Gretchen Van Ness
@gvlaw.bsky.social
Executive Directing at LGBTQ Senior Housing, Inc. Occasional publisher of The Neponset Wildlife Chronicles. Civil rights attorney & community organizer. Still on Facebook. Opinions my own, obviously.
Lots of worthy organizations are doing lifesaving work against all the odds today. @lgbtqseniorhousing.bsky.social works at the intersection of housing, financial and food security, and LGBTQ+ aging and community. Among your many #GivingTuesday donations, please send one our way.
December 3, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Lots of worthy organizations are doing lifesaving work against all the odds today. @lgbtqseniorhousing.bsky.social works at the intersection of housing, financial and food security, and LGBTQ+ aging and community. Among your many #GivingTuesday donations, please send one our way.
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
Trump is trying to erase World AIDS Day, and therefore all who live with, died from, or lost someone to AIDS.
We should not let him.
If you’ve never heard this song before, take a listen. Sweet Honey in the Rock’s ode to the AIDS quilt & the people it memorializes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDPQ...
We should not let him.
If you’ve never heard this song before, take a listen. Sweet Honey in the Rock’s ode to the AIDS quilt & the people it memorializes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDPQ...
Sweet Honey in the Rock: Patchwork Quilt
YouTube video by Mma Gee
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Trump is trying to erase World AIDS Day, and therefore all who live with, died from, or lost someone to AIDS.
We should not let him.
If you’ve never heard this song before, take a listen. Sweet Honey in the Rock’s ode to the AIDS quilt & the people it memorializes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDPQ...
We should not let him.
If you’ve never heard this song before, take a listen. Sweet Honey in the Rock’s ode to the AIDS quilt & the people it memorializes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDPQ...
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
Thank you, Boston Preservation Alliance, for selecting The Pryde for a 2025 Preservation Award and making this beautiful video of our building and so many of the people who dreamed big and worked hard to make The Pryde a reality.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCea...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCea...
The Pryde
YouTube video by Boston Preservation Alliance
www.youtube.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:16 AM
This is premeditated first degree murder, which is punishable by death under federal law — while drug trafficking is not.
SCOOP: For the Trump admin's Sept. 2 strike targeting 11 men on a boat suspected of ferrying drugs, SecDef Hegseth gave an order, officials say, to kill them all. When two men were still alive, orders were given to strike again, finishing them off.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:30 PM
This is premeditated first degree murder, which is punishable by death under federal law — while drug trafficking is not.
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
This is the first Thanksgiving for Sophie & Colin Hortman without their parents, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman who were assassinated along with the family dog in an act of political murder. National guards troops were not deployed to the state in response.
November 27, 2025 at 5:24 PM
This is the first Thanksgiving for Sophie & Colin Hortman without their parents, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman who were assassinated along with the family dog in an act of political murder. National guards troops were not deployed to the state in response.
The administration has turned its back on the HIV/AIDS community and is ignoring #WorldAIDSDay but we will never forget and never stop fighting.
We are humbled and honored to host two panels of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt @aidsmemorial.bsky.social as part of our week-long programming for #WorldAIDSDay.
November 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The administration has turned its back on the HIV/AIDS community and is ignoring #WorldAIDSDay but we will never forget and never stop fighting.
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
1/ ⚠️ Breaking: At CDC, we've been told the US Government will not officially commemorate World AIDS Day this year. No explanation given.
November 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
1/ ⚠️ Breaking: At CDC, we've been told the US Government will not officially commemorate World AIDS Day this year. No explanation given.
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
Only a few weeks left! Nominate a librarian you love for the 2026 I Love My Librarian Award - they could win $5,000 and the recognition of a lifetime.
Nominations close December 15! Submit yours here: https://bit.ly/3yiyT9C
Nominations close December 15! Submit yours here: https://bit.ly/3yiyT9C
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Only a few weeks left! Nominate a librarian you love for the 2026 I Love My Librarian Award - they could win $5,000 and the recognition of a lifetime.
