By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The Los Angeles LGBT Center will host Drag March LA on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023. The event for all ages and aims to mobilize against the oppressive anti-LGBTQ+ tidal wave that is currently sweeping through America.

The march will start at West Hollywood City Hall, located at 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard, at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Sweetzer Avenue and end at the LGBT Rainbow District.

There are already over 400 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation on the books—unsurprisingly, most of them target transgender people and drag performances too.

“Drag has always been political and gender has always been policed. LGBTQ+ people have always known (and shown) that there are many shades of the rainbow—and once again, it’s time for us to put them all on full display,” Los Angeles LGBT Center said in a statement. “We will not stand by while the far right seeks to roll back our rights.”

The event is in partnership with local LGBTQ+ organizations, faith groups, queer and trans activists, and the finest drag artists in the City of Angels.

• 10 a.m. Doors Open
• 11-11:40 a.m. Rally & Kickoff Performance
• 11:45 a.m. Demonstrators Get in Formation
• 12 p.m. March Begins
• 1 p.m. March Ends

Participants are encouraged to wear their best drag.

Guest speakers will include the activists and families from impacted states who are fighting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. See below for a full list of supporters.

+1,000 guests expected to attend. Stay tuned for more on speakers + performers!

Want to get your organization involved? Sign up here

Supporters of Drag March LA include the following:

• Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
• Bienestar Human Services
• CA LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
• Equality California
• LGBTQ Center Orange County
• LGBTQ+ Community Center of the Desert
• ProjectQ
• Racial & Ethnic Mental Health Disparities Coalition (REMHDCO)
• Radiant Health Centers
• Rainbow Services, Ltd.
• Somos Familia Valle
• The National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence
• The Source LGBT+ Center
• [email protected] Coalition

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – When disaster strikes, will you know what to do? The City of West Hollywood is getting the word out that the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Community Emergency Response Team (“CERT”) is presenting disaster preparedness CERT Training.

There will be three free full-day workshops on Saturdays, April 15, 22, and 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center in the San Vicente / La Cienega Room located at 8750 El Tovar Place.

Space is limited and expected to fill quickly. Participants must register in advance and attend all three sessions to receive a certificate of completion. To register for CERT Training, please visit the LA County Fire Department CERT training website.

Following a disaster, police, fire, and medical professionals may not be able to meet the immediate demand for emergency medical attention. Residents and neighbors may need to rely upon one another to help with immediate life-saving needs. CERT Training was developed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide basic fire safety and life-saving skills.

CERT Training participants will learn valuable survival skills, including disaster preparedness, terrorism, disaster fire suppression, disaster psychology, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, and drill simulation, which can be vital in the immediate aftermath of a major disaster.

CERT program is a nationally supported, locally implemented initiative that teaches people how to better prepare themselves for hazards that may affect their communities. Since 1993, CERT trains the public in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and light search and rescue. The ability for CERT volunteers to perform these activities frees up professional responders to focus their efforts on more complex, essential, and critical tasks.

For more information, please contact Jessica Anukam, the City of West Hollywood’s Public Safety Specialist, at (323) 848-6436 or at [email protected]

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission. 

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – Over 20,000 participants passed through the streets of West Hollywood Sunday morning for the 38th Annual Los Angeles Marathon 2023. West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tem John Erickson referred to the turnoff at the Rainbow District on Santa Monica Boulevard as the “Rainbow Mile.”

“It’s the best mile,” he told Wendy Burch of KTLA. “We’ve got all the colors, we’ve got all the diversity, and there’s no better place to do it than West Hollywood… we love that they come through the city every year. We can see the crowds come out, every family from all walks of life, and we do it right here in West Hollywood because this is where everyone is welcome.”

KTLA chose to telecast the marathon on “The Rainbow Mile,” so the scene was festive on Santa Monica Boulevard. People dressed in costumes, held up signs cheering their loved ones on, and spectators fist bumped the runners as they rushed by.

The 26.2-mile marathon kicked off at Dodger Stadium at 6:30 a.m. beginning with wheelchair participants, followed by the women’s division. Then a short distance later, the men’s division kicked off, followed by the general public. The course ran through Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the finish line was at Century City.

Kenya’s Stacy Ndiwa was the first to cross the finish line Sunday in the women’s division. She clocking in at 2 hours and 31 minutes. Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer won the men’s division in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 13 seconds. Elite female runners always start the race 18 minutes and 19 seconds ahead of the men.

