Pride LA - November 2023

the pride

⚫

10.01.2023 – 10.31.2023 November 2023

WWW.THEPRIDELA.COM

LOS ANGELES 1

THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER

Long Beach Pride Co-Founder Bob Burbank Mayor Faces Backlash Over Playful Crow an LGBTQ+Bias Video,Remembered Cites Critics as Anti-LGBTQ+ Mayor Konstantine Community Beacon of Hope Anthony Defends

Bob Crow, one Actions Amid of the original Controversy Over founders of Long Video Beach Pride Has

By Dolores Quintana Passed Away Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony is facing criticism from conservatives following the circulation of a video showing him being By Dolores Quintana spanked by a drag queen during an event onBob the weekend of September 10. Anthony Crow, one of the three original has responded that some of his criticsdied are founders of Long Beach Pride, sadly motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias and that the incident was harmless.

In the video, posted by the Wisenuts podcast, Mayor Anthony is seen being spanked by a drag artist, backed by the Village People’s “Macho Man.” Anthony described the events as “shenanigans” and emphasized that it was

all in good fun. He went on to reveal that a secretly recorded video was made during the event and subsequently shared with a on September 29. Along with co-founders prominent hate group.

Judi Doyle and three In a post on his Marilyn InstagramBarlow, account,the Anthony met at Executive Suite for the first meeting stated, “For several days, extremist right-wing of Long Beachincluding Lesbian Fox and News, Gay Pride, organizations, have Inc. (LBLGP, Inc.) information in 1983. The spread misleading to first fuel Long fear, Beach Pride Festival and IParade took place discrimination, and hate. will always be a the next year. of the LGBTQ+ community proud supporter Long Pride’s social media accounts and dragBeach performers.” announced on Fridayfilled and said, He added,Crow’s “On a death busy Saturday with various gatherings, attended in a post,independent “It is with heavy heartsI and deep the Santathat Clarita Valley Democrats’ private sadness we announce the passing of fundraiser their organization.

Notably, our belovedfor founder, Bob Crow. Today, the there were no officially endorsed candidates skies may seem a bit grayer as we lost not or state federal figuresPride present. only theand founder of political Long Beach but The event was open to young adults ages 15 also a beacon of strength and inspiration in and above. However, there were no attendees below 18. Additionally, no children were present.”

While not specifying the particular hate group in question, it is possible that Anthony was referring to the Twitter account, now known as X, called “Libs of TikTok,” which

reposted the video and garnered over 8 million views.

In response to the video, the Libs of TikTok the LGBTQ+ andthat Longchildren Beach community. account claimed were present Bob dedicated his life to fostering a sense at the event. Mayor Anthony disputed this of pride, community, and support for all, assertion, stating that “actually, there weren’t championing the cause of equality and love. any children at this private 21+ event. But of His tireless laidbrand the for foundations course, lying isefforts totally on you.” forWhile Longthe Beach Pride, making it a symbol account correctly pointed out that of hope and forwere everyone it individuals agedcelebration 15 and older permitted touches. to attend, the event’s organizer, the Santa As we mourn the loss released of a truea statement advocate Clarita Valley Democrats, clarifying thatwe no individuals age of and friend, also extendunder our the heartfelt 18 were intoattendance. gratitude each one of you who have joined Mayor Anthony reiterated point hands with Long Beach Pridethis over the during years. a Citysupport Council and expressed Your hasmeeting been instrumental, andhis it concern thatthis the video’s circulation ledwe to is through collective strengthhad that city officials the most vile will continuereceiving to honor“some Bob’s of legacy. hate speech that I have ever seen.”

Anthony encouraged those with concerns about his actions to communicate with him directly via email at kanthony@burbankca. gov. He stated, “If you want to talk to me about what happened over the weekend, send me an email. Send me an email. I will talk to

In the words of Bob, who left us with countless wisdom and courage: “Some people are not going to like you, and some people never will, but you got to just keep on moving forward.” This favorite quote of his serves as a guiding light, reminding us youtoabout it. with Therelove is no reason involve all all persist and pride,toeven in the of the other people who were not at a public face of adversity.” event, at athat government-sponsored event. It The not video accompanies this message wasn’t even in the city of Burbank.” states that people should check the group’s In a statement released on Tuesday, the social media for news about Crow’s Santa Clarita Valley Democrats voiced their memorial thatMayor will be Anthony released inand the strongly coming support for days. denounced the sensationalized and inaccurate portrayal of their event for political purposes that promoted fear, homophobia, transphobia, and bigotry. The Democrats reaffirmed their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers, refusing to engage with what they referred to as “fake outrage.”