Nominations close December 15! Submit yours here: https://bit.ly/3yiyT9C
Nominations close December 15! Submit yours here: https://bit.ly/3yiyT9C
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
Boston's Mayor Wu playing with Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Boston's Mayor Wu playing with Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
Trump issued a violent call to hang elected Dems on Truth Social this morning.
Everyone with influence right now needs to be LOUDLY speaking out against this right fucking now.
For those on the fence, it’s time to pick a fucking side.
#TrumpIsATraitor
Everyone with influence right now needs to be LOUDLY speaking out against this right fucking now.
For those on the fence, it’s time to pick a fucking side.
#TrumpIsATraitor
November 20, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Trump issued a violent call to hang elected Dems on Truth Social this morning.
Everyone with influence right now needs to be LOUDLY speaking out against this right fucking now.
For those on the fence, it’s time to pick a fucking side.
#TrumpIsATraitor
Everyone with influence right now needs to be LOUDLY speaking out against this right fucking now.
For those on the fence, it’s time to pick a fucking side.
#TrumpIsATraitor
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
2026 will be a great year to run for office. It’s not too late to get started. Runforwhat.net
Where Can I Run by Run for Something
Take the next step: Look up offices you can run for
Runforwhat.net
November 19, 2025 at 1:26 PM
2026 will be a great year to run for office. It’s not too late to get started. Runforwhat.net
Happy #Caturday from the @mspca-angell.bsky.social parking lot, where Madison is very ready to go home after his appointment.
November 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Happy #Caturday from the @mspca-angell.bsky.social parking lot, where Madison is very ready to go home after his appointment.
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
A country where so many people will stick their necks out like this to stop an attempted ethnic cleansing is a country worth fighting for.
“Standing for our neighbors, we shall not be moved”
November 14, 2025 at 5:47 PM
A country where so many people will stick their necks out like this to stop an attempted ethnic cleansing is a country worth fighting for.
These are beautiful!
Franklin Park gets posters
www.universalhub.com/2025/frankli...
#Boston #Roxbury #JamaicaPlain #Dorchester #EmeraldNecklace
www.universalhub.com/2025/frankli...
#Boston #Roxbury #JamaicaPlain #Dorchester #EmeraldNecklace
November 14, 2025 at 8:33 PM
These are beautiful!
@msnbc.com and @weeknightmsnbc.bsky.social, what’s with the boring white guy taking up space at the table when TONIGHT of all nights we want to hear from @symonedsanders.bsky.social and @aliciamenendez.bsky.social??
November 11, 2025 at 1:36 AM
@msnbc.com and @weeknightmsnbc.bsky.social, what’s with the boring white guy taking up space at the table when TONIGHT of all nights we want to hear from @symonedsanders.bsky.social and @aliciamenendez.bsky.social??
Some good news on this bleak Monday morning.
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Some good news on this bleak Monday morning.
Reposted by Gretchen Van Ness
No health care, no deal.
November 10, 2025 at 1:33 AM
No health care, no deal.
@democrats.senate.gov and @schumer.senate.gov, what on earth are you doing?
November 10, 2025 at 1:00 AM
@democrats.senate.gov and @schumer.senate.gov, what on earth are you doing?
Thank you @warren.senate.gov and @markey.senate.gov for holding the line!
November 10, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Thank you @warren.senate.gov and @markey.senate.gov for holding the line!
@democrats.senate.gov and @schumer.senate.gov, why do you trust Republicans? No deal with ACA subsidies!
November 10, 2025 at 12:10 AM
@democrats.senate.gov and @schumer.senate.gov, why do you trust Republicans? No deal with ACA subsidies!
@democrats.senate.gov and @schumer.senate.gov, look at how we turned out for Democrats everywhere last week! Stand firm and don’t compromise!
November 9, 2025 at 11:58 PM
@democrats.senate.gov and @schumer.senate.gov, look at how we turned out for Democrats everywhere last week! Stand firm and don’t compromise!
Dear god, @democrats.senate.gov, hold the line!
November 9, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Dear god, @democrats.senate.gov, hold the line!