West Hollywood Halloween Parade

Welcome to West Hollywood! Welcome to Gay L.A.! Welcome to the best halloween parade in the world!

Santa Monica Blvd. was blocked off on Halloween night and, if you want to see the wildest, gayest, most outrageous costumes on Halloween, this is the place to be. It was my second year at this awesome event, and, despite going through parking-hell to get out of there, I plan to go again next year.

Personally, I've never had MY picture taken so much in my life. My girlfriend and I (yes, I am not gay) were dressed as skeletons, a Day of the Dead couple with scary masks and black gothic clothes. I must admit, we looked pretty damn scary and judging by the number of photos people took of us, I'd say we outdid ourselves. There were so many people taking pictures and there were so many other GREAT costumes, it is unbelievable.

Looking around, it seemed that about half of the people were dressed up in costume, although reality can become a bit twisted on a night like this when you're not sure who is a guy or which one is a girl or if they are actually in a costume or not!

Here is a list of some of my favorites:

T-Shirt: I (picture of a heart) pussy (worn by a girl)
Male Group: There were a ton of gay male groups (Hooters Girls were good)
Largest Mask: Beavis Mask that was about 10 feet high (seriously!)
Scariest: A large evil hairy beast that was about 8 feet tall that was very realistic looking, everyone wanted a picture with...it.
Funniest: jeez there were so many:
1) guy in just underwear
2) 400lb. guy dressed in drag
3) 3 Dead Dorothy's with a picket fence stuck in their head
4) so many

Personally, I liked the Johnny Depp version of the Hunter S. Thompson character from Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas (he had it down cigarette holder and all, he had the personae)

I mean really, gay men and halloween go together like...Liberace & a piano, like Charles Nelson Reilly and Hey Heennnn!, like Paul Lynn and snide remarks, like milk & cookies, like fall & football. This is THE day to be gay. It defines the term gay, it is the gayest of all holidays. You have to see it to believe it. Everyone was gay that night.

It was super-f'n crowded though, much more crowded than last year. I mean there was serious parking stress, trying to get OUT of the parking garage. It took over 45 minutes to get out of the garage...ouch!

But the night was awesome. It was like Mardi Gras. So many clever outfits. So many outrageous costumes and gowns. So many creatures and characters from our past that you will be reminded of times long past.

I will try to add photos later.

If you're in town next Halloween, make the trip, fight through the crowds, and then brave the parade of patrons to experience this spectacle of dress-up, to be whatever it is you want to be for a night...;)

Happy Halloween (and Dia de los Muertos)

Will



I apologize if I offended anyone with my usage of "gay" this or "gay" that. I don't intend to sound judgmental or prejudice. I'm not gay so it's possible I could unintentionally offend someone, if so, I apologize, but this is just the way I type....peace!