On Saturday morning, a small crowd gathered at the top of the steps at West Hollywood Park, shading their eyes from an unrelenting sun as they flipped through materials that read “Defend Our Democracy” and “Yes on Prop 50.” West Hollywood mayor Chelsea Byers, as well as councilmembers John M. Erickson and Danny Hang, were joined by leaders and members from democratic advocacy groups like Stonewall Young Democrats, Bruin Democrats at UCLA, and Black Los Angeles Young Democrats for a canvassing session. 

The morning began with a sober confession from county assessor Jeff Prang. “I am really scared for our country right now,” he said at the event. “I do believe we’ve already gone over the tipping point…We can’t roll over and surrender when other states are cheating. Prop 50 is going to make sure that California is the leader in ensuring that we have a good chance of retaking the House next year. Hopefully, other democratic states will do the same.” 

Proposition 50, also known as the Election Rigging Response Act, is on the ballot for California’s upcoming special election on Nov. 4th. The measure was created in response to Texas lawmakers’ plans to redraw the state’s congressional districts in order to secure five more U.S. House seats for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. As reported by the Texas Tribune in July, this decision to redistrict resulted from direct pressure from President Trump. 

Typically, new congressional district maps are drawn every 10 years after the national census is conducted. Texas’s decision to redistrict before 2030, when the next census was to be conducted, led to strong resistance to the ethics of this decision. Prop. 50 is, to many, a way to fight back. A “yes” vote on the ballot would allow California to temporarily redistrict state boundaries to make it easier to elect more Democratic officials in the midterms. 

Canvassing efforts, like the West Hollywood action this last Saturday, are one of a few methods advocates are using to inform and have conversations with local voters about the proposition and voting procedures. “What we’re doing this weekend and until November 4th is: we’re talking to people we hope and believe will be supportive of Prop. 50, identifying them [and] making sure they know how to vote, when to vote, what to do with their ballot,” said Jane Wishon, the 51st District Chair for the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. 

Wishon walked attendees through a script to use when knocking on people’s doors. She passed out packets that detailed information about the measure, as well as specifics on mailing in ballots, checking voter registration, and locating ballot drop boxes. Wishon also offered advice on how to greet apprehensive strangers. “You especially want to be non-threatening at the door,” she instructed. “If you step back, they’ll step forward when they answer the door. Otherwise, if you’re right in their face, they’re going to hide behind the door…If you’re lucky enough to get them to have a conversation with you, please smile at everybody.”

Afterwards, attendees split off into groups and selected nearby neighborhoods using PDI Mobile, an app that allowed them to keep track of voters they had surveyed. The target for each group was 45 doors knocked on. Some arranged carpooling options while others, like Mark R. Edwards, headed for the nearest bus stop to find their chosen area. Edwards, who serves on the West Hollywood Historic Preservation Commission, reflected on a previous experience while waiting. “I historically have not canvassed because I had such a weird experience when I [did it for the] first time in Westchester for a campaign. My response rate on the doors versus other people’s…indicated what was different about me. I’m a tall Black man,” Edwards told the Blade. 

When he reached a row of homes near North Fairfax and Orange Grove Avenues, barking could often be heard from inside while front doors remained unopened. In one instance, a person listed with an address on the app was no longer living there. After a long pause, Edwards would slip information about Prop 50 nearby, propping them up on slits in gates or on tables sat in gardens. But if the canvassing itself proved fruitless at times, the event still allowed attendees a chance to learn more about the election themselves, as well as mobilize together and spark up other ways to have more conversations with the people in their lives. Another canvassing session is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 2nd.

In a new report published by the Williams Institute, a local research center focused on conducting studies around LGBTQ+ communities and public policy, analysts reviewed data from the 2023-2024 L.A. County Trans and Nonbinary Survey and concluded that transgender and nonbinary immigrants face significantly greater rates of unemployment and homelessness than trans and nonbinary Angelinos who are not immigrants. 

