L.A. Area LGBTQ+ Youth Center Targeted in Vandalism Spree

The Mi SELA youth center in Bell, a vital resource for LGBTQ+ young people in South Los Angeles, has been repeatedly targeted by vandals throwing bags of dog feces at its entrance for several months. Volunteers and community members have consistently encountered the foul-smelling waste, raising concerns about harassment and safety.

A partnership between the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Latino Equity Alliance, Mi SELA provides essential services including youth clubs, workshops, and legal resources. While the perpetrators remain unknown, officials and staff believe the incidents are deliberate and potentially hate-motivated, given the center's mission.

The Latino Equity Alliance denounced the acts as "abhorrent" and "unacceptable," urging a public stance against such hate. "It is shocking that young people and community organizations continue to face such targeted hate and intimidation," their statement read.

In response, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn has pledged a $2,500 grant to install additional security cameras, hoping to identify and capture those responsible. Despite the ongoing harassment, Mi SELA's programs manager, Sanva Lojero, affirmed the center's commitment: "We’re not going anywhere, we’re going to still keep providing resources."