April 17, 2014 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

Easter, Earth Day activities

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'Letters' opener

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Vol. 44 • No. 16 • April 17-23, 2014

Hearing on HIV funding cuts set

Pot club changes could spark debate

by Seth Hemmelgarn

he San Francisco Planning Commission recently approved a report that recommends considering allowing medical cannabis dispensaries in more neighborhoods and reducing the space required between Rick Gerharter pot clubs and schools. However, little Supervisor John Avalos thought seems to have been given to how federal officials would react to additional pot clubs. The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, Melinda Haag, has cracked down on such operations over the last couple of years, citing in part the dispensaries’ proximity to schools. The planning panel approved the report by a 6-1 vote. It’s now expected to go to the city’s Health Commission before it reaches the Board of Supervisors. No legislation related to the report has been proposed, but the document follows an ordinance that District 11 Supervisor John Avalos passed last year requiring the city’s planning department to review local dispensary regulations and make recommendations on new rules for siting future clubs. “I am interested in new regulation because the current green zones,” where dispensaries are allowed, “are mostly found in certain neighborhoods in the east side of town creating areas where MCDs cluster even on the same block,” Avalos said in response to emailed questions from the Bay Area Reporter, referring to medical cannabis dispensaries. According to the planning commission report, of San Francisco’s 29 permitted and operational clubs, 21 are located in the northeastern part of the city. “I thought it better to have controls to encourage a variety of neighborhood serving businesses and make it so that certain neighborhoods not be the only place where MCDs can be sited,” said Avalos. “If we enacted some of the planning department’s recommendations and added higher standards for integrating MCDs in neighborhoods, then we would have a more balanced, citywide approach.” In 1996, voters passed Proposition 215, the California Compassionate Use Act, which regulates medical marijuana. Many people use the drug to help ease pain related to HIV and AIDS and other illnesses. In 2009, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder signaled that the Obama administration would not target patients and providers in See page 7 >>

Hey, over here! Rick Gerharter

esse Bie casts an alluring eye with his attractive balloon headdress, hoping to get interested fellows to his Gay Men’s Salon booth at the second annual Atmosqueer, a volunteer and services

fair sponsored by the LGBT Community Center, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and Bridgemen. The April 12 event drew a good crowd who checked out social, medical, political, and athletic organizations.

n estimated $2.7 million in federal budget cuts for HIV care and prevention services in San Francisco in the coming fiscal year will be discussed at a Board of Supervisors committee hearing May 7. Steven Underhill At the hearing, staff AEF Executive from the Department Director Mike of Public Health, Mayor Smith Ed Lee’s budget office, and community organizations will discuss the projected shortfalls, their impact, and what the city can do to fill in the gaps. The federal reduction is the latest in a long line of cuts that have often left city officials scrambling to find money to protect people living with HIV and AIDS. Supervisor Scott Wiener, who recently called for the hearing, said in a news release, “EnsurSee page 10 >>

Seniors lack affordable housing options

by Matthew S. Bajko

which built the 104-unit Triangle Square LGBT senior housing GBT seniors in cities across project in Hollywood. When it the country are facing a lack opened in 2007 it was the nation’s of affordable housing opfirst affordable housing developtions as they age. ment of private, individual apartDemographers estimate there ments for LGBT elders. are at least 3 million LGBT seSeven years later it is readyniors aged 65 or older currently ing to open a 39-unit building living in the U.S., with the popdubbed the Argyle in collaboraulation projected to double by tion with AMCAL Multi-Hous2030. As their numbers increase, ing Inc. Built for low-income Rick Gerharter LGBT seniors’ access to housfamilies of all ages, a portion of ing, whether it be in retirement A rainbow painted fence encloses a temporary parking lot at 55 the units are expected to be occucommunities or assisted living fa- Laguna Street, site of the senior housing component of Openhouse’s pied by LGBT seniors. cilities, will become “increasingly project. Preserved structures from the original San Francisco State An estimated 65,000 LGBT critical” noted the Equal Rights University campus and construction for new housing can be seen in seniors 65 and older live in Los Center in a special report it issued the background. Angeles and 68 percent of them in February. live alone, according to the local “As the number of older adults agencies. More than 70 percent of Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. increases, as well as the number of LGBT seTriangle residents are living at or near poverty But the buildings, ranging in size from nine niors living openly, many with their spouse or level and struggle to cover expenses for housunits to more than 100, are nowhere near partners, the need for more housing options ing, food and medication. enough to address what is needed, according that allow older LGBT people to live in a safe Among the 3,000 clients age 50 and older to agency executives, housing activists, and and comfortable environment becomes inwho access the L.A. center’s senior services LGBT aging experts. creasingly important,” stated the report, titled program, 46 percent live on less than $2,500 “Housing is the number one need for our “Opening Doors: An Investigation of Barriers a month and 20 percent make do on less than clients. When they come in and meet with one to Senior Housing for Same-Sex Couples.” $1,000 each month. of my team managers, absolutely the bottom Nonprofit agencies in a number of major “While I am sure L.A. looks like a bargain line need is housing,” said Kathleen Sullivan, U.S. cities are working to address the shortfall to people in San Francisco, it is not an inexthe L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center’s director of by building designated housing for low-inpensive place to live,” said Sullivan, 48, an out senior services. come LGBT seniors. Projects are currently unlesbian whose thesis for her gerontology Ph.D. The L.A. center recently announced it was der way or have opened in such places as Los from Portland State University in Oregon fomerging with Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing, Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, See page 6 >>

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<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

SBA, NBJC hold business convention for LGBTs of color by Khaled Sayed

Holy Week and Easter at St. John’s Maundy Thursday, April 17 Foot washing ceremony and the Holy Eucharist, 7pm

Good Friday, April 18

Stations of the Cross, 12noon Meditation on the death of Jesus followed by Communion, 7pm

The Great Vigil of Easter Saturday, April 19 New fire, readings, renewal of baptismal vows, and the Holy Eucharist, 8pm

Easter Sunday, April 20 The Holy Eucharist, 10:15 am

St. John the Evangelist Church 1661 15th Street at Julian Avenue (Two blocks from 16th Street BART) www.saintjohnsf.org

n economic empowerment tour for LGBT communities of color will make a stop in Oakland next week. The Many Faces, One Dream tour is organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with the National Black Justice Coalition. It is in the midst of its first 13-city tour across the United States and will be at the Oakland Marriott City Center April 21-22. The two-day event will consist of workshops, one-on-one and small group counseling, and a business resource expo with local community partners. Seminars will be conducted on strategic planning, access to capital, and social media marketing. Eugene Cornelius, Jr., deputy associate administrator for field operations for the SBA, is the architect of the MFOD tour. “The minority community is an underserved community and these are the people we are trying to reach,” said Cornelius. “We do believe in enriching them and bringing them to a level playing field with the overall population to help them be more successful in the overall economy.” The tour is an introduction to the tools, resources, programs, and services that are available to LGBT people of color to promote and train them to become successful business owners. It is also sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Black Enterprise. Sharon Lettman-Hicks, executive director and chief executive officer of NBJC, is hoping to engage the ethnic minority community through the tour. “It is very challenging to live at

Courtesy NBJC

NBJC’s Sharon Lettman-Hicks

the intersection of LGBT equality and racial justice. The SBA having distinct focus on ethnic minorities, as well as the Obama administration priorities on LGBT equality, have made such a wonderful combination,” said Lettman-Hicks. “We are trying to bring visibility to an otherwise invisible community.” The cities that the tour is visiting have the highest population of LGBT communities of color that the MFOD is trying to target and, in addition to Oakland, include Atlanta, Brooklyn in New York City, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. “That is our specific target,” Lettman-Hicks said. “We wanted to see if this type of opportunity that the SBA gives us would be received in communities where we have the most density.” During MFOD’s first year of research it recognized that there were many LGBT entrepreneurs of color,

who have mostly been engaged on the ethnic minority side, whether with the African American Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations, but who didn’t know how to break into the LGBT market, or to bring all of their identity to the table. The MFOD tour is trying to show the type of opportunities that these small businesses need to recognize in the $830 billion LGBT consumer market, according to Lettman-Hicks. Mark D. Gibson, MFOD national communications director for the SBA, pointed out that President Barack Obama had instructed his cabinet members that they should be mindful and cognizant about reaching out to be more inclusive to communities that may have either gone overlooked or that are not familiar with the daily practice of the federal government. “Cornelius took that and developed the MFOD tour as an introduction to the LGBT communities across the country to answer the call of the president to be more inclusive with the SBA,” said Gibson. Gay Berkeley City Councilman Darryl Moore, who is the NBJC board chair, said in a statement, “LGBT people of color contend with so much workplace, gender identity and employment discrimination. With the Many Faces, One Dream tour, we want to give them the reins to their own destiny through entrepreneurial tools.” Registration costs $25 and people can sign up at http://manyfacesonedream.com/oaklandsan-francisco. The Oakland Marriott City Center is located at 1001 Broadway, near the 12th Street City Center BART station.t

Supes urge retirement system to divest Russian investments by David-Elijah Nahmod

San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee heard from LGBT advocates and others about why the city’s retirement system should divest investments in Russian securities because of the country’s anti-gay laws. While Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, as gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener told his colleagues at the April 10 meeting of the Government Audit and Oversight Committee, a new law banning so-called gay propaganda was signed by President Vladimir Putin last summer. “Now, the Russian government denies permits for Pride parades, arrests and intimidates LGBT activists, and condones anti-LGBT statements by government officials,” Wiener said. “ILGA-Europe rates Russia as the least protected country for LGBT people, 49th out of 49 European countries.” ILGA is the International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex Association. “It’s reminiscent of laws criminalizing Jews in the 1930s,” Wiener added. “Russia has a bad record in its treatment of minorities. Jews were slaughtered in Russia. We cannot sit idly by.” Wiener called the hearing to discuss the feasibility of divestment. Jay Huish of the San Francisco Employees Retirement System told the supervisors that the system’s Russian holdings were currently $26 million, down from $37 million. “I believe we have a strong history of responding to requests from the Board of Supervisors,” Huish said. “The state of the request is ongoing, it is not a closed issue.”

Rick Gerharter

Supervisor Scott Wiener, left, questions Jay Huish, executive director of the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System, during a recent Board of Supervisors committee hearing on divesting Russian securities from the city retirement fund.

He pointed out that SFERS’ Russian holdings were only 1.7 percent of its total investments. “It should be zero,” said Supervisor London Breed. “Russia has clearly demonstrated that they’re not a country we should be doing business with.” Board President David Chiu also commented on the issue. “I’d like to join in condemning the bigotry being perpetrated by the Russian government,” said Chiu. “It’s entirely appropriate that we move toward a path of divestment if this behavior continues.” A number of speakers stepped up to the microphone to explain how dire the situation is. Amy Whelan, senior attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, compared some of the government’s actions in Russia to Anita Bryant’s anti-gay Save the Children campaign from the 1970s. “Linking gay people to pedophilia is the goal of the violent anti-gay group in Russia which calls itself Occupy Pedophilia,” Whelan said.

“They claim to have kidnapped and tortured more than 1,500 LGBT people in the first 18 months of its existence. They film the entire affair and then publish the video on Russia’s most popular social media site. According to Human Rights Watch, the victims are often attacked in public or abducted after meeting someone for what they think is a date.” Whelan said that one video featured a man sodomizing himself with a bottle at gunpoint. Police do nothing to stop this, she added. Gays Without Borders also supported divestment. “The city and state should not be investing in Russia for moral and economic reasons,” said Gary Virginia of Gays Without Borders. Virginia also serves as the current president of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee board. “It is not a place where there is rule of law,” he said of Russia. “We should not be putting money at risk or supporting in any way their government, which is cracking down on LGBT See page 10 >>

Community News>>

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 3

Sisters plan Easter events compiled by Cynthia Laird

he Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have announced two events this Easter weekend, which also marks the drag nuns’ 35th anniversary. First up will be a guided meditation art walk through the Castro Saturday, April 19. People are welcome to experience “Sistory” with a special opening ritual from founding Sisters. Participants are asked to wear white. People should meet at 12:45 p.m. at 272 Dolores Street (at 16th), across from Mission Dolores. From there, Sisters will lead the procession, beginning at 1:11 p.m., on a one-mile route to four other Castro sites that are associated with the group: Dolores Park, Hibernia Beach (the bank plaza at 18th and Castro streets), Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco, and Pink Triangle Park. Organizers noted that for those with limited mobility, there will be at least one uphill walk in Dolores Park. In the event of rain, cancellation will be announced by 10 a.m. via email and the Sisters’ Facebook page. On Easter Sunday (April 20), the Sisters will hold their traditional party in Golden Gate Park. This new venue this year is due to renovations in Dolores Park. But all the favorite activities, including the Easter bonnet and hunky Jesus contests, will take place at Hellman Hollow (formerly Speedway Meadow). Children’s Easter will be held at 10 a.m., while festivities will run from noon to 4 p.m. New this year is the Foxy Mary contest. This year’s theme is “An Emerald Jubilee” and costumes with a Wizard of Oz theme are encouraged. There will be live entertainment.

People should bring their own blankets and picnic supplies. The Sisters also ask that attendees help with trash by taking out everything they bring in. For more information, visit www. thesisters.org.

Tenderloin Tessie Easter dinner

The nonprofit Tenderloin Tessie will hold its annual Easter dinner for those in need Sunday, April 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin Street (at Geary) in San Francisco. Board president Michael Gagne said last week that volunteers are still needed for a few shifts. To help out, visit www.tenderlointessie.com to sign up.

Oakland Zoo celebrates Earth Day

The Oakland Zoo is celebrating Earth Day (April 22) a few days early with its “Party for the Planet” event Saturday, April 19. Activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with 50 local environmental organizations. The public is invited to join the party, while touring over 60 interactive earth stations throughout the zoo. This Earth Day event also includes live animal presentations, entertainment by Trapeze Arts, music performances by the Jug Bandits Band, an interactive Create with Nature Zone, face painting, and giant earth ball games in the Zoo Meadow. “Earth Day fits our mission perfectly: To inspire respect for and stewardship of the natural world while creating a quality visitor experience,” said Amy Gotliffe, conservation director at Oakland Zoo. Besides being entertaining, this

Joy and pride pervade equality awards

daylong event is an opportunity for families to learn more about their favorite animals, the zoo’s conservation efforts for each species, and how everyone can take action to help wildlife and the earth. All ages are welcome for a day of fun, learning, and inspiration. The party is included with regular zoo admission ($11.75 for children/ seniors; $15.75 for adults; parking $8). Bring a used ink cartridge or cell phone to recycle and receive a free train ride. The Oakland Zoo is located at 9777 Golf Links Road. For more information, visit www.oaklandzoo.org.

GAPA 35-Plus group to meet

The Gay Asian Pacific Alliance’s 35-Plus social group will meet at a home in Berkeley Sunday, April 20 beginning at 6 p.m. Also celebrating Earth Day, the discussion topic will be “Green Living: Are You With It?” GAPA 35-Plus is open only to gay and bi Asian and Pacific Islander men who are at least 35 years old. It is a safe space for guys to chat, socialize, and learn from each other’s experiences. A potluck dinner will precede the meeting. To RSVP, send an email to Vincent Baduel, GAPA 35-Plus coordinator, at Vincent@gapa.org. If a seat is available you will receive a confirmation email that includes the address and other pertinent information. Guests should alert Baduel to any dietary restrictions and bring a main dish good for six to eight servings.

LGBT aging workshop

Graduate students in the gerontology program at San Francisco State University will be holding a workshop on LGBT aging Monday, April 21 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Richard Oaks Multicultural Center (T-144) on the SF State campus, 1600 Holloway Avenue.

Jane Philomen Cleland

Sister Blanche Davidian, left, joined Sisters Agnes Dei’afa Tamara, Luna Jocqui, and Nancy Drew Blood at last year’s Easter party.

There will be two presentations. The first, by Loren Meissner, principal investigator of the 2013 San Francisco HIV Aging Survey, will look at the intersection of HIV and LGBT aging issues. The second will be by Brian de Vries, professor of gerontology at SF State, on LGBT aging issues. For more information or for disability accommodation issues, contact Brittany Freeman at brittanykathleenfreeman@gmail.com. Accommodation requests should be sent by Thursday, April 17.

Queer theology discussion at PSR

Jay Michaelson, Ph.D., a longtime gay activist and religious scholar, will explore the relationships between queer theory, theology, and social transformation in the seventh annual John E. Boswell Lecture Thursday, April 24 on the campus of Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Avenue, in Berkeley. The lecture will begin at 6:30 p.m., following a reception at 5:30. The event is free and open to the public. Michaelson, currently a visiting scholar at Brown University, is director of the LGBT Global Rights Initiative at the Democracy Coun-

cil, a fellow at Political Research Associates, and a weekly columnist for the Forward newspaper. He holds a doctorate in Jewish thought from Hebrew University, a juris doctor from Yale Law School, and nondenominational rabbinic ordination. The John E. Boswell Lectureship Fund was established in 2006 by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry, which is housed on the PSR campus. Boswell published Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian era to the Fourteenth Century that charted bold territory in both historical and religious scholarship. He died of AIDS-related illnesses in 1994. For more information, visit www. clgs.org.

Laughs for Life gala

San Francisco Suicide Prevention will hold its annual Laughs for Life benefit Thursday, April 24 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the St. Regis Hotel, 125 3rd Street. The sit-down dinner gala, which celebrates SFSP’s life-saving accomplishments, will feature local comeSee page 12 >>

Rick Gerharter

Former San Francisco Supervisor and state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, left, presented City Attorney Dennis Herrera with Equality California’s Vanguard Award at the organization’s gala April 12 at the Palace Hotel.

by David-Elijah Nahmod

ransgender inclusion and marriage equality were major themes at last weekend’s Equality California San Francisco awards gala, as a transwoman was honored and the LGBT lobbying group recognized one of the key players in the city’s historic same-sex marriage litigation. The April 12 event at the Palace Hotel drew 416 attendees. Gay KQED news reporter Scott Shafer served as host. Vivienne Ming, a lesbian identified transgender woman, was the State Farm Good Neighbor Award recipient. A wife, mother, and Internet entrepreneur, Ming is the founder of three start-up companies. She was named one of the 10 women to watch in tech in 2013 by Inc. magazine. Involved in the LGBT start-up network Start Out, Ming attended the dinner with her wife,

Norma. She referred to their relationship as “geek love.” “In 2005, my big, deep dark secret was that I wished I were a woman,” Ming said from the podium, “I had to wear a suit in a body and with a name that wasn’t mine.” She recalled her coming out to Norma. “I didn’t sleep that night or for a week. But our love grew, and now we have the most amazing love. And to be married legally!” The crowd applauded and cheered. “Discrimination is corrosive,” Ming continued. “It damages everyone. But now we’re free to marry the person we love as the person we truly want to be.” Event co-chair Bevan Dufty took to the stage to remind attendees of transgender contribution to the equality movement. “It was drag queens and transgenders that started the fight at Compton’s and Stonewall,” he said. “We See page 10 >>

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<< Open Forum

4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

Volume 44, Number 16 April 17-23, 2014 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) 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 Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Victoria A. Brownworth • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Chuck Colbert Richard Dodds • David Guarino Peter Hernandez • Liz Highleyman Brandon Judell • John F. Karr • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • David Lamble Michael McAllister • Michael McDonagh David-Elijah Nahmod • Elliot Owen Paul Parish • Lois Pearlman • Tim Pfaff Jim Piechota • Bob Roehr Philip Ruth • Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Jim Stewart Ed Walsh • Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Jay Cribas PRODUCTION/DESIGN Max Leger PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland Rick Gerharter • Lydia Gonzales Rudy K. Lawidjaja • Steven Underhill Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.359.2612 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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U.S. could take lesson from India ruling

two-judge panel of the Supreme Court of India got it right this week when it ruled that transgender people be treated as “third gender” and that their rights be safeguarded under the country’s constitution. The panel also upheld transgender people’s right to decide their self-identified gender. “The center and state governments are directed to grant legal recognition of their gender identity such as male, female, or as third gender,” the panel wrote in its lengthy decision. The decision also stated that the government should “seriously address the problems being faced by Hijras/transgenders such as fear, shame, gender dysphoria, social pressure, depression, suicidal tendencies, social stigma, etc. and any insistence for SRS [sexual reassignment surgery] for declaring one’s gender is immoral and illegal.” That’s a powerful decision coming from the same court – but not the same judges – that last year upheld a colonial-era sodomy law, overturning a ruling by the Delhi High Court that had found protections for LGBT rights under the country’s constitution. While Tuesday’s decision in the transgender rights case doesn’t change the sodomy ruling, LGBT activists are cautiously optimistic. Political leaders in the U.S. could take some lessons from another country’s support for trans

people. A similar high court decision in this country would help to wash away the endless squabbles in public schools about who can use what restroom and whom one is allowed to bring to a high school prom. Transgender people would be able to correct birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and other documents to reflect their authentic gender presentation, without piecemeal legislation in the states, as is happening now, and they would have stronger rights in employment discrimination cases. But instead of looking to the future where people can selfidentify, Republican lawmakers in this country remain shackled to the outdated, scientifically unproven beliefs of religious conservatives whose fear-mongering hurts trans people every day.

This ideology has prevented bills like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act from being voted on in the House of Representatives. And it infects the airwaves where it is perpetuated on talk shows by political and religious commentators. Just do a Google search to find which pastor is spewing hate. This week it was Kevin Swanson in Colorado, who likened LGBT families to cannibals and murderers. As if anyone honestly believes that. And yet these homophobes and transphobes should be called out for their ill-advised remarks, and should be asked to provide evidence to back up their claims. But as long as we have a high court with justices like Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito, such a victory for trans people will be a long time coming. The same chief justice, John Roberts, who believes money in political campaigns is free speech, didn’t rule for samesex couples to receive the same federal rights when he joined the minority opinion in the United States v. Windsor case that struck down a provision of the Defense of Marriage Act. We applaud the India high court’s ruling, which delineates the myriad obstacles transgender people face. It’s especially noteworthy that the judges noted social stigma, depression, and suicidal tendencies, which are experienced by many LGBT people in this country too. The justices here would be wise to look at India’s ruling, but of course, Scalia doesn’t believe any good can come from examining cases outside of this country. Go figure.t

Electing the first Latino assemblyman from SF by Esperanza Macias and Lito Sandoval

recent Guest Opinion by the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club co-chairs [April 10] indicated that their endorsement of Supervisor David Chiu in the Assembly District 17 race rewarded an ally for his supportive record of LGBT issues. As LGBT Latinos, we are insulted at the generic way in which Supervisor David Campos, a strong LGBT Latino leader, was disregarded. It is a disappointing reminder of how far we still have to go to achieve true diversity and recognition within our community. The Alice club argues that Chiu is the most effective choice for San Franciscans, “and more specifically, the LGBT community.” Naturally, we have to ask: what makes Campos less qualified or effective to serve the LGBT community? As an LGBT Latino himself, surely he must have made multiple egregious blunders for an LGBT club to decide that a straight ally can better represent our issues and needs. Yet from our review, Campos frequently fought for continued funding for HIV/AIDS and to restore Ryan White monies. He led the struggle to obtain funding to prevent violence against the transgender community, advocated for emergency shelter and services for queer youth, pushed for developers to disclose anti-discrimination policies against gays and lesbians, and co-authored legislation to create the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force. So, exactly what leadership has Chiu shown on behalf of the LGBT community? While Campos has been a tireless advocate and leader on LGBT issues, Chiu has been a reliable vote. We sincerely respect and appreciate Chiu’s support, but reliable votes are very different from genuine and effective LGBT leadership. So, rather than ask what makes Campos less qualified to represent the needs of the LGBT community, the question should be: what more could he possibly have done? Not one single reason is provided. Nor is there an explanation as to why the LGBT community should relinquish what has been an LGBT Assembly seat for over a decade. Instead,

the work of the two “Davids” is offhandedly equated as simply “two great candidates vying to represent us.” As LGBT Latinos, we come from diverse fields and professions; we are artists, service providers, educators, performers, tradesmen/ women, and laborers. Yet, we are all familiar with equivocating positions that seek to deny us seats at the table either because we are Latino or queer or both. In our struggles for justice, equity, and diversity, we’ve learned to read through the hyperbole and lip service. It is an offensive, disingenuous, and flimsy argument to rationalize support for Chiu as a desire to build a broad-based coalition when it is done at the expense of an underrepresented segment of our own LGBT community. In fact, Campos’s victory will be groundbreaking for several reasons. Most significantly, Campos will be the first Latino assemblyman ever elected from San Francisco. He will also be the first immigrant elected from San Francisco. Moreover, Campos has a long record of bringing together diverse coalitions of people. Aside from his support from the LGBT and Latino communities, he has won significant support from women, labor, youth, immigrants, tenants, and teachers. That’s why so much is at stake when a strong leader and champion arises in spite of the racism, homophobia, and as in Campos’s case, xenophobia. In 2014, electing an exceptionally qualified and effective Latino Assemblyman from San Francisco is long overdue! Campos’s candidacy is momentous and personal for us. Campos knows firsthand the struggles that face our communities. As our brother, he understands the multiple forms of discrimination we face on a daily basis and how they all contribute to the tremendous disparities in economics, health, education, and employment. He is effective at identifying creative and impactful policy solutions to address longstanding problems. Moreover, Campos hasn’t merely amassed a good voting record; he has taken the risks to lead and champion many of the issues that directly impact our communities. Because of these attributes, we

believe Campos is the most qualified Rick Gerharter candidate in the Assembly candidate race. When he is elected, he will take David Campos this same passion, resourcefulness, and political commitment to Sacramento where his efforts will have the same positive effect on California. Support for Campos was an opportunity for the Alice club to show that it could be an ally to the Latino community through our shared candidate. At a time when the country is working to address health disparities and immigration reform, the Latino community needs Campos’s unique and capable leadership skills. As California realignment begins releasing nonviolent juveniles and adults into our communities, we will need Campos’s advocacy for communities of color to obtain restorative justice services and reduce recidivism rates. As poverty, unemployment, and a lack of educational, workforce, and housing opportunities continue to plague our community, we know that Campos will do much more than vote appropriately on the hard-fought legislation of others. As assemblyman, Campos will continue to be the legislative champion he has been in San Francisco. Just as he has done in the city, he will stand with and support the underrepresented, and take the lead to make change. As LGBT Latinos, we stand with Campos and the many communities and constituencies he has championed. We encourage all members of our community to support Campos, the first Latino assemblyman from San Francisco.t Esperanza Macias is an activist, former officer of the Latino Democratic Club, Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, and Queer Latino political action committee. Lito Sandoval is an activist, artist, and former co-chair of AGUILAS. This piece was also co-authored by Erick Arguello, Marga Gomez, Lisette Lucas, Erik Martinez, Tia Martinez, Isa Noyola, Henry Pacheco, Ana Perez, Lucho Ramirez, Belinda Reyes, Juana Maria Rodriguez, Sam Rodriguez, Criss Romero, Olga Talamante, and Victor Valdiviezo.

