August 15, 2019 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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Restored mural unveiled

SF treasurer unopposed

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14

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Samantha Sidley

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Vol. 49 • No. 33 • August 15-21, 2019

Castro worries of potential gun violence Juanita MORE!

Celso Dulay, left, and Chris Knight, seen at Juanita MORE!’s Powerblouse event.

8 LGBTs file suit against Google/ YouTube

by David-Elijah Nahmod

E

ight LGBTQ+ content creators, including those behind the popular GlitterBombTV.com, on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit against YouTube and its parent company, Google, alleging discrimination, fraud, and unfair and deceptive business practices.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, also alleges unlawful restraint of speech and breach of consumer contract for the creators and the LGBTQ community. The plaintiffs are seeking class action status.

Celso Dulay and Chris Knight, a married couple in San Francisco, run GlitterBombTV. com. The website’s GNews online news and information show for the LGBT community has been repeatedly flagged by YouTube for “shocking content,” and the couple were stopped from boosting or monetizing their show on YouTube, which, they say, prevented them from reaching their target audience.

In June, the men launched Glitter Bomb TV as their own website, which will enable them to broadcast the show without fear of what they call censorship.

The other plaintiffs in the suit are: Bria Kam and Chrissy Chambers, proprietors of YouTube.com/BriaAndChrissy; Chase Ross, sole proprietor of YouTube.com/uppercaseChase1; Lindsay Amer, sole proprietor of YouTube.com/QueerKids.com; and Amp Somers, sole proprietor of YouTube.com/ WattsTheSafeword.

Joining Celso and Knight in the suit is Cameron Stiehl, the co-host of GNews.

Knight and Dulay provided a recording of a phone call between themselves and Google representatives to discuss why their Google Ad Words (now called Google Ads) were repeatedly blocked. They asked a Google representative to specify what Google was referring to when they said that GNews was blocked from boosting due to “shocking content.”

“Sir, I do see that the video has sexuality content about the gays and everything,” was the reply, according to Dulay.

“That is your shocking content?” Dulay asked the Google rep.

“Yes, it comes under shocking content, sir,” said the rep.

“It’s been incredibly frustrating having YouTube prevent us from sharing the content from our show with more people,” said Dulay. “We’re also angry at Google/YouTube for their broad and blatant discrimination against us and the other members of the LGBTQ+ community. There is nothing shocking, inappropriate, or too adult about GNews, our weekly news show, or GBomb, our in-depth interviews with inspiring members of our community.”

According to a news release from the plaintiffs, in sworn testimony to the U.S. Congress, Google/YouTube warrant that “everyone’s voice” will be heard, subject only to viewpoint-neutral, content-based rules and See page 11 >>

Shoppers and pedestrians cross at the intersection of Castro and 18th streets, one of the busiest in the neighborhood.

by Meg Elison

I

n San Francisco’s Castro district, almost any highly-visible gathering place is at once a symbol of queer liberation and a possible target for violence. Just this week, a neo-Nazi was arrested for planning to blow up a Las Vegas LGBTQ club and a synagogue.

In light of the mass shooting incidents

over the last two weeks in El Paso, Texas, Dayton, Ohio, and nearby Gilroy, California, the Bay Area Reporter spoke to dozens of people in the city’s gayborhood about their public safety concerns. Many said the possibility of gun violence against the LGBTQ community weighed on their minds.

It is an issue that has been at the forefront for many since 2016 when a 29-yearold gunman shot and killed 49 people and

wounded 53 others at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The incident prompted Castro Community on Patrol, a volunteer safety group, to plan for how to respond to such an incident in San Francisco.

“We’ve been working on getting a unified plan going back to the Pulse shooting, so three years,” said Greg Carey, who is chief of patrol for CCOP. See page 10 >> Rick Gerharter

Scant details 1 year after Egg’s death

by Ed Walsh

O

n the one-year anniversary of the grisly discovery of Brian Egg’s headless torso in a fish tank in his South of Market home, no one has been prosecuted for the homicide. The San Francisco Police Department is still refusing to release details on its initial response to suspicions from neighbors about Egg’s disappearance.

Egg was a 65-year-old gay man who once worked as a bartender at the Stud bar.

“I’ve truly lost hope for justice for Brian and faith in the SFPD,” Egg’s close friend and neighbor, Scot Free, told the Bay Area Reporter last week. Free helped rally support from neighbors to keep the pressure on police after Egg went missing. Police said he was last seen in late May or early June 2018.

His torso was discovered last August 14.

Free’s frustration was echoed by Egg’s older brother, Devon Egg, who, like Free, believes Egg’s killer is Lance Silva, 40, who was initially arrested for the murder but never prosecuted for the crime. San Francisco police stated in a news release last year that the San Francisco District Attorney’s office “discharged” the charges pending further investigation but DA spokesman Max Szabo told the B.A.R. that the DA’s office never received the case from the police. Silva was held on a probation violation out of Alameda County until his release from jail in April.

Devon Egg said that since his brother’s death, he learned that his brother’s bank account was drained in the days when he was missing. He told the B.A.R. last week that his brother sent him a $50,000 check in the spring of 2018 to help buy a home but he never cashed it. After his brother’s disappearance, Devon Egg was suspicious and took the check to the bank just to see if there were sufficient funds to cash it. The bank told him there wasn’t even close to that much left in the account. Devon Egg said that the bank eventually had to return about $70,000 in stolen money to the estate after

Courtesy Scot Free

A young Brian Egg attended a party at the Stud bar in the late 1980s.

acknowledging it was taken in a fraud. The brother said he hoped police were able to obtain surveillance video from the bank of the man who apparently was posing as his brother to withdraw the money.

According to court documents, Silva used Brian Egg’s credit card and cash to buy a 2007 BMW 750 on June 1, 2018. Officials cited that as a reason to revoke Silva’s parole for a conviction of stealing money from the retirement fund that belonged to employees of an upholstery business that he ran in Emeryville.

Police said that after they got calls from neighbors reporting Egg’s mysterious disappearance last summer, officers went to the home three times but never tried to enter the property. Neighbors said that after police left the property after one of the visits, Silva could be seen furiously cleaning. Soapsuds could be seen leaking from the house and they could smell bleach.

Officers were called to the house again last August 14 after getting calls from neighbors after a crime scene cleanup company arrived

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at the home. They arrested Robert McCaffrey, 53, outside the home. He was there to meet and pay the crew. He was later released.

Silva was arrested two days later at a South of Market residential hotel. Free told the B.A.R. that he saw McCaffrey recently walking around the streets in San Francisco.

Police then discovered a corpse with its head and hands missing in a fish tank that was hidden in the home. It was identified as Egg’s.

Neighbors were critical of police for not taking their concerns about Egg’s disappearance seriously and for not entering the home until after the cleanup crew showed up. Police have refused the B.A.R.’s multiple requests for documentation on the number of calls they got from neighbors about Egg’s disappearance. They also refused to release police body camera video of their visits to Egg’s house. Police said they would not release that information because the case is still under investigation. Police routinely release information on cases under investigation but leave out details that would hurt the investigation if made public.

SFPD Chief William Scott declined the B.A.R.’s written request for an interview about his department’s handling of the case. When asked about the case by a reporter outside of a police commission meeting in October, Scott referred questions to David Stevenson, the department’s director of strategic communications.

Stevenson said Scott could not talk about the case because it is under investigation.

House sold

Egg’s house at 228 Clara Street was sold in May for $1.5 million to a Sonoma couple, Shahram and Brittany Bijan. Egg purchased the house in 1976 for $19,000. Shahram Bijan is named as a developer for a six-unit housing project that is currently under consideration in Sonoma. Phone messages to Shahram and Brittany Bijan were not returned.

See page 11 >>

<< Community News

2 • Bay Area Reporter • August 15-21, 2019

Restored mural unveiled in Castro

by Veronica Dolginko

A

mural in San Francisco’s Castro district was formally unveiled last weekend, infusing a humorous spirit and brightening up the neighborhood.

The “Laughing Gorilla” mural at the corner of 19th and Castro streets recently underwent a renovation after 30 years. As previously reported in the Bay Area Reporter, the mural, originally painted by David Seibold, a gay man, during the height of the AIDS crisis, was in need of a touch-up, and thanks to gay artist Donald Harvey, a longtime friend of the late Seibold, the mural has been restored to its former glory. Michael Ritter, also a gay artist, assisted in the restoration effort.

Seibold’s mural was commissioned by the building’s owner, Jean Seto, following the 1989 earthquake. Damage was done to the building’s faux brick facade, and the specific covering was no longer available. Rather than spend countless hours looking for a replacement for the facade, Seto asked Seibold to paint a mural.

“He made this beautiful piece,” Seto,

a straight ally, said in a phone interview in June. “I’m very proud of this.”

At a small, intimate ceremony Saturday, August 10, the mural was officially unveiled. Friends of Seibold’s gathered to admire the newly restored work and to reminisce about someone who was very important to all of them.

“When he got this commission, I said, ‘Great! Paint anything you want but no monkeys,’” laughed Lezly Freier, 66. Also an artist, Freier said that pictures featuring monkeys and apes were her signature style at the time.

She was unsurprised when she found out that Seibold had done the exact opposite of what she said. “Because of course he did. That was David ... his sense of humor.”

The mural restoration was funded by donations to a GoFundMe account, which was promoted with the help of Meredith Clark, 61, who is a straight ally. Clark lived with Seibold, along with several of the others in attendance, in a house just down the block from the mural. She and one of the other attendees, Leslie Hojem, 62, another straight ally, both drove

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Peter Toscani, left, Donald Harvey, Meredith Clark, and Michael Ritter stand in front of the restored “Laughing Gorilla” mural during the August 10 unveiling.

Seibold to his hometown of Olympia, Washington right before he died.

“He was so frail,” she said as a joint she brought to smoke in Seibold’s honor made its way around the group. “But he always had his joy. He’s right with me all the time.”

Harvey made sure that Clark’s importance in the mural restoration was noted.

“She was the moral support,” he said, giving her a hug.

Hojem grew up alongside Seibold in Washington state. The mural and Seibold were so important to her that she flew in from Vancouver, Washington for the unveiling.“We both ended up in San Francisco together,” she said. “We sort of rekindled and were really great friends. I love David like a brother.”

A few moments of sadness broke the otherwise jovial occasion. The history of the AIDS epidemic was discussed in personal anecdotes, from

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stories of Seibold at the end of his life to reading the ever-expanding list of names in an attempt to keep track of who had been lost.

“I’d open up the B.A.R. and just see pages of names. People I knew,” said Freier when discussing the 1980s in San Francisco, referring to the paper’s obituaries.

“Everyone here lived through AIDS in this city,” Clark added, broadly gesturing to the group of friends now in their 60s and joking around on the sidewalk. “It affected all of us.”

The most important part of the mural to Harvey was the signatures of the artists that were on a wood border – Seibold and his late partner, Luis da Rosa. Though much of the actual mural only needed minimal restoration, the border was completely rotted away, the signatures barely legible. Now, the signatures are restored, along with a small addition on the opposite end noting the date of the restoration and Harvey’s name.

Harvey himself couldn’t be happier about how it came out. He gave the crowd details on varnishes and paints used.

“I didn’t realize how much love there was for it,” he said. “It’s great to see it all colorful again. Here’s hoping it lasts another 30 years.” t

Queers to protest ICE camps compiled by Cynthia Laird

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The action is part of the “Month of Momentum,” whereby there’s an action every day in August in front of the ICE office, located at 630 Sansome Street in downtown San Francisco. The rally takes place from noon to 1 p.m.

In a news release, organizers pointed out that hundreds of queer and trans people have been part of the caravans that have made their way to the U.S., fleeing violence. Two trans women have died either in ICE custody or shortly after being released from ICE custody.

“Many more queer and trans people have been living in the U.S. for years and now are under threat of deportation,” organizers stated.

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In this March 27, file photo, Central American migrants wait for food in a pen erected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso, Texas.

Gay Shame, LAGAIQueer Insurrection, Lucy Parsons Project, and Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism are sponsoring the protest.

Join redistricting panel

Equality California, the statewide LGBT advocacy organization, is encouraging members of the queer community to apply for the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission. The

deadline is Monday, August 19.

The panel redraws boundary lines for the state’s congressional, state Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization districts.

EQCA and other groups want the panel to be as diverse as possible.

The state auditor’s office is handling applications. To apply, go to https://bit.ly/2Z3VVNU. t

Historic plaques unveiled

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ohn Dennis and Salina Mickles from San Francisco Public Works uncover the plaque honoring the late bi Queen frontman Freddie Mercury as eight new sidewalk tributes that are part of the Rainbow Honor Walk were unveiled along upper Market Street Friday, August

Rick Gerharter

9. Supporters and board members, including president David Perry, left, came out to celebrate. For more on the new plaques, see the B.A.R.’s Political Notes online column at https://www.ebar.com/index.php?id=280256.

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<< Open Forum

4 • Bay Area Reporter • August 15-21, 2019

Volume 49, Number 33 August 15-21, 2019 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 BARTAB EDITOR & EVENTS LISTINGS EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • Meg Elison CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ray Aguilera • Tavo Amador • Race Bannon Roger Brigham • Brian Bromberger Victoria A. Brownworth • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Belo Cipriani • Dan Renzi Michael Flanagan • Jim Gladstone David Guarino • Liz Highleyman Brandon Judell • John F. Karr • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • Joshua Klipp David Lamble • Max Leger David-Elijah Nahmod • Paul Parish Lois Pearlman • Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota Bob Roehr • Gregg Shapiro • Gwendolyn Smith Sari Staver • Tony Taylor • Charlie Wagner Ed Walsh • Cornelius Washington • Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Max Leger PRODUCTION/DESIGN Ernesto Sopprani PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland • FBFE Rick Gerharter • Gareth Gooch Jose Guzman-Colon • Rudy K. Lawidjaja Georg Lester • Dan Lloyd • Jo-Lynn Otto Rich Stadtmiller • Kelly Sullivan • Fred Rowe Steven Underhil • Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge • Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small Bogitini VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.829.8937 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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When workouts don’t work out

N

ow spin classes and luxe fitness centers have joined the list of politically toxic companies.

When it was reported last week that Stephen Ross, the billionaire chairman of Related Companies, which owns SoulCycle and the fitness club Equinox, was hosting a glitzy fundraiser for President Donald Trump’s re-election last Friday at his home in the Hamptons in New York, there were immediate calls for a boycott.

Much like a dustup last year involving an owner of the San Francisco Giants who donated to a conservative political action committee and was rightly called out for it, it seems that the politics of leaders of every business, corporation, or sports franchise have the potential to disappoint advocates of LGBT equality at some point.

Melanie Whelan, the CEO of SoulCycle, quickly tried to distance the indoor cycling fitness chain from Ross. “SoulCycle in no way endorses the political fundraising event being held later this week,” Whelan wrote in an Instagram post. “SoulCycle has nothing to do with the event and does not support it. Consistent with our policies, no company profits are used to fund politicians.” Whelan also claimed that Ross is a “passive investor.” But that’s not entirely accurate, and most people didn’t buy it. Far from being a mere investor, Ross is chairman of the company that owns SoulCycle. So, while he may not be involved in its day-to-day operations, he’s certainly at the top of the leadership structure.

“SoulCycle is more than a workout – it’s an experience,” reads the company’s tagline on its website. Some patrons are now wondering if it’s

the experience they signed up for – at $42 a pop – now that they know the owner is a Trump donor and fundraiser.

During his first term in office, Trump has directly (trans military ban) or indirectly (through efforts of his cabinet secretaries and other officials) worked to strip away rights from LGBTQ people.

His racist statements and actions have harmed not only us, but every other minority group. So yeah, when a billionaire who owns companies decides to hold a $250,000 per person fundraiser for this president, those who oppose Trump are going to be critical. They may take to the streets, cancel their memberships, or stop buying products.

At the heart of this latest flap is the accusation of “pink washing.”

That’s when a business tries to identify with the LGBT community while also participating in antiLGBT activities and policies.

Especially during Pride Month in June, many companies put rainbows on their merchandise, store windows, and social media accounts, then disappear in July. As Ruth Borenstein wrote in an op-ed for the Bay Area Reporter last

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month, “Like many others, I’m tired of companies that engage in ‘rainbow washing’ by slapping Pride flags on merchandise and ads in an attempt to profit from the LGBTQ+ community without actually doing anything to help the community.”

Equinox, in particular, has built its brand in part on being an inclusive, LGBT-friendly place, as Newsweek reported last week. Locally, protests at the SoulCycle in the Castro, at the prominent location of Market and Castro streets right next to Harvey Milk Plaza, were inevitable. Kudos to gay longtime activist Michael Petrelis for quickly organizing a demonstration last Wednesday evening outside the Castro SoulCycle hours after the news broke.

