Feature Archives

10/03/2004: Gay Shame disrupted today's "Cutest of the Castro" beauty contest to protest body fascism's "cosmetic assault" on the queer community. The contest was originally marketed as benefitting the Maitri AIDS hospice, but Maitri later backed out of accepting money raised by a corporate-sponsored contest celebrating a fantasy fetish of youth and ability. Thirty costumed Gay Shame protesters unfurled their banners and marched through the crowd making a ruckus, much to the consternation of the hundreds of spectators. After a police escort left the scene, Gay Shame was invited onstage to share its perspective; two costumed contestants spoke to the crowd while Grimace danced around on stage. Although results have not yet been posted to the website, it did not appear that any of the costumed contestants were likely to win "Cutest of the Castro."

Gay Shame, which has been quietly operating under the radar for most of the year, aside from its acclaimed newspaper CRAP (Community's Reactionary Asshole Publication), promises "further and grander forms of insurgence soon." Reports: 1 | 2 | Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Video

10/3: Indybay has just received word that the Catalyst has cancelled the Capleton show.
On September 13th, organizers of San Francisco's Reggae In The Park announced that they dropped a controversial Jamaican singer following complaints from queer activists in SF and beyond. In some of Capleton's lyrics, he has espoused hanging, drowning, burning, or shooting gays. Capleton issued an apology to San Franciso gays in an effort to head off a threatened demonstration. "I do not advocate violence or abuse against anyone, nor do I support prejudice, bigotry or discrimination," he said in a statement. "It bothers me deeply to hear that some of my past lyrics, which I no longer perform in concert, have been interpreted as offensive to gay and lesbian communities." Gay community activists called it insufficient and too late. Organizers of the event apparently agreed, decided that he would be disinvited to perform.

Capleton was scheduled to be one of the headline acts at Reggae in the Park, which is a fundraiser for Global Exchange to be held in Sharon Meadow on October 2nd and 3rd. Instead, during that weekend, Capleton has made plans to head to Santa Cruz for a concert at the popular nightclub Catalyst. GLBT activists there have vowed to protest the concert of the Jamaican native. They are calling for public pressure in advance of the concert, and if this fails, protest on Sunday, October 3rd at 7:30pm. Report on Santa Cruz Indymedia

San Francisco is not the only city in which a Capleton show has been cancelled-- Read more on Indybay's Arts and Action Page

365gay.com reports that in May, Amnesty International stated that at a reggae concert in Jamaica, Capleton and other performers "sang almost exclusively about gay men. Using the derogatory terms for gay men - 'chi chi men' or ‘'battybwoys’ - they urged the audience to ‘kill dem, battybwoys haffi dead, gun shots pon dem. Who want to see dem dead, put up his hand’". Amnesty International Launches Global Action to Combat Homophobic Violence in Jamaica
Amnesty International's Music for Human Rights

September 22, 2004: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed into law the Omnibus Hate Crimes Act of 2004. SB 1234 creates a uniform definition of a hate crime that includes crimes against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, broadens what a hate crime is to include crimes against individuals based on their assosciation with people who are gay or transgender (as well as association based on other protected categories), and provides tools designed to reduce such crimes.

Equality California sponsored the legislation, which was introduced by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica). SB 1234 received bipartisan support in the legislature during the final days of the legislative session. This action comes just a day before the United States House of Representatives takes up the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (LLEEA, S. 966/H.R. 4204). SB 1234 reflects the recommendations of several high profile commissions and studies of hate crime in California. This bill enjoyed the support a coalition of prominent organizations including the Anti-Defamation League, Muslim Public Affairs Council, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Crime Victims United, and numerous labor and LGBT organizations, including the Log Cabin Republicans of California who actively worked with Equality California (EQCA) to ensure that this legislation became law.

"Hate crimes are acts of violence or terrorism, directed at an individual victim, because of their perceived association with a group or community," said Senator Sheila Kuehl. "While every hate crime represents a personal tragedy for the victim, hate crimes also are an attempt to intimidate a larger group or community of people. Hate crimes tear at the fabric of our society and it is important that we have a strong and effective response to them."

