Local
Breaking: California Democratic Party Chair Eric Bauman resigns
Despite midterm victory, internal firing squad aims at gay political operative


Eric Bauman at the California Democratic Party Convention Feb. 2018. (Photo by Karen Ocamb)
Breaking: Eric Bauman, the first openly LGBT Chair of the California Democratic Party, announced his resignation Thursday following a story in the Los Angeles Times in which 10 staffers and political activists allege sexual harassment and misconduct by the longtime Democratic activist.
“I have made the realization that in order for those to whom I may have caused pain and who need to heal, for my own health, and in the best interest of the Party that I love and to which I have dedicated myself for more than 25 years, it is in everyone’s best interest for me to resign my position as chair of the California Democratic Party,” Bauman said in a statement to The Times after Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, Controller Betty Yee and others, including Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur, called on him to step down.
The Times did not indicate whether the investigation would continue or now be halted or what process might occur to replace Bauman.
The following is the cover story for the Los Angeles Blade filed Thursday morning before Bauman’s announcement:
In addition to the historic flipping of rock red Republican congressional seats and electing California’s first openly gay statewide official, Democrats virtually decimated the state GOP during the midterm elections. “It’s been decades since California Democrats had this much power at the Capitol,” blared a Nov. 26 Sacramento Bee headline.
Democrats, The Bee wrote, “are on pace to control three-fourths of the Assembly — 60 out of 80 seats — a feat has not been accomplished in 135 years, in 1883. In the Senate, Democrats are likely to grab 29 seats out of 40, which would be the party’s largest advantage since 1962 (except for a brief period in 2012).”
But Democrats seem to have a penchant for complicating victories, forming a circular firing squad to kill off or maim someone perceived to have too much power. A rump group of House rebels—considered by some to be the Democratic equivalent of the Republican Freedom Caucus—is challenging establishment Leader Nancy Pelosi in her historic campaign to re-take the gavel as Speaker next year, despite Pelosi’s winning midterm messaging.
And in California, a handful of Democratic Party staffers and associates—some of whom were aligned with Kimberly Ellis, Bauman’s 2017 Berniecratic opponent for party chair—have alleged sexual harassment and sexual assault charges against Bauman, forcing him to take a leave of absence while Debra Henshaw Vierra from the outside law firm of Churchwell White investigates the allegations.
But given the publicity, the rush to judgment and societal interpretations of gay male gestures and flirtations by today’s #MeToo standards, it is very possible that no matter what the determination of the official investigation, Bauman—one of the key architects of the California midterm success—may not be able to shake the scarlet letter of misconduct.
So what happened? Is Bauman the political Kevin Spacey or California’s Al Franken or an old-fashion gay guy who talks sincerely about sexual harassment but hasn’t applied it to his own gay culture flirtations?
The story that may bring down a “kingmaker” burst into the open the weekend of Nov. 23-25 during the CDP Executive Board meeting. But it originated before the Nov. 6 elections, according to news accounts. Bauman was leading a statewide get-out-the-vote bus tour when “two young women on the bus reported alcohol was consumed and inappropriate sex talk occurred on Nov. 1,” out David Campos, chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, told the Associated Press.
They were headed for a Nov. 2 event in San Francisco with Leader Pelosi but when “her campaign team and Campos learned of the incidents aboard the bus,” they told state party officials “that Bauman and the bus should stay away,” Campos told AP. The wire service added that “it appeared Bauman engaged in the misbehavior and did not intervene to stop others from acting inappropriately,” citing Campos as the source.
“We felt, and I felt, it was important for us, given we had serious credible allegations, not to have Chair Bauman attend this get-out-the-vote event in San Francisco,” said Campos, who first revealed the details to the Bay Area Reporter.
On Nov. 28, the Los Angeles Times published interviews with the two young women. Grace Leekley, 21, identified as a temporary worker in the party’s communications department, who said she did not want to ride on the bus because of Bauman. But she met up with the tour Nov. 1 in Chico and joined the staff for lunch. She sat next to Kate Earley, 21, identified as having started about six weeks earlier as the party’s digital director.
“Leekley and Earley said that during the lunch, Bauman shushed the staffers at the table and then asked the women, within earshot of their colleagues, if the two were having an affair. When both women said no, Bauman pressed the issue, they said, telling them he would not mind if they were involved in a sexual relationship so long as it did not affect the workplace,” The Times reported.
Described another way—Bauman teasingly asked the two young women if they were a couple—it was OK if they were, just not at work. And herein lies a problem: Bauman may have thought he was warmly joking around but it was apparently perceived by the two new young staffers as sexual harassment and they felt intimidated.