Politics>>

t SF panel found Russian, Asian LGBT seniors hard to reach by Matthew S. Bajko

panel working on LGBT senior issues found it hard to reach Russian and Asian American LGBT elders in San Francisco. According to the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force, which was tasked with providing city leaders ideas for how to meet the needs of older LGBT San Francisco residents, it faced roadblocks last year when it tried to recruit Russian and Asian American members of the LGBT community for a survey it had developed. In its report adopted last month, titled “LGBT Aging at the Golden Gate: San Francisco Policy Issues and Recommendations,” the task force noted that it “had a particularly difficult time” outreaching to LGBT seniors in the Russian émigré community. It singled out the “numerous Jewish community agencies” serving the city’s Russian community for failing to provide the task force with assistance in promoting the survey. “The task force was told that the stigma associated with LGBT issues in this community was so strong that agencies were reluctant or simply unwilling to even announce the survey to the seniors they served or help distribute it because of their apparent fear of how some seniors would react,” according to the task force report. “The reason we were told is because homosexuality is the worst taboo in Russian culture and that it would be so insulting to ask a straight senior about an LGBT survey,” said Bill Ambrunn, a gay attorney who chaired the task force. In an interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Ambrunn signaled out Jewish Family and Children’s Services as one of the agencies that declined to

assist with the task force Asian and Pacific Islander survey. seniors, as well as RusTraci Dobronravova, sians, face blunted its the associate director of the ability to reach them. agency’s Seniors At Home “The Russian comprogram, told the B.A.R. munity wasn’t the only that the agency did ensub-population we had courage its senior clients to difficulty penetrating, it take part in the survey. was the most upfront to “We did circulate the not get cooperation,” said Rick Gerharter survey and we do know Aging task force Ambrunn. “We met with we have clients who par- chair Bill Ambrunn Asian community leadticipated in the survey,” ers. They promised to she said. help but then they never The survey was also really followed through.” advertised at the agency’s L’Chaim One agency, On Lok Inc., known Adult Day Health Center, which for its work with seniors in San serves 200 frail seniors Francisco’s Chinatown, offered to over the age of 80 from help, said Ambrunn, “but never the former Soviet followed through. We don’t know Union, added Dobronwhy.” ravova. On Lok Executive Director Rob“Really, we don’t know ert Edmondson did not respond how many LGBT Russian to a response for comment by press seniors are accessing our time. services,” she said. “We The Asian and Pacific Islander only know if people volWellness Center, which works with unteer their sexual orienboth straight and LGBT seniors, did tation.” assist the task force with its survey In its report the task force conoutreach efforts, said Lance Toma, cluded that there is “much work” the center’s executive director. needed to address homophobia and “Translating the survey does transphobia in both the Russian make a difference, but it is not going and “other communities especially to reach some of the most isolated where it impacts LGBT seniors who folks,” said Toma. are forced to live with this seemWhile the task force found it easy ingly overwhelming stigma.” to reach gay white men through the In addition to the English verLGBT press, it found it “was much sion, the survey was translated more difficult and time-consuming” into four other languages: Chinese, to reach LGBT seniors of color, biSpanish, Russian, and Tagalog. The sexuals, lesbians, and transgenders task force did reach or surpass the as those communities “have much 30-person threshold it had set for less formal ways of communicating” both African American and Latino amongst themselves. LGBT seniors. It also found “very few estabAs for the Asian American LGBT lished ways of communicating” senior community, the task force with those LGBT seniors as those failed to reach its 30-person goal for connections “don’t currently exist” the survey; it instead recruited 23 through the city’s Department of API LGBT elders. Aging and Adult Services, other city In addition to language barriers, See page 12 >> the task force found that isolation

SF set to name street after transgender icon by Matthew S. Bajko

an Francisco is set to name a street after a transgender icon, marking the first time the city has awarded such an honor to a member of the transgender community. At its meeting Tuesday, April 22, the Board of Supervisors is expected to approve adding Vicki Marlane’s name to street signs along the 100 block of Turk Street in the Tenderloin neighborhood. Marlane, who died in 2011 at the age of 76 due to AIDS-related complications, hosted a popular drag revue show at gay bar Aunt Charlie’s located at 133 Turk. The board’s land use and economic development community unanimously approved the proposal at its meeting Monday, April 14. District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim, who represents the Tenderloin and is the main sponsor of the street-naming resolution, said this week she does

On the web Online content this week includes the Bay Area Reporter’s online column Political Notes; the Out Wheels and Out in the World columns; and stories about Queer Rebels’ upcoming show; and an award for Rec and Park for a trail project that winds through gay neighborhoods. www.ebar.com.

not expect any opposiClub and friends of tion to the proposal when Marlane’s formally anit reaches the full board. nounced a street-naming “This is a historic vote campaign in early 2013. and action,” Kim said Wanting to avoid a conduring the hearing befrontation with those with fore the committee on addresses on that block, which she serves. “Vicki backers of the proposal in particular was a mensought to have Marlane’s tor to many folks in this name added in parentheRick Gerharter room, other performers, Vicki Marlane sis below the word Turk. and transgender youth The city is expected to coming up in the scene. It have such street signs in is time to finally recognize this icon place to be unveiled at this year’s and activist. This block is the perfect Transgender March the evening of place to memorialize her legacy.” Friday, June 27. Born Donald Sterger in “This will give the transgender Crookston, Minnesota, Marlane community the respect, acknowlstarted out as a traveling circus peredgement, and recognition the former before settling in San Frantransgender community deserves,” cisco in 1966. She underwent sex said Felicia A. Elizondo, a.k.a. Felireassignment surgery in the 1980s cia Flames, who was a close friend and moved to San Diego. of Marlane’s. A decade later Marlane had reThree San Francisco streets are alturned to the city and her show ready named for LGB people: Alice “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” deB. Toklas Place, Jose Sarria Court, buted in 1998 at Aunt Charlie’s. It and Jack Kerouac Alley. A proposal evolved into popular weekly Friday to rename an alley near City Hall as and Saturday shows called “The Hot Dr. Tom Waddell Place, a gay doctor Boxxx Girls.” who launched the Gay Games, was Known as “the lady with the liqto have been voted on at Monday’s uid spine” for her performance hearing. moves, Marlane was featured in the But a communication snafu with 2009 independent film Forever’s the city’s Department of Public Gonna Start Tonight. Works caused it to be removed from In 2012 the B.A.R.’s Political the agenda. Kim, who is also the Notebook suggested renaming the lead sponsor of the Waddell streetblock of Turk between Jones and naming resolution, expects to now Taylor as Vicki Marlane Way. The bring it before the board in a few Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic months.t

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

<< LGBT Aging

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

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Senior housing

From page 1

cused on LGBT senior housing developments. Her interviews of residents at the complexes, including in Santa Fe and the short-lived Barbary Lane in Oakland, found that living in LGBT supportive housing was “incredibly important” to the seniors’ health and mental outlook. “In these communities the seniors noted it was the first time they ever felt comfortable and at ease. They didn’t have to look over their shoulder or be worried about talking about their partner,” said Sullivan. There are more than 300 people on the waiting list for a unit at Triangle Square. The average wait for an opening is between two and three years. “It tells me we certainly don’t have enough housing,” said Sullivan. Recognizing that need for more affordable housing options for its senior clients, the L.A. center in February acquired a property across the street from its Village complex where it plans to construct a mixed-use housing project for both LGBT seniors and homeless youth. The plan for the three-acre site fronting McCadden Place is to build up to 80 units for seniors, 40 apartments for youth, a senior center, and space for intergenerational programing. “We would like to have a quick timeline, a year to a year-and-a-half. The goal is to raise $25 million, maybe a little bit more,” said Sullivan.

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In San Francisco the long-awaited Openhouse LGBT-welcoming senior affordable housing project is expected to break ground later this year. The agency’s 55 Laguna development of 110 rental apartments for low-income seniors, which it is building in partnership with Mercy Housing, will be split between two buildings. The renovation of the existing historic building at the corner of Laguna and Hermann, known as Richardson Hall, is slated to begin in October and take a year to be completed. It will have 40 units of housing, mostly one-bedrooms and a few studios, on the top two floors with ground level retail space. The building will also set aside 2,700 square feet for Openhouse’s staff offices in addition to client meeting rooms and a community space. “We hope, and our goal is, to have the place pretty much filled by December of 2015,” said Openhouse Executive Director Seth Kilbourn. Marketed as the city’s first LGBT senior housing complex, in reality any senior regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity who meets the financial eligibility requirements will be able to apply to live at the 55 Laguna housing. The rooms will be assigned based on a lottery system. “We are not allowed to ask if they identify as LGBT,” noted Kilbourn. “What we have been doing, and will be doing more of over the next year, is making sure LGBT folks who are interested in 55 Laguna get our newsletter and updates.” The second building, which will be brand new construction, will consist of 70 units of housing, all one-bedrooms, on five floors. The ground floor will feature activity space, an exercise room, and a large social space for community events and programs. Openhouse expects to break ground on the project in October 2016. With an 18-month construction schedule, residents would not begin moving in until at least Janu-

Courtesy Openhouse

A rendering of Openhouse’s 55 Laguna Street project shows the senior housing (foreground, in color) and a separate market rate housing tower in the background.

ary 2018. The rooms will again be assigned by lottery to any senior who qualifies, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, although 14 of the units are to be set aside specifically for seniors living with HIV or AIDS. “Obviously, the need is greater than the housing availability at 55 Laguna,” acknowledged Kilbourn. Bartholomew T. Casimir, 73, and his spouse, Edward Rulief Kelley, who is in his 60s, have seen many of their older gay male friends decamp from San Francisco to Palm Springs in search of cheaper housing and more social connections. But the couple, renters in the Richmond district, would prefer to live out their remaining years in the city. “We have a wonderful cottage apartment. Hopefully, we will be able to stay there,” said Casimir, who was born and raised in San Francisco. “All my friends from the 1970s and 1980s are living in Palm Springs. I don’t want to live there.” The couple has discussed moving into the Openhouse project as a possibility but is uncertain if it would fit their needs. “We like having our own house,” said Casimir, who is hopeful that once 55 Laguna opens its doors it will foster more activism among the city’s LGBT senior community. “I just think that communities are so important, especially in the LGBT elder community. That doesn’t exist, and hopefully, this Openhouse project will change that.” It is estimated there are upwards of 20,000 LGBT seniors age 60 and older living in San Francisco, with the number expected to reach 50,000 by 2030. How many of them need affordable housing is unknown, according to the city’s LGBT Aging Policy Task Force, which finished its work last month. The panel noted in its report, titled “LGBT Aging at the Golden Gate: San Francisco Policy Issues and Recommendations,” that few affordable housing agencies track their clients by sexual orientation or gender identity. “Therefore, it is impossible to know how many LGBT seniors need affordable housing, how many are already on waiting lists, how many utilize rental assistance programs, how many are victims of no-fault evictions, and so on,” states the report. A survey of 616 LGBT San Francisco residents aged 60 to 92 years old, conducted in 2013 on behalf of the task force, found less than 7 percent of the respondents were living in senior housing, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, or in an agerestricted community. The majority, at 88 percent, resided in a house, apartment, or condominium. Judging by the California Elder Economic Security Index, 40 percent of the seniors did not have the “minimum income necessary to meet their basic needs,” according to the report based on the survey results. Titled “Addressing the Needs of LGBT Older Adults in San Francisco: Recommendations for the Fu-

ture,” the report also noted that 30 percent of the seniors who took part had incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Two-thirds of the survey participants were concerned they would not be able to remain in their current housing and could be forced to relocate. The LGBT Aging Policy Task Force is calling on San Francisco officials to build more affordable housing for LGBT seniors. It has proposed that the city work with the SF Land Trust to set up “at least one” LGBT senior housing co-op and to build 200 very low-income units in the Castro area for LGBT seniors with incomes less than 30 percent of the area median income. But building enough affordable housing for LGBT seniors to meet the expected needs in coming years in a city as constrained land-wise as San Francisco is “isn’t very realistic,” said Bill Ambrunn, a gay attorney who chaired the task force. Therefore, the task force has also recommended that city officials focus on protecting LGBT seniors from being evicted from their current rent-controlled units. Another of its recommendations calls for funding to improve the housing conditions in apartment buildings and single-room-occupancy hotels where many LGBT seniors who are low-income and/or living with HIV and AIDS currently reside. “Whatever is necessary to prevent a senior from being evicted is what the city should be doing,” said Ambrunn. The L.A. center’s Sullivan, echoing the San Francisco task force’s report, stressed that it is also unrealistic to expect LGBT-focused agencies to shoulder all of the work to house LGBT seniors. “As people age and are looking for safe places, we need to provide that. But I don’t know if the LGBT community can provide all of those places,” she said. “We have to train other providers and developers on how to also provide those places.” In its just completed five-year plan, Openhouse has prioritized working with mainstream developers of senior housing in San Francisco to ensure they are providing safe environments for LGBT residents. “There is no reason we can’t help LGBT folks form communities at these other developments,” said Kilbourn. In 2016 the agency will begin drafting its next five-year plan, and those discussions will include if Openhouse should take on building additional LGBT senior housing. For now, said Kilbourn, a main focus will be on helping LGBT seniors remain in their current homes. “We need more units for sure, but we also need policies and protections for seniors to live where they live now,” he said. “If we can do that it will allow more people to stay in the city with some sense of economic security.”t Matthew S. Bajko wrote this article through the MetLife Foundation Journalists in Aging Fellowships, a program of New America Media and the Gerontological Society of America.

LGBT Aging>>

t Many Asian LGBT seniors in SF rely on faith groups by Matthew S. Bajko

aith communities are an especially important source for social support among Asian American LGBT seniors in San Francisco. So found the July 2013 report “Addressing the Needs of LGBT Older Adults in San Francisco: Recommendations for the Future” based on a survey commissioned by the city’s LGBT Aging Policy Task Force, which finished its work last month. Of the 616 LGBT city residents aged 60 to 92 years old who took part in the survey, 4 percent identified as Asian or Pacific Islander. Among the 23 Asian American respondents, 60 percent said they relied on social support from religious groups. They reported attending religious or spiritual activities and services at the highest rate of any ethnic or racial group in the study. “I do see Asian LGBT people in the Catholic Church,” said Vincent Baduel, 63, who helps run the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance’s 35-Plus group for gay and bi API men over the age of 35. “I myself am Catholic and I see them at the church in the Castro.” Until he moved to San Ramon in 2004, Baduel had been a parishioner at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in San Francisco’s gay Cas-

Pot club changes

From page 1

the states with medical marijuana laws, even though the federal government doesn’t recognize Prop 215 or similar laws in other states and Washington, D.C. The Justice Department had instructed federal prosecutors not to focus federal resources on individu-

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

tro district. He now regularly attends mass at St. Raymond Catholic Church in Dublin and will return to his old parish when he is in the city on weekends. “I would hazard a guess that Asians in general like structure maybe, I know I do, and I guess religion provides that structure and support by inference,” said Baduel. The survey finding doesn’t surprise Cecilia Chung, a member of the San Francisco Health Commission and a consultant on LGBT health policy. But due to the numerous nationalities within the larger API community, Chung said it would be helpful to know how Filipino LGBT seniors compared to, for example, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese LGBT seniors who answered the survey. “Within the API community there are many different nationalities, so for some of the Asian countries where Catholicism or Christianity are more prominent, they tend to seek out support from churches more so than some of the other communities, such as the Chinese community,” said Chung, a transgender woman who also works as a senior strategist at the Transgender Law Center. “It would help to get a better picture in some of the cultural differences.” The report gave a broad picture of

the API respondents to the survey and did not break out responses based on the various ethnic identities captured by the API umbrella. Despite the surveys being made available in Chinese and Tagalog, the researchers fell short of their goal of attracting at least 30 APIs to participate. As the task force noted in its report released in March, “translation alone was clearly not enough to penetrate hard to reach sub-populations.” Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center Executive Director Lance Toma reasoned that could be because, similar to many seniors, LGBT API seniors are also dealing with high levels of social isolation and mental health issues. “Trying to get data from folks who are isolated and struggling with mental health issues, whether you can translate the survey that doesn’t make a difference,” said Toma. The San Francisco-based agency has partnered with religious institutions, from churches to temples, to reach API LGBT seniors. For example, it has conducted HIV testing at temples in the Thai and Laotian communities. “In our history at API Wellness Center, our outreach efforts have always included faith-based venues,” said Toma. “When we drill down to other communities, especially Southeast Asian communities, there are different faith institutions that

als who were complying with medical marijuana laws in states that have them. In recent years, however, Haag shut down several San Francisco clubs, which raises questions about what her office would do if more dispensaries opened in the city. Avalos once sponsored a resolution urging the Justice Department not to persecute San Francisco’s dispensa-

ries, but he said he hasn’t yet talked to the agency as part of his latest efforts. “I see it is only as a matter of time that the city comes up with new rules,” he said. Asked in an email about the report and whether Haag would work to close any new dispensaries that opened, Lillian ArauzHaase, a spokeswoman for Haag, said “the U.S. Attorney’s office has no com-

Jane Philomen Cleland

Vincent Baduel runs the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance’s group for gay and bi men over 35.

smaller subsets of our communities are accessing for support.” Because senior demographics are not broken down by race and sexual orientation, it is unclear how many of the estimated 20,000 LGBT seniors living in San Francisco are Asian or Pacific Islander. The same is true of the 40 million adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. based on 2010 census figures; it is unknown how many are LGBT. Demographers do predict that over the next 40 years, Asian American and Pacific Islander older adults will have “the largest relative population growth among all older adults,” noted a 2013 report on LGBT older ments at this time.” Just before the planning commission approved the report at its March 27 meeting, Commissioner Michael Antonini mentioned the federal government’s anti-pot club actions and said, “I don’t know what justification the justice department has” for shutting down dispensaries. It’s not clear why more dispensaries would be approved when there’s

adults issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Of all ethnic groups in the San Francisco LGBT senior survey, the LGBT Asian American participants were the most likely to own a home, have their mortgages paid off, and were not concerned they would have to move due to rising crime rates. As with other LGBT seniors of color who took part in the survey, Asian Americans also reported needing housing assistance. Their biggest concerns for why they may have to move out of their current homes were economic or health reasons. Roughly 2 percent were HIVpositive or living with AIDS. It was the lowest rate of living with HIV or AIDS among the various ethnic groups in the survey. As a group, the API LGBT seniors reported their greatest needs were meal sites and free groceries. Among the services they most wanted were caregiver support and day programs. Many of the men in the GAPA 35-Plus group, noted Baduel, “are also taking care of either partners or loved ones that need caregiving.”t Matthew S. Bajko wrote this article through the MetLife Foundation Journalists in Aging Fellowships, a program of New America Media and the Gerontological Society of America.

still a chance of the Justice Department shutting them down. In a phone interview, Commissioner Rich Hillis said, “As planning commissioners, we’re looking at it more from a land use perspective. That’s not something we get into. ... We’re just looking at where they can and cannot open, assuming the See page 10 >>

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<< Sports

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

SiriusXM launches gay sports show by Roger Brigham

ews and notes as we enjoy the early power displays by Brandon Belt and Yoenis Cespedes and waiting for Yasiel Puig’s inevitable implosion ...

A radio show for us

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with sports on the radio. Sports are such a visual and physical experience, so hearing radio

play-by-play of a game requires a lot of imagination and reliance of other people’s observations rather than your own. Still, I have few happier memories than of lying in bed during college summers in the early 1970s listening in the dark to Al Michaels and Joe Nuxhall calling Cincinnati Reds games, or driving down I-880 decades later hearing Ray Fosse tell me Miguel Cabrera has just homered again to extend

Write for the Best!

the Oakland A’s win streak. As far as sports talk radio shows go, they are carried in the Bay Area primarily by 680 AM and 95.7 FM. Topics can be emotional and compelling – remember the Boston Marathon bombing a year ago? – they can also be mind-numbingly dull, laden with intramural jargon expressing blowhard opinions from guys who sound like they are passing a joint or a bong. On a good day. They are also embarrassingly pitched toward a good-ole boy, beerdrinking, adolescent frat boy wannabe audience that was fine when you were a beer-drinking adolescent frat boy but not so much when you are driving down the asphalt on the way to the 9-to-5 primed for business. And, of course, they are almost entirely devoted to football, basketball, football, baseball, football, and fantasy/betting versions of the same. Now, satellite subscription service SiriusXM has launched The Outfield, a queer-oriented sports show on SiriusXM OutQ, the company’s channel for LGBT-targeted programming. The two-hour show started April 13 and broadcasts weekly on Sundays at 8 a.m. in the Bay Area. The show is hosted by Eddie Robinson out of Houston. The call-in number for people wanting to talk on the show is (866) 305-6887. Robinson said he had been interested in doing something in broadcasting about LGBT elements in sports since working as a closeted producer at sports talk station WFAN in New York City a decade ago, then working with Logo television on queer sports projects around the 2006 Gay Games and Outgames. “I had some inner turmoil,” Robinson told the Bay Area Reporter. “I was working where athletes and everyday people can talk regularly, but I was closeted. I decided to go on in a different atmosphere. I knew it had to be in radio; I wasn’t sure what station it would be.” The Outfield, Robinson said, “is basically an outlet of sports news highlights at the top of the show. Secondly, it’s an opportunity for gay athletes and straight allies to tell their stories. There’s really no platform on radio and television for them to tell their own stories except through journalists. Here, you have a platform where people can truly express who they are. Thirdly, the show en-

The Bay Area Reporter – San Francisco’s largest LGBT weekly newspaper – has immediate openings for freelance news reporters. Responsibilities include: attending assigned meetings or events; necessary interviews; and writing news articles weekly. Coverage includes breaking news, City Hall, health, LGBT organizations, and other matters of interest. Availability should include at least one of the following: weekday daytime hours, evenings, or weekends to cover assigned events. News reporting experience preferred; newspaper background a plus. Candidates should demonstrate ability to write under deadline and be detail oriented. Send cover letter, resume, writing samples to: Cynthia Laird, News Editor,

225 Bush Street, Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94104 or e-mail to c.laird@ebar.com.

Fascist approach to gender testing

Stanford anthropologist Katrina Karkazis coauthored a brilliant and disturbing op-ed piece in the April 10 edition of the New York Times calling attention to the sick proposals that have been spewed by members of the medical community in the past three years to “correct” female athletes whom sports officials say have abnormally high testosterone levels. The column notes that last year, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reported that four female athletes from the ages of 18 to 21 years who had high testosterone but were not suspected of doping, were sent to “a medical center in France, where they were put through examinations that included blood tests, genital inspections, magnetic resonance imaging, X-rays and psychosexual history.” The article continues, “Since the athletes were all born as girls but also had internal testes that produce unusually high levels of testosterone for a woman, doctors proposed removing the women’s gonads and partially removing their clitorises. All four agreed to undergo both procedures; a year later, they were allowed to return to competition. The doctors who performed the surgeries and wrote the report acknowledged that there was no medical reason for the procedures. Quite simply, these young female athletes were required to have drastic, unnecessary and irreversible medical interventions if they wished to continue in their sports. Many conditions can lead to naturally high testosterone, including polycystic ovarian syndrome or an ovarian tumor during pregnancy, but women with intersex traits tend to have the highest T levels. And it is these intersex traits that sports authorities want ‘corrected.’”

Courtesy Sirius XM

Eddie Robinson hosts The Outfield on SiriusXM radio.

At this point, I pitch the paper across the room in disgust and kick the trash can. There is no science to back this up. Quite the contrary. This is pure unadulterated prejudice and ignorance piled on top of arrogance and a lack of any sense of morality. The column continues, “The policy places a disproportionate burden on poor women who may have limited career opportunities and are likely to face enormous pressure to submit to these interventions in order to continue their athletic careers. Under the current policies, more and more female athletes with naturally high T levels will be confronted with these harsh choices – and not just at the elite level.” In retrospect, maybe the IOC knew what it was doing when it gave the Winter Olympics to Russia.