If you don’t share the values of the corporate titans of businesses you patronize, find a company that does. Individuals can spark action on their own.t

Domestic partnership policy turns 40

by Tom Brougham

T

his month marks the 40th anniversary of the “invention” of domestic partnerships policy.

On August 21, 1979, I delivered two letters to my employer, the City of Berkeley. The first described and challenged the discriminatory effect of using marriage as the exclusive basis for extending health coverage and other fringe benefits to the spouses of city employees.

The second letter proposed “that the current criteria for membership in the city’s group health plans be augmented so that a homosexual employee may enroll her/his domestic partner ...” and set forth specific requirements and procedures for establishing domestic partnerships.

In 1979, marriage equality was inconceivable for two reasons: 1) a preponderance of the lesbian/gay movement viewed marriage as an oppressive institution, and 2) our community had no political power in any state legislature.

My own partner (now husband), Barry Warren, and I saw another path. We did not attack the discrimination inside the definition of marriage.

We attacked an employer’s choice to use marriage as the exclusive path for family coverage.

We proposed removing the discriminatory effect through contracts. Willing employers, unions, and health maintenance organizations could provide an alternative path to coverage for same-sex partners of employees.

In 1979, we did not ask governments to regulate others. Instead, we asked them, in their capacity as employers, not to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in their employment benefits. Private employers could do this too. No legislation was needed, just contracts between willing parties.

The domestic partnership concept arrived as two major crises began to confront our community: family custody issues and the AIDS epidemic. Those crises taught our community about the significance of marriage-linked benefits.

Domestic partnership policy work proceeded slowly at first. Three years of presentations and lobbying the City of Berkeley, UC Berkeley (my partner’s employer), and our respective unions yielded few results and little attention. In 1982, San Francisco Supervisor Harry Britt heard my presentation at a conference of California gay student unions. His resulting domestic partnership proposal generated a firestorm of international press outrage and ended with the famous veto by then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein.

The 1982 San Francisco proposal, against my advice, eliminated the requirement that domestic partners pledge legally-binding mutual financial responsibility for each other. No health maintenance organization would ever have been able to

Courtesy Tom Brougham

Barry Warren and Tom Brougham rode in the San Francisco Pride parade in the late 1980s.

participate without it. All subsequent successful efforts restored that key requirement.

The 1982 San Francisco proposal was rushed forward with little preparation in the lesbian/gay community. Britt underestimated the public reaction that was waiting for the radically new notion that same-gender couples count for something.

The East Bay Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club, founded that year, picked up the pieces. Stone by stone, it built a path forward. By the end of 1984, the City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Unified School District had adopted domestic partnership policies. Crucially, they successfully pressured the first health maintenance organizations to participate. Immediately, other public and private employers around the world began adopting and implementing DP policies. No statewide legislation was needed, just action by willing local groups.

In the late 1980s these local domestic partnership policies inspired the creation of “public registries” of domestic partnership that could be used by private employers. Then came statewide civil union policies that effectively created “marriage lite” for same-sex couples. Local, contractcentered solutions began to be subsumed into these statewide legislative mandates.

Domestic partnership smoothed the way for civil unions and marriage equality in three crucial ways: First, it focused the lesbian/gay community on the effects of our being excluded from marriage-related benefits while also providing a means for attacking the problem wherever we had local strength.

Second, it educated the public to the then bold idea that lesbians and gay men formed families and equally needed access to family benefits.

Third, it overcame the wariness of health care providers and labor unions about expanding eligibility to same-gender spouses – releasing their natural tendency to expand their “market.”

From 1984 until 2004 domestic partnership and civil union policies were the cutting edge of the gay agenda. In the United States these concepts were the center of scores of major political battles – many victories on the Northeast and West coasts and many, many horrific electoral defeats in the rest of the country.

For a generation, these policies were the only means through which some people could provide health coverage for their same-sex partners. At the same time, they were the major rallying cry of those who opposed us.

But as the possibility of marriage equality began to grow after 2004, domestic partnerships and civil unions were slowly recast as lesser alternatives to granting marriage equality. Our boldest goal of the 1990s and early 2000s came to be viewed, by much of our side, as not good enough. Ironically, some of those who had opposed domestic partnership and civil unions began to advocate for them as their last bulwark against the rising tide of marriage equality. [In July, Governor Gavin Newsom signed gay state Senator Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 30, which allows all Californians to register as domestic partners instead of marrying. Previously, state law allowed same-sex and opposite sex couples age 62 and older to register as DPs.] Domestic partnership policy had done its work. When there were no other options, it homed in on willing employers, unions, and health maintenance organizations. Wherever we were locally strong, it gave us local possibilities. A generation before we had clout with state legislatures, hundreds of local domestic partnership policies around the world opened the first cracks in the dam. t Tom Brougham began his career as an East Bay gay activist with the 1969 White Horse picket. He was president of the East Bay Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club 1985-1986 and cochair of the Campaign Against the LaRouche Measure. In 1987, he became the first openly gay elected official in the East Bay when he was elected to the board of the Peralta Community College District (1987-2000). He and his husband, Barry Warren, have lived together since 1975.

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Politics >>

August 15-21, 2019 • Bay Area Reporter • 5

Gay SF treasurer runs unopposed

by Matthew S. Bajko

S

an Francisco’s only LGBT citywide municipal officeholder is all but assured of re-election this year, as Treasurer-Tax Collector José Cisneros is once again running unopposed.

Cisneros, 63, is seeking a fourth fouryear term.

No other candidate filed to run for the seat, one of the city’s seven elected executive positions, by the deadline to do so Friday, August 9. This will be Cisneros’s fifth time on the ballot for the position, as he had to run for a truncated two-year term in 2013 after voters approved a switch to the city’s electoral timetable.

Cisneros, a gay man, has held the post, which is not term limited, since 2004 when former mayor Gavin Newsom, now the state’s governor, appointed him to fill a vacancy. He has not faced an opponent since he first ran for the position in 2005.

“The position of treasurer is a very important role for the city. I have been able to show success in delivering on the responsibilities of that role,” Cisneros told the Bay Area Reporter when asked why he has not been challenged at the ballot box for over a decade. “And I hope that’s why the voters have been happy to keep me in office based on the good work we have been doing.”

This September will mark Cisneros’ 15th year of being San Francisco’s treasurer, a milestone that will make him the longest-serving openly gay elected official at the city level. Gay former supervisors Tom Ammiano and Harry Britt had held the record, as both served on the Board of Supervisors for 14 years.

“I love the job of being the treasurer. Our office does great work for the city,” said Cisneros, who is married to San Francisco Human Rights Commissioner Mark Kelleher, a senior

Cynthia Laird

City Treasurer José Cisneros is unopposed for a fourth term.

adviser at BroderickHaight Consulting. “I am excited for the opportunity to stand for election and continue to do the work we have been doing for four more years.”

Other races go uncontested

Several other races will be uncontested on the November 5 ballot, including that of city attorney and public defender. Only the incumbents filed to run.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera was first elected in 2001, and like Cisneros, has not faced on opponent since his first race. Public Defender Manohar “Mano” Raju was appointed to his position earlier this year following the death of Jeff Adachi in February.

Community College board member Ivy Lee is also unopposed. Mayor London Breed appointed her last August to a vacant seat on the oversight body for City College of San Francisco.

Paul Miyamoto is also expected to be unopposed in the sheriff’s race.

The filing deadline was extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 14, after the B.A.R.’s print deadline, since Sheriff Vicki Hennessy opted not to seek

re-election. She had announced her decision earlier this year, and the only other person to express interest in the position dropped their bid last week.

The filing deadline was also extended for the district attorney race since the incumbent, George Gascón, is also not seeking re-election this year.

But the race has been set for months with four contenders. They are Deputy Public Defender Chesa Boudin, Deputy State Attorney General Leif Dautch, former prosecutor and San Francisco Police Commission president Suzy Loftus, and former Deputy State Attorney General Nancy Tung.

School board member Jenny Lam, appointed by Breed in January to fill a vacancy, is facing two challengers.

Kirsten Strobel and Robert K. Coleman both qualified for the ballot.

Along with a number of local ballot measures, the fall ballot includes the races for mayor and the District 5 supervisor seat. Those contests had been finalized in June.

Breed appears headed for an easy re-election as six little known opponents filed to run against her. Elected last June to fill out the remainder of the late Ed Lee’s mayoral term following his sudden death in December 2017, Breed is now seeking a full four years leading the city.

Her former aide whom she appointed to her District 5 supervisor seat, Vallie Brown, is fending off a strong challenge from tenants rights activist Dean Preston. Also in the race are film producer Nomvula O’Meara and Ryan Lam. Whoever wins will serve out the remainder of Breed’s term through 2020 and will need to run next November for a full four-year term. t

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Letters >> ‘Booger drag doesn’t pay’

Hi. I recently read an article, “Drag queens seek fair pay” [August 8], written by Matthew S. Bajko. Thank you for doing such a story. I’m also so sorry that some of those you interviewed expected to be paid (LOL) and were not thankful for such press.

As a drag queen in San Francisco, I find the entire movement and petition to be naive and delusional.

As a seasoned San Francisco queen, I have a completely different outlook on this issue. Also, most top-tier SF queens do not have this issue and do not support such a thing, as it’s simple math. If there are only 20 people at your show, how do you expect to get paid? Where is this money coming from? Is there a money tree growing in the alley? I would love to include my personal post on the conversation considered as a letter to the editor. And my personal post garnered over 200 comments and 200 likes in less than 24 hours. The queen with the petition has literally 237 followers. So, she should definitely take notes on my advice.

This SF drag artists pay petition – if you want to get paid more, then stop taking gigs that only pay $25, and i f you’re only being offered $25 gigs then obviously you need to step your drag up. Booger drag doesn’t pay, so stop being a booger and you’ll get paid more.

Also, instead of a petition, spend time building your social media up. If you’re not getting the following you want, then maybe you need to rethink your brand of drag. If you’re not marketable then you’re not marketable. Just because you do drag doesn’t mean you’re a professional drag queen; there are a handful of professional drag queens in SF that are making good money. Maybe eyeball what they’re doing and take notes. And yes, I said BOOGER. Sasha Soprano San Francisco

[Editor’s note: That’s right, newspapers have an ethical responsibility not to pay for interviews, sources and/or materials, event/political tickets, etc. The Bay Area Reporter adheres to those standards.]

Upset with name in article

I would like to address a problem with a recent article written by Matthew S. Bajko about unfair pay in the SF drag world.

While I truly appreciate you guys shedding light and bringing attention to this issue I am truly bothered by Mr. Bajko’s decision to include drag king Holden Wood’s real name. This is upsetting because I know the Holden Wood specifically requested that their actual name be left out of the article. Not only is it disrespectful and unprofessional of Mr. Bajko to do this, but it is also negligent. Your journalist did not consider the possibility that an obsessed fan or disturbed individual could use Holden’s real name for inappropriate purposes. For your journalist to not take into consideration the safety of the person they are interviewing but to also ignore their request for that personal information to be withheld is disgraceful and wrong.

I truly hope you are able to resolve this issue not only for these reasons but to also show your readers that your publication has professional integrity.

Amanda Love Oakland, California [Editor’s note: Prior to publication Holden Wood did not ask Mr. Bajko to withold their non-drag name, which is publicly available on their website. If Wood had, Mr. Bajko would have discussed it with me. On August 9, we removed Wood’s names and comments from the online version of the article. On August 8, we changed the headline of the online version to “drag performers” so as to be more inclusive of the petition effort, as opposed to the original headline that referenced drag queens.]

Underlying issue in ‘bathroom bills’

Gwendolyn Ann Smith’s “Emerging victorious” Transmissions column [August 1] about the death of North Carolina’s House Bill 2 reveals the actual underlying issue in the so-called bathroom bills: access to “other facilities” that include “multiple occupancy ... showers or changing facilities.” Today, four in five transgender women have not had genital surgery, some number of them by choice.

Some of these individuals maintain an interest in using their original organs sexually, with women, as evidenced by the “cotton ceiling” complaint of lesbians unwilling to have sex with anybody with such a body.

Single genital sex-based facilities protect the legitimate privacy rights of women and girls (cissexual and transsexual alike). They also protect them from misguided souls like Canada’s Jessica Yaniv. [Yaniv is a trans woman who’s the subject of several allegations of harassment.]

How, then, is it transphobic to find the North Carolina consent decree problematic? And what of the Equality Act, now stalled in the Senate? That bill would open every “shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room” to anyone on the basis of “gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender related characteristics.” The state of Utah now has a law protecting transgender and nonbinary people from housing and employment discrimination while allowing the type of single facilities accommodations that transgender high school students taking legal action against their schools routinely turn down. Mistrusting individuals who turn down such accommodations and push for access to multiple occupancy facilities is prudence, not bigotry.

Transition for people assigned male at birth involves more than identifying as women: it involves identifying WITH women. It calls for acknowledging the female culture of protecting from the male gaze and potential male sexual/fetish predation, and assimilating into that culture. Nothing says one must not really be a woman like objecting to, and fighting, that culture and the genital sex-divided facilities it necessitates.

Beth Elliott Oakland, California

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<< Community News

6 • Bay Area Reporter • August 15-21, 2019

SF queer cultural districts take shape

by Meg Elison

N

ow that the Board of Supervisors has allocated city funding for the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District, Executive Director Aria Sa’id is ready to get to work.

Before the supervisors left for their August recess, they authorized $300,000 from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development to the Compton’s District Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Stabilization Fund to support the city’s efforts to recognize and support historic and present-day TLGB communities in the Tenderloin neighborhood.

The funding runs from August 1 to June 30.

The Compton’s Transgender Cultural District took its inaugural steps toward becoming the first legally recognized transgender district in the world in 2016, when the city of San Francisco renamed a portion of Turk Street after transgender activist and performer Vicki Marlane (Vicki Mar Lane) to commemorate the historic contributions of transgender people.

A plaque honors the Compton’s Cafeteria riot of 1966, an event in the early gay liberation movement that happened three years before the landmark Stonewall riots in New York. Transgender and queer patrons of the eatery stood up to police, fed up at being repeatedly arrested on sex work charges and routinely harassed in general.

In 2017, the Board of Supervisors established the district via ordinance. The district encompasses six blocks of the southeastern Tenderloin and crosses over Market Street to include two blocks of Sixth Street.

Sa’id clarified that the $300,000

Rick Gerharter

Placemaking has already started in the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District. In late May, the colors of the transgender flag were painted on the streetlight poles around the intersection of Turk (Vicki Mar Lane) and Taylor (Gene Compton’s Cafeteria Way) Streets in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district.

was “seed money,” negotiated in 2017 and only expended by the Board of Supervisors’ July 30 vote.

“We didn’t anticipate about how long the funding would take to actually get to the district,” Sa’id wrote in an email to the Bay Area Reporter.

Moving forward, Sa’id wrote that she is “working diligently in ensuring the viability of the district – and laying a foundation that allows us to implement some truly exciting and innovative efforts in addressing the needs of the most marginalized transgender community members living in the Tenderloin.”

“I’m really excited that we are closer to opening our community center, creating more placemaking, and working on solutions toward eradicating poverty that acknowledges the culture of San Francisco as a contributing factor towards our disparity as transgender people

of color,” Sa’id wrote, adding that there are upcoming developments she couldn’t discuss yet.

Despite this general optimism, Sa’id, who became executive director in February, was candid with the B.A.R. that fundraising has been a challenge.

“I will say openly and honestly that philanthropy has not been as supportive as I would have hoped,” Sa’id wrote. “As a black transgender woman executive director under 30 years old – I am perhaps the youngest on the West Coast – I have really struggled in gaining financial and in-kind support from private philanthropy to support myriad ideas and strategies – from hiring transgender women of color and creating a professional development pipeline to other ideas that I’ve been developing.”

She talked about how she hopes that changes.

Rick Gerharter

Aria Sa’id is the executive director of the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District.

“There are days when it is frankly, a bit demoralizing,” she wrote.

“And some days I feel really isolated from the nonprofit leaders in San Francisco. When my decision to lead the district was announced, people were really supportive and promised to support me in my leadership – and since then it’s been crickets from my peers. Just being honest.”

Speaking with the B.A.R. via text message, District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney pointed out the historic importance of the cultural district and its funding.

“This gift holds an important place in the history of the district,” he wrote of the seed funding.

“Trans activists, community leaders, and residents of the Tenderloin came together to demand that the trans community have a seat at the table – and to be centered in the conversation around development and displacement.”

Haney was also able to identify some more specific uses for this funding.

“It will help cover a portion of the operation costs for the district, including rent for the office near Turk and Taylor, and the upcoming community center,” he wrote.

“Additionally, there will be funds allocated to economic development within the district, as well as some upcoming district events commemorating important moments in the fight for TLGB liberation,” he added.

Haney had one more piece of good news to add. “These funds will be supplemented by an ad-

t

ditional $75K that I’ve secured to support the work of the district in this year’s budget,” he wrote.

