Events
Gwen Baba: Forging a path for generations to come
Gwen Baba honored by Gay Men’s Chorus
Longtime Human Rights Campaign board member and community activist Gwen Baba was honored by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, under the leadership of new executive director Jonathan Weedman, at the 6th annual Voice Awards Celebration on May 20 at the J.W. Marriot at L.A. Live.
Some longtime politicos think it’s about damn time.
“Gwen has been a longtime advocate for celebrating women’s contributions and their impact on causes that matter,” says R. Christine Hershey, co-founder of Access Now for Lesbian and Gay Equality (ANGLE) and the Victory Fund, L.A. County Small Business commissioner and of Hershey Cause Communications. “She was a key voice and my partner-in-crime during the ANGLE years during which we saw a huge consolidation of LGBTQ political power. She was one of a very small group of women doing this work.”
Hershey notes that Baba helped bring women back to the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center, where she served as a board member. It was the mid-late 1980s, during the horrific AIDS years.
“That was a really difficult time in the community,” recalls Baba, who was then in her late 20s. “A lot of our board members were dying and passing away; staff was dying and passing away. And it really felt like a war zone.”
“For those of us who came out in the late 70s-early 80s, we had to handle some really difficult stuff,” said West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tem John Duran, ANGLE co-founder, former chair of the LIFE AIDS Lobby and GMCLA Board Chair. “Back then, in the late 70s, LGBT people were still criminalized. We were considered criminals; we were considered mentally ill. A lot of us began to tire. And in through the door walked this woman, Gwen Baba. And she had such a presence of grace and we looked at her and there was such a big sigh, like, ‘Ahhh! New leadership!’”
Though the gay environment was originally unwelcoming to women, women were much needed and became powerhouses—women such as Torie Osborn, who became executive director; the late politico Jean O’Leary, who moved her nationally-recognized, must-attend Women’s Night to the Center; and current L.A. LGBT Center CEO, Lorri Jean. Baba, a commercial and residential real estate investor, also helped lead the Center’s historic first capital campaign to raise money for their new headquarters in Hollywood.
“I grew up with the message that I could do anything but that didn’t mean I still didn’t feel discrimination, either as a woman, or as a lesbian,” says Baba.
Baba served on the Center’s board, with a term as co-chair, from 1986 to 1997.
She joined the board of the Human Rights Campaign in 1996, serving two-terms as board co-chair from 2002 to 2005. There, too, she served on the capital campaign for HRC’s headquarters in Washington DC and sat on several committees. Baba has also been an anchor for HRC’s L.A. chapter, a steadfast presence during changing times.
“Gwen Baba helped build the Human Rights Campaign into the organization we are today,” said HRC President Chad Griffin on a tribute video.
“Gwen was president of HRC from 2002-2005,” said attorney Diane Abbitt, ANGLE co-founder who headed HRC’s political action committee and serves on the GMCLA board. “Those were very, very hard times. She led HRC during the time that [President George W.] Bush was in office and Karl Rove was running things. That’s leadership.”
“Gwen speaks for everybody. Her voice carries a lot of weight,” said David Bohnett, head of the David Bohnett Foundation upon whose board Baba sits. She also sits on the board of the California Community Foundation.
During her acceptance speech, Baba noted that her daughter Gabrielle turned 17 on May 22nd, “a birthday she proudly shares with Harvey Milk.” Gabrielle was at her high school prom so she missed the festivities, including meeting composer Stephen Schwartz, who was also honored, along with Logo.
“LGBT organizations have long made a huge difference in Gabrielle’s life,” Baba said, and she was happy when GMCLA came to her school as part of the Alive Music Project.
Right now, Baba said, “the world feels pretty crazy to her, as it does to all of us. Like we walked into a Living Salvador Dali painting. We’re sinking under the weight of alternative facts and outright lies.”
But struggle is familiar. “Fighting alternative facts is nothing new for the LGBTQ community,” Baba said. “We’ve been doing it for decades. No, we can’t be “cured”, we can’t pray the gay away, we’re not crazy or sick or perverse or unfit to be parents.
“For LGBTQ people, alternative facts aren’t just ridiculous diversions. They’re designed to control us, to demean us, to deny us our joy and our freedom,” she said. “They’re promoted by people who demand we think and behave as they do. But that we will never do. Because we are inherently creative, in our activism and our art, in our satire and our song.”
