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California

CDC warns Americans- Don’t travel for Thanksgiving

“The best way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to stay home and celebrate with people who live in your household.”

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Centers for Disease Control Atlanta Headquarters (Photograph via CDC)

ATLANTA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that Americans do not travel this Thanksgiving. Speaking to reporters in a press briefing Thursday, Dr. Henry Walke, the CDCā€™s COVID-19 incident manager, said that his agency is ā€œrecommending against travel during the Thanksgiving period.ā€

ā€œThe tragedy that could happen is that one of your family members from coming to this family gathering and they could end up severely ill, hospitalized or dying. And we donā€™t want that to happen,ā€ Walke said. ā€œThese times are tough, itā€™s been a long outbreak, almost 11 months or and we understand people are tired.ā€

ā€œWe understand that people want to see their family and relatives and do it as theyā€™ve always done it. But this year weā€™re asking them to limit their travel,ā€ he added.

In a media statement released Wednesday, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the Los Angeles County Director of Public Health said, “The best way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to stay home and celebrate with people who live in your household.Ā  Connect with friends and family you donā€™t live with using all of the technology that allows us to see and hear each other from afar.”

“If you do choose to gather, closely follow the guidance for private gatherings.Ā  Gather outdoors with no more than two other households, and no more than 15 people; wear face coverings unless eating or drinking and stay at least 6 feet apart. Limit the gathering to no more than two hours and do not share food or utensils,” she added.

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Los Angeles County

New on the LA County Channel

You can watch on Channel 92 or 94 on most cable systems, or anytime here. Catch up on LA County Close-Up here

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Photo Credit: County of Los Angeles


New on the County Channel

Culture Club South Bay Culture Club, a non-profit organization located at the historic Bruce’s Beach, honors the legacy of Willa and Charles Bruce, who established a beach resort in Manhattan Beach in the 1900s. In collaboration with LA County, Culture Club promotes diversity and inclusion among children through activities like surfing, volleyball, education, and culinary experiences. This program creates lasting memories while paying tribute to an important piece of local history.

You can watch more stories like this on Channel 92 or 94 on most cable systems, or anytimeĀ here. Catch up on LA County Close-UpĀ here.

In Case You Missed It

Commercial Acquisition Fund Grants Available For Nonprofits

The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity recently launched the Commercial Acquisition Fund to provide grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations to support the acquisition of vacant or abandoned land and buildings in designated communities that were most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commercial Acquisition Fundis funded by the County, with $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and will be awarded as recoverable grants, ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000. Acquisitions and funding must occur before December 1, 2024.

The deadline to apply is May 20th at 5:00 p.m.Ā To learn more, apply, or sign-up to attend a community webinar, visitĀ lacaf.info.

At Your Service

LA County Rent Relief Program is Reopening!

Following a successful initial launch, the Los Angeles County Rent Relief Program is set to open for a second round of applications. Landlords affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can apply to receive up to $30,000 per rental unit to cover past-due rent and other eligible expenses incurred since April 1, 2022.

The application window will openĀ Monday, May 20, 2024, at 9 a.m.Ā and will close on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 4:59 p.m.Ā To learn more about the eligibility criteria, and to receive a direct link to the application when it goes live, visit the LA County Rent Relief Program website atĀ lacountyrentrelief.com.

Out and About

Marina Culture Jam on May 26th

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Month at the Marina Culture Jam event on Sunday, May 26! Presented by the Department of Beaches and Harbors and The Music Center, Marina Culture Jam is a FREE special 3-part series featuring live performances and more!

Click hereĀ to learn more and RSVP for this free event.

Photo Finish

LA County’s Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center’sĀ Animal Assisted Therapy Program. (Photo: Los Angeles County/Mayra Beltran Vasquez)

Click hereĀ to access more photos of LA County in action.

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Los Angeles

LA Pride Parade announces grand marshals, KABC 7 to broadcast

The parade route begins at Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue ending at Sunset and Cahuenga boulevards in Hollywood

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Actor George Takei, wrestler Cassandro El Exotico and LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley will serve as grand marshals of the 2024 LA Pride Parade. (Photo montage: LA Blade)

LOS ANGELES – Actor George Takei, wrestler Cassandro El Exotico and LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley will serve as grand marshals of the 2024 LA Pride Parade, LA Pride has announced.

TheĀ 2024 LA Pride Parade and block partyĀ is slated for Sunday, June 9, in Hollywood, and ABC7 is returning as the official broadcast and streaming partner.

