the pride
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10.01.2023 – 10.31.2023 October 2025 June 2026
LOS ANGELES 1
WWW.THEPRIDELA.COM
THE LOS ANGELES LGBT NEWSPAPER
Intense community pushback prompts Weho West Hollywood Man Charged With Killing Burbank Mayor Faces Backlash Over Playful Pride toCites dropCritics Grand Marshal role BiasHome Dog, Burglary of Former Roommate’s Video, Anti-LGBTQ+ West Hollywood Mayor to Konstantine reacts outrage, AnthonyHilton Defends Kathy Actions Amid withdraws from Controversy Over Pride Parade. Video
West Hollywood city leaders and WeHo Pride festival organizers have agreed that By Dolores Quintana there will not be a "Grand Marshal Icon" forBurbank Sunday's upcoming Pride Parade Mayor Konstantine Anthony is following intense community backlash facing criticism from conservatives following over the choiceofofa Kathy Hilton. him being the circulation video showing The decision, announced jointly by spanked by a drag queen during an event the city, the parade's production team, on the weekend of September 10. Anthony and Hilton herself, means thecritics massive has responded that some of his are parade will go off without a main celebrity motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias and that the honoree. Theharmless. sudden shift comes after days incident was of In sharp public debate the and pushback from the video, posted Prosecutors have by filed Wisenuts multiplepodcast, felony local LGBTQ+ community members who Mayor Anthony is seen being spanked by charges against a 27-year-old man accused questioned whether the reality TV star truly aofdrag artist, backed by the Village People’s breaking into his former roommate’s fit the activist civil rights roots “Macho Man.” history Anthonyand described thekilling events West Hollywood apartment, of the neighborhood's Pride movement. 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
City leaders addressed the controversy, saying they were grateful for the honest all in passionate good fun. He went on about to reveal that aa and feedback what secretly recorded video was made during Pride honoree should actually stand for. theh tevent t p s :and / / xsubsequently . c o m / W eshared H o Cwith i t y a/ prominent hate group. status/2062351152155329001?s=20 In a post his Instagram account, Anthony In an on official statement, organizers stated, “For several days, extremist right-wing thanked Hilton for her grace and her organizations,support includingof Fox have continued the News, LGBTQ+ spread misleading to fuel community duringinformation the discussions thatfear, led discrimination, hate.The I will to her steppingand down. cityalways noted be thata proud is supporter Pride alwaysofatthe its LGBTQ+ strongestcommunity when the and drag performers.” event truly mirrors the values, history, and He added, “On a busy Saturday filled with diverse voices of the community itself. various independent gatherings, I attended The decision won't change the scale the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats’ private of the rest of the parade. The procession fundraiser for their organization. Notably, down Santa Monica Boulevard is still set there were no officially endorsed candidates to feature nearly 120 individual entries, or state and federal political figures present. floats, and local groups celebrating the The event was open to young adults ages 15 neighborhood's queer culture. and above. However, there were no attendees City leaders emphasized that West below 18. Additionally, no children were Hollywood remains dedicated to keeping present.” WeHo Pride joyful, respectful celebration, While not a specifying the particular hate and they welcome the ongoing community group in question, it is possible that Anthony vulnerable and that Bhatia knew or should conversations help theofaccount, event grow was referring tothat thethe Twitter now have known this at time the crime. without losing sight of its original purpose. known as X, called “Libsaround of TikTok,” The attack occurred 11:30which p.m. on September 4, when Bhatia allegedly forced his way into the apartment. Investigators said video evidence shows him violently slamming the dog to the ground, stomping on it, and then throwing the lifeless animal off a balcony onto a nearby construction site, where it was
Kathy Hilton released this statement: “I am honored to have been considered for reposted the video and over 8 million this recognition andgarnered appreciative of the views. I have received from members of support response to the video, thethe Libsyears. of TikTok theIncommunity throughout My account claimed that children were reason for wanting to be involved present in this at the WeHo event. Pride Mayorweekend Anthonywas disputed year’s simple:this to assertion, stating that “actually, there celebrate, support, and share in theweren’t joy of children atthat this means private a21+ event. of aany community great dealBut to so course,people. lying is Pride totallyis, onand brand for you.” many always will be, While the accountand correctly pointed out that about celebrating uplifting LGBTQ+ individuals aged 15 and older were permitted voices, experiences, and achievements. to I attend, organizer, the Santa respectthetheevent’s thoughtful conversations Clarita Valley Democrats, released