December 10, 2015 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

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Vol. 45 • No. 50 • December 10-16, 2015

Castro merchants cry foul over Super Bowl plans

by Seth Hemmelgarn

hortly after Rick Zbur joined Equality California last year, he pledged to refocus the statewide LGBT advocacy group. For years it had been Courtesy EQCA closely aligned with the marriage equality EQCA’s Rick Zbur movement, and after the recent legal victories, some had questioned whether the organization was still relevant. Just over 12 months later, Zbur has responded with a more muscular stance to a variety of issues, from immigration to health care access. The shift was particularly noticeable when the group harshly criticized several LGBT and Democratic members of Congress who voted in favor of tougher screening of Syrian refugees. The 289-137 vote November 19 in favor of HR 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act, “was a victory for ignorance and fear,” Zbur said in a news release shortly after the vote. “We are deeply disappointed that the list of ‘ayes’ included members of California’s congressional delegation, including members who have been champions of LGBT civil rights, and several LGBT members of Congress outside of California. ... As LGBT people we understand the effects of public antipathy and discrimination, and as a civil rights organization, we have a responsibility to stand up against policy decisions that are unthinking and unfeeling responses to popular anxiety.” In a recent interview, Zbur said the stance is in line with the expanded mission statement EQCA adopted shortly after he became executive director. The mission statement’s three priorities include “full equality and acceptance for LGBT people inside and outside California,” addressing health disparities, and “achieving a fair and just California and society,” Zbur said. “The way we view our role is a voice for the LGBT community and advancing civil rights for all communities LGBT people are part of,” Zbur said. “ ... The Syrian refugees include a disproportionate number of LGBT people, and based on the kinds of conditions they’re facing in the Middle East, it’s in line with our mission.” Zbur also said EQCA has 800,000 members, and it has communications capacity that other groups in the state don’t. His comments on the House vote drew attention especially because of three out Democratic Congress people who supported the act: Sean Patrick Maloney (New York), Jared Polis (Colorado), and Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona). See page 16 >>

by Matthew S. Bajko

here is growing concern among Castro merchants that next year’s Super Bowl 50 celebrations will be a bust for their businesses due to the decision not to run the city’s historic F-Line streetcars along upper Market Street. Instead, transit officials plan to run buses on that portion of the route be-

tween the Castro and the Embarcadero, where a free fan village will be staged, during the week leading up to the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 7. At their monthly meeting last week, the Castro Merchants business association accused organizers with the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 See page 6 >>

A historic Muni F-Line streetcar passes gay sports bar Hi-Tops Saturday, December 5.

Gay San Bernardino man killed in massacre hailed a hero by Troy Masters

gay man who was one of the victims in last week’s massacre at a social services building in San Bernardino has been credited with saving four lives. Larry Daniel Kaufman, 42, was one of the 14 people who were killed December 2 when Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik attacked Inland Regional Center. Dozens more were injured. Farook and Malik were later killed in a shootout with police. At a memorial for Kaufman Saturday, December 5, his partner, Ryan Reyes, hailed him as a hero. Kaufman is credited with saving four people’s lives, according to sources close to Reyes, who will tell Kaufman’s story this week on the Dr. Phil show. Daniel Kaufman Kaufman was working at a coffee cart in a hallway of the regional center when the shootscreaming, “Get out! Go! Get out now! Hurry!” ing started, sources said. He had worked with developmentally disabled people at the center, according to sources. He began pushing people which was the site of a holiday party for the out of harm’s way, urging them to the safety of the door before he was shot and killed. county public health department, for which Kaufman was always the one person among Farook worked. his wide circle of friends that everyone turned The attack is being investigated as an act of terror and the FBI has said that Farook and to for a quick, uplifting chat when they were having a bad day or wanted a laugh, said the Malik had been “radicalized” for some time. sources. Kaufman, always more concerned about Many of those loved ones gathered at Irwineveryone around him than himself, began

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dale, California’s Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area last Saturday to remember Kaufman. Friends shared memories, laughing and crying as they talked about intimate exchanges with him, remembering their final contact and their favorite things about him. Reyes, his partner of three years, retold Kaufman’s favorite stories. Kaufman, he said, lived to make people laugh. He loved to get that reaction from people. Kaufman, a practicing Wiccan, was a regular participant at the Renaissance Fairs and also loved scary movies and comic books. He was looking forward to the new Star Wars film and had recently met Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars films and returns in the new movie. Some people at the memorial service knew Kaufman only as the guy with the smiling face. It was only after his image was broadcast that some of them learned his name. “It didn’t matter what type of mood he was in, if you were hurting, it was that bright cheery, ‘are you OK? I’m going to make you laugh. I’m going to make you feel good again.’ That was Daniel,” Reyes said. “God, I miss him,” he added. Reyes also had a special message to share. “I speak for both Daniel and myself when I See page 20 >>

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<< Community News

t LGBT-owned businesses tackle Super Bowl contracts 6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

by Matthew S. Bajko

an Francisco photographer Christopher Dydyk readily admits he is not a sports person. Yet he has been on hand to shoot half a dozen events tied to the lead up for Super Bowl 50, which will be played at the San Francisco 49ers’s new stadium in Santa Clara Sunday, February 7. Now Dydyk, a gay man, is eagerly awaiting word on if his bid will be accepted to shoot multiple events that the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee will be holding prior to and during Super Bowl Week, which officially begins Sunday, January 30. “They said they have tons of photo needs,” said Dydyk, who is one of at least six local LGBT business owners who have already won contracts through the Super Bowl 50 Business Connect Program. For the first time in the history of the Super Bowl, its minority-contracting program has been opened up to LGBT-owned companies. Close to 50 businesses with at least 51 percent LGBT ownership, as certified by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and the Golden Gate Business Association, the local LGBT chamber of commerce, are eligible to bid on various contracts connected to the sporting event. LGBT businesses that qualify for the program are listed in the Business Connect Program’s directory, which is used by the local planning committee and the National Football League’s major event vendors to source businesses to be a part of the compete bidding process, explained Paul Pendergast, a local gay consultant who serves on GGBA’s board. “No businesses are just given contracts – they are provided with an RFP from the entity which has the contract opportunity and then the businesses actively compete to win the contract,” Pendergast explained in an email to the Bay Area Reporter. Dydyk was one of the first LGBT-

owned businesses to secure a contract. Last November he was hired to photograph the launch of the official Super Bowl 50 Twitter feed. “I have never worked with an organization so organized, professional, and fun-loving all wrapped up together. Every time they ask me for a bid, I am excited because I love working with them,” Dydyk told the B.A.R. this week. “I am going to be sad they are disbanding but I am sure we will stay connected.” His comments were in sharp contrast to the views of business leaders in the Castro, who are voicing concerns that the neighborhood will not see any boost in business from the sporting event due to the shutdown during Super Bowl Week of the historic F-Line streetcars that run along upper Market Street. (See story, page 1.) Nathan Ballard, a spokesman for the Super Bowl 50 host committee, told the B.A.R. this week that the group has undertaken “significant outreach” to the city’s LGBT business community to alert it to the contracting possibilities associated with the NFL’s championship game. “It certainly is the best in Super Bowl history. We hope to set a trend for every Super Bowl from now on,” said Ballard. As of October about $90,000 has flowed into the coffers of LGBT businesses, said Ballard, “and we are just getting warmed up. A lot of services are needed in January and early February.” Dawn Ackerman, a lesbian who is a co-owner of Outsmart Office Solutions with George Pieper, who is gay, early on landed a contract to supply office products to the local host committee, which is the private organizing arm for the sporting event. “They are buying all of their office products from us,” said Ackerman. “It is an open-ended contract. They started purchasing from us several months ago, and will continue to do so until the Super Bowl is over.” Ackerman said she was unsure

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how much money the contract would bring in to her eight-year-old company, which also does furniture installation and office design for companies. But she estimated it would be “thousands of dollars worth of products.” Landing the contract with the Super Bowl has brought with it other advantages for her company, added Ackerman, such as enrolling in a training course the committee held for small business owners and meeting other potential customers through vendor events. “Definitely, we will be generating business leads for after the Super Bowl wraps up,” she said. “I have had a lot of opportunity for publicity.” This fall the Super Bowl 50 host committee had approached Leftwich Events Specialists about the requests for proposals it was putting out to bid. But Sam Leftwich, a gay man who founded the company, told the B.A.R. that unfortunately the timing was off and he opted not to submit a bid. “We appreciated the face-to-face with the host committee. But by the time the RFP came to us, the turn around was just too tight for us to do it justice,” said Leftwich. “It

Castro merchants

From page 1

Host Committee and city officials of fumbling the transportation plans. Without the unique public transit system, considered a “museum in motion,” running its normal route, merchants fear tourists will not make their way to the gayborhood. “The tourists enjoy this. The tourists want this experience,” said Miguel Lopez, co-owner of clothing store Sui Generis, which has two retail locations on upper Market Street. “They are not going to take the buses here; they are going to go somewhere else. This neighborhood will suffer a lot.” Added Local Take co-owner Jenn Meyer, “The only reason people come here is to ride on the historic streetcar.” The transit plan calls into question the local Super Bowl organizers’ pledge that next year’s event will be the most LGBT inclusive ever, Daniel Bergerac, president of the merchant group, told the Bay Area Reporter. “LGBT-friendly to who? The whole thing is very disappointing,” said Bergerac. The Super Bowl is benefiting half-a-dozen local LGBT-owned businesses that have taken advantage of the local host committee’s diversity contract program, which aims to utilize small businesses whose ownership is majority LGBT. (See story, above.) But to date, Bergerac said he had not heard of any business located in the Castro that will directly benefit from the Super Bowl. No one from the Super Bowl organizing committee has contacted Castro gay sports bar Hi-Tops about hosting special events related to the game.

wasn’t anybody’s fault.” This time of year is his company’s busiest, jammed packed with nonprofit fundraisers, fashion shows, galas, and various corporate events for the holidays. “The fourth quarter of the year is totally insane for us,” said Leftwich, who nonetheless appreciated being approached by the Super Bowl organizers. “We felt like we were treated like royalty by them. We just couldn’t make it happen.” One company that has been able to take advantage of the Super Bowl-related business opportunities is Got Light, named in June to the San Francisco Business Times’ firstever Top 25 LGBT-owned Business List. Founded by gay co-owners Jon Retsky and Russell Holt, the company supplies lighting as well as audiovisual services, staging and other needs at special events. “We are proud to be a supplier of Super Bowl 50 through the Business Connect Program. It has been a very exiting project for all of us,” said Retsky, whose company worked on the Super Bowl 50 host committee’s kick-off event held November 10, 2014 at the San Francisco Ferry Building. “We haven’t been approached by anyone with the Super Bowl, but we are very excited about it,” co-owner Jesse Woodward told the B.A.R. Woodward said he doubts that weekday visitors to the Super Bowl fan village would be interested in also venturing up to the Castro to eat or drink. It is more likely, he said, that those coming to the city during the weekend of the Super Bowl would. “We are planning to do some things; it is definitely an opportunity to have some events,” he said. Nathan Ballard, a spokesman for the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, told the B.A.R. this week that the organizers would reach out to Hi-Tops as part of their efforts to ensure the neighborhood benefits from the sporting event. “We want activity and buzz all over San Francisco. There is no way we are going to let the Castro be overlooked,” he said. “It is a destination for our tourists and we are going to make sure we do everything to bring visitors there.”

Security behind transit plans

The F-Line trains need to be suspended for security reasons, Stephanie Martin, vice president of marketing and communications for the Super Bowl 50 host committee, said at the Castro Merchants meeting. “There will be bag checks and 24/7 security” at the fan village, she said. “It will be a secure footprint for people coming in and out.” She also informed the merchants group that the village is purposefully being designed without food or drink offerings to encourage people to patronize local businesses. Volun-

In a phone interview this week, Retsky told the B.A.R. that it took some time before his company started to field calls about additional Super Bowl-related business. “To be honest, when we were first connected to the program we were not flooded with calls. I said at the time, ‘What’s going on here? Where are all the calls?’ Slowly but surely the calls started coming in,” he said. “Today, we get on average one phone call a day it feels like.” Not only is he fielding requests to bid on events the NFL and the local host committee are putting on, but also from Super Bowl sponsors such as Visa and major news media organizations like CNN and ESPN that will be setting up camp in town for nearly three weeks in order to cover the Super Bowl. Got Light is also the exclusive provider to the Ferry Building, and due to its proximity to the Super Bowl fan village and views of the bay, many companies want to hold their events inside the historic bayside structure. “That is becoming a hot spot. Lots of people are asking about doing events there because it is so central to everything,” said Retsky. All of the LGBT-owned businesses expect their relationships they are building through working on the Super Bowl will generate future opportunities once the festivities wrap up. “I think it is going to be a phenomenal boost,” said Dydyk, who owns the eponymously named Christopher Dydyk Photography. Although the host committee will be disbanded once the Super Bowl is over, he noted that the members would still be involved locally because they reside in the Bay Area. “They are all going to move on to other projects,” he said. “I have made some great friends and contacts there. And through those connections to people, I am sure there will be further photo shoots down the line.”t teers staffing the fan village will be given information, she added, “to encourage people to shop locally.” Candace Sue, director of communications and marketing at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, noted during the meeting that in addition to the buses being deployed to service the F-Line route, the transit agency also plans to increase the number of trains running in the subway along Market Street. Additional service will also be added during off-peak hours. And all work to upgrade the system will be suspended during Super Bowl Week, said Sue, meaning the subway system will not close early as it has been this fall. “You will see additional service to get around all the people who will be in town,” said Sue. To accommodate the weekday morning commutes, the fan village will not open until later in the morning those days, noted Sue. “It will allow us to run more shuttle service between West Portal and downtown and that service goes later,” she said. Nonetheless, many merchants at the meeting verbalized their ire at the plans, which Bergerac dismissed as “very pie in the sky to me.” The decision to mothball the FLine streetcar fleet along the upper Market Street portion of the route – the historic vehicles will continue to run along the Embarcadero between the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf – is counter to San Francisco’s touting itself as a “transit-first city,” added Bergerac, who owns Mudpuppy’s Tub and Scrub on Castro Street. See page 21 >>

Community News>>

December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Gay SF airport director to retire by Seth Hemmelgarn

an Francisco International Airport director John L. Martin recently announced his retirement from the post that he’s held for 20 years. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to guide SFO through massive changes and unprecedented growth for the past two decades,” Martin, a gay man who will retire next summer, said in a December 2 news release. “... The time has come for me to retire from the city and to move on to other interests. I am confidant SFO is in a strong position to continue as a leader in the aviation industry.” Mayor Ed Lee said Martin’s leadership of the country’s seventh busiest international airport “has left a legacy for residents and visitors for generations to come. SFO as our city’s gateway to the world has been transformed under his direction, passion, and dedication to being the best.” Airport spokesman Doug Yakel declined requests to arrange an interview with Martin. A search for the airport’s next director “will be conducted in coming months,” Yakel said in the news release. Then-Mayor Frank Jordan appointed Martin as airport director in 1995. Martin, who previously served as the airport’s business and finance director, has spent a total of 35 years at SFO. In an emailed statement, Tom Horn, chairman of BAR Media Inc., which owns the Bay Area Reporter, said, “I have known John since we were both tapped to be part of the [Mayor Dianne] Feinstein administration. He is one of my favorite people. I believe that he has been one of San Francisco’s best department heads. SFO is a huge operation, and he runs it like a clock. He is

San Francisco International Airport director John L. Martin

very Eastern (Zen) in his approach to everything, and he brings that serenity to the high-pressure job of director of one of the country’s busiest airports. He will be very difficult to replace.” In the 1990s, Martin oversaw the completion of a $3.5 billion capital plan that included the building of the international terminal, a BART extension to the airport, and the Air Train people mover, among other projects. His tenure also included the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which helped lead to a 26 percent decrease in airport traffic from 40 million passengers per year in 2000 to about 26 million several years later, “just as many of the new facilities were coming on line,” Yakel said. Martin said, “We responded by cutting costs, finding new sources of non-airline revenue, and increasing the number of international and low-cost carriers. It was a difficult period for SFO.” Since that period, the airport, See page 22 >>

Gay Richmond police chief departs

MAGNET IS MOVING!

Starting January 4, find us at 470 Castro St. We’ll have a new name and a new location, but you’ll still get the best sexual health services for gay, bi and trans men in San Francisco.

Jane Philomen Cleland

by Seth Hemmelgarn

utgoing Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus said this week that he plans to continue the community policing he’s become known for when he becomes the chief of the Tucson, Arizona police force early in 2016. Magnus, 55, has become known for several milestones since he took office in 2006. Crime rates in the East Bay city have dropped, and he also garnered attention last December when he and others from his department stood with people protesting national incidents of police brutality and held a sign that said, “Black Lives Matter.” “It is hard to leave Richmond, because I’ve been here 10 years, which is a long time for a police chief, in

particular, to be in a community,” he said in an interview this week. “I live here and I’ve gotten very attached to the community, and we’ve been able to do a lot of interesting things here and make the city a better place.” However, he said, “Sometimes you have to consider a new challenge and take an opportunity when it comes to you, and this is an opportunity that looks very interesting.” Magnus’ last day in Richmond hasn’t been set, but he said it would likely be mid-January. (His husband, Terrance Cheung, 45, is Richmond Mayor Tom Butt’s chief of staff and will be leaving that position.) Magnus said his biggest achievement as the city’s chief has been “the kind of relationships that we built and developed between the police See page 22 >>

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<< Open Forum

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

Volume 45, Number 50 December 10-16, 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 Jo-Lynn Otto • 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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News Editor • news@ebar.com Arts Editor • arts@ebar.com Out & About listings • jim@ebar.com Advertising • scott@ebar.com Letters • letters@ebar.com Published weekly. Bay Area Reporter reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement which the publisher believes is in poor taste or which advertises illegal items which might result in legal action against Bay Area Reporter. Ads will not be rejected solely on the basis of politics, philosophy, religion, race, age, or sexual orientation. Advertising rates available upon request. Our list of subscribers and advertisers is conﬁdential and is not sold. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, and writers published herein is neither inferred nor implied. We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork.

SF police need more options

he recent officer-involved shooting death of Mario Woods in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood has reignited the local debate about lethal force and has triggered calls by San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr and others for the San Francisco Police Commission to reexamine its two previous decisions not to allow sworn personnel the use of Tasers, or electronic control devices. We agree that the commission should reconsider its stance. While it will never be known if using Tasers would have prevented Woods’ death, Suhr and San Francisco Police Officers Association President Martin Halloran both said that stun guns could have had a different outcome. Woods’ death, which was caught on video, is disturbing to watch, and some of the footage seems to contradict what the department has said. Halloran said in a statement this week that once the video appeared on social media, “individuals, along with organizations hostile to the police, began to draw their own conclusions based on eight seconds of footage and nothing else.” “This is an open, active case which is being thoroughly investigated by three independent civilian oversight and law enforcement agencies,” Halloran stated. “The results of these investigations will be forthcoming and transparent.” Mayor Ed Lee issued a statement Monday calling for the Police Commission “to do a thorough review of all existing policies regarding use of force to make it perfectly clear that the department’s policy is that using lethal force is the last resort.” The mayor said he’s seen the video, which he called “very upsetting,” and is urging changes. He also said the police department, immediately after the shooting, joined a national effort called Re-Engineering Training on Police Use of Force. He has directed Suhr to take immediate action to ensure that officers have more options to resolve situations with the minimum use of force. Suhr and Halloran stated that in the Woods incident, crisis intervention trained officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and non-lethal force was used numerous times, including pepper spray and bean bag projectiles. Those efforts were not effective in disarming

Woods, who had an eight-inch knife. Stun guns have resulted in the deaths, too, especially if a suspect has pre-existing medical issues. But Suhr’s predecessors, George Gascón (now the district attorney) and Heather Fong both tried and failed to get Tasers approved by the Police Commission. San Francisco is a major city and its officers should have more nonlethal options. But we also understand and agree with points raised by members of the African American community, who met this week to discuss the shooting. NAACP chapter president Amos Brown, a former San Francisco supervisor, called the police department’s plan for stun guns “too simplistic,” according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. He says the department needs to ramp up diversity recruitment, sensitivity training, and community-based policing, all of which he has told the commission. Brown said that what’s needed is trust, and right now the community does not trust the police. Those same points have been made in cities across the country with officer-involved shooting cases. While we don’t know what preceded the video footage in the Woods

case, we know the prevalence of questionable officer-involved shootings across the country requires more comprehensive training for police. In many cases suspects are suffering from mental health issues. Fundamentally, officers are trained to shoot to kill if they need to use their gun. Perhaps it’s this tactic of training that needs to change. Why couldn’t officers shoot Woods in the leg, which could have resulted in a non-fatal injury? Why did they need to shoot him at all if he had a knife, and thus would have had to come into contact with an officer in order to inflict injury? Those are questions we hope these three separate investigations can answer. That the mayor has responded quickly to this case is also noteworthy. “This country has seen far too many incidents where conflicts between police and young men of color result in the death of a young person,” the mayor said. “In San Francisco, we’re not this kind of city. That’s not our values.” Better police training and stun guns should again be explored and discussed. Times have changed since the Police Commission last rejected Tasers. Too many people are dying at the hands of law enforcement, and San Francisco is a progressive city that can do something about it for its citizens.t

This year, give the gift of health coverage by Peter V. Lee

he Affordable Care Act has paved the path to peace of mind for Californians and all Americans. Now, we all need to be part of making sure everyone we know gets quality, affordable health care – health care that’s a right, not a privilege. I began my work in health care as an AIDS advocate in the 1980s. I had friends denied coverage because of their diagnosis; treatment options were few; and the federal government turned a deaf ear to calls to invest the resources and effort needed to address the epidemic. It was also a time when women with breast cancer were regularly turned away from coverage, and transgender health issues were hardly even on the radar. Twenty-five years after I was arrested in front of the Reagan White House for protesting the lack of response to the AIDS epidemic, I was appointed by President Barack Obama to join his administration. We’ve come a long way in those 25 years – for many younger members of the LGBTQ community, the early days of the HIV and AIDS epidemic are not part of their reality, because the changes committed LGBTQ community advocates have helped create have transformed the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Similarly, the changes to health insurance coverage and access brought by the Affordable Care Act are transforming the lives of millions of Americans. But that transformation is far from complete. We all know people who have lived without adequate health care for too long. There are still too many LGBTQ community members who are uninsured – and we all need to help change that. Open enrollment began on November 1 and ends on January 31, and anyone who signs up through Covered California by December 15 will be covered beginning January 1. Indi-

Rick Gerharter

Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee

viduals signing up for a plan through Covered California will be purchasing private plans from the top insurance companies in the nation – and nine out of 10 who enroll with Covered California get help paying their monthly premium. The Affordable Care Act has dramatically reduced the percentage of the population without insurance. For the first time in history, the uninsured rate nationally for those younger than 65 is less than 10 percent; and in California we have reduced that rate to fewer than 8.6 percent. Thanks to our partnership with LGBTQ community organizations, such as the California LGBT Health and Human Services Network, Equality California, and national initiatives such as Out2Enroll, we know that many LGBTQ people are among those who have gotten coverage. Covered California is also working to make coverage better. Earlier this year, we became the first health insurance marketplace in the country to adopt benefit design changes to improve access to high-cost specialty drugs

in 2016. A vast majority of Covered California consumers will have their specialty drugs capped at $250 per month per prescription, and the caps range from $150 to $500. Many people will pay only a few dollars for their prescriptions. That ensures consumers have affordable access to medications they need to fight HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, hepatitis C, and other chronic conditions. Covered California has served more than 2 million consumers since we began offering health coverage in January 2014. Many Californians also might be eligible for coverage through the Medi-Cal program. If you or someone you know needs help understanding your coverage options, there’s free help available in your local area – visit http://www.CoveredCA.com to find someone in your community or to enroll online. I’m proud of the difference Covered California is making in the lives of LGBTQ Californians and the lives of millions of our friends, family members, and neighbors. That’s why I want you to join me this holiday season in giving the gift of coverage – to yourself, your friends and family, and your community. We all deserve the peace of mind that comes with having coverage that’s there for us when we need it.t Peter V. Lee is Covered California’s executive director. Those who need insurance can go to http://www.CoveredCA. com to learn about their options and to find locations in their community where they can get free, confidential help to enroll, or via telephone at (800) 300-1506. Covered California also has more than 500 storefront locations and thousands of certified insurance agents and enrollment counselors statewide where individuals can get help enrolling.

