the pride
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10.01.2023 – 10.31.2023 September 2024
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LOS ANGELES 1
THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER
2nd Annual LosFaces Angeles Kids Over Playful Burbank Mayor Backlash Book Returns to West Bias Video,Festival Cites Critics Anti-LGBTQ+ Hollywood, Bringing Family Fun Mayor Konstantine Anthony Defends Annual Event Actions Amid Celebrates Controversy Over Children’s Literacy Video with Readings, By Dolores Quintana Family Activities
Burbank Konstantine Anthony is The 2ndMayor Annual Los Angeles Kids facing criticism from conservatives following Book Festival will occur at West the circulation of a video showing him being Hollywood Park on Sunday, Sept. 8, spanked by a drag queen during an event 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The on the weekend of September 10. Anthony free event, hosted by the American Born has responded that some of his critics are Chinese Foundation in collaboration motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias and that the with the City of West Hollywood, aims to incident was harmless. celebrate children’s literacy and foster a In the video, posted by the Wisenuts podcast, love of reading among young audiences. Mayor Anthony is seen being spanked by The festival will open with a special a drag artist, backed by the Village People’s appearance by Emmy Award-winning “Macho Man.” Anthony described the events actress Mykal-Michelle Harris. Harris is as “shenanigans” and emphasized that it was
known for voicing Disney Junior’s Ariel and starring in the upcoming “Raven’s Home” spinoff, “Alice in the Palace.” This year’s festival features diverse activities for children of all ages, including over 70 exhibitors, live book readings, interactive storytelling sessions, musical performances, arts
all in good fun. He went on to reveal that a secretly recorded video was made during the event andand subsequently shared with and crafts, more. Attendees cana prominent hate group. enjoy meet-and-greets with authors, face In a postaon his Instagram account, Anthony painting, photo booth, dancing, games, stated, “For several days, extremist right-wing slime-making, and various food trucks. organizations, the including have Additionally, festivalFox willNews, introduce spread misleading information to fuel fear, new authors and illustrators, offering discrimination, and hate. I will always be a fresh perspectives and stories. proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community Entertainment highlights include and drag performers.” performances by The BeatBuds He added, “On a busy Saturday filled with (Nickelodeon), Chloé and Maud Arnold various independent gatherings, I attended from The Syncopated Ladies (an Emmythe Santa Clarita Valley Democrats’ private nominated female tap dance troupe), and fundraiser for their organization. Notably, Sole Talks (an international youth tap there were no officially endorsed candidates dance company). A live art installation by or state and federal political figures present. artist Juan Muniz will also be featured. The event was open to young adults ages 15 Book Soup and Children’s Book World and above. However, there were no attendees have joined the festival to enhance the below 18. Additionally, no children were experience with autograph sessions and present.” book readings by popular children’s While not specifying the particular hate authors, including Prize-winning group in question, itPulitzer is possible that Anthony author Viet Thanh Nguyen. was referring to the Twitter account, now Bonnie Hyde, CEO of the known as X, calledfounder “Libs ofand TikTok,” which
American-Born Chinese Foundation, expressed excitement for the festival’s return, stating, “Last year’s festival set a high benchmark, and this year, we aim to exceed it, bringing even more exciting opportunities for children and families to fall in love with reading and storytelling.”
