Recently in SF Category

It feels like it is time to start on the list of "only in San Francisco" moments I have had.

1. Be careful when you hug a friend that you usually hug - he may just have been have been whipped at a show.
2. Be careful when you hug a friend that you usually hug - he may just have gotten a new tattoo all over his back.
3. The man you have a coffee with may have a second career in gay adult movies. Still not sure if he got upset that I didn't recognize him... My ignorance!
   

Yesterday I decided to get out in the sun and sit and read.

I decided eventually to return to one of my favourite gems of this city: the National AIDS Memorial Grove. I hadn't been there in some months, maybe a year, but it always strikes me as a such a tranquil and centering place. And it was just as nice this time with beautiful flowers, the maple trees. I just have to remember this place more often than I do.

In these times when the California economy struggles and the Governator wants to slash the HIV preventive money and money for the medications (ADAP) to support the people that cannot afford their HIV medications, the urgency of this memorial grove feels even more important. To some of my close friends in this city the removal of ADAP is a potential death sentence.

Today I attended the Chancellor's Award for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and/or Transgender Leadership. As always this is a very powerful and touching event.

Having served on the selection committee for the last two years, I am aware of the phenomenal work that is done within the community by LGBTIQ individuals and our allies. But listening to the speeches from the awardees I was crying because of the powerful stories they shared with us present. Thank you all, and congratulations!

And in all of this, I cannot help to wonder over the ostracism, homophobia, and ignorance they have met - and that we as LGBTIQ women and men continue to face. Living in San Francisco it is so easy to get lost in the protected world, the bubble we live in. The flag over the Castro often feels like a beacon of hope, but at the same time also like an opium...

And the stories shared today become even more thought-provoking as I am - at the same time - reading about queer theory and describe that theory for my qualifying exam. It feels so strange to write about concepts like the heterosexual matrix and performativity, and then see its presence in and around myself.

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• Affirming Movies (bilerico.com)

Today, my thoughts go to friends and former patients that are living with the disease. I also get reminded of the men that I interviewed for my pilot study during the past year and the experience they had when HIV/AIDS hit the gay areas of San Francisco and New York City.

On a day like this I cannot help to think that HIV has been one "part" of my (sex) life from the age of 12 (well, 9 if one thinks of the first publications). From even starting thinking about other men, the reality of HIV has been around. The scare tactics have left me with an in-erasable awareness of a potential third party being involved.

In today's SF Chronicle there is an article about "Ward 86" that was the first ward for patients with AIDS in San Francisco that opened at the San Francisco General 25 years ago. It reminds me of the ward 53 at South Hospital in Stockholm that was closed after the introduction of the new, anti-retroviral combination treatments.

The treatments has allowed HIV/AIDS to be illnesses also for the older adult. Some of the problems regarding that was described in an article in the New York Times three weeks ago: "Speaking Out for a Group Once Unheard-Of: Aging With AIDS". That the medical community recognizes this - albeit gradually - is evident in that NIH has several research grants now that deal with the medical care for the older, HIV-infected adult.

Yesterday, it was 30 years ago since Harvey Milk, the Mayor of Castro Street was murdered together with San Francisco mayor George Moscone. Same day the movie MILK opened as a commercially available movie to go and see in your local cinema - if it isn't at a Cinemark movie. Cinemark's CEO donated $9,999 to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign.

I have now seen the movie two times, and I really like it. Tuesday, when I saw it for the second time, Milk's nephew was in the audience. He said that he cried more and more for every time he saw the movie - and it is true.

Tonight there is a memorial march scheduled, from City Hall to Milk's store on Castro Street. It's held to commemorate the light vigil that happened after Milk's assassination.  To learn more, go to ManiWOG's site

In reviews in both New York Times and The San Francisco Chronicle, the movie gets excellent reviews. Another review can be found in the Los Angeles Times.

Articles in the two papers describe how people see the movie as an important tool in the fight for LGBT rights today and an interview with Senator Dianne Feinstein about the events that day. The news clip where Feinstein announces the murder is the one of the grim scenes that starts the MILK movie.



