Gay businesses offer online gifts
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EQCA’s new focus draws attention
Vol. 45 • No. 50 • December 10-16, 2015
Castro merchants cry foul over Super Bowl plans
by Seth Hemmelgarn
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hortly after Rick Zbur joined Equality California last year, he pledged to refocus the statewide LGBT advocacy group. For years it had been Courtesy EQCA closely aligned with the marriage equality EQCA’s Rick Zbur movement, and after the recent legal victories, some had questioned whether the organization was still relevant. Just over 12 months later, Zbur has responded with a more muscular stance to a variety of issues, from immigration to health care access. The shift was particularly noticeable when the group harshly criticized several LGBT and Democratic members of Congress who voted in favor of tougher screening of Syrian refugees. The 289-137 vote November 19 in favor of HR 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act, “was a victory for ignorance and fear,” Zbur said in a news release shortly after the vote. “We are deeply disappointed that the list of ‘ayes’ included members of California’s congressional delegation, including members who have been champions of LGBT civil rights, and several LGBT members of Congress outside of California. ... As LGBT people we understand the effects of public antipathy and discrimination, and as a civil rights organization, we have a responsibility to stand up against policy decisions that are unthinking and unfeeling responses to popular anxiety.” In a recent interview, Zbur said the stance is in line with the expanded mission statement EQCA adopted shortly after he became executive director. The mission statement’s three priorities include “full equality and acceptance for LGBT people inside and outside California,” addressing health disparities, and “achieving a fair and just California and society,” Zbur said. “The way we view our role is a voice for the LGBT community and advancing civil rights for all communities LGBT people are part of,” Zbur said. “ ... The Syrian refugees include a disproportionate number of LGBT people, and based on the kinds of conditions they’re facing in the Middle East, it’s in line with our mission.” Zbur also said EQCA has 800,000 members, and it has communications capacity that other groups in the state don’t. His comments on the House vote drew attention especially because of three out Democratic Congress people who supported the act: Sean Patrick Maloney (New York), Jared Polis (Colorado), and Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona). See page 16 >>
by Matthew S. Bajko
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here is growing concern among Castro merchants that next year’s Super Bowl 50 celebrations will be a bust for their businesses due to the decision not to run the city’s historic F-Line streetcars along upper Market Street. Instead, transit officials plan to run buses on that portion of the route be-
tween the Castro and the Embarcadero, where a free fan village will be staged, during the week leading up to the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 7. At their monthly meeting last week, the Castro Merchants business association accused organizers with the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 See page 6 >>
A historic Muni F-Line streetcar passes gay sports bar Hi-Tops Saturday, December 5.
Gay San Bernardino man killed in massacre hailed a hero by Troy Masters
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gay man who was one of the victims in last week’s massacre at a social services building in San Bernardino has been credited with saving four lives. Larry Daniel Kaufman, 42, was one of the 14 people who were killed December 2 when Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik attacked Inland Regional Center. Dozens more were injured. Farook and Malik were later killed in a shootout with police. At a memorial for Kaufman Saturday, December 5, his partner, Ryan Reyes, hailed him as a hero. Kaufman is credited with saving four people’s lives, according to sources close to Reyes, who will tell Kaufman’s story this week on the Dr. Phil show. Daniel Kaufman Kaufman was working at a coffee cart in a hallway of the regional center when the shootscreaming, “Get out! Go! Get out now! Hurry!” ing started, sources said. He had worked with developmentally disabled people at the center, according to sources. He began pushing people which was the site of a holiday party for the out of harm’s way, urging them to the safety of the door before he was shot and killed. county public health department, for which Kaufman was always the one person among Farook worked. his wide circle of friends that everyone turned The attack is being investigated as an act of terror and the FBI has said that Farook and to for a quick, uplifting chat when they were having a bad day or wanted a laugh, said the Malik had been “radicalized” for some time. sources. Kaufman, always more concerned about Many of those loved ones gathered at Irwineveryone around him than himself, began
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dale, California’s Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area last Saturday to remember Kaufman. Friends shared memories, laughing and crying as they talked about intimate exchanges with him, remembering their final contact and their favorite things about him. Reyes, his partner of three years, retold Kaufman’s favorite stories. Kaufman, he said, lived to make people laugh. He loved to get that reaction from people. Kaufman, a practicing Wiccan, was a regular participant at the Renaissance Fairs and also loved scary movies and comic books. He was looking forward to the new Star Wars film and had recently met Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars films and returns in the new movie. Some people at the memorial service knew Kaufman only as the guy with the smiling face. It was only after his image was broadcast that some of them learned his name. “It didn’t matter what type of mood he was in, if you were hurting, it was that bright cheery, ‘are you OK? I’m going to make you laugh. I’m going to make you feel good again.’ That was Daniel,” Reyes said. “God, I miss him,” he added. Reyes also had a special message to share. “I speak for both Daniel and myself when I See page 20 >>