BY PAULO MURILLO
LOS ANGELES
DTLA PROUD TAKES PLACE THIS MONTH IN A NEW LOCATION
DTLA PROUD is happening once again this year in downtown Los Angeles. The two day festival, themed “Rooted In Community,” will take place August 24-25 from 12pm-10pm, in a new location
The parking lots on 253 S Main St and 246 S Spring St will be transformed into a Queer epicenter that will represent, include and celebrate all those that make up the LGBTQIA+ community in downtown Los Angeles.
The event will include a Queer Vendors Marketplace with over 80 small businesses, LGBTQIA + non-profits, community partners, performers—and of course—everyone’s favorite downtown day party, Summertramp!
For up-to-date info visit www.dtlaproud.org.
WEST HOLLYWOOD
WHOOPI GOLDBERG GETS KEY TO CITY
Whoopi Goldberg was honored with a Key to the City of West Hollywood last month. WeHo Vice Mayor Chelsea Byers and council members Sepi Shyne and Lauren Meister presented the EGOT winner and veteran host of “The View” with the highest West Hollywood honor. Also in attendance were California State Senator Ben Allen and the office of California State Representative Rich Chavez Zbur presented her with a Certificate of Recognition. “West Hollywood is always one of the favorite places because people here know how to live and really give zero fucks if people understood them,” she said at the ceremony.
LONG BEACH
LESBIAN COUPLE OPENS WOMEN’S SPORTS BAR
A lesbian couple has opened California’s first women’s sports bar in Long Beach. Watch Me! Sports Bar launched on August 2, coinciding with the Paris 2024 Olympics, and received an overwhelming reaction. The 120-person venue was quickly filled to standing room only, with a waiting list and a line out the door. Co-owners Jax Diener and Emme Eddy emphasized that the bar prioritizes women’s sports, although some major men’s sports will also be shown.
For more info visit www.watchmesportsbar.com.
PALM SPRINGS
PALM SPRINGS PRIDE SEEKS $300,000 TO MAINTAIN FREE FESTIVAL
Greater Palm Springs Pride has requested $300,000 from the city to keep its annual Pride Festival free, following the City Council’s recent approval of $300,000 for free admissions at the Palm Springs Art Museum. Executive Vice President Keith Gran emphasized the funding’s importance to maintain free admission. Mayor Pro Tem Ron deHarte, also president of Greater Palm Springs Pride, stated the request aimed to secure funding in line with the council’s support for free community programming. DeHarte pledged to recuse himself from discussions and votes on the matter.
SAN DIEGO
EL CAJON NEIGHBORHOOD TARGETED BY GAY SLURS VANDALISM
On June 27, five cars in an El Cajon neighborhood were spray-painted with gay slurs, swastikas, and anti-Arab messages, according to El Cajon Police. The vandalism occurred between 1:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Greenfield Drive. One of the vehicles was a Cadillac sedan covered in hateful graffiti. Another car nearby was similarly defaced.
Mayor Bill Wells stated that police are investigating but have no leads and are searching for surveillance footage. “This is not what you want to see in our community or in any community,” Wells said, emphasizing that such acts do not reflect El Cajon’s values.
