By Greg Hernandez Resident Jeff Golomb could not wait to show off his fifth-floor apartment to reporters during the official opening celebration of The Ariadne Getty Foundation Senior Housing on Tuesday. “I’m a proud, gay, 69-year-old man and I’m thrilled to be living in my own brand-new apartment with a balcony and a breathtaking view of the Hollywood sign,” Golomb said. “There’s no place like home, and I’m proud of it.” The 70,000-square-foot complex for seniors ages 62 and above is the final piece of the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s intergenerational Anita May Rosenstein Campus that brings LGBTQ youth, seniors,…
Author: Greg Hernandez
By Greg Hernandez It was clear from the beginning that the more than 300 Los Angeles LGBT Center Sustaining Donors who gathered on Sunday afternoon were more than ready to celebrate. Pride Hall and the Bayard Rustin Courtyard at the Anita May Rosenstein Campus were immediately filled with people from the 3 p.m. start time through the end of the festivities nearly three hours later. All were invited to an inspiring and celebratory donor appreciation event as a thank you for their ongoing and impactful support during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s great to be out with people…
By Greg Hernandez When Belita Edwards walked into the dining room of the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Senior Center on Thursday for a dinner honoring LGBTQ+ veterans, she immediately started rearranging some tables. “We all want to be together!” the U.S. Army veteran explained as she enlisted others to help with moving the colorfully decorated tables. The festive evening of fellowship on Veterans Day was one of the first in-person events held by the Los Angeles LGBT Center in nearly two years. The group enjoyed a hearty meal of pasta, chicken piccata and salad followed by a lively post-dinner game…
By Greg Hernandez Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been no field trips to major museums for Los Angeles LGBT Center senior clients for nearly two years. But thanks to the research and passion of Ignacio Darnaude, the art world came to them recently in the form of the exclusive three-part lecture series Hiding in Plain Sight: Breaking the Gay Code in Arts. Darnaude (pictured, above) is a former movie studio marketing executive who has spent more than a decade extensively researching gay, lesbian, and bisexual artists throughout history who were unable to express their same-sex desires openly in…
By Greg Hernandez As he took to the stage of the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre on Saturday night, singer-songwriter Joshua Martin was excited but also beyond nervous. “This is my first time performing live so be extra nice,” he said to the crowd gathered for An Evening of Latin Music, the Center’s first in-person entertainment event in nearly two years. Martin was among the eclectic group of seven artists who performed two- or three-song sets that had the crowd at times deeply moved and at other times dancing in their seats. “I was quarantining with my husband and…
By Lorri L. Jean Lately, I feel like much of my life has been a roller coaster ride: • In the world of COVID-19, a few months ago the Center was preparing to revive in-person services that had to go virtual at the beginning of Covid because the government didn’t consider them “essential”. (Our critical front-line services such as medical care and housing have never stopped being live during Covid.) Staff were beginning to come back to work in our various locations, we were having in-person meetings, and it was wonderful to see people live and in person again. Then…
When I worked for a non-profit LGBT youth organization many years ago, I used to come to the Center to drop off our promotional materials and post flyers about our programs. I was always impressed by the work the Center was doing and could see myself working there one day. I was so happy when that day came nearly 17 years ago. When the Center had a position open for a clinic liaison in Health Services, I applied. I knew I would be able to help my community and use the skills I learned from the medical office management training…
There has been a lot of change in my life since I first became involved in AIDS/LifeCycle in 2001. I’m a transgender male who transitioned 11 years ago and have had a few career changes during that time as well. AIDS/LifeCycle and its community of roadies has been a constant and has also helped me figure out the important things in my life. Helping others, combined with my love of the outdoors, has resulted in countless small moments of happiness. It’s also made me realize how important trans-friendly queer spaces are in our community. The first two years of my…
As a recovering addict who has been sober for 16 years, I pray to God on a daily basis to use me as a tool to help others like myself who are in the place where I’ve been in a past: hopeless and feeling like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I’m here to assist anyone who comes to the Trans Wellness Center (TWC). My job involves helping people connect with services such as mental health, primary care, housing, employment, or getting into treatment. I love coming to work because I am able to give back.…
By Gil Diaz After giving her rousing speech at a 2013 fundraiser attended by some of Hollywood’s LGBTQ trailblazers— Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Dustin Lance Black, among them— Center CEO Lorri L. Jean was introduced to a woman from the packed audience who eventually would play a major role in the Center’s future: Ariadne Getty. “Lorri was so impressive when she spoke that I knew I had to meet her,” recalled Getty. “We were introduced, we immediately connected, and our friendship has just blossomed from that day forward. Every conversation is a learning experience with Lorri.” From that evening on, many…