Cho and friends help the homeless
ARTS
8
25
41
Holiday Issue II Boone & Feinstein
Santa Skivvies Run 6
The
www.ebar.com
Serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities since 1971
HRC index sparks change in Berkeley
Holiday spirit hits Castro
Castro retail debate lands at City Hall by Matthew S. Bajko
A
by Yael Chanoff
A
recent survey of LGBT equality among municipalities may already be spurring change in Berkeley. The Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index, which rated 353 U.S. cities on their municipal laws Kriss amd policies, awarded Worthington 95 out of 100 points to Berkeley. The East Bay city, long known for its progressive politics, lost points in part because the Berkeley Police Department lacks an LGBT liaison. This was news to gay Councilman Kriss Worthington, who authored an ordinance establishing the liaison position in 2001. “I was very surprised to hear that the City of Berkeley was reported as not having such a position. I’m disappointed,” Worthington said. Assistant City Manager Matthai Chakko confirmed that the position has not been filled “for several years” since the last officer to hold it retired. “At this point, we don’t have one. The person retired. We’ll be evaluating whether there will be a need to fill the position,” Chakko said. But Worthington hopes to expedite the process. After learning from the Bay Area Reporter that the position was vacant, he drafted a city council item to address the issue. “At the time the position was filled, the community felt it was evidence of Berkeley’s inclusiveness. The city should fill this position,” the item reads. The City Council item would also address the other issue that cost Berkeley points in the HRC index – the city doesn’t include gender identity in its employment non-discrimination policy for municipal workers. California law prohibits employment discrimination based on gender identity. But when cities reaffirm this in their own nondiscrimination policies, it can help ensure that protection. Gay Councilman Darryl Moore is cosponsoring the item to correct the oversight. Councilwoman-elect Lori Droste, who will be sworn in December 9, is expected to cosponsor as well. Droste is the first out lesbian to be elected to the Berkeley City Council. The City Council will vote on the item December 16. HRC rated a total of 353 cities on the survey, which was released November 12, See page 20 >>
Vol. 44 • No. 49 • December 4-10, 2014
S
hoppers have been inundated with Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales since before Thanksgiving but people took time out Monday, December 1 to attend the annual holiday tree lighting in the Castro. Some people, like Fredrick Jones,
left, and Mike Samaro, mugged with Santa, while others enjoyed the festivities. Castro merchants hope shoppers flock to the gayborhood this season as sales were sluggish much of the year due to the now-completed sidewalk widening project.
debate over the changing retail landscape in San Francisco’s gay neighborhood will land at City Hall Thursday when the city’s planning commission takes up whether to approve three businesses considered to be formula retailers. Castro gay bar owner Les Natali is seeking approval to open a Hamburger Mary’s in the long vacant Patio Cafe space at 531 Castro Street. The restaurant chain was launched in San Francisco in 1972, although the South of Market location was shuttered in 2001. A few doors down from Natali’s property, Phil Jaber wants to relocate his 18th Street Philz coffeehouse into the storefront at 549 Castro Street. The location had been a shoe store, and most recently, the campaign headquarters for Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco). And Soulcycle, the national chain of spin class fitness centers, would like to open its third San Francisco location at 400 Castro Street, the former bank building above the Castro Muni station that once housed jeans purveyor Diesel. See page 10 >>
Jane Warner Plaza redo debuts Jane Philomen Cleland
by Matthew S. Bajko
A
popular parklet in San Francisco’s gay Castro district is sporting a new look as part of a wider streetscape improvement project the city undertook in the area. The redo of Jane Warner Plaza on a stretch of 17th Street between Hartford and Castro streets wrapped up the night of Wednesday, November 26 on the eve of Thanksgiving Day. Workers repaved the area with chocolate-colored asphalt and installed new metal gates on the plaza’s northeastern Jane Philomen Cleland boundary designed to mimic the historic marquee of the New chocolate-colored asphalt is one of the main elements in the renovated Jane Warner Plaza in the Castro. nearby Castro Theater. “This gives the plaza and Scrub on Castro Street. ies, and the creation of rainbow crosswalks at the much more of a finished look,” said Andrea The plaza work was the fi nal piece of the $6 intersection at Castro and 18th streets. Aiello, executive director of the Castro/Upper million Castro Street sidewalk-widening projThe work along Castro Street largely Market Community Benefit District. “I love ect that began in February and disrupted trafwrapped up prior to Halloween, with city planthe pavement. I like it because it is going to fic patterns and pedestrian access to the heart ners and the contractor, Ghilotti Brothers of hold up over time and it is a rich color.” of the gay business district for most of the year. Marin, then racing to finish the project in time Daniel Bergerac, president of the Castro In addition to the increased space for pedestrifor the holiday shopping season. Although sevMerchants business association, also had ans, the work included planting new street trees, eral decorative elements have yet to be installed praise for the redone plaza. installation of historical facts about the neigh“I think it is beautiful,” said Bergerac, a CasSee page 7 >> borhood and plaques honoring LGBT luminartro resident and co-owner of Mudpuppy’s Tub
{ FIRST OF THREE SECTIONS }
Homes, Sweet Homes The City’s Best Serving San Francisco Since 1956
Noe Valley Office 415.824.1100 Marina and Pacific Heights Offices 415.921.6000 Follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or read our daily blog at SFCitysBest.com
www.hill-co.com
<< Community News
2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
t
2 take deals in murder case by Seth Hemmelgarn
to Huynh’s death and authorities believe Blanca Torres is “purposely avoiding us,” Fleming said.
T
Surrogacy • Adoption • Prenuptial Agreements Divorce • Custody • Parentage Disputes
wo men who had been charged with murdering a man with whom one of them had had sexual relations pleaded guilty to lesser charges last week after the key witness – the gay sister of one of the defendants – disappeared. Blanca Torres and her brother Nestor Torres, 26, both of Oakland; and Clifton Thomas, 25, of San Francisco, were arrested last February and charged with murder, robbery, residential burglary, conspiracy to commit robbery, and kidnapping in the November 5, 2013 death of Hung Tuan Huynh, 49, in the first block of Yale Street. Thomas had been accused of striking Huynh with a paving stone as Nestor Torres exited the home with Huynh. The medical examiner’s office determined that Huynh died of multiple blunt force injuries to the head and other parts of his body. Blanca Torres was 22 when she was freed from jail in June, after a preliminary hearing in which San Francisco Superior Judge Raymond Arata found there was insufficient evidence to hold her on the charges. Arata dismissed the kidnapping charge against her brother and Thomas, but held them on the other counts. San Francisco police homicide Inspector Robert Velarde testified at the June hearing that Blanca Torres had told inspectors that her brother had planned to sell electronic items to Huynh, including a Galaxy phone and chargers that Blanca Torres had. Velarde indicated that Nestor Torres had told police that Huynh had once paid him so he could perform oral sex on him, and that he had initiated a sexual encounter with Nestor Torres inside the house just before he was killed.
