CENTER NOTES
CULTURAL ARTS:
Meningitis SOCIAL SERVICES & SHELTER:
One in Five A first-of-its-kind study found that approximately 1 in 5 foster youth (19 percent) in Los Angeles County, home to the nation’s largest population of foster youth, identify as LGBTQ. That is double the percentage of LGBTQ youth in Los Angeles. LGBTQ foster youth are also twice as likely to report poor treatment, more likely to live in group homes and to have more foster care placements. The study report, Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in Los Angeles County Foster Care: Assessing Disproportionately and Disparities, was funded as part of a landmark $13.3 million, five-year federal grant awarded to the Center. It was co-authored by scholars at The Williams Institute and Holarchy Consulting. It is the first population-based survey aimed at measuring sexual orientation and gender identity of youth in any foster care system.
“This study supports our long-held belief that LGBTQ youth are not only overrepresented in the foster system but extremely disadvantaged within that system,” said Lorri L. Jean, CEO of the Center. Show you care about the welfare of LGBTQ foster youth by signing our statement of support online at lalgbtcenter.org/fosteryouth. The statement will be sent to political leaders and foster care agencies to spark reforms in the system.
1,200 YOUTH DECIDE:
‘What’s Next?’ More than 1,200 LGBTQ youth from 100 Southern California cities attended the Center’s 22nd annual Models of Pride conference at the University of Southern California on Oct. 11. As the nation’s largest free conference of its kind, Models of Pride offered a full day of life-enriching programming designed to help young people build confidence and self-esteem and develop valuable life skills. Hosted by the Center’s LifeWorks youth development and mentoring program, Models of Pride’s “What’s Next?” theme focused on the next crucial issues to be addressed within the LGBT community. 2014 Models of Pride attendees strike a pose with the Center’s five attributes.
In response to three cases of meningitis in New York that developed in HIVpositive gay men, the Center’s Medical Director Dr. Robert Bolan wrote an open letter to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), co-signed by other HIV/ AIDS service organizations. The letter urged the CDC to take action and investigate why gay and bisexual men seem to be at greater risk of exposure to, and transmission of, Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) than the general population.
“This issue also highlights the importance of tracking health data associated with sexual orientation and gender identity. Without that data, we may not be able to identify the disproportionate risks to LGBT people and in the case of meningitis, that lack of knowledge can have deadly consequences,” said Dr. Bolan. “Here in Los Angeles, the health department only began identifying the sexual orientation of people with IMD two years ago.”
Standing Ovation Edward Albee’s Tony Award-winning play The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? ended its criticallyacclaimed production at the Center’s Davison/ Valentini Theatre in November. Starring Matt Kirkwood, Spencer Morrissey, Ann Noble and Paul Witten, the play explored the limits of tradition, tolerance and morality. Directed by Ken Sawyer and produced by the Center’s Director of Cultural Arts Jon Imparato, the production received 17 rave reviews and was named a Los Angeles Times Critic’s Choice. It also was given the Ovation Recommended designation by LA Stage Alliance.
It takes a Village to be Transparent The Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza made several cameo appearances in the critically-acclaimed Amazon original series Transparent. In one scene, the exterior of The Village is depicted as the location where Maura – played by actor Jeffrey Tambor – attends a transgender support group. Longtime Center supporter Judith Light portrays Tambor’s ex-wife.
LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY:
Blow the Whistle on Hate Unveiled during Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, “Blow the Whistle on Hate” is an OUT for Safe Schools campaign engaging Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) coaches and athletes to help to make school safer for LGBT students. Coaches were trained to address and intervene and, as part of the campaign, 1,000 whistles and lanyards were provided to the athletic department to help “blow the whistle” on hate and create safe sports in schools.
“Homophobia and gender bias remains rampant in the world of organized sports,” said Lorri L. Jean, CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. “Thanks to our strong partnership with LAUSD and through the work of Project SPIN, we’re going to set a tone of inclusiveness among student athletes that will not only help change the culture on campuses, it will help shape the future of organized sports.” Part of the Center’s Project SPIN (Suicide Prevention Intervention Now), OUT for Safe Schools launched last year with the distribution of 30,000 badges worn by LAUSD teachers and staff to indicate they can be approached if an LGBT youth needs help to feel safe at school. For more information, visit lalgbtcenter.org/project_spin.
