Despite facing a $325,000 shortfall in sponsorship funding, Greater Palm Springs Pride is pressing forward with its annual four-day celebration, which draws more than 200,000 attendees and generates millions in local economic impact.

“In our specific case, 60% of our shortfall is from one sponsor in Florida where the governor has directed a pullback from supporting DEI or related programs. The other 40% is a sign of economic times,” said Ron deHarte, President of Palm Springs Pride. “Partners who have and continue to support Palm Springs Pride are experiencing tighter budgets… we are confident good partners will continue their investment in our programming.”

The funding gap underscores how critical LGBTQ+ organizations are to their communities. DeHarte noted that these groups provide services ranging from crisis intervention for homeless youth to HIV/AIDS prevention, legal aid, and safe spaces. “When funding is cut or becomes unreliable, these vital services are put at risk. This not only undermines the organizations themselves but also directly impacts the well-being and safety of the individuals they serve. This financial pressure can be seen as a modern tactic of marginalization,” he said.

But this challenge is part of a much longer history of resilience for the LGBTQ+ community. “The history of Pride is fundamentally a story of resistance. From the Stonewall Uprising’s response to police harassment and brutality, the LGBTQ+ community has always had to fight for its right to exist openly and without fear… the collective pushback against legal, social, and political forces that have sought to push LGBTQ+ people to the margins defines what the LGBTQ+ movement has represented for the last 50 years,” deHarte said.

For deHarte, the shortfall is also a testament to the LGBTQ+ community’s ingenuity and self-reliance. “We are not victims. The LGBTQ+ community has a long history of fighting for its rights… The decision to proceed with Palm Springs Pride, even with fewer resources, is a testament to this spirit of self-reliance and strength. We have fought for everything we have. The rights and freedoms celebrated at Pride were not given freely; they were earned through decades of activism, advocacy, and sacrifice,” he explained.

“We do what needs to be done with the resources available. This year’s event will highlight the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the LGBTQ+ community. When faced with a lack of corporate sponsorships, grassroots support and community donations will fill the void. This underscores the idea that the community’s power comes from within, not from external validation or funding. We do more with less,” deHarte said.

Even with fewer resources, organizers say the festival will remain bold, inclusive, and unapologetically political. “It is vital that we stand together and show the world that our community is strong and our fight for equality continues. This year, more than ever, Palm Springs Pride will be a vibrant and political statement and a call to action that will not be quieted,” he added.

From its roots in grassroots protest to today’s massive celebration, Palm Springs Pride demonstrates the power of community, the resilience of a movement, and the enduring spirit of resistance — proving that Pride is not just a party, but a declaration: the fight for equality continues, and the LGBTQ+ community will not be silenced.

Those who want to support the festival can make a contribution online or participate in events like the Equality Walk, though attendance remains free to all.

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You’ve linked the shortfall to the current political climate. When we look at the far-right media pipeline, it feels like they’re creating a lot of noise — but does that reflect reality on the ground?

 In our specific case, and we point out every Pride organization is unique, 60% of our shortfall is from one sponsor in Florida where the governor has directed a pullback from supporting DEI or related programs. The other 40% is a sign of economic times. Partners who have and continue to support Palm Springs Pride are experiencing tighter budgets. They have been supportive in the past, are continuing to be supportive today. We are confident good partners will continue their investment in our programming.

Corporations seem to react quickly to that noise, often pulling back support out of fear. Do you see that as a reflection of real public opinion, or more about how power operates in boardrooms and newsrooms?

We have heard of this happening with some very large Pride organizations across the country. But when you step back and look at the 450-500 Pride events in the United States, a very small percentage of those events have experienced the corporate retreat you mention.

Pride was born as resistance to systems of power that wanted us silent. How do you see this year’s funding shortfall fitting into that longer history of LGBTQ+ people being pushed to the margins? Has the resistance ever changed? 

The history of Pride is fundamentally a story of resistance. From the Stonewall Uprising’s response to police harassment and brutality, the LGBTQ+ community has always had to fight for its right to exist openly and without fear. The root of the struggle has been about individual rights; however,  the collective pushback against legal, social, and political forces that have sought to push LGBTQ+ people to the margins defines what the LGBTQ+ movement has represented for the last 50 years.

In this context, the recent funding shortfall for LGBTQ+ organizations is a deeply concerning development that fits into this long history of marginalization. It is a modern form of the same pressure that has historically been used to silence and undermine the community.

The struggle for equality continues. Funding shortfalls for LGBTQ+ organizations represents a new front in this ongoing battle. These organizations are critical, providing a range of essential services for crisis intervention for homeless youth, healthcare access and HIV/AIDS prevention, legal aid for discrimination cases and community centers that provide safe spaces. When funding is cut or becomes unreliable, these vital services are put at risk. This not only undermines the organizations themselves but also directly impacts the well-being and safety of the individuals they serve. This financial pressure can be seen as a modern tactic of marginalization, as it seeks to weaken the infrastructure that the LGBTQ+ community relies on to advocate for its rights and support its members.

The funding shortfall is not just a financial issue; it’s an issue of social justice. It highlights the continued need for vigilance and support to ensure that the progress made by the LGBTQ+ community is not rolled back.

