the pride
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10.01.2023 – 10.31.2023 January 2025
LOS ANGELES 1
WWW.THEPRIDELA.COM
THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER
After LA Deputy Pleads Guilty inOver Trans Man’s Burbank Mayor Faces Backlash Playful Beating, Multiple Deputies Suspended Video, Cites Critics Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias Federal Civil Rights MayorExposes Konstantine Case Anthony Defends Misconduct and Actions Amid Cover-Up at LASD Controversy Over A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy has agreed to plead guilty to a federal civil Video rights violation for using excessive force
on a transgender man in a high-profile 2023 incident, leading to the suspension of By Dolores Quintana multiple deputies. The Los Angeles County BurbankDepartment Mayor Konstantine is Sheriff’s confirmedAnthony on Dec. facing criticism from conservatives following 18 that Deputy Joseph Benza III had been the circulation a video being removed from of duty. The showing followinghim day, the spanked by announced a drag queen an other event department thatduring several on the weekend 10.were Anthony deputies involvedofinSeptember the incident also has responded that some of his critics are relieved of duty. motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias and that the According to six internal sources cited incident by The was Losharmless. Angeles Times, the number the video, posted by the Wisenuts of In deputies suspended includespodcast, eight Mayor Anthony is seen being spanked by a drag artist, backed by the Village People’s “Macho Man.” Anthony described the events as “shenanigans” and emphasized that it was
personnel, several of whom are sergeants. These sources anonymously, theya all in good fun.spoke He went on to revealasthat were not authorized to discuss the matter secretly recorded video was made during publicly. the event and subsequently shared with a The casehate centers prominent group.around Emmett Brock, a transgender man, and schoolteacher, who In a post on his Instagram account, Anthony was arrested by Benza years ago. Brock stated, “For several days,two extremist right-wing was driving pastincluding Benza, who pulled over organizations, FoxhadNews, have on the side of the road. Brock to gave spread misleading information fuelBenza fear, the middle finger, gesture protected discrimination, anda hate. I will alwaysunder be a the First Amendment. proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community Benza reportedly pursued Brock for and drag performers.” Hemiles added,before “On a busy Saturday filled in with two pulling him over a various independent gatherings, I attended 7-Eleven parking lot, where he proceeded to the Santa Clarita Democrats’ private physically assault Valley him. Brock screamed and fundraiserforfor organization. Notably, pleaded helptheir and was taken to Norwalk there were no officially station, where he allegedendorsed he was candidates forced to or state his andgenitals federal so political figures expose deputies couldpresent. decide The event was open to young adultsthe ages 15 where to detain him. You can watch body and above. However, there were no attendees cam footage here: below h t t p18. s : Additionally, / / y o u t u . bnoe / children a l A W 7were b_ present.” P8Qg?si=2E7uhgoXu_S8-R4w While not specifying the particular hate group in question, it is possible that Anthony was referring to the Twitter account, now known as X, called “Libs of TikTok,” which
Brock was initially charged with three felonies andvideo oneand misdemeanor, reposted the garnered overmayhem, 8 million resisting arrest, obstruction, and failure to views. obey a policetoofficer, he the wasLibs released on In response the video, of TikTok $100,000 bail and his job. However, account claimed thatlost children were present Los Angeles prosecutors dismissed at the event. County Mayor Anthony disputed this the charges afterthatmedia reports assertion, stating “actually, there brought weren’t attention to the case. A judge declared any children at this private 21+ has event. But of Brock course,innocent. lying is totally on brand for you.” According to federal prosecutors, While the account correctly pointed outafter that news outlets began reporting on permitted the case individuals aged 15 and older were in 2023, andorganizer, two otherthe deputies to July attend, theBenza event’s Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, released adiscussing statement exchanged group text messages clarifying no individuals under the of the need that to delete text messages onage their 18 were inphones attendance. personal in anticipation of a federal Mayor Anthony reiterated this point during investigation. a Three City Council meeting his days later, oneand of expressed the deputies concern that the video’sdirective circulationfor hadBenza led to relayed a sergeant’s city“toss officials of the most vile to thereceiving phone,”“some which prosecutors hate speech that I have ever seen.” interpreted as an order to delete data from encouraged those with concerns theAnthony device. Benza and another deputy later about his lying actions to communicate withabout him discussed to federal investigators
directly via email at kanthony@burbankca. gov. He stated, “If you want to talk to me about what happened over the weekend, send me an email. Send me an email. I will talk to
their communications and the sergeant’s order to erase evidence. During interviews with federal investigators, Benza falsely claimed he you about it. There is no reason to involve all had not seen anyone flip him off, repeated of the other that people whohad werebitten not athim, a public allegations Brock and event, not at a government-sponsored event. It denied discussing the contents of his incident wasn’t with even in the city report others. It of hasBurbank.” been alleged that In a statement released on Tuesday, the the report was written by one of the other Santa Clarita Valley Democrats voiced their deputies, a sergeant, according to The Los Angeles support Times. for Mayor Anthony and strongly Emmett Brock filed a federal lawsuit denounced the sensationalized and inaccurate in 2024 alleging false imprisonment, civil portrayal of their event for political purposes rights violations, and assault and battery. that promoted fear, homophobia, transphobia, The FBI is continuing to investigate the case. and bigotry. The Democrats reaffirmed their
Troy Masters, LGBTQ Media Icon and Publisher of the Los Angeles Bomb Threat Temporarily “Lil Nas Blade Dies Unexpectedly at Halts 63
commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers, refusing to engage with what they referred to as “fake outrage.”
