August 13, 2015 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

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PAWS, Shanti merge

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

by Seth Hemmelgarn

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wo San Francisco nonprofits that work with people with AIDS and other illnesses are merging, the organizations announced this week.

Pets Are Wonderful Rick Gerharter Support, which helps low-income people Shanti Executive who have disabling Director HIV/AIDS and other Kaushik Roy illnesses care for their pets, will merge with and become a program of the Shanti Project, which provides support to people living with AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. The organizations made the announcement in a news release Wednesday, August 12.

“Improving the lives of people who depend on our services is paramount to Shanti’s mission,” Kaushik Roy, Shanti’s executive director, said in the release. “Combining our efforts with PAWS means we’ll make a more meaningful impact for those supported by both organizations.”

Frank Petkovich, Shanti’s board chair, stated, “We’re thrilled to bring PAWS into the Shanti family, which will provide continuity and a strong financial base from which both organizations will benefit.” After the merger, Shanti’s 2015-16 budget will be $4.1 million.

“PAWS’ work complements Shanti’s efforts to provide emotional and practical support to vulnerable individuals across San Francisco,” Petkovich added.

PAWS will continue to serve clients from its Mission district building at 3170 23rd Street.

Current, full-time staff members of both nonprofits will be offered jobs in the merged organization.

Katherine D’Amato, PAWS’ director of client services, will serve as the PAWS program director at Shanti.

Among other changes, both groups’ board members will be invited to join the new Shanti board, and the agency’s volunteer operations will be combined.

As of December, PAWS had “630 active human clients and 812 companion animals,” interim Executive Director Sarah Cramer told the Bay Area Reporter earlier this summer. Its budget is $898,000.

Shanti serves more than 2,000 people annually in all its programs.

In an interview this week, Roy, who’s 37 and a straight ally, said conversations about the merger had been happening “in earnest” See page 9 >>

Vol. 45 • No. 33 • August 13-19, 2015

CA prison to provide surgery to trans woman

by Seth Hemmelgarn

S

tate prison officials have reached a groundbreaking settlement with a transgender woman held in a men’s prison and will provide gender-affirming surgery for her, while another imprisoned transgender woman who’s been seeking surgery from the state was paroled this week.

The Oakland-based Transgender Law Center announced August 7 that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will provide surgery and other medical care for Shiloh Quine, 56.

“After so many years of almost giving up on myself, I will finally be liberated from the prison within a prison I felt trapped in, and feel whole, both as a woman and as a human being,” Quine said in a Friday news release from TLC. “I’m just overwhelmed, especially knowing that this

Shiloh Quine Courtesy SFINX Publishing/The Women of San Quentin

will help so many other people. I know I can never truly make amends for what I’ve done in the past, but I am committed to making myself a better person, and to helping others so they don’t have to struggle the way I have.”

Quine has been serving a term of life without the possibility of parole since 1981 after being convicted in Los Angeles County for first-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery. She’s being held in Mule Creek State Prison, a men’s facility in Ione, California.

Quine is one of several people profiled in

The Women of San Quentin: Soul Murder of Transgender Women in Male Prisons, a book

by Kristin Schreier Lyseggen that’s set to be released in September.

According to an unproofed galley of the book, Quine wrote to Lyseggen that she’d told police in 1980 “that the gun used to murder someone was hers, even though it wasn’t.

She was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for a murder she said she did not commit.”

See page 10 >>

Not much for LGBTs during GOP debate

by Lisa Keen

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epublican presidential hopeful Rand Paul singled out Houston’s lesbian mayor for criticism, saying she had tried to “invade the church to enforce [her] own opinion on marriage.” Candidate Bobby Jindal said he’d sign an executive order on day one to ensure that “Christian business owners and individuals don’t face discrimination for having a traditional view of marriage.” And Mike Huckabee suggested that allowing transgender people to serve openly in the military would mean the government would have to pay for their gender change surgery.

In short: There were no surprises on LGBT issues from the 17 Republican presidential hopefuls who took part in one of two August 6 debates sponsored and broadcast by Fox News. Only six of the candidates fielded a question that hit upon an LGBT issue. And only one of those six – Ohio Governor John Kasich – answered in a way that suggested a measure of respect for LGBT people.

Kasich said he would love his own child even if she was gay. But his wording walked a delicate line between noble father and tolerant tongue-biter.

“Kasich’s answer was far from perfect – the phrasing ‘if one of my daughters happened to be that’ was unfortunate, and in noting that he would love his daughters ‘no matter what they do,’ he indicated that he thought being lesbian was something that requires forbearance,” wrote June Thomas, editor of Slate.com’s

Getty Images

The Republican presidential candidates at last week’s main debate included, from left, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Scott Walker, Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and John Kasich.

LGBTQ section. “Nevertheless, his response was loving and humane. ...”

The mainstream media and the audience at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland reacted favorably to Kasich’s comments. But other candidates showed no interest in walking a line

between flat out opposition and respect for anything LGBT. At best, some Republican candidates participating in the debates just seemed eager to slide off the topic whenever asked to

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<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 13-19, 2015

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Man dies in Castro street

by Seth Hemmelgarn

A

gay San Francisco man who died suddenly Friday on a street in the city’s Castro neighborhood is being remembered as a “sweet” man who was active in his church.

Thomas Smallwood, 75, was walking to a bar with his boyfriend Friday when he said he wasn’t feeling well, Tyler Smallwood, one of Smallwood’s sons, said in an interview this week. The couple was returning to their car when he Seth Hemmelgarn collapsed in the street.

The area of Market Street where Tyler Smallwood, 36, who lives Thomas Smallwood died after in Tempe, Arizona, said the famapparently collapsing last week. ily didn’t yet have much information on what may have happened.

The medical examiner’s office “not a nice place for gay people at all.” isn’t likely to release the cause and He said Smallwood had retired “a manner of death for several months. couple years ago” after working as Joseph Roldan, 24, who works at a real estate agent for a prominent Simply Brilliant Press, at 2336 Marlawyer. He last spoke with his father ket Street, near where Smallwood around the time the Golden State collapsed, said that at about 11:30 Warriors won the NBA championa.m. Friday, he saw Smallwood and ship in June. another man walking near the Mar“He was really proud of that,” he ket Street median. said. His father also always called “I saw him take a step over the iswhenever the Arizona Cardinals land” and fall, Roldan said. The other football team got beat by the San man brought Smallwood across the Francisco 49ers, he said. street, and a woman started giving Smallwood liked to socialize in the him CPR. Responding paramedCastro and was an active member of ics worked in shifts for about half First Congregational Church of San an hour in an unsuccessful attempt Francisco, where he was the treasurer to revive Smallwood, according to and a steering committee member.

Roldan and others in the area.

The Reverend David Cowell, 52, Smallwood had lived in San Franof San Francisco, said Smallwood cisco for more than 20 years and “was just a dear, just a sweet man “loved San Francisco his whole life,” who basically touched people’s lives Tyler Smallwood said. When his in a positive way wherever he went.” father was in his 20s, he had even Smallwood was “very integral” to owned a restaurant in the city. the church family, Cowell said.

The elder Smallwood, who was He was “very much a supportive, born in Indiana and attended Indiloving person who showed up when ana University, came out as gay and he said he would show up and was he and his wife divorced about 25 always a positive force,” he said. years ago.

Smallwood was also “a very good As a gay man, San Francisco “was friend of mine,” Cowell said, and his a great place for him,” Tyler Smalldeath is “a huge personal loss.” wood said, describing Indiana as Smallwood’s health “had been up

and down over the last month or so,” Cowell said. “A few weeks ago he was not well,” but he’d recently said “he was feeling a little bit better, and he seemed to be on the mend.” Cowell didn’t know exactly what Smallwood’s health problems had been.

He said Smallwood and his boyfriend, who the Bay Area Reporter wasn’t able to reach, “had a lot of friends out in the community.”

One of the things Cowell admired about Smallwood was his relaxed demeanor.

“I can be a very serious person,” he said, and Smallwood “reminded me I need to have fun.”

In a follow-up email, Cowell said, “he always signed off his letters and emails with one word: ‘JOY.’ That was who he was, [and] how I will always remember him.”

John Alex Lowell, 44, of San Francisco, knew Smallwood through First Congregational.

“He was very endearing, and very engaged” with the church and its community, Lowell said. Many at the church, including Lowell and Cowell, are gay. Smallwood regularly attended the church’s monthly Rainbow social gatherings.

Thomas McDonald, 49, who lives in San Francisco and chairs First Congregational’s steering committee, said Smallwood’s death is “a shock to all of us at the church.”

“He was very passionate about what he did in the church,” McDonald, who’s gay, said. Smallwood “took care of [the treasury] and saw to it that everything was in order.”

He said that Smallwood had probably been on his way to Twin Peaks or the Mix when he died. Both bars are close to where he collapsed.

A memorial service is set for 1 p.m., Saturday, August 22 at First Congregational, 1300 Polk Street.

There will be a reception with light refreshments after the service.t

Cause of gay man’s death last year remains unclear

by Seth Hemmelgarn

I

t’s been one year this week since a gay San Francisco man died after being attacked in the Duboce Triangle neighborhood, but the medical examiner’s office has yet to determine the cause and manner of his death. The lack of findings may be delaying the police investigation.

Bryan “Feather” Higgins, 31, was punched outside 100 Church Street, across from the Castro district Safeway, August 10, 2014, according to a witness. Higgins died three days later at San Francisco General Hospital after his family had him taken off life support.

Brian Busta, 51, a friend and neighbor of Higgins’, has said that hours before he was attacked, Higgins had been dealing with “medical issues” and behaving erratically.

John Stone, who saw Higgins being attacked, said he’d been antagonizing people who were waiting in line for breakfast at a nearby church.

A man from the line told Higgins to stop and eventually followed him into the street, then punched him repeatedly and left him lying on the sidewalk.

Soon after Higgins died, police released a video that they say shows a man chasing after him and starting to assault him.

Officer Albie Esparza, a police spokesman, confirmed in an email exchange earlier this year that police have identified a “person of interest” in the case but expressed concern that naming the man might com-

as Feather Lynn. promise the investigation.

Jerry Deal, 39, a friend The man is “not a suspect,” of Higgins’, said shortly said Esparza. after his death, “He was “We are waiting still on the kindest, gentlest, freest the results of the medical spirit I’ve ever met, and I’ve examiner’s autopsy to see been blessed to have amazif it’s a homicide,” he said. ing friends.”

“We have to wait for the In an interview last cause officially.” Esparza Thursday, Busta said, didn’t provide responses “We’re all missing him. It to questions about the case Bryan Higgins was just a hard thing for this week. the whole neighborhood.

The medical examiner’s Then, that it’s not solved ... It leaves office hadn’t determined a cause or you with an empty feeling.” manner of death as of Monday.

“The cops are taking forever,” Jesse Stanton, a senior clerk at Busta added. the agency, said last Thursday that Brian Hagerty, Bryan Higgins’s there’s “still an active investigation” husband, has declined a previous into Higgins’ death. He said Dr. interview request and didn’t respond Ellen Moffatt, an assistant medical to a Facebook message last week. examiner, “has not yet attested to At Rosenberg Deli, which is near the cause and manner of death.”

Higgins’ Noe Street apartment, the Asked why so much time has window still displays feathers, a note been needed, Stanton acknowlfrom his friends, and a flier with edged a year is “a while, but it’s not photos of the person of interest in unusual for especially complicated the case. cases to take a while.”

Ana Diaz, 31, who worked with Moffatt didn’t respond directly Higgins at the shop, pulled a woodto a voicemail from the Bay Area en box adorned with feathers from Reporter. the window sill, opened it, and took Christopher Wirowek, an adminisout a black, turquoise, and lavender trator at the medical examiner’s office, quilt that belonged to Higgins. forwarded a reporter’s email about He is “still in our hearts,” Ortiz Higgins’ case to staffer Nina Fiore, said. “It’s still hard. ... We need to get who said Monday, August 10, “[Mofjustice for him.” fatt is] working on this case; however, Anyone with information in the it has not closed yet. She hopes to ficase may call the police departnalize it sometime this week.” ment’s anonymous tip line at (415) Free spirit 575-4444, or text a tip to 847411 and Higgins was part of the Radical Fatype SFPD, then the message. The erie community and was also known incident number is 140 665 807.t

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Community News>>

August 13-19, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 3

Pacific dedicates Rainbow Room T

he University of the Pacific in Stockton dedicated its new Rainbow Resource and Study Room in the Holt-Knox Memorial Library during an August 9 ceremony that featured gay rights activist and alumnus Bill Jones, Class of 1951. Jones, shown speaking, said he believes it’s important to “offer LGBT students an on-campus place where they can learn more about their community’s history, meet others like them, and have a place where they feel at home.” Jones, 86, made history in 1969 when he became the first single man in California to adopt a child. In the mid-1970s, when such businesses were still rare, he owned and operated a social club in San Francisco that catered to gay, lesbian, and heterosexual customers. In 2004, during a monthlong window when same-sex couples were able to receive marriage licenses at San Francisco City Hall, Jones performed 457 weddings as a volunteer marriage commissioner.

Jones, who earned a degree in art and education from Pacific, publicly proposed the idea of an LGBT resource room in a 2004 article in Pacific Review, the university’s alumni magazine.

University of the Pacific

‘Rosie Rally’ seeks to break world record Compiled by Cynthia Laird

Harvey Milk Center for the Arts, 50 Scott Street.

Similar events have been held around the city, as the housing crisis and displacement continues to affect people. The Castro continues to have a high rate of displacement and LGBTQs are affected by homelessness. At the boot camps, tenants learn about their rights and other information.

T

he Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historic Park will try to break the Guinness world record for largest gathering of people dressed as Rosie the Riveter at an event Saturday, August 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the park in Richmond.

Organizers hope to attract 1,000 participants dressed as the iconic Rosie the Riveter figure, which represents women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II. The current record of 776 people dressed as Rosie the Riveter was set last year in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Participants will gather at the Rosie the Riveter Memorial in Marina Bay Park to enjoy musical performances, meet real life “Rosies” who worked on the home front during World War II, and pose for a group photo.

The event is open to all participants and everyone is encouraged to dress up as Rosie. Women and girls of all ages and anyone who is dressed like Rosie the Riveter will be counted. The officials at Guinness will have the last say about who is and who is not counted toward the record-breaking attempt.

Rosies must be dressed according to the following guidelines: red bandana with approximately one-inch diameter white polka-dots (hair should be pinned up, not down or in a ponytail); dark blue long-sleeve workers coveralls or long-sleeve dark blue collared shirt and dark pants or very dark blue jeans (not faded). Long sleeves must be rolled up like the classic image; red socks that cover calves (pants must be rolled up to reveal socks); black or black work boots or shoes. Participants should not wear faded denim jeans, denim shirts, bib overalls, Tshirts, or sweats.

The park’s visitor center is located at 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000. Parking is limited and people are encouraged to carpool or use public transportation. For more information, visit http://www.nps. gov/rori/index.htm.

Correction In the August 6 article, “Nathan chosen to head AEF, BCEF,” the surname for AEF board Chair Scott Williams was inadvertently replaced with that of executive search firm head Scott Miller after the correct first reference to Williams. The online version has been corrected.

The iconic Rosie the Riveter represents women who performed traditionally male jobs in the U.S. during World War II.

Reentry council seeks input on reducing racial disparities

The Reentry Council of the City and County of San Francisco will meet Tuesday, August 18 and will discuss strategies for reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the city’s criminal justice system. People attending the meeting, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Milton Marks Auditorium at the State Building, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, can provide public comment on the issue. Comments may also be submitted via email at reentry.council@sfgov. org, or mail to Reentry Council Staff, c/o Adult Probation, 880 Bryant Street, Room 200, San Francisco, CA 94103.

Additionally, the council has announced that the newly updated “Getting Out and Staying Out: A Guide to San Francisco Resources for People Leaving Jails,” has been posted to its website (http://sfgov2. org/index.aspx?page=4663). The guide itself will be available in print in September, but in the meantime, people can use and share the electronic version. To place an order for a free printed copy, contact Steve Adami, reentry resources coordinator, at steve.adami@sfgov.org or (415) 241-4254.

Finally, in related news, the Visions of Justice film series will screen Unlikely Friends, followed by a panel discussion, Wednesday, August 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, in the Koret Auditorium.

Tenant rights boot camp for LGBTQ and HIV communities

The AIDS Housing Alliance/San Francisco, Q Foundation, and other groups will be holding a tenants rights boot camp for the LGBTQ and HIV communities Thursday, August 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the

UC Santa Cruz study seeks LGBs

The Generations project at UC Santa Cruz is enrolling lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults who live in or near the Bay Area, New York City, or Tucson, Arizona into a research interview study. Eligible participants will be asked to meet with research-

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A Paid Study for People Who Are HIV+ Smallpox Vaccine Study

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<< Open Forum

4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 13-19, 2015

Volume 45, Number 33 August 13-19, 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 – 415.829.8937 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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BAY AREA REPORTER 44 Gough Street, Suite 204 San Francisco, CA 94103 415.861.5019 • www.ebar.com A division of BAR Media, Inc. © 2015 President: Michael M. Yamashita Chairman: Thomas E. Horn VP and CFO: Patrick G. Brown Secretary: Todd A. Vogt

News Editor • news@ebar.com Arts Editor • arts@ebar.com Out & About listings • jim@ebar.com Advertising • scott@ebar.com Letters • letters@ebar.com Published weekly. Bay Area Reporter reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement which the publisher believes is in poor taste or which advertises illegal items which might result in legal action against Bay Area Reporter. Ads will not be rejected solely on the basis of politics, philosophy, religion, race, age, or sexual orientation.

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Overdue change for trans prisoners A

major settlement over transgender prisoner health care in California was announced by the Transgender Law Center and we hope it spurs action in other states – and that more trans prisoners here can benefit from it. Under the agreement, Shiloh Quine, a trans woman currently housed at the Mule Creek men’s prison in Ione, will be able to receive gender-affirming surgery.

Every medical doctor and mental health clinician who reviewed Quine’s case determined that surgery is medically necessary, said a statement from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman Jeffrey Callison. Yet he also said that CDCR reviews situations like Quine’s on a “case-by-case basis.”

Flor Bermudez, TLC’s detention project director, told us that while the state did consider individual cases, it had never referred any trans prisoner to surgery. “The practical reality was a blanket ban,” Bermudez said, adding that testimony in the case involving trans prisoner Michelle-Lael Norsworthy revealed that advocates were told surgery was “off the radar.”

The state’s position, however, did not stand up to judicial scrutiny. In the Norsworthy case, federal Judge Jon Tigar found that the prison system had been “deliberately indifferent to her serious medical needs.” Norsworthy was paroled this week, and media outlets reported that Medi-Cal will cover her surgery.

Bermudez said she didn’t think CDCR changed its policy so much as realized it would lose in the Quine case. “Therefore, they wanted to settle,” she said.

The terms of the settlement go beyond referrals for surgery, which was at issue in the Quine case. She had been referred for surgery

by medical personnel, yet the state never approved it. According to TLC, the state has also agreed to change its policies so that trans prisoners can access clothing and commissary items consistent with their gender identity.

This is a very important advancement that will make trans prisoners more comfortable.

This is not some politically correct move on the state’s part.

Trans people often experience harassment and ridicule, whether incarcerated or not. Being in prison is no picnic, and even small changes, like access to women’s clothing for trans women, will help them emotionally and psychologically.

We’ve seen positive developments in the prison system’s treatment of trans inmates. At the federal level, Chelsea Manning, who’s incarcerated at a military prison, had to sue for access to hormone therapy. Earlier this year, for the first time, the Army approved the treatment.

Locally, San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi has proposed a plan to stop classifying

transgender inmates who have not had surgery according to their birth sex. This means that trans women would no longer be housed with men. (The jails see more trans women prisoners than trans men, although the policy would apply to them too, meaning they’d be housed in men’s quarters.) One key part of getting the policy implemented is training the sheriff ’s staff, some of whose comments seem woefully ignorant of trans issues and consider surgery necessary to be a transgender person, which is not the case.

Bermudez said TLC hopes that one outcome from the CDCR settlement is that jurisdictions in other states follow the Quine case and begin providing medically necessary care to trans prisoners, including referrals for surgery.

“We want health care to be available and provided, whether by court order or policy change,” Bermudez said.

Last week’s settlement announcement is the beginning of that process, but it needs to be expanded well beyond the “case-by-case” basis used by the CDCR. Prison officials need to follow medical staff recommendations for surgery for trans prisoners.t

What Caitlyn Jenner can teach us

by Sadaisha Shimmers and Jayson Dowker

A

n estimated 7.7 million viewers recently tuned in to watch Caitlyn Jenner accept her ESPY award. This statuesque former athlete and mother took the stage with the courage that only an Olympian could have. As we watched, like many other trans Americans preparing ourselves in anticipation of Jenner’s speech, we wondered how this seasoned social icon and transgender media star would handle this historic moment.

You have to admit the cards seemed stacked.

It was an award ceremony geared to embrace athleticism; in the sports world gender is very much still divided. After all, less than a month prior the International Olympic Committee had just made a ruling in response to a petition signed by over 11,300 people. The committee ruled that Jenner was entitled to her medal from the 1976 games.

So the stage was set, lights gleaming, cameras rolling. Appearing in a floor length, long sleeve white gown, it was safe to say the woman standing before the nation was comfortable in not only her newly liberated body but her internal convictions as well. After a moment of mutual admiration between her and the collection of athletes, celebrities, and television viewers everywhere, Jenner drew a breath to speak.

“Well the real truth is, up until a few months ago, I have never met anyone else who was trans, who was like me ...,” she said. Hearing those words, as she started to engage an eager audience, there was no smoke, there were no mirrors, there was just truth. We thought to ourselves: “A trans person receiving an award in honor of them, will this be a fan event?

An egocentric celebration of a transition well done? Or will this be a teachable moment?”

Jenner continued, “Now as you saw I handled my transition on my own in private.”

Hearing those words we understood she wasn’t just talking about a couple cosmetic procedures and a prescription for hormone replacement therapy. She was speaking her truth of the internal battle that she was forced to have to face. The realization that millions of athletes, countless reality fans, and her very own family may not only be incapable of understanding, but incapable of accepting the true her as well.

Sharing her plans with Diane Sawyer in the

Courtesy Sadaisha Shimmers

Jayson Dowker and Sadaisha Shimmers

televised April interview was one thing, staying true to herself and owning it is quite another. So as millions tuned in expecting to see an emotional sideshow of gratitude and transgender regalia, what they got was nearly 10 minutes of transgender truth. Jenner spoke to the struggle of the transgender community. Discussing the anticipated transgender military inclusion, she spoke with the glee that only a true patriot could have. “ ... All across the world right now there are young people this moment coming to terms with being transgender ...,” she said.

