Los Angeles Blade, Volume 10, Issue 04, March 13, 2026

MARCH 13, 2026 • VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 04 • AMERICA’S LGBTQ NEWS SOURCE • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

LOCAL

The Los Angeles Blade’s Best of LA Awards Show returns for its 9th year

On March 26th, 7 pm at the Abbey in West Hollywood, the Los Angeles Blade and the community will come together to celebrate the 9th annual Best of LA Awards.

By ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ With all of the political and social turmoil going on in the nation, it is imperative that our community take a breath and focus on the strength we queer folk have and the good that our leaders are doing. On March 26th, 7 pm at the Abbey in West Hollywood, the Los Angeles Blade and the community will come together to celebrate the 9th annual Best of LA Awards.

Nominated by and voted on by our readers in an online process, the Best of LA Awards puts the spotlight on the leading movers and shakers from the business, political, entertainment, nightlife, non-profit, sports realms, and beyond. This year featured a particularly diverse mix of longtime leaders and fresh faces, all making waves to bolster the queer community in Los Angeles.

This year’s award show will be co-hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Salina EsTitties (winner of last year’s Best Drag Performer) and Los Angeles Blade publisher Alexander Rodriguez.

The evening will also include a live performance by three of this year’s Local Musical Artist Best Drag Performer Cake Moss Charles Galin King Kyra Jete Laylah Amor Misty Violet

Best Restaurant Bottega Louie Hamburger Mary’s La Boheme Pura Vita WeHo Bistro

Activist of the Year Cory Allen Joshua Marin-Mora Liliana Perez Maebe A. Girl Rose Montoya

Best Drag Show Bring It To Brunch at Mattie’s Brunch Service at The Abbey Hamburger Mary’s West Hollywood Las Reinas at Mickys Rocc-ettes at Mattie’s

Best Radio or TV Station CHANNEL Q KTLA LatiNation OUTtv REVRY

Public Official of the Year CA State Treasurer Fiona Ma Chelsea Byers John Erickson Lindsey Horvath Maebe A. Girl

Local Influencer of the Year Charles Hernandez (CnoteLA) Curly Velasquez Justin Martindale Lucas Dell Rose Montoya Victoria Pousada Kreindler

Best Cannabis Retailer/Lounge Artist Tree Lounge Elevate Green Qween Med Men The Woods WeHo

Best Local Pro Sports Team (co-presented by PrideHouse LA/West Hollywood) Angel City FC LA Chargers LA Dodgers LA Lakers LA Rams LA Sparks Los Angeles FC

Best LGBTQ Bar Gym Bar Kiso Los Angeles Mattie’s Weho Or Bar The Abbey Best Happy Hour 33 Taps Fiesta Cantina Hi-Tops Mickys Motherlode The Abbey Go-Go of the Year Daniel Mooney Gabriel Gonzalez Jay Nova Prince Joshua Steven Dehler Victoria Shaw

Best LGBTQ Owned Business Fan Girl Cafe Green Qween JJLA MISTR Wildfang Best LGBTQ Social Group Dark Circle Film Society Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles NLGJA Los Angeles Outloud Sports Unique Woman’s Coalition WeHo Dodgeball

Local Ally of the Year Abbe Land Jessica Steinman Kevin De Nicolo Lindsey Horvath Senator Lena Gonzalez

Best Doctor/Medical Provider AIDS Healthcare Foundation Better U Dr. Eric Chaghouri Best House of Worship LA LGBT Center Congregation Kol Ami St. John’s Wellness Founders Metropolitan Community Church UCLA CARE Center Los Angeles Most LGBTQ-Friendly Workplace Hollywood Boulevard Episcopal AIDS Healthcare Foundation Hollywood United Methodist City of West Hollywood InVision Church Los Angeles JJLA

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of the Year: Prince Joshua, Tom Goss, and Ross Allan. The men of MISTR will also make an appearance to spice up the evening. In an excited text to the Blade, EsTitties exclaimed, “As the current reigning Best Drag Performer of Los Angeles, and having won Best Drag Show and Best Brunch in the years prior, I’m thrilled to be hosting this year’s Best of LA Awards!”

Graciously hosted by The Abbey, the awards show is supported by Visit West Hollywood and MISTR, longtime supporters of the Blade, as well as Gym Bar, a first-time Best of LA sponsor.

This year, Pride House LA/West Hollywood will co-present the Best Local Sports Team award and the Blade’s first-ever Legacy Athlete Award, being awarded to Gus Kenworthy. In addition, Genevieve Morrill will accept the Local Hero Award, in recognition of her 15 years as the president and CEO of the West Hollywood Chamber.

Congratulations to this year’s nominees. Winners will be announced online and at the Best of LA Awards show on March 26th. The event is free and open to the public.

Most LGBTQ Friendly Workplace Cont'd.

Los Angeles LGBT Center Revry

Best Regional Pride DTLA Proud Hermosa Beach Long Beach Pride Palm Springs Pride WeHo Pride

Non-Profit of the Year Asian Americans Advancing Justice (SoCal) Best Promoter of the Year Equality California Andres Rigal Los Angeles LGBT Center Ash Rodriguez Out Athlete Fund Beau Byron Project Angel Food Joshua Flores Trans Lifeline Paul Nicholls Best Local Actor LGBTQ Professional of the Year Annie Reznik Cory Allen Jason Caceres Erik Braverman Matthew Scott Montgomery Kathleen Rawson Nhut Le Liliana Perez Shaan Dasani Michael Ferrera Trevor Dow Tristan Schukraft Best Local Theatre Best Bartender Celebration Theatre Alex Satoshi DiDio Center Theatre Group Danny Hernandez Geffen Playhouse Manny De Cielo International City Theatre Matthew Stratman LA Opera Michael Susi Pasadena Playhouse Michael Vega Local Musical Artist of the Year Best DJ Prince Joshua Boy Apocalypse Robert Rene DJ Les Ortiz Ross Alan DJ SRO San Cha Lord Izac Tom Goss Simon Harrison Best LGBTQ Event Best Local LGBTQ Podcast Dinah Shore BabyGay GLAAD Awards No Matter What Club LA Opera Pride Night On The Rocks MISTR’s National PrEP Day Sloppy Seconds Podcast Outloud Music Festival at Weho Pride Very Delta Pride Night by Hyperion LA

