March 26, 2020 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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Eviction relief – for now

New name for trans dist.

Politicians pivot

ARTS

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Lego love

The

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

Courtesy Wikipedia

The Pacific Center in Berkeley is one of several local LGBT community centers that have moved most programming online.

Most LGBT centers go virtual

by Matthew S. Bajko

M

eant as welcoming respites offering social connections and myriad services, LGBT community centers across the country have closed their physical doors in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, they haven’t shuttered completely. Their staffs are resorting to online tools to hold therapy sessions with clients and host group hangouts. Others are making phone calls to check in with people they would normally see face-to-face. “We are still providing most of our services but mostly virtual,” said Jonathan Cook, executive director of the Solano Pride Center in Fairfield, California, which closed its offices last Wednesday, March 18, and hopes to reopen Monday, April 6. Although the center has canceled for now its peer groups and community events through the end of the month, it is still providing counseling services remotely and resorted to holding its youth group meeting via Google Hangout. It also suspended its senior lunch program, which was set to expand this month, but is calling the participants at least once a week. “It has been good to maintain these services. It’s important to me we have continuity of care,” said Cook, who is working remotely from his home in Fairfield for the time being. “For marginalized communities and folks already isolated, social distancing and staying at home can be more challenging I think than for the regular population. Mental health is an important part of the work we do.” For Fairfield resident Terry Murray, 71, a feminist lesbian, the phone check-ins with the center staff offer her some social connection while she hunkers down at home. She began attending its senior programs about a year ago and is a regular participant of the twicemonthly lunches. “Right at this point of time I am a single person and live by myself. Although I feel very comfortable by my own skin in that I am an See page 8 >>

Vol. 50 • No. 13 • March 26-April 1, 2020

Shelter-in-place expected to be extended, Wiener says Customers were few at Cliff’s Variety on March 21, what would be normally a very busy Saturday afternoon.

by John Ferrannini

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uring a Facebook Live chat with Castro business owners Monday, March 23, gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) warned local merchants to prepare for having to remain shut post April 7 when the city’s shelterin-place order and closure of non-essential businesses is set to expire. He noted that the statewide order issued by Governor Gavin

Newsom last week has no expiration date. “I do not know but I will not be surprised if the April 7 deadline is expanded,” said Wiener in response to a question from one of the participants. “I believe there is a decent possibility it will get extended. I would not assume you would be able to reopen your business on April 8. But that is in flux.” The decision will be determined, he said, if the efforts by officials to reduce the number of new cases of the novel coronavirus are effective

in not overwhelming hospitals with a flood of patients sickened with COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Wiener reiterated it is imperative for people to follow the orders to stay at home as much as possible and limit their social interactions. “We will have to see in the next few weeks to see if we can flatten the curve,” he said. “We will be able to end this very painful shutdown earlier if people actually follow it. People need to stay at home.” See page 10 >>

Sex clubs, bathhouses close due to virus concerns

Rick Gerharter

by John Ferrannini

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hey closed permanently in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS epidemic and now, the coronavirus has temporarily shuttered gay bathhouses in Berkeley and San Jose. At least one sex club in San Francisco has also closed. The Watergarden in San Jose closed at midnight March 13 in compliance with a Santa Clara County health order issued that day, that banned non-essential gatherings of 35 or more people, according to general manager John Gamber. Steamworks Baths in Berkeley, which is in Alameda County, has also closed. All non-essential gatherings in Alameda County have been banned since midnight March 17, as they are in much of the greater Bay Area. “Due to state and local health advisories for social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19, we have decided to close the club until further notice. To our knowledge, at this time, none of our members or staff have tested positive for this virus,” a statement on Steamworks’ website reads. “Our regular customers know we’re one of the cleanest clubs in the business but during this closure we will be keeping ourselves busy undertaking a complete disinfection and re-paint of all ceilings, walls, floors, and furniture.

John Ferrannini

A sign on the door of Eros in San Francisco announced the sex club is closed due to coronavirus concerns.

“We hope to have you back once the worst of this outbreak is over. Please follow us on social media or check our website for updates on this developing situation,” it continued. Steamworks declined to comment beyond its statement. The Bay Area Reporter spoke with Gamber by phone March 19. “The Watergarden has been in the same location in businesses for over 40 years,” Gamber

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said. “Ultimately, however, all small businesses are vulnerable.” Gamber said that gay bathhouses and bars face a particular risk from the coronavirus. “It’s not just a question of being open, but with this virus it’s also about distance and proximity,” he said. “Small businesses are dependent upon volume.” See page 10 >>


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