Archive

L.A. Scene June 2011: Pride Edition

L.A. Scene is a monthly column that chronicles lesbian nightlife and events of interest in Los Angeles. Sarah Witness, an East Coast transplant and obvious femme, has been navigating the snark infested waters of Hollywood since 2001. Although she’s an NYU trained actress, she prefers sipping vodka and making idle chit-chat at really gay nightclubs.

FAIR

In November of 2008, Shepard Fairey was commissioned by the grassroots organization FAIR to create an image exemplifying the Prop 8 struggle. Fairey is the artist behind the iconic Obama “Hope” image and the ubiquitous “Obey” street art campaign. The result is now known as “Love Unites.”

Fairey recently donated a number of original prints to benefit FAIR and the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center. A plethora of celebrities were asked to personalize each print, including – deep breath – Lance Bass, New Kids on the Block, Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, Margaret Cho, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Renee Zellweger, the cast of 30 Rock (yes, including Tracy Morgan, as this was before all hell broke loose with him and the gays), Matt Groenig, Cindy Crawford, Kirsten Dunst, Wanda Sykes and others. You get the idea. Most of the celebs just signed the print, but some really went to town. Who knew Renee Zellweger was so crafty? The Mayor adorned his print with “GAY STRAIGHT BLACK WHITE MARRIAGE IS A CIVIL RIGHT!” as well as “BORN TO RAISE HELL.” I don’t know why the latter.

All of the prints were on display for a week at the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center. There was also an exhibit called “Count Me Out,” which featured a number of Facebook and Twitter photos from 2010 when people “rainbowfied” their profile pictures in solidarity with the gay rights struggle. Visitors to the gallery could make similar photos holding signs that read either “OUT” or “ALLY,” which were then incorporated into the installation.

Feel free to steal the idea for your own Facebook/Twitter profile.

LIFE OUT LOUD

Life Out Loud is a huge annual cocktail party that benefits LifeWorks, the youth mentoring segment of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center. It’s a great cause and a great opportunity to leave WeHo during PRIDE weekend. This year the party was held at Paramount Studios, on the backlot named New York Street. It’s permanently set up to look like an old-timey or perhaps just Greenwich Village-y area of Manhattan, which is cool, if vaguely disconcerting when you just parked on Melrose.

Anywhoo, you know what sponsor you don’t see at most GLBTQVC events? Barbie. A giant tent full of Barbies was set up for our viewing pleasure. Barbra Streisand Barbie and Cher Barbie were front and center and huge hits with the throngs of boys. Less to my surprise but more to my liking, Absolut was a sponsor as well. Apple vodka!

A bunch of celebs showed up to lend their support, including Geri Jewell, Dustin Lance Black, and The Real L Word‘s Whitney, Rose and Raquel. Raquel was quite a chatterbox on the red carpet.

The fantastic singer Cortes Alexander performed and was backed up by the lovely and talented Jennifer Rappo and Melissa Bailey.

The night’s honorees were Mike C. Manning (The Real World: DC) and Zach Wahls (the guy who gave the heartwarming testimony in front of the Iowa State Legislature in support of his two moms).

Upon leaving, guests were given SWAG from the sponsors. Sadly, I did not get a Lexus, even though they were huge sponsors. I did, however, get a Barbie doll if anyone wants to come play.

LAWN

I swear I don’t get a kickback from the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center but they seem to be the only ones having events these days, so here’s another one. Every month their women’s group, LAWN, holds an event called LAWN Court, which is a networking opportunity for women from all different backgrounds to mix and mingle and eat and drink. Four times a year, this is preceded by LAWN Speak, which is a lecture series featuring prominent women in the community.

This month, five amazing women were invited to speak. They are all highly successful businesswomen in typically male-dominated fields. Hollis Bulleit travels the country consulting for Bulleit Bourbon, a company her father founded. This may sound like nothing, but think about it, how many women drink bourbon, much less go around to whiskey-fests selling it?

Partners on and off the court, Erika Nakamura and Amelia Posada are the founders of Lindy & Grundy, a high quality butcher shop. They are both about five feet tall and Amelia is a former vegetarian. But, despite the odds, they own and fully operate one of the most prestigious shops in Los Angeles.

Kristen Trattner and Monica May (also a couple) opened the Nickel Diner in 2008. Known for it’s homestyle yet unique food, the diner is on 5th Street in Downtown Los Angeles, smack in the middle of what can still be referred to as Skid Row. Monica was already an experienced cafe owner. Kristen is a former visual effects artist who was struck with stage three tongue cancer in 2000. Unable to eat solid food for a year, she became obsessed with cooking it so she could at least enjoy the smell.

Why, oh why, can’t they cast women like this on The Real L Word? Maybe they don’t have enough time for drunken sexcapades what with their lame-o jobs and all.

LAWN Court followed the lecture. We had to wear nametags, but it was a small price to pay for the free drinks and good company. Hollis Bulleit conducted a bourbon tasting and there was a food truck parked outside.

I have to admit, I thought the event was going to be really dorky and boring and it turned out to be great. LAWN is open to guests as well as members so check out their upcoming programs if you’re in L.A.

PRIDE

Oh Pride weekend. You always seem like such a good idea until Monday when I wake up with a brain full of lint and a purse full of condoms.

I slightly attended the Dyke March on Friday, which is to say that I went to a bar in WeHo and ran into the street to take photos when the ladies marched past, twice. For some reason the march starts and ends in the park. Everyone gathers there and then marches east along Santa Monica Blvd., to where, I do not know. Apparently, they don’t go far because they return about 10 minutes later. Why they don’t start at the eastern point and march toward the party in the park is unclear.

On Sunday morning, I walked up to the parade from my house. When I was about a mile away, I started gathering random gays, snowball-style. No less than five drivers screamed “Happy Pride!” out their windows at our rainbow-clad mob. I finally made it up to the boulevard and took refuge at the relatively quiet watering hole, Saint Felix, where my more prompt friends had saved seats. Don’t try to take my reservation next year – I will cut you. As usual, the parade lasted for hours with huge gaps in the action, furthering my conviction that the parade coordinator stationed at Crescent Heights is probably stoned.

No matter – I saw the PFLAG parents, which is always the highlight for me. Not to be outdone, there were also parents wielding signs that stated “Proud Asian Mother of a Gay Kid.” There were nearly naked men atop fire trucks, nearly naked men in human hamster balls and a fully-clothed Margaret Cho with her entourage. The Grand Marshall was the fabulous Johnny Weir. He was immediately followed by the street sweeping team – everyone’s cue to run off to the Abbey.

Not in the mood to be crushed to death, I stayed put at Saint Felix for a healthy eight hours before migrating to East/West. I am sad to say that it was East/West Lounge’s final day! It’s not even because the sewer finally exploded. They are reportedly reverting back to Revolver and rumor has it there will be cheap drinks and video karaoke. How elegant.

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button