Timothy Michael

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he has nominated Martin J. Jenkins as the first openly gay and third Black man to serve as a justice on the California Supreme Court.

Jenkins, the 66 year old Bay Area native, has worked in California’s state and federal courts as well as the region’s criminal justice system for decades. 

Jenkins’ nomination comes as Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell attempt to place a new U.S. Supreme Court justice on the bench before the November 3 election. Trump’s nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, faces fierce opposition from Democrats, many of whom fear who she might rule on Roe v. Wade and other culturally divisive issues.

In a statement Governor Newsom said, “It has been 29 years since an African American man has served on the California Supreme Court. Justice Jenkins is widely respected among lawyers and jurists, active in his Oakland community and his faith, and is a decent man to his core…As a critical member of my senior leadership team, I’ve seen firsthand that Justice Jenkins possesses brilliance and humility in equal measure. The people of California could not ask for a better jurist or kinder person to take on this important responsibility.”

In response to the nomination Jenkins stated, “Anyone who knows me knows my identity has been as a gay man, perhaps the greatest challenge of my life.” He added, “It has not been easy. But I want to say to those young people today who may be watching…that I am not here in spite of the struggle. I am here because of the struggle. It is deep in my character, afforded me sensibilities about the world and people who are not so willing to accept that people are able to love differently than they do.”

On Sunday August 16th, 2020, Instagram influencer Eden the Doll and her friends Joslyn Flawless and Jaslene White Rose were robbed, beaten, and chased through the streets of Hollywood. 

The incident began when the women were waiting for an Uber and one of the men stole Eden’s phone. The group started throwing objects at the women as they tried to retrieve the phone and mocked them.

To make matters worse, one of the attackers posted a video of it all to social media.

The video shows passersby refusing to help as the women pleaded for assistance and laughing at them as they were attacked on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

One man who passes by stops to take multiple photos of the women in the street. A woman passing by refuses to help, saying she doesn’t see blood so it must not be too bad. A police car drives up but quickly leaves without stopping as Eden cradles an unconscious Jaslene in the street.

“This was the most traumatic thing that ever happened to me,” Jaslene posted on Instagram with photos of the attackers. “Not just the fact that I was hit by a grown man, but because there were so many men watching this happen to me and my friends. And we begged for someone to call the police, but they were too busy recording and laughing.”

According to HRC, at least 26 transgender and gender nonconforming people have been killed in the U.S. in the year 2020, and most of them are Black transgender women. Many stories go unreported in the media and police frequently misgender victims, which means that the real number is likely higher.

Transgender and gender non-conforming people are at a higher risk than other populations for violence and violent death. The HRC says “a toxic mix of transphobia, racism and misogyny” makes Black transgender women particularly vulnerable to transphobic attacks.

Mitch O’Farrell, council member of the 13th district of the City of Los Angeles released a statement pertaining to the incident. O’Farrell states “The video of three transgender women of color being physically attacked, chased, robbed, and jeered at by a hostile crowd of cisgender men and women has me infuriated-and- determined to see all perpetrators are brought to justice. I spoke with LAPD Capt. Lurie and he assured me that a full investigation has been launched and detectives are making significant progress. My office will continue to monitor the situation until there is a full resolution. Transgender women face a disproportionate amount of violence and I will continue my mission of doing everything in my power to ensure their safety anywhere in Los Angeles and in the 13th district where we welcome everyone.”

A spokesperson for the LAPD told The Pride LA that the incident was under active investigation and would be labeled a hate crime. They are also reviewing the response of officers in the area one squad car, in particular, passed by the scene with its lights activated en route to another emergency call according to LAPD Chief Michel Moore. Who also added that he planned to find out what call the first officer was responding to, whether the officer realized what was happening to the women as he passed by, whether the officer alerted dispatch to the incident and “whether or not we took appropriate action.”

Update: Two men are in custody. Willie Walker, 42, was arrested in Hollywood Wednesday and on an extortion charge, police said on Friday August 21st, and Carlton Callway, 29, was arrested Thursday on a robbery charge with a hate crime enhancement. Police said they’re still looking for 22-year-old Davion Williams, who is suspected of assaulting the victims with a deadly weapon.

Mike Feuer, Los Angeles City Attorney, announced charges against a man in connection with a “heated altercation” at Las Perlas bar in downtown Los Angeles that ended with transgender women and gay men being dragged out of the bar. 

Eduardo Gonzalez has been charged with one count of making a criminal threat and a second count alleging the criminal threat constituted a hate crime. 

The incident happened almost a year ago on the night of August 23 last year. 

On that night, several transgender women and gay men met at Las Perlas bar for drinks following the DTLA Proud Festival.

During that time Gonzalez and his girlfriend sat at a table with the group and allegedly “made multiple transphobic and misgendering slurs toward the transgender women, leading to an argument with the group,” officials said. 

Eventually a security guard at the bar forcibly removed everyone involved but while being kicked out, Gonzalez allegedly shouted threats that he would return with a gun. 

Video of the altercation went viral over the weekend, the footage shows one person being carried out of Las Perlas. It then pans to a woman, identified as Jennifer Bianchi, shouting, “Don’t touch me like that,” before she is shoved into a wall. Bianchi shoves back and says she needs her shoe before she’s carried out as well. 

A third woman is put into a chokehold before being forced out.

The group was made up of staff and volunteers from Bienestar Human Services, a non-profit social services organization for Latino and LGBTQ groups. They said in a statement later that they were treated unfairly because of their identity.

After the incident, a protest was started at Las Perlas the following day, as well as support by Mayor Eric Garcetti, who vowed that a thorough investigation will be done.

In a tweet after the incident occurred Mayor Garcetti wrote “Los Angeles is a place where hate against any person, regardless of gender identity, is not tolerated. My office is in communication with @LAPDHQ about the incident at Las Perlas, and will ensure a proper investigation is completed.”

Feuer echoed the sentiment in announcing the charges against Gonzalez and he is scheduled to be arraigned on August 7th.

Las Perlas bar also issued an apology on their Facebook account stating a new security staff — one that has received sensitivity training — is being hired. 

They went on to say “Our first and primary concern, and has been from day one, is to operate a safe place for all people,” the bar posted. “Period, no exceptions. We regret that didn’t happen Friday night, and want to apologize to all of our guests, including the Transgender community, a community who has come to our bar as well as works there.”