Los Angeles
UN honors Cyndi Lauper for human rights and LGBTQ advocacy (interview, photos)
Cyndi Lauper at “Home for the Holidays” in LA Dec 10, 2019. (Photo by Rich Polk/Rich Polk, courtesy True Colors United)
Donald Trump aside, most Americans believe the United Nations tries to peacefully fix global problems. Feminist historians note, for instance, that Eleanor Roosevelt, as the determined chair of the UN Human Rights Commission, crafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and wooed and cajoled commission members — despite some members’ deeply held misogynistic attitudes toward women — to accept this still relied-upon model of how human beings should behave toward each other.
It is something of a symbolic marvel, then, that in this Trumpian era — 71 years after the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration, establishing Dec. 10 as Human Rights Day — that the UN came to Los Angeles to present a prize for LGBTQ advocacy, a component of human rights it took the UN decades to acknowledge.
That’s what happened Dec. 10 when Laurent Sauveur, representing the UN office of Human Rights, flew from Switzerland to Los Angeles to present singer, songwriter, actor and LGBTQ icon Cyndi Lauper with the first High Note Global Prize for her LGBTQ advocacy worldwide. The brief ceremony occurred during Lauper’s annual “Home for the Holidays” all-star concert at The Novo benefiting True Colors United, her non-profit organization advocating for LGBTQ homeless youth.
“Today is a very special day. Today is Human Rights Day,” Sauveur said, noting the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the international community. “This is why it is a beautiful symbol to award, on this very day, the first High Note Global Prize to Cyndi Lauper. Cyndi is an artist who is fiercely dedicated to make the promise of the Declaration – that all human beings are born free and equal — the reality for everyone.”
Musicians, the UN representative said, “hold a very special place in society as they have the ability to inspire people to take action. And we are honored to celebrate one of its greatest tonight – Cyndi Lauper. Throughout her career, Cyndi has been an advocate – a remarkable advocate – for women’s rights, and for the rights of the LGBTQ community. She has written and sung their songs and powerfully embodied the cause of equality, touching the lives of millions through her work with True Colors United.”
Other than outbursts of applause, The Novo Theater was still as Sauveur spoke. Yes, entertainment, laughter, and songs by unlikely duets such as Lauper and Marilyn Manson and with Henry Rollins was the call of the evening. But there was also a sense that this event served a transformative higher cause.
Keish presents Cyndi Lauper with UN High Note Global Prize (Photo by Rich Polk, courtesy True Colors United)
It was there in the catch in Kesha’s voice as she introduced Sauveur before joining him to present the honor. No one who watched the 60th annual Grammy Awards in January 2018 can forget the powerful moment of sisterhood when Lauper and other women clad in suffragette white emotionally backed up a defiant Kesha singing “Praying,” symbolizing the enormity of the #MeToo movement.
“This Global award holds a special place for artists as it’s given to a remarkable person who uses their musical gifts to promote human rights and to speak truth to power,” Kesha said. “As many of you know, Cyndi has spent decades fighting for human rights – for LGBTQ rights – and she has never backed down. A recent example was her testimony to the U.S. Senate in which she secured approximately $250 million in new annual funding to invest in preventing youth homelessness – of which a disproportionate number is LGBTQ youth. Cyndi has stated that ‘we each have a personal responsibility to make sure LGBTQ youth are treated with dignity and respect.’ I couldn’t agree more.”
Laurent Sauveur, Chief External Officer of United Nations Human Rights, and pop superstar Kesha presented Cyndi Lauper with the first-ever High Note Global Prize on December 10, 2019 in Los Angeles. (Photo by David Rose)
Lauper took the large multi-color Venetian plate from Keisha, looked at it, turned to Sauveur and said, “This is like some kind of art! It’s a real piece of art!”
Cyndi Lauper tells the “Home for the Holidays” audience about LGBTQ homeless youth (Photo by David Rose)
Then, in her own passionate fashion, Lauper spiritually channeled human rights activist Eleanor Roosevelt, sharing that her activism is motivated by knowing that 40 percent of the youth among America’s more than 4 million homeless are LGBT kids who are there just because of who they are. But, just as Roosevelt sought a solution for the hatred targeting refugees after World War II, Lauper said she believes the problem of LGBTQ youth homelessness is “fixable.”
Backstage: Chantel Sausedo, Executive Producer of The High Note Global Initiative; Laurent Sauveur, Chief External Officer of UN Human Rights; Cindy Lauper, High Note Global Prize Laureate; superstar Kesha; and David Clark, Creator of The High Note Global Initiative. (Photo by David Rose)
Greyson Chance gave artistic testimony to Lauper‘s power of inspiration. He sang a ballad about loving someone who does not love you back, such as children who love rejecting parents, and told a story of how, at age 13 in 2011, he and Lauper performed at the Human Rights Campaign gala honoring President Barack Obama.
Chance sat between his mother and Lauper when Obama gave an impassioned speech about equality and the work ahead for activists in the civil rights community. Lauper took his shoulder, got New York aggressive and told him to take Obama’s words to heart as the foundation for both his mission in life and of his music. That was a moment of revelation, Chance said, and when he finally did come out as a gay man in Oklahoma and started knocking on doors for Freedom Oklahoma, he thought about Lauper’s inspiration when he felt discouraged and lost. Now 21, he knows he’s one of the lucky ones whose parents did not discard him into the heap of millions of unwanted LGBT youth who live in our streets.
Cyndi Lauper, James Duke Mason, Belinda Carlisle backstage at The Novo at LA Live. (Photo courtesy Duke Mason)
The message resonated. “It was a truly incredible night. Not only for me as the son of one of the performers, but it was amazing as a young gay man to see the outpouring of love and support for the most vulnerable in the LGBTQ community. Incredibly moving and powerful,” longtime West Hollywood activist James Duke Mason told the Los Angeles Blade. Mason’s mother, Belinda Carlisle, sang a duet with Lauper on her LGBTQ anthem “True Colors.”