Statement from EQCA: "Equality California greatly appreciates Governor Schwarzenegger's continued support of legislation designed to reduce discrimination and violence against LGBT Californians. We hope his action sends a strong message to any members of Congress who may not be inclined to support the federal Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act," said Geoffrey Kors, Executive Director of Equality California. "President Bush's call for writing discrimination into the United States Constitution has resulted in anti-gay rhetoric that fuels hateful activity, and we hope that this bi-partisan effort on preventing hate crimes will help reverse this trend." Human Rights Campaign statement

Grassroots activists hope that the signing of SB 1234 into law will help to create a climate in which people are not killed for being who they are, such as Delicious, aka Tony Green. Governor Schwarzenegger himself is infamous for his recent and ongoing references to political "girly-men."

Equality California | Anti-Defamation League | Muslim Public Affairs Council | Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund | Crime Victims United | Log Cabin Republicans of California

The 2004 Folsom Street Fair (SM) took place on Sunday, September 26, 2004. The FSF website says: The overcast skies parted on Sunday just so that the 21st annual Folsom Street Fair could take place on a traditional sunny warm day. Thousands of kinky leather fans from around the world at the frolicked on the tolerant and accepting streets in the South of Market district. The 2004 Folsom Street Fair SM should be remembered as one of the best, but we say that every year. See you again on September 25th, 2005, from 11am to 6pm. And remember, the fair is always the last Sunday in September.
The event honored the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who are now in their 25th year of fun(d)raising, philanthropy, and fabulousness. Indybay clothing-optional beat reporter Seniornude reports about nudity at the Folsom Street Fair. Photos by Indybay photographer Matt Fitt: 1 | 2

Marriage Equality and Don't Amend are sponsoring an October 11th National Coming Out Day Rally For Marriage Equality at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. The rally on October 11th will be from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol. The rally is part of continuing campaigns to fight the proposed amendment to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution, to demand a repeal of anti-gay measures like the Defense of Marriage Act and Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and to demonstrate for the Freedom to Marry. From October 4-11, 2004, Marriage Equality California, which is now a project of Equality California Institute, is spearheading a cross-country tour to Washington D.C. with stops in 10 cities, including kickoff rallies in San Francisco and Sacramento, to promote marriage equality. On Saturday, October 2nd, the kickoff party took place at the LGBT Center in San Francisco. On October 4th, Oakland City Council member Danny Wan delivered a Supportive Resolution from the City Council to the caravan riders as they boarded the National Marriage Equality Express tour bus, from 6-7 am at Oakland's MacArthur BART Station. Also on Monday, there was a rally at the State Capitol in Sacramento at 9am. About the riders Riders' Online Journals
The riders in the tour will include same-sex couples whose marriage licenses have been voided. These couples have issued a national call to action in support of marriage equality. Press Release

On October 10th, 2004, the eve of National Coming Out Day, OUT in Oakland came to the Parkway neighborhood. The "Parkway" is the neighborhood on the southeast shore of Lake Merritt. City Council member Danny Wan is "nurturing" a new LGBT-oriented commercial and residential neighborhood in that area. According to the Parkway Pride announcement on the Oakland Community and Economic Development Agency's website, Wan envisions creating a welcoming district lined with cafes, shops and other businesses that would appeal to Oakland's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender residents.
OUT in Oakland took place on Sunday, October 10 at 4 p.m. This free event included live music performed by groups such as Deep Dick Collective, LGBT information booths, food, children's activities, and walking tours of the up-and-coming Parkway neighborhood. Photos It remains to be seen whether a district oriented towards queer communities can be created, rather than growing by itself.

Cynthia Peters argues that "rather than fighting for the right to same-sex marriage, progressives should be fighting for the right to a social safety net that protects everyone regardless of whether the sex they're having is lewd, adulterous, with the same sex, and/or non-monogamous. And we should be fighting for social and cultural space outside the marketplace and outside state-sponsored incentive plans where we can exercise our right to define cultural and social norms about our roles in relationships." Gay Shame says that Marriage is Murder, or "...a financial and legal contract that allocates the movement of property, power and privilege from one person to another." During a time in which national lgbt organizations in the US are focused on marriage as the main civil rights struggle of our time, there is more disagreement about the issue of gay marriage in Canada,