Letters >>

Support for incoming SF sheriff

December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

Congratulations to Sheriff-elect Vicki Hennessy on her well-deserved election victory last month. I was proud to support Hennessy and am looking forward to working with her and supporting her efforts to keep our city safe while upholding our commitment to rehabilitation. I am particularly excited to see Hennessy tackle new policies for transgender inmates. She and I have spoken at length about her plans to increase safety and dignity for this population by formally adopting policies that respect everyone’s gender identity. I am confident that Hennessy will

be able to work collaboratively with the Deputy Sheriffs Association and the Sheriff ’s Managers and Supervisors Association to adopt these policies and implement them quickly and effectively, with full buy-in from staff. These two unions are progressive and forward-looking. I know they will work to make this policy change a reality. Protecting the dignity and safety of trans inmates is a high priority for the LGBT community and for me personally. I am confident that Sheriff-elect Hennessy is the leader we need to put these ideals into practice. Scott Wiener, Member San Francisco Board of Supervisors

LGBT business association retools its focus on services

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Rick Gerharter

Jon Paul “JP” Leddy, left, and Robb Fleischer, current and past presidents, respectively, of the Golden Gate Business Association, are spearheading plans to revitalize the organization.

by Matthew S. Bajko

s it welcomes a new president, San Francisco’s LGBT chamber of commerce continues to retool to better address the needs of its members. Known as the Golden Gate Business Association, the nation’s first business group formed to promote LGBT-owned companies, the organization has moved to being all volunteer run and focused on providing opportunities that will help its members to thrive. GGBA past president Robb Fleischer, in a recent interview with the Bay Area Reporter, said when he was elected in the fall of 2014 GGBA had a number of challenges, from decreased revenues and declining membership to antiquated computer systems. “We found ourselves at a period where we were redefining our objectives and mission,” said Fleischer, 52, a Realtor and CEO of American Marketing Systems Inc. “I would not say I wanted to be president.” Nonetheless, Fleischer went to work overhauling the organization. A GGBA member for 27 years, Fleischer and the board opted to do away with having a paid executive director and ended the lease for its office space. During his one-year tenure, the number of dues-paying members increased 40 percent and the budget grew to $210,000. “We did start the year with concerns about cash flow,” said Fleischer, adding that he and the board “had inherited a business model that was no longer relevant.” By the fall the board felt “really confident,” he said, that it had successfully repositioned GGBA. In October GGBA’s board elected

Jon Paul “JP” Leddy as its new president. He is the first Chamorro and Pacific Islander from the United States Territory of Guam to serve in the position in the 41-year history of the organization. “Our major goal is to support the programs we are anticipating to have this coming year,” said Leddy, 55, director of client relations at the Resource Corner, an executive recruiting and staffing firm. “Increasing our revenues is my top goal, so I want to increase the number of members and sponsorships.” Leddy would like to see GGBA’s budget at least double over the next year. And he is committed to securing more business opportunities for GGBA members, which will improve the inducements for why LGBT businesses should join it. “We are not a charity,” said Leddy. “We are here to help our members increase their business.” One recent step GGBA took was to launch its Open House series, which serves members involved in residential and commercial real estate and related industries. With the “incredible growth happening in the city,” noted Fleischer, GGBA wanted to ensure its members could take advantage of the housing boom. “It brings large developers to the organization to provide the trade with first-hand, off-the-press information before the general public becomes aware of it,” he said. Another GGBA initiative has been to encourage businesses that are majority LGBT-owned to be certified as such through a program run by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. To add increased benefits for certified companies, the GGBA has taken a lead role in pushing for minority-

contracting programs in both the government sector and private industry to include LGBT companies. The GGBA was a backer of AB 1678, which took effect in January and encourages public utilities to enter into contracts with LGBTowned businesses by extending the Supplier Diversity Program administered by the California Public Utilities Commission to LGBT business enterprises. Gay Assemblyman Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park) authored the bill, and gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) co-sponsored it in the Senate. With the Bay Area set to host next year’s Super Bowl 50, GGBA was also involved in pushing for LGBTcertified businesses to be included for the first time in the National Football League’s Business Connect Program. At least half a dozen locally owned LGBT-businesses have won contracts due to the expansion of the program. (See story, page 6.) “It wasn’t so much about the Super Bowl; it was to get people certified,” explained Fleischer. “We have brought more companies to GGBA to talk about their diversity supplier programs.” And that has had a domino effect, not only with more corporations wanting to work with LGBT-owned businesses but also adding relevance to GGBA itself, said Fleischer. “The more corporate partners perpetuates more members for GGBA,” he said. GGBA board member Dawn Ackerman, a lesbian who is coowner of Outsmart Office Solutions, agreed that the steps the group has taken over the past several years have proven to be beneficial not just for the organization but also its members. “I think the Golden Gate Business Association is absolutely on track when it comes to advocating See page 22 >>

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<< Business News

t Web-based LGBT retailers gear up for holiday sales 10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

by Matthew S. Bajko

s shoppers increasingly turn to the Internet to make their purchases, web-based LGBT retailers are gearing up for holiday sales. The offerings run the gamut from gay and lesbian fashion retailers and soap makers to bedding purveyors. The list of online LGBT small businesses trying to cash in on the ecommerce trend expands by the day. Gay San Francisco resident Peter Papas, the founder of clothing company Blade and Blue – whose Internet home is http://www.bladeandblue.com – recently moved into an office space in the Castro and out of the basement of the cottage he owns a few blocks away due to the growth of the 4-year-old company. “The brand is growing and our name is getting out there. Customers are coming back and wanting to see what is new,” said Papas, who named the company after a shelter dog, Lonesome Blue, that he adopted who had all black fur except for a blade of white on his face. “Our reliance on the Internet for sales has become so important.” Papas declined to go into specifics, but he did say that November 23, the Monday before Black Friday, was the biggest sales day so far for his website. “Black Friday itself was a good day but it wasn’t our strongest day. It has had a halo effect around the week before and the week after. It is sort of spread all around,” said Papas, adding that his hand hurt that Monday night due to writing out the personal thank you cards he inserts into each online order. “People have a lot of places to shop and I wanted a human connection between the work I am doing and the people interested in it. For me to take a minute to say thank you is the least I can do to express my thanks to them.” He is known for his button-down shirts, made in the U.S. from premium Japanese fabrics ($128, with some now marked down to $59), and slim-fitting boxer shorts ($25), inspired by the popularity of skinny jeans and pants. “Everyone loves the shirts and boxers,” said Papas, who features close friends and guys he meets on the street as his models. “Sales of the boxer shorts has just gone through the roof; everyone seems to love them. No one else is making boxer shorts that aren’t gigantic and baggy.” His site also has a gifts under $50 section, billed as perfect stocking stuffers, that runs the gamut from Duke Cannon soaps ($8) and Zkano socks ($18), made by a family-owned business in Alabama, to locally made suspenders ($44) and bow ties ($49) that Papas designs. Each year during December and June, for Pride month, shoppers who use the code “Matthew” receive 10 percent off their order and 10 percent of the purchase price is donated to the Matthew Shepard Foundation, founded by the par-

ents of the gay Wyoming college student murdered in 1998. The gay-owned Castro clothing store Sui Generis (2231 Market Street) has begun carrying Blade and Blue products, and this holiday season, is featuring discounted items from the company and other local brands at its new Pop store in the smaller storefront it operates at 2265 Market Street. “They now carry our ties and bow ties year round. We will see if maybe the pop up space can do something more permanent after the holidays,” said Papas. Even though its soap products are carried by three retailers in its hometown of Sacramento, the gay-owned Sudz by Studz counts on its website – https:// sudzbystudz.com/ – for the bulk of its sales. “We do the majority of our sales direct to consumer,” said Preston Tillotson, who launched the soap company in February 2013 with his now husband, Tyler Robinson, who appeared on the first season of the NBC singing show The Voice. “Every year holiday purchases account for at least 45 percent of our annual sales and sometimes up to 60 percent.” While Tillotson handles the administrative side of the business, Robinson makes their products. They produce a wide variety of scented soaps ($7-$12 per bar), and

John Hodges

Blade and Blue model Elbert Miller, a friend of owner Peter Papas, is decked out in the latest fashions from the San Francisco web-based company.

several body lotions and butters ($8-$15). Every order comes with a free gift, and purchases of $50 or more ship free. Customers can also make an appointment – which the couple has dubbed an “open soapy” – to see how the products are made and pick up their orders in person. (Call 916281-9474 to do so.) “I think the thing about boutique and artisan soaps is people like to use them for gifting. That is the predominant purpose,” said Til-

Maurice Harris

Sister Ruby Tember represents September in this image from the 2016 calendar celebrating black beauty produced by gay Los Angeles floral designer Maurice Harris.

lotson as for why their sales are so skewed toward the end of the year. “The other thing is we make really good soaps that last a while. A client doesn’t have to re-up on their stash for a good six weeks or more depending on their washing habits.” The couple has yet to find a retailer in the Bay Area willing to carry their line of soaps but is hopeful of finding a location in 2016. “I wish! I think it is a crime against humanity we are not in San Francisco,” joked Tillotson. “We are trying to get into the Bay Area.” Another unique holiday gift this year comes from gay Los Angelesbased floral designer Maurice Harris, whose uses Tumbler – http:// bloomandplume.tumblr.com/ – to promote his business. Harris, who in 2014 and 2015 was featured in TV and print ads for the Covered California health insurance exchange, is releasing his first calendar this year. Titled “Shades of Blackness,” it features “12 images merging the beauty of blackness with our signature floral design,” explained Harris in an email. “Just in the nick of time to provide the chicest amount of flavor to your home, office or bedroom.” The limited edition 2016 calendars cost $45 plus shipping and can be pre-ordered by emailing Harris at info@bloomandplume.com. He expects them to ship starting on Wednesday, December 16. San Diego-based Dapper Boi, founded by a lesbian couple who launched a successful Kickstarter campaign earlier this year that raised more than $26,000, is selling slim-straight jeans made in Los Angeles ($120 a pair) on its site at www.DapperBoi.com. The androgynous clothing line, which is asking its clients to post photos of them in their jeans on Twitter with the hashtag #IAmADapperBoi, aims to clothe both men and women. Its jeans “feature the details and the look from men’s jeans but also provide superior fit and comfort to fit a woman’s body ... all with the right amount of stretch,” explained co-founder Charisse Pasche, who started the business with her wife, Victoria Lea Pasche, in an email

to the Bay Area Reporter. “We want to share our clothing line with individuals who have been struggling to find clothing options that reflect how they feel most comfortable and confident.” Then there is the online bedding purveyor Thread Experiment – https://www.threadexperiment. com/ – whose co-founder and creative director Justin Mikita is the husband of Jesse Tyler Ferguson, one of the stars of the ABC sitcom Modern Family. Mikita designed all of the bedspreads and sheets for the company, which went live with its online site in May. Depending on the bed size, a duvet cover costs anywhere from $118-$188, with pillow shams priced $25-$35 and sheets ranging $108-$188. Comforters range from $168-$218. For every full set of bedding purchased, a set is donated to a shelter or family in need. The company’s first philanthropic partner was the Los Angeles LGBT Center and it shipped its first donation of sheets for its LGBT youth shelter in August.

Castro clothing store closing sale

After a decade of outfitting men in Italian fashion, the Castro-based Alfio Boutique Italiana will be closing its doors January 31. With his lease expiring next month, and his landlord wanting him to now pay $10,000 a month in rent, gay storeowner Alfio Patane said it no longer made financial sense to remain in the second-floor space at 526 Castro Street. “It is not possible with the type of store I have,” Patane, 48, told the B.A.R. when asked about his decision to not renew his lease. “It is a very emotional thing, but I think it is for the best. We will just find another beautiful space.” After the new year Patane, the shop’s only employee, will begin the search to find a new location. He would prefer to remain in the Castro in a different location but is aware that may not be possible as landlords continue to increase the rents for retail storefronts in the city’s gay district. See page 12 >>

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<< National News

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

Sexual orientation is ‘not a message,’ argues GLAD in court case by Lisa Keen

new court case is underway in the ongoing and escalating conflict between laws protecting religious freedom and laws prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination. And this one has the potential to either strengthen or cripple laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation across the nation. The case, Matthew Barrett v. Fontbonne Academy, has been brought by Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, the organization that won the right to marry for same-sex couples in Massachusetts. GLAD also led the way to strike down a key provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and state bans on marriage for same-sex couples. Barrett is one of many cases around the country that are testing the right of various employers to circumvent laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. In most of these cases, the employers claim their discrimination is a necessary part of their free exercise of religion. And in most, the conflict has been played out between individual businesses in the public realm – bakers, florists, wedding vendors – refusing service to same-sex couples getting married. In this case, however, the employer also claims a First Amendment right to “expressive association,” an argument that could have far-reaching implications.

“The expressive association argument could be used by nonreligiously affiliated institutions” to justify discrimination based on sex or sexual orientation, explained Bennett Klein, a longtime attorney for GLAD. Klein is representing Barrett, who lost his new job with Fontbonne Academy after he filled out some paperwork indicating that, in an emergency, his employer should contact his husband, Ed Suplee. Fontbonne, a Catholic-affiliated secondary school for girls in Milton, Massachusetts, had hired Barrett to be its director of food services. The school’s student population includes non-Catholics, and the food services director has no explicit duties to instruct any of the students in religious tenets. But at a preliminary argument December 1, an attorney for Fontbonne, John Bagley, said Barrett’s being married to a man would interfere with the school’s Catholicoriented message. “How can [the school] credibly talk to kids about the Catholic faith if somebody who’s an employee is involved in activity inconsistent with the message of the school?” said Bagley. As an example, he noted that, if Barrett and his spouse show up at a school-wide party or event, the students might assume the school is conveying an implicit message that same-sex marriage is acceptable to the church. To buttress his argument, Bagley pointed to the 1995 U.S. Supreme

Courtesy http://www.InﬁnityPortraitDesign.com

Matthew Barrett, left, shown with his husband, Ed Suplee, has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, a Catholic-affiliated school.

Court decision in the St. Patrick’s Day parade lawsuit, Hurley v. IrishAmerican Gay. That decision held the right to expressive association permitted the private organizers of Boston’s annual parade to bar a gay group from participating in the parade behind a banner that identified it as gay. Bagley’s brief also argued that a 2000 Supreme Court decision in Boy Scouts v. Dale held that a private organization had an expressive association right to bar a gay man from a leadership position in the group. Klein argued last week that Barrett, by being married to a man, is not attempting to convey a message, like the Irish-gay parade contingent, and that Barrett is not assuming a

Business Briefs

From page 10

Thus, Patane said he would likely also be looking at commercial spaces in other neighborhoods, such as Hayes Valley and downtown. Depending on if he needs to renovate the space, he may not re-open until next summer. “I am trying to have an open mind,” Patane said, “and want to find something that really works for my business.” In order to reduce his inventory ahead of shuttering his store, Patane is having a closing sale with nearly all clothing now marked 50 percent off. Underwear and socks, however, are reduced by 20 percent.

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role as advocate, as gay scout leader James Dale did. “Sexual orientation is not a message, and there’s no distinction between sexual orientation and being married to a person of the same sex,” said Klein in court. Fontbonne’s decision to withdraw its job offer “was based on [Barrett’s] status ... not based on him doing anything [or] saying anything.” Neither of Fontbonne’s attorneys, John Bagley nor Jeffrey O’Connor, were available to take this reporter’s call, and Bagley begged off reporters’ questions following the hearing. Bagley also argued December 1 that he believes there are some facts in dispute. If Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Douglas Wilkins “So far sales have been strong,” said Patane, who began the storeclosing sale in mid-November. “Hopefully, I will have little inventory by the time I close.” The store is open weekdays noon to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/alfioboutique.

Gay dessert maker offers holiday confections

Yigit Pura, the celebrated gay baker who owns the San Franciscobased Tout Sweet Patisserie, has rolled out a menu of holiday confections available for online order or pick up at his two retail locations. The company’s line of unique signature cakes and holiday treats this year includes a champagne and strawberry buche de noel, made with white chocolate and champagne mousse ($45); a “not your grandma’s” apple tart topped with a

agrees, he could schedule the matter for a jury trial. If he disagrees, he could rule on the merits of the case. Whenever the lawsuit is resolved, it will almost certainly be appealed to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and, eventually, the U.S. Supreme Court. GLAD founder John Ward, who argued the Hurley case in the Supreme Court, said he considers the Fontbonne case to be “hugely important” because, for gay people, “the issue around the country is: You can get married on Sunday and fired on Monday.” Ward said he thinks this case could help decide the current conflict over the use of religion to justify discrimination based on sexual orientation. “There’s been this trend in U.S. Supreme Court cases that hasn’t been real helpful,” said Ward, referring to recent decisions. Last year, in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the high court ruled that a federal law cannot require a closely held commercial employer to provide health insurance coverage for contraception if that employer claims that to do so violates his or her personal religious beliefs. Prior to that, in HosannaTabor v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment bars lawsuits on behalf of “ministers” against their “churches,” holding that it is “impermissible for the government to contradict a church’s determination of who can act as its ministers.”t salty brown sugar hazelnut crumb, a pecan tart, and a ceylon cinnamon and infused vanilla bread pudding (all for $26). To order for pickup at the flagship store on the third floor of Macy’s Union Square location, 170 O’Farrell Street, visit https://squareup.com/ store/tout-sweet-patisserie-2/. There are also ready-made cakes available for pickup at both the San Francisco shop as well as at the one in Palo Alto’s Town and Country Village, located at 855 El Camino Real. Orders can also be made by calling (415) 385-1679 or emailing orders@toutsweetsf.com. To see all of Tout Sweet’s offerings to satiate the sweet tooth on your holiday shopping list, visit http:// www.toutsweetsf.com.t Got a tip on LGBT business news? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or e-mail m.bajko@ ebar.com.

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<< Community News

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

Treasurer helps students save for college Jane Philomen Cleland

an Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros, right, congratulates students at Dr. William L. Cobb Elementary School during the monthly honor assembly December 4 where he awarded “students of the month” with an additional $10 deposit into their Kindergarten to College savings accounts. The K2C

program was created by the San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment in 2010 and is the first publicly funded universal children’s college savings account program in the U.S. Cisneros, the only gay person elected to a citywide executive position at City Hall, has long championed the program.

Activists, photographers talk queer history at library event by David-Elijah Nahmod

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s visitors of the San Francisco Public Library perused the ongoing photo exhibition “Daily and Transcendent: 25+ Years of Queer Photojournalistic Portraits,” longtime Bay Area Reporter freelance photographers Jane Philomen Cleland and Rick Gerharter took part in a panel in the library’s Koret Auditorium. Moderated by B.A.R. contributor Liz Highleyman, the panel, “Creating a Visual History of San Francisco’s Queer Community” also included former journalist Tim Kingston and lesbian photographer Cathy Cade. Photos by Cleland and Gerharter make up the “Daily and Transcendent” exhibition, which will remain at the library until January 3. The exhibit includes simple portraits of the many iconic community members Cleland and Gerharter have photographed over the years. Subjects include comedian Margaret Cho, Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, gay politician Tom Ammiano, and Belo Cipriani, who writes a column for the B.A.R. on disabilities. In each photo, Gerharter and Cleland attempt to peer inside the soul of the subject and reveal more about who they are. A number of the people featured have since died, and were photographed at Dyke Marches, Pride parades, and AIDS rallies during decades past. Around 50 people gathered for the December 2 panel. Highleyman asked each panelist to talk a little bit about themselves and their work. “I’ve been a photographer since 1971,” said Cade, who is also included as one of Cleland’s portraits in the exhibit. “I was part of the civil rights movement. I got into women’s lib and moved to San Francisco.” Cade added that she had worked with Plexus and Off Our Backs, two now-defunct lesbian publications. “The book Gay by the Bay includes photos of mine,” she said, referring to the 1996 book by James Van Buskirk and Susan Stryker. Cleland spoke of her own background. “I was part of a lesbian collective in college,” she said. “I took over the school paper and took photos. I’m a small town gal working for small town papers.” Kingston recalled his involvement in the anti-apartheid movement and his career as an AIDS reporter for the East Bay Express and the now-defunct San Francisco Bay Guardian. He now works as an investigator for the San Francisco Public Defenders office. Gerharter talked about his long association with the B.A.R.