Protestors Block Drag Queen Pickle from Children’s Story Hour at California Library

surrounded by police officers as protestors Aguirre stated, “Their primary objective Voices, which posts videos from a woman, Cancelled Event vocally expressed their dissent. The video [was] to ensure no one got assaulted, no Aneta Krpekyan, who is a candidate for the appears to have been posted by one of the one got injured. And in that end, we were Glendale School Board Candidate in Area E Amidst LGBTQ+ protesters, Siaka Massaquoi. successful. Secondary to that was opening and encourages their followers to donate to The LA County Library had initially the thruway to ensure people could get in her campaign. It’s not clear who is behind History Month described the event as a ‘fun drag story and out.” Despite protestors unlawfully this Instagram account, but the only link time’ intended to share stories promoting obstructing a public space, Aguirre on their profile is a donation link for Aneta Celebrations diversity, equity, and inclusion. confirmed that no arrests were made, and Krpekyan’s campaign.

San Fernando Police Lieutenant Pete no violence occurred. The police seemed Thomson Hall, where the documentary was set A spokesperson for the Toronto police security swept the sceneaccount and cleared it within Pickle’s Instagram posted this Sparks Controversy informed The San Fernando Sun unwilling to do anything to stop the World Premiere of toAguirre be screened.

Bomb Threat Temporarily Halts “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” Premiere at TIFF

By Dolores Quintana Documentary Was Pickle, the Drag Queen Laureate of West Screened After Hollywood, was prevented from reading at a Drag Queen Story Hour at the San Fernando Library was scheduled forDelay October 25.

20-Minute Around 50 demonstrators gathered at the San Fernando Library to oppose By Dolores Quintana

the event titled ‘Drag Queen Storytime,’ which was organized to commemorate The premiere of “Lil Nas X: Long Live LGBTQ+ atHistory Month.

Pickle Film was Montero” the Toronto International supposed to lead this event alongside Festival (TIFF) faced a momentary setbackthe on 3rd District Supervisor, Lindsey P. Horvath.

Saturday night due to a bomb threat.

Unfortunately, due toVice protestors obstructing Judy Lung, TIFF’s President of Public Pickle from entering the library, the event Affairs and Communications, confirmed to had toNews be abruptly CTV Torontocanceled. via a written statement of Pickle’s entrytodenial circulated thatFootage the festival was alerted an investigation on social media,ofshowing dragatqueen “in the vicinity the red the carpet” Roy

that they had prior knowledge of the protest Lung “Ourofficers, standard security and had stated, dispatched along with measures remained Their in place during this time, County Sheriffs. primary objective and screening with a slight was the to prevent anycommenced assaults or injuries. delay. To our knowledge, this was a general threat and not directed at the film or the artist.”

informed Toronto the threat protestersCTV fromNews blocking thethat entrance or had been Pickle conveyed to thetheir festival’s private escorting through blockade.

The protest was organized a group security by a passerby.

“Out of anbyabundance called Glendale Parents School of caution, the Toronto police and theDistrict private

message yesterday, “I won’tVictor lie. It’s been a 20 minutes,” noted Constable Kwong. tough week, BUTalso the highlight wasthe working Toronto police clarified that threat with @bobbakermarionettes and getting to had a general nature and did not specifically be a part of some puppet magic!” target any individual or entity.

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LOS ANGELES

09.01.2023 11.01.2023 – 09.30.2023 11.30.2023

11.01.2023 09.01.2023 – 11.30.2023 09.30.2023

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LOS ANGELES 3

4

11.01.2023 – 11.30.2023

LOS ANGELES

THE MUSIC MINUTE

Michael Carbonaro:

Historic Appointment: Laphonza Butler Becomes California’s First Black Lesbian U.S. Senator

Lies On Stage

November 3, 2023 Doors 6pm. Show 8:00pm.

Michael Carbonaro is best known as the star and executive producer of the hit series THE CARBONARO EFFECT, which has run for over 100 episodes on truTV and currently airs on HBO Max and in syndication worldwide. In this series, Michael performs inventive tricks on unsuspecting members of the public who are unaware that he is a magician. Jaws drop when he causes a car to disappear from under a security guard’s nose or makes alien crabs transform into kittens in a science lab.

Carbonaro's illusions – along with his absurd, matter-of-fact explanations – leave REAL people bewildered and families at home laughing out loud.

This is your chance to see Michael’s magic in person with his new live show “Carbonaro: Lies On Stage,” which will showcase his unmatched blend of humor and charisma along with inventive illusions which will amaze audiences of all ages.

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DEC 10: LAYALI ZAMAN WINTER CONCERT DEC 16-17: GMCLA PRESENTS: HOORAY FOR HOLIDAYS DEC 29: MARILYN MONROE FILM FESTIVAL JAN 12: PAUL ANKA: SEVEN DECADES TOUR JAN 13: MARK TREMONTI OF CREED SINGS SINATRA FEB 10: ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK APR 24: AL STEWART & THE EMPTY POCKETS

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Governor Newsom Appoints Butler to Complete Senator Dianne Feinstein’s Term

By Dolores Quintana Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Laphonza Butler as the new United States Senator representing California, completing the term left vacant by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, effective through 2024.

Butler’s appointment is historic, as she will become California’s first openly LGBTQ United States Senator and the first Black lesbian to serve openly in Congress in American history.

