California Sunset

In June, 2008, The City of West Hollywood and the Los Angeles County Register-Recorder Clerk began to issue marriage licenses and carry out civil ceremonies for same-sex couples. Home to Southern California’s largest gay and lesbian population, West Hollywood offers Los Angeles’ most popular gay nightclubs and 14 gay-friendly hotels including The Ramada Plaza Hotel West Hollywood, The Le Parc Suites Hotel, and The Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas. The West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau promotes West Hollywood as a travel destination that is “Living Forward” in lifestyle, thought, and attitude.

“West Hollywood’s numerous venues, activities and resources for gay visitors, along with the City’s long-standing commitment to LGBT rights, make us an ideal destination for gay marriages and honeymoons,” said Amy Anderson, Director of Communications for the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau. “The embracing energy of the city will contribute to making a couples’ marriage and memories very special, and fun.”

Three West Hollywood hotels offer gay marriage packages:

The Ramada Plaza Hotel West Hollywood

Honeymoon Special

• 2-night stay
• Upgrade to a newly renovated Loft Suite
• Complimentary Bottle of Champagne
• Complimentary Parking
• Complimentary Wireless Internet
• Complimentary Newspaper delivered to your room daily
• $599.00 + Tax

The Le Parc Suites Hotel

Honeymoon Special

• 1-night stay
• King size suite
• Bottle of Champagne upon arrival
• Breakfast in bed for two
• Late check out of 1:00pm
• $399.00 including tax & parking

The Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas

The Romance Package

• 2-night stay
• Deluxe one-bedroom suite or one bedroom villa
• Fresh Flowers
• Special welcome amenity
• Bottle of chilled Champagne
• Special four-course dinner for two paired with appropriate wines
• Continental breakfast each morning
• Complimentary valet parking and internet access
• Two plus Sunset Marquis bath robes
• Deluxe One-bedroom Suite, $620 per night (plus 14 percent tax)
• One-bedroom Villa, $1,275 per night (plus 14 percent tax)
• Available for wedding ceremony and reception
• Wedding rehearsal dinner accommodations available
• Group rates for friends and family of the couple

For more information or hotel bookings, visit West Hollywood’s gay-focused visitor web site GoGayWestHollywood.com

Celebrating its three-year theme “Our Agenda: Love. Equality. PRIDE”, The Los Angeles LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender) Pride Festival takes place along Santa Monica Boulevard and throughout West Hollywood Park in West Hollywood June 6-8. The message of the 38^th annual parade and festival is about taking pride in who you are, your family, your community, and the world around you. Locals and visitors can enjoy the parade, vendor booths, food, exhibits, and live entertainment.

As one of the leading Pride Celebrations in the United States, the annual three-day event brings more pride to West Hollywood - home to Southern California’s largest gay and lesbian population.

The 2008 parade takes place on Sunday, June 8, starting at 11a.m., and will run west along Santa Monica Boulevard from Crescent Heights Boulevard to Robertson Boulevard. On the WaMu® Mainstage, musicians Joss Stone, Olivia Newton-John and Kimberly Locke will headline the event on Saturday and Sunday night.

As a way to honour those who are no longer with us - brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, friends, partners and other loved ones - LA Pride announces its first “Silent Celebration”. The moment of silence shared by nearly 400, 000 parade goers occurs at noon on Sunday June 8.

About 2008 Los Angeles LGBT Pride:

2008 Los Angeles LGBT Pride festival is sponsored by The West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau, along with its partner Qantas Airways.

For more information on LGBT Pride, complete entertainment lineups, and the City of West Hollywood’s gay community, visit http://www.lapride.org/ or http://www.gogaywesthollywood.com/.