“They are getting bullied, beaten up, they are getting murdered and they are committing suicide.” Jenner then went on to mention Mercedes Williamson, who was found murdered in June. Williamson, a trans woman of color, is one of the nearly 40 trans people to die this year by the hand of someone else or themselves.

One woman who apparently watched the awards show was Cristina Bowman, from suburban Detroit. Jenner said, “I also want to tell you about Sam Taub, a 15-year-old transgender young man from Bloomfield, Michigan. In early April Sam took his own life.” After seeing Jenner tell the world about the trans lives gone too soon, Bowman became outraged. “What Jenner did by using my daughter’s name on national television was so uncalled for,” Bowman said in an interview. She and her husband, Larry, went on to tell Inside Edition “What does Jenner know? Who gave Jenner permission to

use my daughter’s name? Jenner never met her.”

Hearing the ignorance and hostile words of parents still misgendering their deceased child is a prime example of the lack of compassion people have for the transgender community.

Perhaps Sam would have found acceptance in the words of his father, Geoffrey Taub, who told the New York Daily News: “I think anyone would have drawn strength from Caitlyn’s message.”

It wasn’t until the unfolding of comments from the transgender community in the days following the ESPYs that our hearts as a transgender couple began to ache. As we took to social media, we began to see opinions, views, and prejudices pouring out about Jenner’s heartfelt and empathetic speech. Is this really happening? Are these attacks coming from our own community? Hasn’t there been enough bloodshed this year? This has got to stop.

These are the words that we found ourselves saying to each other.

As we continued reading posts, we knew something had to be said, and so we are saying it. If you’re not part of the transgender minority you may not understand.

There are a lot of broken people trying desperately to free themselves from the clutches of stereotyped gender roles. Sadly, all too often these very same people have endured poverty, abuse, exploitation, and excommunication from not only their church but, far too often, their very own family. When you are in survival mode, trying to blend into society for safety and having to strategically plan everyday duties such as where to use to restroom and who is a safe doctor to see, it becomes a volatile rollercoaster of emotional pain and societal danger.

As with any victim, there is always a risk of becoming a victimizer. Unfortunately, when reacting out of pain or personal discomfort, you can be just as cruel to others and their circumstance without even realizing it. This is all too often the case with perceived privilege. Here are a couple examples of some of the posts we read from our transgender peers about Jenner. “Ugh! I wish I had the privilege to have @Caitlyn_Jenner’s glam squad, plastic surgeon, and money honey.” “Caitlyn lives in one of the most affluent and densely populated areas in the U.S. and had access to a numSee page 9 >>

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Letters >>

August 13-19, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Scouts for Equality’s work praised

As the board president of Scouts for Equality I was happy to finally see coverage of this pretty big LGBT issue in the local gay newspaper, albeit in the editorial section [“More forward movement on Scouts,” Editorial, July 30]. I am an Eagle Scout who happens to be gay.

When Zach Wahls, the executive director, asked me to join Scouts for Equality a little over three years ago we honestly did not see this happening so quickly. Our overall strategy was three fold: 1) dry up Boy Scouts of America’s corporate sponsorships by exposing this 105-year-old discriminatory anti-gay policy; 2) organize at the chapter level in every state to pressure the national BSA; and finally 3) legally put pressure on them when appropriate.

We could not have done what we did without the sacrifices of Ryan Andresen, of Moraga, California and his family’s support of him. His story of being denied his Eagle award and being kicked out of his Scout troop was front and center on the national stage and it brought awareness to this issue. Sometimes you do not volunteer to be the face of a cause or even want to be, but this brave young man was just that. He changed an entire organization for generations to come and I hope he knows what he has done for kids under 18 that are gay and want to be a part of a great organization like Scouts. From the moment the ban on gay youth was lifted we knew our fight was only half won. We knew our next goal was to end the ban on gay adults who wanted to volunteer and to be employed by the BSA. We also knew with corporate sponsorships drying up we could force employment discrimination lawsuits to push the BSA into an uncomfortable position facing impending financial losses. For example, when Pascal Tessier, an openly gay Eagle Scout, was hired by a New York Scout troop we knew the national BSA would have no choice but to fire him under their policy. With money we raised from thousands of people, and having famed lawyer David Boies on our side, helped us in this looming issue for them. It was money in the end that won out – not the “moral, right thing to do.”

But why is any of this important to the LGBT community? If you were not in Scouts or do not have kids that might want to be in Scouts why does this matter to you?

Because when any organization that is so deeply rooted in American culture, is led by the president of the United

States [in an honorary capacity], and is the moral compass for many young men, setting policies that being gay is wrong has ramifications on our community far and wide. Rural kids are more likely to be in Scouts and not as exposed to the broader gay community, therefore establishing a policy that being gay is wrong is completely unacceptable.

In the end we won. I will say this journey was enlightening and renewed my faith in the world. Most of my board of directors and staff are straight. Once again, our allies coming to pitch in add tremendous value.

Countless hours of fundraising, travel to every corner of the U.S., many board meetings and spending valuable time away from their families, these allies gave it their all.

I remain grateful to them and honored to have had them all on our board that I could not be more proud of leading.

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Bill Hemenger San Francisco

Reopen the baths

Thanks for publicizing what promises to be an important contribution to our understanding of San Francisco’s gay bathhouse history after passage of the consenting adults law in 1975 [“SF bathhouse history lesson,” News Briefs, August 6].

Unfortunately, your description of the event perpetuates the idea that gay bathhouse, closed beyond what was occasioned by declining business or the refusal of owners to operate under the ban on patron privacy required

by Judge Roy Wonder’s court order in December 1984.

The bathhouse policy clarification issued by the San Francisco Department of Public Health in August 2013 confirms that bathhouses were ultimately not ordered to close. Copies of the policy may be obtained from the health department.

Absent the city attorney’s ahistorical interpretation of the bathhouse regulations in the police code, gay bathhouses as traditionally operated 30 years ago in San Francisco and currently operating in nearby cities could operate here now. What we need is an entrepreneur who’s willing and wealthy enough to fight City Hall.

Reid Condit San Francisco

Gay SF treasurer runs unopposed for re-election

by Matthew S. Bajko

G

ay San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros’ re-election campaign should be a cakewalk, as no one filed to oppose him this November. He is seeking a third full four-year term.

The Latino politician is the only LGBT person to hold one of the city’s seven elected executive positions. Cisneros has held the post, which is not term limited, since 2004 when then-Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed him to fill a vacancy.

In 2005 he was elected by the voters to a full four-year term and was re-elected in 2009. In 2013 he won election to a two-year term due to a voter-approved switch to the city’s election timetable that aligned both the treasurer and city attorney elections with races for mayor, district attorney, and sheriff beginning in 2015.

Cisneros, who did not face an opponent in his last two elections, was expected to go unchallenged again this fall. His being the sole candidate in the race this year became official when no one else submitted paperwork by the filing deadline last Friday, August 7.

“I think it will be a quieter campaign than not, but I am proud of what we do here and always happy to talk to people about what we do here,” Cisneros, who held several fundraisers earlier this year, told the Bay Area Reporter when asked about his plans to campaign for the seat going forward. “I am so grateful to have this job. And I am so grateful to the people who let me keep it, mainly the voters, and I look forward to four more years.”

Cisneros, 59, who last weekend marked his first wedding anniversary with his husband, Mark Kelle-

Barry Schneider Attorney at Law

Rick Gerharter

Treasurer Jose Cisneros

her, said he remains at a loss for why no one else has run for the elected position.

“I honestly love this job; I really do like it. I like what we get to do for this city and I am really proud of the team here I get to work with,” said Cisneros. “I think things in our office are going well. We have done some really great things for the city and rolled out some innovative programs.”

Two other Latino citywide officeholders are also unopposed this fall in their re-election bids.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera, first elected in 2001, and District Attorney George Gascón, first elected in 2011 after being appointed in January that year by Newsom to fill a vacancy, also drew no opponents.

And Mayor Ed Lee is widely expected to easily win re-election in November after only a handful of little-known candidates filed to run against him by the June 9 deadline to do so.

Among them are San Francisco

Examiner writer Stuart Schuffman, better known as Broke Ass Stuart, widower Kent Graham, and Amy Farah Weiss, a self-described YIMBY for Yes-In-My-Back-Yard.

The other candidates are Reed Martin and Francisco Herrera.

It remains to be seen if allegations of pay-to-play politics against Lee that surfaced last week in the ongoing political corruption scandal involving Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, a convicted gang member, will lead to a high profile progressive leader mounting a write-in campaign against Lee. The mayor’s campaign has forcefully refuted the claims made by Chow’s defense team, though it did donate $1,500 to the city reflecting campaign donations, $1,000 of which were from his 2011 election campaign, received from two women implicated in the court filings made public last week.

“While the accusations by Mr. Chow and his attorney against Mayor Lee may make for provocative headlines, they are ridiculous, outrageous, and utterly baseless,” wrote Kevin Heneghan, Lee’s campaign treasurer, in an email sent last week to the mayor’s supporters.

“Absolutely nothing in Mr. Chow’s filing demonstrates that Mayor Lee or his campaign at any point did anything wrong or inappropriate.”

Election battles are down ticket

This year’s election battles are taking place down ticket, with contested races for sheriff, the District 3 supervisor seat, and a City College of San Francisco trustee seat.

The college race is pitting two gay men against a straight woman who came up short last year in her bid to serve on the oversight body for the community college.

Alex Randolph, who was tapped See page 10 >>

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<< Business News

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 13-19, 2015

Apps aim to assist gay travelers

by Matthew S. Bajko

I

nspired by the advent of the sharing economy and the LGBT community’s embrace of web-based dating sites, developers of two new cellphone apps aim to assist gay travelers in connecting with local hosts and residents in cities around the world.

San Francisco resident Christof Wittig created Vespa as a way for people to find recommendations about gay bars and gay-friendly accommodations from residents of the cities they are visiting. Since launching earlier this year, the app now covers 270 cities in more than 70 countries, from Israel and Laos to Myanmar and Russia.

“It is a gay Yelp or gay Tripadvisor,” explained Wittig, 46, who cofounded the LGBT social networking app Hornet in 2011, which now has 6.5 million users worldwide.

Because the word vespa is Italian for wasp, Wittig is not running afoul of copyright issues with the Italian scooter brand of the same name sold by Piaggio and Company. He chose it partly because hornet in Portuguese is vespao.

“I like insects, you can see,” said Wittig, who grew up in Munich, Germany and moved to the U.S. 12 years ago to attend Stanford’s business school. In the fall of 2013 he married Juan Vargas, his partner of nearly 19 years.

Vespa now has more than 5,000 LGBT-friendly locations listed on the app, from gay bars and cafes to saunas and beaches. Wittig sees it as filling a need for those gay men interested in an online platform to meet people where the focus is not sex-based.

“I started Vespa so that gay life, entertainment, enjoyment goes beyond just hooking up,” said Wittig.

In July the gay-owned firm Sonders and Beach in Milan, Italy released the app WIMBIFY – which stands for “Welcome to my back yard” – as a gay-focused version of home-sharing sites like the San Francisco-based Airbnb. But the app serves to connect gay travelers with gay homeowners willing to host them for free in their home.

It is also meant as a way for people traveling alone to find other single tourists looking to share lodging and other costs, such as rides to and from airports.

“The concept behind the application is based in the increasingly popular philosophy of the sharing economy,” explained co-founder Andrea Cosimi in a news release about the new app.

Fellow co-founder Alessio Virgili, 30, explained in a phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter that the idea for WIMBIFY came from single gay people on their Quiikybranded tours of Italian cities, such as their “Vatican in a Gay Light” tour of the Vatican Museum.

“More of our clients ask if we have some travel companions available for travel with them. Many of our clients travel alone,” said Virgili.

“We have crazy idea to give to LGBT community marketplace where they can meet someone new, a travel companion, or share their accommodations for free. Or find an LGBT travel guide that shows them their place in a gay-friendly light.”

As an example of how WIMBIFY works, Virgili said the company had teamed with a group on an Atlantis gay cruise docking in Rome to help

t

Juan Vargas

San Francisco resident Christof Wittig, shown here at an Oktoberfest event in Munich, Germany, created the new Vespa gay travel app.

those passengers looking for rooms to stay in the city as well as cabin mates.

“This is a need that the community has. We are helping other people to share a cabin,” he said. “I think we can satisfy these needs.”

While Vespa connects users in need of a room to hotel booking sites like Expedia and hotels.com and is adding a link to Airbnb, its main focus is to curate a list of gayfriendly destinations in each city that are rated by users of the app.

Its tagline is “Discover gay places worldwide.” Users of the app can post reviews about places and add

their favorite hangouts.

“They are all man-curated not machine-curated,” noted Wittig.

Another feature allows users to bring up the address of the bar or nightclub they wish to visit in the language of the country they are in and show it to a cabdriver. It also maps out the location.

“I was in Moscow the other day at Mono, a bar that courts a gay crowd after 10 p.m. The scene there is not very open, so you need to know how to get there,” said Wittig, a frequent traveler who has visited 60 countries.

The Vespa app also allows users

to connect to one another directly through either their Hornet profile or Facebook account. It is geared toward fostering social connections between gay people the world over, explained Wittig, so travelers can connect directly to ask for advice about places to visit in a person’s hometown or meet up to grab a drink.

“You can see a list of people who have reviewed a place and contact them via Facebook or their Hornet profile,” said Wittig. “It is fully optional but very popular; you would See page 10 >>

ASIAN ART MUSEUM ENDS AUG 16 28 Chinese explodes narrow concepts of contemporary art in China, presenting 48 artworks from 28 of the most notable Chinese artists working today—from internationally acclaimed stars like Ai Weiwei to the newest generation of game changers like Liu Wei and Xu Zhen. These artists embody a multiplicity of perspectives and practices, including painting, photography, new media and breathtaking installation, like Zhu Jinshi’s Boat—a colossal 40-foot creation you’re invited to walk through. See it for $5 on Thursday nights. W W W. A S I A N A RT. O R G # 2 8 C H I N E S E 28 Chinese is organized by the Rubell Family Collection, Miami. Presentation at the Asian Art Museum is made possible with the generous support of China Art Foundation, Gorretti and Lawrence Lui, Silicon Valley Bank, The Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Fund for Excellence in Exhibitions and Presentations, William Mathews Brooks, Lucy Sun and Warren Felson, and an anonymous donor.

Media sponsor: The California Sunday Magazine. Image: Boat (detail), 2012, by Zhu Jinshi (Chinese, b. 1954). Xuan paper, bamboo, and cotton thread. Courtesy of Rubell Family Collection, Miami. © Zhu Jinshi, © ARS, New York.

t

International News>>

August 13-19, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

ORAM reopens San Francisco office

by Heather Cassell

T

he Organization for Refugee, Asylum and Migration, or ORAM, has opened a temporary office in San Francisco as the organization returns its headquarters to the “gay mecca.”

In 2014, ORAM moved its office to Geneva, where the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is located, to work on a global level for LGBT refugees.

However, Neil Grungras, executive director of ORAM, quickly realized that while much work needs to be done on the global level, the agency’s base needed to be with the LGBT community in San Francisco. This is where the organization was founded and it is a testing ground for its critical programs, he told the Bay Area Reporter in a recent interview.

He also noted that San Francisco was where the U.N. charter was signed – the 70th anniversary of that was commemorated here in June – and that the Bay Area has always been at the forefront of international activism and politics.

“If you want to look at where cutting edge issues are talked about and worked out and where the most forward thinking is taking place, where the community is strongest and feels and understands its strength, it’s here,” said Grungras. “It just feels very natural to be coming home.”

ORAM’s return to San Francisco doesn’t mean that its work helping LGBT individuals escape countries where their lives are in danger is over. Grungras will continue that work along with advocating for and educating non-governmental organizations working with refugees to be culturally sensitive to LGBT refugees.

Geneva remains a “very important international city in terms of international rights,” said Grungras.

However, “being there doesn’t necessarily rival being near the community [and] close to the people that we are representing.”

The organization’s flagship resettlement project, called the Guardian program, works closely with faith communities replicating the immigrant model for newly arrived LGBT refugees by providing housing and assimilation assistance. It works with other Bay Area LGBT and ally refugee resettlement programs.

Kelly Sullivan

ORAM managing consultant Ali Khoie, left, sat with Executive Director Neil Grungras and systems administrator Subhi Nahas during a recent interview in San Francisco.

“It’s really crucial that we be here and continue to do that because assisting refugees doesn’t really do very much if you don’t actually make sure that they succeed when they get to where they are getting to,” said Grungras, noting that the program has been successful since its launch several years ago. “We see our role as a trailblazer and find new models to innovate the way refugee resettlement has been happening so that we can make it work for LGBT people the way it does for other refugees.”

Coming home

Grungras marked the organization’s renewed presence in the Bay Area by conducting an intensive two-day training workshop in the East Bay for resettlement agency professionals on how to identify LGBT refugees, understand the issues LGBT refugees face, appropriate language to use, and work with them.

He also introduced ORAM’s new San Francisco team being led by Ali Khoie, managing consultant, and Subhi Nahas, systems administrator and designer.

The two gay Middle Eastern men – Khoie is from Iran and Nahas is from Syria – will head up the office while Grungras will continue working to affect change on a global scale.

Khoie, 36, and Nahas, 27, who both recently arrived in the Bay Area, worked with ORAM while they temporarily lived in Turkey.

Turkey remains a temporary home for LGBT refugees, in spite of a recent anti-LGBT uprising and an

increasingly hostile environment. In June, police attacked Istanbul Pride.

The attack was followed by a campaign calling for LGBTs to be “killed on sight” in Ankara and Istanbul and a gay community leader being raped in his home in July, according to media reports.

Furthermore, the escape route to Turkey from other Middle Eastern countries has been nearly completely cut off unless someone has enough money to bribe border guards. The border to Turkey is “controlled by extremists,” said Nahas.

“So, what we are trying to do is set up a system to get them out and give them a safe passage to Turkey and then to set up a system in Turkey to host them while they are there to resettle, either here or somewhere else,” said Nahas.

LGBT refugees face other problems escaping their native lands.

Many countries have shut their doors to refugees due to a surge, but LGBT refugees still have a chance, said Grungras.

“We are blessed because the programs that are taking LGBT refugees are still continuing to do it,” said Grungras. “Actually, whoever can manage to get out of their country and into the refugee system still have a pretty good chance of actually getting out and getting settled down.

“But we have to constantly keep our fingers on the pulse because it could change at any minute,” he added, noting that there are few countries that are open and safe for LGBT refugees.t A longer version of this column is online at ebar.com.

State judges may be able to participate in Boy Scouts

by David-Elijah Nahmod

F

ollowing last month’s decision by the Boy Scouts of America to drop its ban on gay troop leaders, it remains to be seen whether a ban on California judges participating in the youth organization will be lifted.

Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court voted unanimously to accept a 2014 recommendation from its ethics advisory committee to ban Boy Scouts membership because the organization discriminated against gay troop leaders. That meant that state judges affiliated with the Scouts would be found in violation of the state Code of Judicial Ethics.

Last month, the Scouts national executive committee voted to lift the ban on gay troop leaders although it allows for a religious exemption and many Scout troops are affiliated

with churches, mostly Fybel said that effecMormon and Catholic tive January 2016 the denominations. exemptions for religious Justice Richard Fybel, organizations will rechair of the Advisory main, but that the other Committee on the Code exemptions will be lifted. of Judicial Ethics, spoke Since many Boy Scout to the Bay Area Reporter units are affiliated with about what the new local churches, and thereCourtesy CA Court of Appeal Scout policy means for fore able to deny leaderCalifornia judges who Justice Richard Fybel ship positions to openly might wish to pargay scoutmasters, the ticipate in the youth question of what the polorganization. icy change means for the participation Fybel is an associate justice on the of state judges remains up in the air.

4th District Court of Appeal, and is Fybel said that he was personally based in Orange County. against discrimination.

“Existing canon prohibits judges “The change that the California from being in an organization that Supreme Court made to the canon discriminates based on sexual oriis a wise one,” he said. “I’m pleased entation,” Fybel said. “There are exto see the national Boy Scouts orceptions for military, religious, and ganization take the position not to nonprofit youth organizations.” discriminate.”t

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<< Sports

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 13-19, 2015

t

Disorganized EuroGames comes to a close

by Roger Brigham

T

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he 15th EuroGames came to a close last weekend in Stockholm, Sweden. Some of the participants headed home with joyful memories, others with angry disappointment, and many with a bit of both. But while some left vowing never to compete in another EuroGames, others were already looking forward to trying again next year in Helsinki, Finland – and talking about organizing fellow athletes to be able to defend their rights better.

Most of the anger from participants was directed at Swedish organizers, whom athletes said failed to listen to their concerns and advice and wound up with ill-conceived schedules and questionable safety precautions. (See August 6 JockTalk and the August 7 blog post at www. ebar.com.)

The European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation, sanctioning body for the EuroGames, emailed members this message: “For those of you who are participating at the 2015 EuroGames in Stockholm, and especially if you have been affected by the lack of organization and communication, we owe you a sincere apology. As licensor of the EuroGames we take the responsibility of the success of the games very seriously, and we are determined to find out why these situations occurred. We will be investigating each of the events that caused the problems in depth, and we also invite you to email your comments and experiences to egs@ eglsf.info. We will take this information and work to make the future of the EuroGames a better experience.”

Now, it is easy to beat up on the EGLSF and indeed a handful of 10:17 AM people on a Facebook page – “Eurogames Stockholm Critic” – set up for folks to vent their frustrations did precisely that. But as one who has spent the past dozen years working with the Gay Games and its hosts, let me say that is bunk.

EGLSF is not set up to run a EuroGames anymore than the Federation of Gay Games is set up to run the Gay Games or the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association is set up to run the World Outgames. By definition, any of these licensing agencies must have a level of trust in the host organization selected to meet minimum standards to the best of its abilities.

In the past, the EuroGames have pretty well run to participants’ satisfaction and EGLSF has not had to follow up with damage control.

This cycle is an apparent aberration, and EGLSF will undoubtedly do everything it can to fight against a repetition and further damage to the brand. Some of the athletes who feel they got screwed over say they will depart never to return. Others hope to organize their fellow athletes better so that they can force hosts to respond to their concerns in advance so that they may enjoy the experience.

But the bitterness on Facebook continues to grow as more and more information is exchanged.

Last week I reported on scheduling and venue problems in track and field, swimming, volleyball, badminton, and squash, as well as the

Jakob Jansson, president of the Stockholm EuroGames, heard from many athletes about the shortcomings of last weekend’s event.

last minute cancelation of triathlon.

Since then, reports have surfaced of problems in multiple other sports and some athletes accused organizers of outright lying. Mostly they blamed inexperienced Stockholm organizers for failing to respond to questions and concerns from the sports community months before the games were ever held.

Among problems reported last week: • Water polo was scheduled to run over three days, then was cut back to one and a half days. “No explanation was provided,” one player wrote. “Teams had to play some matches within an hour of each other, which violates [International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics] rules. We finished just before 10 p.m. on Friday and were back in the pool just after 7 the next morning. Finishing so late on the Friday meant that none of us could participate in the Pink Flamingo event.