CDP Chair Eric Bauman with Michael Andraychak, his husband of more than 30 years. (Photo by Karen Ocamb)
“I felt really embarrassed, almost ashamed, and uncomfortable,” Leekley told The Times. “I’m basically bottom-of-the-barrel staff — and he’s the most powerful man in the party. I didn’t feel comfortable saying anything.”
“A party staffer told The Times that he heard Bauman make the comments and said the two women told him afterward they felt deeply uncomfortable. Earley filed a complaint to her supervisor within 30 minutes of the incident and spoke with the human resources department later that day, she said. Her attorney said the complaint remains unresolved,” The Times reported Nov. 28. “As of the time he took a leave of absence on Monday, Bauman had not seen a formal complaint, according to a source close to the chairman.” As of Nov. 29, CDP spokeperson Mike Roth has not replied to inquires from the Los Angeles Blade about if and when any complaints have been officially filed and by whom.
It is not yet known what Earley’s supervisor or the human resources department did with her complaint. But here’s where things get murky.
The bus tour incident occurred on Nov. 1 but apparently nothing more was said or done until Nov. 23, the Black Friday after Thanksgiving, when party Vice-Chair Daraka Larimore-Hall suddenly circulated a “Statement of Charges” to members via email and on social media alleging sexual harassment and sexual assault and a call for Bauman to resign. But he apparently did not confront Bauman directly during the Executive Board meeting.
“This past weekend, I learned of multiple serious and credible allegations that Chairman Bauman sexually harassed, and in some cases sexually assaulted, individuals during party functions, and of at least one incident of Chairman Bauman tampering with witnesses. I have spoken directly with two victims, who confirm the allegations, and I spoke to the potential witness whom Chairman Bauman intimidated. I understand there are additional victims as well,” Larimore-Hall wrote. “ I believe the victims. Their stories illustrate a clear and escalating pattern of Chairman Bauman’s horrific and dehumanizing behavior.”
Larimore-Hall is not specific about the charges, doesn’t identify the victims and asks for respect for the victims’ privacy rights. In a second letter, he explains that he was approached “by a number of Party staff who confided in me their stories of sexual harassment and assault” by Bauman. He calls them “survivors,” and “young political professionals, many of whom are at the very beginning of their careers.” Obviously, he says, “it is completely unacceptable for Chairman Bauman to remain in office given these credible, corroborated and utterly heart-breaking allegations.”
The first note sounds like Leekley and Earley and the party staffer who overheard Bauman talk to the young women at lunch. But when and how did the two turn into a “number of Party Staff” who came forward to share their experiences? This is before Rep. Ro Khanna (D-San Jose) broke the allegations wide open with a tweet on Friday, Nov. 23.
“The allegations of sexual assault that @DarakaKenric is filing against @EricBauman are shocking. CalDems should replace him with @mldauber who is one of the nation’s foremost scholars on sexual harassment & led the Persky recall campaign. We need a bold feminist to lead for 2020.”
When Stanford law professor Michele Dauber said thanks but no thanks, others suggested that “a more fitting successor for Bauman would be Kimberly Ellis, who lost the election for party chair by just 62 votes after a contentious race in 2017. Dauber and Khanna agreed that Ellis—who represented the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party—would be well qualified for the role, if she still wants it. Ellis did not immediately respond to a request for comment,” sanjoseinside.com reported Saturday.
Were the Party staffers Ellis supporters who Bauman hired to try to create unity after the infamously contentious race for Party chair? Or were they staffers from former chair John Burton’s regime, when Bauman served as party vice-chair? If the latter, why did none of them come forward during that 2009-2017 time period when Burton was more intimidating than Bauman? And while there were rumors about Bauman being “handsy” at parties, as one gay person told the Los Angeles Blades, there were no official or registered complaints or leaked stories about Bauman during the 17 years he served as Chair of the LA County Democratic Party.
Bauman, a registered nurse, started his political career at Stonewall Democratic Club where he grew the club into a political powerhouse helping elect local, state and national candidates. His behind-the-scenes strategic political acumen resulted in senior-level positions in state government, including serving as Senior Advisor and LA Director of office services for Speakers John A. Perez, Toni Atkins and Anthony Rendon; Senior Advisor to Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez; Senior Advisor to Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and when Garamendi served as Insurance Commissioner; Special Assistant to Gov. Gray Davis and Director of Davis’ LA Office. While some politicos complained about his gruff Bronx/Jewish style, he also served as a generous mentor to many and no credible complaint was leaked to the press or filed from a staffer or party-goer during this time.

Eric Bauman (on right) at event where Gov. Gray Davis (seated) signed domestic partnership bill. (Photo by Karen Ocamb)
However, during Bauman’s unexpectedly heated race to become the first openly LGBT CDP chair in May 2017, a number of inaccurate accusations from the Ellis camp emerged. The worst was that he had engaged in “inappropriate behavior with 14- and 16-year-old boys,” an old but painful and effective trope used against LGBT people. “What they’re accusing me of is being a child predator! And I lost it. I started crying uncontrollably,” Bauman told the Los Angeles Blade (May 15, 2017). Then Bauman thought: “how many people are accused of things or are victims of abuse and they hide in shame and so it continues?”
He fumed in an email. “This is despicable! This is not the Democratic Party! These are Trumpian tactics and it has to stop! I’m a pretty tough guy and I can take the attacks, lies, distortions, and mud that has been slung at me pretty well,” Bauman wrote. “But to accuse me of child abuse, especially of this nature, is beyond the pale and 100% unacceptable.”
The Machiavellian rumor was apparently started by a gay Ellis supporter. Ellis denounced the tactic but references to the rumor have shown up in social media responses to the current allegations. It’s hard to un-ring a bell.
Bauman seemed too politically savvy to cross lines of propriety. In Dec. 2011, in an unflattering LA Weekly story calling him the “L.A. Democratic Party Kingmaker,” the author describes Bauman’s arm-twisting as “machine politics at its finest.” To which Bauman replied: “I don’t make promises or ask people to do things in a quid pro quo format. That would be against the law. I’m way too high-profile, way too visible a guy to do that.”
The Los Angeles Blade spoke with numerous gay and straight politicos familiar with Bauman and his decades-long leadership in the Democratic Party. They requested anonymity for fear of being dragged into a controversy that might sully their own name or out of respect for the due-process investigation or not wanting to appear to attack the alleged victims.
Two gay men independently said that years ago Bauman said hello with a lingering pat or quick grab of the butt at an event—but neither man considered the touch sexual harassment. They said Bauman never followed up with anything physical or with sexually explicit comments. Several people said they saw him drink but never saw him drunk. Others said he was often flirtatious, would give an unexpected shoulder rub and sometimes made lewd jokes and risqué gestures that made some people uncomfortable—but never to the degree that he should be reported for sexual harassment. No one ever experienced or witnessed him commit the crime of sexual assault such as grabbing or groping.
But there were notes of hesitation, too. “I don’t believe any of it,” one politico told the Los Angeles Blade. “Except Larimore-Hall is too smart to use the term ‘sexual assault’ unless he had something behind it.”
“I take seriously any allegation brought forward by anyone who believes they have been caused pain,” Bauman said in a statement that did not include an abject denial. He announced the independent investigation “ensuring these individuals making the charges are treated with respect and free from any concerns of retaliation.” He added that he looks “forward to putting these allegations behind us and moving forward as unified Democrats.” Alex Gallardo-Rooker, another party vice chair, is serving as acting chairwoman during the investigation.
The story grabbed national headlines but seemed to disappear as other splashier news moved center stage. And then came the Nov. 28 bombshell, with The Times interviews of 10 party staffers and political activists who claimed Bauman “made crude sexual comments and engaged in unwanted touching or physical intimidation in professional settings.”
“People just didn’t know how to speak up about it,” Allan Acevedo, an activist with California Young Democrats told The Times. “There was a sense of loyalty. Not just to him, but to any advancement that any LGBT person makes in terms of us having representation at the table.”
“Eight current party staffers said that, while he was serving as chairman, Bauman would regularly make sexually explicit comments in the workplace to men and women, including remarks about sexual acts, his and other staffers’ genitalia, and being sexually attracted to staff members,” The Times reported, citing some accusers by name. “The eight staff members each said they also experienced or witnessed Bauman engaging in unwanted touching, particularly directed toward male staffers.”
The California Democratic Party’s handbook defines prohibited behavior, including sexual harassment and assault, and prohibits the use of alcohol while at work. On Nov. 28, Bauman, 59, said he’s going to rehab.
”I deeply regret if my behavior has caused pain to any of the outstanding individuals with whom I’ve had the privilege to work. I appreciate the courage it took for these individuals to come forward to tell their stories,” Bauman said in a statement. “In the interest of allowing the CDP’s independent investigation to move forward, I do not wish to respond to any of the specific allegations. However, I will use the time I am on leave to immediately seek medical intervention to address serious, ongoing health issues and to begin treatment for what I now realize is an issue with alcohol.”
What will the investigation determine? Was this a behind-the-scenes political coup by progressive purists who want to rid the CDP of the old guard? Are the allegations asserted by a new generation with internalized homophobia? Or might Bauman have been blind to his own bad behavior? In any event, there has been a coup—an overthrowing of the old gay cultural attitudes of physical and verbal coziness, which is unacceptable in today’s professional environment.
“Leading the California Democratic Party to historic victories has been the honor of a lifetime, and I look forward to continuing this important work upon the conclusion of the investigation and when my health allows,” Bauman said in his statement.
Events
New ‘Party with a Purpose’ lesbian brunch to be hosted at Sorry Not Sorry
Lez Brunch is coming to Sorry Not Sorry L.A. on May 17 with bottomless mimosas and games