Best Salon/Spa Bautis LA Folklore Salon & Barber Project Q Shorty’s Barber Shop The Massage Company WEHO Best Music Venue The Disney Concert Hall The Hollywood Bowl The Roxy Theatre The Troubadour The Wiltern Best Fitness/Workout Spot Barry’s WEHO Equinox on Sunset Gold’s Gym John Reed Fitness LA Fitness, Hollywood Best Hotel Andaz The West Hollywood EDITION Hotel Ziggy Kimpton La Peer Hotel SoHo House Local Hero Award: Genevieve Morrill, West Hollywood Chamber Legacy Athlete Award (co-presented

by PrideHouse LA/West Hollywood): Gus Kenworthy

Free STD Screening & Treatment | HIV Testing & Linkage to HIV care | PrEP Services

EVENTS

Carrying the sapphic torch forward: The Dinah returns this year with new leaders For three decades, The Dinah has been a sapphic utopia for queer people worldwide.

How will new owners preserve the music festival?

By KRISTIE SONG Sapphic exaltation can be found poolside at The Dinah, where for the last three decades, sapphic people have gathered to dance, find long-lasting community, and celebrate their own sacred queer joy. Affectionately dubbed “lesbian Coachella,” The Dinah is one of the largest music festivals held for queer women and sapphic people, including trans and nonbinary community members.

The Dinah has always been loud and proud, and was brought to fruition by renowned party thrower Mariah Hanson. In 1991, she organized the festival’s first iteration, molding the Palm Springs Modern Art Museum into a lively, safe bubble for sapphic people to experience high-voltage, unfettered togetherness and belonging — without shame, harm, or discrimination.

Over 30 years later, The Dinah has become a sapphic “utopia”: a multi-day gathering where people can find community, revel in sapphic excellence, and see some of the biggest superstars in their space thrive on stage. Previous performers include Doechii, Margaret Cho, the Indigo Girls, Tegan and Sara, Princess Nokia, and Lauren Jauregui.

In 2026, the festival sees another evolution: new leadership.

Bella Barkow and Rose Garcia have acquired the festival from Hanson and are aiming to make the event more inclusive, accessible, and joyful than ever. They want to preserve the alchemy of queer parties — these are the very spaces that they, as queer youth, discovered liberation and love.

Barkow grew up in Toronto’s rave scene and would spend time hanging out in Church and Wellesley, the city’s queer-friendly nucleus. 2,000 miles away, Garcia was stirring up L.A.’s club scene, her infectious wiles becoming the real-life inspiration for a character in the lesbian TV bible, The L Word.

They both also have history with The Dinah: Barkow, a queer event producer, managed the festival’s operations before their recent acquisition. Garcia was hand-plucked by Hanson to host and emcee the festival for over a decade.

Wild, rebellious, and uplifted by community, Barkow and Garcia are now dedicated to preserving and multiplying this space for other sapphic people across generations. As co-owners of the festival, they speak with great care about carrying this torch forward: of preserving this ecosystem that Hanson constructed and maintained, alone. Their challenge is two-fold: how do they preserve its history and essence while also creating enough breathing room for change and transformation?

The Blade sat down with Barkow and Garcia to talk about their vision for The Dinah and its future.

Rose, before you were an emcee and now co-owner of The Dinah, you were attending the festival as a young queer person. What was that like for you?

Garcia: When I first discovered the Dinah, it was in my early twenties, and I couldn’t afford to go for the whole weekend. I was young, working, going to school, and figuring things out, so my friends and I would hop into a car and drive up for Sunday’s pool party. When I first showed up there, I was like: this is in-

credible. I’ve never seen so many sapphic women in one space.

It was thousands upon thousands of women. And even though I’m in a big “market” in LA, we still didn’t have a lot of places to go back then. We had the Palms bar and a couple of clubs, but nothing to this scale.

So when I walked [into the Dinah], I was meeting people from Australia, Europe, Canada — people from all over the world. And it was so amazing, because I never knew something like this existed. It became my go-to place and a part of my life, honestly: [I could] congregate with my friends, take this amazing trip, and be around thousands of folks and feel a sense of acceptance and safety.

You’ve both been upfront that you want to make sure The Dinah is affordable, inclusive and accessible. Tell me more about the value of that and how you’re making this happen.

Barkow: It’s nice to think that LGBTQ rights are on a linear path towards betterness, but unfortunately, the world is not working like that. We both believe that this event needs to keep being accessible to the younger generation, to the people who, like us, came out when they were young, and perhaps saw it on The L Word, or The Real L Word, like myself. I remember seeing it when I was in Toronto and being like: “Oh my God. This place exists. This is a real thing. I can actually go there and be myself.”

We do think it’s important that this event is for everyone. I’ve had women in their 70’s who are first timers coming up, so you never know.

Garcia: I also want to interject that even though it’s been open to everyone, we want to actually scream it from the top of the mountains: that it’s not only a sapphic, women-loving-women (WLW) event. It’s open to all of our friends, and we accept and want everyone to feel welcome. That’s really important to Bella and me. We want to make sure our trans community feels welcome, [our] nonbinary community. We want everyone to feel that they can come to this space and feel accepted.