Helsinki is not listed to have water polo next year. Given the poor show we experienced in Stockholm, I very much hope EGLSF reconsiders this decision and looks to stage water polo next year and do so much better than it did this year.”

• In dancesport, Heather Gladding of London, a veteran in past EuroGames, Gay Games, and Outgames, reported the event eventually ran well, but not until dancers had to jump in and finish installing the dance floor, which was stacked in boxes when they arrived. She said the action plan the European Dance Association provided organizers had not been followed to prepare for the event. “I do hope that Stockholm [organizers] are held accountable for their actions and that Helsinki will certainly make an effort to make the next games a success,” she wrote.

• Participants reported their free public transportation card ceased working a day before the end of the games.

• In track and field, as previously reported, age groups were unexpectedly combined into 10-year increments instead of the standard five-year groupings. But different weight equipment is used in different age groups that were lumped together, and it is believed that many of the throws in javelin and shot put were done using the wrong equipment, invalidating the results.

“This is not fair play and should not be in the result list,” Stockholm competitor Annika Fivel wrote.

“Because I am not only in this for fun, I want it to be fair. I want it

to be a competition like any other.

I don’t want it to be an unreliable game! But unfortunately it was!”

“In shot put, 80 percent of the throws were invalid,” Stockholm’s Jorgen Wehmonen charged. “I am embarrassed to be a Swede and embarrassed of my city. One of the most stupid things this organization did was to put their heads in the sand and hold their hands around their ears and not listen to one thing, hoping by ignoring people the storm of criticism would calm down. I am sorry for all participants of what we have showed you how we organize things in Sweden. Never heard or seen anything like it before here in my life. Let’s hope that Sweden or Stockholm are banned for the next 30 years to host any EuroGames – we don’t deserve it.”

• As noted on the blog post, the triathlon was canceled hours before the scheduled start ostensibly because of poor water conditions and unsafe road conditions. But the triathletes challenged organizers to show any health report indicating unsafe water and countered they believed the organizers had failed to secure enough lifeguards and volunteers to help athletes get out of the water. Those who emailed Jakob Jansson, president of the Stockholm EuroGames, personally were promised free tickets to a closing party.

Several triathletes demanded and were promised registration refunds, while others said they could not get a full refund because they had also signed up for other events. Still others were asking for hotel and bike rental refunds.

Lessons learned? Putting on a participatory multisport event is a complex task that requires a high level of commitment and sports expertise – an expertise most host cities lack. Hosts with limited experience by definition should seek out community involvement from sports groups – it not only helps the events run smoothly, the pre-tournament interaction is part of the social experience that make such events so emotionally rewarding. And athletes have long memories – they don’t like to get burned more than once.

“I’ve met so many fantastic athletes and made many new friends during the past few days,” Gunnar Jonson, a Swedish native living in Denmark, wrote Jansson. “This has made coming to EuroGames worthwhile for me. Getting together with international triathletes at Hellasgarden for our impromptu Plan B event has left me with lasting pleasant memories. I am still trying to uncover what was the REAL reason for the organizers to cancel the triathlon competition in the very last minute. I have never ever experienced anything similar in the many years as a triathlete.”

Jonson said he felt organizers dealt triathletes a “slap in the face.”

“It is also a riddle for me why the organizers have chosen to remove all traces of the EuroGames Stockholm Triathlon Championships from the online media,” he added. “At the EuroGames Stockholm website there is no mention of a triathlon event. All evidence surgically removed. This is the type of conduct I would expect from a dictatorship wanting to hide and silence uncomfortable truths.

I do hope that EGLSF will ensure that EuroGames Helsinki turns into a huge success – looking forward to seeing you all there again.”t

www.ebar.com

t <<

Community News>>

PAWS, Shanti

From page 1

over the last several months.

Asked which agency had the idea of joining together, he said, “It’s a bit of both. We’re in different situations, a little bit, in terms of where our long-term plans and goals are,” but both have been “looking for ways to be more sustainable.”

He added, “There’s a lot of overlap in terms of the clients” that both nonprofits serve, and the combined group should be “more efficient and effective.”

Asked in an email about how the merger would result in savings if positions were being offered to both organizations’ full-time staffers, Roy responded, “There is cost savings because PAWS won’t need to hire a new ED in a merged organization, which they would be doing, of course, if they weren’t merging. (If they kept Sarah as permanent ED, then they would need to hire a development director).”

Cramer has been serving as

<<

GOP debate

From page 1

elaborate on their views against equal rights to LGBT people.

When a Fox News moderator asked former Senator Rick Santorum whether the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking state bans on same-sex marriage is “settled law,” Santorum said no and likened his response to that of President Abraham Lincoln to the Supreme Court’s 1857 decision in Dred Scott.

In Dred Scott v. Sanford, the Supreme Court ruled that slaves were not citizens of the United States and could not sue and that Congress didn’t have authority to prohibit slavery. While Lincoln made clear he thought the Dred Scott decision was “erroneous” and hoped it would be overturned, he urged “respect for the judicial department.”

Santorum did not urge respect for the judicial branch.

“This is a rogue Supreme Court decision,” said Santorum. “Just like [Chief] Justice [John] Roberts said, there is no constitutional basis for the Supreme Court’s decision.” But then he spent the rest of his time talking about the Supreme Court’s rulings upholding the right of women to have an abortion.

Fox News panelist Chris Wallace asked Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, how he thinks he can be elected president given that some of his positions – such as wanting constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage and abortions – are opposed by a majority of Americans.

Huckabee completely ignored the question’s reference to samesex marriage and talked exclusively about his opposition to abortion.

When Fox News panelist Bret Baier asked Huckabee how he would “handle” Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s recent directives “to prepare for a moment” when the military

<<

Guest Opinion

From page 4

ber of, not only the best therapists, but ones that consider themselves LGBT experts. Her surplus of cash also makes it easy when it comes to obtaining hormones and keeping them regimented.”

As transgender, transsexual, nongender binary, bi gender, two-spirit, genderqueer, and non-gender folk we make up the #TransNation.

We are a minority of black, white, Asian, Latino, Pacific Islander, Native American, gay, lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual, pansexual, asexual beings.

We are a melting pot of humanity wrapped up in gender fluid that is as unique to each individual as their very own DNA. It is these very differences that divide us, that segregate

August 13-19, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

“ ... [A]lmost no board members of community-based nonprofits like PAWS have any nonprofit work experience, and wouldn’t be qualified to work in any position at the organization they are on the board of,” he said.

At the time, Cramer wouldn’t explain Chandler’s departure.

Asked in a July interview why Chandler had left, she said, “We agreed with him that the message was he was leaving to pursue other opportunities. That’s the commitment we made with him.”

The B.A.R. had tried to ask Jacobs, the founder and principal of Benjamin Madison Wealth Advisors, about Chandler’s comments regarding the board’s lack of nonprofit experience, but Jacobs, who’d grown angry with questions about the ex-ED’s departure, refused to let the reporter make any more inquiries.

“I know where you want to go with this,” he said, before concluding, “I’m in the business of ending this conversation.”

Roy said Chandler’s departure and his criticism of the board doesn’t raise concerns for him. PAWS’ board has been “very committed” and “very professional,” he said.

“They care very much about PAWS and the mission, and that’s very evident, and that’s why they’ve been having these conversations” about merging, he said. Chandler is “entitled to his opinion.”

Shanti doesn’t have any debt, Roy said. He didn’t know exactly how much debt PAWS has, but said it’s “not much.” He said that PAWS has the mortgage for its building, and Shanti will take that on.

Roy said “we are in conversations” about what his salary will be after the merger. According to Shanti’s most recent tax filing, his compensation is about $119,000.

PAWS will be officially welcomed into the Shanti family October 14 during the organization’s annual gala at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street. Visit http://www.shanti.org for more information about the gala.t

But nuance was not in play when Kelly asked real estate mogul Donald Trump how he could be considered electable given his sometimes crude remarks about women. She quoted him as calling some “fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.”

Trump tried to deflect the question by suggesting he had made those remarks about “only Rosie O’Donnell.”

O’Donnell, a lesbian actress and talk show host, has had a public feud with Trump since 2006, when, on The View, O’Donnell mocked Trump’s hair, his bankruptcies, and multiple marriages, and said he was like “a snake oil salesman.” Trump responded, calling O’Donnell “a loser” who is “unattractive inside and out” and saying he was going to “send one of my friends to pick up her girlfriend – and I think it’ll be very easy.”

Kelly stopped Trump cold: “For the record, it was well beyond Rosie O’Donnell.”

“Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks,” continued Kelly. “You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president? And how will you answer the charge from Hillary Clinton, who is likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women?”

“I think the big problem this country has,” said Trump, “is being politically correct. I’ve been challenged by so many people, I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either. ...”

A short time later, O’Donnell responded to Trump via Twitter, saying, “Try explaining that 2 ur kids.”

Kelly asked Kasich a question that combined religious freedom and marriage. She asked: “If you had a son or daughter who was gay or lesbian, how would you explain to them your opposition to same-sex marriage?” (Kasich has twin teenaged daughters from his second marriage.)

“I’m an old-fashioned person here and I happen to believe in traditional marriage, but I’ve also said the court has ruled and I said we’ll accept it,” said Kasich, who

then noted he had just attended the wedding of a gay friend. Kelly tried to press him to answer the question – how would you explain your opposition.

“Just because someone doesn’t think the way I do doesn’t mean I can’t care about them or can’t love them,” said Kasich. “So, if one of my daughters happened to be that, of course I would love them and I’d accept them because you know what, that’s what we’re taught when we have strong faith. So if she’s like that – this is where I would agree with Jeb [Bush] and I’ve been saying it all along: We need to give everybody a chance, treat everybody with respect and let them share in this great American dream that we have. I’m gonna love my daughters no matter what they do. Because you know what: God gives me unconditional love; I’m going to give it to my family and my friends and the people around me.”

Kasich received strong applause from the audience during his answer.

Jimmy LaSalvia, former executive of the now-defunct national gay group GOProud, was underwhelmed by Kasich’s remarks.

“Governor Kasich was the only one who got a question about marriage equality because Fox knew that his answer was the most palatable for most Americans because he recognized the reality that civil marriage for gay couples is legal now,” said LaSalvia. “But they also knew that he wouldn’t go so far as to offend their viewers and socially conservative GOP base by endorsing marriage equality.”

“I think the whole thing was a carefully orchestrated and ‘scripted’ program designed to further Fox News Channel executives’ goal of electing a Republican president in 2016,” added LaSalvia. “They carefully chose the questions to ask each of the candidates that would help further that goal.”t

very differences define our individuality. It’s not for us to say that taking hormones or surgically altering your body qualifies you as trans. It’s not for us to decide whether or not a trans person can date a member of the same or opposite gender. Certainly it’s not for us to decide that just because someone has money, they have it easy.

As we write this very article, we are living in a hotel. A transman and transwoman – a trans couple – fighting for daily stability. This road is not an easy one, but it’s not our place to make it harder for our brothers and sisters. Judging them for what they have or don’t have does absolutely nothing for us. When we divide ourselves into sub categories and cliques of likeminded people, we water down our potency. If we don’t embrace

our commonality and fight peacefully, democratically and wholeheartedly we can never accomplish equality.

It’s time we set aside our differences and fight for our commonalities. The right to use any American restroom. The right to serve our country. The right to work at all employment opportunities. The right to fair and safe housing. The right to a fair trial and safe jail systems. The right to gender corrective medical procedures, not limited to genitalia, but all corrective treatments. One thing that must be done is to allow trans individuals the liberty to be equal and free Americans.

It’s time transmen are allowed to be seen in the media as more than eye candy, or sexualized objects.

Our brothers need to be able to

stand up and utilize their gifts in the public eye as any other male. It’s time our sisters stop being a punch line, or a sideshow attraction to the mainstream media’s failed attempt at trans integration.

If one thing is to be said about Jenner’s ESPY acceptance speech, it’s this: Jenner said more to the truth and reality of the average trans American in 10 minutes than Chaz Bono, Janet Mock, and Laverne Cox have said in the past three years. It’s time our brothers and sisters take note – it’s not about us as individuals. It’s about us as a united trans nation.t

PAWS’ interim executive director, according to David Cumpston, a Shanti spokesman, citing PAWS’ website. She’s also been the marketing and development director, and Cumpston said she will work in development at Shanti. Cramer didn’t respond to interview requests.

PAWS has a total of six staff members.

“No layoff plans are scheduled because of the merger,” Roy said.

He also said, “because of a large client overlap, program staff have been meeting about ways to integrate direct services to be more efficient. For example, one staff member can support a client versus one staff member from each agency.” He added that “a combined agency will be in a better position to focus on and increase development efforts and increase revenues.”

Most of Shanti’s staff will stay at the organization’s location at 730 Polk Street in the Tenderloin, but “some will eventually move to the PAWS building because we’re running out of space,” he said. Shanti

has more than 36 staffers.

In Wednesday’s news release, PAWS board Chair Scott Jacobs said, “People who rely on Shanti for human support often receive daily compassion from their pets.

All safety net service organizations need to give thought to long-term sustainability and how most effectively to provide services to the community. Shanti and PAWS have wonderful mission compatibility and we are thrilled with the merger.”

might welcome transgender persons to serve openly, Huckabee did not attempt to answer that question.

Instead, he said, “The military is not a social experiment” and “It’s not to transform the culture by trying out some ideas that some people think would make [us] a different country and more diverse.”

“The purpose is to protect America,” said Huckabee. “I’m not sure how paying for transgender surgery for soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines makes our country safer.”

Jindal, Louisiana’s governor, brought up the issue of same-sex marriage himself. When asked during the earlier debate (for candidates with low polling numbers) what his first executive order would be, if elected president, Jindal said he would “sign an executive order protecting religious liberty, our First Amendment rights so Christian business owners and individuals don’t face discrimination for having a traditional view of marriage.”

Santorum then jumped in, echoing that response.

“I will institute an executive order to make sure that people of faith are not being harassed and persecuted by the federal government for standing up for their religious beliefs,” he said.

Both remarks were apparent references to reactions of many opponents of same-sex marriage who have been promoting new state laws attempting to carve out a religious exception to human rights ordinances prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky picked up on the religious freedom theme during the main debate (for the 10 candidates with the highest polling numbers). Fox News panelist Megyn Kelly directed a question from a viewer who asked (via Facebook): “What would you do to ensure Christians are not prosecuted for speaking out against gay mar-

riage and will Christians be forced to conduct business that conflicts with their religious beliefs?”

“Look, I don’t want my marriage or my guns registered in Washington,” said Paul. “And if people have an opinion, it’s a religious opinion that’s heartily felt, obviously they should be allowed to practice that, and no government should interfere with that.”

From there, Paul launched into an attack on lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker, though he did not mention her by name.

“One of the things that really got to me was the thing in Houston, where you had the government, the mayor actually, trying to get the sermons of ministers,” said Paul.

“When the government tries to invade the church to enforce its own opinion on marriage, that’s when it’s time to resist.”

It was not Parker, but the city’s legal department that subpoenaed the “sermons” of five Houston pastors, while preparing its defense against a lawsuit against the city’s human rights ordinance protecting LGBT people. Parker met with pastors and then directed the legal department to withdraw the subpoenas last fall, saying the subpoenas were “inadvertently” being associated with and escalating a religious freedom debate nationally.

That nuance was almost certainly lost on most of Thursday night’s 24 million viewers – a record for a presidential primary debate.

our community and keep our minority from united revolution.

There is no question that transgender women of color have experienced an overwhelming level of hardships. By that same token, transgender women with roots spreading through countries such as Thailand and Brazil are more socially present than most European countries. If we react to the fact that lives lost are differentiated by color we propitiate racial division. This division becomes a distraction – no life is more valuable than another. Without having a census to tabulate the number of transidentified Americans, we will never know (A) how many trans individuals exist and (B) what demographics these trans people reside in.

It’s time we stop attacking one another for our differences; those

Recent turmoil at PAWS

PAWS has experienced some turmoil in recent months.

Aaron Chandler, the group’s former executive director who left in May, told the B.A.R. in July that he was unsure why the agency wanted him to go. But in a Facebook exchange, he said, “I was forced to leave.”

Chandler said at the time that the nonprofit was “in the final stages of a merger conversation” but he wouldn’t share the name of the agency. He also criticized PAWS’ board.

Trump and women

Sadaisha Shimmers and Jayson Dowker live in San Francisco. For more, visit https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4DZEkQBLr7g.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 13-19, 2015

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CA prison

From page 1

TLC officials called last week’s settlement “historic.”

“This historic settlement is a tremendous victory, not just for Shiloh and transgender people in prison, but for all transgender people who have ever been denied medical care or basic recognition of our humanity just because of who we are,” TLC Executive Director Kris Hayashi said in a statement. “After years of unnecessary suffering, Shiloh will finally get the care she desperately needs – and transgender people nationwide will hear a state government affirm that our identities and medical needs are as valid as anyone else’s.”

In an email, CDCR spokesman Jeffrey Callison said officials treat situations like Quine’s on a “caseby-case basis.”

“The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution requires that prisons provide medically necessary treatment for inmates,” Callison said. “CDCR evaluates every case individually and in the Quine case, every medical doc-

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News Briefs

From page 3

ers and answer questions to talk about how they think about their sexual identities and cope with different sources of stress, including stress related to prejudice about gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. The interview will take

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Political Notebook

From page 5

by Lee in April to fill a vacancy, is running to finish out the remainder of the term, which expires in 2016. Opposing him are Thomas Temprano, a nightlife promoter and Mission bar owner, and Wendy Aragon, who works in the construction industry. A fourth candidate, Jason Zeng, also filed to run.

The more moderate Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club is backing Randolph, who served on its board, while the progressive Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club has endorsed Temprano, its former president. Aragon has the support of a number of local unions and this week picked up the endorsement of the San Francisco Labor Council.

Former District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who had served as board president, is trying to reclaim his seat this fall. He is running to oust Julie Christensen, who was appointed to fill a vacancy by Lee earlier this year, as is Wilma Pang, who last ran for the seat representing North Beach and Chinatown in 2012.

But it is the sheriff ’s race that has garnered the most attention to date due to a series of scandals and missteps involving the embattled incumbent, Ross Mirkarimi, a

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Business Briefs

From page 6

be surprised. Sixty percent of users are currently connected to Facebook or Hornet.”

Both of the apps are free to download. WIMBIFY, which has a San Francisco office focused on marketing and commercial concerns, is already available for both Android and Apple iPhones, while Vespa is currently in the Apple store and plans to soon have an Android version to download.

Since launching in April, Vespa has more than 10,000 users, and Wittig is aiming to quickly hit the 100,000 mark. The app does receive a referral fee when users book a hotel through it and is looking at charging businesses to be listed on it, but for now Wittig said his main goal is to grow the user base.

“I am not right out to make money from day zero. It is about

tor and mental health clinician who has reviewed this case, including two independent mental health experts, determined that this surgery is medically necessary for Quine,” who’s also known as Rodney James.

In the settlement, the state also agreed to change its policies to allow transgender prisoners access to clothing and other items “consistent with their gender identity,” and the state “also affirmed that it is revising its policies regarding transgender inmates’ access to medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria, including surgery,” according to TLC, which represented Quine along with pro bono counsel from the law firm of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP. Flor Bermudez, TLC’s Detention Project Director, called the agreement “truly historic and unprecedented.”

“Ms. Quine will be the first transgender inmate in the country to receive gender-affirming surgery while incarcerated, to our knowledge,” Bermudez stated. “This agreement makes clear that jails and prisons can no longer deny trans-

gender people medically necessary surgeries, clothing, or cosmetics under the Eighth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.”

Morgan, Lewis, and Bockius has also been representing Michelle-Lael Norsworthy, 51, another transgender woman who’s been trying to get prison officials to provide surgery.

In April, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar for the Northern District of California ruled that the state has to provide Norsworthy with genderaffirming medical care. Officials including Attorney General Kamala Harris have been fighting the order.

However, Norsworthy recently won a parole hearing. CDCR issued a statement Wednesday that she has been released and will be supervised in San Francisco.

Norsworthy, who’s also known as Jeffrey Bryan Norsworthy, was convicted of second-degree murder and in 1987 was admitted to prison.

Like Quine, she’s been in custody at Mule Creek.

TLC didn’t immediately provide a comment from Norsworthy for this story.t

approximately two and a half to three hours. Participants are compensated $75 for their time and participation.

To take a brief eligibility survey, visit www.generationsscreen.com.

Allan Avila, part of the research team, said in an email that the project aims to examine the health and well-being across generations. The information from the study will

help improve provision of health services and reduce health disparities related to sexual orientation.

The project will also be longitudinal, he said, gathering data for five years.

If people would rather take the eligibility survey via phone, or want to speak with someone, they can call (408) 479-4608.t

former supervisor. His first year in office saw Mirkarimi charged with domestic violence following a fight he had with his wife, Eliana Lopez.

He ended up pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and agreed to undergo counseling and serve three years of probation. He was also suspended by Lee due to the charges, with Vicki Hennessy, who is now running to oust Mirkarimi, appointed interim sheriff. John C. Robinson, a retired sheriff ’s deputy who now owns a private security company, is also in the race.

Mirkarimi escaped being officially removed from office when four Board of Supervisors members voted in October 2012 not to sustain Lee’s official misconduct charges against the sheriff. He was reinstated to the post, but the scandal has continued to engulf the sheriff and his allies ever since. (He won a judge’s order this spring to expunge his false-imprisonment conviction from his record.)

Other issues Mirkarimi has had to confront as sheriff include the death of a patient in a stairwell at San Francisco General Hospital, which is guarded by sheriff deputies; allegations of a fight ring in a county jail run by sheriff deputies; and low morale among the rank and file of the safety agency.

Making international headlines was the killing last month of a woman on a city pier, allegedly by a man in the country illegally who had been released from custody by the sheriff ’s department after a long ago drug possession charge against him was dismissed. Due to the city’s sanctuary city policy, the sheriff ’s department released the individual without alerting federal immigration authorities, a decision that came under blistering criticism from Lee and other officials.

This week the headlines focused on how Mirkarimi’s driver’s license was suspended earlier this year after he failed to properly report a fender bender he was involved in last October while driving a city-issued vehicle to the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Late Monday night, after news broke of his license suspension, Mirkarimi’s office issued a statement saying, “he is working immediately to resolve the issue of his restricted license. He has contacted his insurance representatives to determine why the proper report was not submitted to the DMV.” Early Tuesday evening Mirkarimi’s office announced that, after he spoke with DMV officials and filed the proper paperwork, “the matter has been resolved.”t

building the community,” said Wittig, who has invested his own money into creating Vespa.

He is also looking to create an incentive program to induce users to review places listed on the app. When users do so, they build up points and move higher up the app’s leaderboard, shown as a crown icon on the tool bar at the bottom of the screen.