Jessica Wagstaff is the founder of Homology L.A. and most recently partnered up with The Queer 26, a nonprofit platform for QTBIPOC creatives, to produce Lez Brunch. The brunch will be hosted on May 17, from noon to 4p.m., at Sorry Not Sorry. The 4,000 sq-ft event space is a well-respected wine-forward, cocktail bar in Los Angeles that also hosts lots of other LGBTQ events, drag shows and more, throughout the year.
Wagstaff believes it is important to not only host this event, but also to make it as safe and inclusive as possible. They have also incorporated a community outreach aspect to this event by giving back to their community by donating proceeds to non-profit and mutual aid organizations.
Everything down to the ticketing site, is queer and inclusive.
“The ticketing website allows attendees to enter in their name which may differ from their legal name, which I think is a really important aspect right off the top of the bat, they know we care about who they are right at the start of their experience with us,” said Wagstaff. “In fact the ticketing website is the only platform that is queer owned and operated in the world, it’s called Sickening Events. So we know that it’s also benefiting our community.”
The performers are also part of the LGBTQ+ community and Wagstaff believes that by having a line-up of performers and entertainers who mirror and represent the community, it allows people to feel safe, heard and seen.
“I’ve always been very passionate about having a lineup that directly mirrors our community from BIPOC, trans, queer, non-binary, etc,” said Wagstaff.
Wagstaff is also a licensed security guard who says safety and security is on the top of their priorities when it comes to hosting these events.
“I will have a code of conduct signage and training at the front door which will be promoted by wait staff, restaurant management, plus all Lez Brunch talent and staff,” said Wagstaff.
The event will be hosted by Ruthie Alcaide who is a TV personality who has been a contestant on The Real World: Hawaii, a finalist on Battle of the Sexes and All Stars 1, and she also competed on Battle of the Sexes 2, The Gauntlet 2, and The Duel II.
Wagstaff is also working in collaboration with Camille Ora-Nicole, founder of The Queer 26 and multi-hyphenated creative.
Ora-Nicole has been hosting events and collaborating with queer and trans BIPOC creatives across Los Angeles to bring more visibility to those marginalized communities. Her and Wagstaff agree that queer joy is the biggest form of resistance and that hosting these events during this politically polarizing time is much needed for survival and for the people in these communities to have the space to heal, gather, celebrate and network.
To learn more about The Queer 26, visit their website.
Events
Los Angeles Blade’s Community Series kicks off with panel
First panel in series brought in community leaders, politicians and other notable figures

