Castro resident Sean Ray, 42, was on his way home after taking part in the Pink Saturday festivities, June 25, when he found a gaggle of youths on his apartment steps. After a minor verbal dustup between the two parties, Ray was reportedly beaten and kicked by the ragtag group. more ›

In an effort to curb violence at the Pink Saturday festival in the Castro, the city has banned booze at the annual precursor to the Pride Parade. Last year, if you recall, a 19-year-old male was killed and two others injured at Market and Castro by a gunman more ›

Local homosexual newspaper The Bay Area Reporter reports that the District 8 (The Castro!) candidates, each one of them, promise an intact Pink Saturday for 2011. Even after this year's typically fey fete played host to the shooting death of 19-year-old Stephen Powell. more ›

Man who allegedly shot and killed 19-year-old Stephen Powell identified by SFPD. more ›

Good news for the gays: Negotiations between the police and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence moved forward last week and after agreeing to a reduction in the number of beer concessions (from 8 to 5), the two parties came to an agreement about Pink Saturday in the Castro. This follows on our earlier report about cops not wanting to agree to beer concessions at all outside of beer gardens, and the Sisters threatening to back out of the event altogether. Pink Saturday, for those who don't know, is the annual drunken block party that happens the Saturday night before Gay Pride on Castro Street, following the Dyke March. This will be the first year it features actual beer concessions, as well as DJs, a "Dyke Landing" and "Fairy Freedom Village," and a performance stage sponsored by 92.7. more ›

Much like the aforementioned heterosexual pride parade of Bay2Breakers, and the dirtier street fair known as Dore Alley, this year's Gay Pride Eve celebration in the Castro is facing some possible restriction from the SFPD, and may face cancellation altogether. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the organizers of Pink Saturday for the last decade or so, have been trying to negotiate with police and the city in order to expand the footprint of the festivities down Market Street and to add beer concessions and more live entertainment -- making it more of a nighttime version of Castro Street Fair. Bar owners, who know there'll be tons of people in the neighborhood, have no objection and welcome the Sisters efforts to corral the situation. more ›