Each city also competes to be listed on the main page of the app, with the more reviews and users from that city moving it higher up the list.

“This is all in the making. We are still testing,” said Wittig. “I am very happy with it already.”

As for WIMBIFY, it charges users a fee of no more than $10 per night when they arrange accommodations through the app. The app requires users to provide it with a valid ID, such as their passport, in order to book rooms.

“This is for the connection and the safe guarantee we give to the

user,” said Virgili.

Users earn credits that can be applied to their next trip to save on room costs, he added. They hope to have 15,000 people using the app by the end of 2015.

“WIMBIFY is a way for people to share unique travel experiences and destinations,” explained Virgili.

“It allows people to host others for free by using the WIMBIFY app.

This isn’t about renting rooms or paying to use someone’s flat. It’s about meeting people for friendship and sharing resources. It’s about connection and safety. What better way for a member of the LGBT community to feel safe and secure in a foreign country than with a local member of that LGBT community as their guide.”t Got a tip on LGBT business news? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or e-mail m.bajko@ ebar.com.

t

Legal Notices>> NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINSTER ESTATE OF THOMAS FENNER DALLMAN IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FILE PES-15-298529

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of THOMAS FENNER DALLMAN. A Petition for Probate has been filed by ANN DALLMAN in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that ANN DALLMAN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate.

The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: August 18, 2015, 9:00 am, Dept. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: HEATHER R. STONEMAN, ESQ. (SB#214917), JEWEL & STONEMAN, LLP, 220 MONTGOMERY ST #678, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104 Ph. (415) 394-6800.

JULY 23, 30 AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, 400 MCALLISTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102 FILE CNC-15-551362

In the matter of the application of: ORS DENES CSASZAR, 531 BAYSHORE BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner ORS DENES CSASZAR, is requesting that the name ORS DENES CSASZAR, be changed to ORS CSASZAR. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Room 514 on the 29th of September 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, 400 MCALLISTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102 FILE CNC-15-551361

In the matter of the application of: JOSE MINORU MORRISON, 2 TOWNSEND ST #2-403, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner JOSE MINORU MORRISON, is requesting that the name JOSE MINORU MORRISON, be changed to GARY MINORU MORRISON. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Room 514 on the 29th of September 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036572400

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, 400 MCALLISTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102 FILE CNC-15-551355

In the matter of the application of: JOHN DAVID SCHRAMM II, 261 OXFORD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner JOHN DAVID SCHRAMM II, is requesting that the name JOHN DAVID SCHRAMM II, be changed to JOHN DAVID DAIGLE SCHRAMM II. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Room 514 on the 29th of September 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, 400 MCALLISTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102 FILE CNC-15-551354 In the matter of the application of: KENNETH MICHAEL DAIGLE, 261 OXFORD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner KENNETH MICHAEL DAIGLE, is requesting that the name KENNETH MICHAEL DAIGLE, be changed to KENNETH MICHAEL SCHRAMM DAIGLE. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Room 514 on the 29th of September 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, 400 MCALLISTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102 FILE CNC-15-551356

In the matter of the application of: YELENA BERDICHEVSKY, 99 LUPINE AVE #302, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner YELENA BERDICHEVSKY, is requesting that the name YELENA BERDICHEVSKY, be changed to HELEN DE FRANCESCO. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 29th of September 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 2016-17 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG)

The State Legislature will conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the 2016-17 State Plan and Application for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on August 25, 2015, at the State Capitol, Room 437, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Persons presenting oral testimony are requested to provide a written statement of their presentation at the conclusion of their testimony.

If unable to attend, send written comments to: Department of Community Services and Development, 2389 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95833, Attention: Wilmer Brown or email: CSBGDIV@CSD.ca.gov.

Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. August 25, 2015. The Department of Community Services and Development will review comments and may incorporate applicable changes to the final plan. A copy of the draft plan may be obtained on CSD’s website at www. csd.ca.gov or by calling (916) 576-7205 *Notice* Americans with Disabilities Act Individuals who, because of a disability, need special assistance to attend or participate in this hearing may request special assistance by calling the California Assembly Human Services Committee at 916-319-2089. Requests should be made five working days in advance whenever possible.

AUGUST 13, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036577700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PAPILLO MASSAGE, 155 HARRIET ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHARLES STEVEN PAPILLO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/15/15.

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036571400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: A NEW INDULGENCE BEAUTY, 1145 DIVISADERO ST #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MALKIA M. GEORGE-WATKINS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/13/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/13/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE BAGEL BAKERY CAFE, 151 TOWNSEND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHEA SOK MAY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/10/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/10/15.

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036572100

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036577801

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DEHART STUDIOS; DEHART BODYWORK; 1395 31ST AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JANET DEHART. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/10/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HAI FENG CHINESE HERBAL; HAI FENG TRADITION CHINESE MED; 1818 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ZHUSEN LIANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/15/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/15/15.

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015

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Legal Notices>> STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035920800

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: HAI FENG CHINESE HERBAL, 1818 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by RU HAI LIANG. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/02/2014.

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036588000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ACE DEUCE BAIL BONDS, 3327 23RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DAVID ANTONIO RICHARDSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/22/15.

JULY 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036558500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 50 FREMONT FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION, 50 FREMONT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HOLLY BRETT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/02/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/02/15.

JULY 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036587000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GEECHED OUT PRODUCTIONS, 2275 19TH AVE #11, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SHARON BRIDGFORTH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/21/15.

JULY 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036582100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE INDUSTRIAL ORGANIC, 333 ONEIDA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed REBECCA BRADSHAW. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/17/15.

JULY 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036594500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CLUB LIBERTAD FILIAL SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA, 22 FUENTE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARIA TERESA CAMINO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/24/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/24/15.

JULY 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036597700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PARKMEALS; TRYBASA; TRIBASA; 3315 CLEMENT ST #7, SAN FRANCISO, CA 94121.

This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BASANOVA INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/27/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/15.

JULY 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036592500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SEA STAR, 2289 3RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102.

This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed RATPACK SF LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/02/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/23/15.

JULY 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036603000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HP ONE, 5600 3RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124.

This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LEE EDWARD WARREN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/28/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/29/15.

AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 27, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036583000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAY CITY PAWS, 468 BARTLETT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AMBER PEREZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/17/15.

AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 27, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036605500

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036605800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHIEF SULLIVAN’S, 622 GREEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited partnership, and is signed NOELLE CALIXTO, RICHARD HOWARD & JUSTIN GHIGLIA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/30/15.

August 13-19, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

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AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 27, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036596500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: UPTOWN, 200 CAPP ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BYODB LLC (CA).

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/15.

AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 27, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036612800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GREEN SIGNZ & COMPANY; SIGNZ SF; 710 C ST #206, SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed NONPAREIL VENTURES LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/04/15.

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AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 27, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036618600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MP ENTERPRISE; SF REEDS; 3917 18TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARCUS PHILLIPS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/07/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/07/15.

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AUGUST 13, 20, 27, SEPT 03, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036617200

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RACHEL LARK, 4010 FULTON ST #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RACHEL ANTONY-LEVINE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/06/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/06/15.

AUGUST 13, 20, 27, SEPT 03, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036582000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AUKAKE MOON, 1001 FRANKLIN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOHN ENG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/29/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/17/15.

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AUGUST 13, 20, 27, SEPT 03, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036596700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LOCALGRID, PROPERTY OPTIONS, 829 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PHILIP L. MILLENBAH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/17/08. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/27/15.

AUGUST 13, 20, 27, SEPT 03, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036624600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EYEBROW QUEEN SALON, 4792 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed SANGITA THAPA & SWASTI THAPA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/11/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/11/15.

AUGUST 13, 20, 27, SEPT 03, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036622000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HEALTHY KANGEN WATER, 919 GENEVA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed CUONG HUY DO & CONG CHI VU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/10/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/10/15.

AUGUST 13, 20, 27, SEPT 03, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036618900

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Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036618500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SF SUPER CAB, 120 WILLOW ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SF SUPER CAB CORP (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/07/15.

AUGUST 13, 20, 27, SEPT 03 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036609000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CIRRUS CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, 365 12TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed INTELLIGENT REAL ESTATE 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 07/30/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAY-LA EXPRESS MOVING; NIMBUS MOVING AND STORAGE; 950 BAY ST #15, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SAPIEN ENTERPRISES INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/07/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/07/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JUNIOR, 535 MISSION ST, 19TH FLOOR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ALL JUNIOR, INC (MI). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/31/15.

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Salome spins

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Teenage tale

Farm boy

Out &About

17

O&A

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Vol. 45 • No. 33 • August 13-19, 2015

SF Shakespeare Festival

www.ebar.com/arts

Carl Holvick as Romeo in one of San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s Free Shakespeare in the Park performances.

by John C. Sulak

W

hen it was announced that Rebecca J. Ennals would be directing Romeo and Juliet as this year’s Free Shakespeare in the Park show, the first thing people began to ask her was, “What are you going to do with the concept of the show?” And she would tell them, “I don’t know, but I know that there are going to be swords! Because I am so tired of Romeo and Juliet with knives and guns, and people punching each other!”

See page 18 >>

Ordinary lives observed at Pier 24

“New Orleans (Cajun Corner)”

by Paul Graham, from the series a shimmer of possibility.

by Sura Wood

Pace and Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York

H

ow does one photograph the banal and the quotidian without producing art that’s mundane, obvious and ordinary? This conundrum was the challenge facing British photographer Paul Graham, and it’s one, despite instances of brilliance, he doesn’t always surmount.

The question of whether or not Graham transcends the banality of his life-as-it’s-lived content will confront visitors to The Whiteness of the Whale, a solo show of the artist’s color photographs at Pier 24, the venue’s first exhibition devoted to a single photographer. With its expansive, underpopulated spaces and chapel-like serenity, 28,000-sq.-ft. Pier 24 is an ideal place for work that requires time and an open mind to absorb, and for an impeccably installed show where your response will be contingent on the associations and experience – of life and photography – you bring to it.

See page 21 >>

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS } Spring and summer mean later sunsets and later hours at the Asian Art Museum. We’re open ‘til 9 PM on Thursdays and for just $5 after 5 PM, you can spend an evening in our beautiful building enjoying the galleries, special exhibitions, fun talks, lively gatherings and intimate hangs with artists. On first Thursdays, there are even cash bars, DJs and more. For details, visit www.asianart.org/thursdays

AT THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM

$5 AFTER 5PM

<< Out There

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 13-19, 2015

Egyptian treasures

Summer at the Cliff House

by Roberto Friedman

Cliff House and Beyond!

Guided Historical Walks Spend a memorable Saturday morning exploring Lands End. Start at the historic Cliff House with a continental breakfast then walk through Adolph Sutro’s magical ‘kingdom by the sea’ with historian guide John A. Martini.

Regarded as the ultimate authority on this part of the City’s fabled past, John’s walks will be offered on September 5 and October 10.

For more information and to make reservations please visit www.cliffhouse.com/history/Johns_Walk.html

Join us for these Cliff House Weekly Favorites • Wine Lovers’ Tuesday – Half Priced Bottled Wines* • Bistro Wednesday Nights – $28 Three-Course Prix Fixe • Friday Night Jazz in the Balcony Lounge • Sunday Champagne Brunch Buffet Valet parking every night after 5:00 pm. * Some restrictions apply. Promotions are not valid on holidays.

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Bel Alexander Christopher AND Kristen Powley Skarsgard Meloni Wiig “...THIS GUTSY EXHILARATING MOVIE...

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“EXTRAORDINARY! UNIQUE AND UNFORGETTABLE. BEL POWLEY IS SENSATIONAL.” -Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

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S

ummer is breezy and cool in San Francisco, but Out There spent last week sweltering as if under a Sahara sun as we read The Obelisk and the Englishman – The Pioneering Discoveries of Egyptologist William Bankes by Dorothy U. Seyler (Prometheus Books). William John Bankes (1786-1855) came from landed gentry and served several terms in Parliament, but made his greatest contributions as an early Egyptologist. Bankes’ archeological work in Egypt and Syria produced drawings and notes on temples and tombs otherwise lost to history. His copies of hieroglyphs helped scholars decode the language. And his contributions of art and design to his estate Kingston Lacy, one of the great houses of Britain, made lasting contributions. But his clandestine homosexual life proved his undoing in homophobic Regencyera England.

For OT, Seyler’s book provided three main areas of interest: first, in its depiction of the homosexual-homosocial world of Cambridge, where Bankes was good friends with bisexual Romantic poet Lord Byron, and intramural fumblings under the sheets were not unheard-of.

Then there are descriptions of Bankes’ early explorations of Egypt, Nubia (now Sudan), Petra and other ancient sites. “Even though the Rosetta Stone had been in England for more than 10 years, no one was yet close, in 1815, to understanding the Egyptian language,” but

nothing dampened Bankes’ curiosity about the ancient civilizations. He went further up-river on the Nile than any previous European.

t

Bankes was acquitted.

But in 1841, a second illicit encounter with another hunky guardsman, this time outside in Green Park, resulted in another arrest, this one not as easily dismissed. Faced with trial and conviction, Bankes left England for end-oflife exile based in Venice, Italy. After all of his contributions to government, the arts and sciences, his name in English society was besmirched. Ridiculous.

The book has 16 color plates depicting Bankes’ collected art, drawings of ancient Egyptian ruins, the Philae obelisk he brought home, and interiors and art from his estate at Kingston Lacy.

There are also bibliographic notes, an index, and a chronology of ancient Egyptian kingdoms and dynasties. This last is very useful to a reader like OT, who doesn’t know Ramesses from a hole in the ground.

Duke of the Uke

Finally, Seyler tells the tragic story of Bankes’ eventual downfall due to homosexual scandal. In 1833, Bankes was arrested in a “public convenience” near his home for getting busy with Thomas Flowers, a guardsman. They were charged with meeting for “unnatural purposes.” (Sodomy was a capital offense in England until 1861, and remained illegal well into the 20th century.) Among his character witnesses at trial was the Duke of Wellington, who vouched for his manliness. As if that were a sign of heteronormativity.

Ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro, often referred to as the Miles Davis of his craft, will be bringing his four-string, two-octave instrument to Davies Symphony Hall in SF on Sun., Aug. 16. A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Shimabukuro is a ukulele virtuoso, composer, and inspirational speaker. His music ranges from jazz, blues, and rock to bluegrass, classical, and folk. His career skyrocketed after he uploaded a cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” onto YouTube. Since then he has collaborated with artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Jimmy Buffett, Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper, Ziggy Marley, Dave Koz, and Lyle Lovett, as well as orchestras around the world. More info is at sfjazz.org.t

Sex appeal in space

by Ernie Alderete

O

dd the way the cast is listed in the final Star Trek spin-off, Enterprise. John Billingsley, who plays Dr. Phlox, gets second billing after Scott Bakula, who plays Captain Jonathan Archer. Jolene Blalock, who plays the Vulcan science officer, rates third place, and Connor Trinneer, who plays the engineer, comes in dead last, in seventh place. Yet the chemistry of the show revolves around the relationship among the Captain, his Vulcan science officer, and his engineer.

You could drop the cartoonish doctor entirely – the Space Eunuch, as I think of him – and he wouldn’t be missed. His bizarre character seems to be inspired by Neelix, from the previous Star Trek series Voyager. There is only sexual tension in the already mentioned trio. Both the captain and the engineer are obviously sexually attracted to their gorgeous female Vulcan colleague.

Connor Trinneer is a gorgeous man, and he knows it! He has a very nice build, but his face is what stands out. He has one of the most beautiful noses I’ve ever seen. Wanna hear something funny? Watch any episode from any season of Star Trek: Enterprise, and you’ll notice that Trinneer takes every opportunity to look up, to the ceiling, or to the sky, or at whatever is above. No one else in the same scene does that.

Why does he? So that we can look up his perfectly shaped nostrils! I’m convinced he is showing off his best

asset. I was in love with him for four seasons, then suddenly when they came to the final three episodes, they killed him off! And replaced him with a younger Chief Engineer who was 10 times more handsome.

Star Trek: Enterprise would have lasted more than four seasons if they’d dumped the dreary backward-looking opening sequence, boring theme song, alien doctor, and the captain’s dog Porthos, and concentrated more on the interrelationships of the captain, science

officer and engineer. Linda Park, as the communications expert, seemed not to want to be on the show, and she would not have been missed.

If you haven’t seen Star Trek: Enterprise, check out In a Mirror Darkly, a two-parter from the last part of the final season, two of their best episodes. They were the only episodes that dumped the corny theme song and opening credits, and that created a much more exciting beginning for the story that was about to unfold.t

Connor Trinneer (right), seen in a screen grab from Star Trek: Enterprise.

t

Theatre>>

August 13-19, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

Lurid imaginings of Salome

by Richard Dodds

S

he isn’t identified by name in the Bible, but Salome has done all right by herself in the fame game. If she were in the news today, you just know that she’d be up there with Planned Parenthood as the Republican presidential candidates debate female troubles. It’s all about Eve, Part II, where temptation is women’s work.

Oscar Wilde set the modern template for the tale, which Richard Strauss then set to music. Salome, Dance for Me credits the play and the opera as its sources, but unlike those precursors, it has a sense of humor about the lurid tale while still managing to hold on to its basic horror. It was developed through the Emerging Artist Program at New Conservatory Theatre Center, where it is now having its debut run.

Billed as a “one-woman glamrock musical,” this may suggest something different from what is actually on the stage. That that one woman is trixie carr, whose nightlife reputation includes campy rock chanteuse and faux-queen innovator, might further errant expectations. What the 70-minute solo show does confirm is carr’s talents as an actress, singer, and physical comedian through quickly changing tones.

Salome, Dance for Me was conceived and is directed by Ben Randle, with carr providing the spoken and sung words and collaborating with Robert Mollicone on the music. The songs range from art ballads to big-hair rock, only sometimes with tongue planted in cheek. These are intriguing compositions, and even though the musical accompaniment is pre-recorded, it is well

done in Gary Roble’s music production and allows carr to bring the songs to expansive life.

In this variation on the Salome story, the noblewoman Heriodias has stirred scandal by divorcing her husband and marrying his brother, Herod, who becomes stepfather to Salome. Herod keeps John the Baptist locked in a well, but is intrigued by his views on religion, and fears executing him in case John is right about the wrath of God. Herod has a more carnal interest in Salome, and, convinced of her irresistible allure, she sets out to seduce the fanatically pious John, who rebukes her approaches. Salome is not amused.

When her stepfather implores Salome to perform an erotically charged dance for him, her price is that she be served the head of John the Baptist on a platter. carr not only plays Salome, but also her mother, her stepfather, and Lois Tema John the Baptist – at times alternating trixie carr stars as the famous Biblical temptress in the new one-woman musical Salome, Dance characters between for Me at New Conservatory Theatre Center. lines of dialogue.

More through attitude than occasional changes in Miriam R. Lewis’ costumes, carr can project the essences of the characters through broad strokes. Her impression of an overweight Herod trying to navigate his girth around the stage is worthy of Lucy Ricardo comparisons.

On Maya Linke’s simple but effective set, given added dimension

by Christian V. Mejia’s evolving lighting design, Randle stages the piece effectively and with many imaginative touches. Monique Jenkinson’s choreography is highlighted by the angular but erotic dance that carr evocatively performs in Salome’s bid for the head of John so she can at last taste of his lips.

The show’s only letdown comes in the final songs as Salome has her way with John’s head.

The music has a softpop sound of generic uplift that undercuts these high-drama moments. This is when carr’s inner Pat Benatar needs to be let loose.t Salome, Dance for Me will run though Aug. 29 at New Conservatory Theatre Center.

Tickets are $20-$25.

Call (415) 861-8972 or go to nctcsf.org.

Undocumented love

by Brian Bromberger

S

trangers in a strange land, immigrants strive to survive against the odds in the new DVD Hidden Away (TLA Releasing). The film played at this year’s Frameline Festival and was an unexpected hit. Hidden Away follows Eastern Boys, which told the bleak fate of Eastern European refugee grifters in Paris. This time we are focusing on the plight of Arabs in the gritty byways of Bilbao, Spain, northern Basque country, and their future is equally uncertain.

The first scene zeroes in on 14-yearold Moroccan illegal immigrant Ibrahim (Adil Koukouh) facing racist Spanish gas station workers as he is accused of theft. He is rescued by Youssef (Moussa Echaris), a charismatic Moroccan immigrant, who then steers him toward a gang that survives by stealing and selling drugs. Suddenly we are transported to a bathroom in a nightclub where Ibrahim and 14-year-old Spanish teenager Rafa (German Alcarazu) glance at each other and a spark is ignited. They will meet again at a community swimming pool during a game of water polo.

Ibrahim goes to school but lives in a hostel for undocumented mi-

nor immigrants waiting to get their official papers so they can stay in Spain. Thus Ibrahim must deal with bureaucratic regulations and delays, while Rafa, part of a gang of machismo friends led by the racist Javi, must fend off their attempts to fix him up with a female classmate, Marta, in

whom he has no interest. Instead Rafa starts stalking Ibrahim around the city, and they hide their growing attraction in such homoerotic hormonal activities as wrestling, bowl-

ing, and food fights. Because they are also concealing their emotions, there is little dialogue between them, with long, lingering close-ups and potent body language interspersed with banal small talk. Before long, the government is trying to send Ibrahim back to Morocco, by illegally claiming they have found a relative back home to sponsor him. Facing deportation, Ibrahim runs away with Rafa trying to help him seek shelter. He is also chased by a menacing Youssef, to whom Ibrahim owes money. How this cross-cultural relationship endures these crises forms the crux of Hidden Away.

This is really the story of a first love struggling against societal restrictions less sexual than racial/political.

But unlike Eastern Boys, which emphasized injustices against refugees, Hidden Away makes only oblique reference to the tortured Arab migrant experience in Europe.

We never find out why Ibrahim left Morocco, except some cryptic remark that he is escaping a painful past.

Hidden Away is one of these frustrating movies that could have been excellent instead of passably good. The lack of chronological order and disjointed plot gaps are no advantage here. Yet the performances of the main actors fill in the gaps

of a weak script. German Alcarazu projects pure innocence in Rafa’s face, and we instantly empathize with his struggle to extricate himself from his posse’s expectations, to love whom he wants to love. Adil Koukouh gives Ibrahim a bad-boy smoldering sultriness so you understand why Rafa would be attracted to him. There are no explicit sex scenes, and none are needed. When the two kiss, their passionate sensuality and bottled-up desires light up the screen. Just as superb is Joseba Ugalde as Rata’s best friend Guille, who is likely in love with Rafa, but cannot express it except in schoolyard horseplay. He supports Rafa even if he doesn’t understand what is going on between him and Ibrahim. Yet when Rafa decides to run

away with Ibrahim, Guille gives him money, and the look on his face as he realizes Rafa has chosen Ibrahim over him is heartbreaking. A stronger script would have developed Guille and his budding affection with Rafa more fully. Youssef, who despite his ruthlessness cares for his disabled brother, could have been humanized, but again no backstory is fleshed out.

