Tag Archives: City Hall

Huge Prop 8, DOMA Rallies set for Mon in the Castro. Tue and Wed at CA Supreme Court Bldg

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We Want Equality!!Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday represent three historic days for marriage equality advocates throughout the United States. The US Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments on the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Wear red to the vigils and marches to symbolize your solidarity.

Wear red to the vigils and marches to symbolize your solidarity.

Nearly 200 vigils and marches in support of marriage equality are being held in all 50 states on the eve of these historic hearings. Buses from many major cities surrounding Washington, DC will be making runs to the US Supreme Court for people who don’t have a way to get there.

A vigil in the Castro will be held Monday, March 25th, at 6:30PM at Harvey Milk Plaza followed by a march to the steps of City Hall. Organizers of the March for Equality vigil, including Billy Bradford, Patrick Connors, and Cleve Jones, have lined up some DJ’s to help keep the crowd lively during the march to City Hall. Gay couples, some married and some not yet married, will be telling stories about their struggle for marriage equality on the steps of City Hall. Supervisors Scott Wiener and David Campos will also be speaking.

On March 26th and 27th, vigils are being held at the California Supreme Court building (350 McAllister) from 4-8PM. Organizers are asking folks to maintain the vigil late into the evening if possible and to also wear red as a symbol of solidarity.

Volunteers spreading the word for the March for Equality event on Monday

Volunteers at 18th and Castro spreading the word for the March for Equality event on Monday (credit: Joanie Juster)

Organizer Connors said, “This may be one of the last times that we, as a community, will be able to gather in support for marriage equality.” Volunteer Justin Taylor noted that many marriage equality advocates may have missed opportunities to speak out and do something in 2008 when Prop 8 was voted into law and that this is everyone’s chance to join in solidarity in support of marriage equality.

You can check out interviews from volunteers and advocates sharing their stories about why they’ll be attending the March for Equality on Daniel Aragay’s YouTube page.

A final decision from the Supreme Court is expected in June.

Judge Sides with City Against Naturists in Latest Dust Up Over Public Nudity

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Trey Allen post arrest on Feb. 1st. sporting a SFPD supplied blanket.

Trey Allen post arrest on Feb. 1st. sporting a SFPD supplied blanket. Photo: Nude In Blogspot.com

SF’s Urban Nudist pleas for a restraining order against the City and its two and a half month old public nudity ban received a firm legal swat across their collective naked backsides this week when presiding Fed Judge, Edward Chen, denied their request.

Since the start of February when the ‘No No to Nudity’ ban, penned by Dist 8 Sup. Scott Wiener, backed by a majority of the Board of Supes and then signed, sealed and delivered by Mayor Lee was initiated there have been four incidents which have laid bare what Naturist identify as naked inconsistencies in the City’s public nudity policy.

Two or the actions: the first, held post ban at City Hall on Feb 1st, and most recently a nude ‘dance in’ on Feb. 27th at Jane Warner Plaza in the Castro resulted in misdemeanor arrests of activists for violating the public nudity ban.

Two others: one at Harvey Milk Plaza where SF porn studio, Naked Sword, filmed a large outdoor crowd scene with naked participants for an upcoming porn parody using the nude ban controversy as a plot device and second: the City’s annual Naked Bike Ride.

Both of those events-stuffed with ban violations-were exposed to a good dose of police presence but resulted in zero tickets or arrests.

Urban Nudists cite that kind of pick and choose attitude and use of the law as the basis for challenging the new ban. In a statement they said the City is, “engaged in a pattern of illegal arrests and discriminatory enforcement.” They also remain firmly committed to continued challenges both legally and actively with escalated defiance of the ban.

Judge Chen disagreed with their assessment stating their case, “was lacking in any substantive legal argument in support” of their claims and that they also didn’t provide enough evidence.

So the City’s ban stands. Again.

Trey Allen leaving court post prelim hearing for Feb. 1st City Hall nude protest. Photo: M. Petrelis

Trey Allen leaving court post prelim hearing for Feb. 1st City Hall nude protest. Photo: M. Petrelis

Nudist Trey Allen and Gypsy Taub have already been to prelim court over the City Hall disrobing and Gypsy and Sup. candidate and nude activist, George Davis, have an upcoming court appearance over the Jane Warner naked dance party exhibition.

More to be revealed on this ongoing social and political face off as the weather warms and more opportunities present themselves for the Urban Naturist activists to exhibit their case to the public.

Friday, March 22nd, they and their supporters returned to the steps of City Hall at noon and held a permitted rally against the ban. No arrests were made.

 

 

 

 

Petition Initiated to Oppose Sup. Wiener in Bid for Supe Board President in 2013

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Breaking: A group called the Vibrant Castro Neighborhood Association (VCNA) has launched a Change.Org petition asking that District 8 Supervisor, Scott Wiener, be denied the seat as President of the SF Board of Supervisors and as the head of any key board committee in 2013.