Jane Philomen Cleland/Monique Doryland

Rick Gerharter, left, joined moderator Liz Highleyman, and panelists Tim Kingston, Cathy Cade, and Jane Philomen Cleland during a recent discussion about local queer history.

Highleyman asked the panelists how their work has evolved over the years. “I don’t think I’ve changed,” said Cleland. “What’s in front of the camera has changed.” Cleland also recalled the activist spirit of her parents, who became the chief inspiration for her career. “There are less gay bars, less drag shows, so there’s less to photograph,” Gerharter noted, adding that there were also fewer outlets where his work could be published. He said that one of his goals was to contribute to social change. Kingston said compensation is a major factor for freelancers. “I stopped being a journalist because people stopped wanting to pay for it,” he said. Cade offered a slide show retrospective of her work, which included photos of civil rights leaders Rosa Parks and Bayard Rustin, a gay man, and was particularly proud of a photo which included folk singers and activists Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Baez’s then female lover. Herself a lesbian mom, Cade also showed photos from her work on lesbian parenting, which she hoped to turn into a book. No one would publish it. “What are the major changes you’ve seen in the LGBT community?” asked Highleyman, stating that for her it was seeing HIV go from a killer disease to one that can be prevented for many by taking one pill a day. “It’s the mainstreaming of gay culture,” responded Gerharter. “We’re no longer ‘the other.’ It leads to less conflict and less drama.” Gerharter also spoke of the many actions that took place during the AIDS crisis, such as blocking the Golden Gate Bridge and the police sweep of the Castro during an October 6, 1989 demonstration by the AIDS activist group ACT UP. These events supplied many wonderful photo opportunities, according to Gerharter,

who described AIDS demonstrations as “exhilarating and effective.” “AIDS is just a disease now,” noted Kingston. “But we live in a bubble. This is not true everywhere.” The panelists were also asked what they considered to be their most meaningful work. “The work I did yesterday,” said Cade. “Lesbian mothering means a lot to me.” “The Dyke March is so meaningful to me,” replied Cleland. She recalled a T-shirt with the inscription “Damn lesbians,” which was how the late antigay Senator Jesse Helms described National Center for Lesbian Rights co-founder Roberta Achtenberg. The panel also addressed work that had yet to be accomplished. “Trans issues need to be addressed,” said Gerharter. “The recent murders of transgender women have been horrendous.” Cleland talked about the loss of gay culture. “We can get married and go into the military,” said Cleland. “Is that enough? Being gay is a cultural thing. I don’t want to see that culture go away.” Panelists also mentioned issues larger than the LGBT community. “We need to fight for economic justice,” said Cade. Panelists also recalled their favorite subjects. “I went to this old black man’s house,” said Kingston. “He talked about his life, World War II, his personal story. He was really a great guy to talk to.” “Tom Ammiano,” said Cleland. “He’s a real challenge because he’s a blinker. He always throws his head back. I have many photos of the roof of his mouth. I just love him.” “The civil rights movement,” said Cade. “Drag queens and people in costume,” said Gerharter. “Drag queens always say yes to being photographed.”t

December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

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<< National News

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

HIV infections fall in U.S., but disparities persist by Liz Highleyman

iomedical prevention science, integration of prevention and treatment programs, and efforts to reach underserved groups were key topics at the 2015 National HIV Prevention Conference this week in Atlanta. The conference, organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, brought together more than 3,000 public health experts, medical providers, front-line prevention workers, and people living with HIV to discuss the latest advances in HIV prevention science and implementation. “We now have the evidence base to end the epidemic,” said National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci at the opening session. “The argument is over about PrEP – if you take the drug, it works, not only in a clinical trial but in the field. The science has spoken. There can now be no excuse for inaction.” PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a once-a-day drug, Truvada, that has been shown to be very effective in preventing HIV if taken as prescribed.

HIV rate falls

While the latest U.S. epidemiology data show that HIV infections are on the decline – as has been seen locally in San Francisco – major disparities have kept some people from taking full advantage of recent prevention advances. Dr. Eugene McCray, director of of CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, reported that HIV diagnoses declined by 19 percent overall between 2005 and 2014, from 48,795 to 39,718 new cases annually. The decrease was driven by “dramatic and continuing declines” among several populations including heterosexuals (35 percent

decrease), women (40 percent decrease), and people who inject drugs (65 percent decrease), according to the CDC. Among gay and bisexual men – a group that accounts for nearly twothirds of all new HIV infections – new diagnoses rose by 6 percent over the decade, from 25,155 to 26,612. But looking at the most recent five-year period (2010-2014), infections stabilized with a less than 1 percent increase. Trends among gay men differed based on race and ethnicity. White gay men saw an 18 percent decline in newly detected infections over the decade – similar to that of the population as a whole. In contrast, new diagnoses among black and Latino gay men rose by 22 and 24 percent, respectively. But again, new diagnoses leveled off among black gay and bi men during the last five years. Looking specifically at young black men age 13-24, despite a steep 87 percent increase over the entire decade, new cases declined by 2 percent between 2010 and 2014. Unfortunately, a similar trend was not seen for young Latino gay men, who saw a continued increase. McCray and others suggested that it is unlikely that the declines and stabilizations are due to any single intervention – such as PrEP, which is only now coming into widespread use – but is likely attributable to a combination of efforts including getting more people living with HIV on treatment, which both improves their own health and reduces transmission to others. CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden emphasized that 71 percent of new infections are from people who are diagnosed with HIV but not yet on antiretroviral treatment. Frieden also called attention to a recent cluster of HIV infections related to injection drug use in rural Indiana,

Liz Highleyman

Dr. Eugene McCray, director of the CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, addresses attendees at the National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta.

noting that counties in 26 states are vulnerable to similar outbreaks. “We need to make syringe exchange available where it’s not available,” he said. “This data tells us that our prevention strategies are working, but progress is uneven across populations,” McCray said. “We urgently need to accelerate access to testing, treatment, and new biomedical prevention strategies so that everyone can protect themselves and their partners.” The CDC this week launched a new national HIV testing campaign – Doing It – that features people from different communities describing the importance of testing. The agency also released a new interactive online risk reduction tool to help people compare the risks of different sexual activities and the protection offered by various prevention methods. “Knowledge about HIV status is empowering,” McCray said at

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the launch event on December 7. “When people with HIV learn their status, they take steps to protect themselves and their partners.”

Addressing disparities

Numerous sessions at the conference focused on the various disparities that sustain the HIV epidemic and interventions to help overcome them. With this year’s conference located in Atlanta, many speakers noted the concentrated epidemic in the South, especially among African Americans, and the fact that most southern states have not expanded their Medicaid programs. New CDC data show that people with HIV in the South are less likely to know their status and have a higher mortality rate. “It is unacceptable that people with HIV living in many southern states are more likely to die than those living in other parts of the country,” said Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director

EQCA

From page 1

None of the three responded to the Bay Area Reporter’s requests for their reactions to EQCA’s statement. A news release from Maloney didn’t offer any clarity on his support for the legislation. “I have faith in our system, and I don’t believe these refugees – the overwhelming majority of whom are women, elderly, and children – threaten our communities or national security,” he stated. “So instead of slowing the program or pausing it, the [Obama] administration should agree to immediately certify refugees if they pass the current extensive screenings and we should all refocus on actual threats.” Sinema’s statement explained her position more plainly. The legislation “strengthens the refugee vetting process so we can continue to shelter those in need and keep our homeland safe from terrorism,” she stated. Local LGBT advocates are pleased with EQCA’s new direction. “I love it,” National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell said in an interview. “I love seeing what EQCA is doing. I think in many ways it feels very familiar. I think this is the role of LGBTQ civil rights social justice political organizations, to recognize that LGBT people are everywhere. While there are issues that impact in a greater way LGBT people, every issue is an LGBT issue, and beyond that, I feel like we should be a voice as a community for justice, and inclusion, and humanity.” Kendell noted the popularity of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, whose ambitions haven’t been hindered by his blatant xenophobia. EQCA and other LGBT organi-

of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. “Some states are making great strides toward getting people with HIV diagnosed and into care, but every state must do this if we are to reach our national goals for prevention and care.” San Francisco received kudos from many speakers for its successful efforts to prevent and treat HIV, but the city did not escape criticism. “San Francisco is proud of what it’s doing for HIV prevention, but its black population has gone from 12 percent to under 5 percent,” said Dr. Mindy Fullilove from Columbia University at the opening session, emphasizing that gentrification and displacement have detrimental effects on people living with and at risk for HIV. Housing was also an issue that was mentioned. “We have to quit looking at housing as a handout,” said Terrell Parker, a linkage to care specialist with Brothers United in Indianapolis. “How can you focus on your medication if you don’t know where you’re going to stay that night?” Throughout the conference experts emphasized that while treating HIV has come a long way, there is still a long way to go in making the latest scientific advances in HIV prevention and treatment accessible to everyone who needs them. “Even in this era of PrEP and rapid antiretroviral therapy when we can talk about a functional cure without it sounding like science fiction, we must face the stark truth that we will not research our way out of this epidemic,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Ronald Valdiserri in his closing comments. “AIDS was and is a disease that thrives on social inequalities. Along with the science, we must continue to keep empowering our most vulnerable populations to achieve social equality.”t zations “really being fierce about a larger full justice frame is so important, because this country needs a counterweight to all the toxic hatred and vilification of vulnerable people,” she said.

Post-marriage success

Zbur took over at EQCA not long after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in California, and just months before the court ruled all states must recognize marriage equality. He said many asked whether, after the marriage battle, “more affluent donors” would support the intersectional work, “and the answer that we’ve found is, ‘Absolutely yes.’” When he joined the organization in late 2014, he said, it had “ended up raising and spending $2.2 million. It was one of our smallest years ever.” With help from grants, individual support, and other sources, EQCA, which also includes the educational arm the Equality California Institute, is set to have a budget of $4.4 million for 2016. Gay Supervisor David Campos said, “I think they’ve done an excellent job under Rick Zbur’s leadership in making the point that even though we had the victory with marriage, we still have a lot of work that needs to be done in the LGBT community, and looking at the other issues disproportionately impacting the community,” including immigration and health care, “I really feel they have done an excellent job of setting the agenda for the next phase of the movement.” Working with several immigrant rights groups and a grant from the California Endowment, EQCA has completed work on a cultural comSee page 18 >>

Community News>>

December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

Wiener calls for hearing on property crimes by Seth Hemmelgarn

an Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener this week called for a hearing on property crime trends in the city’s residential neighborhoods, including home invasions, robberies, and auto break-ins. “Our neighborhoods continue to be confronted by a relentless wave of property crimes,” the gay District 8 supervisor said in a news release before the Board of Supervisors’ regular meeting Tuesday, December 8. “There are high profile cases of home invasions, and everyday disturbances like car break-ins and packages being stolen off people’s porches. We need to know what’s actually happening, how the city is responding, and what approaches residents can take to protect themselves and their property.” Wiener, who for years has been pushing to increase the number of police officers in the city, added, “We need more officers walking beats, and more focus on property crimes.” He said that the city’s police, district attorney’s office, courts, probation personnel, and community organizations need “to work together to ensure accountability for crime, as well as strong efforts at rehabilitation to reduce recidivism.” At the hearing, which will be held in early 2016, police, the DA, and the Superior Court will be asked to report on property crime trends and what’s being done about the issues, according to Wiener’s office. Crime statistics for District 8 weren’t immediately available, but in a Friday, December 4 Facebook post, Wiener pointed to an “escalation of crime” there. The incidents include someone recently being assaulted with a knife in Noe Valley, he said. Wiener said he’s also planning a District 8 public safety meeting for

Rick Gerharter

An abandoned sleeping bag sits atop a fence at the Safeway parking lot at Church and Market streets; some Duboce Triangle area residents have seen an uptick in homelessness.

January to “discuss the situation, including ways to make our community safer and how to have strong communication between the police and the community.” The meeting will include representatives from the police department, the DA’s office, and others. A date and location hasn’t been set. “In terms of why do a districtwide meeting, I wanted to make sure we have high level representatives from the police department and the DA’s office and adult and juvenile probation,” Wiener told the Bay Area Reporter. He said, “To do that multiple times over and draw senior people is much harder,” and “I want to have senior voices in the departments there.” Wiener wants to talk about what’s 9.75 in. going on, why it’s happening, the public safety agencies’ response, and “what neighbors can do to be safe.”

Some people have been expressing concern about recent incidents. Longtime Duboce Triangle resident Jamison Wieser, 39, has been working with others to form a neighborhood watch for the 100 and 200 blocks of Noe Street. Wieser, who’s gay, said, “I feel like our neighborhood is definitely one of the safer ones in the area.” However, he said there have been muggings, and there seems to be an increase in thefts from cars, judging from the broken glass on the streets and sidewalks. He said there have also been more homeless encampments, trash that’s been strewn around, and used syringes, among other “quality of life” issues. Work on the neighborhood watch project includes making a list of people with surveillance cameras, but it’s “not so much us wandering the streets and looking for things,”

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he said. It would more likely involve trying to keep the neighborhood clean, with more planters and other improvements, Wieser said. Police haven’t been as helpful as he would like, he said. “I’m feeling really dissatisfied” with police, Wieser said. When neighbors started developing the watch, they met with then-Park Station police Captain Raj Vaswani, who’s since been reassigned to the Bayview police station. “Under him we had seen a lot of bike patrols” and “a lot of police officers walking the streets, talking with the homeless,” Wieser said. When Captain John Sanford took over at Park Station, “bike patrols disappeared overnight. I do not see SFPD in my neighborhood at all anymore,” unless officers are responding to an incident, he said. Wieser said he hasn’t yet con-

tacted Sanford, but residents hope to meet with him soon. Sanford didn’t respond to an emailed interview request. Alan Beach-Nelson, president of the Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association, said, “I haven’t gotten a lot of complaints about increased crime.” Six to nine months ago, “I remember seeing lots of posts about car windows being broken” and “packages being stolen from people’s porches” on the social networking site Nextdoor, Beach-Nelson, who’s gay, said, but “I haven’t seen that many lately.” He said the Castro Cares program, a coalition of neighborhood groups, businesses, and programs designed to help link people to services has been “helping tremendously” with crime and quality of life issues in the Castro business district. He also praised Mission Station Captain Daniel Perea. “He’s a really phenomenal captain, and I hope he’s here for a while longer,” Beach-Nelson said. “He really cares and has developed a really strong working relationship” with him and others. However, like Wiener, BeachNelson thinks the city should increase its police force, and he’d also like to see more patrolling in the neighborhood. Wiener’s been pushing for increased funding for police academy classes. “Earlier this year,” his office noted, “Wiener authored legislation making it city policy to tie police staffing to population growth. This would take our minimum staffing goal from around 2,000 officers, which the voters approved in 1994, to 2,200-2,300 based on today’s population.” The supervisor also wants to involve community safety groups like SF SAFE in the upcoming discussions.t

<< Community News

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

Cox brings trans awareness to UC Berkeley by Hanna Miller

rans, feminist, woman of color – Laverne Cox, star of the Netflix series Orange is the New Black, accepts many labels in her career as an actress, activist, and speaker. “Your son is going to end up in New Orleans wearing a dress if we don’t get him into therapy right away,” a third grade teacher once warned the mother of Cox, she said. Cox recalled the incident before an audience of 500-plus students, faculty, staff, and community members in her recent talk “Ain’t I a Woman” in UC Berkeley’s Pauley Ballroom. Cox’s childhood infatuation with Gone with the Wind’s Scarlett O’Hara triggered the parent-teacher exchange, followed by a bout of shame – neither Cox’s first nor last experience of stigma about gender and sexual identification. The Associated Students of the University of California and the LEAD Center and Cross Cultural Student Development teamed up with UC Berkeley’s Division of Equity and Inclusion to welcome Cox December 2 as the inaugural speaker for the Campus Climate Initiative. The initiative is a product of a 2013 survey across all UC campuses “intended to create a baseline of data that will help develop a deeper awareness of how members of the UC community relate to one another on a day-to-day basis,” the university said in a statement online. On Cal’s campus, 13,000 faculty, students, staff, postdocs, and trainee respondents were surveyed by Rankin Associates and Consulting. One in four said they had personally experienced exclusionary, intimidating or hostile conduct.

Hanna Miller

Actress Laverne Cox addressed students, faculty, and staff at a recent appearance at UC Berkeley.

Ethnic or racial minorities, LGBTQ and multi-minorities reported feeling excluded more often than non-minorities. The first openly transgender actress to receive an Emmy nomination, Cox outlined the complex intersections of gender, race, and class during her life. From a very early age as an elementary school student in her hometown of Mobile, Alabama, she said, “I began to feel I was wrong.” Peers would pick on her for acting “like a girl,” she remembered. When she followed her passion as a dancer and enrolled in the Alabama School for Fine Arts in Birmingham, she became aware of additional barriers making her “other.” She and her twin brother were the only African-American students at ASFA, Cox said, and unlike their peers, the Cox twins weren’t from an upper-class family.

Art school, however, did afford an opportunity for experimentation. Cox began shopping at thrift stores (“Salvation Armani”) for women’s clothes, such as wide-legged bellbottoms and culottes. Years after her schoolteacher warned of feminine garb and emotional instability, Cox wore a polyester leopard print jumpsuit she’d made into a pair of pants that were “quite the hit in homeroom.” She entered an androgynous, gender non-conforming space that would grow into a truer transformation two years after graduation, when she moved to New York City. “Even though I tried to push down my gender and sexuality, my femininity could not be contained,” Cox said. Matthew Griffith, project manager for the Campus Climate Initiative, said that Cal has a vibrant LGBTQ community, but there are people on campus who are still marginalized. He said that he hopes having Cox on

campus will continue pushing forward a discourse on inclusion and encourage the campus community to understand one person may accept many identities. “You don’t have to pick one of them,” he said. “They enhance who you are.” Griffith said Cox’s talk was intended to challenge the campus community to “really think about what does that actually mean in the context of our campus and the climate that we have here,” he said. The standing ovation Cox received as she exited through a middle aisle and rows of chairs implied an enthusiastic acceptance of her message. First-year student Angel Santigo from Hesperia, California, said he identifies as a Latino, bisexual, and undocumented male. During his first semester, he said he has felt excluded in the classroom for anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist perspectives. “It’s supposed to be a liberal in-

stitution where you’re allowed to say those things, but in reality, it’s not,” he said. After hearing Cox’s talk, Santigo felt inspired. He said he related to her narrative of shame during childhood and adolescence. Although he’s felt discouraged in the classroom, and pressured to “follow the narrative,” Santigo added, “I feel like it’s my responsibility to change that.” Cox’s fame and success don’t make her immune to gender mislabeling and violence. In her adult life in New York, she said, she’s been called names, threatened, and even physically assaulted. However, she is adamant that communication and community discussions are keys to ending oppression. “Create safe space [where] you can take risks and make mistakes and have those conversations with a lot of love and empathy,” Cox advised. “Empathy is the anecdote to shame.”t

Big benefits for Folsom charities Casey McManis

olsom Street Events presented checks totaling $347,437 to its beneficiaries at a party Wednesday, December 2 at the SF Eagle. The amount raised through the Folsom and Up Your Alley street fairs, as well as other events, brings the nonprofit organization’s total donations to nearly $6 million since it started. FSE Executive Director Demetri Moshoyannis said in

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EQCA

From page 16

petency training module for health care clinics and professionals in the Central Valley that work with undocumented immigrants, whether or not they’re LGBT. “We want to improve the lives of communities LGBT people are a part of,” Zbur said, not solely LGBTs.

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a statement that 2015 “was an exceptional year,” and counted good weather and “positive community buzz” for helping draw crowds to the street fairs and parties. This year’s check was FSE’s second largest. Some of the benefitting organizations include the Castro Country Club, AIDS Legal Referral Panel, Frameline, Pets Are Wonderful Support, and the Shanti Project.

“LGBT people are still part of families that are undocumented,” he said. “... We are a civil rights organization, and part of being a civil rights organization is being a part of and a partner in the broader civil rights movement.” Zbur added the program was “so successful” that the California Endowment asked EQCA to expand it. His organization is looking at taking its efforts into the Inland Empire, East Los Angeles, and possibly Orange County, while also continuing to work in the Central Valley. EQCA’s stronger stance on immigration was also made clear when it joined several other groups in submitting an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans programs, which allow some undocumented immigrants to have temporary legal residency in the U.S. Several states have filed a lawsuit over the programs, and their implementation has been blocked. “These programs directly impact millions of people who have grown up here, paid taxes here and raised their families here – including hundreds of thousands of LGBT people in California alone,” Zbur stated. “Bringing undocumented immigrants into the full social, economic, and civic life of our communities is not only just and fair, it simply makes economic sense.”

Schools

Along with immigration, EQCA is continuing other work that it’s long supported, including protections for

California’s LGBT school students. The nonprofit is working with state education officials on a program to create a safe and supportive schools equality index. Among other things, the index will help see if schools statewide have programs that “adequately support” LGBT students, Zbur said. Absent legislation, he said, one thing advocates can do is “put a spotlight on districts doing well and those not doing well, with the goals of improving programs that are in place in the school districts.” Along with the Oakland-based Transgender Law Center, EQCA is also heading the Transgender Education Project, which is meant to boost acceptance and understanding of the state’s trans residents. EQCA’s legislative scorecard is expected soon, and should include victories such as Assembly Bill 959, which is designed to reduce health disparities for LGBTs through data collection. The bill, authored by Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and signed into law in October by Governor Jerry Brown, requires government agencies to gather sexual orientation and gender identity data whenever other demographic data is collected. The nonprofit is working to develop more bills. With funding from the Elton John Foundation, EQCA is crafting a bill that would modernize HIV laws. “One of the things that is a key objective for us will be a bill that will modernize the criminal statutes that See page 21 >>

Community News>>

December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

B.A.R. writer wins SF press club award compiled by Cynthia Laird

he Bay Area Reporter’s winning streak continued as assistant editor and political reporter Matthew S. Bajko won a first place award from the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club. The club presented nearly 200 awards in various categories at its annual luncheon December 5 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City. Bajko, 41, came in first in the newspapers non-daily category for his Political Notebook column. “It is an honor to be recognized by fellow journalists for the work that I do,” Bajko said. B.A.R. publisher Mike Yamashita said he’s proud that Bajko has received awards for the past several years. Press club officials said that they received 398 entries from the 11 counties in the Bay Area. The entries were judged by press clubs in Cleveland, Florida, New Orleans, and Orange and Kern counties in California.

