Author: Gil Diaz

This year’s Trans Pride L.A. (TPLA) will be streamed live for the second consecutive year, expanded from two to three days, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 17–19. TPLA is one of the nation’s oldest and largest celebrations of the vibrant Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, Intersex, Non-Binary (TGI/ENBY+) community with virtual workshops, panel discussions, Trans Pride Community Gallery, the always highly-anticipated VarieTy Show, and a Big Queer Convo with special guest ACLU Deputy Director for Transgender Justice Chase Strangio. The full schedule of Trans Pride L.A. is posted online at lalgbtcenter.org/transpride. “During this extraordinary time while we are still unable to…

Read More

Today, the Los Angeles LGBT Center calls upon Bobby Cagle, director of the Los Angeles County’s Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), and the County Board of Supervisors to stop their intentional neglect of LGBTQ youth in the foster care system. Thirteen years ago, the County abandoned the LGBTQ youth under its care when it stopped funding the system’s only LGBTQ+-specific services. Despite expressly agreeing in the years since that such services are critical to properly care for and keep these youth safe from harm, and contrary to explicit promises to the Center and the State of California that…

Read More

In response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reversal of the Trump Administration’s rollback of nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people under the Affordable Care Act, the Los Angeles LGBT Center released the following statement: “We commend today’s actions by the Biden Administration and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to once again protect against healthcare discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. “Access to healthcare is a human right. While today’s reversal is welcomed, it makes it no less horrifying that the health and well-being of our community can be threatened or restored with a stroke of…

Read More

I was born and raised in Los Angeles—South L.A. to be exact—and yet, unbelievably, I never stepped foot into the Center until three years ago. I heard about the Center, but it wasn’t until I moved to Hollywood that I had the chance to take a tour of it. Wow, I was floored! I didn’t realize all of the life-saving programs and services the Center offered for our community, particularly to youth experiencing homelessness. I love that the Center not only helps provide youth with emergency shelter and hot meals, but also offers a full range of services—such as GED…

Read More

Two years after opening its flagship Anita May Rosenstein Campus, the Los Angeles LGBT Center celebrates the grand opening of its newest building: the Michaeljohn Horne & Thomas Eugene Jones Youth Housing. Located directly across the street from the revolutionary Campus and next door to the Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza, the nearly 13,000-square-foot, four-story structure includes 25 supportive housing apartments for youth ages 24 and under; a community space with desktop computers, a television, and seating; a case management office; a well-designed outdoor space with landscaped areas and pathways; laundry facilities; and more. Screened by the Los Angeles…

Read More

In response to today’s U.S. Senate confirmation of Dr. Rachel Levine as Assistant Health Secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, the Los Angeles LGBT Center issued this statement: “The Los Angeles LGBT Center congratulates Dr. Rachel Levine on this monumental occasion of becoming the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. At a time when anti-transgender legislation is sweeping across state houses nationwide—just last week far right zealots attacked the rights of transgender members of our community to exist—today’s confirmation sends a powerful message that our community will not be deterred from seeking to…

Read More

Following the death of iconic lesbian activist and feminist Ivy Bottini, who briefly served as the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s director of women’s programs, Center CEO Lorri L. Jean issued the following statement: “Today Ivy Bottini died at the age of 94, and our community lost a tireless activist and queer community shero. Ivy spent most of her life fighting for the rights of women and LGBT people. As a feminist leader, she co-founded the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women, rising to the rank of chapter President. A graphic designer, she created the NOW logo that is still used…

Read More

In response to the U.S. House of Representative’s historic passage of the Equality Act today and the introduction of the same bill in the Senate earlier this week, Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean issued the following statement: “Today’s vote in the House of Representatives is a historic step forward for equality. But our work is far from over. Recent history reminds us just how quickly bigotry and hate can take hold and be weaponized by politicians against the LGBTQ community. “Passing the Equality Act won’t change the hearts and minds of those people who seek to divide,…

Read More

Today the Four Corners: Trans & Nonbinary (TNB) Health Research Advisory Network, an initiative of the Los Angeles LGBT Center and partnering organizations, announced the release of its first report entitled Health Research Priorities Among TNB Communities. The innovative community-led research advisory network released findings identifying priority areas and directions for researchers looking to develop patient-centered projects focused on addressing the health needs of TNB communities. Findings from the Four Corners network can make future research projects more relevant, ethical, and beneficial to TNB individuals whose voices and experiences are often overlooked or ignored. The major findings identified by the…

Read More

In response to today’s Senate confirmation of Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation, the Los Angeles LGBT Center issued the following statement: “The Los Angeles LGBT Center congratulates Pete Buttigieg on the historic occasion of becoming the first openly LGBTQ person to be appointed to a permanent Cabinet position. From presidential candidate to Secretary of Transportation, Buttigieg has broken down longstanding barriers that have excluded members of the LGBTQ community from the highest positions in government. “The Center looks forward to working with Secretary Buttigieg to ensure that our country’s transportation network advances racial and gender equity in his role as secretary of the department. Public transportation in particular is of…

Read More