LGBT culture in Los Angeles

The McDonald/Wright building, the Los Angeles LGBT Center headquarters

Los Angeles has a thriving and diverse LGBT community that historically played a significant role in the development of the entertainment industry in L.A.[1]

History

Controversy occurred when Mitchell Grobeson, the first openly gay police officer in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), later resigned, accusing the agency of mistreatment.[2] Grobeson had been reinstated into the police force and walked in the 1994 Los Angeles pride parade in full uniform, but he stated that the management has attempted to terminate him by November 1995, so he resigned in January of that year. According to Grobeson the department did not want him to actively recruit in the LGBT community.[3]

The defense attorneys of OJ Simpson referred to allegations of LAPD's homophobia during the OJ Simpson trial in 1994.[4]

In 1998 there were 15 openly LGBT officers in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office. By 1998 the LAPD was actively hiring LGBT officers and had an LGBT community liaison.[5]

By 2006 the LAPD was taking steps to actively recruit LGBT persons as police officers.[6]

Demographics

According to one study in 2007, 3.7% of adults in Los Angeles County identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. By race, the percentages were 5% of whites, 4% of African-Americans, and 2.8% of Latinos.[7]

Most black LGB persons live in black neighborhoods. Of black LGB persons, 38% lived in South Los Angeles, 33% lived in the South Bay, and less than 1% lived in the Los Angeles Westside. Mignon R. Moore, the author of "Black and Gay in L.A.: The Relationships Black Lesbians and Gay Men Have to Their Racial and Religious Communities," wrote that black LGB people had a tendency to not have openness about their sexuality and to not discuss their sexuality, and also that "they were not a visible group in neighborhoods like Carson and Ladera Heights".[7]

Geography

The City of West Hollywood has been a center of the LGBT community, and as of 2014 its population was about 40% LGBT. It had the nickname "Gay Camelot."[8] In addition it is known as "Boys Town".[9] LGBT businesses opened in West Hollywood because it was under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; the Los Angeles Police Department had a reputation of raiding LGBT businesses. In addition the presence of the design community also attracted LGBT culture.[10] It was affected by AIDS in the 1980s. By 2014, as LGBT individuals had faced increasing acceptance in society, the city's identity has shifted from being LGBT.[8]

Another LGBT community is located in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. There are large numbers of LGBT residents of Venice, Los Angeles and the City of Santa Monica.[9] Other communities with LGBT residents include Elysian Park, Hollywood, North Hollywood, Reseda, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, and Van Nuys. Areas outside of the City of Los Angeles with LGBT residents include Newport Beach and Riverside.[11]

Politics

LGBT participation in city politics began in the 1980s. In 1993 5% of the Los Angeles voters identified as gay or lesbian.[12]

During the mayoral elections, Tom Bradley was elected due to support from a left-leaning coalition that included LGBT groups. The 1992 Los Angeles Riots caused the coalition to disintegrate. In 1993, Michael Woo, who was a member of the Los Angeles City Council, was the preferred choice since Bradley did not seek re-election as Mayor of Los Angeles. Woo got 40% of the votes from those who identified as gay or lesbian, compared to a third candidate who received 27% and Richard Riordan, who received 11%.[12] In the runoff election, Woo received 72% of the votes from those who identified as gay and lesbian. In 1997, Tom Hayden, a member of the Senate of California, had received 54% of the gay and lesbian vote while Riordan had 41%. The lesbian and gay voters and the African-American blocs were the only ones that voted over 50% in favor of Hayden, and Hayden had made strong efforts to attract gay and lesbian votes.[13]

Institutions

ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives museum in West Hollywood

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is in the community.

The ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the University of Southern California holds LGBT-related archival materials. It maintains an archives and museum in West Hollywood.

The Gay Women's Service Center, the first U.S. social center for lesbians, was founded in 1971.[14]

Harry Hay established the Mattachine Society in Los Angeles in 1950;[15] the organization moved its headquarters from to San Francisco in the 1950s.[16]

Media

ONE Magazine, the first U.S.-wide LGBT publication, was established in Los Angeles.[15]

The popular Logo gay reality series RuPaul's Drag Race is set in Los Angeles.

Recreation

The Los Angeles gay pride parade is held every June.[9]

Notable residents

See Also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.salon.com/2001/11/08/behind_screen/
  2. ↑ Lasley, James. Los Angeles Police Department Meltdown: The Fall of the Professional-Reform Model of Policing (Advances in Police Theory and Practice). CRC Press, August 28, 2012. ISBN 1466575875, 9781466575875. Google Books PT58.
  3. ↑ Burkhe, Robin. A Matter of Justice: Lesbians and Gay Men in Law Enforcement. Routledge, September 5, 2013. ISBN 1136805435, 9781136805431. p. 268.
  4. ↑ Gallagher, John. "To serve and protect?" The Advocate. Here Publishing, April 4, 1995. No. 678. ISSN 0001-8996. p. 16.
  5. ↑ Meers, Erik. "Good Cop." The Advocate. Here Publishing, March 3, 1998. No. 754. ISSN 0001-8996. p. 1985.
  6. ↑ Henneman, Todd. "A gun and badge for gays." The Advocate. Here Publishing, May 9, 2006. No. 962. ISSN 0001-8996. p. 38.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Moore, p. 190.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Branson-Potts, Hailey. "West Hollywood's increasing diversity inspires mixed emotions." Los Angeles Times. March 6, 2014. p. 1. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Poole, Matthew. Frommer's Los Angeles 2008 (Volume 391 of Frommer's Complete Guides, ISSN 1528-6673). John Wiley & Sons, October 1, 2007. ISBN 0470145757, 9780470145753. p. 276.
  10. ↑ Wai, Joan. Newcomer's Handbook For Moving To And Living In Los Angeles: Including Santa Monica, Pasadena, Orange County, And The San Fernando Valley. First Books. March 30, 2005. ISBN 0912301600, 9780912301600. p. 35.
  11. ↑ Kompes, Gregory A. 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live. Career Press, 2005. ISBN 1564148270, 9781564148278. p. 47.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Haider-Markel, Donald P. Gay and Lesbian Americans and Political Participation: A Reference Handbook (Political participation in America). ABC-CLIO, January 1, 2002. ISBN 1576072568, 9781576072561. p. 143.
  13. ↑ Haider-Markel, Donald P. Gay and Lesbian Americans and Political Participation: A Reference Handbook (Political participation in America). ABC-CLIO, January 1, 2002. ISBN 1576072568, 9781576072561. p. 144.
  14. ↑ Pulido, Laura, Laura R. Barraclough, and Wendy Cheng. A People's Guide to Los Angeles. University of California Press, 2012. ISBN 0520270819, 9780520270817. p. 44.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Roots of Equality, p. 8.
  16. ↑ Ormsbee, Todd J. The Meaning of Gay: Interaction, Publicity, and Community among Homosexual Men in 1960s San Francisco. Lexington Books, July 10, 2012. ISBN 0739144715, 9780739144718, p. 306.
  17. ↑ Markowitz, Judith A. The Gay Detective Novel: Lesbian and Gay Main Characters and Themes in Mystery Fiction. McFarland, October 26, 2004. ISBN 078648277X, 9780786482771. p. 48.

Further reading

External links