the pride
ISSUE NUMBER 84, VOLUME 55 | DECEMBER 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2022 12.01.2022 – 12.31.2022
WWW.THEPRIDELA.COM
LOS ANGELES
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THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER
Los Angeles LGBT Center Honors Transgender Day of Remembrance, Mourns Colorado Shooting Victims November 21 event remembers victims of the Colorado Spring Shooting On the evening of November 21st, the Los Angeles LGBT Center held a candlelight vigil to honor Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) and the victims of the Colorado Spring Shooting. The evening of community support and healing was designed to not only remember those we’ve lost, but to raise awareness about the constant stigma and discrimination experienced by the TGI/ ENBY+ community. Transgender Day of Remembrance is a solemn occasion where our community names and honors the members of our trans and gender-nonconforming family who we lost to senseless acts of violence. At least 32 transgender or gender non-conforming people have been killed in the U.S. this year, though the actual number is likely to be even higher due to underreporting. “We refuse to let violence rob us of the possibility to gather, to love each other, and to dream together in solidarity,” said Trans
Wellness Center Program Manager, Mariana Marroquin. “We gather because we must remember what is worth fighting for. For now, we commemorate. We tell the stories of the ones we lost. For tonight, that will be enough.” TDOR is a powerful occasion—a gathering that forces us to confront the most horrific truths of our society, and a reminder of who we need to center in our ongoing fight for liberation. This year’s vigil comes amid a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-transgender legislation across the country. Since the beginning of 2022, at least 13 states have enacted anti-transgender legislation targeting trans youth, school curriculums, and doctors who provide safe and affirming medical care. This year, TDOR came on the heels of a senseless shooting in Colorado Springs that left five members of our community dead and more than 25 injured. Last night’s vigil also held space to mourn those who were senselessly killed at Club Q. Condemning the increase in anti-LGBTQ+ violence, rhetoric, and political maneuvering in this country, the Center vowed to continue to do everything possible to keep the LGBTQ+ community safe. “The Center will honor the lives we have lost by taking continued action to protect our community from all forms of anti-LGBTQ
violence,” said the Center’s CEO, Joe Hollendoner. “Whether that’s by preserving and expanding the sacred spaces like Trans* Lounge where our community can come together to be safe, continuing our advocacy efforts to address anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric, or caring for survivors of hate crimes through our anti-violence program, the Center will do everything possible to make sure another queer or trans life is not lost due to
hate. Recent events have served as a painful reminder that our local and national antiviolence work remains urgent.” The community-anchored event was organized by the Center’s Cultural Arts, Trans* Lounge, and Trans Wellness Center teams, and was supported by community partners Bienestar, TransLatin@ Coalition, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Friends Community Center, and Youth Moving On.
Palm Springs Pride Parade ‘Say Gay’ Draws Large Crowd 36th annual parade brings crowds from all over By Susan Payne The 36th annual Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade this month drew a large crowd and highlighted the nation’s regional divisions against LGBTQ+ rights. Donning rainbows and festive looks, people of all ages represented a myriad of groups, including high school students and adult performers. “Say Gay,” the festival’s theme, is a play
on a controversial Florida bill that was signed into law in March which restricts classroom discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by its opponents, according to the Desert Sun. “Parades in general in places like Palm Springs — we’re pretty out there,” said Harry Helbing told the Desert Sun. “So ‘saying gay’ is like, ‘Yeah, what?’ Maybe if this was in a (red) state it would be a different story.” Helbing moved to Palm Springs during the pandemic and said the city’s festival “had a homemade quality that’s kind of fun.” Austin, Texas, resident Kate Dunn traveled to Palm Springs to visit family and attend the festival. “We thought, ‘Why not do it in the place that knows how to do it?’” Dunn said. “(It has a) small-town feel but we’re still celebrating
Pride with everyone around us.” The theme of the festival brought on issues in Texas that Dunn believes needs to be talked about. “Kids are going to go through these experiences regardless and if we can help them along the way — I know that it helps me to have these conversations with people, particularly people younger than me,” she said. “I think it would just be a lot easier if we would pull the cloak off of things and just talk about things openly instead of having this puritanical approach to education and discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity.” Jim McMichael, celebrating with friends, didn’t have a strong view of the event’s political message, but being able to be proud and receive support from allied partners in a
year that’s been so divise was important, he told the Desert Sun. West Hollywood resident Jeff Max said, “You do have to ‘say gay.’ They should be in books, they should be taught.”