Editorial: Why Did WeHoTV Treat Annie Differently?

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     Annie Jump Vicente, a trans woman, appears to have been intentionally censored in the livestream of Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Two dozen speakers signed up for a turn at the microphone during the public comment section of the meeting, which was broadcast on the City of West Hollywood’s WeHoTV platform and youtube channel. Each commenter was shown from the front while speaking, their faces clearly visible, except for one. Annie Jump Vicente was shown from behind in a wide-angle shot for the entire two minute duration of her public comment.

This is difficult to write off as an error—several other commenters spoke both before and after Vicente took the floor. Yet Annie was the only speaker to be recorded from behind and far away, making her look like a distant shadow. Ironically, Vicente’s comment addressed prejudice she experienced when interacting with a Block by Block Security Ambassador. Known for their colorful blue uniforms and sense of comedic timing (they always arrive exactly three hours after the crazy hollering maniac has left the scene), the Ambassadors are there to witness and report crimes to the police, a task no citizen could possibly do on their own.

A public comment regular, Vicente is known for her confrontational style and thunderous outbursts. This is perhaps why council member John Erickson can be seen crossing himself as she approaches the podium. 

Vicente addresses the council: I was walking down Santa Monica Boulevard today and saw an ambassador checking out some women. So I asked him what he’s doing. He said he’s checking out women. I said, “Oh?” He said, “Yeah I’m checking out real women.” “Oh real women? What does that mean?” So I pressed him. And I asked. Right? Press with questions. I asked. I want to get clarity. And he said ones with ovaries.

At this point, Vicente begins playing a recording of the encounter that she had saved on her phone.

Vicente: Why?

Ambassador: Because they’re pretty.

Vicente: So you’re checking out women?

Ambassador: Real women, yeah.

Vicente: Am I not a real woman? Yeah, but you’re checking out women.

Ambassador: They’re beautiful.

Vicente: Yeah, they’re beautiful so you checking them out, huh?

Ambassador: Just like nature intended

Vicente: What do you mean by “real women”? You said it. What do you mean by “real women”, Alovero?

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Ambassador: I think you know what I mean.

Vicente: That’s it.

Ambassador: You mean with like a womb and a menstrual cycle…

Vicente: Oh, so is that what determines what a real woman is?
 
Ambassador: …that go through menopause in their 50s…
 
Vicente: Is that what a real woman is?
 
Ambassador: Biologically speaking, yes.
 
Vicente: You just, you just gave a medical definition.
 
Ambassador: Isn’t that what it is though?
 
Vicente: A medical definition? So you don’t think that trans women can be women is that right?
 
Ambassador: Yes.
 
At this point Vicente stops playing the recording and addresses the council, saying, “He doesn’t think trans women can be women. That’s the people you have patrolling your streets. Erickson had his inauguration last year. Same fucking thing. Why is this becoming an annual routine, where on the day of the inauguration Annie Jump gets told that she’s not a f—— woman, or something happens, or that her dog’s going to get killed by an Ambassador. Why? Why does this keep happening to me? Why does your ambassadors feel emboldened the day after Trump gets elected to tell me that I’m not a real woman? That women…there’s a, there’s a difference between real and fake women. Why? His name is Alovero. I watch him regularly come down my alley to bully unhoused people constantly and trans women specifically.” With her allotted time used up, Vicente storms off while shouting additional expletives on the way out.
 
That’s a lot to unpack. Both their arguments have merits. Yet ultimately they are both wrong. The explanation of why they are both wrong is beyond the scope of this article, and will be covered in a future essay.
 
Regardless of Annie’s antics, I urge you to have compassion. If she’s allowed to voice a public comment, she should get her air time just as every other speaker was given. Who ordered the camera off Annie? And why did they do it? We may never know.
 
The clip can be viewed in it’s entirety here.

 

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chefRaphael
21 days ago

Annie, bless her soul makes an effort to be vulgar, aggressive and plane rude when provided a microphone: Although her “freedom of speech” rights – as outlined by defenses – when “streamed” to a public that invites younger participants to watch on the YouTube channels has to be censored. The context is not the issue here: I could share my own opinions about the uselessness of the entire Ambassador program; however – as irksome an issue might be – show decorum by when presenting before the Council!

Last edited 21 days ago by chefRaphael
Davedi
Davedi
21 days ago

Annie needs to watch My Fair Lady to get some tips on how to be treated more like a lady.

WeHo Mary!
WeHo Mary!
24 days ago

Her “lewk” wasn’t up to WeHo standards, so she doesn’t get to be on camera like everyone else. Duh!!!

anonymous
anonymous
24 days ago

I wish that all public commenters had the same camera perspective as Annie’s. The reason I say this is that you can see how council rarely engage/make eye contact with the commenter. Council should not be using their cellphones during council meetings or speaking to each other unless their mic is turned on.

