Sonoma Valley Pride Hosts A Screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Sebastiani Theatre for 50th Anniversary Sponsored by Wake UP Sonoma, Matthew Long Design and Out In The Vineyards
Sonoma Valley Pride is inviting the community to celebrate a cult classic in true over-the-top style! On Saturday, November 8, the historic Sebastiani Theatre will host a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in honor of the film’s 50th anniversary. Doors open at 7:00 PM, with acostume contest kicking off at 7:30 PM, where prizes will be awarded to the best dressed of the night. The movie screening will start at 8:00 PM.
The night promises outrageous fun and plenty of audience participation. Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite characters from the beloved midnight movie.
“This event is more than just a movie screening—it’s a celebration of queer joy, camp, and community,” said Matthew Long of Sonoma Valley Pride. “We’re thrilled to bring Rocky Horror to the Sebastiani Theatre which first showed the film 35 years ago., We can’t think of a better way to mark its 50th anniversary than by doing the ‘Time Warp’ together in Sonoma Valley.”
Proceeds from the evening will benefit Sonoma Valley Pride and its mission to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community through inclusive programming, visibility, and local partnerships.
Someone threw rocks and smashed windows at several LGBTQ organizations and businesses across town over the past week, according to a statement from the Parasol Patrol, an organization that shields young people and their families from anti-LGBTQ attacks.
The businesses included salons, a queer gym, a boutique and the Center on Colfax, one of the largest LGBTQ organizations in the state. Many of the business owners were friends.
The apparent attacks spanned the city, from Washington Park to Southwest Denver to Colfax Avenue and the River North Art District. A motive has not been determined, though queer-owned businesses say they are on edge and are well aware of the pattern.
Read the full article. My first report on this is here. Watch the video report below on YouTube. The man seen above was smashing windows with a rock.
A federal appeals court will take a second look at whether West Texas A&M University can ban drag shows, setting aside an earlier ruling that found the university’s ban likely violated students’ free speech rights. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday tossed a 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel issued in August and agreed to rehear the case before the court’s 17 active judges.
The panel’s earlier decision had sided with the student group Spectrum WT, which is represented by FIRE, after university President Walter Wendler canceled a campus drag show in 2023. The panel majority said the students would’ve likely engaged in protected expression, pointing to their drag show’s context as a ticketed event organized by a LGBTQ+ student group to raise money for a suicide prevention charity, and that the venue, Legacy Hall, was a public forum.
This year’s mayoral race in New York City is shaping up to be the most-watched and most consequential local election in the country. Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman and Democratic Socialist who cleanly won the Democratic primary earlier this year and maintains a double-digit lead in the polls, is facing off against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the primary.
Analysts argue that this race could have significant implications for the future of the Democratic Party. If Mamdani wins, it will represent New Yorkers’ desire for a politician who leans further left than the party’s traditional values.
These implications extend to LGBTQ rights as well, as discourse surrounding trans people has permeated discussions of the party’s future since last year’s presidential loss.
With that in mind, here are both candidates’ track records on LGBTQ issues.
Andrew Cuomo allegedly runs a whisper campaignduring his father Mario’s run for New York City mayor against Ed Koch. He uses the slogan “Vote for Cuomo, Not the Homo,” referencing Koch’s sexuality. Koch never publicly came out as gay and denied it until his death, but it was known in his personal circle that he was.
“The signs said, VOTE FOR CUOMO, NOT THE HOMO. Andrew says he didn’t do it, and I believe him.”
June 24, 2011
Cuomo signs the Marriage Equality Act into law, legalizing same-sex marriage and making New York the sixth state—and the largest, at the time—to pass marriage equality. The passage of the law is considered a win for gay rights. In a press statement, Cuomo says:
“New York has finally torn down the barrier that has prevented same-sex couples from exercising the freedom to marry and from receiving the fundamental protections that so many couples and families take for granted. … With the world watching, the Legislature, by a bipartisan vote, has said that all New Yorkers are equal under the law.”
June 26, 2011
Two days after signing the Marriage Equality Act, Cuomo marches in NYC Pride and is met with adoration and fanfare. He would continue to be a figure at NYC Pride for the next eight years, but since 2019 has no public record of attending.
Dec. 11, 2014
Cuomo announces regulatory guidelines to help trans people receive equal access to health insurance coverage. The new rules no longer allow insurance companies to deny medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria. The move comes before similar federal protections are introduced in 2015 under the Affordable Care Act, positioning New York ahead of national policy on trans health care.
