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10.01.2023 – 10.31.2023 August 2025
LOS ANGELES 1
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THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER
Polari Prize Canceled 2025 Amid Burbank Mayor Faces for Backlash OverBoyne Playful Controversy Video, Cites Critics Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias Organizers Halt Mayor Konstantine LGBTQ+ Literary AnthonyAfter Defends Awards Backlash Actions Amid The Polari Prize, one of the U.K.’s leading LGBTQ+ literary honors, will not be Controversy Over awarded this year following a controversy surrounding the longlisting of author John Video Boyne, author of ‘The Boy in the Striped
Pyjamas’, organizers announced Monday. By Dolores This is an update asQuintana well as a change in direction by the organization after their Burbankstatement. Mayor Konstantine Anthony is previous facing criticism from conservatives following In a statement, the prize committee the circulation of a video showing him being said it would pause the 2025 awards to spanked abygovernance a drag queen during event conduct review andanexpand on the weekendofoftransgender September 10. representation andAnthony gender has responded that some of his are non-conforming voices on itscritics judging motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias and that the panels. The decision follows two weeks incident was harmless. In the video, posted by the Wisenuts podcast, 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
of debate and criticism over Boyne’s inclusion, which prompted multiple all in good fun. He went on to reveal that a authors and judges to withdraw in secretly recorded video was madeprotest. during notsubsequently and has nevershared been awith transa the“Polari event isand exclusionary organizers said. prominent hateorganization,” group. “We forms account, of transphobia. In acondemn post on hisall Instagram Anthony What was several meant days, to beextremist a celebration of stated, “For right-wing exceptional LGBTQ+ literature has instead organizations, including Fox News, have been by hurt andtoanger.” spreadovershadowed misleading information fuel fear, The statementand noted that the organization discrimination, hate. I will always be a has included gender nonproudlong supporter of the trans, LGBTQ+ community conforming and non-binary writers among and drag performers.” itsHe honorees, buta acknowledged that with the added, “On busy Saturday filled various independent gatherings, attended nomination of Boyne, who has Idescribed the SantaasClarita Valley and Democrats’ himself a “TERF” defendedprivate J.K. fundraiser views for their organization. Rowling’s on gender identity,Notably, has left there were officially endorsed candidates many in thenocommunity feeling excluded. or For state her and federal political figures part, Rowling reactedpresent. with The event was youngnews adults of agesthe 15 profanity to open the to initial and above. However, there were no attendees controversy, “Oh, f*ck off. I hope everyone below 18. Additionally, no children were present.” 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
buys twice as many @JohnBoyneBooks, a) because he’svideo brilliant, and b) toover piss8 million off the reposted the and garnered Gender Taliban.” views. Moving forward, Polari said ofit TikTok plans In response to the video, the Libs to strengthen transchildren and were non-binary account claimed that present representation on allAnthony panels,disputed review this its at the event. Mayor governance structure, and openthere discussions assertion, stating that “actually, weren’t about the balance between freedom any children at this private 21+ event. But of of expression creating inclusive spaces. course, lyingand is totally on brand for you.” “We extend ourcorrectly heartfelt apologies While the account pointed out that to everyone affected this were year, permitted for the individuals aged 15 and older disappointment and organizer, despair this has to attend, the event’s the Santa caused,” the Democrats, committeereleased said. “We are a Clarita Valley a statement clarifying that no individuals under the age of tiny operation that has run on goodwill and 18 were in attendance. small pots of funding and sponsorship for this 15Mayor years Anthony and will reiterated endeavour topoint find aduring way a City Council forwards in goodmeeting faith.” and expressed his concern that the video’s circulation had led to The 2025 prize cycle is now canceled, city officials receiving “some of mostnext vile with the awards expected to the return hate speech that I have ever seen.” year.
