December 17, 2015 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

Pet gifts are big business

ARTS

10

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House of Usher

Toy story

The

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

Vol. 45 • No. 51 • December 17-23, 2015

Packer ditches SFAF job

Trans man endures fraught process for surgery

by Seth Hemmelgarn

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ongtime San Francisco public health official Tracey Packer, who had recently accepted a high-level job at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, has told the nonprofit that Jane Philomen Cleland she’s rescinding the offer, the Bay Area Tracey Packer Reporter has learned.

Packer’s providing only vague explanations publicly.

SFAF announced in November that Packer, 56, who’s led HIV prevention initiatives at the San Francisco Department of Public Health for more than a decade, would start as the nonprofit’s senior director of programs and services January 4, overseeing the foundation’s programs at its Market Street headquarters.

But Packer emailed Neil Giuliano, SFAF’s outgoing CEO, December 9 to let him know officially that she had changed her mind.

Contacted by the B.A.R., Packer referred a reporter to DPH spokeswoman Rachael Kagan. In a December 10 email, Kagan shared comments from Packer.

“I ultimately decided to stay with the health department as the director of Community Health Equity and Prevention because I believe I can make the most substantial contribution from here to HIV prevention in San Francisco and to reaching vital public health goals,” Packer said in the email.

She called SFAF “an amazing organization,” and said she was “honored” by the job offer.

“I am very impressed with all their staff and programs,” Packer said. “SFAF is key in getting to zero new HIV infections in San Francisco. It is clear to me that the strong and dedicated team at SFAF will continue San Francisco’s success in HIV prevention and care.”

After the B.A.R. sent Packer and Kagan an email asking whether the health department had offered Packer any changes in her salary, job, or anything else, and what any changes would be, Kagan responded, “We are not going to provide answers to those questions.

Except to say that this was Tracey’s decision, and not influenced by either DPH or SFAF.” SFAF, which has a budget of $32 million, provides a wide range of free services to thousands of people a year, including HIV testing and prevention services, syringe exchange, and housing assistance.

Packer told the B.A.R. in November that she was “really looking forward to supporting the great work that SFAF does, particularly with the clients and community reached through 1035 Market.”

See page 17 >>

by Jason Hanasik

S Braving rain for Santa run

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he seventh annual Santa Skivvies Run took place Sunday, December 13 despite inclement weather. The approximate 1.5mile run through the Castro raised more than

$74,000 for programs and services of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and included hundreds of participants, including the two pictured above. For more photos, see BARtab.

weat is pooling beneath Eliot Daughtry’s freshly-pressed white shirt, cerulean tie and khaki vest as he walks up and down Franklin Street in Oakland. It’s 86 degrees and his jeans are beginning to stick. As the shutter from a camera releases, his furrowed brow softens and he grins. Click.

Daughtry, an Oakland resident, was in the middle of a photo shoot with Kaiser Permanente last summer. He volunteered for the gig helping the health plan’s Regional Health Education Department create materials for transgender patients and their families who need information about hormones, surgery, and more.

“It’s something positive I can do that is community-focused. I want people to see and understand the diversity of the transgender community,” he said. “Since I’m not closeted, I have a little more flexibility.”

See page 14 >>

Gaming confab aims to reach more than gay men Steven Underhill

by Blake Montgomery

ers are renting bigger spaces. GX3 sprawled out over the whole second reta Gustava Martela floor of the San Jose Convention knew her name 15 years Center. Shivaun Robinson, who before she transitioned. has attended all three of the event’s It was the namesake of one of iterations, said 2015’s version had her characters in Icewind Dale, taken on “the format of a much a Dungeons and Dragons-based larger gaming convention.” Trixie role-playing game.

Mattel of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame “This is true for a lot of trans made an appearance. women: that character allowed GX3 also amped up its antime to explore my preferred genharassment efforts and officially der in a no-risk way. ... Seeing changed its name from GaymerX myself allows me to immerse myto GX3: Everyone Games in a bid to self in the game,” she said. widen its audience beyond gay men.

Martela was just one of many Robbyn Blumenschein, who who attended GX3: Everyone won best in show at the convenJason Hanasik Games, the queer gaming contion’s concluding cosplay pageant, vention started in 2013, which Robbyn Blumenschein and Jax, Blumenschein’s service dog, accept identifies as a white straight fetook place at the San Jose Con- the best in show award during the cosplay competition at the 2016 male veteran with a disability. She vention Center last weekend. GX3 conference. dressed as Carl Fredricksen from Organizers said that 2,250 people Up with her service dog, Jax, playMartela was at GX3 to promote Trans Liferegistered for the third version of ing the talking dog, Dug. Being hetline, a crisis hotline for trans women staffed by erosexual, Blumenschein thinks she’s not GX3’s the convention, which was the biggest yet. trans women. She said the gaming community “Gaymer” is a deeply-held identity: people expected demographic, but she still felt welcome. has a high representation of trans people beromantically represent themselves as gaymers “I’m HIV-positive. That’s why this commuon their OkCupid and Grindr profiles. Shy cause players can customize their characters nity is so important to me,” she said. “I came and choose who they are, a boon for trying out to last year’s con, and I got my service dog in Den, a cosplayer dressed as Mettaton from the game Undertale, introduced herself at the con- an identity the player may one day inhabit. between then and now. I’ve been planning my Since its debut in 2013, the convention has exvention’s drag show as such: “My gaming idencostume since I got him.” panded in a number of ways. For one, the organiztity is stronger than any other identity I have.”

See page 17 >>

G

{ FIRST OF THREE SECTIONS }

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Brief Summary of Patient Information about GENVOYA GENVOYA (jen-VOY-uh) (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide) tablets Important: Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA. There may be new information about GENVOYA. This information is only a summary and does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about GENVOYA? GENVOYA can cause serious side effects, including: • Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis).

Lactic acidosis may happen in some people who take GENVOYA. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Lactic acidosis can be hard to identify early, because the symptoms could seem like symptoms of other health problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms, which could be signs of lactic acidosis: • • • • • • •

feel very weak or tired have unusual (not normal) muscle pain have trouble breathing have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting feel cold, especially in your arms and legs feel dizzy or lightheaded have a fast or irregular heartbeat

• Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems may happen in people who take GENVOYA. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your liver may become large and you may develop fat in your liver.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms of liver problems: • your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice) • dark “tea-colored” urine • light-colored bowel movements (stools) • loss of appetite for several days or longer • nausea • stomach pain • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking GENVOYA for a long time.

• Worsening of Hepatitis B infection. GENVOYA is not for use to treat chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). If you have HBV infection and take GENVOYA, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking GENVOYA. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before.

• Do not run out of GENVOYA. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your GENVOYA is all gone.

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GENC0004_BayAreaRprtr_9.75x16_Sprd.indd 3-4

What is GENVOYA? GENVOYA is a prescription medicine that is used without other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older: • who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past or • to replace their current HIV-1 medicines in people who have been on the same HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months, have an amount of HIV-1 in their blood (“viral load”) that is less than 50 copies/mL, and have never failed past HIV-1 treatment HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. GENVOYA contains the prescription medicines elvitegravir (VITEKTA®), cobicistat (TYBOST®), emtricitabine (EMTRIVA®) and tenofovir alafenamide.

It is not known if GENVOYA is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age.

When used to treat HIV-1 infection, GENVOYA may: • Reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood.

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Reducing the amount of HIV-1 and increasing the CD4+ (T) cells in your blood may help improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death or getting infections that can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).

GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. You must stay on continuous HIV-1 therapy to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses.

Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection to others: • Do not share or re-use needles or other injection equipment.

• Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades.

• Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to other people.

Who should not take GENVOYA? Do not take GENVOYA if you also take a medicine that contains: • alfuzosin hydrochloride (Uroxatral®) • carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Tegretol-XR®, Teril®) • cisapride (Propulsid®, Propulsid Quicksolv®) • ergot-containing medicines, including: dihydroergotamine mesylate (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot®, Migergot®, Ergostat®, Medihaler Ergotamine®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), and methylergonovine maleate (Ergotrate®, Methergine®) • lovastatin (Advicor®, Altoprev®, Mevacor®) • midazolam, when taken by mouth • phenobarbital (Luminal®) • phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®) • pimozide (Orap®) • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®) • sildenafil (Revatio®), when used for treating lung problems • simvastatin (Simcor®, Vytorin®, Zocor®) • triazolam (Halcion®) • the herb St. John’s wort or a product that contains St. John’s wort

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking GENVOYA?

What are the possible side effects of GENVOYA?

Before taking GENVOYA, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have liver problems including hepatitis B infection • have kidney or bone problems • have any other medical conditions • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if GENVOYA can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking GENVOYA. Pregnancy registry: there is a pregnancy registry for women who take HIV-1 medicines during pregnancy. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can take part in this registry.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take GENVOYA. – You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

– At least one of the medicines in GENVOYA can pass to your baby in your breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in GENVOYA can pass into your breast milk.

– Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Other medicines may affect how GENVOYA works.

Some medicines may interact with GENVOYA. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

• You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with GENVOYA. • Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take GENVOYA with other medicines.

GENVOYA may cause serious side effects, including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about GENVOYA?” • Changes in body fat can happen in people who take HIV-1 medicine. These changes may include increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the middle of your body (trunk). Loss of fat from the legs, arms and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known.

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure.

Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before you start and while you are taking GENVOYA. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking GENVOYA if you develop new or worse kidney problems.

• Bone problems can happen in some people who take GENVOYA. Bone problems may include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones.

The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

• These are not all the possible side effects of GENVOYA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I take GENVOYA?

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use GENVOYA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give GENVOYA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.

This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about GENVOYA. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about GENVOYA that is written for health professionals.

For more information, call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.GENVOYA.com.

Keep GENVOYA and all medicines out of reach of children.

• Take GENVOYA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. GENVOYA is taken by itself (not with other HIV-1 medicines) to treat HIV-1 infection.

• GENVOYA is usually taken 1 time each day.

• Take GENVOYA with food.

• If you need to take a medicine for indigestion (antacid) that contains aluminum and magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate during treatment with GENVOYA, take it at least 2 hours before or after you take GENVOYA. • Do not change your dose or stop taking GENVOYA without first talking with your healthcare provider. Stay under a healthcare provider’s care when taking GENVOYA. • Do not miss a dose of GENVOYA. • If you take too much GENVOYA, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

• When your GENVOYA supply starts to run low, get more from your healthcare provider or pharmacy. This is very important because the amount of virus in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short time. The virus may develop resistance to GENVOYA and become harder to treat.

General information about the safe and effective use of GENVOYA.

Issued: November 2015

EMTRIVA, GENVOYA, the GENVOYA Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, TYBOST, and VITEKTA are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2015 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. GENC0004 11/15

12/3/15 3:23 PM

<< Community News

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

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Strut opening set for Jan.

by Seth Hemmelgarn

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trut, the long-awaited gay and bi men’s center at 470 Castro Street, will partially open January 4, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation has announced.

Sexual Health Services, currently offered through SFAF’s Magnet center, at 4122 18th Street, will be offered first. Substance abuse and mental health services, as well as community engagement and other programs, are expected to be available at Strut by the end of January.

If someone comes to Strut immediately after January 4 for services other than sexual health, staff will refer them to SFAF’s headquarters at 1035 Market Street, Neil Giuliano, the agency’s outgoing CEO, said last week.

Sexual Health Services, which includes HIV and other sexually transmitted infection testing, will be available first because they are “the most heavily used programs,” Giuliano said. It’s important to start those first “to make sure you’ve got it right” before launching other services, he explained.

“As soon as we have that down,” the other programs will be available, he said.

SFAF Senior Vice President James Loduca said in an email, “It’ll take a few weeks to move everyone in, but we’re

hoping to have a full array of services available” at Strut before February.

SFAF first shared plans in 2012 to combine many of its free services at the space, which used to house offices and a video shop. At the time, the nonprofit said it hoped to move into the building in October 2013.

Throughout this fall, SFAF has waited for the state health department’s OK to open. “Conditional approval to operate as a clinic” finally came this month, Loduca said.

The building includes almost 15,000 square feet spread over three floors, with rooms for counseling, medical exams, and meetings; a lab and pharmacy; and large spaces with tables and chairs for people waiting for services and for community events.

The first floor will be mainly for staff.

Sexual Health Services will be on the second floor, which will also host art exhibits and community events, similar to what’s been offered at Magnet.

The third floor will feature substance health services such as what’s been available through the Stonewall program. Community engagement and support that’s been a part of the Elizabeth Taylor 50-Plus Network and other groups, including DREAAM, a program for young gay and bi African American men, will

also be on the third floor.

The nonprofit also plans to provide more help for people with mental health issues.

Most of SFAF’s administration and many of its services will continue to be housed at 1035 Market Street.

Loduca has said that programs related to services such as housing and syringe access, as well as Black Brothers Esteem, Latino programs, and TransLife will also remain at that site.

Help with pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, known respectively as PrEP and PEP, will be offered at the Market Street and Strut locations.

Giuliano has said if someone wants to receive testing, counseling, PrEP, or similar services, “I don’t think there’s anything in those broad categories that someone cannot receive” at the Market Street site.

Asked last week about Strut finally opening, gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener said, “I am thrilled as a supervisor for the neighborhood, as a neighbor, and as a client of Magnet. I’m very excited that this is finally happening. It’s going to be a big improvement for all the clients, for everyone who needs access to health services, and for the neighborhood. It’s a big one.”

SFAF has been working to raise See page 17 >>

Trans health fair welcomes new organizations to event

by Jason Hanasik

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W

hen Maureen “Mo” Siedor and Faith Senkar walked up to the podium in the Koret Auditorium at the San Francisco Public Library a shout boomed above the introductory applause, “Hey, that’s my social worker!”

Acknowledging the welcome, Senkar, a case manager for the Bay Area veterans’ rights organization Swords to Plowshares, nodded her head as she and attorney Siedor began the group’s presentation.

“One in 10 people in the U.S. population have served in the armed forces but when you look at the trans population, over 20 percent of trans people have served in the military,” Siedor said.

Senkar and Siedor were at the library December 9 for the fifth annual Transgender Health and Wellness Fair organized by the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s transgender health and wellness recovery team, which is part of the department’s Mental Health Services Act programming.

The annual event gathers community organizations and businesses offering trans-specific benefits and services in San Francisco. At this year’s fair, 40 vendors occupied tables scattered throughout the lower floor of the library.

“I would say the majority [of the tables] were new this year. The booths were some of the nicest I have seen,” said Tracey Helton Mitchell, manager of peer led transgender services for the health department.

The over 100 attendees were able to meet representatives and gather information from community organizations and businesses, watch performances by three trans artists, enter raffles, and enjoy a free meal donated by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and event organizers.

In opening remarks, gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) praised the city and the transgender community for all of its hard work on behalf of LGBTQ rights. While it is one thing to be a resourceful community, he said, “It’s important to make sure people are well-informed

Jason Hanasik

Bionka Simone struts down the main aisle of the Koret Auditorium as audience members hand her tips during her performance at the Transgender Health and Wellness Fair.

of existing resources.”

Ensuring the trans veteran community is aware of existing services is the reason why Siedor of Swords to Plowshares decided to set up a table for the first time at this year’s fair.

“The folks that we see through our doors are the folks that are more comfortable receiving services as veterans,” Siedor said. “There may not be a comfort level within the LGBTQ community because the military is not necessarily a safe and accepting place for LGBTQ people.

If you didn’t feel welcome when you were serving, you may not feel as welcome in veteran spaces.”

Earlier this year, when the legal unit of Swords to Plowshares held an offsite meeting, Siedor and the legal team identified groups that they felt were underrepresented in Swords’ client population. LGBTQ veterans were one of the groups.

“It touched my heart to see the agency that has helped me through my recovery and secure my housing here. I’m transgender and a veteran and I know there are many more transgender veterans out there that need help,” said Billie Cooper.

Cooper served in the military from 1976-1980. After leaving the military, she moved to San Francisco in 1980 and began receiving services from Swords to Plowshares.

She is still a client today.

In February 2014, Cooper cofounded TransLife, a program of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, which was also represented at the fair.

TransLife is “a place where we come together and learn from each other’s personal journeys,” according to the program’s website. “We’re redefining realness – by focusing on our experiences and how we feel instead of only how we look.”

James Loduca, senior vice president at SFAF, said that TransLife is a rapidly growing program with two weekly drop-in meetings. Cooper started the program with SFAF staffer Timothy Foster, Loduca explained.

Today, the program is managed by Tanesh Nutall, who has also been involved from the beginning, he said.

In an interview after the fair, Siedor of Swords to Plowshares said that she and her team were able to connect with existing clients as well as meet new veterans and dependents of veterans while staffing their table at the fair.

With the Pentagon’s plan to allow transgender people to openly serve in the military by early 2016, according to Kevin Miller, a spokesman for the organization, Swords to Plowshares’ debut appearance at this year’s fair will likely not be its last.t

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Community News>>

December 17-23, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Stompede checks distributed

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he Sundance Stompede presented proceeds from its annual event to its beneficiaries, the AIDS Emergency Fund/ Breast Cancer Emergency Fund and the Sundance Association for Country Western Dancing Sunday, December 13 during

a party at the Sundance Saloon. From left are: Cal Callahan, interim director of development AEF/BCEF; Dave Hayes, Stompede event director; and Randy Pocius, Jim Warhol, and Rom Maier, Sundance Association board members.

Kaiser to review more HIV drug prices

by Seth Hemmelgarn

K

Rick Gerharter

Kaiser Permanente will further review HIV drugs on its “specialty tier.”

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.

470 Castro Street is just around the corner from Magnet’s current location.

470 Castro Street

Castro St.

some doses of the HIV drug Reyataz, among other medications, in the specialty tier.

One patient, who didn’t want his name published, shared with the B.A.R. a recent receipt showing that he had paid more than $1,800 for 90 days worth of Reyataz. Kaiser’s retail price for the drug was almost $4,100.

His coinsurance payment for the prescription was 45 percent because he’d fallen into Medicare’s infamous “donut hole,” or coverage gap.

Even if he hadn’t been in that gap, his coinsurance still would have been 25 percent, or about $1,000.

But Nelson said that for those on Medicare, “it’s not accurate to say that all patients pay more because a drug is in the specialty tier, compared to the brand tier. ... The amount a Medicare member pays out of pocket depends on a variety of things.”

As one example, he referred to Part D, the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

“For certain Part D drug benefits, a patient who is in the coverage gap or donut hole phase of the Part D benefit could pay the same cost sharing for the drug, regardless of whether it is in the brand tier or the specialty tier,” he said. “Also, it is important to note that the Part D benefit inherently has a maximum out of pocket cost threshold. Once the member reaches this out of pocket threshold, the member pays minimal cost sharing for the remainder of the plan year.”

In explaining why some medications are placed in the top category, Nelson pointed to the drugs’ manufacturers.

“Drugs are put on the specialty tier based on the prices charged by pharmaceutical companies,” he said.

“Drugs on the specialty tier generally require a higher cost-sharing, although nowhere near the cost the pharmaceutical company is charging for the drug. For members on Medicare, the actual cost sharing for patients is different than in commercial coverage, because of the benefit structure and the Part D program.”t

Collingwood St.

aiser Permanente is set to decide in January whether to remove HIV drugs from its potentially high priced “specialty tier” for Medicare patients.

A spokesman for the health care provider, which drew attention this year for temporarily making people pay more for the drugs than they had been, noted last week that even though the company’s moved drugs off the top tier for many patients, they still remain in that category for many Medicare patients.

The company “added the specialty tier to our commercial small group and individual plans starting in January 2015, and all high-priced specialty drugs were put on that tier for these plans, including HIV drugs,” Kaiser spokesman John Nelson said in an email last week.

The Bay Area Reporter’s coverage of the change brought criticism to Kaiser, and the company in February took them off the specialty tier for “small group and individual plan members,” Nelson said.

However, “For Medicare members, high-priced specialty drugs – including HIV drugs – have been in the specialty tier for several years. ... We are going to review HIV drugs in January 2016 on our Medicare formulary, to determine their placement on the specialty or brand tiers. Depending on the outcome of that review, these drugs may be moved off the Medicare specialty tier in early 2016.”

Gay San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, whose District 8 includes many people who are living with HIV/AIDS, made it clear what he thinks Kaiser should do.

Wiener, who called for a hearing after the changes Kaiser made earlier this year, said in an email last week, “It’s critically important for people living with HIV to have access to affordable medication. Specialty tier status often means, in effect, denial of access due to extreme cost shifting to the patient. It’s important for HIV meds not to be classified as specialty.”

Nelson said most Kaiser patients aren’t impacted by the current status.

“The majority of HIV drug prescriptions are in commercial plans,” such as those for small and large groups, and individuals, “rather than among Medicare members, so the majority of HIV prescriptions are in the brand tier, rather than the specialty tier,” he said.

Specifically, Nelson said, out of the more than 11,300 patients with HIV prescriptions in 2015, “about 1,500,” or 13.3 percent, are on Medicare plans in northern California.

For some of those patients, though, the costs can be high.

Kaiser’s comprehensive formulary document for 2016, which was last updated in September, shows

Cliff’s Variety

Magnet

18th St.

Please check our website for updated information about the move, hours of operation and opening date at magnetsf.org and learn about our new location at strutsf.org

STRUT AND MAGNET ARE PROGRAMS OF SAN FRANCISCO AIDS FOUNDATION

<< Open Forum

t Statewide LGBT groups are essential

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

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T

he unexpected announcement last weekend that New York’s statewide LGBT group, Empire State Pride Agenda, would close down next year was shocking, both for its shortsightedness and arrogance. Empire State Pride Agenda officials cited fulfillment of a 25-year campaign for equality in the state that was concluded in October when Governor Andrew Cuomo used his executive powers to extend a long-standing anti-discrimination bill to transgender people.

But we doubt that full equality has been achieved in New York for LGBT people, nor is it anywhere. State laws protecting LGBTs – and California has some of the nation’s strongest – are great, but alone do not promise equality. We see that regularly when same-sex couples or LGBT individuals must sue for their rights in discrimination cases, family matters, and workplace issues. And, while Empire State Pride Agenda said it would continue its political action committee during elections, it’s the day-to-day legislative battles and other spheres of influence that will be greatly diminished because of the lack of a statewide LGBT group in New York. The organization said it would leave it to other LGBT groups to carry on aspects of its policy work, but many of those nonprofits are probably not in a position to tackle the increased responsibilities on a statewide level, both financially and structurally.

In California, we know first hand how vital a statewide LGBT group is. Back in the dark days of the AIDS epidemic, activists and others formed the Life Lobby, which persuaded state legislators to increase funding and decrease stigmatization for people living with the disease.

That organization eventually ceased operations, and the state was poorer for it. Thankfully, some of those people came back under a new banner, California Alliance for Pride and Equality. It took on not only health care issues, but also a broader spectrum of rights. After a few years, it became Equality California when then-Executive Director Geoff Kors and the board determined that a rebranding was needed.

EQCA mirrored other statewide groups not only in terms of its name, but also its mission.

More recently, with the passage of many state laws aimed at benefiting or protecting LGBT rights, and the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide, some, including us at times, have wondered if EQCA was still relevant, especially during a period of leadership struggles after Kors departed several years ago. But, as we reported last week, since Rick Zbur came on board as executive director just over a year ago, EQCA has revitalized itself, reversing a downward trend. It’s done that in two ways: by focusing on implementation of laws that were signed, and by increasing efforts for coalition building, working with other communities with similar interests, such as immigration and access to health care. And it has shored up its budget, too.

These days, LGBT issues are often tied to global concerns (we are everywhere) and EQCA criticized the three out members of Congress who voted last month in favor of tougher screening of Syrian refugees. The vote clearly was a response to the Paris terrorist attacks but if the U.S. clamps down on accepting refugees, LGBTs will be affected; there are already far too

few places for them to safely reside and Zbur pointed out Syrian refugees include a disproportionate number of queer people. EQCA recognized that, and also called out straight Democratic members from California. The agency also signed on to a friend-of-the-court brief in support of President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans programs, which allow some undocumented immigrants temporary legal residence in the U.S. On health care, EQCA has received foundation support for increasing awareness about PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, the oncea-day pill that has shown to prevent HIV if taken as prescribed. That is to be commended, as more doctors need to learn about PrEP so it can be prescribed to patients who want it.

