Additional information
by Strange de Jim (Author)
Nestled in the Eureka Valley area, the Castro is arguably the most well-known of San Francisco's neighborhoods, having been the epicenter of the gay rights movement since the 1970s. This new collection of photographs shows the area's growth from a smattering of Victorian houses built for working-class families in the 1870s to the flood of young gay men who settled in the neighborhood during the 1970s. This influx transformed the area and led to the rise of Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person elected to a major public office. This book also chronicles the 1978 assassination of Milk and Mayor George Moscone, the subsequent riots, and the effects of AIDS on the community in the 1980s and 1990s. Ultimately, these stirring images bear witness to the resilience of the Castro today.
Author Biography
Strange de Jim has lived in the Castro since 1979 and has contributed hundreds of items to local icon Herb Caen's column in the San Francisco Chronicle. He now contributes regularly to Bruce Bellingham's column in the San Francisco Examiner. In this new work, de Jim has gathered over 200 photographs from the people and businesses of the Castro District to create a striking visual history of this unique community.