Belinda Carlisle and Cyndi Lauper sing “True Colors” (Photo by Rich Polk, courtesy True Colors United)
Belinda Carlisle and Cyndi Lauper after singing “True Colors” (Photo by David Rose)
Lauper initially came to the attention of the LGBTQ community in the early 1980s with the playful “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” with a video full of girls of color.
Gay men with AIDS seized the song as a defiantly joyful response to the inevitability of death.
“I saw many of my friends ill. I saw everyone ill. It was unfortunate that at that time the president did not acknowledge AIDS even though his friend Rock Hudson was very ill with it,” Lauper told the Los Angeles Blade in a phone interview. “But yeah, I know that it gave a lot of people joy. I wanted it to.”
And perhaps that’s the simple genius of her soulful connection to humanity: Lauper wants to use her artistic talent to benefit others, as exemplified in this line from “Kinky Boots:” “If your glitter rusts/ Let me raise you up (and up).” In 2013, she made history becoming the first woman to win a Tony Award for best score as a solo female writer for that Broadway hit.
“Kinky Boots” star Billy Porter (Photo by Rich Polk, courtesy True Colors United)
“I’m a friend and family of the community,” Lauper told the Los Angeles Blade. And her life has been enmeshed with the community, through the struggles of her lesbian sister Ellen and her friends, such as her best friend Gregory Natal who had been kicked out of his home at 12 for being gay, survived homelessness on the streets, and subsequently died of AIDS at age 27.
“Blue Angel, Gregory—- his nickname was blue because he had blue eyes,” she said. “We did the ‘She Bop’ video [accidentally inspired by gay porn] together and that was around the time he told me that he had AIDS. And as he got sicker and he was in the hospital, he wanted me to write a song for him like ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ and that’s Burt Bacharach. But I am not Burt Bacharach remotely, one could only aspire to be like that.
“But I wrote about what I knew. So I wrote ‘Boy Blue’ and my grief. And fortunately, that was a song in which I poured out my heart and liver, which is not good for repetitive play,” Lauper said. “I wanted it to be live and I wanted the sound of that drum to have the soul, that archaic part of your soul that you call too, because it was an important song. So I wanted a call to people’s souls and then I wanted to speak to the tender part in their heart. And so that’s why I sung it like that.
“And in the end, it turned out to be just what Gregory wanted because years later I realized that that song helped a lot of people, a lot of different kinds of people, people who were ill, people who were different, people who were so sad,” Lauper said.
Lauper got super creative for her video performance of “The Ballad of Cleo and Joe,” inspired by a “very Fellini-esque” dance troupe of drag performers with whom she’d gone on the road. Very pregnant with her nine pound son, she glued little mirrors on her stomach to make it look like a disco ball and mimed moves while turning on a turntable. “What was I trying to tell my [unborn] son? That it’s an inclusive world and we are who we are and it’s good to embrace who you are and once you accept yourself, you can accept others, too, ” she said.
But it was “True Colors” that brought emails, first one, then another, then an avalanche. “It was all these emails about people who were disenfranchised by their friends, their family, and their jobs. They had nothing, nothing. And they were suicidal and they heard this song and it gave them strength and they were able to not kill themselves. And then I thought, “People killing themselves just because of who they are?” So I called my sister and I talked to her it and I said, “El, when the time comes, you and me, we’ve got to get something about this.” And she said, “Absolutely.” And then when the time came and we did that campaign with PFLAG, Stay Close, we did that together.”
Lauper says her “ah-ha moment” about becoming the kind of artist/activist the UN honors occurred “back in the aughts (2000s) when I heard actually the president at the time speaking as if hate crimes against LGBTs was okay and it’s not okay. And when civil rights was just being pared down and down and down, and that made me first say, ‘You know what? Enough is enough now.’ And anything I could do to use my voice, I felt like, ‘Let’s do this.’”
Cyndi Lauper and Judy Shepard in 2014 (Photo from Lauper’s Twitter page)
Meeting Matthew Shepard’s mom Judy Shepherd — she is on the board of the Matthew Shepard Foundation — and meeting Gregory Lewis and Kathy Nelson through the Human Rights Campaign that “really changed my perspective on things,” Lauper said, “because I, at one point, felt like, ‘What the heck? No matter what we do we’re just still pawns here.’ And then I felt that you can do something. I stepped into it and then before I knew it, things were actually changing. We were doing something. We had the inclusive True Colors tours,” focused on “LGBT homeless youth because this is a fixable situation because they’re only homeless because they’re LGBTQ. And that means that with programs and advocacy and helping people get back on their feet and back into society. And it will help society itself because throwing away youth because of who they are is not a solution of any kind, it’s just a very close-minded ignoramus kind of thing.”
Lauper didn’t want to discuss Donald Trump, whom she knew from New York and for whom she says she did not vote. She had not remembered the ads he took out against the Central Park Five, and while he bad mouthed her dear lesbian friend Rosie O’Donnell, she wanted to use her appearance on Season 9 of the “Celebrity Apprentice” to promote and win money for what was then called her True Colors Fund.
But Lauper’s firing in Episode 9, which aired May 9, 2010, prefigured behavior Americans now see since the Trumps moved into the White House. Lauper was fired “for telling Mr. Trump that the color of the celebrity room, which was the judges’ favorite room and for which Cyndi was given much credit, was actually Holly’s idea. Cyndi was also criticized for bossing around the men who had come to work on the apartment,” according to an analysis on Wikipedia.
Apparently judge Don Jr. wanted to fire Holly Robinson-Peete, until Lauper told the truth, which Trump’s son called a “tactical mistake.” As she exited, Lauper as the experience was “like high school.”
“Well, [Trump’s] son said that it was not easy being his son, which obviously it’s not. But I think that I just would have had no idea. I have no comment on that,” Lauper told the Los Angeles Blade. “I want to stay in the politics of uniting people, not separating them.
