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Content about Geography of California

May 8, 2013
Beverly Hills Hotel responds to accusation they are owned by homophobes

Hotel spokesperson says Brunei government owners do not effect their policies, but protest organizer says that's not the point

The Beverly Hills Hotel has responded to the accusation that they are owned by the anti-gay government of Brunei.

'There are dozens of countries with laws not as progressive as the United States or the state of California, and extreme conservative religious and rigid forms of law exist in many nations around the world,' said a statement from Leslie Lefkowitz, spokesperson for the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air.

May 8, 2013
I left my heart in San Francisco

Is the City by the Bay still a queer travel rite of passage in 2013? The short answer: of course!

Forget LA – for a certain type of traveller, San Francisco IS California. And by ‘certain type of traveller’, we don’t just mean the gay ones. Consider the top three activities on any respectable San Francisco to-do list: they aren't exactly sexuality-specific.

April 30, 2013
US union takes on Asian LGBT activists fight against Brunei

Union in California takes on Asian fight against anti-gay practices in Brunei, by picketing Brunei-owned Beverly Hills Hotel

A union on the other side of the world has taken on the fight of LGBT activists in Asia who were excluded from a meeting in Brunei last week.

US-based hospitality union Unite Here were alerted to the exclusion of LGBT groups from an ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) conference by a Gay Star News report.

March 28, 2013
Gay marriage supporters surprised by free meals from a California Chick-fil-A

Chain's president  famously anti-gay marriage, contributed millions to fight it

A group of pro-marriage demonstrators in Southern California got a pleasant surprise this week: coupons for free food at a nearby Chick-fil-A.

In advance of the US Supreme Court's historic hearings on gay marriage, the group was demonstrating at an intersection just outside the Victoria Gateway Center in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

They were surprised when Corey Braun, owner of the Chick-fil-A franchise inside the center approached them with coupons for free meals.

December 2, 2012
Tales of San Francisco

After two days in San Francisco, GSN falls in love all over again

I first fell in love with the idea of San Francisco while reading Armistead Maupin’s iconic Tales of the City series.

Originally serialized in the San Francisco Chronicle, the first of the Tales of the City novels was published in 1978 and, through the portrayal of characters such as Mary Ann Singleton, Anna Madrigal, and Michael Tolliver, captured a time, a world, and a sprit that was so far removed from my experience that it seemed almost magical.

November 21, 2012
Gay capital San Francisco backs ban on public nudity

The bill will have to pass a second reading in January and to be signed by the mayor, but the ban is already valid

San Francisco has banned public nudity, with the Board of Supervivors voting six to five in favor of prohibiting the showing of male and female genitalia.

Yesterday’s (20 November) vote will have to pass a second reading in January 2013, but commentators predict that the bill will be rubber-stamped. However, the ban has already come into force.

Nudists in San Francisco are called ‘the naked guys’ and are very popular in the Castro district, San Francisco’s gay neighborhood.

According to the city’s supervisors, public nudity will be subject to fines.

November 8, 2012
California's Mark Takano is first openly gay person of color to be elected to US Congress

But he downplays significance of his race and sexual orientation

California's Mark Takano who not only won a seat in the US House of Representatives this week, he also made history.

Takano, a Democrat, is the first openly gay person of color to be elected to the congress. He beat Republican candidate John Tavaglione in the race to represent California’s newly created 41st congressional district which covers Riverside, Moreno Valley, Perris and Jurupa Valley.

A public school teacher for 23 years, the Japanese-American had twice before run unsuccessfully for congress in 1992 and 1994.

November 3, 2012
GLBT History Museum in San Francisco's Castro District reopens after being vandalized

Two shattered large plate glass windows replaced thanks to donations

New large plate glass windows were installed at The GLBT History Museum in San Francisco on Friday (2 November), four days after vandals had struck the building in the city's Castro District.

The museum is often referred to as San Francisco's 'queer Smithsonian' and is the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of its kind in the United States.

It was closed for a day then reopened earlier this week with boards covering the window area.

October 15, 2012
AIDS Walk LA founder blasts city of Santa Monica over bus advertising ban of non-profits

Craig Miller says ban is same kind of government 'inaction' and 'censorship' that contributed to epidemic

AIDS Walk Los Angeles founder and producer Craig Miller had a captive audience of about 30,000 people on Sunday and he wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass him by.

Miller, who founded the walk 28 years ago to raise money for AIDS Project Los Angeles and other area AIDS services organizations, finds himself at war with the city of Santa Monica.

Miller is furious that Santa Monica enacted a policy last month that banned advertisements by non-profit organizations like APLA on the Big Blue Bus, the city’s municipal bus line.

September 14, 2012
Former pro wrestler and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura defends gay marriage

'Love is by far bigger than government can ever be'

Jesse Ventura is urging voters in Minnesota, the state where he was once  governor, to defeat a November ballot measure that seeks to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.

The former pro wrestling superstar and his wife of 37 years, Terry Ventura, speak eloquently in support of gay marriage in a video posted on YouTube by Minnesotans United for All Families.

August 29, 2012
Another high profile Prop 8 backer arrested

Another campaigner for the outlawing of same-sex marriage in California has been charged by police for committing a crime

A second high profile campaigner for the Proposition 8 ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage in the US state of California has been arrested and charged with a crime this month.

Earlier this week a key fundraiser for the effort was charged with molesting young boys over a 30 year period.

June 29, 2012
Summer fun in gay San Francisco

The gay mecca of the USA will host an overwhelming number of events for the entire LGBT community over the summer, ranging from small parades to major galas

Over two months of events are to take place in the California city this summer, hosted by the ‘First Lady of San Francisco’, Donna Sachet.

Sachet has over 20 years experience in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community meaning something for everyone will be available at this year’s summer festivities.

February 21, 2012
Surfers, shoreline and style at Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay and Pescadero make a perfect getaway from San Francisco, with stunning scenery, great food and hippy goats

If you are holidaying in San Francisco and fancy getting out of the city for a few days, join the discerning local gay population who weekend in Half Moon Bay and Pescadero.