AIDS Health Fdtn Recruiting SF Patient via Postcards

Let's look at the snail-mail postcard campaign that hit many LGBT and straight mailboxes this weekend from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The image above is the front of the postcard Mike and I received in Saturday's postal mail delivery.

The back of the postcard features info about services offered along with the days and times the health center is open.

How huge was the revenue figure raked in last year by Michael Weinstein's behemoth AHF? It was $514,000,000 according to their latest IRS 990 filing. They have an incentive to sign up new clients for their various offerings of medical care to keep insurance and other dollars flowing to the organization, is the cynical take.

However, the upside of a new healthcare facility in the Castro is that for the expanded number of area LGBT residents who aren't in care now, they have another option to receive medical services and maintain sexual-health wellness.

I think it's been a full decade since Weinstein and his Los Angeles based nonprofit decided to penetrate the San Francisco AIDS community and lucrative HIV medical delivery market, opening thrift stores with testing on-site, then direct medical care and patient advocacy services and ruffling plenty of feathers of local longtime peacock groups.

For all the years they've had operations in the city, AHF simply hasn't developed good relations with establish groups or grassroots advocates particularly prevention workers and HIV negative dudes taking Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis. Will the new facility and outreach effort improve AHF's relationship with locals?

Neither Mike nor I can recall ever receiving a postal mail pitch like this regarding HIV testing and primary care services. Let us know if another nonprofit has ever used postcards to drum up AIDS business in San Francisco.

Bono & BofA Begging for HIV Bucks in the Castro

The acronym WAD, for many HIV organizations and corporations looking to increase their revenue or brand awareness, stands for World AIDS Dollars. Technically speaking, WAD equals World AIDS Day every December 1st, but it's increasingly nothing more than a marketing tool of little benefit to people living with AIDS or those at risk-of contracting HIV.

A perfect example of how this can be found in San Francisco Castro's district at the LGBT crossroads of Castro and 18th Streets, in the windows of the Bank of America.

This financial institution, with billions in profits, has partnered with U2 musician Bono and his RED organization that works on international HIV efforts, for the Turn Your Miles (RED) fundraising project.

Here's how BofA describes this PR, er, philanthropic endeavor:

From October 12 until December 7, 2014, for every mile, up to a weekly cap published at NIKE.COM/ONESTEP4RED, recorded on Nike+ Running as part of the Turn Your Miles (RED) pledge program Bank of America Corporation will donate $.40 to the U.S. Fund for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to support and fund prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, up to a total maximum donation of $1,000,000.

BofA is probably spending at least one million dollars on its feel-good PR campaign and could easily drop a few million bucks into Bono's charity's coffers without any problem.

If you want to help a homeless person with HIV or any individual living on San Francisco's streets, as the holiday season begins and we approach World AIDS Day, skip giving any money to Bono or BofA.

Instead, drop some green bills into the hands of the homeless folks on the streets of the Castro, trying to survive the winter and keep warm and food in their stomachs.

Armistead Maupin, Scott Wiener & Me on Castro Street 
By Michael Petrelis
 

While out campaigning on Castro Street near Walgreens at approximately 3:30 pm on Saturday, October 11, I ran into "Tales of The City" author Armistead Maupin with whom I am acquainted because of my decades of HIV and LGBT activism.

When I asked for his endorsement in the District 8 race for Supervisor, Armistead said his policy is not to endorse any candidate.

But when I requested a photo of us together, he readily agreed to pose for my camera and we stopped a young woman walking by to snap a picture of us two happy homosexuals.

Barely a minute after we checked the images on my camera, none other than the incumbent, Scott Wiener, came striding up Castro Street and for perhaps two or three seconds we looked at each other.

He kept on walking up toward Market Street, Armistead and I finished our conversation, and I resumed campaigning giving out cards and buttons.

You never know who will cross your path when you're on the streets of District 8 soliciting votes and pushing visibility for the #VotePetrelis effort!

ACT UP Vets Mark Castro Sweep Via Protest Songs
By Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis

Members of the original ACT UP/San Francisco chapter who were present at the October 6, 1989, Castro Sweep twenty-five year ago marked the anniversary with a one-hour vigil and singing of protest songs on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Francis Collins, who's at many a progressive protest with his guitar adding music to demonstrations, and Dennis McMillan, alias Sister Dana Van Iquity of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, spoke at Castro and 18th Streets about the SFPD roughing up LGBT and HIV activists to the point of leaving them bloody and harmed.

The vigil commemorated the Castro Sweep and also delivered visual solidarity with the Yes on G ballot prop, the anti-speculation tax that will protect renters if passed, and the #VotePetrelis candidacy.

Dean Oullette was a member of ACT UP/New York and he used a Sharpie and large piece of cardboard to spell out why we gathered in the gayborhood last night.

A gay couple and their pooch came to the vigil to get #VotePetrelis signs and let us know they're voting for Petrelis. They allowed Petrelis to pose with their adorable little dog.

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the vigil and to Bill Wilson for snapping the great photos.

Oct 6 Vigil to Mark 'Castro Sweep's' 25th Anniversary
By Todd Swindell and Michael Petrelis
(Cross-posted from the ‪#‎VotePetrelis‬ campaign site.)

In the annals of bloody misconduct by members of the San Francisco Police Department, the events of October 6, 1989, and the Castro Sweep ranks high on anyone's list.

It was a national day of protest organized by people with HIV/AIDS and our allies for access to drugs and more government funding, and before the night was over the SFPD had harmed and bloodied many LGBT and poz people with dozens arrested.

For a short and comprehensive look back at what transpired during the Castro Sweep exactly 25 years ago, check out this page with eyewitness accounts, photographs and a video: tinyurl.com/Castro-Sweep-25-years-ago.

Here's how the #VotePetrelis team will commemorate the important 25th anniversary of the Castro Sweep:

WHAT: Vigil & Speakout
WHEN: Monday, October 6th
TIME: 6 pm to 7 pm
WHERE: Castro & 18th Streets

We'll be out that night to remind everyone of contemporary concerns such as the fatal shooting of Alex Nieto by the SFPD, the gentrification of District 8 and eviction epidemic, lack of affordable housing for low income people and artists, the dwindling diversity of the Castro, harassment of homeless and poor people, and the negative impacts of Google buses clogging our streets

The Castro Sweep was big news among gay and AIDS activists, and to assist the survivors of the police assaults with their legal and medical bills, tee shirts were marketed reading:

"My domestic partner went to the Castro, and all I got was this bloody t-shirt. Night of Resistance, October 6, 1989."

This photo and activist apparel courtesy of the GLBT Historical Society.