Barkow: I started gender sensitivity and proper pronoun usage training with the front-of-house staff at Dinah about two years ago, and we’re hoping to expand that and make sure that all staff, including hotel and security, are aware of that. There’s always the fear that [they could] misgender or misrepresent someone based on how they look. [We make it clear] you need to understand that our community is very, very specific. You need to support that and be a part of it.

What are you most excited about in this new era of The Dinah?

Garcia: I’m excited to see the people who are going to come.

When we launched the tickets, we got an overwhelming, warm, amazing reception. That was something that I was initially worried about [in] the change of hands. “Is it going to fare well with the community?” And we’ve been accepted. So, we’re excited to see what the community says about our first production and to see the faces of people just being happy, celebrating, and en-

04 • MARCH 13, 2026 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

The Dinah is one of the biggest, multi-day music festivals organized for and by sapphic people. (Photo courtesy RADskillZ)

joying the weekend, and to look at my partner and be like: Man, we did this. Our blood, sweat, and tears for the last 10 months are finally coming to fruition.

Bella: I’m really excited to see how the community takes to the new initiatives that we’re bringing out that are community building-specific activations, so things for the solo and single travelers and things for the sober community that really expand the event. [It’s] a music festival first and foremost, but also a space to build lifelong friendships. As Mariah used to call it, this five-day utopia [is] a place where the outside world doesn’t matter and we’re all there to be together and enjoy community together.

You’ve acquired The Dinah and you’re deep in the planning of this year’s festival. Does all of this, and the reception you’ve received, give you hope for the future of sapphic spaces?

Garcia: Yes, I think it does. Mariah used to have a partnership program [and] we’re going to reignite that. [We’ll] reach out to a lot of sapphic spaces throughout the country and all over the world, and [become] promotional partners. Not only does it support them in any events that they plan on having, because Dinah does have a big draw and a big reach, but it also helps us reach out to those markets as well. And we support each other. It’s a win-win for both. We [also] see a lot of the younger generation working on bringing more events to the community, and Bella and I are big supporters of all of them.

Barkow: It’s the understanding that there’s enough room at the table for everyone. We need to support each other as a community. Historically, it’s always been like a woman is sitting at the table and she says: “Oh, this is my seat, and it’s the only seat, and so I have to protect my seat.” And that’s not true. I see this as an opportunity for us to help pull other women up to come join the table because there’s a seat for everyone.

Dinah 2026 takes place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5 in Palm Springs.

More information can be found on their website.

Kristie Song is a California Local News Fellow placed with the Los Angeles Blade. The California Local News Fellowship is a state-funded initiative to support and strengthen local news reporting. Learn more about it at fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/cafellows.

LOCAL

Ed Buck is ordered to pay $2 million in wrongful death lawsuit for Gemmel Moore Advocates celebrated their court victory: one that would make sure Moore’s story would not be ignored or forgotten

By KRISTIE SONG On July 27, 2017, Gemmel Moore, a young Black queer man who was unhoused, was found dead in prominent West Hollywood political donor Ed Buck’s apartment. At the scene, police discovered glass pipes, syringes, and plastic bags with methamphetamine. Moore’s death was ruled an accidental overdose, and Buck skirted charges.

On January 7, 2019, another Black queer man, Timothy Michael Dean, was found dead from an apparent overdose at Buck’s home. In September of that same year, a third man, Dane Brown, overdosed but survived his encounter with Buck. Brown later died in 2024.

These deaths paint a picture of negligence, harm, and racialized violence. Advocates argued that Buck targeted and preyed upon the queer community’s most vulnerable people. “[Buck] intentionally chose Black gay men…Black gay men who were unhoused, who were suffering from addiction, who were in need of things,” said political strategist and journalist Jasmyne Cannick in a recent interview with NBCLA. “He used his power and his money to take advantage of them, and that just isn’t right.”

In 2021, Buck was found guilty on nine federal charges: the deaths of Moore and Dean, the distribution of methamphetamines, solicitation of prostitution, and the maintenance of a drug den. A year later, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

This week, another legal victory was secured for the

Journalist and political strategist JASMYNE CANNICK, mother of Gemmel Moore LATISHA NIXON, and attorneys HUSSAIN TURK and SEELAI LUDIN stood outside a federal courtroom in Los Angeles on March 4, after a jury awarded Nixon $2 million in a wrongful death civil lawsuit against Ed Buck.

(Photo courtesy Jasmyne Cannick)

family of Gemmel Moore. Moore’s mother, LaTisha Nixon, had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Buck and sought damages based on charges of sexual battery, hate violence, as well as unlawful and negligent conduct. After a brief deliberation, a jury unanimously found Buck liable.

He has been ordered to pay $2 million to Nixon.

2026 marks nearly a decade since Moore’s death, and nearly a decade of hard-fought justice, accountability and remembrance. Cannick has been present from the start, reporting on legal proceedings and fighting back against attempts to silence her. During this most recent suit, Cannick described how Buck’s attorney filed to place a gag order on her, in order to limit what she was allowed to publicly say about the trial. The motion was denied.

“There were times when people hoped the story would fade away,” Cannick wrote to the Blade. “From the very beginning, I made a commitment to make sure Gemmel Moore’s life and death were not ignored or minimized…

Seeing a jury deliver this verdict is a reminder that persistence matters and that the truth eventually has a way of catching up with people who thought they were untouchable.”

Kristie Song is a California Local News Fellow placed with the Los Angeles Blade. The California Local News Fellowship is a state-funded initiative to support and strengthen local news reporting. Learn more about it at fellowships.journalism. berkeley.edu/cafellows.

