Petty About Pride

The fight between Venice Pride and the Venice Chamber of Commerce is so petty I can barely stand to talk about it, but here we are. The Chamber responded to what they say are false accusations with an overly wordy and evasive letter on their website that is essentially a smear piece directed at Venice Pride Board President, Grant Turck.

I know Turck, and I know how tirelessly hard he works to put on a joyous celebration for not only the LBGTQ members of our community, but for everyone. He has stood up to bullies since he was a kid in the Midwest starting his own Gay club at high school, the first of its kind. There are very clearly personal problems on both sides, but I can't stand bullying, and this whole situation feels an awful lot like just exactly that.

This all started when Turck asked for some accountability when going over Pride invoices and finding that there were some big discrepancies. He merely asked about them, and was immediately met with vitriol and the threat of canceling the Pride sign lighting, way back in July of 2018. Essentially, we don't like how you're playing, so we're gonna take our sign and go home (though it is not theirs, they are merely the custodians). This is all documented - but not at all addressed in the response from the Chamber, nor was it addressed why they would choose June - exactly when they know Pride to be - for the sign to be taken down for maintenance. Why not take it down NOW (the O'Venice is already past its freshness date, and needs to be taken down anyway) so it can be ready for the Summer tourists, and Pride? In the Chamber's attempt to punish Turck, they are in effect leveling their judgement at the entire community.

Turck's response to this personal attack was the following:

"Venice Pride always paid the Venice Chamber as agreed. In 2018, the Chamber opted to pay Venice Pride $3,500 via a member of their executive committee as part of a larger sum to settle accounting errors allegedly made by Chamber leadership involving equipment billed to Venice Pride but used at a June 8 Chamber event called Flower Fest."

So ... you know what would clear all of this up? A transparent and complete audit of both Venice Pride's event and the VCC's event for everyone to see. Turck is up for that, but with the avoidance of the topic shown in the Chamber's response ... I'm not so sure they are. I say let the community decide, as that is who both of these entities purport to serve.

I have no real dog in this fight. I'm not gay, and I'm not a member of the Venice Chamber of Commerce. I don't even really want to be involved, but I do think my Venice community should be aware of what's going on .... and I'm always going to stand up against bullying. When you break it down, it's Pride versus Commerce - and the names kind of say it all.

The Venice Pride celebration (with DJ Victor Rodriguez returning!) is happening on June 1st, with or without the lighting of the Venice Sign ...  and I hope that all parties involved can put this pettiness behind them and move forward - and that there will be a fun story to write about it! I'm out.

A Proud Weekend In Venice

Well,  that was fun! Venice Pride took over Venice for the weekend, and it was a celebration of diversity and inclusivity for the entire town. Venice has always been a place to be yourself, no matter what, and this past weekend brought that fact into sharp focus with a street party for the ages.

After a ceremony on Thursday (that I missed) to dedicate the rainbow lifeguard tower at Brooks Avenue and that stretch of sand to be officially known as Bill Rosendahl Beach, the real party went down on Friday night with an epic dance party in the street at Windward Avenue in front of the Venice sign.

Venetians of every make and model turned out to support their LBGTQ brothers and sisters (if they didn't identify as that themselves), and those brothers and sisters got DOWN. DJ Victor Rodriguez got the whole thing started at about 5 pm, and kept the party going in the streets until 11pm, when people dispersed to the many after-parties.

The crowd was huge, and beach balls were batted around overhead, in true beach party fashion. Each speaker's comments about the wonderful people and town of Venice were met with massive roars and applause, and you could tell that absolutely everyone was in the mood to blow off some of the steam this crazy world of ours has built up over recent weeks/months. That steam would have blown the roof off of the place, had their been one, but we were partying under the stars, and under the rainbow lights of our Venice sign.

