Top Stories
179 lawmakers tell SCOTUS not to let taxpayer money-accepting religious preschools reject LGBTQ+ families
The Congressional Equality Caucus said Monday that 179 members of Congress, including 13 senators, had signed a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to preserve Colorado’s power to prevent publicly funded preschools from denying admission to children because they or their parents are LGBTQ+. The brief in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy is led by U.S. Rep. Mark Takano of California, the caucus chair, with Democratic Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsinand Jeff Merkley of Oregon. Its signers include Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar, Nancy Pelosi, and every Equality Caucus co-chair. Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a week. “In […]
LGBTQ Americans Enshrined in Presidential History
As the U.S. marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence this year, LGBTQ history is being fully embraced in presidential history. Advancements in LGBTQ equality and the contributions of LGBTQ Americans are incorporated into the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, and were celebrated at the Center’s grand opening on Juneteenth. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama included the progress made for LGBTQ people during his two terms as president in their remarks at the ceremony. Mrs. Obama paid tribute to her husband’s achievements including “rescuing the economy, ending a war, ordering the bin Laden raid, […]
Texas quietly ended policy to provide trans health care to inmates
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has quietly removed several documents from its website pertaining to the care of trans inmates, according to new reporting by Transistics. That includes the long-established policy that allowed trans people to receive non-surgical gender-affirming care while incarcerated in Texas. Earlier this year, the Trump administration ordered federal prisons to strip trans inmates of their hormone therapy healthcare. That drew alarm from experts who suggested the move violated a court injunction, and one expert in trans healthcare, Dr. Carl Streed, told The Advocate at the time, “It’s essentially saying that a form of evidence-based care will no […]
Local News
Support Positive Image’s Queer Library
I mean who doesn’t love reading! Because I know I do! Getting lost in a new world, a new story, and meeting new characters. Or diving into deep and rich history about our ancestors, our motherland, and significant periods in times. If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit our center and browse our Queer Library, come take a peak! We have over 900 books available for FREE for our community to check out and take home or enjoy while hanging out at the center. While we have a myriad of books available in English, we would love to expand our Bilingual and Bicultural […]
Fall Pride Bowling Starts Soon — Info & Sign-Ups August 25
Sonoma County Pride Bowling Sun, Aug 23, 10:47 PM (14 hours ago) to bcc: me Fall bowling is almost here, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back for another season of Sonoma County Pride Bowling! Before the season begins, we’ll be hosting our Fall League Informational & Sign-Ups Meeting: Tuesday, August 25 at 6:30 PMDouble Decker Lanes – Bar/Lounge300 Golf Course DriveRohnert Park, CA 94928 This meeting is a great opportunity for returning and new bowlers to: We expect teams and lanes to fill quickly this season, so we encourage bowlers to sign up early. Once we reach capacity, we may need to […]
Arts & Entertainment
Now at Rialto Cinemas in Sebastopol: “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World”
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the WorldOne Week Only Starts Friday July 24 3:50 pm & 5:45 pm If poetry had a pop icon, Mary Oliver would be it. Celebrated best-selling poet, Pulitzer Prize-winner, lover of dogs and long walks in the woods, openly queer but intensely private, Oliver was America’s unlikely contemporary mystic, stalking the ponds and forests of Cape Cod for nearly fifty years in order to open herself – and her readers – to the known and unknowable world. From a lonely childhood to literary fame, Oliver’s life was shaped by devotion to nature, paying attention, and the […]
State News
Pro-LGBTQ Pharmacy Vandalized With Slurs
The Davis Vanguard reports: A family-owned Woodland pharmacy was vandalized early Monday morning, with a window smashed near pro-LGBTQ signs and anti-gay slurs painted across another window, prompting community leaders to raise concerns about a potential hate crime and an escalating pattern of online harassment targeting LGBTQ+ supporters in Yolo County. Corner Drug, a longtime Main Street pharmacy, disclosed the vandalism in a Facebook post Monday, saying the damage came after the business had publicly displayed its support for the LGBTQ+ community. “Early this morning the window of our family pharmacy was smashed and anti gay slurs were painted on them,” Corner […]
San Francisco named the world’s best city for LGBTQ+ life, but US cities are sliding
San Francisco has been ranked the world’s best city for LGBTQ+ life, though the study warns that American cities are slipping overall amid the political climate under Donald Trump. The finding comes from the 2026 Sexually Liberal City Index, compiled by adult entertainment platform Erobella, which scored 41 cities worldwide across four areas: sex-work law, LGBTQ+ life, reproductive health and adult lifestyle. San Francisco topped the LGBTQ+ category specifically, scoring 70 out of 100, ahead of Manchester on 62 and Cologne on 61. The city was praised for its enduring community infrastructure, from the Castro to its Pride traditions, and the […]
