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Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Vandals lob bags of dog poop at L.A.-area LGBTQ youth center, officials say
For the past several months, volunteers and community members arriving at the Mi SELA youth center in the city of Bell have encountered a putrid smell. The source? Bags of discarded dog feces. The center is a partnership between the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Latino Equity Alliance and provides youth clubs, community-building workshops, and cultural and legal resources to the LGBTQ+ community of South Los Angeles. But recently, the center has seen a pattern of dog feces being thrown in front of and onto the awning of the building's entrance. 'There were over 10 bags. That was the second time that we've had to do a full sweep of the awning … I just worry about, what if it does escalate in the future?' Sanva Lojero, Mi SELA's programs manager, told NBC Los Angeles. 'This is a youth resource center, so we have clients coming in each day and I don't want them to feel like they're getting harassed.' It's unclear who is throwing the feces — or why. But given the center serves LGBTQ+ youth, some maintain it's deliberate, potentially hate-motivated vandalism. The Latino Equity Alliance denounced the recent incidents as 'abhorrent' and 'unacceptable' in a statement posted on Instagram. 'In 2025, it is shocking that young people and community organizations continue to face such targeted hate and intimidation. While law enforcement has emphasized that action cannot be taken without catching the perpetrators in the act, that does not diminish the urgent need for … a public stance against hate in our communities,' the statement read. L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn has pledged a $2,500 grant to install more security cameras around the community center in hopes of capturing the perpetrators. 'The fact that this person is going out of their way to do this says everything about them and nothing about our LGBTQ community in Southeast L.A.,' Hahn said in a statement. With security cameras now likely on their way, Mi SELA's staff say they won't be deterred from their mission. 'We're not going anywhere, we're going to still keep providing resources,' Lojero said. Anyone with information can contact the Bell Police Department at (323) 585-1245.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sen. Adam Schiff introduces bill to support LGBTQ+ people in starting families
U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, has introduced a bill to assure LGBTQ+ Americans equal access to assisted reproductive services. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Schiff's Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act, introduced Thursday, would classify these services, such as in vitro fertilization and surrogacy, as medical care for which expenses are tax-deductible under the Internal Revenue Act. Many LGBTQ+ taxpayers can't deduct these expenses under current law. The bill would mandate equal treatment for all seeking these services, regardless of regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, relationship status, or ability status. 'Assisted reproduction shall be treated as medical care of the taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse or dependent to the extent that the taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse or dependent, respectively, intends to take legal custody or responsibility for any children born as a result of such assisted reproduction,' the bill reads. 'Americans, including LGBTQ Americans, should have the freedom to start or expand a family without additional financial and systemic barriers that make it harder to afford reproductive health care services. This bill is crucial in correcting outdated tax laws in order to support LGBTQ individuals in family planning care,' Schiff said in a press release. The Los Angeles LGBT Center and the National Health Law Program praised the bill. 'The Los Angeles LGBT Center applauds Senator Schiff for championing the Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act,' Joey Espinoza-Hernandez, director of policy and community building at the center, said in the release. 'For far too long, LGBTQ+ families — especially families of color — have faced steep financial and legal barriers to building the futures they envision. This bill is a powerful step toward affirming that reproductive freedom includes the right to parent, no matter who you are or who you love. We're proud to support legislation that moves us closer to a future where queer and trans families are seen, protected, and treated with dignity under the law.' 'The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) is a proud sponsor of the Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act,' added said Fabiola De Liban, the organization's director of sexual and reproductive health. 'NHeLP has a long history of working to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services that focus on the needs of people who are low-income, have disabilities, are BIPOC, and/or are LGBTQI. This is a bill that reflects our values of health equity and justice for everyone as well as aligns with our Principles on Assisted Reproduction, which establish that health coverage programs should cover assistance reproduction and cost should not be a barrier.' Schiff first introduced this legislation with California Democratic Rep. Judy Chu in 2022 while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is endorsed by the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Center for Reproductive Rights, COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere), Equality California, Equality Federation, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the National Health Law Program, the National Partnership for Women & Families, and Silver State Equality. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Sen. Adam Schiff introduces bill to support LGBTQ+ people in starting families Op-ed: Ride On in the Fight Against HIV and AIDS Sen. Adam Schiff blocked in effort to keep Harvey Milk's name on Navy ship Democrat Adam Schiff to be the first U.S. senator to participate in California's AIDS/LifeCycle bike ride