Corporate sponsorship often comes with strings attached and can vanish in the face of political pressure. What does it take to build support that is unshakeable, rooted in actual community power rather than optics? 

What sponsorship support comes with no strings attached or no risk of future investment? Grants have deliverables and restrictions, city government funding is dependent on political support, businesses want logo exposure / tickets/ recognition, and now federal grants require removal of any transgender language. One would think individuals would freely donate to their local Pride but many view Pride as a party. It would be great for individual donors to replace the funds currently provided by large money sponsors. While many Pride events are free to attend, implementing small fees for certain aspects can generate significant revenue. Tickets for specific concerts, reserved seating for the parade, or fundraisers throughout the year are also ways to shift the funding model. These are all opportunities. We need to do a better job letting the community know how they can support.

Is it fair to say that relying on corporations has sometimes weakened Pride’s political edge? How do you balance funding needs with staying true to a movement built on resistance?

In our case we have never tempered the political nature of Pride in Palm Springs. However, we have experienced parade participants pulling out because they feel the parade is too political.

What role do you see for small businesses, local organizers, and everyday community members in sustaining Pride, especially when big sponsors pull out?

For free Pride events like Palm Springs Pride, attendees can help by donating $10 bucks (or more) online in place of buying a ticket. Many small businesses who are able already support Pride. However, there are many others who benefit from the economic impact a Pride event has in the community who choose not to provide support. Our message is that we welcome everyone, we are a free event and donations are appreciated to cover expenses. 

Systems of power that target queer people are also targeting immigrants, BIPOC communities, and other marginalized groups. How do you see Pride standing in solidarity across those struggles?

We are immigrants. We are the BIPOC community. While Palm Springs is widely known as a welcoming and inclusive city for the LGBTQ+ community, groups within the community face additional layers of marginalization. These groups often experience unique challenges due to the intersection of their LGBTQ+ identity with other identities, such as race, age, and disability. We are one and must ensure TGI individuals, LGBTQ+ people of color, youth, older adults and individuals with disabilities are at the table. 

Are there lessons from mutual aid and grassroots organizing that could reshape how Pride operates — making it more of a real support network, not just a festival?

Yes, the origin of Pride is in grassroots organizing and protest. While the modern landscape includes celebratory elements and corporate involvement, look behind the curtain, and one will see its core purpose remains a powerful blend of community building, activism, and providing a crucial support network for LGBTQ+ people. That’s grassroots in 2025. In Palm Springs, it is, and always has been, more than just a party. Pride is fundamentally a real and vital support network for the LGBTQ+ community.

At a grassroots level, Pride provides a space for LGBTQ+ individuals to be their authentic selves without fear of shame or stigma. This visibility is powerful, especially for those who may feel isolated in their daily lives. Pride events, and the organizations behind them, connect people with a “chosen family” and a sense of belonging. Pride continues to be a call to action. It raises awareness about ongoing struggles for equality and rights, and it is a powerful opportunity for protest and political mobilization.

Looking back at the history of Pride as a movement born from resistance, does this funding crisis feel like an opportunity to recenter the movement on community accountability, activism, and care networks rather than corporate sponsorship?

This is certainly a time to ensure our platform reignites the Pride experience to demand rights, protest injustice, and raise awareness about ongoing struggles of the community. The current funding crisis, while difficult, presents a chance to fortify the movement from the ground up, ensuring it remains a powerful force for advocacy and community care, rather than a perceived corporate-sponsored spectacle. It is vital that we stand together and show the world that our community is strong and our fight for equality continues. This year, more than ever, Palm Springs Pride will be a vibrant and political statement and a call to action that will not be quieted.

What would you say to those watching from outside the LGBTQ+ community? What message does Palm Springs Pride send by moving forward this year despite these setbacks? 

To those watching from outside the LGBTQ+ community, Palm Springs Pride sends a powerful and unwavering message. It is a message of resilience, determination, and a refusal to be silenced. By moving forward this year despite recent funding shortfall due to a challenging political climate, Palm Springs Pride is showing our commitment is not conditional on easy circumstances. We are demonstrating that Pride is more than a party; it is a fundamental act of visible existence, a celebration of hard-won rights, and a continued protest against injustice.

We are not victims. The LGBTQ+ community has a long history of fighting for its rights. From daily struggles for equality, the community has always had to create our own path forward. The decision to proceed with Palm Springs Pride, even with fewer resources, is a testament to this spirit of self-reliance and strength. We have fought for everything we have. The rights and freedoms celebrated at Pride were not given freely; they were earned through decades of activism, advocacy, and sacrifice. This year’s events serve as a reminder of this ongoing struggle and honors the pioneers who paved the way.

We do what needs to be done with the resources available. This year’s event will highlight the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the LGBTQ+ community. When faced with a lack of corporate sponsorships, grassroots support and community donations will fill the void. This underscores the idea that the community’s power comes from within, not from external validation or funding. We do more with less. The ability to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity is a defining characteristic of the LGBTQ+ community. Palm Springs Pride’s continued existence despite a budget reduction shows that the core message and purpose of the event are not dependent on a lavish production. The focus remains on community, activism, and a powerful, visible presence.