Created in partnership with the TransLatin@ Coalition (TLC), an organization that works to defend and advance the rights of trans, gender-expansive, and intersex (TGI) community members, and co-authored by TLC president Bamby Salcedo, the report looks more deeply into the 98 trans and nonbinary immigrants surveyed from a broader pool of 322 respondents in the initial 2023-2024 survey. 

What were the key findings?

73% of the trans and nonbinary immigrants — and 80% of trans Latine immigrants — who were surveyed live at or below the federal poverty level, compared to 44% of trans and nonbinary non-immigrants surveyed. These numbers are not meant to pit these communities against one another, but rather to highlight the disproportionate amounts of poverty that trans and nonbinary people of color and immigrants face in the city.

39% of the trans and nonbinary immigrants polled also reported being unhoused, compared to 19% of the non-immigrant participants. 47% of the immigrant participants reported that they were unemployed, compared to 22% of non-immigrant participants. 

Another wide discrepancy is revealed in access to educational resources. 30% of the TGI immigrant respondents, including 41% of TGI Latine immigrants, reported having less than a high school or GED level of education, compared to 8% of non-immigrants. Nearly half of the trans and nonbinary immigrants surveyed reported that they were unemployed, and 30% reported that they lacked health insurance and thus delayed seeking necessary medical care over the last year.

“It is essential that these communities are included in county-wide problem-solving and policymaking,” said Salcedo, in a press release about the study. Last month, the Blade reported on the TLC’s launch of its TGI: Housing Initiative, a campaign that would allow the organization to work with the county’s affordable housing solutions agency, LACAHSA, to invest funds into homelessness prevention resources for transgender, gender-expansive, and intersex community members. TLC members advocated for the initiative at LACAHSA’s board meeting on Sept. 17th. There have yet to be updates on whether or not the agency will support the initiative. 

Another related Williams Institute report is set to be published later this month.

A lesbian comedian who performed at a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia has apologized.

Jessica Kirson joined Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, and dozens of other comedians who participated in the Riyadh Comedy Festival that began in the Saudi capital on Sept. 26 and is scheduled to end on Thursday.

Kirson performed on Sept. 29.

Saudi Arabia is among the countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death.

A U.S. intelligence report concluded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “likely approved” the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The Saudi government has also faced criticism over the treatment of women, migrant workers, and other groups in the country.

“On Sept. 29, I performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival. This decision has weighed heavily on my heart ever since,” said Kirson in an exclusive statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “I like to express my sincere regret for having performed under a government that continues to violate fundamental human rights.”

She said she was “surprised” as “an openly gay person” to receive an invitation to perform at the comedy festival.

“I requested a guarantee that I could be openly out as a lesbian on stage and perform gay material. I hoped that this could help LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia feel seen and valued,” said Kirson. “I am grateful that I was able to do precisely that — to my knowledge, I am the first openly gay comic to talk about it on stage in Saudi Arabia. I received messages from attendees sharing how much it meant to them to participate in a gay-affirming event. At the same time, I deeply regret participating under the auspices of the Saudi government.”

Kirson in her statement to THR said she “donated the entirety of what I was paid to perform there to a human rights organization.”

She did not say how much the comedy festivals paid her, or the group to which she donated her fee.

“I made this decision because I want that money to go to an organization that can help combat these severe issues,” said Kirson.

THR notes Marc Maron, David Cross, and Atsuko Okatsuka are among the comedians who criticized the festival. Kirson in her statement said she respects her “fellow comics who have spoken out against” it.

“I recognize the concerns and criticism this has raised. I hope that this moment sparks dialogue about how we can use our platforms for good — to support people without a voice and to find ways to be less divided,” she said. “In the past, I’ve faced criticism for choices I’ve made, both on and off stage, and I rarely responded. This time, I felt I needed to speak up. I could not remain silent.”

Kirson ended her statement with an apology to her fans and others she has “hurt or disappointed.”

“I have a special relationship with my fans because of the vulnerable nature of my comedy and the trust they place in me as part of the queer community,” she said. “To my fans: I see you. I hear you. Your voice matters to me. I love you all, and I am genuinely sorry for making a poor decision that had repercussions I didn’t fully consider. I will take full responsibility for my actions and dedicate myself to making amends, so that my words and choices reflect the respect and care you deserve.”