In short, there are many actions statewide LGBT organizations can and should do. We suspect that Empire State Pride Agenda board members may have had difficulty raising funds to continue their work, or lacked recruitment of fellow New Yorkers to join the board. But in no way does the closure of Empire State Pride Agenda mean that it’s “mission accomplished,” as one state lawmaker opined. Just because you have the laws on the books does not mean the job is done. Often it’s the exact opposite: the job of enforcement is just beginning. It’s one thing for a goal-focused group like Freedom to Marry to declare success and close shop; it’s entirely another when a statewide LGBT group thinks it’s work is over because the governor signed an executive order.

We’re certainly glad that EQCA has chosen the opposite path, and that it remains important to LGBTs and supportive straight allies.t

Policing diverse communities in the 21st century

by Scott Wiener

need to know the communities they police. In addition to driving he year 2015 has been transin their police cars, officers need formative in terms of public to be out on the streets and intescrutiny of policing in the United grating into the community. We States, and San Francisco is no need to take a critical look at useexception. From Ferguson to of-force policies, improve training, Chicago to Baltimore, we are soulrequire body cameras, and expand searching as a society about what SFPD’s ability to respond to people it means to have effective policing who are mentally ill or otherwise in and, of equal importance, what it crisis. The department has made means for all communities to have significant strides both in training confidence in law enforcement. officers to deal with mentally ill Most recently, San Francisco subjects and taking a communityDan Nicoletta police officers shot and killed policing approach to law enforceMario Woods, a Bayview resi- Rioters outside San Francisco City Hall the evening of May 21, 1979, ment, but there is more to do. dent and stabbing suspect who reacted to the voluntary manslaughter verdict for Dan White that Building trust also requires the ensured White would serve only five years for the double murders of failed to drop his knife even after community to be full partners Harvey Milk and George Moscone. less-than-lethal force was used to with police in improving public disarm him. The videos of this safety. In addition to reporting incident are jarring and raise crimes, we need to be aware of sor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. questions that will, we hope, be resolved after the dangers officers face every day as they do LGBT people marched on City Hall and, in exmultiple ongoing investigations are concluded their jobs. While many of us instinctively run treme frustration with a broken criminal justice and all facts are compiled and analyzed. It’s from danger, police are required to run toward system that had exonerated the murder of our important to let these investigations play out. danger. Demonizing police officers – the sigleader, rioted. Hours later, police retaliated by This conversation is an important one: nificant majority of whom work hard attacking a bar in the Castro and badly How do we ensure police accountability to the to do their job and keep us safe – beating LGBT patrons. community while also recognizing the critiisn’t helpful.

After the White Night riots, cally important role that police officers play in Another key way of building relations between the LGBT comkeeping our community safe and the dangers trust with the community is to munity and the police gradually officers confront every day? How do we build bring new, young, diverse officers improved. The leadership of the trust between diverse communities and law into the department. Incorporatpolice department became more enforcement so that these communities view ing young people into policing pro-LGBT, and more LGBT the police as partners in improving safety?

– a generation highly sensitive people entered the department.

How do we create a collaborative relationship to the importance of embracing Progressive training programs between the police and the community? diversity – is perhaps the single were implemented, and the deThe current relationship between police and most effective thing we can do to partment engaged in community young men of color in San Francisco is troubring law enforcement into the 21st century. I outreach. Over time, LGBT people have been bled and needs significant work. We need to recently saw this culture shift in a very tangible promoted into the command staff, they have transform that relationship into a collaboraway when a transgender friend of mine went held leadership posts in the police union, and tive partnership to improve community safety. through the police academy. I attended her openly transgender officers have been recruitIn doing so, the LGBT community needs to academy graduation, and when I arrived and ed and promoted. stand in solidarity with our brothers and sislooked at the program, I was thrilled to learn Yet, issues remain, particularly building conters in the African-American community. that her classmates had elected her class presifidence in the transgender community and The LGBT community has a long history dent. It is hard to imagine that happening even especially among trans women of color, includwith law enforcement. That history was nega10 years ago. If that decision by overwhelmingly ing immigrant trans women, who have been tive for many years, with improvements over non-LGBT police academy cadets isn’t a sign murdered at outrageously high rates in the Bay time and more work to do. For years, the LGBT of change and a harbinger of future cultural Area and elsewhere. Homophobic and racist community’s interactions with law enforcechanges in policing, then I don’t know what is. text messages within the department, as revealed ment were frequently defined by enforcement We need to take steps to ensure that police earlier this year, further undermined confidence. of repressive laws, raids on bars and other gathare full allies to our diverse communities and Only by continually building trust between the ering places, excessive force, and lack of support that they are perceived as such. Working tocommunity and law enforcement can we hope for the safety needs of LGBT people. In San gether, we can get there.t to forge the partnerships so critical to stopping Francisco, the troubled relationship between these crimes. law enforcement and the LGBT community We can build that trust, and doing so is a Scott Wiener is a member of the San Franreached a low point in 1979 during the White cisco Board of Supervisors and represents two-way street. Every day, the police must work District 8, which includes the Castro, Noe Night riots, when Dan White was acquitted hard to demonstrate their commitment to comValley, and Glen Park. of murder for the assassinations of Supervimunity policing in diverse communities. Officers

T

t

Politics>>

December 17-23, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

Randolph takes seat on college board

C

Rick Gerharter

ity College of San Francisco Trustee Alex Randolph, left, was sworn in to his seat on the board of trustees Thursday, December 10 by gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). Randolph, also a gay man, was appointed to a vacancy by Mayor Ed Lee in April. He will now serve the remainder of that term, which expires next year. He was joined by friends and family at the City College campus, including his husband, Trevor Nguyen.

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Lesbian union leader announces SF supervisor bid

by Matthew S. Bajko

W

ith her entrance into the race for San Francisco’s District 11 supervisor seat, lesbian union leader Kimberly Alvarenga is the first LGBT candidate to announce a 2016 bid to join the Board of Supervisors.

Should she win, Alvarenga would be the first out lesbian to win a district-based supervisor election since 2000, when the city’s 11 supervisors reverted to being elected from districts rather than citywide.

The last lesbian to serve as a supervisor was Leslie Katz, who left the board in 2001 and is now a city port commissioner.

Lesbians have not held a political office in the city since 2008, when Carole Migden lost her re-election to her state Senate seat. The last lesbian elected to a municipal office was Susan Leal in 2001 when she won re-election as the city’s treasurer.

Since then a number of lesbians have run for local offices but fell short.

The last queer woman to serve in an elected office, bisexual District 5 Supervisor Christina Olague, who was appointed to fill a vacancy, lost her bid for a full term in 2012.

Due to the dearth of lesbian elected politicians in not only San Francisco, but throughout the Bay Area, Alvarenga’s campaign is sure to draw increased attention from within the LGBT community.

“For me personally, it makes a difference, as being a queer woman of color I always understand very personally what it means to not have a seat at the table and have my issues addressed, whether as a queer woman, a woman of color, or the child of immigrants,” Alvarenga told the Bay Area Reporter in her first press interview since filing to run Friday, December 11. “I am running for supervisor in District 11 because I care very deeply about the city.

Like many residents, I am trying to raise my family in the city and stay in the city.”

Alvarenga, 46, the political director of Service Employees International Union Local 1021, and her wife, Linnette Haynes, have been together 16 years and live in the city’s Crocker-Amazon neighborhood, where they are raising their 3-year-old son, Oziah. They moved into their home in 2008.

“When I moved there, I was not involved in politics at the time,” said Alvarenga, who had worked for a number of social service agencies.

“We were looking for a place to move and everything at that time was becoming more unaffordable.

We found a wonderful small place in that neighborhood.”

A San Francisco native and an only child, Alvarenga was raised by her mother, who came to the city from El Salvador. Her father came

Courtesy Alvarenga for Supervisor Campaign

District 11 supervisor candidate Kimberly Alvarenga

from Mexico. At age 10 she and her mother moved into a public housing complex in Bernal Heights.

She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, since renamed Phillip and Sala Burton High School, and attended City College of San Francisco. Eventually, she was able to transfer to Oakland’s Mills College, where she graduated in 2005 with a degree in women’s studies and a minor in ethnic studies.

She worked for a variety of nonprofits, including Catholic Charities and Bay Area Legal Aid, before being hired in 2008 by newly elected gay Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) as his district director.

When Ammiano was termed out of office last December, she went to work for the union.

Long rumored to be interested in seeking the supervisor seat, Alvarenga said she has been talking to District 11 residents and other community leaders over the last year about entering the race. The current holder of the seat, Supervisor John Avalos, will be termed out in January 2017 and has endorsed Alvarenga to succeed him.

“District 11 is ground zero for the historic inequality affecting San Francisco,” stated Avalos. “As a San Francisco resident who has fought against many obstacles to stay in San Francisco to raise a family here, Kimberly has that quiet tenacity to continue the fight against the wealthy interests that seek to deny working people a place in this city.

District 11 still has a chance to be

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Tara Flanagan

the home of San Francisco working and middle class soul. Kimberly is well suited to take on the challenge of leadership.”

In addition to Avalos, Alvarenga has the endorsements of gay District 9 Supervisor David Campos, District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim, and District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar. Ammiano has also endorsed her bid.

“In the six years that Kimberly served as the district director of my district office her policy and constituent skills demonstrated leadership and ability to make her a perfect fit for District 11,” stated Ammiano.

Asha Safai, who lost to Avalos in 2008, is again seeking the District 11 seat, which includes the city’s southern neighborhoods of the Excelsior, Ingleside, Oceanview, Outer Mission, and Crocker-Amazon. He lives in the Excelsior with his wife, Yadira, and their two children.

Considered the more moderate candidate, Safai worked for former mayors Willie Brown and Gavin Newsom and has been the political director for San Francisco Janitors Union Local 87 since 2008. Among his backers are gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, and gay former District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty.

It remains to be seen if any other candidates will enter the race. Early next year Alvarenga plans to host an official kick-off event for her campaign.

“I feel residents of District 11 haven’t had an equal voice at the table in City Hall. John has advocated very strongly for the district, but it has not always gotten the attention from the mayor as it deserves,” said Alvarenga.

“I want to work in partnership with residents of District 11 to address the issues they face daily. So many of my neighbors say they want their children to be able to continue to stay in San Francisco and raise their own families here but that is becoming less of a reality today.”

Lesbian judge fined by state agency

Lesbian Alameda County Superior Court Judge Tara Flanagan and her 2012 campaign committee treasurer Carol Pranka, a close, personal friend, have agreed to pay fines of $4,500 and $1,500, respectively, to settle a matter with a state watchdog agency.

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is expected to approve the settlement at its meeting Thursday, December 17. The women were fined by the agency for misreporting $25,000 in loans Pranka made to Flanagan when she ran for a seat on the county court three years ago.

According to the FPPC, Flanagan deposited the checks from Pranka into her personal accounts and then wrote checks for identical amounts to her campaign committee. An audit by the FPPC found that she See page 18 >>

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<< Community News

t Holiday gift ideas abound for animal companions 10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

by Sari Staver

I

f you’re procrastinating about making holiday plans for your fourlegged companions, do not delay.

While the shelves are fully stocked at the city’s pet boutiques, the calendars at grooming shops, boarding facilities, and pet sitters are filling rapidly. The largest pet hotels – Wag, High Tail, Pet Camp, and Mission: Cats – have been booked solid for weeks, although websites such as http://www.Rover. com still have many available sitters.

For those pet guardians who think their furry friends already have everything they need, it’s time to reconsider.

Just released December 1 are the new French-inspired Mon Bebe dog toys designed by Richard Shiu, coowner of the Castro pet emporium Best in Show (www.bestinshowsf. com). The shop, which Shiu founded in 2002 with his partner, George Freeman, carries hundreds of gifts for dogs and cats as well as T-shirts and hats for humans.

The notion of buying holiday gifts for pets has become increasingly popular, said Shiu, including unique luxury products such as the $155 Swarovski crystal dog collars.

“Paris Hilton started it all,” he told the Bay Area Reporter during an interview in his busy shop.

At least once a week, he said, a customer will spend over $500 on dog gifts.

There are also coats and sweaters, ranging from $40-$100, a large dog bed for $280, and a cat tower for $300. Shiu’s designs are also sold nationwide through his website.

Explaining the popularity of extravagant pet gifts to Castro customers (at least half of whom are tourists), Shiu pointed to his popular T-shirt line, which says aptly, “Dogs are the new kids.”

That, he said, “explains it well.”

At other shops, there are more gift ideas.

Rick Gerharter

Justin Jenkins, left, and Andrew Foster Shi shop for an inclement weather jacket for their Westie, Stuart, at Best in Show.

The gay-owned Noe Valley Pet Company (http://www.noevalleypet. com) carries a wide variety of holiday treats and toys from several local small bakeries, including truffles and gingerbread boys. And gay-owned George (www.georgesf.com), in Pacific Heights, has Santa hats and yarmulkes for dogs as well as a wide selection of clothing and accessories, including jingle collars and plaid bow ties.

If your dog is a picky eater or is part of a “foodie family,” Jeffrey’s Natural Pet Foods (http://www.jeffreyspets.com/) makes their own natural foods and treats, including bison jerky, dried hot dog bites, dehydrated chicken hearts, and gizzards.

Paw Patch Pastries and Pet Boutique (www.pawpatchpastries.com) owner Carla Ocfemia specializes in “100 percent natural healthy organic treats,” which include gluten free, wheat free, corn free, and soy free cookies and cakes. The bakery is especially busy over the December holidays, she said, with customer gift baskets and stockings especially popular. Ocfemia went to culinary arts school and worked in catering

before opening the pet bakery.

If you’re looking for grooming products, Cole Valley’s Green Pawz Pet Boutique, (http://www.greenpawzsf.com) promises to “pamper your pet and our planet.” The store also carries a “natural and organic” dog shampoo made in Marin County.

One of the most extravagant gifts for dogs who enjoy pampering is the “deluxe spa package” offered to grooming clients at SOMA’s Doggie Day Spaw (http://www.doggiedayspawsf.com).

The treatments, which cost $25 in addition to standard grooming fees, include a blueberry “furcial,” a paw cleanse and a paw pad moisturizer, and a body butter treatment. The shop is booked through the holidays but owners can purchase a gift certificate for their pet to enjoy later.

Many grooming shops are filling their slots rapidly as well. Lancy Woo, the out owner of Noe Valley’s VIP Grooming (http://www.vipgroomingsf.com), said that pre-holiday availability is very limited, with many owners booking early “to be sure the dogs are looking good and smelling wonderful” for holiday parties.

A Paid Study for People Who Are HIV+

But staff at gay-owned Mud Puppy’s Tub and Scrub (www.mudpuppys.com) report that both the Castro and Marina locations still have many grooming openings available, including some same-day availability.

For pet owners who are considering a last minute getaway for themselves, many of the largest boarding facilities all have been booked for weeks.

But if you’re willing to hire an individual pet sitter, either to come into your home or host your pet in their home, there are many options on the aforementioned Rover.com.

The company, which calls itself the “Airbnb for dogs,” has over 1,000 pet sitters in the Bay Area.

And lastly, if you don’t have a pet to splurge on just yet, the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is making it easier to find the right puppy or kitten.

Now in its 29th year of its special holiday adoption program, the SF SPCA has taken over half a dozen windows at the Union Square Macy’s, where you can watch and

Castro celebrates Hanukkah with menorah, dreidels

Kelly Sullivan

Congregation Sha’ar Zahav cantor Sharon Bernstein, right, spins a large dreidel as children look on at the December 9 menorah lighting in Jane Warner Plaza.

by David-Elijah Nahmod

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meet young dogs and cats looking for their forever home. Thus far, 127 pets have been adopted, said Amber Eby-Shearer, the SF SPCA’s adoption center coordinator, with a few weeks left until the program ends in early January. During the holiday program, the agency waives the $75 adoption fee for cats, she said.

If you’re considering buying a pet for someone outside of your immediate household, Eby-Shearer suggests you instead purchase a gift certificate so that the future owner can make their own decision.

If the dog or cat is for your own household, she also noted that studies by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found that pets adopted during the holiday period are no more likely to be returned than pets adopted at any other time of year.

While the animals in the window are small, the SF SPCA will have larger dogs available to meet on weekends when Stockton Street is closed to traffic.t

he Festival of Lights is now over, but last week in the midst of Hanukkah, Jewish, business, and community leaders lit a menorah in Jane Warner Plaza that was a hit with residents.

The menorah display was the first one in recent memory; a holiday tree has long been a fixture in the LGBT neighborhood.

An estimated 100 people joined Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, San Francisco’s LGBT synagogue; the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District; and Castro Merchants for a celebration of Hanukkah December 9 and for the lighting of a large menorah.

Attendees included a mix of gay male couples, lesbians with kids, as well as straight and non-Jewish allies like Andrea Aiello, executive director of the CBD. Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after Judah Maccabee and his warriors defeated the Seleucid Empire. The holiday is celebrated for eight days, and includes nightly candle lighting, song, dance, and gift giving.

As is the usual Jewish custom, four candles were lit at Jane Warner Plaza, as the celebration took place on the fourth night of Hanukkah.

“There is darkness that humans created,” said Rabbi Ted Riter, interim rabbi at Sha’ar Zahav. “As we light these candles we’re trying to bring more light into the world.

Let’s focus on the light.”

The rabbi then uttered the bless-

ing as he lit the first candle: “Blessed are You, who has commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.”

Gay state Senator Mark Leno (DSan Francisco), who is Jewish, lit the second candle.

“There’s a great shiddach (marriage) between Congregation Sha’ar Zahav and the Castro merchants,” Leno said.

Gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, who represents the Castro and is also Jewish, lit the third candle.

“This district has often been represented by Jewish people,” Wiener said, noting that his predecessors Leno, Bevan Dufty, and the late Harvey Milk, were Jewish.

“It’s always great to embrace Judaism in the community,” Wiener added.

The fourth candle was lit by Sharon Bernstein, the cantor at Sha’ar Zahav.

“I light this candle in honor of everyone who’s fighting for our rights and for everyone’s chance to live well in the world,” Bernstein said.

In addition to the large menorah, which stood in the center of the plaza, several smaller menorahs were placed on a table and attendees were invited to light them if they felt moved to do so. Lesbian activist and comedian Lisa Geduldig was among those who lit candles.

“I was happy to light the candles and share this moment with my community,” Geduldig told the Bay Area Reporter. “It was nice to see ‘my people.’ My old pal, Senator Mark Leno was there, and we took a proverbial selfie.”

See page 18 >>

Community News>>

t Glimmer shines light on Jewish LGBT, ally leaders

by Heather Cassell

L

GBT and allied Jewish community members were honored for their work at the recent second annual Glimmer event held by Keshet.

“It was amazing and beautiful,” Deborah Newbrun, interim regional director of Keshet Bay Area, said about the December 3 fundraiser at Oasis that brought out nearly 160 Jewish community leaders and others in support of the organization.

Newbrun started the interim job at Keshet Bay Area in September.

She told the Bay Area Reporter that she isn’t sure if she will permanently take the helm.

Keshet is a national LGBT Jewish organization based in Boston focused on equality and bringing queerness and Jewish life together.

“It’s a nice place where we can glimmer and shine and get all the queer people out together to be inspired and motivated to keep the work going,” said Newbrun.

She hopes the event continues annually.

One of the evening’s highlights was the awards program.

Alvin H. Baum, a leading philanthropist who’s a gay Jewish man, was honored with the Rosh Pina Award.

Ruth W. Messinger and Rabbi Tsipora Gabai were honored with the Landres Courage for Dignity Award.

Rosh Pina, translated from Hebrew, means cornerstone. The Landres award is named after former Keshet board member Shawn Landres to honor allies who publicly support the inclusiveness of the LGBT community in society.

“I’m very moved by all of the honorees and how much they’ve done for the queer Jewish community nationally, internationally, and locally,” said Newbrun.

San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, a gay Jewish man who’s running for a state Senate seat next year, agreed.

December 17-23, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

“If there is one thing that you learn as an LGBT person or as a Jewish person – you don’t get anything without allies when you are a minority in the community,” said Wiener, expressing the importance of Keshet honoring LGBT as well as ally community leaders.

Paving the path for social justice

Messinger, 75, is the mother of a lesbian daughter and the outgoing president of American Jewish World Services, the fourth largest funder of LGBT activism globally, supporting 47 organizations in 14 countries.

When she took the helm of the organization after years of advocating for LGBT rights as a New York City Councilwoman, she spearheaded a campaign to support grassroots LGBT organizations around the world fighting for equality.

Messinger will step into a new role as global ambassador of AJWS in July, she told the audience during her speech.

Baum, 85, founded the first-ever LGBT Jewish Alliance at the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund of Greater San Francisco.

The federation serves the Jewish community from Sonoma to the Peninsula. Baum is an activist and philanthropist who spent a lifetime serving in both the Jewish and LGBT communities in San Francisco. He recently retired from his community service, he told the B.A.R. “I’m really pleased,” Baum said about receiving the award. He told the audience a story about the first trip of LGBT Jews from the federation’s LGBT Jewish Alliance to Israel and meeting a group of LGBT Jews in Rosh Pina, a resort town in northern Israel (no relation to the award). The Israeli LGBT Jews were so inspired 9.75 in. by the San Francisco queer Jews that they launched their own group to advocate for their own rights in a highly

Rick Gerharter

Alvin Baum, left, and his husband, Robert Holgate, celebrated Baum’s receiving the Rosh Pina (cornerstone) Award during Keshet’s event, Glimmer. Baum was recognized for his half-century of community activism and philanthropy in the LGBT and Jewish communities.

conservative and anti-gay region of Israel soon after.

“It was an inspiring evening to see people right in front of you get the idea from something that we had done, asking if there was something that they could do to help themselves,” said Baum, adding that the group still exists nearly 15 years later. “I have never forgotten it or Rosh Pina.

“It is one of the things that I’m happiest about from my work in the federation is that we had an effect in Israel as well as they are having an

“It was an inspiring evening to see people right in front of you get the idea from something that we had done...”

–Alvin Baum, award recipient

7.625 in.

IT’S MORE THAN JUST HEALTH CARE. IT’S PEACE OF MIND CARE. AND SHARING THE LOVE CARE. IT’S LIFE CARE. Most Californians who enrolled through Covered California got help paying for health insurance. Find out if you can too.

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CoveredCA.com

effect on us,” he added.

Baum’s husband praised his work.

“He’s a role model for me,” said Robert Holgate, 58, who’s been with Baum for 12 years. “I want to continue what he’s done.”

Gabai, who declined to state her age, was honored for creating a special ceremony for a transgender youth at Tehiyah Day School in the East Bay. “She compiled a beautiful and meaningful ceremony. She also put her heart, her soul, her love and acceptance in me by doing this for

me,” Tom Sosnick, 13, said in a video message that was played at the gala. He told the audience that Gabai took a risk and that she could have lost her acknowledgement as a rabbi for performing the ceremony.

“Instead, she’s getting praised and honored and that warms and touches my heart,” said Sosnick.

Gabai said that she did what she thought she should.

“I feel that what I did was within keeping with my Jewish values and my role as a rabbi and a Jewish educator,” Gabai told the audience about creating the special ceremony for Sosnick to honor his decision to live authentically as a boy.

“Although this ritual was controversial within the eyes of some Jewish leaders, I believed strongly in doing this,” said Gabai. “We sent a message that Judaism has values and rituals for all Jews and that the acceptance of differences is indeed a Jewish value.”

Social justice in good hands

Baum and Messinger reminded the audience that the work for LGBT rights isn’t done and praised the next generation of Jewish LGBT and ally leaders.

Messinger quoted the late San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk closing her speech, “Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard.”

“I pray and I wish that all of us continue to raise our voices for ourselves, for each other, for the Jewish community, and for LGBT people around the world,” Messinger said.

“Our work is far from finished.”

Baum is confident that the work will continue with new generations of human rights leaders.

“Younger people have taken over what I was doing and they are doing a fine job with it,” said Baum. “So, that’s what makes one really happy is that the work goes on.”t

<< Community News

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

Santa Clara County seeks to halt HIV

by Matthew S. Bajko

S

anta Clara County supervisors have asked their county health department to devise a plan to halt the transmission of HIV within the 15 cities under their jurisdiction.

At its meeting Tuesday, December 15 the five-member Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a request brought forward by gay Supervisor Ken Yeager for the county to create its own Getting to Zero plan, similar to the action health officials

in San Francisco took last year.

