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SF Anti-Sex Crusade?
In San Francisco, anti-sex prudes want to prevent same-sex marriages, re-criminalize abortion, and outlaw nude dancing. Should we return to the 19th century?
George Orwell, in his dystopian novel 1984, describes a fictional "Anti-Sex League", re-inforcing Stalinist servitude to Big Brother.
In the San Francisco of 2004, various right-wing factions -- Muslims, fundi Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Nazis -- have protested against same-sex weddings.
And on Monday, April 5, Pastor Roger Huang began a hunger strike
to demand closure of a "strip club" (nude-dance theater) in SF's Tenderloin district.
Huang urges citizens to express their views by writing to officials at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco, CA 94102. I, too, encourage citizens to express their views.
I've expressed mine by sending an email, reprinted below, to Mayor Gavin Newsom, with a copy to the SF Board of Supervisors.
Of course, these are my personal opinions, not those of IndyBay.
...........
Dear Mayor Gavin Newsom, (gavin.newsom [at] sfgov.org)
I flatly oppose the attempt by Pastor Roger Huang
to shut down the long-existing adult entertainment
site at 220 Jones Street. This gay-owned site has
long been a gay and bi men's sex club, and before that
it offered sexual entertainment to straight and bi
men. Its erotic usage was traditional long before the
San Francisco Rescue Mission chose to become its
next-door neighbor.
Fundamentalists are American imams and ayatollahs,
believing that sexual repression will bring a social
utopia. That Victorian idea failed in the 19th century,
and it will fail in the 21st.
Our Constitution protects the right of
authoritarian religions to preach prudery, censorship,
homophobia and sexual fascism -- and, indeed, to
preach repeal of the religious tolerance which
protects their fanaticism.
I defend Pastor Huang's right to advocate bad policies.
And I admire his willingness to fast.
Yet his reactionary views should be politely ignored
by the humane and secular government of San
Francisco.
No doubt Huang's a nice guy, but his
repressive and regressive ideas are dead wrong.
For freedom,
Tortuga Bi Liberty,
of The Tenderloin,
San Francisco 94109
copy to:
5 April 2004
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaveFreedom
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sfbarea
http://pages.prodigy.net/seniornude
http://seniornude.blogspot.com
SUN, POB 426937, SF, CA 94142-6937
sfbarea-subscribe [at] yahoogroups.com
SaveFreedom [at] yahoogroups.com
In the San Francisco of 2004, various right-wing factions -- Muslims, fundi Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Nazis -- have protested against same-sex weddings.
And on Monday, April 5, Pastor Roger Huang began a hunger strike
to demand closure of a "strip club" (nude-dance theater) in SF's Tenderloin district.
Huang urges citizens to express their views by writing to officials at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco, CA 94102. I, too, encourage citizens to express their views.
I've expressed mine by sending an email, reprinted below, to Mayor Gavin Newsom, with a copy to the SF Board of Supervisors.
Of course, these are my personal opinions, not those of IndyBay.
...........
Dear Mayor Gavin Newsom, (gavin.newsom [at] sfgov.org)
I flatly oppose the attempt by Pastor Roger Huang
to shut down the long-existing adult entertainment
site at 220 Jones Street. This gay-owned site has
long been a gay and bi men's sex club, and before that
it offered sexual entertainment to straight and bi
men. Its erotic usage was traditional long before the
San Francisco Rescue Mission chose to become its
next-door neighbor.
Fundamentalists are American imams and ayatollahs,
believing that sexual repression will bring a social
utopia. That Victorian idea failed in the 19th century,
and it will fail in the 21st.
Our Constitution protects the right of
authoritarian religions to preach prudery, censorship,
homophobia and sexual fascism -- and, indeed, to
preach repeal of the religious tolerance which
protects their fanaticism.
I defend Pastor Huang's right to advocate bad policies.
And I admire his willingness to fast.
Yet his reactionary views should be politely ignored
by the humane and secular government of San
Francisco.
No doubt Huang's a nice guy, but his
repressive and regressive ideas are dead wrong.
For freedom,
Tortuga Bi Liberty,
of The Tenderloin,
San Francisco 94109
copy to:
5 April 2004
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaveFreedom
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sfbarea
http://pages.prodigy.net/seniornude
http://seniornude.blogspot.com
SUN, POB 426937, SF, CA 94142-6937
sfbarea-subscribe [at] yahoogroups.com
SaveFreedom [at] yahoogroups.com
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Comments
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APRIL 2004:
*CALIF: SF: 7 April, Wed., 5:30pm: author Davina Kotulski talks about her book,
"Why You Should Give A Damn About Gay Marriage", at A Different Light bookshop,
489 Castro Street. Free.
*CALIF: SF: 10 April , Sat: drum circle, Hippy Hill, Golden Gate Park, around 3pm. Free.
*CALIF: San Francisco: Monday, 12 April, noon -1pm: MarriageEqualityCA rally, on steps of CA Supreme
Court, 300 McAllister Street (across from SF City Hall): marking one month since high court
ordered SF officials to stop issuing same-sex mariage licenses.
