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two sides arrayed against one another.

“We’ve been betrayed by our representative, Rafael Mandelman, who has chosen to side with a chosen posse of white, affluent, mostly young men,” said Jesse Oliver Sanford, a young white Castro resident. “But as they say, it is mostly darkest before dawn.”

Tom Ammiano, a gay former assemblymember and city supervisor, agreed, but was optimistic about next week.

“There’s a lot of emotional fabric here, and this is going to be a win for us,” he said. “It comes down to political will, and I am very disappointed in the queer members of the Board of Supervisors. This should’ve been a slam dunk.”

When asked about these comments, Mandelman told the B.A.R. that “on the merits, I don’t believe it makes sense to modify the Historic Preservation Commission [recommendation] just to kill the APE project. The APE project is not before the board on June 6; the landmarking is, and I intend to follow the recommendation of the HPC.”

Supervisors Matt Dorsey and Joel Engardio, gay men who represent Districts 6 and 4 respectively, did not return requests for comment.

Ammiano and others brought up the legacy of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay San Francisco supervisor.

“People like to grandstand on the legacy of Harvey Milk, but I don’t see Harvey Milk in any of the responses or lack of responses from the queer members,” Ammiano said. “Jesse is totally right: there have to be consequences.”

Terry Beswick, a longtime gay community fixture, also brought up Milk, who wrote a letter dated July 19, 1977 urging then-supervisor John Barbagelata to vote in favor of landmarking the theater. (The exterior of the Castro Theatre was designated a city landmark that year.)

“I hear over and over again people saying ‘Why did they tear down the Fox?’” Milk wrote, referring to the Market Street movie house that was demolished in 1963. “The same will happen here.”

Beswick said that “a lot of the young people don’t know what they’re losing until it’s gone, and as Harvey Milk said in his letter about the landmarking, once it’s gone, it’s gone.”

In addition to attending the June 6 supervisors meeting, supporters are being asked to attend a June 8 joint meeting of the historic preservation and planning commissions, which is at 10 a.m. at City Hall, Room 400. There, they can give comments on a proposed certificate of appropriateness that APE is seeking. Those who cannot attend in person can call in.

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When asked for comment on the town hall, gay APE spokesperson David Perry stated, “We’re looking forward to next week’s hearings, and appreciate everyone’s passion for saving the Castro Theatre: a passion everyone at Another Planet and our supporters share.

“However, passion doesn’t pay for the renovation, restoration, and revitalization that is needed, and long overdue, for the Castro Theatre,” Perry added. “Our well researched, well documented, and fully funded plans are overwhelmingly supported by local businesses, neighbors, and Castro residents who understand the need for a Castro Theatre that not only honors its past, but sustains it for the future, including a robust schedule of music, film, special events and LGBT programming.”

Michael Murray, a gay man who’s cochair of Neighbors for a Restored Castro Theatre that supports APE, stated, “We encourage supporters of APE’s restoration plans to attend next Thursday’s hearing and wear blue to show their support,” referring to the joint planning-HPC meeting. “We hope that city officials will respond to the outpouring of community enthusiasm for the project over the last few weeks and allow it to move forward without further delay.” t