Two lifeguard towers painted the colors of the Progress Pride Flag at Ginger Rogers Beach in Pacific Palisades were in operation Tuesday despite being vandalized just days after they were unveiled.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath was among the local officials who took part in a dedication ceremony for the redesigned Towers 17 and 18 on Saturday at Ginger Rogers Beach, a portion of Will Rogers State Beach that is a traditional coastal haven for the LGBTQ+ community. During Saturday’s ceremony, informational signs were also unveiled outlining the history of the beach.
By Monday morning, however, both of the colorful towers had been targeted by vandals who smashed their windows.
“Hate will not win. Not today, not ever,” Horvath said in a statement Tuesday. “We will repair the towers and continue to fight the extremism that has given rise to acts of hate like this because the only way to fight hate is with love.”
There were no reports of any injuries. ABC7 reported that broken glass littered the insides of the towers, but nothing was stolen.
According to Horvath’s office, the stretch of beach became a popular destination for gay men as far back as the 1940s. It was soon dubbed Ginger Rogers Beach in honor of the film legend.
The location evolved into a focal point of political activism, ranging from fundraisers for AIDS victims to petition drives opposing the Vietnam War.
Horvath said the beach in a “post-war era” provided a refuge from discrimination that many LGBTQ+ people faced elsewhere. Organizers gathered signatures against McCarthyism there, eventually leading to the creation of the Mattachine Society, one of the first gay rights organizations.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the beach became a hot spot for social and fundraising events to help those suffering through the AIDS crisis.
San Diego’s Gay and Lesbian Times described it as the “West Coast’s answer to the Statue of Liberty” in 1995.
Rogers appeared in more than 70 films during Hollywood’s “Golden Age” — including 10 classic musical comedies with Fred Astaire. She died in 1995 at age 83.
Great article, thank you. However, “AIDS victims” was thrown in the trash can decades ago and replaced with “AIDS patients” OR “persons with AIDS.” just sayin’.
She got the HATE part right, except it’s for HER!
Everyone I know just calls it Will Rogers Beach. Love the rainbow lifeguard towers!
Do you have any beach-going friends?
Dear Supervisor Horvath, Seems mighty disingenuous for you to have claimed this occasion as a personal photo op to signify the dedication. You might have done some research to discover that the person to whom it is dedicated as a “supporter” would likely disagree with you. Please do your research regarding the facts concerning Ginger Rogers. What appears to be the case is that at some point, gay individuals may have frequented this section of the beach and recently took it upon themselves to graft themselves and the name of GR on to this location and lifeguard stand. Even the… Read more »
There was no mention as to why this particular section of the beach was named or dedicated to Ginger Rogers or what was her presumed connection. Any information on this?
from onearchives.org: “Young gay men began visiting the unofficial “gay beach” north of Santa Monica as early as 1940. This area of Will Rogers Beach, demarcated today by lifeguard towers 17 and 18, has become commonly known among the local LGBTQ community as “Ginger Rogers Beach,” a nod to the glamorous actress of Broadway and Hollywood fame. According to film professor David Lugowski, gay men were infatuated with Rogers’ campy talents, androgynous performances, and diva persona– so much so that drag queens began emulating her in the 1930s and 1940s, and continue to do so today.”
Nominal research revealed this: Ginger Rogers was married 5 times and had no children. She was a very conservative Republican, member of Daughters of the American Revolution, a Christian Scientist and vocal supporter of the Hollywood Blacklist. There is no mention of her affiliation with the gay community nor apparently any acknowledgment that she would have sought or accepted the dedication at Will Rogers State Beach. Emulating one on their own does not appear to be an endorsement of someone’s infatuations nor does it appear to validate perceptions.
Well written! Horvath should have provided background not just made assumptions
Uh Oh I see a Ginger Rogers cancellation coming.