In an effort to teach more community members about Long Beach’s rich LGBTQ+ history, a free panel discussion will take place this weekend.
During the event — dubbed “Long Beach’s Unknown Queer History” — the panel will discuss the relationship between the city’s LGBTQ+ community and the Police Department over the years. The discussion will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Hamburger Mary’s Long Beach, 330 Pine Ave.
While Long Beach has now declared itself a safe city for its LGBTQ+ community, organizers said that has not always been the case. Organizers said they hope this weekend’s event will share how differently the community was treated in the past — but also highlight the importance of learning this history.
The panel discussion will mainly focus on a 2016 court case in which a Superior Court judge made statements about the Long Beach Police Department’s treatment of gay men in the community, saying in a ruling over a lewd conduct case that the agency intentionally targets gay men.
At the time, then-police Chief Robert Luna said the department was “100% committed to civil rights and equality for all people, including the LGBTQ community.”
The case was historic, Saturday’s event organizers said. Judge Halim Dhanidian ultimately dismissed the case in a pre-trial hearing. That was the first time in Long Beach’s history that a judge had dismissed one of those cases.
“It’s extremely important, especially for the LGBTQ community, because this is our history,” Phillip Zonkel, editor and co-founder of Q Voice News, said about hosting the event. “I don’t think many people are aware. When I mention this to people, they are shocked. That’s one of the reasons why we’re doing the event.”
The event was organized by Q Voice News, a Long Beach publication, and stems from a presentation last year that focused on spotlighting some of the local figures in the community who have made a difference in important LGBTQ historical events.
This year’s panelists are Rory Moroney, the defendant in the 2016 case; Stephanie Loftin, one of the defense attorneys in the case; Dhanidina, the retired judge who issued the ruling; and Gerrie Schipske, a former councilmember and author of “The Long Beach Gay Trials,” which explains how the arrests of gay men started in Long Beach in 1914.
“It should be very lively and we’re really excited about it,” Zonkel said in an interview. “It’s great because you’re hearing it directly from people who were involved in it.”
Organizers said they hope that what people take away from the panel is to be more civically engaged and ask city officials to do their part in continuing to protect Long Beach’s LGBTQ+ community. While the Long Beach Police Department and city leaders participate in the annual Pride Parade, there are other ways they show up for the community, organizers said.
“I hope that if they didn’t know about this part of our history, I hope they come out a little more informed and a little more aware,” Zonkel said. “I hope in some cases, also if this is new to them, in some ways, it will motivate folks to hold city officials accountable. Hopefully, it will spark something in people.”
Those interested in attending the free event can RSVP at eventcreate.com/e/long-beach-s-unknown-queer.