April 9, 2015 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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Vol. 45 • No. 15 • April 9-15, 2015

Man acquitted in gay roommate’s death

Airline unions blast Gulf carriers

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by Seth Hemmelgarn

eople who knew a gay San Francisco man who was stabbed, beaten, and strangled to death in 2011 expressed shock after a jury last week acquitted the man accused of murdering him.

Waheed Kesmatyar, Waheed Kesmatyar 28, had testified that he killed Jack Baker, 67, his roommate, in self-defense after Baker raped him, then stabbed him to try to prevent him from leaving their Nob Hill apartment.

Jurors who spoke with the Bay Area Reporter said they were left to believe Kesmatyar’s claims after the prosecution didn’t disprove them.

Kesmatyar put his head down and appeared to sigh deeply after the jury’s decision was announced Wednesday, April 1. At least one member of his defense team cried.

Vince Gonzales, 55, Baker’s cousin, said in a phone interview Wednesday that he was “shocked” by the acquittal.

Baker’s decomposing, nearly decapitated body was found February 11, 2011 in his apartment at 1035 Bush Street, about a week after he’d died. A paring knife had been broken off in his head and there was an electrical cord tied around his neck. He’d been stabbed dozens of times.

Part of the paring knife, along with a larger knife that was also broken, were found with his body.

“The brutality of the assault is shocking, and for the jury to not find some degree of culpability is just mind boggling,” Gonzales said. “I’m sure everybody in the family, our family, will suffer just more exacerbation of the pain that Kesmatyar has inflicted, and no verdict, guilty or not guilty, changes the great loss that the family has suffered.”

During the trial, which lasted about a month, jurors heard evidence that Baker had invited Kesmatyar, who’s straight, to watch pornography with him, and that Baker had previously forced two teenage boys to perform oral sex on him, among other disturbing sexual behavior.

In a phone interview, juror John Atchinson, 48, who’s gay, said the verdict didn’t stem from any “idea that Mr. Baker might have deserved what he got. ... It really all went down to the evidence.”

The jury was instructed that it had to find Kesmatyar guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and Atchinson said, “I really thought that I had no choice” but to acquit Kesmatyar, deSee page 2 >>

by Heather Cassell

Gareth Gooch

Sisters celebrate Easter

irline unions and flight attendants are making an unprecedented move toward equality in the air in the ongoing battle to level the playing field in Open Skies agreements.

The agreements, according to the State Department, have vastly expanded international passenger and cargo flights to and from the United States, promoting increased travel and trade, enhancing productivity, and spurring high-quality job opportunities and economic growth. Open Skies agreements do this by eliminating government interference in the commercial decisions of air carriers about routes, capacity, and pricing, freeing carriers to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air service for consumers.

But Open Skies agreements, which include more than 100 partner countries, don’t include human and labor rights. In 1992, the first agreement went

M National parks encourage LGBTs to come out and visit embers of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and their friends held their annual Easter celebration in Golden

Gate Park Sunday, April 5. The afternoon included the Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary contests, as well as costumed attendees enjoying the day.

by Matthew S. Bajko

See page 10 >>

there is a park out there for you. So get out there and find your park.” he National Park Service is encourAnother video features gay park ranger Miaging LGBT Americans to come out chael Liang, a visual information specialist at and visit the more than 400 parks Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation overseen by the federal agency.

Area in southern California. He is shown jogThe latest move by the park service to ging through Cheeseboro Canyon off the 101 engage the LGBT community is part of the where he runs prior to heading to work. new Find Your Park initiative, launched Liang noted that parks allow visitors to recently in conjunction with the National “slow down” their minds and “notice” the Park Foundation. beauty of the outdoors.

Gay and lesbian park service employees “All you have to do is get up, get out and lesbian singer Mary Lambert, one of there, and find your park,” said Liang. several celebrity centennial ambassadors In a phone interview with the Bay Area for the initiative, are helping to spread the Reporter, Liang, 29, explained that the park inclusive invite as part of the new public service is looking to create the next generaawareness and education campaign celCourtesy National Park Service tion of park supporters and advocates with ebrating the milestone centennial anniverGay park ranger Michael Liang works at the Santa the campaign. sary of the National Park Service in 2016.

“If you look at who we traditionally atMonica Mountains National Recreation Area in “Parks can be much more than a place – southern California. tracted, it was upper middle-class families,” they can foster a state of mind that inspires noted Liang, who grew up in Michigan and me to create some of my best poetry with started with the park service as an intern in In a short video filmed at the Boston National those I love,” stated Lambert, who turned 2004. “The parks are funded by the taxpayHistorical Park for the campaign, Lambert is her vocal work on the award-winning pro-gay ers, so it is really important we represent the dijoined by two fellow spoken word poets who cre- versity of the country and the population.” anthem “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan ate a piece referencing the city’s role in landmark Lewis into her own chart-topping hit “She Keeps Through the Find Your Park’s website, http:// struggles for freedom, from the Boston Tea Party Me Warm” in 2013. “And, they are also places that www.findyourpark.com/, any visitor can uptell my story too. I’m grateful to the National Park rebellion to the fight for marriage equality. load their own video talking about their love “Boston is a place rich in history,” noted LamService for their efforts to tell a more inclusive for America’s protected spaces or an individual bert, adding that parks are “a fabric of your life” park site that is of particular interest to them. story that commemorates the places and events and can inspire one to dream. “Whatever it is, that honor LGBT history.”

See page 6 >>

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<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

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Archbishop set to attend ‘March for Marriage’ in DC

by Chris Huqueriza

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an Francisco’s anti-gay Catholic archbishop is again participating in an anti-same-sex marriage rally in Washington, D.C. just days before the U.S. Supreme Court is to hear oral arguments on the matter.

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has been invited to speak at the National Organization for Marriage’s “March for Marriage” Saturday, April 25. Cordileone also participated in NOM’s anti-same-sex marriage rally last year.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on same-sex marriage, stemming from consolidated cases, April 28.

Local activists were not pleased with the invitation to Cordileone, but said it would not sway the justices.

“If the archbishop speaks at the March for Marriage again, it will have zero effect on the Supreme Court,” said gay activist and investor John Bare, 52. “In fact, it will do exactly the opposite of what he hopes it will do, because it will demonstrate once again to the world (and to the court) that when he speaks ‘for marriage,’ he is really speaking against same-sex couples, who ultimately want nothing more than to live as every other American, free to have their lives and loves respected in law and society.”

Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo and Cordileone wrote a letter to the U.S. bishops in their defense for participation in the march.

“The march will be an opportunity to stand for the good of marriage in our nation, to pray for our Supreme Court justices, and to demonstrate our commitment to the well-being of children. It complements well the bishops’ Call to

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Rick Gerharter

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, left, during his 2012 installation, will be attending the anti-gay “March for Marriage” in Washington, D.C.

Prayer for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty,” the letter stated.

Both church leaders view this upcoming decision to be just as important as the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion, according to the letter.

“The march is an important witness to a movement dedicated to building a culture of marriage and the family, and it serves to remind all people that a Supreme Court ruling will not decide the issue of marriage any more than Roe decided the issue of abortion,” the letter continued.

“We are deeply grateful for any support you can offer for this march.”

Representatives of the archdiocese did not return a call seeking comment.

Last year, Bare participated in a petition drive that gathered over

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Man acquitted

From page 1

spite his original emotions about the case.

Atchinson said that for him, Baker’s alleged sexual behavior “opened up possibilities of the rape occurring,” and he also believed the testimony of Father River Sims, the street preacher who said he saw Baker forcing boys to give him head.

Assistant District Attorney Diana Garcia had strongly disputed Sims’ credibility.

Gonzales, who lives in Weatherford, Texas, and didn’t attend the trial but learned of many of the details through the B.A.R.’s coverage, said, “I just can’t help but be offended by the type of presentation that the public defender’s office” gave.

“I just can’t help but think that they presented the gay panic defense, contrary to your state law, and that’s homophobic and just unacceptable,” Gonzales, who’s straight, said. He called the verdict “an affront” to the LGBTQ community.

But referring to Deputy Public Defender Hadi Razzaq, Atchinson said, “I didn’t feel like Mr. Razzaq was having any kind of gay panic defense.” He said Garcia hadn’t provided any “plausible theory” for the killing, and “I had no choice but to believe [Kesmatyar] was raped.”

Garcia did say during the trial that Kesmatyar had killed Baker after Baker confronted him about not paying the rent, which the defendant denied.

“I think she just made that up out of thin air,” Atchinson said.

Dr. George Woods, a physician who specializes in neuropsychiatry, testified that Kesmatyar had posttraumatic stress disorder after being orphaned in war-torn Afghanistan and being raped as a child. Atchinson took from Woods’ testimony that Kesmatyar’s PTSD had been “triggered,” leading him to kill Baker.

30,000 signatures urging the San Francisco archbishop not to speak at the March for Marriage 2014 rally. Activist Gregg Cassin delivered the petition to the San Francisco Archdiocese.

“That march will happen regardless of the ruling. It is absolutely unacceptable and disturbing that he participates in a rally with anti-gay groups,” said Cassin, 57, a gay man.

“He’s been lying to the parents, teachers and the union saying he wants an open dialogue and doesn’t want to hurt people. It’s incredibly harmful to young LGBT kids.”

According to Bare, “the archbishop felt [so] threatened by last year’s petition drive that after the march, the official diocesan newspaper published a three-part hit piece on the organizers of the petition.”

Cordileone has received criticism for his request to implement new morality clauses to the revised handbook for the San Francisco Archdiocese, of which four Catholic high schools are a part. The clause specifically condemns homosexuality, marriage equality, contraception, ordination of female priests, and assisted reproductive technology such as in-vitro fertilization. He is also in the process of negotiating teacher contracts.

“As a result, 80 percent of his high school teachers signed a petition in opposition to the changes, and hundreds of parents and faculty have marched several times against him,” Bare said. “If the archbishop refuses to be responsive to his priests, his teachers, his parents, and his parishioners, maybe Pope Francis is the only one who can get him to listen to reason.”t Atchinson said Garcia didn’t cross-examine Woods, which “in deliberations we all found kind of odd,” and which “made me accept everything he said as fact.”

In fact, Garcia did cross-examine Woods.

Outside the courtroom Wednesday, Andrea Sparrock, 29, who served as the jury forewoman, said she believed Kesmatyar’s claims of rape and self-defense.

“For me, the issue of rape in general is a serious issue,” Sparrock said.

“For a man to say he was raped by another man is very hard to say. It’s hard for a woman to say.”

She said Garcia, “never showed that it did not happen,” and it was the prosecution’s “burden to prove [the case] beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Sparrock said it was “an unfortunate situation for the victim’s family as well as Mr. Kesmatyar. It was tough.” However, she said, “Our instructions were clear,” that jurors had to base their decision on the evidence presented.

Juror Kim Nguyen, who declined to give her age, made similar remarks and said Judge Kay Tsenin’s instructions “made clear” that the jurors’ decision had to be “based on the law.”

Asked whether she believed the rape claim, Nguyen said, “Yes and no. ... some of it.” She didn’t elaborate.

Mohammad Kesmatyar, the defendant’s father, told a reporter, “Thanks to God to everybody going through this case.”

Waheed Kesmatyar had been charged with first-degree murder, but jurors also could have convicted him of second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter. They found him not guilty of all three.

Amy Filippini, 59, of Oxnard, who was Baker’s friend for more than 20 years, said the verdict “surprised and disgusted” her.t A longer version is online.

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Community News>>

No court date in Harris suit to stop anti-gay initiative

by David-Elijah Nahmod

amendments to the U.S. Constitution “and parallel provio court date has sions of the California been set yet in state Constitution.”

Attorney General Kamala “Requiring the attorney Harris’ legal bid to stop a general to prepare a circusouthern California lawlating title and summary yer from proceeding with would be inappropriate, a ballot measure that calls waste public resources, for gays to be killed. generate unnecessary diHarris filed her comvisions among the public, plaint in Sacramento and mislead the electorRick Gerharter County Superior Court ate,” the complaint states.

Attorney General late last month. A spokesIn a March 24 interKamala Harris woman for Harris, Krisview with U-T San Diego, tin Ford, did not have Harris told the paper that further comment. the Sodomite Suppression Act is Orange County attorney Matthew “utterly reprehensible.”

McLaughlin paid a $200 filing fee Harris also spoke to the Sacrawhen he submitted his “Sodomite mento Bee March 27. “In this case, Suppression Act” to the attorney we are calling for a proposal that general’s office in February. Harris’ is literally calling for violence,” she office provides a title and summary said. “It’s calling for vigilantism. It’s for submitted initiatives to clear calling for the public to be able to them for signature gathering. shoot in the head a member of the In order to get onto the state LGBT community.” ballot, a proposed initiative must Harris also told the Bee that she collect signatures equivalent to 8 didn’t want to be in a position to give percent of the most recent gubernalegitimacy to McLaughlin’s words. torial vote, which in this case would Gay Assemblyman Evan Low be 365,880 valid signatures.

(D-Campbell) and Assemblyman But Harris balked when conRichard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) fronted with McLaughlin’s proposal, have introduced a bill that would which authorizes the killing of gays raise the ballot initiative filing fee to and lesbians by “bullets to the head” $8,000. The proposed bill states that or “any other convenient method.” the money would be reimbursed if Harris’ complaint asks for a judithe initiative qualifies for the state cial declaration that the proposed ballot within two years. ballot measure is “patently unconA Change.org petition to disbar stitutional on its face.”

McLaughlin has received 118,404 The complaint also states that signatures. McLaughlin has not reMcLaughlin’s proposed initiative sponded to the Bay Area Reporter’s violates the First, Eighth, and 14th requests for comment.t

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Police: Gay ex-49er hit autos, tried to bite cop

by Seth Hemmelgarn

other vehicles in the area, Gatpandan said, ay ex-San Francisco police attempted to 49ers football player handcuff Harris “for Kwame Harris was arrested safety reasons.” last Sunday after he allegHarris allegedly didn’t edly hit two vehicles with comply with officers’ his Audi and tried to bite commands and tried a police officer who found unsuccessfully to bite Courtesy SFPD him “groggy” in someone’s one of them in the hand.

Mission district driveway.

After he was arrested Kwame Harris Harris, 33, who in 2013 on suspicion of aggrawas convicted of domestic vated assault on a police violence against another man, was arofficer, Harris “continued to resist rested April 5 on charges of aggravated putting his hands behind his back,” assault against a police officer, resisting which resulted in the resisting arrest arrest, hit and run with property damcharge, Gatpandan said. age, and driving under the influence “Due to the state he was in,” poof drugs. He was released Monday on lice called medics to the scene, and $146,000 bail. As of Wednesday, no Harris was taken to San Francisco court date had been set.

General Hospital, she said.

Sunday, Harris allegedly hit a Gatpandan couldn’t say how long silver car at Hyde and Broadway Harris was at the hospital, and she streets and a recreational vehicle in said she also wouldn’t be able to disthe 1700 block of Harrison Street, close anything he’d said during the and he was also seen driving “erincident. ratically” around 10th and Bryant She didn’t know what kind of streets, Officer Grace Gatpandan, a drugs Harris, a San Francisco resipolice spokeswoman, said. dent, was suspected of being on. Lab Then, at 7:31 p.m., officers were results weren’t available as of Tues“flagged down in the area of 14th day morning. and South Van Ness on a report of “There was no alcohol in the car,” a male who might need some assisshe said, but because it’s an “open tance,” Gatpandan said. investigation,” she wouldn’t be able They found the driver, identified to say whether anything else was as Harris, at the wheel of his black found in the vehicle.

Audi sedan parked “about half way It didn’t appear anyone was inoff a chained-off driveway” with the jured in the alleged hit-and-runs, engine running, she said.

Gatpandan said. She didn’t know Officers tried to gain his attenhow much damage was done to the tion, but “he appeared to be in an alother vehicles or when exactly those tered mental state,” Gatpandan said. incidents occurred.

“He wasn’t exactly following ofAn attorney said to be repreficers’ commands” and he “seemed senting Harris didn’t immediately groggy,” she said. respond to an interview request Since the car was still running Tuesday. Harris couldn’t be reached and there were pedestrians and for comment.t

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April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 3

<< Open Forum

4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

Volume 45, Number 15 April 9-15, 2015 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 • Seth Hemmelgarn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ray Aguilera • Tavo Amador • Race Bannon Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Brent Calderwood • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Belo Cipriani Richard Dodds • Michael Flanagan Jim Gladstone • David Guarino Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell • John F. Karr Lisa Keen • Matthew Kennedy • Joshua Klipp David Lamble • Max Leger Michael McDonagh • David-Elijah Nahmod Paul Parish • Sean Piverger • Lois Pearlman Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota • Bob Roehr Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel • Khaled Sayed Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Jim Stewart Sean Timberlake • Andre Torrez • Ronn Vigh Ed Walsh • Cornelius Washington Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Jay Cribas PRODUCTION/DESIGN Max Leger PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland • FBFE Rick Gerharter • Gareth Gooch Lydia Gonzales • Jose Guzman-Colon Rudy K. Lawidjaja • Georg Lester • Dan Lloyd Rich Stadtmiller • Steven Underhil Dallis Willard • Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge • Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.861.5019 ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lance Roberts NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

LEGAL COUNSEL Paul H. Melbostad, Esq.

It’s all relevant

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he San Francisco LGBT Community Center contracted an executive producer for this year’s Pink Saturday street party, but the way the center – and producer Eliote Durham – responded to our questions was unprofessional and shows a lack of respect for the LGBT community.

First is the issue of how Durham identifies. We ask this question of almost everyone we interview, from politicians to activists, from parents to kids, from cops to lawyers. “How do you identify?” It’s a pretty straightforward question and we ask it so that our readers will know if someone is out and proud or a straight ally.

Coming out is central to our identity as LGBT people. Harvey Milk spoke to the power of coming out so we need not be ashamed and know that we are not alone but in fact are everywhere in society. As an LGBT media outlet, we cover the community with this principle in mind. It doesn’t do any good to dance around the issue – and we don’t. As long as there are people in the world who want to discriminate against, outlaw, or kill us, it’s relevant to come out and identify ourselves publicly. Another question we ask regularly is someone’s age. That’s just standard journalistic practice.

Apparently, Durham couldn’t be bothered with answering such basic questions, and community center Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe gave her a pass, telling us that Durham’s age and sexual orientation “are not relevant to her ability to produce the event.”

We disagree because it provides relevant background information that our readers want to know. While age may not be quite as important, her sexual orientation is part of the story as the producer of a gay party in the gay Castro district on the eve of Pride weekend.

Pink Saturday is an LGBT event, period. It’s welcoming of everyone – gay or straight – and has a long-standing relationship with the Dyke

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prised that the center couldn’t find someone with whom it already works or is from the community.

There are also unanswered questions about the cost for this year’s event, which Rolfe said will be more than the $80,000 the Sisters spent last year. The city is footing at least part of the bill, but the total amount is not yet known. The center also needs sponsorships to help underwrite the cost (presumably different ones than are sponsoring Pride). We’re wondering why the city couldn’t just have provided funding to the Sisters in the first place, since they’ve been producing and paying for Pink Saturday all along. They were at a point where city support might have made a difference in overcoming the recent challenges.

It’s clear that there must be some sort of organized street party on the Saturday night before Pride. With the likelihood of a U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, organizers are anticipating a larger-thannormal turnout in the Castro. And we can’t blame the Sisters for deciding not to produce the event this year. Alone, they’ve done a great job on a shoestring budget for nearly two decades, but the last few years have been marred by violence, including one of their own getting beat up in 2014.

While other cities have large outdoor events for the LGBT community, it’s baffling that San Francisco, which shut down Halloween several years ago, struggles to keep such events safe and fun.

Durham and Rolfe said that they’ll be meeting with stakeholders, including residents and merchants from the Castro, as well as those who have “deep experience” with Pink Saturday and similar large events. And we want to give them the benefit of the doubt. But it’s hard to do that when Durham can’t be open about who she is, and Rolfe says, oh, that information is irrelevant.

There are less than 100 days until Pride weekend. We hope Durham will indeed listen to those who have experience with Pink Saturday, and find a way to keep the crowd entertained.t

Embracing your given right – accepting all that God has created

by Francine C. Still Hicks

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BAY AREA REPORTER

March, which ends in the Castro right around the time the party starts. But at its core it’s a celebration of LGBT Pride on the eve of one of the largest Pride parades in the world.

That doesn’t necessarily mean a straight woman can’t produce Pink Saturday or whatever name it will be called (the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, which owns the rights to the name, haven’t decided whether the center can use it). But it doesn’t mean that the information is irrelevant. Instead of her nonanswer, Durham should have been upfront with us and said, “Look, I’m not gay but I’m a straight ally.

I’ve been to Pink Saturday before.

I’ve produced other large outdoor events. I’m planning to employ a lot of folks from the LGBT community and this will be a gay event.” Fine, no problem.

At least one person who will be assisting with Pink Saturday is gay, Billy Picture, who said that Durham brought him on the production team. He also has experience producing the Castro Street Fair, another large outdoor event. Fine, no problem.

As for the community center: it touts its economic development programs as one of its strengths, unfortunately it could not find an LGBT producer. We realize event producers need a specific skill set, but count us sur-

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rom Merriam-Webster.com/dictionary – Transitive verb: Embrace – cherish, love, encircle, enclose.

1) To avail oneself of: welcome < embrace the opportunity to study further > 2) To take in or include as a part, item, or element of a more inclusive whole < charity embraces all acts that contribute to human welfare> 3) Charity embraces all acts of generous giving. It’s a subject that embraces many areas of learning.

Acceptance – An agreeing either expressly or by conduct to the act or offer of another so that a contract is concluded and the parties become legally bound. The quality or state of being accepted or acceptable: approval.

I begin with the definitions of these two most important words of becoming and standing strong in my new book, The Me I Never Was – embrace and acceptance of oneself. If we are to be true to our soul’s chosen life we must not quiver in our stance when the wind blows – when the storm lifts the mighty ocean with waves of a tsunami’s force, we must embrace and accept ourselves in totality. And those who are upon the ocean at times of turbulence who do not know the truth within, the sea inside of their soul will engulf them – and sink all possibilities of knowing yourself fully into the bottom of the ocean’s floor of uncertainties – never knowing why they fought the battle to begin with. You must know who you are firstly before you can fight the battle toward your Oneness of self and defend your freedom’s right.

upon you since birth – and My book gives readers in so doing you will find the tools and confidence your childlike foundation to discover the person they of truth and purity. Once should be. In the wake of you have retrieved the key “religious freedom” laws in to your strength – the child Indiana and Arkansas, it must be released back unto pulls from personal experithe Mother of Life – whence ences and my professional it came. Then and only then background to teach others you will be able to fight the ways to develop their true prejudices of society as a full selves and stray from sociconscious spirit in “Mind, ety’s labels.

Body and Soul.”

When we look to those When we waiver – when who wish to judge our chothere is discord inclusively sen lives or creativity – and – that energy will magnify they call themselves children to the outside proximity of of God – they speak and act our space. Each individual, in total contrast to the words whether finding themself of the Son of God, Christ Francine C. Still Hicks homosexual or heterosexual Jesus. We find in Matthews – they must know “The me 7:1-5 KJV: “Judge not, that – they were born to be – in ye be not judged. 2) For with all certainty, if they wish to be free.” The inwhat judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and timacy, romance and Love must begin within with what measure ye mete, it shall be meayou! sured to you again. 3) And why behold “Embrace yourself in completeness – and thou the mote that is in your brother’s the acceptance from others will not matter, eye, but consider not the beam that because you have been empowered!” You have is in thine own eye? 4) Or how wilt recognized ... The Me I Never Was.t thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Francine C. Still Hicks is an artist, author, 5) Thou hypocrite, first cast out musician, inspirational speaker, and historical lecturer. She says she has often the beam out of thine own eye; and felt the pressure of society, friends and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out family members to act a certain way or be a the mote of thy brothers eye.” certain person. She turned to self-love and Brothers and sisters I tell you, “Know yourfulfillment to become the person she was self – take the journey back into your soul – truly meant to be. For more information, back into remembrance – only then you will be visit http://www.themeineverwas.com/. able strip the garments that have been placed

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Politics>>

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Santa Clara board opposes anti-gay ‘religious freedom’ laws

by Matthew S. Bajko

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anta Clara County supervisors have banned county-funded travel to any state that adopts socalled religious freedom bills allowing for discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

At its meeting Tuesday, April 7 the South Bay board also instructed county officials to inform the various affinity groups and associations they are members of not to schedule meetings or conferences in states that enact homophobic Religious Freedom Restoration Acts. Such laws empower business owners to cite their religious beliefs for refusing to serve LGBT customers.

“We know other states continue to look at passing these religious freedom acts,” said gay Supervisor Ken Yeager. “I am hoping that is not the case ... Hopefully, we don’t need to enact this ban.”

As the Bay Area Reporter noted in an online story Friday, April 3, Yeager had initially asked his board colleagues to adopt an Indiana-specific ban on county-funded travel after Mike Pence, the state’s governor, in late March signed into law an anti-gay “religious freedom” bill.

Many Silicon Valley companies headquartered in Santa Clara County spoke out against Indiana’s law and similar legislation introduced in other states, such as Arkansas. (See the Business Briefs column, page 6.)

