In October of 1996 I had twelve 20" x 30" photographs showing with members of Visual
Aid, a local non-profit, in the temporary City Hall. At the time I had almost succumbed to
AIDS and to losing my eyesight. My work was a metaphor for survival. The photographs
were from the “Mrs. Vera’s Daybook” series, a body of work where my partner and I would
go on location to public areas and events here and abroad to document his visually
provocative character’s mundane activities. While on exhibit, a vandal took a sharp
instrument to the pictures, gouging out the eyes and slashing the faces and throats of
several images. A week later all twelve of the prints were vandalized again. The Mayor’s
Office and the Board of Supervisors sent apologies. The Art Commission sent a letter to
Visual Aid reminding them not to curate “controversial” work for any further City Hall
exhibits. A local production at New Conservatory Theatre happened to be using my
photos as part of their set. When they heard about the vandalism, they designated a
percentage of their weekly profit to help me replace the damaged work. I was struck by
the similarity of the vandalism, and the vulnerability of queer culture in public spaces.
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