Community Neighbor?

As we approach the 2018 primaries our LGBTQ+ Leaders and Allies are failing us. We have found it discouraging when our elected officials have golf tourneys that are being sponsored by Chick-fil-A, or claim lack of knowledge about Chick-fil-A’s history of hate. We find it equally discouraging when our elected officials attend the opening of a hate-based church. Lastly, we find it discouraging that our LGBTQ+ political organizations are not interested in local social justice causes.

During the past two calendar quarters organizations that we rely upon such as HRC, EQ CA, and Lambda Legal have all refused to support items such as Trans inclusion in the 2020 census. These same organizations feel addressing LGBTQ+ health disparities are not something they should deal with.

The same holds true of our LGBTQ+ business leaders. Our LGBTQ+ business leaders claim lack of knowledge of opportunities, to not only promote their business, but to miss opportunities to participate in panel discussions for our upcoming future leaders, addressing LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace.

This past February, Anthem Church began worship services at the Long Beach Playhouse. The pastor Daniel Katz, comes to Long Beach via St. Louis where he worked for ten years at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) under the leadership of Lou Engle. Katz served as the executive assistant to Engle for two years. IHOP is considered a mega church, is not LGBTQ+ affirming, and more alarming Engle, as with Scott Lively, ventured to Uganda to advocate for the “Kill The Gay’s” campaign to elected official. Former members of IHOP consider it a cult with its 10-12 hour prayer sessions.

Long Beach Councilwoman Suzie Price (Council District 3), and local advocate Justin Rudd, are now attending worship services at Anthem Church. Councilwoman Price, and Rudd consider Katz, and his wife Autumn Katz close friends. Local faith leaders, and LGBTQ+ affirming faith leaders have chosen to remain mute on Anthem Church.

Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ Center of Long Beach, Porter Gilberg, who is always ready with a quick comment regarding attacks on the trans community has remained uncharacteristically mute on Anthem Church.

The Executive Director of the Long Beach Playhouse, Madison Mooney, insists, after conferring with Katz, that Anthem Church is open to all and is LGBTQ+ affirming.

Legally, we cannot prevent Anthem Church from having worship services, nor can we prevent the Long Beach Playhouse from providing a space to rent. The community is able to and has the option to boycott the Long Beach Playhouse and can choose to not re-elect Councilwoman Price.

It is ironic that Councilwoman Price is hosting a forum on hate at Temple Israel, in Long Beach, while at the same time attending worship services at Anthem Church. The currently speechless Gilberg will be on the panel. When confronted on her involvement directly about Anthem Church, Councilwoman Price stated she considered the Katz’s her good friends and claimed ignorance on their background.