The Pride LA December 18, 2020

the pride

ISSUE NUMBER 47, VOLUME 18 | DECEMBER 18 – DECEMBER 31, 2020 12.18.2020 – 12.31.2020

WWW.THEPRIDELA.COM

LOS ANGELES

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THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER

A Look Back on 2020

The Pride LA’s top stories of the past year. See more pages 2-7

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Photo: Morgan Genser

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LOS ANGELES

12.18.2020 – 12.31.2020

Jan 28, 2020

Public Outcry Temporarily Saves Los Angeles LGBT Center’s STD, HIV Services The temporary agreement restores funding through the end of March

By StaFF Writer The Los Angeles LGBT Center announced today that it has reached a temporary agreement with the Los Angeles Department of Public Health (DPH) to reinstate funding for vital STD and HIV services for the LGBT community.

“The Los Angeles LGBT community saved the day. From phone calls to tweets and emails, their voices were heard and ultimately saved these vital services for our community,” Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean said. “It’s a potent reminder of the strength, tenacity, and resilience of our community.”

The agreement, reached overnight, comes one day after the announcement that free STD and HIV testing and STD treatment funded by the County would end at the Center due to funding cuts by DPH. The subsequent public outcry and activism through phone calls to DPH and its director,

Dr. Barbara Ferrer, led to the temporary funding agreement.

The temporary agreement restores funding through the end of March.

“Services were saved and are continuing— for now. That is crucial,” Jean said. “And, between now and the end of March, we will work with Dr. Ferrer and the Department of Public Health to find a long-term solution that ensures care and treatment for our community. We are hopeful, but nothing is guaranteed. Clearly our community stands at the ready to re-engage should this become necessary.”

Los Angeles is in the midst of raging STD epidemics, with infections continuing to rise. Up to 90 percent of certain STDs have no symptoms, which means people can be passing them to their partners without realizing it. Over the last five years, there has been a 98 percent increase in primary and secondary syphilis; 81 percent increase in gonorrhea; and 25 percent increase in chlamydia cases in Los Angeles County.

Alarmingly, the epidemic disproportionately impacts communities hardest hit by health inequities and stigma, including young gay and bisexual men, women, people of color, and transgender people.

For more information, visit lalgbtcenter.org.

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12.18.2020 – 12.31.2020

LOS ANGELES

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Jun 10, 2020

LA Pride Pulls out of Black Lives Matter March Facing Backlash

LA Pride organizers face backlash after seeking police permit

By Sam Catanzaro

L.A. Pride will not be involved in an All Black Lives Matter march after facing backlash for seeking a police permit.

Last week, Christopher Street West (CSW)–producers of L.A. Pride–announced a solidarity march with All Black Lives Matter on June 14.

Soon after, CSW applied for a permit with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for the event.

“For the past 50 years, we have demonstrated a strong and unified partnership with law enforcement in the annual organization of PRIDE here in Los Angeles and West Hollywood,” wrote CSW Founder Jeff Consoletti in the application. “Your support of this peaceful gathering is the key to its success

and continues a LA tradition of support, advocacy, and the peaceful right to protest for all.”

Backlash ensued soon after with LGBTQ activists taking to social media to point out that partnering with police undermines the purpose of the protest against the police killing of George Floyd, Breanna Taylor and Tony McDade–a black trans man killed by police– among others.

“This is not it,” tweeted Fran Tirado former deputy editor of Out magazine. “It is my policy to always call people in before I call them out.

I had already emailed LA Pride asking these questions, and they replied avoiding the truth.

When I found out the truth retroactively, that’s why I brought this to light…as angry as we are at LA Pride, non-black queers should conscript themselves in this narrative and find solutions for our failures. We should build something like @queermarch in its stead, with black organizers, so we don’t co-opt the movement.”

On Friday, CSW issued an apology saying it was “reevaluating” the event, and then on Monday afternoon announced it would no longer be involved.