Lastly, I am tired of former Mayor Erickson always delivering snarky comments back to commenters if they disagree with his point of view. I thought council wasn’t allowed to respond in anyway.

Script Writer
Script Writer
24 days ago
Reply to  anonymous

At least we see them (some of them) reading their prepare script. When you see that, it means their minds were made up before hearing the public at a Public Hearing.

Alan Strasburg
Alan Strasburg
23 days ago
Reply to  anonymous

Erickson’s snark is completely out of order but no one will enforce the code of conduct or the rules of the meeting.

The disrespect shown to public commenters is breathtaking. I expect elected public servants to pay attention to the people who show up, stand up, and speak up on any matter, whether they agree or not.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
23 days ago
Reply to  Alan Strasburg

So when Lauren Meister said “God help me” when Annie Jump Vicente went up to the podium…you have a problem with that too, right?

JF1
JF1
22 days ago
Reply to  Alan Strasburg

Erickson is so immature.

Singleguywh
Singleguywh
21 days ago
Reply to  anonymous

Thankfully he’s no longer the mayor – though considering who replaced him, we may be through the looking glass.

BloodshotEyedGuy
BloodshotEyedGuy
24 days ago

Just tell Annie the sun will come out tomorrow. You can bet your bottom dollar. It’s only a day away.

Last edited 24 days ago by BloodshotEyedGuy
Alan Strasburg
Alan Strasburg
24 days ago

Watch for more censorship by West Hollywood to anyone who is not in the sisterhood of sycophancy. I, too, was censored when my written public comment was censored this week. It took multiple emails to the city clerk, city manager and city attorney to attempt to correct that censorship and then it was only a partial lifting of the censored material. Watch for more disrespect and intolerance for diversity of thought in the left-wing version of trumpism.

JF1
JF1
24 days ago

The person you’re speaking about has mental health issues. The person should not be allowed to use profanity while addressing the council- if ANY person uses profanity, they should be removed from the meeting. The “security, ambassador“ is allowed to have their own opinion on any matter -that’s not against the law. Because the person speaking seems unstable, I would put little credit into their observations. It’s obvious that this person is desperate for attention and is in need of mental health services.

Alan Strasburg
Alan Strasburg
24 days ago
Reply to  JF1

Profanity is a First Amendment protected form of speech, unless that profanity is part of a call to immediate action and violence, and then it’s less about the actual words than the call to violence. I see nothing in Annie’s commentary that rises to the level of restricting her First Amendment right to expression. Let’s not forget that Erickson used a microphone while representing the city as mayor at last year’s Halloween carnival to scream sacrilegious profanities at the assembled masses that included children and people of true faith (not sanctimonious hypocrites like many politicians). Erickson’s potty mouth, while First… Read more »

JF1
JF1
22 days ago
Reply to  Alan Strasburg

wow. Isn’t there a certain level of decorum that is expected at these public meetings to keep things civil? Using profanity usually is a sign of a lack of vocabulary. I’ve seen this person get up and speak before…seems violent to me. I only watch the meetings on tv now because they have become a three ring circus. (at home I can fast forward past the crazies).It’s like a circle jerk at these council meetings. It’s like they share one brain. No outside thought. Same failed policies go round and round. Sad to see how behavior (both public and council)… Read more »

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
21 days ago
Reply to  JF1

Alan literally explained the first amendment to you and it still didn’t permeate your thick skull. Incredible

Davedi
Davedi
21 days ago
Reply to  JF1

“ The “security, ambassador“ is allowed to have their own opinion on any matter -that’s not against the law”

luckily with a new administration that may be true again. But we were headed to a Canadian/UK ban on any speech that didn’t tow the woke line.

Anne
Anne
24 days ago

Obnoxious person. One of the worst residents of West Hollywood. Attention seeker of the worst order.

City dweller
City dweller
24 days ago

Totally intentional and directed by the city manager in a meeting of how to handle this person.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
24 days ago

sense of comedic timing (they always arrive exactly three hours after the crazy hollering maniac has left the scene), the Ambassadors are there to witness and report crimes to the police, a task no citizen could possibly do on their own.”

Quality journalism from drug user and domestic abuser Brandon Garcia!

Eric
Eric
24 days ago

Annie loves to provoke people and she shouldn’t have concerned herself with an ambassadors personal attractions or what he was doing. One can only imagine how she’s harassed this guy prior to this incident.

It’s AJV, so who really cares if the frame was intentional or not, she needs to learn how to behave and conduct herself cordially, but if will be fun to see her come at this new major and push the envelope like she did with dumb dumb Jonny.

Alan Meyerowitz
Alan Meyerowitz
16 days ago
Reply to  Eric

She is an instigating mental case with anger issues with every other word is profanity who shouldn’t be allowed to speak when every other word is f*ck and spews hate