writer and photographer
Matt Baume
mattymatt@gmail.com • 415-244-9943 • vCard
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  · Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
Eagle Tavern faces likely closure
Date:
04/14/2011
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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Over the last three decades, the Eagle Tavern at 12th and Harrison streets has provided a welcoming home for countless community fundraisers, musicians, drag acts, beer busts, and LGBT patrons. But there's one person who has seldom put in an appearance: property owner John Nikitopoulos. "He doesn't stop in," said Eagle co-owner John Gardiner, whose business rents the space from Nikitopoulos. "I've seen him twice. Maybe three times." That disconnect... [Read more...]

Fight over Ma rave bill turns cooperative
Date:
02/22/2011
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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In the span of just a few days, a group of entertainers, event promoters, and city officials have sprung into action to address safety problems at electronic music dance parties, prompted in large part by a surprise attempt by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) to ban a broad range of music events altogether. Ma's proposed legislation, known as Assembly Bill 74 or the Anti-Raves Act of 2011, would have... [Read more...]

EQCA honors trailblazers and looks to future
Date:
02/22/2011
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt

Equality California held its annual Equality Awards gala at San Francisco City Hall Saturday, February 12, honoring state Attorney General Kamala Harris and Alameda County Superior Court Judge Victoria Kolakowski. But this year, much of the conversation was devoted to Executive Director Geoff Kors's announcement that he will step down from his position at the end of March. "It's been fun," Kors told the Bay Area Reporter. "I still... [Read more...]

Dive In: Old Bars, New Scenes
Date:
12/30/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt

story and photos by Matt Baume The cozy ambiance of The Gangway What makes a dive bar divey? Is it the decor, the clientele, the prices, the paucity of decorative soaps in the gentlemen's room? Or maybe it's just a way of life. On a recent survey of bars reputed to be "dives," we found that their one common trait is an inclusive atmosphere that invites all comers and asks... [Read more...]

Planners pan banner ban
Date:
12/23/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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Supervisor Bevan Dufty wants to allow the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro to maintain rainbow banners on lamp posts along Market Street, but even in the Castro, rainbows face a labyrinth of bureaucracy, protest, and environmental review. The existing law allows banners to appear on Market Street lamp posts only within several days of a special event. Afterward, they must be promptly removed. But due to an apparent... [Read more...]

Castro gym to cut ties to Gold's
Date:
10/28/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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The owners of Gold's Gym in the Castro took action this week to distance themselves from a Texas billionaire whose company licenses the Gold's Gym brand name and has given millions to conservative outside political groups. The controversy erupted last week when Federal Election Commission filings showed that businessman Robert Rowling donated $2.5 million to a conservative organization called American Crossroads, as well as an additional $2,341,880.38 from his... [Read more...]

New health care law addresses LGBT needs
Date:
09/30/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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Six months after the passage of health care reform, big changes are under way for the ways that LGBTs access health care. With lower costs and expanded protections on the horizon, the LGBT Community Center hosted a forum Monday to explain the ways that health care has already changed and may shift in the months and years ahead. Hosted by Dan Gould, director of the California LGBT Health and... [Read more...]

Politics and leather a natural alliance in SF
Date:
09/23/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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There may be no better example of San Francisco's priorities than the city's giddy anticipation of two upcoming events: the November elections and this Sunday's 27th annual Folsom Street Fair.The city's long-established leather community tends to enjoy a strong relationship with city government."There have certainly been a lot of people at various appointed positions who identify as leather folks," said Gayle Rubin, an anthropologist and LGBT historian whose doctoral dissertation... [Read more...]

SF humanitarian leaves country to join partner
Date:
09/09/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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Jerry Abrams didn't want to leave San Francisco. But when the United States denied a visa to his Pakistani partner, the retired IBM employee was forced to relocate to South Africa last month, where immigration law recognizes same-sex couples.Abrams met his partner Miel online about four years ago."We started e-mailing each other, and then chatting by phone, and I was encouraged by a friend to go visit him," Abrams told... [Read more...]

Audience thrilled at Peaches' Showgirls screening
Date:
08/17/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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It was pandemonium at the Castro Theatre Saturday night as drag celebrity Peaches Christ unleashed a hundred lap dancers on a screaming audience. The occasion was the 15th anniversary screening of Showgirls , the bizarre 1995 Paul Verhoeven film in which Saved By The Bell's Elizabeth Berkley plays Nomi Malone, an aspiring dancer who flails her way to infamy as a Las Vegas showgirl. "It's definitely one of those... [Read more...]