Jemal Yimer of Ethiopia won the men’s division of the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, while Stacy Ndiwa of Kenya took the women’s division. Via @AP https://t.co/kKgEbiFdfy

— Bloomberg Africa (@BloombergAfrica) March 19, 2023

Top 5 women’s results! pic.twitter.com/JOwXF878p6

— Los Angeles Marathon (@lamarathon) March 19, 2023

The portion of the route that runs through the City of West Hollywood remained unchanged from previous years. Runners made their way westbound into the City of West Hollywood along Sunset Boulevard at Marmont Lane, just west of N. Crescent Heights Boulevard. From the Sunset Strip, runners turned left (south) onto N. San Vicente Boulevard; then right (west) onto Santa Monica Boulevard; then left (south) onto N. Doheny Drive, where they will enter the City of Beverly Hills. The Marathon ran through West Hollywood between miles 14 and 15 of the course.

For full results, visit: (Link)

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – A deputy at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Department has confirmed that two security guards at Heart WeHo were physically assaulted as they were ejecting two unruly men out of the nightclub.

One security guard was punched in the face and the other guard was bitten during the altercation. The incident happened on Thursday, March 16, at roughly 11 p.m.

According to the report, two men were being escorted outside of the nightclub located at 8911 Santa Monica Boulevard, when one of suspects punched one of the security guards in the face. A physical altercation ensued and another guard was bitten in the arm. The bite broke the skin in the arm. The man who was punched in the face required some stitches.

Both men were arrested for felony charges based on their assault.

The incident at Heart WeHo occurred roughly 24 Hours after a woman was stabbed at Beaches WeHo Wednesday night, located nearby. A physical altercation between a male suspect and a security guard at the bar led to a woman being stabbed in her thigh area. The suspect was arrested and the victim was taken to a nearby hospital. She is reportedly in stable condition.

If you see something, say something. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. If you see something, say something. Anyone with information can also drop a tip at https://www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Your identity is always encrypted and anonymous. No personal information, phone number, e-mail, IP address or location is ever requested, saved, traced, tracked or monitored. Period.

The purpose of Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers is to prevent and reduce crime, by forming a partnership among the community, law enforcement and the media to offer anonymity and cash rewards to anyone providing information leading to an arrest.

Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming the two key elements that inhibit community involvement: fear and apathy.

West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station polices the City of West Hollywood and the unincorporated communities of Franklin Canyon, Universal City (which includes Universal Theme Park, Studios, and Citywalk), and the Federal Enclave in West Los Angeles.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood has launched WeHo Wi-Fi, the City’s first major free outdoor public Wi-Fi network. The new Wi-Fi network spans the entire length of Santa Monica Boulevard within West Hollywood utilizing a network of powerful Wi-Fi 6 access points installed at traffic light intersections and select transit shelters along the boulevard that provide robust Wi-Fi coverage.

The City’s WeHo Wi-Fi network will provide free outdoor Wi-Fi connectivity to members of the public, including residents, businesses, visitors, and city staff members who are working in the field. In addition, the free outdoor public Wi-Fi network is also available at West Hollywood Park, including the Aquatic and Recreation Center, and at the Plummer Park Community Center. Members of the public may access the WeHo Wi-Fi network via mobile device by selecting ‘WeHo Wi-Fi’ and agreeing to the terms of service.

Public Wi-Fi is not designed to be used inside buildings, or inside a vehicle, moving or stationary, and while the City strives to keep the Wi-Fi operational at all times, the service may be unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances like weather, Internet provider outages, network upgrades, or technical issues. The City does not have access to your device, nor does it collect any personal information. However, the WeHo Wi-Fi system does collect statistics such as device type, operating system, and Wi-Fi usage that will help better serve the public as this service grows.

With the rapid growth of technology and the increasing demand for connectivity, the City of West Hollywood believes that providing free outdoor public Wi-Fi is an important service that can make a significant difference in the lives of people who live, work, and visit West Hollywood.

For additional information please visit the City of West Hollywood’s WeHo Wi-Fi website information page at www.weho.org/services/weho-wi-fi or contact the City’s Information Technology Division, at [email protected] or at (323) 848-6448. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

WEST HOLLYWOOD – A Coalition of agencies will distribute free naloxone and fentanyl test strips to help keep those celebrating St. Patrick’s Day safe. Pickle the drag queen will be assisting in distributing resources.

