(What’s happening at your publication? Let us know. Email editor Fred Kuhr at editor@presspassq.com)

AMBUSH MAGAZINE, based in New Orleans, announced the death of its editor-in-chief, FRANCISCO “FRANK” EARL PEREZ. He passed away peacefully at home on August 8, 2026, following a sudden bout with cancer. He was 57. Perez is survived by his partner of 12 years, CHRIS TRENTACOSTE, as well as his mother and his father. In addition to his role at the magazine, Perez was a historian, tour guide, educator, former Southern Decadence grand marshal, and executive director of the LGBT+ Archives Project. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. A visitation was held on August 15, 2026, and a celebration of life will be held in the French Quarter at a later date.

THE EQUALITY FORUM, based in Philadelphia, is launching 2026 LGBT History Month with an awards ceremony and VIP reception on September 27, 2026, at the Independence Visitor Center where its International Role Award will be presented to Dr. ANTHONY FAUCI, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. For more information, go to https://equalityforum.com/event/2026-vip-reception

THE LOS ANGELES BLADE announced a partnership with the L.A. Chapter of STARTOUT. Through the national organization, over 700 founders are supported every year, connecting them with knowledge, peers, capital, and resources to build scalable businesses, strengthening the economic power of the LGBTQ community. Los Angeles Blade publisher ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ has joined the Leadership Council for StartOut LA. The Blade will be responsible for highlighting StartOut members, entrepreneurial hot topics and issues related to the queer community, and tentpole events occurring throughout the year. In addition, the Blade will co-present The Founders Series, which will highlight and interview LGBTQ entrepreneurs who have made an impact in the business world at large.

NLGJA: THE ASSOCIATION OF LGBTQ+ JOURNALISTS announced the members of its 2026 CONNECT: Student Journalism Training Project cohort. The 10 students are tasked with covering NLGJA’s national convention in San Francisco from September 10-13, 2026. The students are LUIS CASTANEDA, a recent graduation of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism; ELIOT FAINE of Oakland, Calif.; APOLLINE LAMY, who earned her masters of journalism at Craig Newmark Graduation School of Journalism at CUNY; FATIMA B. JALLOH, also a graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School; TIERA WILLIAMS, a digital media graduate from the University of the District of Columbia; JAZMIN LORANNE CHAPMAN, a photographer and visual artist; ANNIKA HAUER, a journalism student at the University of Washington in Seattle; AUBREE MILLER, a senior journalism student at Colorado State University; ANNE-ELISE TIDWELL, a documentary film journalism student at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; and MARY RASURA, who founded OUTFAU, an LGBTQ student newspaper at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

ANN NORTHRUP, who stepped down on July 29, 2026, as co-host and co-executive producer of the weekly national GAY USA cable news show after a 30-year run, was feted at Julius’ Bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village on August 4, 2026. 

KAREN OCAMB, a veteran LGBTQ media journalist, has launched a new podcast along with co-producer MAX HUSKINS called “LGBTQ+ Freedom Fighters with Karen Ocamb.” It’s a companion to her year-old “LGBTQ+ Freedom Fighters” blog on Substack. Both the podcast and blog are in partnership with the LOS ANGELES BLADE. The podcast is available on all major podcasting platforms.

OUR LIVES MEDIA, based in Madison, Wisc., is seeking volunteers to fill various positions. For more information, go to https://ourliveswisconsin.com/volunteer/

OUTFAU, a student newspaper based at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla., and its parent publication, OUTSFL in Wilton Manors, have been named finalists in four categories in the 2026 Sunshine State Awards, presented by the Society of Professional Journalists Florida Pro Chapter. OutSFL publisher JASON PARSLEY was named a finalist in the Beat Reporting — Community category. OutFAU was named a finalist in three categories: LGBTQ+ Coverage, Serious Feature, and Arts and Entertainment Review.

OUTSFL, based in Wilton Manors, Fla., won two awards in the 2026 Green Eyeshade Awards contest, the nation’s oldest regional journalism competition, which is presented by the Society of Professional Journalists. The newspaper took third place in Newspaper Cover Design for JULIE PALMER’s collection of front-page designs. In the student division, MARY RASURA won second place in Light Feature Writing.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY TIMES, along with co-hosts Golden Gate Business Association, Soul of Pride, and the Bayard Rustin Coalition, held its 6th annual Pride Kickoff Party on June 25, 2026, at the Academy SF event space in the Castro.

TRANSITIONS AND MILESTONES
Volume 28
Issue 7