The whole proceeding was family friendly, and many youngsters were spotted in the crowd, creating wonderful memories and building support for EVERYONE from a young age. I was so encouraged to watch my little friends loudly cheering and pumping their fists for every declaration of unity and love for all ... it gave me real hope for the future, watching them with their rainbow-sprayed heads of support. It was truly a night of One Love, and beautiful to behold.

Mike Bonin spoke, of course, as did Pride spear-headers Grant Turck and Danny Samakow. The celebrity sign lighter was Venice fixture, Lori Petty (star of Point Break, Tank Girl, and Orange Is The New Black), who spoke about how she came to Venice from Hollywood, saw naked, wet Red Hot Chili Peppers here, and decided never to leave. She talked about how everyone here is beautiful, and diverse, and how we stick up for what's right. How it's special here, and no greedy landlords or corporations can change that, no matter how hard they're trying. And you could feel exactly that.

All gathered yelled their agreement, and all the camera phones went up to count down from 10 to light the sign. When the rainbow bulbs lit the sky, the crowd went wild. Photos were taken, dancing re-commenced in the streets, and all was well in Venice, California. First Fridays was happening over on Abbot Kinney, but that's for tourists. If you wanted to see and know the real Venice, we were all on Windward Friday night.

The street party was so fun, and every time the streetlights changed, it was another dance-a-thon right there in the diagonal crosswalk under the Venice sign. Strangers danced together, high-fived, hugged, and generally thanked our lucky stars that we're living in a place that not only accepts all, but rejoices in our differences. It was truly an awesome sight to see.

After a while, people took off to all the various after-parties (I'm told the official one - "Gaywatch" at The Birdcage on Main Street was beyond packed, and went OFF). We just carried on dancing around in Venice, feeling happy that our gay friends once again had a place to celebrate on the Westside.

The weekend was super June gloomy, but that didn't dampen any spirits. There was a beach clean-up ("Beach Please") on Saturday morning, and then an all day party at Muscle Beach ("Status Is Sexy") with performances by singers and dancers, speakers, and all the Boardwalk tourists getting a taste of how we support each other down here by the sea.

Pride shirts were for sale, with proceeds going back to the Venice Pride organization to do it all again next year, even bigger and better. I want to shout out to the L.A. Rams and the L.A. Chargers for both so publicly supporting Venice Pride by buying up many of the light bulbs for the sign, and taking out ads voicing their support. For such a typically homophobic organization such as the NFL to come out in support of celebrating the wonderful diversity of Venice indicates a real sea change, and true progress for ALL. Super cool. *I do not want to shout-out Snapchat, who did not chip in, even though they could really use the good p.r. Just beat it already ... you're not wanted here. Thanks.

Sunday was pretty much a day of rest, as it felt much quieter everywhere. We basically kicked it with George at The Townhouse, having bloody marys inside to wait out the gloom and discuss how much fun everyone had had the nights before. An enormous THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this very prideful weekend in Venice, from the organizers to the partiers! The world is always watching, and we showed them that Venice continues to be a place of wonder and acceptance and a real good time. Pride is a great word for it, as I'm super proud of Venice when it comes together to support everyone like this.

Keep up the good work, everybody! xoxo

Venice Pride Preparation - Get Ready For Gaywatch 2017!

Venice Pride is rapidly approaching, and now in its second year, will have no problem topping the inaugural celebration last year. With events planned all weekend June 1-3, this year's Pride celebration will most certainly be memorable.

I sat down recently with Pride organizer, Grant Turck, to hear about what's in store for our LBGTQ friends this year, and was happy to hear about how much the whole thing has grown even in just one year. The main fundraiser for the Pride events is the sale of the colored light bulbs that will make up the rainbow Venice sign. Bulbs can be adopted through the Venice Pride site for $100 each (you get to pick color and placement), and you keep the bulb after the festivities. Gratitude to the individuals and local businesses who have already taken part, especially the L.A. Rams, who sprang for all of the blue bulbs in the letter "C"! Way to support your Community, Football! - And they're new to town, so it would be nice to see longtime local businesses helping out as well. Or maybe those entities who are trying to take over our Community might like some decent p.r. while trying to un-do some damage? Just a thought ... These community events don't happen for free, and the sale of the bulbs is more important than ever to pull off this year's special events. 

