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10.01.2023 – 10.31.2023 February 2024
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THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER
West Hollywood Unveils New Leadership: Burbank Mayor Faces Backlash Over Playful Mayor Vice Mayor to Take Oath in Annual Video, and Cites Critics Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias Mayor Konstantine City Council Reorganization Anthony Defends City Invites Actions Amid Public to Witness Controversy Over Swearing-In Video Ceremony By Dolores Quintana
By Dolores Quintana Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony is facing criticism from conservatives following The City of West Hollywood extends an the circulation of a video showing him being invitation to the public for its upcoming spanked by a drag queen during an event annual city council reorganization and on the weekend of September 10. Anthony installation meeting, featuring the oath of has responded that some of his critics are office ceremony for newly appointed Mayor motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias and that the John M. Erickson and Vice Mayor Chelsea incident was harmless. Lee Byers. In the video, posted by the Wisenuts podcast, Set to take place on Tuesday, January Mayor Anthony is seen being spanked by 16, 2023, at 6 p.m., the event will unfold a drag artist, backed by the Village People’s at the City’s Council Chambers and “Macho Man.” Anthony described the events Public Meeting Room, situated at 625 as “shenanigans” and emphasized that it was N. San Vicente Boulevard. Following the ceremony, a reception will be hosted on the
all in good fun. He went on to reveal that a secretly recorded video was made during the event and subsequently shared with a second floor of the West Hollywood Library, prominent hate group. offering attendees an opportunity engage In a post on his Instagram account,toAnthony with city officials. The entire program, stated, “For several days, extremist right-wing from the meeting to the reception, is open organizations, including Fox News, have to the public, with limited validated parking spread misleading information to fuel fear, available at the Hollywood discrimination, andnearby hate. I West will always be a Park proudfive-story supporter structure. of the LGBTQ+ community The and dragproceedings performers.” will be live-broadcast andHestreamed as apart the regular added, “On busyofSaturday filled City with Council meeting. Interested can various independent gatherings,parties I attended tune in to Clarita ChannelValley 10 onDemocrats’ Spectrum private within the Santa West Hollywood, the City of West fundraiser for theirvisit organization. Notably, there were no website officially at endorsed candidates Hollywood’s www.weho.org/ or state and figuresWeHoTV present. wehotv, or federal access political the City’s The event was open to young adults ages 15 YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/ and above. there meetings were no attendees wehotv. TheHowever, City Council can also below 18. on Additionally, be viewed Amazon FirenoTV,children Androidwere TV, present.” Apple TV, and Roku streaming platforms by While not specifyingwithin the particular hate searching “WeHoTV” the respective group in question, it is possible that Anthony search functions. was to the Twitter now Thereferring announcement follows account, a resolution known as X, called “Libs of TikTok,” which adopted during the West Hollywood City Council’s regular meeting on December
reposted the video and garnered over 8 million views. In response to the video, the Libs of TikTok 18, 2023. During this session, the council account claimed that children were present voted the Mayor selection of the disputed next Mayor at the on event. Anthony this and Vice Mayor, changing the title of weren’t Mayor assertion, stating that “actually, there Pro Temporeat to Mayor as a But local any children thisVice private 21+ event. of preference. course, lying is totally on brand for you.” John Erickson, the current Mayor While M. the account correctly pointed out that Pro Tempore, elected to the West individuals aged was 15 and older were permitted Hollywood Council in 2020, and to attend, theCity event’s organizer, the Santa his commitment to a forward-thinking, Clarita Valley Democrats, released a statement diverse, community hasage been clarifyingand thattolerant no individuals under the of evident 18 were inthroughout attendance. his tenure. With a background in social and economic Mayor Anthony reiterated this pointjustice, during a City Council meeting and expressed his Erickson has worked tirelessly to advance concern that the video’s circulation