It’s no surprise that most residents of a city like West Hollywood, incorporated in 1984 to protect the rights of renters and LGBT people, are reeling from the results of Tuesday night’s presidential election.
Jason Farone, known for his comedic video series every Thursday, took to the streets in West Hollywood last night to capture the reaction of our community to Tuesday’s election of Donald Trump as president.
As you’ll see in the video above, most still feel shocked and horrified, while a few say they are going to pick themselves up and move forward.
Meanwhile, City Councilmember John Heilman, one of the activists who helped incorporate West Hollywood as a city in 1984, reached out to City Hall staffers with a message of inspiration. That message, in its entirety, is posted below:
“Hi Everyone.
“I know many people at City Hall and in the community are not happy about the results of the election. Many people in our community are frightened and disheartened especially many immigrants, women, LGBT people and people of diverse ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds.
“While the results are disappointing to many of us, I want to remind you that West Hollywood was founded when Ronald Reagan was president. We have lived through several conservative Presidents and governors. We have dealt with a federal government that initially ignored the AIDS crisis that took so many of our colleagues and friends. We survived a governor who vetoed nondiscrimination legislation which would have protected LGBT people. We survived the anti-immigrant rhetoric and initiatives of former Governor Pete Wilson. We survived a Supreme Court decision which upheld sodomy laws.
“We have moved forward in incredible ways in this country but we also sometimes move in different directions. Throughout these changes, West Hollywood has continued to strive to be a community of inclusion and respect for people of different backgrounds. Much of this is due to your work for the City and the kindness you show in your interactions with everyone in our community.
“We need to continue to be a model city and a beacon of hope for people who feel so disheartened by the results of the election.
“Thank you for everything you do.”
Late this afternoon Mayor Lauren Meister issued her own statement:
“The presidential race is finally over and, like many people in West Hollywood, I have been reflecting on what the results may mean for all of us. And as I’m processing all that has happened this past week, I’ve realized how lucky I am — how lucky we are — to live in a liberal state like California and a progressive city like West Hollywood.
“Yes, there is uncertainty, and I have been hearing from some constituents that they are very concerned about our community and our future.
“Let me be clear, West Hollywood is founded on celebrating people for who they are and we will continue to set an example through our core values, our policies, and our actions.
“In West Hollywood, we treat people with respect, dignity, and thoughtfulness.
“In West Hollywood, we don’t tolerate intimidation, harassment, or violence.
“In West Hollywood, we pull together when we face narrow-mindedness, intolerance, and adversity.
“Our city was founded in 1984 on progressive ideals. Together, we have built a city that’s like no other place in the world. Forty percent of our community identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender and 4,000 of our residents are from regions of the former Soviet Union. Our community is unique in its diversity, and our voices are proud. We’ve faced many obstacles in our path — and we’ve never been stronger.
“So, let’s continue to do what we do well — let’s continue our work to uphold principles of fairness, equality, and justice, for everyone.
“West Hollywood will never back down from our core values and we will never stop being a beacon of hope.”
Nir voted for Trump? Color me surprised.
Scenes from the anti-Trump protest Friday night:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmeQ05PCmls
Many LGBT people there!
Nir: it’s understandable that you voted for Donald Trump but your concerns should not be about DT of John Heilman or Lindsey Horvath or John Duran. Your concern should be about yourself. You have a good heart but always seem to be crying for help. With introspection comes balance and the ability to work with others in a collaborative fashion. Convincing others to see the worth of your goals is a challenge. Think of standing in a courtroom and getting in the judge’s face. Not likely to lead to success
https://www.facebook.com/nir.telaviv/posts/200113967105656?notif_t=like¬if_id=1479052916341230
did you ever show up?
did you ever supported us?
Nir, I told you who I am: a neighbor who has heard you blast music from speakers outside your house, host parties outside your house using a microphone and also blasting music. It’s great that you want to help the homeless and your eye doctor. But helping someone and being considerate of your neighbors is not mutually exclusive. One can do both. It just takes some thought and care for both. It’s very quite simple: When one truly cares about his HIV community, then one would not have voted for Trump. Votes matter and you used yours to make a… Read more »
Nir, do you realize that under Pence while he was working in Indiana he proposed a bill which stated for any gay person to receive HIV medication that person would then also have to go into conversion therapy to cure of him of his gayness? Perhaps you wanted to “wait and see” what Trump’s cabinet will do, but for those of us who still live in this country we are scared. How lucky you must feel to have voted in another country for an election in this country when you will not feel the impact of your vote. For you… Read more »
sorry, yes I’m very lucky to live in ISRAEL. Being loud? obnoxious ways, who do you think you are? i did give it all to those who live on our streets, including our gay men living with HIV, and AIDS. because of my friends and i, we help over 100 homeless, give them food, made sure they had amazing holiday season 2015, i took them in my own car to Saban clinc on beverly every day to get a shower. i took them to APLA and LGBT center. I made sure they know they are loved, so please…i hope you… Read more »
Nir, in most of your posts you scream “Love no Hate” so your support of Trump makes my head spin! Trump and his team espouse hatred toward and fear of all who are “other” including, but I’m sure not limited to, the LGBT community, women, Hispanics, African Americans, Muslims and Jews. You say Trump won’t take away LGBT rights. Really? He purports to have no personal animosity toward the LGBT community, but what about Mike Pence? Just who do you think he’s going to appoint to the Supreme Court? His son-in-law and daughter are Jewish but what about Steve Bannon?… Read more »
we will have to wait and see, maybe now, we the people of AMERICA will Wake Up. maybe now we will not forget those people in needs, maybe now we will remember our history. we needed a wake up call, WE GOT IT!
More when 50 percent of WeHo are not members of “community” (LGBT). We almost don’t have any representation in City government. So, you Mayor Lauren Meister and Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman talking about your “community” problems and ignoring problem of most of city population. I voted for Trump and he is not a “bully”, he is an elected PRESIDENT and we need to pay respect to our great country.
He may not be against LGBT, Nir, but as a woman, I would stand next to Lindsey in not welcoming him if she chose not to. I disagree with you about him being the right person to lead America to a better place. I have no respect for him. He is a bully.
PT, Thank you. I voted for Trump, here in the American embassy in Tel Aviv. In WEHO we maybe are 50% GAY MEN, NOT LGBT. Lesbians? GONE.The “B” Have no voice…and the T have to sell they own body to pay rent, just like some of our gay men. grinder etc…. Take a look at our LG, T advisory board members, they don’t even live in WEHO. they are living in the cities around us, where they can afford living. We in WEHO have 2 advisory boards one for the LG and one for the T, NO B. Is is… Read more »
Alison, Lets get real.
Lindsey is not our mayor any more, even that she act like she is sometimes, she is all about what’s next for Lindsey. she does love and care but remember our WEHO election is all about $$$ and fake fame.
When a women like Golda Meir will be running, i will vote for her.
It’s not about man or women, it’s about leadership.
West Hollywood, Welcome to the real world. I wonder if our X Mayor, Lindsey will still not welcome our new president. Trump, is not against LGBTQI, he will not take any of our rights, we doing it all our selfs. he is not making our gay men using METH, He is not going to stop supporting us. But NOW, we LGBTQI need to remember our history, those who die for us, (WWII, AIDS and so much more, We maybe now will remember our pink triangle and not worry so much about our image, look, party, sex and drugs. Maybe now… Read more »
Thank you, Mayor Pro Tempore John Heilman! Now more than ever, we will need this kind of leadership to show us where we were and what we have to do to move forward!