According to KABC 7 the parade will have three grand marshals. Takei is designated the “Icon Grand Marshal.” As an actor he was most known for playing Hikaru Sulu in the original “Star Trek” series and films. But he is also an accomplished activist for social justice and LGBTQ+ causes.

“To be recognized in this way by the LGBTQ+ community, an extraordinary group of individuals who have fought tirelessly for equality, is truly overwhelming. As someone who has witnessed the struggles and triumphs of our community over the years, I am filled with gratitude for the progress we have made and inspired to continue the fight for full acceptance and equality for all,” Takei said in a statement.

Cassandro El Exotico is designated the “Legacy Grand Marshal.” Born Saul Armendariz, he is known as a Mexican professional wrestler known for breaking barriers in the world of lucha libre by embracing his openly gay identity in the ring. The film “Cassandro” about his life starring Gael Garcia Bernal was released last year.

Crowley will serve as the “Community Grand Marshal.” She was named Los Angeles Fire Department chief in March 2022, becoming the first woman and first openly gay person to hold the position.

ABC7 will broadcast the 54th annual LA Pride Parade on June 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The coverage will be hosted by Ellen Leyva and “Good Morning America” weekend co-anchor Gio Benitez, with David Gonzalez, Sophie Flay and Karl Schmid reporting from the parade route.

Graphic via LA Pride

The parade route begins at Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue heading north, then east onto Hollywood Boulevard, then south onto Cahuenga Boulevard, ending at Sunset and Cahuenga boulevards.

After the parade, the LA Pride Block Party starts at 12 p.m. on Hollywood Boulevard.

Latin superstar Ricky MartinĀ was previously announced as the headliner for the Pride in the Park festival the night before the parade, Saturday, June 8.

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Los Angeles County

City of Downey bans Pride Flag, Mayor labels it attack on LGBTQ+

The mayor in his remarks prior to the council’s vote framed the agenda item as an attack on the LGBTQ+ community

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City of Downey Mayor Mario Trujillo and city council members during a recent regular meeting. (Photo Credit: City of Downey/Facebook)

DOWNEY, Calif. – After a tense back and forth between city council members during Tuesday night’s regular meeting, notably between the city’s Out LGBTQ+ Mayor and Councilmember Claudia Frometa, the council voted 3-2 to implement a ‘neutral’ flag policy agenda item brought forward for a vote by Mayor Pro Tem Hector Sosa.

During the discussion, Mayor Mario Trujillo noted that the proposed agenda item had been lobbied for by a select few residents at the behest of a California chapter of Boston, Massachusetts-based anti-LGBTQ+ group MassResistance. The mayor in his remarks prior to the council’s vote framed the agenda item as an attack on the LGBTQ+ community.

The group is listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for lies and propaganda and according to the SPLC, one of the most active chapters has been in California, run by perpetual right-wing activist Arthur Schaper, a columnist for TownHall.com and freelance writer based in Torrance, California.

Years long effort to ban the flag

In July of 2021, The LA Wave media outlet reported that Sandi Padilla, the Downey chapter leader of MassResistance said her chapter planned protests on the Pride flag and possibly other LGBTQ+ related issues at future City Council meetings. In June of 2021, the city council had voted to fly the LGBTQ+ Pride flag every June.

ā€œWe will definitely continue,ā€ Padilla told LA Wave reporter Arnold Adler. ā€œWe wonā€™t stop now. We elected the council members. We are their constituents. They should listen to our voices.ā€

Padilla said she has lived in Downey for eight years. Members of her chapter say City Council members went against the will of the majority of city residents when they approved flying the Gay Pride flag at the June 22. 2021 City Council meeting. The vote in favor of flying the flag was 4-1 vote, with then-Mayor Claudia Frometa dissenting.

The Downey City Clerkā€™s office told the LA Wave eight of 14 speakers opposed the Pride flag at the June 22, 2021 meeting and eight emails on the subject were all in opposition to the flag.

The Downey Patriot Newspaper reported on April 11, 2024 Mayor Pro Tempore Sosa asked city staff to ā€œagendize a conversationā€ on the subject of a neutral flag policy, and what litigation the city could potentially expose itself to in the absence of adopting one. A neutral flag policy would ban the flying of nongovernmental flags on city buildings.

Currently the city of flies four flags ā€“ the American, California, city and MIA-POW flags ā€“ year-round.

During the public comment, Ari Ruiz, District Director for Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco, a former mayor of Downey delivered a message from Assemblymember Pacheco:

Then Councilmembers Blanca Pacheco and Catherine Alvarez, raise the LGBTQ+ Pride flag at Downey City Hall in 2021.
(Photo Credit: Blanca Pacheco/City of Downey Facebook

“Good evening Mayor Trujillo, Mayor Pro Tem Sosa, and Councilmembers Frometa, Pemberton, and Ortiz.