Palm Springs Pride Celebration 2025 / Thur Nov 6 through Sun Nov 9 FREE ADMISSION

Vice President Kamala Harris announced today that she will not run for Governor of California in 2026, putting to rest long-standing speculation about her political future. In a public statement, Harris said she spent the past six months reflecting on “the best way for [her] to continue fighting for the American people and advancing the values and ideals [she holds] dear.”

From her time in the courtroom to the Senate floor and the White House, Harris has built a career within the political system. But her latest message hints at a shift in strategy.

“We must be willing to pursue change through new methods and fresh thinking,” she wrote, “committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook.”

While stepping back from the governor’s race, Harris made it clear she’s not stepping away from politics. She plans to campaign for Democrats nationwide and suggested more details about her next chapter are on the horizon.

Her announcement comes at a time when the Democratic Party is facing urgent questions about whether it will fully defend trans lives amid rising attacks. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently called it “deeply unfair” for transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg echoed the same framing, saying, “most reasonable people agree that it’s a serious fairness issue.” These are not harmless statements; they are capitulations to anti-trans narratives that frame our right to exist and participate as something debatable.

These statements from two of the party’s most visible figures aren’t outliers either; they reflect a broader trend of Democratic leaders hedging their language or pandering to the center instead of standing firmly for trans people’s dignity and rights. While Harris didn’t mention trans issues in her statement, her record is also mixed. She has caused harm in the past but has shown signs of growth, becoming more publicly supportive of trans rights in recent years. Still, symbolic gestures are no longer enough. The real question now is: what comes next?

As Harris, Newsom, and Buttigieg emerge as likely contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, transgender Americans and our allies are paying close attention. We are tired of being treated as a liability, a distraction, or a political bargaining chip. We are not a wedge issue.

We are voters. We are organizers. We are human beings. And we deserve to know which of these potential leaders will truly fight for us, not just when it’s politically safe, but when it matters most.

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When the City of West Hollywood voted unanimously to join a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this July, it wasn’t just a procedural step; it was a demand for accountability. A demand to stop the illegal collaboration between local jails and federal deportation agents. A demand to end complicity in a system that disproportionately targets queer, trans, Black, brown, and immigrant lives.

The lawsuit, originally filed by the cities of El Monte and San Gabriel, challenges ICE’s use of detainer requests in California. These requests ask local jails to hold individuals past their release dates so ICE can apprehend them, often without a judicial warrant. That practice is illegal under the California Values Act (SB 54), which was passed in 2017 to prevent local law enforcement from aiding federal immigration enforcement. These detainers lead to unjust arrests and deportations, tearing apart immigrant families and communities.

“We are not going to stand by as ICE tries to continue these unconstitutional practices in our state,” said West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Byers in an interview with the Blade. “It’s important that we call that out as illegal and take action, which is what this lawsuit is about.”

This isn’t West Hollywood’s first stand against ICE, but the decision to join this lawsuit signals a growing urgency. In recent years, anti-immigrant sentiment has become more aggressive, with far-right leaders stoking fear and fueling deportation efforts while simultaneously attacking LGBTQ+ rights. For trans and queer migrants, that double targeting has deadly consequences.

“When we think about West Hollywood’s identity as a sanctuary city, that doesn’t just mean we offer support in symbolic ways,” Byers said. “It means that we have to be active when rights are being violated, especially for LGBTQ and immigrant communities.”

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West Hollywood’s move didn’t come out of nowhere; it came from years of pressure, coalition building, and resistance led by immigrant justice organizations and trans-led groups. Two of the most influential voices behind this action are CHIRLA (the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights) and the TransLatin@ Coalition, whose work helped push this issue into the public and political spotlight.

CHIRLA’s legal team has been instrumental in challenging ICE’s detainer practices. They argue that ICE has repeatedly violated state law by issuing civil detainers without legal justification, turning local law enforcement into extensions of a federal deportation machine.

The TransLatin@ Coalition, founded and led by trans Latina immigrants, has spent over a decade building power through direct services, community organizing, and policy advocacy. They know firsthand how immigration enforcement tears apart communities and how dangerous detention is for trans people.

“This lawsuit is ultimately about dignity,” said Byers. “It’s about due process, and making sure that we don’t allow any agency—even a federal agency—to overstep the rights of individuals.”

The case against ICE is not just about technical violations of SB 54; it’s about state sovereignty and whether California’s sanctuary laws will be respected or undermined by a federal agency notorious for operating outside the law.

California’s sanctuary policies were designed to protect immigrant communities from exactly this kind of abuse. But enforcement loopholes, misinformation, and quiet cooperation between law enforcement and ICE continue to put lives at risk. This lawsuit seeks to shut those loopholes once and for all.

“This is a matter of California law being upheld. That’s why we joined this lawsuit—to make sure that ICE is held accountable,” said Byers.

As the legal fight plays out in court, West Hollywood’s action sends a clear message to other cities: you don’t get to call yourself a sanctuary if you’re silent when ICE breaks the law. It’s not enough to offer symbolic support. Real sanctuary means putting resources, legal pressure, and political will behind the people most targeted by the system.

