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Housing key concern for Oakland mayor

by Matthew S. Bajko

S

an Franciscans priced out of the city’s housing market have increasingly turned to Oakland in search of cheaper abodes.

Yet the influx of house hunters and Rick Gerharter apartment seekers has resulted in push- Oakland Mayor ing up rents and Libby Schaaf home prices in the East Bay city. That in turn has raised concern amid longtime Oakland residents, who worry they may need to move in search of cheaper housing.

The debate over building affordable versus market-rate housing that is roiling San Francisco City Hall is also rocking Oakland’s corridors of power. Housing activists in recent months have voiced opposition to several projects planned near Oakland’s Lake Merritt for their lack of below-market-rate units.

“The issue I see that is really huge is so many LGBT people are getting driven out of San Francisco because of the housing costs. A lot of them are trying to move to Oakland,” said Michael Colbruno, a gay political consultant and former Oakland planning commissioner who now serves on the city’s Port Commission. “I have talked to a number of people who are going to Vallejo and Martinez because Oakland is even getting too pricey. I think dealing with the cost of housing, particularly for people with limited means, is really, really critical.”

The issue is a major concern for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, 49, a former city councilwoman who ousted the city’s previous mayor, Jean Quan, in the November election. Her solution, which she is unapologetic about, is to pursue more market-rate housing development for her city.

“I am more focused on market-rate housing because I want San Franciscans to have places to move in to,” Schaaf told the Bay Area Reporter in July during a wide-ranging interview about her first seven months in office.

“The affordability crisis in this city is real,” added Schaaf. “We have got to act quickly or we will destabilize the fantastic neighborhoods that have made Oakland Oakland.”

One challenge in convincing developers to build in Oakland, said Schaaf, is that construction costs are similar to San Francisco but the housing is priced less.

“While our rents are rising faster than any city in America, they are still not as high as in San Francisco, so projects remain more profitable in San Francisco,” said Schaaf.

See page 7 >>

Vol. 45 • No. 32 • August 6-12, 2015

Teen dies after Jerusalem Pride attack

by Heather Cassell

S

an Francisco’s LGBT Jewish community is mourning following a brutal stabbing attack at Jerusalem Pride that left a teenage girl dead and several others injured.

On July 30, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man, Yishai Schlissel, allegedly attacked Jerusalem Pride marchers with a butcher knife, stabbing six people. He critically injured three people while the others sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Schlissel had recently been released from prison following a 10-year prison stint for a 2005 knife attack at Jerusalem Pride that injured three people. Leading up to the assault he had publicly threatened to attack Jerusalem Pride again.

Authorities detained Schlissel and are still investigating the crime, reported Ha’aretz.

Three days after she was stabbed multiple times during the attack, Shira Banki, a straight 16-year-old high school student from Jerusalem, died from her wounds. The community joined her family August 3 at Shiva, a memorial service.

Ha’aretz reported that Banki was an innocent victim who was marching in Jerusalem Pride supporting her LGBT friends.

“Our magical Shira was murdered because she was a happy 16-year-old – full of life and love – who came to express her support for her friends’ rights to live as they choose,” said a statement from her family, who requested

AFP/Gali Tibbon

People sat around candles during a gathering of hundreds of friends, classmates, teachers, members of the LGBT community and supporters in downtown Jerusalem on August 2 to mourn the death of Jerusalem Pride stabbing victim Shira Banki.

the public to respect their privacy while they grieve for their loss. “For no good reason and because of evil, stupidity and negligence, the life of our beautiful flower was cut short. Bad things happen to good people, and a very bad thing happened to our amazing girl.”

The Banki family ended their public statement expressing hope for “less hatred and more tolerance.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the Banki family August 2, following his condemnation of the attack three days prior.

“We won’t permit the terrible murderer to challenge the basic values on which Israeli society is built,” he said in a statement. “We reject See page 14 >>

Nathan chosen to head AEF, BCEF

by Cynthia Laird

amazing board and staff to ensure AEF and BCEF deliver on their misollowing a six-month search, sions, especially in this rapidly changthe boards of directors of AIDS ing and complex environment.”

Emergency Fund and Breast Nathan also noted that her execuCancer Emergency Fund have hired tive leadership experience in all three Sandra Y. Nathan, an African Amerisectors – government, nonprofit, and can lesbian, as their next executive philanthropic – will be an asset to the director. agencies.

Nathan replaces longtime former “I am a collaborative leader and executive director Mike Smith, a gay understand how to engage funders, man who retired in June after more donors, public officials, clients, and than 12 years at the helm. She is the key stakeholders,” she said. “I also first lesbian and first person of color have a background in advocacy, but to be full-time executive director of most importantly, a deep passion to the two agencies. make a difference.”

The nonprofit AEF and BCEF Nathan, who declined to provide organizations provide emergency her age, most recently served as vice financial assistance to clients living president of grants and loans at the with HIV/AIDS and breast cancer, Marin Community Foundation in Courtesy AEF/BCEF respectively.

Novato. In that role, she oversaw AEF board Chair Scott Williams Incoming AEF/BCEF Executive Director Sandra Y. Nathan grant making for the Buck Trust, and BCEF board Chair Heather whose mission is to ensure equity of “In addition, lesbians rose to the occasion in Vucetin told the Bay Area Reporter opportunity for all Marin residents. that they are “grateful” to have someone of Na- the 1980s and 1990s when gay men were in dire Nathan also has a previous philanthropic posineed of help,” Miller and Vucetin continued. tion as president and chief executive officer of than’s caliber taking over. She begins her duties “In fact, this was one of the main factors behind the Richmond Children’s Foundation, now the September 14. the founding of Breast Cancer Emergency Fund “We’re grateful to have a woman who hapRichmond Community Foundation.

– to honor the historic role that lesbians played pens to be a lesbian and a person of color at the In terms of government work, Nathan was diin the earlier days of the AIDS epidemic. Given helm of both agencies,” Miller, an HIV-positive rector of the Department of Health and Human gay man, and Vucetin, a straight ally, said in an this, having a lesbian of color as our new execuServices for the city of Oakland, director of tive director makes sense.” email. “Here’s why: AIDS disproportionately Aging and Adult Services in San Francisco, and In an email, Nathan said she’s “especially affects people of color and breast cancer obviSee page 13 >> honored to work in collaboration with an ously mostly affects women.

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<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

U.S. attorney for NorCal, a pot foe, resigns

t

by Seth Hemmelgarn

cently as a couple years ago had instructed federal proshe U.S. attorney for the ecutors not to focus federal Northern District of resources on individuals who California, best known in San were complying with medical Francisco for shutting down marijuana laws in states that medical marijuana dispenhave them. saries, has announced she is In recent years, however, stepping down.

Haag shut down several San Melinda Haag, 53, became Francisco clubs, citing in part one of the top federal prosthe dispensaries’ proximity to ecutors in the state in 2010 schools. after President Barack Obama In an email, Prop 215 aunominated her. However, she thor Dennis Peron, 69, of drew the ire of medical mariSan Francisco, echoed Amjuana advocates when she miano’s comments. closed shops even after the “I’m glad she’s gone,” Obama administration urged Peron said, adding that Haag restraint. “should have been fired” for Haag spokesman Abraham her “insubordination” of the Simmons said her resignation Obama administration. will be effective September 1.

Asked about why Haag U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag is stepping down.

“The reason that she’s givinsisted on shutting down ing at this point is things are the dispensaries despite the marijuana, but social justice issues going extremely well, and administration’s more lenient in general.” it seems like a good time to leave,” stance, Simmons said, “I do not Haag’s departure could mark a Simmons said. Additionally, he said, agree with the premise, but I would milestone in actions around mari“She wants to spend some time with have no comment on it either way.” juana use in the state. her family.”

A White House spokesman didn’t In 1996, voters passed ProposiHaag’s critics couldn’t wait to see respond to an email asking about tion 215, the California Compasher leave office. who the president would nominate sionate Use Act, which regulates “I’m relieved she’s gone,” said gay to replace Haag. medical marijuana. Many people former state Assemblyman Tom Asked if he has a replacement for use the drug to help ease pain reAmmiano, who for years was a San Haag in mind, Ammiano quipped, lated to HIV and AIDS and other Francisco supervisor.

“I don’t know, maybe we could get illnesses.

“I met with her and found her Roma Roma, or Heklina,” referIn 2009, then-U.S. Attorney Genterribly ignorant around the issue ring to Sister Roma of the Sisters eral Eric Holder signaled that the of medical marijuana and patient of Perpetual Indulgence and the Obama administration would not rights,” Ammiano said. “She has a co-owner of the Oasis nightclub, retarget patients and providers in the very narrow, punitive viewpoint of spectively. “A drag queen with a law states with medical marijuana laws, marijuana issues in general.” degree. Wow, that would take care of even though the federal government Haag “really caused a lot of ineverything.” doesn’t recognize Prop 215 or siminocent people to suffer,” Ammiano, An initiative that would legallar laws in other states and Washing73, said, adding, “I’m hoping her reize recreational use of marijuana is ton, D.C. placement will have a more enlightexpected to be on the state ballot in The Justice Department as reened attitude, particularly toward November 2016.t

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Ex-49er pleads not guilty in hit-and-run case

by Seth Hemmelgarn

G

ay ex-San Francisco 49ers football player Kwame Harris pleaded not guilty last week to two counts of hit-and-run, as well as charges of battery on a police officer and driving under the influence of drugs.

The charges against Harris, 33, of San Francisco, stem from an April incident in which he allegedly hit two vehicles with his Audi and tried to bite a police officer who found him “groggy” in someone’s driveway.

Harris, who’s out of custody, didn’t appear in San Francisco Superior Court Friday, July 31 and entered his pleas through his attorney, Teresa Caffese, according to court documents. All the charges are misdemeanors.

The complaint filed against Harris says that he had been under the influence of diazepam and clonazepam, which are better known by their respective brand names, Valium and Klonopin, and can be used to treat anxiety, along with similar drugs.

The filing says he was also under the influence of temazepam, which is also known by its brand name Restoril and can be taken for insomnia.

Harris hung up on the Bay Area Reporter when reached by phone Monday, August 3, and did not immediately respond to questions sent via text.

Harris, who in 2013 was convicted of domestic violence against another man, was arrested April 5 and released on $146,000 bail soon thereafter. The district attorney’s office had been awaiting a toxicology report before making a charging decision.

During the incident, Harris al-

Courtesy SFPD

Former 49er Kwame Harris

legedly hit a silver car at Hyde and Broadway streets and a recreational vehicle in the 1700 block of Harrison Street, and he was also seen driving “erratically” around 10th and Bryant streets, Officer Grace Gatpandan, a police spokeswoman, said in April.

Then, at 7:31 p.m., officers were “flagged down in the area of 14th and South Van Ness on a report of a male who might need some assistance,” Gatpandan said.

They found the driver, identified as Harris, at the wheel of his black 2014 Audi sedan parked “about half way off a chained-off driveway” with the engine running, she said.

Officers tried to gain his attention, but “he appeared to be in an altered mental state,” Gatpandan said.

“He wasn’t exactly following officers’ commands” and he “seemed groggy,” she said.

Since the car was still running and there were pedestrians and other ve-

hicles in the area, Gatpandan said, police attempted to handcuff Harris “for safety reasons.”

Harris allegedly didn’t comply with officers’ commands and tried unsuccessfully to bite one of them in the hand.

After he was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault on a police officer, Harris “continued to resist putting his hands behind his back,” which resulted in a charge of resisting arrest, Gatpandan said.

“Due to the state he was in,” police called medics to the scene, and Harris was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, she said.

Gatpandan couldn’t say how long Harris was at the hospital, and she said she also wouldn’t be able to disclose anything he’d said during the incident.

It didn’t appear anyone was injured in the alleged hit-and-runs, Gatpandan said.

Asked Monday how she’d explain Harris’ alleged actions during the April 5 incident, Caffese said she and others handling his defense were “reviewing the discovery” and would have to get back to a reporter on the issue. In response to questions texted to her and a request to set up an interview with Harris, Caffese declined the request and added, “Please don’t contact my client.”

At his arraignment Friday, Judge Loretta Giorgi ordered Harris “not to drive if [he’s] in relapse,” according to court documents.

His appearance at his next court date, which is September 16 for a pretrial conference, has been waived.

Assistant District Attorney Julia Allen is listed as the prosecutor in the case.t

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4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

Volume 45, Number 32 August 6-12, 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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E-cig bill gets another chance

T

he California Legislature will return later this month from its recess and one of the bills lawmakers will consider is from gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) who seeks to snuff out e-cigarettes and vaping that’s growing in popularity and presenting a potential health hazard.

Partly because e-cigarettes are relatively new and the confusion of misinformation from the companies that make them, a lot of people are lulled into believing that ecigarettes, which deliver an addictive drug nicotine, masked by fruity or other flavors, are not as dangerous as the oldfashioned cancer sticks. Don’t be fooled. As Leno wrote in an op-ed for us earlier this year, “A 2015 report on e-cigarettes by the California Department of Public Health states that mainstream and secondhand e-cigarette aerosol contains at least 10 chemicals that are on our state’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm.” According to a UCSF study, e-cigarette devices deliver high levels of nanoparticles, which can trigger inflammation and are linked to asthma, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.

Put simply, Big Tobacco, which has seen its profits decrease as more people quit smoking or don’t take up the habit in the first place, has latched on to e-cigarettes as a new product to appeal to a younger generation. But it’s the same old story: the vapors release chemicals, some of which have been linked to health problems. As Leno stated a few weeks ago, nicotine is a tobacco product, despite Big Tobacco’s insistence otherwise.

As a result of these concerns, Leno authored Senate Bill 140, which called for statewide regulations on e-cigarettes. Last month, how-

ever, the chair of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, Adam Gray (DMerced) added a hostile amendment that gutted the bill, and Leno withdrew it. Gray’s amendment struck the language equating ecigarettes to tobacco. The bill went from imposing regulations to becoming “toothless,” Assemblyman Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) told the Sacramento Bee. It looked like the e-cigarette battle was over for the year, but just before the break, Leno was back with SB 2X-5, which he said is almost identical to his previous bill.

SB 2X-5 is part of a package of bills that would help prevent tobacco-related illness in California.

It protects the public against exposure to e-cigarettes by ensuring they are accurately defined as tobacco products and fall under the state’s existing smoke-free laws. That means, if the bill is passed and signed by Governor Jerry Brown, no vaping at workplaces, schools, restaurants, and hospitals. It also requires that e-cigarette packaging be child-resistant. An identical bill, authored

by Cooper, has been introduced in the Assembly. Both bills were introduced as part of the Legislature’s special session on health.

The state is serious about the dangers of e-cigarettes. Public service announcement ads have started airing on TV, as state health officials work to prevent even more people – especially young people – from starting a bad habit.

Leno said he’s “inspired” by the Legislature’s “bold move to prevent tobacco-related diseases, reduce smoking among youth, and renew the call for statewide regulations on electronic cigarettes.”

Smoking is disproportionately popular in the LGBT community. Surveys have shown that cigarette smoking prevalence in the U.S.

t

is 19.5 percent for heterosexual adults and 32.8 percent for LGBT adults, according to findings from the National Adult Tobacco Survey. There are lots of reasons to explain why LGBTs smoke more than the general population – psychological and societal – but we’ve also been subject to aggressive marketing campaigns by tobacco companies. Locally, back in 1995 the RJ Reynolds tobacco company conducted a marketing plan called “Project SCUM” (sub-culture urban marketing) targeting urban San Francisco populations, including the LGBT community. The goal was to sell cigarettes in the so-called alternative lifestyle areas of the city, including the Castro. Materials from the project came to light after a court order forced RJ Reynolds to hand them over during California’s litigation against the tobacco companies.

Decades later, we’re seeing something similar: companies marketing sleek, attractive-looking devices – often in urban areas – to deliver nicotine to people. Increasingly, tobacco companies themselves are investing in e-cigarette companies or making the products themselves. But because they aren’t actually cigarettes, most people think they’re a safe alternative. They’re not. And people who are tempted to use e-cigarettes as a method to quit conventional tobacco cigarettes should probably seek out other alternatives.

Lawmakers will undoubtedly be pressured from owners and employees of e-cigarette businesses, just as they were last month when Leno’s first bill was gutted. This time, legislators need to stand firm. E-cigarettes are a public health issue and people shouldn’t have to be subjected to secondhand smoke – tobacco or vapor – in public places.

California has often led the way in public health efforts. The Legislature needs to pass SB 2X-5 when it comes up for a vote.t

A lesson for the LGBT community from Jerusalem Pride stabbing

by Julie Dorf

L

ast Friday morning I sat in shock reading my email from Israel and Palestine. My heart and soul hurt all weekend as I tried to make sense of the two gruesome murders of children at the hands of Jewish Israeli extremists – the stabbing death of 16-year-old Shira Banki during Jerusalem’s LGBT Pride march and the burning to death of Palestinian baby Ali Dawabsheh in the West Bank a few hours later. There is no sugar-coating this – both of these murders were acts of terrorism committed by Jews, misguided by extremist ideology that has been growing in Israel for decades and is now much closer to its power structure than ever before.

For those of us in the LGBT community – whether Jewish like me or not – we cannot look at the tragic stabbing during Jerusalem Pride as simply an act of extreme homophobia or minimize it as the act of one fringe lunatic. We cannot divorce this tragedy from the broader context that bred it, nor shed our responsibility as Americans. We are Israel’s closest ally and support them politically, economically, and militarily more than any other country in the world.

This week many political and religious leaders in Israel have rightly and forcefully spoken out against these two horrific acts. But as Israeli political analyst David Grossman wrote this week in Israel’s leading newspaper Ha’aretz, “What is difficult to understand is how the prime minister and his cabinet ministers are able to distinguish between a fire that they have been stoking for decades and this most recent conflagration. It is hard to conceive how they are capable of not seeing the connection between the occupation regime that has been continuing for 48 years, and the dark, fanatic reality that has been forged at the frontiers of the Israeli consciousness – a reality whose agents and disseminators grow more numerous each day, a reality that is now growing closer and closer to the mainstream, and is becoming increasingly more acceptable and legitimate in the Israeli street, in the Knesset and at the cabinet table.”

Over the years, I’ve marched in Jerusalem LGBT Pride twice with my own daughter, who

Hagai El-Ad

Julie Dorf, and her daughter, Hazel Olson-Dorf, attended a protest during World Pride in Jerusalem in 2006.

is now 16. I even co-chaired World Pride in Jerusalem during a war with Lebanon in order to bring needed support from the U.S. Jewish and LGBT communities to the movements in Israel and Palestine. During my visits over the last decade, I’ve also marched in protest against the house demolitions, the “security fence” that keeps Palestinians from their jobs and land, and observed soldiers’ behavior at checkpoints in the West Bank.

I’ve seen with my own eyes the human impact of the Occupation and of the expansive settler movement, which is supported with private funds by my own American Jewish community as well as through Israeli government policy and funding. As a lesbian and a Jew, with relatives and friends in a country I love, I believe with all my heart that these are interrelated oppressions. A single-issue, LGBT-only approach misses the most important lesson of these horrific and inter-related events.

In the midst of the heartache I felt last Friday, the email that upset me the most was the one that just had to add in the line: “This march would not be permitted in any other capital city in the Middle East.” The insistence of perpetuating the view of Israel as superior to its Arab neighbors, in the moment of such Jewish extremism, is not only offensive, but

it cuts to the core of what is wrong with this perspective. As Grossman went on to write, “In this sense, both acts of violence that took place a few days ago – the murder and stabbings at the Pride event in Jerusalem and the murder of the baby – are interrelated, and derive from a similar worldview. In both, hatred itself – bared and primal – constitutes among certain people a legitimate, ample reason to commit murder, to annihilate the hated human being.”

As LGBT people, we must do better than that – because our lives actually depend on it.

Kate Kendell recently argued in her opinion piece in the San Francisco Chronicle that the American LGBT movement must now turn to fight racism after our long-fought marriage victory. So, too, must we as LGBT people understand and commit to fighting holistically against both the racist and homophobic policies in Israel and Palestine.

I believe enough in Israel’s imperfect democratic systems that next year’s Pride will be a safer event. I believe in the strength and courage of Israel’s LGBT activists that they will continue to march in Pride. My own 16-year-old will be back in Israel next summer during Jerusalem Pride and I hope she marches with pride, in protest, and in safety. I must believe that the next generation will do a better job understanding difference and working for peace than we have.

I also believe in our own imperfect democracy that gives us the privileged opportunity to voice our dissent in safety and security.

It is therefore our responsibility to make the most of that privilege and speak out against the systems of oppression and hatred here and abroad. May Ali and Shira’s names be for a blessing – and may they inspire all of us to take action toward a more just and sane world. t Julie Dorf is the former co-chair of Jerusalem World Pride 2006 and founder of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. She is currently senior adviser for the Council on Global Equality, although the views expressed here are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the council.

t

Politics>>

August 6-12, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Oakland mayor hires lesbians for top posts

by Matthew S. Bajko

I

n her first seven months in office, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has hired a number of lesbians for top posts in her administration. And more out staffers could be working for her at City Hall as Schaaf continues to hire for key jobs.

Joining her from day one have been Peggy Moore, a senior adviser to the mayor who ran her campaign last year, and Tomiquia Moss, hired

by Schaaf to be her chief of staff, as announced in a guest opinion piece Schaaf wrote for the Bay Area Reporter in January.

“Definitely, it is different being inside City Hall,” said Moore, 51, a longtime Democratic Party activist who worked on President Barack Obama’s campaigns. “But it is a difference I welcome and can handle. I am learning so much.”

While her purview is broadly defined, Moore has focused on a number of youth-oriented initiatives so far this year. She organized 100 youth circles looking at restorative justice issues and retooled Oakland’s summer jobs program for youth to be a Classroom to Career model.

She is also overseeing the city’s rollout of the My Brothers Keeper Initiative, a White House program focused on young men of color. As for leaving to work on another presidential campaign next year, Moore said she is committed to working for the mayor during her first term.

“I have no intentions of leaving my post and working on any presidential campaign. Let’s be clear about that,” she said.

Moss comes to the mayor’s office after a long stint working in various positions in San Francisco. She had been the community planning policy director for the Bay Area-based urban policy think tank SPUR. Mayor Ed Lee had hired Moss to be the executive director of his HOPE SF Initiative aimed at rehabbing the city’s public housing developments. Prior to that, Moss helped establish the SF Community Justice Center as a program director with the San Francisco Superior Court.

Moss could not be reached for comment for this article. At the time of her hiring she said she believes “that we all have a role to play in making Oakland the best city that it can be” in a press release issued by the mayor.

In April Schaaf also lured back to the East Bay city Claudia Cappio to be an assistant city administrator focused on development issues. Cappio, 61, resigned from Governor Jerry Brown’s administration, where she served as executive director of both the California State Department of Housing and Community Development and the California Housing Finance Agency, to return to Oakland City Hall.

For seven years, starting in 2000, Cappio served as Oakland’s development director and executive director of the Oakland Base Reuse Authority. Her work then included the renovation of the historic Fox Theater, the major waterfront Brooklyn Basin development, redevelopment of Jack London Square with new residential buildings and businesses, and Brown’s housing initiative to attract 10,000 new residents to the city’s downtown area.

Five years ago Cappio, who lives in Oakland with her wife, Margaret Stone, served on the transition team for former Mayor Jean Quan,

Greg Linhares, City of Oakland

Peggy Moore serves as senior adviser to Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.

Greg Linhares, City of Oakland

Tomiquia Moss is Mayor Libby Schaaf’s chief of staff.

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Oakland assistant city administrator Claudia Cappio

who lost her bid for a second term to Schaaf. Since working in Schaaf ’s administration, Cappio has taken a lead role in the discussions centered on building new stadiums for Oakland’s football and baseball teams.

Cappio did not respond to an interview request for this article. In a news release about her hiring, she said she was “humbled and excited” to work again in the city she has called home for three decades.

“Oakland has so much to offer and I am grateful to be asked to play a part in this exciting time in Oakland’s development,” she stated. “My recent work at the state confirms what I already knew – that Oakland is a rich and exciting urban area with the physical and human resources to be an awesome, sustainable 21st century city.”

The latest hires came in June when Berkeley City Manager Christine Daniel announced she was stepping down July 24 to work as an assistant city administrator for Schaaf and City Administrator Sabrina Landreth, who began July 1.

Daniel, a 25-year resident of Oakland, will start in her new job Monday, August 10.

“I am honored to be joining the Oakland team,” stated Daniel in a release announcing her hiring. “I look forward to working in my home city and devoting my skills and experience to a place that I love.”

Hired at the same time was Stephanie Hom as deputy city administrator, who started in her new role July 27. She had been Moraga’s administrative services director, focused on financial issues. Hom has lived in Oakland with her family since 1991.