‘The only eyewitness’
In recent months, authorities have been unable to locate Blanca Torres, who Assistant District Attorney Eric Fleming told the Bay Area Reporter is “really the only eyewitness” in the case. With her absence, the two remaining defendants have
Delayed plea
Courtesy SFPD
Nestor Torres
taken plea deals just as jury selection was getting underway. Thomas pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Monday, November 24, according to court documents. He’s expected to be sentenced to five years in prison at his next court date, February 24. Nestor Torres pleaded guilty Wednesday, November 26 to attempted robbery of an inhabited dwelling and receipt of stolen property worth more than $950. He’s expected to be sentenced to three years and eight months in prison at his next court date, December 24. He’ll have a strike on his record, which could mean a heftier sentence if he’s later convicted of a serious or violent felony. The remaining charges against both men have been dismissed. The two have been in custody since their arrest. In court last week, Fleming said prosecutors had already taken two dismissals of the case, and “we’re not going to be able to find [Torres] as a witness.” Given the problems that would come in proving the case if it were to proceed, Fleming said, the deal for Torres “is an appropriate disposition.” Outside the courtroom, he said if prosecutors had taken a third dismissal, they couldn’t have proceeded with the case. Prosecutors have “no physical evidence” connecting either defendant
Torres, who communicated in court Wednesday through an interpreter, almost lost his chance to plead to the lesser charges. After Deputy Public Defender Phoenix Streets said that Torres would plead guilty and explained the terms of the deal to his client, Judge Harold Kahn asked him if he understood. Torres responded, “I don’t understand much.” Kahn told him that the terms could be explained again, but he said he couldn’t accept his guilty pleas unless he’d determined Torres understood what was happening. Streets and Torres went into the holding cell for several minutes. Eventually, Streets emerged and told Kahn he had “no idea” if a disposition would be reached Wednesday. Fleming threatened to “withdraw the plea” if Torres didn’t decide by the end of the approaching lunch break. When everyone returned from the break, Torres took several more minutes to discuss the deal with Streets before ultimately pleading guilty to the charges. George Borges, Thomas’s attorney, declined to comment for this story. Citing information from police and fire officials in its report, the medical examiner’s office said that Huynh had lived with his mother and sister in the home. The agency indicated both had been ill and confined to their beds. Huynh “had a criminal history significant for stolen property charges,” the medical examiner’s report said, and “neighbors indicated that the residence had a high volume of foot and car traffic at all hours of the day.” Testimony at the preliminary hearing in June included descriptions of numerous electronic items, including laptops, in Huynh’s home. No family or friends of Huynh or Torres were present in court Wednesday.t
CPMC firm on proposed HIV/AIDS changes by Seth Hemmelgarn
FIRE UP YOUR SEX DRIVE! For guaranteed treatment of ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION, PREMATURE EJACULATION or LOW TESTOSTERONE call us to learn more about our services. • Safe, effective and personalized treatment plans so you can enjoy your sex life to the fullest, • We will help you on your first visit or it’s FREE!
Advanced Male Medical Center Call 415-366-6362
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 215, San Francisco, CA 94111 Located across from Pier 29 on the Embarcadero
www.advancedmalemedicalsf.com
O
fficials with California Pacific Medical Center’s Davies Campus aren’t budging on their controversial plans to change the way they deliver some services to people living with HIV and AIDS, according to people who were at a recent meeting to discuss the issue. Some patients of the hospital’s HIV/AIDS case management program are concerned that the two workers they’ve relied on for years for compassionate, comprehensive help will be unavailable and they’ll have to go to inadequately trained, less caring staff for assistance. CPMC is an affiliate of Sutter Health. In a November 11 letter to a doctor at Davies, which is located in the Castro, Eileen Kahn, a registered nurse and the regional care coordination executive and vice president for Sutter Health West Bay Region, said there are 15 patients in the program. Gay Supervisor Scott Wiener, whose District 8 includes the Davies campus, had a meeting with CPMC representatives and others last Monday, November 24. Before the meeting, Wiener said he had “very, very serious concerns” about the changes.
Rick Gerharter
CPMC officials are not budging in their plan to change how services are provided for some HIV/AIDS patients.
In an interview after the meeting, Wiener said CPMC was “firm” about the proposed changes, but “it was a good exchange of information in terms of the advocates who were there understanding what exactly the CPMC plan was in terms of transitioning, and also in terms of making sure there was proper training for people who were going to
be providing the counseling in the future.” Wiener added he’s still “not happy about the change.” In 2013, according to information from CPMC, the program enrolled more than 700 clients in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and is currently helping over 70 people in the state Office of AIDS Health Insurance Premium Program. “We believe our patients would be better served by aligning them with a CPMC financial counselor who can help these patients navigate through the ADAP and OA-HIPP financial drug assistance programs,” Kahn said. “We will also be providing continued case management for the remaining 15 patients via our inpatient case management and social service team at the Davies campus.” The center anticipated the transition would be effective December 1, she said. Kahn didn’t respond directly to an interview request for an earlier story, but had CPMC spokesman Dean Fryer speak with the Bay Area Reporter. In an email, Fryer said, “The case management function that See page 10 >>
AUDITED, VERIFIED... ...AND NOW, CERTIFIED! 10614 3/31/2014
Bay Area Reporter
B
uilding upon our history as the only LGBT publication in the 9-county San Francisco Bay Area possessing an audited and verified circulation and the largest reach, and our long-standing relationship National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and the Bay Area’s local LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the Golden Gate Business Assocation, the Bay Area Reporter, BARtab and www.ebar.com are now proud to be a certified LGBT business enterprise. We look forward to collaborating with the Fortune 1000 companies that participate in this program as part of their supplier diversity efforts. Now that we have our official business “gay card,” we can continue to promote diversity, creativity and equality in and outside of our company. Market your business to the largest audience of LGBT consumers. Call one of our marketing team members today at 415.861.5019
<< Open Forum
4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
Volume 44, Number 49 December 4-10, 2014 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman BARTAB EDITOR & EVENTS LISTINGS EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • Seth Hemmelgarn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ray Aguilera • Tavo Amador • Race Bannon Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Brent Calderwood • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Belo Cipriani Chuck Colbert • Richard Dodds Michael Flanagan • Jim Gladstone David Guarino • Liz Highleyman Brandon Judell • John F. Karr • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • Joshua Klipp David Lamble • Max Leger Michael McDonagh • David-Elijah Nahmod Elliot Owen • Paul Parish • Sean Piverger Lois Pearlman • Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota Bob Roehr • Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel Khaled Sayed • Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Jim Stewart Sean Timberlake • Andre Torrez • Ronn Vigh Ed Walsh • Cornelius Washington Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Jay Cribas PRODUCTION/DESIGN Max Leger PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland • FBFE Rick Gerharter • Gareth Gooch Lydia Gonzales • Jose Guzman-Colon Rudy K. Lawidjaja • Georg Lester • Dan Lloyd Rich Stadtmiller • Steven Underhil Dallis Willard • Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge • Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.861.5019 ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Lance Roberts NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863
LEGAL COUNSEL Paul H. Melbostad, Esq.