The sponsors, VCNA, is described in their Change.Org online profile as: “an alliance of people who care about the vibrancy of the Castro and call it home: home challenged, renters, homeowners, employees, business owners, organizations, visitors and users of the many resources in the Castro.”

The rumblings around the Castro have been steadily growing in regard to the Supervisor’s handling of several key issues within the community like the nudity ban, homelessness and his ongoing support for developers. The petition goes on to site a laundry list of reasons for opposing his placement in positions of greater power including his zealous willingness to write new legislation, his failed attempt to alter the City Charter in 2011 and his leadership in developing the ‘micro-apartment’.

The Supervisor has never enjoyed a great relationship with the progressives within his district, but, is this now an indication of him losing favor with rank and file, middle of the road voters as well or an indication that those who oppose his being in Harvey Milk’s old chair are rattling their swords laying groundwork for his ouster in the next election cycle? Only time will tell.

UPDATE: Petrelis vs. Wiener, Let’s Get Ready to RrrummmBBLLEE!!

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Supporters and Michael Petrelis (Center) and his lawyer, Dereck St, Pierre (Right) Photo: KTVU

Step up to the ring folks-things are about to get dicey, once again, in local Castro, Queer political circles.

As the Biscuit posted on Nov. 30th, Dist. 8 Sup. Scott Wiener asked the SF District Attorney’s office to press charges against Michael Petrellis, longtime LGBTQ activist, blogger, and local politician’s nightmare, for violating criminal codes while attempting to take pix of the Supe peeing in a city hall bathroom back in October. Petrelis posted about the attempted glimpse of Wiener’s wiener incident on his blog Oct. 27th. In it the offending published pix had no penis portrayed just the Supe, bent over a basin, tooth brush in hand, practicing another oral skill-good gum and teeth hygiene.

On Wednesday Mr. Petrellis found himself in court where he pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct. In addition he was ordered by Judge Donna Little to stay at least 150 feet away from the Supervisor at all times. Mr. Petrelis’ attorney, Dereck St Pierre, argued the restraining order was unjust as Mr. Wiener is a public official and Petrelis merely a citizen. He also added that the order would cause undue hardship and keep his client from pursuing his journalistic endeavors.

Judge Little didn’t buy that argument. She believed that Mr. Petrelis had exhibited a pattern of harassing behavior. Supporters of Mr. Petrelis bearing signs that said, ‘I LIKE MIKE’, disagreed with the judges ruling bemoaning that it was actually a violation of Mr. Petrelis’ first amendment rights.

Sup. Scott Wiener at a recent City Hall hearing not feeling the love. Photo: Luke Thomas

Mr. Weiner’s original complaint highlighted what he told the Sheriff Dept has been, “an ongoing history of inappropriate and harassing behavior” and that he (Petrelis) “had yelled at me in public before as a result of political disagreements.” That is a bit of an understatement as even we here at The Biscuit have seen Mr. Petrelis with a bullhorn on at least one occasion shouting out at the Supe his ‘disagreements’ over policy, ideology, MUMC, bench removal at Harvey Milk Plaza, the nudity ban, Gay Flag usage, leadership/or lack of leadership and direction of the legacy of the Queer community and it’s politics here in the Castro whose reins now lie in the hands of Mr. Wiener.

This political and legal tug of war will now wind it’s way back through the court as Mr. St. Pierre has said they will fight this charge to the fullest extent. Mr. Petrelis was uncharacteristically mum post hearing allowing his lawyer to do all the talking. We will keep you abreast of the developments as they happen but at the end of this skirmish we are posting a score of Wiener 1, Petrelis 0.

SF nudists filing class action suit against City over nudity ban

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Attorney Christina DiEdoardo

San Francisco nudists have started a Rally.org fundraiser to retain attorney Christina DiEdoardo to file a class action suit against the city and city officials to block the proposed ban on nudity. Last month, Christina DiEduardo wrote a blog post titled, Why No City Ordinance is Needed to Ban Public Nudity in San Francisco. The Rally.org page states that DiEdoardo will be taking the case at a discounted rate detailing,

“Attorney, Christina DiEdoardo, is taking on this case at much less than normal professional rates because she believes the issue involved is an important one involving political free speech and the improper criminalization of harmless behavior by unprincipled prudes and attention-seeking politicians.”

Just in case you are new here, the nudists have caught the attention of those in our neighborhood and those at City Hall that do not care for their increased presence around the Castro. Castro’s District 8 Supervisor, Scott Wiener, has put forth legislation to ban nudity throughout the city. The legislation has been approved by one committee and is moving on to the full board for final approval. The nudists have already put together a protest opposing the legislation and are planning for another this Wednesday at City Hall.