After the fiercely negative reaction from business leaders and the public nationwide, Indiana legislators last week revised their law to clarify that the bill does not authorize discrimination against LGBT people. In response to the revision, Yeager told the B.A.R. last week that he would amend his resolution to be more generic rather than focused solely on one state.

It authorizes Santa Clara’s county executive, Jeffrey V. Smith, to impose

Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager

a ban on county-funded travel to any state that adopts anti-gay religious freedom legislation. The decision would then need to be approved within 30 days by the county supervisors.

Supervisor Joseph Simitian proposed the amendment in order for the public to be able to weigh in on the travel ban and for the supervisors to have a final say on the matter.

“It will allow us to achieve the fundamental goal to get a timely response,” said Simitian.

“It will also provide for a public forum, which I think is appropriate.

Ultimately, it puts the responsibility on the board, where it belongs.”

Supervisor Cindy Chavez added the provision that the county must notify the associations and affinity groups employees belong to once a state ban is imposed.

“They will then have to have a conversation about it and ask what do we do,” she said.

The board unanimously voted 5-0 to adopt Yeager’s resolution with the friendly amendments. It came shortly after four West Coast mayors lifted bans they had imposed on city-funded travel to Indiana.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday morning, San Francisco Mayor

Ed Lee, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, gay Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, and Portland Mayor Charlie Hales said they decided to rescind the travel restrictions due to Indiana’s adoption of an amended Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The quartet also called on the Indiana Legislature to adopt a comprehensive civil rights law to protect all of its residents from discrimination.

“Indiana as a state should follow the leadership of the great city of Indianapolis, and of Mayor Greg Ballard,” stated Hales. “In Indianapolis, protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents are clearly delineated. Indianapolis understands that which so many other cities and states know: that protecting all residents, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, is sane, smart, practical and ethical.”

Also on Tuesday, gay San Francisco Supervisors Scott Wiener and David Campos pulled their resolution that condemned the initial version of Indiana’s law and had called on city departments and private businesses to end business relations with Indiana.

Wiener told the B.A.R. prior to the board meeting that the supervisors had decided to reword their resolution and “make it broader” rather than focused on one state. But he was unsure how he and his colleague would specifically revise it.

Asked about mirroring the resolution Santa Clara County supervisors passed, Wiener said he would review its language and was “definitely open to that.”

Due to the likelihood of there being amendments to the San Francisco resolution, it will likely come up for a vote before the Board of Supervisors at its Tuesday, April 21 meeting.t Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http:// www.ebar.com Monday mornings at noon for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion.

This week’s column reported on the status of the SF, Oakland Indiana travel bans.

Gay man leads in San Jose council race

by Matthew S. Bajko

A

gay man who would be only the second out person to serve on the San Jose City Council appears headed for a runoff election to serve out the term of a vacant seat on the elected body.

According to unofficial returns Wednesday morning, with just 86 percent of ballots counted, political aide Tim Orozco was holding on to first place among the 10 candidates whose names appeared on the ballot in Tuesday’s special election for the council’s District 4 seat. He had 22.15 percent or 1,855 votes.

Fighting for second place were two attorneys with ties to the city’s Vietnamese community who also had support of business interests.

Journalist Manh Nguyen held a slight lead for second place with 18.99 percent or 1,591 votes, while Lan Diep was close behind in third with 18.91 percent or 1,584 votes.

The top two vote getters will advance to the June 23 runoff race for the District 4 seat, which covers the city’s Berryessa, North San Jose, and Alviso districts. It became vacant

after the former officeencouragement, volunholder, Kansen Chu, won teerism, donations, and election to a state Assemyour friendship! Wish us bly seat in November. luck in Round 2!”

An updated vote tally Orozco, 56, is a senior was expected by 5 p.m. assistant to freshman state Wednesday after the Bay Senator Bob Wieckowski Area Reporter’s press (D-Fremont), who he has deadline. According to worked for since 2013 the Santa Clara County when his boss served in Registrar of Voters, the City Council the Assembly. He grew up early tally was based on candidate in the district’s Berryessa 6,942 returned vote by Tim Orozco neighborhood, and after mail ballots out of 28,921 moving to San Diego in vote by mail ballots isthe early 1990s for gradusued. It had 1,400 mailed in ballots ate school, he moved back home in and 180 provisional ballots still to late 2012. count.

He is supported by labor groups In a message Orozco posted and earned the endorsements of Wednesday morning to his camtwo LGBT groups, Equality Calipaign’s Facebook page, he sounded fornia and BAYMEC, which stands assured of advancing to the June for Bay Area Municipal Elections election.

Committee. The first LGBT person “With about 86 percent of balto serve on the San Jose city council, lots counted, I am ecstatic to report Ken Yeager, also endorsed Orozco. that we were the top vote getter in Yeager resigned from the city last night’s election, and have made council after winning a county suit into the special election runoff pervisor seat in 2006. Since then in June!” he wrote. “We could not San Jose’s LGBT community has have done it without your suplacked out representation on the port! Thank you everyone for your city council.t

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<< Business News

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

Silicon Valley leans all in for LGBT rights

by Matthew S. Bajko

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ilicon Valley leaders have emerged as a powerful voice in the fight to defeat anti-gay “religious freedom” bills under consideration in statehouses across the country.

The spark came from the passage of Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act in late March. Marc Benioff, the CEO of San Franciscobased Salesforce, which has offices throughout Indiana, was the first to speak out against enactment of the law, which allows business owners to cite their religious beliefs for refusing to serve LGBT customers.

Not only did Benioff cancel trips for employees headed to the Hoosier State, he said the company would no longer expand its operations in Indiana due to the homophobic law.

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, who only came out as gay last year, was also quick to publicly denounce the Indiana law. He not only tweeted out his opposition to such laws, Cook also penned a widely distributed opinion piece in the Washington Post about the attempts to pass religious freedom bills.

“They go against the very principles our nation was founded on, and they have the potential to undo decades of progress toward greater equality,” wrote Cook.

The pressure from the high-tech executives, as well as other business leaders within Indiana and Arkansas, where a similar bill to the one enacted in Indiana was passed by the state Legislature, helped convince Indiana Governor Mike Pence to seek revisions to his state’s law and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson to call for a similar revisal to the one passed in his state clarifying that neither allowed for LGBT people to be discriminated against.

(Monday, April 6 Salesforce posted online a video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv2jJmtBOUY – in thanks to the state of Indiana that features slain gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk’s famous “Hope” speech.)

Amid the ongoing controversy, as lawmakers in other states consider adopting their own Religious Freedom Restoration Acts into law, the chorus of tech leaders speaking out against the homophobic legislative acts continues to grow louder.

More than 100 technology industry executives have signed onto a position statement that calls on state lawmakers to add non-discrimination protections for LGBT people to their states’ civil rights laws.

“We believe it is critically important to speak out about proposed bills and existing laws that would put the rights of minorities at risk. The transparent and open economy of the future depends on it, and the values of this great nation are at stake,” reads the statement. “Religious freedom, inclusion, and diversity can coexist and everyone including LGBT people and people of faith should be protected under their states’ civil rights laws. No person should have to fear losing their job or be denied service or housing because of who

<<

National parks

From page 1

“It is a digital platform to share your stories. We invite the public to share their favorite national park stories or how they want to envision what the park service looks like,” said Liang.

“It is a great way for LGBT people to share why it is important to them or what we can do to make them more relevant to our community.”

Responsible for the marketing

Rick Gerharter

San Francisco-based Salesforce had a float in last year’s LGBT Pride parade.

they are or whom they love.”

Signers of the statement, being circulated by national LGBT advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign, include Joyus.com Chief Executive Officer Sukhinder Singh Cassidy; Symantec President and CEO Michael Brown; Nextdoor Co-Founder Sarah Leary; Twitter Vice President Katie Stanton; YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki; Google President Larry Page and Google Chairman Eric Schmidt; Uber Technologies CEO Travis Kalanick; and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg; Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers; and Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann.

“The unified message from these business leaders is clear: Pass LGBT non-discrimination protections and pass them now,” stated HRC President Chad Griffin. “Until legislators finally step up to the plate and take action, this issue is not going to go away. It’s time for elected officials to listen to the overwhelming voice of fair-minded Americans demanding equality for their LGBT loved ones, friends, and neighbors.

No American should risk losing their job, be denied housing, or refused service simply because of who they are or whom they love.”

The response from Silicon Valley business leaders has been “inspirational,” said gay Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, who noted the industry only recently has begun to flex its collective power politically, from lobbying lawmakers on net neutrality to being a major source of donations and endorsements for presidential contenders and political candidates.

“It is wonderful to see these companies getting more involved in politics, and secondly, to take a very firm stand in support of LGBT rights,” said Yeager, who had his board colleagues adopt a policy this week that bans county-funded travel to any state that enacts anti-gay religious freedom legislation. “One of the reasons why I felt the county needed to take action on this was the show of support from these companies and to signal that the county of Santa Clara is in unison with them. I am hoping there might be other situations in the future where the county and companies operating in the county can be on the same page fighting for civil rights.”

To make it easy for any company to take a stand against anti-gay religious freedom laws, San Franciscomaterials of the park where he works, Liang said he is mindful of using photos that show a diverse array of visitors. He is working on a series of posters aimed at inspiring Los Angeles residents to visit the Santa Monica Mountains west of the city.

“I take personal responsibility to ensure the people depicted in those photos reflect the diversity of L.A., for example, having two men holding hands watching the sunset in the Santa Monica Mountains,” said

t

based Out and Equal Workplace Advocates has created a webpage where business leaders can find talking points and a template letter they can use to denounce such laws.

(It is located at http://www.outandequal.org/connect/about/mediaannouncements/open-lettertalking-points-religious-freedom/.)

“Out and Equal commends the growing number of companies and elected officials speaking out against discrimination,” stated Selisse Berry, the CEO and founder of the nonprofit. “Major corporations are leading the way for LGBT workplace equality because they understand it is bad for business if they operate in states that are labeled as discriminatory.”

Recalling how local laws protecting LGBT people were overturned at the ballot box in numerous jurisdictions back in the 1970s, Yeager marveled at how the polar opposite occurred this time around, with anti-gay laws quickly falling by the wayside due to the public uproar.

“We all remember when waves of these conservative laws swept through the country and there was no stopping them. I go back to the Anita Bryant days and the fight over laws banning LGBT discrimination in housing and employment,” said Yeager, referring to the former Florida beauty queen who was the voice of the anti-gay fight four decades ago.

The immediate pushback against the latest tactic being used by antigay activists is also in stark contrast to the more recent “waves of legislation” and voter initiatives banning same-sex marriage, added Yeager.

“We are used to these waves happening, and I think there was going to be another one on the religious freedom front. To have it stopped in a week is absolutely remarkable,” he said. “In 30 years of doing gay politics, I have never seen it.”

Honor Roll

Since 2005 the LGBT program Out in the Bay has been a weekly fixture on radio dials. It airs every Thursday night at 7 p.m. on KALW 91.7 FM. To mark its 10th anniversary, the show is throwing a party Wednesday, April 29 at the Oasis nightclub and cabaret in San Francisco.

During the event, “We’ll record a retrospective special featuring audio clips and backstories from our alltime favorite broadcasts. It’ll be the first time we tape a show together in front of a live audience – it’ll be a hoot!” wrote co-hosts Eric Jansen and Marilyn Pittman in an emailed invite.

Doors for the 21-and-over event open at 5 p.m. with the program starting at 6. Entertainment will include the SF Gay Men’s Chorus ensemble The Lollipop Guild and jazz crooner Joshua Klipp. La Mediterranee is catering the affair, which will end at 8 p.m.

Tickets begin at $20 per person and can be purchased online at http://tinyurl.com/ooloog9.

Oasis is located at 298 11th Street at Folsom.t Got a tip on LGBT business news? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or e-mail m.bajko@ ebar.com.

Liang, who came to the park last June from Philadelphia where he worked in the park service’s regional office for the Northeast. “I am still discovering our park. By June my challenge is to identify LGBT historical figures with our park. It will be perfect timing to start digging into those stories.”

One way the parks can attract LGBT visitors, said Liang, is through the programming sites offer guests.

See page 9 >>

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<< Sports

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

Saving the games

by Roger Brigham

L

et’s evoke the spirit of John Lennon and imagine an LGBT sports world in which there is no schism between the Gay Games and the World Outgames. Imagine every four years the global LGBT sports and cultural community comes together, while academics and activists discuss the state of human rights nearby. Imagine there is a greater diversity in participation and more

balanced gender representation in the gathering than ever before.

Imagine an unprecedented and unimpeded growth of the LGBT sports rights movement in Africa, South America, and Asia. Imagine the EuroGames once again occurring every three years out of four.

Team San Francisco, which has fought for that vision almost since the inception of the World Outgames this weekend, will discuss a proposal that would do precisely

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that. The proposal, drafted by the Team SF board, is a refinement of what the organization has been calling for publicly since 2009 and is in direct response to an official proposal submitted by a joint committee of Federation of Gay Games and Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association representatives that would effectively end both the Gay Games and the World Outgames. The Team SF counterproposal preserves both events while eliminating the decade-long rivalry.

The community town hall meeting on the future of the Gay Games, a quadrennial global LGBT sports and cultural festival that started in San Francisco in 1982, will be held at 2 p.m. in the auditorium at Eureka Valley Recreation Center, 100 Collingwood Street, Saturday, April 11. Guest speakers will include board members Shamey Cramer of the FGG and Greg Larocque of GLISA. Numerous honorary lifetime members of the FGG as well as Co-President Kurt Dahl of Chicago are also expected.

Full disclosure here, folks: I am one of those HLMs, a past volunteer and participant in the Gay Games, a board member of Team SF. I am a diehard sports junkie and have spent almost my entire professional career in and around sports.

As such, I could not disagree more with the proposal recommended in the FGG-GLISA committee report and could not endorse more the Team SF proposal, which is logical, practical, and of greatest benefit to the global LGBT sports community.

At the end of February, the FGG sent a report to its member organizations on the latest talks between the FGG and GLISA toward having a single unified event. The committee issuing the report recommended the creation of an entirely new organization to replace the Gay Games and World Outgames and take over the awarding and running of the newly minted event. The report proposes starting a unified bid process and the first steps toward a new organization this month for a merged event in 2022.

I believe the proposal recommended by the report, although well intentioned, is overly ambitious, unwieldy, and sets back the original Gay Games mission rather than advances it. I think it comes from too many people on too many committees overthinking and overengineering solutions for problems that do not exist. I think the easiest and most sensible path for a return to the one global event that existed in the 20 years after the founding of the Gay Games in 1982 until the advent of the World Outgames in 2006 can be taken with minimal impact on organizations and participants if the leaders of the two events can put their egos in check and accept reality.

Fortunately, the Team SF proposal does all that, very neatly and very simply.

Here are the key elements called for in the Team SF proposal: 1) Continue the Gay Games multicultural and sports festival, but cut the length of the total event and reduce the lavish opening and

Roger Brigham

This chart shows that while the World Outgames numbers have dropped down to the level of the EuroGames, the Sin City Shootout has sprung up and surpassed the Gay Games in recent participation.

closing ceremonies.

2) Continue the World Outgames as a separately organized and funded human rights conference event to be held in conjunction with the Gay Games. This would in essence mirror the model already established in GLISA’s Continental Outgames, such as the original North American event held in Calgary in 2007, which basically tacked its conference component onto the pre-existing sports component of the already well-established and accepted Calgary Stampede.

3) Encourage the EuroGames, which originally were held in all years that did not have a Gay Games but then ended up cutting back in years the World Outgames were held, to resume their previous three-years-out-of-four schedule.

4) Continue the Continental Outgames under the guidance of their GLISA regional organizations outside Western Europe and North America. This would help to bring together LGBT individuals in repressed, under-represented areas while not impeding the growth of the well established and organized EuroGames and events such as the Sin City Shootout and international single-sport championships.

Casual observers assume that because both are quadrennial, global LGBT sports and cultural festivals, the World Outgames and the Gay Games are pretty much the same thing – like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. That’s one myth that has kept this ridiculous rivalry breathing. The reality is that they are radically different products with different missions and visions – Gay Games policies and decisions are made by sports and cultural representatives and strict checks have been implemented in hosts’ party and ceremony plans, whereas the World Outgames surrender such decisions to host organizations and insist that human rights, which the Gay Games advance through sports and culture, must be advanced through conferences and workshops.

When Montreal organizers pulled out of plans to host Gay Games VII and established the Outgames, they focused much of their concern on the desire for host autonomy. The FGG, having seen the multimillion

Obituaries >> Robert San Souci

October 10, 1946 – December 19, 2014 San Francisco native and acclaimed folklore author Robert San Souci died December 19, 2014 following a head injury resulting from a fall. He was 68.

Although Mr. San Souci was responsible for dozens of picture books, he was best known for The Talking Eggs: A Folktale from the American South (Dial, 1989), a

t

Creole adaptation of the Cinderella story set in rural Louisiana. His version of the Chinese legend of a young woman who takes her father’s place in war, posing as a man to fight the Tartars and winning glory in battle, was the basis for the Disney film Mulan, and he also wrote the story for the movie.

Mr. San Souci is survived by his brothers, Michael and Daniel; sister Ellen; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends in his Castro neighborhood. Please join in a celebration of Mr. San Souci’s life at the Twin Peaks Tavern, 401 Castro Street Saturday, May 9 at noon.

disasters that resulted from budget decisions made by past hosts, wanted to be able to keep those decisions in check and have a stronger say for the sports and cultural organizations.

Animus has marked much of the talks between GLISA and the FGG through the years. Despite the outward Kumbaya vibe of their current proposal, there remain vast gulfs of difference between the two organizations over such things as how host cities are selected and by whom, who makes budget cut decisions, how revenues are split, and so on.

But although the supposed rivalry between the two events has caused a great deal of angst and distraction for the two organizations, there really is not much competition between the two.

Reality is that the World Outgames have not cut into Gay Games participation numbers so much as they have displaced the EuroGames. Reality is that the biggest “competition” for registrants the Gay Games now face is the rapidly growing annual Sin City Shootout in Las Vegas, which drew more athletes this year than the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland did.

Now, if you are a typical artist or athlete, you really don’t care about all of this behind-the-scenes politics: you just want to get out there to perform or compete. So I won’t dull your minds by harping any longer about the myriad congresses and caucuses and committees that are called for in the GLISA-FGG proposal that would kill the Gay Games and Outgames.

Instead, let me point out what makes the Team SF proposal a win-win.

First, it would free up the FGG and GLISA to concentrate on doing what they do best – and open the door for them to do those things better than they have before. The Gay Games are remarkable for how much control LGBT sports individuals and organizations have in the years leading up to the event and during the actual games themselves, and that has led to a diversity of opportunities and a diversity of athletes. But goals in inclusion of underrepresented minorities, lowerincome individuals and younger athletes have never been reached and neither has gender parity. Not looking over their shoulders at a competing World Outgames will allow the FGG to focus on those goals.

The World Outgames have won great praise for the conferences it has held – but has been an unmitigated and worsening disaster as far as sports are concerned. Brackets have been collapsed, sports have been dropped or combined, tournaments have been eliminated – and those decisions have been made by profit-concerned hosts, not by LGBT sports organizations representatives. By eliminating the sports, cultural, and ceremony components of the World Outgames, and concentrating on running a separately organized and funded World OutSee page 9 >>

t

Community News>>

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

EQCA to honor Cole, Kors compiled by Cynthia Laird

E

Ceremony marks 70th anniversary of Nazi camp liberation

quality California will honor two gay former city residents at A remembrance ceremony will be its San Francisco Equality Awards. held Wednesday, April 15 marking Jody Cole, a lesbian who was the 70th anniversary of the liberaa driving force on tion of the Bergenthe San Francisco Belsen concentration LGBT Community camp. The ceremony Center board of diwill take place at rectors and helped 10 a.m. at the Pink raise money for the Triangle Park and building, is one of Memorial, at 17th, two recipients of Market, and Castro Courtesy Wild Rainbow African Safaris EQCA’s Community streets.

Leadership Award. EQCA will honor Jody Local resident and Cole, who moved to Cole at its San Francisco photographer Bill Georgia, now oper- benefit.

Wilson is planning ates Wild Rainbow the ceremony. He’s African Safaris. She the nephew of Conrad Wilson, who returns to the Bay Area regularly. was an ambulance driver for AmeriGeoff Kors, EQCA’s former longcan Field Service and was with the time executive director, will also British army unit that liberated receive a Community Leadership Bergen-Belsen. When the younger Award. Kors, now a strategist for the Wilson was a freshman in college National Center for Lesbian Rights, (1969) he wrote to his uncle and moved to Palm Springs a few years asked him what it had been like at ago. He announced last month that the concentration camp. Conrad he’s running for a seat on the City Wilson’s reply was the only time he Council in November. He received put his experience in writing until EQCA’s endorsement in that race many years later during the 50th this week. anniversary. Wilson will be reading The gala takes place Saturday, from his uncle’s letter at next week’s April 18 at the Westin St. Francis remembrance. on Union Square, 335 Powell Street.

Participants will also light a Individual tickets are $350. candle in memory of Anne Frank EQCA will also recognize two and the thousands whose lives were other people. Gay former Conlost before liberation. Candles will gressman Barney Frank (D-Massaalso be lit for those who died during chusetts) will receive the Vanguard the months after liberation and for Award. Suzy Jones will receive the those who survived the horrors of State Farm Good Neighbor Award. the camp.

For more information or to purThe event is free and open to the chase tickets, visit www.eqca.org. public.

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National parks

From page 6

He pointed to the Bay Area’s Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park on the waterfront in Richmond, which has sought to capture the stories of LGBT people who either worked in the East Bay shipyards during the war or were service members who embarked from Bay Area military bases for combat in the Pacific Rim. “How we can attract LGBT visitors is through creating national park sites that tell the story of our community,” said Liang, who is hopeful that one day there will be an LGBT-specific national park site.

“While there currently isn’t one yet in the system, there is the theme study looking at LGBT sites.”

In January 2014 the B.A.R. broke the news that the park service had teamed with Megan E. Springate, who identifies as queer and is seeking a Ph.D. in archaeology at the University of Maryland, to oversee a National Historic Landmark LGBTQ Theme Study and proposed framework.

As part of the project, the park service is seeking nominations of

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Jock Talk

From page 8

games human rights conference to be held in conjunction with the Gay Games sports and cultural festival, GLISA will be able to tap into other grant and funding sources and not have to deal with sports. There have been promising results from GLISA’s Continental Outgames in the Australian-Southeast Asia area, and GLISA would be free to build on those successes in underserved areas such as South America and Africa, where their sports, cultural, and conference programs stand a better chance of bringing together a “critical mass” of participants.

Both the Gay Games and the World Outgames currently are becoming prohibitively expensive, which in the long run would threaten not just their raw registration numbers, but more

Free HIV, STD testing for youth in Bayview

April is National STD Awareness Month and the 3rd Street Youth Center and Clinic is offering free and confidential HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing for youth from 4 to 6 p.m. every Wednesday at 1728 Bancroft Street in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood.

The next scheduled night, April 15, will be LGBTQ night. Other testing dates are April 22 and 29.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of the estimated 20 million STDs that occur in the U.S. each year are among young people.

Since 2013, 3rd Street Youth Center and Clinic has seen an increase in STD rates, including gonorrhea, among the youth it serves, according to a news release from the agency.

For more information about the center, visit www.3rdstyouth.org.

BAAITS to offer dance classes

The Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits has started a variety of popular programs, from a bimonthly drum group to its annual powwow, which drew more than 2,500 people this year. Now the organization, one of the few in the nation dedicated to serving LGBTQ and Two Spirit Native Americans, will start offering free dance classes.

The classes will teach powwow dance to Native people of all genders who identify as LGBTQ or Two Spirit. The first class is Wednesday, April 15 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 110 Julian

places important to the country’s LGBT community for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places or to be designated as a National Historic Landmark. Both are considered important first steps that could lead to the properties one day becoming national park sites.

According to park service officials, only five properties in the country have been granted some form of federal historic preservation recognition specifically due to their relationship to LGBT history. There are four sites presently included in the National Register of Historic Places and one – New York City gay bar the Stonewall Inn – listed as a National Historic Landmark. The second landmark, the Chicago home of gay rights pioneer Henry Gerber, should be finalized later this year.

Last month the National Park Service released a seven-page document listing various ways members of the public can assist with its LGBTQ Heritage Initiative. Steps people can take run the gamut from proposing landmark-worthy sites to creating LGBT-themed tours of historic districts.

“The National Park Service has

just released a document that brings together the many ways that people across America, regardless of identity, location, or how much time they have, can participate and engage with the initiative,” Springate wrote in an email to members of the Rainbow Heritage Network, a group for LGBT history advocates. “These include sharing information about places important to your community, spreading the word, visiting historic places, and writing nominations or nomination amendments for the National Register of Historic Places or National Historic Landmarks programs.”t

importantly would curtail the participation of women, underrepresented minorities, and low-income individuals. Recently both events have done a better job of cutting back on the extravagance of opening and closing ceremonies, but they need to do more to cut down on participants’ expenses.

The Gay Games should look at adopting a five-day format and make the opening and closing events more focused on participants, not spectators.

This is critical if either event wishes to avoid the fate of being strictly a big sports-themed pride party for rich white boys.

