LOS ANGELES, March 12, 2020— Following the states of emergencies declared by Los Angeles County and the State of California due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the Los Angeles LGBT Center announced today it is canceling Simply diVine. The premier food and wine event for LGBT people and their allies had been scheduled for Saturday, April 18, at Hollywood Forever.
“This event is attended by more than a thousand guests and we are canceling it in adherence with current public health guidelines,” said Center Chief of Staff Darrel Cummings. “Although it was difficult to make this decision, we do so out of an abundance of caution, seeking to protect the health and well-being of our guests, volunteers, and Center staff members who would have attended Simply diVine. As this pandemic evolves, we will continue to evaluate and navigate what protocols are needed to ensure the well-being of our clients and community based on state and local public health recommendations.”
Proceeds from Simply diVine provide vital support for the Center’s program and services. While the event is canceled, the demand for the Center’s free and low-cost services continues.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that our services continue, particularly at a time when the need is so great,” Cummings said. “As many of our supporters who have been part of Simply diVine through the years know, the care and well-being of our community is at the forefront of the Center’s work and is really the driving force behind the event.”
At this time, the Center is still evaluating whether to reschedule the event when the current public health concerns have subsided. Those wishing to support the Center in the meantime can visit lalgbtcenter.org/donate
Updates on the Center’s response to COVID-19 can be found at lalgbtcenter.org/updates
About the Los Angeles LGBT Center
Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Today the Center’s nearly 800 employees provide services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy. We are an unstoppable force in the fight against bigotry and the struggle to build a better world; a world in which LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.