Bill Condon, Frankie Grande, and David Archuleta reflect on queer joy in their lives at the 2026 GLAAD Media Awards

By MATT MINTON While many of the speeches given at this week’s GLAAD Media Awards touched on the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks against the queer community, the evening was also a rare opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community to come together and celebrate each other’s unique accomplishments in the competitive world of entertainment and media.

As legends like Kiss of the Spider Woman and Dreamgirls director Bill Condon hit the star-studded red carpet at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, The Blade asked GLAAD nominees and guests to reflect on recent moments of queer joy in their lives — however that phrase may resonate.

“Heated Rivalry, I know it’s a cliche, but that is pure joy!”

Condon said. “There’s something about its Canadian nature that’s exactly what we need in America right now.”

For performer Frankie Grande, who was in attendance as a GLAAD nominee for outstanding breakthrough music artist following the release of his “very gay, very femme-forward” debut album Hotel Rock, joy has been found on stage. “I’m in rehearsals right now for the Broadway show Titanique, and it is so gay! I’m so grateful, and it’s just been the most fun I’ve ever had.”

Being nominated by GLAAD was extra special for Grande: “I wasn’t really expecting it to do major things, but

it was embraced by this community. And that’s the only thing I really cared about. I was hoping that it would continue to inspire people who maybe aren’t in a place where they’re seen or heard. And now they’re dancing around their living room to “Boys!”

David Archuleta recently released his memoir, Devout, about his journey from the American Idol stage to being closeted in the Mormon church. Now, he’s reflecting on his relationship with family after fully embracing his queerness.

“I have other siblings that are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and it’s been great just to relate to them,” Archuleta said. “When I first came out, my mom was like, ‘No, I can’t accept this.’ And now she sticks a rainbow flag in her front yard!”

Canada’s Drag Race guest star and GLAAD presenter Lauren Chan found the courage to come out through fashion.

Last May, she became the first out lesbian on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. On the red carpet, she shared how “it’s important to also recognize the small moments, right? Now being married to my wife, I have joyous moments every day in the kitchen. We see our friends in the community in New York, and we feel joy. And I feel an immense amount of joy in this room!”

FRANKIE GRANDE and PEPPERMINT at the GLAAD Media Awards (Photo courtesy of GLAAD)

That sentiment of joy and community in the room continued throughout the evening, as queer icons Liza Minnelli and Laverne Cox made appearances. The GLAAD Media Awards will officially air Saturday, March 21, on Hulu.

Check out The Blade’s coverage from inside the room at losangelesblade.com.

LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • MARCH 13, 2026 • 05

LOCAL

“I’ve always been an ally.” Seven gubernatorial candidates discuss LGBTQ+ rights at recent forum

Read what seven Democratic candidates running for governor said about how they would support queer Californians.

By KRISTIE SONG On Monday evening, seven Democratic candidates running for California governor walked into a packed auditorium in front of the county’s most prominent LGBTQ+ communities. In a forum co-presented by civil rights organization Equality California and the local queer nonprofit Los Angeles LGBT Center, each candidate tried to convince the crowd why they are the best choice for LGBTQ+ Californians.

The candidates present were: former California Attorney General and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, Congressman Eric Swalwell, billionaire entrepreneur and environmentalist Tom Steyer, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former L.A. mayor and Speaker of the California State Assembly Antonio Villaraigosa, and former California State Controller Betty Yee.

Swalwell, Steyer, and Porter are top contenders, according to a recent statewide survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California. 30% of the survey’s voters are split between other candidates, including Villaraigosa, Yee, Thurmond, and Becerra.

Political analysts and reporters are stumped; it’s difficult to parse out a clear frontrunner at this moment. As we head towards a primary election in June, community offerings like Monday’s forum allow constituents, including those who are LGBTQ+, decide which candidate is most likely to fulfill their promise of defending queer rights.

The Blade gathered notable quotes from each candidate in regards to LGBTQ+ issues. Passages have been edited for clarity.

How has each candidate stood with LGBTQ+ communities?

Each candidate was individually called up to the stage and given about 13 minutes to answer the same set of questions. A forum rather than a debate, the evening allowed each person to discuss their past work with LGBTQ+ communities as well as their perspectives on transgender health care, LGBTQ+ youth, homelessness, and the war in Iran.

The first question of the evening was definitive. NBC4 anchor Colleen Williams, the forum’s co-moderator, asked candidates to give themselves a letter grade to define their past work with LGBTQ+ communities.

Xavier Becerra “I have been an ally. Equality California has recognized that twice. But I go further back than that. There was a time in the 1990’s where two individuals who loved each other couldn’t get married if they were the same sex. There was a law that passed in Congress, called the ‘Defense of Marriage Act.’ 67 members out of 435 voted ‘no’ against that discriminatory law. I was one of them.

I will never put a vote down or take an action that would discriminate against someone else. That’s why I’ve taken action year over year, whether it was as Attorney General when I defended the ability of our LGBTQ community to have access to affordable care under the ACA [or] as Secretary of HHS. When it [came] to gender affirming care, it’s not what the politicians in Congress say: it’s what the medical and scientific experts say is the best health for every American.

I have a history that runs longer than anyone who’s running for governor in talking about how I’ve been a true and enduring ally of the LGBTQ+ community.”

Katie Porter “I’m a professor, and I’m a pretty notoriously tough grader. I don’t really believe in A-pluses, because I think there is always work to be done. But I would give myself an A, and I feel proud of the way that I’ve fought alongside the LGBTQ+ community, the way that I have represented those that I was fortunate enough to represent in Orange County, and to do that in an area that has historically been very, very hostile to the gay community.

I’m so very proud to have flipped the seat and to have been bold in voting for the Equality Act, in calling out Republicans for trying to attack LGBTQ families and lim-

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it their ability to adopt, for example. What would I do differently as governor? I think that starts with recognizing that we are not at a place of full equality. It is a journey, and we are not at our destination, and that is particularly true for transgender people.