“I love Oakland and I’m extremely honored and excited to be able to work for the Oakland community and alongside City of Oakland employees who work hard every day

Oakland assistant city administrator Christine Daniel

to help make Oakland better and brighter,” stated Hom. In an interview with the B.A.R. last month, Schaaf said she was “very proud” to “have put together this championship team” at City Hall.

“I think the new leadership in this city is very reflective of the city, and that includes a lot of high-ranking talent that happens to be, I will say, actually all lesbians,” said Schaaf.

Asked about her hiring so many lesbians to top posts in her administration in stark contrast to San Francisco’s City Hall, where a number of gay men are in top posts, Schaaf acknowledged, “I have not recruited any gay men.”

She joked that she and her counterpart across the bay, “Maybe we can have a cultural exchange for a little bit, the Venus to Mars.”

Her hiring decisions make sense, added Schaaf, when looking at the demographics of the two cities’ LGBT communities.

“We have a larger lesbian population. San Francisco has a larger gay population right,” she said.

More LGBT people could be named to Schaaf ’s administration in the coming weeks as she has a number of high-ranking positions still to fill. Among them are directors overseeing the city’s departments for information technology, public art, and marketing. Leaders are also being hired to head the newly created offices of transportation, finance, and race and equity.

Her staffing decisions to date have won praise from Oakland LGBT leaders, many of who supported other candidates in last year’s mayoral race.

“I think she has put together one of the best teams I have seen around an executive in my 30 years of politics,” said Oakland Port Commissioner Michael Colbruno, a gay man and political consultant who led Quan’s re-election campaign.

“It is the who’s who of the best city administrative staff you can put together.”

See page 14 >>

ebar.com

<< Commentary

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

Pledge to take the U.S. Trans Survey

by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

O

n August 19, the National Center for Transgender Equality will launch a nationwide survey on the lives of transgender people.

The U.S. Trans Survey is NCTE’s second, and it’s billing this one as a follow-up to a previous survey it did in conjunction with the National LGBTQ Task Force. Those survey results were released in 2011 under the title “Injustice At Every Turn.”

The 2011 report has been an amazing tool for transgender activists – and while its findings were of little surprise, this was the first time we had a pretty comprehensive survey to back us up.

The report listed the following as its key findings: Discrimination was pervasive, but the combination of anti-transgender bias and persistent, structural racism was especially devastating.

People of color in general fared worse than white participants across the board, with African American transgender respondents faring far worse than all others in most areas examined.

Their sample size – some 6,400 respondents – was nearly four times more likely to have a household income of less than $10,000 a year compared to the general population.

Forty-one percent of respondents reported attempting suicide compared to 1.6 percent of the general population, with rates rising for those who lost a job due to bias (55 percent), were harassed/bullied in school (51 percent), had low household income, or were the victim of physical assault (61 percent) or sexual assault (64 percent).

The “41 percent” suicide statistic,

I believe, has been reported more than any other in the report.

It is the numbers in these statistics that have been used to improve federal protections for transgender people, helping to push organizations like the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Health and Human Services to take action on behalf of transgender people.

For decades before that 2011 study, actual numbers relating to the transgender community were near impossible to find.

Aside from the reluctance of transgender people to actually participate in such, there were not any major organizations willing to spearhead such an effort – and no one willing to front the money for any serious medical studies, to boot.

This is also one of the things that make the previous and upcoming studies important: they’re by us, for us, and about us. They’re not put through the lens of non-transgender society. We have our own agency.

As I mentioned, it’s not like anyone with any ties to the community could not have spoken to some of these issues in the report. One could see how pervasive suicide has been in the transgender community, how much of the community was forced into poverty, and just how bad the combination of racism and transphobia affected people in the transgender community.

I should add, too, that this study typically only gives cold, hard data.

It does not put a face on that data.

It does not replace sharing our own stories when we can.

Yet as important as it is to share our individual stories, it is quite another thing to be able to share a

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.

sizable study covering thousands of such stories. The more who speak out, the more we can show the overall depth of the issues we face, the stronger a case we can make for change.

Another important thing is that the survey provides a sense of the size of our community. Now I’m not saying that in 2011 the transgender community in the United States was a mere 6,400 people. That’s simply not the case – but the survey does give more of a sense of the scope of the issues. This is a subset of the community that was able to participate at that time. This did help to show that transgender people exist all over the country, that these weren’t just issues for big, coastal towns, but everywhere.

That is what both the 2011 report and the upcoming survey both provide.

For this study, NCTE is hoping that 20,000 transgender people will pledge to take the survey. Currently, 9,000 people have made the pledge.

If you’re reading this and you’re a trans person, you should, too.

Courtesy NCTE

A screenshot promotes the upcoming U.S. Trans Survey.

Let me also clarify something about the survey for anyone who might be wondering: this is not just for transgender-identified people.

It is a survey for trans people of all stripes, including those who identify as genderqueer or non-binary. Your input is needed.

Now a small dose of cold water: I cannot tell you what impact the new survey will have. The previous one came out during a very sympa-

t

thetic administration, and used the study to help press for change on our behalf. By the time the upcoming study comes out, we will most likely have a different resident in the White House. We won’t know for sure if that new resident will be as sympathetic, particularly if they come form the right side of the aisle.

Yet even with that in mind, consider that all the more reason to take this survey. This is what can still help to inform people about our lives, and will allow people to continue to push for their rights for many years to come, whether the administration is sympathetic or otherwise. We need this.

So please take a moment to hop on your computer or smartphone and point yourself to http://www. ustranssurvey.org. The survey opens on August 19, but you can pledge right now to be a part of it.

Organizers will even remind you when it’s time to take it, too.t Gwen Smith has, of course, pledged. You’ll find her on Twitter at @gwenners.

Positively Trans survey launches

by Khaled Sayed

A

new groundbreaking survey launched this week that aims to assess needs and realities of transgender people living with HIV/ AIDS. The Oakland-based Transgender Law Center launched the Positively Trans, or T+, survey Monday, August 3. The community-led online survey is intended to examine the legal and policy landscape as experienced by transgender women, men, and gender nonconforming people living with HIV/AIDS across the country.

According to TLC, Positively Trans is a response to the structural inequalities that drive the high rate of HIV/AIDS and poor health outcomes for transgender people, especially transgender women of color.

What makes this survey unique, TLC staff said, is that it is the first survey like this developed by transgender people living with HIV for transgender people living with HIV. “As transgender people living with HIV/AIDS, we are capable of forming our own network, telling our own stories, and developing our own strategies for advocacy,” Cecilia Chung, an HIV-positive trans woman who is a senior strategist at TLC and the project leader of Positively Trans, said in a news release.

“This survey is a groundbreaking opportunity to not only highlight our needs, but also our resilience when there are few resources available. We are ready to offer policymakers, providers and legislators our own solutions.”

Chung believes that, because this survey was written by the community, developed by the community and promoted by and through community channels, it will empower the transgender community to be more active and engaged.

“The data we are collecting would really get a better picture of where the gaps are,” Chung said, “so we can tune in, and come up with recommendations specifically for those gaps to better help transgender people.”

Chung said that there is still a lot of work to be done in the HIV/ AIDS community around understanding the needs of trans people.

“We still hear stories about trans women being harassed by law enforcement, which creates unsafe environments for trans people,” she said. “Like engaging in health care and they find it hard to disclose their HIV status or even to go out on the street.”

Chung also referenced the number of trans women who have been murdered this year in several cities.

“So far we have seen over 11 trans women murdered already this year alone,” Chung said. “These are very discouraging messages that trans people are exposed to and they see and hear enough of how much of transgender lives seems to be disposable. Some of that message might sink in.”

According to Chung, the goal of this survey is to look at how much confidence transgender people have

t

Community News>>

AIDS grove to have rare Sunday workday compiled by Cynthia Laird

W

hile the majority of people at Golden Gate Park this weekend will be attending the Outside Lands music festival, others will be participating in a rare Sunday workday at the National AIDS Memorial Grove.

The August 9 workday, held by Jewish Family and Children’s Services, takes place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; at noon there will be a brief Jewish healing circle, organizers said. It is the organization’s 20th annual workday. In addition to JFCS volunteers, people will be participating from Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, Temple Emanu-El, and Sherith Israel.

In addition to weeding, planting, and cleaning the grove, volunteers will remember the thousands in the community lost to HIV/AIDS, as well as honor those living with it.

People interested in participating should wear work clothes and closed-toe shoes. Tools, gloves, and coffee will be provided, along with light refreshments. The event is for people of all ages.

To RSVP, contact Mayana Bonapart at (415) 449-1241 or mayanab@ jfcs.org. For more information on the AIDS grove, visit www.aidsmemorial.org.

SF HIV panel seeks members

Courtesy TLC

Transgender Law Center senior strategist Cecilia Chung

in the legal system to protect them, and how much confidence they have in the health care system that is supposed to help them.

The survey was developed in partnership with nine Positively Trans national advisory board members from across the country: Arianna Lint, Channing-Celeste Wayne, Dee Dee Chamblee, Milan Sherry, Octavia Lewis, Ruby Corado, Tela Love, Teo Drake, and Tiommi J. Luckett.

The majority of them are trans women of color living with HIV. “This survey is for us and will not be done without us,” said Luckett, who lives in Arkansas. “Every trans woman and man living with HIV should fill out this survey, because we need people to know that we’re here, and that we can develop our own solutions and strategies to take care of ourselves.”

TLC staff noted that the survey is a safe and anonymous place for trans and gender nonconforming people living with HIV to share their experiences on topics such as barriers, discrimination, amd violence, as well as positive stories about health care services, housing, employment, relationships, and community.

Positively Trans was made possible with the support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, TLC said.

The survey’s findings, which will be released in October, will ultimately inform policy and program recommendations, prioritization of needs, strategic planning and advocacy efforts.t To take the survey, which is available in English and Spanish, visit http://transgenderlawcenter. org/positively-trans.

August 6-12, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

The San Francisco HIV Health Services Planning Council is recruiting new members in a few target areas: African Americans, Latinos, youth (under 24), and seniors (65 or older).

The council works to prioritize areas for the allocation of federal funds from the Ryan White Treatment Modernization Act within San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties. The council also develops a comprehensive plan compatible with existing state and local plans for HIV health services and assesses community needs and priorities.

The time commitment is one two-hour committee meeting and one three-hour full council meeting per month. Providers of HIV/AIDS services and consumers are encouraged to apply.

For a council member job description and application, contact Dave Jordan at djordan@shanti.org.

For more information on the council, visit http://www.sfcarecouncil. org/index.htm.

AmfAR provides $2 million to UCSF for cure research

The Foundation for AIDS Research, or amfAR, recently announced it has awarded $6 million in grants to three research teams, including a $2 million grant to Dr. Timothy Henrich of UCSF. Henrich and his colleagues will

<<

Oakland mayor

From page 1

She pointed to the rezoning city leaders have undertaken for different districts in Oakland – five of the area specific plans have been completed – as “fantastic tools” for developers interested in her city.

“It really drives development and the type of development you have planned for,” she said. “It gives those developers certainty about what the community will support where.”

At the same time, Schaaf continues to push for the creation of more affordable housing, pointing to her

Courtesy JFCS

Participants planted bushes at a previous Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ workday at the National AIDS Memorial Grove.

pursue a novel intervention aimed at restoring normal immune function in people with HIV. According to the amfAR news release, the team will test whether the transplant drug, sirolimus, can increase the activity of beneficial components of the immune system while suppressing detrimental activity of other components. The team will thoroughly assess the drug’s activities before moving on to test the drug on persistent HIV reservoirs in people.

In addition to the grant to UCSF, amfAR also awarded $2 million each to Dr. Dan Barouch of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and Sharon Lewin, Ph.D., of the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Barouch will investigate the ability of combinations of antibodies to specifically kill latently infected cells in the lab, in monkeys, and then in people.

Lewin will explore whether drugs that block so-called immune checkpoints can also be effective against HIV. The new grants are part of amfAR’s $100 million Countdown to a Cure initiative, whose aim is to discover the scientific basis for a cure by 2020.

“These four-year grants are a departure for amfAR and an important pillar of cure research strategy,” said Rowena Johnston, Ph.D., amfAR vice president and director of research. “They allow teams of leading researchers to take their ideas across the research continuum – from lab studies to human trials.

We’ll be following their progress with great interest.”

In 1984 the controversy over bathhouses and the AIDS crisis, sexual freedom, and public health erupted into a political battle. With the skyrocketing increase in AIDS deaths, a fight within the gay community, City Hall, and the medical community ensued. The bathhouses were closed and the aftermath affects the community 30 years later.

People are invited to hear a multimedia presentation on the topic by sex educator, activist, and erotic art collector Buss Bense. He moved to San Francisco in 1979 and lived here during the height of the AIDS epidemic. In 1986 he opened the sex club 890 Folsom; he was also the founder and owner of Eros.

For more information, visit the GLBT Historical Society’s website at www.glbthistory.org.

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Giant Race half marathon coming up

The Giant Race, benefitting Project Open Hand, will take place Sunday, August 23 at AT&T Park. There will also be 10K, 5K, and family fun run events. The race finishes on the field of the ballpark, home of the World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

Project Open Hand’s team is “Fundraise to Run” and all participants receive personal fundraising coaching, are eligible for prizes, and get VIP race-day advantages.

To sign up for “Fundraise to Run,” visit http://www.race-sfgiants.com/ fundraise-to-run. For general race information, visit http://www.racesfgiants.com/.

SF HRC, Women’s Building, present photo project on Islamophobia

The GLBT History Museum will present “Sex Panic: The History of the San Francisco Bathhouse Closures” Thursday, August 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. at 4127 18th Street in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood.

The San Francisco Human Rights Commission and the Women’s Building will host a community photo project on Islamophobia and post-9/11 ethnic and racial discrimination Wednesday, August 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Women’s Building, 3543 18th Street.

The project is entitled “Living in an Unfinished America: Shared Experiences of Discrimination and Resilience by Arab, Muslim, and Sikh Americans.”

“The San Francisco Human Rights Commission is proud to partner with the Women’s Building on this important and timely project,” said Susan Belinda Christian, chair of the SF Human Rights Commission.

The project brings together participants from Arab, Muslim, and Sikh communities to highlight how Islamophobia has affected communities across the Bay Area.

Participants use photography and narrative to represent their everyday strengths and coping strategies that help build resilience and counter the effects of discrimination.

The Women’s Building is the first community organization to host the exhibit. The event is open to the public.t

allocating general fund dollars to do so in her first budget that was passed last month by the City Council.

“I absolutely believe in building more affordable housing,” said Schaaf. “It is hard because we have fewer resources to do it since the end of redevelopment.”

She is also looking at how to protect housing for Oakland’s middle class.

“It is the people in the middle that are getting left out. And there are a lot of them living in Oakland right now,” said Schaaf. “I want to bring affordable protections to them now where they are living.”

One idea she is exploring is creating an acquisition fund in order for the city to lease buildings where a majority of residents are earning between 60 and 120 percent of the median area income.

“There is a provision in the tax code that allows the owner of property like this to lease the property for a minimum of 35 years to an affordable housing management company, and in exchange, get a break on property taxes,” explained Schaaf.

Another initiative is to form a task force to look at artist housing in the city.

See page 10 >>

SF bathhouse history lesson

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<< Election 2016

t GOP presidential candidates head into first debate 8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

analysis by Lisa Keen

S

tudies have shown that only about one-third of LGBT Americans vote Republican, but there’s realistic chance a Republican will win the White House in 2016, so LGBT people need to pay attention to who might take the GOP nomination.

The first nationally televised debate among Republican presidential candidates hoping to win that nomination takes place Thursday in Cleveland, broadcast live at 6 p.m. Pacific time on Fox News. While pro-gay Republican groups have yet to take a stand behind any one candidate, individual gay Republicans and conservatives are beginning to sort the candidates into two basic categories: Maybe supportable and definitely not.

For now, among the maybes, to varying degrees, are: Jeb Bush, Donald Trump, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, John Kasich, Lindsey Graham, Jim Gilmore, and George Pataki.

Among the definitely not are: Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, and Bobby Jindal.

Mimi Planas, president of Log Cabin Republicans of Miami, said she hasn’t decided who to back yet but considers Rubio, Fiorina, and

Paul among her “top three.”

Jimmy LaSalvia, who founded the now-defunct GOProud organization, dings Fiorina, noting that she chaired the American Conservative Union Foundation, part of the organization, American Conservative Union, “that kicked out GOProud from the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2011 because we were gay.”

Donald Trump, on the other hand, accepted GOProud’s invitation to speak at that 2011 CPAC conference, said LaSalvia, even as many conservatives attending the conference raised objections to GOProud’s participation.

LaSalvia noted that Christie, Kasich, and Pataki have all “demonstrated in the past a willingness to include LGBT voters in their outreach.”

Log Cabin Republicans, the national gay Republican group, won’t make an endorsement during the primaries, said its national executive director, Gregory Angelo. But the candidates this time – with the exception of Cruz, Huckabee, and Santorum – do not exhibit the same “strident opposition to LGBT equality that marked campaigns in the past,” said Angelo.

“A number of the candidates are trying to thread the needle,” he said,

hoping to please both the evangelical base and the voters needed to win the New Hampshire primary and the general election.

“It’s like the GOP strategy on LGBT issues is to confuse everybody,” Angelo said.

With 17 announced candidates, the Republican field is already confusing to many people. Below is a quick look at each candidate, with some highlights of their records or remarks on LGBT issues, and a ranking by their odds of winning the nomination as calculated by the research project PredictWise.com (as of August 3).

Jeb Bush

Current odds of winning the nomination: 45 percent.

Occupational experience: Former governor of Florida.

Age: 62 Main asset: Father was president.

Main liability: His brother was president.

Response to U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges samesex marriage decision: Issued statement saying the court should have let states decide the issue, urging the country protect “religious freedom” and “not discriminate.”

LGBT record: Supported Florida constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage; penned a 1994 op-ed in the Miami Herald saying “Homosexuality is wrong;” and wrote in a 1995 book that he opposed protections for LGBT people because, “We have enough special categories, enough victims, without creating even more.” In a January 2015 article on BuzzFeed, Bush spokeswoman Kristy Campbell said: “Governor Bush believes that our society should have a culture of respect for all people, regardless of their differences, and that begins with preventing discrimination, including when it comes to sexual orientation.

This [1994] opinion editorial from 20 years ago does not reflect Governor Bush’s views now, nor would he use this terminology today.”

Scott Walker

Current odds of winning the nomination: 16 percent.

Occupational experience: Current Governor of Wisconsin.

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Age: 47 Main asset: His wife, Tonette, who comes from a Democratic family, told the Washington Post she and Walker’s sons had difficulty with Walker’s position against same-sex 10:17 AM marriage.

Main liability: No foreign policy experience.

Response to Obergefell: Issued a statement calling it a “grave mistake” and saying the “only alternative left” is to amend the U.S. Constitution to “reaffirm the ability of the states to continue to define marriage.”

LGBT record: Said he supported keeping the Boy Scout ban on gay leaders because it “protected children.” He later tried to back off the comment, and deflected a question about whether sexual orientation is a choice by saying, “I’m going to work hard for every American.” He supported the ban on same-sex marriage in Wisconsin and, as governor, tried to stop hospital visitation and domestic partner registries. Said he has attended the wedding reception of a gay family member.

Marco Rubio

Current odds of winning the nomination: 8 percent.

Occupational experience: U.S. senator from Florida

(first term).

Age: 44 Main asset: He’s a fresh face in Republican field.

Main liability: “Imprudent” personal financial decisions.

Response to Obergefell: Issued a statement saying the issue should be left to the people of each state and he would appoint judges who would apply the Constitution “as written and originally understood.”

LGBT record: Asked if he’d attend the wedding of a gay family member or staffer, he said: “If there’s somebody in my life that I love and care for, of course I would. I’m not going to hurt them simply because I disagree with a choice they’ve made.” But he said he does support the so-called religious freedom laws because he doesn’t think business vendors should have to service “a specific event that violates the tenets of [their] faith.” Earned a 22 (out of 100) on Human Right Campaign’s Congressional Scorecard last session. Voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in 2013.

Donald Trump

Current odds of winning the nomination: 8 percent.

Occupational experience: Real estate tycoon.

Age: 69 Main asset: Personal wealth he estimates at $10 billion.

Main liability: Proposes unrealistic solutions.

Response to Obergefell: Told CNN, “I don’t say anything. I’m just for traditional marriage.”

LGBT record: Accepted GOProud’s invitation to speak at CPAC conference in 2011. Eliminated a beauty pageant rule requiring contestants be “naturally born female.”

He said he has “many fabulous friends who happen to be gay,” but thinks same-sex marriage is “weird” and doesn’t support it. He accepted gay actor George Takei’s invitation to lunch to discuss same-sex marriage and attended the wedding of a gay couple.

Mike Huckabee

Current odds of winning the nomination: 4 percent.

Occupational experience: Former governor of Arkansas.

Response to Obergefell: At a press conference, said he doesn’t agree with the decision and thinks the issue should have been left to “the people,” but that he would “support the law of the land.”

LGBT record: Vetoed a marriage equality bill to allow same-sex couples to marry but then dropped an appeal challenging a court ruling that found the state’s ban unconstitutional. Appointed an openly gay man to the state supreme court.

Signed a law prohibiting conversion therapy. Said he believes people are born gay and that he doesn’t look at gays as sinners.

Ted Cruz

Current odds of winning the nomination: 3 percent.

Occupational experience: U.S. senator from Texas (first term).

Age: 44 Main asset: Of Cuban descent.

Main liability: Cruz alienated many of his GOP Senate colleagues in 2013 when he filibustered to oppose any bill that would keep the government funded as a means of gutting the Affordable Care Act. As he did so, he derided many of these same peers as being soft on the ACA. And many of those peers are reluctant to help him out now.

Response to Obergefell: Staged a Senate subcommittee hearing to air grievances against the Supreme Court majority that struck down state bans on same-sex marriage and to urge that the justices be subject to “retention elections.”

LGBT record: Led a brief supporting state bans on same-sex marriage in Obergefell case. Earned a 20 (on a scale of 100) from the Human Rights Campaign for his Senate voting record on LGBT issues, including a vote against ENDA. Met with small gay political gathering.

Attempting to deflect questions about his positions on gay issues, he expressed concern for gays being executed by ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Praised legislation in some states that sought to allow businesses to refuse service to same-sex couples by claiming a religious objection.

John Kasich

Age: 59 Main asset: Folksy.

Main liability: Fondness for employing extreme metaphors to express a point (Example: Peace plan with Iran equals marching Israelis “to the door of the oven”).

Response to Obergefell: Issued a statement saying he would “not acquiesce” to the Supreme Court, an over-the-top response that calls into question his willingness to abide by the U.S. Constitution generally.

LGBT record: Says gays worked for his administration and he has “friends who are gay” but thinks gays are trying to shut down businesses of those who disagree with them, and initiated a “Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day” to show support for CEO’s anti-same-sex marriage comments. Has said same-sex marriage will lead to the “criminalization of Christianity.” And, as governor, opposed gays as foster or adoptive parents.

Current odds of winning the nomination: 3 percent.

Occupational experience: Current governor of Ohio, former U.S. congressman.

Age: 63 Main asset: Popular governor of a big swing state.

Main liability: Abrasive personality.

Response to Obergefell: On CBS Face the Nation, he said, “It’s the law of the land and we’ll abide by it,” adding, “it’s time to move on” and “strike a balance” with religious institutions.

LGBT record: Scored between zero and 30 (on scale of 100) on HRC scorecard while in Congress.

Said the state didn’t need an Indiana style law to protect religious freedom. Issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation but not gender identity. Attended wedding of gay friend. In the House, voted for the Defense of Marriage Act.

Chris Christie

Rand Paul

Age: 52 Main asset: Willing to ignore party lines when necessary.

Main liability: Perceived as vindictive.

term).

Age: 52 Main asset: Provides free ophthalmologic surgery to poor Guatemalans.

See page 13 >>

Current odds of winning the nomination: 3 percent.

Occupational experience: Current governor of New Jersey.

Current odds of winning the nomination: 2 percent.

Occupational experience: U.S. senator from Kentucky (first

<< Community News

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

PrEP funding advances in SF, elsewhere

by Liz Highleyman

I

n the wake of new policy initiatives and more study results confirming the benefits of pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, to prevent HIV, PrEP funding efforts are moving forward on the local, state, and national levels.

In San Francisco, the Getting to Zero consortium aims to make the city the first U.S. jurisdiction to achieve the goals of eliminating new HIV infections, HIV-related deaths, and HIV stigma and discrimination, using a three-prong strategy of expanded access to PrEP, rapid access to antiretroviral therapy, and retention of HIV-positive people in care.

In early July Susan Buchbinder, director of Bridge HIV at the SF Department of Public Health, reported at a Health Commission meeting

that the city has allocated $1.1 million in additional funding to support PrEP and early treatment.

“The extra money was put into the health department budget by the mayor,” Buchbinder told the Bay Area Reporter.

