By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood hosted the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) LA’s 35^th anniversary with a tribute event at Plummer Park’s Great Hall/Long Hall, on Saturday, December 2, 2023.

The event also paid tribute to the memories of ACT UP LA activists Mary Lucey and Nancy Jean MacNeil, who died in early 2023 and raised awareness of ACT UP LA’s history surrounding World AIDS Day by highlighting ACT UP LA’s decade of brave and deeply influential HIV/AIDS activism. And it all originated in West Hollywood.

West Hollywood council members Lauren Meister and Chelsea Byers attended the event, which turned out a packed house paying tribute and celebrating 35 years of AIDS activism following World AIDS Day the previous day. Community members were also joined by City Staff, City Commissioners and Board Members.

ACT UP is a diverse, nonpartisan group of individuals, united in anger, and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis. ACT UP was founded in 1987 in response to the Reagan administration’s blatant refusal to acknowledge the growing AIDS crisis.

In December 1987, ACT UP Los Angeles became one of the first chapters established in the world. Regularly meeting at Plummer Park in West Hollywood, ACT UP LA stood out from other chapters with its focus on compassionate release for prisoners with AIDS, fight for clean needle exchange, and taking a national leadership role in the ACT UP Network Coalition for Universal Healthcare.

ACT UP/LA’s Mary Lucey & Nancy MacNeil’s legacy of compassion

Mary Lucey and Nancy Jean MacNeil were together for more than 30 years. They eventually married when it became legal to do so. Lucey and MacNeil, along with fellow AIDS activists Jordan Peimer, Helene Schpak, and Judy Ornelas Sisneros, launched the ACT UP LA Oral History Project on World AIDS Day 2021 with the goal of documenting HIV activism in the Los Angeles area from 1987 to 1997, with a notable focus on the work of ACT UP LA.

Mary Lucey and Nancy Jean MacNeil both joined ACT UP LA after they attended the first Women’s Caucus meeting in June 1990. Lucey was among the first HIV-positive women in Los Angeles to be out about her status. Fueled by a sense of outrage at AIDSphobia, she fought for several years in ACT UP to expand the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s definition of AIDS to include women’s opportunistic infections and for health care for incarcerated women with AIDS. MacNeil became the founding Executive Director of Women Alive, an organization by and for HIV-positive women with a membership of more than 500 people. She established a treatment-focused newsletter and the first national women’s AIDS hotline.

The ACT UP LA Oral History Project is committed to giving a voice to the activists who constructed regional and national history during the AIDS pandemic. Focused on the lifespan of ACT UP LA from 1987-1997, the intent of this project is to capture the experiences of those individuals whose participation in ACT UP LA led to successes in the community that saved lives, changed the way society thought about people with AIDS, and challenged and changed the institutional biases that allowed the AIDS crisis to explode to such a devastating level.

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

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

City of West Hollywood opens nominations for its 2024 Rainbow Key Awards

WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood is gathering nominations for its 2024 Rainbow Key Awards. The City’s Rainbow Key Awards recognize people who have made outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.

Nominations may be submitted electronically through the City’s website at www.weho.org/rainbowkey. Nomination forms are due by 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. The newly formed LGBTQ+ Commission will review nominations and present recommendations to the West Hollywood City Council. The awards presentations for 2024 Rainbow Key Awards nominees are anticipated to take place during the second half of 2024.

Since 1993, the City of West Hollywood has presented Rainbow Key Awards to individuals and groups that have gone above and beyond in their service to the LGBTQ+ community. Contributions have come in many forms, including the arts, community service, humanitarian action, sports, medicine, armed services, leadership potential, benefit to the global LGBTQ+ community, and more. Past honorees have included activists, artists, civic leaders, educators, community organizations, and many others.

The City of West Hollywood will be hosting an event for its 2023 Rainbow Key Awards presentation, which is anticipated to take place in early 2024. Additional details will be made available when the date is confirmed. Stay informed by visiting the City’s website calendar at www.weho.org/calendar and opt-in to news updates and calendar e-notifications by signing up at www.weho.org/email. 

For more information, please contact Moya Márquez, City of West Hollywood Community Programs Coordinator, at (323) 848-6574 or at [email protected].

For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

West Hollywood is Informing Dog Owners about LA County Public Health Announcement Regarding Atypical Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (aCIRD)

The City of West Hollywood is getting the word out about a recent announcement from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health that it has received multiple reports of dogs experiencing a sudden respiratory illness of unknown origin. Symptoms for dogs include cough, nasal discharge, sneezing, and lethargy.

Related to this, the Vanderpump Dog Foundation cancelled its World Dog Day 2023 event, which had been scheduled to take place in West Hollywood Park on Saturday, December 2, 2023. The cancellation was made to ensure all necessary precautions are taken to safeguard the health and wellness of dogs. The event is anticipated to be rescheduled in 2024.

Currently, LA County Public Health is in case-finding mode to determine if and to what extent there is a new respiratory illness impacting dogs in Los Angeles County and is communicating with federal and state entities to ensure efforts are coordinated.

According to LA County Public Health, the respiratory illness impacting dogs is currently known as Atypical Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (aCIRD). Cases are currently defined as having a negative canine respiratory PCR test panel, which tests for common viruses and bacteria identified in dogs with similar symptoms, plus one of the following clinical scenarios:

• Chronic mild to moderate respiratory infection that lasts more than six weeks that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics;
• Chronic pneumonia that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics; or
• Acute pneumonia that rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24 to 36 hours.

Given the lack of knowledge about the cause of this disease, LA County Public Health is advising dog owners to look out for symptoms such as cough, sneezing, nasal discharge, and lethargy in their dogs. If a dog is experiencing these symptoms, owners should take the following steps:

1. Contact their pet’s veterinarian so the pet may be evaluated, and, if indicated, the appropriate tests and medications may be provided.

2. Isolate sick dogs at home for a minimum of 28 days past the first day of the onset of illness. Dogs exposed to the sick dog should quarantine at home and away from other dogs for 14 days to monitor them for signs and symptoms of illness.

3. Clean regularly and disinfect surfaces, doorknobs, keyboards, and animal equipment. To disinfect, use an EPA-registered disinfecting product or a stronger bleach solution.

4. Keep the dog home and away from day care, boarding kennels, grooming facilities, and dog parks.

5. If a dog becomes ill after being boarded or being in a facility, owners should take it to a veterinarian for evaluation and they should also notify the facility about the illness.

At this time, the City of West Hollywood will maintain regular operations and cleaning for William S. Hart Dog Park and Dog Parks at West Hollywood Park, keeping them open. Advisory information about Atypical Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (aCIRD) will be posted in these park areas. The City will maintain close contact with LA County Public Health on this topic in the event that local officials deem additional steps should be taken.

For more information from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, please contact [email protected] or (213) 240-8144.

For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call the City of West Hollywood’s TTY line (323) 848-6496.

