One of the hallmarks of San Francisco's annual Pride celebration is seeing Market Street lined with rainbow flags throughout the month of June.
But the city's main thoroughfare doubles as a wind tunnel, wrecking havoc on the LGBT symbols attached to light poles along the street. After delighting visitors for the last decade, the current stash of 500 flags has reached its durability limit.
"Our current set of rainbow flags have been in rotation in the Market Street display for 10 years," Pride Executive Director Brendan Behan told the Bay Area Reporter in an email. "We have reached the very end of the current generation of flags' lifespan, and we will need to replace the entire inventory, which will require purchasing 500 new flags as well as the equipment that is required to hang the flags."
The Pride Committee each year pays for the permit needed in order to fly the flags. This year the cost is $3,614.06.
The cost to replace the flags is estimated at $40,000. As Pride has struggled to clear away a fiscal deficit it incurred in 2010, the committee does not have the funds to cover the expense.
"We have been putting that cost off but the time has come," said Behan in an interview, adding that he would like to have new flags in place for 2013.
The Pride Committee has decided to ask the community not only to help pay for the replacement flags but also to help decide what type of flag to buy.
"We are appealing to the public for donations to support funding the next generation of flags, which with diligent care and many volunteer hours to make repairs to torn or weather-damaged flags after each June's display, can last us for another decade," wrote Behan. "We will be raising two prototype flags for the next generation outside of our Market Street office and inviting community members' input about their preferred version."
The prototypes will be on display the beginning of June when the Pride flags are installed. Starting this week those who would like to contribute can do so online at http://www.SFpride.org/donate. Be sure to select Pride flags under the "program designation" options.
CBD seeks Castro ambassadors
With summer quickly approaching, the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District is accepting applications from people interested in volunteering as Castro ambassadors for the 2012 season.
The focus of the program is to help visitors find their way and feel welcome in the neighborhood. Ambassadors receive training in greeting visitors, street safety, and providing information about the area's amenities and history. They are issued photo ID badges, "Castro Ambassador" jackets, satchels full of tourist information, and are deployed in the central business district throughout the week from June through October.
"The Castro ambassadors are a fun and exciting way for volunteers to share their love for the neighborhood with tourists, meet people, and have fun," said Andrea Aiello, CBD executive director. "It's also a great way for people to give back to the community."
The program assisted 6,000 visitors from around the world last summer during its pilot run, and received praise from visitors and neighborhood residents alike.
To complete an application online, visit http://castrocbd.org/content/ambassador-program or call Aiello at (415) 500-1181.
Police seek suspect in assault
The San Francisco Police Department is seeking a man suspected of attempting to sexually assault another man in the Castro neighborhood last week.
Citing information from the victim and police, Castro Community on Patrol Vice Chair Ken Craig said in an email advisory that the incident occurred around 2 a.m., Wednesday, May 2 in the 3900 block of 17th Street. The suspect forced his way into the victim's residence as the victim was entering his front door.
The man tried to sexually assault the victim and physically assaulted him "causing serious head trauma," according to Craig's Monday, May 7 email. The suspect stole a notebook computer and fled east on foot up 17th Street.
The man is described as black, approximately 32, with short hair, a "stocky build" and clean-shaven.
San Francisco police Inspector Thomas Maguire declined to provide many more details on the case but said, "We're actively working on this."
Maguire said the victim is "good, he's stable" and is not hospitalized.
Anyone with information on the case can contact Maguire at (415) 553-1753 or the SFPD's Mission Station anonymous tip line at (415) 552-4558. The case number is 120 347 194.
CUAV offers artistic event
Community United Against Violence and the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts are having an evening of queer and trans artistic offerings in honor of survival and resistance. Titled "The Color of My Spirit," the revue of local LGBTQ talent takes place Friday, May 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Mission Cultural Center, 2868 Mission Street (at 25th).
Artists will share a collective vision of liberation through video, song, poetry, and dance. Poet Yosimar Reyes returns to emcee a line up including Nomy Lamm, Maisha Z. Johnson, Josh Merchant, Our Space, El/LA, and more.
Tickets are $5-$20 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds) and are available online at http://tinyurl.com/6mfk78o or at the door.
Early voting has started
The San Francisco Department of Elections has announced that early voting started this week, and vote-by-mail ballots are beginning to be sent out.
Registered voters can cast ballots on the ground floor of City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (the department is closed Monday, May 28 in observance of Memorial Day).
Weekend voting will take place at City Hall May 26-27 and June 2-3, for access enter on Grove Street.
People can request a vote-by-mail ballot but completed applications must be received by May 29.
Additionally, you can still register to vote, the deadline is May 21. For more information, visit www.sfelections.org.
Other counties may also have early voting, check with your registrar of voters.