Baba brought it home to the artistic audience. “So when politicians want to defund the arts, they really hope to silence our dissent. They choose not to accept that LGBT people are woven into every corner of this planet. And we will not be quiet.”
Arts & Entertainment
Infinity Festival Kicks Off Today: A Celebration of Creativity, Innovation and AI
The founders are a gay couple who met in the tech industry
Infinity Festival brings together art, innovative technology and creative thinking, to the intersection of the Hollywood entertainment industry. This year, the event is taking place at The Avalon Hollywood, Nov 6 through Nov 9.
The event founders, Mark Lieber and Adam Newman, created this space to bring together Hollywood’s creative visionaries, with Silicon Valley’s cutting-edge technology.
Mark and Adam are not only business partners, but life partners too.
“We met at a party in the Paramount lot and that was 28 years ago,” said Adam. “We worked separately for many, many years and when our careers started to change a bit, we came together to develop projects in television through a company that we formed.”
The two decided to marry in 2014, soon after it became legal to do so in California after Prop 8 was successfully ruled unconstitutional and same-sex couples were allowed to marry.
“We live together, so work is 24/7 and we often get into situations where I have to ask Mark not to talk about work after one o’clock in the morning because I need to go to sleep,” said Adam.
The two set out on a mission to unite their complementary strengths and creative visions, to bring together this innovative festival that spotlights the foremost cutting-edge technologies in the entertainment industry.
This year’s festival will feature prominent voices from the technology, gaming and entertainment industries. The festival will also feature Julien’s Auction, presenting over 200 collectibles from Star Trek on exhibition throughout the festival and then culminating in a live auction on Saturday at 10AM.
The festival’s purpose is to display and discuss the future of technology and its intersection with the gaming and entertainment industries using Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.
The festival features keynote speeches, collaborative demonstrations with partners like Sony, HP, Verizon and Intel.
The panels will feature discussions on the evolution of animation, cross-media development, virtual effects, gaming production and many other topics.
“We’re not there to talk about how scary AI is, but to talk about how it’s going to be a wonderful tool to push the entertainment business into a broader scope of technology,” said Adam in an interview with Los Angeles Blade.
Mark addressed the concerns that many people have regarding AI taking jobs in the entertainment industry, specifically Hollywood.
The major points of discussion and demonstration at Infinity Festival include: Generative AI, Utility AI, Procedural AI, Mini Labs- Scripted & Unscripted, Machine Learning, Ethics, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision (AR, Spatial Computing), Deep Learning and Expert Systems.
Earlier this year, Gov. Newsom singed AB 896, the Generative Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act, into law.
“We are talking to people who are using it in a way that won’t eliminate creative jobs, but maximize efficiency,” said Adam.
There is a lot of fear and anxiety surrounding job loss to AI, but Adam reassures festival attendees that learning about how to work in tandem with AI, will be beneficial to productivity and that this is a good thing for many of these industries and their many job functions.
“I look forward to seeing everybody, I mean really, it’s just a great group of people and bring these two groups of tech and production together,” said Mark.
(Photo Courtesy of Mark and Adam) Adam (L) and Mark (R), have been married for over 10 years and together they dedicate their careers toward making Infinity Festival a success for the entertainment, gaming and tech industries.
Mark and Adam created the festival in 2018, but they have been married for 10 years. They got married shortly after it became legal in California in 2013.
They both came from a background in entertainment, Mark has experience in executive roles and Adam had experience in Hollywood production. They came together, married and in 2017, when both of their careers were taking a different path, they decided to start Infinity Festival.
Since then, they have worked together to bring forth the best and latest technology to their events and bridge the gap between industries that will continue to incorporate AI into their systems.
The Monolith Awards this year will happen on Friday, Nov 8 at 7:30PM at The Aster. There are various categories for the Monolith Awards; Gaming Tech: Audio-Driven Narrative, Excellence in User Experience, Visionary Innovation, Live Engagement, Jurors Choice: New Media Fine Art, Audience Award for Best of Fest Popular Vote, Next Gen: Student + Teacher, and the Nexus Award: Excellence in Applied Technology.
Events
Beverly Hills Pet Festival returns with doggy adoptions, family activities
Even the dogs know 90210 is the zip code that offers the best treats.