City of West Hollywood to Host Winter Wonderland at West Hollywood Park

The City of West Hollywood will host its second-annual Winter Wonderland event on Saturday, December 16, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at West Hollywood Park, located at 647 N. San Vicente Boulevard. 

The highlight of this event is the transformation of West Hollywood Park into a picturesque Winter Wonderland with 20 tons of snow on the Great Lawn, which is snow laughing matter! The City has doubled the size of its snow zone play area, so get ready to frolic and play in a space that’s twice as grand, making this year’s event truly snow-tastic!

Two snow zones will be in place, one for ages five-and-under, and another for ages six and up. Bundle up and don your gay apparel, sweaters, gloves, and boots, hop on your sleigh and point it toward West Hollywood Park for a sweet and festive adventure full of fun and cheer! Yule be sorry if you miss it!

Additional event festivities include, crafts, holiday décor, hot cocoa and snacks, performances by community groups, a DJ spinning holiday classics, plenty of opportunities to take elfies and remember, no resting Grinch face. In case of rain, the event will move to the gymnasium inside the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center, located at 8750 El Tovar Place, directly adjacent to the West Hollywood Park grounds. 

For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s Winter Wonderland event, please contact the City’s Recreation Services Division at (323) 848-6534 or at [email protected].

For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

City of West Hollywood Says Loud-and-Clear:  ‘Don’t Drink (or Use) and Drive’

The City of West Hollywood, its City Council, and its Public Safety Commission join the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, local Fire Stations 7 and 8, and Block by Block Security Ambassadors in reminding community members about an important safety message during the holidays: do not drink (or use) and drive. Driving under the influence of cannabis carries the same DUI designation as alcohol.

This critical message will be the theme of an upcoming community reception Celebrating 10 Years of the City of West Hollywood’s free weekend trolley The PickUp. Launched in 2013, The PickUp is the City’s fun, flirtatious, (and free!) trolley that runs along Santa Monica Boulevard on Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and on certain holidays. The PickUp carries people safely to and from bars, clubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues in and around the City’s Rainbow District and Center City and Eastside areas.

The PickUp Celebrating 10 Years community reception will take place on Monday, December 4, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in the motor court adjacent to the City of West Hollywood’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. It is free and open to the public. The reception will precede the regular meeting of the West Hollywood City Council, which will begin at 6 p.m. 

Irreverent and lighthearted, The PickUp provides more than 100,000 passenger trips each year and connects people to the places in West Hollywood they want to go. When it was launched a decade ago, The PickUp was illustrated with a bright yellow palette of graphic pop-art characters. It has evolved to feature photo-based images with new typefaces, logos, and designs. Everyone enjoys a ride on The PickUp. Most importantly, it reduces driving while intoxicated and eases parking and traffic congestion. Details: www.wehopickup.com. 

The City’s Cityline service offers an additional way to get around West Hollywood and to connect to the Hollywood/Highland station from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays for Los Angeles Metro Rail B Line (red line) service. Details: www.weho.org/cityline. Visit www.weho.org/transit for additional information about City of West Hollywood transit programs. 

There are sobering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about the dangers of DUI. Every day, 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver; more than one-million drivers are arrested yearly for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics; and, marijuana users were approximately 25 percent more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers with no evidence of marijuana use.

The City of West Hollywood works year-round to raise awareness about safe driving, distractions, and pedestrian safety. The City’s Drive Mindfully campaign reminds community members to embrace a mindful approach to driving. When we Drive Mindfully, we all do our part to help encourage safety in the community whether we’re driving, bicycling, or walking.

The City of West Hollywood has many bars, restaurants, lounges, nightclubs, and venues that serve alcohol. The City’s Imbibe Intelligently campaign promotes safety tips and messages regarding alcohol consumption and encourages responsibility as the City works to maintain safe establishments that are free from overconsumption of alcohol.  

As the holiday season approaches, the West Hollywood Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has issued the following safety tips:

• Even one drink can impair your judgment and increase the risk of getting arrested for driving drunk — or worse, the risk of having a crash while driving.
• If you will be drinking or using marijuana, do not plan on driving. Plan ahead; designate a sober driver before the party begins – a designated driver is someone who hasn’t had any alcohol or marijuana, not just the person who drank or smoked the least. 
• If you have been drinking or using marijuana, do not drive. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, use a ride share service or public transportation, or call one of your local sober ride home programs.
• Be responsible. If someone you know is impaired, do not let that person get behind the wheel, and do not accept a ride with an impaired person.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, and inaction could cost a life.

The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station’s Community Impact Team (CIT) actively patrols bars, nightclubs, and hotels. Deputies are proactive in addressing impacts from entertainment establishments and special events. The Sheriff’s Station’s Entertainment Policing Team (EPT) focuses on entertainment- and alcohol-related law enforcement issues. Together, the Sheriff’s Station and the City’s Code Compliance Division work with the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to educate businesses and work collaboratively on alcohol-related issues. 

For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s efforts for community members not to drink (or use) and drive, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Community Safety Department at (323) 848-6414 or at [email protected].

For more information about The PickUp Celebrating 10 Years or about the City of West Hollywood’s transit programs, please contact Douglas Bear Nguyen, City of West Hollywood Transportation Program Administrator, at (323) 848-6370 or at [email protected].

For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496. 

City of West Hollywood Announces 2024 Arts Grant Program Grant Recipients

The City of West Hollywood has announced the recipients for its 2024-2025 Arts Grant Program, totaling $217,800 awarded to 23 new grantees and 10 multi-year grantees who are all Los Angeles County-based non-profit arts organizations and artists. 

The City of West Hollywood, through its Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, has maintained an Arts Grant Program since 1997. The Program provides funding support to eligible artists and nonprofit arts organizations for the production, performance, or presentation of arts projects that take place in the City of West Hollywood and that serve the West Hollywood community.

The Arts Grant Program is considered a central component to arts and cultural programs and services provided by the City of West Hollywood. Arts grants offer subsidized funding to artists and organizations so that ticket prices are free or low cost for the public. In other cases, art grants provide opportunities for artistic development, allowing space for stimulating creativity and deepening cross-cultural understanding, while contributing to the quality-of-life residents and visitors can enjoy in West Hollywood. The funding provided through the vehicle of a grant ensures a fair and equitable review process and results in the reflection of the diversity contained among our residents.

The City received a total of 53 applications representing a variety of arts disciplines and a wide array of projects. Following a peer panel review and the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission funding recommendations, the West Hollywood City Council approved the below recommendations at its regular meeting on Monday, October 16, 2023.

The Arts Project Grant category supports the production, performance, or presentation of art projects that take place in the City of West Hollywood and that serve the West Hollywood community. It is a two-year grant. The following non-profit arts organizations are grant recipients for 2024-2025: Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, Greenway Arts Alliance, Inc., Helix Collective, Kol Sephardic Choir (ROSE), No Easy Props, Inc., ONE Archives Foundation, Prism Comics, Inc., Rogue Artists Ensemble, and Vox Femina Los Angeles.

