By Ramy Eletreby & Karen Ocamb

WeHo medical marijuana operators arrested, indicted

On July 17, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) arrested three operators of Los Angeles-area medical marijuana dispensaries and sought two others under indictments issued July 13.

Among the three arrested was John C. Moreaux, who ran West Hollywood Caregivers on Santa Monica Boulevard, according to KNBC TV, citing court papers. The storefront was raided in January and March. The station reports that Moreaux is charged with “conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and maintaining a drug premises.” He faces a long prison term if convicted.

DEA agents are also seeking Larry R. Kristich, who owns Compassionate Caregivers, a chain of dispensaries prosecutors allege brought in more than $37 million in one year, according to KNBC4. Kristich faces 17 federal drug and money laundering charges.

Also being sought is James Carberry, who operated the Yellow House in West Hollywood, as part of the Compassionate Caregivers chain. KNBC4 reports that the U.S. Attorney’s office alleges that the Yellow House sold more than $1.7 million in marijuana and THC products in March 2005.

Along with Kristich, Carberry faces charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana (to people under the ages of 18 and 21), possession with intent to distribute and maintaining a drug premises, according to KNBC4, who reported that the men’s attorneys could not be reached for immediate comment.

Meanwhile, the DEA sent letters to more than 150 Los Angeles landlords saying they risk arrest and seizure of their property if they continue to rent space to dispensaries.

Ironically, the arrests came on the same day that Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released documents showing that White House political adviser Karl Rove used national drug czar John P. Walters to help bolster the political campaigns of vulnerable Republicans last year.

The House of Representatives will soon vote on an amendment to bar the Justice Department from interfering with state medical marijuana laws. California adopted Prop. 215 in 1996.

Recently the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the nation’s second largest cancer charity, adopted a formal policy calling for removal of criminal and civil penalties for seriously ill patients using marijuana with their doctor's recommendation, according to the Marijuana Policy Project (www.MarijuanaPolicy.org).

Transgender complaints dominate LAPD forum

Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton was so impressed by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theatre at The Village, he asked CEO Lorri Jean if future LGBT community forums could be held at the Hollywood venue.

Bratton, out lesbian Police Commissioner Shelley Freeman, Assistant Chief Jim McDonald and a slew of high-ranking LAPD brass appeared at the July 19 forum on their continuing mission to recruit more police and improve the relationship between the LAPD and the LGBT community.

“We want to make a new history with you,” Bratton said. “We want to be pointed to as a beacon of light and tolerance.”

To that end, Dr. Luann P. Pannell, the department’s director of training and education, talked about a “re-designed” training plan centered around a new “scenario-based” model that she anticipates will have a “ripple effect” and eventually result in “widespread change.” Freeman endorsed the plan, saying it helps develop “critical thinking skills” instead of the “blah, blah, blah” recruits hear in lectures at the Academy.

But, asked transgender activist Bamby Salcedo, how much of that training involves the transgender community? The question unleashed a torrent of questions and complaints about transgenders, including victims of hate crimes, being treated disrespectfully by police. Some told of being called “he” despite repeated polite requests to be called “she,” and of being housed with the male population in jail before being segregated.

One transgender woman had been shot three times and mistreated by police, but her case was subsequently investigated and resulted in an arrest. The story prompted a round of applause from the forum audience.

Freeman emphasized that complaints against the LAPD are of “compelling interest” to the Police Commission, adding that it is an “area of concern” that “not enough complaints are sustained.” However, she said, each complaint is investigated by the inspector general. The LAPD complaint line is (800) 339-6868.

Sherman and Schiff sign on to bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Astounded that two gay-supportive Los Angeles congressmembers, Brad Sherman and Adam Schiff, were not co-sponsors of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a bill that would repeal the anti-gay “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy, Stonewall Democratic Club President Michael Andraychak mounted his own education campaign.