The new funds will support PrEP delivery at DPH clinics and hiring navigators to help guide people through the process of accessing Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine), currently the only drug approved for PrEP. Some of the money will also support the RAPID same-day HIV treatment program at San Francisco General Hospital.

Another stream of funding approved by the Board of Supervisors last fall is moving more slowly.

Last October the board approved gay Supervisor David Campos’ supplemental budget request for

$301,600 to expand access to PrEP. This money will fund navigators to help people obtain PrEP through existing channels such as Medi-Cal, private insurance, or Gilead Sciences’ – the maker of Truvada – payment assistance programs.

That money will be going to community-based organizations and therefore is required to go through a competitive request for proposals process, according to Buchbinder.

DPH public information officer Nancy Sarieh said that the RFP is a collaboration between the department’s Disease Prevention and Control Branch and the Community Health Equity and Promotion Branch. She said the RFP has been drafted and is undergoing review and is expected to be released within the next month.

Campos said he was looking forward to the funding being released.

“When peoples’ lives and health are at stake we would expect the city to move more quickly,” Campos told the B.A.R. “However, we are glad to see that the program will finally be up and running in 2015. We need to make sure that everyone who has access to PrEP can get it.”

San Francisco is not the only city to prioritize expanded access to PrEP. In June the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a proposal put forward by lesbian Supervisor Sheila Kuehl to develop and implement a comprehensive countywide PrEP program. Passed nearly unanimously after mostly favorable public comment, the Los Angeles initiative includes an amendment to explore providing PrEP in prisons and youth camps.

“PrEP is not a silver bullet, it is not a panacea, but it is another tool that we need to offer our county residents who are at high risk of contracting HIV,” Kuehl told the Los Angeles Times.

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Liz Highleyman

Bridge HIV director Susan Buchbinder

t

than paying for the drug directly.

Washington state’s PrEP Drug Assistance Program, or PrEP DAP, goes a step further, covering insurance co-pays or paying for Truvada in full for uninsured individuals.

David Kern from the Washington State Department of Health said that the department has budgeted $2 million annually for the program, but so far has spent less than half that amount since the program launched in April 2014.

“We’re planning a large marketing campaign later this year to increase awareness of the program, with a special emphasis on black and Hispanic gay/bi men,” he told the B.A.R.

National PrEP support Los Angeles County Department of Health Services director Dr. Mitchell Katz – a gay man who was formerly head of SF DPH – noted that PrEP is not like other public health interventions, such as vaccines, that are recommended for everyone.

“When it comes to PrEP, it’s a different equation,” he told the Times.

“It has to be distinguished from ‘everyone should do this’ to a thoughtful discussion.”

State level funding

At the state level, in late June the California Legislature passed its Fiscal Year 2015-2016 budget, which allocates $2 million for PrEP outreach and education, along with $3 million for needle exchange programs, more than $6 million over three years for hepatitis C screening and care, and funding to expand the AIDS Drug Assistance Program for people living with HIV. “In this budget, the Legislature and the governor have shown an important commitment to reinvestment in public health,” said Anne Donnelly, director of health care policy at Project Inform. “We are also pleased that the governor has made a serious investment in PrEP, one of the key tools that will help end the California HIV epidemic.”

Other states are also moving forward on PrEP. In May, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a statewide PrEP Assistance Program, part of his push to end the HIV epidemic in New York state by the end of 2020.

The new program will reimburse providers for a package of support services required for individuals receiving PrEP, including regular HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing and adherence counseling, according to the governor’s website.

As is the case in San Francisco, the New York state program is intended to cover auxiliary services and help people access Truvada for PrEP though insurance, Gilead’s assistance program, or other sources, rather

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Oakland mayor

From page 7

“We are gathering some great minds together to really tackle all these problems,” said Schaaf. “I am particularly interested in this issue of preserving Oakland families that have been here all along that are really feeling the pressure.”

That includes LGBT households, noted Schaaf, as Oakland has long been home to a large LGBT community, especially lesbian households. There were 1,547 lesbian couples and 1,187 gay couples living in the city, according to 2008-2012 American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census.

“I don’t want to see the LGBT community that’s been living here all along, in part because Oakland has been an affordable alternative, I don’t want to see them priced out because the San Franciscans who

On the national level, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on July 1 that it had awarded $216 million to community-based organizations to deliver HIV prevention and care services, focusing on communities at greatest risk for HIV including men who have sex with men, people of color, transgender women and men, and people who inject drugs. These services will include PrEP for high-risk individuals, along with condoms and other prevention tools.

The funds were given to organizations in the 50 geographic areas with the highest number of HIV diagnoses in 2011. Local agencies receiving these grants are the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Oakland-based AIDS Project of the East Bay and California Prostitutes Education Project (CAL-PEP).

Last week the White House released an update to its National HIV/AIDS Strategy, outlining the administration’s plans for tackling the epidemic through the year 2020.

(See story, page 12).

“Full access to comprehensive pre-exposure prophylaxis services for those whom it is appropriate and desired” is one of four priority activities, along with widespread testing and linkage to care, efforts to keep people with HIV engaged in care, and universal viral suppression.

The strategy states that, “Federal, and local, agencies should increase awareness of PrEP and [post-exposure prophylaxis] among persons at risk for HIV infection, educate and train health care providers and identify mechanisms to ensure access to PrEP and PEP for persons who can benefit most, including use of prevention funds.”

The strategy does not go so far as to recommend a federally funded program to pay for PrEP drugs – along the lines of ADAP – but Office of National AIDS Policy director Douglas Brooks told reporters that details of the PrEP aspects of the plan are still under development.t find Oakland affordable can pay more than the Oaklanders who are already here,” said Schaaf. “You see that pressure. So I am anxious to build more housing. I want new people to come to Oakland; I love the energy that is flowing into this city. But I want that energy to complement what is already here.”

More LGBT outreach needed

Schaaf has yet to turn to LGBT specific issues during her first year in office, as hiring for key posts to her administration and passing her first budget have monopolized much of her time. As noted in this week’s Political Notebook, five of the people Schaaf has hired to key staffing positions are out lesbians, several of whom worked for previous Oakland mayors. (See story, page 5.)

See page 13 >>

t

Obituaries>>

August 6-12, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

Gay South of Market activist Jim Meko dies

by Seth Hemmelgarn

J

im Meko, a gay longtime activist in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, died Monday, August 3 at the age of 66.

According to his longtime partner, Roy Carr, 77, Mr. Meko had had a stroke July 19.

Mr. Meko, who had chaired the Western SOMA Citizens Planning Task Force and for years served on the city’s entertainment commission, was known as a tough but respected advocate who cared deeply about maintaining the area’s gay heritage and Rick Gerharter affordability.

Supervisor Jane Kim, who de- SOMA activist Jim Meko feated Mr. Meko for the District 6 seat in 2010, called him a “stalMr. Meko was born February wart” advocate.

13, 1949 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He “He loved the South of Market,” majored in communications at the said Kim, whose district includes University of Minnesota. He moved SOMA. “He was very much in love to San Francisco in 1977, and he and with the neighborhood and pasCarr eventually started Best Impressionate about it.” sion printing business.

While Mr. Meko was sometimes Mr. Meko’s sister, Jeanne Hall, of critical of Kim, she called him “pasSt. Paul, said, “He bloomed when he sionate and tenacious,” and said, went out to San Francisco,” and it “You knew it came from a place of was “wonderful” that he could move care.” to the city “and have as many op“You never questioned his moportunities as he did to be of service tives,” she added. and help. It was a good fit.”

Kim said she’s “incredibly sad Hall said her brother was “kind of about the loss for our community,” a quiet, thinker guy,” but it was obviand “whether I agreed with him ous early on that he was gifted. or not” on issues, it was “amazing “When he was a little kid, he to have someone who cared about was in the garage building printing every single block.” presses out of plywood,” she said.

Lesbian Entertainment CommisHe also taught himself how to play sioner Audrey Joseph, who served the 12-string guitar. on the panel with Mr. Meko for “Anything he could put his mind years, said working with him could to, he could teach himself,” Hall said. be “difficult.”

Mr. Meko’s determination helped But Joseph noted that Mr. Meko bring changes to his adopted city. was a neighborhood representative, Kim said Mr. Meko’s biggest imwhile she speaks on behalf of the pact was “the Western SOMA plan, entertainment industry. for sure. His perspective and finger“We had tons of arguments, prints were all over that plan.” which we’re supposed to,” she said.

The neighborhood roadmap was Mr. Meko worried about enterin the works for more than eight tainment “encroaching” on longyears before Lee and the Board of time SOMA residents, she said.

Supervisors approved it in 2013. It One of the plans he opposed was addresses affordable housing, enterlimited live performance permits, tainment, and other issues. which Mayor Ed Lee eventually She also noted that Mr. Meko approved and essentially allow for was a leading voice in calling for things like having a piano player at an LGBT Cultural Heritage District a restaurant.

“He was staunchly against it along the Folsom Street corridor,” Joseph said. “... I never understood his reasoning, except he didn’t want that level of change.”

Western SOMA has been home to a number of gay leather bars since the 1970s and plays host each year to two fetish street fairs. Joseph said Mr. Meko was concerned about preserving elements of LGBT and other communities, and he also wanted “to keep it as much of a working class, middle class neighborhood as possible.”

Regardless of their disagreements, she said, “I respected who he was, and what he did, and how passionately he did it.”

Mr. Meko “had a big impact on the early, formative years of the entertainment commission,” Joseph said. “He helped write our good neighbor policy, he helped write our bylaws, and he set the tone for what a neighborhood representative should be.”

In a 2011 Facebook post, Mr. Meko said, “Representing neighborhood concerns on the EC is not glamorous. The Bay Guardian [a weekly newspaper that shut down in 2014] once described me as ‘grumpy.’

Well, if a venue has been keeping families awake at night, if it’s been attracting a crowd that defaces your property or, God forbid, if innocent victims are injured or killed, that merits more than a frown.”

and “ensuring there are ways we’re going to not only commemorate” that heritage, but also “preserve it.” (The status of the cultural district is unclear.)

Mr. Meko also welcomed some new gay life into the neighborhood.

Geoff Benjamin, 43, who coowns the gay bar and cabaret Oasis, at 298 11th Street, said Mr. Meko’s support of the bar before it opened on New Year’s Eve last year was “striking.”

“He was one of the only SOMA leaders” to come to the city’s planning commission and the Board of Supervisors’ land use committee and speak in favor of the project, Benjamin said.

“That meant a lot to me,” he said. “It really indicated to me [Mr. Meko] was a reasonable person who cared about the community and wasn’t as predictable as some people may have thought he was,” or “just a naysayer.”

Benjamin said Mr. Meko had seen SOMA evolve over many years, with changes including the loss of most of the neighborhood’s famous gay leather bars.

“He wanted to have an impact on its next evolution” and ensure it would be “sustainable,” he said, allowing for people who live in the neighborhood to coexist with entertainment venues.

“He was happy to see more gay establishments come back into the neighborhood,” Benjamin said.

In an email, longtime friend Gayle Rubin said, “Jim Meko has been an irreplaceable guardian of South of Market for nearly two decades. His tireless activism and deep knowledge of land use and zoning issues have been a major force in keeping Western SOMA hospitable to gay bars, small businesses, and long term residents Many people who have benefitted from his work are unaware of his many contributions to the vitality of this neighborhood.”

Besides Carr and his sister, Mr. Meko is survived by other family members and numerous friends.

A public memorial service is planned for 6 p.m., August 17 at Slim’s, 333 11th Street, San Francisco.t

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San Francisco Columbarium A cemetery for cremated remains in the City.

Obituaries >> Robert Leon Mitchell October 12, 1950 – June 12, 2015

Robert Leon Mitchell passed away peacefully at his home in Portland, Oregon at the age of 64.

He was born in Salina, Kansas to Earl Fugate Mitchell and Betty Louise Cole. As a youth he moved to the Holdenville, Oklahoma area and later studied business in Kingsville, Texas. As a teenager he went west, where much of his family established homes around Olympia, Washington. Bob had a long career as a recruiting specialist for multiple organizations, and lived in multiple cities. In these latter years he had decided to pursue education and training as an alcohol and other drug counselor.

He is survived by his partner of eight years, Paul; one son, Chris; four sisters, Barbara, Dee, Kathy and Belinda; three brothers, Roger, Jimmy, and Dan; one granddaughter, Midea; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and younger sister, Tina.

A memorial service, which is open to the public, will be held at the United Churches of Olympia August 8 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations can be made at https://www.youcaring.com/ BobMitchell. For those who cannot attend but wish to, his partner would

enjoy providing you with a parting gift.

Please email your address to him at pmollard101@gmail.com.

Paul David Needham May 18, 1965 – July 14, 2015

Paul Needham died unexpectedly in his sleep on July 14. He was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and his body has been returned there for burial. In recent years, he lived in Redwood Shores but often visited Palm Springs. He is survived by two brothers and one sister and several nieces and nephews, as well as many friends.

He was a graduate of Purdue University and was senior director of product management for database security at Oracle. An international traveler who often spoke at high tech conferences, Paul was planning a pleasure trip to Italy. Long active in the leather, uniform, and boots community, Paul was organizing a uniform dinner at the time of his passing. He was an avid reader, had a wonderful sense of humor, and was very fond of classical music, especially Mozart. Contributions to the Midsummer Mozart Festival (www.midsummermozart.org) are a suitable memorial. Paul was an exceptionally kind person who will be missed by his many friends.

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<< Sports

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

Athletes vent frustration over EuroGames track and field format

by Roger Brigham

L

ess than a week before the opening of the EuroGames in Stockholm, Sweden, track and field organizers released their meet’s timetable and announced their age divisions.

That triggered a frenzied exchange of messages on social media that pit the joy of competing with fellow LGBT athletes from around the world against anguish over unexpected decisions, collapsed age divisions, and unexpected schedule conflicts. Taken together, they provide a capsule look at the challenges and rewards in trying to pull together LGBT recreational athletes in a friendly but intensely contested competition.

The five-day, 30-sport EuroGames opened Wednesday, August 5 and end Sunday, August 9. The three-day track and field competition at Stockholms Olympiastadion, site of the 1912 Summer Olympics, will be held August 6-8. Although the EuroGames have been planned for years, the schedule for track and field was not released until Friday, July 31 via a dedicated Facebook page. By then, many participants were already boarding flights to Sweden and were frustrated about the lack of information. Many of them became downright furious when they got off their planes and read the compressed schedule, which makes it impossible for many runners to compete in multiple events they had planned on, and which lumps competitors together in 10-year age groups instead of the far more common five-year age brackets.

Many runners compete in masters competitions sanctioned by the International Association of Athletics Federation. In the IAAF, age groups are divided by five-year in-

crements. Runners said they feared the EuroGames’ decision to use 10year age brackets would invalidate their IAAF results.

“Regarding the five- vs. 10-year divisions, this was a decision made from the number of participants as well as registrations for each division with the whole track and field championship,” Jakob Jansson, president of the Stockholm EuroGames told the Bay Area Reporter. “We have also had some extra discussions after feedback, which always arrives after any decision for such a massive event as EuroGames, and still believe that this is the best of solutions. It will be more of a competition with more complete divisions/sets/races. This was decided together with both the organizing club as well as our own organization and the local LGBTQ track and field club, the Stockholm Snipers.”

On Sunday, August 2, organizers posted on the event’s Facebook page, “The number of participants plus registrations for each division motivates the organization decision. We truly believe this will make the championship a great one and hope your time in Stockholm will be unforgettable. We apologize for any inconvenience due to unclear information or statements in registration information regarding this matter and recognize frustration due to the same.”

Many competitors, however, remained angered by the age-group decision.

“This does not fit with the international rules of masters racing,” London competitor Michael Burslem wrote on Facebook. “The competition is better served having athletes of the same five-year age bands. Have you considered that in some events the height of hurdles

Courtesy Giampiero Mancinelli

Giampiero Mancinelli is one of several athletes upset about the age group brackets of the EuroGames, now underway in Stockholm, Sweden.

or weight of implements is different within your 10-year age bands?

How can you say it is a fair competition? Are you making the older athletes use the higher or heavier equipment? Or do you make the younger ones use the lower or lighter ones? This means these races and events will not be verified by IAAF for ranking purposes. It surely adds no extra burden to the organizers and should not result in any more races, just fair ones. I, and I am sure others, are happy to help a day early to re-draw heats and finals to make this happen. The number of participants should not affect what the age groups are. I, and many others competing, have trained hard, this is our pinnacle event this summer. How about being fair to the athletes? I am sorry, I appreciate you are all working hard organizing a multi (discipline) event, but the event is for us the athletes. Surely we should be the priority.”

And Burslem wasn’t done.

“Sorry organizers, you are missing the point,” he wrote. “You advertised the event as following the IAAF rules and you are not following them. Yes, combine some distance events with a number of

age groups to ease timetabling, but not for medals. That is unfair! You are in some events depriving an athlete of a final by combining these age groups. Again, not fair. You announce this five days prior to competition. Again, not fair.”

“Money back please,” Swedish competitor Jorgen Wehmonen wrote.

“The organizers are showing great disrespect to the athletes,” Sylvain Treil of France wrote. “This is definitely not gonna be fun games.”

Tina Bergman of Seattle is one of about 500 Americans going.

“Really, EuroGames?” Bergman wrote. “Follow the international standard, please. That was certainly expected by athletes when registering.”

One competitor from France criticized the entire EuroGames operation, and his observations illuminate the fundamental challenges of hosting quality LGBT participatory sports.

“Likely the worst EuroGames in terms of adequate design, public relations, marketing and promotion, and, most importantly, community participation,” Robert Jolly wrote.

“All that aside, they managed to market themselves to target uppermiddle class North Americans, Western and Northern Europeans, while there will be very few South and East Europeans participating – many countries none, so it is a setback for European participation. These are the first EuroGames where there is no hosted housing – the most important instrument of supporting less wealthy participants, but also an opportunity to experience the hospitality of the local community. This EuroGames 2015 will be an example on what can go wrong when host cities are not represented by enthusiastic and strong community with LGBTIQ sport organizers, but rather a few marginal individuals and the local tourist board.”

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Oakland mayor

From page 10

Athletes’ frustration

So, this isn’t merely a handful of complaints from a few spoiled athletes who are upset because they are not getting exactly the opportunity they want to win a handful of medals.

These are the disappointments and frustrations of athletes who really are just that – athletes – in a sports world that is all too hostile to women, persons of color, queer folk, and lowincome individuals. Athletes who want to see a diversity of fellow athletes who want them to have a chance to excel in a quality event.

Former Stanford graduate student Giampiero Mancinelli of France hopes to compete in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter sprints, as well as the long jump, triple jump, pole vault, hammer throw, shot put, discus, javelin, and two relays. He wrote about why LGBT events need to go the extra mile to ensure they are more inclusive and more forgiving in their standards than mainstream events.

“Many of us started doing track late, for reasons of fear of being ridiculed, homophobia, not feeling adequate, laziness – whatever,” Mancinelli wrote. “I started at 33, though I wanted to start since I was 6. Most of my fellow team members are starting now because I am there.

They are from 19 to 55. Ninety-five percent are starting now! This is not unusual. Hence I think that the Red Book of the Gay Games is correct in having an extra 30-34 year-old group, and those rules were put there for a reason.”

Mancinelli said he had contacted the co-presidents of the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation as well as a EuroGames committee member, trying to get the track and field decisions changed.

“Stockholm has been a wall, in spite of complaints from Sweden to Australia,” he told me. “It’s been utterly frustrating. I am not sure they even have the power to change this.

We’ll know soon enough.”t

White House updates National HIV/AIDS Strategy

by Liz Highleyman

T

he White House has released an updated version of its National HIV/AIDS Strategy, outlining the administration’s plans through the year 2020. In keeping with recent research, the revised strategy includes an increased emphasis on early HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, and focuses on heavily affected groups including young gay men, transgender women, and African-Americans.

President Barack Obama launched the strategy update at a July 30 event at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, a city that represents the burgeoning HIV epidemic in the South.

“Prevention, treatment, and care have saved millions of lives, even in the world’s poorest countries,” Obama said. “But our work is far from finished. One in eight people with HIV still go undiagnosed. Only three in 10 people with HIV have suppressed the virus in their system, lowering it to an undetectable level.

And this disease still affects different ages, races, sexual orientations, and even different regions of the country in disproportionate ways.”

Response to the strategy has generally been positive in San Francisco and elsewhere.

“Over the last five years, the field of HIV has experienced breakthrough advances in testing, prevention, and access to treatment,” said San Francisco AIDS Founda-

tion CEO Neil Giuliano. “Since the first National HIV/AIDS Strategy was released, we’ve learned that early treatment gives people better health outcomes, that treatment equals prevention, and that PrEP works. HIV remains a major health issue in our country and the update – reflecting hard work and national leadership – leverages new evidence and acknowledges the vast work still to be done.”

Strategy specifics

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy, initially released in 2010, sets forth a vision: “The United States will become a place where new HIV infections are rare, and when they do occur, every person, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socio-economic circumstance, will have unfettered access to high quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and discrimination.”

To this end, the strategy includes four key goals: reducing new HIV infections, increasing access to care and improving health outcomes for people living with HIV, reducing HIV-related disparities and health inequities, and achieving a more coordinated national response.

Mirroring UNAIDS’ “90-90-90” targets and San Francisco’s “Getting to Zero” initiative, the strategy calls for improvements at every step of the HIV cascade of care, from testing and linkage to care to achieving undetectable viral load.

Specific targets in the strategy include increasing the percentage of people with HIV who know their serostatus to at least 90 percent, reducing the number of new diagnoses by at least 25 percent, increasing the percentage of newly diagnosed people linked to HIV medical care within one month to at least 85 percent, increasing the proportion of HIV-positive people with viral suppression to at least 80 percent, and reducing the death rate among people with HIV by at least 33 percent.

“We are pleased that the upCourtesy the White House dated National HIV/AIDS StratPresident Barack Obama gives an egy aligns well with the Getting update to the National HIV/AIDS to Zero effort in San Francisco,” Susan Buchbinder, director of Strategy last week at the Morehouse Bridge HIV at the San Francisco School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Department of Public Health the funds to carry it out – not just told the Bay Area Reporter. “Each talk. of the San Francisco Consortium’s “The updated National HIV/ first-year signature initiatives – AIDS Strategy comes on the heels PrEP scale-up, rapid linkage to care of important clinical trial findings after HIV diagnosis, retention in confirming the significant bencare, and elimination of HIV stigma efits of antiretroviral drugs for HIV – are highly featured in the national treatment and prevention,” said HIV strategy. We are at a turning point Medicine Association Chair Adaora in the HIV epidemic – we now have Adimora. “This evidence must drive highly effective treatment and prethe [strategy] and move us to ensure vention, and the potential for health access to HIV prevention, care and care access for all.” treatment for all people with HIV – regardless of who they are or where Response to the strategy they live.

While the updated National HIV/ “While scientific advances inspire AIDS Strategy has generally been optimism, the path forward is comwell received, stakeholders have emplicated by stigma, discrimination, phasized the need for action – and

t <<

Community News>>

complex social factors, challenges to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, and federal budget austerity measures,” she continued. “Limited access to and poor uptake of approved medications for HIV prevention, late HIV diagnosis, late entry into care, and poor retention in care significantly hamper our ability to decrease new infections and achieve the optimal outcomes we all want for people already living with HIV.” One area where resources are not meeting the need is housing.

The strategy acknowledges that stable housing both helps people remain HIV-free and makes it easier for those who are HIVpositive to stay in care and benefit from treatment. The update includes a target of reducing the percentage of people with HIV in medical care who are homeless to no more than 5 percent.

“Homelessness prevention is one of those rare social needs where there is a simple cure: money,” AIDS Housing Alliance/San Francisco Director Brian Basinger told the B.A.R. “San Francisco needs to devote more resources targeting prevention of homelessness for all people, especially those who are HIV-positive and those who are at the highest risk of acquiring HIV, such as gay men and transgender women. Housing subsidies have been proven to substantially lower the behavior that can lead to the transmission of the virus.”t

A few months after being sworn into office in January, Schaaf did meet with executives from a number of Oakland agencies focused on HIV services and prevention. Even though the health funding largely comes from Alameda County and not the city of Oakland, Schaaf said it is an important issue she wants to champion as mayor.

“A mayor can do a lot of things, whether it is kicking off the AIDS Walk around Lake Merritt or promoting it through my social media,” said Schaaf. “Being able to talk about it, I can be a visible advocate for that issue.”

She also supports clean needle exchange programs and has pledged to continue to declare the issue to be a local emergency in order for them to continue. And should a legalization of recreational marijuana use go before voters in 2016, as expect-

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AEF/BCEF

From page 1

deputy county executive for Santa Clara County. According to an AEF/ BCEF news release announcing her appointment, while working with the city of Oakland, Nathan developed one of the first outreach programs for adults age 50 and older who were at risk of HIV/AIDS. Nathan worked in San Francisco during the administration of former Mayor Willie Brown, and was the first department head for Aging and Adult Services, she said.

