BBC News
By Susan Hornik
image captionLeon Elias Wu has pivoted from making bespoke suits to sporty leisurewear
Fashion designer Leon Elias Wu says that when the pandemic first hit he felt as if he was a character in a zombie apocalypse film . I went into autopilot. my first real thoughts and feelings were concern about my family and loved ones, says the Los Angeles-based 42-year-old. And then I thought about the economy, and how that would impact my business. We had to think quickly. to keep the business afloat during the challenging times ahead.
Mr Wu is a designer of bespoke suits beloved by a number of Hollywood actors, including Laverne Cox, Beth Dover, and Jake Graf.
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It’s a month for merriment as California gets a handle on its COVID-19 cases and we pay tribute to the sacrifices, heroes and the civil rights movement of the LGBTQ community.
But this year’s Pride Month festivities in the L.A. area will look different than they did in pre-COVID years. Landlord disputes and lack of government support during the pandemic have caused several favorite LGBTQ spots Rage, Club Cobra, Gold Coast, Flaming Saddles, Faultline and Oil Can Harry’s among them to close their doors.
“It’s hard work keeping a bar open day to day during ‘normal’ times,” said Markus Molinari, an LGBTQ activist and partner in H.wood Group, which operates Harriet’s Rooftop in West Hollywood. “But since COVID and all the mandatory government shutdowns, it’s damn near impossible to sustain for that long without any real bailout or help.”