Photo credit to: LA Public Works

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On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, The City of Los Angeles announced the addition of LGBTQ certification to the Los Angeles Business Assistance Virtual Network(BAVN). BAVN is a free online portal provided by the City of Los Angeles and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development that connects businesses with City contracting opportunities. The new qualifications will allow for statistical tracking of certifications to ensure that contracts reflect the diversity of the City.

“I applaud the City’s efforts to expand opportunities in public procurement for our local business community. LGBTQ certification is another step towards further leveling the playing field for small and diverse businesses,” said Los Angeles Board of Public Works President Kevin James. “BAVN is a free and accessible resource that allows us to provide these businesses with the proper tools to succeed and thrive in Los Angeles.”

The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is the exclusive, third-party certification body that will work to verify that eligible businesses are majority-owned by LGBTQ individuals. Once this process is complete, businesses can sign up through BAVN to be notified when contracts are available for bidding and receive guidance through the bidding process. The Bureau of Contract Administration, led by Inspector of Public Works John L. Reamer, Jr., verifies documentation and oversees contracts for the City of Los Angeles.

BAVN currently offers certification for disadvantaged business owners; disabled veterans; minority-owned businesses; women-owned businesses; small, emerging, and local businesses; and more. This allows small and diverse businesses the opportunity to compete with large corporations for contracts. The new LGBTQ certification program will go into effect in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2019-20 beginning on July 1st.

This announcement comes during the annual celebration of LGBTQ Heritage Month. Additionally, the Los Angeles Board of Public Works recognized a few of the outstanding men and women from the Department of Public Works as part of the month’s festivities.

“Los Angeles has been at the forefront of championing equality since 1967 when Silver Lake’s Black Cat became the site of one of the first LGBTQ demonstrations,” said Los Angeles Board of Public Works Vice President Cecilia Cabello. “While tremendous strides have been made since then, the fight for equal opportunity continues. I’m honored to recognize a few of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters who dedicate their lives to enhancing the quality of life for Angelenos and advocating for inclusiveness in the workplace and beyond.”

The LGBTQ Heritage Month honorees were recognized for their professional accomplishments and contributions to raising awareness of human and civil rights in and out of the workplace. From maintaining our streets and sewers to fixing potholes and collecting trash, these honorees are making a significant impact in their respective fields:

  • Gaye Chapman, Senior Electrical Inspector, Bureau of Contract Administration: serves as lead project inspector for the L.A. Wastewater Integrated Network Systems (LAWINS) project involving multiple wastewater facilities. She also provides training and guidance to other Bureau of Contract Administration inspectors.

  • Doug Walters, Chief Sustainability Officer & Chief Resiliency Officer, LA Sanitation and Environment: a proven leader in sustainability and environmental issues who formerly served as Co-Chair of the City’s Gay & Lesbian United Employees organization where he spent 4 years advocating for inclusionary policies for LGBTQ employees within City Departments.

  • Les Amer, Accounting Clerk, StreetsLA: supports the street pavement preservation program and sidewalk construction program. His work ensures the delivery of materials essential to paving more than 2,200 lane miles and constructing 500,000 square feet of sidewalks annually.

View PDF of news release here.