According to Honey Mahogany, a black trans woman and legislative aide in Haney’s office, there are plans for that additional funding.

In a phone interview, Mahogany explained that of the additional $75,000, “Fifty thousand will go toward placemaking within the district. That includes possible crosswalk designs, plaques, and other place markers for historical sites or markers for people.”

Mahogany, a co-founder of the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District, added, “That might also cover banner projects within the district. The remaining $25,000 should got toward event production, possibly an annual celebration around the anniversary of the Compton’s Cafeteria riot.”

Part of that placemaking took place in late May, when the colors of the transgender flag were painted on the streetlight poles around the intersection of Turk (Vicki Mar Lane) and Taylor (Gene Compton’s Cafeteria Way) streets in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. Eventually, all the light poles in the district will be painted, Sa’id said at the time.

Additionally, signs demarking the district have started to be installed.

Leather cultural district

The Compton’s Transgender Cultural District is one of three LGBTQ districts in the city. The Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District was established in the South of Market neighborhood last year, while the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District became official in June.

The SOMA district encompasses Division to Seventh streets, from Howard to Harrison streets, and along Harrison from Seventh to Fifth streets.

Robert Goldfarb, who is the chairperson of the leather cultural district, said that the organization’s current focus is on its infrastructure, since its bylaws were just passed and accepted by the current board.

“We’re about to have our election meeting,” Goldfarb told the B.A.R. by phone, referring to the upcoming monthly community meeting.

See page 11 >>

Courtesy SF mayor’s office

War Memorial director takes helm

M is proud to be the official LGBTQ media sponsor of Silicon Valley Pride 2019.

To advertise in our Silicon Valley Pride edition on August 22, call 415-829-8937 or email advertising @ebar.com

ayor London Breed on August 7 swore in John Caldon, third from left, as the new managing director of the San Francisco War Memorial.

Caldon, a gay man, was joined by gay men Tom DeCaigny, left, director of cultural affairs at the Arts Commission, and Matthew Goudeau, right, head

of Grants for the Arts. Caldon was appointed to the position by the War Memorial Board of Trustees in May and succeeds longtime managing director Elizabeth Murray, who retired.

For more, see the Bay Area Reporter’s previous article at ebar. com/news/news//276035.

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<< Community News

10 • Bay Area Reporter • August 15-21, 2019

Pioneer broke gender norms in Old West

by Belo Cipriani

T

he California Gold Rush attracted many unique and memorable characters to the West Coast. From farmhands who wanted to make it rich to crooks who were looking for their next prey, they all came to the Golden State to secure their slice of the pie. One of the most infamous names of that era was six-horse stagecoach driver Charley Parkhurst – who is more commonly remembered by the moniker “One-Eyed Charley.”

Parkhurst – who became blind in

one eye after being kicked in the face by a horse – was also a revered shooter. In fact, a popular anecdote is that criminals would avoid stealing from any stagecoach driven by the stocky, tobacco-chewing driver. For decades, Parkhurst safely moved people and precious cargo between cities in California, like San Francisco and Sacramento, on dangerous dirt roads that hugged deep chasms. Records also show one of the eyepatch-wearing driver’s clients was Wells Fargo Bank.

The legend of One-Eyed Charley only grew when, after dying of can-

cer of the tongue in 1879, at the age of 67, a doctor discovered the famous driver and shooter was a biological woman. A later investigation revealed Parkhurst’s birth name was Charlotte – who grew up as an orphan in New Hampshire.

Historian and educational publisher Mark Jarrett, Ph.D., 66, recently published the textbook “E Pluribus Unum.” The title, which is Latin for “out of many, one,” complies with California’s new standards under the FAIR Education Act – also known as Senate Bill 48 – a law that added disability and LGBTQ content requirements to the K-12 curriculum in the state. Moreover, one of the historic figures discussed in the book is Parkhurst.

“I wrote ‘E Pluribus Unum’ myself, from scratch” said Jarrett, “using both the content standards and the 2016 [History-Social Science] Framework as my guide. It was a challenging task, reconciling both documents, but I thought my book would therefore make the job that much easier for teachers in the classroom.”

Little is known about One-Eyed Charley’s personal life, and Jarrett noted that this very fact pushes people to reflect on many issues. He questioned, “Why did Parkhurst choose to live as a man; how did Parkhurst succeed in concealing gender identity for so many decades; did any others know of Parkhurst’s true biological identity; what was Parkhurst’s sexuality, and

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THIS IS THE

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formerly the Neptune Society

Castro

From page 1

District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who represents the Castro, was forthright about the unique vulnerability in visibility his district faces.

“It is unquestionably the case that in the era of Trump that queer people, people of color, immigrants, are at heightened risk,” Mandelman, a gay man, said in a phone interview. “Religious minorities, as well. Going back to 1978 and the assassination [of Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California], our community has been a target of gun violence. The Pulse nightclub shooting kind of reminded us of the priority of gun control as an LGBTQ issue, and I think it absolutely is.”

On any given day, Twin Peaks is one of the most noticeable and prominent bars in the Castro. Terry Colbert spoke with the B.A.R. during one of his typical weekly daytime sojourns there, sharing his concern about the historic location with its fearless windows on the world.

“The ironic flipside of this place’s historic stature is that anything this visible is also vulnerable. A symbol easily becomes a target,” Colbert, a gay man, said quietly, looking out through the bar’s enormous plate glass windows.

“This is a prime target to wipe out some queers, if somebody wanted to make a statement.”

Asked what he would do in the event of a shooting, Colbert, 73, said he’s thought about “diving to the floor.”

He added that the odds are good that he’ll never have to face that kind of

Courtesy Wikipedia

Charley Parkhurst’s headstone at Pioneer Cemetery in Watsonville, California.

did Parkhurst have partners?”

While Jarrett admitted he had not heard of Parkhurst prior to reading the new California HistorySocial Science Framework, released in 2016 – which specifically names Parkhurst in chapter 12, in the eighth grade content, under Women of the West and states “who was born as a female but who lived as a male” – he noted that the famous stagecoach driver has recently gained a lot of popularity through books and movies. Additionally, he also pointed out choosing a pronoun for Parkhurst has proven a difficult task for historians and journalists alike.

“Do we refer to the adult Parkhurst as ‘he’ or ‘she’”? asked Jarrett. “In other words, with Parkhurst, we immedi-

moment. “But still,” he said. “You think about it.”

It is not just the area’s numerous gay bars and eating establishments, a number of which have outside seating, that could be possible targets. The Castro is also home to a number of houses of worship.

Churches contemplate risk

Local religious leaders told the B.A.R. they have been considering their particular risk after last October saw 11 people murdered at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania synagogue and another killing in a Poway, California synagogue left one dead and three more injured.

“We’ve spoken about it among the staff,” said Mike Poma, parish business manager for the inclusive Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in the Castro.

“Father Matt spoke about it at mass last week,” he said in a phone interview, referring to Matt Link. “To remind people but not panic them about where the exits are, and how to safely get out of the building. Then, we have hospitality people at the top of the stairs as people enter. They keep an eye out for anything suspicious.”

When asked whether these folks are prepared to take action, Poma focused on safety rather than aggression.

“The church has big wooden doors that they can close and lock if they have to,” said Poma, 56.

“We tend to feel a little bit vulnerable on all sides,” he continued, noting Most Holy Redeemer’s unusual position as an LGBTQ-affirming Catholic congregation. “The religious right hates us for being Catholic and welcoming the gay community. Last year we got a Christ-

t

ately face the issue of whether gender is a social or biological construction.”

Jarrett, who is an LGBTQ ally and attorney, believes the stories of the LGBTQ community are important.

He said, “I see the experiences and struggles of LGBTQ Americans as an important part of this larger story.”

“Middle school students should learn about Parkhurst,” he continued, “because Charley was part of the Old West. Students should realize that the West, like American society today, was not a monotone society, but one that was exceedingly diverse. Students should also realize that some women struggled to have greater choices in the work that they undertook, and in their struggles to be treated with greater respect, and to enjoy greater independence. Finally, middle schoolers are reaching puberty and should appreciate and respect the different feelings that develop. This is what empathy and understanding are all about.”

You can learn more about Jarrett at https://californiasocialstudies. com/about-the-author/ and read more on the FAIR Education Act at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/cf/ senatebill48faq.asp. t Belo Miguel Cipriani is an awardwinning author and prize-winning journalist. He will be reading from his new book, “Firsts: Coming of Age Stories by People with Disabilities,” at the Booksmith, in the Haight-Ashbury, September 30. Learn more at belocipriani.com.

mas card that said: ‘Merry Christmas – go to hell.’”

According to Poma, the entire congregation has been on edge of late. But he doesn’t blame the shootings first and foremost; he said it’s the overall political climate that’s making life hard for all marginalized groups.

“The shootings don’t help,” he added.

Irene Ogus spoke with the B.A.R. as chair of the security task force at Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, a queeridentified synagogue right between the Castro and the Mission. Ogus said she’d been working non-stop since the Pittsburgh shooting to enhance security, answering to many people about what the organization is planning to do to keep people safe.

“Security has been my life for the last nine months,” Ogus said.

“People are aware that they can no longer be complacent in America,” she said in a phone interview. “Many of our members have traveled to Europe and have run into situations where they can’t get into a synagogue because they don’t have adequate identification. Here, we’re used to having our doors open. The open-door policy is a thing of the past.”

When asked whether Sha’ar Zahav is moving to that European model, Ogus said it’s being considered.“We cannot go on the way we have. We’ve made physical changes to the building, but people know that our policies and procedures have to change as well,” she said.

“The problem of strangers coming to our door is a difficult one,” Ogus continued. She said the conSee page 12 >>

Obituaries >>

We’ve expanded our services and kept the spirit and tradition.

Gregory Scott Brouse August 20, 1946 – July 1, 2019

Call (415) 771-0717

Gregory Scott Brouse moved from Sarasota, Florida to his home of San Francisco of 50 years.

On July 1, 2019, Greg left us, and his home with me and Willie the dog, after 40 years. It

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has been a challenging run and I am deeply grieved. He didn’t know he was a star. He was my archenemy and my devoted friend, at one and the same time. This is incomprehensible to me.

I don’t know all of you, but I do know this hurts you, too.

And I certainly do not know anything about the thinking of the Holy one, or whatever you call that in your life.

Greg would always say, “Where is your god, now!”

Greg’s world had shrunk around him, casting out the rest of all twolegged creatures and family, using his alcoholism as his travel companion.

What a shame. Scared and lost and unwilling to reach for the door.

Greg, you know I wished that more joy could have gotten in too, to prevail over all of that pain.

I will miss you a lot.

Love, Jeff

t <<

Community News>>

Egg death

From page 1

California Senator and Democratic candidate for president Kamala Harris owns a condominium on the same block as Egg’s house. Property records show she bought the unit soon after the building opened in 1998.

Free said that it’s obvious when she is in town because of the Secret Service detail parked outside the building. He said he often sees Harris’ sister, Maya Harris, on the block. An email to Harris’ press office was not immediately returned.

Having a high-profile property owner on the block has not insulated it from the problems of

<<

<<

Ed Walsh

Scot Free stands in front of Brian Egg’s former home on Clara Street.

homelessness and drug addiction that continue to plague San Francisco. Free said he and his neigh-

bors have had to run off homeless people who have tried to set up camp in front of Egg’s former

Queer district

From page 6

On August 21 at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, the district will hold elections for its inaugural board of directors. When asked if he thought he’d be sustained in his current position, Goldfarb said he was “very optimistic.”

On the subject of funding, Goldfarb stressed that it was early yet to speculate on what needed to be raised and how the organization might use it.

“Right now, funding comes from Prop E funds voted on in the last elections,” he said, referring to a 2018 ballot measure that partially allocated hotel tax revenue to fund arts and cultural districts.

Goldfarb also said that the cultural district applied for, and received, a grant from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, in the amount of $230,000.

“The terms of the grant were specific,” Goldfarb explained. “What it can be used for was strictly outlined in the [request for proposal].

We’ll be using the money to hire a staff person. We’ll also use it to hire consultants to develop a [Cultural History, Housing, Economic Stability and Sustainability] report to asses the cultural assets that currently exist in the district, what’s

August 15-21, 2019 • Bay Area Reporter • 11

Google

From page 1

filtering under community guidelines that “apply equally to all” for all members of the YouTube community, regardless of the users’ particular viewpoint or identity.

However, there have been numerous, publicly known incidents where members of the LGBTQ+ community have been treated differently than others.

The eight LGBTQ+ YouTube creators’ content has been restricted, stigmatized, and demonetized or denied advertising because it has been deemed by Google/YouTube to be “shocking,” “inappropriate,” “offensive,” and “sexually explicit,” the release stated.

Knight said that their lawyer approached Google and YouTube’s legal team weeks before the suit was filed, requesting an in-person meeting.

“However, Google/YouTube was not interested in talking to us about systemic problems and solutions. We have not yet had the opportunity for a sit-down with them,” Knight said. “The leadership at Google/YouTube has repeatedly acknowledged there are problems with treating LGBTQ+ content differently. Since 2017, they’ve repeatedly promised to fix the issues. However, the problems not only persist, they have grown worse over time.”

According to Dulay, the eight plaintiffs who have filed the suit are asserting claims based on discrimination, fraud, unfair and de-

Bill Wilson

Eagle owner Alex Montiel, left, grabbed a shovel at the June 18 groundbreaking for Eagle Plaza, joining Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. Loring Sagan of Build Inc., Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Matt Haney, Victor Ruiz-Cornejo from state Senator Scott Wiener’s office, and Bob Goldfarb, president of the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District.

been lost, and creating a plan going forward, and what we can do to maintain and preserve the assets and businesses in the district.”

Goldfarb, a 57-year-old gay man, said that one of his personal goals for the district is to increase the number of leather and LGBTQowned businesses located there.

“In 1980 there were 55 of those, and we now count 12,” he said. In assessing the causes of that decrease, Goldfarb said the biggest contributing factor is the increase in rent.

“With current-day rents, it’s ex-

Castro cultural district

ceptive business practices, unlawful restraint of speech, and breach of consumer contract rights for themselves and all members of the LGBTQ+ community, who are a protected class in California where Google and its subsidiary, YouTube, are based. Peter Obstler of the law firm Browne George Ross LLP is representing them.

As alleged in the complaint, Obstler told the Bay Area Reporter that Google/YouTube is “arbitrarily, capriciously, and unfairly censoring, removing, suspending, restraining, suppressing and/or demonetizing the speech, video content, or channels of LGBTQ+ YouTubers solely because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer because they identify as such, because they address issues of interest to the LGBTQ+ community or because they use tag words related to the LGBTQ+ community in association with their content to make it easier for viewers to locate their content.”

Obstler further alleged that Google/YouTube is “enforcing what defendants stated was a company policy of prohibiting gay users from advertising their content on YouTube because of the ‘gay thing’ and using that policy to stigmatize LGBTQ+ YouTubers and their content as shocking and sexually explicit solely because the users identify as gay or LGBTQ+.”

“Many of the LGBTQ+ creators we talk to have simply given up on trying to fight the relentless censorship,” said Dulay. “They feel helpless in the face of Google/

YouTube’s ceaseless attacks on their work.”

Knight said the group’s goal is to “drive systemic change.”

“We want equality, both as creators of video content and as viewers of that content on the YouTube platform,” Knight said. “We are victims of consistent and pervasive fraud and anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.”

Obstler said that the plaintiffs are challenging one of the world’s largest conglomerates and a regulator of free speech “by invoking their right to petition the courts to enforce the anti-discrimination, free speech, and consumer fraud laws to require the defendants to honor their promises and legal obligations to LGBTQ+ YouTubers and YouTube consumers.”

Knight said he and Dulay would consider staying on the platform if they could secure systemic change in the way Google/YouTube formulates and applies its standards, including age-appropriate restrictions and restrictions for sensitive viewers.

“With a level playing field, we could finally reach the audiences we target for GNews, GBomb, and other new shows that we plan to launch in the coming months,” he said.

While the case is pending, Knight and Dulay are continuing to produce new shows for their Glitter Bomb TV website.

Representatives for Google/ YouTube did not immediately return a message seeking comment. t

tremely difficult for a business to get established and remain established in many parts of San Francisco, but especially in SOMA, since too much development has happened here,” he said.

In the Castro, concerns were similar for Shaun Haines, co-chair of outreach and inclusion, and a chair of the fundraising committee for the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, but funding goals were slightly clearer.

house and he has seen transients hop the fence to the backyard of the home where they could easily gain entrance to the home through the backdoor.

The B.A.R. observed a hypodermic needle next to one of the house’s two front doors Monday, August 12. The wood around one of the doors’ locks was damaged and it appeared that someone had tried to pry off the doorknob lock. A man was rocking back and forth and talking to himself while sitting across the street from the house. Free said he told a homeless man to move along earlier that morning after he tried to set up camp in front of the home.

