On Sunday, Frontiers In LA news writer Peter DelVecchico went on the “Fitzgerald in West Hollywood” tour of places frequented by Fitzgerald, including the famous the Chateau Marmont Hotel. Please click inside to see Peter’s sizable photos and read his notes from the tour.
After watching President Obama’s bravura performance before the GOP Caucus Friday, I was reminded of this photo – which in turn reminds me of the Rodney King plea: “Can’t we all just get along?”
It’s just past noon in West Hollywood. The temperature reads 70 degrees – tee shirt weather on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010. Pepper and Charlie enjoy a moment in the sun before mom has to get back to work.
As expected, the California Assembly officially elected openly gay Assemblymember John Pérez (D-LA) as their next Speaker on Thursday. Also as expected – the vote was along party line – 48-26, though Perez is known to “cross the aisle” and listen to the Republican perspective.
Karen Bass (D-LA) will remain Speaker for probably another month, before she relinquishes the chair and Perez is sworn-in.
Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger just declared a budget emergency – see the story here and a summary of the budget here – which I will report on when more information and analysis about the impact to HIV/AIDS services becomes available.
For Christmas strays like me, holidays can be emotionally difficult. But I am very lucky to have some close friends – one of whom – John Duran – has consistently invited me to share Christmas Eve with him and his family. Actually, John is lucky enough to have two families – the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and his loving, extended Latino family. This year, the Gay Men’s Chorus helped open the annual free Holiday gala at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion televised on PBS/KCET. As the fourth act to perform, they included an audience-participation hand “dance” that got everyone on their feet and having fun. And with the wonderful actress/singing Diva Sheryl Lee Ralph doing the hosting duties, the word “gay” was comfortablly and repeatedly used during the introduction.
After their three songs, some member of the chorus, some of John’s other friends and I went to his parents’ house in Santa Fe Springs where family of all ages came to eat, sing, be merry and open presents. After a joyful evening with a houseful of family, who welcomed me and John’s other friends with abundant love, I went home to my two “kids” – Charlie and Pepper, who were once stays themselves and now we’re a family of our own. Please click inside to see scores of photos and happy faces of Christmas joy.
This oh-so white bunch of actors apparently represents the American family in the eyes of the antigay Family Research Council. And look where they’re going to shop to contribute to FRC’s antigay cause: Apple’s iTunes, Jos A. Bank. Expedia.com and Zales. By the way – notice the placement of that hand with the wedding ring. As Chandler Bing might say: could they BE any more obvious?
A friend of mine sent me an email which was sent to her by her sister who’s friend sent it to her. What connects us all is that we love dogs. Just no two ways about it: we love dogs! And this email was an uplifting story with lots of dog photos to coo over. So, in the middle of writing about hate crimes and politics, I wanted to take a break, look at the photos again – and share them with you. I confess that I found 6 year old Shane’s wisdom refreshing since – truthfully – there are days when I still mourn the loss of my little Shitzu Chu Chu, whose “good death” I wrote about for The Bilerico Project. Click inside to enjoy the story and the photos as dogs lovers – or perhaps just someone who could use a smile today.
Note from Syd: I first met Vincent Jones, 33, at Camp Courage LA this past January. Others may know him as the moderator for the California Leadership Summits in Fresno and San Bernadino this summer, or from his work at Liberty Hill Foundation. But Vincent’s grassroots work goes back much farther– to the 1990s in Los Angeles and DC. Let’s hear his story…
Day Two of Camp Courage Sacramento kicked off with the infamous “Team Chants” module. After 20 minutes of preparation, each small group performed a short chant, usually centered around themes of equality and social chance. Whether a group’s chant came together or fell apart, the crowd roared with laughter and elation after each performance. A boisterous time was had by all.
Camp Courage is an intensive two-day training designed to teach the principals and skills of community organizing to activists working to restore marriage equality to California. Inspired by the “Camp Obama” trainings the powered neighbor-to-neighbor organizing across America in 2008, Camp Courage teaches empowerment, team building, leadership development, and grassroots organizing skills. This weekend, we’re in Sacramento.
We’ve had a difficult week and we’re going to face more hatred heading into the 2010 elections. But as we ponder what’s happened and consider our next moves – let’s take a momentary break and ponder the story of Faith the dog. Click inside for the story and photos.
