April 14, 2011 edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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A look back at gay jocks

UAFA introduced today

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10

San Francisco Ballet moves

The

www.ebar.com

Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971

HIV STUDY: 76% DROP IN CASES WITH EXPANDED CARE

Vol. 41 • No. 15 • April 14-20, 2011

The Eagle's last call?

See page 3 >>

by Seth Hemmelgarn

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by Matthew S. Bajko

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ew HIV infections among gay and bisexual men in San Francisco could fall 76 percent over the next five years due to the city’s push to test people for the Rick Gerharter virus and advice that those infected begin Dr. Diane Havlir taking antiretroviral therapy regardless of their CD4 T-cell count, say UCSF researchers.

The finding is the result of a study conducted by Edwin Charlebois, MPH Ph.D., an associate professor of medicine at UCSF, and colleagues to be published in the April 15 issue of Clinical Infections Diseases.

“By expanding when we start antiretroviral therapy to people already in care we can have a significant impact on the HIV epidemic here in San Francisco,” Charlebois told the Bay Area Reporter in a phone interview.

Last year the UCSF Division of HIV/AIDS at San Francisco General Hospital became the first clinical practice in the country to recommend treatment upon diagnosis to all of its HIV-infected patients. The San Francisco Department of Public Health also adopted the policy, which was not without controversy.

Some AIDS doctors, people living with HIV, and activists question the need for HIVpositive people to immediately begin taking the drugs. Federal guidelines recommend that HIV-positive people begin treatment when their CD4 T-cell count falls below 500.

Advocates of the treatment policy say it not only benefits HIV-positive patients, whose major organs would otherwise be under attack by the virus, but also has community benefits. As the B.A.R. reported last month, local epidemiologists point out that the policy helps to suppress people’s viral loads, and that in turn, reduces their chances of transmitting HIV to sexual partners.

“Recent evidence has shown that ART reduces the probability to pass HIV infection on to another person. It is dramatically lowered if not eliminated,” said Charlebois, who is also the co-director of methods core at the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies See page 12 >>

Pride gets ED, loses 3 on board

Matt Baume

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lendon Hyde addresses the crowd that attended a meeting Monday at the Eagle Tavern to discuss the pending sale of the longtime gay bar. Long a fix-

ture in the San Francisco leather community, the bar’s closure would leave the South of Market area without one of its signature gay-owned businesses.

Crowd on hand for paper’s 40th

he San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee this week brought in an interim executive director and new treasurer.

But in the wake of three board members resigning from the Rick Gerharter organization that runs Former board the city’s Pride Parade co-chair Alex and festival, two out city Randolph leaders are saying that the organization should merge with another group.

Despite Pride’s continuing string of leadership and financial troubles, those involved – including See page 13 >>

New study: Gays are 3.5% of U.S. population

by Lisa Keen

Georg Lester

B.A.R. contributor Liz Highleyman, right, prepares to take a picture of photographer Rick Gerharter as he gets a piece of cake at the Toad Hall party.

by Cynthia Laird

A

crowd of well-wishers turned out at Toad Hall Saturday, April 9 to help the Bay Area Reporter celebrate its 40th anniversary. Publisher Thomas E. Horn thanked the paper’s staff and contributors for their work. He also thanked the paper’s loyal readers and advertisers for their support.

Local political leaders saluted the paper at a reception Thursday, April 7 at the GLBT Historical Society Museum, where a mini-exhibit showcased some of the back issues. A slideshow reviewed seminal pages from the paper during its early years, the height of the AIDS epidemic, and the fight for equal rights.

Out District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, acknowledging that elected officials sometimes

get “swollen heads,” said he could “always count on the B.A.R. to bring you back down.”

Supervisor David Campos, the board’s other openly gay member, recalled reading the paper as a young immigrant after he came to San Francisco from Guatemala and said it was “quite an experience.”

Mayoral candidates Dennis Herrera, Bevan Dufty, David Chiu, Leland Yee, and Phil Ting also attended the Thursday reception, along with state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, and community college trustee Lawrence Wong. Joaquin Torres represented Mayor Ed Lee. Several officials from Union Bank also attended; the bank will sponsor an exhibit of the paper in June at one of its downtown branches.▼

{ FIRST OF TWO SECTIONS }

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emember this number: nearly 9 million.

And this percentage: 3.5.

The former is the current best estimate of the number of adults in the United States who identify as lesbian, Jane Philomen Cleland gay, bisexual, or transgender; the latter Gary Gates is the percentage that number represents within the total number of adults in the U.S. But read carefully: These are estimates for adults who self-identify as LGBT. The number of adults who report having had sex with a same-sex partner is estimated at “nearly 19 million,” or 8.2 percent of the adult population. And the number of adults who acknowledge being attracted to a person of the same sex is estimated to be 25.6 million (11 See page 12 >>

<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • Date April 14-20, 2011

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Jane Philomen Cleland

‘Local Treasure’ honor for Cade

C ebar.com

athy Cade, right, a lesbian documentary photographer, was honored by Oakland Mayor Jean Quan as a “Local Treasure” during a reception Saturday, April 9 in Oakland. Holding the mayoral proclamation is Kimberly Miller. Cade has photographed countless events and actions in the Bay Area lesbian and

women’s communities and her achievements “helped to empower, validate, and galvanize a revolutionary period of activism and change throughout the Bay Area,” the proclamation stated in part. She was also a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and participated in the civil rights struggle.

Local summit to address teen bullying

by Matthew S. Bajko

A

s the issue of teen bullying continues to capture the nation’s attention, local Bay Area teens are planning a daylong summit to address how students, teachers and parents can help solve the problem.

The conference is being hosted next weekend by the Aragon High School Gay Straight Alliance in San Mateo. The student group’s president, Jason Galisatus, was inspired to organize the summit after attending the GLSEN Respect Awards in Los Angeles last year.

There he met Minnesota resident Tammy Aaberg, whose son Justin died by suicide last July after being bullied because he was gay. Aaberg has since become a vocal advocate for passage of laws strengthening anti-discrimination protections for LGBT youth.

“Her story was incredibly inspiring and I felt like I needed to do something about it,” said Galisatus, 17, who is a senior.

“I wanted to get the local GSAs together and then it expanded to bring all of the Bay Area together to fight bullying in our schools.”

Even in the liberal Bay Area antigay bullying on school campuses is an issue, said Galisatus. While he was only bullied once during his sophomore year, when five other students surrounded him and yelled, “faggot,” Galisatus said he deals with reports of similar incidents happening to his fellow classmates every few months.

“It is not perfect and there is a lot of room for improvement. There is still a lot of bullying that still happens,” he said. “Improvement needs to happen at the student level.

They need to understand saying ‘That’s so gay’ isn’t acceptable.

“Teachers need to understand when they hear ‘That’s so gay’ or ‘faggot’ they need to intervene immediately. That is the goal of the summit,” he added.

According to the 2009 National School Climate Survey, based on the responses of 7,000 LGBT middle and high school students over a 10year period, eight in 10 had been verbally harassed at school while four in ten had been physically harassed. The data also showed that six in ten felt unsafe at school and that one in five had been the victim

Jane Philomen Cleland

Teen summit organizer Jason Galisatus

of a physical assault at school.

Matthew Thompson, 17, the GSA president at Burlingame High School, said most of the time antigay bullying has nothing to do with a students’ sexual orientation but occurs because they do not conform to traditional notions of gender identity.

“The primary issue with the bullying is not necessarily about people coming out. A lot of it is people still have issues, including in more liberal areas, with people who are gender non-conforming.

That goes beyond sexuality in general,” said Thompson, who is on the planning committee for the local youth summit. “From an early age people get teased about that all the time and parents are worrying about that.”

The summit, which takes place Saturday, April 23, mirrors the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s annual Safe Schools Advocacy Summit. The third one took place in March and, along with guest speakers, featured education on federal legislation aimed at protecting LGBT youth. One bill, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, would require schools to implement comprehensive anti-bullying policies that include enumerated characteristics of students most often targeted, such as race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Last month the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and Community Link, an LGBT nonprofit, hosted a one-day conference in Fresno that addressed student safety and

bullying in Central Valley schools.

The gatherings are important, note researchers, because the problem of bullying, whether of LGBT or straight students, cannot be eradicated merely by the passage of laws or adoption of more stringent regulations.

“Attitudes cannot be legislated away, and it takes a school and a community, working together, to change them and to change the culture in the school. But there is hope on the horizon and there are positive steps being taken to address this issue,” write Derry L. Stufft, of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Colleen M. Graff, with the University of Scranton, in their article “Increasing Visibility for LGBTQ Students: What Schools Can Do To Create Inclusive Classroom Communities,” published this year in the journal Current Issues in Education.

The authors note that while schools are increasingly cognizant of the fact their campus populations are diverse and there is a need for “bully-free zones,” many do not take “the time to address the subtle bullying of LGBTQ students and faculty.”

“These students and faculty remain invisible, and their voices remain silent. Schools still need to address this issue, but given the stigma of homosexuality and the potential for controversy, many teachers and school officials may not know where to begin,” write Stufft and Graff. “Homophobia is See page 12 >>

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Community News>>

April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 3

SOMA >>

Eagle Tavern faces likely closure

by Matt Baume

O

ver the last three decades, the Eagle Tavern at 12th and Harrison streets has provided a welcoming home for countless community fundraisers, musicians, drag acts, beer busts, and LGBT patrons. But there’s one person who has seldom put in an appearance: property owner John Nikitopoulos.

“He doesn’t stop in,” said Eagle co-owner John Gardiner, whose business rents the space from Nikitopoulos. “I’ve seen him twice.

Maybe three times.”

That disconnect may have contributed to the air of outrage felt in the LGBT community this week when news emerged that the Eagle is likely to close at the end of the month. A crowd of around 250 packed the patio Monday night to hear speakers discuss the closure and plan a potential response.

Many in the crowd talked about how diverse the bar is. While long known as a mainstay in San Francisco’s leather community, the only mention of leather was when someone asked Gardiner of the new

owner was gay or leather.

“I don’t know,” Gardiner replied.

Numerous unconfirmed rumors about the bar have circulated this week, but this much is known: owners Gardiner and Joe Banks have been trying to sell the Eagle for at least a year.

“I can’t afford the place,” Gardiner said at the Monday night meeting. “It doesn’t work for me to run the place.”

For nearly a year, Gardiner and Banks negotiated the bar’s sale to Lexington Club owner Lila Thirkield and Eagle manager Ron Hennis.

After entering escrow, the deal was abruptly ended by Nikitopoulos, multiple sources have confirmed.

According to Gardiner, Nikitopoulos is unwilling to allow the Eagle to stay under new ownership.

Nikitopoulos has not commented publicly on the deal. There was no answer this week at a phone number associated with his residence in Santa Rosa.

Now, the bar is about to enter escrow with Steve Englebrecht, Gardiner said. Englebrecht, who is buying the liquor license, is the owner of the Skylark Bar near 16th and

Rick Gerharter

Supervisor Scott Wiener and former Supervisor Bevan Dufty spoke to about 50 activists as they held a sit-in Monday night at the Skylark bar, whose owner is slated to buy the Eagle Tavern.

Mission streets. Although Gardiner declined to state the sale price, he indicated that it is “considerably less” than what Thirkield and Hennis were to pay.

Englebrecht did not respond to requests for comment.

Despite rumors, there is no evidence that Nikitopoulos and Englebrecht are motivated by homophobia.

“I don’t think it’s homophobic,” Gardiner said. Barry Synoground,

manager of the DNA Lounge and a friend of Englebrecht’s, said that the Skylark owner is “absolutely” not homophobic.

Both Thirkield and Gardiner suggested that money was the real motivation. Nikitopoulos “saw an opportunity to start his own business here,” Thirkield said.

Although there is little that could stop the sale, local activist Glendon Hyde, also known by his drag

persona Anna Conda, is leading efforts to preserve the bar, along with artist Kyle DeVries.

“There is a systematic de-queering of San Francisco,” said Hyde.

Hyde and DeVries staged a march and “surprise leather night” at Skylark after Monday’s meeting.

They are also considering erecting pink tents around the Eagle for a “pink sleepout.”

They will also ask the Historic Preservation Commission to declare the 1906 building a historic landmark. At a City Hall rally on Tuesday, mayoral candidate Bevan Dufty observed that such a declaration may require several thousand dollars’ worth of research.

Dufty said that the Eagle’s next beer bust should be a fundraiser for that research.

Historic Preservation Commissioner Alan Martinez agreed that the bar should be saved, but added, “my commission cannot dictate tenancy.

It cannot protect a business.”

District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim, whose district includes the Eagle, told the Bay Area Reporter Tuesday that her office is “looking at other options.”

Kim had a scheduling conflict and was not at Monday’s meeting, but she sent staff. She did point out, however, that it’s a business transaction.

Kim also issued a commendation for the Eagle at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.▼

The Castro >>

Sober space steps up fundraising to save its home

by Matt Baume

A

t a community meeting last weekend, supporters of a clean and sober space in the Castro provided an update on fundraising needed to keep the program in the largely gay neighborhood.

The Castro Country Club has been a gathering place for recovering alcoholics and addicts since its founding by Steve Harris in 1983.

For more than a year, however, it has risked losing its home of 28 years unless it can raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase and renovate the property.

Over the years, the steps in front of the country club at 4058 18th Street have become a familiar gathering place, and the rooms inside now welcome about 650 people a week at 12-step programs that include Alcoholics Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous, and Sex Addicts Anonymous.

But when the building owner died a year and a half ago, he left the property to a group of nonprofits that intend to sell it, potentially leading to the country club’s eviction.

As a result, the organization launched a capital campaign last year to purchase the house. Currently listed at $1.325 million, the building is estimated to need $250,000 in repairs that include seismic upgrades and a new roof.

In its first year of fundraising, the country club has so far raised $140,000, almost all from donations under $1,000. Manager Terry Beswick expects the pace of giving to increase as they recruit dues-paying

members and pursue larger donors.

At a public meeting Saturday, April 9, local leaders outlined the CCC’s vital role in the community.

“We can’t talk about health in the LGBT community without talking about organizations like the Castro Country Club,” said out District 9 Supervisor David Campos.

Openly gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener agreed.

“So much of what happens in this community is focused around alcohol, and it’s so important to have alternatives to that,” he said.

“Many of us think of health as a community event,” said Diane Sabin, executive director of the Lesbian Health and Resea rch Center, urging supporters to “give early and give often.”

Baker Places, a nonprofit that 11 years ago took over as fiscal sponsor for the country club, also supports the organization.

Jonathan Vernick, executive director at Baker Places, noted that the country club “has been here 28 years and has cost the city not a dime.”

He added that the country club runs an annual deficit of $40,000 to $60,000, and that Baker Places writes a check each year to cover that deficit.

As part of its long-term strategy, the country club hopes to renovate its street-level garage and open a cafe, according to Beswick.

“We’d like to be autonomous and self-sustaining,” he said.

Currently, the organization collects revenue from patrons of a small Peet’s Coffee, as well as from room rentals.

No decisions have yet been made

Matt Baume

Baker Places’ Jonathan Vernick, Supervisors Scott Wiener and David Campos, Health Commission President Steven Tierney, and Rebecca Prozan discussed fundraising for the Castro Country Club at a community meeting Saturday.

how the funds will be spent. The organization may place a down payment on the property, and continue fundraising over several years. Another option would have a supporter purchase the property outright, and then sell it back to the country club once its fundraising is complete.

Beswick reported that the current

owners have been receptive to the country club’s proposals as they seek buyers for the property. Those owners include the Saint Anthony’s Foundation Barry Stenger, director of development and communications at St. Anthony Foundation, confirmed this week that the beneficiaries of the trust approved an

extension on the sale of the property so that the country club could do more fundraising.

“I am very confident that we’re going to be able to acquire this building and go on,” said Vernick.

Campos shared his optimism.

“One of the things about our community is that it comes together,” he said.▼

<< Open Forum

4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 14-20 2011

Volume 41, Number 15 April 14-20 2011 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Thomas E. Horn Bob Ross (Founder, 1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko Seth Hemmelgarn Jim Provenzano CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dan Aiello • Tavo Amador • Matt Baume Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Scott Brogan • Victoria A. Brownworth Philip Campbell • Heather Cassell Chuck Colbert • Richard Dodds Raymond Flournoy • David Guarino Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell John F. Karr • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • David Lamble Michael McDonagh • Paul Parish Lois Pearlman • Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota Bob Roehr • Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Ed Walsh • Sura Wood

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Published weekly. Bay Area Reporter reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement which the publisher believes is in poor taste or which advertises illegal items which might result in legal action against Bay Area Reporter. Ads will not be rejected solely on the basis of politics, philosophy, religion, race, age, or sexual orientation.

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Pride board must dissolve H

ere we are, 11 weeks from the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade and festival, and the SF LGBT Pride Celebration Committee board just lost three members, all of whom abruptly resigned last weekend. Co-chair Alex Randolph, who joined the board only a couple months ago, stepped down, along with veteran board members Belinda Ryan and Jamie Fountain. Randolph’s departure marks the third time in six months that a co-chair has resigned. Under the best of circumstances this would be problematic, and as we all know, the diminishment of the board poses a risk to Pride itself. The loss of the three board members leaves SF Pride with only six remaining, one of whom just joined days ago. Two others have been on the board only a short time.

Since creating a fulltime executive director position in the late 1990s, SF Pride has, until last year, been an efficient, well-run organization. We can’t help but be dismayed by the downward spiral in which SF Pride now finds itself; and we’re amazed that a oncethriving and active board has been reduced to a handful of people and can’t find committed leaders to stay on.

This rapid turnover on Pride’s board is troublesome. And after months of reporting and editorializing on Pride’s dire financial situation, we believe it is time for the board to dissolve and for SF Pride to merge with another organization. The contractors who are continuing to provide services in the weeks ramping up to the parade should stay on – they’re the ones who really know what to do and how to manage all of the upcoming deadlines.

But what is needed is an organization that can step in now and become a fiscal sponsor

and exert some much-needed leadership. The news Wednesday that Brendan Behan has been appointed as interim executive director is a welcome sign, as is businessman Bill Hemenger’s decision to become treasurer of the organization. In fact, the board should have hired Behan in 2009 when he applied for the job.

But in the four months since the city controller’s office issued its fiscal and governance assessment of SF Pride, we have not heard of any news indicating that the board has made progress in the areas identified by the controller. There is still a deficit. There are still inadequate financial

reserves. There is no significant fundraising being done by the board. And, with the recent resignations, the board is at a low of only six members (out of the allowable 15). It is not realistic to expect that five people – with only a small office staff and no executive director – to solve Pride’s numerous problems.

Finally, we hear that some sponsors are getting nervous, and that does not bode well for the organization, the city, or the LGBT community.

SF Pride, unfortunately, has not taken steps to right itself, or if it has such moves have proved ineffectual. It is time for another agency or organization to step in and take control, since the Pride board has shown it is unable to do so. ▼

The future of LGBT nonprofits

by Roger Doughty

L

GBT nonprofit organizations have rarely had it easy. Most tend to live near the proverbial edge, working for goals as large as their budgets tend to be small – goals like winning equality, calling out injustice, helping the sick and vulnerable, and enriching our community.

It’s normal to see nonprofits come and go, whether in the LGBT community or any other.

Yet something different seems to be going on now. We’re seeing even well known LGBT nonprofits go under or teeter precariously. New Leaf: Services for Our Community, LyonMartin Health Services, Academy of Friends, and San Francisco Pride are just the most-publicized; others are struggling, too. Some will almost certainly cease to exist as we’ve known them.

Of course, each is its own story, woven from some blend of leadership, planning, skill, and luck – and all amid a merciless recession. But a bigger story is playing out here, too, and that’s the story of what will happen to the institutional infrastructure that LGBT people have built over so many years with such vision, pride, and sacrifice.

And that raises hard questions about what our community can – or even should – do about what’s going on. How important is it to have strong and sustainable organizations?

The lay of the land The news isn’t all bad. There are solid, stable, and effective LGBT organizations both in the Bay Area and around the country. A recent study of 39 national LGBT advocacy groups by the Denver-based Movement Advancement Project found them largely weathering the financial storm of the past three years.

Given how turbulent the economy has been, and the unprecedented drop in public and private funding, it’s remarkable to see these organizations proving so resilient.

But a lot of the news is bleaker. A 2010 Horizons Foundation survey revealed that 96 percent of Bay Area LGBT nonprofits reported negative impacts from the recession, with nearly half reporting layoffs, fully 43 percent

reporting reduced staff hours, and 40 percent cutting salaries for some or all staff. Even the generally upbeat MAP study reports that the 39 organizations surveyed, on average, saw revenue drop 20 percent from 2008 to 2009.

Worse, the organizations budgeted for an average additional 18 percent decline from 2009 to 2010.

That’s more than 35 percent over just two years. Many of us would find it all but impossible to adjust to losing 35 percent of our household budgets – and it’s not much different with organizations. Drops in revenue have to be balanced by cuts in expenses, and that almost always translates into reduced programs, worse access, people in need going without, and diminished advocacy.

In other words, even as these groups seem to be hanging tough, it’s coming at a stiff price to those whom the nonprofits serve.

Unfortunately, the situation is likely to head further downhill. Government funding is close to free-fall, with countless programs set to decline or disappear entirely. We’re talking health care, drug treatment, roofs over heads, HIV prevention, cancer screenings, vital programs for youth and elders, and thousands more. We’re talking cuts with severe consequences.

Foundations can’t cover that gap. They’re tiny relative to government, and with endowments still well below their prerecession peaks, it’ll be a long time before their grantmaking returns to earlier levels – if they ever do.

Questions beyond money alone The challenges facing LGBT nonprofits go beyond the economic. For example, the leadership and capability of some boards of directors have been called into question. Skills of a staff matter – obviously – but often it’s the strength of a board that ultimately determines whether an organization flourishes or fails.

Hundreds of caring, committed volunteers serve on LGBT nonprofit boards, often receiving little training or support. Almost all of them work hard, are there for the right reasons, and do their best – for which we should all be grateful. But sometimes that

“best” still falls short of what the role and situation demand.

