San Francisco magic mushroom and tattoo enthusiasts gathered in SoMa on Oct. 14 for the first-ever Myco Tattoo Party—a secret celebration of psychedelics and mushroom-inspired flash tattoos.

The event was organized by magic mushroom cultivator Myco, who runs the Instagram account, Myco.Oakland.Inc. In recent years, Myco’s account has amassed an underground following in the Bay Area’s psychedelic scene, specifically for his pink-colored magic mushroom microdose capsules and fungi-inspired urban streetwear.

Myco said his inspiration for having an event—which combined a typical Friday the 13th flash tattoo event with psychedelic mushrooms—came a few months back while he was getting a tattoo from his cousin, Lance Trujillo, of South San Francisco, who was one of Saturday’s featured artists.

READ MORE: You Can Get Magic Mushroom Chocolates Over the Counter in San Francisco Now

Lance Trujillo, a South San Francisco tattoo artist, tattoos one of the partygoers at the secret Myco Tattoo Party on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. | Source: Enrique “Keaks42” Carpio

“It was something that was hella natural,” Myco said, who wouldn’t share his real name due to legal concerns with his mushroom-growing enterprise. “I was getting tatted and had this idea. In the months after, we talked about it and started piecing it together.”

Trujillo said he designed a portion of the flash tattoos, which ranged from wild mushrooms to his cousin’s Myco.Oakland logo, which was created out of inspiration of the city of Oakland’s interwoven tree and a mushroom cloud. In total, 15 people at the event got mushroom-inspired tattoos.

“It’s cool because I can put my own twist on it, get my art out there and give people what they want,” Trujillo said. “Some people just come to look at the vendors but then they see that tattoos are being done and it opens their eyes.”

READ MORE: San Francisco Has Effectively Decriminalized Magic Mushrooms. Now What?

A secret partygoer gets a Myco Oakland tattoo at the first annual Myco Tattoo Party in San Francisco on Oct. 14, 2023. | Source: Enrique “Keaks42” Carpio

Earlier in the afternoon, Trujillo tattooed an attendee with her first tattoo. He credited her desire to get a tattoo with the open-mindedness the event offered.

“She really liked it and was surprised that the pain level wasn’t what she thought it would be,” he said.

Both Brian Smith and Diana Aguirre were tattooed during the event and said they often microdose mushrooms and have both previously wanted to get mushroom-inspired tattoos.

“It’s been something that I’ve wanted to do for a while and it was a good environment for me to do it in,” Smith said. “The vibe was definitely, in my opinion, great because it wasn’t too crowded.”

For Aguirre, meeting other women in the mushroom community was one of the surprises she experienced during the event.

“It was interesting to see other girls too that are around the mushroom community that I didn’t know existed,” she said.

The format of the event, Myco said, was pulled from “seshs” which have grown popular among those in the cannabis community all along the West Coast.

“Seshs,” short for sessions, are a sort of intimate mercantile market. They are often advertised online, where cultivators and growers sell their products in hopes of expanding their brands by meeting their customers face to face—they can sometimes be held in secret locations to evade law enforcement or city officials.

Mushroom-inspired beanies were just some of the items sold at the first annual Myco Tattoo Party in San Francisco on Oct. 14, 2023. | Source: Enrique “Keaks42” Carpio

Saturday’s event, however, wasn’t meant to purely have that “sesh” feel, according to Myco.

“I wasn’t trying to have it be so uptight,” he said, acknowledging that a feeling of competition usually overshadows cannabis events. “There weren’t big ass bags of weed or anything like that and that’s a credit to the people involved.”

Smith said he’s been to “seshs” before but that the mushroom tattoo event wasn’t as pushy as its cannabis counterpart.

“I’ve never been to something that a mushroom company threw,” he said. “A lot of weed seshs and other cannabis events are really pushy but this was a vibe where you felt like you could just chill out.”

In addition to tattoos, party attendees had their choice of vendors selling desserts and cakes, freshly squeezed juices to exclusive Bathing Ape apparel from Japan.

Both Smith and Aguirre bought a microdose smoothie, sea moss, hash and some cheesecake desserts.

“To be honest with you the tattoo was enticing. The fact it was about 100 bucks,” Smith said.

Lance Trujillo, a South San Francisco tattoo artist, tattoos one of the partygoers with a Myco Oakland flash tattoo at a secret magic mushroom tattoo party in San Francisco on Oct. 14. | Source: Enrique “Keaks42” Carpio

Myco said he is hoping to make the flash tattoo party an annual event, although he expressed interest in possibly moving the location across the bridge to Oakland or even Los Angeles if he can get local brands he knows to sponsor it.

