The Bay Area Reporter took first place for overall excellence from the San Francisco Press Club's Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards. Writers for the LGBTQ newspaper also took home honors, which were announced December 4 at the press club's gala held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in downtown San Francisco.
The B.A.R. was entered in the newspaper-non-daily category. The award period covered 2023 and the first half of 2024.
Assistant editor Matthew S. Bajko took home first place in sports feature for "Gay Olympian Kenworthy promotes mental health at SF event," having been granted an exclusive interview with the men's slopestyle silver medal winner before his address at the SoFi Child Mind Institute Golf Invitational dinner fundraiser last April. Bajko also took second place for his weekly "Political Notebook column" in news/political columns.
Assistant editor John Ferrannini received first place in the news story category for his article "Long-term HIV survivors fighting for their lives all over again." The piece was made possible by a grant from AARP to the News Is Out collaboration, of which the B.A.R. is a part. Ferrannini took home second place in breaking news for "SF archbishop says priests can deny same-sex blessings."
Finally, the paper's editorial board, consisting of news editor Cynthia Laird and publisher Michael Yamashita, won first place in the editorial category for "Oakland NAACP should cut ties with Scott," about former Oakland mayoral candidate Seneca Scott's history of anti-LGBT statements. Scott is a former executive board member of the longtime civil rights organization.
Yamashita, a gay man, said that he was proud of the staff at the paper's holiday party December 7 at Martuni's. He elaborated in an email.
"I'm proud of Matthew and John for their double first and second place awards for their reporting," he stated. "I was stunned at first and very gratified for our B.A.R. team for winning the Overall Excellence Award, as well as Cynthia's first place editorial. It's great to be recognized and appreciated for these journalism awards by the SF Press Club. Journalism is important work crucial to our democracy."
Sonoma County Pride holds Drag on Ice event
Sonoma County Pride will hold its third annual Drag on Ice event Friday, December 13, at 6:30 p.m. in Santa Rosa on the Old Courthouse Square's synthetic lighted ice rink.
An announcement stated that the festive night will feature unforgettable performances, music, and heartwarming community spirit. The event is a partnership between Sonoma County Pride and the Redwood Ice Theatre Group.
Hosting the night will be MILK from "RuPaul's Drag Race," who will be joined by the duo Shania and Maria Twampson, and San Francisco's very own Tila Pia. The ice skating show will further be elevated by skaters from the Redwood Ice Theatre Company and those from THTR Productions, the announcement stated. DJ Rotten Robbie will keep the beats pumping.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for standing room only, $50 for preferred seating, and $125 for preferred seating and a meet and greet with skaters following the show.
For tickets and more information, click here.
SF leather district's holiday market
It's not too late to get that someone special a kinky or leather-themed gift and a great opportunity takes place at the San Francisco Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District's holiday market Saturday, December 14, from noon to 5 p.m. at SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan Street.
According to the cultural district, there will be vendors, entertainment, and a chance for people to swap gear that will be sold on consignment. (More information is at sfleatherdistrict.org/gear-swap-info/.)
For more information on the event, including a list of participating vendors, go to sfleatherdistrict.org/holiday-market/.
There is no cost to attend but donations are welcome.
SFMTA releases Church and Market improvement designs
Improvements — in the form of a transit plaza — are coming to the intersection of Church and Market streets in the Castro neighborhood, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has announced. SFMTA recently released designs for the project.
In an email announcement, SFMTA noted that the intersection of Church and Market streets has long been one of the most important hubs in the Muni system, with eight Muni lines intersecting within a block. Over 14,000 Muni riders got on or off a bus or train on the street at this bustling neighborhood transit center every day before the COVID pandemic.
SFMTA stated that it has partnered with local merchants, neighbors, and San Francisco Public Works to design a new permanent plaza that will better serve the neighborhood at this key transit hub, creating a lively new gathering space and an improved transit boarding experience.
Features include wider sidewalks, among other changes, according to the design concepts, which can be viewed here.
Full construction of this permanent plaza is anticipated to begin in mid-2026. The final design concepts may undergo some refinements as the project proceeds through the detailed design phase — which will involve coordination with and input from the San Francisco Public Works and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, SFMTA stated. These permanent improvements will not change the existing parking or traffic configuration, the agency added.
For more information on the project, and to sign up for project updates, visit SFMTA.com/ChurchMarket.
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