Before Oil Can Harry’s opened in 1968, The Zomba Cafe, an upscale burlesque theater, operated at 11502 Ventura Blvd. Photo: Courtesy of Oil Can Harry’s.
We’ve looked at Long Beach’s worst LGBTQ+ stories of 2022.
Here are the best Long Beach and Los Angeles LGBTQ+ stories of 2022.
Oil Can Harry’s receives historic status
Oil Can Harry’s, the legendary Studio City bar and nightclub that closed in 2021, was recognized in April for its historic and social significance to the San Fernando Valley and the LGBTQ+ community.
The Los Angeles City Council designated the building a Historic-Cultural Monument in a 14-0 vote.
Of the more than 1,200 Historic-Cultural Monuments in the City of Angels, Oil Can Harry’s is only the third LGBTQ+ structure that has received the designation. READ MORE
Sir Lady Java, a Black trans woman, was a star of the 1960s L.A. nightclub scene, performing with people like Redd Foxx, Sammy Davis Jr., Richard Pryor, and Don Rickles. She also was a trailblazer and civil rights activist. Photo: Harry James Hanson and Devin Antheus
Sir Lady Java recognized for being pioneer
Almost 50 years before “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “Pose,” Sir Lady Java was a pioneering transgender activist fighting against a Los Angeles law that restricted drag performance.
She spoke truth to power by challenging the Los Angeles police and the City of Angels.
Also, as a Black gender non-conforming woman, she witnessed a point in history – The intersection of discriminatory law enforcement tactics targeting Black and brown as well as queer communities in Los Angeles in the 1960s.
Her trailblazing efforts were recognized in June as the Community Grand Marshal in the LA Pride Parade. READ MORE
Allee Willis poses at her home on May 12, 2015, in Valley Village. She was a Grammy award-winning songwriter and creative think tank. Willis passed away Dec. 24, 2019. Prudence Fenton, her life partner, is turning Willis Wonderland into a 21st century museum for songwriters from underserved communities. Photo: Willis Wonderland Foundation
Allee Willis’ musical wonderland
Prudence Fenton wants to preserve Allee Willis’ spectacular North Hollywood residence — a pink, 1937 Streamline Moderne house she called Willis Wonderland — as a 21st century museum that will support and educate songwriters and multimedia artists from underprivileged communities.
Willis had a passion for mentoring diverse songwriters and multimedia artists and wanted to ensure a future for them, especially due to the persistent decline in funding for the arts, Fenton said.
Fenton and Willis were life partners when Willis, 72, suddenly passed away on Dec. 24, 2019.
Willis was a renowned and prolific songwriter who penned numerous hits, including the theme song to the sitcom “Friends” and Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1979 smash hit “Boogie Wonderland.” READ MORE
Former judge discusses historic Long Beach case
Halim Dhanidina did something that lawyers and LGBTQ+ advocates in Long Beach had attempted for more than 50 years — He helped put the nail in the coffin of the Police Department’s odious practice of targeting and discriminating against gay men in lewd conduct stings.
It was an established tactic that the department had used for more than 100 years, dating to 1914. READ MORE
LGBTQ activists honored at Harvey Milk Park
He’s a gay social justice activist who fought police misconduct, and she was a lesbian Paralympic medalist who broke barriers.
Both of them are honored at Harvey Milk Park in downtown Long Beach.
Jack Castiglione and Angela Madsen were among eight LGBTQ+ leaders inducted into the park’s Equality Plaza last year. READ MORE
El Compadre fires manager
The Los Angeles restaurant manager who admonished gay actor Drew Droege and his male date for showing affection in public has been fired.
Droege and his date were at the El Compadre restaurant in the Echo Park neighborhood Monday evening and had exchanged a few kisses when the manager told them it was a family establishment and such behavior wasn’t allowed. READ MORE
1st US Supreme Court gay rights case happened in 1958; we won
The ONE Archives Foundation is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
It’s the oldest active LGBTQ+ organization in the country, and it started in Hollywood as ONE Inc.
ONE Inc. also has the historic distinction of winning 1958’s groundbreaking ONE Inc. v. Olesen, the first U.S. Supreme Court case that addressed homosexuality and gay and lesbian rights. READ MORE
Radio GLLU tapes at the KPFK Studios in North Hollywood in 1986. Radio GLLU made history on the airwaves as the first bilingual LGBTQ+ radio program in the U.S. Radio GLLU was hosted and operated from 1986 to 1997 by the Los Angeles-based Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos (also known as GLLU), one of the first LGBTQ+ Latino organizations in the nation. Photo: Louis Jacinto.
Exhibit explores historic, queer Latino radio show
“Together On the Air” will be possibly the only exhibit to ever chronicle Radio GLLU, which made history on the airwaves as the first bilingual LGBTQ+ radio program in the U.S.
Radio GLLU was hosted and operated from 1986 to 1997 by the Los Angeles group Gay and Lesbian Latinos Unidos (also known as GLLU), one of the first LGBTQ+ Latino organizations in the nation. READ MORE
1st trans executive at major music company
Music and technology company Venice Music has named Dani Oliva as their vice president of legal and business affairs. He is the first openly transgender person to become an executive at a major music company. READ MORE
