Top Stories
Trans voters cheer Dem candidate’s “effective” response ad against GOP anti-trans attacks
Transgender voters are praising Democratic US House candidate Christina Bohannan of Iowa for responding to her Republican opponent’s recent anti-transgender attacks by releasing an ad that doesn’t agree to right-wing framing on trans issues. Some Democrats have responded to similar attacks by saying that they support restrictions on trans people’s civil rights, angering trans voters and their allies. Trans journalist Erin Reed noted that Bohannan’s opponent, US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), has mailed flyers stating that Bohannan “wants your tax dollars to fund sex-change surgery” and adding, “When Iowa voted to protect girls’ sports, Christina Bohannan voted NO.” In her recent response ad, […]
Russia labeled this gay journalist a terrorist extremist. He fled & is speaking out.
Gay Russian journalist Vadim Vaganov fled his home country in 2024, one year after its Supreme Court declared the so-called “international LGBT movement” an “extremist organization.” Russia’s government now considers him, the media outlet he works for, Parni+, and other LGBTQ+ journalists and activists as “foreign agents” on par with terrorist extremists. The Russian government is “generous” in giving these designation to independent media outlets and organizations, Vaganov told the European Centre for Press & Media Freedom in an article published on October 16. The government has already opened six administrative cases against him for his social media posts and journalistic articles. As of […]
German police raid trans health center over suspected prescription drug trafficking: A ‘violent intrusion’
Police in Germany raided a transgender and queer community health center in Berlin during a weekly gathering for transfeminine people on Sunday, searching attendees’ belongings and holding them inside for hours, according to the organization. Casa Kuà, a community space in Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighborhood, said in a series of Instagram posts that officers “forcefully entered ‘The Dolls’, a weekly transfem-only meet-up” at the center. “They identified everybody present, and held them inside for up to 4 hours,” the organization wrote, describing the raid as a “violent intrusion into our space.” Police said the search stemmed from suspicions of illegal trafficking in prescription drugs and allegations that […]
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
Halloween Eve with Thugz at Occidental Center for the Arts on October 30
Friday October 30 @ 7 pm: Halloween Eve with Thugz at Occidental Center for the Arts! Join us on Halloween Eve for a fun night with the THUZ (Tribal Hippie Underground Zone)! Enjoy your favorite Grateful Dead and classic Americana tunes as we dance the night away. Cash prize for best costume. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Tickets $20/$15 for OCA Members at www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org; or at the door. Beer, wine, fine refreshments. Art Gallery open. Wheelchair accessible. Parking available. 3850 Doris Murphy Ct. Occidental, CA. 95465. OCA is a non-profit arts organization with volunteer staffing for events.
Sabbath Lives! Halloween Party at Occidental Center for the Arts Happens October 31
Saturday October 31 @ 8 pm: Sabbath Lives! Halloween Party at Occidental Center for the Arts.It’s a Halloween Party celebrating the Prince of Darkness! Don’t miss this special Halloween performance of Sabbath Lives in Occidental. Well known throughout the Bay Area, Sabbath Lives recreates the classic, heavy, and blues-infused sound of the godfathers of heavy metal, focusing on accurate guitar tones, raw power, and iconic Ozzy-era anthems. With Tom Finch, Kalyan Godden, Dana Miller and Troy Bradley. It’s Halloween so dress up! Cash prize for best costume.Doors at 7:30, Show at 8:00 PM. Refreshments/beer/wine for sale, free parking. Wheelchair accessible. […]
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 […]