March 31, 2015
Cuomo bans non-essential state-funded travel to Indiana after the state passes the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The act enables anti-LGBTQ discrimination by saying that being forced to serve queer customers is a burden on their religious beliefs. Cuomo would lift the banApril 4, saying he believes changes made to the law will keep it from being used to discriminate against gay people. The next year, Cuomo would impose a similar travel ban for North Carolina because of their trans bathroom ban.
Oct. 22, 2015
Cuomo issues an executive order that expands discrimination protection regulations to include gender identity, transgender status and gender dysphoria. The move is praised by the American Civil Liberties Union:
“With this executive action, Gov. Cuomo has made it clear that his administration is committed to protecting transgender and gender nonconforming people in New York State. … These clear legal protections go a long way toward allowing transgender New Yorkers to enjoy dignity, respect and access to opportunity in New York.”
Jan. 25, 2019
Cuomo signs two pro-LGBTQ bills into law. The first bans conversion therapy for minors by licensed practitioners and bans insurers from covering the discredited practice. The second, known as the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), amends the state’s Human Rights Law to ban anti-trans discrimination.
“The Supreme Court says you can discriminate against transgender in the military,” Cuomo says in a statement. “We say today—no you can’t. You cannot discriminate against people by gender identity, period.”
June 30, 2019
Cuomo signs a law banning the “gay and trans panic” legal defense in New York. The law eliminates a long-established loophole in hate crime trials that allowed lawyers to argue that a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity could cause a suspect to fly into a sudden violent frenzy such that they hurt or kill the victim. New York is the eighth state to ban the defense.
Enter Mamdani
Feb. 2, 2021
Zohran Mamdani on his first day as state assemblyman. Photo by @Zohrankmamdani/Instagram.
In his first session as a House Representative for New York’s 36th district, Zohran Mamdani backs the repeal of the “Walking While Trans” law, which was disproportionately used to target trans women of color under the guise of curbing sex work. In the 1970s, “wearing a skirt,” “waving at a car” and “standing somewhere other than a bus stop or taxi stand” were viewed under the law as probable cause for arrest.
That same day, Cuomo signs the repeal of portions of the law and says:
“For too long trans people have been unfairly targeted and disproportionately policed for innocent, lawful conduct based solely on their appearance. Repealing the archaic ‘walking while trans’ ban is a critical step toward reforming our policing system and reducing the harassment and criminalization transgender people face simply for being themselves. New York has always led the nation on LGBTQ rights, and we will continue that fight until we achieve true equality.”
Feb. 15, 2021
The Child-Parent Security Act, which Cuomo signed into law in 2020, goes into effect. The law legalizes compensation for gestational surrogacy, opening new paths to parenthood for both LGBTQ and heterosexual couples alike.
Feb. 17, 2021
Mamdani co-sponsors the Gender Recognition Act, which would make it easier for trans and nonbinary folks to change their gender on official government documents. It would also give them the option to choose a gender-neutral marker of “X” instead of the male/female binary and options for gender-neutral parent language on birth certificates.
Feb. 24, 2021
Cuomo is announced as the recipient of the LGBT Bar of New York’s “Community Vision Award” for his “distinguished record of service to the LGBTQ community, including a sustained commitment to achieving equal rights for all members of our community.” Just hours later, a former staffer publishes a story detailing Cuomo’s history of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior.
In reaction, Cuomo is stripped of his award and barred from attending the gala.
Cuomo, April 6, 2021. Photo by New York National Guard.
In an investigation following allegations of sexual assault and workplace mistreatment by Cuomo, The New York Times reports that the governor allegedly told a male official in 2019: “You’d be a good-looking tr*nny if you get a good set of tits.”
In response to the allegation, a member of Cuomo’s team says, “He would never make a comment so vile.”
June 24, 2021
Cuomo signs the Gender Recognition Act—co-sponsored by Mamdani—into law. This is one of Cuomo’s last legislative moves before his resignation Aug. 24, 2021.
June 10, 2023
Mamdani votes for New York’s gender-affirming care “shield law” that protects providers, patients and medical records from hostile out-of-state actions. The bill is then signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. Mamdani’s vote underscores his opposition to red-state crackdowns on trans health care.
Oct. 23, 2024
Mamdani writes an op-ed for the Queens Daily Eagle in support of Proposal 1, a state constitutional amendment which bans discrimination “based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability and sex—including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.” The amendment also introduces legal protections for housing discrimination against LGBTQ people. The following month, Prop 1 passes into law.
Feb. 8, 2025
Mamdani attends a rally for trans youth in New York City’s Union Square and says he is there “to stand up for these children” as attempts to bangender-affirming care spread across the country.
