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WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - Christopher Street West's 2006 Pride theme was “Our Agenda: Love. Equality. Pride.”

“Christopher Street West is standing and saying yes, we have an agenda, and that is to have the same rights all Americans desire,” stated CSW President Rodney Scott. “In America people are still fired from their jobs, denied the ability to create a family and denied survivor benefits based on whom they choose to love or who they are. Around the world people have been executed simply for being LGBT. Obviously, there is still work to be done,” continued Mr. Scott.

The 2006 Pride celebration was held in West Hollywood, California June 9-11, 2006.

The festival, took place on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 and included main stage entertainment, numerous dance pavilions and affinity venues. Taylor Dayne, who has had hits on both the U.S. and U.K. charts, including “Tell It To My Heart,” “Don’t Rush Me” and “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love,” headlined Sunday, June 11. Also performing on Sunday included Berlin featuring Terri Nunn, known for “Take My Breath Away” and Bow Wow Wow, best known for “I Want Candy” and Billie Myers who experienced overnight success with her hit single “Kiss the Rain.”

Other Main Stage performers throughout the weekend will included: CeCe Peniston (“Finally”), Grammy Award winning Legend Thelma Houston (“Don’t Leave Me This Way”), Niki Harris (“What’s It Gonna Be”), Animotion (“Obsession”) and Rock Star: INXS contestant Deanna Johnston.

The Parade was held on Sunday, June 11 along Santa Monica Blvd. between Crescent Heights and Robertson Blvd. in front of several hundred thousand spectators. The parade strongly displayed the 2006 theme, “Our Agenda: Love. Equality. Pride.” Christopher Street West president Rodney Scott stated “Christopher Street West is excited to have Lupe Ontiveros join us as Grand Marshall and Marissa Jaret Winokur as Celebrity Grand Marshall for 2006 LA Pride in West Hollywood. Marissa has seen success not only on Broadway but also in numerous television and film roles and Lupe is a visionary who has sought to affect change while maintaining her dignity as a woman. CSW continues to forge relationships with individuals beyond the LGBT community who share a passion for equality and who are willing to help bring visibility to the inequalities that exist.”

The 15 years that Lupe spent as a social worker helped her become more involved as an activist, which has gained the respect of her community through recognition awards for her efforts. As a founding member of the Latino Theatre Company in Los Angeles, Lupe has dedicated her life towards affecting change in the negative image of Latinos in the entertainment industry. By creating award winning, original theatrical projects that enhance our existing cultural values and educate theatre audiences to the Latino/Chicano experience, the Latino Theatre Company has been able to address past and present social/political issues from the historical events of the Chicano Movement to the present social/sexual evolution of the Latino Community. Lupe’s film credits include “Picking Up the Pieces” with Woody Allen, “As Good as it Gets” with Jack Nicholson, “The Brave, Mi Familia/Selena”. She also starred in the HBO feature “Real Women Have Curves.” Her countless television credits include “Dudley” with Dudley Moore, “Veronica’s Closet” and “Desperate Housewives,” as Carlos’ mother, Juanita Solis.

Marissa started her career on the stage in the Broadway production of “Grease,” but is probably best known for her Tony Award-winning role as Tracy Turnblad in the hit Broadway musical “Hairspray.” Winokur’s film credits include “Fever Pitch,” “Scary Movie” and “American Beauty.” Marissa’s television credits include roles in “Dharma and Greg,” “Moesha,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Jack and Bobby,” “Just Shoot Me,” “Felicity,” and “Get Real.”

Christopher Street West Association, Inc.is a non-profit organization within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of Greater Los Angeles, committed to supporting human rights, education, outreach and better understanding within the LGBT community and the heterosexual community. CSW produces LA Pride annually, which draws several hundred thousand attendees to West Hollywood, CA for the parade and festival.

For more information on L.A. Pride 2005, log on to their website, www.LAPride.org.