News :: News Columns

Transmissions: Bad intentions, bad compromises

Transmissions: Bad intentions, bad compromises

  • by Gwendolyn Ann Smith
  • Feb 21, 2024

I regularly discuss the astounding amount of legislation put forth by lawmakers across the country aimed squarely at trans rights.

News Briefs: Cathedral City to hold 8th LGBT Days event

News Briefs: Cathedral City to hold 8th LGBT Days event

  • by Cynthia Laird
  • Feb 21, 2024

California's Pride season kicks off with the eighth annual LGBT Days in Cathedral City March 8-10.

Out in the World: Queer Palestinians unenthused by SF Pride's call for ceasefire

Out in the World: Queer Palestinians unenthused by SF Pride's call for ceasefire

  • by Heather Cassell
  • Feb 16, 2024

Some queer Palestinians and their supporters met San Francisco Pride's call for a ceasefire and to free the hostages in the Israel-Hamas war with lackluster enthusiasm.

Political Notebook: In Central Valley, gay Wasco mayor Garcia seeks supervisor seat

Political Notebook: In Central Valley, gay Wasco mayor Garcia seeks supervisor seat

  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Feb 14, 2024

Back in 2013 Alex Garcia moved to San Francisco to work on placing a statewide hospital reform measure on the ballot.

Business Briefing: Googler Prozan chairs tech industry's SF 'voice'

Business Briefing: Googler Prozan chairs tech industry's SF 'voice'

  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Feb 14, 2024

For the third year in a row Rebecca Prozan is chairing the advocacy organization sf.citi, which bills itself as "the voice" for the various technology businesses that have a footprint in San Francisco.

News Briefs: Former trans law center ED moves to task force

News Briefs: Former trans law center ED moves to task force

  • by Cynthia Laird
  • Feb 14, 2024

Kris Hayashi, formerly the executive director of the Oakland-based Transgender Law Center, has been hired for a top position with the National LGBTQ Task Force.

LGBTQ Agenda: Survey says more than 1 in 4 Gen Z adults are not straight

LGBTQ Agenda: Survey says more than 1 in 4 Gen Z adults are not straight

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Feb 13, 2024

A survey released last month shows 28% of Generation Z adults identify as something other than straight.

Political Notes: 2024 elections could bring Wiener allies on restricting intersex surgeries

Political Notes: 2024 elections could bring Wiener allies on restricting intersex surgeries

  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Feb 12, 2024

Over the course of four successive legislative sessions, starting in 2019, gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) repeatedly tried to pass legislation that would ban medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children.

Out in the World: Rights group takes Meta to task for not protecting LGBTQ people

Out in the World: Rights group takes Meta to task for not protecting LGBTQ people

  • by Heather Cassell
  • Feb 8, 2024

Human Rights Watch called for social media network giant Meta to lead the industry in protecting LGBTQ people around the world with the launch of its #SecureOurSocials campaign.

Political Notebook:  East Bay bi councilwoman Rubio seeks state Senate seat

Political Notebook: East Bay bi councilwoman Rubio seeks state Senate seat

  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Feb 7, 2024

For nearly three decades Marisol Rubio's top priority has been taking care of her daughter, Alexandria, who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer shortly after being born.

News Briefs: Two-Spirit powwow celebrates Native culture

News Briefs: Two-Spirit powwow celebrates Native culture

  • by Cynthia Laird
  • Feb 7, 2024

This year's Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits 13th annual Powwow will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the LGBTQ group's founding.

Transmissions: Send in the clowns

Transmissions: Send in the clowns

  • by Gwendolyn Ann Smith
  • Feb 7, 2024

Today, I want to talk to you about clowns. No, I am not slyly referring to the various Republican politicians who are filing ever more draconian bills to squash transgender freedom across our country, though the thought had occurred to me.

LGBTQ Agenda: Report on global conversion therapy misinformation finds some improvement

LGBTQ Agenda: Report on global conversion therapy misinformation finds some improvement

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Feb 6, 2024

An Alabama-based nonprofit that studies hate and extremism has come out with a follow-up report about so-called conversion therapy on search engines and social media platforms that has found some improvement over the last two years.

Political Notes: Senator Butler addresses LGBTQ federal judges, AIDS funds, and 2024 races

Political Notes: Senator Butler addresses LGBTQ federal judges, AIDS funds, and 2024 races

  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Feb 5, 2024

While in San Francisco recently lesbian U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler praised President Joe Biden's efforts to diversify the judicial branch and argued for the renewal of a global AIDS fund that conservative Republicans have targeted over abortion rights.