“To the LGBTQ+ immigrants in our city, we want to send the message that you are welcome here, and that we will stand up for you.”

West Hollywood is once again at the forefront of LGBTQ+ equality and family inclusivity. The city, known for its progressive leadership, is working to update local ordinances to better reflect the full spectrum of modern family structures, including non-nuclear, polyamorous, and chosen families.

Christina Fialho, an attorney and founder of Rewrite the BiLine, has been a driving force behind the effort. Fialho has spent nearly two decades advocating for LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights. For her, this fight is deeply personal. “West Hollywood is my community, where I go to the gym, where I go out with friends, and as a bi queer person, I am grateful each day to be part of such a welcoming community,” Fialho shared. 

“For polyamorous individuals and people in diverse family structures,” Fialho said, “the fear of discrimination and lack of legal protections make coming out incredibly difficult. That’s why I have mobilized community support by meeting one-on-one with community members to listen, connect, and build trust. Despite the fear, there’s a powerful, shared desire for change, and it’s that collective courage that has made this work possible so far.”

The push gained momentum after the passage of Proposition 3 in California last year, which removed discriminatory language from the state constitution and reaffirmed same-sex marriage protections. Fialho reached out to West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers in March 2025 to explore how the city could further protect diverse families. Within two months, Mayor Byers introduced an agenda item to initiate the process of expanding the city’s nondiscrimination protections.

“For so many queer individuals, chosen family is a source of safety, stability, and joy,” Mayor Byers shared. “As a city that has long championed LGBTQ+ rights, it’s essential that we enact the legal protections necessary for all families to live in dignity and security. This nondiscrimination ordinance and the domestic partnership law will enhance the well-being of people and families across West Hollywood, and I’m proud that our city continues to lead with our values of inclusion, diversity, and equality for all.”

On May 19, 2025, the West Hollywood City Council unanimously voted to explore updates to the municipal code that would prohibit discrimination based on family and relationship structure. These updates would explicitly protect people in polyamorous relationships, multi-parent families, step-families, multi-generational households, and asexual partnerships. These types of ordinances, which have been adopted by a few other cities, “are already reducing stigma and advancing equity in real and measurable ways,” Fialho wrote in her May 19th comment letter.

On June 23, the City Council took another historic step. Vice Mayor John Heilman introduced an agenda item to explore updating the city’s domestic partnership ordinance to allow more than two people to register as domestic partners, potentially making West Hollywood the first city in California to officially recognize multi-partner relationships. When introducing the agenda item, Heilman explained that he wants to address the needs of people in diverse family structures “and provide whatever protection we can for them as a family and for their children.” Heilman also led the city’s groundbreaking effort in 1985 to create the nation’s first domestic partnership registry for same-sex couples.

This growing movement has been powered by the voices of West Hollywood residents, local leaders, and LGBTQ+ advocates who have rallied in support of the ordinance. Many emphasized that recognizing diverse family structures is not just a policy update, it’s a necessary step toward dignity and equity for all.

Brian Wenke, who runs a global LGBTQ+ nonprofit, stressed the urgency of modernizing family protections, sharing that “our laws must evolve to reflect the full spectrum of how love and family show up in the world.” Nicole Kristal, founder of Still Bisexual, highlighted the specific impact on bi+ people, many of whom are left “without the protections, benefits, or dignity afforded to others.” For Kristal, this is about more than just policy; it’s about finally “addressing the needs of people who have been historically sidelined even within queer spaces.” Educator and advocate Ross Victory also underscored the importance of protecting chosen families, especially now, saying, “family, chosen or blood, is more important than ever in these times.”

As a polyamorous, trans woman and West Hollywood community member, I also spoke in support of the ordinance. For me, this is personal. “Domestic partnership recognition isn’t just symbolic; it’s a step toward legal inclusion, protection, and dignity,” I shared. In a time of growing backlash against LGBTQ+ rights, I believe that “taking bold action to support marginalized communities isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the necessary thing to do.”

This local movement is part of a growing national effort to redefine what family means under the law. Across the country, more than a dozen states have expanded paid family leave to include chosen family and “designated persons,” and California now allows caregiving beyond the traditional nuclear family. If this ordinance passes, West Hollywood will become the first city in California and the first on the West Coast to officially recognize domestic partnerships that include triads, polycules, and other multi-partner relationships, joining municipalities like Somerville, Cambridge, and Arlington, Massachusetts.

“What we do here in West Hollywood has a direct effect on the state and national conversation,” Fialho emphasized. “While West Hollywood cannot end discrimination against queer families on its own, it can lead the way.” Fialho hopes this progress will inspire other cities across Los Angeles County and beyond to follow. “The binary lens through which society views gender, sexuality, and relationships denies the reality of millions. Poly families disproportionately include bi+, trans, and nonbinary individuals, communities that already experience discrimination and legal invisibility. Unequal access to rights and benefits was a primary catalyst for the marriage equality movement, and it should motivate Californians to extend benefits to all families.”