The Los Angeles Blade kicked off its “Free Community Series” in partnership with Roar
Resistance, for a rousing discussion panel titled “Time To Get Informed, Time To
Resist” at The Abbey in West Hollywood last Saturday.
The event featured a panel of notable figures in the city’s government and queer
activism circles who spoke about how to organize and protect queer rights in the current
political climate.
The panel was moderated by Roar Resistance’s Michael Ferrera, and included West
Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Byers, former WeHo Mayor and queer activist Abbe Land,
Equality California Communications Director Jorge Reyes Salinas, Political Vice
President of the Stonewall Democratic Club, Nico Brancolini and NAACP LGBTQ
Committee Chair Chris Baldwin.
The discussion kicked off with a call by Abbe Land for participants to stay focused on
the issues that matter, despite the flood of new developments constantly coming from
the White House.
“I do think it was designed that way to keep us crazed, to keep us unfocused, to keep us
in a state of panic and fear,” said Land. “We have to look at what is happening and
where is our lane and where are we going to focus our energies and have trust that
there are other people that are focusing in other areas that need focus.”
Each of the panelists then described how the first few months of the current
administration has impacted the work they’re doing in the community and the dangers
they see on the horizon.
“I have been deeply disturbed by the elite capitulation that occurred this time around,”
Brancolini said, noting the big law firms and media corporations that have acceded to
“unconstitutional orders” and rushed to make settlements with Trump and his family.
“Frankly, I’ve been disappointed by a lot of the national Democratic leadership. I think
they treated a 1.5% plurality victory on Trump’s behalf as if it was a huge blowout, and I
think that’s a big mistake,” said Land.
Reyes Salinas pointed out that a one of the most vulnerable communities right now is
trans youth.
“The target is on their backs and the backs of their families and providers,” he said.
“Here in California, we have laws that protect them and we keep improving those, but
there’s still so much fear, and it’s important for everyone to be able understand that
these are children’s lives at stake here.”
But while there was agreement that there is much at risk at the current moment, Chris
Baldwin said this was a time to build stronger coalitions.
“I don’t live my life in fear. I am a Black woman born in the 60s, at a time when my father
when we traveled to Alabama had to step across the street to let a white man pass,”
she said. “We will get through this. Black people have lived through much worse.
Welcome to the civil rights movement. We are going to experience setbacks but we will
keep pushing forward.”
Later, Baldwin invited attendees to join the NAACP, noting that it is an interracial
organization whose membership is open to all. Chelsea Byers echoed that sentiment, noting that this moment presents an opportunity for a new generation of leaders to imagine new ways to solve society’s big problems.
“We know that people are under-resourced. We need to make education accessible to
people bring them on board, help them understand these processes and meet them
where they’re at,” she said. “We need to bring people on board. We can’t go back to
what was, because it wasn’t working. We need to activate our political imaginations in
the biggest way possible.”
When the discussion turned to what people can do to protect our rights, the panelists
focused on practical things anyone can do to help build a successful coalition for
change.
“Every day, do something. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. It might be just calling
someone to check in on them, it might be writing a letter, or calling your congressman. It
might be a passive thing,” said Land. “That moment when you think, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe this,’ that’s when you do something, anything and it’ll propel you for the next
day.”
The panel also addressed concerns from the audience that we have to ensure that our
activism is inclusive and intersectional.
“Feminism without intersectionality is just white supremacy,” Baldwin said. “Going
forward with your coalitions, I encourage you to be intentional with your intersectionality,
not just tokenism.”
“There are some common needs that we all care about and it doesn’t matter who you
are, and that’s where we have to be. But when we’re fighting for those things, we have
to recognize there are some people who have different ideas of what that looks like, and
we have to be open to that,” said Land. Reyes Salinas added that it’s an important priority for Equality California to use its platform to lift the voices of diverse parts of the community.
“We can elevate your coalitions, your storytelling, whatever’s happening, my team can
make sure that that’s elevated to ensure that other people see you as a trusted source,”
he said.
Reyes Salinas added that Equality California offers leadership training programs for
people who want to get experience in politics and running for office.
The Los Angeles Blade is planning more community forums to discuss hot-button
issues as they arise.
Features
Meet the new co-presidents of the NLGJA LA Chapter
The National Lesbian Gay Journalists Association’s LA Chapter under new leadership

An award-winning documentary filmmaker and a news producer make up the dynamic duo who now run the Los Angeles chapter of the NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists.
NLGJA is a nationally recognized affinity group meant to unite journalists from dozens of different industries, who identify as members of the LGBTQ community.
The national chapter recognizes the work and contributions of LGBTQ journalists who work to further the narratives by queer, trans and gender non-conforming people.
Hansen Bursic, 27, pisces, is one half of the dynamic duo who now run the L.A chapter.
Katie Karl, 30, gemini, forms the other half.
Last year, Bursic and Karl took over as interim co-presidents and have been able to grow the local chapter to include a diverse and wide range of voices on the Board of Directors and on the membership list.
The chapter has hosted a long list of events that include collaborations with other local and national organizations with roots in Los Angeles, such as GALECA: Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics and the Asian American Journalists Association.
It became the first time in the Los Angeles chapter’s history that there was such a shift in leadership, with two people taking over the leading role.
“It was just too big of a job for one of us to do, especially in rebuilding. So we decided to get together and come on as co-president’s, which was recommended by the national president, Ken Miguel,” said Karl.
When it comes to the chapter’s mission, Bursic says it’s a two-fold goal.
“We want to build a sense of community for queer and trans journalists in Southern California and we also want to advocate for those journalists any chance we get by building the spaces where journalists can meet each other, breaking down barriers and trying to reduce gatekeeping of opportunities for our members so they can thrive and find a place in Southern California newsrooms,” he said.
Many of the events that are hosted by the NLGJA LA Chapter are free and open to the general public through RSVP. One of the common misconceptions the affinity group faces, is that many people feel as though their work may not directly correspond to the work pursued by current members of the group. However, that is not the case.
“Together, we really want to make sure that everyone feels included,” said Karl. “I’m in broadcast and Hansen is in documentary and together we really push to make sure that no matter what kind of journalist you are, you know there is a space for you and you feel welcomed.”
The organization welcomes members and people to attend their public events, who work in industries that are adjacent to the work journalists do and those who might just be creatives with multi-hypenated titles.
Bursic has a full-time day job in communications for a nonprofit, but his creative work extends far beyond his work in communications. His energy and passion lie in documentary filmmaking. Bursic recently directed and produced “Trans Heaven Pennsylvania” (2024). The 12-minute documentary is about the 2010s in Pennsylvania, where each year, a group of trans women would take over a small American town for a week-long party. The documentary was funded through the Creative Hope Initiative, an incubator for emerging LGBTQ filmmakers sponsored by Traverse32 and Outfest Film Festival.
The film most recently screened internationally in London, at the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. Its next screening will be at the Grandview Theater Drafthouse & Cinema in Columbus, Ohio on May 3rd.
Bursic has a notable list of accomplishments, including making the 30 under 30 list at Temple University in 2023. He has also been named a DOC NYC Documentary New Leader, has had a spot in the Ford Foundation Rockwood Documentary Leadership Fellowship and Sundance Film Festival Press Fellowship.
Karl was born and raised in the Greater Los Angeles area, is a dedicated news producer with extensive experience in live news coverage and team coordination. Currently a freelance writer and producer at KABC, she brings years of experience from her work at stations like KPNX, KHQ and KEYT.
Karl, says the experience of connecting with the members more, has been really rewarding.
“Going forward, my goal is to grow the chapter in name and recognition,” said Karl. “I want our [reach to get] across other organizations in other areas of journalism and that’s why I joined the board in the first place.”
Arts & Entertainment
2025 Best of LGBTQ LA Finalist Voting