CALIF, southern: West Hollywood: April 12, Monday, 6:30-9:30pm: discuss same-sex marriage:
West Hollywood Park Auditorium, San Vicente Blvd.
USA: April 15: Protest inequality, with signs saying: "NO TAXATION without equal rights!"
CALIF: Oakland: Thursday, 15 April, 5:30pm: MECA Tax Day Protest.
For details, see MECA website: http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php
[ Earlier on Tax Day, at 11:30 AM, antiwar protesters gather at Oakland's Federal Building,
1301 Clay St. (near 12th Street BART station): see DASW (http://www.ActAgainstWar.org)
and Northern Calif. War Tax Resistance (http://www.NoWarTax.org) ]
CALIF, southern: Los Angeles area: April 15, Thursday, evening: MECA protest/rally on Tax Day:
"We need to rally in support of marriage equality on this day: No Taxation with Discrimination! ....
We'll be joining other rallies nationwide..... " http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php
OREGON: mid-April: Multnomah County: Circuit Judge Frank Bearden may hold a hearing on
ACLU lawsuit about whether Oregon's gender-biased marriage statute violates OR state constitution.
http://www.oregonlive.com/special/gaymarriage/index.ssf?/base/news/1080219374314050.xml
CALIF.: April 21: Hayward (in SF Bay Area): MECA event:
http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php
CALIF.: April 21: Los Angeles: MECA event: http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php
USA: April 21: national "Day of Silence" for civil rights of LGBTI students. [ http://www.dayofsilence.org ]
OREGON: April 23: Judge Bearden might issue a ruling by this date. His decision will be appealed to higher courts. Appeals process could take years, unless courts expedite.
PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia, April 26- May 2: Equality Forum. [http://www.equalityforum.com ]
CALIF: Sacramento: April 29: MECA event at CSU, 6pm-9pm.< http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php >
......................
MAY 2004:
CALIF: San Francisco: Sunday, 2 May (start time: 10am): Speedway Meadow, in
Golden Gate Park. "Running to the Altar" -- 5K run/walk fundraiser for marriage equality.
For more information on how to participate, please go to:
http://marriageequalityca.org/running.php
CALIF: May 2: SF, Cable 29: "Outlook" [queer news], first Sunday, 5pm.
[ et cetera]
.........
*CALIF: SF: 7 April, Wed., 5:30pm: author Davina Kotulski talks about her book,
"Why You Should Give A Damn About Gay Marriage", at A Different Light bookshop,
489 Castro Street. Free.
*CALIF: SF: 10 April , Sat: drum circle, Hippy Hill, Golden Gate Park, around 3pm. Free.
*CALIF: San Francisco: Monday, 12 April, noon -1pm: MarriageEqualityCA rally, on steps of CA Supreme
Court, 300 McAllister Street (across from SF City Hall): marking one month since high court
ordered SF officials to stop issuing same-sex mariage licenses.
CALIF, southern: West Hollywood: April 12, Monday, 6:30-9:30pm: discuss same-sex marriage:
West Hollywood Park Auditorium, San Vicente Blvd.
USA: April 15: Protest inequality, with signs saying: "NO TAXATION without equal rights!"
CALIF: Oakland: Thursday, 15 April, 5:30pm: MECA Tax Day Protest.
For details, see MECA website: http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php
[ Earlier on Tax Day, at 11:30 AM, antiwar protesters gather at Oakland's Federal Building,
1301 Clay St. (near 12th Street BART station): see DASW (http://www.ActAgainstWar.org)
and Northern Calif. War Tax Resistance (http://www.NoWarTax.org) ]
CALIF, southern: Los Angeles area: April 15, Thursday, evening: MECA protest/rally on Tax Day:
"We need to rally in support of marriage equality on this day: No Taxation with Discrimination! ....
We'll be joining other rallies nationwide..... " http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php
OREGON: mid-April: Multnomah County: Circuit Judge Frank Bearden may hold a hearing on
ACLU lawsuit about whether Oregon's gender-biased marriage statute violates OR state constitution.
http://www.oregonlive.com/special/gaymarriage/index.ssf?/base/news/1080219374314050.xml
CALIF.: April 21: Hayward (in SF Bay Area): MECA event:
http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php
CALIF.: April 21: Los Angeles: MECA event: http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php
USA: April 21: national "Day of Silence" for civil rights of LGBTI students. [ http://www.dayofsilence.org ]
OREGON: April 23: Judge Bearden might issue a ruling by this date. His decision will be appealed to higher courts. Appeals process could take years, unless courts expedite.
PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia, April 26- May 2: Equality Forum. [http://www.equalityforum.com ]
CALIF: Sacramento: April 29: MECA event at CSU, 6pm-9pm.< http://www.MarriageEqualityCA.org/home.php >
......................
