This June marks the 52nd celebration of Pride Month, a time when people come together to support the LGBTQ+ community and raise awareness of various issues that still need attention.

On this week’s “In Focus SoCal,” host Tanya McRae sits down with Los Angeles City Council Member Mitch O’Farrell, one of two LGBTQ+ council members. He reflects on his experience growing up gay in Oklahoma.

“I came from a very loving family, but I also came from, at least in the 1970s, a very, very harsh homophobic culture. And that culture is still with us today in lots of places,” O’Farrell said.

The council member from the 13th District collaborated with the Transgender Advisory Council to create the first citywide Transgender and Gender Diverse Inclusivity Training for city of LA employees.

For the first time in decades and the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the city of West Hollywood is hosting its own festivities, while the LA Festival and Parade, which began in 1970, is headed east to Hollywood.

Spectrum News 1’s Tara Lynn Wagner tells us about the changes and speaks to business owners in West Hollywood.

The inaugural West Hollywood Pride Parade will feature a drag king show. Spectrum News 1’s Itay Hod speaks to Johnny Gentleman about what this experience means to him.

Huntington Park Vice Mayor Eddie Martinez also joins this week’s conversation. The co-founder and executive director of the Latino Equality Alliance spoke about his organization’s work to advocate for the safety and wellness of the Latinx LGBTQ+ community.

“We’ve been in solidarity with other coalitions and organizations to advocate for more resources for LGBTQ individuals. And particularly in communities of color, we need more resources for mental health, dealing with addiction,” Martinez said.

Send us your thoughts to InFocusSoCal@charter.com and watch at 9 a.m. and noon Sundays.