Miller and Vucetin said that Nathan would spend a “considerable” amount of time fundraising. Nathan agreed with that assessment, saying that while AEF and BCEF have each enjoyed “strong donor, volunteer, and public support over the years” her responsibility will be to “grow the resources of the organization.”

AEF, which started in 1982 at the

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GOP race

From page 8

Main liability: Perceived as isolationist.

Response to Obergefell: Wrote op-ed piece in Time magazine, saying he disagreed with the ruling but thinks all Americans should be able to enter into a “contract” and suggests the government shouldn’t be in the business of granting these contracts because they are an “intrusion of government into the religious sphere.”

LGBT record: Earned a 20 (on a scale of 100) from HRC for his Senate voting record on LGBT issues, including a vote against ENDA. Voted against amendment to allow benefits for same-sex spouses of veterans.

Said his office has a “zero tolerance policy for anybody who displays discriminatory behavior or belief ... based on ... sexual orientation. ...”

Ben Carson

Current odds of winning the nomination: 2 percent.

Occupational experience: Former neurosurgeon and author.

Age: 63 Main asset: Relatively new to national political scene.

Main liability: Never run for office before.

Response to Obergefell : Issued a statement, saying he “strongly disagrees” with the ruling, saying marriage is a “religious service, not a government form.” Called on Congress to “make sure deeply held religious views are respected and protected.”

LGBT record: Lumped same-sex couples with the North American Man-Boy Love Association, or NAMBLA, and bestiality while explaining why he doesn’t support allowing same-sex couples to marry,

August 6-12, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 13

ed, Schaaf has pledged to campaign for it.

“Because, I think there is a critical mass of Californians that support it,” she said in regards to her stance.

“It makes so much more sense for health and safety to regulate this.”

She took part in San Francisco’s Pride parade in June, accompanied by a local artist and his husband whom the mayor had married two days prior, and is looking forward to participating in Oakland’s Pride parade in September.

“We are very excited about Oakland Pride,” she said. “I think we are going to be expanding it this year. The parade is going to be much bigger.”

Several LGBT community leaders contacted by the B.A.R. about Schaaf’s leadership to date spoke favorably about the steps she has taken so far. Moving forward, though, they said they would like to see more direct attention on the LGBT community.

The city’s LGBT community continues to “get to know” Schaaf, said

Brendalynn Goodall, president of the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club, an LGBT political group that remained neutral in the mayor’s race last year.

“Now is the time to engage the community,” said Goodall. “I believe they may be doing a lot of positive things, but I think it is time to share with the community all those great things she has done. Maybe it is a town hall.”

Asked about holding such an event, Peggy Moore, an out lesbian who is a senior adviser to the mayor and Schaaf ’s de facto liaison to the LGBT community, did not dismiss the idea of organizing a meeting between the mayor and LGBT residents.

“Whether it is a town hall or we just bring LGBT folks to the table, we are looking forward to sharing the mayor’s vision to everybody,” said Moore, adding that the issues City Hall is confronting affect all Oaklanders, regardless of their sex-

ual orientation or gender identity.

“Everything we are doing here in the mayor’s office affects LGBT folks.”

From housing and jobs to infrastructure and youth programs, said Moore, it all impacts the city’s LGBT community.

“Everything we do is not separate from our community. It includes our voice as well,” she said. “Our aim is to lift up Oaklanders and that includes the LGBT community as well.”

Colbruno, who co-chaired Quan’s re-election campaign last year, compared Schaaf to former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a straight politician considered a strong ally to the LGBT community due to his early support for same-sex marriage.

“I can say this, I can’t anticipate any major issues ever developing with this mayor. She is a longtime ally of the community, just like our last mayor,” said Colbruno. “I think if she can be there for us, she will always stand with us.”

One area where LGBT community leaders expect to see their needs be addressed is through the city’s new Department of Race and Equity. It is in addition to Schaaf ’s own director of equity and strategic partnerships, for which she hired Jose Corona last month. He is tasked with increasing philanthropic funding of city programs.

“When you look at the intersection of gender and race and sexual identity, we want to ensure LGBT folks are included,” said Goodall.

Asked if the work the equity office would be focused on would include the needs of the LGBT community, Schaaf said its focus would be multifaceted.

“Equity does mean more than race. It means economic status, it means sexual orientation status, gender status, all of those things,” she said. “As a city we really have to examine how this government is either helping equity or hurting equity.”t

height of the AIDS epidemic, is the older of the two organizations. It now has a budget of between $2.1 and $2.2 million. The affiliated BCEF was formed in 2001 with its own separate funding stream. BCEF’s budget is about $1 million. Each organization has its own board of directors. Nathan’s salary will be $160,000, Miller and Vucetin said, which is competitive in today’s marketplace relative to organizations with similar sized budgets.

In response to a question, Miller and Vucetin both acknowledged “donor fatigue” around HIV/AIDS organizations.

“Donor fatigue in the AIDS service organization sector as a whole is now widely recognized, and most agencies feel the crunch,” Miller and Vucetin said. “While there is considerable enthusiasm and support around HIV prevention in 2015, due to newer biomedical options, charitable giving for agencies like ours that operate at the opposite end of the HIV service

spectrum is not as robust.”

The board chairs said that Nathan and the AEF board will “take a good look at AEF’s services against local needs.”

“How can we better serve very poor people with disabling HIV/ AIDS in San Francisco, and how can we secure donors who are behind our enhanced efforts?” Miller and Vucetin said.

Currently, AEF serves about 2,000 San Francisco residents, while BCEF serves about 400 women and families in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. Miller and Vucetin were asked if they see AEF and BCEF increasing the number of clients served, and whether there’s a waiting list at either agency.

“There is currently not a waiting list at AEF or BCEF, although the AEF board has been weighing whether to consider a slight expansion of our services,” Miller and Vucetin said. “Work is underway this year to determine

how to best to that, and Sandra will obviously be instrumental in executing on higher-level decisions that are driven by the board.”

mittee. We then narrowed the field down to four for second-round interviews, then the two finalists had a thorough reference check, meetings with staff, and then sat for a joint session with both boards.”

Miller and Vucetin were asked about one thing about Nathan that stood out to them and the two boards.

“Sandra is the whole package, and everyone loved her,” they said.

“She’s got the credentials, personality, and vision for this job. She’s a strong communicator with a wide variety of audiences.”

Most of all, the two board chairs said, was Nathan’s vision.

“She promises to take the organizations to the next level,” Miller and Vucetin said, “so that we can expand our client base, range of services, or perhaps both.”

Nathan’s broader community work includes serving on the boards of the National LGBTQ Task Force and the Lambda Literary Foundation.t

then apologized for the remarks.

Said prison proves sexual orientation is a choice, then apologized for those remarks, too, and, according to CNN, “said he won’t be addressing gay rights issues for the duration of his presidential campaign.”

Main asset: Only woman in the field.

Main liability: Less than stellar business success.

Response to Obergefell: Posted a statement on Facebook, saying the decision “usurps the constitutional right of the people to decide” but urged Americans to find “a way to respect one another and to celebrate a culture that protects religious freedom while promoting equality under the law.”

LGBT record: Said she voted for California’s same-sex marriage ban, Proposition 8 (which was later overturned). Supported civil unions for same-sex couples, but not marriage.

And said she did not support ENDA.

Rick Santorum

Current odds of winning the nomination: 1 percent.

Occupational experience: Former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.

Age: 57 Main asset: Persistence.

Main liability: Failed to gain traction in 2012 bid.

Response to Obergefell: Said the court “got it wrong,” and that, as president, he would issue an executive order “to ensure no agency of the federal government will interfere with the religious liberty rights of faith-based organizations who oppose same-sex marriage.”

LGBT record: As U.S. senator, scored zero on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard. During campaign for GOP presidential nomination in 2012, Santorum said he wanted to reinstate the ban on gays in the military, characterized the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” as “tragic,” and boasted of his active campaign to oust three Iowa state Supreme Court justices who had ruled that the state constitution guaranteed gay couples the same rights as heterosexual couples seeking marriage licenses.

Carly Fiorina

Current odds of winning the nomination: 1 percent.

Occupational experience: Former chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard.

Age: 60

Lindsey Graham

Top choice

The executive director search was led by Scott Miller Executive Search.

Miller, who used to work for Korn Ferry before starting his own firm, has filled numerous executive positions in various LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations. Miller told the B.A.R. back in January that he’d conduct the search based on what he heard from AEF and BCEF board members.

The search was thorough, Miller and Vucetin said.

“Scott Miller initially surveyed dozens of people with a touch point to one or both agencies – other executive directors, community leaders, donors, etc.,” Miller and Vucetin said. “He presented eight candidates with a diverse range of work experience to the search comAge: 44 Main asset: Former assistant secretary at Health and Human Services and U.S. congressman.

Main liability: Low favorability rating in home state.

Response to Obergefell: Issued statement saying God made marriage one man and one woman and that this ruling would trigger an “all-out assault against religious freedom rights of Christians who disagree” with it.

LGBT Record: Issued an executive order allowing businesses to refuse service to gay couples and is seeking a state bill to do so.

Rick Perry

Current odds of winning the nomination: 0 percent.

Occupational experience: Former governor of Texas.

Current odds of winning the nomination: 1 percent.

Occupational experience: U.S. senator from South Carolina (second term).

Age: 55 Main asset: High profile in key Senate proceedings.

Main liability: Not married.

Response to Obergefell: Issued statement saying he respects the court’s decision, would not support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, but would “staunchly defend religious liberty.”

LGBT record: Earned a zero on HRC’s latest Congressional Scorecard. Supported federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and voted for amendment to ban adoptions by gays in District of Columbia.

Age: 65 Main asset: Former governor of a large state.

Main liability: Perceived as not particularly bright.

Response to Obergefell: Issued a statement saying the decision was an “assault” on the 10th Amendment and an effort to “legislate” from the bench. (The 10th Amendment says states have powers not reserved to the federal government or prohibited by the Constitution.)

LGBT record: As a GOP presidential candidate in 2012, he signed a pledge to the National Organization for Marriage to vigorously oppose same-sex marriage. Opposed gays in the military.

Bobby Jindal

George Pataki

Current odds of winning the nomination: 0 percent.

Occupational experience: Current governor of Louisiana.

Current odds of winning the nomination: 0 percent.

Occupational experience: Former governor of New York.

Age: 70 Main asset: Former three-term GOP governor of large Democratic state.

Main liability: Relative lack of name recognition nationally.

Response to Obergefell: Told the Washington Blade he thinks states should have decided the issue but that he accepts the ruling and would not support effort to pass a constitutional amendment to ban marriage for same-sex couples.

LGBT record: Signed a state law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Said the marriage issue should be left up to the states. Early campaign ad characterizes LGBT issues as a “distraction.”

Jim Gilmore

Current odds of winning the nomination: Not yet rated.

Occupational experience: Former governor of Virginia.

Age: 65 Main asset: Thinks the party must become more accepting of gays.

Main liability: Couldn’t muster the funds to run in 2008.

Response to Obergefell: None.

LGBT record: Told the National Review that the GOP keeps “projecting anger at the gay community and the Hispanic community, even though they’re open to many of our ideas.”t Broadcast note: Thursday’s debate will be hosted and broadcast by Fox News.

The network is dividing the Republican field into two tiers: The “top 10 candidates,” based on an average of five national polls, will debate among themselves at 6 p.m. PT, and the remaining announced candidates will participate in a separate debate at 2 p.m. PT.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

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Political Notebook

From page 5

It demonstrates that Schaaf “is not intimidated by having really smart people around her. To me, that is a sign of a good executive,” said Colbruno.

Brendalynn Goodall, president of the East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club, an LGBT political group that remained neutral in the mayor’s race, also applauded Schaaf for ensuring her administration includes members of the LGBT community.

“I think they are not only five lesbians but also five qualified women,” said Goodall, a lesbian who retired from her job with the city as a manager overseeing aging and adult services. “They are five women who have a wealth of experience. It is good to see her staff reflects the diversity of Oakland.”

In her role as a mayoral senior adviser, Moore is also Schaaf ’s de facto liaison to the LGBT community.

“I think everyone sees Peggy Moore as my liaison. She is a recognized leader in the LGBT community,” said Schaaf. “As my senior adviser, she is extremely close with me. I would say I have her ear, she has my ear.”

One of Moore’s main duties is to recruit candidates to fill vacancies on the city’s various boards and commissions. In the spring she met with the Stonewall club to discuss the process for applying to the city’s various oversight bodies.

The two most powerful, the port

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Out in the World

From page 1

with disgust any attempt to impose hatred and violence among us and will bring the murderer to justice.

Shira was murdered because she bravely supported the principle that everyone has the right to live their lives respectfully and with security.”

Arthur Slepian, founder and executive director of A Wider Bridge, an organization that promotes relationships between LGBT communities in North America and Israel, expressed his condolences for the loss of the young woman.

“It’s a really tragic occurrence and our thoughts and our prayers are with her family and her friends,” said Slepian, a gay man. “It seems that she was a beautiful young woman with a very big heart and a strong commitment to equality and justice.

It’s a tragedy that her life was cut short in such an unnecessary way.”

In the aftermath of the attack, LGBT leaders in Israel and the U.S. cautiously praised the political and religious leaders who historically have been standoffish for coming forward on behalf of the community and pledging to do what LGBT activists in Jerusalem have been trying to do for years.

LGBT Jewish community members in the Bay Area and Jerusalem have also provided support to the local queer community. Bay Area community leaders have guided supporters to Jerusalem Open House, an LGBT organization, and other groups, they told the Bay Area Reporter. In Israel, JOH leaders tapped psychologists, medical consultants, legal advisers, and other service providers and erected a mourners’ tent in Jerusalem’s city center to help anyone in need following the attack, said Tom Canning, a JOH spokesman.

Activists are also calling upon Israel’s political and religious leaders to do more than express their condolences for Banki’s death and condemn the attack on Jerusalem Pride.

They are calling for Israel’s government to take more concrete actions.

“The only way to prevent the next murder is by entering every school, every medical center, every police department, every military infantry and give seminars on tol-

and planning commissions, both have current members from the LGBT community. The positions are often launching pads to run for public office, which is why ensuring LGBT people are appointed has been a key priority for the Stonewall club.

“We are working with Peggy to talk about future appointments,” said Goodall. “We want to see more LGBTQ candidates considered for appointments. We want to make sure they hear our voice.”

While there are no vacancies at the moment on the port or planning bodies, Moore said the mayor’s office is reviewing the current makeup of all oversight panels and commissions.

“We are looking at every board and commission and want to take a deep dive into them. We are making sure they are well rounded and have what they need to be successful,” said Moore.

As she has done in hiring her staff, Schaaf told the B.A.R. she is committed to making diverse appointments.

“I think it is important to make sure the LGBT community is represented on all the boards and commissions,” she said. “I encourage people who want to serve their city and represent this particular community to please come forward. It is a fantastic way to serve your city and learn about city government.”

Anyone interested in serving on an Oakland oversight body can call Moore directly at (510) 238-3460 or email her at pmoore@oaklandnet. com.t erance and acceptance pluralism,” said Canning, who hopes the JOH leaderships’ recent meetings with the Israel minister of education will finally open the doors.

JOH has LGBT cultural sensitivity programs to educate students to professionals in place, said Canning.

Bay Area LGBT Jewish leaders were critical of Israeli leaders.

“I’ve seen quotes from Benjamin Netanyahu and [Isaac] “Bushi” Herzog and others but they have to be saying more than just the right thing, they need to do the right thing,” said Slepian. “They need to work to create an environment in all of the schools of Israel where students aren’t being indoctrinated into homophobia, and that includes the schools that are run by the ultra-Orthodox.”

Zionist Union leader Herzog recently lost his campaign for prime minister of Israel to Netanyahu.

“People need to understand that when they are speaking in inflammatory ways and with rhetoric that is really poisonous, they need to know who might be listening to them and that some crazy person out there might get the idea that somehow this kind of violence is OK,” said Slepian.

“It’s definitely not OK.” In spite of recent events, LGBT Jewish leaders in both countries are hopeful that the tragedy will be a turning point for acceptance of the LGBT community and recognition of rights for the community in Israel.

“I would like to be optimistic. I would love to think that might happen and that this might be a turning point but I think time will tell,” said Slepian.

Julie Dorf, senior adviser at the Council for Global Equality, was harsh in her criticism of Israel’s government, where religious extremists have gained more power in recent years, she said.

She pointed not only to the attack on Jerusalem Pride, but also the July 31 burning of a Palestinian family’s home in the West Bank, where an 18-month old died.

“This is the government that is responsible,” said Dorf, a lesbian who has marched in Jerusalem Pride twice.t A longer version of this story is online at ebar.com.

t

Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC15-551311

In the matter of the application of: MARIA YAROSLAVOVNA BEZCHINSKY, 1324 WILLARD ST # 206, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner MARIA YAROSLAVOVNA BEZCHINSKY, is requesting that the name MARIA YAROSLAVOVNA BEZCHINSKY, be changed to MARIA HITRAYA-LOW. 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 10th of September 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036574200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LOMBARD NAIL SPA, 2447 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HA PHUONG QUAN. 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 07/13/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036560100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SIENNA TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, 4052 18TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed STEPHANIE RAE HANEY. 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 07/03/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036567600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GAY THERAPY CENTER, 538 HAYES ST #A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ADAM D. BLUM. 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 07/08/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036562800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: POCO LOCO TAMALE COMPANY, 563 2ND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PATRICK BRITTEN VENTURA. 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 07/06/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036563600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AGD ENTERPRISES, 2227 FILBERT ST #10, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALEXANDER DEA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/06/15.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/06/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036563400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MS DEALS, 501 41ST AVE #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MICHAEL SARKISSIAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/06/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/06/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036568400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ANGELINA- PALM READER, 3127 GEARY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LOLA NICHOLAS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on12/12/98. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/09/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036565900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: VIKING PHOTO, 1219 2ND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LEIF HEILBERG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/08/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/08/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036535700

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036546900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THERAPEIA, 1801 BUSH ST LOWER WING, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed RANGNEKAR CHIROPRACTIC INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/25/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/25/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036551600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALPHAPUP OFFICE; BLITZ; BLITZ ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN; BLITZ SAN FRANCISCO; BLITZ SF; 435 JACKSON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111.

This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DESIGN BLITZ (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/11/2011. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/29/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036568800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MILLER GLOBAL TRAVEL, 1949 GREEN ST #4, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MILLER GLOBAL TRAVEL INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/06/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/09/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036566000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ARUM TEA, 1886 18TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited partnership, and is signed NOVO INTERNATIONAL LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/08/15.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 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 CNC15-551354 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 CNC15-551356

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 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036572400

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.

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

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.

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036577700

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-036571400

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-036577801

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 CNC15-551355

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 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: SILVER SPROUTS, 1901 JERROLD AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a corporation and is signed GRUBMARKET INC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/17/15.

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.

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.

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.

JULY 16, 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 2015

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015

JULY 23, 30, AUGUST 06, 13, 2015

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

August 6-12, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

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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.

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AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 27, 2015 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.

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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.

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Pet Grooming. Proudly Serving the LGBT Community. 4299 24th St, SF. 415-282-1393 or vipgroomingsf.com

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.

AUGUST 06, 13, 20, 27, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS GENERAL INFORMATION

The SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT (“District”), 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, California, is advertising for proposals for Parking Citation Processing Services, Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 6M5096, on or about July 29, 2015, with proposals due by 2:00 PM local time, Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

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DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED

The District is soliciting the services of a Contractor to provide processing of parking citations as required by the California Vehicle Code Section 40200 et seq. The general services to be provided by the Contractor include the receipt of parking citations issued by the BART Police Department, interface with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to obtain registration information, handling of all noticing requirements, collection and reconciliation of fine revenue including interface with the DMV to initiate and remove vehicle holds, as well as other available means of collection.

A Pre-Proposal Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 12, 2015. The Pre-Proposal Meeting will convene at 10:00 AM in District’s Offices located at the Kaiser Center, 300 Lakeside Drive, 18th Floor, Conference Room No. 1800, Oakland, California 94612. At the Pre-Proposal Meeting the District’s Non-Discrimination Program for Subcontracting and Small Business Program will be explained. All questions regarding MBE/WBE participation should be directed to Ms. Muriel Owens, Office of Civil Rights at (510) 874-7326 – FAX (510) 464-7262.

Prospective proposers are requested to make every effort to attend this only scheduled Pre-Proposal Meeting, and to confirm their attendance by contacting the District’s Principal Contract Specialist, telephone (510) 464-6390, prior to the date of the Pre-Proposal Meeting. Networking Session: Immediately following the Pre-Proposal Meeting, the District’s Office of Civil Rights will be conducting a Networking Session for subcontractors to meet the prime contractors for MBE/WBE participation opportunities.

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Deadline: NOON on MONDAY. Payment must accompany ad. No ads taken over the telephone.

If you have a question, call 415.861.5019. Display advertising rates available upon request.

Indicate Type Style Here

XBOLD and BOLD stop here

WHERE TO OBTAIN OR SEE RFP DOCUMENTS

(Available on or after July 29, 2015) Copies of the RFP may be obtained: • By written request to the District’s Principal Contract Specialist, 300 Lakeside Drive, 17th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612.Reference and send requests to Fax No. (510) 464-7650.

• By arranging pickup at the above address. Call the District’s Principal Contract Specialist, (510) 464-6390 prior to pickup of the RFP. • By Email request to the District’s Principal Contract Specialist, Ms. Irene G. Gray, igray@ bart.gov.

• By attending the Pre-Proposal Meeting and obtaining the RFP at the meeting.

Dated at Oakland, California this 27th day of July, 2015. /s/ Patricia K. Williams Patricia K. Williams, Assistant District Secretary San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District 8/6/15 CNS-2778563# BAY AREA REPORTER

RATES for Newspaper and website: First line, Regular 10.00 All subsequent lines 5.00 Web or e-mail hyperlink 5.00 CAPS double price BOLD double price X-BOLD triple price PAYMENT:

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Out &About

Dreaming noir

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O&A

19

Vol. 45 • No. 32 • August 6-12, 2015

www.ebar.com/arts

High Priest of the Ridiculous

by Richard Dodds

W

hen Charles Ludlam died in 1987, only weeks after being diagnosed with AIDS, the headline on his obituary in The New York Times read: “Charles Ludlam, 44, Avant-Garde Artist of Theater, Is Dead.” Ludlam would likely have been displeased if he could have read it. The playwright-actor-director-producer considered the avant-garde as calcified, and his way at pushing at theatrical boundaries was to aim for the ridiculous. “Avant-garde art is in beige, black, white, and grey,” Ludlam said in 1978. “Ridiculous theater is in color. It’s hedonistic. It’s alchemy. It’s the transformation of what is in low esteem into the highest form of expression.”

See page 21 >>

Charles Ludlam had a prolific career as an actor, director, playwright, and producer, despite a life cut short by AIDS. California Shakespeare Company is presenting his most popular play, The Mystery of Irma Vep, as part of its season.

Susan Shacter

They sail the

ocean blue

by Philip Campbell

O “

h joy, oh rapture unforeseen,” sing the young lovers in the Act I finale of Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore, or The Lass Who Loved a Sailor. Last week, the audience at the 63rd season opening of the Lamplighters Music Theatre at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek obviously felt the same way.

See page 26 >>

F. Lawrence Ewing as Sir Joseph Porter (double cast with Chris Uzelac) in the Lamplighters Music Theatre’s H.M.S. Pinafore, or The Lass Who Loved a Sailor.

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

David Allen, Joanne Kay

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

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

We knew she was no good

by Roberto Friedman

L

ast week Out There attended a reception for the new exhibition Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait at the Contemporary Jewish Museum/SF. It’s an intimate and intriguing look at the back-story of the gifted singer-songwriter whose life ended tragically in addiction and alcohol poisoning. As arts critic Sura Wood wrote in last week’s B.A.R. review, except for a video of her performing “Back to Black” live, there is no musical component to the exhibit, an odd omission for a show about a musician. So we went back to black, listening to her slim catalog of recordings.

Kudos to the CJM for including the performance of the title song from her 2006 CD Back to Black, which in its explicit lyrics could not be considered child-friendly. It begins, “He left no time to regret,/ Kept his dick wet,/ With his same old safe bet.”

Ain’t that always the case.

In “You Know I’m No Good,” Winehouse sings, “Upstairs in bed with my ex boy,/ He’s in a place but I can’t get joy./ Thinking of you in the final throes,/ This is when my

t

Western skies

buzzer goes.” There’s friskiness in the bathroom: “I’m in the tub, you on the seat,/ Lick your lips as I soap my feet.”

