Bay Area Reporter - December 28, 2000
Katie Szymanski and Terry Beswick

July

The month was christened by an announcement and prediction from the city's openly lesbian state representative, Assemblywoman Carole Migden. There would be no more domestic partnership legislation signed into law in the year 2000, according to Migden and LGBT advocates from California Alliance for Pride and Equality. Despite the passage of bills extending equal protections to LGBT families in both houses of the state Legislature, gay-themed legislation would be doomed to the cutting block of Governor Gray Davis's desk. The predictions, of course, later proved to be true. Bay Area activists were a huge presence at the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa.

But back here at home, the HIV establishment was busy trying to explain exactly what happened when the Department of Public Health announced - then retracted - a near tripling of new HIV incidence in San Francisco, to 900 cases, dubbed a "sub-Saharan rate" of infection. National news outlets ran with the story, always quick to point out that unsafe sex between gay men was on the rise. But in the pages of the B.A.R., these same officials backpedaled on their original estimate, calling the announced number "unofficial" and their comments about infection rates "unfortunate." To this day, we still do not have an official estimate of the number of HIV cases in San Francisco, but a significant part of the increase, officials acknowledged, was the growing population of the city itself.

A young man collapsed on July 3 at the new Metropolitan Community Church youth shelter at 150 Eureka; Curtis Oliver Jr., 25, was taken by ambulance to California Pacific Medical Center where his estranged mother made the decision to discontinue his life support. It was later determined that opiates were the cause of his death.

Supervisor Leslie Katz announced on July 10 that she would not seek re-election; the incumbent had planned to move to District 6 (South of Market) to avoid challenging front-runner Supervisor Tom Ammiano in the Mission's District 9, but later, in the wake of her dot-com layoff, ironically discovered she could not afford the housing market that was created in part by the city's policies, many of which she championed.

The LGBT Community Center hit yet another stumbling block when the National Park Service decided its design detracted too much from the original Fallon Building to qualify for historic tax credits.

In a typical yet nevertheless horrific situation, the California Department of Corrections admitted that a laboratory hired by the prison system had fabricated HIV and other test results; although officials had this knowledge for four years, many current prisoners and those out on parole have still not been informed that they need to be re-tested.

XY magazine protested the July 13 censorship of one of its stories by PlanetOut.com, claiming that the gay media giant was pandering to corporate sponsors. The censored story was an opinion piece by publisher Peter Cummings criticizing the lack of advertising from companies like Abercrombie & Fitch, who have steered clear of the youth-oriented magazine because it is too "racy." PlanetOut claimed the story was censored because it solicited funds from readers, a direct violation of the partnership agreement between the Web site and the magazine. Soon after the incident, XY severed its Internet ties with PlanetOut.

Two members of San Francisco's HIV prevention community were "outed" on July 13 for their barebacking practices. Both Vince Gaither of the city's HIV Prevention Planning Council, and Keith Folger of the Stop AIDS Project had posted advertisements on Web sites that cater to those who prefer sex without condoms. The men and other community members were quick to defend their choices, noting that prevention messages must include harm reduction strategies for people who bareback.

The street-savvy health organization Breast Cancer Action celebrated its 10th anniversary on July 20. With over 500 members and supporters, the organization advocates for legislative and policy changes both locally and nationally.

The California Board of Equalization decided that LGBT people can receive tax credits for their financial roles at home. In a 3-2 vote on July 26, the board said that a gay person financially responsible for a dependent child - even one who is not biological - can claim "head of household" status when filing tax returns.

August

Just over a month after the biggest queer celebration ever, the San Francisco LGBT Pride Committee returned over $70,000 in revenue to local community groups. Thirty-two organizations split the money, raised by gate donations from the Pride festival on June 25-26.

African American leaders called for Governor Gray Davis to sign a racial profiling bill that would collect data on the number of people of color pulled over by police. "Driving While Black or Brown" - or "DWB," as it has come to be known, is viewed by many as a significant problem in California, but Davis claimed budget deficits and a lack of urgency as reasons not to support such a law.

Assemblywoman Carole Migden brought home the bacon in state budget negotiations, securing $250,000 for the city's GLBT Historical Society of Northern California. The money will be used to update archives and make information more widely available o the public.

Castro gentrification was finally addressed somewhat, when Supervisor Mark Leno's legislation was passed by the board on August 7 that makes it more difficult for chain stores to open in the neighborhood. The new law, among other things, reduced the size limit of businesses needing a conditional use permit from 2500 to 2000 feet, and set the maximum size for new businesses at 4,000 feet.