His goal? To bring together the “headiest” people in the cannabis and psychedelic communities together in the same room.

“Trying to just link everyone together at one spot,” he said, adding that he still has somewhat of a clandestine aura of semi-anonymity attached to his name since most people don’t know what his appearance is.

While San Francisco and Oakland have essentially decriminalized psychedelics like magic mushrooms, it is still classified as a Schedule I controlled substance federally in addition to California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoing the most recent statewide decriminalization bill introduced by San Francisco State Sen. Scott Wiener.

Newsom’s recent decision isn’t worrying Myco as he doesn’t see decriminalization and legalization turning mushrooms into the next “cash crop.”

“I don’t think it matters. Right now it is bad to get into the mushroom game. It doesn’t make sense. There’s a lot of people who failed or are currently failing in the cannabis industry trying to go into mushrooms,” he said. “You can only eat so many mushrooms before you’re burnt out.”

The post San Francisco’s Magic Mushroom and Tattoo Secret Occasion appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The property manager of a building where a woman fell three stories to her death during a Fleet Week Blue Angels party is investigating the incident, according to the building’s property management company. 

The woman, identified Tuesday as Patricia Hamon, 51, apparently tripped and fell during the rooftop party on Oct. 7, according to her ex-husband, Clark Hamon, and a Facebook post made by a friend. Hamon was known to her friends as Tricia O’Connor—her maiden name.

“Our office is investigating this matter and will follow up when we have more information,” said Stefan Calic, property management director at Hanford-Freund & Company. “Our office is still gathering all of the relevant facts of the incident.”

READ MORE: Woman Died Falling From San Francisco Building During Blue Angels Party

The roof of 2940 Van Ness Ave., where a woman fell to her death during a Fleet Week party, was easily accessible to a reporter from The Standard. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

Tenants and neighbors said the party happened on the roof of the apartment building at 2940 Van Ness Ave. and that about 10 people may have been present.

‘You’re Not Supposed To Go Up There’

The Standard visited the apartment building Thursday and accessed the roof via an unlocked door that was slightly ajar. Signs reading “keep out” and “emergency exit only” were posted to the door. The roof did not appear to be built for leisure use, felt spongy, was covered in gravel and had no guardrails or significant ledges around its perimeter.

In San Francisco, a roof does not need guardrails or protective walls, known as parapets, unless a building has a permitted rooftop deck, or has machinery on the roof being worked on, such as an HVAC system.

Signs warn tenants not to access the roof of 2940 Van Ness Ave., where a woman fell to her death during a Fleet Week party. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

“It’s not the owner’s responsibility; you’re not supposed to be up there,” said Engin Yagmur, a structural engineer with San Francisco firm ECS Engineering.

The property is owned by three individuals and two trusts. The Standard was unable to reach them for comment.

‘I Knew She Was Dead’

A witness who lives across the street from 2940 Van Ness Ave. said Patricia Hamon fell onto the steps of the neighboring home at 2930 Van Ness Ave. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

A witness who lives across the street from where the incident happened told The Standard that Hamon fell onto the outdoor steps of the neighboring home at 2930 Van Ness Ave.

The witness, who asked to remain anonymous because she said she feels traumatized by the incident and wants privacy, said she heard a “loud sound” around 4 p.m. Saturday before seeing a woman’s body on the concrete steps. The Standard has been unable to verify where Hamon landed after her fall. The San Francisco Fire Department said it could not confirm the location due to legal reasons.

“Then I saw blood pouring out [of her head], and I just screamed,” the witness said. “Her friends were looking over the roof. I was screaming for them to call 911, because I was too horrified to do so myself.”

An old exercise bike on the roof of 2940 Van Ness Ave. | Source: Garrett Leahy/The Standard

The witness said a passerby called 911 and they performed CPR for about five minutes until police responded and continued to administer medical aid. The witness said medics arrived shortly after and tried to use a defibrillator on Hamon.

“When they gave up, I knew she was dead,” the witness said. “They were taking the body away, and [her friends] all held hands, and talked about her,” the witness said.

A friend of Hamon, Alix Rosenthal, posted a message on Facebook Tuesday on behalf of Hamon’s family.

“I am sad to announce that Tricia suffered a fatal accident at a Blue Angels party on Saturday,” wrote Rosenthal. “We are still working on plans for a memorial, and will announce details as soon as we have them. Trishie was a bright light in our community, her passing is an unspeakable loss for all of us. Please seek support from one another as we grieve together.”