MAY 2004:
CALIF: San Francisco: Sunday, 2 May (start time: 10am): Speedway Meadow, in
Golden Gate Park. "Running to the Altar" -- 5K run/walk fundraiser for marriage equality.
For more information on how to participate, please go to:
http://marriageequalityca.org/running.php
CALIF: May 2: SF, Cable 29: "Outlook" [queer news], first Sunday, 5pm.
[ et cetera]
.........
Dear American Public,
Having been apart of the hunger strike with Pastor Roger i have been able to view his reasoning and drive for a change first hand.
It is simply not the fact that in a perfect world, human beings with any self respect and moral would turn from sexual sin such as homosexuality and pornography. Pastor Roger is only trying to improve the surroundings for all the children that attend school next to this god-forsaken establishment. His only position since his entrance into the Tenderlion District eight years ago is to only improve the area and maybe bring it back up to a society that is liveable for families everywhere.
Pastor Roger is not looking for a miracle or for the square mile to become a perfect haven for all individuals, but to simply help the children.
As if these children do not get enough of sexual sin in their lives (as it is displayed by the minute from the media), they cant even attend school without seeing it first hand. He wants this establishment moved or taken down to improve the children's well-being, not his own.
His compassion and love for others should be what we all strive for, not to cause this wonderful servant more heartache. My plea, city officials, is to recognize and to put yourself in his shoes. What if it was your daughter dancing in that club? Your child looking out their classroom window at a strip club? Your heart out there showing the same amount of compassion. You are all in your position to improve the city you all love, see is Pastor Roger.
Please dont let his cries go unheard, he will either die or you will make the difference before one more of God's great angels is taken away.
God Bless,
Brittany Tidwell
Having been apart of the hunger strike with Pastor Roger i have been able to view his reasoning and drive for a change first hand.
It is simply not the fact that in a perfect world, human beings with any self respect and moral would turn from sexual sin such as homosexuality and pornography. Pastor Roger is only trying to improve the surroundings for all the children that attend school next to this god-forsaken establishment. His only position since his entrance into the Tenderlion District eight years ago is to only improve the area and maybe bring it back up to a society that is liveable for families everywhere.
Pastor Roger is not looking for a miracle or for the square mile to become a perfect haven for all individuals, but to simply help the children.
As if these children do not get enough of sexual sin in their lives (as it is displayed by the minute from the media), they cant even attend school without seeing it first hand. He wants this establishment moved or taken down to improve the children's well-being, not his own.
His compassion and love for others should be what we all strive for, not to cause this wonderful servant more heartache. My plea, city officials, is to recognize and to put yourself in his shoes. What if it was your daughter dancing in that club? Your child looking out their classroom window at a strip club? Your heart out there showing the same amount of compassion. You are all in your position to improve the city you all love, see is Pastor Roger.
Please dont let his cries go unheard, he will either die or you will make the difference before one more of God's great angels is taken away.
God Bless,
Brittany Tidwell
Let's not be naive-with a strip club come secondary affects-drugs and prostitution-This I am sure we can aggree is not best for any community-If people want to frequent a strip club-that is fine but there should be a rezoning so people aren't subject to the negative things that automatically come with such a business-it is the nature of the business
220 jones isn't a gay space any more. it's a het club called "chez paree," complete with the guy in the suit out front to greet arriving "gentlemen."
not that i support closing it down. just that if you're going to go defending it, you should probably have your facts straight, so to speak.
it has always been well-attended at the door, no kids are getting in and it has never had obscenity visible from the street. these self-appointed moral vigilantes are simply offended with a worldview different from their own in proximity, and are cynically using the children as an excuse to attack this establishment in a typical attempt to enforce their own morality on everyone. it's notable that this club is small and relatively marginal. they figure to pick on a weak one first and build momentum.
many san franciscans work at and/or patronize both these kinds of clubs particularly, and the sex industry more generally. any attack on it is an attack on the working class of san francisco, as well as our cherished freedoms of self-expression and self-actualization, as well as our reputation for tolerance and diversity, let alone our hard-won sexual tolerance and freedoms. you can take that away over my dead body, and my soul will go to god confident that she's on my side.
down with antisex fascism!!
not that i support closing it down. just that if you're going to go defending it, you should probably have your facts straight, so to speak.
it has always been well-attended at the door, no kids are getting in and it has never had obscenity visible from the street. these self-appointed moral vigilantes are simply offended with a worldview different from their own in proximity, and are cynically using the children as an excuse to attack this establishment in a typical attempt to enforce their own morality on everyone. it's notable that this club is small and relatively marginal. they figure to pick on a weak one first and build momentum.
many san franciscans work at and/or patronize both these kinds of clubs particularly, and the sex industry more generally. any attack on it is an attack on the working class of san francisco, as well as our cherished freedoms of self-expression and self-actualization, as well as our reputation for tolerance and diversity, let alone our hard-won sexual tolerance and freedoms. you can take that away over my dead body, and my soul will go to god confident that she's on my side.
down with antisex fascism!!
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