By Dennis McMillan
San Francisco Small Business Week – May 16-22
The 2015 Small Business Week in San Francisco schedule includes GGBA’s annual MEGA Make Contact to be held on Tuesday, May 19, starting at 6pm, at the SF LGBT Community Center. San Francisco Bay Times is a co-sponsor along with the Castro Merchants Association and others. A Small Business Conference, including 64 free workshops, will be held on Friday, May 22. Full details of plans for the week are available on the SF Small Business Week website: sfsmallbusinesswekk.com/events/
Update on Pink Party Planning
This year’s Castro party on Pink Saturday, June 27, scheduled 3-8pm, is being overseen by the SF LGBT Community Center in conjunction with community partners. Plans are to have increased security plus close coordination with the Dyke March. Expanded entertainment options with four stages will also be included. The party is designated as for all ages, so no alcohol will be sold as part of the event’s activities. Local bars and restaurants, however, will be open and serving alcohol according to legal permits. The SF LGBT Community Center has contracted with ECee Productions for event production services.
Ted Gullicksen Entered into Tenant Hall of Fame
To honor Ted Gullicksen, the beloved late executive director of the San Francisco Tenants Union, the union has elected him posthumously into its Hall of Fame. A celebration honoring Gullicksen’s work was subsequently held at the Tenants Union headquarters. Whether it was running a program to help tenants stave off evictions, or amending legislation to protect low-income residents from being priced out during renovations, Gullicksen was always front and center. sfgate.com
Spectrum and Marin AIDS Project Merge
The recent merger of Spectrum LGBT Center and Marin AIDS Project in San Rafael has created the Spahr Center. A ribbon cutting ceremony officially inaugurated the new agency. The Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr, founder of both Spectrum LGBT Center and Marin AIDS Project, is the namesake of the new agency. marinaidsproject.org
Pride Parade Elects First Blind Grand Marshal
Author and disability advocate Belo Cipriani has been confirmed as a Community Grand Marshal in the 2015 San Francisco Pride Parade. Cipriani joins Judy Dlugacz, Alicia Garza, and Brian Basinger in receiving this year’s honor. Cipriani was fully sighted until age 27, when he was kicked in the eyes in a brutal assault. He has forged on to become a successful writer and an activist for LGBT, disabled and cultural minority communities. hoodline.com
Horizons Foundation Offers Free Forum on LGBTQ Aging
In its ongoing Philanthropy Series, Horizons Foundation is presenting a free informational event, “LGBT Aging: Keeping the Golden Years Golden.” The forum will be held on May 20, 6–8pm in the Merrill Lynch 8th Floor Conference Room at 555 California Street in San Francisco. A panel of experts, including OpenHouse Executive Director Seth Kilbourn, will explain how decisions we make today impact our health, finances and quality of life far into the future. Register by email at events@horizonsfoundation.org or call (415) 398.2333 x103.
horizonsfoundation.org
American Bar Association to Sponsor LGBT Advocacy Day
The American Bar Association Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity will sponsor its first-ever LGBT Advocacy Day(s) on May 18–19. Over the two days, ABA members will have the opportunity to attend a White House briefing and meet members of Congress, build relationships with new members of Congress, and to educate members and their staffs on issues supported by the ABA that are of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community. With nearly 400,000 members, the ABA is one of the largest voluntary professional membership organizations in the world. ambar.org
National Give Out Day Supports LGBTQ Nonprofits
Give OUT Day is an annual, 24-hour online fundraising competition that unites the LGBTQ community nationally to raise critically needed funds to support a diverse array of nonprofits, including community centers, arts groups, organizers, clinics, student clubs, sports leagues and more. Launched in 2013, it has raised over $1.6 million for over 500 LGBTQ organizations from all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. This year, Give OUT Day is Thursday, May 21, from 12am to 11:59pm Eastern. giveoutday.org
Transgender U.S. Navy SEAL Honored at Gala
The American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation’s largest organization of LGBT military spouses and their families, honored Kristin Beck, a retired transgender U.S. Navy SEAL, at the 2nd Annual AMPA National Gala. The AMPA Gala is the nation’s biggest LGBT military event of the year. Brett Jones, the nation’s first openly gay U.S. Navy SEAL, was the featured speaker. militarypartners.org
Nationwide Campaign Engages LGBTQ People in Conversation
Over 100 national, local and state-based LGBTQ organizations across the country have launched “Our Tomorrow,” a grassroots and digital campaign designed to engage LGBTQ people in a national conversation about their future. The campaign encourages LGBTQ individuals and friends across the country to share their hopes, fears and ideas in their own words. Our Tomorrow’s digital hub is shareourtomorrow.org Activists are also urged to visit “Share Your Voice, Shape Our Future” at youtube.com/watch?v= of61k3NLF8
Alice Board Member Appointed to City College Board
Alex Randolph, Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club emeritus board and long time member, has been appointed to the Community College Board of Trustees. Randolph has worked in City Hall as an aide to Bevan Dufty when he was a City supervisor; served as Mayor Gavin Newsom’s special assistant for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community affairs; and has been the spokesman for the City’s Recreation and Parks Department. Today, Randolph works as a liaison for agencies doing business with the U.S. General Services Administration. alicebtoklas.org
Protest Group Demands Ban of Facebook from Pride Parade and Events
An activist group is protesting Facebook representatives being allowed to march in the SF Gay Pride Parade. Because Facebook continues to allow members of the queer community to be targeted and reported based on identity, particularly trans men and women, a grassroots campaign, #NoPrideForFacebook, has sprung up. change.org/p/noprideforfacebook
AHF Supports Development of Implant to Deliver HIV Drugs
AIDS Healthcare Foundation applauds findings recently published in the “Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy” report that scientists have created the first subdermal implant that delivers antiretroviral drugs for up to 40 days to prevent or treat HIV. Numerous medical studies have proven that one of the most significant challenges in suppressing the virus is getting patients to take their medications every single day. While patient studies, federal approval and information on pricing and availability are still needed at this early stage, the news that scientists have created the first implant to deliver HIV medications for prevention or treatment is a potential medical breakthrough that AHF wholeheartedly welcomes. aidshealth.org
Castro Cares Reports Success So Far
Castro Cares has been up and running for several months now and reports success. Castro Cares is a coalition of neighborhood groups, businesses and social service and City programs coming together to improve the quality of life for both those living on the street and those who live, work, shop and play in the Castro/Upper Market district. The Homeless Outreach Team has been able to permanently house many homeless individuals. Positive referrals were made to mental health, substance use, the Navigation Center, Project Homeless Connect and food resources. Other services provided include assistance in obtaining identification, laundry, employment and school enrollment. castrocbd.org
Sidewalk Talk Proves to be a Successful Project
After receiving funds from a Kickstarter online campaign, the Sidewalk Talk offering free peer counseling during Mental Health Awareness Month was a success. Counselors positioned themselves at 15 locations throughout San Francisco on May 7. This public access gave more people a chance to be listened to right on the streets. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence helped out with the Castro location, which was kept very busy. More Sidewalk Talks are planned in the future. kickstarter.com/projects/38768919/sidewalk-talk
Recent Comments