The 2025 Los Angeles Blade Best of LGBTQ LA Awards are here! You submitted your nominations—now it’s time to vote for the finalists. Voting is open through May 2, 2025.
Among some of your favorite categories are Best Drag Performer, Local Influencer of the Year, Best Happy Hour, Go-Go of the Year, Activist of the Year, Public Official of the Year, Best Musical Artist, Best Non-Profit, Best Bartender, Best DJ, Best Local Podcast, and so many more!
Winners will be revealed at the Best of LGBTQ LA celebration on Thursday, May 22 at The Abbey. Stay tuned for more party details coming soon!
Vote using the form below or by clicking HERE.
Local
‘Housing Now!’: Advocates plan to wrap City Hall in red tape
Advocates demand local government removes the red tape on housing resources

On Tuesday at 8 a.m., over 100 housing advocates from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Housing Is A Human Right (HHR) and the Los Angeles office of the National Coalition for the Homeless, will join together for a national day of action to demand “Housing Now” for the homeless community nationwide.
Housing advocates will gather in front of City Hall to wrap the entire perimeter of City Hall in red tape.
The ‘Stop the Red Tape Protest’ marks the first anniversary of when the Supreme Court of the United States ‘Grants Pass’ oral arguments. The Grants Pass decision in 2024 made it so that cities like Grants Pass and other ‘localities may impose criminal penalties for acts like public camping and public sleeping, without violating the Eighth Amendment — even if they lack sufficient available shelter space to accommodate their unhoused population.’
Since then, Grants Pass has been sued multiple times over ‘objectively unreasonable’ homeless ordinances that discriminate against people with disabilities.
“Seven people die on the streets of Los Angeles every day. Delays in bringing permanent housing online immediately through adaptive reuse and new construction are unconscionable,” said Susie Shannon, Policy Director for Housing is a Human Right. “The city response of breaking up encampments for the more than 45,000 people experiencing homelessness in the City of Los Angeles has led to individuals taking refuge in abandoned buildings and in places where services are scarce.”
A recent homeless count estimated that there around 45,000 homeless and unhoused Angelenos in the city.
According to AHF, the city is far behind in approving building permits and the creation of new and affordable housing units. The red tape and other bureaucratic issues were further exacerbated by the recent fires that affected large swaths of the city.
Features
New mayor Chelsea Byers, hopes to make WeHo a model city for others to follow
She has big plans, but can they withstand the Trump administration?

West Hollywood’s new mayor Chelsea Byers has lofty ambitions to make the 1.8-square-mile city, a model for other cities in the region.
She hopes to deal with compounding crises of housing affordability, traffic congestion, climate change and a new federal government that’s slashing programs and services many people – especially LGBTQ people – rely on.
But can Byers, who was elected to city council in November 2022 and selected as
mayor by council in January, really make a difference during her one-year stint in the
city’s top job?
Byers believe she can.
On one of the biggest challenges facing West Hollywood residents – housing
affordability – Byers fully embraces more housing development.
“For 80% of the city of West Hollywood including myself, who are renters, accessing a
home that is affordable is a very difficult thing. And the way that cities can address that
cost is frankly, by building more housing,” said Byers.
Byers also says she fully accepts the state’s regional housing needs assessment, which
assigned West Hollywood a target of building 3,933 new housing units in the next eight
years. That’s a tall order, given the city is currently only home to about 38,000 people.
“We’re going to have to look at this sort of invisible cap that we put across the town to
increase the capacity in a way that is equitable, that creates more opportunity for
different types of housing to be built. We wouldn’t want all of this rezoning to help us
lead to more one-bedroom apartments, when we know that the future of the city is also
accommodating more families,” said Byers, noting that queer families also struggle to find
homes in West Hollywood.
Those housing targets also dovetail with the city’s long-standing ambition to have
Metro’s K-Line extended through West Hollywood, Byers says.
But even if West Hollywood meets its targets, it’ll only be a small drop in region that
studies estimate needs to build more than 600,000 units of affordable housing. Still,
Byers says West Hollywood can lead by example and get buy-in from the other cities in
LA County to help solve the affordability crisis together.
“I believe that our values can be extended to these other places and help move them
actually in big ways,” said Byers.
Those values necessarily include West Hollywood’s historic diversity and inclusivity of
its LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities, both of which are feeling ill at ease from the
federal government’s attacks.
“I think it goes above and beyond the fear-mongering and outright assaults that the
current federal administration’s lobbying at the LGBTQ community. It’s the real
dismantling of funding and structures that existed at the federal level to enable a lot of
the social service programming that our LGBTQ community members rely on,” said Byers. “That is the biggest thing that we feel right now when I’m asked as a city leader,
how are we impacted?”
The city is responding to this looming threat through its own funding process.
“We’re at the start of a three-year cycle that determines how, which organizations, we
invest our $7.8 million social service budget. To have these two moments happening at
the same time gives the city a tremendous opportunity to step up to whatever extent we
can,” she said, noting that programs for sexual health care, HIV programs, and aging
in place are particular priorities.
“Part of what I’m doing is creating funding that is accessible and available in more rapid
ways than our three-year cycle. Because once the three-year cycle has closed its door,
then that is it. One of those tools is a micro grant program that is specifically dedicated
towards Innovative or programming that that is needed,” Byers said.
Part of the response is also ensuring that West Hollywood remains a beacon for LGBTQ
people not just in Los Angeles, but across the country and around the world.
“You’ll see us as the city not back down from our investment in programs like Pride
which are world-class events,” she said. “For us, this is the thing that matters. And
we’re willing to make the additional investments in the public safety resources to make
sure that it’s going to be a safe event.
“I think a lot of our community members have always felt like they are a target already,
and it hasn’t stopped anyone from doing their thing. In fact, if all eyes are watching, then
we better give them a good show, has been our attitude.”
Earlier this month, city council voted to officially designate the Santa Monica strip
between La Cienega and Doheny as the Rainbow District, with a dedicated budget to
improve and promote the area as a destination. The area will soon see new street pole, banners, utility wraps, murals, and the West Hollywood Trolley bus will have service
extended to Thursday nights to help promote business along the strip.
Byers says the city is also looking at reducing red tape around how business spaces are
licensed to help revitalize the area.
“We’ve often said that West Hollywood is a model for how it gets done,” said Byers. “It’s
such a beautiful moment for us to sort of pivot our focus locally and remind ourselves
that cities are about quality of life, and making sure that we can be an inclusive city.”
California
South Park provides green space to a predominantly Latino community
‘…the need for green spaces within Latino communities has never been greater, especially in South L.A.

