Community Corner

LGBT Heritage Month Kicks Off in L.A.

Throughout the month, City Hall will be illuminated in lavender lights, and the pylons at Los Angeles International Airport will shine lavender until Thursday.

By City News Service

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa honored three prominent members of the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community Friday during the LGBT Heritage Month kickoff event at City Hall.

Villaraigosa presented awards to recording artist and 2009 "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert, LGBT activist and criminal defense attorney Mia Yamamoto and LA Pride President Rodney Scott.

Villaraigosa presented Lambert with the Hope Award for raising awareness about LGBT causes through his participation in organizations such as The Trevor Project, Equality California and GLAAD.

Yamamoto, a well-regarded criminal defense attorney, was given the Dream Award for her work championing LGBT causes. She is co-chair of the Multi-Cultural Bar Alliance, a coalition of minority, women and gay and lesbian bar associations, and is a past president of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice organization and the Japanese American Bar Association.

Yamamoto also plays the guitar in a rock band.

Since 2001, Scott, who received the Spirit Award, has served as president of LA Pride, also known as Christopher Street West, which organized the world's first gay pride parade in Los Angeles more than 40 years ago.

The honorees were flanked by gay members of the City Council and newly elected officials who are openly gay, including Councilman Bill Rosendahl, incoming council members Mike Bonin and Mitch O'Farrell and Controller-elect Ron Galperin.

"When we speak of friends, years ago, we didn't look at (the City Council) as our friend," Scott said. "But now, with the leadership of people like Bill (Rosendahl), Herb (Wesson), Jan (Perry), all of you, these are our friends and our family ... It says that we have a voice here."

LGBT Heritage month festivities began Thursday night with an outdoor celebration on the City Hall's South Lawn and Grand Park.

Activities during the rest of the month include the LA Pride Festival, a graduation ceremony for police officers who took part in a course on working with the LGBT community, a pride party in East Los Angeles, and a sneak preview about a documentary on the transgender community in Peru.

Throughout the month, City Hall will be illuminated in lavender lights, and the pylons at Los Angeles International Airport will shine lavender until Thursday.


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