Free has stayed in touch with Devon Egg.

“We are both deeply disturbed about Brian’s yet to be discovered head and hands,” he told the B.A.R. last week Devon Egg said he and his two siblings will inherit his brother’s estate. He said he planned to use the money to donate to an organization that could help, but not enable, people who may be struggling in San Francisco with addiction or other problems. Devon Egg said he when he visited San Francisco for the first time in about 50 years last September, he was disturbed by the homeless problem in the city. He said his brother always tried to help people and he wanted to continue to help people in his brother’s memory. t

“Fundraising is so far, so good,” Haines said in a phone interview.

“We have verbal commits from other organizations and small businesses. We have a temporary fiscal sponsor on board to fund outreach and for us to have a celebration now that we’re officially a cultural district in the next couple of months.”

He declined to name those funding sources for now.

Like the leather district, the Castro district held an election August 14 (after the print edition went to press).

“Right now, we’re a working group with the support of our supervisor,” Haines said, referring to gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. “The folks who are elected, that body will take the responsibility for the decisions for the cultural district.”

Aside from elections, Haines said that the meeting would make time to discuss “bigger decisions, what the process to become a personal fiscal sponsor will look like, and other issues,” he said.

Haines, a queer man, had some long-range plans that he hoped the Castro cultural district leadership would be able to address.

“I hope we can work on some of the things that our community members have told us they’ve wanted for years,” he said. “The Castro has difficulties with diversity and we want this board to be as diverse as possible. There’s work to be done in cultural competency around a number of vectors. We’ve heard this from communities of color, from women, from trans communities, from the senior community.

“The Castro itself is not the most accessible place to many people,

and we have the ability to address some of that. That’s not just the Castro – the same thing is happening all across San Francisco. What magic can we do to address that?” he asked.

The boundaries for the district will be Market Street to the north and west, Grand View Avenue to the west; 22nd Street to the south between Grand View Avenue and Noe Street; Noe Street to the east between 22nd Street and 19th Street; 19th Street to the south between Noe Street and Sanchez Street; and Sanchez Street to the east between 19th Street and Market. It will also stretch down Market Street to Octavia and include the blocks of Laguna Street where the LGBT senior services agency Openhouse has its offices and housing development, as well as the stretch of Valencia Street where the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus recently purchased a permanent home.

In June, as the supervisors voted on the Castro cultural district’s formation, Mandelman talked about its importance.

“The Castro has been recognized worldwide for half a century as a symbol of LGBTQ liberation and as an enclave for LGBTQ people to find safety, acceptance, and chosen family,” he said. “The Castro LGBTQ Cultural District will be an important tool to ensure that the Castro remains a vibrant LGBTQ neighborhood well into the future.” t For information on the city’s queer cultural districts, go to www.transgenderdistrictsf.com/, leatheralliance.org/sfleatherdistrict/, and castrolgbtq.org/.

Jere Puckett Mitchell

Jere Puckett Mitchell died at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, May 30, 2019. He was born in Griffin, Georgia, December 23, 1941.

Jere was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Eugene and Florence Puckett Mitchell, his husband, Robert Roscher, brother-in-law, Cletus Morris, and nephew, Kendall Morris. He graduated from Jonesboro High School and received a B.A. in Economics from LaGrange College. He is survived by his sister, Nancy Mitchell Morris, his beloved dog, Chaucer, and dear friends in the Bay Area.

Jere worked in Atlanta and New Orleans before moving to San Francisco in 1973 where he worked as a Systems Analyst for the City and County of San Francisco. He retired to Rancho Mirage in 2001. An avid fitness buff, Jere was runner up for Mr. Kalendar in 1975. Always soft spoken and with his slight Southern accent, Jere was kind, gentle and thoughtful. He could hold his own in outspoken political discussions, being adept at challenging those less informed.

A memorial service will be held the weekend of September 14/15 in San Francisco; for more information, please contact Howard Dippold, hid1@mindspring.com.

<< From the Cover

12 • Bay Area Reporter • August 15-21, 2019

<<

Castro

From page 10

gregation is considering safety measures such as requiring unknown people to make an appointment to attend, or submit a passport or driver’s license electronically.

“Once someone’s inside the door, it’s over. All religious institutions; the churches, the mosques, the synagogues. We’ve all followed the Old Testament teachings of Abraham, that your tent be open to the stranger. But it’s no longer viable.

Every terrible incident has been the result of someone walking in the door with great ease,” Ogus said.

A representative for the Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco shared with the B.A.R. via email that it has trained its school principals and parish priests in emergency preparedness, using the City of San Francisco’s Standard Response Protocol.

Castro bars, cafes

Rick Hamer, owner of Finn Town, spoke with the B.A.R. by phone about how the Castro and the city have changed, and what he worries about while running a high-profile eatery. Mostly, Hamer was dissatisfied with policing.

“The Castro foot patrols only go to Castro, they don’t come to upper Market,” he said. “If we call the cops, it takes them 15 minutes to get here.

One individual came in and threatened to kill everyone with a gun on a Saturday night. If no one is hurt, the cops tell me there’s nothing they can do for me.”

San Francisco Police Officer Sal Fazli, who’s based at Mission Station, which oversees the Castro, said the foot patrols cover specific areas.

He confirmed that foot patrols in the Castro cover the 400 and 500 blocks of Castro Street between Market and 19th streets.

“Of course, if someone needs assistance a few blocks away, we’ll be there,” Fazli added.

Hamer added that most of the disturbances his business has experienced are directly linked to the increase in the homeless population. “We try to be as kind as possible,” Hamer said. “Let people use the bathroom, give them water. But I can’t help but worry.”

Jeremy Romero, a bartender at Hi Tops on upper Market, emphatically said yes, he thinks about a shooter walking into the bar.

“I’ve thought about it. We all talked about it after the Pulse shooting,” Romero said of his co-workers Romero, 33, said he thinks about the power of a crowd to overwhelm a single shooter. “Just attack him,” he said, when asked what he would advise people to do. “I’d want to try to get everybody out of here, but if that didn’t work, I think about doing that.

If you just lay down, you’re helpless.”

At Harvey’s on Castro, patrons said they’ve overheard people asking bar owner Steve Porter about

Rick Gerharter

Castro Merchants President Masood Samereie.

what they should do in the event of a shooter.

“I don’t do street fairs,” said Bret Wright, a 61-year-old gay man who sat at the bar at Harvey’s and spoke with the B.A.R. “I just don’t like crowds, but I also think about things like the Castro Street Fair. What a target! I hope they’ve stepped up security.”

Just above Wright’s head, a television screen showed a news conference in Dayton, Ohio, listing the newest information about the August 4 mass shooting there.

Porter did not respond to a request for comment.

Organizers of the fair did not respond to a request for comment.

Sitting out in front of Castro Coffee, Huw Richardson said he loved to stop there after shopping and watch people go by. Asked about violence, Richardson, 55, said, “I never think about it. I remember the time someone brought a live hand grenade to Pink Saturday, back in 1997. If I thought about things like that, I’d never go anywhere.”

The B.A.R. was unable to substantiate the hand grenade detail. However, Pink Saturday, which took place the night before the Pride parade, has indeed been marred by violence. It was canceled in 2016 over safety and security concerns.

Multiple Castro residents told some variant of a story where they heard what they thought might be gunshots at night, but couldn’t be sure. Gunshots, fireworks, and car backfires all sound similar to many in the historic gay neighborhood.

Most said they wouldn’t believe there was a shooter until they saw a gun – or saw their own surroundings on the news.

None of the workers in the Castro who spoke with the B.A.R. has had any formal training or directions from their employer on what to do in case of an active shooter.

Sharing procedures

On the subject of preparedness, Mandelman was strategic and did not want to give too much away, knowing that behind-the-scenes preparation must often remain unspoken in order to function.

“The sad reality is that we cannot

Greg Carey of Castro Community on Patrol.

gun-proof every gathering space.

There are too many guns on the streets and we have to be prepared for the worst,” he said. “But there’s only so much we can do. That being said, there are areas that are particular targets that I know have connected to Mission Station to help them think through how they would handle a terrible incident.”

Asked about his own experience with that feeling of exposure that many of his constituents speak of, Mandelman was thoughtful.

“I think about it myself, often at crowded events,” he acknowledged. “There’s a ton of preparation for safety around all Pride events, of course. But all of us have it go through our brains of what we’d do.

Outside Lands, Folsom, Dore Alley; there are a ton of amazing community events where there is some risk.”

CCOP’s Carey said Castro merchants, bars, and organizations need to agree on procedures and make plans for worst-case scenarios. However, Carey said it’s been difficult to corral everyone so that the conversation can take place. (Request for comments from several bar owners were not returned by press time.)

“It’s not resistance to the idea, it’s apathy. There’s no real list of Castro bar owners that we can use to call this meeting with any success,” he said. “There’s no formal way to get their attention.”

About six months ago CCOP held an active shooter workshop for the Castro, but only a few members of the Castro Merchants business association and some of the Castro/ Upper Market Community Benefit District Clean Team employees attended, said Carey.

CBD Executive Director Andrea Aiello said she attended CCOP’s active shooter workshop with the CBD’s contracted clean team.

“They said it was very similar to their company’s internal active shooter training. I think there’s a standard video for these things,” Aiello surmised in a phone interview.

Addressing the difficulty of the training itself, Aiello said it had been a somewhat frightening experience.

“The training was mostly about indoor scenarios, instead of outside.

It made us think about our little of-

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fice, to tell you the truth,” said Aiello, who moved the CBD this year into its first sidewalk-fronting location, near the Market and Church streets intersection. “We’ve got one way in and one way out. The police officer who ran it really focused on someone coming into an indoor place and what you can do, and that’s basically hide, run, or fight.”

Masood Samereie, president of the Castro Merchants, said that this has been a top-of-mind concern for him since the recent shooting incidents in the news.

“It was the subject matter of our president’s letter that came out recently,” he said.

Samereie also attended the CCOP active shooter workshop, which he allowed “was poorly attended.” But in light of recent events, he expects the next one will be more popular.

“Carey comes to [merchants’ group] meetings, and has brought it up on some occasions,” Samereie said, crediting CCOP for keeping this conversation going. “He brings pamphlets and materials. He’s offered personal, one-on-one, and seminars to prepare businesses for active shooters.”

Looking toward the future, Samereie said that his organization was looking to do more.

“I’m working with the Mission Station captain to set up additional seminars for merchants. I thought it would be beneficial to have the option of attending these seminars,” he said.

Samereie said by phone that he came away from the CCOP seminar having learned a lot about how to react in an emergency situation.

“But with the everyday concerns it kind of slips away. I left with a better understanding that there are things you can do to protect yourself and others. I highly encourage everyone to attend,” he said.

Aiello also mentioned that Mandelman’s office was working on a training pilot to teach de-escalation for some merchants.

“But that’s more to do with how to handle things when a homeless person comes into the store,” she said.

Jessica Closson, the newly-named District 8 safety coordinator, confirmed this de-escalation training series, which is planned for release to the Castro Merchants in late Septem-

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ber. Closson defined this program to the B.A.R. by phone as being for “everyday safety” rather than incidents of violence.

CCOP is still trying to get the word out about active shooter training and policy development, despite the difficulty.

“After the shootings in Gilroy and El Paso, we published our active shooter handout on our Facebook page, and that got some attention,” Carey said, referring to the two recent mass shootings in Texas and California. “It’s a broad-strokes document focused on getting people to be more self-aware.”

Carey concluded by saying that he would “very much like” to meet with more bar owners and security personnel to get in accord and make plans.

Safety at Folsom fair

Patrick Finger, executive director of the nonprofit Folsom Street Events, which produces the late September street fair, told the B.A.R. via email that the organization has had conversations about an active shooter situation, but did not go into detail.

“The safety of everyone attending Folsom Street Fair is always our top priority, and these situations require more than conversation. We review and update our policies, plans, and training before every event. In addition, we also have an ongoing dialogue with SFPD and city officials,” he wrote.

Asked about training and focus, Finger was careful not to reveal too much.

“We have very comprehensive emergency and safety procedures to account for multiple events. We review them on a regular basis, but they remain confidential,” he wrote.

Finger did not think that the nature of the fetish event and the marginalized identities of attendees made the street fair any more of a target than any other large event.

“Let’s be very clear, EVERY public gathering in the United States is at risk,” he wrote. “However, we remain committed to the safety of our fairgoers. In consultation with the city, we are considering additional measures that we can put into place to ensure that Folsom Street Fair attendees and volunteers have a safe and enjoyable day.” t If you would like to connect with CCOP about safety in an active shooter situation, email info@ castropatrol.org.

The San Francisco Archdiocese, in collaboration with the San Francisco Interfaith Council, FBI, SFPD, SF Department of Emergency Management, SF Sheriff Department. the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, and other partnering agencies, will host the first Security in Houses of Worship and faith-based organizations training workshop Monday, September 9, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street. To register, visit https://conta.cc/2MhNzjD.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT RFP NO. 6M3440 EXTENSION OF TIME FOR RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the General Manager of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District has extended the time of receipt of proposals until the hour of 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 20, 2019, by hand delivery or special delivery, at the District Secretary’s Office, 23rd Floor, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, California 94612 for the High Pressure Wash of Station Plazas and Parking Lot Structure Stairwells Services at BART Stations West Bay, East Bay North and East Bay South Locations, RFP No. 6M3440.

Dated at Oakland, California, this 5th day of August 2019. /S/ Sunni Gunawardena Oji Kanu, Manager, Contract Administration San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District

8/15/19 CNS-3281709# BAY AREA REPORTER

t

Legals >>

August 15-21, 2019 • Bay Area Reporter • 13

Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-19-555009

In the matter of the application of: HANNAH PATRICIA LUTZ, 2622 1/2 SUTTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner HANNAH PATRICIA LUTZ, is requesting that the name HANNAH PATRICIA LUTZ, be changed to HANNAH ELOISE LUTZ. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, on the 22nd of August 2019 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038720500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LEDA COHORT 5 FUND, 773 TEHAMA ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed VINCENT CASTANEDA. 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 07/15/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038719000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INTERNATIONAL VISA SERVICE, 20 JOICE ST #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KAYLA L. PAPAYIANNIS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/05/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/12/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038723700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LOLO’S UNICORN JUICE BAR, 957 CONNECTICUT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOY SWANTA WILLIAMS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/12/19.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/18/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038721400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KALIBRATION; CALIBRATION; GUIPAIR, 166 SWEENY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed IVANEI CUNHA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/16/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/16/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038719900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CORTLAND NAIL SALON, 626 CORTLAND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CUONG VIEN LA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/15/01. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/15/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038717800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SWEETLEAF COLLECTIVE, 77 VAN NESS AVE #1901, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MODERN HEALTH SOLUTIONS (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/11/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/11/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038722400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE DALE + ALLA TEAM, 1400 VAN NESS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed THE DALE + ALLA TEAM (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/17/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038717900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALTRSM LLC, 77 VAN NESS AVE #1901, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ALTRSM LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/11/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/11/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038722900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TACO CHIDO, 685 MARKET ST #120, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed TACO CHIDO LLC. 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 07/17/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038725000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: USED RIDESHARES LLC, 350 RHODE ISLAND #240, SAN FRAN CISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed USED RIDESHARES LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/09/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/18/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038707400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GAME AFFILIATED, 149 GARFIELD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed GAME AFFILIATED LLC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/02/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/02/19.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037830900

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: LETISHA MOODY DESIGN, 1800 WASHINGTON ST #912, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by LETISHA JANE MOODY. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/06/17.

JULY 25, AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF JOHN SELBY MAUCIERI IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FILE PES-19-303041

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of JOHN SELBY MAUCIERI. A Petition for Probate has been filed by SELBY SCALBERG in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that SELBY SCALBERG be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: September 11, 2019, 9:00 am, Rm. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing.

Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Steven E. Davidson, Esq. (SBN#65588), 1300 Clay St #1300, Oakland, CA 94612; Ph. (510) 527-6774.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 2019 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF MERAH PAYNE CARVELO IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF ALAMEDA: FILE RP19026771

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Merah Payne Carvelo; Merah P. Carvelo; Merah Carvelo; Merah Payne. A Petition for Probate has been filed by Suzanne P. Mathieson in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda. The Petition for Probate requests that Suzanne P. Mathieson be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: August 26, 2019, 9:31 am, Rm. 201, Superior Court of California, County Of Alameda, 2120 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, Berkeley Courthouse.