Director/writer Mikel Rueda wants to compare the societal pressure Rafa is undergoing with the racial tensions plaguing Ibrahim, but doesn’t make the connection as potent as it could have been. Still, Hidden Away reminds us that it is those aspects of ourselves we keep hidden that, once revealed, can be the most transformative.t

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 13-19, 2015

High dives & high fives

by Victoria A. Brownworth

I

t’s hot. What better time for a swim, or a documentary about a gay Olympic diver? HBO debuts its new documentary Back on Board: Greg Louganis this month. It’s a compelling and somewhat tragic tale as the film explores the impact Louganis’ being gay has had on his career, and how even now, in 2015, nearly four decades since he entered his first Olympics as a teen prodigy, he is still struggling to keep from being homeless.

As Louganis’ former coach Ron O’Brien notes, “Had he been a straight athlete, he would have made millions.” But he wasn’t, and he didn’t. Louganis never got the Wheaties box, unlike then-Bruce Jenner and other American Olympians. Louganis never got the endorsements that are the “payment” sports figures get for Olympic success. Instead, he struggled. A lot.

Louganis was a prodigy. At 16 he was in the same 1976 Olympics as Jenner. But obstacle after obstacle prevented him from achieving what he wanted. And when he discovered his HIV status prior to the Seoul Olympics in 1988, the same year he had the catastrophic injury, hitting his head on the diving board, his life began to fall apart.

America loves second acts, but Back on Board explores how hard it has been for Louganis, still handsome and sleek at 55, to get one.

Well worth a look.

Also worth a look is another HBO feature this month, the premiere of Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted, on Aug. 22. It’s the lesbian comedian’s first comedy special for HBO. Notaro has previously guest-starred on The Sarah Silverman Program and Transparent.

“Tig Notaro is a ‘comedian’s comedian,’ whose uniquely fearless and always funny voice has won acclaim from critics and fans alike,” said HBO’s President of Programming Michael Lombardo in a statement about the special. “I’m so happy that we will be able to introduce this remarkable performer to a larger audience.”

We’re happy as well, since we’ve been a fan of Notaro’s for several years. In addition to the HBO special, Netflix dropped its documentary about the comedian, Tig, on July 17. Tig first premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews and includes appearances

by Silverman and Zach Galifianakis.

The documentary explores recent events in Notaro’s life: her cancer diagnosis, the sudden death of her mother and her now renowned 2012 set at Largo in Los Angeles, which she started by saying, “Good evening. Hello. I have cancer.”

Project Runway is back for a 14th season on Lifetime. The new season debuted on Aug. 6, and host Tim Gunn was on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that night talking the show, the spin-off Project Runway Junior, about budding designers 13-17, and his rumored rants this season. The ever-élan gay Gunn described the new season as “Big Daddy blows up.” What more could you want?

We know Sir Patrick Stewart isn’t gay, but we are so used to seeing him with Sir Ian McKellen that they have become a couple to us. Stewart seemed a bit gay when we saw him last week on ET intoning Taylor Swift lyrics. It was a bizarre yet compelling aside to his talking about his new show on Starz, Blunt Talk, which debuts Aug. 22. The series has already been picked up for two seasons.

Blunt Talk was created by Jonathan Ames (HBO’s Bored to Death) and produced by Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy). The series follows British newscaster Walter Blunt,

who moves to Los Angeles with the intentions of conquering American nightly cable news. Hilarity ensues. Hilarity of the edgy, bawdy, NSFW sort.

Among Blunt’s hobbies are painting men in the nude and being slapped around by his manservant. The series co-stars Jacki Weaver, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her stellar performance in Silver Linings Playbook.

Show Me a Hero, the highly anticipated new series from David Simon (The Wire), premieres on HBO Aug. 16. Simon is a genius (he’s been awarded the MacArthur genius grant) so we know this is going to be brilliant.

Based on the 1999 book of the same name by former New York Times writer Lisa Belkin, Show Me a Hero explores what happens when a white Scene from Back on Board: Greg Louganis, a new documentary debuting on HBO. middle-class neighborhood in Yonkers, NY is women’s issues impacts LGBT peoer, gentler audience, the crowd also faced with a federally-mandated ple. In many states, Planned Parentwent wild over the most egregious public housing development and hood is a place gay men go for STD comment of the entire night in the how the resulting racial, ethnic testing. Rick Santorum had the most main-stage debate. and class tensions impact NYC as egregious comments about us, but Megyn Kelly said to Donald a whole. The limited series is dithen he has a long history with casTrump, “You’ve called women you rected by Oscar winner Paul Haggis tigating gay people. In the junior-tier don’t like fat pigs, dogs, ugly slobs (Crash) and has an extraordinary debate, Santorum compared Obergeand disgusting animals.” cast including Oscar nominees Alfell v. Hodges, the recently decided Trump interrupted her, “Just fred Molina, Winona Ryder and Supreme Court case that upheld Rosie O’Donnell.” Wild cheering Catherine Keener, as well as Oscar marriage equality, to the Dred Scott from the crowd for Trump calling a Isaac and Jim Belushi. case in 1857. Oh no, he didn’t! lesbian a fat pig. After the applause Yes, he did. His argument was died down, Kelly continued, “No, Bumper crop that marriage equality was not deit wasn’t. It was well beyond Rosie We admit we love election season. cided. Like Dred Scott wasn’t decidO’Donnell. You once told a contesWe think it runs entirely too long ed. And so like Lincoln (because the tant on Celebrity Apprentice that it and we may have a stroke before Republicans keep calling themselves ‘would be a pretty picture to see her we actually get to vote, but the dog the party of Lincoln) vitiated Dred on her knees.’ Does that sound to days of August are certainly more Scott with the Emancipation Procyou like the temperament of someinteresting with the current crop of lamation, Pres. Santorum would one we should elect as president?”

Republicans. The GOP makes even vitiate O.v.H. with a similar proclaTrump, looking irritated, replied Simon’s razor-sharp take on corrupt mation. Because it’s 1857? that “the big problem this country cities seem mild.

Santorum said, “Now is the peohas is being politically correct. I’ve We watched the Voters First GOP ple’s opportunity to respond bebeen challenged by so many people, Forum on Aug. 3 on C-SPAN. That cause the future of the institution I don’t have time for total political could have led to several drinkof marriage is too important to not correctness.” He said, “What I say ing games, but we don’t drink. The have a public debate. The Court is is fun, it’s kidding, we have a good forum served as a preview for the one of three co-equal branches of time.” Pretty sure wherever she was, GOP Debate on Fox News held in government, and just as they have in Rosie wasn’t laughing. On CNN’s Cleveland on Aug. 6. Because frontcases from Dred Scott to Anderson Cooper 360, Donna Brazile runner Donald Trump Plessy, the Court has an (please, will you just come out) said wasn’t there, it was a more of Trump’s comments, “Women are imperfect track record. “relaxed” atmosphere. not going to take that from a man in The stakes are too high Voters First also included the 21st century.” We. Shall. See. and the issue too imcandidates who didn’t There were two great lines in the portant to simply cede make the cut for Fox’s two-hour debate. Ben Carson, a the will of the people to Top 10 tier, like Rick retired neurosurgeon and the sole five unaccountable jusSantorum, Rick Perry, black candidate, said in his clostices.”

Bobby Jindal and Carly ing statement that he was “the only Santorum also had Fiorina. We underone to separate Siamese twins, to the most ironic line of stand the temptation operate on babies while they were the night, following his to ignore these debates, but women still in their mother’s womb, to Dred Scott tirade with this: “When and LGBT people are talking points take out half a brain, although you we treat everyone equally under for the GOP, and these candidates get would think if you went to Washthe law, that’s when we feel good wild applause for homophobic and ington that someone had beat me about being Americans.” Except gay misogynist comments. to it.” That garnered appropriate people. Santorum never feels good Every one of these candidates applause. But Marco Rubio put it about gay people. is against marriage equality and succinctly earlier in the night as he In the main debate former Ohio ENDA (remember ENDA?). Scott explained his thin resume, “If this governor John Kasich tempered his Walker wants a constitutional election is about a resume compeanti-gay stance with this comment: amendment to ban same-sex martition, Hillary Clinton will be our “Because somebody doesn’t think riage (even though his wife and next president.” the way I do doesn’t mean that I sons disagree). So do Ben Carson Although there were 19 refercan’t care about them or I can’t and Mike Huckabee. Jeb Bush ences to Hillary in the debate, none love them. So if one of my daughthinks money to fund women’s seemed to resonate with the auditers happened to be that, of course health initiatives are “not needed,” ence. For her part, Hillary was in I would love them and would acsaying, “I’m not sure we need a half California at a Hollywood fundcept them. Because that’s what we’re a billion dollars for women’s health raiser attended by stars including taught when we have strong faith.” issues.” Huckabee said when he’s Caitlyn Jenner, Kanye West and That. If one of his daughters happresident, he would call out the Kim Kardashian. Prior to the event pened to be “that.” Lesbian.

National Guard to stop abortions Kimmy had tweeted that she hoped But he also said he believes in at Planned Parenthood clinics. He to get a selfie later with herself and “traditional marriage.” And while went further in the debate, saying “our next President.” Score one she some were touting the applause Kawomen should be arrested for viodid, and tried to break the Internet sich got for his comment, they didn’t lating the rights of fetuses. again. Kimmy and Kanye with Hillnote when he got the applause. It Every candidate in the main deary smiling between them garnered was after he said, “I’m going to love bate (as opposed to the earlier kid’s 18k faves and 6k retweets within an my daughters no matter what they table debate) was succinct that they hour of Kimmy posting. do. Because you know what? God were “pro-life,” which has always We scored the winners of both gives me unconditional love.” Love meant anti-woman and anti-gay. debates as Rubio and Kasich for the the sinner, hate the sin.

Where these candidates stand on main event, Fiorina by a mile for Lest anyone think this was a kind-

<< TV

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Courtesy HBO

the lesser debate. Fiorina deserves a place at the big table for the next debate. From our POV, the candidate in the biggest trouble is Jeb Bush, who may not be the smarter Bush brother at all. He failed the Voter’s First forum, and he failed the Cleveland debate. His money and poll numbers put him in the #2 slot for the debate, but despite his antiwoman and anti-gay comments, he didn’t get much support from the crowd. The big winners in the debate? Megyn Kelly, who was the toughest questioner we can recall seeing in any debate in recent years.

And the other was Hillary Clinton.

What we want to know, is how many times will LGBT people be a topic at these debates? And why are we the only ones whose lives get to be taken apart for entertainment value?

Finally, Jon Stewart’s final show was the same night as the debate, which reminded us of how long we have relied on Stewart to spin the news for us. We have loved the way he turned news into comedy into news in the tradition of satirists as far back as Swift. The final show was a pastiche of farewells from some of Stewart’s fave political and social targets, among them Hillary Clinton, Wolf Blitzer, Sens.

John McCain and Paul Brown, and the CEO of Arby’s, the fast food chain Stewart loved to hate. One of the most hilarious moments was McCain, whom Stewart regularly depicted as the old dude ranting, “Get off my lawn!” McCain held up a puppet of the comedian and said, “So long, jackass.”

At one point, Stephen Colbert crept up behind Stewart. Colbert is the most successful of Stewart’s correspondents and next month debuts his own show on CBS, taking over as host of The Late Show. Colbert made us tear up when he said to Stewart, “We owe you because we learn from you. We learn from you by example how to do a show with intention, how to work with clarity, how to treat people with respect. You are infuriatingly good at your job.” So true. We will miss Stewart and his deadpan delivery, his perfect comedic timing and his well-placed four-letter words. He used a few in closing out his 16-year run when he warned his audience to sniff out the bullshit.

“The best defense against bullshit?”

Stewart asked rhetorically. “If you smell something, say something.” So we will.

So for the bombast of Trump, the incisive questioning of Megyn Kelly, the brilliance of David Simon and the fabulousness of Tig Notaro, you know you really must stay tuned.t

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Film>>

August 13-19, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

Queer Quebecois farm story

by David Lamble

I

n the gripping black comedy/ melodrama Tom at the Farm (opening Friday), a young man is grieving his late lover, Guillaume.

He turns up at the dead boy’s rural Quebec funeral with a phony blonde hairdo, promising to deliver a eulogy that will make the conservative townsfolk sit up and take notice – i.e., respect the often-closeted but plucky queer citizens in their midst. Sadly, Tom loses his nerve and instead sits through a perfunctory service performed by the parish priest, thus disappointing his late beau’s mom Agathe (Lise Roy) and, more ominously, Francis, the deceased man’s moody and possibly dangerous brother (Pierre-Yves Cardinal). Quebec prodigy queer filmmaker Xavier Dolan takes us along the devious path to salvation for Tom (Dolan himself, continuing a longstanding tradition of playing his slippery gay-boy heroes), and just maybe opens up a portal for a more imaginative and risky kind of LGBTQ movie.

In the half-dozen years since his feature-length directorial debut, Dolan, who stands taller onscreen than his five-foot, seven inches, has dazzled art-house crowds from Montreal to Cannes. In the manner of would-be geniuses everywhere,

Dolan has shown himself capable model. This Tom lies, connives, baked an apple pie. Come to the of stealing from the best of his schemes and waffles. While askitchen before it turns cold.” predecessors. In 2009’s I Killed My suming much of his tale’s lessThe chilling scene that will tell Mother, Dolan’s Hubert crassly tells flattering moral baggage, Dolan you whether this Quebec pie is for his teacher that his mom has passed, generously creates some juicy you comes late in the second act, mimicking Jean Pierre Leaud’s turns for his expressive supportwhen Tom plunks himself down on dodgy schoolboy in Francois Trufing cast. With a starkly white mane a local barstool and orders up from faut’s French New Wave The 400 and a stutterstep delivery that proa portly middle-aged bartender who Blows. Called out by a Hollywood claims a good woman at the end of proves to be no minor character as Reporter critic for giving himself a her mental tether, Lise Roy turns he serves Tom a large pint of ale. number of pensive close-ups, “exAgathe into a comic foil who can “I came for the funeral, and now ploring [his own] face with swoonenliven a dark scene between Tom I’m helping out at the Longchamp ing intoxication,” Dolan, sassy in and Francis by declaring, “I’ve farm.” real life, replied, “You can kiss my narcissistic ass.” Such cheeky attitude is hard to maintain unless you deliver the goods, and so far the now-26-year-old director/ writer has done so in spades.

Tom at the Farm (Tom a la ferme), adapted from Michel Marc Bouchard’s stage play (by Bouchard and Dolan), gives American audiences a seldomseen glimpse of a rural Quebec that is simultaneously gorgeous and forbidding. Compared by some to Hitchcock at the top of his game, Tom at the Farm is faithful to certain age-old dilemmas for queer folk, or as co-writer Bouchard puts it in the film’s press notes, “Before learning how to love, homosexuals learn how Amplify Releasing to lie.”

Dolan deftly plays a “hero” Xavier Dolan stars in and directs Tom at the Farm. who is no golden-haired role

“I hope you came alone. Cause Big Guy ain’t welcome here. Francis is banned.”

“Why’s Francis banned?”

“It happened here nine years ago.

I remember because we were celebrating the bar’s ninth anniversary, and we were drunk as skunks!”

The bartender’s tale is not for the squeamish, but does serve to ground the film’s dark underbelly in a way that is both shocking yet sadly plausible.

This film will appeal to former farm boys and girls, and more particularly to fans of Belgium director Michale R. Roskam’s 2011 farm drama Bullhead, where a boyhood tragedy comes back to haunt a bevy of adults.

Dolan is already at work on his first English-language film, The Life and Death of John F. Donovan. Tom at the Farm should expand the wickedly funny Quebecois filmmaker’s fan base. Some may even delight in its similarities to fellow Quebec director Denis Villeneuve’s starkly violent and seductively sadistic 2013 drama Prisoners, with vivid performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano and Melissa Leo. As Tom gloriously illustrates, not everyone has what it takes to survive a quiet life in the country.t

Teenage sexual awakening

by David Lamble

I

t wasn’t so long ago that it would have been an act of movie-marketing suicide to put a film as smart, sassy and against the conventional grain as director/co-writer Marielle Heller’s The Diary of a Teenage Girl out for the summer mall crowd. Based on Phoebe Gloekner’s 2002 graphic novel, the film’s chirpy 15-year-old heroine proclaims her battle plan for surviving the season in San Francisco, circa 1976, a city just past the “Summer of Love,” but still chock-full of hypersexed teenage boys. Sprawled out on her bed, our heroine spells out her summer strategy.

“My name is Minnie Goetze, and I’m recording this onto cassette tape because my life has gotten real crazy of late. I had sex today! This makes me officially an adult! Now, if you’re listening to this without my permission, please stop now. Just stop!”

Diary of a Teenage Girl is hardly up to the exalted standards of Mike Nichols’ sublime 1967 coming-ofage classic The Graduate. But with its cute asides where Minnie goes tripping down the block in visual tandem with her animated twin, the film gives tacit permission to an online generation of girls eager to trade chat rooms for the adventures and perils of the streets.

Ironically, like The Graduate, Diary contains its own sly inside-production joke. In 1967, Dustin Hoffman, then just past 30, was set to sign with comedy writer/aspiring filmmaker Mel Brooks for his big-screen debut.

Instead, Hoffman got the careermaking call to impersonate the hero of Charles Webb’s cult novel hit, the 21-year-old suburban-LA-residing Benjamin Braddock. At that moment in America’s ongoing sexual revolution, the summer affair between Benjamin and his dad’s partner’s wife Mrs. Robinson (a luminous Anne Bancroft, the real-life wife of Mel Brooks) was thought to be edgy, provocative. In reality, the then-38-yearold Bancroft was only a life cycle older than Hoffman, cast against type. But at the time, the efforts by Bancroft’s Mrs. Robinson to seduce Benjamin and thus block the boy from dating her own college-age daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross) were still quite shocking in many parts of America. It was a bond that would provide Mike Nichols with a Best Director Oscar.

Diary of a Teenage Girl’s “Mrs. Robinson” moment is still capable of rocking the boat in an America with AIDS. Here, the mom Charlotte (Kristin Wiig) is having her own affair, post-Minnie’s-dad, with 30-something Monroe Rutherford (a very cute Alexander Skarsgard).

Feeling her oats, she gives Minnie

full permission to go after those silly little bellbottom-jeans-wearing boys at her high school.

Charlotte: “I don’t want to brag, but I was quite a piece when I was your age. What’s wrong with you?

I thought you’d be more into boys.

You have that kind of power, you know. You just don’t know it yet.”

Diary of a Teenage Girl is not a great film, but possibly it is a mores-setting summer tent-pole for its time, with the British actress Bel Powley, already in her 20s, giv-

ing her Minnie the same delicious ride that Dustin Hoffman pulled off with his Benjamin Braddock. Not to spoil everything for you, but Diary of a Teenage Girl does have its own great plot-hook for LGBTQ moviegoers.t

LEANNE BORGHESI

RUSS LORENSON

JIM AMBLER & PIERCE BRANDT

August 19

August 26

September 9

For tickets:www.feinsteinsSF.com Sam Emerson, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Bel Powley as Minnie Goetze in director Marielle Heller’s The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

Feinstein’s | Hotel Nikko San Francisco 222 Mason Street 855-MF-NIKKO | 855-636-4556

<< Music

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 13-19, 2015

Music of the spheres

by Tim Pfaff

W

ho knows if we’ll ever learn what projects the late Alan Curtis, the out specialist in 17thand 18th-century music, had underway when he died suddenly in July? But it’s hard to imagine a more fitting tribute to him than the two nearly simultaneously released recent recordings of Agostino Steffani’s Niobe, Regina di Tebe, an opera that had its premiere in Munich in 1688. These are not Curtis’; as far as I can tell, the only Steffani Curtis left behind is a fine recording of some of the vocal duets. But a major thrust of his career was the exploration of the rich vein of vocal music by the composers who came between Monteverdi (and his Venetian colleagues) and Handel. Steffani, most of whose operas were composed in and for Germany, is a key figure leading to the German apprenticeship of Handel a decade later. Cecilia Bartoli, in Mission, exhumed Steffani, but these new recordings bring him back to life.

The complete recording of Niobe by the Boston Early Music Festival (BEMF) Orchestra (Erato), under lutenists Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs, has Curtis written all over it, only beginning with Karina Gauvin, a singer whose career he was instrumental in launching and with whom he worked extensively, magisterial in the title role. All the musicians on this Niobe, the directors in particular, evidence the movement Curtis spearheaded, even when they disagree with him. They share Curtis’ drive not just to unearth this overlooked music, but to set it free from the square conducting of other early early-opera exponents

such as Raymond Leppard, and the sometimes fantastical re-workings of the scores by the likes of Rene Jacobs in his early years as a leader. No one picks up a baton, yet the music moves and breathes.

The BEMF Niobe is that choice product of today’s music-business dynamic: a studio recording (Bremen, 2013) based on a previously staged production, with only minor changes of cast. Steffani’s uncommonly rich score – with its array of exquisitely deployed wind instru-

ments, including brass, in addition to the customary string and continuo complements – is realized with subtlety to match its splendors, and the Ovid-derived story, motivated by one magical event after another (including an earthquake), plays out with plausibility and psychological depth.

Although the brilliance of Niobe is not all about the voices, the singing on this set could carry it if it were. As Niobe moves from one

form of illusion or disillusion to another, only finally to appear fully human and vulnerable, so Gauvin’s portrayal moves from element to alloy, vocally, until sound and word are fused in lines so simple they prepare you for the moment at which they are broken, stopped, by Niobe’s death.

But in Steffani’s musically variegated handling of Luigi Orlandi’s libretto, it’s her once and future king Anfione who takes and holds musical center stage, in ironic defiance of

encompass music from the arioso to the through-composed solo scene. The clear standout among them is his first-act musing about the “music of the spheres,” which Anfione takes to contemplating in early retirement from the throne.

It’s as magical a scene as there is to be found in music of this era, with pungent strings coursing their way through soft dissonances as they sound out the music of the stars and planets and their intersecting, overlapping meanings. Jarrousky’s firm but nimble treble hovers

the fact that it is he who, in weariness and political disillusion, steps down from the throne. It’s a role that openly gay countertenor Philippe Jarrousky seizes and makes his most important role creation on disc. In this complex role, he excels in every vocal task assigned to a singer of his voice type, including vaulting, crisp coloratura. This being a 17th-century opera, not all of his 10 big numbers are fully developed da capo arias, as in Handel, but

over and threads its way through this music in strains of the sheerest transport. When, in the aria, he sings, “Friendly spheres [Sfere amice], now give my lips the harmony of your rotation,” the melding of word and note is complete.

