PUBLISHER’S NOTE:
Yes on Proposition 3 and Los Angeles Blade will present an urgent Town Hall on October 28 from 7:00 PM at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 7501 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046. For more information or to RSVP, click here.

As California voters prepare for the Election Day ballot, they have a critical opportunity to address a potentially dangerous inconsistency in the state’s constitution regarding the rights of same-sex couples to marry.

Think of it as a firewall against a potential 2nd Trump administration and Supreme Court effort to overturn same-sex marriage.

Proposition 3, the Right to Marry and Repeal Proposition 8 Amendment, seeks to remove outdated language from the Prop 8 era, a ballot initiative that successfully defined marriage as solely between a man and a woman. 

Although federal court rulings have rendered this language unenforceable, it has lingered in California’s constitution since 2008.

Proposition 3 would not only eliminate this vestigial language but also establish a constitutional right to marriage regardless of gender or race.

The history of Prop 8 is a complex and contentious chapter in California’s past. Passed in the 2008 state election, Prop 8 effectively banned same-sex marriage, following a California Supreme Court ruling that had declared a previous ban (Proposition 22 from 2000) unconstitutional. Prop 8 added language to the state constitution stating that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

The passage of Prop 8 shocked many who viewed California as a bastion of progressive values, highlighting a divide within the state and igniting intense debate and legal battles. Religious organizations, particularly the Roman Catholic Church and the now somewhat repentant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, played significant roles in supporting Prop 8, with the LDS Church notably contributing more than $20 million to the campaign and mobilizing volunteers for door-to-door canvassing.

The legal journey of Prop 8 has been long and complex. Initially upheld by the California Supreme Court in 2009, it was later challenged in federal court. In August 2010, Chief Judge Vaughn Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled Prop 8 unconstitutional under both the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the 14th Amendment. This decision was upheld by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2012, albeit on narrower grounds.

The case ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court in “Hollingsworth v. Perry” (2013). However, rather than ruling on the merits of same-sex marriage, the Court decided that the proponents of Prop 8 lacked legal standing to defend the law in federal court. This effectively upheld Walker’s 2010 ruling, paving the way for the resumption of same-sex marriages in California.

The uncertain landscape of LGBTQ+ rights

The current Proposition 3 arises from recent concerns about the stability of LGBTQ+ rights at the federal level. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested reconsidering other precedents, including the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. This potential threat prompted California legislators to act proactively to safeguard marriage equality at the state level.

Moreover, 2024 has seen a surge of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the nation and in Congress. “Extremist lawmakers in Congress failed in their hateful attempts to add anti-LGBTQ+ provisions to must-pass spending bills. These measures would have restricted medically necessary health care for transgender people, allowed taxpayer-funded discrimination against married same-sex couples, and further stigmatized the LGBTQ+ community,” said a spokesperson from Equality California.

Strong bipartisan negotiations led to the removal of 51 of 52 anti-LGBTQ+ riders, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Congressional Equality Caucus and the relentless advocacy of LGBTQ+ organizations. Speaker Mike Johnson — considered the most anti-LGBTQ+ speaker in history — attempted to slow the appropriations process with these “poison pill” amendments, leading the country to the brink of a government shutdown multiple times. 

Despite his failures, Johnson is attempting to claim victory by highlighting a limited provision that prohibits the flying of Pride flags on embassy buildings, which imposes no limits on other displays of the flag. “While we are disappointed in the passage of this provision, it is important to consider it in the context of the overwhelming defeat of other measures. The Speaker’s attempt to use this as a symbol of victory is as laughable as his dysfunctional term as Speaker has been,” the spokesperson added.

The fragility of rights

The overturning of Roe v. Wade has sent shockwaves through the legal community, particularly among LGBTQ+ advocates. The decision raised alarms about the vulnerability of other civil rights protections, including marriage equality. Legal experts are now grappling with unprecedented questions about how to secure these rights amid a shifting judicial landscape.

The fragility of unenumerated rights — those not explicitly written in the Constitution but granted through Supreme Court interpretation — has become increasingly apparent. Marriage equality, like abortion rights, falls into this category and has been upheld through the 14th Amendment’s due process clause. However, Thomas’s opinion in the Dobbs case hints at a willingness to reexamine these precedents.

A significant concern for marriage equality advocates is the idea that rights relying on due process must be “deeply rooted in this nation’s history and tradition.” Since nationwide marriage equality is only seven years old, it lacks the historical foundation that might protect it from future challenges.