Then there’s perhaps the biggest question of all, the elephant in the room: to what extent are the nonprofit organizations we’ve built still relevant? Or have times just moved on, and the need for LGBT nonprofits is simply disappearing?

There’s certainly no rule that says every nonprofit organization – LGBT or otherwise – has to exist forever, or that we need an LGBT-specific nonprofit for every issue.

Organizations can outlive their usefulness, community needs and priorities may shift, or sometimes, just like in a poorly run business, a nonprofit can be doomed by internal weaknesses. And in some areas, mainstream nonprofits may be both qualified and wellpositioned to serve our community – perhaps even better than an LGBT nonprofit.

So, to put the question a bit indelicately, why should our community care if LGBT organizations are struggling? Or if they fail?

So why should we care?

The way I see it, we’ve all got a stake in having strong institutions that are of, by, and for our community. For starters, vibrant institutions are integral to our movement’s – and our community’s – strength and success. It’s hard to imagine the Jewish community, or the Chinese or African-American communities, the evangelical community – to take just a few rough examples – without their respective institutions. At the end of the day, every strong community has strong institutions, both as proud symbols and as advocates for that community’s interests and needs. Our community is no exception.

But this is about much more than symbols.

The capacity of our organizations largely determines how well the LGBT community can both act quickly and reach long-term goals. Nonprofits’ capacity can be decisive in how swiftly – and effectively – we can respond to crises or opportunities, be they (God forbid) another epidemic, a new political attack, or a sudden opening of which to take advantage.

At the same time, the strength of nonprofits also determines our ability to make the kind of intensive, long-term commitments that See page 11 >>

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Letters >>

April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Congrats to the B.A.R.

Survival House clarification

On behalf of the board and assembly of the international Federation of Gay Games, we are pleased to offer our congratulations to the Bay Area Reporter on your 40th anniversary [“Community looks back at 40 years of the B.A.R.,” April 7]. These 40 years have been ones of great progress, great suffering, great challenges, and great achievements for our community, and your publication has been part of all of them. We are particularly pleased with the ongoing support from the B.A.R. for the Gay Games movement, and for coverage of sports in general.

Our best wishes for many more decades of success!

With apologies to Thomas Tyrrell, at this time I do not wish to participate in a history project concerning Emmaus House, later Golden Gate Gay Liberation House, later Page Street Survival House, later Survival House.

However, there are two mistakes in the article by Seth Hemmelgarn [“Book chronicles former SF halfway house,” April 7]. The house has five units dating from before Survival House moved there in 1975 and Mitchell was F.E. Mitchell, who was the program manager.

Kurt Dahl and Emy Ritt, Co-Presidents Federation of Gay Games

Historical society needs more money I am dismayed by the tenor of two recent letters to the editor [Mailstrom April 7, March 24] in which the authors express such extreme dissatisfaction about access to the archival collections of the GLBT Historical Society.

The sad fact is that the historical society is a community-based, largely volunteer, and very underfunded organization that cannot fulfill every legitimate request or need. For a quarter of a century, the historical society has struggled with chronic financial stress and limited staff. It has nonetheless managed to assemble a world-class collection, stage innumerable exhibits, and rescue much of local LGBT history from what would otherwise have been complete oblivion.

Professional archivists and LGBTQ scholars consider it one of the very best run and most accessible of all of the community-based queer historical collections. Such institutions do not have the resources and financial support of university-based or public museums and libraries, and even those are contending with diminishing resources and crises of funding.

If people want the historical society to have longer hours, they should mobilize support for the institution.

Indulging in resentment or anger only exacerbates the situation. Solving the problem simply requires more money to support more staff. The GLBTHS labors under many practical and logistical limitations that can only be mitigated by increasing its budget. The GLBTHS is a jewel in the crown of queer San Francisco. It needs to be appreciated for what it has achieved in the face of a good deal of adversity. And it deserves to be lavishly supported, above all by the local community whose past it so lovingly preserves.

Gayle Rubin San Francisco

Culture of health care must change The Institute of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health deserve kudos for highlighting the ways in which our health care system has failed the LGBT community [“Report cites health gaps,” April 7]. In order to achieve these admirable goals, the culture of health care must become fair and inclusive. Many LGBT people experience stigmatizing and discriminatory practices within our health care system, which may deter them from seeking care in the future. This further exacerbates health problems and as a nursing student, I have witnessed this first hand. It is incumbent on nursing and medical school programs to train their students in both the health and health care disparities LGBT people face, often as a result of living in a society that does not accept them. We cannot wait for the effects of the IOM’s report to trickle down to educational curricula, which could be years or decades away. Producing open-minded and accepting nurses and doctors is critical in minimizing the burden of health disparities on the LGBT community.

It is my hope that nursing and medical programs will follow the IOM’s lead in prioritizing the needs of LGBT people in their curricula.

Robert V. Wood San Francisco

Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor I was very pleased to read your article on Elizabeth Taylor [“Elizabeth Taylor dies,” March 24]. She deserves all the accolades you have given her and more.

One thing I am amazed about is that the gay community (Castro District) has not given her a public notice befitting her great works to the gay community and to the support of people living with AIDS – even receiving death threats didn’t stop her. The Castro District has always shown support for causes; this is one it could do up right.

R.P. Saizar San Francisco

[Editor’s note: A six-day tribute for Ms. Taylor is planned for May 27-June 1 at the Castro Theatre. More details will be published next month in the Arts and Culture section.]

Disagrees with review David Lamble’s review of the documentary Transformation may have left some of your readers with an inaccurate notion about Werner Erhard, the subject of the movie [“Gregg Araki meets Werner Erhard,” February 3]. Mr. Lamble wrote, in reference to the phenomenal popularity of est and Erhard: “a bad-news vibe, a whiff of personal scandal, killed the buzz.” The scandal Mr. Lamble referred to was later revealed by the Los Angeles Times in a December 29, 1991 article, to have been deliberately and falsely constructed. Publications such as Time magazine, the London Times, ABCNews. com, and many others all reported that the allegations about Mr. Erhard were later shown to be untrue and recanted. So the supposed scandal, in fact, was not a scandal, but a hostile media campaign that was later proven to be a lie. The “buzz” about the ideas Mr. Erhard originally created and sold to his employees is now bigger than ever and exists in the programs of Landmark Education, the world’s leading company in the field of personal transformation. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken the Landmark Forum since Mr. Erhard sold his intellectual property to a company founded and owned by many of his former employees.

Martin Leaf New York, New York

CBD seeks ‘ambassadors’ for the Castro Do you have pride in the Castro? Do you enjoy talking to tourists? Would you like to meet new people?

Consider volunteering as a Castro ambassador. The Castro ambassador program is a volunteer program of the Castro Community Benefit District. Ambassadors create a welcoming environment in the Castro, help tourists find their way, direct visitors and tourists to community events, show pride in the community, and become engaged in the community.

Join others who have already volunteered. Go to castrocbd.org/content/ambassador-program to sign up or call (415) 500-1181.

Rebecca Kooistra San Francisco

Andrea Aiello, Executive Director Castro/Upper Market CBD

Palm Sunday in the Castro compiled by Cynthia Laird

O

n Palm Sunday, April 17, the San Francisco Night Ministry’s Open Cathedral Castro will gather for a procession through the largely gay neighborhood.

Organizer Michael Fullam said that everyone is welcome; people will gather at 5:30 p.m. on the plaza in front of the Harvey Milk/ Eureka Valley Public Library on 16th Street (Jose Sarria Court) at Pond near the corner of Noe and Market. There will be a very short ceremony during

which palms will be blessed. That will be followed immediately by a procession up Market Street to Castro, and then down to 18th Street, with singing and distribution of palms.

Volunteers needed for Tessie Easter dinner Tenderloin Tessie organizers are gearing up for their annual Easter dinner and volunteers are needed to help with that event, taking place Sunday, April 24 at First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin Street (at Geary).

Board president and volunteer

coordinator Michael Gagne said that helpers are needed Saturday, April 23 (anytime between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to load and unload the truck; and on Easter Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon for set-up, noon to 4 p.m. for the dinner, and 3 to 6 p.m. for the last hour of the dinner, clean-up, and tear down. Help is also needed on Tuesday, April 26 from 9 to 10 a.m. unloading the truck.

Volunteers for the dinner itself are asked to attend a short mandatory meeting from noon to 12:15 p.m., right before the dinner starts at 1.

Gagne is asking people to contact him at (415) 582-3252 and to See page 11 >>

<< Business News

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 14-20, 2011

▼

Parklet controversy comes amidst spate of Castro closures

by Raymond Flournoy

F

or Issa Sweidan, managing partner of Squat and Gobble (3600 16th Street), never has a narrow strip of pavement loomed so large in the future of his business.

The pavement in question the sidewalk in front of his Castro

crepery, which separates the restaurant’s outdoor seating from the seats in the parklet that Sweidan designed and built as part of a new city program. According to city officials, his staff is not allowed to serve food or beverages to anyone seated at the parklet tables.

“Tourists look at me like I’m

crazy. I have to explain that if they were seated over there, I could refill their water, refill their coffee. But here, I just tell you your food is ready, and you have to go get it from the cart yourself,” said Sweidan.

Parklets are part of San Francisco’s Pavement to Parks project, in which private businesses are engaged to aid the city in creating small public seating areas on street pavement. The parklets replace curbside parking spaces with raised platforms that effectively widen the sidewalk and allow for tables, chairs, benches, and landscaping.

Jane Warner Plaza at the intersection of Market and 17th streets was the first Pavement to Parks project, constructed during May 2009.

In late 2010 Sweidan submitted a proposal to replace the yellow zone in front of Squat and Gobble with a parklet. Working with an architect and designer, Sweidan drew up plans for black wrought iron fencing, decorative planters, and overhead lights, and after receiving the proper permits from the Planning Department and the Department of Public Works, the parklet opened on March 3.

Initially, Squat and Gobble waitstaff would serve the tables just as they serve the tables on the part of the sidewalk under the eatery’s awning. But after a citizen’s complaint, the city came out to warn Sweidan against offering this service.

In order to comply with the city’s request, Sweidan installed numerous signs explaining the issue, and instituted the cart self-service system. But he still feels that the public ultimately suffers from this ban on food service. Furthermore, he notes the irony that he is not allowed to serve food, but he is required by his parklet contract to clean up after the diners.

“We know that this is intended as a public park, and when people come to sit here without ordering food, we don’t care at all,” Sweidan said, mentioning that people frequently bring food and beverages from local chain stores like Subway and Peet’s Coffee and Tea. He simply wants to be able to bring food to his customers who are sitting at the public tables.

Recently, neighbors have banded together to support Squat and Gobble by circulating a petition to create an exception to the city ordinance, allowing food service in these parklets. San Francisco resident and PR man Phil Siegel is one customer who has begun speaking up for Sweida, contacting media and helping to start the petition campaign.

“If you want to sit at the tables and have your Starbucks that’s fine.

If you don’t want to be served by Squat and Gobble, that’s totally fine.

But why should Issa be denied the option of serving customers who are sitting at those tables?” asked Siegel, in a call with the B.A.R. “Issa pays the insurance, Issa does all the maintenance and upkeep, and he’s adding to the tax base of the city. Why shouldn’t he be allowed to profit a little from the space? It doesn’t make any sense,” he added.

Other voices are raised in firm dissent. In an email to the B.A.R., neighbor Jim Raymond said, “[Parks to Pavement] was not designed to provide a private profit-making entity with an extra hundred square feet of space to

Steven Kasapi

Issa Sweidan, managing partner of Squat and Gobble, stands with one of the signs he erected explaining the regulations for food service in the parklet.

bolster its diminishing profits. ...

Issa has been preening about like a proud peacock who has just pulled the biggest coupe [sic] of his life.”

When contacted for comment, Supervisor Scott Wiener noted that he is a strong supporter of the parklet program, and the 16th Street parklet in particular. However, he also stated that the current law is clear.

“The parklet program does not allow a merchant to merge the parking space into his or her business, for example, by having table service. ... A restaurant could easily take over a parklet, where to anyone looking at it, the parklet would look like it was part of the restaurant and not open to the public,” said Wiener.

But he added, “If people want to request a change in the law to allow merchants to take over parking spaces by turning them into extended seating areas, I am happy to take a look at that.”

Castro is for closers The first few months of 2011 brought a handful of new businesses in the Castro, but spring unfortunately saw the shuttering of numerous storefronts.

A Different Light (489 Castro Street) is closing its doors at the end of the month. When contacted for comment, a person who identified herself as the manager but refused to give her name said that a public statement would be issued soon, and until then everyone had been instructed not to give any interviews.

All inventory is currently being cleared out in a mass liquidation sale.

Bagdad Cafe (2295 Market Street) closed its doors suddenly on March 31. A sign posted in the window announced that the business had been sold and would be reopening on May 1.

Likewise, a sign in the window of Fuzio (469 Castro Street) announced that it was ending operations. Blaming “extraordinary repairs and maintenance issues,” the sign also stated that Fuzio’s location at 1 Embarcadero Center would remain in business.

Capri Ristorante Pizza (2272 Market Street) has announced its intention to close, although the exact date has not been decided.

An employee said that the last day of operation would probably be in July or August, and the restaurant is open as normal until then.

Pudong (2029 Market Street) closed approximately three months after opening. There are indications that the restaurant will re-open at some point. A sign on the chained doors states that the closure is due to mechanical difficulties, and the restaurant website and Facebook page remain up and unchanged.

However, in March Pudong’s owners suddenly terminated their contract with the PR firm of David Perry and Associates. According to David Perry, the explanation given was that Pudong could no longer afford the firm’s services. Calls to Pudong requesting comment were not returned.

The Goodwill pop-up store and Under One Roof’s temporary “Big Green Garage Sale” will both be vacating the Market Noe Center at 2278 Market Street. Goodwill will close today (Thursday, April 14) and the Under One Roof clearance sale will end the next day on April 15.

At the April meeting of the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro, Under One Roof Executive Director Beth Feingold stated that the reason for the closing was that the owners of the building are preparing the location for sale.

Last month, a long sought-after contract for Trader Joe’s to occupy the ground floor of the building fell through, leaving the building without a potential tenant.

Ike’s gets real Ike’s Place has finally moved into its permanent Castro location at 3489 16th Street, in the space formerly occupied by Saratoga Chocolates and the defunct Joseph Schmidt Confections. Their first day of operation was moved up two days early to April 9, when a line prematurely formed outside the new location.

Welcoming the sandwich crew to the new shop was a camera crew from Indigo Films production company, which spent Monday and Tuesday gathering footage for a possible television show pilot based on Ike’s Place. Owner Ike Shehadeh said that they still have not decided whether this will be a food show, a lifestyle-reality show, or a straightforward documentary.

An initial five-minute test clip will be shown to sample audiences to determine the direction they will take.

If the clip is received well, the show will likely run on the Discovery Channel.▼ Contact Raymond Flournoy at castroshopper@yahoo.com.

▼

Politics >>

April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

SF Harvey Milk Day plans take shape

by Matthew S. Bajko

P

lans to mark the second observance of Harvey Milk Day in San Francisco are slowly taking shape as the only annual state holiday to honor an LGBT person quickly approaches.

This year’s Milk Day will take place Sunday, May 22 and coincides with the birthday of the late gay San Francisco supervisor, who became the first out politician in California when he won election in November 1977.

Milk died a year later along with then-Mayor George Moscone after being shot inside City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White.

According to those involved in planning this year’s celebration, a rally is slated to take place that day at Harvey Milk Plaza at the corner of Castro and Market streets. Immediately following will be a march to the site of Milk’s old campaign headquarters and camera shop at 575 Castro Street. Specifics such as time and speakers have yet to be determined.

“That is all I know so far,” said Steve Adams, president of the

Merchants of Upper Market and Castro business association, who attended a recent planning meeting at District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener’s office to discuss how to mark the occasion.

The Harvey Milk Foundation is also involved with the planning, which mirror what usually occurs each November to commemorate the deaths of Milk and Moscone. It has launched a website at www.harveymilkday.co to promote the holiday but has yet to post any information about San Francisco events.

A companion Facebook page also has little information listed on it about celebrations planned for this year’s Milk Day. As of Tuesday, only 27 people had signed up to like the page.

“Our equality movement across the globe will celebrate the life story, message, and legacy of my uncle Harvey Milk. Join thousands across the globe to honor his memory and celebrate his message of hope,” reads a message posted by Stuart Milk, Milk’s gay nephew, on the Facebook page. “We are asking you to celebrate Harvey Milk’s life story, message and legacy in celebrating

Oakland >>

Quan names out staffers

by Matthew S. Bajko

responsibility at Bank of America between 2008 and 2010. Until joining akland Mayor Jean Quan has Quan’s staff Lisac had been president made good on an election of Altamira Enterprises, a private promise that she would include philanthropy and social enterprise LGBT people among her City company based in Oakland focused Hall staff. Last week she named on jobs, workforce training, Andrew “Drew” Lisac as her education, economic development senior policy adviser for and structural changes to economic development areas of endemic poverty. and Hatzune Aguilar as For the last seven a special assistant to the years, Aguilar has been a mayor. principal policy consultant They join Quan’s nineand chief of staff at Jim person inner circle at City Gonzales Associates, a Hall and help expand California public policy the number of highstrategy firm based in ranking out people within Sacramento focused on Jane Philomen Cleland Oakland’s government. progressive issues.

Apart from lesbian City Mayor Jean Quan Her past experience Councilwoman Rebecca has included working Kaplan and several out with Native Americans in city commissioners, South Dakota to increase LGBT residents have been frustrated voter participation, as a family by their lack of visibility among the housing advocate in San Francisco’s city’s halls of power.

Tenderloin District and an advocate Gay Planning Commissioner for issues affecting the Latino/ Michael Colbruno said he is pleased Hispanic and LGBTQ communities. to see Quan pay attention to her She also helped launch the LGBT constituents’ concerns.

California Next Gen Film Festival in “I knew she was going to do well Sacramento in 2007 and served as its but she is exceeding expectations. director.

She has surrounded herself with It is unclear what duties or issues imminently qualified people. These Aquilar will be responsible for are not patronage appointments,” within Quan’s office or if she will be said Colbruno, who met with Lisac the mayor’s point person on LGBT this week. “Having an out person is issues. important because so many issues Quan’s spokeswoman Sue Piper arise, whether it is health care, did not respond to the B.A.R.’s social services, housing, domestic request for an interview with Aquilar partner and marriage issues, where and Lisac. Nor did Piper provide if the person doesn’t have a personal salary information for the two hires understanding of the issue the by press time. issue doesn’t get dealt with or is In an interview with the Bay Area overlooked.”

Reporter last November, Quan cited Back in the mid-1990s, Lisac the re-launch of Oakland Pride volunteered as the dean of the now and the establishment of an LGBT defunct Harvey Milk Institute, a San community center in the city as two Francisco academy devoted to gay and priorities she intended to assist the lesbian studies. Having worked as an LGBT community with. assistant dean at Stanford University She also pledged to appoint LGBT from 1984 to 1995, Lisac became the people to the city’s various oversight coordinator for the Native American panels and citizen commissions.

Cultural Center and was appointed Among the agenda items for a in 1996 by then-Mayor Willie Brown town hall meeting Quan held last to San Francisco’s Arts Commission. weekend in the city’s Dimond/ More recently Lisac served as Fruitvale neighborhoods was LGBT vice president of corporate social empowerment. ▼

O

globally on his birthday to give hope and inspire disenfranchised communities.”

Last year the foundation had announced its intent to launch a glitzy awards gala in San Francisco to mark Milk Day each year but then canceled those plans. A local breakfast modeled after a successful event in San Diego did take place but was sparsely attended.

A repeat of the San Francisco breakfast has been nixed, while the foundation is reportedly trying to line-up an entertainment act for a possible performance in the Civic Center May 22, said Adams.

“They don’t have anything confirmed yet,” said Adams.

Anne Kronenberg, co-chair of the foundation’s Harvey Milk Day 2011 Steering Committee, did not respond to the Bay Area Reporter’s request for comment this week.

Also that day the Human Rights Campaign, whose action center and store now occupies Milk’s old business address, plans to officially celebrate its opening in the location.

So far the national LGBT rights group has yet to reveal what its plans are or if it will unveil the Milk-branded merchandise it had said it would be selling at the shop.

HRC spokesman Paul Guequierre did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

Equality California, the statewide LGBT advocacy group, is planning a series of Milk Day events in several cities this year. It plans to once again team up with Castro bar Lookout to host a 1970s-themed dance fundraiser and will be asking its members to take part in community volunteer actions that weekend.

A Harvey Milk Day Silicon Valley reception is planned for the following Tuesday, May 24 to be hosted by Microsoft. There will also be a Los Angeles event May 21 with Madison

Rick Gerharter

Anne Kronenberg co-chairs the steering committee for Harvey Milk Day.

Hildebrand, a gay Realtor on the Bravo show Million Dollar Listing, and a Palm Springs Brunch May 22.

Eric Harrison, EQCA’s development director, said this week that exact locations and times were still being finalized.

The annual Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club Dinner will take place Thursday, May 19 this year and will feature keynote speaker Clarence Jones, former adviser and speechwriter to Martin Luther King Jr. Jones is a scholar in residence at the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University.

A straight ally, Jones recently contacted the club’s leadership asking if he could address its members about fostering a stronger relationship between the African American and LGBT communities, said Milk Co-Chair Stephany Ashley.

“Invitations will be going out the end of this week,” said Ashley, who added that ticket information will

soon be posted to the club’s website.

The Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy will celebrate its namesake Saturday, May 21. The Castro’s alternative elementary school is once again hosting its “Hotcakes for Harvey” breakfast fundraiser that morning and will be shutting down a portion of 19th Street to host an outdoor carnival for children and families.

The school is also planning to have an informational fair that day for the LGBT community and educators from around the Bay Area interested in learning more about issues around equity and social justice.

“We will have a stage out again with entertainment,” said Christina Velasco, the school’s principal. “We will also be putting on a drag show for that event in the evening at the site.”

Kathy Amendola, owner of Cruisin’ the Castro Walking Tours, plans to donate 50 percent of the proceeds from her 10:30 a.m. tour that Saturday to the school. Last year she was able to raise $200.

