BY PAULO MURILLO
ORANGE COUNTY
FORMER NFL STAR CHRIS KLUWE HELPS DEFEAT “MAGA MIKE’S” PRIDE FLAG BAN
A late-night Orange County city council meeting last month saw free speech prevail after “MAGA Mike,” Councilman Mike Munzing, proposed banning all but the American flag in Aliso Viejo.
The meeting drew a large crowd opposing the measure. After six hours and 164 dissenting speakers, including former NFL player and equality advocate Chris Kluwe, Munzing’s effort to restrict flags, particularly the Pride flag, ended when he reportedly tore up the proposal in anger.
Kluwe told the council, “This is not what America’s about… I do not want the American flag to stand for hatred and discrimination, and flying the Pride flag shows people that we understand that.”
Ultimately, Munzing’s flag ban was defeated 5-0, celebrated by cheers and a standing ovation.
LONG BEACH
LONG BEACH DECLARES ITSELF LGBTQ+ SANCTUARY CITY, HONORS TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY
The Long Beach City Council unanimously passed a motion to officially recognize March 31 as Transgender Day of Visibility and declare Long Beach a sanctuary city for LGBTQ+ individuals. The move, supported by all eight councilmembers, follows a recommendation by Councilmembers Megan Kerr, Cindy Allen, and Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga. The motion affirms Long Beach’s longstanding role as a hub of LGBTQ+ activism, especially around the Broadway Corridor, and builds on existing policies like flying Pride flags at City Hall and collecting SOGI data. Officials emphasized the urgency of defending LGBTQ+ rights in light of the current federal administration’s policies.
WEST HOLLYWOOD
LA LGBT CENTER IS CLOSING CENTER WEHO LOCATION
Los Angeles LGBT Center is closing its WeHo clinic in June due to building issues, safety concerns, and funding cuts. The clinic, offering free HIV/STD testing and PrEP/PEP access since 2015, faced challenges including lease issues, limited parking, and service saturation. Staff will move to other Center locations. The Center’s broader LGBTQ+ support services remain unaffected.
LOS ANGELES
OUTLOUD PRESENTS PRIDE@BEV WITH QUEENS FROM RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE
OUTLOUD Presents Pride@Bev returns to the Beverly Center on May 17, 2025, marking the start of Pride season with drag, discussion, and celebration. Now in its third year, the event features dazzling performances and a panel with queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race. The first confirmed performer is Arrietty from Season 17, known for her bold fashion and high-energy presence. More queen announcements are on the way. The event also includes Drag Queen Bingo, photo ops, and giveaways. Tickets are $10, with all proceeds supporting the It Gets Better Project, benefiting LGBTQ+ youth worldwide.
PALM SPRINGS
PSGMC NAMED INAUGURAL RESIDENT ARTISTS AT PALM SPRINGS PLAZA THEATRE
The historic Palm Springs Plaza Theatre is teaming up with the celebrated Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus (PSGMC) in a new multi-year partnership that will see PSGMC become the theatre’s first-ever resident artists. The collaboration kicks off in dazzling style during the 2025 holiday season. PSGMC will open its 26th season at The Plaza Theatre with Bells, Brass & Sass—a sparkling holiday extravaganza running December 19–21, 2025.