They are still facing discrimination in health care, housing, and employment in so many other areas. So I think that’s something I would really want to focus on, is recognizing that within the coalition, within the LGBTQ+ community, we have real work to do, particularly for those who are facing the most challenges.”

Eric Swalwell “I’ve been in Congress for 14 years. So, you get as a future governor someone who’s been in the arena and someone who has been on record, and my record with the Human Rights Campaign has been 100%, and I’m proud of that. I’ve always been an ally. I always will be an ally, but there’s a lot more for me to learn. [There’s] always room for improvement, but [I have] a 14-year record of working on these issues and 100% of the time being with the community.”

Tom Steyer “I don’t think my grade for myself is the way to think about it. I think the LGBTQ community’s grade is the one that counts.

And I have worked actually very closely over the years with Equality California. And in fact, the former executive director of Equality California, Rick Zbur has endorsed me.

I mean, we’re friends, but we’ve done so much work together through this organization. So for me, my question is going to always be: What are the people in the community think about what I’m trying to do?

Does it have real impact in terms of doing a better job as governor? You have an ability to have immense impact on this community and in general.

To me, the question is going to be to make sure that this is a priority that is incredibly high because of what’s at risk. What’s the cost of not coming through for this community? Very, very, very high.”

Tony Thurmond “As the State Superintendent of Schools, I sponsored the legislation to establish gender neutral bathrooms in our schools in California. I sponsored the legislation to ban any banning of curricula that would block the contributions of LGBTQ Californians to our great state, and I sponsored the legis-

lation that made the law the Safety Act that says we don’t do forced outings in the state of California.

And as governor, I will continue to support our LGBTQ+ community: to support the right for health care, including gender affirming care, to make sure that there are health care resources, [and] that we address discrimination in housing. As we speak right now, I’m sponsoring legislation that would provide subsidized housing to minors who are homeless. In our state, there are 10,000 homeless youth in our state who are on their own under the age of 18. And as many of you know, our young people [who are homeless] are oftentimes disproportionately LGBTQ+.

As [for] a grade, I’ll say I’m a work in progress, because I’m hungry to do more. I think that more needs to be done. I’m not here to rest on laurels. As a governor, I’m going to fight back on the Trump administration in the same way that I’ve done to pass legislation that says ICE has no place in our schools [and] in our hospitals. We are under attack, but we’re going to fight back, and as your governor, I’m going to help lead that attack against Trump in this reckless administration.”

Antonio Villaraigosa “A+. I started in the beginning. I was doing this. When I was Speaker of the California State Assembly, I was chair of this budget subcommittee that dealt with the AIDS formulary. I took on Pete Wilson, [who] had pushed back constantly on that formulary, and we won. [And the] first anti-discrimination bill in housing and employment. We’d been working on it for 30 years. I authored it. I joined [what was then the] Gay and Lesbian Caucus at the time. I authored, with Carole Migden, the first domestic partnership bill.

Then, when I was mayor, I led Mayors for Equality. When I was chairman of the convention, the first thing they asked me in 2012 was my position on gay marriage.

I said: ‘You know it. I’ve been strongly for it since 1994.’ Obama’s people got upset with me because I was the chair of the convention, and I said it should be on the platform.

I was the first person in the country to take out transgender females [and] separate them in the men’s jail.

CONTINUES AT LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • MARCH 13, 2026 • 07

VIEWPOINT

LA28: Where is your moral compass?

As Los Angeles prepares to host the world in 2028, the eyes of the world are upon us.

By West Hollywood Councilmember JOHN M. ERICKSON The recent decision by the LA28 board to publicly back Chair Casey Wasserman, despite his unequivocal connection to the Epstein files, raises serious questions about who we are as a region and what we value.

As the The Los Angeles Times reported this week, the LA28 organizing committee reaffirmed its support for Wasserman after his name appeared in documents associated with Jeffrey Epstein. According to the reporting, Wasserman has denied any wrongdoing, and LA28 leadership has characterized the matter as resolved from their perspective.

While it is important to point out that no criminal charges have been filed against Wasserman, there is no formal finding of wrongdoing. But that is hardly the point.

The leadership of a global institution like the Olympics requires more than the absence of charges. It requires moral clarity, public trust, and an acute awareness of how decisions resonate with survivors of abuse and exploitation.

Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender whose crimes represent one of the most horrific trafficking and abuse scandals in modern history. For survivors, the pain is not abstract or historical. It is ongoing. Institutions that appear dismissive of legitimate public concern risk compounding that harm.

The Los Angeles Times made clear that the LA 28 board has chosen to stand firmly behind Wasserman. That is its prerogative. But when an organization tasked with hosting the Olympic Games closes ranks so quickly, it raises a larger question. What standard of accountability are we applying? If Wasserman weren’t rich and politically connected, would he get the same type of protection? The answer is clearly NO. But because of his social and political position, he is given a pass while the survivors of Epstein and his friends’ unconscionable actions against women and girls are swept under the rug.

If LA28 is serious about supporting survivors, and it has repeatedly JOHN ERICKSON, LA28 Rally (Photo courtesy of IG: @johnericksonweho / Jon Viscott Photography)

stated that it is, then it must act like it. Acting like it means understanding that even associations or appearances connected to a known sex offender require extraordinary transparency and humility. It means recognizing that the bar for leading the Olympic Games is not simply the absence of an indictment, but unimpeachable credibility.

This is not about presuming guilt. It is about recognizing responsibility. It is about questioning Wasserman’s moral compass.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games are not merely a sporting spectacle. And they are bigger than any one individual. They are about integrity, excellence, and respect. Those values are not symbolic. They must be embodied by those at the very top.