Yeager would like to see the county emulate San Francisco’s goal of reducing new HIV infections by at least 90 percent come 2030. According to the latest figures from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, there were 155 new HIV cases in 2014, with infections among men increasing 20 percent from 2013.

“Other areas are doing great work in this area and I hope we can learn from their plans and incorporate

best practices into ours,” Yeager told the Bay Area Reporter.

County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody is tasked with bringing the outlines of a plan, as well as a cost estimate for putting it into place, to the supervisors sometime in February.

“It is a very audacious goal,” Cody told the B.A.R. in a phone interview following the board’s vote.

She demurred when asked what the cost of the plan would be, saying that, “My guess is this will be rather resource intensive.”

One of the first steps she intends to take toward crafting the county’s plan will be to confer with her counterparts in San Francisco to learn more about the city’s Getting to Zero plan.

It is based on a three-pronged strategy of expanded access to preexposure prophylaxis (better known as PrEP), rapid access to antiretroviral therapy, and retention of HIVpositive people in care. Santa Clara’s plan is expected to mirror the city’s approach.

Until now, Santa Clara County health officials had not set a timeframe for ending HIV transmission.

Cody told the B.A.R. she is unsure if San Francisco’s 2030 goal would be

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feasible for Santa Clara to delay in its receiving data replicate. from state health officials.

The two jurisdictions One challenge the differ in how they operate county health departand provide HIV prevenment faces is that 30 tion services and care for percent of the people livthose living with HIV and ing with HIV in Silicon AIDS. San Francisco is Valley are not receiving both a city and a county, treatment. Another is and despite it overseeing how accessible PrEP is a more compact area, its for HIV-negative people, Santa Clara HIV cases are three times particularly those not County Supervisor the size of those found in receiving care from the Ken Yeager Silicon Valley. It recorded county health system.

302 new HIV infections As Yeager’s office in 2014. noted in its proposal to the board, Like with San Francisco’s HIV the county-run Santa Clara Valley cases, the majority of cases in Santa Medical Center is in the process of Clara County are among men who adopting national clinical guidehave sex with men. And men in both lines on the appropriate utilization counties age 50 years and older acof PrEP by primary-care clinicians count for large percentages of the and training for clinicians on how people living with HIV or AIDS; in to implement the guidelines.

Santa Clara it is 48 percent of the “There is a great deal of excellent 2,902 residents in the county who work being done within Santa Clara are HIV-positive.

County that can be built upon for Latino men who have sex with the Getting to Zero initiative, work men aged 20 to 39 largely accounted that could be coordinated, assessed for the uptick in HIV cases that Santa and strengthened from a countyClara saw last year. Cody said the wide, whole system perspective to county will not know if HIV cases help us win the battle against HIV/ continued an upward climb in 2015 AIDS,” wrote Yeager in his proposal until sometime next year due to the to the board.t

Last chance to nominate local heroes For complete information and to download a Heroes and Hearts award nomination from, visit www.sfg hf.org/events/ heroes-hearts/heroes.

Launch party for new trans book

Longtime Bay Area trans activist, writer, and public health consultant Willy Wilkinson has written a new memoir and will have a launch party for the book this weekend in Oakland.

Born on the Edge of Race and Gender: A Voice Drew Altizer Photography for Cultural Competency A large heart on the field at AT&T Park welcomes people to the Heroes and was released this week by Hearts Luncheon.

Hapa Papa Press and looks at the ambiguity and comcompiled by Cynthia Laird plexity of mixed heritage, polyspiritual and transdenominational · leatherwomen teaching spiritual discipline transgender, and disability experihe deadline is Friday, Decemence. It also offers an intimate win· atheist testimonials · seeing higher power in each other · coming out about our ber 18 for people to nominate dow into how current legislative a local hero for the San Frandifferences · sharing personal HIV resurrection stories · “perfect and policy battles are affecting cisco General Hospital the personal lives of trans submission, perfect delight” · worshipping many Foundation’s Heroes people. and Hearts Award.

The launch party takes names or no name at all · Easter bonnets to die for The individuals seplace Saturday, Decemlected will be recognized ber 19 at 6 p.m. at · Tarot wisdom in the communion blessing · same-sex at the Heroes and Hearts Laurel Bookstore, Luncheon, which will 1423 Broadway in weddings since 1971 · Jewish be held February 18 at downtown OakAT&T Park. The event is gospel soloist · we are land.

For more family · part of the foundation’s information, visit Hearts Signature Events, sex-positive shaman leading h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / which also includes the Hearts in events/921220364598896/. healing prayer · gathering around the leather altar cloth (kneeling optional) San Francisco public art project and For more on the book, see this Hearts After Dark, an evening funweek’s online Sampler column at · camp hymns & gospel divas · preaching a gospel of radical inclusion · draiser and party in February that http://www.ebar.com/news/article. caters to young professionals. php?sec=news&article=71144. getting baptized under my real name · all generations, all genders, all Amanda Heier, chief executive officer of the SFGH Foundation, SFFD recruiting LGBTs backgrounds at one table · holy laughter · questioning as a spiritual practice · said that the local hero award recThe San Francisco Fire Departognizes extraordinary community ment is recruiting LGBTs and othmembers in the Bay Area who have ers for positions in the department Explore with us and answer for yourself. All are welcome in this community of stepped up in a time of need, creand will have an information sesatively worked to fix a problem sion Monday, December 21 from 6 within the community, or acted to 8:30 p.m. at the Richmond Recquickly to do the right thing and reation Center, 251 18th Avenue.

Join us for Taizé-style candlelight meditation on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and help others, exemplifying the “go At the session, attendees will above and beyond” spirit of the meet department personnel, who inclusive communion on Sundays - hymns at noon, gospel choir at 6 p.m. foundation and SFGH. will share information about Nominees must be people who how to become a San Francisco reside or work in the San Francisco firefighter.

Bay Area and have demonstrated The event is free. To sign up, visit exemplary service to a person, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ group, or the community. Postsan-francisco-firefighter-careerhumous nominations cannot be information-session-122115-tickconsidered. ets-17884416772.t MCC San Francisco · 1300 Polk (at Bush) · mccsf.org

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what is

queer spirituality

?

diverse beliefs and common values.

Celebrate Christmas Eve with us December 24 at 11 p.m.

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<< Community News

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

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Trans man

forthcoming, using his sock drawer as his savings account. “When there were enough $20 bills to warrant, I would take them to the bank and trade them for $100 bills,” Daughtry recalled.

From page 1

What the images don’t show is that while Daughtry was a member of Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente from 2009 to 2014, his request for a hysterectomy – surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries – was denied as medically unnecessary.

Daughtry’s denials for his hysterectomy came in many forms. While a patient with Kaiser, Daughtry said his denials were delivered to him verbally by his doctor. (Kaiser declined to comment on Daughtry’s claim of denial.)

When he switched to Aetna for his insurance and again requested a hysterectomy, Daughtry received two written denials. In an email to Daughtry on July 8, Aetna representatives wrote, “This coverage denial was based on the terms of the member’s benefit plan document. The plan has a specific exclusion for the requested service or treatment.”

Although Daughtry finally got his operation this fall after a long quest, transsexuals nationwide continue to be denied services based on their gender identity. Their stories appear throughout various social media channels and are often organized using the hashtag #TransHealthFail.

In 2014, the Williams Institute – a think tank at UCLA School of Law focused on conducting independent research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy – reported in its study “Suicide Attempts Among Transgender and Gender Non-Confirming Adults” that transsexual people who had “reported having negative experiences related to obtaining medical care as a transgender or gender nonconforming person also reported an elevated prevalence of lifetime suicide attempts.”

But this year in Washington, D.C., a change began.

On September 3, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began a 60-day public comment period on a proposed rule called “Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities.” If implemented, the Affordable Care Act’s ban on discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, or age would be amended to include gender identity. The new rule would end the categorical exemptions some individuals have faced when seeking gender transition care. In cases like Daughtry’s, it would be unlawful for most insurers to deny a hysterectomy based on gender identity.

The ban would extend to insurers participating in the health insurance marketplace, any health program that HHS administers, and any

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Diagnosis, treatment

Jason Hanasik

Eliot Daughtry looks out the front door of his Oakland home.

agencies or caregivers receiving any funding from HHS, the department said in a release. This includes hospitals that accept Medicare patients and doctors who treat them.

“The proposed HHS rule is an enormous milestone for all transgender and gender non-conforming people in the U.S. Access to safe, respectful health care is a basic human right, and this policy makes a huge advance towards equity in health care for transgender people,” Kris Hayashi, executive director of Oakland-based Transgender Law Center, said in a news release.

Internal struggle

The 49-year-old Daughtry’s 5 foot 3 inch height is accented by a bright blue mohawk and goatee that shimmer in the sunlight. Born in North Carolina and raised in Virginia, Daughtry lost his Southern drawl but still exudes the manner of a Virginia gentleman.

“I’m definitely masculine but not particularly butch,” Daughtry said, winking. He wasn’t always so comfortable in his skin.

Daughtry said he experienced the first of many panic attacks during the fall semester of his senior year of high school. While the trigger was then viewed as an assignment for his economics class, Daughtry said he now believes it was one of the first symptoms of his internal struggle about his gender identity. He sought psychological services.

“My therapist, after noting my clothing at a session, suggested that I might want to check out the chapter ‘In America They Call us Dykes’ in her copy of Our Bodies, Our Selves.

My stepmother had a copy that I read

on the next visit,” Daughtry recalled.

At age 18, Daughtry announced to his parents that he identified as queer.

“I knew I was different, and that my sexual interests were not in line with ‘normal’ people,” he said. “I felt like an alien, and was so uncomfortable in my body that I didn’t really live in it. At times I suspected that I would be happier if I was a computer, and often revisited the ‘robot’ identity that I used to separate myself from my body to favor my brain.”

Daughtry made a conscious decision not to mention his gender identity or sexual orientation prior to his 18th birthday because he feared repercussions, such as being institutionalized, which is a choice parents can make on behalf of their children while they are still minors.

In 1987, Daughtry moved to the Midwest to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. At school he was introduced to the work of the philosopher Judith Butler and the writer Joan Nestle and their respective works on gender and performance. The ideas presented in their texts resonated with him, but were also troublesome when he tried to understand them in light of his individual gender identity.

“The worst times dealing with myself as ‘feminine’ came when either partners or parents insisted that I dress in women’s clothes.

Family visits that involved ‘dressing up’ were always excruciating, but it turned into an experience of terror in conformity. Wearing a dress became physically and mentally agonizing, and even ‘softening’ my appearance for other people’s comfort was traumatizing. The kicker was always getting complimented for how lovely I looked, while the mirror told me I looked like a really uncomfortable and bad drag queen,” Daughtry recalled.

After graduating from the School of the Art Institute with his bachelor’s degree, Daughtry began working at a series of nonprofits, creating performance work for the local art scene, helping with AIDS fundraisers, and participating in the local leather community, which he said provided him a safe space to explore roles and gender play.

“It was the only place I found that I could freely experiment,” Daughtry recalled, “one where I could try to figure out what was going on and what I wanted to do about it.”

Alienated and alone

While trying to establish himself as an artist in his mid-20s, Daughtry said he felt profoundly alienated and alone as he thought more and more about transitioning.

“I hit the point where I wasn’t able to think about anything but it,” Daughtry said. He said he started to research what he needed to do to begin the transition process, realizing that, “This isn’t a game. I’m not

stuck in a scene and this is not some childhood trauma.”

In November 1992, living paycheck-to-paycheck and possessing poor credit, Daughtry went to the Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago in search of help. The center is one of the nation’s largest health care and research organizations, primarily serving the LGBT community and its allies. Benefiting from a sliding scale payment model, Daughtry began working with a counselor.

“We started working on the severe anxiety I was experiencing,” Daughtry said. “When you don’t know anybody who is transgender and everything you can find tells you that you’re pathological, it’s a little hard to be confident in yourself.”

At first, it wasn’t clear to Daughtry that hormones or surgery were even an option.

The pressing desire was not to have breasts, a dream he said he’d had since he was 12 years old.

“The chest was a problem, because there was no way for me to pass as male with a 34C cup size,” Daughtry said. “To this day, even if I couldn’t have accessed hormones, I would have found a way to have my breasts removed.”

To hide his breasts, Daughtry began binding his chest. First, he started with jog bras worn as tightly as possible. After five years of binding his chest with bras, Daughtry’s friend made him a custom latex chest binder. While the binder was more comfortable, it made him sweat and exacerbated the acne fueled by testosterone. Much worse long-term effects of modifying his body continue today.

Daughtry attends physical therapy sessions now in an attempt to undo the long-term effects of binding – including dislocated ribs.

“My terror at appearing female forced me to wear an Ace bandage a lot longer than I should have,” he said.

Having his breasts removed was about shedding an uncomfortable cultural signifier of femininity, he said. By contrast, he explained, his long-sought hysterectomy was a medical necessity.

“The hysterectomy was about managing my long-term health, comfort, and hormone usage. My menses ceased shortly after I started on testosterone, but I continued to have reproductive system issues if I missed a shot,” Daughtry said. “Even on testosterone, I would experience cramping on occasion. Of all the things that can trigger dysphoria for me, this is possibly the worst – having to deal with a constant reminder of biology that for me is an appendage at best, and maybe should be looked at like having appendicitis.”

When Daughtry began seeking psychological services, he was making $360 a week. He would save $5 to $40 per paycheck for the expensive surgeries he knew were

In September 1994, Daughtry was diagnosed with gender dysphoria from Pathways Counseling Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The language for this diagnosis has vacillated through the years.

For a short time, the diagnosis was updated to gender identity disorder before it was switched back to gender dysphoria. In the American Psychiatric Association’s manual, gender dysphoria is defined in part as “clinically significant distress” due to “the difference between the individual’s expressed/experienced gender and the gender others would assign him or her.”

“Dysphoria gives me a name to describe the incredibly difficult relationship I have to my own physical being, and navigating when my gender and biology don’t match,” Daughtry said.

One month after his diagnosis, Daughtry began testosterone therapy on October 10, 1994, his 28th birthday.

On June 24, 1997, with a fistful of $100 bills, Daughtry paid $6,000 for his double mastectomy – but not before several male surgeons asked why he would want to change “such a beautiful female body.”

Over the next 10 years, he changed his legal name. His birth certificate was reissued by the state of North Carolina with an updated gender marker and he moved to San Francisco with Kriss De Jong, whom he wed in a legal marriage ceremony in New York City in 2005.

In San Francisco, consumed with his day job, Daughtry stopped pursuing transition-related procedures and focused on building his new life.

“I went through different stages with comfort and discomfort with my body and how people perceived me,” Daughtry said. “After being in therapy for so long, I would sometimes think, ‘I’ve done all my paperwork. Maybe I’m done.’”

Right as the first dot-com bubble burst in the San Francisco technology sector, Daughtry switched health insurance providers and joined Health Net. In 2007, when his cholesterol levels became elevated and he started to experience extreme pelvic pain, his gynecologist, Dr. Marilyn Milkman, suggested that he get a hysterectomy. (Daughtry agreed to let Milkman speak about his medical issues.)

“The bad side of testosterone is what it does to your lipids. It’s why men have an earlier incidence of heart disease than woman. Our estrogen protects us. Daughtry has needed to use a much higher amount of testosterone because he’s trying to override normallyfunctionally ovaries. One of the benefits we’re going to see from him having his ovaries taken out should be a lower dosage of testosterone,” Milkman said.

Health Net denied the request.

In an email, Brad Kieffer, of Health Net, said that Daughtry’s 2007 policy – which was, at the time, approved by regulators – “specifically excluded treatments related to sex transformations.”

While Milkman requested the hysterectomy for pelvic pain, “as soon as they knew he was transgender, they didn’t care about the pelvic pain issue,” she said.

Switch to Kaiser

Spurred by the rising cost of his health insurance plan and the denied hysterectomy, Daughtry switched to Kaiser in 2009. The Oakland-based integrated managed See page 17 >>

<< Sports

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

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NBA’s changes: Ref comes out, Warriors’ style forges shift

by Roger Brigham

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hat, you thought they were going to go undefeated this season?

It will be curious to see years from now which event this month will be viewed as more symbolic of change in the NBA: the record-setting undefeated start of the season by the Golden State Warriors come to a grinding halt after 24 victories, or the decision by NBA referee Bill Kennedy to come out as gay just days after Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rhondo went ape shit on the court calling Kennedy a “motherfucking faggot.” He was suspended

for one game.

Right now, the intriguing heights reached by the Warriors have basketball fans and pundits alike breathless and perplexed as stylistically they represent the Next Big Thing in the game.

They have thrived on relentless defense and a stunning barrage of three-point shooting that annoys every getoff-my-lawner from Charles Barkley to Gregg Popovich.

They seem to actually enjoy not just the sport but also the privilege

of playing with each other. The bench is composed of reclamation projects such as Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala and Leandro Barbosa, who mesh with a selfless super talented and high energy starting lineup to pass and shoot the opposition into submission.

The ancient Greeks and Romans used to deride cavalry and archery as being “unmanly” enterprises that did not win battles with the same honor as heavy infantry. That’s largely because the Greeks and Romans were weak in both areas and had to rely on the kindness of allies in those strategically critical areas.

Those who call the three-pointers with which the Warriors are skewering the league “circus shots” sound just as cranky and misguided.

Common wisdom says the Warriors are forging a shift in NBA tactics and that more and more teams will come to rely on smaller, more athletic lineups. Thus, the start-ofseason run, which extended their overall win streak to an all-time second-best 28 games, looms as the more significant marker.

But consider Rhondo and Kennedy. In 2011, Bulls center Joakim Noah and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant were each fined for similar homophobic slurs directed at officials and fans, but no player until now has ever been suspended for such behavior. And no male NBA officials had previously come out as a

sure it had Kennedy’s back.

“I wholeheartedly support Bill’s decision to live his life proudly and openly,” Commissioner Adam Silver said. “Throughout his 18-year career with the league, Bill has excelled as a referee because of his passion, dedication, and courage. Those qualities will continue to serve him well both as a game official and as a positive influence for others. While our league has made great progress, our work continues to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity.”

Historic.

Colin but not forgotten NBA referee Bill Kennedy this week came out as gay.

response to such an incident. Kennedy is now the second referee in the NBA to be out (in the summer of 2014, Violet Palmer revealed she is a lesbian) and the third official in the major pro team sports (Major League Baseball’s Dale Scott a year ago revealed he is gay).

Kennedy said his decision to disclose was made in the hopes of providing inspiration to others.

“I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man,” Kennedy told Yahoo Sports. “I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are.”

The NBA moved quickly to as-

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is missing out on much of the agony of this year’s abysmal San Francisco 49ers season with a season-ending shoulder injury, but apparently his texting fingers are working just fine.

He is the latest in a cavalcade of athletes to speak out against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s call of a database of Muslims to institutionalize profiling.

Kaepernick wrote on Instagram this week, “You might not care if Donald Trump says Muslims must register with the government, because you’re not one. And you might not care if Donald Trump says he’s going to round up all the Hispanic immigrants, because you’re not one. And you might not care that Donald Trump wants to suppress journalists, because you’re not one. But think about this. If he keeps going and he actually becomes president, he might just get around to you, and you better hope there’s someone left to help you.”t

Visually impaired massage therapist has healing touch

by Belo Cipriani

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

Did you know...

Meet Your Neighbors We are grateful and filled with Pride

You’re invited to mix and mingle with the people who will one toshare serve LGBT day yourthe permanent Sancommunity.

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As we have in the& past, to make Wine Cheese we Opencontinue House ourselves available to19,answer questions and Friday, July 2013 2—5pm provide realistic solutions for the years ahead.

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Serving the LGBT Community with Pride!

he journey to full-time employment can be filled with roadblocks – especially if someone has a disability. According to a 2013 employment survey published on DisabilityStatistics.org, only 40.2 percent of working-age people with visual impairments are employed – an alarming figure for a society with access to adaptive technology, and with various employment programs in place.

For Andrea “Dre” Hernandez, who was born with albinism, a hereditary condition characterized by the absence of melanin in hair, skin, and eyes, knowing it would be tough to get a job with a visual disability did not hold her back from pursuing a career and living independently.

“My vision is 20/200. I’m nearsighted and have been legally blind since birth. I also have albinism, and everyone with this condition is visually impaired,” said Hernandez.

In addition to problems with her vision, Hernandez is also extremely sensitive to the sun. She is miserable during the summer months and can feel feverish from sunburn.

Despite her limitations, Hernandez, 33, lives on her own and gets around on public transportation – her smartphone being the best access tool via apps for the visually impaired.

Hernandez’s fierce independence is a result of the hands-off approach her family took when raising her in San Jose.

“I don’t think anyone really cared,” she said. “They didn’t help me. They didn’t seem concerned.

They didn’t try to do anything to

Courtesy Dre Hernandez

Massage therapist Andrea “Dre” Hernandez

help me. It wasn’t talked about, so I had to learn to figure everything out on my own.”

However, when Hernandez began to display an interest in women as a teen, her family did have something to say.

“I came out when I was 13,” she said. “My mom didn’t handle it well, saying it was a phase.

My sister didn’t take it too well, either, but after awhile things got better.”

But while Hernandez’s upbringing may have not been the most nurturing, through reflection and self-discovery, she developed an appreciation for the healing arts.

“I love the concept of healing through touch. I also think about the internal pain that people suffer from, and I like to help ease someone’s anxiety. Massage therapy is good for that,” said Hernandez.

Determined and driven, Hernandez enrolled at Carrington College in San Leandro to pursue a certificate in massage therapy – a quest

that tested her in every way possible.

“I did really well academically, but the books were in very small print. So, I got lots of migraines, and headaches almost every day, because I’d try to focus when reading. I had to get it done. I sometimes got behind because I wasn’t able to work as quickly as possible,” she said.

Money also became a problem for Hernandez during her massage course work and she would have dropped out if a friend had not lent her a few hundred dollars to pay for school. Hernandez also attributes her success to her instructor, Kerry Matthews, who always tried her best to ensure things in the classroom went smoothly.

Hernandez now works at Massage Envy in Fremont – a job she landed right after completing her training, and a place that has proved to be very supportive. Her colleagues help her out with tasks when needed and her workstation did not need any major accommodations. Also, clients are respectful of her condition and sometimes find her story cool.

In the future, Hernandez would like to work with people with mental disabilities.

“Eventually, I want to work side by side with a psychiatrist and people with mental health issues,” she said. “People don’t think about internal pain very much, and I’m a strong believer that massage helps from the inside out. I want to help people ease their anxiety so they can open up and let go of their pain – both emotional and physical.”t Belo Cipriani is a freelance journalist, the award-winning author of Blind: A Memoir and Midday Dreams, and a spokesman for Guide Dogs for the Blind. He was voted best disability Advocate” in the Bay Area in 2015 by SF Weekly. Learn more at BeloCipriani.com.

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Community News>>

Gaming confab

From page 1

The convention now works with corporate sponsors as well, balancing the former do-it-yourself spirit – it still relied on $97,917 of Kickstarter funding – with a growing audience.

Intel was this year’s biggest sponsor, and the company created a lounge in the middle of the exposition hall for attendees to express their “gaymer pride” by writing their hopes on large pieces of poster board. The boards encouraged attendees to fill in their own blanks after sentiments like “When I look into the future of gaming, I see ...” and “My dream game would include ...”

Gaymers’ desires on the boards ranged from weird to witty to criti-

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Strut

From page 6

$15 million through its Campaign for Health and Wellness to cover programmatic expansion and renovation costs for the center.

“We’re approaching $13 million right now,” Giuliano said. He added, “December is the largest month for philanthropy. ... We’re expecting a very strong December for the cam-

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Packer

From page 1

In an interview, Giuliano said he was “very disappointed” and “very surprised” by Packer’s change of heart, “but of course you have to respect someone’s decision.”

The position would be posted “right away,” he said.

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Trans man

From page 14

care consortium offers both health insurance and health care to its members.

“Kaiser was local and had a decent reputation with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender health,” Daughtry said.

After researching available general practitioners, Daughtry chose someone believed to be transgender-friendly and was disappointed when the physician discouraged the procedure.

“I didn’t expect my doctor to say, ‘You don’t need to worry about that.

That’s not a big deal,’” Daughtry said.

But Daughtry depicts his ongoing fear and unease with female organs in graphic, nightmarish terms.