Beverly Hills is known for high-end shopping, $500 haircuts, pampering at every turn and a few famous and infamous celebrity homes. But this Sunday it’s going to the dogs — at least for one day.
Beverly Hills will host its annual Doggy Daze 90210 festival next Sunday at Roxbury Park, transforming the grassy expanse known as “Wiggly Field” into a hub for pet adoptions, entertainment and family activities.
The free event, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 3, aims to connect homeless pets with potential owners while celebrating the bond between humans and animals.
“This is more than just a pet festival — it’s about building community and helping animals in need,” said Dana Besen, spokesperson for the City of Beverly Hills, which organizes the event.
Five rescue organizations, including The Amanda Foundation and Wags and Walks, will bring adoptable pets to the festival. A highlight of the day will be a pet parade featuring costumed animals, followed by a talent contest.
30 vendors will line the park, offering everything from luxury pet spa services to gourmet pet food. Even Shake Shack is getting in on the action, selling special “pup cups” for four-legged attendees.
For children, the festival will feature an arts and crafts zone, face painting, and library story time sessions. Food trucks will be onsite throughout the day.
The event has attracted notable local support, with Beverly Hills residents Lili and Jon Bosse serving as gold sponsors. Owen Care and Foo Dee Doo Press have also signed on as sponsors.
To manage the expected crowds, organizers have arranged free parking at Beverly Hills High School, with pet-friendly shuttles running to and from the park from 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Last year’s event drew hundreds of attendees and resulted in so many pet adoptions, according to city officials, that the event is now one of the most popular the city hosts. They expect an even larger turnout this year.
The festival comes as animal shelters across Los Angeles County report high numbers of pets needing homes, making events like Doggy Daze increasingly important for connecting animals with potential adopters.
Roxbury Park is located at 471 S. Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills. More information about the event can be found at beverlyhills.org/csevents.
Arts & Entertainment
This Bunny is not for everybunny
Lady Bunny Warns ‘Don’t Bring the Kids’ to her LA Show
Drag legend Lady Bunny is back in Los Angeles in “Don’t Bring the Kids,” her laugh-out-loud comedy show that has been selling out venues nationwide. Known for her towering wigs, sharp wit, and fearless attitude, Bunny’s latest revue delivers everything fans love about her—and more. On Saturday, October 19, at 6 p.m., “Don’t Bring the Kids” lands at The Vault in the Beverly Center, promising an early evening of pure, unfiltered entertainment that’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
So, what can fans expect from Lady Bunny this time around? True to form, “Don’t Bring the Kids” is packed with jaw-dropping moments, from parodies of pop icons like Adele and Cardi B to an original dance tune called “Is It Ozempic, Or…”, based on Bunny’s distorted views of the popular weight-loss drug. “The show is a mix of musical styles,” Bunny explains. It even includes a dishy number about some of your favorite queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race. “I tease Trixie Mattel for stealing my look, call out Willam for being a whore, and do a remake of ‘Big Dick Energy’ about Yvie Oddly. Let’s just say the rumors are true,” she says.
“Drag Race has given me plenty of material,” she reflects. “I love poking fun at the queens, and I always update my act with topical humor.”
“Don’t Bring the Kids” isn’t merely about drag celebrity gossip. Bunny tackles serious issues, like defending drag queen story hours in the face of conservative backlash. “As I say in the show, ‘Look at my wig. I can barely groom myself!’” Bunny quips.
There’s also a parody of the viral spat between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Representative Jasmine Crockett, and Bunny takes the opportunity to unveil her brand-new bitch track, “Pussy This Good”, out now on all platforms.
The performance pushes boundaries, and Bunny admits that’s exactly the point. “I came up in the late-night NYC club scene where we were encouraged to be as wild and dirty as possible. My humor isn’t for everyone, and it’s certainly not for kids — hence the title.”
“Don’t Bring the Kids” is both a warning and a promise. Bunny makes it clear that her comedy is strictly for mature audiences, with jokes and performances that might be too much even for some adults. “I’ve always felt it’s important to be upfront,” she continues. “I love dark, raunchy humor, and that’s what my audience comes for. Every show so far has gotten a standing ovation, and we’ve sold out in Philly, DC, and San Francisco.”
