Photo courtesy of Erik Braverman and Jonathan Cottrell
LOS ANGELES
LA DODGERS HOST GAY WEDDING AT DODGERS STADIUM
The Los Angeles Dodgers marked the progress of the LGBTQ+ community by hosting a dream wedding at Dodgers Stadium last month. The wedding was for one of their own, Erik Braverman, a senior vice president for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his groom, software engineer and model Jonathan Cottrell. They tied the knot and exchanged vows before 75 family and friends on the pitcher’s mound.
PALM SPRINGS
ONCE ANTI-LGBT CONGRESSMAN IS RUNNING TO REPRESENT GAY PALM SPRINGS
GOP Rep. Ken Calvert is campaigning to represent the LGBT-friendly Palm Springs. LGBT rights activists recall almost 30 years ago when Calvert voted to ban same-sex marriage and, “has made it clear over the course of his career that not only does he not support full equality … he’s willing to take every single opportunity he has to attack our community,” said Samuel Garrett-Pate, managing director of external affairs for Equality California, an LGBTQ civil rights group. Calvert denies the allegations saying he “simply reject(s) any notion that I’ve attacked LGBTQ people.” Calvert and Palm Springs were matched together late last month through California’s political redistricting, which happens every 10 years following the census.
LOS ANGELES
LGBTQ ORGANIZATIONS JOIN TO OVERTURN FDA POLICY BANNING BLOOD DONATIONS FROM
GAY/BI MEN
APLA Health, Equality California (EQCA), Los Angeles LGBT Center, and San Francisco AIDS Foundation have joined California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to overturn a discriminatory policy maintained under the prior administration. Currently the FDA requires that men who have sex with men must abstain from sex for three months before donating blood.
LONG BEACH
LONG BEACH NAMED ONE OF BEST LGBTQ CITIES FOR 10TH YEAR
For the 10th straight year, Long Beach has been named one of the best cities in the nation for LGBTQ+ inclusion in municipal law and policy. The city by the bay earned a perfect score and 11 bonus points. Long Beach was one of 506 cities nationwide to be scored, and one of 110 to achieve a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipal Equality Index.
WEST HOLLYWOOD
HEART WEHO IS OPENING AT FORMER RAGE NIGHTCLUB SPACE
Club Heart WeHo (formerly Rage Nightclub) located at 8911 Santa Monica Blvd.—the new dance club by NSYNC singer Lance Bass and business partners—is having a soft opening on Saturday, February 5, in preparation for a grand opening on February 14. Rage Nightclub closed during the pandemic after serving the community for 37 years.
ORANGE COUNTY
GAY FOR GOOD UNITES COMMUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTEERS
LGBTQ+ organization Gay for Good has work to volunteer and rebuild community with organizations including Long Beach Community Table, Love in the Mirror, and the AIDS Food Store. Volunteers from the Orange County and Long Beach chapter have participated in Veterans Day events, rebuilt a community garden, and cleaned an animal shelter, just to name a few of their past endeavors. Gay for Good aims to create lasting partnerships with other local nonprofits, often providing anywhere from 10 to 50 volunteers per event. To participate in future service events with Gay for Good, join the organization’s mailing list at gayforgood.org.
