West Hollywood will soon breathe new life into a small but symbolic patch of land at the intersection of Crescent Heights and Santa Monica Boulevard. On March 17, 2025, the City Council, led by Councilmember Danny Hang and Vice Mayor John Heilman, voted to start reimagining the Matthew Shepard Human Rights Triangle and Crescent Heights Triangle. The target? Completion by 2028, marking the 30th anniversary of Shepard’s murder—a moment that’ll coincide with the city hosting LA Olympics visitors. It’s a move that’s got residents talking, and for good reason: this isn’t just about landscaping—it’s about memory, safety, and what this city stands for.
The decision slid through the council’s consent calendar, but public comments were anything but routine. Jordan Beard didn’t mince words: “I’d like to see it reconfigured in a way that can be better activated and more inviting for pedestrians,” he told the council. He pointed to the intersection’s grim stats—six bikers and seven pedestrians hit by cars in recent years—and blamed slip lanes that turn the triangle into “a traffic island in the middle of high-speed traffic.” He’s after a redesign that honors Shepard over dodging cars. Steve Pennefield, who runs a local history walking tour, agreed: “This area needed a lot of attention… I’m glad it’s on the agenda.” He suggested QR codes to share the city’s fight for gay and human rights, making it a living lesson. Alec White, speaking personally, outside his role as LGBTQ+ Commission Vice Chair, added, “This memorial… is a testament to our city’s unwavering commitment to human rights and LGBTQ+ equality.” He sees 2028 as a chance to “reaffirm that he will never be forgotten,” especially with the world watching.
The council’s plan goes beyond aesthetics: staff are tasked with a community outreach process. Input from the Public Facilities, Recreation, and Infrastructure Commission and wider stakeholders will shape design concepts, costs, and a timeline. Originally a xeriscape garden post-1998, the site will keep its drought tolerance while adding upgrades for safety and accessibility. Existing tributes—like plaques for Transgender Day of Remembrance, the AIDS Memorial Walk, and a tree for Ivy Bottini—will stay. There’s even talk of weaving in memorials for Pulse Nightclub victims and LGBTQ+ suicides, creating a unified space of reflection.
Shepard’s 1998 murder in Laramie, Wyoming—a brutal anti-gay hate crime—shook the nation and led to the 2009 Hate Crimes Prevention Act. West Hollywood renamed this triangle soon after, a quiet echo of that fight. Now, residents want it to reflect more than memory. Beard’s eyeing safer streets, Pennefield’s pitching history made real, and White’s betting on a stage for Shepard’s legacy. The council’s handed staff the reins to figure it out, with plans due back later.
For now, it’s a quiet spot with “one sign way up on a pole, only visible to westbound traffic,” as one resident put it. By 2028, it could be more: a safer place to pause and reflect, rooted in the city’s past fights. Residents like Beard, Pennefield, and White are ready to see it through.