The City Attorney has now been directed to evaluate amending local ordinance language, and the next vote is expected soon. Community members can stay engaged and show support by joining the local coalition here. All eyes will be on West Hollywood as it continues to push the boundaries of family recognition in an upcoming City Council meeting.

President Donald Trump is making good on his threat to punish California officials for allowing transgender female student-athletes to compete with cisgender girls in school sports. 

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it is suing the state’s Department of Education, claiming California’s policy to allow trans students to compete with other girls violates Title IX, the federal law that bans discrimination in education based on sex. The DOJ’s suit says California’s rules “are not only illegal and unfair but also demeaning, signaling to girls that their opportunities and achievements are secondary to accommodating boys.”

As the Washington Blade reported in June, this lawsuit follows a warning by the Trump administration to end the trans participation policy within 10 days or face referral to the DOJ as well as the loss of federal education funding.

And California may merely be the first to face legal action, according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who warned that the 21 other states which permit trans girls to compete in female athletics could also face challenges by the federal government.

“If you do not comply, you’re next,” she said in a video posted on the DOJ website. “We will protect girls in girls sports.” Bondi was joined by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. 

The DOJ suit named California’s Education Department and the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports. A spokesperson for the CIF told the Associated Press the organization would not comment on pending litigation.

A spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom deferred to the CIF and the Department of Education in declining to comment on the lawsuit since the governor was not named a defendant. But Newsom’s office told the AP that the Trump administration’s attacks on its policies protecting transgender athletes are “a cynical attempt” to distract from the federal government’s withholding of funds for all students who benefit from after-school and summer programs.

Newsom, however, has come under criticism — most notably by the Human Rights Campaign — for remarks he made in March, that allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports was “deeply unfair,” as the Blade reported. 

For more than a decade, California law has allowed students to participate in sex-segregated school programs, including on sports teams, and use bathrooms and other facilities that align with their gender identity.

But headlines about AB Hernandez, an out trans female high school student-athlete who won titles in the California track-and-field championships last month, drew condemnations from Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, and President Trump himself. 

Following the meet, Dhillon wrote in a letter to the California Interscholastic Federation that it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution by allowing trans girls to compete against other female athletes.

As for the lawsuit, DOJ claims California’s policies “ignore undeniable biological differences between boys and girls, in favor of an amorphous ’gender identity.’”

“The results of these illegal policies are stark: girls are displaced from podiums, denied awards, and miss out on critical visibility for college scholarships and recognition,” the suit says.

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases challenging state bans on trans student-athletes, as the Blade reported. More than 20 states have limited trans girls from participating on girls sports teams, barred gender-affirming surgeries for minors and required parents to be notified if a child changes their pronouns at school. More than two dozen states have laws barring trans women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Challenges to some of those policies are still being decided by courts across the country. 

Back in February, the president signed an executive order that bans trans girls and women from participating in sports that match their gender identity, as the Blade reported.

Supporters of banning trans girls and women from competing include the conservative California Family Council, which has posted a petition online, arguing a ban would restore fairness in athletic competitions. Opponents like Equality California say bans are an attack on transgender youth.

“Local schools and athletic associations are the ones who should be handling these issues, and they are already creating policies that protect transgender youth and ensure a level playing field for all students. A federal ban that overrides those rules could require young girls to answer inappropriate personal questions or even be subjected to genital inspections by strangers if they want to participate in sports,” the organization said in a statement in February.

“The head of the NCAA, himself a former Republican Governor, recently told a U.S. Senate panel that he knew of less than 10 out transgender athletes among the 510,000 currently competing in college sports—less than .002 percent of all NCAA athletes.

“Studies confirm that participation in sports provides kids with invaluable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, discipline, and cooperation—fundamental lessons that every young person deserves the chance to experience. Beyond the field, sports also contribute significantly to students’ overall well-being, fostering better mental health, boosting academic performance, and enhancing self-esteem and confidence.”

Nonbinary, Puerto Rican icon, comedian, actor and activist, Vico Ortiz, 33, binds and weaves awkward childhood moments, family expectations, Walter Mercado and the love of their life embodied by a household mop, to tell the story of the rise of a king. 

During the peak of Pride month, Ortiz gifted the Los Angeles queer and trans communities with a spectacularly queer, solo show featuring themself in their quest of self-discovery, a profound sense of connection and reconnection with their femininity and masculinity through growing pains and moments of doubt. This is a show that Ortiz describes as “wholesome, but burlesque.” 

King Vico Ortiz rises

The show, which premiered on June 12, details Ortiz’s childhood, vignetting and transforming through their most formative years and through canon events that led them to their gay awakening, such as watching Disney’s Mulan (in Spanish) and the moment Ortiz cut their hair in honor of the scene where Mulan cuts hers off. Ortiz took the audience on a journey through their inner monologue during the moments in their childhood and into adulthood, where they not only come to terms with their identity, but also learn to understand the internal battle their parents went through as they watched their king rise. 

Though Ortiz mostly only acted prior to writing and producing their first solo show, they finally took their opportunity to do things a little differently. Last June, their friend Nikki Levy, who runs a show called Don’t Tell My Mother, coached Ortiz to dredge up childhood memories and tether them in a way that could be told and understood by an audience as a show about queerness and self-discovery.  

