News is Out, the collaboration of six legacy LGBTQ publications, will hold a free webinar on Project 2025, the right-wing authoritarian playbook that has been developed by the Heritage Foundation for a second Trump administration. While former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate this year, has denied knowledge of the 900-plus page document, several of his former officials have been involved in compiling it.
The webinar will take place Wednesday, October 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. Pacific time. Reporter Christopher Kane from the Washington Blade will moderate. Confirmed participants include Janelle Perez, a lesbian who is executive director of LPAC, which works to elect LGBTQ women and nonbinary candidates; Allen Morris, a gay man with the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund; gay Pennsylvania state Representative Malcolm Kenyatta (D); trans social media influencer Charlotte Clymer; Kevin Jennings, a gay man and former Obama administration official who now leads Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund; and trans author and Chicago water commissioner Precious Brady-Davis.
The News is Out publications are the Bay Area Reporter, Dallas Voice, Philadelphia Gay News, Tagg magazine, Washington Blade, and the Windy City Times.
The webinar will be livestreamed on News is Out's Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages. To sign up, click here.
Bening to be honored by PFLAG SF
PFLAG San Francisco will celebrate its 30th anniversary Thursday, October 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Trellis, 981 Mission Street.
The organization, formally known as Parents Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays, will honor actor Annette Bening, two-time Golden Globe winner and the proud mother of a trans son, for her leadership and support of the LGBTQ+ community, an announcement stated.
Local entrepreneur Becka Robbins of gay-owned Fabulosa Books will also be honored for the "Books Not Bans" project she and store employees started to send books by and about LGBTQ+ people and topics to community groups across the country, the email stated.
The evening will feature performances by Tyler Reese and special guests Suzanne Swan, daughter of the founder of the PFLAG movement Jeanne Manford; gay District 8 San Francisco Supervisor Rafael Mandelman; Brian K. Bond, CEO of PFLAG National; representatives from both gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Mayor London Breed's offices; and PFLAG San Francisco board members, supporters and friends.
Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased here.
Lee to receive award from ALRP
Outgoing Congressmember Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) will be honored at the AIDS Legal Referral Panel's 41st annual reception Thursday, October 24, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Grand, 520 Fourth Street in San Francisco.
ALRP provides free or low-cost legal services to people living with HIV/AIDS in seven counties in the Bay Area: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, and Sonoma.
Lee will receive the Clint Hockenberry Leadership Award. She will be honored for her lifelong dedication to achieving an AIDS-free generation, including authoring or co-authoring every major piece of federal HIV/AIDS legislation since she was elected, an announcement stated. Lee is leaving Congress in January after serving as an East Bay representative since 1998. Lee ran for California's open U.S. Senate seat earlier this year but did not advance out of the primary.
Gay comedian and writer Bruce Vilanch will also be recognized with the inaugural Bill Hirsh Award for his extraordinary record of volunteering his voice, time, and talent in support of organizations serving people living with HIV/AIDS and the LGBT community, and for unflinchingly and hilariously challenging and lampooning homophobia and political extremism. Vilanch is a two-time Emmy Award winner.
Michael Rooney will receive the Attorney of the Year Award. Rooney joined ALRP as a panel attorney in 2007 and has accepted 36 referrals since that time, often going above and beyond to support clients on multiple matters. In 2023, he contributed over 200 hours of pro bono time to ALRP, including work on two affirmative housing cases for ALRP clients, the announcement stated.
Lesbian comedian Marga Gomez will host the event. Tickets start at $150 and can be purchased here.
Vet offers grief companion workshop
Dr. Ken Gorczyca, in-home euthanasia veterinarian (
The session takes place Sunday, November 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the new Muttville Senior Dog Rescue campus, 750 Florida Street in San Francisco.
An email announcement stated that attendees will discuss how to offer compassionate emotional support and practical assistance to the bereaved through any type of loss; and applicable theories and models, including how to use them to understand and normalize the grief journey.
The focus will be on both animal companion and human companion loss.
The workshop is for the veterinary community, animal guardians, and all humans that want to be more empathetic for the loss of our animals and humans, the email stated.
There will be a one-hour lunch break — people can bring their own meal or dine out nearby; light refreshments will be offered.
Parking is limited; public transportation and ride shares are recommended.
The cost is $125 (10% of proceeds will return to Muttville to help continue its mission of creating better lives for older dogs through rescue, foster, adoption, and hospice.)
The email noted that this is not a mental health training or grief support group — it is a community education event meant to help increase one's courage, confidence, and connections as human and animal clinicians, staff, neighbors, and loved ones.
For more information, see the event page.
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