{"id":76136,"date":"2023-08-05T15:05:08","date_gmt":"2023-08-05T22:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/hi-lo\/?p=76136"},"modified":"2023-08-05T15:09:42","modified_gmt":"2023-08-05T22:09:42","slug":"new-lgbtq-mural-bixby-park-meaning-pride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/new-lgbtq-mural-bixby-park-meaning-pride","title":{"rendered":"New Bixby Park mural is built around homages to Long Beach’s LGBTQ+ landmarks and history"},"content":{"rendered":"

A much-anticipated new mural honoring the LGBTQ+ community was unveiled Saturday at Bixby Park, where community leaders and members of the public celebrated the hard work that went into the months-long project and the anti-hate messaging behind it.<\/p>\n

The new mural titled \u201cLong Beach Embrace\u201d is a vibrant, hand-painted piece on cloth that was installed on the south-facing wall of the Bixby Park Community Center.<\/p>\n

About 20 feet tall and 19 feet wide, the massive work depicts two people embraced in a hug. A closer inspection of the mural reveals collage-like scenes of people, movements and landmarks important to Long Beach\u2019s LGBTQ+ history. They include recreations of early protests for gay rights in the city, the enormous quilted rainbow flag that makes appearances at the annual Pride parade, and an AIDS patient being cared for by a health care worker.<\/p>\n

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The anti-hate group LA vs. Hate and city leaders unveiled a new LGBTQ+ mural at Bixby Park, Saturday, Aug. 5. The mural is titled “Long Beach Embrace” and was created by local artist Myisha Arellano. Photo by Cheantay Jensen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are also nods to famous gay and lesbian bars in the city such as Que Sera, Executive Suite and Ripples, the first gay bar in Long Beach that closed in 2019.<\/p>\n

Local Mexican-American and queer artist Myisha Arellano was commissioned to create the mural by LA. vs Hate, a new anti-hate organization created by the county in response to increasing hate crimes here<\/a> and around the country. Arellano spent two months getting input from the community<\/a> about what themes and concepts the mural should include. She then spent a month painting the new piece, the largest she says she\u2019s done in Long Beach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want people to know that this piece is a little visual reminder that you\u2019re always in community, even when you may feel a little alone,\u201d she said during the unveiling.<\/p>\n

Arellano\u2019s mural is one of five that are being erected in LA County over the next few months as part of LA vs. Hate\u2019s \u201cSummer of Solidarity\u201d campaign, which is using art as a vehicle to combat hate through visual representations of love, diversity and inclusion.<\/p>\n

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Drag Queen Sabreena performing during the “Long Beach Embrace” mural unveiling at Bixby Park Saturday, Aug. 5. Photo by Cheantay Jensen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWhere we have put up these murals around the county is in places where we know people have experienced hate \u2026 and in those places, we want to make sure we leave a clear sign that we, the community, do not accept hate,\u201d said Robin Toma, the Executive Director of the LA County Commission on Human Relations, which is the government organization behind LA vs. Hate.<\/p>\n

In June, LA vs. Hate unveiled a mural honoring the Jewish community in Los Angeles\u2019 Pico-Robertson neighborhood after the recent shootings of two Orthodox Jewish men<\/a>. Though not part of the \u201cSummer of Solidarity\u201d campaign, in 2021, LA vs. Hate dedicated a new mural in Cerritos to a 70-year-old Filipino man who was assaulted<\/a> for his race while taking a walk in a park with his wife.<\/p>\n

Most recent police data by the Long Beach Police Department shows a rise in hate crimes<\/a> this year, with the most frequently targeted groups being LGBTQ+ people and Black people. And, nationwide, The Marshall Project published FBI data<\/a> showing that the LGBTQ+ community had seen the second largest increase in hate crimes across all groups (up by 70%) from 2020 to 2021, the most recent year hate crime statistics were broadly available.<\/p>\n

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District 2 Councilmember Cindy Allen was one of several local government officials and city leaders who spoke during the “Long Beach Embrace” mural unveiling on Saturday, Aug. 5. Photo by Cheantay Jensen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Frankie Aguilar, a guest speaker during the unveiling, talked about the yearslong harassment his neighbors inflicted upon him as a gay man in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in fear every day,\u201d he said. \u201cWalking in every day, walking out to the trash. It got to the point where they were making comments in front of my family while they were visiting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Failed efforts to get help from his landlord prompted Aguilar to reach out to LA vs. Hate through the \u201c211\u201d call center. The organization was able to help Aguilar find a new place to live in Long Beach and pursue legal action.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mural, it means a lot to me knowing we\u2019re all coming together, regardless of whatever your sexual orientation is. I feel at home in Long Beach,\u201d Aguilar said.<\/p>\n

Councilmember Cindy Allen, who represents District 2, was one of several local officials to speak during the event. As a mother to her queer daughter, she spoke about how important it is to provide community to those who may not receive it at home and urged others to stay vigilant against rising hate crimes in and out of the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need each other more than ever,\u201d she said. \u201cThe mural is a clear indication to everyone who visits this park that hate against the LGBT community is unacceptable here in Long Beach. It will not be tolerated.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Drag entertainer Envi performing for the new LBGTQ+ mural unveiling at Bixby Park on Saturday, Aug. 5. Photo by Cheantay Jensen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other local representatives who spoke included Ellie Perez, Interim Executive Director of the LGBTQ Center Long Beach, and Dr. Jessica Schumer from the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. Stepping in for local officials who were unable to attend were LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn\u2019s Legislative Deputy Nick Holden, Mayor Rex Richardson\u2019s Communications Deputy Dorian Bonner and Rep. Robert Garcia\u2019s District Director Jack Cunningham.<\/p>\n

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The crowd cheers during Sabreena’s drag performance at the “Long Beach Embrace” mural unveiling at Bixby Park Saturday, Aug. 5. Photo by Cheantay Jensen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Breaking up some of the speakers were drag performances by two local icons: drag queens Sabreena<\/a> and Envi<\/a>. Sabreena is a longtime member of the International Imperial Court of Long Beach and also serves on the board of directors for the AIDS Food Store of Long Beach.<\/p>\n

Envi, a drag entertainer and makeup and hair artist, is a beloved figure in Long Beach who is best known for her performances impersonating Janet Jackson.<\/p>\n

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Drag entertainer Envi does the splits during her performance at the Bixby Park mural unveiling Saturday, Aug. 5. Photo by Cheantay Jensen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cThe mural is a clear indication to everyone who visits this park that hate against the LGBT community is unacceptable here in Long Beach.” Councilmember Cindy Allen said. “It will not be tolerated.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":262,"featured_media":76143,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11952,6],"tags":[208,466],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[8767],"class_list":["post-76136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lgbtq-2","category-hi-lo","tag-lgbtq","tag-long-beach-pride","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/262"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76136"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76157,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76136\/revisions\/76157"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76136"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=76136"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=76136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}