3 LGBTQ leaders to be honored at Downey Pride Festival

Rep. Robert Garcia will be honored at the Downey Pride Festival, along with Lucas Hallare and Mario Aguilar. (City of Long Beach photo)

DOWNEY – Three leading figures in the LGBTQ community will be honored at the Downey Pride Festival on Aug. 26, organizers announced.

Honorees include:

• Rep. Robert Garcia, an advocate of LGBTQ rights who has plaved a pivotal role in promoting equality and social justice on a national level;

• Lucas Hallare, a trans youth from Downey who was selected as the Downey Pride Prince for raising awareness about the issues faced by trans children; and

• Mario Aguilar, a comedian and social media star who uses his platform to spread positivity and support for the LGBTQ community.

This year’s Downey Pride Festival will take place in Downtown Downey from 3-10 pm. Admission is free.

Organizing the festival is the Los Angeles Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse (LA CADA), a leading organization that provides support services and resources for people struggling with alcohol and drug abuse.

This year’s festival will be a family-oriented event, with a particular focus on LGBTQIA+ youth, organizers said.

“Downey Pride recognizes the critical importance of supporting and empowering LGBTQIA+ youth, who often face unique challenges and vulnerabilities,” LA CADA said in a statement. “Tragically, suicide rates among LGBTQIA+ youth remain disproportionately high, underscoring the urgency of providing a supportive community that can help combat feelings of isolation and distress.”

Past Downey Pride honorees include Supervisor Janice Hahn, Dunka Shay Monroe and Zoey Luna. Monroe and Luna are returning this year as performers.