Celebrating & supporting our LGBTQ+ residents, workers and visitors
May 29, 2025 7:44 AM
by Christopher J. Smith
June is SaMo Pride Month, and Santa Monica is celebrating with programs and events throughout the month to embrace and support the LGBTQ+ community.
We are proud of the city’s efforts to support and uplift the LGBTQ+ community, which have earned the city a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index since 2018.
This Pride comes at a time when the rights of the LGBTQ+ community are being taken away or threatened in ways not seen in decades, so we want to reiterate the city’s commitment to inclusivity and share ways we support LGBTQ+ staff and the community.
Santa Monica policies include:
- Incorporating gender identity and sexual orientation in all city non-discrimination policies, including the city’s anti-bullying policies
- Providing gender care in all employee health benefit programs
- Training customer service staff to engage with customers based on their self-identified gender identity, not perceived identity
Santa Monica initiatives include:
- Providing funds and support for the Trans Equity Scholarship program, via the Out in Santa Monica affinity group and in partnership with the LA LGBT Center’s Trans Economic Empowerment Project. The Trans Equity Scholarship program is a vital program that underwrites most of the over $500 in fees for individuals who want to change their name and gender in California
- Requiring all new multi-stall bathrooms be designed as all gender via city ordinance and converting nearly all park and beach restrooms to be all gender.
- Co-sponsoring Queer Prom for local high school students to safely celebrate a beloved high school tradition. 
- Hosting the AIDS LifeCycle Finish Line Festival as part of SaMo Pride — LifeCycle is the largest annual fundraiser for the LA LGBT Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation
- Advocating for LGBTQ+ protections and services through the City Council’s adopted legislative platform
- Offering trainings and resources for LGBTQ+ community members, including this year’s self-defense training  
We hope everyone is able to take part in a Pride event or program this month. Visit smpride.com or see this blog post for a list of SaMo Pride events and celebrations throughout the city.
SaMo Pride is a community partnership co-sponsored by the city of Santa Monica, Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica Travel and Tourism, and the Main Street Business Improvement District.
In addition to our community Pride partners, this year’s events are made possible with help from Church in Ocean Park, The Crow, OutLoud Sports, Pride Point Volleyball, JJLA, the AIDS/LifeCycle event team, the Trans Economic Empowerment Project, and Paul Nicholls Entertainment & Justin David Presents.   
In addition to all of the events, keep an eye out for the progressive pride flag flying at City Hall, the Big Blue Bus wrapped with the Pride design, and features of LGBTQ+ authors and stories at the Santa Monica Library. 
 Happy SaMo Pride, Santa Monica!
Authored By
Christopher J. Smith
Deputy City Manager