Events like the dedication of the Bill Rosendahl Memorial Beach on June 1st, which will be the stretch of sand from Park to Breeze Avenue. The lifeguard tower at Brooks Avenue will be painted in rainbow colors marking the sand destination for the gay Westside. The beach is a beautiful way to recognize and remember Rosendahl, the first openly gay person elected to the City Council, and a true champion of Venice. A permanent plaque indicating the site as "Bill Beach" will be installed later this Summer.  I think Rosendahl would have loved to know that there will be a permanently inclusive beach named in his honor. How cool.

Friday, June 2nd will be the lighting of the Venice sign in its rainbow colors for Pride month. The street party there on Windward will begin at 5 p.m. until the sign is lit (by a special guest!) at 9 p.m. There will be booths and exhibitors, food trucks, music (by DJ Victor Rodriguez) and dancing in the streets the entire time. This year there are two official after-parties: "Gaywatch" will be held at The Birdcage (upstairs at The Victorian on Main Street) and go from 11:30 to 2 a.m., and "Queer As Funk" featuring the Puscie Jones Revue will be happening at The Townhouse/Del Monte Speakeasy from 9:30-2 a.m. for even more dancing and celebration. Gay, straight, whatever you are, this street party is always a blast for the entire community. A Community that needs dancing in the streets now more than ever. And support and solidarity.

For those revelers that manage to get up in time there will be a big beach clean up on Saturday morning, June 3rd, named "Beach, Please!" I love it, and I love that there is an element of giving back to the community in the mix. Everyone needs to do their part in keeping Venice beautiful, and not just by being good looking partiers (thank you in advance!). The beach clean up will be followed by a "Status Is Sexy Pride Extravaganza" at a stage at Muscle Beach, with performers and fun until 5 p.m.

With a little less than a month to go before Venice Pride arrives, now is the time to chip in where you can to help make all of this fun happen. There are still 51 rainbow bulbs available (as of this typing) for adoption, as well as the sale of Venice Pride shirts that will both help, and look great when you wear it to the sign lighting. There are also volunteer and sponsorship opportunities available, both of which may be signed up for at the website as well.

These are the times to be looking out for each other. I'm not gay, but I can sure understand the importance of inclusion and acceptance of all people, no matter what their sexual preference. Seriously, who cares? Whatever makes you happy and doesn't hurt anyone else is cool in my book. And those things should be not only supported, but celebrated. That's why we're talking about this today ... so that there is still time to make this the best party our LBGTQ will attend all year.

Let's "Light up the night for Equality!" together. Let's show the whole world that there is a whole lot of Pride on the Westside! Thank you for your ongoing support of our wonderful Venice Community - one and all.

Venice Solidarity With Orlando - Enough Is Enough

There was yet another candlelight vigil last night in America ... this time in Venice to show our solidarity with the shooting massacre victims in Orlando, Florida. This time it happened in a gay nightclub, but it doesn't matter who it happened to, because it happened to all of us. Again.

It doesn't matter either what you think about guns ... no person in their sane mind - whatever their position is on arms (and I think they're only for pussies that can't use their words, but that's just me) - can make an argument for everyday people having access to assault weapons. NO ONE needs one of them. The NRA is a travesty, and any organization that has the President Of The United States saying that he's not "allowed" to even do a STUDY on gun violence, clearly has too much power and must be dismantled. Relax - that is not the same thing as saying take away all guns - though I'd be totally fine with that too.

So, once again, concerned and upset citizens gathered together to make ourselves feel better being together with like-minded friends and neighbors, and also to make our voices heard. Last night was for pain and comforting ... today is for action.