SF Veterans Lions Club to hold holiday party

The San Francisco Veterans Lions Club will hold a holiday party Saturday, December 12 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the San Francisco

War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, 401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 210. Called “Twelfth Night,” the gathering is open to the public and includes food, music, and merriment. It will also feature and awards show and art show. There is no cost for veterans and Lions Club members; others are asked to make a $10 donation at the door. For more information, contact Lions Vice President John Caldera at sfcommishcaldera@ aol.com.

Alameda holiday home tour

The 45th annual Alameda Holiday Home Tour takes place Saturday, December 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. People can start the tour and purchase tickets at the Elks Lodge, 2255 Santa Clara Avenue. Winkie Campbell-Notar, publicity volunteer for the event, said that one of the five distinctive homes on the tour is owned by gay couple Phil McPherson and David Gaskin. Their home was also featured seven years ago, after they had just moved in. All the homes are beautifully decorated for the holidays. The tour is a benefit for Alameda Family Services. Tickets are $35 in advance or $45 on Saturday. For more information, visit http://www. alamedaholidayhometour.com.

Going too far by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

n November 27, as many people hit the stores looking for Black Friday deals, a gunman walked into a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs. In the course of his rampage, three people were killed, while several others were injured. The alleged killer, Robert Lewis Dear, a 59-year-old white male, was taken into custody alive, and will stand trial for his crimes. While the media was lax on citing possible reasons for his spree of domestic terrorism, a law enforcement official did say that Dear told investigators, “no more baby parts.” Dear identifies as an evangelical Christian and is staunchly anti-abortion. While I am purely speculating, I have to assume that the recent attacks by conservatives, spurred on by a series of videos created by David Daleiden that claim to show Planned Parenthood employees discussing the sale of fetal tissue, could have played a role in this case. This is not a column about abortion rights, however, but transgender rights. After Dear was taken into custody, an error was found on his voter registration: it listed him as female. It was a data entry mistake by the El Paso County Department of Motor Vehicles. Dear had the same error on his driver’s license, but had gotten that corrected. The voter registration record still had the mistake. This did not stop http://www.gatewaypundit. com from reporting that Dear “identifies as a woman.” The site also included that he had been charged in 2002 for being a “peeping Tom.” In spite of every other shred of evidence pointing to Dear not being transgender, conservatives went into high gear. The Liberty Council, a right-wing group focused on religious freedom, tweeted “Obvious,

There is no need to RSVP, but people can let staff know if they’re planning to attend or volunteer by calling (415) 503-4180.

Oakland Animal Services offers adoption discounts

Bay Area Reporter assistant editor Matthew S. Bajko

SV Gay Men’s Chorus to perform in San Jose

The Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus will perform “Wonder,” its holiday-themed concert, Friday, December 11 through Sunday, December 13 at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1550 Meridian Avenue, in San Jose. Friday and Saturday concerts are at 8 p.m.; Sunday’s performance is at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 general; $15 students with a valid ID. For more information, visit www. svgmc.org.

Openhouse holiday party

Openhouse, an agency that works with LGBT seniors, will hold its holiday party Sunday, December 13 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at Francis of Assisi Dining Hall, 145 Guerrero Street in San Francisco. The afternoon will feature entertainment by Bread and Roses. Organizers said the event welcomes LGBT seniors, their families, and friends. Openhouse will provide refreshments, crafts, games, and prizes.

Oakland Animal Services is celebrating “Home for the Holidays” with $25 adoption fees on all pets – dogs, cats, and rabbits – until the end of December. Adopters can also hand select a special holiday gift to bring home for their new family member. Pet Food Express has generously donated the pet gifts. “With so many people off of work and school, December can be a great time to adopt and get a new pet acclimated to your home and family,” shelter director Rebecca Katz said in a news release. “Of course, we always encourage people to recognize that a pet is a commitment and one that they should make with thought and careful consideration.” Families who are “on the fence” about adopting a large dog can also “rent to own” through the shelter’s large dog foster program. Foster families provide temporary love and housing for a large dog, and can decide to adopt over the next six weeks. With intake at an all-time high, the shelter is beyond capacity. Since Katz came on board as director just over a year ago, the shelter’s lifesaving rate has increased dramatically thanks to a variety of progressive new policies, such as treating critically ill animals and the large dog foster program. “Promotions like Home for the Holidays are a wonderful way to encourage more adoptions,” Katz said. “Families will find whether they are looking for a dog, puppy, cat, or kitten, rabbit, or even guinea pig, we have a wide variety of many wonderful and friendly animals at

OAS just waiting to go home this December.” Information about qualifying to adopt can be found at www.oaklandanimalservices.org. Individuals interested in learning about the large dog foster program should visit http://www.palseastbay.org/ oas-foster.html.

EQuality accepting scholarship applications

The eQuality Scholarship Collaborative is encouraging all northern and central California youth leaders to apply for its 2016 scholarships. Again this year, eQuality will be awarding more than 15 $6,000 scholarships, along with one $12,000 scholarship, to assist with the cost of post-secondary education. The collaborative honors students for their service to the LGBT communities. Applicants of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome to apply. Eligible students include those graduating (or recently having graduated) from high school or community college, and current and prospective nursing and medical students. In 2015, the collaborative awarded over $100,000 to 18 students. When the 2016 scholarships are presented in May, eQuality will have awarded almost 300 scholarships totaling more than $1 million. The eQuality Scholarship Collaborative is a fiscally sponsored project of the Horizons Foundation and a joint effort of the employee groups at PG&E, Kaiser Permanente, Genentech, and KPMG, and nonprofit organizations Out and Equal Workplace Advocates and Gay-Straight Alliance Network. The application deadline is February 1. For more information, including eligibility requirements, visit www.equalityscholarship. org.t

Courtesy Colorado Springs Police Department

Accused Colorado Springs shooter Robert Lewis Dear was labeled a “transgendered leftist activist” by a GOP presidential candidate because of an error on his voter registration record.

only a confused man would think he was a woman.” They did not feel that his taking of three lives mattered in that particular tweet. Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz went further. During a campaign stop in Iowa, Cruz, a U.S. senator from Texas, labeled Dear a “transgendered leftist activist.” None of those three words seems to apply to Dear. Cruz further stated, “We know that he was a man registered to vote as a woman.” Over the last few years, we have seen an increasing drumbeat from the right in opposition to LGBT rights. The fight against marriage rights has failed, tossed into the dustbin alongside anti-gay activists Anita Bryant and John Briggs, a former California lawmaker whose 1978 initiative would have banned gays from working in public schools. In seeking a new group to demonize, the right has happened upon transgender people, and more specifically, transgender women. Twenty-four days before Dear opened fire, the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance was defeated in Texas. The bill had added sexual orientation and gender identity to See page 21 >>

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<< Sports

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

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The Sin City Shootout takes place next month.

by Roger Brigham

ith the emergence of LGBT leagues across the globe rallying around signature events such as the Gay Games every four years, we have seen barriers of homophobia and transphobia falling in the sports world over the course of the past three decades. Which leaves the question: When you have little to fight against, what do you fight for? Following two decades in which only a handful of elite, high-profile athletes came out of the closet, in the past few years we have seen everyday athletes blowing up social media with their coming out stories. Whereas before athletes coming out were inevitably isolated from their sports and denied opportunity (hello,

David Kopay!), now we see them continuing and expanding their athletic careers, embraced and accepted by their teammates and peers. Support organizations and empowering information abound, easily and instantly accessible in a manner that was impossible in an older print-dependent society. Despite occasional reactionary setbacks with local governments, consistently and inevitably the laws of the land bring us greater acceptance and greater protection. Today, the playing fields are ours to enjoy. We have the chance not just to compete, but to excel. So, what’s next? I have been dealing with variations on this question since I became actively involved in LGBT sports in

2003, first as an athlete, organizer, and volunteer; later as a journalist and coach. For most of my life I had been active in sports but oblivious to the LGBT sports movement. It was not particularly accessible to me when I was competing in Alaska in the 1970s and 1980s. It did not command my attention when I covered spectator sports for mainstream newspapers in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a world I approached in ignorance and desperation this millennium when forced to do so by physical disability and the cruel grind of time. What an awakening. The world of wrestling in LGBT clubs was far more accepting and supportive than the cold-blooded competitive sport I had grown up in. Through organizations such as Team San Francisco, Golden Gate Wrestling, and the Federation of Gay Games, I found athletes who See page 22 >>

Former TLC board chair Lisa Dummer dies by Cynthia Laird

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isa Dummer, a transgender woman who served as board chair of the Transgender Law Center, died Monday, December 7. She was 68. Her sister, Mary Jo Clark, told the Bay Area Reporter that the cause of death was pancreatic cancer. She died at her home in Occidental, in Sonoma County. “She was very giving and ready to help anybody when needed,” Clark said of her younger sister. “She was very open to others.” Chris Daly, a former executive director of TLC, told the B.A.R. in an email that Ms. Dummer became board chair just as he left the organization several years ago. “Lisa Dummer isn’t someone that got a lot of public recognition for her efforts but she was a real force in the transgender community,” Daly said. “She was smart and committed to making real change for transgender communities and demanded that we have fun while doing the work. TLC was lucky to have her as a board chair and a supporter of the organization.” Masen Davis, also a former TLC executive director, praised Ms. Dum-

San Bernardino

From page 1

say that this attack should not encourage people to treat Muslims any differently than they would anyone else,” said Reyes. “This tragedy was committed by a radical group. “We do not hold all Christians accountable for the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church, so why do we blame all Muslims for the actions of their version of Westboro? It makes no sense,” Reyes said, referring to the Kansas church started by the late Fred Phelps that preaches hatred of gay people and has mocked gays at funerals.

Lisa Dummer

mer, who was board chair when he started at the agency in 2007. “I’m grateful for all that Lisa gave to the trans community,” Davis said via a Facebook message. “She dedicated much of her time and energy to making life easier for trans people in the Bay Area. She will be missed.” Clark said that Ms. Dummer was selected as Miss Transgender San Francisco in 2008 and represented the transgender community during Reyes added, “Muslims are just as loving and caring as anyone else. It made Daniel sick and continues to make me sick, that Americans refuse to drop this way of thinking. “My heart and sympathy goes out to all Muslims that are not members of these radical groups,” Reyes said. “I am sorry that, for whatever reason, people cannot seem to understand that the radical groups and terrorists do not speak for all Muslims.”t Troy Masters is the publisher and editor of The Pride LA, where a version of this article first appeared.

that year. She was also interviewed regarding transgender issues for a program called What’s Up with That!” In her professional life, Clark said that Ms. Dummer worked as an employment benefits attorney for Verisight, a client service provider of 401(k) and other retirement plans. She worked at the company’s office in Folsom. Ms. Dummer moved to Occidental about seven years ago, her sister said. She grew up in Whittier and graduated from the University of San Francisco. She received her law degree from Golden Gate University. Clark said that family members had a “mixed reaction” when Ms. Dummer came out as a trans woman. She was accepted by the majority of a large extended family. Ms. Dummer enjoyed bowling; her sister said that she bowled three 300 games, and published a novel. A memorial service will be held Friday, December 18 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 3730 Bohemian Highway in Occidental. In lieu of flowers, donations for the upkeep of Calvary Cemetery in Bodega, California are appreciated.t

Obituaries >> Jim McDonough March 19, 1959 – November 9, 2015

Originally from the Boston Area and a longtime Bay Area resident, Jim lived in Albuquerque since 2005 where he passed away peacefully. A photographer since age 5 when his mother gave him a Secret Sam camera, Jim’s work was shown in a number of exhibits in New Mexico. Jim was also a writer with more than 50 short stories and works of erotic fiction published in numerous anthologies and magazines since 1995.

International News>>

t Trans lawyer makes political history in Venezuela by Heather Cassell

amara Adrian made history this week when she became the first transgender person to win a seat in Venezuela’s parliament. “Today we made history in Caracas,” Adrian tweeted December 6 after the popular vote tally came in. “Progress will continue.” Adrian, who ran as a candidate of the Voluntad Popular (Popular Will) party, received a remarkable 74.25 percent of the vote. The party is an opposition party for Santiago de Leon de Caracas, the capital district that is commonly known as Caracas. She is one of 99 Democratic Unity politicians to win a seat at the National Assembly in a landslide win against the longstanding conservative political guard once overseen by President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro stepped into the role following the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s death in 2013. It was the first time since 1998 that a transgender person was legally recognized since Chavez came into power, Adrian told Global Voices. Adrian underwent sex reassignment surgery in Thailand in 2002. She’s been battling Venezuela’s Supreme Court since 2004 for her new identity to be legally recognized.

Castro merchants

From page 6

A good portion of the millionplus people expected to come to San Francisco for Super Bowl Week, which will officially kick off Sunday, January 30, would be interested in visiting the Castro, suggested Bergerac, “especially if there was something fun to travel here on.” Asked about the merchants’ complaints about the Super Bowl transit plan, gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener told the B.A.R. last week that he planned to meet with them in order to address their concerns. “Obviously, we want to make sure the Castro is well connected to the Super Bowl festival so people can easily come to the Castro to eat and drink and shop. That is a high

EQCA

From page 18

relate to transmission of HIV,” Zbur said. Current laws “make transmission of HIV a felony,” which is “really different than the way other similar diseases are treated.” The regulations result in “stigma and misuse of laws in targeting people with HIV,” he said. Zbur hopes the eventual legislation, which doesn’t yet have an author, “will be used as a model for the rest of the country.”

Transmissions

From page 19

the city’s anti-discrimination laws. It also made explicit protections based on sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy. The bill was defeated by antiequality foes who successfully cast the ordinance as a “bathroom bill” that would let men into women’s restrooms to harm wives and daughters. Buoyed by this, fights are now heating up across the country, including an initiative effort in California designed to prevent the government from mandating “co-

It wasn’t always like this. Before Chavez took office, Venezuela was at the forefront of transgender rights in Latin America, recognizing transgender people since 1977. Now it has fallen behind its neighboring countries – like Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador – that recognize transgender individuals from basic legal documentation to legal self-identification without undergoing medical treatments, she told Global Voices. Adrian hinted that LGBT rights might be one of her goals once she takes her seat in the National Assembly. She expressed to Global Voices that the Venezuelan National Assembly owes LGBT people a “debt.”

Photographs celebrating LGBT, straight couples vandalized in France

Unidentified youth are suspected of destroying an exhibit celebrating LGBT and straight couples and families in Toulouse, France. Youths carrying placards were seen leaving the area where the exhibit is on display December 4 by a couple walking home along the waterfront, reported BFMTV.com. Nearly all of the 60 photos in the open-air exhibit, “Imaginary Couples,” were defaced with black paint or completely painted over or the children’s eyes or entire faces were

December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 21

www.tiempo.hn

Tamara Adrian is Venezuela’s first-ever elected transgender member of parliament.

cut out. The vandals wrote, “Shame on you,” or “faggots,” on the photos. Only the photo of a straight white couple was left untouched. Olivier Ciappa, the 36-year-old French artist and photographer who has loved both men and women, told the Bay Area Reporter in an email interview that he anticipates it will take a week to recreate all 60 of the photographs. “It is extremely important for me to restore these pictures,” wrote Ciappa, “otherwise the vandals would have won.” He added that they will be even bigger when they return to the exhibit space and will stand next to the original 10 foot high photographs, he wrote. “This way I can show that ho-

mophobia is real and not just a fantasy like a lot of people think in France,” he continued. Ciappa chose Toulouse for his exhibit because it is one of France’s largest cities and it’s run by Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc, who is “one of the most active fighters against gay marriage,” he wrote. “It’s important to offer the citizens of Toulouse a more realistic, peaceful, and tender vision of homosexuality than the one they’ve seen for months through their politics,” wrote Ciappa. Ciappa’s exhibit has been shown all over the world, including, Paris, Lima, Montreal, Quebec, Beirut, and various cities in Germany. The next stop for the exhibit, which will pose famous people as LGBT couples, is Los Angeles, next summer.

U.S. Marine guilty in trans Filipina’s homicide

U.S. Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton was convicted December 1 by a Philippine court of killing trans Filipina Jennifer Laude. Pemberton, 20, was sentenced to six to 12 years in jail, Gerry Gruspe, a court clerk, told the Associated Press. His time served in detention will be credited to his sentence. Pemberton will be sent to the New Bilibid Prison, a national penitentiary in suburban Muntinlupa City, ordered by Regional Trial Court Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde. In October 2014, Laude, 26, was

found slumped on the floor halfnaked, with her head leaning against the toilet bowl, in the bathroom of the Celzone Lodge in Olongapo City. Pemberton was immediately arrested and charged with the murder of Laude and detained at the Philippine military headquarters until he was later transferred to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Custodial Center during the trial. The trial began March 23. In August, Pemberton admitted to strangling Laude during an argument when he discovered she was transgender, but that she was allegedly still alive when he left her in the shower in the hotel room, according to his attorney, Rowena Garcia Flores, reported the AP. Laude’s mother, Julita, wasn’t happy with the verdict. She was pleased to find out about the details of her daughter’s last moments of life (referring to Laude as her son, Jeffrey), but she hoped Pemberton would be found guilty of a stiffer charge. The court decided to go with the lower charge because it didn’t determine that there were elements of murder, such as treachery and abuse of superior strength. Additionally, the court lowered it due to two mitigating circumstances, passion and obfuscation, and intoxication, reported the Global Post.t A longer version of this column is available at www.ebar.com.

In response to the complaints by the Castro Merchants, which this week sent letters outlining its concerns to the supervisors and Mayor Ed Lee, the mayor’s Office of Workforce and Economic Development was scheduled to meet with leaders of the group Wednesday afternoon.

The mayoral office is now working with the Golden Gate Business Association, the city’s LGBT chamber of commerce, and the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee to devise an advertising campaign to encourage tourists to visit the Castro. There are also plans to hold a “mini-summit” with various transportation entities, such as Uber, Lyft, and taxi cab companies, to coordinate increased service between the Castro and the Super Bowl fan village. GGBA member Paul Pendergast, a local consultant, told the B.A.R. that $30,000 to $40,000 would need to be raised to ensure any Castrocentered marketing push was effective. It would include advertising in the local gay papers as well as on Muni buses and in special

guides being printed for Super Bowl visitors. “The focus of the ad campaign would be to drive visitors/tourists/ attendees to the SB 50 to the historic Castro to shop and dine,” Pendergast wrote in an email. “The value of the ad campaign is still in development. We will be getting pro-bono creative services, we’ll push to get as much free advertising as possible and then we’ll have to do fundraising.” He added that those involved would “push this very hard. It’ll be exciting but a lot of heavy lifting but that’s what the situation calls for so that we have even better LGBT inclusion to SB 50.” Bergerac told the B.A.R. this week that the advertising offer “is a very nice olive branch” and that he “is interested to see what they have in store.”

Yet he continued to maintain that the transit plans would have a negative impact on Castro businesses. “I don’t think anything will replace the historic F-Line streetcars in terms of bringing tourists up here,” said Bergerac. With people turning to shortterm rental sites like Airbnb to find accommodations during the Super Bowl, out-of-town guests are expected to stay in or near the Castro. “Any time you bring that many people into the city, even if the festival is in one part of the city, other neighborhoods, particularly destination neighborhoods like the Castro, will see a bump. It is not going to be a tidal wave coming in,” said Wiener. “There is going to be some benefit in the Castro, even though it is not going to be revolutionary.”t

EQCA is working to keep the legislation pipeline going in other ways, as well. Its institute is convening its second annual Fair Share for Equality meeting December 15 in Los Angeles to bring together progressive organizations, public policy makers, and others “to discuss and identify priorities for legislation and budget advocacy for the LGBT community,” Zbur said. The Elton John Foundation is also supporting EQCA’s work to develop a public education campaign “aimed

at the LGBT community about the benefits of PrEP and access issues” related to pre-exposure prophylaxis, he said. That campaign will likely launch in the first part of 2016. One of the organizations EQCA plans to reach out to on the project is the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. In a statement to the B.A.R., SFAF Senior Vice President James Loduca said, “The debate on PrEP is over and it’s great that organizations with resources and reach like EQCA are joining the education effort.

We know that there’s a big need for sex-positive, judgment-free messages around PrEP for prospective users, especially transgender men and women, Latino and AfricanAmerican men, and those looking to conceive children with their seropositive partners.” Additionally, he said, “Recent studies have shown that there is also a dire need to inform doctors about PrEP.” Suzy Jones, a self-identified gay woman who served on EQCA’s board from 2011-2015, said in an interview, “This whole new direc-

tion is something that I strongly supported as a board member and was a huge advocate of even before Rick was on board.” Jones added, “I joined the board because I wanted to get more involved, but also, as an African American woman, I wanted to make sure as we carried out this important work of ensuring ... LGBT people had the opportunity to survive and thrive in society, that diverse voices were able to participate, that our voices would be heard and be part of this effort to ensure full equality.”t

ed facilities.” Note that language, which is deceptive: it is not about co-ed facilities, but about allowing transgender people to use facilities that match their gender identity or expression. It is not about “protecting privacy,” nor is it about “keeping predators out of women’s rooms.” It is about discrimination, and will be used to strip not just transgender protections, but also anything that opponents can muster. Consider again that long list that was stripped away in Houston. There’s one thing standing in the way of these laws, and that’s facts: non-discrimination ordinances do not remove laws against rape and sexual assault. Crimes remain crimes, no matter if someone had a right to a given restroom. More

importantly, there’s no increased risk when these non-discrimination ordinances are on the books. From research provided by Brynn Tannehill, of Service Members, Partners, and Allies for Respect and Tolerance for All, or SPARTA, examining over 35 years of such ordinances covering transgender people worldwide, there has been only one single case of these laws being manipulated in a fashion close to what opponents want to claim. That’s out of a countless number of people using public restrooms around the world. Let me get back to Dear. Let’s take a moment and look at his alleged domestic terrorism through the fun house mirror as Cruz and others have done. Let’s say that

we do call Dear a “transgendered leftist activist” for a moment, and consider that Dear forced his way into a women’s space, using his – or hers, if we continue to assume the voter identification is correct with Dear’s identity – purported rights to public accommodations in the state of Colorado to allow him to enter without repercussion. In doing so, he killed three people, and would be a model candidate for the repeal of anti-discrimination laws. Except, of course, Dear is not transgender, and none of the above even makes sense. For decades – and especially this year – the right has been attacking Planned Parenthood. Yet this time, they were more than happy to demonize a person who was literally

doing their dirty work at a Planned Parenthood clinic because it would fit an anti-transgender narrative. It would seem that there is no step that is too far for them to go, and no level they won’t stoop to in order to strip away our rights. So the question is this. With foes who will try to paint a killer like Dear as a “transgendered leftist activist” in order to demonize transgender people, and in a time when records show more transgender people have been murdered in the United States than ever before, how far will we have to go to defend our rights?t

priority,” said Wiener. “Getting to the Castro from the festival between the subway and the F-Line replacement buses will not be hard. There is good transit connectivity between the Castro and the festival.” Nonetheless, Wiener said he wanted to “sit down with the merchants to understand in depth what their concerns are to make sure we are addressing the neighborhood’s needs.”