“You need not even know a trans New Yorker to stand up for trans New Yorkers. … This is a trial of all of us to see who we are willing to give up. And our answer is no one.”
March 11, 2025
Gothamist reports that Cuomo hires anti-LGBTQ activist Kristofer Graham to be his campaign treasurer. Graham worked for the Coalition to Protect Kids, a group aimed at defeating Prop 1. Before that, he worked for theSave Our State PAC on Republican Lee Zeldin’s 2022 gubernatorial campaign, which also peddledhomophobia and transphobia.
The decision provokes backlash among former Cuomo allies. Tyler Hack, a trans rights activist and the executive director of the Christopher Street Project, says:
“Cuomo is signaling that trans rights are negotiable to him. … The only takeaway we can make from that is that it’s not an accident.”
Cuomo marches in the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn, September 2025. Photo by Marco.
March 27, 2025
Cuomo does not participate in a mayoral candidate forum hosted by four LGBTQ groups, including The Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, NYC Pride and Power, Equality New York and Lambda Independent Democrats. His absence further alienates him from New York’s LGBTQ community.
April 29, 2025
Cuomo is snubbed by LGBTQ advocacy groups, including the Jim Owles Liberal LGBT Club, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn and the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, as they use the city’s rank choice format to list Brad Lander, Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos. Several groups give Mamdani endorsements. All of them leave Cuomo off the list entirely. The head of Jim Owles credits Cuomo for his past but says he is “unsuitable to be mayor.”
“The gay community is smart. We’re not going to support Cuomo’s baggage. He’s not progressive by any stretch of the imagination.”
Mamdani speaks at Caveat Comedy Festival, May 25, 2025. Photo by Bryan Berlin.
May 22, 2025
Mamdani announces a protection plan for LGBTQ New Yorkers that includes a $65 million investment for gender-affirming care. The plan also proposes the creation of an Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs to “expand and centralize the services, programs, and support LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers need across housing, employment and more.” Mamdani says NYC will become a sanctuary city in an effort to “strengthen and uphold the rights of queer and trans New Yorkers.”
June 1, 2025
Cuomo posts a video celebrating Pride and his past achievements for LGBTQ people. Along with the video is the caption:
“Happy Pride Month! I am forever proud of the work my Administration did in the fight for LGBTQ equality. I will always stand with our LGBTQ community and fight for equality and fairness for every New Yorker.”
Despite this, Cuomo does not attend NYC Pride while Mamdani does.
June 23, 2025
Queer and Jewish influencer Matt Bernstein—known online as mattxiv—endorses Mamdani. This is one of many endorsements Mamdani has received among Gen Z voters and influencers. In one Instagram post, Bernstein writes:
“We need democratic leaders who will tax billionaires, not sell their souls to them. We need democratic leaders who will stand up for the rights of immigrants and LGBTQ people, not throw us under the bus. We need Zohran.”
The Consulate General of Irelandand the Rainbow Honor Walk (www.rainbowhonorwalk.org) will commemorate the life and legacy of Roger Casement — Irish patriot, humanitarian, and LGBTQ+ trailblazer — with a bronze plaque installed on San Francisco’s world famous “Gay Main Street.” The plaque will be unveiled at 4pm on Tuesday, October 28, in the Bank of America Plaza at 501 Castro Street, joining 44 other permanent tributes to notable LGBTQ+ individuals who have shaped world history and culture.
“We are gratified to work with the Rainbow Honor Walk and the United Irish Societies to celebrate the life of Roger Casement, an Irish patriot and peerless human rights campaigner,” said Micheál Smith, Consul General of Ireland to the Western United States. “He stood up for the oppressed across continents and ultimately for the freedom of his own country. He was a gay man, whose truth when spoken in his lifetime was used against him. His memory today reminds us that the cause of equality and human dignity is universal and enduring”.
The ceremony will feature remarks from Neale Richmond, TD, Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Consul General Smith and members of the Rainbow Honor Walk Board. Representatives from Tourism Ireland, the United Irish Societies and community leaders will also attend.
“Never has it been more important than now to celebrate our LGBTQ heroes and heroines,” said Donna Sachet, President of the all-volunteer nonprofit Rainbow Honor Walk. “We are so honored and gratified that the Irish Consulate here in San Francisco is helping us lift up one such hero, Roger Casement.”
