Mayor Villaraigosa Invites Youth to Participate in LGBT Heritage Month Creative Writing and Video Contest

[The following information was taken from a press release provided by Mayor Villaraigosa's office].

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Christopher Street West/LA Pride have opened submissions for a Creative Writing and Video Contest celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Heritage Month 2012.  The contest, which is sponsored by LifeWorks, Toyota Motor Sales and Toyota Financial Services, will present student winners with cash prizes and the opportunity to show their winning piece at the LGBT Heritage Month Opening Ceremony on June 1, 2012 at City Hall.

Students from throughout Los Angeles County in grades 6-12 are encouraged to participate in the Creative Writing/Video Contest by submitting an original written piece of work and/or a 1-3 minute video submission that presents this year’s contest theme: Celebrating Our Past – Shaping the Future. Students are welcome to submit both, but are allowed only one entry per participant. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 18, 2012.  Winners will be notified by phone after May 18, 2012.

“I invite every child in Los Angeles to learn about the LGBT community and its contributions to the cultural diversity of Los Angeles,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “This contest offers each student an opportunity to study our City’s heritage and celebrate its history through his or her own individual creativity.”

For submission guidelines and requirements students can E-mail Mike Ai at Mike.Ai@lacity.org or call (213) 978-2751. Students can also go to the Department of Cultural Affairs website at www.culturela.org, call (213) 922-9762, or follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HeritageLA.

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About LGBT Heritage Month

LGBT Heritage Month was created by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Christopher Street West/LA Pride in 2011 to promote and celebrate the diversity, history and culture of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in the City of Los Angeles. LGBT Heritage Month is the newest Heritage Month celebration, presented each June by Toyota Motor Services-Toyota/Lexus Financial Services, Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Christopher Street West/ LA Pride, the Department of Cultural Affairs and the City of Los Angeles. Other Heritage Months include African American Heritage Month, Latino Heritage Month, American Indian Heritage Month and Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

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