Top Stories
He’d Be the First Openly Gay Man in the Senate
It was a Friday night in an ornate New Hampshire opera house, and Representative Chris Pappas, the Democratic candidate for Senate here, had nearly finished his finely tuned stump speech. He had slammed Washington corruption, promised to fight for affordable health care and lamented high prices, hewing to the message that Democrats across the country believe will win them back control of the Senate. Mr. Pappas didn’t mention the man in plaid, standing amid the voters on the creaking wooden floor, who may nevertheless represent the most remarkable aspect of his candidacy: his husband. Mr. Pappas, 46, is running a […]
This Midterm Season, 5 States Are Voting on Anti-Trans Ballot Measures. What You Need to Know
We’re 10 days out from the midterm elections in the U.S., and attacks on trans rights have taken center stage. Repeating a strategy championed by Trump’s presidential campaign in 2024, supporters of the Republican Party have been flooding the internet and airwaves with ads targeting trans people. Some Democrats have also joined in, campaigning on promises to “keep transgender ideology out of our schools” and stop “biological men playing women’s sports.” While congressional and statewide elections are important, trans rights are also at stake in some of the most influential but oft-forgotten elections: ballot measures. These measures, which give voters the opportunity to weigh in […]
How Republicans Manufactured Anti-Trans Backlash to James Talarico
Texas’ Senate race has become one of the most-watched elections of the year. MAGA Republican nominee Ken Paxton pulled off a rare primary defeat against a well-established 24-year incumbent, while challenger James Talarico has been polling well enough to ignite hopes of electing a Democrat to represent Texas in the Senate for the first time since 1993. This election could have a major impact on issues like education and healthcare prices, which rank as Texas voters’ top priorities. But an outsized amount of coverage of the race has centered instead on transgender people. Paxton’s campaign and its supporters have run several AI-generated ads attacking Talarico’s pro-trans positions. That focus […]
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 […]