Time out

An article published in February by the Journal of Adolescent Health found that a study of adolescent boys playing football and high school in California were twice as likely as others to abuse girls. The study, based on results from a survey of 1,648 male athletes in California, linked “’hyper-masculine attitudes’ and dating violence. The researchers found these attitudes more prevalent in football and basketball players than in boys who played other sports such as soccer, wrestling, baseball, or track and field.” The report suggests, “the value of violence-prevention efforts by parents and coaches who raise and mentor high school boys who play these two sports. To be on the safe side, perhaps these prevention efforts should also reach boys in other contact or collision sports. Sports often depends on controlled aggression within the rules of the game, but the rules of the game of life are much different than the rules that prevail on the athletic field.”t

Supervisors give OK to housing fixes by David-Elijah Nahmod

FREELANCE NEWS REPORTERS

courages dialogue and conversation.” Robinson said he won’t be a talk therapist but he hopes people will be able to find answers in the show. “I’m not an adviser,” he said. “I’m not a coach. Of course, those kinds of guests will be invited. So many athletes go through life tortured, not being able to live out who they are. That affects your competitiveness; you begin to question what you’re doing. The second you doubt that, you’re through.” The show is available on Channel 109, and through the SiriusXM Internet Radio app on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at www.siriusxm.com.

he San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved two pieces of legislation aimed at helping the housing crunch. On a 9-2 vote April 15, the same as last week, the board passed gay Supervisor David Campos’s Ellis Act legislation, which would increase the payments made by landlords to city tenants facing an eviction under the act. An amendment Campos later added means his proposal will come back to the board one more time for a vote next week. The Ellis Act is a state law that allows landlords to evict tenants in order to get out of the rental business. Campos’s ordinance requires landlords who evict tenants using the Ellis Act to pay the difference between the tenant’s rental rate prior to eviction and what would have been the market rate for that unit for two years. Relocation payments are already required under the Ellis Act but Campos’s law would significantly increase them. As with last week’s vote, Supervisors Mark Farrell and Supervi-

sor Katy Tang were the lone votes against the measure. Campos, who is now running for state Assembly, represents the Mission district, which has been particularly hard hit by mass evictions. The Castro neighborhood has also seen a spike in evictions. During the board meeting, Campos noted that a number of landlords were now rushing Ellis Act evictions through in order to avoid paying the additional relocation fees. Under old law, landlords were required to make flat payments of $3,000 to $5,000 to evicted tenants. “I drafted this ordinance to go into effect 90 days after enactment,” said Campos as he addressed the board. “The city controller has calculated the payments to tenants that would be required, so the 90 days is no longer needed. We need to protect people as quickly as possible.” The supervisor entered a motion to amend his proposal by deleting the words 90 days and replacing them with five days. The proposal passed with the amendment on first reading, without question or comment.

“I am thrilled that eight of my colleagues have supported my legislation aimed at providing some relief for tenants evicted under the Ellis Act,” Campos told the Bay Area Reporter after the hearing. “I have been so touched by the countless emails I have received from tenants who express great relief as a result of this legislation. One person told me that he got the first good night of sleep in a long time after last week’s vote. I look forward to continuing to address this eviction crisis and helping San Franciscans stay in the city they love.” In another housing-related matter, the board gave final approval to gay Supervisor Scott Wiener’s ordinance to allow the construction of in-law units in existing residential units in the Castro. The vote was unanimous. The ordinance will allow property owners to create in-law units in garages, basements, and similar unused spaces. Mayor Ed Lee will sign Wiener’s proposal into law Thursday (April 17). Campos’s Relocation Assistance proposal goes before the board for another vote next week.t

Community News>>

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

Trans dance company to debut new season by Elliot Owen

econd only to longstanding powerhouse New York, San Francisco is home to the nation’s most dynamic dance climate, and may soon surpass its previously uncontested competition when it comes to pushing the boundaries of contemporary dance. A front-runner in the movement to redefine the dance world is Sean Dorsey Dance, an award-winning San Francisco-based company founded and directed by transgender choreographer and dancer Sean Dorsey. The company combines dance, storytelling, and theater to create performances that breathe life into LGBTQ narratives from the past, and mirror timeless sentiments shared between all beneficiaries of the human experience, regardless of identity. “Our productions feature fullthrottle, high-energy athletic dancing, luscious queer partnering, dynamic

live theater, and intimate storytelling,” Dorsey, 41, told the Bay Area Reporter. “The work I create has elements of movement, text, and narrative. It’s not abstract modern dance; it’s accessible, relevant, and meant to move people.” The company is currently gearing up for its 2014 home season, which runs from April 24-26 at Z Space, and features the return of an audience favorite, and debut of highly-anticipated new work. Dorsey is excited to “remount” “Lou,” a 45-minute suite of dances that’s part of the larger production, Uncovered: The Diary Project, which uses text from real-life diaries of transgender and queer people. “Lou” is based on the journal entries of Lou Sullivan, a Bay Area gay transgender man and activist who educated the medical community about the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity, and founded a few early transgender support groups before dying of

AIDS complications in 1991. “He’s also a co-founder of the GLBT Historical Society where he left 30 years of his lifelong diaries,” Dorsey said. “I spent a year transcribing the diaries by hand because you can’t photocopy them, then created a soundscore based on his diary excerpts, then choreography based on his life. ‘Lou’ is gorgeous, very powerful work and speaks to all people – transgender, gay, straight, questioning – of all ages.” “Lou” premiered in 2009 and has been performed in 20 cities across the country. Each year it is featured in a home season, Dorsey said, shows sell out in advance. “There’s still of lot of Bay Area audience that hasn’t seen the work, so I wanted to bring it back,” Dorsey continued. Complementing the long-standing favorite during the company’s home season is the world premiere of The Missing Generation, a production

Walking while trans by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

onica Jones is a 29-year-old transwoman of color. A former sex worker, she has turned her energies to the Phoenix chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project and her studies at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work. In May 2013, she spoke at a rally in Phoenix, speaking out against Project ROSE, which stands for Reaching Out to the Sexually Exploited, a program that is designed to convince sex workers to cease prostitution in exchange for not having charges filed against them. Project ROSE was created by some 15 organizations, including the Phoenix Police Department, and is supported by Catholic charities and other religious organizations. What Project ROSE aims to do is move people into a diversion program rather than be charged for prostitution. If a person does not complete the program, then charges are filed against the suspect. The program claims to have a 28 percent success rate. On the surface, this sounds like a great program, but there’s more to consider. As Jones has argued, services and other resources could – should – be offered far earlier, and that sending people to Project ROSE still criminalizes sex workers. The program treats sex workers as victims – souls to save – and focuses heavily on poor women. I have long been of the opinion that sex work is a victimless crime. Indeed, I hesitate to call it a crime at all: if the act is consensual, and no harm is being caused, why should this be illegal? I find myself questioning the involvement of religious bodies in this program as well, making this not a criminal issue, but a moral one. It is worth noting, too, that the same percentage of people exit sex work regardless of whether they complete the Project ROSE program or go before a judge. More than this, many do end up “failing” the program, getting charged while the program still pockets its funding dollars. As I mentioned, Jones was speaking out against Project ROSE one day last May. The next day, in the same neighborhood where she spoke, Jones was in police custody. That night, as she was walking to a neighborhood bar, she accepted a ride from a man. Once she got in, the driver revealed himself to be an undercover police officer. The charge was

manifesting prostitution, a broad law that criminalizes every thing from asking someone to touch your genitals all the way to multiple attempts to engage a passerby in conversation or attempting to wave down a car. Even asking if a person is a police officer can lead you to being arrested for manifesting prostitution. It is important to note that the law requires that the person accused of manifesting prostitution be the one to approach Christine Smith the arresting officer. Two eyewitnesses testified that the offer is the one who approached, seemingly invalidating the charge. As you can guess, this very statute is used to send people into Project ROSE. While not formally charged by the officer, Jones was taken – in handcuffs – to a church basement for evaluation. Yet Jones was deemed ineligible. The creator of Project ROSE – Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, Ph.D., a tenured professor at the very college Jones attends – refused to speak to her as part of her eligibility evaluation. We live in a time when transgender people, in popular culture, tend to be looked at as being deceivers. We still have movies, television shows, and even commercials that portray transgender people as being deceptive, hiding one’s “real” gender identity from friends and possible lovers. We’re told that transgender people should not be allowed to use a restroom congruent with their gender identity because a rapist or molester would use that for cover. Indeed, even though Phoenix does include gender identity in its antidiscrimination laws, it was only this time last year that the Arizona state Senate was considering a bill to make it a class 1 misdemeanor for a transgender person to use a restroom that did not match their birth certificate. This was under the same guise of protecting people from sexual predators. To quote Arizona state Representative John Kavanagh (R), allowing transgender people to use a bathroom that matches their gender identity, “raises the specter of people who want to go into those opposite-sex facilities not because they’re transgender, but because they’re weird.” So into this environment walked Jones. She was arrested and deemed unfit to go through the Project ROSE program that she has spoken out against. Jones recently had her day in court, arguing that the law itself was unconstitutional, and that she was indeed targeted for being both an activist and

a transwoman of color. The court – even with the testimony of eyewitnesses on her behalf – disagreed. She now faces 30 days in Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s jail. Was she targeted? I think that should be painfully obvious. It could have been for her speaking out against Project ROSE. It could have been for her being a transgender woman of color. In my opinion, it is plenty likely it was both. Should she being going to jail? I do not believe so – and there should be someone looking into the officer, into the law, and into Project ROSE itself, finding out just why the system has failed Jones.t Gwen Smith stands with Monica Jones. You can find her at www.gwensmith.com.

l ica ces d Me ervi e S Fre ntal e +D

based on two years of oral interviews that Dorsey conducted with survivors of the early AIDS epidemic. While the full production is set to debut in April 2015 before touring to 15 cities, attendees of this year’s program will enjoy a sneak-peek excerpt. Dorsey’s intention with The Missing Generation is to honor LGBTQ ancestors that died during peak AIDS-incidence years; in 1994 and 1995, HIV was the nation’s leading cause of death for those ages 25-44. “In addition,” Dorsey explained, “I want to bring transgender experiences into the AIDS narrative, which I still feel are silent around this particular subject.” Dorsey’s work has been recognized as unparalleled in many circles, winning praises that include “San Francisco’s Best Dance Company” by SF Weekly, an inclusion in Dance magazine’s “Top 25 to Watch” list, three Isadora Duncan Dance Awards – which Dorsey describes as “the Oscars of the dance world” – and a Golden Crown Literary Award (Goldie) for performance.

Elliot Owen

Choreographer and dancer Sean Dorsey is preparing for the new season of the Sean Dorsey Dance Company.

Not only is Dorsey the nation’s first transgender modern dance choreographer, he is also the first transgender artist to receive a National Endowment for the Arts grant, awarded in January, to allocate toward Sean Dorsey Dance productions. The NEA is the largest federal funding body for the arts and, under President Barack Obama, restored funding for LGBTQ-related projects See page 10 >>

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8:00 PM Easter Vigil Service

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10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

Pot club changes

From page 7

Department of Justice is not going to shut them down.” Asked about why people should open dispensaries with the possibility of the Justice Department shutting them down, Commissioner Rodney Fong said, “We don’t know that.” Like Hillis, Fong talked about how the main purpose of the meeting had been to discuss locations. He added, “I don’t know if we can predict the future and what’s going to happen, but I hear you. What you’re saying makes sense.”

Concerns

Cathy Smith was one of several people who spoke at the plan-

HIV funding

From page 1

ing continued funding for HIV services in San Francisco has been one of my top priorities since I took office. Any interruptions or cutbacks in treatment can be devastating for our most vulnerable citizens who are living with or at-risk for HIV.” Mike Smith is president of the city’s HIV/AIDS Provider Network and executive director of the nonprofit AIDS Emergency Fund, which provides cash grants to people living with disabling HIV/AIDS so that they can pay rent and other expenses. Smith said in an interview that the “unofficial word” is that $2 million of the anticipated cut will be in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act funds. The remaining $700,000 in projected cuts are from reductions to care and prevention services that the supervisors were previously unable to cover, he said. “Everyone at this point is looking for a 12 percent across the board re-

Russian investments

From page 2

Russians, ethnic minorities, political dissidents, and others. With Putin consolidating political and economic power, those assets are at risk.” Last year, the state Senate passed

Equality Awards

From page 3

feel an affinity with our transgender brothers and sisters who have had to fight so much. I’m so proud of Equality California for advancing the rights of all individuals.” District 9 Supervisor David Campos presented the Leadership Award to San Francisco Health Director Barbara Garcia. “This is a special night for me,” Campos said during Garcia’s introduction. “I’m the gay Latino candidate for state Assembly, endorsed by Equality California. Equality California makes it possible for people like me.” As he presented the award, Campos pointed out that as a Latina lesbian Garcia “gets it” regarding issues such as HIV funding and transgender surgeries. “No one in San Francisco is going to be left behind because of Barbara Garcia, my friend and heroine,” he said. For her part, Garcia shared some

Dance

From page 9

after a stretch of censorship that began in 1989, making Dorsey’s grant particularly noteworthy. “I feel so blessed to support transgender visibility,” Dorsey said. “It’s revolutionary to have transgender and queer bodies onstage performing well-crafted professional work and giving voice to those experiences. It’s revolutionary to be a transgender artist directing work that’s award-winning, touring, and

ning commission’s March meeting. Smith owned HopeNet, a dispensary that was closed by the Department of Justice. She worried about the possibility of more clubs opening only to see the same fate. “We were paying huge amounts of money, and it seems like I got no protection, because somebody let a school move in too close to me,” Smith told commissioners. “We were serving our neighborhood. ... I would really hate to see other dispensaries go down the same road.” Chris Armentrout, who’s with the San Francisco Unified School District, said the school board “has not taken a formal position” on the issue, but Superintendent Richard Carranza was opposed to reducing the buffer around schools. The

planning commission report recommends considering cutting such buffers from 1,000 feet to 600 feet. “Our focus is on the health, safety, and welfare of our students and ensuring they’re ready to learn,” said Armentrout. He cited survey data that said “nearly one-third” of the city’s high school students have tried marijuana, and he said the district wants to “try to decrease the number of students who use marijuana and increase the number who exhibit healthy behaviors.” Jeremy Pollock, an aide to Avalos, told commissioners that the supervisor’s supportive of reducing the buffer around schools, but he’d work with the district on the issue.t

duction,” he said. At AEF, a 12 percent cut in Ryan White funding “would probably affect 60 to 70 clients,” said Smith. The nonprofit would have to tighten eligibility criteria. “I don’t think we’d be able to make it up on the fundraising side,” he said, and “at some point there’s just no place to cut anymore.” AEF, which has a budget of about $2.2 million, receives “just under $1 million” in Ryan White funds, said Smith. A 12 percent cut would amount to about $110,000, he said. The drop in funding is just the latest hit local agencies have had to face. “We’ve had 11 years of reductions in our Ryan White award,” said Smith. “Every single year for 11 years. It’s just staggering.” He said the total amount is less than half of what it was in 2000, even though “there are more people living with HIV in the city now then there ever have been.” Smith said, “Even though we’re doing a much better job with pre-

vention,” the number of people who are newly diagnosed, plus the number of people who are living with HIV who are moving to the city, “is larger than the number of people moving away with HIV or dying from it.” Ernest Hopkins, the director of legislative affairs for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, said cuts to housing funds are also expected. Hopkins protested the way federal funds related to HIV and AIDS are distributed. “It does not appropriately address an epidemic that’s been going on for 30 years,” he said. The system is designed “to address hot spots,” said Hopkins. “The current distribution mechanisms actually cut federal resources to us, even though we are successfully containing the epidemic,” he said. The May 7 hearing will be at the budget and finance committee meeting, which starts at 1 p.m. in Room 250 at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.t

a resolution authored by gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) that urged the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System to divest funds from their pension plans in Russia. At last week’s hearing, Supervisor

Jane Kim also expressed her support for the divestment. The San Francisco retirement board must now decide to take the issue up, as per its procedure. Wiener will work with Supervisor Malia Cohen, who is a member of the retirement board, to address the matter.t

personal news. “I want to share this award back to you because I got married last month,” Garcia said. “In all our communities, being open and honest is so important.” San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera received the Vanguard Award, which was presented by Fiona Ma, a former city supervisor and assemblywoman who is running for the state Board of Equalization, District 2. Ma recalled the leadership positions taken by former Mayor Gavin Newsom and Herrera in 2004 when the mayor defied state law by issuing the first marriage licenses to samesex couples and Herrera had to defend him in court. Herrera received a standing ovation from the many married couples in attendance. “My hair is a lot grayer now than it was when I began in 2001,” Herrera quipped, referring to his first election as city attorney. He recalled the emails he got after those first same-sex wedding ceremonies were performed 10 years

ago. “There were calls for impeachment and threats of violence,” he said. “Now the emails tell people’s stories. When we see people being persecuted in Russia and Africa we need to make sure that everyone has dignity, not just Californians.” John O’Connor, EQCA’s executive director, took to the stage and offered a few thoughts. “I’ll cover the serious business, our relevance,” he said. “You can commit to partying. We have marriage equality sweeping the nation. Anti-gay CEOs are stepping down. Laws are being passed for trans kids to participate in all school activities. This is what a tipping point feels like in a social justice movement. The work of Equality California impacts the lives of real people.” The EQCA event was for the organization, bringing in about $226,000, officials said. After the awards, singer Frenchie Davis, an out lesbian, took to the stage to belt out a few tunes. Dessert and dancing followed.t

breaking new ground in terms of content and form. “There are times,” Dorsey added, “especially when I was in dance school, when I didn’t know anybody like me who danced, times where it’s lonely and challenging. It’s still a challenge to feel like I don’t have many peers. I’m very mindful that the reason I can do this work is because I’m standing on the shoulders of my elders and ancestors who struggled through violence, life in closet, and busting out of the closet.” Dorsey is also the founder and

artistic director of Fresh Meat Productions, a San Francisco nonprofit committed to creating year-round transgender and queer dance and performing arts programs and events, including the annual Fresh Meat Festival. Sean Dorsey Dance operates under Fresh Meat Productions.t Z Space is located at 450 Florida Street, San Francisco. To purchase Sean Dorsey Dance 2014 home season tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/608721.

Legal Notices>> NOTICE OF INTENT TO CIRCULATE PETITION:

Notice is hereby given by the persons whose names appear hereon of their intention to circulate the petition within the City and County of San Francisco for the purpose of: Ensuring voters have a voice in deciding the future of Golden Gate Park.

COALITION TO PROTECT GOLDEN GATE PARK, PROPONENT. APRIL 15, 2014. REQUIRING CERTAIN ATHLETIC FIELDS IN GOLDEN GATE PARK TO BE MAINTAINED AS NATURAL GRASS

The City’s Recreation and Park Department operates and maintains Golden Gate Park (the “Park”). Crossover Drive runs through the Park in a generally north to south direction. Crossover Drive begins on the north side of the Park at 25th Avenue and ends on the south side of the Park at 19th Avenue. The Park includes several athletic fields located west of Crossover Drive. These fields are all natural grass and do not have lights to allow for nighttime sports activities. The largest of the athletic fields west of Crossover Drive are the Polo Field and the Beach Chalet Fields. The Recreation and Park Commission and the Planning Commission have approved a project to replace the natural grass on the four soccer fields at Beach Chalet Fields with synthetic turf and to install field lighting there to allow for nighttime use. The Board of Supervisors, Board of Appeals, and California Coastal Commission have all taken additional actions required to authorize the project. This measure would require the City to maintain all athletic fields in Golden Gate Park west of Crossover Drive as natural grass. It would also prohibit nighttime sports field lighting in these Areas.

APR 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035737700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DEJURE DESIGN, 129 27TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANIEL MCLAUGHLIN. 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 03/24/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035727600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RECRUITING LIKE A BOSS; RECRUIT L.A.B.; RLAB; 350 TOWNSEND ST #717, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed UKACHI N. OKORONKWO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/19/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/19/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035731400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OPTUM CREATIVE, 268 BUSH ST #4315, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed WALTER E. PEARCE JR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/20/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/20/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035702300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NENAH’S DOLCI, 1390 MISSION ST #701, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARITZAYANA ORTIZ PEREZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/06/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/06/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035728600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KOTAS CONSTRUCTION, 130 MONTEREY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JASON KOTAS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/10/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/20/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035697500

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035736500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JIM YAGER MEDIA, 160 FILLMORE ST #C, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BUTTERFLY SUNRISE CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/24/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/24/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035701600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE UPS STORE 6520, 4104 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed JING STORE INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/06/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/06/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035727000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SABRA GRILL RESTAURANT, 419 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SABABA INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/29/96. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/19/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035733900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KING’S MARKET, 2398 BRYANT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SILVERMAN, LLC (CA). 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 03/21/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035727400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NO DEPRESSION, 460 BUSH ST, 2ND FL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed FRESHGRASS, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/19/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035723400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HOME CARE AND CLEANING, 440 9TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARK MANGAMPAT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/15/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/14.

APR 03, 10, 17, 24, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035721100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALMA HOLISTIC, 2040 UNION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALMA E. ARCINIEGAS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/17/14.

APR 03, 10, 17, 24, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035754100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BETTER WIRED ELECTRIC, 258 EUREKA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed JOSHUA FROST & JAMES FROST. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/01/14.

APR 03, 10, 17, 24, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035723600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STEFFAN SPA, A MASTER HEALING ARTS STUDIO, 3150 18TH ST #244, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MICHAEL T. STEFFAN. 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 03/05/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CITIPETS, 183 WEST PORTAL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed ALLISON WERGER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/00. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PROGRESSIVE GROUNDS, 400 CORTLAND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed AZIZ A. BENARAFA & KHAMMAR MARCO BOUJEBHA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/19/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CLEAN N SAVE DRY CLEANERS, 647 BOSWORTH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed FUTIAN HUO & HUI YING ZHU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/31/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/31/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035725700

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035727800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHEZ JULIEN, 100 BUSH ST #110, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed VISIONARY PARTNERS GROUP INC. (CA). 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 03/19/14.

MAR 27, APR 03, 10, 17, 2014

APR 03, 10, 17, 24, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035751100

APR 03, 10, 17, 24, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035738100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EARLWOOD CARPENTRY, 1009 CABRILLO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed KELLY ROGALA & MICHAEL ROGALA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/24/14.

APR 03, 10, 17, 24, 2014

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035745700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: APP ACADEMY, 1061 MARKET ST, 4TH FLOOR, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed HASH MAP LABS, INC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/11/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/27/14.

APR 03, 10, 17, 24, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035707900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LEATHER ALLEY; MR SAN FRANCISCO LEATHER; MR SF LEATHER; 584 CASTRO ST #660, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA LEATHER ALLIANCE INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names 03/10/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/10/14.

APR 03, 10, 17, 24, 2014 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14-550227

In the matter of the application of: SIOBHAN KATHERINE DUNY, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner SIOBHAN KATHERINE DUNY, is requesting that the name SIOBHAN KATHERINE DUNY, be changed to SIOBHAN KATHERINE BAMFORD. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Rm. 514 on the 5th of June 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APR 10, 17, 24, MAY 01, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035721900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FLAWLESS TAN, 5462 NEWPARK PLAZA, NEWARK, CA 94560. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ZILIKA OMAR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/18/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/14.

APR 10, 17, 24, MAY 01, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035762200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GAME PLAN STRATEGIC, 222 COLUMBUS AVE #203, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed STEFANIE P. KELLY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/04/14.

APR 10, 17, 24, MAY 01, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035748500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STRIVE 360 CHIROPACTIC WELLNESS CENTER, 166 GEARY ST #1102, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANIEL AGEGNEHU. 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 03/28/14.

APR 10, 17, 24, MAY 01, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035746500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHANG’S KITCHEN, 1030 IRVING ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CHANG SHENG INC (CA). 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 03/27/14.

APR 10, 17, 24, MAY 01, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035756900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 21TECH, 1390 MARKET ST #1202, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed 21TECH, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/96. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/02/14.

APR 10, 17, 24, MAY 01, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035185600 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: KEVIN’S KIMCHI HOME COOKING, 510 26TH AVE #508, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by KEVIN CHRISTOPHER ROBERTSON. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/17/13.

APR 10, 17, 24, MAY 01, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035785000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GIRAFFE MARKETING, 660 4TH ST, #497, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed XENTER INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/13/2002. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/15/14.

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-032992400

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035764300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: COMMERCEX, 333 HARRISON ST #423, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JEFF KWIAT. 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 04/04/14.

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14-550248

In the matter of the application of: MARCELA TERESA BUSTOS, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner MARCELA TERESA BUSTOS, is requesting that the name MARCELA TERESA BUSTOS, be changed to MARCELA TERESA MARENCO ROSE. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Rm. 514 on the 12th of June 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035773600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FORTHRIGHT STRATEGIC DESIGN, 4301 23RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHRISTOPHER W. HAYES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/09/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/09/14.

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

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APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035749700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SUPER DOGE STUDIO, 71 BRIGHTON AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JIAWEN LIANG. 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 03/28/14.

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035749800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HSING HSING STUDIO, 111 MONTEBELLO AVE #B212, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94043. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HSING CHIEH WANG. 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 03/28/14.

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035766300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FLUFF N FOLD, 3451 22ND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RICHARD K. LEE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/07/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/07/14.

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035771000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SF ELECTROLYSIS, 500 SUTTER ST #703, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LILY GUZMAN L. E. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/08/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/08/14.

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035783700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HERMANN HANS, 3150 18TH ST #537, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HERMANN JAMES SEEMANN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/15/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/15/14.

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035722000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DOCTOR CLEANING, 5314 BAYVIEW AVE #E, RICHMOND, CA 94804. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed NATHALI G. PALMA CADENAS & JOHN PAUL LOPEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/18/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/14.

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035779300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: A + D / PLA A JOINT VENTURE, 98 JACK LONDON ALLEY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed PFAU LONG ARCHITECTURE, LTD., A CA CORP & A + D ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN, A CA CORP. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/11/14.

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035732700

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: SEVERE MUSICK, 3467 MISSION ST, SF, CA 94110. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by ANTHONY SEVERO. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/26/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DRAKE, 508 4TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed KINGSTON VENTURES LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/21/14.