Big winners in the Team SF proposal would be the athletes and artists themselves. The Sin City model, in which sports are responsible for their own budgets, venues, and policies, comes closer to the Gay Games than the Outgames in giving control of events to LGBT athletes. The Gay

Games are able to take that on the road and bring that input to new hosts around the globe, and they have been able to make sure the mission is focused on inclusivity.

Along the way, provincial attitudes are changed in mainstream sports organizations through the interaction with LGBT sports groups.

But the biggest winners would be the EuroGames, the Gay Games, and the World Outgames themselves.

The EuroGames would get back the event opportunities they have lost since the advent of the Outgames.

The legacies of the Gay Games and Outgames would be preserved and continue to grow.

Questions? Concerns? Come on out Saturday and air them. This Saturday, let’s evoke the spirit of Gay Games founder Tom Waddell and rally around a solution to carry the movement forward.t

The document can be downloaded online at http://www.nps. gov/history/heritageinitiatives/ LGBThistory/GetInvolved.pdf.

Springate and Elaine JacksonRetondo, an historian and the National Historic Landmarks program manager, will be in San Francisco next week to present an overview of the LGBT initiative. The free public forum will take place from 7 to 9 p.m.

Monday, April 13 at the GLBT History Museum, located at 4127 18th Street in the Castro.

Avenue. The class continues April 29, May 6, and 20 “Our greatest human need is to be loved and accepted,” said Aurora Mamea, who will teach the classes.

“When we dance, we’re creating our own medicine. We’re putting out healing energy when we dance.”

Mamea, a cultural prevention specialist at the Native American Health Center, said the classes will teach inter-tribal powwow dancing.

“It’s not necessarily traditional cultural dances. This is what they call pan-American,” she said.

Most Native cultures include concepts of diverse sexualities and genders. Two Spirit is a pan-Native term that encompasses these traditions, present in the more than 500 Native tribes in the United States.

BAAITS has wanted to add powwow dance classes to its repertoire for a long time, said board member Aidan Dunn. In particular, he said, Native Bay Area residents with roots elsewhere in the country may have no other way of learning powwow dance styles.

“Because they’re in such an urban area, they’re not around their family and tribal community to learn

dancing,” Dunn said.

Trans health summit coming up

The UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health will hold its National Transgender Health Summit next weekend in Oakland. The conference, taking place Friday-Saturday, April 17-18, also offers continuing education credit for health care professionals.

A wide range of topics will be discussed in breakout sessions, including trans families, gender-expansive children, social media for trans people, and mental health issues. There will also be morning and lunchtime plenary sessions, as well as a reception Friday night and a closing plenary Saturday evening.

The conference will be held at the Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway. One-day registration is $250 for adults, $200 for students. The continuing education credits are an additional fee. For more registration options and information, visit http://transhealth.ucsf.edu/ trans?page=ev-summit-2015.t Yael Chanoff contributed to this report.

SAN FRANCISCO

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25% off in the Hall of Olympians.

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Call 415.752.7891 Visit us at One Loraine Court, in the heart of the Richmond.

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Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

<<

Out in the World

Legal Notices>>

From page 1

into effect with the Netherlands, Stephen Schembs, the government affairs director of the Association of Flight Attendants, told the Bay Area Reporter.

The airline unions are working on including human and labor rights in the agreement being negotiated with Norwegian Air International as a part of the European Union-United States Open Skies agreement, he said.

The fight is also focusing on Middle East airlines.

In late March, two flight attendant associations and two airline unions joined forces to push the U.S. Travel Association, the national travel trade organization, to pay attention to United Arab Emirates and Qatar airlines’ lack of human and labor rights, particularly LGBT and women’s rights.

U.S. Travel Association Chief Executive Officer and President Roger Dow is siding with the UAE airlines, according to a letter signed by four union representatives that was shared with the B.A.R. Angered, the AFA’s leadership is seriously considering an unprecedented move by approaching the U.S. State Department and Department of Transportation to request a consultation to include human and labor rights in future Open Skies agreements, said Schembs.

“We are asking the U.S. government to get the consultation because we think that the Middle East carriers are not holding to the terms of the Open Skies agreement,” said Schembs, 50, a gay man who also sits on the executive board of Pride at Work as AFA’s international union representative.

“I think that labor rights and human rights need to be part of these global arrangements that we are entering into with foreign countries now [and] in the future when we are looking at trading partners,” said Schembs, a veteran in the airline industry for more than 25 years.

“We need to be sure that we are including women’s rights, labor rights and LGBT rights in the equation.”

The labor leaders’ latest target are Gulf carriers Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways. The United Arab Emirates owns Emirates and Etihad Airways. Qatar Airways is a state-owned airline.

U.S. airline labor unions and flight attendants joined forces to criticize UAE airlines’ discriminatory hiring practices against LGBT employees and alleged sexist employment policies.

Angered by Dow’s defense of the Gulf airlines, heads of the Association of Flight Attendants, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Communications Workers of America, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters called him out in an open letter to the association’s board for “defending abhorrent labor standards.”

The associations and unions are members of the travel industry trade organization.

Dow is defending companies that bar lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from employment and impose policies American and many other airlines around the world did away with a long time ago, the representatives wrote in the March 26 letter.

They cited that UAE airlines “imposed archaic weight and appearance standards,” on its female employees and demand them to “get permission before getting married or pregnant.” The letter also cited the Middle Eastern airline’s anti-LGBT hiring practices along with the Gulf states’ ban on unions and workers taking part in political organizations.

“I really feel like any type of discrimination needs to be highlighted, exposed, and magnified,” said Laura Glading, a veteran flight attendant and president of the APFA, talking about the horror stories she’s heard

t

SUMMONS SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: BERNARDO RAMIRO FUENTES YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: IRMA ENCINAS CASE NO. CGC-12-526901

forumpramugari.com

Emirates Airlines flight attendants are shown in a publicity photo.

first-hand from Qatar flight attendants and American LGBT flight attendants flying to the Middle East.

“These are people who do not treat other people like human beings.”

However, Schembs believes there is a segment of the LGBT community that enjoys flying with Middle Eastern airlines because of the aura of a “bygone era.”

“There is a large segment of the LGBT community who would actually say that they enjoy flying with the Middle East carriers because of the perceived luxury or the status that is associated with a bygone era,” said Schembs, “but that illusion is only created because these airlines maintain these women height and weight status restrictions.”

Battle for the air

The letter was the most recent skirmish at the Gulf airlines from U.S. airlines in a heated battle for fair competition in the air. The “Big Three” U.S. airlines – American, Delta, and United Airlines – argue that the Gulf carriers have received $42 billion in subsidies from their governments for a decade in violation of the Open Skies agreements, according to a recently published study.

Doug Yakel, public information officer at San Francisco International Airport, where the Gulf airlines operate locally, declined a request for an interview.

Representatives of Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time.

However, Etihad defended itself in a statement to the media but didn’t directly address the union’s criticisms.

Katie Connell, a representative of the Gulf airline, insisted that its workers were treated with “dignity and respect” and pointed out its high ratio 57-1 of applications. Connell also pointed out that 92 percent of the airline’s employees stated in a survey that “they would go above and beyond their job responsibilities to help the airline succeed,” reported NJ Advance Media.

“Our crew is entitled to the full scope of benefits in line with UAE laws, but we choose to go further,” said Connell in the statement. “Etihad provides many benefits that exceed those requirements significantly, such as housing allowances, comprehensive medical insurance, education expenses, company-wide performance bonuses, robust HR practices, global flight benefits, emergency services, childcare services, and a generous leave policy.”

Connell then pointed out the accolades the Etihad has received and shot back at the unions. She pointed out that the airline hired some furloughed United pilots at the rank of full captain, merit-based classifications that would never be permitted by a union. Connell also accused airline alliances of dominating the global industry and the alliances’ desire to reduce the “competitive landscape” that Open Skies agreements encourage.

Dow didn’t respond to request for comment, but he continued to defend UAE airlines criticizing U.S. airlines concerns in a statement to the media.t

Notice: You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp) your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

The name and address of the court is: San Francisco Superior Court, 400 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102.

The name, address, and telephone number of the plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is:

ROBERT P. GARCIA, 12 GEARY ST RM 708, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108; (415) 648-3060 Date: Dec 11, 2012; Clerk Of The Court, by Steppe, Deputy.

APRIL 02, 09, 16, 23, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036322900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SOVAN’S EYEBROWS THREADING, 520 MONTGOMERY #107, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RASHILA LAMSAL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/02/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/23/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036374000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: B & G TRANSPORTATION, 1555 YOSEMITE AVE #39, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JUAN ELIAS GUTIERREZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/17/15.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/17/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036371100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MODERN POTIONS, 855 FOLSOM ST #313, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JANE MANGAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/13/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/13/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036358400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: QUARTER MILE MUSCLE, 660 4TH ST #533, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed STEFAN BURGESS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/10/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/10/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036360500

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-15-551033

In the matter of the application of: MEGAN ASHLEY GRIMM, 4540 CALIFORNIA ST #10, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner MEGAN ASHLEY GRIMM, is requesting that the name MEGAN ASHLEY GRIMM, be changed to MEGAN ASHLEY KUMAR. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 514 on the 2nd of June 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APRIL 02, 09, 16, 23, 2015 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-15-551034

In the matter of the application of: VISHAL AGARWAL, 4540 CALIFORNIA ST #10, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner VISHAL AGARWAL, is requesting that the name VISHAL AGARWAL, be changed to VISHAL KUMAR. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 514 on the 2nd of June, 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APRIL 02, 09, 16, 23, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036321400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PTYRONEPRESENTS, 2261 MARKET ST #188, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PAUL TYRONE SMITH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/23/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036362900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FANCY PANTS AND TEA, 275 5TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed DAAIMAH WAQIA & TAKIYAH ALAKE SMITH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/11/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/11/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036375000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AESTHETIC LASER CONCEPTS, 490 POST ST #1701, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed AESTHETIC LASER CONCEPTS INC. (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/17/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036364600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TAQUERIA MEXICO TIPICO, 4581 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed RUBEN & ASOCIADOS, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/12/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036371300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: POLLINATION PRODUCTIONS, 310 ANDOVER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed ELIZABETH STEPHENS & ANNIE SPRINKLE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/13/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036358500

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-033396500

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: AESTHETIC LASER CONCEPTS, 490 POST ST #1701, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business was conducted by a corporation and signed by PEARL IN THE SKY, INC. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/07/11.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036389900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KOHLENBERG & ASSOCIATES VOCATIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES, 459 FULTON ST, #204, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BETTY KOHLENBERG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/1981. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/24/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036368400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: IPICKUP4U.COM, 2035 OAKDALE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ASIANA CHAU NGUYEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/12/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/12/15.

MAR 26 APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036370700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MAC AND MILK SF, 8 RICHARDS CIRCLE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LINDSAY BUSSEY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/13/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036389500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SKIN LOUNGE, 1640 BUSH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JENNIFER CLARK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/13/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/24/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036382600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NATASHA GEORGIA, 5432 GEARY BLVD, #121, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NATALIA ZHOGLO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/20/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036385500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AMX PLUMBING, 4739 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MAX NGUYEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/23/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/23/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036379700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PURPLE SCOOTER, 288 SANCHEZ ST. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BARRY SYNOGROUND. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/19/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/19/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036381400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PERCENT JEWELRY, 1204 STEVENSON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed THOMAS SCHWARTZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/19/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/19/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036374400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE PHNX GROUP, 2127 KIRKHAM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BIJAN NOROOZI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/11/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/11/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: METHODOLOGY, 281 CLARA ST #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed METHODOLOGY SF LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/10/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MV MEDIA, 171 LIBERTY ST, #201, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARSHA VDOVIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/17/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036367600

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036344700

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036370200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PROJECT UNIFIED ASSISTANCE, 2940 16TH ST #200-2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AHMED F. ALKHATIB. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/26/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/12/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TOBEK, 1251 TURK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANTHONY C. EKE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/04/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/04/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NINELUS BEAUTY SUPPLY, 4300 GEARY BLVD, #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NATALYA RINGO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/13/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/13/15.

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015

MAR 19, 26, APR 02, 09, 2015

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036377200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MAKASIAN LAW, 1995 OAK ST, UNIT #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ROSS B. MAKASIAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RANGOON RUBY BURMESE CUISINE, 1608 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed RANGOON RUBY INVESTMENT, LLC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/13/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036382800

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036381200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SIRRON NORRIS STUDIO & GALLERY, 172 FAIRMOUNT, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131.

This business is conducted by a general partnership and is signed SIRRON NORRIS AND LAURIE SCOLANI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/06/2010. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/20/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036378500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SOMA PIZZA, 483 3RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed ISAM ABDULLAH DARWISH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036375800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE UPS STORE 0546, 182 HOWARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SAN FRANCISCO MAIL BOXES CORP (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/13/2003. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036383900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BELLOTA, 888 BRANNAN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed THE ABSINTHE GROUP, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/19/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/20/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036376700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LA LUCHA COFFEE BAR, 1600 17TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed JACK OF HEARTS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/15.

Classifieds The

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036377000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EDEN OF SAN FRANCISCO, 572 O’FARRELL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HEREMBAG LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/19/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/19/15.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035680300

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: SUNSET PLUMBING, 1858 45TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by YEHUDA GOLANI. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/25/2014.

MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036394700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SHARDS OF HISTORY, 1578 INNES AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GREG FREEMAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/26/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/26/15.

APRIL 02, 09, 16, 23, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036358300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRANNY PANTY DESIGNS, 215 SANTA YNEZ AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARISSA CARTER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/10/15.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/10/15.

APRIL 02, 09, 16, 23, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036396000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TRISKELIAN’S KEY, 399 ARGUELLO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HERSCHELL LARRICK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/27/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/27/15.

APRIL 02, 09, 16, 23, 2015

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MAR 26, APR 02, 09, 16, 2015 CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO OUTREACH ADVERTISING APRIL 2015 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

The Office of the Clerk of the Board seeks responses from firms that are qualified to provide all of the labor, equipment, and technical expertise needed to provide weekly, pre-scheduled, live, uninterrupted, radio broadcasts of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors meetings, in their entirety, on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. Please visit www.sfbos.org to view the Request for Qualifications or email Ambi.

BohannonJones@sfgov.org for more information.

MAYOR’S OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (MOHCD) REVISED Notice of Public Hearing and Availability of Draft 2015-2016 Action Plan, Including Preliminary Funding Recommendations The Draft 2015-2016 Action Plan, which includes preliminary funding recommendations for the CDBG, ESG, HOME and HOPWA programs, will be available for public review and comment from March 26, 2015 through April 24, 2015. A public hearing to receive comments on the Draft 2015-2016 Action Plan is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 6:00 PM at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 2nd Floor Atrium Conference Room. For more information, please visit www.sfmohcd.org or call 415-701-5500.

SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION Arts Commission Street Artists Program: Refund of Fees for Honorably Discharged Veterans.

If you are an honorably discharged Veteran and a resident of California who participated in the Street Artists Program between January 1, 2009 and July 1, 2014, you may be entitled to a refund of your street artist fees paid to the Arts Commission during that time period. Refund claims must be submitted in person or postmarked by July 1, 2015. Please visit sfartscommission.org/street_artists_program for more information about eligibility and instructions on how to file a refund claim.

STAY CONNECTED TO THE CITY THROUGH SF311 The SF311 Customer Service Center is the single stop for residents to get information on government services and report problems to the City and County of San Francisco. And now, we have even more ways for you to stay connected to the City with our SF311 App and SF311 Explorer website.

The SF311 App lets you get information on City services and submit service requests on-the-go right from your smartphone. You can track your service requests through the app or through our new website, SF311 Explorer.

SF311 Explorer not only lets you check the status of your own requests, it enables you to see what issues are being reported throughout all of San Francisco and what the City is doing to resolve them.

Download the SF311 App from your smartphone’s app store and visit the SF311 Explorer at explore311.sfgov.org today!

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETINGS APRIL TUESDAYS, 2:00PM, SF CITY HALL CHAMBER, ROOM 250.

APRIL 7, APRIL 14, APRIL 21, APRIL 28 The City and County of San Francisco encourage public outreach.

Articles are translated into several languages to provide better public access. The newspaper makes every effort to translate the articles of general interest correctly. No liability is assumed by the City and County of San Francisco or the newspapers for errors and omissions

Blogs>>

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Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036396500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PIZZA JOINT, 3088 BALBOA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JIHAD DABIT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/27/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/27/15.

APRIL 02, 09, 16, 23, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036363500

Movers>>

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: UBIQUITY RETIREMENT & SAVINGS, 101 GREEN ST, 2ND FLOOR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111.

This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DECIMAL INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/12/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/12/15.

APRIL 02, 09, 16, 23, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036377100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 1-2-3-4 GO! RECORDS, 1034 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed STEVEN PHILIP RAY STEVENSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/18/15.

Legal Services>>

APRIL 09, 16, 23, 30, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036404500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PRACTISTRY, 945 IRVING ST #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed WENDIE SUE LASH & KAREN LEE ERLICHMAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/02/15.

APRIL 09, 16, 23, 30, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036405400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GIG TELECOMMUNICATIONS, 1225 JUDAH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed JIANG ZHI HUI & SHEN PENGYU & FUNG HUNG LAU GIMEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/02/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/02/15.

APRIL 09, 16, 23, 30, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036389800

Pet Services>>

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PLEASANT AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION, 1931 QUESADA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GALAXY UNLIMITED SERVICES, INC. (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/24/15.

APRIL 09, 16, 23, 30, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036402600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHRISTOPHER’S AT THE PALACE, 3601 LYON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed POFA CAFE, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/01/15.

APRIL 09, 16, 23, 30, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036384200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RED APRON PIZZERIA, 3214 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed RED APRON PIZZERIA, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/15/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/20/15.

APRIL 09, 16, 23, 30, 2015

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UNBC1839_MA1_BayAreaReporter_9.75x16.indd 1

3/27/15 3:33 PM

22

Castro April

High Camp

20

Out &About

Vol. 45 • No. 15 • April 9-15, 2015

www.ebar.com/arts

The sperm whale is the largest toothed predator on the planet. Its big rectangular head is the world’s largest nose.

A Whale is a Whale is a T Whale

by Erin Blackwell

Courtesy Logo

he greatest and most vulnerable. The mightiest and brightest. The furthest from and closest to us. Singer of songs, prey to homo sapiens, eater of Giant Squid, lighter of lamps, stiffener of ladies’ corsets. Monster

Scene from Russell T. Davies’ new series Cucumber.

Brandon Cole

Nick of time

15

O&A

15

of measurement, behemoth of breath, blimp of blood. Herman Melville exhausted his poetic prose encompassing the human error, terror, technique, and mania unleashed in your pursuit during the mercenary massacres of the 19th century. Greenpeace activists risked their lives See page 22 >>

Fruits & veggies on queer TV

by David-Elijah Nahmod

R

ussell T. Davies made a name for himself when he produced the original British version of Queer as Folk. Following on the heels of Ellen DeGeneres’ historic coming out, QAF kicked the closet door open as never before. The series’ somewhat soap-operaish storylines were punctuated with graphic gay-sex scenes unlike anything ever before seen on the tube.

Davies, who also worked for many years on the sci-fi series Doctor Who, now returns to Queer TV with a pair of interconnected gay dramas. Cucumber and Banana, both of which are co-productions of Logo and Britain’s Channel 4, will begin airing on Logo on April 13. A third series, Tofu, is being produced for the Web, but will not be seen in the USA, at least not yet.

Hungry for more info?

See page 14 >>

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

45 eB AR .co

Our largest edition of the year publishes on June 25, 2015 and will celebrate Pride’s historic 45th anniversary.

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▼

the anniversary historical parade contingents, to mind Pride’s 200 passing likely to call milestone is of the GLBT significance. executive director anniversary Paul Boneberg, said Pride’s 40th in events both Society, of the Pride Historical importance “shows the and around the world.”

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Reporter columhe Bay Area writing for the nist who’s beenwas founded in it paper since column today his 1971 is retiring 24).

June (Thursday, a.k.a. Richard Walters, pubSweet Lips, B.A.R. founding roommates and the late Ross were his self-delisher Bob Lips started when Sweet column.

Sweet Lips, and scribed gossip and people, bars, Reporter columnist He wrote about Polk and Bay Area with bar owner Marlena paper’s Francisco’s visits left, at the events in San He even worked in right, publisher Bob Ross, 2001 at the areas.

B.A.R. party in April .

Tenderloin led him 30th anniversary a few bars.

Club Rendez-Vous health has now-defunct But declining page 4

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NectArena executive producer Jade Williams, as Edaj. better known

Cleland

at this of the women t’s the year Francisco Pride Sunday’s San LGBT festival.

San Francisco NectArena, Committee’s 10 Pride Celebration is celebrating women’s stage, In addition to the years of pride. two competing affiliated stage’s anniversary, events, not women’s Pride Committee – Eden with the Pride PrideFest – are and in the Bay to the celebration. [See adding glam in this month’s “Feast of Eden” stage, the BARtab.)

NectArena The popular of its kind and also longest running

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Pride has two most prominent one of the the world at stages in stages women’s L. idea of women’s “sparked the events,” said Kendall other Pride

▼

Rick Gerharter

S unfurl material a contingent rainbow Members of to the colors in the ing Parade. correspond the 2008 Pride flag during

Vol. 40

communit transgender

▼

34 wraps up Frameline final weekend’s The big 4-0! days: The politics of Pride parade.

As the only LGBT publication with an audited and verified circulation, the Bay Area Reporter offers the largest reach to LGBT consumers in the 9-county San Francisco Bay Area.

RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY!

▼

OUR 2015 PRIDE EDITION PUBLISHES JUNE 25. CALL 415-861-5019 or EMAIL ADVERTISING@EBAR.COM FOR MORE INFO. page 13

NS ECTIO REE S OF TH FIRST

<< Out There

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

Surrounded by glamour & talent

by Roberto Friedman

Highnesses. It reminded us of a (likely) apocryphal story told about he Alliance Francaise of San thespian immortals Elizabeth TayFrancisco was the happening lor and Richard Burton when they place last Thursday night for a rewere chosen to be Prince Rainier’s ception and talk in celebration of and Princess Grace’s guests of honthe publication of In the Spirit of or at the luxurious Red Cross CharMonte Carlo by Pamela Fiori, full ity Ball held in “Monte.” of vintage photos of the storied capElizabeth wore the faital. The event was attended by Her mous 69-carat Burton Excellency Maguy Maccario Doyle, diamond, set as a ring.

Ambassador of Monaco to the Princess Grace reportUnited States; Mr. Thomas Horn, edly said, “You know, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Elizabeth, diamonds San Francisco; various other swells that size are really rathand dignitaries; and Out There and er vulgar.” Elizabeth Pepi. We’re pretty sure this is the smiled, removed the only time you will ever read “Her ring, slipped it onto Excellency” and “Out There” in the Princess Grace’s finsame sentence. ger, and said, “Now it’s The affair was glamorous and got not so vulgar, is it, dear?” us to thinking about Monte Carlo Another glamorous event OT atand its royal family, their Serene tended recently, Fashion Forward: An Evening with Erdem showcased the Erdem Fall/Winter 2015 Collection by designer Erdem Moralioglu, presented

by Saks Fifth Avenue and San Francisco Opera Guild at Pier 27, the San Francisco Cruise Terminal, late last month. The new terminal is spectacular and vast, and it was full to the brim with a gregarious society crowd decked out in their best cocktail attire. We sure do mix with a lot of well-dressed people.

On yet another night out that week, OT and Pepsodent personified Pepi (glamorous and talented in his own right) found ourselves chilling in style at the NEMA Casino Night, high up on a 23rd-floor roof terrace, and partying all around the gleaming new skyscraper Courtesy NEMA residence found at 8 10th St. One of the two 20-foot-high monuOn the rooftop, we grooved to mental stone sculptures featured in a live Latin band, swilled wine, NEMA’s new public art plaza. and marveled at all the examples on the skyline of SF’s new

T

civic bird, the whoopee crane.

The most unexpected pleasure in our recent theatre-going lives was attending a performance of The Last Five Years, a musical in concert with music & lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, brilliantly sung by Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe, presented at ACT two weekends past. Kantor and Wolfe both performed in the critically acclaimed 2013 offBroadway revival at New York’s Second Stage Theatre. Brown’s musical tells the story of Cathy and Jamie, two 20-something New Yorkers who dive into a marriage fueled by optimism and mutual attraction. It’s a sad but human story, told simultaneously backwards and forward.

As philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once pointed out, life can only be lived forward, but can only be understood backwards. This makes knowing what to pack for lunch extremely difficult. (Hat tip: L.A.) In Stereotypo: Rants and Rumblings at the DMV, hugely talented comic actor Don Reed portrays nine characters of varying races and classes, and gives them each a distinct voice as they try to negotiate “America’s ultimate melting pot,” the good old DMV. OT attended the Stereotypo opening night at the Marsh SF last Friday night, and we’re here to tell you that Reed is the real thing. He comes dangerously close to stereotyping in his impersonations of characters such as a blind Latino man, a fierce transgender woman and an old Jew, but he invests each role with heart and empathy, and finds the commonality in all of us. Plus, he’s a real hoot.(Fri. & Sat. through April 25 at the Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., SF. Tickets ($20-$100): (415) 2823055 or themarsh.org.)t

t

Copyright Archives Palais Monaco/G. Lukomski

Operatic diva Maria Callas arrives with Princess Grace at the Inaugural International TV Festival in Monaco, 1961.

