Tag Archives: LGBT

2014 HALLOWEEN IN THE CASTRO CANCELLED; FEW HAVE SIGNED UP FOR GAY REGISTRY

October 11, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

San Francisco, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Last year, The Adobo Chronicles reported that Halloween in the Castro is set to return in 2014 with certain restrictions.

The City and County of San Francisco and the sponsors of the event, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, agreed that only certified gay men and women will be allowed entry into the October 31st street festival. This was aimed at weeding out straight revelers who were said to be responsible for stabbing and shooting incidents in the past.

As part of the agreement, members of the LGBTQ community will have to register with San Francisco’s City Hall and be included in a “gay registry.” Registrants, who will take an oath admitting that they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning, will be issued special identification cards linked to the official registry. The IDs will be the only accepted pass to gain entry to the Halloween event. ID’s will be scanned at entrances to the event to confirm that individuals are listed in the official registry.

The registration period began on October 1, 2013 and ends on October 30, 2014. However, as of today, City Hall is reporting that only 180 people have signed up for the gay registry. “This number is not sufficient to justify street closures on Halloween night,” said Scott Wiener, who represents the Castro District on the Board of Supervisors. “We therefore have no choice but to cancel the event.”

Sister Mary Clarence of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence has no logical explanation for the low number of sign-ups for the gay registry. “I can only speculate that many baby boomer LGBTs no longer enjoy gay-themed Halloween parties, or that the younger generation of LGBTs are choosing to stay or get back in the closet,” she said.

A Castro resident who spoke on condition of anonymity thinks that with recent progress in marriage equality and LGBT rights, people in our community no longer feel the need for a separate Halloween celebration.

Business, Food, LGBT, Politics

FILIPINO AMERICAN LGBTs PROTEST NEW ‘HECHO’ NAME OF FORMER BANDIDOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT

September 13, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

San Francisco, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Yesterday, The Adobo Chronicles reported that the newly-opened Mexican restaurant in the Castro changed its name from Bandidos to Hecho.

The name change came after a small group of Latino Americans headed by openly-gay Latina comedian Marga Gómez protested the name Bandidos which they said was offensive to Mexican Americans. It is a Spanish word for “criminal” or “outlaw.”

Well, the name change didn’t put an end to the controversy. Now a group of Filipino Americans living and working in the Castro is protesting the new name. In Tagalog slang, the plural of Hecho sounds too close to a Filipino term, echos, which means “lie.” When someone is called echosero or echosera, it means he or she is a liar.

“We are thrilled that a new Mexican restaurant has opened in the Castro,” the group said, “especially because Mexican cuisine is similar in many ways to Filipino food. But to name the restaurant Hecho is offensive to us, Pinoys (slang for Filipino).

The group is headed by openly-gay Filipino American actor and comedian Alec Mapa, a San Francisco native. It is scheduled to meet with Hecho’s owners early next week.

Will Bandidos, a.k.a. Hecho change its name yet again? How about just “The Mexican Restaurant?”

Business, LGBT, Politics

SAN FRANCISCO LATINO GROUP WANTS TO CHANGE THE NAME OF CASTRO STREET

September 12, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

San Francisco, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Openly-lesbian Latina comedian Marga Gómez is one happy camper these days. Last week, she spearheaded a protest against the owners of a new Mexican restaurant in the Castro named Bandidos. Her group claimed that the name is offensive to Mexicans and Mexican Americans. It is a Spanish term for “outlaw” or “criminal.” Gómez, who is of Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage, demanded that the owners change the name of the restaurant. Today, the owners announced they were changing the name to Hecho, a Spanish term that means “made,” as in “made in the U.S.A.”

Feeling energized by her ‘victory,’ Gómez has started a new petition and protest. This time she wants the City and County of San Francisco to change the name of Castro Street. Nevermind that the street was named after Jose Castro, leader of Mexican opposition to U.S. rule in the 19th century. “The name has nothing to do with the LGBT community,” Gómez said.

Speaking to local media today, including The Adobo Chronicles, Gómez admitted that the real reason for her protest is that the street name reminds her of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. “As a Cuban American, and as a lesbian, I want a steet name that is more reflective of my sexual, political and racial identity,” she said. “I am no fan of Fidel.”

Gómez said she plans to meet with County Supervisor Scott Wiener who represents the 8th district which includes the Castro. She also plans to do a one-woman show at the Castro Theatre next month to help raise funds to finance the name change petition.