For that reason, I am introducing a resolution alongside my colleague Councilmember Chelsea Byers at our Monday, March 2 City Council meeting, formally denouncing Casey Wasserman’s continued involvement as Chair of LA28 and as an ambassador for Los Angeles while this controversy remains unresolved in the public mind. West Hollywood will be the first city in the nation to call for his removal and to urge LA28 to issue an unequivocal apology to survivors who may feel retraumatized or dismissed by the organization’s response.

I applaud Mayor Karen Bass for calling on Wasserman to resign.

While she does not have the power to remove him—only LA 28 does—it will take a collective effort of other cities and civic leaders to take action. Every one of us must ask ourselves: are we serious about standing with survivors, and if so, every one of us must act.

Public trust is fragile. The Olympic Games demand the highest ethical standards from their leadership. Anything less undermines not only the credibility of LA28 but the values the Games are supposed to represent.

Los Angeles has time to get this right. The world is watching. Times up for Wasserman.

John Erickson is a Councilmember and Former Mayor of the City of West Hollywood and a candidate for California State Senate District

V O L U ME 10 I S S U E 04 PHONE 310-230-5266 E-MAIL arodriguez@losangelesblade.com INTERNET losangelesblade.com PUBLISHED BY Los Angeles Blade, LLC PUBLISHER ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ arodriguez@losangelesblade.com, 310-230-5266 x 8080 EDITORIAL NATIONAL EDITOR KEVIN NAFF knaff@washblade.com, 202-747-2077 x 8088 LOCAL NEWS REPORTER KRISTIE SONG ksong@losangelesblade.com CONTRIBUTING WRITER KAREN OCAMB karenocamb@losangelesblade.com CONTRIBUTORS

MICHAEL K. LAVERS, TINASHE CHINGARANDE, JOHN PAUL KING, LOU CHIBBARO JR., SUSAN HORNIK, JOE REBERKENNY, DANIEL ITAI, ISAAC AMEND, PETER ROSENSTEIN, TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER, JOE PHILLIPS, ANKUSH KUMAR, ESTEBAN RIOSECO, SAM KISIKA, ELVIS KAWEDO, HENRY CARNELL, DAWN ENNIS, AJ SLOAN

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2023 GLAAD Media Awards

08 • MARCH 13, 2026 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

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NOTICE INVITING SUBMITTALS FOR ARMED AND UNARMED EVENT STAFF SECURITY GUARD SERVICES The County of Los Angeles Department of Beaches and Harbors is seeking a qualified and experienced contractor to provide armed and unarmed event staff security guard services to patrol outdoor public places in Marina del Rey, Dockweiler, and White Point/Royal Palms Beach, as well as provide crowd control services for special events. Selection of a contractor will be based on the qualifications and price of the submitted proposals for performing the requested work.

A Mandatory Virtual Proposer’s Conference is scheduled for March 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. PST on Microsoft Teams. All potential Proposers must attend this conference. The deadline for submitting proposals is 5:00 p.m. PST on April 02, 2026.

Proposers submitting proposals must have a minimum of seven (7) years’ experience providing armed and unarmed event staff security guard services.

The County may require additional minimum qualifications. The contract will be subject to the County’s Living Wage Ordinance, County Code Chapter 2.201.

Further information regarding the Request for Proposals (RFP) is available at: https://doingbusiness. lacounty.gov/.

To view and print a copy of the RFP, please visit: http://beaches.lacounty.gov/request-for-proposals/.

The County reserves the right to cancel the RFP and to modify any and all terms and conditions of the RFP, including minimum qualifications. For further information, email Jean Dao at Contracts@ bh.lacounty.gov.

CN124175 03-19-2026 Mar 13, 2026

LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • MARCH 13, 2026 • 09

Quick chat: Katya Zamolodchikova works with Grindr to answer ‘Who’s the A**hole?’

By CHRISTIAN CINTRON

Katya Zamolodchikova has been a breakout star since their tenure on RuPaul’s Drag Race. With Trixie Mattel, they’ve created a veritable media empire with multiple YouTube series, live shows, tons of brand awareness, and podcasts. Katya steps away from their frequent collaborator to unite with everyone’s favorite frenemy, Grindr, on an interview podcast, “Who’s The Asshole?”

She brings her offbeat sense of humor, irreverent mind, and a new hairpiece to interview some of the hottest people of the moment. This season features Jinkx Monsoon, Jeremy Scott, everyone’s favorite transvestigator Luscious Massacr, Peaches, Pat Regan, and The Traitors star Colton Underwood.

This marks the fourth season of this podcast, which has a distinctly different vibe from The Bald & The Beautiful in the same way Monet XChange plays off Bob the Drag Queen, but is a consummate professional interviewer on Monet Talks. Katya breaks from playing off her straight man, Trixie, and instead partners with Grindr. It’s the perfect combination for a sexy, unhinged podcast with some of your favorite queer celebrities dishing about life, sex, and app culture.

Katya took time for quick chat and gave us a brain dump of her hottest thoughts about everything from Heated Rivalry to hooking up.

Edge: What do you love about this podcast?

Katya: I love getting to talk to wildly different people about sexual ethics, social mores, and really dissect our behaviors and patterns around sexuality.

E: What is your take on the Heated Rivalry phenomenon?

K: I love it. I love them. I love gay sex and I can’t wait for season 2.

What does dating look like in a post-Heated Rivalry world?

Probably just fucking on a Zamboni. I think that’s the vibe.

Any thoughts on Pillion?

I think it’s very important. I think it’s essential. In a way, it’s even required. (I haven’t seen it yet.)

What is the state of Drag? Drag Race?