Rosenthal and the O’Connor family declined to comment further.

The post San Francisco Blue Angels Get together Loss of life: Roof Lacks Security Rails appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

• Gabriella Cervantes, 8, (left) is dressed as “Captain Phasma,” while Michelle Carr is ready to fall down the rabbit hole as Alice in Wonderland. Both are from Riverside and were attending Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Ready to go to Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland are (l-r) Martina Caviares, 12, Taylor Caviares, 11, Sabrina Shettler, 4, Megan Shetler and Jesse Shetler. All came to town from Park City, Utah.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The castaways from Gilligan’s Island were getting ready to go on a three-hour tour of Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland they are (l-r) Laura Maestas as Mary Ann, Diana Maestas as Ginger, Krystal Maestas as the Professor, Steven Trusty as millionaire Thurston Howell III, Ashley Trusty as “Lovey” Howell, his wife, David Maestas as Gilligan, and Jeff Maestas as the Skipper. The whole group came down from Barstow for the event.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Johnson family drove down from Las Vegas for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. They are Kris (left), Chelsea and dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine is three-year-old Keagan.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• These three ghouls came from Salt Lake City for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. They are the Amatt family (l-r) Heidi, Jason and Michael, 11.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Here we have the Stauss family in town from Phoenix for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. They are (l-r) Brayden, 8, Missy and Olivia, 8.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• These three magical ladies were at Disneyland’s Mickey’s Halloween Party to get some magical treats. They are (l-r) Cheryl Brothers of Los Angeles, Pam Mouser and Brenda Zebley, both from Bakersfield.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Playing a rather tough princess at Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is Tom Coleman from Fort Dodge, Iowa.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Here we have Bert and Mary Poppins on a Jolly Holiday at Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween Party. They are actually Tim and Brit Skalland, from Sacramento. This was their third visit. During their second visit, at a previous Halloween party at the park, Tim got down on his knees near Snow White Grotto wishing well and proposed to Brit.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Visiting Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween Party are Emily Moffat dressed as Rey from “Star Wars – The Force Awakens. She is holding 10-month-old Violet Moffat, who is dressed as C3PO from the Star Wars movies.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• These superheroes made sure there were no villains around at Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. They are actually the Morel Family from Rancho Cucamonga.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Snow White and the Huntsman were visiting Disneyland during Mickey’s Halloween Party. They are actually Darlene Juarez of Colton and George San Martin of Riverside.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• This precious little fairy is Adrian Estrella, 2, from Los Angeles. She flew in on her wings to visit Disneyland during Mickey’s Halloween Party.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Visiting Disneyland for Mickey’s Halloween Party are Lauryn Salgado, 6, dressed as Sally from “A Nightmare Before Christmas,” and Benjamin Salgado, 7, dressed as Sonic the Hedgehog. They are from Ontario, CA.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Mari Farr, from Louisville, Kentucky, is Peter Pan. Behind her is Peter Pan’s shadow, otherwise known as Natasha Holmquist, from Bellingham, Washington. The friends like to visit Disneyland and Mickey’s Halloween Party.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Katie Meyere (left) and Joseph Meyere from Bountiful, Utah, like to visit Disneyland and came dressed just for Mickey’s Halloween Party.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• The Tyler Family came to Disneyland from Las Vegas, just for Mickey’s Halloween Party.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• In a slightly mod version of the Mad Hatter is Sara Velasquez at Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland. She might even be attending an unbirthday party.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Tilly, in the box office of Disneyland’s Main Street Cinema, puts on her Halloween themed finest for Halloween season.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is always a chance for children of all ages to dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Ready for Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is the Goldberg Family who came to town for the event from Las Vegas. They are (l-r) Danielle, Luke, Zack and Neil.

  in Anaheim on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. (Photo by Mark Eades, Orange County Register/SCNG)

“We like to schedule our visit just to come to dress up and go trick-or-treating,” said Danielle Goldberg of Las Vegas.
She was dressed as the bride from the Haunted Mansion, while her husband Neil was dressed as the dead groom. Their kids, Luke and Zack, were wearing costumes, too.

Attending the separately ticketed event was mostly known to locals, but as the event grew, many from out of town decided they wanted to experience it, too – some in a special way.

At Wednesday’s party were Tim and Brit Skalland from Sacramento. It was their third time. They met during their first trip to Mickey’s Halloween Party and started dating. During their second visit, they were near the Wishing Well in the Snow White Grotto area when Tim got down on a knee and proposed. She accepted. This was their third visit, but the first one as a married couple.

