More states on 'no-fly' list
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Monkeypox cases double
Sketch dances
ARTS
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La Belle et la Bete ̂
The
www.ebar.com
Serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities since 1971
Vol. 52 • No. 27 • July 7-13, 2022
SF supes OK $1.25M to cash-strapped PRC by Eric Burkett
Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation repealing the state’s loitering law.
Newsom repeals CA’s ‘walking while trans’ loitering law
by Matthew S. Bajko
G
overnor Gavin Newsom on July 1 repealed California’s “walking while trans” loitering law, ending nine months of speculation on whether he would do so. Sex worker advocates and LGBTQ leaders have denounced such criminal codes due to police using them to arrest transgender women who engage in prostitution in order to make a living. The Golden State now joins the state of New York in repealing its loitering laws. The Empire State did so in 2021. The California Legislature last year had approved the legislation repealing the state’s Penal Code section 653.22, which makes it a misdemeanor to loiter in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution. But gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who authored Senate Bill 357, had withheld sending it to Newsom amid concerns that the governor would veto it. The bill additionally allows a person convicted of loitering to petition the trial court for resentencing or dismissal of the charges, and the sealing of their records. In a signing message Newsom pointed out how the crime of loitering has disproportionately impacted Black and Brown women and members of the LGBTQ community. Black adults accounted for 56.1 % of the loitering charges in Los Angeles between 2017-2019, despite making up less than l 0% of the city’s population, noted the governor. But Newsom also said his administration would be watching to see if there were any repercussions in the enactment of SB 357. “To be clear, this bill does not legalize prostitution,” wrote Newsom in his message. “It simply revokes provisions of the law that have led to disproportionate harassment of women and transgendered adults. While I agree with the author’s intent and I am signing this legSee page 14 >>
A
Rick Gerharter
Brett Andrews, CEO of PRC, demonstrated the new sit-stand desks in the agency’s new offices during a 2019 tour.
Place, a 29-bed psychiatric respite program. Administrators for PRC and Baker Places approached the supervisors at their June 14 meeting to request $3.2 million in emergency funding to help them meet expenses, including payroll, in providing behavioral health
and detox services for 215 beds. The programs serve more than 2,000 people per year, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health. See page 14 >>
Queer Latinx creators tackle HIV stigma in new podcast series by Matthew S. Bajko
T
he new podcast series “Love in Gravity” aimed at addressing HIV stigma within the Latinx and Afro-Latinx communities starts off with a bang. A gay mixed-race male couple picks up a guy at a bar and brings him home for a three-way. After discussing how they are all negative and on the HIV prevention medication PrEP, the three engage in a sexual hookup depicted audibly. At the start of the 56-minute episode, titled “Elote PrEParado,” a warning gives listeners a heads up about the explicit content they are about to hear. “Oh fuck, use my hole, daddy!” one of the three men lustily begs. The story then cuts to the trio talking about open relationships, eventually segueing into the couple traveling to the Latino partner’s family home in Arizona for a Quinceanera celebration. His white partner lends emotional support as the couple navigates the family dynamics spurred on by confusion at the discovery of their PrEP use. “For me, it was an opportunity to de-stigmatize PrEP and open up a conversation,” said Estevan, a queer Mexican American television show writer who wrote the podcast episode. “I think HIV still disproportionately affects us. There is
Estevan, courtesy Twitter; Faison, Brett Erickson
Estevan, left, who uses one name professionally, wrote the “Love in Gravity” podcast in which Adam Faison is one of the actors.
such shame around PrEP and taking care of your body. I think this will hopefully give someone an example of how to navigate those conversations with a partner and with family.” Born Estevan Quintero, but using only his first name professionally, Estevan told the Bay Area Reporter he has been on PrEP for a number of years now. But it is not a subject often spoken about within the Latinx community, he said. “Even just the idea of PrEP as an option is not something that is really talked about within our community,” said Estevan, who grew up in Phoe-
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nix. “PrEP is still seen as a white gay male option. It was a new space for me to navigate personally. It was important for me to say, ‘Hey! This is an option.’” As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted last year, just 27% of Black/African American and 31% of Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men who could have benefitted from PrEP used it in 2017, compared to 42% of white gay and bi men. See page 14 >>
Photo: DepositPhotos
Courtesy Governor’s office
n 11th-hour emergency funding request from a key behavioral health services and HIV/AIDS provider in San Francisco last month left some members of the Board of Supervisors livid, but city officials are largely quiet on what actions they plan to take next. The Board of Supervisors ultimately gave final approval by a vote of 10-0 June 28 to a total of $1.25 million in one-time limited grants to PRC and Baker Places (District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan was not present). Baker Places and PRC merged in 2016, though it is not finished. PRC provides HIV/AIDS services and workforce development. It also provides emergency financial assistance for people with HIV/AIDS, having taken over the former AIDS Emergency Fund; legal representation for access to basic income and health care benefits; and residential treatment and supportive housing for people affected by HIV/AIDS. PRC Baker Places provides residential housing for those with substance use or mental health issues. It also oversees Hummingbird