Due to the legislative calendar, I am unable to attend tonightā€™s Downey City Council meeting, where you will be voting to adopt a new Flag Policy. Therefore, I have asked my District Director to deliver brief remarks on my behalf and communicate my opposition to the proposed Neutral Flag Policy, which does not allow for freedom of expression. 

A pre-existing policy addresses this matter, affirming that if the City Council approves the display of the PRIDE flag or any other flag designated as a ‘commemorative flag,’ the flag  is recognized as an official form of government speech, which is permitted. For instance, if the City Council authorizes the display of the PRIDE flag, the display can be no longer than 30 days.

The U.S. Declaration of Independence states: ā€œWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.ā€ However, for some people, equality is not so evident, particularly when concerning who we love. 

During my tenure as a public servant, which has included serving the people of Downey as their Mayor and Councilmember, and now as their Assemblywoman, my goal always has been to ensure that all constituents are treated with respect and dignity. I believe that the current policy champions equality and inclusivity, mirroring the diverse community of Downey and extending a warm welcome to the LGBTQ+ community.

Thank you,  Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco”

On Wednesday in a statement after Tuesday’s vote, Assemblymember Pacheco told the Blade:

ā€œAs someone who has always believed in the importance of inclusion and representation, it’s disheartening to see the Downey City Council adopt a neutral flag policy. When I served as mayor pro tem, we took a step forward in recognizing and celebrating the diversity of our community by flying the pride flag. While I respect differing opinions, I believe that embracing diversity strengthens our community and fosters a sense of belonging for all residents. I remain committed to promoting equality and acceptance in Downey and elsewhere.ā€

The results of Tuesday’s vote. (LA Blade graphic)

In a heated rebuke of the mayor’s remarks saying that the vote to ban the Pride flag was an attack on LGBTQ+ Downey residents, Councilmember Fromenta disagreed strongly saying that this was an issue of not showing favoritism or political endorsement of a group of people versus maintaining a neutral and appropriate acknowledgment of the nation, the state and city’s unity based on the whole of the city’s residents.

The Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Elected Officials (LACLEO) association, in response to the City Council of Downeyā€™s vote to ban the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, expressed its ā€œprofound disappointment,ā€ in the decision.

LACLEO President and Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang told the Blade in a statement: ā€œThis is a flag that symbolizes hope, freedom and unity. As an association representing over 50 LGBTQ+ elected officials, we are deeply disappointed but also incredibly surprised. Downey hosted the first pride celebration of any city in southeast Los Angeles County, flying the Pride flag proudly.ā€

The council vote was even more surprising given the fact that Mayor Mario Trujillo and Councilmember Horacio Ortiz are out-LGBTQ+ officials and who both voted against the measure LACLEO told the Blade.

ā€œIt just doesnā€™t make any sense for the leaders of a community that has been supportive of their LGBTQ+ constituents in the past to now adopt what appears to be a mean-spirited measure. At a time when we need to come together as a society more than ever, this can only serve to create division and discord where there was none,ā€ Prang added.

LACLEO member, City of Downey Mayor Trujillo reiterating a portion of his remarks from Tuesday’s council meeting prior to the vote noted: ā€œThe flag has particular poignance for LGBTQ+ youth ā€“ it sends a message that this is a safe space and that you are welcome. Suicide is at epidemic levels and we should be doing all we can to be welcoming.ā€

 ā€œWe must work to discover solutions that expand inclusivity and that acknowledge the diversity that enriches the places we all call homeā€, said LACLEO Vice President Ed Reece, who also serves as LA County LGBTQ+ Commissioner and Claremont City Councilmember.

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Long Beach

Long Beach Pride kicks off as Pride flag is raised at civic center

ā€œThis symbolic gesture demonstrates the City’s commitment to supporting and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community now and into the futureā€

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Image courtesy of Long Beach Pride

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The city of Long Beach kicked off its Pride week and month activities Tuesday with a ceremonial flag raising in the Civic Center Plaza in downtown. With City Manager Tom Modica, Fifth District Councilwoman Megan Kerr, Parks and Recreation Director Brent Dennis and Ninth District Councilwoman Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie looking on, Mayor Rex Richardson hoisted a Progress Pride flag on a city-owned flag pole.

ā€œLong Beach is a city of acceptance, and we proudly celebrate diversity and inclusivity across our entire community,ā€ said Mayor Richardson. ā€œIt is our duty to take a moment of pause to celebrate the raising of the Progress Pride flag to reflect the visibility, contributions, and resilience Long Beachā€™s vibrant LGBTQ+ community.