“Sometimes the uterus and ovaries gave me nightmares straight out of the chest-bursting Aliens movies. As I got older, there was a constant worry level about what was going on. Would my organs become cancerous? Would I end up with advanced cancer like Robert in Southern Comfort?” Daughtry said, referring to the HBO documentary about a trans man who was repeatedly denied health care.

Kaiser Permanente declined to comment on Daughtry’s medical history, stating in an email, “Out of respect for patient privacy laws and our members’ confidentiality, we cannot discuss an individual’s medical care with the media.”

Personal setback

Amid mounting medical bills, interest on debt, and the economic downturn, Daughtry and his partner declared bankruptcy in 2010.

Daughtry didn’t seek any followup care again until August 2014, although he remained a Kaiser patient. Due to his history with doctors and the stress of medical visits, he said he rarely sees a doctor even when his medical concerns are not related to his transition.

Meanwhile, he went to work as a part-time instructor at Expression College, a for-profit college in Emeryville. Focused on teaching game

December 17-23, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

cal. One writer wanted to be “Able to change gender and species at will.”

(There were a few Furries roaming the floor.) Some demands were broad: “Queer main characters.”

And there were specific demands that met, improbably, answers: “My dream game would include ... trans wizards,” which elicited, “We do that! Check out wizards vs. scientists at silvermaiden.itch.io.”

Wanting wider representation in games was a theme throughout the convention, but what exactly that meant could encompass many differences: disability, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and class. The gaymers wanted intersections. Perhaps the best summation was the simple request: “My dream game would include

... myself,” someone wrote. Indeed the convention emphasized selfdetermination: attendees could pick their pronouns and their preferred names. The security adviser went by “Potato.”

Intel may have sponsored the boards, but the company doesn’t make games. Billy Oh, who works in developer relations for Intel, attended to encourage independent game developers to use Intel products.

Kelly Postman, who works for Zebra Partners as a marketing contractor with Intel, was there to “support the community.” She called the boards “just fun and interaction.”

Martela is skeptical whether the sponsors will listen to the requests and criticisms of the gaymer community.

“Generally, we’ve been ignored,” she said, “and I don’t know why they’ve been so reluctant to broaden the market of who’s playing their games. We know it’s not just white men in their 20s who are playing games any more, but that’s who’s making games.”

Intel’s presence may be more than a marketing ploy, though. In its print ad in GXE’s program, the company aimed to recruit more diverse applicants of all stripes. After she made light of the boards, Postman reiterated the company’s desire to include the community in the engineering and creation processes.

GrindrLabs, the development arm of the online hookup site Grindr, sponsored the convention. The representatives were recruiting en-

gineers. The convention advocates for queer producers with panels like “How to Be a Producer” and the release of its own game, Read Only Memories.

Companies are starting to take notice of the eager demographic: Atari marketed its “Pridefest” game at the convention, in which players live the life of a deputy mayor hellbent on fabulizing a city and organizing a parade. Gaymers want to be marketed to; many say so in GX3’s documentary, Gaming in Color. It remains to be seen if all the sponsors will listen. Blizzard recruiters attended, but on the first day, an attendee confronted them about never seeing queer characters in the company’s games. She wanted to know why they had come.t

paign, and for the foundation.”

With a budget of $32 million, SFAF is the city’s largest AIDS-related nonprofit.

Asked about the delay in obtaining approval from the state, Giuliano said, “We were ready for the visit” from state health inspectors “on September 11. We notified the state they could come visit any time,” but

the inspection didn’t happen until December 1, he said.

“It’s very frustrating. The bureaucracy is just unbelievable. ... There’s really no excuse for it,” he added.

Giuliano didn’t know of any fixes that the state wanted at the site after the December visit.

“If there is anything, it’s very minor, and hasn’t been brought to my attention,” he said.

In November, Corey Egel, a Cali-

fornia Department of Public Health spokesman, offered some explanation of the procedure via email.

San Francisco’s fire department notified state health officials November 13 that the clinic “obtained fire clearance, which is required before CDPH can perform an inspection,” Egel said.

He said his agency was “assigning a surveyor to visit the facility.”

“Once the clinic demonstrates its ability to meet all required

minimum standards for licensure, CDPH will issue a license,” he said.

Strut obtained fire clearance October 21, according to fire department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge.

Giuliano, who was recently named as the president and CEO of Greater Phoenix Leadership, a business group in Arizona, said his last day at SFAF would be December 31.

Tim L. Jones started work earlier this month as SFAF’s interim CEO.t

“We obviously thought Tracey was clearly, by far the best” candidate, Giuliano said, “but we will go forth and recruit someone else for the position who will also do a really good job.

My guess is we’ll find someone who didn’t apply in the past” because they weren’t “ready to leave their current job,” among other possible reasons.

He said in the meantime, “We have

very, very competent people who run our programs.” He added that he’s “not worried about service delivery at all.”

Packer previously said that her salary at SFAF would be more than her current salary, which is about $122,000.

Giuliano wasn’t sure what the salary for the programs director position at his agency would be.

At the health department, Packer

supervises more than 25 community-based organizations funded through city contracts and subcontracts, making her a familiar face for numerous local nonprofit officials.

Giuliano, who was recently named as the president and CEO of Greater Phoenix Leadership, a business group in Arizona, said his last day at SFAF would be December 31.

Tim L. Jones started work earlier this month as SFAF’s interim CEO. SFAF also recently announced that on January 4 it would begin providing sexual health services at Strut, its new gay and bi men’s health center at 470 Castro Street. The services are currently offered at the nonprofit’s Magnet center nearby at 4122 18th Street. (See story, page 6.)t

Delayed opening

art and stabilizing his finances, Daughtry stopped requesting a hysterectomy from Kaiser.

“How do you stay on top of this and live your freaking life?” he said.

But after being promoted to fulltime instructor at Expression in December 2014, Daughtry obtained health insurance through the college. Given the option of Kaiser or Aetna Healthcare, he chose Aetna so that he could return to his former gynecologist, Milkman, believing she would fight for the procedure he needed.

Daughtry met with his gynecologist last June and they started the process of scheduling his surgery.

Not wanting to be denied a third time by a third insurer, Daughtry said he called Aetna asking what the process for coverage entailed. He was told that he needed to have the surgery pre-certified.

When Milkman applied for the pre-certification using Daughtry’s pelvic pain as the reason for issuing the request, the request was verbally denied on the grounds that the gender marker was incorrect, according to Milkman.

“My doctor’s office was told by Aetna that a hysterectomy can only be done on someone who is female,” Daughtry said.

“Eliot has had the hardest time getting permission to have his surgery,” Milkman said. “You’d think it would be easier now. For all intents and purposes, Eliot transitioned a long time ago, except for this.”

In an email response, Anjie Coplin, Aetna’s director of communication for its western region said the request was rejected at the time because, “The clinical data we had at the time of the request did not fulfill the clinical criteria. Meaning, that the medical necessity (MN) criteria needed to approve a hysterectomy [had] not been met since documentation had not, at the time, been submitted to support MN.” The denial was appealed and instead of citing pelvic pain, the second time Daughtry’s doctor submitted the procedure codes used for transgender patients, according to Daughtry.

After receiving the denial, suddenly Daughtry started experienc-

Jason Hanasik

Eliot Daughtry and his partner, Kriss De Jong, sit in the bedroom of their Oakland home.

ing a reoccurrence of anxiety attacks and repeating nightmares. On July 22, Daughtry sought psychological services for his anxiety, panic attacks, and recurrent memories about blocked medical access. On August 12, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by his therapist.

“I cried when [my therapist] told me that the repeating memories and many other things I’d been experiencing were related to PTSD. It wasn’t just anxiety and panic,” said Daughtry.

(Daughtry asked to keep the identity of his therapist private. This reporter contacted the therapist and has confirmed the diagnosis.)

On the following day, he was granted short-term disability by the Employment Development Department of California.

On July 8, Aetna denied Daughtry’s second request for a hysterectomy. During a follow up email to Daughtry on July 28, Aetna representative Diana Garcia wrote that medical plan exclusions included “Sex change: Any treatment, drug, service or supply related to changing sex or sexual characteristics, including surgical procedures to alter the appearance or function of the body; hormones and hormone therapy; prosthetic devices; and medical or psychological counseling.”

Hearing the news, Daughtry’s

gynecologist said she was dejected.

“We’re living in a part of the world where this should have been a piece of cake. ... This should have been immediately approved without a hassle because supposedly we’re the most enlightened about it here,” Milkman said.

Milkman thought that getting approval would be easier this time around. She had recently received pre-approval authorization for a hysterectomy for a different trans male patient.

“I would love to be in a world where we can practice good medicine and not worry about whether a shareholder in Aetna is making money on this transaction. It should be about doing the right thing for somebody,” Milkman said.

At this point, Daughtry’s life was almost entirely focused on managing his PTSD, his pelvic pain, therapy to reverse the long-term chest binding, and communicating with the administrative layers of Aetna.

“I constantly feel embattled, having to fight to have other people give you a modicum of respect, treating you with actual dignity,” he said, “and not saying to your face that you are an awful, subhuman thing.”

Experiences echoed daily

Daughtry’s experiences are not idiosyncratic. His experiences are

echoed daily on Twitter by others in transition or living as trans men and trans women. The experiences are organized using the hashtag #transhealthfail.

For example, on November 11, Olivia Kessler, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, posted on Twitter, “I’m constantly battling doctors, insurance companies, and pharmacies just to get my hormones. I finally found a good method, now I can’t get it.”

Kessler, 28, began transitioning a year ago, a few months after coming out to her friends and college colleagues, and said in a series of direct messages on Twitter that she started college when she was 24, but had to drop out when her parents kicked her out of her house after learning that she was trans and beginning hormone therapy.

The public comment period on HHS’ proposal closed November 9.

During the 60-day public comment period, 2,115 comments were registered on the website. Stories like Kessler’s and Daughtry’s consistently appear as narratives supporting the adoption of the proposed ban of biased care.

“I run a suicide hotline for transgender people,” posted Greta Gustava Martela. “We’ve talked to 6,600 trans people in crisis in 2015. Access to health care is one of the number one issues we hear about on our crisis line. Gender affirming health care can help transgender people better integrate into society. Providing trans healthcare will save many lives.”

Martela, a trans woman, is the cofounder and executive director of Trans Lifeline. Launched in November 2014, the hotline is staffed by transgender volunteers and caters to transgender people.

“We don’t have data specific to medical access,” Martela said in an email, but added, “we have many calls related to dysphoria, which is the feeling of incongruence between one’s internal sense of self and your external appearance. Access to medically necessary transition care as defined in the WPATH – World Professional Association for TransSee page 18 >>

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

<<

Hanukkah

From page 10

Geduldig noted that the Castro menorah wasn’t as big as the menorah lit by the Jewish outreach organization Chabad, which graces Union Square each year, but she en-

<<

Political Notebook

From page 9

did not properly disclose the money CLEANING SERVICES was from Pranka on her campaign COUNSELING financial statement.

In its report, the FPPC found the mistakes came from the judge and her friend not realizing that Pranka’s HAULING loansLEGAL couldn’t beSERVICES treated as Flanagan’s personal funds, and therefore, when Flanagan contributed the money to her own committee had to report Pranka as the source of the funds.

“Instead of reporting that Pranka MOVERS was the true source of the loans, the contributions were disclosed as personal loansSERVICES from Flanagan to her PET own committee, in violation of government code ...” ruled the FPPC. The agency also ruled that Pranka was in violation for not filing a major donor semi-annual campaign statement as she was required to do for contributing $25,000 to Flanagan.

The agency did note that the women were cooperative, provided documents asked of them, took steps to correct the reporting mistakes, and agreed to an early settle-

<<

TECH SUPPORT

Trans man

From page 17

gender Health – is the best thing we have to combat this.”

Martela said decisions about medical care shouldn’t be left to insurance companies.

“Allowing insurance companies to decide what is and isn’t medically necessary is something we don’t allow for any other segment of the population,” she said. “Current restrictions on transgender medical care are nothing more than institutionalized bigotry in the name of profit. The sad irony of this is that giving trans people the proper care would actually be cheaper in the long run.”

While most public comments supported the proposed rule, a minority voiced concerns.

VACATION “If a person decides that this is something that they must do, in spite of biological reality, then they should pay for it out of their own pocket, as would a person seeking cosmetic elective surgery, or perhaps at the expense of their activist support network,” posted a person giving the name Matthew Kijewski. Most negative comments were submitted without a name attached to their sentiments.

When asked about Kijewski’s post, Daughtry said, “His view doesn’t appear to recognize that trans men exist – after all, a hysterectomy serves no cosmetic purpose.

It addresses a particular health care issue.” He continued, “If a person is born with a cleft palate, nobody would argue that it should be left alone because it is cosmetic.”

Change in fortune

On September 15, 2015, for the first time in two decades, Daughtry’s fortunes changed. A week after Aetna’s denial, when this reporter emailed for comment, Coplin replied that the insurer’s executive response team would look into his concern.

Eight days later, Milkman received a phone call. “I am a physician with Aetna. I’m calling from Colorado.

I’m a peer-to-peer reviewer. I want you to know that I support this notion,” Milkman recalled the caller saying.

The following morning, sporting a “Love Conquers Hate” T-shirt, Daughtry was driving to his therapist’s office when he pulled off the highway to return a voice message

joyed it nonetheless. “My queer Jewish community speaks to me more than Chabad does,” she said.

After the candle lighting Bernstein led attendees in singing several Hanukkah songs in both Hebrew and English. Songs included traditional melodies as well as secular

tunes such as the popular “Hanukkah in Santa Monica” by Tom Lehrer. This was followed by group dancing, and the serving of “soofganiyot,” traditional Hanukkah pastries. Dreidels, the traditional holiday spinning tops, were also handed out.t

ment of the matter.

In a statement to the B.A.R. Flanagan said she is “not able to personally comment on the pending matter, other than to say my campaign and I made some inadvertent mistakes in 2012 that were called to our attention, and we have since worked to clarify and take responsibility for them.”

Flanagan’s counsel, Tom Willis of Remcho, Johansen, and Purcell in San Leandro, told the B.A.R., “There was no intent at all to circumvent any contribution limits or hide the original source of funds.”

sors appointed nearly a dozen people to the Cannabis State Legalization Task Force, which gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener pushed to form. Among them were Terrance Alan, a gay man who is chairman of the SF Late Night Coalition; Laura Thomas, a lesbian who is the California deputy state director for the Drug Policy Alliance; Erich Pearson, a gay man who co-founded medical marijuana dispensary SPARC; gay architect Tom McElroy; and Jon Ballesteros, a gay man who is senior vice president of public policy for the San Francisco Travel Association.

Also tapped for the panel was Sara Payan, the director of education at the Apothecarium, a dispensary located on upper Market Street in the city’s Castro district.t

Out leaders named to pot panel

Several out leaders were named this week to a panel tasked with prepping policy in San Francisco should state voters legalize marijuana use next year.

A ballot measure decriminalizing the personal use of marijuana is expected to be on the state ballot next fall. Should it pass, city leaders want to be prepared with plans for how to implement it.

This week the Board of Supervifrom Aetna. His surgery had been approved.

“After our executive response team reviewed the case, they reached out to Eliot’s physician to obtain more clinical information, which we originally did not have,” Aetna explained in an email to this reporter on September 24. “Based on the clinical information [that] was shared, we made the determination to cover the hysterectomy.

We are happy that we were able to resolve this issue for Eliot.”

Daughtry couldn’t believe the news.

“Wow, [this is] kind of surreal,” Daughtry said. “The Aetna rep was incredibly apologetic. It was a very different conversation than I have had with Aetna. She made no excuses.”

“When Aetna reversed the decision on the second appeal and I went in to re-do the pre-surgical meeting with Dr. Milkman, I still didn’t believe surgery was going to actually happen until I was literally being equipped with the IV ports and being sedated,” Daughtry recalled.

Daughtry’s case may stand as one ripple in a wave of policy shifts and approvals that may be expected to occur, should HHS implement their proposed rule.

Since Daughtry left Health Net, the company policy has evolved and “no longer excludes procedures and treatments for those with gender dysphoria,” said Health Net’s Kieffer, who said that its current medical indications for benefits policy is based on guidelines set forth by WPATH. Kaiser, too, said it has expanded its services for trans clients.

“Like many fields in medicine, transgender care is evolving rapidly. Kaiser Permanente has an expert group of physicians and other leaders who are actively engaged with the medical community to develop evidence-based guidelines, and also with our patients to incorporate their voices and directly address their needs,” wrote Barbara Crawford, vice president for quality and regulatory services, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, in an email response. “For surgical evaluation we follow widely accepted international guidelines which involves multi-disciplinary evaluations by mental health experts and a team of medical professionals and surgeons.”

Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http:// www.ebar.com Monday mornings at noon for Political Notes, the notebook's online companion.

This week's column reported on a state panel calling for Mavericks to allow female surfers.

Now that the public comment period has closed, HHS will weigh the comments as it drafts its final rule, banning discrimination on grounds of gender in the provision of medical services.

Surgery

Daughtry’s hysterectomy was completed October 7. His gynecologist, Milkman, confirmed, after surgery, that the ovaries removed had still been secreting estrogen.

The female hormone had required her patient to take higher doses of testosterone, which he now can dial back.

But six weeks after his hysterectomy was performed, Daughtry was notified by Milkman’s office that Aetna had reversed its decision and was not honoring its pre-authorization. Daughtry’s anxiety levels increased: While he was happy to have had the surgery, he dreaded the unplanned medical bills.

Daughtry sat in limbo for over a week.

Aetna contacted Daughtry November 24 and informed him that the claim had been incorrectly processed due to his gender marker and that the surgery would indeed be covered.

In an email comment, Aetna’s Coplin, said, “The original claim was denied by our claims processors due to them incorrectly thinking the claim was billed in error for a hysterectomy for a male. It appears the processor did not check the notes in the file that [the] claim was to be approved. The issue was resolved as soon as it was brought to their attention and we are working with the processors to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”

Daughtry is still recovering from his surgery and said he feels like he has now re-entered adolescence.

“I joke about puberty 3.0, but it isn’t much of a joke,” he said. “Acne, hair growth, sex drive. At 49, it is equally amusing and horrifying to be challenged like a 14-year-old on bodily changes. At least this time around, I knew a little about what I might experience.”t

This story is being co-published with Oakland North (www. oaklandnorth.net), an online news site that is a project of the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley.

t

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Out &About

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O&A

28

Vol. 45 • No. 51 • December 17-23, 2015

www.ebar.com/arts

Poe tasters

by Philip Campbell

T

he San Francisco Opera’s fall season ended last week with a brief four-performance run of an intriguing double bill, The Fall of the House of Usher. Two one-act operas based on Edgar Allan Poe’s disturbing story of ancestral madness and decline were presented in the U.S. premiere of Gordon Getty’s Usher House and the American professional premiere of Robert Orledge’s reconstruction of Claude Debussy’s La Chute de la Maison Usher.

See page 27 >>

Jason Bridges (Edgar Allan Poe) and Brian Mulligan (Roderick Usher) in Gordon Getty’s Usher House.

Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

New York state of mind

Snapshot epiphanies

by Sura Wood

Zipporah Films

Photographer unknown, Polaroid SX-70 print.

A

mong the homely staples of 20th-century life that have been unceremoniously retired by the microchip revolution – the typewriter, the pressed-wax record, the card catalogue – the camera loaded with film has met a swift and stealthy end,” wrote John Updike in The New Yorker in 2007.

“

See page 30 >> Courtesy Robert E. Jackson, Robert Tat Gallery

by David Lamble Scene on 37th Ave., from director Frederick Wiseman’s documentary In Jackson Heights.

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

T

he new Frederick Wiseman film In Jackson Heights plants its audience in an American urban community’s daily life, observing among other things a white, middle-aged, openly gay New York city councilman marching in the neighborhood’s annual LGBT Freedom Day parade.

See page 31 >>

22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

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Out There>>

December 17-23, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27

Stars of the future dazzle today

by Roberto Friedman

C

lassically trained voices in full flight can really captivate an audience. Out There was in the captivated house last Saturday night as the San Francisco Opera Center presented The Future Is Now: 2015 Adler Fellows Gala Concert in San Francisco’s newly renovated Herbst Theatre. The concert showcased the acclaimed Adler Fellows from SFOC’s prestigious young artist training program in a gala concert of opera scenes and arias with Stephen Lord, music director of Opera Theatre of St. Louis, leading the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.

SFOC director Sheri Greenawald introduced the program featuring sopranos Julie Adams, Jacqueline Piccolino and Maria Valdes; mezzosopranos Zanda Švēde and Nian Wang; tenor Chong Wang; baritones Edward Nelson and Efraín Solís; bass-baritone Matthew Stump; bass Anthony Reed; and pianists-apprentice coaches Ronny Michael Greenberg and Noah Lindquist. Named for former San Francisco Opera General Director Kurt Herbert Adler, Adler Fellowships offer advanced young artists intensive training, coaching, professional seminars and performance opportunities.

Adler Fellows, selected from artists who have participated in the Merola Opera Program, perform supporting roles in SFO productions.

The program has nurtured the development of more than 150 young artists since its inception, including such international stars as sopranos Patricia Racette, Ruth Ann Swenson and

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

<<

House of Usher

From page 21

The SFO co-production with Welsh National Opera of director David Pountney’s evocative 2014 Cardiff staging arrived too late for Halloween, but it wasn’t poor seasonal timing that made this re-imagining of Poe’s gothic tale a confusing disappointment.

The ingredients were promising enough. The ambitious reshaping of Debussy’s original failed attempt into something stageworthy for a modern audience, and the offer of a contrasting interpretation from a living composer seemed genuinely exciting. The brilliant production team alone might have spelled success. Unfortunately, even after some judicious tweaking since the Welsh debut (talk about your out-of-town tryouts), The Fall of the House of Usher was dead on arrival at the War

Courtesy SFOC

Adler Fellow baritone Edward Nelson.

Deborah Voigt, among many others.

The entire program scintillated, including such highlights (to OT’s ears) as Stump as Argante in George Frideric Handel’s Rinaldo; Švēde as Polina in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Pikovaya Dama (The Queen of Spades); Solís as Figaro in Gioachino Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville); Adams as Leonora in Giuseppe Verdi’s La Forza del Destino; Nelson as Fritz in Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Die Tote Stadt (The Dead City); Reed as Michel in Ambroise Thomas’ Le Caïd; and Adams and Nelson as Tatiana and Onegin in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. But really, the entire program was a delight, and the full house at Herbst thundered with deserved ovations. Onward to stardom with these heavenly voices!

Brother spirit

Last week we told you about our annual viewing of the stop-motion animation Christmas classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This week Memorial Opera House. Not so much a complete flop as a frustrating mediocrity, the inert double bill simply didn’t deliver the goods.

Gordon Getty must be respected for his continuing attempts at showing his operatic mettle. He is honestly dedicated, and while he is often accused of dilettantism due to his enormous wealth, he has never proved less than sincere in his compositional career. Usher House vindicates his intelligent intentions, aiming to illuminate an elusive mystery with fresh psychological insight.

Using his own libretto, Getty rather ingeniously changes the story’s narrator to Edgar Allan Poe himself. It almost works, but cannot surmount the tedious tread of the musical score. The word-heavy text is rarely lyrical, and dramatic weight is only supplied by increasingly predictable orchestral outbursts.

Courtesy SFOC

Adler Fellow baritone Efraín Solís.

we went to a screening of works by the stop-motion animation auteurs Stephen and Timothy Quay at the Roxie Theater. Like Rudolph, the Quays’ films are meticulously detailed and full of fanciful visions. Unlike Rudolph, they are not in the least bit heart-warming.

The dark, mysterious dreamworlds of the Brothers Quay suppurate on the screen like the mutant spawn of Franz Kafka and E.T.A. Hoffmann. The American identical twins, working in London, create elaborate miniature sets populated by eerie monstrous puppets. Their ooky-spooky short films play out like elaborations of private nightmares. The three Quay works on the Roxie program, curated by director and Quay acolyte Christopher Nolan, featured the hidden life of broken pencils and lead shavings (In Absentia); the demon will of a porcelain doll (The Comb); and the nightmarish netherworld that comes to life in Street of Crocodiles. Filling out the program, Nolan’s new short film Quay takes us inside the brothers’ warren-like studio. Not for the faint-hearted or the philistine.

