Motivate the Minority
Exactly when did a minority’s civil rights ever become up to majority vote? Imagine living in Alabama in 1964 and having the opportunity to vote on whether or not African Americans should have equal rights. Imagine giving Southern Californians a vote on whether or not to create a massive wall along the Mexico border. Do you think Germany’s population-at-large would have voted for the ouster of all Jews or not in 1936? 1946? 1996? When did such a vote become OK?

Given the opportunity, of course any majority is going to want to give themselves special rights—and this is what the marriage equality battle is really all about (besides general hatred and fear of gays and lesbians, I mean). For years we had to listen to hetero bible-thumping sickos chant “No special rights!” in their drive to disenfranchise us in past initiative elections, as if this principle—No Special Rights—was their guiding force and over-arching passion. What liars! Because now they want to codify absolutely special rights for themselves only into the very constitutional fabric of our society. I guess the proverbial shoe’s on the other foot, hmm? Why do “conservatives” abandon every principle they claim to deeply hold the moment that principle is tested? They are Constitution-haters and the enemies of Freedom itself, at every turn!

Listen, people, we are going to lose this fight—unless we begin to adopt the vicious war tactics that “conservatives” use every day in their political strategies. We must become heartless pitbulls and show America that gays bash back! Pleading nicely—as we did in the (losing) drive to defeat Prop. 22—will not change the public mindset. I will write again next week outlining the three ways we can instantly and decisively defeat the upcoming initiative to give heterosexuals special rights in California’s constitution. In the meantime, put on your steel thinking caps, read up, find your rage, give money to LAMBDA legal or the Marriage Equality group, join the Pink Pistols—whatever. Just don’t sit there.

Christian Matthews,
Pleasant Hill, CA

Crying Wolf
With skeptical interest I’ve followed the “developing story” of racism in the Castro, particularly the alleged racism of certain Castro area business proprietors. Frankly, I think the story has developed into somewhat of a slanderous witch-hunt that can hardly be called journalism. I do not dispute the allegations of racism against the owner of Badlands, as the investigation does not appear to be complete. However, I do take issue with reporters and editors printing of unfounded allegations of racism and misogyny against the entire Merchants of Upper Market & Castro. In this day of Fox News and CNN, I guess I shouldn’t expect much more from the esteemed Bay Times.

Your story on this issue was incredibly one-sided, and your two-sentence response to the MUMC letter was snide and dismissive. It further underscores my skepticism not only of your reporting and editing but also of the initial allegations against MUMC.

Remember the boy who cried “wolf?” Well, I think that many people are going to be less likely to believe such cries of racism when they are so liberally thrown about. Perhaps we do have issues of racism in the Castro, but nothing you’ve “reported” leads me to believe that it’s as rampant as you or And Castro For All would like me to believe.

Casey J. Sondgeroth
San Francisco

Brothaz and Sex: Realizing Our Worth
Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, R. Kelly, Mystikal, Dr. Bill Cosby
all of them are black men who have made an indelible impression on society by utilizing the precious gifts and the incomparable talents God gave them. Their commonality lies in more than their gender, race, riches or celebrity. They are all dealing with, or have dealt with sexual scandal. From sexual harassment, to child molestation, to rape immortalized on videotape, the media has let the entire world in on the sexual proclivities and private lives of these black men.

I won’t even try to say whether or not my brothaz in the media are guilty of the crimes with which they have been charged. But I will say that I don’t believe it’s by accident that all of these black men are in the news at the same time, for the same thing
sexual misconduct. A powerful message is being sent.
With all the scandal surrounding these high-profile brothaz, the question it raises for me is what is truly being revealed about black men and their sexuality? Are we really sexual brutes who justify our manhood and exercise our power by using the equipment just south of our waists and north of our knees? Brothaz, what the hell is goin’ on? Sexuality is a part of every human being. Whether it is expressed or suppressed, sexual desire and activity is a natural thing. How we use our sexuality and how we conduct ourselves is the thing that truly separates the men from the little boiz who wear men’s clothes. It’s high time that we, as men think about, and be held accountable for our actions.

One thing that I’ve seen on the Internet and have experienced in my personal life is the phenomenon of anonymous or semi-anonymous sex among men. We will meet someone at a party, a club, at an adult bookstore, a cruise spot, or on the Internet, and without even taking the time to get to know the person (or people); we’ll give them our bodies. No real knowledge if who we are “hookin-up with” is emotionally unstable, if they are a violent criminal or living with STDs. The fact that we are having sex with a stranger is indicative of there being an attraction. The thing is, we will determine whether or not we WANT to get to know the person better, or if we want to “just be friends” based on their sexual performance. Basically, we’ll judge if a person is worth it “if the sex is good.”

