GAYS AND LESBIANS UNITED SAY NO TO NEWSOM

GAYS AND LESBIANS UNITED SAY NO TO NEWSOM;
ALL CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST GAY SHAME ACTIVISTS;
PRISONERS TO GIVE STATEMENTS AT 5:00PM PRESS CONFERENCE

In a dizzying display of community support, supervisors, prominent
community members and even the San Francisco Pride Parade have called
for the release of the Gay Shame demonstrators who joined the parade to
oppose Gavin Newsom last Sunday. The gay and lesbian community has
come together to say no to Newsom and to demand that all charges be
dropped.

Responding to the massive outpouring of community support, police
dropped all charges against the Gay Shame activists Tuesday evening,
July 1st. The prisoners were released at 11:00pm.

Statements from the prisoners and prominent community members will be
given at a press conference on the steps of city hall today at 5:00pm.

BACKGROUND INFO

Sunday afternoon, six queer activists were arrested for protesting the
inclusion of conservative anti-gay city supervisor Gavin Newsom in
the Gay Pride Parade. The activists attempted to join the march
carrying a banner that read “Queer Mutiny–Not Consumer Unity,”
highlighting the mayoral candidate’s growing track record of preying
upon marginalized communities to gain support from wealthy
constituents. These activists were being held on ludicrous felony
charges after publicly decrying Newsom’s policies in the annual Gay
Shame Awards. This was a grotesque attempt to demonize peaceful
demonstrators, and is ironic in that the only ones to behave violently
at all were Newsom’s staff and then the police themselves.

PRESS CONFERENCE

WHERE: Polk Street Steps, City Hall, San Francisco
WHEN: TODAY, July 2, 2003, at 5:00pm
CONTACT: Mary, 415-794-4393

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