A trusted adviser to Vice President Harris and a prominent figure in the nation’s largest organization dedicated to electing women, EMILY’s List, Butler brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her new role. She has a strong background in advocating for women, labor, and workingclass families.

“An advocate for women and girls, a second-generation fighter for working people, and a trusted adviser to Vice President Harris, Laphonza Butler represents the best of California, and she’ll represent us proudly in the United States Senate,” said Governor Newsom.

Butler’s journey to this historic appointment is rooted in her workingclass upbringing. Raised by a mother who worked tirelessly to provide for her and her two siblings after her father’s passing, Butler learned the value of hard work and perseverance.

Before her appointment to the Senate, Butler served as the President of EMILY’s List, where she made history as the first woman of color and mother to lead the organization. She has also been involved in various political campaigns, including those of Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Butler played a key role in Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign.

Butler’s impressive career includes over a decade of leadership as the president of SEIU Local 2015, the largest labor union in California, representing over 325,000 nursing home and home-care workers.

She has also held roles such as President of SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW), SEIU’s Property Services Division Director, SEIU International Vice President, and president of the SEIU California State Council.

Beyond her labor and political contributions, Butler served as the director of the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles branch of the Federal Reserve System. She was appointed to the University of California Board of Regents by Governor Jerry Brown in 2018, where she served until 2021. Additionally, Butler has been involved in various organizations, including the National Children’s Defense Fund, BLACK PAC, the Bay Area Economic Council Institute, and the MIT Community Innovators Lab, where she served as a fellow.

For her dedication and contributions, President Barack Obama recognized Butler as a “Champion for Change.” She holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Jackson State University and is married to her wife, Neneki, with whom she has a daughter named Nylah.

11.01.2023 – 11.30.2023

LOS ANGELES 5

Philadelphia Advocate and Journalist Josh Kruger, Tragically Shot and Killed at Home Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner Spoke About This Cruel Loss

By Dolores Quintana Josh Kruger, a dedicated journalist and advocate who was once unhoused himself and who recovered from addiction to become a prominent spokesperson for the city’s most marginalized communities, was shot to death in his own home.

Only 39 years old, Kruger was brutally shot seven times in the early morning hours around 1:00 a.m. He sought assistance and managed to make it onto the street before collapsing, ultimately succumbing to his injuries at a nearby hospital. Law enforcement officials suspect that the assailant gained access to his Point Breeze home either through an unlocked door or by possessing knowledge of how to enter

discreetly, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. As of now, no arrests have been made, and no weapons have been recovered.

The authorities have not yet disclosed details surrounding the circumstances of the killing.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney expressed his deep sorrow over the loss, remarking, “Josh cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident both in his public service and in his writing.

His intelligence, creativity, passion, and wit

shone bright in everything that he did — and his light was dimmed much too soon.”

Kruger served as the social media handler for the mayor and worked in communications for the Office of Homeless Services from approximately 2016 to 2021.

He left that work to devote more time to writing.

His website described himself as a “militant bicyclist” and “a proponent of the singular they, the Oxford comma, and preElon Twitter.“

District Attorney Larry Krasner, in a statement issued on Monday, celebrated Kruger’s significant contributions to the city, saying, “As an openly queer writer who wrote about his own journey surviving substance use disorder and homelessness, ...

Josh Kruger lifted up the most vulnerable and stigmatized people in our communities — particularly unhoused people living with addiction. Josh deserved to write the ending of his personal story.”

11.01.2023 – 11.30.2023

LOS ANGELES

6

Unveiling ‘Living for the Dead’: The Queer Ghost-Hunting Show with a Twist Gay ghost hunters, is it a thing? to somebody that we were talking to on the supernatural scary. It’s something that’s A Spooky Interview hunting.

What do they do? They threw out the idea the show that in these shows, for so many outside of the world, and maybe it’s evil, years, the ghost hunters go and provoke instead of thinking, “Well, you know, if of what does a gay Scooby Doo look like? with the Creators the ghosts, right? They provoked the spirit you’re talking to spirits, aren’t you just RE: We’re in!

DC: We’re in! Exactly. We knew we were world. They’re looking for that reaction. talking to people who are no longer on the and Executive She said, “That’s just not how we approach earthly plane?” in for from “gay Scooby Doo” forward.

RE: That’s what we go through on a DQ: That pretty much sold the idea right it; we’re looking to have a conversation because we ourselves are provoked all the day-to-day basis. If you don’t talk to us to there, didn’t it?

Producers of the time without having a conversation. So why understand us, you are only listening to a DC: It did.

RE: Our experience with creating an would we not do that with our friends on larger conversation that doesn’t involve us.

Show ensemble cast was Queer Eye. You know, the dead side?” So we approached it with, If somebody says they’re evil, they’re evil.

“Living for the Dead” is the new queer ghost-hunting show that’s more than just scaring yourself in the dark. It comes from an idea from executive producer Kirsten Stewart where she described a show that would be the “gay Scooby Doo,” and Stewart also provides the narration for the show.