The Transgender Arts Initiative Grant category supports and enhances the presentation of artworks in West Hollywood by transgender artists, artist collectives or groups, and non-profit organizations with a history of supporting transgender artists. First initiated in 2013, this grant category is the first to support artwork by, for, and about the transgender community. The 2024 grant recipients in this category are: Celebration Theatre, Andre Keichian, Chanel Lumiere, Maddox Pennington, and Yozmit The DogStar.

The Community Arts Grant intends to support non-profit arts organizations with a history of supporting Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities and/or female artists and audiences. The grant recipients in this category include: Arts Bridging the Gap, Entertainment Community Fund, Wokelicious LLC, and Women Who Submit.

In addition to these new grant awardees, the City continues to support its multi-year grantees in their second or third year of programming. The multi-year grantees are: Brockus Project Dance Company, Grand Performances, International Eye Los Angeles, MashUp Contemporary Dance Company, Oasis Players, Pieter, Pride Poets, and Saturday Night Bath Concert Fund.

The WeHo Artist Grant aims to nurture and support the long-term development of an artist’s ideas by providing funds that increase the capacity for artists to realize work, advance the conditions of creation, and navigate the complexities of both making art and making a career. The West Hollywood resident artist grant recipients for 2024 are: Kat Evasco, Yvann Filipczak, Peter Fitzgerald, Caroline Nagy, Zach Oren, and Christopher Youmans. 

Join the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division to celebrate the recipients of the 2023 WeHo Artist Grant – Ignacio Darnaude, Sharmin Rahman, and Steven Reigns – on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 6 p.m. at the City of West Hollywood’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. These accomplished artists will discuss their 2023 projects, will show short films demonstrating their work, and will answer audience questions about their creative processes. This 2023 WeHo Artist Grant event is free; RSVP is requested at https://bit.ly/2023WeHoArtists.

The City of West Hollywood is committed to providing accessible arts programming for residents and visitors. The City delivers a broad array of arts programs through its Arts Division including Art on the Outside (temporary public art), Arts Grants for Artists and Nonprofit Arts Organizations, City Poet Laureate Program, Drag Laureate Program, Free Theatre in the Parks, Human Rights Speakers Series, Library Exhibits and Programming, Summer Sounds/Winter Sounds, Urban Art Program (permanent public art), WeHo Reads, and the WeHo Pride Arts Festival.

For additional information about the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Grant Program, please visit www.weho.org/arts.

For more information, please contact Eva Angeloff, Grants Coordinator in the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division, at (323) 848-6354 or at [email protected].

For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

City of West Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays with 34^th Annual Toy and Food Drive

The City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station are partnering to help give back to those in need this holiday season. The 34^th Annual West Hollywood Toy and Food Drive will be accepting monetary donations until Friday, December 15, 2023, with the goal of providing as many families as possible with toys and holiday gift cards. Donations may be made online at www.weho.org/holidaydrive. New users must create an account and click on the Donations tab to contribute; existing users may simply log in to start the donation process.

The cost to help one family is $95; up to 10 families can be helped with $950. New unwrapped toys are also needed and gift cards in $25 denominations to retailers such as Pavilions, Ralphs, Trader Joe’s, or Target will help families through the holiday season. Toy collection bins are now available at the West Hollywood Aquatic and Recreation Center (2^nd floor lobby), Plummer Park, West Hollywood City Hall, West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, and West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. 

The following West Hollywood hotels will also have collection bins: Andaz West Hollywood, The London West Hollywood, 1 Hotel, and Ramada Plaza West Hollywood, as well as the Chateau Marmont in LA on the Sunset Strip just outside of the City’s municipal border.

For more information, please contact City of West Hollywood  Recreation Leaders Natalie Mignon at [email protected] or at (323) 848-6321 or Jennifer Baram at [email protected] or at (323) 848-6534.

For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496. 

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For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar.

West Hollywood City Hall is open for walk-in services at public counters or by appointment by visiting www.weho.org/appointments. City Hall services are accessible by phone at (323) 848-6400 and via website at www.weho.org.

Receive text updates by texting “WeHo” to (323) 848-5000.

By Rob Salerno | WEST HOLLYWOOD – Tristan Schukraft laughs when I suggest he’s building a gay empire, but he doesn’t deny it. 

When it was announced last month that the owner of the Abbey and Chapel nightclubs had entered into an agreement to sell the business to Schukraft, it seemed like a strange move for the jet-setting tech CEO. 

But the portfolio he’s building up – founder and owner of the telemedicine app for gay men Mistr, owner of the queer nightclub Circo and Tryst Hotel in Puerto Rico – appears to be bent towards hoovering up ever more pink dollars by getting involved in an ever wider section of gay life.

The Los Angeles Blade spoke to Schukraft at The Abbey during its annual tree-lighting fundraiser for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation about what he plans to do with the storied nightclub, and how he became one of America’s most visible gay moguls.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The Blade: Why the Abbey? 

Schukraft: Well, I wanted to make sure it stayed in the hands of the gay community. You know, it’s an institution. It’s a cornerstone of West Hollywood gay life, but more importantly, it’s I think it’s a cornerstone of the gay community far beyond West Hollywood, right? 

Looking at your background in tech companies, your recent turn into the nightclub and hospitality industry seems like a bit of a left turn.

You know, I’ve been drinking here for a long time. So now, after all that investment, I’m actually gonna start getting money back. I basically bought it so I can get free drinks. 

You know, at the end of the day, I’m an operations guy. I’m a technology guy. I own hotels. With hotels, you have bars and restaurants, so it’s not too far of the track. It’s a little off track. Why not? Right? 

You know, after watching The Birdcage, I always wanted my own hotel [like Robin Williams’ character in the 1996 film] and somebody shattered my dreams the other day by telling me it was a nightclub. I’m like, what? It was a nightclub? And then I watched it, and it’s true, it was a nightclub. So, now I have a nightclub. Yeah, so it all started with The Birdcage. 

You’re known for being a disrupter of the things that you invest in. Is there a disruption plan for the Abbey, or for Weho? Are you planning to change things here? 

Not a major disruption here at The Abbey. I-You know, I’m gonna put my touches on it. But yeah, it’s a pretty well-oiled machine. We’re definitely gonna focus on our values of being LGBTQ. I got some ideas for new nights and I definitely want to make it an epicenter of the gay community. And I think there’s opportunities to take it beyond West Hollywood.

David Cooley, the founder of The Abbey (L) with Mistr CEO Tristan Schukraft, Dec. 1, 2023.
(Photo by Rob Salerno)

Can you give any kind of sneak peek at what you’re thinking? 

East Coast. That’s your sneak peek right now. East Coast. 

I think you’ll see in a couple months what I’m gonna do with the Abbey. But you know as far as taking it outside of West Hollywood, I see there’s opportunities on the East Coast right now. 