In June 2023, the Long Beach City Council adopted a resolution recognizing the week of Long Beachā€™s annual Pride Festival and Pride Parade, taking place this year over the weekend of May 18-19, as Long Beach LGBTQ+ Pride Week and directing to annually raise the LGBTQ+ Progress Pride Flag at Long Beach Civic Center Plaza and light City assets during that time. The resolution additionally recognizes May 22 annually as ā€œHarvey Milk Dayā€ in honor of his birthday and recognizes the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The recommendation to adopt a resolution was brought forward by Fifth District Councilwoman Megan Kerr and approved by the City Council.

ā€œThis symbolic gesture demonstrates the City’s commitment to supporting and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community now and into the future,ā€ said Fifth District Councilwoman Megan Kerr. ā€œI commend our City Council, City leadership and City staff for their dedication to equality and diversity.ā€

Long Beach Pride is kicking off Pride season this weekend, May 18-19, 2024

The 41st AnnualĀ Long Beach Pride ParadeĀ is kicking off on Sunday, at 10 a.m. Audiences can tune-in to special coverage on parade day onĀ nbcla.com,Ā telemundo52.com, on the free NBCLA and Telemundo 52 mobile apps and on the stationsā€™ free 24/7 local news streaming channelsĀ NBC Los Angeles News,Ā Telemundo Noticias California.

Led by an esteemed lineup of grand marshals, the 2024 Long Beach Pride Parade will feature over 130 participating organizations, businesses and stakeholder groups showcasing a variety of vibrant and engaging floats and displays. The parade will commence at Ocean Boulevard and Lindero Avenue then travel along iconic stretches of Ocean Boulevard to Alamitos Avenue in Downtown.

IVY Queen, the Queen of Reggaeton, will headline the Sunday lineup of the 41st annual Long Beach Pride Festival, scheduled for May 19th, 2024.

Tickets Now Available: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/41st-annual-long-beach-pride-festival-tickets-816143115027

General tickets for the Long Beach Pride Festival are now on sale, starting at $40. These tickets grant festival-goers access to a weekend of exuberant celebration, stellar performances, and a welcoming community environment.

Earlier this year, the City of Long Beach announced it will serve as the official host and funder for the 2024 Long Beach Pride Parade while Long Beach Pride, the nonprofit that traditionally produces the parade, restructures its organization. This yearā€™s parade will coincide with the Long Beach Pride Festival, taking place Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19 along the Downtown waterfront. The festival is a separate event organized by the Long Beach Pride organization. More information about the festival will be available at longbeachpride.com/festival.

More information about the 2024 Long Beach Pride Parade is available at longbeach.gov/prideparade.

The City of Long Beach

Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

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West Hollywood

WeHo’s Rainbow Neon Dog gets public art dedication

Community members gathered at Williams S Hart Park for a public art dedication of the public artworkĀ Rainbow Neon DogĀ on Friday, May 10, 2024

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Dedication of the Rainbow Neon Dog Art Installation. (Photo by Paulo Murillo/WEHO TIMES)

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – Community members gathered at Williams S Hart Park at 8341 De Longpre Avenue for a public art dedication event for the installation of the public artworkĀ Rainbow Neon DogĀ on Friday, May 10, 2024.

The event offered some words by Rebecca Ehemann, WeHo Arts Manager of the City of West Hollywood, who introduced Mayor John Erickson to the podium with Pet Mayor Winnie. ā€œThis is the best part about being in the City of West Hollywood,ā€ said Mayor Erickson. ā€œWe have our amazing Arts Department. Thank you so much for all of the amazing work that you do. We are just so excited to welcome the Rainbow Neon Dog as part of our cityā€™s urban art collection.ā€

Dedication of the Rainbow Neon Dog Art Installation ā€“ WEHO TIMES
Dedication of the Rainbow Neon Dog Art Installation ā€“ WEHO TIMES

The mayor made a joke about his motor being slow every now and then in reference to the neon art that stopped rotating shortly after being installed. ā€œWeā€™re excited to see it start spinning again and have it at this entrance right here at our beautiful historic William S. Hart park at 10 feet high 10 feet wide. And three feet deep as radium barking neon dog is the perfect way to announce a presence here at this park.

Also in attendance were council member Chelsea Byers and council member Lauren Meister.

The Rainbow Neon Dog may not spin, but it still lights up. There was a countdown to its lighting as part of the ceremony. Community members had an opportunity to enjoy the art installation and walk away with a custom pin in the shape of the neon art as a memento.