At the recent Democratic Party San Fernando Valley Truman Awards where he was honored, Andraychak and some Stonewall board members explained the importance of the bill, HR 1246, to Sherman. “He seemed to acknowledge that importance,” Andraychak said in an e-mail. Shortly thereafter, Sherman agreed to sign on as a co-sponsor.

On July 20, Schiff’s office told IN Los Angeles magazine that the congressmember also intended to sign on to HR 1246.

The California Democratic Party's executive board also recently approved a resolution presented by Stonewall Democratic Club to support HR 1246.

“Dykes on Bikes” trademarked

In San Francisco, the lesbian motorcycle club known as Dykes on Bikes will be allowed to keep its name after a federal appeals court ruled its title to be inoffensive and a legitimate trademark. Dykes on Bikes traditionally leads the annual Gay Pride parade in San Francisco, but faced a lawsuit after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the club approval to trademark its name in 2005. Michael McDermott, a lawyer from Dublin, Calif., sued the cyclists saying the term “dykes” was “disparaging to men” and “scandalous and immoral,” The Associated Press reports.

Models of Pride youth conference set for October

Friends of Project 10 Inc. announced that the 15th annual Models of Pride (MOP15) youth conference will be held on Oct. 6 at Occidental College in Eagle Rock from 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. MOP15 is a free, one-day conference with workshops and a resource fair that focuses on LGBT and questioning youth and their allies ages 14-23. The conference will also feature a dance party finale.

Workshop applications for MOP15 are now being accepted and are available online at www.modelsofpride.org. Applications are due no later than Friday, Aug. 3.

Ferd Eggan memorial set for July 29

A memorial service for Ferd Eggan, former Los Angeles city AIDS coordinator and longtime LGBT and social justice advocate, has been set for Sunday, July 29, at 3 p.m. at the Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Pl., in Hollywood.

Eggan died on July 7 at age 60 after a long bout with liver cancer, complicated by HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.

Before serving as city AIDS coordinator from 1993-2001, Eggan served as the executive director of Being Alive: People with HIV/AIDS Action Coalition of Los Angeles.

Eggan’s writings are posted at www.ferdeggan.net.

ONE Institute and Archives holds Culture Series

ONE Institute and Archives opened their new round of monthly Cultural Series with a well-received screening of Jennifer Abod’s documentary The Edge of Each Other’s Battles: The Vision of Audre Lorde. (See www.jenniferabod.com.)

In August, ONE will host historian Craig Loftin, discussing letters written by the LGBT community to ONE during the infamous McCarthy era. In September, comedienne Monica Palacios will give a “queer cooking lesson on Mexican Independence Day.” On Oct. 21, during Gay and Lesbian History Month, IN News Editor Karen Ocamb will talk about being an “Eyewitness to History: How LGBT Activism Changed America.” The free series is held the third Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. at ONE, 909 W. Adams Blvd., near USC in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.Onearchives.org.

Outfest marks 25th year with distinction

The oldest and largest continuous film festival in Southern California, Outfest’s significance and distinction as a cultural institution was highlighted during its 25th anniversary July 12-23, which featured 116 public programs and 20 parties.

On opening night, Outfest honored Dreamgirls director Bill Condon. Outfest “is a twink no more,” Condon joked, accepting the 11th annual Achievement Award at the Orpheum Theatre. He applauded the organization’s celebration of gay people’s “myriad acts of cultural self-determination” that have “changed our place in the world.”

Opening night also showcased the exceptional narrative film Save Me, featuring out actors Chad Allen (in an Oscar-worthy performance) and Robert Gant falling in love at an “ex-gay” ministry run by Judith Light, whose achingly stellar performance reveals the true “brokenness” at the heart of that Christian movement.

On July 16, more than 600 people turned out for the premiere of Bill Sherwood’s recently restored Parting Glances, the first feature film restored by the important Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation.

Outfest also paid tribute to Barbara Hammer as the “grand dame of lesbian experimental film” with a two-day Platinum showcase dedicated to her more than 80 films and videos. For more information, visit www.outfest.org.