One Week Only! April 14–19, 2015 The Bay Area welcomes spring each year with this popular weeklong exhibition featuring unique art and floral mash-ups in which floral designers create arrangements that pay tribute to and draw inspiration from the works in the de Young’s permanent collection. Throughout the week, visitors can participate in floral demonstrations by prominent designers, hands-on art activities for children, catered luncheons, and more.

Grand Patron Diane B. Wilsey

Event Leader

Event Contributor McGladrey

Media Sponsors

Unidentified artist, girandole mirror, ca. 1810. Limewood, glass, brass, and gilding. FAMSF, gift of Mrs. Virginia Bosche, 78.60. Floral design by Church Street Flowers. Photograph © Greg A. Lato / latoga photography

Brittany Kamerschen

Don Reed plays nine different characters in his new work Stereotypo: Rants and Rumblings at the DMV, playing at The Marsh San Francisco.

<<

Cucumber

From page 13

within the same fictional universe.

Expecting viewers to keep tabs on two different shows in order to follow the same group of characters might be asking more of the audience than they have to give. One series should be enough in order to tell these stories.

That one issue aside, Cucumber and Banana are well worth a look.

Alternately funny, serious and insightful, they offer a no-holds-barred look at 21st-century gay life. The language is graphic. In the first episode of Cucumber, Henry delivers a hilariously raunchy monologue about actor Ryan Reynolds’ cock.

Things take a very serious and dramatic turn in the second episode, when Henry deliberately sabotages his one chance to repair his broken relationship with Lance.

He’d rather chase after a 20-year-old blonde boy. It’s both heartbreaking and humorous to see how often we can be our own worst enemy. t

Cucumber appears to be the flagship show. As the story begins, 46-year-old Henry (Vincent Franklin), an insurance executive in Manchester, is lusting after men less than half his age – none of whom are interested in him. Every time he salivates over a hot young body, he imagines a giant, hard cucumber being slapped into his hand.

Henry has lived with Lance (Cyril Nri) for nine years. Their sex life sucks. After Lance brings a hot young guy home, all hell breaks loose. Henry is left to start his life anew as he moves into a loft with two 20-year-old slackers. Cucumber will focus on Henry’s new life in a serialized format.

Companion series Banana examines the lives of the young kids that Henry is so enamored with.

Characters from both shows filter in and out of each series, which might Cucumber and Banana begin airconfuse viewers. All of the characing on Logo on April 13. arePark interacting with each other Goldenters Gate • deyoungmuseum.org/bouquets

t

Theatre>>

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

After the thin man

by Richard Dodds

V

arious words have been used to describe the musicals that 42nd Street Moon presents, with “neglected,” “lost,” and “seldom-seen” among them. Nick & Nora can certainly claim the “neglected” and “seldomseen” descriptors, but “lost” suggests something that someone has been looking for. After the 1991 musical closed on Broadway after just seven performances (and 71 previews of amply reported backstage warfare), the traumatized creators weren’t trying to sell it, and nobody was asking to buy it. Nobody, that is, until 42nd Street Moon received singular permission to put Nick & Nora back on stage. And, I say, hooray for that.

No, Nick & Nora is not a great musical – or even a particularly good one. In fact, at times, it can be pretty bad. But it is sufficiently legendary to rate a chapter whenever a new book about Broadway’s biggest bombs comes out. I don’t believe that I ever root for a show to fail, but once it has, the stories behind those failures often involve epic clashes of ego aboard a runaway train. I like those stories, and I want to see the shows that provoked them.

The unfortunate truth is that much of the good stuff does happen behind the scenes, and what is actu-

role. The fearsomely vivacious Allison F. Rich has her amp turned up to 11 as an ambitious movie star who has summoned Nick and Nora to solve a murder that threatens production on her new movie.

Many of the other characters are drawn as stock types, including Reuben Uy as the star’s seemingly stereotypical Japanese houseboy, William Giammona’s suave thug, Justin Gillman’s wise-guy sidekick, Michael Kern Cassidy’s variation on Joseph Kennedy, Cindy Goldfield as his Boston Brahmin wife, Michael Barrett Austin as a sleazy cop, and Megan Stetson as a Carmen Miranda equivalent. A blowzily comic Nicole Frydman, already a corpse as the show begins, is brought back to life and killed as the crime is repeatedly reenacted.

Dave Dobrusky’s musical direction, Hector Zaval’s sets and costumes, and Staci Arriga’s choreography all help make Nick & Nora a reasonably entertaining rendering of a misbegotten musical. If you have ever wanted a chance to see Nick & Nora, this is it, folks.t

ally seen on stage seldom lives Man series is only allowed to up to, or down to, expectations be suggested through more engendered by the not-sinceblithe veneers. Otherwise, it’s a Carrie stories. Nick & Nora lead weight. The concurrently is one of those truths, but in running City of Angels was an 42nd Street Moon’s producexample of how to get it right. tion at the Eureka Theatre you Despite the conflicting efcan clearly see where the muforts that pulled Nick & Nora sical works and where it often in different directions, direcgoes off the rails. It’s as if the tor Greg MacKellan has gotBroadway veterans who creatten the heavily plotted story ed Nick & Nora failed to comup and running in admirable prehend the very essence of the fashion, even if you occasionDavid Allen assignment at hand. The only ally lose track of who did what figure who apparently did, a Ryan Drummond and Brittany Danielle play to whom, and more imporneophyte producer who came the title characters in Nick & Nora, who try to tantly, why. Set in Hollywood up with the idea, was eventu- help a Hollywood friend (Allison F. Rich, right) of the late 1930s, the show uses solve a murder that threatens her career. ally kicked off the team. a kind of cinematic flashback That assignment was to form to recreate the crime clever banter in place of awkward capture the spirit of The Thin at hand from various points displays of sincerity.

Man characters created on page by of view. That’s fun, and the show Nick is a retired private detective Dashiell Hammett and embodied reaches its full potential in several and Nora his quick-witted partner on screen by William Powell and numbers that have all the suspects who are inevitably drawn into yet Myrna Loy. For theatergoers today, interweaving their multitude of stoanother murder mystery that has and perhaps even in 1991, direct ries in song and dance. And then baffled the police. Their weapon of evocations of the source material it all ends with a drippy ballad for choice is unwavering savoir faire that are not crucial. It’s not like the Gone Nick and Nora that punctures any writer Arthur Laurents, composer With the Wind musical tries that accumulated Thin Man spirit with Charles Strouse, and lyricist Richard have never been able to overcome generic, ugh, sincerity.

Maltby, Jr. undercut at regular interimages of Clark Gable and Vivien The cast is in good shape in terms vals. This iteration of Nick and Nora Leigh. But what made The Thin of the complexly rendered exposihas contrived marital problems, and Man franchise so appealing was the tion. Ryan Drummond is able to Nora is tempted to have a dalliance bon vivant Depression-era lives of slip into Nick Charles’ personalwith a dapper mobster who sings a Nick and Nora Charles, unimpaired ity, while Brittany Danielle’s Nora seriously sad song that is so wrong by copious martinis, who deeply is perkily charming if not cutting a for this show. Sincerity in The Thin love each other but show it through particularly strong presence in this

Nick & Nora will run at the Eureka Theatre through April 19.

Tickets are $25-$75.

Call (415) 255-8207 or go to 42ndstmoon.org.

April flowers at the Castro Theatre

by David Lamble

debunks a half-century’s worth of heroic myths on how the white man isposable Film Festival One tamed the frontier? Eastwood is reof the coolest programs at our tired gunfighter William Munny, movie palace is aimed at attracting a known thief and murderer of vithose personal expressions derived cious disposition, hiding out as a from your camera phone or other pig farmer before returning to his hand-held device. Tickets are availold trade, gunfighter and avenging able via disposable.com. See it this angel. An awesome supporting cast year, do it next year. (4/9) features Gene Hackman, Morgan Midnites for Maniacs Jesse HawFreeman and Shane Meier, who as thorne Ficks’ long-running series Munny’s teenage son gets the tagprovides a silly big-screen glimpse line, “Pa, hey, Pa, two more hogs got at two Hollywood campfests. the fever!” Queer film buffs may recRocky IV (1985) This is cold-war ognize the diminutive actor as MatRocky, with Sylvester Stallone takthew Shepard in NBC’s 2002 The ing on a Soviet ring giant realized Matthew Shepard Story. (both 4/12) by the Swedish martial-arts master The Imitation Game (2014) Dolph Lungren.

Benedict Cumberbatch notched an The Rock (1996) From the subOscar nomination for his low-key lime to the outlandish. Action meisportrayal of an underappreciated ter Michael Bay ropes Sean Connery gay hero, the closeted WWII Britand Nicolas Cage into a terrific Alish math wiz Alan Turing. Turing’s catraz prison-set action thriller fuprofessional life, highlighted by feats eled by script contributions from of mathematical brilliance that proQuentin Tarantino and Aaron Sorduced a machine that exposed Nazi kin. (both 4/10) Germany’s top secrets, unfolded alongside a cloistered gay identity that would have been unexceptional if it weren’t for the Victorian-era laws that turned “poofs” into dangerous outlaws.

The Theory of Everything (2014) Eddie Redmayne dominates this truelife account of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking’s world is rocked by the news that he has the normally fatal Lou Gehrig’s disease. Stephen embarks on Bradley Cooper as the title character his most ambitious scientific in director Clint Eastwood’s American work, studying the very thing Sniper. he now has precious little of: time. Directed by James American Sniper (2014) Clint Marsh. (both 4/13) Eastwood’s film is based on the A Girl Walks Home Alone at combat memoir of a now-deceased Night (2014) Billed as “the first Iraformer Navy Seal. Chris Kyle’s (a nian vampire Western,” this B&W career high for Bradley Cooper) epic marks the feature-film debut of four tours of duty in Iraq become writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour. a framework for examining postOnly Lovers Left Alive (2013) traumatic stress on combatants and The vampire film that only Jim Jarcivilians alike. musch could have imagined. With Unforgiven (1992) Who would Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, have expected that director-producMia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin, er-co-star Clint Eastwood would Jeffrey Wright and John Hurt, Lovdeliver an epic Western (screeners was filmed in multiple locations play by David Webb Peoples) that including some pretty ravaged sec-

D

tions of contemporary Detroit. (both 4/14) Sunset Boulevard (1950) Billy Wilder’s mid-career masterpiece is a gothic comic gem, with former silent-movie star Gloria Swanson breathing life into a scary diva character not a reflection of her own life or career. (4/15)

The Big Lebowski (1998) In this most improbable cult classic, the Coen Brothers provide a loopy setup for every straight-boy drugbooze-gender joke capable of being hatched at a bowling alley. Imagine a jovial blue-collar crowd on four tabs of acid. A scruffy Jeff Bridges is a righteous goofball who gradually

becomes aware that he’s in with a far rougher crowd than his bowling bros.

Cutter’s Way (1981) Czech-born director Ivan Passer is one of a long line of foreign filmmakers to provide us with a genre-topping clasSee page 16 >>

LENA HALL

CONNIE CHAMPAGNE

MARILYN MAYE

April 24 - April 25

May 14

May 15 - May 16

For tickets:www.feinsteinssf.com Feinstein’s | Hotel Nikko San Francisco 222 Mason Street 855-MF-NIKKO | 855-636-4556

097238.01_HNSF_2015_BAR_4-9_MECH Trim: 5.75in x 7.625in

Bleed: none

ROUND #: MECH

Live: 5.75in x 7.625in

Color Space: CMYK

<< Books

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

Political animal

by Tim Pfaff

I

t would take an electron microscope to measure the average American’s interest in British politics. There might be a Streepish Maggie Thatcher on the radar, or a poor-little-rich-girl Diana, but to the average Yank with any capacity for denial, even Tony Blair might seem little more than a smudge on history, which, come to think of it, may not be far off the mark. It doesn’t exactly make one proud to be an American to consider how few countrymen could name Britain’s current prime minister.

As I write, campaigning, with its usual depredations, is convulsing the UK. This is one reason Michael Bloch’s Jeremy Thorpe (Little, Brown & Co.), a masterly biography of the man who, in January 1967, at 37, became, Bloch writes, “the youngest leader of a British Parliamentary party [the now-defunct Liberals, more or less reconstituted as today’s Liberal Democrats] since mass politics had begun a century earlier,” is timely. Still, it would not have been wasted on most British readers that Bloch’s book appeared, not at all accidentally, less than two weeks after Thorpe’s death, of Parkinson’s, on December 4 last year.

Thorpe had given Bloch extensive one-on-one interviews and access to documents and knowledgeable intimates, yielding a manuscript

that Thorpe declared would appear only over his dead body. Given the extent to which Thorpe’s flamboyant political life was a matter of public record, it’s likely that most – but not all – of what he wanted to come out only posthumously were the details of his extravagant, edgy and ultimately career-destroying escapades as a wildly promiscuous homosexual.

Reading only the sex parts of Bloch’s 500-plus-page biography won’t save you that much time, and the author makes the whole of the story spellbinding. Readers with prurient interests may go directly to the chapters “Tendencies,” “Nor-

man,” “Edge,” “Prosecution” and “Trial,” titles that plot the sex storyline concisely. But in a book that gives every evidence of having been composed over a long time, Bloch gives a richly detailed yet strikingly balanced portrait of a floridly unbalanced politician whose life could be summed up as the dubious privileges of privilege.

The descendent of a family in which same-sexuality and mental illness were as common and conspicuous as breakfast, Thorpe sought, and prodigiously found, sex with men from his own (uncertain, but peerage-inclined) class to the beautiful, young, available men of the lower classes that have always comforted, and sometimes troubled, homosexuals of certain dispositions and some means. The stories are jawdropping, or at least jaw-loosening, and readers on our side of the Atlantic won’t be surprised at the several references to Thorpe’s visit to San Francisco on official, U.S. State Department-sponsored business in San Francisco in 1961, when, Bloch notes, Thorpe wrote to associates (on official House of Commons stationery, as was his wont), “expressing his delight at the ‘gay’ (he already uses the word) life of San Francisco, in which he had joyously indulged and from which he had found it hard to tear himself away.”

In San Francisco, and thereafter, there’s “Bruno” and a subsequent

FBI investigation, but these are reasons to read the book.

San Franciscans may hear uncomfortable echoes of Harvey Milk’s troubled relationship with Jack Lira in the “Norman” episodes, with the notable exception that the out Milk did not have the vulnerability to career-ending accusations of homosexuality, which was still illegal in Britain in Thorpe’s heyday, but which he could easily have got away with by being less outrageous. A stable-boy named Norman Josiffe when Thorpe met him in 1960, the mysteriously handsome, clearly disturbed, borderline personality morphed into a sometime-model who renamed himself Norman Scott. Their relationship, which Scott claimed was sexual and Thorpe implausibly insisted was not (there’s a lot about Vaseline here), was short by normal-people’s standards, longish by Thorpe’s, and over the ensuing two decades, all but literally lethal for both men. When Thorpe was at the height of his political sway, the ever-impecunious Scott tried to extort (more) major money with threats of spilling the considerable goods. When the threats became strong enough, it appears, a solution hastily – but out loud – articulated by Thorpe was to have him killed, the murky results of which were a bungled attempt on Scott’s life by a hitman, who in the event killed only Scott’s dog, Rinka. Hence the trial for attempted murder and conspiracy, in which a

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defeated Thorpe legally prevailed, Scott was publicly dressed down, and the Liberal Party died.

Bloch rarely psychologizes, and when he quotes others doing so, provides evidence pro and con. The wary reader will notice the steady attention he draws to Thorpe’s uncanny ability to mimic – not just to do a good Winston Churchill when properly sloshed, but, as an undergraduate, to be able to imitate every classmate at the table after a single lunch – and to otherwise entertain. Also, Bloch writes, “A problem which dogged Jeremy from the outset of his career was lack of money,” though he somehow always got along.

Not lost in all the tawdriness is Thorpe’s political record, which saw considerable work to overturn the laws criminalizing homosexuality in Britain, some very real championing of underdogs not named Rinka, other work that led to the creation of Amnesty International, and much else. Nor is there overlooked his post-leadership, if too-little-too-late marriages and engagements with women he demonstrably loved.

I suspect that what will give this astonishing book such resonance as it will have on this side of the pond is the collective gloom of people of liberal and progressive slants, that inescapable sense of having been betrayed by the people with high-flying principles they elected.t

Rockers under new management

by David Lamble

I

f it’s true that life is what happens when you’re planning something else, then the weirdly fascinating new bio-doc from first-time director James D. Cooper Lambert and Stamp is a hard jolt of the life force. Who the hell were Lambert and Stamp? Chris Stamp (19422012) was an East London scrappy Cockney whose older brother, actor Terence Stamp (Billy Budd), steered him into working backstage at the ballet because that’s where “the birds” were, meaning young single girls. But the reason we know Stamp at all is because he hooked up professionally with an openly gay, aspiring filmmaker, Kit Lambert (193581), who was much taken with the films of the French New Wave.

Lambert and Stamp started out to document Britain’s emerging New Wave “Mods and Rockers” scene in the early 1960s. While the film they planned was stillborn, the beautiful B&W footage they shot became, decades later, the foundation of James Cooper’s film-bio about them.

Cooper skillfully, almost seamlessly weaves this archival treasure-trove

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Castro Theatre

From page 15

sic. A gigolo (Jeff Bridges) and a disabled war vet (John Heard) hatch a blackmail scheme that’s creatively supported by Jordan Cronenweth’s camera (Blade Runner) and Jack Nitzsche’s music. (both 4/16) The Time Machine (1960) Rod Taylor is futurist writer H.G. Wells, who entertains his contemporaries with far-fetched tales. Director George Pal also has the Welles classic The War of the Worlds on his resume.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) The 1960s TV series returns to the big screen, this time as an homage to the late Leonard Nimoy. (both 4/17) San Francisco (1936) This early

with present-day chats with the surviving bandmates of The Who, Pete Townsend and the streaminggolden-locks lead singer, Roger Daltrey. The best thing about Lambert and Stamp is the candid contemporary opining of Townsend and Daltrey, who note the odd ironies of their long-ago association with the duo who became their managers. Chris Stamp himself notes the absurdity of their managing The Who. “We never said we knew how to do it.”

The frustrating thing about this R-rated (some nudity and adult language), two-hour, time-shifting talking heads exercise is that audiences coming to this party cold probably need to download a bit of background stuff to get up to speed.

I suggest the end of the first hour of Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music (the Director’s Cut) (Warner Brothers DVD), along with The Who’s Tommy rock-opera album.

What Lambert and Stamp does do so well is to demonstrate how easy

Sony Pictures Classic

Left to right: Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert in director James D. Cooper’s bio-pic about them.

sound-era spectacle remains one of the B&W cinema’s most spectacular examples of world-shaking epics.

Airport 1975 (1974) This cornball special-effects disaster flick becomes the setup – Airplane! (1980) – for which this Zucker Brothers spoof is the punchline. (all three, 4/18) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Steven Spielberg and buddy George Lucas decided to go for broke using old Saturday-morning movie serials as a template for billion-dollar film franchises. Tight-lipped, stoic Harrison Ford takes on the careerdefining role of Indiana Jones, the Nazi-fighting archaeologist who unearths a big bad Biblical secret.

1941 (Extended Edition) (1979) Spielberg stretches his version of the attack on the American Naval base

at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by 26 minutes to a bustling two-and-a-halfhours. (both 4/19) Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) This upscale hetero erotica gets its Hollywood treatment with Dakota Johnson as the English-lit student and Jamie Dornan as the mysterious control-freak businessman who gives her as much as she can handle.

Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986) Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger give us the 80s spin the same story. (both 4/20) Harold and Maude (1971) A 20-year-old Bud Cort and a nearing-80 Ruth Gordon become the oddest odd couple of the American sound-era. Comes complete with fake suicides. Remember, it’s ok to laugh.

A New Leaf (1971) Former

it was for guys (and it was mostly a boys’ club) to collaborate with other fellows with whom they may have been otherwise incompatible.

In some ways, Lambert and Stamp provide an odd echo of prickly 19th-century artistic partnerships like Gilbert and Sullivan.

While I know few people go to the movies to learn about music/ cultural marketing, Lambert and Stamp has some pure gold flakes of wisdom for those who can dial in to its peculiar marketing vibes. At one point, Townsend, a now-balding grey eminence, quips, “The audience thinks I write songs about me.

No – I write songs about you. We mirrored the audience. You don’t give them what they want, you just allow them to be. You don’t market to them, you market them.” This is exactly what I’ve distilled from years of studying the money-inthe-bank methods of MTV, YouTube, WABC/Music Radio, Walt Disney and every TV network that stayed the course.

Secondly, but perhaps even more to the point, Kit Lambert, out of the closet before it was safe or fashionable, and Chris Stamp, perhaps

envious of his more famous older brother actor, both felt the sting of being marginalized and alienated from the larger herd of humanity. As I’ve discovered from decades of college radio, rock radio and gay journalism, the pop culture will provide and steer the most naive novice to his or her own personal mother lode of meaning.

On the other hand, Cooper and company make clear the bitter disappointment felt by Kit Lambert that he missed out on the chance to produce Tommy as a movie.

Furthermore, dying at 45 (just as his musician dad had) prevented Lambert from witnessing the full blooming of the rock-music garden he and his partner, Stamp, had so beautifully seeded.

Ultimately, Lambert and Stamp will truly cook when it’s released on Blu-Ray and DVD. The beauty of its B&W images matches those of other British-invasion R&R gems, like Richard Lester’s first film with the Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night.t

standup comic-turned-movie writer-director Elaine May has always been a little misunderstood. Here she gets to play off comic genius leading-man Walter Matthau. It doesn’t get any better. (both 4/22) San Francisco International Film Festival at the Castro, 4/22-26 See our upcoming coverage. (Info: sffs.org) Rope (1948) Alfred Hitchcock employs homo subtext ahead of his time to give us a deadly queer couple (John Dall, Farley Granger) who throw a peculiar party where the guest of honor lies stone-cold dead in a trunk in plain sight of his friends and soon-to-be grieving parents. James Stewart demonstrates the enormity of his range as a philosophy teacher whose grandiose theories have acquired a body count.

Bound (1996) Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon play fast and loose with a mob boyfriend and ill-gotten loot. (both 4/29) Fingers (1978) Harvey Keitel doubles down as a piano prodigy and loan-shark collector for the mob. James Toback’s first directorial outing has stood the test of four decades’ worth of rep screenings.

Reservoir Dogs (1992) Quentin Tarantino’s hard-boiled spin on gangster-flick conventions is fueled by mind-blowing flashbacks, gallons of fake blood, impeccable pop-song choices and one of the best faux tough-guys casts ever assembled: Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi and the indescribable Lawrence Tierney. (both 4/30)t

Opens Friday at AMC Metreon in San Francisco.

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Books>>

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

New treasures from Colette

by Tavo Amador

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he great and prolific French author Colette (1873-1954) could have been a character in one of her own novels or short stories. Born Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette in Burgundy, she at different times was an actress, dancer, music hall entertainer, beauty-shop owner, and advice columnist.

She married three times and had affairs with women, including American hostess Natalie Clifford Barney and Mathilde de Morney, Marquise de Belbeuf, with whom she performed on stage and lived with for five years. Among her male lovers was Italian writer Gabriele d’Annunzio. She and her second husband had a daughter, but the marriage ended in divorce and she had an affair with her former stepson. In 1935, she wed Maurice Goudeket, whom she called “a saint.” He cared for her during her final, wheelchair-bound years.

She found literary success with the Claudine novels, which featured lesbian schoolgirl crushes, and which were initially published under her first husband’s name. In 1920, Cheri appeared. Regarded as her masterpiece, it’s a tale of a callow young man’s affair with an ageing courtesan, Lea, a relationship initially encouraged by his mother, also a former courtesan. The novel upends gender roles – Cheri is the sex-symbol, Lea’s boy-toy. The sequel, La Fin de Cheri (1926), shows Lea’s strength and Cheri’s weakness as their affair ends.

In America, Colette is best remembered for Gigi (1945), adapted as a play in 1951 starring (at Colette’s

insistence) the almost unknown Audrey Hepburn – and again into the celebrated, Oscar-winning Lerner and Lowe 1958 musical. In all, she published 50 novels, many short stories, essays, and articles.

It has been 50 years since anything new by Colette has appeared in English, but happily, that drought is over with the publication of Shipwrecked on a Traffic Island and Other Previously Untranslated Gems, translated from the French by Zack Rogow and Renee Morel (Excelsior Editions, SUNY Press, $24.95). This wide-ranging selection of Colette’s writings shows her surgically-precise insights, wit, warmth, and wisdom. The collection, augmented by brief introductions, also captures her remarkable personality.

The title piece is a witty and ironic short story about an actress and her platonic friend, Hamond, a portrait painter. He had been abandoned by his younger wife, she by the “cause

of my suffering.” At first they were miserable. But then they realized how happy they were without their former lovers. They kept the secret to themselves, however, and accepted ongoing condolences from sympathetic friends. Then, one day, on a traffic island in front of the Church of the Madeleine in Paris, Hamond encounters his ex-wife, with unexpected consequences.

Set during the Belle Epoque, Masked Ball on the Riviera: Cyclamen and Buttercup, or the Costume Ball of the Feet is a thinly disguised roman a clef featuring the openly gay writer and dandy Jean Lorrain, and exposing the tawdry pretentiousness of the entertainments of the demimonde.