The tour costs $35 for adults and $25 for children ages 5-12 and includes admission to the GLBT History Museum in the Castro. Call (415) 255-1821 to book the tour.▼ Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check www. ebar.com Monday mornings around 10 a.m. for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion.

This week’s column profiles former San Francisco resident Torie Osborn, an out lesbian running for an LA-area Assembly seat.

Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ twitter.com/politicalnotes.

Got a tip on LGBT politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 861-5019 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

<< Community News

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 14-20, 2011

▼

Sacramento >>

Governor Brown taps LGBTs for senior posts

by Matthew S. Bajko

W

ebar.com

ithin his first 100 days in office, Governor Jerry Brown has appointed more than half a dozen out men and women to high-profile positions. Most have longtime ties to Brown while two are holdovers from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration.

Just last week Brown named out lesbian Claudia Cappio, 57, as executive director of the California Housing Finance Agency. Should she be confirmed by the state Senate, Cappio stands to earn $174,996.

The Oakland resident worked for Brown while he was mayor of the East Bay city, serving as his director of planning, building, major projects and the Oakland Base Reuse Authority from 2000 to 2007. Following Brown’s election as state attorney general, Cappio left Oakland City Hall in 2008 to form Sparticles LLC, her own planning and development consulting firm where she is the managing principal.

Last fall she served on Oakland Mayor Jean Quan’s transition team.

This past weekend, Cappio and her partner, Margaret Stone, co-hosted a fundraiser for Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) at their home.

According to the statewide LGBT lobbying group Equality California, Cappio’s appointment brings the number of out top-level Brown staffers to eight. With many positions still vacant, EQCA interim Executive Director Jim Carroll said he expects to see more out appointments.

“I am certainly happy that the governor specifically reached out to the LGBT community and asked for help in letting people know what jobs were available. I think that was the first time a governor has ever done that,” said Carroll.

San Jose resident Clark Williams, northern vice-chair of the LGBT Caucus of the California Democratic Party, said he also expects to see more LGBT appointments made once state legislators resolve their contentious budget talks.

“A number of future appointments are coming,” said Williams, who oversaw an effort this winter to get LGBT people to apply for numerous positions within Brown’s administration.

“This administration is so focused on the budget, they haven’t put a ton of energy into appointments.”

Early in January Brown named James Humes, 51, an openly gay San Francisco resident, as his executive secretary for administration, legal

Claudia Cappio has been appointed executive director of the California Housing Finance Agency.

affairs, and policy. Humes served as Brown’s chief deputy in the attorney general’s office.

Brown could name Humes to a state judgeship. According to the Los Angeles Times, Humes likely would have been appointed to a court vacancy by Schwarzenegger prior to leaving office but dropped out of contention to work for Brown on his gubernatorial staff.

Two other gay staffers came from his election team. Nick Velasquez, Brown’s external relations director, was his deputy campaign manager.

Former Gap Inc. executive Ned Ruthrauff, the governor’s director of constituent affairs, had been the Brown campaign’s director of social media and operations.

Openly gay natural resources secretary John Laird, a former state lawmaker, and Nancy Ryan, an out lesbian who is deputy executive director for the California Public Utilities Commission, are newcomers to Brown’s internal team. He also asked out lesbian Ana Matosantos, finance director under Schwarzenegger, to remain in that post.

Dr. Michelle Roland, who is bisexual, also remains in place as chief of the state Office of AIDS for the Department of Public Health. The former San Francisco AIDS researcher, physician, and HIV policy expert has been in the post since 2007.

Having LGBT appointees in Sacramento doesn’t just reflect the Golden State’s diversity, said Williams, but is an enticement for LGBT people to consider the public sector as a career path.

“I think it is important for all of us working in the LGBT community that they see an opportunity for themselves within government,” said Williams.▼

▼

National News>>

April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

Immigration >>

UAFA re-introduced in Congress

by Seth Hemmelgarn

F

ederal lawmakers are set to announce the re-introduction of the Uniting American Families Act today (Thursday, April 14).

The act would allow gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor their permanent partners for legal residency in the United States, a right currently enjoyed only by married heterosexuals under immigration law.

Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, the United States does not legally recognize gay and lesbian couples and their children as families.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-New York), who’s been introducing the bill for more than 10 years, is set to be joined by California congressional Democrats Zoe Lofgren, Mike Honda, and Jackie Speier, among others, in making the announcement in Washington today.

“It’s been a long haul, but it’s really grown as an issue nationally over the last couple years,” said Nadler spokesman Ilan Kayatsky.

Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado, a same-sex California couple, are expected to be in Washington for the announcement, along with their two children.

Tan, 45, applied for asylum in 1995 – a cousin had brutally murdered her mother and sister and she feared for her life when her relative was released from prison.

She was arrested in January 2009 by immigration authorities for ignoring a 2002 deportation letter that she had never received.

In an interview last week, Mercado credited California Senator Dianne Feinstein (D) with once again introducing a private bill on Tan’s behalf.

The bill hasn’t been voted on, but Mercado said, “As long as it’s in place, [Tan’s] safe.” However, she said their worries include what would happen if Feinstein retired.

They would look for another senator to introduce the bill, she said, but “It’s better if UAFA is passed.”

Tan said, “We are really hoping

Congressman Jerrold Nadler

and pushing for UAFA to pass,” not just for herself and Mercado, but for other families in the same situation.

Erica Chabot, a spokeswoman for Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), said in an email that UAFA would be introduced in the Senate April 14.

Despite her support of Tan and Mercado, it appears that Feinstein again doesn’t plan to co-sponsor UAFA when it does come up.

The Bay Area Reporter specifically asked a Feinstein staffer whether the senior California senator would support UAFA, and if not, why not?

In response, Feinstein’s office emailed a statement that said, “I believe married couples, including same-sex couples, should have access to all federal benefits, including immigration status, which is denied under the Defense of Marriage Act. That is why I opposed DOMA in 1996 and introduced legislation to repeal it.”

Like Tan and Mercado, San Jose resident Judy Rickard, 63, and her European-born partner, Karin Bogliolo, 70, have also been hoping they can be together without having to endure immigration hurdles.

In February, Bogliolo entered the United States through Canada.

She was delayed at the airport in Ottawa for an hour and a half by U.S. immigration officials, but was eventually allowed in under a visa that will allow her to stay in the country for six months.

Bogliolo said the only reason officials ever give for detaining her is that she comes to the United States so often. She said she has never

overstayed her visa.

She’s hopeful that either UAFA will pass or DOMA will be repealed.

“There’s always that fear in me that this time they won’t let me in,” said Bogliolo. “They’ll just stop me at the border and I won’t be able to come.”

She said, “I’m not sure how hopeful I am for this Congress, because with a Republican House I think it’s unlikely” the families act will pass “until after the next election, but who knows,” said Bogliolo. “Miracles happen.”

This year, Rickard released Torn Apart – United by Love, Divided by Law, a book that includes her and Bogliolo’s story, along with others.

DOMA still in play In an April 6 letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) was joined by 11 colleagues in urging immigration equality for legally married same-sex couples.

Among other things, the senators specifically asked the Department of Homeland Security to “hold marriage-based immigration petitions in abeyance pending a legislative repeal or a final determination on DOMA litigation.”

They also asked the department to exercise prosecutorial discretion in “commencing and prosecuting removal proceedings against married non-citizens that would be otherwise eligible to adjust their status to lawful permanent resident but for DOMA.” The department did not respond to a request for comment.

In March, just days after putting the applications for green cards on See page 11 >>

bartab.com

<< The Sports Page

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 14-20, 2011

▼

From the closet to the stadium

by Roger Brigham

G

ays and lesbians have always played sports and always will.

Contact sports. Finesse sports.

Team sports and individual sports.

Objectively measured sports and subjectively scored sports.

Endurance sports and sprint sports.

Sports that make you sweat and sports that chill your bones: queers have been bashing and brawling and running and jumping with the best of them throughout eternity.

When Gilgamesh and Enkidu epically battled in the streets of Uruk more than 5,000 years ago, it’s even money one of them eyed the other as something more than just an adversary and best bud forever.

And yet, it is only within the last four decades that we’ve had out athletes battling out athletes. Today, LGBT sports teams and leagues are something we take for granted, like hot dogs and Key lime pies, but they really have existed only in the last blink of an eye – and international organizations linking teams and hundreds of thousands of LGBT athletes across the globe are even younger.

The story of that explosive growth in the Bay Area is told not just in the numbers of clubs and teams that have come into existence of the past four decades, but in the stories of the athletes who helped forge the way ... and remain active to help new generations of queer athletes come out of the closet and into the locker room. After thousands of years of silence, we suddenly started to speak up and say, “Play ball!”

So, what were you doing in 1971?

Allen Wood said he was “8 years old and living in Richmond. I was not at all athletic. I was the chubby, uncoordinated kid who was picked last for the kick-ball team. I clearly remember the disappointed cries of the team that was left with me: ‘Ahhh, we have to have Wood on our team?’”

Tyler Cole was 10 years old in Medford, Oregon, and already something of a sports junkie, starting with Little League baseball in fourth grade; football, track, and basketball the following year; and tennis in seventh grade. Oh, yeah – and a bit of skiing and snowboarding along the way. Oregon, you know.

Rick Thoman was a senior in Sunnyvale and already competing in track and soccer. Tony Jasinski was finishing his first year of college at Tennessee Technological University and did not yet identify as gay. Gene Dermody, coaching and teaching in New Jersey but living in Greenwich Village across from the International Stud, was wrestling at Manhattan’s

West Side YMCA and had decided he was gay after getting picked up by a trick on the A train.

But he hadn’t decided to come out of the closet. Not yet.

Jasinski had started playing street basketball while in high school and was interested in continuing after college when he moved to the East Coast.

“There was a great newspaper in Boston in the 1970s called the Gay Community News,” Jasinski recalled.

“I saw a notice for gay basketball at a government building once a week, so I attended.

It was run by a sweet hippie guy who played in his underwear – I guess he thought that was sexy or risque. He was really nice but really not quite the right person for the role. I quickly took it over and continued until I moved to San Francisco. We hosted possibly the first gay basketball tournament in 1979, when we hosted a team of players from New York in a couple of informal games.”

Wood had started doing a little biking when he was 13 and “inadvertently lost weight. This encouraged me and I began to jog and lift weights.” At 15 he started training in Chun Kuk Do karate and by the late 1980s had his thirddegree black belt.

In the closet, of course.

The Gay Games But with gay liberation in full swing in the 1970s, more and more LGBT athletes in different cities were reaching out to each other to compete in single-sport tournaments. Bowling. Basketball.

Softball. And when the 1980s came, the event that changed everything arrived: the Gay Games.

More than a thousand athletes, 17 sports, 10 countries. Tom Waddell, Paul Mart, Mark Brown, Sara Lewinstein, Hydie Downard, Bob Ross ... a seemingly endless army of folks who had been active in Bay Area gay and lesbian sports started to organize and spread the word for people to come to San Francisco to 1982’s Gay Olympic Games, a multisport and multicultural festival. An event that would provide the “critical mass” of competitors and inspire more and more wouldbe LGBT athletes to come out on the field.

“My introduction to LGBT sports was as a member of the track and field team for San Francisco,” Thoman said. “I got ‘recruited’ by Dr. Tom Waddell to be a part of San Francisco’s track team at the 1982 Gay Games. We started training as a team the year before.”

Jasinski helped organize his team from Boston to attend. Dermody

saw a poster on a utility pole on Christopher Street and, although he did not know of any other gay athletes in New York City, decided to fly west and try it, fully expecting to return home with a gold medal to hang in his closet.

Wrong on two counts.

He was ticked off he earned “only” a bronze ... but he was transformed.

“The 1982 Gay Games were a major eye-opener,” Dermody said.

“I stayed and never came back to New York City: gave up tenure, my 73rd Street co-op, and three hot Broadway dancers I was juggling. It changed my closeted existence and changed my low self-esteem.”

“I doubt I would be living in San Francisco today if it wasn’t for the first Gay Games,” Jasinski said.

“That week was my first week on the West Coast or San Francisco, and I knew instantly that I wanted to live here. The Games became my every-four-year goal, and I participated in every one through Sydney (2002). It seems to me to be especially impactful to people from smaller cities and other countries.

For example, I hosted a party for basketball players in 1986, and some of them from Australia cried as they saw themselves on the evening news that night.”

The novelty of queer and open athletes squaring off in a week of sports hadn’t worn off by the time the Gay Games were held in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1990: the first time the event was held outside of San Francisco. Seven thousand participants, this goround, with more cultural events and 27 sports competitions.

“I put an ad in the local gay newspaper in Portland, Oregon in 1989 to form Team Portland for the Vancouver Gay Games,” Cole said.

“I was with that organization for six years. I was on the local gay tennis and swim team. We organized the team for Vancouver Gay Games.

We signed up 150 people, organized uniforms and places to stay. There was a need and I decided to go for it.”

Wood was already here, already queer, but just beginning to come to terms with it.

“In 1989 I was with a friend at the Castro Street Fair,” he said.

“The Federation of Gay Games had an information booth regarding the upcoming Gay Games in Vancouver. I was recently out of the closet and had a third-degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do karate.

The gay friend I was with noted that the Vancouver Games had a martial arts competition and he jokingly said, ‘You should enter. You’ll win.

It’s a bunch of fags.’ So much for internalized homophobia.

“I entered the martial arts competition and my husband entered the tennis competition.

Our participation in those games changed our lives forever. Having only been out for a year or so, I went

Roger Brigham

The inaugural Pride Track and Field Championships, held at San Francisco State in 2007, was a direct legacy from Gay Games I and the formation of the San Francisco Track and Field Club.

from feeling like I was the only gay in the village, as it were, to walking into a stadium filled with cheering gays and lesbians. The feeling was indescribable.

“The competition was fierce. We were one tough ‘bunch of fags.’ So much for stereotypes.”

“They were so new and exciting in the beginning,” Cole said of the Gay Games. “It was an incredible feeling to just be there. People were still scared to tell friends, family, and coworkers. Some would not even use their own names. Now gay people in general are much more accepted in all aspects of society. Businesses court us, professional organizations and associations embrace us. The ease of maneuvering is easier, not so scary. The need for the Games may have decreased for some, but not the want of the Games.”

The dedication of the Gay Games organizers inspired athletes to step up and give back. There were battles still to be waged – acceptance from mainstream sports organizations, access to public facilities – and events still to be organized.

“The same people were involved in pre-Gay Games I as were post-Gay Games I,” Dermody said, “and we owe them all a great debt of gratitude for what they accomplished with no money, no government money, and overt hostility from mainstream sanctioning bodies. Jack McGowan, Rikki Streicher, etc. The political success of Gay Games I is still being felt as Cleveland Gay Games IX in 2014 looms as probably the greatest LGBT athletic event of the new century. Today LGBT sports is the conscience of mainstream sports, as we influence their policies more than they influence ours.”

They became disciples spreading the word.

“Getting involved with the Gay Games and a gay sports organization like the SF Track and Field Club has enabled me to embrace both being gay and being athletic,” Thoman said. “I marched proudly in my first Gay Pride Parade in SF with the Gay Games contingent. I’ve had great

personal athletic success as a member of the SF Track and Field Club, and made some very close and enduring friendships over the years. Being involved in sports has enabled me to keep fit and continue to challenge myself athletically. I’m so proud of the family of friends I’ve made on our track team and throughout the gay sports community.

“The Gay Games were extremely important in mobilizing gays and lesbians to get openly involved in sports and to help them discover, recognize, and challenge their athletic abilities. After a lifetime of being told you can’t be athletic and gay, the Gay Games showed the extent, the diversity, and the skills the LGBT community had in athletics. I believe this notion that gays were starting to put claims on the world of athletics was one of the reasons the ‘straight’ world sued over the use of the word ‘Olympics.’

The 1982 Gay Games motivated gay athletes around the world to begin organizing their own teams and clubs in many different sports and that impetus continues today.

Every time there’s a Gay Games, the number of athletes getting involved in sports organizations grows and grows, the world over.”

Vancouver extends early bird registration Organizers of the July 2531 Vancouver North America Outgames have announced the early bird registration period for this year’s event will end Friday, April 22.

Seventeen sports from dragon boat racing to dance will be offered as well as a human rights conference.

Base sports registration is currently $100 for athletes who are not members of the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association and will increase to $125; GLISA members pay $25 less in both time periods. Individual and team sport fees will also see increases of about $15 to $25 per athlete. Conference registration fees are separate.▼ For information, visit www.vancouver2011outgames.com.

International News >>

Police raid Shanghai gay bar

by Rex Wockner

P

olice raided the gay club Q Bar in Shanghai, China, April 3 and detained more than 70 people.

They were taken to the Xiaodongmen police station, held for more than 10 hours, and questioned one by one, in particular about the club’s go-go dancer.

Police wanted to know if the gogo boy’s genitals were visible and if people inserted bills into his thong.

There was speculation that a rival gay club may have complained to police.

Same-sex marriage bill introduced in Uruguay Buoyed by the legalization of same-sex marriage in next-door Argentina, activists in Uruguay have arranged the introduction in Parliament of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

The measure was introduced by a member of the ruling Frente Amplio (Broad

Front) coalition, Deputy Sebastián Sabini of the People’s Participation Movement party.

“We are optimistic about the bill being voted into law, since the Frente Amplio has the majority needed to do so,” said Álvaro Queiruga of the activist group Black Sheep Collective. “Also, a few opposition MPs have stated they are in favor of the bill.”

Irish partnerships begin Gay and lesbian couples began entering into civil partnerships in Ireland April 5.

The law took effect January 1, but requires couples to give three months’ notice prior to tying the knot before a registrar.

Civil partners receive marriage rights and obligations in matters such as taxes, pensions, property, tenancy, inheritance, alimony, immigration, and social benefits.

To end a partnership, a couple must go before a court and prove

they’ve not lived together for two of the last three years.

The law also recognizes foreign same-sex unions and provides some rights for unregistered couples who have lived together for at least five years.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern called the law “one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation to be enacted since independence.”▼ More World News at ebar.com.

Bill Kelley contributed to this report.

▼

Obituaries >>

April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

Former ACT executive Thomas Proehl dies

by Cynthia Laird ormer San Francisco resident Thomas Proehl died Tuesday, April 5 at his Minneapolis home. He was 46.

Mr. Proehl died of natural causes, according to a statement from the American Conservatory Theater, where Mr. Proehl had worked when he lived in San Francisco.

Mr. Proehl, who was gay, had served as ACT’s director of administration and operations for more than two years.

“All of us were shocked and saddened to hear of Tom’s sudden death,” said ACT artistic director Carey Perloff. “He was a beloved colleague who raised the bar immeasurably at ACT. One of my most vivid memories of Tom is his leadership of the centennial celebration at our historic theater,

presiding over the entire day like a proud parent as he watched the throngs coming in to enjoy and play – he was a huge community spirit, and we will miss him enormously.”

During his tenure, which began in February 2008, Mr. Proehl was responsible for managing ACT’s finances and played a significant role in the company’s success in weathering the economic downturn in 2008, Perloff said. Along with his financial duties, he took on an expanded managerial position during last year’s search for an executive director. He was instrumental in the administrative leaps made by ACT’s acclaimed conservatory during the launch of the new Masters of Fine Arts program, known as MFA 8 for its small class size of eight to 10 students per class, and the merging of the conservatory’s operations with ACT’s producing arm.

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Elections Commission seeks members for Redistricting Task Force

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News Briefs From page 5

indicate their first two preferred jobs (server, coffee, table setter, etc.)

Dogfest fundraiser Saturday San Francisco’s Duboce Park will be going to the dogs Saturday, April 16 when the Dogfest community dog show unleashes four-legged friends who will be pursuing top spots in a variety of categories, such as best lap dog and most ear-resistible.

The event, now in its fourth year, is a benefit for McKinley Elementary School, a small public school in the Castro neighborhood. Drag star Heklina will appear as Cruella De Vil with the McKinley School Dancers.

It’s believed to be the first time a famous drag queen has performed with kids, organizers said.

Organizer Geoff Benjamin said local celebrity judges include Bay Area Reporter assistant editor Matthew S. Bajko, San Francisco Chronicle columnist Leah Garchik, Supervisors Scott Wiener and Ross Mirkarimi, mayoral candidate Bevan Dufty, Heklina, radio personality Fernando Ventura, dog photographer Jesse Freidin, author Daniel Alcaron, and McKinley principal Rosa Fong.

Daniel Handler, author of the Lemony Snicket books, will serve as master of ceremonies.

Registration is $10 and then it is $10 for each category in which dogs compete. Other categories include best bark, best trick, and celebrity look-a-like.

In addition to the dog competition, the festival will have a doggie spa and cafe, kids carnival, and, of course, hot dogs and sausages.

For more information and to register, visit mckinleyschool.org/dogfest.

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Guest Opinion From page 4

underlie victories like the recent repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” or the landmark Department of Justice decision on the Defense of Marriage Act. Those moments of triumph don’t just suddenly appear. They’re the headlines that come only after years of organizing, strategizing, lobbying, and litigating.

Lastly, and more personally, the great majority of us benefit from the work of LGBT nonprofits at some point in our lives. Maybe it was a coming-out group, or a medical test, counseling or a support group, or a play or a film we saw. Taking it half a step further, if we stop for about two seconds, I’d bet we can all think of people we know and love who, at one time or another, found help, support, or an advocate because of

The San Francisco Elections Commission is calling for applications for appointment to the Redistricting Task Force in the event that the existing supervisorial districts no longer comply with requirements established by federal, state, and local law and need to be redrawn. If that is found to be the case – the elections director has not yet made that determination – then the city charter requires the Board of Supervisors to convene an Elections Task Force to redraw the supervisorial district lines. Elections officials want to move quickly if that happens, hence the call for applications now.

The three appointing authorities – mayor, Board of Supervisors, and Elections Commission – likely have different criteria for appointment.

But by unanimous approval at its March 16 meeting, the Elections Commission selected minimum criteria that includes: being a registered voter in San Francisco and having voted at least once since January 1, 2006; represent the city’s diverse population; not being paid by a political campaign since January 1, 2006; not currently a direct-hire employee of an elected official of the city and county of San Francisco; having general knowledge of the city’s neighborhoods and geography; having a flexible schedule for meetings; and not having a conflict of interest that is prohibited under conflict laws applicable to other city officers.

