Wheeler then shifted to claim that he was there to do a “story” for his news outlet - not there to try and have sex with the young boy. When first confronted, the anchor claimed that he believed the person to be 18-years-old, despite being told the age by the group’s decoy. Outfest tickets can be purchased on their website.Zach Wheeler, an anchor at NBC affiliate WETM-TV, was busted driving three hours trying to meet a 15-year-old boy in a “To Catch a Predator” style bust by a group called 607 Predator Hunters.Ħ07 Predator Hunters is one of many YouTube channels that seek to expose pedophiles by pretending to be children, then going to meet them with a camera. “And remember my two, sometimes three Ps: patience, perseverance and pride.” “Never underestimate what one individual can do in making it better for the planet and the community,” she said. What she does say however is what she hopes her story will convey. In explaining her facade, she spoke about holding off to comment until she is in the moment. Though she let out an exclaimed, “Woo!” it was followed by an anxious laugh. When asked how the recognition felt, as she sat in the back office of the clinic on a recent afternoon, Thais-Williams was hard to read. “Her tireless efforts have positively affected the lives of countless LGBTQ minorities dedication to bettering our community is truly inspiring to myself as well as a whole new generation of activists, community leaders and community supporters.”
“Jewel is a true symbol of leadership within our community,” said Thomas, a Christopher Street West board member. (She will also deliver a speech ahead of Friday’s Dyke March.) Such a distinction, Marquita Thomas said in a statement announcing the selection in May, “honors community activists who we consider to be our own celebrities and who have fearlessly fought for equality for our community.” Pride organizers, to lead this year’s parade on Sunday. truly makes you stop and think.”įor this reason, Thais-Williams was selected by Christopher Street West, the L.A. “When they wake up the next day, they’ll be inspired to do something in their own neighborhood, something to better the world. Though some audiences may come to the film for the music of the time or the sentimental value the Catch may possess, “10 minutes in, they’ll be introduced to the real story, Jewel, and how she gave of herself,” Fitz said. Notable names including singers Evelyn “Champagne” King, Bonnie Pointer and Thelma Houston, as well as Congresswoman Maxine Waters, are interviewed in the documentary for which actress C.C.H. Celebrities would make pit stops when they were in town - from Madonna and Sharon Stone (who’s interviewed for the film) to Etta James and “Queen of Disco” Sylvester, some to perform, others to hang.īut the joy experienced at the Catch was more than a weekend choice for fun it was an act of defiance by black LGBT people and the people who loved them, in the face of clubs in West Hollywood where they felt unwanted because of their race. Once inside, they danced under strobe lights and a lone disco ball in the center of two of its seven rooms. The pasty pink stucco nightclub once attracted thousands every weekend, lines sometimes wrapping around the block. “It’s tantamount to someone dying the club died and more notoriety came,” Thais-Williams said.
And quite serendipitously, a new documentary, “Jewel’s Catch One,” charting the club’s history will screen exactly a month later. Thais-Williams will be the grand marshal of Los Angeles Pride this weekend. Its importance to the community is just now being put into words, and actions, after closing last July following 42 years in business. What she really wanted was a personable, recession-proof business that would last longer than the dress boutique she once owned.īut the Catch was all of that and more. She wasn’t even trying to create the safe haven for Los Angeles’ black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people that the club became. When Jewel Thais-Williams opened Jewel’s Catch One nightclub in 1973, she wasn’t trying to create one of the country’s first black discos.