They, of course, came dressed in costume. He was dressed as Bert, the chimney sweep from the movie “Mary Poppins,” and she came dressed as the title character.

“It’s practically perfect in every way,” she said.

The party even attracts large groups. One group of seven were in town from Barstow, and were dressed as the characters from the television show “Gilligan’s Island.”

“We’re here for a three-hour tour,” said Jeff Maestas, who was dressed as the Skipper.

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The post Mickey’s Halloween Get together at Disneyland is a sizzling ticket for costume followers appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

NEW YORK — Celebrations mixed with demonstrations of resistance on Sunday, as LGBTQ+ pride parades filled the streets in some of the country’s largest cities and hosted annual events that were part party, part protest.

In New York, thousands marched cheering and waving rainbow flags down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue to Greenwich Village to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riot, when a police raid on a gay bar sparked days of protests and started a movement for LGBTQ+ rights shouted.

While some cheered jubilantly, many were aware of the growing conservative backlash to restricting rights, including by banning gender-affirming care for transgender children.

“I’m not trying not to be too political, but when it’s actually about my community, I’m very, very upset and very hurt,” said Ve Cinder, a 22-year-old transgender woman who traveled from Pennsylvania to celebrate the cause Attend the country’s largest Pride event.

“I’m just scared for my future and for my trans siblings. I’m afraid of how this country judges human rights, basic human rights,” she said. “It’s crazy.”

Parades in New York, Chicago and San Francisco are among the events being hosted by around 400 Pride organizations across the US this year, with many focusing specifically on transgender people’s rights.

On Sunday, people watch the Pride parade in New York.Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / AP

Entertainers and activists, drag performers and transgender advocates are among the parade grand marshals declaring a message of unity as several US states enact new laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

“The platform will be raised and we will see communities across the country show their unity and solidarity through these events,” said Ron deHarte, co-president of the US Association of Prides.

Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle are scheduled to hold Pride parades on Sunday. More than 100 groups are expected to attend the parade in Toronto, Canada. In New York City, seven-time Grammy winner Christina Aguilera will headline a post-March concert in Brooklyn.

The annual observations have spread to other cities and are now also accessible to bisexual, transgender and queer people and other groups.

About a decade ago, when her 13-year-old child first wanted to be called a boy, Roz Gould sought Keith’s help. She found little to help her family navigate the transition. They attended a Pride march in the Detroit area, but saw few transgender representatives.

This year, she is heartened by the increased visibility of transgender people at marches and celebrations across the country this month.

“Ten years ago, when my son asked to go to Motor City Pride, there was nothing for the transgender community,” said Keith, founder and executive director of Stand with Trans, a group created to serve young transgender people and to support and strengthen their families.

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This year, she said, the event was “packed” with transgender people.

One of the great marshals of the New York City parade is non-binary activist AC Dumlao, chief of staff for Athlete Ally, a group that advocates for LGBTQ+ athletes.

“Promoting the trans community has always been at the core of our events and programs,” said Dan Dimant, a spokesperson for NYC Pride.

Many of this year’s parades called on LGBTQ+ communities to unite against dozens, if not hundreds, of bills currently under deliberation in state houses across the country.

Lawmakers in 20 states have decided to ban gender-based childcare and at least seven others are considering doing the same, adding urgency to the transgender community, their advocates say.

“We are under threat,” organizers of Pride events in New York, San Francisco and San Diego said in a statement, which was joined by about 50 other Pride organizations across the country. “The multiple dangers we face as the LGBTQ community and Pride organizers, while varying in nature and intensity, share a common trait: they are aimed at protecting our love, our identity, our freedom, our security and our undermining life.”

Some parades, including the Chicago event, were scheduled for heightened security in light of the unrest.

The Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD, a national LGBTQ+ organization, identified 101 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in the first three weeks of this month, about double the number for the entire month of June last year.

Sarah Moore, who analyzes extremism for the two civil rights groups, said many of the June incidents coincided with Pride events.

The post Occasion and protest combine as LGBTQ+ delight parades kick off from New York to San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

NEW YORK – Some of the world’s biggest celebrations of LGBTQ+ pride will begin on Sunday. Thousands are expected to march in New York, San Francisco and other North American cities in parades that will be part party, part protest.

Entertainers and activists, drag performers and transgender advocates are among the grand marshals at parades delivering a unity message this year as several US states enact new laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

The parades and marches are among a series of events being hosted by the approximately 400 Pride organizations across the US this year, with many programs specifically targeting transgender rights.

