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Martin Moran
Cindy Wilson
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Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971
Vol. 46 • No. 47 • November 24-30, 2016
Safe-sex activist Buzz Bense dies
SF advocates propose trans historic district
by Liz Highleyman
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by Matthew S. Bajko
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group of LGBT advocates in San Francisco wants to create the country’s first transgender historic district in the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood, where in the summer of 1966 transgender and queer patrons of a late-night diner rioted against police harassment.
They have formed the Compton’s Historic District Committee, named after the defunct eatery Compton’s Cafeteria that drew LGBT patrons in the 1950s through the early 1970s. And they have engaged Stacy Farr, a historic preservation professional, to assist them in writing the application to the National Register of Historic Places to create the historic district. See page 11 >>
Mid-Market Street buildings may be demolished but LGBT advocates say they have historical significance to the LGBT community.
DA re-ups hate crime hotline by Seth Hemmelgarn
Kelly Sullivan
of concern” to local officials, and they won’t be questioned about an Francisco District At“whether you have the authority torney George Gascón and or not to be here. ... We care about several other city officials are your safety.” promoting a hate crime hotline Gascón also urged people to number that – while never out stand up for others, and said, “We of service – was republished last would be kidding ourselves if we week in light of reports that atthink as a nation” that people tacks on LGBTs, Muslims, people aren’t capable “of committing Rick Gerharter of color, and other communities horrible things.” have increased since Republican San Francisco Assistant District Attorney and Human Rights He pointed to the internment Donald Trump won the presiden- Commission Chair Susan Christian speaks during a news conference of Japanese citizens during World tial election. announcing the republication of the DA’s hate crime hotline. Joining War II as one example. Trump’s bigoted rhetoric has her were District Attorney George Gascón, left, Paul Henderson “We took their homes, we took been reflected in his Cabinet from Mayor Ed Lee’s office, Human Rights Commissioner Hala their businesses, and they were choices and drawn support from Hijazi and San Francisco Police Commander Greg McEachern. never ever made whole,” Gascón white supremacists and other said. hate groups. At least two hate Hala Hijazi, who’s Muslim and Authorities took Chacon into custody and crimes have been reported in San Francisco charged him with felony vandalism and a hate sits on the city’s Human Rights Commission, since November 8, officials said. crime enhancement. As of Monday afternoon, choked up as she spoke of the “psychological “They’re not theoretical,” Gascón said at November 21, he remained in San Francisco warfare” people are facing. a Friday, November 18 news conference to “This has been personal to me,” Hijazi said. County Jail #2 on $78,000 bail, according to announce the hotline number, referring to sheriff ’s department records. “... I don’t even wear a hijab, but I worry about people’s concerns. “They’re real. The fear in our my sisters that do.” According to CBS, a Latina woman was atcommunity is real.” Commander Greg McEachern, who heads tacked at Fort Mason November 14 by a man In a news release, police said that at about the police department’s investigations bureau, who said, “No Latinos here.” 4:15 p.m. Thursday, November 17, David The station reported that a man was detained said he wants to assure people that police would Chacon, 33, of San Francisco, “was observed “vigorously investigate and send for prosecuin the incident but “his identity has been withheld spray painting a racist epithet and a symbol on while the attack remains under investigation.” tion” acts involving “bigotry and hatred.” the wall of a business” in the 1400 block of EgMcEachern said police have not “had a large “We must make it very, very clear that will bert Street, which is in the Bayview district. “He not be tolerated in San Francisco,” Gascón said uptick” in hate crimes since Trump was elected, then sprayed gold colored paint onto the hood of such incidents. See page 22 >> of a parked Toyota pickup truck.” He also assured people, “Your status is not
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uzz Bense, a well-known safe-sex educator, sex club operator, and theater aficionado, died Saturday, November 19 in San Francisco due to complications of liver Liz Highleyman disease. He was 67. “Buzz Bense was a Buzz Bense in 2013 wonderful man who saved many lives with his sex-positive approach to HIV education,” said Terry Beswick, executive director of the GLBT Historical Society, who recently interviewed Mr. Bense for an oral history of his life and work. Mr. Bense was involved in the San Francisco sex-positive and HIV education communities for three decades, an era that spanned the bathSee page 8 >>
Gordon reflects on time in Assembly by Matthew S. Bajko
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ext week gay Assemblyman Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park) will be lounging in the South Pacific enthralled by a good book, the title still to be determined. Forced out of his 24th Assembly Dis- Assemblyman trict seat on the Pen- Rich Gordon insula due to term limits – he has served three consecutive twoyear terms – Gordon’s time in the state Legislature’s lower chamber will officially come to an end Sunday, December 4. It will mark the first time in 24 years that Gordon, who formerly served on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and, prior to that, on the county’s board of education, has not held elective office. See page 21 >>