Center CEO Joe Hollendoner and GLAAD’s Sarah Kate Ellis Address Community Concerns

In response to the November 5th election results, the Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollendoner issued the following statement:  

“In the wake of the 2024 presidential election, we know that many in our community are feeling anxious and uncertain about the future. The outcome of this election understandably raises serious fears about the direction our country will take, given the president-elect’s history of attacking our rights and dignity. We want to acknowledge those fears because they are real and valid.

But let us be clear: Our fight for equality, justice, and dignity is not defined by the outcome of this election. In fact, these results only strengthen our resolve. We are a community rooted in resilience, strength, and the unshakable belief that we deserve to live and love freely without fear of discrimination or violence. 

Even today, there are bright spots of hope. We celebrate the historic election of Delaware’s Sarah McBride, who will become the first openly transgender member of Congress, a groundbreaking moment for our community that serves as both a beacon of progress and a call to action for the continued advancement of transgender rights and visibility.

In California, voters have overwhelmingly passed Prop 3, enshrining the right to marry for all people regardless of gender in our state’s constitution. In Los Angeles County, it appears that Angelenos have voted in support of Measure A, which will raise an estimated $1.1 billion per year for housing and homelessness efforts.

These victories affirm that our rights to love and build families are not just protected, but cemented as foundational principles of our state. Locally, voters have chosen a path toward a safer, more compassionate future—one that invests in affordable housing, preserves existing units, and expands mental health and substance abuse services. It also serves as a reminder that, despite setbacks, we can—and will—continue to make progress at the state and local levels.

But the challenges ahead are real. This election has made it clear that the fight for equality is far from finished. There are those who seek to undermine our hard-won progress and roll back the protections we have fought so long for. We cannot—and will not—let this moment deter us. The fight is not over; in fact, it is only the beginning.

The Center is here—7 days a week, 365 days a year. We will continue to support those who are most vulnerable in our community, as we have for the last 55 years. This includes communities repeatedly attacked by President-elect Trump throughout his campaign, including transgender and nonbinary individuals, people of color, and immigrants. Our commitment to protecting our community and advancing the fight for equality has never been stronger.

Our work continues. The Center remains committed now more than ever to move our community forward together.”

GLAAD has also released a statement on the outcome of the November 5 election:

Statement from GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis (she/her):

“The LGBTQ community has been here before, as have all other marginalized communities, and the pain is real today. But as we saw from the Lavender Scare to the Stonewall Uprising, from the HIV epidemic to the defeat and victory for marriage, every breakdown can lead to a breakthrough. We must see this moment of crisis as another catalyst for change.

Our community knows how to take care of each other, and how to push our country and world forward. 

The mission remains: Hold leaders accountable to We, the People. Empower each person to use their voice for progress with kindness. Correct the record. Shape culture. Change hearts and minds. Rise up for intersectional issues including racial justice, abortion, and immigration. GLAAD was founded nearly forty years ago with the knowledge that LGBTQ people and our stories would create a better world. Our work has renewed importance and urgency. LGBTQ people belong and are essential to the promise of America as a beacon of equality and acceptance.”