For Bunny, bringing her show to LA, particularly at The Vault, is an exciting opportunity. “I’ve worked with Voss Events (the show’s producer) for years, and they found this fantastic space. I DJed there this past New Year’s Eve, and it’s perfect — great stage, excellent sound. I’m excited to be back in LA, a city that always knows how to appreciate a little twisted drag humor.”
Of course, no Lady Bunny interview would be complete without a few words about her longtime friendship with Troy Masters, publisher of LA Blade. “Troy and I go way back,” Bunny recalls. “One of my first magazine covers was for Outweek, a publication he ran back in the ’80s. I was still thin then and working my own blonde hair! He’s been such a supporter, even hiring me to work as a phone monitor for his boyfriend’s sex line. I’d pop onto the leather line in a queeny voice, calling myself ‘Humphrey Davenport, dominant top.’ The leather guys hated it, but I thought it was hilarious.”
Lady Bunny presents “Don’t Bring the Kids” at The Vault in the Beverly Center on Saturday, October 19th at 6pm. For ticket’s visit VossEvents.com.
AIDS and HIV
40th anniversary AIDS Walk happening this weekend in West Hollywood
AIDS Project Los Angeles Health will gather in West Hollywood Park to kick off 40th anniversary celebration
APLA Health will celebrate its 40th anniversary this Sunday at West Hollywood Park, by kicking off the world’s first and oldest AIDS walk with a special appearance by Salina Estitties, live entertainment, and speeches.
APLA Health, which was formerly known as AIDS Project Los Angeles, serves the underserved LGBTQ+ communities of Los Angeles by providing them with resources.
“We are steadfast in our efforts to end the HIV epidemic in our lifetime. Through the use of tools like PrEP and PEP, the science of ‘undetectable equals intransmissible,’ and our working to ensure broad access to LGTBQ+ empowering healthcare, we can make a real step forward in the fight to end this disease,” said APLA Health’s chief executive officer, Craig E. Thompson.
For 40 years, APLA Health has spearheaded programs, facilitated healthcare check-ups and provided other essential services to nearly 20,000 members of the LGBTQ+ community annually in Los Angeles, regardless of their ability to pay.
APLA Health provides LGBTQ+ primary care, dental care, behavioral healthcare, HIV specialty care, and other support services for housing and nutritional needs.
The AIDS Walk will begin at 10AM and registrations are open for teams and solo walkers. More information can be found on the APLA Health’s website.
Arts & Entertainment
LGBTQ+Ñ Literary Festival kicks off this week in Los Angeles
The festival will bring together authors, readers, academics and activists to discuss their experiences and share perspectives about the LGBTQ+ community.
The first LGBTQ+Ñ Literary Festival in Spanish – the first of its kind – will kick-off six days of panels, short film screenings, book signings, performances and a photo exhibit starting today, at different locations across Los Angeles.
The LGBTQ+Ñ Literary Festival will bring together Spanish-speaking and Latin American writers who explore and celebrate a variety of themes in their work, including sexual diversity and perspectives on identity.
“Feminist culture and LGBTQ+ culture have been the movements that have most transformed modern societies in recent decades, and therefore deserve special attention,” said Luisgé Martín, director of Instituto Cervantes of Los Ángeles. “There was no stable forum that brought together creators from across the Spanish-speaking world, which is why we have organized this literary festival. It aims to serve as a framework for reflection and a meeting point for LGBTQ+ writers.”
The festival will bring together authors, readers, academics and activists, to discuss their experiences and share perspectives about the LGBTQ+ community and its academic intersections.
The first stop for the literary festival is at the Instituto Cervantes of Los Ángeles, from 7 PM to 9 PM on Tuesday, to screen short films that are part of FanCineQueer.
The festival will feature authors like Myriam Gurba Serrano, Alejandro Córdova “Taylor”, Felipe J. Garcia, Boris Izaguirre, Nando López, María Mínguez Arias, Felipe Restrepo Pombo, Claudia Salazar Jiménez, Pablo Simonetti, and Gabriela Wiener.
There will also be a photo exhibit and featured photographers such as Gonza Gallego and Liliana Hueso.
The festival will take place at multiple venues including the Instituto Cervantes of Los Ángeles, The Student Union at Los Angeles City College and Circus of Books.
For more information on the event visit the Instagram page for Instituto Cervantes of Los Ángeles.
