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California

Newsom, legislative leaders announce proposal to provide cash relief to lower-income Californians

People are hungry and hurting, and businesses our communities have loved for decades are at risk of closing their doors.

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California Capitol Building
(Photo Credit: Office of the Governor of the State of California)

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon today announced that they have reached an agreement on a package of immediate actions that will speed needed relief to individuals, families and businesses suffering the most significant economic hardship from the COVID-19 Recession.

The compromise builds on the initiatives in the Governor’s state budget proposal to provide cash relief to lower-income Californians, increase aid to small businesses and provide license renewal fee waivers to businesses impacted by the pandemic. In addition to these measures, the agreement provides tax relief for businesses, commits additional resources for critical child care services and funds emergency financial aid for community college students.

“As we continue to fight the pandemic and recover, I’m grateful for the Legislature’s partnership to provide urgent relief and support for California families and small businesses where it’s needed most,” said Governor Newsom. “From child care, relief for small business owners, direct cash support to individuals, financial aid for community college students and more, these actions are critical for millions of Californians who embody the resilience of the California spirit.”

Direct Relief to Individuals and Families

The agreement incorporates the Governor’s Golden State Stimulus plan to assist California households that have borne the disproportionate economic burden of the COVID-19 Recession – those with incomes below $30,000, as well as those unfairly excluded from previous federal stimulus payments.

The agreement provides $600 in one-time relief to households receiving the California EITC (California earned income tax credit and young child tax credit) for 2020.

In addition, the agreement provides a $600 one-time payment to taxpayers with Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITINs) who were precluded from receiving the $1,200 per person federal payments issues last spring and the more recent $600 federal payments. The agreement would provide the $600 payments to households with ITINs and income below $75,000. ITIN taxpayers who also qualify for the California EITC would receive a total of $1,200. The payments will be provided to these households shortly after they file their 2020 tax returns.

“We’re nearly a year into this pandemic, and millions of Californians continue to feel the impact on their wallets and bottom lines. Businesses are struggling. People are having a hard time making ends meet. This agreement builds on Governor Newsom’s proposal and in many ways, enhances it so that we can provide the kind of immediate emergency relief that families and small businesses desperately need right now,” said Senate President pro Tempore Atkins.

“People are hungry and hurting, and businesses our communities have loved for decades are at risk of closing their doors. We are at a critical moment, and I’m proud we were able to come together to get Californians some needed relief.”

The agreement broadens this initial plan and now provides direct relief to more lower-income Californians through a $600 one-time grant to households enrolled in the CalWORKS program and recipients of SSI/SSP and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI). Grant payments for CalWORKS households are expected by mid-April; timing for the delivery of SSI/SSP and CAPI grants is currently under discussion with federal officials.

Combined, the agreement represents a total of 5.7 million payments to low-income Californians.

“Californians have been hurting. Our response tackles the human and the economic impacts of COVID in a way that echoes President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and will help those who are hurting most. We are building an economic foundation for the recovery of jobs, small businesses and, indeed, our everyday lives,” said Speaker Rendon.

Separately, the Governor and legislative leaders said that discussions are continuing on measures for the safe reopening of the state’s K-12 schools, including strategies to address learning loss caused by the pandemic. 

Below are other key provisions of the agreement:

Immediate Relief for Small Businesses Quadrupled

The agreement reflects a four-fold increase – from $500 million to more than $2 billion – for grants up to $25,000 for small businesses impacted by the pandemic, and also allocates $50 million for cultural institutions.

The agreement also partially conforms California tax law to new federal tax treatment for loans provided through the Paycheck Protection Plan, allowing companies to deduct up to $150,000 in expenses covered by the PPP loan. All businesses that took out loans of $150,000 or less would be able to maximize their deduction for state purposes.

Larger firms that took out higher loans would still be subject to the same ceiling of $150,000 in deductibility. More than 750,000 PPP loans were taken out by California small businesses. This tax treatment would also extend to the Economic Injury Disaster Loans as well.

Fee Waivers for Most Impacted Licensees

The agreement provides for two years of fee relief for roughly 59,000 restaurants and bars licensed through the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that can range annually from $455 to $1,235. The agreement also reflects fee relief for more than 600,000 barbering and cosmetology individuals and businesses licensed through the Department of Consumer Affairs.

