Events
Jingle & Mingle: Holiday event focused on queer immigrant stories
The Los Angeles Blade partnered with AIDS Healthcare Foundation affinity group The Latino Outreach and Understanding Division (LOUD)
WEST HOLLYWOOD – The Los Angeles Blade, partnered with AIDS Healthcare Foundation affinity group The Latino Outreach and Understanding Division (LOUD), on held December 22, a joyful evening of food, hobnobbing, music, and entertainment at HEART WeHo.
The event attracted a diverse crowd of 150 people from the worlds of politics, entertainment, nightlife, media and community members from around the SoCal area.
The event kicked off with a vibrant performance by Drag star Melissa BeFierce and Veronica, opening the show with a review of Jennifer Lopez’s Spanish language hits, “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Como Lo Flor,” “Amor Prohibido” and “I Could Fall in Love.”
Blade publisher Troy Masters welcomed the crowd:
“I have learned from someone very special to me that people who are in this country as an asylum seeker, a DACA recipient or as an Undocumented person, you do not have access to the same legal protections that I do, that most of you do,” he said. “I believe that is one of the many inequalities facing immigrants that needs to be addressed and that’s one of the topics I hope we will discuss tonight,” Masters added.
Masters then introduced Edwin Millán, International President of LOUD, who greeted the many VIPs in attendance and thanking everyone for “giving up their Friday night before Christmas to support this event and the LGBTQ immigration community.”
Millán then presented 4 panelists representing a diverse immigration experience; Gretta Soto Moreno, a Mexican trans who said that it took her 13 years to obtain asylum, but that during that time she experienced difficult situations, including spending three years in prison; Jesús Paizano, a 22-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker who explained that after two and a half years, he still has not received a resolution; Hans Vompakerth, a 23-year-old undocumented Colombian gay, said that he has not yet decided to apply for asylum for fear of facing deportation; and Laura Morales García, who arrived in the United States when she was two years old, explained what it was like to get DACA and what this means for her.
Editor’s note: For the original reporting in English regarding the panelists please go to this link: (here)
Aquí están sus historias
El viaje de Gretta Soto Moreno es un testimonio de las dificultades que enfrentan los solicitantes de asilo y las luchas dentro del sistema de detención de EE. UU. Gretta, una mujer transgénero que huye de años de tormento, soportando agresiones y amenazas en México, su país de origen, lamentablemente se encontró sufriendo abusos similares al llegar a EE. UU.
Antes de irse, la familia de Gretta desconocía sus luchas, centrándose en lugar en sus propios asuntos. México no solo era violento, sino también aislante y traumatizante. Es un lugar difícil para ser uno mismo auténtico.
Pero hubo momentos felices, como la fiesta navideña de la oficina donde se presentó valientemente como Gretta, sorprendiendo a una colega católica que, según Gretta, no tenía idea. “Se sorprendió porque notó a esta ‘mujer bonita’ organizando la fiesta; yo también me sorprendí porque cuando se dio cuenta de que era yo, estaba extasiada”, dijo Gretta. “Su reacción fue tan inesperada y me hizo sentir especial”.
Las personas transgénero, especialmente en un lugar como México, rara vez encuentran tal aceptación.
Gretta sufrió la pérdida de su mayor defensora cuando su abuela falleció. Ella había sido la fuerza más protectora y solidaria en su vida. “Cuando murió, me sentí tan sola y perdida… Ella siempre supo que era diferente de los demás niños, pero para ella eso me hacía muy especial”. Al darse cuenta de que estaba sola y de que su vida no mejoraría en México, eligió buscar asilo en Estados Unidos. Pero su viaje migratorio estuvo lleno de desafíos.
El arresto y la condena relacionada con el alcohol de Gretta complicaron su solicitud de asilo. Y como persona transgénero que tuvo que abordar su encarcelamiento pasado, las cosas se volvieron muy complicadas, una historia que refleja la situación de muchas personas trans en circunstancias similares. “Mis condenas por alcohol me hicieron muy difícil convencer al juez de inmigración de que mi reclamo de asilo era legítimo; y eso es realmente difícil porque como persona trans, que te crean o que cuestionen tu verdad es realmente traumático”, dijo.
En el Centro de Detención de Eloy, Gretta soportó abusos y la negación de medicamentos esenciales para personas transgénero, repitiendo los mismos horrores de los que huía. Trasladada a una unidad LGBTQ en Santa Ana, las esperanzas de alivio se desvanecieron a medida que los registros invasivos persistieron, ignorando su identidad e infligiendo un trauma mental y físico severo.
La historia de Gretta arroja luz sobre la cruel realidad que enfrentan los inmigrantes, exponiendo el desprecio insensible por la identidad y el abuso sistémico prevalente dentro de los centros de detención. Su narrativa revela el sufrimiento profundo soportado por personas como ella, independientemente de sus antecedentes o luchas.