Events
Latino Equality Alliance hosts quinceañera fundraiser
LEA’s mission with this event, is also to bring attention to Proposition 3 – which puts same-sex marriage on the November ballot.
The Latino Equality Alliance hosted its annual fundraiser on Saturday at Del Records in Bell Gardens as their quinceañera-themed Purple Lily Awards raises nearly $100,000 to create safe spaces for Latin American LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
This year, LEA honored co-founder Gutiérrez Arámbula, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 Contestant, Salina Estitties, and the Liberty Hill Foundation.
“The Latino Equality Alliance’s history and survival underscores the importance of providing critical resources and positive support for LGBTQ+ youth struggling to find a safe space,” said founder and executive director Eddie Martinez. “We are proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Latinx community for 15 years and are excited about the promising future ahead of us.”
LEA’s mission with this event, is also to bring attention to Proposition 3 – which puts same-sex marriage on the November ballot.
Proposition 3 seeks to reaffirm the right to same-sex marriage.
This proposition shines light on the California Constitution that still to this day upholds language that does not include gender non-conforming people or queer and trans people in the protections for marriage equality.
The CA Constitution says ‘only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California,’ which also only upholds protections and recognition for same-race couples, excluding interracial families, as well as LGBTQ+ families.
That language — while still on the books — is effectively void after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 allowed same-sex marriage to resume in California, and the high court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in a historic 2015 decision.
Upholding protections for marriage equality is important to LEA because California has the largest LGBTQ+ population in the United States.
The grassroots organization is celebrating continued growth in their progress toward equality and celebrating the achievements of the Latin American community members that are at the forefront of creating safe spaces in Boyle Heights and beyond.
LEA was the first community and school LGBTQ youth civic policy advocacy and empowerment program to lower dropout rates, bullying and increase graduation rates.
Events
GALECA: Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics and Hollywood Creative Alliance unite for 2024 Dorians TV Toast and Astra TV Awards
Event to take place at Avalon Hollywood on Aug. 18
(July 30, 2024) — The Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) and GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics announced today that they are joining forces this year to present their respective Dorians TV Toast party and Astra TV Awards ceremony in back-to-back events. The paired celebrations, during which each group will reveal their top choices in television and streaming, will take place on Sunday, Aug. 18, at the Avalon Hollywood.
The 2024 Dorian Awards TV Toast, an intimate champagne-and-appetizers gathering of GALECA nominees and members, will start at 3 p.m., leading into HCA’s larger 2024 TV Astras ceremony at 6 p.m. Helping cap the Astras gala, the organizations will present their new, jointly sponsored Mosaic Award to a TV or streaming series “that captures the power of diversity, equity and inclusion in a polished, entertaining and seamless way,” both on and behind the camera.
GALECA and HCA’s collaboration, likely the first of its kind, marks a show of solidarity for professional entertainment journalists, and journalism itself, at a time when AI, industry strikes, layoffs, media outlet closures, decreasing pay and more threaten the field’s existence.
“In such difficult and divisive times, Hollywood Creative Alliance will continue to lift up those underrepresented in the media,” said Scott Menzel, CEO of HCA. “Our GALECA partnership is one way HCA can stand by that commitment and make an impact.”
“GALECA is grateful for the opportunity to work with the HCA,” added GALECA Executive Director John Griffiths. “Our groups are on the same page — and now, red carpet — when it comes to pressing for a media world where all walks of life have a strong voice. I think we’re all excited to figure out more ways our groups can champion each other’s missions.”
HCA plans to present additional special honors of its own at the Astra TV Awards, which will be broadcast live from the Avalon Hollywood and streamed globally on YouTube and KNEKT.tv.
Outside of special non-transactional, board-chosen accolades such as the Mosaic Award, the nominees and winners of HCA’s Astra Awards and GALECA’s Dorian Awards are all decided in democratic fashion by the groups’ respective memberships.
About GALECA
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics and its Dorian Awards honor the best in film, television and, under its theater wing, Broadway and Off-Broadway. More than 500 members strong, GALECA reminds society that the world values the informed Q+ eye on everything entertainment. A nonprofit organization, GALECA also advocates for better pay, access and respect for entertainment journalists, especially the underrepresented. Follow us @DorianAwards on social media, and find more information at GALECA.org.