“The CSW board members who conceived the idea for the march began speaking with Black LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations in advance of the announcement, however they had not been able to align directly with Black Lives Matter leaders prior to the announcement. For that, we apologize to the Black Lives Matter Organizers,” CSW said in a statement. “This is not a Pride Parade or celebration event. This is a solidarity protest march and there will be no corporate participation.”

The march will still take place on June 14, with a new Advisory Board in place made up of black LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations.

On its website, All Black Lives Matter released the following statement regarding the march, which will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.

On June 7, 2020, an Advisory Board, made up of all Black LGBTQ+ leaders was formed to move forward in organizing the All Black Lives Matter solidarity march on Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 11:00am in Los Angeles, in honor of our beloved trans man Tony McDade,

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

that was murdered by police at that time. The protest is in direct response to racial injustice, systemic racism, and all forms of oppression.

Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera bravely started a movement at the Stonewall Inn in 1969. They stood up to systemic racism and bigotry. We must acknowledge and recognize the many tireless years of service and action by Black LGBTQ+ people. The LGBTQ+ community must extend its support to unite against oppression, police brutality, racism, transphobia, and the many other disparities disproportionately impacting the

Pride March, see page 5

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12.18.2020 – 12.31.2020

LOS ANGELES

July 14, 2020

LA Pride Leaving West Hollywood Christopher Street West announces LA Pride will not be in West Hollywood

By Sam Catanzaro Christopher Street West (CSW), the producer of LA Pride, has announced it is pulling out of West Hollywood, home of the parade and festival for over 40 years.

The announcement was made in a letter to City of West Hollywood City Council Tuesday.

CSW cited the changing demographics of the greater Los Angeles Area, construction in West Hollywood Park and its “commitment to being responsive to the LGBTQIA+ community’s needs” as among the reason for the move to a new location, yet to be determined.

“We are grateful to the City of West Hollywood for our many years of partnership and collaboration in presenting LA Pride.

West Hollywood has been a successful home for the parade and festival, providing millions with a unique and incredible experience centered in this city. The community we serve and our organization have grown during our collaborations with West Hollywood, and we have been grateful to support the city and its business community by bringing hundreds of thousands of diverse visitors to the city and highlighting West Hollywood on the world stage,” reads the letter.

The event, which has been in West Hollywood since 1979, has been a significant contributor to the city’s economy. According to Beacon Economics (a consulting firm hired

by CSW) the 2019 Pride event bolstered economic output countywide by $74.7 million and by $27.7 million in West Hollywood.

The event also increased labor income for workers countywide by $33.1 million and by $14.7 million in West Hollywood. According to the Beacon report, 2019 Pride generated $2.5 million in tax revenue in LA County and $896,100 in West Hollywood.

In January, West Hollywood city staff recommended the city increase funding for the 2020 event by 46 percent to $3.05 million.

Soon after, however, CSW canceled the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently City of West Hollywood City Councilmembers John D’Amico and John Duran proposed opening the bidding to other producers for an annual pride event in West Hollywood. In the wake of the letter by CSW Tuesday announcing the departure form West Hollywood, Duran wrote the following on Facebook: CSW is leaving Weho next year. But WEHO pride will continue every June like we have for the past 49 years.

Four weeks ago, my colleague councilmember D’Amico and I suggested that we open up the bidding to other possible producers for our annual pride event besides CSW. Their announcement was their response to our comments.

The organization has struggled for years now to gain the trust and support of the

Photo: Morgan Genser

community. This year’s mishap trying to hijack the Black Lives Matter movement was just the latest example of the clumsy missteps by the organization. Trying to hijack a protest march during the middle of a pandemic and turn it into gay pride was a serious error. Trying to make it happen without the participation of Black Lives Matter and without working with the City of West Hollywood shows disrespect for BLM and the City.

Weho Pride in June will happen next year.

And every year as it always has on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. Just

not with CSW. I look forward to the new creativity, innovation and excitement that will occur for June 2021 (pandemic permitting!) and the years that follow! Pride is the historic Boystown district and Santa Monica Boulevard. And there is plenty of room for other Pride events in other places – just like Long Beach Pride, Valley Pride and Pride on the Beach have always existed.