South Park, one of the oldest parks in Historic South Central, has brought multi-generational Angelenos together for centuries.
The park sits at the intersection of 51st Street and Avalon Blvd, surrounded by some of the most socially, culturally and historically important locations in the country, including Central Avenue, site of the West Coast jazz scene in in the 30s and 40s, the former Black Panther Party headquarters in L.A and one of the epicenters of the Watts rebellion in 1965.
The park—also known as Barry White Park—was founded in 1899. Today, 126 years later, the park still stands—hosting weekend soccer games, señoras chismeando, recreational activities like swimming, card games among elders and city-led events.
The park was named after two-time Grammy Award winner and R&B singer Barry White, who grew up in South Central, just blocks away from the park.
As PBS initially reported, the City of Los Angeles purchased it from a private developer for $10,000. At that time it was not as big as it is now, but was always characterized by its tall palm trees.
The park is located in Los Angeles City Council District 9, where the population is predominantly Latino (79.9%). According to Park Equity, Life Expectancy and Power Building research, the need for green spaces within Latino communities has never been greater, especially in South L.A, where the landscape is often characterized by an overconcentration of liquor stores and a lack of quality and accessible recreational spaces. More than a century after the park’s opening, for many local residents, it is one of the only parks within walking distance for them.
Amanda Walker, 56, moved to L.A. from Chicago, Illinois. She said one of her favorite things to do at the park is to take in the sun.
“The sun falls perfectly anywhere through the park, that’s probably my favorite part,” Walker said.

Amanda Walker at the park before meeting up with her friends. (Photo by Brenda Verano)
Walker said she loves coming to the park with her friends, who often use the park as a gathering place.
“I do wish there were more activities for adults,” she said. “The park has a playground for kids, and basketball courts… we need more things in the park for people like me.”
Maria L., 30, said she also comes to the park to be surrounded by nature. Although she lives in South Central, she said she does not have much free time to come as often as she would like.
“I haven’t been here in about eight months,” she said. Although she was alone, she was on a video call with her family where she was able to show them the scenery of the park and said she was surprised at how green and vibrant it all looked.
“I like coming here to just sit and hang out,” she said. She enjoys the sense of community she feels when being in the park. “Some people are walking their dogs; others are exercising or simply just laying down. It’s nice. I also like seeing the birds and the squirrels,” she said.

From a distance, Maria L. sits in the sun on the park benches. (Photo by Brenda Verano)
The relationship between access to parks and life expectancy are closely linked. Park deserts can have disastrous effects on residents as well as wildlife, as stated by a study conducted by the Prevention Institute in partnership with University of California, Los Angeles , the National Health Foundation, Community Coalition, Esperanza Community Housing Corporation and the Social Justice Learning Institute.
According to the research, South Central L.A. is considered to have “high park need” and “very high park need” neighborhoods, with an average of 1.6 and 0.7 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, in comparison to the L.A. countywide average, which is 3.3 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. The median life expectancy in South L.A. is 77 years, well below the level for the county as a whole. About 15 miles away, in the community of Beverly Hills, the life expectancy is about 90 years, 13 years higher.
South Central residents have been asking for more investment in parks and recreational facilities. In 2018, the 18.25-acre park went through a multi-million renovation, which allocated funding for the improvement of its gym, swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, baseball diamond, outdoor stage, fitness area, picnic tables and children’s play area.
Despite the recent investments, the park has also been widely known for its gang and chrome activity, which the community says has been a direct effect of years of disinvestment and neglect.
In previous years, the Los Angeles Police Department identified the park as an area where gang activity—specifically from the Avalon Gangster Crips, Broadway Gangster Crips and 52nd Street Playboys—has been observed.
“The problem was scanned and revealed that this park, like many others in urban America, had slowly been neglected and overrun by criminal activity that revolved around gangs, narcotics and quality of life issues,” states the LAPD. “The analysis of the problem at the park was conducted by reviewing data, meeting with officers and receiving input from local community representatives and park staff members.”
Despite this, the community recognized the park as a long-standing historical entity of South Central L.A.
As one of the oldest parks in the city, South L.A. Park continues to be home to local residents, wildlife, street vendors, youth and all the great things that make up Los Angeles.
EDITORS NOTE: This article was published through the Bezos Fellowship grant provided by the Ethnic Media Services, which recently changed its name to American Community Media. The article was written by Brenda Fernanda Verano, an award-winning journalist who reports for CALÓ News, a local non-profit newsroom focusing on the Latin American community of Los Angeles.
Arts & Entertainment
LA Opera brings back Pride Night with a production of ‘Ainadamar’
Pride Night returns at the LA Opera