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Bryan R. Walters (SBN#309780), Gregory F. Dyer (SBN#114486) Jones & Dyer, APC, 3031 F St #101, Sacramento, CA 95816; Ph. (916) 552-5959

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038729400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SUMMERBERRY COACHING, 154 MIDDLEFIELD DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KIRIN KAUR PARMAR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/23/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/23/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038730700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LITTLE HANDS DAYCARE, 1523 LA SALLE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ASHLEY BERKLEY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/24/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/24/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038728900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STANALAND & COMPANY, 500 WASHINGTON #475, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RUSSELL STANALAND. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/23/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038729000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STANALAND & ASSOCIATES, 500 WASHINGTON #475, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RUSSELL STANALAND. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/23/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038716900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TAQUIRA DEMOLITION & HAULING SERVICES, 149 GOETHE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JONATAN TAQUIRA COYOTE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/11/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/11/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038713900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HIGHER SELF ADVENTURES, 2423 45TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DAVID COGAN HOLT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/10/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/10/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038735500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TRUSTED DENTAL, 1868 VAN NESS AVE, COMMERCIAL UNIT 2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed NONNA VOFSON DDS, PROFESSIONAL CORP (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 07/29/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038735200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HOME, 455 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed HOME COFFEE COMPANY, 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 07/29/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038733800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: UNION DOOR, 167 TOLAND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124.

This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed UNION ROLLING DOOR COMPANY (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/18/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/26/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038731300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE DENTAL PRACTICE/SF, 187 PINE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed RATHOD DENTAL, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/23/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/24/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-038673200

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: LITTLE HANDS DAYCARE, 330 HOWTH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112.

This business was conducted by an individual and signed

by ASHLEY BERKLEY. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/30/19.

AUG 01, 08, 15, 22, 2019 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-19-555070

In the matter of the application of: SHALLY SHALINI IYER, 3520 20TH ST #8, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner SHALLY SHALINI IYER, is requesting that the name SHALLY SHALINI IYER, be changed to SHALINI IYER RANA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Room 514 on the 17th of September 2019 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038742500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MATT STYLING STUDIO, 315 SUTTER ST 4TH FLR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MATTHEW SITHIRAJVONGSA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/05/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/05/19.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038741500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RANDIE INN, 493 YALE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AUREA MIRANDA. 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 08/05/19.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038734700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CALEF LIVE WORMS GALLERY, 1345 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual and is signed NANCY CALEF. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/26/19.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038731400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NORTH BAY WINDOW TINT & AUDIO, 4199 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CARLOS ANTONIO QUIJADA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/24/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/24/19.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038740100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ONE MAIN WEST, 1317 EVANS, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed OREN ZAKHRABOV. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/02/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/02/19.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038735400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KOKYLLOS CATERING SERVICE, 75 DORE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MANUEL ARAUJO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/24/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/29/19.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038719200

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038741000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAKE LOVE, 2948 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JIRAPORN HALVERSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/02/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/02/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038743000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FOCUS TRAVEL SERVICE, 1539 21ST AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ZHI XIONG HE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/20/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/12/19.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WCI PROJECTS, 555 MISSION ROCK ST #415, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94158. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ELIZABETH WARBURTON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/06/19.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038734300

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038743200

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038729600

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038737300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INNOVATION PROPERTIES GROUP, 181 2ND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed INNOVATION REAL ESTATE GROUP (CA). 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 07/26/19.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DRIVEZY, INC., 63 BOVET RD #316, SAN MATEO, CA 94402. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DRIVEZY, INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/19/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/23/19.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038718600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN FRANCISCO DHARMA COLLECTIVE, 2701 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SAN FRANCISCO DHARMA COLLECTIVE (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/12/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/12/19.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038731500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DO GOOD STUFF, 600 PORTOLA DR #15, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed P. TYRONE SMITH LLC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/15/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/24/19.

AUG 08, 15, 22, 29, 2019 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-19-555102

In the matter of the application of: NAI QUN BAKER, 4736 MISSION ST #A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner NAI QUN BAKER, is requesting that the name NAI QUN BAKER AKA NAI QUN LIAO, be changed to NAI QUN LIAO BAKER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, on the 24th of September 2019 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038753700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KIND EARTH PRODUCTIONS; THE BOYS WHO SAID NO!; COLORADO JONES PRODUCTIONS, 139 CORBETT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JAMES PRINCE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/12/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/12/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038746400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE GENIE MUSIC, 16 LUNDYS LN, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LUIS MONTERROSA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/07/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/07/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038733000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CCS ALERTS, 1461 PINE ST #501, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANDREW GABLE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/10/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/26/19.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHATFUEL, 490 POST ST #526, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed 200 LABS INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/09/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/06/19.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PENANG GARDEN RESTAURANT #3, 728 WASHINGTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed FORTUNE FAMILY SIX 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 07/31/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038741200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHINA CENTRAL SERVICE, 1235 STOCKTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CHINA CENTRAL SERVICE (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/20/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/05/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038745900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OSBELIA HAIR SALON INC., 4699 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed OSBELIA HAIR SALON INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/07/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/07/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038733400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RAE VINO, 1387 DE HARO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed RAE VINO 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 07/26/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038749300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OZ BURGER, 4092 18TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114.

This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed EYLUL LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/08/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/08/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038748500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NAKED CHICKEN, 11218 PADDOCK AVE, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93312. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed NAKED CHICKEN GROUP LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/07/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/08/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038753800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: QUICK CLIMB CREDIT SOLUTIONS, 1535 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed THE LOVE EXTENSION PROJECT LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/12/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/12/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038744500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FILLMORE FLORIST SAN FRANCISCO, 1880 FILLMORE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed FARAMARZ TABAR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/06/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/06/19.

AUG 15, 22, 29, SEPT 05, 2019

Scott W. Wazlowski Vice President of Advertising

! e s i t r e v d

advertising@ebar.com

A The

44 Gough Street #204, San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 829-8937 • www.ebar.com

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Author! Author!

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Queen’s Navy

Filth elder

Hedwig lives

Vol. 49 • No. 33 • August 15-21, 2019

Courtesy the artists

www.ebar.com/arts

Playful movement with Garrett + Moulton

by Paul Parish

G

arrett + Moulton Productions wowed us last Friday night. Their show packed the theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; the audience left exhilarated. Forty performers, musicians and dancers poured energy forth at an aerobic level, as an antidote to the misery generated by the current state of affairs, and gave us, for two hours, surcease from the distractions, alarms, outrages of the state of the world.

It was planned that way. Janice Garrett and Charles Moulton, lifepartners as well as artistic co-directors of this wonderful music/dance ensemble, share a sense of how to organize space that makes their very different sensibilities and movement styles cohere at a very deep level.

See page 19 >>

Director Megan SandbergZakian and playwright Madhuri Shekar during rehearsals for CalShakes’ “House of Joy.”

Zhanara Baisalova

Lurker Productions

Gretchen LaWall, Nol Simonse, and Haiou Wang of Garrett + Moulton Productions.

Anton Yelchin in a popular “Star Trek” reboot.

Short life, long resume

Tonal tightrope

by Jim Gladstone

by David Lamble

“L

ove, Antosha” debuted at the Castro Theatre in this year’s SF Jewish Film Festival, and opens Friday at Landmark Theaters. Director Garret Price presents a deeply moving portrait of the extraordinary life and death of Russian-American film actor Anton Yelchin (1989-2016).

See page 18 >>

A

udiences attending “House of Joy,” opening at the California Shakespeare Theater this week, can expect swashbuckling action, eye-pleasing pageantry and old-time theatrical thrills. There’s also a major creative cliffhanger in store: How will this world premiere production of a play originally conceived as escapist fare navigate topics that have turned out to be inescapably, disturbingly relevant at the current moment?

See page 15 >>

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

t

Out There>>

August 15-21, 2019 • Bay Area Reporter • 15

Two LGBTQ authors in the mix

by Roberto Friedman

O

ne of the perks of our job has been having access to some of our lifelong heroes in gay life & letters. Over the years we’ve been able to meet and interview some heavy-hitting authors: Edmund White, Alan Hollinghurst, Colm Toibin and Dennis Cooper only start the list. But another side of arts journalism is in knowing up-and-coming voices in gay literature. Right now Out There is working alongside two colleagues who also moonlight as well-read gay authors.

Multitalented Jim Provenzano is the Lambda Literary Awardwinning author of six novels and a play based on one of them, “PINS,” that has been given local and regional productions. His latest novel, “Now I’m Here,” a story of first love, is available in paperback, Kindle and Kobo ebook editions (Beautiful Dreamer Press).

Charismatic Meg Elison has published the much-awaited conclusion to her Philip K. Dick Award-winning “Road to Nowhere” trilogy with “The Book of Flora,” available in trade paperback and eBook (47North). Science fiction and fantasy devotees ate up the first two books in the trilogy, “The Book of the Unnamed Midwife” and “The Book of Etta.”

We posed a few questions via email to our busy B.A.R. colleagues.

Their responses have been edited for space in this print version; for the full interviews, go to Out There’s web version at www.ebar.com.

Roberto Friedman: First, congratulations on having your books out there in print and garnering devoted readerships. Working full-time, how do you find the time to write novels? After staring into a computer screen all day, Out There can’t face another one in our downtime.

Jim Provenzano: Having daily and

<<

House of Joy

From page 14

“The play started as a kind of campy adventure,” playwright Madhuri Shekar told the B.A.R., recalling the piece’s origins back in 2016.

She’d been feeling a need to turn her artistic attention away from the dismaying wake of the recent Trump election. “But with each subsequent rewrite, I’ve gotten more honest.”

In a colorful fantasy version of mid-17th-century India during the Mughal Empire, the show’s central adventure finds Hamida, an elite royal bodyguard, defying the values she’s upheld for her entire life and sparking a revolution after learning that Mariyam, the youngest of the Emperor’s many wives, is trying to flee her abusive marriage and the kingdom.

While “House of Joy” hasn’t altogether transformed from a Bolly-jolly frolic into a dark Haremmaid’s Tale, two years of the current administration’s misogyny capped by the recent Jeffrey Epstein horror show can’t help but impact its tone and reception.

“The play has continued to change a lot within the past two

PhotosByDot

Courtesy the author

“Now I’m Here” author Jim Provenzano.

weekly deadlines at work aids the framework for my fiction-writing deadlines at home. It only takes a few hours to write a few hundred words a day for a novel. That’s a goal, but not a necessity. I’m a night writer, so after work, I’ll sometimes take a nap, then stay up late until I’ve exhausted the current ideas in my head.

Meg Elison: I write first thing in the morning, with a daily quota of 2k words. That way, I’m not trying to fight my own exhaustion (or inebriation) in the evenings. I’m a morning person, so I do my best work then anyhow. If screen-stare is a problem, I use my little WiFi-enabled typewriter, the Freewrite.

How do you feel about being classified by genre – in your case, Jim, so-called “gay men’s romance” novels, and in your case, Meg, “sci-fi” or “fantasy” novels? Is genre fiction different from socalled literary fiction?

JP: Moving into the gay romance category was appropriate for my fourth and fifth novels, “Every Time I Think of You” and its sequel “Message of Love.” They’re about gay love weeks,” Shekar noted late last month as the CalShakes rehearsal process was getting underway. “I’ve realized that even if the world we portray is fantastical, every moment also has to feel real.” At this point, she hopes that audiences will react to the show as “both an escape and an engagement.”

Part of how Shekar aims to keep “House of Joy” enjoyable is by keeping contemporary perspectives at bay from her characters. ”I feel like yes, audiences are going to react to the fact that there’s domestic violence, but the characters aren’t looking at their situations through 21st-century glasses.” There’s no cultural concept of victimhood in the play, but there are female heroes, engaged in swordfights, escapes and other derring-do.

“The characters are constantly in action,” Shekar explains, “but they never comment on what they’re doing. My focus, more than anything else, is that this play be immensely entertaining. It should be fast-paced and gripping, like a great genre piece. That’s what will let audiences engage without shutting down.”

Director Megan Sandberg-Zakian agrees. “Striking the right tone

On the web This week, find Victoria A. Brownworth’s Lavender Tube column, “Why the queer press & queer TV matter,” online at www.ebar.com.

and coming of age, but also the serious issue of disability. I broke a lot of the structural tropes of romance, on purpose. It was sort of a covert plan to insert literary style into another genre. My other novels aren’t romances, and that’s disappointed a few readers. But I’m not interested in repeating myself, style-wise. I will always write gay male fiction, and am proud to do so, just not in the same way.

In returning to literary fiction, where bad things happen and there isn’t necessarily a happy ending, I lost some readers. It was a deliberate move, but I don’t regret it.

ME: Genre fiction really isn’t that different, despite all marketing efforts to the contrary. So much of what we think of as “literary” contains genre elements, but gets a pass based on the beauty of the prose. I love being classified as science fiction because we have an incredible community, a robust awards season, and we’re doing exciting work.

Anyone who turns their nose up at genre fiction can take it up with Atwood, Morrison, Shelley and Shakespeare.

Does toiling in journalism all day influence your fiction writing? Or vice versa?

JP: Research and facts serve as a is something we’ve been working on in rehearsal. The way we take on serious themes here is in the vein of the best superhero movies or comic books. Think of how ‘Star Wars’ wrestles with the biggest themes of good and evil in the world, but is always entertaining.”

Another pop-cultural touchstone that Sandberg-Zakian acknowledges, not only for the social uplift of its story but also for its richly detailed visual style, is the “Black Panther” movie. “Our design team did so much research into the Mughal Empire and its colonies. They took elements grounded in history and transformed them into something original and fresh.”

Both playwright and director are pleased that “House of Joy” will have its debut in the beautiful outdoor setting of CalShakes’ Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda. “We’re able to lean in to the large elements of the play in the choral portions, to use the audience and to interact with them,” says Sandberg-Zakian.

“It effects the play in a very positive way. The abusive Emperor never appears on stage, so his villainy becomes an idea, he represents a system as a whole.”

Audiences, the creators hope, will be swept up in the solidarity that emerges to reject it.t House of Joy, through Sept.

1, Bruns Amphitheater, 100 California Shakespeare Theater Way, Orinda. Tickets ($19-$99): (510) 548-9666, www.calshakes.org.

“The Book of Flora” author Meg Elison.

springboard for both. My novels “Every Time” and “Message” are set in Philadelphia in the 1980s. I read dozens of books for research, everything from Philadelphia accessible tourism to wheelchair basketball coaching guides. As a journalist, interviewing disabled colleagues was priceless. Reading many newspapers of the era (mid-1980s) was crucial, and visiting the city and two university archives was fun and informative. I love doing research.

A few vintage microfilm newspaper articles inspired entire chapters. So, yes, journalism feeds my fiction.

ME: Journalism is a great place to develop certain skills that benefit a novelist. It encourages brevity, economy of vocabulary, precision, research, and adherence to deadlines. It means I’m writing literally all the time, but it’s like working out.

Writing novels is like high-level athleticism. I have to stay in shape to show off, so I let the day job be my gym. Loads of great novelists were journalists by day, including some of my heroes. It’s a fine set of footsteps to follow.

To borrow a page from The New

York Times Book Review, which three authors, living or dead, would you invite to an ideal dinner party? What would you serve?

JP: I suppose I should invite some historical figures, but I’d rather have a return engagement with people I knew. I’d treat them to endless Spanish tapas and wine at Canela on Market Street. Stan Leventhal, David B. Feinberg, and Bo Huston each inspired me personally in my early writing. I’d like to see them again to thank them.

ME: Octavia Butler, whom I admire extravagantly and died far too young. Stephen King, because his books raised me. Oscar Wilde, my patron saint who I imagine to be a perfect dinner companion and never a bore. It’s a summer supper under big spreading trees at my place in Oakland. I’m serving champagne on ice, oysters on the half shell with mignonette, bread and cheese, and clam chowder with fingerlings. We’re going to wind down around a fire pit with a lot of Japanese whiskey and dark chocolate chili pepper cake. I hope we talk until dawn.t

<< Music

16 • Bay Area Reporter • August 15-21, 2019

Courtships aboard the Quarterdeck

by Philip Campbell

“H

.M.S. Pinafore” sailed into Walnut Creek earlier this month, beginning a run of four weekend dockings in the Bay Area.

San Francisco’s famous Lamplighters Music Theatre raises the mainsail on Gilbert & Sullivan’s perennial favorite every four years or so, and friends and fans can rest assured: the “saucy ship” is still a beauty.

In typical fashion, the Company maintains tradition while keeping things fresh and engaging. Stage Director Ellen Brooks and veteran Conductor/Music Director Baker Peeples are steering Lamplighters’ newbies and seasoned troupers in a glowing production of the beloved classic, with extra attention paid to historical accuracy. Costume Designer Judy Jackson and Costumer Nika Cassaro create a richly detailed vintage wardrobe with the expert help of Hair/Wig Designer Kerry Rider-Kuhn. Everyone looks just right aboard the colorful Quarterdeck by Set Designer Peter Crompton.

The roles of Josephine Corcoran and Ralph (say Rafe) Rackstraw (the requisite pair of star-crossed young lovers) are double-cast; in current Lamplighters practice, single performers fill the other roles and character parts. It makes good sense because Sullivan’s impassioned melodies make some strenuous demands on the soprano and tenor leads.