In my opinion, there is nothing more intimate than giving someone your body. Think about it, you can’t get closer to a person, or be more personal with someone than being inside of their body (or vice versa). So why do we share the most private part of ourselves with just anyone, not even taking the time to see if they are worth our goodness? Some say it’s because of loneliness, the need to feel connected, or simply the physiological need to be touched, held, and made to feel special. And all of these answers are valid. I’ll throw my two-cents in and say “my brothaz just don’t realize how ‘worth it’ they really are, nor do they understand the value of what they possess. Brotha, please know and understand that you are worth having someone who is going to take the time to know your heart and your mind before trying to jump into your bed


You are worth more than a one-night stand or a casual hook-up with someone who really doesn’t care one way or the other about who you are


You are worth knowing that the person you’ve given access to your body is one who cherishes your heart


You are worth being in relationship with someone who wants YOU, not what you may or may not have


You are worth having somebody who loves you so much that they are concerned about your health and will do what it takes to protect himself and you from illness


You are worth being treated like the King that you are, and not just some warm hole that’s used as a sexual fix


You are worth more than being labeled “Used Goods” because everybody in the club ain’t had you


I wish all my brothaz could see and understand that there is no amount of money, no level of fame or fortune that can compare to who they are and all they have too offer. Our sexuality is a gift; a reward reserved for someone who has proven himself and earned the right to possess it. If we understood our worth, we wouldn’t compromise our value and place ourselves in harm’s way
we wouldn’t abuse our intimacy.

It’s too bad that so many of us don’t realize how ‘worth it’ we really are. If we did, maybe we’d see that the greatest commodity we have is each other. We wouldn’t reduce each other to sexually irresponsible cartoon characters used only for our amusement. If we only knew how ‘worth it” we really are, maybe we’d stop using our sexuality as weapons in our own destruction. Maybe we could experience our intimate uniqueness for the beautiful thing it actually is.

Tuan N’Gai
Dallas, Texas

Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair
The 10th annual San Francisco Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair drew thousands of consumers who hate consumerism, on Good Saturday, March 26.
“A Bush election is very good for anarchist consumerism,” said ABF organizer Joey Cain, 50, to the SF Chronicle. “Anarchy proposes that humans have the ability to join together to meet our needs without the intervention of church or state,” added Cain, who’s also active in Radical Faeries and SF Pride.
Around 75 official vendors rented table spaces in the over-crowded exhibition hall. Adjoining rooms provided food and lectures. When a women’s toilet became overcrowded, women began using stalls in the men’s toilet. On a wall in a hallway, a posted leaflet attacked Bound Together, the organizers of ABF (but don’t think anarchists must always dissent—when sleeping, they sink into complacency).

Outdoors, unofficial vendors, mostly young zinesters in punk regalia, spread their wares on the ground—in an enclosed patio or on the front lawn. One organized games for anarchists. Four nude SUN members demonstrated for peace on the patio while a clothed SUNner leafleted. ABF organizers warned that the patio might not be available next year.

By late afternoon, the lawn was covered with people selling, talking, picnicking, flirting; like an “AnarkoPunkStock”, minus amplified music. This popular free event may have outgrown its traditional venue, the SF County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. Could ABF evolve into an “Anarchist Book & Music Festival”, perhaps in the Hippie Hill (Sharon Meadow) area of the park?

If any reader has constructive suggestions for 2006, please snail-write to the ABF in care of BOUND TOGETHER Book Collective, 1369 Haight Street, SF, CA 94117. And please CC to Senior Unlimited Nudes (SUN), POB 426937, SF, CA 94142-6937.P.S.—For the full SF Chronicle report on ABF 2005, by Rona Marech, please visit sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/27/BAGDLBVFHO1.DTL

For freedom until death,
Tortuga Bi LIBERTY,
San Francisco

Legalizing Drugs
Should the city’s many sellers of “medical marijuana” be better regulated? The supes are taking up this question, thanks to the initiative of Ross Mirkarimi.
The move comes in response to many complaints. Dealers are proliferating and setting up shop on their own terms throughout the city, without any regard for the impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

The situation is another example of “a good idea gone bad.” People who need marijuana for medical reasons should have easy access to it. That’s the “good idea” part.

In fact, soft drugs should be legalized. That’s an even better idea. The laws against soft drugs have only served to make hypocrites of both the public and the police, and to deprive the government of a rich source of new tax revenue.

However, the liberalizing process should be done in an intelligent and practical way. By allowing businesses to sell “medical marijuana” with virtually no controls, the city has the set its neighborhoods up for debasement. That’s the “gone bad” part.

And please, don’t kid yourself. The city’s many drug dealers, whether they’re petty or big-time, whether they sell pot or crack, are no angels. They’re in it for the money, honey.

The worst of them will do anything to make a quick buck. What happens when you give people like that the gilded gift of laissez-faire capitalism?
We all know the answer. The most thuggish and abusive will muscle their way to the top and keep everybody else in line. Do what we say, and nobody gets hurt.

