“ ‘For a local student struggling with her sexuality, it might be helpful for an openly gay mayor to send the message that her community will always have a place for her. And for a conservative resident from a different generation, whose unease with social change is partly rooted in the impression that he doesn’t know anyone gay, perhaps a familiar face can be a reminder that we’re all in this together as a community.’ “ Read the full article in The Gaily Grind … [Read more...]

“Twelve-year-old Savannah stood before her Mormon church community last month and told them she identifies as a lesbian and believes that God intended to make her that way. Unfortunately, she was cut off part of the way through her speech by a church official who asked her to sit down, effectively silencing the preteen as she attempted to share her story. Prior to being interrupted, Savannah offered her powerful and heartwarming personal account about her relationship with her sexuality…” Read the full article in The Huffington Post … [Read more...]

“ The rainbow colors of the Monterey County LGBTQ+ community shouted Saturday during a pride parade with allies in Seaside. Some 700 people took part in the Peninsula Pride Celebration and Parade, starting on Fremont Boulevard and ending at Oldemeyer Center on Hilby Avenue. ...There hasn’t been a gay pride parade in the county for about 10 years, Williamson said. And Saturday’s parade was the first one with an after-parade program. David Reichard, another organizer, echoed Williamson’s sentiments. “It was much bigger than I thought it was … [Read more...]

Join us in celebrating LGBTQ equality, with a night of cheers and thanks to those who have blazed trails for our community. We're honoring pioneers such as Alvin Ailey, Cyndi Lauper, and the creators of Will & Grace (Max Mutchnick & David Kohan) + more! Watch the show June 23rd @ 9pm! For more information visit logotv.com/trailblazer-honors Below are exclusive videos from Logo about LGBTQ historical figures - all narrated by Laverne Cox: Mattachine Society & Daughters of Bilitis -  “The history of gay resistance groups began long … [Read more...]

“Being someone’s only trans friend is a big responsibility. We often become people’s de-facto Trans Ambassador, we are bombarded with questions upon coming out, and we have to clear up misconceptions spread by pop culture and the media, all while also navigating our own new public identity and the feelings that come with it. We know you mean well, but it can be a lot. There’s a do/don’t list a mile long when engaging with your newly-out trans friend, and I wanted to talk a bit about some common ones that I’ve noticed in my first few months as … [Read more...]

“Tam Welch is a queer single parent and a Korean-American adoptee. Welch is also a gender and sexuality specialist at UC Santa Cruz’s Cantú Queer Center and Grand Marshal of the 2017 Santa Cruz Pride. Despite the multiple signifiers attached to identity these days, Welch asked the crowd gathered at Santa Cruz Pride on Sunday to cast aside labels and rally together as a unified, activist whole. “We have seen local activist groups lose sight of the big picture by attacking potential allies. Now is not the time undermine one another. It’s a time … [Read more...]

“At Delta, Rocamora started a peer counseling program. The program aims to give teens an alternative ear to their issues, with Rocamora saying there is a stigma in talking to adults...“It’s nice to have a peer-on-peer counseling because they’re just sort of relating things in an easier way.” Read the full article in The Santa Cruz Sentinel … [Read more...]

Remembering and Honoring: Pulse-Orlando, Watsonville Join Pajaro Valley Pride for an evening dedicated to sharing words, and holding space where we can continue to show our solidarity with the ongoing march for equality. Tragedies like these reminds us that we yet have work to do, and why it's important to stand together regardless of social creeds and backgrounds. Only united in love can we come closer to a peaceful society where these events will only linger as historical memories. Let's share poems, music, thoughts, ideas, and art, which … [Read more...]