“[Levy] started asking me those questions that dig deeper into the emotional journey of the story, not just ‘hehe’ ‘haha’ moments, but there’s something a little deeper happening,” said Ortiz in an interview with the L.A. Blade. This is when they asked Levy to help coach them through the process of putting the story together in a way that Ortiz imagined it, but also in a way that made sense to the audience.

Ortiz says that with a little bit of ‘astrology woo-woo-ness, a little bit of magic woo-woo-ness, drag and fabulosity,’ they tether together the story of the relationship between them and their mother. 

“Astrology had a huge influence in my life growing up from the get-go,” said Ortiz. “I was born and [my mother] printed my birth chart.” The Libra sun, Sagittarius rising, Scorpio moon and Venus in Virgo, says they have always known their chart and that not only did astrology play a huge role in their life growing up, but so did astrologer-to-the-stars Walter Mercado. 

The solo was partly influenced by their mother and partly influenced by the iconic, queer, androgynously-elegant Mercado, who famously appeared on TV screens across homes in Latin America and the United States for a segment on that day’s astrological reading. 

Seeing Mercado on that daily segment shaped Ortiz’s view of gender and began to understand themselves in a new-found light — one in which they saw their most authentic self. 

“Seeing that this person is loved and worshipped by all these people who are like: ‘we don’t care that Walter looks like Walter, we just love Walter,’” said Ortiz. This is when they realized that they too, wanted to be loved and adored by the masses, all while fully embracing their masculinity and femininity. 

Closing Night of ‘Rise of a King’

The closing night show of ‘Rise of a King’ was a reminder of how unpredictable life can be and how darkness comes in on some of our brightest moments. Ortiz brilliantly pulled off an improv monologue during a 15-minute power outage. Though it was unpredictable, it was on theme. Ortiz owned the stage, going on about childhood memories that shaped them into who they are today and how they have reconnected with the imaginative child that once told the story of a half-butterfly, half-fish.

The rest of the show went according to plan, immersing the audience in a show that took us straight into the closet of Ortiz’s parents and where Ortiz not only discovered, but learned to embrace who they truly are — to the first moments they embraced the king within and outwardly began to show it to audiences, and eventually their mother. 

The set, designed by Jose Matias, functioned as a walk-in closet that transforms throughout the show against the backdrop of drawings of Ortiz and their family memories projected on a big screen on the stage. 

Ortiz’s original, solo-show had its world premiere at FUERZAfest in New York City, then its west coast premiere at L.A.’s own Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Follow @puertoricanninja for more updates on their upcoming work.

Williams Institute at UCLA has released its latest report, highlighting the intersection between LGBTQ and immigration issues and the impact of the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) raids across Los Angeles on LGBTQ people. 

According to the brief, LGBTQ immigrants who hold legal status, but who are not naturalized citizens may also face challenges to their legal right to reside in the U.S. 

Recent reports indicate that non-citizens with legal status are being swept up in immigration operations and several forms of legal status which were granted at the end of the Biden administration are being revoked. Those include: Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for some Venezuelan immigrants, as well as those from Afghanistan and Cameroon, while Haitian nationals are now facing shortened protection periods, by up to six months. 

The Justice Department has proposed a new rule which grants the government border authority to revoke green card holders’ permanent residency status at any time. This rule is currently under review by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which could significantly affect non-citizens who are currently documented to reside in the county legally. 

Supervisorial District 1, under Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, and Supervisorial District 2, under Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell would particularly be affected as it contains the city center of Los Angeles and nearly 29,000 LGBTQ, noncitizens would face the harshest impact. Those two districts contain many of the county’s historically Black, Latin American and Asian, Pacific Islander neighborhoods. 

For transgender, nonbinary and intersex immigrants arrested or detained by ICE, there are additional impacts regarding how federal law defines biological sex and gender identity. The Trump administration has signed an executive order which redefines “sex” under federal law to exclude TGI individuals. This adds an extra thick layer of possible violence when TGI individuals are placed in detention centers or in holding that does not correspond to their identity.

According to the report, ‘transgender, non-binary, and intersex immigrants must navigate an

immigration and asylum system without information about how federal agents will respond to their gender identity and with the risk of greater violence if placed in detention centers, given the effects of this executive order.’

The brief estimates the number or foreign-born adults in Los Angeles County who will be potentially affected by the Trump administration’s executive orders on mass deportations. 

Graphic courtesy of Williams Institute at UCLA.

Using previous data from other Williams Institute Studies and reports from the University of Southern California Dornsife Equity Research Institute and data from the Pew Research Center, the latest brief states that there are over 1.35 million LGBTQ-identifying people across the U.S., with 30% of them residing in California. 

The report further points to 122,000 LGBTQ immigrants who reside within LA County specifically, making Los Angeles County home to about 10% of all LGBTQ adult immigrants in the U.S. 

While 18% of those Angelenos are foreign-born, only around 7%, or 49,000 of them do not hold legal status. 

Using research from the Pew Center and applying an estimate, that means that there are approximately 23,000 undocumented LGBTQ across LA County and the remaining 26,000 LGBTQ immigrants in the county have some form of legal status. 