I think that’s where David [Cooley, the founder and current owner of The Abbey] and I really we both appreciate the value of The Abbey brand. I think it’s world famous, right? It’s the biggest gay bar. It’s one of the longest lasting. Obviously you have the Stonewalls of the world. But this is like a bar where people go on a regular night versus a tourist attraction. Maybe for some it’s a tourist attraction, but I mean, it really is an institution. It’s a community gathering point. It’s a name that people recognize that we can bring into other communities. 

Do you have any plans to put a hotel somewhere here? 

[Laughs] People are like, “Are you gonna paint it blue for Mistr?” Or, “You’re gonna make it a hotel?” But no, we’re not building a hotel here. That would be terrible to build. I mean build a hotel and Abbey would be out. I don’t think the Abbey’s ever closed in 33 years, besides COVID. Minus that, it’s never closed for construction. You know, when David did his expansion, it was always open. 

I was looking at those old photos and I’m like, oh my God, I remember the wall of candles. I’ve been coming here a very long time. 

So you’re more or less like keeping the same sort of operation going here, keeping the team in place?

The Abbey raises $10,000 for Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation

The team, I mean, I think that’s what kind of really makes The Abbey unique. It’s like a place where everybody knows your name. 

When I bought the hotel in Puerto Rico, obviously I don’t know anyone. Buying here. I’m like, oh, yeah. I know Todd. I know everybody, right? Not everybody, but a majority of people. And I think that’s why people come here. Because it’s their staple. They go every Sunday. They know they have their favorite bartender. So, you know, everybody will be kept in place, no changes to personnel. 

You gave an interview to Authority Magazine where you said you promised your partner that you wouldn’t be starting up any new businesses. How did you get him on board with jumping into becoming Weho nightlife impresario?

I broke that promise two or three times since I said that. I mean, no, I just buy him gifts to make him happy.

I work long hours, right? And he’s like, I don’t know why. 

You’ve created and run several tech companies. How did you get started in that business? Where did that money come from? 

I started my very first company was 21 with a $10,000 loan. I was living in Hong Kong at the time. I think my father really wanted me to come back [to California]. My dad’s a corporate guy, not a big risk taker, but he’s like, ‘I’ll give you 10,000 dollars to start your company.’ It wasn’t enough to start the company, so I imported 437 Razor scooters and I thought I was gonna sell out in two weeks. It was very popular at the time – this is like 23 years ago. It took me six and a half weeks. I was selling them out of my truck. I went to every swap meet in Southern California. Sold the last six on Christmas Eve and learned a couple lessons in business from that. But with the money I made from selling those scooters combined with the loan, I started my first company, which was like an Expedia for airline personnel.

And then I got into e-ticketing, and at that time, I didn’t know how to turn on the computer. So, I really surround myself with people that know what they’re doing, that are experts. So, do I know how to run a bar? No, but I’m an operations guy and I hire the talent to make it happen. That’s how I got started and I built that company and others along the way. 

Other than that first $10,000 loan from your parents, you’re basically self-made then? 

Yeah. You know, I looked for investment. I did end up raising $18 million for my second company, but I put in a lot of money. I mean at 25, my first company was going really well, and there was this e-ticketing mandate and I said, oh there’s a real opportunity here. And I had a home and was doing good for a 25-year-old, and I kind of leveraged it all. And I thought, “Oh my God, what did I do? I just fucked up my whole life. Why did I do this?” Anyways, I got that first investor, got that first client, and it just kind of took off from there. 

And now with Mistr, The Abbey, your Puerto Rico clubs, are you starting a gay empire? 

The CEO of Everything Gay, yes. I have a few more things. You know, all the businesses are very complementary, right? So, you come to The Abbey, then you go to the Tryst Hotel or Circo in Puerto Rico, and obviously all of the people that come here or the Tryst, they’re all perfect candidates for Mistr. So yeah, so it looks a little weird. But it is very complementary to our various business units.

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Rob Salerno is a writer and journalist based in Los Angeles, California, and Toronto, Canada.

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit’s investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating missing person, Jack Basil Cooper, a 23 year-old White male who was last seen in West Hollywood.

A bulletin released on Friday states that Cooper was last heard from on October 23, 2023, near the intersection of Santa Monica and San Vicente Boulevard, only steps away from the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.

Cooper is described as 5’09” tall, 125 lbs., straight brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and black hat.

His family is concerned for his well-being and is asking for the public’s help.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Missing Persons Unit at (323) 890-5500.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store.

If you see something, say something. Anyone with information can also drop a tip at https://www.lacrimestoppers.org.

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

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

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

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

By Rob Salerno | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The Abbey raised more than $10,000 for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation at its annual World AIDS Day tree-lighting ceremony Friday evening, an event that featured Sutton Stracke of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles.

The ceremony was the last to be hosted by David Cooley, the founder of The Abbey who recently sold his business to Mistr CEO Tristan Schukraft. Cooley was visibly emotional when he told the crowd how his friendship with Elizabeth Taylor – struck up over drinks at the Abbey – inspired him to start the annual tradition.

“What this woman has done for our community and continues to do for our community – she wouldn’t even mention how many people she has taken care of and continues to take care of,” Cooley said. “It means a lot that we do this in her honor, for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.”

The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation works to fight the ongoing HIV epidemic through direct care, prevention, advocacy, and education.

The moment clearly felt bittersweet for Cooley as he went off-script to talk about how he’d founded The Abbey 33 years ago.

“I had a dream coming from college that I wanted to open a gay bar in southern California and be open and proud and not behind closed doors. I started across the street there as a coffee house and expanded into this,” he said. “When we give donations, it’s not the Abbey, it’s not David Cooley – it’s all of us here. You have supported The Abbey and David Cooley for thirty years. Thank you very much.”

Cooley then became wry and wistful as he described his decision to walk away from the bar he built.

“It was a decision that was hard to make. I decided that maybe I should take a little time for myself. I’ve been very selfish with the business. I took time for the business always, and maybe not my friends, my family, building a relationship – that never worked out,” he said to laughs from the crowd. 

“I went back and forth seeing the offers and opportunities I had. I made a clear decision and the right decision on who I decided to pass the torch on to. He’s part of our community,” Cooley said of Schukraft. “It was a very tough decision but a very easy decision at the very end.”

Schukraft took the opportunity to reassure the crowd that he intends to uphold The Abbey’s central place in the West Hollywood community.

“I’m very excited. I know I have some big shoes to fill to continue your legacy, making sure that the Abbey and Chapel continue to be the cornerstone of the gay community here and beyond. These events make it even more special,” Schukraft said.

“David’s not going anywhere. He’s going to be here. The only thing is he’s not going to be asking for free drinks,” Schukraft said to laughs from the crowd, and joking protests from Cooley that there’s language about that in their contract.

When Sutton Stracke took the stage, she spoke about the toll that AIDS has continued to take on the community.

