In the wake of the devastating wildfires that have swept through the city, Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollendoner issued the following statement:
“This week we witnessed the absolute heroism of Los Angeles’s finest—our first responders and Fire Department. Their courage and skill was on full display when the Sunset Fire blazed in the Hollywood Hills, drawing near to many of the Center’s locations, including our affordable housing facility for LGBTQ+ seniors. As these individuals worked tirelessly via land and air to control the blaze, our employees and clients waited, as many Angelenos have over these past few days, for the worst.
We are deeply grateful that none of the Center’s 10 sites have been affected by the fires, and that we can continue to provide essential services our community needs the most. On behalf of our clients, residents, staff, and supporters, I extend my deepest gratitude to our first responders, particularly the Los Angeles Fire Department—inclusive of the more than 700 currently incarcerated individuals who joined them—and their fearless leader, Chief Kristin Crowley.
Chief Crowley has been the subject of senseless and relentless homophobic attacks by bad actors in the media, despite her proven track record and leadership that have won her the support of this great city. The Center is proud of the LAFD and Chief Crowley.
Times like these remind us of the good that is pervasive in our humanity. That when we are confronted by the fragility and ephemerality of our lives and our world, our instinct—our truth—is to help one another. After all, it’s the City of Angels for a reason. Some of those angels are our firefighters, while others are everyday people like the Center’s staff, who work tirelessly to make sure the most vulnerable members of our community are cared for.
While some of our services were temporarily interrupted, the Center remains committed to playing our part in the urgent recovery process of the city we serve—ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community has the access to the essential resources it needs in the aftermath of this crisis. When the time comes for LA’s new beginning, I have no doubt that, together, we will make our beloved home shine once more.”