APR 10, 17, 24, MAY 01, 2014

APR 17, 24, MAY 01, 08, 2014

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second section 57

Boston, P-town travel

40th anniv., readers' poll

Considering Balenciaga

The

www.ebar.com

Serving the gay, lesbian,

REPORT CITES HEALTH GAPS

Traditionally, IOM committees are asked to identify research gaps and priorities within a field. “But that paradigm does not fit for this area,” chair Dr. Robert Graham said at the March 31 news conference releasing the report. See page 24 >>

Our new look

The Bay Area Reporter decided to update its look now that we’re 40. So we’ve made some slight design changes in both sections of the paper, with new fonts, and in the case of the Arts and Culture section, a new name. Most significantly, our website has been updated to allow for video with stories, and readers can now comment directly on our online content if they are friends on Facebook.▼

communities since 1971

Vol. 41 • No. 14 • April 7-13,

The 2011

by Seth Hemmelgarn

Community looks back at 40 years of the B.A.R.

by Bob Roehr

report released last week detailed the need for more federal research and data collection on the health of LGBT people. “Lesbian, Bob Roehr gay, bisexual, Dr. Robert Graham and transgender individuals experience unique health disparities. Although the acronym LGBT is used as an umbrella term, and the health needs of this community are often grouped together, each of these letters represents a distinct population with its own health concerns,” stated the summary of the report, written by the prestigious Institute of Medicine. “Furthermore, among lesbians, gay men, bisexual men and women, and transgender people, there are subpopulations on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic based status, geographic location, age, and other factors,” the report continued. While that summary statement is not news to anyone familiar with the LGBT community, the fact that it was made in the IOM report, which was commissioned by the National Institutes of Health, adds new meaning and credibility to shaping health policy, which that heretofore had been lacking.

bisexual, and transgender

Founding publisher Bob Ross

or 40 years now, the Bay Area Reporter has informed, entertained, and frequently miffed people in San Francisco and beyond. The paper started when Bob Ross – chef, Tavern Guild president, and bar culture insider – launched it with business partner Paul Bentley. The first issue was dated April 1, 1971 but hit the streets on April 2, Ross’s 37th birthday. Ross pasted up all the pages by hand, copied them, and delivered them to local bars. In the beginning, nobody took the paper too seriously. Cleve Jones, who said he had an “up and down” relationship with Ross and who was a close friend of slain gay icon Harvey Milk, started reading the paper after his arrival to San Francisco in 1972. “To be honest, it was sort of a silly publication,” said Jones, who now works with the Courage Campaign. “Most of the other young people didn’t really have much it. It was basically just announcementsuse for about whatever specials were going on at whatever bar.”

www.ebar.com

by Seth Hemmelgarn

bisexual, and transgender

communities since 1971

Rick Gerharter Members of the Kaiser Permanente contingent enjoyed the sun and music as they headed down Market Street at last year’s Pride parade.

t’s been a rough year for organizers of the 43rd annual San Francisco LGBT Pride parade and celebration, but Pride chief Earl Plante still sounds enthusiastic about this year’s theme, “Embrace, Encourage, Empower.” Plante, CEO of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee, said that to him, the theme means, “embracing all aspects of our community” and “diversity at all levels.” It also invokes “empowering the broader global LGBT movement.” “San Francisco Pride is a thought leader ... it has been since its inception,” Plante said. This year’s Pride festivities begin Saturday with the festival in Civic Center, from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, the celebration in Civic Center runs from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. at Market and Beale streets and ends at Market and Eighth streets. The Pride festival is free, but a donation of $5 is suggested.

There will be jubilation in the streets as well, following Wednesday’s historic victories at the U.S. Supreme Court. See page 22 >>

Rick Gerharter

{ FIRST OF THREE SECTIONS

}

ay Army private Bradley Manning was stripped of his grand marshal status and is 3,000 miles away in Maryland at his court-martial but supporters will honor him in Sunday’s San Francisco LGBT Pride parade anyway. The Bradley Manning Support Network contingent, which has marched in San Francisco Pride parades for the last two years, is expected to be teeming with activists, probably a couple politicians, and supporters of the WikiLeaks whistle-blower. In a statement released this week, Manning’s local supporters said in essence that they didn’t care that the San Francisco Pride board refused to honor him – Manning will be their grand marshal. Manning, 25, is accused of leaking some 700,000 classified government documents to WikiLeaks, the anti-secrecy website. He has confessed to some of the charges against him, but is being court-martialed on other charges. The most serious, aiding the enemy, could send him to prison for life. After initially naming Manning as a grand marshal in late April, the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee board reversed itself two days later. Initially Pride board President Lisa Williams, in a statement, said that it was a “mistake” to name Manning a grand marshal. Later, the board came out with a sec-

Rick Gerharter

hopeful

The DeFrank center has been hobbled by financial and leadership problems years and currently has no full-time in recent executive director. However, Chris Flood, the DeFrank’s board president, indicated that the center’s doing better than it might appear. He was at a See page 22 >>

}

Photo: Rick Gerharter

the four liberal justices of the court. It strikes DOMA as unconstitutional because it the guarantees of equal protection violates and due process. The DOMA dissent, based largely on matmat ters of standing, was led by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined by the court’s three other conservatives.

at SF parade

See page 22 >>

The Free Bradley Manning contingent, shown here in last year’s parade, is expected to be larger on Sunday. ond statement that said Manning couldn’t be considered for a community grand marshal slot because he is not local. After a contentious community meeting May 31, the Pride board declined to recognize Manning in any way for the Pride celebration. Joey Cain, a former Pride Committee board president and a former parade grand marshal,

was the person who nominated Manning for the honor. He has been by turns, angry, hurt, and disappointed in how the controversy has played out, and the lack of communication and transparency from Pride officials. “There’s a major leadership problem at Pride that needs to be addressed,” Cain said in a recent interview with the Bay Area Reporter.

{ FIRST OF THREE SECTIONS

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS

Keen

n a stunning double victory, the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday issued decisions that strike down both a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8, California’s same-sex marriage ban. The DOMA decision, a 5-4 split, was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy and joined by

by Cynthia Laird

Center official appears

3, 2013

Phyllis Lyon is escorted down the Rotunda stairs in San Francisco City Hall by Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, left, and Mayor Ed Lee.

Court victories!

by Matthew S. Bajko and Lisa

Activists to honor Manning

The Pro-Latino contingent marched in the 2008 San Jose Pride Parade; officials are not yet sure if there will be a Pride Parade this year, although the festival is scheduled for August.

Mueller said the event will generate about $1,000 for this year’s Pride, which is August 2021. A block of about 300 tickets, ranging from $36 to $73, were reserved for the hockey night. “I think the Sharks event proves people out there to go to something there are that isn’t the usual ‘Let’s go to a gay bar and have a fundraiser,’” said Mueller.

Vol. 43 • No. 26 • June 27-July

by Seth Hemmelgarn

The front covers of many early 1970s issues were dedicated to the Imperial Court’s See page 23 >>

Despite setbacks, LGBT scene in San Jose is ‘vibrant’ he past year has seen several setbacks in San Jose’s LGBT community, even as data from the 2010 census recently revealed that the South Bay berg is now the 10th largest city in the country. Recent events, however, have made it seem that for a city with almost 1 million people, there’s not much strength in the gay community there. Last month, the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center canceled its 30th anniversary party, which had been planned for March 26. Only about 40 tickets had been sold. Last November, the Silicon Valley AIDS Leadership Center, which had organized the annual Walk for AIDS, announced its closure. And about three months before that, in August, the Gay Pride Celebration Committee of San Jose Inc. opted not to hold a parade. Of course, problems at LGBT organizations aren’t unique to San Jose. Several San Francisco agencies have been struggling financially. And people with Pride and the DeFrank center indicate they’re all right. “We have a vibrant community, and when we can engage them, I think that they’re there,” said Ray Mueller, who joined San Jose Pride’s board earlier this year. One example is last Thursday’s LGBT night with the San Jose Sharks hockey team. Tickets sold out in 10 days.

Serving the gay, lesbian,

City to embrace Pride The

’s 2nd Annual Reader’s Choice Awards

}

Rick Gerharter

To those who say that even though Manning is gay, what he did was not specifically gay-related, Cain has a different perspective. gay-re “The reason I nominated Bradley was because the LGBT community Manning needed to know about him and embrace him,” Cain said. “Bradley Manning is a gay man who did See page 6 >>

<< Community News

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

News Briefs

From page 3

dian Lisa Geduldig, who also lined up Will Durst, Shazia Mirza, and Frankie Quinones to entertain the audience. Speakers will include San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr; Lisa Grotts, who will be receiving the Altruism Award; and SFSP Executive Director Eve Meyer. SFSP is the oldest community crisis support in the country and while it is locally based, it responds to calls and messages from people in other states. It addresses suicide prevention, crisis support, HIV/ AIDS information, drug and relapse support, and a new youth outreach program that directly addresses students in the San Francisco Unified School District. Laughs for Life, which will also feature a silent auction, is the agency’s biggest fundraiser. Individual tickets are $300. For tickets, visit www.events.org/laughsforlife2014.

Lambda Legal to hold SF dinner

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund will hold its dinner gala, San Francisco Soiree, Friday,

Political Notebook

From page 5

programs, or within the LGBT community itself. “One of the major lessons learned in the outreach process is that both the city and the LGBT community have important work to do to establish ways of communicating regularly with seniors of color, nonEnglish speaking seniors, bisexual and transgender seniors, and homeless seniors among others,” stated the task force’s report. In their July 2013 report “Addressing the Needs of LGBT Older Adults in San Francisco: Recommendations for the Future” based on the task force’s survey, the researchers who conducted it noted

April 25 from 6 to 11 p.m. at City View at Metreon, 135 4th Street. The national LGBT legal group will welcome Executive Director Kevin Cathcart and special guest, Julia Frost, a high school teacher and plaintiff in Lambda Legal’s lawsuit against the Hesperia Unified School District in San Bernardino County. According to the lawsuit, Frost, an out lesbian and experienced English teacher, was subjected to long-standing harassment and discrimination, which ended her employment with the district despite positive performance reviews. The evening begins with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and the soiree lounge, where entertainment will be provided by DJ Christopher B and Velocity Circus. Tickets are $250 and available at www.lambdalegal.org/sfsoiree2014.

Parks alliance plans post-DOMA seminar

Act. The seminar takes place Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to noon at McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan Street (at Fell). Local estate-planning and tax attorney Deb Kinney will discuss how recent cases and federal recognition can affect same-sex couples’ legal, financial, and tax planning in a postDOMA and Prop 8 world. Topics to be addressed include which protections will travel with you and which are linked to your state of residence; the difference, for tax purposes, between domestic partners and married couples; determining whether community property or separate property is best for you; and one trust or two? There is no charge for the seminar. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Stacey Kaiser at (415) 621-3260, ext. 104 or Stacey@ sfparksalliance.org. State your name and the number in your party.

The San Francisco Parks Alliance will hold an estate-planning seminar in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions that threw out Proposition 8, California’s same-sex marriage ban, and a key provision of the federal Defense of Marriage

Openhouse to honor Judge Walker

the difficulty they had in reaching racial and ethnic minorities, even with “extensive outreach efforts and making the survey available in five different languages.” They added that future research on LGBT seniors should test the use of language related to sexual orientation and gender identity and implement differing recruitment strategies to reach diverse populations. “These older adults may experience high levels of isolation as they age, higher than that of the general population,” concluded the researchers, led by Karen I. FredriksenGoldsen, Ph.D., an out lesbian who is a professor at the University of Washington and director of the Institute for Multigenerational Health. The Board of Supervisors’ Neigh-

borhood Safety and Services Committee will hold a hearing on the task force’s report at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 17 in Room 250 at City Hall.

Openhouse, a San Francisco nonprofit that provides services to LGBT seniors, will honor retired federal Judge Vaughn Walker at its annual Spring Fling luncheon Sun-

Queer Latinas sought for study

Queer Latina immigrants age 18 and older are needed to take part in a new research study looking at their life experiences. Alison Cerezo, Ph.D., an assistant professor at San Francisco State University’s Department of Counseling, won $5,000 from the Williams Institute, an LGBT think tank at UCLA, to conduct the study. “I would say the purpose of the study is really trying to understand the challenges queer Latinas face,”

day, April 27. Walker was chief federal district judge when he ruled in August 2010 that Proposition 8, California’s same-sex marriage ban, was unconstitutional. It would be nearly three years until, ruling on a technicality, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the decision, which had also been upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal. After the trial and his retirement, Walker came out as a gay man; he had been outed publicly during the trial by the San Francisco Chronicle but it was an open secret in Bay Area legal circles that he was gay. Walker will be honored with Openhouse’s Trailblazer Award. Receiving the Adelman-Gurevitch Founders Award will be out lesbian Pam David, who is currently the executive director at the Walter and Elise Haas Fund. David previously worked in the Mayor’s Office of Community Development, where one identified crucial, early city funding for Openhouse. The Spring Fling takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Four Seasons, 757 Market Street. Tickets are $175 and can be purchased at www. openhouse-sf.org.

NCLR to honor Baxter at anniversary celebration

explained Cerezo, 36, herself a queer Latina. According to Cerezo, there are no large-scale empirical studies in the mental health field that explore the lives and needs of LGBTQ Latinas who have immigrated to the U.S. from Latin America. Her study is specifically looking at how racebased discrimination, xenophobia, and heterosexism impacts the mental health of queer Latina immigrants. “We need to collect data to demonstrate the needs and provide services,” said Cerezo. “Just to train folks we need to be able to publish that research and collect data.” The online survey takes about 20 minutes to complete; 12 percent of the participants will be chosen by lottery

to receive a $25 debit Visa card. The deadline to participate is August 15. To access either the English or Spanish version of the study, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SILQ14/info.t

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Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/politicalnotes. Got a tip on LGBT politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 8615019 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

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The National Center for Lesbian Rights will honor out actress Meredith Baxter at its anniversary celebration party Saturday, May 17 at San Francisco’s City View at Metreon, 135 4th Street. Baxter will receive the Voice and Visibility Award for her ability to use her celebrity to raise awareness about the challenges facing LGBT families and LGBT youth. Baxter gained fame on such TV shows as Family Ties and Cold Case. She came out in 2009 during an interview on the Today show. Also being honored are Ryan Kendall and Samuel Brinton, two people who have spoken out against reparative therapy. The two shared their personal stories and helped California and New Jersey pass laws prohibiting therapists from trying to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender expression. Tickets to the party are available for $90 at www.nclrights.org. The event starts at 8 p.m. with wellknown political humorist Kate Clinton returning for a command performance as emcee.t

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Big dance

Vampire beats

Forever young

Out &About

O&A

The

Vol. 44 • No. 16 • April 17-23, 2014

www.ebar.com/arts

State-censored sex drives by Richard Dodds

biography of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and the saga of Monica Samille Lewinsky collided in playwright John W. Lowell’s mind to create The Letters, a play first heard at a San Francisco playwrights’ workshop 15 years ago and that is now receiving its first professional Bay Area production thanks to Aurora Theatre. See page 23 >>

Playwright John W. Lowell was inspired both by a Tchaikovsky biography and the Monica Lewinsky scandal to write The Letters, inaugurating Aurora Theatre’s Harry’s UpStage as a second performing space. Michael Rhodes

What’s up in the April galleries? by Sura Wood

o enter the realm of prolific African American artist Romare Bearden is to surrender to the rhapsody of color, an exuberant concert enlivening Romare Bearden: Storyteller, a show at the Jenkins Johnson Gallery featuring an array of dazzling collages, watercolors and prints from the 1970s and 80s. See page 21 >>

“Circe Turns” by the artist Romare Bearden, from a show at the Jenkins Johnson Gallery in San Francisco. Courtesy Jenkins Johnson Gallery

{ SECOND OF TWO SECTIONS }

designing home jews and midcentury modernism On view through October 6, 2014 The Contemporary Jewish Museum | Plan your visit at thecjm.org

<< Out There

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

The cook, the tramp & the barihunk by Roberto Friedman

f you’re like Out There, you appreciate male pulchritude, especially when it comes attached to the baritone register. So we present this breathless bulletin from our pal and fellow man-watcher Beantown Bo: “My heartthrob of choice, baritone Douglas Williams, whom I’ve been savoring vocally here in Boston, is singing Polyphemus in Mark Morris’ version of the Handel opera Acis and Galatea, which is opening soon in the East Bay [Mark Morris Dance Group & Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, for Cal Performances, April 2527]. I’ve heard ‘Doug’ sing the role twice with the Boston Early Music Festival, and he is phenomenal. I can’t believe that Mr. Morris, who appreciates a good-looking guy as much as the B.A.R. arts editor, will keep him hidden in the pit. But art is art, so what can you do? You might, however, want to alert your opera and dance readers to his personal beauty ahead of time.” Consider it done: check out the mellifluous Mr. Williams in this glamour shot found at barihunks. blogspot.com. There’s more where that came from!

Tramp stamp

As part of its successful new Film Series, the San Francisco Symphony presented City Lights at Davies Symphony Hall last Saturday night,

and OT was in the house. Written by, directed by, and starring the immortal Charlie Chaplin, this masterpiece of the Silent Era (1931) was projected on the Silver Screen over the heads of the SFS performing the musical score (also by Chaplin) live under conductor Richard Kaufman. We watched absorbed as the Little Tramp fell head-overheels in love with a blind flowergirl. At a pre-concert reception in DHS’ Green Room, OT and Plus 1 Pepi joined the William Hill Estate Winery for tastings of their smalllot wines, including an unfiltered Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. The mild buzz we got complemented the classic film perfectly. Plus, we aced the City Lights trivia quiz, answering questions like, “Chaplin’s character takes part in what sport to raise money for the Flower Girl’s operation? (Answer: Boxing)” to win a damn fine bottle of Malbec. Erudition has its own rewards.

What’s cooking?

Last week, the San Francisco Cooking School (690 Van Ness Ave.) invited Out There to attend a basic cooking class, where we learned some fundamentals as we prepared all the ingredients for a minestrone soup topped with “rustic” pesto. Chef David Groff, whose extensive résumé includes a stint at Zuni Café under the late great chef Judy Rogers, led us through a tutorial on knife skills, including

The immortal Charlie Chaplin as the Little Tramp in City Lights.

how to grip and balance a chef ’s knife, and how not to chop off a finger or thumb, using the defensive “claw” technique. OT, whose cooking these days amounts to broiling a pork chop once a week, appreciated Groff ’s patient instruction, and was soon doing the chop cut and rock cut with the best of them while we diced, sliced and julienned. In addition to recreational cooking, the school offers professional culinary, baking and pastry arts, and wine programs. Their new season of spring and summer classes is posted online at www.sfcooking.com.

Last words

Finally, word leaked out last week that pop icon Morrissey’s longawaited new album, enigmatically titled World Peace Is None of Your Business, will be released in July

Kevin McDermott, courtesy of Barihunks

Barihunk baritone Douglas Williams, as found on the Barihunks website, is coming to Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley.

on the Harvest label from Capitol Music Group. The track list, 12 new songs, includes such tantalizing titles as “Neal Cassady Drops Dead,”

“Smiler with Knife” and “Kick the Bride Down the Aisle.” Glad to see the Moz hasn’t mellowed much since his last record.t

Kosher Comedy presents Muslim comic by David-Elijah Nahmod

hazia Mirza was raised in a strict Muslim environment. Raised in London by Pakistani parents, she’s a trained biochemist who likes to make people laugh. She also likes to push the envelope. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Mirza daringly donned hijab attire for a UK standup gig. “My name is Shazia Mirza,” was her opening line. “At least that’s what it says on my pilot’s license.” It worked. In 2003, the UK Observer named Mirza one of the 50

funniest acts in British comedy. Now, courtesy of nice Jewish girl Lisa Geduldig, Mirza brings her comic stylings to El Rio on Thursday, April 17, at 8 p.m. Mirza is the headliner for Comedy Returns to El Rio, a multicultural celebration of laughter that Geduldig brings to El Rio on the third Thursday of each month. Though Geduldig is an out lesbian who often features LGBT comics, Mirza came out to the B.A.R. as a heterosexual. “I am not gay/queer/LGBT – well,

not that I know of,” she said. “There is still a chance I could be. I mean, I am quite hairy, and I do like politics and do believe in social justice. I am also a huge fan of Barry Manilow and Cagney and Lacey, and absolutely loved Behind the Candelabra, and Elton John was married before he came out, so I could be.” Mirza did share a little bit about her identity with us. “I identify myself as a woman,” she said. “Well, I was the last time I checked. I do have a deep voice, but so does Shirley Bassey. I try to identify myself as my-

self, as I hate labels. They are useless. Over the years I have been called many things: Asian, female, lesbian, gay, Pakistani, British, English, Indian, Afghanistan, Arab. Once I was even introduced as a black man. The most I am, really, is beige. I don’t have a coming out story, but I do have a staying in story.” Mirza is never one to hold back. “On stage I talk about what I feel passionately about,” she said. “Anything that I think is funny, that bothers me, that I find unjust, my parents, the world, lack of sex, lack of drugs, lack of rock and roll. All my comedy comes from Martin Twomey my own life experience. I Muslim comic Shazia Mirza. don’t have a message. I am just doing this until I find a isn’t to make people laugh, but you husband. Then I can live in have to laugh sometimes because the Beverly Hills, have my nails done evanecdotes are so hysterical.” eryday, and get my own reality show Cipriani is single at the moment. based on all the men and women I “As I look for a potential mate I’m sleep with. That is real success.” taking my time,” he said. “I’m not in It’ll definitely be a night of nona rush.” traditional laughs. One of the perComedy fans might, however, formers who follows Mirza is San want to rush over to El Rio for a Francisco resident Belo Cipriani, night of politically incorrect insight who might be led to the stage by his into the human condition. Mirza guide dog. Openly gay, Cipriani is and Cipriani will be joined by sevtotally blind. He told the B.A.R. that eral other performers, including he’ll be talking candidly about being Geduldig, the evening’s Hostess gay and disabled. With the Mostess. “How could I not?” he said. “It’s El Rio requires that all attendees so usable. It’s such a big part of be age 21 or over.t my life, and people want to get a glimpse into my world.” Cipriani says that he’ll share stoKung Pao Kosher Comedy Presents: Comedy Returns to El ries about meeting guys in his dark Rio, Thurs., April 17, 8 p.m., El world. “You’re so easy to date, you Rio, 3158 Mission St., SF. Tickets: come with a manual, people tell me,” www.brownpapertickets.com/ he said. “When men want to date me, event/620054. To learn more about it’s a learning curve. My comedy is Shazia Mirza: www.shazia-mirza. my life. I try to tell my story. My goal com.

