Pride Afterglow 2025 – A Celebration of Unity, Joy, and Pride
OURS IN THE USA hosted Pride Afterglow 2025 in West Hollywood — over 200 people, music, gifts, and Ukrainian food united the LGBTQI+ community.
June 7, 2025 — West Hollywood, CA.
OURS IN THE USA held a large community event — Pride Afterglow 2025 — with the support of WeHo Pride and the City of West Hollywood. The celebration brought together more than 200 participants — residents of the city, members of the Russian-speaking and international LGBTQI+ community, as well as guests from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Florida, and other states.
Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed live performances by community members, artists, and activists, as well as speeches from the OURS IN THE USA Board of Directors, fun contests, and an atmosphere of warmth and connection.
Each guest received a gift or prize, and during the raffle, no one was left without attention or a souvenir.
Special recognition was given to volunteers who supported the organization’s projects throughout the year. They received appreciation awards for their contributions to community development and for helping organize the event.
All guests were treated to homemade Ukrainian food, prepared with love — a symbol of hospitality and cultural connection. This gesture perfectly reflected the mission of OURS IN THE USA — to create spaces where everyone can feel safe, accepted, and at home.
Among the honored guests was Alexey Panin, a laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation and a film and theater actor, whose participation became a powerful gesture of support for freedom of expression and solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community.
One of the most symbolic moments of the day was the official plate-breaking ceremony for Made for Freedom — an upcoming documentary project by OURS IN THE USA, dedicated to the stories of LGBTQI+ migrants and the creation of the organization.
The ceremony was led by Ivanka Osina-Fridman, the film’s director and a member of the Board of Directors, who shared her heartfelt words:
“Breaking the plate is our symbolic start — the beginning of a new chapter in the history of OURS IN THE USA. Made for Freedom is a film about liberation — about how fear turns into strength and pain into unity. I’m proud that this moment happened within our community, where every person is part of this story.”
Dmitrii Tur, President of OURS IN THE USA, said:
“Pride Afterglow is not just a celebration — it’s a day of unity and gratitude. We’re proud that more than two hundred people came together — our friends, allies, and new members. This day once again proved that love and support are stronger than any borders.”
Pride Afterglow 2025 became a bright example of how OURS IN THE USA continues to build safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for the Russian-speaking LGBTQI+ community in the United States.