Her pen-portrait of her contemporary, Marcel Proust, published in 1949, 27 years after the great gay novelist’s death, is revealing – about him and her. They met often during the 1920s, and she found his excessive politeness off-putting to the point of not seeing him anymore.

After reading Swann’s Way, however, she was filled with unconditional admiration for his genius. The last time she saw him, he was clearly ill.

Her recollections of him are candid, compassionate, and touching.

Her 1942 memoir of actor/singer Maurice Chevalier, who would play Honore Lachaille in the musical version of Gigi, sympathetically reveals the anxiety and stress behind the jovial, cheerful mask he wore when performing. Having been onstage herself, she understood how much work it took to create a character alien from oneself.

Her film criticism is fascinating.

A 1939 article published in Marie Claire, “Why I Love Bette Davis” is one of the best contemporary ac-

Family memoir, gay author

by David-Elijah Nahmod

W

hile the mass slaughter of Jews, LGBTs and others during the Holocaust has been well documented, there were other horrific acts committed during World War II that aren’t as well known.

Greg Archer, an openly gay journalist and author, journeys back to the Siberian peninsula during the 1940s, where Russian dictator Joseph Stalin deported two million Polish citizens during his Eastern European reign of terror. Archer’s family was among the victims. Archer’s history of this incident is his book titled Grace Revealed. He will appear at Books Inc. in the Castro on April 9 for a reading, talk and signing.

“This year is the 75th anniversary of the mass deportations, and this is part of history,” Archer said, speaking to the B.A.R. from his home in Chicago. “It nearly got swept under the rug, but it’s finally being revealed by several sources.”

Though he did traditional research, Archer was also able to record first-hand accounts of what took place. “I did extensive research with the Kresy-Siberia Foundation and the Hoover Library at Stanford,” he said. “But so much of my research came from my own family.

I had several living family members who could recount their experiences, which was wonderful if haunting. This story recounts what Stalin did to Poles, mainly sending them to Siberia.”

The author said that he was not able to visit the Siberian camps, but hoped to make a documentary film about them. “I did take a trip back to Poland to visit where my family originated from,” Archer said. “I saw

several concentration camps near Krakow. Those were Nazi camps.”

Archer described his feelings about the experience. “You can feel energy in there, a kind of vibe,” he said. “It’s quite haunting. So I can only imagine what it would feel like to go back to the actual camp that my family had been taken to in Siberia. It’s really important for me to tell the story.”

Everyone knows the story of the Holocaust, Archer pointed out, which, he says, is important to know about. “Few people are aware of what Stalin did to Poles and to his

own people,” he said.

Archer said that the LGBT victims of Stalin are not forgotten.

His book “doesn’t primarily focus on that per se, but it is referenced and included,” he said. “Stalin was an equal opportunity deporter. He didn’t care if you were Polish, Jewish or gay. He just took people from Eastern Poland and sent them into slave labor. It’s quite astounding.”t Grace Revealed by Greg Archer, author reading at Books Inc., Thurs., April 9, 7 p.m., 2275 Market St., SF.

Author Greg Archer: ‘It’s important for me to tell the story.’

counts of the impact the Hollywood star had on women. Her contrasting Davis with Greta Garbo shows Colette’s keen intelligence and her ability to analyze the effect that performers can have on audiences.

The text of a 1937 radio broadcast, “On Women Growing Older” is refreshingly unsentimental and painfully accurate, yet not depressing.

During World War II, Colette remained in Paris, helping her Jewish friends and hiding her husband in the attic of her home. In January 1940, before the collapse of France and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, she made a remarkable radio broadcast to Americans, hoping they would come to France’s aid. Eventually, they did. In “Colette Speaks to Americans,” she demonstrates a painful knowledge of war and its ef-

fect on soldiers. “But war is a huge torrent – unfortunately tainted with precious young blood – an enormous wave that drowns all the bad jokes made out of embarrassment and that drowns petty pride. In wartime, a man who’s been a husband for many years no longer hesitates to write to his wife the letters of a passionate lover, and doesn’t hesitate to risk his life to save a comrade he didn’t know the day before.”

Translation is an art, and Colette has been well served by Rogow of the Creative Writing Department of the University of Alaska and native Parisian Morel, an expert on French culture and an instructor in French and Linguistics at City College of San Francisco. Together, they have captured the extraordinary range and power of one of the 20th century’s most important writers.t

<< TV

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

‘It’s a yes-or-no question, Governor’

by Victoria A. Brownworth

W

hat did we love on TV this week? Everything. We loved the return of Mad Men April 5 for the second part of the seventh (why isn’t it just the eighth season?) and final season of the series that changed the TV landscape. We loved the surprise ending of NBC’s The Slap, which turned out to be very gay. We loved the debut of NBC’s American Odyssey, which is an intriguing take on American Sniper. (And by intriguing we mean, not jingoistic and not testosterone-driven.) We loved that Fox’s The Following, from gay showrunner Kevin Williamson’s dark hand, has revved up the homoeroticism a gazillion-fold.

TV is so good right now, we even loved the Republicans. Well, to be clear, we loved seeing Republicans get their misogynist, homophobic, warmongering, racist asses handed to them on live TV on every network and news program. We loved that.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence: his ass was handed to him repeatedly and on a platter and with a floral buttplug by George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s This Week, which led to said ass being handed to him by corporations all over America, plus a bunch of states and cities, Hillary Clinton, Miley Cyrus and Pres. Obama. We don’t like Stephanopoulos a lot of the time, but we totes loved him slapping Pence six ways to Sunday morning talk-show land with his, “Is it now legal to refuse service to gays and lesbians in the state of Indiana? It’s a yes-or-no question, Governor.”

The endless loop tape of Pence stumbling over Stephanopoulos went viral. It was on every newscast, not just those on ABC. We expected Tim Cook to make a statement. But when even WalMart thinks your bigotry is unChristian and hurts business, you know it’s bad. As Rachel Maddow said of Pence and the Indiana legislature, “They have no sense of how big of a problem this is.”

We thought it was instructive that Mark Stodola, Mayor of Little Rock, appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show on April 2 to talk about the pending Arkansas legislation that was set to mirror that of Indiana.

Plead your case that you really aren’t as homophobic as Indiana on the lesbian’s show? Sounds like a plan.

Some Republicans weren’t as lucky as those trying to hook up with Maddow. Jeb Bush, the “moderate” Republican presidential candidate, had been the first to get on

national TV and assert, “I think Gov. Pence has done the right thing [in signing the law]. I think once the facts are established, people aren’t going to see this as discriminatory at all.” Oops. He wasn’t able to cadge a “get out of bad politics free” card from everybody’s favorite MSNBC lesbian.

We can’t say we’re sorry. So we won’t. We’re kinda thrilled that Pence set the culture wars bar so high that every Republican presidential hopeful felt compelled to go on national TV and stand up for the Indiana law, then watch as the entire country, including WalMart, owned by the conservative Christian Walton family who have given $12 million in campaign contributions to Republican candidates since the 2000 election cycle, turned against the Indiana law.

We are big supporters of small businesses, but when TMZ reported that Memories Pizza, the first Indiana business to declare it would refuse lesbian and gay business, had its anchovies handed to it via Twitter and good old-fashioned phone calls, we weren’t even a little sad. And we love pizza. TMZ reported that the shop’s owner Kevin O’Connor had to temporarily close his business. Seems O’Connor told reporters (when will these people learn?) he would refuse to cater a gay wedding under the new Indiana law. O’Connor claimed he was inundated with threats and has had to close his shop “till things quiet down.” The twist in the TMZ report is O’Connor said he wouldn’t deny service to random gays coming in off the street for a slice. But he’s the kind of religious guy who just does not believe in same-sex marriage, so no pizza for any Adam-and-Steve wedding. We’ve been to a lot of gay and lesbian weddings. Funny thing, though. No one ever served pizza.

Wheel world

Nothing makes us as gleeful as seeing homophobes hoisted on their own petards on national TV, so we hope Gov. Pence and his posse were watching “America’s Game” (that would be Wheel of Fortune) a few days after Pence’s run-in with Stephanopoulos. The Wheel is Middle America. It’s the heartland.

It’s people eating dinner in front of the TV with their families and friends, calling out the letters and yelling, “Just solve it before you go bankrupt!” On March 31, Chris L. (no last names on WOF, it’s like a 12-step program) from Los Angeles won the show. Chris was a flamer (he was even wearing pink pants).

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When he won and Pat Sajak asked him who was there to support him, Chris introduced “My boyfriend, Brian.” Pan to Brian waving gaily from the front row. Sweet.

Also sweet? Ellen and Halle Berry playing with lingerie on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, modeling the Oscar winner’s new line of undies at Target. The “girls” did a 30-second spot where they each tried to stuff as much money in their bras (from Halle’s line) as possible while inside a windy Plexiglas box. Halle accused Ellen of cheating by also stuffing $100 bills Indiana Gov. Mike Pence had his ass handed to him on national TV. in her jeans. Those butches. cially since Glee is also gone now. we saw how casually cruelly homoThen Ellen grabbed a pair of Where are the gay boys of TV gophobic his parents were as they told panties, and Halle grabbed them ing to come from? This isn’t just a Michael and Cyrus to smile, reportback. “It’s very sexy,” said Ellen. Halrhetorical question. We know there ers were watching, and they wanted le told her she was big into lingerie, were complaints about Looking bethe money that had been offered to and being married to a Frenchman, ing slow, too white, and not sexy them for just showing up. Now we it was a necessity. This was one of enough. But the show was also set in knew why Michael had requested those queer moments without even the real San Francisco. It addressed a that his parents not be brought in trying that just makes the day go so plethora of real issues, from HIV to for the wedding, but since he had much faster. We were pretty sure we ageism in the gay male community. been told that “optics” mattered, saw Ellen pocket some panties, perYet the most important thing about they were there. haps for Portia?

Looking to us was its existence. A Once back at Cyrus’ house where Speaking of Portia de Rossi, we’re show with gay men. About gay men Michael has been living in his own glad to see her character Elizabeth who aren’t sexually neutered, like quarters and not “with” Cyrus, North back on the grid on Scandal. pretty much every other gay man on there was a moment of detente and The demonic RNC chair has taken the tube except Jamal on Empire. poignant kindness as Cyrus held an intriguing and desperate turn Whether you liked the show or Michael, who had collapsed on the in an attempt to gain back power. hated it, the cancellation (HBO is floor. Cyrus told him love was never Her new plan? Run Mellie (Bellamy mulling over doing some kind of going to happen, but that kindness Young) for the Senate with an eye special to wrap up storylines, becould. The sadness was palpable. to becoming the first woman presicause those are always so great) is a We’d just seen a clip of Cyrus and dent. But will Cyrus (Jeff Perry) let problem for us. Because if you read James’ wedding day, with their her out from under his control long the straight left reporting on the smiles and laughter. This was so difenough to make that happen? Lately cancellation, they’re talking about ferent. Once again, Scandal brings we’ve been thinking Scandal could it like it’s a good thing. Because you us closer to the real lives of gay men just as easily be called Betrayal, beknow, gay men are so over. The left, and lesbians. The lives in which we cause there is so much behind-thehaving buried lesbians long ago, has must remain hidden, often even scenes backstabbing. Last week’s moved on to gay men. Trans perfrom ourselves. Searing stuff. episode had Olivia (Kerry Washingsons are the new black for the left, Also searing was the final episode ton, who just got a GLAAD award) and we kinda want to know why the of NBC’s The Slap, which we have go to Mellie to have her put on the left can’t embrace all of us at once. If been watching avidly (spoiler alerts wedding of Cyrus and his prostitute we can do it, we’re pretty sure they ahead). Ritchie (Lucas Hedges) is an boyfriend Michael (former Teen can do it. introspective teenager and amateur Wolf star Matthew del Negro) at the We were particularly galled by photographer who has been an everWhite House despite Fitz’s presireading one major left site say TV more-important character throughdential pout over it, as he has not yet had “completed its Will & Graceout the limited series. Ritchie cataevolved on the issue.

Queer as Folk-Looking arc.” Are logued the events of Hector’s (Peter The episode was fabulous and yet you serious? Some states get marSarsgaard) 40th birthday party at another showcase for Perry. Why riage equality, we’ve had three gay Hector’s request. But while we saw hasn’t he gotten an Emmy yet? We shows over a 20-year span, and gay what Ritchie photographed, no one were given entrée into Cyrus’s two men are so over? But testosteroneelse did. As the case comes to trial, previous marriages – to his first driven straight white male shows the photos Ritchie took become viwife, whom he married on a whim are still good? Wow. The same site tal to the prosecution’s case against as a beard for his political rise; and said Jamal was the first AfricanHarry (Zachary Quinto). This puts to the love of his life, James, who American gay man on a TV show.

Ritchie in the spotlight. was killed dramatically last season.

Can you see us doing an eye-roll Each episode of the series has This episode was about what it’s plus side-eye? Can you even count focused on an individual character, like to be gay in Washington. Bethe number of times we have writwhich has revealed more about the ing a gay politician is maybe the ten about interracial gay couples entire group. Some of the revelamost difficult of all professional dihere? tions have been shocking. The rechotomies. Coming out may render Listen up: The whole problem veal about Ritchie was so artfully one powerless. Staying in the closet with the “single gay” on TV is that done that even though we could see makes one vulnerable to exposure. they have no one to be gay (or lesthe train wreck coming, all we could For Cyrus, who wanted to be presibian) with. When straight people do was watch horror as it barreled dent himself, being the gay Chief of write that it’s a good thing that gay toward the players.

Staff to a president he handpicked male and lesbian identities are beHedges gave such a nuanced perwas the next best thing. But that ing erased with the bisexualizing of formance, we ached for him and man-behind-the-throne role has everyone (which also erases bisexuhow the adults around him had cacome at quite a cost. James was a als) and that it’s just pesky to write sually shattered his life. The show’s cost. Being forced to marry Michael, in sexualized gay and lesbian charwriters got pitch-perfect how this whom Cyrus was falling in love with acters when every straight person happens to gays and lesbians all the but now despises since he discovon the tube is having sex no matter time, and straight people don’t ever ered that Michael was sent to sewhat, that’s actually homophobia. give it a backward glance. It made duce Cyrus by Liz North to discredit So do not tell us that there are us angry, sad and verklempt all at Cyrus – that is also a cost. enough gay and lesbian people on once.

Yet the relationship between the the tube, because there aren’t. And This was gay storytelling of a trurent boy and the Chief of Staff took if you watch the finale of The Slap, ly adept and very high caliber. The an intriguing turn in this episode Slap has a lesbian writer and direcyou’ll note that kids are still killing as Cyrus and Michael had dinner tor, an out gay star, and what ends themselves over homophobia and with Michael’s parents, who were up being an inspiring gay subplot. It the bullying that goes with it. in town for the wedding. Paid, it also has a take on the cult of AmeriSo for the random gay storyline, was revealed, to attend. At the dincan masculinity that is compelling the is-she-a-real-lesbian-or-a-sexyner they expressed their disgust for and not a little heartbreaking. bi-chick, the two-for-one interracial Michael, his “lifestyle” (they meant Speaking of heartbreaking, HBO gay couples, and all the other tropes gay, not sex worker), and by extenannounced last week that it’s not the tube uses to keep us watchsion, Cyrus. It was difficult to watch, renewing Looking for a third season, ing, you know you really must stay but it humanized Michael for us as which is sad news all around, espetuned.t

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Covers story

Serving the Castro since 1981

288 Noe Street, SF (415) 431-7210 lamednoe.com La Mediterranee Noe @LaMedNoe

response to this album. But Dylan sounds like he’s taking this project seriously.

The late Elliott Smith may be gone, but he’s not forgotten. On the new Seth Avett & Jessica Lea Mayfield Sing Elliott Smith (Ramseur), Avett (of Avett Brothers fame) and Mayfield team up to interpret a dozen Smith songs. Standout renditions best utilizing the pair’s ability to harmonize include “Between the Bars,” “Somebody That I Used To Know,” “Twilight” and “Memory Lane,” while “Roman Candle” burns the brightest and most faithfully.

On the mesmerizing Valentina Lisitsa Plays Philip Glass (Decca), Kiev-born pianist Lisitsa celebrates the work of 20th-century genius composer Glass. The double-disc set opens with “Opening” from Glassworks. Selections follow from

Glass’ score and soundtrack work from the movies The Hours, The Truman Show and Mishima. Also included are 1988’s Metamorphosis I-IV and Wichita Vortex, as well as 1979’s Mad Rush, all rendered exquisitely in Lisitsa’s capable hands.

Well-strung duo 2Cellos, hot Croatians Stepjan Hauser and Luka Sulic, return with their third album Celloverse (Portrait). 2Cellos focuses on transforming rock and pop tunes into crossover sensations. Michael Jackson, whom 2Cellos covered on their debut, makes an appearance via a cover of “They Don’t Care About Us.” Also bowing to 2Cellos’ bows are Radiohead (“Street Spirit”), Wings (“Live and Let Die”), Mumford & Sons (“I Will Wait”) and Avicii (“Wake Me Up”).

The deluxe edition includes a DVD with seven music videos.

A March 2015 article on thejazzline.com declared that “jazz has become the least popular genre in the U.S.” Maybe jazz artists could take a hint from classical musicians who have taken to performing pop tunes. Jazz vocalist Joelle Lurie understands. Her new album Take Me There (joellelurie.com) features Lurie’s jazzy readings of The Cars’ “Just What I Needed” and Tears for Fears’ “Head Over Heels.” There are also plenty of standards, including “The Man I Love,” “Almost Like Being in Love” and “Somewhere,” as well as clever originals “Three States Away” and “What We Have Is Better.”

Choral group Voces8 (six men and two women) finds a way to blend the modern – Massive Attack’s “Teardrop,” Ben Folds’ “The Luckiest” – with the ancient – “O nata lux,” “Ave Maria I,” “Bogoroditse Devo” and “Corde natus ex parentis” – on the luminous album Lux (Decca/Universal Music Classics). They highlight the vocal intricacies of all these works.

Smooth jazz-vocal daddy Steve Tyrell turns his attention to the pop songbook of the 1960s and 70s on That Lovin’ Feeling (Concord).

Tyrell performs songs by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Neil Sedaka, Carole Bayer Sager, Jeff Berry and Ellie Greenwich, Lieber & Stoller, and Burt Bacharach. Tyrell is joined on some of them by the artists who originally sang them: Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers on “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” and Sedaka on “Laughter in the Rain.” Gay sax man Dave Koz can be heard on Tyrell’s reading of King’s “Jazzman.”

Lyn Stanley goes for an earlier time on Potions – from the 50s (A.T. Music). Stanley has her say on 1950s favorites “Fly Me to the Moon,” “You Don’t Know Me,” “Teach Me Tonight,” “The Party’s Over,” “A Summer Place,” “Misty,” and “Love Potion #9,” by the songwriting team of Lieber & Stoller. t

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n album of lullabies is a risky proposition. In order for a lullaby to be effective, it has to be able to lull the listener into a state of relaxation leading to sleep. But if you fall asleep while listening to a song and miss the rest, is that considered a success or a failure? Luckily for Anika Larsen, currently seen on Broadway as songwriter Cynthia Weil in the Tony Award-winning musical Beautiful, her album Sing You to Sleep (Yellow Sound) has enough energy and variety to enjoy while you are still awake. The material on the disc will speak to listeners of all ages, from “Somewhere Out There” (from An American Tail) and “Baby Mine” (from Dumbo) to more adult fare such as Bob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love” (which makes an effective lullaby), Bruno Mars’ “Count on Me” and James Taylor’s “You Can Close Your Eyes,” performed as a duet with Tony winner Jessie Mueller.

Speaking of Dylan, he is a songwriter whose brilliant songs have been covered by a vast array of performers. He is also a singer known for performing his own songs in his distinctive vocal style. Not known for his skills as an interpreter of the songs of others, Dylan defies the odds with the daring Shadows in the Night (Columbia). What makes the disc so audacious is Dylan’s choice of tunes. Sinatra (“I’m a Fool To Want You”), Cy Coleman (“Why Try to Change Me Now?”), Rodgers and Hammerstein (“Some Enchanted Evening”), Irving Berlin (“What’ll I Do”) and Johnny Mercer (“Autumn Leaves”) get the Dylan treatment.

Where you stand on Dylan’s skills as an interpreter, as well as your loyalty to the material, will determine your

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The Office, Dolly @ Z Below Word for Word’s stage adaptation of two short stories by Nobel Prizewinning author Alice Munro. $20, $35-55. Wed & Thu 7pm. Fri-Sat 8pm.

Sun 3pm. Thru April 12. 470 Florida St. (866) 811-4111. www.zspace.org

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on’t go flying to Indiana. Don’t let Nestlé frack the water out of the ground. Don’t serve pizza to gay Jesus. Whew! Things are becoming quite restricting, convoluted and desperate. Enjoy the freedom to patronize any of these artistic venues while you can.

Aurora Theatre Company restages Lanford Wilson’s lyrical uplifting two-actor drama. $30-$50. Tue 7pm.

Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. www.AuroraTheatre.org

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In a Word @ Tides Theater

Thu 9 10 Percent @ Comcast David Perry’s online interviews, broadcast through the week; Twitter editorial director Karen Wickre, and community activist Joanie Juster (thru April 12). Also Ken Cleaveland of SF BOMA, and NCLR’s Kate Kendell (thru April 19) Check for times on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ pages/10-Percent/66629477326 www.ComcastHometown.com

Blackademics @ Thick House

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April 9, 8pm: Telegraph Quartet, $15-$20. April 10, 8pm: Bach concert with faculty trio. Also other nightly concerts thru April 16 at 8pm. 50 Oak St. 503-6322. www.sfcm.edu

Talley’s Folly @ Harry’s Upstage, Berkeley

The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women’s 25th Anniversary presents a collaborative work between Rhodessa Jones’ Cultural Odyssey and Planned Parenthood, about motherhood and women’s prison and reproductive rights. $10-$50. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 3pm. Special gala show April 11. Thru April 19. 2781 24th St. at York.

641-7657. www.brava.org

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Student & Faculty Concerts @ SF Conservatory of Music

by Jim Provenzano

Birthright? @ Brava Theater Center

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The Grammy-winning vocalist performs in a special two-week engagement at the elegant intimate cabaret nightclub. $ 8pm. Thu & Fri 8pm. Sat & Sun 7pm. Thru April 19.

Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 6631063. www.stevetyrell.com www.ticketweb.com

Previews begin for Crowded Fire Theater’s production of the West Coast premiere of Iris Goodwin’s new play full of searing wit, pop-culture humor, and psychological menace in an absurdist take on “postracial America” when two African American scholars argue over a dinner reservation. $10-$35. Wed-Sat 8pm.

Special opening night Mon April 13.

Thru May 2. 1695 18th St. 746-9238. www.crowdedfire.org

The Cry of Jazz @ YBCA New documentaries about jazz music visionaries, with restored 1980s documentaries and new films. Thru April. Also, Dark Horse: Film Noir Westerns. $10. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. www.ybca.org

Greg Archer @ Books Inc. The award-winning journalist and author of Grace Revealed discusses his latest compelling novel about a Polish family’s ordeals under the Stalin regime. 7pm. 2275 Market St. www.booksinc.net

Jewels of Paris @ Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers’ new production is a “revolutionary” Parisianthemed musical revue, with original music and lyrics by original Cockette Scrumbly Koldewyn, including characters based on Picasso, Cocteau, Josephine Baker and even Marie Antoinette. $30-$35.

Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru May 2.

575 10th St. www.hypnodrome.org

Lauren Yee’s drama about a mother who loses her son. $20. Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 3pm. Thru April 25.

533 Sutter St., 2nd floor. 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org

Fri 10

Let There Be Love @ Geary Theatre

Tom Stoppard’s masterpiece play, a comedy, mystery and love story, with 12 actors, is produced by the North Bay company. $9-$25. Fri & Sat 8pm.

Sat & Sun 2pm. thru April 19. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. (707) 763-8920. www.cinnabaetheater.org

American Conservatory Theatre presents Kwame Kwei-Armah’s family drama about a West Indian immigrant and a Polish young man whose lives connect, despite prejudices. (Out With A.C.T. April 22) $20-$105. Tue-Sat 8pm. Wed, Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru May 3. 415 Geary St. 749-2228. act-sf.org

Liss Fain Dance @ Z Space World premiere of A Space Divided, a new dance-installation of three works by choreographers Amy Seiwert, Liss Fain, and Christian Burns, who interpret set designer Matthew Antaky’s installation. $20-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru April 12. 450 Florida St. (800) 838-3006. Zspace.org

New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre Classic and new films in repertory.

April 9: Disposable Film Festival. April 10: Rocky IV (7:20) and The Rock (9:30). April 12: Frozen sing-along (12pm: $11-$16). April 12: American Sniper (4pm, 8:50) and Unforgiven (6:25). April 13: The Imitation Game (2:30, 7pm) and The Theory of Everything (4:40, 9:10). April 14: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (8pm) and Only Lovers Left Alive (9pm).

April 15: Sunset Boulevard (2:45, 7pm) and Maps to the Stars (4:50, 9pm). April 16 : The Big Lebowski (7pm) and Cutter’s Way (9:10). Most tickets $11. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

Nick & Nora @ Eureka Theatre The lighthearted 1991 musical by Arthur Laurents, Charles Strouse and Richard Maltby, based on Dashiel Hammet’s 1930s The Thin Man, gets a production by the vintage musical revival ensemble. $25-$75. Wed & Thu 7pm. Fri 8pm. Sat 6pm. Sun 3pm.