On opening night at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek, tenor Jackson Beaman made his Lamplighters debut as Able Seaman Ralph, with his voice already showing signs of strain. He looked shipshape from start to finish, however, and paired attractively with bright-toned and plucky soprano Jennifer Mitchell as the Captain’s haughty daughter Josephine.

As per the G&S playbook, their amorous confusion clears in time for the final curtain. In “H.M.S. Pinafore” the deus ex machina is embodied by the “plump and pleasing person” Little Buttercup. Hardly plump but pleasing anyway, Sonia Gariaeff has been with the Lamplighters since 2003, and it shows in her assured and amusing Mrs. Cripps (Little Buttercup). She also gets to sing one of the operetta’s most memorable tunes.

Michael Grammer as Captain Corcoran, Josephine’s father and Commander of the Pinafore (until Buttercup’s shocking finale reveal!), made his Lamplighters debut earlier this year in hilarious comedy drag.

He’s in historically true naval drag this time, and it suits him well.

Handsome and a bit more serious than routine portrayals, Grammer makes a sympathetic impression.

As England chooses Boris Johnson and the surreal threat of a nodeal Brexit, W.S. Gilbert’s skewering of the class system and its pompous privilege proves timeless. The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. (First

Joe Giammarco

Sonia Gariaeff as Buttercup warns Michael Grammer as Captain Corcoran that “Things are Seldom what they Seem” in Lamplighters’ “H.M.S.Pinafore.”

Lord of the Admiralty) remains one of the best portraits ever of an inept British peer.

Sir Joseph gleefully admits, “I thought so little, they rewarded me, by making me the Ruler of the Queen’s Navee!,” and as Lamplight-

ers’ priceless comic actor F. Lawrence Ewing started “When I was a lad,” a ripple of delighted appreciation filled the theatre.

Gilbert’s creaky plot devices are endearingly familiar, too. Absurd characters and situations abound,

t

and the librettist uses them shamelessly to steal laughs and tie up loose ends. Creepy Dick Deadeye (Able Seaman) is a classic example. Making trouble for his crewmates gives Deadeye a vague (and silly-funny) motivation to fill the Captain’s head with suspicions. William Neely has been a Lamplighter for an amazing 41 years, and his smarmy portrayal is a model of G&S acting.

Mezzo-soprano Elana Cowen as flirty Hebe (Sir Joseph’s First Cousin) is another fine example of the Company’s mastery of Savoy style.

The Chorus of Sailors, Sisters, Cousins, and Aunts filled the Lesher Center with infectious enthusiasm, despite some subtle opening-night hesitation. Self-conscious pacing relaxed as the evening went on, and all traces of nervousness surely disappeared after the show traveled on to Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Baker Peeples guided the full orchestra with customary understanding. The richness of sound he elicits is always a special treat.

Next port for “H.M.S. Pinafore” is in San Francisco, the Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Two performances on Sat., Aug 17 (afternoon and evening), and a matinee on Sun., Aug. 18, will feature Ellen Leslie and Patrick Hagen, the doublecast Ralph and Josephine (matinees). The run concludes Aug. 24 & 25 at Bankhead Theater, Livermore. www.lamplighters.org.t

Hedwig’s anomalous anatomy

by Brian Bromberger

I

t’s rare for a film to be prophetic, yet 2001’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” serves as a precursor to today’s gender nonbinary and fluidity of sexual roles issues, such that the movie seems more relevant now than when it first opened. “Hedwig” has just been released on Blu-ray by Criterion, which gives us the opportunity to appreciate how revolutionary this “post-punk neo-glam rock musical” really was, despite doing poorly at the box office. Based on the 1998 OffBroadway stage cult hit, the film defies categorization, being archetypally queer both in its execution and its themes, exploding identity discourse with its mosaic use of punk anthems, music videos, animation, campy costumes/wigs, visual gags, interweaving drag queen irony with heartbreaking emotional realism. Writer-director-star John Cameron Mitchell created an irrev-

erent masterpiece. Only now can its dismantling of gender, how one discovers who one is by navigating between rigid sexual definitions, begin to be absorbed.

Using non-linear flashbacks primarily through songs, we revisit Hedwig’s story as Hansel growing

up in East Berlin (born the same year the Wall was constructed) as a girly boy in love with rock music (Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed) to the consternation of his mother, who forces him to listen to the radio in the oven. Ridiculed, he finds salvation in the form of an American soldier who agrees to marry him and take him to the U.S. if he consents to a sex-change operation (“to walk away, you gotta leave something behind”). The operation is botched, leaving an inch of manhood (“with a scar running down it like a sideways grimace on an eyeless face”). Taking his mother’s name, Hedwig relocates to a Kansas trailer park, where her sergeant abandons her for another guy, forcing her to become a prostitute (the “job called blow”) on the nearby military base to survive. She falls in love with Tommy (Michael Pitt), a teenage fundamentalist Christian Army brat who wants to be a rock star.

But Tommy discovers Hedwig’s

“anomaly” and rejects her. He pursues a solo career, having stolen the songs Hedwig wrote and becoming a huge success, Tommy Gnosis.

The musical opens with the ballad “The Origin of Love,” sung by Hedwig in a stripper wig with a cape inscribed, “Yankee Go Home, With Me.” Her view of love is that we’re all bi-gendered people split down the middle by angry gods, as we seek our other half in selfdiscovery. Hedwig (“the internationally ignored song stylist barely standing before you”) performs at dingy Bilgewater seafood chain restaurants with her East European band, The Angry Inch, including guitarist/boyfriend biker Yitzhak (Miriam Shor), yearning to be female, who will eventually break away to play a Puerto Rican drag queen in “Rent.” In “the business of show,” they shadow Tommy’s tour, plotting with her manager (a wonderful Andrea Martin) to expose his treachery. Hedwig will eventually confront Tommy. Whether or not reconciliation is possible, she sings a song of solidarity with all the misfits of the world.

In the insightful supplement made for this edition featuring a 2019 conversation among cast and crew members, Shor observes how being rejected, and how one deals with it, is Hedwig’s message. Ultimately we’re all dissatisfied. How we cope with our discontent forms the core of our identity. The film is content to let Hedwig remain in a sexual limbo. Mitchell cleverly uses the Berlin Wall as a metaphor, initially representing Hedwig’s unbreakability but later its fall. Hedwig never surrenders to self-pity, despite having no gender, no home, no career, all resulting from the brutality of the binary.

The trippy music composed by Stephen Trask, a combination of rock, pop, punk, folkabilly with a dash of Great American songbook, moves the narrative and provides resonance, especially the amusing “Wig in a Box,” illustrating Hedwig’s evolution to rock performer. Viewed almost two decades later, Hedwig is way ahead of her time. Kudos to Criterion for giving us this sardonic fairy tale of finding yourself regardless of the sacrifice.t

Gayest songs by far

by Gregg Shapiro

S

oak and Marika Hackman, two queer women who made indelible impressions with their previous albums, deliver on that promise and then some. Four years after her mostly acoustic 2015 debut record, Soak (aka Bridie Monds-Watson) makes a great leap forward with her second full-length release, “GrimTown” (Rough Trade). She kicks off the album with a suitably bleak spoken “All Aboard” intro before stepping forward with the powerful “Get Set Go Kid.” Boasting fuller, exhilarating instrumentation and arrangements, songs “Knock Me Off My Feet,” “I Was Blue, Tech-

nicolour Too” and “Life Trainee” all combine to make “Grim-Town” one of the best albums of the year.

Hackman’s 2017 debut album “I’m Not Your Man” made an impact on listeners beginning with the songs “Boyfriend” and “My Lover Cindy.” She picks up where she left off with “Any Human Friend” (Sub Pop). Hackman continues to grow as a songwriter and performer on “I’m Not Where You Are,” “Come Undone” and “Conventional Ride.”

Gauche gives listeners a fine howdo-you-do with its debut album “A People’s History of Gauche” (Merge).

Showing a sociopolitical bent as well as the desire to get you up and dancing, Gauche is a welcome addition to

the music club on “Surveilled Society,” “Boom Hazard” and “Rent (V).”

The Harmaleighs, a queer experimental duo (creative and personal partners Haley Grant and Kaylee Jesperson), have returned with their latest album, “She Won’t Make Sense” (Nettwerk). Recommended for fans of Tegan and Sara, the Murmurs and the Ditty Bops, the Harmaleighs have broadened their horizons without abandoning the indie Americana sound that first captured our attention. You can hear this on “Anthem for the Weak,” “I Don’t Know

Myself” and “Mannequin.”

Especially exciting are the new directions they take on “Sorry, I’m Busy,” “When I Was a Kid” and “Dim the Light.”

If Tom Waits had a queer kid brother, he’d probably sound something like the Mutts’ Mike Maimone.

In advance of the band’s new full-length album due out this autumn, we have “Now That’s What I Call Mutts” (muttsmusic.com). The 16song compilation includes the new song “Your Love” and fan favorites “Everyone = Everyone,” “If It’s Hot, It’ll Sell” and “Pray Like a Vigilante.”t

CAMOU FL AGE . AR MOR . IDENTIT Y.

Now open in English, Español, 繁體中文, Filipino Discover the superpowers of skin at this brand new, multi-sensory exhibit. Touch amazing specimens— from scales to feathers to fur. Plus, learn how our perceptions of skin shape human identity and culture.

Buy ahead and save at calacademy.org

29743-CAS-Skin-Bay Area Reporter-9.75x16-06.18.19-FA.indd 1

6/18/19 4:47 PM

<< Film

18 • Bay Area Reporter • August 15-21, 2019

Love children for sale

by David Lamble

A

t a time when economic tensions are ramping up between the US and China over President Trump’s aggressive trade policy, a devastating new film presents a sobering, heartbreaking view of how the Chinese Communist Party has attempted to deal with the country’s exploding population.

“One Child Nation” (opening Friday) feels like more than just the sad story of millions of Chinese couples desperate to forget the atrocities of the 60s Cultural Revolution and eager to start new families, only to be told that it’s a crime and unpatriotic to have more than one child.

In just 85 minutes, co-directors Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang

take on a regime with a legacy of dehumanizing totalitarian social engineering, in the process demonstrating the lasting effects when ideology trumps human rights and women lose control of their bodies and souls.

An award-winner at Sundance, filmmaker Nanfu Wang employs her perspective as a first-time mom to create a kind of oral history project where a number of Chinese women and men confess their complicity in the Party’s ruthless population control. Beginning in 1979, it resulted in the deaths of untold number of female infants, late-term abortions and a draconian program to sell Chinese baby girls to empty-nester couples in the US and Western Europe.

t

“One Child Nation,” whose commercial tagline is “The Truth Beyond the Propaganda,” is especially poignant as it presents on-camera confessions from now-elderly Chinese men and women who admit their role in the countrywide enterprise as if it were a patriotic duty that could not be refused. Unaddressed by the filmmakers, LGBTQ filmgoers will surely connect the dots between the growing desire for children by queer couples and China’s baby market, administered through orphanages where newborn girls were sold for between $10-$20,000 Amazon Studios American dollars. Mostly shot in Infants on the market in co-directors Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang’s China’s Jiangxi Province, in Eng“One Child Nation.” lish and Mandarin with English subtitles.t

Discovery of lost time

by Tim Pfaff

I

t’s a fool’s errand, when it’s not Peter Sellars’, to update the fascinations of 18th-century opera – clashes between Christians and Muslims, say – as if they have something to tell us about the pickle of globalization we’re all in today. Yet often enough, they do.

It’s all-too-obvious how Antonio Salieri’s 1787 opera “Tarare” could tickle the fancy of a politically inclined present-day director, only beginning with the fact that it is set in the kingdom of the sultan of the Strait of Hormuz. The sultan, Atar, so closely parallels Trump in his narcissism, inflated sense of self-importance, obsession with dominating women and generally running his kingdom like a crook, it’s just as well that we get our first recording of “Tarare” (Aparte) audio-only, drawn from a live concert performance.

Milos Forman’s infamous tarring of Salieri in his equal-opportunityslur biopic “Amadeus” made a mountain out of a molehill of history and helped perpetuate Salieri’s nearly total subsequent eclipse by Mozart. But, like the Commendatore in Mozart’s supreme “comic drama” (his words) “Don Giovanni,” Salieri is now coming back for

what is rightfully his.

No one has done more for Salieri’s return than out, tireless earlymusic wizard Christophe Rousset, who only a few years back made a recording of Salieri’s “La Grotta di Trofonio” that demonstrated it warranted consideration alongside “Giovanni.” In a New Yorker column built around the new “Tarare,” Alex Ross wrote, “Above all, [Salieri’s] music is worth hearing. Mozart was a greater composer, but not immeasurably greater.”

Rousset’s avidity for reviving lost-to-time 18th-century opera repertoire has been a constant over his quarter-century-plus career.

Along with some one-offs, he has dedicated himself to the repertoire of Jean-Philippe Rameau, includ-

<<

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ing the operas, and of the hugely influential if sexually uncategorizable Jean-Baptiste Lully, whose very-little-known opera “Iris” Rousset and company put in the can this summer. Since the Italian “La Grotta,” Rousset has turned his attention to Salieri’s French operas, beginning with last year’s release of “Les Horaces,” a flop at its stage premiere, but whose virtues Rousset has made audible.

“Tarare” is a better opera, and it can’t hurt its chances onstage that it is, delectably, about the overthrow of a despot. Its libretto, by Pierre Beaumarchais, of the revolutionary Figaro trilogy French plays, is heavily larded not only with familiar opera conventions of disguise, mistaken identity and the awkward collisions of class

mores, but also with more than a whiff of class-friction, abolitionist sentiment and a critique of right rule.

The despot is Atar, whose penchant for calling slaves, people of color and anyone of lesser stature “savages” and “animals” adumbrates the standard Trump rally. Tarare is a soldier whom Atar sends into battle because the soldier is showing him up. The sultan is informed that this “demon” who threatens his legitimacy is “a strong spirit, a sensitive and generous heart that is easily moved, and never subject to anger: such a man is most dangerous!”

Atar has his Epsteinian eye on Astasie, Tarare’s beloved, whom he whisks off to his harem and renames Izra. If you’re familiar with 18thcentury librettos, the rest you know: love wins, and Tarare prevails as the people’s chosen king.

The score is full of invention and challenges to musical cliches.

The opening Prologue is not about royal glory, but rather, the power of Nature over wind and fire. Its effects prefigure Haydn and climate crisis.

You can hear, too, more than inklings of Beethoven’s “Fidelio” in the

Love, Antosha

From page 14

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia to a pair of professional figure skaters, the slight (5’9’’), green-eyed imp Yelchin quickly took to his new Southern Californian home, going out for acting auditions at age five, and finding his first paid work in a role on the popular TV medical series “ER.” Yelchin quickly jumpstarted a successful career before tragically dying in 2016 when his Jeep sports vehicle pinned him up against the driveway gate of his home. Ironically, the story of his death first hit the airwaves as a consumer recall, before astute observers realized the gravity of the loss.

Yelchin, whose Jewish parents fled Russia to avoid religious persecution, amassed an impressive film resume, 69 credits on IMDB, ranging from three films in the popular “Star Trek” reboot to quirky Sundance-launched indies: “House of D” (2004, with Robin Williams and Hope Davis); “Fierce People” (2005), opposite Donald Sutherland; “Alpha Dog” (2006), written and directed by Nick Cassavetes,

Lurker Productions

Anton Yelchin had a broad range of talents.

based on the true-life story of Jake Mazursky, murdered as a hostage in a misfired SoCal drug deal; and “Charlie Bartlett” (2007), where Yelchin shined as a business-savvy teen who upends his high school by

donning a suit and tie and running a student counseling center out of the boys’ bathroom. His co-star was Robert Downey, Jr. His signature look combined fresh-faced innocence with a wild mane of curly

introduction to Tarare’s Act II aria, “De quel nouveau malheur,” decrying the darkness that surrounds him after being sent into exile.

In a world overrun with top-class early-music ensembles, Rousset’s Les Talens Lyriques holds sway over the others. Instrumental brilliance and tightness of ensemble match, on historical instruments, those of the Berlin Philharmonic. Most of the central Act III is dance music, and the suavity, grace and versatility of Rousset’s direction mean the music on its own does dance. Amidst a raging dispute between the Asians and the Europeans (Islam and the West?) Calpigi, Tarare’s sidekick, gets off the wicked line, “It’s like those celebrations in France, where all is well, so long as people dance.”

Chorus and vocal soloists sing with precision and elan. What distinguishes Les Talens Lyriques’ work is Rousset’s ability to get them to fully express opera’s outsized situations and emotions while also, lightfingeredly, sending them up.

Last year Rousset recorded Louis Couperin solo-harpsichord music on a historical instrument that was eye-watering in its intimate interaction between player and instrument.