More Resources for Critical Child Care

The agreement adds just over $400 million in new federal funds that will provide stipends of $525 per enrolled child for all state-subsidized child care and preschool providers serving approximately 400,000 children in subsidized care statewide.

The new federal resources will extend care for children of essential workers through June of 2022, and funds increased access to subsidized child care for more than 8,000 children of essential workers and at-risk children – who are not currently served in the system – through June of 2022.

Additional Aid for Individuals and Families

The agreement provides an additional $24 million for financial assistance and services through Housing for the Harvest – a program providing support for agricultural workers who have to quarantine due to COVID-19. The agreement also provides a combined $35 million for food banks and diapers.

Emergency Financial Relief to Support Community College Students

The agreement provides an additional $100 million in emergency financial aid for qualifying low-income students carrying six or more units, with award amounts to be determined locally and made available by early April. The agreement also provides $20 million to reengage students who have either left their community college studies because of the pandemic or to engage students at risk of leaving.

CalFresh Student Outreach and Application Assistance

The agreement provides roughly $6 million to support outreach and application assistance to University of California, California State University and California Community College students made newly eligible for CalFresh – the state-administered federal program for supplemental food assistance. The agreement also provides $12 million in state funds to support associated county administrative workload.

In addition, the following provision is included in the agreement:

Restoration of Reductions

The agreement restores previously enacted reductions, effective July 1st, for the University of California, California State University, the Judicial Branch, Child Support Services and for moderate-income housing.

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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 KTLA’s 7-9 a.m. “Morning News” program on Friday.

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

In a statement to Variety, Perry Sook, chairman and CEO of Nexstar, called the entertainment news anchor “an icon” for the region and the industry.

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

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.

“The Sam that you saw on the air is the Sam that was off the air,” Rubin’s longtime colleague and friend Frank Buckley said in announcing his passing on live television. “To all of us he shared his mornings with on television, and to those he worked with behind the scenes at KTLA, we will not forget him.”

According to his KTLA biography:

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

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

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

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

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

Sam is the owner of SRE, Inc., a television production company that has produced more than 200 hours of broadcast and cable programming, including several “Live From” red carpet shows and 120 episodes of the talk show “Hollywood Uncensored.”

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

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

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

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.

“Prohibiting, 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.”

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 Lowerson’s photos were removed from the surfing sportswear manufacturer’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. 

“These differences underscore the inadequacy of using cisgender male athletes as proxies for transgender women athletes,” 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 Club’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.

“According 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,” 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.  He faces up to twelve years in state prison for his crimes.  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 FRANCISCO – 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. 

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).

“The jury’s verdict holds Mr. Silveria accountable for his despicable crimes,” said District Attorney Jenkins.  “My office will always stand with victims of crime and work to ensure there are consequences for criminal behavior.”

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

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 victim’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. 

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.  After taking the $400, Silveria refused to return the victim’s car keys and belongings. Silveria then drove across the Bay Bridge and abandoned the victim in Emeryville, California at 4:30am.  He drove off with all of victim’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.  The case was successfully prosecuted based on the thorough investigation of the San Francisco Police Department’s Robbery Division and the ongoing participation from the victims.

“Mr. Silveria preyed on a man who was in a trusting, compromised, and vulnerable position,” said Assistant District Attorney Edward Mario.  “I thank the victim for his bravery in testifying and re-living traumatic life events. This conviction ensures accountability for Mr. Silveria’s actions and provide a measure of justice for the victim.” 

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

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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

Welcome to Meet the Fleet: the show that takes you inside the cab and under the hood of LA County’s fleet of vehicles. With more than 17,000 vehicles in its garage, LA County is ready to respond to anything by land, sea or air. Meet the Fleet will showcase how these machines serve the people of Los Angeles County and introduce you to operators who make them run.

In this episode, ride into the fire with the LA County Fire Department and learn about the heavy machinery they use when the heat is on.

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

In Case You Missed It

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

This month, we celebrate the vibrant cultures, rich traditions, and invaluable contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Join Los Angeles County in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Visit lacounty.gov to find events, programming and resources that are available for you to access throughout May.