Anti-gay donation may dampen Target's welcome in San Francisco
Date:
08/05/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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Attempts to open two Target stores in San Francisco may have hit a roadblock in the form of the company's support for an anti-gay politician. Target gave $150,000 to Minnesota Forward, an independent expenditure committee backing Republican Tom Emmer for Minnesota governor. Emmer, a state representative, authored a proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality, and has promoted the work of a religious rock band whose frontman described countries... [Read more...]

Prop 8 ruling met with tears, dancing, and resolve
Date:
08/05/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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A jubilant crowd took to the streets in San Francisco on Wednesday night to cheer Chief U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's decision that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, addressed a crowd of around 800 people from the steps of City Hall. "The last time I stood on these steps, we were in pain because Prop 8 had just... [Read more...]

Police seek public's help after Pink Saturday fatal shooting
Date:
07/13/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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Responding to several violent incidents that occurred during Pride weekend, local leaders and police this week appealed to the LGBT community for help in combating crime. This year's Pride was marred by a shooting at the Pink Saturday street party in the Castro that left one man dead and two others wounded, a late-night assault against a former Mr. San Francisco Leather title holder, and a confrontation caught on... [Read more...]

Puff Luck: Smoking Patios Stay in Bars, For Now
Date:
07/01/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
· Writing  » Topic  » science
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An Eagle Tavern patron at a recent cigar event. Photo: RichStadtmiller The open-air patios at Castro-area bars like The Pilsner and The Mix are great places to catch a little sun, meet up with friends, pick up a phone number or two ... and if you smoke, maybe develop a little erectile dysfunction. Although the health consequences of smoking are well known, LGBTs are 40 to 70 percent more... [Read more...]

Shooting stuns Castro
Date:
06/30/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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Bevan Dufty was standing near the main stage at Pink Saturday when he saw the crowd suddenly turn and run. He instantly recognized what had just happened. "San Francisco has a homicide problem," the openly gay District 8 supervisor told the Bay Area Reporter. "The city has worked mightily to address it, and homicide has reduced significantly last year. But it hasn't gone away. And that problem came to... [Read more...]

Etiquette guru offers tips for Pride celebrations
Date:
06/24/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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Gay etiquette expert Steven Petrow has an important message for San Francisco Pride celebrants. "Share your water and sunscreen," he urged, "don't blow a whistle in someone's ear," and, if you're marching alongside a float, "don't hold up the parade to cruise someone on the sidelines, unless you're a very talented homosexual and can march and flirt at the same time." In the 15 years since he wrote The... [Read more...]

Milk Club dinner celebrates progressive politics
Date:
06/02/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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This year the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club's dinner marked a milestone: the first official statewide holiday in recognition of their club's namesake. But the club's 32nd annual dinner, attended last week at the Hotel Whitcomb by the leftmost members of the city's political community, was also a time to observe the organization's role in a wide range of progressive issues. "We're one of the few groups that connects... [Read more...]

Pressure mounts to pass ENDA
Date:
05/20/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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It's been 16 years since the Employment Non-Discrimination Act was first introduced in Congress, and according to organizers of a Tuesday rally at Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco office, it's closer than ever to being finally passed. Braving wind and a light rain, a crowd of about 100 gathered to call for a vote on ENDA. According to media reports this week, Pelosi promised LGBT leaders on Monday that... [Read more...]

Workshop to guide LGBT couples through separation
Date:
05/05/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
· Writing  » Topic  » science
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Confronting the end of a relationship is difficult enough, but for same-sex couples, the legal and emotional obstacles can be magnified. Overcoming those obstacles is the focus of "Separating with Heart and Smarts: LGBTQ Separation, Divorce, and Alternative Dispute Resolution." The free two-part workshop takes place at the LGBT Community Center in May and June. Organized by Our Family Coalition with support from First 5 and the San Francisco Department... [Read more...]

D8 candidates mingle at LGBT brunch
Date:
04/29/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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Professional networking and hors d'oeuvres drew an estimated 210 LGBT professionals to a political brunch at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 24, including several candidates for District 8 supervisor. The event, organized by dot429 and Equality California, was a chance to provide local LGBT politicians an opportunity to meet and mingle with their community. Founded approximately a year ago, dot429 facilitates face-to-face networking among LGBT... [Read more...]

EQCA roundtable evaluates marriage messaging
Date:
04/14/2010
Category:
· Writing  » News Coverage  » Bay Area Reporter
· Writing  » Topic  » lgbt
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Equality California's efforts to fine-tune its voter outreach continued last Thursday night at the LGBT Community Center, with marriage director Marc Solomon seeking community members' opinions on the future of marriage campaigns. In an informal chat, Solomon presented new research confirming that personal stories and one-on-one conversations are the most effective methods of moving public opinion in favor of marriage equality. The research was compiled earlier this year by EQCA... [Read more...]