He’s just done the same for a set of solo works by Girolamo Frescobaldi (Aparte) on a 1615 harpsichord he owns. Where he drew out the pungency of the Couperin, he unearths the gnarly and moving in Frescobaldi, whose music is too-often written off as bland.t

brown hair, making him the perfect choice to play innocence betrayed, as he did in the underrated drug thriller “Alpha Dog,” where his character’s death seems as tragic as his real-life demise.

“Love, Antosha” features emotional testimonials from many of his fellow actors, who recall his broad range of talents, including playing guitar in a pick-up rock band.

Yelchin’s premature demise takes on heroic stature as the filmmakers disclose his life-long battle against the lung affliction cystic fibrosis.

Jeep was forced to recall its defective model, whose gear mechanism killed the actor.

LGBTQ viewers should catch his starring role in the TV movie “Jack.”

Based on an A.M. Holmes novel for young adults, Yelchin’s title character is passing through puberty when he learns that his dad (Ron Silver) has come out as gay. Jack discovers that the girl of his fantasies also has a gay father. After a bit of acting out, Jack beautifully comes to terms with his ever-changing family ties, a trait for growth and redemption that the real-life Anton appears to have possessed in abundance.t

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Books>>

August 15-21, 2019 • Bay Area Reporter • 19

Divine master

by Jim Piechota Mr. Know-It-All: The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth Elder by John Waters; Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $27

I

n his new memoir “Mr. Know-ItAll,” outspoken self-proclaimed “filth elder” John Waters opens a

<<

Garrett/Moulton

From page 14

tern of a Tic-Tac-Toe diptych, and backed by a wind and piano orchestra directed by and playing the music of Jonathan Russell of the SF Conservatory, they handed off balls to each other with amazing speed and precision in ways that fit the textures, accents and phrasing of Russell’s sort-of-minimalist, very witty music. The effect of seeing ordinary people in ordinary clothes moving without inhibition, without vanity, without the glitches and hesitations that plague most of us most of the time, passing the balls so fast the stream of movement began to look like ribbons, generated a sense of well-being and fellow-feeling in us all that seemed like grace abounding. Every version of this dance has done this: Moulton has arranged a version for 3,000 people doing it in the Platz in Stuttgart. Periodically, little groups of dancers in colorful tights jumped in and cavorted in front of the movement choir, rapturously throwing balls into the air, as if to represent those of us in the audience who wanted to jump up there and join in the dance.

After intermission, Garrett’s company piece, “Hunting Gathering,” based on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famous Transcendentalist essay “The Oversoul,” got its premiere: a little rocky, the dancers could not make it convincing, though Nol Simonse’s sad-sack solo appearances are burnt into my memory.

The finale, “Gojubi” (a made-up

word meaning “Go be jubilant,” Garrett told those who stayed for the Q&A), featured the company dancers and enough extras to allow them all to perform the piece at full tilt without having heart attacks onstage. Among the add-ons, Sonja Dale was clear, shining, and smiling the whole time, as when she circled the stage and returned to her spot at the back for a lift. This piece showed Garrett’s intuitive command of space. She has this faculty to a very high degree. It was a wonderful evening.t

nounces the Catholic Church and religion in general, and is as honest and real as his straightforward tips and tricks on traveling without stress and bother.

When it comes to food, Waters is just as particular. The chapter “Gristle” skewers pretentious “foodie” restaurants where patrons beg “to overpay for the privilege of just stepping inside.” He imagines opening a restaurant of his own and describes the experiences from making a reservation to the immensely inappropriate pressure the

waiter would place on diners to sign off on an extortionate final bill.

Reflections on the inconvenience of death close out the book appropriately, with just the right amount of acerbic snark.

For Waters fans, this is effortless amusement packed with his trademark wit and demure societal deconstruction. Much of the same can be found in earlier incarnations of his traveling adventures, but this book is as up-to-date and culturally relevant as anything Waters has written.t

Professional headshots / profile pics Weddings / Events

StevenUnderhill 415 370 7152 • StevenUnderhill.com

D O EN C K IS EE NC W A IS FR TH AN S

for readers unfamiliar with Waters’ celluloid legacy. His breaks into mainstream commercial-film success, “Hairspray” and “Serial Mom,” earn their own sections with delicious insider tidbits.

These savory bits are leavened with bittersweet notes on the last time Waters met with Divine before his death in 1988, the night before he was supposed to begin filming a guest appearance as Uncle Otto on “Married with Children.”

Commentary on contemporary topics follows, alongside some sage advice for those eager for Waters’ style of counsel. On directing major movie stars: “Never leave a leading lady alone once she’s in costume and has been delivered to the set,” he writes. “Idle time for major talent can only lead to shit-stirring from the ignored and famous.”

Anecdotes on music and favored musicians are also hilarious, particularly notable in an aside on his dislike of popular rapper 50-Cent, whom he thinks “sounds like a big nell-box to me, a nouveau-riche, homophobic braggart, the Donald Trump-meets-Chick-fil-A of rap.”

A chapter on gay rights and LGBTQ equality rightfully de-

IN

!

They danced four pieces. “The Mozart” (co-choreographed by both directors) opened with six dancers holding hands, standing on the balls of their feet looking into the center of their circle, in the shape of a tiara made of a memory metal. As their pianist, Allegra Chapman, excellent, began a sonata, they slowly twisted away from each other, still linked and supporting each other, returning to place, then reconfiguring in an indelible image of harmony, tension, and mutual awareness. As the music enveloped a current of rapid movement, they flowed away from it into wider configurations that developed through individual variations, and finally converged into a circle of joy, with single dancers flying into the center like an arrow hitting the bull’seye, then erupting into quicksilver dances of joy. Along the way, there had been strongly differentiated solos, and touching support offered in duets. The five members of the company, all superbly trained in both ballet and contemporary techniques, are Carolina Czechowska, Gretchen LaWall, Nol Simonse, Haiou Wang, Miche Wong and guest artist Jeremy Smith.

18-person precision ball-passing, a variant of a seminal idea first choreographed by Moulton in 1972, preceded the intermission. Danced by 18 volunteers seated in the pat-

Pandora’s Box of opinions, secrets, and stories, along with rants, opinions, and hilarious memories on the road and from his experiences through a decadeslong career in bestselling books and films ranging from underground alternative cult hits starring Divine and Mink Stole to Hollywood centerpieces featuring Kathleen Turner.

A spicy introduction meant to direct readers toward achieving some semblance of a “newfound serenity” imparts pointers on aging gracefully (“nothing shouts midlife crisis louder than driving a convertible”), how and when to watch what you eat, embracing your undeniable “lunatic fringe” lifestyle, and the fact that he is over 6,000 days past the time he’d quit smoking, a life-changing event Waters commemorates by writing it down every day.

A subsequent chapter on the earlier days of his filmmaking career charts his rise to filthdom and is the perfect introduction

STAGE DIRECTOR: Ellen Brooks CONDUCTOR: Baker Peeples

lamplighters.org

AUGUST 17-18, 2019

Courtesy the artists

Nol Simonse, and Haiou Wang of Garrett + Moulton Productions.

Blue Shield of California Theater at YCBA TICKETS: 415-392-4400 or ycba.org

Claire Marie Vogel

Samantha Sidley likes girls Pop/Jazz singer at Rickshaw Stop

by David-Elijah Nahmod

S

amantha Sidley cuts to the chase in her just released single “I Like Girls.” The song’s video begins with a tight close-up of her face. “I like girls!” she proclaims, before she starts singing.

See page 21 >>

Nightlife Events

Arts Events

August 15-22, 2019

Fri 16 Imani Sims at Rebooting the Future @ SOMArts Cultural Center

August 15-22, 2019

Samantha Sidley

Listings on page 22 > { THIRD OF THREE SECTIONS }

Sat 17

Jason Mraz @ The Fillmore

Listings on page 23 >

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Music>>

August 15-21, 2019 • Bay Area Reporter • 21

Playmates and soul mates...

San Francisco:

1-415-692-5774 Megamates.com

Chris Sikich

Samanth Sidley

<<

Samantha Sidley

From page 20

“Butchie girls, rugged girls, girls in pearls, girlie girls, girls from all over the world,” she sings. Sidley, who will be performing at The Rickshaw Stop on August 30 is, you guessed it, an out, proud lesbian.

She’s touring in promotion of her new album, Interior Person.

“I believe in directness,” Sidley tells the Bay Area Reporter, speaking of I Like Girls. “No need to beat around the bush.”

Sidley said that reaction to the song has been mostly positive. She hopes that the song will serve as an inspiration to young lesbians.

“I got more likes on Instagram for that song and video than I have for any other post,” she said.

Sidley assumes that most of her audiences are LGBTQ, but says that she would welcome straight audiences because love is universal. She notes that gay people have had to listen to music from a straight perspective for a long time and have been able to relate to the music.

Why then, couldn’t straights relate to a song from a lesbian perspective?

Sidley’s music has a strong retro pop/jazz sound. The tone of “I Like Girls” suggests a smoky nightclub of the 1940s or ‘50s.

“That would be my dream come true,” she said. “My favorite kind of venue is where everyone has a cocktail, and maybe they had dinner before the show, and then I come in and do a show. I like it old school.

I’m trying to bring that back.”

Sidley grew up listening to jazz and counts jazz greats Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae and Ray Charles as among her musical

influences. She even throws a bit of country/pop into the mix.

“I love Dolly Parton,” she said.

“She’s been a huge influence for me.

And Judy Garland. I think I have a voice fetish. I just love unique, authentic singing. I love storytelling in songs, I hear the emotion in it. I can understand my feelings better. I can process whatever I’m going through better.”

Sidley wants her audience to know that it’s okay to be gay. It’s okay to be out and authentic and to put it out there.

“If you’re an artist or a politician or anybody with some sort of platform to speak in –and we all have that now because of social media– it’s so important to break that cycle of oppression and repression and to let people know that it’s normal to be gay,” she said. “It’s normal to be queer, it’s normal to be whatever you are. And there are just as many of us as there are people who consider themselves normal and straight. And if you’re able to spread your message you have to do it. It feels really good to be honest.”

Sidley has been married for seven years, though she and her wife have been together for ten years. Her wife, Barbara Gruska, is a musician and performer in her own right, and the couple have toured together.

Gruska produced Sidley’s album and turned Sidley’s childhood bedroom into a music studio.

“It’s just as much her record as it is mine,” Sidley says of her album.

All of the songs on the album are original songs, except one, a Beach Boys cover titled “Busy Doin’ Nothin’.” She said that she loves doing covers.

“I could die and go to heaven,” she says of having her first album

Logan White

Samantha Sidley

out there. “I’m just ready to tour this record and work this record as hard as I can. And make more!”

Sidley hopes to sing at Carnegie Hall one day, where she would give a performance in the style of the legendary show that Judy Garland.

“All of my songs are different and come from different eras,” she said.

“It’s like putting on clothes. I don’t really stick to anything. I just like what I like and if it sounds good in my voice, I’ll do it.”

Sidley hopes that newbies will come to her Rickshaw Stop show, and promises everyone a good time.

“I promise I’ll make you smile,” she said. “And I hope a boy covers “I Like Girls” and changes the pronouns.” t Samantha Sidley at The Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell St. Friday, Aug 30 at 9pm. $18. www.rickshawstop.com

18+

<< Arts Events

22 • Bay Area Reporter • August 15-21, 2019

For full listings, visit www.ebar.com/events

Thu 15 Butch Voices @ Oakstop Festival of butch lesbians, with workshops, performances, panels, and more. $100-$200. Thru Aug 18.

1721 Broadway, Oakland. www.ButchVoices.com

Chosen Familias @ GLBT History Museum Exhibits Chosen Familias: Bay Area LGBTQ Latinx Stories, and The Mayor of Folsom Street: Alan Selby’s Legacy. 4127 18th St. glbthistory.org

Cityscape @ Creativity Explored New exhibit of urban-themed works by artists with disabilities.

Thru Sept 5. 3245 16th St. www.creativityexplored.org

Classic and New Films @ Castro Theatre Aug 15: Gloria (6:15) and Jackie Brown (8:30). Aug 16: Band of Outsiders (6:30) and Pulp Fiction (8:20). Aug 17: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (7pm) with the D’Arcy Drollinger, Leigh Crow and the Star Trek Live parody cast, a costume contest, Captain Kirk impersonation contest. Aug 18: Godspeed You! Black Emperor live concert (8pm).

Aug 19 & 20: Paris is Burning (4:35, 7:45) and The Queen (6:15, 9:20) with restored prints. Aug 21: Frenzy (7pm) and The Boston Strangler (9pm). Aug 22: Blade Runner: The Final Cut (3pm, 7pm) and Tron (original 1982; 5:10, 9:10). $8-$16.

429 Castro St. castrotheatre.com

Events @ Manny’s Aug 16, 7pm: Madonna celebration.

Aug 18, 4pm: Intergenerational LGBT Stories of Transformation, Courage & Power. Aug 21, 6:30pm: discussion of potential war with Iran. Aug 22, 6:30pm: Assemblymember Phil Ting. Aug 24, 2pm: Senator Michael Bennet.

Free/$10 and up (donations). 3092 16th St. welcometomannys.com/

t

The Gay Divorce Play @ Potrero Stage

Art for iQuba @ Minnesota Street Project

Carson Beker, Nicole Jost and Genevieve Jessee’s immersive interactive theatre ritual of a queer marriage dissolution party. $26.50.

Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm, thru Aug. 25. 1695 18th St. www.queercatproductions.com

Art auction, film screening, performance and fundraiser for Kim Anno’s feature documentaryin-progress about LGBT Cubans.

Art exhibition 12:30pm-5:30pm.

Auction, screening 6pm-8pm. $donations. 1275 Minnesota St., Room 200. www.wildprojects.org

Granny Cart Gangstas @ Bindlestiff Studios

Author Readings @ Octopus Literary Salon, Oakland

Enjoy sketch comedy delights from the all-women all Asian-American troupe. $15-$30. Thu-Sat 8pm thru Aug. 25. 185 6th St. wwwbukaka.bpt.me

Month of Momentum @ Immigration and Customs Enforcement Daily protests, performances and actions protesting ICE’s cruel and abusive internment of refugees and their children; daily through August. 630 Sansome St. tinyurl. com/MonthofMomentumGroup

Show Us Your Spines @ Jolene’s Radar Productions reading series, with Chibueze Crouch, Vanessa Rochelle Lewis, Anthony Veasna So and Yodassa Williams. 6:30pm.

2700 16th St. radarproductions.org

Fri 16 Border People @ The Marsh Dan Hoyle’s new solo show embodies multiple characters based around the U.S./Mexico border wall controversies; extended thru Aug. 30. $25-$100. Wed-Fri 8pm, Sat 5pm. 1062 Valencia St. themarsh.org

Queer California: Untold Stories @ Oakland Museum Multimedia exhibition documenting California LGBT lives, with contemporary artwork, rare historical materials, film, photography, sculpture; thru Aug. 11. Friday 5pm LGBT film screenings. Also, Cruisin’ the

Tue 20

Art for iQuba @ Minnesota Street Project

Fossil Coastline, Ray Troll’s colorful illustrations paired with paleontologist Kirk Johnson’s research. Also, Take Root: Oakland Grows Food and other exhibits.

Free/$15. 1000 Oak St. www.museumca.org

Rebooting the Future @ SOMArts Cultural Center Opening reception and performances for a multimedia performance art festival curated by Sian Morson and Kolmel W. Love; Also Aug 17. Free. 7:30pm-10pm.

934 Brannan St. www.somarts.org

The Friction Quartet with Sarah Cahill @ Old First Church The accomplished pianist and quartet perform the world premiere of Bay Area composer Max Stoffregen’s The Gila: Mesa, River, and Mountain ; also, the world premiere of string quartet Family Group with Aliens, by British composer Piers Hellawell. $5-$25.

8pm. 1751 Sacramento St. www.oldfirstconcerts.org

Sat 17 Banda Sin Nombre, The Genie, Shane Zaldivar @ Amado’s Three-band concert and benefit show for La Diaspora Cultural Festival. $15-$20. 998 Valencia St. www.bit.ly/amadosaug17

Charged Particles @ Mission Cultural Center The Latin jazz trio performs at the cultural center. $15. 6:30pm. 2868 Mission St. missionculturalcenter.org

Great American Sh*t Show @ Castro Valley Center for the Arts, Marin Center, San Rafael Brian Copeland and Charlie Veron’s solo shows explore ‘Life in the Age of Trump.’ $45-$60. 7pm, 19501 Redwood Road, Castro Valley. www.cvcfa.com; Aug 18, 7:30pm, 10 Ave. of the Flags, San Rafael. www.marincenter.org

J. Michael Straczynski @ Cartoon Art Museum Screenwriter and comic writer ( Babylon 5, Sense8, Superman, The Amazing Spider-Man ) discusses and signs copies of his memoir, Becoming Superman: My Journey from Poverty to Hollywood. $25.