The 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia.

Qatar, which borders Saudi Arabia, hosted the 2022 World Cup. Consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death in the Middle East country.

President Donald Trump in May visited Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Supreme Court’s new term begins this week, with multiple cases on the docket that could have serious consequences for the civil rights of the LGBTQ community.

Many issues are being debated this term, including the scope of civil rights protections under the Equal Protection Clause, Title IX, and the Voting Rights Act—all of which could leave LGBTQ Americans less protected.

This Supreme Court is different from years past. Its right-wing supermajority is utilizing a more activist approach to legal interpretation—siding more often with President Trump’s preferred interpretation of laws rather than a more constitutional evaluation. One Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, even went so far as to publicly state he has a problem with the way judges are restricted by past decisions, saying he is against the concept of stare decisis (or sticking to prior judges’ decisions) and that they are “not the gospel.”

There are three major cases that in some way impact—or have the possibility of impacting—the rights of LGBTQ Americans: West Virginia v. B.P.J., Little v. Hecox, and Chiles v. Salazar. The first two deal with the rights of transgender girls participating in sports. The last one, Chiles v. Salazar, centers around the legality of banning conversion therapy.

West Virginia v. B.P.J.

In West Virginia v. B.P.J., a transgender girl, known as B.P.J., takes gender-affirming medication and has since the onset of puberty. She wants to compete on her school’s cross-country and track teams. In 2021, West Virginia passed the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” which requires public school and collegiate sports teams to designate their players’ genders by “biological sex” rather than gender identity.

In this case, the Court will determine whether this act violates Title IX—a federal law prohibiting discrimination based on sex in education or any institution that receives federal funding—or the Equal Protection Clause, which prohibits unfair and unequal discrimination, by requiring B.P.J. to be on a team based on her biological sex.

As Joshua Block, senior counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) LGBT & HIV Project, explained, “In terms of the legal issues before the court, the West Virginia case presents both the Title IX issue and the equal protection issue.” He also highlighted the broader impact: “Some of the lower courts are actually holding their cases pending BPJ, the Seventh Circuit recently did that in one of their restroom cases.”

Little v. Hecox

In Little v. Hecox, the Court will similarly evaluate the legality of Idaho’s transgender sports law—the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” which, since its passage in 2020, has barred any transgender girls from participating on public school-affiliated sports teams. There is specific wording in the law that says the hormones present in transgender women, regardless of their stage of transition, make them predisposed to winning and create an unfair playing field—even if transgender people take Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT).

Lindsay Hecox, a transgender woman and student at Boise State University, attempted to join the school’s cross-country team but was denied, with the school citing that her participation violates the law. Hecox, along with a cisgender high school athlete identified in court documents as Jane Doe, filed a suit arguing that the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” violated both of their constitutional rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Block noted during the briefing, “Lindsay, unlike BPJ, is a young woman in college, and she has not had blockers. She suppressed testosterone after puberty at the same time, as I mentioned, she was not, frankly, good enough to make the team, and has just been playing club sports.” Regarding procedural concerns, he added, “Unlike other cases where a party has sought to insulate a favorable judgment from review, we obviously think the decision below needs to be vacated because it’s moot.”

Block went on to spotlight that both West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox are clearly supported by Title IX, using the Court’s decision in 2020 in Bostock v. Clayton County as the basis. In that case, the Court found that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects not only on the basis of sex and race, but also on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“There’s obviously an overlap on the question of whether, as a general matter, the Supreme Court’s reasoning in Bostock applies to Title IX,” Block said. “Bostock says you can’t fire someone for being transgender. I think it should go without saying that a school principal can’t expel someone for being transgender either. Despite that, the states are trying to argue that Bostock doesn’t apply to Title IX at all.”

