Neil G. Giuliano

CEO, San Francisco AIDS Foundation; former mayor of Tempe, Ariz.

When we promote and permit intolerance through bans on same-sex marriage, we enable and encourage feelings of marginalization, depression, and isolation among gay people. As a result, things like substance use, alcohol consumption, and sexual risk taking increase.

David Willey

Senior Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, 'Runner’s World' magazine; General Manager, Rodale’s Active Living Group

Boston is an intensely personal story for us, too. There were more than a dozen Runner's World and Running Times staffers and freelancers near the finish line when the bombs went off. Four editors were running the race.

Julie Jensen

Wife, mother, digital media veteran, stroke survivor

I'm sure I'd still be searching for fulfillment if I didn't receive a wake-up call on September 30, 2004. I was 26 when I was wheeled into the ER and a nurse asked if I knew what was happening. "I think I had a stroke," I muttered. "Ma'am, you are HAVING a stroke."

Sara Sutton Fell

Founder and CEO, FlexJobs

David Chiu, the President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, has introduced a new proposal that will allow for better flexibility and work life balance for families.

Oscar Raymundo

'Confessions of a Boy Toy'

Last year, when I moved a block away from the Mission Armory, the can't-be-missed former military facility off Mission and 14th infamous now for housing the city's porn den Kink.com, I never thought I would be steps away from world-class theater productions.

Randi Weingarten

President, American Federation of Teachers

Skyrocketing costs have put postsecondary education out of reach for many people, which threatens to exacerbate America's already vast economic divide. Congress must act to ensure that runaway costs don't rob them of their dreams.

826 Valencia

Writing and publishing nonprofit

The Valencia Bay-farer is 826 Valencia's only in-house newspaper written for students by students (ages 8 to 13). We hope you enjoy these articles.

San Francisco magazine

Sanfranmag.com

In summer months, you may have wondered if a backyard fire pit is legal, or if you can really build a bonfire on Ocean Beach. How about fireworks? In SF, getting the fire going is the easy part, but neighbors and fire regulations can be strict. So how exactly can you get away with burning stuff?

Matthew Cooke

Writer-director, How To Make Money Selling Drugs

Drug war supporters think Americans might tear apart the fabric of society if we were legally allowed to consume whatever plants or chemicals we chose. This is not based in fact.

Abby Bergman

Junior at Vistamar High School, activist

I don't deny that we need a day to recognize our parents -- maybe even more than one. But in our modern society shouldn't we be able to celebrate a holiday that includes everyone? Families come in all shapes and sizes.

Steph Sherer

Executive Director, Americans for Safe Access

It's not simply a battle of politics and laws that takes place in legislatures and courtrooms. It is a war that is being waged in our neighborhoods on a daily basis, adversely affecting millions of people every year, and costing the U.S. taxpayers hundreds of million dollars.

Naomi Seligman

President, Seligman Consulting

There is so much more we need to learn -- not only about the technology and its impact on our environment, air and coastline, but also about cost, reliability and whether it would deliver anything like the benefits promised by its supporters.

George Heymont

San Francisco-based arts critic

The Boston Marathon bombings forced many people to ask an age-old question. Is someone's behavior shaped by nature or nurture? Some of life's tragedies are undeniably due to natural cycles. Two shorts screened at the 2013 San Francisco International Film Festival demonstrated this process with a wry sense of humor.

John Zipperer

Vice president of media & editorial, The Commonwealth Club of California

Now that all of the revelations of government surveillance are out in the open, there's nothing to report this week, right? Well, take our news quiz and see if that's true.

Steven Raichlen

Grilling Authority, www.barbecuebible.com

Salt. It may be the only food we eat that starts as a rock. Reason enough to check out this book and to try this recipe.

Christopher Caen

Writer

Let's get one thing out of the way at the start: just like in royal families, sports have their lineages. Fathers and sons have passed on the torch in basketball, football, and baseball.

Dr. Joseph Mercola

Physician and author

If you catch a child with a finger up his nose, you probably discourage it. But could the "nasty" habit of nose-picking -- and eating it -- be more sanitary and even health-beneficial than we've been taught?