7pm. 781 Beach St. www.cartoonart.org

Mysteria Incarnatis @ Old First Church Special candlelight, late-night performance of David Gordon’s 2015 hypnotic work for two grand pianos (one of which is prepared), an upright piano of unequal temperament, percussion, singing glasses. $5-$25. 10pm.

1751 Sacramento St. www.oldfirstconcerts.org

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan @ Castro Theatre The cast of Star Trek Live! and host D’Arcy Drollinger peform a pre-show at a screening of the campy scifi film. 429 Castro St. www.sfoasis. com

Three Solo Exhibitions @ Marcury 20, Oakland Nick Dong’s Mendsmith Project, Chris Komater’s homoerotic Jack & Mack, and Ruth Tabancay’s Geometricity 3.0. Reg. hours Thu-Sat 12pm-6pm. Thru Sept 7. 475 25th St., Oakland. mercurytwenty.com

Sun 18

Aya De Leon, Benjamin Shepard, Kate Jessica Raphael, Lucy Jane Bledsoe, & Liz Mariani read from their latest works. 6:30pm. 2101 Webster St., Oakland. www.oaklandoctopus.org

Queer Voices @ American Bookbinders Museum Paperbacks and Periodicals Forging Community, an exhibit of pulp fiction and early paperback books; thru Aug. 31. Tue-Sat 10am-4pm.

355 Clementina St. www.bookbindersmuseum.com

Tanya Boteju, Claire Kann @ Books Inc. The authors of Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens and If It Makes You Happy read from and discuss their Young Adult body-positive novels.

7pm. 601 Van Ness Ave. www.booksinc.net

Wed 21 The 39 Steps @ Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts

Kyra Gordan’s song tribute to Janis Ian and Janis Joplin. $15-$18. 8pm.

1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. www.ashkenaz.com

Patrick Barlow’s theatrical spoof of the John Buchan book and Alfred Hitchcock film about devious British and Scottish spies gets a local production. $30-$100. Tue-Sat thru Sept 15. 500 Castro St., Mountain View. www.TheatreWorks.org

Mahogany L. Browne, Tongo Eisen-Martin @ The Lab

Benjamin Heim Shephard, Lynn Breedlove @ The Green Arcade Bookstore

Loving Janis @ Ashkenaz, Berkeley

Discussion and reading with the two poets ( Woke: A Young Poets Call to Justice, Heaven Is All Goodbyes). $8, 8pm. 2948 16th St. thelab.org

Parivar Ki Azaadi @ CounterPulse Panel discussion, performances and DJed dancing with LGBT South Asian people and their friends. Free, with wine, beer, snacks. 6pm. 80 Turk St. www.counterpulse.org

Mon 19 Queer as German Folk @ SF Public Library Exhibit of ephemera and memorabilia about Stonewall rebellion commemorations in Germany and worldwide; film series Thursdays in August; additional exhibit also at Eureka Valley Branch, 1 Jose Sarria Court at 16th; both thru Sept 26. 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

We Are More @ California Humanities, Oakland Exhibit of art by four queer comic artists; Ajuan Mance, Breena Nuñez, Lawrence Lindell, and Trinidad Escobar. Thru Sept. 538 9th St. Suite 210. Oakland. www.calhum.org

Tue 20 Aunt Charlie’s @ Tenderloin Museum Multimedia exhibit about the historic Tenderloin drag bar, including Beautiful by Night: Photographs from Aunt Charlie’s Lounge by James Hosking. Exhibit thru Dec 1. Aug 20: screening of the documentary Thanks to Hank, about activist Hank Wilson, with director/producer Bob Ostertag. 7pm. 398 Eddy St. www.tenderloinmuseum.org

Shepard discusses Illuminations on Market Street, set in San Francisco at the height of the AIDS epidemic; Breedlove reads from and discusses 45 Thought Crimes ; with host James Tracy. 7pm. 1680 Market St. www.thegreenarcade.com

Richard Caldwell Brewer @ Lost Art Salon Exhibit of works by the late gay artist (1923-2014). Mon-Sat 10am5:30pm. 245 South Van Ness Ave., #303. www.lostartsalon.com

Thu 22 Annabeth Rosen @ Contemporary Jewish Museum Annabeth Rosen: Fired, Broken, Gathered, Heaped, an exhibit of works by the Californian sculptor; thru Jan 19. Other exhibits, too.

Free/$17. 736 Mission St. www.thecjm.org

Queer Asia, BearPad @ Strut Queer Asia: Identity [re]defined, a group exhibit of Bay Area queer Asian artists’ works. Also, Woof/ Grrr, X/O, BearPad’s exhibit of illustrated colorful gay erotica. Thru August. 470 Castro St. www.sfaf.org

Various Events @ Oakland LGBTQ Center Social events and meetings at the new LGBTQ center include film screenings and workshops, including Bruthas Rising, trans men of color meetings, 4th Tuesdays, 6:30pm. Film screenings, 4th Saturdays, 7:30pm. Game nights, Fridays 7:30pm-11pm. Vogue sessions, first Saturdays. 3207 Lakeshore Ave. Oakland. www.oaklandlgbtqcenter.org t

t

Nightlife Events>>

For full listings, visit www.ebar.com/events

August 15-21, 2019 • Bay Area Reporter • 23

The Isley Brothers @ Stern Grove

Sat 17 Erasure-esque at ‘80s Tribute Night @ Rickshaw Stop

THU 15 Dee’s Keys @ Beaux

Palace of Trash @ The Stud

Weekly live piano and open mic night with Dee Spencer. 4pm-8pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Irreverent drag show presents Pussession, a religious exorcism of churchy hypocrisy. $10. 6pm-9pm.

399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Drunk Drag Broadway: Dizney! @ Oasis Chyna Maykit and her crew performs classic songs with a boozy edge. $25$50. 7pm. Also Aug. 16., 17, 22-24.

298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Mon 19 KQ League Night @ Detour

Events @ Steamworks, Berkeley The stylish bathhouse’s DJed events; Aug 15: Onyx (men of color, 10pm-2am) Aug 16: noche de Fuego (11pm0-4am). Aug 17: Salacious DFP with DJ Robbie Martin, (11pm-4am.

Aug 18: Sunday Service with DJ Little Rock, 1pm-8pm. Aug 19: Lights Out Monday, 4pm-12am. Aug 2-0: Boyz Night, under-25 free entry. Aug 21: Daddy Issues, 4pm-12am. Open 24/7, every day. 2107 4th St., Berkeley.

(510) 845-8992. www.steamworksbaths.com

Flamboyance @ Berber Wild Arabian Nights, a fundraiser for the LGBT Asylum Project, includes a delicious four-course meal ($95), wine-pairing option ($50), singer Bebe Sweetbriar, and Boylesque acts Dylan Bradley, David Nguyen and Julaino Wade. 7:30pm-10pm. 1516 Broadway St. https://bit.ly/2Y40wEf lgbtasylumproject.org

Ivan Lins @ Yoshi’s Oakland The Brazilian singer-composer performs with his band at the East Bay restaurant-nightclub. $33-$79.

8pm. Aug 16, 8pm & 10pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. www.yoshis.com

Woodstock 50th @ Ashkenaz, Berkeley Stu Allen and Mars Hotel, Tammi Brown, Luna Fish, San Francisco Airship and Kyra Gordon perform classic rock hits (Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane) celebrating the half-century anniversary of the Woodstock concerts. $15-$50.

Thru Aug 18. 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. www.ashkenaz.com

Fri 16 La Bomba Latina @ Club OMG

Game tournament at the renovated former Brewcade bar/restaurant.

7:30pm-11pm. 2200 Market St. www.detoursf.com

Latin Explosion @ Club 21 The popular Latin club with gogo guys galore and Latin music. $10-$20.

9pm-3am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www.club21oakland.com

GAYmes @ Port Bar, Oakland Board games night. 2023 Broadway. www.portbaroakland.com

NSA @ Club OMG

Strip down to your skivvies at the popular men’s night. 9pm-2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. the440.com

Piano Bar @ Martuni’s

Maria Konner @ Martuni’s Enjoy rockin’ renditions of the drag rocker and her band’s covers of obscure Beatles and Pink Floyd songs, at the intimate martini bar. $5-$10 suggested donation. 6:30-8:30pm.

4 Valencia St.

Vamp @ Beaux

Pan Dulce @ Beaux

Musician extraordinaire Joe Wicht leads tasteful sing-along selections.

5:30-8:30pm. 4 Valencia St.

Russell Mangan @ Harvey Milk Center Singing Solo with Sondheim, the vocalist’s cabaret show, with pianist Joe Wicht, and guest vocalists Jennifer Martinelli and Roland Mangan. $30$50. 8pm. 50 Scott St. www.societycabaret.com

Tony Yazbeck @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The Tony Award-nominated actorsinger performs Both Feet Off the Ground, his musical one-man show. $45-$75. 8pm. Also Aug. 17.

Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinssf.com

Uhaul @ Jolene’s The popular women’s dance party returns at the new nightclub, now weekly. 10pm-2am. 2700 16th St. at Harrison. www.jolenessf.com

You Betta Work Comedy Fiesta @ San Mateo County Pride Center Queer and LGBT-friendly comedy night with host Jesus U. Bettawork. $5.

7:30pm. 1021 South El Camino Real, San Mateo. jesusubettawork.com

Sat 17 10,000 Maniacs @ The Independent

Live music (Speedy Ortiz, Sasami, Hello Yello), food, drinks and craft booths, sponsored by Noise Pop. Proceeds benefit 826 Valencia and La Cocinia. Free/$50 VIP tickets inlude lounge access, comp food and drinks. 12pm-6pm. www.20thstreetblockparty.com

Early evening weekly parties coordinated with Queer California: Untold Stories, a multimedia exhibition documenting California LGBT lives, with contemporary artwork, rare historical materials, film, photography, sculpture; thru Aug. 11. Free/$15. 5pm-9pm. 1000 Oak St. http://museumca.org/

Weekly drag show at the historic gay bar. 9:30pm-11:30pm. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com

Latinx and kinks night, with lucha libre gogo guapos. $10. 9pm-2am.

398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Album release party for the comic at a show with Jackie Kashian and Chris Fairbanks. $20-30. 8pm. Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa St. www.verdiclub.net

Friday Nights @ Oakland Museum

Follies & Dollies @ White Horse Bar, Oakland

Al-Lizzo drag night, with host Snaxx. $5. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

20th Street Block Party @ Bryant/Harrison

Drag and variety show with locals and visitors, 6pm-8pm. Followed by Club Spice’s queer dance night, 9pm-3am.

399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Olga T and Shugga Shay’s weekly queer women and men’s R&B hip hop and soul night, at the club’s new location. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway, Oakland. www.bench-and-bar.com

Weekly underwear party at the intimate mid-Market nightclub. $1 well drinks for anyone in underwear from 9pm-10pm. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Caitlin Gill @ Verdi Club

Drag Alive, Club Spice @ The Stud

B.P.M. @ Club BnB, Oakland

Macho Macho @ SF Eagle

The pop-folk band performs; Before the Brave opens. $35-$40. 9pm. 628 Divisadero St. www.apeconcerts.com

Laugh night with Larry Bubbles Brown, Bernadette Luckett, Chad Opitz, Sergio Novoa and host Lisa Geduldig. $10-$20. 7pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Wed 21

Lizzo Tribute @ Oasis

Drag show with DJ Jaffeth. $5. 9pm2am. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Comedy Returns @ El Rio

Get down with the classic funk band (“Fight the Power”). BYO picnic stuff, blankets. 2pm. Free (Big Picnic VIP seating fundraiser $250 and up). 19th Ave. at Sloat Blvd. sterngrove.org

‘80s Tribute Night @ Rickshaw Stop Erasure-esque, Flock of Seagirls and Just like Heaven play classic ‘80s songs. $10-$15. 8pm. 155 Fell St. www.rickshawstop.com

Beatpig @ Powerhouse

Mother @ Oasis Heklina’s popular weekly drag show, with special guests and great music themes, and MadDogg 20/20 in the Fez Room. Aug 16 is a Britney vs Christina night/ $10-$15. 10pm-3am (11:30pm show). 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

New Wave City @ Cat Club Enjoy a B-52s tribute night with dance floor hits spun by DJs Andy T and Blackstone. $10. 9pm-2:30am. 1190 Folsom St. www.newwavecity.com

Boys of Bearlesque @ SF Eagle The male burlesque troupe performs The Wizard of Poz. $5-$10. 7pm10pm. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

High Fantasy @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Weekly drag and variety show $5.

Shows at 10:30pm & 12am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. auntcharlieslounge.com

Queer burlesque and cabaret 6pm8pm, followed by dancetorium of homos with DJs Uffie, Adam Kraft and Dreamcast. 399 9th St. studsf.com

Big gay trivia night at the East Bay bar with host Robert Perez; drinks specials and prizes. 8pm. Pose viewing party at 10pm with host Pearl Teese. 2023 Broadway. www.portbaroakland.com

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan @ Castro Theatre The cast of Star Trek Live! and host D’Arcy Drollinger perform a pre-show act at a screening of the scifi classic film. 429 Castro St. castrotheatre.com

Sun 18 Blessed @ Port Bar, Oakland Amoura Teese and Ava Lashay cohost a weekly drag show. 2023 Broadway. www.portbaroakland.com

Daytime Realness @ El Rio Drag in daylight, plus dancing and hilarity, with Guest-DJ Vin Sol, plus Stanley Frank and Carnita. $10. 2pm8pm. 3158 Mission St. elriosf.com

Vice Tuesdays @ Q Bar Queer femmes and friends dance party. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

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Elvis in Vegas @ the MakeOut Room Leigh Crow (Elvis Herselvis), Hank Maninger, Mitch Polzak, Ben FongTorres, Lynne Maes and others play a tribute concert to Elvis Presley. $10$16. 8pm. 3225 22nd St. www.makeoutroom.com

Hoodslam @ Oasis The rollicking East Bay pro wrestling troupe returns to the gay nightclub; hilarity ensues. $20. 3pm-8pm. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Thu 22 Contact; Connect @ Lone Star Saloon Meet & greet of drop-the-digital faceto-face connections. 6pm-9pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Latin Explosion @ Club 21 Latin beats, Lulu and Jacqueline’s drag show, gogo hotties and a packed crowd. $10-$15. 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. www.club21oakland.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Disco guru DJ Bus Station John spins grooves at the intimate retro music night. $5. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

TwerkBack Thursday @ Port Bar, Oakland DJ Deft plays hip hop grooves, gogos at 10pm, with Mahlae Balenciaga and Amoura Teese. 2023 Broadway. www.portbaroakland.com t

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Sing along at the popular musical theatre night, with a bawdy edge; also Mondays and Wednesdays (but not as dirty). 7pm-2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Disco Daddy @ SF Eagle

Drag divas, gogo studs, and atin grooves. 9pm-2am (free before 10:30pm). 2344 Market St. www.clubpapi.com

Personals

Dirty Musical Sundays @ The Edge

Jaboukie Young-White @ The New Parish, Oakland

The singer-composer hosts the 10year anniversary Harmonic Humanity benefit concert, with Ace of Cups, Luc and the Lovingtons, Vir McCoy Allstars and other musicians. $100.

8pm. 1805 Geary St. at Fillmore. www.thefillmore.com

Tue 20

Pose Viewing, Trivia Night @ Port Bar, Oakland

DJ Bus Station John’s monthly retro groovefest is an aretha Franklin tribute, part 2. $8. 7pm-12am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

Jason Mraz @ The Fillmore

Women’s night with a sultry vampire theme; goth, red & black, lingerie attire welcome but not required; bondage and BDSM demos, too. DJs Olga T and Jayne Grey. $5-$15. 8pm2am. 2344 Market St. beauxsf.com

Qtease, Fake and Gay @ The Stud

Juanita MORE’s monthly groovefest, with DJ Stanley Frank. $5. 10pm-2am.

1347 Folsom St. powerhousebar.com

The smart young comic performs. $25.

7pm (sold out) & 10pm. 1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. www.thenewparish.com

Underwear Night @ 440

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Shining Stars Steven Underhill Photos by

SF Slam XI @ El Toro B

aby-face hunks, lucha libre bears, gay heroes and hilarious heels flew in and out of the ring at the eleventh SF Slam Wrestling For Charity, the pro wrestling night and fundraiser held at El Toro nightclub on August 8 (2470 San Bruno Ave.).

MC Pollo Del Mar led the mirthfully wacky mayhem, as LGBT and straight fans enjoyed the action, plus beers and snacks.

The next Wrestling for Charity event at El Toro is October 3. wfcwrestling.wordpress.com www.eltoroclub.com See plenty more photos on BARtabâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Facebook page, facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photos at StevenUnderhill.com.

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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