Delightful frozen treats
‘Boots’
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ARTS
Groups learn to work together
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ARTS
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‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’
The
www.ebar.com
Serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities since 1971
Vol. 55 • No. 42 • October 16-22, 2025
A rainbow over the Castro
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From “Major!”/Floating Ophelia Productions
onday’s rain storm brought out a wonderful rainbow over San Francisco’s Castro LGBTQ neighborhood, as captured by resident Steve Ferrario, who said he took the photo in the afternoon from the roof in front of his apartment. The first storm of the season brought moderate amounts of rainfall to the Bay Area, and the Sierra saw some snow.
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy was a veteran of the Stonewall riots.
Trans leader Miss Major Griffin-Gracy dies by Cynthia Laird
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Courtesy Governor’s Office
Governor Gavin Newsom signed several transgender-related bills into law.
Newsom signs, vetoes transgender bills by Matthew S. Bajko
iss Major Griffin-Gracy, a Black transgender woman and longtime activist who once lived in the Bay Area, died October 13. She was 78. Miss Major, as she was widely known, had spent the past several years living in Arkansas and passed away at her home in Little Rock surrounded by family and friends, according to a news release from House of gg - GriffinGracy Educational Retreat and Historical Center. It was there that she entered home hospice in early October, according to friends. She had suffered from various health issues over the years, including a stroke in 2019.
T Steve Ferrario
See page 8 >>
ransgender, nonbinary and queer Californians will see improved health care privacy and access due to a number of bills Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law. Yet, Newsom also vetoed a bill aimed at improving health care access for intersex individuals and others. His doing so comes amid months of criticism directed at the likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender over his comments in podcasts and the press supportive of preventing trans women and girls from playing on women’s athletics teams as a matter of “fairness.” See page 2 >>
SF’s Jazzie’s Place shelter triples in size by John Ferrannini
Courtesy CA Supreme Court
California Supreme Court Associate Justice Martin J. Jenkins
Jenkins to retire from CA bench by Cynthia Laird
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alifornia Supreme Court Associate Justice Martin J. Jenkins, the first openly gay person named to the state’s highest court, will retire at the end of October. The announcement was made October 9 by the supreme court. Jenkins, 71, will have had more than 35 years of judicial service when he steps down. He has served on the supreme court for five years, having been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2020. “I could not imagine a better capstone to my career on the bench than serving on the California Supreme Court,” Jenkins stated in a news release. In addition to being the first openly gay justice, he was the third Black man to serve on the court. Jenkins came out later in life, when Newsom nominated him for the seat on the high court. See page 3 >>
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2017 0 Media a Kit
an Francisco’s only queer adult homeless shelter has tripled in size. The increase in beds is thanks to a $18 million city grant. Jazzie’s Place, at 1050 South Van Ness Avenue, is overseen by Mission Action (formerly Dolores Street Community Services). The Bay Area The Angeles Blade covers Los Angeles and California news, Reporter previously reported that the Los Mission politics, opinion, arts and entertainment and features national and district shelter reached its full, pre-COVID cainternational coverage from the Blade’s award-winning reporting pacity of 24 beds back in December 2023. part But now, a new dormteam. with 44Be beds has of this exciting publication serving LGBT Los Angeles the team opened due to the grant from from the city’ s De- behind the Washington Blade, the nation’s first LGBT partment of Homelessness and Supportive newspaper. From the freeway to the Beltway we’ve got you covered. Housing that was approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in April. The expanJohn Ferrannini sion opened October 1. In addition to the 44 beds, there are also six that are added for single Stephanie Senna, left, Jaime Torres, and Laura Valdez, all of Mission Action, adults not identifying as LGBTQ, bringing the welcomed the expansion of the Jazzie’s Place shelter for LGBTQ adults in San total number to 50. Francisco’s Mission district. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie touted the increase in a statement October 1. So, too, did District 9 Supervisor Jackie members in need of this safety net.” “Since day one of our administration, we’ve been Fielder, a queer woman. Laura Valdez, a queer woman who is the working to address our city’s homelessness and be“The expansion of such vital housing and executive director of Mission Action, recently havioral health crisis because those struggling on services for the unhoused and especially the gave the B.A.R. a tour of the facility before a our streets should have the chance to get better,” LGBTQ+ community is sorely needed,” stated birthday celebration for the late trans and disLurie stated. “With the expansion of Jazzie’s Place Fielder. “We are proud that this program operability rights advocate Jazzie Collins, for whom and Dolores Shelter, we are strengthening support ates in District 9 and thankful that the Dolothe shelter is named. Collins, a Black transgenfor San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community and addres Shelter and Jazzie’s Place have the support der woman and activist, would have been 67 ing beds so that more people can have a safe place needed to grow and provide wraparound serthis past September 24. She died in 2013. to find stability and support.” vices to an even greater number of community See page 8 >>
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