The show features “five fabulous, queer ghost hunters Alex Le May, Juju Bae, Ken Boggle, Logan Taylor, and Roz Hernandez, who all have special talents relating to paranormal investigation. In the show, the fabulous five will “criss-cross the country, helping the living by healing the dead.

As they explore some of the world’s most infamous haunted locations, they’ll shed light on those not seen and illuminate untold stories. Together, they’ll push past boundaries to bring acceptance to the misunderstood - living and dead. This is “Living For The Dead,” Ghost Hunties!”

I spoke with David Collins, co-founder of Scout Productions, and Rob Eric, Chief Creative Officer at Scout, who are both executive producers on the show, about what the show is really about, casting the Ghost Hunties, and how “Living for the Dead” is different from any other ghost hunting show.

“Living for the Dead” is streaming on Hulu as part of this year’s Huluween celebration.

DC: The show came to be in a really fun and original way, and I don’t know if you know or not, but Kristin [Stewart] and her best friend CJ came to us with a kernel of a really great idea which was queer ghost

this was in our wheelhouse. It made sense to us. The way we always approach things is: What’s our version? What is Scout’s version of this type of show? What’s our version of a dance show? That was “Legendary”?

What’s our version of a fashion show?

That was “The Hype.” What’s our version of a paranormal show? It is “Living for the Dead.” So it made sense for us, and Kristen was an incredible partner on it.

DC: Yeah, our partnership with Kristen and CJ has been just so much fun. You know, it doesn’t get much better than to figure out the paranormal with a bunch of gays. It’s pretty fabulous.

DQ: I think that would definitely make the paranormal a lot more fun.

DC: Like the trailer says, “Why be normal when you could be paranormal?” Right? It’s a great line.

RE: I mean, if you look at the world of paranormal shows, it’s been told from a very heteronormative perspective for so many years. Our community sees things through different eyes; we see things in a different light. So paranormal only made sense that we haven’t seen people from our community delve into the world of the paranormal at this level. So it excited us; it made us passionate about this show.

DQ: What about the gay perspective, the queer perspective, makes this show different?

Re: You know, Juju [Bae], who is our resident badass witch. She knocked it out of the park in episode one by really explaining

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we’re helping people. We’re not just there to provoke spirits; and we’re also helping the spirits. I think Juju really led that charge, and everyone was there for it. I mean, that was what we wanted to do with the show.

DC: Into Rob’s earlier point on the kind of Scout-ification of a paranormal genre.

So our eternal filter at Scout that we use for everything is transformation through information told with comedy and heart.

What I love most about this series is that it is about talking to the dead in order to help the living, and there’s this beautiful heart behind it. There are a lot of scares, laughs, and tears along the way. So the idea is that we get to see ourselves with a fresh perspective, right? Rob, I’ve always said about queer, right? The word queer is just a unique perspective. It’s really, if you look it up, that’s what it is. It’s literally the definition. A queer perspective, right? When we apply a queer lens to the paranormal, you get a lot more [out of it].

RE: Obviously, we’ve been doing a lot of press junkets on the show. I think what’s so nice is when we talk to interviewers who watch the show, they say, I didn’t expect to cry. I didn’t expect to laugh. I didn’t expect to feel the heart. And for us, character is everything. We’re storytellers.

A good portion of [many] paranormal shows somebody opening a door and saying hello. That’s about the depth of the characterization, and we wanted it to go a little bit deeper than that.

DQ: You got to it before I did, but in my experience, very limited experience with ghost hunting shows is that it is some guy goes to a dark, supposedly scary place alone and tries to get spirits to attack him or to scare himself.

DC: To come to the cast for a second, building an ensemble cast for us, is probably the most fun we have. In the paranormal [arena], there are all kinds of experts.

Whether it’s psychics or tarot card readers, witches and researchers, tech people, and mediums. So for us, it was so much fun to meet, across the United States, literally hundreds of queer ghost hunters and queer experts in the paranormal. When we got to meet everyone and see into their world, we started thinking, wow, this is a really unique, special world. When we realized that we were going to go to various locations, the scariest, coolest places, everyone had a ghost story. Everyone shares; everyone has that story,” Oh, my goodness, do you remember when or my childhood ghost story was this” in my town. We were really excited to have our talent go out and explore all those stories.

DQ: That really seems to go to the heart of the concept. I think that the tendency in our history in the United States is to make

You haven’t had a conversation. With what “Queer Eye” did, it was out there to say, “Hey, guess what? Gay guys and straight guys can get along as friends. We are there to see things from different perspectives, and if we listen to each other, we become better.” It was the same thing with this show.

Why does it always have to be scary? Sure.

Is it spooky? It’s always spooky for us when we walk into a dark room, and the lights don’t work, and things go crazy. But at the same time, if you can have somebody with you, like a medium or a psychic, who can connect? And then they say, “Oh, they’re mad because you moved the refrigerator, and they really liked it over there.” Then that’s easy. I can just fix that thing with conversations between people of different communities and different backgrounds.