Gretta es una especie de guerrera por los derechos de los solicitantes de asilo trans y se ve a sí misma como alguien que lucha contra un oponente mucho más grande. “Me encanta la historia de David y Goliat. Lo pienso como una historia de amor gay, en la que el rey Saúl se enamoró de David”, dice. David, al igual que Gretta, luchó contra un oponente mucho más grande, esperando llevar paz y seguridad a una tribu de personas a las que amaba.
“Amo a mis hermanas y hermanos trans y haré lo que sea necesario para hacer del mundo un lugar mejor y para hacer del asilo un lugar seguro y afirmativo”, dice. “Nadie que busque cambiar su situación debería ser castigado y obligado a regresar a ella. Pero los inmigrantes son personas vulnerables que a menudo descubren que defender nuestros derechos resulta en complicaciones que empeoran la situación”, explica. “Juro cambiar eso”.
Jesús Paizano es un estudiante que rara vez pasa por alto un detalle y puede enfrentarse a las personas más inteligentes de la habitación, incluso a personas tres veces mayores que él. Entonces, cuando se propone algo, va a por ello con confianza y no hay nada ni nadie en su camino que pueda detenerlo.
Quizás esa sea una cualidad que adquirió después de ver a su padre, un jugador bien conectado en el gobierno de Hugo Chávez, perdiera todo. “Mi papá trabajó con el gobierno de Hugo Chávez y luego con el presidente Nicolás Maduro. Pero tuvo un desacuerdo con Diosdado Cabello, quien también es uno de los más altos diplomáticos de Venezuela. Mi padre se negó a seguir órdenes arbitrarias y, en respuesta a eso, fue políticamente arruinado y destituido”.
Jesús fue testigo de primera mano del impacto que tuvo en su padre y toda su familia, ya que las normas de privilegio, paz, posición, posesiones y su sentido de seguridad les fueron arrebatados. Venezuela desde 2013, cuando Jesús tenía solo 12 años, descendió lentamente a una situación de extrema violencia política y desastre económico que ha resultado en una crisis humanitaria y un éxodo sin precedentes: más de 7 millones de personas han huido.
Desde niño, veía el mundo a través de ese prisma arrugado y, en su adolescencia, se dio cuenta de que sus posibilidades de éxito eran muy limitadas. Añade a eso su realización de que ser gay en una cultura muy cerrada y machista era otro golpe en su contra; de hecho, conoce a muchos jóvenes homosexuales que fueron víctimas de violencia homofóbica, algunos de los cuales se quitaron la vida o simplemente desaparecieron.
Determinado a salvarse a sí mismo, decidió huir. Jesús puso su mirada en Estados Unidos, convirtiéndose en uno de los más de 1 millón de solicitantes de asilo venezolanos del mundo. Por supuesto, eso significó despedirse de la familia y, aunque estuvo lleno de ansiedades no expresadas, la promesa de un futuro más brillante superó el dolor de la separación. Y, además, era joven y “nunca pensé en ello como una despedida”.
El viaje a la frontera de Estados Unidos cerca de San Diego no fue tan aterrador como cruzar realmente a Estados Unidos. Siendo pragmático, cuando vio a la policía, decidió entregarse de inmediato y comenzar a presentar su solicitud de asilo. Durante los siguientes seis meses, fue enviado de centro de detención a centro de detención. “La detención a veces daba miedo y me enfermé mucho y también tuve Covid, pero había algo en ello que era gratificante”, dijo. “Había otras personas gay y algunas personas trans y nos cuidábamos mutuamente”.
Finalmente, se conectó con un patrocinador en Los Ángeles que le envió un boleto a LAX. “Me recogieron y lo primero que hicimos fue ir a The Abbey y luego a la casa. Nunca había sentido un alivio tan grande en mi vida”.
Al establecerse en Estados Unidos, Jesús encontró un panorama muy diferente al de su tierra natal. La apertura de su identidad LGBTQ se destaca en marcado contraste con las limitaciones que enfrentó en casa. “En el camino, sin embargo, ha habido lecciones de civismo que fueron una sorpresa”. Jesús dice que hay una brecha peligrosa en la capacidad de un inmigrante para obtener justicia a través del sistema judicial ordinario. Él dice: “la diferencia entre los derechos que tiene un inmigrante y los de un ciudadano estadounidense crea una brecha que se puede usar para controlar o manipular e incluso explotar a las personas”, dice. “Los inmigrantes dudan en luchar por sus derechos legales cuando han sido agraviados o heridos e incluso cuando han sufrido agresiones o violencia en su contra”, dice. “La gente teme que de alguna manera pueda afectar su caso de inmigración”. Él aboga apasionadamente por una defensa más fuerte y acceso a un sistema que proteja y empodere a todos, independientemente de su estatus de ciudadanía.
“Yo soy un inmigrante, no un extraterrestre”, declara. “Bueno, tal vez soy un extraterrestre, pero no del tipo terrestre”, bromea. “Pero creo en la IGUALDAD”, dice refiriéndose a las diferencias en los derechos de recurso legal que tiene un inmigrante en comparación con un ciudadano estadounidense.
