Days after President Donald Trump called Annie Andrews, the cisgender Democratic nominee for South Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat, an anti-transgender slur on social media, Andrews came out against transgender girls and women participating in sports.

Trump called Andrews a “trannie” on Truth Social while attempting to garner support for her opponent, U.S. Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.), the incumbent seeking reelection in South Carolina.

After the president’s use of the slur was widely reported, the incident provided an opportunity for Andrews to explain her position on the ongoing trans debate that has shaped political discourse in the 2020s, despite trans people making up only 1 percent of the U.S. population, according to the Williams Institute.

She used the opportunity to denounce trans rights and pointed out that, as a physician, she had never performed gender-affirming surgery on minors.

“I want you to hear me loud and clear: I don’t support biological men playing women’s sports, and I don’t support and haven’t ever performed gender surgery for minors,” Andrews said in a political ad.

Despite these recent developments, Andrews has previously voiced support for trans South Carolinians. In 2022, she posted on her X account, criticizing the Save Women’s Sports Act, which was signed into law by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster and restricts trans girls from participating on girls’ sports teams.

“This is shameful legislation that does nothing to protect or support women or children in SC. In fact, it is actively harmful. I will always support trans youth,” Andrews wrote in after the legislation passed.

The Los Angeles Blade reached out to Andrew’s campaign about the comments, and asked if she supports trans rights but did not receive a response.

New York’s Long Island, which is just 50 miles from the Stonewall Inn, is a reliably red enclave where President Donald Trump won easily in 2024.

Chris Gallant, an openly gay Democrat running for New York’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Nassau and Suffolk Counties, is trying to capitalize on what he sees as growing frustration with the Republican Party and its ability to deliver for everyday Americans.

The Los Angeles Blade sat down with Gallant to discuss his move from civil servant to the fight for public office, how he has been personally impacted by the changes from the Trump administration, and the recent release of photos from his past that have brought the national spotlight his way.

Gallant has a long record of public service that, on paper, would make him an unconventional but compelling candidate for a heavily Republican district. His résumé includes New York Army National Guard service that began when he was 17, multiple overseas deployments, including multiple tours in Kuwait, work as an FAA air traffic controller, union leadership and service as a volunteer firefighter.

That record of service is central to how Gallant describes himself — particularly as he navigates the unusual combination of being an openly gay candidate, a military veteran, and a Democrat running in a district where Republicans have historically held the advantage.

“My fiancé and I both serve in the military and we built our relationship through trust, timing, and a lot of miles between us,” his campaign website says, highlighting the idea of family values that has become a central part of winning the area. “I’ve been openly gay in the military since just after ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ ended, and I’ve learned to speak plainly, hold the line, and back up what I say. I’ve also learned how to listen — and how to bring people with very different views to the table and actually make progress.”

Gallant said that record, rather than his sexual orientation, is what should define his candidacy.

“I think who I am as a person is an asset,” he told the Blade when asked if his sexuality has played any role in his decision to run. “I’m not running because I’m gay. I’m running, and,’Oh, I’m gay.’ It’s part of my identity. It’s just a part of who I am. But it’s not necessarily on the table because that shouldn’t make a difference on how I’m going to respond in Congress or how I’m going to run into a burning building. I don’t think those things necessarily matter so much.”

For Gallant, the campaign is ultimately about something broader than identity politics. He said he is running because he wants to restore Americans’ confidence in a government that he says has become less about its people and more about the wealthy leaders in charge.

“I’ve always said that part of the reason why I am running for Congress is because I want to restore faith in our government,” he said. “We’re all drastically exhausted with what’s going on in this world, and particularly with Donald Trump being in office, [his] type of politics, and the way he works, essentially. When Biden got into office after Trump won, it was like the release of a pressure cooker… the pressure cooker is just even worse now this second time around.”

He also explained that his experience working inside the federal government has shaped how he believes Washington should approach its problems. Gallant pointed specifically to the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of government and the role of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), arguing that cutting government spending should not mean indiscriminate cuts.

“I understand that we as a nation need to save money, or at least fix the budget or balance it. We are getting further and further in debt … The budget is always a huge issue and something that we definitely 100% need to fix. But we need to do it with experts and, you know, attack these issues with a scalpel, not a chainsaw.”

The chainsaw Gallant mentioned is a clear reference to controversial Trump supporter Elon Musk, who announced he would be heading the highly politicized DOGE agency, where he, the first-ever trillionaire, brandished a shiny chainsaw symbolic of them cutting government spending with no regard for the impact on everyday Americans.

That philosophy, of scalpel over chainsaw, is also part of Gallant’s argument to voters who may be more accustomed to voting Republican. He does not present himself as a traditional politician, but rather as someone whose career outside politics could be an asset in Congress.

“I’m not a politician. This is my first foray into politics, and I think that’s what our politics need. We need fresh new faces, not career politicians. Someone who has brand new ideas, not tainted by politics. So I would say, give me the opportunity to prove myself, because, you know, until I actually get there and I can actually do a job, we won’t know.”

Gallant also shared signs that the political landscape on Long Island may be shifting. He pointed to gains Democrats made across the district last November and said economic concerns could further erode Republican support.

“Last November, in this district we [Democrats] gained 13 and 14 points across the district..And this district lost by 10 points last year. So even just in one year, you can tell that there’s a difference.”

The swapping of support from the Republican side to Democratic reflects the real concern voters have about the economy — impacted by the war in Iran, tariffs, and growing inflation.

“People are feeling it here in their pockets. The cost of living here on Long Island is already high, and things are just getting worse. There’s a lot of promises that were made with this administration that weren’t kept.”

Gallant said that frustration has directly translated into support from some voters who previously backed Trump.

“I know a lot of people who have voted for Donald Trump that have my lawn sign on their front lawn today. If that’s the change that they’re looking for, I’m going to provide it.”

But Gallant’s campaign has been complicated by a very different kind of political issue: the publication of photos from his past that have become a national story.

The photos, which include pictures of Gallant wearing various fetish gear for Mr. S Leather — including a harness and a collar — were shared with the New York Post.

Gallant has consistently rejected the idea that he should be ashamed of the images or that they undermine his qualifications for public office since their Sept. 13 publication. Instead, he has argued that his record of service should be considered alongside a private chapter of his life from 15 years ago.

