VTA’s support for the local LGBTQ+ community is going beyond celebrating Pride. The Silicon Valley public transit agency drove its decorated Pride bus during last weekend’s 50th anniversary parade. The celebration’s theme was “50 years of Love, Legacy & Liberation,” with portraits of LGBTQ+ community leaders from across the nation and San Jose’s own backyard...
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San Jose sweep leaves homeless LGBTQ+ community stranded
Over the years, Columbus Park has become a refuge for homeless LGBTQ+ people seeking safety in community. As San Jose gears up to sweep its largest homeless encampment, members of this population have limited options where they don’t fear being harassed. Diva came to Columbus Park two years ago, drawn to the growing LGBTQ+ population....
Santa Clara crosswalk to honor LGBTQ+ community
Santa Clara plans to paint a rainbow crosswalk to show the city’s support for the LGBTQ+ community amid this month’s Pride festivities. The Santa Clara City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the crosswalk’s installation at the intersection of Monroe and Franklin streets. Mayor Lisa Gillmor recused herself because her office is at the nearby Franklin...
Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ Affairs is a lifeline
With a nationwide rise in anti-transgender sentiment and a federal government stoking the flames, local leaders say supporting the LGBTQ+ community is more necessary than ever. The federal administration has targeted the LGBTQ+ community, issuing orders against transgender athletes and gender affirming care, and suggesting same-sex marriage could be overturned. Amid the unrest, the Santa...
Former Silicon Valley lawmaker lands job with national PAC
A former state assemblymember who made a bid for Congress last year has found another way to enter the national arena — by heading a political action committee supporting LGBTQ+ candidates. Evan Low, who represented Assembly District 26 and previously served as Campbell mayor, is now president and CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, a federal...
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San Jose LGBTQ+ community grapples with Omar Torres scandal
The allegations were hard to believe. Initial reports of a child sex abuse investigation into San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres reeked of a political smear to his supporters, who had yet to see key details, in early October. For more than a year, the District 3 official faced incessant online vitriol for being an openly...
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San Jose LGBTQ+ center namesake embraced everyone
Not much is known about William Price, the drag queen whose name adorns the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center in San Jose. Price, an African American drag queen and activist who performed under the name “Billy DeFrank,” used his performances to fundraise for various causes, according to Gabrielle Antolovich, president of the center’s board of...