Two days before Helena Lourdes Donato-Sapp was set to debut as the youngest grand marshal in the 2026 Long Beach Pride Parade, Pride officials announced that the city canceled this year’s festival events due to permit issues.
In the meantime, the Long Beach Pride Parade will march forward as planned, starting at 10 a.m. on May 17 from Ocean Boulevard and Lindero Avenue, with Donato-Sapp taking the lead as grand marshal. A role she was honored with for being this year’s recipient of the Dr. Robert Garcia Youth Grand Marshal Award.
Donato-Sapp was unable to comment because she was getting ready for her debut, but her dads took time to express their feelings on the situation. They acknowledged that this news will be difficult for those looking forward to attending, but offered words of comfort.
Jeff Sapp, Donato-Sapp’s father, reassured attendees, “We’re disappointed that the major Pride Festival has been canceled. But Pride is every day for us, and there are plenty of opportunities to support queer businesses and take advantage of other Pride events happening.”
Sino Donato, Donato-Sapp’s Papa, shared his husband’s hopeful sentiment,“What we know for sure is that the gay community is resilient, and we’re sure (the Long Beach Pride officials) are doing everything they can to make this right.”
The polyamory flag, left, and the progress pride flag, right, wave around, outside of the B+ Wellness Conference for the bisexual, pansexual and fluid community at the LAC on May 9. (Kiona Jones)
Donato-Sapp is an accomplished author, keynote speaker and educator – and she’s not even old enough to rent a car!
At 16 years old, Donato-Sapp has already dedicated a great deal of her life to advocating for the rights of disabled people and other members of marginalized communities such as Black women and queer folks.
Donato-Sapp’s face lit up with joy as she talked about the importance of sharing this moment with other grand marshals like Ellie Perez, this year’s recipient of the Judith Doyle Community Grand Marshal Award.
“I just feel like it’s important to have the youth recognized in this city, especially in the Pride community. And I feel especially honored that it’s because of the Dr. Robert Garcia Award,” Donato-Sapp said.
She continued, “Because of what we’re in right now, I think that it’s important for youth to be out there in the community, and to stand up for themselves but also for each other because we’re gonna be the next generation that is leading everybody’s future and our future.”
As Donato-Sapp’s Papa, Donato, shared how their family came to be, it became clear why Donato-Sapp could speak with such love, compassion and care for her community.
“We met here (in Long Beach),” Donato reminisced about first meeting his husband, Sapp. “We even came out here around the time we were hanging out at the Library Coffee House, which had just opened up in 1993.”
He continued, “You know, it’s really special, and you just can’t imagine that the city would, you know, years down the line, recognize your daughter and give her this honor.”
Life started throwing Donato-Sapp some of its most difficult challenges almost as soon as she was born. Sapp painted a vivid picture of just how much she struggled in those early days.
Sapp said, “Helena was born at St. Mary’s hospital here in Long Beach and (was) quickly moved to Miller Children’s Hospital, where she had heart surgery when she was 10 days old. She had a lot of medical needs when she was born.”
Yet, all those early hardships make him and Donato even prouder of how far she’s come and of getting a front-row seat, yet again, to the wonders their daughter has achieved.
“And so I mean, for us, we feel so thrilled and gobsmacked that I’m gonna be, you know, in the parade, because we’ve lived here,” Sapp continued. “This is our hometown. So to represent, it’s a real honor. It’s really exciting for us.”
Donato-Sapp, shared how excited she is to be in the parade.
“I feel very honored, and I feel extremely happy because I love that I get to represent (LGBTQ+ folks and other marginalized) youth in the community,” Donato-Sapp shared. “And it’s also great to have like my two dads with me.”
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