lgbtq

Event organized in wake of Downey Council vote for “Neutral” Flag Policy

Downey, CA—Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn held a Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at the LA County Office of Education in Downey, weeks after the Downey City Council narrowly voted to stop flying the Pride Flag on city property.

“There IS pride in Downey,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I know the city council’s vote was painful for many LGBTQ residents, but I want all of you to know that your county government sees you, celebrates you, and supports you. We will continue to work until you feel you can live your truth loudly and proudly.”

The LA County Office of Education is one of eight Los Angeles County facilities in Downey that will fly the Pride Flag for Pride Month, following a policy authored by Hahn and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath passed by the Board last year to fly the Progress Pride Flag at county facilities every June. Other county facilities in Downey are Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, the Los Angeles County Probation Department, the LA County Internal Services Department Headquarters, LA County Downey Animal Care Center, Los Padrinos, Los Amigos Golf Course, and the Los Angeles County Library Headquarters.

“We may have lost this battle, but we will win the war for fairness, equality and acceptance for ALL,” said Downey Mayor Mario Trujillo, who voted against the flag ban and spoke at the event, sharing his own coming out story. “This vote was a setback, but I appreciate Supervisor Hahn for her support of the LGBTQ+ community and for making sure the Pride flag will rise in Downey in 2024.”

“The Pride Flag is a powerful symbol of our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. It signals to our entire community that we value and celebrate the rich diversity of identities and experiences that make us who we are,” said Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools. “This flag represents our dedication to creating a safe and affirming environment where every student feels a sense of belonging and well-being. By fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity, we ensure that our schools are places where all individuals can thrive and be their authentic selves.”

The program ahead of the flag raising included remarks by Supervisor Hahn, Downey Mayor Mario Trujillo, Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang, LA County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo, Equality California President Juan Camacho, West Hollywood Mayor John Erickson, and Valentina, a drag performer and contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, with entertainer Jewels serving as Mistress of Ceremonies.

Last June, Hahn hosted a ceremony to raise the Progress Pride Flag at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, celebrating the first time the Pride Flag was flown over a Los Angeles County building.

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Event organized after Downey Council vote to ban Pride Flag on city property

Downey, CA—Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has announced that she will hold a Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at the LA County Office of Education in Downey, weeks after the Downey City Council narrowly voted to stop flying the Pride Flag on city property.

“There will be pride in Downey this June,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Despite the recent vote by the Downey City Council, I want our LGBTQ+ Downey residents to know they belong and that they are not only accepted but celebrated.”

The Pride Flag Raising Ceremony will take place June 3rd at 10 am at the Los Angeles County Office of Education located in Downey. The office is one of eight Los Angeles County properties in Downey that will fly the Pride Flag for Pride Month, following a policy authored by Hahn and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath passed by the Board last year to fly the Progress Pride Flag at county facilities every June.

“We may have lost this battle, but we will win the war for fairness, equality and acceptance for ALL,” said Downey Mayor Mario Trujillo, who voted against the flag ban and serves on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Elected Officials Association. “This vote was a setback, but I appreciate Supervisor Hahn for her support of the LGBTQ+ community and for making sure the Pride flag will rise in Downey in 2024.”

“The Pride Flag is a powerful symbol of our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. It signals to our entire community that we value and celebrate the rich diversity of identities and experiences that make us who we are,” said Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools. “This flag represents our dedication to creating a safe and affirming environment where every student feels a sense of belonging and well-being. By fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity, we ensure that our schools are places where all individuals can thrive and be their authentic selves.”

Members of the public are invited to join the event to take part in the pride flag raising in a celebration of equality. Speakers will include Supervisor Hahn, Downey Mayor Mario Trujillo, Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang, LA County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo, and Equality California President Juan Camacho, with entertainer Jewels serving as Mistress of Ceremonies.
Last June, Hahn hosted a ceremony to raise the Progress Pride Flag at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, celebrating the first time the Pride Flag was flown over a Los Angeles County building.

Ellie Perez leads The LGBTQ+ Center Long Beach

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed Latina LGBTQ+ community leader Ellie Perez to the first-ever Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Commission. The Commission was created in June with a motion authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis that Hahn coauthored. The 15-member Commission will advise the Board of Supervisors on issues facing LGBTQ+ residents in Los Angeles County.

Perez is an experienced management professional, educator and LGBTQ+ advocate. She currently serves as Interim Executive Director of The LGBTQ Center Long Beach.

“Ellie’s commitment and leadership within the LGBTQ+ community are informed by her own experiences, and that driving passion is evident throughout her career. What she is going to bring to the Commission as a lesbian woman and mother of a trans child is extremely unique and valuable. I’m grateful that she has accepted this invitation,” said Hahn.

Perez has a long history of volunteering and advocating for others. In May of 2020, she and her wife Angela founded the Safe Spaces Alliance, a Long Beach City initiative dedicated to curating and promoting LGBTQ+ safe spaces and LGBTQ+ and ally-owned businesses.

“I am humbled and honored to be appointed to Supervisor Janice Hahn’s LGBTQ+ Commision. Having a seat at the table will allow me to collaborate with others who seek to move our LGBTQ+ community closer to equity and equality,” said Perez.

The LGBTQ+ Commission will provide recommendations on policies and budget priorities at a time when LGBTQ+ people face mounting challenges. According to the LA County Commission on Human Relations’ 2021 Hate Crime Report, 89% of the hate crimes towards gay men were of a violent nature and 93% of anti-transgender crimes were violent – a rate of violence higher than any other marginalized group recorded by the report. Nationwide, hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced at the state and local levels.