“Amo a este país y cuando me convierta en ciudadano estadounidense, lo honraré como un privilegio otorgado por uno de los pocos países donde la democracia aún sobrevive. Pero tiene que hacerlo mejor para proteger los derechos de los inmigrantes que ya están aquí”, dice. Jesús se niega a ser encasillado por suposiciones sociales.
Se ve a sí mismo no como un forastero, sino como un contribuyente, listo para enriquecer la vida estadounidense. “Un día espero tener hijos y quiero que tengan una vida libre de las cosas que experimenté en Venezuela”, dijo. Jesús cree en segundas oportunidades y no está limitado por dogmas religiosos ni moralizaciones; en cambio, desafía todo eso. “No creo en el cielo ni en el infierno. Nadie sabe la respuesta sobre si hay una vida después de la muerte”, dice. “Todo lo que sé es que todo tiene un comienzo y un final. Y me gustaría creer que después de que algo termina, hay un nuevo comienzo”.
(Foto de Jorge Barragán)
Hans Vompakerth es un joven gay de 23 años de Medellín, Colombia, y a pesar de ser indocumentado, dice que no tiene miedo de contar su historia.
“Hay miles de personas como yo y no les suceden cosas malas, así que ¿por qué debería guardarlo en secreto?”
Después de todo, no ha hecho nada malo, dado el poco acogedor ojo oficial de las autoridades de inmigración al llegar a los Estados Unidos.
“Hubo dos ocasiones en las que ingresé a los Estados Unidos cerca de Tijuana… La primera vez me devolvieron al lado mexicano de la frontera”, dice. Pasó un año y lo intentó de nuevo.
“Me capturaron y me procesaron como antes, pero esta vez, en lugar de devolverme al lado mexicano, me llevaron, a mí y a un grupo de personas, en un automóvil blanco del gobierno y nos dejaron en medio de la nada en el lado estadounidense. Nos dejaron buscando civilización”.
La determinación de Hans de venir a los Estados Unidos parece provenir de su respeto y admiración duraderos por su trabajadora madre. Son tan cercanos que la única persona que sabía que iba a salir de Colombia era ella. El resto de su familia estaba en la oscuridad hasta que él se instaló de manera segura en los Estados Unidos y su madre los informó.
“Lo hice por ella. Trabajó tan duro para mantener unida a la familia y supongo que, como el hijo mayor, quería hacerle la vida más fácil y proveer para ella, mis 3 hermanas y mi hermano menor”, dice.
Sin embargo, en marzo pasado, la familia sufrió una tragedia. Su hermano menor, de 20 años, dejó el hogar sin avisar. Después de unos días de búsqueda constante y preocupación, la familia fue informada de que su cuerpo había aparecido en una isla cercana.
“Me sentí impotente. No pude regresar ni hacer nada excepto ayudar con todos los gastos”, dijo con dolor. “Tuve que consolarme sabiendo que mis hermanas estaban allí para cuidar de ella mientras ella lloraba”. A pesar de las presiones familiares, en Estados Unidos, Hans dice que tiene un nuevo sentido de la vida que contrasta fuertemente con los oscuros desafíos que enfrentó en su tierra natal.
“Siento que soy mucho más respetado y aceptado por todos. Me siento mucho más resiliente y feliz, y eso me ha permitido superarlo todo. Cuando murió mi hermano, lloré trabajando más duro y usando el dinero para cubrir los gastos del funeral. Todos los días, pasaba horas en WhatsApp con mi mamá y todavía lo hago”.
Entonces, no fue la violencia y la homofobia lo que motivó a Hans a dejar Colombia. “Nunca fui víctima de discriminación o violencia en Colombia”, dice. “Huí de una situación donde había escasez de todo, sin recursos en general, ni siquiera suficiente comida. Vivía en constante tumulto económico, incluso mi propia salud se vio afectada. No había trabajos.
“Y si mi mamá y mi familia iban a sobrevivir”, dijo, “tenía que huir”. “No experimenté violencia ni homofobia hasta que puse un pie en México y tuve contacto con las autoridades de inmigración de Estados Unidos”, dijo. “Fueron horribles conmigo”.
Pero desde que llegó a Los Ángeles, Hans dice que no ha experimentado discriminación ni violencia. Aunque ha requerido persistencia y no ha sido fácil, Hans dice que su viaje de inmigración ha sido lo más importante que ha hecho en su vida. “Fue una decisión que lo cambió todo para mí y mi familia”.
Pero aún no ha logrado lo que llama su sueño americano, obtener estatus legal y vivir en este país sin temor a ser devuelto. Hans tiene una perspectiva muy positiva y una creencia en la bondad innata de las personas, aunque es muy consciente del lado oscuro. “Mudarme a este país”, declara, “ha cambiado mi vida. Vivir en Estados Unidos me ha ayudado a levantarme, a ser disciplinado, a ser sensible, a aprender más, a cuidarme más a mí mismo y a ayudar a todos los que me importan”.
(Foto de Jorge Barragán)
Laura Morales García nació en Durango, México y llegó a Los Ángeles a la temprana edad de 2 años, donde llegó con su familia indocumentada.