That brutalizing process has now begun with those who deal in “medical marijuana.” It can have big consequences because of the role of drugs in the city’s life.

San Francisco is one of the most drugged-out cities in the nation. The highest rate of heroin addiction. A soaring rate of alcoholism. The worst homeless problem, where the leading causes of death are drug overdose and alcohol poisoning. The lethal role of drugs in the spread of AIDS.

I know from personal experience, sadly, that alcohol and drug abuse is entrenched in every arena of SF life. It extends from those who lie sprawled out, on concrete sidewalks, to those who sit comfortably on padded leather chairs in the Legislative Chamber.

In fact, I now assume, as a matter of course, that any San Franciscan with whom I interact has a problem with alcohol or drugs until the person proves otherwise.

The other side of the coin is that drug dealing has become one of the city’s major industries. The dealers here are many and powerful, and they have political savvy.

They know how to manipulate politicians into using the language of progressive politics in order to make life easier and more profitable for dealers. It’s the sort of businessman-politician relationship you find in any company town.

The move by the supes to regulate the dealers of “medical marijuana” is a step in the right direction. Let’s take it. And then let’s go even farther. Expose the city’s powerful drug industry, and bring it under control.

It could be a dangerous undertaking. But it could also lead to a renewal of the life and health of the city.

Arthur Evans
San Francisco

Keep the Pendulum Open!
An Open Letter to Pendulum Owner Les Natali
As concerned community members and allies of the Bay Area LGBT community, it has come to our attention that it is your intention to close the Pendulum Bar, one of our community’s most important and diverse social institutions, in the immediate future to begin renovation of the premises.

In light of pending City and State civil rights investigations which could influence permitting as well as future practices at the Pendulum—investigations set to conclude in the coming weeks—we believe that closure of the Pendulum is an inappropriate course of action at the present time.

Instead, we ask that you delay any planned renovations and/or closure of the Pendulum until the conclusion of the City and State’s civil rights investigations.

This letter was signed by the following individuals and supported by the following organizations:

Sasha Aikin

Brett Andrews, Executive Director, Positive Resource Center                                                                                                                                                                  

And Castro for All

Miguel Bustos

 Brian Cheu, Executive Director; Chinese for Affirmative Action/Center for Asian American Advocacy

Alex Cole, West Coast Organizer

The Democracy Matters Institute

Duane Cramer

Gerry Crowley, Vice Chair, San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee

Chris Daley, Transgender Law Center

Kelly Dugan, community organizer, Unite HERE Local 2

Jonathan Fishleder, Board of Directors, SF LGBT Pride Celebration Committee

Yalith Fonfa

Jerry Fuller

Calvin Gipson, Glide Memorial Church

Michael Goldstein, Immediate Past President, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club

 Robert Haaland, Democratic County Central Committee

Hunter Hargraves

Paul Hogarth, Correspondent, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club

 Bob Jaques, Treasurer, SF LGBT Pride Celebration Committee

Joe Julian, San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee

Saul Kanowitz, A.N.S.W.E.R., SF

Luke Klipp

Bob Kim

Martha Knutzen, Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club

Rich Kowalewski, Immediate Past Co-Chair, Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club

 Myong Leigh, Chief of Policy and Planning, SF Unified School District

Rafael Mandelman, President, Noe Valley Democratic Club

Tia Martinez

Teresa Martyny, Co-Coordinator, Challenging White Supremacy Workshop

Tommi Avicolli Mecca

The Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club

Jane Morrison, SF Democratic County Central Committee, former Chair, SF Democratic Party 

Commissioner Pat Norman

John Newsome, And Castro for All

Kirk Oatman, Board of Directors, Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club

Larry Roberts, VP PAC, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club

Criss Romero, past president, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club

Tom Runge

Mark Sanchez, Commissioner, San Francisco Board of Education

Andrea Shorter, President, SF Commission on the Status of Women

 Laura Spanjian, Co-Chair, Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club

Owen Stephens, President, SF Young Democrats

Secretary, Alice B Toklas LGBT Democratic Club

Zwazzi Sowo, Courage to Love Institute and LGBT Black Rap

Julius Turman, Co-Chair, Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF)

Debra Walker, Northern CA vice co-chair, LGBT caucus, CA Democratic Party

Marilyn Wann, board member, National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance

Scott Wiener, Co-Chair, Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club

Lisa Williams, Rickey Williams, the Stop AIDS Project

Rev. D. Mark Wilson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Pacific School of Religion

 Lecturer, UC Berkeley

Thank You LGBT Community
To those of you who gave to LGBT youth collecting money in the Castro on March 12 on behalf of LGBT Native American youth and LUCKYus youth group—a heartfelt thank you. Their efforts and your generosity brought in over $250 for these groups. LGBT youth need our help in donations of time and money. To get involved write: 4youth@baits.org or call 865-5616.

S. Wolf, Co-Chair
San Francisco