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LGBT senior hearing today
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SF Opera season announced
Mission Station's new captain
The
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Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971
New ED joins Project Open Hand by Seth Hemmelgarn
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he executive director of a San Francisco nonprofit that prepares and delivers meals to critically ill homebound clients, seniors, and those living with HIV/ AIDS has officially started work. Kevin Winge, 53, has taken the helm at Project Open Hand, several months after his selection for the Jane Philomen Cleland job was announced. Winge, who most Kevin Winge recently headed Open Arms of Minnesota, a similar agency, has known outgoing Project Open Hand Executive Director Tom Nolan for 14 years. In a Tuesday, January 24 interview in the Bay Area Reporter’s offices, Winge said his new post is “a good opportunity for me” with “an organization I’ve known for a long time.”
Vol. 42 • No. 04 • January 26-February 1, 2012
Castro plaza rules inch closer to passage by Matthew S. Bajko
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ules governing two outdoor plazas in the Castro inched closer to passage this week after a Board of Supervisors’ committee endorsed the proposed regulations. Under the new guidelines for both Jane Warner and Harvey Milk plazas at the corner of Market and Castro streets, camping and sleeping would be banned at all hours in the public parklets. Cigarette smoking would also be prohibited in the two areas, while signage would make clear that removable chairs and tables would be stored between the hours of 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. each day. The plazas would remain open 24 hours and people would be allowed to sit either on the ground or on benches in the plazas, insists District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener. The openly gay lawmaker, who lives near the area, introduced the measure at the behest of the Castro Community Benefit District. “This legislation is not draconian. It does not restrict anyone from the plazas,” said Wiener, later adding, “This is basic, common sense legislation.” The board’s land use committee voted 2-1 to support the rules, which now go before the full
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Rick Gerharter
People hurried through a wet Harvey Milk Plaza last Friday; the Board of Supervisors is expected to vote Tuesday on rules for the plaza, as well as Jane Warner Plaza across Castro Street.
Mayors unite for marriage by Michael K. Lavers
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who during the press early two-dozen California conference highlighted how the lack of mayors are among those who marriage equality impacts members of have joined Freedom to Marry’s his own family, co-chairs the campaign. new campaign to advance marriage for New York City Mayor Michael same-sex couples across the country. Bloomberg; out Houston Mayor Annise The campaign was launched at last Parker; Tacoma, Washington, Mayor Friday’s U.S. Conference of Mayors Marilyn Strickland; Philadelphia Mayor gathering in Washington, D.C. with 80 Michael Nutter; and Boston Mayor mayors and, by Sunday, that list had Thomas Menino also spoke. grown to more than 100. Sanders, a Republican, acknowledged Regional California mayors include that his position on the issue has evolved. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Oakland “Several years ago I believed civil Mayor Jean Quan, San Leandro Mayor unions were fair; the irony is I held this Stephen Cassidy, Petaluma Mayor mistaken view even though my oldest David Glass, Alameda Mayor Marie daughter, Lisa, is a lesbian. But I was Gilmore, Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane, wrong,” he said. “Fairness means giving and openly gay West Sacramento Mayor people the same rights and freedoms as Christopher Cabaldon. everybody else. There’s no such thing as San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, fair enough. It’s either fair, or it’s not.” Jamie McGonnigal/EqualityPhotography.com who famously came out in support Another Republican mayor, openly gay of marriage equality during the San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders speaks at the Mayors for Mike Gin of Redondo Beach, California, is Proposition 8 campaign in 2008 when he the Freedom to Marry press conference at the U.S. Conwas also listed as a supporter. revealed his daughter is gay, also joined ference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., on January 20. Local mayors missing from the list are the group. Chuck Reed of San Jose, the only big city “Each of these mayors has committed mayor from the Bay Area not to oppose himself or herself to the cause and to Prop 8 four years ago, and Osby Davis of protections that their families need that only working with Freedom to Marry to ensure Vallejo, who in 2009 told a reporter that gays are come along with marriage,” said Freedom that loving and committed same-sex couples “committing sin and that sin will keep them out to Marry national campaign director Marc throughout America can marry the person of heaven.” (Davis later apologized.) Solomon at a press conference in Washington they love and avail themselves of the crucial See page 16 >> January 20.
N Paul Margolies/Courtesy Names Project Foundation
A square from the AIDS Memorial Quilt
Castro to get AIDS quilt display by Matthew S. Bajko
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n emotionally wrenching show timed to Valentine’s Day is headed to the city’s Castro district as community leaders plan to display the largest collection of AIDS quilt panels San Francisco has seen in decades. Castro merchants and AIDS advocates are See page 16 >>
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