Snatches of melody can be heard in the dance music and a ballad that passes as the opera’s only recognizable aria. Getty freely admits to being old-fashioned, but that doesn’t help much if the tunes are bland.

The performers certainly had their work cut out for them, and they soldiered on without much hope of a victory. If sheer stamina

T H E

Courtesy SFOC

Adler Fellow bass Anthony Reed.

Zeitgeist Films

Scene from the Brothers Quay’s Street of Crocodiles.

East side story

music director of the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco. The concerts take place on Sat., Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 20, 4 p.m., at the Odell Johnson Theater, Laney College, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. That’s just across the street from the Lake Merritt BART station. Tickets: 1 (800) 706-2389 or oebgmc.org/tickets.t

is considered a win, however, baritone Brian Mulligan, as the central character Roderick Usher (in both operas), braved the vocal demands with admirable strength. His impassioned acting added necessary focus, and, despite some occasional strain, he made a memorable impression.

American tenor Jason Bridges, in his SFO debut, was also effective. As

Poe (called “Eddie” by Roderick), his portrayal of the hapless guest of the family was believably afraid and confused.

The role of Madeline Usher was danced onstage (a clever touch)

by Jamielyn Duggan (SFO soloist debut). She made the most of the

The Oakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus will offer its holiday concert series A World of Wonder under the direction of guest conductor William Sauerland. Formerly with the renowned vocal ensemble Chanticleer, SF-based countertenor and educator Sauerland is currently the artistic and

F U R W E L L

See page 31 >>

T O U R

NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER PRESE NTS

“Only the Grinch could prevent the laughter-filled show from selling out night after night”

“It’s like having drinks with Sesame Street characters and hearing what they really think about life”

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DIRECTED BY DENNIS LICKTEIG MUSIC DIRECTION BY BEN PRINCE ORCHESTRATIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS BY STEPHEN OREMUS

Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

Edward Nelson (L’Ami) and Brian Mulligan (Roderick Usher) in Debussy’s La Chute de la Maison Usher.

IT’S BACK! DEC 4, 2015–JAN 17, 2016 BUY TICKETS AT NCTCSF.ORG BOX OFFICE: 415.861.8972 25 VAN NESS AVE AT MARKET ST

<< Music

28 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

Voices raised on high

t

Courtesy the artists

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com 2pub-BBB_BAR_120315.pdf

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The men of Chanticleer, the two-time Grammy award-winning all-male chorus.

by Brian Bromberger

Y

ears ago The New Yorker crowned Chanticleer “the world-reigning [all-]male chorus,” and after last Saturday night’s stellar recital, that title still fits. Celebrating its 38th season, the two-time Grammy award-winning Chanticleer is performing its annual Christmas concerts in the Bay Area, most recently at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland. Several audience members remarked to friends that it doesn’t seem like Christmas until they hear Chanticleer singing, which reflects the great love audiences shower on this “orchestra of voices,” especially during the holidays. This is the first season of newly appointed (fifth) music director William Fred Scott, who has handled the transition brilliantly.

Like many choirs, in the last few years Chanticleer has undergone personnel changes. Most of its singers were not even born when the group, named for the clear-singing rooster in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, was founded here in 1978. The current lineup is nothing less than exceptional, with basses, sopranos, altos, and tenors blending seamlessly into a unified sound notable for its crystal clarity and a purity of tone that could cut stained glass. One gets the sense from the playful camaraderie in the way they move and glance towards each other that these guys genuinely like one another, which only adds to the sweet, touching sound and exhilarating atmosphere that galvanizes the listener. Most of the men appear to be gay, but, unlike the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, sexuality has never been their core identity as an ensemble. Their mission from the

beginning has been to present choral music in all its forms at the highest level of excellence. Their dedication to their craft is apparent in every note, and their goal to encourage appreciation for the art of ensemblesinging is now at its peak.

Chanticleer’s Christmas concerts haven’t varied in their presentation format in years. Why tamper with perfection as they commingle the old with the new? The 12 tuxedo-clad men process into the church from the nave, each singer holding a lighted candle as he intones a medieval Gregorian chant. The program covers an extraordinary range of musical styles, from villancicos to Christmas anthems to stirring American spirituals elegantly arranged by the group’s former music director, Joseph Jennings. Renaissance polyphony (Handel, Gabrieli, and Victoria) is still their piece de resistance, for which they have no equal in the world, with the possible exception of the British choir the Tallis Scholars.

Listeners can close their eyes and be transported magically to another time and world. Their phrasing, whether they sing in English, Latin, German, Spanish, or French, is crisp and flawless, while their harmonies can range from otherworldly to silken, even in the very high vocal range.

The intoxicating blend of voices rises to the rafters of the cathedral, echoing back their tonal richness. Chanticleer’s rendition of Byrd’s Advent verse anthem “Rorate caeli desuper” was exceptional, and their interpretation of Venezuela’s contemporary Alberto Grau’s “Nino lindo” was evocative and rousing. These were followed by the flamboyant Spanish carol “Fum, fum, fum,” arranged by American composer Alice Parker,

just celebrating her 90th birthday; and the bouncy Basque carol “Riu, rui, chiu,” always a crowd-pleaser.

The second half featured a more relaxed setting, the men dressed informally in casual sweaters, and vocalizing mostly contemporary arrangements of standard Christmas carols. Germany’s Franz Biebl’s “Ave Maria” is their most requested song, sung every year. John Tavener’s “Village Wedding” has the men promenading in a circle around the altar, summoning intense emotion after this year’s momentous Supreme Court ruling. Even well-known Christmas chestnuts like “The Holly and the Ivy” and the “Wassail Song” are sung so exquisitely and uniquely arranged that it’s like hearing and appreciating them for the first time. Because the choir performs like a finely tuned instrument with every part essential, it seems unfair to single out any one member, but bass-baritone Marques Jerrell Ruff was outstanding in several solo moments throughout the evening.

Ruff referenced this chaotic year, “where fear attempts to trample peace on a daily basis,” and the choir finds strength when it focuses on the serenity of the Christmas story. As singer Alan Reinhardt announced to the audience, it is always revitalizing for Chanticleer, back from touring in China, to return home. San Francisco should be equally thrilled.

You will be giving yourself a special holiday gift by hearing Chanticleer at its electrifying apogee in concert this weekend.t A Chanticleer Christmas plays St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco on Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets: (415) 252-8589 or chanticleer.org.

Divine Miss M’s gift

by David-Elijah Nahmod

B

ette Midler recently turned 70 years old. To commemorate this milestone, she has released A Gift of Love, a compilation of 18 favorite love songs. Midler hand-picked the tracks, which represent different periods of her extraordinary career.

Has it really been 45 years since we first fell in love with the Divine Miss M? It’s been a mutual love affair. Midler – singer, movie star, concert-act extraordinaire – has always expressed her support for equality. She stood up for LGBT people long before it was cool to do so. Midler paid her dues when she performed poolside for a delighted audience of scantily clad gay men at the Continental Baths in New York City, where recently out Barry Manilow was her piano man.

After fame came her way in 1973, Midler remained fiercely loyal to her gay audience. She never denied her bathhouse roots, and in fact

flaunted her past. For many gay men and lesbians, Midler embodied that great old Eleanor Roosevelt quote: “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.”

Midler was often noted for her grand wit. “How would you rate yourself on a scale of 1-10?” she was asked by Barbara Walters in 1979. She responded, “I’m a 55!”

Her stage persona remains one-ofa-kind. She’d leave her audience out of breath as she paced maniacally across the stage, telling jokes that

might be considered unbecoming to a lady. Then she’d stop to sing. It was magic. Midler could switch gears from salty stand-up comic to elegant chanteuse. She’d dig deep into her own soul to find the song’s true meaning. The effect could be mesmerizing.

The new collection opens with “Favorite Waste of Time,” a lovely ballad from Midler’s 1983 album No Frills originally recorded by folkrocker Marshall Crenshaw. Midler imbues the song with heartfelt joy.

Midler’s biggest hits “The Rose,” “From a Distance” and “Wind Beneath My Wings” are all here. “The Rose” is still Midler’s strongest tune.

Diane Warren’s lyrics offer a dash of hope for those who want to be in love. There are lesser-known tunes as well, such as the plaintive “All I Need to Know,” a ballad about staying in love as one as ages. In Kate McGarrigle’s “Talk to Me of Mendocino,” Midler yearns for love yet again.

These tracks will touch your heart.t

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tis the Season for Science Now through January 3 The reindeer are back! Meet our Arctic friends and learn how they adapt to extreme conditions in this one-of-a-kind interactive exhibit. Plus, enjoy indoor snow flurries, music, and other festivities at our annual holiday exhibit.

Get tickets at calacademy.org

25032_CAS_TistheSeason_Bay Area Reporter_9.75"x16"_UPDATE_12.3.15.indd 1

12/3/15 5:00 PM

<< Theatre

30 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

Childhood fancies

Courtesy the Curran Theatre

The Story Pirates create sketches from stories written by youngsters, and they are now performing their “greatest hits” as part of the Curran Theatre’s Under Construction series.

by Richard Dodds

S

ometime in early grammar school, a teacher sent me home with a short story I had clumsily printed on a page of lined paper.

My memory had always been that the teacher wanted my parents to admire my imaginative flair. But decades later, with my parents dead and my sister and me deciding what to save and what to pitch in the accumulation of 40 years on Rock

<<

Spring Road, I came across the story stuffed away in a kitchen cabinet. It fleetingly occurred to me on rereading it that, just maybe, the teacher wanted my parents to see the early signs of a troubled mind. The first sentence was about building a tunnel through my father’s head.

Unfortunately, that sheet of paper was among the items pitched, and where the tale went after that I have no memory.

Now long lost to the ages and a

New Jersey landfill, my little yarn came back into mind as I watched the Story Pirates as part of the Curran Theatre’s Under Construction series. The New York-based company visits schools around the country, creating improvised theatricals from the kids’ stories. What’s on view at the Curran, with both performers and audiences sharing the stage, is a “greatest hits” show culled from thousands of stories collected.

Perhaps because of the imagined tunnel I built through my father’s head, I was expecting revelations that could be sifted through the theories of Freud, Jung, and Bruno Bettelheim – at least, if that’s where one’s peculiar mind wanted to go.

But, and no doubt wisely, the stories chosen by the Story Pirates don’t involve anything particularly dark or scary about being a kid. Instead, there are tales of ice cream bandits, a tiny fox who defends a Chuck E. Cheese from a giant bear, and a big-mouthed pig who ruins children’s parties. There are a few winks aimed at the accompanying adults in the audience, but nothing like you’d find in a Pixar movie or even Sesame Street.

In an autobiographical story created by a third-grader from Illinois (all stories are credited by name, grade, and hometown), the narrator gets his head stuck in the legs of a barstool because he had seen the

dog do it. “Why would you do what your dog did?” sings a chorus, which prompts an aside to the audience: “I hate it when my parents scold me in the opening number.” It’s unlikely the third-grader wrote that line.

The troupe of a half-dozen performers and a keyboardist are a friendly and engaged group, and easily work with the little ones in the audience. After they performed a sketch about a clown who steals eggs, a story written during their recent workshops at Sunnyside Elementary, they brought the wideeyed young author to the stage for a bow. “I don’t like clowns,” she told the audience when asked for her inspiration.

Next came a skit improvised on

the spot from audience suggestions about a chandelier named Candle who wants more crystals and must pay the crystal merchant in tacos.

As the cast rushed on and off stage, grabbing appropriate wigs and costumes from their stash, the backstage performers could be glimpsed laughing at what their colleagues were creating. That’s a good sign that the cast members enjoy their work. The kids seemed to enjoy it, too, even if they never got to hear about my idea for a parental brain tunnel.t The Story Pirates will perform through Dec. 20 at the Curran Theatre. Tickets are $15-$20. Go to sfcurran.com.

Make this holiday seas

Special guest stars

Anna Trebunskaya & Dmitry Chaplin

Vernacular Vixens

From page 21

“We didn’t often discard silver-based snapshots, but kept them, with their negatives, in boxes and drawers to await a definitive culling that rarely came.” That culling, along with a serious reassessment, has arrived with collectors like Robert E. Jackson in the vanguard. Since 1997, the Seattle-based Jackson, who trolls for his prized snapshot oddities in stores, flea markets and on eBay and Facebook, has amassed over 11,000 found and vernacular images, the bulk of which were taken in the 1940s, 50s and early 60s. He has branched out of late to include 19thcentury cabinet cards.

Thirty-three double exposures, quickie portraits, color photographs and a smattering of press photos, all of female subjects, are currently on view in Vernacular Vixens: Found Images from the Robert E. Jackson Collection. The show, not as racy as its title implies, is at the Robert Tat Gallery, a venue that champions the philosophy that’s it’s all about the image, not who made it. Sometimes it’s better not to know and be left to wonder why. Take the picture of a woman who has stretched a nylon stocking over her face, or a press print of a newly married couple that’s rather standard fare except that the groom’s head is blacked out, a silhouette surrounded by a white border. An unusual, ghostly photo of a fashion model that might have originated from a magazine shoot, an outstanding image here that rises to the level of “unintended art” object, is printed as a negative rather than a positive, its whites and blacks reversed as in an x-ray. In other, less glam pictures, a girl has blown a bubble-gum bubble so large it’s on the verge of exploding, and then there’s the naked swimmer who dove head first into the sea, with legs and buns high to the sky and exposed to the elements. A number of erstwhile shutterbugs are fond of shooting into a mirror.

In a move that signaled snapshots were going legit, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC mounted The Art of the American Snapshot 1888-1978, a 2007 exhibition and catalog that showcased a portion of Jackson’s vast collection, and took a scholarly approach to

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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

Courtesy Robert E. Jackson, Robert Tat Gallery

Photographer unknown, vintage silver print.

the history of what had been considered a throwaway format. “It was amazing,” Jackson recalled during a recent visit to Tat’s gallery, where we talked at length about his consuming passion. Excerpts from that conversation follow.

Sura Wood: Why have you wanted to collect snapshots?

Robert E. Jackson: It was their availability, affordability, and the fact they dealt with imagery that was surprising to me. When I look at a fine art photographer, their body of work may be very beautiful, very striking visually, but I’m not going to be confronted, as one is in this show, with an older lady holding a tortoise.

Do you consider yourself a collector, a curator, a recontexualizer, a hunter?

First you see, then you collect, then you curate.

Courtesy Robert E. Jackson, Robert Tat Gallery

Photographer unknown, vintage silver print.

Can you define what seals the deal for you, the attributes a snapshot must have in order to make it into your collection?

I consider myself a formalist in terms of my eye. I’m looking for images that immediately captivate me, for the stuff that’s not perfect, that’s accidental, intimate, and I do like mistakes. I’m drawn to a picture that allows me to create another reality that wasn’t the photographer’s intent. I like the messiness of that. I like seeing the emulsion. The physicality of the process makes it

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 something I can look at over and over again.

So perfection takes you out of the experience?

Yes. In this day and age, our eyes have been trained by cubism and futurism, surrealism and abstract expressionism to be comfortable with seeing something other than the Norman Rockwell/Andrew Wyeth kind of scene. We’re used to something that’s a little off, and when we see that in a snapshot, we gravitate toward it.

Do you ever feel that you’re eavesdropping on private dramas?

You mean the voyeuristic aspect.

In general, I’m looking at the formal qualities and how odd the photo is.

The snapshot mostly deals in happy moments. Angst is something you don’t generally see. Snapshots, for the holder, become a surrogate for the memory. For collectors, it’s about the image that remains and what we read into it.

You’re not interested in the backstory?

Absolutely not. I don’t care when, where, how or who the person was.

It’s all about the image as I see it.

How has the advent of the selfie and proliferation of iPhone photos changed the context of the snapshot?

It’s all about the “we” vs. the “me.” The messiness of real life ended once we got into cell phone and digital photography. In earlier days, we took pictures of ourselves with our family and friends. That was about the “we.” Now, with Instagram and digital, we curate ourselves. People want to show off and inspire envy in others. Look at my beautiful food. Look where I am and you’re not. It’s lifestyle, not life.

The snapshots of today are pictures taken for strangers.

Are you continuing to acquire snapshots?

Every day. I can’t stop. t Through Feb. 6.

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Theatre>>

December 17-23, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 31

Mystery of ‘The Mousetrap’

by Erin Blackwell

T

he mystery of The Mousetrap, I’ll tell you right now, is that the play’s been running in London’s West End for 63 years nonstop, which makes it head-over-heels the most stupefying feat of theatrical triumph in the secular world. I am an unabashed Agatha Christie fan, having made it through all of her mystery novels in the last few years, and I’d never seen any of her plays onstage. So of course I was all-over giddy at the thought of Shotgun Players’ production at their lovely Ashby Stage. As for who exactly dunnit, my lips are necessarily firmly sealed, so the pleasure of the ultimate reveal is preserved for you,

through Jan. 17.

Why is the play called The Mousetrap? Because that’s what Hamlet calls the play-within-Hamlet designed to “catch the conscience of the king” and reveal his father’s murderer. The title thus legitimizes an otherwise cheap genre by lumping in Shakespeare. Perhaps Christie aims to catch the conscience of her audience, since her play does rather indict society-at-large for child abuse by creating a murderer who avenges a murdered child. I reckon this seriousness of theme and its universality “explain” the play’s success, plus the fact it’s powdered over with lashings of wit. Correctly played, one assumes, the comic relief contextualizes the grotesque and

son sizzle!

a

Taking on urban turf as vibrant and diverse as Jackson Heights, with its 167 different languages spoken and arguably the most inclusive group of ethnicities in America, presents a challenge even for a filmmaker as used to diverse subjects as the Boston-born, New England-educated Wiseman. Unlike the PBS-funded Frontline program, Wiseman’s documentaries provide no “voice of God” narrator to tell us

<<

House of Usher

From page 27

suitably spooky choreography by Jo Jeffries (another SFO debutante).

Madeline was ethereally sung offstage by current Adler Fellow Jacqueline Piccolino. She returned in the Debussy to sing the doomed sister onstage. Both performances demonstrated the excellence we have come to expect from her other

staircase visible through the proverbial archway. So much work goes into getting this sort of thing right.

The managing director assures me there was “working snow” at the first preview, although my view of it was blocked by overenthusiastic “frost treatment” on the windowpanes.

I confess I was childishly looking forward to seeing the illusion of snow falling through a window. In The Mousetrap, snow is an important character. No snow, no blocked roads, no closed circle, no field day for a psychopath. The snow needn’t be realistic but must convincingly trap a seemingly random group of people. On such details does the play’s thrill-o-meter rise or fall. Of course, only actors can make you believe it’s cold outside, or that they are their character, or who their character really is when the mask falls. The meta-theater of Mousetrap is those masks falling, and the

anxiety aroused by the volatility of identity.

There are so many layers to playing Christie, starting with the English accent. Most American actors expend so much energy being “English” there’s nothing left over for character. Trish Mulholland is impeccable in this department, as the bilious Mrs. Boyle, and it’s a pleasure to watch her remove her gloves. Nick Medina provides charm and a sense of the play’s wit by speaking lines as if they were simply occurring to him.

Miscast and misdirected, oblivious and overblown, Alex Rodriguez’s Italian-Scottish-Swedish “accent” is more destructive of the evening’s enjoyment than even Megan Trout’s failure to be ingenuous. No, it’s not perfect, but it’s the fucking Mousetrap, so go.t shotgunplayers.org

what to think about the soon-to-be “post-Obama” America, a country hurtling towards a most daunting national election.

It’s no secret that Wiseman’s unique methods often produce viewing that’s a steep climb for even the most devoted information addicts in the PBS congregation.

During In Jackson Heights, filmed with English, Spanish, Hindi and Arabic-language speakers (with English subtitles), we plunge into local disputes about zoning and urban planning that can induce

temples, churches. The shooting method was to walk around filming sequences that together totaled 120 hours [with] no idea what [the finished film’s] themes, point of view, or length would be.”

The result is mother’s milk to this New York-raised guy who, as a kid, binged on high-minded TV ranging from the Golden Age of video drama (Playhouse 90) to Edward R. Murrow-inspired documentaries on demagogues and persecuted farmworkers. Mind you, in the Murrow days, there was no “queer” content. Wiseman’s work is a great measuring stick for just how much

SFO appearances.

The reams of sketches and drafts left by Debussy after years of tortuous tinkering have been re-fashioned in fragmentary form before, but musicologist Robert Orledge has gone so far as to make an hour-long pastiche that includes some “original” composition (Debussy-based) and re-orchestration.

The spirit and sound world of the composer we revere from Pelleas

et Melisande is apparent at the beginning, but it doesn’t take long before the initial fascination wears off. The action is static until the terrifying conclusion. We may appreciate the dreamy (but gorgeous) longueurs of Pelleas, but there was some squirming and nodding as Orledge’s determined concoction unfolded.

The reliance on monologues proved compelling as long as Brian

Mulligan was singing them, and any shavings from Debussy’s bench deserve preservation, if only as a curiosity. The singers and orchestra followed conductor Lawrence Foster’s careful direction with praiseworthy professionalism. Current Adler Fellow Edward Nelson as L’Ami (friend of the weirdo clan) was sympathetic, and tenor Joel Sorensen added authentic scariness as the nasty Le Medicin.

Mostly, The Fall of the House of Usher: A Double Bill commanded our attention visually. The breathtaking production design by Niki Turner, atmospheric lighting by Tim Mitchell, and the astonishing video projections by David Haneke (all making their SFO debuts) furnished desperately needed allure to a theatrical experience that, frankly, might have worked better in a simple concert format.t

ce.com • forevertango.org In Jackson Heights

Nick Medina is Chris Wren, an uppity guest at Monkswell Manor, in Shotgun Players’ The Mousetrap.

dazed expressions even from multidegreed experts. Wiseman’s sense of a video democracy compels him to fix his camera eye on the face of a heavyset citizen as she weighs in on problems about which she is passionately engaged, but for which we have zero background information.

When he’s not fixating on his never-stop-talking heads, Wiseman flashes around a 133-acre landscape (2013 population: 133,000 souls) that can hardly be called pretty. In his director’s statement, Wiseman writes that he was looking for life as observed in “clothing stores, laundromats, bakeries, restaurants, mosques,

’s Eve Performance Added!

From page 21

Melissa Nigro

the agenda of the educated classes has expanded.

For me, In Jackson Heights is a revelation for its geography. In the 1960s, my Long Island Rail Road and New York subway trips around Gotham treated Jackson Heights as strictly “pass-through” turf that didn’t merit a stopover except during the singular time when the announcer guy at Shea Stadium intoned that “your 1969 New York Mets” were World Champs.

Judged by the standards of Wiseman films, my favorite, 2011’s Boxing Gym, is vastly more engaging, with its 90-minute spin around an Austin, Texas workout facility that welcomed men, women and kids to strap on the gloves. Boxing Gym is alive not only with the sounds of gloves hitting flesh, but also with short, punchy chats that are illuminating, gossipy and very entertaining. For viewers looking for a more arresting peek at New Yorkers as a species, I’d recommend William Friedkin’s great narco-cop drama The French Connection, with Gene Hackman’s Popeye Doyle chasing drug-smugglers – or any episode of Seinfeld.

In Jackson Heights is relentlessly high-minded and politically correct to the nines. But entertainment is to be found, as it was when I was a New York kid, by following the signs flashing “to the City,” meaning Manhattan. Opens Friday.t

10 • HERBST THEATRE

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makes it bearable.

We are all as little mice to Agatha Christie (1890-1976), the world’s most successful author, who built a publishing phenomenon on her ability to catch, hold, trick and torment readers’ imaginations. Very like a cat. Agatha was 62 when she wrote The Mousetrap in 1952, having already perfected the mystery genre to international acclaim in over 40 unstoppably popular novels.

By 1965, having written another 15, she announced she was “satisfied,” although she still had 10 books in her. In 1968, Tom Stoppard’s Real Inspector Hound threw some vintage Christie into a postmodern blender and blew her domain, the “traditional cozy,” off the stage.

The post-Hound universe is filled to bursting with clever and not-so send-ups of the conventions that were Christie’s stock-in-trade. Impossible to imagine, when watching one of these spoofs, that she had based her characters on people and places familiar to her. Incredible that such a place as an English country home ever existed, as a matter of course, and that one had servants and complained of their unreliability. The challenge for anyone undertaking The Mousetrap today, in the United States, is to find the style of the play, or invent one, that will transport us back in time to a snowed-in B&B, with a psychopath on the loose, we can believe in.