The patchwork possibility

If Obergefell were overturned, the U.S. could revert to a patchwork of marriage laws reminiscent of the pre-2015 era. According to the Movement Advancement Project, as many as 32 states could potentially revert to banning same-sex marriages. This scenario would create a stark divide across the country, with some states recognizing LGBTQ+ marriages while others outlaw them.

Such a reversion would have far-reaching implications for hundreds of thousands of couples who have married since Obergefell. While it’s unlikely that existing marriages would be invalidated, the legal status of these unions could become uncertain. This potential outcome underscores the urgency of enshrining marriage equality in state constitutions and laws.

The challenge of codification

While some lawmakers have expressed interest in codifying marriage equality at the federal level, legal experts are divided on whether Congress has that authority. Traditionally, marriage laws have fallen under state jurisdiction, complicating efforts to establish federal protections.

This uncertainty adds pressure to state-level efforts to protect marriage equality. In states with existing bans, securing marriage rights would require constitutional amendments or ballot measures, necessitating extensive public education campaigns and grassroots organizing.

The importance of proactive constitutional change

Despite California’s progressive reputation, the state constitution still contains language that could be used to restrict same-sex marriages if federal protections were overturned. This highlights the importance of Prop 3.

Currently, 35 states maintain constitutional or statutory bans on same-sex marriage. Although these bans are unenforceable due to the Obergefell decision, they could be reactivated if the Supreme Court were to overturn that ruling. California, despite its forward-thinking values, is among these states due to the lingering effects of Prop 8.

Without the passage of Prop 3, California could face a situation where existing same-sex marriages remain valid, but new marriages could be denied. This potential legal limbo underscores the urgency of updating the state constitution to explicitly protect marriage equality.

By passing Prop 3, California would not only eliminate discriminatory language from its constitution but also create a robust state-level protection for same-sex marriages. This proactive approach would ensure that, regardless of future federal court decisions, the right to marry would remain secure for all Californians.

The path forward

The journey to this point reflects a remarkable shift in public opinion. In 1996, 68 percent of Americans opposed legalizing same-sex marriage. By 2023, that figure had flipped, with 71 percent supporting marriage equality. This change crosses party lines, with a majority of Republicans now in favor. The trend is particularly strong among younger voters, indicating a generational shift toward greater acceptance and equality.

The importance of Prop 3 extends beyond its practical effects. While same-sex marriages are of course recognized in California, enshrining this right in the state constitution provides an additional layer of protection against potential future challenges. Moreover, it represents a formal acknowledgment of past mistakes and a clear statement of California’s values of equality and inclusion.

Critics of Prop 3 have raised concerns about its potential to open doors for challenges to laws against polygamy or underage marriages. However, these arguments are misleading. Constitutional rights are not absolute and can be limited by compelling state interests, as seen with other fundamental rights like freedom of speech.

This situation highlights the ongoing nature of the struggle for equal rights and the importance of vigilance in protecting hard-won freedoms. Prop 3 represents an opportunity for California to lead by example, demonstrating how states can take concrete steps to safeguard the rights of their LGBTQ+ citizens in an uncertain legal landscape.

As the November election approaches, California voters can align the state’s constitution with the prevailing values of equality and inclusivity. By voting yes on Prop 3, Californians can eliminate the last remnants of discrimination from their constitution and send a clear message that bigotry has no place in California’s fundamental laws.

In a time when LGBTQ+ rights face renewed challenges across the nation, California has the chance to reaffirm its status as a progressive leader and to correct a long-standing injustice in its constitution. 

Prop 3 is not just about changing words in a document; it’s about enshrining the principle that love and commitment deserve equal recognition under the law, regardless of who you are or whom you love.

APLA Health will celebrate its 40th anniversary this Sunday at West Hollywood Park, by kicking off the world’s first and oldest AIDS walk with a special appearance by Salina Estitties, live entertainment, and speeches.

APLA Health, which was formerly known as AIDS Project Los Angeles, serves the underserved LGBTQ+ communities of Los Angeles by providing them with resources. 

“We are steadfast in our efforts to end the HIV epidemic in our lifetime. Through the use of tools like PrEP and PEP, the science of ‘undetectable equals intransmissible,’ and our working to ensure broad access to LGTBQ+ empowering healthcare, we can make a real step forward in the fight to end this disease,” said APLA Health’s chief executive officer, Craig E. Thompson. 

