Bring on the glitz and glamour, Pride has officially kicked off!  Beverly Center and The Advocate, along with LGBTQ celebrities and notable allies, honored four of The Advocate’s official Champions of PRIDE: Parkland survivor and advocate Emma Gonzales, ballroom icon and trans actress Cece Suazo, Chief Executive Officer of Extraordinary Families Sarah Boone, and founder of the of the first black, gay disco in LA Jewels Thais-Williams during a private reception at Beverly Center’s Farmhouse.

Farmhouse was full with the excitement not only for the kick off of Pride month, but the celebration of Laverne Cox and Netflix's acclaimed Queer Eye star, Karamo Brown. 

Host Laverne Cox had the honor of 'flipping the switch' to light Beverly Center’s exterior in PRIDE’s signature rainbow coloring. This was the first time the building has ever been lit, and it will be lit every evening throughout June as a symbol of the shopping center’s ongoing support of the LGBTQ community. During the lighting, Laverne Cox addressed the crowd, delivering a heartfelt and inclusive speech that got the crowd excited for the rest of the program.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter Cox gave her own personal testimony.  "For me, I think the everyday transgender person who gets up and gets themselves together to go out and face the world and faces street harassment and faces being misgendered, trying to find a job, trying to survive," she said. "Having the courage to be themselves in a world that is becoming more accepting but is still not there yet. Those are my champions. Those are the people who inspire me."

At the event guests enjoyed cocktails by Svedka Vodka and light bites from delicious new restaurant, Farmhouse LA! Celebs such as: Alex Billings, Clark Moore, Connor Franta Jasika Nicole, Jill Soloway, Kevin McHale, Mike Roma, Wilson Cruz, Stephanie Beatriz, and more were in attendance.