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Equality California Announces New Leadership

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, announced the 2019 officers of the Equality California and Equality California Institute Boards of Directors. Presidents Joe Gregorich of Sacramento and Beth Collins of Santa Barbara will lead the organizations’ respective boards during Equality California’s 20th anniversary year. “We’re thrilled to have such dynamic leaders at the helm of Equality California and Equality California Institute as we celebrate this important milestone,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur.“At such a critical moment for the LGBTQ community and our fight for full equality, we’re deeply grateful that they have chosen to devote […]

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Gov. Gavin Newsom Appoints California’s Highest-Ranking Trans Official

Gavin Newsom JP Petrucione will be the governor’s director of digital media, one of several LGBTQ appointees named by Newsom. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed JP Petrucione as director of digital media in the governor’s office, making Petrucione the highest-ranking transgender appointee in the state’s history. Petrucione, 45, was previously global digital director for public policy at Airbnb for two years, according to a Thursday press release from the governor’s office. Before that he cofounded and was managing partner at Social Stream Media and worked as a consultant at Storefront Political Media in San Francisco. When Newsom was mayor of San […]

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500 People Show up to Drag Queen Story Hour, Following Protests

Drag queen Bella Aldama reads to a large group of kids and parents during Drag Queen Story Hour16 February 2019    17:44 GMTRafaella Gunz An estimated 500 people showed up to attend a San Francisco-based Drag Queen Story Hour on Monday, 11 February. This huge gathering at the Brentwood Community Center showed support for the event after a small group of anti-LGBTI protesters deemed the event ‘inappropriate’ for children. Contra Costa County Libraries, who hosted this event, was not expecting such a huge turnout. At the event, drag queen Bella Aldama read children’s stories to the youngest guests. ‘The Contra Costa County […]

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San Francisco Approves Leather-Themed “Eagle Plaza”

San Francisco Curbed reports: San Francisco Mayor London Breed says that she’s signed legislation giving the go-ahead to Eagle Plaza, a long planned new park in west SoMa nearly four years in the making. The designs for the 12,500-square-foot space include a prominent Leather Pride flag to acknowledge SoMa’s history with the LGBTQ and leather communities. The Eagle Plaza name derives from the nearby San Francisco Eagle gay bar. Upon signing, Breed said in a public statement that Eagle Plaza “will be a place where we can recognize the Leather community and all LGBTQ people for their contributions to Western SOMA […]

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Sex Workers And Supporters Applaud Protection Bill SB233

The Erotic Service Providers Legal, Education and Research Project (ESPLERP) applauds California Senator Scott Wiener for proposing changes to legislation that would protect anyone reporting a serious crime (such as sexual assault, trafficking, robbery, assault, …or other violent crime) from being charged with prostitution under California Penal Code 647. Senator Weiner’s legislation is being announced in a press conference  at 10am at the Saint James Infirmary 730 Polk Street 4th Floor San Francisco on Monday Feb. 11, 2019. The new proposal advances women’s rights. It protects all women regardless of what they do for a living or how they conduct their personal […]

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Devoted to His Country, Dismissed by Trump

Rudy Akbarian is a transgender veteran of the United States Army. – Advertisement – Akbarian, a descendent of Armenian ancestry, is not only filled with patriotism for serving in his country’s military but he is also willing to die for his country and defend its national ethos. Its ethos are, essentially, an amalgamation of ideals which include democracy, liberty and equality.  He is often asked, in light of Donald Trump’s presidency and, most recently, the Supreme Court-approved ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, how he can remain devoted to serving a country which, oftentimes, seems to disown people like him.  […]

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San Francisco Police Issue Sketch of 1970s Serial Killer of Gay Men

Police in San Francisco have released an updated artist’s impression of a serial homicide suspect. The so-called ‘Doodler’ attacked gay men in the mid-1970s. Police wish to question him in connection with the slayings of five gay men. These occurred in the Ocean Beach area between 1974-1975. Police believe the murderer could be the same person who attacked two gay men at the Fox Plaza Apartments, 1390 Market Street, in July 1975. The suspect was dubbed ‘the doodler’ because one victim at Fox Plaza said he first encountered him, prior to being attacked, drawing caricatures at a former all-night diner on the […]

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Gay Men’s Chorus of LA Leader Steps Down after Claims of Sexual Misconduct

One of the most well known gay men in Los Angeles is stepping down after claims of sexual misconduct. John Duran, also the mayor of West Hollywood, has denied allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. However, he is also stepping down from his post at the end of the season. Three chorus members accuse West Hollywood mayor of sexual misconduct Three current or former chorus members have accused Duran of inappropriate comments or touching. Jason Tong has accused Doran of slipping his hand inside the waistband of his underwear in a changing room before a show. He described the alleged […]

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Ca State Senator Introduces Bill to Stop Unnecessary Surgery on Intersex Babies

Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and a coalition of civil rights, intersex, healthcare and LGBT advocates announced legislation to ensure intersex babies – “intersex” being a term used for people born with variations in their sex characteristics, including genitalia – can provide informed consent before undergoing medically unnecessary surgeries that can effectively assign them a gender (before they can decide for themselves) and that can irreversibly harm them. Senate Bill 201 would not prohibit treatment or surgery when it is medically necessary; it simply prohibits cosmetic surgeries on babies that are medically unnecessary and based on a desire to […]

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Jussie Smollett Strikes Emotional Chord: Bashers Won’t Win

 Jussie Smollett was blunt, emotional and defiantly determined Saturday night at a Southern California concert some urged him not to play, telling the crowd before singing a note that he had to go on with the show because he couldn’t let his attackers win. “The most important thing I can say is ’thank you so much, and I’m OK,” said the “Empire” actor and R&B singer from the stage at the Troubadour in West Hollywood in his first public appearance since he reported to police in Chicago on Tuesday that two masked men had assaulted him and put a rope […]

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