By Ramy Eletreby

CSW and WeHo Hold Workshop to Improve L.A. Pride

The organizers of L.A. Pride -- Christopher Street West (CSW) -- held a public workshop on Sept. 14 at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium asking the community to help breathe new life into the annual summer event and promising new transparency.

The two-hour workshop brought out more than 50 residents, business owners, entertainment professionals, and city officials, all with the goal of revamping L.A. Pride and helping it become more fun, original, and spectacular.

Moderated by Lou Wexler of the city's CSW Task Force, the agenda for the evening was to discuss four specific components of the Pride festival: 1) message/theme, 2) expansion, 3) change in location or time, and 4) the quality of the parade itself.

But first, the audience voiced complaints, calling the event too boring and repetitive of past years, essentially irrelevant at a time of political crisis, and amateurish, compared to more professionally produced events.

One of the biggest complaints regarded this past Pride's choice of Grand Marshal Paris Hilton. Nadia Sutton, from the city's Gay & Lesbian Advisory Board said that while she believes it is a good idea to appoint a straight person as grand marshal to represent acceptance and inclusiveness, she also feels the important position should be filled by someone with more panache, elegance, and who has a deeper moral commitment to the LGBT community. Sutton cited comments Hilton made about feeling uncomfortable at the parade when she saw two men kissing as being highly inappropriate. (It should be noted, however, that Hilton made several public appearances after being named grand marshal where she said she "loved" gay people and their style.) Another speaker complained that Hilton's CSW biography contained no LGBT-specific charities to which the wealthy woman or her family have contributed.

Other complaints included that the look and energy of the parade has not evolved with the times, pointing out that the LGBT community has undergone drastic changes but the parade has remained exactly the same for the past 25 years.

In terms of message and/or theme, the question became whether the event is a gay Mardi Gras with parties, music, debauchery, and fun, or a form of political and social outreach, with one resident asking, "Do we want people to come and say 'look at us' or 'listen to us'?" Some called for more visibility and outreach in the transgender community, while others called for higher standards in floats and décor. One Australian-born resident suggested the well-respected Sydney Pride as a point of reference for quality that L.A. Pride should strive to attain.

The topic of quality led to a minor debate on inclusiveness vs. exclusiveness. Some residents suggested that CSW limit participants from non gay-specific organizations, such as the Fairfax High School marching band, and seek to make the parade "gayer." Others felt that excluding anyone would go against the whole meaning of Pride. One resident pointedly stated, "Don't keep people with pride from marching in this parade." Quality of production and quality of the broadcast were brought into question as well, with a few residents calling for a more streamlined schedule, clearer programming, and more access to information on those marching in the parade.

Rodney Scott, president of CSW, also made a pledge to make the non-profit community organization's finances transparent and post all income and expenditures on their revamped Web site. Additionally, he adamantly vowed to "protect our children" and said CSW has a screening process to avoid the type of sex offender controversy that recently plagued the San Diego Pride event. All comments will now be reviewed by the task force and CSW.

Wells Fargo's Jonathan Weedman to be Honored

His is such a familiar face at LGBT functions in Southern California, one might think the perennially youngish-looking blond man standing discreetly on the sidelines, generally surrounded by local power players, has an insider's lock on great events. He does. Nine and a half times out of 10, as regional vice president of the Wells Fargo Foundation, Jonathan Weedman either underwrote or significantly contributed to the nonprofit organization's fund-raiser.

In the nine years he's been issuing grants, Weedman guesstimates that he has "probably read about 15,000 proposals and signed-off on nearly $100 million in donations," he tells IN. ... About 90 percent of the grants are for less than $25,000. But for the last three years in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties, he's been responsible for contributing $10 million each year.

On Sept. 25 Weedman will be honored by Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing at its annual Garden Party in Hancock Park. "Jonathan is always behind the scenes, facilitating the funding of so many important community projects without ever seeking the spotlight," said Brian Neimark, founder and executive director of the organization, which received a $125,000 gift from the Wells Fargo Foundation for its Encore Hall project in Hollywood.

For more information about Garden Party 2005, Qantas Airways raffle, or to purchase tickets, visit www.gleh.org or call 323-954-3900. -- Karen Ocamb

Garden Grove Lesbian Teen Sues High School District

On Sept. 7, 17-year-old Charlene Nguon filed a lawsuit against the Garden Grove Unified School District claiming unfair treatment for kissing and hugging her girlfriend on campus. Represented by the ACLU, Nguon filed the suit with her mother and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network club. The lawsuit claims that Nguon was suspended several times from Santiago High School after school officials ordered her to not engage in public displays of affection with her girlfriend while allowing similar behavior by heterosexual couples. She was then transferred to Bolsa Grande High School last March, which resulted in her previously straight A grades falling, in addition to forcing her into a longer commute. Nguon further claims that her school principal informed her parents of her sexual orientation without her consent. Nguon seeks monetary damages, an admission that her rights were violated, and a change in school policy reflecting that officials do not have the ability to discipline students based on sexual orientation. Santiago High School has allowed Nguon to return for the school year currently in session.

Study: Over One-Third of U.S. LGBT Asian/Pacific Islanders Couples Live in California

More than 13,000 Californian Asian/Pacific Islanders ... (APIs) told 2000 Census takers that they lived with a same-sex partner, representing more than one-third of the 38,200 Asian/Pacific Islanders in same-sex couples identified in the United States, more than in any other state, according to a new study released Sept. 14 by the Williams Project at UCLA School of Law.

The study ... also shows that more than half of California's ... API same-sex couples are raising more than 5,600 children under 18 -- and that these families face the same ... economic difficulties as other API families in the state.

