The Human Rights Campaign released the results of their 2017 Corporate Equality Index on December 5. Of the six companies ranked in San Antonio, one company, the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) received a score of 100. USAA’s score this year is up from the 85 it received last year. Two other San Antonio companies…
The QSA
Holiday Concert Marks Milestone for Live Oak Singers
When the Live Oak Singers take the stage for their holiday concert on December 10 and 11 it will represent a bittersweet milestone marking the retirement of the ensemble’s founder and first artistic director Ron Casola. Casola moved to San Antonio from Phoenix in 2014 to be near his family after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.…
AARC to Award Student Fellowships at LGBT Clinic
The Alamo Area Resource Center has taken the occasion of World AIDS Day to announce plans to award three fellowships to students pursuing degrees in nursing, medicine and social work. The three fellowships will begin in 2017 and provide $5000 per semester to three university students who will work at AARC’s LGBT Health Equity Clinic.…
Texas House Speaker Says Bathroom Bill Not ‘Urgent Concern’
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus says that a transgender bathroom bill “. . . isn’t the most urgent concern of mine . . . I know the lieutenant governor is very enthusiastic about this idea. Let him run with it. We’ll see what the House wants to do.” Straus, a Republican who represents San Antonio’s…
Mercado de Paz Offers Unique Shopping Experience
Shoppers looking for an alternative to crowded malls and shopping centers will find a unique selection of gifts at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center’s 27th International Peace Market or Mercado de Paz, held annually during Thanksgiving weekend. This year, the market will expand its schedule from two to three days — starting Friday, November…
AARC Opens LGBT Clinic
The Alamo Area Resource Center has opened the first non-profit clinic in South Texas to provide health services for the LGBT community. The new facility, called the Health Equity Clinic, began taking patients on July 12 and had its official grand opening on November 3. It is operating with a grant from the Elton John…
SAPD Appoints New LGBT Liaison
The San Antonio Police Department’s Public Information Office has confirmed that Assistant Chief James Flavin has been named as the department’s liaison to the LGBT community. Flavin replaces former Assistant Chief Jose Banales as LGBT liaison. Last April, Banales accepted the job of police chief for Texas State University in San Marcos. Flavin joined the…
SA Lawmakers File Anti-Bullying Law
On November 14, State Senator Jose Menendez and State Representative Ina Minjarez will introduce a law aimed at preventing and combating cyber-bullying. The bill is being filed on the first day legislation can be introduced for consideration by the 85th session of the Texas Legislature. The new measure, dubbed David’s Law, is named after David…
Election Analysis: There’s Work Ahead for LGBT Democrats in SA
By Dan Graney, Guest Contributor Most of us are still reeling over the unthinkable – a Donald Trump presidency. We are in a state of grief, not so much because the Republicans under Trump will have complete power in Washington but the bigotry which was espoused by Trump and many of his followers has now…
‘Papa Bear’ Founder of San Antonio AIDS Foundation Has Died
Out in SA has learned that Robert “Papa Bear” Edwards, founder of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, died of natural causes on November 10. According to a source close to his family, Edwards had been hospitalized several times and eventually passed away at home while under hospice care. It was in 1986, at the beginning…