BY PAULO MURILLO
LOS ANGELES
LA LGBT CENTER TO HONOR RAVEN-SYMONÉ IN COMMEMORATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The Los Angeles LGBT Center will host its inaugural Highly Favored program and ball on February 24, from 6–10PM at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza in Hollywood, in commemoration of Black History Month. The event will honor trailblazing lesbian entertainer Raven-Symoné. Formerly known as The Future Is Black, Highly Favored spotlights everything Black and queer in Los Angeles, evolving from the Center’s previous series. Raven-Symoné will receive the Center’s Bayard Rustin Award for her advocacy and representation in the LGBTQ+ community.
WEST HOLLYWOOD
ONE INSTITUTE HOSTS EXHIBITION FEATURING WORKS BY LGBTQ+ STUDENTS
One Institute hosted History Within Us, an exhibition presenting creative research projects by six LGBTQ+ high school student leaders from the Institute’s 2023-24 Youth Ambassadors for Queer History program. The installation included a digital zine on lesbian publications in the 1960s and 1970s, an investigation into the impact of corporate funding on grassroots LGBTQ+ activism, and a deep dive into LGBTQ+ student organizations in colleges and high schools, and more. The exhibition also included a “Letters to ONE” display, featuring students’ responses to archival letters sent by ONE Magazine readers in the 1950s and 1960s. Students were honored by LA County and City of West Hollywood officials.
LONG BEACH
CASE DROPPED IN FATAL STABBING OF GAY MAN OUTSIDE OF MINESHAFT
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has dropped the case against a 57-year-old waiter accused of fatally stabbing a man outside the Mineshaft bar in Long Beach last year. This decision comes after a judge ruled in May that there wasn’t enough evidence to support a murder charge, and prosecutors chose not to pursue lesser charges due to insufficient evidence. The case stemmed from an altercation where the defendant, Michael Smalls, intervened in a fight he witnessed, claiming self-defense when he stabbed two people. Despite being taken into custody, Smalls maintained his actions were justified. His attorney argued the incident was a case of self-defense, not a hate crime, and highlighted Smalls’ history of good citizenship. The case underscores the complexities of self-defense claims and the importance of thorough investigation in criminal prosecutions.
COACHELLA VALLEY
2024 COACHELLA ANNOUNCES LINEUP OF QUEER ARTISTS
The lineup for the Indio, California festival has been unveiled, showcasing a notable emphasis on LGBTQ+ artists. Leading the headliners on Friday slots is queer icon Lana Del Rey, followed by Tyler the Creator and Doja Cat headlining on Saturday and Sunday slots respectively. The bill also features singers Tinashe and Reneé Rapp, as well as rapper Ice Spice, scheduled to perform across two weekends on April 12-14 and 19-21. Singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha is also among the scheduled performers.
WEST HOLLYWOOD
“GAYEST RETAIL STORE IN THE WORLD” UP FOR SALE
Block Party WeHo, the self-professed gayest retail store in the world, located at 8853 Santa Monica, is officially up for sale. The sale of the business listing was made public on bizbuysell.com. The asking price is $1,185,000. The listing states that inventory can be cleared or sold at 90% of cost. The cash flow is at $600,000. The inventory, meaning the value of the merchandise, the raw materials, finished and unfinished products, which have not been sold, is valued at $300,000. The store, owned by Larry Block, and located in the heart of West Hollywood’s LGBT Rainbow District, prides itself in being community driven.
