April 25, 2013 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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LGBT fundraising day

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Oui, oui gay Paris

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ARTS

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SF Int'l Film Fest

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B.A.R. to get new partners by Seth Hemmelgarn

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Jane Philomen Cleland

Chili D

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PFC Bradley Manning

Marlena

Vol. 43 • No. 17 • April 25-May 1, 2013

Lydia Gonzales

Veronika Fimbres

Kamala Harris

Kenneth Monteiro

Betty Sullivan

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he Bay Area Reporter’s top managers have announced a restructuring plan that includes shareholders in the San Francisco Examiner and other local papers. B.A.R. publisher Thomas E. Horn and general manager Michael Yamashita announced to the paper’s staff Monday, April 22 that the Bob Ross Foundation, which owns the B.A.R., has signed a Cynthia Laird letter of intent with Todd Vogt and Pat- Michael Yamashita rick Brown. Vogt and Brown are shareholders in the San Francisco Newspaper Company, which owns the Examiner, the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and SF Weekly. “This solves a myriad of problems that just See page 12 >>

Trans murder remains unsolved by Seth Hemmelgarn

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ne year after her violent shooting death on a downtown Oakland street, those who knew Brandy Martell are preparing to remember her and call attention to her killing, which hasn’t been solved. Martell, a transgender woman who lived in Hayward, was shot at about 5 a.m. April 29, 2012 as she and some friends socialized in her car at Franklin and 13th Tiffany Woods streets in Oakland. Brandy Martell The motive for the homicide, which drew national attention, isn’t clear. Fremont’s Tri-City Health Center and TransVision, a transgender program based at the center, are sponsoring a candlelight vigil set See page 11 >>

Perry Lang

Rick Gerharter

Rick Gerharter

Rick Gerharter

Pride names grand marshals

by Seth Hemmelgarn

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he San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee announced several grand marshal selections April 24 for this year’s parade and celebration.

Former bar owner Marlena was selected by public vote. Through the longtime bar Marlena’s, which she recently sold, the community icon – whose real name is Garry McClain – has given many nonprofits a place to raise money and have fun.

He couldn’t immediately be reached for comment on his selection as a grand marshal, but shortly after he was nominated, Marlena, whom many know as Absolute Empress XXV of San Francisco, Marlena the Magnificent, said, See page 11 >>

SF Pride officials, police review security after Boston bombings

by Seth Hemmelgarn

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he bombings at the Boston Marathon last week that killed three people and injured scores more have left many thinking about security at the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade and Celebration and other large open-air events. Organizers of the June 29-30 Pride Parade and festival aren’t saying much about what changes they’ll make. But with hundreds of thousands of people gathering on city streets, the festival could make an easy target. Earl Plante, CEO of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee, said safety staff and others at the nonprofit are discussing what to do. “At key gates, we’ll be implementing some strategic changes,” Plante said. “We take these challenges very seriously, so we’re implementing these changes as we move forward.” Among other potential vulnerabilities, the bags and backpacks of people entering the celebration at Civic Center aren’t checked. Additionally, increased attendance is expected at this year’s festivities. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce in June – possibly right before Pride – its decisions in two same-sex marriage cases, including California’s Proposition 8. “There are limitations for big scale events of our scope,” Plante said. “It’s even more incumbent that

Rick Gerharter

Crowds filled Market Street, walking toward the Civic Center, at the end of last year’s LGBT Pride Parade. Pride and law enforcement officials are weighing what changes may be needed at large open-air events in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.

everyone takes a role in this process.” He repeated a line that became common after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center: “If you see something, say something.”

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Pride officials have met with staff at the San Francisco Police Department’s Northern Station, Plante said, but he wouldn’t share specifics on what changes could be coming. See page 13 >>


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