Jewel Thais-Williams, a trailblazing figure in the LGBTQ+ community, dies at the age of 86

Jewel Thais-Williams, a trailblazing figure in the Southern California LGBTQ+ community, has died at the age of 86.

She was the longtime owner of Jewel's Catch One in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, a dance club she opened in 1973 and operated for more than 40 years.

Catch One initially provided a safe place for LGBTQ+ people of color and a haven of support for so many during the AIDS crisis and the homophobia that followed.

Thais-Williams was also an activist and advocate for people with HIV/AIDS, serving on the board of AIDS Project Los Angeles and co-founding the Minority AIDS Project.

In 2016, Thais-Williams was honored as the Grand Marshal of the 2016 LA Pride Parade.

In 2019, the Los Angeles City Council named the intersection of Pico Blvd. and Norton Avenue as Jewel Thais-Williams Square, in honor of her contributions to the community. The square is located adjacent to Catch One.

Many in the community are sharing memories of Thais-Williams across social media.

Catch One posted to Instagram: "With heavy hearts, we honor the life of Jewel Thais ‑ Williams (1939 - 2025), founder of Jewel's Catch One, LA's first Black owned LGBTQ+ nightclub. A visionary, activist, healer, and mother to many, her legacy transcends nightlife, reverberating through community health, advocacy, and the fight for acceptance and safety. She welcomed everyone under her roof and transformed our city. Today we honor her spirit and aim to carry forward her message of love, resilience, and unity at Catch One."

APLA Health wrote, also on Instagram: "Today we mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Jewel Thais-Williams, a pioneering activist, entrepreneur, and fearless advocate for LGBTQ+ health, racial justice, and HIV/AIDS care. As founder of the legendary Catch One nightclub, Jewel created one of the first safe spaces for Black LGBTQ+ people in Los Angeles. Her legacy also includes founding the Village Health Foundation, co-founding the Minority AIDS Project and Imani Unidos Food Pantry, and serving on the Board of AIDS Project Los Angeles during the earliest days of the AIDS epidemic. Her vision, resilience, and compassion continue to shape our work and inspire generations of changemakers. We extend our deepest condolences to her family and all the communities she uplifted."

She is survived by her wife Ruth.