Every June, communities across the United States come alive with color to celebrate Pride Month, honoring the history, achievements, and voices of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a time to come together in support, to learn, and to celebrate love, identity, and inclusion.
From parades and festivals to workshops, concerts, and community gatherings, Pride events create space for connection, joy, and advocacy. While many events happen in June, you’ll find some kicking off as early as May, with others continuing into August -so there are plenty of chances to join in.
Across Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, and nearby communities, there are many ways to show your support.
📅 Be sure to check the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley – Malibu – Calabasas event calendar for the latest local Pride Month events happening near you ✨
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The History Behind Pride Month
Pride Month is celebrated in June to commemorate the Stonewall riots, also known as the Stonewall Uprising, which took place early in the morning on June 28, 1969, in New York City. On the one-year anniversary of that event, thousands marched through the streets of New York in what is now recognized as America’s first Gay Pride Parade.
Some of the earliest sparks of the LGBTQ rights movement started right here in Southern California.
Southern California
While Pride Month often highlights the stories of the Stonewall Uprising, there were defining moments in LGBTQ history that happened well before 1969 - and some took place right here in Southern California. As I started learning more, I was surprised by how many of these early events helped spark the movement and how rarely they’re mentioned.
I’m sharing these stories not just for LGBTQ families, but for all of us. The more we understand where people are coming from - their history, their struggles, family life, culture, and identity - the better we can raise kids who are kind, curious, and open-hearted. It’s all part of celebrating the amazing diversity in our community and helping it grow even stronger.
Before Stonewall
Long before the Stonewall Uprising became a symbol of the LGBTQ rights movement, there were other defining moments - many of them lesser known - that helped spark the fight for equality. Some of those early acts of resistance happened right here in Southern California.
Going back nearly a decade before Stonewall, there was another defining act of resistance - this one closer to home - that helped spark the fight for LGBTQ rights. One evening in May 1959, in the Skid Row area of Downtown Los Angeles, there was an act of resistance at Cooper Do-Nuts - read more about it here and here. That same night, the incident led to a second small uprising nearby.
Then in August 1966, the Compton's Cafeteria Riot in San Francisco - another bold moment in early LGBTQ activism.
Another local event occurred on February 11, 1967, around 200 people gathered outside the Black Cat Tavern in Los Angeles. This was an organized public demonstration protesting the earlier actions by police during a raid at the same location just after Midnight on New Year's Eve 1967. Read more about it here: LGBTQ History Made in Los Angeles: Cooper Do-Nuts and the Black Cat Tavern.
These are just a few events that paved the way for the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement.
Just before Pride Month, we also recognize Harvey Milk Day on May 22. Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician in California and a leader of the American Civil Rights Movement.
- Learn about the Stonewall National Monument in New York.
- Learn more about the history of the LGBTQ movement here and by clicking on the links above.
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Books are a great way to start a discussion at home with your kids about acceptance, empathy, and what it means to be an ally while learning about LGBTQ rights.
LGBTQ+ Book recommendations for kids and teens
- Macaroni KID: LGBTQ+ Pride Month Book Suggestions for Kids, Teens and Young Adults
- L.A. County Library: LGBTQ+ Books selections:
Kids | Teens | Adults
- Brightly: 30 Great LGBTQIA+ Books for Kids
- Today: 20 picture books to help you raise kind, tolerant kids - Books that celebrate pride and have a powerful message for any child
- Colours of Us: 90 Multicultural LGBTQIA Books for Children & Teenagers
- Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award, 2010-2026
- Picture Book: It's Okay to Be Different, by Todd Parr - one of my family's favorites
Note: Keep in mind that not all books are appropriate for all ages, use your own discretion.
Helpful Rating Information
- Many books have age recommendations available online.
- Visit Common Sense media for helpful reviews and detailed information about books, movies, TV and other media.
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Pride Celebrations
📅 Local and nearby Pride events
Visit the Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas event calendar for the latest local family fun things to do!
Confirmed Family Friendly Pride events:
👉 Please note not all events listed are appropriate for all ages of family members, use your own discretion.
Local Pride Events
- SFV Pride
- City of Santa Paula
- WEHO Pride website
- WEHO Pride Arts Festival
- LA Pride website
- SaMo Pride - Santa Monica
- VC Pride
- ABC7 PRIDE 365: Southern California LGBTQIA+ events
LGBTQ Organizations and Resources
- Ventura County Resources
- diversity collective: Ventura County's LGBTQ community
- PFLAG: The first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies. Local chapters: Oak Park / Conejo Valley | Los Angeles | Ventura
- Most LGBTQ are Cyberbullied. Here's How to Stay Safe Online
- Los Angeles LGBT Center: Offering programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy.
- Beth Chayim Chadashim, Los Angeles: an affirming, nurturing, and brave Jewish space for LGBTQIA+ people, our friends, and our families. Founded in 1972 as the world’s first synagogue by and for gay and lesbian Jews, BCC is a thriving, progressive, and welcoming Reform Jewish space for the LGBTQIA+ community, our friends, and our families.
- MCC United Church of Christ in the Valley, North Hollywood: an inclusive and green Christian community of faith.
- The Wall Las Memorias, Los Angeles is a community health and wellness organization dedicated to serving Latino, LGBTQ and other under-served populations through advocacy, education and building the next generation of leadership.
- Somos Familia Valle in Pacoima is a community organization created and led by local low-income first-generation college students who are LGBTQ + people of color and immigrants.
- ABC7 - Southern California: LGBTQ+ Support Organizations
- ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries: The oldest continuing LGBTQ organization in the United States and the largest repository of LGBTQ materials in the world.
- June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives: The largest major archive on the West Coast dedicated to preserving and promoting lesbian and feminist history and culture. - Open now
- 70 Resources for Victims of LGBTQ+ Violence
- One Institue LA Instagram: Founded in 1952, One Institute is the oldest active LGBTQ+ organization in the United States. Formerly ONE Archives Foundation
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If you have additional events or resources to share please let me know, brennag@macaronikid.com
💙 Macaroni KID Conejo Valley - Malibu - Calabasas is a free resource for local families looking for things to do and information about local businesses and organizations and covers the towns of: Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Westlake Village, Thousand Oak, Newbury Park and Malibu. I will also include worthwhile information, events and activities, classes, fundraisers and other happenings in the nearby communities of Simi Valley, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, San Fernando Valley, greater Los Angeles and Southern California.
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