If we don’t have conversations with each other, we won’t ever get to understand each other. The show set out to say, “Maybe we can look at this from a different perspective.

Talk to the spirit world and say, “Hey, what’s

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11.01.2023 – 11.30.2023 going on?” and then have that conversation.

DC: There you go.

DQ: Is this really necessary, spirits?

DC: Exactly. Exactly.

DQ: Thematically, it seems like the show, other than normalizing talking to the spirits or the spirit world, is really encouraging, as you said, like with Queer Eye, the conversation between heteronormative people and queer people.

DC: I’ll tell you, Kristen pushed that hard. Kristen was very adamant about this conversation being had in each episode, which would allow us to see both sides and to have tough conversations in moments where people needed to be heard, validated, and seen differently. Our cast, we have been calling the Ghost Hunties, and it’s very sweet and loving because their friendship and their bond grew over the season. Their conversations with all of the townspeople are the individual folks that got deeper and deeper and deeper.

RE: That was a big part of our show, was to say, we don’t want to be insulated and just go to the haunted location and just be there. Tonopah is a very tiny, very cold little town in northern Nevada. It’s small, it’s isolated, and we brought our ghost hunties out. We had a scene that was taking place at a bar, and conversations flowed naturally.

Then, this woman started talking to our team about the fact that she was going through an issue: she had a nonbinary child, and she was trying to understand them more. She said it’s hard, and it’s not easy for me, but I’m trying. That sparked a moment and my favorite part of that conversation. I don’t know if you can really hear it in the show, but it became very emotional at the bar

LOS ANGELES 7 because this woman was opening up. People in the bar knew her, and this woman at the end of the bar just stopped and said, “I’m pansexual.”

DC: They were comfortable, right? That conversation made everyone else at the bar feel safe, so they could be vulnerable. That’s a big part of what Rob and I like doing in our storytelling: creating safe environments for people to tell their truth and to speak them. Because storytelling is all about me sharing with you and you sharing with me, and hopefully, along the way, we get to grow and laugh and experience life together.

DQ: I think that’s a very good way to look at it. Because I think any type of art is really communication. It’s the artist trying to speak and give an interpretation of what they feel inside or how they view the world.

DC: But that’s been our journey for a long time now at Scout. I love what Logan says in the trailer from one of the episodes.

He says, “I don’t know which is worse, having to come out or tell people I talked to the dead.” He’s dealing with both things in his life: being gay and talking to the dead, that’s a heavy weight for someone to carry.

But it’s cool because he’s able to share that, and his personal experience helps others continue to grow.

DQ: Would you like to tell me about the cast?

RE: They are so unique. Our casting concert is the zipper. You have to build the zipper and then zip it up, and it has to hold together. During casting, we watched them.

I’ve been talking about this a lot. We don’t just watch them in a room, and they perform for us. We are sneaky this way. We’ll pull off to the side and watch from afar to see

how they’re interacting with each other when they’re not having to be in front of a camera or being talked to the network executives or ourselves. You watch them come together, and as our shows do, those teams come together. Then we had this moment where we whittled it down from thousands to hundreds and then hundreds to tens. Then we brought them out to LA, and we put them together for a chemistry test.

There was a moment where we said, “Okay, well, let’s see your abilities in action.” For myself, I had Ken Boggle, who sat down with me and another associate of ours, another executive producer on the show, and he read my tarot cards, and they were so insanely accurate. Normally, tarot cards are more questions than answers. They were so accurate and so on the money, and so my associate said, “Goosebumps. How does he know so much about you?”

DC: Mine was otherworldly, to be honest with you. I’m gonna go ahead and say this: there was a part of me that was very skeptical coming into the paranormal, right? My Southern Baptist Christian roots, anything outside of that is Satanic. We had a chem test. We brought our top 30 or 40 people together; we’re mixing and matching them. That’s how we built the team. Towards the end of the day, Logan Taylor asked me, can I just take you in the room? I just need to talk to you for a second; I just need to talk to you. So I said, “Yeah, sure.” We went into the room. What transpired, he started out by saying, “I’m not here to give you bad news or tell you something that’s going to change anything. But what I’m here to do is just tell you what it is I’m feeling and what I’m sensing.” And I’m gonna cry. He started

laughing and said, “Oh my goodness, I feel this laughter This heavy laughter. Oh, it’s your daddy.” And just to be clear, my dad had just passed ten months earlier, and what Logan told me without getting into detail literally shifted my paradigm of grief.

RE: It was so accurate.

DC: It was so many things that he had told me that were impossible for anyone, any other human being, to know that when it happened, It took me a good week, almost two weeks, to really kind of settle back into myself because the information allowed my grief to finally happen. My dad had a rough exit; his death was rough. So I had been really fighting the grief, and I finally got to grieve. So when we talk about the show, we talk about talking to the dead to help the living. That’s exactly what happened to me.