Founder of Los X: Long Live Montero” Premiere at TIFF Angeles Blade, Gay City News World Premiere of Remembered as Documentary a Champion for Was LGBTQ Rights Screened After Troy Masters, the publisher of the Los 20-Minute Angeles Blade and an iconDelay in LGBTQ media, has died at the age of 63, the publication
announced Wednesday. The Blade described By Dolores Quintana
Masters' death as "unexpected.” The premiere of the “LilLos Nas X: Long Live Masters launched Angeles Blade in Montero” at thepublication Toronto International Film 2017 as a sister to the Washington Festival (TIFF) faced a momentary setback on Blade, the nation’s oldest LGBTQ newspaper. Saturday night dueintoLos a bomb threat. Before his work Angeles, he founded Judy Lung, TIFF’s Vice President of Public Gay City News in New York City, solidifying Affairs and Communications, to his legacy as a champion confirmed of LGBTQ CTV News Toronto via a written statement representation in media. thatTroy the festival alerted to an investigation Masters’was family members, including his mother Josie Kirkland, sister Tammy “in the vicinity of the redand carpet” at Roy
Masters, released a statement, “We are shocked and devastated by the loss of Troy, He was a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ community and leaves a tremendous legacy Thomson Hall, documentary was set of fighting forwhere socialthejustice and equality. to screened. Webeask for your prayers and for privacy as “Our standard security weLung mournstated, this unthinkable loss. We will measures during of thislife time, announce remained details ofinaplace celebration in and the screening the near future.” commenced with a slight delay. knowledge, this wasBlade a general “All To of our us at the Los Angeles and threat and notBlade directedare at the film or the by artist.” Washington heartbroken the loss of our colleague. Troy Masters is a pioneer who championed LGBTQ rights as well as best-in-class journalism for our community. We will miss his passion and his tireless dedication to the Los Angeles queer community. We would like to thank the readers, advertisers, and supporters of the Los Angeles Blade, which will continue under the leadership of our local editor Gisselle Palomera, the entire Blade family in D.C. and L.A., and eventually under a new publisher.” wrote the Los Angeles Blade in an online
statement. Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur: “I Masters was widely respected for his am terribly saddened to hear of the passing dedication to amplifying LGBTQ voices and of Troy Masters. A pillar in the LGBTQ+ covering issues critical to the community. His community in his many roles, he has covered A spokesperson Toronto the scene andchallenges cleared it within publications became for vitalthe resources for police news, security life in ourswept community & the of our informed Toronto that theshaping threat 20 minutes,” advocacy,CTV and News cultural coverage, fight for civilnoted rightsConstable & social Victor justice.Kwong. He will the conversation around LGBTQ rights for beToronto missed.police My thoughts are with had been conveyed to the festival’s private also clarified thathis thefamily threat decades. & friends.” security by a passerby. “Out of an abundance had a general nature and did not specifically Tributes to the publisher were published on Los Angeles County Supervisor, Lindsay of caution, the Toronto police and the private target any individual or entity. social media throughout the day, underscoring Horvath: “My heart breaks hearing this news. his importance to the community and his Troy Masters was one of a kind, relentless powerful impact. in his journalistic pursuits, and devoted BACK OR UNFILES The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles to educating & uplifting the LGBTQ+ is deeply saddened by the passing of Troy community. We will miss his humor, his wit, Masters, publisher of the Los Angeles Blade. and his huge heart. Rest in power, my friend.” Troy was not only a steadfast supporter and Cyd Zeigler, Outsports: “Very sad to ALL FORMS • ALL ALL STATES partner of the Chorus for many years, butTYPES hear of• the passing of The Los Angeles also a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ+ Blade publisher Troy Masters. Thinking of community. His unwaveringSAMUEL commitmentB. to MOSES, his family CPA and friends, and everyone at the social justice and equality leaves a lasting Blade.” legacy that will continue to inspire us all. The cause of death and details about Our thoughts with Troy’s loved ones,1753 memorial services have90401 not yet been 100are Wilshire Blvd., Suite • Santa Monica colleagues, and all those whose lives he released. We will update the story should touched. He will be greatly missed. more information come to light.
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