Top Stories
Whistleblower reveals how gay Trump appointee turned Kennedy Center into corrupt “playground”
An ex-staffer at the Kennedy Center who refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement after he was fired in March is now adding his insider knowledge of the corruption of the renowned arts center to an investigation by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Josef Palermo, hired by ousted Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell in April as curator of visual arts and special programming for the arts center, says he saw “cronyism, incompetence, and a series of bizarre moves that would lead to the Kennedy Center going dark.” Amid “cancellations, shrinking audiences, firings of old staffers and influxes of new ones,” there was […]
Since Tim Cook is leaving Apple, it’s now time for him to really show up for us
When Tim Cook was named to replace the legendary Steve Jobs as Apple’s CEO in August 2011, it was a wild and electric moment, not just for the tech world but for our community. His sexuality was already being widely whispered about in corporate circles, with reports circulating as early as 2011 that Cook was gay, though he was working to keep his personal life private. In fact, in April of 2011, our sister outlet, Out Magazine, named him as one of the most influential LGBTQ+ people in America. Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email […]
Supreme Court passes on case over outing trans students
The U.S. Supreme Court has left in place a lower court decision granting schools discretion over whether they disclose to parents the name and pronouns a student uses. A circuit court in Massachusetts previously ruled that teachers and school staff were not required to provide parents with the information, but parents Stephen Foote and Marissa Silvestri appealed the decision, arguing that the policies of Baird Middle School in Ludlow led their child to be transgender. Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a week. The student asked teachers to use a different name and […]
Local News
Celebrate Pride with Purpose – Advance, Advocate, Act Up with Us! Sonoma County Pride Parade and Festival Booth Registration Is Now Open
We’re excited to officially open registration for the 2026 Sonoma County Pride Parade & Festival, and we’d love for you to join us again! You’re receiving this because you’ve been an important part of our Pride family—whether as a vendor, parade participant, or community partner—and we’d be honored to have you back as we come together for another unforgettable weekend of visibility, celebration, and community. This year’s theme, “Pride & True: Advance, Advocate, Act Up,” is a call to action. It honors the progress we’ve made while reminding us that Pride has always been rooted in advocacy, visibility, and collective power. From the parade route […]
Food For Thought Plant Sale and Garden Tour Happens April 24 & 25
Special Preview for FFT Supporters (Friday, April 24 9:00–11:00 am Public Sale:Saturdays, April 25 and May 29:00 am–12:00 pmGuided tours of the garden and food bank available by request. Get your garden started with ours! Our Garden Manager, Oliver, and Food For Thought volunteers have been busy sprouting hundreds of seedlings for our annual plant sale. You’ll find a wonderful selection of flowers, herbs, and veggies—perfect for spring planting.A big THANK YOU to these generous donors for contributing additional plant starts and potting supplies to support this fun FFT fundraiser:California Flora NurseryChokmalichi FarmsEmerisa GardensHarmony Farm SuppliesSweetwater NurseryWillow Creek Ranch
Arts & Entertainment
Tickets Now Available for “Avenue Q” at Left Edge Theater May 22 – June 7
Winner of the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is part flesh, part felt and packed with heart. The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that, although the residents seem nice, it’s clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates and their ever-elusive purpose in life. Avenue Q is a Tony Award-winning musical that follows a group of twenty-somethings, played […]
Occidental’s First Annual Ukulele Festival happens at OCA April 25
Saturday April 25 at Occidental Center for the Arts. Join us for Occidental’s First Annual Ukulele Festival! Musicians of all experience levels are welcome at this inclusive event. With a festival ticket you’ll enjoy: workshops and jams, performances including evening headliner George Kahumoku ,local Ukulele Clubs’ networking, Open Mic, and more! You will also be able to join a special, optional workshop with George Kahumoku (separate fee applies for the workshop). Don’t miss this fun fest for Ukulele players and enthusiasts! This event is sponsored by Warming Trends of Sonoma County. Tickets are $50 for the festival, $40 for OCA […]
State News
California Bill Would Extend Statute Of Limitations For Medical Malpractice Claims By Ex-Gay Torture Victims
Cal Matters reports: California lawmakers are advancing a new strategy to discourage efforts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Colorado law banning the practice. The strategy: Extend the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims. A bill introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat from San Francisco, would increase the time period during which someone could file a malpractice suit against a mental health professional for trying to change their sexual orientation or gender and harming them in the process. Depending on the age of the person who files the […]
Gavin Newsom’s homophobic Grindr controversy explained
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates after his press office used Grindr as a punchline in posts targeting conservative commentator Benny Johnson—the latest controversy for the governor, who is widely seen as positioning himself for a potential 2028 presidential run. The backlash comes amid broader unease among LGBTQ+ leaders over Newsom’s recent comments urging Democrats to be more “culturally normal” and to spend less time on “pronouns” and “identity politics,” remarks critics say echo language historically used to marginalize LGBTQ+ people. What happened The controversy stems from a series of social media posts by Newsom’s press office during an ongoing […]