Oh, Amy. On “Me & Mr. Jones,” she sings, “What kind of fuckery are you?/ Side from Sammy you’re my best black Jew./ But I could swear that we were through./ I still want to wonder bout the things you do.” That’s Sammy Davis, Jr. to the rest of us.

On “Love Is a Losing Game”: “Five story fire as you came,/ Love is a losing game.”

On “Tears Dry on Their Own”: “I should just be my own best friend,/ Not fuck myself in the head with stupid men.”

Amen, sister.

Then of course there’s her mega-hit “Rehab,” in which she gloats, “They tried to make me go to rehab, I said no no no.” In light of her life’s tragic trajectory, the song leaves us with a queasy aftertaste.

Especially in light of what we now know about daddy Mitch Winehouse’s ulterior motives and bad behavior from Asif Kapadia’s frank documentary Amy, the song’s lyrics elicit our horror and pity: “I ain’t got the time, and if my daddy thinks I’m fine,/ They tried to make me go to rehab, I won’t go go go.”

When the photographer Rick Gerharter told us he was planning to go go go to the 2015 Coeur d’Alene Art Auction last month in Reno, Nevada, we asked whether we could tag along. It’s the world’s largest auction of art devoted to the American West (cowboys, Indians, saddles, landscapes). Thinking that our readers might be interested in the world of Western-themed art, we contacted the auction’s administrators asking for a press pass to the event, adding that we would be accompanying a photographer. We received the following reply: “Roberto, Thank you for you interest in the auction. However, we are a private, low-key event, and are not looking for more publicity. We do not allow outside photographers in the room due to privacy concerns for our clients.

“Sincerely, Mike Overby, The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction.”

Well, okay then! In place of whatever coverage we were going to give, we’ll leave this blank space: But as it happened, we were in Reno for the city’s annual Artown celebration of art, culture and expression, a mass of events and exhibitions every July. Also last Saturday, we participated in the Northern Nevada Pride festival, which consisted

of a parade and a music fest/celebration in Wingfield Park, on the banks of the scenic Truckee River. (It’s separate from the Reno Pride festivities, coming up this month.)

The parade only lasted for three blocks or so, but it was full of good cheer and gay enthusiasm. It wasn’t crammed full of preening politicos and corporate propaganda as the SF Pride Parade is (the Mayor of Reno did appear). A gentleman standing nearby, asking where we were from,

opined, “Well, this parade can’t possibly measure up to the one in SF!” “But it takes a whole lot more guts to march in a gay parade in Reno than it does in SF,” we countered. We cheered on the participants gaily.

That night we attended a “Burner” event, Compression! Fire and Art, many fire-based artworks and attendant buzz taking over a closed-down Virginia St. A huge fireworks display lit up the sky. Reno had come through, spectacularly, for us yet again.t

Brandeburg’s hand.

With its low-key lighting and portraits of literary figures gracing its walls, Society Cabaret was the perfect setting for Brandeburg’s trip

down memory lane. She delivered the goods: a lovely, old-fashioned cabaret act, the kind that Streisand might have done back at the Bon Soir.t

Her favorite Barbra

by David-Elijah Nahmod

B

ay Area native Kelly Brandeburg is the kind of performer that gay men love. Clad in a glittering, floorlength black gown with matching shoes, she took to the Society Cabaret stage on Sat., Aug. 1, to perform My Favorite Barbra, her one-woman tribute to the greatest star and Brandeburg’s idol, Barbra Streisand.

Brandeburg’s love for Streisand lit up the room. The diva-in-waiting displayed an impressive range as she belted out iconic tunes such as her lovely opening number “The Way We Were,” followed by Streisand’s Funny Girl show-stopper “I’m the Greatest Star.” She sang from her heart, exposing a bit of her soul on the first song, and her comedic range on the second.

Calling herself a bit of a “Streisand Encyclopedia,” Brandeburg

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covered songs from across the Streisand catalog. She recalled Streisand’s first cabaret appearances in New York City more than 50 years ago. The audience laughed with Brandeburg as she spoke of how Streisand mesmerized her early audiences at the Bon Soir in Greenwich Village as dishes clanked in the Bon Soir kitchen – just as several dishes clanked in the Society Cabaret kitchen. Brandeburg then performed a haunting rendition of “Cry Me a River,” the classic torch number that was one of Streisand’s signature tunes at the Bon Soir. This was followed by the lovely “A Sleepin’ Bee,” the first song performed

by Streisand on television in 1962.

With grand and dramatic gestures, Brandeburg took her audience back to the 1960s as she spoke of Streisand’s extraordinary and rapid ascent into superstardom.

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Brandeburg is hilarious as she recreates “Miss Marmelstein,” the song that got supporting player Streisand a standing ovation in the 1962 Broadway musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale. The show all but assured Streisand’s future.

Brandeburg follows Streisand through the Funny Girl days, and relives some of the musicals her idol did in the aftermath of its extraordinary success. Streisand’s star shone brightest during the 1970s. Brandeburg offers her own takes on that era’s mega-hits, such as “Evergreen,” “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” and “Stoney End,” a Laura Nyro-penned tune in which Streisand adopted a more hip and contemporary sound.

Through it all Brandeburg’s love and admiration for Streisand remained front-and-center. By the time she did her Yentl medley, the audience was eating out of

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NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER E M E RG ING ARTISTS PROG R AM P R E S E NTS

Eric Chazankin

Kelly Brandeburg sang a tribute to Barbra Streisand in My Favorite Barbra, last weekend at the Society Cabaret.

ADAPTED FROM THE PL AY SALOME BY OSCAR WILDE AND OPER A BY RICHARD STR AUSS

MUSIC BY TRIX XIE CARR WITH ROBERT MOLLICONE CONCEIVED AND DIRECTED

BY BEN R ANDLE

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Film>>

August 6-12, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Killer lesbian at the Castro Theatre

by Erin Blackwell

E

lliot Lavine, after 25 years of programming films for the Roxie, is making a momentous switch to the Castro. His job has just gotten harder by six: from a 238-seat moviehouse, he’s moving to a 1,500-seater. Will Lavine’s fans follow him to the town’s premiere art-deco picture palace on a Thursday night? If they know what’s good for them. The Noir series I Wake Up Dreaming will show 12 movies never before screened at the Castro Theatre. Incredibly, they’ll be shown in 35mm celluloid prints. That’s right, a focused beam of light will pass through individual frames, under the watchful eye of a projectionist, creating images of an integrity digital can only dream of. So mark your calendar for five consecutive Thursdays, starting tonight, Aug. 6.

With titles like Dangerous Blondes (1943), Guns, Girls & Gangsters (1959), Inside Detroit (1956), and Chinatown at Midnight (1949), the Thursday night series is perhaps not designed to attract the discerning radical feminist, yet there’s at least one treasure not to be missed, playing Aug. 27 at 9:30 p.m. Dementia (1953) is an art-house or hot-house flick dissecting the life and crimes of a sneering female patricide in 57 spellbinding minutes. The title describes the degraded mental state of having lost one’s mind, and the film earns its title by following a young woman through the picturesque streets of Venice, California, at night, as she weaves in and out of archways, in and out of nightclubs,

Adrienne Barret in director John Parker’s Dementia.

in and out of homicidal rage.

Adrienne Barret has this one screen credit to her name on the website IMDb. In her Joan of Arc bob, with her surly deadpan, she cuts an unlikely figure in a medium obsessed with submissive, available, voluptuous, oversexed, objectified femmes. Her face, her expression, her vibe is so sullen, she actually deflects the viewer’s gaze. At first, she seems like a monumental casting error. Gradually you realize she’s perfectly dreadful. That she happens to resemble infamous smirking hellhound Lynndie England, the dishonorably discharged Army reservist who abused Abu Ghraib prisoners, gives Barret an uncanny socio-political relevance.

Dementia relies entirely on visuals to tell its tale of sordid psy-

Another scene from director John Parker’s Dementia.

chosexual obsession. There’s no dialogue, only the words Hotel in neon and Mysterious Stabbing on a newspaper’s front page blowing into frame at key moments. George Antheil’s soundtrack borrows intelligently from Stravinsky what he can’t steal from Debussy. The real star is offscreen soprano Marni Nixon, crisply rendering eerie arpeggios ad infinitum with alacrity. From these humble avant-garde beginnings, she moved on to big-budget films of Broadway musicals, lending her singing voice to Hollywood stars like Audrey Hepburn, Deborah Kerr, and Natalie Wood.

Unlike that cheery escapist fare, Dementia is a surreal dramatization of an abnormal psychology textbook. As seen in a flashback cued by a huge spiraling blur, the protagonist’s Oedipal schema might turn any innocent girl-child into a manhating homicidal maniac. Mom is reduced to an adulterous cliché, all dolled-up eating bonbons on a settee while mocking the advances of hardworking Dad. When he finds a stranger’s cigar butt in his ashtray, he takes a gun and shoots her dead. So naturally, their daughter stabs him in the back. Part walking Electra Complex, part Lana Turner’s

Political debating for dummies

by Erin Blackwell

G

ore Vidal (1925-2012) is one of those rare but regularly appearing types on the U.S. literary landscape who tried to make a wholesome contribution to the life of the nation, but having a classicist’s perspective on declines and falls, wound up taunting and mocking the Empire mercilessly from wellpublicized sidelines. He was hired

by ABC during the 1968 presidential campaign to argue policy and platforms with William F. Buckley, his nemesis. Their televised catfights held up a didactic mirror to the bludgeoning in the streets, dramatically improving ratings at “the third network.” Best of Enemies, a new documentary, recasts this clash of cultural icons as a demagogic rom-com, opening Aug. 7 in the Bay Area.

I predict Vidal will ultimately be best-known as the author of one or two of the world’s most forwardthinking/backward-looking novels, Myra Breckinridge (1968) and its sequel Myron (1974). I say one or two, since Myron becomes Myra before reverting to Myron, as is the way with divine hermaphrodites. The two books thereby form the single narrative of a split personality, or stream of hysterical consciousness.

Fans of Chaz Bono, Chelsea Manning, or Caitlyn Jenner will agree the novels remain cutting-edge (pun intended). Vidal’s fidelity to the medium of cinema does, however, classify him as rear-guard. Although once Myron achieves oneness with screen goddess Maria Montez circa 1948, the space-time continuum achieves irrelevance.

Buckley (1925-2008) leaves no such legacy, having been incapable of creating anything original, transcendent, or fun. Buckley was merely a commentator, reporting or distorting the deeds and ideas of the powerful and popular, striving thereby to find acceptance.

ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images

Gore Vidal debates William F. Buckley, his nemesis, in Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon’s Best of Enemies.

Founding editor of The National Review and clipboard-clutching host of Firing Line, he legitimized the hypocritical masking of racism, militarism, misogyny-goeswithout-saying, and homophobia – in a word, paternalistic bullying – cherishing the memory of Joe McCarthy, burnishing the ReaganNixon continuum, and foreshadowing such national disgraces as Rush Limbaugh. Proclaiming Buckley to be Vidal’s intellectual equal, Buckley apologist-cum-biographer Sam Tanenhaus emerges as the cryptonarrator of this lopsided compilation.

I was eager to see the cosmopolite queer activist in action. I’d forgotten all about Buckley. To watch the pompous heir of Texas oil money slouch, grin and condescend, to hear his insinuating drawl, to see the tip of his tongue flick his thin lips as he gasps, twitches, and blinks his way to a riposte, is to reenter a world of childhood where vicious men loomed large on small black-andwhite TV sets. Maybe that’s why directors Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon include only a tiny fraction of the 1968 live-on-air debates. Or maybe debate is not their real sub-

ject, since history is on Vidal’s side as Vidal was on history’s, which might embarrass Buckley legatees.

Even Buckley’s odious brother admits Vidal was right about Empire.

Correctly reading the sacrificial entrails of Vietnam, Vidal saw the Iraq debacle coming a long way off, as Buckley did not. It’d be a shame if the record were allowed to destroy a reputation.

Instead, to fill 87 minutes, the award-winning music-industry producer-directors splice together archival footage of the Republican convention in Miami and Democrats in Chicago, shots of the stockyards and cops swinging batons at anti-war protestors in the streets.

Meticulously illustrating historical references with diversionary film clips, they choose not to include draft dodgers, Black Panthers, or Haight-Ashbury. You’d never know 1968 was a flash point in the struggle to open up the Establishment to make room for a Counterculture. Key buzzwords remain unspoken. Ignoring global popular protests, talking heads offer simplistic snippets on the background and personality of the two singular antagonists. Pretending we didn’t lose

the Vietnam War, this middlebrow picture-show mimics the mindless TV era Tanenhaus credits the VidalBuckley smackdown with initiating.

Purporting to be an analysis of the way ABC’s stunt changed the U.S. media landscape forever, Best of Enemies is really a coloring book for amnesiacs that refuses to analyze the political uses of media. The question is never asked, Who gains from the distractions of the media circus? or, Why don’t Americans learn enough geography to comprehend the extent of their Empire? or, Remind me again, what the hell is critical thinking? Searching for clues to the point of this film, viewers are left to ponder the stunning dialectic that decides the debate. During their penultimate confrontation, after Vidal calls him a crypto-Nazi, Buckley erupts like a wild-eyed paranoiac on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

He hisses the word queer and threatens to beat Vidal up. Rough trade

daughter, our anti-heroine oscillates among careers as a jazz singer, whore, and paranoid schizophrenic.

Director John Parker costumes Barret in a drab skirt-suit over a black crewneck rendered medieval by a large medallion on a chain, which might or might not symbolize an engorged clitoris. Barret, possibly the cinema’s most impenetrable female lead, exudes a dour dyke affect that imbues her with perversely cumulative charisma as the condensed epic of her misanthropic mania unspools.

She churlishly, charmlessly attempts to seduce a john in an upscale hotel suite while the fat capitalist binges on fried chicken. This sequence, with a nod to Wedekind’s Lulu, briefly reveals the film’s Marx-inflected agitprop soul. This is a view inside the American psyche Madison Avenue doesn’t want you to contemplate!

The Castro will screen Dementia as the director intended, but there’s another version, available on DVD, that was slightly tweaked with an eye to box office and distributed as The Daughter of Horror (1955). Personally, I prefer this doctored version that forgoes artsy pretension in favor of cheap, straitjacketed thrills.

A voiceover by Ed McMahon frames the action with a few swift, scary suggestions, doubling the paranoid pleasure by implicating the audience in an imminent outbreak of mass psychosis. “Smug, confident, secure, because you are sane,” says McMahon in a hysterical baritone, “do you know what madness is, or how it strikes?” Yes, I do. Madness is not seeing Dementia at the Castro Theatre.t

indeed. So that’s what the F. is for.

The last swath of Best of Enemies follows the sad, slow spiral of Buckley’s inability “to let it go,” as he publishes 12,000 words about his impulse-control-failure in Esquire, which hires Vidal to respond, causing Buckley to sue them both, a suit which rages then splutters out.

How can you sue someone for being queer, for getting under your skin, for holding up a mirror to your own self-hatred? How can the Establishment sue the Counterculture for inviting them to the dance?

The impish glee irradiating Vidal’s cherubic irony flings Buckley’s rictus of rage across the generation gap, where it will droop like a Dali watch-face for the next 40 years of public life. Buckley, a devout Catholic, had a hard time admitting a false position.t Opens Fri., Aug. 7, at Landmark Theatres in SF and Berkeley.

<< Fine Art

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

San Francisco’s past is revivified

t

by Sura Wood

A

Courtesy FAM-SF

“Ferry Building at Night” (1903), gelatin silver print by Willard E. Worden. Robert Tat Collection.

t the turn of the 20th century, San Francisco photographer Willard Worden achieved his expressed goal, “to stimulate the imagination, train the eye and mind to see and understand nature” through “selection of viewpoint, light and atmospheric conditions.” But perhaps of greater value, he created and bequeathed to later generations some of the earliest photographic images of a then-comparatively-untouched San Francisco Bay Area landscape, with Golden Gate vistas that predate the defining monumental bridge we take for granted, and views of the city before, during and after the 1906 earthquake and subsequent conflagration.

Worden, a professionally trained artist, self-taught photographer and East Coast transplant, arrived here on the heels of the Gold Rush in 1901, when the burgeoning harbor metropolis was a magnet for amateur and professional photographers. He would capture San Francisco’s giddy rise and its destruction of Biblical proportions at the hands of dual cataclysms that incidentally made his reputation.

Commercially successful and a canny businessman, Worden’s career reached its apex when he became an official photographer for the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition [PPIE], which drew a slew of visitors.

But by the late 1920s, his style had fallen out of favor with tastemakers, who found his work dated, and he faded into the obscurity from which he has now been partially lifted with the help of Portals to the Past: The Photography

Courtesy FAM-SF

“Storm on the Ocean Beach” (1904), gelatin silver print by Willard E. Worden. RD Moore Collection.

of Willard Worden, a new boutique show at the de Young Museum. (The title refers to his pictures of the ruins of the Towne family’s Nob Hill mansion; the marble-columned entryway became a symbol of the earthquake, and was relocated to its permanent home in Golden Gate Park.) Comprised of nearly 70 rather antique-looking photographs, many of them sepia-toned artifacts of a bygone age, the exhibition is a must for anyone interested in photographic techniques of the period, or in San Francisco’s history, architectural and otherwise.

The first and only catalogue of Worden’s work, San Francisco Views, dated 1904, contains 32 half-tones mounted on black paper that constitute a veritable time capsule, allowing one to waltz back into the past, before the earthquake. A storm wracks

a deserted Ocean Beach with the 1896 incarnation of the Cliff House erected by Adolph Sutro – it survived the earthquake only to burn down a year later – standing like a beacon on a precarious craggy perch above an onslaught of waves; a gaggle of sea lions sun themselves on Seal Rocks; and a vista with dramatic cloud formations over the Bay and Golden Gate, utterly wild except for large sailing vessels in silhouette drifting in and out of sun and shadow, might remind some of J.M.W. Turner’s seascapes, just a short walk away in another of the museum’s exhibitions. Speaking of maritime scenes, there’s an impressive vertical shot of a tall clipper ship (1906) whose prow is headed right for us and picking up speed.

See page 21 >>

August attractions at the Castro Theatre

by David Lamble

A

ugust at the Castro Theatre is alive with special events, classic double features and some pretty far-out fare, with an emphasis on hyper-campy, future shock, lost-inspace sci-fi fun, especially suited for the Castro’s 45-foot-high screen.

Ride the Pink Horse (1947) Robert Montgomery stars in and directs this notable revenge tale about a bitter ex-GI intent on getting payback for his buddy’s death at the hands of a vicious thug. Russell Metty’s B&W camerawork does justice to a great supporting ensemble: Wanda Hendrix, Thomas Gomez, Fred Clark, Art Smith and Andrea King.

So Dark the Night (1946) Cult director Joseph H. Lewis (Gun Crazy) gets beautifully cheap thrills out of this 71-minute noir set in the French countryside. With Steven Geray, Micheline Cheirel and Eugene Borden. (both 8/6) The 3rd Japan Film Festival of San Francisco presents a rare screening of Electric Dragon 8000V from director Sogo Ishii. Program includes sound and anime show.

(8/7) Night of 1,000 Showgirls This Peaches Christ event, over-the-top adult fun, includes the perk of a free lap-dance for every large popcorn purchased. (8/8) Blade Runner - The Final Cut (1982/2007) Ridley Scott’s dystopian sci-fi classic stars a witty/ stoic Harrison Ford as an androidcatching 2019 cop, with a spiffy ensemble featuring Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah, William Sanderson and Edward James Olmos. The cherry on the sundae: the spacy music of Vangelis. (8/9) Aliens (1986) Before Titanic, James “King of the World” Cameron was best-known for this space chiller/thriller. Sigourney Weaver is the hard-bitten survivor of a spacecraft infected with killer mutant creatures. With Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton.

Blue Steel (1989) Future “Best Picture Oscar” director Kathryn Bigelow directs rookie cop Jamie Lee Curtis in a lovers’ battle to the death with creepy stockbroker Ron Silver. (both 8/12) Chinatown at Midnight (1949) Seymour Friedman directs this Columbia Pictures-produced hyperB noir. With Hurd Hatfield, Jean Willes and Tom Powers.

Dangerous Blondes (1943) The old adage that blondes have more fun is put to an entertaining twist in this rare noir/comedy. With Allyn Joslyn and Evelyn Keyes and victim/ suspects Edmond Lowe and future Preston Sturges player William Demarest.

Mysterious Intruder (1946) The fifth in Columbia Pictures’ Whistler series, this William Castle-helmed noir stars Richard Dix as a brutal private dick looking for a lost dame and a wad of cash. With future TV stars Barton MacLane, Nina Vale, Regis Toomey, Mike Mazurki and Charles Lane. (all three, 8/13) Sing-Along Wizard of Oz (1939) Dorothy’s adventures in Oz get an audience participation sing-along, the basis for a 150-min. familyfriendly event. (8/14-16) Love and Mercy (2014) Director Bill Pohlad’s insight into pop prodigy and Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson (played in the 60s segments by Paul Dano) shows how the boy genius is first envied and ultimately betrayed, drugged and pyschobabbled into impotence by warring father figures: quack shrink Dr. Eugene Landy (a devious Paul Giamatti) and a violent stage father, Murray (Bill Camp), who abuses Brian so severely that the young man becomes deaf in one ear.

Dano is astonishing as Wilson packing on the pounds while creating a pop nirvana with summer music like Pet Sounds. Dano ranges from jolly studio elf (one scene has him introducing live animal sounds into the mix) to paranoid meltdown to prescient sage as he reminds his

Robert Montgomery directs and stars in Ride the Pink Horse (1947).

brothers and band pals that they were never surfers. The 80s parallel story finds a depressed and beatendown Wilson (John Cusack) rescued by a chance encounter with a perky Cadillac car saleswoman (Elizabeth Banks).

The Wolfpack (2015) An original family doc and direct if disturbing peek into the life-into-art project of six homeschooled brothers. It’s a tribute to the plucky spirit of the six black-suited, longhaired boys, the culmination of a project they have been working on all their young lives, and an audition tape for everything they hope to be. As one of the Angulos Brothers remarks, “If I didn’t have movies, I would be a pretty broken person.” The only thing that could possibly top that would be the image of Quentin Tarantino shedding a tear. (both 8/19) Guns, Girls and Gangsters (1959) This end-of-the-noir-era classic contains the essential ingredients for B-movie fun: a Vegas Strip robbery, a filled-out blonde and an ex-con hubby with blood in his eye. With Mamie Van Doren, Gerald Mohr and Lee Van Cleef.

Inside Detroit (1956) Tailfins were about to be unleashed on an unsuspecting public as this Motor City-set noir was shot. With 50s noir stars Dennis O’Keefe and Pat O’Brien. (both 8/20) The Goonies (1985) The kids are definitely not alright in this Reaganera spoof directed by Richard Donner and written by Chris Columbus.

With Josh Brolin and Corey Feldman.

Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) His campy reign was short but totally lovable. Grownup kid goes zooming across America in search of his shiny red bike. Tim Burton’s feature-directorial debut. (both 8/21) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Director Stanley Kubrick’s classic, based on an Arthur C. Clarke novel, has a fabulous cast: Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, and Douglas Rain as the voice of the very naughty Hal (“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Dave”).

Capricorn One (1978) Peter Hyams directs this creepy obsession on corrupting power with a cast that includes James Brolin, Hal Holbrook, Sam Waterston, Karen Black, Elliott Gould, and yes, O.J. Simp-

son! (both 8/22) Zardoz (1974) “The Gun is good, the Penis is evil!” With that chilling mantra, we enter a dystopian world filled with unimagined horrors.

With Sean Connery as the cop who thinks he’s in blue-shield heaven.

“I love to see them running, I love the moment of their death when I am one with Zardoz!” (with 2001: A Space Odyssey, 8/23) Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Tom Hardy gives a sublime retro turn to this stunt-driven fun that feels as if it’s been beamed back from the Ford/Carter era of failed good intentions. Director George Miller is good at mischievous casting, such as Charlize Theron as a wacked-out driver from hell. (8/26) Killer’s Kiss (1955) from Stanley Kubrick. A boxer (Jamie Smith), a mobster (Frank Silvera) and a damsel in peril (Irene Kane) cavort around real Gotham City locations to create 67 unforgettable screen minutes, including a wacky duel inside a mannequin factory. The boxing scenes rock, and the whole film exudes verisimilitude of time, place and mentality, including homoerotic and misanthropic feelings. Rarely seen on the big screen.

Witness to Murder (1954) A woman awakens in the middle of the night to a murder underway next door. Nobody believes her story except the strangler. Roy Rowland helms this obscure but riveting thriller. With Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Merrill, George Sanders, Jesse White and Juanita Moore.

