BY PAULO MURILLO
PALM SPRINGS
IDINA MENZEL ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINER FOR PALM SPRINGS PRIDE
Organizers of the Palm Springs Pride Festival announced that actress, singer, and the “Queen of Broadway”, Idina Menzel, will headline the pride event scheduled for November 4, 2023. Menzel debuted in the musical “Rent” as Maureen Johnson. She went on to appear in productions of “Aida,” “Hair” and more. Menzel won a Tony Award in 2004 for her performance as Elphaba in the musical “Wicked.” She also appeared in the 2005 film adaptation of “Rent,” the 2019 crime thriller “Uncut Gems” and is the voice of Elsa in the Disney animated films “Frozen” and “Frozen II.” She has released seven studio albums. Her latest “Drama Queen” was released in August.
For more info on Palm Springs Pride visit: www.pspride.org.
WEST HOLLYWOOD
RECOVERY HOUSE TO HOST 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
The Van Ness Recovery House is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in the city of West Hollywood. The oldest LGBT recovery house in the nation located at 1919 N Beachwood, in Los Angeles, is hosting a Carnival Celebration on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Fiesta Hall and the Great Lawn at Plummer Park from 1pm to 7pm. The celebration will also be in recognition of September as National Recovery Month. The Carnival is free and open to the community and will include food, games, and entertainment. The Van Ness Recovery House is a non-profit organization whose mission is to meet the critical and expanding needs of the LGBTQ+ community for alcohol and drug addiction recovery.
LOS ANGELES
LA LGBT CENTER APPLAUDS AG ROB BONTA’S SUPPORT OF LGBTQ+ YOUTH
California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Chino Valley Unified School District last month in a bid to block a new policy that requires teachers to notify parents if their children identify as transgender or use a name or pronoun different than what is on their birth certificates at school.
In response the Los Angeles LGBT Center stated in a press release that the Center “applauds Attorney General Rob Bonta for his support of LGBTQ+ youth and safe, affirming school environments.”
“For months now, the far-right attack on school boards, education, and books has come to LA’s doorstep. What started with the outrageously bigoted ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill in Florida has morphed into a monstrous barrage of attacks on our schools, students, and educators—everywhere from Chino Valley to Temecula, North Hollywood to Glendale. This is a gross imposition of religion on the public school system, and a violation of California’s existing laws that protect marginalized people in public institutions.”
LONG BEACH
LONG BEACH PLANS LGBTQ+ CULTURAL DISTRICT
The City of Long Beach is in the process of developing an official LGBTQ+ cultural district along the Broadway corridor through a meticulous planning effort. This stretch of the city has a rich history of serving as a focal point for the LGBTQ+ community. In the preceding year, the Long Beach City Council endorsed a suggestion put forth by the then-mayor, Robert Garcia, to establish an LGBTQ+ Cultural District within the city.
The primary objective of this proposed cultural district is to pay homage to both historical and contemporary LGBTQ+ enterprises, as well as to celebrate the broader LGBTQ+ populace.
WEST HOLLYWOOD
LESBIAN OWNED YOGURT STOP CLOSING AFTER 15 YEARS
The lesbian owners of Yogurt Stop, Marta Knittel and Shoshana Joseph, have announced that they are closing on October 2, 2023.
The frozen yogurt shop, located in WeHo’s LGBT Rainbow District, known for its pump-it-yourself concept, is closing after 15 years in business, because the landlords will not renew their lease.
“A big heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you for the past 15 years,” reads a post at @yogurtstop. “We couldn’t have done it without you. Xxx.”
