In the News
By Dennis McMillan
Castro Street Fair Is Set for October 4
Always the first Sunday in October, from 11am to 6pm, The Castro Street Fair is located in the heart of San Francisco’s Castro District, at the intersection of Market & Castro Streets and the surrounding area. The Castro Street Fair is a community street celebration that was founded by Harvey Milk in 1974. Hundreds of local artists, vendors, craftspeople and organizations line the streets and celebrate the diversity of the neighborhood. Stages with live entertainment and dance stages can be found throughout the fairgrounds. The Fair is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and all proceeds go directly to charitable causes important to the Castro community. Additionally, the Fair funds the rainbow flag that flies over the intersection of Castro and Market. This year, the Fair celebrates all things drag and the life and work of our beloved late superstar, Cookie Dough. castrostreetfair.org
Openly Gay Incoming California Veterans Department Chief Appointed
Governor Jerry Brown has appointed openly gay California National Guard Colonel Vito Imbasciani as Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Imbasciani, 69, director of government relations at the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, has worked as a urologic surgeon since 1997. He served as state surgeon for the California Army National Guard from 2006 to 2014, and as a surgeon in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1986 to 2014. Imbasciani was a tireless advocate for ending the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, testifying before Congress, and lobbying legislators, military leaders and even President Obama behind-the-scenes. eqca.org
U.S. Government Extends Healthcare Nondiscrimination Law to Transgender People
The U.S. government will extend its healthcare nondiscrimination law to transgender individuals, and require health insurers and medical providers to treat all patients equally, regardless of sex. The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was passed in 2010 and included anti-discrimination provisions to prevent insurers from charging customers more, or denying coverage based on age or sex; but that law left some areas open to interpretation, and thousands of consumers complain each year about being discriminated against, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said. The proposed rule says that individuals cannot be denied care or coverage based on sex or gender identity, and that individuals must be treated consistent with their gender identity. Providers cannot deny or limit care based on gender, and insurers cannot have policies prohibiting gender transition health services that may be offered for other reasons, such as a hysterectomy. reuters.com
SOMArts Cultural Center Seeks New Executive Director
SOMArts (South of Market Arts, Resources, Technology, and Services) is seeking their next Executive Director to work closely with the SOMArts Board of Directors and staff to lead the cultural center and organization-wide programs. The Executive Director will provide vision and strategic direction for all annual programming of SOMArts, including Day of the Dead (a month-long October invitational and multi-artist exhibit / installation), Fiscal Sponsorship, Classes and the Main Gallery Exhibitions Program. In addition to the oversight of the creative season, the Executive Director will run major programming, including on and off-site support services programs for nonprofits through the Affordable Space Program and the Neighborhood Arts Program. somarts.org
A.C.T. Mourns Passing of Associate Artistic Director Mark Rucker
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is mourning the passing of Mark Rucker, Associate Artistic Director. “He was a treasured friend, an inspirational colleague, a brilliant artist and an extraordinary mentor to generations of young theater artists,” said Artistic Director Carey Perloff. “We will miss him terribly. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark’s family and his friends around the globe.” Rucker has directed A.C.T. main-stage productions of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play; Maple and Vine, Higher, Once in a Lifetime, Marcus; or The Secret of Sweet, The Rainmaker, and The Beard of Avon; Luminescence Dating at Magic Theatre; and several of A.C.T.’s Masters of Fine Arts Program productions, to name just a few of his accomplishments. Details on a memorial service will be announced at a later date. charleszukow.com
New Development Manager Joins Tenants Together