In their season devoted to plays written by women (for which, many thanks), betwixt Aphra Behn and Caryl Churchill, Shotgun has wisely stuck Agatha Christie in the holiday-season slot. It’s a natural, abused children at Christmas. Director Patrick Dooley has overseen the building of an old-fashioned set with working doors and full

Zipporah Films

All-woman mariachi band, from director Frederick Wiseman’s documentary In Jackson Heights.

<< DVD

32 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

Push play for holiday giving

by Tavo Amador

F

inding something special and affordable for those on your holiday gift list can be challenging.

DVDs meet both criteria and offer a broad selection.

Set in Sao Paulo, the Brazilian The Way He Looks (2014) is an original and touching gay coming out story, perhaps the best ever filmed. Two high school students, Leonardo (Ghilherme Lobo) and Gabriel (Fabio Audi), slowly fall in love. Leonardo is blind, yet he is intuitively attracted to Fabio. He doesn’t need to see him. Classmate Giovanna (Tess Amorin) has a crush on Leonardo, which complicates the situation.

But things work out naturally, and neither gay characters dies. The three leads give remarkably sensitive performances. Written and directed

by Daniel Ribeiro.

In contrast, My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) shows how challenging cross-cultural homoerotic love could be in London. A vibrant Daniel Day Lewis plays Johnny. He falls in love with Genghis (Richard Graham), who is Pakistani and uncomfortable about his sexual orientation. That isn’t the only thing the youthful lovers have to overcome.

But they persevere. The laundrette they dream of opening represents independence and success. The terrific script is by Hanif Kureishi. Brilliantly directed by Stephen Frears.

Gay British playwright Joe Orton (1933-67), author of breakthrough black comedies featuring homoeroticism (Entertaining Mr. Sloane, Loot), is the subject of Frears’ stillshocking Prick Up Your Ears (1987).

Orton (an excellent Gary Oldman) was bludgeoned to death by his wealthy, slightly older lover, Kenneth Halliwell (Alfred Molina), whom he had met in 1951 while attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. The film masterfully captures their turbulent relationship as well as the stifling homophobia Orton fought hard against. With Vanessa

Redgrave and Wallace Shawn. Written by John Lahr (based on his biography) and Alan Bennett (The History Boys). “Ears” in the title is an anagram for “arse.”

Dog Day Afternoon (1975) is a compelling, darkly comic look at what happens when Sonny (Al Pacino) is driven to desperation to get money to fund his lover Sal’s (John Cazale) sex reassignment surgery.

Sonny attempts to rob a bank, and the results are moving, funny, and scary. Pacino holds nothing back and earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his complex, angry, vulnerable performance. Cazale matches him and garnered a Best Supporting Academy Award nod. With Charles Durning. Oscar-winning screenplay

by Frank Pierson, P.F. Kluge, and Thomas Moore, based on the last’s nonfiction magazine article. Memorable direction by Sidney Lumet.

Shot on location in New York.

Bette Midler became a movie star in 1979’s The Rose, playing a self-destructive rock singer modeled on Janis Joplin. As Mary Rose Turner, Midler is riveting, giving a performance that rises above the uneven material. Discounting a bit in Hawaii (1966), this was the Divine Miss M’s screen debut. Director Mark Rydell doesn’t get in her way. Midler won two Golden Globe Awards and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. With Alan Bates and Frederic Forrest. Written

by Bo Goldman and Bill Kerby.

Fans of Lucille Ball will enjoy The Facts of Life (1960), her first film following her divorce from Desi Arnaz and the end of TV’s most

famous couple, the Ricardos. She’s suburbanite Kitty Weaver, bored with her marriage to Jack (Don Defoe). Neighbor Larry Gilbert (Bob Hope) is bored with his wife, Mary (Ruth Hussey). Although Kitty and Larry have never liked each other, their common ennui and desire for change result in flirtation that may become serious. Will they or won’t they? A weekend getaway will test their desires and loyalties. Ball is warm, witty, sharp, and very funny.

It was her third pairing with Hope, and they worked well together.

With Louis Nye. Directed by Melvin Frank, who co-authored the script with Norman Panama. Edith Head and Edward Stevenson designed

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Ball’s wardrobe.

Paulette Goddard (1910-90) came very close to playing Scarlett O’Hara in 1939’s Gone With the Wind, but she had a splendid career notwithstanding. One of her best vehicles, capturing her rare combination of sex appeal, high spirits, and independence, was Kitty (1945), set in 1783 London. Kitty is an ambitious commoner who meets Thomas Gainsborough (Cecil Kellaway). Smitten by her dark-haired beauty, he paints her provocatively.

Broke Sir Hugh Marcy (Ray Milland) is fascinated. Upon meeting her, he decides to turn her into a “lady” and replenish his coffers by marrying her off to a wealthy aristocrat. Kitty has ideas of her own.

With Reginald Owen and lesbian Constance Collier. Lively direction by the gay Mitchell Liesen. Based on a novel by Rosamond Marshall.

Raoul Pene du Bois designed the lavish costumes.

What would the holidays be without food? A lot less enjoyable!

The fine documentary Deli Man (2014) is about delicatessen food popularized by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe who came to America in the decades before and following WWII. At one time, over 1,000 delis flourished in NYC alone.

Now there are barely 200 in the whole country. Ziggy Gruber is the title man in this warm, entertaining, often hilarious look at a culinary tradition that, because of assimilation, is rapidly disappearing. Larry King and Jerry Stiller appear as themselves. Filled with evocative Yiddish words and expressions, most of which suffer in translation.

Who knew that schmaltz was so important, not just in the kitchen?

Directed by Erik Anjou.t

Mating rituals

by David Lamble

I

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

call it the little queer movie that could. In Love or Whatever, director Rosser Goodman, a young woman who’s developing a small but distinguished reputation for helming gay male fiction films, presents a constellation of quirky characters, all of whom have some connection to a 30something gay shrink named Corey (Tyler Poelle).

Goodman has the good sense to dispense with front credits and jumpstart the story with Corey talking to a female patient. The dialogue bears resemblance to the 70s golden age of TV sitcom, when Bob Newhart played a psychologist who brought out dizzy but funny responses from his patients.

“What happened after that?”

“I was attacked!”

“I’m so sorry.”

“By a mountain lion.”

“Oh my god!”

“A big muscular guy. The park ranger said he was attracted by my perfume.”

“You know, I smelled that when you came in. It was very unusual.

What is it?”

“Mountain lion urine. Have you ever been taken from behind by a mountain lion?”

“I cannot say that I have.”

In the course of 84 briskly-paced minutes, Corey goes from having a disastrous birthday party sabotaged by his fickle two-timing boyfriend Jon (hunky David Wilson Page) to a new affair with the handsome but grounded Pete (Joel Rush). Things start to go awry when Jon confesses to Corey in bed that he might be bi, or worse yet, “flexi-sexual.”

Quickly, things spin out of control, and Corey is suddenly alone on his

birthday. It’s then that maybe something better comes along in the person of Pete, a sober-minded young man who’s caring for his dying dad.

Love or Whatever is an unpretentious, laugh-out-loud funny queer comedy that is getting a second chance at an audience via Philadelphia-based TLAReleasing. Fans of underappreciated queer comedies may detect the whiff of an earlier one, the neglected queer family comedy Grief, which failed to catch on in the mid-90s.

Don’t allow Love or Whatever to sink

like many other worthy LGBT films have, after festival buzz fails to produce a commercial distribution deal.

Or as a brazen blonde tells Corey at a bar, “Don’t wait for the perfect moment; sometimes love happens when you’re making other plans.”

TLA includes bonus features that give insight into the filmmakers’ long journey to get their little treasure into your hands: director commentary, behind-the-scenes, director and cast interviews, theme-song music, official trailer and “sexy trailer.”t

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Music>>

December 17-23, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 33

Christmas past & presents

by Gregg Shapiro

R

od Stewart doesn’t mess around on the expanded deluxe-edition CD reissue of his 2013 album Merry Christmas, Baby (Verve). Singing in the crooner style of his 21st-century releases, Stewart teams up with some interesting duet partners. Modernday crooning dude Michael Bublé holds his own against Stewart on “Winter Wonderland.” Cee Lo Green inspires Stewart to dig deep and unleash his most soulful self on the title cut, while Mary J. Blige brings out Stewart’s more serious side on “We Three Kings.” Stewart even tries his hand at an original yuletide tune with “Red-Suited Superman”

(co-written with David and Amy Foster). “When You Wish Upon a Star,” the least holiday-oriented selection, is a pleasant surprise. Of the three bonus tracks, “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” glows the brightest. A bonus DVD features six intimate live performances, including “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”

New wave, hip-hop, ska, boy bands and divas were the order of the day in the 80s, represented on The Classic Christmas 80s Album (Legacy). New wave acts the Waitresses (“Christmas Wrapping,” later covered by Spice Girls), the Bangles (Simon & Garfunkel’s “Hazy Shade of Winter”), the Hooters (“Silent Night”) and

gay music legend George Michael’s launching pad Wham! (“Last Christmas”) stand under the new wave banner. The late Whitney Houston (“Do You Hear What I Hear?”) and 70s-survivors-turned-80s-superstars the Pointer Sisters (“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”) have diva territory covered. Hip-hop forefathers Run-DMC (“Christmas in Hollis”) fly the rap flag, while the high-energy ska act Fishbone (“Slick Nick, You Devil You”) gets serious. For sheer 80s hose-head novelty, there’s Bob & Doug McKenzie’s rendition of “12 Days of Christmas.”

Sarah McLachlan released her debut album at the tail end of the 80s, then went on to become one of

the singer-songwriters most closely associated with the 90s, due in part to her series of Lilith Fair music festivals. The Classic Christmas Album (Arista/Legacy) includes all 12 tracks from McLachlan’s 2006 Wintersong disc and adds five more songs to the mix. Merry, memorable selections include the McLachlan original title tune, covers of songs by fellow Canadians including Joni Mitchell (“River”)

and Gordon Lightfoot (“Song for a Winter’s Night”), “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” and “Christmas Time Is Here,” featuring Diana Krall. Holiday highlights include her medley-duet with Barenaked Ladies on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/ We Three Kings,” and the originals “Find Your Voice” and “Space on the Couch for Two.” See page 35 >>

Into the woods

by Jim Piechota

In the Vale of Cashmere by Thomas Roma; powerHouse Books, $30 n his densely-bound pictorial treasure In the Vale of Cashmere, poetphotographer and monographer Thomas Roma celebrates the rarefied, thinly-veiled existence of cruising areas, namely Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, a secretly humming haven for AfricanAmerican gay men on the prowl.

Some believe public park cruising areas, stigmatized for their association with perilous desperation and depravity, have become as extinct as color-coded bandanas, disco, and telephone sex-lines. Instead, the modern horndog generation gets to see who is readily available for takeout with the touch of a fingertip on a hook-up phone app. Yet the thrill of the outdoors and the lust for anonymous encounter persist to this day. With the presentation of these 75 black-and-white portraits and landscapes, Roma unforgettably ushers one American park and its hallowed area called the Vale of Cashmere out of the shadows and into the spotlight as a clandestine grotto of social and sexual communion for men of color. Less popular than the 36-acre “wild garden” of the Ramble in Central Park, this destination caters to a minority who cherish its exclusivity, its primal urgency, and the natural beauty of both the wood and the walkers.

A vivid, informative introduction provided by Jamaican-born poet and Lambda Literary Award finalist G. Winston James tells the history of the 585-acre Brooklyn park, first opened in 1867, and of its darkest era, when a serial killer took the lives of four men in 2000. He also writes of the risks one takes when venturing forth into the park under cover of encroaching dusk. James writes that while his image is not featured in its pages, he believes he is “metaphorically represented” in Roma’s pictorial “as an Afro-Caribbean gay man who sought sex in the Vale of Cashmere, and by my very nature as one who has been given to erotic chase in public spaces.”

In a project begun in 2008, Roma spent three-and-a-half years dipping in and out of the wooded areas of the Vale and the Rose Garden located above it, asking permission to memorialize who and what he’d witnessed there, and to produce these photographs. He dedicates the book to Carl Spinella, a close friend, former roommate and frequent visitor to the Vale, who died in his arms from AIDS-related maladies.

Roma’s strolls into the Vale began in memory of Spinella.

Some photographs are starkly beautiful while others are mysterious, haunting, and seductively inviting. The faces and the gestures speak of sexual identity and community.

A tank-top blows in the breeze on a

I

bare tree limb at the crest of a hill; random cruisers cling to the edge of a paved trail; gloves, newspaper shreds, torn condom packets, and hats adorn downed tree stumps.

The afternoon sun sets on the distinct, chiseled features of black men shrouded behind bushes or obscured by wildflowers, under ball caps or tucked deep inside hoods: fat, thin,

shirtless, do-ragged, some framed by afros, dreads, and bald heads.

Artistically stunning, pensive and thought-provoking, Thomas Roma’s photos are representative of our diversity, of the vast differences that separate us, the enduring struggle uniting our hearts, and the carnal and communal nature of our collective desires.t

“★★★★. 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

NOW PLAYING IN SELECT THEATERS FO R G ROU P SA L E S I NFOR MAT ION, P L E A S E V IS IT Th e Danish Gir l Gro u p S al e s.co m

<< TV

34 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 17-23, 2015

LGBT nods in the Golden Globes noms

by Victoria A. Brownworth

W

hat are we loving in these last weeks of 2015? Golden Globe nominations that center LGBT stories and actors in those stories. CBS’ Sinatra 100, with Lady Gaga doing the best imitation of Judy Garland since, well, Judy Garland (forgive us, Liza). A new season of Transparent to give us something queer to watch over the holidays.

But there’s nothing we are loving more as this crappy year winds down than the affaire de coeur between Emmy-winner Holland Taylor and Emmy and Oscar nominee Sarah Paulson. We don’t usually dish in this column, but this being the season of giving, and TV actors coming out being newsy, we can’t resist.

We have long loved Taylor as the acerbic pansexual killer mom in CBS’ Two and a Half Men, and we loved her as the sexually provocative patrician judge on ABC’s The Practice, and we really truly loved her as the rich lesbian cougar on The L Word.

For her part, Paulson is one of the best actresses on both the big and small screens, and we have long been thrilled she’s one of us. She’s currently co-starring in Todd Haynes’ brilliantly evocative Golden Globe nominee Carol, which is one of the must-see films of the year. Paulson has been one of Ryan Murphy’s stable of brilliant actors in American Horror Story for several seasons, and was an Emmy nominee for last season’s American Horror Story: Freak Show, for her amazing work as the woman with two heads. There is nothing she can’t do as an actress, which anyone who saw her in 12 Years a Slave – and immediately hated her for so perfectly portraying a slave-owning woman – can attest.

Paulson will be seen on the small screen in Murphy’s next vehicle, FX’s American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, starting Feb. 2. Paulson plays lead prosecutor Marcia Clark, and the promos look fantastic. This will obviously be a star-studded, watch-for-thefireworks-and-scenery-chewing drama. David Schwimmer plays Robert Kardashian, John Travolta plays Robert Shapiro. Selma Blair plays Kris Jenner. Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding, Jr. plays Simpson.

In addition to the critics focusing on Paulson, they will also likely be riveted by Courtney B. Vance, who seems to be getting better and better as an actor. Vance plays Johnnie Cochran, without whose “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit” legerdemain Simpson would have gone to prison for the two murders pretty much

everyone believes he committed.

But we digress. We were talking about Paulson and how incredible she is. Apparently Taylor, who just came out publicly at 72, saying, “I am out, I live out,” is in total agreement. The couple is rumored (by Taylor) to be getting married (because Paulson wants to, and Taylor thinks that would be a plighting of troth – aren’t they sweet?), which would make us positively giddy. To anyone commenting on the age difference, all we can say is, if it’s okay for men, it’s okay for women. Jeffrey Tambor’s wife, actress Kasia Ostlun, is 34 years younger than he is and gave birth to the couple’s twins when Tambor was 64. A similar age difference exists between Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Just saying. We look forward to seeing Taylor and Paulson acting together, which is also rumored to be sometime soon. What a time to be alive.

Speaking of acting, we were pleased with some of the Golden Globe nods to particular favorites, but we were horrified by the official Golden Globes Twitter account repeatedly noting that Golden Globenominated actress Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) was presenting the nominations when it was actually Golden Globe-winner America Ferrera (Ugly Betty, Superstore).

The two women are both 31, both Latina, both philanthropists. That’s where the similarities end. For goodness sakes, people, it’s 2015.

“They all look alike” is so 1950. The tweets identifying Ferrera as Rodriguez have since been deleted, but the Internet is forever, and pretty much every news service has the screen grabs, which show pics of Ferrera with Rodriguez’s name.

As for the (too white, too male, what’s new?) Golden Globes, we do have LGBT nods to be pleased about outside of Carol and lesbian writer Emma Donoghue’s Room.

In the Best Drama category, Empire strikes back against both the whiteness and the straightness. So does Mr. Robot. In Best Comedy/Musical there’s Orange Is the New Black and Transparent. Best Limited Series has American Crime and American Horror Story: Hotel.

Among actors, Lady Gaga and Felicity Huffman vie with each other in Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, but if Queen Latifah doesn’t sweep that category for her stunning portrayal of bisexual Bessie Smith in lesbian filmmaker Dee Rees’ brilliant biopic Bessie, then there’s no justice. Much as we loved the Queen as a butch lesbian Wiz in The Wiz, last week, we swooned

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That “liberal media” we over her in Bessie. (And keep hearing about seems we’ll just say, if it’s not too pretty fixated on the right: late for Holland Taylor to the GOP candidates have come out at 72 or Robin received more than twice Roberts at 53, it’s not too as much coverage as the late for you, Queen, at 45.)

Democratic candidates.

We are hoping for a Tyndall said, “Besides the three-way – tie, that is – in fact that there are many the Best Performance by more Republican candian Actress in a Television dates than Democratic Series, Drama category ones, the GOP debates between Viola Davis, How have made much more to Get Away With Murder; news than the Democrats.”

Eva Green, Penny DreadBecause crazy sells; actual ful; and Taraji P. Henson, American Horror Story: Hotel actress Sarah Paulson ideas, not so much.

Empire. Davis delivered and Two and a Half Men actress Holland Taylor are And then there’s Trump. the year’s best lesbian love romantically involved.

He’s gotten a full 234 minscene, and Henson – well, utes of airtime all by himCookie is everything. And Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) self. Whereas all the Demowhat lesbian doesn’t want initiative, which the film then folcratic contenders have only gotten a an Eva Green poster on the inside of lows to Rwanda. (It’s good to know total of 222 minutes, with Joe Biden, her bedroom closet door?

Bush is doing penance somewhere who was never a candidate, receivOur vote for Best Actor in a drafor his sins over eight years as the ing nearly an hour of that time. The ma series has to go to Rami Malek worst president in U.S. history.) time Hillary Clinton has received for his omnisexual portrayal in Mr. Something else you might want (remember, she’s always been the Robot, which got the FCC’s boxers to catch up on over the holidays frontrunner in the entire race) has in a bunch back in September over a while there’s a lot of TV downtime been devoted to her emails and the risqué gay sex scene. is MTV’s True Life: I’m GenderBenghazi Committee hearings, not Our money is on Jeffrey Tambor queer, in which facial hair and high her policy issues. So when people ask winning Best Performance by an heels don’t clash – and also don’t how Trump got to be frontrunner, at Actor in a Television Series, Commean gay or trans, but something least part of the answer is, “The meedy or Musical for his role in Transaltogether different. dia drove the narrative.” parent, although Patrick Stewart is Meanwhile, I Am Jazz, TLC’s The media is also driving the nartrés fabulous in Blunt Talk. We’ll be reality series about trans teen Jazz rative that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, he surprised if Jamie Lee Curtis doesn’t Jennings, has been picked up for a of the Dr. Seuss filibuster and shutwin for Scream Queens in the Best second season that will begin airing ting down the government, is the Actress division. Very surprised. in 2016. The eight new episodes will “rational” option to Trump. Only Another set of excellent choices feature the 15-year-old living her life: if anti-gay, anti-choice and pro-gun presents itself in Best Performance by school, sports, family and lots and is your idea of rational. We liked an Actress in a Supporting Role in a lots of hair and make-up. In addiTrevor Noah on The Daily Show Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture tion to Jazz, the show features other slamming Cruz for thinking going Made for Television, where Judith members of her family, including her to a gun rally was the best response Light’s extraordinary performance parents, older sister and twin brothto the San Bernardino terrorist masin Transparent as Maura’s ex-wife ers, also known as the people cashing sacre. Noah said, “Yeah, 14 people Shelley is against Uzo Aduba’s “Crazy in on this kid’s complex life. Yes, we just lost their lives in a shooting, Eyes” in OITNB and the phenomenal are ambivalent about this show, beand Ted Cruz’s first thought is, ‘Oh, Regina King for American Crime. A cause Jazz is 15, and we resist kids as that reminds me, got to send out my very tough category. moneymakers for adults. invites to my gun party.’ That seems We are so wanting Alan CumInexplicably, I Am Cait, the inlike something you would only do if ming to win for The Good Wife in credibly tedious reality series featuryou were an asshole, which it turns the corresponding actor category. ing Caitlyn Jenner and lots and lots out is exactly what voters are lookHe’s been brilliant for several years of make-up and hair and clothes, ing for.” He’s not wrong. as the cunning politico Eli Gold with a soupcon of misogyny and Noah, who is biracial, also noted, (based on Rahm Emmanuel, prea big dollop of racism, has been “There’s another man, half-black, current scandals), and he’s one of renewed by E! We can’t imagine half-white, who has to speak out our fave gay actors. But his comwatching a second season, especially every time this happens. He has had petition is quite stiff and includes not after Jenner’s pronouncement to do this for six years, speaking in Christian Slater’s Mr. Robot. that the hardest thing in every the aftermath of mass shootings.

The Golden Globe Awards will woman’s life is figuring out what to And you can really see the toll it has be broadcast on Jan. 10 on NBC. wear (and here we thought it was taken on him.” This comment was The always-controversial comedian rape and violence against women, followed by a gut-grinding montage Ricky Gervais will host, so expect to and the pay gap and the discriminaof Pres. Obama’s comments after laugh at things you don’t want anytion) followed by a denouncement mass shootings. We have not been one to know you laughed at. of same-sex marriage. And did we the only ones to notice how each mention the racism that pervades Zero hour successive one has flattened the the show? We have Donald Trump If you missed HBO’s docuPresident’s affect more. Dec. 14 was for that kind of right-wing stuff. mentary in cooperation with Vice the third anniversary of the Sandy Speaking of which, shocker of Countdown to Zero about AIDS, Hook shooting. We still can’t bestunners, as we were going to press, you can still see it on demand, and it lieve that shooting 20 first-graders this Washington Post headline is well worth a look. The documento death in their classroom 10 days caught our eye: “Donald Trump has tary was first aired on World AIDS before Christmas wasn’t a gamegotten more nightly network news Day, but got regrettably little media changer in American politics, but coverage than the entire Demoattention. Since AIDS actually isn’t that shows how little we understand cratic field combined.” How many over, it’s important we know how about the gun nuttery. months have we been saying this? we might end it in our respective Noah said, “I have to say, I feel How many months have we been lifetimes. bad for Barack Obama. He has saying that Trump’s numbers are Countdown to Zero suggests been begging for gun control for six in fact media-driven? According to it’s doable. Examining a range of years, and the only major change in the Tyndall Report, which tracks medical breakthroughs in recent the gun debate since he’s got into ofthe airtime of all news programs years that include the DNA of HIVfice has been to his face. You’ve got on NBC, CBS and ABC, the 2016 positive patients being edited to to feel for him, but at least we have election has received 857 minutes of resist HIV in American laboratories, found the answer to the amount of combined coverage, through Nov. as well as South African clinics parpressure under which black does 30. If that number seems exhaustticipating in the largest vaccine trial crack.” Yikes. ing, it is: it’s the second largest total in medical history, the documentary We would add that Dick Cheney’s of any pre-election year in the last focuses on what is being done to end comment that Trump’s plan to ban seven presidential cycles, with 2007 HIV/AIDS in the next few decades. all Muslims is “un-American” is being the highest.