“I do believe in the Constitution. I really do,” Lauper said. “I don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat or liberal – what the heck, we’re all Americans. And as long as we can talk together, we can solve things together and that’s what we’re supposed to do. And we have a Constitution that protects us with checks and balances and that’s what we should believe in and that’s what I believe in. That’s what I was taught since I was a kid.
Cyndi Lauper singing at “Home for the Holidays” concert Dec. 10, 2019 in LA (Photo by Rich Polk, courtesy True Colors United)
“I have nothing to say about the President,” Lauper said. “I only have something to say about what we can fix in this country together and we can help each other. And you don’t throw youth away, ever. And the most fixable, logical fix is the LGBTQ kids because they’re just there because they’re LGBTQ, which is not a problem. The only problem is they’re homeless and they need to be helped. And they’re the most vulnerable, too. Because these youths have other issues. And so once we learn about this most complex issue, we fix that then the others are easier to fix, you understand?…We need the advocacy, the programs, and a helping hand.
“If your glitter rusts, let me raise you up,” Lauper adds, quoting a line from “Kinky Boots.”
One imagines Eleanor Roosevelt would have cheered Cyndi Lauper being awarded a human rights award by the United Nations.
Los Angeles
Tens of thousands at LA Pride Parade & Block Party in Hollywood
The parade was hosted by “Good Morning America” weekend co-anchor Gio Benitez and ABC7 anchor Ellen Leyva. ABC7 broadcast the parade live.
LOS ANGELES – The 54th annual LA Pride Parade kicked off Sunday morning as tens of thousands of Angelenos and visitors took over the streets of Hollywood, continuing a two-day celebration of Pride Month 2024.
Broadcast live and online by KABC 7, The band Mariachi Arcoiris kicked off the 2024 LA Pride Parade with a rousing performance in Hollywood.
KABC also caught up with grand marshal and “Star Trek” legend George Takei accompanied by his husband Brad Takei.
The parade began at 11 a.m. at Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, then headed north on Highland, east on Hollywood Boulevard, south on Cahuenga Boulevard and back to Sunset.
Takei, who served as the Icon Grand Marshal told KABC: “As someone who has witnessed the struggles and triumphs of our community over the years, I am filled with gratitude for the progress we have made and inspired to continue the fight for full acceptance and equality for all.”
Takei’s husband Brad compared him to the late Betty White joking about the actor being 87 years old having just had a birthday this past Spring.
KABC noted that Professional wrestler Cassandro, El Exotico served as the Legacy Grand Marshal, while Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley — the agency’s first openly gay chief — was the Community Grand Marshal.
“These individuals epitomize this year’s theme of Power in Pride,’ not just through their own achievements, but through their unwavering commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and visibility,” Gerald Garth, board president of event sponsor Christopher Street West, said in a statement. “As this year’s grand marshals, they embody the essence of empowerment, showing us that our differences are not obstacles but sources of strength. Together, they inspire us to embrace our identities, break barriers.”
In an interview with the Los Angeles Blade on Friday, Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief Kristin M. Crowley expressed her excitement about participating in the LA Pride Parade this Sunday.
“This feels like a whole other level, especially being part of the parade as a grand marshal of the Los Angeles Fire Department,” she said. “It’s very humbling. I have been proud to participate in the pride parade over the past few years, but this is extra special—being able to be out front and represent the department and our community as a whole.”
The parade was hosted by “Good Morning America” weekend co-anchor Gio Benitez and ABC7 anchor Ellen Leyva. ABC7 broadcast the parade live.
The LA Pride Block Party followed the parade beginning at noon and continuing until 8 p.m. on Hollywood Boulevard between Vine and Gower streets. The free event included vendor and information booths, a beer garden, food trucks and live entertainment.
Additional reporting by KABC 7 LA
Los Angeles
LAFD Chief Kristin M. Crowley is a LA Pride Parade grand marshal
The Out LAFD Chief will lead department personnel in the LA Pride Parade this Sunday June 9, with the theme “Power in Pride”
LOS ANGELES – In an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Blade, Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief Kristin M. Crowley expressed her excitement about participating in the LA Pride Parade this Sunday.
“This feels like a whole other level, especially being part of the parade as a grand marshal of the Los Angeles Fire Department,” she said. “It’s very humbling. I have been proud to participate in the pride parade over the past few years, but this is extra special—being able to be out front and represent the department and our community as a whole.”
A firefighter of over 25 years who took the oath of office on March 25, 2022, Chief Crowley leads a diverse team of approximately 3,400 sworn personnel and over 350 civilians. Her leadership extends across the vast and varied landscape of Los Angeles, where the LAFD responds to over 1,300 emergency calls daily.
Chief Crowley emphasized the importance of visibility and community support, especially in the current political climate.
“The political environment right now definitely heightens my sensitivity to the issue, and visibility is even more important. What I love about the pride parade, especially from the lens of being in the parade, is that you get to see the joy light up in people’s eyes and feel all the support… I especially love seeing families who come out to support our community. People are showing up. It’s purposeful action; they are showing up to celebrate pride.”
Chief Crowley has been with her wife for 20 years, and together they have three teenage daughters. Her wife, a retired firefighter, met Crowley on the job. Their family’s support has been a cornerstone of her journey, both personally and professionally. While Chief Crowley told The Blade that she feels supported in her life as a queer wife and mother of three, her journey to this moment has not been without challenges.
“I was not comfortable in my skin for a long time,” she said. “It took several years at the department for me to come out. Being able to be visible, comfortable in my skin, and represent who I am is significant. People at the department were supportive of my coming out, and now I can be open about my marriage and my family.”
In addition to her role as Fire Chief, Crowley has been instrumental in the LAFD’s youth development programs and various leadership roles within the department.
She has served on the executive boards of the Chief Officers’ Association and The Women in the Fire Service, chaired the Fire Code Committee for Los Angeles, and is an instructor and facilitator at the Los Angeles Fire Department Leadership Academy.
As she prepares to march in the pride parade, Chief Crowley looks forward to participating in a celebration she has long held dear. “I take this as a humongous honor and can’t wait to be able to celebrate with everyone on Sunday,” she said.