led to policies around LGBTQ+ rights, had women’s city officials receiving “some of theand mostcivic vile rights, environmental issues, hate speech thatThe I have ever seen.” priorities engagement. new Mayor’s Anthony encouragedrecovery, those withaffordable concerns include COVID-19 about his actions to communicate with him housing, sustainable transportation, and directly promoting via email at kanthony@burbankca. policies inclusivity. gov. He stated, “If youelected want tototalk me Chelsea Lee Byers, the toWest about what happened over the weekend, send Hollywood City Council in 2022, has a me anhistory email. Send me an email. I will talkand to rich of program partnerships community engagement. With a focus on
you about it. There is no reason to involve all of the other people who were not at a public social service delivery, climate change event, not at a government-sponsored event. It mitigation, and creating affordable housing, wasn’tiseven in the city Burbank.”pedestrian Byers committed to of enhancing In a statement released Tuesday, the and cycling experiences on while reducing Santa Clarita Valley Democrats voiced their vehicle dependency. Her work with various support for Mayor Anthony and strongly organizations and fellowships underscores her dedication to community building and denounced the sensationalized and inaccurate inclusive policies. portrayal of their event for political purposes The upcoming City transphobia, Council that promoted fear, homophobia, reorganization marks a significant moment and bigotry. The Democrats reaffirmed their for West Hollywood as the new leadership commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and prepares to guide the city through its next drag performers, refusing to engage with what chapter of growth and development. The they referred to as “fake outrage.” public is encouraged to participate and witness this transition firsthand.
LASD Investigators Seek Public’s Bomb Threat Temporarily Halts “Lil Nas Help in Identifying Additional X: Long Live Montero” Premiere at TIFF
Thomson Hall, where the documentary was set A spokesperson for the Toronto police security swept the scene and cleared it within Incidents Suspect World Premiere ofInvolving to be screened. informed CTV News Toronto that the threat 20 minutes,” noted Constable Victor Kwong. Rangely Avenue, “Our West standard Hollywood. The incident or similar incidents are encouraged who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Lung stated, security Have You SeenWas measures been conveyed to the festival’s private Toronto police also clarified that the threat suspect followed victim, entering her had Documentary to contact Detective Zeff at (310) 358-4033 Stoppers can be reached at (800) 222-8477 remained the in place during this time, security by a passerby. “Out of an abundance had a general nature and did not specifically apartment raising concerns thatwith he intended and the screening commenced a slight or via email at bgzeff@lasd.org. For those or online at www.p3tips.com. Anything? LASD to enter. A struggle ensued, and the victim of caution, the Toronto police and the private target any individual or entity. delay. To our knowledge, this was a general Screened After managed to break free, seeking refuge in a Seeks Additional threat and not directed at the film or the artist.” neighbor’s apartment. 20-Minute BACK OR UNFILES At approximately 1:55 a.m. on the same Help and Delay
By Dolores Quintana Information
The premiere of “Lil Nas X: Long Live Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Montero” at theWest Toronto International Film Department, Hollywood Station Festival (TIFF)are faced a momentary setback on investigators appealing to the public Saturday night due to a bomb threat. for assistance in identifying any additional Judy Lung, TIFF’ssuspect Vice President of Public incidents involving Hardy Arriaza. Affairs and Communications, confirmed to On Friday, January 12th, 2024, around CTV via a writtenResidential statement 12:01 News a.m.,Toronto an Attempted that the festival alerted to an investigation Burglary andwas Attempted Residential Robbery took place in red the carpet” 9000 block of “in the vicinity of the at Roy
day, a Residential Burglary and Residential Robbery occurred in the 9000 block of Rangely Avenue. The same suspect removed a kitchen window at a nearby residence. The victim heard the suspect, screamed upon his entry, and, despite threats, successfully fled her apartment. West Hollywood Station Deputies apprehended the suspect, Hardy Arriaza, inside the victim’s residence. The investigation is ongoing, and individuals with information on this
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