Drag is, has always been, and will always continue to be corny, so we must do everything in our power to be as cunty as possible. Drag Race is franchising all over the globe, and I think it’s amazing.

Has “representation” sanitized queer expression?

I don’t think so. You should see some of my queer friends and the way they express themselves! Nothing sanitary there!

Who benefits from “respectable” drag?

Restaurant and nightclub owners. Less blood and feces to clean up.

How have the apps changed queer culture?

They have changed our culture in so many ways. For introverts and shy folk, apps are such a boon! I was afraid to talk to anyone up to age 30. I would have to give a big, warm thank you to Grindr for helping facilitate my year of sexual discovery.

Hot takes on dating? Polyamory? open relationships?

It’s always much simpler than people think. Do you like him? Do you? You should be able to answer that question in 2 seconds. Does he like you?

You should answer that in 3 seconds. The rest is just trial and error and hopefully a lot of moaning and groaning (on the hockey rink only, of course).

Katya has six episodes of this season of “Who’s The Asshole?” premiering each Thursday on YouTube and your favorite podcast apps.

10 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • MARCH 13, 2026

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TV/FILM

Spring’s best in queer TV and film Miranda Priestly the highlight of a slow season

By JOHN PAUL KING It’s surely a sign of the times that this year’s spring preview of upcoming screen entertainment doesn’t hold nearly as much boldly out-and-proud queer content as we would like – but then again, there are only a small handful of noteworthy titles overall – especially on the big screen, where, just like any year, the top-grade content is being saved for summer.

Even so, we’ve managed to put together a list of the movies and shows on the horizon that offer a much-needed taste of the rainbow; a mix that includes returning favorites, “don’t-miss” events, and a few promising big screen crowd-pleasers, it should keep you occupied until the summer season brings a fresh new crop of (hopeful) blockbusters with it.

Scarpetta (Prime Video, March 11). Proving once again that she’s on a quest to accumulate more screen appearances than any other actor in history, Nicole Kidman returns for another star turn by way of this true-crime-ish mystery series, adapted from the bestselling “Kay Scarpetta” novels by lesbian author Patrica Cornwell, as a “brilliant and beautiful” forensic pathologist who uses her knowledge to solve murders.

If that’s not enough to draw you in, her costars include fellow Oscar-winners Jamie Lee Curtis (as her feisty older sister) and Ariana DuBose (as her nosy lesbian niece), as well as Bobby Cannavale and Simon Baker.

It’s Dorothy! (Peacock, March 13). Filmmaker Jeffrey McHale first won our attention with his fun and insightful “Showgirls” documentary, and now he’s back with a look at perhaps the ultimate queer icon in popular culture: none other than Dorothy Gale, that Kansas farm girl who taught us all that “there’s no place like home” in L. Frank Baum’s classic novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and its sequels – and of course, in a certain movie adaptation starring Judy Garland. Charting the journey of the fictional heroine across a century of cultural reiterations – on the page, the stage, the screen, and beyond - with a mix of archival material, artistic interpretations, and commentary from queer and queer-friendly voices such as John Waters, Rufus Wainwright, and Lena Waithe, it’s sure to be required viewing for every “Friend of Dorothy” – and all of their friends, too.

The 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards (Hulu, March 21). Sure, it’s already happened and you already knew (or can find out with a few quick taps of your phone

screen) who and what the winners were – but, hey, we already know that the Oscars aren’t going to offer much in the way of queer victories (since there are only a small handful of queer nominees), so why not plan to watch the GLAAD ceremony (recorded live on March 5 for later streaming)?

The Comeback: Season 3 (HBO Max, March 22). Another returning gem is this inventive “mockumentary” style sitcomabout-a-sitcom, starring Lisa Kudrow as a “B-list” television star trying to revive her own faltering career. Slow to catch on in its first season (which originally aired in 2005), it won acclaim (and new fans) when it was rebooted in 2014 by Kudrow and collaborator/co-creator Michael Patrick King (former executive producer of “Sex in the City,” and now returns after a 12-year hiatus for another installment, which tracks “never-was” has-been Valerie Cherish through yet another attempt to make stardom happen. If you like cynical, sharp-edged satire, especially when it’s aimed at the behindthe-scenes world of show-biz, then you’ve probably already discovered this one – but if you haven’t, now’s your chance to jump on board.

Heartbreak High: Season 3 (Netflix, March 25). Fans of this imported Australian teen “dramedy” series – itself the “soft reboot” of another popular Australian series from the ‘90s – will be thrilled for the arrival of its third and final installment, which picks up where it left off in the lives (and sex lives) of the students and teachers of a suburban high school. As always, it can be expected to push the envelope (and some buttons) with its irreverent treatment of issues of class, race, and sexuality – and to deliver another season’s worth of the colorful and striking costume designs that have been acclaimed as a highlight of the show. And yes, it includes a refreshingly significant number of variously queer characters, so if you’re not already on board with his hidden gem of a streamer, we suggest you should give it a shot – you can probably even catch up on the first two seasons before this one drops.

Pretty Lethal (Prime Video, March 25).

Fresh from a March 13 debut at the SXSW Film and TV Festival, this girl-power fueled action thriller from director Vicky Jewson and writer Kate Freund centers on a troupe of ballerinas who, while en route to a prestigious ballet competition, are stranded by a bus breakdown and must take shelter at a remote roadside inn run by Uma Thurman

12 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • MARCH 13, 2026

MERYL STREEP, ANNE HATHAWAY, and STANLEY TUCCI return in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ opening on May 1. (Image courtesy of 20th Century Studios)

as a ruthless crime boss. Needless to say, the girls are forced to adapt their dance prowess into combat skills before the night is over. With a cast that includes Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Avantika, Millicent Simonds, and Michael Culkin, our bet is that it’s sure to be campy fun with a feminist twist.

