Matthew S. Bajko
LightNews LightNews
politicalnotes.bsky.social
Matthew S. Bajko
@politicalnotes.bsky.social
120 followers 84 following 400 posts
Assistant news editor and political columnist for San Francisco LGBTQ newspaper the Bay Area Reporter www.ebar.com dog owner, nature enthusiast, Disney geek
Posts Replies Media Videos
politicalnotes.bsky.social
One of the new gay characters on the daytime drama "The Bold and the Beautiful" speaks to the Bay Area Reporter about making history with the role...
www.ebar.com/story/160124...
Long-running soap introduces 1st gay couple
Since 1987, the daytime drama "The Bold and the Beautiful" has kept viewers enthralled with its tales of the glamourous life within the Los Angeles fashion industry.
www.ebar.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:10 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
A gay San Francisco Human Rights Commissioner is now facing a substantially reduced fine from the city’s ethical watchdog agency after its staff determined upon further review that his voting on grants that had come under scrutiny led to “minimal public harm...”
www.ebar.com/story/160125...
SF ethics staff reduce fine for gay human rights commissioner
A gay member of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission is now facing a substantially reduced fine from the city’s ethical watchdog agency after its staff determined upon further review that his vot...
www.ebar.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:08 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
An initiative co-led by LGBTQ veterans aims to see the 2028 presidential candidates pledge to name a new naval vessel in honor of the late gay San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk…

www.ebar.com/story/159962
Political Notebook: 2028 prez candidates asked to support naming a Milk naval ship
An initiative co-led by LGBTQ veterans aims to see the 2028 presidential candidates pledge to name a new naval vessel in honor of the late gay San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk.
www.ebar.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:31 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
Ending months of speculation and clearing the way for a new generation of representation, Congressmember Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday that she will not seek reelection to the House of Representatives next year…https://www.ebar.com/story/159987
November 6, 2025 at 4:29 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
A religious leader aiming to be one of the highest-ranking LGBTQ elected officials in the Midwest came up short Tuesday, while other LGBTQ candidates notched historic wins in their off-year races across the U.S. ...
www.ebar.com/story/159961...
Political Notes: Gay Minneapolis mayoral candidate loses; other LGBTQ candidates notch historic wins
A religious leader aiming to be one of the highest-ranking LGBTQ elected officials in the Midwest came up short Tuesday, while other LGBTQ candidates notched historic wins in their off-year races acro...
www.ebar.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:59 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
In a rebuke to Republican President Donald Trump, California voters overwhelmingly passed a statewide ballot measure Tuesday to redraw the Golden State’s 52 House seats so five more should be easy wins for Democratic candidates in 2026....
www.ebar.com/story/159930...
CA voters redraw House maps to favor Dems
In a rebuke to Republican President Donald Trump, California voters overwhelmingly passed a statewide ballot measure Tuesday to redraw the Golden State’s 52 House seats.
www.ebar.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:57 AM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
San Francisco Main Library event will commemorate the 75th anniversary of early gay rights group the Mattachine Society ... plus a groundbreaking lesbian author is being honored in 2026 with a US stamp....
www.ebar.com/story/159913...
News Briefs: Event marks Mattachine Society’s 75th year
On Veterans Day in 1950, a small group of homosexual men met on a hillside in what was then known as Eden Dale, Los Angeles.
www.ebar.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:26 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
Launched seven years ago the SF LGBT Community Center's New Entrepreneur Training Program is one of the few programs in the country aimed at helping queer and transgender people open their own firm or expand and retool an existing business...
www.ebar.com/story/159776...
Entrepreneurs find support via SF LGBTQ center program
Madison Eker, founder and CEO of Altogether Agency, sought to refresh and rebrand her firm, which works with companies to enhance their workplace culture.
www.ebar.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:42 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
With even Republicans acquiescing to California voters redrawing the state’s U.S. House districts for the 2026 midterms, the passage of Proposition 50 in Tuesday’s special election could result in a third LGBTQ member of Congress hailing from Southern California...
www.ebar.com/story/159778...
Political Notes: Redistricting win could usher in a new LGBTQ CA congressmember
With even Republicans acquiescing to the fact that California voters are set to redraw the state’s U.S. House districts for the 2026 midterms, the passage of Proposition 50 in Tuesday’s special electi...
www.ebar.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:40 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
A transgender sex worker convicted of voluntary manslaughter was sentenced to five years in prison by a federal judge October 31, as she and the victim’s family spoke out....
www.ebar.com/story/159777...
SF trans sex worker convicted of Crissy Field manslaughter sentenced to 5 years
A transgender sex worker convicted of voluntary manslaughter was sentenced to five years in prison by a federal judge October 31, as she and the victim’s family spoke out.
www.ebar.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:58 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
Per Sia, a Latina trans drag performer who is one of the founders of Drag Story Hour in San Francisco, has been selected by Mayor Daniel Lurie as the city’s second drag laureate....
www.ebar.com/story/159708...
Story Hour co-founder named SF’s 2nd drag laureate
Per Sia, a Latina trans drag performer who is one of the founders of Drag Story Hour in San Francisco, has been selected by Mayor Daniel Lurie as the city’s second drag laureate.
www.ebar.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:46 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
Should gay attorney Anuj Dixit be elected next November to a Southern California U.S. House seat, he'd bring to at least 3 the # of out members among the Golden State’s congressional delegation and make history as the first LGBTQ Indian American elected to Congress...
www.ebar.com/story/159706...