Those interested in submitting an application should send a letter with the following information: a statement confirming the seven minimum criteria listed above; a

our nonprofit organizations. (And remember that a lot of people – even our friends – don’t talk about services they seek out.)

The challenge before us The challenge before us is historic, both because it’s unprecedented and because how we respond today will shape what kind of community we have tomorrow. It will shape what kind of community future LGBT generations inherit from us.

These are big questions, and by no means do I have the hubris to pretend to know all the answers. But in the second part of this column next week, I’ll offer five suggestions to help move us in that direction.▼ Roger Doughty is the executive director of the Horizons Foundation. Next week, he will look at the future of LGBT nonprofits.

Kevin Berne

Thomas Proehl

Mr. Proehl left ACT July 30, 2010. He then became producing director of the theater arts and dance

statement of interest explaining why you want to serve; a statement confirming that you have enough time to attend meetings; and a resume and/or statement of relevant background.

Materials should be emailed to Gail.Hilliard@sfgov.org (please put Redistricting Task Force in the subject line) or by mail or personal delivery to the Elections Commission, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 048, San Francisco, CA 94102.

The deadline is April 29 at 5 p.m.

For more information, email Hilliard at the address above or call (415) 554-7494.

Petchitecture coming up Petchitecture, the signature fundraiser for Pets Are Wonderful Support, is coming up on Saturday, April 23, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street in San Francisco.

More than 700 human guests are expected, many of them bringing their well-behaved canine companions. At the event, they will marvel at one-of-a-kind pet habitats created by some of the area’s leading architects and designers.

John Gidding, designer and host of HGTV’s Curb Appeal: The Block, will help auction off his custom designed pet habitat to the highest bidder.

The live auction will also feature lifestyle packages and there will be a silent auction as well.

John Lipp, PAWS president, said that while Petchitecture is a fun event, it underscores the very real need for funds for the agency.

“The PAWS client base has grown by well over 30 percent during the past three years,” Lipp said in a statement. “In a weak economy our clients depend on our life-changing

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UAFA From page 9

hold for same-sex married couples, the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Service announced it was back to processing them again – with DOMA in play.

Lavi Soloway, an immigration attorney and specialist in LGBT issues, has said that that stance would lead to the deportation of immigrants who have applied for green cards based on their same-sex marriages to American citizens.

Christopher Bentley, press secretary for USCIS, said in March that the agency has received the legal guidance it sought from the Department of Justice concerning DOMA and green card applications by same-sex married couples.

Same-sex married couples’ applications are “no longer on hold,” he said. And “USCIS has not

department at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, the city where he had previously served on the staff of the Guthrie Theater as general manager from 1999 to 2002, and then as managing director from 2003 to 2006. He was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Guthrie’s new three-theater complex.

His colleagues there also mourned his passing.

“We’re all bereft, because Tom was such an amazing man,” said Joe Dowling, artistic director of the Guthrie. “He had a calm wisdom way beyond his years, a great awareness of how people mattered when we were trying to develop this building. It just doesn’t feel real that he’s gone.”

A native of Moorhead, Minnesota, Mr. Proehl was an important fixture in the Minnesota arts scene throughout his life,

including serving as the head of the Minnesota State Arts Board in 2006 and 2007. Outside of Minnesota, in addition to his service at ACT, he worked at the La Jolla Playhouse and was the founding managing director of New York City’s acclaimed Signature Theatre Company.

Mr. Proehl is survived by his husband of 25 years, James LL Morrison; parents Craig and Joni Proehl; and sisters Patrice (Jay) Burnett and Caroline (Rick) Ness.

A service was held Saturday, April 9, at University Lutheran Church of Hope in Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Foundry Theatre (www.thefoundrytheatre.org) and Signature Theatre Company (www.signaturetheatre.org), both in New York City, and to the theater department at Minnesota State University, Moorhead (www.mnstate.edu/theatre).▼

services more than ever. Our message with Petchitecture is come join us for a night of fun and you will help us fulfill our mission throughout the year.”

PAWS offers support services to over 750 low-income clients living with HIV/AIDS and other disabling illnesses, as well as low-income seniors, to help them maintain the love and companionship of their pets.

Tickets for Petchitecture start at $160 and can be purchased online at www.pawssf.org. For more information, call (415) 979-9550.

Jeremy John Champe

Bi men’s conferences coming up Two bi men’s conferences are set for May by the Bi Men Network. The Southwest Bi Men conference will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 13-15 and the Heartland Bi Men conference will take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 20-22.

The two conferences will focus exclusively on issues specific to bisexual and bi-curious adult men – gathering in a safe and supportive environment to dialogue on their issues of concern, including feelings of invisibility and social pressures to remain in the closet.

“There are still so very few resources available to bisexual and bi-curious men to exchange ideas about their unique and largely misunderstood sexual orientation,” said Mac McCloud, founder and president of the Bi Men Network.

Early registration for each event is $69 until May 1. After that, the fee is $100 per event. Pre-registration is required; no walk-ins are allowed to protect participants’ privacy.▼ For more information, visit www.bimen.org.

implemented any change in policy and intends to continue enforcing the law.” In other words, DOMA still applies.

DOMA prohibits any agency of the federal government from recognizing a marriage license granted to a samesex couple. For binational same-sex married couples seeking a green card to enable the foreign spouse to establish permanent residence in the U.S., the law closes a door open to other married couples. Spouses and other “immediate family members” can obtain green cards without waiting for a visa number to become available.

USCIS sought clarification from DOJ after Holder announced February 23 that DOJ would no longer defend DOMA in court as meeting heightened constitutional scrutiny. Even passage of UAFA wouldn’t fix everything.

Marta Donayre, another Bay

September 9, 1959 – March 28, 2011

Jeremy John Champe was born on September 9, 1959 and was called to rest on Monday, March 28, 2011.

His mother, Janice Geer Champe, preceded him in death. He is survived by his life partner and soul mate, Larry Freeman; his father and stepmother, John E. Champe and Helen Mahony Champe; his sister, Suzanne Champe (Don) Dobrowolsky; nephew, Joe; niece, Jennifer; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

Jeremy grew up in Bloomfield, Connecticut where he attended elementary and high school, and graduated from Wagner College on Staten Island, New York with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He had a serious passion for music and was known, particularly in high school and college, for his participation and contributions playing the piano and singing.

Jeremy moved to San Francisco and continued working in the hospitality industry. In the Castro and on Pier 39, he was affectionately known as “Wonder Waiter” for always giving excellent service as a bartender and restaurant/ catering waiter. He will be missed and loved always, as we are grateful for his life. God bless and keep Jeremy, His loving and obedient son.

Thank you to the ministers of Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco, 150 Eureka Street, in the Castro where on Saturday, April 2 there was a celebration of Jeremy’s life.

The Repast was hosted by Troy Brunet at his home in Duboce Triangle near the Castro. Thank you to everyone who took part in the celebration of life. Rest in peace.

Area resident who’s in a binational relationship, said in a interview last week, “There are a lot of concerns.

LGBT immigrants don’t just face issues of partnership.” For example, she said, “There are a lot who are undocumented and live here, and came here to avoid persecution in their countries.”

Donayre obtained asylum in 2002 because of homophobia in Brazil, her country of origin. She has a green card but said “just having a green card alone is not necessarily the be all and end all for an immigrant.” She noted even a minor crime could result in someone’s deportation.

Steve Ralls, a spokesman for the group Immigration Equality, said, “The criteria for lesbian and gay couples in terms of undocumented partners and spouses would be a mirror of criteria for straight married couples,” so UAFA “would level the playing field.”▼

<< Community News

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 14-20, 2011

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HIV study From page 1

and co-director of prevention at the AIDS Policy Research Center/AIDS Research Institute.

Yet the researchers caution that there is still no evidence to confirm that the treatment policy has led to a reduction in HIV infections in San Francisco.

“Our clinicians recommended initiating antiretroviral therapy to all of our HIV-positive patients based on our assessment that delaying treatment allows the virus to do damage to major organs systems and would lead to poorer outcomes for patients. It is too early to tell if this shift in treatment strategy last year by our clinic and the Department of Public Health has had any impact in preventing HIV infections,” stated study coauthor, Dr. Diane V. Havlir, chief of the UCSF Division of HIV/AIDS at San Francisco General Hospital.

Havlir added that, “Notwithstanding the community benefit from reduced rates of new infections – which we view as an added gain – we strongly believe that the primary reason HIV patients should start antiretroviral therapy

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Teen summit From page 2

still largely ignored as a bias. The question is: ‘How do educators begin to change antiquated attitudes?’”

Organizers of the Bay Area summit hope it can provide some answers. The gathering will feature guest speakers and breakout sessions on various topics, from coming out to faith-based concerns.

Those expected to address the up to 500 attendees include local gay celebrity pastry chef Yigit Pura; Los Angeles-based drag queen Delta Work from the reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race; Santa Rosa teenager Kayla Kearny, who came out to her classmates at Maria Carrillo High School during a speech honoring Martin Luther King Jr. in January;

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Gay Study From page 1

percent of the adult population).

The estimates are part of a report released Thursday, April 7, by the Williams Institute, a well-respected law and public policy think tank within the UCLA School of Law. The institute focuses on issues related to sexual orientation.

The report is entitled, “How many people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender?” and estimates more than 8 million adults in the United States identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and about 700,000 identify as transgender.

The report based the percentages on the U.S. adult population (18 and older) as estimated through the 2009 American Community Survey, an annual survey conducted by the Census Bureau. That total was 232 million adults.

The report also noted that a slight majority of those adults who selfidentify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are bisexual, and women are “substantially more likely than men to identify as bisexual.” “[N]o single survey offers a definitive estimate for the size of the LGBT community in the United States,” says the report, authored by Gary Gates, a prominent scholar on LGBT-related demographics.

Interestingly, the report’s findings concerning same-sex attraction and behavior are not too far off from the famed Kinsey Institute studies of the 1940s-1960s, and its estimates for self-identifying LGBs is close to that of recent exit polling data collected during national elections.

▼

upon diagnosis is so that they will experience better health and will have a longer life span than if they had waited.”

According to the latest estimates, San Francisco continues to have an HIV endemic, meaning that cases remain flat year after year. The number of new HIV infections have steadily declined over the last decade, dropping from a high of 1,000 per year to as low as 621 per year.

The UCSF researchers looked at three different models for HIV testing and treatment among men who sex with men in San Francisco.

One tested the impact of following federal guidelines for treating HIV patients with CD4 T-cell counts below 500; a second looked at treatment for all HIV-positive people receiving care; and the third was a combined test and care policy.

They based their projections on local HIV surveillance information about HIV prevalence and incidence, testing rates, and treatment outcomes data from the health department and general hospital’s outpatient HIV treatment clinics. The information covered 95 percent of known HIV-positive individuals in the city.

The researchers predicted that

with just a treatment for people in care policy, new HIV infections among MSM would drop by 60 percent in five years. When combined with the push to test people so they know their status, the decrease in new infections would be 76 percent.

“Our findings show that we can obtain even greater reductions in new HIV infections if we do a better job of encouraging people to get tested, continue to improve our linkages to care and offer treatment to all HIV patients,” stated Havlir.

Through the implementation of the “test and treat approach,” the researchers also predict that the number of gay and bisexual men living with HIV in the city would be cut in half over the next 20 years, from about one in four to one in eight. The city estimates that there currently are 15,783 gay and bisexual men living with HIV in San Francisco.

“The model does not predict elimination of the HIV epidemic among MSM in San Francisco,” states the study. “However, at 20 years, the test-and-treat strategy predicts reduction in prevalence of HIV infection among MSM in San

Francisco from 26.2 percent to 12.8 percent.”

In an editorial commentary accompanying the study, Victor DeGruttola, in the Department of Biostatistics at Harvard School of Public Health, and Dr. Robert T. Schooley, at the UC San Diego Department of Medicine’s division of infectious diseases, write that due to the uncertainty that comes from modeling exercises, more research is needed into “test and treat” interventions before they become universally adopted.

The study, they caution, “cannot tell us what will and will not be cost-effective in different regions of the world.” They also warn that modeling exercises “are not based on any genuine attempt to understand the true nature of sexual and transmission networks and, therefore, may not produce reliable results.”

Charlebois and his colleagues point out in their study that the results they found are dependent on several components, ranging from patients remaining in care and having access to not just medical treatment but also housing, mental health, and substance use services.

and AIDS and gay rights activist Cleve Jones.

Several local politicians are also slated as speakers, including state Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) and out politicians San Francisco Supervisor David Campos and former Supervisor Bevan Dufty.

In addition to Aaberg, who is expected to be at the gathering, another advocate for LGBT youth who has gained national attention will be speaking that day: Michigan teenager Graeme Taylor. The 14-year-old publicly came out during a local school board meeting last fall in support of a teacher who was suspended for a day without pay after he conducted a classroom talk about gay symbols.

A video of Graeme’s comments went viral, resulting in his being

invited on to the Ellen DeGeneres Show and to the recent White House conference on school bullying. While he himself has not been taunted over his sexual orientation, Graeme said he does have some ideas on how to address the problem.

“To be honest, I don’t really know why it is the case. I was fortunate enough that people realize they gain more by supporting me than by tearing me down,” said Graeme in a phone interview this month.

“I believe everyone should be concerned about bullying on its own because it can lead to worse things.”

His father, Kirk Taylor, will be joining him on the trip out west. A teacher himself, Taylor is currently trying to address the bullying of one his own students, who has

been targeted due to his unique personality.

“He is offbeat and gets teased and pushed in the hallways. His parents are working so hard to try to help him. It is so complex and not easy; that is why we are glad so many people right now are coming together collectively to make this a major issue, as it should be,” said Taylor. “To me this has to become almost tiresome, the attack on bullying. It has to become second nature to kids in school and families in schools the fact it is going to be addressed.”

Galisatus hopes not just LGBT teens but their straight classmates, teachers, parents and concerned adults will take part in the summit.

“It is not only for people who have been bullied but for teens who have seen people bullied and don’t

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.bayareayouthsummit.org.

The sexual behavior studies of Alfred Kinsey found, among other things, that, “Ten percent of males are more or less exclusively homosexual for at least three years between the ages of 16 and 55.”

The recent surveys analyzed by the Williams Institute found 8 percent of adults reported having had sex with a same-sex partner at some point in their lives and 11 percent had been attracted to a person of the same sex.

Many historians have suggested that the Kinsey studies were the origin of the one-time consensus that gay people comprise about 10 percent of the population.

Demographic experts today are much more cautious when trying to estimate the size of the LGBT community, observing that more people are willing to acknowledge a same-sex attraction or behavior than are prepared to self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

And Gates is quick to urge caution in making comparisons between the Kinsey data and the surveys used by the Williams Institute. For one thing, he noted, Kinsey was not using large, population-based data, but rather interviews with several thousand participants in a study of human sexual behavior. And even the Kinsey reports did not conclude that 10 percent of U.S. adults are gay.

The Williams Institute analysis conclusion that about 3.5 percent of the adult population in the United States identifies as LGBT also closely approximates data collected by a major media coalition during recent national elections. The

National Election Pool has found that about 3 percent to 4 percent of people answering exit poll surveys when leaving the voting place have identified themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

The fact that both the surveys analyzed by the Williams Institute and the numbers found by the exit polling are so similar “gives us some real confidence that this [3.5 percent] is a number we can rely on,” said political demographer Patrick Egan.

“We now have a number that measures identity that just didn’t exist when I first started doing this work 10 years ago,” said Egan. “The data back then was much more scant, and we had to rely on proxies for different measures.”

The Williams Institute analyzed information from several population-based surveys. The estimate for sexual orientation identity was derived by averaging results from five U.S. surveys, including the mammoth General Social Survey of 2008 and the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior of 2009.

The estimate for adults identifying as transgender came from an average between numbers found on surveys in Massachusetts and California.

Estimates concerning same-sex attraction came from the National Survey of Family Growth between 2006 and 2008, sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And estimates concerning same-sex behavior came from both the General Social Survey and the Family Growth survey.

Gates said his analysis also examined relevant surveys from four other countries – Canada, Norway, Australia, and the United Kingdom – “mostly to show that LGBT data inclusion is not simply a U.S. issue.”

“Some of the international surveys,” he said, “are conducted in ways similar to how the U.S. conducts many of its large surveys.

For example, the UK survey is roughly akin to the American Community Survey. It is important for folks to see that surveys like this can successfully include these questions.”

The Williams Institute report suggests that the estimates provided by its study are not intended to be the final word on the size of the LGBT community but rather a demonstration of “the viability of sexual orientation and gender identity questions on large-scale national population-based surveys.”

“States and municipal governments are often testing grounds for the implementation of new LGBT-related public policies or can be directly affected by nationallevel policies,” concludes the study.

“Adding sexual orientation and gender identity questions to national data sources that can provide locallevel estimates and to state and municipal surveys is critical to assessing the potential efficacy and impact of such policies.”

Having reliable estimates of the population can help direct government resources and programs to help meet the needs of that population, a point underscored just last week by Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services.

Sebelius issued a lengthy press statement April 1 saying her department would work to increase the “number of federally funded health and demographic surveys that collect and report sexual orientation and gender identity data.”

And an Institute of Medicine report, commissioned by the National Institutes of Health and released March 31, recommended that NIH conduct more research to “advance knowledge and understanding of LGBT health” and that HHS surveys collect data “on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Estimates also have a political value, persuading elected officials that a constituency is large enough to make a difference in elections. The 9 million LGBT estimate from the Williams Institute report is equal to the number of people 65 and older who are military veterans; and it’s greater than the number of teachers (7 million) and the estimated number of stay-at-home moms in the U.S. (5 million). The 3.5 percent LGBT population is twice that of the percent of adults who identify as Mormon (1.7 percent).

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated there were 565,000 samesex partner households in 2008.

They represented 9 percent of the 6.2 million unmarried partner households overall in 2008.

Gates noted that data concerning same-sex couples collected during the 2010 U.S. Census will be released in June and will be rolled out on a state-by-state basis over the course of the summer.▼

“Also of concern is the potential for changes in behavior among MSM leading to increased transmission risk, thereby offsetting any potential gains and the specter of drugresistant strains of HIV,” they write, adding that, “these obstacles are not insurmountable” and note there has been little evidence to suggest greater risk behavior among MSM. In addition, they emphasize that contrary to another modeling study that grabbed headlines, “transmitted drug resistant HIV strains have remained stable or even decreased in San Francisco and in similar cities.”

The study is titled “The Effect of Expanded Antiretroviral Treatment Strategies on the HIV Epidemic among Men Who Have Sex with Men in San Francisco.” Co-investigators for the study are Moupali Das from DPH and Travis Porco from UCSF. The National Institute of Mental Health provided funding for the study through a grant to the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies.▼ It can be found at oxfordjournals .org/content/52/8/1046. full?etoc.

know how to address it,” he said. “A lot of people say they hear ‘That is so gay’ on a daily basis but don’t know how to effectively make someone understand why that is offensive.”

The summit is estimated to cost $2,000, and so far, the organizers have raised $1,400 plus donated air miles to cover the travel costs of speakers.

It will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 23 at Aragon High School, 900 Alameda de las Pulgas in San Mateo. A dinner and a youth-only dance will immediately follow until 10 p.m.▼ The summit and dinner are open to the public; there is a $10 suggested donation to attend.

▼ <<

Community News>>

Pride

From page 1

Supervisors David Campos and Scott Wiener – mostly still indicate the June events will be fine.

Brendan Behan, who once served as Pride’s deputy executive director, has been selected as interim executive director.

“I think there are definitely challenges, but also a lot of opportunities to be able to solidify the financial situation and get this organization back on track,” Behan said.

Behan’s salary will be $65,000, and he’ll be with Pride through December.

Bill Hemenger, 42, who in the fall lost a bid for the Board of Supervisors, is the new treasurer. He said pulling Pride’s finances together is going to be “an uphill battle,” but “this is a world-recognized brand, and we’ve got to be able to leverage and modernize and monetize this brand, and really bring it into the modern day,” he said.

Lord Martine, a marketing consultant, was voted onto the board Monday, April 11.

Along with the additions, Pride saw some troubling departures in the last week.

Co-chair Alex Randolph resigned Friday, April 8. He said that when he joined in January, he’d suspected being on the board would be challenging, but “I did not expect I would be co-chair two months later, and I did not expect we would not have an interim executive director to help the board with the day-today governance of the organization.”

Until this week, Pride had been without an executive director since Amy Andre resigned in November.

Randolph said working with Pride “pretty much became a full-time job.” Pride board members serve as volunteers.

Treasurer Jamie Fountain and previous treasurer Belinda Ryan, both longtime board members, also resigned over the weekend. Neither responded to interview requests.

Lisa Williams, Pride’s remaining co-chair, said board members remain committed, and she had no plans to resign.

She said that exhibitor, main stage, and other work has been “moving forward 100 percent.”

Supervisors weigh in Bevan Dufty, a former supervisor who is now running for mayor, and Campos had called for the city controller’s office to assess Pride’s finances last fall, after Andre and ex-board President Mikayla Connell announced their resignations from the organization.

The resulting report, released in December, revealed that Pride was $225,000 in debt. Pride officials have said they’ve been paying that down.

Dufty, who stepped in to help Pride look for sponsors just before he was termed out as supervisor, said Monday, before Behan and Hemenger’s joining was announced, “I have suggested to Supervisors Campos and Wiener that they need to convene what’s left of the organization to consider how to ensure Pride happens.”

He added, “Some sponsors are nervous.”

Asked to respond to Dufty’s comment, Lindsey Jones, who’s working to bring in sponsors, said in an e-mail, “[T]hese are business people. That makes sense. With few exceptions, our long-term sponsors are sticking by the side of Pride and the community. They are no ‘fair weather friends.’”

She said the confirmed sponsorship amount is $400,000, though she noted that could increase.

There’s also $1.5 million in in-kind services, she said. Pride’s sponsorship goal is approximately $500,000, according to Williams.

Wednesday morning, Dufty

appeared more upbeat.

