Stonewall Spotlight

We are excited to present you a new and exuberant podcast led by our new Artistic Director Jonathan Welch who’s coming at us with 2 segments this month. The first introduces local LGBTQIA author Gregory Bonsignore who recently released his book “That’s Betty: the Story of Betty White”. Betty of course was a pioneering woman, an Angelino, and someone who transcended politics while bringing about progressive change in her industry.  He’ll also present a new segment called Personal/Political. In that, Jonathan sits down with Stonewall Steering Committee Member Barb Steelman to talk about her life as a political activist and what drives her. We’ll also hear from Kelsey Bryan Zwick with some special poetry segments that will be an ongoing part of our podcast programming and a piece on the importance of being an Organ Donor. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

This is a very special episode as we cover for the first time the Executive Board elections of the Stonewall Democratic Club. We are joined by many candidates as well as Alex Mohajer, candidate for President of the club who is challenging current President Lester Aponte who is seeking a third term in what looks to be a very close race. During this episode, we will showcase the voices of our candidates answering pre-written questions sent to each of them, getting up close and personal with those seeking a seat on Stonewall's prestigious Executive Board.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

Thank you for joining us on this special episode, where we honor the infamous Ivy Bottini, who passed away February 25, 2021 at the age of 94. Ivy served as president of the Stonewall Democratic Club from 1987 to 1990 and had a hand in forward progress for our community at every turn. Her passing poetically coincided with the passage of HR 5, the Equality Act, in the House of Representatives. One of the founding members of NOW, in 1970, Ivy became the first Lesbian purged from NOW, because of a panel discussion she organized. From 1974 to 1978, she was a full-time entertainer and political satirist with uniquely feminist, Lesbian-based material, and appeared at Carnegie Hall with her show “The Many Faces of Woman.” Ivy served as Women’s Director at LA G-L-C-S-C, co-chair of the Gay and Lesbian Police Advisory Caucus of the State Democratic Party, and on the State Committee of Aging.  She founded the LA AIDS Network, ran demonstrations and infiltrated Operation Rescue as a spy during 1988-1989. Rest in power, Ivy. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

We’ve got a wonderful episode laid out in honor of February being Black History Month. We’ll hear from Zekiah Wright, who sits the Legislative Action Committee for Stonewall and the West Hollywood Gay and Lesbian Advisory Board, as well as Jonathan Welch and so much more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

In this special Election 2020 edition of Stonewall Spotlight we sit down with Stonewall Democratic Club's endorsed Candidate for Community College Board Seat 3 - David Vela, as well as another exciting expose on voting from our very own Jonathan Welch.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

Welcome to Stonewall Spotlight, a Monthly Podcast Brought to you by the Stonewall Democratic Club bringing you the most salient issues in Democratic Politics from the LGBTQIA and feminist lens. On today’s episode we are excited to share with you three insightful interviews on this special two-part Election Madness Spotlight Special. Our own Mackenzie Hussman sat down with California Congresswoman and VP runner up Karen Bass and inspirational street artist and Stonewall Leadership Cohort Member Luckie Fuller, who was the artist behind the All Black Lives Matter mural on Hollywood Boulevard. Marcus Lovingood also sit down with Stonewall’s own Freddy Puza as he talks to us about his run for Culver City Council as Stonewall’s Endorsed candidate in that race. We’ll also hear Jonathan Welch’s take on this years Senate races and what’s at stake.   All that and more on this month’s exciting 2020 election edition of Stonewall Spotlight.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

On this Women of Color, Leaders of Tomorrow edition of Stonewall Spotlight, Mackenzie sits down with LGBTQ Congressional Candidate and President of the San Diego City Council Georgette Gomez and I sit down with State Senator Holly Mitchell to discuss her vision for the future of Los Angeles County as she runs for a seat on the LA County Board of Supervisors in District 2 as Stonewall’s endorsed candidate. We also have a special expose on Geraldine Ferraro in the spirit of Women who have lead the way for our current and future leaders, narrated by our newest member of the Spotlight Editorial Team, Special Correspondent, Jonathan Welch. We will also hear a special interview from Correspondent and Stonewall’s own and newest writer, Alex Mohajer and Stonewall Leadership Cohort member Zaquiah Wright on today’s political climate and a take on today’s Black Lives Matter protests.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

