News :: News Columns

Out in the World: Greece becomes first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage

Out in the World: Greece becomes first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage

  • by Heather Cassell
  • Feb 29, 2024

Greece granted the right to marriage to same-sex couples earlier this month in a landmark parliamentary vote, making the Mediterranean country the 38th country in the world to do so.

Political Notebook: Election to bring changes to SF Democratic Party

Political Notebook: Election to bring changes to SF Democratic Party

  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Feb 28, 2024

The March 5 primary will herald a leadership sea change for the San Francisco Democratic Party.

Political Notes: Bay Area legislative candidates would require school districts to respond to LGBTQ report card

Political Notes: Bay Area legislative candidates would require school districts to respond to LGBTQ report card

  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Feb 26, 2024

Candidates in three competitive Bay Area state legislative races were asked to weigh in on whether state action is required to force public school districts to respond to the Equality California Institute's safe schools report card.

Political Notebook: Muslim voter guide raises alarm over 'parental rights' issue

Political Notebook: Muslim voter guide raises alarm over 'parental rights' issue

  • by Matthew S. Bajko
  • Feb 21, 2024

A voter guide produced by Bay Area Muslims is raising alarms for its grading candidates on if they back "parental rights," a euphemism used by those opposed to rights for LGBTQ youth, especially those who are transgender or nonbinary.

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.