the pride
3.19.2021 – 4.1.2021ISSUE NUMBER 53, VOLUME 24 | MARCH 19 – APRIL 1, 2021
WWW.THEPRIDELA.COM
LOS ANGELES
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THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER
Ivy Bottini – WeHo Icon & LGBTQ Advocate Dies
Icon passes away at 94 By TimoThy michael
Ivy Bottini an artist, mother and a legendary activist, devoting over 50 years to the feminist & LGBTQ struggle for civil & human rights died on February 25th, 2021 surrounded by close friends and family. She was 94 years old. Originally from Malverne, New York Bottini was a resident of West Hollywood for over 22 years and a Los Angeles Local for over 40 years. In 1952, after marrying Eddie Bottini and having two daughters, Bottini began questioning her sexuality. It wasn’t until 1968 that Bottini experienced a major life change when she accepted the fact that she was a lesbian. She inadvertently came out on TV shortly after that. During a New York City NOW press conference, she was answering a question. “I said, ‘As a lesbian, I think . . .,’” she
recalled. “I didn’t even realize I’d said it at first. But the rest of the room did.” Once out of the closet she made lesbianism a feminist issue and dedicated her life to woman and LGBTQ rights. In 1983 Bottini founded AIDS Network LA, the first AIDS organization, which focused on collecting and sharing information about the epidemic. In 1984 she was one of the founders of AIDS Project LA (now APLA Health). Because of her work throughout her career Bottini trail blazed paths for women and LGBTQ people for generations. Following the death of iconic lesbian activist and feminist Ivy Bottini, who briefly served as the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s director of women’s programs, Center CEO Lorri L. Jean issued the following statement: “Today Ivy Bottini died at the age of 94, and our community lost a tireless activist and queer community shero. Ivy spent most of her life fighting for the rights of women and LGBT people. As a feminist leader, she co-founded the New York chapter of the
New Poll Shows 5.6% Of Adults Identify As LGBTQ Gallup poll sees 1 percent increase By TimoThy michael A new survey by Gallup shows that more adults are identifying as LGBTQ than ever before — an increase driven by Generation Z. The survey by Gallup marks more than a 1 percentage point jump from the last poll in 2017 in which 4.5% of adults identified as LGBTQ. The estimated 18 million adults who identify as LGBTQ represent a continued upward trajectory since Gallup started tracking identification in 2012. Gallup senior editor Jeff Jones said, “It
reflects what we are seeing in society and the way society is changing,”. One of the biggest headlines in the 2020 poll is the emergence of Generation Z adults, those 18 to 23: 1 in 6, or 15.9%, identify as LGBTQ. In each older generation, LGBTQ identification is lower, including 2% or less of respondents born before 1965. For the first time, Gallup queried respondents on their precise sexual orientation, rather than a simple yes or no on whether someone identified as LGBTQ, allowing more insight into identity, Jones said. Among LGBTQ adults, a majority or 54.6% identify as bisexual, the poll shows. About a quarter, or 24.5%, identify as gay; 11.7% as lesbian; 11.3% as transgender. Generation Z again leads the way: 72% who identify as LGBTQ say they are bisexual.
National Organization for Women, rising to the rank of chapter President. A graphic designer, she created the NOW logo that is still used today. She also organized a pioneering public forum titled Is Lesbianism a Feminist Issue? becoming the first to urge NOW to include lesbian rights as part of its platform. This caused Betty Friedan to dub Ivy a ‘lavender menace’ and eventually vote her out of NOW. “After moving to Los Angeles in 1971, Ivy became a well-known lesbian leader. A few of her many accomplishments included: co-founding such organizations as AIDS Project Los Angeles and Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing and co-chairing the City of West Hollywood Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board from 2000–2010. For a short time in the 1970s, she also worked at the Center as the director of its women’s programs. Once Ivy overcame years of struggle to accept her lesbianism, she never hesitated to express her opinion and never ceased her efforts to make the world a better place for LGBT people. “Rest in peace, Ivy.”
An exact cause of death is not known at this time. She had been receiving hospice care at her daughters home in Florida for the past several weeks. Bottini is survived by her daughters Lisa and Laura, and a grandson.