Dementia (1953) George Antheil directs this silent meditation on a young woman’s descent into madness. With Adrienne Barret, Bruno Ve Sota and Ben Roseman. (all three, 8/27) The Crowd (1928) This last gasp of the silent era from King Vidor (The Big Parade) demonstrates what might have been if talking pictures had been delayed a few more years. (with organ accompaniment

by Bruce Loeb, 8/30)t

t <<

Theatre>>

Irma Vep

From page 17

In the case of The Mystery of Irma Vep, by far the biggest commercial success of his career, Ludlam looked to B movies about mummies, vampires, and werewolves, as well as to more uppercrust fare such as Rebecca and Wuthering Heights for this deconstruction-celebration. But while many of Ludlam’s plays were shoestring epics, Irma Vep made do with just two actors – albeit playing eight (or more) characters of alternating genders involving 35 quick costume changes.

With Irma Vep, Jonathan Moscone is directing his final show for California Shakespeare Company as its artistic director. In this production, beginning performances Aug. 12, the roles created in 1984 by Ludlam and his personal and professional partner Everett Quinton are being played by Danny Scheie and Liam Vincent. The licensing agreement emphatically states that both roles be cast with performers of the same gender to make sure that cross-dressing remains a part of the alchemy.

Ludlam founded the Ridiculous Theatrical Company in 1967,

and while drag, camp, and parody were certainly parts of his productions, he always believed they transcended all that in ways that audiences didn’t always recognize.

He wanted to move the audience to tears in Camille, even as he played the title character in drag with chest hair showing, but there was sometimes laughter in the final scenes from audiences primed only for the camp elements. “It’s enough to drive a person crazy,” he said, “the distance between what you’re experiencing while creating it and what the audience feels. What they want it to be is not necessarily what I’m doing.”

While Ludlam could be wildly comic on stage, he always talked seriously, even scholarly, about his work and the Ridiculous Theater movement. Here are some of his takes, condensed from multiple interviews, on how his career developed and issues he confronted along the way. Bear in mind that these words were spoken in the 1970s and 80s, and attitudes are reflections of their times.

On gay theater: “Most gay theater either apologizes or pleads for mercy. What I do is not gay theater – it’s something much worse. I don’t ask to be tolerated.

I don’t mind being intolerable.

Second, proselytizing lifestyles is a Brechtian thing, in the tradition of advertising and propaganda, which doesn’t have anything to do with the absolutely rigorous individualism that goes into our work.”

On studying drama: “I thought acting was the priesthood of the theater. But the teachers at Hofstra started telling me I should write and direct rather than act. I took terrible offense at this. Now I realize I was just being silly. Those four years were a very turbulent time for me. I was rebellious against my teachers, so many of whose ideas I found offensive. I felt I had to create a new theater, but I didn’t completely recognize what that meant.”

On discovering drag: His high school drama teacher had warned him that his effeminate mannerisms could destroy his career, and the warning was repeated when he decided to appear as Norma Desmond in a play titled Screen Test in 1966. “I had never done drag on stage, and I was nervous. But it just suddenly sprung into being for me, and with absolutely no preparation, I went on as Norma Desmond. The disguise, the costume, freed me, and made me do things I could never have done myself.

But it’s not easy to play a woman.

I often think it must be hard for a See page 23 >>

Anita and Steve Shevell

Everett Quinton, left, and Charles Ludlam played numerous characters of changing genders in the original production of The Mystery of Irma Vep.

Willard Worden

From page 20

But it was Worden’s sensational photographs of a city under siege and in ruins that put him on the map, as it did other opportunistic photojournalists who happened to be in the right place at the right time to capitalize on a fledgling century’s big disaster. The burning city, engulfed in flames, is seen from a distance at a makeshift campsite West of Van Ness Avenue and Fort Mason in 1906, and the remnants of the Call, Examiner, Chronicle, Palace Hotel and Crocker Buildings, surrounded by rubble, viewed from Kearny Street the same year, look like a bomb site. The majestic, palm-laden court of the Palace Hotel, photographed in 1905, the year it celebrated its 30th anniversary, is an oasis before the storm (it also survived the earthquake, then burned down); California Street is afire; and an old shoemaker sits on the street, leaning against a storefront in Chinatown, an area that was all but demolished.

Those attuned to pre-digital manipulations of the medium will note that Worden indulged in his share of darkroom magic. No orthodox adherence to realism here; he handpainted clouds, utilized underexposure to produce nocturnal effects in daytime shots, transported a seagull from one negative to another so that it appears to cruise over Seal Rocks, and even painted out a figure in the foreground of one picture with opaque ink on the negative.

He also achieved stunning lighting effects in striking nighttime images, from the Ferry Building battling an encroaching fog bank to “San Francisco at Night – City Hall Illuminated” (1903), where he darkened the sky through retouching and added a full moon and clouds to heighten impact. A fascinating section reveals the lengths he went to for his PPIE assignments. In a calculated move, he set up his equipment after rainstorms to capture the reflection on wet surfaces, and he availed himself of stateof-the-art innovations: an army of spotlights, searchlights and projectors highlighted architectural details, and concealed interior lamps could make a building appear to glow in the dark.

“The Colonnade and Lagoon of the Palace of Fine Arts” (1915), lit from within, seems to float on air much like the Taj Mahal or our own luminescent Emerald City that literally rose from the ashes. (Through Feb. 14.)t

The mystery ofep

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510.548

*Restrictions apply

<<

August 6-12, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 21

<< Out&About

22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

Out &About

O&A

Fri 7 Ancient Future @ New Parkway Theatre, Oakland

Thu 13 Lucky Plush @ ODC Theater

Best bets

by Jim Provenzano

S

ummer sizzles with music and art. For more listings, and rock concert and cabaret-type stuff (you know, where booze is served), go to On the Tab in the BARtab nightlife section.

William Frederking

Thu 6 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

Breaking the Code @ Eureka Theatre Theatre Rhino’s return engagement of Hugh Whitmore’s acclaimed stage play about the life and sad death of Alan Turing, the gay code-breaker credited with helping end World War II. $10-$30. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sat 3pm.

Thru Aug. 8. 215 Jackson St. www.TheRhino.org

Jon Mitchell @ Books Inc. Author, musician, tech journalist and Burning Man veteran reads from and discusses his book Real Life: Searching for Connection in High-Tech Times.

7pm. 2275 Market St. 864-6777. www.booksinc.net

New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre Aug. 6: Ride the Pink Horse (7:30) and So Dark the Night (6:15, 9:50).

Aug. 7: Japan Film Festival opening night. Aug. 8: Showgirls spectacular with Peaches Christ (see Sat). Aug. 9: Blade Runner: The Final Cut (2pm, 5pm., 8pm). Aug. 12: Aliens (7pm) and Blue Steel (9:30). Aug. 13: Chinatown Midnight (6:15), Dangerous Blondes (7:45) and Mysterious Intruder (9:30). $11. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

New Works Festival @ Thick House 3Girls Theatre Company’s 4th annual showcase is themed Risky Women: Having Fun and Wreaking Havoc, with more than a dozen new stage plays and solo shows. Free/RSVP. Varuous times thru Aug. 9. 1695 18th St. www.3girlstheatre.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 (fourperson 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

Each and Every Thing @ The Marsh Solo performer Dan Hoyle returns with his acclaimed show about about the slow-tech movement and how personal interactions outweigh technology. $20-$100. Thu & Fri 8pm, Sat 5pm. Thru Aug. 22. Mainstage Theater, 1062 Valencia St. at 21st.

282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Emily Johnson/Catalyst @ ODC Theater The Bessie Award-winning choreographer’s new work Shore, about ancestry, nature and community, is performed. $30. Thu-Fri 8pm. Sat matinee. Thru Aug. 8. 3153 17th St. 863-9834. odcdance.org

Fantastic Negrito @ The Chapel The amazing blues singer –traditional sounds with contemporary lyricsperforms with his band. $15. 9pm.

777 Valencia St. www.fantasticnegrito.com www.thechapelsf.com

Queer Rebels presents Queer and Trans People of Color Experimental Films, nine unusual works exploring female-centric visions and voices.

Free. 6pm. 474 24th St., Oakland. www.queerrebels.com www.thenewparkway.com/wp

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. Reg: $25$160. Beer/wine served; cash only; 21+, except where noted. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 4214222. beachblanketbabylon.com

Best of Enemies @ Landmark Clay, Shattuck Cinemas Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon’s fascinating documentary about the contentious rivalry and hatred between conservative political pundit William F. Buckley, Jr. and prolific author Gore Vidal, and their historic 1968 TV debate. 2261 Fillmore St.; 2230 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. www.magpictures.com/bestofenemies www.landmarktheatres.com

Ancient Future @ New Parkway Theatre

Obscura @ La Val’s Subterranean, Berkeley Christian Cagigal returns with his touching solo show about family, magic, and tales of the occult; it includes some amazing sleight of hand. $15-$25. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Aug. 8. 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. www.impacttheatre.com

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

Color of Life @ California Academy of Sciences

Aug. 8: The Damfino Players, and swing dance lessons. 12pm. Aug. 9: 9th Ward Millionaires (New Orleans jazz), 1pm. Other shows thru Sept.

Castro St. at Market. castrocbd.org

Exhibits and planetarium shows; new exhibit focuses on vibrantly colored species of octopus, snake fish and other live creatures. $20-$35. MonSat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. calacademy.org

Monster Movie Salon @ Miracles Center Doug Ronning’s final edition of his monster movie screenings and workshops, this one focusing on romance in horror films. $40.

1pm-4pm. 2269 Market St. www.monstermoviesalon.com

Pistahan Festival @ Yerba Buena Gardens Filipino parade, art, music and food festival; parade along Market Street, and festivla in YB Gardens, Mission St. at 3rd. Free. 11am-5pm. 625-3976. www.Pistahan.net

Radical Presence @ YBCA Subtitled Black Performance in Contemporary Art, this new exhibit explores identity in a variety of media. $5. 12pm-10pm. Thru Oct. 11. Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. www.ybca.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

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

Sunset Piano Organizers @ Commonwealth Club Musician Mauro Ffortissimi and filmmaker Dean Mermell discuss their innovative outdoor piano installation and concert series. $7-$20.

6pm. 555 Post St. 597-6729. www.commonwealthclub.org

Sat 8 As One @ Oakland Metro Laura Kaminsky’s opera, a “transgender journey of discovery,” with libretto by Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed. 2pm. 522 2nd St., Oakland. www.oaklandmetro.org

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

SF International Jewish Film Festival @ Castro Theatre

Freedomland @ Various Venues

Festival of feature, short and documentary films, by and/or about Jewish people around the world. $15 and up. Thru Aug. 9. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

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

Irene Tu and Jessica Sele cohost the new comedy open mic night for women and queers. No cover. 6pm.

298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

Tue 11 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

Radar Reading @ SF Public Library Juliana Delagado Lopera guest-hosts the eclectic reading series, this time with Maisha Z. Johnson, Jane McDermott, Yosimar Reyes, Hawa Jaan. 6pm. 100 Larkin St., lower level. www.radarproductions.org sfpl.org

American Conservatory Theatre student production of a collaborative 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

Company @ SF Playhouse

The inaugural performances at American Conservatory Theatre’s new satellite theatre; Carol Churchill’s kaleidoscopic play captures the dizzying array of electronic communication that helps and hinders true human connection. $40-$100. Tue-Sat 7:30pm [note earlier curtain time]. Wed & Sat 2pm. Sun 2pm & 7pm. Thru Aug. 9.

1127 Market St. 749-2228. act-sf.org

Hysteria @ Oasis

Snakes @ Strand Theatre, Rueff Studio

Black Art Salon tribute to poet and playwright Wayne Corbitt, with panels and performances. $20. Fri & Sat 8pm.

Sun 2pm. Thru Aug. 9. 2781 24th St. www.brava.org

Stereotypo @ The Marsh Berkeley

Fri 7

Live in the Castro @ Jane Warner Plaza

Blackbirds Boogie @ Brava Theater Center

Love and Information @ Strand Theater

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Wed 12 Man Francisco @ Oasis

Wed 12 Salome, Dance for Me @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Lois Tema

Sun 9 Abrazo, Queer Tango @ Finnish Brotherhood Hall, Berkeley Enjoy weekly same-sex tango dancing and a potluck, with lessons early in the day. $7-$15. 3:30-6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St., Berkeley. (510) 8455352. www.finnishhall.com

Disney & Dali @ Walt Disney Family Museum New exhibit documenting the unlikely collaborations between Salvador Dali, the Surrealist artist and Walt Disney, the cartoon icon; curated

by Ted Nicolaou. Thru Jan. 3. Also, Tomorrowland and other exhibits. 104 Montgomery St, The Presidio. 3456800. www.waltdisney.org

New all-male striptease revue with a storyline of San Francisco’s history, from the Gold Rush to the tech boom.

Weekly thru Sept. $20. 9pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

Salome, Dance for Me @ New Conservatory Theatre Center 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

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

28 Chinese @ Asian Art Museum

Thu 13

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

Lucky Plush @ ODC Theater

Mon 10

The History of San Francisco Bathhouse Closures, a multimedia presentation with erotic art collector Buzz Bense. 7pm. 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. Other exhibits as well. Free (members)-$12. Fri-Tue 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm (closed Wed). 736 Mission St. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org

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

Sex Panic @ GLBT History Museum

To submit event listings, email events@ebar.com Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication. For more bar and nightlife events, go to On the Tab in our BARtab section, online at www.ebar.com/bartab

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Music>>

August 6-12, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 23

Giving TLC to OBC albums

by John F. Karr

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he Visit and On the 20th Century: The only thing these two disparate musicals have in common is that they both had unprofitably short Broadway runs. The Visit closed a week after it didn’t win any Tony Awards (after 77 performances, with five Tony nominations), and the revival of On the 20th Century lasted a full seven weeks after it didn’t win any Tony Awards (after 177 performances, with three Tony nominations). Fortunately, both received irreproachably well-done Original Broadway Cast [OBC] albums. I’ve stuck my ear to them, and here’s what I think.

The Visit was conceived oh, so many years ago, for Angela Lansbury. When she became unavailable (or wouldn’t avail herself of the part), Chita Rivera took over, promising, I think (with just a touch of sacrilege), a more electrifying performance. Although Chita aged mightily in the 15 years before the show opened on Broadway, her authority is undaunted and her presence undimmed. That alone makes the OBC worth acquiring.

And the tunes are pretty good.

You won’t encounter any of those monkey-strut vamps that are a Kander calling card, but you will hear whispers of Kander’s earlier work – particularly in some breathy bal-

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Irma Vep

From page 21

woman to play a woman.”

On himself in drag: “Drag is something today people are prejudiced against, because women are considered inferior beings. So to defiantly do that, and that I’ll put my whole soul and being into creating this woman and give her everything I have, and the most taboo

lads, which recall those in Zorba or Happy Time, though without being as memorable. The score relies on multiple waltzes; there’s a piquant polka, and an ironic production number that has a touch of Chicago about it. It’s a serviceable score that doesn’t make a very strong impression. There’s something tonally wrong in the match of what is basically a B’way song palette to a heartless play about greed and vengeance.

I can imagine Marc Blitzstein being a good match to the material, or Leonard Bernstein. Maybe even Jason Robert Brown. Kander and Ebb don’t strike a claim to visitation rights.

The show’s librettist, Terence McNally, claims The Visit is “the Everest” in Kander and Ebb’s body of work. I think he’s a little too close to the show. It was the team’s last collaboration before Ebb’s death, and is, I think, a footnote to their career, however honorable it may be.

On the 20th Century is a satire of the theatre, with its blowhards and big egos. Composer Cy Coleman, working with lyricists Comden and Green, happily found a musical idiom as scampering and sometimes overblown, and wrote an operetta pastiche of advanced cleverness (which earned a Tony in 1978 for Best Score). That first production starred Madeline Kahn and John Cullum, with Imogene Coca as the

plot’s secret weapon.

The 2015 revival has Kristen Chenoweth, Peter Gallagher (whom I’ve always thought of as the Tony Roberts type – you know, when you can’t get a star, you get Gallagher), and Mary Louise Wilson. Both Gallagher and Wilson are good; they’ll do. But he could use some of Cullum’s John Barrymore-like gravitas (as well as Cullum’s truly baritonal vocal heft); and she could use some of Imogene Coca’s plumb crazy (and a song-capping high note). After that, we regret that the original musical arrangements have been considerably thinned, from a fullbodied orchestra of 22 pieces to a gazebo band of a mere 13. Pity.

While Madeline Kahn’s recording will always be treasured, Chenoweth gets from me a full-blown Wow. She’s gung-ho and hellfire, while singing rings around her B’way peers (although Kelli O’Hara showed in the Met’s Merry Widow that she could handle this score, high C’s, coloratura, and all).

This new recording also has 30 minutes’ more material than the 1978 recording, a full half-hour. The first recording’s deletions are now included, so you get the entire score, including dance breaks, play-offs, and even any dialogue with orchestral underscoring (and some that’s not, just for kicks and comprehension). New lyrics written to Gallagher’s 11 o’clock

turn are a savvy improvement. The recording’s sound is brilliant, and a judicious use of stereo imaging populates the entire stage. I’m especially impressed that the recording’s producer has connected the songs and dialogue of the show’s concluding half-hour into a cohesive unit that seems to convey in sound the breathless excitement that may be seen in the theatre.

All told, this is a marvelous recording, delivered in a deluxe double-disc set from PS Classics.

The Visit says something deep about how badly we behave. But 20th Century runs deeper, with an aphorism that encompasses the very nature of our lives. “Life is like a train,” a trio of porters sings. “You get on at the beginning; you get off at the end.” If you only know the 1978 OBC, you don’t know the merriment you’re missing in the new one. I’m tellin’ ya, it’s swell. You’ll get on at the beginning, and you’ll hardly want to get off at the end.t

thing to do is experience feminine emotions, and to take myself seriously in the face of ridicule, that is the highest turn of the statement.

It allows audiences to experience the universality of emotions, rather than believe women are one species and men are another.”

On comedy vs. drama: “Humor is held in very low esteem today.

The whole idea of humorous art is prostituted to such an extent

that it can’t be taken seriously, that there can’t be serious humor. The whole idea of seriousness is awful to me. It doesn’t really imply gravity or profundity. It implies decorum, behaving yourself, and that’s what I don’t like about it.”

On 1940s film siren Maria Montez: “With Maria Montez, as with pornography or anything held in low esteem, it’s a cultural prejudice. It’s not inherently low.

She gave the films a conviction, which was a fabulous quality to impose on something most people wouldn’t care for. The things those movies have that movies today don’t have is actors sort of winking at you from behind their masks telling you they don’t mean it. Not protecting themselves, not afraid to look foolish, not afraid to be thought mad. If actors could seem to be possessed by their

roles, they could justify any kind of theatrics.”

On ideals: “You are a living mockery of your own ideals. If not, you have set your ideals too low.”t The Mystery of Irma Vep will run Aug. 12-Sept. 6 at Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda. Tickets are $36-$84. Call (510) 548-9666 or go to calshakes.org.

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.

<< Music

24 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

Introducing Jimmy Lopez

by Tim Pfaff

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nly careful observers of the contemporary music scene are likely to know the music of Jimmy Lopez, the Peruvian-born, Bay Area-resident, 36-year-old composer, whose education in his craft took him from a long stint in the Promised Land of Finland to a period of academic polish at UC Berkeley, an increasingly important breeding ground for young composers. But Lopez will undergo three degrees of going public in bigger ways in 2015.

On YouTube, you can hear what is arguably his most personal composition to date, Man and Man, played at his Grace Cathedral wedding to his husband Heleno in May. It’s a work for countertenor, chamber orchestra and the fine Grace Cathedral organ, and its sound, if safely this side of bustin’ its buttons, is a bit like Britten without the angst.

On Aug. 14, Harmonia Mundi will release four of his orchestral works, played by the Norwegian Radio Orchestra under Miguel Harth-Bedoya, a regular colleague and inspirator of Lopez’s. Not unlike the wedding anthem, it’s notably amiable music. To call it that is not intended to open the usual can of worms: is it minimalist, neo-romantic, audiencepleasing in some obsequious way?

The facts are: it’s music you can get

on the first hearing with just a normal degree of listening; it’s overall unmistakably upbeat and leavened with a non-jokey good humor; it’s evocative of Lopez’s South American roots without being mysteriously so, or glibly playing the multicultural card; it’s grounded in standard orchestral instrumentation, plus a few bird sounds. And it’s smart in a way that doesn’t make you feel less so.

The most raucous and ambitious of the four works is the CD’s last, America Salvaje (Wild Americas), in which Andean instruments do feature, prominently, just not in that drippy Simon and Garfunkel-y way. But their integration with the orchestra’s standard instruments is complete, and the regionalist feeling derives as much from the pulsing, off-the-beat rhythms as from exotic sounds. The piece builds steadily in momentum, creeping up on you rather in the style of the dance movements of West Side Story.

There’s aural evidence that it’s not all serene in the lower-hemisphere jungle either, and that the natural world struggles and groans like its human counterparts all over the world. But a sense of celebration in the madness, which builds steadily to a big sonic climax, is at least as sonorous as the alarms. It’s a big piece of music, handled with confidence by composer and players alike.

Peru Negro (Black Peru), commissioned by the conductor for the Fort Worth Symphony’s 2012-13 season, also derives from Afro-Peruvian sources. The composer says it references six traditional songs, but I can attest that you don’t need to know them to succumb to its “personal” (Lopez’s word) touch.

Lord of the Air, also from 2012, evokes the magnificence of the Andean condor in flight.

It’s functionally a cello concerto, masterfully dispatched by Jesus Castro-Balbi, but it’s constricted neither by classical concerto form nor by sentimental or political pleas for the endangered birds’ survival. And you can relax from the beginning – it’s scrubbed of Ferde Grofe pictorialism. Still, its four distinct movements are rendered in keen musical colors, and the trajectory of the bird’s flight, “Soaring the Heights” in the so-named third movement, is described in fluid rhythmical gestures and sonic yearnings that emerge from unexaggerated extended playing techniques from both soloist and band.

My clear favorite of the four is 2011’s Synesthesie, whose five twominute movements address the components of human sensation, i.e., touch, smell, taste, hearing, seeing, with distinct vocabularies that

nevertheless overlap to achieve the precise – or, rather, tellingly imprecise – synesthetic effects the composer sought to evoke. There are surprises in the musical evocations of each of the senses; there’s nothing trite here. It would appear, at first, that the highly robust “Gout” (taste) would be the boss, but the settling of scores between hearing and seeing, across both of which cacophony takes over the sound palette, proves genuinely cross-sensual, if not stridently politically so.

But Lopez’s biggest venture to date will be Lyric Opera of Chicago’s premiere of Bel Canto, the composer’s opera based on Ann Patchett’s exuberant novel in a libretto by Nilo

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Cruz, who also wrote the words for Man and Man, this time with texts in Spanish, English, Japanese, Russian, German, French, Latin and Quechua.

Renee Fleming’s presence on the Chicago Board is said to have been influential in getting Lopez the choice commission, but another measure of faith in the project is Fleming’s handing the starring role to fellow soprano Danielle de Niesse, with a roster of other top-flight professionals. Performances are Dec. 7, 10 & 12, and Jan. 5, 8, 13 & 17, 2016.

Based on the actual hostage crisis in Lopez’s native Lima in 1996-97, Patchett’s magical-realist novel seems in every way ripe for operatic realization. But adding to the excitement, the dangers are as apparent. The closest lightning has struck again after Tosca is Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur, which hardly counts as a repertory staple. And the saga of Rufus Wainwright’s Prima Donna, “a day in the life of a diva,” which ended his relationship with the Met and ended up in Manchester, England, is the cautionary tale.

But Lopez won’t be “crossing over” with Bel Canto, and the new Harmonia Mundi disc spells hope in large capitals: Lopez’s music seems tailor-made for opera.t

British invasion 2015

by Gregg Shapiro

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use, the 21st-century progrock adherents, combine the drama of Queen and the politics of Pink Floyd on the concept album Drones (WB). Complete with the pair of skits “Drill Sergeant” and

“JFK,” Drones makes a statement.

The trio isn’t afraid to color outsider the hard-rock lines, as they do on the new wave funk of “Dead Inside,” the deceptively soothing “Aftermath” and the a cappella title cut.

Muse is at its theatrical best on the Queeny “Mercy,” the mini-epic “The

Globalist” and the blazing “Defector” and “Revolt.”

It’s the listeners who benefit from the Vaccines’ infectious assortment of influences on English Graffiti (Columbia), the Brit quartet’s third album. Snotty as they want to be on irresistible opener “Handsome,”

they strut their funky selves on “Minimal Affection” and go for breathless punk on “20/20” and “Radio Bikini.” “(All Afternoon) in Love” is a new kind of hybrid, a breakup song crossed with a love song, and “Undercover” is almost too pretty for its own good. Get vaccinated!

Olivia Chaney may make reference to her “Chelsea mourning” in “Imperfections,” but she owes more to Linda Thompson and Sandy Denny than Joni Mitchell on her neo-traditional folk debut album The Longest River (Nonesuch). Chaney combines potent originals “Loose Change,” “Swimming in the Longest River,” “Too Social” and the gorgeous “Holiday” with the traditional “False Bride” and “There’s Not a Swain,” an adaptation of a 1693 text

by Henry Purcell and Anthony Henley.