“I mean, look, I’m totally not ashamed of who I am as a person. Those pictures were taken in my private life. I can still run into a burning building faster than most people. I can still fly a helicopter. And those are from 15 years ago, right? I built an entire life based around my commitment to the military and the Army National Guard.”

Rather than allowing the controversy to define him, Gallant said he hopes it can become part of a broader conversation about privacy and the consequences of living in a digital age — and indicated that this sort of scenario would become something semi-regular for those who grew up with technology.

“The reality is that we live in a digital age.This is what our generation is going to be stuck with. I laugh all the time because this is the reason why Congress and the Senate are about to die in their chairs. They didn’t have cameras and pictures and photos like that.”

“If I have to be the person to wave the banner now to fight and advocate for not only our community but anybody that could be put in this situation, that realizes now that we’re living in a digital age and this is what the future is going to be. It’s, you know, everything’s left online now.”

That argument extends beyond his own campaign. Gallant said he worries that the prospect of having a digital footprint scrutinized could discourage highly qualified and passionate potential public servants from seeking office.

“I understand that getting into public life means that the rest of your life becomes public. I get it, I do. But I also feel bad because there’s a lot of good people out there wanting to do a job in the public world, and they’re just afraid of what their digital footprint might have on them or might — what might exist because we’ve done things when we’re 12 or 15, or 20, or 30, or whatever.”

“I think living in this digital world, I would love to advocate for people to say, ‘How do we prevent some of these things from coming out into the public view so people can still maintain some kind of a private life?’”

For an openly gay candidate, the issue also carries a particular significance. Gallant said his experience has made him more interested in advocating for other LGBTQ+ people who may hesitate to enter public life because of what could eventually surface online.

His own LGBTQ+ policy priorities are relatively focused. He said adding further protections for same-sex marriage in federal law would be one of the issues he would want to pursue if elected, particularly as questions about the Supreme Court’s future approach to marriage equality continue to loom.

“My partner, who’s my fiancé, is currently deployed. We got engaged before he left in December because if the question came up to the Supreme Court — whether gay marriage was going to be a thing — we had to question whether, when he got back from deployment after Christmas this year, whether we were actually going to be able to legally get married.”

“I mean, these are questions that shouldn’t even be questions anymore. So if we can put something like [codifying same-sex marriage] into law, where it’s just not a Supreme Court decision and it can get overturned, like Roe v. Wade, then let’s do it.”

Gallant’s opponent, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), is the two-term incumbent and has a mixed record on LGBTQ+ rights. LaLota has been vocal in his opposition to overturning Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court case that established the constitutional right to same-sex marriage, but he has also been outspoken in his opposition to transgender rights. He co-sponsored and voted for H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would restrict participation in women’s sports based on sex assigned at birth rather than gender identity.

Gallant, on the other hand, has few official positions on LGBTQ+ issues but assured the Blade that, if elected, he would become “an advocate, particularly for the LGBTQ community.”

He also said he believes same-sex marriage should be codified into law and that nondiscrimination protections should be expanded. “I would definitely be pushing no discrimination against anyone for any reason — and that should not have any place in any workplace — especially on the federal government level.”

For Gallant, however, LGBTQ+ rights are only one part of a broader platform centered on public service, affordability and restoring trust in government.

He repeatedly returned to the idea that a member of Congress should be accessible to the people they represent — something he believes his experience holding town halls and working directly with members of his community demonstrates.

“I always find that a record of service and showing up every day at work and in our communities is what’s going to be key and important. And I think that’s what a representative needs to do. As a representative you’re supposed to represent and work with the people that elect you to office. And so that’s what I’m going to make sure I start today.”

Current prediction markets give LaLota a significant advantage over his challenger, with the incumbent holding an 81 percent chance of winning compared with Gallant’s 19 percent.

LGBTQ+ exclusion may be costing Japan as much as ¥16.42 trillion ($10.35 billion) annually, according to a new report by Open for Business, which argues that greater inclusion could help address the economic pressures facing a country with a shrinking population and workforce.

Japan’s population is projected to decline from 126.15 million in 2020 to about 87 million by 2070, according to the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. As the country confronts a shrinking workforce; the economic stakes of retaining talent, improving productivity, and ensuring that LGBTQ+ people can participate fully in the economy are becoming increasingly significant.

Open for Business estimates that the costs extend beyond lost earnings. 

The organization attributes between $25.1 billion to $75.1 billion annually to the excess economic burden associated with depression, suicide and self-harm, cardiovascular disease and HIV/AIDS, and another $12.2 billion to $26.2 billion to lost earnings linked to the LGBTQ+ wage gap.

A 2026 survey by Dentsu Japan, the Japanese arm of global advertising and public relations company Dentsu Group, found that 10.6 percent of respondents aged 20-59 identified as LGBTQ+, up from 9.7 percent in 2023. The survey polled 46,658 people living in Japan.

The report argues that Japan already has the foundations for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion; pointing to public support, corporate leadership, and growing legal momentum. Progress on these fronts, it says, could reduce the economic costs of exclusion, strengthen workforce participation and help Japan remain competitive. 

“For Japan, LGBTQ inclusion is not simply a question of fairness. It is part of the country’s economic resilience,” the report states.

Japan does not legally recognize same-sex marriages at the national level, but partnership systems have spread across local governments. As of 2024, municipalities operating such systems covered nearly 93 percent of Japan’s population. The certificates can help couples access certain services, but they do not carry the same legal status as marriage, including in areas such as inheritance and medical decision-making.

The absence of marriage recognition can leave same-sex couples facing uncertainty over hospital access, medical decisions, and survivor benefits. It can also complicate employers’ decisions about spousal health coverage, relocation assistance and family leave, particularly when policies depend on a marriage recognized under Japanese law.

Japan’s PRIDE Index, administered by the nonprofit Work with Pride since 2016, evaluates corporate initiatives related to LGBTQ+ employees across five categories, awarding Bronze, Silver or Gold ratings. In 2025, 931 companies headquartered in Japan were assessed, with 80 percent receiving the highest, Gold rating.

Despite progress in corporate inclusion, workplace practices remain uneven. 

A 2026 workplace white paper by Nijiiro Diversity found that 55 percent of surveyed employees reported no concrete LGBTQ+ measures at their workplaces. A separate 2025 survey found that 30 percent of professionals had experienced workplace discrimination or bias based on sexual orientation, while 27 percent reported bias based on gender identity. Only about one-third said they felt comfortable disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity at work.

