New age author Han Shin , 42, has gone from being a supporter of Mayor Gavin Newsom to being accused of stalking him. City officials are so concerned about Shin's recent erratic behavior around the mayor that they have sought a restraining order to keep him away from Newsom.

Under the order, Shin would be required to stay at least 100 feet away from Newsom.

The mayor asked for the order after Shin was found in Newsom's Russian Hill apartment building at 1 a.m. on Feb. 15, according to published reports. Newsom was not at home at the time, and a doorman said after Shin was escorted outside of the Russian Hill residence he waited out front of the building for some time.

The mayor contends in court documents that Shin showed up regularly at his appearances and recently began displaying "bizarre" behavior towards the mayor.

[According to media reports, Shin was arrested Wednesday night on unrelated charges, The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Shin was taken into custory on suspicion of burglarizing a house in San Ramon and then trying three times to run over a man who lived there,]

Earlier this month, a police officer had to physically separate the two men after Shin, wearing purple latex gloves, reportedly grabbed Newsom.

Reports have also noted that Shin has attempted to flirt with the mayor and was seen photographing Newsom from the waist down at a recent public meeting the mayor held in the Bayview.

The same time the reports started surfacing Monday, February 26 about Shin's apparent infatuation with Newsom, he stopped by the Bay Area Reporter's offices to drop off his book Beauty for the World A Spiritual Odyssey . Inside, Shin had attached photos of himself with the mayor as well as Donald Trump.

In a message inside the book given to this reporter, Shin wrote "Vote 4 Gavin US President in 2008" and signed his name with a heart.

He did not return the B.A.R.'s call seeking comment. He did call a local television reporter, and insisted that he's unfairly being "portrayed as a psycho."

Asked if he was stalking the mayor, Shin replied, "No" and said he had no idea why people would think that. It is unclear if the reporter asked Shin if he is gay. He did say he attended the mayor's event because he wanted "to lend support to a friend."

Supervisor Bevan Dufty said he met Shin during his re-election campaign last year, and that the man presented him with a raspberry colore

Dr. Markus Watson. Photo: Jane Philomen Cleland

d kimono.

Asked if Shin identified as gay, Dufty said, "He is like a cross between Liberace and Hello Kitty. He is out of his gourd."

Dufty added, "I don't think he is dangerous but I am not a licensed professional."

Health Commission gets gay majority

With the swearing in last month of openly gay dentist Dr. Markus Watson and lesbian health activist Catherine Dodd, the city's Health Commission now has a gay majority. It is the first time that four of the seven mayoral-appointed members are gay.

"It hasn't gone unnoticed. This is pretty amazing," said Project Open Hand's Jim Illig, a gay man who has served on the commission for several years. "Healthcare for all in this town is what we are concerned about, but LGBT health has been a concern for a long time and still is."

The senior member of the group is lesbian Roma Guy , who is now into her second term on the commission. Dodd, who did not respond to an interview request, was a longtime director of House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi's (D-San Francisco) local district office. She is currently working on her dissertation for a doctorate in sociology at the University of California at San Francisco.

Watson, 40, last year moved his dental practice from the Castro to the South Beach neighborhood along the waterfront. He specializes in cosmetic dentistry.

"I do smile design makeovers," explained Watson, who has been with his domestic partner, Ron Vinson , for four years.

He said his friend and client, Steve Kawa , formerly Newsom's chief of staff, recommended him for the seat. Watson said Kawa did not approach him before submitting his name.

"I am Steve's and his partner Dan's and their two kids' dentist. They're pretty much also friends," he said.

He hopes to be a voice for funding of dental services and other preventive health measures, which can save the city money over time.

"When money is a concern, a lot of dental aspects of health services get cut back. A lot of people don�t see dental as an integral part of health," he said. "Dentists are the first line of prevention for a lot of problems, like throat cancers and likes thing that."

He also supports the recent campaigns against crystal meth use, since the drug can wreck havoc on teeth.

"Crystal meth destroys the teeth completely," he said. "Not only does it to your teeth but your health in general."

On the hot button topic of the tones of social marketing campaigns, Watson said he isn't so much concerned about their tone, but more that they target the right people.

"I don't feel offended by the messages. If people are reading billboard signs and have a reaction to it, any reaction to it, it is better than no action at all," he said. "I feel honestly that each campaign should be focused on the community that the campaign is placed in, for instance, campaigns and messages in the Castro need to be tailored to the Castro."

Watson replaced commissioner Donald Tarver , a gay man whom the mayor reportedly opted not to reappoint to his seat because he works part-time for the health department.

"Donald didn�t do anything wrong but there was the appearance of a conflict of interest," said Illig. "The mayor decided he wanted to appoint someone else."

GAPA float honors children

The Gay Asian Pacific Alliance will feature children of gay couples and church groups at the annual Chinese New Year Parade Saturday, March 3. GAPA�s float will feature a six-foot globe encircled by rainbow-colored hearts that illuminates the five countries that have legalized same-sex marriage: the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, South Africa, and Spain.

"Many Asian families and religious leaders strongly support gay marriage," said GAPA parade organizer Clarence Wong . "GAPA�s coalition supports marriage equality because we believe that same-sex marriage is a fundamental civil and human right. Asians are indeed a progressive community that cares about all types of families."

Six Asian same-sex couples and their children will be wearing traditional, wedding attire from various Asian cultures. Surrounding them will be dozens of families, church groups, members of clergy and marriage equality supporters. Marchers will be dressed

"In this year�s parade, GAPA wishes to send the message that Love Has No Boundaries," said Robert Bernardo , GAPA President. "As we celebrate the Chinese New Year, we want to show that everyone deserves the freedom to marry, raise a family, and live a long happy and prosperous life."

The 2007 parade to mark the beginning to the Year of the Boar kicks off in San Francisco's Chinatown at 5:30 p.m., rain or shine.