10th Year Anniversary Harvey Milk Promenade Park Equality Plaza Induction Ceremony
Release Date: 2023-09-28
Councilwoman Mary Zendejas and the Harvey Milk Promenade Equality Plaza Selection Committee invites the public to celebrate the inductions of this year’s 2023 honorees on Saturday, October 21st, 2023, 1-3PM at the Harvey Milk Promenade Park in downtown Long Beach (212 East Third Street).
“Harvey Milk Equality Plaza serves to honor and recognize the contributions of our LGBTQ+ leaders who represent the values of public service,” said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. “Our 2023 honorees have exemplified the dedication to their communities that Harvey Milk embodied, positively impacting the lives of the LGBTQ+ community.”
Each recipient will be honored with a plaque at Equality Plaza, the centerpiece of the park that commemorates Milk and local LGBTQ+ leaders. The plaza includes a concrete replica of the soapbox on which Milk stood to inspire crowds when he spoke, and a 20-foot flagpole flying the gay pride flag. Harvey Milk Promenade Park opened nearly 10 years ago and is the first park in the nation to be named after Milk. In honor of the park's 10th Anniversary, Stuart Milk, nephew of the park's namesake and civil rights leader, will be in attendance.
“The Harvey Milk Equality wall has become a landmark for the LGBTQ+ community of Long Beach,” said the Harvey Milk Park Equality Plaza Selection Committee. “The selection committee is thrilled to induct these local leaders who continue to inspire and create change in their own lives and our communities.”
Seven local LGBTQ community leaders will be inducted into the Equality Plaza portion of the park which was created to recognize local LGBTQ leaders in the community who have advocated for equal rights, AIDS research, entertainment, historic preservation, homelessness and other important issues.
The 2023 honorees are:
- Cory Allen - Allen has spent years in local government being the voice for the community and creating policies to support LGBTQ business owners with a variety of local and statewide governmental officials. Past Emperor of the International Imperial Court of Long Beach.
- Karel Bouley and Andrew Howard - This duo were vocal proponents for LGBTQ Rights by hosting the first openly gay drive time radio talk show on KFI.
- Charlotte “Charlie” Cornett - Charlie - A co-founder of the Gay & Lesbian Havurah at the Jewish Community Center, the first in the nation of its kind. Also, LGB Teams Project Co-founder at the Center and spearheaded the Legal Clinic at Rainbow Services, one of the few Battered Women's Shelters serving the Lesbian community.
- Tom Crowe – Spearheaded the LGBTQ+ Ugandan Refugee Program in response to the Anglican Church of Uganda’s support of the 2014 Ugandan Parliament’s “Kill the Gays” Bill.
- Carol Hass - A Board Member of Long Beach Pride for over 10 years, along with facilitating funding for LGBTQ community groups. Hass also hosted and facilitated numerous workshops for the community.
- Debra Kahookele - As a community advocate, she has raised awareness on several projects for the City of Long Beach, volunteering and sponsoring for the LGBTQ+ community for over 10 years. Currently on numerous boards such as IDG, PARA, VP LB Rotary, LB Day Nursery, and volunteering for the Long Beach Pride organization.