Political Notebook: Gay attorney Dixit wages history-making House bid
Should gay attorney Anuj Dixit win election next November to a Southern California U.S. House seat, he would bring to at least three the number of out members among the Golden State’s congressional de...
www.ebar.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:19 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
Michael Smith, left, the Irish Consul General in San Francisco, and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie unveiled the newest plaque on the LGBTQ-focused Rainbow Honor Walk in the Castro district honoring Irish human rights activist Roger Casement....
www.ebar.com/story/159705...
Castro history plaque unveiled
Michael Smith, left, the Irish Consul General in San Francisco, and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie unveiled the newest plaque on the Rainbow Honor Walk honoring Irish human rights activist Roger Cas...
www.ebar.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
Commonwealth Club World Affairs is launching a new LGBTQ+ cultural series with a special election night event featuring drag horror icon Peaches Christ in downtown San Francisco Tuesday, November 4....
www.ebar.com/story/159666...
News Briefs: Commonwealth Club launches LGBTQ series
Commonwealth Club World Affairs is launching a new LGBTQ+ cultural series with a special election night event featuring drag horror icon Peaches Christ.
www.ebar.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:16 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
San Francisco bookstore is the second in recent months to be targeted with transphobic stickers and pamphlets tucked into its books ....
www.ebar.com/story/159693...
SF bookstore warns of transphobic stickers, pamphlets
A San Francisco bookstore has been targeted with transphobic stickers and pamphlets, it has announced via a social media post.
www.ebar.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
Mary Fisher, a straight white woman, stunned thousands of Republicans when she spoke at the party’s 1992 presidential convention in Houston about living with HIV. Today, the long-term survivor & activist continues to speak out, and will be in the Bay Area next month....
www.ebar.com/story/159669...
AIDS activist Mary Fisher to speak at Belmont church
Mary Fisher, a straight white woman, stunned thousands of Republicans when she spoke at the party’s 1992 presidential convention in Houston about living with HIV.
www.ebar.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:12 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
A San Francisco filmmaker is crowdfunding for a documentary he is working on about the late activist Bob Kohler, who was among those at the forefront of New York City’s gay rights movement in the 1970s and 1980s....
www.ebar.com/story/159662...
LGBTQ History Month: SF filmmaker plans doc on late gay activist Kohler
Among those at the forefront of New York City’s gay rights movement in the 1970s and 1980s was the late activist Bob Kohler.
www.ebar.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:28 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
A committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to forward the nomination of a transgender Latina activist to continue serving on the Immigrant Rights Commission...
www.ebar.com/story/159613...
SF supervisors forward trans Latina immigrant activist’s nomination to full board
A committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to forward the nomination of a transgender Latina activist to continue serving on the Immigrant Rights Commission.
www.ebar.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
LGBTQ political groups go all in on ensuring California’s redistricting ballot measure is adopted by voters next month. Yet, its impact on control of the U.S. House of Representatives should it pass remains to be seen as other states redraw their own House districts....
www.ebar.com/story/159536...
Political Notes: LGBTQ groups all in on CA redistricting measure
LGBTQ political groups are going all in on ensuring California’s redistricting ballot measure is adopted by voters next month.
www.ebar.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:22 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
Terrance Alan, a gay man, longtime cannabis activist, nightlife advocate, and entrepreneur, died Friday, October 17, after difficulty recovering from surgery, according to his longtime personal assistant Gary Driscoll. He was 73....
www.ebar.com/story/159483...
Gay SF cannabis and nightlife advocate Terrance Alan dies
Terrance Alan, a gay man, longtime cannabis activist, nightlife advocate, and entrepreneur, died Friday, October 17, after difficulty recovering from surgery, according to his longtime personal assist...
www.ebar.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:53 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
In one of his first interviews to talk about his decision to run next year, CA Sen Scott Wiener tells the Bay Area Reporter why his calculus about when to seek the seat changed ….

www.ebar.com/story/159440
Political Notebook: Wiener launches bid for Pelosi’s SF House seat
Thirty-eight years ago, Congressmember Nancy Pelosi first won election to her House seat by narrowly defeating the late gay progressive San Francisco supervisor Harry Britt.
www.ebar.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:11 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
A number of LGBTQ historic sites are among the 16 properties expected to become city landmarks next year due to gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman requesting city officials begin the process to grant the sites such local recognition....
www.ebar.com/story/159439...
SF supervisors move forward set of LGBTQ sites to landmark
One is where a pioneering LGBTQ synagogue first opened in San Francisco. Another was once home to a popular lesbian bar not far from the famous Haight Ashbury intersection.
www.ebar.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:16 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
The Barb Shop SF, which is geared toward providing short haircuts for women and gender-nonconforming people, is opening its first brick and mortar store in San Francisco....
www.ebar.com/story/159438...
News Briefs: Queer-owned hair care company opens SF store
Bay Area Reporter
www.ebar.com
October 21, 2025 at 9:57 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
A gay historic site in Pennsylvania has been selected for a competitive grant that will assist it in its effort to continue to upgrade its property and expand public access to it. The Demuth Museum in Lancaster is the home of the late gay painter Charles Demuth...
www.ebar.com/story/159261...
Political Notes: Historic home, studio of gay artist Demuth receives grants for upgrades
A gay historic site in Pennsylvania has been selected for a competitive grant that will assist it in its effort to continue to upgrade its property and expand public access to it.
www.ebar.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:15 PM
politicalnotes.bsky.social
Three unrelated cases of clade I mpox found in Southern California, indicating there is person-to-person community spread, primarily impacting communities of gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men and their social networks, health officials stated....
www.ebar.com/story/159302...
More dangerous mpox variant spreading in CA, health officials say
Three unrelated cases of clade I mpox have been found in Southern California, state health officials announced Friday.
www.ebar.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:36 PM