The report also points to disparities in HIV and STI outcomes. 

Men who have sex with men accounted for an estimated 82 percent of newly diagnosed HIV cases in Japan, according to the report. In a separate study at a Japanese gender-affirming clinic, researchers screened 275 transgender and gender-diverse patients and found that 6.2 percent tested positive for HIV or another sexually transmitted infection. All were asymptomatic when tested.

The report also estimates substantial losses from the LGBTQ+ wage gap. 

It puts Japan’s total earned income at about $1.81 trillion, of which LGBTQ+ workers account for an estimated $175 billion, or 9.7 percent. Applying a wage gap of 7 to 15 percent, a range the report says is supported by OECD analysis, yields an estimated $12.3 billion to $26.3 billion in lost wages annually. Japanese research cited in the report also points to economic disparities among transgender workers, who are disproportionately represented in non-regular employment and lower-income groups.

“Public attitudes and many leading companies have moved considerably, but national frameworks and everyday workplace experience have not yet caught up. That creates both a challenge and an opportunity,” said Open for Business CEO Ken Janssens. “Japan’s population is projected to fall from roughly 125 million in 2020 to fewer than 87 million by 2070, while its working-age population is already contracting. The country ranks 14th globally for talent appeal but 55th for talent readiness, according to the report. In that context, Japan simply does not have talent to waste. Every worker who is less healthy, less productive, pushed into lower-paid work or unable to participate fully because of discrimination represents a cost that becomes harder to absorb as the labour force shrinks.”

Janssens further told the Los Angeles Blade that the report’s ultimate message is that LGBTQ+ inclusion is a question of fairness, but in Japan, it is increasingly a question of economic resilience as well. The foundations for further progress are already there. The challenge now is to convert visible corporate leadership and social momentum into consistent practice and clearer protections.

Akira Nishiyama, a spokesperson for the Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation, told the Blade that Japan’s business sector has pushed for stronger legal protections for sexual and gender minorities. 

In 2017, the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, announced a policy calling for nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Its chairperson also stressed the importance of legislation explicitly prohibiting such discrimination in 2023.

Nishiyama added Japan’s laws addressing workplace power harassment cover harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity, outing someone without their consent, and forcing or pressuring someone to disclose or conceal their identity. Employers and local governments are required to take measures to prevent such harassment.

“While such legal frameworks and social momentum continue to advance, a law prohibiting discrimination based on SOGI has still not been enacted,” said Nishiyama. “In other words, legal measures to address discriminatory treatment, such as discriminatory hiring refusals, unreasonable transfers, and coerced resignations, are still insufficient. When legislations are needed to bridge this gap, I believe that initiatives promoted by the business sectors as well as the issuance of clear policies aimed at prohibiting discrimination, will serve as one of the major driving forces in this effort.”

Makiko Terahara, co-representative and leader of the business collaboration team at Marriage for All Japan, told the Blade that the figures are estimates and that the report does not claim legal reform alone would eliminate the economic losses.

“But the connection is real. Without marriage, same-sex couples have no spousal status for inheritance, tax, social security or medical decision-making. Without anti-discrimination legislation, employees have no clear legal remedy. This insecurity drives the concealment, stress and wage gaps that the report quantifies. So yes, I believe stronger legal protections would have a measurable impact on health, retention and Japan’s ability to attract talent,” she said.

Terahara also noted to the Blade the report cites a study finding that living in a municipality with a partnership system was not associated with better mental health. She said symbolic recognition without legal rights is not enough.

“The report confirms that Japanese society and business are already ahead of national law,” said Terahara. “Public opinion and leading companies have moved, and the remaining gap is in legislation. The report shows that marriage equality is not only a human rights issue but also an economic one, and that the cost of inaction is being paid now.”

The Open for Business report can be read here.

Somehow I missed the movie Stonewall, which came out in 2015, until this week! It chronicles the Stonewall riots of 1969 and what led up to them. In it, a small-town boy is outed at his high school, ostracized by his family, and escapes to Christopher Street in New York City. There he meets Marsha P. Johnson, and the rest is, as we say, history.

The fictionalized account shows the brutality of the police during that era, the alliances made, and how our community finally had enough. The rage boiled over into the riots. The uprising shattered the culture of silence and shame around being LGBTQ and shifted our movement to loud, public resistance.

The Second National March on Washington in 1987 galvanized those in our community who were protesting the Supreme Court’s 1986 decision to uphold criminal sodomy laws and to bring visibility to the AIDS crisis. Activists unfurled the first AIDS quilts, forcing our nation and the government to see the epidemic on nightly news and in the headlines.

Out of that protest came the first National Coming Out Day in 1988. It has provided many with the courage to do our own version of coming out. I was living “life in a Northern town” in Michigan during that time, turning 30 and still not out to family or friends. My connection to others “like me” was our gay and lesbian radio group called “Friends of Dorothy,” started by KGAY’s Chris Shebel. Each month, Chris mailed a newsletter to us with news of those of us in our closeted society. We knew that being out could mean the end of our careers in radio.

Within a couple of years, I had the courage to come out to my family. I wrote a letter to Mom and Dad, mailed it off, and waited for the consequences. It was time. Instead, I received a phone call with them crying — not with anger or hostility — but with the pain of knowing I held this secret for so long and that I couldn’t tell them. I was very lucky and am grateful that my parents accepted me.

We think that coming out is much easier today. And because of representation in media and LGBTQ role models like politicians and activists, it is. But there are still stories like the young man in Stonewall of rejection and even violence against those who dare to expose their true selves. We celebrate National Coming Out Day this weekend knowing that so many have come before us to help pave the way for a better world.

Brad Fuhr, your K-Gay Desert Guide

Here’s what’s ahead in sunny Palm Springs!