“The support we’ve received from the entire Irish and Irish American community has been extraordinary,” said Charlotte Ruffner, Vice President, Rainbow Honor Walk, noting the contributions of local Irish contractors to the effort. “Joe Whyte of LVI Engineering, and Mark Gorman of Gorman Pipeline, Inc., — Grand Marshal of San Francisco’s 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade — have each donated their professional installation services. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
“The United Irish Societies of San Francisco are thrilled to have taken part in this Casement plaque installation- it is truly an honor to help commemorate such an important figure,” said Hilda Kissane, President, United Irish Societies. “ I am looking forward to seeing the plaque in place, and feel immense pride and excitement for how it will inspire others.”
Founder of the Rainbow Honor Walk, David Eugene Perry, also expressed his gratitude.
“30 years ago, my idea for paying tribute to our LGBTQ history has now, literally, spread across the ocean,” said Perry, who along with his husband, Alfredo Casuso, helped initiate the “Rainbow Cities” exchange between Cork, Ireland and San Francisco. “I couldn’t be prouder that the rainbow torch has now been passed to a new generation of Honor Walk leadership.”
About Roger Casement (1864–1916): A diplomat turned activist, Roger Casement remains one of Ireland’s most complex and inspiring historical figures — a man of profound moral conviction and compassion. After joining the British Foreign Ministry in 1901 and serving as Consul at Boma in the Congo, Casement investigated and exposed human rights abuses under King Leopold II’s brutal regime. His groundbreaking “Casement Report” (1904) helped end a 23-year reign of terror in the so-called “Congo Free State,” forcing international reform.
Casement later turned his moral courage toward his homeland, becoming a fervent supporter of Irish independence. Arrested for his role in the Easter Rising of 1916, he was executed in London that same year. Only decades later did the world begin to acknowledge the injustice done to him — not only as a revolutionary, but as a gay man persecuted for his truth and identity.
About the Rainbow Honor Walk: The Rainbow Honor Walk is a nonprofit organization that celebrates LGBTQ+ pioneers and trailblazers with bronze sidewalk plaques in San Francisco’s Castro District. Each plaque honors a historic figure who made a significant impact on history, culture, and civil rights. For more information, visit www.rainbowhonorwalk.org.
Join us for Social Saturday on November 1st from 1-3 pm at Snoopy’s Home Icefor a magical wintery adventure. The public skate session lasts from 1:15-3:30, and guests are welcome to stay as long as they like.
Not a big skater? Enjoy a delicious treat at the Warm Puppy Cafe while you watch your loved ones skate!
All community members will receive free entry to the ice rink thanks to Snoopy’s generosity.
As always, Social Saturday is designed with LGBTQIA+ families in mind, and all ages are welcome at this awesome event
Questions or accessibility needs? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to joy@posimages.org
Opening next month, and co-presented with the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive, this exhibition celebrates Black, Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander trans and gender nonconforming people who lived authentically despite racism, homophobia, transphobia, and class prejudice.
The exhibition highlights both performance and everyday expressions of identity, with works ranging from studio portraits of gender impersonators at Finocchio’s and the touring Jewel Box Revue to activist materials and self-portraits. Featured figures include trailblazing performer Stormé DeLarverie, beloved activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Cuban-born Finocchio’s star David de Alba, artist and writer Red Jordan Arobateau, and many more.
Tryst Hospitality has joined the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) as its newest Global Partner and is now part of an esteemed network of destinations and brands committed to advancing LGBTQ+ travel worldwide.
Tryst Hospitality, founded by entrepreneur and hotelier Tristan Schukraft (he/him), is redefining what it means to travel and celebrate as part of the LGBTQ+ community. With a growing portfolio that spans The Abbey Food & Bar in West Hollywood, The Tryst Hotels in Puerto Vallarta, Fire Island Pines, and San Juan, as well as DS Tequila in Chicago and upcoming locations in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Tryst has become synonymous with inclusive luxury, elevated nightlife, and bold self-expression.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Tryst Hospitality as an IGLTA Global Partner. They’ve long been part of our network, and this next step is especially exciting as Tryst becomes our first LGBTQ+ owned hotel group at the Global Partner level,” said John Tanzella (he/him), IGLTA President/CEO. “We look forward to working together to support and connect the global LGBTQ+ travel community.”
“Tryst Hospitality isn’t just about where you stay,” said Tristan Schukraft, Founder & CEO of Tryst Hospitality. “It’s about creating spaces that celebrate who you are, wherever you are. The only things straight at our venues are the martinis. Partnering with IGLTA connects us with a global community that shares our belief that travel can be both liberating and transformative. Together, we’re making the world a little smaller, a lot gayer, and infinitely more welcoming.”