Dance>>

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

Maelstrom of classic & modern dance by Paul Parish

h, for a lookout point from which the important dance events of the last two weeks could be seen, assessed, and described! It’s easy, looking down on the Bay from, say, Grizzly Peak, to take in the fantastic dance of cars feeding off the freeways onto the bridges, of sail- and tugboats and ocean liners carving out their paths, planes taking off from the south and wheeling overhead before they head out east and west, with the sun completing its arc descending through the Golden Gate. OK, that’s a little overheated, but seriously, it’s all been rich: dance performances at the ballet and in the modern-dance world have been really starry. Most wonderful for me was a revisit to Mark Morris’ Maelstrom at the San Francisco Ballet, where the second movement of that dance created a counterpoint of movement almost as complex and beautiful as the view down onto the Bay I described. It was a whole stage teeming with life, dancers going through their rounds for their own reasons, oblivious to the rest of us, and for once completely intelligible to behold. But that was only one high point. Simultaneously in Berkeley, the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, presented by Cal Performances at UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, had revived the great AIDS-era ballet DMan in the Waters by Bill T. Jones, which was first presented in the Bay Area by Cal Performances, danced by the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. It is not only of interest to the whole gay community as a document from the era of the big die-off – when dancers were dancing as if there were no tomorrow, and all over the country they were presenting their whole lives in their

performances – here in SF among many other memorable dances, the High-Risk Group threw themselves against cyclone fences, and Tracy Rhoades danced his own Requiem – but also as an amazingly heartfelt and joyous revival of a dance that was immensely life-affirming and supportive for the dancer (Demian Acquavella) who created the role and presented himself to us wholeRen Dodge heartedly even as his light was going out. It’s AXIS Dance Company dancers Joel Brown and fitting that the new di- Marc Brew rehearsing choreographer Yvonne rector of Ailey’s com- Rainer’s Trio A Pressured #X. pany (Ailey died in the closet of AIDS in 1989) Achievement award to her former is presenting this great work on the student Dr. Janice Ross, now direcsame program as Ailey’s classic Revtor of the Dance program at Stanford, elations. for outstanding scholarship that is the And also that week, the gay comfirst systematic, thoroughly thoughtmunity was honored with a Special through book-length work to put Isadora Duncan Dance Award for The the dance achievements of our West Secret History of Love, a piece depictCoast dancers, especially Anna Haling the pre-Stonewall life in the gay prin, onto the map of international bars by the transsexual choreogradance scholarship. pher Sean Dorsey, based on extensive Meanwhile, the world’s foremost interviews and archival research with scholar of the relation of music to the still-living denizens of that world. dance, Stephanie Jordan (RoehampLook for Dorsey’s next performances ton University, London), gave four of the work, coming soon. On the brilliant lectures in SF on the balsame program, a Sustained Achievelets of Balanchine, Ratmansky, and ment award went to the out lesbian Morris. Jordan is in the tradition of Judith Smith, Artistic Director of Joseph Kerman, the late great British AXIS Dance Company, who this past musicologist who settled in Berkeley weekend had a triumph of a show in and whose Opera as Drama contains Oakland at the Malonga Casquelourd much that applies to the classic balCenter for the Arts, of which more lets of Bournonville and Petipa, since below. Not to mention that Margaret the relationship of rezitativ to aria in Jenkins, who might well be called the opera, which he explained so cogentmother of Bay Area Modern Dance, ly, is largely the same as that of mime gave her 40th anniversary season that to the solo and pas d’action in ballet. week, and also presented a Sustained Lastly, AXIS: they performed the revolutionary postmodern Trio A,

Mommy dearest by Jim Piechota

The End of Eve by Ariel Gore; Hawthorne Books, $16.95

aretaking for an elderly parent is an inevitability for many of us. As one of the more definitive labors of love that we must endure as compassionate human beings, it requires a great amount of physical and emotional strength and, perhaps above everything else, the patience to endure the process while attempting to make sense of it all in our head. It can be exquisitely raw, sad and painful, but at the same time, a uniquely beautiful release of a cherished loved one. For Ariel Gore, prolific author and founder/publisher of alterna-

tive parenting magazine Hip Mama, caring for her mother Eve was no easy feat, and had a bit to do with both the stage IV lung cancer she’d been diagnosed with and their turbulent relationship, which is thoroughly examined and exposed throughout her vivid memoir The End of Eve. Her mother is a rare bird, the kind of outspoken, ornery woman who can no longer utilize the three major taxicab companies in Portland, Oregon, because they’d “banned her” for bad behavior. She’s an abusive narcissist who seems to have lost both the capacity and the will to love her daughter in the way Gore desperately needed her to (translation: “We weren’t huggers.”) In a memoir that is truly difficult to put down once the reader begins the journey, the author rivetingly chronicles the endgame of her mother’s life, replete with the subtle manipulations between parent and child as the volleying of control passes from caregiver to parent, and back again. Her sister Leslie, whose “ambivalence had always been a different color than mine,” hardly sympathizes with Gore’s challenge of convalescing Eve, and instead brazenly suggests that she won’t need all that much help at all and will “take herself out” when things get too unmanageable. The set-pieces Gore paints are priceless: when an increasingly curmudgeonly Eve visits her greenthumbed oncologist to get confirmation of her See page 20 >>

Erik Tomasson

San Francisco Ballet dancers Julia Rowe and James Sofranko in choreographer Mark Morris’ Maelstrom.

created in 1966 by Yvonne Rainer as a rebellion against the histrionics and “sell-out” aspects of modern dance, in a version sanctioned and highly praised by the choreographer. Trio A is one of the groundbreaking works that created the experimentalist aesthetic that made mixed-ability dance able to hold its head up in the first place. AXIS has gone on to dance at the White House and on So You Think You Can Dance, and enjoys huge respect in the dance community. It was fascinating and moving to see two male dancers in wheelchairs, and two female dancers on foot, dance this canonic ballet in canon. But the great thing was the mon-

umental new ballet Divide by Marc Brew, guest artistic director, which set five dancers along the hypotenuse of the stage in moves that created the kind of drama one associates with Martha Graham (the power, not the histrionics), a hugely dramatic work about human fate that I wanted to see again as soon as it was over. The five dancers were Sonsheree Giles, Juliana Monin, Joel Brown (who looked like Superman in a wheelchair), and Sebastian Grubb. The credits do not list Marc Brew as a dancer, but it is hard to believe he was not in it, so powerfully do the dancers evoke his extraordinary energy and presence in his solos that preceded the new work.t

SIERRA BOGGESS

PETER CINCOTTI

COCO PERU

KATYA SMIRNOFF-SKYY

Now - April 19

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<< Music

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

Brighter side of brilliant by Tim Pfaff

hy do runners keep running faster, jumpers jump higher, billionaires get younger? It’s late in the game to be flirting with notions of human perfectibility, but the evidence is mounting – or is it just the information age? Will Susan Boyle be the last celebrity hauled out of lonely self-entertainment now that the World Wide Web really does reach into all but Earth’s remotest jungles? Will any prodigy of anything hereafter go undiscovered? Breathes there a child today who won’t be crushed by the competition? (Might that child be demonic?) These are questions that try the souls of those of us whose imaginations are fired by notions of the Good Old Days – say, when the world’s best footballer was visible through his high-tech uniform and made less than $50 million a year. I remember as if it were yesterday a conversation three decades ago with gay early-opera magus Alan Curtis, who drew himself up to his considerable height and pronounced that the greatest of Baroque singers of our day (many of whom I greatly fancied, as did he) could only pro-

vide an inkling of an idea of what their 18th-century counterparts could do. He swore me to secrecy about this, but I was despondent for months, maybe years. So what’s to say about young artists whose work exposes the banality of journalistic superlatives, who make recordings that do shove their competitors’ off a collector’s shelf? Thank you, is what occurred to me after hearing Jan Lisiecki’s new recording of the Chopin Etudes and Rafal Blechacz’s of select Polonaises, both from Deutsche Grammophon. In no way do I blame DG for the spectacular self-destruction of Ivo Pogorelich, for a few years the equal of any pianist on Earth, or for the defection to other labels of Yundi Li (now known as Yundi and back with DG) and Lang Lang, where they went on to make worse records. But the Yellow Label has thrown its considerable PR weight behind enough flash-in-the-pan youngster artists of late to make one skittish. In the case of the 29-year-old Blechacz (whose name is pronounced Ra-FAW BLEH-hawtch), the verdict approaches unanimous. The first-ever winner of all five first prizes at the 2005 Chopin Compe-

tition in Warsaw, he earlier this year was named the Gilmore Artist, an award given every four years honoring a pianist of uncommon promise and providing enormous career support and a cash prize comparable to the MacArthur “Genius” Award. It will allow Blechacz, among other things (“maybe buying a new piano”), to complete his doctorate in philosophy, specializing in interpretation, at Poland’s Nicolaus Copernicus University. He still lives at home with his parents. Each of his five solo CDs for DG has knocked me out, but none more than the new Polonaises. I’ve previously never needed more than the Arthur Rubinstein set that got me through high school in rural South Dakota, thoroughly ennobled with the idea of being Polish, though I wasn’t. Now all I want is for Blechacz to record the rest of them. The carp that today’s musicians let technical brilliance and noteperfection stand in for artistry overlooks the fact that these are considerable virtues that underlie most great artistry. What I particularly admire in young musicians is the overriding drive for clarity of

texture, articulation and touch, all of them major virtues in Blechacz’s readings of these most familiar of Chopin’s works. That he goes on to give each a sharply delineated character and finish (not preclusive of highly imaginative spontaneity) makes this CD such rewarding listening. That he ends the CD with the great Polonaise-Fantasie in Aflat is clearly an artistic choice, and the playing is remarkable for its complete lack of mannerism but exhaustive investigation of the work’s poetry, delicacy and cumulative fire. Ten years Blechazc’s junior, Jan Lisiecki, born in Canada to Polish parents, appears to live in the better hotels around the world, given his official schedule. Lucky world. I’ve gotten this far in life without having

to swear allegiance to any one pianist’s exploration of the Etudes, and I’m happy to live out the rest of my days with Lisiecki’s alone. The sheer magic of the playing disarms you from the start, and only increases over the 24 “studies” and on repeated listenings to them. It misses the point to say that Lisiecki is unfazed by the technical challenges. They disappear in playing that explores the brighter hemisphere of brilliant. It’s not that he can’t break your heart, which he does in the bittersweet Op. 25, No. 7, channeling Bellini through Chopin via a modern sensibility. He doesn’t make this music sound easy – rather, while he’s playing it, that it’s the only music that could possibly exist. These are not two young men building careers on their looks.t

songs “Pretty Hurts” and “Flawless” (containing part of a TED Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) show Beyoncé evolving into a feminist ambassador. But she’s also not afraid to talk dirty, as she does on “Drunk in Love” and “No Angel.” The accompanying DVD, featuring 17 videos, gives you something to look at while you listen. Separately, Toni Braxton and Babyface (aka Kenny Edmonds) were two of the most popular R&B acts of the early 1990s. But the years that followed were not kind to them, and each became a kind of footnote, occasionally resurfacing but never significantly. Joining forces on Love, Marriage & Divorce (Motown), the pair must have thought there’d be safety in numbers. They both sound good, Braxton on “I Wish” and “I’d Rather Be Broke,” and Babyface on “Sweat” and “The D Word.” “Heart Attack” is a fun if dated dance track, and therein lies the problem. There’s nothing on the album that sounds as fresh and new as anything on Pharrell or Beyoncé’s albums. Aloe Blacc had his work cut out for him when it came to following up his well-received 2010 album Good Things. Add to that Blacc’s vocals on the massive Avicii hit single “Wake Me Up,” and things could go either way on his major-label debut. Blacc doesn’t disappoint on Lift Your Spirit (Interscope). Like Pharrell, Blacc looks to soul music of the past for inspiration, coming across as a 21st-century Bill Withers. “The Man,” with its interpolation of Elton John’s “Your Song,” gets things started on the right note, and songs “The Hand Is Quicker” and “Ticking Bomb” are excellent. The acoustic version of “Wake Me Up” is also a welcome addition. As one-fifth of the 5th Dimension, Marilyn McCoo was a member of one of the most successful nonMotown pop groups of the 1960s and 70s. When she and husband Billy Davis, Jr. departed for a career as a duo, they had hits, including “You Don’t Have To Be a Star” in 1976, and the disco single “Shine on, Silver Moon.” McCoo went solo in 1983, at the same time that she was hosting the hokey TV variety show Solid Gold, hence the title of her al-

bum Solid Gold (Real Gone/RCA), now debuting on CD with the unreleased track “Relationship,” written by Dave Davies. Did you know that there were more lyrics to the Solid Gold theme song than what we heard? McCoo sings the song in all of its glory. She also tries her hand at covers of pop tunes, including The Police’s “Every Breath You Take,” Culture Club’s “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya,” Hall & Oates’ “One on One,” and the David Bowie/Men Without Hats medley “Let’s Dance”/”The Safety Dance.” Just as McCoo’s star began to fade in the 1980s, Sade’s was starting to burn brightly. With early hits such as “Smooth Operator,” “Hang on to Your Love” and “No Ordinary Love,” through later ones including “Soldier of Love,” Sade established herself as a fierce diva who could hold her own in jazz, pop and soul. Essentially a repackaging of the expanded 2011 double-disc anthology The Ultimate Collection, The Essential Sade (Epic) lives up to its name. Valerie June comes from another tradition altogether, with the emphasis on tradition. In the same way that Pharrell Williams and Aloe Blacc incorporate the influences of retro soul, June’s musical roots go a little deeper, taking inspiration from blues and folk in addition to soul. Back-to-back tunes “Somebody To Love” and “The Hour” on Pushing Against a Stone (Concord) expertly illustrate that point. “Wanna Be on Your Mind” and “Trials, Troubles, Tribulations” are also standout numbers. Initially one-half of UK hip-hop/ soul duo Floetry (along with Marsha Ambrosius), The Floacist (aka Natalie Stewart) has been keeping the rhymes flowing solo since 2010. Her latest album Rise of the Phoenix Mermaid (Shanachie) features a song titled “Womyn.” Discuss.t

The soul of spring by Gregg Shapiro

harrell Williams may not have won the Oscar for the giddy “Happy” from Despicable Me 2 (it was an honor just to be nominated, right?), but that shouldn’t spoil his mood. The stylish multi-hyphenate cleaned up at the Grammys, taking home statues for Producer of the Year and for his groundbreaking work with EDM act Daft Punk.

The highs continue on G I R L (Columbia). Synthesizing essential influences Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Prince into his hot hybrid, Williams makes it count on his second solo album. Equally adept at making music for adults (“Gush”) and kids (“Happy”), Williams brings his celebrated production skills to cuts such as “Hunter” and “Lost Queen.” It’s not unreasonable to say that

all of Beyoncé’s solo work has led to her mature, intriguing, varied and very adult new self-titled two-disc album on Parkwood/Columbia. You can hear echoes of the groundwork she laid on her four previous discs as she takes the road she paved in new directions. Increasingly personal and revealing, the songs strike her balance between being a strong, sensible woman of the world and being one in the boudoir. Statement

Film>>

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

The unmotivated undead by David Lamble

ime passes even when you’re not having fun. In the new Jim Jarmusch feature Only Lovers Left Alive, Adam (Tom Hiddleston), a desperately bored vampire living in Detroit, is beside himself with anxiety and general icks because he has to entertain an annoyingly young female vampire full of vinegar, Ava (appropriately overthe-top Mia Wasikowska), and her puppy-dog-sweet human boyfriend, Ian (Anton Yelchin). Fortunately, Mama is around, Adam’s companion for the last several hundred years Eve (the remarkable savvy Tilda Swinton), as Adam fumbles for excuses not to show “the kids” his new music. “Adam, do you think we can hear some of your new stuff?” “Now’s not a good time.” “Seems like a good time, we’re all here now!” “Yeah, I’m getting really excited.” “Adam, could I have a sip from that last flask?” “Not now, Ava!” It would be extremely churlish for this critic not to appreciate the artistic ironies of this 11th Jar-

musch fiction feature being loaded with jokes and allusions to his earlier work, especially his second film (even many fans mistake it for his first), 1984’s low-key-ennui comedy Stranger Than Paradise. A B&W tone poem to hipster discontent, Paradise shows three lonely Brooklyn souls getting on each other’s nerves before deciding to do a geographical – to Cleveland, Ohio, no less. Part of the charm of Paradise was that you were never quite sure what the then-31-year-old Hungarian American filmmaker was poking fun at: us, perhaps? There’s really no plot to speak of. What one remembers is the droll sight of the low-ambition guys (John Lurie and Richard Edson) sleepwalking through their low-energy existences, the surface boredom broken by the occasional poker-game scam, TV dinner, or the visit of a 16-year-old sister from Cleveland. Yes, she (the fresh-faced Hungarian theatre artist Eszter Balint) was named Eva, and what action ensued consisted of her poking the fuddy-duddy hipster guys to get off their butts and show her a good time.

In a nutshell, that’s Adam as if he were posing also the non-plot of Only for Interview magazine’s Lovers Left Alive, with the upscale fashion spreads. cheeky Masterpiece TheThere are some punkatre upgrade of having an approved jokes about the ancient-appearing John advantages of Adam’s Hurt pass himself off as bombed-out industrial the vampire version of slice of Detroit versus Shakespeare rival ChrisEve’s famously hip Tangtopher Marlowe. Part of iers, but overall I would Jarmusch’s extraordinary have liked Lovers a whole talent has been his ability lot more if there were 30 to attract hyper-talented minutes less of it. Duractors to mime bored ing the lulls at a critics’ characters without boring screening I reminisced us in the process. Johnny about my early-80s radio Depp became the definichats with Interview with Gordon A. Timpen, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics tive Jarmusch male spenda Vampire author Anne ing a leisurely two hours Tilda Swinton as Eve, and Tom Hiddleston as Adam in Rice, when she was still in Dead Man hanging out director Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive. looking forward to how in a pre-Deadwood Wild the likes of River PhoeWest, getting himself shot nix would flesh out the terminally depressed vampire dude and launched into a Naranks of her beloved unflirting with a young human like the tive American idea of the afterlife. dead boys. Ah, pass me another of Russian-born Anton Yelchin’s sweetly Tom Hiddleston’s Adam shares those blood-flavored frozen treats, silly Ian. You may recall Hiddleston as Depp’s aging pretty-boy DNA in an and we’ll see if this sucker is funnier Woody Allen’s F. Scott Fitzgerald in artistic landscape devoid of any obvithe second time around. Or, as Eve Midnight in Paris, although he probaous homosexuals. For me, what would remarks as she and Adam dump a bly came to Jarmusch’s attention from have made the time (a desultory corpse into the effluent-rich Detroit the cast of the hip stop-motion ani123 minutes) pass more pleasurably River and watch as the body is dismation series Robot Chicken. He plays would have been the sight of a cute, solved by acid, “That was visual!”t

Unsavory characters by David Lamble

ad Words is a flawed but intelligent new comedy about impressionable minds exposed to dirty tricks and profane language by an embittered middle-aged man competing in a national spelling bee. It’s got me thinking about Hollywood’s fascination with a profitable pastime, the “corruption” of youth. In this directorial debut by the popular actor Jason Bateman (star of the cult TV series Arrested Development), Bateman is Guy Trilby, a brusquely unfriendly man who sets out to cop a unique honor: the first 40-year-old junior-high dropout to become a national spelling-bee champion, an honor long considered the domain of “weirdo” prodigy kids. Bateman, whose own ascent as a child actor began on the hit series Little House on the Prairie, approaches Guy as a “take no prisoners” misanthrope. First he has a cruel if consensual sexual tryst with a reporter (an uncomfortably masochistic turn from a rumpled Kathryn Hahn), then he becomes the grownup child seeking revenge against the dad who abandoned him, the spelling bee’s gruff father figure, Dr. Bosman (the veteran Philip Baker Hall). This second twist to Guy’s character is Bateman and screenwriter Andrew Dodge’s ace-in-the-hole to win back audiences put off by Guy’s unpleasant approach to virtually everyone he encounters. The one exception is a bright little charmer, in a breakout big-screen appearance by a star from Showtime’s Homeland, Rohan Chand. Chand, who stands all of 4’5”, introduces himself to Guy on a plane as the Indian-born whiz kid Chaitanya Chopra. The kid takes all of Guy’s mean-spirited abuse, from ethnic

slurs to physical intimidation during the spelling bee, and persists in calling the monster his one and only friend. That this classic sitcom device, personality redeeming writing clichés, pays off is a tribute to Chand as an actor and an emerging child star. Meanwhile, Guy is winning bee after bee, using his photographic memory to knock off 18-syllable words, and his sadism to pull brutal gags designed to freak out the other contestants, thus winnowing the field. “What was your winning word?” “It was auto-fellatio.” As much as I enjoyed the tornado of bad language wielded by Guy against all comers, there’s one exchange that gave me second thoughts, which should be considered by queer filmgoers before they hop on this verbal hayride. Early on, as the film presents parents of kid contestants whose dreams are threatened by Guy, one woman emerges as the “I’m mad as hell” champ. Deep in the second act, the mother approaches Guy as he’s entertaining Chopra at a restaurant. Judge for yourself whether Guy’s tirade to the angry mother is deserving of a pass. “You’re an asshole!” “There’s a child here. So why don’t you take your potty mouth, go locate your pre-teen cocksucker son, stuff him back up that sweat-sock vagina, and scoot back to whatever shit-kicking town you came from?” In the end, Bad Words tries to have it both ways, by allowing Guy to creep us out for 90 minutes, then providing him and cute little Chopra a feel-good ending. It borrows its blue-humor-with-kids tricks from superior classics like the original Bad News Bears and Paul Thomas Anderson’s tour de force Magno-

lia, where even Tom Cruise joined in the potty-mouth cavalcade, with character-defining results. Rob the Mob A decade ago, The New Yorker upstaged its review of Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Dreamers with a full-page B&W photo of star Michael Pitt seducing the camera with his shirt open, his nipples erect, and a glazed, drugged-out stare. The movie, Gilbert Adair’s zestful adaptation of his own novel about his film-loving time in 1968 Paris, earned its “hard R” rating with three sexually brilliant performances by

Pitt and his French co-stars Louis Garrel and Eva Green. Anyone who thought that Pitt was on his way to being New Jersey’s own “Leo” must be wondering, “What happened?” Despite a long-running turn as a gangster in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, the musician/actor has done little since to further a career that started promisingly with his rebel rocker Tommy in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and as a funny-haircut boyfriend on TV’s Dawson’s Creek. If there’s a comeback in Pitt’s future, it’s only barely visible in veteran

director Raymond De Felitta’s lowgrade Mafia comedy Rob the Mob. Pitt plays one-half of a Brooklyn “Bonnie and Clyde” duo, two not-so-bright lovers who decide to stick up mob social clubs because the thugs aren’t allowed to bring their guns inside. “The cops aren’t going to care if we rip off a few wise guys.” While there’s an element of farcical glee the first time Pitt fires off a machine gun to intimidate overweight mobsters in their underwear, the gag wears out its welcome long before this story, “based on true events,” climaxes in a faux tribute.t

On view April 24–October 6, 2014 The Contemporary Jewish Museum Plan your visit at thecjm.org

Director/star Jason Bateman at a spelling bee in Bad Words.

Designing Home: Jews and Midcentury Modernism is organized by The Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco. Major sponsorship for this exhibition is provided by Osterweis Capital Management, the Jim Joseph Foundation, Maribelle and Stephen Leavitt, and the Seiger Family Foundation. Patron sponsorship is provided by the Bernard Osher Jewish Philanthropies Foundation of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, Alison Gelb Pincus and Mark Pincus, The Laszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation, and Phyllis Cook. Supporting sponsorship is provided by AIG Private Client Group, an Anonymous donor, Judy and Harry Cohn, Dana Corvin and Harris Weinberg, G2 Insurance Services, Peggy and Richard Greenfield Foundation, Siesel Maibach, Dorothy R. Saxe, and Barbara and Howard Wollner. Participating sponsorship is provided by Shelli Semler and Kyle Bach, Ruth and Alan Stein, and Susan and Joel Hyatt. IMAGES: Alvin Lustig, Paramount Chair, 1948. Upholstery, 37 ½ in. x 37 ½ in. x 32 ½ in. Collection of Elaine Lustig Cohen. Photograph: John Halpern. George Nelson, Bubble Lamp, 1947. Plastic on wire frame, 33 x 15 in. Photograph courtesy of Modernica.

Essential support for catalog publication has been provided by Fred M. Levin and Nancy Livingston, The Shenson Foundation, in memory of Ben and A. Jess Shenson.

Major support for The Contemporary Jewish Museum’s exhibitions and Jewish Peoplehood Programs comes from the Koret Foundation.

Media Sponsorship provided by Dwell media.

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<< Out&About

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

Sat 19

O&A Out &About

So Bent: Queer Performance @ SF Art Institute

Mark M. Garrett @ Dogpatch Gallery

Julie Tolentino, veteran ACT UP NY and Queer Nation activist and artist, performs “Work Study…drive your cart and plow over the bones of the dead,” a four-to-sixhour durational performance with sound artist Robert Crouch, Stosh Fila and Rita Tolentino. Free. 12pm-9pm. Sculpture ramp, 800 Chestnut St. www.sfai.edu

Exhibit of the local artist’s hand-cut mapwork art. Thru April 19. 2295 3rd St. at 20th. www.markmgarrett.com www.dogpatchcafe.com

Unusual Shorts @ Oddball Films

SuperAwesome: Art and Giant Robot

You, for ya by Jim Provenzano

hile many folks celebrate various religious events this week under the euphoric ideal of resurrection, be sure to also celebrate yourself, now. You’re here on earth for a short time. So enjoy every moment by reflecting on art, from visual and audible to terpsichorean and terrifically touching.