Thru April 19. 215 Jackson St. 2558207. www.42ndStMoon.org

Arcadia @ Cinnabar Theatre, Petaluma

Bitch & Tell @ Exit Theatre Variety show with comics, singers, magicians and storytellers (different line-up each night): Alicia Dattner, Paco Romane, Bob McIntyre, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, and Erica Sodos, Cat Dance, Windy Wynazz, Drea Lusion, Lars Adams, Katy Lynn, Mary Hicks and duo Slater Penney/Cason MacBride. $10-$20. Fri & Sat, 8pm.

Thru April 25. 156 Eddy St. at Mason.

289-2000. www.ftloose.org

The Braggart Soldier @ Custom Made Theater Custom Made Theatre Company’s updated version of Plautus’ Roman satirical comedy (which served as the inspiration for Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ). $20-$40. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm. Thru April 26. 1620 Gough St. at Bush. 798-2682. www.custommade.org/braggart/

Cypress Quartet @ Marines Memorial Theatre The acclaimed local string ensemble performs the world premiere of Philippe Hersant’s String Quartet No. 5, Bartok’s String Quartet No. 4, and Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 59 No. 2. $20-$50. 8pm. 609 Sutter St. www.CypressQuartet.com

From White Plains @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Michael Perlamn’s suspenseful drama involves a film director who outs a high school bully in his Oscar speech, leading to a confrontative reunion. $30-$40. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm.

Thru April 26. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 861-8972. www. nctcsf.org

Head of Passes @ Berkeley Reperotry Theatre Tarell Alvin McCraney’s poignant poetic drama about a Mississippi family’s trials of faith and tribulation. $29-$79. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm. Sun 2pm. Thru May 24. Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Sat 11 Stupid F##king Bird Jessica Palopoli

King Lear @

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April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 21

Emerald Tablet

Fool La La! @ The Marsh

Independent Eye’s unusual twoman, 30-puppet production of Shakespeare’s classic family drama about royalty, seniority,madness and family betrayal. $20-$25. Fri & Sat 8pm. April 26, 2pm (closing day). 80 Fresno St. www.independenteye.org

Unique Derique’s holiday clowning show’s fun for kids and adults alike. $15-$35. Sundays 2pm. Extended thru April 12. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Sister Play @ Magic Theatre John Kolvenbach’s play about family conflicts and relationships. $20-$60.

Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2:30pm. Tue 7pm.

Thru April 19. Fort Mason Center, Bldg D, 3rd floor, 2 Marina Blvd. at Buchanan sts. 441-8822. www.magictheatre.org

Stereotypo @ The Marsh Don Reed’s new solo show, subtitled Rants and Rumblings at the DMV showcases the banal automotive office as a showcase of diverse characters. $20-$100. Fri 8pm, Sat 8:30pm. Extended thru April 25. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Tartuffe @ Berkeley Repertory Dominique Serrand directs the awardwinning East Bay theatre company’s modern production of Moliere’s classic satire of religious hypocrisy. $29-$79.

Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm.

Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru April 12. Roda Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley.

(510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Lear’s Shadow @ The Marsh Geoff Hoyle’s new solo take on Shakespeare’s King Lear, from the perspective of the unemployed Fool. $15-$35. Wed & Thu 8pm. Sat 5pm.

Thru May 30. 1062 Valencia St. 2823055. www.themarsh.org

Mirandolina! @ Center Repertory Company, Walnut Creek Carlo Goldini’s 18th-century tale of a Tuscan inn mistress –about love, seduction and chocolate– gets an East Bay staging. $33-$60. Tue & Wed 7:30pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2:30pm.

Thru May 2. 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. (925) 943-7469. www.centerrep.org

SF Hiking Club @ Rodeo Beach Join GLBT hikers for an 11-mile hike from Rodeo Beach to Pirates Cove and back along the Marin coast.

Take the SF Muni 76X bus to arrive at Fort Cronkhite at 10:16 am or drive and meet in the parking lot at Fort Cronkhite at 10:15. 242-4376. www.sfhiking.com

Sat 11

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

421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Black Womyn’s Live Matter @ Modern Times Bookstore

Wed 15 Katie Gilmartin at Smack Dab

Stupid F#cking Bird @ SF Playhouse Aaron Posner’s satirical Hollywood update on Chekhov’s The Seagulls. $20-$120. Tue-Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm.

Sat 3pm. Sun 2pm. Thru May 2. 450 Post St. 677-9596. sfplayhouse.org

The Waiting Period @ The Marsh

Update on the Free Marissa Caravan, the cross-country activist group fighting for imprisoned Marissa Alexander. 3pm. 2919 24th St. 2829246. www.mtbs.com

Brian Copeland returns with his popular solo show, about the tensions of considering suicide, and waiting for approval to buy a gun. $30-$100.

Saturdays 5pm, Sundays 5:30pm.

Extended thru May 31. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Carmina Burana @ Berkeley Community Theater

Wilde Chats @ Sweet Inspirations

The UC Alumni Chorus and Smuin Ballet perform Carl Orff’s modern classic vocal and orchestral work based on historic bacchanallian verses; with soloists Shawnette Sulker, Brian Staufenbiel, and Eugene Brancoeanu, and Michael Smuin’s modern choreographic interpretation. $30-$50. 7:30pm. 1930 Allston Way, Berkeley. www.smuinballet.org

Cruising Altitude @ ODC Commons OCD dance’s 65th Pilot Program showcases new and innovative dances from seven upcoming choreographers; Marika Brussel, Detour Dance, Sebastian Grubb, Esmeralda Kundanis-Grow, Emma Jaster and Lauren Simpson. $15. 8pm. April 12, 4pm & 7pm Studio B, 351 Shotwell St. 863-9834. www.odcdance.org

Dis/Play @ SOMArts Cultural center Expansive exhibit of works in several media by more than 30 Bay Area artists and groups (Artful Steps, NIAD Art Center, Sins Invalid) who expand the depiction of disability; includes special performances thru the run. Events ASL interpreted, and wheelchair accessible. Reg. hours TueFri 12pm-7pm. Sat 12pm-5pm. Thru April 23. 934 Brannan St. 863-1414. www.somarts.org

Community Initiative’s weekly informal discussion group at the dessert shop. 10:30am-12pm. 2239 Market St. 621-8664. www.sweetinspirationbakery.com

Sun 12 Abrazo, Queer Tango @ Finnish Brotherhood Hall, Berkeley Enjoy weekly same-sex tango dancing and a potluck, with lessons early in the day. $7-$15. 3:30-6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St., Berkeley. (510) 8455352. www.finnishhall.com

Cabaret Showcase Showdown @ Oasis The finals of this season’s entertaining cabaret singing contest includes hosts Joe Wicht and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, the finalists in the various sub-genres performing (Jessica Coker, Claybourne, Kate Isenberg, Jessica Coker, Dominic Quin-Harker, Heather Orth, Blackberri and Chloe Condon), guest judges (Tammy L. Hall, Russ Lorenson, Juanita More!, Mitchell Eaton and Skip Zibriani), plus guest performers Sheelagh Murphy, Tom Shaw and Lynden Bair. $15-$20. 6pm pre-show and cocktails. 7pm show. 298 11th st. at Folsom. 795-3180. sfoasis.com

At Large: Ai Weiwei @ Alcatraz Island The internationally acclaimed Chinese sculptor’s exhibit of seven site-specific multimedia installations; the largest art exhibit ever hosted by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. $18-$30. Daily thru April 26. Ferries to and from Pier 33 at Embarcadero. www.AiWeiWeiAlcatraz.org www.alcatrazcruises.com/ website/ai-weiwei.aspx

Last day to see the fascinating new exhibit of underwater plant sculptures that resemble miniature outdoor English, Asian and classic gardens (thru April 12). Permanent floral exhibits as well.

Free-$8. Tue-Sun 10am4pm. Golden Gate Park, 831-2090. conservatoryofflowers.org

Smack Dab @ Magnet SF

Fertile Ground @ Oakland Museum Fertile Ground: Art and Community in California (thru April 12). Also, photographer Marion Gray: Within the Light thru June 21; Bees: Tiny Insect, Big Impact thru Sept 20. Free/$15. Reg. hours Wed-Sat 11am-5pm (Fri til 9pm). 1000 Oak St., Oakland. (510) 318-8400. www.museumca.org

Hedwig and the Angry Inch @ New Parkway Theatre, Oakland Screening of the film adaptation of John Cameron Mitchell’s trans rock operetta. Proceeds benefit Horizons Young Professionals for Equality and other LGBT groups. Donations, 12pm2pm. 474 24th St., Oakland. www.thenewparkway.com www.horizonsfoundation.org

Memory of Trees @ SOMArts Cultural Center

Antigonick @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowship-winning playwright Anne Carson’s take on Sophocles’ Antigone is produced by the innovative Shotgun Players. $20-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Wed 7pm. Extended thru May 3.

1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. (510) 8416500. www.ShotgunPlayers.org

Aquascapes @ Conservatory of Flowers

Opening reception for Kathryn Cook’s exhibit of photos commemorating the Armenian genocide. 6pm-8pm.

Thru April 22. Reg hours mon-Fri 12pm-7pm. Sat & Sun 12pm-5pm. 934 Brannan St. www.somarts.org

Seduction: Japan’s Floating World @ Asian Art Museum New exhibit of ancient art from the John C. Weber Collection. Thru May 10. Also, The Printer’s Eye: Ukiyo-e, from the Grabhorn Collection. Other fascinating exhibits as well. Free (members, kids 12 and under)-$15.

Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. www.asianart.org

Mon 13

Thu 9 Liss Fain Dance RJ Muna

Tue 14 Gay Skate Night @ Church on 8 Wheels LGBT night at the former Sacred Heart Church-turned disco roller skate party space, hosted by John D. Miles, the “Godfather of Skate.”

Actually every night is gay-friendly, including Saturday’s Black Rock night (Burning Man garb encouraged). Also Wed, Thu, 7pm-10pm. Sat afternoon sessions 1pm-2:30pm and 3pm5:30pm. $10. Kids 12 and under $5.

Skate rentals $5. 554 Fillmore St at Fell. www.churchof8wheels.com

The Griots of Oakland @ CIIS Multimedia exhibit of visuals and storytelling by young African American men of the East Bay. Thru June 20. 1453 Mission St. ciis.edu

It’s Everything @ KOFY-TV Local nightlife host and singer BeBe Sweetbriar’s new streaming web talk show welcomes local celebrities. 7pm.

Audience welcome at KOFY-TV, 2500 Marin St. www.BeBeSweetbriar.com

Ralph Eugene Meatyard @ Robert Tat Gallery Exhibit of black and white prints by the creator of creepy yet beautiful imagery. Tue-Sat 11am-5:30pm (1st Thu til 7:30pm). Thru May 30. 49 Geary St. 781-1122. www.roberttat.com

Bouquets to Art @ de Young Museum The 31st annual installation of floral displays inspired by works of Modern Art opens. Demos, luncheons and exhibits; $40-$70. (Opening gala April 13; 5:30pm-10pm; $375 and up). Thru April 19. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. www.famsf.org

Letters to Afar, Poland and Palestine: Two Lands and Two Skies @ Contemporary Jewish Museum Dual exhibit of new Jewish cultural documentation (thru May 24); also, Havruta in Contemporary Art (thru April 14). Other exhibits, lectures and gallery talks as well. Free (members)-$12. Fri-Tue 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm (closed Wed). 736 Mission St. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org

Marga Gomez’ Performerama @ Oasis The third edition of the variety show includes a new expanded excerpt from Gomez’ “lezploitation” comedy work-in-progress Pound!, plus comic storytellers Karen Ripley and Ben McCoy. $8-$10. 8pm. 298 11th st. at Folsom. www.margagomez.com www.sfoasis.com

Queer Past Becomes Present @ GLBT History Museum Exhibits about Bay Area LGBTQ people, history and communities. Free (members)-$5. Reg hours: Mon, WedSat 11am-7pm. Sun 12pm-5pm. 4127 18th St. 621-1107. www.glbthistory.org

Katie Gilmartin, author of the acclaimed Blackmail, My Love, reads from her illustrated mystery novel set in 1950s San Francisco’s queer underworld.

Sign-up 7:30pm. Show at 8pm.

4122 18th St. at Castro. www.magnetsf.org

Thu 16 Comedy Returns @ El Rio Enjoy laughs galore with comics Steve Lee, Loren Kraut, Priyanka Wali, Nate Blanchard, and MC Lisa Geduldig. $7$20. 3158 Mission St. at Precita. (800) 838-3006. www.KosherComedy.com www.ElRioSF.com

Dakha Brakha @ SF Jazz Center Ukranian pop-folk art band with a theatrical edge performs. $25.

7:30pm. Miner Auditorium, 201 Franklin St. www.sfjazz.org www.dakhabrakha.com.ua

Michelangelo Signorile @ Books Inc. The gay political writer and radio host reads from and discusses his latest book, It’s Not Over: Getting Beyond Tolerance, Defeating Homophobia, and Winning True Equality. 7:30pm.

2275 Market St. www.booksinc.net

Spring Wild Flowers @ SF Botanical Gardens See blooming Spring floral displays, including new Magnolia blossoms (51 species and 33 cultivars), plus trees and exhibits. Fotanicals: the Secret Language of Flowers, an exhibition of photographs by artist joSon. Daily walking tours and more, at outdoor exhibits of hundreds of species of native wildflowers in a century-old grove of towering Coast Redwoods.

Free-$15. Daily. Golden Gate Park.

661-1316. www.SFBotanicalGarden.org

Miriam Cabessa @ Dryansky Gallery

Thu 16 Michelangelo Signorile

Wed 15 The Book of Mormon @ Orpheum Theatre The mega-hit musical comedy (nine Tony Awards and a Grammy) by Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez returns. $60-$225. Tue-Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm. Sun 1pm & 6:30pm. Thru June 27. 1192 Market St. (888) 746-1799. www.BookofMormonTheMusical.com www.shnsf.com

Charles Souby @ Books Inc. Author of A Shot of Malaria discusses his deadpan ‘90s San Francisco novel about addiction and delusions.

7:30pm. 2275 Market St. www.booksinc.net

Lava Thomas @ Museum of the African Diaspora Exhibit of contemporary works. Also, The Art of Elizabeth Catlett, and historic exhibits of African cultures.

Free/$10. 685 Mission St. www.moadsf.org

Opening reception for an exhibit of works by the New York-based lesbian artist. 7pm-10pm. Reg, hours: WedSun 11am-5pm. 2120 Union St. at Webster. 932-9302. www.miriamcabessa.com www.thedryansky.com

Queer Fashion Week @ Various Venues Enjoy fashion shows of works by more than 20 LGBTQ designers, with exhibits, shows, sales, parties and live performances. Thru April 19. (See page 31). www.queerfashionweek.com

Speechless @ Public Works Techies have a laugh at the hilarious parody of office presentations, where finalists in the “Powerpoint karaoke” improv competition make up a tech demo as random images and charts are projected; featuring finalists comics Caitlin Gill and Calum Grant, and Nintendo data analyst Edwin Zee. $12-$20. 8pm. Full bar and food for sale. 161 Erie St. at Mission. www.speechlesslive.com To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com. Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication. For more bar and nightlife events, go to On the Tab in our BARtab section, online at www.ebar.com/bartab

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22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

Family affairs

by Jim Piechota

Don’t Let Him Know by Sandip Roy; Bloomsbury, $25

T

here are no secrets quite like family secrets, and in Calcuttabased Sandip Roy’s lyrical debut Don’t Let Him Know, they are the stuff of legend. His novel, a multigenerational saga written with careful consideration and philosophical insight, follows the Mitra family, Indian immigrants, across several decades and devastating life changes.

The novel opens as Amit discovers a long-lost love letter in his mother Romola’s belongings from a man named Sumit. Mysterious, the letter declares a longstanding love

and affection for the recipient, but there is a resigned tone to the words, and it’s clear the missive is a good-

t

bye letter to an unrequited desire.

What Amit initially believes to be a love letter to his mother was actually intended for his father, Avinash, who had been a closeted gay man for most of his life, trolling Internet chat rooms as “FunMan1234.” In a swift succession of associative yet stand-alone storychapters, the novel dashes back and forth from Calcutta to California in a series of meticulously arranged familial flashbacks, enriching each character with a singular history, personality, and a lifetime of evocative scenery.

One of the more moving passages describes Avinash’s first crush on his childhood barber, Harish-babu, and the heart-pounding trepidation he feels on the threshold of a first ap-

pearance at a gay dancehall. All of his indiscretions are not so magical, however. A passionately panicked hook-up in a secluded Calcutta park with a younger man he meets at the dancehall ends disastrously, and is infused with life-threatening danger.

Amit eventually moves to San Francisco with his wife and children, leaving Romola to make a life for herself in America in a small apartment with a questionable grasp of the English language, which results in confusing lunch orders at McDonalds and a host of strained social situations.

Her finest and funniest moment occurs late in Roy’s novel, when a sleepless Romola finds herself wandering the streets in the late-night

hours. With just a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, she stumbles into Wonderland, a Carbondale gay bar where drag queen Lady Bang la Dish chats her up in an impeccably-described closing scene. “The voice was low and masculine but when Romola looked up she saw the most perfectly made-up woman she had ever seen. She wore a sheath-like satiny purple dress and tottered on impossibly high heels.

Glossy red talon-like claws fished out a little mirror from her bag like a fabulous bird of prey.”

Their interaction, an intensive confessional exposing fleeting desires and the true nature of their bruised hearts, is touching and priceless, as is much of Roy’s amazing debut.t

the endless human sacrifices she demands. Tollea and Naja are the queen’s granddaughters. Both bear the scar from where, as infants, they were bitten by King Cobra. Tollea, the older and therefore the rightful High Priestess, nearly died from the venom. Naja had no reaction.

Hence, Tollea was hidden in Mr. MacDonald’s boat. She must now save her people.

Tollea confronts Naja, demanding “the Cobra jewel” as proof of her authority. Naja refuses. The two struggle, and Naja falls to her death.

Tollea assumes her identity, temporarily fooling Martok, and wiggles

before King Cobra, but faints from terror. Martok realizes what has happened and tries to seize power, but after a wild fight, Ramu, Kado, and Hava defeat him and his guards and free Tollea’s “people.”

Montez (1912-51), a native of the Dominican Republic, plays twins yet gives a single performance. She projects the assurance of a genuine star, confident of her charisma, authority, and brilliance.

Her ghastly performance is mesmerizing and unforgettable, aided by her Spanish accent. “I haff espoken,” for example, elevates the theatrics to the stratosphere. Is it any wonder that Donald, one of Mart Crowley’s The Boys in the Band, is her ardent admirer?

Universal, then a minor studio, signed Montez in 1940 and promoted her as their pin-up girl to rival bigger studio stars like Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, Betty Grable, Ann Sheridan, Veronica Lake, and Dorothy Lamour. By the end of the decade, she was working in minor European films. Battling weight problems, she died in a hot tub while using reducing salts. She was married to French actor Jean Pierre Aumont, and their daughter, Tina Aumont, appeared in many Hollywood and European films from 1966 until 2000.

The handsome if beefy Hall, a veteran of South Seas and Arabian nights adventures, is likeable and sincere.

The small, buffed Sabu is cheerful and speaks his trademark Pidgin English.

Chaney, Barrier, and the rest of the cast appear oblivious to the madness of the script, thereby enhancing the movie’s hallucinatory quality.

Directed by the gifted Robert Siodmark (The Killers; The Dark Mirror (1946), in which Olivia de Havilland superbly played twins; The File on Thelma Jordan (1950); among other good films). Gene Lewis and Richard Brooks wrote the screenplay. Brooks would later pen Crossfire (1947), an early look at American anti-Semitism; Key Largo (1948); and adapt and direct The Catered Affair (1956), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Elmer Gantry (1960), Sweet Bird of Youth (1962), In Cold Blood (1967), and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977).

Vera West designed the drag queen-inspired gowns and presumably the platform heels Naja and her ladies wear while walking through the marshy terrain. The jaw-dropping sets are by Russell Gausman and Ira Webb. Edward Ward wrote the music. Eugene Joseph designed the extraordinary jewels. Paul Oscard was responsible for dance direction.t

Double camp

by Tavo Amador

I

n her landmark 1964 essay “On Camp,” Susan Sontag wrote, “The hallmark of Camp is the spirit of extravagance. It is ‘too much.’ It’s good because it’s awful.” Although unmentioned by Sontag, no movie – or performer – provides a better example of Camp than Cobra Woman (1944), starring the incomparable Maria Montez. It’s now available on DVD. Set somewhere in the South Pacific, the story opens on the wedding day of Tollea (Montez) and Ramu (Jon Hall). Their plans go awry when she’s kidnapped by the mysterious Hava (Lon Chaney, Jr.) and taken to Cobra Island. To his amazement, Ramu learns that Tollea was born on that island but brought to their present home by the kindly Mr. Macdonald (Moroni Olsen) when she was just weeks old. He has reared her, and Father Paul (Samuel S. Hinds) has seen to her and Ramu’s religious education.

Ramu sails to Cobra Island in search of Tollea, and upon arriving, discovers that the youthful Kado (Sabu) hid on his boat. Kado promptly saves his life when a puma threatens him. Together, they search for Tollea and soon think they have

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Whales

found her, dressed elaborately, surrounded by lavishly costumed young women, who watch while she cavorts in the sacred lake. Ramu swims out to meet her. She likes what she sees. She turns out to be Tollea’s identical twin sister, the High Priestess Naja. When Ramu kisses her, Naja pretends she knows him. “The eyes of love are sharp, but they can be fooled. The lips, never.”

Naja and the natives of Cobra Island worship that snake, and she is their absolute ruler. Naja dances – or more accurately, writhes – before King Cobra, then, while her subjects are in a frenzy, points to those who must be sacrificed to the angry Fire Mountain, the island’s smoldering volcano. Guards arrest the screaming victims to prepare them for death.

Naja is unaware that her sister has been brought back to Cobra Island.

Once she learns of it, she orders that Tollea, Ramu, and Kado be found and jailed. She ends each command by asserting, “I have spoken,” thereby preventing all further discussion.

She agrees to marry her key aide, the evil Martok (Edgar Barrier), if he locates her enemies.

The island’s Queen (Mary Nash) explains to Ramu and Kado that she arranged for Tollea’s abduction because of Naja’s cruelty and

skeleton of a male Sperm Whale dominates half the space, accompanied by a relatively petite 45-foot female. They’re called Sperm after the randy sailors’ delusion that they rise to the surface to ejaculate, their heads full of spunk. On the contrary, they rise to expel water and take in oxygen, being mammals like us. And their heads are full of oil, some 3,000 liters, the precious commodity that drove the whale trade starting in 1800. The storied exploits of whalers are a mix of merchants, sailors, convicts, and indigenous peoples, the socio-politics of which this show touches on.

There are many angles to the tail

of the whale, beginning some 50 million years ago when a wolf in Pakistan started eating fish, stayed underwater for longer and longer periods, to stop your industrialized slaughand slowly adapted to the life aquatic ter in the 20th. Oh, Whale! How far until its tail grew flukes, its hands must I travel to contemplate your grew mittens, and its pelvis shrank to endangered awesomeness? Not far. a vestige of its landlubber past. This California Academy of Sciences dismiracle of mammalian evolution is plays your relics through November, shown through fossil replicas and a in Golden Gate Park. cool animation of morphing anatoCal Academy of Sciences is the my. For those raised on the “life came 13th venue to host Whales in seven out of the sea” mantra, this alluring years of global migration from its reverse trend for adventurous mambreeding grounds at the Te Papa mals must be seen to be believed.

Tongarewa Museum in Wellington, Creationists will flip.

New Zealand. Doors were widened, Competing for the visitor’s atrails were modified during load-in. tention are the intricate shapes of A team of 11 unpacked 140 crates whale skulls, full skelefull of bones, models, tons floating overhead, videos and Maori culbeautifully displayed tural treasures, then Maori carvings, neckspent a month tucking laces, weapons, and this museum-within-aold salts’ scrimshaw, museum into the mere succinct talking-head 4,000 square feet of the videos of fossil hunters Academy’s temporary and conservationists, exhibit space on the longer videos specific second floor, up a narto New Zealand and the row staircase. InstallaMaori fight for cultural tion staff were gifted survival, a video game with hand-carved taonstarring a dolphin, and ga necklaces by Maoris a life-sized model of a who monitor the proBlue Whale’s heart big cess to ensure proper Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa enough for an adult respect is shown the to clamber inside and bones of beings they The blue whale is the biggest animal that ever lived on contemplate her puny revere as chiefs.

Earth. A blue whale’s heart can weigh up to 1,400 lbs existence. Reverent fun The 60-foot arching From page 13

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Carved with great skill, the spiral pattern of this koropepe pendant is actually a coiled creature (c. 1800-1900, maker unknown, made of whale bone and red wax).

and mind-expanding detail inspire a cross-cultural and inter-species sense of wonder.