For 40 years, APLA Health has spearheaded programs, facilitated healthcare check-ups and provided other essential services to nearly 20,000 members of the LGBTQ+ community annually in Los Angeles, regardless of their ability to pay. 

APLA Health provides LGBTQ+ primary care, dental care, behavioral healthcare, HIV specialty care, and other support services for housing and nutritional needs.

The AIDS Walk will begin at 10AM and registrations are open for teams and solo walkers. More information can be found on the APLA Health’s website.  

The California Freedom to Read Act will now require public libraries to adopt a written and publicly available policy to forbid a governing body from banning the circulation of materials because of the content in those materials. 

The chaptered bill forbids public libraries that receive their funding from the state, from banning books or other materials on account of the topics, ideas, views or opinions in them. The public libraries can no longer ban books in a way that discriminates against race, disability, political affiliation, socioeconomic status, gender identity or sexual orientation. 

The bill will also now require state-funded public libraries across all cities – including charter cities – to develop and publicly implement a collection development policy, which now includes how the public can challenge library materials. 

The bill was authored by Assembly member Al Muratsuchi and co-authored by Assembly member’s Dawn Addis, and Chris Ward, as well as State Senators Dave Min and Susan Talamantes Eggman.  

“Unfortunately, there is a growing movement to ban books nationwide, and this bill will ensure that Californians have access to books that offer diverse perspectives,” said Assembly member Muratsuchi. “Those diverse perspectives include books containing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQ and communities of color.”

According to the American Library Association, the number of reports challenging the circulation of books rose to 65 percent from 2022 to 2023, reaching the highest level recorded by the ALA. 

Book titles containing subject matter on LGBTQ+ and communities of color made up 47 percent of reported targeted censorship attempts. 

“Learning and engaging with diverse ideas is foundational to any healthy democracy,” said the ACLU California Action’s legislative advocate, Cynthia Valencia. “The recent call by some to limit access to books does more than suppress the subject matter – it also disregards the lived experiences and identities of authors and readers.” 

On Saturday, Equality California’s Los Angeles Equality Awards brought in Ru Paul’s Drag Race alum Sasha Colby, to host their 25th anniversary celebration and honor award winners Julian Breece, director of Rustin, and Greg Sarris, Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. 

U.S Senator Alex Padilla, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and California State Superintendent for Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, spoke at the event, urging for more visibility and attention to the bills, measures and propositions that affect LGBTQ+ rights currently on the November ballot.  

The civil rights organization recognized Breece with this year’s Equality Visibility Award and Sarris, with the Community Leadership Award. 

The civil rights organization also reached a milestone in their fundraising efforts by raising $100,000 in under a minute at Saturday’s awards celebration. Though the goal of raising $250,000 wasn’t met, they did fundraise over $200,000 during the awards ceremony. 

“For a quarter of a century, we have strived to create a world where every LGBTQ+ person can live freely and authentically,” said Equality California executive director Tony Hoang. “We are thrilled to celebrate the Los Angeles Equality Awards with steadfast LGBTQ+ community leaders and visionaries, as we celebrate this significant milestone and the many victories we have accomplished to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ Californians.”

Equality California has been at the forefront of litigation battles and milestone achievements for the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights and protections in the California Constitution now for 25 years. 

EQCA also celebrated that Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed six of the bills that the organization prioritized in this Legislative Session. 

Newsom signed AB 2258, which now increases access to preventative care and requires health plans to cover STI screenings for PrEP, and SB 729, which now requires large group health plans to cover fertility and IVF treatments. Newsom also signed SB 957 into law, which now ensures that the California Dept. of Public Health collects complete data on sexual orientation, gender identity and variations in sex characteristics or intersex status. 

SB 990 introduced by State Senator Steve Padilla, was signed into law, now requiring California to update the State Emergency Plan to include LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and best practices. 

SB 1333 was also signed by Newsom in the latest Legislative Session, now allowing confidential data sharing for HIV and other reportable diseases to ensure more effective responses during public health emergencies. 

The sixth and final bill recently signed by Newsom is SB 1491, which now requires public colleges and universities to adopt and publish policies on harassment and designate a confidential employee to address the needs of LGBTQ+ students and staff. 

