The November 12 issue of Outword is here, and while we may be easing into the holiday season, there’s certainly no shortage of things to talk about!

We lead with a look at the historic 2026 midterm elections and what the blue wave could mean for LGBTQ+ Americans (page 4). Closer to home, we celebrate Sacramento’s role in hosting LGBTQ+ leaders from across North America (page 8), and the Rainbow Chamber’s fabulous 25th anniversary gala (page 13).

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we’re highlighting Sunburst Projects’ efforts to help put holiday meals on the table (page 14), while Old Sacramento prepares to light up the season with its annual holiday festivities (page 10).

On the lighter side, Diana Kienle introduces us to some exceptional Napa Valley wines (page 16), Chris Narloch celebrates Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday with a Tower Theatre film festival (page 18), and Cyndi Lauper is heading back to Las Vegas (page 20). Plus, in Activating Taste Buds, we discover what happens when someone in the kitchen gets a little too enthusiastic with the salt shaker (page 20).

And don’t miss our preview of the upcoming Holiday Shopping Guides and our annual Liquid Therapy holiday toy drive (page 3).

Take a few minutes to breathe and appreciate the historic midterm election results, while remembering that we’ve only just started moving things in the right direction. There’s still plenty of work to be done, but it’s a great start. Then pull up this new issue of Outword on your favorite digital device, flip through the pages, and see what we’ve put together for you. There’s definitely some good stuff to be found!