“I have 100 percent confidence in [Behan’s] work, and I am so pleased to have him at the helm for Pride,” he said, adding that this week’s additions are “some of the better moves I’ve seen.”

Campos, who called the recent departures “very troubling,” said Tuesday, April 12, before Behan and Hemenger’s involvement was announced, that he and Wiener were trying to figure out when their next meeting with Pride officials would be.

“We all have wanted Pride as an organization to be successful, but what happened recently calls into question the viability of the organization,” he said.

Asked if he thought more people should resign from Pride’s board, Campos said, “I don’t think the current board has the trust of the community, and yeah, I think that’s right.”

Campos also talked about the possibility of another organization taking Pride over.

“Nothing has been decided, obviously,” he said. “It’s still in the discussion stages.” However, he said an organization like the San Francisco LGBT Community Center “would be a candidate.”

After the new developments, Campos said Wednesday, “I don’t want to take anything away from the people who are stepping up to help.

It’s certainly appreciated.”

However, he said whether the additions would be sufficient “remains to be seen. I still think it’s important for us to look at other options, including the possibility of a merger.”

The board’s troubles don’t call into question the viability of the June events, though, said Campos.

Wiener appeared to agree.

“I’m confident the parade will happen and will go well,” he said, since “so much infrastructure is in place.”

However, Wiener, who was elected to Dufty’s old seat in November, said, “I think that Pride needs to basically become part of another organization. We’ve tried for years to make Pride work as its own organization, and I think we’re to the point where Pride needs to be run by an organization that has deeper organizational capacity.”

Wiener said he has other organizations in mind, but he wouldn’t say which ones. He also said he hasn’t proposed the idea to Pride officials.

Asked about the LGBT Community Center being a possibility, Wiener said that “certainly would be an option. I think there are very obvious synergies between the center and Pride, but again, that’s just an idea. I don’t know whether or not that would be feasible.”

He wouldn’t say whether he’d talked to Rebecca Rolfe, the center’s executive director, about the idea.

Rolfe said she’d had “a number of conversations with people on the [Pride] board,” including Randolph, about the idea.

However, she also said, “Pride has never indicated to us that they are having a dialogue about other organizations being involved, but should that happen, we’d be very willing to be part of that conversation.”

She said Campos and Wiener have “expressed concern, and we’ve expressed to them we’re willing to be part of a dialogue.”

Nobody’s mentioned a timeframe, she said.

Williams, Pride’s co-chair, said that nobody’s approached her with the idea of merging.

“We haven’t had those discussions,” she said. “Our focus right now is to get through this event.” ▼ This year’s Pride festivities are June 25-26. The theme is “In Pride We Trust.” For more information, visit www.sfpride.org.

April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 13

Classifieds The

Legal Notices>> NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are : CASTRO WINE VENTURES LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at: 411921 19th St., San Francisco, CA 94114-2422. Type of license applied for:

42- ON-SALE BEER AND WINE – PUBLIC PREMISES APR 14 ,2011 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are S&A ENTERTAINMENT LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at: 1337 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103-2622. Type of license applied for:

48- ON-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC PREMISES APR 14 ,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033368300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as MAX MAIDS, 207 Peabody St.,San Francisco,CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Haileab Gebreselassie. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/23/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033426000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as BEST OF TIMES VINTAGE,685 Lakeview Ave.,San Francisco,CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Lorry Thomas. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/17/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033429700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as REAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY, 1234 Castro St.,San Francisco,CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Jeffrey J. Panzer. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/21/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #A-0326567-00 The following persons have abandoned the use of the ficticious business name known as CAFE PESCATORE,2455 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94133. This business was conducted by a limited liability company, signed Evan M. Mallah.

The ficticious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/23/10.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #A-0325014-01 The following persons have abandoned the use of the ficticious business name known as CAFE PESCATORE,425 North Point, San Francisco, CA 94133. This business was conducted by a limited liability company, signed Evan M. Mallah.

The ficticious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/19/10.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #A-0325014-02 The following persons have abandoned the use of the ficticious business name known as TUSCAN INN,425 North Point, San Francisco, CA 94133.This business was conducted by a limited liability company, signed Evan M. Mallah. The ficticious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/19/10.

STATEMENT FILE A-033425800

STATEMENT FILE A-033454100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as VICTORIOUS ADAPTATIONS, 3334 San Bruno Ave.,#6, San Francisco,CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Victor Williams. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/17/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/17/11.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as GOLDEN GATE CONSULTING 524 Primrose Rd. #303,San Francisco,CA 94010. This business is conducted by an individual,signed Alexander Fridman.

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/30/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033407600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as STAR EAST HAIR & BEAUTY(II), 1100 Clement St.,San Francisco,CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Joe Chan. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/10/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033421900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as KAHN & ASSOCIATES,1550 Bay St.,#251,San Francisco,CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Howard Kahn. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/15/93. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/16/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033448900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as CASTRO LOCKSMITH, 2616 24TH Ave.,San Francisco,CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Stephen Green. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/91. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/29/11.

MAR 31,APR 7,14,21,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033446600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as PEGASUS BUILDERS, 250 Olmstead St.,San Francisco,CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual,signed Gearoid O’Sullivan. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/28/11.

MAR 31,APR 7,14,21,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033449200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as JUDAH COSMETOLOGY & FOOT CARE, 2721 Judah St.,San Francisco,CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual,signed Sin Lin Leong. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/29/11.

MAR 31,APR 7,14,21,2011 NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are : EMPORIO RULLI ILCAFFE AT UNION SQUARE INC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at 350 Powell St., San Francisco, CA 94102-1813. Type of license applied for:

41- ON-SALE BEER AND WINE – EATING PLACE APR 14,21,28,2011 NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

APR 7,14,21,28,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033418200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as KRUEGER PR,2340 Vallejo St.,#200,San Francisco,CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual,signed Kelly Krueger.The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/31/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/15/11.

APR 7,14,21,28,2011 STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE# CNC-11-547648 In the matter of the application of BRANDON JAMES WARNER for change of name. The application of BRANDON JAMES WARNER for change of name having been filed in Court, and it appearing from said application that BRANDON JAMES WARNER filed an application proposing that his/her name be changed to PAIGE MARIE WARNER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Room 218 on the 14th of JUNE, 2011 at 9:00 am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APR 14,21,28,MAY 5,2011 STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE# CNC-10-547636 In the matter of the application of SUSAN VIRGINIA BASQUIN for change of name. The application of SUSAN VIRGINIA BASQUIN for change of name having been filed in Court, and it appearing from said application SUSAN VIRGINIA BASQUIN filed an application proposing that his/her name be changed to WILLIAM VIRGINIA BASQUIN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Room 218 on the 26th of May, 2011 at 9:00 am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APR 14,21,28,MAY 5,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033469300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as CITIREPORT – POLITICS, MONEY& ETHICS, 245 Diamond St.,San Francisco,CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation,signed Larry Bush. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/03/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/05/11.

APR 14,21,28,MAY 5,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033479100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as 1.QUIJADA REALTY GROUP 2.BAY AREA PROPERTIES,2305 JUDAH ST.,San Francisco,CA 94122.This business is conducted by an individual,signed Elisabeth Quijada.The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/11/11. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/11/11.

APR 14,21,28,MAY 5,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033428600

To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are : PETER HARAMIS. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at 256 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133-4518.

Type of license applied for:

The following person(s) is/are doing business as QCOMEDY,1045 Mission ST., Apt. 322,San Francisco,CA 94103.This business is conducted by an individual,signed Nicholas Leonard.The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/31/00. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/11.

47- ON-SALE GENERAL EATING PLACE APR 14,21,28,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033465800

APR 14,21,28,MAY 5,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033477000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE EDGE, 4149 18th St.San Francisco,CA 94114.

This business is conducted by a corporation,signed Robert Giljum.The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/04/11.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CASTRO VILLAGE WINE COMPANY, 4119 19th ST.,San Francisco,CA 94114.This business is conducted by a limited liability company,signed Todd McElhatton.The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/08/11.

APR 7,14,21,28,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033449100

APR 14,21,28,MAY 5,2011 STATEMENT FILE A-033479800

The following persons have abandoned the use of the ficticious business name known as CORE PILATES ON 17TH, 3388 17th St.,San Francisco, CA 94110.This business was conducted by a limited liability company, signed Chandler Moore. The ficticious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/07/04.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BDG – BATES DESIGN GROUP, 146 Noe St.San Francisco,CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual,signed Lawrence Bates.The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/29/11.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DOG GONE IT, 4444 17th ST.,San Francisco,CA 94114.This business is conducted by an individual,signed Paul Aeschbacher.The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/11/11.

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011

APR 7,14,21,28,2011

APR 14,21,28,MAY 5,2011

MAR 24,31,APR 7,14,2011 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #A-0275868-00

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Out &About

Williams' 'Eccentricities'

'Jane Eyre' renewed

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Vol. 41 • No. 15 • April 14-20, 2011

www.ebar.com/arts

San Francisco Ballet Programs 6 &7 ~ by Paul Parish ~

S

•••

an Francisco Ballet has risen in the world’s esteem gradually over the last 20 years, moving up through the ranks of respectable provincial companies, gaining prestige every year. SFB now occupies a position as one of the most exciting dance companies that works from a classical base to be seen anywhere in the world. This does not mean they go to St. Petersburg and dance Swan Lake better than the Russians do; it means they go to London, Paris, New York, the Edinburgh Festival, the major artistic capitals in Europe and Asia, and dance new works that nobody has ever seen before in a way that’s sharp, fleet, and exhilarating, with uncanny grace. They then return home in triumph, bringing accolades and prizes and reports of the biggest walk-up (i.e., last-minute, as the word got around the grapevine) sales in the history of the theater.

To see the kind of show that’s making us famous abroad, you should check out SFB’s Programs 6 See page 20 >>

Erik Tomasson

San Francisco Ballet in Christopher Wheeldon’s Number Nine.

Notes on a cultural anthropologist Q & A with the filmmakers of ‘Bill Cunningham New York’ ~ by Sura Wood ~

B

ill Cunningham, the 82-year-old New York Times photographer who’s the captivating subject of the documentary Bill Cunningham New York, is the astute eye and wit behind the paper’s “On the Street,” an assembly of candid snapshots of fashions the stylishly-inclined are actually wearing around town and/or have ingeniously put together, plus Cunningham’s pithy commentary and the occasional outrageously inventive costume or dog in a poncho.

An ethical, fiercely independent lone wolf, and perhaps the kindest man ever to document a gossipy, glitzy world notorious for cattiness and cruelty, Cunningham pedals along dangerous Manhattan streets on his rickety Schwinn (his 28th – the previous 27 were stolen) en route to cover high-society fundraisers or runway shows, when he isn’t immortalizing an exotic bird of paradise strutting down Fifth Avenue in fabulous finery. As he says, “He who seeks beauty will find it.”

See page 29 >>

Bill Cunningham photographs Anna Wintour.

Zeitgeist Films

{ SECOND OF TWO SECTIONS }

<< Out There

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 14-20, 2011

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Meet the press

by Roberto Friedman

O

ur institutional orgy of selfcongratulation continued last week as the Bay Area Reporter celebrated its 40th anniversary with a museum exhibition, parties both public and private, many kind acknowledgements from friends and colleagues, and heaps of media coverage. We sing the newspaper electric!

Last Thursday night a reception marked the opening of a small exhibit devoted to the paper’s 40-year history at the GLBT Historical Society Museum in the Castro. A small, select guest list brought the cream of the city’s political class out to the affair, including CA State Senators Mark Leno and Leland Yee, President of the Board of Supervisors David Chiu, Supervisors David Campos, Scott Wiener and Ross Mirkarimi, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, City Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting

and other notables. In speeches and winking anecdotes, a lot was made of the B.A.R.’s political clout and its long, storied history of civic influence. But it fell to former Supervisor Bevan Dufty to note in his remarks that the paper has been just as important in its coverage of Arts & Culture, and to recognize little old Out There from the stage.

Thanks, Bevan, you’re a true mensch, and we wuv ya for it!

Mesmerized by the slide-show of historic pages from our past compiled from weeks of research by photographer Rick Gerharter, we almost missed old friends and distinguished guests who had come a-calling. But we did get to greet photographer Dan Nicoletta and producer Marc Huestis, taking a break from organizing the Justin Vivian Bond show at the Castro Theatre last weekend, and welcome Mx. Bond herself, draped in a tasteful shawl,

who came to the party directly from the airport after touching down. We are in her jet-setting debt!

Socializing did not slow the next night, when OT plus studly consort Pepi attended the last of the San Francisco Ballet season’s Nite Out series for LGBT audiences.

The program, including a dazzling world premiere from choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, reviewed elsewhere in these pages, was followed by a killer afterparty in Dress Circle bar, with plenty of gay frolic. Chatted gaily with our pal just in from Boston, former SF Chronicle and SF Examiner (the old, worthy Examiner, not the current, execrable, right-wing Examiner) art critic David Bonetti, dance critics Allan Ulrich and Paul Parish, our new dance-lover pal Benson, and beautiful SFB staffer Francesca.

True to form, we closed the joint down at Midnight.

Our Saturday night was fun & balloons at the B.A.R. party in Toad Hall, where a wad of drink tickets made us sugar daddy for the night.

Guests ran the gamut from GLBT historian Gerard Koskovich to Strange de Jim, the widow Gina Moscone to Portia Capplethwaite, who made a rude joke about toads and drank her vodka neat.

Frankly, we don’t think we could take much more celebrating, as our liver has walked out in protest and put up a sign: “Under New Mismanagement.” So we’re through with the 40th-anniversary fapping already! We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Steven Underhill

Invited guests face the stage during the B.A.R.’s reception at the GLBT Historical Society Museum last Thursday night.

Courtesy SFS

San Francisco Symphony music director Michael Tilson Thomas filming the series Keeping Score on location at Mahler’s villa in Maiernigg, Austria.

Mahler’s world Two new episodes of the San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson Thomas series Keeping Score are coming to KQED-TV 9 tonight (Thurs., Apr. 14) and next week (Thurs., Apr. 21), and they’re both full of fascinating information about the immortal composer Gustav Mahler. It’s the centenary of both Mahler’s death and the birth of the SFS, so there’s some kind of weird music-world synchronicity at play.

The first episode (4/14, 9 p.m.), Gustav Mahler: Origins, finds MTT traveling to Bohemia, Czech Republic, to trace Mahler’s life up through the premiere of his first symphony in 1888. It nicely makes the case that the Mahler family’s

cultural environment, which would have included an immersion in folk music, military marches, even barroom songs, influenced the young composer’s work. This hour is followed by the first concert program (4/14, 10 p.m.), in which the SFS under MTT perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Titan.

The second episode (4/21, 9 p.m.), Gustav Mahler: Legacy, brings Mahler from the 1890s through his death at 51. Topics considered include his works (the symphonies and song cycles), his conducting career (a Jew leading the Vienna Opera!), and his tempestuous relationship to his wife Alma. MTT considers Mahler’s

profound influence on his own life during a visit to the composer’s grave in Grinzing, Austria. This episode is followed by the second concert program, A Mahler Journey, where the SFS and MTT continue exploring the Mahlerian repertoire, including Songs of a Wayfarer performed by the excellent baritone Thomas Hampson.

Out There has followed the Symphony’s ambitious Mahler programming from the beginning and through the years, but screening these documentary and concert programs gave us a new, more intimate understanding of the composer, his times, and his continuing appeal and relevance.

It’s music to our ears.▼

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April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Theatre >>

Pleasure dome

by Richard Dodds

T

his is meant as a compliment: The stage musical based on the movie Xanadu is exuberantly more dim-witted than its source.

After recently seeing the Broadway adaptation for the first time at the Retro Dome in San Jose, I found that the 1980 movie is available for streaming on Netflix. (I had figured the film was buried deep in a cave somewhere in Universal City.) I just couldn’t believe that the filmmakers had access to enough drugs to have put on screen what ended up in the 2007 musical.

To be sure, the movie is an inane concoction that tried to cash in on Hollywood’s ever-so-brief rollerdisco phase (anyone remember Roller Boogie with Linda Blair, or Skatetown U.S.A with Scott Baio?).

But the wickedly clever playwright Douglas Carter Beane has amped up the film’s unwise elements into full-blown madness. And more glad tidings: the Guggenheim Entertainment production at the suitably oddball geodesic-domed former movie theater at a secondtier shopping mall gets the joke of the material and delivers laugh upon laugh for audiences that seem to include return groupies in costume.

The nutshell version of the plot (and it deserves residency in a nut) concerns a chalk artist in Venice Beach who creates his ephemeral artwork along the boardwalk. But when Sonny hits a creative block, a Greek muse materializes in human form to get him back on track. “I will disguise myself as a roller skater with leg-warmers and an Australian accent,” says the muse Clio in homage to screen antecedent Olivia Newton-John. Curiously, the artist’s dream is grander than something as relevant as creating great paintings.

“I want to create an apex for where all the arts combine,” he declares. What else could it be but a roller disco?

tracymartinphotography.com

Sarah Aili plays a Greek muse who comes to contemporary life to help an artist (Adam Barry) rediscover his creativity in the campy stage version of the movie musical Xanadu.

One of the clever devices that Beane employs is to enlarge the roles of Clio’s fellow muses, who become somewhere between Vegas showgirls (and a couple of ringer dandy lads) and Ethel Merman clones.

Melpomene (Hilary Little) and Calliope (Shannon Guggenheim) are the troublemaking Merman-esque demigods, and they delightfully duet on Jeff Lynne’s song “Evil Woman,” which is also a highlight of Shannon Guggenheim’s marvelously insane choreography.

There are also giddily engaging performances by Sarah Aili as Clio, who pretty much devastates Olivia Newton-John, and by Adam Barry as the perkily dense Sonny. Stephen Guggenheim plays the conflated roles of the big-bad businessman and the clarinet-playing Gene Kelly from the film version, and he’s the only character who doesn’t rollerskate – he’s wearing roller skates,

but the wheels are locked, so he roller-walks.

Director Scott Evan Guggenheim knows what he’s doing, both in the blithe tone and the sleek staging. At this point, you may have noticed a surfeit of Guggenheim surnames above, and the Retro Dome enterprise is definitely a family affair. The former Century 25 in the Westgate Mall opened as a singlescreen movie theater in 1969, and was ripe for the wrecker’s ball when the Guggenheims reopened it in 2009. The auditorium has been twinned, with retro movies on one side and live theater on the other. It’s in an area of San Jose that I didn’t even know existed, but I am everso-happy I found my way to this funkified coliseum.▼ Xanadu will run through May 8 at the Retro Dome in San Jose. Tickets are $24-$44. Call (408) 404-7711 or go to www.theretrodome.com.

<< TV

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 14-20, 2011

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The 11th hour

by Victoria A. Brownworth

E

liot was right, April really is the cruelest month. We can’t remember a time when there was more global unrest compounded by more natural disasters. The nightly news looks like a Hollywood disaster flick more often than not. What’s more, we’ve become dangerously inured to it all. News that a few million tons of radioactive water have been dumped into the sea off Japan at Fukushima barely raises an eyebrow. News that yet another Middle Eastern/North African nation is in violent foment only makes us want to change channels. Not to another news network, but to TMZ, Inside Edition or maybe just The Simpsons, syndicated shows in competition with the evening newscasts.

But avoiding the news is not the answer. That is, after all, what led to the government nearly shutting down on April 8. Ignoring the obvious, the crucial, the painful doesn’t work. Changing channels is not an answer. More news, not less,

is what we need on the tube. More real news, that is.

It was easier for everyone (voters, legislators, the President) to ignore the very real issues of the budget until the literal 11th hour than to get a budget passed back in October, when it was due. Yet as we watched the breaking news just before Midnight on April 8, everyone was very pleased with themselves. The entirely too softspoken Harry Reid had finally raised his voice earlier in the day in defense of women’s lives – several months late, one might argue, but still, he did it, and in front of as many TV cameras as he could find when the Republicans made it clear that de-funding Planned Parenthood was essential to their budget. The Republicans didn’t get what they wanted on that score, at least not for now. But anyone who thinks the budget agreement was a coup hasn’t been watching the news, before the announcement or after.

Queers may think that this deficitslashing mayhem in Washington is beside the point for them – after

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: soft-spoken.

all, Republicans, Democrats and this President have made it clear that queers are like undocumented workers in this country: free to pay taxes, but not eligible for the same rights as anyone else.

All the news networks have been keenly focused on what will be impacted in the budget-slashing, but we have to laud ABC on their reportage, most especially Nightline and World News Now (or as we like to call it, the Terrifying Middle of the Night News) for laying out just what’s at stake, and how much of it will affect us directly.

How long has the queer community fought for AIDS research, which is now, along with cancer research and myriad clinical trials, on life support? What about that Planned Parenthood deal?

Remember, this all comes up for review again in September, when a new budget is determined. PP delivers HIV/AIDS and other STD testing for millions of women and their partners nationwide. Think that isn’t important to us? Think local AIDS/HIV funding won’t be impacted by the federal budget cuts? Think again. We are so very expendable.

Speaking of pain and suffering, have our warplanes killed more of the Libyan rebels than Kaddafy supporters yet? Just wondering. We seem to be getting right down to the Afghanistanization of the Libyan conflict. This Week’s Christiane Amanpour queried, “Shouldn’t we know by now who the rebels are, what they stand for, and who their leaders are?” No answer from the Administration. But since Amanpour has covered more wars and conflicts than almost any other reporter in journalism today, at least she’s asking the question. At $100 million a day thus far in the Libyan conflict, it’s definitely a question to be asked.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been squeezing as much face-time as possible out of every network, and all have been ready to oblige.

<<

San Francisco Ballet From page 17

and 7, which opened at the Opera House last weekend and will run there through Wednesday of next week. Both are mixed bills. The oldest piece, Petrouchka, was a sensation in Paris 100 years ago, when Stravinsky’s music dazzled Western audiences for the first time and Nijinsky knocked the socks off the balletomanes as the sawdust puppet with the soul of Everyman.

