SJ marks World AIDS Day
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Cannabis gift ideas
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ARTS
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SF Gay Men's Chorus
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Serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971
Vol. 49 • No. 49 • December 5-11, 2019
Holidays go to the dogs
T
he Castro Merchants business group held its annual holiday tree lighting Monday, December 2 at Castro and 18th streets. Jim Oswald, director of marketing and communications at Meals on Wheels San Francisco, shared a moment in front of the tree with his adopted dachshund, Lulu, and thought about the spirit of the season. “The holidays can be difficult for many, which is why Meals on Wheels is grateful for the ongoing support from the community, allowing us the privilege to serve meals and companionship to nearly 5,000 homebound seniors in the city and making their holidays a little brighter,” he told the Bay Area Reporter in a text. For volunteer information or to donate, visit http:// www.mowsf.org. The tree lighting ceremony included performances from some of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (the city’s official band), as well as a visit from Santa and his elf.
Jane Philomen Cleland
Senator Kamala Harris dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary race Tuesday.
Harris drops out of prez race by Lisa Keen
Courtesy BART
BART board President Bevan Dufty speaks at the Powell Street station Tuesday to kick off the agency’s “Partners for Change” initiative with the Salvation Army.
Salvation Army vows LGBTs are welcome
by Matthew S. Bajko alifornia Senator Kamala Harris withdrew from the Democratic presidenddressing long-standing beliefs that tial field Tuesday, saying her campaign the organization discriminates against “simply doesn’t have the financial resources we LGBT people, Salvation Army officials need to continue.” are attempting to change people’s views of the “I’m not a billionaire. I can’t fund my own charitable Christian organization as they ramp campaign,” Harris wrote in a statement reup their services for homeless individuals in San leased to supporters and the press. “And as the Francisco and other West Coast cities. campaign has gone on, it’s become harder and At its annual luncheon held in San Francisco harder to raise the money we need to compete.” November 20, the agency officially announced Billionaire former New York City mayor Miits “The Way Out” initiative to double its efforts chael Bloomberg, who entered the race for the Jon Candor Democratic nomination only last week, immeSee page 5 >> diately overtook Harris in polling. He quickly unleashed a $50 million ad buy in numerous states, including Harris’ home turf of California. Billionaire businessman Tom Steyer, who’s also released TV ads in several states, had already qualified for the December Democratic by Matthew S. Bajko debate. Harris had qualified for the December deore than a year after it was released bate but, in polling, her consistently fifth or in draft form, San Francisco’s sixth place stature had shown signs of eroding, groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Cultural slipping from a high of 20% to 2% as of DeHeritage Strategy has yet to be formally adoptcember 1. ed by the city. It is now likely to be approved In her statement, Harris, a former San Fransometime in 2020. cisco district attorney and California attorney A draft version of the strategy was met with general, said it was with “deep regret – but also unanimous praise when it was first presented to with deep gratitude – that I am suspending my the city’s Historic Preservation Commission in campaign today.” Articles over the weekend in September last year. The oversight body was inithe New York Times and the Washington Post tially expectedback to vote on a final version of the plan Earn 1% for everyday purchases described a• campaign in turmoil, with staff lay-cash by the end of 2018 so the Board of Supervisors offs and indecision on how toAnnual proceed. • No Fee could approve the document earlier this year. “Eleven months ago at the launch of our Yet in the spring Planning Director John campaign in I told Balance you all: ‘I am not •Oakland, No Transfer Fee Rahaim, a gay man who plans to step down in perfect,” she wrote. “But I will always speak earlyTransaction 2020, had told the Bay Area Reporter that Fees • and No Foreign with decency moral clarity and treat all the planning staff was focused on first winpeople with dignity and respect. I will lead with • No Interest charged for ning approval for designating the city’s Castro 25 days integrity. I will speak the truth.’ neighborhood as a LGBTQ cultural district. It Rick Gerharter “So here’s the truth today. I’ve taken stock Apply today! wasn’t until early July that the supervisors apand looked at this from every angle, and over The city’s LGBTQ Cultural Heritage Strategy will focus on preserving the city’s Call 415-775-5377, stop by a branch or visit SanFranciscoFCU.com queer proved the designation, with Mayor London the last few days have come to one of the hardcultural districts, like the Castro, among other things. Breed finalizing it shortly thereafter. est decisions of my life,” she added. Preserving San Francisco’s LGBTQ cultural Harris, 55, did well with LGBT voters. A address the de-gayification of San Francisco. being, culture, and opportunity. The culture districts, there are also ones in the Tenderloin study of campaign contributions from heavily A working group tasked with figuring out how to category called on City Hall to lend support focused on the transgender community and LGBT ZIP codes showed her the second stronpreserve the city’s LGBTQ cultural heritage met in for the three LGBT cultural districts and the one South of Market aimed toward the leather gest fundraiser, behind gay candidate Pete But2017 to devise a plan for achieving that goal. When GLBT Historical Society’s plans to open a largand kink scene, are major components of the tigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. adopted it will be the first such citywide strategy in er museum than the one it operates now in the citywide strategy. It was concerns about the Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Franthe country aimed at protecting and enhancing a Castro. Since she first ran for mayor in 2018, loss of LGBT bars, businesses, and entertaincisco), an early backer of Harris, told the Bay municipality’s LGBT cultural heritage. Breed has pledged backing for the four projment venues throughout the city that promptArea Reporter he was sorry to see her exit the As the B.A.R. first reported last fall, the draft ects from her mayoral administration. ed calls for the creation of an overall plan to race. plan was divided into three focus areas: wellSee page 12 >> See page 13 >>
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