ABOUT US:
Going Global (Again)
the Teacher
The Center accepted an invitation to become a member of the prestigious Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). Center CEO Lorri L. Jean, Chief of Staff Darrel Cummings and Chief Development Officer Bill McDermott attended CGI’s weeklong Annual Meeting in New York in September. Cummings participated on and helped plan the panel of the sole LGBT-themed session, The Modern Business Imperative: LGBT Rights Around the World. Participants included fellow panelist Xiaogang Wei, a prominent Chinese activist/filmmaker and graduate of the Center’s Emerging Leaders Program.
Center CEO Lorri L. Jean & Board Member Susan Feniger were featured in Los Angeles magazine as two of the inspirational women who are
“game changers in making the city a better place.”
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Winter 2014
GAME CHANGER H A L L of FA M E
ER LIGHTBULB
Susan Fe n i g e r THE FOOD PIONEER CREATED FOR LOS ANGELES A FLAVOR ALL ITS OWN
KIM: FELIX SALAZAR; MOMIN: RAMONA ROSALES; FENIGER: COURTESY OF SUSAN FENIGER; ADAMS-GELLER: NAJ JAMAI
HEALTH:
Susan Feniger’s impact on L.A.—like her culinary style—has no borders. Along with her business partner, Mary Sue Milliken, she is responsible for bringing the tastes of the world to the forefront of the local dining scene, beginning in 1981 with City Café on Melrose Avenue. In the years since, she and Milliken have fostered our passion for panLatin food with Border Grill (there are now four locations in L.A. County, plus two market-y food trucks). With Street on Highland Avenue, she brought the street food of Thailand, India, and beyond to the table, then transformed the space to give Hollywood a welcoming neighborhood hub, Mud Hen Tavern. Feniger has spread the gospel of good eating on television (Too Hot Tamales, Top Chef Masters) and in cookbooks (she has coauthored six). She’s stirred things up outside the kitchen, too, supporting the LGBT community and the Human Rights Campaign. She is a board member of the Scleroderma Research Foundation and was an adviser on the L.A. Sports and Entertainment Commission. Now that’s great service.
THE ADVOCATE
Lorri L. Jean THE CEO OF THE LOS ANGELES GAY & LESBIAN CENTER PROVIDES LGBT ANGELENOS MEDICAL SERVICES, CAREER RESOURCES—EVEN LODGING—WHILE FIGHTING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS NATIONWIDE
M O M E N T : Long before I knew I was a lesbian, I wanted to stand up for what was right. Once I was practicing law, I realized I would have a lot more fun working for my own community. H E R E L E VAT O R P I T C H : Legal equality does not mean that you are treated fairly in society. We’re seeing all-timehigh numbers of homeless LGBT youth in need because families in L.A. are kicking their kids out because of their sexual orientation. It’s going to be decades before organizations like ours are no longer needed. H E R G R E AT E S T C H A L L E N G E : There are approximately 65,000 gays and lesbians over the age of 65 in L.A., but people who have the resources to help don’t understand the challenges those seniors face. They say, “They’re adults. Can’t they take care of themselves?” Not always. They are four times more likely than their straight counterparts to have no family to help them as they age. T H E R E WA R D : On the rare days when I get weary, I talk with one of the kids who is living at the center, and it takes me a nanosecond to get over my job’s frustrations. We’re making a difference in people’s lives.
THE ROLE MODEL
PA I G E A DA M S - G E L L E R THE FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF PAIGE DIDN’T STOP AT CHANGING THE FACE OF THE DENIM INDUSTRY; SHE RAISES AWARENESS FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE
H
ER LIGHTBULB
M O M E N T : I went to a life coach to talk about my need to be creative and to empower others, and she said, “You should think about starting your own clothing line.” It was crazy. I hadn’t studied business or fashion, but I did my homework and saw that there were no other powerful women in the denim world. HER SECRET TO SUCCESS: Because I’m a woman, I look at jeans differently. I’m compassionate about how traumatic
it can be to try things on. When it comes to fitting, I’m mindful of different body types. Also, it was important to me to create a healthy work environment that nurtures a sense of community. If someone is toxic, they don’t last here very long. HER PROUDEST MOMENT: I was asked to become a board member of the Rape Foundation. I was a rape victim at 16, and I later went to the Rape Treatment Center for help. So joining the organization’s team has brought my life full circle. Q LAMAG.COM
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