San Francisco's Castro neighborhood: A place of freedom for the LGBTQ+ community transformed by the AIDS crisis

In the late 1970s, San Francisco's Castro neighborhood was described as a place of freedom for the LGBTQ+ community. However, by the early 80s, the community was devastated by the AIDS crisis. At the height of the crisis, close to half of the city's gay men were dying, and there were limited treatments available. In the midst of this, a pastor named Jim Matulski, who served at the Metropolitan Community Church in the Castro, took a risk to provide comfort to his flock. He started distributing marijuana to AIDS patients in his church, as it helped alleviate symptoms and provided relief. Despite the risks and potential legal consequences, the ministry continued without arrests or harassment. This act of love and compassion demonstrated the power of community organizing and activism during a time of immense hardship.