Chiles v. Salazar

While West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox examine Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, Chiles v. Salazar evaluates the legality of a Colorado House Act banning conversion therapy under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. The Free Speech Clause has five parts, but this case focuses on the right to practice the religion of one’s choosing and the provision that the state may not establish a religion. Conversion therapy is defined in this case as any practice that “changes behaviors or gender expressions or seeks to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.”

In Chiles v. Salazar, Kaley Chiles, a licensed counselor who identifies as a Christian, has argued that HB19-1129, also known as the “Prohibit Conversion Therapy for a Minor Act,” violates her First Amendment rights. Chiles practices “faith-informed” counseling that seeks to “reduce or eliminate unwanted sexual attractions, change sexual behaviors, or grow in the experience of harmony with [their] physical body.” She brought forward a pre-enforcement lawsuit against the state, arguing that the law has made her refrain from discussing possible gender- and sexuality-related topics with her clients and has dampened her ability to provide counseling services in line with her and her clients’ religious preferences.

Josh Rovenger, the legal director at GLAD Law, an LGBTQ+ legal services and civil rights organization, explained what Chiles v. Salazar could mean for the future of LGBTQ rights in America.

“Fundamentally, what’s at stake… is whether a state like Colorado and the 23 other states, plus the District of Columbia that have similar laws have the ability to protect LGBTQ plus youth from disproven conversion therapy practices that cause lasting trauma to the individuals, their families, and entire communities.”

He went on, explaining that the scope of the law is so specific that the plaintiff’s concerns may not apply.

“The law here is really quite narrow, aimed at a very specific, specific prohibition, and a lot of the activities that the plaintiff says that she wants to engage in, as Colorado points out in its brief, just aren’t covered by the law,” Rovenger said. In addition, he added there are multiple states that have banned the practice of conversion therapy with little issue. “Multiple states which have bipartisan laws that were passed with widespread support, including support from religious communities, would potentially be invalidated as a result of that type of decision, and that would be overruling an overwhelming medical consensus about the evidence of conversion therapy practice harms.”

As GLAAD noted in a press release, “Every major medical and mental health association in the country condemns the practice and supports efforts to prevent practitioners from violating their oath to do no harm.”

The Bigger Picture

These cases, Rovenger explained, don’t collectively signal that the Supreme Court will side in one particular way, but rather that some of the justices are interested in the cases.

“The first is the fact that they took these cases only means that four justices were interested in hearing them,” Rovenger said. “It does not tell us anything about where they’re going to come out on the cases ultimately. And there was no reason for the court to take either of or any of these cases.”

Rovenger, who served as Associate Counsel to President Biden in the White House for Racial Justice & Equity, went on, emphasizing the importance of the broader political context in this legal targeting of trans kids.

“Before 2020, decisions about sports were being left to school districts and sports organizations, the people who know these issues best… And then in 2020 we saw trans issues more generally, but sports in particular, being used as a wedge issue and a weapon to further a political agenda,” he said. “Since the beginning of 2025 that has been on steroids from the federal administration, which has really targeted transgender individuals, generally, and transgender kids who just want the opportunity to play school sports for the same reason other kids do — to be part of a team where they feel like they belong.”

He continued, saying that these cases would mostly impact some of the most vulnerable LGBTQ population—LGBTQ youth.

“These cases are going to have significant implications for LGBTQ youth, for LGBTQ individuals more generally, for school environments, for the ability of states to protect LGBTQ youth from discredited medical practices. And so when we think about the day-to-day experience of LGBTQ folks in this country, particularly youth, these cases will have a direct impact on those lived experiences.”

A fourth case concerns marriage equality and a decade-old effort by former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis to overturn the Obergefell ruling. Legal experts have called the effort a long shot. Justices will likely decide whether to hear the case later this fall.

OrgulloLGBT.co es el socio mediático del Los Angeles Blade en Colombia. Esta nota salió en su sitio web.

La comunidad LGBTQ+ en Colombia está de luto tras conocerse el fallecimiento de Victoria Strauss, reconocida politóloga egresada de la Universidad de Antioquia, activista trans y defensora de los derechos humanos, quien además se desempeñaba como docente universitaria.