My personal experience was when Logan talked to me and gave me some very strong information and details that I needed to hear at that exact moment. When I was able to hear that, process that, and take that in, I had a complete shift. So That’s what ended up happening. All of our heroes and each of the episodes really have some sort of cathartic experience or, again, a queer shift in their perspective where they see things differently than they did before the ghost hunties showed up.

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11.01.2023 – 11.30.2023

LOS ANGELES

8

AVPA Presents Powerful Theatre: “The Laramie Project” Remembers the Past Student Production of Landmark Play Brings Story to New Generations

By Dolores Quintana The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA) is proud to present “The Laramie Project,” a deeply moving and inspiring piece of theatre by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theatre Company.

This poignant production will be showcased at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232, from November 2 to November 5. Showtimes are at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Please note that downtown Culver City has limited parking available. We encourage attendees to consider taking Culver CityBus or exploring other mobility options.

“The Laramie Project” is directed by the talented Lee Margaret Hanson and Mara Palma, featuring exceptional creative contributions from set designer Nick Caisse, costume designer Laura Loo, and technical director JD Sargent.

In partnership with the Center Theatre Group and sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment, AVPA’s production of “The Laramie Project” aims to reflect and remember an important event in history. Twenty-five years ago, the brutal kidnapping and murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student who was openly gay, sent shockwaves across the nation. In response, Moisés Kaufman and fellow Tectonic Theater Project members

conducted over 200 interviews with the townspeople of Laramie. The result is a compelling piece that we are honored to present, standing in allyship with the LGBTQ+ community.

“The Laramie Project” encourages us to engage in crucial conversations within the CCUSD community, fostering understanding and acceptance in a world marked by the ongoing struggle between oppression and progress.

For those interested in attending this powerful production, general admission tickets are available for $25. Faculty and staff, as well as CCHS students, can enjoy a discounted rate of $10 by using the promo code “CCUSDFAMILY.” To secure your seats, visit The Center Theater Group website.

California Attorney General Addresses LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence Issues Rob Bonta Engages with Advocates to Confront Intimate Partner Violence

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California Attorney General Rob Bonta held a roundtable discussion at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, focusing on serving survivors of intimate partner violence within the LGBTQ+ community. This meeting, held during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and LGBTQ+ History Month, underscored the pressing issue of domestic and intimate partner violence among LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly impacting trans and bisexual women and BIPOC individuals.

The LGBTQ+ community faces increasing risks due to growing antiLGBTQ+ legislation and attacks, further jeopardizing the safety of survivors.

Dr. Sarai Crane, an advocate for intimate partner violence survivors and the firstever sexual assault evidence outreach coordinator for the California Attorney General’s Office emphasized the need to address these issues as universal concerns that affect people from all backgrounds.

An intersectional approach was advocated to counter anti-LGBTQ+ bias and promote solutions for intimate partner violence and LGBTQ+ rights.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Family Violence and Prevention Services Act (FVPSA), and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) are essential funding sources for DV/SA support services.

This year, VOCA faces a 40% budget

cut, endangering critical services for marginalized LGBTQ+ survivors. The Los Angeles LGBT Center, in collaboration with the National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence, strives to provide culturally responsive support services for LGBTQ+ survivors and raise awareness of the unique challenges they face.

Statistics show that transgender people, particularly BIPOC individuals, are at a higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence. A significant percentage of LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness cite family rejection and abuse as contributing factors. Hospitals, mental health professionals, social service providers, and law enforcement often fail to provide LGBTQ+ survivors with the same level of protection and support as cisgender and heterosexual survivors, making it more challenging for them to escape abusive situations.

Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the preventable nature of violence and pledged to support survivors of domestic violence. As allies, it is crucial to listen, support, and provide resources to survivors, respecting their autonomy and choices.

This Domestic Violence Awareness Month and beyond, the National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence continues to stand with survivors and service providers to enhance intervention and prevention services, research, and policy initiatives.

To create a safer community, it is essential to break the silence on domestic violence and support survivors. Learn more about helping LGBTQ+ survivors of intimate partner violence at lgbtqipvinstitute.org.

11.01.2023 – 11.30.2023

LOS ANGELES 9

Renowned LGBTQ Photographer Rick Castro’s ‘Photographic Retrospective of Life & Death’ Exhibition The exhibit is now open and will close on portraits, figures associated 1990, the iconic Gore Vidal, and intimate Exhibition Features wearing with Hollywood Forever (including trans photographic portraits of Castro’s family November 30. It is located in the Hollywood Columbarium at Hollywood Forever at residents like The Goddess Bunny AKA members.

87 Uniquely The exhibition is open to the public and 6000 Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.

Sandi Crisp and Holly Woodlawn), images Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity from Hollywood Cemetery dating back to free of charge, inviting visitors to immerse Curated Works themselves in themes of love, melancholy, to explore the life and work of the influential meditation, and remembrance. A special LGBTQ photographer, Rick Castro, at Spanning Castro’s feature of the exhibition is the inclusion Hollywood Forever’s ‘RICK CASTRO of mask images as a tribute to Día de Los FOREVER: Photographic Retrospective of Career from 1986 Muertos.