Enjoy wacky offbeat vintage short films. April 17, Birdstravaganza. April 18, Hollywood Smashes Hitler! Thu & Fri, each $10, 8pm. 275 Capp St. 558-8117. www.oddballfilms.blogspot.com

Fri 18 Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. $25-$160. Beer/wine served; cash only; 21+, except where noted. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 421-4222. beachblanketbabylon.com

Bob Saget @ Kanbar Hall

Thu 17 Berkeley Dance Project @ Zellerbach Playhouse Diverse concert series of student and guest artist works. $10-$15. Thu-Sat 8pm. Spieker Plaza, UC Berkeley campus. (510) 642-8827. www.tdps.berkeley.edu

Chomp! @ Conservatory of Flowers They Came From the Swamp, a new floral exhibit of carnivorous plants includes exhibits, docent talks and a giant replica model so you can feel like a bug about to be eaten. Thru Oct. 19. Reg. hours, 10am4pm. Free-$7. Tue-Sun 10am-4:30pm. Extended thru March 16. 100 JFK Drive, Golden Gate Park. 831-2090. www.conservatoryofflowers.org

Comedy Returns @ El Rio The monthly comedy show this time includes Shazia Mirza, Carla Clayy, Victor Escobedo, Belo Cipriani and hostess Lisa Geduldig. $7-$20. 8pm. 3158 Mission St. (800) 838-3006. www.elriosf.com

Easter Services @ Church of the Advent

Painting the Clouds With Sunshine @ Eureka Theatre 42nd Street Moon, the company known for reviving lost musicals, presents the world premiere of Greg MacKellan and Mark D. Kaufmann’s new musical that features old songs from 1930s musicals; a jaded newspaperman and a struggling waitress find romance in Tinseltown. $25-$75. Wed & Thu 7pm. Fri 8pm. Sat 6pm Sun 3pm. Thru April 20. 215 Jackson St. 255-8207. www.42ndStMoon.org

Queer Ancestors Project @ LGBT Center An exhibition of prints by queer artists age 18 to 26, with Corey Brown, Joan Chen, Jared Clifton, Amman Desai, Paula Graciela Kahn, Amirah Mizrahi, Courtney Stock & Terry Xiao, and artistic director Katie Gilmartin. Exhibit thru May 16. 1800 Market St. www.sfcenter.org

The Scion @ The Marsh Solo performer Brian Copeland’s new show focuses on privilege, murder and sausage in his retelling of the triple murder crime at the Santos Linguisa Factory. $15-$60. Thu & Fri 8pm. Sat 5pm. Extended thru April 18. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

The affable former host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, and a co-star in the SF-based ‘80s sitcom Full House, unleashes his darkly funny and raunchy stand-up act. $25-$35. Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St. 292-1233. www.jccsf.org/arts

Jesse Sugarmann @ Southern Exposure We Build Excitement, the Central Valley-based artist’s multimedia installation, explores the life and death of the auto industry, with video documentation of his unsanctioned Pontiac car dealerships, interviews with crash victims and more. Special Fremont event May 5. Local exhibit thru May 3. Tue-Sat 12pm-6pm. 3030 20th St. soex.org

Public Intimacy @ YBCA SF MOMA on the Go exhibit Public Intimacy: Art and Other Ordinary Acts in South Africa, a collection of photography, with artists Kemang Wa Lehulere, AthiPatra Ruga, Sello Pesa, and Vaughn Sadie, among others. Thru June 29. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. 3211307. www.sfmoma.org www.ybca.org

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s retrospective exhibit celebrates their 35th anniversary and kicks off their annual Easter weekend events. 7pm. 4122 18th St. (Special Saturday Sisters procession at 12:45pm, starting at 272 Dolores St. at 16th). www.thesisters.org www.magnetsf.org

Main exhibit room is closed for a new exhibit installation until May 15, but front area exhibits are open. Reg. hours Mon-Sat 11am-7pm (closed Tue.) Sun 12pm-5pm. 4127 18th St. 621-1107. glbthistory.org

Pearls Over Shanghai @ The Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers’ hilarious Cockettes revival returns, with many of the ebullient original cast members. $30-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru May 31. 575 10th St. (800) 838-3006. www.thrillpeddlers.com

Third annual participatory screening of the 1973 film adaptation of the classic rock musical about Jesus’ last weeks… on earth, at least. Storm Miguel Flores and Sister Connie Pinko hosts; enter the Chunky Jesus Contest! $15-$35. 7pm. 2961 16th St. www.brownpapertickets. com/event/591908

Tribes @ Berkeley Repertory Nina Raines’ acclaimed drama about a young deaf man who meets a woman with a non-assimilation perspective, which forces him to confront his parents, and the meaning of language. $29-$99. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed 7pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Sun 7pm. Thru May 18. Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Work MORE! #6 @ SOMArts Gallery Mica Sigourney’s collaborative drag art performance and installation includes 22 avante and traditional drag performers, their visual art and performance; Closing reception April 24, 6pm. Tue-Fri 12pm7pm. Sat 12pm-5pm. 934 Brannan St. www.work-more.org www.somarts.org

Xavier Castellanos @ Etcetera Exhibit of the local artist’s colorful landscapes; thru May 19. 795 Valencia St. www.xavierarte.com

Sat 19 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee @ Julia Morgan Theatre, Berkeley

Arthur Szyk and the Art of the Haggadah @ Contemporary Jewish Museum

Holy Thursday @ Magnet

Our Vast Queer Past @ GLBT History Museum

Sing-Along Jesus Christ Superstar @ Victoria Theatre

Comic actor Steven Epp stars in Dario Fo’s political farce about bureaucratic duplicity and political corruption. $29-$57. Tue-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm & 7pm. Thru April 20. Roda Stage, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

World premiere of Scottish playwright Linda McLean’s drama about a family dinner gone strange when a returning son slips into an unimaginable dreamscape. $20-$60. Wed-Sat 8pm. Tue 7pm. Sun 2:30 & 7pm. Thru April 20. Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd., Bldg D, 3rd floor. 441-8822. www.magictheatre.org

April 17, Sorcerer (7pm) and Midnight Express (9:15). April 18 The Running Man (7:20)and Battle Royale, the violent Japanese precursor to The Hunger Games (9:30). April 19, The Killing (7pm) and The Getaway (8:40). April 19 & 20, Sing-Along Disney’s Frozen (1pm, 5pm Sun). April 23, Marlene Deitrich in Rancho Notorious (7pm) and Joan Crawford in Johnny Guitar (8:45). $11. 429 Castro St. 621-6120. www.castrotheatre.com

D’Arcy Drollinger’s “whitesploitation” drag satire musical play kicks up the laughs; also starring Matthew Martin. $20-$25. Fri & Sat, 8pm. Extended thru April 26. 1772 Market St. at Octavia. www.shitandchampagne.eventbrite.com

Accidental Death of an Anarchist @ Berkeley Repertory

Every Five Minutes @ Magic Theatre

New and Classic Films @ Castro Theatre

Shit & Champagne @ Rebel

Berkeley Playhouse performs the Tony Award-winning musical comedy about word-obsessed kids and their families. $17-$60. Thu-Sun various times. Thru May 4. 2650 College Ave., Berkeley. (510) 8458542. www.berkeleyplayhouse.org

The LGBT-friendly Episcopal church holds High Mass and other ceremonies daily through Sunday. 261 Fell St. at Gough. 431-0454. www.advent-sf.org

New exhibit of 48 fascinating and richly detailed illustrations of Hebrew stories by the early 20th-century artist (thru June 29). Also, To Build & Be Built: Kibbutz History (thru July 1). 2pm-5pm. Free (members)-$12. Thu-Tue 11am-5pm (Thu 1pm-8pm) 736 Mission St. 655-7800. thecjm.org

David Sokosh: American Tintypes @ Robert Tat Gallery

Thu 24 Sean Dorsey Dance Lydia Daniller

Sierra Boggess @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The Broadway and London stage sensation ( The Little Mermaid, Phantom of the Opera, Master Class) debuts her intimate cabaret show. $40-$55. 8pm. Also April 18, 8pm. April 19, 7pm. Nikko Hotel, 222 Mason St. www.hotelnikkosf.com/ feinsteins.aspx

Sleeping Cutie @ Thick House Doug Katsaros and Diane Sampson’s musical about a narcolepic teenager girl and jailed father’s pursuit to get her married. $30-$40. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru May 11. 1695 18th St. at Arkansas. 992-6677. www.sleepingcutiemusical.org

The Letters @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley John W. Lowell’s suspenseful two-person psychological thriller about life under the Stalin regime. $28-$32. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru June 1. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org

Lorenzo Herrera y Lozano @ Galeria de la Raza The gay poet reads from and signs copies of his new collection, Amorcito Maricón. Free. 7pm. 2857 24th St. www.galeriadelaraza.org

The fine art photography gallery presents an exhibit of Sokosh’s contemporary faux-vintage imagery, created with a 19thcentury Wet-Plate Collodion process. TueSat 11am-5:30pm. Thru May 31. 49 Geary St., #410. 781-1122. www.roberttat.com

Donde Esta Mi Gente? @ Galleria De la Raza The Festival of Latino Poetry and Spoken Word continues with several artists and a special performance by Guillermo Gomez Peña. 7:30pm. 2857 24th St. www.dondeestamigente.com www.galeriadelaraza.org

Feisty Old Jew @ The Marsh Charlie Veron’s new solo show about a fictional elder man who hitches a ride with surfer-hipsters, and rants about what he hates about the 21st century. $25-$100. Sat 8pm, Sun 7pm. Thru May 4. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Fri 18

Lorenzo Herrera y Lozano

Frozen Sing-Along @ Castro Theatre “Let It Go” at the Disney animated film screenings, where audience members sing along, dress up in character costumes, and enjoy the family fun, the viewing of which will make your kids gay, according to inane fundamentalist Christians. $10-$16. 1pm. Also April 20, 26, and 27 at 1pm. Also 5pm April 20. 429 Castro St. castrotheatre.com

Georgia O’Keeffe @ de Young Museum Modern Nature: Georgia O’Keeffe and Lake George, a new exhibit of paintings focusing on the artist’s New York landscapes. $25. Thru May 11. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. www.deyoungmuseum.org

Intimate Impressionism @ Legion of Honor The exhibition includes nearly 70 paintings from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., featuring the work of 19th-century avant-garde painters such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Vincent van Gogh. Also, the Salon Doré, a reconstructed room from the Hotel de La Trémoille, has re-opened. Free/$25. Thru Aug. 3. Lincoln Park, 100 34th Ave. 7503600. www.legionofhonor.famsf.org

Keith Hollander @ 554 Castro Inspiring Faces, a Graphic Abstraction, the local artist’s series of celebrity pop art portraits; live painting events May 9, 5pm9pm. Thru June 1. 554 Castro St. www.keithhollander.com

Paper and Blade @ Galeria de la Raza Exhibit of works on paper by Mayumi Hamanaka, Adrienne Heloise, Ian Kuali and Kai Margarida-Ramirez. Wed-Sat 12pm-6pm. Thru May 31. 2857 24th St. 826-8009. www.galeriadelaraza.org

Perverts Put Out @ Center for Sex & Culture Sexy and sexual readings by Jen Cross, Daphne Gottleib, Philip Huang, horehound stillpoint, Naamen Tilahun, Hew Wolff, musical guest Jon Ginoli of Pansy Division, and hosts Dr. Carol Queen and Simon Sheppard. $10-$25. 8pm. 1349 Mission St. simonsheppard.com/pervertsputout.html

Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Collection of short plays with several unique takes on the moments before, during and after “I Do” by Mo Gaffney, Jordan Harrison, Moisés Kaufman, Neil LaBute, Wendy MacLeod, Jose Rivera, Paul Rudnick, and Doug Wright, conceived by Brian Shnipper. $25-$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru April 27. 25 Van Ness Ave, lower level. www.nctcsf.org

SuperAwesome: Art and Giant Robot @ Oakland Museum Exhibit of eclectic comic and unusual graphics from contributors to the creative zine Giant Robot, which expanded to websites and retail shops. Multiple engaging hands-on activities thru the run. Also, Vinyl: The Sound and Culture of Records, about the culture of collecting records, local indie labels; includes sound exhibits, talks, and colorful catalogs. Special Friday Night events April 18 5pm9pm. Both thru July 27. Also, Inspiration Points: Masterpieces of California (thru July 13), A Cinematic Study of Fog in San Francisco (thru June 29) and other exhibits. Free/$15. Reg. hours Wed-Sat 11am-5pm (Fri til 9pm). 1000 Oak St., Oakland. (510) 318-8400. www.museumca.org

Out&About>>

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Woods to Wildflowers @ SF Botanical Gardens See blooming floral displays, trees and exhibits. Also, daily walking tours and more, at outdoor exhibits of hundreds of species of native wildflowers in a centuryold grove of towering Coast Redwoods. Thru May 15. Free-$15. Daily. Golden Gate Park. 6612-1316. SFBotanicalGarden.org

Sun 20 Easter With The Sisters @ Golden Gate Park The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’s 35th annual Easter/pagan celebration moves to the larger area (due to construction at Dolores Park), with an emerald anniversary Wizard of Oz theme. Enjoy live acts, the Hunky Jesus contest, and a new Foxy Mary contest. Hellman Hollow (formerly Speedway Meadow). Kids events 10am. Stage acts run 12pm-5pm. 371 Chain of Lakes Drive East. www.thesisters.org

Sun 20

Mia Nakano

Still Life, Floral & Trompe L’Oeil @ John Pence Gallery Exhibit of fascinating paintings by various artists. Thru April 26. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-5pm. 750 Post St. 441-1138. www.johnpence.com

Queer Rebels @ Koret Auditorium Liberating Legacies, a showcase of LGBT People of Color performances and art, including Amir Rabiyah, Jezebel Delilah X, Carrie Leilam Love, Celeste Chan, Earl Thomas, Joshua Merchant and others. Free. 2pm. SF Public Library, lower level, 100 Larkin St. queerrebels.com sfpl.org

Taikoza @ Children’s Creativity Museum Masterful Japanese Taiko drumming ensemble returns with a rousing traditional and modern percussion and dance performance. $22-$35. 7:30pm. 221 Fourth St. at Howard. (800) 838-3006. www.taikoza.bpt.me

The World of Mary Blair @ Walt Disney Museum Magic, Color, Flair, an exhibit of original art work from the innovative production design artist for Disney’s Peter Pan, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and other films, and the iconic attractions at Walt Disney World like the “It’s a Small World” ride; thru Sept. 7. Also, Leading Ladies and Femme Fatales: The Art of Marc Davis, including original drawings of Cruella DeVille, Tinkerbell and other iconic characters; thru Nov. 4. 104 Montgomery St. www.waltdisney.org

Tue 22 Meditation Group @ LGBT Center New weekly non-sectarian meditation group; part of the Let’s Kick ASS AIDS Survivor Syndrome support group. Tuesdays, 5pm, 1800 Market St. www.LetsKickASS.org www.sfcenter.org

Sun 20

Easter in Golden Gate Park

Positive Pride Toastmaster @ SF AIDS Foundation Public speaking, communication and leadership skills are shared at this weekly meeting for people with HIV. Free. 6pm-7pm. 1035 Market St., 4th floor. positivetoastmasters.com

Rex Ray @ Gallery 16 Exhibit of strikingly colorful works by the prolific local gay painter and designer. Tue-Fri 10am-5pm. Sat 11am-5pm. Thru May 9. 501 3rd St. 626-7495. www.gallery16.com

Wed 23 Not a Genuine Black Man @ Osher Studio, Berkeley Brian Copeland’s tenth anniversary run of his compelling autobiographical solo show gets restaged at Berkeley Repertory’s studio theatre. $14-$430. Wed 7pm. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru May 31. Osher Studio, 2055 Center St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Sony Holland @ Level III The acclaimed jazz vocalist performs with guitarist Jerry Holland. Weekly 5pm-8pm. Also Thursdays & Fridays. JW Marriott, 515 Mason St. at Post. www.sonyholland.com

The Suit @ Geary Theatre

Mon 21 Chicks with Shticks @ SF Public Library The Kinsey Sicks and 20 Years of Dragapella Activism, a new exhibit about the musical ensemble; thru July 10. Also, Pretty in Ink: North American Women Cartoonists 1896-2013, 4th floor. Thru June 5. Also, You Don’t Say! Wordless Cartoons from the Schmulowitz Collection of Wit & Humor, an exhibit of witty visual comics like Little Lulu, from the 19th to 21st century. Thru May 31. Also, The Black Woman is God, Karen Seneferu’s exhibit focusing on the art of Tarika Lewis, Karen Seneferu, Malik Seneferu, Sydney “Sage” Cain and Ajuan Mance, whose work explores the divinity of Blackness. Thru May 15. African American Center. 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

Jezebel Delilah X at Queer Rebels

American Conservatory Theatre presents Peter Brook, Marie-Helene BARtab Estienne and Franck Krawczyk’s adaptation of Can Themba, Mothobi Mutloatse and Barney Simon’s comic absurdist play about Apartheid South Africa and the suit that becomes treated like a person; with live African and jazz music. $20-$140. Tue-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm & 7pm. Thru May 18. 415 Geary St. 7492228. www.act-sf.org

Yoga: The Art of Transformation @ Asian Art Museum New exhibit of visual art representing the 2,500-year-old health practice. Other ongoing exhibits as well. Free (members)-$12. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. 581-3500. www.asianart.org

Thu 24 Andrew Demcak @ Books Inc. The gay author of the book Ghost Songs reads from and discusses his new novel about a bullied gay teen who enlists the help of a friendly ghost. 7:30pm. 2275 Market St. 864-6777. www.booksinc.net

Geoff Hoyle @ The Marsh, Berkeley The veteran comic actor returns with his solo show, Geezer, a nostalgic meditation on his lengthy career and life. $25-$50. Thu 8pm. Sat. 5pm. Extended thru April 26. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Jay Michaelson @ Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley Director of the LGBT Global Rights Initiative and five-time author of scholarly books on homosexuality, religion and culture, discusses Queer Theory, Theology and Activism. Reception 5:30; lecture 6:30. 1798 Scenic Ave. Berkeley. (510) 849-8206. clgs.org

Peter Cincotti @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The vocalist-pianist performs new and classic songs at the elegant cabaret. $55-$70. 8pm. Also April 25, 8pm. Nikko Hotel, 222 Mason St. hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins.aspx

Sean Dorsey Dance @ Z Space Storytelling and dance combine in a world premiere excerpt from The Missing Generation, based on oral histories of long-term AIDS survivors, and Lou, from Uncovered: The Diary Project, about pioneering transgender activist Lou Sullivan. $15-$25. 8pm. Thru April 24. 450 Florida St at Mariposa. www.seandorseydance.com

ebar.com

SF International Film Festival @ Castro Theatre Opening night of the 57th annual festival of worldwide acclaimed new films; The Two Faces of January starring Viggo Mortensen and Kirsten Dunst. $20$50. Thru May 8. 429 Castro St. Other screenings throughout the Bay Area. festival.sffs.org www.castrotheatre.com

REAL STEAKS. REAL MARTINIS. REAL SAN FRANCISCO.

Shatner’s World @ Bay Area Cinemas Simulcast screening of Star Trek actor William Shatner’s comedic and revealing solo stage show, which sold out in its SF run. $12-$15. 7:30pm. Century 9 Cinema, 835 Market St., and many other Bay Area theatres. www.fathomevents.com

To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com. Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication. For bar and nightlife events, go to www.bartabsf.com, and our new merged section, www.ebar.com/bartab

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<< Books

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

Spring poetry roundup by Jim Piechota

Between: New Gay Poetry, edited by Jameson Currier; Chelsea Station Editions, $16 This Blue by Maureen McLane; Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $24 The Road to Emmaus by Spencer Reece; Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $24 Polari by John Barton; Goose Lane Editions, $19.95 paperback

4/11/2014

oetry, in all its varying forms, encompasses the art and grace of creating words with passion, of conveying a wave of intimate feeling with an economy of lines and phrasing. It’s a niche market whose fans are legion. Here are a few books of new gay poetry not to be missed. Chelsea Station Editions recently published Between, a collection edited by Jameson Currier featuring 60 gay poets reflecting on the relationships gay men have with other men. This specificity keeps the tone and theme masculine and uniform,

JointBAR.psd

https://drive.google.com/?authuser=0#shared-with-me

and Currier’s assemblage spotlights works from both better-known writers in our talented community and newcomers, with equal emphasis. With short author profiles preceding each poem, these pages delight with musings, reflections, opinions, and memories of gay men with their fathers, their “square-jawed, shavedheaded” gym crushes, doctors, firsttime dinner guests who confess to having “only three dates in five years,” old lovers, new bed partners, and even a carpenter who steals then breaks the author’s faithless heart. Lambda Literary Award finalist Maureen McLane’s new collection This Blue beautifully demonstrates this highly regarded poet’s talent for capturing atmosphere, nature, and feeling in a single page of verse. Her five-part volume paints the textures of such scenes as a country morning in the woods where the “rush of your mind/ plays against a rustle/ you could almost pitch”; and a tour of Europe replete with splendorous stops in Genoa, Andalucia (“‘the rose’ from Spain/ followed us west/ as if hot on the scent/ of tomato”), Parma, and Belfast. McLane’s pieces are pristine, her words exact, chosen and evocative, whether describing a meadow north of Boston or the whispering of the forest, “that silvery sound/ that seemed to call/ not only to me.” Floridian poet Spencer Reece’s 2004 debut poetry collection The Clerk’s Tale won critical acclaim with a full-page spread in The New Yorker, a selection for the Bakeless Poetry Prize, and a film by James Franco based on the title piece about a store employee in the Mall of America. The time between his honorable debut and his new collection The Road to Emmaus was filled with the poet joining the Episcopal priesthood in 2011, and subsequently teaching in a Central American orphanage in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. That’s a far cry from his roots as a salesman for posh Brooks Brothers clothiers. Those lofty life ambitions are duly matched with this new collection of narrative poetry inspired by the Gospel of Luke, where Christ has been crucified and taken to the village of Emmaus. But fear not, Reece’s 18 poems are not all religious in tone and scope. Some ponder the nature of grief, faith, desire, and dedication, and lushly describe places and people the author has

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encountered. The vividly rendered poem “Among Schoolchildren” is derived from Reece’s work at the orphanage, and is as vital to the collection as other locations he visits, such as his place of birth, Hartford, Connecticut, “the city that never succeeded like Boston,” or South Beach, where “everyone rearranges or expands their sexual parts.” The West Village in Manhattan is at the core of a strikingly beautiful piece called “12:20 in New York,” in which Reece describes a long-overdue visit with his brother, evoking lines about the passage of time: “Devotion becomes the most reasonable emotion as we age, we recognize it in contrast to the losses, and the losses can be defined only with time.” About the nature of aging: “What do we do in this life when what we love does not come back?” Reece’s sophomore poetry collection is startlingly real, an achievement to be savored. Multi-award-winning Canadian writer John Barton, already with 10 books of poetry to his name, has produced Polari, perhaps the capstone to this spring’s sprightly bundle of new poetry books. The title is fascinating in and of itself. From the Italian word parlare, meaning “to talk,” Polari refers to the coded, argot language (considered a sociolect by some) used in London theatres, circuses, and fairgrounds, and more predominantly used within the gay subculture to cloak communications and personal identities at a time when homosexuality was illegal, as a means to evade the hostility of detractors. Though incrementally fallen from use by the mid-1960s, some Polari (or random forms of this lost language) has survived the ages and insinuated itself into contemporary speak, words like zhoosh, drag, butch, basket, and camp, for example. Barton’s collection, written in lush language that is as entrancing to behold as Polari once was in a forgotten place and time, is a major accomplishment for its variety and poetic dexterity. The errant fly in “An Insect’s Life” may seem inconsequential to the heartbreak of a love lost in “La vie boheme” or the sensuality of

The End of Eve

From page 15

adenocarcinoma, he suggests the toxic “chemo pill” treatment, to which Eve responds, “Well, would you put Tarceva on your precious fucking organic garden?” Keeping the relationship with her tattooed, struggling-musician girlfriend Sol afloat alongside raising a young son together looms as large and all-encompassing in Gore’s head as caring for Eve does. Mom refuses to die in Portland, so Gore packs everyone up and relocates to Santa Fe, New Mexico, bastion of the organic, the holistic, and the colorfully purified. It’s also where girlfriend Sol’s long-lost love, a mime named Bipa, still resides. In their new home, which Eve immediately takes over and begins redecorating, things fall apart quickly for Gore. Sol starts leaving notes for Bipa at her school, Eve kicks her out of the house, and the author ends up abandoning the place for the higher ground of placid self-awareness, a new gal pal, and the palliative care

“Shirtsleeve Weather,” but Barton connects all of his themes with the satiny glow of glossy prose. “Closing the Gate of Sorrow” forms a fitting and somber tribute to the September 11 atrocities of “highjacked jets, payloads intent as they streaked/ Through frets of porous steel.” “Marathon” nods to dedicated runners with “footfalls lifting sand, fleet, synchronous/ With the waves as they’d crash, turn ravenous.” An onlooker’s appreciation for the ocean animates “Watching the Whale.” Then there are poem titles begging for a wry grin and a giggle, such as “If You Want Closure in your Relationship, Start with Your Legs.” “Polari,” the ingenious title poem, is actually all 111 words of Gwendolyn Brooks’ sonnet “Gay Chaps at the Bar” (first published in 1944) completely reassembled into a different poem. Barton’s work is a brilliant example of grace on display, from a poet who continues to illuminate his literary powers for those of us who consider poetry as alive and essential as air and dance.t of her own heart and well-being. How we, the living leftovers, are transformed by the death of our parents makes for some truly enlightening, transformational, and meditative reading. There are moments in Gore’s memoir where readers are forced to stop to imagine themselves in her situation, and, worse, know that it may be a foregone conclusion in their future. The End of Eve is a transcendent, epiphanic experience, and a precious evanescence Gore shares with intimate pain, loss, regret, resentment, humanity, and beauty. And all of it is delivered within a unique treasury of finely-wrought prose.t Ariel Gore’s national book tour will bring her to the Bay Area at several venues. She will appear at the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin St., on May 6 at 6 p.m. as part of the Radar Reading Series; she will read at the Mendocino Book Company, 102 South School St., Ukiah, on May 7 at 7 p.m.; and read at The Make-Out Room (21+) at 3225 22nd St., SF, beginning at 8 p.m.

Books>>

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 21

For young adults of all ages by Gregg Shapiro

ay writer Tim Federle knows that readers come in all ages. For his two young adult novels, Better Nate Than Ever and its sequel Five, Six, Seven, Nate (both from Simon & Schuster), Federle has created one of the more endearing fictional characters in recent memory. Title character Nate will keep you in stitches as he navigates his way out of his dead-end hometown, onto a Broadway stage, and towards his first kiss. Better Nate has been named a finalist in the LGBT Young Adult category for the Lambda Literary Award. For older readers, Federle serves up Tequila Mockingbird (Running Press), on cocktails with literary themes. Gregg Shapiro: Why did you decide to work in the Y/A genre? Tim Federle: I am a former Broadway dancer, and was on staff for Billy Elliott on Broadway, working with kids who were 9 to 14. I was inspired by how funny they were, but also how un-jaded they were. I had lived in New York since I was 19, and I was 30 when I started writing the book. I thought there’d be something really cool about revisiting that point of view, of being in New York when everything is possible and it isn’t just gritting your teeth and walking down the street. The second reason was that kids still read more than adults do. So I thought it would be a practical way of getting published!

How much if any of Tim is in Nate? Since I’m a former actor, I’m pretty good at trying on the mindset of somebody else. So all the characters are an outgrowth of my own imagination. I based the characters on the colorful people in my life, then changed their names so they wouldn’t sue me. Nate is very much me. I was picked on and bullied, all the stuff that can happen to any boy who knows all the lyrics to Phantom. I have the knowledge that a lot of kids don’t have, which is that there is a day and a place that you will get to where you don’t have to change

anything about yourself, and you are exactly what you should be. It might not be this minute. It’s a little bit of “it gets better.” The problem with “it gets better” is that it’s hard to wait. Is being yourself the ultimate message of your books? The truth is that I did not go into writing them with a message. I wanted to write an aspirational tale about a kid who had a huge dream and just happened to possibly be gay. More than anything, I wanted his gayness to be the fifth most interesting thing about him. I wanted his resilience to be the defining element, which I think it is for a lot of gay people. Were both books written at the same time? No, I wish they were, because that would’ve been easier. The first book was written as a stand-alone. But then it did well enough to warrant a sequel. The second book was written months later. That process is a lot harder than the first book because of the kind of expectations that go along with it. Both Better Nate Than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate have clever titles. At what point in the writing process did you come up with them? I came up with the title Better Nate Than Ever when I was hanging out with a best friend, talking about potential TV shows. That title just came to me. Five, Six, Seven, Nate was kind of a joke, because “five, six, seven, eight” is a theater term, it’s the count-off. I wanted something that would stand out. The same holds true with my adult cocktail book, Tequila Mockingbird, which is obviously not for kids. When coming up with a musical for the novel, how did you decide on E.T.? Because I felt like an alien myself when I was growing up. Because having worked on the Broadway shows Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Little Mermaid, I knew that movies that are beloved are very difficult to get right on stage, and for that reason it’s fun to poke fun of the process.

