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Los Angeles Blade
American LGBT newspaper From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Los Angeles Blade is an LGBT+ newspaper launched in 2017 as an offshoot of the Washington Blade.[3] The newspaper covers news, politics, opinion, arts and entertainment in the Los Angeles area, and includes some national and international coverage from the Washington Blade.[4] The Blade has been called the newspaper of record for Los Angeles' LGBT+ community.[5]
![Thumb](#/media/File:Cover_of_"Los_Angeles_Blade",_Volume_1,_Issue_1_(March_24,_2017).png)
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History
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Masters era (2017-2024)
Following his departure from The Pride LA in 2017,[6] publisher Troy Masters launched the Los Angeles Blade as a biweekly newspaper to serve "the second largest market in the country, and one that was underserved by alternative media."[7] The newspaper began as a sister publication of the Washington Blade.[8] Production was hastened in response to the election of Donald Trump, with Kevin Naff, co-owner of Blade parent company Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia Inc., remarking in 2017 that "A lot of cities, including L.A., are changing the tones of their parades, from a celebration to more of a protest. We wanted to be part of that, a kind of voice in that process."[9]
In 2018, the Los Angeles Blade announced plans to publish a weekly print edition, thereby becoming first weekly LGBT+ media product serving Los Angeles since the mid-1980s. The newspaper was also announced as a media partner of Los Angeles Pride.[10]
During the 2022 mpox outbreak in California, the Los Angeles Blade hosted two town hall meetings — one in West Hollywood and another in Monterey Park — to alert residents to the emerging threat.[11][12]
Beginning with the January 5, 2024 issue, the Los Angeles Blade reverted to a bi-weekly schedule.[13] In August 2024, the newspaper, seeking to address the changing news needs resulting from historic demographic shifts in Southern California, announced a partnership with CALÓ News, a Latinx community-focused news outlet.[14] Soon thereafter, the newspaper announced Gisselle Palomera as the News Editor.[15] Following publisher Troy Masters' sudden death on December 11, 2024, the newspaper's management team announced that the organization would continue under the leadership of Gisselle Palomera.[16]
Rodriguez era (2025-present)
Following the reelection of Donald Trump, editor Gisselle Palomera stated "As we step into the next four years, we will continue to experience the onslaught of hateful rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people and we will continue to be used as pawns in the political chess game that has pushed us into the margins. We will have to double-down on our efforts to not only exist, but to thrive."[17] In February 2025, Alexander Rodriguez was appointed as the publisher of the newspaper.[18]
In April 2025, the newspaper launched a free community event series as an open forum to present the current political climate as it affects Southern California for the LGBT+ community and beyond. The inaugural event is a panel discussion held at The Abbey, featuring Chris Baldwin of NAACP's LGBTQ+ Committee, Nico Brancolini of Stonewall Democratic Club, West Hollywood mayor Chelsea Byers, former West Hollywood mayor Abbe Land, and Jorge Reyes Salinas of Equality California.[19][20]
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Circulation and demographics
News coverage focuses mainly on global and regional political issues concerning LGBT+ persons with additional coverage of entertainment and nightlife in the Los Angeles area. The Blade is distributed throughout Southern California, with a focus on areas with significant LGBT+ populations, such as West Hollywood, Silver Lake, and Los Feliz, and as far as Palm Springs.[21] Distribution points include businesses with a large number of LGBT+ clients, including restaurants, bars, gyms, gay bathhouses and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and home delivery is available in select West Hollywood and Hollywood residential neighborhoods.[22]
Overall, 48% of the Blade's readership holds a college degree.[23]
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Awards and recognition
In 2023, the newspaper received the GLAAD Excellence in Media Award.[24]
For its coverage of HIV news, the newspaper was the runner-up in the "Health and Health Care" category at the 2024 California Ethnic Media Awards.[25]
See also
References
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