Feature Archives

In November, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that Massachusetts should allow same-sex marriages. Gay Marriage will clearly be an issue in the 2004 US presidential campaign, but it has already been a hotly debated topic for years in the United States. The Defense of Marriage Act would state that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. Mayor Willie Brown hosted several same sex weddings in San Francisco. The Freedom to Marry site is an example of the many pro-gay marriage websites that exist. Interestingly, another website details a conservative view of gay marriage as leading to polyamory.

Jan 29, 2001: Members of the SF AIDS dissident group ACT UP surrendered to police, following a press conference at the Hall of Justice on Monday. One week after a CBS News/60 Minutes report on deformities and death caused by anti-HIV drugs, San Francisco's District Attorney issued arrest warrants for four industry whistleblowers, including three ACT UP members and one website operator who have publicly criticized AIDS funding abuses and corruption within the pharmaceutical industry.

On May 11 2001, police raided a Cairo dance club and arrested the Egyptian nationals who were inside on suspicion of being gay. The 52 men were reportedly tortured and beaten following their arrest and are still being held awaiting trial in the Emergency State Security Court on August 15. Demonstrations will be held in San Francisco and other cities around the world on August 15 to let the Egyptian government know that the oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people is not acceptable. SF Demonstration is at the Egyption Consulate at 3pm.

On September 6, 2003, Marine Reservist and Conscientious Objector Stephen Funk, who declared his CO status publicly, "was acquitted by a military court of desertion, but convicted of unauthorized absence and sentenced to six months at the Camp Lejeune brig in North Carolina, reduction in rank to private, forfeiture of two-thirds pay for six months, and a bad-conduct discharge."
Funk has spoken out against war as a gay man after having witnessed first-hand the anti-gay culture of the military, and how it is used to desensitize and dehumanize those deemed "in need of killing."
"It is scary to confront the military, because the military teaches you to submit to orders even when you object. I may not be a hero, but I know that it takes courage to disobey. I know that it demands courage to say "no" in the face of coercion."
Various groups around the country continue to organize around his case and those of other conscientious objectors.NION | Jeff.Paterson.net. | Chicago Anti-Bashing Network | LGBT Contingents At SF Anti-War Demos | SNAFU | Refusing to Kill

10/24/2003 Gay Shame and others gathered at Geary and Mason Streets at 5pm on Friday to protest outside of a Gavin Newsom for Mayor fundraiser.
Pictures: 1 2  

Gavin Newsom’s brutal Proposition M, the “Aggressive Solicitation Ban,” would put people in jail for panhandling. In effect, this punishes poor people for trying to satisfy their basic needs and violates basic rights to free speech. Like last year’s Prop N, “Care Not Cash,” Prop M criminalizes homeless people rather than providing desperately needed services.

Ifti Nasim, a well-known writer, poet, and activist in the Chicago's LGBTQ Muslim community was verbally and physically assaulted on March 12. Details

On Feb 1, protests were held outside Orangeview Junior High in Anaheim in reaction to the Anaheim Union High School District's banning of books about prominent gays and lesbians. Despite instructions over the PA system that students were not to talk to protesters, many joined the activists and made their own signs and chants. Details