By Esteban Steven Escobar

Publisher, Director of Public/Media Relations & Community Affairs, Sales, Reporter, Webmaster & Graphic Designer Specialist. Esteban A. Escobar (born in El Salvador, Central America on September 6th and U.S. Naturalized on May 20, 2015) is a multi-award winning American journalist, reporter, editor, columnist, writer, producer, director, publicist, radio personality, entrepreneur, accounts receivable specialist, humanitarian and philanthropist. Esteban Steven Escobar, CEO and Publisher of DiversityNewsMagazine.org Steven Escobar started Diversity News Publications when he saw the word Diversity in an office and it’s meaning, he them decided to call his company Diversity News Publications and started branding the name Diversity News. Steven Escobar goal is to promote and raise awareness of Diversity and Inclusion. For those reasons Steven Escobar is known as the man from Diversity. Esteban is known as Steven Escobar. He is the CEO, President & Executive Editor-In-Chief of Diversity News Magazine, an online & special print consumer news magazine both are available worldwide and are viewed freely by millions of visitors each month. On 7-10-2015, Steven Escobar founded and is the CEO, President and Executive Producer of Diversity News Magazine Awards which launched on 11-5-2016 by sponsoring Diversity Pageants special awards. Also on 7-10-2015, Steven Escobar unveiled the launch of new media outlet named Miss Diversity News Beauty Pageants Magazine. On November 2013, Steven Escobar founded and is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Diversity Professional Business & Media Solutions Group, a company to help small businesses to be compliant with changes in technology and have a presence online. On July 2013 Steven Escobar founded and is the CEO of Diversity Recovery Systems, a professional consulting and account receivables third party company specializing in healthcare medical collections. Esteban “Steven” Escobar is also the executive producer and director of Diversity News TV, the host of Diversity News Radio, on Air with Steven Escobar, and the Founder, CEO and President of Diversity News Publications, a news/entertainment multimedia firm in Hollywood, CA. Steven Escobar owns E.E.Enterprises, an affiliate of The Diversity News Publications family of companies. Steven Escobar is a currently a contributor and writer for CNN.com. Esteban “Steven” Escobar is a former official contributor/writer for the Hollywood and Los Angeles County events examiner for Examiner.com and contributor for Yahoo.com distributed via Yahoo Voices. Steven Escobar is currently the account executive and media liaison at World Wide Vital Marketing & Public Relations. Steven Escobar’s former professional affiliations and memberships include being a member and media partner of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles Inc., (Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association) GALECA with voting and membership rights on The Dorian Awards. Since 2011, Steven Escobar started been involved in the beauty pageant industry. On May 20, 2011 Steven Escobar was a judge for Ms. Exoti-Lady World Pageant 2011. In 2013, Steven Escobar became involved with Virgelia Productions producers of Miss Asia USA, Mrs Asia USA and Miss Teen Asia USA Beauty Pageants as their Public Relations representative. In 2014 Steven became involved with Virgelia Productions as consultant publicist for 3rd Annual Miss Latina Global, Miss Teen Latina Global and Mrs Latina Global Beauty Pageants. Also in 2015 Steven Escobar consulting services were retained by Virgelia Productions Inc., to help with online marketing and public relations with the 27th Annual Miss Asia USA, 11th Annual Mrs. Asia USA, Miss Teen Asia USA and 4th Annual Miss Latina Global, Mrs. Latina Global and Miss Teen Latina Global as well 1st Annual Miss Europe Global. Because of his goals and aspirations in the media publishing business, Steven Escobar has acquired skills in new media including marketing and public relations. Steven Escobar is no stranger to the entertainment industry. He has covered many prestigious events in Hollywood. Some of them are the 2009 Outstanding Emmy Awards Nominees, 2010 American Music Awards, 2011 American Music Awards, 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards Nominees Announcement, 43rd NAACP Image Awards, 44th NAACP Image Awards, 12th Annual Latin Grammys Nominees Announcement, 2012 NCLR ALMA Awards, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the 2014 Golden Globe Awards, 2015 LA Times/Hoy Awards, 2016 NBC The Voice Season 11 finale, 2017 She Rocks Awards, 48th NAACP Image Awards Nominees’ Luncheon Kick-Off Celebration, 2017 Writers Guild Awards, 27th Annual Night of 100 Stars Academy Awards Viewing Gala, and many more. Steven Escobar also gives back to the community by helping charities. From 2003 to the present, he has been raising money and awareness for AIDS Walk LA benefiting AIDS Project Los Angeles now known as AIDS Project Los Angeles Health through team Diversity News 3960. Also in 2011 Steven Escobar raised money for The Life Group LA. Steven Escobar has volunteered for Exotifit For Humanity now known as We Care for Humanity and The Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles Steering Committee. Steven was nominated for The Shorty Awards 2011 and the People’s Choice Fan Award 2012. In 2012 Steven Escobar received the Humanitarian Award at the 2012 International Noble Awards. Also on June 2, 2012 Steven Escobar Received the Community and Humanitarian Services Award at Kayamanan Bayan for all his contributions to the Filipino American community in Southern California. On 12-12-12 Steven Escobar received an award for the Most Fascinating Person of the Year. On August 4, 2013, Steven Escobar won the 2013 EOTM (Entrepreneurs On the Move) Award for Outstanding Internet Talk Show Diversity News Radio on Air with Steven Escobar. Yahoo.com named Steven Escobar one of the Hot 500 contributors during the month of March 2012. On March 1, 2014 Steven Escobar received the following awards from City of Beverly Hills Mayor John A. Mirisch: The Diversity Award Certificate of Recognition from the City of Beverly Hills Mayor and City Council, and the County of Los Angeles by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles and City of Los Angeles Certificate of Recognition signed by the Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti for his participation and contributions to the Multicultural Motion Picture Association (MMPA). On 7-23-2014, Esteban Steven Escobar’s publication Diversity News Magazine by Steven Escobar was nominated for The 2014 LGBT Hero Awards as Online Magazine of the Year 2014. Also on November 22, 2014 Steven Escobar received a Certificate of Appreciation for his publication Diversity News Magazine from the City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti for the contribution and help to the 26th Annual Miss Asia USA and Mrs. Asia USA Cultural Pageants held at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, CA. On January 20, 2015, Steven Escobar @DiversityNewsEE received a 2015 Nomination for Shorty Award in #category as Blogger even though he do not consider himself a blogger. On June 2015 Steven Escobar received Certificate of Appreciation to him and Diversity News Magazine as well Diversity News Publications for over a decade of contribution to Southern California especially the City of Los Angeles from Tom LaBonge, Councilmember, 4th District and Herb J. Wesson, Jr., President, L.A. City Council. On May 10, 2015, Steven Escobar received a trophy from Samira’s TV Show for Excellence in Journalism. On 6-4-2016, Steven Escobar was selected to be one of the distinguish and celebrity judges for Miss/Mrs Perfect Lady USA 2016. Steven Escobar founded on April 2016, via Diversity News Productions Diversity Pageants in response to the controversy of no Diversity and Inclusive included in many entertainment award shows, television roles, modeling, media, government roles, movies roles and music, etc. Steven Escobar is the founder, CEO, President & Executive Producer of Diversity Pageants at Diversity News Productions. On November 5, 2016, Steven Escobar from Diversity News Productions received a congratulations letter and Recognition Certificates from the City of West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister and Council! Also on November 5, 2016, he received a congratulations letter and Certificate of Recognition from Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian Representing the 46th California Assembly District. Steven Escobar has been in the USA since 1989. He study at Virgil Junior High School, Mary M. Bethune Junior High School and graduated from Ulysses S. Grant High School in 1994. Steven Escobar also attended Los Angeles City College and Los Angeles Trade Tech College to study journalism. Steven Escobar has 2 sisters and 2 half brothers and a mother. Steven Escobar currently resides in Los Angeles County in the city of Hollywood, CA. For more information visit http://www.imdb.me/officialestebanstevenescobar or http://www.stevenescobar.blogspot.com