L.A. A Queer History - screening, reception & panel with LGBTQ pioneers!

Come experience Los Angeles' longest running Latino LGBTQ bar, La Plaza! A reception and panel discussion to benefit L.A. A Queer History: a documentary film showcasing the rich LGBTQ history of Los Angeles area. Directed by Gregorio Davila and Produced by Mario J. Novoa. www.laaqueerhistory.com View Trailer here: https://vimeo.com/100293237 Suggested donation $5 to $25. All proceeds to benefit the completion of this very important documentary. $5- parking at Melrose Elementary 731 N Detroit St, Los Angeles, CA 90046 on the corner of Detroit & Melrose. We'll screen clips from the film along with our short film NANCY FROM EAST SIDE CLOVER (the life of butch Latina Lesbian Nancy Valverde), which won the Audience Award for FAVORITE LESBIAN SHORT FILM at the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in October. Watch the trailer here: https://vimeo.com/103204339 Following the screening there will be a panel discussion and Q&A with Nancy Valverde, Roland Palencia, Ivy Bottini, & Alexei Romanoff. ROLAND PALENCIA: Roland is the co-founder of Gay & Lesbian Latinos Unidos (GLLU) & VIVA! Los Angeles' first Queer Latino art collective. From 1992 through 1998, Palencia was the Chief of Operations and Vice-President of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Subsequently, he held the position of Executive Director at Clinica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero. Subsequently, he was appointed as the Greater Los Angeles Area Regional Director at The California Endowment, the largest healthcare foundation in the nation. In 2011, he was appointed as the Executive Director of Equality California, a statewide LGBT rights organization. He is currently the Community Benefits Director at L.A. Care Health plan, the largest public health plan in the nation. IVY BOTTINI: A powerhouse artist and activist, Ivy has been fighting for LGBTQ equality for nearly 50 years. In 1966, Bottini was a founder of the first chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and fought for women's rights in New York City. After that, among many other posts and battles, she was deputy director of the campaign that defeated 1978's Briggs Initiative, which would have banned gays and lesbians from teaching in California's public schools; co-founded AIDS Project L.A. in 1983; fought to get funding and services for the sick and dying; and organized numerous gay-rights marches and and "die-ins" in the 1980s. She also became co-chairwoman of the Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board in West Hollywood in 1999. More info: http://www.ivybottini.com/2010/bio.html ALEXEI ROMANOFF: Alexei has been active in the Leather Community since 1950, first in New York City, and then in Los Angeles where he moved in 1958. Alexei became involved in the gay rights and leather pride movements in the 1960s, organizing demonstrations and being arrested for civil disobedience several times while agitating for gay rights. Alexei helped organize and attended the first mass protest against police raids on gay bars in the United States in February 1967 at the BLACK CAT TAVERN in Silverlake. He co-founded the Santa Monica Bay Coalition for Human Rights in the 1970s in response to the Anita Bryant/Briggs push for discrimination. In the 1983, Alexei co-founded Avatar Club Los Angeles, and has served as President of Avatar and in many other capacities. Alexei has marched in every Christopher Street West Pride Parade since the first one, and has been an Honoree of LA Pride in 2008 (the “Founding Father” award) and again in 2014, and was awarded a citation by the Mayor and City Counsel of City of Los Angeles in 2009 for his work in civil rights. More info: http://www.wehoville.com/2014/06/05/l-s-black-cat-fight-gay-rights-got-start/ After the panel stick around for Plaza's legendary drag shows and dancing starting at 10pm!! For more info visit our website: www.laaqueerhistory.com