The other ballets on the programs are all 21st-century. Two of them are brand-new to us, and one was just made a few months ago for these dancers, who have taken to it like a hungry man to a steak. This ballet, Number Nine by Christopher Wheeldon, sweeps across the stage like a series of storms, scouring the eyes and leaving you feeling braced and enormously refreshed, and wondering what just happened to you. The other ballet new to us, Chroma, comes from London (where it won the Lawrence Olivier

Trump is like the Charlie Sheen of politics, unfiltered and crazy. Memo to Trump: even the Republicans have given up on the Obama-isn’ta-citizen meme. And if you think John McCain wouldn’t have been talking about that every day of the election campaign if it had been true, you’re as clueless as your hair.

Even Glenn Beck has dropped the birther rhetoric.

Speaking of Beck, he’s off the tube. Fox canceled his show April 7. Word is, Beck’s rhetoric was too extreme for the network. Yes, for Fox. Take that in for a moment.

Beck isn’t the only face leaving the small screen. Katie Couric has decided not to renew with CBS News, leaving less than five years after becoming the first woman solo anchor on an evening newscast.

We’re sorry to see Couric go. She faced major criticism for failing to pull CBS’ ratings out of the toilet, but remember that it was Dan Rather who put the ratings there.

We’re not sure why more people watch Brian Williams than Couric; we know he’s taller, but they’re both sitting. Seriously, why can’t Couric get respect? She single-handedly crashed Sarah Palin’s run for the vice presidency. She’s also done some very serious reporting, most especially in Afghanistan, the war everyone wants to forget.

Through the windshield Meanwhile, over at prime time, we are still reeling from seeing Callie (fabulous Sara Ramirez) go through a windshield on Grey’s Anatomy seconds after Arizona (almost-asfabulous Jessica Capshaw) asked Callie to marry her. This plot move made us crazy, but resulted in one of the most searing scenes in TV history for queers. Callie is pregnant with Mark’s baby. An accidental pregnancy, since Callie fell back into BFF comfort sex with Mark when Arizona left her to go to Africa and save dying babies but wouldn’t have a baby with Callie. But now the baby is a reality, and Arizona and Mark

Prizes at its debut five years ago), and looks at first viewing like a sci-fi version of the blues, like Etta James’ “I Feel Uneasy” set in motion and articulated by a new multi-racial breed of dancer, possessed of the finest motor skills on the planet.

Number Nine sends 24 dancers moving at a mad rush to the drastically propulsive music of Michael Torke’s “Ash.” It’s virtually a disco beat, unrelenting, with the major displacements in decibel levels and tone color. It’s the kind of beat that can drive a nightclub crowd into a trance (and the audience was screaming at the end). The dancers on opening night were fantastically alert – they had to be, the moves are so sharp, so clear, so risky.

There are places where streams of dancers move through colonnades of other dancers like water through a hydroelectric dam, or set up a line of sculptured forms 1-2-3-4-5-6, just like that, all pointing like birddogs at the same place. Then the whole set-up dissolves, the stage empties, and more rush on. Or at

are trying to be the other parents with Callie. Then the accident.

Last week’s episode, in which everyone tried to save the lives of Callie and her premature baby, used the device of music to get Callie (and us) through a gut-wrenching hour.

Ramirez is a Tony Award-winning actress whose musical talents are impressive. So there was singing, which we thought we would hate, but which we actually loved. And there were Arizona and Mark arguing about both the baby and Callie’s care. Arizona, a world-renowned pediatric specialist, is telling Mark what could happen if the baby is delivered now. She tells him, “You’re basically a sperm donor. This is me and this is Callie, and we’re together.”

Then Mark screams, “You say. You don’t get a say. This is my family, this is my baby, I’m the father. You’re not anything. You’re nothing. Nothing.”

Hankies all around, please.

Later, as she sits by Callie’s bedside (who’s nearly died several times, and the baby has had to be delivered via emergency C-section), Arizona says, “Mark’s kinda right, you know. I’m nothing. I mean legally, I’m no one.

Which is kinda crazy, because I feel like your wife, I feel like your baby’s mom. So, can you just live? Can you live for me?”

This searingly emotional TV may be too much for some, and may have needed to be softened with all the music, but for us, it was Greek tragedy, replete with the requisite chorus. Truths are told on this show every week. Is it the best show on TV? Not really: it doesn’t have the snappy writing of Castle, or the political insight of The Good Wife. It doesn’t have the grandeur of The Borgias or the Good v. Evil of Justified. But what Grey’s Anatomy has done over its many seasons is tell stories about the ways in which life and death interpose themselves into our lives. It’s a show created by a black woman in white male Hollywood that has remained one of the top-rated shows over many cast changes and controversies. In Callie and Arizona, we have real lesbians struggling with real lesbian issues.

Arizona is 100% lesbian, Callie wavers on the bisexual spectrum but wants a life with Arizona more than anything. Now all of that is at risk, and a man who is not part of their partnership gets to make decisions for them both. Just like real life.

At episode’s end, Callie woke up from her coma. And said yes. It doesn’t always happen that way. But for now, this show makes us feel like lesbians have a chance against the straight monolith. For that alone, it’s important to stay tuned. ▼

least I think I saw that. Each new image scrubs the last one off the mind, which leaves you exhilarated, breathless, and remembering only the colors: lemony gold for the 16 corps dancers, turquoise, carmine, key-lime for the principals. The strongest after-image I have left, and the only one I’m certain of, is the gorgeous Myles Thatcher poised like the Nike of Samothrace, centerstage, in the opening tableau.

The new Wheeldon piece closes Program 7. His last-but-one ballet, Ghosts, formed the opening of Program 6, and turned out to be the most satisfying of all the works.

It gives a great role to the ballerina Sofiane Sylve, a sovereign diva whose majestically objective dancing is matched by a generosity of spirit that makes her a presiding presence over this melancholy, silvery, slowmotion wonder. The dancers’ bodies sink and subside, float, are eddied about, like the passengers of the Titanic seen through to the end See page 28 >>

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April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 21

Theatre >>

Williams without magic

by Richard Dodds

T

ennessee Williams was famous for being in a constant state of rewrite. He always saw room for improvement, sometimes even years after a play had officially premiered.

Most likely the record-holder for the longest gestation of a Williams revision is the play that started in 1948 as Summer and Smoke and returned to Broadway in 1976 as The Eccentricities of a Nightingale. While both were commercial failures, each found resurrection several years after their respective debuts in acclaimed off-Broadway productions.

Williams had insisted that The Eccentricities of a Nightingale was in fact a new play, and not merely a spruced-up Summer and Smoke.

But until my first encounter with Eccentricities at the Aurora Theatre, I doubted his claim. There are similarities in time, place, and certain characters, but there are

also huge changes in tone, plot, and most significantly, in what Williams himself called the “cloudy metaphysics and melodrama that spoiled the original production.”

The newer play is much more focused on the trajectory of a relationship between the fluttery parson’s daughter and the widely desired boy next door. While I have always found Summer and Smoke to be overly ripe in its exaggerated symbolism, flightsof-fancy dialogue, and obvious characterizations, I now have to say that I think Williams eliminated too much Williams-ism from his newer play. That cloudy world of quasirealism has been cleared to the detriment of the playwright’s poetic magic.

Even so, Aurora’s Artistic Director Tom Ross has securely moored the heart of the play, which will always be the character of Alma, torn between her sublimated urges of the

Books >>

Fantastic voyage

by Rachel Pepper Huntress by Malinda Lo; Little Brown, $17.99

Malinda Lo, a Bay Area resident, is that rare Young Adult author who easily crosses over to adult LGBT readers. Openly lesbian herself, Lo has written two books that blend fantastical settings with sensitively told love stories between teenage women. Ash, a retelling of the Cinderella myth, was a finalist for

the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Andre Norton Award for YA Science Fiction and Fantasy, and the Lambda Literary Award for Children’s/Young Adult. She also received a nod from Kirkus in 2009 for Best Book for Children and Teens.

Growing up near an enchanted wood, and possessing powers that gradually unfold, Ash must work as a servant for her stepmother and stepsisters after the death of

flesh and her self-appointed status as pillar of propriety in her small Mississippi town shortly before the First World War. As Alma, Beth Wilmurt is a delight and a revelation, finding a way to combine both resolve and desperation as she sees a dismal future fast approaching.

As her beloved neighbor John, a young doctor, Thomas Gorrebeeck projects a handsome, steady appeal, but this is a character that Williams stripped of much of his original skirt-chasing libido, leaving behind a rather bland figure. As if to make up for it, the playwright wrote in a new character, John’s mother, who comically yet frightfully comes close to incestuous interest in her offspring in Marcia Pizzo’s crisply elegant performance. Esteemed local actor Charles Dean doesn’t have much to work with as Alma’s downtrodden father, but Leanne Borghesi enlivens her brief scene as a loud-mouth member of a

David Allen

Thomas Gorrebeeck plays a young doctor examining his smitten neighbor Alma, played by Beth Wilmurt, in The Eccentricities of a Nightingale at Aurora Theatre.

woebegone culture club that Alma helms.

As always, the intimate nature of the Aurora Theatre, with audiences on three sides of the playing area, makes us feel party to the proceedings. This is streamlined Tennessee Williams, which almost sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s

her father. In-between cooking and cleaning, Ash is able to visit the fairies in the magical woods near her home, biding her time in unfurling her freedom. As the story builds, so does the relationship between Ash and the young Huntress Kaisa. Soon, Ash begins to dream of a different future for herself. So when she is offered several wishes from the fairy Sidhean, Ash must decide in which direction her future, and her desires, will turn. Readers will hope for a sequel when they reach the book’s last, promising pages.

Lo’s new book, Huntress, released this month, is a prequel to Ash. But

also a rare opportunity to see how the playwright could actually cut through his own fog.▼ The Eccentricities of a Nightingale will run at the Aurora Theatre through May 8. Tickets are $34$45. Call (510) 843-4822 or go to www.auroratheatre.org.

the two books have no characters and few settings in common.

Instead, Huntress takes place several hundred years before the time of Ash, in an era when magic was more common in the land, and contact between humans and other species, including the Xi, is strained. It is up to two teenaged girls, Taisan, a sage in training, and practical Kaede, both 17, to save the human world.

The two are selected to embark on a journey to Tanlili, the far-off city of the Fairy Queen, to fulfill a difficult mission. The oracle stones have predicted that they will be able to save the human race by bringing See page 27 >>

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 14-20, 2011

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Music >>

Revelations in the concert hall

by Philip Campbell

I

ebar.com

n a welcome return to Davies Symphony Hall last week, Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra Osmo Vanska led the San Francisco Symphony in the world premiere of an SFS-commissioned work, Thomas Larcher’s Red and Green. The new score provided an impressive opening for a program that went on to spotlight Concertmaster Alexander Barantschik in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, and the orchestra performing Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 2, A London Symphony.

Curiously enough, the concert maintained a certain air of comfort throughout the entire evening.

Not the sort of atmosphere you might ordinarily associate with the premiere of an edgy new score by an experimentalist writer. Could be that the game San Francisco crowd has been trained to be less intimidated by new works when they can expect, from experience, to be rewarded for their patience with more traditional pieces from familiar composers after they take their medicine. One subscriber was heard to remark, after the Larcher, “Wow, that wasn’t bad at all. I was expecting it to be a lot more dissonant.” Frankly, I was, too, but my previous knowledge of the composer has been limited to the excellent representations of his work on the eminent ECM New Series of compact discs.

The Austrian Larcher has attempted with Red and Green to create a listening experience that seems mostly intent on exploring the possibilities of sonorities. His sometimes ambiguous directions

Ann Marsden

Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vanska.

make for some fascinating and startling textures, punctuated by explosive outbursts, but the general mood remains hypnotically attractive and often very beautiful.

The composer (and some of his followers) have said he is less concerned with harmony and melody than pulse and surface, and the new work is notable for the focus brought by recurring percussive elements.

Still, there are wedges of stringwriting that hold deceptively subtle tunes, and the effects Larcher wrings from the players produce some really interesting sounds. I kept looking for phantom instruments in the orchestra, only to find that the string players were finding new ways to express themselves.

The composer says he, like other people who are color-blind, cannot distinguish red and green. That tells us much about the true colors of his lustrous new score – the textures and effects add up to much more than a literal representation of color.

They reveal how an outsider feels and perceives.

The premiere was met by polite audience approval, but that warmed considerably when the composer took the stage for his solo bow.

There was not the same kind of electricity we remember from some other debuts, yet the SFS ultimately will be proved to have made a good decision, commissioning a score that could well enter the repertoire.

Next, our well-liked and highly respected Concertmaster Alexander Barantschik whipped out his famous 1742 Guarnerius del Gesù violin (believed to be the instrument used for the premiere in 1845) to play Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. Crooking the fabled instrument under his chin a la Isaac Stern at one point, Barantschik, unfortunately for me, highlighted the very difference between the two virtuosos. Both possess extraordinary technique and dexterity, but the late, lamented Stern had something Barantschik lacks, a singing kind of passionate intensity.

Make no mistake, this was an excellent performance, well worthy of the warm ovation that followed, but it didn’t enter my heart the way Stern used to, and I was left admiring our Concertmaster more for his solid artistry than his interpretive insight.

The concert ended with a good if slightly somnolent reading of Vaughn Williams’ A London Symphony. It was a pleasure, for any anglophile, to spot the references to folk tunes and appreciate the many dabs of local color (honking horns, the tolling of Big Ben, etc.), but I wish Vanska had tried to move things along a bit faster. The moody, impressionist details were lovely, but London is a big, robust place, and it might have been represented more vibrantly had the score been paced more as a genuine symphony and less as a tone poem.▼

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April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 23

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24 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 14-20, 2011

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The Real Americans @ The Marsh

& A O t u o b A & t

OuJim Provenzano • • by

Fri 15 >> Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet @ Novellus Theater See the premiere of a new dance work by King, with a set piece by architect Christopher Haas (the de Young Museum), and a score by percussionist Mickey Hart. $15-$65. 8pm.

Fri-Sat 8pm. Wed-Thu 7:30pm. Sun 5pm. April 21 is a benefit night for UCSF’s Women’s HIV Program; $150, 6:30pm. Also, post-show Q&As with the artists and other special events through the run. Thru April 24. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard St. 978-2787. www.linesballet.org

Amara Tabor Smith @ CounterPulse Smith’s Deep Water Dance Theatre and other artists perform Our Daily Bread, a contemplative performance-dance work about the rituals of food, fast food culture, agribusiness and traditions of eating. $15-$22. Thu-Sun 8pm. Thru April 24. 1310 Mission St. (800) 838-3006. www.CounterPulse.org

Anniversary Party @ Hole in the Wall Pleasantly divey SoMa bar celebrates its 17th birthday. 7pm-2am. 1369 Folsom St. 4314695. www.hitws.com

Art of the 60s @ Oddball Film Short documentaries about Barnett Newman, Claes Oldenberg, Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, and more. $10. 8:30pm. Other strange short films about drunken cats and more, April 16, 8pm. 275 Capp St. 558-8117. www.oddballfilm.com

Beardo @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley The always entertaining Shotgun Players present playwright Jason Craig and composer Dave Malloy’s commissioned new play, a unique rock musical variation on the story of Rasputin, the Russian mystic, who seduced his way through the Tzar royalty; starring Ashkon Davaran. $17-$26. Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm (Wed 7pm starting April 6). Thru April 24.

1901 Ashby Ave. (510) 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org

Big Green Garage Sale @ Former Tower Records Under One Roof and Goodwill Industries hold a massive sale of housewares, furniture, clothing, books, music, decorative objects and more. Proceeds benefit local AIDS and HIV charities. 12pm-5pm. thru April 15. 2278 Market St. at Noe. www.underoneroof.org

The Busy World is Hushed @ New Conservatory Theatre Center San Francisco premiere of Keith Bunin’s Bunin s drama about a minister who finds her faith at odds with her estranged son. $24-$40. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm, thru May 1. 25 Van Ness Ave at Market St., lower level. 861-5019.

8972. www.nctcsf.org

Clearance Sale @ Berkeley Repertory’s Warehouse

Dan Hoyle’s moving and funny solo show, with multiple characters based on Midwesterners on the right and Coasters on the left, asks how a politcially divided America can survive. $25-$35. Fri 8pm, Sat 8:30pm. Thru April 30.

1062 Valencia St. at 22nd. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

The Residents @ Bimbo’s Eye-poppingly strange local band performs live. $30. 21+. 9pm. Also April 16. 1025 Columbus Ave. 474-0365. www.bimbos365club.com

SF Underground Film Festival @ Victoria Theatre Peaches Christ and Sam Sharkey cohost the day-long fest of short films, with a live stage show. $10-$20. 7:30pm. 2961 16th St. www.peacheschrist.com

Singing at the Edge of the World @ The Marsh Cabaret, Berkeley

Halloween, Burning Man and other stuff now by helping the acclaimed theatre company clear space and save money. 10am-4pm. Also April 16. 937 Carleton St. at 9th, Berkeley.

(510) 647-2930. www.berkeleyrep.org

The Eccentricities of a Nightingale @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley Tennessee Williams’ fascinating 1976 revision of his 1951 play Summer and Smoke. $10-$45.

Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm & 7pm.

Thru May 8. 2081 Addison St. www.auroratheatre.org

Edge-ing @ The Edge Michael Brandon hosts a naughty fun fundraiser with a Biggest Package contest. Gogo guys, Jell-O shots and more. $3. 9pm-12am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Fact/SF @ The Garage Charles Slender’s ensemble performs his new and recent dance works, many with a daring theatrical edge and LGBT themes. $20. 8pm.

April 13-15. 975 Howard St. at 6th. (800) 8383006. www.factsf.org www.975howard.com

How Bizarre Fashion Show @ Mission Cultural Center Diva Dolls in Toy-Land, a fun fashion show and fundraiser for local HIV service organizations. $13-$15. 6:30pm. 2868 Mission St. www. brownpapertickets.com/event/165849

Into the Clear Blue Sky @ Phoenix Theater J.C., Lee’s post-apocalyptic drama where New Jersey-ites flee a melting earth for the moon. $15-$17. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru April 30.

414 Mason St. at Geary. www.sleepwalkerstheatre.com

Loveland @ The Marsh Ann Randolph’s solo show about a sexually frustrated woman who flies home and faces the greatest love of her life. Fri 8pm. Sat 5pm. $20-$50. Thru May 8. 1062 Valencia St. at 21st. (800) 838-3006. www.themarsh.org

Monogamy/Non-Monogamy @ AIDS Health Project Discussion group for gay and bisexual men about relationships and more. Free. 6:309:30pm. Pre-register: 476-6448. 1930 Market St. www.ucsf-ahp.org

Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus @ Lakeshore Ave. Baptist Church English Americana, a concert of historic sea shanties, love songs and drinking songs, plus works by Schubert, Shaw and Britten. $12-$20. 8pm. Also April 16, 7:30. April 17, 5pm. 3534 Lake Shore Ave., Oakland. (800) 706-2389. www.oebgmc.org

Oakland East Bay Symphony @ Paramount Theatre The Height of Romanticism inc includes Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, Bernard Symph Hermann’s Vertigo score, and an a world drummer-composer Scott premiere by drummer-com Amendola. $20-$65. 8pm. 2025 Broadway, Oakland. (800) 745-3000. www.oebs.org

Queer Puja @ Terra’s Temple, Tem Oakland

Massive sale of costumes, props, furniture and more. Get your

My Big Fat Quee Queer-Friendly Puja is an LGBT LGBTQ event divine for exploring your y masculine and an feminine with Tantric practices, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques. relaxatio $20-$25. 3pm-5pm. $20-$25 Oakland Ave. 654 Oa (510) 967-6826.

Fri 15 MARILU HENNER @ THE RRAZZ ROOM The TV and Broadway star ( Taxi, Grease, Chicago ) performs her favorite cabaret and musical theatre classics. $40. 7:30pm. Also April 16. 2-drink minimum. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. at Ellis. (800) 380-3095. www.therrazzroom.com

Randy Rutherford’s inspirational autobiographical solo show, with music, about his life as an Alaskan folksinger overcoming congenital hearing loss (captions for hearing impaired at first three Saturday shows). $15-$50.

Thu & Fri 8pm, Sat 5pm. Thru April 16. 2120 Allston Way, near Shattuck. (800) 838-3006. www.themarsh.org

Stomp @ San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

Fri 15 ZACCHO DANCE THEATRE @ YBCA FORUM Joanna Haigood’s The Monkey and the Devil blends dance, theatre and visual art in a tense hour-long work about racism’s roots in America’s slave trade. Free. 8pm (with special post-show discussion). Also April 16 & 17, 12pm-2pm and 3pm-5pm, with looped continuous performances; no seating or ticketing. 701 Mission St. at 3rd. www.zaccho.org www.ybca.org

Broadway San Jose presents the hit show, a cacophonic cathartic dance-percussion show, with new acts; garbage cans have never sounded so good. $20-$69. Tue-Thu 7:30pm.

Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm. Sun 1pm & 6pm. Thru April 17. 255 Almaden Blvd. (408) 792-4111. www.sjtix.com

$35.

Ave. $35 11:15pm.

11:15pm Pier 29 at Embarcadero Ave 438-2668. www.teatrozinzanni.com

Stage, Shattuck. (510) Stage 2025 Addison St. St at Shattuck 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Talking With Angels @ Royce Gallery

Dogfest @ Duboce Park

Yisrael K. Feldsott @ Paul Mahder Gallery

Heklina hosts a benefit for Mckinley Elementary School, with a dog costume show, kid games, live auctions and more. 11am-4pm, Duboce at Noe sts. Register your canine for the festivities at www.sfdogfest.com

Still Standing, an exhibit of vibrant neo-primitive paintings by Chicago-born California artist.

Thru May 28. 3378 Sacramento St. at Walnut.

474-7707. www.paulmahdergallery.com

Shelley Mitchell’s solo play tells of multiple characters searching for meaning and survival in Nazi-occupied Hungary. $21-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru May 21. 2901 Mariposa St. at Harrison. www.talkingwithangels.com www.roycegallery.com

Tax Day Comedy @ Dolores Park Café Get a full refund of laughs with Diane Amos, Yayne Abeba, Ray Ferrer, Jeff Applebaum and Kung Pao Kosher Comedy producer Lisa Geduldig. $10.40 and $10.99. 7:30pm. 501 Dolores St. (800) 838-3006. www.koshercomedy.com

Thunder From Down Under @ The Rrazz Room Australian Vegas-style male strip group performs their sexy act. No full nudity, and more popular with women, but gentlemen are welcome. $35-$55. 8pm April 14. 7pm April 17. 9:30pm April 15 & 16. 2-drink minimum.

Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. at Ellis. (800) 3803095. www.therrazzroom.com

Twelfth Night @ Buriel Clay Theatre

Eadweard Muybridge @ SF Museum of Modern Art Fascinating exhibit and the first-ever retrospective examining all aspects of artist Eadweard Muybridge’s pioneering photography. $9-$18.

Daily 11am-5:45pm (closed Wed.). 151 Third St. 357-4000. www.sfmoma.org

Heavy Liquid @ Thee Parkside Hard rock band fronted by Kent James plays with The Tempermentals. No cover. 3pm. 1600 17th St. www.kentjames.com www.theeparkside.com

Past & Present @ Castro Country Club Group exhibit of photos of visitors and organizers of the Castro sober space’s 28 year history. Thru May 31. 4058 18th St. 552-6102. www.castrocountryclub.org

African American Shakespeare Company performs The Bard’s most popular comedy, re-set in the 1940s San Francisco’s club scene. $15-$35. Sat 8pm, Sun 3pm. Thru May 1. 762 Fulton St. at Webster. (800) 838-3006. www.African-AmericanShakes.org

Pastor Tom Show @ Live365.com

Wirehead @ SF Playhouse

Pulp Fashion n @ Legion of Honor

Benjamin Brown’s dark satire about people who get brain implants to make them geniuses, and the strange results that occur. $30-$50. Thu-Sat 8pm. Also Sat 3pm.

Thru April 23. 533 Sutter St. 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org

Xanadu @ Retrodome, San Jose Touring production of the mirthful muse-filled musical comedy based on the strangely lovable film, complete with roller-skating disco numbers set to the original music, and a script that takes a satirical edge. $24-$44. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Extended thru May 8. 1694 Saratoga Ave. (408) 404-7711. www.TheRetroDome.com

Sat 16 >> Artist & Artisan @ First Unitarian Universalist Church Public Glass gala and auction features exquisite creations from more than 60 local and national artists. 4pm silent auction and wines and hors d’eouvres. 6pm live auction. 1187 Franklin St. at Geary. 671-4916. www.PublicGlass.org

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi Musical comedy revue, now in its 35th year, with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. $25$130. Wed, Thu, Fri at 8pm. Sat 6:30, 9:30pm.

Sun 2pm, 5pm. (Beer/wine served; cash only).

678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.).

421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Cabaret Lunatique @ Pier 29 Teatro Zinzanni’s new late-night themed parties with live shows about different parts of SF; this time “Celebrate North Beach,” with Argentine tango dancers, aerialists, contortionists, comics, singing and more. $25-

Sun 17 >> Antiques & Collectibles Faire @ Candlestick Park Massive sale with more than 500 booths of treasures, toys, trinkets, and tschotskes. Free parking; food, drinks for sale. $5-$10. 6am3pm. Harney Way at Jamestown ave, off Hwy 101 south of San francisco. (510) 217-8696. www.candlestickantiques.com

Balenciaga and Spain /Olmec @ de Young Museum Fashion exhibit focusing on the influence of Spain on the work of haute couture master Cristóbal Balenciaga. Also, Olmec, an exhibit of colossal ancient Mesoamerican face sculptures and other artifacts. $6-$17. Thru July 4.

50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. 750-3600. www.famsf.org

Bali: Art, Ritual, Performance @ Asian Art Museum

Weekly LGBT-themed talk show; archived shows ws available, too.

5pm. www.Live365.com com

Expansive exhibit of more tthan 100 historic art showcase the practicalworks in exhibits that show visual arts in this ity of the performing and vi and beautiful culture. Special performances pe throughout exhibit interactive workshops th run. $7-$17. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.

Thu til 10 9pm. Thru Sept. 11. 200 2 Larkin St. www.asianart.org

The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave, an exhibit of amazing paper costumes by the acclaimed Belgiann artist based on classic historical orical royal garb. $12-$17. Thru May 6. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm.

5:15pm.

Thru June 5. 100 34thh Ave. at Clement St. 750-3600.

600. www.legionofhonor.. famsf.org

Cip Tea Underground SF @ Undergro Benefit T-dance ffor Bevan Dufty’s mayoral campai campaign, with DJs Grind, Juanita More and Cip Cipriano. Support Supp an openly gay $10. 4pmpro-nightlife candidate. ca Haight St. 7pm. 424 Haig www.bevandufty.com www.bevanduf

Happy H Hour @ Ene Energy Talk Radio

SF Hiking Club ub ate Park @ Golden Gate

Interview show with gay Adam Sandel as writer A 8pm. host. 8p www.EnergyTalkRadio.com www.En

Join LGBT hikers for a five-mile walk in the wonderful ul park. Meet at Stowe Lake parking lot, 12:30pm.

577-9367. www.sfhiking.com king.com

Manon @ Ma Marines Memorial Mem Thea Theatre

Spread @ SOMArts Cultural Center ter Group exhibition of works by historic local conceptual artists juxtaposed with young new artists.

Tue-Fri 12pm-7pm.

Sat 12pm-5pm. Thru April 27. 934 Brannann St. www.somarts.org rg

Three Sisterss @ Berkeley Rep Sarah Ruhl’s re-written version of Anton Chekhov’s classic drama. $14.50-$73.

Tue-Fri,Thu, Sat 8pm.

Wed 7pm. Thu, Sat, Sun 2pm. Sun 7pm.

Thru May 22. Thrust

Thu 21 DIDIK NINI THOWOK @ NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER The Indonesian transgender performer brings a fascinating blend of traditional and modern performing techniques to explore gender variance in contemporary and ancient cultures; presented in association with the Asian Art Museum, with a show there April 23, (1pm; 200 Larkin St. 581-3500). Proceeds benefit NCTC’s youth programs. $28-$38. 8pm (Sun 2pm). Thru April 24. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Donald Pippin’s Pocket Opera perform MasOp O senet’s high-spirited se en work about an wo w independent woman in nd caught in a struggle ca a oonn conflicting desires.

2pm. 609 $$20-$37.

2 Sutter St. at Mason.

Su u 7771-6900. www. pocketopera.org ppo www.marinesmemow rialtheatre.com ri

R Rockabilly Q @ Milk Bar T Queer Jitterbugs The ppresent Sunday Swing-out, a mixed Sw straight-friendly st weekly night of w social dancing to so

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

Radical Faeriess, curated by Joey Cain; an exhibit of the gay poet’s poet’ influence on contemporary queer culture. Th Thru May 19. James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian C Center, 100 Larkin St. third floor. www.sfpl.org www.sfpl.o

DJed and (twice monthly) y) live music. $3-$15.

8:30-11pm, lesson 8:30pm. pm. 1840 Haight St. at Stanyan. (415) 305-8242.

2. www.QueerJitterbugs.com

Song Dong @ Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Kenny Mencher Menche @ ArtHaus Renovated Reputations, an exhibit of paintngs online flash fiction coordinated with his on faux-retro themes contest. The local painter’s paint yet reminiscent of an era and style are unique ye gone by. TThru June 25. Tue-Fri 11am-6pm. Sat 12pm11a 5pm. 411 Brannan St. at 5pm 3rd. 9977-0223. kenneymencher.blogspot.com/ menche

Dad and Mom, Don’t Worry orry About Us, We Are All Well, the Chinese artist’s st’s installations and photography about Bejing’s ng’s rapid development and social changes. $5-$7. $7. Ongoing related programs thru exhibit runn (thru June 12). Reg hours, Thu-Sat 12pm-8pm. m. Sun 12pm-6pm. 701 Mission St. 978-ARTS. www.ybca.org

KUSF Benefit @ Knockout Alcoholocaust presents a fundraiser for the beleaguered indie radio station, with live bands The Hi-Nobles, LLydia and the Projects, DJs. $5-$10. 9:30pm.

The Paper Bags and DJs 21+. 3223 Mission St. www.wfmu.org/kusf.pls www.wfmu.org/kusf.p

St. Francis Choir ir @ St. Francis Lutheran Church ch Choral favorites including ng eight-part a cappella works and motets of the Renaissance, are performed for Palm Sunday. Free/donations. 4pm. 152 Church St. at Market.

Mark Johnson @ Magnet Montgomery-Ward and the Office Adonis, retro ad-inspired art. the artist’s exhibit of ret 18th St. at Castro.

8pm-10pm. Thru April. 4122 4 581-1613. www.magnetsf.org www.magnet

Sunday’s a Drag ag @ Starlight Room om Donna Sachet and Harryy Denton host the fabulous weekly brunch and drag show. $45. 11am, show at noon; on; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square.

395-8595. www.harrydenton.com enton.com

Wed 20 >> High-larious @ The Stud

Mon 18 >>

Blue Room Comedy’s D David Hawkins hosts with Mike a night of pot-infused humor, h Davis, Duat Mai, Dan Spiegelman, Charles Da Edwards, Nicvk Padilla and more. Free. 8pm. www.studsf.com 399 9th st. www.studsf

Café du Monde e @ The Rrazz Room oom

John O’Reilly, R Reed Danziger @ Hosfelt Gall Gallery

Celebrity chefs perform fun and tasty monologues about food. d. $40 includes show and dessert. 7:30pm. 2-drink -drink minimum. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. att Ellis. (800) 3803095. www.therrazzroom.com

Marga’s Funny Mondays @ The Marsh, Berkeley Marga Gomez, “the lesbian Lenny Bruce” (Robin Williams), brings her comic talents, and special guests to a weekly cabaret show; this week, Liz Grant, Sandy Stec, Anthony Hill and TJ Kelsall. $10. 8pm. 2120 Allston Way. (800) 838-3006. www.margagomez.com www.themarsh.org

Ten Percent @ Comcast 104 David Perry’s new talk show about LGBT local issues. Mon-Fri 11:30am & 10:30pm, Sat & Sun 10:30pm. www.davidperry.com

Tom Schmidt @ LGBT Center Sons of God, an exhibit of stunning allegorical male nude photos. Exhibit thru May 13. 1800 Market St. at Octavia. www.sfcenter.org

West Coast Painters @ John Pence Gallery Group exhibit of realist painters, from landscapes and still lifes to portraits and nudes.

6pm. Thru April 30. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat til 5pm. 441-1138. www.johnpence.org

Sat 16 MOVE(MEN)T 4 @ THE GARAGE Because we can never have too many men dancing, don’t miss the fourth annual festival of men’s dances, with two programs of works by eleven choreographers; several with gay themes.

April 16 & 17, Enrico Labayen, Dudley Brooks, Cuauhtemoc Peranda, Dexandro Montalvo, Dante Baylor, Macklin Kowal & Honey McHoney. April 20 & 21, Tim Rubel, Michael Velez, Steamroller & Jesse Bie, and Todd McQuade. $10-$20 8pm. 975 Howard St. www.975howard.com Weiss and Jeff Shipley of Ixia florist florist shop shop.

Tue-Fri 2pm-6pm or by appointment. Thru May 31. 57 Post St. www.visualaid.org

Davis Davis: Planet X @ Marx & Zavattero Gallery

Tue 19 >>

Exhibit of eerie space-age toy battlescapes with a pre-Sputnik flavor of paranoia. Thru April 23. Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. 77 Geary St. 2nd floor. 627-9111. www.marxzav.com

Afro-Cuban All Stars @ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley

Deep Dark Robot @ Red Devil Lounge

Cal Performances presents Juan de Marcos Gonzalez and his musicians, who perform a rousing blend of timba big band and AfroCuban jazz. $22-$52. 8pm. Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave., UC Berkeley campus. (510) 642-9988. www.calperformances.org

Clairdee @ The Rrazz Room Cabaret singer performs an all-Gershwin song concert. $30. 2-drink minimum. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. at Ellis. (800) 380-3095. www.therrazzroom.com

Cryptecology @ Visual Aid Group exhibit of works by four artists combining nature and other themes; curated by Gary

April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 25

Linda Perry performs with her new band, including music from their new CD, 8 Songs About a Girl. $15. 8pm. 21+. 1695 Polk St. 921-1695. www.reddevillounge.com

Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey’s Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gayfriendly comedy night, with special guest Scott Silverman. One drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431HARV. www.harveyssf.com

In Paths Untrodden @ SF Public Library Walt Whitman’s Calamus Poems and the

Dual exhibit of homoero homoerotic saint and wrestler montages by O’Reilly, aand abstracts by Danziger. Thru May. 430 Clementina St. 4955454. www.hosfeltgallery.com

Lynda Carter @ The Rrazz Room TV star ( Wonder Woman ) and musical theatre actress performs her classy cabaret act. $45-$55. 2-drink minimum. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. at Ellis. (800) 380-3095. www.therrazzroom.com

Marga Gomez @ The Marsh Award-winning lesbian Latina comic gives us a sneak peek at her new show, Not Getting Any Younger. $10-$35. Wed & Thu 8pm. Sat 8:30pm. Thru April 30. 1062 Valencia St. 2823055. www.themarsh.org

Nowtopia Talks @ CounterPulse Panel talk about alternative forms to capitalism, with Michael Whitson Shereef Bishay, and Chris Carlsson. Free. 7:30pm. 1310 Mission St. www.counterpulse.org

Our Vast Queer Past @ GLBT History Museum New exhibit from the GLBT Historical Society, with a wide array of rare historic items on display. Free for members-$5. Wed-Sat 11am7pm. Sun 12pm-5pm. 4127 18th St. www. glbthistory.org

Planet Booty @ Bottom of the Hill The fun funky Oakland band brings on the musical hijinks, with Movits, Coppe, Mango & Sweetrice. $12. 9pm. All ages. 133 17th St.621-4455. www.germart.org www.bottomofthehill.com

Smack Dab @ Magnet Kirk Read and Larry-bob Roberts cohost the monthly eclectic often queer reading and open mic showcase. Featured performer is poet Liz Prescott. Sign-up 7:30pm. Show at 8pm. 4122 18th st. at Castro. www.magnetsf.org

Thu 21 >> Earth Day Reception @ Sir Francis Drake Hotel Benefit for The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land, with local food and wine. $20-$25. 5:30pm-7:30pm. 450 Powell St. 395-8524. www.nature.org

The Objects of Our Affection @ SF Public Library Exhibit of wit and humor books by Phyllis Diller, David and Amy Sedaris, P.T. Barnum and many others. Thru May 31. Skylight Gallery, 6th floor, 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

Not a Genuine Black Man @ The Marsh, Berkeley Brian Copeland’s longrunning autobiographical solo show about racism in San Leandro. $20-$50. 7:30pm. Thursdays thru May 5.

(800) 838-3006. www.themarsh.org

Thu 21 SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS @ DAVIES SYMPHONY HALL Words, a concert of historic prose and poetry set to music, under the direction of new artistic director Dr. Timothy Seelig, promises a vibrant makeover, with some new touches to the acclaimed chorus’ concert. $15 and up. 8pm. 201 Van Ness Ave. 392-4400. www.sfgmc.org

To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com.

Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication.

For more bar and nightlife events, go to www.bartabsf.com

bartabsf.com

<< Society

26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 14-20, 2011

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Celebration central

by Donna Sachet

L

ast Thursday’s private celebration of this publication’s 40th anniversary for staff and invited guests packed the GLBT Historical Society’s Museum in the Castro with nearly enough elected officials to take care of civic business! State Senators Mark Leno and Leland Yee, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, City Assessor Phil Ting, City Supervisors David Chiu, David Campos, Ross Mirkarimi, and Scott Wiener, City College Board of Trustees member Lawrence Wong, and recently termed out Bevan Dufty were all there, many with certificates in hand, to congratulate the B.A.R. Rick Gerharter assembled a fascinating slide show from the paper’s decades of publication, as well as a display case containing historic mementos, including a disarming photograph of longtime political columnist Wayne Friday and Harvey Milk.

Queen Cougar did an admirable job assisting publisher Tom Horn with the emceeing responsibilities.

A surprise announcement of the night was the sponsorship of the 40th anniversary year of the B.A.R.

by Union Bank, which will display a more extensive collection of newspaper ephemera in the lobby of their Financial District location in June. Also there to salute the oldest continuously published LGBT newspaper in the country were Alameda County Superior Judge Vicky Kolakowski, Project Open Hand’s Tom Nolan, Wells Fargo’s Susan Hinchman, Michael Daniels, Patrik Gallineaux, Marc Huestis, Audrey Joseph, Richard Sablatura, Dan Nicoletta, and the beaming Executive Director of the GLBT Historical Society, Paul Boneberg.

The public celebration on Saturday night at Toad Hall was shorter on speeches, but larger in attendance. Enjoying cake and cocktails were Gina Moscone, Ken Henderson, Gary Virginia, Connie Champagne, Joe Wicht, Matthew Martin, Anna Conda, Bill Hemenger, Rebecca Prozan, Rafael Mandelman, Charmin Bock,

Steven Underhill

Donna Sachet with California State Senator Mark Leno at the GLBT Historical Society Museum.

Ben & Terry Penn, Steve Gibson, Graylin Thornton, Scott Brogan & Doug Mezzacapo, Garza Peru, Tommy Dillon, and photographers galore.

Winners from the Best of the Gay Readers’ Poll were recognized, souvenir T-shirts were distributed, and several prizes awarded. Last week’s 40th anniversary issue deserves a long, leisurely read. The history of our LGBT community and the Bay Area Reporter are inextricably entwined.

Some people are fast to complain about the changing scene in San Francisco, to criticize established celebrations as too staid and predictable, and to bemoan the lack of creative new events. Others, like Paul Miller, take action, creating the Renegade Weekend, celebrating male kink in all its forms in a free-wheeling, good-spirited contest, short on strict rules and long on fun. After last year’s successful inaugural event, which saw four contestants, a stellar judging

Steven Underhill

Justin Bond performs at the Castro Theatre.

panel, and a packed audience, anticipation was high for Friday night’s second annual Renegade Contest at the Cat Club. The emcee was sexy, the judges were sexy, the three contestants were sexy, and the audience was sexy! Although things ran a bit later than advertised, this contest again pushed the boundaries of the Old Guard and reached out See page 27 >>

Coming up in leather and kink Thu., Apr. 14-Sun., Apr. 17: International Ms. Leather (IMsL) 25th Anniversary Weekend at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway (1500 Van Ness). Highlights: International Ms. Leather & International Ms. Bootblack contests; Seduction – an evening of burlesque, strip, and more; Silent Charity Auction; Onsite Play Space; Workshops; Vendors and more. Go to: www. imsl.org.

Thu., Apr. 14: Underwear Night at The Powerhouse (1347 Folsom), 10 p.m. Wet undie contest and drink specials. Go to www.powerhouse-sf.com.

Thu., Apr. 14: Edges Wet Munch at Renegades Bar (501 W. Taylor St., San Jose). 7 p.m. Happy hour for sex positive and alternative communities: 4-7 p.m. Go to: www.edges.biz or www.renegadesbar.com.

Thu., Apr. 14: Locker Room Thursdays at Kok Bar SF (1225 Folsom). 9 p.m.-close. Jockstraps, gym towels, sports gear, wrestling singles, etc. Free clothes check.

Hotwire on deck. Go to: www.kokbarsf.com.

Thu., Apr. 14: Effective Flogging, a Paideia Playshop with Angela and Iain at the SF Citadel (1277 Mission). $15-$25, sliding scale. Doors open 7 p.m. Workshop, 7:30 p.m. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Fri., Apr. 15: Truck Wash at Truck (1900 Folsom).

10 p.m.-close. Enjoy the live shower boys and drink specials. Go to: www.trucksf.com.

Fri., Apr. 15: Hardbox: Benefit for Project Open Hand at the Powerhouse. Featuring DJs Michael Magiaforte & Gehno Aviance; Shadowbox Contest at Midnight; go-go studs; nipple play tent and more. 10 p.m.-2 a.m.

ebar.com

Sat., Apr. 16: Back Bar Action at The Eagle Tavern (398 12th St.). Back patio and bar opened to all gear/

fetish/leather. 10 p.m. to close. Go to: www.sfeagle.com.

Sat., Apr. 16: New monthly AIDS Emergency Fund event at Kok Bar SF. 9 p.m. Go to: www.kokbarsf.com.

Sat., Apr. 16: Open Play Party at the SF Citadel. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $25. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Sat., Apr. 16-Sun., Apr. 17: Cleo Dubois Erotic Dominance Intensive Weekend for Dominant Women and Women Who Switch at the SF Citadel. Go to: www. sm-arts.com.

Sun., Apr. 17: Sunday Social Play Party at The Edges in Santa Clara. 1-4 p.m. Go to: www.thebrotherhoodsj. com.

Sun., Apr. 17: Night Cruise Sundays at Kok Bar SF. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $1 Bud Light or Rolling Rock Drafts plus shot specials. Go to: www.kokbarsf.com.

Sun., Apr. 17: Castrobear presents Sunday Furry Sunday at 440 Castro. 4-10 p.m. Go to: www.castrobear.com.

Sun., Apr. 17: PoHo Sundays at The Powerhouse. DJ Keith, Dollar Drafts all day. Go to: www.powerhousesf.com.

Tue., Apr. 19: 12-Step Kink Recovery Group at the SF Citadel. 6:30-8 p.m. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Tue., Apr. 19: Ink & Metal followed by Nasty at The Powerhouse. 9 p.m. Go to: www.powerhouse-sf.com.

Wed., Apr. 20: Bare Bear – a night at the baths at The Water Garden (1010 Alameda, San Jose). 6-10 p.m. Go to: www.thewatergarden.com.

Wed., Apr. 20: Underwear Buddies at Blow Buddies.

This is a male-only club. Doors open 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Play till late. Go to: www.blowbuddies.com.

▼

Karrnal >>

April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27

Gay pornology

by John F. Karr

T

he sumptuous, 260-page potpourri of hot photos and concisely presented history Porn from Andy Warhol to X-Tube (Bruno Gmünder, hardcover, $69.99) is both a celebration and a funeral. Its author tells us what there is to know about the development of the art, and then lets current filmmakers and producers tell us the state of the art.

