June 16, 2011 edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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ebar.com

9 A first for Castro Lions

ONLINE: Prop 8 judge vindicated

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Frameline 35 opens

The

www.ebar.com

Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971

Bankruptcy courts reject DOMA

Two new hep C meds approved

by Matthew S. Bajko

S

by Liz Highleyman

T

he U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first two directacting antiviral drugs to treat chronic hepatitis C, boceprevir (Victrelis) from Merck and telaprevir (Incivek) from Vertex Pharmaceuticals. “This is really g ro u n d b re a k i n g ,” said Dr. Bradley Hare, medical director of the Positive Health Rick Gerharter Program at San Francisco General Hospital Dr. Bradley Hare and a member of the San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force. “We anticipate that in the next few years many more hepatitis See page 12 >>

Vol. 41 • No. 24 • June 16-22, 2011

Rick Gerharter

In memory of fallen officer A

group of friends, colleagues, and members of the Pride Alliance of the San Francisco Police Department gathered at 17th and Dolores streets Sunday, June 12, nine years to the day after fellow Officer Jon Cook was killed in a car accident while

responding to a police call. The group observed a moment of silence, exchanged memories, and then walked the wreath to the Mission District Station where Cook was stationed. Cook was the first openly gay cop killed in the line of duty.

ame-sex married couples are finding a surprising ally in their fight to be treated the same as their heterosexual counterparts: federal bankruptcy judges. In recent months judges from three separate bankruptcy court districts, one in New York and two in California, have issued rulings that in effect overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Patricia Cain Act. The law restricts the federal government from recognizing legally married same-sex couples, and although the Justice Department has found the law to be unconstitutional, it has ordered agencies to continue to abide by it while a number of legal challenges make their way See page 8 >>

LGBT Jewish leaders cry foul GOPers on anti-circumcision campaign largely toe party L line on gay issues by Heather Cassell

by Lisa Keen

T

he seven Republican p re s i d e n t i a l candidates showed some differences on gay-related issues in their first high-profile debate Monday night, along with some surprises. Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who has actively opposed said she would not, as

Rep. Michele Bachmann

same-sex marriage, president, attempt to See page 13 >>

GBT Jewish leaders are joining a coalition of Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, civil rights, and other human rights organizations that has rapidly banned together against San Francisco’s circumcision ban that will be on the November ballot. They are also speaking out against what they and others consider to be anti-Semitic propaganda by the ban’s proponents. Opponents of the bill claim it violates multiple civil liberties, including freedom of religion, as well as parental rights and public health. Male circumcision is a preventative measure for HIV and cervical cancer, among other health benefits, said opponents, who cited studies published by the World Health Organization. But the health benefits of male circumcision – the removal of the foreskin the covers the tip of the penis – only touch part of opponents’ complaints around the proposed ban that will be before San Francisco voters November 8.

Penal inspiration and pride Lloyd Schofield always felt that it was wrong to “see a child’s genitals cut off,” he said. But it wasn’t until he saw the Bay Area

From Matthew Hess’s “Foreskin Man” online comic

The “Foreskin Man” and the “Monster Mohel” characters are criticized as being antiSemitic by opponents of a ballot initiative that would ban circumcision in San Francisco.

Intactivists contingent in San Francisco’s Pride Parade about two years ago that he became an “intactivist” himself. Schofield declined to say if he was circumcised; nor would he disclose his sexual

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orientation, but he will march in this year’s Pride Parade and be at the Bay Area Intactivists booth in the Civic Center. “I don’t identify my sexual orientation See page 12 >>


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