For those of us who have been being lauded as the GOP fighting So in all that time, it’s been a charting the epidemic since the back against Trump. When Cruz Trump-fest. You know, like it still is. beginning, it’s exciting news. HIV/ and Cheney are your WMDs against Trump says something outrageous, AIDS is still out there, still killing, Trump, you are in deep. and everyone rushes to interview still plaguing the LGBT commuSince we’d like to end on an uphim. Or they say he’s the frontrunnity. San Francisco is the locus of beat note, set your DVRs now for ner, ignoring the fact that Hillary the film’s attention on what’s being NBC’s gayer-than-gay new sitcom, Clinton’s numbers are far higher done in America.

Telenovela. We saw the sneak prethan his, while she has gotten the We admit, we weren’t keen on miere on Dec. 7, and we were howlleast amount of airtime. Barbara seeing former Pres. George W. Bush ing. Lots of ab-flashing, too.

Walters popped up on Dec. 9 to in this film, but he’s there at the So for more Trump whether you interview him especially for ABC, Bush Institute on Southern Methwant him or not (not!), more Paulin an exclusive in which Trump told odist University’s campus in Dallas son, more shirtless men, and more her he was the least bigoted person talking about the success of the Latinos who are not Cruz, you know on earth. His earth, not our earth.

American-led PEPFAR (President’s you really must stay tuned.t

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Music>>

December 17-23, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 35

Tunes for the holidays & beyond

by Jason Victor Serinus

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hat’s most notable about this year’s holiday recordings is how many invite year-round listening. That won’t be true for those allergic to Christian music or who had the Christ beaten out of Christmas for them by abuse. But for those who feel free, the pleasures are plentiful.

Light of Gold: Cappella SF Christmas (Delos) The opening track “Veni, Emmanuel,” in an arrangement by Cappella SF artistic director-conductor Ragnar Bohlin, is supremely graceful. The singing is as beautiful as one would expect from a chamber choir founded by the conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, and the recording, by David Bowles (conductor Nicholas McGegan’s husband) of Swineshead Productions, superb.

December Celebration: New Carols by Seven American Composers (Pentatone SACD) What a great idea. New carols by Mark Adamo, Joan Morris & William Bolcom, Luna Pearl Woolf, John Corigliano, and the Bay Area’s Gordon Getty, Jake Heggie, and David Garner, distinguished composers all, performed by members of our own New Century Chamber Orchestra and Volti chorus, conducted

by Dawn Harms. Heggie sets a text by the great Bay Area mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, and Getty contributes a lovely arrangement of Gruber’s “Silent Night” for mixed chorus and chamber orchestra. Bonus points to those who can name all the LGBT artists on the disc.

A Cappella Christmas: Sam Robson (Stone Records) With his wide range and soaring, sweet top, the UK’s Sam Robson takes his cue from England’s time-honored broadcast of the Nine Lessons and Carols service from King’s College, Cambridge, as he puts a contemporary spin on a mix of nine carols and eight popular Christmas songs.

The ceaseless sonic tapestry is as bright as Robson’s winning smile.

Whether the unknown composer of

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Christmas music

From page 33

A Very Swingin’ Basie Christmas! (Concord) is an accurate title for the new holiday recording by the Count Basie Orchestra, under the direction of Scotty Barnhart.

Swing it does! Released to coincide with the orchestra’s 80th anniversary, AVSBC! is the first Christmas recording in its history. Gay pop music legend Johnny Mathis, a man with his own history of Christmas music, can be heard lending his vocals to Kay Thompson’s “It’s the Holiday Season.” Fittingly retitled, “Good ‘Swing’ Wenceslas” lives up to its name. Carmen Bradford, who has sung with the orchestra for more than 30 years, takes the lead on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” while 21st-century soul goddess Ledisi belts it out on “The Christmas Song.” The encore selection “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” wraps things up with Ellis Marsalis on piano and Plas Johnson on sax.

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis presents the live album Big Band Holidays (Blue Engine), featuring vocal soloists including Cécile McLorin Salvant, Gregory Porter and René Marie. This holiday recording has an interesting selection of seasonal tunes, including “A Cradle in Bethlehem,” “It’s Easy To Blame the Weather” and “’Zat You, Santa Claus?” Living up to the jazz in its name, a number of the songs clock in over the five-minute mark, and the improvisational rendition of “We Three Kings” is pure jazz.t

“Gaudete” might have wished to remain anonymous after hearing this pop arrangement is YTBD. Bach Weihnachtsoratorium: A Ballet by John Neumeier: Hamburg Ballet (C Major Blu-ray/ DVD) Every year brings at least one new recording of J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. This year it arrives in balletic form, courtesy of the orchestra and chorus of the Hamburg Staatsoper under Alessandro de Marchi. The brightly recorded music and dancing are exuberant, and the vocal soloists distinguished by tenor Julian Prégardien (Evangelist).

Lord knows what Bach would have thought of the modern instruments or choreography, but the spectacular-looking dancers, the sheer joy of the opening, and the spirited reprise

will convert many.

The Light of Christmas: Latvian Cantatas of the Christmas Season (Albany) The sweetness of these four cantatas and the collaboration of artists from Latvia and New York suggest that we shall overcome.

Composers may be contemporary, but the harmonies are traditional and as lovely as an evening by the fireplace with your loved one(s).

The Nutcracker: Stories in Music (Maestro Classics) In the age of hi-def video, a narrated CD of the Nutcracker from Stephen Simon and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with Jim Weiss explaining the tale, seems more than a bit atavistic. But as long as you can focus on the music as Weiss talks his head off, you and the kids will learn lots

about the instruments and plot.

Stile Antico: Sing with the Voice of Melody (Harmonia Mundi SACD) No surprise that this hi-res recording has jumped to the top of the Billboard chart. The innocence of the singing exemplifies the best of the English choral tradition, and the music, almost entirely from the great Renaissance European polyphonic composers of the 16th and early-17th centuries, is gorgeous.

Bravo.

James Taylor at Christmas (UM) This may be a reissue, but the performances are so lovable that I can’t resist. James Taylor is at his friendliest, his voice warm and inviting. I drove some Thanksgiving dinner guests batty when I played this in the background, but that’s

what happens when you get stoned legally on holidays in Washington State.

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Stewart Goodyear (Steinway & Sons SACD) This may be the most delightful solo piano arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s complete ballet score you’ll encounter. Goodyear delivers Tchaikovsky’s music with a mixture of delight, charm, and sleight of hand. Even though his Steinway cannot produce all the colors of a full orchestra, he pulls you in, promising endless runs and tripping counterpoint in exchange for 82 minutes of your time. Call me a sucker, but Goodyear’s is the best lollipop I’ve been handed this year.

Plácido Domingo: My Christmas (Sony) The great septuagenarian tenor cum baritone has recorded a number of crossover projects over the decades, but the curious contrast between his quasi-operatic, occasionally overdone delivery and the pop styles of Vincent Nico, Idina Menzel, Jackie Evancho, Helene Fischer and others cannot be considered a success. The bombastic “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” with singers from the LA Opera’s Young Artist Program, is simply ridiculous. Domingo cannot conceal that his vocal prime has passed.t

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41

Out & About

DINING

On the Town

SPIRITS

Shooting Stars

SOCIETY

ROMANCE

LEATHER

PERSONALS Vol. 45 • No. 51 • December 17-23, 2015

www.ebar.com V www.bartabsf.com

Rick Gerharter

NIGHTLIFE

47

y r o t S y To The amazing h drives in the L istory of holiday toy GBT communi ty

by Michael Flanagan

I Mark Paladini and Mama Sandy Reinhardt collected toys at Cafe Flore for Mama’s annual Toy Drive in December 2007.

f you should happen by a bar in our community in December, there is a good chance that you’ll either hear about a toy drive coming up or see a collection box for toys. In past years I’ve done stories about two bars, Aunt Charlie’s and Twin Peaks, where toy drives have been mentioned. This has raised a number of questions for me about the history of this practice. When did toy drives start? Were they a response to AIDS charities? How did the AIDS crisis affect them? Some of the answers are quite surprising. This is a brief summary of that history.

See page 38 >>

On the Tab Dec. 17-24, 2015

t bear you believe in ho anta’s coming, if y not? wh d An sh suits. daddies in red plu gifts to life ht nig of ll fu ing Here’s a hung stock imney. ch ur the big man stuffs yo tide you over until

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Listings begin page 44 >>

Sat 19

Fri 18

An Evening with Connie Champagne @ Oasis

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Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

38 • Bay Area Reporter • December 17-23, 2015

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

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415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

Sundance Saloon’s toy drive in 2003.

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FIND REAL GAY MEN NEAR YOU San Francisco:

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Toy Story

From page 37

Toy drives have existed at least as far back as the first gay newspaper in the city. In 1961 Guy Strait began publishing the L.C.E. News, the newspaper of the League of Civil Education which was a homophile organization (as they were called at the time). It was the first newspaper to be distributed in gay bars.

In the December issue is an article entitled “Toy Party and Buffet” which informs us that The Crossroad (at 109 Steuart Street) was having a buffet on December 21 – the cost of admission was one toy. The article goes on to say “other establishments throughout the city also have a box in which toys may be deposited.”

The January issue follows up to say that around a hundred toys were donated and given to the Protestant

Orphan Home and that money donated would buy more toys for children at the Sonoma State Hospital.

In 1969 an article in Vector tells us that the tradition was carried on by biker clubs beginning in 1964 and that the event became so popular that it was moved to Maritime Hall (350 Fremont Street). Toys were donated to San Francisco General Hospital and the Hanna Boys Center. In true 1960s fashion, we are told, “Here’s your chance to have a swinging time and help bring the true spirit of Christmas to many who might otherwise not enjoy it.”

Toy drives made it into the ‘70s with a rather dissolute-looking bunny on a motorcycle accompanying an article about them in the B.A.R. in 1971. In 1972 Mister Marcus (then Emperor Marcus, first Emperor of the San Francisco Imperial Court) told us that the toys donated that year would be distributed to

lesbian mothers.

And in 1974, the B.A.R. featured an article about the 25th annual San Francisco Fire Department toy drive, which had distributed toys to 10,000 children the previous year.

In the 1980s, the spirit of the toy drive reached the South Bay. In both 1981 and ‘82 the Interlude (4942 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose) held a Toys for Tots benefit which was featured in the B.A.R. with performances by the Diamond Peacock Follies, Reforma and Lucy Manhattan.

When AIDS hit with full force, the community only accelerated their charity programs. In ‘84 and ‘85 there were toy drives at Festus (now The Edge) and in ‘87 the Kokpit (301 Turk Street), the Pendulum (4146 18th Street) and Kimo’s (1351 Polk Street) all had toy drives.

See page 39 >>

San Jose:

(510) 343-1122 (408) 514-1111 www.megamates.com 18+

Rick Gerharter

Above: The accumulated children and toys at Our Family Coalition’s Holiday Toy Drive in December 2002. Below: Tricksy the Elf entertains children at the Our Family Coalition Holiday Toy Drive in December 2002.

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

December 17-23, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 39

Academy of Friends @ Williams Sonoma photos by Jim Norrena

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undreds of patrons, supporters, volunteers, sponsors, and board members past and present of the Academy of Friends gathered for a fundraiser reception at the Williams-Sonoma store in downtown San Francisco on December 9. Guests enjoyed cocktails, chef-prepared food, raffles and discounts on the myriad fabulous kitchen and houseware items. The nonprofit, which will produce its 36th Oscar party on February 28, has big plans for the popular gala. Keep up at www.facebook.com/AcademyofFriends/ and www.academyoffriends.org.

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A strange teddy on a motorcycle in a 1971 Mister Marcus B.A.R. leather column.

Toy Story

From page 38

In 1991, our knights in shining armor were Amazons. Hell’s Belles, an alllesbian motorcycle club, had a toy run for La Casa de Las Madres, the Elizabeth Frye Center and Florence Crittenton Center.

By 1998, Sundance Saloon was having a Holiday Ball where the price of admission was a toy and the donations went to the UCSF Pediatric AIDS/HIV Treatment Center.

By 2002, bars were branching out to dedicate toy drives to specific charities with The Lone Star Saloon doing a toy drive for the Fire Department Kids Toy Drive and Daddy’s doing a toy drive with Sandy “Mama” Reinhardt for Camp Sunburst, a camp for children with HIV/ AIDS. In 2004 Maitri AIDS Hospice expanded the concept globally by doing a toy drive for children in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Thailand. In 2005 Best In Show took the concept to other species by doing a Christmas toy drive for pets to benefit Rocket Dog Rescue.

This spirit of giving continues to this day. I contacted Collette LeGrande concerning the benefit which she hosts at Aunt Charlie’s (which was on Dec. 6) and she said: “The toy drive we do at Aunt Charlie’s along with Sandy ‘Mama’ Reinhardt is for Sunburst Camp located in Sacramento.” Information on the camp (including how to donate) is available at www.sunburstprojects.org.

Above: A 1999 ad for Sundance Saloon’s toy drive and dance event.

Left: Announcement of “A Toy Thing” in a December 1970 Vector magazine.

Sundance Saloon held its annual toy drive at its regular venue, Space 550, on December 13.

Twin Peaks is currently collecting unwrapped toys for the Fire Department’s toy drive (there is a drop-off box in the bar).

The history of toy drives in the LGBT community goes back more than half a century. It’s worth remembering that when the first toy drives were held, people risked arrest (and possible loss of their livelihood) when they dropped off that toy.

As the community grew, our charity grew. Not even an epidemic which decimated our community stopped us. Instead, we found more places to give that even left the borders of our country. Perhaps that’s because we are a community which is not defined or limited by gender, race, religion or class. And that is truly something to be thankful for and proud of during this holiday season.

In the spirit of the season, I wish my readers the happiest of holidays and a joyful and creative New Year.t

<< Out&About The Straight Story (9:35pm). Dec. 19: The Innocents (2:!5, 7pm) and The Shining (4:15, 9pm). Dec. 20: Brazil (2:15, 8pm) and Eyes Wide Shut (5pm). Dec 22: It’s a Wonderful Life (5pm, 8pm). $11-$16. $10-$15. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

The Santaland Diaries @ Eureka Theatre

Smuin Ballet @ YBCA The local dance company performs Michael Smuin’s popular The Christmas Ballet. $24-$67. Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun 2pm. Sun 7pm. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard St. 912-1899. www.smuinballet.org

Story Showdown @ Awaken Cafe, Oakland

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

Unusual Movies @ Oddball Films Chris Hardy

Don We Now

by Jim Provenzano

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hopping’s done, you hope. Holiday enjoyment time is now. Gatherings of chorale groups, circus acts and dance companies will cheer you. For nightlife events, On the Tab listings start on page 44.

Thu 17

10 Percent @ Comcast David Perry’s online & cable interviews with notable local and visiting LGBT people, broadcast through the week.

Check for times on Facebook: www.ComcastHometown.com

Christmas Corral @ Oasis Cora Values and her ensemble perform a wacky satire of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” set at a rural truck stop. $20.

7pm. Also dec. 18. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Comedy Returns @ El Rio 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

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

Holiday Ice Rink @ Union Square

Weekly screenings of strange and obscure short films. $10. Dec. 17: Canadian animation. Dec. 18: vintage mental health and hygience shorts.

8pm Also Fridays. 275 Capp St. 5588117. www.oddballfilm.com

Fri 18

Avenue Q @ New Conservatory Theatre Center 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.

Extended thru Jan. 31. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Enjoy skating, hot drinks and fun in the downtown center of holiday shopping. $7-$11. Skate rental $6.

Macy’s Tree-Lighting ceremony Nov. 27, 6pm. Thru Jan. 14. Various times, 10am-11pm. 333 Post St. www.unionsquareicerink.com

Cavalia @ AT&T Park

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

A Christmas Carol @ Geary Theatre

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. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.russianoperadiva.com www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins

New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre Dec. 17: Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense (7:30) and Laurie Anderson’s Home of the Brave (9:15). Dec. 18: Midnites for Maniacs presents Mrs. Doubtfire (7:20pm) and David Lynch’s

Morris Bobrow’s musical comedy revue of songs and sketches about food. $32-$34. Fri & Sat 8pm. Open run. 533 Sutter St. (800) 838-3006. www.foodiesthemusical.com

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. 2558207. www.42ndstmoon.org

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

Gerald Casel Dance @ ODC Theater World premiere of Splinters in Our Ankles, a movement essay exploring the colonial origins of one of the most popular folk dances of the Philippines. $20-$35. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm.

Sun 7pm. Thru Dec. 20. 3153 17th St. www.geraldcasel.com www.odcdance.org The stellar women’s folk vocal ensemble performs Wintersongs. $15-$40. Dec. 18: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave. Oakland. Dec. 19: Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St., SF. Dec. 20: community sing at Nile Hall, 668 13th St., Oakland. www.kitka.org

Superfood @ Exit Theatre

Smuin Ballet @ YBCA

Scrooge in Love @ Eureka Theatre

Kitka @ Various Venues

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

Thu 17

Foodies, the Musical @ Shelton Theater

Fool La La @ The Marsh

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

Mittens and Mistletoe @ Dance Mission Theater Sweet Can Productions’ Winter Circus Cabaret, with lighthearted entertainment, tumblers, jugglers, clowns, acrobats and more. $18-$65.

Fri & Sat 8pm. Wed-Sun 2pm. other days 4pm. Thru Dec. 27. 3316 24th St. www.sweetcanproductions.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

Amsterdam-based design team Metahaven’s immersive video installation about the mutation of propaganda. Free/$8. Thru April 3. Also, Kevin Cooley’s Golden Prospects, a visual survey of water and waste in California. Thru April 3.

Also, Won Ju Lim: Raycraft is Dead, thru Feb. 14. $5-$12. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. www.ybca.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

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

Sat 19

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. Special holiday shows now thru New Year’s Eve. Reg: $25-$160. 21+, except where noted. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Fri 18

American Conservatory Theatre’s annual big-cast big-sets 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

A Christmas Carol @ Geary Theatre

Pirates of Penzance @ Arts Passage

Eisa Jocson @ Galeria de la Raza, ODC Studio B Death of a Pole Dancer, Macho Dancer (Galeria, Dec. 18 & 19, 8pm) and Heat (Dec. 20, 7pm, ODC Studio B, 351 Shotwell St.), solo performance works by the dance-theatre artist. $20-$35. www.counterpulse.org

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

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

Chanticleer @ St. Ignatius Church The Grammy-winning a cappella ensemble performs their annual holiday classical music concert. $30-$75. 8pm.

650 Parker Ave. 392-4400. Other concerts thru NorCal. chanticleer.org

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

Dec. 17: Handel’s Messiah. Dec. 18: A Charlie Brown Christmas Live, thru Dec. 24. $15-$135. 864-6000. 201 Van Ness Ave. www.sfsymphony.org

The Sprawl @ YBCA

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 Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder @ Golden Gate Theatre

Holiday Concerts @ Davies Symphony Hall

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Kevin Berne

Out &About

O&A

40 • Bay Area Reporter • November 12-18, 2015

Date Night at Pet Emergency @ The Marsh Berkeley

Sat 19 Chanticleer @ St. Ignatius Church

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

See page 42 >>

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

December 17-23, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 41

Holidays & nights

by Donna Sachet

F

irst, we must thank the hundreds of attendees and supporters of our 23rd annual Songs of the Season, which raised thousands of dollars for the AIDS Emergency Fund.

Beatbox, transformed into a cabaret venue November 30 to December 2, and decked out with holiday décor, proved a perfect new home for this beloved community event, and the staff rose to the occasion, as over 300 people streamed through over the three nights.

Kudos to all the guest performers, Dan O’Leary, Brian Kent, Vicki Shepard, Brenda Reed, Abigail Zsiga, and Sharon McNight, who so generously shared their talents, as well as pianist Michael Grossman and percussionist Tommy Salami.

Even with minimal advance notice, wonderful sponsors lined up quickly and individual tickets rapidly sold out, as photographs from last week’s Bay Area Reporter demonstrate.

And personal thanks to Russell Kassman for the loaned piano, Richard Sablatura for production assistance, Michael Loftis for costume and set creative input, and Cal Callahan of the AEF for endless hours of help.

If you missed this year, note that 2016 will be the 24th and 2017 will be the 25th and final Songs of the Season. You know, all good things must come to an end.

Monday night’s Help is on the Way for the Holidays, Richmond/ Ermet Aid Foundation’s annual holiday cabaret was one of the very best! The Marines’ Memorial Theatre was packed to the rafters as we entered, greeting John Carillo, Carol Batte, Beth Schnitzer, Skye Paterson, Lenny Broberg & Paul Maluchnik, Michael Montoya & Kevin Shanahan, MiguelGutierrez-Ranzi, Doug Waggener, Larry Horowitz, Solange Marzouk Darwish, John Newmeyer, Mario Diaz, and Linda Lee. Steven Underfill

Donna Sachet (2nd right in Erté-inspired white) with the cast of Songs of the Season.

Extraordinary talent paraded across the stage, including the aforementioned Sharon McNight, singer and internet sensation Steve Grand, violin prodigy Lea Bourgade, and local favorites Carly Ozard, Russ Lorenson, and Jason Brock.

Shawn Ryan and the Coker Sisters gave a whole new twist to Santa Claus, and international superstar Martha Wash cleverly turned a song about snow into a song about rain and (you guessed it) men!

Bringing the show to a fevered pitch was original Supreme Mary Wilson, looking resplendent and singing out a salute to life (This diva has a new dance song at number 23 on the Billboard Chart!).

The entire cast then gathered on stage for the finale. Including a silent auction in the lobby and live auction on stage, this event certainly raised significant funds for its primary beneficiaries, Aguilas and Larkin Street Youth Services, while providing an incredible night of entertainment for its guests.

One of the most special aspects of REAF events is the reception after the show where most of the entertainers mingle with the VIP crowd, snapping photographs and exchanging holiday greetings. This year’s reception at the Redwood Room of the nearby Clift Hotel was no exception. In addition to excellent photo ops with the talent, we caught up with BeBe Sweetbriar, Tweaka Turner, Patrik Gallineaux, Lawrence Helman, Gary Vir-

ginia, Scott Miller & Doug Piper, Neil Figurelli, Jon Loren Chusid, George Macaluso, Randy Schiller, and Sophie Azouaou. If REAF produces it, be there, and stay for the reception!

Squeezed into the hectic holiday season of benefits and other engagements, we were happy to share a casual night at Don Ramon’s with the Empresses of San Francisco and special guests. Although sworn to secrecy regarding certain aspects of this private party, we can say that everyone got along splendidly and the White Elephant gift exchange was spirited, but not ugly.

In attendance were 11 Empresses; Anita Martini, Alexis Miranda, Tiger Lily, Chablis, Angelina Josephina Manicotti, Renita Valdez, Cher a Little, Saybeline, Patty McGroin, this humble columnist, and the Reigning Empress Khmera Rouge, spanning some 20 of our 50 years of continuous community service.

Shortly after this event, the International Court System received a letter of congratulations and praise for its historic years of service from none other than President Barack Obama!

After such a heady celebration, we went directly to The Edge to party with the boys at Musical Wednesday with Brian Kent, who debuted a new seating arrangement which no longer hides the VJ, but elevates him front and center. Imagine! As always, the videos from decades of Broadway musicals had the packed

crowd singing vociferously. When those slow weekday nights have you starved for excitement, don’t forget The Edge.

One of the truly “only in San Francisco” holiday events is Drag Queens on Ice at the Union Square Ice Rink. This year we returned as the hostess and emcee, ably assisted by Sister Roma and Queen Dilly Dally. Although the weather was less than cooperative, a nice crowd gathered to watch the featured skating and lip-synching drag performers, including Kylie-Pop, Kim Chi-Chi, Mahlae Balenciage, Paju Monroe, and finally Mutha Chucka, who may not have donned skates, but brought down the house.

The final performer, BeBe Sweetbriar, sang live, wrapping up this sixth and bound to be repeated annual event. Glimpsed in the crowd were Brian Kent, Skye Paterson, Celso Dulay, Suzan Revah, Chris Knight, Liz Highleyman, and the Reigning Emperor Kevin Lisle and Reigning Empress Khmera Rouge.

And finally, we were thrilled to guest-star in the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band’s Nutcracker of Oz, cocreated by Heidi Beeler, this year’s version of their annual Dance Along Nutcracker, now in its 30th year, at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Yes, playing the Wicked Witch of the West was quite a stretch for us, but who could refuse such an invitation?

