Las Vegas PRIDE is rolling out the rainbow carpet for a very special guest this year. The 2025 PRIDE Night Parade will be led by none other than Lauren Weedman; actress, comedian, playwright, author, and now, our Celebrity Grand Marshal. Known for her razor-sharp wit, fearless honesty, and ability to turn personal mayhem into side-splitting comedy, Weedman is bringing her infectious energy to the streets of Downtown Las Vegas. And we couldn’t be more thrilled.

Las Vegas PRIDE weekend is turning up the volume this year with a celebration unlike any other. On Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 8 p.m., PRIDE presents the Rainbow Rave at A-LOT @ AREA15, a high-energy, all-night dance party honoring National Coming Out Day. This 18+ event promises dazzling performances, unapologetic self-expression, and a stacked DJ lineup guaranteed to keep the beats pumping.

Originally, opening on the intersection of South Maryland Parkway and East Tropicana, the Red Barn opened as an antique store in 1958. However, the business was not sustainable, and went through some changes in the 1960s, becoming a bar. During the day, it catered primarily to a working-class clientele, but in the evening, it catered to Las Vegas’ LGBTQ+ community.

Las Vegas may be known for dazzling lights, bold personalities, and a “what-happens-here” spirit, but few local icons embody that energy with as much purpose and pride as the Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Part spiritual satire, part community lifeline, the Sisters have served the Las Vegas LGBTQ+ community for over two decades, wielding compassion, drag, and activism like sacred tools.

It gives me immense pleasure to summon you to an evening filled with primal sin and seduction. An evening unlike any other you have ever experienced; I present and invite all to attend ABSOLUTION on the 11th day of the 10th month of October in the year 2025.

“Don’t be afraid to be who you truly are.” For Meliton, these are not just words of encouragement but a lived truth that defines his journey from a closeted teenager in Hungary to standing proudly today as Mr. Las Vegas PRIDE. His story is one of resilience, courage, and love; a reminder that embracing authenticity can transform not only your life but also the lives of those around you.

Some would say the drama, stress, and cohabitation of an Emperor, Empress, Drag Queen, and an old married couple would be enough to make anyone go crazy, but not for our Mr. and Mrs. Las Vegas PRIDE 2024-2025, Derek Guerrero and Norma Llyaman (Jim McCoy). These two were already crazy before they began their reign as community representatives! For them, it was a cake walk!

Las Vegas PRIDE is raising the bar for celebration and community connection with the 2025 PRIDE Community Festival, taking place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 3–10 PM at the brand-new Desert Breeze Events Center. This year promises more entertainment, more heart, and more ways to connect, with hundreds of vendors and exhibitors and, best of all, a lower ticket price so more people can join in on the fun.

As I mentioned in my Spring 2023 article, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 1½. I spent a third of my childhood in the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, starting at age 3. We called it going to Rehab. The impact of arthritis on my education, both positive and negative, started in preschool.

When we last spoke with Angelo Gomez in 2023, the decorated police officer and proud gay Latino trailblazer shared his inspiring path of public service, advocacy, and resilience. Now, Angelo has added another powerful title to his résumé: author. With his debut children’s book, Hero Inside, Gomez turns his lifelong passion for service into a heartfelt and empowering story for the next generation, especially those who feel like they don’t quite fit in.