Bay Area Reporter, America's LGBTQ Newspaper since 1971

Castro merchants want to be shoppers’ home for the holidays The Castro Merchants Association wants shoppers and revelers alike to know that the city’s LGBTQ neighborhood is their home away from home for the holidays.

The Castro Merchants Association wants shoppers and revelers alike to know that the city’s LGBTQ neighborhood is their home away from home for the holidays. Members noted that the recent holiday tree lighting was just the beginning. www.ebar.com/story/160923...

Editorial: Johnson must condemn GOP anti-trans rhetoric U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has a knack for wiggling out of situations.

The B.A.R. editorial board calls on House Speaker Mike Johnson to condemn anti-trans rhetoric.

Guest Opinion: It’s time for San Francisco’s 1st gay member of Congress This week, President Donald Trump tried to cancel World AIDS Day – but San Francisco recognized it anyway.

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) wrote this week's guest opinion about his congressional run.

Obituaries: Richard “Dick” Schulist The obituary for Richard “Dick” Schulist, who built a career in the financial services profession.

The obituary for Richard “Dick” Schulist, who built a career in the financial services profession.

News Briefs: Transit agencies embrace holiday cheer The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and BART are embracing the holiday season with gift ideas and events.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and BART are embracing the holiday season with gift ideas and events.

Political Notebook: Gay SF school board prez gears up for election bid More than a year after being appointed to his oversight body, gay San Francisco school board president Phil Kim is gearing up to seek election to his seat.

More than a year after being appointed to his oversight body, gay San Francisco school board president Phil Kim is gearing up to seek election to his seat.

Take our LGBTQ Best of the Bay survey today, which will be part of our historic 55th anniversary issue next year! www.surveymonkey.com/r/besties2026

Vinyl variety for the holidays from Elton John, Pansy Division and more Whether there’s a music fan on your gift-giving list or you yourself want a tuneful self-gift, enjoy classic album reissues from Elton John, Pansy Division, Thompson Twins, KT Tunstall and Fall Out Bo...

Whether there’s a music fan on your gift-giving list or you yourself want a tuneful self-gift, enjoy classic album reissues from Elton John, Pansy Division, Thompson Twins, KT Tunstall and Fall Out Boy.

Sondheim, side by side – ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ at Shotgun Players and ‘Into the Woods’ at SF Playhouse It’s hard to imagine a better gift for local theater lovers than the chance to see two first-rate productions of Stephen Sondheim musicals running on Bay Area stages simultaneously. It’s a delectable ...

It’s hard to imagine a better gift for local theater lovers than the chance to see two first-rate productions of Stephen Sondheim musicals running on Bay Area stages simultaneously. It’s a delectable holiday treat.

'Elijah' – Short film shares trans Bengali story Writer-director Razid Season offers a quietly crushing short on identity, family, belonging, and existence itself in “Elijah.”

Writer-director Razid Season offers a quietly crushing short on identity, family, belonging, and existence itself in “Elijah.”

Words: Vincent Traughber Meis – Local novelist shares his international stories Vincent Traughber Meis may be a familiar face around the Bay Area, especially in San Leandro, where he has long made his home. But his literary reach extends far beyond the region. The author of eleve...

Vincent Traughber Meis may be a familiar face around the Bay Area, especially in San Leandro, where he has long made his home. But his literary reach extends far beyond the region.

Circus Bella’s ‘Starlight’ celebrates the holidays under the big top Circus Bella, the popular one-ring circus that has kept audiences enthralled for years, returns with a spectacular new show to help celebrate the holiday season. The show will feature all kinds of act...

Circus Bella, the popular one-ring circus that has kept audiences enthralled for years, returns with a spectacular new show to help celebrate the holiday season. www.ebar.com/story/160767

‘Wicked: For Good’ – Second Oz musical film neither flies nor defies gravity If you were worried about annoying sing-alongs interrupting your movie-watching from last year’s “Wicked,” rest assure you have nothing to fear in “Wicked: For Good,” as none of the songs will stick i...

If you were worried about annoying sing-alongs interrupting your movie-watching from last year’s “Wicked,” rest assured you have nothing to fear in “Wicked: For Good,” as none of the songs will stick in your head or bear repeating in any format.

SF supervisors vote to settle 2nd suit against trans income program The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted December 2 to settle the second of two lawsuits against the city and county due to a now-lapsed program that sought to provide guaranteed income to some tr...

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Dec. 2 to settle the second of two lawsuits against the city and county due to a now-lapsed program that sought to provide guaranteed income to some transgender people. www.ebar.com/story/160848

Castro Coffee Co. says there’s ‘room for a solution’ in box office row The proprietor of the Castro Street coffee shop whose lease wasn’t renewed earlier this year told the Bay Area Reporter that he is hopeful a solution will be reached that will see the business remain ...

The proprietor of the Castro Street coffee shop whose lease wasn’t renewed earlier this year told the Bay Area Reporter that he is hopeful a solution will be reached that will see the business remain in the neighborhood.

Castro holiday tree lights up the neighborhood San Francisco’s Castro LGBTQ neighborhood is brighter around this time of year, with homes and storefronts aglow with lighted decorations and trees.

San Francisco’s Castro LGBTQ neighborhood is brighter around this time of year, with homes and storefronts aglow with lighted decorations and trees.