'Stamp Out Hunger' food drive Saturday
On Saturday, May 12, people all over the country will leave canned food by their mailboxes for the 20th annual Letter Carriers "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive. Locally, the drive benefits food banks such as Second Harvest and others.
The food drive is held every year on the second Saturday in May and is a project of the National Association of Letter Carriers and the U.S. Postal Service.
Last year generous Americans donated 70.2 million pounds of food nationally, which marked the eighth consecutive year that at least 70 million pounds were collected by letter carriers.
So if you can, buy an extra can of soup, vegetables, or non-perishable item such as rice, pasta, or cereal when you go shopping and leave it by your mailbox on Saturday.
Panel to discuss LGBT housing issues
The LGBT Advisory Committee of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission will hold a panel presentation to address and discuss issues of housing facing the LGBT community on Tuesday, May 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center, 730 Polk Street (at Ellis) in the Banyan Room.
The session is billed as one in which people can ask questions and learn of plans and programs. Guests and panelists will include Bevan Dufty, the mayor's homeless policy aide; Kathy Treggiari of Episcopal Community Services; Lee Harrington of AIDS Emergency Fund; Seth Kilbourn of Openhouse; Brian Basinger of AIDS Housing Alliance; and Jodi Schwartz of the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center.
Light refreshments will be provided.
WCRC plans events
The Women's Cancer Resource Center has two events coming up this month.
First up is an illuminating talk by ecologist, author, and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., an internationally recognized authority on the environmental links to cancer and human health. She is the author of Living Downstream, which was recently made into a film, as well as several other books. Steingraber will be at La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, on Wednesday, May 16 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend; the evening is made possible by the Ceres Foundation. Registration is requested and can be done online at www.wcrc.org.
On Friday, May 18, WCRC is holding its fourth annual golf tournament fundraiser at Callippe Golf Course in Pleasanton. The tournament includes a full day of activities including professional clinics, contests, lunch, 18-hole golf game, cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, raffle, and more.
Individual tickets are $150 and includes one playing position, one dinner ticket, and a gift bag. (A foursome is $600.) To register online go to the website and click on the "register" button under Upcoming Activities: 2012 Golf Tournament.
The event is produced by Michelle Bartel (Charles Schwab), Heidi Mayer, and Brenda Davis.
WCRC's mission is to create opportunities for women with cancer to improve their quality of life through education, supportive services, and practical assistance.
Horizons hosts women's golf event
Golf is in the air as Horizons Foundation is having its third annual LGBT Golf Fore Good Women at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club in Vallejo on Friday, May 18. The 18-hole tournament will benefit the grant making, donor education, leadership development, and philanthropic advocacy work of Horizons.
The tournament will be a four-person scramble "best ball" format and all skill levels are encouraged. There will be several sponsored contests throughout the course, with prizes ranging from trophies to a $10,000 cash prize. The tournament will be followed by a reception and after-party, which will include entertainment and a hosted bar.
Registration starts at 11 a.m. and the shotgun start is at 1 p.m. The cost is $125 per person or $450 for a team of four, and includes greens and cart fees, lunch, and the reception and after-party. Admission is $25 for those who want to join the reception and after-party but are not registered golfers.
Registration forms are online at www.horizonsfoundation.org or players can call (415) 398-2333, ext. 103.
Sponsors include WineTasting.com, DLK Law Group, JC Penney, Sweet Cruises, Sally Morin Law, and Financial Fitness Center Inc.
Andy Cohen at Castro Theatre
Andy Cohen, the out executive vice president of development and talent at Bravo and executive producer of hit shows like Top Chef and The Real Housewives will be the speaker at a Commonwealth Club event Wednesday, May 16 that will take place at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street. A premium ticket reception is at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7, and a book signing at 8.
Cohen's recent book, Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture, is included with some ticket packages.
The event is part of Inforum, the club's division for people in their 20s and 30s, although the program is open to all.
Tickets are $25 standard, $15 members, and $10 students. Standard tickets with book are $55, $40 members. Premium tickets (include the reception, book, and priority seating) are $80 standard and $60 members.
To purchase tickets online, visit http://www.commonwealthclub.org/events.
SFPD fishing program seeks LGBT youth
The San Francisco Police Department's fishing program is reaching out to LGBT youth. As soon as schools let out for the summer, volunteer SFPD officers will be taking kids out on the bay for a fun day of deep-sea fishing. The program was created decades ago to foster closer relationships between local kids and law enforcement officers.
The fishing program is a nonprofit organization that is focused exclusively on providing an exciting day of fishing free of cost to interested young anglers.
For more information, contact Officer Bob Ford at (415) 558-5527 or visit http://www.sf-police.org/index.aspx?page=1708.
Matthew S. Bajko and Seth Hemmelgarn contributed to this report.