At 25, Laura Marling is a music industry vet with five studio albums to her name, the first released when she was just 18. The music on her fifth disc Short Movie (Ribbon) may not be as varied as that of her debut Alas I Cannot Swim, but it succeeds on its own merits. Opener “Warrior” is one of a few songs, including “How Can I” and “I Feel Your Love,” that recall vintage acoustic Joni Mitchell. Marling does a brilliant job of conjuring Chrissie Hynde on “Gurdjieff ’s Daughter” and “Strange.” Marling reaffirms her own distinct artistry on the title cut, as well as on “False Hope,” “Don’t Let Me Bring You Down” and “Divine.”

As this year’s class of British invaders goes, Glass Animals stands out for its uniqueness on Zaba (Harvest), beginning with the opening track “Flip.” With the less-thansubtle suggestion of violence set against a hypnotic and raw melody, the song hooks the listener like an

illegal narcotic. The slithery “Black Mambo” has a similar effect. “Pools” provides the first definitive dance beat on the disc, giving you the excuse you need to dive in and shake it. “Gooey” might be the stickiest chill-out number of the year, and “Hazey” is also aptly named, while “WYRD” is as weird as it is wired.

Another in a seemingly endless supply of Simon Cowell’s protegesproducts, former X-Factor competitor Ella Henderson’s hopefully titled album Chapter One (SYCO/ Columbia) is a pleasing if undistinguished introduction to the singer/ songwriter. Henderson has a powerful set of pipes that she employs to great advantage on the 11 occasionally bombastic tunes, including “Empire,” “Rocket” and “Pieces.”

When she reins it in, as she does on “Missed” and “Mirror Man,” she sounds more like herself than like someone trying too hard to be the British Kelly Clarkson or Katy Perry.

See page 25 >>

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Film>>

August 6-12, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 25

Meet the Flockers

by David Lamble

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atching Shaun the Sheep, the new feature-length stopmotion animation from the British team responsible for the Wallace and Gromit cartoon shorts, was a weird funhouse mirror experience.

As I locked eyes with tiny, cuddly Shaun, I all but forgot my usual quibbles about moviemakers pandering to our inner child, usually for big box-office swag.

The plot of Shaun the Sheep is simplicity itself. The gruff, balding, middle-aged gentleman known as The Farmer, owner of Mossy Bottom Farm where little Shaun and his sheep pals (“The Flock”) reside, is hospitalized due to a bizarre series of comic mishaps. As in the 1954 animated version of George Orwell’s political satire Animal Farm, the sheep in The Flock become worried

that things will go to hell on the farm.

And sure enough, as in Animal Farm, the property is commandeered by “The Naughty Pigs,” who enter the farmhouse and proceed to sack the joint. Unlike in Animal Farm, the piggy takeover is not motivated by a foreign ideology, but happens mostly because the pigs are smarter and more ambitious than the rest of the animals. Like binging on Coke after sugary Coke, ingesting Shaun the Sheep is a tasty treat but lacks any real nutritional content.

When I was a kid, Uncle Walt Disney’s talent for projecting himself into our homes made it seem perfectly okay to consider him a real relative. In fact, my TV “Uncle Walt” was a lot closer to my needs for an uncle figure than were the real-life versions a phone call away.

Since Shaun the Sheep was based on a British TV franchise I had not

experienced, I decide to Google Shaun, and was amused to discover that he was digitally linked to other childhood faves of mine, such as the radio serial Chickenman.

If you decide to skip Shaun the Sheep, there are several good familyfriendly alternatives for pleasantly passing the time. Consider a visit to the fabulous Disney Family Museum in the Presidio, or read one of two excellent books on the great man and his all-pervasive influence on our imaginations: Neal Gabler’s authorized biography Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination (Knopf, 2006), or a somewhat more critically pitched volume, Time magazine film critic Richard Schickel’s The Disney Version: The Life, Times, Art and Commerce of Walt Disney (Touchstone Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint, 1966, republished 1985). Opens Friday.t

Animal farm: the stop-motion animated cast of Shaun the Sheep.

Seeing in the dark

by Tavo Amador

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ew film critics have been as prolific as Richard Schickel (b. 1933).

He reviewed movies for Time from 1965-2010, has published many books, and has made and narrated several documentaries. In Keepers (Knopf, $26.95), he discusses his favorite pictures, directors, and actors. The tone is conversational, discursive, and above all, personal.

He is passionate without engaging in polemics. The structure is loosely chronological, but not encyclopedic.

Refreshingly, there is nothing about Marilyn Monroe. He often compares his opinions to those of David Thomson and the late Pauline Kael.

Schickel writes, “I believe in popular cinema, probably more than I do in ‘art’ cinema.” He discusses and enjoys both. “Sequences like the liftoff in E.T. are every bit as rare as, say, the conversations (or their lack) in Persona.” It takes courage and candor to compare Steven Spielberg favorably with Ingmar Bergman.

His assessment of director/writer Preston Sturges (1898-1959) is riveting. Sturges flourished briefly in the 1940s, writing and directing comically subversive films like The Lady Eve, Sullivan’s Travels (1941), The Palm Beach Story (1942), and the anarchistic The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944), “a comedy about a virgin birth, in which Betty Hut-

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British invasion

From page 24

Rixton doesn’t even bother to disguise its shameless Maroon 5 influence on “Wait on Me,” “Appreciated” and “Me and My Broken Heart,” from the UK “boy” band’s debut album Let the Road (School Boy-Giant Little ManMad Love-Interscope). That’s too bad, because the a cappella title

ton delivers sextuplets.” Sturges’ fall from grace was rapid and sad.

Schickel’s take on film noir is excellent, and he has refreshing insights into Mildred Pierce (1945), Joan Crawford’s Oscar-winning comeback movie.

He concedes it is as much “a woman’s picture” as a noir thriller, but uniquely, it succeeds as both. He admires Michael Curtiz’s direction, Crawford’s performance, Ann Blyth’s monstrous daughter, “the first teenager to be shown as irredeemably awful,” Eve Arden’s wisecracking, and Jack Carson’s sleaziness, although Schickel errs in saying the last plays one of Mildred’s lovers. She rejects his advances. “Some part of our American innocence is lost with Mildred Pierce.”

His thoughts about directors Spielberg, Clint Eastwood (a friend), Bergman, Woody Allen, Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, William Wyler, Billy Wilder, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Howard Hawks, Frank Capra, Ernest Lubitsch, Otto Preminger, Max Ophuls, Francois Truffaut, Satyajit Ray, Luis Bunuel, Jean Renoir, Luchino Visconti, Martin Scorcese – some brief, some in-depth – are illuminating. He has fresh opinions about the classics, preferring Wyler’s Jezebel (1938) to Victor Fleming’s Gone With the Wind (1939) because the former stars Bette Davis at her most intense. Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett is, for him, “too kittenish.” Virtually alone among serious critics, he wishes Davis had played Scarlett, because the role “needs her kind of lunacy to work.”

He agrees with Thomson that “Cary Grant is the best and most important actor in the history of the cinema.” Why? “He could be both attractive and unattractive simultaneously; there is a light side and a dark side to him, but whichever is dominant, the other creeps into view.” Alas, he fails to comment on Kael’s superb insight about Grant’s fear of women – how, on screen, they chased him. Her essay indicated his being pursued by aggressive actresses, including Mae West, tune that kicks off the disc shows promise. But that might be where the originality stops, as you can hear on the Bruno Mars rip-off “I Like Girls.” A couple of songs, “Hotel Ceiling” and “Speakerphone,” provide glimmers of hope for something more. The blame might be less on Rixton than on producer-co-songwriter Benny Blanco, who appears to be incapable of an original thought.t

Katharine Hepburn, and Audrey Hepburn, reflected Grant’s homosexuality or bisexuality. Does that explain the duality that Thomson and Schickel admire in his work?

He knew Marlon Brando and admires his performances from 195054, which range from Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) to Mark Antony in Julius Caesar, to Johnny in The Wild One (1953), to Terry in On the Waterfront (1954).

Then came a long period in which he made many films but seldom acted, until he regained his brilliance in The Godfather and The Last Tango in Paris (1972). Surprisingly, Schickel neglects Brando’s touching work as the latent homosexual army major married to Elizabeth Taylor (terrific) in John Huston’s fine ad-

aptation of Carson McCuller’s Reflections in a Golden Eye (1968).

He has long been friends with Eastwood, and that may partially explain his high regard for his work, a sharp contract with Kael’s assessment of it. He and Kael, however, admire Visconti, and regard The Leopard (1963) as a masterpiece – a picture dismissed by Thomson as superficial, more interested in decor and table settings than in passion.

He doesn’t provide a list of “Best Pictures.” Rather, Schickel mentions those he most likes. Fargo (1996) is his favorite, although he makes no claims that it is the best film ever made or even the best American picture ever made. It’s simply “very much [to his] taste.” He admires Frances McDormand’s Oscar-win-

ning performance and the Coen Brothers’ vision. He is enthusiastic about Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander (1982), Jan Troell’s The Emigrants (1971) and The New Land (1972).

The final chapter is about “That Wonderful Year, 1987.” What makes it so special? It was the year Babette’s Feat and Wings of Desire were released. Schickel’s enthusiasm for both is a pleasure to read. So is his conclusion. “Where movies are concerned, I’m a lifer. Movies dominate more of our dream space than we care to admit. I expect to be going to a movie the day before I die.” Anyone interested in pictures will hope that Schickel will see and write about many more films for many more years before he gets his final wish.t

<< Music

26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • August 6-12, 2015

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com 2pub-BBB_BAR_080615.pdf

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David Allen

Samuel Faustine as Ralph (double cast with Aaron Gallington) and Ellen Leslie as Josephine (double cast with Jennifer Ashworth) in the Lamplighters Music Theatre’s H.M.S. Pinafore, or The Lass Who Loved a Sailor.

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H.M.S. Pinafore

From page 17

The cumulative pleasures of the show could have been reliably predicted by anyone who has encountered the expert troupe before. The Lamplighters are all about tradition, and as premier American safeguards of the beloved G&S repertoire, they keep the stock in unspoiled order.

Their picture-perfect production of the most popular operetta in the canon arrived spotlessly ship-shape with freshly polished parts.

Making his company debut, conductor and music director David Moschler set the bar high early.

Throughout the swiftly paced performance he still managed to elicit wonderful detail from the estimable Lamplighters Orchestra. We have always marveled at the rich sound that comes from a mere 21 players (no synthesizers here, thank you very much), but Moschler has even excelled Resident Music Director Baker Peeples in his symphonic handling of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s familiar evergreen score.

It was up to the singers to elucidate W.S. Gilbert’s witty lyrics and his complicated but characteristically daffy libretto. After some opening-night breathlessness, all of the alternating players in the lead roles warmed to their full vocal abilities. With sympathetic support from the pit and from the clearly delighted audience, they soon lost any self-consciousness and fell easily into Stage Director Phil Lowery’s sensible game plan.

As the fated-to-be-mated lovers, tenor Aaron Gallington (company debut) and soprano Jennifer Ashworth made the haughty captain’s daughter Josephine and the bold tar Ralph (say Rafe) Rackstraw an attractive pair. They also declaimed their parts with passion, but Gallington often showed a little too much, making some of his words virtually unintelligible. In keeping with the character perhaps, but the supertitles only illuminated the songs, not the humorous speeches.

“Give three cheers and one cheer more for the hardy Captain of the Pinafore.” As Josephine’s father and soon to be happily demoted sea captain, Jonathan Spencer was in excellent voice and at the top of his acting game.

And then, of course, there is “dear Little Buttercup.” After a slightly shaky start and opening aria, Sonia Gariaeff quickly relaxed and made a happy meal of her famous part.

When she made her outrageous confession in Act II, it was almost a surprise, so natural was her delivery.

She also rocked the costume design of Judy Jackson MacIlvaine, who also created the expected visual impact for the rest of the cast. The production values of the Lamplighters, especially in the costume division, are always remarkably rich.

As the snobbish Sir Joseph Porter, KCB, First Lord of the Admiralty, F. Lawrence Ewing returned yet again to the spotlight for a thoroughly satisfying portrayal and funny rendition of one of the most memorable of all G&S songs, “When I Was a Lad.” Ewing’s comic timing in this material just gets better with every passing year.

In the mostly spoken role of the comically dreary Dick Deadeye, dark and deep-voiced Charles Martin still rode over the chorus in ensembles, and simply upstaged everyone acting in his path. He deserved the attention, and the cast reacted to his every loathsome utterance with appropriate dismay.

Cabiria Jacobsen as Hebe, one

of Sir Joseph’s plentiful “sisters and cousins and aunts,” also held her own in a part that could easily sink beneath the waves of more familiar characters and songs.

Bill Bobstay (The Boatswain) was essayed attractively by another company mainstay, Chris Uzelac (he is alternating in the role of Sir Joseph). The Chorus of Sailors, Sisters, Cousins and Aunts filled the sturdy Quarterdeck, designed

by Peter Crompton, with lusty and mostly lady-like (the Savoyards seemed to admire saucier maids) voices. They were also quite nimble in movement, cleverly staged by assistant director and choreographer Loretta Janca.

The entire crew sails to Mountain View this weekend and then to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, August 14-16. The run will end in Livermore at the Bankhead Theatre August 22-23.t Tickets & info: lamplighters.org.

David Allen

Robby Stafford as Captain Corcoran (double cast with Jonathan Spencer) in the Lamplighters Music Theatre’s H.M.S. Pinafore, or The Lass Who Loved a Sailor.

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32

On the Tab

NIGHTLIFE

DINING

33

Flip the Bird

SPIRITS

Leather

SOCIETY

ROMANCE

LEATHER

PERSONALS Vol. 45 • No. 32 • August 6-12, 2015

Gareth Gooch

www.ebar.com V www.bartabsf.com

Schtick stock Champagne White & The Temple of Poon’s fun factor

by Andre Torrez

D’ The unjustly jailed Champagne White (left, D’Arcy Drollinger), with villain Pixie Pardon Moi (Matthew Martin).

Good Eats W Fun Fundraising Food Festivals

by Sean Timberlake

e’re blessed to live in one of the greatest food cities in the world. Whether you’re seeking Michelin-starred boîtes with Riedel crystal stemware, or a casual neighborhood eatery that routinely turns out plate after plate of satisfying, creative fare, you’d be hard pressed to find a better destination than San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.

See page 29 >> The popular group dining experience at Cuesa’s Sunday Supper.

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Gamma Nine

Arcy Drollinger isn’t just a drag queen name, it’s a real name. The part owner and artistic director of SoMa’s Oasis, a queer nightclub destination, says over the phone that his mom got the inspiration for his name from reading Jane Austin’s Pride And Prejudice. Besides, it has a better ring to it than Suntan Darcell, an early attempt at a stage name before Drollinger realized that he already had what he needed for the spotlight.

See page 28 >>

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

28 • Bay Area Reporter • August 6-12, 2015

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Gareth Gooch

Champagne White (center) gets her jail card.

Gareth Gooch

James Martin as a sassy prison guard.

<<

Schtick Stock

From page 27

Recuperating after another weekend of his latest production, Champagne White & The Temple of Poon, Drollinger says it’s an undertaking to get the show up and running.

With all its dancing and fight scenes, it’s a role that requires physical endurance.

During a Saturday evening performance, the audience is mostly forty-somethings, affluent enough to afford the $200 champagne tables up front. There’s a heavy bear presence. Some are seen drinking Truvee Chardonnay, but others are served themed cocktails like the Mandy, Dirty Sanchez and Jackhammer– named in reference to the play.

An older-looking professional orders a drink from a twink-looking server probably 30 years his junior.

His hand slides from the server’s lace-top covered back down his backside, but he doesn’t seem to

mind a little groping while on the job. Other bar staff are clad in orange prisoner jumpsuits, clearly an homage to “Lady Prison” which will come to life soon enough on stage.

“I smell money,” says a blonde with feathered Farrah Fawcett hairwearing an American-flag bikini.

She’s talking to a couple of men seated for the show.

The woman turns out to be one of the night’s actors, Nancy French, a self-described “shitty lapdancer.”

Her worn face with a killer snarl and a take-no-prisoners attitude is part of her character’s charm as she works the room. The men squirm underneath her and say, “Ewww” grossed out, either playfully or genuinely.

Meanwhile, pole dancers in drag with opposite body types gyrate to Motley Crue’s “Girls, Girls, Girls” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” as the audience filters in and mingles.

Drollinger, who wrote and stars

in the play as a follow up to the cult hit Shit & Champagne, describes it as “South Park meets The Carol Burnett Show.” That’s a gross oversimplification for anyone watching who should pick up on a trove of pop culture references that mostly rely on TV and film from the late ‘70s and ‘80s.

You probably know Drollinger from her recent live drag productions of Facts of Life and Sex in the City, dozens of other unusual satirical musicals, and the band Enrique.

“I grew up on television,” he says.

“Wonder Woman, Charlie’s Angels, where they’re always going undercover, Mel Brooks films and Airplane. Slapstick humor. What I’m trying for now is Vaudeville 2.0. Late ‘70s low budget.”

Cabaret atmosphere combines with comedic crudeness (plenty of cum jokes), elements of drag, Blaxploitation influence and Tarantinolike female-fight scenes. Sound effects for the punches and kicks aren’t always synced up correctly and people might forget a few lines, but that only adds to the humor.

Also, you shouldn’t be deterred by the lengthy synopsis that may read as more convoluted than an old episode of Jerry Springer.

Shit & Champagne, while not as slapstick, according to Drollinger, laid the groundwork for its sequel as they both explore empowerment through sisterly bonds. But the show takes some ridiculous turns along the way.

“I did Shit & Champagne weekly for nine months in the Lower East Side,” says Drollinger about the time he lived in New York City. “It came

here many years later in San Francisco at Rebel. We had people called Shit-heads,” he says, referencing the “super fans” that would come out ten times or more to see the show.

You don’t necessarily have to have seen the precursor to appreciate the new play.

“Part of me feels like it stands on its own,” Drollinger says. He quickly summarizes the original, which doesn’t seem like it could be based on anything anywhere near the truth with how chaotic it sounds, but in a very loose way, it is.

In a nutshell, super villain Dixie Stampede owns a Wal-Mart-esque store (Mal-Wart in this case), which turns out to be a corrupt drug and sex ring. Everyone is shooting crystal meth up their butts, a process given the slang term, “booty bumps,” and Champagne, an exotic dancer and divorceé, played by Drollinger, is left to avenge the murder of her fiancé and half-sister.

“I like the character. People really respond to it,” he says about Champagne White. “I’ve evolved as an actor. I’m more at ease.”

Champagne’s arch nemesis, Dixie Stampede –the female drag equivalent of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers– is played by Matthew Martin. He reprises that role, this time as perfume mogul Pixie Pardonne Moi. Pixie funnels women into a bogus prison operation in order to steal their very essence and to create a fragrance known as Poosé, “the ultimate scent of a woman.”

Along the way, we’re treated to amazing video segments that are interwoven and recall commercials from a forgotten era, silly newscasts,

Gareth Gooch

Adam Roy in drag as a faux Champagne White.

and a climactic chase scene featuring a nun on a skateboard being pursued by a classic Cadillac driven by a couple of goons.

One of the evening’s more tender moments comes when Mandy, Champagne’s “long-lost second foster cousin,” is in a moment of despair and the audience, fully engrossed in twisted plot, participate in a sing-a-long of Barry Manilow’s “Mandy.”

Audience interaction is key to the night. They hiss every time Stampede takes the stage and jeer openly at all the appropriate times.

But Drollinger couldn’t do it alone, admitting it’s very much a true team effort.

“The cast just clicked.” He handpicks them himself and says it’s important to have the same actors.

“They understood the style and my humor. They’re connecting with people.” He calls it ‘shorthand directing’ because they make it easy for him.

Intermission included, the show clocks in at two hours and twenty minutes. Drollinger says it needs to be edited down a bit. But with an eight-week run, they should have plenty of time to work out the kinks.

“Every night’s a little different,” he tells a satisfied audience.

The show ends to sustained applause, and everyone is invited to join the cast in the front room to socialize and have drinks before the night program begins.t Champagne White & the Temple of Poon at Oasis. $25. Thu-Sat 7pm, thru Sept 12. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Gareth Gooch

The cast of Champagne White & The Temple of Poon.

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

August 6-12, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 29

All photos Amanda Lynn

Left: Fresh fruit and old friends at Summer Celebration. Top Right: Sunday Supper mint cocktails.

Bottom Right: Tasty bites at the Summer Celebration.

<<

Good Eats

From page 27

However, not everyone gets to partake of our bounty. Even though we are one of the richest cities in the country, hunger exists in a very real way, right in our backyards.

While you nibble on (once again legal) foie gras on brioche toast points, as many as one in four people in San Francisco and Marin face some degree of food insecurity.

It’s only fitting, then, that you should put your eating to good use.

There are plenty of organizations and events that help put food in the mouths of those who need it while pleasing your palate.

The grandest shindig of the year is Eat Drink SF (August 20-23; www.eatdrink-sf.com), a four-day celebration of San Francisco’s stellar food talent presented by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association. The main event kicks off on Thursday, August 20, with the Taco Knockdown (1425 Folsom Street), wherein chefs compete by showing off their culinary innovation with the humble taco. Think outside the tortilla; in this case, taco can mean any foldable food. This is a good opportunity to experience some of the culinary tour de force of the event without the big crowds.

Friday starts the series of three Grand Tastings across two days at the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason.

A rotating roster of the city’s best bars and restaurants will be showcasing their talents with tempting sips and nibbles.

“We have three grand tasting sessions featuring different restaurants for each, so you can attend all three and experience more than 100 restaurants,” notes GGRA executive director Gwyneth Borden. “We also have amazing talent that will take the main stage for cooking demonstrations including Chefs Elizabeth Falkner, Charles Phan, Michael

Chiarello, Ryan Scott, Olympian Brian Boitano, Tony Gemignani and more.”

Saturday’s classes are designed to take your culinary skills to the next level. Learn advanced ideas in seasoning for the grill plus best beer pairings, test your wine knowledge with a blind tasting, or take some tips from dining doyenne Marcia Gagliardi, a.k.a. Tablehopper, on how to host an A-list cocktail party.

Sunday celebrates San Francisco’s favorite sport, brunch. The courtyard at Foreign Cinema (2534 Mission Street; www.foreigncinema. com) will host the ultimate brunch affair, featuring Italian-inflected dishes including hand-pulled mozzarella, fried artichokes and crisp fried arancini. Grab an Aperol spritz or bloody mary, and dig in.

Tickets for each event are available individually, but if you want to dive deep, it’s best to invest in a weekend pass. The VIP pass includes the Taco Knockdown, early admission to all three Grand Tastings, and the brunch event.

Proceeds go to the Golden Gate Restaurant Association Scholarship Fund, supporting young entrants into the field of hospitality, and The Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), dedicated to developing sustainable food systems through their markets and education.

CUESA hosts quite a number of events of their own, including last night’s Getaway in a Glass, showcasing craft cocktails using seasonal produce, and their annual Summer Celebration, a tasting-style event on the order of, but in a smaller scale than, Eat Drink SF. The heavyhitter event, though, is the upcoming Sunday Supper (October 18; www.cuesa.org), where local chefs flex their culinary muscles with the best local farms have to offer.

This luxe dining event affords you the chance to sup on dishes made by

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Pies hot from the oven at Sunday Supper.

the chefs of restaurants you may have struggled to land tables at, including State Bird Provisions, Coi, Mourad, and Rich Table. Start with hors d’oeuvres at the reception, then settle in for the grand fourcourse meal at a huge communal table spanning the entire length of the Ferry Building’s concourse under the romantic glow of the Edison bulb-lit arches.

“The Ferry Building is undeniably one of the most spectacular settings in all of San Francisco,” says Executive Director Marcy Coburn. “We set up a dramatic open-air kitchen in front of the Ferry Building (complete with red carpet), where 40 renowned Bay Area chefs create a lavish four-course feast that is served to guests upstairs in the Grand Hall.

Last year, Chef Jacques Pepin and his best friend Chef Jean-Claude Szurdak showed up for dinner. You never know who is going to be at Sunday Supper!”

Even small events can have a big impact. Project Open Hand (www. openhand.org) provides more than 2,500 nutritious meals and delivers over 200 bags of groceries to seniors and the critically ill. Initially conceived to help feed AIDS patients in San Francisco during the crisis, Project Open has expanded its focus, and now approximately 20% of their efforts are in the East Bay. In that spirit, they are launching a new event, Toast & Jam (September 26; www.openhand.org/ event/toast-jam), a champagne jazz brunch in Preservation Park. Tickets start at $75, with sponsorship opportunities escalating to include reserved tables and other perks.

