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City College gets gay major
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'Maharaja' opens
Romantic Hawaiian travel
The
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Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971
Vol. 41 • No. 43 • October 27-November 2, 2011
Candidates address AIDS policy
Spate of hate crimes target gays
by Matthew S. Bajko
A
by Seth Hemmelgarn
A
handful of anti-gay hate crime incidents have caught the attention of San Francisco law enforcement officials in recent weeks. In the most recent case, the San Francisco Police Department is investigating an incident that occurred around 12:30 a.m., Saturday, October 15 at Taqueria Cancun, 2288 Mission Street. Police spokesman Officer Carlos Manfredi said the victims went inside the taqueria to eat and were confronted by three men who told them to leave. One of the suspects allegedly used an antigay slur, but Manfredi wouldn’t say exactly what it was. There was then “a physical confrontation,” he said, but he couldn’t offer more details. There were four victims, but Manfredi said one Courtesy SFPD was injured more seriously than the Defendant others. The 25-year- Kevin Guerin old man’s injuries included a laceration to the forehead, and he was transported to San Francisco General Hospital. Manfredi said the man, whose name he wouldn’t disclose, is from San Francisco. The primary victim, who responded to emailed questions from the Bay Area Reporter, offered an account that was different from what Manfredi said. For example, the victim, who said he’s gay but whom the B.A.R. is not naming, said there were more people involved. He said the only thing he remembers the suspects saying was, “Get out of our neighborhood.” His friends heard the suspects say “faggot,” he said. He also said that he was hit in the face several times. No arrests have been made. Manfredi couldn’t offer detailed descriptions of the suspects. Witnesses can call the hate crimes unit at (415) 553-1133. The incident number is 110 830 676.
Attacks on roommate, brother In another incident, Kevin Guerin, 57, has been accused of an anti-gay hate crime. He also faces several charges after allegedly attacking his brother with a power drill. See page 2 >>
Rick Gerharter
Have wings, will jump A
vishai Taashur tempts his dog, Lulu, with a treat during the fifth annual Pawtrero Pet Halloween Party and Charity Benefit October 23. Some 500 dogs and their guardians came to the party, many of them dressed in costume. The event on Pier 40 Park on the Embarcadero raised $2,800 to be distributed to three rescue organizations: Muttville Senior Dogs, Grateful Dogs Rescue, and Give Me Shelter Cat Rescue. For Halloween happenings for humans, see the Out and About listings in the arts section.
majority of the leading candidates for San Francisco mayor would name a designated adviser on HIV and AIDS policy in their City Hall administration should they be elected next month. And they would set aside up to 20 percent of units for people living with HIV and AIDS in new housing developments built in the Castro, the heart of the city’s LGBT community. They would also see that recommendations from the city’s Hepatitis C Task Force be put into place and look at how to hire HIV-positive people without jeopardizing their government assistance. Those were some of the policy positions to be articulated at a mayoral forum this month on HIV and AIDS that a number of AIDS service providers and nonprofit groups hosted. It was the first time that many of the candidates had directly addressed questions about the devastating disease, as up until the forum the mayor’s race had largely ignored the topic. City Attorney Dennis Herrera, one of seven candidates to take part in the forum, offered an See page 16 >>
Senate panel poised to vote on DOMA repeal bill, Feinstein says by David Duran
S
enator Dianne Feinstein told the audience at the Human Rights Campaign’s San Francisco gala that the Senate Judiciary Committee is poised to approve a bill repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, setting the stage for an eventual vote by the full Senate. It was reported Monday that the committee vote will be November 3. Feinstein also pledged to continue working on behalf of equal rights for LGBTs and received a prolonged standing ovation from the crowd at HRC’s event, where she delivered the keynote address. “I will not give up and you will not give up, no matter how long it takes, so stay with me and walk with me and we will get there, I promise,” she told hundreds of people in attendance at the October 22 gala at the Fairmont Hotel. Feinstein, a Democrat and a former mayor of San Francisco, is the state’s senior senator. “I count on each of you to keep the pressure on Washington until we achieve our shared mission, equal treatment under the law for LGBT Americans,” she said during her remarks. She then gave a brief progress report, starting with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the military’s antigay policy that was repealed last month. She reminded the audience that she voted against it in 1993. “It was obvious for me at the time that the criteria should be courage, competence, and willing to serve,” she said. “If you want to serve your country loyally and proudly, you no
Rick Gerharter
Senator Dianne Feinstein speaks at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual San Francisco gala October 22.
longer have to hide in the shadows.”
Marriage equality One area where America hasn’t had the same level of success is marriage equality. The discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act was passed in 1996 and signed by President Bill Clinton. Feinstein was one of 15 senators to vote against that anti-gay law.
“This is a cause that has been near and dear to me. It was wrong then, it’s wrong now and it must be repealed,” she told the audience. Earlier this year, Feinstein introduced the Respect for Marriage Act. The bill is simple, it strikes DOMA from federal law and “allows the federal government to provide basic stability, security and fairness to the tens of thousands See page 16 >>
{ FIRST OF TWO SECTIONS }
B.A.R. election endorsements REMEMBER TO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 8!
• General election •
• Ballot measures •
San Francisco Mayor:
San Francisco Props:
Bevan Dufty, first choice Dennis Herrera, second choice Ed Lee, third choice
Vote YES on: A, B, C, E, F, G Vote NO on: D, H
District Attorney: George Gascón Sheriff: Ross Mirkarimi
Emerville City Council: Ruth Atkin College of Marin Board:
Stephanie O’Brien