At Your Service

Addressing Teen Mental Health Challenges

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recently launched a Mental Health Toolkit for teens and parents/guardians of teens. If you are a teen or parent/guardian of a teen, explore the free guide to the most common mental health challenges facing this generation by clicking here

Out and About

Take Action During Mental Health Awareness Month

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s Take Action movement promotes wellness and well-being while sharing the vast array of resources and services provided by the nation’s largest behavioral health department.

The Department of Mental Health is bringing communities together in wellness by encouraging everyone to pay attention to their own needs and those around them. Drop by one of our Take Action events and learn more about what the Department of Mental Health can do for you!

In addition to this year’s Take Action events, Department of Mental Health encourages County residents to utilize the resources available through the department and its partners, including the 24/7 Help Line at (800) 854-7771, the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, iPrevail digital wellness platform, our walk-in clinics and peer resource centers, and our partnerships with L.A. agencies and organizations. To learn more about these resources, visit dmh.lacounty.gov.

Photo Finish

Pig races at the LA County Fair. Fair season runs through May 27th – get your tickets today!
(Photo Credit: Los Angeles County/Mayra Beltran Vasquez)

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

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California

Rick Zbur nominates Nancy Sutley for Latino Spirit Awards honoree

Assemblymember Rick Zbur honors LGBTQ+ Latina Nancy Sutley for her outstanding achievement in public service during the Latino Spirit Awards

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Nancy Sutley honored on the California Assembly Floor Monday, May 6, 2024. From Left: Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher, Assembly Majority Leader Cecelia Aguilar-Curry, Nancy Sutley, Asm. Rick Chavez Zbur, Asm. Sabrina Cervantes, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. (Photo Credit: Office of Assemblymember Zbur)

SACRAMENTO — Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) nominated Nancy Sutley as a recipient for the Latino Spirit Awards.

In an Assembly Floor ceremony Monday, the California Legislative Latino Caucus honored Sutley, who currently leads Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ environmental, energy, and sustainability policy and programs as her Chief Sustainability Officer.

“As an LGBTQ+ Latina, Nancy Sutley has shattered glass ceilings while implementing some of the most important environmental and sustainability policies and legislation of our century,” said Assemblymember Zbur. “Her expertise has guided mayors, governors, and former President of the United States Barack Obama. It is an honor to recognize her for an outstanding achievement in public service, and as my nominee for the Latino Spirit Awards.”

Nancy Helen Sutley, born in New York City in 1962, was raised in Queens by parents who immigrated from Argentina. She holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in government from Cornell University.

Currently, Sutley is the Senior Assistant General Manager of External and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). In this capacity, she supervises departments such as customer service, energy efficiency, water conservation, and environmental regulations.

During her tenure at LADWP, she has initiated sustainability projects, led the establishment of the LaKretz Innovation Campus, and advocated for cleaner transportation. Before joining LADWP in 2014, Sutley chaired the White House Council on Environmental Quality, making her the first prominent LGBTQ+ person named to a senior role in the Obama Administration.

There, she played a pivotal role in environmental initiatives, including the 2013 Climate Action Plan. She has also held various positions in public service, including Deputy Mayor for Energy and Environment for Los Angeles and roles in state and federal environmental agencies.

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Los Angeles County

Chappelle’s bisexual attacker sues Hollywood Bowl & its security

He claims that the security team for the Hollywood Bowl failed to protect him from Chappelle’s entourage intentionally

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The Hollywood Bowl (Photo Credit: County of Los Angeles)

LOS ANGELES – In a lawsuit filed in Superior Court Friday, the 25-year-old who rushed comedian Dave Chappelle on stage at the Hollywood Bowl during Chappelle’s set during the “Netflix is a Joke” festival on May 3, 2022, is suing the venue’s operator’s, The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, along with its security company.

According to the court documents reported on by KABC 7 Eyewitness News, Isaiah Lee, the man who attacked the comedian alleges that the Bowl’s security guards and members of Chappelle’s entourage beat Lee “ruthlessly” when he rushed the stage.

KABC 7 noted that Lee, who identifies as bisexual, “became upset by the discriminatory nature” of Chappelle’s jokes that night and “rushed the stage in protest as the show ended,” the lawsuit read.