The brilliance of the San Francisco Department of Health shone through on August 9, when DPH Director Dr. Mitchell Katz unveiled an "11-point Action Plan" that recognized 20 years of prevention messages had largely failed his community. The new plan, criticized by many for its over-simplification of the decisions involved with engaging in sex, called for HIV-positive tops to use condoms and HIV-negative bottoms to insist that their partners wear one.

DPH also announced the creation of a new queer youth shelter advisory committee to consist of neighbors, homeless advocates, youth, and business representatives; the committee would meet to discuss reviving the queer youth shelter at 2500 Market Street.

And in yet another strategically flawed move, San Francisco's DPH decided to remove male rectal gonorrhea cases from its monthly sexually transmitted disease report. The report, issued August 15 and containing data from the month of July, contained no mention of the disease's incidence, despite the fact that an alleged rise in cases was cited as proof of an HIV surge.

A large number of Bay Area activists participated in mass demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles on August 15; protesting everything from trade policies and the criminal justice system to the exclusion of a strong civil rights platform, the demonstrators caused havoc in order to make the statement that the nation's lefties were being ignored by a party that claims to be progressive.

The month brought shivers to the spines of every LGBT organization that had capitalized on one of the most well-known lesbian relationships in history when actresses Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche broke up. Heche was found wandering around Fresno in an incoherent state on August 19; she apparently landed on the doorstep of a fan who invited her inside and allowed her to shower but eventually called police when Heche refused to leave. The couple that had claimed "forever" just days after their first rendezvous three and a half years earlier had no comment on the breakup other than to say it was "amicable."

A 31-year-old man was struck and killed by a hit and run driver in the Castro on August 28. Barry Gumb, a neighborhood resident, was crossing Market Street at 16th when an alleged drunk driver hit him at approximately 12:45 a.m. Gumb fought for his life for 20 hours at San Francisco General Hospital before succumbing to major head injuries; the driver was later apprehended and charged with two felonies.

A San Francisco Grand Jury issued an opinion in favor of South of Market night clubs that urged the permit process to be taken away form the police department. Police, said the grand jury, were unfairly blaming clubs for crimes that occurred in the surrounding areas.

And AT&T Broadband made a fatal flaw when it posted billboards around San Francisco promoting "Homocide;" the spelling error for the television show promotion was later fixed so that murder against gays was no longer implied.

September

Governor Gray Davis's cabinet secretary Susan Kennedy allegedly killed transgender non-discrimination legislation when she advised lobbyists that the bill looked like future "veto bait." Kennedy, a lesbian, refused to confirm the rumors that she was the one who issued a message to put AB2142, a housing and employment protection bill by Assemblyman Fred Keeley (D-Santa Cruz), on hold until next session.

Chuck Holmes, a well-known video producer, philanthropist, and advocate for gay rights, died on September 9 from HIV/AIDS complications. He was 55.

The Dr. Laura show kicked off its first broadcast on September 11, and much to the surprise of the LGBT community, queer "friendly" advertisers included PG&E and Kaiser Permanente. The companies later claimed that they were unaware their ad time occurred during the program.

The Food and Drug Administration announced plans to revisit the much-outdated ban on gay blood donations that refuses all potential male donors who have had sex with another man since 1977. But the FDA fell far short, examining only whether to exclude gay men who have been sexually active within the past year; the current guidelines still favor high-risk heterosexuals over gay men who have religiously used condoms.

The new and improved Women's Building was unveiled on September 15 after six years of planing and construction. The community center at 18th and Valencia, founded by and for women in 1979, boasts an enhanced outdoor mural, more meeting rooms, and a modern auditorium.

The city of Oakland received its first openly gay council member when Danny Wan, 36, was appointed on September 18 to fill a vacancy created when John Russo was elected city attorney.

The 17th annual Folsom Street Fair took South of Market by storm on September 24; the world's biggest leather party drew crowds estimated up to 400,000 and raised approximately $265,000 for local community groups.

Once again, the lesbian nation was weeping from a stab to the heart when our statehood poster dykes, Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher, called it quits on September 18, just weeks after Ellen and Anne announced their parting. World famous musician Etheridge and filmmaker Cypher had been together for 12 years and have two children fathered by rock legend David Crosby.

Governor Gray Davis shocked LGBT advocates when he vetoed relatively uncontroversial transgender legislation. AB1851, by Assemblyman John Longville (D-Rialto), would have made a simple administrative change to give recently relocated and California-native post-operative transsexuals an avenue to obtain new birth certificates. The bipartisan-approved bill, which simply clarified existing law, was rejected on the grounds that it was "unnecessary."

KGO television banned locally-produced HIV prevention commercials from its daytime air slots, claiming that the "HIV stops with me" campaign would - horror of horrors - provoke youngsters to ask questions of their parents.