Victoria fue hallada sin vida este lunes en Santa Elena, Antioquia, después de haber sido reportada como desaparecida el 29 de septiembre. La noticia ha generado una profunda conmoción entre sus colegas, amistades y los movimientos sociales que la conocieron por su compromiso incansable en la defensa de la diversidad y la igualdad.

Un legado que no morirá

El trabajo de Strauss se consolidó como un pilar del activismo trans en Antioquia, inspirando a nuevas generaciones de liderazgos y abriendo caminos en la academia y en los espacios de participación social y política. Su ausencia deja un vacío enorme, pero también un legado que seguirá marcando la lucha por los derechos de la población LGBTQ+.

Desde OrgulloLGBT.co expresamos nuestra solidaridad con su familia, amistades y con todos los sectores de la sociedad que hoy sienten su partida. Exigimos a las autoridades que se investiguen de manera urgente las circunstancias de su muerte y que se esclarezca si existieron negligencias en la atención y búsqueda.

Hoy despedimos a una gran lideresa trans, cuya voz no se apagará y cuyo legado seguirá vivo en cada lucha por la igualdad.

On Tuesday evening, hearty crowds mingled in the courtyard of the old Holloway Motel, buzzing with excitement as West Hollywood mayor Chelsea Byers took the podium. All gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and an open house preview of the Holloway Interim Housing Program, the city of West Hollywood’s latest step in its five-year plan to address chronic homelessness. 

In 2022, West Hollywood received a Homekey grant of $6 million from the California Department of Housing and Community Development and purchased the property at Holloway Drive the following year, with plans to revitalize the space into a supportive facility for unhoused community members. After years of development, the Holloway Interim Housing Program is ready to open. The city is partnering with Ascencia, a nonprofit that provides services to unhoused individuals and families, which will manage daily operations at the facility and provide direct support to residents.

“This program is not just short-term housing. It’s a stepping stone towards housing, health, and stability for the long haul,” said Byers, addressing attendees. “This project is what happens when a city puts its values into action. The Holloway is a safe haven and a second chance. It’s a promise kept.” Wielding large golden scissors, Byers cut the ribbon to signal the start of the program, smiling elatedly while surrounded by fellow councilmembers and staff. 

The Holloway Interim Housing Program holds 20 private rooms, and residents will be allowed to stay for up to 90 days. As of now, program participants have to be referred by local homelessness service providers and outreach teams to be able to stay at the premises. During this time, they are connected with case managers and will receive counseling and support on healthcare, employment readiness, and pathways into securing permanent housing. Meals will be provided, and community spaces will also be available for residents to engage in workshops, recovery groups, and other communal programming together. 

“We have communities that basically respond to the homeless crisis by moving the problem to someplace else,” said California Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, who was also present at the ceremony and open house. “Really, without transitional supportive housing, we don’t provide opportunities for people to move into long-term housing, and that is a key part of the building block that is underfunded and under-invested in.” 

When will the program officially welcome its first group of residents? This upcoming Monday, on Oct. 6th, Ascencia Director of Programs Marcell Mitchell told the Blade. Mitchell also explained that Ascencia hopes to keep the program at full capacity. When residents are leaving, someone else from their waiting list will be contacted to fill the space. “We’re ready to get going. We’re ready to start helping people,” Mitchell continued. “It’s definitely a good first step forward. We’ll be able to help people in the community where they’re at, get them going, and get them back to their normal lives.”

On September 24th, 13 Congress members penned a letter to the governor, asking him to sign AB 554 — or the PrEPARE Act of 2025 — into law. If passed, the bill would strengthen existing state laws around health insurance coverage and access to preventative medication for individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. 

AB 554 would require health plans and insurers to cover all FDA-approved PrEP medications, including injectable forms, without prior authorization or step therapy. The bill’s co-authors and supporters emphasize the need to bolster support for impacted individuals and communities, ensuring that they can access effective treatment plans with as few systemic barriers as possible. The bill also includes protections for community clinics, so that they are reimbursed promptly and able to provide medication for impacted people.

