Community Council President Maryam Zar (left) and L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath at the unveiling of the Lifeguard towers painted in the colors of the Progress Pride Flag.
Photo: PPCC Facebook
Pacific Palisades Community Council President Maryam Zar joined LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur in a L.A. County Third District Beach Cleanup with Heal the Bay on June 17 from 8:30 to 9:45.
Afterwards, there was an unveiling of Lifeguard Towers #17 and #18 that had been painted in the colors of the Progress Pride Flag, under a motion approved by the L.A. County Supervisors.
Those towers are the southernmost area of Will Rogers Beach and are across from West Channel Road. That portion of the beach is considered Historic LGBTQ+ Friendly Ginger Rogers Beach.
According to Horvath’s office, the stretch of beach became a popular destination for gay men as far back as the 1940s. It was soon dubbed Ginger Rogers Beach in honor of the film legend.
On the Pacific Palisades Community Council Facebook page, Zar wrote “Fun morning at Ginger Rogers Beach, celebrating Pride month and unveiling the newly painted lifeguard towers, 17 & 18 now displaying Pride colors and providing a safe space for the LGBTQ community at Will Rogers State Beach.
By Monday, it was reported that the towers had been vandalized, and windows smashed.
“Hate will not win. Not today, not ever,” Horvath said in a statement Tuesday. “We will repair the towers and continue to fight the extremism that has given rise to acts of hate like this because the only way to fight hate is with love.”
Although this is a state beach, L.A. County is responsible for its maintenance.
Resident Sharon Kilbride wrote to the Supervisor’s office on Wednesday, June 21, emphasizing the urgency of repainting the tower numbers.
“I don’t know if it’s been brought to your attention that the numbers 17 and 18 are no longer on the towers,” said Kilbride, who often works with the homeless that frequent Will Rogers Beach. “In an emergency, the tower numbers need to be noted so the public can call in the location of the problem. Paramedics and LAPD have asked if this can be taken care of ASAP.
“Could you please have whoever is responsible get the signage posted and the tower numbers noted on both of the newly painted Lifeguard towers,” Kilbride said.
This lifeguard tower on “Gingerbeach” part of Will Rogers was vandalized after being painted for PRIDE month.