TikTok will be the presenting sponsor of two major Southern California events this June.
Ten days before it places itself front-and-center at the 2022 edition of VidCon, the short-form video app will attach its name to another well-known celebration. It will be the presenting sponsor of the 2022 L.A. Pride Parade, which will march through Hollywood on June 12.
Though the literal parade will occur on the 12th, L.A. Pride festivities will begin a day earlier, and TikTok will have a presence for the entire weekend. A “Pride in the Park” concert will take place on June 11, and the popular app will be there to provide backstage coverage. This will be the second straight year that TikTok goes live to amplify the music that surrounds L.A.’s LGBTQ+ festival. In 2021, it offered up a stream of ‘Thrive With Pride,’ which was hosted by creator Benito Skinner (aka Benny Drama).
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Pride in the Park will be a warm-up for the main event, which will feature a new parade route. In previous years, the official Pride celebration wound through West Hollywood, but it’s moving to Hollywood proper in 2022. One of the floats that will join the caravan will be sponsored by TikTok and will feature some of the creators who were included among the platform’s inaugural group of “pride trailblazers.”
That list, which debuted this past February, included TikTok stars who exist across the spectra of sexuality and identity. Its 15 trailblazers include trans comedian @brownnskinbarbi and lesbian historian @elliemedhurst.
@elliemedhurst we have always been here!!! 💜 #lesbianhistory #queerhistory #lesbiansoftiktok🏳️🌈 #lesbiantiktok #sappho ♬ original sound – Eleanor
“TikTok has a thriving LGBTQIA+ community, made up of inspiring voices who drive culture, influence and impact on and off the platform,” said Brett Peters, TikTok’s head of education and philanthropy partnerships, in a statement. “We’re honored to be partnering with LA Pride once again to bring the magic and joy of Pride to life with our TikTok community, alongside our allies and trailblazing creators.”
Performers at Pride in the Park will include Christina Aguilera, Anitta, Michaela Jaé, and Rebecca Black. TikTok hasn’t yet revealed any specific queer trailblazers who will ride along on its parade float.