In this letter, co-signed by local elected officials including District 42 Representative Robert Garcia, District 43 Representative Maxine Waters, and District 34 Representative Jimmy Gomez, the coalition of Congress members cites a number of reasons for this call to action. 

Namely, they state that the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s reported desire to oust all members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — an independent panel of disease prevention experts that provides recommendations to insurance companies, doctors, and other health professionals — is a move that “risks reversing decades of progress in the fight against HIV, one of the most devastating epidemics in history.” 

They also write in the letter that insurance cost-sharing restrictions are especially harmful towards Black and Latine communities, who “accounted for over 70% of new HIV diagnoses [in the state] yet remain significantly underrepresented among PrEP users compared to their White counterparts.” 

In a separate letter addressed on September 25th, over 90 advocacy groups and public health organizations similarly stressed the importance of AB 554 to the governor. Here, they discussed CVS Health’s decision to not approve coverage for Yeztugo, the first twice-yearly injectable PrEP medication, even though it was approved by the FDA in June. 

The organizations that have signed on include LGBTQ+ civil rights organization Equality California, as well as resource outreach groups such as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the California LGBTQ Health & Human Services Network. They write that CVS’s “dangerous decision underscores the urgent need for additional clarity in state law to ensure that all FDA-approved PrEP medications are covered without cost-sharing, guaranteeing that lifesaving innovations are available to Californians without delay.”

The letters highlight a need to address equity and accessibility for those impacted by HIV/AIDS, specifically those who belong to marginalized communities. AB 554 received a majority vote of support by both the California State Assembly and Senate on September 10th, and now waits in limbo for Governor Newsom’s signature. He has until October 12th to sign or veto the bill.

In the meantime, Equality California encourages community members to visit their website to learn more about the bill, other pending LGBTQ+ state legislation, and how they can support these movements.

A new pilot program called CASH LA has launched in Los Angeles County, offering direct financial assistance to young people at imminent risk of homelessness. The initiative is a partnership between Point Source Youth, LA Emissary, and AMAAD Institute, with support from Cedars-Sinai and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Unlike traditional homelessness prevention programs that often focus on eviction cases or families, CASH LA takes a youth-centered approach designed specifically for people ages 18 to 30 who are on the verge of losing housing but are not yet unhoused. Participants create a personalized housing action plan with a trained provider and receive direct cash assistance to carry it out.

In a joint Q&A with the Los Angeles Blade, representatives from Point Source Youth, LA Emissary, and LA Emissary’s Young Adult Pooled Fund, including Larry Cohen, Leanndra Martinez, and Abby Gibson, shared their perspectives on the program. Organizers said CASH LA is the first program in Los Angeles to provide direct cash assistance to young people at imminent risk of homelessness while funding a personalized housing action plan. “Other programs have many requirements, are slow to implement, and youth, and especially LGBTQ identifying youth, do not access them,” they added.

For LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color, who experience homelessness at disproportionately high rates, CASH LA is designed to provide flexible support that meets their urgent needs. Organizers explained that the program “uniquely centers, responds, and funds what LGBTQ youth, youth of color, and LGBTQ youth of color need directly” while also addressing systemic barriers such as homophobia, transphobia, and the lack of affordable housing. “CASH LA gives young people the funds to be able to stay in their housing and allows them to utilize the funds for their identified needs,” they added.

Youth leadership is also embedded throughout the program. Members of the LA Emissary’s Young Adult Pooled Fund helped design and fund the initiative, from drafting proposals to selecting partners. “From start to finish, young adults are involved in every step,” organizers explained. “They decided to invest in direct cash transfers and collaborated with Point Source Youth to develop the RFP, review the proposals, and make decisions about which organization to fund.”

Direct cash transfers are at the heart of the model. Organizers said the approach works because it removes barriers and provides immediate resources for urgent housing crises. “If a young person is in a crisis that is going to lead to them experiencing homelessness, resourcing them to get out of that crisis with cash and support is what works,” they said. “Young people use the cash for housing, back rent, food, transportation, and the things they need to not enter the homeless system in the first place.”