BAY AREA REPORTER 44 Gough Street, Suite 204 San Francisco, CA 94103 415.861.5019 • www.ebar.com A division of BAR Media, Inc. © 2014 President: Michael M. Yamashita Chairman: Thomas E. Horn VP and CFO: Patrick G. Brown Secretary: Todd A. Vogt
News Editor • news@ebar.com Arts Editor • arts@ebar.com Out & About listings • jim@ebar.com Advertising • scott@ebar.com Letters • letters@ebar.com Published weekly. Bay Area Reporter reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement which the publisher believes is in poor taste or which advertises illegal items which might result in legal action against Bay Area Reporter. Ads will not be rejected solely on the basis of politics, philosophy, religion, race, age, or sexual orientation. Advertising rates available upon request. Our list of subscribers and advertisers is confidential and is not sold. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, and writers published herein is neither inferred nor implied. We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork.
Changes needed for police
I
f something good can emerge from the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri due to a grand jury declining to indict white police officer Darren Wilson for shooting unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, we hope that President Barack Obama’s announcement this week of a $263 million program that will provide up to 50,000 body cameras for police will be swiftly implemented. The technology will add a layer of accountability for officers and the public. And while the events in Ferguson may have been the catalyst, it’s clear in the reporting since Brown’s death in August that police departments are more militarized – thanks to the purchase of surplus military equipment – and that officers don’t always follow proper procedures. Robert McColloch, the prosecutor who convened the grand jury, took the unprecedented step last week of releasing all of the materials the grand jury heard, as well as transcripts of the testimony. The documents revealed numerous irregularities in police procedure and it’s clear that Wilson, who has since resigned from the Ferguson Police Department, mishandled evidence after the shooting by, among other things, placing his gun in an evidence bag himself and washing blood off his hands. According to the testimony, Wilson also returned to the police station unescorted, a highly unorthodox move. The transcripts showed that officers who interviewed Wilson did not tape the proceeding, another unusual decision. We certainly hope that police department officials around the country look at the mistakes in Ferguson so that they can be prevented. It’s inexcusable that these lapses were allowed to happen, since, as the Washington Post reported last week, a 2013 Justice Department manual on processing crime scenes – which was developed in conjunction with police departments across the country – is clear that suspects should not use the bathroom, wash their hands, or brush their hair. The larger questions that have arisen in the aftermath of Brown’s shooting will not be solved by equipment such as body cameras. But they would provide visual evidence that would aid in-
vestigators. As the grand jury testimony showed, eyewitness accounts were unreliable – no surprise there – with witnesses offering contradictory accounts of what happened in the roughly 90 seconds from when Wilson and Brown first interacted to the fatal shots being fired. Had Wilson been wearing a body camera, the investigation might have been more conclusive. Policies and procedures for implementing cameras should be devised to ensure proper and effective use. Any body camera is only effective if it is operating, so it should be mandatory that officers turn on the cameras when they begin their shifts, and leave them on. Outgoing Oakland Mayor Jean Quan posted on Facebook Tuesday that after she took office four years ago, she and the federal monitor overseeing the police department switched from dashboard mounted cameras to body cameras. She said that since then, complaints against officers are down by 70 percent “and in many cases the cameras have exonerated the officers.” But camera use doesn’t
t
appear to be consistent, as in at least one case where an officer shot and killed a man, the camera was not on, according to an August San Francisco Chronicle article that looked at the use of body cameras in the wake of Ferguson. San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi is a proponent of body cameras for officers. But as he pointed out in the Chronicle story, if turning it on is left up to the officer, the result will be selective, which doesn’t help anybody. Looters and violent protesters in Oakland and San Francisco last week have done absolutely nothing to further the cause of police reform, or addressing underlying racism in our society that Ferguson has so pointedly brought to the fore. Looting businesses and smashing glass windows casts a pall over all demonstrators, even though it was a small group committing the violence. We want the police to protect us from harm, but we also want them to follow protocols and adhere to constitutional rights. We don’t think that happened in Ferguson, and we hope that going forward, civil rights groups, LGBT organizations, and others can work together to bring about substantive change.t
Seven deceptive myths against PrEP by Race Bannon and Luke Adams
ducted or have reviewed the studies. Truvada has been proved to be safe and effective for prevention when taken as prescribed. In demonstration projects, those who adhered to taking the medication at least four times a week had zero HIV infections (Londovitz, 2014).
T
hree years ago, we wrote an op-ed piece, “Brave new world: Test, treat, and PrEP,” and we refer you back to it (http://www. ebar.com/columns/column.php?sec=guest_ op&article=347). It began a big conversation. Both of us are community organizers who spend a lot of time talking with the target populations of the “Getting to Zero” effort at HIV prevention in San Francisco, so we wrote for this paper to address some reckless misinformation in the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s ad campaigns against Truvada for PrEP. In those three years, the FDA has approved daily Truvada for pre-exposure prevention against HIV infection for all sexually active people who have a risk of exposure. The World Health Organization has endorsed its use and advocated for access in developing countries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has offered strong endorsement. The White House Office of National AIDS Policy has included PrEP as part of the strategy to get to an AIDS-free generation. The British National Health Service, Health Canada, the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia’s national health insurance program, and the European Medicines Agency are now moving toward the approval and adoption of Truvada for PrEP. Healthy San Francisco first covered Truvada for PrEP. With the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, Medi-Cal became the first state Medicaid program to cover it (Adams helped advocate directly for that) and to simplify the process. New York, Washington, and other states have followed. Most private insurers are covering it, to varying degrees. One of the pieces of advocacy we have to do about this preventive measure is to require that insurers cover this medication as a preventive with little or no co-payment. San Francisco Supervisor David Campos was the first California public official to propose finding ways to secure access and affordability for PrEP to all San Fran-
Myth #2
ciscans who need it. We hope that other cities and states will follow suit, and that a global pricing scheme can be adopted to pay Gilead a negotiated price for Truvada. ACT UP, while battling Gilead Sciences’ high pricing for Sovaldi and other medications, has strongly endorsed Gilead’s Truvada for PrEP. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Gay Men’s Health Crisis in New York, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Project Inform, and every significant AIDS research or service organization in America has endorsed adding PrEP to the arsenal of prevention tools – except one. The lone organizational enemy of enhanced HIV prevention remains the controversial multinational conglomerate, AIDS Healthcare Foundation. AHF often points to certain studies to back up its deceptive myths, then cherry-picks the data cited, misrepresenting the consensus of the various studies. AHF has continued publishing ads with deceptive myths in community papers, offering deceptive media commentary to reporters, and fomenting deception from an army of social media conspiracy theorists to attack this method of prevention. We write this to dispel the seven big deceptive myths.
