Andrea Shorter dies
12
ARTS
Couple shares love of arts
ARTS
08
04
It's Liza!
12
Calum Scott
The
www.ebar.com
Serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities since 1971
Vol. 56 • No. 13 • March 26-April 1, 2026
Youth a large focus of California LGBTQ 2026 bills by Matthew S. Bajko
Steven Underhill
San Francisco Department of Police Accountability Paul Henderson
Gay DPA head faces lawsuit by John Ferrannini
T
he San Francisco Department of Police Accountability and its gay executive director stand accused of disability discrimination and whistleblower retaliation in a new lawsuit filed by a female former employee. The complaint states that Paul Henderson, a gay man who’s executive director of the agency, once showed the former employee a photograph of a dildo. Janelle Caywood filed the suit in San Francisco Superior Court on March 17. She had worked as an attorney and administrative law judge from 2018 until August 5, 2025 for the department tasked with investigating complaints against San Francisco Police Department officers. It also works on resolving issues with other law enforcement agencies. “The city terminated Ms. Caywood because she repeatedly blew the whistle on unlawful conduct in the DPA, including racist text messages from her supervisor, police misconduct case reports being submitted under her name without her knowledge, funds meant for administrative hearings being redirected to hiring and giving raises to the DPA executive director’s friends, misuse of inter-agency work orders, instructions purporting to restrain DPA employees from complaining at Police Commission public comment sessions, and more,” a copy of the civil complaint states. “The subjects of Ms. Caywood’s whistleblowing also began singling her out for negative treatment related to her disability.” Henderson has been executive director of DPA since 2017. The department did not return a request for comment from the Bay Area Reporter. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Henderson denies the allegations. “I categorically deny the allegations made against me and the department and find them offensive to our reputation and proven history,” said Henderson, the paper reported. “The city will respond vigorously to this lawsuit in court.” Jen Kwart, communications director for City Attorney David Chiu, stated to the B.A.R., “Once we are served, we will review the complaint and respond in court.” See page 9 >>
F
rom allowing survivors of conversion therapy to sue practitioners to improving suicide prevention services for youth struggling with their sexuality, this year’s LGBTQ bills package in Sacramento is again skewing toward addressing the needs of queer and transgender young people. The legislation is among the nearly two dozen bills being heard in 2026 that deal with the concerns of LGBTQ Californians. HIV prevention will receive renewed attention in the coming months from state legislators, as gay Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) is carrying a bill to ensure insurance companies aren’t putting up roadblocks for people who want an injectable form of the HIV preventative medication known as PrEP. (See story, page 2.) It is one of several LGBTQ health bills moving forward this year. Employment time off policies for LGBTQ families will also be given another look via Senate Bill 1149 authored by Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles). It would allow workers to take bereavement leave for chosen and extended family members, similar to previous legislation Durazo saw become law that extended paid family leave provisions to workers in need of caring for chosen or extended family members, not merely their immediate family.
Courtesy the subjects
State Senator Scott Wiener, left, and Assemblymembers Sade Elhawary and Mark González are three lawmakers who have introduced LGBTQ-related legislation this year.
And transgender veterans being forced out of the military under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump last year would have access to supportive services offered by the state should Assembly Bill 1775 by gay Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) become law. It would make sure such service members
discharged under the policy would still qualify for housing assistance and professional licensing support afforded to them by the state, as well as be able to utilize discharge upgrade services as they transition back to civilian life. See page 9 >>
Chan, Chakrabarti bring congressional campaigns2017 to0SF’s Castro district Media a Kit by John Ferrannini
G
ay U.S. House candidate and state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has lived in the Castro for almost 30 years, and represented the neighborhood onLos the San The Angeles Blade covers Los Angeles and California news, Francisco Board of Supervisors for almost six politics, opinion, arts and entertainment and features national and years. Last weekend, his main international opponents in the coverage from the Blade’s award-winning reporting congressional race came to his home turf make of this exciting publication serving LGBT Los Angeles team. Betopart their pitches to LGBTQ voters. from the team behind the Washington Blade, the nation’s first LGBT The two major candidates running against newspaper. From the freeway to the Beltway we’ve got you covered. Wiener to succeed Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) are straight allies District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, who represents the Richmond district on the board, and Saikat Courtesy the Chan campaign Chakrabarti, a wealthy tech investor who formerSupporter Stephen Torres, left, welcomed District 1 Supervisor and congressional ly was chief of staff to Congressmember Alexancandidate Connie Chan as she toured the GLBT Historical Society Museum March 21 dria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York). with Arthur Corbin and Dennis Joseph. Chan went on a merchant walk through the Castro Saturday, March 21, and Chakrabarti issues – should consider them, Chan and Chakrabboard President Rafael Mandelman as my vice hosted a town hall with about six dozen guests arti had contrasting answers. chair. We did a lot of work to focus on supportat the Eureka Valley Recreation Center, Sunday, “They clearly have a relationship,” Chan said of ing the LGBTQ community on housing subsidies March 22. her opponent and voters in the neighborhood, for transgender people, arts and culture, cultural It was Chan’s second merchant walk in the “but I think we also have done a lot of work. districts, and especially some of the really crucial LGBTQ neighborhood, she told the B.A.R. in a Along with local support from the Harvey Milk funding for health care, particularly HIV/AIDS, phone interview. club and the AAPI [Asian American Pacific Isboth housing and treatment.” Asked why LGBTQ and Castro-area voters who lander] queer community, … I started out as may be more familiar with Wiener – especially conSee page 4 >> budget committee chair with supervisor, now sidering his work in the state Legislature on LGBTQ
Mission Statement
Join more than 13,211 LGBTQ readers of our FREE weekday email newsletter! Our FREE weekday email newsletter is sent each Monday through Friday at 10am and includes our most recent coverage of LGBTQ news, politics, arts, entertainment, and nightlife – plus special discounts, ticket giveaways, and more.
Scan the QR Code or visit us online at www.ebarcom/newsletters