The program’s impact will be tracked through surveys and data collection in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, measuring housing stability, financial well-being, and overall health. Early results from similar efforts in other states suggest high success rates. “Studies indicate that, with an average of 90 percent of respondents reporting they have achieved stable housing in the first 30 days, and looking at the Central Diversion Fund, that rate was over 90 percent in 12 months,” organizers said.

Critics of direct cash programs sometimes question whether youth will spend the money responsibly. Organizers rejected that notion, pointing to consistent research and outcomes. “When we trust young people to know what they need and then meet them where they are with the right support, we can prevent homelessness before it starts,” they said. “Young people use the resources responsibly, as part of their housing action plan, they work with a prevention specialist, and then, 90 percent of them do not enter the homelessness system. And it is cost-effective. What other programs can say that?”

As the pilot rolls out in Los Angeles, Point Source Youth is also working with funders to expand direct cash programs in ten communities nationwide. Locally, CASH LA is continuing to enroll participants until funds are fully distributed, with hopes that evidence from this pilot will pave the way for long-term investment.

“The most powerful lesson we have learned from youth is that we need more dedicated and flexible resources for young people,” organizers said. “We need to make sure all LGBTQ youth at risk of homelessness in LA have access to a program to effectively prevent them from experiencing homelessness in the first place.”

Red lights flooded the intimate space at Rocco’s WeHo Sunday night, as Anita Ward’s sultry 1979 disco hit “Ring My Bell” bewitched the dance floor. People clad in all-red leather outfits, dresses, mesh shirts, elegant gowns, and ruffled sleeves mingled and swayed their hips to the loud, thumping beat of funk-infused club classics. They were gathered together for West Hollywood’s annual Red Dress Day, a community fundraising event centering HIV/AIDS awareness.

Red Dress Day, also known as the Red Dress Party, is celebrated in cities across North America, and offers a space for new and longtime friends to commemorate the resilience of their communities, embrace queer joy, and raise funds for local organizations providing resources and services to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. 

At this year’s West Hollywood iteration, organizer and host Billy Francesca strutted in and out of the nightclub in tall black pumps, holding the end of a long red sequined dress in one hand and a microphone in the other. Throughout the evening, Francesca greeted attendees and urged them to purchase a red wristband, which would allow them access to community drink specials at Rocco’s and other nearby bars participating in the day’s festivities. The funds from these donations were to be donated to The Wall Las Memorias (TWLM), an organization dedicated to providing inclusive and culturally-competent HIV/AIDS care to underserved Latine communities. 

TWLM offers HIV testing and counseling, peer-led support groups, consultations around health services and insurance coverage, as well as community programs and workshops around advocacy, health prevention and mental health destigmatization. 

While excitement and dance was ripe in the air, there was also discontent behind-the-scenes.

As more and more people began to trickle into Rocco’s, only a few had purchased a red wristband. “Years ago, it was like: ‘Who needs what? How can we help? What can I do?’ Now it’s like pulling teeth,” Francesca told the Blade, frustrated at the lack of concrete donation support from attendees. “It’s disheartening, because the gay community wasn’t like this when I was coming up and out. People were just more there for each other.” 

Francesca first began organizing for Red Dress Day in 2023, after the event had entered a hiatus through the pandemic. Moving forward, Francesca hopes to take a more background role in planning, stating that it’s become too much work for him. From rallying bars together and making sure drink specials were being properly distributed, to greeting attendees and making sure everything was running smoothly and on time, Francesca’s capacity has grown thin. “It just needs to be tightened up,” Francesa said, who is passing the gauntlet to Matthew Zaslow.

Zaslow, a Red Dress Day producer and founder of event planning agency Eventure Productions, is set to take on larger responsibilities for future Red Dress celebrations in West Hollywood. “I’m trying to make it a lot bigger,” Zaslow tells the Blade. “The big ones are San Diego and Palm Springs. So that’s my goal — in two or three years, to make it as big as that.”

