Orange County Pride Booth
Be outstanding. Join us. It takes great effort to create an excellent booth. That's where our members can help. The booth is a fun and collaborative way to be a part of the community. Volunteers will act as community ambassadors, hand out information about Log Cabin Republicans, and get to meet other attendees.
Orange County Pride will be located at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California. The festival will include food trucks, music, and booths from a variety of vendors, groups, and organizations.
12:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M.
Saturday, September 27, 2025
88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA
Tickets from $12.51.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to register to volunteer for a shift at our booth.
Make sure to wear sunscreen.
Why it is Important
According to the authors of "Twenty Years of Legal Marriage for Same-Sex Couples in the United States", "...the United States was divided by heated debates over legalizing marriage for same-sex couples...The evidence review revealed that for LGBT individuals and same-sex couples, their children, and the general U.S. population, the benefits of access to legal marriage for same-sex couples are unambiguously positive..." (RAND).
Studies show that a substantial percentage of gay adults have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, with some estimates indicating rates more than twice as high as the general population (Homelessness Among LGBT Adults in the U.S.).
According to Kristina Ackermann, Director of Content and SEO at American Addiction Center, the gay community experiences significantly higher rates of substance use and substance use disorders compared to their heterosexual counterparts. This highlights a critical public health disparity requiring targeted attention (Substance Misuse and the LGBTQ+ Community).
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court's 2020 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which extended employment non-discrimination protections to gay individuals, discrimination and harassment remains "persistent and widespread." A report by the Williams Institute, based on a 2023 survey of 1,902 gay adults in the workforce, reveals high rates of lifetime, five-year, and past-year experiences of mistreatment, with significant disparities (LGBTQ People’s Experiences of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment).
A recent AARP Dignity survey of over 2,200 gay adults aged 45 and older reveals significant concerns and unique challenges faced by this demographic as they age. Key themes include widespread worry about social isolation, high rates of caregiving (often for non-relatives or unaccepting family members), and improving yet still imperfect healthcare access.
The report highlights the personal efforts of individuals like Ron Blake, a 55-year-old gay artist, who "makes it a point to introduce himself to someone new almost every day," emphasizing that "having a close-knit group of friends is especially important for LGBTQ+ older adults, who might not have children or who could be estranged from family." Loneliness is linked to "reduced longevity, increased risk of dementia, and other health issues" (Many LGBTQ+ Adults Worry About Social Isolation, Support as They Age).
According to experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Compared to their peers, gay students are more likely to have:
Been bullied at school: 29% gay students; 16% heterosexual students
Used illicit drugs: 15% gay students; 8% heterosexual students
Seriously considered suicide: 41% gay students; 13% heterosexual students
Felt sad or hopeless: 65% gay students; 31% heterosexual students
Misused prescription opioids: 18% gay students; 8% heterosexual students (Health Disparities Among LGBTQ Youth)
Family rejection significantly contributes to the high rates of homelessness among gay youth, creating lasting trauma and leading to numerous adverse outcomes. A significant number of homeless youth and foster youth are gay. According to author Kaytee Gillis, this rejection can manifest in various ways, from "subtle forms, like when kids notice emotional distance or dismissal, to more extreme actions, such as being kicked out of the home" (Family Rejection Contributes to Homelessness of LGBTQ Youth).