LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Los Angeles, Controller Ron Galperin debuted an online story map today that celebrates the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer community and also provides statistics and resources regarding COVID-19.
The map, titled “LGBTQ+ Pride and Power,'' offers an interactive tour of 10 historical locations in Los Angeles that helped shape the LGBTQ+ community and provides statistics on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting LGBTQ+ people of color.
It also maps more than 100 service organizations that provide housing, health resources, education programs, scholarships, legal help and nutrition assistance to homeless and at-risk LGBTQ+ youth.
“While it comes amidst a global pandemic and a national movement against racial injustice, honoring LGBTQ+ Heritage Month is more important than ever before,'' Galperin said. “The LGBTQ+ community has come so far in such a short amount of time, fighting against criminalization, surviving the AIDS pandemic, winning the right to marry and pushing for full equality. We know that change can come if we speak up, unite and show solidarity with all those seeking to build a better world.''
Galperin said 38% of LGBTQ+ people of color have had their work hours cut, compared to 29% of white people and 24% of the general population.
Galperin's LGBTQ+ story map includes history from the first protest for LGBTQ+ rights at the Black Cat Tavern in Silver Lake to the first lesbian publication in the city, housed at RKO Studios.
The map includes locations of resources for people in need of housing and services, but is aimed specifically at aiding LGBTQ+ youth.
The map can be accessed at lacontroller.org/data-stories-and-maps/prideandpower/.