Ha pasado toda su vida defendiendo a los beneficiarios de DACA y es una de las principales expertas en el tema y una destacada defensora. Se graduó de Los Angeles High School y fue la primera en su familia en asistir a la universidad, obteniendo su título en Psicología Clínica.
García se dedica al servicio público y trabaja para educar a los estudiantes de secundaria sobre la comunidad LGBTQ+.
Es embajadora de AHF, representante de farmacias y enlace comunitario de AHF para la prevención y atención del VIH.
The event was sponsored by Los Angeles Blade, LOUD, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the office of LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, the office of LA County Supervisor Chair Lindsey Horvath and Equality California.
Denounce hate by calling (833) 866-4283 or 833-8-NO-HATE, callers can report anonymously Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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 Abby 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 Abby 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.
Events
Celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week with The Curve Foundation
This week’s events are hosted in collaboration with The Curve Foundation
Lesbian Visibility Week, which is running now to April 27, is a nationally recognized celebration created by The Curve Foundation to honor lesbians and sapphics and their accomplishments.
The events this week will be hosted by Cinnamon Rivera, a well-known and active voice in the queer, Latinx,community, and Alex Banx, a well-known community voice in the queer, Black community.
“I’m personally excited about our BIPOC Lesbian Speed Mingling event happening on Lesbian Visibility Week Friday,” said Banx. “The event sold out with more than a week to go, [so] the need was clearly there. A lot of people can be socially timid, so this is why we wanted to make it easy — take the pressure out. This isn’t just about dating, this is about creating sustainable, long-lasting connections; whether they be friends, lovers, business partners, or whatever else happens.”
On Thursday, LVW will celebrate with a Drag King takeover at Micky’s in West Hollywood. The event will be a collaboration between The Curve Foundation and Them Fatale, a drag king collective that is inclusive of performers who do not identify as cis men outside of drag.
The event will feature drag by Manny Oakley, Malcolm Xtasy, Jack Doff, Precious Julz, Anna Shevitz and will be hosted by Provvidenza.
On Friday, Lesbian Visibility Week will make its way through Long Beach. Adelita’s Revenge, a Latinx, queer-owned business, inside Viento y Agua, a Latinx and queer-owned coffee shop. They will be hosting the Lynx for Lez Speed Mingle night.
On Saturday, LVW will host two events across L.A. and Long Beach.
One will happen at KISO, DTLA’s newest queer bar. The event hosted by Cinnamon Rivera will feature a line-up of poets, DJ’s, vendors and art on display.
The event, which will happen from 4p.m. to 9p.m., will also feature live performances by Irene Díaz, a Chicana singer-songwriter from East Los Angeles who gained popularity for her timeless love songs. Nico Turner, a multi-instrumentalist and musician from Los Angeles, who’s known for hosting the infamous Gay Asstrology parties.
The exciting line-up of poets will feature Karla Lamb who’s known as VinylOwl on Instagram, host Cinnamon Rivera and Verónica Reyes, who’s known as EastLosAngelesPoet on IG.
That same day, LVW will also host the Queer Women in Sports Day panel at Watch Me Sports Bar at 3p.m.
The event is set to feature an exciting line-up of panelists such as Rachel Pearson, lead video editor and ESPN EQUAL Advisor for ESPN; Carmen Bona, president of business operations at Angel City Football Club; Evan Unrau, director of social and community impact at LA84; Julie Shaw, Ph.D., leadership and DEI consultant; and Jax D., owner of Watch Me! Sports Bar.
To learn more about this week’s events and find local, as well as national events, visit the website.
Events
Q Con 2025 taking place in West Hollywood, offering free admission
Reserve your free tickets at the Q Con website!
Q Con, SoCal’s only LGBTQ+ comic convention, is set to return Saturday, May 3, bringing in dozens of LGBTQ+ speakers, vendors, artists and community voices to their lineup.
“LGBTQIA+ people of all ages and backgrounds need to see themselves and their stories represented in the arts – to know they are okay, they are accepted and they are powerful. Q Con gives us the opportunity to do this – to raise queer voices in comic books and graphic novels, bring the community together and have a lot of fun at the same time,” said Ted Abenheim, president of Prism Comics.
Mark your calendars and start scheming up your queer cosplay outfits for a costume contest that celebrates the LGBTQ+ representation and visibility in one of the most queer-coded industries in media ahead of Pride month.
Prism Comics, the nonprofit organization championing LGBTQ+ representation and diversity in comic books, graphic novels and pop media, announced their 4th annual Q Con, happening in West Hollywood’s Plummer Park. The convention will take place in West Hollywood from 11AM to 6PM at Fiesta Hall.
The nonprofit established in 2003, is deemed the “LGBTQ+ Comics Central,” at San Diego Comic Con, WonderCon Anaheim, Los Angeles Comic Con and other conventions. Prism prides itself on providing a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community to unite over mutual passion, interest and love for comics, novels and more. This is the space where comic creators, readers, librarians, educators and families can come together and celebrate, discuss and enjoy the representation the community needs and deserves.
Find free tickets and more information regarding guest speakers, panels and vendors here.