Los Angeles
RuPaul’s Drag Race Queens hit the Beverly Center
100% of the proceeds from OUTLOUD Presents Pride @ Bev will be donated to OUTWORDS, a LA local nonprofit organization
By Mike Pingel | LOS ANGELES – The second annual OUTLOUD Presents Pride @ Bev event hit the Beverly Center at 8500 Beverly Boulevard this Saturday for an afternoon of pride experiences with a discussion and special drag performances by Alyssa Edwards, Plane Jane, Laganja Estranja, and Plastique Tiara.
Pride @ Bev offered plenty of freebies, photo ops, and interactive activities like Drag Bingo hosted by Athena Kills, a Beauty Demo hosted by MakeUp Forever, and a Glam Station by Sephora. There were also Photo Moments, a VIP Lounge with bar and bites, and a chance to spin a Beverly Center Wheel for a chance to win VIP passes to the OUTLOUD Music Festival and WeHo Pride. VIP is completely sold out. The only way to get these passes now is to win them.
100% of the proceeds from OUTLOUD Presents Pride @ Bev will be donated to OUTWORDS, a LA local nonprofit organization that captures, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQIA2S+ elders to build community and catalyze social change.
OUTLOUD Music Festival, created by Jeff Consoletti, launched in 2020 as a ten-episode series on Facebook in lieu of Pride Celebrations happening in cities across the country due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, quickly becoming one of the first major virtual LGBTQ+ showcases.
Since its debut, OUTLOUD garnered over nearly two billion media impressions and won several industry-topping awards including multiple SHORTY Awards for Best Use of Facebook and Best Use of Twitch, a MARCOM Award & a Cynopsis Digital Award for BEST LGBTQ Series.
Follow @OfficiallyOUTLOUD #WeAreOUTLOUD. http://weareoutloud.com.
The Beverly Center:
Located at the edge of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, Beverly Center features the best in luxury and contemporary retail, along with delectable street level restaurants with everything from modern fresh favorites to fast-casual eateries. Home to over 90 stores, all beneath an impressive skyline, Beverly Center is anchored by Bloomingdale’s & Macy’s and is home to L.A.’s largest collection of luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Saint Laurent, Ferragamo, and trending fashion brands including Mango, Zara and H&M.
For more information, visit beverlycenter.com.
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Mike Pingel has written six books, Channel Surfing: Charlie’s Angels & Angelic Heaven: A Fan’s Guide to Charlie’s Angels, Channel Surfing: Wonder Woman, The Brady Bunch: Super Groovy after all these years; Works of Pingel and most recently, Betty White: Rules the World. Pingel owns and runs CharliesAngels.com website and was Farrah Fawcett personal assistant. He also works as an actor and as a freelance publicist.
His official website is www.mikepingel.com
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The preceding article was previously published by WeHo Times and is republished with permission.
Los Angeles
LA Pride Parade announces grand marshals, KABC 7 to broadcast
The parade route begins at Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue ending at Sunset and Cahuenga boulevards in Hollywood
LOS ANGELES – Actor George Takei, wrestler Cassandro El Exotico and LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley will serve as grand marshals of the 2024 LA Pride Parade, LA Pride has announced.
The 2024 LA Pride Parade and block party is slated for Sunday, June 9, in Hollywood, and ABC7 is returning as the official broadcast and streaming partner.
According to KABC 7 the parade will have three grand marshals. Takei is designated the “Icon Grand Marshal.” As an actor he was most known for playing Hikaru Sulu in the original “Star Trek” series and films. But he is also an accomplished activist for social justice and LGBTQ+ causes.
“To be recognized in this way by the LGBTQ+ community, an extraordinary group of individuals who have fought tirelessly for equality, is truly overwhelming. As someone who has witnessed the struggles and triumphs of our community over the years, I am filled with gratitude for the progress we have made and inspired to continue the fight for full acceptance and equality for all,” Takei said in a statement.
Cassandro El Exotico is designated the “Legacy Grand Marshal.” Born Saul Armendariz, he is known as a Mexican professional wrestler known for breaking barriers in the world of lucha libre by embracing his openly gay identity in the ring. The film “Cassandro” about his life starring Gael Garcia Bernal was released last year.
Crowley will serve as the “Community Grand Marshal.” She was named Los Angeles Fire Department chief in March 2022, becoming the first woman and first openly gay person to hold the position.
ABC7 will broadcast the 54th annual LA Pride Parade on June 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The coverage will be hosted by Ellen Leyva and “Good Morning America” weekend co-anchor Gio Benitez, with David Gonzalez, Sophie Flay and Karl Schmid reporting from the parade route.
The parade route begins at Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue heading north, then east onto Hollywood Boulevard, then south onto Cahuenga Boulevard, ending at Sunset and Cahuenga boulevards.
After the parade, the LA Pride Block Party starts at 12 p.m. on Hollywood Boulevard.
Latin superstar Ricky Martin was previously announced as the headliner for the Pride in the Park festival the night before the parade, Saturday, June 8.
Los Angeles
LA’s lost an iconic entertainment reporter, Sam Rubin dies at 64
Rubin was a longtime fixture in the entertainment landscape beloved by celebrities and the public alike & spending his career solely at KTLA
LOS ANGELES – A beloved and respected member of the entertainment press corps in Southern California, KTLA’s Sam Rubin, died Friday morning at the age of 64 after suffering a fatal cardiac arrest.
A source close to the station confirmed to Variety that Rubin died at his home in Brentwood of a heart attack after doing his regular Hollywood news segments on KTLA’s 7-9 a.m. “Morning News” program on Friday.
Rubin was a longtime fixture in the entertainment landscape beloved by celebrities and the public alike and with the rarity of spending his professional career solely at KTLA.
In a statement to Variety, Perry Sook, chairman and CEO of Nexstar, called the entertainment news anchor “an icon” for the region and the industry.
“Sam was an icon in Los Angeles and the entertainment industry and he was a beloved member of our Nexstar Nation. My prayers are with his family and the KTLA family as we mourn his passing. He will be missed.”