Anthony encouraged those with concerns about his actions to communicate with him 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
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 portrayal of their event for political purposes that promoted fear, homophobia, transphobia, and bigotry. The Democrats reaffirmed their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers, refusing to engage with what they referred to as “fake outrage.”
Buffalo Wild Wings Facing Discrimination Complaint After Teen Forced to ‘Prove’ GenderThreat in Bathroom Bomb Temporarily Halts “Lil Nas Minnesota Teen Says Buffalo Wild Wings Worker Blocked Her in Restroom World Premiere of
allowed to exit, the filing states. Jane Baldwin, senior staff attorney at Gender Justice, said in a press release, “What happened to Gerika Mudra was not just wrong, it was unlawful. “Minnesota law protects from exactly this kind Thomson Hall,people where the documentary was set of discrimination in public spaces. No to be screened. one should be harassed, humiliated, or Lung stated, “Our standard security forced to prove themselves just to use the measures remained in place during this time, bathroom.” and the screening commenced with a slight Mudra, who is not transgender, said the delay. To left our knowledge, a general incident her shakenthis andwas humiliated. threat and not directed at the film or the artist.” Advocates argue her treatment reflects broader patterns of bias and harassment against people who do not conform to traditional expectations of femininity, patterns often disproportionately experienced by LGBTQ+ people and Black women. Megan Peterson, executive director at Gender Justice, stated, “Gerika’s story sits at the intersection of anti-LGBTQ+ panic, racism, and rigid gender norms and stereotypes. A growing culture of suspicion and control is targeting trans, gender-nonconforming, and Black girls
and women—anyone who doesn’t match narrow ideas of how women should look or behave. When people are harassed just for existing, none of us are truly safe.” Nearly one-third of LGBTQ+ people report being harassed bathrooms, A spokesperson for the inToronto police security swept the scene and cleared it within according to national surveys, while informed CTV News Toronto that the threat 20 minutes,” noted Constable Victor Kwong. almost 60% of transgender people avoid had been conveyed to the festival’s private Toronto police also clarified that the threat public restrooms altogether due to fear. security by a passerby. “Out that of anBlack abundance The complaint also notes girls had a general nature and did not specifically andcaution, women frequently subjected to target any individual or entity. of the are Toronto police and the private heightened scrutiny and disciplinary actions, both in schools and public spaces, based on how they look or present BACK OR UNFILES themselves. Shauna Otterness, Mudra’s stepmom, said, “We know Gerika was targeted because of how she looks. She didn’t do anything wrong.ALL She FORMS just didn’t •fitALL whatTYPES • ALL STATES that server thought a girl should look like. I was shocked and heartbroken by how SAMUEL B. MOSES, CPA many people shared similar stories after I posted about it online. This shouldn’t be normal. We canWilshire do better, and we have to.”1753 • Santa Monica 90401 100 Blvd., Suite The Minnesota Department of Human next steps. Buffalo Wild Wings has not yet Rights will review the charge to determine publicly responded to the filing.
X: Long Live Montero” Premiere at TIFF A Minnesota civil rights group has filed Documentary Was a discrimination complaint against Buffalo Wild Wings after an 18-year-old biracial high school student said she was harassed Screened After by an employee in the women’s restroom. Gender Justice submitted the charge 20-Minute Delay this week to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights on behalf of Gerika By Dolores Quintana Mudra, who is multiracial. According to theThe complaint, dining the premiere Mudra of “Lil was Nas X: LongatLive Owatonna Buffalo Wild Wings when Montero” at the Toronto International Filma server (TIFF) followed into the setback women’s Festival facedher a momentary on restroom, pounded on her stall door, Saturday night due to a bomb threat. and accused her ofVice being in theof wrong Judy Lung, TIFF’s President Public bathroom. Affairs and Communications, confirmed to TheNews server allegedly blockedstatement Mudra CTV Toronto via a written fromthe leaving unzipped her hoodie that festivaluntil was she alerted to an investigation to prove she was of female. Only then was she “in the vicinity the red carpet” at Roy
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