I wish CSW well. But Weho Pride goes on! As it always has for 49 years! See you on Santa Monica Boulevard next year!”

September 2, 2020

Two Men Charged After Three Trans Women Are Attacked In Hollywood

By Timothy Michael

Two men have been charged with robbery against three transgender women on the evening of Aug. 17 in Hollywood.

Carlton Callaway, 29, and Davion Williams, 22, will face charges including robbery and assault in connection with the attack on Hollywood Blvd according to a news release issued by the L.A. County district attorney’s office.

Transgender Instagram influencer Eden the Doll, Jaslene Whiterose and Joslyn Flawless were attacked while on the Walk of Fame around 2 a.m. The women were verbally and then physically assaulted which was captured on video and streamed live as it was happening.

Callaway allegedly befriended the three victims and later assaulted them while Williams allegedly joined the attack and stole from one of the women.

Carlton Alexander Callaway of Compton

faces one felony count each of grand theft from the person of another, second-degree robbery, criminal threats, attempted seconddegree robbery, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury. Callaway also used a steel rod as a weapon during the attack.

Davion Anthony Williams of Compton faces one felony count each of grand theft and assault with a deadly weapon, which was a rideshare scooter used during the attack.

The case includes allegations that the crimes committed were hate crimes after police alleged they made derogatory comments about the victims’ gender identities during the alleged attack.

Deputy District Attorney Richard Ceballos of the Hate Crimes Unit is the assigned prosecutor.

The district attorney’s office rejected charges against a third suspect arrested in

the case, according to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the situation.

Callaway was arrested in mid-August by police in Bakersfield, but was released a few days later when prosecutors referred the case back for further investigation under the pressure of the LGBTQ+ community and activists. Callaway’s release from jail drew outrage among the LGBTQ community forcing action to be taken.

Callaway and Williams deny knowing each other despite being from the same neighborhood.

It was not immediately clear if Callaway or Williams had attorneys who could speak on their behalf Tuesday evening.

The district attorney’s office said arraignment would take place at a later date.

If convicted as charged, Callaway faces up to 13 years and four months in prison, and Williams faces up to eight years and four months in prison, according to the district attorney’s office.

Commenting on the incident, L.A. City Council member Mitch O’Farrell said his district does not welcome such conduct. He also asked the onlookers to contact him so they could apologize to the victims.

There have been at least 26 transgender or gender non-conforming people killed by acts of violence in the United States in 2020, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Last year, advocates tracked 27 killings, the majority of whom were Black transgender women, the HRC says.

12.18.2020 – 12.31.2020

LOS ANGELES

September 10, 2020

Rage Nightclub Permanently Closing

By Timothy Michael

After 37 years Rage nightclub located at the northwest corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente in West Hollywood will close permanently due to the financial burden COVID-19 has caused.

Rage was opened in 1983 by Robert Maghame and Saeed Sattari in a building owned by Monte Overstreet. Their lease is said to have been set to expire in November, but Maghame and Sattari were unable to negotiate a renewal with Overstreet.

Los Angeles County health officials ordered the closing of all bars on March 16 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an order on June 18 allowing bars to reopen so long as they followed certain safety rules. But then 10 days later shut them down again after COVID-19 infections surged.

Rage, like many others, had been struggling with the financial burden of these restrictions.

Rage is not the only bar that has permanently closed due to the COVID pandemic. The closing of bars and clubs due to COVID-19 has devastated many LGBTQ small businesses causing many other queer focused spaces to close.

Cuties in East Hollywood, L.A.’s only queer focused coffee shop, went out of business last month.

Club Cobra, the North Hollywood gay Latino club, announced in May that it would not re-open.

Gym Bar, another popular gay bar, announced its permanent closing in July, with its owners saying that the property owner, Elias Shokrian of Calitex LLC in Beverly Hill, had been uncooperative in negotiating a way for them to pay their rent.