Dedication of the Rainbow Neon Dog Art Installation ā€“ WEHO TIMES

There were rumors that some local residents were going to use the dedication to protest improvements coming to Hart Park; however, the rumors turned out to be false. The ceremony happened in perfect harmony.

@wehotimes A City of West Hollywood CLASSIC is BACK!!! The Neon Dog is fully restored and installed at its new home on The Sunset Strip. On Wednesday, September 14, 2022, the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Commission unanimously approved the proposed Neon Dog project for installation at William S. Hart Park & Off Leash Dog Park, a property leased by the City of West Hollywood, but owned by the City of Los Angeles. The neon dog was connected to Collar & Leash. On January 21, 2020, the City Council accepted a gift of the neon dog sign from Joseph Chan and Charles Chan Massey. The neon sign was restored and conserved very much like the Rocky & Bullwinkle sculpture that is also on display on Sunset Boulevard. #wehotimes #wehonews #wehocity #weho #westhollywood #neon #neonart #wehoarts #art #streetart #thesunsetstrip @weholove @Paulo Murillo @City of West Hollywood @CityofLosAngeles ā™¬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

The Rainbow Neon Dog is the most recent addition to the Cityā€™s growing Urban Art Program and consists of a reconditioned, electrically rotating neon sign in the shape of a barking dog set atop a supporting pole that raises it above street level to be enjoyed by pedestrians and vehicles alike traveling along Sunset Boulevard in either direction.

Dedication of the Rainbow Neon Dog Art Installation ā€“ WEHO TIMES

The sign measures 10-feet-high by 10-feet-wide by 3-feet-deep. It was designed in 1990 by Wilson Ong for the Collar & Leash pet store formerly located at 8555 Santa Monica Boulevard. In 2020, after the closure of the store, the owners gifted the sign to the City of West Hollywood for inclusion in the Urban Art Program collection.

At its new location along the iconic Sunset Strip, the sign is guaranteed to become a novel cultural attraction and will serve as a wayfinding device for the entrance to Hart Park while continuing the Cityā€™s efforts to activate Sunset Boulevard with pedestrian-friendly experiences.

The Urban Art Program provides a mechanism to integrate free and accessible art into the urban fabric of the City. In particular, the Urban Art Program is motivated by a desire to ameliorate some of the effects new development has on the community. New development often results in intensified use of land where larger structures seem imposing and inaccessible to the public. Urban art can help soften this effect and provide interaction and connection between the public and private domains.

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Paulo Murillo is Editor in Chief and Publisher of WEHO TIMES. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist. Murillo began his professional writing career as the author of ā€œLove Ya, Mean It,ā€ an irreverent and sometimes controversial West Hollywood lifestyle column for FAB! newspaper. His work has appeared in numerous print and online publications, which include the ā€œHot Topicā€ column in Frontiers magazine, where he covered breaking news and local events in West Hollywood. He can be reached at [email protected]

The preceding articleĀ was previously publishedĀ at WeHo Times and is republished with permission.

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West Hollywood

OUTLOUD Presents Pride @ Bev Center with Drag TalentsĀ 

Join the legendary drag artists of RuPaulā€™s Drag Race on Saturday, May 18 from 1pm to 4pm in Grand Court at the Beverly Center

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Los Angeles Blade/WeHo Times graphic

By Mike Pingel | WEST HOLLYWOOD – Drag icon Alyssa Edwards joins OUTLOUD Presents PRIDE @ BEV for a panel discussion and performance alongside other iconic drag artists from RuPaulā€™s Drag Race including Plane JanePlastique Tiara, and Laganja Estranja. The panel discussion will focus on ā€˜living out and proudā€™ and will be moderated by OUTLOUD host Ryan Mitchell.

This year, OUTLOUD Presents PRIDE @ BEV is a proud supporter of OUTWORDS, a local Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that captures, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQ+ elders, to build community and catalyze social change. One hundred percent of ticket proceeds will be donated to OUTWORDS. All guests must be 18+ and purchase a general admission ticket to enter the event. 

Attendees can also win big at Beverly Centerā€™s Spin Wheel, enjoy beats by DJ Asha, and get snatched at the Glam Station by Sephora. Guests 21 years of age and older can RSVP to secure their spot for Drag Bingo and a Beauty Demo hosted by Make Up Forever. 

100% of proceeds from OUTLOUD Presents Pride @ Bev will be donated to OUTWORDS, a LA local nonprofit organization that captures, preserves, and shares the stories of LGBTQIA2S+ elders, to build community and catalyze social change.