Head Trip Festival

On Saturday & Sunday, October 10 & 11, the Empire Polo Club is the site of Head Trip, an all‑day electronic music festival produced by Goldenvoice. The inaugural lineup features major artists including Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia, Fisher + Chris Lake, Dom Dolla b2b Kettama, Peggy Gou b2b Four Tet, and Seth Troxler b2b Ben Sterling. With top‑tier talent and a massive festival setting, Head Trip marks a bold new addition to the desert’s music festival landscape. More info

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Joshua Tree Music Festival

The Joshua Tree Music Festival’s Fall Edition runs from Thursday–Sunday, October 8–11, offering four days and nights of live music, movement, mindfulness, and desert magic. Held at Joshua Tree Lake Campground, the festival features artists including Cure for Paranoia, Ácido Pantera, The Breaks, Southern Avenue, Elias Alexander, Jimetta Rose and the VOC, and Future Joy. With three rotating stages, over 100 playshops, Kidsville, visual art, and the Healing Oasis, this community‑centric event delivers a continuous, family‑friendly experience. More info

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Pineapple P*rn Disco T‑Dance and Pool Party

The Sonoran Palm Springs turns up the heat on Sunday, October 11 from 1–6 pm with the Pineapple P*rn Disco T‑Dance and Pool Party, a fundraiser supporting Pineapple Support and its mental‑health services for members of the adult industry. Presented by Falcon | NakedSword and Mr. Man, the afternoon brings a soaked disco vibe with beats by MODGIRL and appearances from stars including Ryan Orion, Zac Barrett, Heath Halo, Sean Xavier, Paolo Bruni, and Trenton Ducati. More info

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People

In the new exhibit People, Impell Gallery presents four artists—Barbara Griffin, Richard Fox, Karen Stein, and Jody Levinson—each exploring unique interpretations of people through different mediums. The exhibition is open Saturday, October 10 from 2–6 pm with a reception, and Sunday, October 11 from 2–4 pm. Located at The Lofts Art District, the show offers a whimsical and unexpected look at how artists see and portray human subjects. More info

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The Purple Room : Anthony Nunziata, The Judy Show!

At the Purple Room, Anthony Nunziata: Romance from Italy to Broadway takes the stage Friday and Saturday, October 9 and 10, with dinner at 6 pm and show at 8 pm. Nunziata blends Italian arias, Broadway drama, jazz standards, and original songs into an inspiring concert filled with soaring vocals and heartfelt storytelling. A classically trained singer and entertainer, he brings humor, emotion, and undeniable charm to every performance. On Sunday, October 11, The Judy Show! lights up the Purple Room with dinner at 5 pm and show at 7 pm. Michael Holmes channels Judy Garland in a high‑camp, comedic musical tribute featuring glamorous costumes, razor‑sharp wit, and surprise appearances from icons like Carol Channing, Mae West, Bette Davis, and more. More info

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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof runs October 9–24, presented by THE BENT. Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize‑winning masterpiece holds deep significance for LGBTQ+ audiences, exploring repressed homosexuality, internalized homophobia, and the destructive nature of the closet. This production highlights the hidden desire between Brick and Skipper, offering a fresh interpretation of Williams’ groundbreaking work. More info

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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat runs October 9–18 at Palm Canyon Theatre, bringing Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s beloved musical to life with humor, heart, and choreography. This family‑friendly production celebrates resilience, forgiveness, and the power of dreams through colorful characters and a score that has charmed audiences for decades. More info

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Native Painting, Ritual and Resilience in the 20th Century

The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum has unveiled A Beauty That Endures, a sweeping new exhibition curated by Tony Abeyta (Diné/Navajo) featuring more than 50 masterworks of 20th‑century American Indian painting. Spanning tribal traditions and artistic lineages shaped by boarding schools and mission institutions, the show highlights the resilience, innovation, and cultural continuity expressed through Native painters across the century. Running through May 30, 2027, this landmark exhibition offers a powerful look at ritual, identity, and the enduring influence of Native art in America. More info

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Kick Bullying to the Curb Wellness Festival

Boo2Bullying brings its fourth annual Kick Bullying to the Curb Wellness Festival to Palm Springs Power Stadium on Saturday, October 10 from 4–8 pm, a free family event focused on youth wellness, inclusion, and community connection. The afternoon features the Wellness Village, music by DJ ACE BOOM, California Mobile Zoo, KONA ICE, face painting by Rainbow Sparkz Circus, and a performance by the Palm Springs High School Cheer Squad. At 6 pm, the Celebrity Kickball Game takes the field with local leaders, youth groups, and first responders. The festival also includes the Teens Off Your Screens™ Recognition Ceremony honoring James Workman Middle School. More info

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Mx. Pineapple Cabaret

The 6th annual Mx. Pineapple Cabaret returns Saturday, October 10 from 7–10 pm at Oscar’s Downtown Palm Springs. Hosted by Sister Roma and Ana Foxxx, with music by Chi Chi LaRue, the night features performances by Brian Justin Crum, Ethylina Canne, Vanity Halston, Pippi Lovestocking, and surprise guests. General admission is free, and proceeds from reserved seating support Pineapple Support, providing free mental‑health services for online adult industry workers—over 70% of whom identify as LGBTQ. More info

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Burgers, Boys & Brews Sunday BBQ

Every Sunday at 2:30–4:30 pm, The Social Cafe & Lounge hosts Burgers, Boys & Brews, a backyard‑style cookout featuring fresh‑grilled burgers, hot dogs, sides, bottomless mimosas, bottomless draft beer, and live male entertainment. Come for great music, cold drinks, and a lively crowd ready for a fun, all‑inclusive brunch experience. More info

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Books, Films and Then Some

On Sunday, October 11 from 3–7 pm, the Palm Springs Cultural Center presents Books, Films and Then Some, a two‑part event recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month and National Dwarfism Advocacy Month. At 3 pm, memoirist Emily Rapp Black joins Corey Roskin for a conversation about her newest book, I Would Die If I Were You, followed by a craft activity. At 6 pm, screenings of Veronica and Buttinskis lead into a panel with Selene Luna, Taryn Manning, John T. Stapleton, and Christophe Zajac‑Denek. More info

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Cast Spooktacular

On Sunday, October 11 from 7:30–9:30 pm, Palm Springs Plaza Theatre hosts The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Film) / Original Cast Spooktacular with Nell Campbell. Fans can enjoy a new 4K restoration, live shadow cast, audience participation, and a costume contest. VIP ticket holders meet Nell Campbell—Columbia herself—for photos and autographs, with doors opening at 6 pm. It’s a spirited, interactive celebration of a cult classic. More info

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It’s Final Round Voting Time — Best of CV