We couldn’t have hoped for a more talented and enthusiastic cast, including Zelda Koznofski, Ruby Vixen, Leigh Crow, Flynn De Marco, Noah Haydon, Joe Wicht, and See page 42 >>

Steven Underhill

Top to Bottom: Martha Wash sings as it rains (Santa) men, Mary Wilson is supremely elegant, Steve Grand charms, and cast members from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying wow, all at the 14th annual Help is on the Way for the Holidays.

David Lassman

Imperial Council Empresses and their fans at Don Ramon’s.

<< Out&About

42 • Bay Area Reporter • November 12-18, 2015

Story Pirates @ Curran Theatre

Disney & Dali @ Walt Disney Family Museum

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

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

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

Wilde Chats @ Sweet Inspirations Community Initiative’s weekly informal discussion group at the dessert shop. 10:30am-12pm.

2239 Market St. 621-8664. www. sweetinspirationbakery.com

Winter Solstice Concert @ St. Cyprians Church

Sat 19

A music concert featuring ethereal renaissance pop singer Kristin Hoffmann, accompanied by flutist Larry Kassin and The One Heart Choir, directed by Claire Victor. $18-$22.

8pm. 2097 Turk St. 454-5238. www.noevalleymusicseries.com

Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus @ Odell Johnson Theater

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Out & About

From page 40

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

An Evening With Connie Champagne @ Oasis The talented vocalist channels Judy Garland in a subtle yet witty songfilled concert of holiday classics. $25 and up. 7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom.

795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Fiddler on the Roof @ Hillbarn Theatre, Foster City East Bay production of the Tony Award-winning classic musical about a Jewish family in Czarist Russia. $25-$48. Thru Dec. 20. 1285 Hillsdake Blvd., Foster City. (650) 349-6411. www.hillbarntheatre.org

Sun 20

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying @ Marines’ Memorial Theatre

Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus @ Odell Johnson Theater

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

A World of Wonder, a holiday concert, is performed by the men’s chorus. $15-$35. 7:30pm. Dec. 20 at 4pm. 900 Fallon St., Laney College.

(800706-2389. www.oebgmc.org

JetBlacq @ Hotel Rex Holiday cabaret concert with Rebecca Faiola and her band. $35-$60. 8pm. cocktails and small plates available.

562 Sutter St. (800) 982-2787. www.societycabaret.com

The Mousetrap @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley Shotgun Players’ production of Agatha Christie’s British mystery drama (the longest-running show in modern history). Previews; opens Dec. 11. $20-$40. Wed-Syb. Thru Jan. 24. 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org

Other Cinema @ ATA Gallery Weekly screenings of unusual, rare and strange short films and videos. $8. 8:30pm. 992 Valencia St. 6480654. www.othercinema.com

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

Join GLBT hikers for a challenging and rewarding 9-mile hike at Armstrong Woods State Reserve near Guerneville. Hike in redwood forest and later enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, and if it’s clear, the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Bring water, lunch, sturdy shoes, layers of clothing, hat, sunscreen. Carpool meets 8:30 at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores. (707) 823-2827. www.sfhiking.com

CAFE

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RESTAURANT

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CATERING

Brazil (Dec. 20), see New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre

Scott Davis

invitations to dance along with the music. Next year, be sure to include this event in your holiday schedule.

Maybe you missed Jason Brock or didn’t get enough of him at Help is on the Way; never fear! This Saturday from 4-5:30PM, Jason shares his talent at Martuni’s with pianist Dee Spencer.

15TH ST

M AR K 16TH ST

CASTRO ST

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

NOE ST

Serving the Castro288 Noe Street, SF since 1981 (415) 431-7210 La Mediterranee Noe @LaMedNoe

Simultaneously, at The Edge, Ginger Snap hosts a holiday party with Krewe de Kinque, the local Mardi Gras club, benefiting Jazzie’s Place, the shelter for LGBT homeless. Appearances by King Joe Prince Wolfe and Queen Cotton Candy.

If you find yourself across the Bay

this Saturday, join Mama P for her annual Christmas show and benefit at Hayward’s World Famous Turf Club, 7-10PM. Your hosts are Jacques Michaels and yours truly and the crowd is always festive and generous.

Only two Sundays remain for the Miracle on Powell Street at Sunday’s a Drag at the Starlight Room of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, so make your reservations now. It is a holiday finale you will long remember.

This is also the final weekend of performances of The Golden Girls Christmas Episodes at the Victoria Theatre with Heklina, Matthew Martin, D’Arcy Drollinger, and Holotta Tymes.

Then polish off the season on Christmas Eve at the Castro Theatre with the Gay Men’s Chorus, under the direction of Tim Seelig; shows at 5, 7, and 9PM. Get a ticket and grab your place in line early.

Otherwise, we hope you have plans to relax, reconnect with friends, and rejuvenate your spirits during what remains of the holiday season. If ever there were a time to be patient, generous, and kind, it is now. Happy Holidays!

Serving the Castro since 1981

Cafe | Restaurant | Catering

lamednoe.com

New exhibit of floral displays inspired by the centennial anniversary of the 1915 Pan-Pacific World Expo, with SF scenes in miniature train and architectural installations with hundreds of dwarf plants. Thru April 10. Also, permanent floral displays, plants for sale, and docent tours. Tue-Sun 10am-4pm. $2$8. Free for SF residents. 100 JFK Drive, Golden Gate Park, 831-2090. www.conservatoryofflowers.org

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Derek Hassell, and wonderful ensemble of singers and dancers, choreographed by Marilynn Fowler.

Artistic Director Pete Nowlen led the band through an amazing variety of music from Peter Ilyich

Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Harold Arlen’s classic Wizard of Oz, Charlie Smalls’ The Wiz, and Stephen Schwartz’ Wicked. Where else would such an incredible mash-up occur and/or be so warmly received?

Four audiences of adults and many children delighted to the colorfully portrayed story line and frequent

Garden Railway @ Conservatory of Flowers

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On the Town

From page 41

Anna Trebunskaya and Dmitry Chaplin ( Dancing With the Stars pro dancer/choreographers) join the splashy Spanish dance concert with live music (an 11-piece orchestra), choreographed by Luis Bravo. $25$125 (VIP meet & greet). Almost nightly, various times thru Jan. 10.

401 Van Ness Ave. 392-4400. www.cityboxoffice.com

Thu 17

Left: A few of the performers and fans at the annual drag Queens on Ice. Right: Drag queen on Ice with wings.

<<

Forever Tango @ Herbst Theatre

SF Hiking Club @ Armstrong Woods

Liz Highleyman

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David Alexander Diaz

Billy Green

Left: Flynn De Marco, Noah Haydon, Joe Wicht and Zelda Koznofski as the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cow17TH ST ardly Lion and Dorothy, and Right: Donna Sachet as the Wicked Witch of the West, in the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band’s Nutcracker of Oz at YBCA.

November 12-18, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 43

Thomas Pacha

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Out&About>> Temporal Cities @ Tenderloin Museum

Science Exhibits @ The Exploratorium

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy @ New Asia Restaurant

Exhibit of images, drawing and events about community in San Francisco.

Thru Dec. 17. Tue-Sat 10am-5pm. 398 Eddy St. at Leavenworth. 351-1912. www.tenderloinmuseum.org

Visit the fascinating science museum in its new Embarcadero location. Free$25. Pier 15 at Embarcadero. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm (Thu night 6pm-10pm, 18+). 528-4893. www.exploratorium.edu

The 23rd annual comedy night with Jewish wit and Chinese food and cocktails, with Wendy Liebman, Dana Eagle, Mike Fine and MC Lisa Geduldig. $67 for 7-course banquet 5pm dinner & show; $47 for 8:30pm cocktail show (with veggie dim sum). Also Dec. 25 & 26. 772 Pacific Ave. at Grant. (925) 8551986. www.Koshercomedy.com

Various Artists @ NIAD Art Center, Richmond

Fri 18 Kitka @ Various Venues

Jewel City @ de Young Museum Jewel City: Art from San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific International Exposition ; thru Jan. 10. Also, Portals of the Past: Photographs of Willard Worden (thru Feb. 14); Royal Hawaiian Featherwork (thru Feb. 28); Between Life and Death: Robert Motherwell’s Elegies (thru Mar. 6).

Other exhibits of modern art as well.

Free/$25. Thru Sept. 20 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. www.famsf.org

Looking East @ Asian Art Museum Looking East: How Japan Inspired Monet, Van Gosh, and Other Western Artists. Thru Feb. 7. Free (members, kids 12 and under)-$15. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.

200 Larkin St. www.asianart.org

New Dutch Design @ Museum of Craft and Design Dogpatch warehouse is now a museum store, gallery and program space. Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm. 2569 Third St. 773-0303. www.sfmcd.org

OutLook Video @ Channel 29 The weekly LGBT TV show, with updates on current events. 9:30pm. www.outlookvideo.org

Pacific Worlds @ Oakland Museum New exhibit focuses on the contemporary lives of and historic cultures of Pacific Islanders and California; thru Jan. 3. Also, Rituals + Remembrance, a Day of the Dead series of installations and performances, thru Jan. 3; and YoYos & Half Squares: Contemporary California Quilts (five women artists), thru Feb 21. And, Unearthed: Found + Made, featuring Jedediah Caesar’s geological sculptures; thru April 24, 2016. Free/$15. Reg. hours Wed-Sat 11am-5pm (Fri til 9pm). 1000 Oak St., Oakland. (510) 318-8400. www.museumca.org

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, 10am-11pm. 333 Post St. www.unionsquareicerink.com

Jason Mecier @ Magnet The celebrated gay collage artist premieres Man Candy, his latest works: portraits of Magic Mike actors and other celebrities (Burt Reynolds’ nude Cosmo spread!), made of jelly beans and other media. Thru Dec. 4122 18th St. www.jasonmecier.com www.magnetsf.org

Julissa Rodriguez @ Qulture Collective, Oakland Pigment: A Redefinition of Beauty, an exhibit of the artist’s works, at the new multi-use café, gallery, workspace and community center . Reg. hours Mon-Fri 8am-4pm.

1714 Franklin St., Oakland www. qulturecollective.com

NEAT @ Contemporary Jewish Museum You Know I’m No Good, NEAT: New Experiments in Art and Technology; Chasing Justice (thru Feb 21), and Hardly Strictly Warren Hellman.

Lectures and gallery talks as well. Free (members)-$12. Fri-Tue 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm (closed Wed). 736 Mission St. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org

Pop-Up @ Proxy SF Holidays gifts, cards, art and more at the Hayes Valley freight container shoppe. Patricia Green, Octavia St. at Linden. 11am-7pm. Thru Dec. 24. www.haightstreetart.org

Tamale & Tequila Party @ Hecho Juanita More!’s annual tasty holiday celebration, with a prix-fixe dinner menu that includes a full meal and drinks (Reservations required) $29.

5pm-9pm. 2200 Market St. juanita-tamale-hecho.eventbrite.com

Wildflower Exhibits @ SF Botanical Gardens

Tom & Jerry’s Christmas Display @ Church & Sanchez

See autumnal fall foliage displays, trees and plants in various beautiful gardens specific to region, plus Fotanicals: the Secret Language of Flowers, an exhibition of photographs by artist joSon. Daily walking tours and more. Optional donation $15.

Tours, lectures, classes and more.

Daily. Golden Gate Park. 661-1316. www.sfbotanicalgarden.org

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

Mon 21

Carl Linkhart @ Glama-Rama Salon The Vault of Broken Dreams, an exhibit of creative unusual paintings from the artist also known as Carl With Records, an early Angel of Light and Sister of Perpetual Indulgence. On view thru Jan. 3. 304 Valencia St. 8614526. www.glamarama.com

Color of Life @ California Academy of Sciences Exhibits and planetarium shows with various live, interactive and installed exhibits about animals, plants and the earth; new exhibit focuses on vibrantly colored species of octopus, snake fish and other live creatures. $20-$35. Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

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 22

Exhibits of art made by developmentally disabled people. Thru December: Deck the Walls, a special holiday-themed exhibit and art sale. Mon-Fri 10am4pm. 551 23rd St. Richmond. (510) 620-0290. www.niadart.org

Vernacular Vixens @ Robert Tat Gallery Robert E. Jackson’s collection of found photos of women (Note: Due to increased lease costs, this will be the gallery’s last exhibit). Thru Feb 6. 49 Geary St., Suite 410. roberttat.com

Wed 23

Thu 24

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus @ Castro Theatre

Gay Skate Night @ Church on 8 Wheels

The annual Christmas Eve concert celebrates the holidays. $25-$65.

5pm, 7pm & 9pm. 429 Castro St. 3924400. www.sfgmc.org

LGBT night at the former Sacred Heart Church-turned disco roller skate party space, hosted by John D. Miles, the “Godfather of Skate.”

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

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

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, starting on page 44.

Alison Saar @ MOAD New exhibit, Bearing, the acclaimed artist’s sculptures of Black women as a centerpiece. Free-$10. Thru April 3.

Museum of the African Diaspora, 635 Mission St. www.moadsf.org

Daily and Transcendent @ SF Public Library 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

Kari Orvik, Kathya Landeros @ RayKo Photo Two photo exhibits by local artists.

Thru Jan. 15. 428 3rd St. www.raykophoto.com

The Naughty List @ Doc’s Lab Storytelling from performers who know how to be naughty and nice.

Featuring Lydia Popovich, Gina Gold, Eloisa Bravo, Mosa Maxwell Smith, and Ruby Gill; hosted by Wonder Dave. $10-$15. 124 Columbus Ave. 649-6191. www.docslabsf.com

Sun 20 Forever Tango @ Herbst Theatre

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.

Into the Woods @ Jules Maeght Gallery Group exhibit of works in various media depicting nature. Thru Jan. 30.

149 Gough St. 549-7046. www.julesmaeghtgallery.com

Panama Pacific @ Harvey Milk Photo Center Centennial photography exhibit of historic images from the 1915 World Expo. Thru Dec. 23. 50 Scott St. 5549522. www.harveymilkphotocenter.org

Reigning Queens @ GLBT History Museum 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

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

<< On the Tab

44 • Bay Area Reporter • December 17-23, 2015

Thu 17

Growlr @ SF Eagle DJ Paul Goodyear spins grooves at the cruisy bear, cub, dude night; Growlr app drink specials. $5. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.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

Hardbox @ Powerhouse

Christmas Corral @ Oasis Cora Values and her ensemble perform a wacky satire of Dickens “A Christmas Carol” set at a rural truck stop. $20.

7pm. Also dec. 18. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Comedy Returns @ El Rio 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

Thu 17 Allison Mick and Nathan Habib at Full Frontal Comedy @ 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

LGBT comedy night hosted by Dan Mires. $10. 8pm. 2111 Franklin St. Oakland. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

“Sing Til It Hurts” the new weekly night with hostess Sister Flora (Floozy) Goodthyme. 8pm; happy hour drinks til 10pm. 10pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Katya’s Holiday Spectacular @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko 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. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.russianoperadiva.com www. hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins.aspx

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

Nap’s Karaoke @ Virgil’s Sea Room Sing out loud at the weekly least judgmental karaoke in town, hosted by the former owner of the bar. No cover. 9pm. 3152 Mission St. 8292233. www.virgilssf.com

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

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland

Funny Fun @ Club 21, Oakland

Karaoke Night @ The Stud

Hard Fridays @ Qbar

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

Yuri Kagan hosts the montholy comedy night, with Clay Newman, Nathan Habib, Allison Mick and Michael Brandon. 8pm. Proceeds benefit #BeRobin homeless outreach.

3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

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

Guy Ruben and Gehno Aviance spin cruisy grooves at the sporty MMA boxing-themed kink night, with gogo fights and the men of the Bare Chest Calendar 2015. Go shirtless and get free clothes check; strip down to boxers and get a free drink! Bring clean new socks and underwear for raffle tickets. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom st. www.powerhousebar.com

Ladies of San Francisco @ Club OMG

Full Frontal Comedy @ Lookout

Gym Class @ Hi Tops

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Luciana @ The EndUp 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 18

British electropop DJ, with DJ Hawthorne, spins grooves at the historic club. $15. 11pm-8am.

401 6th St. www.theendup.com

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

Midnight Show @ Divas

Baauer @ Mezzanine The popular Brooklyn DJ/tunesmith (“Harlem Shake”) plays; Djemba Djemba and DJ Dials also spin. $20$25. 9pm. 444 Jessie St. www.mezzaninesf.com

Boy Bar @ The Cafe Gus Presents’ weekly dance night, with DJ Kid Sysko, cute gogos and $2 beer (before 10pm). 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

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

Dancing Ghosts @ Cat Club The monthly dark wave, industrial Goth music night goes all-out UK, with DJs Xander, Joe Radio, Fact.50, and Omar. $5-$8. 10pm-2am. 1190 Folsom St. at 8th. www.sfcatclub.com

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

El Mundo @ Empire Ballroom 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

Party Nights @ Club BnB, Oakland Different events each week, with Latin, hip hop and gogos galore.

10pm-2am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.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

Queer Karaoke @ Club OMG Dana hosts the amateur singing night, 8pm. 43 6th St. www.clubOMGsf.com

Sony Holland @ The Ritz-Carlton 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 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

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

Sat 19

Krylon Superstar, part of Lustre @ Club 6

t

On the Tab>>

December 17-23, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 45

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

REMEMBERING

Femme, Xtravaganza @ Balancoire

Sat 19 Gameboi SF @ Rickshaw Stop

Some Thing @ The Stud

Make Out Party @ SF Eagle

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

Nark Magazine crew hits the leather bar, with DJs FutureWife and Boomer Banks. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Swagger Like Us @ Oasis Queer hip hop night features TT The artists, with DJs davO, Bianca Oblivion, and a vibrant crowd. $10.

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

795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Undressed @ Balancoire New male burlesque night, hosted

by Lauren Foster (transgender Vogue model) and Johna Myer (Andrew Christian underwear model), with dancing male studs. 2565 Mission St. 920-0577. www.balancoiresf.com

Mother @ Oasis Heklina’s weekly drag show night with different themes, always outrageously hilarious. Dec. 19: Swede Emotion, an ABBA night. $10-$25. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Weekly live music shows with various acts, along with brunch, mimosas, champagne and more, at the stylish nightclub and restaurant; shows at 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:45pm. After that, T-Dance drag shows at 7pm, 10pm and 11pm. 2565 Mission St. at 21st.

920-0577. www.balancoiresf.com

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

Kim Nalley @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The talented blues and jazz singer performs at the classy cabaret nightclub. $35-$50. 3pm.

Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.hotelnikkosf.com/ feinsteins.aspx

Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room

Sat 19

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

Bootie SF @ DNA Lounge Adrian and Mysterious D headline the mash-up madness night’s AntiHoliday Party. Monster Drag Show at 11pm. Also, DJs MC2 and Paul Goodyear in the monster Eelectro House Party. $10. 10pm-3am. 375 11th St. www.dnalounge.com

Mon 21

Club Rimshot @ Club BNB, Oakland

Drag Mondays @ The Cafe

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

Fri 18

An Evening With Connie Champagne @ Oasis The talented vocalist channels Judy Garland in a subtle yet witty songfilled concert of holiday classics. $25 and up. 7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom.

795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Gameboi SF @ Rickshaw Stop

Lauren Foster and Johna Myer’s new Undressed @ Balançiore

Saturgay @ Qbar

The monthly dance night for gay Asian guys, gals and their pals. $8-$15.

9:30pm-2am. 155 Fell St. www.rickshawstop.com

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

Holiday Party @ Club OMG

Soul Delicious @ Lookout

DJ Jack Rojo plays pop faves; enjoy holiday cheer with staff and patrons.

7pm-10pm. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Lustre @ Club 6 Calamus and Comfort & Joy’s yearend Winter Solstice party, with an early eve dinner, live performances (Krylon Superstar, Brontez Purnell, Eli Wise, The Street Trade), and drag show hosted by Ultra, DJs Pleasure Cadet, CBass, Mark O’Brien, Siobhan Aluvalot, J. Maximilian and Dulche, and all-night Burner Faerie fun. $15-$25. 7:30pm-5:30am. 60 6th St. lustre2015.eventbrite.com

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

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

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

Sun 20

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle

The classic leather bar’s most popular Sunday daytime event in town draws the menfolk. Beer bust donations benefit local nonprofits.

3pm-6pm. Now also on Saturdays. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com Kim Nalley @ Feinstein’s

Sun 20

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

Disco Daddy @ SF Eagle Yummy holiday edition of DJ Bus Station John’s groovy retro disco dance party. $5.

7pm-12am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Gaymer Meetup @ Brewcade

The weekly LGBT video game enthusiast night include bigscreen games and signature beers, with a new remodeled layout, including an outdoor patio. No cover.

7pm-11pm. 2200 Market St. www.brewcadesf.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

See page 46 >>

Mr. Marcus 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

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

46 • Bay Area Reporter • December 17-23, 2015

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<<

On the Tab

From page 45

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

Meow Mix @ The Stud

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

www.megamates.com 18+

Weekly women’s night at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Jackie Beat: White Meat or Dark? @ Oasis

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 also take it all off. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Retro Night @ 440 Castro Jim Hopkins plays classic pop oldies, with vintage music videos. 9pm-2am.

44 Castro St. www.the440.com

Thu 24

Play the trivia game at the popular new sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Wendy Liebman at Kung Pao Kosher Comedy @ New Asia

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

Wed 23 Bedlam @ Beaux

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

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

Play board games and win offbeat prizes at the popular sports bar. 9pm.

2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Down Your Chimney @ Qbar

Jackie Beat: White Meat or Dark? @ Oasis

ebar.com personals

Trivia Night @ Hi Tops

Bottoms Up Bingo @ Hi Tops

Tue 22

San Jose:

(510) 343-1122 (408) 514-1111

Switch @ Q Bar

The “lezzie queer dance party” brings out the femmes and butches. 9pm2am. 456 Castro St. 864-2877. www.qbarsf.com Shot specials and adult Bingo games, with DJs Chad Bays and Riley Patrick, at the new weekly night. No cover.

9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Oakland:

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

Tue 22 Cock Shot @ Beaux

(415) 430-1199

Gaymer Night @ Eagle

L.A.’s scathingly funny drag performer performs a new holiday themed comic song-filled concert. $25-$35. 7pm & 9pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 7953180. www.sfoasis.com

13 Licks @ Qbar

San Francisco:

Carlos Souffront and Mark O’Brien DJ a pre-Christmas “naughty” party. $5.

9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Latin Drag Night @ Club OMG Weekly Latin night with drag shows hosted by Vicky Jimenez. 9pm-2am.

43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Miss Kitty’s Trivia Night @ Wild Side West The weekly fun night at the Bernal Heights bar includes prizes, hosted by Kitty Tapata. No cover. 7pm-10pm.

424 Cortland St. 647-3099. www.wildsidewest.com

Open Mic/Comedy @ SF Eagle Kollin Holts hosts the weekly comedy and open mic talent night. 6pm-8pm.

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

Pussy Party @ Beaux Ladies night at the Castro dance club.

9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Way Back @ Midnight Sun Weekly screenings of vintage music videos and retro drink prices. Check out the new expanded front window lounge. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 8614186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Wooden Nickel Wednesday @ 440 Buy a drink and get a wooden nickle good for another. 12pm-2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. www.the440.com

Thu 24

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

Kung Pao Kosher Coemdy @ New Asia Restaurant The 23rd annual comedy night with Jewish wit and Chinese food and cocktails, with Wendy Liebman, Dana Eagle, Mike Fine and MC Lisa Geduldig. $67 for 7-course banquet 5pm dinner & show; $47 for 8:30pm cocktail show (with veggie dim sum).

Also Dec. 25 & 26. 772 Pacific Ave. at Grant. (925) 855-1986. www.Koshercomedy.com Want your nightlife event listed?

Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event.

Event photos welcome.

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

Shooting Stars

December 17-23, 2015 • Bay Area Reporter • 47

photos by steven underhill Santa Skivvies Run Despite an early rainy downpour on Sunday, December 13, the stalwart participants in the sixth annual Santa Skivvies Run looped the Castro sidewalks with a chilly trot from and back to the host bar The Lookout.

Funds were raised for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and celebrants thawed out afterward with some adult beverages. www.santaskivviesrun.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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For headshots, portraits or to arrange your wedding photos

call (415) 370-7152 or visit www.StevenUnderhill.com or email stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

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