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22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

SF airport director

From page 7

which now sees almost 50 million passengers a year, has brought in 25 new international carriers, among other progress. “Through it all,” Martin said, “we maintained our commitment to providing excellent customer service and a ‘sense of place’ for our guests and to being an excellent steward of the environment.” SFO is now undergoing a $4.4 billion capital project that includes plans for a new Terminal 1 and a 350room hotel. A new air traffic control

Political Notebook

From page 9

for LGBT and diverse business inclusion,” said Ackerman, who joined the association five years ago. “We are an LGBT chamber of commerce and our goal is to help our members thrive.” The changes wrought by Fleischer and his executive committee, said Leddy, have given GGBA a stronger foundation, resulting in renewed reasons for why LGBT businesses should join it. “We want you to increase your business by being a GGBA member,” said Leddy. For more information about GGBA, visit www.ggba.com.

Milk club set to early endorse Kim

The Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club is set to deliver an early Christmas present to District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim.

Richmond chief

From page 7

and the community. This is a work in progress. I’m not going to report that everything is great and everybody gets along, but we’ve come a long way in building trust.” Many residents “used to feel very marginalized” and mistrust police, Magnus said, but now “they know the officers that patrol their neighborhood. They know them by name, and they work with them on neighborhood projects.” Even with the progress, though, “Richmond is going to continue to be a very challenging environment,” Magnus said. Problems include guns, gangs, and other criminal activity, along with blight, poverty, and unemployment. “Really, the residents and police alike are going to have to double down on their efforts,” Magnus said. “... The challenge is not to get complacent, not to get demoralized, and to realize there are always going to be hiccups in the process, but you stay focused on the larger, long-term goal.” Magnus, who said among his other reasons for leaving are “I think it’s good to pass the baton at some

Jock Talk

From page 20

were as concerned for others as they were for themselves. Through Wrestlers WithOut Borders I was able to meet individuals as they stumbled to stand up for themselves, struggled to find strength, and offer them my encouragement and assistance. I stopped focusing on my self-oriented goals and discovered an entirely new world that encouraged competition but was not consumed by it. And that’s what we as a community and a movement need to do now: stop being so self-focused, self-limiting, and self-identifying. Establish our value in the greater sports community. For the past decade, I have had conversations with one LGBT sports club after another in which I have been asked about the problems they experience with losing their sense

tower has already been completed. Under Martin’s direction, the airport has also instituted “fair and living wages” for all its service and security personnel, starting in 1999, Yakel said. The current standard is $13.52 an hour. One task that hasn’t been completed yet is the naming of one of the airport’s facilities after slain gay icon Harvey Milk. Milk’s election to a supervisor seat in November 1977 marked the first time an out LGBT person had won elected office in both San Francisco and California. Yet less than a year into his first term, Milk was killed

inside City Hall the morning of November 27, 1978 along with thenMayor George Moscone by disgruntled former supervisor Dan White. Gay Supervisor David Campos in 2013 floated the idea of naming the entire airport after Milk but faced steep opposition and dropped the plan. In a deal he struck with Campos, Lee agreed to form an advisory committee that would recommend which of the airport’s four terminals should be named after Milk. The panel could also suggest names for the three other terminals, if it chose, as well as other airport facilities. Whose name would be attached

to the various airport terminals and other areas would ultimately be up to the supervisors and the mayor to decide. While the supervisors had named their four picks to the nine-person airport naming advisory body by early 2014, Lee has yet to announce who his five picks will be. Campos said Monday he and his staff have “repeatedly asked” the mayor’s office whether the others have been named to the commission, and “to my knowledge they haven’t.” Martin’s age wasn’t immediately available. His compensation is listed at $330,156.t

At its holiday party December 16, the city’s queer progressive political club is expected to approve an early endorsement of Kim’s 2016 bid for the city’s state Senate seat. The 11th Senate District, which covers all of San Francisco and several cities in northern San Mateo County, is currently held by Leno. Termed out of office next December, Leno has endorsed gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener to be his successor. In September the more moderate Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club early endorsed Wiener in the race. And last month the statewide LGBT advocacy group Equality California threw its support behind Wiener with an eye toward ensuring the ranks of the Legislative LGBT Caucus, which will lose at least two members next fall, are replenished. Should Kim defeat Wiener, it would mean that San Francisco had not elected a gay or lesbian person to a state legislative seat since 1996,

when Carole Migden became the city’s first out lawmaker in Sacramento by winning an Assembly seat. The city’s current two Assembly members, Democrats Phil Ting and David Chiu, are both straight and expected to easily win re-election next year to their seats. Ting has endorsed Kim in the Senate race, as has Migden. Other LGBT leaders backing her bid include gay former District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty, gay former Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, and gay rights leader and union organizer Cleve Jones. In her questionnaire she submitted to the Milk club ahead of the endorsement vote, Kim cited a long list of LGBT issues she has championed, both as an elected school board member and as a supervisor, from funding HIV services and housing for LGBT youth and adults to queer cultural heritage initiatives throughout her district. “I am committed to advocat-

ing and legislating for the diverse communities and neighborhoods that make up CA State Senate District 11,” wrote Kim. “I am focused on proven solutions to make our neighborhoods safer, healthier, and stronger focusing on investing and building infrastructure and strengthening neighborhood organizations whose impact will continue long after I leave office.”t

point in an organization,” expressed confidence in his successor. “I’ve got some very capable command staff who work with me in the department,” including Assistant Chief Allwyn Brown, who will become interim chief after Magnus leaves in January. Magnus is taking a pay cut to go to Tucson. According to city data from 2012, his total compensation, including the city’s contributions to his pension and other pay, was about $293,000, with a base income of approximately $218,000. He said his salary in Tucson would be $200,000. Although he’ll be making less money, he’ll be overseeing a larger, more spread out department. Richmond’s force has around 185 sworn officers, while Tucson has 950 to 1,000 sworn police personnel, Magnus said. According to census estimates, Richmond’s population is about 109,000, while Tucson’s is approximately 528,000. Magnus described how he would support people of color, immigrant, and LGBT communities in Tucson. “I think a big part of being a police chief in any city, and it will certainly be true in Tucson, is really taking the time and showing

interest in the folks that live in that community from all different backgrounds and races and life experiences,” he said. “My plan obviously is really to spend a lot of time” on “listening to people’s concerns, getting to know different segments in the city, and trying to build some of the same relationships I was able to build here in Richmond.” There’s “no quick, easy way to do that,” Magnus said, but “one of the best things about being police chief is it gives you that opportunity to get to know and invest in the diversity of a community” and “develop a climate of mutual respect and understanding,” among other tasks. “Those are all pieces of it,” he said. “It takes time and commitment, but I’m up for that.” Others who have worked to address problems in Richmond had high praise for Magnus. Richmond City Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles, a black Latina lesbian, called Magnus “phenomenal.” “We’re losing a wonderful asset to our city,” Beckles said. “I feel that Tucson is definitely lucky to have him.” Magnus “has really groomed some fine men and women who believe in community policing,” she

said. She’s heard from people “who are afraid” of what may happen after he leaves, but “I have the utmost confidence we have people in our department who can carry the torch he’s handing over.” Referring to tensions with police in cities like Baltimore and Chicago, where officers have recently been charged in the deaths of black men, Beckles said, “We really have come a long way” in Richmond, “and I think it’s important we continue” to assure residents “they will continue to be respected.” Kimberly Aceves, executive director of Richmond’s RYSE Center nonprofit, which works with young people on social justice, said Magnus has been “a strong advocate of a lot of community-based organizations, especially RYSE, so we’re going to definitely miss our relationship” with the chief. Aceves, a queer Latina, hopes the next chief “remains committed to building trust with the community and stays transparent with the community. That’s something that the chief did really well. … Wherever he went, he understood it’s not just one agency that’s going to change things. It has to be a collaborative effort, and he really meant it.”t

of identity because of an influx of straight players, or in which the clubs have expressed problems recruiting and maintaining LGBT membership. Two sides of the same coin. My answer in both cases is that clubs need to stop focusing on homophobia as a barrier and focus on its erosion as an opportunity. Do not see assimilation as a death sentence, but rather as an opportunity to foster fundamental, cultural change. Don’t let your club be all about being gay; make sure it is accepting, supportive and inclusive. Help others to stop seeing reasons they can’t participate and compete; help them understand why they should accept challenges and engagement. Share the lessons learned in the field of battle not to win new battles, but new allies. In conversations I have heard in the FGG, the old focus on engaging with LGBT athletes continues to dominate. That focus is of critical

necessity for the Gay Games’ efforts in major repressed portions of the world. It is, however, a road to irrelevance in the rest of the world, where past progress dictates a more inclusive and supportive strategy. LGBT athletes in the United States have dozens more inclusive competition opportunities than they had 20 years ago – inexpensive, well-organized, well-supported events. Many big cities now hold annual multisport tournaments, and the Sin City Shootout in Las Vegas has emerged as the grand-daddy of them all, eclipsing the Gay Games as the biggest LGBT sports event in the world. It offers no conferences nor ceremonies, no opportunities to bemoan ourselves as victims of a cruel, cruel world. Unlike the Gay Softball World Series, it does not have silly rules restricting and discouraging heterosexual participation. It does not charge enormous sanctioning fees.

It is not a grandstanding political event. It is a raw celebration of the growth of LGBT-centric sports. The LGBT sports movement is no longer about being gay or bisexual or lesbian or transgender. The movement is now about discarding those barriers that kept us apart, that kept us out, that kept us isolated, that kept us weak. It is about competing proudly as who we are and doing what we can to make sure we help out those around us regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Time to stop fighting against something we hated; time to start fighting for what we love. Speaking of the Sin City Shootout, the ninth annual edition will be held January 14-18, with events centered around the host Tropicana Hotel. Twenty-four sports are offered, from basketball to running to swimming. For information, visit http://www.sincityshootout.com.t

Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http://www.ebar.com Monday mornings at noon for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion. This week’s column looked at out CA leaders’ gun control measures. Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/politicalnotes. Got a tip on LGBT politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 8298836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-15-551657

In the matter of the application of: BENJAMIN LEE LARD, 236 WEST PORTAL AVE #120, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner BENJAMIN LEE LARD, is requesting that the name BENJAMIN LEE LARD, be changed to BENJAMIN SERAPHI SIGMA. 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 14th of January 2016 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2015 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-15-551676

In the matter of the application of: AMY MARSH MACIONIS, 900 FOLSOM ST #701, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner AMY MARSH MACIONIS, is requesting that the name AMY MARSH MACIONIS, be changed to AMY REVERE. 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 14th of January 2016 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2015 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-15-551682

In the matter of the application of: JOERI NICOLAAS MARIA ELISABETH MICHIELSEN, 302 EUREKA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner JOERI NICOLAAS MARIA ELISABETH MICHIELSEN, is requesting that the name JOERI NICOLAAS MARIA ELISABETH MICHIELSEN, be changed to YURI MICHIELSEN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 19th of January 2016 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036774800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE PETSITTERS; THE PET SITTERS, 1624 YORK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ELAINE S. PEREDNIA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/84. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/13/15.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036775500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BRILLIANTLY STONED JEWELRY, 2229 15TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DAVID L. HONE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/11/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/13/15.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036770200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RAY’S SWEET CORN, 601 VAN NESS AVE E315, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RUSHD ODTALLAH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/10/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/10/15.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036752300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: METRO APPLIANCE REPAIR, 1920 TURK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALEX SLIVNYAK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/29/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/29/15.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036765600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: XCEL STUDIOS; BOUTIQUE BON JOUR, 1995 CHESTNUT ST #308, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SUSAN SCOBIE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/30/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/05/15.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036774000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: POPSONS, 998 MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed B & M BURGER LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/12/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/12/15.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036787300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TC CONSTRUCTION, 414 DETROIT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JUAN CARRENO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/04/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/18/15.

NOV 26, DEC 03, 10, 17, 2015

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Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036788500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PETIT BAZAAR AND BASH; PETIT BAZAAR & BASH, 237 KEARNY ST #9050, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALISON NEW. 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 11/18/15.

NOV 26, DEC 03, 10, 17, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036791200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KL CAP; KL CAPITAL PARTNERS, 480 2ND ST #303, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed KL CAPITAL PARTNERS, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/02/09. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/19/15.

NOV 26, DEC 03, 10, 17, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036797300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LANE, 11 MAIDEN LN, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a joint venture, and is signed RICHARD MA & URI ROGERS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/20/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/20/15.

NOV 26, DEC 03, 10, 17, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036800100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BUBBLE CUP, 1900 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BUBBLE ENTERTAINMENT LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/23/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/23/15.

NOV 26, DEC 03, 10, 17, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036799800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NEW REVOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHY, 111 CENTRAL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PIERCE LARICK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/23/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/23/15.

DEC 03, 10, 17, 24, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036789500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ST TUTORING SERVICE, 235 VERNON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SONGTHAM TUNGKITKANCHAROEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/18/15.

DEC 03, 10, 17, 24, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036802800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FAIRMONT SAN FRANCISCO, LAUREL COURT, TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR, 950 MASON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MASON STREET OPCO LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/24/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/24/15.

DEC 03, 10, 17, 24, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036802700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CAFF CENTO, 801 POWELL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MASON STREET OPCO LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/24/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/24/15.

DEC 03, 10, 17, 24, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036809400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CIVIL MESSENGER, 3508 23RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DIETRICH RAPALSKI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/01/15.

DEC 03, 10, 17, 24, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 6M4434 EXTENSION OF TIME FOR RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the General Manager of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District has extended the time for receipt of Proposals TO PROVIDE CONSULTING SERVICES FOR ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, Request For Proposals No. 6M4434, until the hour of 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 22, 2015, at the District Secretary’s Office, 23rd Floor, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, California 94612 or to the mailing address: P.O. Box 12688, Oakland, California, 94604-2688.. Dated at Oakland, California, this 4th day of December 2015. /s/ Kenneth A. Duron Kenneth A. Duron, District Secretary San Francisco Bay Area Transit District 12/17/15 CNS-2822961# BAY AREA REPORTER

December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 23

Classifieds The

NOTICE OF BULK SALE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a bulk sale is about to be made by Royal Loan, a California Limited Liability Company whose business address is 1024 Mission Street, San Francisco County, California 94103 pursuant to a written asset purchase agreement dated December 8, 2015. The assets to be sold are located at 1024 Mission Street, San Francisco County, California 94103 and consist of all open pawn loans and inventory on hand, together with other business assets. This sale will be made to Best Collateral, Inc., a Colorado Corporation, whose business address is 285 Bel Marin Keys Boulevard, Suite E, Novato, Marin County, California 94949. The anticipated date of the bulk sale is December 29, 2015. The sale will occur at and any claims should be sent to The Law Offices of Jon Webster, located at 1985 Bonifacio Street, Suite 102, Concord, Contra Costa County, California, 94520. The last day to file a claim is December 28, 2015. Dated: December 8, 2015 BEST COLLATERAL, INC. By ROBERT VERHOEFF, President

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DECEMBER 10, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036810600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MG HOUSECLEANING, 31116 16TH ST #20, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MIGUEL A. GARCIA CABALLERO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/01/15.

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DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036821300

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOLD STAR SERVICES, 1141 COLE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GENA STARKWEATHER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/07/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/07/15.

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DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036821200

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MORMARK, 1141 COLE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ARTHUR FRANKS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/07/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/07/15.

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DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036814000

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DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036812200

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ORGANIC MECHANICS, 735 GEARY ST #103, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed SEAN STOUT & JAMES PETTIGREW. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/01. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/03/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CLAY OVEN INDIAN CUISINE, 1689 CHURCH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed APPAM SF CORPORATION (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 12/02/15.

DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036812300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INDIA CLAY OVEN RESTAURANT AND BAR, 2436 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed COURTYARD SF CORPORATION (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 12/02/15.

DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036812400

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CLAY OVEN, 231 FILLMORE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed J MALHI SF CORPORATION (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 12/02/15.

DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036814300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: URBAN PET HOSPITAL, 2308 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed URBAN PET HOSPITAL 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 12/03/15.

DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2015 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035181500

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: GREEN VIKING CONSULTING (LLC), 51 DOUGLASS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by GREEN VIKING CONSULTING LLC (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/29/13.

DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2015

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Out &About

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O&A

Vol. 45 • No. 50 • December 10-16, 2015

www.ebar.com/arts

Radio stories get moving by Lou Fancher

ra Glass doesn’t buy the meme that says attention spans are getting shorter. Nor does the 56-year-old host of the public radio show This American Life ascribe to the alarmist notion that new technology is fearful. Instead, Glass points out that while looking at 20-second tweets, people are also bingewatching hours of television. Outliers who say social media platforms aren’t interactive are old people afraid of new technology. “And I say that as an old person,” he says in an interview. See page 33 >>

Radio host Ira Glass will reprise Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host with dancers Anna Bass and Monica Bill Barnes in Zellerbach Hall.

ys a d i Hpolopping

David Bazemore

are on stages

by Richard Dodds

ome folks may be dreaming of a white Christmas, but we’d be happy enough here with a wet Christmas, thank you very much. Just hold off on the deluge, if you would, until we’ve finished our holiday theatergoing. We only have so many umbrellas to leave behind under the seat in the rush up the aisle. See page 32 >>

Aussie drag artist Courtney Act goes From Head to Mistletoe in a new holiday show at Oasis. Courtesy Courtney Act

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

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December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27

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December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 29

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30 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

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Out There>>

December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 31

Strolling into the season by Roberto Friedman

t has begun, the 2015 holiday season. From now until year’s end, it’s all a mad rush of holiday parties, familial obligations, work-family dos, festive imperatives, and the wanton decking of halls. Don’t look now, Madge, you’re soaking in it. Last week Out There attended the kick-off for Union Square SF’s Winter Walk. This is a popup pedestrian plaza set up along two blocks of Stockton Street that comes alive with light shows, food trucks, and music, through Jan. 1. It’s a boulevardier’s liberation in pleasing AstroTurf and plastic public seating, and best of all, yet another impediment to soul-destroying single-occupancy vehicles hogging up the city’s downtown core. Pedestrians only! You have nothing to lose but your carbon footprint! The media kick-off concluded with an afterparty at 140 Maiden Lane, home of the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building in San Francisco. The erstwhile Xanadu Gallery behind its artful brick facade, it was built in 1949, its spiraling inner ramp a direct antecedent to the great American architect’s later inspiration for the Guggenheim Museum in NYC. The previous evening, OT was in the house with our good buddy Wilder Ceplo at Sotheby’s San Francisco’s new One Sansome Street gallery, for a VIP reception and private viewing of highlights from Robert Frank: The Americans. This exhibition of prints from Frank’s iconic book of photography comes from the personal collection of Ruth and Jake Bloom, on public view in San Francisco and Los Angeles before the New York Photographs auction on Dec. 17. It was a swank affair, to celebrate some important art photos. Then we returned to Chez Wilder in time for the annual broadcast of Rankin/Bass’ stop-motion Christmas classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on CBS. Our host is an expert in all things Rudolph and proud owner of a truly impressive collection of Rudolph memorabilia, so watching the Red-Nosed Ur-Text with him was somewhat like screening Zapruder film footage with the Warren Commission. “If you watch Hermey the elf’s neck carefully in this scene, you can see the spring mechanism inside.” Bay Area cabaret duo Sandy and Richard Riccardi sing their “Holiday Dinner Party” on YouTube to the tune of “Rudolph, the RedNosed Reindeer.” “Charlie could not have cheddar, cause it clashes with his meds/Leigh’s on a low-carb diet, couldn’t sample any breads./ Anya could not have onions, cuz they fill her up with gas./Elsie could not have eggnog, cuz it knocks her on her ass.” That’s real holiday spirit!

Gibson had written to Fleming that while he enjoyed Goldfinger, ‘although not a psycho-pathologist, I think it is slightly naughty of you to change a criminal lesbian into a clinging honey-bun (to be bottled by Bond) in the last chapter.’” Oh, how they misunderstand. 2. Thai Visa Forum reports that “the latest film from Thailand’s most decorated director was named best film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards” last month. “Apichatpong ‘Joe’ Weerasethakul’s Rak ti Khon Kaen (Love in Khon Kaen), known internationally as Cemetery of Splendour, won the Best Feature trophy in Brisbane, Australia, at the ninth annual awards show, which recognizes cinema in 70 countries, from Russia to New Zealand. Set in the artist’s hometown, the dreamy mystery-romance centers on a middle-aged nurse (Jenjira Pongpas Widner) who cares for a soldier lost in an unexplained coma.” The openly gay Weerasethakul is probably best-known in this country as auteur of the international art-house hit Tropical Malady. His accolades keep coming. 3. The San Francisco Film Society

announced the latest honorees to be added to Essential SF, their ongoing compendium of the Bay Area film community’s most vital figures and institutions. This year’s inductees are filmmaker and curator Craig Baldwin, longtime film distributor California Newsreel, Mill Valley Film Festival director of programming Zoe Elton, journalist Michael Fox and filmmakers Jenni Olson and Jennifer Phang. Congratulations, you filmees!

Fresh Stew

OT enjoyed the powerhouse performance of Notes of a Native Song by Tony Award-winning writer/musician Stew and co-composer Heidi Rodewald last Saturday night, part of the Curran: Under Construction series at that fabled theater. Homage to the great gay African-American writer and activist James Baldwin, Native Song is a collage of songs, texts and video inspired by Baldwin’s brave, visionary life. The show, born as part of Harlem Stage’s season celebrating Baldwin’s 90th birthday, offered Jimmy B. as boy preacher, blues singer, Bard of Harlem, intellectual brawler and expat social conscience of America. Stew, Rodewald and their band the Negro Problem were kickass great in songs and asides. It was an unforgettable night at the theatre.t

Courtesy Union Square SF

Union Square SF’s Winter Walk returns to two blocks of downtown Stockton Street this holiday season.

