ORANGE COUNTY
OC AIDS WALK RAISES OVER $120,000
Radiant Health Centers celebrated the 35th Annual AIDS Walk Orange County last month at Bill Barber Memorial Park. The walk raised more than $120,000 with over 200 participants. Funds raised will provide health and social services for the LGBTQ+ community and improve the lives of thousands of individuals and their families impacted by HIV in Orange County.
To learn more about Radiant Health Centers please visit their website at www.radianthealthcenters.org.
SAN DIEGO
SDPD SEEK HELP FIND SUSPECTS IN ANTI-GAY HATE CRIME
San Diego Police seek public help in finding two men who yelled anti-LGBTQ hate speech and beat a man unconscious at the Church of Music Rave Festival last month. 27-year-old Gersson Saavedra and his two friends were attacked by two men who pulled out of a black sedan. One of the suspects poured an alcoholic drink on the victim and the other punched him in the face while yelling anti-LGBTQ slurs, according to police. Saavedra suffered a broken orbital socket, broken nose, and a spinal cord injury. Anyone with information was urged to call the San Diego Police Department’s Central Division at 619-744-9500 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.
HERMOSA BEACH
PRIDE TOWER BECOMES PERMANENT INSTALLATION
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced that the Pride Tower in Hermosa Beach is here to stay, making it the third of its kind in Southern California. The first Pride tower went up at Venice Beach followed by one in Long Beach. The new Pride Tower located at 13th street was painted the rainbow colors in June in recognition of Pride Month. It was originally meant to be repainted its original blue color at the end of summer. The rainbow paint job will now be permanent.
LOS ANGELES
MANNY RODRIGUEZ NEW BOARD CHAIR AT VAN NESS RECOVERY HOUSE
Van Ness Recovery House (VNRH), the longest running recovery house serving the LGBT community in the nation, has announced it has elected Manny Rodriguez as its new Board Chair, making him the first Latinx identified person to lead the board in VNRH’s history. Rodriguez takes the leadership role as the House positions itself to celebrate a 50-year milestone of serving the LGBTQ+ recovering community.
“I am honored to have been elected as Board Chair for The Van Ness Recovery House and am looking forward to working with and learning from the current talented board,” said Rodriguez.
WEST HOLLYWOOD
CITY TO CONSIDER CREATING LGBTQIA+ COMMISSION
The West Hollywood City Council will consider directing City Staff, the Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board (LGAB), and Transgender Advisory Board (TAB) to explore the creation of a new commission representing the LGBTQIA+ community. The city will consider removing LGAB and replacing it with the new more inclusive LGBTQIA+ Commission. It will still maintain the Transgender Advisory Board. Earlier this year, an item was approved by the City Council directing staff to work with LGAB to incorporate into its work plan a discussion of the Board’s name, makeup, and purview to be more inclusive to the LGBTQIA+ community. Since the LGAB and TAB were created, the terms and common identifications of those in the LGBTQIA+ community have evolved and become more expansive and inclusive of gender identities, sexuality, and relationships, specifically, the community now includes individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, and asexual and/or ally (LGBTQIA+). A new Commission will be more inclusive of all LGBTQIA+ communities with focused and expanded purview.