These signatures follow the signature of AB 1955 in July and the immediate backlash from far-right extremists like Elon Musk, who then officially stated that he was pulling his companies out of California and into Texas. 

The next award ceremony will be held at the Riviera Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Blaire Fleming is at the center of a national debate over transgender athletes joining gendered sports at the collegiate level, after her team won fourth match by account of forfeiture.

Fleming made headlines earlier this year as her former roommate and team co-captain, Brooke Slusser, filed a class-action lawsuit against her and the National Collegiate Athletics Association. Slusser took to the Independent Council on Women’s Sports to file the class action lawsuit along with other cisgender athletes.

They claim that allowing Fleming and other transfemme athletes compete in women’s sports is in violation of Title IX, which does not permit trans athletes to compete against biological women, or use women’s restrooms. 

The move to forfeit on account of a trans athlete, sparked controversy and driving the three other universities to forfeit in the recent weeks.

San Jose State responded to the latest forfeiture by stating that outing Fleming would have violated school policy. 

The NCAA stated that it will “continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports and ensure fair competition for all student-athletes in all NCAA championships.”

The controversy gained more traction as cisgender, far-right, voices joined the conversation. 

Riley Gaines, a former competitive swimmer who came in fifth place in a 200-yard NCAA freestyle championship – tying with trans athlete Lia Thomas – took to X to speak on the issue and openly express her transphobia.

In the post, Gaines repeatedly misgenders Fleming, also adding that it is ‘unfair and dangerous,’ to allow transfemme athletes to compete in women’s sports. 

Gaines is one of many far-right athletes who have either tied or lost a match to a trans athlete, then made it their mission to cast trans athletes out of women’s sports. 

Equality California’s Executive Director released a statement regarding the issue.

“Equality California stands with San Jose State University and appreciates their strong support for their student athletes. All students deserve a safe and inclusive environment where they can thrive without fear or anxiety while being themselves,” said executive director Tony Hoang. 

The San Jose State women’s volleyball team is scheduled to go against San Diego State on Oct 10.

Los Angeles Blade will continue to cover the issue as the story develops.

The Unique Women’s Coalition, Equality California and FLUX, a national division of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, will host their second annual voter education town hall today at the Connie Norman Transgender Empowerment Center in Los Angeles from 7PM to 9PM tonight. 

The organizations will present and discuss ballot propositions and measures that will appear on the November ballot and that affect the LGBTQ+ community in this part of the town hall series titled ‘The Issues.’  

“The trans and nonbinary community is taking its seat at the table, and we are taking the time and space to be informed and prepare the voter base,” said Queen Victoria Ortega, international president of FLUX.

The town hall will feature conversations through a Q&A followed by a reception for program participants, organizational partners and LGBTQ+ city and county officials. 

There will later be a third town hall before the election and The Connie Norman Transgender Empowerment Center will also become a voting location for anyone who feels like they need a safe space to vote, regardless of what voting district they are a part of. 

“Our community is really asking for a place to talk about what all of this actually means because although we live in a blue sphere, housing and other forms of discrimination are still a very real threat,” said Scottie Jeanette Madden, director of advocacy at The Connie Norman Transgender Empowerment Center. 

The first LGBTQ+Ñ Literary Festival in Spanish – the first of its kind – will kick-off six days of panels, short film screenings, book signings, performances and a photo exhibit starting today, at different locations across Los Angeles. 

The LGBTQ+Ñ Literary Festival will bring together Spanish-speaking and Latin American writers who explore and celebrate a variety of themes in their work, including sexual diversity and perspectives on identity. 

“Feminist culture and LGBTQ+ culture have been the movements that have most transformed modern societies in recent decades, and therefore deserve special attention,” said Luisgé Martín, director of Instituto Cervantes of Los Ángeles. “There was no stable forum that brought together creators from across the Spanish-speaking world, which is why we have organized this literary festival. It aims to serve as a framework for reflection and a meeting point for LGBTQ+ writers.” 

The festival will bring together authors, readers, academics and activists, to discuss their experiences and share perspectives about the LGBTQ+ community and its academic intersections. 

The first stop for the literary festival is at the Instituto Cervantes of Los Ángeles, from 7 PM to 9 PM on Tuesday, to screen short films that are part of FanCineQueer. 

