A-LISTS community spotlight
when it was shocking for people to even hear the word “gay” on television. I was
the Orange County correspondent in the early nineties and would come on to
talk about the things happening in Orange County, which usually involved right-
wing conservatives doing something to people in our community. In 1996 Bob
was the victim of a horrendous hate crime and Linda Montgomery, Lee Glaze and
I continued to do the show. The first thing we did was to go on live, talk about what
happened and plead with people to call the police and let them know if they had
any information.” Denise continued to host the show for 12 years interviewing
many noteworthy and historic LGBT individuals and activists such as Jim Kepner,
Morris Kite and Mary Cheney to name a few.
Around the same time, Penn was also volunteering by doing HIV work with
the Stop Aids Project. Denise says, “It was an amazing group of people. Some of
whom I’m a still friends with to this day who really concentrated on education and
prevention for the most part.” Denise soon became an HIV test site counselor at
The Center OC. “It’s really sensitive and important work talking to people getting
tested.” Denise draws close correlations between her volunteer and professional
work. “Because I have a degree in English and because I’m a social worker, to me
they are the same thing, in a way. I talk to people and listen to their stories, I do what
I can to help and I feel like a lot of the stories I wrote about were to help educate
people about LGBT issues, about minorities, about HIV, people who have been
discriminated against and victims of hate crimes. There really wasn’t an outlet for
that. So to me, doing social work and writing are kind of blended.” Penn continues,
“All of us who work in LGBT publishing could all make more money somewhere
else. We do it because we care about our community and have a passion for it.”
In 2008, Denise Penn was awarded “The Woman of the Year” in the Long Beach
LAMBDA Awards. Denise had been instrumental in putting together the event for
Denise Penn:
many years. “I was very honored to be part of that event because it was the most
inclusive event in terms of honorees. Shannon Minter was honored (a transsexual
by lance perkins
man) as well as Frank Rubio (aka Empress Boom Boom). So there was a lot of di-
A Strong Voice for Our Community
versity, we even had Gavin Newsome who of course is a heterosexual!” (Laughs)
Penn had asked Gavin Newsom to speak at the LAMBDA awards and at the ECCO
dinner during the same weekend. “Newsome and Minter who are both from
San Francisco were able to come down and speak at both events. It was a great
weekend! Newsom also connected with the officials of Long Beach Pride at the
LAMBDA Awards and went on to be grand Marshall of Long Beach Pride in May of
An Orange County native, Denise Penn grew up in Anaheim. “Yes, I’m an Orange that year. Denise was also a president of BiNet USA, which is the national umbrella
County girl. I even grew up on the same street as Gwen Stefani! There’s something organization that helps educate and provides support to those who are bi-sexual
about growing up in Anaheim that leads you to Fantasyland in the real world. or questioning. Denise currently works with The National Institute of Bisexual-
We’re all just Disney characters.” (laughs) ity, a public charity whose mission is to support education and research; which
Penn’s extensive studies included Cypress College, Cal State Fullerton, UCI and enhances public education and knowledge and tolerance about bi-sexuality.
San Diego State. She was on the debate team at Cypress, received a degree in Eng- When asked what the most challenging thing is about doing volunteer work is,
lish from Cal State Fullerton, a degree in social sciences from UCI and a Masters in Denise said, “The hardest thing, especially in the LGBT community is to focus on
social work from San Diego State. the importance of the work at hand and ignore controversy and drama.”
As a young adult, Denise felt comfortable with her sexuality. She explains, “It And then when asked what the most fulfilling thing is, she replied, “You must
always seemed really natural to me. I had a lot of gay friends, so it never occurred hang on to the moments you get, every once in a while, I get someone who
to me that anyone would have a problem with me dating whomever I wanted showed something that I wrote to their parents or someone they know that made
to. They actually did. People like to put us into categories but that’s not the way a difference.”
I think.” Among many professional endeavors, Denise has been covering politics Last year, Orange County saw its pride festival return. At the last Orange County
and news as an advocacy journalist since the early nineties. “I’ve always cared Pride before that, held in 2001 at UCI, Denise Penn was awarded the media award.
about making the world a better place, which is part of being a social worker and Denise said, “It really meant a lot to me. I’m really glad that it’s being resurrected
part of what I want to achieve with my writing is to illuminate issues. It’s exciting and is back. I think we need it in Orange County. I think that our pride festival is
to be in Orange County because there’s a lot going on and a lot of changes to help going to be totally different than anyone else’s and that’s just the way it should be
make happen.” Denise also worked as an associate producer and host of The Gay & because Orange County is a very unique place!”
Lesbian News Magazine, a weekly live cable television show in Long Beach. Denise Penn continues to volunteer and work for various causes, covers news and
elaborates, “The producer, Bob LaFont started the show in the eighties at a time politics…wherever the need is in the LGBT community.
8 RAGE monthly | MARCH 2010
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