Mariah Carey & Megan Thee Stallion grab the spotlights at LA Pride

By ROB WATSON

HOLLYWOOD - There is no doubt that the Christopher Street West Association, the group behind LA Pride’s celebration for over 50 years, knows how to throw a party. This year, in a time when the community needs it the most, they have out done themselves.

Mariah Carey and Megan Thee Stallion. Mic drops both.

While words like “divas”, “queens” and “icons” would not be inappropriate, those words are reductive as to whom these two woman actually are. Each is a master at her musical and performance craft. Each has re-defined and exemplified her lane in pop culture.

More to the point, each has lived and generously given of the true concept of “Pride” itself.

Pride is a consciousness of one’s own dignity. It is a confidence and self-respect for a community that has been socially marginalized. It is an empowerment that grows from a unified and shared identity, culture and experience.

Mariah and Megan are not mere pop participants of Pride, they are pillars in its modern architecture. “Mimi (Mariah) emancipated us all,” Jonathan Riggs of Shondaland2 has said. She herself has given her own definition of the LGBTQ community as “Legendary, Gorgeous, Beautiful, Tantalizing, and Quality.”

Megan Thee Stallion has confronted homophobia in rap music and helped evolve the genre. She has said, “It is about time. Representation is important, and it is really crucial for us all to have compassion and acceptance of every human.”

Gerald Garth, the board president of LA Pride, positioned the entertainment choice this year, “Mariah Carey and Megan Thee Stallion are the perfect artists to headline LA Pride in the Park … These empowering and iconic women are sure to take the stage by storm.” Clearly, each of the artists are likewise enthused over the gig. Mariah declared, “I’m thrilled and honored to be a part of LA Pride 2023. I am happy to be back in person celebrating with the LGBTQIA+ community here in Southern California and throughout all of the lands!!! Let’s come together to celebrate love, inclusion, and Pride.”

Megan concurred with, “I can’t wait to headline LA Pride in the Park and celebrate the phenomenal LGBTQIA+ community. This incredible event advocates for diversity, inclusivity and equality, so I’m honored to perform and have a blast with all of the Hotties in attendance.”

From merely looking at the professional accomplishments of each woman, witnessing them live would be a lifetime landmark event. Mariah Carey is a cultural maven on many fronts, driving from her obvious success as a singer, songwriter, record producer, to actor, and a New York Times bestselling author. Guinness World Records calls her the “Songbird Supreme.” She has been credited with helping to revitalize the music industry in the 1 0s and is considered one of the most influential female singers of all time. She has sold over 200 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Carey has won five GRAMM Awards, 1 World Music Awards, and 1 American Music Awards. Can Megan Thee Stallion compete with that? Well, she doesn’t have to, nor does she have an appetite for such a conversation. She has said, “I don’t feel like I’m in competitive with anybody. If I’m worried about beating somebody else, I’m not going to be the best version of me. It shouldn’t be a competition because somebody else winning is not going to make me lose.”

Billboard has said of Megan, “Megan Thee Stallion is a force to be reckoned with. She has a unique style, a powerful flow, and a message of empowerment that resonates with millions of fans.” Pitchfork concurs saying, “Megan Thee Stallion is one of the most exciting voices in rap right now. She’s fierce, she’s funny, she’s smart, she’s sexy, she’s versatile.” Time Magazine did not hold back on their view, “Megan Thee Stallion is a superstar who’s rewriting the history of rap music.”

Like Mariah, Megan’s professional pedigree is vast. She is a three-time GRAMM -winning recording artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. From earning two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits with the “Savage Remix ” featuring Beyonc , and “WAP” with Cardi B to releasing her dynamic album “Traumazine,” she has proven unstoppable. Her musical achievement recognitions, include three GRAMM wins, nine BET Awards and backto-back Billboard Music Awards for Top Rap Female Artist. Additionally, she has been honored for her advocacy efforts, having received the 2022 Special Achievement Award at The Webby Awards and the Trailblazer Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. Most recently, Megan made history in Nov. 2022, becoming the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Forbes’ prestigious Under 30 issue. She was previously recognized as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020 after publishing her monumental “Why I Speak Up For Black Women” op-ed for The New York Times.