The festival will feature authors like Myriam Gurba Serrano, Alejandro Córdova “Taylor”, Felipe J. Garcia, Boris Izaguirre, Nando López, María Mínguez Arias, Felipe Restrepo Pombo, Claudia Salazar Jiménez, Pablo Simonetti, and Gabriela Wiener. 

There will also be a photo exhibit and featured photographers such as Gonza Gallego and Liliana Hueso. 

The festival will take place at multiple venues including the Instituto Cervantes of Los Ángeles, The Student Union at Los Angeles City College and Circus of Books. 

For more information on the event visit the Instagram page for Instituto Cervantes of Los Ángeles. 

The Latino Equality Alliance hosted its annual fundraiser on Saturday at Del Records in Bell Gardens as their quinceañera-themed Purple Lily Awards raises nearly $100,000 to create safe spaces for Latin American LGBTQ+ youth and their families. 

This year, LEA honored co-founder Gutiérrez Arámbula, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 Contestant, Salina Estitties, and the Liberty Hill Foundation. 

“The Latino Equality Alliance’s history and survival underscores the importance of providing critical resources and positive support for LGBTQ+ youth struggling to find a safe space,” said founder and executive director Eddie Martinez. “We are proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Latinx community for 15 years and are excited about the promising future ahead of us.”

LEA’s mission with this event, is also to bring attention to Proposition 3 – which puts same-sex marriage on the November ballot. 

Proposition 3 seeks to reaffirm the right to same-sex marriage. 

This proposition shines light on the California Constitution that still to this day upholds language that does not include gender non-conforming people or queer and trans people in the protections for marriage equality. 

The CA Constitution says ‘only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California,’ which also only upholds protections and recognition for same-race couples, excluding interracial families, as well as LGBTQ+ families. 

That language — while still on the books — is effectively void after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 allowed same-sex marriage to resume in California, and the high court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in a historic 2015 decision. 

Upholding protections for marriage equality is important to LEA because California has the largest LGBTQ+ population in the United States. 

The grassroots organization is celebrating continued growth in their progress toward equality and celebrating the achievements of the Latin American community members that are at the forefront of creating safe spaces in Boyle Heights and beyond. 

LEA was the first community and school LGBTQ youth civic policy advocacy and empowerment program to lower dropout rates, bullying and increase graduation rates.

The City of West Hollywood has officially announced the dates for WeHo Pride Weekend 2025, following a prestigious Emmy Award win for the 2024 event coverage. The upcoming celebration is scheduled to take place from Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1, 2025, centered around West Hollywood Park at 647 N. San Vicente Blvd.

KTLA5 recently won an Emmy Award in the category of Live Special Events — News Coverage for their broadcast of the WeHo Pride Parade. The award was presented by actress Marlee Matlin at the 76th LA Area Emmy Awards ceremony. This recognition highlights the growing significance and visibility of WeHo Pride on a regional scale.

Executive Producers Marcus Smith, Wendy Burch, and Jacob Burch accepted the award with the KTLA5 team. In his acceptance speech, Jacob Burch emphasized the importance of LGBTQ representation and authenticity, stating, “To win this for something that celebrates being your true authentic self unapologetically with pride is just the sweetest serendipity and proves that it does get better.”

Jeff Consoletti, founder and CEO of JJLA, the production company that designs and executes WeHo Pride is pictured here hold the Emmy with KTLA Executive Producer Marcus Smith. (Photo courtesy of Consoletti’s Instagram account)

Key events planned for WeHo Pride Weekend 2025 include:

1. Free Friday Night at OUTLOUD
2. Street Fair
3. Women’s Freedom Festival
4. Annual Dyke March
5. WeHo Pride Parade
6. OUTLOUD at WeHo Pride music festival

Detailed information about WeHo Pride Weekend 2025 and the accompanying WeHo Pride Arts Festival will be released in the coming months. Updates will be posted on www.wehopride.com. Interested parties can also follow @wehopride on Instagram and Facebook for the latest information.

WeHo is a city of outsized influence. It enjoys worldwide recognition and is home to the “Rainbow District” along Santa Monica Boulevard, known for a robust LGBTQ community, its LGBTQ clubs, restaurants, and shops.

• Over 40% of West Hollywood residents identify as LGBTQ.
• Four out of five West Hollywood City Council members are openly LGBTQ.
• Pride events have been held in the area since 1979, predating the city’s incorporation.
• The city is diverse, with the largest ethnic groups being white (non-Hispanic) (70.3 percent), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (6.35 percent), and white (Hispanic) (5.31 percent.)
• 91.9 percent of residents are U.S. citizens.
• The average age of WeHo residents is 55.

