William 'Bill' Longen dies
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'Getting There'
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Vol. 52 • No. 04 • January 26-February 1, 2023
‘Heartbroken’: Harvey’s closes after 27 years in apparent sign of the times by John Ferrannini
H Gavin Boston, who was killed January 4, was remembered by friends as a caring person.
Slain gay security guard ‘had little, and gave a lot’
by John Ferrannini
T
he friend of a gay Native American security guard who was shot and killed in San Francisco’s Japantown earlier this month remembered him as someone who “was always striving to make his dreams come true, and summoned the dreams of others without judgment.” The life of 40-year-old Gavin Boston was tragically cut short January 4 just after 5 p.m. at 1581 Webster Street in Japantown. His longtime friend Castle Russell, a nonbinary lesbian, reached out to the Bay Area Reporter to share more about who Boston was because they didn’t like people making comments on social media sharing “reactionary” sentiments. San Francisco police arrested a 15-yearold boy in connection with Boston’s death who was charged with suspicion of murder. His name has not been released, because of his age. He pleaded not guilty on January 9. A 14-year-old who did not appear in court that day was arrested on suspicion of accessory to murder. Police said the teenagers were in a dispute with Boston outside a collectibles shop in Japantown when the guard was fatally shot, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. While Boston was gay and Native American, “he was also straight passing and white passing, and as a result some people on the internet have used his death to fortify their racist and classist beliefs,” according to Russell. The two met in Orange County “before either of us moved to San Francisco,” Russell said, which was in early 2009. “Gavin came up to San Francisco because he – and I can’t speak entirely for him – but it was my understanding that he grew up in Northern California and left home at a very young age, like 15, to come to San Francisco to get away from a homophobic small town,” Russell said. See page 10 >>
Sari Staver
People walked in front of Harvey’s in the Castro Sunday, January 22, the day the restaurant and bar announced its closure.
“This is a huge loss for the neighborhood and I hope to see a new gay bar or restaurant open there soon,” Mandelman stated. “Rolling back the Castro’s ban on new bars last year was an important step toward helping new queer entrepreneurs gain a foothold in the community, and my office is working on getting in touch with the building’s owner to encourage See page 10 >>
soon as a new restaurant or bar. My office will be available to the laid off workers to help them obtain unemployment benefits.” Wiener’s current successor on the board, gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, stated that Harvey’s was “an anchor business and home to countless memories for so many Castro residents.”
California Justice Evans honored by East Bay attorney group by Cynthia Laird
“Justice Evans is one of the most friendly, unassuming, and down-to-earth people I’ve ever met,” said Alameda County Court Commissioner Bentrish Satarzadeh, a lesbian who was appointed to her position in 2018. “She really makes you feel like you’re the most important person in the room.” “She will do a great service to our state,” Satarzadeh added. Kristin Rosi, a lesbian who’s president of the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges, called Evans’ appointment “monumental.” “It’s monumental to have our first lesbian supreme court justice be a Black woman,” Rosi said. “She’s a role model for law students, lawyers, and judges throughout the country.” Rosi added that Evans is a member of the LGBTQ+ judges organization. Oakland attorney Casey Kaufman, a straight ally, said as a member of the trial lawyers association, he appreciated the diversity of the organization and of the area’s bench officers. “That’s why I come and that’s why I like this,” he said of the event. Jayme Walker, an ally who’s a past president of the trial lawyers association, echoed Kaufman’s comments.
B
oth women have been in their positions on the California Supreme Court for less than a month, but Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and Associate Justice Kelli Evans received standing ovations at the recent dinner of the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association. Guerrero, who previously served as an associate justice, was elevated by Governor Gavin Newsom last year due to the retirement of former chief justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye and sworn in January 2. The state’s first Latina chief justice, she delivered the evening’s keynote address. Evans, the first queer Black woman on the court, was nominated by Newsom to succeed Guerrero and was also sworn in that day. Evans had previously served as a judge on the Alameda County Superior Court and was honored by the trial lawyers as one of two judges of the year at the January 19 gala, held at Bloc 15, an event space near Jack London Square. Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Leslie Landau was the other judge of the year recipient. In a brief interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Evans said that her first couple of weeks on the high court has been “tremendous.”
Oasii Lucero/Courtesy ACCTLA
California Supreme Court Associate Justice Kelli Evans spoke at the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association dinner January 19.
“I’ve been learning about the court from an insider perspective,” she said, adding that she heard her first oral argument her first week. She said her judicial colleagues have been welcoming and are of the “highest caliber.” Attendees with whom the B.A.R. spoke praised Evans’ appointment.
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Courtesy Castle Russell
arvey’s, the LGBTQ bar and restaurant that welcomed tourists and regulars alike to the Castro for over a quarter century, abruptly closed its doors late Sunday, striking a blow to the queer neighborhood seeing more and more empty storefronts. The restaurant paid tribute to the late supervisor Harvey Milk, who promoted the neighborhood’s LGBTQ identity and forged its businesses together 50 years ago. Sitting at the key intersection of 18th and Castro streets, and containing much Milk memorabilia in addition to bearing his name, its closure was greeted as a sad milestone. Harvey’s will be hosting “One Last Night with Friends” Saturday, January 28, beginning at 4 p.m. and lasting “all night long,” to raise money for the now ex-staff members, former Harvey’s General Manager David Facer stated. The bar will be open and some food options may be available, supply pending. “Harvey’s is an iconic restaurant and location in the Castro,” stated gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who represented the Castro on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. “As a 25-year resident of the neighborhood, I’m heartbroken it’s closing and hope it’ll reopen
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“I’ve lost so much sleep ter thinking wher worr ying abou leave. I love e I might go. I don’t t it and this want to Yet Mooney city.” might have to leave if the efforts See page 12 >>
Report fl ags housi Castro, nei n ghboring g issues in commun ities
Rick Gerhar