As well as Flaming Saddles the gay Country/ Western bar, whos building is also owned by Overstreet, announced its closing on Aug.16 after they were unable to reach an agreement because of unpaid rent.

In 2014, Michel Thomas, who had worked as a promoter of events at Rage for 11 years, bought the business from Maghame and Sattari, making him the first gay man to own the gay bar. Thomas had launched events such as GAMeboi, which catered to gay Asian men, and Rage also hosted special nights for other ethnic groups, Kinky Saturdays and The Dreamgirls Revue on Tuesday. There was also an 18 and older night.

The club was known for high-energy dance music at night and a full-service restaurant during the day. The club offered two levels along with a large outdoor patio.

General Manager Ron Madril who has been working at Rage since May 1997 took to Facebook to say this about the announcement, “It’s almost a lifetime,” he posted. “The good times will always be cherished, as will the staff…past & present! It’s been a journey meeting sooooo many AMAZING people! So many! Thanks for all the memories, friendships and love!”

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We are here to amplify Black Queer voices and come together in solidarity. Endorsed by BLM and B.L.A.C (Black LGBTQIA Advisory Board Council), the All Black Lives Matter solidarity march aims to bring the community together to peacefully exercise our First Amendment rights and heal together.

Out of recognition and respect to the years of work and action of Black LGBTQ+ leadership and community organizers, Christopher Street West and LA Pride will no longer co-organize the All Black Lives Matter march. However, they are in full support and stand unapologetically in solidarity with efforts to dismantle racial justice, systemic oppression, institutional barriers, police brutality and discrimination of all kinds.

The Advisory Board is not working with CSW

on the pre-march rally program, but will serve as an independent body creating a program aimed at amplifying the voices of the Black community and allies. Additionally, in tandem, we will engage Black-owned businesses to help support and put this peaceful march together.

The Advisory Board will neither engage corporate sponsors from or through CSW nor official police involvement in organizing the All Black Lives Matter march. For the All Black Lives Matter solidarity march on Sunday, June 14, 2020, we recognize the safety concerns around COVID-19 and the pandemic currently plaguing the nation, and disproportionately the Black and LGBTQ+ communities, and ask protesters to take protective measures, including wearing face coverings and avoiding large crowds if you are at high risk or displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

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12.18.2020 – 12.31.2020

LOS ANGELES Oct 18, 2020

LGBTQ Foster Youth In L.A. Falling Through The Cracks

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A topic that has not garnered as much attention as it should is that of foster youth in Los Angeles especially LGBTQ foster youth that then become homeless.

According to the Los Angeles LGBT Center up to 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ and one of the primary hardships that they face is discrimination based off of their sexual orientation.

Santerous Colbert and John Cumper, both USC students pursuing masters of social work, are passionate about bringing more attention to this issue inspiring them to pursue social justice reform in graduate school.

Colbert was brave enough to share some of his experience with The Pride LA, describing his experience as an LGBTQ person who went through the foster system and how hard it was to transition to independent living.

“I honestly didn’t know anything about a transitional living program upon leaving foster care. My foster sister informed me of the benefit and I was advised to reach out to my ILP coordinator. Nervous and anxiety played a huge part due to me moving out of my hometown area. However, it allowed me to adjust to my new environment of living and build meaningful and resourceful connections and relationships with people. Some of which I still have to this day.” Colbert continued how he overcame those obstacles, “I acknowledged that I didn’t have the power to change my troubled past. Instead, I channeled my energy into my education and set goals for my self. The challenges I faced (i.e. homeless, incarceration, gay bashing etc) allowed me to see these components as my greatest strengths rather than weakness. My motivational factor was ‘There is power in testament and solution in struggle.’”

Like Colbert many of these youth face several issues when transitioning out of the foster care system and into independent living.

Some ultimately become homeless because of these issues.

Because of the discrimination that LGBTQ homeless youth face, they must struggle daily to meet their survival needs, such as attending to personal hygiene and finding food and shelter. Not to mention the toll that having to live on the streets takes. The vulnerability of living on the streets can be damaging both physically and emotionally.