“AIDS does still exist. I know I have lost many friends to AIDS, as I know many of you have to, so this is very special to me,” she said.

The crowd was then treated to a performance by the Trans Choir of Los Angeles, who sang “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” as a reminder to the crowd that many in our community – especially the trans community – do not have families that welcome them home for the holidays.

A $10,000 check was then presented to the Elizabeth Taylor Foundation by Tito’s Vodka, which was sponsoring the event, on behalf of the Abbey.

Stracke then announced she would write a check to the foundation herself after the ceremony, then began the countdown to the lighting of the enormous tree on the Abbey’s front patio.

The event closed out with a performance by South African pop singer Lyle Anthony.

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Rob Salerno is a writer and journalist based in Los Angeles, California, and Toronto, Canada.

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood turns 39 years old today. The City was officially incorporated as an independent City on November 29, 1984. A coalition of LGBT activists, seniors, and renters proposed a Cityhood with progressive policies and strong tenant’s rights protections.

The City is hosting the annual State of the Community Reception & Mixer starting at 6 PM at the West Hollywood Aquatic and Recreation Center (8750 El Tovar Place, West Hollywood, CA 90069). The mixer will allow West Hollywood community members to mingle with residents, elected and appointed officials, and City staff. Appetizers and beverages will be served and there will be live music by the Harrison Jazz Ensemble.

At 7:00 p.m., the City’s annual State of the Community Program will celebrate West Hollywood’s accomplishments this past year and preview next year’s major projects and new initiatives.

The State of the Community presentation will be followed by the NextGen Mixer at 8:00 p.m. The evening will end at the Respite Deck where community members can connect with fellow attendees and enjoy some beats by DJ Asha and a special performance by the City’s Inaugural Drag Laureate, Pickle.

To RSVP click on the link here and here CelebrateWeHo23.eventbrite.com.

And here are some highlights of the past 30+ years in West Hollywood:

• The first West Hollywood City Council established West Hollywood as the first City in the nation to have a majority openly gay governing body.  This was a landmark development in LGBT rights in the United States as well as globally.
• The ordinances adopted by the West Hollywood City Council within the first year of Cityhood included landmark legislation such as the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (which, upon its adoption was one of the strictest rent control laws in the country); Ordinance prohibiting discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS; Domestic Partnership Ordinance; and Ordinance prohibiting discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation. Today, many of the City’s landmark ordinances have been duplicated and have become mainstream policies nationally and globally.
• In 1985, the City Council established its Social Services program to provide much-needed services to residents. Over its history, the City has provided millions of dollars in grants to fund programs for people in need.  These services have included services for seniors; people with HIV and AIDS; members of the LGBT community; people with disabilities; alcohol and drug use recovery programs; support programs for Russian-speaking immigrants; services for people who are homeless; food programs; and health care services for people who are uninsured. Today, the City’s Social Services Division budgets approximately
  $5 million per year in funding critical support to programs that impact thousands of people in West Hollywood; City residents live longer and have lower rates of chronic diseases than residents of L.A. County as a whole.
• The onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic had a significant impact on the City of West Hollywood due to the disease’s elevated infection rate among gay men which caused a devastatingly high number of deaths in the City. The City of West Hollywood was one of the first government entities to provide social services grants to local AIDS and HIV organizations. The City sponsored one of the first AIDS awareness campaigns in the country in October 1985 and the City’s response to the AIDS crisis has been recognized as a model for other cities, nationally and globally. Today, 12 percent of households in the City have a person living with HIV/AIDS.
• The City has been one of the most outspoken advocates for the legal rights of LGBT people. In 1985, the City of West Hollywood was one of the first cities in the country to adopt a Domestic Partnership Ordinance. In October 2014, the City marked an exciting milestone as the City Clerk’s office at West Hollywood City Hall filed its 10,000^th couple as registered Domestic Partners. The City also created the nation’s first municipal Transgender Task Force in 2001; in 2009 this became the City’s Transgender Advisory Board.
• West Hollywood was one of the first cities in the country to pass a resolution in support of marriage equality, paving the way for same-sex marriage initiatives all over the county. In a monumental moment in U.S. history, the City, in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Register-Recorder Clerk, began to issue marriage licenses and perform civil ceremonies for same-sex couples in June 2008, following the Supreme Court of California ruling on Proposition 8. After a legal stay, in June 2013 the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal in Hollingsworth v. Perry and the City of West Hollywood launched a marriage celebration. West Hollywood City Councilmembers and City Officials performed hundreds of civil ceremonies. On June 25, 2015, West Hollywood hosted a community rally at West Hollywood Park attended by thousands of jubilant revelers celebrating the Supreme Court declaring marriage between same sex couples legal.
• Following the election of President Trump in 2016, the West Hollywood City Council affirmed the City of West Hollywood’s commitment as a Sanctuary City and reaffirmed the City’s commitment to its core values, which includes Respect and Support for People.
• In 2017, the West Hollywood City Council approved a Resolution that calls on the U.S. House of Representatives to initiate proceedings for the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump. This came as a response to numerous violations of the Emoluments Clause of the United States Constitution, multiple violations of federal law as it relates to the employment of relatives, serious national security concerns resulting from potential interference with federal elections in 2016, and amid investigations of obstruction of justice.
• The City of West Hollywood is one of the first municipalities to form a Transgender Advisory Board, which addresses matters of advocacy on behalf of transgender people in the areas of education, community awareness, and empowerment, and makes recommendations to the West Hollywood City Council. Through its Transgender Advisory Board, the City of West Hollywood regularly co-sponsors programming and recognizes Transgender Awareness Month and Transgender Day of Remembrance each November. For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s Transgender Awareness Month events.
• The city was a soap box for the Black Lives Matter movement with several marches and demonstrations calling for racial justice taking place on Santa Monica Boulevard in 2020.
• In 2021, The city begins recovery from a long COVID-19 Shutdown.
• in 2022, the City hosted its inaugural WeHo Pride event, completed the Aquatic and Recreation Center at West Hollywood Park, installed inclusive Pride Crosswalks, responded to the monkeypox outbreak with vaccine clinics and a town hall, urged COVID-19 vaccination boosters leading to more than 87% vaccinations rate amongst residents, provide more than 1.7 million dollars in COVID-19 rental assistance, expanded the City’s Block by Block program with 30 new security ambassadors and more than 100 businesses opened since 2021.

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

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

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division unveiled new holiday banners by artist Joey Deruy. Each year, the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division commissions an artist to create an image to celebrate the holidays, West Hollywood style. These images are printed onto street banners which decorate major streets in the city.

Artist Joey Deruy was selected through an open call. He created a series of 8 paintings highlighting iconic West Hollywood buildings and landmarks.