Q Con is also currently seeking LGBTQ+ comic creators and businesses who are interested in setting up a table at the event. If interested in tabling or volunteering, email Ted Abenheim, President of Prism Comics at [email protected].
Events
City of WeHo to host Rainbow Key Awards
Celebration will honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ+ community
The City of West Hollywood and its LGBTQ+ Commission will host the annual Rainbow Key Awards to recognize nominees who have made outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.
This year’s Rainbow Key Awards Ceremony will be free and held in-person on Sunday, April 6, at 6PM at the city’s Council Chambers and Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
This year’s awards will honor the awardees who were selected by the LGBTQ+ Commission listed below.
- Dapper Dyke Vivian Escalante is a leader in lesbian activism who established Dykes on Bikes in West Hollywood and Long Beach. In a time of limited representation, her work toward the visibility and empowerment of the lesbian community stood out above others.
- Rebecca Gitlin Ph.D served as the first LGBTQ+ Services Specialist at the LA County Department of Mental Health’s Anti-Racism, Inclusion, Solidarity and Empowerment Division. She now serves as a clinical supervisor at the LACDMH Hollywood Mental Health Cooperative. Gitlin has been instrumental in ensuring that both identity and gender-affirming are included in all of the services provided by LACDMH.
- LZ Love is a legendary African American transfeminine singer who has entertained for decades with her blues, gospel, and dance music. She started her career at age 16 and served as a background vocalist for the great disco diva Sylvester. She has performed at Pride events across the nation and has performed at the City of West Hollywood’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.
- Brian Sonia-Wallace founded Pride Poets, the band of LGBTQ+ typewriter poets who have collectively written thousands of free custom poems at West Hollywood Pride events and beyond since 2019, giving the community a chance to have their stories of love, loss, and celebration honored through poetry. He served as West Hollywood’s 4th Poet Laureate from 2020-2023, creating space for hundreds of LGBTQ+ writers to express themselves and build community through the APLA Writers’ Workshop, The Mic @ Micky’s, and the West Hollywood Slam Team.
- Jackie Beat is a drag superstar who has been entertaining audiences across the U.S. and Europe for over three decades. Beat is known for her razor-sharp comedy and hysterical song parodies. Apart from her live tours, Beat has also worked in the film and television industry and has often used her talents to raise money for HIV and AIDS charities and other organizations supporting the LGBTQ+ community.The awards ceremony will be immediately followed by a reception and afterparty on the Respite Deck at the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center, adjacent to West Hollywood Library.
Additional information for this free event, including registration details, is available at the city’s website or by RSVP at Eventbrite. For those unable to attend, the event will also be live-streamed and recorded on the city’s WeHoTV channel on YouTube.
Events
Win tickets to share an evening with RuPaul in Los Angeles!
Global drag sensation RuPaul Charles personally invites you to a one-of-a-kind night filled with spiritual wisdom!
Mama Ru is coming to Los Angeles on March 18th, 2025 to the The Ricardo Montalban Theatre on his House of Hidden Meanings Book Tour, and we have the ticket hookup for you!
Head to our Instagram @LosAngelesBlade and send us a one minute or less video telling us why you just HAVE to see RuPaul for this evening of spilling the tea and spiritual wisdom.
Global drag sensation RuPaul Charles personally invites you to a one-of-a-kind night filled with spiritual wisdom! As always, it’ll be fabulous, but this time it’s raw and vulnerable. Celebrating his highly-anticipated memoir and guide to life, The House of Hidden Meanings, this is an intimate and unscripted exploration of the mind, body and soul, telling RuPaul’s extraordinary story that goes far beyond glamour and fame.
You’ve heard the phrase We’re all born naked, and the rest is drag,’ but this is RuPaul stripped bare. RuPaul offers more than just a memoir; it’s a manual for living, a personal philosophy waiting to be shared that explores chosen family, celebrating your individuality, and the fearless power of self-discovery.
The pop culture icon shares life lessons that will uplift your spirits and foster a sense of belonging – because if you don’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?
Get tickets here!
Arts & Entertainment
Bob the Drag Queen To Host the 13th Annual Queerties Awards in Los Angeles
The Award Show That Celebrates the Best in LGBTQ+ Entertainment and Pop Culture
The Los Angeles Blade will be on the scene as The Queerties Awards return for their 13th year, shining a spotlight on the most impactful moments in LGBTQ+ entertainment and culture. The big affair will take place on Tuesday, March 11, at The Avalon in Hollywood.
The event promises a night of celebration, recognition, and community. Non-local fans of Queerty can watch the awards on WOW Presents Plus starting March 18, joining the platform’s diverse library of LGBTQ+ content, which includes original series, World of Wonder-produced documentaries and the global Drag Race franchise.
The Queerties, produced by Queerty and its parent company Q.Digital, honor excellence across music, television, film, literature, and more. The awards uniquely focus on LGBTQ+ creators, tastemakers, and storytellers who often go unrecognized by mainstream award shows.
