Advocacy Archives - LGBTQ Center OC

What’s Trans*piring

There are some new offerings as part of our Trans*itions health and wellness program that we could not be more excited to share with you! As you’re likely already aware, we offer access to renowned physician, Dr. Vierregger, for hormone replacement therapy. As a compliment to this service, we have teamed up with Select Staffing to offer our Trans* clients job training workshops in English and Spanish. We are also working with Select Staffing’s clients to provide Trans* sensitivity training to increase the number of affirming work places. Also new to Trans*itions is our Legal Name Change Clinic! Longtime supporter, Steven Hicklin, has teamed up with the LGBTQ Center OC in an official capacity to offer guidance on the process for legally changing your name. Where do homeless and housing insecure Trans* folk sleep? Shelters and crisis housing are often gender-specific or family-oriented. There are currently no beds in Orange [...]

A Tale of Two Cities

At this week's Santa Ana City Council meeting, the LGBTQ Center OC was given a proclamation in recognition and celebration of the Supreme Court victory for marriage equality. All council members but one were present, including Mayor Pulido, and each spoke in support of the recent ruling and the Center. For the first time ever, a rainbow flag flew at City Hall. We are thrilled to call Santa Ana home. Thanks to your faith in love and your trust in the LGBTQ Center OC, we will be celebrating this and many more triumphs to come! Sadly, this is in stark contrast to the views expressed recently by Newport Beach City Councilman, Scott Peotter. Views that forced the city of Newport Beach to distance themselves from Peotter and issue the following statement "The city welcomes and values its citizens, visitors and employees, irrespective of sexual orientation or marital status, and embraces Newport Beach's place [...]

Talking Points Regarding Councilman Peotter’s Recent Remarks

In light of Newport Beach City Councilman, Scott Peotter’s recent comments to his subscribers, we have crafted the following talking points to help you discuss the matter in productive way. Not only is it disturbing that an elected city official would give voice to such homophobic beliefs, but that his statement appears under the seal of the City of Newport Beach is even more disturbing. Peotter’s communication acknowledge 5 of 9 “guys” who made this decision – despite the fact that there are three sitting justices who are women – all of whom voted in favor of marriage equality. He thinks the Supreme Court overturned “5,000 years of Judeo - Christian tradition”, when in fact they solidified the constitutional right of LGBTQ people to marry. SCOTUS does not have the authority to force Judeo-Christian institutions to preform marriages for LGBTQ people. Religious institutions are deciding to do this or [...]

The State of LGBTQ California

Executive Director Kevin O'Grady and Youth and Advocacy Laura Kanter in Sacramento working to secure LGBTQQ equality. The State of LGBTQQ California I've been asked a lot lately, “why do we need a Center now we can get married?” and “now we’re equal what does the LGBTQQ movement have left to do?” Achieving marriage equality was a historic gain, but it has created a false feeling of safety and equality. We fought so hard for marriage equality, for so long, and with such intensity that we have lost sight of the wide range of issues impacting our community. Across a broad range of health and social measures: homelessness, hunger, poverty, disease, arrest, unemployment, drug use, smoking, suicide, cancer, HIV/AIDS, obesity, our community experiences rates between three to ten times higher than the hetero community. We fought so hard for marriage equality, for so long, and with such intensity that [...]

Arrest made in 25-year old murder cold case of Santa Ana transgender woman

Arrest made in the murder of Transgender Santa Ana resident Carla Salazar 25 years after her death Santa Ana, CA-- On Thursday, December 09, 2014 the Santa Ana police department made an arrest in the cold case of Carla Salazar, a Santa Ana transgender woman that took place in the summer of 1989. Carla Salazar was found stabbed to death in her Santa Ana apartment; the case remained cold until DNA evidence linked the suspect to the scene of the crime. This arrest is the first by the newly formed Orange County Cold Case Homicide Task Force. Details surrounding the case have not been released and it still remains unclear if the murder was related to the victim’s gender identity. Tony Viramontes, Director of Prevention Services at the LGBTQ Center OC said, “If yesterday were today in terms of transgender community visibility, support and advocacy, I feel that this case would not [...]

Advocating for Civil Rights

During the past several years, the LGBT community has witnessed an incredible expansion of our civil rights and civil liberties.