WHEN:   Saturday, May 18 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. PT

WHERE:  Grand Court of Beverly Center on Level 6

8500 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048

To purchase tickets please CLICK HERE.

Experiences included with your General Admission ticket:

  • Live drag performances by Alyssa Edwards, Plastique Tiara, Plane Jane and Laganja Estranja
  • Drag Bingo hosted by Athena Kills (21+) *RSVP required
  • Beauty Demo hosted by Make Up Forever (Attendees will receive a deluxe setting spray!) *RSVP required
  • Beverly Center Spin Wheel
  • Glam Station by Sephora
  • Photo Moments
  • VIP Lounge with bar and bites
  • Beats by DJ Asha
  • OUTLOUD Music Festival At WeHo Pride VIP wristband pick up

Event Rules

  • All guests must be 18+ to enter the event space.
  • If consuming alcoholic beverages, all guests must be 21+ and present a valid government ID.
  • Food and beverages are available while supplies last.
  • Children and pets are not allowed in the event area.
  • Parking validations are not available. Parking is $1 per hour up to 4 hours, and $2 per hour thereafter.
  • OUTLOUD Music Festival, created by Jeff Consoletti, launched in 2020 as a ten-episode series on Facebook in lieu of Pride Celebrations happening in cities across the country due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, quickly becoming one of the first major virtual LGBTQ+ showcases.
  • Since its debut, OUTLOUD garnered over nearly two billion media impressions and won several industry-topping awards including multiple SHORTY Awards for Best Use of Facebook and Best Use of Twitch, a MARCOM Award & a Cynopsis Digital Award for BEST LGBTQ Series.
  • Follow @OfficiallyOUTLOUD #WeAreOUTLOUD. http://weareoutloud.com.

About Beverly Center:
Located at the edge of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, Beverly Center features the best in luxury and contemporary retail, along with delectable street level restaurants with everything from modern fresh favorites to fast-casual eateries. Home to over 90 stores, all beneath an impressive skyline, Beverly Center is anchored by Bloomingdaleā€™s & Macyā€™s and is home to L.A.ā€™s largest collection of luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Saint Laurent, Ferragamo, and trending fashion brands including Mango, Zara and H&M.

For more information, visitĀ beverlycenter.com.

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Mike Pingel

Mike Pingel has written six books, Channel Surfing: Charlieā€™s Angels & Angelic Heaven: A Fanā€™s Guide to Charlieā€™s Angels, Channel Surfing: Wonder Woman, The Brady Bunch: Super Groovy after all these years; Works of Pingel and most recently, Betty White: Rules the World. Pingel owns and runs CharliesAngels.com website and was Farrah Fawcett personal assistant. He also works as an actor and as a freelance publicist.

His official website is www.mikepingel.com

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

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Los Angeles

LA’s lost an iconic entertainment reporter, Sam Rubin dies at 64

Rubin was a longtime fixture in the entertainment landscape beloved by celebrities and the public alike & spending his career solely at KTLA

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Sam Rubin (Screenshot/YouTube KTLA)

LOS ANGELES – A beloved and respected member of the entertainment press corps in Southern California, KTLA’s Sam Rubin, died Friday morning at the age of 64 after suffering a fatal cardiac arrest.

A source close to the station confirmed to Variety that Rubin died at his home in Brentwood of a heart attack after doing his regular Hollywood news segments on KTLAā€™s 7-9 a.m. ā€œMorning Newsā€ program on Friday.

Rubin was a longtime fixture in the entertainment landscape beloved by celebrities and the public alike and with the rarity of spending his professional career solely at KTLA.

In a statement to Variety, Perry Sook, chairman and CEO of Nexstar, called the entertainment news anchor ā€œan iconā€ for the region and the industry.

ā€œSam was an icon in Los Angeles and the entertainment industry and he was a beloved member of our Nexstar Nation. My prayers are with his family and the KTLA family as we mourn his passing. He will be missed.ā€

KTLA reported:

Rubin joined KTLA 5 Morning News in Los Angeles in 1991, where he instantly made an impact with his unmatched, encyclopedic knowledge of film and television. Over the years, his reports and interviews informed and entertained millions of television viewers in L.A. and beyond.

ā€œThe Sam that you saw on the air is the Sam that was off the air,ā€ Rubinā€™s longtime colleague and friend Frank Buckley said in announcing his passing on live television. ā€œTo all of us he shared his mornings with on television, and to those he worked with behind the scenes at KTLA, we will not forget him.ā€

According to his KTLA biography:

Since joining the show in 1991, he has established a reputation as someone who goes beyond the entertainment headlines of the day. His insights and exploration of the deeper meaning and impact of the stories within the entertainment industry generate conversation within the business, as well as outside it.