CV Independent’s Best of Coachella Valley 2026–2027 final voting round is now underway, and this is your chance to help crown the winners across the valley’s most‑loved radio stations, personalities, DJs (and many more categories). Thank you for showing us the love already with a strong nomination phase! Our finalists include KGAY 103.1 and Sunny 106.5 for Best Radio Station; John Taylor, E.J. Tyler and Patrick Evans for Best Local Radio Personality; and the dynamic DJ trio — DJ Galaxy, DJ Eric Ornelas, and MODGIRL — for Best Local DJ. Voting continues through Friday, October 23, so cast your vote and help celebrate your favorites in this year’s Best of Coachella Valley! Vote Today

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• Hush-Hush: Vintage Halloween Variety Show of the Highest Class and Caliber • Vocalist Bobbi DeCarlo leads a haunting midcentury revue filled with swing music, comedy, and burlesque on Friday from 7–8:30 pm at Spirit Animal inside Hotel Zoso.
• Billy L’Amour & The Love Notes • This cabaret performance reimagines hits from music icons who died at age 27—Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Amy Winehouse—on Friday from 7–9 pm at Spirit Animal inside Hotel Zoso.
• Hitchcock Retrospective: Psycho (1960) • Film lovers can view director Alfred Hitchcock’s cinematic horror masterpiece starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, and Vera Miles on Friday from 7–10 pm at Palm Springs Cultural Center.
• Brit Floyd – The Moon, The Wall, and Beyond • Musical director Damian Darlington leads this tribute band in replicating Pink Floyd’s soundscapes and laser displays on Friday from 8–11 pm at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa.
• Paint El Paseo Pink • Community supporters unite to raise funds for the Desert Cancer Foundation during an inspirational walk on Saturday at 7:30 am along El Paseo.
• 10th Annual Memorial Ride & Rally • Community members gather to honor fallen officers Lesley Zerebny and Gil Vega with a memorial ceremony and country music tribute on Saturday at 10 am in Downtown Palm Springs Park. The gathering features a police-escorted motorcycle ride, food trucks, and a beer garden.
• Palm Springs Modern Committee Architectural Preservation Awards • Recognize achievements in midcentury desert modernism preservation on Saturday from 6–9 pm at Palm Springs Art Museum.
• Burtonlesque: A Tim Burton Experience • Dance troupe Dirty Little Secrets performs a darkly whimsical burlesque tribute inspired by filmmaker Tim Burton on Saturday from 6–9 pm at Spirit Animal inside Hotel Zoso. Guests will enjoy gothic glamour, campy characters, and dark humor in this adult variety show.
• Unbuttoned: A Boylesque Social Experience • Dancer Michael Silas, former performer for Lady Gaga, presents a bold boylesque performance on Saturday from 7–8:30 pm at The Social Cafe & Lounge.
• Dance Ranch / Country Dance Saturdays • Instructor Rob Ollander-Krane teaches a beginner two-step lesson before open country-western dancing on Saturday from 7–9:30 pm at Step by Step Dance Studio.
• Bylines Film Series: The Insider • The true-story journalism drama screening is followed by a panel discussion on Sunday from 3–5:30 pm at Palm Springs Cultural Center. Presented by the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation, the film explores whistleblowing and corporate ethics.
• Charged Stillness Exhibition • Local artist Tina Roy showcases vivid paintings reflecting the beauty, drama, and delicate ecosystems of the wild desert from through October 29 at Rubine Red Gallery.
• A Queer Arcana: Art, Magic, and Spirit • An intergenerational group of artists explores esoteric knowledge, witchcraft, and spiritual traditions in a compelling exhibit on view through October 18 at Palm Springs Art Museum.

The International Criminal Court this week unsealed arrest warrants for four Taliban officials in Afghanistan accused of targeting LGBTQ+ people, women, and others who defy the group’s strict gender norms.

The warrants the ICC unsealed on Oct. 5 are for Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s supreme leader, and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani. The ICC also unsealed warrants for Education Minister Habibullah Agda and Higher Education Minister Neda Mohammad Nadim.

The ICC last year announced warrants for Akhundzada and Haqqani, as the Washington Blade previously reported.

“In the warrants of arrest, the (Pre-Trial) Chamber (II), in line with current developments in international law, found that the definition of ‘gender’ in the Rome Statute necessitates an interpretation that goes beyond a purely biological conception of sex,” reads the ICC’s Oct. 5 announcement. “It considered that it requires acknowledging the socially constructed roles, behaviors, expectations, and hierarchies traditionally associated with individuals on the basis of their sex. The Chamber considered that these societal constructs, commonly referred to as ‘gender norms,’ form part of the contextual lens through which acts amounting to gender-based persecution under article 7(1)(h) must be assessed.”

“It found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the four suspects are criminally responsible for having ordered, induced or solicited the crime against humanity of persecution, under article 7(1)(h) of the Rome Statute, on gender grounds against girls, women, and other persons non-conforming with the Taliban’s policy on gender, gender identity or expression; and on political grounds against persons perceived as ‘allies of girls and women,’” it adds. “These crimes are believed to have been committed on the territory of Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power on Aug. 15, 2021, and have continued until at least Jan. 20, 2025.”

The Rome Statute established the ICC, which is in the Dutch city of The Hague, in 2002 after 60 countries ratified it.

The U.S. is among the countries that do not recognize the ICC. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday announced U.S. sanctions against the ICC, which he described as a “rogue court.”

Then-ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan in January 2025 announced a request for warrants against Taliban officials over their treatment of women and other groups since they regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. It marked the first time the ICC specifically named LGBTQ+ people as victims in a gender persecution case before it.

A report that Outright International released in 2023 notes Taliban officials have systematically targeted LGBTQ+ people — especially gay men and transgender women.

Taliban officials have subjected them to physical and sexual assault as well as arbitrary detention. The Outright International report also notes Taliban authorities have carried out public floggings for alleged same-sex sexual relations, and have collected intelligence on LGBTQ+ activists and community members.

Artemis Akbary, executive director of the Afghanistan LGBTIQ Organization, on Oct. 5 described the additional arrest warrants as “huge.”

“For LGBTIQ+ people, this matters enormously,” he said. “It strengthens the understanding that gender persecution can also capture persecution based on non-conformity with imposed gender roles, identities, and expressions.”

