The LGBTQ+ community in Los Angeles County has a long and storied history of collective efforts for recognition and protection from the law. As documented in the Unidad documentary, now airing on PBS, the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit (GLLU) responded to the HIV/AIDS crisis by creating its own Latino-focused community health organization, Bienestar Human Services, to carry out outreach activities. In 1974, after the IRS initially denied nonprofit status, the center won its appeal and became the first openly LGBTQ organization to receive tax exemption. On June 28, 1970, the first LGBT pride parade in Los Angeles took place on the corner of Hollywood Blvd.
Redz, originally Redheads, opened in Boyle Heights in the 1950s, catering to a predominantly Mexican and Mexican-American clientele at a time when working-class lesbian bars were booming in Los Angeles, particularly in Westlake and North Hollywood. A plaque outside the bar describes the protest as a “demonstration for the civil rights of LGBT people” – a protest against police violence, arbitrary arrests, and entrapment everywhere in Los Angeles. Throughout the 20th century, Los Angeles has been at the forefront of LGBTQ rights. The region hosted the world's first gay pride parade, the world's first LGBTQ synagogue and the oldest continuously operating Christian LGBTQ ministry, the oldest LGBTQ publication in the country, and pioneering work in medical research and care for members of the LGBTQ community.
In 1985, West Hollywood became an independent city with a coalition-approved series of rent control measures and an openly gay majority on its city council – cementing West Hollywood's status as a visible symbol of Los Angeles homosexuality. La Merced was the first building in Los Angeles built for theatrical arts before closing in 1887 due to a local smallpox outbreak. This microsite is just the beginning of an ongoing initiative to recognize, understand, and preserve sites important to LGBTQ communities. Its goal is to recognize the unique stories and contributions of Los Angeles's diverse and constantly evolving LGBTQ communities.
Gay organizations run by white activists in Los Angeles often neglected contact with people of color, including members of the Latino community, and didn't even provide crucial information in Spanish. The rise of a collective effort for recognition and protection from law by the LGBTQ+ community has been an ongoing process that has shaped Los Angeles County over time. From its earliest days to its current state as a symbol of acceptance and progress for LGBTQ rights, Los Angeles has been at the forefront of this movement. As we continue to recognize and celebrate this history, we must also remember that there is still much work to be done to ensure that all members of this community are treated with respect and dignity.