LA Opera is bringing back its Pride Night on Wednesday May 7, in partnership with the Opera League of Los Angeles.
LGBTQ members and allies will come together for Pride Night to indulge in a performance of “Ainadamar,” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. The discounted tickets for Pride Night include access to a complimentary post-show party at Vespaio hosted by the Opera League of Los Angeles, featuring Cal-Italian bites from Chef Agostino Sciandri.
“Ainadamar” is a tribute to Spanish poet and queer icon, Federico García Lorca.
“This season, we celebrate with ‘Ainadamar,’ a powerful tribute to Spanish poet and queer icon Federico García Lorca. These pairings matter. They highlight that opera is a living, evolving art form—one that speaks to all people and reflects the diversity of the world we live in,” said Christopher Koelsch, president and CEO of LA Opera.
The central plot of “Ainadamar,” which is the Arabic meaning for ‘fountain of tears,’ follows Ana María Martínez as Margarita Xirgu, an actress who spent half of her career portraying Mariana Pineda, who was a 19th-century Spanish liberalist heroine, in Lorca’s play. Pineda was a political martyr who was executed for embroidering a flag with the slogan “Equality, Freedom and Law,” in protest of the absolutist Spanish regime.
The production, running at approximately one hour and 20 minutes, sets the stage with a throwback, recounting Lorca’s life and his last days in the Spanish Civil War.
“At the heart of our Pride Night celebration is the belief that everyone should feel seen onstage and off. Opera is a space for community and belonging, where our audiences can recognize themselves not only among fellow attendees, but also in our artists, our music and the stories we tell,” said Koelsch.
This major company premiere, led by resident conductor Lina Gonzáles-Granados, is sung in Spanish, with English and Spanish subtitles. Grammy-winning composer Osvaldo Golijov produces the dramatic, flamenco-inspired score that meets the poignant libretto by David Henry Hwang.
During the COVID-19 shutdowns, live performances at the LA Opera were put on hold and the journey to bring back Pride Night, among many other in-person performances, was a struggle filled with many moving parts.
“COVID-19 suspended live performances across the board and during our return season we were navigating the different timelines for audiences returning to live theater. It was very much a matter of listening to our community and learning what had changed for them as well as us: some opted for livestream options, others preferred only outdoor events, and so on,” said Koelsch. “Once we found our stride, we were excited to bring back Pride Night the following season during ‘The Marriage of Figaro.’”
This year the LA Opera is celebrating their 40th anniversary by launching their 40th Anniversary Campaign to raise resources needed to continue funding their organization.The show opens on Saturday, April 26 and runs through May 18. Purchase tickets by clicking here.
a&e features
Meet the chef who built his legacy in the LGBTQ+ community
He is an icon in the Hollywood culinary scene and a fierce ally in the LGBTQ community

