PLUMMER PARK — The Los Angeles LGBT Center has a new development in senior housing, and are offering info and answering questions about 98 new affordable and accessible units -tomorrow at Plummer Park. The development, located at 1127 N Las Palmas, Los Angeles CA 90038, will be open in fall 2020, brought to us in part by Thomas Safran and Associates.

The Center’s case managers are experts at helping seniors navigate the complex world of Social Security, Medicare, affordable housing, and more. Please join them and learn about how to grab one of these apartments and what what services they offer for veteran and disabled community members.

Applications will be available Feb. 26-March 4.

More information about the housing at mccaddencampus.com

RSVP for Senior Services events through the Senior Services Portal (seniors.lalgbtcenter.org).

The Center’s website states “The LGBT Center is a safe and welcoming place where individuals of all ages can find help, as well as hope and support, when they need it the most…From housing homeless youth to providing affordable housing for seniors—and from helping transgender people find employment to providing legal support for asylum seekers—no organization serves more LGBT people than the Center.”

Check their calendar for upcoming activities and events that include:

• Health and wellness programs
• Enrichment classes (computer, writing, dancing, acting, photograph, etc.)
• Monthly dinners and social networking opportunities
• Cultural excursions (theater, opera, museums, etc.)
• Educational seminars and workshop
• Senior-Youth Photo Project
• Senior-Youth Dinners

More info about the center at lalgbtcenter.org

WEST HOLLYWOOD (WeHo Times) — “What makes your dick hard?” That was one of the questions that panelist Tom Pardoe, explored at West Hollywood’s Chemsex Town Hall panel this past Wednesday, February 12.

The town hall discussion centered around sex and drugs and why too many in the LGBT community, mainly gay men, turn to dangerous party drugs like meth, GHB, ecstasy and cocaine to reduce inhibitions that allows them to engage in sexual activity that turns them on and is often times stigmatized and deemed shameful.

The Chemsex Town Hall , moderated by West Hollywood council member John Duran and Alexis Sanches, Assistant Program Manager with the Institute for Public Strategies (IPS), attracted a decent crowd of community members.

The panelist were diverse in the politically correct sense, with a mixture of gay, lesbian, […]

Continue reading at wehotimes.com

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey presented Courageous Citizen Awards to four individuals who intervened to stop violent crimes against others. They assisted prosecutors by agreeing to provide crucial eyewitness testimony in court. The awards were granted on February 12.

The honorees included a West Hollywood woman who came to the aid of a man who was stabbed outside her home. There were two motorists who helped a bicyclist knocked to the ground and threatened by a man wielding two long sticks in South Los Angeles, and a limousine driver who stopped a man from kidnapping a 19-year-old in Pasadena. 

The four individuals being honored had cast aside fear and risked their own personal safety to help victims of violent crime,” said District Attorney Lacey. “Justice prevailed because they stood up for victims who were vulnerable and then agreed to provide essential eyewitness testimony in court.” 

The honorees were recognized at a Courageous Citizen Awards ceremony in Los Angeles hosted by the Rotary Club of Westchester. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office presents these awards several times a year to people who have performed extraordinary acts of valor and selflessness in assisting in criminal prosecutions, aiding victims, preventing crimes or even capturing suspects. 

An award was presented to Sabrina O’Hara of West Hollywood. Ms. Sabrina O’Hara heard a man screaming outside her West Hollywood home on Nov. 7, 2018, and went to help him. She was aiding the man, who had a large gash on his palm and blood on his arm, when she saw the assailant across the street threatening to stab the man again.

Ms. O’Hara told the man to go away and called 911. While she was on the phone, the man threatened to kill her and then fled. Despite the threat, Ms. O’Hara continued to help the man. Authorities located the assailant nearby, and Ms. O’Hara identified him.

She later testified in court, and the defendant was convicted. On June 17, 2019, the defendant was convicted of one felony count each of criminal threats and carrying a dirk or dagger. He was sentenced on June 24, 2019, to six years in state prison.

Maria Nunez, 27, of Los Angeles, and Selestino Penaloza, 38, of Huntington Park also received awards. Ms. Maria Nunez and Mr. Selestino Penaloza came to the aid of a bicyclist knocked to the ground and threatened by a man wielding two long sticks. The duo saw the November 1, 2018, attack from separate vehicles in South Los Angeles.

Mr. Penaloza checked on the bicyclist and followed the assailant, stopping two police officers along the way, who arrested the man. Meanwhile, Ms. Nunez assisted the bicyclist until first responders arrived. Ms. Nunez and Mr. Penaloza identified the defendant for police.

Through their testimony at trial, they helped deputy district attorneys secure a conviction. On May 20, 2019, the defendant was convicted by a jury on one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced on Nov. 4, 2019, to 18 years in state prison.

Brandy Mayes, 50, of Riverside was also among the honorees. On July 29, 2017, Ms. Mayes was driving a limousine in Pasadena, when she saw a man dragging a woman by the hair toward his vehicle. She parked her limousine in order to intervene, causing the man to release the 19-year-old woman and flee.

She walked with the victim to a nearby market, called police and stayed at the scene until authorities arrived. Police later located the man and arrested him. Ms. Mayes cooperated with prosecutors and was willing to testify in court, prompting the man to plead no contest to the charges. On Sept. 20, 2018, the defendant, plead no contest to one felony count of kidnapping. He was sentenced on Oct. 24, 2018, to five years in state prison.