    

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• The man who blew up America's closets

Last night I had the chance to go to the people's premiere of the Gus Van Sant movie about "The Mayor of Castro Street" Harvey Milk. I really liked this movie (8/10). The movie depicts Harvey's life from the age of 40 and onwards, till he was assassinated. It pictures the events of the making of what today is the Castro as  a gay neighborhood - something that was far from easy and smooth. Some of that is also found in the book "Gays and grays".

The movie had brutal relevance today. The arguments in the then fight against Proposition 6 - the Anita Bryant supported proposition to forbid homosexual teachers - are just as relevant in today's struggle in the Prop 8.

Milk's speech about: 'You got to give them hope' is just as painfully relevant today as it was then. It was amazing to hear and feel how people were energized last night in the Castro Theatre.



In a special commentary, Keith Olbermann gave a very eloquent and moving comment on the passing of Prop 8:

 

In the aftermath of the passing of Proposition 8, that defines marriage in California as the one between a man and a woman, still torments me and the LGBTQ community and our allies in. The blaming has in many cases focused on the role of the Mormons - the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the critique has focused on the involvement in another state's internal affairs, being involved in political issues (that an organization with their tax exemption shouldn't) - etc. Issues that have been raised is to question the tax exemption, boycott of business from Utah and a boycott of the Sundance film festival.

Today, the SF Chronicle - finally - brings out the role the Archbishop of San Francisco, George Niederauer, has played as the former Bishop of Salt Lake City: Catholics, Mormons allied to pass Prop. 8 Salt Lake City in Utah is the headquarters of the Mormon church.

I am sickened, angered, frustrated by the role Niederauer may have has played in this. This time he stabbed the members of his diocese by "ecumenical work" with the Mormons. A year ago, he visited Most Holy Redeemer parish in the Castro. He was all happy and nice then - until it was leaked to the conservative media that two Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had been present. He then turned around and was appalled.

It's time that the Roman Catholic Church and the California Catholic Conference starts paying for their involvement and being 'pleased' about the Prop 8 passing, and a definition of "traditional marriage".

I'm sorry, George, but your actions have denied me equality with a "separate but equal" decision, and you want me to support and respect you?

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• Catholics, Mormons defend support for same-sex ban
• Did Mormons provide California's Proposition 8 its margin of victory?
• Mormons And Catholics Upset At Being The Target Of Prop 8 Protests

The results finalized a lot during the day today, and Prop 8 passed with 52.2% against 47.8% - a difference by 400,000 votes.

The consequences of this are both hard to foresee and estimate. The immediate result was that no more same-sex marriages will be performed. The question about the more than 16,000 marriages that have been performed remains to be decided - from that they are valid to that they should bee annulled. At the same time, the opponents of Prop 8 have sued to block the measure to take effect [SF Chronicle].

Tonight, a crowd of 2,000 women and men of all ages, queer and straight gathered outside San Francisco City Hall to hold a vigil over the lost vote. But the fighting spirit was there: "Yes we will!". [SF Chronicle]

Today's the day - will the proposition 8 pass, or not..? I do hope it isn't! The so-called Prop 8 "eliminates right of same-sex couples to marry", and adding the definition of marriage as between man and woman in California.

I spent a few hours at noon today on the corner of 19th Ave and Noriega St with signs that said "Vote NO on PROP 8!". I volunteered with the No on 8 campaign. It was great funk have the cars driving by honking at or waving to us.

We also had people shouting less pleasant stuff; "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve", faggots etc. The most charming though, was an older Asian woman that was supporting a yes for this initiative and used the argument that there wouldn't be any babies - and no sex (sic!) - if same-sex couples were allowed to marry.

Yesterday was the fifth annual Hairrison Street Fair. It is an adult event where bears, cubs, otters and other labels of sturdy-built, hairy men are appreciated!

This years event was far better than last years. When I got here 2006 I was to the street fair and enjoyed it, but not so last year. I was afraid it was me that had already become a jaded, queer Sanfranciscan. After one year! But the last weeks I have heard many friends that had similar experiences last year. This year it was a great event; fabulous weather, a big turn-out, and a very nice atmosphere.

One of the best things was the introduction of the new flavor from Jägermeister: Jägermeister + honey=Bärjäger! (They handed out cheap tanktops with Bärjäger printed on them - not sure how many that got the joke.)

My pictures are available on flickr.