Hypnosis can help kick habit
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Slight uptick in HIV cases
ARTS
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'Looking' debuts
The
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Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971
Vol. 44 • No. 3 • January 16-22, 2014
Outrage after trans teen charged
by Heather Cassell
M The city’s HIV Prevention Planning Council is mulling a plan to distribute crack pipes to aid in combatting HIV.
Crack pipe distribution considered by Seth Hemmelgarn
L
ooking to boost HIV prevention efforts in San Francisco, some staff members at the city’s health department and community-based organizations are starting to talk about distributing crack pipes. The possibility was discussed at a recent meeting of the HIV Prevention Planning Council, which sets priorities for HIV prevention in the city. Among other benefits, such a plan could help city and nonprofit staff connect people that aren’t otherwise being reached with HIV and other health care services, according to a presentation by HPPC member Paul Harkin, who’s HIV services programs manager for the Glide Foundation, and Alli Kraus, syringe access coordinator for Glide Health Services, at the HPPC’s meeting Thursday, January 9. Among other concerns, people may currently use cracked or broken pipes, said Harkin. Referring to the city’s practice of providing clean syringes to injection drug users, which has been credited with cutting the number of local HIV infections, he said, “We do it with syringes, and we should be doing it with pipes.” Kraus called crack cocaine use “a significant driver” of HIV infection in San Francisco. Crack smokers are likely to engage in unprotected sex and may have sex in exchange for money, and use of the drug “accelerates HIV disease progression,” among other issues, according to the presentation. Additionally, people who use crack are twice as likely “to contract HIV compared to someone who is not affected by the driver.” The drug “primes the immune system for HIV infection,” said Kraus. Many who use crack are homeless and are among those “least likely to be in care for HIV,” and they’re also “more likely to develop” AIDS and die from AIDS-related illnesses, according to the information she and Harkin provided. “We’re doing next to nothing for crack smokers,” said Kraus, and by alienating them, “we are exacerbating” health risks. See page 12 >>
embers of the LGBT community and their allies are expressing outrage after a Bay Area transgender teenager was charged with battery after defending herself during a schoolyard fight two months ago. Jewlyes Gutierrez, a 16-year-old sophomore at Hercules Middle/High School, was charged January 8 with battery by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office after an investigation into the November incident. Three girls who allegedly attacked her, meanwhile, have not been charged. The decision by senior deputy district attorney Daniel Cabral has caused a firestorm and upset Gutierrez’s family, who are trying their best to protect her and want the DA’s office to drop the charges. “I feel hurt and frustrated because [the other girls involved in the fight are] not getting charged and me getting charged battery for a crime,” said Gutierrez. Her attorney told the Bay Area Reporter that she is “confused” by Cabral’s decision to file criminal charges. “It’s confusing as to why Jewlyes is being further victimized when she’s the one who is already being harassed and tormented ... due to her gender identity and then to have adults
Jo-Lynn Otto
Trans student Jewlyes Gutierrez is facing battery charges after defending herself during a schoolyard fight.
subject her to the court system,” said Kaylie Simon, a public defender at the Contra Costa Public Defender’s Office who was assigned to Gutierrez’s case. “The district attorney’s office is supposed to represent the community and keep everyone safe regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,” added Simon, who hopes
Cabral will listen to the community. Gutierrez is scheduled for a pre-trial conference in juvenile court February 5. Simon is hopeful that Cabral will dismiss the case. Cabral isn’t speaking about his decision to charge Gutierrez or why no action was taken against the other students involved in the fight. He became angry when the B.A.R. asked if charges were going to be filed against the other girls. “I can’t speak about the case at all,” he said. The Transgender Law Center and the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network are among the organizations that have rallied to support Gutierrez. A change.org petition started by her sister has more than 120,000 supporters. Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D-Concord) this week sent a letter to Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson asking that the charges against Gutierrez be dismissed.
Bias at play?
The family, community members, and LGBT activists suspect bias is at play because of Gutierrez’s gender identity. Police reports from the November 13 incident are missing from the Hercules Police See page 2 >>
Tenant confab packs LGBT center
Rick Gerharter
Housing activist Gus Feldman fields suggestions from the audience at the Castro Tenants Convention as to how San Francisco needs to respond to the increasing cost and decreasing supply of affordable housing.
by David-Elijah Nahmod
A
packed house filled a large room at the LGBT Community Center last weekend as housing advocates and others talked about stemming the tide of evictions and developing more affordable housing. “Imagine 2,000 affordable units,” said Tom-
mi Avicolli Mecca with the Housing Rights Committee as he opened the convention. “Today we take our neighborhood back from the developers and predators.” The January 11 Castro Tenants Convention brought out an array of people who offered suggestions on the most effective ways to stop evictions and bring about more afford-
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able housing. With Housing Rights Committee staffer Fred Sherburn-Zimmer serving as moderator, Gus Feldman of District 8 Democrats wrote suggestions down on paper taped to the wall behind the podium. Issues raised included harassment of tenants by landlords, putting banners in front of buildings where Ellis Act evictions have occurred, and making all residential buildings in the City subject to rent control. Currently only buildings constructed prior to 1979 fall under rent control guidelines. Repealing the Ellis Act was mentioned a number of times. One attendee suggested that property be forfeited from landlords who break the law. The Ellis Act is a state law passed in 1985 that allows landlords to get out of the rental business by evicting tenants and, usually, selling the units as condos. Housing advocates have pointed out that many LGBT seniors, people with AIDS, and the disabled have lost their homes. One of the stated goals for the convention was to gather suggestions for a possible ballot measure in November. “If we are going to put a measure on the ballot in the fall, it should be one that not only changes tenants’ lives and stops the displacement, but not get thrown out in court immediately,” said Sherburn-Zimmer. One attendee identified herself as a tech worker and was supportive of the tenants. She See page 12 >>