AMCS PRIDE FEST 2025

Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS) will again host its annual Pride Fest during the month of June, which is LGBT Pride Month. Pride Fest came out of the AMCS LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy Center and aims to provide an educational and affirming community event focused on health and wellness for our LGBTQ+ clients, community, and allies and to reduce stigma around mental health and raise awareness of low-cost or free mental health services in Los Angeles.

Pride Fest Saturday

June 21, 2025 • 2 to 5pm

AMCS parking lot

7891 La Tijera Boulevard in Westchester

The FREE family-friendly outdoor event will feature multiple “Pride stations” with fun and educational activities and games facilitated by therapists from AMCS’s LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy Center, plus guest speakers, music, food, and more. Dr. Mimi Hoang, psychologist, longtime LGBTQ advocate, and Program Coordinator of AMCS’s LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy Center, will be the host and MC of Pride Fest.

“We’re thrilled to host this annual event in celebration of LGBT Pride Month and to raise awareness of the importance of mental health services in the LGBTQ community, which is at higher risk of mental health concerns due to minority stress,” said Dr. Hoang. “We hope that Pride Fest will help reduce the stigma around mental health services and encourage more people to seek the help they need.”

The event will feature the following amazing speakers:

  • Program Coordinator, AMCS LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy Center

    Dr. Mimi Hoang is an award-winning psychologist, life coach, and advocate specializing in the LGBTQ+ and Asian American communities. Her steadfast leadership includes co-founding the Los Angeles Bi+ Task Force (LABTF) and amBi Los Angeles, earning a seat at the landmark 2013 White House Bisexual Community Roundtable, and being named “One of the Most Significant Women in the Bisexual Movement.” Dr. Mimi currently works as the Program Coordinator of the LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy Center at AMCS and professor at USC. 

  • Board Member, South Bay LGBTQ Center

     In 2015, Alphonzo Hicks was elected to the Board of Directors for the South Bay LGBTQ Center, a local organization whose mission is to create safe spaces where all LGBTQ+/Queer people can thrive through cultural awareness, community building, community service, and learning opportunities.  The Center strives to foster greater inclusion and understanding of our LGBTQ+ and other intersecting communities in the South Bay and South Los Angeles area.  Alphonzo has served as Board President and is currently serving as Board Treasurer. 

  • Vice Mayor, Culver City

     Freddy Puza is the Vice Mayor of Culver City and the city's first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold this position. He’s a dedicated advocate for equity, sustainability, and inclusive governance. Puza co-organized Culver City’s inaugural Pride Ride & Rally, led the charge on requiring gender neutral bathrooms in newly constructed buildings, and ensured inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community in the city’s Anti-Hate resolution. He’s also been instrumental in advancing affordable housing, climate action, and social justice initiatives.