Myth #1
“There are still too many questions about Truvada’s overall effectiveness.” No, not among any reputable scientific researchers who con-
“Truvada for PrEP will breed a resistant supervirus, and will infect people on PrEP.” No, since Truvada has already been in use as one of the components of treating people already infected with HIV, there has long been a virus that has potential resistance to one of the components of the medication. None of the studies on Truvada for PrEP have shown that potentially resistant viruses can break through the mechanism Truvada uses for prevention. No one, in any of the studies, who began the study uninfected and who adhered to the medication, has become infected with HIV. In fact, those who adhered to daily Truvada for PrEP had a 99 percent protection rate (Grant, et al., 2010; CROI, 2012).
Myth #3
“Truvada for PrEP is dangerous for your kidneys/liver/ etc.” No, the PrEP studies about Truvada have shown no liver or kidney toxicities, and very minor, if any, side effects (Grant, et al., 2010). There have been some reported minor toxicities experienced by HIV-positive people who are taking Truvada to treat infection – about 3 percent have shown creatinine clearance or other kidney problems, and there was no more incidence of liver irritation – 8 percent – than with other antiretroviral medicine combinations (Gallant, et al, 2006).
Myth #4
“Only wealthy barebackers in big cities will be able to afford Truvada for PrEP.” No, See page 20 >>
t
Letters >>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5
SFAF’s unhealthy relationship with tanning parlor
Acria happy to work in SF
As a community member, a supporter of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and a dermatologist, I was disappointed and surprised that SFAF appears to have entered into a marketing partnership with a tanning parlor. According to a flier, which prominently features logos of both the tanning parlor and SFAF and is posted at the Fitness SF gym in the Castro, Tan Bella, a Castro-based tanning parlor (which offers tanning beds) will donate a proportion of its proceeds to SFAF. Tanning beds are a health hazard. Use of tanning beds is associated with increased risk of melanoma – a particularly deadly type of skin cancer – as well as other skin cancers including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Those concerns have prompted at least 41 states to enact restrictions on use of tanning beds by minors, with California in 2011 having banned their use by persons under 18 altogether. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Surgeon General, and the World Health Organization all recommend against using tanning beds. So does the Food and Drug Administration, which earlier this year began requiring that tanning beds carry “black-box” warning labels warning consumers about skin cancer risks. Even more concerning in this case is emerging evidence that people living with HIV are at higher risk of getting the same skin cancers (melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma) that are associated with tanning bed use. Moreover, those skin cancers can be more aggressive, and more deadly, among people living with HIV. SFAF has done wonderful work in promoting the health of our community. But when SFAF’s logo shares the stage with a purveyor of products and services known to threaten our community’s health – especially the health of members of our community living with HIV – SFAF’s work is undermined. If SFAF has a partnership with the tanning parlor, SFAF should publicly end that partnership. If a partnership does not exist, SFAF should publicly request that the tanning parlor cease using its name and logo. Partnering with a tanning parlor might benefit SFAF’s bottom line in the short term. But that benefit, in the end, is far outweighed by the costs to our community’s health. Kenneth A. Katz, MD San Francisco
With regard to your article of November 20, “Trainings focus on HIV and aging issues,” I wanted to thank you for bringing attention to the needs of long-term survivors and other HIV-positive older adults. Acria, with the support of the MAC AIDS Fund is pleased to be able to work with San Francisco area AIDS service organizations, seniors groups, and advocacy organizations on this important and complex issue. As part of our training center’s National Technical Assistance Project this is the second time we’ve come to San Francisco to do similar work, the first time being in 2009, and, as your article shows, a lot has changed since then. Acria, with a history of AIDS work in research, clinical trials, education, and advocacy since 1991, is excited about the opportunity to share what we know and collaborate with organizations that need support. Our groundbreaking Research on Older Adults with HIV study continues to help us to develop national and global partnerships and informs all the technical assistance work we do. Our community partner, Let’s Kick ASS (AIDS Survivor Syndrome) has been especially helpful in getting word out about this project and the large turnout of individuals and organizations at the community mobilization meeting speaks to their reach, the subjects’ importance and organizational need. Our technical assistance/capacity building model helps organizations to develop resources that can be sustained, and provider collaborations that can grow. Just to clarify our work on this project, the community mobilization meeting, in which we conducted an assessment of training and technical assistance needs, will be followed by two, two-day training sessions, one in January and another in February, for up to 30 local leaders, each session building on the previous session. The content of the training sessions will be tailored to the needs of the invited organizations. In the spring two of these leaders will be invited to attend a four-day training in New York City where they’ll join participants from other Training Center NTA-funded projects in Memphis, San Juan, Atlanta, and Miami for further networking and collaboration opportunities. We hope that coverage of the issues and needs of older adults and HIV continues along with the important work that local AIDS service organizations, senior groups, and advocacy organizations are already doing to meet them.
Barry Schneider Attorney at Law
family law specialist* • Divorce w/emphasis on Real Estate & Business Divisions • Domestic Partnerships, Support & Custody • Probate and Wills www.SchneiderLawSF.com
415-781-6500 *Certified by the California State Bar 400 Montgomery Street, Ste. 505, San Francisco, CA
Benjamin Bashein, Executive Director Joseph Lunievicz, Deputy Executive Director for Programs Acria New York City
Hyder show celebrates 45 years of photography compiled by Cynthia Laird
V
isual artist and longtime LGBT community member Happy/ LA Hyder will open her San Francisco studio this weekend as she celebrates 45 years of photography. In a news release, Hyder, 67, said that 45 years ago, on December 6, 1969 at the Altamont Music Festival, she used a 35-mm camera for the first time. The music festival, held at the Altamont Speedway between Livermore and Tracy, featured rock stars including Santana, Jefferson Airplane, and the Rolling Stones. But it was a chaotic event that left an African American man dead after he was attacked by a member of the Hells Angels, which were providing security. Hyder said that she only took a few photos at the festival. “It was a cool air, hot sun day; all very upbeat and fun,” Hyder said in an email. “Of course, we didn’t know someone was being knifed in the front row.” Hyder soon had her own camera and never looked back. “There are a lot of exciting developments in my work,” she said, adding that she recently began
Correction
Courtesy Happy/LA Hyder
Photographer Happy/LA Hyder
a series based on feminist and lesbian texts “layered with images from my early years and images I’ve taken recently.” “The idea for the series came to me after participating in the Old Lesbians Organizing for Change conference held in Oakland this July and it is very exciting,” Hyder said, adding that she is also See page 20 >>
Due to a reporting error in the November 20 article, “New director named for Keshet Bay Area,” it was incorrectly stated that Keshet San Francisco Bay Area took the place of the LGBT Jewish Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. Keshet Bay Area did take over programming from the alliance when it was awarded a $700,000 multi-year grant by the federation in 2012. As stated in a previous article the alliance remained at the federation as an advisory granting committee for the Jewish LGBT community, including Keshet Bay Area and other LGBT Jewish organizations. Keshet Bay Area is also not working with seniors, as was incorrectly stated. The online version has been corrected.