San Francisco Chronicle
10-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Judge blocks Trump order cutting federal funds to LGBTQ nonprofits
President Donald Trump's war on 'DEI' — programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion — suffered a setback Monday in a Bay Area federal court, where a judge blocked attempts to cut off federal funding to nine nonprofits serving the LGBTQ community unless they changed their practices and their vocabulary. 'These provisions seek to strip funding from programs that serve historically disenfranchised populations,' U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of Oakland said in a ruling requiring continued funding of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, San Francisco AIDS Foundation and other organizations across the country while the case continues. It does not apply to other groups affected by Trump's orders. Those orders require federally funded programs to halt any 'equity-related grants or contracts' and 'programs promoting DEI,' apparently barring any aid to racial, ethnic or gender minorities. Another provision orders them to cut off funding for programs that 'promote gender ideology.' That would mean denying 'the very existence of transgender people,' Joe Hollendoner, executive director of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, said in a filing with the court. 'While the Executive requires some degree of freedom to implement its political agenda, it is still bound by the Constitution,' Tigar, appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama, said in his ruling. That means the administration 'cannot weaponize Congressionally appropriated funds to single out protected communities or suppress ideas that it does not like,' he said. A lawyer for the nonprofits, Jose Abrigo of Lambda Legal, said the ruling halts Trump administration orders 'that seek to erase transgender people from public life, dismantle DEI efforts, and silence nonprofits delivering life-saving services.' 'These policies threatened to erase access to lifesaving HIV and health services for transgender, nonbinary, and queer people across the country,' said Dr. Tyler TerMeer, chief executive officer of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. 'The Court's action gives us the fuel to keep fighting.' Trump's Justice Department argued that transgender advocacy groups, and not the administration, were the ones violating civil rights by allowing people who were born male to compete with female athletes, use women's restrooms and identify themselves as female. Trump is entitled to 'align government funding and enforcement strategies with (his) policy priorities,' Justice Department attorney Pardis Ghelbi said in a filing asking Tigar to dismiss the lawsuit. But the judge said Monday that the administration's explicit goals — including the denial of transgender people's existence — were 'facially discriminatory' and 'not a legitimate government interest.' Trump's orders require federally funded organizations 'who provide specialized services to transgender persons to remove references to those persons — as well as the characteristics that caused those persons to need the services in the first place,' Tigar said. 'It is as difficult to imagine how this would work as it is to imagine a pediatrician not acknowledging the existence of children, or a gerontologist denying the existence of the elderly.'
San Francisco Chronicle
01-06-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
AIDS/LifeCycle's final ride: Thousands hit road in Bay Area, ending 3 decades of fundraising
With a tinge of melancholy, more than 2,400 bicyclists gathered Sunday morning to kick off the last AIDS/LifeCycle, bringing to a close more than three decades of fundraising through the annual event for HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support services. Cyclists will travel 545 miles over seven days from the Cow Palace in Daly City to Santa Monica. 'We want to make HIV-AIDS a thing of the past,' said Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said Sunday before setting off for the first leg of the ride to Santa Cruz. 'I'm excited to suit up.' Each day, riders bike anywhere from 43 to 112 miles. Each cyclist raised at least $3,500 from friends, family and the community to support HIV and AIDS programs and services overseen by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. 'I can't think of a better way to honor those that we have lost and also to join the fight against HIV and AIDS,' said Brian Stewart, 32, a political strategist from Los Angeles readying for his inaugural ride. 'I'm really, really excited.' At least 800 volunteers known as 'roadies' turned out to help direct riders, provide medical services to the injured, serve meals and drive cyclists' gear from stop to stop. After the COVID shutdown in 2020, participation in the ride declined and the cost of fundraising rose, prompting organizers to end the annual event, which began in 1994. Over the years, the ride raised a total of more than $300 year, the ride raised $17.2 million, the highest total after 2022. 'Now more than ever, these funds are critical so we can respond to the needs of our communities, particularly when funding for HIV, DEI and transgender communities are under attack,' said Tyler TerMeer, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, who has participated as a cyclist and organizer in the ride for 17 years. 'It's bittersweet that it's the last ride,' said Laura Chung, 39, a nurse at Kaiser Hospital embarking on her second ride. 'But they'll create something new.' Next year, a three-day cycling event will take riders from San Francisco to Sonoma and back. Then in 2027, the Big Gay 10K footrace will take place in San Francisco.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NYX Professional Makeup Partners with Rising Queer Artists for "Pridemix" Campaign Spotlighting Underrepresented Voices in Music