“The platform will be raised and we will see communities across the country show their unity and solidarity through these events,” said Ron deHarte, co-president of the US Association of Prides.

Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle are all expected to hold their annual Pride parades on Sunday. More than 100 groups are expected to attend the parade in Toronto, Canada. In New York City, seven-time Grammy winner Christina Aguilera will headline a post-March concert in Brooklyn.

The New York march takes place on the last Sunday in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, when a police raid on a gay bar sparked days of protests.

Over the years, the annual observations have expanded to other cities and now include bisexual, transgender, queer and other groups.

About a decade ago, when her 13-year-old child first wanted to be called a boy, Roz Gould Keith sought help but could find little to help her family navigate their child’s transition. They attended a Pride march in the Detroit area, but saw few transgender representatives.

This year, she is heartened by the increased visibility of transgender people at marches and celebrations that have taken place across the country this month.

“Ten years ago, when my son asked to go to Motor City Pride, there was nothing for the transgender community,” said Keith, the founder and executive director of Stand with Trans, a group formed to empower young transgender people. Support people and their loved ones and strengthen families.

This year, she said, the event was “packed” with the portrayal of transgender people.

One of the big marshals of New York’s parade this year is non-binary activist AC Dumlao, chief of staff for Athlete Ally, a group that advocates for LGBTQ+ athletes.

“Promoting the trans community has always been at the core of our events and programs,” said Dan Dimant, a spokesperson for NYC Pride.

Many of this year’s parades served as a call to action for LGBTQ+ communities to unite against dozens, if not hundreds, of bills currently under consideration in state houses across the country.

Lawmakers in 20 states have decided to ban gender-based childcare and at least seven others are considering doing the same, making uniting in the transgender community even more urgent, advocates say.

“We are threatened. Prides are under threat,” said Pride organizers in New York, San Francisco and San Diego in a statement, joined by about 50 other Pride organizations across the country. “The multiple dangers we face as LGBTQ community and Pride organizers, while varying in nature and intensity, have one common trait: they are designed to undermine our love, our identity, our freedom, our security and our lives .”

Some parades, including the Chicago event, plan to increase security amid the unrest.

The Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD, a national LGBTQ+ organization, have identified 101 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in the first three weeks of this month alone, about twice the number for the entire month of June last year.

Sarah Moore, who analyzes extremism for the two civil rights groups, said many of the June incidents coincided with Pride events.

___

AP contributors Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut contributed to this report.

The post Occasion and protest combine as LGBTQ+ pleasure parades kick off from New York to San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

NEW YORK (AP) – Some of the world’s biggest celebrations of LGBTQ+ pride will begin on Sunday. Thousands are expected to march in New York, San Francisco and other North American cities in parades that will be part party, part protest.

Entertainers and activists, drag performers and transgender advocates are among the grand marshals at parades delivering a unity message this year as several US states enact new laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

The parades and marches are among a series of events being hosted by the approximately 400 Pride organizations across the US this year, with many programs specifically targeting transgender rights.

“The platform will be raised and we will see communities across the country show their unity and solidarity through these events,” said Ron deHarte, co-president of the US Association of Prides.

Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle are all expected to hold their annual Pride parades on Sunday. More than 100 groups are expected to attend the parade in Toronto, Canada. In New York City, seven-time Grammy winner Christina Aguilera will headline a post-March concert in Brooklyn.

The New York march takes place on the last Sunday in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, when a police raid on a gay bar sparked days of protests.

Over the years, the annual observations have expanded to other cities and now include bisexual, transgender, queer and other groups.

About a decade ago, when her 13-year-old child first wanted to be called a boy, Roz Gould Keith sought help but could find little to help her family navigate their child’s transition. They attended a Pride march in the Detroit area, but saw few transgender representatives.

This year, she is heartened by the increased visibility of transgender people at marches and celebrations that have taken place across the country this month.

“Ten years ago, when my son asked to go to Motor City Pride, there was nothing for the transgender community,” said Keith, the founder and executive director of Stand with Trans, a group formed to empower young transgender people. Support people and their loved ones and strengthen families.

This year, she said, the event was “packed” with the portrayal of transgender people.

One of the big marshals of New York’s parade this year is non-binary activist AC Dumlao, chief of staff for Athlete Ally, a group that advocates for LGBTQ+ athletes.

“Promoting the trans community has always been at the core of our events and programs,” said Dan Dimant, a spokesperson for NYC Pride.

Many of this year’s parades served as a call to action for LGBTQ+ communities to unite against dozens, if not hundreds, of bills currently under consideration in state houses across the country.