His artwork features the following familiar WeHo spaces:

Lloyd Wright House and Studio
Pacific Design Center
Plummer Park Community Center
Sal Guarriello Veterans Memorial
Schindler House/MAK Center
Sunset Tower
West Hollywood City Hall and Automated Garage
West Hollywood Gateway
West Hollywood Library
West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC)

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The new banners can be found on street pole banners along Santa Monica Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, La Brea Avenue, Fairfax Avenue, and San Vicente Boulevard. The city is also displaying banners from previous years. Previous artists include Shag (Josh Agle), Steven Rahbany, Mona Tanksley, and Sophie Morro.

About artist Joey Deruy:

Artist Joey Deruy was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico; was raised in Kenya and Montana; and is currently based in Palm Springs, California. A self-taught painter, Deruy has forged a specific, line-driven, figurative style all his own. Deruy’s artwork combines the playfulness of late 20th-century Street Art with the geometric, African-inspired abstraction of Cubism, often with witty references to pop culture and geographic places. More information on the artist can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/joeyderuy.

The City of West Hollywood is also celebrating the holidays through poetry. Newly appointed West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng has written a holiday poem called ‘Joyous’ and is organizing a Holiday Poetry Hotline and holding a series of poetry workshops:

‘Joyous’

by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng

Joyous tunes sing brightly

Orbits of lights string the streets

Yellow candles stir meditations with tea

Olive branches ask for peace

Upward arches forge iconic memories

Sweet glances swing love into the new year

To learn more about the City’s Holiday Artwork, click on the link: (Here)

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

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

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood is recognizing World AIDS Day with a series of events and programming on November 30 and December 1, in support of the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS.

Each year, the City of West Hollywood recognizes World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 United Nations World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention and recognition takes place each year on December 1.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate people who have passed away due to HIV/AIDS. Annually, UNAIDS agencies, governments, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and others across the globe join to campaign around specific themes related to AIDS. The theme of this year’s #WorldAIDSDay is “Let Communities Lead” to shine light on how community-led interventions are central to the end of AIDS.

“The City’s annual recognition of World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us to remember loved ones lost over the last four decades to AIDS, to support those living with HIV, and to chart a course to end AIDS,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne. “Far too many people have died far too soon because of HIV and AIDS. In West Hollywood, for many years, we have declared that this is unacceptable. Our Human Services team works to support organizations that facilitate access to medical and emotional care, prevention and treatment, and resources. Our HIV Zero efforts help bring us toward the day we can all celebrate the end of suffering and loss from AIDS.”

This year’s World AIDS Day events and programming are as follows:

The 23^rd Annual Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Awards will take place on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at the City of West Hollywood’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The Warrior Awards event is free and open to the public and no RSVP is required. Limited validated parking will be available at the adjacent West Hollywood Park 5-Story structure.

Warrior Awards are given to outstanding employees or volunteers of local agencies that offer HIV/AIDS and/or substance abuse prevention and care services. This year’s event will feature keynote speaker Cathy Reback, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of Friends Community Center, who will also receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year’s Warrior Awards honorees, in addition, will be:

• Michael Buitron – APLA Health;
• Ramon Cervantes-Tadeo – C.I.T.Y. x1 Youth Group;
• Paul Chavez – Los Angeles LGBT Center;
• Kimberly Curtin, Pharm.D., APh – Men’s Health Foundation
• Susan Holt, Psy.D., LMFT – Being Alive;
• Ilene Kasser – The Tweakers Project;
• Prudence Mendiola – Friends Community Center; and
• John Sovec, LMFT – The Life Group LA.

AIDSWatch, the electronic memorial to people lost to HIV and AIDS, will be viewable on www.AIDSWatch.org and on the City of West Hollywood’s WeHoTV broadcast and streaming channels, including Spectrum Channel 10 within West Hollywood, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2023 for 24 hours.

The City of West Hollywood will join STORIES: The AIDS Monument and APLA Health in a World AIDS Day event on Friday, December 1, 2023. The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception at the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) Respite Deck, located at 8750 El Tovar Place. After a short program with refreshments, attendees will descend the grand staircase of the ARC at 6:30 p.m. in a candlelight procession through West Hollywood Park and along N. Robertson, Santa Monica, and N. San Vicente Boulevards to the City’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. There, the evening will continue with a screening of the award-winning 2023 documentary Commitment to Life. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the screening will begin promptly at 7:15 p.m. Events are free to attend and open to the public. Limited validated parking will be available at the West Hollywood Park 5-Story structure. Advance RSVP is requested by reserving a spot on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-aids-day-in-west-hollywood-tickets-750017812467.

The onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic had a significant impact in West Hollywood. The disease’s elevated infection rate among gay men caused a devastatingly high number of deaths in the City. The City of West Hollywood was one of the first government entities to provide social services grants to local HIV/AIDS organizations. The City of West Hollywood sponsored one of the first AIDS awareness campaigns in the country in October 1985 and the City’s response to the AIDS crisis has been recognized as a model for other cities, nationally and globally.

The City of West Hollywood actively participates in the development of programs that can bring awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and services to people living with HIV/AIDS. In January 2015, the City announced its vision to become an ‘HIV Zero’ city. The City is currently implementing its HIV Zero Strategic Initiative.

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

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

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The Abbey Food & Bar, and The Chapel at The Abbey have been sold. In a landmark move, entrepreneurs David Cooley and Tristan Schukraft have jointly announced an agreement for the sale of of both iconic venues.

“The Abbey is more than just a bar. It’s been a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community through tough and good times alike, from the AIDS Crisis to the fight for Marriage Equality and Transgender Rights. I’m proud that The Abbey has been a place for support, unity, activism, and celebration,” reflects David Cooley, the founder of The Abbey. “I’ve spent half my life here, meeting incredible people and seeing how The Abbey has been a place of happiness and acceptance for so many. Now, it’s time for someone new to lead. Tristan has been coming here for years. He gets what The Abbey means to people. I trust him to look after our community, our guests, and our team. Plus, I’m sure he’s going to throw some great parties.”

Tristan Schukraft is a technology entrepreneur, turned hotelier, nightlife aficionado and well-known member of the West Hollywood LGBTQ+ community. The Abbey and The Chapel will add to Schukraft’s portfolio of businesses that enrich the LGBTQ+ community across the United States, which includes MISTR, the largest telemedicine provider of free online PrEP and long-term HIV care serving all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. More recently Schukraft acquired and is in the process of reimagining Tryst and Circo, LGBTQ+ hotel and nightlife venues in San Juan Puerto Rico.

“I’m excited to build on the legacy that David Cooley created over the last 33 years at The Abbey. David built a small coffee shop on an unknown side street, into one of the most famous gay bars in the country, if not the world. This is both an honor and a significant responsibility,” explains Tristan Schukraft. “I plan to respect and honor The Abbey’s history while bringing new ideas that reflect our evolving LGBTQ+ community and my personal approach to hospitality. We’re not just maintaining a legacy business and an international landmark; we’re adding to the future of LGBTQ+ nightlife.”