Venice met up at the Windward Circle, where a rainbow flag and flowers had been placed on the Robert Graham statue (that I call the Black Dahlia) that filled in as a memorial site. Candles and flowers were placed at its base, along with a big sign reading, "STANDING WITH ORLANDO".

Those in attendance (and I'm actually surprised the entire town wasn't there - apathy in this country is one of the biggest problems we have - PARTICIPATE!) were hugging and crying, filled with both sadness and righteous, justified anger. People took turns speaking and getting things off their chests and minds, and I think Daniel Samakow said it best when he said that one of the happiest days of his life was 11 days earlier when the Venice sign had been lit in rainbow colors and the streets filled with a dance party for Venice Pride, and now here we were overwhelmed with sadness, with many of the same people in attendance. "The beauty that comes out of this pain is this. Our community coming together to show that we stand for diversity." He was right. It was beautiful as we all stood together, holding candles aloft in solidarity, not just with the Orlando victims, but for better laws and gun control. There HAS to be. Samakow added that we were standing together at the Graham statue, because he had said that the statue was meant to symbolize "Strength, courage, and sexual freedom". And together we ARE strong.

Grant Turck read of the names of all of the people murdered in Orlando, and it was terribly sad to listen to them all and know that they were just people out together for a good time, fully innocent in this nightmare. Again. Someone said that their friend had been scared to come out to the vigil, that someone might target this group of mourners. If something happened to me while I was out showing my support and love for my fellow citizens, I guess I'd be ok with that. WE have to keep living, and speaking out, for the people that no longer can. It's our DUTY.

Another speaker was a transgender girl, who also said she almost didn't come to the vigil either, but was so glad that she did, because seeing that people really care helps to make you feel better about it all. She said that she would now be even more out and vocal, because the people that died in that club just trying to be who they were, no longer can. One man got up and told a tearful story about gays being persecuted in the past, and just when you think you've made all this progress, something like this happens. But I don't see it as a gay issue at all. Many in the crowd were gay, but just as many were not. It was all just concerned and activism-minded members of humanity, wanting things to be better for everyone. No one should have to die - or even lose friends - over lifestyle or political choices. You don't have to agree with each other on anything other than the fact that all humans matter. Pretty basic stuff. Golden rule.

As tears fell hearing the seemingly endless list of names, the sadness turned to anger and action. The next speaker, Michael, urged everyone to yes, feel sad, but to DO SOMETHING. "200 people here now is 200 actions tomorrow!" From calling your local representatives and congress and letting them know they will lose their jobs if they don't do something to signing petitions to ban assault weapons to simply being there for your community - something must be done. He got a laugh when he said, "Gay people are not going to be quiet!" - and I hope he's right. Another young man got up and thanked everyone there for making it real for him. Seeing all this news on your phone or t.v. is one thing, but being there together with people in real pain and concern is something else. "Thank you for letting me feel it." Because we all definitely felt it, the pain and the hope - that together we can make some kind of a difference in all of this madness.

Local Councilman, Mike Bonin, got up and said, "Things are fucked up in this country. I don't think it's the most respectful thing to have moments of silence, I think we need to be loud and pissed off !" And he's right. Silence will do nothing. "Our capacity for love is our strength." Also true, and also very much felt there in the Circle together ... gay, straight, young, old, all races, all religions, all political leanings ... our love makes us strong. But bullets don't care. Something must be done.

My friend, Beth Greenwald, got up and said that she's kept waiting for another Gandhi, or another MLK, Jr., or SOMEONE to come along and lead in all this social injustice and mayhem we've been dealing with as a country, until she realized that it's US. The People have always had the power. I think we just forget it sometimes when things feel so awfully messed up. That we CAN change it. We HAVE to.