Lawmakers in 20 states have decided to ban gender-based childcare and at least seven others are considering doing the same, making uniting in the transgender community even more urgent, advocates say.

“We are threatened. Prides are in jeopardy,” said Pride organizers in New York, San Francisco and San Diego in a statement, joined by about 50 other Pride organizations across the country. “The multiple dangers we face as the LGBTQ community and Pride organizers, while varying in nature and intensity, share a common trait: they are aimed at protecting our love, our identity, our freedom, our security and our undermining life.”

Some parades, including the Chicago event, plan to increase security amid the unrest.

The Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD, a national LGBTQ+ organization, have identified 101 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in the first three weeks of this month alone, about twice the number for the entire month of June last year.

Sarah Moore, who analyzes extremism for the two civil rights groups, said many of the June incidents coincided with Pride events.

___

AP contributors Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut contributed to this report.

The post Get together and protest combine as LGBTQ+ satisfaction parades kick off from New York to San Francisco – MyStateline.com appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

NEW YORK (AP) – Some of the world’s biggest celebrations of LGBTQ+ pride will begin on Sunday. Thousands are expected to march in New York, San Francisco and other North American cities in parades that will be part party, part protest.

Entertainers and activists, drag performers and transgender advocates are among the grand marshals at parades delivering a unity message this year as several US states enact new laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

The parades and marches are among a series of events being hosted by the approximately 400 Pride organizations across the US this year, with many programs specifically targeting transgender rights.

“The platform will be raised and we will see communities across the country show their unity and solidarity through these events,” said Ron deHarte, co-president of the US Association of Prides.

Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle are all expected to hold their annual Pride parades on Sunday. More than 100 groups are expected to attend the parade in Toronto, Canada. In New York City, seven-time Grammy winner Christina Aguilera will headline a post-March concert in Brooklyn.

The New York march takes place on the last Sunday in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, when a police raid on a gay bar sparked days of protests.

Over the years, the annual observations have expanded to other cities and now include bisexual, transgender, queer and other groups.

About a decade ago, when her 13-year-old child first wanted to be called a boy, Roz Gould Keith sought help but could find little to help her family navigate their child’s transition. They attended a Pride march in the Detroit area, but saw few transgender representatives.

This year, she is heartened by the increased visibility of transgender people at marches and celebrations that have taken place across the country this month.

“Ten years ago, when my son asked to go to Motor City Pride, there was nothing for the transgender community,” said Keith, the founder and executive director of Stand with Trans, a group formed to empower young transgender people. Support people and their loved ones and strengthen families.

This year, she said, the event was “packed” with the portrayal of transgender people.

One of the big marshals of New York’s parade this year is non-binary activist AC Dumlao, chief of staff for Athlete Ally, a group that advocates for LGBTQ+ athletes.

“Promoting the trans community has always been at the core of our events and programs,” said Dan Dimant, a spokesperson for NYC Pride.

Many of this year’s parades served as a call to action for LGBTQ+ communities to unite against dozens, if not hundreds, of bills currently under consideration in state houses across the country.

Lawmakers in 20 states have decided to ban gender-based childcare and at least seven others are considering doing the same, making uniting in the transgender community even more urgent, advocates say.

“We are threatened. Prides are in jeopardy,” said Pride organizers in New York, San Francisco and San Diego in a statement, joined by about 50 other Pride organizations across the country. “The multiple dangers we face as the LGBTQ community and Pride organizers, while varying in nature and intensity, share a common trait: they are aimed at protecting our love, our identity, our freedom, our security and our undermining life.”

Some parades, including the Chicago event, plan to increase security amid the unrest.

The Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD, a national LGBTQ+ organization, have identified 101 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in the first three weeks of this month alone, about twice the number for the entire month of June last year.

Sarah Moore, who analyzes extremism for the two civil rights groups, said many of the June incidents coincided with Pride events.

___

AP contributors Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut contributed to this report.

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Thousands converged in San Francisco this week for a 200-event SF Tech Week extravaganza that sought to answer the question, wait, doesn’t San Francisco have a tech week every week?

The six-day touring party, which officially ends Sunday night, was organized by Andreessen Horowitz, the famous and flashy venture capital firm known locally as a16z, which moved its official headquarters from the San Francisco Bay Area “to the cloud” last year. This is the second year the company has coordinated Tech Week celebrations, after last year’s inaugural edition in Los Angeles turned into a splashy coming-out party for the company’s then-new Santa Monica office.

