This past weekend, over 175,000 attendees flocked to the 5th annual Life Is Beautiful fest in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, just a short ways north-east of The Strip, in a part of the city undergoing massive transformation into a cultural hub for and by Millennials.
Between surviving the fuccboi mosh pits at Travis Scott and dancing our asses off with our #QueerFam at Lizzo, we stuffed our faces with food truck fare, took a shot at fire skee-ball, and snapped a million pics with all the colorful, kaleidoscopic murals and immersive art installations produced by Justkids interspersed throughout the festival.
As a “refreshing reprieve from our complicated world,” Life is Beautiful symbolizes “unity, optimism, and creativity,” aligning with everything the LGBTQ community strives for. And the namesake of the fest begged us to pose the simple question: Why is life beautiful?
To get the answer, we found some of the festival’s queer people (and friends) to tell us.
—
Simon Skold, 30 (@simonwskold)
Performer from Las Vegas
Where along the LGBTQ spectrum do you place yourself?
“Fully gay, all the way gay.”
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“Lizzo and Odesza.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“As an LGBT, we are some of the most expressive and honest people, and art requires that, it’s beautiful.”
—
Amanda, 22 (@amandaxmonee) / Zoee, 21 (@_zoee101)
Student-Waitresses from Palm Springs
Where along the LGBTQ spectrum do you place yourself?
“We’re lesbian.”
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“Sabrina Claudio and Daniel Caesar had to have been our favorites this weekend.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“The fact that you can be yourself without being judged and feel wholeheartedly like you’re living to your fullest potential as who you are is what I find beautiful as an LGBT.”
“I just love the community. I love the way that all LGBTs make you feel like family.”
—
Erica, 28 (@wtfrobotsex)
Merchandiser-Nightlife Queen from Las Vegas
Where along the LGBTQ spectrum do you place yourself?
“I don’t identify with sexuality, I go off of vibes, I never know what I’m into until I meet that person that encourages that part of me, so I keep it open.”
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“N.E.R.D. A landmark for me. Pharrell is the first alternative Black artist I got into that made me feel comfortable about being alternative myself so it was a landmark. And also, Santigold: Female, Black, Alternative… I love it!”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“People. Genuine, honest-to-God people. If you are true to yourself and what you wanna do, and who you wanna be, that’s beautiful.”
—
Shaw, 26 (@thegodrisingsun_)
Insurance Agent from Los Angeles
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“T-Pain, the legend, A$AP Ferg, and Tyler The Creator.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“Why is it not? Look at everything. If you take away everything that’s man-made, everything that we built, like this tent, these clothes, everything, this world is beautiful. Everything you need is right there for you. Everything. It’s all in nature. We feel like we need all this protection and extra stuff but all we need is the sun and water, you feel me?”
—
Romeo, 25 (@garenromeo)
Creative from Las Vegas
Where along the LGBTQ spectrum do you place yourself?
“I’m just a gay cis male.”
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“Blood Orange.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“Choices. Being an LGBT gives you a lot of choices and a lot of freedom. We have no barriers. Nothing can hold us back, it’s only us. If you’re a straight male you have to live in certain binaries and expectations, but as to being gay we’re just free, we can do whatever the fuck we want, we can eat pussy today, and suck dick tomorrow, just for fun.”
—
Jacob, 18 (@jaketvillegas)
Student from Central Valley, California
Where along the LGBTQ spectrum do you place yourself?
“I’m gay, just barely entering the community.”
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“Definitely Florence and The Machine. She’s magical!”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“Acceptance. Here everyone’s welcome to be themselves, to wear whatever they want, act however they want, and I just feel like I can be myself around everyone and my family.”
—
Marcus, 21 (@frank_motion)
Artist-Photographer-Airman in Las Vegas by-way-of North Carolina
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“Tyler, The Creator. I’ve been waiting my whole life and it was worth it.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“Getting to know people more. You only see people from what they present to you so whenever you get the chance to actually speak to them, hang out with them, and dig into their mind, it really inspires you to wanna do more, and that can be in any sense, from your hobbies to seeing something from a different perspective. That’s what really drives me, meeting people, learning, and expanding my mind.”
—
Rod, 22 (@_rsteeez)
Retail Associate from Las Vegas
Where along the LGBTQ spectrum do you place yourself?
“I’m actually straight but I respect the LGBTQ community. Everyone should love each other no matter what.
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“I’m ready for Ferg.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“Family, friends, and good vibes.”
—
Thomas 24, (@143.tommy)
Graphic Designer-DJ from Las Vegas by-way-of San Francisco
Where along the LGBTQ spectrum do you place yourself?
“Closer to bi-sexual, but more towards straight.”
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“Most definitely N.E.R.D., and Travis Scott. Actually, I take that all back… T-Pain.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“That I can be open about my identity. All my friends are here and they understand who I am as a person, and they don’t judge me for being who I am. I feel like that’s the most beautiful thing, that I can be myself around them. And that’s what makes life beautiful, finding friends who understand you completely.”
—
Davian, 20 (@davian_jordan)
Aspiring Model from Las Vegas
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“I’m here for A$AP Ferg, and we just got done seeing Tyler.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“New experiences. Every day can be something new. You can fall in love every day, honestly.”
—
Steven, 19 (@stevenreese_)
Student from Las Vegas
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“Travis Scott, Tyler, the Creator, Miguel, A$AP Ferg.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“Friends and family. You gotta have good support around you. It’s all about the love.”
—
Quentin Steele 22, (@manofsteele187)
Baller from The Emerald Triangle
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“A$AP Ferg.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“Every day is a different experience that you don’t know exactly what’s you’re going to run into like this awesome moment of my life.”
—
Dus, 21
Creative from “Wherever I’m Needed”
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“Honestly I didn’t plan to get in here. I snuck in the past 2 days. Travis, Tyler, and Ferg.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“I do what I want. That’s it.”
—
Frannie Poonani, 29 (@franniepoonanie)
Little Black Diamond Associate from San Diego
Where along the LGBT spectrum do you place yourself?
“I’m bisexual.”
Who are you most excited to see this weekend?
“Odesza.”
What makes life beautiful to you?
“Because of everyone that participates in this type of scene, and the love for the music, it’s just so beautiful. We’re all connected, everyone in the world. I think it’s really great that we can all connect in music and we all find this similar need to express ourselves. I just love how everyone can get together and express themselves with their fashion and music and dancing, and everyone has their own little thing they’re about and I love it so much, it’s really fun.”
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