The transition of ownership is expected to be seamless, with The Abbey’s long-time management team staying in place. Todd Barnes, The Abbey’s General Manager has spent over 20 years managing The Abbey. Todd is supported by Assistant General Manager, Kiki Farahat, who has spent over 15 years at The Abbey. They lead a team of several managers and hundreds of servers, bartenders, hosts, promoters, back-of-house staff, DJ’s, dancers, drag queens and entertainers who make The Abbey one of the most popular nightlife destinations in the world.  The Abbey and The Chapel’s schedule of events and parties will all continue as planned.

The sale is expected to be finalized within a few months, after the ABC licenses transfer over, after which Tristan Schukraft will assume ownership and operational responsibilities.

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

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

City of West Hollywood Celebrates Veterans Day 2023

Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday, November 11 at 11 a.m. will Honor Veterans and Active Members of the US Armed Forces

WEST HOLLYWOOD – The City of West Hollywood will honor veterans and active members of the United States Armed Forces during its annual Veterans Day ceremony on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 11 a.m. The ceremony will take place in-person at the Sal Guarriello Veterans’ Memorial, located on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Holloway Drive.  The Memorial will feature wreaths and American flags as part of the City’s recognition of Veterans Day and the City will welcome community members at the Memorial to pay respects.

This year, the City will be thanking veterans for the service in the military and will focus on bringing awareness and resources to mental health issues that affect veterans. The event will feature the Pledge of Allegiance, a bugler playing Taps, and a moment of silence followed by The National Anthem performed by members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles.For more information, please call the City of West Hollywood’s City Recreation Services Division at (323) 848-6534, or email [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

West Hollywood Commemorates Transgender Awareness Month and Transgender Day of Remembrance

The City of West Hollywood and its Transgender Advisory Board recognize November as Transgender Awareness Month. Since its incorporation in 1984, the City of West Hollywood has led the region in the pursuit and implementation of progressive and humane policies, fostering an environment of acceptance in which diversity is celebrated.

During Transgender Awareness Month, the City of West Hollywood will fly the blue, pink, and white Transgender flag over West Hollywood City Hall and will light the globe lanterns above Santa Monica Boulevard in blue, pink, and white through Monday, November 20, 2023.

Transgender Awareness Month events in November will include a performance of the TransDiaries, produced by Hollywood NOW, the Hollywood Chapter of the National Organization of Women.

The event will take place on Saturday, November 11, 2023 and Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at the City of West Hollywood’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.

The two performances are free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, please visit the Eventbrite page https://transdiaries2023.eventbrite.com.

TransDiaries will Take Place on November 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the City’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room

Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony will Take Place on Sunday, November 19 at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers

The City of West Hollywood is also a co-sponsoring multiple community events hosted by trans-led organizations in Los Angeles:

• The TransLatin@Coalition’s GARRAS Fashion Show will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Pacific Design Center, located at 8687 Melrose Avenue. Tickets for the TransLatin@ Coalition’s GARRAS fashion show can be purchased at https://garras.org. The TransLatin@ Coalition is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the specific needs of the TransLatin@ community that reside in the United States.
• The City of West Hollywood will also host The Church of Trans Love’s Trans Love Dance on Friday, November 17, 2023, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center Respite Deck, located at 8750 El Tovar Place, adjacent to West Hollywood Library. This free event will feature performances and dance rituals from Shakina Nayfack and Loretta Lorraine, and music by DJ Asha. More information can be found on the City’s online calendar. This event is supported in part by a Transgender Arts Initiative Grant from the City of West Hollywood. 
• The Unique Woman’s Coalition’s (UWC) TransGiving Dinner will take place on Sunday, November 19, 2023, and will begin at 5 p.m. The Unique Woman’s Coalition (UWC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to being a collective voice centering on the narratives and needs of Black Trans culture. The purpose of this holiday-inspired dinner is to celebrate transgender lives and accomplishments and remember those lost to anti-trans violence. The dinner will also provide much needed resources such as PPE (personal protective equipment) kits, sleeping bags, clothing, vaccines, and much more. For more information about the event, please visit https://www.theuwc.org.

The City of West Hollywood will host an in-person Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony at 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 19, 2023 featuring speakers and a reading of names to memorialize people who have been murdered as a result of anti-transgender violence. Transgender Day of Remembrance is part of the City of West Hollywood’s annual recognition of Transgender Awareness Month, which is recognized throughout the United States each November.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is an opportunity to look forward to the future and recommit to ending discrimination and transphobia by amplifying the visibility and voices of the transgender community.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance event will be broadcast live on the on the City’s WeHoTV channels and streams.

For details, visit www.weho.org/wehotv. WeHoTV broadcasts are available within the City of West Hollywood on Spectrum Cable Channel 10. In addition, programming may be viewed using streaming platforms by searching “WeHoTV” within the search functions of AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and Roku services.

It will also be available live and for replay at the City’s WeHoTV YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/wehotv. Visit the City’s online calendar for more information about this event. The City encourages every community stakeholder to honor the lives and memories of community members and take the opportunity to reflect on the work that remains to be done.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) tracks annual statistics of violence against the people in the transgender community. In the latest statistics currently available, HRC has reported that thus far in 2023 there have been at least 25 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means in the United States.

A disproportionately high number of victims are Black and Latinx transgender women. Past HRC reports include 41 deaths in 2022; 59 deaths in 2021; 33 deaths in 2020; 27 deaths in 2019; 26 deaths in 2018; 29 deaths in 2017; and 23 deaths in 2016. This wave of violence has been declared an epidemic by the American Medical Association.

Rates of actual violence or deaths may, in fact, be higher but anti-transgender violence can be difficult to accurately measure as victims are sometimes misgendered in reports, which can delay awareness of deadly incidents.

The City of West Hollywood has been one of the most outspoken cities in the nation in advocating for the legal rights of LGBT people. More than 40 percent of residents in the City of West Hollywood identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

The City of West Hollywood is one of the first municipalities to form a Transgender Advisory Board, which addresses matters of advocacy on behalf of transgender people in the areas of education, community awareness, and empowerment, and makes recommendations to the West Hollywood City Council. Through its Transgender Advisory Board, the City of West Hollywood regularly co-sponsors programming and recognizes Transgender Awareness Month and Transgender Day of Remembrance each November.

For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s Transgender Awareness Month events, visit www.weho.org/tam. 

As part of its support of the transgender community, the City of West Hollywood has a Transgender Resource Guide available on the City’s website, which provides information about a variety of resources including legal, health, and social services, available in the Greater Los Angeles area to enhance and improve the well-being of transgender people.

For more information about Transgender Awareness Month, please contact City of West Hollywood Community Programs Coordinator Moya Márquez at (323) 848-6574 or [email protected].

