An exploration of the how, why, whom and ongoing influence of the ground breaking organization that helped to birth today's LGBTQIA community and initiated the movement for our cultural and political freedoms. Using images, conversation and even a John Wayne movie excerpt, we’ll tell the story of the brave visionaries who started it all back in November of 1950. Speakers include Joey Cain, Devlyn Camp, Will Roscoe and Jim Van Buskirk.

OASIS offers an unforgettable LGBQT San Francisco experience with top cabaret acts, nightclub parties, dancing and drag shows.

An exploration of the how, why, whom and ongoing influence of the ground breaking organization that helped to birth today's LGBTQIA community and initiated the movement for our cultural and political freedoms. Using images, conversation and even a John Wayne movie excerpt, we’ll tell the story of the brave visionaries who started it all back in November of 1950. Speakers include Joey Cain, Devlyn Camp, Will Roscoe and Jim Van Buskirk.

Our most cherished tradition is back. The Dandelion Chocolate Advent Calendar sells out long before the holiday season, so don’t wait. Join us for a moonlit celebration of artistry, craft chocolate, and connection: 25 exclusive confections — each hand-crafted by one of North America’s most inspired chocolatiers — are tucked into ornament boxes illustrated by Belgian artist Lina Kusaite. Together, they honor 25 of our Solar System’s moons.

San Francisco drag queen Hilary Rivers has been released from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and is back home in San Francisco after being granted asylum in the United States on September 20. In an exclusive interview, Rivers spoke to _El Tecolote_ and _48 Hills_ about the violence she endured in detention and the long legal fight that brought her back to San Francisco. _Lee esta historia en español_ “A few days before my court date, friends warned me not to appear because people were being picked up,” said Rivers. “But I wanted to do things right. I knew if I didn’t show up, I could get an automatic deportation order. So I went to court with my lawyer.” * **Fundraiser:** Help Hilary Rivers rebuild her life and cover medical costs On June 26, just a day after being named runner-up at the 30th Annual Miss & Mr. Safe Latino pageant, an HIV/AIDS awareness event created by Instituto Familiar de la Raza, Rivers was detained by ICE outside of immigration court. Born in El Salvador and raised in Guatemala, Rivers fled to the United States in 2023 to seek asylum after surviving an assassination attempt and repeated attacks for being openly gay. ### Become a member of El Tecolote: Meet the moment for immigrant, working-class Latinos Join Now! “I survived an assassination attempt and many attacks. I left for Mexico first, hoping to stay there, but violence followed me,” said Rivers. “Eventually, I moved to San Francisco for work. Here, I finally felt accepted for who I am.” What she thought would be a regular check-in appointment became an immigrant’s worst fear when she got detained by ICE. This came after the judge said they would need more time to review the case on June 26. That’s when ICE agents came up to her. “Officers asked my name. I stayed quiet. My lawyer also didn’t answer. They seemed to understand I was the person they wanted.” said Rivers. “They grabbed me, pushed me against the wall and shackled me. My lawyer tried to intervene, but they pushed him aside. They put my hands and feet in chains. I’ve never been arrested before. It was terrifying.” Rivers was taken first to the San Francisco ICE Field Office and then transferred to the Golden State Annex detention center in McFarland, California, where she spent nearly three months. She described being held in freezing, overcrowded cells. “We had to stand for hours because there was no space to sit, no air, and we were freezing,”she said. Last month, a coalition of immigrant-rights organizations filed a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging courthouse arrests of asylum-seekers and the conditions inside ICE’s San Francisco Field Office. The lawsuit alleges that immigrants are sometimes held there for days in “punitive and inhumane” conditions while awaiting transfer to detention centers. Despite informing staff that she was part of the LGBTQ community, Rivers said there was no protection from harassment or sexual violence. “Staff didn’t protect me. One person came into my room when the door was locked, and another time I woke up to someone touching me,” she said. “I reported it using the tablet system and spoke to staff. They told me there would be an ’investigation,’ but nothing changed. Later I saw paperwork that didn’t match where I actually was housed, as if units were mislabeled.” After months in detention, Rivers was granted asylum and released on Saturday, September 20th. Since returning home, she’s been recovering from the physical and emotional trauma she endured. “I learned I’d lost almost everything, housing and belongings. Some documents were missing. I’m starting from zero. Physically, I still need surgery on my leg, which got worse during detention. But I’m free, and that gives me strength.” An online fundraising campaign has been launched to help Rivers rebuild her life and cover medical costs. Despite everything, Rivers said she refuses to give up. “We have to fight for our dreams. I paid a high price, but nothing is impossible. Don’t let them break you. Don’t sign things you don’t understand. Know your rights. We all have the same worth, no matter where we’re from.” El Tecolote _reached out to ICE for comment, but officials said they could not respond without personal case details that Hilary declined to share for safety reasons._

DOLL FEST w/ Frightwig, Skip The Needle, Hot Laundry, The Furious Tits and Half Rotten Goddess Hey Doll Fest Fam! Join us in a night of music celebrating f...

The widely loved curator and connector of people in the Bay Area art scene died on Oct. 18, 2025.

Through the chaos and divide that America has gone through in 2020, from the minor ups and tragic and enduring lows, moments of clarity emerge. Justin...