Courtesy Union Square SF

Interior view of 140 Maiden Lane, home of the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building in San Francisco.

“HHHH. GORGEOUS, HEARTBREAKING AND UNFORGETTABLE.” REX REED, NEW YORK OBSERVER

“A BEAUTIFUL AND POIGNANT LOVE STORY THAT TRANSCENDS STEREOTYPES OF GENDER, SEXUALITY AND ROMANCE.” ERIN WHITNEY, HUFFINGTON POST

“YOU CAN’T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF EDDIE REDMAYNE WHO IS FLAT-OUT FABULOUS.

Tom Hooper has crafted a work of probing intelligence and passionate heart.” PETER TRAVERS, ROLLING STONE

Short takes

1. The [UK] Guardian has the word on “a letter in which author Ian Fleming asserts that his lesbian Bond girl Pussy Galore ‘only needed the right man to come along to cure her psycho-pathological malady.’” This shameful Fleming memorabilia was sold on auction in London last month. “The letter, which is also included in the just-published collection of Fleming’s James Bond letters The Man with the Golden Typewriter, was written in response to a Dr. Gibson.

Out & About This week, find Arts & Culture’s calendar listings Out & About in the BARtab section.

I N S E L E C T T H E AT E R S D E C E M B E R 11 FO R G ROU P SA L E S I NFOR MAT ION, P L E A S E V I SIT Th e Danish Gir l Gro u p S al e s.co m

<< Theatre

32 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

Heir unapparent

Joan Marcus

A member of a noble family (John Rapson, left) shares a drink with a distant relative (Kevin Massey) who has dastardly plans in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at the Golden Gate Theatre.

by Richard Dodds

ttend the tale of Monty Navarro. No, it doesn’t quite scan as well as “Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd,” but both Messrs. Navarro and Todd are serial killers in olde London towne. Yet, while Sweeney Todd is a frightening, vindictive murderer, Monty Navarro is a genial chap who does in his enemies with merry dispatch. It’s a stretch to describe A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder as holiday entertainment, but it is something of a bejeweled ornament that helps make this season a little brighter. The musical, now at the Golden

Gate Theatre in a touring production, was an unlikely Broadway success story. Suggesting elements of Gilbert and Sullivan and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, with none of the ingredients that can help hype a show, Gentleman’s Guide opened on Broadway in 2013 to favorable reviews but lackluster business. Fortunately, it was able to hang on long enough to win the Tony Award for best musical, and then ticket sales blossomed. Robert L. Freedman’s libretto is officially based on a book you never heard of, and unofficially on a movie you may recognize. The 1907 novel is Roy Horniman’s dully titled Israel Rank: The Autobiography of

a Criminal, which became Kind Hearts and Coronets when adapted into a classic film in 1949. Following in the tradition of the screen version in which Alec Guinness played all the murder victims, the members of a doomed noble family – old and young, male and female – they are also played by a single actor in the musical. The masterful Jefferson Mays (I Am My Own Wife) created the role(s) on Broadway, and a comically versatile John Rapson takes on the nine roles in the tour. On the big stage of the Golden Gate, a bijou of a second proscenium stage with pleated drape curtains pushes forward as scenes described by the narrator unfold. That narrator is the aforementioned Monty Navarro, raised in poverty by his recently departed mother, and who learns from a busybody biddy that his mother was actually a noblewoman, disowned by the D’Ysquiths for marrying a Castilian musician. Monty, it turns out, is actually ninth in line to become Earl of Highhurst. After being rebuffed by the D’Ysquiths for even minimal recognition of his lineage, he develops increasingly ingenious, and generally hilarious, ways of eliminating heirs on his way to earldom. In Darko Tresnjak’s spry direction, the homicides are not presented as grisly affairs, except for one decapitation. A death by bee stings orchestrated by Monty plays out in the background as a scene blithely continues downstage while the hapless beekeeper runs back and forth followed by a projected swarm of bees. And the most delightful of the fatalities involves characters ice-skating with florid theatrical artificiality and Monty with an ice saw conveniently at hand.

Holiday stages

From page 25

This year’s theatrical holiday roster is not quite the deluge it has been in past years, at least not in the slightly bent fashion we favor here, but still plenty enough to make spirits bright through the season. Here is a selected list of ways to tickle your fancy as the year draws to a close, including several newcomers as well as a flock of perennials. You can certainly count on Christmas episodes from The Golden Girls as among the perennials, but two of the four title characters are cast with newcomers to the show. Cookie Dough, who had played Sophia Petrillo since these drag caricatures of the TV series began in 2006, died earlier this year, and Holotta Tymes has taken over the role created by Estelle Getty. Additionally, Pollo del Mar, the longtime portrayer of Rose, has left the cast, with D’Arcy Drollinger moving into the Betty White role. The indomitable Heklina continues in the Bea Arthur role of Dorothy, and Matthew Martin carries on where Rue McClanahan left off as Blanche. Martin is also directing the production, made up of two episodes from the series: Dorothy’s New Friend, in which a haughty newcomer rubs Dorothy’s housemates the wrong way; and The Accurate Reception, with Blanche’s daughter’s announcement that she plans to become pregnant through artificial insemination. Performances are again at the Victoria Theatre, continuing through Dec. 20. Tickets at goldengirlschristmas. eventbrite.com. Heklina and Drollinger are also partners in the still-young nightclub Oasis, where one holiday tradition finds a new home and another

Kevin Massey is one of the most likeable murderers you’re likely to meet, as he ingratiates himself into the D’Ysquith family with easygoing charm. But even if you can look beyond his penchant for executing kinfolk, he most certainly is a cad. He can’t decide between vivacious but married Sibella (a steamy Kristen Beth Williams) and the more virtuous Phoebe (sweetly played by Adrienne Eller), and one of the most hilarious scenes has Monty shuttling between rooms to keep both women satisfied and most definitely separated. The songs by lyricist Freedman and composer Steven Lutvak tend toward a patter style, focusing more on being cleverly explanatory than musically ornate. But they admirably serve their purpose, and often come with a shrewd button to finish

them off. What the production may most lack is a more comically vibrant performer in the roles of the doomed D’Ysquith family. Rapson certainly manages to get laughs with the idiosyncrasies of numerous roles, but something is missing to earn it the title of a tour de force performance. While not an insignificant drawback, it isn’t enough to hamper the curiously quaint charms of Gentleman’s Guide. It may not be A Christmas Carol, but it still twinkles with a happy holiday spirit, at least if you don’t consider familicide a Yuletide deal-breaker.t A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder will run at the Golden Gate Theatre through Dec. 27. Tickets are $45-$212. Call (888) 7461799 or go to shnsf.com.

Make this holiday seas

Special guest stars

Anna Trebunskaya & Dmitry Chaplin as seen on Dancing With The Stars

ANNA - #1 on list of "Top 10 Hottest Dancing With The Stars Female Pros - past and present" or "Top 10 Hottest DWTS Female Pros - past and present" DMITRY - Emmy nominated for Argentine Tango choreography on "So You Think You Can Dance" “A show that you will never want to end” —Marin Independent Journal "Gloriously varied, stunningly performed and beguilingly sexy: Forever Tango must be seen" —The London Times "The most magniﬁcent, romantic, exciting evening you can ever spend" —KGO Radio “An evening of Sheer Pleasure! Sensual, Elegant and Dazzling! —NY Daily News

Lois Tema

Chris Morrel plays the down-on-his-luck puppet Nicky in New Conservatory Theatre Center’s third holiday visit to Avenue Q.

attraction may be laying down first roots. Connie Champagne again becomes Judy Garland in Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, a collections of songs, holiday-themed and otherwise, that Garland both did sing and never got the chance to perform. The single performance is on Dec. 19. Down Under drag star Courtney Act debuts From Head to Mistletoe at Oasis on Dec. 13-14. The creation of Australian native Shane Jenek, Courtney Act was a contender on Australian Idol, auditioning on successive nights in male and female guise; a finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race; and was the first drag artist to sing with the SF Symphony, in a 2014 concert starring Cheyenne Jackson. Ticket info at sfoasis.com. Over at Feinstein’s at the Nikko, J. Conrad Frank returns as his royal

Russian counterpart in Katya … A Holiday Spectacular! on Dec. 16-17. Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, a countess now in reduced circumstances, sings, banters, reminisces, and downs a shot or three of her favorite clear beverage. Tickets at hotelnikkosf.com. While you can see ACT’s A Christmas Carol at the Geary Theatre, the musical Scrooge in Love! at the Eureka Theatre, and the touring A Christmas Story at the Orpheum Theatre, you can catch Not Another Holiday Show at Brava Theater Center on Dec. 20. Created by San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company, the revue pays tribute to TV variety shows of yore while thrusting them into the world of Facebook, Twitter, and texting. Tickets at brava.org. Two musicals that have little or nothing to do with the holidays are being revived by theaters as holidayapplicable attractions. It’s the third annual go-round for Avenue Q at New Conservatory Theatre Center, where the musical about puppets with grownup problems runs

Take a SELFIE WITH THE STARS: VIP tickets include preferred seating, post show meet & greet and Forever Tango CD.

Dec 20–Jan 1

Special New Year’

415-392-4400 • cityboxoffic through Jan. 17. (Tickets at nctcsf. org.) At the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto, TheatreWorks is reviving Emma through Dec. 17. TheatreWorks presented the world premiere of the musical adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel in 2007. (Tickets at theatreworks.org.) The Curran Theatre’s Under Construction series, which has dealt mainly with adult fare up to now, goes for a broader demographic with its holiday-timed offering of Story Pirates’ Greatest Hits Show. Running Dec. 12-20 at the Curran, where performers and audiences currently share the stage, the show is a musical sketch-comedy performed by professional improvisers and musicians, based entirely on stories written by elementary school students from across the country, with one new locally produced story each night. Tickets at sfcurran.com. Mittens and Mistletoe: A Winter Circus Cabaret makes its sixth

seasonal appearance on Dec. 18-27 at Dance Mission Theater. Created by Sweet Can Productions, and directed by the clown duo Coventry & Kaluza, the production features circus artists, comedians, acrobats, and musicians from the Bay Area and various points across the globe. The 2015 engagement will also include the show’s first-ever adults-only performance on Dec. 26. Tickets at wsweetcanproductions.com. And you know it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas when Kung Pao Kosher Comedy announces the lineup for its annual Jewish alternative to Yule logs and wassailing. Stand-up veteran and frequent TV performer Wendy Liebman headlines the Dec. 23-26 shows, which also feature Dana Eagle, Mike Fine, and producer-emcee Lisa Geduldig. There are dinner shows and cocktail shows each night at the New Asia Restaurant. Tickets at koshercomedy.com.t

Film>>

December 10-16, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 33

Uneven ‘Youth’

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel star in director Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth.

by David Lamble

son sizzle!

outh is a challenging if seriously flawed new film from Italian wunderkind Paolo Sorrentino, winner of the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar for 2013’s The Great Beauty. Your impression of it will depend on your tolerance for highflown speeches, even when emanating from unusually talented lips. The film is set in a luxurious Alpine Swiss resort, which appears to cater to a mix of hyper-ambitious young revelers and a sadder if wiser collection of older souls searching for a literal fountain of you-knowwhat. Sorrentino is an actor’s director, allowing his players to shine

in circumstances that, in less sure hands, might appear downright risible. He gives arguably the best young American actor of his generation, Paul Dano, a speech that in a different context might seem embarrassingly pretentious. Dano plays Jimmy Tree, a conceptual actor-artist whose claim to fame is impersonating a robot on screen. Like other guests at the resort, Dano’s Jimmy Tree is at an awkward career/life crossroads: “I have to choose what is really worth telling, horror or desire? And I choose desire. You, each one of you, you opened my eyes, you made me see that I should not be wasting my time on senseless fear.” Tree’s remarks are inspired by and directed at a pair of the resort’s older guests: a great composer, Fred Ballinger (Michael Caine); and a talented film writer, Mick Boyle (Harvey Keitel). While Fred has thrown in the towel, refusing to tap his muse despite pleas from adult daughter Lena (Rachel Weisz), Mick is desperately anxious to pop one more out for his love, Brenda (Jane Fonda). Youth, if it’s about anything, represents the late stirrings of the male ego – in this case, a guy accustomed to success who wants to go out on a hit. In 1998, Woody Allen rounded up 27 pretty faces/terrific actors for a B&W outing he called Celebrity. The film stank of all the bad choices I sense from Youth, except for one incendiary sequence where a then24-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio seductively bullied the film’s Woody

stand-in, British Shakespearean star Kenneth Branagh. Leo was dazzling in his emasculation of the older actor, and for exactly 10 minutes the movie sparkled. As soon as Leo left the screen the conceit evaporated and turned back into one of the worst Allen films in the post-Mia Farrow era. In Youth, whenever Caine, Dano and Keitel hold forth I’m engaged, even if it’s not really my kind of movie. The three both articulate and represent a dialogue about life and art that dates back to the Greeks. When they’re gone it’s as if someone flipped off a switch: the juice is missing. Art, the great secular religion of today’s chattering classes, is a most fickle entity. It’s easy for those of us on the sidelines to urge life’s “onetrick-ponies” to quit before they embarrass themselves. But even certified genius-level practitioners can stumble badly. As hard as certain patches of Youth were, I’m grateful I saw it, and I urge my readers to take a plunge into this charged if shallow pool. You may come away muttering, but I bet the conversations generated in your head, or better yet with friends, bloggers and watercooler mates, will be worth it. Also, in a year when the Oscar buzz is likely to include Jane Fonda (for Youth) and Paul Dano (for his astonishing turn as the young Brian Wilson in Love and Mercy), Youth is a great opportunity to catch an amazing young film actor at the height of his powers.t

“The blah, blah, blah of words – well, words seem like an inefficient machine. Comparing more poetic forms of expression like dance to words, I’m jealous of how much feeling you can convey.” –Ira Glass

10 • HERBST THEATRE

’s Eve Performance Added!

ce.com • forevertango.org

Ira Glass

From page 25

Returning to the Bay Area on Dec. 12-13 courtesy of Cal Performances in Berkeley, Glass with choreographer and Berkeley native Monica Bill Barnes and dancer Anna Bass present Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host. They performed the show in SF and Berkeley in 2014, and based on its popularity, CalPerf is bringing it back. The rollicking 90-minute show animates stories about life as a performer, as a lover, and as an experience that ultimately ends. The show’s trajectory navigates from personal confidences to grand, universal themes. Along the way, humor, movement, and the disarming presence of Glass, Barnes and Bass steer the show away from pomposity and toward simple humanity. Even so, the power of combining movement with words isn’t lost on

Glass. If radio is heard but not seen, and dance at its essence is largely seen without words (postmodern dance-plus-text aside), is the sum of their parts a loss or a gain? “It’s absolutely a gain,” he says. “It’s not exactly an episode of the radio show, because dance changes it, but of course it’s still like the radio show. The dance is infected by the radio.” “Infected” sounds bad until he explains that radio’s intimacy – “You talk on the radio like you are talking to one person” – gets a boost from dance’s more emotional, primal delivery. “The blah, blah, blah of words – well, words seem like an inefficient machine. Comparing more poetic forms of expression like dance to words, I’m jealous of how much feeling you can convey.” Whether or not a person agrees is less important than the point, which is to combine words and movement, and, like chocolate with

Ebru Yildiz

Radio host Ira Glass will reprise Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host with dancers Anna Bass and Monica Bill Barnes in Zellerbach Hall.

peanut butter, invent a sensational experience. “If something’s engaging, people will stay with it,” he says. Glass can only guess at the takeaway from the show, but speculates that in addition to learning about the life of entertainers through the stories he and his co-performers tell (or dance), the third act’s “sad, sad” stories are oddly satisfying. People tell him they come without having a picture of what the show will be. “About 15 to 20 minutes into the show they learn, ‘Oh, this is what this is.’” The diversity of audiences’ reactions has been his greatest surprise. “Some audiences laugh a lot, others are quiet and more thoughtful. The contemplative audiences, they react, but to totally different stuff. It never occurred to me that you can get 2,000 people together and they’d be so varied.” It will surprise no one familiar with the heart of most artists that the three performers are as interested in learning new truths about their art-forms as they are in showing off the unique storytelling

attributes of dance and spoken words. Glass discovered that the stage show doesn’t translate back into his radio show. In fact, playing to large houses even threatened his on-air performance. “The accidental effect is that it was ruining what I was doing on the radio. I got used to being onstage too much. I had to pull back because I was sounding too large.” The trio also found that not all stories translate into exposition by movement, and occasionally, combining words with a particularly evocative, emotional dance diminished its brilliance. Ultimately, the litmus test was whether or not the combined approach lifted a subject to an honest, elevated narrative without becoming pretentious. Interestingly, given that the gay community has played a particularly significant role in dance history, there are no explicitly LGBT stories. Perhaps that’s partly related to the philosophy applied to This American Life. “I don’t think of it as a political platform,” Glass says about

the radio show. “We try to document people’s lives. That’s what every show should be doing. That’s the basic [objective], documenting the diversity of people’s experience.” In some respects, it’s a relief. The gay experience, like any other, isn’t something to shove into a box with a label. Glass says he’s seen “a real evolution of thought” on LGBT issues over the past 20 years, and contributors to the radio show have been a “tremendous asset,” with stories that cover a broad spectrum of topics. “None of it ended up in the 90 minutes of the show, just by luck of the draw. That’s unfortunate, because it would make it a better show by getting into more of people’s experiences. I could pretend we’d make changes, but we probably won’t.” Glass says the show has a “life expectancy,” and will end its run that originated at Carnegie Hall in 2013 with a big splash. “The plan is to tour a few more months and end somewhere awesome like the Sydney Opera House in July of 2016.”t

<< Film

34 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 10-16, 2015

A very Castro December

by David Lamble

A Chanticleer Christmas Welcome the season with Chanticleer's profound and joyful mix of holiday music, from the Renaissance to spirituals and carols

December 12-23

DATES & TICKETS:

www.chanticleer.org 415-392-4400

/lgbtsf

Recreated from an original Cliff House postcard c. early 1900s.

Holiday Parties at The Cliff House The Terrace Room Offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and historic ambiance, the Terrace Room is a truly unique private event venue for groups up to 120. Private Events Direct 415-666-4027 virginia@cliffhouse.com

The Lands End Room Located in Sutro’s, the Lands End Room is a semi-private space for smaller parties of 15 – 49 with California coastal cuisine and awesome views. Large Parties Direct 415-666-4005 lauraine@cliffhouse.com

Call to Book Your Event! 1090 Point Lobos • San Francisco • 415-386-3330 www.CliffHouse.com

he Castro Theatre rings out the last three weeks of 2015 with a dazzling variety of comedy, drama and Hollywood musical fare. Nosferatu, Phantom Der Nacht German-born director Werner Herzog is uniquely suited to reimagine F.W. Murnau’s silent-era horror masterpiece, featuring Klaus Kinski as the tortured Count Dracula, co-starring Swiss filmmaker Bruno Ganz, with music by Popol Vuh. Rare showing of the Germanlanguage version, with English subtitles. Plus The Keep As Nazi soldiers invade a tiny Romanian hamlet, their presence unleashes longdormant supernatural energies. Just as all appears lost, a mysterious stranger shows up with knowledge of the town’s terrible secrets. Michael Mann’s evocative fairy tale is supported by a musical score from Tangerine Dream. With Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne and Ian McKellen. (12/10) Thundercrack! Peaches Christ is mistress of ceremonies for the 40th anniversary of director Curt McDowell’s underground classic. It kicks off in a dusty old mansion where four men, three women and a randy gorilla will spend a bumpy night indulging their taboo erotic fantasies. The late Marion Eaton is a drunken hostess who, after throwing up in her wig, can barely refrain from completely flipping it as her crazed guests pursue their carnal appetites. (12/11) Ghostbusters A Saturday Night Live comedy team distracted Reagan-era liberals with this goofy special-effects-driven tale. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis play disgruntled “scientists” at the end of their wits and their governments grants who, armed with some flashy gadgets, rid Gotham City of its ghostly creatures. Plus Night of the Comet Director Thom Eberhardt created this sci-fi comedy after chats with teenage girls about their end-of-theworld fantasies. (12/12) The Nightmare Before Christmas Producer Tim Burton’s cinema stocking-stuffer. The citizens of Halloween Town, led by Pumpkin King Jack Skellington, want to put their own horror-inspired spin on Christmas. Director Henry Selick

and his stop-motion animation team brought this weird, wacky story to the screen. Original score by Danny Elfman. Plus Elf Will Ferrell is either overthe-top or perfectly in sync with the Christmas spirit as a rogue defector from Santa’s elves who slips away from the North Pole to find his biodad. (12/13) Black Mass Johnny Depp is getting Oscar buzz for his no-holdsbarred take on James Whitey Bulger, mob king of Southie. In the 70s, intrepid FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) persuaded the Irish mobster to join forces to eliminate a common foe, the Boston-area Mafia. The FBI’s cooperation gave Bulger opportunity to create his own government-sanctioned death squad. Scott Cooper’s thriller costars Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson and Kevin Bacon. Plus Donnie Brasco As the title character, Depp becomes close to a late-70s NYC mob hit man (Al Pacino). Donnie finds himself taking

sides against the Bureau and his own family. Director Mike Newell takes us deep inside raunchy mob culture in the heart of Little Italy. Michael Madsen and Bruno Kirby co-star. (12/14) The Reckless Moment Fans of Max Ophuls, Joan Bennett and James Mason are in for a special night as this 1949 noir gem unspools. Bennett is the uptight housewife who schemes to separate teen daughter Geraldine Brooks from no-good boyfriend Shepperd Strudwick. Accidental homicide gets mom and daughter involved with sinister smoothie Mason. Ophuls adroitly mixes the murder, thrills and action with wrong-sideof-the-tracks romance. Plus Kiss of Death Victor Mature is on the run after he fingers mob killer Richard Widmark to the cops in this Henry Hathaway-directed noir. Widmark steals his scenes as the psycho-stalker. (12/16) Stop Making Sense In director Jonathan Demme’s great concert film, full immersion in Talking Heads music: “Life During Wartime,” “Psycho Killer,” “Burning Down the House.” Plus Home of the Brave This concert film captures the edgy sound of Laurie Anderson’s 1984 album Mister Heartbreak, with band members Joy Askew on keyboards, King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew, drummer David van Tieghem, and novelist William S. Burroughs. (12/17) Mrs. Doubtfire This early-90s San Francisco domestic comedy is a hilarious spoof of “Snob Hill” denizens, and a showcase for Robin Williams’ cross-dressing skill set. His Daniel Hillard is a frustrated SF actor scraping by with voicework in animated films. Sassing off to his toon boss gets him fired, whereupon he gets the bright idea to adopt the comic identity of a 60-year-old Irish born nanny. Director Chris Columbus maximizes the impact of Robin’s comic voice against the backdrop of his adopted hometown. Preceded by classic Williams trailers. Plus The Straight Story This atypical David Lynch outing is inspired by the true story of 73-yearold Alvin Straight, who journeys this country’s heartland astride a John Deere riding lawnmower. Richard Farnsworth garnered a Best Actor nomination. (12/18) See page 36 >>

GREAT SEATS STILL AVAILABLE

A uniquely San Francisco Nutcracker.