“This is an important development for accountability in Afghanistan, and potentially far beyond it,” added Akbary.

President Donald Trump used an anti-trans slur against Democratic South Carolina Senate candidate Annie Andrews on Monday as he sought to rally support for Republicans in the state’s Senate race.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump attacked Andrews three times, referring to her as “trannie” while promoting U.S. Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.)’s campaign.

Andrews is running against Graham for a Senate seat in the solidly Republican state.

Earlier this year, Graham was specially appointed to the seat following the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham, who represented South Carolina in the Senate from 2003 to 2026.

Andrews, the Democratic nominee from the state, is a pediatrician that lives in Charleston with her three children. She told NBC News that she will “work with anyone to put South Carolina first.”

“As a mom and a pediatrician, I’m in this race to fight for my patients, my three kids, and South Carolina,” Andrews said, adding that “lowering costs and making life better for families across our state is going to take all of us working together.”

Andrews used the attention from the president’s attack to emphasize what she described as a focus on policy issues rather than the culture wars that have dominated much of the political debate.

“If you care more about your bills than the politics in Washington, this campaign is for you,” she added.

Trump’s remarks have drawn criticism from leaders on both sides of the aisle.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) condemned Trump’s words Monday night on social media, calling his attacks on Andrews “despicable.”

“Annie Andrews is a mom and pediatrician who’s always put her community first — and she’s exactly who South Carolina needs representing them in the Senate,” Schumer said on X.

Former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley, a Republican, also criticized the president’s attack on Andrews, urging voters to “reject politics based on division and hate.”

“This is abhorrent. Elections don’t have to be about cruelty and lies. South Carolina deserves better,” Beasley wrote Monday night on X.

South Carolina has not elected a Democratic senator in nearly three decades.

Andrews’s campaign website does not mention her positions on LGBTQ+ issues.

The Los Angeles Blade reached out to Andrews’s campaign for comment on Trump’s attack and her positions on transgender rights but did not hear back by time of publication.

Michael Kearns is one of those friends who, even after a decade of distance, was always just a phone call away.

Michael died on Monday night, Oct. 5. He was 76. No details or cause of death have been released, but apparently Michael had not been in the best of health.

In a condolence note to the LGBTQ+ community on Facebook, Celebration Theatre posted: “At Celebration, Michael is perhaps most remembered for his production of Robert Chesley’s JERKER. In fact, Michael was due to appear this Sunday (National Coming Out Day) in our Circa: Queer Histories Festival event “Art in the Revolution: Queer Theatre in 1982 and Today”—where he was to reprise selections from the play alongside his longtime friend and colleague Joe Gill.”

Today, a stunned gay theatre and AIDS activism world is mourning the loss of the ubiquitous and creative artist who helped so many, literally touched so many, and probably died not knowing how beloved he really was.

I met Michael Kearns in late 1989. I was a new nobody freelancer at Frontiers Magazine, and Michael called because apparently no one was interested in this new play he’d written. Someone warned me that it was probably all about gay sex and I might not like it. But it was also about AIDS, and that had become my life since 1984. So, I went to his show. Intimacies changed my life.

I don’t remember the location or what happened before or after. What I remember is watching Michael Kearns standing onstage, twirling this red scarf like a magical matador ushering us into his world of six characters as Darien Martus’ score quietly seeped into my bloodstream. These were not people from my world – and yet, their poverty of the soul, their angry loneliness, their reality-shy desperation for love and recognition felt like my world, too, even though I professed to myself that I was none of these things. And, given my pre-sobriety shenanigans, I was gratefully HIV-negative.

I went backstage and confessed I was too mesmerized to talk then. So we met for lunch at the French Market Place in West Hollywood and laughed and swooned with sudden enlightenment and shared story after story for hours. We were both born in January, 16 days apart – he was older. We were both in a 12 Step program. He liked to gossip; I was an old-school journalist. We really fell for each other through our mutual commitment to do what we could to fight AIDS.

Michael confessed that he wasn’t really the Happy Hustler, though he played one in real life – and I had no idea what the hell he was talking about. I knew people in AA and people with AIDS had their own language, but as someone who came out late, I had no idea what gay and lesbian-speak was.

I confess that even though I’d heard enough gay sex stories through AA 9^th Steps, I blushed as he explained Jerker and Dream Man – which Mark S. King says is really based on him and interviews he gave Michael’s theatrical partner, playwright James Carroll Pickett.

That’s when things got intensely intellectual and nuanced, as in Queen of Angels, which was luckily staged at Highways Performance Space – headed up by the brilliant and lovely Tim Miller – where I could go outside and catch my breath trying to figure out the Hero’s Journey.

But as extraordinary as Michael’s writing was and as riveted as I was by his acting – I still have the T-shirt featuring his performance in Charles Ludlam‘s Camille at Highways – I was a political reporter, so I had to find ways to cover him for his activism, as well as his art. Cue Artists Confronting AIDS, which Michael co-founded with Jim Pickett.

“The initial concept of AIDS/US was truly shocking: putting people who had the disease, many of whom were not well, on stage—live—to tell their stories. There were audience members who feared catching the disease from the performers,” Michael said.

Michael became a major source for journalists when explosive stories hit the news – like the death of actor Brad Davis. The 41-year-old star of the film Midnight Express died of AIDS on Sept. 8, 1991. He kept his health conditions secret for six years so he could continue to work and support his wife and child.

Two days after his death, his widow, casting director Susan Bluestein, gave the Los Angeles Times Davis’ book proposal about his struggle to work in Hollywood while secretly having AIDS. The proposal turned into an open letter charging the industry with hypocrisy, homophobia, and AIDSphobia.

Michael felt the crisis would be cathartic, serving as a “real turning point” that could yield jobs. And it served as an opportunity for him to come out as being HIV/positive.

On Sept. 16, Michael told NBC correspondent Faith Daniels that he was HIV positive.

“I felt that not one more HIV-infected actor or anyone else should die in shame,” Michael told me for an article in the Sept. 19, 1991 issue of the Bay Area Reporter. “I’m doing this for all people with HIV. HIV is nothing to be ashamed of. For me to remain silent indicates shame or fear on some level. Taking my cue from Brad Davis, I couldn’t remain silent.”

He added: “This is really revolutionary what’s going on. There’s no way I can’t be a part of it.”

