4.A. WEHO PRIDE 2023 [Y. QUARKER, C. SMITH, M. REATH, K. MCCORMACK]:
SUBJECT: The City Council will consider approving a multi-year agreement with JJLA, Inc. (JJLA) for WeHo Pride production services for three years, to include WeHo Pride 2023, 2024 and 2025. The City Council will also consider approving a co-sponsorship agreement with the L-Project to produce Women's Freedom Festival as a part of WeHo Pride for three years, to include events in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The City is a cultural center and destination, especially for those who are questioning or newly coming out, so accessibility and cultural inclusion needs to be front and center. Pride production vendors have a social responsibility and need to be responsive to the community stakeholders and need to make a proactive effort for feedback in the planning phases, well before June 2023. After the fact is too late. A multi-year contract does not serve the community in holding vendors accountable.
The City is a cultural center and destination, especially for those who are questioning or newly coming out, so accessibility and cultural inclusion needs to be front and center. Pride production vendors have a social responsibility and need to be responsive to the community stakeholders and need to make a proactive effort for feedback in the planning phases, well before June 2023. After the fact is too late. A multi-year contract does not serve the community in holding vendors accountable.