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The first episode of anime is also previewed in a new video

Kadokawa began streaming a new party promotional video for the television anime of Kazutomo Ichitomo’s manga Benriya Saitō-san, Isekai ni Iku (Craftsman Saitō in Another World) on Friday.

In addition, Kadokawa is streaming a preview of the anime’s first episode.

Kadokawa also revealed the second key visual for the anime.

The anime will premiere in Japan on January 8th. Crunchyroll will stream the anime as it airs.

The Anime Stars: (Note: Romanizations of character names are not official.)

Toshiyuki Kubooka (Berserk: The Golden Age Arc) is directing the anime at C2C. Kenta Ihara (Tomodachi Game) is in charge of the series’ composition and script. Yōko Tanabe is designing the characters. Tomotaka Ohsumi (Dagashi Kashi) is composing the music. Yuichi Imaizumi (So I’m a Spider, So What?) is the sound director.

Teary Planet sings the opening song of the anime “Kaleidoscope” and Konoco sings the closing song “Hidamari no Saido” (Sunny Spot’s Saturation).

Ichitomo released the manga on Kadokawa’s ComicWalker service in 2018, and Kadokawa released the eighth volume on Friday. The manga has a circulation of 450,000 copies including digital copies.

The “heartwarming manga from another world” revolves around Saitō, an ordinary craftsman who is reincarnated in another world. He forms a dungeon exploration party with Raelza, a beautiful and strong warrior; Morok, a powerful magician who keeps forgetting to cast spells due to his senility; and Lafanpan, a cute but stingy fairy. His crafting experience comes in handy when they need to open a locked chest or repair their armor.

Images © Kazutomo Ichichi published by KADOKAWA / Handyman Saito-san Goes to Another World Production Committee.

Source: press release

Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more of the companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa group of companies.

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SACRAMENTO — Count another dent in Donald Trump’s once-impenetrable armor: California Republicans are no longer marching in unwavering lockstep behind him — and some are saying so publicly for the first time.

Her preferred alternative: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“I’m leaning toward DeSantis,” Rep. Tom McClintock, of R-Elk Grove, Sacramento County, told The Chronicle at the three-day California Republican Party convention that ended Sunday. “He’s offering all of Donald Trump’s policies without the drama.”

McClintock is believed to be the first member of the 12-member California GOP House delegation to publicly support DeSantis and, perhaps more importantly, break with Trump. But he wasn’t the only member of the delegation to drop support for the former president. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale (Butte County), who represents some of the most conservative parts of California where Trump is popular, told The Chronicle he was undecided.

Their voices — like those of other California Republicans — will carry unusual weight in this presidential campaign, which is in full swing with DeSantis’ visit to Iowa on Friday, Trump’s landing on Monday and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley already visiting .

While California’s Republican Party is virtually powerless within the state — a Republican has not won a statewide office since 2006, and Democrats hold a supermajority in the legislature — Republican voters will enjoy an intergenerational opportunity to make their voices heard in next year’s presidential campaign To provide.

Ballots will arrive in California mailboxes in the second week of February for the March 5 state primary. The last time there was a GOP open field was in 2016, Trump completed the nomination when Californians cast their ballot in June.

This time, however, candidates must run in California if they want to win the GOP nomination. In the 2016 open primary, California provided the largest number of delegates (172) and will probably do so again.

The weekend’s state convention provided the party’s leaders and grassroots activists – the people who do the political grunt work of a campaign – the first opportunity to speak their minds.

Often her silence said the most.

Even if Republicans did not publicly support DeSantis — who is not yet an official candidate — many did not knee-jerkly support Trump, which would have been viewed as heresy in previous election cycles.

Instead, DeSantis has shown his power in California in other ways.

Fred Whitaker, chairman of the influential Orange County Republican Party Chapter, saw the power of DeSantis in action this month when the Florida governor led a fundraiser there that drew 900 people and raised $742,000 for the local party. Whitaker called it “the greatest event the Orange County Republican Party has ever had.”

“That showed me that there is tremendous interest in 2024,” he said. “And there’s tremendous interest in Governor DeSantis.” Whitaker, who is not engaged in the presidential race, said DeSantis’ accomplishment was even more impressive because Whitaker had just one month to complete the annual fundraiser instead of the typical five to plan.

“People are ready for something different,” Whitaker said.

Look no further than the 2020 results in Orange County, arguably California’s toughest battleground region. Republican Representatives Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach and Young Kim, R-Fullerton each received a higher share of the vote (51%) than Trump (44%).

“I read the voters,” Whitaker said as he assessed DeSantis’ growing strength, “and I read the donors.”

