The Beverly Center and The Advocate came together to kick-off PRIDE month and celebrate the LGBTQ community at their Champions of PRIDE event hosted by Laverne Cox and Karamo Brown on June 1. Held at Beverly Center’s Farmhouse, guests enjoyed the stylish tunes of Newbody and were treated to a special performance from American Idol’s Ada Vox.

The event honored four of The Advocate’s official Champions of PRIDE – notable LGBTQ advocates and allies who have made a significant impact on their community over this past year including Parkland survivor and advocate Emma Gonzales, ballroom icon and trans actress Cece Suazo, Chief Executive Officer of Extraordinary Families Sarah Boone, and founder of the of the first black, gay disco in LA Jewels Thais-Williams.

Laverne also hosted a ceremonial lighting of the building, illuminating Beverly Center’s exterior in PRIDE’s signature rainbow colors for the very first time. This was the first time the building has ever been lit, and it will be lit every evening throughout June as a symbol of the shopping center’s ongoing support of the LGBTQ community. A one-of-a-kind mural created by Lovewall artist J. Goldcrown served as the photo backdrop and is live at Beverly Center throughout the month of June.

By Kinya Claiborne

Photo Credit: Stefanie Keenan for Getty Images