EQUALITY = HEALTHY We all bring something unique to the world, something for which we are proud. For the 5th year in a row, Kaiser Permanente has been recognized as a leader in health care equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations in the Healthcare Equality Index 2014 report.
kp.org/thrive
<< Politics
6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
Happy Holidays from VIP Grooming! Proudly serving the LGBT community. Come see why we are the Best dog groomers in the Bay. www.VIPgroomingSF.com 415-282-1393 • 4299 24th Street, SF
t
Out lawmakers take oaths of office by Matthew S. Bajko
J
ust shy of a month after voters elected them into office, out lawmakers around the state are already at work in their new positions. In Los Angeles Sheila Kuehl, a former state lawmaker, became the first LGBT person to serve on the powerful Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors when she was sworn into her District 3 seat Monday, December 1. The night of Tuesday, December 2 saw the swearing-in of gay El Cerrito City Councilman Gabriel Quinto. Not only the first out person to serve on his hometown’s elected body of government, Quinto is the first known HIV-positive person elected to public office in the Bay Area. The day prior to his taking his seat on the East Bay council, Quinto was in Sacramento with other members of the East Bay Stonewall
THIS IS YOUR MOMENT! At the Parc 55 Wyndham Hotel you can host your wedding celebrations right in San Francisco, where LGBT weddings all started. We are a place where you can create your own definition of ‘awesome’ and feel like you’re the center of attention. 30,000 sq ft of flexible wedding space to accommodate any size of event. Over 1,000 guest rooms. Downtown vibe. Modern cuisine. Premium everything.
Book your engagement party and wedding with us and Feel Like a 10! Contact: 415-403-6690 or catering@parc55.com Check in at Parc55Hotel.com
Courtesy Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Sheila Kuehl, left, being sworn in by her sister, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Jerilyn Borack.
Democratic Club to witness freshman gay Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) take his oath of office during a noon ceremony in the Legislature’s lower chamber. Low, 31, is the youngest out legislator in California history and also the youngest Asian American to be elected to the Assembly. The rising Democratic politician easily won the 28th Assembly District seat covering portions of west San Jose and several Peninsula cities that his boss, former Assemblyman Paul Fong (D-Cupertino), had held until being termed out of office this year. Should he choose to do so, Low potentially could serve the next 12 years in his Assembly seat under the state’s term limits law and seek the powerful Assembly speaker post. Before the former Campbell City Councilman had even been officially welcomed by his new statehouse colleagues, he learned late last month that lesbian Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), who was elected Monday to a full term as speaker and will be termed out in 2016, had named him to one of two assistant majority whip positions among her leadership team. “Speaker Atkins has the foresight and values we need to prioritize including how to continue to save resources for difficult times and how to invest in our State to improve the lives of all Californians as the economy improves. I look forward to getting to work on day one,” stated Low, now the seventh-highest ranking officer of the Assembly and tasked with garnering support for legislation backed by Atkins. Monday, December 1 Atkins named another out lawmaker, newly re-elected lesbian Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) to her leadership team, naming Eggman as the Democratic Caucus Chair for the 2015-2016 legislative session. Also selected for a leadership position during the new term was freshman Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), named by Atkins as the assistant speaker pro tempore. The former supervisor beat out his gay colleague, Supervisor David Campos, to win the 17th Assembly District seat, which encompasses the eastern half of San Francisco, marking the first time a straight lawmaker has held the post in more than two decades. Like Low, Chiu could potentially serve in the Assembly seat until 2026. “It is an honor to be selected to join the Assembly leadership team, and I want to thank Speaker Atkins for the opportunity,” stated Chiu, who Monday introduced his first piece of legislation, a bill that would authorize a new $40 million annual state tax credit to assist with the rehabilitation and preservation of rental housing serving low-income tenants. The next gay elected to take their
Assemblyman Evan Low
oath of office will be Omar Torres, who won a seat on the FranklinMcKinley School District in San Jose. His swearing in will take place the evening of Tuesday, December 9, when he will be serving alongside John Lindner, a gay man and Oak Grove teacher first elected to the local school board in 2004. Also that night Berkeley lesbian City Councilwoman-elect Lori Droste will be sworn into her District 8 seat, marking the first time an out lesbian has served on the council. Oakland City Councilman-elect Abel Guillen, who identifies as Two Spirit and dates both men and women, will not be sworn in to his District 2 seat until January 5. In the meantime, he is hosting a victory fundraiser this weekend to help him retire his campaign debt of $10,000. “Over the next few weeks, I will be working hard to ensure that I’m prepared to take office on January 5. Although I have met so many constituents and business owners throughout District 2, I am working to meet even more and share my vision as District 2’s councilmember,” wrote Guillen in an invite to his “Victory Celebration & Fundraiser” event. It will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, December 6 at pizza restaurant The Star, 3425 Grand Avenue in Oakland.
CA seeks info on LGBT vet services
A state agency is trying to determine the kinds of services available to LGBT veterans in the Golden State. The California Department of Veterans Affairs Minority Veterans Affairs Division has partnered with the California Research Bureau to collect data on organizations that provide services to LGBT veterans and service members. CalVet intends to use the information from the survey to create a resource guide to help connect LGBT veterans and service members to the services being provided. It also hopes to get a better understanding of how many LGBT vets are in California and in need of services. The online survey is estimated to take five minutes to fill out. It can be accessed via https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P95VVGM.t
t
Community News>>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7
DPH in talks with Maitri for clinic space by Seth Hemmelgarn
you in early December.”
S
Lawsuits settled
an Francisco’s Maitri hospice has been exploring with the city’s health department the idea of it taking over clinic space at the nonprofit. The location, at 100 Church Street, was recently vacated by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which had run a pharmacy and Out of the Closet thrift store there until becoming embroiled in rent-related lawsuits. Maitri, which provides 24hour residential care to people living with AIDS, owns the building. Settlement agreements have been reached in both cases. In a recent interview, San Francisco Health Director Barbara Garcia said the agency was possibly interested in opening a primary care clinic in the space. “We have been exploring it. It is not a done deal,” she said. “Conversations are still going on.” The health department is exploring whether to expand its primary care services in the city’s gay Castro district. Establishing a clinic in the area could provide services to people enrolled in the city’s Healthy San Francisco affordable insurance program or those on Medi-Cal, the publicly subsidized health insurance program for low-income people overseen by the state. “The question is still out on whether or not we have enough patients to fill that goal,” said Garcia. Maitri officials approached the health department this fall about taking over the former AHF clinic since it is already built out and would not require much structural work to prepare the space. “There was already a clinic there so it is a turnkey space. We would not have to spend a lot of capital dollars on it,” said Garcia.
