A Message From Our Executive Director

Hello friends of The Lavender Effect, 

We experienced a truly amazing and productive summer! On June 1st, 2012 Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Matt Szabo announced The Lavender Effect's vision at LA City Hall's LGBT Heritage Month kickoff celebration. “One City, One Pride” continued that weekend with the Outlaugh Comedy Festival Opening Gala Events, benefiting our nonprofit foundation. Thanks again to Los Angeles City Hall, the Outlaugh Festival, and all who supported our official launch.

In August, I had the privilege of presenting our mission at the International LGBTI Conference of Archives, Libraries, Museums and Special Collections (ALMS). Organizations from all over the world shared their past experiences, current status, and vision for the future. IHLIA and the Amsterdam Public Library are home to the largest LGBTI archive in Europe and were gracious hosts for the event. I also visited the Homomonument, Anne Frank House, Amsterdam DNA Exhibit, and other local museums.

After celebrating Pride on the Amsterdam canals I headed to Berlin to continue researching for The Lavender Effect. The Schwules Museum is the oldest LGBT Museum in the world and features an exhibit focusing on LGBT life in Germany. Other inpsiring hightlights of my visit included The Monument to Homosexual Holocaust Victims, Jewish Museum and Holocaust Memorial.  

I am commited to creating a state-of-the-art LGBTQ Museum and Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Team Lavender is growing rapidly with the help of Community Partners, social activists, city leaders, archives, libraries, foundations, businesses, and LA's diverse community... and this is just the beginning!  Together we will preserve our past, celebrate our present, and create our future!

— Andy Sacher, Founding Executive Director