And he was. “There seems to be this expectation that Hollywood should be more evolved than the rest of the world. But Hollywood is less evolved. They focus on the lowest common denominator, particularly in television, which assumes the viewer is homophobic, racist, sexist, and stupid.”

Michael blamed “the relative invisibility of gay themes in Hollywood’s film and TV product, as well as the lack of openly gay actors, let alone openly HIV-positive ones–on ‘self-hatred’ by gays in the industry who are ‘closeted,’” The Times reported.

Michael eventually came out about his 1983 unprotected sexual encounter with actor Rock Hudson, which he was certain resulted in him contracting HIV/AIDS. And, of course, that resulted in another play about homophobia and art.

“Rock was a classic victim,” Michael, tagged as “the only openly gay actor in Hollywood,” told the LA Times in 1992. “He was a victim of this town, of alcohol, of his looks, of the system, of his own publicity. In many ways he was the opposite of me.”

Michael also noted how little had changed after Brad Davis’ AIDS death. “I felt a deep kinship with Brad,” he said of disclosing his own HIV status. “Then the media comes to me, and I’m saying the same things I said six years ago with Rock. Nothing’s changed. There’s been fund-raising and consciousness-raising by heterosexual female stars, but the more subtle, insidious fear has increased.”

Being HIV positive, Michael said in 1992, before the miracle drugs, “makes me prioritize things. And I’ve never been low on the passion scale. Has it made me more passionate to know that my days may be numbered, that there may not be many more opening nights? Of course! So, yes, part of it is good. It’s no different than anyone who has an incredible obstacle and makes something beautiful out of it.”

But Hollywood is still “a scalding cauldron of collusion,” Michael told me.

“What’s troubling is that a number of Hollywood powerbrokers treat homosexuality as a ‘sin’ or ‘immoral’ or an ‘abnormality’ that somehow is to be hidden; they categorize it as a career killer which could result in a loss of box office billing or revenue,” he said. “But they have skin in the game (usually financial), so they collude. They lie, betray, falsify; they are the immoral ones.”

When actor Kevin Spacey was “trolling the halls at Burke Williams, camouflaging himself by putting the hood of his bathrobe up over his head, he was not exactly embracing his gayness,” Michael said. “And when he got in the massage room, alone with the masseur, Spacey insisted on positioning himself for something other than a ‘legit massage.’ Is that harassment? It occurred enough times, according to my very reliable source, that he was thrown out of the West Hollywood location and relegated to Santa Monica (where there were more issues reported). Even in this case, Spacey was being protected by moving him rather than really confronting this issue. Collusion.”

There’s so much more to consider about Michael Kearns – like his love for Philip Juwig. I attended their casual wedding and went to Sherman Oaks Medical Center with Michael before Philip died in 1992.

And I talked with him a lot about his desire to be a father. A lot of his friends, including me, thought it would be virtually impossible for a single, gay, HIV positive man to be “allowed” to adopt. But he did. And he was so happy with his little baby Tia that he brought her to Paul Monette’s memorial at the Directors Guild to show her off. It was close to a spiritual full-circle moment.

Over the years, I became a news editor and had my own blog – LGBT POV – and always tried to make space for Michael’s contributions. One about his daughter Tia – who renamed herself Katherine – is the essay “Bloodless but not Loveless,” which is part of a larger collection entitled What I Would Tell Her: 28 Devoted Dads on Bringing Up, Holding On To, and Letting Go of Their Daughters, edited by Andrea N. Richesin.

“You are my family,” Tia/Katherine says. She reminds me of the many individuals—gay, straight, young, old, black, white, rich, poor—who have helped me raise her since she and I embarked on this journey together.”

This is what I’ll remember: for Michael Kearns, it’s always been about love. And a good laugh.

This is a cross-post from Karen’s LGBTQ+ Freedom Fighters Substack.

Two women sit on a bed, a Pride flag hanging behind them. One is nervous; the other tells her to be calm and that she’ll do “all the work.” The music swells. The two hold hands and —  fill out a ballot voting for Steve Hilton? 

This is the new advertisement from the Hilton Gubernatorial campaign that is drawing rebuke from both sides of the aisle, but for very different reasons. 

Jorge Reyes Salinas, the communications director at Equality California, said the ad was an insult to the queer community.  “This ad is a disgusting attempt to exploit lesbian intimacy for political attention,” he said. The advertisement plays on media tropes that Salinas says “reduce lesbian and bisexual women… to sexual entertainment,” rather than showing them as well-rounded characters. “Any group of the LGBTQ+ community deserves the same dignity and respect as everyone else,” he said. 

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The ad is truly hyper-sexualized. It ends with one woman telling the other, “Now lick it.” The two pause and stare before she reveals an envelope to send the ballot, and large text pops up saying, “Just try it!”  

Salinas characterized the ad as a desperate attempt to get attention from a candidate who is trailing far behind in the polls in heavily Democratic California. The Democratic Candidate Xavier Becerra, who is endorsed by Equality California, holds a 25-point lead over Hilton according to recent polling by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. 

Conservatives have also criticized the ad. Influential evangelical Pastor Jack Hibbs thought the ad was distasteful and said, “lesbianism among college girls and some high school girls that right now is an actual pandemic of social ill.” Republican AG candidate Michael Gates said it undermines “the sanctity of the relationship between parents and their children.” This criticism is rather confusing because although the ad features two relatively young women, they both appear to be adults, not minors. 

“The comments from Pastor Jack Hibbs should be criticized because there is nothing wrong with two women being attracted to each other,” Salinas said. “We’re calling out the ad’s stereotypes, while also rejecting the homophobia in the response to it … by other Republicans.” 

The backlash from Hilton’s own party and supporters shows that an advertisement full of queer innuendo was ill-considered, considering the national GOP’s attacks on LGBTQ people in recent years. Hilton himself has been campaigning against transgender girls and women competing in school sports and using locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity. This context might be why Hilton’s political base responded to the ad just as poorly as the liberal voters he was attempting to court. 

Hilton says the ad is part of a new series rolling out before Election Day, showing stereotypical California liberal archetypes voting for Hilton. He claims these ads are authentically filmed with real actors, as opposed to being A.I. generated, like many of his previous ads. One other advertisement has been released so far by the campaign showing a man at a spiritual retreat also being swayed to vote for Hilton, although it is notably absent of sexual innuendo.

