Miscellaneous
Arizona GOP lawmakers pass anti-LGBTQ sex-ed law revisions
The measure pushed by Herrod’s anti-LGBTQ conservative group is framed as a parental rights issue


PHOENIX, AZ. – A legislative measure pushed by Cathi Herrod President of Center for Arizona Policy, a vehemently anti-LGBTQ policy think-tank and advocacy group , was passed by the Arizona House of Representatives Wednesday.
Senate Bill 1456 was voted through in a 31-28 vote with one abstention on a party-line vote. It already had passed the Senate and now goes to Republican Gov. Doug Ducey for his signature.
Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, had introduced SB 1456 in February where it was passed out of the Senate Education Committee along party lines.
“Parents shouldn’t have to worry about what schools are teaching their children about human sexuality and gender identity,” Barto said during a committee hearing on the measure.
The Associated Press reported that the measure pushed by Herrod’s anti-LGBTQ conservative group is framed as a parental rights issue and would require schools to get parents’ permission for discussions about gender identity, sexual orientation or HIV/AIDS in sex education classes.
Schools also would need parents to sign off on their children learning about historical events involving sexual orientation, such as a discussion of the modern gay rights movement that sprang from the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York.
The #AZHouse acknowledged parents – not government – have the fundamental right to guide the education and upbringing of their children when they passed #SB1456 just moments ago! @NancyBarto
— Center for AZ Policy (@azpolicy) April 14, 2021
Arizona would join five other states that require parents to opt their children into sex education instruction, including instruction on HIV and AIDS, as well as sexual orientation. While the state does not mandate sex education, individual districts and charter schools are allowed to decide whether or not to offer a sex education curriculum.
Democratic lawmakers and others opposed to the legislation contend that this bill will be called into question legally highlighting the fate of the infamous so-called “No Promo Homo” ban on any HIV/AIDS instruction that “promotes a homosexual lifestyle” which was passed in 1991.
Arizona lawmakers were forced to repeal the ban under threat of several Federal lawsuits by LGBTQ advocacy and legal groups nearly 20 years later.
The 2019 repeal came after the state’s top school official and that state’s attorney general refused to defend Arizona against the lawsuit alleging unconstitutional discrimination and restriction of educational opportunity for LGBTQ students.
Democrats warned during House debate Wednesday that the new proposal has similar constitutional issues.
Openly gay Representative Daniel Hernandez, (D- District 2, South Tucson-Pima) angrily took to the House Floor, (see video below) blasting the bill saying that it was little more than a vehicle for Herrod and the Center for Arizona Policy to fund raise from and that it was unnecessary. Hernandez blasted opposition lawmakers for wasting resources and time instead of addressing the fact that over 17,000 Arizonans have died because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Community Services - PSA
LA County Parks after Dark program celebrates 50th anniversary of Title IX
Parks & Rec offers sport opportunities for girls in flag football, soccer, softball, basketball, lacrosse, cheerleading and volleyball

LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, June 23, 2022, 34 participating Parks After Dark (PAD) parks will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Title IX with a highly anticipated girls’ sports clinic and showcase starting at 6:00 p.m.
More than 1,800 girls, ages 5 to 18 will have the opportunity to learn skills and techniques from various sports such as soccer, lacrosse, softball, basketball and cheerleading. Sports will vary at each park.
In 1972, Title IX, the civil rights legislation that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other college sports was passed into law to provide equal opportunity, scholarships and participation for girls in sports. In 2022, the department of Parks and Recreation is striving to offer girls sports County-wide to support the vision of Title IX and aiming for gender equity across all sports programs.
“The department’s goal is to provide a safe space dedicated for girls to play, increase opportunities for women coaches and administrators and to provide a positive experience while participating in sports,” says Regina Bradley, LA County Parks and Recreation Sports Manager.
The department currently offers sport opportunities for girls in flag football, soccer, softball, basketball, lacrosse, cheerleading and volleyball.
Parks After Dark is an award-winning program designed to bring communities together by filling park spaces with family-centered activities that transform local parks into summer safe havens. This summer’s program lineup will feature an array of girls’ sports programs to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which paved the way to gender equity for girl’s participation in sports.