To ensure that individuals have access to life-saving resources during a time of celebration and increased risk, the coalition is saying to folks, “Make your own luck this St. Patrick’s Day weekend.”

Take action and stay safe with free naloxone and  fentanyl test strips that will be made available on Saturday, March 18, 2023, 7 p.m. at the West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. on the Robertson Blvd. side of the park.

Sponsors include the Safer WeHo Coalition: 

▪ AIDS Healthcare Foundation 

▪ Friends Community Center 

▪ Los Angeles Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse 

▪ Being Alive LA 

▪ Men’s Health Foundation 

▪ Los Angeles LGBT Center – WeHo Life 

▪ Tarzana Treatment Centers 

▪ Out Here Sexual Health 

▪ The Wall – Las Memorias Project 

▪ Drag Queen Story Hour 

▪ City of West Hollywood ▪ West Hollywood Project

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Special Victims Bureau, is currently investigating a sexual assault that occurred in the City of West Hollywood and is seeking information regarding the suspect.
 
On March 13, 2023, between the hours of 1:30 AM and 1:45 AM, Deputies assigned to West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station responded to the 7600 block of Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood regarding a sexual assault involving a male suspect and a female adult victim. The suspect approached the victim at a bus bench and forced her to a nearby parking garage where the sexual assault occurred. The suspect then walked southbound on Fuller Avenue and out of view.
 
The suspect is described as a:

• Male, Black, approximately 28 years old
• Approximately 6’01” / approximately 210 lbs., muscular build
• Black eyes, mustache
• Last seen wearing a ski mask, baseball cap, cream colored “XTC” sweater over a green hoodie, black pants, and white shoes.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Special Victims Bureau is tasked with investigating the sexual and physical abuse of children and felonious sexual assaults involving adult victims. 

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Special Victims Bureau toll free tip line at (877) 710-5273 or by email at [email protected]

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP or “P3 Mobile” for the hearing impaired on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – E Entertainment reports that Pump Restaurant, partly owned by reality TV personality, Lisa Vanderpump, may be leaving the City of West Hollywood after being on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Robertson Boulevard (next the The Abbey Weho) for the past 10 years.

According ET, broker Leslie Haro with City Street Commercial has revealed that Pump Lounge at 8948 Santa Monica Blvd., is being sold and that the landlord is currently looking for a long-term tenant. Vanderpump owns the restaurant with her husband, longtime restaurateur, Ken Todd; they do not own the property. According to Haro the restaurant and bar is expected to be sold.

However, Vanderpump told ET that she and her husband have a great relationship with the landlord and that they are currently discussing resigning their lease over the next few months. She revealed that they haven’t made a decision yet, but they will be be opening two more restaurants with Caesars Palace.

A sign in the window of Pump restaurant this past weekend stated that the restaurant was closed due to the rain. However, we reported here first that Vanderpump’s two highly profiled West Hollywood restaurants, Pump Lounge and Tom Tom Restaurant, both had their liquor licenses suspended this past Wednesday, March 8. Tom Tom was reinstated on March 10, but Pump Lounge is still suspended as of March 15, 2023, per California’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC).

On March 8, the first episode of “Vanderpump Rules,” aired aired since a scandal first broke on March 3, when TMZ reported that Tom Sandoval one of the junior partners at Tom Tom Restaurant, was cheating on his longtime girlfriend Ariana Madix with Leviss. The story shocked fans, as Sandoval and Madix were one of the show’s steadiest couples.

The scandal dubbed “scandoval” reportedly gave the show its highest total viewers with 2.2 million viewers and the highest-rated episode among 18-49 demo in nearly three years according to The Wrap.

As word of the “Scandoval” spread to bigger audiences on social media, live viewing for the March 8 episode also doubled from the previous week’s episode, which aired March 1. In terms of streaming, the episode also climbed to the third highest Bravo episode to be watched on Peacock the next day among both total viewers and among adults 18-49 through 3 days.

“I want to first and foremost apologize to everyone I’ve hurt through this process,” Sandoval posted on his social media platforms. “Most of all, I want to apologize to Ariana. I made mistakes, I was selfish, and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love. No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly.”