Those accomplishments by both notwithstanding, they each have also earned serious creds with the LGBTQ community. Their ability to do so does not seem to be superficial, but instead emanating from their own individual fabric. Mariah has spoken with great affection about the gay couple who helped raise her. Megan similarly has spoken about her mother’s values. “I was raised by a woman who was her true and authentic self. So I feel like it’s very important to put on for people who aren’t that confident or people who don’t realize the value in self-love.”

Mariah has also referenced maternal influence. “It’s in my genes. My mother was an opera singer. I’m clearly dramatic.”

Both have headlined and hosted multiple LGBTQ Pride and charitable events. Marah has orchestrated multiple surprise LGBTQ+ marriage proposals on stage during her shows, she is a proponent of GLAAD’s Spirit Day and last year released a Pride collection of merchandise. Megan has collaborates with many LGBTQ+ artists such as Big Freedia, MNEK, and Saucy Santana, she is a major contributor to LGBTQ+ organizations and celebrates LGBTQ+ fans and influencers on her social media platforms.

As matrons of Pride courage, each woman has plenty advice for their LGBTQ+ admirers. “The main goal of my music is to make people feel strong and confident,” says Megan. She also points out, “I feel like, when people realize that they are the only person they need to impress, everybody’s life will be a lot smoother.” She also adds, “It’s not just about being sexy, it’s about being confident and me being confident in my sexuality.” No one would cite Mariah for having a lack of confidence either. “I’m proud of what I am and who I am, and I’m just going to be myself,” she has said. With that, she has laid the groundwork for a foundation of hope and courage for her followers. “If you believe in yourself enough and know what you want, you’re gonna make it happen.” She has also colored her philosophy with unicorn inspirations, “After every storm, if you look hard enough, a rainbow appears,” she says. She is a proponent of grabbing life and truly living it. “You can’t live with regrets. It’s about the journey…Whatever you’re going through in your life, don’t ever give up.” Her ideology is also experienced in her music, “It’s kinda like being on a roller coaster. If you don’t get on the ride, you won’t experience the adventure.”

“So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong, and you’ll finally see the truth - that a hero lies in you.” Mariah, to be fair, has achieved a fandom that is unmatchable. She is a superstar of superstars and has earned homage from others who have their own outstanding presence in the pop world.

“Mariah Carey is one of the greatest singers of all time. She has a voice that can move mountains.” - Whitney Houston said of her. “She’s a genius as a musical artist, but also as a businesswoman. She’s been in the game for so long and she’s still killing it,” stated Rihanna. Ariana Grande is quoted as declaring “She’s a legend, she’s an icon, she’s the greatest female artist of our generation.”

In short, audiences in Los Angeles on June 9th and 10th will experience moments they will never forget.

Two well spoke, brilliantly intentioned, and talented women will entertain and remind all how they got to be the icons they have become.

At the end of the day, however, it is not the glitz, glamor or fabulosity. It is about a deeper connection that Mariah Carey and Megan Thee Stallion have forged with our community. It is a bond like one that Maya Angelou wrote about when she said “People will forget what you said, people will forget about what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Our relationship with these two women is personal. “If you’ve got love for me, then I’m gonna have love for you, period,” Megan has said.

When they take their respective stages, the love will be flowing, but that love and their music is more significant for when it reached us originally, when we weren’t in an adoring crowd.

It was significant in the moments when we were alone, and feeling particularly ALONE. As Ian Eagleton of the Guardian described, “At my boys’ school I was shoved, spat at and brutally bullied. Carey’s songs made me dig deep and keep going, even when I had a breakdown years later.”

Their music gave us spirit when we had none. It gave us hope, it gave us empowerment to rise above, it helped us believe it all might someday get better.

Now it has. Now we celebrate. Now we embrace Pride. Now we vow to fight on.

Now we dance.

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