<<
Jane Warner Plaza
From page 1
in Jane Warner Plaza, the majority of the work is now complete. It is the second time the parklet has been given a makeover since city officials closed off vehicular access to that segment of 17th Street in 2009 to install the first demonstration project under the pavement-toparks initiative. A year later the city installed more permanent structures and new planting at the site to delineate the space as a public plaza. It is named after a lesbian San
Jane Philomen Cleland
Maitri Executive Director Michael Smithwick
Yet Garcia stressed the department is not ready to commit at this time and has encouraged the hospice officials to talk with other health care providers that are also looking to expand. “We have had some conversations but have not signed on the dotted line,” she said. “They are looking to other people to see if other people are ready to do it today. We haven’t signed any lease today.” In an email November 25, Maitri Executive Director Michael Smithwick said, “I can confirm that we have been in preliminary discussion” with Garcia and other health department staff “regarding their interest in potentially renting all or a portion of the 7,400 square foot ground floor commercial space ... . I can also confirm that we are in discussion with other prospective future tenants interested in that space as well.” Smithwick said he couldn’t provide more information but “I expect to be able to share more openly with
Maitri filed an unlawful detainer complaint against AHF, which is based in Los Angeles, in June, claiming that the foundation didn’t pay rent from September 2013 to just days before the lawsuit was filed. In a response filed in September, AHF said it paid about $184,000 due in rent June 24, a figure almost $80,000 lower than what Maitri said it was owed. The settlement was filed in San Francisco Superior Court in October. Another lawsuit in which Maitri makes similar rent claims against AHF settled in November. Smithwick has declined to share details on the settlements. In a November 21 email, he said, “While we have reached a settlement agreement,” in the lawsuit settled that month, “the final written agreement has not yet been signed ... so I’m going to need to refrain from any public comment at this time related to the space or the settlement associated with it.” Dale Gluth, AHF’s Bay Area regional director, said Tuesday, “I can tell you we did settle, but that’s all I can tell you.” Besides the former Church Street pharmacy, AHF also has another pharmacy on 18th Street in the Castro. The foundation has moved the Church Street pharmacy to the 18th Street location, and it’s opened an HIV treatment center at 518 Castro Street. AHF has sued the city and District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener over whether that location should be subject to formula retail rules. The lawsuit is pending.t
Matthew S. Bajko contributed to this report.
Francisco Patrol Special Police officer who for years provided additional security for area businesses. Warner died in 2010 after a long battle with cancer. Due to public feedback on what sorts of enhancements residents and merchants wanted to see included in the sidewalk-widening project, city planners set aside funds to pay for the redo of Jane Warner Plaza as part of the streetscape work. The Market Street entrance to the Chevron adjacent to the plaza also reSee page 20 >>
Share-worthy Views o f t h e C i t y a n d B ay
C i t y- S av v y S ta f f w i l l Turn you on to SF’s Best
SF’s Fastest Free WIFI & lots of smart Luxuries
9 0 5 C a l i f o r n i a S t r e e t, S a n F r a n c i s c o , C A 9 4 1 0 8 T : 4 1 5 . 9 8 9 . 3 5 0 0 / s t a n f o r d c o u r t. c o m
<< Community News
8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
EQUALITY
MARRIAGE Happened! When DIVORCE Happens You Have OPTIONS: Saturdays, Dec. 6, 2014 and Jan. 3, 2015 9:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. and on the first Saturday morning most months SF Jewish Community Center (JCC) 3200 California Street (at Presidio)
$45 per person
($10 off on Eventbrite)
www.cp-sf.com DivorceOptionsSF@gmail.com www.divorceoptionsinfo.org
What you need to know about YOUR
DIVORCE OPTIONS Divorce Options is a 3 hour educational workshop offered monthly, equally appropriate if you are married or a state registered domestic partner, and with or without children.
Divorce Options is presented monthly throughout Northern California by panels of collaboratively trained attorneys, financial professionals and mental health professionals, who are members of:
Collaborative Practice California. Saturdays Mornings in:
San Francisco
San Mateo
San Rafael
(Wed. Eves)
San Jose
Lafayette 415 Steven Underhill 370
Santa Rosa
PHOTOGRAPHY 7152 Sacramento & County
(Folsom, Placerville, Roseville)
& Fresno
www.cpcal.org WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS
stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com
t
Cho performs for homeless youth by David-Elijah Nahmod
S
aying that “homelessness is out of control,” bisexual comedian and actress Margaret Cho has spent the last few weeks performing around San Francisco, while collecting and distributing items for those in need. Last week saw her busking outside Larkin Street Youth Services in the Tenderloin, where she brought along a friend, guitarist Bob Mould, of the alternative bands Husker Du and Sugar. Cho was advocating and soliciting donations for homeless youth. Cho has promoted her appearances via Twitter – she’s performed at the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets, at Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro, and on Powell Street opposite the cable car turnaround. “I’ve seen AIDS and crystal meth decimate the city,” Cho said. “And now homelessness is another plague.” Over 100 people, many of them homeless LGBTs, came to hear Cho speak and perform at the November 26 noontime Larkin Street event. Cho invited them to help themselves to items such as toothpaste and socks that she had just purchased at Target. “Two hundred and fifty dollars came from Rosie O’Donnell to purchase these items,” Cho said, as the crowd applauded. Food was also being served. “If you have, give, if you need, take,” Cho said in what has been her refrain at the events. Cho remembered her late friend Robin Williams, a Bay Area resident. Williams died by suicide August 11 after a long battle with depression. “I knew Robin,” Cho said. “I loved him. He did so much for the homeless. His movie contracts stipulated that part of the crew had to be homeless. He raised $70 million for the homeless through Comic Relief. Don’t grieve for Robin, be him.”
Jane Philomen Cleland
Margaret Cho, left, performs with Bob Mould outside Larkin Street Youth Services.