Pump Lounge is expected to open tonight after being closed since last Friday.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – Kent Okukporo, 42, has been charged with sexual battery, drugging someone with intent to commit sexual assault and attempted kidnapping in an incident Los Angeles County Sheriff detectives say took place on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Detectives from the LASD’s Special Victims Bureau and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station are investigating a sexual assault case involving Okukporo who witnesses drugged, sexually assaulted, and tried to kidnap a female adult as she visited The Abbey Food and Bar with friends in West Hollywood.

A press statement from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station noted that on February 25, patrol deputies received a call from a female adult and several witnesses who alleged a male adult had placed drugs in her drink while she was inside The Abbey nightclub.

When the victim became disoriented, the male grabbed her by the arm and attempted to take her outside of the location and into an unknown vehicle. As the male held onto her, he sexually assaulted her. The victim was able to get away from the suspect.

At the time of the incident, the suspect had been seen by Abbey security personnel at the location pulling on the victim, so they intervened, which cause the suspect to release the victim and quickly leave the location.

During the investigation, detectives reviewed surveillance footage of the suspect inside the night club with security personnel. The next day, the suspect returned to the night club where he was spotted and identified by nightclub security personnel as being the one who was seen pulling the female adult outside of the nightclub the previous evening.

Security personnel contacted the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, who responded and detained the male adult. He was also identified by the female adult as the one who drugged her drink, attempted to take her outside, and sexually assault her.

Okukporo was arrested for drugging someone for the purposes of sexual assault, attempted kidnapping, and sexual battery. He was taken to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station where he was booked with bail set at $160 thousand dollars. He posted bail and was released on March 1, 2023.

Detectives presented their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office which reviewed the case and filed one count of drugging someone with the intent to commit a sexual assault, attempt kidnapping, and sexual battery.

Okukporo’s next scheduled court date is March 14, 2023, at the Los Angeles County Airport Courthouse.

Investigators West Hollywood are looking for more possible victims of the suspect.

The City of West Hollywood began distributing drink-spiking test strips in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s WeHo Life program to West Hollywood nightlife establishments last October. Drink-spiking test strips are designed to detect the possible presence of “date rape” drugs, such as GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) or ketamine. The test-strip user drops a small amount of drink liquid on the testing patch, which turns dark blue if drugs are present.

If you see something, say something. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. If you see something, say something. Anyone with information can also drop a tip at https://www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Related: (Link)

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – A woman was allegedly drugged, sexually assaulted and then almost kidnapped by a man she encountered at The Abbey in West Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday.

KABC 7 reports that it is not yet clear when the incident happened or if they have suspect in custody. A full report from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Department is expected at some point later today.

According to KABC deputies say they are looking for other possible victims.

The City of West Hollywood began distributing drink-spiking test strips in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s WeHo Life program to West Hollywood nightlife establishments last October. Drink-spiking test strips are designed to detect the possible presence of “date rape” drugs, such as GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) or ketamine. The test-strip user drops a small amount of drink liquid on the testing patch, which turns dark blue if drugs are present.

The WeHo Life program has partnered with local nightlife venues to ensure test strips are available on an ongoing basis for interested patrons. The immediate aim is to inform and educate community members and businesses that drink-spiking test strips are a tool for personal safety that can be used anywhere at any time. The City and the Center hope that personal experience with using test strips will encourage nightlife patrons to purchase, carry, and use them on a regular basis.

If you see something, say something. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. If you see something, say something. Anyone with information can also drop a tip at https://www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Your identity is always encrypted and anonymous. No personal information, phone number, e-mail, IP address or location is ever requested, saved, traced, tracked or monitored. Period.

The purpose of Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers is to prevent and reduce crime, by forming a partnership among the community, law enforcement and the media to offer anonymity and cash rewards to anyone providing information leading to an arrest.

Crime Stoppers encourages members of the community to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming the two key elements that inhibit community involvement: fear and apathy.

Crime Stoppers uses a three-part approach to preventing and solving crimes. The first part of the program is to empower the community by providing a safe way to report criminal activity. Secondly, Crime Stoppers partners with all forms of media in the Los Angeles region to inform the community on how to anonymously report crimes. Law Enforcement is the final part of the triangle; they follow-up on tips from
community members.

West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station polices the City of West Hollywood and the unincorporated communities of Franklin Canyon, Universal City (which includes Universal Theme Park, Studios, and Citywalk), and the Federal Enclave in West Los Angeles.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist.

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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.