DEC 16–31

Join us as the lights dim, music soars, history comes alive, and a little girl dreams about a whole new world.

BUY TICKETS TODAY!

sfballet.org or 415.865.2000 LEAD SPONSORS

The Herbert Family The Swanson Foundation

Read more online at www.ebar.com

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus @ Nourse Theatre

Drag Queen Story Hour @ Eureka Valley Public Library Persia MCs a ‘kids and their families’ day with cookies and face-painting. 12:30pm. 1 Jose Sarria Court at 16th St. www.sfpl.org

Jason Mecier @ Magnet

Yule love it by Jim Provenzano

ather together to celebrate, acculturate and accommodate. Being human’s a year-round privilege. For plenty more arts events, check the expanded listings on www.ebar.com

Thu 10 Chanticleer @ Various Venues

The Grammy-winning a cappella ensemble performs their annual holiday classical music concert. Dec. 10 in Stanford; Dec. 12 in Oakland. Dec. 15 in Berkeley, and more thru Dec. 23. Check online for schedule. $30-$75. 392-4400 www.chanticleer.org

Detour/Em Space Dance @ Noh Space Double bill of queer-identified visually striking dances by EmSpace Dance: Whether to Weather, a dance play for four men by Erin Mei-Ling Stuart and written by Brian Thorstenson; and Kat Cole and Eric Garcia’s Beckon. $15-$30. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru Dec. 13. 2840 Mariposa St. www.detourdance.com www.emspacedance.org

The Fall of the House of Usher @ War Memorial Opera House San Francisco Opera’s fascinating double bill of Gordon Getty’s Usher House and Claude Debussy’s La Chute de la Maison Usher, both inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling 1839 short story. $36-$255. Dec. 8-12 (7:30pm), Dec. 13 (2pm). 301 Van Ness Ave. 864-3330. www.sfopera.com

The Golden Girls @ Victoria Theatre The Christmas Episodes are performed by Heklina, D’Arcy Drollinger and a drag queen/king cast of local talents. $25. Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 7pm. Thru Dec. 20. 2961 16th St. goldengirlschristmas.eventbrite.com

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder @ Golden Gate Theatre The touring company of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy about the conniving heir to a family fortune. $45-$212. Tue-Sat 8pm. Wed, Sat, Sun 2pm. Thru Dec. 27. 1 Taylor St. at Market. 551-2050. www.shnsf.com

James Graham Dance Theatre @ ODC Theater The Izzie Award-winning choreographer presents his eveninglength duet, Homeroom, a compelling dance-theatre piece concerned with male relationships, masculinity, and human connection, performed with Sebastian Grubb. $18-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thur Dec. 12. 3153 17th St. www.jamesgrahamdancetheatre.com

The Naughty List @ Pianofight A Very Chardonnay Best of Show, a holiday-themed show performed by the all-women comedy sketch theatre group. $20-$30. Thu-Sat 8pm. 144 Taylor St. www.pianofight.com

New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre Dec. 10: Nosferatu (Werner Herzog 1979 version) and The Keep. Dec. 11, Peaches Christ celebrates the 40th anniversary of Curt McDowell’s Thundercrack!, 3pm & 7:30pm with pre-show (&18). Dec. 12: Ghostbusters (3pm, 7pm) and Night of the Comet

(5pm 9pm). Dec. 13: The Nightmare Before Christmas (3:30, 7pm) and Elf (5pm, 8:35). Dec. 14: Black Mass (2:15, 7pm) and Donnie Brasco (4:30, 9:15). Dec. 16: Noir City Xmas presents The Reckless Moment (7:30pm) and Kiss of Death (9:30). Dec. 17: Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense (7:30) and Laurie Anderson’s Home of the Brave (9:15). $11-$16. $10-$15. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

Raw Dance @ Joe Goode Annex The intensely physical dance company performs their acclaimed 2013 work, Mine. $25-$30. Thru Dec. 13. 401 Alabama St. (800) 838-3006. www.rawdance.org

Smuin Ballet @ Mountain View, SF The local dance company performs Michael Smuin’s popular The Christmas Ballet. Thru Dec. 13 at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Dec. 17-27 at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. www.smuinballet.org

Superfood @ Exit Theatre Sia Amma’s vibrant music-theatre show about food, with african drumming, singing, dancing and storytelling. $20. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Dec. 19. 156 Eddy St. (800) 838-3006. www.superfoodmusical.com

Fri 11

Avenue Q @ NCTC Those naughty puppets and their human pals are back yet again, in the company’s third revival of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy. $30$50. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Jan. 17. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Bill Irwin @ Strand Theatre The celebrated Tony-winning actor/ clown performs On Beckett, his personal solo show about a lifetime of exploring playwright Samuel Beckett’s work. $50-$100. 7:30pm. Also Dec. 12. 1127 Market St. 749-2228. www.act-sf.org

Cavalia @ AT&T Park The sweeping horse and acrobatic show returns with the new Odysseo. $44.50-$289. Tue-Fri 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Jan 10. (866) 999-8111. Embarcadero at AT&T Park. www.cavalia.net

A Christmas Carol @ Geary Theatre American Conservatory Theatre’s annual amazing production of Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh’s popular stage adaptation of Dickens’ classic holiday story. Previews; opens Dec. 10. $25$150. Thru Dec. 27. 415 Geary St. www.act-sf.org

The Christmas Revels @ Scottish Rite Center, Oakland The 30th annual concert of holidaythemed classical music commedia and dance takes on a Renaissance Venice theme. $10-$45. Fri 8pm. Sat 1pm & 5pm. Dec 11-13, 18-20. (510) 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. 452-9334. www.californiarevels.org

The celebrated gay collage artist premieres Man Candy, his latest works made of jelly beans and other media. Thru Dec. 4122 18th St. jasonmecier.com www.magnetsf.org

Jess Curtis/Gravity @ Gray Area/Grand Theatre Intercontinental Collaborations #6, a 15-year celebration of the local choreographer’s works. $20-$35. 8pm. Also Dec. 12, 8pm. Dec. 13, 7pm. 2665 Mission St. 843-1423. www.grayarea.org

The Kid Thing @ NCTC The local theatre company presents Sarah Gubbins’ witty play about the problems two lesbian couples face with an impending pregnancy. $25$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Dec. 13. New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness ave., lower level. www.nctcsf.org

Magnificat Baroque Ensemble @ Various Venues Bach’s Mass for Advent is performs. Dec. 11, 8pm, First Presbyterian Church, 1140 Cowper St. Dec. 12, 7:30pm at First Congregational Church, 2345 Cahning Way, Berkeley. Dec. 13, 4pm at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1111 O’Farrell St., SF. $36$40. www.SFEMS.org

CAFE

RESTAURANT

CATERING

Cafe | Restaurant | Cate

Serving the Castro288 Noe Street, SF since 1981 (415) 431-7210 lamednoe.com

The Monster-Builder @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley Bay Area premiere of Amy Freed’s dark drama about post-modern mega-architect Gregor Zubrowski, and design theft. $3-$50. Tue 7pm, Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm & 7pm. Extended thru Dec. 20. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org

La Mediterranee Noe @LaMedNoe

288 Noe Street, SF • (415) 431-7210 • lamednoe.com

Pirates of Penzance @ Arts Passage Gilbert & Sullivan’s bouyant musical operetta gets an energetic new staging. $25-$65. Tue-Thu-Sat 8pm; Wed & Sun 7pm; Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Dec. 20. Osher Studio, 2055 Center St., Berkeley. www.berkeleyrep.org

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus @ Nourse Theater HoliGays are Here, the annual festive concert series by the historic chorus. $19-$50. 8pm. 275 Hayes St. Also Dec. 12 2:30 & 8pm. 392-4400. (Also Dec 24 at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St.). www.sfgmc.org

Scrooge in Love @ Eureka Theatre

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

LOOKING FOR

Jason Graae stars in 42nd Street Moon Theatre company’s restaging of the almost-forgotten musical comedy loosely based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. $25-$75. Wed & Thu 7pm. Fri 8pm, Sat 6pm. Sun 3pm. Thru Dec. 13. 215 Eureka St. 255-8207. www.42ndstmoon.org

Stage Kiss @ SF Playhouse Gabriel Marin and Carrie Paff star in Sarah Ruhl’s new romantic farce that blends on- and offstage romance between actors. $20-$45. Tue-Thu 7pm, Fri & Sat 8pm, Wed, Sat & Sun at 2pm & 3pm. Thru Jan. 9. 450 Post St. www.sfplayhouse.org

WE’VE GOT THEM ALL

SubUrbia @ Bindlestiff Studios Breach Once More theatre company performs Eric Bogosian’s dark comedy about 20somethings facing a daunting cynical future. $15-$25. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Dec. 19. 185 6th St. www.breachoncemore.com

See page 50 >>

spartacusworld.com/app

<< On the Tab

46 • Bay Area Reporter • December 10-16, 2015

On the Tab Dec. 10-17, 2015

Georg Lester

e’re wet with anticipation for this week’s luscious nightlife events. No, really, we got caught in a downpour and we’re wet. Isn’t that nice?

Christian Heppinstall as Patsy, Terry McLaughlin as Edina, plus Katya Smirnoff-Skky, Raya Light and a cast of queens perform scripts from the hit BBC comedy series. $25 ($200 champers front row VIP, sweetie!). 7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 7953180. www.sfoasis.com

Bulge @ Powerhouse Grace Towers hosts the weekly gogotastic night of sexy dudes shakin’ their bulges and getting wet in their undies for $100 prize (contest at midnight), and dance beats spun by DJ DAMnation. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Drag Queens on Ice @ Union Square Holiday Ice Rink Enjoy skating, hot drinks and a fun drag show, hosted by Donna Sachet, with Mutha Chuka, Paju Munro, KyliePop, Kim Chi Chi, BeBe Sweetbriar, and Mahlae Balenciaga. 8pm. 333 Post St. www.unionsquareicerink.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

Spencer Day @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The local jazz vocalist-pianist performs songs from his albums Daybreak, and the new Angel City. $40-$55 ($20 food/drink min.). 8pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866)6631063. www.spencerday.com www.ticketweb.com

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle Music night with local and touring bands. $8. 9:30pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Disco guru DJ Bus Station John spins grooves at the intimate retro music night. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Xcess Thursdays @ The Cafe Frisco Robbie and Persia’s dance and pop music night gets the weekend started, with gogo guys and gals, plus drink specials and guest DJs. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Fri 11

Comedy Noir @ Balancoire Valerie Branch’s weekly comedy night, where she embodies her faux queen character Pia Messing for some offbeat wit, along with guest performers. $5. 8pm-10pm. 2565 Mission St. www.balancoiresf.com

Give Until It Hurts @ Oasis

Mercedez Munro and Holotta Tymes’ weekly drag show. $5. 10:30pm show. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

The Monster Show @ The Edge

Happy Friday @ Midnight Sun

The weekly drag show with themed nights, gogo guys and hilarious fun. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

The popular video bar ends each work week with gogo guys (starting at 9pm) and drink specials. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

My So-Called Night @ Beaux

Hard Fridays @ Qbar

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

Latin, hip hop and Electro music night. $5-$25. 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www.club21oakland.com

Midnight Show @ Divas Weekly drag shows at the last transgender-friendly bar in the Polk; with hosts Victoria Secret, Alexis Miranda and several performers. Also Saturdays. $10. 11pm. 1081 Polk St. www.divassf.com

El Mundo @ Empire Ballroom

Sue Casa and Brian Gougherty host a fundraiser for Unesco literacy charities; with DJ Pinky Ring, raffles and drag acts. $5. 9pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Mary Go Round @ Lookout

Lulu, Jacki, and Vicki cohost the festive gogo-filled dance club that features Latin pop dance hits with DJs Speedy Douglas Romero and Fabricio. $6-$12. 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com Gogo-tastic dance night starts off your weekend. $5. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Santa Skivvies Run @ The Lookout

Absolutely Fabulous @ Oasis

La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland

Manimal @ Beaux

Sun 13

Thu 10

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland

The new weekly Latin night at the Civic Center renovated nightclub features drag shows, gogo guys and gals, and DJed grooves. 9pm-3am. 555 Golden Gate. www.theempireroomsf.com

Nick Lowe, Los Straitjackets, The Cactus Blossoms @ Great American Music Hall The veteran pop singer-songwriter returns with a new edition of his multi-band Quality Holiday Revue. $30-$54 (with dinner). 8pm. 859 O’Farrell St. 885-0750. www.nicklowe.com www.slimspresents.com

Point Break Live @ DNA Lounge Duuuude! The way-hilar comic stage adaptation of the cult film’s screenplay, with a lucky audience member chosen as the lead, plus splashtastic interaction, returns, like, here. $20 and up. 7:30pm. 37 11th St. 626-1409. www.dnalounge.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

Russ Lorenson @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The celebrated cool vocalist returns with his annual Christmas in San Francisco concert. $35. 8pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (855) 636-4556. www.russlorenson.com www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins

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

Sat 12

Ladies of San Francisco @ Club OMG

One-year anniversary of the Middle Eastern and North African LGBTQ dance party, with terrific Middle Eastern dance music, gogos and belly dancers. &4. 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

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

Cockblock @ Rickshaw Stop The monthly queer dance party for “dykes, lezzies, trannies, homos & friends,” with DJs Nuxx and Zax spinning ‘90s, dance, soul and more, plus an Ugly Sweater contest, hosted by Lesbian Santa! $100 win goes to the charity of your choice. $10. 10pm-2am. 155 Fell St. www.rickshawstop.com

The Go Bang! guys Steve Fabus and Sergio Fedasz join the Pound DJs Taco Tuesday and Kevin O’Connor for a groovy night popular with cubs and cuties, gogo studs and a cruisy atmo. 9pm-2am. $5-$10. 398 12th St. 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

Soul Delicious @ Lookout Brunch, booze, sass and grooves, with the Mom DJs, Motown sounds, and soul food. 11am-4pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Sugar @ The Cafe Dance, drink, cruise at the Castro club. 9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Writers With Drinks @ The Make Out Room Bestselling local authors tells tawdry tales, with host Charlie Jane Anders; this time, Andrew Sean Greer, Ali Eteraz and Lydia Popovich. $5-$20. 7:30pm. 3225 22nd St. www.makeoutroom.com

Asheq @ Club OMG

Sat 12 Cockblock @ Rickshaw Stop

Equality Rocks with Steve Grand @ LGBT Center The gay rock-pop singer performs at a fundraiser for the Human Rights Campaign. $40 includes a cocktail. $75 includes meet & greet with grand. 7pmVIPs. Concert 8pm. 1800 Market St. www.action.hrc.org

Faux Fur Fashion Show @ El Rio Fudgie Frottage MCs a night of fashion and fun for animals and their owners, with Kit Tapata, Ethyl Merman, Madd Dogg 20/20, Momma’s Boyz, and DJ. Junkyard; proceeds benefit Wonder Dog Rescue. $5-$20. 3pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Godless Perverts @ Borderlands Bookstore Holiday party for the sex-friendly queer-centric group, and a fundraiser for the St. James infirmary. Donations. 8pm-11pm. 866 Valencia St. gofundme.com/godlessholiday2015

Jonathan Poretz @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The veteran crooner and Las Vegas star returns with his Frank Sinatra music tribute. $30-$45. 7pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (855) 636-4556. www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins

Justin Sayer @ Oasis The witty solo performer returns with his hilarious show, The Meeting, all about the homosexual agenda! $20. 7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 7953180. www.sfoasis.com

Mother @ Oasis

STeven Underhill

Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. Dec. 10, Hard French DJs, with an arts and crafts bazaar for holiday shopping, Smitten Ice Cream and scientific liquid nitrogen-frozen treats. Last nightlife event of the year. $10-$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Club Rimshot @ Club BNB, Oakland

Holiday mixer for LGBTQs in technology, with drink specials and food for purchase. Free but register online. 6pm-9pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

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

Society Cabaret presents Lauren Mayer, G. Scott Lact and Scott Grinthal performing a concert of dual holiday favorites. $ Cocktails and light plates available. $30-$50. 8pm. 562 Sutter St. 857-1896. www.societycabaret.com

Pound Puppy @ SF Eagle

Out in Tech @ Oasis

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

Galilea hosts the new weekly “old school drag show” with guest performers and DJ Jack Rojo. $4. 43 6th St. www.clubOMGsf.com

Classic Christmas & Chanukah Shtick @ Hotel Rex

Thu 10

Drag Queens on Ice @ Union Square Holiday Ice Rink

Heklina’s weekly drag show night with different themes, always outrageously hilarious. Dec. 12: Peaches Christ hosts Krampussy! A holiday horror night. $10-$25. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Operation: Twelfth Night @ SF Veteran’s Building Holiday party for the SF Veterans Club, with music, food, an awards ceremony and an art show. $10 (free for vets and Lions). 6pm-10pm. 401 Van Ness Ave, room 210.

Sun 13

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 (Check the website for a list of recipients). 3pm6pm. Now also on Saturdays. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Big Top @ Beaux The fun Castro nightclub, with hot local DJs and sexy gogo guys and gals. $5. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.Beauxsf.com

Courtney Act @ Oasis The glamorous Aussie drag entertainer shares her holiday song faves, along with fun stories from “down undah.” $20-$30. 7:30pm. Also Dec. 14, 7:30pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com www.courtneyact.com

Domingo De Escandal @ Club OMG Weekly Latin night with drag shows hosted by Vicky Jimenez and DJ Luis. 7pm-2am. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Femme, Xtravaganza @ Balancoire 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

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

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

December 10-16, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 47

Wed 16

Open Mic/Comedy @ SF Eagle

New weekly event with DJs Haute Toddy, Guy Ruben, Mercedez Munro and Abominatrix. Wet T-shirt/jock contest at 11pm. $5-$10. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Pussy Party @ Beaux

Bedlam @ Beaux

Thu 17

Bone @ Powerhouse New weekly punk-alternative music night hosted by Uel Renteria and Johnny Rockitt. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Tesla Boy @ Rickshaw Stop

Laura Osnes @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The twice Tony-nominated musical theatre actress performs her favorite songs. $45. 3pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com

Santa Skivvies Run @ The Lookout The annual fun and sexy Christmasthemed underpants run raises funds for the SF AIDS Foundation. Raise $25 or more. Register by 10am. Loop through the Castro; block party afterward (open to all) on Noe St at Market/16th. www.santaskivviesrun.org

Sundance Saloon Holiday Ball @ Space 550 The Country-Western dance group hosts its annual holiday party with a cowboy/girl twist. Bring new unwrapped toys for kids. $5 with/$8 without a toy. 5pm lessons. Dancing 7:15-10:30pm. 550 Barneveld Ave. www.sundancesaloon.org

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

Vanessa Bousay @ Martuni’s The high-class drag performer sings through every holiday, with accompanist Alan Choy. $10. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. www.vanessabousay.com

Mon 14

Drag Mondays @ The Cafe Mahlae Balenciaga and DJ Kidd Sysko’s weekly drag and dance night, 2014’s last of the year. 9pm-1am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Gaymer Meetup @ Brewcade 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

Holiday Ice Rink @ Union Square Enjoy skating, hot drinks and fun in the downtown center of holiday shopping. $7-$11. Skate rental $6. Thru Jan. 14. Various times, 10am11pm. 333 Post St. www.unionsquareicerink.com

Hysteria @ Martuni’s Irene Tu and Jessica Sele cohost the comedy open mic night for women and queers. No cover. 6pm-8:30pm. 4 Valencia St.

