Top Stories
The trans Chicago democrat fighting to keep AI data centers away from Lake Michigan
Precious Brady-Davis, running for reelection as Commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, has a long history as an environmental and social justice advocate, with work at the Sierra Club, the Beyond Coal campaign, and now as chief strategy officer at Center on Halsted, the largest LGBTQ+ center in the Midwest. The commissioner, 40, brought those experiences to her work at the city agency and gained many fans along the way with her focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As commissioner, Brady-Davis pushed investments in Black and Brown communities facing flooding and expanded green spaces for people […]
Texas school cancels ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ production after girl cast as Seymour
A Texas school district has cancelled a planned production of Little Shop of Horrors after a girl was cast as Seymour, the show’s traditionally male lead, citing Texas Senate Bill 12. Grand Prairie Independent School District (GPISD), in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, confirmed it had pulled South Grand Prairie High School’s musical after senior Ana Mota was selected to play Seymour, a florist who discovers a bloodthirsty plant while pursuing a romantic relationship with his colleague Audrey. According to theatre writer Howard Sherman, who reported on the controversy through his publication Downstage Center, Mota was told approximately a week into rehearsals that she would […]
Too young to vote, these LGBTQ+ teens are organizing for a say in their future
For young people exhausted by attacks on their rights, Queer the Ballot offers practical tools to influence decisions about their lives — before they can cast a ballot. In eighth grade, Bekah Garlikov began taking a screenshot of the news headlines about transgender people every day. He wanted to understand what people like him were going through. What he found initially left him feeling powerless. Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a week. Now 17, the Bay Area high school senior is helping other young people influence decisions about their […]
Local News
LGBTQI History: A Sonoma County Timeline Class Discusses the SCRAP 6 Fight
LGBTQI History: A Sonoma County Timeline 1947-2000. Online via Zoom. On Monday October 26, we will be talking about SCRAP 6, the SoCo fight against the Briggs Initiative which sought to keep gays and lesbians from teaching in our schools. Contact me to enroll and receive a Zoom link: cdungan@santarosa.edu
Positive Image’s Radical Education Center: Know Your Rights, Make Your Voice Heard
Positive Images is excited to spend the next month helping Sonoma County voters prepare for this election season. We want to make sure our community members have the information they need to register, vote, and make their voices heard. For queer and trans people, QTBIPOC communities, and people with disabilities, elections can directly affect our healthcare, housing, and access to community resources. We also know that voting can come with extra questions and barriers. This month, we’re breaking down some common voter questions and myths so you can know your rights and make a plan to vote. What to Know […]
Arts & Entertainment
Elemental Magic Ritual for Midterm Elections at Occidental Center for the Arts Happens October 25
Sunday October 25 @ 6 – 9 pm: Elemental Magic Ritual for Midterm Elections at Occidental Center for the Arts. We’ve marched in protest, written postcards and signed petitions, emailed our reps, honored the boycotts, and we are absolutely going to vote! Is there anything else that we can do? YES! Join us at our Community Ritual using simple elemental magic and our own vital energy to focus attention and bring positive results to the midterms and beyond! Doors open at 6 pm and close at 6:30 pm. Donations appreciated. Questions/info at BohemianExchange@gmail.com. OCA is at 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. […]
Black Gay American Author Urges Black LGBTQ+ Americans to Consider South Africa as Trump Welcomes White South Africans
While President Donald Trump’s administration is opening America’s doors to thousands of predominantly white South African Afrikaners, Black Gay American author Elias Whitfield is encouraging Black LGBTQ+ Americans to consider moving in the opposite direction: out of the United States, toward South Africa and other Black- and LGBTQ+-affirming destinations—to pursue greater cultural peace, financial security and LGBTQ+ acceptance. The contrast comes as the Trump administration plans to set a 17,500-person refugee admissions ceiling for the coming fiscal year, consisting primarily of South Africans from the country’s white Afrikaner minority. Although the administration says Afrikaners face racial persecution, the South African […]
State News
GLBT Historical Society Honors Poet, Artist, Preacher, and Storyteller Marvin K. White October 17
Saturday, October 17, 2026The Westin St. Francis, San FranciscoCocktails: 6:00 p.m. | Dinner: 7:00 p.m. We’re thrilled to announce the second of our 2026 History Maker Honorees, Marvin K. White, Minister of Celebration at Glide Memorial Church and founder of tendesf: art gallery and artpothecary. Born and raised in Oakland, Marvin has performed nationally and internationally as a member of the acclaimed theater troupe PomoAfroHomos and has presented his original work at numerous theaters, bringing his poetic voice into live performance and collective storytelling. His four poetry collections include the Lambda Literary Award–nominated last rights and nothin’ ugly fly, and he helped found and […]
Gavin Newsom moves to shield California transgender patient records from federal scrutiny
California is adding new medical privacy protections for LGBTQ+ adults facing federal subpoenas and expanding access to injectable medicines for HIVprevention. That is thanks to a spate of six new bills passed by the Democratic-led state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday. Newsom said he signed the bills to strengthen LGBTQ+ rights in the state amid a federal crackdown on such protections. Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a week. “The Trump administration has launched an all-out assault on the LGBTQ community, using medical records […]