Impossible to take it all in, in a single visit. Academy admission is famously pricy, at $35. You can meticulously time your visit to semi-annual free days, according to your San Francisco zip code, or you can buy an annual membership, knowing your money funds actual scientific research and conservation efforts. Or, for $12, you can brave the scene on Thursday nights. Since you’re not allowed to photograph the show, which significantly improves the quality

of the experience, you might pick up the Te Papa’s reference book Whales and Dolphins of Aotearoa, New Zealand (2014), richly illustrated, exhaustively informative.

Ever since Descartes, the dominant trend of Western mind pretends it can contemplate, from afar, what it calls Nature in a literal vacuum, preferably dead, dissected, and analyzed without emotion, as if emotion were an embarrassment to be disowned on the threshold of actual knowledge. As we witness, in horror, the accelerating extinction of creatures we assumed would always accompany us, people are increasingly blowing the whistle on our own species.

Whether or not we’re guilty of climate change, we are eradicating habitat crucial to other species’ survival and ultimately our own. We do hunt whales, we do pollute the oceans and destroy their environment with sonar, and so forth.

In the words of Nan Hauser, founder and director of the Centre for Cetacean Research in Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands, as seen in a brief video: “It’s really important now we learn about whales. In order to counter the story of money and greed and power.

Whales don’t have a voice. We must speak for whales.”t CAS hours: Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

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On the Tab

32

On the Town

NIGHTLIFE

SPIRITS

DINING

Karrnal Knowledge

SOCIETY

ROMANCE

LEATHER

PERSONALS Vol. 45 • No. 15 • April 9-15, 2015

www.ebar.com ✶ www.bartabsf.com

Baloney brings out the burlesque beefcake

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ith equal parts wit and wild sexiness, Baloney, the all-male dance burlesque show, returns to Oasis for a pair of encore performances this weekend, with some new material.

See page 24 >>

Gareth Gooch

by Jim Provenzano

“Office Heat” with (L-R) Shaun Mullen, James Arthur M, Rory Davis, Moe Arikat and Adam Roy.

The Lily Street Fair When the Calla Lilies were in Bloom

by Michael Flanagan

M

Bradley Cavalier

any of the events in our community have deep roots. Some have a political genesis like Pink Saturday and its relationship to ACT-UP protests in the Castro. Others have sexual content, like the Folsom Street Fair and its growth from the CMC Carnival.

See page 26 >>

The Lily Street Fair stage in 1989.

{ THIRD OF THREE SECTIONS }

45 eB AR .co

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the anniversary historical parade contingents, to mind Pride’s 200 passing likely to call milestone is of the GLBT significance. executive director anniversary Paul Boneberg, said Pride’s 40th in events both Society, of the Pride Historical importance “shows the and around the world.”

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June (Thursday, a.k.a. Richard Walters, pubSweet Lips, B.A.R. founding roommates and the late Ross were his self-delisher Bob Lips started when Sweet column.

Sweet Lips, and scribed gossip and people, bars, Reporter columnist He wrote about Polk and Bay Area with bar owner Marlena paper’s Francisco’s visits left, at the events in San He even worked in right, publisher Bob Ross, 2001 at the areas.

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San Francisco NectArena, Committee’s 10 Pride Celebration is celebrating women’s stage, In addition to the years of pride. two competing affiliated stage’s anniversary, events, not women’s Pride Committee – Eden with the Pride PrideFest – are and in the Bay to the celebration. [See adding glam in this month’s “Feast of Eden” stage, the BARtab.)

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Pride has two most prominent one of the the world at stages in stages women’s L. idea of women’s “sparked the events,” said Kendall other Pride

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Rick Gerharter

S unfurl material a contingent rainbow Members of to the colors in the ing Parade. correspond the 2008 Pride flag during

Vol. 40

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34 wraps up Frameline final weekend’s The big 4-0! days: The politics of Pride parade.

As the only LGBT publication with an audited and verified circulation, the Bay Area Reporter offers the largest reach to LGBT consumers in the 9-county San Francisco Bay Area.

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Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

24 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

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Gareth Gooch

Rory Davis is served by Simon Palczynski in an SM-themed number at Baloney.

Gareth Gooch

James Arthur M. oils up at the beach.

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Baloney

From page 23

Director and MC Michael Phillis talked about the inspiration and work involved in bringing the show to the stage.

Phillis works closely with local nightlife dance choreographer Rory Davis, which is convenient, since they’re also boyfriends.

He considers Oasis to be the perfect venue for their new show.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” said Phillis. “It’s like home, not only

for us, but these other cool acts.”

Phillis has made many local stages home since his debut about six years ago in a Peaches Christ number at The Bridge Theatre.

“Rory was doing his first ever Peaches number,” said Phillis. “He asked me to go up on stage and get shot dead in my underwear, and I would get paid in popcorn. I said. ‘I will do that!’ That was the first time we met. Shortly after that, we started a relationship.”

Since then, Phillis has worked with Davis, and on his own, both of

them expanding their creativity, and audience reactions.

“Rory did a Trannyshack Star Search number with Miss Rahni at DNA Lounge,” Phillis recalled. “It was one of the first big dance numbers for the shows, and it raised the bar as to what Trannyshack could be. Rory was a big forerunner of that. Now, you go to a Peaches show, like the recent Witches of East Bay, and expect big numbers.

“That’s been our sort of weekly and monthly recital now, doing Mother or Peaches shows. The community around that is like our family, and that’s enriched our lives in many ways.”

Phillis’ nightlife work is a change from the more traditional theatre that he also creates, like his recent works D-Face and Dolls for New Conservatory Theatre Center.

Developed with Andrew Nance, Phillis took both works to great success at New York City’s Fringe Festival. Phillis also created and performed a stage show about Mrs. Miller, the elderly muse and audience favorite of 1970s talk show host Merv Griffin.

His dance-performance ensemble for Exhibit Q shifts personnel, depending on availability. Phillis, who studied theatre and dance at UC Santa Barbara, moved to San Francisco afterward, only to immerse himself in the performance scene.

Phillis recently hosted a slew of screenings and shows around his comic short film Mini Supreme, about a gay man who tries to make a quick buck by entering a children’s beauty pageant.

“Part of the feature of the movie is that was completely self-financed,” said Phillis.

“We had two drag pageants and the proceeds from those events fed into the movie. We made almost our entire budget with these community fundraisers.” A recent club event included some live drag pageant acts. Look for Mini Supreme at a film festival near you.

So, how does Phillis balance nightclub, theatre and film work?

“There’s really no road map,” he said. “Whatever project tugs on my inspiration. I still love local theatre pieces. But lately it’s more based on Baloney and the film stuff. In the last year, I re-evaluated my life, looking

at removing things that took away from all things creative. I also want something that will last beyond the moment.” Thus his film project, that isn’t forgotten after the cocktails and drag shows are done.

“Theatre is ephemeral,” said Phillis. “That’s the beauty and the curse of it. To make a film, something that can live beyond the moment of performing only, that’s a whole new world as a storyteller. But there’ll always be a place for theatre in my life.”

The practiced spontaneity of Baloney pleased audiences in its premiere, which fed curiosity over exactly what the show would include.

“We capitalize on that with Baloney by not allowing photos or recordings,” said Phillis.

“If you’re not in the room, you’re not a part of it. We want it to be a special theatre piece that can only be experienced in the moment.”

See page 25 >>

Gareth Gooch Gareth Gooch

“Wild West” a duet with Rory Davis and Moe Arikat.

“Sex Ed + Wrestle” includes Shaun Mullen, Adam Roy, and “coach” Rory Davis.

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 25

LOOKING FOR

WE’VE GOT THEM ALL

Gareth Gooch

The closing number with the full cast.

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Baloney

From page 24

Acts in the show’s first night ranged from dancerly depictions of lust between male cowboys, to SM submissions, paternal spanking, a beachside orgy of one, and group numbers that mix music video camp with an erotic strip show.

“We’re adding a bunch of new stuff, sort of Baloney 1.2,” said Phillis of the upcoming shows on April 10 and 11 at Oasis.

“Because our first show was so successful –more than 60 people were turned away– we wanted to bring back the same material, and have a little more time with it as a cast,” he said. “And work the moments; get a little more rehearsal time and make things hotter and funnier. But we also have some completely new numbers, so now it’ll be a two-act show.”

The new numbers include a new Act 1 closer and an Act II opener.

“They give some folks in the cast some more moments to shine,” said Phillis, “while still keeping with that vintage theme, with music that brings you back to another time.”

A cross between the theatrical and the erotic, the Baloney opener was an amusing combination.

“It was such a strange night, our debut last month,” recalled Phillis.

“I think nobody quite knew what they were getting in for. The biggest reaction was the finale. I think people were thinking, ‘It’s Raining Men’ or a gay Chippendales. I don’t think they were expecting stories, character and laughter. So in that sense, I think we did push people.

Now it’ll be interesting to see where it goes the second time. Some will

be in the know, and the response will be different. The cast also had no idea what to expect.”

While most of the cast has performed in some of nightlife’s wilder drag acts, and others regularly gogo dance, Phillis said there’s still an element of risk.

“It’s a very vulnerable thing to put yourself out onstage anyway, and be objectified on purpose,” he said. “Some of our guys have been gogo boys, so they’re cool about it.

Some are techies working down on Market Street. Once we got down to the rehearsal and what we were looking for, the trepidation slid away. We weren’t going to ask them to do anything they wouldn’t see at Trannyshack (now Mother) or in a Peaches Christ show.”

The reaction from the cast was good, Phillis said. “The way we’re doing it is so respectful. They all said, ‘We need to do this again.’ That’s a great testament to our process.”

And several of the dancers, known more for shaking their booties behind a drag queen, get to show off their own talents.

“We chose amazing performers who look fantastic,” said Phillis of the diverse looks of the performers.

“But it’s also not necessarily an easy show, because we are pushing our audience and the cabaret medium.

It’s almost revolutionary for men to be men. The guys who’ve done more drag said it felt good to move from being back-up to being the focus of a number. That was new for so many of us. That’s something we can continue to find new ways of doing.”

The outlet for creating new works from classic styles seems an endless font of inspiration for the team.

Baloney MC and director Michael Phillis.

“We are interested in having Baloney become an ongoing thing,” said Phillis. “An only-inSan Francisco kind of thing; that’s our goal. Upcoming shows will be completely different. We’re already planning new acts for the summer, so hopefully they’ll be ready.”

And, hopefully, so will audiences.t

spartacusworld.com/app

02_Spartacus_App_95x127mm.indd 1

Baloney, the hit male burlesque comedy show, returns to Oasis, with sexy dancs and sketch acts choreographed by Rory Davis; directed by Michael Phillis. $20$200. April 10 & 11, 8pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com www.SFbaloney.com

ebar.com

15.01.15 12:30

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

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Lily Street Fair

From page 23

Still others are expressions of fun and frivolity, like Halloween in the Castro.

The Lily Street Fair, which existed in San Francisco from 1981 to 1990, fell into the latter category. Part block party and part potluck with a good dose of Easter bonnets and Easter parade thrown in to add zest, it was an original, fun and enjoyable event for the whole Lower Haight/ Hayes Valley neighborhood.

Lily Street is a four-block-long partially one-way street –often mistaken for an alley– that runs between Franklin and Buchanan.

Beginning in 1981, the Oak Hill Neighborhood Association held a potluck in the 300 block of Lily between Buchanan and Laguna on Easter Sunday. Originally the event had a small neighborhood feel, but it began to draw crowds by the mid1980s, particularly for the Easter egg

hunt, free beer and the annual Easter bonnet contest, whose winner was decided by the applause of the audience.

By 1985 the event had gotten the attention of the gay press and Bay Area Reporter writer Allen White featured it in an article on Easter events. White wrote about the extraordinary contest that year: “There were 19 contestants in the Easter bonnet contest. Showing a possible sign of changing gay taste, the winner of the Easter bonnet contest was Mr. McDuff, a 14-yearold Scottish terrier. His owner Mark Carey was delighted and bragged that the dog was 98-years-old in dog years (a sign of hope for all senior citizens). The bonnets (and the contests) were always extravagant.”

In a 1988 B.A.R. article, Ms. Marina Green told White, “The first year there were only six of us, and this year there were over 50. The first year I had a Mexican sombrero that had a large floral display with a tin doll chained to an Easter basket.”

Darlene/Photographics

Bradley Cavalier and Simeon Traw at the sound desk of the Lily Street Fair.

Bradley Cavalier

Above/Below: The Lily Street Fair crowd in 1989.

Throughout the years other contestants included Eggy Pop, Ms. Peckerhead, a group who participated as the calla lilies and a contestant who wore a hat which commemorated Patsy Cline’s plane crash.

If you think that a gay xontest event where a dog could wear a hat sounds like frivolous but heartfelt fun, you would be correct. In a letter to the B.A.R. in 1985 (correcting Mr. Marcus, who had said there would not be free beer that year) one of the founders, Carl Heimann, referred to himself as “one of the Lily-putians.”

The year after Mr. McDuff won the contest, it was won by a Miss Box Lunch and White reported: “Asked how it felt to follow a dog as a winner, Miss Box Lunch simply replied, ‘Last year a dog, this year a bitch.’ Many of his friends standing nearby nodded in agreement.”

Darlene/Photographics

Competitors in human and canine form: Mr. McDuff, the 1985 contest winner, with Mark Carey (left, in the panama hat). at the 1989 Lily Street Fair.

Along with the bonnet contest, there was an annual Easter egg hunt, with some plastic eggs containing condoms and others with whistles from the Center United Against Violence (CUAV) for the adults.

And beginning in 1986 there was an Easter Parade down the block performed to “Easter Parade,” naturally a recording of the version sung

by Judy Garland.

Food booths popped up late in the event as well, with donations for various causes. In 1988, the drag queen self-named Lily Street told the B.A.R. they would serve, “Submarine sandwiches; the money goes to the Grand Ducal Court. The Polish sausages over there, that goes to the Imperial Court. The beer is free.

T-shirts and mementoes go to help pay for the party.”

I spoke with Brad Cavalier, who lived on Oak Street and began attending the event in 1983.

Regarding the attitude, he said, “It evolved as a respite from some of the other much larger street fairs such as Folsom, Castro or Polk Street…The Lily Street Easter Fair was held on Easter Sunday and was a non-political event, just a fun time

to have a day to be without loss, and to embrace living in the moment.”

John Wullbrandt, an artist who lived at 1800 Market Street (current home of the LGBT Community Center) recalled in a letter to The Castro Star that he painted the set and decorations for the fair next door to his apartment on the roof of the 1808 Club (a former neighborhood sex club). Regarding the painting, John told me, “We had the Giant Calla Lilies lining both sides of the block one year.”

Over the years the event continued to grow. In his 1985 letter to the B.A.R., Heimann indicated that over 1,000 people attended in 1984.

In a 1986 article, Allen White indicated there had been more than 1,200 in 1985 and that they were planning for 2,000 that year. And as the crowds grew, the event became even more festive.

A flatbed truck was parked at the end of the street and turned into a makeshift stage for performers and entertainers. Comedian Danny Williams co-emceed the event with Empress Lily Street in 1987 and Marga See page 27 >>

Darlene/Photographics

The Lily Street Fair stage at Lily and Octavia streets in 1989.

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27

Bradley Cavalier

Bradley Cavalier, Simeon Traw and John Wullbrandt in front of the Calla lilies mural/stage backdrop.

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Lily Street Fair

From page 26

Gomez and Jon Sugar provided entertainment in 1988. One of the Lily Street neighbors Simeon Traw (who became an Emperor in 1990 after the Lily Street Fair) and his band performed and the Western Star Dancers performed square dances throughout the day.

Regarding preparations for the event, Cavalier recalled, “The sound system was Simeon’s and I would drag the equipment across Oak Street to Lily Street and plug into Tom O’Dea’s garage to power up the sound….We’d set up early in the morning to get power and test the sound system usually tripping Tom’s breakers, so we had a generator to offset power, set the staging, and yes, for many years it was a flatbed truck. In 1989 and 1990 we built

a stage on scaffold.”

In the years since the event there has been some confusion regarding Empress Lily Street and her relationship to the event. The Empress didn’t take on the name Lily Street until 1983, two years after the fair had begun. Even at the time there was confusion.

The Empress told Alan White (in 1988): “The Lily Street Easter Party isn’t Lily Street’s party. This is a neighborhood effort. We all work together, and I took my name from the street. There has been a core of four or five of us, including Carl Heimann, Tom Tripp, Ron Klokie and Tom O’Dea.” The event had a nearly ten-year run before its end, which occurred in 1990 with a notice in the form of a letter to the B.A.R. from Heimann which stated there would be no party that year. The reasons were

not stated, but it appears that the logistics may have just outgrown what was possible for a small community organization.

As an addendum to his letter, his last words on the fair were “The calla lilies are in bloom again.”

Even though the event lasted less than ten years, it is fondly remembered to this day.

And though the Lily Street Fair did not have an obvious political message, just having a good time in the face of the AIDS epidemic was in itself a political act.

Our heroes aren’t always politicians or activists and they don’t always do big things, sometimes they come to wear a festive chapeau and distract us from the problems of the day.t The author would like to thank Brad Cavalier, John Wullbrandt, Empress XXVII Velveeta Mozzarella, Emperor XX Douglass Stromberg and Grand Duchess Kristy Cruise for their assistance.

ebar.com

In Springtime, a young man’s fancy turns to... the World’s #1 Source for Gay News, Photos, and Entertainment!

edgemedianetwork.com Stan Maletic, SF Sentinel

Festive hats from the Lily Street Fair in April 1988

<< On the Tab

28 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

eON THE9–1T6AB f April

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Midnight Show @ Divas

Fri 10 Baloney @ Oasis The hit male burlesque comedy show returns, with sexy dance and sketch acts choreographed by Rory Davis; directed by Michael Phillis. $20-$200.

8pm. Also April 11, 8pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Kevin Neales

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. $25-$160.

678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Boy Bar @ The Cafe Gus Presents' weekly dance night, with DJ Kid Sysko, cute gogos and $2 beer (before 10pm). 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Thu 9 Ian Harvie @ Oasis

April showers bring May flowers; check out this nightlife bouquet!

Thu 9 Bulge @ Powerhouse Grace Towers hosts the weekly gogotastic night of sexy dudes shakin' their bulges and getting wet in their undies for $100 prize (contest at midnight), and dance beats spun by DJ DAMnation. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

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

Funny Fun @ Club 21, Oakland LGBT comedy night hosted by Dan Mires. $10. 8pm. 2111 Franklin St. Oakland. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Game Night @ Brewcade The arcade beer bar hosts gmaing fun and specialty beers. 6pm. 2200 Market St. www.brewcadesf.com

Gym Class @ Hi Tops Enjoy cheap/free whiskey shots from jock-strapped hotties and sexy sports videos at the popular sports bar.

10pm-2am. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Ian Harvie @ Oasis Stand-up comedy with the costar of the Golden Globe Award-winning Amazon.com series Transparent. $20. 7pm & 9:30pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Karaoke Night @ Club BnB, Oakland Sing your heart out at the free lively night. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway.

(510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Mary Go Round @ Lookout Suppositori Spelling, Mercedez Munro and Holotta Tymes host the weekly night with DJ Philip Grasso, gogo guys, drink specials, and drag acts.

10pm-2am. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Mazel Top @ Oasis The gay Jewish social mixer returns for a Passover affair. $5-$7. 8pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

The Monster Show @ The Edge The dearly missed Cookie Dough's weekly drag show continues, with gogo guys and hilarious fun. $5.

9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

My So-Called Night @ Beaux Carnie Asada hosts a new weekly '90s-themed video, dancin', drinkin' night, with VJs Jorge Terez. Get down with your funky bunch, and enjoy 90cent drinks. '90s-themed attire and costume contest. No cover. 9pm-2am.

2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Nap's Karaoke @ Virgil's Sea Room Sing out loud at the weekly least judgmental karaoke in town, hosted by the former owner of the bar. No cover. 9pm. 3152 Mission St. 8292233. www.virgilssf.com

Bright Light, Bright Light @ Independent Rod Thomas and his pop band perform. Blackout Make Out opens. $13-$15. 9pm. 628 Divisadero St. www.brightlightx2.com www.theindependentsf.com

Weekly drag shows at the last transgender-friendly bar in the Polk; with hosts Victoria Secret, Alexis Miranda and several performers. Also Saturdays. $10. 11pm. 1081 Polk St. www.divassf.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ El Rio The saucy women's burlesque revue's weekly weekend show; different musical guests each week. $10.

7:30pm. 3158 Mission St. 672-4735.

Also Wed nights at Oasis. www.redhotsburlesque.com www.elriosf.com

Rock Fag @ Hole in the Wall

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Disco guru DJ Bus Station John spins grooves at the intimate retro music night. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

VIP @ Club 21, Oakland Hip Hop, Top 40, and sexy Latin music; gogo dancers, appetizers, and special guest DJs. No cover before 11pm and just $5 after all night.

Dancing 9pm-3am. Happy hour 4pm8:30pm 2111 Franklin St. (510) 2689425. www.club21oakland.com

Daddy @ Powerhouse Andy Cross' Bestie-winning monthly night of hot boys, sexy daddies, DJ Juan, Scout the Bookblack, and manly gogo dancers. Wear your leather or trashy gear. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Songwriter Showcase @ Viracocha

Anna Voglezang / Songwriter Showcase @ Viracocha

Anna Vogelzang is one of several vocalist-songwriters at the showscase hosted by the furniture store. 8pm11:30pm. 998 Valencia St. www.viracochasf.com

Fri 10 Happy Friday @ The Midnight Sun

Frolic @ The Stud The friendly fun furry dance night (2nd Saturdays) with DJ NeonBunny and guests Chris Da Fur Blue and NightKat, where animal costumes rule! $3 with, $7 without. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.frolicparty.com www.studsf.com

Industry @ Beatbox Joe Gauthreaux and Jamie J Sanchez DJ at the the Bestie-winning nightclub. $15-$20. 10pm-late. 314 11th St. www.industrysf.com www.beatboxsf.com

Late Night at the Jewseum @ Contemporary Jewish Museum Enjoy a fab night of open-bar cocktails, Passover food, live and DJed music, Fat Chance Bellydance acts, and exhibits. $75. 21+. 9pm-1am. (VIP Out of Order Seder dinner beforehand, $360 and up, 6:30pm-9pm). 736 Mission St. www.thecjm.org

The Grammy-winning vocalist performs in a special two-week engagement at the elegant intimate cabaret nightclub. $35-$55. 8pm. Thu & Fri 8pm. Sat & Sun 7pm. Thru April 19. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.stevetyrell.com www.ticketweb.com

Drink specials, Top 40, gogo studs and no cover. 9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Suppositori Spelling's wacky weekly drag show at the cute lil gay bar.

10pm-2am. 1900 Folsom St. 5710925. www.trucksf.com

Fri 10

Steve Tyrell @ Feinstein's at the Nikko

Thirsty Thursdays @ The Cafe

Cocktailgate @ Truck

Some Thing @ The Stud

Friday Night @ de Young Museum Nightlife events at the museum take on different themes, cash bar and live entertainment. $5-$16. 5:30pm-9pm.

50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. www.deyoung.famsf.org

The monthly "queer, lezzie, dyke, tranny" dance party returns for its 9th anniversary party. $10. 9pm-2am. 155 Fell St. at Van Ness Ave. www.cockblocksf.com www.rickshawstop.com

Enjoy hard rock and punk music from DJ Don Baird at the wonderfully divey SoMa bar. 12pm-2am.

1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. hitws.com

The utterly wild drag night blends horror and camp in Hairspray From Hell; drag and costumes encouraged; $300 prize in the drag contest. $7-$13. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. $10-$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Cockblock @ Rickshaw Stop

Mica Sigourney and pals' weekly offbeat drag performance night. 10pm2am.

399 9th St. studsf.com

Dragula @ Oasis

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Mother @ Oasis Happy Friday @ Midnight Sun The popular video bar ends each work week with gogo guys (starting at 9pm) and drink specials. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland The festive gogo-filled dance club, with host Lulu, features Latin pop dance hits with DJs Speedy Douglas Romero and Fabricio; no cover before 10pm. $6-$12. 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. (510) 268-9425. club21oakland.com

Manimal @ Beaux Gogo-tastic dance night starts off your weekend. $5. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Fri 10 Bright Light, Bright Light @ The Independent

Sat 11 Amber's Disco Cabaret @ Club OMG Amber Alert's twisted fun dance event, with DJ Sergio Fedasz (Go Bang!). 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. 8966374. www.clubomgsf.com

Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm.

1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

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

La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland DJed tunes, gogo hotties, drag shows, drink specials, all at Oakland's premiere Latin nightclub and weekly cowboy night. $10-$15. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Club Rimshot @ Club BNB, Oakland Get groovin' at the weekly hip hop and R&B night at their new location. $8-$15. 9pm to 4am. 2120 Broadway.

(510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Heklina's weekly drag show night at the fabulous renovated SoMa nightclub; plus DJ MC2 and guests. April 11: Once Upon a Time/Enchanted Forest theme with the Glamcocks. $10. 10pm-2am.

298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Pound Puppy @ SF Eagle The popular Bestie-winning poochthemed party returns, with resident DJs Taco Tuesday and Kevin O'Connor, canine gogos, barber Tony DiCaro and great grooves. $10. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Sex & Drags & Rock N Roll @ Midnight Sun Mutha Chucka's wild drag show, with Dulce De Leche, Rahni Nothingmore and other talents. Shows 10:30pm & 12am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Sugar @ The Café Dance, drink, cruise at the Castro club.