People like me can go on and on trying to paint word pictures about the meaning and emotion of an event – and when we’re successful, it’s like the gift of poetry. But people like Robert Stuart Lowden are artists with each shot saying more than I can say in, well, a thousand words. I asked Robert to describe his experience of shooting the protests that following the passage of Prop 8 and he generously agreed to also share his photos. Click inside to see them.
If you looked up “quiet leader” in the dictionary, you’d find a photo of Christine Marge. In this profile, she speaks about how her social work roots led to her current work: ending homelessness and fighting for marriage equality.
For our next Grassroots Profile, meet Marni Zimlin, a full-time volunteer at Vote for Equality. Marni traveled to Maine this Spring to help LGBT activists successfully lobby the state legislature for marriage equality.
WeHo’s favorite son John Duran celebrated his 50th birthday party at the famous Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The bash was also a fundraiser for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles’ music education program. Click inside for more info and tons of photos.
A one-time skeptic of the 2009 National Equality March has a change of heart. Friday and Saturday at NEM were extremely productive. And we haven’t even marched yet!
Openly lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin issued a statement and video following the passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes bill that she’s worked hard on. Here’s the video. Click inside to read her press release.
As part of West Hollywood’s 25th Anniversary of Cityhood, the city is commemorating some of its most famous residents, including a month-long tribute to F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of America’s greatest writers.
As expected, the California Assembly officially elected openly gay Assemblymember John Pérez (D-LA) as their next Speaker on Thursday. Also as expected – the vote was along party line – 48-26, though Perez is known to “cross the aisle” and listen to the Republican perspective.
For Christmas strays like me, holidays can be emotionally difficult. But I am very lucky to have some close friends – one of whom – John Duran – has consistently invited me to share Christmas Eve with him and his family. Actually, John is lucky enough to have two families – the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and his loving, extended Latino family. This year, the Gay Men’s Chorus helped open the annual free Holiday gala at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion televised on PBS/KCET. As the fourth act to perform, they included an audience-participation hand “dance” that got everyone on their feet and having fun. And with the wonderful actress/singing Diva Sheryl Lee Ralph doing the hosting duties, the word “gay” was comfortablly and repeatedly used during the introduction.
A friend of mine sent me an email which was sent to her by her sister who’s friend sent it to her. What connects us all is that we love dogs. Just no two ways about it: we love dogs! And this email was an uplifting story with lots of dog photos to coo over. So, in the middle of writing about hate crimes and politics, I wanted to take a break, look at the photos again – and share them with you. I confess that I found 6 year old Shane’s wisdom refreshing since – truthfully – there are days when I still mourn the loss of my little Shitzu Chu Chu, whose “good death” I 
Day Two of Camp Courage Sacramento kicked off with the infamous “Team Chants” module. After 20 minutes of preparation, each small group performed a short chant, usually centered around themes of equality and social chance. Whether a group’s chant came together or fell apart, the crowd roared with laughter and elation after each performance. A boisterous time was had by all.
Camp Courage is an intensive two-day training designed to teach the principals and skills of community organizing to activists working to restore marriage equality to California. Inspired by the “Camp Obama” trainings the powered neighbor-to-neighbor organizing across America in 2008, Camp Courage teaches empowerment, team building, leadership development, and grassroots organizing skills. This weekend, we’re in Sacramento.
People like me can go on and on trying to paint word pictures about the meaning and emotion of an event – and when we’re successful, it’s like the gift of poetry. But people like 
If you looked up “quiet leader” in the dictionary, you’d find a photo of Christine Marge. In this profile, she speaks about how her social work roots led to her current work: ending homelessness and fighting for marriage equality.
J.T. Chestnut talks about growing up in North Carolina, his current grassroots work, and standing up for what he believes in.
For our next Grassroots Profile, meet Marni Zimlin, a full-time volunteer at Vote for Equality. Marni traveled to Maine this Spring to help LGBT activists successfully lobby the state legislature for marriage equality.
WeHo’s favorite son John Duran celebrated his 50th birthday party at the famous Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The bash was also a fundraiser for the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles’ music education program. Click inside for more info and tons of photos. 
A one-time skeptic of the 2009 National Equality March has a change of heart. Friday and Saturday at NEM were extremely productive. And we haven’t even marched yet!
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