Life & Death’ exhibition. to 2022

By Dolores Quintana Hollywood Forever is proud to announce the upcoming exhibition of ‘RICK CASTRO FOREVER: Photographic Retrospective of Life & Death,’ featuring the renowned photographer Rick Castro. The exhibition will run from October 5 to November 30, 2023, and will be curated by Hollywood Forever’s President, Tyler Cassity.

This unique exhibition will showcase 87 of Castro’s most captivating photographs, spanning his illustrious career from 1986 to 2022. The collection includes a diverse range of subjects, featuring mask-

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11.01.2023 – 11.30.2023

LOS ANGELES

President Biden Makes Speech Remembering Shepard and His Family President’s Call for Equality Act Amidst Rising Anti-LGBTQI+ Threats On Wednesday, October 12, President Joe Biden made a speech that recognized the 25th anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard on October 12, 1998, and acknowledged that hate crimes against LGBTQ+ have risen in the United States, with several crimes against LGBTQ+ people that have shocked the nation as well as a large amount of anti-LGTBQ+ demonstrations taking place averaging 39 such protests per month starting in June of this year.

Biden called for Congress to pass the

Equality Act during the speech to secure civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ residents of the United States.

The following is the entirety of Biden’s remarks: Twenty-five years ago, Matthew Shepard tragically lost his life in a heinous act of hate and violence that deeply impacted our nation and the world. Matthew had endured a brutal anti-gay hate crime the week prior, a horrifying attack that ultimately cost him his life solely because he dared to be his authentic self.

Matthew’s untimely and senseless death shook the collective conscience of the American people. It was his parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, who displayed incredible courage by transforming their son’s memory into a potent movement.

Through their unwavering efforts, they rallied countless individuals to confront the plague of anti-LGBTQI+ hate and violence in America.

During my tenure as Vice President, I had the privilege of contributing to the passing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This pivotal legislation expanded federal hate crimes laws to encompass sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

It stands as a lasting tribute to Matthew’s memory, a testament to Judy and Dennis’s relentless advocacy, and a significant stride for our nation. It was my distinct honor to recognize Judy and Dennis as Uniters

– individuals who stand united against hate and strive to heal our divides – at the United We Stand Summit held at the White House last year.

Our duty remains clear: the battle against hate, violence, and bigotry in all its forms must persist. In an environment where threats and violence against the LGBTQI+ community are on the rise, our work is far from over. It is an unequivocal truth that no American should ever endure hate or violence based on their identity or the person they love. I reiterate my call to Congress to expedite the Equality Act’s journey to my desk. Passing this legislation is essential to ensure that LGBTQI+ Americans have comprehensive civil rights protections under our laws. Every American deserves to be treated with dignity, acceptance, and respect.

Today, our hearts go out to Judy, Dennis, and all those who are mourning and commemorating Matthew’s life and legacy.

Scholastic Reaps the Whirlwind After Announcing Unpopular Program Ironically Named Policy Won’t Continue After Harsh Criticism

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Following a wave of criticism, Scholastic is reversing its decision to permit school districts to exclude books addressing topics related to race, LGBTQ issues, and diversity from the publisher’s popular book fairs, as reported by CBS News.

Initially, the company defended this opt-out option, claiming it was intended

to allow schools and teachers in states with laws restricting certain content in schools to continue hosting these events.

Earlier this month, Scholastic introduced the “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” collection, particularly for states with prohibitions on specific types of books in schools. The collection included books written by US Representative and civil rights leader John Lewis and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown.

Nevertheless, free speech advocates and children’s groups raised concerns about this move. PEN America, a group advocating for literature and free speech, expressed dismay at the separate group of diverse books and encouraged Scholastic to consider alternative solutions.

On Wednesday, Scholastic announced

that it would discontinue the “Share Every Story” collection starting in January, acknowledging that the decision to create a separate category of diverse books led to confusion and feelings of exclusion.

Scholastic stated, “The ‘Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice’ collection will not be offered with our next season in January. As we reconsider how to make our book fairs available to all kids, we will keep in mind the needs of our educators facing local content restrictions and the children we serve. It is unsettling that the current divisive landscape in the U.S. is creating an environment that could deny any child access to books, or that teachers could be penalized for creating access to all stories for their students.”

Scholastic’s book fair business has faced pressure from conservatives regarding its book selection in recent years. Additionally, the pandemic, which resulted in widespread school closures, significantly affected the company’s financial performance. In the most recent quarter, sales at its book fair unit decreased by 4% compared to the previous year.