9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

WooWoo's Cirq-us @ Renegades, San Jose WooWoo Monroe hosts the new monthly drag show (2nd Saturdays) that celebrates the insanity of camp, shock and hilarity. This month, Raven from Season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race will perform along with a cast of local talents from around the Bay Area. $10.

9pm-12:30am, including a meet and greet with Raven. 501 West Taylor St., San Jose. (408) 275-9902. www.renegadesbar.com

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On the Tab>>

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 29

Sun 12 Beer Bust @ Lone Star Saloon The ursine crowd converges for beer and fun. 4pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

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

Sat 11 WooWoo’s Cirq-us @ Renegades, San Jose

Big Top @ Beaux Joshua J.'s homo disco circus night, with guest DJs and performers, hotty gogo guys and drink specials. 9pm2am. 2344 Market St. www.BeauxSF.com

Cabaret Showcase Showdown @ Oasis

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 Dance it up at the popular twiceweekly country-western dance night that includes line-dancing, two-stepping and lessons. $5. 5pm10:30pm. Also Thursdays 6:30pm10:30pm. 550 Barneveld Ave. at Industrial. www.sundancesaloon.org

Mon 13 Cock and Bull Mondays @ Hole in the Wall Saloon Specials on drinks made with Cock and Bull ginger ale (Jack and Cock, Russian Mule, and more). 8pmclosing. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Drag Mondays @ The Café Mahlae Balenciaga and DJ Kidd Sysko's weekly drag and dance night, 2014's last of the year. 9pm-1am.

2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Mon 13

Ben McCoy @ Performerama

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

Mondays and Tuesdays popular weekly sing-along night. No cover.

8:30pm-1am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com

Irish Dance Night @ Starry Plough, Berkeley

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

Sunday Brunch, Xtravaganza @ Balancoire

Rarebits @ Oasis DJs Chicken, Bobby Please, and Dry Cheri celebrate the album track, the B-side, the scratchy dollar LP and the underplayed hits from every genre, from Deee-Lite to Diamanda Galas, Ornette Coleman to Sinead O'Connor. $2-$5. 1pm-7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Salsa Sundays @ El Rio

Weekly live music shows with host Galilea and various acts, along with brunch, mimosas, champagne and more, at the stylish nightclub and restaurant; shows at 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:45pm. After that, T-Dance drag shows at 7pm, 10pm and 11pm. 2565 Mission St. at 21st.

920-0577. www.balancoiresf.com

Sunday's a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet hosts the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show. $45.

11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com

Miguel Blazquez

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

Show off your tattoos and piercings at the weekly cruisy SoMa bar night.

10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Opulence @ Beaux

Meow Mix @ The Stud

New weekly dance night, with Jocques, DJs Tori, Twistmix and Andre.

9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

The weekly themed variety cabaret showcases new and unusual talents; MC Ferosha Titties. $3-$7. Show at 11pm. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com

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

Tue 14 Block Party @ Midnight Sun Weekly screenings of music videos, concert footage, interviews and more, of popular pop stars. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Bombshell Betty & Her Burlesqueteers @ Elbo Room The weekly burlesque show of women dancers shaking their bonbons includes live music. $10. 9pm. 647 Valencia St. 552-7788. www.elbo.com

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down with the strippers at the cruisy adult theatre and arcade; free beverages. $20. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Retro Night @ 440 Castro Jim Hopkins plays classic pop oldies, with vintage music videos. 9pm-2am.

44 Castro St. www.the440.com

Showdown @ Folsom Foundry Weekly game night for board and electronic gamers at the warehouse multi-purpose nightclub. 21+. 6pm12am. 1425 Folsom St. www.showdownesports.com

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

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

Epic Karaoke @ White Horse, Oakland

GlamaZone @ The Cafe Pollo del Mar's weekly drag shows takes on different themes with a comic edge.

8:30-11:30pm. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Mica Sigourney and Tom Temprano cohost the wacky weekly game night at the cool Mission bar. 8pm. 3152 Mission St. www.virgilssf.com

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

Cabure Bonugli

The finals of this season's entertaining cabaret singing contest includes hosts Joe Wicht and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, the finalists in the various subgenres performing (Jessica Coker, Claybourne, Kate Isenberg, Jessica Coker, Dominic Quin-Harker, Heather Orth, Blackberri and Chloe Condon), guest judges (Tammy L. Hall, Russ Lorenson, Juanita More!, Mitchell Eaton and Skip Zibriani), plus guest performers Sheelagh Murphy, Tom Shaw and Lynden Bair. $15-$20. 6pm pre-show and cocktails. 7pm show. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Ink & Metal @ Powerhouse

Underwear Night @ 440

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

No No Bingo @ Virgil's Sea Room

Amber’s Disco Cabaret @ OMG

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

Mahogany Mondays @ Midnight Sun Honey Mahogany's weekly drag and musical talent show starts around 10pm. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Marga Gomez’ Performerama @ Oasis The popular lesbian comic offers a new excerpt from her “lezploitation” solo show Pound! , plus Ben McCoy and Karen Ripley. $8. 8pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Mash Up Mondays @ Club BnB, Oakland Weekly Karaoke and open mic night; RuPaul's Drag Race screenings, too.

9pm-2am. 2120 Broadway.

(510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Monday Musicals @ The Edge Sing along at the popular musical theatre night; also Wednesdays. 7pm-2am.

2 for 1 cocktail, 5pmclosing. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Sun 12 Katya Smirnoff-Skyy and Joe Wicht cohost Cabaret Showcase Showdown @ Oasis

Sat 11

Name That Beat @ Toad Hall BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly musical trivia challenge and drag show.

8:30-11:30pm. 4146 18th St. at Castro. www.toadhallbar.com

Cock Shot @ Beaux Shot specials and adult Bingo games, with DJs Chad Bays and Riley Patrick, at the new weekly night. No cover.

9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

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

Gay Skate Night @ Church on 8 Wheels LGBT night at the former Sacred Heart Church-turned disco roller skate party space, hosted by John D. Miles, the "Godfather of Skate."

Actually, every night is gay-friendly, including Saturday's Black Rock night (Burning Man garb encouraged). Also Wed, Thu, 7pm-10pm. Sat afternoon sessions 1pm-2:30pm and 3pm5:30pm. $10. Kids 12 and under $5.

Skate rentals $5. 554 Fillmore St at Fell. www.churchof8wheels.com

Una Noche @ Club BnB, Oakland Vicky Jimenez' drag show and contest; Latin music all night. 9pm-2am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Underwear Night @ Club OMG Weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, and drink specials; different hosts each week. $3. 10pm2am. Preceded by Open Mic Comedy, 7pm, no cover. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Wed 15 Bingo @ Club OMG Michael Brandon hosts the board game night (3rd Wed). 7pm. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

See page 34 >>

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

30 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

Invested in fun

by Donna Sachet

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particularly struck by the porter Randy Arnold who words of Walt Whitman has helped to steer so much he Imperial Court’s Invesset to music in My Friend, support our way from Baretiture of Reigning Emperor My Lover: Five Walt Whitfoot Winery. If you don’t Kevin Lisle and Reigning Empress man Songs and the whimsiknow, Barefoot has changed Khmera Rouge, titled Fifty Shades cal #twitterlieder: 15 Tweets the wine industry with its of K, was an incredible demonstrain 3 Acts enacted by small bold and humorous martion of the broad diversity of supchorus member vignettes. keting and direct support of port they have already developed.

Who knew that tweeting many non-profit organizaNot only did loyal Imperial Court could be such fun? tions, including AIDS Emermembers attend, but so did repreBut the powerhouse pergency Fund through Songs sentatives of the Leather commuof the Season, Positive Reformance of the evening was nity, the Ducal Court, source Center through Pride the second act’s For a Look the Sisters of PerpetuBrunch, SF Pride at the VIP or a Touch by Jake Heggie, al Indulgence, GAPA, Party, the Matthew Shepard dramatically retelling the Gay Softball League, SF Foundation, the Imperial story of two men who loved Night Ministry, Cheer Court, Equality California, and lost so much during SF, and so many others. and so many others. the Nazi Holocaust. With This self-named ImWe joined Gary Virspectacular performances perial Court of Kourage, ginia, BeBe Sweetbriar, by guest artists Morgan Klass, Leather & Lace Rink Foto, Rebecca Rolfe, Smith and Kip Niven and shows every indication and Barefoot founders Mia small but vital instrumenof phenomenal success! Oasis was chael Houlihan and Bonnie tal ensemble, the chorus the perfect venue, and Heklina was Harvey for lunch at Chow, immersed us into a tragic present, taking in all the smiles of where the conversation ran love story, the inconceivappreciation. from politics and business to Gareth Gooch able atrocities of World War This was our first glimpse of the fundraisers and celebrations.

II, and the transcendence Empress Khmera Rouge and Emperor Kevin Lisle new club and it shows great promThat night, nearly 200 of love over even the most at the Investiture celebrations at Oasis. ise for so many different events and friends and industry associoutrageous circumstances. groups within our community, not ates celebrated at the San Needless to say, a dry eye was to mention a friendly and engagHawaiian dance troupe.

Francisco LGBT Community hard to find when the audiing staff. Emperor Stephen Dorsey The San Francisco Gay Men’s Center, where Marga Gomez added ence rose in a standing ovation. and Empress Renita Valdez Chorus once again demonstrated the perfect element of huWe were fortunate afterwards provided delicious food, their incredible artistry under the mor, and even Joe Gallo of to speak to local composer Jake CoCo Butter contributed direction of Dr. Tim Seelig, as well the Gallo family that eventuHeggie and his partner Curt rich floral displays and other as their ability to address serious, ally bought Barefoot Winery Branom, who were beaming with décor, and Jack Daniels Fire even tragic historical realities with added his praise to Randy pride and receiving accolades all shots and a bevy of performbeautiful music. Last week’s confor his years of work and around. Don’t miss any opportunity ers kept the audience entercerts at Davies Symphony Hall incommunity involvement. to attend a concert by the San Frantained throughout. cluded several original works and The silent auction there, cisco Gay Men’s Chorus.

Last week, we joined one world premieres and we joined Skye including a tremendous Hope you enjoyed a glorious Easof several sneak peeks at the Paterson on Thursday night. Few assortment of wine packter Sunday and are ready for all the inside of the newest building moments compete with the glorious ages, garnered $4000 for upcoming events! We’ll be in New Gareth Gooch on Castro Street in ages. The entrance of nearly 300 men in white the Community Center. The York, Santa Barbara, and Phoenix San Francisco AIDS Fountails onto that stage, as the audience evening ended with a stirover the next month, but our loyal The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus at their dation’s structure, projected thunders with applause. ring performance by Patrick spies will be keeping us abreast of recent Davies Symphony Hall concert, Passion. to open in late summer, at During the first act we were Makuakane’s Na Lei Hulu local developments, so watch out!t

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470 Castro, will house several of its programs in one centralized location; Magnet, Stop AIDS Project, and Stonewall Project.

Inside, you’ll find a welcoming lobby, sweeping staircase, spacious common areas, private consultation and treatment rooms, and several wonderful outdoor balconies.

Also in attendance were Fernando Robles, China Silk, J.P. Soto & Chris Benson, Jenny Towblocksaway, David Lassman, Strange de Jim, Gregg Cassin, and Race Bannon.

The short program

by Executive Director Neil Giuliano outlined the benefits of grouping services together and increasing the capacity of services, while pointing out that many naming opportunities still exist. Watch for additional previews and pick a room, wall, or feature that you want to have named after you or someone you love for an appropriate contribution!

On Wednesday, we spent the day honoring friend and longtime sup-

Besties 2015 photos by Gareth Gooch, Dan Lloyd, Dale Godfrey

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Gomez, Veronica Klaus, and the Whoa Nellies.

Guests enjoyed food from La Mediterranee, beer from event sponsor Trumer Pils and cocktails with Jack Daniels, and cake and cookies from (Bestie winner) Sweet Inspiration. All together, it was an amazing night. Congratulations to all our winners, finalists, and readers who chose their faves.

See more photos from the fifth annual Besties, by Steven Underhill, on page 35.

Dale Godfrey

Gareth Gooch

Dale Godfrey

Dan Llyod

Gareth Gooch

Dale Godfrey

Gareth Gooch

he local stars came out at the Bay Area Reporter’s fifth annual Besties Awards celebration, held April 2 at (award-winning Best New Nightclub) Oasis.

Winners and finalists in nightlife, leather, arts and drag communities mixed and mingled to the grooves of DJ Mark O’Brien. Oasis co-owners Heklina and D’Arcy Drollinger started things off with some witty comments. In between handing out prizes, MC Queen Cougar brought out Bestie-winning talents Marga

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 31

Queer Fashion Week Multi-venue weekend event celebrates style

by Jinn Zoo

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he East Bay will be styling next weekend when Queer Fashion Week showcases LGBT designers, and accompanying nightlife events showcase diversity in the performing arts, April 16 through 19.

The event’s goal is to showcase veteran and new fashion designers in a stylish rainbow of expression, to create a space for a network of creativity. Oakland is the new hub of innovation for LGBTQ communities, and innovation will be a highlight of the events.

Among the celebrities working the catwalk will be America’s Next Top Model finalist Cory Wade. The outspoken openly gay model was so popular he was asked back as a guest for the 21st edition.

Wade sees the necessity for an event like Queer Fashion Week. The conservative opinions expressed by design duo Dolce & Gabbana prove that event gay designers can be ignorant of social issues.

When working in fashion, the Philadelphia native said in a press statement that he’s experienced more than a bit of sexism and homophobia. “A few of the judges couldn’t stop harping on my femininity.”

Wade said he’s looking forward to the fashion weekend, to help showcase out designers, models and other artists.

Individual tickets range from $10 to a VIP weekend package for $200. The events range from receptions to shows, and nightlife parties. Here’s a rundown of events.

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Thursday, April 16: Welcome party Meet designers, models, DJ Jibbs, cash bar, hors d’oeuvres and QFW Vendor Village, with designers’ selling their wares. Parlaiment, $10. 5pm9pm, 811 Washington St., Oakland.

What Is Butch? Fashions will be on the runway at Queer Fashion Week

Model Cory Wade hosts a show of fashion, art, celebrities and music, with Iron Drumwork Antonio Dnaiel, Liana Sundar, Chrystal Linaja,m Susie Oquendo and Katwalk Kouture. With acts by Lady Cultura, Miccah Tron, AstraLogik, Press Play Poets and DJ Val G. After-party as well. $10-$30.

Doors 7pm, show 8pm. Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, 410 14th St., Oakland.

Saturday, April 18: Genesis Runway Show Zulu Nasty performs at Queer Fashion Week

Sunday, April 19: Designer Trunk Show Shop in a queer mall full of clothes, accessories and more, with more than a dozen companies showcasing and selling their wares. 3pm-6pm. Qulture Collective, 1714 Franklin St. Oakland.

Purchase tickets online and be enterted to win a three-night stay in a full suite at Maui’s premiere LGBT resort, The Maui Sunseeker Resort. www.queerfashionweek.com

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Friday, April 17: Fashion Explosion

This warehosue gallery will transform into a runway fashion show, with four one-hour displays, DJs Val G, Lady Ryan and Jibbz. Performers include Double Duchess, Zulu Nasty, Lady Cultura, Lila Rose and Red Hots Burlesque. $15-$40. 4pm-9pm. Poplar Gallery, 1960 Mandela Parkway, Oakland. 21+.

510.343.1122

America’s Next Top Model finalist Cory Wade

DJ Lady Ryan

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Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

32 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

t

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Universe/Rizzoli

I call this Champion photo from Beefcake, “Biker Boy with Buns.”

Muscle memories

by John F. Karr

T

here are always two ends to a rope, and a cock goes up if you pull it. I think I learned the former in Cub Scouts, and the latter I learned not too long after I aged out of Cubbery, under the influence of a most liberating magazine I’d found.

I think it was Demi-Gods.

Or was it the Grecian Guild Picto-

rial, or MANual, Adonis, The Young Physique, Vim or—aha!—BIG, a small-sized magazine that featured some very large-sized dicks that were only marginally hidden from full exposure by a thin posing strap, a bit of mesh, or some gauze. It was published by Champion Studios, which was the very master of what a mid-1950s indictment hurled by the courts against a physique pho-

tographer of the day called Excessive Genital Delineation.

Excessive Genital Delineation. It’s quite a mouthful. Today it’s known as VPL—visible penis line. But I think Excessive Genital Delineation has a little more swing. If there’s one thing I like in a man more than a thick neck, it’s his showing EGD. See page 33 >>

Universe/Rizzoli Universe/Rizzoli

A glam photo from Beefcake; Forbes Wood on the rocks,

by Bob Mizer.

Enjoying a healthy glass of milk at home, A Champion photo from Beefcake shows a lad at home enjoying a healthy glass of milk while showcasing a healthy touch of EGD.

t

Read more online at www.ebar.com

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 33

photo

Universe/Rizzoli

Left: Quaintance Studios specialized in faux sailors showing EGD. This one’s Bill Bredlan, from Beefcake. Right: Richard Bennett, one of the Brooklyn boys favored by photographer Les Demi Dieux, included in Beefcake.

<<

Muscle memories

From page 32

I was ushered into gaydom in the early 1960s by EGD, and it has bewitched, bothered and boned me up ever since. A lot of the time, I prefer it to Complete Genital Revelation because of its mystery. As some famous someone or other said (was it

Lacan, Mishima, Bataille?), “Desire culminates in its object.”

That’s why many budding porn stars won’t reveal their goods. Benjamin Godfre is perhaps the best recent example; he teased us with EGD for what seemed an unbearable age before his big (well, not really so big) reveal. Philip F u s c o practiced EGD with class. The most recent standout in the art of EGD was Seth Fornea (and boy, did his stand out). And we must offer praise to today’s champion of EGD, those compelling come-ons of Andrew Christian adverts.

Well, interesting as all this may be, it’s forestalling my introduction of the photographic collection that got me feeling so chatty. I didn’t find it disappointing that Beefcake (cloth, Universe, $50) doesn’t dwell on EGD, because what it

does offer in its 250 pages of physique photography from the 1950s and ‘60s is diversion enough. Most of its subjects are draped (resulting in a some invigorating depictions of EGD), but a surprising amount are fully nude. The bodybuilders and everyday teens of that more innocent era could be so generous and trusting.

The book’s photos, large-sized and printed on heavy stock, with sharp contrast for black and white photos and clarity of image for those in color, were edited by Petra Mason.

Yup, a lady. In her introduction she explains that women can be as beholden to beefcake as gay men, and she congratulates herself on the book’s all-female design and editorial team. Perhaps that’s why Lady Bunny was engaged to write a Foreward.

I was skeptical about this. The Lady hasn’t been previously known for her scholarship. Mason offers a breezy intro, and her capsule bios of the book’s photographers are witty and provocative, but refrain, or were legally restricted, from naming the men, an absence of vital information that remains an unexplained strangeness.

Mason largely leaves Madame Bunny to efficiently –and in a sprightly bunny fashion– take up the task of considering the photo’s provenance, the temper of their times, their photographer’s aims, and so forth, without getting too heavy. She happily latches on to the simple appeal and entertaining incongruity of a clean-cut ‘50s teenager, with neatly parted and slicked-back hair, posing as a Grecian warrior.

Says the Bunny, “These young model’s beauty was filtered through the styling, art direction, and photography of some talented if nutty queens.”

The photos are arranged in sections of somewhat loose categories— Figure Studies, Sword and Sandals, Daredevils. There’s just enough text in the introductory paragraph allot-

Universe/Rizzoli

The editor shows her bias with the abundance in Beekcake of photos of George O’Mara, by Chuck Renslow.

ted each section to explain the category, or present the justification the photographer employed to get the image past the censors.

My favorite photos (other than the fare share of those Champions with their EGD), are the duos, for a simple reason. It blew my 11-yearold mind to see men touching.

One photo in particular that was scandalous in its day casually shows two guys lolling in the nude in a suburban living room. Imagine— guys just being guys together! While naked.

Collectors of vintage physique

art probably already own all the book’s photos. There was a previous Beefcake, good but not as comprehensive as this one; Janssen has eight volumes devoted to individual photographers; Antinous Press has an impressive boxed and full color opus dedicated to Bruce of Los Angeles; etc.

For those who don’t want to invest so much money, or who aren’t fanatic collectors, this Universe Beefcake is a splendid one-volume overview.t Beefcake, from Universe/Rizzoli

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

34 • BAY AREA REPORTER • April 9-15, 2015

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“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

— Mark Twain

On the Tab

From page 29

Booty Call @ QBar Juanita More! and her weekly intimate –yet packed– dance party. $10-$15. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.qbarsf.com

Bondage a GoGo @ Cat Club The (mostly straight) kinky weekly dance night, where fetish gear is welcome; DJs Damon and Tomas Diablo play electro, goth, industrial, etc. 9:30pm-2:30am. 1190 Folsom St. www.bondage-a-go-go.com

Bottoms Up Bingo @ Hi Tops Play board games and win offbeat prizes at the popular sports bar. 9pm.

2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

B.P.M. @ Club BnB, Oakland 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. No cover. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway, Oakland. www.bench-and-bar.com

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

424 Cortland St. 647-3099. www.wildsidewest.com

Open Mic/Comedy @ SF Eagle

Rainbow Skate @ Redwood Roller Rink Weekly LGBT and friends skate night, with groovy disco music and themed events. $9. 8pm10:30pm. 1303 Main Street, Redwood City. www.rainbowskate.net www.facebook.com/ rainbowskating/

Wed 15 Rainbow Skate @ Redwood Roller Rink

The saucy women's burlesque revue weekly show at the new SoMa nightclub; different musical guests each week. $10-$20. Wednesdays at 8:30pm-11:30pm.

298 11th St. at Folsom.

795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

So You Think You Can Gogo? @ Toad Hall

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences

Classic drag show with Victoria Secret, Alexandria, Chanel, Mini Minerva, Kipper, Ruby LeBrowne, and Lulu Ramirez.

No cover. 8pm; dinner seating 7pm. 124 Ellis St. 4218700. www.fauxgirls.com www.infusionlounge-sf.com

Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. $10-$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Full Frontal Comedy @ Lookout

The VIP dinner ($500 and up, 6pm9pm) and after-party ($150-$350; 9pm-12am), turn the museum into a nightclub. Pier 15, Embarcadero at Green St. 528-4385. www.exploratorium.edu

Funny Fun @ Club 21, Oakland

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

Way Back @ Midnight Sun

Kollin Holts hosts the weekly comedy and open mic talent night. 6pm-8pm.

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

Weekly screenings of vintage music videos and retro drink prices. Check out the new expanded front window lounge. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 8614186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Pussy Party @ Beaux

Wooden Nickel Wednesday @ 440

Weekly women's happy hour, with allwomen music and live performances, 2 for 1 drinks, and no cover. 5pm-9am.

2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Fauxgirls @ Infusion Lounge

Enjoy a night of comedy (3rd Thursdays) at the fundraiser for #berobin, with Paco Romane, Karinda Dobbins cohosts Yuri Kagan and Valeria Branch, and other guests. $5. 8pm. 3600 16th st. www.lookoutsf.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ Oasis

Weekly LGBT and straight comedy night hosted by Dan Mires. $10. 8pm.

2111 Franklin St. Oakland.

(510) 268-9425. www. club21oakland.com

Rich Stadtmiller

<<

Buy a drink and get a wooden nickle good for another. 12pm-2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. www.the440.com

Gym Class @ Hi Tops Wrangler Wednesday @ Rainbow Cattle Company, Guerneville The Russian River bar's country music night attracts cowboys and those who like to ride 'em. 8pm-1am. 16220 Main St., Guerneville. (707) 869-0206. www.queersteer.com

Thu 16 Bulge @ Powerhouse Grace Towers hosts the weekly gogotastic night of sexy dudes shakin' their bulges and getting wet in their undies for $100 prize (with a contest at midnight), and dance beats spun

by DJ DAMnation. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

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

Karaoke Night @ Club BnB, Oakland Sing your heart out at the free lively night. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway.

(510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Karaoke Night @ Club OMG Dana leads the weekly amateur singing night. 8pm. No cover. 43 6th St. 896-6473. www.clubomgsf.com

Spring Gala @ Exploratorium

That '70s Ho @ Oasis Benefit for Anna Conda, with performances by Frieda Laye, Phatima, intenchanelJ, Joie De Vivre, Dam Dyke, Ferosha Titties, Hoku Mama Swamp, and Pristine Condition with DJ Muthachucka $5 and up.

7:30pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 7953180. www.sfoasis.com

Thirsty Thursdays @ The Café Drink specials, Top 40, gogo studs and no cover 2for 1 cocktails til 10:30pm.

2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Thump @ White Horse, Oakland Weekly electro music night with DJ Matthew Baker and guests. 9pm-2am.

6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com

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

The Monster Show @ The Edge The dearly missed Cookie Dough's weekly drag show conitnues, with themed events and cute gogo guys. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Want your nightlife event listed?

Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event.

Event photos welcome.

t

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Shooting Stars

April 9-15, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 35

photos by Steven Underhill Besties 2015

T

he local stars came out at the Bay Area Reporter’s fifth annual Besties Awards celebration, held April 2 at (award-winning Best New Nightclub) Oasis.

See more photos on Bestie-winning Steven Underhill’s album page on SmugMug. More event photo albums are on BARtab’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife.

See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at www.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

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