Among the LGBTQ population of adult immigrants in California, approximately 41,000 are transgender or nonbinary. That figure also points toward approximately 5,200 of them residing in LA County. According to the proportions applied for this estimate, the Williams Institute approximates that around 3,100 transgender and nonbinary immigrants in LA County are naturalized citizens, over 1,100 have legal status and just under 1,000 are undocumented. 

According to a brief released in February by the Williams Institute, ‘mass deportations could impact 288,000 LGBTQ undocumented immigrants across the U.S.

In the heart of South Central Los Angeles lies Trinity Recreation Center, known as Trinity Park, considered what some might refer to as a “hood staple.”

Although there is no denying the park’s history of gang-related incidents and even death, for many, the park is also a place full of profound memories, cherished as one of the only green spaces and gathering places within a community that is often underserved. The park sits in the city’s 9th Council District (CD-9), a district known for its lack of green spaces. 

 South Central L.A. is often characterized by an over concentration of liquor stores and a lack of quality, affordable grocery stores and sit-down restaurants, contributing to high rates of heart disease, diabetes and premature death among South L.A. residents. 

For me, the park brings me back to a time when life was easier. It was the place where I made my first friend. This park was my large family’s front yard for over three years and a place that I have passed by and walked through for over two decades. 

Trinity Park was one of the first places I have memories of. A year after my family immigrated to the U.S., we moved into a three-bedroom house across the street from the park. The first year in the states was difficult for my mother, who juggled two jobs. 

For me, understanding very little English and not being able to speak it made it extremely difficult to communicate or connect with other kids and adults at school. My thick accent was always a point of concern and embarrassment. 

Trinity Park, which in the early 2000s was even more notorious for crime and shootings, was a special place for my family and me during the almost three years that we lived neighboring it. 

When my mother worked long hours, my aunts and uncles would take me to the park at least twice a week, where I would run uncontrollably and ride the swings for as long as possible. The park, in a sense, saw me grow up and helped me build a close sense of community at a time when I felt very alone and isolated. 

That, too, is what the park has been to many of the kids and community living in the park’s surroundings. Trinity Park, is also located 12 minutes from downtown L.A., in an area of South Central L.A. known as Historic South Central within CD-9, where the majority of the population is composed of Black and Latino working-class families. 

The Trinity Recreation Center opened its doors in 1968. In the last few years, there have been significant upgrades and additions to the park, including the 2016 opening of a synthetic soccer field and a skate park, which officially opened in 2021. 

To what to many outsiders might look like an unsafe and unpredictable piece of land, Trinity Park holds dear memories for many of those who have passed through or hung out in the park at some point in their lives. 

The park was also where I remember making my first true friend in L.A., a friendship that wasn’t sparked because we went to the same class or because our parents knew each other, but because of a simple connection between kids while playing. I don’t remember her name, but the photo below was taken the day I met her at Trinity Park. 

My mother, on one of her only days off, had taken me to the park. It was the summer of 2004 and we arrived at the park close to sunset. I wish I could recall more than us playing tag and running around the park, but I remember the feeling of making my first friend, one I had made on my own. We probably spent three to four hours together that day playing and at the end of it all, my mother ran across the street to bring her camera. I think she, too, wanted to preserve the memory, the feeling of seeing her daughter connect with another kid after what had been a very tough time in both of our lives. 

Brenda’s friend she made in Trini Park (L) and Brenda (R) pose together at Trinity Park in 2004.

(Photo courtesy of Brenda Fernanda Verano)

That was also the park where I taught myself to ride a bike and that gave me confidence, something that was hard for me to find as a kid. 

Later in life, although we moved out of the home across the street from the park, my family and I continued living in that same neighborhood and all throughout my high school journey, I walked through that park every day to get to school. In middle school, the park was also a meetup place for my friends and me after school, where we would hang out and share music playlists. 

The park has been a silent but consistent entity from childhood to now — adulthood — always in the background of pieces and times in my life.

EDITORS NOTE: This article was published through the Bezos Fellowship grant provided by the Ethnic Media Services, which recently changed its name to American Community Media. The article was written by Brenda Fernanda Verano, an award-winning journalist and reporter for CALÓ News, a local non-profit newsroom focusing on the Latin American community of Los Angeles.

Trans Lifeline has been named Best Nonprofit by readers of the LA Blade, a powerful nod to the trans-led organization’s work supporting the community through some of the most challenging years in recent memory.

The organization, which operates as a peer-run crisis hotline and resource network for trans people, was founded on the belief that no one understands what trans people need better than trans people themselves. Now North America’s largest trans-led direct service provider, Trans Lifeline offers peer support, microgrants, and advocacy for trans individuals in crisis, with every service shaped by lived experience and radical care.

In June 2024, Trans Lifeline welcomed kai alviar horton* as Executive Director. horton’s leadership has been defined by a deep commitment to love, liberation, and community care. Under his guidance, the organization has prioritized internal health, invested in hotline and support teams and fostered a culture where trans leadership, particularly from Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, thrives.