It’s not a rosy prognosis that they offer, most likely because it impacts their income. When asked, Where’s porn headed? they answer, It’s headed toward extinction. But that’s only in the current format of delivery.

“DVDs are dead,” says one industry maven. “The Web is where things are happening.”

This lively chronicle is aptly subtitled A Photographic Journey, and it is more scrapbook than schoolbook.

The photos are copious in amount and glamorously reproduced in large size on heavyweight stock. Author Kevin Clarke’s essay perceptively traces the origins of gay American erotica from an initial acceptance generated by the pop-porn of Warhol and the art-porn of Kenneth Anger, to the hardcore porn that flowered in their wake. Clarke is a 44-yearold German musicologist, whose specialty is operetta. Showtunes and porn? Most gay men don’t find them strange bedfellows at all.

Clarke’s several books on operetta (unfortunately not translated from German) have looked at the form’s intersection with gay sexuality.

A paper Clarke presented in 2009, “The Pornography of Operetta,” kicked off his interest in the general history of gay porn.

Clarke’s essay is followed by interviews that bring us fully up to date, and propel us into the future. The rare woman in porn, Lucas Entertainment’s Mr. Pam is fascinating; Falcon photographer Fred Bisonnes revealing; Chris Ward perceptive. I sure appreciated the book’s condemnation of the porn industry’s greed-based refusal to come to grips with AIDS. Andrew Holleran is quoted: “There was no romance in rational sex.” Clarke writes of the industry’s dependence on Viagra, and the way looks have become the prevailing yardstick of effectiveness – though sometimes countered. “For us,” says the director of Cazzo Film, “attitude is more

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On the Town From page 26

to the appetite of the New Guard with physique-revealing outfits, provocative fantasy enactments, and playful interviews. The raucous crowd included Ray McKenzie, Sean Kline & Philip Beers, Will Whitaker, Lucas Ringhofer, Scott Peterson, Ross Dierking, and Terry Gauchat. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this new idea to reality.

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Huntress From page 21

the sun back out over their lands.

On their quest, they are joined by several older protectors, but all are severely tested by forces aiming to destroy them. These include savage shape-shifters and a pack of wild wolves, a dark Wood inhabited by unknown creatures, and an ice castle built by the evil princess Elowen, whom Kaede must slay to free her own kingdom.

As the group’s numbers dwindle, Taisan and Kaede must stay strong,

important.” And this is the first place I’ve seen mention of Falcon founder Chuck Holmes’ coke habit.

Drug use was chronic; another study should examine how its paranoia, detachment and cold urge to excess affected porn fantasies.

You won’t see any insertive sex in this collection’s photos. Lots and lots of hard cock and arousing make-out, yes. But the book is coy about sex after all, and can’t actually be pornographic in its discussion of pornography.

I’m surprised by the book’s claim that in 1969 there were 25 theatres in San Francisco showing hard-core movies. That seems like a lot. I was here, a porn theatre habitué, and I didn’t know of more than half-adozen. Yet there are no footnotes, no identification of source material, so this statistic, as well as a number of quotes, goes unverified. It’s a distinct failure for a book that, however popular, still has academic pretension.

One could pick at other faults.

What looks at first like a substantial text is only half the story – each column of English is accompanied by a column in German. Also, the lay-out isn’t reader-friendly. You’ll

have to dig for the Table of Contents, which appears only after 33 pages of photos and an introduction. Photo placement can seem random; only in the more contemporary chapters, dealing with the work of specific filmmakers, do photos dovetail with the text. The book continually calls Al Parker “the original clone.” Excuse me, he may be porn’s iconic clone, the look’s epitome, but it’s a look that was seen on many a performer before him. And a handful of errors could have been easily corrected. It’s Sharon Kane, not “Caine.” Several other performers are misidentified (Rod Mitchell is not Don Talen).

More flagrantly, a key performer seen on the cover itself isn’t identified at all.

That’s Ed Wiley wearing the cowboy hat. He’s being groped by Bob Bishop, whose career was far more limited than Wiley’s, yet who is ID’ed.

And last, perhaps a minor note of a missed opportunity to thrill.

The book’s only photo of famed filmmaker Kristen Bjorn shows him fully clothed. Too bad. Readers unacquainted with the three films Bjorn performed in long ago for Falcon (all three still available) won’t know what a fantastic cock he had.

Has. It’s a penis I always enjoy seeing.

Yet there are many another cock to be gloated upon in a book that porn fans will greatly enjoy.▼

Sunday night, we decided to step outside of the box, popping into Rebel, the new incarnation at the old location of Triple Crown, for the much bally-hooed collision of two award-winning drag shows, CocktailGate and Charlie Horse. We love the inviting new look of the bar, with motorcycle-themed décor, stripper poles, a great new sound system and stage, and handsome, friendly bartenders. The show was over-thetop, in-your-face, crowd-pleasing guerrilla drag at its best! Performers

included Anna Conda, Suppositori Spelling, Dean Disaster, Dam Dyke, Juanita Fajita, Marcy Playground, and Anna Warhola. We knew or met Deana Dawn, Diva D, Scott Taylor, Chastity Belle, Sister Roma, Vera Cose, Gina Side, Mutha Chucka, Erin Lavery, Karma Zabetch, Nic Candito, Jeff Bedillion & Jorge Herrera, and Juan Navarro. It looks like Rebel is off to a good start, and the envelope of drag expression continues to be pushed beyond its limits.▼

relying on their own powers and on strangers like the greenwitch Mona, for help when needed. Taisan must also contemplate her original mystical vision of the trip, in which she foresaw a love blooming between her and Kaede. Despite her resistance to this love, it begins to take shape, even playing a part in the ability of the girls to defeat Elowen. Although their gender is no impediment to their acceptance as a couple, their love story, tentative and bittersweet, is not guaranteed to endure. Given their young age and the differences in their educational status within their own society,

the reader can only hope for their continued happiness.

Fans of fantasy novels will appreciate the worlds that Malinda Lo so carefully constructs. Lo’s lush descriptions of the physical landscapes her characters reside in, and the perils they encounter on their journey, make the pages turn effortlessly. Her ability to populate these worlds with compelling young lesbian characters is an added bonus for LGBT readers. And for the growing body of literary works for LGBT teens, both Ash and Huntress are significant additions to the field.▼

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▼

Music >>

Passion project

by Tim Pfaff

I

t has never been quite clear to me when to weigh in on the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, quite possibly the most important recording project of our young century, simply because, despite formidable obstacles, it just kept on coming. The last two of the 27 two-disc volumes was released late last year – one of them containing the cantata I’d been waiting for the longest, “O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort,” BWV 60, whose final chorale Berg had used in his Violin Concerto – and yet, despite the fact that no series of recordings has meant more to me, and given me more consistent and lasting pleasure, in a lifetime of record-chasing, other recordings seemed more right for this column.

Now the forces behind it – John Eliot Gardiner’s Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists – have released, just in time for the season, its “new” recording of Bach’s St. John Passion (Soli Deo Gloria, SDG), and there’s no more excuse for silence.

As Gardiner explains in his typically informative note, Bach would have meant to crown the liturgical year for which he wrote his cycle of weekly cantatas with a larger, overarching Passion, and it feels as if that’s exactly what Gardiner has done with this stunning new St. John Passion, performed in 2003 at the Kaiserdom in Koenigslutter, Germany, in its first-ever release.

The idea that the St. John is the poor relation of Bach’s larger, longer, and better-known St. Matthew Passion has long since been put to rest, except perhaps in the all-important view of the ticket-buying public, but this performance erases any doubt about the work’s towering stature and importance, not to mention its ability to move listeners.

The back story, briefly, is this: from Christmas 1999 to the end of 2000, Gardiner and his intrepid musicians performed, live, all of

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www.ebar.com

San Francisco Ballet From page 20

from the perspective of the gods, as a cosmic event.

The other new-to-us ballet, Chroma, closes that program.

Chroma also looks at human life from a compassionate but remote

Bach’s church cantatas in churches ranging from ones in which Bach himself and his musicians would have performed them to others in Europe and the U.S. – on the days in the liturgical year that they would have been performed – recording all of them and many of the rehearsals.

After releasing a few of the early volumes, Deutsche Grammophon pulled its funding, and Gardiner, damning the torpedoes, formed

his own record company, Soli Dei Gloria. (Bach frequently wrote those words, meaning “Glory to God alone,” at the end of his compositions, but in the everwitty world of classical music, the acronym SDG has come to signify “Sod Deutsche Grammophon.”)

Naturally, quality (but not of recording) has been variable, but within the range of superb to transcendent. And the revolving door of vocal soloists who followed him along the pilgrimage route included some of the finest earlymusic specialists in the business. For this St. John, sopranos Joanne Lunn and Katharine Fuge, alto Bernarda Fink, bass Peter Harvey, and tenors Mark Padmore (at his erstwhile best) and Hanno Muller-Brachmann are back on deck, and except for some occasionally substandard work from the last of them (in the relatively small role of Jesus, in which much

can be forgiven), their work is topflight.

A great St. John announces itself from the outset with that wail of a dissonance, and the ace musicians of the English Baroque Soloists nail you with it – and then don’t let you off the musical cross, so to speak, until the work reaches its complex yet sublime final chorale some 100 minutes later. Gardiner writes eloquently about the grand architecture Bach devised for the piece, but the intricacies and splendors of it are even more evident in this deftly gauged p performance.

As an act of storytelling aalone, it’s a minor miracle.

T The singing and playing are jjust short of alarm in their vvividness, and the tension n never slackens, even in the m most serene of the chorales.

Although like the St. M Matthew, the St. John P Passion has a clearly d discernable dramatic and h harmonic arc, the music d does seem only to get more w wondrous, until by the final numbers, listeners are ccarried into a region of the stratosphere where we’re breathing some new, vision-clearing and -making gases. Sometimes it’s with music of aching simplicity, like the lute-accompanied bass arioso “Betrachte, meine Seel,” raptly sung by Harvey. At others it’s with complex music of such blinding invention that it retains an element of surprise every time you hear it.

Take, as but one example, a slightly later bass aria with chorale, “Mein teuer Heiland.” The soloist (Harvey again) asks leave to ask his savior to ask some questions, and the answers come in a chorale overlaid on the vocal solo, the first of them at such a hushed dynamic you barely hear it. Gradually the weighting of the music shifts so that the chorus (the matchless Monteverdi Choir) predominates.

You don’t have to believe in anything to go to heaven on this music.▼

distance. Wayne MacGregor has made this piece to Stravinskian reorchestrations of the “alternativerock” music of The White Stripes (Jody Talbot, composer). He uses very strange, bird-like movements that nevertheless seem totally appropriate to the searing, fascinating music coming from the orchestra (brilliantly led by Martin West). This is not typical ballet. It’s as if he tried to ignore the bones and made the moves come from the viscera, from very deep inside, as if the spine were a snake, or a swan’s neck. It’s not pretty, but it is fascinating. Seen against the vast off-white stage setting – itself a

monumental piece of architecture, designed by John Pawson – the dancers look very vulnerable.

They’re wearing very little, some kind of underwear, “short teddies,” perhaps? The garments look like towels tied under the armpits. They look vulnerable, but not afraid, not in the least.

Also on the bills were the neoclassical Bach piano-concerto ballet Seven for Eight, Helgi Tomasson’s finest work (Program 6), and the dark, lovely allegory Underskin, set to Schoenberg’s ravishing Verklaerte Nacht, by Renato Zanella on Program 7. Everything was danced to perfection.▼

Erik Tomasson

San Francisco Ballet in Wayne MacGregor’s Chroma.

▼

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April 14-20, 2011 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 29

Film >>

Wrestling with ethics

by David Lamble

I

t’s a crying shame that schoolboy wrestlers don’t have a pro league of their own to aspire to, but the sport gets a shot at major-league comedy in Tom McCarthy’s sweet/ sad moral parable Win Win. Set in New Jersey, the story is kick-started by the attempts of a schlemiel to survive the Great Recession. Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) is a court attorney/high school wrestling coach whose fees can’t cover his nut, and whose boys are forever gazing up at the gym banner proclaiming, “You’ve been pinned.” One day in court, Mike decides to lay off his conscience and accept a hefty guardian’s fee to keep a dementiaafflicted old guy out of a state home.

Mike pockets the money, sticking Leo Poplar (Burt Young) in a small furnished room without his daily ration of Cocoa Puffs.

Neither Mike nor Leo realizes that Leo has a grandson. One day a bottle-blonde, 16-year-old feisty little punk named Kyle (wrestler/ first-time actor Alex Shaffer) shows up on the stoop of Leo’s nowabandoned bungalow. Mike needs another kid like he needs a second head, but as his jogging buddy Terry (Bobby Cannavale) points out, he sure could use a talented little wolverine wrestler, who was a state champ in his native Ohio before mysteriously disappearing from competition.

No sooner does he don the togs than Kyle proceeds to wreak havoc in his weight class, 119-125 lbs.

His winning streak is fueled by his “whatever the fuck it takes” motto, and, as he confides to Mike, the sense that when he’s in the wrestling circle he’s in control. Gradually the boy lets down his guard, opening up to his surrogate new mom, Mike’s no-

nonsense wife Jackie (Amy Ryan).

The emotional tussle between these two characters is a small comic gem: watch for Ryan’s bravura doubletake the first time Kyle calls her “Jackie,” or the special pride she take in matching tattoos with Kyle. Mike’s “Win Win” is threatened when Kyle’s mom Cindy (Melanie Lynskey), a drug addict fresh out of rehab with a violent live-in boyfriend, shows up to claim the boy, Leo and the money.

McCarthy’s comedies are perhaps the closest an American filmmaker has come to the spiritual ambitions of French New Wave director Eric Rohmer’s philosophical films, described by one critic as “testaments to the serious beauty of ordinary life.” In The Station Agent, a lonely dwarf receives an unexpected invitation to rejoin the human race; in The Visitor, a grieving professor reconnects to life by helping a trio of illegal aliens navigate the Kafkaesque

Paul Giamatti and Alex Shaffer in Win Win.

labyrinth of post-9/11 immigration regulations. In both films, the protagonist follows the example of Jean-Louis Trintignant’s character in Rohmer’s My Night at Maud’s by pursuing intimate but chaste relationships that help unlock some blocked piece of his humanity.

Win Win’s sexless but rigorously physical wrestler universe (inspired by the high school wrestling adventures of McCarthy and childhood friend Joe Tiboni, who

My Jane Eyre

by David Lamble

S

omebody who claims wisdom over such matters asserts there have been 18 versions of Jane Eyre filmed since film was invented.

I shall not count them myself because #18 – the transcendently romantic, tragic, gothic ghost story directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, with the captivating quartet of Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell and Dame Judi Dench – will forever be my Jane Eyre.

How many queer folks on the darkest night of some impossible passion for some impossibly splendid beloved have not wished that we could be as nakedly honest, bold and heartbreaking articulate as the much-abused young heroine created by Charlotte Bronte?

Romantic speeches for women don’t get any better than the declaration of love and independence delivered

by Jane (Wasikowska), no longer meek, mild or compliant, to her once-master but not-necessarily

<<

future husband Mr. Rochester (Fassbender).

“Am I a machine without feelings? Do you think because I am poor, obscure, plain and little that I am soulless and heartless? I have as much soul as you, and fully as much heart. And if God had blessed me with beauty and wealth, I could have made it as hard for you to leave me as it is for I to leave you. I am not speaking to you through mortal flesh. It is my spirit that addresses your spirit as if we passed through the grave and stood at God’s feet, equal as we are.”

For those who haven’t brushed up on their Bronte, the story commences with the young Jane being cruelly bullied by her evil cousin, mistreated and consigned to a hell-andbrimstone boarding school by a coldhearted aunt, where (queer crib notes) she forms an affection for another girl who dies next to her in an unheated dorm room.

The adult Jane gets a stab at good fortune when she’s hired to

Laurie Sparham

Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre.

be the governess to a young French girl, the ward of the mysterious and frequently absent lord of the manor, Mr. Rochester. Late one night on an errand into town, she accidentally spooks her master’s horse, causing a painful if not entirely cute meet. In subsequent days and nights, Rochester and Jane develop an intellectual intimacy wholly untypical of this rigid, classbound society.

Bill Cunningham

the trendiest thing. It’s about selfcreation, self-invention – that’s what he’s looking at.

RP: While he’s photographing trends on the street and is viewing things through the lens of fashion, Bill has documented New York City for the later half of the 20th century and into the 21st century. If you want to know how people lived in NYC, you’d look at his archives.

From page 17

An ascetic man of integrity who leads a monastic existence and doesn’t care a whit for money or status, Cunningham has spent his life photographing fashion; he wears the same blue proletariat jacket, but he’s obsessed with clothes; unimpressed with celebrity, he prowls a jungle populated by the chic and famous; beloved and admired professionally, he’s exacting and knows what he wants.

In short, Cunningham is a singular fellow, whose inherent contradictions made him an irresistible project for director Richard Press and producer Philip Gefter. Gefter, a photography writer currently at work on a biography of Sam Wagstaff, was on the staff at the Times, where he knew Cunningham, a fixture there since 1978. Press, a filmmaker and freelance art director, also briefly worked with Cunningham.

The filmmakers, who live in New York, have ties to the Bay Area; Press went to UC Berkeley, and Gefter was the Picture Editor at the SF Examiner in the late 1980s; both men frequented Café Flore, though they didn’t meet until 1995 in New York.

“It was love in the first 10 minutes,” one of them quips. In 2008, they married at San Francisco City Hall, the legality of their marriage barely surviving Prop. 8. “We were right

Screenwriter Moira Buffini and director Fukunaga (Sin Nombre) dole out tiny snippets of Jane’s life in a possibly haunted castle, including the night a wounded, ravishingly beautiful young nobleman is brought in for emergency medical treatment, and the fateful night when Jane saves Rochester from a fire enveloping his bedroom.

Jane’s path to the altar is cruelly interrupted by circumstances in

Zeitgeist Films

Scene on the street from Bill Cunningham New York.

under the wire,” recalled Gefter during a recent visit here to promote the film, which opened last week at the Embarcadero Cinemas.

Sura Wood: It must have been a challenge to persuade a reticent guy, who thrives on being a fly-onthe-wall, to be the center of a film.

Philip Gefter: Bill is notoriously allergic to attention, and having a movie made about him was totally opposed to what he’s about, which is modesty, invisibility and humility.

Richard often calls me the “Bill Whisperer,” because I was able to navigate his cooperation throughout the movie-making.

Richard Press: It took 10 years to make the movie, but eight of

those 10 years trying to persuade Bill to let us do it. He doesn’t think he’d be a person anyone would be interested in, or that his body of work is significant. He presents what he sees and doesn’t care about fame, monetary rewards or selfaggrandizement. He’s only interested in documenting and sharing. There’s no agenda other than the actual doing of the work.

You call Cunningham’s field, cultural anthropology. What do you mean by that?

PG: Bill has chronicled the intersection between fashion and culture over the last half-century.

What we mean by fashion is selfexpression, not labels or wearing

How did his obsession with women’s clothes develop?

RP: It’s how he’s wired. He says that when he was a kid, the only reason he went to church was to look at women’s hats. Bill has taken a vow of fashion. He’s dedicated himself to this singular pursuit the way a priest would dedicate himself to religion, and for him, it’s to the exclusion of everything else.

You don’t spend too much time on his personal life. Does he have one?

RP: What you see in the movie, that’s his life. He works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He’s like a Chekhov character: work is all.

PG: He’s also like Peter Pan, and Bugs Bunny. He has achieved happiness by realizing what brings him joy and pleasure, and he derives a great deal of that from work.

You ask him if he’s ever had a romantic relationship, which he says he hasn’t, and he replies that what you’re really asking is

shares story credit) causes childish men Mike and Terry to cop to their nostalgia for their own wrestling days, while owning up to their responsibilities to their frisky charges.

My joy at watching Win Win’s straight-boy wrestlers led me to recall our own Jim Provenzano’s tale of gay-boy New Jersey wrestlers PINS, and how the new digital-film world might finally be ready for this queer moral fable.▼

Rochester’s past, and soon the poor young woman is wandering in a daze upon the moors, where she is discovered by a young preacher (Jamie Bell) and his sisters. Jane’s good fortune continues with an unexpected inheritance that prompts the young preacher to propose the kind of cold marriage that Jane has secretly feared might be her fate.

To reject the likes of Jamie Bell simply because of emotional incompatibility is a big moment, but not a facile one. We may question Jane’s judgment in the man department (what’s wrong with a god-obsessed creature when he’s Jamie Bell?), but respect her character and pull for her long odds with that Rochester guy.

In some peculiar way, the modern queer temperament contains more than a dollop of the Bronte sisters’ utopian love of equals. This Jane Eyre may have taken over a century and half to reach us, but don’t let laziness keep you away from sharing this sister’s journey to overcome the limits of the flesh, and luxuriate in the imperfect but beautiful love of kindred souls.▼

whether or not he’s gay. What did you make of his enigmatic answer?

PG: We could come up with all sorts of psychological explanations, but we’ve decided that it would be presumptuous. In answering, he goes through a cycle of emotion within the course of a minute: he becomes teary, then he’s laughing. Your guess is as good as ours.

Has he seen the film?

RP: Bill has not seen it.

PG: We’ve asked him many times to watch it, and he just isn’t interested.

Do you still have ties to San Francisco?

RP: We have a lot of friends here.

Every time we visit, we think it’s the most beautiful place, it’s the foodfetish capital of the world – we’re moving back.

PG: We always have a crush on the city while we’re here.

Do you see the film as a tribute?

RP: I think he’s a rare bird, but I try not to romanticize him. More than his body of work, the impetus [for the film] was who he is as a person, how he’s lived his life on his own terms, his ethics, his joy, his morals, his religious obsession with his work.

PG: He’s one of the last bohemians in New York. The movie is a tribute to his qualities, but it’s also a portrait of a dying New York, the New York that we loved and regarded for what it gave to American culture.▼

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April 14-20, 2011 t BAY AREA REPORTER t 31

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