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10.01.2023 – 10.31.2023 October 2025 December 2025
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LOS ANGELES 1
THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER
Teens Arrested Stolen Car, Armed Robbery West Hollywood Man Charged With Killing Burbank Mayor in Faces Backlash Over Playful Suspect Caught Santa Monica Dog, Burglary ofinFormer Roommate’s Home Video, Cites Critics Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias Defense Denies Mayor Konstantine Homophobic Slurs Anthony Defends Were Used as Actions Amid Investigators Review Controversy Over Motive Video
A Texas man accused in the fatal shooting of of the Hill”Quintana voice actor Jonathan By“King Dolores Joss has been indicted on a murder charge, though authorities have not said whether Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony is they thefrom killing was motivated by facingbelieve criticism conservatives following anti-LBGTQ+ bias. the circulation of a video showing him being A Bexar County grand during jury issued the spanked by a drag queen an event indictment Monday against 10. 57-year-old on the weekend of September Anthony Sigfredo Ceja that Alvarez, whohisiscritics charged has responded some of are in the June 1 shooting outside the motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias and thatSan the Antonio home Joss shared with his incident was harmless. husband. The residence hadWisenuts been destroyed In the video, posted the Prosecutors have by filed multiplepodcast, felony Mayor Anthony is seen being spanked by charges against a 27-year-old man accused aofdrag artist, backed by the Village People’s breaking into his former roommate’s “Macho Hollywood Man.” Anthonyapartment, described thekilling events West as “shenanigans” and emphasized that it was the victim’s small dog, and damaging property during the incident. Anmol Bhatia faces one count each of first-degree residential burglary, felony animal cruelty, and vandalism involving more than $400 in damage. Prosecutors have also alleged that the victim, who is at least 65 years old, was particularly
27-Year-Old Suspect Faces Animal Cruelty and Burglary Charges After a Violent Attack
by fire months earlier, and the couple was retrieving their mail at the time of the all in good fun.according He went on to reveal that a confrontation, to police. secretly recorded video was madetheduring Questions remain about whether case the event and subsequently shared with will be prosecuted as a hate crime. Sana prominent hate group. Antonio police did not respond to inquiries a post on hisabout Instagram account, Anthony onInWednesday whether investigators stated, “For several days, extremist right-wing believe Joss’ sexual orientation factored organizations, including News, have into the attack. The Fox Bexar County spread misleading information to fuel fear, District Attorney’s Office also declined to discrimination, and hate. I will always be a comment. proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de and drag performers.” Gonzales, has alleged the gunman shouted He added, “On a busy Saturday filled with “violent homophobic slurs” before firing various independent gatherings, I attended at the couple. Attorneys representing Ceja the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats’ private Alvarez have denied that claim. One of the fundraiser for their organization. Notably, defense lawyers, Alfonso Otero, said in there were no officially endorsed candidates June that his client was innocent and had or state and federal political figures present. not used any The event washateful open tolanguage. young adults ages 15 Ceja Alvarez, whothere was were arrested after the and above. However, no attendees shooting, remains free on a $200,000 below 18. Additionally, no children bond were while awaiting further court proceedings. present.”
While not specifying the particular hate group in question, it Bhatia is possible thatorAnthony vulnerable and that knew should was referring to at thetheTwitter now have known this time ofaccount, the crime. known as X, called “Libsaround of TikTok,” The attack occurred 11:30which p.m.
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 hate speech that I have ever seen.” Anthony encouraged those with concerns about his actions to communicate with him directly via email at kanthony@burbankca. gov. He stated, “IfAuthorities you want toalso talkaccuse to me later found dead. about what happened over the weekend, Bhatia of vandalizing property insidesend the me an before email. Send me an email. I will talk to home fleeing.
