  


2


Those funny funny gays New gay and lesbian comedy troupe spreads laughter in La Mesa, of all places.


3


Fired and set free Former FBI agent recalls his termination and the ground- breaking lawsuit that changed the bureau’s policy for others.


9


Argentina lovin’ the gays Our witty scribe Leslie Robin- son offers her take on Argen- tina’s legalization of same-sex marriage.


17


Mexican food sans fanfare Since opening a year ago, Huapangos has sparked a welcome trend.


INDEX


LETTERS/EDITORIAL……………4 LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS…………6 FINDING SOLACE………………7 ADVICE FROM THE BEYOND……10 DINING……………………16 FILM………………………17 SPORTS……………………18 FITNESS……………………19


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Editorial/Letters 619-519-7775 ext 102 pat@sduptownnews.com


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Protracted Protest


Ramon Sandoval at his apartment complex, owned by Townspeople. (David Harvey/GSD)


Organization provides housing for HIV/AIDS population


By David Harvey | GSD Reporter After being diagnosed with HIV


in 2001, Ramon Sandoval spent patch- es of the next six years on the streets, struggling with health issues, anxi- ety, depression and drug addiction. Sandoval characterized himself


as a functional meth user. Though he maintained a job and, often, a place to live, he was in and out of the doctor’s office and emergency room with stress-related illnesses, fatigue, de- pression and respiratory problems. After Sandoval quit using meth,


Largely pro-union protestors took part in a demonstration outside Andaz San Diego (formerly the Ivy Hotel) on July 22 in downtown San Diego. The action fell close to the two-year anniversary of the first protest of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, in response to its owner’s $125,000 donation to Proposition 8. (Pat Sherman/GSD)


BOYCOTT THE MAN OR THE BRAND?


Despite divestment of majority interest in downtown hotel, some say Doug Manchester is still tarnishing Hyatt’s image


By Margie M. Palmer | GSD Reporter Local hotel magnate Doug


Manchester is divesting himself of his controlling interest in the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel,


though the protest against him and the boycott of Hyatt Corpora- tion continued July 22, just as San Diego’s behemoth Comic-Con convention was getting underway. Protests at Manchester Grand


Hyatt in downtown San Diego began two years ago, after it was discovered that Manchester gave $125,000 to help qualify Proposi-


see Hyatt, pg 5


Center staff says move will reduce rent, not services LGBT youth center relocating to


smaller, more affordable digs By Pat Sherman | GSD Editor After a decade at its current location


at 3777 4th Avenue, the Hillcrest Youth Center (HYC) will moved to a smaller, more affordable space at the intersec- tion of Park Boulevard and Robinson Avenue Aug. 18. The relocation will reduce the


monthly rent by more than 50 percent, from about $4,060 to $1,660.


However, saving money in a down


economy wasn’t the only consideration behind the move, said Delores Jacobs, executive director of the LGBT Com- munity Center, which operates the drop-in center for LGBTQ and HIV- positive youth ages 14 to 18. HYC’s current 3,000-square-foot


building only includes about 1,800 square feet of usable space, Jacobs


see HYC, pg 15


a caseworker with San Diego Fam- ily Health Centers helped him find an apartment on 51st Street in City Heights. The small studio apart- ment—large enough for a queen size bed, a small dresser and a cramped kitchen--initially coast Sandoval $575. Today—due to prolonged unemploy- ment—he pays just $350 for the same apartment. The apartment is owned by Townspeople, a non-profit orga- nization dedicated to housing low- income individuals and the homeless who have tested positive for HIV. Today, Sandoval volunteers as a


peer advocate and makes an effort to get his fellow residents more in- volved in their community, which he said helps to curb the depression and anxiety of living with HIV. “It’s been very rewarding for


me; I feel more comfortable, confi- dent,” he said. “Being engaged with the agencies and the [Townspeople]


see Housing, pg 5


15-16 Theatre


VOLUME 1 :: ISSUE 4 | JULY 30 - AUGUST 12, 2010 | WWW.GAY-SD.COM


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