On December 2, 2023, the San Fernando Valley branch hosted Andy Sacher, the founder and CEO of The Lavender Effect, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the future of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) Heritage and Culture via its Oral History Project (OHP), educational programs, workshops and Out and About tours of Los Angeles.
The program concentrated on the OHP and the women in Southern California who made a significant contribution to the movement. The audience viewed oral testimonies from:
- Dr. Virginia Uribe, LAUSD teacher and counselor and founder of LAUSD Project 10 in support of LGBTQ+ youth
- Mia Yamamoto, decorated transgender Army veteran, attorney and founder of the Asian Pacific Law Center at UCLA. Noted defense attorney and honored by API Equality and the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission for her advocacy on behalf of the LGBT community.
- Jewel Thais-Williams, self-made entrepreneur and founder of the Village Health Foundation, specializing in diseases with high incidents in the African-American community, including HIV/AIDS.
- Sheila Kuehl, former chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, former California State Senator, former California Assembly Speaker Pro tem, and AAUW California 2022 Equity Champion.
This program was also presented at the January meeting of the Los Angeles Interbranch Council.