For two years, those who care deeply about LGBT rights (not to mention many other issues of equity and freedom) have been looking to the2018 midterm elections as an opportunity for change. The months leading up toNovember’s election were filled with political commentators speculating about a “blue wave.” At the same time, our President doubled-down on his divisive, fear-mongering, and often prevaricating tactics. As I write this, the dust is still settling on some of the races, but it appears to me that both sides have victories to tout and lessons to learn. First the good news. One of our…
Author: Kelly Freter
When the Center launched its bold F*ck W/out Fear campaign in 2017 to raise awareness for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a safe and effective tool to prevent HIV infection, it caught many people’s attention, including newCenter board member Amy Gordon Yanow. “I spent some time in HIV clinics in South Africa in 2010and became more passionate about educating people about destigmatizing the disease—that’s why I was very intrigued by the Center’s PrEP campaign,” said Yanow, co-founder of Beer and Food Management, whose craft beer and food affiliations includedMohawk Bend in Echo Park, Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank, and Golden RoadBrewing.…
Born in Nebraska and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Susan A. Simons became an LGBT ally and activist early on. “I know so many people who, when they first came to Los Angeles, the Center was their savior,” said Simons, who has worked as a talent agent for the past two decades. “My life could be very different if it hadn’t been for the gay men in my life. I’ve had the best life because of them.” Simons became particularly connected to the community in the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, when little was known…
As a teenager just coming out, I looked at the Center as a safe haven. I have a lot of respect and gratitude for the Center and all the help and support it provides. Volunteering has been one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life. I really feel like I’m making a difference and having fun while doing it. I think the most memorable thing since I started volunteering has been the connections that I have made with the seniors. When they share their experiences and the way they have felt at different points in their…
After 15 years in a corporate environment, I wanted to work for a nonprofit that was part of the LGBT community. It’s wonderful to work in an environment where inclusivity and acceptance are the norm. Everyone can just be who they are—there’s something really beautiful about being accepted and being embraced. It should be that way for all organizations. I also have gained a great deal of experience in the complexities of nonprofits and the complexities of the health care industry. It opens up your eyes to how much the Center has been doing for the community overall. It’s amazing.…
Los Angeles LGBT Center Board Member Susan Feniger and her Border Grill chef-owner partner Mary Sue Milliken have been named the first women, and first duo, to receive the annual Julia Child Award. The award, given by the Julia Child Foundation, includes a grant for the food-related cause of the honorees’ choice. Feniger selected the Center’s new culinary arts program, housed in the new Anita May Rosenstein Campus, for her $25,000 award. Complete with a commercial kitchen, the program will offer homeless LGBT youth training in culinary skills and disciplines, in an effort to foster employment opportunities and encourage relationship-building…
“I’m here to support my brother, who is gay, but you don’t need to be gay to volunteer,” said Langston. “It’s a very welcoming community.” The twins began volunteering when they were 12. Now sophomores in high school, they regularly volunteer for special events as well as helping as volunteer canvassers with the Center’s groundbreaking Leadership LAB program. “We do get a lot of comments like, ‘It’s good to see such young people volunteering,’” William added. “There’s almost no excuse for not doing it. There’s so many things to do at so many different times, during the week or on…
Growing up in Brooklyn, my mom would frequently cook large amounts of food that she would give to people experiencing homelessness in our neighborhood. Through helping her, I was able to connect and nurture relationships with people who simply wanted to be heard and feel appreciated. When I moved to Los Angeles, I was truly heartened by all the amazing services the Center provides for the LGBTQ community and I just knew someway, somehow, I had to be a part of it. I take pleasure in working at the Center and being a part of a great Human Resources team…
By Greg Hernandez A dozen teachers from the L.A. Unified School District spent a week of their summer at ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives researching LGBT history to incorporate into future lesson plans. The educators explored the archives—the largest repository of LGBT materials in the world—as part of the LGBTQ History: OUT Curriculum Cohort, held in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center, ONE Archives Foundation, and UCLA Center X, which seeks to create a more just, equitable, and humane society through transforming public schooling. LGBT historical events researched by the teachers included the Compton’s Cafeteria riot in San…
Dr. Bruce Davidson and Quang Nguyen were invited by a mutual friend to a dinner party 40 years ago. The friend had a notion that the two might hit it off. He was right: it was love at first sight. Davidson and Nguyen, a couple since that first dinner party, were married in 2013 when marriage equality resumed in California. The Valley Village-based couple have been Sustaining Donors of the Center for many years and recently decided to include the Center in their estate plans by also becoming Circle of Life members. “When we started working on our estate plan,…