Rubin joined KTLA 5 Morning News in Los Angeles in 1991, where he instantly made an impact with his unmatched, encyclopedic knowledge of film and television. Over the years, his reports and interviews informed and entertained millions of television viewers in L.A. and beyond.
“The Sam that you saw on the air is the Sam that was off the air,” Rubin’s longtime colleague and friend Frank Buckley said in announcing his passing on live television. “To all of us he shared his mornings with on television, and to those he worked with behind the scenes at KTLA, we will not forget him.”
According to his KTLA biography:
Since joining the show in 1991, he has established a reputation as someone who goes beyond the entertainment headlines of the day. His insights and exploration of the deeper meaning and impact of the stories within the entertainment industry generate conversation within the business, as well as outside it.
Sam is a multiple-Emmy winner; has received the Golden Mike Award for best entertainment reporter; has received a lifetime achievement award from the Southern California Broadcasters Association; and has been named best entertainment reporter by the Los Angeles Press Club.
Sam was honored by the National Hispanic Media Coalition with its 2013 Impact Award for outstanding integrity in broadcast journalism.
He is the author of two published books, and has seen his work published in both print and online around the world. Sam regularly appears on BBC television and radio in the United Kingdom, and is a regular contributor to Triple M radio and Channel 9 television network in Australia.
Sam is one of the founding members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the largest organization of film and television critics in the United States with more than 200 members. In 1996, the BFCA began the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, now regarded in the same tier as the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. The 2013 Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, hosted by Sam, was seen in more than 2 million homes, making it the No. 1 rated show in Los Angeles and other major cities. It was also the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter that evening and generated more than 500 million impressions online.
Sam is the owner of SRE, Inc., a television production company that has produced more than 200 hours of broadcast and cable programming, including several “Live From” red carpet shows and 120 episodes of the talk show “Hollywood Uncensored.”
Off the air, Sam supports various non-profit organizations including putting together a KTLA team for the annual MS 150 Bay to Bike Tour, the premiere cycling event in Southern California raising funds to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. He also is interested in revitalizing Los Angeles schools, including support for literacy programs and events such as the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
Sam received his Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies and rhetoric at Occidental College in Los Angeles.
Sam lived in Brentwood with his wife Leslie and their four children.
Sam’s son, Colby, joined KTLA 5 Morning News on Monday, May 13, 2024 to reflect on his father’s passing and share a message to him.
'I IDOLIZED YOU. YOU ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE MY HERO'
— KTLA (@KTLA) May 13, 2024
Sam Rubin's son, Colby, joined KTLA 5 Morning News on Monday to reflect on his father's passing and share a message to him. pic.twitter.com/NYFXYVqmtT
Related:
Celebrating KTLA 5 Morning News’ 30th anniversary with Sam Rubin:
Los Angeles
Los Angeles Tourism joins with LGBTQ+ folks to celebrate Pride
LA Pride returns, promising an incredible lineup of events, including LA Pride in the Park headlined by Ricky Martin
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Tourism will join the 54th annual LA Pride festivities this June through its support of the organization and its annual lineup of events. LA Pride stands as one of the largest Pride celebrations in the United States and the world.
Throughout LA Pride, local Angelenos and travelers can secure a nearby hotel with the best available rates and enjoy welcome amenities, discounts and more at select properties.
“LA Pride beautifully captures the spirit of our City of Angels with its focus on unity, inclusivity, and self-expression,” said Adam Burke, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. “We are incredibly proud to invite both our fellow Angelenos as well as travelers from around the world to join us in celebrating our LGBTQ+ community.”
LA Pride returns, promising an incredible lineup of events, including LA Pride in the Park headlined by Ricky Martin, the LA Pride Parade & Block Party on Hollywood Boulevard, LGBTQ+ Pride Night at Dodger Stadium and PRIDE is Universal
LA Pride in the Park will take place on Saturday, June 8, 2024 across more than 20 acres of lush green space at LA State Historic Park. The event will feature dozens of local and LGBTQ+ vendors, a huge variety of food & beverage, beer gardens and a special lineup. The global icon Ricky Martin will headline LA Pride in the Park, with additional artists to be unveiled. As the first openly gay Latin artist to take center stage at LA Pride, this also marks Martin’s first-ever headliner Pride performance, anywhere.
The series of events during LA Pride includes the iconic LA Pride Parade which will be held on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Hollywood Boulevard Area. Over 150 contingents will march this year, using the theme “Power in Pride.” The route will be along Hollywood Blvd, and surrounding streets. Those who can’t make it in person are able to watch a live broadcast on ABC7.
“LA Pride radiates a vibrant tapestry of acceptance, unity, and celebration year-round,” shared Gerald Garth, Board President, LA Pride/Christopher Street West. “It’s a testament to our city’s unwavering commitment to embrace diversity and foster an inclusive spirit that transcends boundaries.”
Additional top events during LA Pride include LA Pride in The Park, Parade Block Party, LGBTQ+ Night at Dodger Stadium and Pride is Universal. Read on for details on top events and hotel deals throughout Pride.
For more information about how to celebrate Pride in Los Angeles, visit DiscoverLosAngeles.com/GayLA.
LA PRIDE: EVENTS
LA Pride in The Park – June 8th
Returning to LA State Historic Park for a talented music line-up, dozens of food trucks, sponsor giveaways and activities and much more. LA Pride in The Park takes place on Saturday, June 8th. It’s all happening on over 20 acres of lush green space with a view of the DTLA skyline. Ricky Martin will headline LA Pride in the Park, with additional artists to be unveiled. Tickets can be purchased here.
Parade Block Party – June 9th
Don’t forget the fun Parade Block Party on June 9th, a free Block Party adjacent to the Parade, open from mid-day and going into the evening. With a performance stage, large vendor village, food, pop-up bars, and more. Last year, 35,000 people enjoyed this free Parade “after-party,” don’t miss it! Talent and other announcements coming soon!
