SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — A Care2 petition is asking San Francisco to rename Myrtle St. in the Tenderloin after Bubbles, beloved LGBTQ DJ and nightlife personality who was fatally shot in the Tenderloin Saturday. The petition has gathered over 700 signatures.
Bubbles, aka Anthony Torres, was fatally shot Saturday morning at around 3 a.m. on the corner of Larkin and Myrtle streets.
Many San Franciscans took to social media to mourn, filling Bubbles’ Facebook page with videos and photos of moments they had shared with him.
“I have talked to San Franciscans who say Bubbles was a welcoming, loving, and beautiful person. They say he embodied San Francisco’s ethos: be whoever you want to be,” writes Care2 petition author and San Francisco resident Julie Mastrine. “Many have said they would love to see Bubbles memorialized by the city in some way: perhaps by renaming Myrtle St. in the Tenderloin to Bubbles St.”
Torres told The San Francisco Chronicle in 2012 that his character Bubbles was an escape.
“In San Francisco you can get away with doing this. It’s an escape from every mundane day, and San Francisco allows me to do that,” he said in a profile for The City Exposed feature. “Bubbles is like a toy, in a way.”
Many have left comments of support next to their signatures:
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“Bubbles was an icon in this city in so many realms. The house music and night life [sic] scene, the art scene, he was an activist, and he was a bright shining star who did not deserve to go out the way he did. He had a beautiful heart and somewhat of a tortured soul and I hope he can see how much he was loved and how much we are all going to miss him. Naming a street after him would be such an amazing tribute, and he does deserve that.” – J P.
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“The senseless murder of a San Francisco icon happened in my neiborhood. [sic] I drove by the aftermath not knowing who was killed but feeling deflected either way that the place I live is unsafe. Finding out if was a friend devastated me. This is the least we can do to honor our friend and a true sf character full of life and love.” – Jocelyn H.
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“Because he was murdered and he was an artist and he continued to make SF weird and accepting of all walks of life.” – gabriella m.
In addition to naming it bubbles street a fabulous big mural of him on the nearest wall.