Mahogany Mondays @ Midnight Sun Honey Mahogany’s weekly drag and musical talent show starts around 10pm. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Monday Musicals @ The Edge Sing along at the popular musical theatre night; also Wednesdays. 7pm2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

No No Bingo @ Virgil’s Sea Room Mica Sigourney and Tom Temprano cohost the wacky weekly game night at the cool Mission bar. 8pm. 3152 Mission St. www.virgilssf.com

Opulence @ Beaux Weekly dance night, with Jocques, DJs Tori, Twistmix and Andre. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

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

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

Tue 15 13 Licks @ Qbar

The “lezzie queer dance party” brings out the femmes and butches. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. 864-2877. qbarsf.com

Cock Shot @ Beaux Shot specials and adult Bingo games, with DJs Chad Bays and Riley Patrick, at the new weekly night. No cover. 9pm2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Dreaming of a Wig Christmas @ Oasis Hair and wig stylist David Carter-Ford presents a fun runway show with performances by Mutah Chucka, Miss Shugana, Olivia Hart, Jesus U. Bettawork, Migitte Nielson and others, with hunky hair dudes and holiday cocktails. Proceeds benefit Wigs for Kids. Donations. 10pm. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

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

LGBT night at the former Sacred Heart Church-turned disco roller skate party space, hosted by John D. Miles, the “Godfather of Skate.” Also Wed, Thu, 7pm-10pm. Sat afternoon sessions 1pm-2:30pm and 3pm-5:30pm. $10. Kids 12 and under $5. Skate rentals $5. 554 Fillmore St at Fell. www.churchof8wheels.com

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

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

Queer Karaoke @ Club OMG Dana hosts the weekly singing night; unleash your inner American Idol. 8pm. 43 6th St. www. clubomgsf.com

Latin Drag Night @ Club OMG

The weekly fun night at the Bernal Heights bar includes prizes, hosted by Kitty Tapata. No cover. 7pm10pm. 424 Cortland St. 647-3099. www.wildsidewest.com

Gay Skate Night @ Church on 8 Wheels

So You Think You Can Gogo? @ Toad Hall

Our favorite Russian royal exile drag singing star (aka actor J. Conrad Frank) returns for her annual night of music and hilarity, with music director Joe Wicht, and guest performers. $30-$45. 8pm. Dec. 17 at 8pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.russianoperadiva.com www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins

Miss Kitty’s Trivia Night @ Wild Side West

The monthly night of witty stand-up this time includes Shazia Mirza from London, doctor-by-day Priyanka Wali, Emily Epstein White, Irene Tu, and host Lisa Geduldig. $7-$20. 8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Ladies night at the Castro dance club. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Katya’s Holiday Spectacular @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko

Weekly Latin night with drag shows hosted by Vicky Jimenez. 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Comedy Returns @ El Rio

Kollin Holts hosts the weekly comedy and open mic talent night. 6pm-8pm. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Jose Colon-Guzman

On the Tab>>

Sony Holland @ The Ritz-Carlton

Wed 16 Katya’s Holiday Spectacular @ Feinstein’s

The sultry songstress returns for an extended run of jazz concerts in the swanky lounge of the famed hotel. 6:30pm-9pm. Thu-Sat. 600 Stockton St. www.sonyholland.com

Tesla Boy @ Rickshaw Stop

Man Francisco @ Oasis

Thu 17

The last show of 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, and MC mr Pam. $20. 9:30pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

Christmas Corral @ Oasis

Russian techno-synth band performs their cool tunes. Rose Quartz opens; DJs Devon and Mr. Smith. $12-$14. 8pm. 155 Fell St. www.teslaboy.com www.rickshawstop.com

Cora Values and her ensemble perform a wacky satire of Dickens “A Christmas Carol” setat a rural truck stop. $20. 7pm. Also dec. 18. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

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

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

Gaymer Night @ Eagle Gay gaming fun on the bar’s big screen TVs. Have a nerdgasm and a beer with your pals. 8pm. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Judith Hill @ Great American Music Hall The amazing R&B and soul singer performs with her band. $21-$46 (with dinner). 8pm. 859 O’Farrell St. 885-0750. www.judithhill.com www.slimspresents.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 Strip down as the strippers take it all off. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

We are the future of the LGBT community. We’re gay. This is our first holiday as a married couple and we’re creating new traditions despite being from two different religions. We’ll celebrate our family, our friends, and our new life together. We’re also hoping that 2016 brings new exciting changes. We want our transgender friends to have the same rights we do. We want peace in our time. We want the world to stop fearing for the future. We want an end to AIDS. We are the future of the LGBT community. And we’ll probably read about that future on our smart watches in 2016. Because that’s what we bought each other this year.

OutLoud @ Oasis The new storytelling series hosted by Joshua Grannell (Peaches Christ) this time features Jason LeRoy, Heklina, Dottie Lux, Seth Shubin, Sharon Birzer and Mona G. Hawd. $10. 7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.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 Weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, and drink specials. $4. 10pm-2am. Preceded by Open Mic Comedy, 7pm, no cover. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

The people depicted here are models. Their image is being used for illustrative purposes only.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

48 • Bay Area Reporter • December 10-16, 2015

Unsung Heroes

our knowledge has helped other groups, programs and individuals do just the same.” Jorge went on to point out how For the leather community to our community was the vanguard be honored in such a public and in terms of ushering in open and meaningful way is a historic monon-judgmental conversations ment. There was a time when we about sex, pleasure and passion were consistently pushed to the without shame or guilt. back of the bus in terms of recHe acknowledged the work of ognition and acceptance. In the people like Alan Selby and orgapast, some LGBT organizations nizations like the AIDS Emerwould intentionally marginalize gency Fund who were on the cutus and disavow any allegiance to ting edge of addressing the AIDS leatherfolk. Our contributions crisis head on. Jorge specifically were not always acknowledged or thanked every single woman that appreciated. stood with the men and cared That the Grove would choose for them in profound ways at the to honor the leather community worst times of the epidemic and in this way truly marks a day for which the men will forever be when all the hard work and dedigrateful. cation of our community memDuring the ceremony an honbers is appropriately highlighted. oree video was shown from a Every leatherman and woman project called Unsung Heroes: the who was part of the army of San Rich Stadtmiller Leather Community’s Response Francisco activists, volunteers, to AIDS created by Jörg Fockele fundraisers and caregivers should Jorge Vieto Jr. (left) with State Senaand Marc Smolowitz of The HIV be rightfully proud. tor Mark Leno (right) as Jorge accepts Story Project. The video was a Here’s how the Grove explained the Thom Weyand Unsung Hero Award short compilation from a larger our community’s contributions in on behalf of the entire San Francisco collection of personal interviews leather community. the ceremony’s program. with members of the leather com“At the onset of AIDS, the San munity including Audrey Joseph, Francisco Leather Community Jr., who did our community proud Christopher Raisbeck, Cleo Dubois, began losing friends and lovers at with a speech that evoked the passion Ganymede, Graylin Thornton, Jorge an unimaginable rate. No one knew and specialness of our community as Vieto Jr., Keith Folger, Mark Leno, what caused it, how people became he thanked the Grove for the unique Mike Shriver, Peter Fiske, Queen infected or if there was any hope for honor. Jorge said many things in his Cougar, Rachele Sullivan, Ray Tiltreatment and survival. With nospeech that stirred the hearts of those ton, Steve Gaynes, Suzan Revah, and where to turn but their own comin attendance, especially the large myself. The honoree video and the munity, they rolled up their leather number of leatherfolk who were on individual interviews can be viewed sleeves and became their own carehand, many who teared up as Jorge on The HIV Story Project’s Yougivers and health providers – meetrepresented what was tangibly felt by Tube channel, which you can find by ing whatever needs they possibly everyone in attendance. searching for “The HIV Story Projcould – which was extremely diffiJorge’s well-crafted acceptance ect” on YouTube. cult because many of them were also speech can’t be replicated in its enJörg offered this when I asked sick. But these grassroots organizatirety here due to space restrictions, him why he and Marc undertook tions that started out of necessity but here is part of what he said. the project. became ‘models’ on a global scale “Being chosen to accept this “For Marc Smolowitz, my pro– models that still work to this day.” award on behalf of the San Francisducing partner, and myself, the “By the early 1990s, thousand co leather community is very hummulti-year Joining Forces, Surviving had died, and many more were dybling,” he said. “It’s humVoices partnership with the National ing or very ill. By this time, they had bling because in the early AIDS Memorial Grove is such an established charitable or‘80s, when HIV first made important moment in our work as ganizations that helped its name known in the filmmakers and storytellers. As cowith emergency basics U.S. and San Francisco, I founders of The HIV Story Project, such as rent, food, and was just a young boy in it has always been our goal to raise utilities, and even assisCosta Rica. It’s humawareness, fight stigma and support tance with pets and legal bling because I didn’t the HIV positive community. aid – the list goes on. have to see my friends get “We’ve been able to do that sucThey formed these orgasick, waste away and die. cessfully over the past six years nizations, held the board It’s humbling because I through the production of docupositions, and were the have the luxury of only mentaries such as Desert Migration volunteer base and producers of a having to take one pill a day to keep and Still Around, PSAs for local large majority of charitable events my HIV at bay. AIDS nonprofits such as WORLD, and fundraisers. With Folsom/ “This is largely because of the PAWS and Let’s Kick ASS, and Dore/Castro Street Fairs and countgroundbreaking work done by my through our storytelling booth Genless contests, events and through leather predecessors. As a young erations HIV. titleholders, they raised countless leatherman, I was taught, very early “Now, through our collaborative millions of dollars over the last 35 on, that service is an essential part work with the Grove, we can expand years to help those in need and to of our life as leatherfolk. For years our efforts in the world of AIDS stofurther the advancement of treatI have seen my mentors and my rytelling in an unprecedented way. ments and education through conheroes work tirelessly to unite our Both organizations are entirely pasversations about HIV.” community under that banner of sionate about telling the stories of I asked John B. Cunningham, the service, and I have seen the monuthose individuals and communities Executive Director of the Grove, why mental changes that have resulted.” that are underrepresented in the pubthe Grove wanted to acknowledge “Our comfort with frank discuslic discourse about AIDS. With that the leather community this way. sions around sex and our skills at in mind, we could not have picked “We were so honored to recognize negotiating ‘what we like and don’t more deserving subjects and collabothe San Francisco leather commulike’ allowed us to set our own terms rators than the San Francisco leather nity with the 2015 Thom Weyand around condom use and other ways community. Capturing their stories Unsung Hero award,” he said. “The of protecting ourselves and each and memories on video for future Grove’s mission is to ensure the lives other without stigma or shame. As generations was way overdue, and of people who have died from AIDS someone who has been working we’re all extremely proud that they are not forgotten and the story is in the trenches of the war on HIV are the first focus of the Grove and known by future generations. The for over a decade, I can see how The HIV Story Project’s storytelling story of the leather compartnership.” munity’s response from Congratulations to our day one in the face of San Francisco leather comsuch profound loss has munity on this acknowlbeen one of action, comedgement for all of the work passion and love, and done during the long strugwill forever be a lesson gle with HIV. The future is for those who follow. brighter for everyone due to The National AIDS Meyour efforts.t morial strives to reach all who seek to heal and to be heard, and on World aidsmemorial.org thehivstoryproject.org AIDS Day hundreds generationshiv.org saw and listened to their story. On behalf of the Race Bannon is a local National AIDS Memoauthor, blogger and rial, congratulations and activist. You can reach thank you for being a him on his website, Rich Stadtmiller beacon of hope.” www.bannon.com. Accepting the award AIDS Quilt panels hang inside the tent at the 22nd on behalf of the San Annual World AIDS Day Observance in the National For Leather Events Francisco leather com- AIDS Memorial Grove. listings, visit munity was Jorge Vieto www.ebar.com/bartab

From page 41

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Funny sex acts

December 10-16, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 49

Comedy show makes light of making whoopee

REMEMBERING

by Krissy Eliot

s a Bay Area sex beat writer, I’ve been to a lot of sex events featuring uptight people who just can’t seem to laugh at themselves –mainly because of their pride or a fear of being negatively judged. As much as I can respect and understand this, I’m a motherfucking writer, not a therapist. I like to laugh, I like to opine, and I like to hear other people’s hilarious and unabashed opinions on things. So when I found out about Live Sex, the monthly comedy and sex talk show that includes everything from dirty dancing to sexpert interviews to standup, I was excited for the change of pace. The next Live Sex show, The Gift That Keeps on Giving, will be held at 10:30pm on December 18 at Pianofight in the Tenderloin. The theme for this show is a mystery to give the audience a surprise to salaciously unwrap this holiday season. When comedian Luna Malbroux founded Live Sex, she wanted to create an event that was accessible to everyone—one that wasn’t so rigidly educational or so over the top that it isolated members. “It’s not lecture-ey,” Malbroux said of her show. “I’m not like: ‘You’re gonna come here and explore your sexuality and do a lot of personal work.’ No. You’re gonna come, you’re gonna have a good time, watch an entertaining show, and you’re probably gonna learn something new.” I went to the November show, Poly-Humorous, which, as you can guess, focused on the theme of polyamory and open relationships. After comedian Jesús U. BettaWork danced to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in a bright silver jacket and bejeweled pants, Malbroux did a hilarious intro complete with the (consensual) spanking of an audience member. Then the audience watched as musical comedians MooreDeVine played guitar and sang about having poly sex with everyone from doctors to Ross cashiers (a performance that featured fervent thrusting). When Malbroux first brought out the poly experts of the evening, relationship counselor Anna Darvin Hirsch and Oakland-based erotic photographer MJ, I gritted my teeth. I was concerned that I might be forced to watch another boring talk about “sex positivity,” “loving everybody” and the “conspiracy of monogamy.” But Malbroux wisely brought out comedian couple Kristee Ono and Joe Gorman, who acted as a sigh of humorous relief in the wake of Hirsch and MJ’s serious discussions on “compersion” (the feeling of joy one gets when seeing someone loved by another) and “constellations” (basically poly relationship family trees that show who has fucked whom). Before becoming a comedian, Malbroux got her Master’s in Clini-

Mr. Marcus Christina Elizabeth Campbell

Luna Malbroux spanks a (consenting!) audience member at the recent Live Sex show.

cal Social Work from Columbia University and became a member of AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists), so her background provided her the knowledge to ask thoughtful questions and understand when to switch up topics when the energy in the room was going down. When I asked Hirsch about her perspective on the comedy aspect of the show, she said that if she’d had her druthers, then one of the comedians would have been more “strongly allied” to open relationships and polyamory.

Christina Elizabeth Campbell

Live Sex founder and host Luna Malbroux.

“I think the comedians were open and did a good job of trying to take on what [polyamory] is in an open and lighthearted way, but I think they may have been a little confounded by it,” said Hirsch. “I think that Luna got good comedic talent together and good poly representation together, but there was the potential for there to be an overlap of those two skill sets.” Malbroux says she wants to facilitate a space that doesn’t “other” anyone, so she only chooses sex-positive comedians for the stage. This was evidenced by comedian Juan Medina, who did a good job of playfully insulting both genders in his set at the Poly-Humorous show. Hooray for inclusivity. Comedian Spencer Latham, one

of the show’s producers, said that even though Live Sex is welcoming to all, it can test the comfort levels of the supposedly “liberal and openminded” people in the audience. “It’s a crazy show, and there’s a wild element where anything can happen,” Latham said. “One woman at a past show had a dildo on and one of our panelists sucked her dick. And that shit just happened! And some members of the audience, who are apparently super liberal, were offended. It’s funny when people who pretend to be all open-minded are actually really sensitive and closeminded, and only want to push the envelope in a certain direction.” So even though the show is inclusive, it’s not politically correct. “I don’t think political correctness and comedy are two things you say in the same sentence very often…. A comedy show, to a certain extent, is a safe space, a space for people to talk and laugh about fears,” said Rob Ready, artistic director at Pianofight and Malbroux’s Live Sex producing partner. “I would never call [Live Sex] PC, but the positivity with which Luna approaches the topics gives her a certain level of freedom to be silly.” What I enjoyed the most about the show was that the comedians could opine and make judgments about polyamory without being shushed by the experts. I’ve met many a sex educator who found my questioning of certain sex acts or lifestyles to be abhorrent and “sex negative.” So it’s refreshing to see a sex show with an education aspect that presents more than one point of view on alternative sex lives. Though Live Sex is very new on the scene, I predict that it’s an event that will make louder the voice that says how fucking funny sex can be, and perhaps even un-bunch some uptight kinkster panties along the way.t You can learn more about Live Sex by checking out their website: www.thisisls.org. And you can also join the Live Sex Meetup Group, www.meetup.com/Live-Sex-The-SFComedy-Talk-Show-Meetup. Readers can contact Krissy by email at thekrissyeliot@gmail.com and view her previous work at www.krissyeliot.com.

Christina Elizabeth Campbell

Left: Jesús U. BettaWork and Right: Musical comedians MooreDeVine perform at the Live Sex show.

January 9, 2016 • 7pm • $10 SF Armory, 4th Fl, 1800 Mission St., SF 94103 21+ Adults Only Imperial Court & Leather Community Retrospective Slideshow of Marcus’ Life Entertainment • Refreshments • Cash Bar For more info email msqcougar@comcast.net Tel (510) 996-2235

50 • Bay Area Reporter • December 10-16, 2015

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Out & About

From page 45

Sat 12

Bums, Broads and Broadway @ Z Below Word for Word theatre company’s Holiday High Jinx shows of dramatised stage readings of classic short stories, this time works by Damon Runyan, Joseph Mitchell and E.B. White. $20-$55. Thru Dec. 24. 470 Florida St. www.zspace.org

Dance-Along Nutcracker @ YBCA San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band’s annual hilarious musical interactive concert and party, with a different spin on the Nutcracker; this year “The Nutcracker of Oz.” Wizard of Oz-themed costumes on-hand and encouraged. $18-$30. 3pm & 7pm. Dec. 13, 11am & 3pm. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission St. 978-2787. www.sflgfb.org www.ybca.org

Date Night at Pet Emergency @ The Marsh Berkeley Lisa Rothman’s comic solo show about domestic hell, pet panic and trying to find a date night amid it all. $20$100. Saturdays, 5pm. Extended thru Jan. 23. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. www.themarsh.org

Disgraced @ Berkeley Rep Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer-Prize-winning drama about cultural assimilation, Islamic imagery, and a family’s unraveling. $17-$61. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Dec. 20. Roda Theatre, 2025 Addison. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Equality Rocks with Steve Grand @ LGBT Center The gay rock-pop singer performs at a fundraiser for the Human Rights Campaign. $40 includes a cocktail.

$75 includes meet & greet with grand. 7pmVIPs. Concert 8pm. 1800 Market St. www.hrc.org

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying @ Marines’ Memorial Theatre Frank Loesser’s lighthearted 1960s comic musical about climbing the corporate ladder gets restaged by Bay Area Musicals, the new local theatre company. $20-$60. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm. Thru Dec. 19. 609 Sutter St. 3402207. www.bamsf.org

The Mousetrap @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley Shotgun Players’ production of Agatha Christie’s British mystery drama (the longest-running show in modern history). $20-$40. Wed-Syb. Thru Jan. 24. 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org

Oakland City Chorus @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Oakland Vocal concert feature Charles Ives’ Psalm 90 ; Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb ; and other music, with organist Jonathan Dimmock. Free-$15. 7pm. 114 Montecito Ave., Oakland. www.stpaulsoakland.org

SF Hiking Club @ Burlingame Toy Museums, Purisima Creek Join GLBT hikers for a fun urban excursion to the Pez Museum, the Banned Toy Museum, and the Classic Toy Museum in Burlingame. Dec. 13: 9-mile hike along fern-bordered creeks and through redwood forest at Purisima Creek on the Peninsula. Carpool meets 9am at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores. 7409888. www.sfhiking.com

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Story Pirates @ Curran Theatre Student sketch comedy troupe’s Greatest Hits Show, performed as part of the intimate on-stage Under Construction series. $15-$20. 11am & 2pm. Sat & Sun thru Dec. 20. 445 Geary St. www.sfcurran.com

Texas Rose Dance @ Lake Merritt Dance Center The queer women and trans-friendly dance night. $5-$10. 6:30pm lessons. Dancing and social time until 11pm. 200 Grand Ave., Oakland. (510) 5042176. www.texasrosedance.com

Sun 13

Abrazo, Queer Tango @ Finnish Brotherhood Hall 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

ASL Epic @ Sweet Inspiration The LGBT-friendly deaf open stage includes poetry, readings, comedy and more. 4pm-7pm. 2239 Market St. www.facebook.com/ASLEpic

Oakland Symphony @ Paramount Theatre, Oakland

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Mon 14

Wed 16

Holidays gifts, cards, art and more at the Hayes Valley freight container shppe. Patricia Green, Octavia St. at Linden. 11am-7pm. Theu Dec. 24. www.haightstreetart.org

Dual exhibit of LGBT-themed photos by veteran photographers Jane Philomen Cleland and Rick Gerharter. Jewett Gallery, lower level. 100 Larkin St. Thru Jan. 3. www.sfpl.org

Tom & Jerry’s Christmas Display @ Church & Sanchez

Fool La La @ The Marsh

Pop-Up @ Proxy SF

The local gay couple’s annual festive decoration display includes a Santa in attendance. Free. Daily 6pm-10pm. Thru Jan. 1. 3560 21st St. at Church. http://tinyurl.com/mhh98vz

Tony Tabangeura @ Castro Country Club Visions for You: Quilts, an exhibit of the artist’s craftmanship. Thru Jan. 15. 4058 18th St. www.castrocountryclub.org

Tue 15

Figures and Interiors @ John Pence Gallery Group exhibit of gorgeous realist and modern impressionist paintings. MonFri 10am-6pm. Sat 10am-5pm. Thru Dec. 19. 750 Post St. 441-1138. www.johnpence.com

Classical music concert of holiday songs, Frank Sinatra classics, with several Oakland choirs and the Klezmer band Kugelplex. $20-$60. 4pm. 2025 Broadway, Oakland. www.oaklandsymphony.org

Panama Pacific @ Harvey Milk Photo Center

Magic Makers: Queer Craft Fair @ Humanist Hall, Oakland

Reigning Queens @ GLBT History Museum

Peruse unique gift items made by LGBTQ local artists, including art, healing and spiritual items, ceramics, candles, scents, jewelry, food, live and DJed music, and more. 1pm-6pm. 390 27th St. themagicmakers.wordpress.com

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Centennial photography exhibit of historic images from the 1915 World Expo. Thru Dec. 23. 50 Scott St. 5549522. www.harveymilkphotocenter.org

New exhibit of 1970s San Francisco drag ball photos by Roz Joseph; with curator Joey Plaster, DJ Irwin Swirnoff. Thru Feb. 2016. Reg, hours Mon, WedSat 11am-6pm. Sun 12pm-5pm. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

Daily and Transcendent @ SF Public Library

Unique Derique, a new wacky holiday show with the clowny comedy troupe. $15-$100. 7:30pm & 2pm daly (no shows Dec 24, 25, 31, Jan 1). Thru Jan. 3. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

The Santaland Diaries @ Eureka Theatre Combined Art Form’s annual production of the Joe Mantello stage adapatation of David sedaris’ betselling mini-memoir about being a Macy’s elf. $40-$50. TueSat 8pm. Thu & Sat 3pm. Thru Dec. 26. 215 Jackson St. combinedartform.com

Thu 17

Story Showdown @ Awaken Cafe, Oakland True stories told by professional storytellers, including Marga Gomez, Joyce Lee, Virgie Tovar, Jona Redmond, Elie Katzenson and Mz. Alma. $12-$15. 7:30pm. 1429 Broadway, Oakland. www.awakencafe.com

Unusual Movies @ Oddball Films Weekly screenings of strange and obscure short films. $10. 8pm Also Fridays. 275 Capp St. 558-8117. www.oddballfilm.com 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

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Shooting Stars

December 10-16, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 51

photos by

Steven Underhill Songs of the Season Donna Sachet’s annual concert, Songs of the Season, held November 30, December 1 and 2 at Beatbox, featured local and visiting vocal talents, including Sharon McNight, Abigail, Brian Kent, Dan O’Leary, Brenda Reed, and Vicki Shepard, who shared their favorites holiday songs. Proceeds benefited the AIDS Emergency Fund. For info at www.donnasachet.com and www.aef-sf.org 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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