LGBTQ+ Pride Night at Dodger Stadium – June 14th
Come watch the Dodgers take on the Kansas City Royals with LA Pride pre-game festivities featuring DJ party, and Pride merch for special ticket holders, only available at dodgers.com/lapride
Pride is Universal – June 15th
Our exclusive after-hours theme park takeover is a fan favorite. Pride is Universal will feature live DJs, Universal character meet-and-greets, photo ops, and more, with musical guests, drag performers and all new elements for this year. Hours, details, and new features to be announced. Tickets go on sale soon.
LA PRIDE: STAY & SLAY
Visitors coming to Los Angeles to celebrate Pride from June 8-11 can “Stay and Slay” with a collection of hotel offers specially curated by Los Angeles Tourism to welcome revelers from around the world. Highlighted hotel offers are listed out below.
Dream Hollywood Hotel
Tucked among the scenic Hollywood Hills, Dream Hollywood boasts 178 playfully sophisticated guest rooms with subtle nods to the mid-century modern aesthetic iconic to LA. Featuring accommodations with unparalleled views, Tao, Beauty & Essex, and The Highlight Room, one of the LA’s swankiest rooftop pools. Book the best available rate here.
The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood
Exuding the energy of old Hollywood and walking distance to Sunset Blvd, the new Godfrey Hotel features one of the largest rooftops in Los Angeles, four on-site bars, various indoor-outdoor event spaces and About Last Knife, an energetic, chef-driven gastropub-meets-steakhouse. LA Pride Staycation: Celebrate love with The Godfrey and receive 15% off the best available rate here.
Hollywood Hotel – The Hotel of Hollywood
Contemporary accommodations meet quintessential Hollywood glamour at Hollywood Hotel. From a sparkling pool to the Route 66 Bistro Bar & Lounge, the historic Hollywood Hotel reflects classic movie star style in every sense. Visit hotel site for best available rate here.
The Hollywood Roosevelt
The Hollywood Roosevelt is a complete lifestyle destination, fusing entertainment, art, culture, design and music all around the property while providing a glimpse at its storied past. Visit hotel site for best available rate here.
Kimpton Everly Hollywood
Kimpton Everly Hollywood is a breath of fresh air in the midst of one of the world’s most storied neighborhoods. The sophisticated Hollywood Hills-infused residential vibe invites lingering and intimate interaction in the café, living room and skyline pool area. Book the hotel’s best available rate here.
Loews Hollywood Hotel
Loews Hollywood Hotel rises 20 floors above the famed intersection of Hollywood and Highland. Spectacular views of the iconic Hollywood sign and Los Angeles cityscape set the stage for 628 rooms including 113 spacious suites, as well as the rooftop pool. *Use CODE: PRIDE to receive 2 comp cocktails at H2 Kitchen & Bar and complimentary upgrade to a suite. Website here.
Mama Shelter
Designed by Thierry Gaugain to honor the beauty of the SoCal landscape, Mama Shelter LA features five floors of uniquely decorated rooms, each a cozy haven in itself. 70 rooms have king-size beds decked out in 5* linen – fit for a movie star! The hotel boasts one of LA’s best rooftop bars, while dining options will appeal to carnivores and vegans alike. View hotel site for best available rate here.
Sheraton Universal
Nestled below the Hollywood Hills, the Sheraton Universal Hotel is just steps away from Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk. Unwind at the poolside lounge or be dazzled with a 270-degree view of Hollywood from the 20-foot windows of the rooftop Starview Room. Book the hotel’s best available rate here.
Thompson Hollywood
Thompson Hollywood is a luxurious new hotel that brings elevated service, and laidback California cool to the heart of Hollywood. The hotel features 190 sophisticated guest rooms and 16 suites, a rooftop pool with sweeping views of Los Angeles, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The world-class culinary and nightlife destinations include the rooftop lounge Bar Lis, chef Lincoln Carson’s French-inspired Mes Amis, and The Terrace, which pairs European fare with Californian views. Use CODE: STAYPROUD to receive best available rate + bottle of wine + 10% donation to Hollywood LGBT Center. Website here.
Tommie Hollywood
Get comfy in a California way, at Tommie Hollywood. There’s a stylish rooftop pool, fitness center, and a terrace bar in the heart of Los Angeles. This 4-star hotel includes the latest restaurant by award winning chef, Wes Avila, Ka’teen. Use code: STAYPROUD to book the best available rate and receive a welcome amenity and bottle of wine, plus a 10% donation to Hollywood LGBT Center here.
W Hollywood Hotel & Residences
Welcome to the new Hollywood. W Hollywood brings together the magnetic spirit of the Golden Era, infused with epic innovation, elegance and excitement. Welcome backstage, where W guests are insiders in the vivacity of the spotlight. Receive 10% off hotel stay plus welcome amenity. Website here.
When you’re not celebrating LA pride at the parade or many events around the city, celebrate by visiting one of the many LGBTQ+ owned restaurants around Los Angeles. Start off in Casita Del Campo in Silverlake for Mexican dishes, make a stop Liberation Coffee House for a latte and end the night at n/naka which was featured in Season 1 of Netflix’s Chef’s Table. n/naka is your ultimate destination for fine Japanese cuisine. View the full guide to LGBTQ owned restaurants in LA here.
For more information, visit discoverlosangeles.com, follow at facebook.com/DiscoverLosAngeles, or @discoverLA on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Los Angeles
Ricky Martin will be the headliner for 2024 LA Pride in the Park
LA Pride in the Park will return to the Los Angeles State Historic Park on Saturday, June 8. Across 20 acres with a capacity for 25,000
By Paulo Murillo | LOS ANGELES – Ricky Martin is headlining LA Pride 2024 at Los Angeles State Historic Park. Christopher Street West Association (CSW) – the 501(c)3 nonprofit that has produced the iconic LA Pride celebration for more than 50 years – announced this week.