The L.A. County Parks after Dark program is possible thanks to the generosity of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors – First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Second District Supervisor and Board Chair Holly J. Mitchell, Third District Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn and Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger – L.A. County Chief Executive Office, L.A. County Department of Public Social Services, L.A. County Probation Department and many community-based organizations throughout L.A. County.
“Now more than ever, L.A. County families need park spaces to heal from the trauma brought on by COVID-19 combined with the financial stress many people are facing,” L.A. County Parks Executive Director Norma Edith García-González said. “Parks after Dark eliminates barriers to recreational opportunities and introduces families to no cost enriching experiences that promote mental and physical health through fun and games.”
Parks After Dark, launched in 2010, has proven to be a successful prevention and intervention program that provides multiple benefits to vulnerable communities,decreasing violence and crime, and increasing social cohesion and community well-being. In 2018, Parks After Dark was recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association, which presented L.A. County Parks and Recreation with its Best in Innovation award.
For more information on Parks After Dark, visit https://parks.lacounty.gov/PAD.
All PAD parks will host programs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00-10:00PM between June 16th and August 6th:
Jackie Robinson Park – 8773 E. Avenue R, Littlerock
Stephen Sorenson Park – 16801 E. Avenue P, Lake Los Angeles
George Lane Park – 5520 W. Ave L-8, Quartz Hill
Val Verde Community Regional Park – 30300 W. Arlington Rd., Val Verde
El Cariso Community Regional Park – 13100 Hubbard St., Sylmar
Loma Alta Park – 3330 N. Lincoln Ave., Altadena
Pamela County Park – 2236 Goodall Ave., Duarte
Valleydale Park – 5525 N. Lark Ellen Ave., Azusa
Charter Oak Park – 20261 E. Covina Blvd., Covina
San Angelo Park – 245 S. San Angelo Ave., La Puente
Bassett Park – 510 N. Vineland Ave., La Puente
Allen J. Martin Park – 14830 E. Giordano St., La Puente
Rimgrove Park – 747 N. Rimgrove Dr., La Puente
William Steinmetz Park – 1545 S, Stimson Ave., Hacienda Heights
Amigo Park – 5700 S. Juarez Ave., Whittier
Sorenson Park – 11419 Rose Hedge Dr., Whittier
Adventure Park – 10130 S. Gunn Ave., Whittier
Amelia Mayberry Park – 13201 E. Meyer Rd., Whittier
City Terrace Park – 1126 N. Hazard Ave., East Los Angeles
Eugene A. Obregon Park – 4021 E. First St., Los Angeles
Belvedere Community Regional Park – 4914 E. Cesar Chavez Ave., Los Angeles
Ruben Salazar Park – 3864 Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles
Saybrook Park – 6250 E. Northside Dr., East Los Angeles
East Rancho Dominguez Park – 15116 S. Atlantic Ave., Compton
Mona Park – 2291 E. 121st St., Compton
Athens Park – 12603 S. Broadway, Los Angeles
Mary M. Bethune Park – 1244 E. 61st St., Los Angeles
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park – 905 E. El Segundo Blvd, Los Angeles
Helen Keller Park – 12521 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles
Jesse Owens Community Regional Park – 9651 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles
Franklin D. Roosevelt Park – 7600 Graham Ave., Los Angeles
Ted Watkins Memorial Park – 1335 E. 103rd St., Los Angeles
Col. Leon H. Washington Park – 8908 S. Maie Ave., Los Angeles
George Washington Carver Park – 1400 E. 118th St., Los Angeles
Community Services - PSA
LA County Parks & Rec invites folks to Juneteenth at Jackie Robinson Park
FREE Performances, Guest Speaker Series, Games, Art Displays, Car Exhibits and So Much More this Saturday!

LOS ANGELES – It’s Park Time L.A. County! LA County Parks and Recreation invites you to our Juneteenth celebration, on Saturday, June 18th from 10am to 10pm at Jackie Robinson Park (8773 E Avenue R Sun Village).
Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States; specifically, when former slaves were finally freed in Galveston, Texas, two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Though long celebrated within the Black community, Juneteenth was formally made a federal holiday on June 17th, 2021.
The L.A. County Juneteenth Celebrations are possible thanks to the generosity of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors – First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Second District Supervisor and Board Chair Holly J. Mitchell, Third District Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, and Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger – and many community-based organizations throughout L.A. County.
Juneteenth at Jackie Robinson is hosted in partnership with local community organizations. This year’s activities include musical performances, speaker’s series, wellness activities, resource fairs, artist experiences, hands-on children’s activities, video game trucks and so much more.
For more information on Juneteenth celebrations, contact Delmy Villegas-Delgado, Recreation Manager at (626) 369-5141 or at [email protected]
Juneteenth at Jackie Robison is a FREE events with no registration required. Food available onsite at cost by local businesses and vendors.
Please join us at the following parks and celebrate Juneteenth with us this Saturday:
Jackie Robinson Park – 8773 E Avenue R Sun Village from 10 am to 10 pm

Community Services - PSA
Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation launches summer aquatics
Summer aquatics registration opens up Saturday, June 18 and programs start Monday, June 20, 2022- visit parks.lacounty.gov/aquatics

LOS ANGELES – It’s Park Time L.A.! Beat the heat, get fit or learn to swim at L.A. County seasonal and year-round pools. There’s something for everyone including lap swim, novice teams, aqua aerobics too! Free Every Body Swims and other summer aquatics programs run from June 20 to August 20.
Register at reservations.lacounty.gov starting June 18.
L.A. County’s five year-round pools operate Monday through Saturday from 6 am to 7 pm. The County’s twenty-three seasonal pools operate on two rotating schedules from 11 am to 7 pm. Pools on schedule 1 operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday and pools on schedule 2 operate Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
For more information on swim programs, visit parks.lacounty.gov/aquatics.
L.A. County’s Summer Aquatics programs are possible thanks to the generous support of the L.A. County Board of Supervisor First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis for her support in funding programming at Belvedere Pool, as well as the American Red Cross and LA84 Foundation for supporting scholarships. Visit your local pool to learn about more information on scholarships.
Looking for more places to cool off in the evening? Attend evening swim at one of our 18 Parks After Dark (PAD) locations from 6 to 7:30 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Find a PAD swim site by visiting parks.lacounty.gov/pad.
L.A. County also has 18 splash pads to cool off in that operate from 10 am to 7 pm Monday through Sunday through September 30.
To find a splash pad near you, visit parks.lacounty.gov/aquatics.
For more information on L.A. County’s aquatics programs, contact:
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