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New PrEP study
More cities fly flags
Pulse memorial Friday
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Sampson McCormick
The
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Serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971
Vol. 50 • No. 24 • June 11-17, 2020
Castro protest expresses solidarity with BLM by John Ferrannini Screengrab via Zoom
Clockwise from upper left: Niki Solis, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, police Chief William Scott, District Attorney Chesa Boudin, and Public Defender Mano Raju appeared on a Zoom meeting Monday.
Panel discusses defunding SFPD by John Ferrannini
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he Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club held a panel discussion Monday night featuring elected officials and San Francisco Police Chief William Scott discussing what can be changed in light of a tumultuous week in the public’s relationships with law enforcement. “A Conversation with San Francisco’s Criminal Justice Policymakers” featured Scott, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, District Attorney Chesa Boudin, and Public Defender Mano Raju. It was moderated by Niki Solis, a lesbian who’s a deputy public defender. Many of the questions regarded how different elements in the criminal justice system affect LGBT people; the second touched upon an incident that occurred just last Thursday, when as the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, a nonbinary officer was reprimanded for wearing earrings in violation of a transphobic police dress code. The officer – Rubin Rhodes – had worn earrings for years with only one previous incident. The day prior to being sent home for insubordination, however, Rhodes took a knee in front of the police department’s Mission Station in solidarity with protesters demanding justice for black people killed by law enforcement. While Scott could not speak to that incident specifically, he said he is open to changing police department policies that are outdated in the 21st century. “Absolutely, it’s time to revisit, and as a matter of fact, we’ve been investigating that for a while now,” Scott said. Before the novel coronavirus outbreak led to stay-at-home orders, Scott said he had “already started to put together focus groups and met with hundreds of people on these topics – earrings, beards, tattoos.” Scott said he is reopening these meetings virtually. “It’s a way more far-reaching issue than just earrings,” Scott said. “We are at a different time as a society and so these things need to be reconsidered.” Solis pushed back, however, regarding the focus groups – “should the public be dictating gender expression?” she asked – but told Scott he didn’t have to come up with a response to that question See page 8 >>
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undreds of people marched to the Castro district the evening of June 5 to call attention to discrimination that black people face in the LGBTQ community. Once demonstrators arrived at Jane Warner Plaza – at the intersection of Castro and Market streets, where historic protests have been held for decades – they saw performances and speeches from black LGBT artists and drag performers standing in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. On their way to the Castro, protesters chanted the name of George Floyd. It was Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police May 25 that sparked nationwide protests against police violence on a scale not seen in the United States in decades. Floyd, a black man, was killed when white former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. Three other officers, all since fired, watched. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has since upgraded the charges against Chauvin to second-degree murder and charged the other ex-officers with aiding and abetting murder.
John Ferrannini
Drag performer Afrika America emceed Ready to Listen, an event in the Castro Friday, June 5, to address anti-black racism in the LGBT community. A rally in Jane Warner Plaza occurred at the conclusion of a march from San Francisco City Hall early Friday evening.
“I’m here for Black Lives Matter, and I hope this isn’t misconstrued, but that’s a step for equality for all of us, for all people regardless of their race, gender, or sexual orientation,”
Stephen Fambro said as he marched up Market Street. “You can’t celebrate Pride without protest.” See page 8 >>
Russian River readies to welcome summer guests
by Matthew S. Bajko
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he summer season is slowly revving up in the gay-friendly Russian River resort area centered around the town of Guerneville, which is marking its 150th anniversary this year. But vacationers will find a drastically different environment from years past as businesses institute new procedures to keep guests safe. Most of the local businesses that cater to tourists shuttered in mid-March when the shelterin-place orders were instituted to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Over recent weeks Sonoma County officials have been allowing more shops, wineries, and restaurants to open their doors while adhering to new safety protocols to keep both their customers and staff socially distant. The ever-popular Johnson’s Beach is preparing to welcome back beachgoers next Friday, June 19, for the first time this season ahead of the Father’s Day holiday. But it will no longer be able to accommodate the upward of 1,000 people per day it normally sees in the summer and will be chalking out rows of beach spots available only by advance reservation. Those closest to the river will cost $30, middle row spots will run $20, and those farther back will cost $10; all come with an umbrella.
Courtesy Sonomacounty.com
The Russian River area is known for being gay-friendly and has outdoor recreational activities such as kayaking and canoeing.
“We can’t create a socially distant environment that can accommodate that many people,” owner Dan Poirier told the Bay Area Reporter Tuesday. “I will know by Thursday how many people we will be able to let in.” This Friday, June 12, winery tasting rooms in Sonoma County will be allowed to open without the need to also be serving food. Next to open will be hotels, resorts, and private vacation rentals, which county leaders could give the
go-ahead to do so as early as 5 p.m. Friday, June 19, according to an email sent late Tuesday night by Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, whose District 5 includes the Russian River area. The opening date for tourist accommodations has been in flux and remains uncertain. Earlier Tuesday Hopkins had told the B.A.R. that county officials were looking at Monday, See page 8 >>
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