In a press release CSW stated that global icon Ricky Martin will headline LA Pride in the Park, with additional artists to be unveiled. As the first openly gay Latin artist to take center stage at the highly-anticipated Pride event of the year, this marks Martin’s first-ever headliner Pride performance.
LA Pride in the Park will return to the Los Angeles State Historic Park on Saturday, June 8. Across 20 acres and with a capacity for 25,000, LA Pride in the Park is one of the most sought-after and largest Official Pride concerts in the country. Additionally, the official theme for this year’s Pride season is “Power in Pride,” which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community’s ability to live authentically.
General Admission and VIP Passes are now available to purchase at lapride.org.
“I am thrilled to be headlining LA Pride in the Park because it’s an incredible opportunity to celebrate love, diversity, and equality,” said Martin. “LA Pride is a testament to the power of community, the power of visibility, and the power of standing up for our rights. Being part of this vibrant community fills me with pride and purpose.”
“With his electrifying stage presence and chart-topping hits, Ricky Martin has long been an inspiration to millions around the world,” said Gerald Garth, board president of CSW/LA Pride. “His participation in LA Pride in the Park goes beyond mere entertainment; it symbolizes a powerful affirmation of queer Latin identity and a celebration of diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. We cannot wait to be ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’ while beaming with Pride!”
Ricky Martin, a global music icon, is a multi-talented artist known for his accomplishments as a singer, songwriter, actor and author. He has won multiple GRAMMY® Awards and is considered one of the most influential superstars in history, often referred to as the “King of Latin Pop.” Throughout his nearly four-decade career, Martin brought Latin music and culture to the mainstream, paving the way for crossover talent.
Born in Puerto Rico, Martin gained fame as a member of the popular Latin American band Menudo before embarking on a successful solo career. Notably, he became the first Latin American male to star in a MAC Viva Glam Campaign, raising significant funds for HIV/AIDS research. With over 180 awards, including two GRAMMY® and four Latin GRAMMY® Awards, Martin made history and has been recognized as the youngest-ever “Person of the Year” by the Latin Recording Academy.
He is also an accomplished actor, earning an EMMY® nomination for his role in FX’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” and displaying his talent on Broadway. He starred in “Jingle Jangle” for Netflix, opposite Forest Whitaker, Anika Noni Rose and Hugh Bonneville and can now be seen in the highly lauded Apple TV series “Palm Royale” alongside Laura Dern, Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney and Carol Burnett.
Beyond his artistic achievements, Martin is a dedicated philanthropist. He established the Ricky Martin Foundation, which actively fights against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. As a Global Ambassador for UNICEF, he has provided significant support to communities affected by natural disasters.
Martin has received numerous humanitarian awards, including the Hispanic Federation’s “Humanitarian Award” and the Human Rights Campaign’s “National Visibility Award.” In recognition of his contributions, the City of New York declared “Ricky Martin Day” to honor his artistic legacy and philanthropic work.
Information about parking, transportation, safety, security, medical support, participating vendors, and further programming will be available soon.
For sponsorship and other talent inquiries, contact LA Pride at [email protected]. For more information, follow @lapride on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
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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. Murillo began his professional writing career as the author of “Love Ya, Mean It,” an irreverent and sometimes controversial West Hollywood lifestyle column for FAB! newspaper. His work has appeared in numerous print and online publications, which include the “Hot Topic” column in Frontiers magazine, where he covered breaking news and local events in West Hollywood. He can be reached at [email protected]
The preceding article was previously published at WeHo Times and is republished with permission.
Los Angeles
LA leaders call for unity & protection for trans community
LAPD has noted a 13 percent increase in overall hate crimes, with LGBTQ+ specific hate crimes up by 33 percent
LOS ANGELES – Addressing a concerning escalation of threats against LGBTQ+ organizations throughout the country, leaders from TransLatin@ Coalition, the Los Angeles Police Department, and other officials gathered in a press conference to denounce acts of intimidation and to call for unity and protective measures for the trans and queer community.
A bomb threat called in to the LAPD on March 28, aimed at the TransLatin@ Coalition specifying today April 15 as the target date, has prompted an immediate and ongoing response from local authorities to ensure the safety of those at the coalition’s facilities and others. The LAPD has since been closely monitoring the site.
The suspect, identified as Henry Nolkemper, a white 61 year old male, was arrested by LAPD shortly afterward after being observed entering his residence on West 53rd Street. The police then searched his residence. Despite the absence of explosives, he was booked under serious charges including criminal threats with a hate crime enhancement.
Nolkemper, known to have a history of mental health issues, was on parole for previous threats to the community. His parole has since been revoked and he is currently held on a one million dollar bail.
The press conference today began with remarks from Robin Toma, Executive Director of LA vs Hate, who highlighted the organization’s role as the third largest source of hate crime reporting in Los Angeles, trailing only police sources.
He also stated that LA vs Hate has reported a troubling increase in trans-specific crimes, noting that such incidents are grossly underreported, a sentiment echoed by surveys within the trans community.
Bamby Salcedo, President and CEO of TLC, expressed her gratitude for the continued support from various partners and emphasized the daily challenges faced by transgender individuals. “Every day a trans woman steps out of her home, it is a revolutionary act. We are people who walk with targets on our backs,” Salcedo declared, setting a tone of resilience and defiance against the threats.
Special thanks were given to Supervisor Hilda Solis and Jury Candelario, a partner from APAIT and a Filipino immigrant, who marked 35 years in America by calling the trans-related stress “chronic” in his long tenure as a social worker. Esther Lim, representing Supervisor Solis, condemned the bomb threat as an act of “cowardice” and highlighted Solis’ support through a previous $55,000 contribution to TLC and a new motion to establish LA’s first LGBTQ+ commission.
Assistant Chief Blake Chow and Deputy Chief Ruby Flores of the LAPD provided updates on the legal actions following the threat. They noted a 13 percent increase in overall hate crimes, with LGBTQ+ specific hate crimes up by 33 percent. “Behind each hate crime, there is a victim, there are families,” Flores said, urging the community to report incidents and support anti-hate education initiatives. “These crimes affect people in ways statistics can’t reflect.”