Isaiah Lee shown during a court appearance in May 2022. (Screenshot/YouTube KCAL)

Lee also claims that the security team for the Hollywood Bowl failed to protect him from Chappelle’s entourage: “These individuals spat on Lee and dislocated his arm intentionally,” the lawsuit alleges.

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Police Department

Chappelle was attacked by Lee who also had a plastic replica of a gun that shoots forth a knife blade on him, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

After regaining his composure, Chappelle joked that the attacker “was a trans man,” a reference to the comic’s controversy within the LGBTQ+ communities.

Chappelle, beloved by many for his clever television program Chappelle’s Show, has long been a controversial figure to the LGBTQ+ communities. Following the premiere of his Netflix The Closer, which featured insensitive cracks about trans women’s genitalia and TERFs (or trans-exclusionary radical feminists), among other topics, several trans employees of Netflix staged a walkout.

Additionally, trans comedians told CNN they felt that the comments were an example of “punching down” on those with less power and a betrayal of the astute social commentary for which Chappelle is known. Chappelle eventually agreed to meet with members of the community to discuss the tenor of his jokes about trans people.

Los Angeles County prosecutors opted to not charge Lee with a felony instead with misdemeanor charges of battery, possession of a weapon with intent to assault, unauthorized access to the stage area during a performance and commission of an act that delays an event or interferes with a performer.

After Lee’s attorneys cited homelessness and mental illness, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge granted Lee a mental health diversion, thus waiving his speedy trial rights for two years after he entered a not-guilty plea.  He was sentenced to 270 days in jail and after serving his time was conditionally released to Lake Hughes Recovery Center in Gorman, California.

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West Hollywood

Kesha headlines as WeHo Pride presents Friday Night OUTLOUD

Performances also by Adam Lambert, Monét X Change, Laganja Estranja v. Morphine Love Dion, Niña Dioz, Jessica Betts, Owenn, & Venessa Michaels

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Los Angeles Blade/WeHo Pride Presents Friday Night at OUTLOUD graphic


WEST HOLLYWOOD – Kesha will headline WeHo Pride Presents Friday Night at OUTLOUD,a free outdoor concert, courtesy of the City of West Hollywood, taking place May 31, 2024 at West Hollywood Park.

Friday night’s full lineup will feature an electrifying music mix with additional performances by Adam Lambert, Monét X Change, Laganja Estranja vs. Morphine Love Dion, Niña Dioz, Jessica Betts, Owenn,and Venessa Michaels.Friday evening’s experience adds to a stellar weekend lineup with Saturday and Sunday headliners Kylie Minogue, Janelle Monáe,and Diplo + Friends.

WeHo Pride Presents Friday Night at OUTLOUD is free to the public and requires an RSVP to secure complimentary tickets, as event capacity is limited. Sign up for registration details at  www.weareoutloud.com. Registration will officially open on Friday, May 3, at 10 a.m. PDT. Each person registering will be limited to one registration per email address. 

“As we approach the 2024 WeHo Pride season, the City of West Hollywood remains a steadfast beacon of progressive values and unwavering advocacy for LGBTQ rights. Hosting the WeHo Pride Presents Friday Night at OUTLOUD reaffirms our City’s legacy of championing inclusivity and equality,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor John M. Erickson. “As we gather to celebrate the kaleidoscope of queer talent, let’s also reflect on the profound impact of our ongoing fight for LGBTQ rights, both locally and on the global stage.”

WeHo Pride Presents Friday Night at OUTLOUD activities begin at 6 p.m. PDT. The evening launches WeHo Pride Weekend programming, all of which is free to attend and guests of all ages are welcome.

The WeHo Pride Street Fair takes place on Saturday, June 1, 2024 and Sunday, June 2, 2024 starting at 12 p.m. PDT and features live entertainment and activities along with sponsor and community organization booths. Saturday’s events include the annual Dyke March and the Women’s Freedom Festival, which takes place at the WeHo Pride Community Stage.

The celebration continues with the WeHo Pride Parade on Sunday, June 2, featuring the Parade’s Lifetime Ally Icon Cyndi Lauper, with more details to come. For information about WeHo Pride events and programming, visit: www.wehopride.com.

The OUTLOUD Music Festival continues on Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, with a two-day concert experience featuring iconic headliners Kylie Minogue, Janelle Monáe, and Diplo + Friends.