Ivy League-educated DeSantis (with a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a law degree from Harvard Law School) connects with the party’s “intellectual conservative base,” Whitaker said, “but he’s also a tough person,” which “will push back .”

“So many of our constituents who are close to President Trump say, ‘I don’t want a woke country,’ and they like someone who’s willing to hit back,” Whitaker said. “Governor DeSantis has this unique ability to marry the two different wings.”

It is revealing that even longtime Californian Trump supporters do not reflexively back a candidate. That includes Harmeet Dhillon, the San Francisco attorney who ran for Republican National Committee chair this year and lost to incumbent Ronna McDaniel. DeSantis kick-started Dhillon’s RNC presidential campaign by praising her on the eve of the vote, saying the party needs “fresh blood.” Returning the praise at Congress, Dhillon said voters like him because “he’s a very impressive governor.”

That’s kudos from Dhillon, an attorney who still represents Trump in a few legal cases across the country.

“He’s conservative. He is effective. He has a good track record in his state. Not only do people like his rhetoric, they like his results,” DeSantis’ Dhillon told me. “So I think he’s a natural choice for someone looking for the next generation of Republican leaders. But when it comes to rhetoric and politics, he’s not that different from Trump. And I think in that sense they’re both competing for the same voters.”

Gonzalo Vergara is a two-time Trump voter, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who lives in El Dorado County and said he supports DeSantis.

“I think Trump had his four years and he could have done better than what he did,” Vergara, 68, told me.

“It’s kind of a hard-to-swallow dish,” Vergara said. “I don’t think he can win because I think there are more people who are against him because they don’t like him. It would give the Democratic Party, whoever they nominate, a win by default.”

Steve Frank, a longtime California Conservative chronicler and 2019 party presidential candidate, has seen the momentum swing toward DeSantis during the 75 speeches Frank delivers annually to Republican clubs across the state.

“Many of the people who were previously Trump are publicly saying they are dating Trump. Privately, much of this state’s conservative leadership will go with DeSantis,” Frank said.

Not only do they like DeSantis’ likely campaign mantra — “In Florida, waking is to die for” — they like that he backs it with legislation and opposes what they see as the tyrants of the left and the media.

“They say that not only is this a guy who could hold his own against the Democrats, but also against people like Putin and Xi,” Frank said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “They see him as President.”

Grassroots support buoyed a February Berkeley IGS poll in California that showed DeSantis leading a field of 11 current and potential GOP candidates with 37% of the Republican vote, followed by Trump at 29% and Haley at 7%.

LaMalfa, the congressman representing a district where Trump received 58% of the vote in 2020, told me that “Trump still has the nomination to lose.”

But LaMalfa, who has endorsed Trump twice before, has not yet decided who he will endorse in 2024. He advised Trump not to get bogged down in attacks on his challengers.

“He needs to focus on his race and not worry about what the other contestants are doing,” LaMalfa told me. “You don’t have to run at DeSantis; You don’t have to go after Nikki Haley.” He also said that given his popularity in that part of California, voters in his part of the state don’t want DeSantis to attack Trump.

“DeSantis is a great candidate, but I think Ron would be wise not to confuse it with Trump,” LaMalfa said.

Trump still has fans here. The party was considering a resolution to support Trump in negotiations to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. On Sunday, however, 75% of the congress participants rejected it.

Joan Leone, president of the Republican Club of San Francisco, still supports Trump. She said, “DeSantis is great, but I don’t want him to leave Florida right now,” for fear it might fall into Democrat hands. And Leone has a wish for Trump.

“He has to completely forget what happened in 2020,” Leone said. “He doesn’t have to have cute little names for the other candidates. Focus on what he did (as President) because I loved my 401(k) when Trump was President.”

Younger Republicans are also waiting.

“We’re waiting to see who comes out,” said David Chan, a 20-year-old UC Berkeley student and leader of the College Republicans of California, who voted for Trump last time.

Other Republicans remain nervous about expressing their preference for anyone.

“It’s a pretty tricky time right now and nobody wants their name in block letters,” said Scott Woodworth, a San Jose resident who chairs the California Young Republicans Federation. “The party is still working on the vision and direction in which it wants to go. You have different factions and we will see which will win.”

Even Marty Miller, who sold Trump T-shirts and pins at the convention, hedged his bets. He peddled DeSantis buttons next to those that read, “Presidents Are Temporary/Trump Is Forever.”

Miller is a Trump supporter. What gives?

Said Miller, “I’m a capitalist, baby.”

Reach Joe Garofoli: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @joegarofoli

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