Young adult fiction author Tim Federle.

A recurring theme in both books is the subject of personal hygiene, specifically sweat and deodorant. Would you say that it’s a Y/A author’s responsibility to address these subjects? The only responsibility I felt was to tell the truth. But I think there’s a lot of truth to when kids are changing so rapidly that they’re not catching up to their own bodies. They frequently need an adult to say, “Dude, you need a breath mint.” I remember when asking my mom

From page 13

by Leonora Carrington.

See page 22 >>

Would it be fair to say that Five, Six, Seven, Nate is a cautionary tale for stage-struck kids? No, I didn’t intend it as a cautionary tale. I did intend to expose the truth behind the lack of glamour on Broadway. As a kid, often you need a big dream to get you to complete a project. It’s hard to get things over the finish line. Often when you fi-

nally complete the project, the result is very different from what you dreamed. Yet the great thing about life is that you can end up with something even better. In the second book, Nate has his first kiss, which is arguably the most important thing in the book. He kissed a boy, and nobody died. He never would’ve gotten on a bus to go to New York thinking he was going to kiss a boy. Is it a cautionary tale? No, I think it’s an aspirational tale that has this hopefully friendly warning that it doesn’t always go OK in life, but you’ll probably land on your feet, which I think is what life’s about.t

Galleries

his exquisitely composed, textured collages that have a ring-a-dingding jazzy quality, the artist’s equally exciting explorations of printmakAn activist who came out of the ing are no less deserving. Case in civil rights movement and a descenpoint: “The Siren’s Song” (1979), a dent of the Harlem Renaissance, silkscreen portrait of island revelers whose members W.E.B. Dubois whose sailing ship has dropped anand Langston Hughes once gathchor just off-shore; the vibrant color ered at his parents’ home, Bearden palette beckons the viewer to wade befriended the literati and famous in the water. musicians of his era. Duke Ellington The ghost of Picasso, the organic, was his first patron, and Branford puzzle-piece unity of patchwork Marsalis produced an homage to quilts, the brightly colored cut-outs him. Though he’s best known for of Matisse, and African masks and motifs converge in mixed-media collage and watercolor combos like “Martinique, Rainforest Evening” (1974), where one can almost feel the balmy ocean breeze blowing off the tropical sea, and the humidity hanging heavy in the air. (Through June 21.) Women rule at Gallery Wendi Norris in two solo shows that intersect in Mexico, though the individual artists come at our neighbor to the South from very different directions. Leonora Carrington: The Celtic Surrealist, the first show of work by this painter/ novelist since her death Leonora Carrington/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY in 2011 at the age of “Sanctuary for Furies” (1974), oil on canvas 94, includes paintings,

for deodorant for the first time, I was so embarrassed. This is a way for me to address it in a book and give kids out there a hint who don’t have as considerate an older sibling or parent. I did want to address it.

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Cockettes

From page 2

32-year-old San Francisco native. On other nights, Gomez sometimes goes out for drinks with a few fellow cast members, when afterwards, he said, “if I tend to be more energized from the show.” Gomez heard about Thrillpeddlers back when an ex-boyfriend told him about an audition, which Gomez also attended, and landed a role. He studied the Weissman documentary as part of his preparation. If he’s performing or attending a drag-themed night, you may encounter him as his alter ego Trangela Lansbury. “I tend to not change my face on those nights,” said Gomez. “If I’m performing again, I put on make-up to go with both shows.” Cast in Pearls as a female whore from the 1930s, Gomez, with a glitter-coated beard, was the poster character for Thrillpeddlers’ other recent Cockettes revival, Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma. And although his costumes in the shows remain the same, his style variances have included neon hair and yellow contact lenses. When he’s not making visual art (as exhibited in a recent Batman and Robin gay comic art exhibit) or posters for shows like the upcoming Serial Mom screening at the Castro Theatre, Gomez freelances and works for Pottery Barn, designing graphics for products like superhero towels for a kids’ line. His art is also featured in the current SOMArts Work MORE exhibit. His nightclub drag shows range from being “a back-up lady” to lipsynching to various genres of songs, depending on the show’s themes. “Sometimes I just go to watch,” said Gomez. “But I’ll go anywhere in my drag. I ride my bike in my face and my costume … except the heels.” For Rose Blood, Thrillpeddlers has been a part of her life since

Diego Gomez from Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma.

childhood, where at age ten she studied and performed in Creepshow Camp workshop productions. She was also part of the touring cast of Pearls. Blood’s friend Chris Olin, originally from San Diego, is the freshest performer, having only been in San Francisco a few weeks. With “mostly straight plays” and musicals among his experiences, Olin said, “I like putting glitter in my beard, apparently, so this is fun.” For these younger performers, “It depends on whether I want to go home and go to sleep,” said Olin. “But if not, the more the merrier.” Blood shared tips on acting drunk or high versus being so. “You act absolutely ridiculous. But the whole partying thing; I’m more often tired. I want to go home and sleep. Last week we had a cast

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 3

party, but it wasn’t wild.”

Satyr-days

Nightlife regular Steven Satyricon still likes to enjoy a good night out, despite his busy schedule. “I’m probably still one of the more wild members of the troupe, as it were,” Satyricon said. A cast member of every Cockettes revival to date, along with other shows, he enjoys “playing against type” as the stuffy ship’s captain. “It’s completely opposite of myself. I take inspiration from Brad Majors [of Rocky Horror Show]. I relish being able to play that.” Satyricon said that during a few nights of the Pearls Over Shanghai 2008 New York City workshop version, “I did a great homage to the Cockettes original trip by showing up late to rehearsals because I’d been out all night.” Having “settled down somewhat” with his boyfriend Andrew Darling, and his twelve-year day job at Maxfield’s House of Caffeine (398

Sweet Pam Dent’s book about The Cockettes

Pearls Over Shanghai runs ThuSat, 8pm at the Hypnodrome Theatre, 575 10th St., thru May 31. $30-$35. (800) 838-3006. www.thrillpeddlers.com

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BARtab

Eric Wertz (left) and Noah Haydon in the dressing room.

Dolores St.), Satyricon occasionally conquers temptation by succumbing to it. “The proxomity of SoMa nightlife is an enabling factor,” he said. “I work Monday through Friday, up at 6am. But with our theater so close to the Powerhouse Bar, and when it’s Underwear Night, I’ve been getting into a habit of meeting my boyfriend for ‘one drink.’” Satyricon recalled the first time he stripped down to his underwear, joking, to quote Pearls character Madame Gin Sling, “That was my downfall.” But stripping down is nothing new for the actor-singer. “I’m usually the naked character in these shows,” said Satyricon. “Playing Captain Eddie is so constricting, with the nautical suit. He said he anticipates shedding the uniform each night. Satyricon’s gogo dancing a back seat for the direction of shows like Pearls. “There have been a number of times in the last run when I would go out,” he said, adding that for the recent Pepperspray band reunion, held a few weeks ago at the DNA Lounge, “I donned my Pepperspray panties and did my old routines.” “It’s not unheard of for me to the rush off to another late night gig,” added Satyricon. “You always have to sacrifice something, and sleep is the first to go. I’d hate to look back on my life and say, ‘Gosh, I could have done so much more.’”t

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4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

Never Being Boring by Micheal Flanagan

“W

hat a nice way to spend at Tuesday night,” said Neil Tennant in his first comment between songs at the Pet Shop Boys concert on April 8. He was addressing the crowd in an informal friendly way from the stage of the Fox Theater in Oakland for the beginning of this phase of their tour for the release of Electric.

does not dominate the concert. I was impressed by how thoroughly their catalogue was represented from three cuts off of their first two releases Please (“Opportunities,” “West End Girls” and “Suburbia”) and Actually (“Rent” and “It’s A Sin”) to songs from the two prior to Electric, Yes (“Love, etc.”) and Elysium (“Leaving”). This had the effect of making the concert a sort of greatest hits event, so that fans of

Pet Shop Boys onstage

His informal manner was entirely appropriate, because it was clear that the audience was in their corner and loved every minute of the show. So when he mentioned midway through the concert that he was nervous about coming back to the Fox seven months since they had last been there (and with only one song changed from that previous concert), well, he needn’t have been. A Pet Shop Boys concert is a joyous celebration in so many ways. As you would expect from artists who are just two years away from the 30th anniversary of their first release, though they feature music from their most recent release, it

Peter Cincotti

From page 1

More than a decade after that gig, Peter Cincotti is still making it up as he goes along, creating music in the real time of his life. His songs fuse jazz, blues, pop, and sometimes a little rock and dance. “I’m influenced by tons of people,” Cincotti says, “but especially artists like Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Sting…artists whose sound changes over time, but they stay themselves – artists that no matter the genre, their sound is unique and unmistakably them.” Cincotti’s four albums reflect this admiration and musical philosophy. After his first album, the self-titled Peter Cincotti, the media dubbed him the next Harry Connick, Jr. His fourth and latest album, Metropolis, however, is more Coldplay than Connick. “When you compare my first album to my fourth, they’re different. But every album was the next logical step. I never had a question about what I wanted to make.” The constant in Cincotti’s music and performance is his soulful vocals and brilliance on the keys. “I started playing when I was three years old,” he said. “My grandmother bought me a toy piano and taught me how to play ‘Happy Birthday.’” In his late teens, the legendary producer Phil Ramone showed up to one of Cincotti’s club gigs, and it marked a turning point in the New York native’s life. “That was the gig that changed it for me,” Cincotti recalls. “[Phil Ramone] signed me to a record deal and we made my first album together.”

any particular period of their music would feel welcomed and appreciated. It’s important to note, however, that much of what distinguishes the Electric tour from previous tours is the presentation, of which the Pet Shop Boys have become masters. Es Devlin, who designed the 2012 Olympic closing ceremonies in London, is the director and designer of this concert tour and it was clear from the DJ set, which preceded the concert through the platform for Chris Lowe’s keyboards, that the entire affair was a celebration of circuitry and all things electronic. Likewise, costume designer Jef-

Pet Shop Boys on Tour

nothing wrong, the concert of “Oppressive (The You’ve got nothing Best Gay Possible)” which features to fear, If you’ve Irish drag queen Panti Bliss and her something to hide, amazing diatribe about homophoYou shouldn’t even bia at Ireland’s national theater The be here,” I realize Abbey. The video features shots of that it was writgay-bashing from Russia, hangings ten about political from Iran and pictures of notorievents in the UK, ous homophobes from the late Fred but cannot escape Phelps to the Ugandan dictator the echoes of reYoweri Museveni. Given that the cent NSA revelaaudience was at least half gay, it was tions. irritating that it didn’t have their full When they sing attention. Pet Shop Boys Neil Tennant and dancers onstage. “O p p o r t u n i t i e s With that exception, it was an (Let’s Make Lots of astounding concert. If you should frey Bryant, who has worked with Money),” I realize that it was written happen to read this review in adthe Pet Shop Boys in the past (as to reflect the greed and economic vance of the Pet Shop Boys comwell as Lady Gaga, the Rolling disparity in Thatcher’s England, but ing to your area (there are eight Stones and Tina Turner) has his imcannot help but feel that it relates to concerts scheduled so far across the print clearly on this tour, from the the cultural strip-mining which has U.S., ending in New York on April orange glasses and lab coats that the been occurring in the Bay Area in 26), you would be well advised to stagehands and sound board peothe 21st century. get tickets in advance to this conple wear, through the spikey coat Given the political implications cert. It’s eye-popping, it’s entertainthat Tennant first appears on stage of a Pet Shop Boys concert, I was ing and you’ll hear songs from their wearing, to the disco ball helmet particularly disappointed when back catalog that’ll make you nosthat Lowe dons partway through the audience ignored and talked its talgic, and a light show that feels like the show. Of particular note are the way through the video preceding you’ve seen the future.t bull head costumes dancers Merry Holden and Tom Herron wear at various parts of the concert. They give a primitive feel to the whole event which is two parts Minoan bull dancer to one part Hopi Kachina. Given that the whole affair begins with an extraordinarily futuristic video for “Axis” (from Electric), produced by video designer Luke Halls (who has worked with the Royal Opera House), you get the feeling that the scope of this concert comprises much of human history – from the far past to the future. When listening to the concert, I was once again amazed at how the Pet Shop Boys have been able to include the political in their music in a manner which (give that it’s dance music) is somewhat covert. So when The “bull head” section in the Pet Shop Boys’ current they perform “Integral” (from Funconcert extravaganza damental) and sing, “If you’ve done

That album made it to #1 on the Billboard jazz charts, making Cincotti the youngest artist ever to do so. He’s worked with geniuses ever since, including the 14-Grammy Award winner David Foster and, most recently, with dance music producer David Guetta on a song titled “Love is Gone.” “David did his DJ thing, and I was on the piano, I rearranged one of his songs putting all kinds of piano parts into this club song. It was a really unique hybrid of music – I’d love to experiment more with him and other DJs to see how the piano could fit into what they do.” In the meantime, Cincotti continues touring, and is already hard at work on a fifth album with plans to debut some of that music right here in San Francisco. “My first gig back in the states!” he says, after several years of playing through Europe. As if none of this were enough, he’s also working on a new musical with his older sister, Pia, as part of Peter Cincotti a Dramatists Guild Fellowship. bassist Michael Olatuja, and guitar“It’s a work in progress,” Cincotti ist George Orlando. reflects, “But it’s based on a silent “I’ve spent a lot of time on the German film.” West Coast and San Francisco is alAfter playing world-class venues ways on the top of my list. Plus, it like The Olympia (Paris), Carnegie has a great Chinatown which, as a Hall, and opening for Seal at RaNew Yorker, I really appreciate.” dio City Music Hall, Cincotti looks He may sound like a tourist, but forward to his first appearance at make no mistake, Peter Cincotti is Feinstein’s in Hotel Nikko. His set no guest to success. Lincoln Cenwill feature a world-class trio of ter, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Cincotti on keys, British/Nigerian Montreux Festival are already on his

professional dossier, along with music for the soundtracks of Beyond the Sea (Kevin Spacey) and December Boys (Daniel Radcliffe). But when asked what people will say about him in 100 years, he says humbly, “Oh, hell; I don’t even know what they say about me now.” Well, talented sir, here’s a hint: San Francisco is a town that prides itself on the beauty of diversity. We, for one, cannot wait to see him

bring his musical diversity to one of our favorite venues.t Peter Cincotti plays Feinstein’s at Hotel Nikko April 25 and 25. Both shows begin at 8pm, 222 Mason St. Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster. com/Peter-Cincotti-tickets/ artist/874926 Joshua Klipp is a writer and band leader of The Klipptones. www.joshuaklipp.com

Read more online at www.ebar.com

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Leather: Change Is The Norm by Race Bannon

s I communicate with fellow leatherfolk, whether they be local or from elsewhere, I consistently hear comments about how the leather scene has changed. Generally such comments are complaints bemoaning the loss of a past version of the leather scene while decrying how people dress, identify, behave and play today. “Leather isn’t what it used to be.” “So much of our scene seems to be about contests now.” “We’re losing our bars.” “Those younger kinksters don’t respect the old ways.” “The scene has moved online.” “It seems that you need a degree in kink to be qualified to play these days.” “What happened to our mentors?” “Our community has

day’s leather and kink world is vast, diverse and rich with more experiences, events, social life and play opportunities than ever before. True, it looks and functions differently than it used to. So what? Most of life from the past looks and functions differently today. Many would call it progress. Yet many leatherfolk hold on to the past for dear life as if somehow accepting such realities will lessen them as a leather person or kinkster of whatever stripe. Today there are certainly intersections among the various kink and leather sexualities, but those intersections might be large or small. The scene is less monolithic than it used to be. I see that as a good thing. And while it’s true that the scene sometimes sends out mixed messages about

Last year’s International Ms. Leather competitors and winners.

and venues that will cater to your individual desires. San Francisco and the surrounding East Bay and South Bay are particularly blessed to have an assortment of such options. Locally and nationally you can find a plethora of offshoot groups interested in BDSM, rubber, sports gear, pup play, cigars, uniforms, fisting, power dynamic (Dominant/submissive) relationships, and much more. These are smaller subcultures within the larger leather and kink umbrella subculture and there’s room for anyone who wants a place at that table. The natural human tendency is for us to want to feel that we belong to something special. If a subculture morphs over time into a bunch of more diverse groupings that might have only a modest amount of overlap, in time each of those groupings will want to exert their specialness (unconsciously usually) and form their own separate social circles, language, identifiers and so on. So while the term leather meant one thing a few decades ago, it now means something quite different to many. I can’t get too worked up over how it’s changed because I don’t want to be one of those old cranky people ranting about younger people or scene newcomers who don’t “get” leather culture. They get it just fine. It just Janet Ryan doesn’t look the same as the leather culture I came out in during the early ‘70s. And that’s quite OK. Now, since I try to get kinky people offline and face to face as much as possible, let me mention a few upcoming events you might want to attend. The finals for the Bare Chest Calendar will be on April 27. The cal-

been diluted with too many people inclusion when it appears to some who aren’t really kinky.” “Everyto be exclusionary, the same can be thing’s so expensive now.” And on said of any group or subculture. I and on. I could list dozens of such believe our scene is fairly good at common complaints. And for all of embracing all good, decent people them I have but one bit of advice. who want to be part of what we Accept the ways things are or do have to offer. something to change it so that they’re more to your liking. One of the tenets of many life philosophies that I have always gravitated to is the concept of attachment. The belief is that attachment leads to much of life’s suffering. Attachment to an idea, including ideas about the past, are as poisonous as attachment to things. Everything, everyone, every tradition, every society, every subculture is ephemeral. So it is with leather and kink. The sooner an individual accepts that, the happier they’ll be. If you resist accepting change, unhappiness is a foregone conclusion. I don’t see the morphing and adaptations of what we often refer to as leather to be much different than the organic way any community or subculture evolves. Change is the only constant. It’s why I find it amusing when anyone bemoans “the way it was.” I have too at times, I must admit. But there is no way anything can remain fixed in time. That’s just not how things work. Everything changes. As Winston Churchill once said, “To Rich Stadtmiller improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” Showing the diversity of the modern leather scene, Tyler I think a big discon- McCormick, International Mr. Leather 2010 (seated) is flanked by runners up nect occurs because many Jack Andrew Duke (left) and Lance Holman (right) do think leather is fixed in time. That’s why there’s a continuFor every possible negative someendar has been linked to the leather ing churn over traditions, history, one suggests about our scene, I can scene since its inception. Many of protocols and other such things offer an abundant collection of the men involved with the calendar, because people want to believe that positives or a way to make it more both as calendar men and behind some golden era of leather in the positive for your own individual exthe scenes, are part of the leather past was the ideal and that what we perience. scene. have now is not. If you seek them out, there are Another big event coming up is I disagree. The landscape of tosocial circles, clubs, groups, events International Ms. Leather week-

end, April 24-27. This is the preeminent leather contest and weekend for women. Join women from all over the country as they carry on this tradition in their new host city of San Jose. The nominees for San Francisco Pride Leather Marshals have been announced. Male nominees are Brent Gannetta, Patrick Mulcahey, Scott Peterson and Graylin Thornton. Female nominees are Beth Bicoastal, Deborah Wade, Tracy Wolf and Lou (Alchemy). Voting takes place May 3 at the SF Eagle. Congratulations and good luck to all of the nominees. For more details about the events I’ve mentioned and many others, check out the calendar entries on page 9.t Race Bannon is a local author, blogger and activist. www.bannon.com

Event Listings page 9 >>

Rich Stadtmiller

Lexx King, a gear aficionado, at Redwood Roller Rink’s leather skate night in 2013.

San Francisco’s 18+ Sex Club!

Open daily at 12pm

2051 Market St. at Church St. Info: 415-864-EROS (3767)

<< On the Tab

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

eON THE TAB f ★April 17-24★

Bad Girl Cocktail Hour @ The Lexington Club

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi

Every Friday night, bad girls can get $1 dollar margaritas between 9pm and 10pm. 3464 19th St. between Mission and Valencia. 863-2052. www.lexingtonclub.com

The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. $25-$160. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 4214222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Bad Girls of Comedy @ Club OMG

Wed 23

Beatpig @ Powerhouse

Kristee Ono hosts a night of women's wacky wit, with Pearl Louise, Emily Epstein White, Clara Bijl, Allison Mick, Ash Fisher and Priyanka Wali. $10. 8pm. 43 6th St. 896-6374. www.clubomgsf.com

Bob Saget @ Kanbar Hall

Bacon, Babes & Bingo @ SupperClub The babe-filled burlesque game show night returns, with arcade games, Bingo, prizes galore, circus acts, comic Nikki Sparx and more. $10-$50. 6pm-10pm. 657 Harrison St. www.supperclubsf.com

Fauxgirls @ Infusion Lounge The upscale drag show includes dinner at the swellegant nightclub, with Victoria Secret, Alexandria, Chanel, Maria Garza, Mini Minerva, Kipper, Ruby LeBrowne, and Lulu Ramirez. 8pm. 124 Ellis St. www.fauxgirls.com

La Femme @ Beaux Ladies' happy hour at the Castro nightclub, with drink specials, no cover, and women gogos. 4pm-9pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Fuego @ The Watergarden, San Jose Weekly event, with Latin music, half-off locker fees and Latin men, at the South Bay private men's bath house. $8-$39. Reg hours 24/7. 18+. 1010 The Alameda. (408) 275-1215. www.thewatergarden.com

Gems of the Bay @ Martuni's Grand Duke Kippy Marks and Grand Duchess Pat N Leather present the monthly concert series, this month featuring musician Tony Bragano. Proceeds benefit SF Suicide Prevention. Limited seating. $10. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.brownpapertickets.com

Fri 18

The Monster Show @ The Edge Cookie Dough's weekly drag show with gogo guys and hilarious fun. April 17, a special Holy Broadway show celebrates Easter weekend and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence's 35th anniversary. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Bear cubs, big men and their fans enjoy the event that celebrates its one-year anniversary; DJs Justime and Hail Theif. $5. 10pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

I Just Wanna F*ckin Dance @ BeatBox Locoya Hill's glow in the dark dance night features DJs Billy Lace and Brian Maier (our Besties voted Best DJ). Cash prize for best neon costumes. $15. 10pm-6am. 314 11th St. www.beatboxsf.com

Happy Friday @ Midnight Sun The popular video bar ends each week with gogo guys (starting at 9pm) and drink specials. Check out the new expanded front lounge, with a window view. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Nap's Karaoke @ Virgil's Sea Room

Hardbox @ Powerhouse

Sing out loud at the weekly least judgmental karaoke in town, hosted by the former owner of the bar. No cover. 9pm. 3152 Mission St. 829-2233. www.virgilssf.com

Gehno Sanchez Aviance and Guy Ruben's popular cruisy night with hot MMA fight demos, prizes and grooves to shake you up. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhouse-sf.com

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland

Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. April 17, Dance Party Nightlife, with music by DJ Tom LG, hip hop, belly-dancing, linedancing, African and salsa dance lessons. $10-$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Speical Easter party with bunny-hoppin' gogos. Enjoy eight bars, more dance floors, and a smoking lounge at the largest gay Latin dance night in the Bay Area. March 21, Valentino's birthday bash. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Pan Dulce @ The Cafe Amazingly hot Papi gogo guys, cheap drinks and fun DJed dance music. Free before 10pm. $5 til 2am. 2369 Market St. www.clubpapi.com www.cafesf.com

Pearls Over Shanghai @ The Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers' hilarious Cockettes revival returns, with many of the ebullient cast members. $30-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru May 31. 575 10th St. (800) 838-3006. www.thrillpeddlers.com

Fri 18

Sierra Boggess @ Feinstein's at the Nikko The Broadway and London stage sensation ( The Little Mermaid, Phantom of the Opera, Master Class) debuts her intitate cabaret show. $40-$55. 8pm. Also April 18, 8pm. April 19, 7pm. Nikko Hotel, 222 Mason St. hotelnikkosf.com/ feinsteins.aspx

Delicious dancer @ Midnight Sun’s Happy Friday

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Retro disco tunes and a fun diverse crowd, each Thursday. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Underwear Party @ Powerhouse

Enjoy cheap/free whiskey shots from jockstrapped hotties and sexy sports videos at the popular sports bar. 10pm-2am. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Strip down to your skivvies at the weekly cruisy SoMa bar night. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhouse-sf.com

Jukebox @ Beatbox

Hip Hop, Top 40, and sexy Latin music; gogo dancers, appetizers, and special guest DJs. No cover before 11pm and just $5 after all night. Dancing 9pm-3am. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Veteran DJ Page Hodel (The Box, Q and many other events) presents a new weekly dance event, with soul, funk, hip-hop and house mixes. $10. 21+. 9pm-2am. 314 11th St. at Folsom. www.BeatboxSF.com

Cub House @ SF Eagle

Gogo-tastic weekly night at the new Castro club. Bring your dollahs, 'cause they'll make you holla. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

The weekly live rock shows have returned. April 17:Worm Ouroboros, Predatory Light and Lycus. 9pm-ish. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Gym Class @ Hi Tops

Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

The weekly mash-up dance night, with resident DJs Adrian & Mysterious D. No matter the theme, a mixed fun good time's assured. $8-$15. 9pm-3am. 21+. 375 11th St. at Harrison. www.BootieSF.com www.DNAlounge.com

Go-Beaux @ Beaux

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle

Emily Epstein @ Bad Girls Comedy

Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon

VIP @ Club 21, Oakland

edgeonth

Manimal @ Beaux Gogo-tastic night starts off your weekend. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle

Invincible @ Verdi Club

The classic leather bar's most popular Sunday daytime event now also takes place on Saturdays! 3pm-6pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Drag show and birthday party for Miz Eva (Miss Golden Gate), with Deana Dawn, Emppress Misty Blue, Emperor John Paul Soto, Pat N Leather, Patty McGroin, Keri Hanna, Cockatelia, Donna Sachet, Baby-Shaques Shakes, Jezebel Patel, Tara Wrist, Galilea Fortyone, BeBe Sweetbriar and more. Cash bar and shots a plenty. Proceeds benefit Bay Area Positives. $10. 5pm-10pm. 2424 Mariposa St. www.verdiclub.com

Shit & Champagne @ Rebel D'Arcy Drollinger's "whitesploitation" drag satire musical play kicks up the laughs; also starring Matthew Martin. $20-$25. Fri & Sat, 8pm. Extended thru April 26! 1772 Market St. at Octavia. www.shitandchampagne.eventbrite.com

Rich Stadtmiller

Thu 17

Analyze This! With Juanita More!, Walter Gomez, Side Kick and crew, with SM demos and drink specials. $5 benefits Transgender Law Center. 9pm-2am. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhouse-sf.com

Steven Underhill

Eric Harvieux

The affable former host of America's Funniest Home Videos, and a co-star in the SF-based '80s sitcom Full House, unleashes his darkly funny and raunchy stand-up act. $25-$35. Jewish Community Center, 3200 California St. 292-1233. www.jccsf.org/arts

Joie de Vivre @ Dream Queens Revue

Bootie SF @ DNA Lounge

Sat 19

Fri 18

Some Thing Mica Sigourney and pals' weekly offbeat drag performance night. 10pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Themed Nights @ The Brig If you're looking for a new sexual adventure, check out this new space. Weekend events take place Fridays through Mondays, and the intimate venue with a jail theme offers slings, tables and various spaces for erotic play. Sat-Mon, above PopSex960 at 962 Folsom St. at 6th St. www.BrigSF.com

Sat 19

The Eagle now hosts beer busts on Saturdays, too!