The past year brought growth, but also unimaginable grief. In 2024, over 533 anti-trans bills were introduced at the state level and more than 80 at the federal level. Trans Lifeline stood firm in its mission amid the onslaught of legislative attacks. At the same time, the community mourned the loss of at least 350 trans people, many of them Black and brown trans women and femmes. For the team at Trans Lifeline, those losses are not just statistics. They are personal, collective and deeply felt.

“We could never have imagined the depth of connection, healing, and resilience we would experience together,” said Myles Markham, speaking on behalf of the organization. “There are no words to capture that grief. Through it all, Trans Lifeline has continued to serve as a symbol of unwavering love.”

That love is translating into urgent, expansive action. Early into 2025, Trans Lifeline  experienced a 400% increase in call volume. To meet the moment, the organization scaled up operations by hiring more operators, launching a new text-based support line and training a fresh cohort of volunteers. They’ve also begun rebuilding the infrastructure for their beloved microgrants program, with plans to relaunch it before the end of the year. The program provides direct financial assistance to trans individuals, part of the group’s core commitment to economic justice.

Being voted Best Nonprofit of the year carries heavy symbolic weight. “This award gives Trans Lifeline prominent exposure among Angelinos who are LGBTQ, allied, or seeking support,” said Markham. “It signals to our donors, partners, volunteers, and crisis service users that the organization is valued and trusted by the trans community.”

Recognition like this is especially meaningful for peer-led organizations. 

“It goes such a long way in demonstrating that investing in work led by those directly impacted is the only way forward,” they added. “The Blade’s award reinforces the value of our lived experience and our service to trans people in crisis.”

And for trans youth, their message is simple and unwavering: “It’s okay to not feel okay right now. We are in your corner today and forever. You can call or text us at (877) 565-8860—whether you’re in crisis or not, even if you’re not sure if you’re trans. We love you and are here to support you through it all.”
To support TransLifeline visit their website.

ICE raids have taken place across Los Angeles County over the last few days and tens of thousands of Angelenos have taken to the streets to protest against the raids and the police brutality involved in the arrests.

The Trump administration has threatened to arrest Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass if they were to interfere with the ICE raids. In response, California has now filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration.

Early Monday morning, the U.S. Northern Command announced that it activated around 700 Marines, after the Pentagon and the Trump administration deployed around 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles over the weekend. As of today, Trump has deployed double the amount of National Guard troops and ICE raids are said to continue for the next 30 days. The deployment is set to cost $134 million and last 60 days or more according to Secretary Pete Hegseth and a senior defense official. 

Reporters have been hit with rubber bullets, batons and have been tear gassed while trying to document the protests. There are eyewitness reports and video footage showing police officers trampling people over with horses, running people over with squad cars and detaining people who have legal status.

In a broadcast interview with CNN, Mayor Bass stated that she believes that if ICE raids hadn’t happened on Friday, we would not be seeing the type of disorder we are seeing. The Los Angeles Police Department declared Downtown L.A. an unlawful assembly area after union president David Huerta was detained by ICE along with several undocumented immigrants. Huerta appeared in court on Monday and was released on a $50,000 bond. 

LAPD Chief Jim Donnell says they have adapted their tactics to arrest people, but that they are ultimately “overwhelmed” by the number of protesters. 

“We have adapted our tactics to take these people into custody and to be able to hold them accountable,” said Chief Donnell. “We are overwhelmed as far as the number of people out there engaged in this type of activity,” 

Mayor Bass said she was “completely in sync” with what the police chief stated, adding that she believes there is enough video footage to prosecute protestors even if they did not get arrested on scene.

“Some people might think that just because they haven’t gotten arrested on the spot, that they’ve gotten away with it and the message I would send is: there’s ton of video tape and people who didn’t get arrested today for committing violent acts — don’t plan on the fact that you get off because you can get arrested in the next few days,” said Mayor Bass. 

Mayor Bass doubled-down on her statement regarding the ICE raids and how L.A. is a city of immigrants and ICE raids will continue to affect the local economy. 

There have also been reports that ICE raids are taking place across schools and graduation ceremonies. 

Los Angeles Unified School District is set to deploy school police to set up safe zones around graduations and school campuses amid these raids targeting celebrations. According to the LA Times, school police will patrol and guard campus entrances when ICE and Border Patrol are seen in the area. Graduation ceremonies will become sanctuaries for families until immigration agents disperse from the area. 

Medical providers like St. John’s Community Health released a statement on the issue. 

“The aggressive increase in ICE activity is forcing already vulnerable people to fear going to the doctor, school, or even the grocery store — and putting countless families in danger,” said Jim Mangia, president and CEO of St. John’s Community Health.

Community leaders like Tony Hoang, executive director at Equality California stated that as a child of immigrants, it deeply saddens him to see the ICE raids take place across Los Angeles.

“Equality California joins Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta in calling for an end to National Guard deployment. We condemn the raids that have occurred and are continuing, which are xenophobic and traumatizing to families, individuals, and communities,” he said.

“We stand in solidarity with immigrant communities across Los Angeles and the state—and we call on every leader, at every level of government, to reject this assault on our values and take urgent action to protect those under threat.”