"Census 2000 data quantify that ... Asian/Pacific Islanders ... represent a ... significant portion of California's gay and lesbian families. Many ... API same-sex couples, especially those with children, are economically vulnerable, especially as they lack the support and protections that marriage provides to other California families," said Gary J. Gates, co-author of the report ... and senior research fellow at the Williams Project on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy.

However, Gates told IN, "Census data do not offer specific insights into the political behavior, like voting patterns, of APIs within same-sex couples. ... Nevertheless, this study demonstrates that they are a sizable constituency within both the GLBT and API communities."

For more on the study, go to www.ucla.law.edu/willamsproject.

AHF Says YES on Prop 79

Leading up to the Sept. 16 announcement of his intention to seek re-election, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger extolled the importance of passing his three key initiatives on the Nov. 8 special election. Not unexpectedly, Democrats are urging "No" votes on the three measures: Prop.74 on teacher tenure; Prop. 76, which would give the governor more budget powers; and Prop. 77, which would take congressional and legislative re-districting away from lawmakers. ... Neither Schwarzenegger nor the measures have been polling well.

Adding to the confusion over which ballot measure is which are two propositions that deal with accessing cheaper drug medications. On Sept. 15, AIDS Healthcare Foundation held a news conference in front of Out of the Closet Thrift store in West Hollywood calling for grassroots activism to pass Prop. 79 and the defeat of the pharmaceutical industry's $75 million campaign to pass Prop. 78.

"As prescription drug prices continue to soar out of the reach of most people, the big drug companies -- instead of giving discounts to people who need them -- are spending a fortune on a campaign to defeat a consumer-backed initiative, Prop. 79, that will provide cheaper prescription drugs for millions of Californians," said AHF President Michael Weinstein. "This Yes on Prop. 79 kick-off event marks the beginning of a community-led crusade to get the message out to voters about how to stop unfair drug prices this November: the pharmaceutical industry-backed Prop. 78 is too little, too late -- Prop 79 will keep drug prices in line."

Prop. 79 ("Cheaper Drugs More Californians Can Count On") supporters include Health Access California, Consumers Union, California Association of Retired Americans, Congress of California Seniors, the League of Women Voters, and more than 100 other organizations. Prop. 79 calls for providing affordable prescription drugs to 8-10 million Californians, using the purchasing power of the state to leverage enforceable discounts from prescription drug companies. ... Prop. 78, on the other hand, relies on manufacturers to volunteer discounts with no enforcement mechanism. For more information, go to www.voteyesonprop79.org.

GLASS Receives $4 Million from L.A. County

Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS) was recently awarded $4 million from the County of Los Angeles for their continued work in family preservation. GLASS, which primarily serves the GLBT youth population, provides safe group homes for children, adolescents, and teens who have been abused and abandoned. Established in 1984, GLASS' goal is to help reconcile and return LGBT youth to their families or find a suitable alternative home through foster care or adoption. ... In addition to their group homes, GLASS provides a series of programs such as foster care, street outreach, mental health care, job training, case management, and mentoring. ... GLASS' teen mother program has earned the organization a reputation for true commitment to providing safe environments to abused children.

On Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Bel Air estate of legendary actress Connie Stevens, GLASS will host their second annual Flowers, Food & Art garden party benefiting the children and programs. Stevens serves as an honorary chair of the event with her daughter, actress Joely Fisher (Ellen).

"Our second annual Flowers, Food & Art garden party will bring together GLASS supporters in an elegant and private setting for a lovely afternoon of food, drink, music and art," said GLASS Executive Director Terry DeCrescenzo in a press release

For more information or for tickets, call Lynn LeMay at GLASS at (310) 358-8727, ext. 160, or via e-mail at lynnl@glassla.org.

Miss Bienestar: More Than Just A Pretty Face

The Miss Bienestar 2005 pageant started late. But nobody seemed to mind, as Arena Nightclub filled up Sept. 12 with supporters, family and friends, and gowned and bejeweled transgender Latinas, each of whom could claim the crown of "diva."

A table of past tiara-wearing winners sat elegantly next to the judges: Assemblymember Cindy Montanez, Huntington Park Councilmember Juan Noguez, and representatives from the Human Rights Campaign, Telemundo and KRCA Channel 62.

In a video presentation, the 11 contestants explained why they wanted to be Miss Bienestar 2005. But the theme throughout was the desire to be a role model for the Latina transgender community, perhaps one of the most marginalized and oppressed, even within the larger LGBT community. It's a battle Bienestar Human Services has been fighting since 1997, through their Transgeneros Unidas program. The pageant, says program director Bamby Salcedo, is intended to empower and inspire the women, to assure them they are beautiful for "who they are."

After the contestants strolled the cat-walk modeling casual wear, bathing suits, and gowns, the judges finally chose stunning 25-year-old Karla Ferreira from Long Beach as this year's beauty queen.

For more on Transgeneros Unidas, go to www.bienestar.org/TU.asp.

Divas and DJs Help Katrina Victims

The Factory Event Space and DivasandDJs.com will hold Divas Who Care, a special benefit concert on Wednesday, Oct. 5, with proceeds to benefit Habitat for Humanity help rebuild homes after Hurricane Katrina. The event is hosted by Queer as Folk star Peter Paige, andperformers scheduled to appear include Tiffany, Thelma Houston, Pepper MaShay, and Niki Harris. The suggested donation of $20 includes a complimentary "Twisted" cocktail. Doors Open at 9 p.m. The Factory is located at 661 N. Robertson, West Hollywood. For more information, call (310) 659-9188.