Caleb Kaufman is a California Local News Fellow placed with the Los Angeles Blade. The California Local News Fellowship is a state-funded initiative to support and strengthen local news reporting. Learn more about it at fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/cafellows.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent participated in an interview in which he said his sexuality had no impact on the president’s selection of him.

On Sunday, Axios co-founder Mike Allen interviewed Secretary Bessent, the 79th person to lead the Treasury Department, in the “Cash Room” in the Treasury building. The two talked for more than 40 minutes about issues related to the current administration’s efforts for Axios’s YouTube channel.

Bessent has been something of an anomaly during this administration, breaking what many consider the “gay glass ceiling.” He is the first openly gay person to lead the U.S. Treasury Department, the first openly gay Senate-confirmed Cabinet member in a Republican administration, and the highest-ranking LGBTQ+ government official in U.S. history.

The two covered various ground — about the state of the U.S. economy, the various AI approaches by the Trump-Vance administration, and the war in Iran. All things that have made President Donald Trump’s constant appraisal of the U.S. economy difficult to sell to the American people as the affordability crisis has worsened.

Toward the end of the interview, Allen asked Bessent about deciding not to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, knowing his sexuality would be a hindrance, and instead attending Yale University. Allen asked if his choice to attend the Ivy League school held him back in life.

“I don’t think it did at all, and it’s very difficult to talk about the counterfactual … but I don’t think going to Yale held me back,” Bessent said. “Maybe some people at other schools would think it might. But I think it makes you aware, and I’ve openly spoken about it before, too. I think maybe some of my career choices were influenced by it.”

The U.S. Naval Academy only began allowing openly LGBTQ+ students to apply — and be open about their sexuality — following the 2011 repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Prior to the policy’s removal, students could be removed from the school for violating the rules, including rules related to their sexuality.

“You said President Trump chose me because he believes I’m the best candidate, not because of my sexual preference or your green eyes … ,” Allen said.

“Exactly,” Bessent replied. “And I think that’s one of the reasons we have such a great team. The president makes his decisions all the time. You know, he’ll occasionally tell me, ‘You’re breaking my friends’ hearts.’ They see you on TV and they want an intro, and we have to break the news to them.”

Bessent has been married to former New York prosecutor John Freeman since 2011, and they have lived together in South Carolina. There, they had two children through surrogacy.

Despite being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Bessent has publicly supported Trump’s policies, including some that have drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and organizations. These include reductions to PEPFAR funding, policies removing transgender service members from the military, recognizing only two sexes, removing LGBTQ+ protections from Title IX, and other policies that LGBTQ+ advocates argue come at the cost of LGBTQ+ safety and protections.

The Los Angeles Blade has reached out to the Treasury Department and Secretary Bessent’s team for comment and responses to these questions, including questions about how he views his identity and sexuality in relation to — and potentially at odds with — the policies and mission of the current administration. The Blade did not receive a response by publication time.

The 42nd annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles will take place on Sunday, October 18th at West Hollywood Park. Participants are set to march a two-mile loop around West Hollywood and hear speeches from organizers and HIV/AIDS advocates.

The Los Angeles Blade spoke with Craig E. Thompson, CEO of APLA Health, the event’s organizer, about the continued importance of the fundraising event and the challenges facing AIDS research, healthcare, and advocacy.

“The idea that HIV is over is the most dangerous myth out there,” Thompson said in a written statement. According to Thompson, increased options for HIV treatment and prevention have created a public perception that AIDS is no longer a pressing issue and have led to a decrease in participation and fundraising at AIDS Walk LA. “HIV fundraisers across the country are seeing this decline,” he said. 

But recent federal cuts and policy changes have created new obstacles to ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Congress has proposed cuts that would strip away nearly one billion dollars in HIV funding, mainly impacting prevention and outreach. And earlier this year, the Trump-Vance administration ended nearly 100 community organizations’ HIV-prevention grants, opting instead to direct the money to state and local health departments. 

These funding cuts have been felt by APLA Health, which last year was one of the California HIV prevention groups impacted by a 20 million dollar funding freeze. The freeze was eventually overturned, but Thompson still fears future cuts from the federal administration. “Over the past year we took cuts to our food pantry program, PrEP navigation, housing, and more,” he said. “Thanks to relentless advocacy and partners at the state and county who stepped up, much of that funding has been restored,” adding, “but restored is not the same as safe.”

Craig E. Thompson speaks at AIDS Walk Los Angeles 2025. (Photo courtesy of Craig Allyn)

Thompson fears that continued divestment from HIV healthcare and prevention could harm vulnerable communities. “The burden once again lands on the shoulders of those with the least power and the least access to care,” he said. “New infections fall hardest on people of color, transgender women, and those in low-income communities. Every one of those diagnoses could have been prevented.”

Non-HIV-specific federal policies also pose harm to APLA Health’s clients, the biggest of which is cuts and decreased eligibility for Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. “Medi-Cal is how a huge share of our patients get care, and the federal cuts will hit hard,” Thompson said. “California is covering much of the cost through next summer, … but a patch is not a plan,” he added. And a new policy starting in 2027 will mean that some Medi-Cal recipients will soon have to recertify their coverage twice a year instead of once. “That’s a mountain of paperwork,” Thompson said. “It’s a way of quietly cutting people off without having to say it out loud.”

Despite these current challenges, Thompson sees this year’s AIDS Walk LA as an effective way to help those living with HIV and AIDS at a time when they need support the most. “Funds raised by AIDS Walk LA stay in Los Angeles County and pay for wraparound HIV care and prevention,” he said. This includes funding medical care, PrEP prevention, housing, food pantries, and more. “These programs form the safety net that keeps our community healthy, and the Walk helps hold it together,” Thompson said. Last year, the walk raised over a million dollars for APLA Health to fund its services.

“Fighting back works.” Thompson said. “Come angry, come joyful, come exactly as you are. We’ll celebrate our progress and turn that energy into action. Then [we’ll] carry it to the polls 16 days later.”

Registration for the walk is still open.

Caleb Kaufman is a California Local News Fellow placed with the Los Angeles Blade. The California Local News Fellowship is a state-funded initiative to support and strengthen local news reporting. Learn more about it at fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/cafellows.