City unveils new Pride lifeguard tower after first burned down

Like a phoenix from the ashes, Long Beach’s rainbow Pride lifeguard tower is back after an unveiling yesterday, Thursday, June 11.

The tower, installed by the Long Beach Fire Department, is a replacement for an identical tower that burned down in March. The investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing, but investigators concur that “no electrical or heat-related ignition sources were present in the tower,” according to the City. The fire is currently being classified as arson.

Residents gathered at the unveiling donning rainbow attire, the symbolic color scheme of the LGBTQ community.

“We knew immediately how important this was going to be, to replace this tower,” Councilmember Cindy Allen said. “This symbol, it’s so important in our community.”

The crowd begins to leave after the unveiling of the rebuilt pride-themed lifeguard tower at 12th Place in Long Beach on June 10, 2021. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Mayor Robert Garcia, a member of the LGBTQ community, reminisced on when he saw the installation of the first Pride tower during an unveiling speech.

“It’s just an immediate sense of pride, of inclusion, obviously as a gay person as a queer person, seeing that just makes you feel welcome and supported,” he said. “As mayor of this community, I was just really proud.”

Long Beach lifeguards were the first ones to prompt the idea of creating a pride-themed lifeguard tower, painting both the first and second towers.

“There has never been a time within my life that I have been so honored and grateful to be a part of an organization that believes in inclusivity, community and creating safe spaces for people to express themselves freely, ” lifeguard Jeremy Rocha said.

Lifeguard, Jeremy Rocha, reads his remarks before the tarp is taken off the rebuilt pride-themed lifeguard tower at 12th Place on June 10, 2021.(Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)

Marine Safety Chief Gonzalo Medina said that most towers are marked with an American flag which “tells everyone these waters are protected.” He recognized that the rainbow tower symbolizes the same for members of the LGBTQ community, lifeguards and residents alike “because they are part of our lifeguarding family, it is our flag too,” Medina said.

Garcia said that Allen is spearheading an effort to make the tower “even more fabulous than it is now,” with the potential inclusion of more Pride flags, a historical marker or an event space.

Allen said she would bring an item to the city council so the Human Relations Commission can convene a community-led process to give input on the design.

Richard H. Grant contributed to this report.