For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

West Hollywood Co-Sponsors C.I.T.Y. x1 Youth Group’s Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner and Community Events

Events from November 19-22 will Provide a Safe Space Where LGBTQ+ Youth Ages 14-24 Can Interact with Community and Allies

The City of West Hollywood is a co-sponsor of the C.I.T.Y. x1 Youth Group’s 2023 “Big Feast” pre-Thanksgiving dinner and community events throughout the month of November. C.I.T.Y. x1 (Community Intervention Through Youth) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to organizing free social events for at-risk and homeless LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 14-24.

As part of its mission, C.I.T.Y. x1 is committed to connecting LGBTQ+ homeless youth to life-changing social services including GED tutoring and job training, transitional housing assistance, medical care and health services, support groups, and food assistance. Since its formation in 2005, C.I.T.Y. x1 has serviced more than 7,500 youth through its collaborative partnerships with local service providers, nonprofit organizations, and local municipalities such as the City of West Hollywood.

This year’s C.I.T.Y. x1 November festivities will run from Sunday, November 19, 2023, through Wednesday, November 22, 2023. C.I.T.Y. x1 will host two meal distributions; the first is scheduled for Monday, November 20, 2023, and the second is scheduled for Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at QQ Café, located at 830 San Julian Street in the City of Los Angeles. 

The pre-Thanksgiving Dinner is open to youth ages 14-24 and will take place on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 22, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at QQ Café, located at 830 San Julian Street in the City of Los Angeles. More information is available at www.cityx1.org. 

In 2009, the City of West Hollywood began partnering with C.I.T.Y. x1 to provide co-sponsorship for its pre-Thanksgiving community events and dinners. Through the years, people in the West Hollywood community and members of the former LGBTQ+ Advisory Board/Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board (now LGBTQ+ Commission) have supported and volunteered at these holiday events with food and meal distribution.

For more than 15 years, C.I.T.Y x1 has remained steadfast in its mission to provide a safe space where youth can access much-needed services and interact with their community and allies. All C.I.T.Y x1 events are alcohol and tobacco-free and are intended to serve as an alternative to the club scene and event organizers anticipate that several LGBTQ+ youth from West Hollywood will attend events.

In 2019, C.I.T.Y x1 held in-person events where approximately 300 meals were served, and events were resumed as in-person in 2022. In 2020 and 2021, the C.I.T.Y x1 events were modified to drop-off only due to COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings. Despite modifications, more than 500 meals were delivered to people.

For more information, please contact Jasmine Duckworth, City of West Hollywood Community Programs Coordinator, at (323) 848-6559 or at  [email protected]. 

For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

City of West Hollywood’s Human Rights Speakers Series
Presents the WOMEN LIFE FREEDOM Film Festival

Event will Take Place on Tuesday, November 28 at the City’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room. FREE; RSVP is Required: http://go.weho.org/hrss

The City of West Hollywood’s Human Rights Speakers Series, in conjunction with Empower Women Media and Women’s Voices Now, will present the WOMEN LIFE FREEDOM Film Festival highlighting short films addressing women’s rights through the lens of Iranian and Farsi-speaking women filmmakers to support pluralism and democracy. 

The WOMEN LIFE FREEDOM Film Festival panel discussions are aimed to raise awareness of the human rights issues faced by women in Iran and other parts of the world. The panelists will include Iranian filmmakers, advocates, and experts in the Iranian diaspora who will shine a light on the Iran Freedom Movement, focusing on human rights and democratic change.

The event will take place on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the City of West Hollywood’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, adjacent to the West Hollywood Library. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and opening remarks will take place at 6 p.m., the film screening will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the panel discussion. The event is free, but seating is limited. RSVP is required at http://go.weho.org/hrss.

The eruption of nationwide protests in the Islamic Republic of Iran began on September 17, 2022 in response to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Mahsa, from the Kurdish minority, was detained by law enforcement for allegedly failing to adhere to hijab (headscarf) rules and died three days later while in custody. The main slogan of protesters is a call for women’s equality and a stance against religious fundamentalism: “Woman, Life, Freedom.”

The City of West Hollywood’s Human Rights Speakers Series brings together diverse communities to learn about and discuss global, national, and local human rights issues in a supportive environment. The series reflects the City’s commitment to human rights and core value of Respect and Support for People.
For additional information about the Human Rights Speakers Series, please visit www.weho.org/hrss.For more information, please contact Joy Tribble, the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Specialist, at (323) 848-6360 or at [email protected].

For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

West Hollywood’s Restaurants and Bars Showcase
Delicious Specialties in November Eat + Drink Week

Eat + Drink Week Runs from Friday, November 3 through

Sunday, November 12 with Participating Venues Offering

Specially Curated Menu Options: www.eatanddrinkweek.com

The City of West Hollywood boasts some of the best dining and cocktail options in Southern California. The City of West Hollywood is getting the word out that the West Hollywood Travel and Tourism Board, also known as Visit West Hollywood, is teaming up with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for the return of its celebrated Eat + Drink Week series, featuring special promotions and unique menus from West Hollywood’s top dining venues this November.

Eat + Drink Week is so packed with offerings that the event has been extended from a seven-day week to a 10-day festival, which kicks off on Friday, November 3, 2023. Participants can expect creative cuisines and innovative craft cocktails to delight foodie tastebuds. All participating restaurants and bars are within the municipal boundaries of the City of West Hollywood. The festival ends on Sunday, November 12, 2023.

West Hollywood is a mecca for foodies seeking unique dishes, crafty cocktails, and uninhibited luxury. From the Sunset Strip to Santa Monica Boulevard and the Design District, West Hollywood is home to Michelin-rated hot spots, bars offering world-class mixology, and various other hidden gems around nearly every corner.

Due to the popularity of Eat + Drink Week, reservations are strongly encouraged. Walk-ins are welcome but are not guaranteed. Find out more and make reservations by visiting www.eatanddrinkweek.com.

During Eat + Drink Week, participating businesses will dazzle taste buds with specially curated menus, discounted prices, and/or unique culinary creations. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore the diverse and eclectic food scene that has long made West Hollywood a foodie paradise. Eat + Drink Week is a not-to-be-missed happening for dining enthusiasts, both tourists and locals alike.

Highlights of Eat + Drink Week 2023 will include:

• Exclusive Menus: Participating restaurants will offer a wide range of cuisines to satisfy every palate and feature exclusive menus created just for Eat + Drink Week.
• Special Prices: Diners can enjoy special prices on signature dishes and multi-course meals, making it the perfect time to try out that restaurant on your “must try” list.
• Unique Offerings: Get ready to savor the unexpected! Some restaurants will unveil limited-time, one-of-a-kind dishes. 
• Cocktail Creations: Mixologists will be crafting unique libations to complement your dining experience.

For more information, please visit www.eatanddrinkweek.com.For additional information, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Business Development Division at (323) 848-6856 or at [email protected].

For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. City services are accessible by phone at (323) 848-6400 and via website at www.weho.org. Sign up for the City’s text message platform by texting “WeHo” to (323) 848-5000.