Marriage heads to high court
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SF Internat'l Film Fest
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Man charged with murder in ex-B.A.R. writer’s death
Vol. 45 • No. 17 • April 23-29, 2015
Email shows Sister asked city for help for Pink Saturday
by Seth Hemmelgarn
Bill aims to protect trans foster youth by Matthew S. Bajko
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state bill that would ensure transgender foster youth are placed in welcoming and affirming homes passed out of its first legislative committee this week. The legislation, Senate Bill 731, is authored by gay state State Senator Senator Mark Leno Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by several California LGBT rights groups. A number of professional associations for foster care workers are also backing the bill. The Senate Human Services Committee Tuesday voted 3-0 in support of the bill, which now will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Under the state’s existing Foster Care Bill of Rights, welfare workers and caregivers are already banned from discriminating against foster youth based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. But the law is silent on how best to place transgender foster youth. See page 5 >>
by Seth Hemmelgarn
A Crowds cheered and had fun during Pink Saturday 2012.
n email from a member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to a San Francisco supervisor shows that the drag nun group had sought city funding for years to help with the Pink Saturday street party, which has recently seen a spate of violent incidents. Questions are now being raised about why the city is set to fund this year’s party, after
officials declined for years to directly support the event in San Francisco’s Castro district. Gay Supervisor Scott Wiener, whose District 8 includes the Castro, told the Bay Area Reporter that the city doesn’t typically fund such events, but had to do so this year after the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence announced in February they wouldn’t produce the event in June. The Sisters had organized See page 13 >>
Rick Gerharter
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man has been charged with murder in the April 15 death of a gay former Bay Area Reporter freelance writer who had covered marriage equality and other issues before Courtesy Facebook opening a moped Daniel James Aiello shop in Sacramento. Daniel James Aiello, 53, is being remembered as a “passionate” journalist who was also known for his generosity and sense of fun. Kyle Billy Fletcher, 36, is charged with murder, and felony second-degree robbery and first-degree residential burglary, according to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office. Friends of Aiello said that he’d tried to help Fletcher before Aiello grew to fear the younger man. Officials haven’t provided details of how See page 10 >>
Slew of honorees named for SF Pride by Cynthia Laird
He cited Marty’s Place, a home to foster the next generation of HIVith the milestone 45th anpositive leaders that will begin leasnual San Francisco LGBT ing rooms soon and the city’s longPride parade approachplanned LGBTQ adult shelter is nearing ing, the organization that oversees the completion. festivities has released 11 more grand Basinger said he’s honored to be recmarshals and other honorees to mark ognized as a community grand marshal. the occasion. “Becoming one of the 2015 commuThis year’s theme, “Equality Without nity grand marshals is the sweetest icing Exception,” signifies the struggles that on the most marvelous cake a person continue to exist across all communities can have,” he said. “I’m grateful to the seeking social justice, said officials with Pride board of directors for bestowing the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebrathis honor and for providing the platCourtesy SF Pride Courtesy SF Pride tion Committee, which puts on the paform to continue to highlight the needs rade and two-day festival June 27-28. of our communities who are struggling Grand marshal Grand marshal For 16 years, the San Francisco Pride Brian Basinger to survive this housing crisis.” Belo Cipriani membership and board of directors have Cipriani, 34, writes the Seeing in the on their rights, and mediating landlord disputes. continued the public selection of comDark column for the B.A.R. He became A disabled person with AIDS, Basinger said blind after being attacked by a group of his munity grand marshals. The public choices were this year’s Pride theme resonates with the alli- childhood friends in the Castro. He is a disannounced in March. Last week, officials released additional grand marshals and recipients ance’s work. abilities advocate and the author of two books, “’Equality Without Exception’ means all peo- Blind: A Memoir and Midday Dreams. He is of several special awards. ple have a safe, decent, and affordable home,” he also a spokesman for Guide Dogs for the Blind said in an email to the Bay Area Reporter. Grand marshals and resides with his guide dog, Oslo. He said that 2015 is turning into a rewarding The SF Pride board named two more grand “I attended my first San Francisco Pride year for him. marshals: gay men Brian Basinger and Belo parade in 1995 and I never imagined I would “Not only did we just launch the first rental someday be a grand marshal,” Cipriani said in Cipriani. Basinger, 48, is director of AIDS Housing Alli- subsidy program targeting senior or disabled an email. “This is one of the best things that has LGBTQ or HIV-positive San Franciscans and ance/San Francisco. Under his direction, the allihappened in my life and I’ll always treasure this our first supportive housing subsidy for chroniance has prevented the eviction of, or found housmoment.” cally homeless HIV-positive individuals starts ing for, 2,700 households by providing financial Cipriani’s historic turn isn’t lost on him. in July,” he said, “but several of our other efforts assistance for back rent and deposits, providing See page 12 >> affordable housing applications, educating tenants are blooming this year.”
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