About the Hollywood Creative Alliance
The Hollywood Creative Alliance, commonly called HCA, is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization. Its diverse and inclusive membership includes critics, entertainment journalists, content creators, industry insiders, and creatives with a shared passion for celebrating excellence in entertainment. The HCA’s vision and mission is to amplify diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and culture in film and television. HCA believes in creating a culture where representation is a critical component of the evolution of the entertainment industry. For more information please visit TheAstras.com.
Arts & Entertainment
LGBTQ representation shines at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
Annual event promotes inclusiveness.
San Diego Comic-Con 2024 once again became a mecca for gender-bending cosplay, with attendees cross-dressing as characters like Spider-Man, Beetlejuice, Elphaba from “Wicked,” Pennywise, and Peter Pan.
Gay attendee Rick Rhoades was thrilled with the detailed costumes.
“I loved seeing all the LGBTQ characters — it was such a pleasant surprise to see the Ambiguously Gay Duo from ‘Saturday Night Live!'” he said.
“So many people dressed up, it’s just as amazing as the show itself!” Rhoades added.
Cosplayer Casey Hayden told the Los Angeles Blade, “I love being able to express myself freely. Regardless of your pronouns, being able to get out of your comfort zone and dress as your favorite superheroes is so interesting and powerful.”
Stephanie Tillotson, a clinical therapist for children and an LGBTQ ally, appreciates how Comic-Con promotes inclusiveness.
“This is a safe and positive event for our LGBTQ community, where they can cosplay as their gender of choice and be treated with respect,” she said.
Tillotson participates in Dungeons & Dragons activities throughout the 4-day event.
“D&D is a wonderful role-playing game where attendees can become a character and be whatever gender they want,” she explained.
The 10th Annual Her Universe Fashion Show kicked off Comic-Con with a standing-room-only crowd. Broadway star Michael James Scott, who co-hosted, performed Katy Perry’s “Roar.”
“What an absolute dream to be part of an event that celebrates who you are,” Scott said. “To be invited back by Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein and to do it with my husband is a true dream come true!”
Prism Comics, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ-friendly comic books and professionals, had a lively presence on the convention floor and participated in several queer panels.
The organization celebrated the 10th anniversary of its “Still Transgender, Still Here: Trans and Nonbinary Comics Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” panel. Tara Madison Avery moderated, joined by panelists Tilly Bridges, Alex Combs, Liam Coballes, Nicole Maines, Sonya Saturday, and Gaia WXYZ.
Prism also participated in a Queer Horror panel, moderated by screenwriter Michael Varrati. The discussion explored the LGBTQ community’s relationship with the horror genre and whether a distinct queer horror genre exists.
“Thanks to this amazing lineup for a truly insightful discussion,” Varrati tweeted. “Horror IS Queer! #sdcc”
Events
WeHo is co-sponsoring 1st ever Inglewood Pride Festival, June 22
The pride event, co-sponsored by the City of West Hollywood, will offer live entertainment, DJ sets, and free food
By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood is co-sponsoring the first annual Inglewood Pride Festival in the City of Inglewood on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Events are set to take place at the Creative House Gallery at 122 N Market Street and outdoors in the Historic Market Street Shopping District.
The pride event, co-sponsored by the City of West Hollywood, will offer live entertainment, DJ sets, and free food. An RSVP was required and has already sold out.
Inglewood Pride Festival 2024 will be an indoor/outdoor event with plenty of options to captivate and educate the community. Booths will provide resources to the LGBTQ+ community, and there will be a wide range of sponsor vendors. The festival offers free food, free entry, and a family-friendly environment.
The Los Angeles Department of Public Health will also be on hand to provide mpox vaccinations and offer information and resources on various health concerns, including COVID-19 vaccines.
The event schedule is as follows:
GALLERY SECTION
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Guest Red Carpet Photos
$50 Grocery Gift for Best Dressed
CABANA SECTION
12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
DJ TLA Storm
70s, 80s, 90s R&B/Soul/Deep
GALLERY
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
County of Los Angeles Presentation (Cholesterol)
Roberto Luno, Emergency Preparedness; Public Health Nurse, Einique Forris, Health Educator
CABANA
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Di P-Nasty
Hip-Hop/R&B/Latin; Dance Contest
CABANA
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Artist Performances
To learn more about this event, visit:
Inglewood Pride Festival
The Creative House Non-Profit:
The Creative House Gallery is a non-profit art gallery with a goal of helping the community transition, survive, develop, and thrive through art access and art education.
