Community Corner

Lisa Ling to Host LGBT Fundraiser at Santa Monica Home

100 percent of the proceeds from the Harvey Milk Day event will benefit the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

Journalist and TV host Lisa Ling will host a fundraiser Sunday at her Santa Monica home to benefit the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

Organized by Stonewall Young Democrats, a political organization working to empower LGBTQ youth, the event coincides with Harvey Milk Day, an unofficial state holiday that honors the gay rights leader.

Ling's participation "sends a strong message to everyone that we're moving forward in the fight for LGBT youth," said Stonewall member Ari Ruiz.

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Tickets are still on sale for the event, which will take place from 3-4:30 p.m. and include not only the opportunity to meet Ling, but also Milk's nephew, Stuart Milk, and several state lawmakers.

General admission tickets are $30. All of the proceeds will benefit the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center "so we are encouraging people to go big, and dig deep," Ruiz said.

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Stuart Milk is also scheduled to participate in Equality California's Harvey Milk celebration Sunday at Bite Bistro in West Hollywood from 2-4 p.m.

Ruiz met Ling at her home in October at a political fundraiser for Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (Ruiz said the two women met in high school). When Ling agreed to host Saturday's event, he said "we were very excited."

"All of us are very big fans of The View," he said. "We couldn't believe someone in the national spotlight would consider hosting it, let alone at her home."

Based in Hollywood, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center provides free and low-cost medical care and HIV testing, legal and education services and a transitional living program for homeless youth, among other programs.


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