reposted the video and garnered over 8 million views. In response to the video, the Libs of TikTok account claimed that children were present at the event. Mayor Anthony disputed this assertion, stating that “actually, there weren’t any children at this private 21+ event. But of course, lying is totally on brand for you.” While the account correctly pointed out that individuals aged 15 and older were permitted to attend, the event’s organizer, the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, released a statement clarifying that no individuals under the age of 18 were in attendance. Mayor Anthony reiterated this point during a City Council meeting and expressed his concern that the video’s circulation had led to city officials receiving “some of the most vile City officials alsoever praised hate speech that I have seen.” the event, emphasizing the importance books Anthony encouraged those withofconcerns in sparking children’s imaginations about his actions to communicate with and him encouraging lifelong reading habits. directly via email at kanthony@burbankca. TheHe festival setwant to tobecome an gov. stated, “Ifisyou talk to me annual tradition West Hollywood, about what happenedinover the weekend, send growing andSend evolving is toa me an email. me an each email.year. I will Ittalk
cornerstone event in the city’s cultural calendar, attracting families, educators, and young readers. The American Born Chinese Foundation, which focuses on nurturing bilingual literacy and celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) pride, is the driving force behind
you about it. There is no reason to involve all of the other people who were not at a public event, not at a government-sponsored event. It wasn’t even in the city of Burbank.” In a statement released on Tuesday, the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats voiced their support for Mayor Anthony and strongly denounced the sensationalized and inaccurate the festival. The foundation seeks to portrayal ofyoung their event for political purposes empower readers by promoting that promoted fear, bilingualism andhomophobia, fosteringtransphobia, cultural and bigotry. The Democrats reaffirmed their understanding. commitment to the LGBTQ+ and Fleet Media produces thecommunity Los Angeles Kids Book Festival. is free, drag performers, refusingAdmission to engage with what but encouraged they attendees referred to are as “fake outrage.” to register
for tickets and receive festival updates at the LA Kids Book Festival. Parking is available at multiple locations near the venue, including the West Hollywood Park 5-Story lot, the West Hollywood Library structure, and the Pacific Design Center Gallery. Streetmetered parking is also available.
Bomb Threat Temporarily Halts “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” Premiere at TIFF
Weho City Approves Thomson Hall, where the documentary was set A spokesperson for the Toronto police security swept the scene and cleared it within World Premiere of Council to be screened. informed CTV News Toronto that the threat 20 minutes,” noted Constable Victor Kwong. Lung stated, “Our standard security had been conveyed to the festival’s private Toronto police also clarified that the threat 11-StoryWas Hotel and Documentary measures remained in place during Apartment this time, security by a passerby. “Out of an abundance had a general nature and did not specifically and the screening commenced with a slight of caution, the Toronto police and the private target any individual or entity. delay. To our knowledge, this was a general Screened After Tower on Sunset Boulevard threat and not directed at the film or the artist.” 20-Minute stage,OR an UNFILES BACK Iconic ViperDelay Room Creek Development, will replace the glass entrance, a larger concert By Quintana in to Dolores Be Reimagined
New Development
The premiere of “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) faced a momentary setbackhas on The West Hollywood City Council Saturday duefor to aanbomb threat.hotel and approvednight plans 11-story Judy Lung,tower TIFF’son ViceSunset President of Public apartment Boulevard Affairs andvote, Communications, confirmed to in a 3-2 paving the way for the CTV News Toronto a written redevelopment of aviablock that statement includes that festival wasRoom alertednightclub. to an investigation the the iconic Viper development, led by atSilver “inThe the new vicinity of the red carpet” Roy
existing storefronts at 8850 Sunset Boulevard with a mixed-use building featuring a 90-room hotel, 78 residential units, and 28,000 square feet of restaurant, café, and bar space. Sixteen of the apartments will be designated as affordable housing. As part of the project, the Viper Room will be reimagined as a 6,748-square-foot ground-floor lounge. The updated venue will preserve the legacy of the legendary Hollywood hangout by including a tall
auditorium, a memorabilia hall, and a recording studio. The development, designed by Arquitectonica, will stand 161 feet tall ALLfaçade FORMS ALL TYPES • ALL STATES and feature a glass with a•rooftop offering open-air dining. The design includes a street-level SAMUEL public plaza B. MOSES, CPA and a central breezeway leading to a landscaped area off Sunset Boulevard. Relm is 100 the landscape for the1753 • Santa Monica 90401 Wilshirearchitect Blvd., Suite project, which will also provide parking for 232 vehicles.
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