A Step Toward Liberation — IDAHOBIT 2026 in Los Angeles
- OUR PRIDE
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
From the early Pride marches of the 1960s to today, a new set of steps emerges — a public act of courage on IDAHOBIT 2026.
On May 17, people will gather in Los Angeles for a small but meaningful act of public courage. From the steps where Rev. Troy Perry led the first marches in the 1960’s and created the first permitted Pride parade in 1970, a set of rainbow steps will soon appear at Founders Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles.
Join LA PRIDE / Christopher Street West, along with USA PRIDES and InterPride members around the world for this special event.
Presented by the California LGBT Arts Alliance with Rainbow Advocacy Foundation, we will unveil the Steps to Liberation — a permanent rainbow arts installation created by artist and original rainbow flag co-creator Lynn Segerblom, “Mother of the Rainbow Flag.”
The moment is part of the global observance of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), whose 2026 theme is “The Heart of Democracy.” (May17.org)
When democracy is strained, visibility becomes an act of courage.
The rainbow steps are not decoration. They are a reminder that freedom is built slowly, step by step, through the willingness of ordinary people to stand together and refuse to disappear.
The location carries its own history. Founders Metropolitan Community Church has long been a place where faith and LGBTQ+ dignity meet in public witness. Rev. Troy Perry helped lead some of the earliest Pride marches in the United States and the first permitted Pride parade in 1970. And the church remains a gathering place for communities seeking justice and belonging.
This May, the steps will become a new symbol — one that invites anyone who encounters them to remember that liberation is not a destination we arrive at once and for all. It is something we practice.
The unveiling will be a simple gathering: reflection, conversation, and the shared act of stepping forward together.
Hidden Rainbows
Featuring a special presentation by artists in Uganda and Tanzania: Hans Senfuma . Aggie Dennett Harmon . Omary Baajun
While the event will take place in Los Angeles, we invite people everywhere to join the global livestream and witness the moment.
Introducing Flag50: 50 Years Under the Rainbow Flag
Together with Pride House LA/WeHo, home of the LA2028 Summer Olympicsofficial venue, the event will mark the launch of Flag50 and plans for 2028 through Flag50.org.
Moments like this remind us that movements for freedom are built over time, through small acts of courage that accumulate across generations. As the world moves toward the 50th anniversary of the rainbow flag and the 80th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights in 2028, the steps we take now help shape the path forward.
Join the Gathering
The unveiling of Steps to Liberation will take place on May 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM at Founders Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles.
The event is free and open to the public, and will also be livestreamed for global participation.
If you would like to attend in person or receive the livestream link, please register here
Wherever you are, we invite you to witness this moment together.
If freedom requires courage, let the steps begin here.
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