“The Queerties gives voice to the LGBTQ+ community,” said Scott Gatz, CEO of Q.Digital. “It’s the pop culture awards show where queer people honor the best of the best, voting for the talent and creatives who inspire and pave the way for the next generation of queer youth.”
Headlining this year’s ceremony will be the queen of entertainment, Bob the Drag Queen, known for winning RuPaul’s Drag Race, competing on The Traitors, hosting HBO’s We’re Here, and authoring the novel Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert. As usual, Bob brings charisma, humor and activism to the role, making them the perfect emcee for the evening.
“It’s important to devote more focus to LGBTQ+ artists and content due to the attacks coming from the current administration that attempt to not only minimize but essentially erase the existence of people,” said Bob the Drag Queen. “Which is not possible, but they’re trying to make people feel unacknowledged.”
Bob emphasizes the deeper significance of LGBTQ+ representation in media. “Engaging with queer content builds community. It does more than you could imagine,” they added. The Queerties stand as a testament to that mission, highlighting the creative achievements and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community.
This year’s Queerties includes an impressive nominee list, reflecting a groundbreaking year of LGBTQ+ representation and success. Check out the “Badass” category, which honors the year’s top LGBTQ+ newsmakers and includes pop sensation Chappell Roan and trans Latina filmmaker and actress Nava Mau, leading the nominations.
Representing the world of fashion, the “Style Icon” category celebrates individuals whose personal style transcends trends and makes a cultural impact. This year’s nominees include Emmy-winning actress Laverne Cox (Clean Slate) and visionary Filipino-American fashion designer Zaldy Goco, known for his avant-garde creations that have graced stages and red carpets worldwide.
The “Coming Out for Good” category, which recognizes individuals who shared powerful coming-out stories in 2025, features an inspirational lineup. This year’s nominees include chart-topping singer Khalid for his heartfelt public revelation, country star Maren Morris for her advocacy and visibility within the LGBTQ+ community, and Drag Race alum Detox, who continues to use their platform to champion queer causes.
Outstanding performances in film and television are also celebrated. Elliot Page earns a nomination in the “Film Performance” category for his role in Close to You, while Justice Smith is recognized for his work in the psychological thriller I Saw the TV Glow. In the television categories, Cooper Koch (Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story), Yasmin Finney (Heartstopper), and Aubrey Plaza (Agatha All Along) are honored for their dynamic and memorable performances. Film and television continue to bring our stories to the forefront.
The music world sees its own share of rising LGBTQ+ stars in the “Breakout Musical Artist” category. Young Miko, Joy Oladokun, and Drag Race alum Luxx Noir London are all vying for the title, each bringing their unique sounds and stories to the forefront of the industry.
This year’s Queerties also shine a spotlight on LGBTQ+ literature at a time when book bans and censorship efforts are on the rise. The “Best Queer Read” category includes American Teenager by Nico Lang, Rebel Girl by Kathleen Hanna, and The T in LGBT by Jamie Raines, all of which offer profound insights into queer identities and experiences.
The voting process is completely community-driven. Nominees are selected by Queerty’s editorial team, but the winners are chosen by the readers themselves, ensuring that the awards truly reflect the voices and opinions of the LGBTQ+ community.
As the entertainment landscape continues to evolve, the Queerties stand as a beacon of inclusivity and recognition. In a world where LGBTQ+ representation still faces significant challenges, the awards offer a moment to celebrate resilience, creativity, and the power of queer storytelling.
Don’t miss the 13th Annual Queerties Awards on March 11 at The Avalon in Hollywood, or catch the nationwide stream on WOW Presents Plus starting March 18. For more information, visit www.queerty.com/Queerties and subscribe to WOW Presents Plus at www.wowpresentsplus.com to explore their extensive library of LGBTQ+ content.
Arts & Entertainment
Murray Hill comes to Los Angeles for one night only
‘Murray Hill As Himself’ set to go down at The Lodge Room tonight at 7PM
Murray Hill stars in ‘Murray Hill As Himself,’ tonight in Los Angeles at The Lodge Room and in Palm Springs on Sunday, Feb. 23. Tickets are available through Hill’s website for $40 general admission, with an option for VIP tickets that include a meet and greet and special merch item.
Hill’s performance about almost making it in show biz, his chronic middle-aged crisis, showbiz trials and tribulations, failed love affairs, comebacks, accompanied by the swinging band Jordan Katz (Middle-Aged Dad Jam Band) & The Stiff Gimlets and LA burlesque star Jessabelle Thunder and singer-comedian Natasha Estrada.
“It’s the first time I’m bringing my full comedy show, with a band, to LA. It’s a real throwback show, kind of an homage to old-school Vegas legends like Shecky Greene, Totie Fields, Don Rickles, but it’s not an impersonation, it’s in my bones,” said Hill. “I must have been a Vegas lounge comedian in a previous life, because I don’t know why anybody would do this…you know, this is camp. This is humor that nobody does anymore–but I do.”
Hill says tonight’s show will turn heads as Jessabelle Thunder who has headlined many festivals, performed with Miss Dita Von Teese herself as part of her Strip Strip Hooray show and her Von Follies Show, and was featured on television shows–to name a few–will make an appearance.