The San Francisco Chronicle added to the hysteria by claiming that one of the ad's featured spokes models, a transgender woman named Felicia Elizondo, was "holding her nipples" during the commercial when in fact she was only crossing her arms. The network agreed to run the advertisements after 10 p.m.

The intense debate over a queer youth shelter in the Castro wound down on September 29 when the San Francisco Planning Commission voted 6-1 to approve a conditional use permit for a transitional housing facility at 2500 Market Street.

And the Human Rights Campaign reported that domestic partnership benefits increased 25 percent nationwide, with 3,572 companies, colleges, and governments joining the effort to offer health insurance to same-sex couples in the last year. San Francisco was given the credit for setting the standard for the rest of the country to live up to, with the city's landmark equal benefits ordinance, passed in 1997.

October

An estimated quarter of a million people swarmed through San Francisco's gayest neighborhood for the annual Castro Street Fair on October 1. Fair board president Steve Gaynes said that over $46,000 to benefit community organizations was raised from gate donations-a 10 percent increase from 1999.

Several of San Francisco's openly gay and lesbian elected officials held a small rally at the site of the late Supervisor Harvey Milk's former camera shop on Castro Street October 2 to show their support for Vice President Al Gore's presidential campaign. Supervisor Mark Leno took a shot at Green Party candidate Ralph Nader for referring to equal rights measures for gays as "gonadal politics," while city Treasurer Susan Leal said that while Gore is not perfect, he represents the best opportunity for progress for the LGBT community. Supervisor Leslie Katz said there would be "catastrophic implications" for the U.S. Supreme Court in the event of a Bush administration. "It's frightening to think of what kind of people Bush would pick."

A shaken San Francisco Health Commissioner Ron Hill, facing a $17,500 warrant out for his arrest in Sonoma County for bad checks and an ongoing investigation of similar charges in San Francisco, suggested on October 10 that an ex-lover of many years may have stolen his checks and/or identification. Hill resigned a week later.

Accomplishing two firsts in a single vote, the board of directors of the nonprofit group that plans San Francisco's annual Pride festival, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebration Committee Inc., elected Cecilia Chung as its president. Chung, a case management worker at the Tom Waddell Health Center and a member of the city's HIV Health Services Planning Council, became the board's first Asian American as well as its first transgender president.

Queer lobby group California Alliance for Pride and Equality had anticipated receiving all of the approximately $250,000 left over from the unsuccessful campaign to defeat Proposition 22, the March ballot measure from homophobic state Senator Pete Knight (R, Palmdale) which codified marriage in the state as the exclusive domain of people who practice heterosexuality. But former No on Knight campaign manager Mike Marshall said that CAPE would receive $160,000, while $15,000 would go to pro-gay marriage forced in Nebraska, some $50,000 would go toward still-to-be-defined public education efforts around same-sex marriage in California, and the remainder would be set aside in the event of state fines against the campaign.

Openly gay Department of Public Health Director Dr. Mitchell H. Katz plainly revealed himself to be particularly sensitive to criticisms from within the LGBT community on October 10. Alleging that the Bay Area Reporter - the only paper, incidentally, that even superficially scratched below the dumbed-down explanations of the algebraic "Delphi" machinations that UCSF/DPH's epidemiologists employed in preliminarily estimating the annual number of new HIV infections in the city - had "consistently taken out of context, misquoted, and distorted statements made by DPH staff," and implying that by shining a light on the issue the B.A.R. was in cahoots with AIDS denialists, Katz issued a declaration stating that the entire health department was to respond to the B.A.R. in writing only.

Despite repeated offers from the newspaper to adhere to standing policy by making any and all corrections or clarifications to any inaccurate material previously published, Katz and DPH spokeswoman Eileen Shields were never able to produce a single specific instance of a misquote or inaccuracy to support the director's unsubstantiated charges.

The California Department of Corrections was put on the defensive at an October 11 hearing at the Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla when several prisoners delivered scathing testimony to an eight-member legislative panel concerning allegations of medical abuse and neglect endured by the women inside. Called by state Senator Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles), the hearing was the first of two on the inhumanity of the prison system towards female prisoners. The second hearing, convened in Los Angeles County, focused on patterns of sexual abuse inflicted on women prisoners by uniformed prison guards.

Mike Shriver, 37, co-director of community initiatives for the AIDS Policy Research Center of UCSF's AIDS Research Institute, and an early members of the original ACT UP/San Francisco, was named HIV/AIDS policy adviser by Mayor Willie Brown in mid-March.

Harry Hay, a founder of the Mattachine Society, the first civil rights advocacy group for homosexuals that formed its first chapter in Los Angeles the 1950s, and of the post-sexual revolution's Radical Faerie Movement that still bears fruit today, was steadily recovering in a San Francisco Hospital after undergoing surgery for colon cancer on October 25 at a San Francisco hospital.