Editor’s note: The interview with Chef Juan featured in this article was done in Spanish and translated accordingly for this article, but kept in its original format.
Juan Raigosa Chavez is the living embodiment of the American dream that many can only hope for. During his 40-year culinary journey, he was able to become a legal citizen and has enjoyed the privileges of living and working in Los Angeles for four decades.
Chef Juan migrated here from Zacatecas, Mexico in 1985 and since then he has worked his way up to his current position as one of West Hollywood’s most beloved chefs in the LGBTQ+ bar scene.
He started his journey as a dishwasher and through his hard work, dedication to achieving the American dream and meticulous work ethic, he was able to climb the ranks in the kitchen team hierarchy.
“Primero empecé lavando platos en 1985 en Marix Tex Mex [Café] en Hollywood. Y después me hice preparador, después me hice cocinero. Y luego me hicieron kitchen manager, primero de Marix y luego de Basix Café haciendo creatividad de menús, variedad de comida, y más,” nos dice Chef Juan. “Me mandaron a las mejores escuelas culinarias de San Francisco pagados por la dueña de Basix.”
“First, I started washing dishes in 1985 at Marix Tex Mex [Café] in Hollywood. Then, I was promoted to food prep, then kitchen cook. Finally, I became kitchen manager—first at Marix and then an Basix Café—creating menus and a variety of dishes,” said Chef Juan. “[The restaurant owners] sent me to the best culinary schools in San Francisco, all paid for by the owners.”
Chef Juan was living the American dream and had worked very hard to get to the position he was in when Covid-19 hit and many restaurants, including both Marix and Basix were forced to close. As of earlier this year, it seems like Marix Tex Mex Café is apparently set to re-open at the same location, while the location Basix was in, is still up for lease.
WeHo times first reported that workers have been adding finishing touches to the exterior of the building, but the significant delay in re-opening is due to extensive water damage that happened while the location was closed.
“Mucha gente lloró, porque teníamos más de cuarenta personas a mi cargo allí,” recalls Chef Juan.
“A lot of people cried because there were over forty people who worked under my leadership during that time,” said Chef Juan.
He was laid-off for two years and then when he stopped receiving federal assistance, he uploaded his resume online and the previous owners of GymBar WeHo, immediately called him up to hire him as their chef.
During his time at Marix and Basix, he says he gained a lot of valuable experience and gained a deep respect for the rich and diverse community of Hollywood.
Within three days of uploading his resume, he was hired.
“No duraron ni tres días cuando ya estaba contratado por que, como te dire–me hice un poco famoso,” Chef Juan tells the Los Angeles Blade. “Muchos de la ‘community’ me reconocen.”
“Not even three days passed until I was fully hired, because how do I say this? I guess I got a little bit famous,” Chef Juan tells the Los Angeles Blade. “A lot of people in the community recognize me.”
At that moment, a patron from the restaurant kindly interrupted the interview to say goodbye to Chef Juan and thank him for the food.
“Si ves, siempre me saludan porque me conocen y saben quién soy,” nos dice Chef Juan.
“See? People always say hello to me because they recognize me and know who I am,” Chef Juan tells us.
He also tells us that many people who know that he started working at GymBar have asked him to recreate some of his famous dishes from when he worked at Marix and Basix.
Chef Juan says his favorite part about working in a kitchen is his ability and freedom to create new dishes and elevate recipes that have always been staple dishes in his life and culture.
Due to his heartwarming attitude, friendly face and incomparable work ethic, he is now a sought-after chef and iconic member of the Hollywood community.
“Bastante gente me ha buscado desde que empecé aquí,” said Chef Juan.
“Plenty of people have looked for me here since I started,” said Chef Juan.
When asked how he wins over new customers, he said he likes to start off by asking customers what their favorite dishes are and then he builds on that until he’s able to find something that they are excited to try.
He spoke passionately about how much he loves to win over new customers and continue to impress his loyal customers. He says that to avoid mistakes, he likes to personally train each person who works under him, saying this is how he ensures the quality of the food is consistently to his standards.
“Es hacer las cosas con amor—porque cuando estás enojado no te va a salir bien—la comida te sale perfecta,” said Chef Juan.
“It’s about doing everything with love so it comes out perfect, because when you’re angry, nothing will taste right,” said Chef Juan.
It goes without saying that he is an icon and when we asked him how he felt about his entire career and legacy being built around the LGBTQ+ community of West Hollywood as a Latin American person, his answer was heartwarming.
“I love my people of West Hollywood, my neighborhood and for me it’s all normal,” said Chef Juan in both English and Spanish. “For many people, I understand it’s scary, but I understand [them] and I love my people no matter what they do.”
Chef Juan continues his legacy as he celebrates his 40th year, now working at WeHo’s GymBar, which is run by one of the Dodgers executive’s, along with his husband. As an avid Dodger fan, Chef Juan has also had the opportunity to participate in cooking demonstrations led by chefs at Dodger Stadium. GymBar WeHo is actually one of the only other locations in LA—other than Dodger Stadium that sells the authentic Dodger Dog.
Now that baseball season is underway, Chef Juan invites everyone in the nearby communities to join them for a game and a Dodger Dog.
Local
New chapter: P3 Theatre Company moves to Los Angeles
P3 Theatre Company, a long-standing staple in Long Beach’s theatre scene, has officially relocated to Los Angeles.

P3 Theatre Company, a long-standing staple in Long Beach’s theatre scene, has officially relocated to Los Angeles. While the company remains close to its Long Beach roots, this move signals a fresh chapter and opportunity to connect to a broader audience.
Jon Peterson, Executive Director and Founder of P3 Theatre Company, discusses the transition.
“After the pandemic lifted, the venue we were renting in Long Beach was no longer available to us,” explained Peterson. “After some time, we decided to look in the Greater Los Angeles area. There are so many great venues available, and there’s definitely a huge demand for the arts.”
P3 Theatre’s first major production in Los Angeles will be “Day After Day” (The Life and Music of Doris Day), a sentimental and nostalgic celebration of the legendary singer and actress. The choice to revive this show was intentional — it was P3’s last production before the Covid-19 shutdown.
“‘Day After Day ‘ was a very successful production,” said Peterson, noting that it earned Deborah Robin the Best Performer in a Musical title at the Orange County Theatre Guild Awards. “It’s such an endearing show with tons of recognizable music and the dynamic story of Doris Day.”
While dazzling performances are integral to P3’s mission, the company is equally committed to community outreach. Peterson emphasized that the move to the West Hollywood and Hollywood areas, offer opportunities to collaborate with other nonprofits and expand access to the arts for marginalized groups.
“There is a huge demand for the arts in this region,” said Peterson. “We look forward to bringing shows that audiences are excited to see, as well as introducing new works that will enhance their theatrical experience.”
One of P3’s signature initiatives is P3 Educates+, a program designed to provide performing arts workshops to underserved communities. Catering to all ages – which Peterson describes as 0-100+ – the workshops include improvisation, acting, and singing.
“It provides more than just an education of theatre,” Peterson explained. “[It provides] a level of entertainment that marginalized communities may not have an opportunity to experience otherwise.”
Supporting LGBTQ+ stories and artists is also a core priority for P3 Theatre Company. Peterson highlighted the company’s commitment to producing both new LGBTQ+ works and celebrated classics.
“Our stories need to be told and heard,” Peterson emphasized. “What better way to do so than through the arts?”
Among P3’s proudest achievements are the world premieres of two acclaimed works by playwright Jiggs Burgess. The Red Suitcase won the prestigious Del Shores Playwright Competition, while Wounded earned multiple awards at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2023. The latter’s success secured an off-Broadway run at Soho Playhouse in New York City, with performances continuing in 2024 and 2025.
P3 Theatre Company has ambitious long-term goals for its future in Los Angeles. Peterson hopes to build a strong audience and donor base while eventually securing a permanent performance space.
“P3 Theatre Company’s long term goal is to grow a solid audience and donor base in Los Angeles – and to find ‘the perfect theatre’ to hang our hat in.” Peterson said. “It is our plan to call Los Angeles our home and to continue to produce professional theatre in a community where theatre is thriving.”
For those eager to experience P3’s return to the stage, tickets for Day After Day (The Life and Music of Doris Day) are now available. As Peterson says with confidence, “We know the audiences will love it!”

For more information about P3, head to www.p3theatre.biz
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