Attendees will need to purchase a ticket to attend, and the full weekend lineup of performances includes: Doechii, Ashnikko, Noah Cyrus, Trixie Mattel, Keke Palmer, Channel Tres, Yaeji, Big Freedia, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, VINCINT, and many more.

“Our festival’s growth has been fueled by the invaluable partnership and support from the City of West Hollywood. WeHo Pride Presents Friday Night at OUTLOUD is a testament to JJLA and OUTLOUD’s commitment to celebrating diversity, inclusivity, and community,” shared OUTLOUD CEO/Producer Jeff Consoletti of JJLA. “We’re ready to set the stage on fire once again, welcoming everyone to join us for a weekend of electrifying music, fierce performances, and unabashed pride!”

To RSVP and to purchase single-day general admission tickets for the OUTLOUD Music Festival, visit: https://www.weareoutloud.com/.

Join the VIP waitlist to be notified when additional VIP Passes become available at arep.co/w/outloudvipwaitlist/finished.

Created and produced by JJLA, OUTLOUD Music Festival first launched in 2020 as a virtual concert series, highlighting and elevating queer artists at a time when many Pride celebrations were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, OUTLOUD Music Festival partnered with Pride Live’s Stonewall Day and Adam Lambert to deliver a three-day, in-person concert series in Los Angeles, marking the return of live events to the city after the pandemic shutdown. Performers included Adam Lambert, Kim Petras, SOFI TUKKER, VINCINT, LP Giobbi, Brooke Eden, Daya, Hayley Kiyoko, and more, plus an in-person appearance from Los Angeles’ then-Mayor Eric Garcetti.

The event, which won a 2021 BizBash Event Experience Award for Best Cultural/Multicultural Event (Live Events & Experiences), was simultaneously streamed on Twitch, garnering 4.8 million views and providing the participating artists and queer charities a unique and critical global platform.

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West Hollywood

LGBTQ commission selects finalists for 2024 Rainbow Key Awards

West Hollywood’s Rainbow Key Awards, now in its 31st year, began in 1993 with awards to actress Carole Cook & writer-actor Bruce Vilanch

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Photo Credit: Paulo Murillo/WeHo Times

By Paulo Murillo | WEST HOLLYWOOD – The LGBTQ+ Commission is recommending five recipients for the 2024 Rainbow Key Awards, which will be up for approval by the West Hollywood City Council at the upcoming Regular Council Meeting on Monday, May 6, 2024.

The finalists are:

  1. Jackie Beat, nominated by Chris Isaacson – Drag superstar Jackie Beat has been entertaining audiences across the U.S. and in Europe for over thirty-five years with her razor-sharp comedy and hysterical song parodies. Jackie not only warps hits by Britney Spears, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Cher, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey, and many others, but she flawlessly sings her twisted new versions LIVE, hitting every last note.
  2. Vivian “Dapper Dyke” Escalante, nominated by Mj Godges – In 1994, Dapper Dyke Vivian was the driving force of the Dyke March in West Hollywood, establishing Dykes on Bikes when lesbian/dyke visibility was scarce. With Vivian leading the way, they were determined to take over the streets of WeHo and promote Lesbian visibility and return Dykes on Bikes to leading the March. As they marched, they chanted, played drums, and held up signs while the Dykes on Bikes would clear the path for marchers. Despite the sheriff’s attempts to stop the march from moving forward, the Dykes on Bikes revved their engines, bringing traffic to a complete halt and drawing cheers from the spectators who joined their mission to be seen.
  3. Rebecca Gitlin, nominated by James Coomes – Dr. Rebecca Gitlin is a force of nature and fierce advocate for the LGBTQIA2S+ community across Los Angeles County. She has led the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health efforts to ensure that both identity and gender-affirming services are included across all clinical assessments within the Department of Mental Health, both directly operated and contract providers, and ensure that the Department of Mental Health has a presence in the LGBTQIA2S+ community across the county.
  4. LZ Love, nominated by Jazzmun Nichcala Cravton – LZ Love is an elder African American transwoman and a native of Chicago. She’s an acclaimed songwriter, singer, performer, and recording artist of gutbucket soul-stirring blues and blues-saturated gospel and dance music. She’s performed on stages worldwide for four decades, from Tokyo, Japan, London, England, Germany, Paris, France, Switzerland, and Croatia. LZ recently performed live in Austin, Texas, and acted in a web series, Glass Cock Park. She’s also an author and creative nonfiction writer. Her art, entertainment, and message of love and acceptance are for everyone, especially the LGBTQ community and those mistreated, abused, shunned, and abandoned. She uses her music and songwriting to make a positive change globally.
  5. Brian Sonia-Wallace, nominated by Gen Cheng – Brian founded the band of LGBTQ+ typewriter poets in 2019, “Pride Poets,” and this has served WeHo Pride and various other WeHo-based activities ever since. By creating Pride Poets, Brian has served thousands of WeHo Pride attendees and WeHo Arts audiences a souvenir that helps give them a fond memory at a West Hollywood event.