As the event evolves, longtime attendees like Charlie McCrory are eager to continue to show up. It is an opportunity to band together in unabashed and free queer expression: to resist, to remember, and to hope. “We had to go through a lot to be here today,” McCrory told the Blade. “As a community, we’ve gone through a lot. And we need to remember that. We can’t forget it. And we need to relish, to celebrate.”

On Wednesday afternoon, over 50 people gathered in the heat outside the Metropolitan Water District. They waved large transgender pride flags and chanted at the top of their lungs: “Aquí está la resistencia trans!” Here is the trans resistance.

Leaders of the TransLatin@ Coalition (TLC), an organization formed by transgender, gender-expansive and intersex (TGI) Latine immigrants to support their fellow community members, led these jubilant calls for action at their press conference yesterday. 

TLC organized this event to announce the launch of their new campaign, the TGI: Housing initiative. The group hopes to partner with the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA), an organization that was established in 2023 after the passing of SB 679: a bill aimed to increase affordable housing in the region.

What is TLC asking for? $20 million to invest into their communities. If approved, the funds would be allocated towards homelessness prevention resources like housing rental assistance and legal support clinics, specifically for TGI system-impacted individuals, seniors, transitional age youth, disabled community members and immigrants. “We are investing in people, not just programs,” said Queen Victoria Ortega at the press conference. Ortega is a chief visionary officer for the Connie Norman Transgender Empowerment Center. 

“Housing is the foundation for opportunity,” Ortega continued. “When you are able to be in a safe, warm home, you’re able to take your medications. You’re able to take a respite. You’re able to think about the next step that you’re going to take. And really, why wouldn’t you want that for your neighbor? I end with saying: invest in trans lives.” 

Authors of a June 2024 report published by the Williams Institute, a research center that informs public policy for LGBTQ+ communities, found that 47% of trans and nonbinary adults in the county live below 200% of the federal poverty level and face significant food insecurity and housing instability.

TLC is calling upon LACAHSA to utilize money from Measure A, a countywide half-cent sales tax that went into effect this April. The measure, meant to address the county’s homelessness crisis, generates over $1 billion annually and 33.75% of these funds are provided to LACAHSA. This amounts to over $380 million for the organization.

“Right now is the time for us to be invested in. We have a federal government who is trying to erase our existence,” said Bamby Salcedo, president and CEO of TLC, to the crowd. “That is why we’re calling on the LACAHSA board to commit to community engagement and partnership to ensure that this funding is community-led and that it is invested in all of us.”

Then, Salcedo led another chant. “Can we do it? When I say ‘People,’ you say ‘Power!’ People!” “Power!” Their voices carried like bells across the courtyard: a loud, clear and unbroken chorus.

As the press conference came to an end, TLC leaders encouraged community members to attend the LACAHSA board meeting happening right after, at 1 p.m. ChiChi Navarro, an active local advocate and a policy intern at TLC, explained how to make the most of their allotted minute during public comment. “Focus on your experiences,” said Navarro. “Focus on what you’ve gone through whenever you’ve tried to acquire housing. We understand that as a community, sometimes we’re affected simply for being who we are — and they need to listen to that. We are here in numbers so we won’t be silenced. Aquí está la resistencia trans!”

Many walked into the board room together at the Metropolitan Water District. Over ten community members took to the podium to share their personal experiences with homelessness, in both Spanish and English.

“As transgender, non-conforming and intersex individuals, we face unique challenges, especially those of us who are people of color, disabled or trans women who’ve experienced violence,” said Arianna Taylor, who was unhoused for three years. “$20 million allocated for TGI housing represents more than just funding. It represents hope, dignity and safety for people who, like me, have been forced to navigate a world of violence, stigma and exclusion.” 

As Salcedo and her fellow TLC staff wait to hear more updates from LACAHSA, they will return to their work: empowering their community. “I’m really grateful that people are understanding that they have to advocate for themselves,” Salcedo told the Blade. “It is important for us to speak about what our needs are, and also try to find a solution. And please do come to our organization and see how we can support you.”