Gus Kenworthy and Me Undies Invite You to 'Celebrate Yourself'

Here's one for you, boys! MeUndies is launching its first-ever Pride campaign known as “Celebrate Yourself.” For every pair of this specially selected underwear sold, $1 will be donated to the Los Angeles LGBT Center -- the world’s largest provider of programs and services for LGBT people -- benefiting the Center’s youth services. Meet the models and shop for a good cause now HERE.

F**k Without Fear

The Los Angeles LGBT Center's new campaign to reduce the HIV infection rate by promoting PrEP has quite a catchy name, no? Read HERE.

Andrew Christian Opens Up About Growing Up Gay and Poor

In a moving new essay in Vanguard magazine, underwear queen king Andrew Christian writes about why he gives to the Los Angeles LGBT Center, having been a client after moving to Los Angeles for college after growing up in Section 8 housing in Fresno. Read HERE.

Los Angeles LGBT Center to Honor Jane Fonda, Ron Nyswaner and Miley Cyrus

Wish I were on the Left Coast this weekend for the center's 46th annual Vanguard Awards. Tickets and information HERE.

L.A. LGBT Center Receives Unsolicited Cake From Hate Bakery

My friend Jim Key, who is chief marketing officer of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, just got a surprise in the mail, He writes:

I had the pleasure of unpacking this cake, along with a Christian independent film and a letter from the bakers (who refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple). We want to know what the community thinks we should do with it?

Details HERE.

L.A. LGBT Center Gets Bipartisan Support to Regulate Treatment Facilities Notorious for Abusing ‘Troubled’ Youth

So proud of my friend Jim Key and his colleagues for this one. Glad I marched with them in the L.A. Pride Parade!

From a news release:

In its continued efforts to regulate the lucrative industry of residential programs that claim to help “troubled” youth, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, a coalition of organizations—namely the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Survivors of Institutional Abuse (SIA), Mental Health America, and the bipartisan support of U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA 28th District) and U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL 27th District)—joined forces today to introduce a federal bill to reform and regulate these types of programs nationwide. The proposed “Stop Child Abuse in Residential Treatment Programs for Teen Act” is a federal version of the California Senate Bill “Protecting Youth from Institutional Abuse Act” (SB 524)—also known as PYIA—introduced by California State Sen. Ricardo Lara in March. Both bills include no exemptions for religious-based groups. 

“It isn’t ‘treatment’ to withhold food and water from a youth,” said Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. “It isn’t treatment to beat a teenager. And nothing should ever be considered treatment that involves denial of medical care, solitary confinement, electric shocks, or public humiliation. That’s not therapeutic. That’s child abuse. And yet that is exactly what’s happening throughout the country because residential programs that claim to help troubled teens are operating without necessary and appropriate oversight.” 

Find out what you can do to help HERE.

Super Men

Marvel, George Takei among honorees for LGBT Center Vanguard Awards

 Marvel Entertainment and activists George and Brad Takei are set to receive Vanguard Awards at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s 45th anniversary gala Nov. 8. Wish I could be there -- well deserved! Read HERE.