Long Beach Pride Celebrates Women's Rights with Benefit

On Friday evening, May 15, 2015 Long Beach women will take to the streets in Long Beach's 3rd Annual Rally and Dyke March at Bixby Park, followed by The After Party at Caf� Ambrosia, a breast cancer benefit with all the proceeds going to the Los Angeles Pink Dragons.

"Although there have been many advances, LBTQ women still lack visibility," said organizer Denise Penn. "Media portrayals, while improving, tend not to show LGBTQ women in an everyday situations. There are many issues women face: violence, reproductive rights, discrimination in the workplace. This is an outlet for women to express themselves, to come together and empower one another to create change."

The day's events include a Dyke March, to increase lesbian visibility and support the rights of all women regardless of labels, including bisexual and transgender women. Disparities in heath care, equal pay and hiring opportunities are some of the issues highlighted.

"A Pride Parade is carefully planned; there are entry fees and permits required. The Dyke March is a protest march; it is meant to be grass-roots and spontaneous," said Penn. "Women were thrilled to have their own protest march in Long Beach. During the first Long Beach Dyke March in 2013, many women spontaneously ran into the street, joining the March. It is very important to the women in the LGBTQ community because this is their opportunity to join together in solidarity and express themselves."

Dyke Marches around the country began in the 1980's as a lesbian visibility action. The purpose of a Dyke March is to increase lesbian visibility, but has grown to be more inclusive of all women regardless of labels, including bisexual and transgender women.

In 2013, some community members put their heads together and decided it was time for Long Beach to have a Dyke March, as well. The brainchild of Artful Thinking Organization (ATO) a local non-profit, the first Long Beach Dyke March took place in 2013 with Marriage Equality activist Robin Tyler leading the March and over 400 attendees.

In 2014, author and activist Jeanne Cordova was slated to be the keynote speaker and inspire the crowd at the rally that precedes the March. Lambda Legal's Jenny Pizer stepped up and rallied the crowd into the March.

This year second Vice Mayor and 2nd District Councilmember, Dr. Suja Lowenthal will welcome the women to her district. Charlotte Laws will speak next; she recently spoke out nationally against prejudice and hatred and authored the "Intolerant Jackass Act" to counter the hate from the "shoot the gays" initiative.

In March 2015, Laws defended the LGBTQ community when a Southern California attorney proposed a statewide ballot initiative that permitted the execution of gays by "bullets to the head or any other convenient method." He called it the Sodomite Suppression Act. In response to what is widely seen as a vicious and repugnant attack on LGBTQ people, a traditionally oppressed minority, Laws registered a rebuttal initiative with the Attorney General's office, "The Intolerant Jackass Act." Laws' proposal called for sensitivity training and a steep fine for anyone submitting a state initiative related to the killing of gays.

Local leaders will be speaking as well including Vanessa Romain, who has been featured in two films about hate and prejudice and Keynote Speaker Jinx Beers, who founded the Lesbian News in 1976; this publication is still alive and well today published by Ella Matthes.

"Dr. Suja Lowenthal represents the Second District in Long Beach and has been an avid supporter of the LGBT community and women's issues. She will welcome the women to the rally," said Penn. "Vanessa Romain has been a strong and dedicated leader in the LGBTQ community in Long Beach for many years. She has served with Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride and has been featured in two films about hate and prejudice. Jinx Beers founded the Lesbian News in 1976 and will share how visibility has made the difference in creating change. And we have just heard that Mayor Garcia will come and say a few words in support."

The band Beachtown Poets will open the Rally, which will begin at 7 p.m. at Bixby Park on Friday, May 15. Sponsors are Hot Stuff, The Lesbian News and Hot Java.

"The Beachtown Poets are an original music band made up of three women telling love and life's stories through music and poetry," said Penn.

After the Rally and March is The After Party, a breast cancer benefit with all the proceeds going to the Los Angeles Pink Dragons. The Pink Dragons are breast cancer survivors and a diverse group of women who have come together to support one another in the pursuit of health through dragon boat racing.

The After Party will rock center stage with live music from the Doll Parts. The Doll Parts bring the '90s back from the dead with an un-tethered stage show and the pumping fierceness of Dolls Gone Wild. Best of all, cover is only one dollar, with dollar drink specials to boot.

"At a time when women still do not earn equal pay for the same work done by men, the last thing we want is to have an empowerment event that women cannot afford to attend," said Penn. "We have wonderful sponsors and community members who pitched in and have covered many expenses."

Surrounding the stage will be information tables for women including GYN doctors from Complete Women Care, legal help from Long Beach Law, Veterans information, Social Meet-up groups, healthy living information with La Dolce Vita Spa.

One very special table will be with Kari Barba and her Outer Limits Tattoo Studio. Barba practices areola reconstruction and related tattoos, for those who have undergone breast cancer surgery. This aspect of her profession is very important work and immensely helpful to women surviving breast cancer.

Sponsors are Lola's, The Social List, Budweiser, Long Beach Law, The Patio, So Many Women So Little Time, 4th and Olive, Outer Limits and Roberta Nieto Sculpture. Donated items for the free raffle include Sasha's Living with Style, The Queen Mary, The Aquarium of the Pacific, La Dolce Vita, Complete Women's Care and PetAlert.

The After Party will be held at 8 p.m. at Caf� Ambrosia, 1923 E. Broadway in Long Beach. $1 cover. $1 and $2 drinks.