In response to today’s announcement of a guilty verdict in the killing of George Floyd, the Los Angeles LGBT Center issued the following statement: “We applaud the twelve people whose decision today brought a modicum of justice to the brutal and senseless killing of George Floyd. The verdict reinforces what the world already knew: the killing of Mr. Floyd was a violent and intentional act that, at its core, was the result of systemic racism that still exists in far too many areas of law enforcement as well as in our larger society. The verdict provides a small ray of…
Author: Kelly Freter
In response to today’s introduction of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean issued the following statement: “The Los Angeles LGBT Center welcomes today’s introduction of the U.S. Citizenship Act and joins with immigrant rights advocates and organizations in urging Congress to pass this critical immigration reform legislation. “We all deserve an immigration system that reflects the promise of America. After years of bigoted immigration policies that have threatened the lives of countless LGBT asylum seekers and refugees—many of whom face violence and…
In response to today’s introduction of the Equality Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean issued the following statement: “The Los Angeles LGBT Center joins with local, state, and national LGBT and social justice organizations in calling on Congress to swiftly pass the Equality Act. Lawmakers must make federal comprehensive LGBT non-discrimination protections a priority. As the nation’s largest provider of programs and services to LGBT people, we know firsthand the discrimination still faced by our community. “The Equality Act will provide national, consistent non-discrimination protections for LGBT people, including for employment, housing, credit, education, federally…
The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Board of Directors announced Joe Hollendoner, CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, will become the Center’s next leader. Hollendoner will assume the role of executive director on July 6 and work with Center CEO Lorri L. Jean prior to succeeding her as CEO upon Jean’s retirement in July 2022. “It is an honor of a lifetime to be selected to lead the Los Angeles LGBT Center following such an iconic leader as Lorri Jean. I look forward to working with the Center’s board, staff, and partners to ensure that the Center not only continues to…
“Joe clearly understands this moment and has a clear vision for the Center’s future and for that of our community. His commitment to dismantling systemic racism is in his bones and he will lead with this commitment as the Center’s new CEO.” – David Bailey, Board of Directors Co-Chair, Los Angeles LGBT Center “The Board could not have picked a better leader to continue Lorri’s legacy of excellence in LGBT programming and advocacy. Joe pioneered his nonprofit career at Howard Brown, developing our LGBT youth drop-in center. He went on to work for me at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago…
In response to President Biden’s Executive Order today reversing the ban on transgender people serving openly in the U.S. military, the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Director of Policy and Community Building Terra Russell-Slavin issued the following statement: “In July 2017 this ban signaled the start of the Trump Administration’s years-long efforts to legislate transgender Americans out of existence. President Biden’s action today was a clear message from the Commander in Chief that bigotry and discrimination have no place in the U.S. military. Thanks to this decision, thousands of dedicated transgender service members are once again rightfully recognized for their service…
Following today’s momentous inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean issued the following statement: “Exactly four years ago today, like many of you, I watched with trepidation as a new president was sworn into office. I was fearful about what the next four years would be like, concerned not only for the LGBTQ community, but for our nation at large. And yet, as great as my fears and worries were, I never imagined the concerted attack against so many of us that was soon to come. These attacks were…
In response to President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine as federal Assistant Health Secretary of the department of Health and Human Services—poised to be the first openly transgender official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate—the Los Angeles LGBT Center issued this statement: “We are deeply gratified by the historic nomination of Dr. Rachel Levine as Assistant Secretary of Health by President-elect Joe Biden. Dr. Levine’s qualifications and experience—leading the fifth largest state during a public health crisis—are self-evident. Moreover, her appointment would bring a significant and desperately needed focus on access to health…
Today the Los Angeles LGBT Center began to administer the first batch of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to its frontline workers, including Health Services staff members and the Security and Facilities workers who support the Center’s various health care sites. The Center followed the requirements from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health in administering vaccine to frontline health care workers during Phase 1 of the vaccine rollout in Los Angeles. The Center received 400 total vaccine doses in this first batch and will continue to follow all requirements for future dissemination of vaccines. “This is a momentous day—a pivotal…
In response to the finalization of a new rule published today jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice governing Asylum and Withholding of Removal, the Center’s Director of Policy and Community Building Terra Russell-Slavin issued the following statement: “We join LGBT and immigrant’s rights and legal aid organizations across the country in condemning another blatant attack on the due process rights of asylum seekers by the Trump administration. This final rule immorally targets women and LGBTQ asylum seekers by limiting their ability to claim asylum based on their gender, eliminating nearly all LGBTQ asylum claims.…