Some of the most exquisite vocal music in Niobe is of just such aching simplicity. The singers in the lower ranges also deliver. Aaron Sheehan, as Clearte, Jesse Blumberg, as Poliferno, and Colin Balzer, as Tiberino fill out, round out, the musical

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SF Shakespeare

From page 13

Her conception of Romeo and Juliet is being presented this summer by the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, which has been bringing free theater to Bay Area parks for 33 years. Yes, gasp-inducing swordfights are featured, and much more. Ennals is SF Shakes’ artistic director, and she believes, “The thing about doing Shakespeare is that there’s always subversion going on. Romeo and Juliet is perceived by people as the ultimate heterosexual love story. But no matter how heteronormative it may seem, we have to remember that it was originally performed by all men.”

R&J has been touring Bay Area parks since June, and will begin a five-weekend run in SF on August 29. Everyone is welcome to bring a blanket, sit on the grass, and see how Ennals was able to “find the relevance from the subversion in Shakespeare today. It’s not necessarily that you’re doing it with an allmale cast,” she said, “but that you’re doing it in ways that upset people’s perceptions.”

One of those ways, Ennals explained, was to cast across gender roles. “We have women play some of the male roles. Of course it’s about finding the best actor. But I cast proactively to make sure women and actors of color have opportunities, and our casting makes people think.”

She cast Carla Pantoja, who played Kate in last year’s SF Shakes production of Taming of the Shrew, as the aggressive swordsman Tybalt. Ennals directed her in Shrew, and said, “She is one of the most accomplished combatants in the Bay Area. She teaches stage combat, she choreographs, and she co-runs a company called Dueling Arts. She kind of said to me, ‘Tybalt’s my dream role,’ and I said, ‘I can’t think of a better fighter.’”

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spheres of the score.

Amada Forsythe, the resourceful and sweet-voice Manto, sings the same role in the “other” Niobe, a live recording (Opus Arte) from the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, from 2010. While that puts the performance date slightly ahead of BEMF’s, and the CD box is not shy in calling it the “world premiere live recording,” it comes in second not just by release date but by the fact that, although also on three CDs, it cuts a full hour of the music. It’s a peculiar distrust of a score that wouldn’t likely happen with musicians, and a house, where this were more typical fare. The lesson is: the least successful way to make an opera feel shorter is to cut it.

There’s considerably less vocal magic when Jacek Laszczkowski contemplates the music of spheres, but the enterprise as a whole, supported by the BalthasarNeumann-Ensemble under Thomas Henglebrock, is serious and conscientious. If BEMF’s recording had not against all odds come out first, we’d be glad to have it. The always insightful Veronique Gens, more of the Christophe Rousset “school,” is a compelling Niobe, and the straight, recently married, wonderful countertenor Iestyn Davies shines as Creonte. But the theater acoustics lack resonance (except for stage noise).

As several commentators have pointed out, Steffani’s Niobe is an opera “about” the power of music. Thanks to generations of musician-scholars from Curtis to the folks at BEMF, we can feel that power, immediately and across the centuries.t The reactions from the record crowds attending so far this summer have been overwhelmingly positive.

Ennals said that no one has come up to her and asked, “’Why is a woman playing that part?’ No one has even mentioned it. Audiences are so smart. And if you say, ‘This is a guy,’ they go, ‘Okay.’”

SF Shakes is closing the summer season with a free staged reading of Sonnets for W.H., a play that Ennals wrote herself. The idea for it began back when she was in grad school. “I was reading the sonnets and started doing some research about them.

And if you read the sonnets it seems infinitely clear that Shakespeare, the writer of the sonnets, was in love with a young man. And that, for some reason, the culture was liberal enough to allow him to express this in verse as long as maybe they didn’t act it out. But based on the sonnets, See page 19 >>

Courtesy SF Shakespeare Festival

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival artistic director Rebecca J. Ennals.

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DVD>>

August 13-19, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Early Bette Davis showed star quality

by Tavo Amador

B

ette Davis (1908-89) arrived in Hollywood in 1930 after some modest successes on Broadway.

The demise of silent movies made stage actors valuable in Tinseltown, and she was initially signed

by Universal. But executives didn’t know what to do with her. She didn’t fit the prevailing standards of beauty or glamour, and was dismissed as lacking sex-appeal. She would defensively rail against classic Hollywood’s obsession with glamour for the rest of her life.

Warner Bros., a much bigger studio, gave her a contract, but they also failed to see her potential. Even after winning her first Oscar, for Dangerous (1935), she had to battle for good roles. In fact, true stardom didn’t come until her second Academy Award-winning performance in Jezebel (1938). In contrast, Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) became a star with her first movie, A Bill of Divorcement (1932).

Davis’ bete noir, Joan Crawford (1906-77), a former chorus girl, made her film debut in a tiny role in 1925, but by 1928 was a star, and in 1930 was the top female box-office attraction in the country.

Two recently released DVDs of early, pre-stardom Davis movies are worth viewing because they both show how she was wasted, yet reveal her unique star quality. In The Dark Horse (1932), she plays Kay Russell, a young woman in love with political operative Hal Samson Blake (first-billed Warren William), who’s in jail for failing to make alimony payments to his ex-wife, Maybelle

<<

SF Shakespeare

From page 18

I think that they acted it out. So I wrote a play about it.”

Sonnets for W.H. is, according to Ennals, an appropriate followup to the mainstage show, “partially because of the number of sonnets that are in Romeo and Juliet.” The staged reading will take place at SF Playhouse on Oct. 4, and will feature many of the same cast members.

But before then there will be ample opportunities to see them out of doors. R&J will play in San Francisco’s Presidio for three weekends, and for those that don’t want to pack a picnic on Sundays there will be an Off the Grid foodtruck event right next to it on the Main Post Parade Ground Lawn.

The final two weekends of the run will play at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McClaren Park on

(Vivienne Osbourne). The Progressive Party wants to nominate Zachary Hicks (Guy Kibbee) for governor, despite knowing he has no chance of winning. But Kay wants them to hire Hal to manage his campaign. When the bosses witness

Hal delivering a powerhouse speech to another inmate, they pay his fine and his back alimony, getting him released from prison. He manages Hicks’ campaign with great verve.

Davis shows flashes of her trademark high-voltage energy, even if her part is secondary to William’s, who is very good. Directed by Alfred E. Green. Based on a story by future 20th Century Fox mogul Darryl F. Zanuck. The plot may have been influenced by Clarence Brown’s superb smash hit Possessed (1931), in which factory worker Crawford

the other side of town, not too far from the Noe Valley and Castro neighborhoods.

Free Shakespeare in the Park is an annual tradition with many SF families, and there are always lots of kids in attendance. Ennals’ own first child was born last year during tech rehearsal week for Taming of the Shrew. He was two months premature, and she’s happy to report, “He’s very healthy now, and he loves theater! He loves to be around actors, and he loves to go to shows.”

The boy, named after Henry V., will be there with his family, and Ennals hopes many others will join them to “see this year’s show and have a great time!”t Romeo and Juliet (free), Sat. & Sun., Aug. 29-Sept. 13, & Labor Day, Sept. 7, in the Presidio; Sept.

19-27 in McClaren Park. Sonnets for W.H. staged reading (free), Oct. 4, SF Playhouse. Info: sfshakes.org.

Courtesy SF Shakespeare Festival

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s Romeo and Juliet is this summer’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production.

(billed solo above the title) heads for the big city and becomes the mistress of businessman Clark Gable, whom politicians convince to run for governor.

In 1934, Warners lent Davis to RKO for what proved to be her breakthrough part, Mildred, in an adaptation of gay author W. Somerset Maugham’s autobiographical novel Of Human Bondage. Her electrifying performance was overlooked when the Oscar nominations were announced. The resulting controversy was so intense that for the only time in the Academy’s history, writein votes were allowed. Davis lost to Claudette Colbert in Night She It Happened One Night. candidly regarded her win the following year for Dangerous as a consolation prize, and insisted that Hepburn should have received the award for her excellent performance in Alice Adams. Dangerous was significant for Davis on a personal level, however. She fell in love with co-star Franchot Tone, with whom she had an affair. She was humiliated and hurt when he married Crawford, and that was the genesis of Davis’ lifetime dislike of her rival, whom she dismissed as “MGM’s Princess Royale.”

Things seemed to get better when she got the female lead in the prestigious 1936 adaptation of Robert E. Sherwood’s The Petrified Forest, billed after Leslie Howard and featuring Humphrey Bogart as the gangster Duke Mantee, but it was soon back to dross, including the second newly released DVD, Satan Met a Lady (1936), directed by the usually effective William Dieterle.

In this very poor adaptation of

Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon, Davis plays Valerie Purvis, who may or may not be lying when she hires a detective to learn the truth about a man who done her wrong.

Despite being hobbled by Brown Holmes’ terrible script, she often rises above the material and keeps viewers guessing about her motives. She also displays confidence in her appearance. (Mary Astor would give an unforgettable performance in the part

in 1941’s The Maltese Falcon.) One consolation was that this time, Davis was billed above co-star Warren William. Despite that, it’s easy to see why her dissatisfaction with such shoddy material would soon explode.

Warners next cast her in God’s Country and the Woman. She refused, was placed on suspension, then accepted an offer from a British pro-

ducer for a film in England. Amidst tremendous publicity, she sailed across the Atlantic, eager to work. But the studio obtained an injunction.

Davis lost the subsequent trial, the judge ruling that she was under contract to Warners until 1942.

The studio paid her legal fees and she returned to the Burbank lot – and better scripts, starting with Marked Woman (1937), as a nervy gun moll opposite Bogart. Kid Galahad, That Certain Woman, and It’s Love I’m After (all 1937), were good, and then came Jezebel (1938), in which she proved she was a star who could act.

For the next several years, she gave mesmerizing performances in films that were, for the most part, critically acclaimed and boxoffice hits. In 1943, however, Crawford, dumped by MGM, signed with Warners. Although Davis had first refusal on scripts, she passed on Mildred Pierce (1945). Crawford got the part, won the Best Actress Oscar, and dethroned Davis as Queen of the Lot. In 1949, studio head Jack Warner fired Davis.

All About Eve (1950), in which she replaced Colbert, was a sensational if short-lived comeback.

Although she continued working almost until her death, she had only one more success, teamed with Crawford in 1962’s Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? In some ways, however, she had the last laugh.

When the American Film Institute released its list of the 25 Greatest Female Legends of the 20th century, Davis finished second (Hepburn was first). Crawford was 10th.t

<< Out&About

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 13-19, 2015

O&A

Catalysts

by Jim Provenzano

Wed 19 Coco Fusco’s Observations of Predation in Humans: A lecture by Dr. Zira, Animal Psychologist @ YBCA

Thu 13 Barbary Coast Revue @ Balancoire The third season of the popular cabaret show returns, with Danny Kennedy as Mark Twain, a cast of diverse performers, and guest performer Connie Champagne.

Thursdays weekly thru September. $14-$64. 8pm. 2565 Mission St. at 22nd. www.BarbaryCoastRevue.com

Black Virgins are Not for Hipsters @ The Marsh Echo Brown’s comic solo show follows a young women’s impending sexual encounter, and its political implications. $20-$35. Thu 8pm. Sat 8:30pm. Extended thru Sept. 12. 1062 Valencia St. at 22nd. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Champagne White and the Temple of Poon @ Oasis D’Arcy Drollinger’s sequel to the hilarious hit comedy Shit & Champagne, with a women’s prisonthemed parody and suspense-filled action-comedy show. $25-$200 (four-person VIP table). Thu-Sat 7pm.

Thru Sept 12. 298 11th St. www. sfoasis.com

Club Inferno @ Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers’ hilarious rockin’ production of Kelly Kittell and Peter Fogel’s glam rock musical spin on Dante’s The Divine Comedy, where the road to fame can be hell, literally! $30-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Extended thru Sept. 12. 575 10th St. at Bryant. 3774202. www.hypnodrome.org

New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre Aug. 13, Noir classics: Chinatown Midnight (6:15), Dangerous Blondes (7:45) and Mysterious Intruder (9:30).

Aug. 14: Sing-Along The Wizard of Oz ($11-$16) 7pm. Sat & Sun 2:30 & 7pm.

Aug. 19: Love & Mercy (3pm, 7pm). and The Wolfpack (5:15, 9:15). Aug. 20: Noir double feature Guns, Girls and Gangsters ( 6pm, 9:15) and Inside Detroit (7:30). $11. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

Mon 17

H

ow about some arts events that stir thought, generate inspiration, and even flirt with controversy? Yeah, how about that?

For more listings and nightlife stuff, see www.ebar.com and the On the Tab in the BARtab section.

Lucky Plush @ ODC Theater The Chicago dance company premieres the witty dance-theater work The Queue, with live music by neo-vaudeville band The Claudettes. $30-$45. 8pm. Thru Aug. 15. 3153 17th St. 863-9834. www.odcdance.org

The Producers @ Woodminster Ampitheater, Oakland Summer theater outdoor production of Mel Brooks’ wacky musical based on his film about two show producers who try to fail, but succeed, with a musical about Hitler. $28-$59. Fri-Sun 8pm. Thru Aug. 16. Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Road. (510) 531-9597. www.woodminster.com

Salome, Dance for Me @ New Conservatory Theatre Center

Darth Vader and Friends @ Cartoon Art Museum Exhibit of original artwork from the amusing Star Wars comic books by Jeffrey Brown. Thru Sept. 12. Other exhibits, also thru Sept. 655 Mission St. www.cartoonart.org

Diva or Die @ Exit Café Monthly female burlesque show.

8:30pm. 156 Eddy St. www.theexit.org

Erika Sanada, Henry Schreiber @ Modern Eden Gallery

Opening reception for an exhibit of the Tokyo-based artist’s unsual canine ceramic sculptures, and Here, Hold This, Schreiber’s cute yet strange groundhog portraits. 6pm-9pm. Thru Sept. 5. 801 Greenwich Ave. www.moderneden.com

Freedomland @ Various Venues SF Mime Troupe’s musical satire of government invasions and political corruption; at multiple Bay Area locales thru Sept. 7. www.sfmt.org

John Benko @ Glama-Rama Salon BlingAdelik, an exhibit of paintings by Benko, in collaboration with jewelry designer T-Dub. Thru Aug. 30. 304 Valencia St. www.glamarama.com

Tue 18

Snakes @ Strand Theatre, Rueff Studio American Conservatory Theatre student production of a collaboritve theatre work, with Oakland’s Destiny Arts Center, about race, bigotry and the American Dream. $20. 7pm. Thru Aug. 15. 1127 Market St. Also Aug 20-22 at 7pm & Aug 23 at Destiny Arts Center, 970 Grace Ave., Oakland. www.act-sf.org

Queer Ancestors Project @ LGBT Center

Karen Ripley @ The Marsh Berkeley The veteran lesbian comic returns with her solo show, Oh No, There’s Men on the Land, her stories of self-discovery and life in 1970s Berkeley. $15-$100.

Saturdays, 5pm. 2120 Allston way, Berkeley. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Fri 14 Comedy Noir @ Balancoire

Outdoor free concerts and shows thru Sept. Aug 16: Brazilian percussion.

2pm. Castro St. at Market. www.castrocbd.org

Local production of the classic 1970s Stephen Sondheim musical about a perpetually single Robert and his notso-happily married friends. $35-$12.

Wed & Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Sept. 12. 450 Post St. 6779596. www.sfplayhouse.org

Stereotypo @ The Marsh Berkeley Don Reed’s 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. Thru Aug. 17. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Vonda Shepard @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The feisty fabulous singer returns with a new cabaret show that includes songs from her 14th CD, the ironically titled Rookie. $35-$50 ( $20 food/ drink min.). 8pm. Also Aug. 15, 7pm.

Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com

Join a record-breaking attempt to gather 1,000-plus women and girls dressed as iconic WWII feminist figure Rosie the Riveter. 1pm-3pm. Dress code and directions: www.roseitheriveter.org

Observations of Predation in Humans: A lecture by Dr. Zira, Animal Psychologist, part of Radical Presence: Black Performance in Contemporary Art, in which the performer plays the chimp biologist character from the Planet of the Apes films. $10 includes museum admission. 7:30pm.

Also, Converge, an interactive party, includes a Brontez Purnell performance Aug. 20, 5pm-8pm.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. 978-2787. www.ybca.org

SF Hiking Club @ Sam McDonald Park Join GLBT hikers for a 10-mile hike in Sam McDonald Park in San Mateo County. Carpool meets 8:30 at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores.

(408) 797-7088. www.sfhiking.com

Sun 16 Diana Krall @ Fox Theater, Oakland The five-time Grammy-winning jazz pianist and vocalist performs new and classic songs. $60-$125. 8pm. 1807 Telegraph Ave. www.thefoxoakland. com

Katya Presents @ Martuni’s Ethel Merman is the featured singer at the popular martuni bar’s piano lounge. $11. 7pm. 4 Valencia St.

J.M.W. Turner @ de Young Museum Paintings by the landscape master.

Thru Sept 20. Other exhibits of modern art as well. Free/$25. Thru May 31. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. www.famsf.org

Mon 17

Live in the Castro @ Jane Warner Plaza

Valeria Branch’s new weekly comedy night, where she embodies her faux queen character Pia Messing for some offbeat wit, with guest comics. $5.

8pm-10pm. 2565 Mission St. www.balancoiresf.com

Wed 19

Exhibit of works by contemporary Chinese artists, including Ai Weiwei and Zhang Huan. Thru Aug. 16. Also, Exquisite Nature: 20 Masterpieces of Chinese Paintings, thru Nov. 1, Woven Luxuries: Indian, Persian and Turkish Textiles, thru Nov 1. Free (members, kids 12 and under)-$15. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. asianart.org

Sex Panic @ GLBT History Museum The History of San Francisco Bathhouse Closures, a multimedia presentation with erotic art collector Buzz Bense. 7pm. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

Rosie the Riveter Rally @ WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Richmond

28 Chinese @ Asian Art Museum

Trixxie Carr’s beguiling solo musical show loosely based on Oscar Wilde’s play about the dancing biblical temptress. $20-$25. $90 includes private front row table and bottle of wine. Wed-Sat 8pm. Thru Aug. 29. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. www.nctcsf.org

Company @ SF Playhouse

Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait @ Contemporary Jewish Museum

Sat 15

Protest Festival @ Berkeley Unitarian Universalists’ Hall Daylong music festival of protestthemed music, comedy, poetry and performance, with 50-plus artists; food, soft drinks, coffee. (wheelchair accessible). 10am-10pm. 1924 Cedar St. at Bonita. (510) 275-4272. www.bfuu.org

Radical Presence @ YBCA Subtitled Black Performance in Contemporary Art, this new exhibit explores identity in a variety of media. Thru Oct. 11. Also, Maggot Brains: Black Sci-Fi, Punk & Experimental Film, Aug. 15-29. Also, the multimedia installation Won Ju Lim: Raycraft is Dead, thru Dec. 6. Also, Earth Machines : Exploring the environmental impact of our high-tech world, thru Dec. 6. $5-$12.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. www.ybca.org

Romeo and Juliet @ Various Venues San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s annual summer outdoor performances begin with the classic tragic romance.

Fri-Sun 7:30pm. Various venues thru Sept. www.sfshakes.org

t

30 Years of Collecting Art That Tells Our Stories @ GLBT History Museum New exhibit of collected drawings, paintings and sculptures from three decades of queer donations, guestcurated by Elisabeth Cornu. Free (members)-$5. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

Amy Winehouse @ Contemporary Jewish Museum A Family Portrait features images of and ephemera from the estate of the deceased soul singer; Thru Nov. 1. Also, Night Begins the Day : Rethinking Space, Time, and Beauty, which focuses on 25 contemporary thinkers, scientists and designers; curated by Renny Pritikin; thru Sept.

20. Also, Tzedakah Box, Bound to be Held: A Book Show, Lamp of the Covenant ; 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

Tue 18 OUTspoken @ City Hall Outspoken: Portraits of LGBTQ Luminaries, an exhibit of photographs

by Roger Erickson. Ground floor, North Light Court. Thru Sept. 11. 1 Carlton B. Goodlet Place. sfgov.org

Queer Ancestors Project @ LGBT Center Exhibition of prints of iconic LGBTQ people, made by queer artists aged 18 to 26 (Corey Brown, daveron, Roxana Dhada, Hanna Kelly, Holly McHugh, Onyinye Alheri, Roxy Schoenfeld, Sasha Solomonov, madhvi trivedipathak, and Weyam, and artistic director Katie Gilmartin. Thru Sept.

23. 1800 Market St. katiegilmartin.com/queer-ancestors www.sfcenter.org

Coco Fusco @ YBCA

Miércoles Gigante @ El Rio Fundraiser for Galeria de la Raza (whose queer outdoor mural has been repeatedly defaced and burned), with acts by Glamaore, Persia and Spice Queers; DJ sets by a dozen local hot collectives. $7-$20. 9pm. 3158 Mission St. www.galeriadelaraza.org www.elriosf.com

Smack Dab @ Magnet The eclectic open mic reading and performances series this month features Daphne Gottlieb; sign-up 7:30pm, Show 8pm. 4122 18th St. www.magnetsf.org

Exdysis: The Molting of a Cucarachica @ Galeria de la Raza Xandra Ibarra (aka Chica Boom)’s exhibit of costumes, photos, fake products, and other items as a form of parodic character disintegration.

Wed-Sat 12pm-6pm (Sun til 5pm).

Thru Sept. 6. 2857 24th St. www.galeriadelaraza.org

Thu 20 Born to Read @ Contemporary Jewish Museum Celebrating the Lyrics of Bruce Springsteen, and Born to Run’s 40th anniversary, with songs, talks with music critic Ben Fong-Torres, Beth Lisick, SF poet laureate Alejandro Murguia, Daphne Gottleib and others. $10-$15. 6:30-9pm. 736 Mission St. www.thecjm.org

Comedy Returns @ El Rio Stand ups Karinda Dobbins, Nathan Habib, Bernadette Luckett, Jeremy Talamantes, and Lisa Geduldig perform at the monthly series. $7-$20.

8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Drag King Contest @ Oasis 20th anniversary show and contest of the Bay Area’s best male impersonation acts, with cohosts Sister Roma and Fudgie Frottage, guest judges Leigh Crow, Steven LeMay, Nancy French, performers The Momma’s Boyz, DeeDee Luxe, Madd Dogg, Rebel Kings, Kit Tapata, and a bevy of competing talents. Proceeds benefit Pets Are Wonderful Support. $20-$35. 10pm show. 298 11th St. www.sfdragkingcontest.com www.sfoasis.com

Marlena Love Roast @ LGBT Center Openhouse’s tribute to Absolute Empress XXV Marlena, owner of the legendary Marlena’s bar, with a ‘Love Roast’ at the second Annual José Sarria Community Celebration. $20.