Hill says that this performance is to take up space as trans people and bring positive light to the marginalized identity.
“I am touring so trans people continue to be out there to take up space and to be a positive light, even to the haters. People are being fed fear and hatred, and they have no idea what’s what. The real issue is, because they don’t know trans people. They don’t sit with them. They’re not in their families. They’re so removed from an actual person that has a heart, has feelings, is somebody’s kid, somebody’s neighbor, somebody’s parent,” said Hill.
“I’m going to continue, through my act and my persona, to show the humanity of not just trans people but of queer people, of all people. That’s something that my show, and even [the characters] I play on TV have; they’re about heart and humanity and laughter. If you have those things happening, it’s really hard to hate at the same time.”
Hill is an NYC-based legend, comedian, MC, international entertainer, TV host and historical figure in the world of Drag. Hill is best known as a drag performer, but also for his most recent role in the HBO TV series Somebody Somewhere. Hill’s breakout role on the Bridget Everett-led dramedy series, is as Fred Rococo, who is directly inspired by Hill. All three seasons are now available on Max.
Hill is now on his Big Mini Murray West Coast Tour, stopping first in Los Angeles, then Palm Springs and finally, Las Vegas.
Catch Hill’s larger-than-life personality on stage in Los Angeles tonight! Hill will also soon be releasing his new book Showbiz! My Life as a Middle-Aged Man, which will chronicle the life and origins of the beloved drag icon that we have come to know as Murray Hill.
Events
LGBTQ+ community will gather to celebrate life of beloved publisher
Join us for a celebration in honor of Troy Masters, founder and publisher of Los Angeles Blade
On Monday, Feb. 10 from 7pm to 9pm, friends and colleagues of Troy Masters will gather at The Abbey in West Hollywood to celebrate his life and legacy as founder of the Los Angeles Blade.
Masters was a resident of WeHo and he was a deeply respected and well-known person for his work in the LGBTQ+ community and coverage of queer issues in Los Angeles and New York City. In the years he was a journalist, he built a network of people that truly stood behind the work he felt passionately about.
The celebration will feature guest speakers who worked closely with Masters s Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath, senior contributing writer for the LA Blade Karen Ocamb, CEO of the Trans Latin@ Coalition Bamby Salcedo and co-owner of the Washington Blade Kevin Naff.
Master’s work and legacy go as far back as the late 1980s where he got his first taste of activism working as an ad representative for the gay and lesbian activism publication, Outweek.
According to the obituary written by his close colleague Ocamb, the publication only lasted 18 months before founder, record producer and ACT UP supporter Bill Chafin passed away due to AIDS. The magazine was the first glossy gay and lesbian magazine published in New York City featuring news, culture, and events during a time where the AIDS Second Wave was peaking and Masters felt like he had to step in to speak up for the issues that were not only affecting his community, but also contributing to a higher death toll during the epidemic.
He successfully launched the bi-weekly newspaper Lesbian and Gay New York, which ran from 1994 to 2002 and then re-launched it as Gay City News. After many other career moves and a move across the country to Los Angeles in 2015, he found himself at a work place that included voices who were openly supportive of Trump and his policies.
This gave him the kick he needed and he gathered the tools to establish what is now the Los Angeles Blade, SoCal’s LGBTQ+ News Source. In short, Masters was a caring advocate for his communities and his tireless work brought together many LGBTQ+ community members.
Now is the time to celebrate not only his life-worth of accomplishments, but to honor and more importantly, carry on his legacy.
The Abbey will be providing small bites and the Trans Corus of L.A will honor Masters with a performance.
Please join us on Monday, Feb. 10 from 7pm to 9pm to honor Troy Masters. RSVP at the Eventbrite link here.
Community Services - PSA
Heal in community at these upcoming mutual aid events
These upcoming events will donate proceeds to fire relief funds and directly impacted community members
If you are in need of resources, services or just a distraction from the onslaught of devastating news, we’ve compiled a list of upcoming events and organizers who are helping heal the community.
Stud Country will be hosting an event at Club Bahia on Jan. 20, where they will make matched donations for dance lessons at 8:30 pm and 10 pm, in financial support of those affected by the LA fires. Stud Country is an event organizing brand aimed at preserving and celebrating the legacy of queer dance spaces and honoring the rich history of LGBTQ+ cowboy culture. They host regular events and dance lessons across San Francisco, New York City and Los Angeles.
Bar Flores LA will be hosting their weekly event, The World Is Our Oyster this Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7 pm, geared at uniting the queer community through drag, dancing, DJ sets, tarot readings and eating oysters. On their Instagram post, they stated that a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the California fire relief efforts.
BabyGay, a nonprofit aimed at building inclusive community spaces, issued a statement through their newsletter saying that they had to evacuate from their home during the peak of the fires, unsure if they would ever be able to return.
“In times of crisis like this, our strength lies in our unity and ability to support one another,” said the statement.