The press conference also featured voices from the community like Mariana Marroquin, Associate Director of Trans Wellness, who spoke passionately about the ingrained nature of hate experienced by trans individuals from a young age, and Cari Maddox, who emphatically stated, “Hate has no home in Los Angeles.”
Mark Bayard, representing Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, affirmed the DA’s commitment to fighting hate crimes vigorously, especially in light of the upcoming election season, which often sees a spike in such incidents.
As the community grapples with this latest threat, the message from today’s conference was clear: solidarity, education, and legal protection are key to combating hate and fostering a society where transgender people can integrate fully and safely.
Los Angeles
24-year-old trans Latina Angeleno & makeup artist shot to death
“This incident has prompted renewed calls for legislative action to address gun control and protect marginalized groups from violence”
LOS ANGELES – In a tragic incident that has shaken the community and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, Meraxes Medina, a 24-year-old transgender Latina and makeup artist, was fatally shot in Los Angeles on March 21.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Medina was found dead on the road in South Los Angeles. The LAPD said she was shot in the head and that there was evidence she was also struck by a vehicle. Friends and family have confirmed Medina’s identity, celebrating her life and mourning her untimely death, which marks another violent act against transgender individuals.
Medina, known for her work at Universal Studios and her vibrant presence on social media, had begun hormone therapy and was navigating life as an undocumented person who had faced homelessness. Despite these challenges, those close to her remembered her for her potential and the positive impact she had on those around her. Friends have expressed their grief and shock, emphasizing Medina’s kindness, talent, and the bright future they believed she deserved.
The circumstances surrounding Medina’s death reflect a larger pattern of violence targeting the transgender community, particularly transgender women of color. Advocacy groups have highlighted the disproportionate impact of gun violence on transgender individuals, noting that a significant percentage of homicides within this community involve firearms.
The incident has prompted renewed calls for legislative action to address gun control and protect marginalized groups from violence.
California chapters of groups with Everytown for Gun Safety released a statement underscoring Medina was at least the third transgender person killed by gun violence in the U.S.
“We cannot ignore the disproportionate impact of gun violence on our transgender and gender-expansive neighbors, especially its impact on Black trans women and trans Latinas. We must honor Meraxes’ legacy by continuing to fight to protect our transgender and gender-expansive communities not only in California, but across the country,” said Ashley Castillo, a student leader with Students Demand Action and National Organizing Board Member.
As the investigation continues, Medina’s death serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for a societal shift to ensure the safety and dignity of all individuals, regardless of gender identity. “The loss of Meraxes Medina is not only a tragedy for those who knew her but also a call to action to combat hate and violence against the transgender community,” said one activist.
“Meraxes was a young woman who deserved to live out a long and fulfilling life. At just 24-years-old, she had so much more to give. Yet again, we find ourselves honoring the life and mourning the loss of someone from our transgender community killed by gun violence, and that alarming reality should emphasize our collective need to fight against lax gun laws. We need to come together and remind everyone, especially lawmakers and politicians, that our lives are worth saving and worth living,” said Tori Cooper, Human Rights Campaign Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative.
Bamby Salcedo, President/CEO of The TransLatin@ Coalition, issed the following statement: “It’s unfortunate that our sister Meraxes Medina had to perish to the ignorance and violence that we continue to experience as a community, and these are just another examples of what our lives are, and we want to ensure that we hold elected officials accountable for bettering our lives and our future.”
KABC 7 reported between 2017 and 2023, there were 263 reported homicides of transgender people in the U.S., according to the organization. A gun was used in 193 of them.
In California, there were 14 homicides of transgender people reported between 2018 and 2024 so far, and 37% were in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles
LAPD monitoring threats against TransLatin@ Coalition
“These acts of violence underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to protect and uplift the most vulnerable among us”
LOS ANGELES – In a concerning escalation of threats against LGBTQIA+ organizations throughout the country, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed that a bomb threat was called in to the department on March 28, aimed at the TransLatin@ Coalition (TLC), a vanguard organization for Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, and Intersex (TGI) Latinx communities.
The threat, specifying April 15 as the target date, has prompted an immediate and ongoing response from local authorities to ensure the safety of those at the coalition’s facilities. The LAPD has since been closely monitoring the site.
This recent threat comes at a time when the TLC, alongside other organizations within the LGBTQIA+ community, faces increasing hostility, underscored by a series of bomb threats and hate mail aimed at destabilizing the work and well-being of TGI Latinx individuals.
In response to the threat, Bamby Salcedo, the President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition has amplified security measures at TLC and reinforced the importance of emergency preparedness among the staff, emphasizing the coalition’s dedication to fostering a secure and supportive environment despite the daunting challenges posed by such threats.
The bomb threats have been accompanied by hate mail, filled with vitriolic anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and attacks on the Democratic Party, aimed at undermining the coalition’s mission and intimidating its leadership, including Salcedo and Vice President/COO Maria Roman Taylorson.
Despite these attempts to sow fear, the TransLatin@ Coalition stands firm in its mission. “We refuse to be silenced or intimidated,” Salcedo said.
The organization continues to call for unity and action, urging the public to stand in solidarity with TGI communities, report threats or violence, and advocate for greater acceptance and understanding of TGI identities.
The coalition’s commitment to the rights, empowerment, and well-being of TGI Latinx individuals in the United States remains unwavering. Through advocacy, education, and community organizing, the TLC addresses the unique challenges and systemic injustices faced by this community, emphasizing the intersectionality of race and economic status.
As the TLC navigates through these trying times, they have also taken to social media to call for support and positivity, highlighting the unexpected financial strain of heightened security measures.
This recent threat against the TLC occurs amidst a broader climate of heightened animosity towards the LGBTQIA+ community, as reported by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The HRC’s documentation of fatal violence against transgender and gender-expansive individuals in 2024 alone paints a grim picture of the dangers faced by the community.
“These acts of violence and discrimination underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to protect and uplift the most vulnerable among us,” HRC noted.
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