From poolside drag brunches in Puerto Vallarta to legendary tea dances on Fire Island, Tryst Hospitality’s destinations celebrate the best of queer culture where design, hospitality, and community come together. As an IGLTA Global Partner, the brand will collaborate with other international leaders to promote inclusive travel, support LGBTQ+ economic empowerment, and spotlight destinations where everyone can be seen, celebrated, and completely themselves.
About IGLTA & the IGLTA Foundation
The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is the global leader in advancing LGBTQ+ travel and a proud Affiliate Member of UN Tourism. IGLTA’s mission is to enable authentic travel that enriches lives and connects the LGBTQ+ community and tourism industry. IGLTA’s global network includes 13,500+ LGBTQ+ welcoming accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events, and travel media in 85 countries. The IGLTA Global Partnership program builds strong brand alliances, providing our partners with the context, vocabulary and research to elevate their support of the LGBTQ+ travel community. The philanthropic IGLTA Foundation empowers LGBTQ+ welcoming travel businesses globally through leadership, research, and education. For more information: iglta.org, igltaconvention.org or iglta.org/foundation and follow social media at @IGLTA and @IGLTAFoundation.
About Tryst Hospitality
Tryst Hospitality, spearheaded by Tristan Schukraft, is revolutionizing LGBTQ+ luxury travel and nightlife. Tryst Hotels offer luxury boutique gay hotels celebrated for their design, exceptional service, and vibrant experiences in premiere LGBT destinations like Fire Island, Ipanema in Rio, Puerto Vallarta and San Juan. The company also owns iconic venues The Abbey in West Hollywood, Circo Nightclub in San Juan, DS Tequila in Chicago’s Northalstead neighborhood and The Blue Whale, The Pavilion Nightclub, The Canteen and more in The Pines on Fire Island. With a portfolio that includes iconic LGBTQ+ bars, restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs, alongside MISTR—a telehealth platform offering discreet, free online access to PrEP and other STI services for the LGBTQ+ community and Green Qween, West Hollywood’s first and only LGBTQ+ owned cannabis dispensary—Tristan Schukraft truly embodies the title of “The CEO of Everything Gay.” Plan your escape to the world of Tryst Hospitality at trysthospitality.com.
Friday, October 31 @ 7 pm. THUGZ Halloween Dance Party at Occidental Center for the Arts! Get ready for the most electrifying night of the year at our jam-filled dance party with the THUGZ! Our annual Halloween bash is not to be missed. Dress in your most creative costume, dance under the eerie glow of our haunted house decor, and enjoy spine-tingling fun with thrilling surprises! Take a chance and win our Best Costume Contest! Tickets are $25 GA, $20 for OCA members at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org. $30 at the door. Advance sales end at 4PM day of show. Fine refreshments including wine and beer, wheelchair accessible, art gallery open. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465. OCA is a community-based non-profit arts organization with volunteer staffing for events.
The Trump administration has issued a new rule for airlines requiring an end to gender demarcations besides male or female.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol issued a new rule, citing an executive order signed by President Donald Trump the first day of his new term. The regulation demands carriers to update guidance for their Advance Passenger Information System, or APIS. Under Democratic President Joe Biden, airlines could note passenger gender with as male, female or other, but can no longer afford that recognition to genders outside the binary.
“Existing APIS regulatory language provides that ‘M’ or ‘F’ (M=Male; F=Female) sex markers are to be accepted in the transmission. However, CBP systems had previously accepted characters other than ‘M’ or ‘F’ without returning an error response or requiring resubmission,” the new rule states.
“Effective July 14, 2025, air carriers will have an informed compliance period of 90-days where values other than ‘M’ or ‘F’ in the sex field will not require resubmission. After the compliance period, APIS will begin returning a resubmit or ‘X response’ which indicates insufficient information requiring resubmission, when values other than ‘M’ or ‘F’ are submitted in the sex field.”
That means as of October 12, airlines will no longer be able to submit an alternative gender. The change also makes clear if airlines submit a male or female designation that is different than anything submitted on the original travel document, the carrier won’t face any type of penalties.
Airlines who face questions must call up CBP offices in Honolulu, Miami or New York, depending on the region.
Of note, the ACLU challenged Trump’s order in February, and a judge in June issued an injunction requiring the State Department to issue passports and other travel documents with alternative gender markers. The State Department is continuing to fight in court for the right to revoke or replace those documents and require male or female designations on every form.
But CBP is part of the Department of Homeland Security, and has authority over any international flights to and from the United States.
A CBP spokesperson acknowledged to The Guardian that the gender marker on any traveler’s documents “is not criteria for an applicant’s admission into the U.S.”