Chiron Corporation CEO Sean Lance dipped into the biotech's accounts in late October and cut a check for an undisclosed amount made out to a front group for the anti-gay Boy Scouts of America. The many LGBT employees of the Emeryville-based developer of AIDS, cancer, and other therapies registered their outrage to company managers, citing BSA's court-upheld yet morally-wrong discriminatory policy against gays in its ranks. All 3,600 Chironites received an October 27 e-mail from Lance announcing the donation and claiming the BSA program, called Learning for Life, "is serving as a cornerstone of the efforts of [Oakland schools superintendent] Dennis Chaconas" to improve conditions in the K-12 public school system. Told of Lance's claim, a spokesman for Chaconas said he had never heard of the program, yet later acknowledged it was being tried out in a couple Oakland schools.

November

As the rest of the country blindly embraced the "compassion" and "honesty" of George W. Bush on Tuesday, November 7, San Francisco delivered a resounding "no" to the big money trying to fool the general public on a number of issues. Many progressives and other candidates not hand-picked by Mayor Willie Brown were in the lead in several district races for supervisor. Progressive poster boy Supervisor Tom Ammiano achieved election by a landslide, allowing him to avoid the December 12 runoff.

Supervisor Gavin Newsom was unopposed and also won outright. Winning 49.5 percent of the vote in District 8, openly gay Supervisor Mark Leno would have to beat back a challenge from openly lesbian community activist Eileen Hansen, who took 34.4 percent.

The pitched battle between slow-growth Proposition L and the competing Proposition K capsulized the growing civic rancor over big development and displacement, and was seen as the bellwether of the shift of the local power center from the moderate Democrats of K, supported by Mayor Brown, and the progressive Democrats to the left, supported by Board of Supervisors President Tom Ammiano. Both propositions lost at the polls, though Proposition L came closest by about 1,100 votes.

Reviews were mixed in mid-November when PlanetOut.com and Gay.com announced their plans to merge and effectively form one leading Internet source for LGBT news, politics, and community exchange. The once-rival businesses, both based in San Francisco, said they would pool their resources to create, as they said, "a multi-faceted global media and services company" that immediately reaches 3.5 million monthly users. Some people in the LGBT community expressed concern that the new alliance would lead to less diversity in media opinions, excluding marginalized populations and presenting to the world one voice by which all LGBT people will be characterized.

Ted Fang took over the reins at the new San Francisco Examiner, becoming the first openly gay person as well as the first Asian to serve as publisher of a major metropolitan daily when the first slimmed-down issue hit the streets November 22.

After five years of development, Grace Cathedral Episcopal Church celebrated the dedication of the Interfaith AIDS Memorial Chapel on Thursday, November 30.

Supervisor Ammiano and Assemblywoman Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) were the featured speakers at the 22nd annual Milk/Moscone Candlelight Memorial March on Monday, November 27, the anniversary of the brutal assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone at the hands of former Supervisor Dan White. The march down Market Street from the Castro to City Hall was attended by about 100 people who huddled together across from the site and listened as Ammiano and Migden spoke of the lives and legacies of the slain progressive leaders.

"Breast cancer treatment" license plates went on the market through several outlets, and were authorized in May by California Governor Gray Davis to increase access to appropriate breast cancer treatment for low-income women. Applications for the new license plate are available at www.carclub.com or 1-800-CAR-CLUB, and also at www.curebreastcancer.org.

Attorneys for the family of the late Jeffrey Goring, a San Jose man who died on February 13 after collapsing on the stage dance floor at the popular Club Universe, announced they were filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the gay dance club in San Francisco's South of Market District. The suit alleges that club employees waited too long to call 911 after Goring fell to the floor. Club officials had vehemently denied the charges.

December

Several events were held around the Bay Area, and hundreds throughout the world, to mark World AIDS Day on December 1, including a ceremony at the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. San Francisco poet laureate Janice Mirikitani read a poem at the event that told of a young girl whose life was ravaged by AIDS after being sold into prostitution by her family. "It's ironic that so many of us reject religion, when there's so much evidence that we've played such important roles throughout history," said gay spiritual author Christian de la Huerta, who attributed the world's ills to a chaotic state in which the energies of spiritual people are not being tapped. "The gatekeepers have been fired from their jobs... We must reclaim our archetypal spiritual roles."

Saying that it was in large part due to his emotional inability to move on from the worst days of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco, the Reverend Jim Mitulski resigned his 15-year post as pastor of the 500-congregant Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco. He preached his last sermon December 3.

Construction delays were blamed for the postponement of the new queer youth shelter's opening, now slated for mid- to late-January. Supervisor Mark Leno, DPH officials, and on-site contractor Ark of Refuge had hoped to open the facility before the December holidays.

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Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

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