The San Francisco Professional Food Society is hosting their annual fundraising barbecue (August 22; www.sfpfs.com), benefitting Oakland’s Bread Project and the City College of San Francisco Culinary Arts Program Scholarship Fund, both designed to help those with low incomes to achieve their professional goals in the food industry.

This year the event sports a Brazilian Carnival theme, so slap on your best Carmen Miranda hat (I know you have one), and enjoy a caipirinha. Yours truly will be pouring at the bar for the first couple hours.

For an event with a can-do attitude, check out Canstruction (September 14-18; www.sfmfoodbank. org/canstruction-2015), where artists build whimsical sculptures from canned food. Entrance to the display in Rincon Center (101 Spear Street) is free of charge, but you are encouraged to bring cans of food for donation to the San FranciscoMarin Food Bank, who provide over 100,00 meals’ worth of food to the hungry in the 415.t

Both photos Gamma Nine

Top: A chef garnishes a delish dish at Eat Drink SF. Bottom: Stirred not shaken; a cocktail server at Eat Drink SF.

<< On the Tab

30 • Bay Area Reporter • August 6-12, 2015

W

ell into the late summer, the biggest music festival, Outside Lands, will draw feature headliners Elton John, The Black Keys, and Billy Idol (see sidebar). But since it’s sold out, we’ve deigned to provide info on a few smaller shows for your amusement.

Luke James @ Yoshi’s Oakland

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle

The hot new “organic soul” singer performs at the stylish East Bay nightclub/restaurant. $24-$55. 8pm & 10pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. (510) 238-9200. www.officiallukejames.com www.yoshis.com

Music with local and touring bands. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Bulge @ Powerhouse Grace Towers hosts the weekly gogo-tastic 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

D’Arcy Drollinger’s sequel to the hilarious hit comedy Shit & Champagne, with a women’s prison-themed 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

Fantastic Negrito @ The Chapel The amazing blues singer –traditional sounds with contemporary lyricsperforms with his band. $15. 9pm.

777 Valencia St. www.fantasticnegrito.com www.thechapelsf.com

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

Funny Fun @ Club 21, Oakland LGBT comedy night hosted by Dan Mires. $10. 8pm. 2111 Franklin St. Oakland. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

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

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

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

Thu 6 Luke James @ Yoshi’s Oakland

Fri 7

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

Comedy Noir @ Balancoire

Circle Jerk @ Nob Hill Theatre Porn stud Rafael Alencar hosts the interactive play event in the downstairs arcade at the historic strip joint (Alencar performs onstage Aug. 7 & 8, 8pm & 10pm). $10. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge

Xcess Thursdays @ The Café

Champagne White & the Temple of Poon @ Oasis

Mazel Top @ Oasis The party for Jewish gay guys and their friends and admirers returns. $5. 9pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 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

House Party @ Powerhouse

Sat 8

The amazing singer and Broadway star performs her favorites, classics and original music from her albums as part of her world tour. $34-$134.

8pm. 2000 Kirker Pass Road, Concord. www.livenation.com

Alaska Thunderfuck stars in the drag show at the Showgirls screening @ Castro Theatre

The adult fun in the science museum this month is themed Illusions; with interactive exhibits, painter Alexa Meade, cocktails and fun. $10-$15.

6pm-10pm. Pier 15. www.exploratorium.edu

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

Idina Menzel @ Concord Pavilion

Sat 8

After Dark @ Exploratorium

Some Thing @ The Stud

DH Haute Toddy’s weekly electro-pop night with hotty gogos. $3. 9pm-2am (happy hour 4pm-9pm). 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com DJ Guy Ruben’s house music night at the cruisy SoMa bar. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

August 6-13, 2015

Thu 6

Hard Fridays @ Qbar

Valeria Branch’s new weekly comedy night, where she embodies her faux queen character Pia Messing for some offbeat wit, along with speical guest performers. $5. 8pm-10pm. 2565 Mission St. www.balancoiresf.com

Deana Martin @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The dynamic cabaret singer performs her tribute concert to her father, dean Martin. $25-$40 ($20 food/drink min.) 8pm. Also Aug. 8. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.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. Aug. 7: Amateur strip contest, with $150 in cash prizes. $6-$12. 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Manimal @ Beaux Gogo-tastic dance night starts off your weekend. $5. 9pm2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Midnight Show @ Divas Weekly drag shows at the last transgenderfriendly bar in the Polk; with hosts Victoria Secret, Alexis Miranda and several performers.

Also Saturdays. $10.

11pm. 1081 Polk St. www.divassf.com

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

Mother @ Oasis Heklina’s weekly drag show night at the fabulous renovated SoMa nightclub; plus DJ MC2 and guests.

Aug. 8: a special “Strip” night and after-party for the Showgirls Castro Theatre event. $10-$15. 10pm-2am.

298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Fri 7 Polyglamorous @ Oasis

Polyglamorous @ Oasis Fun grooves with DJs Mark O’brien and pals, with a cute crowd. $7-$10. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Rafael Alencar @ Nob Hill Theatre The super-hung, superfriendly Brazilian porn stud returns. $25. 8pm & 10pm. Also Aug. 8 729 Bush St. at Powell.

397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ Beatbox 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

Rock Fag @ Hole in the Wall Enjoy hard rock and punk music from DJ Don Baird at the divey SoMa bar.

12pm-2am. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.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

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. August 6: live music with Alvvays and GRMLN, DJed sets by Jamie Jams and Rocky Roxana. $10$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland

Gareth Gooch

On the Tab

t

Fri 7 Rafael Alencar @ Nob Hill Theatre

Pound Puppy @ SF Eagle DJ Sappho and resident spin masters Oscar Pineda and Kevin O’Connor play groovy music at the popular pup-themed event, with gogo studs, Tony DiCaro’s sexy haircuts and beard trims. $5-$10. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Saturgay @ Qbar Stanley Frank spins house dance remixes at the intimate Castro dance bar. $3. 9pm-2am (weekly beer bust 2pm-9pm). 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

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On the Tab>>

August 6-12, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 31

Sat 8 ShangriLa @ The EndUp

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

Opulence @ Beaux New weekly dance night, with Jocques, DJs Tori, Twistmix and Andre.

9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni’s

ShangriLa @ The EndUp Paul Goodyear DJs, Lily Rose hosts, ShangriLa Dating Game contest at 12am, after-hours sets by Neon Shaman, Cuervo and Daniel Mendez. $10-$20. 10pm-6am. 6th St. at Harrison. www.shangrilasf.net

Showgirls @ Castro Theatre Peaches Christ’s annual screening of the camp stripper flick, along with “Night of 1,000 Showgirls,” the hilarious drag pre-show, with Alaska Thunderfuck as Nomi Malone, lapdancing queens and stage acts. $32 and up. 8pm. 429 Castro St. www.peacheschrist.com www.castrotheatre.com

Soul Party @ Elbo Room 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

Sugar @ The Cafe Dance, drink, cruise at the Castro club.

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

Sun 9

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle 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

Sunday Brunch, Xtravaganza @ Balancoire

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

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

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

Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room

The “lezzie queer dance party” brings out the femmes and butches. 9pm2am. 456 Castro St. 864-2877. www.qbarsf.com

Donna Sachet hosts the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show; this week is the 10th anniversary! $45.

11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com

Sunsation Sundays @ Oasis Outdoor T-dance on the roof of the popular SoMa club, with DJs Alexander and Brian; hosts Terrill and Mutha Chucka. $7. 3pm-7pm? 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

Mon 10

Tue 11 13 Licks @ Qbar

Block Party @ Midnight Sun Weekly screenings of music videos, concert footage, interviews and more, of popular pop stars. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Bombshell Betty & Her Burlesqueteers @ Elbo Room The weekly burlesque show of women dancers shaking their bonbons includes live music. $10. 9pm. 647 Valencia St. 552-7788. www.elbo.com

Cock Shot @ Beaux

Beat It @ Oasis

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

Shot specials and adult Bingo games, with DJs Chad Bays and Riley Patrick, at the new weekly night. No cover.

9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Dirty Talk @ Oasis PsychoKitty hosts a naughty game show. $15. 7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

GlamaZone @ The Cafe

Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey’s

Pollo del Mar’s weekly drag show takes on different themes with a comic edge. 8:3011:30pm. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gayfriendly comedy night.

One-drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th.

431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com

Jackie Beat, Sherry Vine @ Oasis The ascerbic pair of drag comics battle it out to see who’s best in a Battle of the Bitches. $25-$35. 8pm.

298 11th St. at Folsom.

795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Jock @ The Lookout Enjoy the weekly jock-ular fun, with DJed dance music at sports team fundraisers. 12pm-1am. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

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

Mondo Beach Party @ The Cinch Saloon Fun fundraiser for Under the Golden Gate, the fun online nightlife show cohosted by Maria Konnor and DJ Dank, with hula gogo boys, Jell-O shots, surf music by DJ Geoffrey Lippert, raffles and beach camp. 4pm9pm. 1723 Polk St. at Clay. www.underthegoldengate.com

Gaymer Night @ Eagle

Sun 9 Mondo Beach Party @ Cinch Saloon

Gaymer Meetup @ Brewcade 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

Hysteria @ Oasis Irene Tu and Jessica Sele cohost the new 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

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

Ink & Metal @ Powerhouse

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

Meow Mix @ The Stud The weekly themed variety cabaret showcases new and unusual talents; MC Ferosha Titties. $3-$7. Show at 11pm. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com

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

See page 34 >>

Top: Elton John headlines Outside Lands on Sunday.

Middle: Daytime crowds at last year’s Outside Lands.

Bottom: Crowd-surfing at Outside Lands.

Outside Lands

by Jim Provenzano

W

ith Elton John headlining the closing night of the three-day outdoor music festival (August 7-9), Outside Lands is a mustdo event for many. Since it’s sold out, if you missed out on tickets, you’re missing sets by St. Vincent, Chet Faker, Wilco, The Black Keys, Revivalists, Billy Idol (yes the Billy Idol), plus DJed areas including Page Hodel, a performance tent that includes The Daily Show comics and so much more.

Along with all this talent, you could enjoy delicious beers and wines, and more food than you can eat in three days, but you can surely try. Missing out? Enjoy simulcasts of some acts, and remember to get your tickets next year at www.sfoutsidelands.com.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

32 • Bay Area Reporter • August 6-12, 2015

Flippin’ the bird

t

by John F. Karr

H

ere’s what was at the top of a porno news feed the other day; a pic of combustable stars Kayden Gray and Isaac Jones having a boisterous time on the film set. How is their post-coital jubilating –or roughhousing or letting off steam or whatever it is– expressed? By flipping us the bird.

They seem to think it’s a friendly thing to do. I always thought it was most commonly an insult, sort of uncouth. To a boy so couth as I, it’s just common. So, not for the first time, I thought, what is this flipping the bird all about?

Remember Ricky Sinz? Although I don’t recall him actually flipping the bird my way, his attitude was that of a guy who flipped it to show he was ornery; rough trade.

A lot of guys like that. I go for UK Naked Men trade, especially the big, muscly Kayden Gray (above) and Isaac Jones (below) give a post-coital tough guy with prison tattoos. But greeting to their fans.

I like ‘em to be friendly. I have no need for contempt.

Old Reliable seemed to be getting as ing them The Flowers of Asphalt.

Being with someone, or watching many phallic symbols into one phoBut let’s get back to porn stars fesomeone in a sexo who expresses it to as possible. As if the appearance of licitating us with their Birds. Has it ain’t no party for me. It’s like Ruth a big ol’ boner needed shoring up. lost its approbation, become a sign of Etting used to say, “Love me or leave But that wasn’t it. It was the street cred, something that’s simply me.” model’s need to shore up his hip? Yet what’s hip about an insult?

But I guess it all demasculinity that made Obviously, they just haven’t given pends on the context. him flip it. It said, “I’m it much thought (like the ubiqFrom a ruffian, the no queer,” and it said, uitous use of the epithet “bitch”).

Bird’s an insult. From “Fuck you.”

Why else, in the midst of their mera friendly fag, it seems All this talk of Old riment, would they curse us? like it could be a beneReliable makes me Or do they not remember it’s a diction – Up Yours! nostalgic for my old curse, and offer it more as a proclaAnd I mean that in a friend Ronettte, the mation – “Look at us, we’re sexually very caring way. self-professed Queen abandoned guys, so conventional Could it ever have of the Jews, who proclaimed he was society, fuck off!” been positive? The earliest known from the Planet Mary, and dubbed You can see my bewilderment. reference, from 423 B.C., is in Arishimself Ronettttezinella, and who My friends tell me, “Oh, Mary, relax. tophanes’ play, The Clouds, where thought up SF Jacks. He was ravenIt’s just machismo, it’s a guy thing.” it was a playful, childish pun upon ous for the guys of Old Reliable. He And I don’t get it. I guess it’s just the cock. liked the skankiest among them. He one of the many ways I’m not a If so, its delivery by smiling, hapwrote a book of odes to them, callguy.t py porn stars like Gray and Isaac shows they had fun, and signals their hope that we’ll have cocky happy sex.

It’s a blessing. After all, its earliest use may have been apotropaic —intended to ward off the Evil Eye. Another sign to me that if might have been a greeting of sexual benevolence.

But no, both Wikipedia and english.stackexchange. com refute my wishful hypothesizing, calling The Bird strictly an obscene hand gesture communicating contempt. As a symbol of sexual intercourse, it was meant to intimidate and degrade the recipient, especially as it was more connected with manDavid Hurles on-man sodomy than hetDavid Hurles erosexual intercourse.

A classic Triple Whammy from The gesture’s name came It’s a Triple Whammy from Old Reliable—that ceegar, and from two Greek words Old Reliable—Spider smokes, flips, that upright digit, next to a meaning “downwards” and and (unseen) bones. (censored) upright cock. “rump.” Aristophanes’ punning in The Clouds saw the middle finger as the penis, touching the butthole. By jabbing a threatening phallus at your enemy, you aren’t just belittling him, but also making him your sexual inferior. There we have it, the Bird as an aggressive, distinctly homophobic put-down.

That’s certainly the way it was used by photo studio Old Reliable, where the bird was so endemic to the company’s parade of gutter punks, jail birds, small time hoods and hustlers that a published collection of its photography found the entire 9x11 inch back cover of the book filled with a clenched fist all a’flip.

And then there’s the Old Reliable Triple Whammy – the furthest the company could go in conflating the hot combo of Butch and Contempt was to aggrandize the model’s boner and his Birding with a cigar.

Active Duty Like Al Hirschfeld, who finessed Active Duty model Tanner shows Marines are hip to a put-down. the name Nina into a drawing as many times as he could, the goal at

t

Read more online at www.ebar.com

August 6-12, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 33

Can We All Get Along?

by Race Bannon

A

s a long-time kinkster, I have observed many changes and trends in the leather and kink networks since the early 70s. We’ve moved from a fairly small scene that mostly frequented the underbelly of urban culture in dark bars, sex clubs and erotic spaces to a large scene living our kink lives in relative ease out in the open.

One of the modern realities is that the types of people and sexualities now mixing and included under the leather tent are growing quickly and in a multitude of directions.

In many ways this is a great thing.

We can socialize, work and sometimes play across gender, orientation and sexuality divides in ways that at one time were unthinkable. That’s the upside.

The downside is that these growing intersections and combinations are sometimes causing tensions. Perhaps that’s inevitable. As you thrust people together who have historically functioned mostly separately there are bound to be clashes of needs, priorities and viewpoints.

So how do we get along? How do we honor everyone’s needs and views while still figuring out how to function cohesively when we desire to do so? Here are my thoughts. I hope an ongoing discussion continues. And yes, what follows is my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

There are three main things I believe are generating most of the tensions that arise – appropriate inclusion, differing goals and visions, and the impact of social media.

At the heart of many clashes is the subject of inclusion, especially across genders and orientations.

Gay men, lesbians, heterosexuals and every variation now mix in unprecedented numbers. This has allowed us to understand each other better. It’s allowed us to work together on projects and initiatives, succeeding when separate efforts might have failed. It’s broadened

the sexualities of some. All good outcomes. But it’s also generated a backlash among those who don’t want to mix all the time.

The inclusion of the growing list of kink identities and activities that reside under the leather banner offers further challenges. Traditional leatherfolk are now interacting with younger newcomers who don’t necessarily feel that leather describes them or their sexualities well. Schisms have emerged, sometimes generational and sometimes brought about by simply preferring to be around people who share specific erotic proclivities.

An inextricable factor related to inclusion is that when you mix together such a vast bevy of kink factions it brings into focus starkly different goals and visions for kinky people collectively and for each kinky group. These differences translate into the forming of countless subgroups with each having differing beliefs about core values, gender, sex, contests, events, fundraising, outreach, erotic expression, mission, and so on.

Local leatherman Patrick Mulcahey adroitly describes the overarching challenges of mixing this way.

“I think it’s all evolutionary,” he said. “The reality is that the kinky public has become too large to embrace a single set of myths, tropes, values and standards. Straight, dyke and gay kinksters in the ‘50s and ‘60s didn’t interact at all and scarcely seemed to know of each other’s existence. That allowed their cultures to evolve independently to suit their specific needs. Now each group has multiplied exponentially and we think we can blend those cultures together? Not gonna happen. It’s amazing we even kept trying this long.”

So, while I see no reason to thwart efforts of inclusion, we worship at the altar of universal inclusion at our own risk. Too much inclusion is not meeting everyone’s needs.

When it comes to pointing a

All photos: Rich Stadtmiller

Top Left: Long-time local and respected leatherman Patrick Mulcahey. Top Right: Women at the recent Up Your Alley Street Fair. Bottom: A group of men getting along at this year’s Up Your Alley Street Fair.

finger at developments that have increased tensions, it’s hard not to point out the elephant in the room – social media such as Facebook and FetLife.

The nature of social media is that it allows us to remain in our little kink niche bubbles. There are some upsides to that, but the downside is that when one niche conflicts with another, the online upheaval becomes amplified and seems to quickly entrench some into believing that their way is the absolute right way for everyone to believe, act, function or otherwise be kinky.

Social media can form coalitions of people who have never met or hardly know each other, and who are only united by an idea of how things should be and what every “good” kinkster should think.

Many of those people only engage with kinksters online with no real world experience. It starts to all sound more like a religious war than reasonable people discussing important issues. Ideologies too often trump civil discourse and the resulting fallout can be devastating.

It also feeds into what some have referred to as the culture of outrage and offense.

Add into this mix social issues such as racism, sexism, ageism and transphobia and it’s often a perfect storm for misunderstandings, selfrighteous indignation and territorial disputes. Even when people have a reasonable point on such topics the caustic lobbing of accusations can taint the discourse entirely.

Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s important that we wrestle with important social issues. I think it’s valuable to sometimes mix genders, orientations and kinks. But perhaps there are times we’ve become so inclusive that we are accommodating kinksters who do not understand the scene well or want to change the culture to fit their own personal agendas and issues.

So, how do we address all of this?

We need to get honest with ourselves. We need to accept that when it comes to the complexities of genders, orientations, identities, kinks and politics, one size will never fit all. It’s just not realistic.

We need to accept that our scene is fundamentally about sex and our relationships reflecting those sexual desires. Individual sexuality is not democratic. You can’t sit your genitals down and have a heart to heart talk with them that they are supposed to be equally turned on to all people, environments and erotic expressions. That’s simply not logical.

We need to acknowledge that too many of us have over-compromised our core values in order to fall in line with what we’re told, mostly through the social media bully pulpit, should be the core value of inclusion.

We need to work at striking a balance between inclusion on the one hand and giving people their own space on the other. Everyone deserves their own spaces in which they can be their most authentic and fulfilled erotic selves.

None of this is a justification for unwarranted exclusion. There are all sorts of organizations, events and venues that welcome just about every type of kinky person. And that’s awesome.

However, there is justifiably a place for those of us who wish to socialize and play with those people with whom our inner sexual selves best resonate. That’s just as much of a necessity as is inclusion in other instances.

None of this is a justification for the squelching of robust dialogue either, on social media or elsewhere.

We just need to remember that a loud few should not necessarily dic-

tate to the rest of us how to best lead our kinky lives.

It’s all about balance. It’s all about context. It’s all about us asking ourselves if we’re forcing others to bend their sexualities into a pretzel in order to accommodate our own priorities. Fundamentally, it’s about courtesy. Giving each other the common courtesy to fully enjoy and thrive in our sexuality.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

I know we have it in us to get along, both together and separately. There is great power in being able to embrace both.t Race Bannon is a local author, blogger and activist. You can reach him through his website, www.bannon.com.

For leather/kink events listings, visit www.ebar.com/bartab

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

34 • Bay Area Reporter • August 6-12, 2015

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On the Tab

From page 31

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

Underwear Night @ Club OMG

14EEE

FIND REAL GAY MEN NEAR YOU San Francisco:

(415) 430-1199 Oakland:

Booty Call @ QBar

Juanita More! and her weekly intimate –yet packed– dance party. $10-$15. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.qbarsf.com

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

Dream Queens Revue @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Collette LeGrande, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, Bobby Ashton, Sheena Rose, Kipper, and Joie de Vivre perform the classic bimonthly drag show.

9:30pm-11:30pm. 133 Turk St. 4412922. www.dreamqueensrevue.com

San Jose:

(510) 343-1122 (408) 514-1111 www.megamates.com 18+

Follies @ Oasis

BARtab

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 12

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

BLACK TOPS 4 YOU!

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

Gym Class @ Hi Tops Enjoy whiskey shots from jock-strapped hotties and sexy sports videos at the popular new sports bar. 10pm2am. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Man Francisco @ Oasis

Lil Miss Hot Mess @ Oasis

Fri 7

Idina Menzel @ Concord Pavilion Weekly women’s happy hour, with all-women music and live performances, 2 for Wooden Nickel 1 drinks, and no cover. 5pm-9am.

Wednesday @ 440 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com Buy a drink and get a wooden nickle Rainbow Skate good for another. 12pm-2am. 440 @ Redwood Roller Rink Castro St. 621-8732. www.the440.com Weekly LGBT and friends skate night, with groovy disco music and themed events. $9. 8pm-10:30pm. 1303 Main Street, Redwood City. www.rainbowskate.net Bulge @ Powerhouse www.facebook.com/rainbowskating/ Grace Towers hosts the weekly gogoRookie Night tastic night of sexy dudes shakin’ their bulges and getting wet in their @ Nob Hill Theatre undies for $100 prize (with a contest New talent night at the historic strip at midnight), and dance beats spun club; contestants sign-up 8pm, for a

by DJ DAMnation. 10pm-2am. 1347 $200 first prize. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Thu 13

Tony DiCaro trims at Pound Puppy @ Eagle

415-730-9777

Weekly LGBT and straight comedy night hosted by Dan Mires. $10. 8pm. 2111 Franklin St. Oakland.

(510) 268-9425. club21oakland.com

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

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. Weekly. $20. 9pm. Thru July. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

24 HRS, 9”, 27”W

Funny Fun @ Club 21, Oakland

Miss Kitty’s Trivia Night @ Wild Side West

Pussy Party @ Beaux

Sat 8

Models>> Fetish, etc. 24 hr. (415) 917-6739

Robin Wong

I’m a Tall Latin Man in my late 40’s. If you’re looking, I’m the right guy for you. My rates are $80/hr & $120/90 min.

My work hours are 10 a.m. to midnite everyday.

415-515-0594 Patrick call or text. See pics on ebar.com

Inmate at low-level prison.

Interests: mysteries, leather events, music. I will answer letters.

Scott Schaffer #18120-111 Fed. Correction Institution 3600 Guard Rd. Lompoc, CA 93436

The local drag talent performs her solo show, Is That All There Is? $15.

9:#0pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Thirsty Thursdays @ The Cafe Drink specials, Top 40, gogo studs and no cover, 2 for 1 cocktails until 10:30pm. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Eleventh anniversary year of the retro disco night with a fun diverse crowd, and disco master DJ Bus Station John. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com Want your nightlife event listed?

Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event.

Event photos welcome.

t

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Shooting Stars

August 6-12, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 35

photos by

Steven Underhill The Diary of a Teenage Girl

at the Castro Theatre Actors, actresses, drag locals and fans were pretty much all upstaged at the San Francisco Castro Theatre premiere screening of the new film The Diary of a Teenage Girl when actor Alexander Skarsgard hit the red carpet in full drag! Lead actress Bel Powley looked great in retro chic, and the Rocky Horror dance number amused, but even at the after-party at Oasis, Skarsgard remained the towering queen of the night!

For more info on the film, visit www.sonyclassics.com/thediaryofateenagegirl.

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

Brian had his HIV under control with medication. But smoking with HIV caused him to have serious health problems, including a stroke, a blood clot in his lungs and surgery on an artery in his neck. Smoking makes living with HIV much worse. You can quit.

Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

#CDCTips

HIV alone didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cause the clogged artery in my neck.

Smoking with HIV did.

Brian, age 45, California