West Hollywood consistently tops lists of “most LGBTQ friendly cities” in the nation. The city’s embrace of Pride is part of its advocacy for nearly four decades for measures that support LGBTQ people.

In 2022, the city launched WeHo Pride after organizers of LA Pride, Christopher Street West (a 501 C3) moved that event to Hollywood Boulevard and other locations around Los Angeles.

Many people, however, feel a consolidation of the two events is necessary, particularly given the changes in sponsorship interest and stress of funding participation in two back to back major Pride events. LA Pride and WeHo Pride are held within days of one another.

Ysabel Jurado, 34, a lifelong community member of Highland Park, and openly out candidate, is running against current Councilmember Kevin De Leon for Council District 14, the most powerful city council in Los Angeles County. 

Her campaign slogan is ‘Ysabel For The Community.’

Earlier this year, Jurado made history in the primary, using her perspective as a historically underrepresented person in the hopes of bringing new leadership to the district after De Leon was called to resign in 2022, following a scandal. 

The live voting results earlier this year highlighted Ysabel Jurado at 24.52%, with 8,618 votes, while De Leon fell behind by nearly 400 votes, with 23.39% in the primary. 

Jurado is a tenants rights lawyer and housing justice advocate from Highland Park who has built her reputation in the community with support from social activist Dolores Huerta,  L.A. City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis. 

“I’m the daughter of undocumented immigrants, a public transit rider, a former teen mom, and a working class Angeleno who has navigated the challenges of poverty. I have held the line on countless strikes and defended truck drivers against the same wage theft my father faced,” said Jurado in her candidate statement.  

De Leon secured the second spot and will go head-to-head against Jurado in November. Jurado rose to the top of the polls, while her opponents spent more money on their campaigns, including De Leon. Miguel Santiago raised the most money for his campaign and also spent the most to secure support. De Leon came in second with both money spent and money raised. While Jurado came in fourth in the amount of money spent and raised for her campaign. 

Jurado is running to become the first queer, Filipina to represent CD-14. Among the list of issues she aims to tackle while in office are; homelessness, climate action, safer streets and economic justice that uplifts small businesses. 

“I will bring the institutional knowledge of a legal housing expert and the lived experience of a queer, immigrant-raised, working class, woman of color – a battle-tested representative for and from the community,” said Jurado. 

Though this is her first time running for office, she has already made it as far as political pioneer Gloria Molina in 2015. 

De Leon might be facing an uphill climb after he was caught saying homophobic, racist and anti-sematic remarks in a leaked audio recording that rocked his political career. Even President Joe Biden called for his resignation. 

The conversation that rocked L.A politics is said to have started because of redistricting plans and gerrymandering. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, De Leon had his hopes set on running for mayor of Los Angeles. Since the audio was leaked, protests erupted, calling for his resignation. De Leon continued in his position after an apology tour and is now running against Jurado on the November ballot. 

The recording of a conversation between De Leon, Ron Herrera, Nury Martinez and Gil Cedillo. 

Jurado’s statement on her campaign website calls out the leaders of CD-14 that betrayed the communities in the district. 

“Between FBI raids, backroom gerrymandering, racist rants, and corruption charges, our needs have been chronically ignored,” says the statement. “City government has failed us. We deserve better.”

If she wins, she would join a progressive bloc of leaders in city council that include Nithya Raman, Hugo Doto-Martinez and Councilmember Hernandez. The leadership would have a pendulum swing toward city affairs that has not been seen before. 

CD-14 covers Eagle Rock, El Sereno, Boyle Heights and parts of Lincoln Heights and downtown L.A., which includes skid row and other points of interest. 

Those points of interest make CD-14 seats particularly difficult when it comes to dealing with polarizing issues like homelessness and street safety measures. 

According to the latest demographic data by L.A City Council, 61% of the population is Latin American, while the second highest population is white, at 16%, followed by Asian, at 14% and Black at 6%. 

If elected, Jurado aims to tackle homelessness in a district that has one of the highest unhoused populations in the city. 

Jurado is now gearing up for the November election by continuing to campaign at various events across Los Angeles, including ‘Postcarding with Ysabel,’ at DTLA Arts District Brewing and The Hermosillo.