On this episode of Stonewall Spotlight we discuss the current Black Lives Matter movement with Political Strategist Jasmyne Cannick and Los Angeles County District Attorney Candidate George Gascon. We also honor the late congressman John Lewis with his 7 minute speech at on the main stage at the March on Washington.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

This month's Stonewall Spotlight episode will conclude our special two-part Queer in Quarantine series, bringing you stories from our community while collectively in quarantine. We'll feature stories from Stonewall Democratic Club's Controller Reuben Zadeh, VP of Communications Ryan Basham, PR Chair Alex Mohajer and a replay of our interview with Anthony Keith Turner, a social justice warrior and special guest of our 'Social Injustice' Podcast.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

In part one of this two-part series, we spoke to members of our community on their experiences being queer in quarantine as we all remain under "Stay At Home" lock down during the Covid-19 global Pandemic. We showcase Stonewall's endorsed candidate for LA County District Attorney George Gascon, Trans activist Luckie Alexander, John Erickson and more.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

This month we continue our 2-part series: Trans Lives Matter with special guest Justine Gonzalez, a trans activist, advocate and consultant in Los Angeles. They were also a candidate for School Board in 2019 and sits on the Board of Directors of the Stonewall Democratic Club --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

Welcome to Stonewall Spotlight Episode 13 and to our our 2-part series: Trans Lives Matter. This month, Marcus sits down with Khloe Perez, Manager for Transgender Programs and services at Bienestar and local Trans Rights Activist who was one of the individuals assaulted at Las Perlas this year. We just observed the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 23 and a new report from Transrespect Versus Transphobia Worldwide says 331 trans and gender-diverse people were murdered worldwide between October 2018 and September 2019. Brazil had the highest number of these hate crimes with 130 killings reported. Mexico had 63 and the U.S. reported 30. In addition, 3,317 trans and gender-diverse people have been murdered globally since January 2008. These episodes are dedicated to giving a voice to our Trans brothers and sisters. Find out more about the Stonewall Democratic Club at www.stonewalldems.org --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

In this special edition of Stonewall Spotlight 12, we continue our “Blue Tsunami” topic as we enter into primary season in the 2020 election. We welcome Stonewall Vice President of Community Drexel Heard to talk the Presidential race as well as remarks from freshman Congresswoman Katie Porter. Tune in! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

The Democrats have an uphill battle to take back the White House from Donald Trump in 2020, but they have a plan. Like last year’s “Blue Wave”, this year’s "Blue Tsunami" is set to hopefully not only take back the White House, but the Senate as well. In this first episode of our special two-part Blue Tsunami edition of Stonewall Spotlight, we sit down with the Chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, Mark Gonzalez as he gives us a sneak peek into what’s to come and what challenges await the Democrats in 2020. We also sit down with Stonewall Democratic Club’s Chair of Endorsements Adam Kroll to get an expert insight on the vast field of Democratic candidates for President and who has what it takes to clench the nomination. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

This week we sit down with Phill Wilson, the founder of the Black AIDS Institute and West Hollywood Mayor John D'Amico as we discuss the breakthroughs in AIDS past, present and future on this episode of Stonewall Spotlight. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

