West Hollywood Pride wraps with Lizzo set, parade on Santa Monica Blvd

Large crowds packed West Hollywood's Santa Monica Boulevard on Sunday for the OUTLOUD Music Festival, closing the first weekend of Pride Month with a headlining concert by Grammy-winning artist Lizzo and a parade through the city, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The West Hollywood celebration is one of the country's largest Pride festivals, according to ABC7 Los Angeles, and comes days before the 56th-annual L.A. Pride Parade — billed as the nation's longest-running — which will feature more than 120 contingents.

The OUTLOUD Music Festival, described by ABC7 Los Angeles as one of the country's largest Pride celebrations, filled West Hollywood's streets with live music, floats and dancers as the Pride Month season opened across Southern California.

Lizzo delivered an impromptu rendition of "Truth Hurts" during her headlining set. Addressing the crowd, she said: "I just want to say as an ally, thank you so much for always supporting me and loving on me," according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Attendee Tokyo Singletary told ABC7 Los Angeles the event carried deep personal meaning. "With everything that's going on, just to have a space to come out here and walk around and be free, love on your loved one, be Black and be proud, is very important," Singletary said.

Ryan Morales, 25, of Glendale, marked the occasion after coming out as queer in recent years. "I was like, I don't want to lie about who I am. I want to be myself, living my truth. When you feel ready to — that's the perfect time," Morales said.

Along the parade route, spectators celebrated the inclusive atmosphere. Katie Cubbedge of Culver City said: "No judgment here. We're in the no judgment zone. Love is love, we love it, and we cheers to it all day long." Eryka Rangel, an ally from Thousand Oaks, added: "I am obsessed with this culture, and I love my friends, and I want to support everybody."

The region's Pride season continues with the 56th-annual L.A. Pride Parade, the nation's longest-running, expected to draw more than 120 contingents in the coming days.