Dozens "Die-In" at San Francisco ACT UP/Gay Shame Action in the Castro

Under a glorious California sun, more than 75 people gathered today at the crossroads of America's gayest neighborhood to commemorate the 20th anniversary of ACT UP's founding and first action.

After two months of non-stop volunteer organizing by a small handful of members of the newly-formed ACT UP/Bay Area and Gay Shame - A Virus in the System, a crowd of people with AIDS, affordable housing advocates, seniors on fixed incomes, universal health care proponents, including gays/lesbians/bisexuals/transgenders and our allies assembled at Castro and 18th Streets in San Francisco at noon to revive queer/AIDS street activism.

We stayed in front of the BofA building until 12:20 pm, when the crowd was estimated at 50 people. Our police negotiators were not able to secure permission from the five police officers assigned to monitor our action, so we marched up the sidewalk on Castro Street.

Led by gay youth holding a banner that read "Silence = Death, Action = Life. Welcome to the AIDS Eviction Capital. Health Care & Housing for All. ACT UP/Bay Area," we proceed up the street chanting "ACT UP, Fight Back, Fight AIDS!"

At Market Street we turned the corner and continued on to the front of the Coldwell Banker real estate office. Once there, we had more than 75 participants standing around.

We held a brief rally and a few people spoke about our local concerns; people w/AIDS and seniors forced from their homes in the Castro, real estate speculation, the need to get back in the streets, and national issues were also addressed; universal health care, affordable housing for all, money for AIDS and domestic needs, not Bush's wars.

Then everyone was asked to lie down "dead" on the sidewalk, which they did and our marshals drew colorful chalk outlines around their limp bodies.

The die-in lasted ten minutes and as people got up from the pavement, a chant went up: "People with AIDS under attack, what do we do? ACT UP! Fight back! Fight AIDS!"

From start to finish, the short march, speeches and die-in lasted an hour, and there were no arrests made by the cops.

All in all, I'd say the action was a success and heralds a renewed spirit of queer AIDS activism in the streets of San Francisco.

A big thank you to all who helped organize the die-in and much gratitude to everyone who showed up. We couldn't have done it without you!

And be sure to read Andres Duque's report from the NYC ACT UP action today. Click here for his coverage and great pix.

(Gay Shame members at Castro and 18th Streets, with our banner.)



(The cutest cub, and there were a few, at today's action. Should have taken a few more, crisper photos of him and his "ACTION = VIE" tee shirt.)

(Veteran activist of many causes, Tommi Avicolli Mecca, on the left, and Mary Ralowe of Gay Shame in her fabulous pink jacket and hat.)

(People lying "dead" on the sidewalk in front of the Coldwell Bank office on Market Street.)

(More "dead" people who died without health care or housing. Notice the Coldwell Banker sandwich board sign, and the chalk outlines around the bodies.)

(Former US Sailor, member of ACT UP/DC and Queer Nation/DC, all-round good guy and friend, Greg Scott. Super cute!)

Gay Shame Joins Act Up's March 29 SF Die-In At Castro Realtors

With queer activist pride, I'm happy to announce the members of Gay Shame - A Virus in the System, on their web site this week, made available their poster for their part of the March 29 action to mark the 20th anniversary of Act Up.

Gay Shame will lead an important mission later this month -- a walking caravan of people with HIV/AIDS, senior citizens, disabled people, low- and moderate-income workers, gays and lesbians and trangenders -- to Castro neighborhood realtors. The messages? Stop evictions, maintain and build affordable housing stock, and health care for all.

The caravan will end at a realtors' offices with a die-in, people laying the streets and on the sidewalks, pretending to be dead, taking place to dramatize that the AIDS crisis is not over!

Join us for the next planning meeting for the March 29 ACT UP and Gay Shame street action.

The meeting is on Thursday, March 22 starting at 6 pm, at the Three Dollar Bill Cafe, at the gay community center, 1800 Market Street.

Kudos to the Gay Shame crew for their immense contributions to the upcoming action, and big thanks to political artist Clinton Fein for the ACT UP chalk outline poster. Click here for downloadable versions of Fein's graphics. If I do say so myself, both flyers look wonderful on public spaces in the Castro, Mission and other areas of the city.

Visit Gay Shame - A Virus in the System at their home on the web.