LGBTQ+ Laguna Beach

Why this page cites its sources

Laguna Beach is often described in general terms, and the terms differ from one source to the next. This page keeps to what archives, a local history nonprofit, news reports and a community organization say, and it names each one. It does not say where anyone is or is not welcome. Venues and groups set that themselves, so ask them.

A short timeline

The dates below come from the sources named in each line.

• 1982. The Laguna Beach Historical Society’s chronology records that Robert Gentry became the first openly gay public official elected in Southern California.
• 1982 to 1994. UC Irvine’s finding aid for his papers says Gentry served as mayor and city councilmember in those years. It says he led the city’s effort to pass a domestic partnership ordinance and a law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
• 1992. The same finding aid says Gentry and his spouse were the first registered domestic partners in Laguna Beach.
• 2017. Laguna Beach Pride 365 says business owners and residents, with Mayor Toni Iseman among them, met early that year about bringing LGBTQ+ visibility back, and that the group became the LGBTQ Heritage & Culture Committee. The Laguna Beach Independent reported that June was declared LGBT Heritage & Culture Month at the City Council meeting of May 9, after the new committee sought the proclamation. In December Laguna Beach Pride 365 became a nonprofit corporation.
• 2023. ABC7 reported in February that a Pride-themed lifeguard tower was planned for West Street Beach. The Laguna Beach Independent reported that the city finished installing it on June 26.

Robert Gentry, and why the “first” differs

Sources agree on the name and the year but word the “first” differently. The Historical Society says he was the first openly gay public official elected in Southern California. The UC Irvine finding aid for his papers says first openly gay elected official in southern California and first openly gay mayor in the state of California. Laguna Beach Pride 365 describes him as the first openly gay mayor in the U.S. This page repeats the Historical Society’s wording and notes the others as claims by the organizations that make them.

His papers, dated 1964 to 2006, are held by UC Irvine’s Special Collections and Archives in the Orange County Regional History Collection, and the finding aid is the place to see what the collection contains. For the wider story of the town, see the history page.

West Street Beach

West Street Beach is in South Laguna. The Coastal Commission lists stairs at the far end of West Street and on-street parking. It lists no restrooms at the stairs, so plan around that. The beach page has the access, parking and marine conservation area rules.

In February 2023 ABC7 reported that a Pride-themed lifeguard tower, which the station called the first in Orange County, was expected at West Street Beach within about two months. The station said two community members donated the money for the rainbow and that the idea came from Craig Cooley, president of Laguna Beach Pride 365. On June 30, 2023 the Laguna Beach Independent reported that the city had finished installing the rainbow-themed tower at the beach on June 26 and that it pays tribute to the town’s LGBTQ+ history. Those reports are from 2023, so check that the tower is still in place before you plan a visit around it.

Pride and events

Laguna Beach Pride 365 describes itself as a year-round organization. Its history page lists activities such as beach bonfire socials, dances, comedy nights, drag shows, bike rides and volleyball. As of October 28, 2026 its events page listed two items:

• A cabaret show on October 28, 2026, 6 to 10 p.m., at the Mozambique Durban Room on South Coast Highway. The organizer says to phone for dinner reservations.
• Rainbow Radio on KXFM 104.7, which the page says airs every Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon.

The page listed no Pride festival date. Dates change, so use the organization’s site rather than this page for anything past today. Larger citywide events are on the events page.

June heritage month and public art

June is LGBT Heritage & Culture Month in Laguna Beach, per the 2017 proclamation. Pride 365 says it was established by the LGBTQ Heritage & Culture Committee, the group that sought that proclamation. For public sculpture and sites tied to other parts of local history, see the public art and landmarks pages. This page does not link specific works to LGBTQ+ history, because the sources it cites do not.

Archives and where to ask

• Historical Society. Its online chronology summarizes town history decade by decade, and the society can say what else it holds.
• UC Irvine Special Collections and Archives. The Robert Gentry Papers and, per Laguna Beach Pride 365, UC Irvine’s LGBTQ special collection.
• Laguna Beach Pride 365. It lists a mailing address, P.O. Box 353, Laguna Beach, CA 92652, and a contact page on its site.

Free options for an afternoon include reading the chronology, then walking to the beach. See free things to do for more.