By Reid Nakamura The Los Angeles LGBT Center kicked off Black History Month this year with the in-person return of The Future Is Black, a free community event to celebrate Black artists and address some of the pressing issues that face Black members of the LGBTQ+ community. Themed after Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning album Renaissance—which itself drew inspiration from the Black and queer artists who pioneered the genre of dance music—the event was hosted by journalists Tre’vell Anderson and jarrett hill of the FANTI podcast and featured an appearance by Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” collaborator Big Freedia. Freedia was honored with the…
Author: Reid Nakamura
By Reid Nakamura In January 2020, residents of South Los Angeles, community leaders, and representatives from other local organizations gathered in Leimert Park to celebrate the opening of Center South, the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s newest location. Three years and a world-altering pandemic later, Center South reopened its doors for a third anniversary block party. With food, performances, and tours of the facility, the event served as a reintroduction to the community that Center South has worked tirelessly to serve. “Seeing people from the neighborhood coming back to celebrate and reconnect in a way that we haven’t been able to…
By Reid Nakamura Fridays at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Youth Center have been dubbed “Pizza Fridays” thanks to the generosity of Beverly Grove eatery, Bobby’s Pizzeria. In partnership with Shrine Trust since 2020, the pizzeria has donated hundreds of pizzas to help feed LGBTQ+ youth. “Youth literally line up each Friday for their favorite slice,” said Orville Ranglin, Youth Services Program Supervisor. “It’s a fun way to bring together and help feed the youth, many of whom are unhoused or without a caregiver. And it’s a nice treat for our staff who work so hard to serve them.” The…
By Reid Nakamura Thanksgiving made a grand in-person return to the Los Angeles LGBT Center this year, with LGBTQ+ youth and seniors coming together to share a meal at the Anita May Rosenstein Campus for the first time since the pandemic. Guest ages ranged from 18 to 98 years old. “I’m so proud of what we were able to do the last few years delivering meals to our seniors, but it wasn’t the same as being together in person and getting to connect with our community. So, for me, this is really special,” said Kiera Pollock, Director of Senior Services…
By Greg Hernandez (Published in Fall/Winner 2022 Issue of Center’s Vanguard Magazine) Earlier this year, a 65-year-old man showed up to the Center’s pharmacy in a state of disarray. He had bandages on both of his legs from a bad fall, and came to the desk with tears in his eyes. “He had cataracts and couldn’t read the prescription labels of the medications he had brought with him in his brown paper bag,” says clinical pharmacy coordinator Tam Phan in sharing his encounter with a patient living with HIV and unmanaged high blood pressure. After speaking with the patient, Phan learned…
Joe Hollendoner Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Year Started at the Center: 2021 Title: Chief Executive Officer The most rewarding part of working at the Center is seeing the impact that we are having on our community. Whether it is when I walk around the Anita May Rosenstein Campus or visit one of our community sites like Trans Wellness Center, I see the joy and resiliency of our clients. Truthfully, there is not a single day that I don’t get to witness a young person or senior accessing our services light up because they can be their authentic selves in a space…
By Reid Nakamura (Published in Fall/Winner 2022 Issue of Center’s Vanguard Magazine) Last November, the Los Angeles LGBT Center celebrated the opening of the 70,000-square-foot Ariadne Getty Foundation Senior Housing building—a triumphant accomplishment after years of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. At last, the Center’s goal of creating an inter-generational housing complex for LGBT youth and seniors was fulfilled, resulting in the completion of the ambitious Anita May Rosenstein Campus. The opening of the new building, which added 98 affordable housing units for seniors, was hailed by then-CEO Lorri L. Jean as “a powerful reflection of the Center’s mission to…
By Joe Hollendoner (Published in Fall/Winner 2022 Issue of Center’s Vanguard Magazine) I began my tenure as CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Center in July, just as our community began to face yet another public health crisis: human monkeypox. The first case of monkeypox was diagnosed in the United States in May, and within a few weeks, cases were being identified in major cities across the U.S., including Los Angeles. By July, it was clear that—just like with HIV/AIDS—gay and bi men were being disproportionately affected, and our community would once again need to come together to protect ourselves. The…
By Reid Nakamura Models of Pride returned to Los Angeles City College in full force this year, commemorating its 30th year with live music, world-famous drag queens, and 100 life-enriching workshops for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies. “I can already tell you this is going to be one of my favorite events of the year,” Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollendoner told the crowd of youth attendees in his opening remarks. Hollendoner addressed the audience from a stage set up on LACC’s elevated rainbow track. Installed in 2019, the painted track was conceived as a tribute to artist Gilbert…
By Reid Nakamura The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Senior Services department held its first senior showcase in September, a celebration of the department’s vast array of groups, classes, and programming. The event gave participants a stage and a microphone to tout the work they’ve produced, highlighting everything from tai chi and tap dancing to vocal performances and poetry readings. “It’s both showing off all the amazing things our seniors are doing and making sure that the community is aware of all the different offerings that are available,” said Michael McFadden, Senior Services’ associate director of programs. The department is planning…