Hahn’s other appointment to the LGBTQ+ Commission is Huntington Park city councilmember and Latino Equality Alliance executive director Eddie Martinez.

Eddie Martinez is a Huntington Park city councilmember and Executive Director of Latino Equality Alliance

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed Latino LGBTQ+ community leader and Huntington Park councilmember Eddie Martinez to the first-ever Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Commission. The Commission was created in June with a motion authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis that Hahn coauthored. The 15-member Commission will advise the Board of Supervisors on issues facing LGBTQ+ residents in Los Angeles County.

Eddie Martinez (he/him) is the executive director of the Latino Equality Alliance, which he co-founded and previously served on the board of before taking on the role of its first executive director in 2016. He is also a former mayor of the City of Huntington Park.

“When we created this Commission I wanted to make sure that LGBTQ+ people from Southeast LA had a seat at the table, and Eddie is a well-known and respected voice in these communities,” said Hahn. “From bringing a new LGBTQ+ youth space in Bell to spending his own time organizing community cleanups with his staff from Latino Equality Alliance, he is a committed public servant and this Commission will be so enriched by his contribution.”

Martinez has more than 20 years of non-profit management and civic engagement experience including 18 years of tenure with the HIV/AIDS organization The Wall Las Memorias Project. He studied business marketing at Long Beach State University.

“It is an honor to serve on the Commission to represent Supervisor Janice Hahn and the LGBTQ community of District 4. The commission will be an important tool that will shape policies and provide recommendations that will support the well-being and safety of the LGBTQ+ community, especially in BIPOC and immigrant communities,” said Martinez.

The LGBTQ+ Commission will provide recommendations on policies and budget priorities at a time when LGBTQ+ people face mounting challenges. According to the LA County Commission on Human Relations’ 2021 Hate Crime Report, 89% of the hate crimes towards gay men were of a violent nature and 93% of anti-transgender crimes were violent – a rate of violence higher than any other marginalized group recorded by the report. Nationwide, hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced at the state and local levels.

Hahn’s other appointment to the LGBTQ+ Commision is Interim Executive Director of The LGBTQ Center Long Beach, Ellie Perez.

Made possible with $4.2 Million in State Funding secured by Assemblymember Calderon

Los Angeles, CA –The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn to take the next steps in a plan to create a LGBTQ+ Community Resource Center in an empty County building in the City of Whittier.

“With this vote, we are one step closer to opening this important resource center, and I am grateful for the support we heard from community members and leaders at our meeting,” said Chair Hahn, who represents Whittier and has championed this project. “At a time when hateful rhetoric about the LGBTQ+ community is louder than ever, a center like the one will serve as a lifeline for the community and provide better access to resources and support for anyone in need.  I’m especially thankful for Assemblymember Calderon’s hard work to secure the state funding we needed to make this new center a reality.”

With unanimous support for Hahn’s motion, the board formally accepted a $4.2 million state grant secured by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon to fund the project and approved the partnership with the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse to operate the new center.

“It is important to bring resources to my district that help our communities thrive. That is why I am pleased to partner with Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn to establish a new LGBTQ+ Center in Whittier,” said Assemblymember Lisa Calderon,  representative for the state’s 56th Assembly District. “I was thrilled to advocate for this project in the legislature, which will support the livelihoods of my constituents and individuals in the region through the creation of a safe and supportive space for all!”

The center will be established in an existing LA County building at 7639 Painter Avenue in the city of Whittier.  The property, which already belongs to the County and has sat empty since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, consists of a single-story building of approximately 2,694 square feet and a surface parking lot.

Supervisor Hahn and Assemblymember Calderon hopes to open the center in early 2024 with plans to provide the following services:

• Information and Referral Services: Advocacy and referrals to trusted resources tailored specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking various types of support.

• Support Groups: Offer peer groups for distinct segments of the LGBTQIA+ community, including transgender and non-binary individuals, LGBTQIA+ youth, families with LGBTQIA+ children, and LGBTQIA+ individuals of color.

• Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Provide evidence-based practices for individuals counseling, individual therapy, group education and therapy, family therapy, and care coordination, along with service navigation and advocacy.

• Mental Health Treatment: Access to licensed mental health professionals experienced in addressing LGBTQIA+ specific issues, such as coming out, family rejection, and gender identity, providing both crisis management and ongoing treatment options.

• Legal Assistance: Guidance and service navigation for legal issues including discrimination, immigration, name and gender marker changes, family law.

• Youth Programs: Offer age-appropriate support and programs for LGBTQIA+ youth, including mentorship, peer support, and empowering socials events.

• Educational Workshops: Offer educational workshops on a variety of LGBTQIA+ topics, such as allyship, mental health, sexual health.

• Health and Wellness Programs: Promote physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing through activities like yoga, meditation, and exercise classes.

• Social Events and Networking: Host center events that foster community building, such as movie nights, game nights, mixers.

• Cultural Programs: Highlight LGBTQIA+ art, literature, cinema, and history with exhibits, performances, and discussions.

• Community Outreach: Partnership initiatives with local schools, businesses, and faith communities to raise awareness and promote inclusion for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

• Volunteer Opportunities: Create avenues for community members to support and get involved in the Center’s programs and services.

• Advocacy: Collaborate with other organizations to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and policy changes at local, state, and national levels.