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 October 9. to the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers,on refusing to engage withcould what If convicted all counts, Bhatia they referred to asyears “fake and outrage.” face up to seven eight months in
Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Case Challenging Marriage Equality Ruling on September 4, when Bhatia allegedly forced his way into the apartment. Investigators said video evidence shows LGBTQ rights organizations hailed the him violently slamming the dog to the move as a quiet but significant affirmation ground, stomping on it, and then throwing of marriage equality a time onto whena the lifeless animal off at a balcony national conversations about the future nearby construction site, where it was of LGBTQ rights have grown more urgent. The Supreme Court’s refusal to take the case arrived three years after its conservative down was Roeset v. Thomson Hall,majority where thestruck documentary Wade, sparking fears among advocates that to be screened. Obergefell could also targeted. security Lung stated, “Ourbe standard Those fears deepened when Justice measures remained in place during this time, Clarence Thomas, in a concurring and the screening commenced with a slight opinion in the abortion decision, called with that occurred Sept. delay. an To incident our knowledge, this was on a general for reconsidering several said landmark cases 19, 2025. Investigators Harrington threat and not directed at the film or the artist.” involving approached personal freedoms, allegedly a woman including inside a the rightsroom to same-sex intimacy, marriage laundry and exposed himself before equality,the andarea. access contraception. leaving Notofurther confrontation Human Rights Campaign President was reported. Kelley Robinson said, in may a statement, Authorities believe there be other “Today, who lovehave won When public victims notagain. yet come forward. officials an oath toabout serve Anyonetake with information this their case communities, thatWest promise extends to is urged to contact Hollywood Station everyone — including LGBTQ+ people. Detectives at 310-855-8850. Tips may also Thesubmitted Supremeanonymously Court madethrough clear Crime today be that refusing to respect the constitutional Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), using Tips” mobile or without visiting rights the of “P3 others does not app, come lacrimestoppers.org. consequences.” The ongoing. Eveninvestigation if the courtremains had agreed to hear
Beverly Hills police arrested Bhatia on September 21 following a two-week search. He was arraigned on Tuesday at the Airport Courthouse and entered a not guilty plea. Bail was set at $175,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for
state prison. The case is being handled by the Animal Cruelty Section of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, West Hollywood Station.
SCOTUS Quietly Bomb Threat Temporarily Halts “Lil Nas Rejected Kim Davis’Long Appeal Over X: Live Montero” Premiere at TIFF
Same-Sex Marriage WeHo LASD Detectives Seek Possible Additional World Premiere of Licenses Victims After Indecent Exposure Arrest Documentary Was
In a decision welcomed by LGBTQ advocates, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to revisit its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, the landmark decision that made same-sex marriage legal across the nation. TheDolores justices rejected an appeal from By Quintana Kim Davis, the former Kentucky clerk who a national after refusing Thebecame premiere of “Lil figure Nas X: Long Live withToronto thelicenses LosInternational Angeles County to Detectives issue at marriage to same-sex Montero” the Film Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood couples(TIFF) following Obergefell decision. Festival facedthe a momentary setback on Station are asking for the public’s in Davis sought to to overturn a lowerhelp court Saturday night due a bomb threat. identifying following order herVice to victims pay $360,000 in Judy requiring Lung,additional TIFF’s President of Public the arrest ofCommunications, alegal man fees accused of indecent damages to aconfirmed couple she Affairs andand to exposure. deniedNews a license. denied her CTV Toronto The via acourt written statement Jackie Harrington was taken into that the festival was alerted to an investigation appeal without comment, effectively “in the the vicinity the2025, redintact. carpet” at Roy custody on 2015 Sept.ofdecision 28, in connection leaving
Sheriffs SayAfter a Man Screened Was ArrestedDelay After 20-Minute Allegedly Exposing Himself to a Woman
A spokesperson for the Toronto police informed CTV News Toronto that the threat had been conveyed to the festival’s private security by a passerby. “Out of an abundance of caution, the Toronto police and the private
security swept the scene and cleared it within 20 minutes,” noted Constable Victor Kwong. Toronto police also clarified that the threat had a general nature and did not specifically target any individual or entity.
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FORMS • ALL TYPES ALL STATES Davis’s case andALL later reversed Obergefell, Still, •LGBTQ advocates say the stability marriage equality would remain protected of those rights depends on continued at the federal level. In 2022, President Joe vigilance. CPA While the Supreme Court’s SAMUEL B. MOSES, Biden signed the Respect for Marriage refusal to hear the Davis appeal leaves Act, which repealed the Defense of Obergefell intact for now, many in the Marriage 100 Act and requires federal state1753 community seeMonica the decision as a reminder Wilshire Blvd.,and Suite • Santa 90401 recognition of same-sex and interracial of the ongoing need to defend equality — marriages. both in the courts and beyond.
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