Forbidden Fruits (Theaters, March 27).

Adapted from the play “Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die” by Lily Houghton (who co-wrote the screenplay with director Meredith Alloway), this comedy/horror film about a group of young witches who operate a “femme cult” out of the basement of a mall store called “Free Eden” looks like another campy treat, full of witchy wiles and bitchy rivalries, but something about its theatrical pedigree tells us it will also be more than that. Even if we’re wrong, though, we’ll be perfectly happy; why would anyone say no to a delicious piece of camp, especially when it has a cast led by Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, and Alexandra Shipp, with creator/ influencer Emma Chamberlain in her film debut and heavyweight talent Gabrielle Union thrown in for good measure? We’re ready to join the coven.

Club Cumming (WOW Presents Plus, March 30). Queer icon Alan Cumming (currently riding high as host of “The Traitors”) takes us inside his NYC East Village gay bar, nightclub, and showplace for a behind-thescenes reality series that spotlights the talent, fashion, and fabulously queer vibe that makes the establishment one of queer New York’s most iconic nightspots. Cabaret singer Daphne Always, go-go dancer and drag performer Michelle Wynters, Drag queen Brini Maxwell, Drag king Cunning Stunt, and Comedian Jake Cornell are among the many reasons why this little slice of the queer New York scene is reason enough

alone to become a subscriber to World of Wonder’s streaming platform – though if you’re a “Drag Race” superfan, chances are good you already are.

The Boys: Season 5 (Prime Video, April 8). Amazon’s violent superhero satire, complete with its divisive and deliciously challenging emphasis on queer storylines and its in-your-face caricature of contemporary American “culture war” politics, returns for its fifth and final season, along with all the thorny issues of racism, nationalism, and xenophobia it has showcased all along, and an ensemble cast that includes Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, and the rest of the usual players. A decidedly queer-informed game-changer in the mainstream fan culture, it’s a show that will be sorely missed – but with several spin-offs already in existence (including the even-queerer “Gen V”) and another (“Vought Rising”) on the way, we can take comfort in knowing that its influence will live on.

Euphoria: Season 3 (HBO Max, April 12).

The controversial Sam Levinson-created drama that is HBO’s fourth most-watched series of all time is back after a lengthy hiatus, rejoining the lives of its dysfunctional characters – queer struggling addict Rue (Zendaya), trans teen Jules (Hunter Schafer), abusive sexually insecure football star Nate (Jacob Elordi), and the rest – a full five years later, away from the social traumas of high school and settled into what we can only assume is an equally-dysfunctional life as young adults. Renowned for its cinematic visual styling and its no-holds-barred treatment of “triggering” subject matter, this long-awaited return is likely to be at or near the top of a lot of watchlists – and ours is no exception.

CONTINUES AT LOSANGELESBLADE.COM

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BOOKS

Laverne Cox, Liza Minnelli among authors with new books A tome for every taste this reading season

By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER Spring is a great time to think about vacations, spring break, lunch on the patio, or an afternoon in the park. You’ll want to bring one (or all!) of these great new books.

So let’s start here: What are you up for? How about a great new novel?

If you’re a mystery fan, you’ll want to make reservations to visit “Disaster Gay Detective Agency” by Lev AC Rosen (Poisoned Pen Press, June 2). It’s a whodunit featuring a group of gay roommates, one of whom is a swoony romantic. Add a mysterious man who disappears and a murder, of course, and you’ve got the novel you need for the beach.

Don’t discount young adult books, if you want something light to read this spring. “What Happened to Those Girls” by Carlyn Greenwald (Sourcebooks Fire, June 30) is a thriller about mean girls and a camping trip that goes terribly, bloodily wrong. Meant for teens ages 14 and up, young adult books are breezier and lighter fare for the busy grown-up reader.

If you loved “Boyfriend Material” and “Husband Material,” you’ll be eager for the next installment from author Alexis Hall. “Father Material” (Sourcebooks Casablanca, June 2) takes Luc and Oliver to the next step. First was dating. Then was marriage. Is it time for the sound of pitter-patter on the kitchen floor?

Maybe something even lighter? Then how about a book of essays – like “The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Gay” by comedian and writer Eliot Glazer (Gallery Books, Aug. 11). It’s a book of essays on being gay today, the irritations, the joys, and fitting in. Be aware that these essays may contain a bit of spice – but isn’t that what you want for your reading pleasure anyhow, hmmm?

But okay, let’s say you want something with a little more heft to it.

How about a biography?

Look for “Transcendant” by Laverne Cox (Gallery Books, June 9), or “Kids, Wait Till You Hear This” by Liza Minnelli (Grand Central Publishing, March 10), and “Every Inch a Lady” by Audrey Smaltz with Alina Mitchell (Amistad, July 14). Keep your eyes open for “Without Prejudice: My Life as a Gay Judge” by Harvey Brownstone (ECW Press, May 26) or “The Double Dutch Fuss” by Phill Branch (Amistad, June 2).

Then again, maybe you want some history, or something different.

So here: look for “Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles, and Modern Intercession” by Antonio Pagliarulo (Weiser, June 1) for a little bit of faith-based gay. Music lovers will want “Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969-2000” by Barry Walters (Viking, May 12). Activists will want “In the Arms of Mountains: A Memoir of Land, Love, and Queer Resistance in Red America” by former Idaho state Sen. Cole Nicole LeFavour (Beacon Press, May 26).

And if these books aren’t enough, then be sure to check with your favorite bookseller or librarian. They’ll have exactly what you’re in the mood to read. They’ll find what you need for that patio, beach towel, or easy chair.

14 • LOSANGELESBLADE.COM • MARCH 13, 2026

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