State

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California budgets $26 million to protect access to gender-affirming care from federal attacks

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In a win for trans people, their families, and healthcare providers in the state, California has passed a new budget that includes funds to protect gender-affirming and reproductive healthcare from federal funding interference. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed the budget, which was the result of extensive lobbying from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, including TransFamily Support Services. “This historic investment will help keep care accessible, support the providers doing this lifesaving work, and remind trans young people that California will not abandon them,” said Kathy Moehlig, director of TransFamily Support Services. The 2026-27 budget sets aside $26 million to support gender-affirming care access […]

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LAPD officer could face criminal charges for recording colleagues’ discrimination

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A Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer could face criminal charges for recording his colleagues making homophobic, racist and sexist remarks while on the job. Daniel Flores, who is an officer for the LAPD, secretly recorded the comments before handing the audio over to his superiors as evidence, according to an internal affairs complaint he filed last year. However, recording conversations without the consent of those involved is illegal in the state of California. Flores’ attorney, Greg Smith, told The LA Times that Flores was recently informed that his internal affairs case had been transferred to state prosecutors, who are currently weighing charges against him […]

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Gay Jewish lawmaker running to replace Nancy Pelosi chased from San Francisco Trans March

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California state Sen. Scott Wiener says he was harassed, threatened, and physically intimidated at San Francisco’s Trans March on Friday, forcing the out gay Jewish lawmaker to leave one of the country’s most important transgenderPride gatherings in a city that has long imagined itself as a refuge. Wiener, a Democrat who represents San Francisco and is running for the congressional seat long held by retiring House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, said in a statement posted to Instagram that two incidents this week showed how easily political anger can curdle into something more menacing. Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a […]

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Police on the hunt for ‘The Doodler’ suspect who killed six gay men in 1970s

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San Francisco police have renewed their appeal to identify “The Doodler,” a serial killer who targeted gay men more than 50 years ago, offering a $250,000 reward for information. Investigators believe the killer murdered six gay men between January 1974 and June 1975. Police say the victims were all targeted because they were gay, and that each met the suspect shortly before being killed in isolated coastal locations. Four bodies were found around Ocean Beach, with another in Golden Gate Park. The victims were 49-year-old Gerald Cavanaugh, 27-year-old drag and comedy performer Joseph “Jae” Stevens, 31-year-old Klaus Achim Christmann, 52-year-old lawyer Warren Andrews, 32-year-old […]

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Frameline50: Interview with Brydie O’Connor the director of “Barbara Forever”

Pioneering lesbian filmmaker, former San Franciscan, and Frameline Award winner Barbara Hammer takes center stage in Brydie O’Connor’s Teddy Award-winning debut feature. When Hammer came out as a lesbian in the ‘70s she “took off on a motorcycle with a super-8 camera,” leading to groundbreaking queer and experimental works like Dyketactics (1974) — one of the first-ever lesbian films — and, later, her celebrated first feature, Nitrate Kisses (1992). Throughout her monumental career, Hammer made over 90 moving-image works that often centered on her own life, body, and lovers — a monumental decision when such life-affirming, honest depictions of sapphic people were scarce. Bolstered by exquisitely edited archival […]

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Frameline50: Interview with the Directors and Star of “Mickey and Richard”

Meet Mickey Squires, legendary porn star and notorious alter ego to Richard Bernstein. Diving into the colorful history of gay adult cinema, this intimate documentary portrait from directing duo Ryan A. White and A.P. Pickle (Raw! Uncut! Video!, Frameline45; Big Sur Gay Porn, Frameline47) traces Richard’s evolution from a lanky high school drama nerd to fantasy dream daddy Mickey, charting the joys and tribulations along the way. As Bernstein was catapulted into porn stardom, he had to navigate the spotlight as well as the dark shadow it cast. Grappling with the harsh dichotomy of his personas, Bernstein was confronted with isolation, the death of his partner, drug […]

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Kamala Harris thrills crowd with surprise appearance at iconic West Hollywood gay bar

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Former Vice President Kamala Harris spent part of Pride Month visiting a place that has long served as both a sanctuary and stage for LGBTQ+ Americans. On Saturday evening, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, made an unannounced visit to The Abbey, the landmark West Hollywood gay bar that has occupied a singular place in American LGBTQ+ life for decades. Harris moved through the crowd, greeting patrons, posing for photos, shaking hands, and offering hugs. Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a week. For roughly 20 minutes, according to witnesses, one of […]

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Scott Wiener And Connie Chan Advance In House Race

The Huffington Post reports: California state Sen. Scott Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan are projected to advance in the top-two “jungle” primary for the state’s 11th congressional district, signaling just how enduring former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s hold on the region continues to be. The outcome pits Wiener, a more moderate candidate, against Chan, a progressive who recently secured Pelosi’s endorsement for a district that the California lawmaker has represented for more than three decades. Wiener and Chan ultimately edged out progressive political adviser Saikat Chakrabarti, a former chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who unabashedly challenged the Democratic […]

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SF LGBT Center Presents Building The Block: Rainbow Reunion

Saturday, June 6, 2026 | 12 – 6 pm  SF LGBT Center (1800 Market St), San Francisco Free, Open to All Ages, and Family-Friendly  Building the Block: Rainbow Reunion is our 3rd annual FREE, all-ages outdoor celebration that brings our beautiful LGBTQ+ community together through drag performances, live music, local small business vendors, food trucks, free clothing closets, art exhibits, wellness classes, community resources, and more! Join us on Saturday, June 6th, from 12-6 pm to kick off the 2026 Pride season at the SF LGBT Center!  To get your FREE tickets, RSVP Here. You can also register on the day of the […]

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San Francisco YMCA updates women’s locker room rules after complaint over one trans patron

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A San Francisco YMCA has updated its locker room guidelines following complaints from some members about a trans member’s conduct in the women’s changing facilities. The Stonestown Family YMCA introduced new signage outlining expectations around nudity, privacy, and appropriate use of shared spaces, as reported by The Daily Mail on 25 May. The updated rules state that nudity should be “discreet, limited, and brief”, and that it is permitted only while actively showering. Members are also instructed to maintain personal space and use common areas in a manner that respects the privacy of others. According to reporting, the changes follow a period of dispute involving a […]

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