Cho then performed for the crowd. She was joined by Mould, who’s gay, and performance artist Gerry Lawlor on several songs, including a rousing rendition of the Tina Turner standard “Proud Mary.” Lawlor announced that anyone who needed to contact a loved one or friend could use her phone. Sex educator and performance artist Violet Blue addressed the crowd. “I was a homeless kid from age 13-18,” she said, her eyes welling up with tears. “If it weren’t for places like Larkin Street, I wouldn’t be here. This means so much, that’s all I can say.” Cho urged people to be more empathetic. “I don’t want people to walk by the homeless,” Cho told the crowd. “Because that’s what happens. These are somebody’s kids. We have a responsibility to come through for them.” Larkin Street program manager Kat Tom was thrilled about Cho’s appearance. “It’s really amazing that we have this going on,” she said. “An event like this really brings the commu-
nity together. Having someone like Margaret Cho, who is a celebrity, is beneficial to us in so many ways.” Cho was especially welcome at that time, as it was the day before Thanksgiving, Tom said. “Just having her here boosts morale,” Tom added. “Especially with her LGBT activism, it means a lot. It’s a hard time, especially for our youth.” Alexandra Carter, a 24-year-old transgender woman who is homeless, was also pleased by Cho’s appearance. “I think it’s cool because it’s promoting a good cause,” Carter said as she enjoyed her lunch. “We’re getting donations, and this is the perfect time, especially around the holidays for people who may not have family to visit or share with.” Cho will continue making appearances around the city in support of the homeless through December 31. She invites people to join her and help out if they can, or get help if they need it. Updates on her appearances will be posted on her Twitter feed: @ margaretcho.t
Keshet hosts first-ever LGBT awards event by Heather Cassell
T
he Bay Area’s LGBT Jewish community will honor three outstanding leaders for their contributions to the community at the inaugural Glimmer gala this weekend. The awards will honor two mothers who are allies – Jennifer Gorovitz and Ayala Katz – and a gay man – Martin H. Tannenbaum – for their ongoing work to improve, embrace, and integrate LGBT Jews in the Bay Area and Israel’s Jewish community and institutions. The event also marks a milestone for Keshet Bay Area with its first major fundraising gala and the introduction of its new director Rebecca Cariati. “Glimmer is our way to celebrate and honor those people who have made an incredible dent in this work and allowed us to move forward with the work of LGBTQ equality and inclusivity in the Bay Area and beyond,” said Cariati, a 30-year-old queer woman. “It’s a chance to celebrate the work, to celebrate the mission, and to celebrate the potential of our Jewish community to be more loving, more open-armed more inclusive and thereby a more vibrant version of what it is today,” she added. Cariati said that about 250 people will attend the December 6 event being held in the Pottruck Family Atrium at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco.
Courtesy Keshet
Martin H. Tannenbaum is one of three honorees at Keshet’s Glimmer gala December 6.
Honoring allies
Gorovitz, the former CEO of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, and Katz, an Israeli LGBT advocate, are being honored with the Landres Courage for Dignity Award. Gorovitz, 50, is counsel at Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, LLP, and set an example for Jewish leaders across the nation on LGBT issues during her four and a half year tenure as the first woman to head one of the 20 largest Jewish federations in the U.S. She advocated for queer inclusion throughout the federation and the endowment fund, which is housed at the federation. Her support led to
funding LGBT programs, including a $700,000 multi-year grant the federation provided to Keshet. “I don’t believe that any individual or group of individuals should be marginalized, either through lack of interest or neglect or worse,” said Gorovitz, who felt it was important to put the LGBT community “front and center on her agenda.” It was her goal during her leadership at the federation to enable the work of the LGBT community to “become more robust” and in the broader Jewish community, she said, but the federation didn’t have the resources or the skills to accomplish the work that she felt need to be done. Keshet did. So, Gorovitz led the effort to fund Keshet’s work in the area of “capacity building, leadership development, and anti-bullying efforts in the Bay Area” that would, in a “much more significant way,” bring LGBT Jews into the broader Jewish community in the Bay Area, she said. She’s honored and feels privileged that she’s being recognized by an organization that she has a “great deal of respect for,” she said. Katz is the mother of Nir Katz, who was one of the two youth murdered during the tragic shooting at Bar Noar, a Tel Aviv center for LGBT youth, on August 9, 2009. She also will receive the award for her work educating people about LGBT issues in Israel. See page 17 >>
INTRODUCING EQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE PROGRAM POSITIVE RESOURCE CENTER’S HEALTHCARE REFORM
OPEN ENROLLMENT COMPUTER LAB SIGN UP FOR COVERED CALIFORNIA
ON-SITE COUNSELORS
AT POSITIVE RESOURCE CENTER
ARE AVAILABLE FOR IN PERSON
LEARN HOW THE STATE’S OFFICE OF AIDS CAN PAY FOR YOUR MONTHLY
CONSULTATION AND
INSURANCE PREMIUM
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Opening December 1, 2014 Closed December 24, 2014 - January 4, 2015 for the holidays
Drop-In Open Enrollment Lab Hours Monday - Friday 9:15 AM - 12:00 PM Cost: FREE Eligibility: Must be HIV+ and a San Francisco resident For questions and/or consultations, please call: (415) 777-0333
MEDI-CAL
LIMITED COVERAGE
MEDICARE
PAPERWORK AHEAD
CAUTION CO-PAY
785 Market Street, 10th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103
ADAP
ADA Accessible Funded by San Francisco Department of Public Health
PRIVATE INSURANCE
OA-HIPP
COVERED CALIFORNIA
<< Community News
10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
<<
Castro retail
From page 1
While Soulcycle has been widely welcomed by Castro residents and merchants, both Philz and Hamburger Mary’s have drawn opponents. In Philz’s case, the concern is seeing what once was a retail space be given over to another coffeehouse, while Hamburger Mary’s has raised objections for being a formulaic restaurant. The commission did receive 668 emails in support of Hamburger Mary’s, while Philz garnered four letters in support of the project from two neighborhood groups and two individuals. Planning staff has recommended that all three of the businesses be approved, and it is expected that the planning commission will vote in their favor. Nonetheless, the hearing has brought to the fore concerns over the direction of where the Castro business scene is headed. Some merchants object to seeing spaces that had been leased to stores being taken over by non-retail uses. In recent years three storefronts on the 400 and 500 blocks of Castro Street have given way to medical clinics, and a fourth is soon to be a hotdog stand. Other retail spaces on 18th, 17th,
<<
CPMC
From page 2
we provide for 15 patients will be transitioned to our Care Coordination unit within CPMC,” while “the ADAP application assistance will be handled by a long-standing service provider that CPMC uses to assist patients with enrollment and eligibility issues for government programs and services.” No clients will lose services, according to Fryer, who said in a phone interview that staff at the larger program are getting training to assist clients. In response to emailed questions Tuesday, December 2, Fryer said,
and along Market Street have given way to coffeehouses, prompting growing complaints that the Castro is awash in cafes. “This neighborhood is going to end up just being bars, banks, and baristas,” said longtime Castro merchant Patrick Batt, who opposes Philz’s relocation plans. “There isn’t going to be a reason for people to come here to shop.” Batt owns the gay porn store Auto Erotica on 18th Street and is a coowner of the Eureka Cafe on the 400 block of Castro Street, which opened earlier this year. The majority of the cafe’s business comes from tourists and many kvetch about the lack of shops in the gayborhood, Batt said. “The Castro has an international reputation, but when people come here they have no reason to stay,” said Batt. “If you don’t have cute little gay shops, they are not going to spend their money.” Other merchants, however, welcome the Castro’s changing business lineup. Daniel Bergerac, president of the Castro Merchants business association, said the new retailers coming to the neighborhood are meeting a need. “I truly feel retailing as we know it has dramatically changed with the “The realignment is in progress and will be completed in the coming weeks.” He added, “We do not discuss personnel matters,” but “the two employees currently in the [HIV/AIDS case management office] are being offered positions in the CPMC Case Management Unit.” Fryer said the hospital has two ADAP counselors who’ve completed “all required state training to be certified to helping patients with ADAP applications. Two staff trained and two more are scheduled for March.” He also said CPMC staff would work with either the San Francisco AIDS Foundation or a “similar group for additional education related to the AIDS/HIV patient.”t
Rick Gerharter
The San Francisco Planning Commission will decide Thursday if Hamburger Mary’s can go into the long vacant Patio Cafe space in the Castro.