We have a full episode for you today, packed with perspectives. In honor of the Stonewall Riots anniversary this year, we’re celebrating how far as a community we’ve come over the decades. We’ll hear from Robin Tyler, a true pioneer in the grassroots movement within the Women’s and LGBTQ civil rights flight and a special interview with longtime Stonewall Member, Nadia Sutton. This year happens to be the 50th Anniversary of the protests at Stonewall that lit the fire for the modern Pride movement, the effects of which are as vital today as they were fifty years ago. Here at Stonewall Spotlight we hope to develop a compassionate understanding of that important time in our LGBTQ history.  Stonewall is part of who we are as a club and we hope to share a little bit about our namesake with you today. The Stonewall Inn is bar located in Greenwich Village, New York City, and it was the scene of an uprising against police repression that led to a key turning point in the struggle for the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. In a pattern of harassment of LGBT establishments, the New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn in the early hours of Saturday, June 28, 1969. The reaction of the bar’s patrons and neighborhood residents that assembled in the street was not typical of these kinds of raids. Instead of dispersing, the crowd became increasingly angry and began chanting and throwing objects as the police arrested the bar's employees and patrons. Reinforcements were called in by the police, and for several hours they tried to clear the streets while the crowd fought back. The initial raid and the riot that ensued led to six days of demonstrations and conflicts with law enforcement outside the bar, in nearby Christopher Park, and along neighboring streets. At its peak, the crowds included several thousand people. The events of Stonewall, as the uprising is most commonly referred to, marked a major change in the struggle for "homophile rights" in the U.S., with lesbian women, gay men, bisexual and transgender people beginning to vocally and assertively demand their civil rights. Stonewall is regarded by many as the single most important catalyst for the dramatic expansion of the LGBT civil rights movement. The riots inspired LGBT people throughout the country to organize and within two years of Stonewall, LGBT rights groups had been started in nearly every major city in the U.S. Stonewall was, as historian Lillian Faderman wrote, "the shot heard round the world...crucial because it sounded the rally for the movement.” Today, the site of the uprisings in Greenwich Village is recognized as a National Historic Landmark (NHL) by the National Park Service and is considered significant under Criterion 1 because of its association with events that outstandingly represent the struggle for civil rights in America. The NHL includes the bar, Christopher Park, and the streets where the events of June 28-July 3, 1969, occurred. The Stonewall Inn is located at 51-53 Christopher Street, New York City, New York and is open to the public. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

We’re back from our season break, and have lots of new and exciting interviews to share with you on this second season of Stonewall Spotlight starting with an interview with LGBT pioneer Ivy Bottini. Towards the end of last year, Mackenzie had the opportunity to do some extensive traveling and what better way to contribute to a club that has given me so much, then to share the voices of LGBT friends and people that she crossed paths with. We hope this reminds us all of our solidarity within the LGBT community far and wide. Get involved at www.stonewalldems.org --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

This month Spotlight says goodbye to summer rainbow fun and hello to fall mid-term fever! We recap interviews with LGBTQ candiates Ricardo Lara and Katie Hill. Marcus Lovingood interviews Stonewall’s President Lester Aponte, and Lauren Buisson completes our PRIDE season coverage with Councilwoman Nury Martinez, founder of San Fernando Valley Pride. Plus the campaign to honor gay civil rights pioneer and Bayard Rustin with a USPS postage stamp. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

Social Injustice. On any given day tens of thousands of people who pose no risk to public safety await trial stuck in jail because they cannot afford bail. This month Stonewall Spotlight speaks to L.A. County Sheriff’s Candidate Alex Villanueva and Anthony Keith Turner, founder of the Integrity Commitment a nonprofit committed to social justice, to discuss the high social costs of cash bond and the urgent humanitarian need for money bail reform. We close with our Editor in Chief Sean Kolodji and Contributing Editor Lauren Buisson discuss the significance of recent Supreme Court Term. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support

This month the Spotlight turns to Pride: its celebrations, its communities and its history. We’ll hear from attendees from WeHo’s L.A. Pride and Our Pride in Baldwin Hills. Mackenzie Hussman remembers the late Soni Wolf, founder of Dykes on Bikes, and interviews our special guest Marna Deitch about L.A.’s Dyke March and lesbian motorcycle culture. Marcus Lovingood and Lauren Buisson discuss Black Cat Tavern uprising and the Los Angeles origins of PRIDE. And we hear from Stonewall’s own Justine Gonzalez on the need for PRIDE events that celebrate LGBTQ people of color. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/stonewallspotlight/support