Sam is a multiple-Emmy winner; has received the Golden Mike Award for best entertainment reporter; has received a lifetime achievement award from the Southern California Broadcasters Association; and has been named best entertainment reporter by the Los Angeles Press Club.

Sam was honored by the National Hispanic Media Coalition with its 2013 Impact Award for outstanding integrity in broadcast journalism.

He is the author of two published books, and has seen his work published in both print and online around the world. Sam regularly appears on BBC television and radio in the United Kingdom, and is a regular contributor to Triple M radio and Channel 9 television network in Australia.

Sam is one of the founding members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the largest organization of film and television critics in the United States with more than 200 members. In 1996, the BFCA began the Criticsā€™ Choice Movie Awards, now regarded in the same tier as the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. The 2013 Criticsā€™ Choice Movie Awards, hosted by Sam, was seen in more than 2 million homes, making it the No. 1 rated show in Los Angeles and other major cities. It was also the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter that evening and generated more than 500 million impressions online.

Sam is the owner of SRE, Inc., a television production company that has produced more than 200 hours of broadcast and cable programming, including several ā€œLive Fromā€ red carpet shows and 120 episodes of the talk show ā€œHollywood Uncensored.ā€

Off the air, Sam supports various non-profit organizations including putting together a KTLA team for the annual MS 150 Bay to Bike Tour, the premiere cycling event in Southern California raising funds to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. He also is interested in revitalizing Los Angeles schools, including support for literacy programs and events such as the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

Sam received his Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies and rhetoric at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

Sam lived in Brentwood with his wife Leslie and their four children.

Sam’s son, Colby, joined KTLA 5 Morning News on Monday, May 13, 2024 to reflect on his father’s passing and share a message to him.

Celebrating KTLA 5 Morning News’ 30th anniversary with Sam Rubin:

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Orange County

SoCal surf contest warned it must allow trans surfer to compete

“Surf contests in state waters must be carried out in a lawful manner that does not discriminate based on gender”

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Australian trans surfer Sasha Jane Lowerson freestyling in the waters off Perth, Western Australia in 2022. (Facebook photo by Perth based Social Worker, Ecotherapist, Personal Trainer and freediving underwater photographer Sharon Morris)

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – The California Coastal Commission sent a letter warning the American Longboard Association that its ban on Australian trans surfer Sasha Jane Lowerson participating this Saturday in the Huntington Beach Longboard Pro competition, was a violation of state law.

California Coastal Commission spokesman Joshua Smith said: “Surf contests in state waters must be carried out in a lawful manner that does not discriminate based on gender,” as first reported on by the BBC’s Los Angeles bureau.

ā€œProhibiting, or unfairly limiting, transgender athletes from competing in this or any surf competition that takes place in the coastal waters of California does not meet the requirements of the public access policies of the Coastal Act.ā€

In its letter Coastal Commission warned that local sporting events that do not allow transgender women to compete in female divisions could be shut down. The agency stated that a ban on transgender women from competing “is not consistent with the public access, recreation and environmental justice policies of the Coastal Act,” the BBC reported.

Todd Messick, a Huntington Beach resident and owner of Art in Motion Designs, a local surfboard manufacturer, and a spokesperson for the American Longboard Association had announced on April 25 that the two-day Huntington Beach Longboard Pro contest would not allow transgender women to compete in the women’s division, saying he wanted to “offer an equal playing field for all athletes.”

Messick told the BBC’s Emma Vardy he was “surprised by the amount of anger” that the decision generated, but added: “What I found too is that there was a lot of people very appreciative of me speaking up.”

“For me, I was trying to do the right thing. It wasn’t something I ever expected to have to deal with really, not in our little longboard community,” he said.

The BBC also reported:

Lowerson – an Australian who previously won men’s events in her home country – said she had encountered mostly positive attitudes in the world of competitive surfing when she began living as a woman.

“Three years ago I had just started my transition, and I made a phone call to Surfing Australia,” she said. “I was really well-received. They were very forthcoming on being inclusive and being progressive.”

In 2023 the World Surf League (WSL), announced a new policy on trans participation, which allows trans women competitors to compete in women’s events if they maintain a testosterone level below a certain limit for at least 12 based on a policy created by the International Surfing Association, the governing body of professional surfing.

PinkNewsUK reported that earlier this year, Lowerson was featured as part of a Rip Curl campaign, which resulting in a backlash on social media. Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton joined in the criticism alongside former college swimmer Riley Gaines, and Lowersonā€™s photos were removed from the surfing sportswear manufacturerā€™s social media platforms.