Global beauty brand continues to advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, merging self-expression in makeup artistry and music. LOS ANGELES, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NYX Professional Makeup, the industry leader in inclusive and bold makeup artistry, is turning up the volume in this year's Pride campaign. The beauty brand announced today the launch of "Pridemix," a vibrant celebration of queer artistry at the intersection of music and makeup. Through a series of short videos, the campaign will spotlight the voices of three emerging queer musicians: featuring R&B artist, Destin Conrad, alternative pop star Zolita, and GRAMMY-nominated R&B sensation, Tiana Major9. The videos, which will be shared on NYX Professional Makeup's social and digital channels, feature the three artists sharing their individual stories of celebrating authenticity, the exploration of their queer identities, and how this translates to their music. "Authenticity is important to me—from the words that I sing, to the people I surround myself with, to the brands I work with," says Destin Conrad. "I'm excited to work with NYX Professional Makeup because they are true allies of the queer community." "As a queer pop artist, makeup is an integral part of my self-expression," says Zolita. "I'm very proud to partner with a brand that has always championed unrepresented voices, especially emerging artists or those in the LGBTQ+ community." "I'm grateful to NYX Professional Makeup for giving me another platform to tell my story of queer love and heartbreak," says Tiana Major9. "Creating music about your life can make you feel vulnerable, but it's also incredibly empowering -- I'm proud to share my journey with this community." As a brand rooted in community with a strategic focus on entertainment, "Pridemix" launches on the heels of the brand's latest music initiative, NYXTAPE, which launched in January in collaboration with emerging female artists. The beauty brand has historically supported emerging artists within their community and continues to pave new paths for beauty in music and entertainment. "At NYX Professional Makeup, we don't just celebrate our LGBTQIA+ family during Pride month; we celebrate them and their artistry every day," said Denee Pearson, Global Brand President at NYX Professional Makeup. "With the launch of Pridemix, we're shining a light on the underrepresented voices of queer emerging artists, while celebrating their artistry through makeup. Music and makeup are the ultimate connectors. Looking good and feeling good go hand-in-hand, so why not bring the two together to create the ultimate remix for Pride?" NYX Professional Makeup celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community year-round through its Proud Allies for All campaign in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Through donations, community events, volunteering, and a Global Allyship training featured on the brand is committed to allyship in action. NYX Professional Makeup has also donated over $500K to global charities in an effort to continue to scale their support for the community worldwide. This year's Pride campaign builds on NYX Professional Makeup's history of celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, including past campaigns like "Family Can't Be Framed" featuring House of Avalon and "Game Out Loud" featuring queer gamers. To learn more about "Pridemix," visit and @nyxcosmetics on Instagram and TikTok. MORE ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Destin Conrad – Known for his smooth vocals and genre-defying blend of R&B and pop, Destin brings vulnerability and soul to every track. His debut album, which launched April 25, explores the intricacies of navigating Black queer love in the digital age. Zolita – A hyperpop innovator whose cinematic storytelling and unapologetic lyrics celebrate queer love and rebellion. Zolita's music is both defiant and deeply personal, creating space for fans to feel seen, empowered, and free. Tiana Major9 – A powerhouse vocalist blending reggae, soul, and R&B with messages of love, resilience, and liberation. Her upcoming releases delve into self-love and healing, underscoring her journey as a queer woman of color and inspiring listeners to embrace their own narratives. ABOUT NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUPNYX Professional Makeup is a modern, digitally native makeup brand on the forefront of today's emerging beauty trends. A leader in the global color cosmetics industry, NYX Professional Makeup is an affordable professional makeup line with every shade, color and tool needed to create makeup artistry at every level. Rooted in a professional artistry heritage, NYX Professional Makeup boasts a successful multi-channel approach at the forefront of digital and retail. A social media pioneer, NYX Professional Makeup is one of the most influential and top-ranked brands, and is followed by top beauty vloggers, Instagram stars, and their millions of fans. While headquartered in the heart of Los Angeles, NYX Professional Makeup is a global brand available in more than 70 countries at thousands of retailers consisting of specialty beauty and fashion stores, freestanding shops and beauty supply stores, as well as on View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NYX Professional Makeup Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