6pm-8pm. 1800 Market St. www.openhouse-sf.org

Mya Byrne, Shelley Miller @ Modern Times Bookstore Poet, songwriter and trans woman and hir colleague perform. 7pm. 2919 24th St. 282-9246. www.mtbs.com

Project 24 San Francisco @ Dryansky Gallery Opening reception for a group exhibit of unusual local images set at different times in a day by 24 local photographers. 7pm. Thru Sept. 10.

2120 Union St. at Webster. 932-9302. www.thedryansky.com

t

Fine Arts>>

August 13-19, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 21

Paul Graham, Courtesy Pace and Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York

“Vesey Street, 25th May 2010, 5.51.05 pm” by Paul Graham, from the series The Present, now showing at Pier 24 photography gallery.

<<

Paul Graham

From page 13

The exhibition assembles an informal trilogy, three bodies of work made over the course of 13 years that observe American society, its class and racial divides, and the rhythms of existence in a variety of regions, from an outsider’s perspective. Graham, who moved to the US in 2002 and lives in New York City, spent more than a decade traveling the country, at first leaving his camera behind, unsure if he had anything to add to the contributions of Garry Winogrand, Lee Friedlander and other American chroniclers who had preceded him. Inspired by Walker Evans and color photographers William Eggleston and Stephen Shore, he’s arguably built upon the legacy of Swiss photographer Robert Frank’s The Americans, a milestone in photography from another detached outsider. But Frank’s stark, black & white compositions and arresting, even harsh imagery land on you in a way that Graham’s do not. Frank’s opus was published in the 1950s, a different time it’s true, and Graham’s terrain is more urban and suburban than rural and small town U.S.A., but the comparison is unavoidable.

But Graham’s progressions of individual images, presented mostly in series or pairs of series juxtaposed for effect, are cinematic. “California,” for instance, cuts between a boy eating his burger and fries on an outdoor table, and kids skating in a park that may or may not be nearby; either by accident or design, your eye is directed from one scene/image to another and goes on auto-pilot, editing them together into a sequence. We live in an age when movies shape our lives at the same time we’re turning our lives into movies. In this way, Graham seems a perfect fit for the times.

He has often disseminated his work in a more traditional form, books. The show’s title, a literary allusion to Moby Dick, and its division into three main sections: American Night, a shimmer of possibility, and The Present, reflect a thematic approach. Each grouping has a tenuous connection to a different function of the camera: Aperture, Shutter and Focus, respectively.

What are we to conclude from the collective impressions of modern American life by an artist from across the pond? We’re afflicted by a numbing sameness, economic inequities and the hopelessness engendered by poverty. Our inner cities, with their grubby, trash-strewn

streets, and the faceless poor and homeless we don’t see, are nearly interchangeable, as is the crappy, empty-calorie architecture we ingest as we go about our routines. There are people in wheelchairs, seemingly abandoned, some missing limbs perhaps from diabetes, a product of a fast-food diet whose purveyors and products show up here.

In the first gallery, American Night (1998-2002), large-scale, overexposed, whited-out images of lower-middle-class neighborhoods, whose details are difficult to make out in the foggy glare, are interspersed with crystal-clear, full-color photographs of a Disneyesque suburban enclave with cookie-cutter mini-mansions, utterly without character, like the assembly-line, brightly colored compact cars parked out front. The clash of economic strata is interrupted by a specially constructed interior gallery within the bigger space containing a handful of vivid pictures of the inner city. Apparently shot in the waning hours of a hot summer afternoon, a man with a bandaged eye (“Blinded Man”) walks down a busy street baptized with graffiti; another, who’s wheelchair-bound, shields his eyes with his arm. A shock to the system, raw, bold and bracingly alive, the dirt, debris and visual cacophony – you feel the steam and smell coming off the New York streets – come as a relief after the blandness outside the enclosure.

The Present (2009-11), the least engaging portion of the show, centers on the ceaseless ebb and flow of humanity in Manhattan, focusing on details of the passing parade that don’t register unless one is paying attention. A businessman carrying a briefcase crosses the intersection; a youngish fellow stands on the sidewalk smoking, a cab pulls up and drives away before he finishes his cigarette (“51st Street, 18th June 2010, 1.28.45 pm”). We’re born, we live, we die, barely leaving a trace; the pictures don’t add anything particularly new to the concept.

But a shimmer of possibility (2004-06), a meditation on the evanescence of time, features some of the exhibition’s most memorable photographs. They were originally showcased in a dozen volumes that rocked photography circles when they were published.

(Each volume gets its own gallery here.) North Dakota moves toward twilight with a spectacular blend of natural and artificial light converging at a gas station; a series of different-sized photographs tracks the devolution of a fiery sunset, viewed over North

Dakota’s rugged hills, and at the end of a two-lane road, as its glory fades into darkness. And in Minneapolis, the stunted branches of an aging, white-barked tree point upward like fingers on a hand.

Perhaps waiting its turn outside a body shop, the beat-up chariot in the masterfully composed “Camaro, Louisiana” (2005) was once a speed king and someone’s pride and joy. Now, exquisitely battered, the Kelly green and cerulean paint peeling off its hood lays bare an uncharted world. Oh, the places it has been, the stories it could tell.t Through Feb. 29. Free, by appointment, which can be made in advance online at pier24.org.

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

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26

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NIGHTLIFE

DINING

29

On the Tab

SPIRITS

Head First

SOCIETY

ROMANCE

LEATHER

PERSONALS Vol. 45 • No. 33 • August 13-19, 2015

www.ebar.com V www.bartabsf.com

Lush Life Leanne Borghesi Sings the Blues at Feinstein’s

by David-Elijah Nahmod

S

acramento native Leanne Borghesi is a cabaret and theater veteran who belts out classic tunes on both coasts. The seasoned performer maintains residences in New York and San Francisco, two of the world’s See page 24 >> more expensive cities.

Ellen Morrison and Rick Washburn

Leanne Borghesi

Kings are Wild

Drag King Contest celebrates two decades

by David-Elijah Nahmod

G

oodness gracious, has it really been twenty years? For the past fifth of a century, drag kings from around the globe have converged upon San Francisco to perform and compete in the annual San Francisco Drag King Contest.

Yes, you read that correctly. Drag king.

See page 24 >>

Drag Kings Alex U. Inn, Madd Dogg and Fudgie Frottage.

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Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

24 • Bay Area Reporter • August 13-19, 2015

<<

Leanne Borghesi

From page 23

“Bi-coastal life is an experiences that takes dedication and a strict budget,” Borghesi said in an interview. “It allows the ability to perform on both coasts alongside my wife Sharon Boggs, a sound designer in San Francisco.”

The couple has made the dualcoast lifestyle work for them.

“For the past three years, we have been able to balance life, art, and relationship while pursuing artistic endeavors in the East/West and the UK,” Borghesi said. “The prize is when we get to work together.”

Borghesi describes herself as being from a “loud, musical Italian family.”

She now brings her song stylings to Feinstein’s at the Nikko for a onenight appearance on August 19 at 7pm, with Erika Johnson on drums, and Aaron Shaul on bass.

With her new show, the simply titled Lush, Borghesi promises to bring her audience on “an odyssey of lust, love and loss.” The evening will offer a mix of lounge, Latin, jazz and Broadway, with a tribute to the great Shirley Bassey thrown in for good measure.

“Dame Shirley Bassey exemplifies pure courage, glamour, vulnerability and strength,” Borghesi explains. “With a sensational career spanning over 65 years, Bassey has paved the way, and still is, for women in show biz. Her music is timeless because we identify with the lyrics and her delivery of the piece.”

Borghesi cited a number of other legendary ladies, such as Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Melisa Etheridge, Bette Midler and Pink as among her influences.

“I love brassy, sassy, bold performers who can switch it up with their softer side,” she said. “Un-

t

abashedly brave women who push boundaries of society and thought.”

Borghesi, who has twice named Best Actress at the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards, has certainly been a bold performer in her own right. She has appeared in productions at New Conservatory Theater Center, Thrillpeddlers, The Herbst and Marines Memorial Theaters, and many venues in New York City.

She promises that attendees at her show will thirst for more.

“Lush is the double-entendre as to how I live my life,” she said. “Akin to a hedonist, a lush is a person who lives for pleasure: robust, ample, sexy, and enjoys an alcoholic libation… or three.”

Borghesi said that was a “passion junkie.”

“This show is a culmination of femininity, maturity, vulnerability, fearlessness, and the hedonistic joys

Courtesy Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center

Leanne Borghesi.

Leanne Borghesi onstage at 54 Below in Manhattan.

<<

Kings are Wild

From page 23

test winner Arty Fischel has an extensive theatrical background, and teaches Shakespeare to kids. Momma’s Boyz, a drag king troupe who perform old-school hip hop, bring an extensive resume of activism to the table.

Alex U. Inn of Momma’s Boyz is part of My Name Is..., a coalition of queers who are fighting Facebook’s “real names” policy, which forces

transgenders, drag queens, and even domestic violence survivors to post their legal birth names on their Facebook accounts. Momma’s Boyz are set to perform at the Drag King Contest.

“I’m so excited to return to return as co-emcee for the butchest event in San Francisco,” said Sister Roma.

“I love my kings! They always bring amazing creativity, humor, and

of life, in balance,” she said. “Lush is a seventy-minute musical exploration leaving the audience with a better grasp of who I am, while having a fabulous time – with a two-drink minimum.”

Borghesi feels that even this age of Britney and Justin, there remains a strong audience for jazz and pop standards.

“Audiences love to be entertained and valued, while being taken on a journey,” she opined. “It’s my job as an artist to display a variety of music

to connect with honesty, laughter, unexpected twists and professionalism. A large percentage of the songs I’m performing in Lush were pop songs at one time.”

Good music, after all, is timeless.t

masculine sexuality to their drag. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us!”

Roma described drag king audiences as over-the-top and rowdy.

“The audience always becomes part of the show,” she said. “It’s complete mayhem.”

The evening will serve as a beneficiary for PAWS, Pets Are Wonderful Support, the organization which

provides pet food, supplies, vet care and dog walks for low income people with AIDS and the disabled.t

Leanne Borghesi performs at Feinstein’s at the Nikko August 19 with Brandon Adams and his band. $25-$40 (and yes, there’s a $20 food/drink min). Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.leanneborghesi.com www.ticketweb.com

So what’s a drag king?

“A drag king is a girl dressed as a The San Francisco Drag King boy,” explained drag king extraordiContest: 20th Anniversary Show naire Fudgie Frottage, who co-hosts will commence on Thursday, the show with Sister Roma. “It’s August 20 at 9:30pm at Oasis, similar to drag queens, its the oppo298 11th Street. www.sfdragkingcontest.com site. It’s art and theater.”

This year the Drag King Contest takes place at Oasis, and Frottage promises that a wild and woolly time will be enjoyed by all. Though not as well known as their queen counterparts, Frottage says drag kings have a larger audience than many people may realize.

“I hope that we bring in the crowd that supports the Oasis,” Frottage said of the show’s new venue.

“We’re bringing out a lot of the old title holders for an all-star show.”

Contest judges will include Leigh Crow, once known as Elvis Herselvis, an early star of the drag king genre.

“Laughter is the best medicine,” Frottage said. “It’s great to go to a drag show and laugh at someone doing an exaggeration of a man or a woman. That’s not saying that every man or woman fits that stereotype.”

Ellen Morrison and Rick Washburn Many drag kings are quite accom- Drag Kings present! (L to R): Ophelia Coeur de Noir, DeeDee Luxe, Alex U. Inn, Fudgie Frottage, Sister Roma, and Madd Dogg. plished. Former con-

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

August 13-19, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 25

Sunday specials

by Donna Sachet

R

eality television fans out there must be enjoying Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing: San Francisco.

We attended a private viewing last week at the University Club high atop Nob Hill at the invitation of our friend Joel Goodrich, himself a very successful real estate superstar and consultant to the show. Among the crowd were Doug Waggener, Andrew Freeman, Beth Schnitzer, Sophie Asouaou, Aubrey Brewster, Damion Matthews, Pernella Somerville, Anne Laury, and featured agent Roh Habibi. The club has sweeping views of the City, but, when we inquired, is unfortunately not currently on the market.

Saturday night, L. Julius M. Turman showed us all how a 50th birthday should be celebrated! The Design Center was transformed into an intimate dinner club for the night, starting with a cocktail hour on the second floor and continuing with a seated dinner and program in the soaring atrium.

The smokey grey and silver decor, set off with simple white tulips throughout, set the perfect masculine, yet elegant ambiance. A live band and attentive DJ kept things moving as hand-selected speakers, spanning Julius’ involvement with the Human Rights and Police Commissions, Positive Resource Center, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, various law firms, family, and others, praised the legendary generosity of the birthday celebrant.

Rich Stadtmiller

Top: Cassandra Cass at Sunday’s a Drag. Middle: Mahlae Balanciaga in a stunning red gown. Bottom: Kendra Monroe in bright colors and wild shoulder pads.

We enjoyed sharing stories with fellow guests Police Chief Greg Suhr, Supervisors Scott Wiener and David Campos, Joe Tuohy, Kent Roger, Michael Monagle, Rebecca Prozan, Lisa Williams, and Brett Andrews, who amazed the crowd with a vocal performance during the program. (Have we discovered a new guest artist for Songs of the Season?)

Julius himself ended the evening with a touching thank you for all the well-wishes, the gorgeous colorcoordinated cake was served to all, and then dancing commenced. Do you have a big birthday coming up?

Check with Julius to plan the perfect event!

While we are justifiably hesitant to mention Sunday’s a Drag at The Starlight Room more frequently because of our personal connection to the show, we can’t resist reporting on our 10 Year Celebration last Sunday night.

Thank you to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel’s Alex Desquiron, Chris Cashin, and George Sartiano for making this event possible.

After two regular brunch shows that morning, the entire regular cast of six reassembled for our first evening show to commemorate the beginning of our 10th year of performances.

When the doors opened at 7PM, you could tell this was going to be a different kind of show with maximum capacity seating, a second bar, and passed hors d’oeuvres. The rich reds and golds of the decor gleamed with a different ambiance in the dark of evening. Kimpton and the Sir Francis Drake Hotel chose Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) as the beneficiary for the occasion and volunteers and staff set up a small silent auction on the dance floor.

Shortly after 8PM, the overture signaled the beginning of the show and the noticeable anticipation of the audience could hardly be contained.

We started the show with the same theme song that has started each show for the past decade, but it was quickly interrupted and transitioned into a different playful song, signifying that this Sunday’s a Drag would be no ordinary performance.

Kendra Monroe wowed them with elaborate costuming and rich theatricality, Mahlae Balanciaga stunned them with sheer energy and magnetism, Cassandra Cass awed them with her beauty and undeniable sex appeal, Holotta Tymes demonstrated the art of drag and comedy flawlessly, and Lady Tia topped it all off with a dazzling performance. Throughout, we shared funny stories and peeks behind the scenes of the last ten years with a loving audience which has supported the show all along.

Among the VIP ticket purchasers were Mark Calvano, Russell Kassman, Dave Earl, Jerome Goldstein & Tommy Taylor, Walter Leiss, Lu Conrad, Brian Kent, and Michael Montoya.

In the middle of the show, we heard from Sarah Cramer of PAWS and we thanked the many people behind the scenes who have made this show such a success, including Robert Carstensen, Noah Haydon, DJs Noel Don Juan and Rich Armstrong, Rikki Gates, and of course the original host of The Starlight Room Harry Denton and creator and producer of Sunday’s a Drag for its first decade Michael Pagan.

Those last two were missed tremendously.

After singing a very personalized version of Stephen Sondheim’s “I’m Still Here,” we introduced each cast member for a second musical number, again demonstrating the artistry and talent that makes them stars of Sunday’s a Drag. We returned singing “I Left My Heart

Gareth Gooch

The cast of Sunday’s a Drag’s tenth anniversary show.

in San Francisco,” a moment that never seemed more appropriate or well received.

The show came to a rousing conclusion with a glorious curtain call and confetti-laden finale. We finally had time to socialize with many friends including Victoria Secret, Skye Paterson, Patrik Gallineaux, Gary Virginia, CoCo Butter, Kevin Lisle, Mama Portugal, Will Whitaker, Jeff Doney & Xavier Caylor, Matt Buchanan, Zac Berlik, Ken Ferraris & Matt McClelland, Jeff Scott, and John Brosnan & Chad McLaughlin.

As with any event of this size and complexity, we owe a debt of gratitude to so many for helping to promote and support it in many ways, but keeping this performer organized, confident, and prepared all along the way was our devoted friend Drew Cutler. And now, on to

another ten years!

We’ll be visiting the Russian River this weekend, our first time in quite a while, for Mama Sandy Reinhardt’s Family Reunion. As you may know, this generous Leatherwoman has embraced community volunteers, title-holders, and many others, first in San Francisco and then across the country, creating a family of common minded people each with a playful nickname emblazoned on their own metal pin.

As Mama’s Diva, we plan to have a fabulous time in the sun reuniting with generous friends.

Next Wed., Aug. 19, don’t miss your chance to see the very talented Leanne Borghesi at Feinstein’s at the Nikko. Her vocal talent, quick wit, and warm heart will embrace you immediately.

Another celebrity roast is on the horizon. Next Thurs., Aug. 20,

I am the future of the LGBT community.

I’m gay.

I’m 55. I’ve been out to my family for twenty years. I married a wonderful woman six years ago, and we adopted a baby girl from Vietnam. My family is everything to me.

That’s why I’m an avid follower of LGBT rights. Not just marriage, either. I want to make sure that I can travel safely, enjoy my retirement and have my child benefit from my life’s work.

I’m the future of the LGBT community. And I read about that future every morning on my work laptop. Because that’s where I want it to be.

The person depicted here is a model. Their image is being used for illustrative purposes only.

6-9PM, OpenHouse hosts the 2nd Annual Jose Sarria Community Celebration and Love Roast of Absolute Empress XXV Marlena at the LGBT Community Center. With invited roasters like T.J. Istvan, Misty Blue, Ron Ross, Ray Tilton, and Sister Dana van Iquity, this is bound to be a hilarious evening!

Come support OpenHouse and salute this much beloved community icon.

Then the weekend includes St. Aidan’s Cabaret at their Episcopal Church at 101 Gold Mine Drive benefiting SF Night Ministry. Always a great cause and always a great time. And Saturday night, we’ll all be celebrating Locoya Hill’s IJWFD 4th Anniversary at Beatbox. Join hosts Sister Roma and BeBe Sweetbriar and DJs Theresa, Philip Grasso, and Lee Decker for a wild night of dancing!t

<< On the Tab

26 • Bay Area Reporter • August 13-19, 2015

On the Tab

Manimal @ Beaux Gogo-tastic dance night starts off your weekend. $5. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Midnight Show @ Divas 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

August 13-20, 2015

Nicki Minaj @ Concord Pavilion The hip-pop princess performs live. $25-$400. 7pm. 2000 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. www.livenation.com

Comedy Cool: Top Left: Kaseem Bentley at Comedy Noir @ Balancoire Fri 14; Top Right: You Betta Work Comedy @ Brainwash Sat 15; Bottom Left: Karinda Dobbins at Comedy Returns @ El Rio Thu 20 Bottom Right: Mary Van Note at Full Frontal Comedy @ Lookout Thu 20.

Party Nights @ Club BnB, Oakland

Jennifer Graham

Different events each week; 1st Fri: Taboo with DJ Harness. 2nd: Menage with DJ Rapture. 3rd: Seduction Feroce, a burlesque cabaret show (9pm). 4th: Bleu Sugar shows with hotess Miss Lady Lana. July 30: eightyear anniversary party. 8pm-2am.

2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

t

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

Gameboi @ Rickshaw Stop The monthly gay Asian dance party, with Kpop and house grooves. $8$15. 9:30pm-2am. 155 Fell St. at Van Ness. www.www.rickshawstop.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ Beatbox

H

oppin’ and boppin’, shakin’ and bakin’ (muffins, that is). How’s your summer winding up? Here, have more fun, with a slew of comedy shows that’ll inevitably offend someone.

Thu 13

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences

Comedy Noir @ Balancoire

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

Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. Aug. 13: Street Food fest, with music by Blackbird Blackbird, DJ Afterhours, and food samples galore.$10-$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park.

379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Valeria Branch’s weekly comedy night, where she embodies her faux queen character Pia Messing for some offbeat wit, along with guest performers. Aug. 14: Kaseem Bentley, Shanti Chararis and Bryant Hicks. $5.

8pm-10pm. 2565 Mission St. www.balancoiresf.com

Champagne White and the Temple of Poon @ Oasis

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle

Bulge @ Powerhouse

D’Arcy Drollinger’s sequel to the hilarious hit comedy Shit & Champagne, with a women’s prisonthemed parody and suspense-filled action-comedy show. $25-$200 (fourperson VIP table). Thu-Sat 7pm. Thru Sept 12. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.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

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

Homo Thursdays @ Qbar Franko DJs the weekly mash-up/ pop music night. No cover. 2 for 1 well drinks, 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.qbarsf.com

Lil Miss Hot Mess @ Oasis The local drag talent performs her solo show, Is That All There Is? $15.

9:#0pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 7953180. www.sfoasis.com

The Monster Show @ The Edge The weekly drag show continues, with gogo guys and hilarious fun. $5. 9pm2am. 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

Music with local and touring bands.

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

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

Xcess Thursdays @ The Café Frisco Robbie and Persia’s dance and pop music night gets the weekend started, with gogo guys and gals, plus drink specials and guest DJs. No cover.

9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Fri 14 Asheq @ Slate

The Middle East and North Africa LGBT dance party returns, with amazing ethnic/house mixes, and Semo the belly dancer performing. 9pm-2am.

2925 16th St. www.slate-sf.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

Fri 14 Creepoid @ Bottom of the Hill

Creepoid @ Bottom of the Hill

The saucy women’s burlesque revue’s weekend show; different musical guests each week. Also Wednesday nights. $10-$20. 7:30pm. 314 11th St. www.redhotsburlesque.com www.beatboxsf.com

Sexitude PM @ Oasis Nighttime edition of D’Arcy Drollinger’s disco retro aerobics class and party; bring your workout Spandex, where all body types are welcome. $8. 10pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Some Thing @ The Stud Mica Sigourney and pals’ weekly offbeat drag performance night. 10pm2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Sat 15 Jackson Browne @ Greek Theatre

Jackson Browne @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley The folk-rock icon performs with his band. $45-$90. 8pm. 2001 Gayley Road, UC Berkeley campus. www.apeconcerts.com

Post-grunge band performs; also, LSD and the Search for God, Night School. $10. All ages. 8:30pm. 1233 17th St. www.bottomofthehill.com

Dolf Dietrich, Drew Sebastian @ Nob Hill Theatre Special live sex shows with the two tattooed porn studs at the famous strip club. $25. 8pm & 10pm. Also Aug. 15. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 3976758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Hard Fridays @ Qbar DH Haute Toddy’s weekly electro-pop night with hotty gogos. $3. 9pm-2am (happy hour 4pm-9pm). 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

House Party @ Powerhouse DJ Guy Ruben’s house music night at the cruisy SoMa bar. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland Lulu, Jacki, and Vicki cohost the festive gogo-filled dance club that features Latin pop dance hits with DJs Speedy Douglas Romero and Fabricio; no cover before 10pm. $6-$12. 9pm4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Fri 14 Dolf Dietrich & Drew Sebastian @ Nob Hill Theatre

Vonda Shepard @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The feisty fabulous singer returns with a new cabaret show that includes songs from her 14th CD, the ironically titled Rookie. $35-$50 ( $20 food/ drink min.). 8pm. Also Aug. 15, 7pm.

Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com

Sat 15

Bearracuda @ Beatbox

Mother vs. Dragula @ Oasis Heklina’s weekly drag show night at the fabulous renovated SoMa nightclub gets creepy-spooky with LA’s Boulet Brothers, and guest Vicky Vox; plus DJ MC2. $10-$15.

10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom.

795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Soul Party @ Elbo Room

Nine-year anniversary and underwear edition of the popular bear & friends party, with DJs Paul Goodyear and Kam Shafaati. $10. 10pm-2am. 314 11th St. www.bearracuda.com www.beatboxsf.com

DJs Lucky, Paul, and Phengren Osward spin 60s soul 45s. $5-$10 ($5 off in semi-formal attire). 10pm-2am. 647 Valencia St. 552-7788. www.elbo.com

Big Deck @ SF Eagle

Comedy night at the café/laundromat, with Danny Dechi, Francesca Fiorentini, Kollin Holtz, Jesse Gernandez and Rudy Ortiz. No cover.

3rd Saturdays. 8pm. 1122 Folsom St. www.jesusubettawork.com www.brainwash.com

The Polyglamorous/BAAAHS guys (Mark O’Brien, M*J*R, plus guest DJ John Fucking Cartwright) invade the Saturday beer bust at the famed leather bar; enjoy extra fun dancing grooves. $8-$10. 2pm-8pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

You Betta Work Comedy @ Brainwash Café

August 13-19, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 27

Tue 18

Scott Iverson

t

On the Tab>> 13 Licks @ Qbar

The “lezzie queer dance party” brings out the femmes and butches. 9pm2am. 456 Castro St. 864-2877. www.qbarsf.com

Sat 15 Bearracuda @ Beatbox

Sun 16

Mon 17

The ursine crowd converges for beer and fun. 4pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

80s music party, with black light, cheap beer and acid-wash jeans welcome. No cover. 8pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

Beer Bust @ Lone Star Saloon

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle

Beat It @ Oasis

The classic leather bar’s most popular Sunday daytime event in town draws the menfolk. Beer bust donations benefit local nonprofits. 3pm-6pm.

Now also on Saturdays! 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Drag Mondays @ The Cafe

Big Gay Ball @ Oasis

The weekly LGBT video game enthusiast night include big-screen games and signature beers, with a new remodeled layout, including an outdoor patio. No cover. 7pm-11pm.

2200 Market St. www.brewcadesf.com

Fundraiser for Sunday Run Day and the Big Gay 10K, with AIDS/LifeCycle staffers, DJ Brian Urmanitaand Kandiak, treadmill races, raffle prizes, and a beer bust. $18. 3pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Daytime Realness @ El Rio Get out your rhinestone-scaled turquoise drag for an “Under the Sea”themed edition of the daytime soul R&B and drag party, with DJs Steve Fabus and Sergio, CarrieonDisco, a show with Acid Jourdain, the Baloney guys, Roxy-Cotton Candy, Au Jus and Queen.

Heklina and Tom Temprano cohost. $8$10. 2pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Diana Krall @ Fox Theater, Oakland The five-time Grammy-winning jazz pianist and vocalist performs new and classic songs. $60-$125. 8pm. 1807 Telegraph Ave. www.thefoxoakland.com

Disco Daddy @ SF Eagle Enjoy a Donna Summer two-part mega-tribute at DJ Bus Station John’s popular T-dance at the famed leather bar (part 2 on Aug. 30). $5. 7pm-late.

398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sfeagle.com

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

Gaymer Meetup @ Brewcade

Hysteria @ Oasis Irene Tu and Jessica Sele cohost the comedy open mic night for women and queers. No cover. 6pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.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

Monday Musicals @ The Edge Sing along at the popular musical theatre night; also Wednesdays. 7pm2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing.

4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

No No Bingo @ Virgil’s Sea Room Mica Sigourney and Tom Temprano cohost the wacky weekly game night at the cool Mission bar. 8pm. 3152 Mission St. www.virgilssf.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

Cock Shot @ Beaux

Pollo del Mar’s weekly drag show takes on different themes with a comic edge. 8:30-11:30pm. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

See page 30 >>

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

Gaymer Night @ Eagle Gay gaming fun on the bar’s big screen TVs. Have a nerdgasm and a beer with your pals. 8pm. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Get strippin’ with the strippers; refreshments,a show and a cruisy ambiance. $20. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

LOOKING FOR

Retro Night @ 440 Castro Jim Hopkins plays classic pop oldies, with vintage music videos. 9pm-2am.

44 Castro St. www.the440.com

Switch @ Q Bar Weekly women’s night at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

WE’VE GOT THEM ALL

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 19 Booty Call @ QBar

Ethel Merman is the featured singer at the popular martuni bar’s piano lounge. $11. 7pm. 4 Valencia St.

Holotta Tymes hosts the new weekly variety show with female impersonation acts, and barbeque in the front Fez Room. $20. 7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

Morning After BBQ @ Oasis

Leanne Borghesi @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko

Donna Sachet hosts the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show, now celebrating its tenth anniversary. $45.

11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square.

395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com

New talent night at the historic strip club; contestants sign-up 8pm, for a $200 first prize. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Shot specials and adult Bingo games, with DJs Chad Bays and Riley Patrick, at the new weekly night. No cover. 9pm2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Follies @ Oasis

Katya Presents @ Martuni’s

Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room

Rookie Night @ Nob Hill Theatre

Monthly lecture and drinks series for smart partiers. $8. 7pm. 155 Fell St. at Van Ness. www.rickshawstop.com

Play board games and win offbeat prizes at the popular 02_Spartacus_App_95x127mm.indd sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Enjoy the weekly jock-ular fun, with DJed dance music at sports team fundraisers. 12pm-1am.

3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Weekly live music shows with 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

Nerd Night @ Rickshaw Stop

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

spartacusworld.com/app

Bottoms Up Bingo @ Hi Tops

Jock @ The Lookout

Sunday Brunch, Xtravaganza @ Balancoire

Pussy Party @ Beaux

Fundraiser for Galeria de la Raza (whose queer outdoor mural has been repeatedly defaced and burned), with acts by Glamaore, Persia and Spice Queers; DJ sets by a dozen local hot collectives. $7-$20. 9pm. 3158 Mission St. www.galeriadelaraza.org www.elriosf.com

Juanita More! and her weekly intimate –yet packed– dance party. $10-$15. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.qbarsf.com

GlamaZone @ The Cafe

The weekly barbeque brunch on the newly opened rooftop deck, with Mimosas and Bloody Mary cocktails. 11am-3pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Miércoles Gigante @ El Rio

Sun 16 Diana Krall @ The Fox Theatre

Opulence @ Beaux Weekly dance night, with Jocques, DJs Tori, Twistmix and Andre. 9pm-2am.

2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.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

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

The powerhouse cabaret and musical theatre vocalist performs Lush, her new show with a special Shirley Bassey tribute; with Brandon Adams and his band. $25$40 ($20 food/drink min). Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 6631063. www.leanneborghesi.com www.ticketweb.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

Man Francisco @ Oasis The new weekly all-male striptease revue with a storyline of San Francisco’s history, from the Gold Rush to the tech boom, performed by sexy local hunks. $20 (plus optional $30 lap dances!). 9pm. Thru July. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

1

15.01.15 12:30

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

28 • Bay Area Reporter • August 13-19, 2015

Catching up

by John F. Karr

D

irector mr. Pam’s The Biggest Catch is enjoyable all the way, with three pleasant scenes as prelude to a smashing finale.

The Biggest Catch lets its boys chow down those tasty cream fillings, and wraps up with a novel surprise.

There’s no surprise, though, in its being technically secure, with a crisp image, some nifty theatrical lighting, and much steadier videography

than some of Pam’s recent movies, although camera movement rarely stops roaming. mr. Pam’s plot set-up may be a traditional porn meme, but she delivers it in a sprightly way. Three (nearly post-) twinkies are hustling their way into a San Francisco life, each eager to score greater wealth from a rich daddy than the other two.

JD Phoenix could earn himself a condo if a rich voyeur likes the way JD makes out with his boy-toy, Jackson Fillmore. JD goes at it like hell fire. Jackson plugs JD’s alluring asshole, before they flip and JD plows right back. Jackson generously squirts his load into JD’s mouth, and the protein charge puts JD into overdrive, resulting in a creampie for Jackson.

Next up; Killian James. I must enthuse about him for a moment. This well-upholstered lad is so humpy.

Bubble-butted, succulently cocked, and thick all over. His personality is ebullient, and he’s quite a looker, with a saucy expression of wry sexual desire.

He goes after tall, lean and handsome, Casey More. He may look good, but I was finding him a little impersonal. Killian cums vociferously, but Casey, with what I took for a lower-keyed personality, is more contained. So, I wasn’t too surprised to hear him assent in a Behind the Scenes featurette to being str8.

“What do you like most about fucking boys?” questions Pam, and More answers without hesitation: “How warm and tight the hole is.”

Thanks for noticing.

My question is, why was it necessary to hire a str8 guy in the first place? Is it just because he’s pretty?

It shouldn’t be hard to find gay guys willing to fuck Killian James. I can name several who live right on my block, and in a pinch, if I had to, I’d sub in to blow Killian. Still, on More’s behalf, there’s lots and lots of his creamy load, and Killian makes sure it lands right on his supplicating tongue.

Garrett Cooper, the third hustler boy, hooks Oasis bartender Andrew Stark. Garrett is plain-looking, the sort who plays the lead’s comic foil, but he sexes up feverishly. We sigh a lot for studly Stark, who says in the BTS that his favorite moments of the scene —and mine, too— are when Cooper straddles his formidable cock. Garrett faces fore, and then aft, greatly impressing Stark as well as us viewers, by adroitly swiveling ‘round from Cowgirl to Reverse Cowgirl without loosening his ass’s grip on Stark’s cock.

Then it’s time for classic rhetorical questions during sex.

“You want me to eat your load?” asks Garrett. With his trademark orgasmic convulsions, Stark offers give the kid that white sauce prize.

What Stark doesn’t offer is any post-coital bliss. It’s “Thanks for the fun, kid,” and out the back door.

There’ll be no prize daddy for Garrett, just a pass to the club, and perhaps a job as clean-up boy.

There were some felicities in each of the preceding scenes, but you have to admit, there’s nothing special about them. The final one, however, is special in every minute.

It gives lubricious babe Killian a well-deserved encore with a partner in Adam Ramzi, who can release his full sizzle.

Let’s pause a mo’ to gloat over Adam. He conducts himself with such dignity, speaks with a seductive bass voice, melts you down with his twinkling green eyes. And he is a pulverizing fucker. Adam and Killian burn up the screen, starting slow and romantic. They escalate into an exhilarating fuck, all the while maintaining their strong personal connection.

Killian cautions, “Go slow,” and then slides onto Adam’s pole in about three seconds. Good thing he didn’t go fast, or Adam’s cock would be nothing but a cinder now.

Does Killian hook this daddy?

You’ll get no spoiler from me. I’ll

t

NakedSword

Killian James and Adam Ramzi are excited to catch each other, in The Biggest Catch.

only reveal that he gets to enrich his diet with daddy’s load.

Then, unlike regulation porn that fades out after orgasm, mr. Pam provides a kicker. It’s Adam, who arrives with a wake-up call to set the boys on a more realistic path toward their future than scoring a daddy.

“It’s time you guys started negotiating life with your brains, not your ass.”

Oh my goodness. Porn that makes a point! What novelties will mr. Pam come up with next?

One point. While bantering, Killian describes another character

in the movie as “cunty.” That’s not banter. It’s big time misogyny. Another point comes up in the BTS featurette. Someone thinks this is the first porn scene filmed at Oasis, but it’s not.

Falcon filmed scenes there more than a decade ago. I can’t remember the movie’s name just now, but I remember most vividly a three-way on one of those curved, red leatherette diner booths. Although queens are only now glorifying the Oasis, its furniture was beatified long ago.t www.nakedsword.com

NakedSword

Top: Garrett Cooper grabs Andrew Stark, in a pre-beatified booth at the new Oasis, and then Andrew Stark bangs Garrett Cooper at Oasis in The Biggest Catch. (Bottom)

t

Read more online at www.ebar.com

August 13-19, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 29

Splash Zone Squirting workshop comes up dry

by Krissy Eliot

I

’ve never squirted. And I’ve never made sex with a woman who squirts, either. I like it that way. Projectile crotch liquid is my least favorite part about sex with a man; it’s messy and often smelly. Why would I want that from a girl? I’ve also found squirting to be so fetishized that it’s become tacky, yet another porno-inspired parlor trick that women are expected to perform.

I just don’t get the hype, especially since female ejaculation has nothing to do with the strength or pleasure of the female orgasm. A woman can squirt while she’s coming, but ejaculation and orgasm aren’t mutually exclusive.

“When it comes to female ejaculation, sometimes it’s an orgasm, sometimes it’s not,” says sex educator Jamye Waxman. “Ejaculation is always a release of fluid, but it doesn’t necessarily have to do with orgasm.”

Despite all this, Bay Area Tantra enthusiasts actually think of squirting as a spiritual practice that honors women. Though I was skeptical of this idea, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was possible to take back the squirt from the tacky porn people and turn female ejaculation into an actual spiritual XXXperience.

So to find out, I gathered my courage (along with my goggles and snorkel) to attend Diving Deeper Into the G-Spot and Female Ejaculation, a Tantric squirting workshop held at the hippie event space, Guava, in Emeryville.

Caroline Carrington, a dreamyeyed sex educator with a warm smile, was running the class. Tantra educator Lisa Rizzoli, a brunette in black yoga attire, was also there to help facilitate the lesson.

The workshop started off with hippie music and Sanskrit mantras. Then Carrington and Rizzoli schooled us on some Tantric sex lingo.

For the purposes of the workshop, we would no longer refer to female ejaculation as “squirting.” Instead, we’d call it, “Amrita,” meaning “divine nectar of the gods.” The vagina was to be called “Yoni,” the Sanskrit word meaning “source of all life” and the dick was to be called “Lingham,” which means “wand of light,” and represents the transcendental force of all that exists in the universe. (George Lucas, I totally get your light sabers now.)

Carrington and Rizzoli demonstrated squirt-friendly fingering techniques on a vulva puppet with velvet labia and a satin clitoris.

While stroking the pup-

pet, Carrington explained that inside the G-spot, there’s a sacred spot, and when you find it, it opens up to accept more of a finger and Amrita can erupt (she put an emphasis on “can”).

Carrington said that no one should go into the workshop expecting to have a breakthrough in one day.

“We can’t sell workshops by saying we’re gonna find some triggers,” Carrington said. “We can do all the physicality stuff, but the biggest sex organ is the mind.”

After a lot of talk, it was time to see Amrita in action.

Carrington left the room and came back wearing nothing but a red sarong. Rizzoli joined her on the mattress, and the two of them proceeded to grind on each other, breathe a lot, look into each others’ eyes and moan loudly. The door bell rang at the event space and a participant stood up to get it, only to hear Carrington suddenly and forcefully bellow, “Don’t you dare open that door!” before getting back to grinding.

Rizzoli and Carrington got on their knees to face each other, and apparently, that position did it for Carrington, because spurts of lady juice erupted from her Yoni, spilled down her thighs, pooled, and sopped into the mattress. Fortunately, I was seated just beyond the splash zone.

I looked around to see everyone’s reactions, and one guy was humming with his eyes closed, a woman was crying and another dude looked like he might throw up from the excitement. Surprisingly, people were deeply moved by the experience, and I was half convinced that sacred squirting could actually be a thing.

Carrington sat on the bed, smiled dreamily, and gave me a look as if to say: “Now it’s your turn.”

Krissy Eliot

Lisa Rizzoli and Caroline Carrington show the class fingering techniques on the vulva puppet.

So, with a little more enthusiasm than when I walked in, I took said turn with a tech guy who claimed he’d practiced Tantra in Thailand, but was “hardly an expert.” Woohoo.

I lay on some pillows on the floor, took off all my clothes, and prepared myself for Tech Guy to use the force (ah thank you) on my sacred crotch hole.

Carrington and Rizzoli made sure to discuss safe sex and consent earlier on in the class (like they do at most sex events), but they also went the extra mile and closely monitored everyone, making sure the experience was kosher for the women.

Speaking as someone who has been mercilessly groped at a workshop full of strangers before, this was much appreciated.

Apparently, the Tantric Amrita practice involves an absurd amount of eye-gazing and breathing. Rizzoli and Carrington instructed us to do slow breathing at first and then “fire breathing,” which means breathing in and out so fast that you feel like you’re hyperventilating.

My hands went numb and I nearly passed out.

Tech Guy kept micromanaging the inside of my vag, telling me to push out with my crotch muscles, and his bossiness kept me from having any orgasms at all, let alone squirty ones. He did some of the techniques we learned earlier, and he really wasn’t that bad at fingering, but in the end, I couldn’t find the sacred spot within — though he seemed pretty convinced that he did, what with all his wild moaning and red-faced breathing and shit. Bully for him.

So I went to the workshop looking to be saturated with sacred sex juice, and left with a dizzy head and dry whispering eye. But I also left feeling more convinced that squirting can be sacred… to certain people.

I guess there’s no harm in “taking back the squirt” from the patriarchal porn dogs and turning it into something spiritual.

As for me, I still like my sheets dry. Ya’ll hippies can take back the squirt and keep it.t

Krissy Eliot

Top: The sacred altar where people placed personal items they brought with them. Bottom: The squirt supplies.

You can learn more about Carrington’s future workshops atJewelintheLotusCoaching.com.

Readers can contact Krissy by email at thekrissyeliot@gmail.com and view her previous work at krissyeliot.com.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

30 • Bay Area Reporter • August 13-19, 2015

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From page 27

Wooden Nickel Wednesday @ 440 Buy a drink and get a wooden nickle good for another. 12pm-2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. www.the440.com

Thu 20

Bolo @ PLACE, Oakland World music trio performs music from their debut album; Lulacruza also performs. 1121 64th St., Oakland. www.bolomusic.org www.aplaceforsustainableliving.org

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

Circle Jerk @ Nob Hill Theatre Porn stud David Benjamin leads the very interactive entertainments in the strip club’s downstairs arcade. $10.

9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 3976758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Thu 20 Bolo @ PLACE

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FIND REAL GAY MEN NEAR YOU San Francisco:

(415) 430-1199 Oakland:

www.megamates.com 18+

Stand ups Karinda Dobbins, Nathan Habib, Bernadette Luckett, Jeremy Talamantes, and Lisa Geduldig perform at the monthly series. $7$20. 8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

The classic monthly drag show, now in its fifteenth year, features Victoria Secret, Alexandria, Chanel, Mini Minerva, Kipper, Ruby LeBrowne, and Lulu Ramirez. Dinner seating 6pm on.

8pm show. No cover. 124 Ellis St. 4218700. www.fauxgirls.com www.infusionlounge-sf.com

20th anniversary show and contest of the Bay Area’s best male impersonation acts, with cohosts Sister Roma and Fudgie Frottage, guest judges Leigh Crow, Steven LeMay, Nancy French, performers The Momma’s Boyz, DeeDee Luxe, Madd Dogg, Rebel Kings, Kit Tapata, and a bevy of competing talents. Proceeds benefit Pets Are Wonderful Support. $20-$35. 10pm show. 298 11th St. www.sfdragkingcontest.com www.sfoasis.com

Eat Drink SF @ Various Venues Large-scalemulti-venue festival of delicious food, drinks and desserts from hundreds of local upscale restaurants and chefs. $75 and up.

Thru Aug. 23. www.eatdrink-sf.com

San Jose:

(510) 343-1122 (408) 514-1111

Fauxgirls @ Infusion Lounge

Drag King Contest @ Oasis

Models>> Fetish, etc. 24 hr. (415) 917-6739

Comedy Returns @ El Rio

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Interests: mysteries, leather events, music. I will answer letters.

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9”+! In/Out. 510-604-9421 or chocboynow2000@att.net

DIVERSE SCRUFFY DUDE

Gdlkng GWM, 46, tattoos. The sexy edge you seek. $120/$160, in/out, SF Bay. 415-531-1051

Full Frontal Comedy @ Lookout Mary Van Note headlines the comedy show, with Drew Harmon, Shanti Charan, Greg Asdourian, and cohosts Valerie Branch and Yuri Kagan. $5 (dinner/drink special $12). 8pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Gym Class @ Hi Tops Enjoy whiskey shots from jockstrapped hotties and sexy sports videos at the popular new sports bar.

10pm-2am. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Jackie Ryan @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The amazing jazz vocalist performs her cabaret tribute to Michel Legrand, with the Larry Dunlap Trio. $25-$40 ($20 food/drink min.). 8pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.jackieryanmusic.com www.ticketweb.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

Maria Konner @ Martuni’s The cohost of Under the Golden Gate performs and accompanies the open mic night. 6:30pm-8:30pm (3rd Thursdays). 4 Valencia St.

Thu 20 Jackie Ryan @ Feinstein’s

Mary Go Round @ Lookout Mercedez Munro and Holotta Tymes weekly drag show does a Grace Jones tribute night, with Honey Mahogany, Kendra Munroe, Bridget Weslet and Camille Tow. $5. 10:30pm show. DJ Philip Grasso. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Marlena Love Roast @ LGBT Center Openhouse’s tribute to Absolute Empress XXV Marlena, owner of the legendary Marlena’s bar, with a ‘Love Roast’ at the second Annual José Sarria Community Celebration. $20.

6pm-8pm. 1800 Market St. www.openhouse-sf.org

The Monster Show @ The Edge The dearly missed Cookie Dough’s weekly drag show continues, with themed events and cute gogo guys. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. Aug. 20: Soundwave with music by Russell Butler, DJ Jackie House, synthesizer demos and sound experiences. $10-$12.

6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Thump @ White Horse, Oakland Weekly electro music night with DJ Matthew Baker and guests. 9pm2am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.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

August 13-19, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 31

photos by steven underhill Outside Lands Music Festival

C

rowds filled the Polo Fields and nearby areas at the annual Outside Lands Music Festival. Dozens of performers wowed audiences under mostly sunny and sometimes foggy weather. From small local folk bands and DJs to headliners Elton John, Billy Idol and The Black Keys, the diversity of musical choices –and food and drinks– provided a buffet of fun for the mostly younger fans. www.sfoutsidelands.com 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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