracted more than 20,000 to the place we call home.

LABP and the beach party would become an organization that has inspired others to unite and celebrate in their own communities as a founding member of the International Federation of Black Prides.

Over the years, At the Beach (ATB) has overcome many obstacles as a growing entity in Southern California.

One of the hurdles was developing a relationship with local law enforcement and local law makers and come to a mutual understanding.

And the other is staying financially sound without leaning on the pockets of our community during rocky economic times.

As an all volunteer organization we often pull from our own pockets to produce this event out of pure love for the rich history of this organization and to the people we call our neighbors, friends and family.

As corporate dollars are redirected through other avenues, we urge the companies that rely on our very own hard earned dollars to recycle that money back into our community.

Today, the iconic individuals that built this organization are still with us in spirit and through guidance as (we) the new leaders write the next chapter of this organization.

We call upon all promoters throughout the Los Angeles area to help us show other cities that we too can put our heads and resources together and there will be no stopping us. Being in the heart of show business, we know how to entertain.

And we can’t forget about the causes in this community that need a much bigger platform in order to be clearly heard. Same-Sex marriage, HIV awareness, Breast/Thyroid cancer, Same-Sex Parent homes, Bullying, Domestic Violence, Drugs/Alcohol Abuse healing, LGBT history education in schools, care for Elders and disabled and the dream of building an Urban LGBT community center perhaps in the beautiful art district of Lemiert Park; all are just a few of the conversations we need to talk about as friends, as a family and even as a community.

As we move forward with our mission;To educate, advocate and celebrate, we want to transition in the most transparent way to the next chapter of this ground breaking organization with new blood on board led by President Paul Scott.

This new body of the board has seen what you’ve you seen, thought what you’ve thought and heard what you’ve heard about the darkest days of our pride.

But we believe tomorrow is a brighter day, a new day and fresh future for Pride and Promote Los Angeles Black Pride.

The team of Pride and Promote is working hard to build on to what was started 24 years ago, considering today versus yesterday and most importantly listening to you. This is your pride and together we are hosts to friends and family flying in from all over to see what LA has to offer.

We can’t do it alone and we need you now more than ever to step up and show your love to your community. If you’ve always thought about helping, now is your chance to contribute to your community.

Businesses and organizations, this is your opportunity to reach the people who support you and your products up close and personal. Your contributions bring in the entertainment, put up the tents, feed our volunteers and take care of licenses, permits and fees.

The idea for our signature event of the year “At the Beach” or better known as the Beach Party is going in a new direction that should please everyone. ATB is grandfathered in as the only organization in the California to have a party as big as ours on any state beach.

Malibu we appreciate you for having us for 24 years, but its time that we bring Pride closer to home. When we say closer, we mean so close you can jump in a cab.

With our President Barack Obama up for re-election, pride weekend will be provide a platform for us to unite behind him as a community and show the world he deserves another term.

This maybe Los Angeles Black Pride, but we welcome all to our events because when it’s all said and done we live next door to each other, work together, sit in class together and dine with each other. We want to show all of our friends and allies “This is how we do it!”.

To the elders in our community that have paved the path for us with your pride, trials and triumphs and prayers, we value you and thank you for making the way for us.

To our young, your talents and awareness of the vision and good health continues to build on the foundation built by the people we know today as icons and legends. We invite you to contribute in your own way because this pride was created for you.

By the way ‘Save the dates’ to be aware of pre-pride events to be aware of …. Divas Live a special benefit for the Love is the Message Ball, Thursday Feb 23rd, hosted by Ms. Ebony Lane at Club IceKreme/Cobra in North Hollywood and of course the Love is the Message Ball, Sunday April 22nd in Downtown LA. You can get more information on our website at www.atbla.com.

Last but not least, Pride and Promote presents Los Angeles Black Pride and our signature event “At the Beach” July 4-8th, 2012.

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Yours in Pride,

Marcus D. Smith

Executive Board Members

Media Relations Director

Los Angeles Black Pride/At The Beach

D: 323.230.0637

www.atbla.com

Celebrating 24 Years July4-8 2012!