A snapshot of LGBT news, features and tidbits from this week on the web:
Los Angeles & Southern California
- More than 1,200 people attended the It Gets Better muscial’s Los Angeles stop, which took place at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Feb. 1. Celebs at the event–which raised $75,000 according to a PR rep–included Lily Tomlin, Pauley Perrette, Dave Koz, Greg Louganis and It Gets Better project founders Dan Savage and Terry Miller. Gay Star News coverage.
Photo by Daniel G. Lam
Chris Verdugo and Pauley Perette at the anti-bullying musical It Gets Better.
- A group of LGBT community activists from China this week completed advanced multi-week training offered by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. The participants, leaders in China’s relatively young LGBT movement, all previously took part in the Center’s Emerging Leaders Program, which brings activists to the Center for intensive internships. Watch Spectrum next week for a story about the advanced training!
LGBT community leaders from China at a graduation ceremony marking their completion of advanced activism training at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.
- Organizers of the Tet parade, a Lunar New Year celebration being held Little Saigon on Sunday, did not accept applications from LGBT groups.
- Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing, which operates Triangle Square in Hollywood, has started construction on a new low-cost housing development near the Hollywood & Western metro station. The Argyle, expected to open its doors in 2014, will provide housing for low-income individuals and families.
Sports & Entertainment
- Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo wrote a USA Today column about being an LGBT ally, advocating for marriage equality and fighting homophobia in sports.
- Out musicians Elton John and Frank Ocean will perform at the Grammys on Sunday. Both Ellen DeGeneres and Rachel Maddow are nominated for Best Spoken Word Album. The Advocate lists more reasons to watch and will live Tweet during the show.
News
- After saying it would reconsider its ban on gay scouts and troop leaders, the Boy Scouts of America announced it will delay until May a decision on whether to change its policy. The public stir on the possible change was apparently set off by a leak, according to the New York Times.
- Thursday was National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
- Megan and Grace Phelps-Roper, granddaughters of Westboro Baptist Church patriarch Fred Phelps, have left the notoriously anti-gay group.
- PFLAG founder Jeanne Manford, who died last month, will be posthumously recognized with the Presidential Citizens Medal next week. Other honorees include six adult victims of the Newtown, Conn., school shooting.
Features, Op-eds & Other Links
Wow…there’s a lot going on! I love the calendar page on your blog. The ability to hover over the event and get the basic details is a super user-friendly function. I’m so proud of you!!!
Thank you! And thanks for reading!