Lisa Vanderpump: ‘Life Is About Standing Up for What You Believe In’

Lisa Vanderpump (Photo: Ryan Forbes)

With L.A. Pride taking place this weekend, we figured, who better to get into the rainbow spirit with than Lisa Vanderpump? The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and Vanderpump Rules matriarch is a staple at the annual event in West Hollywood, Calif., which celebrates the LGBTQ community, and this year will be no different.

“I’ve always been a big supporter of the LGBTQ community,” LVP told Yahoo Celebrity when asked how she first got involved with L.A. Pride. “I’ve done 220 episodes of reality television, I’ve been on reality television for six years, so if I can use that as a platform to get attention for something I’m passionate about then that’s what I do.”

Although Vanderpump, 55, can usually be found dancing alongside her staff on a float sponsored by her restaurant, Sur. This year the London native will ride atop a double-decker bus with Chris O'Connor, the British consul general, in Los Angeles.

Related: Krewella Dishes on New Music as They Prep to Perform at L.A. Pride Music Festival

“I’m very proud they are supporting the LGBTQ community as well, so this year we thought we’d do something different,” Vanderpump explained of her plans. “I can’t film [Vanderpump Rules] since I’ll be on [the British consul general’s] bus … but I’ve become close with the British consulate and I’m very proud of the fact they are supporting the community.”

Vanderpump can usually be found on Sur’s float during he L.A. Pride parade. (Photo: Splash News)

For you #PumpRules fans, we’ll likely still see what trouble Vanderpump’s staff is getting into at L.A. Pride when the next season of the hit Bravo show airs. LVP’s two West Hollywood restaurants, Sur and Pump, will be open during the pride celebration.

“Vanderpump Rules is in production so I’m sure they will be following the hijinks that manifest,” she laughed. (Oh, and FYI, she told us that James Kennedy is the cast member giving her the most grief right now: “You’ll have to watch [to see] how this one turns out,” she teased.)

LVP and the Sur staff were pretty in pink at L.A. Pride in 2015. (Photo: Instagram)

“I’ve been fortunate enough to get gay pride on Vanderpump Rules, which in turn goes out to 130-something countries. I try to bring acceptance and tolerance and let that be filmed,” she said. “I really put myself out there when [marriage equality] wasn’t so popular. I officiated a gay marriage on [TV] to draw attention to it. I’ve had so many people come up to me and say, ‘You have no idea, my mother’s watched you on [Real Housewives] for years, and when she saw how accepting you are for the LGBTQ community she started to question her own judgment.’”

Perhaps the restaurateur/philanthropist’s fight for equality began at a young age because it hit close to home.

“One of my nephews — I have four — I knew at a very young age he was gay,” she shared. “He wouldn’t come out until his grandmother had died. I knew because I just remembered him asking me, and I was only about 15 years older than him, if I would buy him My Little Pony, and the next year he asked for a Cabbage Patch Kid. He was surrounded by three brothers who all had G.I. Joe’s and all of that, and this was the nearest thing he could ask for without asking for a Barbie. I knew then that he was different, but it wasn’t a choice he made.”

Vanderpump continued, “That’s what parents need to understand. You made your child; sexual orientation isn’t something you choose. … You should love your children unequivocally. To throw your kid out in the street and make them part of the homeless situation is not going to turn them straight. It might turn them to drugs … but it’s not going to turn them straight. What you do is you love your child. … Be your child’s ally, because this is not their choice.”

Last year, Vanderpump was awarded the Ally Award by Equality California. She has also worked closely with GLAAD on many events and partnered with the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center to bring attention to the growing problem of homeless LGBTQ youth in Los Angeles.

“I think if you’re passionate about something, whatever it is, you keep going. If you’re fortunate enough to be a celebrity — and I use that term loosely, as someone on television that has notoriety — I think you should use your voice and use it wisely,” she said.

Vanderpump loves animals, especially her precious pooch Giggy. (Photo: pictureitperfectByDario)

Vanderpump is also lending her voice (and pocketbook) to attempt to stop the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China from happening with her new organization StopYulinForever.

“There are so many challenges, and I’m trying to implement change. That’s also why I’m [speaking out] against Yulin,” she said. “Life is about standing up for what you believe in, standing up for what’s right, and having compassion for life.”

LVP will be doing just that this weekend … in a fabulous hat, waving at the crowd, and “giving [protesters] the finger.”

To find out more about the L.A. Pride festivities (June 10-12) or buy tickets in advance, visit lapride.org. The music festival’s headliners include Carly Rae Jepsen, Charli XCX, and Krewella.