One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
No Love for Glove in Orange County
Nothing like a fresh breath of uptight air to balance out our state's rep as being full of left-wing nutjobs: Shoppers in Mission Viejo are lodging complaints with The Shops, a mall that includes the A/X Armani Exchange store. They're upset about the store's current window display, a giant red heart behind these words: "Give Love Get Love" and "Practice Safe Love Armani Exchange supports National AIDS Fund." What's wrong with that? Oh, wait--if we mention AIDS we must be talking about sex, right? Yes, kids, that heart is "made of hundreds of red, packaged condoms," explains the OC Register. It's not clear what the specific nature of the complaints are, just that they began last week, and have been shared between mall management and the store, who are not violating mall policy and may opt to keep the display up if they wish.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