Literary Death Match @ Elbo Room Joshua Safran, Eli Horowitz and Rachel McKibbens are the featured storytelling authors at the literary drink night. $10. 7:15pm. 647 Valencia St. literarydeathmatch.com www.elbo.com

Rufus Wainwright @ Palace of Fine Arts The gay singer-pianist performs new and favorite songs. $62.50. 8pm. Also April 20, 8pm. 3301 Lyon St. www.livenation.com

On the Tab>>

April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Trannyshack Weekend @ Reno

Easter With The Sisters @ Golden Gate Park

The 17th annual drag show goes on the road, with a third bus added! Enjoy drag acts at Tronic nightclub, gambling and a night at the Sands Regency. $145. www.trannyshack.com www.peacheschrist.com

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence's 35th annual Easter/pagan celebration moves to the larger area (due to construction at Dolores Park), with an emerald anniversary Wizard of Oz theme. Enjoy live acts, the Hunky Jesus contest, and a new Foxy Mary contest. Hellman Hollow (formerly Speedway Meadow). Kids events 10am. Stage acts run 12pm5pm. 371 Chain of Lakes Drive East. www.thesisters.org

Sun 20 Beer Bust @ Lone Star Saloon Enjoy beer and other beverages with the bear set. 4pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle The classic leather bar's most popular Sunday daytime event in town draws the menfolk. 3pm-6pm. Now also on Saturdays! 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Sat 19

GlamaZone @ The Cafe Pollo del Mar's weekly drag shows takes on different themes with a comic edge. 8:30-11:30pm. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ El Rio

Show off your tattoos and piercings at the weekly cruisy SoMa bar night. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhouse-sf.com

Women's burlesque show performs each Wed & Fri. Karaoke follows. $5-$10. 7pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre

So You Think You Can Gogo? @ Toad Hall

Strip down at the strip joint. $20 includes refreshments. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

The weekly dancing competition for gogo wannabes. 9pm. cash prizes, $2 well drinks (2 for 1 happy hour til 9pm). Show at 9pm. 4146 18th St. www.toadhallbar.com

Showdown @ Folsom Foundry

Full of Grace @ Beaux Weekly night with hostess Grace Towers, different local and visiting DJs, and pop-up drag performances. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Ink & Metal @ Powerhouse

Rufus Wainwright

Sunday's a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet hosts the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show. $45. 11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com

Sony Holland @ Level III

Weekly game night for board and electronic gamers at the warehouse multipurpose nightclub. 21+. 6pm-12am. 1425 Folsom St. www.showdownesports.com

The acclaimed jazz vocalist performs with guitarist Jerry Holland. Weekly 5pm-8pm. Also Thursdays & Fridays. JW Marriott, 515 Mason St. at Post. www.sonyholland.com

Trivia Night @ Hi Tops

Trivia Night @ Harvey's

Play the trivia game at the popular new sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly night of trivia quizzes and fun and prizes; no cover. 8pm-1pm. 500 Castro St. 431-4278. www.harveyssf.com

Wed 23

Underwear Night @ SF Eagle

Bottoms Up Bingo @ Hi Tops Play board games and win offbeat prizes at the popular sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Mon 21 Cock and Bull Mondays @ Hole in the Wall Saloon

Big Bang Gala @ California Academy of Sciences

Weekly dance lessons and live music at the pub-restaurant, hosted by John Slaymaker. $5. 7pm. 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. www.thestarryplough.com

Karaoke @ The Lookout Paul K hosts the amateur singing night. 8pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com

Showers Bring... EDGE brings you the latest and greatest in LGBT news and entertainment 365 days a year!

henet.com BJ's @ Powerhouse Michael Brandon hosts the 3rd Sundays jock-themed event; wear as much or as little jock gear as you desire. Gehno Aviance DJs. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom st. www.powerhouse-sf.com

Brunch @ Hi Tops Enjoy crunchy sandwiches and mimosas, among other menu items, at the popular sports bar. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Cocktailgate @ Truck Suppositori Spelling's wild weekly drag show night. $3. 10pm-2am. 1900 Folsom St. www.trucksf.com

Daytime Realness @ El Rio Dulce De Leche, DJ Carnita and Stanley Frank host the afternoon patio drag and dance party, with acts by Ambrosia Salad, Miss Gina, and Little Lulu. $8. 3pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Disco Daddy @ SF Eagle DJ Bus Station John spins booty-shakin' tunes at the popular leather bar, just after the beer bust. 7pm-12am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Weekly screenings of vintage music videos and retro drink prices. Check out the new expanded front window lounge. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Thu 24

Irish Dance Night @ Starry Plough, Berkeley

Honey Mahogany's weekly drag and musical talent show starts around 10pm, with a RuPaul's Drag Race viewing as well. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Way Back @ Midnight Sun

Sun 20 Thu 24

Specials on drinks made with Cock and Bull ginger ale (Jack and Cock, Russian Mule, and more). 8pmclosing. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Mahogany Mondays @ Midnight Sun

Strip down to your skivvies at the popular leather bar. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

DJ Bus Station John’s Disco Daddy Sun 20 & Tubesteak Connection’s 10th Anniversary Thu 24

Monday Musicals @ The Edge The casts of local and visiting musicals often pop in to perform at the popular Castro bar's musical theatre night. 7pm2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni's Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht (aka Trauma Flintstone). 9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.dragatmartunis.com

Shanté, You Stay @ Toad Hall BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly viewing party of RuPaul's Drag Race, with a live drag show challenge. 8:30-11:30pm. 4146 18th st. at Castro. www.toadhallbar.com

Broadway Bingo @ Feinstein's at the Nikko Joe Wicht and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy cohost the weekly fun musical theatre trivia singalong night. Pull up a comfy chair or sofa, enjoy a cocktail or three, and test your Broadway knowledge. Kanpai Lounge, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. No cover. 7pm10pm. 394-1111. www.hotelnikkosf.com/ feinsteins.aspx

Dream Queens Revue @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge The classic drag show features Collette LeGrande, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, Bobby Ashton, Sheena Rose, Kipper, and Joie de Vivre. No cover. 9:30-11:30pm. 133 Turk St. 441-2922. www.dreamqueensrevue.com

The museum's annual festive gala fundraiser, includes insightful talks, a seated dinner, and a museum-wide party with music by Ra Ra Riot and Youngblood Hawke, and a silent disco near the animal exhibits (earplugged humans, non-freaked animals). $100 includes drinks, desserts and light eats; 8:30pm-12am. Dinner and VIP reception $1000 and up; 6pm-12am. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 3798000. www.calacademy.org

Circle Jerk @ Nob Hill Theatre Big talent Rafael Alencar's back in town; enjoy a whacking good time in the theatre arcade's underground playroom ($10, 9pm) the night before his stage shows April 25 & 26 ($25, 8pm & 10pm). 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Gym Class @ Hi Tops Enjoy cheap/free whiskey shots from jockstrapped hotties and sexy sports videos at the popular new sports bar. 10pm-2am. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Pan Dulce @ The Cafe Enjoy amazingly hot Papi gogo guys, cheap drinks and fun DJed dance music. Free before 10pm. $5 til 2am. 2369 Market St. www.clubpapi.com www.cafesf.com

Sports Night @ The Eagle

Jock @ The Lookout

The legendary leather bar gets jock-ular, with beer buckets, games (including beer pong and corn-hole!), prizes, sports on the TVs, and more fun. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

The weekly jock-ular fun continues, with special sports team fundraisers. 3pm-7pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Tue 22

Liquid Brunch @ Beaux

13 Licks @ Q Bar

No cover, no food, just drinks (Mimosas, Bloody Marys, etc.) and music. 2pm-9pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Salsa Sundays @ El Rio Salsa dancing for LGBT folks and friends, with live merengue and cumbia bands; tapas and donations that support local causes. 2nd & 4th Sundays. 3pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 The popular country western LGBT dance night; enjoy fun foot-stomping twostepping and line-dancing. $5. 5pm10:30pm with lessons from 5:30-7:15 pm. Also Thursdays. 550 Barneveld Ave., and Tuesdays at Beatbox, $6. 6:30-11pm. 314 11th St. www.sundancesaloon.org

Weekly women's night at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Block Party @ Midnight Sun Weekly screenings of music videos, concert footage, interviews and more, of popular pop stars. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 8614186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Bombshell Betty & Her Burlesqueteers @ Elbo Room The weekly burlesque show of women dancers shaking their bonbons includes live music. $10. 9pm. 647 Valencia St. 5527788. www.elbo.com

Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey's Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gay-friendly comedy night. One-drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com

Thu 24 Mad Manhattans @ Starlight Room The new weekly event includes classic cocktails created by David Cruz, and inspired by the the show Mad Men, plus retro food classics like prawn cocktails and Oysters Rockefeller, all with a fantastic city view. 6pm-10pm. 21st, Sir Francis Drake Hotel. 450 Powell St. www.starlightroomsf.com

Miss Kitty's Trivia Night @ Wild Side West The weekly fun night at the Bernal Heights bar includes prizes, hosted by Kitty Tapata. No cover. 7pm-10pm. 424 Cortland St. 6473099. www.wildsidewest.com

Youngblood Hawke plays @ The Big Bang Gala

Peter Concotti @ Feinstein's at the Nikko The vocalist-pianist performs new and classic songs at the elegant cabaret. $55$70. 8pm. Also April 25, 8pm. Nikko Hotel, 222 Mason St. www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins.aspx

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Tenth anniversary of the intimate groovy retro disco night with tunes spun by DJ Bus Station John. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Want your nightlife event listed? Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event. Event photos welcome.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 17-23, 2014

Doin’ Time New sex club may have to move

Nob Hill Theatre NAKED NIGHT TUESDAYS APRIL 22nd & 29th @ 8PM

by Jim Provenzano

nly a few months after it opened, South of Market’s newest sex club may have to move, as gentrification swiftly turns the once-cruisy bar district into open season for even more pricey residential housing.

the casual sex. The various rooms include jail bar separators, glory holes, and a row of slings, Morris said. Not wheelchair accessible, the space is up a flight of stairs. By naming the sex club The Brig, Morris said he’s celebrating the leather and kink-themed gay bar that thrived briefly in the 1970s in

www.thenobhilltheatre.com RAFAEL ALENCAR

CIRCLE JERK WITH A PORN STAR UNDERGROUND PLAYRO THU - APRIL 24 th @ OM 8P MAIN STAGE HEADLINE M R APRIL 25 th & 26 th SHOWTIMES @ 8PM & 10PM

729 Bush @ Powell • Info Line: 415-781-9468 Sunday – Thursday: 11:30am – Midnight Friday – Saturday: 11:30am – 1:30am

The Brig

Cruising models at The Brig.

/lgbtsf

Scott Morris, co-owner of The Brig, confirmed that the owners of the building at 962 Folsom Street have sold the property, and the building will possibly be demolished to make room for residential housing. The owners of the building run about 30 adult stores in the Bay Area, according to Morris. Despite this news, Morris was very enthusiastic when we spoke several weeks ago, and last week after the eviction news. Renovations on the jail-themed sex space were complete, and even after the venue’s opening weekend, he said new patrons had begun to visit. Morris, owner of the Factory Video porn studio, also organizes Cum Union sex parties at The Brig, which is located at what used to be Play Space on Folsom Street at 6th. “We have watched people go in and fail at that space,” said Morris, who used to work at the successful sex club Blow Buddies years ago. Morris asserted that the gay men, who make up most of his clientele, will enjoy a new sex space that offers a different style than others. “You need to market to your group,” he said of older men who want a more hardocre experience to

The sling area at The Brig.

opening the space, even compared to historically less gay-friendly times. “Back in the gay liberation days, we worked around the police. We worked around the Anita Bryants and Coors Beer.” Morris’ history with gay businesses goes back decades, including DJing at gay clubs in Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia and Atlantic City. Now 59, the former New Yorker can be seen in some now-historic gay porn films, but these days he stays behind the camera. Among his many early 1970s porn films, Morris appears in the historic William Higgins feature These Bases are Loaded as “Brian Richards.” Clad in short cutoff jeans and knee socks, he appears in a rare filmed scene at San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day Parade, then joins in a sex scene. Morris said he’s enjoyed opening a sex space, as the world of porn is changing, to the point where it’s no longer profitable. “What we’re seeing in porn is, everyone’s just stealing it,” Morris admitted. “We’re on the Titanic. There’s nothing you can do. We’re trimming Factory Video down to a small company.” And despite the fact that Factory Video specializes in bareback videos, Morris noted that the sex space has a booth set aside for the Health Department to perform voluntary HIV and STD testing. “We’re gonna continue expanding that for them,” Morris said. “It’s very important to talk about health issues and go beyond HIV, and other STDs. Some guys don’t even know what chlamydia is, and they

San Francisco. “We went in and painted and renovated the place for a month, making it a more usable place with more slings,” he said of the 1600-square-foot space, which is open from Fridays through Mondays. With different themes, like Naked Night on Mondays, Bear Crawl on Sundays, Morris has seen a diverse crowd, but asserted that specilized nights work well. “After the bears hit the Lone Star, they can come to us,” he said. With limited private anonymous sex spaces available, Morris The Brig said that he’s not looking to one-up other venues. Interesting positions at The Brig. “I love Blow Buddies, and know I can’t compete need to know about it. But you have with them,” he said. “I know how it to make it a fun way of doing it.” works.” Patrons at The Brig also get free With an array of kink-themed arcondoms and a bottle of lube with eas, he hopes to attract an interested their test. Said Morris, “Now you and curious patronage. With the can get tested and watch porn, and advent of hook-up apps like Grindr get laid.” and Skruff, Morris said the Brig is a Morris, who heard about the good pairing for men who want to building’s sale two weeks ago, said, have sex but don’t have a neutral or “I know we’ll be in there through private space to June. We have enough visitors to meet, and perkeep promoting the events, and haps engage in to keep the idea going. And we’re more adventurelooking for other venues.” ous sexual activThe building sale is indicative of a ity that a mere larger issue that Morris raised about bedroom wouln’t the once-active gay bar and nightinspire. club scene in SoMa. “People are “South of Market is losing its want to have a identity,” he said. “A couple of buildplace to go, and ings away, some large condo comwe want to offer a plexes keep going up. It’s sad, bedifferent option.” cause we’re losing it block by block.” Although The The Brig hopes to remain open Brig has complied through June. Enjoy it while you with every regucan.t lation with the city’s Health Department, Morris The Brig, 962 Folsom St. spoke about the www.twitter.com/thebrigsf The Brig many difficulwww.brigsf.com ties they faced in

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April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

The Boyfriends by John F. Karr

plenty porn stars bash at each other because they’re paid to, and I won’t ere’s another goodie for Naked deny the excitement that can proSword from mr. Pam. It’s Boyvide. But the pleasures of Boyfriends friends 2, with a subtitle that promises, 2 lie in watching porn stars make “Real Life Porn Star Couples.” And it’s out because they want to, because just about all I desire in porn. Meanbesides the thrill of packing every ing, for one thing, that orifice in sight with big, porn it’s so unlike most other star cock, they find a bondporn. After it makes you ing that means somecum, and then after it thing. makes you cum again, Okay, that Real Life it doesn’t skulk away Couples thing is exto be forgotten. Nope. pansive. Each pair This one hits the wall of guys explain their and sticks. Its four genrelationship in a brief erously long, in-depth interview that prescenes get a two-thumbs-up-your-ass cede their sex scene. And I mean rating from me. brief—all four total only seventeen You ask why I like it. I’ve seen minutes, of a two-and-a-half-hour movie. They’re good interviews; not the prosaic, “How did you get into the industry?” and, “Who do you like to work with?” But “What’s up with your relationship?” Sean Duran and Nick Cross say they’re dating, but they also strategize how to prolong the long-range possibilities of being a couple. Things get tricky with the polyamory of the next pair. Tony Orion is Aleks Bulducek’s “boy,” while they’re both the “boys” of daddy Paul Steel (who does not appear in the movie). It’s a pity that the relationship NakedSword of the two “boys” Light and dark, cut and uncut—Aleks Buldocek ended within a couand Tony Orion, in Boyfriends 2. ple months, soon

NakedSword

Twink lover Chris Bines with hairy man lover Hunter Page, in Boyfriends 2.

after the scene was filmed; there was too much long-distance separation to sustain them. Aleks has remained with Steel. Logan Stevens and Leon Fox say they’re dating, but both foresee a long-term relationship. Even so, with Fox acknowledging, “There’s a kind of a circular magic that happens,” within a couple’s sexplay, they both agree their partnering will definitely not be monogamous. Finally, Chris Bines and Hunter Page are pragmatists. They identify quite simply as fuck buddies. The first three couples have one uncut buddy. In the first two couples, one of the guys is Hispanic. Is it notable that Logan Stevens’ Norwegian blondness (and foreskin) contrast nicely with darker, Semiticlooking, and circumcised Leon Fox? Burly sportfucker Chris Bines wants to fuck whenever and wherever, but also wants to keep hooking up with smooth, sweet Hunter Page. He likes the twink he’s found in Page (who’s got perfect, pearly teeth, and raspberry red lips soft as flower petals). For his part, Page found in Bines the hairy, feisty top he preferred. Page thinks it’s “kinda

Leather Events, Apr. 18 – May 3, 2014 There’s always a lot going on in the San Francisco Bay Area for leather and other kinksters.

Fri 18 Sober Kink Together @ Castro Country Club Officially a CMA meeting, but open to all Anonymous 12-step Fellowship members, 4058 18th St., 9:30pm.

Fri 18 – Sun 20 Woof Camp Weekend Event for pups and Handlers, $29-$49. Advance registration required. www.SFK9Unit.org/events/wcw

Sat 19 Kink 101: An Interactive Workshop @ The ArmoryKink.com Kink education class. 1800 Mission St., Noon, $20. www.armorystudios.com/ workshops

Kink Salon @ Powerhouse Haus of StarFish presents a kink salon. 1347 Folsom St., 6pm.

Golden Dildeaux Awards @ SF Eagle Humorous awards intended to poke fun at various sexual activities while at the same time provide a unique charity fundraising opportunity. 398 12th St., 7pm. www.ggguards.org

GearUp Men’s Play Party @ Mr. S Dungeon Friendly erotic space where kinky men can socialize with, learn from and play with other men. 385A 8th St., $20, 9pm. www.gearupweekend.com/play-parties

BLUF Invasion @ SF Eagle Bar night for all gear men. 398 12th St., 9pm. www.bluf.com

Sun 20 Easter Charity Beer Bust @ SF Eagle

Sat 26 The 15 Association Men’s Play Party @ SF Citadel A men’s BDSM play party. 181 Eddy St., 8pm, $20 for members and $25 for guests. www.the15sf.org

Beer Bust benefiting AIDS Housing Alliance. 398 12th St., 3-6pm.

Sun 27

Wed 23

The 15 Association Men’s Play Party @ Alchemy

Leather/Gear Buddies @ Blow Buddies

A men’s BDSM play party. 1060 Folsom St., 2pm, $20 for members and $25 for guests, 8pm. www.the15sf.org

Erotic fun for leather and gear guys, $15, 933 Harrison St., 8pm. www.blowbuddies.com

Thu 24 – Sun 27 International Ms. Leather Weekend Women’s weekend of fun, play, contest, education and more. San Jose. http:// www.imsl.org/

Fri 25 The 15 Association Associates’ Bar Night @ SF Eagle Bar night as part of The 15 Association’s Associates Weekend. 398 12th St., 7-11pm. www.the15association.org

Sober Kink Together @ Castro Country Club Officially a CMA meeting, but open to all Anonymous 12-step Fellowship members, 4058 18th St., 9:30pm.

2015 Bare Chest Calendar Finals Contest @ DNA Lounge The finals competition for the Bare Chest Calendar benefiting AIDS Emergency Fund and Positive Resource Center. 375 11th St., $5 in advance or $10 at door, 5pm. www.barechest.org

Fri May 2 Meet Jacon Lourens @ Mark I Chester Studio Meet Jaco Lourens, Mr. South Africa Leather 2009. 1229 Folsom St., 8pm. www.markichester.com

Sat May 3 Leather Pride Contingent Meeting / Leather Marshals voting) @ SF Eagle SF Pride Leather Contingent meeting and voting for this year’s Leather Marshals. 398 12th St., 2pm.

Fist City @ Mr. S Leather Men’s fisting party. 385A 8th Street, $20, 8pm. www.mr-s-leather.com t

Tony’s ass to accommodate his cock. Leon Fox is pretty new to porn; this is his first mainstream sexo. He’s loosey-goosey, playful, yet part of the movie’s most aggressive couple. Why did steamy blond Logan Stevens fall in lust/love with Fox? “He’s got this, like, cartoonishly large ass.” Like Duran and Cross, Fox and Stevens flip, so, yum, we’re allowed acqaintance with so many different aspects of Fox’ big butt. Throughout, sexual positions are revealing, and the camera observant. More important, there’s a flow to the sexplay that mirrors real life (because, duh, it is real life) with its variety of activities flowing in and out of each other, all bridged by passionate kisses. It’s so much more satisfying than most porn’s regimented, kiss-suck-rim-fuck. And where most porn delivers high energy and acrobatics, BF2 throughout has in addition to energy and acrobatics, that elusive quality that all porn aspires to so but so infrequently attains: chemistry.t

sad” that Bines can’t foresee “forever,” but this pair of cut fuckbuddies sure groove together, and Hunter sure loves the load o’ cum that Bines shoots down his throat. I’m pretty impressed with Sean Duran. His eyes clear as Mediterranean waters, his nipples a hunger satisfying snack, his cropped hair that’s so Marines, and his general www.NakedSword.com attitude that’s so casually masculine. Partner Nick Cross is darker, swarthy, and has hair where Duran doesn’t. They fuck the shit out of each other, and take Best In Show with an unusual and unusually exciting climax, which includes a pair of oral cum shots. Beefy, butch Aleks Buldocek rocks my world, with his handsome body and handsomer, steely cock. Similar to Cross, partner Tony Orion is swarthy, and furred. But where Cross is goodlooking, Orion is downright cute. He’s a swell deep-throater (with Buldocek’s cock a swell cock to chow down on). My eyes bugged out and my sphincter gasped when Aleks’ conNakedSword cerned yet relentless Logan Stevens and Leon Fox in Boyfriends 2. insertion brought

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April 17-23, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

Shooting Stars photos by Steven Underhill A

laugh riot took place at The Big Gay Comedy Show, held at the Marines’ Memorial Theatre on Sunday, April 13. Host Bruce Vilanch headlined the stellar comedy show, which featured LGBT talents Marga Gomez, Ali Mafi, Shann Carr, Leanne Borghesi and her B.O.O.B.S. trio, plus Kitty Tapata, Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, Cassandra Cass, and songs and jokes by Shawn Ryan and Jason Brock. Steven Underhill caught up with the cast backstage for some informal shots. Proceeds went to the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation, which distributes funds to local AIDS/HIV nonprofits. Their next big show will be the twentieth annual Help Is On the Way, August 24 at the Palace of Fine Arts. www.reaf.org See more event photo albums on BARtab’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife and on www.StevenUnderhill.com See this and other issues in full page-view format at www.issuu.com/ bayareareporter

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For headshots, portraits or to arrange your wedding photos

call (415) 370-7152 or visit www.StevenUnderhill.com or email stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com