11.01.2023 – 11.30.2023

LOS ANGELES 11

The Controversial Anti-LGBTQ+ Past of the New Speaker of the House Exploring the Record of the US Representative Elected to Speakership

By Dolores Quintana The new speaker of the House of Representatives, United States Representative Mike Johnson, from Louisiana, has an appalling record in regards to LGBTQ+ rights and is clearly a MAGA Republican. He is known as the architect of the Electoral College objections used by the Republican party to attempt to invalidate the 2020 election results. His plan to invalidate the election results in states that had expanded voting by mail during the pandemic was a smokescreen for Republicans who wanted to keep Donald Trump in office against the will of the American people.

While serving as a national media spokesperson and senior attorney for the anti-LGBTQ organization Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Congressman Johnson actively participated in and advocated for various initiatives and

campaigns that opposed LGBTQ rights.

ADF has been a prominent player in legal cases challenging same-sex marriage rights, adoption rights for same-sex couples, bans on conversion therapy, trans-inclusive school policies, and LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination laws.

During his tenure at ADF, Johnson spearheaded a campaign against GLSEN’s annual “Day of Silence,” an event where students choose to remain silent as a sign of solidarity with LGBTQ individuals who face discrimination and bullying due

to their identities. The “Day of Silence” aims to raise awareness about the isolation experienced by many LGBTQ youth, highlighting the absence of support from both adults and students.

As part of this campaign, ADF encouraged conservative and religious students to participate in the “Day of Truth,” scheduled for the day following the “Day of Silence.”

Participants wore T-shirts bearing the

slogan “The Truth Cannot Be Silenced” and distributed cards expressing their refusal to condone “detrimental personal and social behavior.” While Johnson portrayed the “Day of Truth” as a “peaceful and respectful” event, its underlying message characterized homosexuality as “sinful” and “destructive.” Johnson argued that the true intention behind such efforts was to assert that homosexuality is detrimental to society.

Notably, during Johnson’s affiliation with ADF, the organization submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, calling for the justices not to overturn laws criminalizing consensual same-sex behavior. In a 2004 editorial piece published in The News-Star, a Monroe, Louisianabased newspaper, Johnson opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage using a “slippery slope” argument, with a ridiculous warning of potential legal recognition for other groups like polygamists, pedophiles, and more.

In his role as a Louisiana state representative, Johnson introduced a “religious freedom” bill permitting individuals and businesses to refuse service to same-sex couples, thus discriminating against them. Additionally, he proposed a bill to grant churches and clergy the right to refuse to perform same-sex marriages, a right they already possessed.

As a member of Congress, Johnson

authored the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act of 2022,” which sought to prohibit the use of federal funds for programs, events, or literature exposing children under the age of 10 to content related to “sexually oriented material.” The bill, with potential implications for schools, libraries, military bases, and federally funded hospitals, defined “sexuallyoriented material” to include information related to “sexual orientation, gender identity, gender dysphoria, or related subjects.” Critics have drawn parallels between this legislation and Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Furthermore, Johnson voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, a federal law ensuring the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in states without bans on such unions. He also opposed the Equality Act, which aimed to prevent discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations.

Additionally, Johnson co-sponsored legislation alongside Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA.) that would criminalize the provision of gender-affirming care to minors who identify as transgender and prohibit medical schools from teaching medical students about gender-affirming hormonal or surgical treatments.

Demolition Commences at Historic Theatre, Paving the Way for MixedUse Redevelopment Construction Is To Begin on a 71unit Complex With Commercial Space

By Dolores Quintana The historic Fairfax Theatre is effectively no more. The Los Angeles Theatres Blog has posted photos from the interior of the theatre from August of this year. The photos show that the entire interior of the theater has been gutted in preparation for the owner’s plans for the future.

Property owner Alex Gorby’s plan is to build condos in the interior of the building and preserve the storefront facades, the theatre marquee, the entrance facade, and the terrazzo of the former theatre as required by the City’s requirements as the building’s status as a Historic-Cultural Monument.

The project involves a 71-unit complex

with approximately 10,780 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and an underground parking facility accommodating 228 vehicles. Designed

by Howard Laks Architects, the new development will present a contemporary interpretation of the original Art Deco theater facade.

The new construction will house a rooftop pool and recreational area. Notably, the Fairfax Theatre, which opened in 1930, holds a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Nevertheless, entitlements for Gorby’s project were granted before the designations by nearly a decade, granting the green light for the ongoing demolition and construction activities.

11.01.2023 – 11.30.2023

LOS ANGELES

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SANTA

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20 E v e n t s 23/24

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Photo by Ben Gibbs

Exciting events happening at SMC! Santa Monica College has a lively lineup of events scheduled, so mark your calendar!

SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Barry Snell, Chair; Dr. Margaret Quiñones-Perez, Vice Chair; Dr. Susan Aminoff; Dr. Nancy Greenstein; Dr. Tom Peters; Rob Rader; Dr. Sion Roy; Alyssa Arreola, Student Trustee; Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D., Superintendent/President Santa Monica College | 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 | smc.edu

• Dance Performances & Master Classes • Theatre Arts Performances • Music Concerts • Santa Monica Review Issue Launch Party • Planetarium Shows • Literary Talks & Readings • and much more!

Visit smc.edu/events for more information.