SAN FRANCISCO, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors has unanimously voted to strip Castro Street of its long-designation as the city’s gay district.
The board decision came immediately after The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence announced that they have voted to suspend production of Pink Saturday, the annual street party that occurs on the eve of the Pride parade.
Concerns about safety have dogged the street festival, which draws thousands upon thousands of people each year. Similar concerns have previously led the city to cancel the annual Halloween party in the Castro.
“Now that two of the street festivals have been cancelled, there remains no reason to keep Castro’s gay designation, ” Supervisor Scott Wiener said. Wiener represents the Castro on the Board.
Wiener also announced that he will seek a board vote to permanently close the annual Castro Street Fair held in October.
The Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has protested the action by the Board of Supervisors, saying that it jeopardizes the advocacy group’s profitable business in the area. HRC maintains a retail store on Castro Street, selling t-shirts, gifts and paraphernalia bearing its equal sign logo.
There are rumors that LGBT activists will propose transferring the gay designation to the South of Market, site of the annual Folsom Street Fair.
Starting this weekend, the giant rainbow flag at the corner of Castro and Market Streets will be flown at half-mast to mark the end of an era in San Francisco’s colorful but tumultuous gay history.
