© 2024 KALW 91.7 FM Bay Area
KALW Public Media / 91.7 FM Bay Area
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Out in the Bay

Talking politics with B.A.R. columnist Matthew Bajko

These Sonoma County chickens are not headed for any fast-food chains, homophobic or otherwise.
Photo by Terry Johnson
These Sonoma County chickens are not headed for any fast-food chains, homophobic or otherwise.

The chicken-sandwich chain queers love to hate opens shop just outside San Francisco ... a California State Assembly race heats up … and a roundup of new laws that will affect LGBTQ Californians.

Chic-fil-A is closing in on San Francisco. The fast-food chain boycotted by many LGBTQ folks for the CEO’s and the company’s past donations to anti-queer charities and political organizations opens a new outlet this week just outside San Francisco’s city limits.

There’s also a heated race for the California State Assembly seat now open after David Chiu left it to become San Francisco’s city attorney Nov. 1. It’s a seat that, before Chiu, had been held for many years by a succession of LGBTQ politicians.

Bay Area Reporter political columnist and assistant editor Matthew S. Bajko reminds us that although there are now several LGBTQ representatives in the Assembly, none are from San Francisco. That could change, as gay former San Francisco Supervisor David Campos and straight queer-supportive current SF Supervisor Matt Haney are considered the top two contenders for the vacant seat.

In this week’s Out in the Bay conversation, Bajko fill us in on the Assembly race, the Chic-fil-A controversy and several new laws taking effect January 1 that will especially benefit LGBTQ Californians.

Matthew S. Bajko has been covering politics and other news for the Bay Area Reporter – the region’s largest LGBTQ-focused newspaper and online news service — for 20 years. You can follow Matthew on Twitter at https://twitter.com/politicalnotes and read his articles on Chic-fil-A’s expansion and on the California Assembly race.

Please help us keep bringing queer air to your ears. Out in the Bay is an independent non-profit production. Your gift will help keep LGBTQ voices and stories coming to you and others who might not be able to give. (Donate tabs on our website will take you to a Media Alliance interface. Media Alliance is our non-proft 501(c)3 fiscal agent. Your gift will be earmarked for Out in the Bay.)

This week’s Out in the Bay was produced by Eric Jansen and edited by Christopher Beale.

Stay Connected
Eric Jansen is a long-time broadcaster and print journalist. A former news anchor, producer and reporter at KQED FM, San Francisco; KLIV AM, San Jose; and Minnesota Public Radio, Eric's award-winning reports have been heard on many NPR programs and PRI's Marketplace. His print work has been in The Mercury News, The Business Journal, and LGBTQ magazines Genre and The Advocate, among other publications. He co-produced the June 2007 PBS documentary Why We Sing!, about LGBTQ choruses and their role in the civil rights fight.