West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne Speaks on Efforts to Unite Law Enforcement and LGBTQ+ Community

West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne released a statement on Wednesday via her official social media platforms to speak on her efforts as mayor to bring law enforcement and community members together to discuss the arrests of a Xodiac Rose and their friend Abby Nicole Miller, who were both apprehended during the WeHo Pride Street Fair on June 3, 2023, in West Hollywood. The arrest outraged the LGBTQ+ community and video footage received national attention, which brought into questions excessive police force and whether or not law enforcement officers should be present at WeHo Pride.

“I heard the community’s calls for justice and am proud of the way we responded,” reads her statement. “In a nation quick to find division and to react with rhetoric, I was able to bring law enforcement and community members together to have open and productive dialogue.”

She says that law LGBTQ+ community leaders, the District Attorney’s office, the Sheriff’s department and our community safety department immediately gathered after the incident to listen to all sides. “While the arrests themselves were a horrible reminder of the work that remains, progress doesn’t happen without communication and open minds. I hope our swift action and continued leadership on this issue can serve as a roadmap in a country that is increasingly divided.”

Mayor Shyne’s statement follows a similar statement by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, who revealed that that LASD would have a new curriculum of LGBTQ+ training that has been approved by the California State Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). “We are always looking at ways to enhance and improve our training that we provide for our personnel,” said Sheriff Luna. “This training will eventually be expanded to the entire Department. At each of our Sheriff Stations, we will seek Community input to fashion an addendum to the LGBTQ+ Training that will be area specific to each Sheriff’s Station area.”

Sheriff Luna also states that the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station will begin having quarterly meetings with members from the transgender community as an opportunity to “build relationships, resolve issues, and improve training,” he said. “We want to change the paradigm, not only for our West Hollywood Community, but for our entire Los Angeles County Community. We want our Sheriff’s Stations to be considered safe places for everyone.”

Mayor Sepi Shyne’s full statement reads as follows:

In the wake of the unnecessary and unsettling arrests during our Pride celebrations, I heard the community’s calls for justice and am proud of the way we responded. In a nation quick to find division and to react with rhetoric, I was able to bring law enforcement and community members together to have open and productive dialogue. As Mayor, my ultimate goal is to build a community where every person feels safe, welcome and protected and I’m proud that we are taking important steps forward.

Immediately after the incident, we gathered LGBTQ+ community leaders, the District Attorney’s office, the Sheriff’s department and our community safety department to listen and truly hear all sides. I’m proud that this has resulted in continuing dialogue, including an ongoing LGBTQ+ advisory group, quarterly meetings between the Sheriff and the transgender community, and increased training standards within the sheriff’s department.

While the arrests themselves were a horrible reminder of the work that remains, progress doesn’t happen without communication and open minds. I hope our swift action and continued leadership on this issue can serve as a roadmap in a country that is increasingly divided. When we all sit together in community and find common solutions, hate will not win. Tolerance and understanding will.