BabyGay LA is hosting a LA Queer Events Coalition at Center Silverlake on Jan. 25 from 1pm to 3 pm. The event will be moderated by Carla Ibarra from the LA Civil Rights Department and hosted by Chanel and The Circus, as well as Miss Marquez from Empowerment in Heels. Together, they will guide the community through an afternoon focused on support and immediate assistance. They will also be offering support from on-site therapists by the Open Space Therapy Collective, grounding yoga led by With Love Projects, direct access to essential resources and services, and more.
Trans Dudes of LA, Yes Ma’am Club, Whxremones LA and The Gay Agenda LA are co-hosting a benefit fund called Back On Our Feet, at Sassafras Salon on Jan. 25 from 7 pm to 1am. On their Instagram, they posted that ‘100% of the sales will be donated to the organizations supporting victims of the current fires in Los Angeles.’The suggested donation is $5 for tickets that can be purchased through Eventbrite. According to their post, the night will feature drag, DJs and dancing.
Butchona will be bringing back their event to Little Joy Cocktails in Echo Park on Jan. 26 from 4 pm to 9 pm, featuring the OG DJ’s that brought this event to the queer Latin American community of LA, playing corridos, quebraditas, banda and more. They will also be featuring special guest DJ Todo Trankiloski, who’s part of the Chulita Vinyl Club – a DJ group who plays vinyl sets and recently celebrated 10 years of building their brand and QTBIPOC support system. Though the event is always free, they will be accepting donations for 2 families directly impacted by the Eaton Canyon fire, as well as CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, supporting the immigrant communities of LA.
Mariposx Healing will lead a Somatic Soothing Zoom event in collaboration with Liberatory Wellness Network and Pat.Radical.Therapist, for people affected by the L.A fires on Jan. 28 at 6pm.
“This session is for people affected by the Los Angeles fires. Azul of Mariposx Healing will hold space for expression of emotions through somatic practices, movement, chanting and drum medicine,” reads the IG post.
Perverse4Verse will host their next event on Jan. 30 at the Heavy Manners Library, with a $10 suggested donation and all proceeds going toward a fire relief fund for the community. The theme of the event is collective healing, as they will be featuring community organizers and poets who will be gathering to celebrate leather love and collective care through poetry, togetherness and education. This event is hosted by Karla Lamb, a well-known community organizer in queer literary spaces.
Butch Monthly LA is hosting a donation-based event on Jan. 31, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Rediscover Center Mid City. They will be hosting a Zine-making night in collaboration with Rebuild, to fundraise for LA Fire relief which will be ‘open to butches and those who love them,’ according to their IG post.
Lesbian Goth Night postponed their monthly event set for Saturday Jan. 11, in light of the fires and devastation felt by many community members and their loved ones. They will now be holding the event on Feb. 7 at 9:30 pm to celebrate Valentine’s Day, honoring the tickets from January’s cancelled event and opening up sales to welcome more people.
“We understand that the weeks have been heavy, as we are too still processing the devastation surrounding the fires,” reads an Instagram post by Lesbian Goth Night. “We were very much looking forward to our January event and seeing all the new and familiar faces\, but throwing the event during that time didn’t feel right on many levels.
Events
Queer Latin Dance LA celebrates decade of inclusive lessons
How this small dance class turned into a decade-long organization
Queer Latin Dance L.A. hosted their Holiday Social on Saturday, celebrating their 10-year anniversary. Beginner and experienced dancers were welcomed to the night-long party that went from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The evening featured music by D.J. K Bunny and special performances.
Arlene Santos, one of the cofounders of Queer Latin Dance L.A., said the group started when a friend who had visited Santos’ own studio invited her to teach at a meetup in North Hollywood. Through word of mouth, about 80 people showed up to the first meetup of what they called a ‘same-sex dance class.’ Chairs and tables had to be shuffled around to make space for dancing in the small, smoky dive bar.
Santos told CALÓ News that people had driven to North Hollywood all the way from Diamond Bar and Orange County. When she suggested salsa studios closer to those travelers, they told her they didn’t feel welcome in other dance spaces. One of the reasons was that gender was more strictly enforced; attending men didn’t want to dance with other men and women weren’t welcome to try and lead. Same-sex dancing couples received uncomfortable stares from others and teachers used unnecessarily gendered language to refer to class members.
“That’s something that I was guilty of 20 years ago when I was teaching,” Santos said. “I’d say, ‘okay, take the ladies and rotate.’ And now it’s something I would never even dream of saying because it doesn’t even make sense to me anymore. It’s not about ladies and gentlemen, [dancing] is about leaders and followers.”
The queer-specific dance scene has grown over the past 10 years, according to Santos, who said Queer Latin Dance L.A. cross-promotes with other groups and sends students with different schedules to places that are a better fit. The company has grown in their own ways as well. Now, a few former students have become instructors who lead the group’s very own competitive dance team.
Santos said she’s hopeful about the years to come.
“I just want the scene to keep growing and for these spaces to be around so that anyone can come and dance and feel like they’re in a safe space,” she said.
Saturday night featured a salsa class at 8 p.m., bachata lesson at 8:40 p.m., and dance performances at 10 p.m. more information can be found on their site
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