In the world of sports there has not been a uniform consensus in dealing with participation by trans athletes.

The international governing body for swimming, World Aquatics, has effectively banned trans women from competing in top female swimming events.

World cycling’s governing body, the UCI, has similarly ruled that trans women athletes will be prevented from competing in international women’s events.

A new ground-breaking study, partly funded by the International Olympic Committee, found that transgender athletes could actually be disadvantaged in some competitive sports, contrary to claims by transphobic pundits, politicians and right-wing media.

Scientists found significant differences between trans women and male athletes who were not transgender, aka cisgender men, and noted how similar they were to cis women. 

ā€œThese differences underscore the inadequacy of using cisgender male athletes as proxies for transgender women athletes,ā€ said the researchers. 

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Southern California

Triple A: Gas prices head down for third straight week

The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $5.32, which is six cents lower than a week ago

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Triple A Auto Club/Los Angeles Blade

LOS ANGELES – Southern California gas prices have dropped for the third straight week, according to the Auto Clubā€™s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $5.32, which is six cents lower than a week ago. The average national price is $3.64, which is three cents lower than a week ago.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $5.28 per gallon, which is six cents less than last week, six cents less than last month, and 42 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $5.29, which is five cents lower than last week, five cents lower than last month, and 44 cents higher than this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $5.27, which is six cents lower than last week, two cents lower than last month, and 41 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $5.20, which is seven cents lower than last week, five cents lower than last month and 43 cents higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $5.26 average price is four cents less than last week, five cents more than last month, and 42 cents higher than a year ago today.

ā€œAccording to Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), California and all West Coast refineries are continuing to operate at higher capacities and West Coast gasoline inventories are increasing in anticipation of higher summer demand,ā€ said Auto Club Spokesperson Doug Shupe.

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on May 9, averages are:

050924 gas chart

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San Francisco

Fremont, California man convicted in Grindr robbery & assault

Silveria is currently in custody.Ā  He faces up to twelve years in state prison for his crimes.Ā  Sentencing is scheduled for May 22, 2024

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San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins (Screenshot/YouTube KGO-TV ABC Bay Area)

SAN FRANCISCOĀ ā€“Ā San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced this week that her office secured a conviction of Ronald Anthony Silveria (27), of Fremont, after a trial by jury for attacking and stealing from a man he met on the Grindr application.Ā 

Silveria was convicted of first-degree robbery (PC 211), false imprisonment by violence or menace (PC 236/237(a)), identity theft (PC 530.5(a)), and misdemeanor assault (PC 240) and false imprisonment (PC 236).

ā€œThe juryā€™s verdict holds Mr. Silveria accountable for his despicable crimes,ā€ saidĀ District Attorney Jenkins.Ā Ā ā€œMy office will always stand with victims of crime and work to ensure there are consequences for criminal behavior.ā€

According to evidence and other testimony presented at trial on September 15, 2022, Silveria met a man in Fremont through the Grindr app.Ā  They traveled in separate cars to a San Francisco motel where the victim had rented a room.Ā 

After hanging out in the room for a while, Silveria pulled out a gun and tied the victim, who was naked, to the bed. He then proceeded to go through the victimā€™s bags and electronics, hitting the victim and demanding passwords for bank apps. Silveria eventually agreed to release the victim if he withdrew $400 from an ATM and gave it to him.Ā 

The victim agreed and Silveria allowed him to dress, then forced him to wipe down the room, and get into his car to drive to a nearby ATM.Ā  After taking the $400, Silveria refused to return the victimā€™s car keys and belongings. Silveria then drove across the Bay Bridge and abandoned the victim in Emeryville, California at 4:30am.Ā  He drove off with all of victimā€™s belongings including his phone, iPad, and wallet.

The case against Silveria was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Edward Mario, with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Mike Beaver, and paralegal Melissa Cruz.Ā  The case was successfully prosecuted based on the thorough investigation of the San Francisco Police Departmentā€™s Robbery Division and the ongoing participation from the victims.

ā€œMr. Silveria preyed on a man who was in a trusting, compromised, and vulnerable position,ā€ saidĀ Assistant District Attorney Edward Mario.Ā Ā ā€œI thank the victim for his bravery in testifying and re-living traumatic life events. This conviction ensures accountability for Mr. Silveriaā€™s actions and provide a measure of justice for the victim.ā€Ā 

Silveria is currently in custody.Ā  He faces up to twelve years in state prison for his crimes.Ā  Sentencing is scheduled for May 22, 2024.

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