Tenants Together, California’s Statewide Organization for Renters’ Rights, has appointed Yas Ahmed as their new Development Manager. Ahmed first moved to the Bay Area in 2000. Since that time, Ahmed has supported community change strategies as both a practitioner and grant-maker within the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Ahmed has particular advocacy experience working with, and on behalf of, young people of color, LGBTQ, and faith-based communities, and is a former counselor for the San Francisco Tenants’ Union. Ahmed is thrilled to support housing equity in this new role as Development Manager for Tenants Together, and to contribute toward a collective vision of building healthy, just communities for CA residents. tenantstogether.org
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission Takes New Name
The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), marking its 25th anniversary, announced a new name—OutRight Action International—at its annual gala in New York City. “We chose a new name that speaks to the heart of our mission. We have been ‘out’ for rights for 25 years, and at a time when civil society and LGBTI rights are under attack in many parts of the world, [and] we believe our new name speaks to our commitment to LGBTIQ activism and resilience internationally,” said Jessica Stern, the Executive Director. Moisés Kaufman, the playwright and founder of Tectonic Theater Project best known for The Laramie Project, hosted the event during which OutRight honored Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe, also celebrating its 25th anniversary. Instead of adopting an acronym, the organization said it prefers the simpler “OutRight” as shorthand. Along with a new tagline, “Human Rights for LGBTIQ People Everywhere,” OutRight reflects the organization’s commitment to inclusiveness for everyone in the LGBTIQ global community. iglhrc.org
Obama to Nominate Openly Gay Man to Lead the U.S. Army
President Barack Obama has chosen to nominate Eric Fanning as Secretary of the U.S. Army—making him the first openly gay civilian to be nominated as Secretary of one of the military services. “We are thrilled to see Eric Fanning nominated to lead the world’s greatest Army,” said American Military Partner Association President Ashley Broadway-Mack. “Fanning’s expertise and knowledge within the defense community, together with his sensitivity to issues faced by LGBT service members and their families, is why we urge the Senate to move quickly to confirm his appointment.” Fanning has been acting Undersecretary of the Army since June 2015, and has also served at senior levels in both the Navy and the Air Force. partners@militarypartners.org
CounterPulse Moves to New Tenderloin Facility
CounterPulse theater has moved from its home at Mission and Ninth streets to a renovated site in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, where a 1920s-era building houses a new 115-seat theater with a 900-square-foot stage, lobby, box office, dressing room, bathrooms, office, studio, elevator and storage area. Funding for the 80 Turk Project’s $6.3 million capital campaign is being raised through a partnership between CounterPulse and Community Arts Stabilization Trust, a new nonprofit dedicated to creating affordable, permanent spaces for artistic and cultural groups. The public is invited to a celebration on October 8 at the Hall on 1028 Market Street, where tours of 80 Turk will run every twenty minutes. counterpulse.org
Mr. Smithers to Finally Come Out on The Simpsons
After 26 years, Waylon Smithers, the long-rumored to be gay personal assistant to nefarious nuclear power magnate Mr. Burns on TV’s long-running animated series, The Simpsons, is finally ready to come out. “In Springfield now, most people know he’s gay, but obviously Burns doesn’t,” said Simpsons executive producer Al Jean. “We deal with that in two episodes. We actually do a lot with Smithers this year.” When Smithers does officially come out, he’ll have plenty of LGBT company in Springfield. Throughout the series’ quarter century history, the fictionalized cartoon town has had many gay and lesbian characters—the most notable being Marge’s sister, Patty Bouvier. Since its premiere in 1989, The Simpsons has been in the forefront of approaching some culturally volatile subjects involving gay rights, with insight and good humor. edgemedianetwork.com
Groups Demand Release for Trans Detainee in Failing Health
As part of the Not1More Deportation campaign, Familia QTLM, GetEQUAL and Transgender Law Center call for the release of Christina Lopez, an undocumented transgender woman currently held at Santa Ana Detention Center. Lopez urgently needs medical attention for Hepatitis C, which so far the detention center has refused to provide despite several requests. Lopez has been in immigration detention for a year and a half. In addition to wanting to be with her family, immigrating was a matter of life and death for Lopez, who wanted to escape harsh violence against transgender people in Peru. transgenderlawcenter.org
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