Letters to the editor A reader praises a recent op-ed piece, while another thinks the new elevator is enough change at Harvey Milk Plaza.

A reader praises a recent op-ed piece, while another thinks the new elevator is enough change at Harvey Milk Plaza.

Pelosi attends World AIDS Day in SF Congressmember Nancy Pelosi was one of several officials at the National AIDS Memorial Grove's annual World AIDS Day event December 1 in San Francisco.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) was one of several officials at the National AIDS Memorial Grove's annual World AIDS Day event Dec. 1 in San Francisco.

Milk, Moscone honored at vigil The Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club held the annual vigil for gay supervisor Harvey Milk and mayor George Moscone, who were assassinated at San Francisco City Hall on November 27, 1978.

The Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club held the annual vigil for gay supervisor Harvey Milk and mayor George Moscone, who were assassinated at San Francisco City Hall on Nov. 27, 1978.

New D4 Supe Wong will support family zoning, wants feedback before committing on Great Highway Newly-appointed San Francisco District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong said he will support Mayor Daniel Lurie’s family zoning plan – but will wait to hear from community stakeholders before speaking more abou...

Newly-appointed San Francisco District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong said he will support Mayor Daniel Lurie’s family zoning plan – but will wait to hear from community stakeholders before speaking more about the future of the Great Highway. www.ebar.com/story/160804

‘Judy Garland: We Need a Little Christmas’ – Debbie Wileman hauls out the holly at the Strand Theater Acclaimed Garland impersonator Debbie Wileman will perform songs from her album, “A Christmas Garland,” at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater in San Francisco on December 6 & 7.

Acclaimed Garland impersonator Debbie Wileman will perform songs from her album, “A Christmas Garland,” at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater in San Francisco on Dec. 6 and 7.

‘Golden Girls Live’ returns to the Curran: popular drag parody celebrates 20 years From December 4-21, “The Golden Girls Live: The Christmas Episodes” will perform at the historic Curran Theater. This marks the second year in a row that the popular drag parody plays the theater, and...

From Dec. 4-21, “The Golden Girls Live: The Christmas Episodes” will perform at the historic Curran Theater. This marks the second year in a row that the popular drag parody plays the theater, and the show's 20th anniversary.

Have yourself a merry John Waters Christmas – Filmmaker, author and raconteur returns When it comes to iconic Christmas scenes in movies, none can top the tree-toppling tantrum thrown by cha-cha heels-deprived Dawn Davenport in John Waters’ fifth feature, “Female Trouble." Therefore, i...

John Waters continues to make art out of Christmas, performing his spoken word Christmas tour in cities across the country, including San Francisco on Nov. 30. www.ebar.com/story/160568

Holiday sparkle & style – Celebrate the season with festive performances and events As the holiday performing arts season unfolds, the Bay Area shines as a vibrant hub of LGBTQ artistry and imagination. From glittering drag extravaganzas to innovative reinterpretations of seasonal fa...

As the holiday performing arts season unfolds, the Bay Area shines as a vibrant hub of LGBTQ artistry and imagination.

Holiday sparkle & style – Celebrate the season with festive performances and events As the holiday performing arts season unfolds, the Bay Area shines as a vibrant hub of LGBTQ artistry and imagination. From glittering drag extravaganzas to innovative reinterpretations of seasonal fa...

As the holiday performing arts season unfolds, the Bay Area shines as a vibrant hub of LGBTQ artistry and imagination. www.ebar.com/story/160573

‘Peter Hujar’s Day’ – Photographer’s biopic brings queer poetry of the mundane If you ever wondered what it was like to live in the early years of gay liberation in New York City, without over-romanticizing that era, then the new experimental, shot on 16mm film, “Peter Hujar’s D...

If you ever wondered what it was like to live in the early years of gay liberation in New York City, without over-romanticizing that era, then the new experimental, shot on 16mm film, “Peter Hujar’s Day," directed by gay director Ira Sachs and starring Ben Whishaw, provides that snapshot.

Chopin, Scriabin preludes: Pianist Mikhail Pletnev circles the keys in a new CD Among record collectors there are desert-island discs –the handful of discs you’d take to said isolated island. Now, Mikhail Pletnev has made a recording of the early preludes of Frédéric Chopin and A...

Among record collectors there are desert-island discs –the handful of discs you’d take to said isolated island. Now, Mikhail Pletnev has made a recording of the early preludes of Frédéric Chopin and Alexander Scriabin, and it’s a dream.

World AIDS Day events will evoke the power of community A local TV news anchor will headline the 37th annual World AIDS Day observance Monday, December 1, in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The day, observed across the globe, is a way to draw attention t...

Here's how people will be observing World AIDS Day tomorrow: www.ebar.com/story/160619

News Briefs: Holiday tree lightings usher in season Holiday tree lightings will be plentiful in San Francisco in the coming days.

Holiday tree lightings will be plentiful in San Francisco in the coming days.

Castro-Mission Health Center marks 60 years As they mark the 60th anniversary of San Francisco’s Castro-Mission Health Center this year, medical practitioners and patients are reflecting on what makes it a special place.

As they mark the 60th anniversary of San Francisco’s Castro-Mission Health Center this year, medical practitioners and patients are reflecting on what makes it a special place. www.ebar.com/story/160626