a statement that have taken place and remain deeply clarifying that no individuals under the age of committed to supporting LGBTQ+ 18 were in attendance. causes and visibility, including through Mayor Anthony reiterated this point during my participation in GLAAD initiatives a City Council meeting and expressed his and events, and longstanding support concern that the video’s circulation had led to of organizations such as the Elton John city officials receiving “some of the most vile AIDS Foundation, the Elizabeth Taylor hate speech that I have ever seen.” AIDS Foundation sincethose its inception, Dr. Anthony encouraged with concerns Mathilde Krim, God's Love We Deliver, about his actions to communicate with him and Project Angel Food. My support directly via email at kanthony@burbankca. for the community and WeHo Pride is gov. He stated, “IfAuthorities you want toalso talk to me later found dead. accuse unwavering. This monumentally important about what happened over the weekend, Bhatia of vandalizing property insidesend the event has always hadanaemail. special place me an before email. Send me I will talk in 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 my heart, the andsensationalized I will alwaysand cherish the denounced inaccurate experience had event actingforaspolitical Grand Marshal portrayal of Itheir purposes of LA Pride with my daughter thatthe promoted fear,parade homophobia, transphobia, in 2005. Thank you to everyone who and bigotry. The Democrats reaffirmedworks their so hard to make itLGBTQ+ happen, and I wish and the commitment to the community October 9. community nothing but love, joy, and a drag performers,on refusing to engage withcould what If convicted all counts, Bhatia fantastic WeHo Pride weekend.” they referred to asyears “fake and outrage.” face up to seven eight months in
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.
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.
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Joel McHale join Bomb Temporarily “Lil Nas RuPaulThreat and Drag Race alumniHalts in a hilarious X: Long film Liveparody Montero” Premiere at TIFF disaster AdvancePremiere tickets just WeHo LASD World of Detectives Seek Possible Additional went on sale forAfter the Victims Indecent Exposure Arrest Documentary Was campiest movie of script, which features an ensemble cast led
Thomson Hall, where the documentary was set by media personality RuPaul. to The be screened. narrative centers on Tess and Lung “Our bystandard DeeDee, stated, portrayed veteran security stage measures remained in place during time, performers Ginger Minj and this Jujubee, and the screening commenced with a slight two working-class rail occurred stewardesses who with an that on Sept. delay. To incident our knowledge, this was a general transition from their routine shifts on 19, 2025. Investigators said Harringtona threat and not directed at the film or the artist.”a municipal line to employment aboard
Sheriffs SayAfter a Man Screened the summer. allegedly approached a woman inside a Was ArrestedDelay After 20-Minute luxury high-speed transport named the Bleecker Street and World of Wonder laundry room and exposed himself before
Glamazonian Express. The plot escalates Allegedly Exposing the area. No further confrontation announced Tuesday that tickets are now on leaving when a severe weather anomaly, dubbed was reported. By Dolores sale for their upcoming satirical comedy the "Stormaganza," threatens to derail the Himself to aQuintana Woman Authorities believe there may be other
feature film, Stop! That!Nas Train! scheduled The premiere of “Lil X: Long Live for a nationwide theatrical release on June Detectives with the Los Angeles County Montero” at the Toronto International Film 12. Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Festival (TIFF) faced a momentary setback on Directed by filmmaker Shankman, Station are asking theAdam public’s help in Saturday night due tofor a bomb threat. known for his workVice onvictims "Hairspray," and identifying additional following Judy Lung, TIFF’s President of Public the arrest ofCommunications, a man accused ofbehind indecent produced the executive team the Affairs andby confirmed to exposure. realityNews television franchise "RuPaul’s Drag CTV Toronto via a written statement Jackie Harrington was taken Race." Screenwriters Christina Friel into and that the festival was alerted to an investigation “in the vicinity of28, the2025, red at Roy custody on Sept.penned in connection Connor Wright the carpet” camp-inspired
transit vehicle as itnot barrels toward the Los victims who have yet come forward. Angeles metropolitan area. about this case Anyone with information To avert a catastrophic collision, the is urged to contact West Hollywood Station coach-classatprotagonists mustTips negotiate an Detectives 310-855-8850. may also alliance with anonymously a rival factionthrough of first-class be submitted Crime attendants, drag artists Symone, Stoppers byplayed callingby800-222-TIPS (8477), Brooke Hytes, and Marcia Marcia using theLynn “P3 Tips” mobile app, or visiting Marcia. RuPaul anchors the political lacrimestoppers.org. The investigation remains subplot of the disaster parodyongoing. as a fictional
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