The Tattoo Gallery in Huntington Beach is hosting “Equal OC” on Saturday, August 22nd from noon until people feel like leaving. The event is being held to raise visibility of OC LGBTQ people and allies who love body art, AND the event will raise funds for the LGBTQ Center Orange County! The Tattoo Gallery is offering special pricing on equality tattoos all day and donating the proceeds to youth programs at the LGBTQ Center OC.
Jasin O’Blaney of The Tattoo Gallery, the event’s organizer, said “This is a personal celebration of my identity as much as it is a celebration of the progress of the entire LGBTQQ community. I put this all together because I wanted to raise awareness and visibility in Huntington Beach. After marriage equality passed in the Supreme Court, I felt like it was time to engage with and support the LGBTQ community in Orange County, particularly its youngest members.”
O’Blaney has tremendous support. Next door neighbor and piercing studio, Tommy T’s, will be donating a percentage of the day’s proceeds to the LGBTQ Center OC. Legendary tattoo artists Tim Hendricks and Miahwaska have both offered up chances to win sessions, Workhorse Irons West and Rinse Cup Clean Up donated tattoo supplies, and Dos Chinos Food Truck and Haloe Boy Shaved Ice are coming out to support Equal OC. Countless others have donated their time and resources.
Stephanie Camacho-Van Dyke, a Youth Program Coordinator at the LGBTQ Center OC, said “With Equal OC, Jason is giving our youth leaders a great gift. Attending Creating Change is a life-changing opportunity that will provide them with insight into the LGBTQQ movement on a national level. Additionally, it will equip and motivate them to create continual and lasting change within the Orange County LGBTQQ community.”
Equal OC takes place at noon on August 22nd at the Tattoo Gallery: 9921 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach, California. Adults are encouraged to come out and get equality tattoos to wear their support of the LGBTQQ community AND keep the robust youth programs going at the LGBTQ Center OC. Do it for the kids!
