The city's Planning Commission is expected to approve the relocation of a South of Market gay bar at its meeting today (Thursday, May 17) after giving its initial backing to the proposal last week.

On a 7-0 vote, the commissioners voted last Thursday, May 10 to allow the Hole in the Wall on 8th Street to move to a new space on Folsom Street between 9th and 10th streets. The space is just doors away from another SOMA gay bar, the Powerhouse.

Hole in the Wall owners, life partners John Gardiner and Joseph Banks, purchased the building at 1369 Folsom Street late last year in order to relocate their bar to the property's garage space.

But neighbors balked, particularly over plans for an outdoor smoking area in a portion of the backyard. The resulting controversy became so heated that attempts to resolve the matter at first devolved, with residents calling the bars' owners untrustworthy and bar supporters charging the opponents of being racist, anti-gay NIMBYs.

The two sides have even bickered over the final project submitted to city planners, which now calls for the smoking area to be in a ventilated indoor addition. Neighbors contend the plans represent a compromise hammered out between them and the bar owners' permit expediter. However, the bar's owners have refuted that they entered into any agreement and maintain that the project mirrors what they had planned to do all along.

Commissioners postponed final approval for the bar in order to hear from one resident opposing the project who is disabled and could not attend last week's hearing. Her testimony is not expected to alter the outcome of the initial vote.

Once the revised plans with conditions on such things as soundproofing and restricting access to the backyard are approved by the city, all but one neighbor have pledged to withdraw from a state agency their objections to seeing the bar's liquor license transferred to the new location.

Marriage equality march Sat.

Marriage Equality USA is having its "Equality March" across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Saturday, May 19.

The event celebrates the third anniversary of marriage licenses being issued to same-sex couples in Massachusetts. Organizers also said they are marching in support of political leaders in each state who are advancing same-sex marriage. In New York, Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer recently introduced a same-sex marriage bill to the legislature (though advocates have conceded it's unlikely to pass this year as the legislative session ends next month). In California, Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) has introduced his gender-neutral marriage bill, which is now making its way through the legislature. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, however, has twice said he will veto it.

People interested in participating in the San Francisco march should gather at 9:30 a.m. at the west end of Crissy Field. They will then march across the bridge and return to Crissy Field for wedding cake, entertainment, and prizes. Prior to the 10 a.m. march there will be a news conference to discuss Leno's bill and hear from local county clerks who stood in support of marriage equality during MEUSA's Valentine's Day marriage counter actions. Organizers also will place a call to their counterparts in New York.

For more information, visit http://www.marriageequality.org/meusa.

TG self-defense class

Triangle Martial Arts Association, the LGBT Community Center, SF SAFE, and Community United Against Violence will host a self-defense seminar for members of the transgender community and their allies Saturday, May 19 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the center, 1800 Market Street in San Francisco. The event is free, although donations are requested. The event, coming a couple months after the murder of a transgender woman in San Francisco, is described as low-impact, and will focus on how to prepare yourself, what to do, and what not to do if you are confronted or assaulted. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling (415) 992-5551 or e-mailing mailto:info@trianglemaa.org.

Santa Cruz queer youth awards

The Santa Cruz County Task Force for LGBTIQ Youth will hold its 10th annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards Saturday, May 19 at Harbor High School, 300 LaFonda in Santa Cruz. A buffet dinner will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the program at 8. Tickets are $25 to $45, for adults, sliding scale, and $10 for students and seniors.

The program includes a blend of youth entertainment as a variety show, the presentation of awards, and a community dance. For more information, visit http://www.qyla2007.org.

Commonwealth Club event

The Commonwealth Club of California's psychology and LGBT member-led forums will present "Dude, You're a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in Adolescence" Wednesday, May 23 at the club's headquarters, 595 Market Street in San Francisco. A reception takes place at 4:45 p.m., followed by the program at 5:15.

C.J. Pascoe, a post-doctoral scholar at the Institute for the Study of Social Change at the University of California, Berkeley, is the featured speaker. Pascoe conducted an 18-month ethnographic study of teenagers. She will explore the formation of sexuality and gender identity, and demonstrate how the "fag discourse" is as much tied to gender as it is to sexuality and makes the case for harsher anti-harassment efforts.

The cost is $8 for members and $15 for non-members. To purchase tickets, call (415) 597-6705 or visit http://www.commonwealthclub.org.

Dem hopeful, Haggard's foil at Milk Club dinner

Democratic presidential candidate and former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel will be the keynote speaker at the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club's annual dinner Thursday, May 24 at the Hotel Whitcomb, (formerly the Ramada) 1231 Market Street at 8th Street in San Francisco. The evening begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by the dinner at 7.

Also appearing at the event will be former escort Mike Jones, who outed Ted Haggard last year and has recently written I Had to Say Something – The Art of Ted Haggard's Fall. Jones will receive the club's Harry Britt Lifetime Achievement Award.

Additionally, the club will honor several local leaders, including: Supervisor Chris Daly; Sandy "Mama" Reinhardt, founder of Mama's Family; Zwazzi Sowo, founder of the Northern California Black LGBT Freedom Fighters; bi activist Lani Ka'ahumanu; the Transgender Law Center's Alex Lee; the Youth Organizing Committee of Pride at Work; and the "Desperate Divas," who will perform.

The dinner is now sold out, according to the club's Web site, but overflow cocktail seating is available for $30. Those interested in getting on a waiting list or inquiring about the overflow seating can e-mail mailto:treasurer@milkclub.org.

CCOP training coming up

The volunteer group Castro Community on Patrol will hold a training class Sunday, May 20 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the offices of Coldwell Banker Realtor and Bay Area Reporter business columnist Katharine Holland, 2355 Market Street in San Francisco. The group, formed several months ago after several violent incidents were reported to police, serves as sort of a neighborhood watch group that walks around the Castro on Friday and Saturday nights. Volunteers do not make arrests, and are instructed to contact law enforcement if they see something suspicious.

Organizers ask that those interested pre-register to secure a space; class size is limited to 25 people. To sign up, e-mail mailto:Training@CastroPatrol.org.

Frameline seeks volunteers

Frameline, the producer of the International LGBT Film Festival, has announced that volunteer opportunities are available. Interested people are invited to attend one of the upcoming volunteer meetings Wednesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. or Tuesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. The meetings take place in the Rainbow Room at the LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street.

For more information, visit http://www.frameline.org or call (415) 703-8650, ext. 324.

This year's film festival runs June 14-24.

Matthew S. Bajko contributed to this report.