The Creative House Gallery is committed to enhancing the quality of life through artistic programming that serves all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and economic statuses, with an emphasis on marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented persons.
The Market Street Shopping District:
Since Inglewood’s founding in 1908, Market Street has served as the central shopping district. When automobiles came to Market Street in the 1920s, sidewalks were installed to serve pedestrians. In 1927, the chain store S.H. Kress was built at 233 S. Market Street with a signature architectural style. J.C. Penney moved to 139 S. Market Street in 1940.
The late 1960s brought city and county facilities just south of Market Street. During the 1990s, a rehabilitation of Market Street brought street trees and new tenants. Today’s Market Street district has art galleries, bookstores, the Inglewood Senior Center, and the light rail Florence Boulevard station.
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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist. Murillo began his professional writing career as the author of “Love Ya, Mean It,” an irreverent and sometimes controversial West Hollywood lifestyle column for FAB! newspaper. His work has appea
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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.
Events
Trans Pride LA celebrating 25 Years with series of events
Trans Pride LA celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, making it one of the oldest, dedicated celebrations of Trans Pride in the country
By Mike Pingel | LOS ANGELES – Trans Pride LA celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, making it one of the oldest, dedicated celebrations of Transgender Pride in the country, lifting trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive folks! Spotlighting the Trans*Lounge program as well as other services provided at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, this all-ages, free event expects 1,400+ attendees over two days.
Friday evening, June 14, will kick off with a vibrant TPLA Welcome Mixer, followed by a line dancing lesson by Stud Country instructors Kira and Abigail, and a viewing of the new gallery exhibition “Ides of Gender” by artist Zach Oren.
Saturday, June 15, the Trans Pride Festival will once again take over The Village and McCadden Pl. with interactive workshops, 40+ market vendors and resource partners, six different food vendors, a portrait studio by photographer Devyn Galindo, and a Trans Pride Talent Showcase featuring the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Fei Hernandez, Amilia, Bailey Moses, and more.
This event is entirely free on both days, June 14 · 6 pm – June 15 · 6 pm PT. All events will take place at the Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza and Anita May Rosenstein Campus in Hollywood. Admission is completely FREE all weekend. To grab your tickets and see the up-to-date schedule, visit: lalgbtcenter.org/tpla202.
Here is the two-day schedule of events:
Friday, June 14th:
6:00 PM – 8:15 PM – TPLA Welcome Mixer Join us in the Village Courtyard at 1125 North McCadden for a welcome cocktail mixer unveiling this year’s Trans Pride exhibit titled “Ides of Gender” by artist Zach Oren. Non-alcoholic beverage options are available.
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM – Queer Country Line Dancing Performance & Lesson by Stud Country instructors Stud Country’s instructors, Kira Kull & Abi Hamilton, will provide a performance that will make you say “yeehaw.” It will be followed by a queer country line dancing lesson open to all.
8:15 PM – 10:00 PM – Cocktail Mixer & Gallery Viewing Continue exploring Trans Pride’s Gallery Exhibit “Ides of Gender,” grab a bite or simply grab a drink while catching up with (new) friends.
Saturday, June 15th:
12:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Trans Pride Festival We are shutting the street down and spreading Trans Joy everywhere! This event includes a Children & Families Activity Area, Live Performances & Entertainment, Educational Workshops, Market Vendors & Resource Fair, Free Food Vendors, and a Trans Pride Talent Showcase! ASL Interpreters will be available throughout the festival stages & workshops.
Trans Pride Los Angeles is hosted by the Trans* Lounge program, the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s groundbreaking education & empowerment program dedicated to serving Los Angeles’ trans and gender expansive community. ASL and bilingual (Spanish/English) interpretation will be available both days.
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Mike Pingel has written six books, Channel Surfing: Charlie’s Angels & Angelic Heaven: A Fan’s Guide to Charlie’s Angels, Channel Surfing: Wonder Woman, The Brady Bunch: Super Groovy after all these years; Works of Pingel and most recently, Betty White: Rules the World. Pingel owns and runs CharliesAngels.com website and was Farrah Fawcett personal assistant. He also works as an actor and as a freelance publicist. His official website is www.mikepingel.com
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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.
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