The entire group then walked up Windward Avenue to the rainbow-lit Venice sign, where we all raised our candles and were NOT silent. We yelled and cheered for change, and for love, and on this night, for Orlando. Photos were taken to be sent out into the world to show that we indeed stand together, and stand STRONG for change. There were hugs and more tears, and then people needed a drink. And to mourn. And to strategize. Because today is that day of action. Our country has become a violent joke to the rest of the world, and I'm not ok with that. We all know we can do better ... and we all know that we MUST do better.

PLEASE stand up and make your own voice heard, in whatever way you can. And please never forget that we're all in this together. And please, PLEASE just love each other. It's really not that hard.


*Group photo by Venice Paparazzi

Venice Pride - Rainbow Bright!

When The Roosterfish very sadly closed last month, it left a very large void. Not only for cool dive bars in Venice, but really for any other gay venue on the West side. That all changes tonight, when Venice Pride kicks off with a rainbow lighting of the Venice sign and a dance party in the street on Windward Avenue!

Danny's Deli owner, Daniel Samakow, long an social justice activist and champion of Venice, realized that something had to happen, or all of the gay West side would essentially be "forced on to the internet and back in the closet," without a venue designated as for the LGBTQ community. Grant Turck, another major champion of Venice, did a bunch of research about declaring The Roosterfish as a historical monument, but that didn't get very far, and he agreed with Samakow that something new had to be created.

With help from Councilman Mike Bonin and George Francisco, they began with the idea to close off Windward for a Venice Pride dance party (TONIGHT! 7-9:30!) in the street with D.J. Victor Rodriguez (a popular spinner at Akbar in Silver Lake), and a changing of the Venice sign lightbulbs to rainbow colors in honor of our diversity. "Venice has been a center for diversity - ALWAYS," Samakow explained. "Venice has always had the spirit of bringing people together, and that's what we're going to do." That's right. Oh, AND there's going to be RAINBOW GRILLED CHEESES served up in the street tonight, courtesy of Chomp Eatery. Cool. The entire night will also serve as a fundraiser for the Trevor Project, and will honor both transgender youth organizer, Shear Avory, and the late Venice Councilman (and openly gay), Bill Rosendahl.

But the fun doesn't stop there, or tonight. The new venue for the LGBTQ community (and friends! All are welcome!) will be Danny's Deli, who will be happily accepting the torch on behalf of The Roosterfish. Danny's will host tonight's official after-party (with D.J. Jason Strommer), but also will host former Roosterfish customers on Margarita Wednesdays (featuring the famous Roosterfish $4.00 Margarita!) and Surf's Up Fridays with both live music (Miss Jessica! Suzy Williams!), hot D.J.'s,  With live music, it might actually wind up being, dare I say, BETTER than the Roosterfish - and right at the beach!

Speaking of the beach, there's a gay beach in the works too, just like the old days when the gay (and nude) beach was open for fun in the 1970's. The new LGBTQ beach will kick off this Saturday and Sunday, between the Breakwater and Tower 21. Look for the rainbows out on the sand from 11 am - 8 pm/sunset. The hope is that it will catch on and once again be a destination for this community at the beach, and that the entire event "will inspire other people to come and help fill the void," said Turck, who has really spearheaded the whole thing. His enthusiasm is infectious, as he went on to say that, "Venice has always been known for acceptance, and this is a celebration of equality and inclusiveness for everyone." Amen! Awomen! Aeveryone!

So, tonight the Venice Sign will be rainbow bright (and will be all month long!) and the whole world will see what the Venice community is all about. Turck told me that he's been quoting Kinky Boots as a way of explaining what both Venice Pride, and Venice itself, are all about, and I think it's a great summation:

One: Pursue the truth
Two: Learn something new
Three: Accept yourself and you'll accept others too!
Four: Let love shine
Five: Let pride be your guide
Six: Change the world when you change your mind!
Just be. Who you wanna be.
Never let them tell you who you ought to be.
Just be. With dignity.
Celebrate your life triumphantly.
You'll see.
Its beautiful.
You'll see

Its beautiful.

Cheers to Venice Pride! It's beautiful.