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.
Los Angeles Now Has A Council To Advise The City On Transgender Issues
Mayor Eric Garcetti said today that the city has created a Transgender Advisory Council to advise officials on issues affecting transgender people in Los Angeles. The Transgender Advisory Council will serve to give policy advice to Garcetti, the City Council and other officials on various issues that impact Los Angeles' transgender community, City News Service reports. The Council falls under the umbrella of Los Angeles' Human Relations Commission.
There are nine members of the council, including Karina Samala, Diana Feliz Oliva, Jaden Fields, James Wen, Jazzmun Crayton, Justine Gonzalez, Talia Bettcher, Terri Jay and Zoey Luna.
Samala said via a release that the council was formed to "provide a greatly improved quality of life for all transgender individuals visiting, living and working in the City of Los Angeles."
The council's first meeting is today, and Samala said the group will discuss issues including healthcare, hate crimes, employment, immigration and housing.
"Today, the City of Los Angeles sends a clear message to transgender Angelenos: your voices matter and your experiences count," Garcetti said via a release.
City leaders say that Los Angeles is the largest city in the U.S. to permanently create such a council. West Hollywood has had a similar board since 2009.
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