Youth, aged 15-24, that identify as LGBTQ have a higher chance (120%) of becoming homeless than those of their heterosexual peers. It is estimated that half of youth aging out of foster care are homeless within 18 months.

The stigma associated with homeless LGBTQ youth explains why most are battling depression and struggling with deteriorating mental health. It is this very discrimination and bigotry that has led to many of these youth being ostracized by their families and ending up on the streets without any other options.

Despite their situation and overwhelming obstacles, the majority of LGBTQ foster youth stay hopeful and look forward to changing their current situation in life. However some of these youth find themselves fighting addictions while others are broken and on the verge of giving up because of the circumstances they face daily. According to a study from The American Academy of Pediatrics attempted suicide for LGBTQ youth attempt was 20% greater than that of heterosexual youth.

Colbert also struggled in that regard and when asked what message he had for the current foster/homeless youth that identify as LGBTQ he said, “Don’t give up and allow your circumstances to overcome you. Understand that you won’t go through turmoil forever.

Seek therapy if needed and connect with those who will provide you a positive environment to grow from.” He continued, “You have a

Foster Youth, see page 7

12.18.2020 – 12.31.2020

LOS ANGELES

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Nov 25, 2020

LA County Participates in United Against Hate Serving Area since 1996 Locally Owned Business

Inaugural “United Against Hate Week” kicks off

By Timothy Michael From Nov. 30th – Dec. 6th, Los Angeles County will participated in its inaugural “United Against Hate Week.”

The week-long campaign is being spearheaded by LA vs Hate, a coalition launched in late August 2020 under the leadership of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission to address increasing rates of BIPOC/LGBTQ+ hate crimes in the County.

The “LA vs Hate” campaign is a threepronged effort that includes improved resources for residents to report hate acts through the county’s 211 hotline, a network of agencies to assist victims and develop prevention strategies, and a marketing outreach campaign which includes enlisting local artists to create anti-hate messages that also encourage people to report such acts.

Foster Youth, from page 6 story to tell and you must go through what you are going through to tell it. Think about the little boy and little girl that’s not here yet. He or she will need your story!”

Los Angeles is taking steps to find solutions to these issues. The LA County Department of Children and Family Services partnered with current and former homeless LGBTQ youth members of the LA County Trans and Queer Youth of Color Task-force to incorporate input and feedback that is informed by firsthand experience.

In return the Task Force recommended a set of seven implementations: (1) make the Task Force funded, permanent

Los Angeles County reported the highest number of violent hate crimes last year in more than a decade, with white supremacist crimes jumping by 38%, while attacks on the transgender community surged 64%, according to a new report.

Of the 524 hate crimes reported in the county last year, 343 were of a violent nature and black individuals remained the most frequently targeted victims of hate. Hate crimes can range from slurs against an individual of a targeted group to vandalism to disorderly conduct and violent assaults.

LAPD statistics showed hate crimes rose in Los Angeles for the fifth straight year in 2019, increasing 10.3% over the year before and reaching their highest level since 2002. A total of 322 hate crimes were reported last year — compared with 292 in 2018 — including 77 assaults.

Blacks and the LGBTQ community were the most frequently targeted.

United Against Hate Week was born as a grassroots poster project in the Bay Area in 2017 in response to word that white supremacist groups were planning rallies in Berkeley. The project has grown beyond posters and has spread to more than 60 communities across the state, most recently here in Los Angeles County, under the leadership of LA vs Hate.

and official; (2) invest more in LGBTQ programs for under-served communities; (3) train departmental staff to be more receptive of sexual orientation and gender identity expression; (4) review established policy to ensure departmental compliance; (5) develop employment programs for LGBTQ youth; (6) utilize definitive terms and plain language to increase informational access for youth; (7) close youth prisons and instead fund community-based alternatives to youth incarceration.

Hopefully these recommendations will be put into place and they will help the city of Los Angeles put an end to foster youth who become homeless, especially those that identify as LGBTQ.

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