The City of West Hollywood’s Rainbow Key Awards, now in its 31st year, began in 1993 with awards to actress Carole Cook and writer-actor Bruce Vilanch. Since the award’s inception, the City has honored 174 individuals and/or groups who have made significant contributions to the LGBTQ+ Community.

These contributions, by an individual or a group, may be in many forms, including the arts, community action, humanitarian action, sports, medicine, armed services, leadership potential, benefit to the global LGBTQ+ community, or other kinds of contribution. Under policies adopted by the City Council in 2022, the LGBTQ+ Commission seeks nominations from the community for Rainbow Key Awardees and reviews applications before making recommendations to the City Council for awardees.

The nomination form asks about each nominee’s impact on the West Hollywood LGBTQ+ community specifically, as well as, if applicable, the global LGBTQ+ community.

Every year, five individuals and/or organizations are recognized with a Rainbow Key Award. Attendance at the Rainbow Key event is not required for a recipient to receive this honor.

The LGBTQ+ Commission, at its April 11, 2024, meeting, selected five recipients for the Rainbow Key Awards. The date for the 2024 Rainbow Key Awards ceremony has not yet been determined, but it is anticipated to take place during fall 2024.

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

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

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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

Patients at LA County’s Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center enjoy some animal therapy as they progress on their rehabilitation journey.

Department of Health Services’ recreation therapists use animal-assisted therapy in both individual and group treatment settings to gain functional outcomes such as increasing social skills, range of motion, group participation, and overall strength and endurance.

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

In Case You Missed It

LA County Day at the Fair is May 4th!

The LA County Fair opens this weekend and to celebrate, we’re offering discounted tickets on LA County Day at the Fair on May 4! Enjoy the LA County Expo showcasing all the great things the county is doing in our neighborhoods and take advantage of this discount offer. Admission is just $8 through May 3 at 11:59 p.m. Admission is $10 the day-of, May 4, 2024.

LA County Fair season runs from May 3rd – May 27th. Get your tickets today and be sure to use the password “LACOUNTY” for your LA County Day tickets for the discount price!

At Your Service

LA County Library: Citizenship in a Bag

Looking for help on your path to US Citizenship? LA County Library offers Citizenship in a Bag, a toolkit with resources for customers seeking to obtain US Citizenship.

This toolkit in a bag contains a variety of educational materials for the naturalization exam, including flash cards, multimedia tools, and a FREE citizenship folder with valuable resources that customers can keep.

Borrow or place a hold on a Citizenship in a Bag toolkit here.

For more details and questions, please call your nearest LA County Library location.

Out and About

Beach Eats Gourmet Food Trucks

Beach Eats is back for another summer in Marina del Rey!

Join us every Thursday, 5–9 p.m., May 9 through October 31, for some of the most unique and popular local food truck fare at “L.A.’s Marina.”

  • ORDERS: Food orders can be made online up to five days before each Thursday event, or directly at the food trucks on-site.
  • PARKING: Available in Lot #11 at a rate of $0.50 for each 15 minutes. There is a $2 minimum for credit card payments.
  • MORE INFO: Visit the Best Food Trucks website to check out the upcoming food truck schedule, order online, or try the Best Food Trucks app (Apple or Android).

See you on Thursdays at Beach Eats in Marina del Rey!

Photo Finish

Natural History Museum’s Dinosaur Hall.
(Photo: Los Angeles County / Mayra Beltran Vasquez)

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

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