BY PAULO MURILLO
LOS ANGELES
MEMORIALS HELD FOR DR. STEVE GANZELL THROUGHOUT THE CITY
A “Celebration of Life” for Steve Ganzell took place last month at Eagle LA and at Plummer Park in West Hollywood.
Steve Ganzell, a beloved community leader, former President of Christopher Street West (the organization that produces LA Pride) and a long-time contributor to THE FIGHT, passed away this past December of a heart attack.
Ganzell, a clinical psychologist, served as the clinical director of the mental health program for Being Alive, the West Hollywood based HIV service organization. He also worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence performed a special blessing at both of the memorials, attended by hundreds of Steve’s colleagues friends, activists and local politicians, as well as his children: Crystan, Adam, Chalisse and Zach.
WEST HOLLYWOOD
SOBER COMMUNITY FIGHTS TO SAVE LIONS CLUB LOG CABIN
The sober community and its allies have been actively trying to save the Lions Club Log Cabin from demolition. In early January, The City of Beverly Hills gave The Lions Club notice to vacate the Log Cabin and demolish the building by March 31, 2020. The possible loss of the space, which houses various 12-step meetings for thousands of recovering alcoholics and addicts, resulted in outrage. The Lions Club Log Cabin sits within the jurisdiction of West Hollywood, but it belongs to the City of Beverly Hills. The building itself is leased by the Lions Club. The City of West Hollywood has offered to have the West Hollywood Recovery Center (WHRC) take over the lease and run the day to day operations.
Late last month reps from the Lion Club and Beverly Hills city council met to negotiate. A decision is pending.
PALM SPRINGS
TRANSGENDER PERFORMANCE SPACE AsiaSF
The legendary transgender club AsiaSF is expanding to Southern California. The club, which has been wowing crowds for 22 years, has chosen the desert as its first location outside of the Bay Area. Desert Sun reports that AsiaSF will be taking over the former Hacienda Carina and Beach Club, located at 1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive. It will offer patrons drinks, prix fixe dinners and up to four cabaret shows a night. AsiaSF performers, who are all transgender women, will bring their own personalities to lip-sync renditions of party playlist classics. The new venue will get a full renovation before opening in early February.
SAN DIEGO
HILLCREST AREA GETS RAINBOW CROSSWALKS
The gay Hillcrest area in San Diego has gotten its very own rainbow crosswalk installation. A large crowd celebrated the launch of the LGBT symbol last month. The new crosswalks are located at the corner of Nomal Street and University Avenue. The launch event Catwalk on the Crosswalk, showcased members of the community strutting their stuff over the rainbow. The Hillcrest crosswalks are unique in that it includes the traditional colors of the pride flag and also adds the colors brown and black to symbolize people of color. It also includes colors from the trans flag.
LONG BEACH
RE-BRANDED LONG BEACH PRIDE DROPS THE “LESBIAN & GAY”
Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride has dropped the ‘Lesbian and Gay’ in its namesake to rebrand itself simply as Long Beach Pride. The nonprofit event debuted a new name, logo, mission statement and website last month to mark the start of a new decade. It is also offering early bird tickets for this year’s pride festival for the first time. The 37th Annual Long Beach Pride Festival & Parade is a three-day event, starting with a free Teen Pride celebration on May 15, a two-day waterfront festival on May 16 and 17, and the annual parade happening on May 17.
