Feature Archives

The 17th annual Fresno and Central Valley Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Parade & Festival was held on Saturday, June 2, 2007.

A memorial for Nadia Cabezas, who was also known as Kitty Kastro, will be held on Tuesday, April 3rd at 2pm at St. Anthony's Foundation, 121 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. Kitty Kastro was struck and killed instantly by a reckless driver in Indiana on March 5th. Nadia Cabezas stood with ACT UP, educated society about transgender issues, confronted the religious right, and fought for the rights of disabled people. Kitty Kastro hosted a public access show called Tranny Talk, where she interviewed police chiefs, children of transsexuals, religious extremists, mothers of transsexuals who have been killed, and others. Nadia is survived by her partner, who is Tranny Talk producer Dina Boyer, as well as her Mom Kathy, her dog Maya, and the couple's two cats, Samantha and Kitty.

In solidarity with ACT UP NY’s 20 year anniversary action, Gay Shame held "a festive die-in and real estate tour of the ever-so-scary Castro" on Thursday, March 29th. The action was organized around the idea of “Healthcare and Housing for ALL!” Throughout San Francisco, people with AIDS, and other low-income residents, have been forced out of their homes to make way for remodeling, owner move-ins and condo conversions. “The legacy of evictions is part of the cultural history of the Castro,” said Mary Mortgage of Gay Shame. “There’s been a huge cultural erasure. We’re holding real estate companies accountable for making profits off the eviction of protected tenants.”

Heather MacAllister was "a fucking sexy fat wicked smart intense and funny fierce femme." She died February 13th in Portland, Oregon after battling ovarian cancer for several years. She was 38 years old. On Saturday, February 24th the 7:00pm Goddess Rosary service was in memory of Heather, at HerChurch, 678 Portola Drive, San Francisco. On Sunday, February 25th, a Funeral/Mourning/Goodbye ritual was held at 1:30pm at Precita Park, corner of Folsom and Precita, followed by a procession up Precita to a wake at El Rio ( Report). Ms. MacAllister was the founder and artistic director of Big Burlesque and the Fat Bottom Revue, the first burlesque act exclusively featuring large-sized performers. She was an anti-racist and queer community organizer and activist.

On February 14, 2007, Fresno Marriage Equality USA chapter members requested marriage licenses at the County Clerks office. They got as far as the front counter when the assistant Registrar of Voters told them State law prohibits them from being married. In response, one member said, "We are proud to be a part of this annual event to put a local face on marriage discrimination around the country." Photos | Video

In reaction to PG&E's massive greenwashing campaign, a group of protesters crashed the PG&E press conference at the LGBT center on January 27th, where the company unveiled its newly installed solar panels. The protesters wanted to make it clear that installing solar panels on one building did not make this billion dollar corporation 'green'. The counter-action was called "Make Out for Environmental Justice." Two queer women on stilts leaned in for a smooch in front of the LGBT Center entrance, while holding a sign that read, "Love Solar. Love LGBT. Question PG&E," and a parasol reading ‘0% Solar’. Photos | Report

The film "HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes" takes an in-depth look at representations of manhood, sexism and homophobia in hip-hop culture. This documentary is a “loving critique” of certain "disturbing" developments in rap music culture from the point of view of a fan who challenges the art form’s representations of masculinity. The film was screened on January 9th at the San Francisco Public Library. That event included a screening of the short "Trendsetters or Fakers," and a panel discussion. The film was also shown on January 17th at the Oakland Museum of California. The evening included performances by Youth Movement Records and Youth Speaks, audio pieces produced by TEMPO, and discussion with filmmaker Byron Hurt and hip hop community activists.