By Laura Medina
The celebrations leading up to this weekend's LA Pride Parade wasn't the usual daytime clubbing or partying.
More than anything, it's clean-living for a clean slate.
This year's Proud and Pride celebrations were about the inside, the heart and soul.
Lululemon partnered up with the Trevor Project, https://www.thetrevorproject.org/about/#sm.0001vl0bvr1t1f37v331dhmmq6jxt, mental health, emotional support, and suicide prevention organization for gay and trans, with refreshing morning hilltop hike. Get some fresh air into those lungs.
Not your usual caffiene coffee fix here, Lululemon and the Trevor Project got hikers refreshed and fueled up on Quest Bars, Mad Tasty Sparkling Water, and Brew Dr.
Kombucha Love Wins, first thing in the morning.
Prominent gay and lesbian fitness fitness instructors, including those from SoulCycle, got everyone warmed up, stretching and mild leaping calisthenics, for the two hiking groups.
The go-get-them group went for the steep staircase climb down Baldwin Hills Overlook, https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22790
The vertigo-inclined went for the second hiking group, that went for gentle slopes and circling loop the loops, sticking to the hilltop.
Whether it's butt-burning staircase climbing or gentle slopes, both groups were treated to panoramic of the City of Angels, a near 360 degree view of Santa Monica to Downtown LA.
While soaking in the Instagram views, the Trevor Foundation staff causally chat about the origins and purpose of the emotional support hotline and program for the LGBTQ community and people, all over the world, regardless where they are. Just one suicide prevention drops the suicide rate by 30%. An impressive drop in the bucket.
After soaking in and breathing in that fresh morning mountain air, during hour long hike, it didn't stop there...
Everyone joined in a group mediation circle, in the Baldwin Hills Overlook amphitheater, overlooking the City of Angels or under-rated Culver City, home to former MGM/current Sony Studios.
During the group heart and soul mediation, Trevor Foundation survivors chatted about the Trevor Foundation helped them during their time of need. Guest speakers talked about how tough it was discovering they're gay as tweens and enduring gay bashing, prejudice, and harassment. Sometimes, that prejudice and the parental rejection are so bad that trans and gay young people are more likely to be discrimination, homelessness, with a great risk for suicide. The Trevor Foundation proves that they are not alone and they're generation programs, from mental and emotional support to job programs for at-risk youths.
The group mediation ended with an heart and soul chant of love, acceptance, and support.
The group support didn't end that morning. It continued through-out the day to later, that night...
The communal catharsis continued well into the night at The Giving Keys x Be Free x Lucky Brand, ending homelessness, particularly among LGBTQ community.
It was story night. Various gay and lesbian, mostly Gen-Z, speakers opening their backgrounds and how they discover their preferences and how they deal. Be Free story night proved that they're not alone.
It was also open house for The Giving Keys, https://www.thegivingkeys.com/.
They opened up the workshop where you can have your own keys custom-stamped with your own saying.
Or, you can support their goal in ending homelessness and helping the LGBTQ community by shopping limited edition Pride chrome keys and Stonewall Keys or their other collections, pre-stamped with core sayings, such as Love, Pride, and Strength and etc.
One night only, Lucky Brand Denim released Pride and Proud tee-shirts and tank tops support LA Pride Week. Affordable collector's items...one night only.
The night ended with a music video by a young, up and coming lesbian film maker, about discovering and being LGBTQ.
Honesty opens up.
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