Man Sentenced in Murder of Texas Trans Woman
A 30-year-old man from Childress, Texas has been found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in jail for the 2016 murder of a 43-year-old Austin transgender woman. During the trial, which began in late October, JonCasey Rowell admitted to shooting Monica Loera at close range in what he said was an act of self-defense. Rowell…
For Second Year, USAA Scores 100 on HRC Corporate Equality Index
Updated Nov. 10, 2017 5:00 p.m. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation released the results of its 2018 Corporate Equality Index on November 10. Of the seven companies ranked in San Antonio, two companies, the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) and Rackspace received a score of 100. This is the second year in a row that…
Posthumous Honors for Austin LGBT Activist
Beloved Austin LGBT activist and city council staffer, Ceci Gratias, will be honored by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Austin Mayor Steve Adler following her death from cancer on November 5. On November 12, a memorial celebration for Gratias will be held at the Austin City Hall during which Mayor Adler…
Mayor Nirenberg is a ‘Zaddy’ According to Instagram
Originally published in the San Antonio Current We’re not sure how we missed this (it probably got pushed down our news feed in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey), but y’all have to see this magazine cover. Why? Oh, because Mayor Ron “Zaddy” Nirenberg is on the cover, y’all. First off, it’s pretty cool that our…
Transgender Day of Remembrance to be Observed in SA on Nov. 16
San Antonio’s LGBT community will come together to observe the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 16 with events slated for downtown San Antonio. The evening begins at 6 p.m. when Pride Center San Antonio presents a Memorial Celebration of Lives Lost in Travis Park. At 7 p.m., the observance moves indoors for a service…
Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez Emerges as Potential Challenger to Gov. Greg Abbott
By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune November 6, 2017 Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez has emerged as potential Democratic challenger to Gov. Greg Abbott in 2018. In an interview Monday, Valdez described herself as “in the exploratory process,” looking at the data for a potential run against the Republican incumbent. “I’ve been approached and I’m…
LGBT Groups Speak Out Against Gun Violence After Texas Church Shootings
National LGBT organizations are speaking out against gun violence after news that 26 people attending Sunday church services were senselessly murdered and another 20 injured by a gunman in Sutherland Springs, Texas on November 5. Jason Lindsay, executive director of the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence, a political action committee that formed after the…
Noche Azul Concert Looks Toward Evening Sky for Inspiration
The moon will serve as the inspiration for this month’s concert by Azul Barrientos at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center where the singer will present Noche Azul: La Luna on November 11. Every month since 2007, Barrientos’ performances have showcased traditional Mexican music featuring a new theme with each concert and, over time, embracing…
Rick Perry Ties Fossil Fuel Use to Sexual Assault Prevention
By Claire Allbright, The Texas Tribune November 2, 2017 U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said Thursday fossil fuels can help prevent sexual assault because the “lights are on.” His comments came during an event hosted by NBC News and Axios in Washington, D.C., where Perry was to lay out the administration’s upcoming energy policy…