advent of the Internet. What was standard brick and mortar retailing is no longer because of the Internet,” said Bergerac, a co-owner of Mudpuppy’s Tub and Scrub on the 500 block of Castro Street as well as a resident. “There has got to be business owners who have to step up and produce some great retail entertainment. Shops that people really want to go to.” Although he is personally opposed to Hamburger Mary’s, mainly due to concerns that if it fails another chain restaurant will want to move in, Bergerac said he expects it will be approved. Having that space open again after years of seeing it vacant will have a significant impact on the Castro, he predicted, as will the openings of Philz and Soulcycle. “Psychologically, to finally have that ghost ship filled with humans is going to be gigantic for the neighborhood,” said Bergerac. “I think more people on the street means more opportunities there are for every business owner.” While the board of the Castro/
Upper Market Community Benefit District voted to support all three of the businesses wanting to open on Castro Street, its executive director Andrea Aiello said the concerns voiced by Batt and others are valid points the neighborhood needs to address. “It is a very important issue,” said Aiello, noting that the CBD also hears from tourists to the Castro that there is a lack of things for them to do in the area. “They are looking for cute boutiques to go shopping. They want some nice memorabilia from the Castro that they can bring home rather than a keychain or a mug or T-shirt at Walgreens,” she said. “That is a challenge they have. Tourists do want to go shopping; there is not that much here.” The CBD is working with other Castro neighborhood groups to develop a retail strategy in hopes of improving the retail options in the gay business district for both visitors and residents. It has been surveying merchants and shoppers in the area
– more than 850 people have filled out a questionnaire related to the retail strategy work so far – and expects to present the findings in the spring and a plan by July. “If our goal is to generate interest in a lot of foot traffic, we need to think about what kinds of shops and institutions do that,” said Aiello. “We need to examine ways to encourage a thriving neighborhood.” Gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, who represents the Castro, declined to comment specifically on the three businesses seeking permits as the planning commission’s decisions could be appealed to the Board of Supervisors. In general, Wiener said, “I am happy there are proposals to fill vacancies in the neighborhood.” In terms of their impact, Wiener said, “I do think it is important in going through the conditional use process to take the big picture into account. That is fair game.” As he surveys the Castro’s retail scene, Wiener believes there is a healthy mix of shops, restaurants, and other businesses. “New retail stores have opened in the neighborhood, and I am confident they will continue to do so. We also have a dramatically improved restaurant scene compared to when I moved into the neighborhood in 1997,” he said. “If you look at the cafes in the Castro, they tend to be pretty full ... They all serve important purposes in the neighborhood and we see all three types of businesses opening in the Castro: cafes, restaurants and traditional retail.” People can take the Castro retail survey through December 12 at http://www.castroretail.com/.t
On the web Online content this week includes the Out in the World column and more News Briefs. www.ebar.com.
YOU’LL FALL head over HEALDSBURG
In the famed Sonoma County wine country. Local hospitality meets San Francisco chic. Bakeries, bistros, tasting rooms and 5-star restaurants. Stylish boutiques, art galleries and antique shops. Picnic baskets brimming with local farmers’ market delicacies. www.healdsburg.com
t
Taste the wine country the way Northern Californians do. And like everyone who visits, you’ll fall head over Healdsburg.
14ALA1894_9.75x16_EMSL_CyberMonday_BAR_e6_NF.indd 1
12/2/14 11:17 AM
What is STRIBILD? STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. It combines 4 medicines into 1 pill to be taken once a day with food. STRIBILD is a complete single-tablet regimen and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines. STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses you must keep taking STRIBILD. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD? STRIBILD can cause serious side effects: • Build-up of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling very weak or tired, unusual (not normal) muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold especially in your arms and legs, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat. • Serious liver problems. The liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and fatty (steatosis). Symptoms of liver problems include 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, and/or stomach pain. • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking STRIBILD for a long time. In some cases, these serious conditions have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions.
• Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you also have HBV and stop taking STRIBILD, your hepatitis may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking STRIBILD without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health. STRIBILD is not approved for the treatment of HBV.
Who should not take STRIBILD? Do not take STRIBILD if you: • Take a medicine that contains: alfuzosin, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methylergonovine, cisapride, lovastatin, simvastatin, pimozide, sildenafil when used for lung problems (Revatio®), triazolam, oral midazolam, rifampin or the herb St. John’s wort. • For a list of brand names for these medicines, please see the Brief Summary on the following pages. • Take any other medicines to treat HIV-1 infection, or the medicine adefovir (Hepsera®).
What are the other possible side effects of STRIBILD? Serious side effects of STRIBILD may also include: • New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do regular blood and urine tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with STRIBILD. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking STRIBILD. • Bone problems, including bone pain or bones getting soft or thin, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones. • Changes in body fat can happen in people taking HIV-1 medicines. • Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking STRIBILD. The most common side effects of STRIBILD include nausea and diarrhea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking STRIBILD? • All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. • All the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. STRIBILD may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how STRIBILD works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Do not start any new medicines while taking STRIBILD without first talking with your healthcare provider. • If you take hormone-based birth control (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc). • If you take antacids. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take STRIBILD. • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking STRIBILD. • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. Also, some medicines in STRIBILD can pass into breast milk, and it is not known if this can harm the baby.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Brief Summary of full Prescribing Information with important warnings on the following pages.
PALIO Date: 11.11.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 23164_pgiqdp_J_Winston_BAR_fi.indd
Winston
STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used as a complete single-tablet regimen to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
I started my personal revolution Talk to your healthcare provider about starting treatment. STRIBILD is a complete HIV-1 treatment in 1 pill, once a day. Ask if it’s right for you.
PALIO Date: 11.11.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 23164_pgiqdp_J_Winston_BAR_fi.indd
Winston
Patient Information STRIBILD (STRY-bild) (elvitegravir 150 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/ tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) tablets ®
Brief summary of full Prescribing Information. For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information. What is STRIBILD? • STRIBILD is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. STRIBILD is a complete regimen and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines. • STRIBILD does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. You must stay on continuous HIV-1 therapy to control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses. • Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others. Do not share or reuse needles, injection equipment, or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them. Do not have 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. What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD? STRIBILD can cause serious side effects, including: 1. Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis can happen in some people who take STRIBILD or similar (nucleoside analogs) medicines. 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
• Do not stop taking STRIBILD without first talking to your healthcare provider • If you stop taking STRIBILD, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your HBV infection. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking STRIBILD Who should not take STRIBILD? Do not take STRIBILD if you also take a medicine that contains: • adefovir (Hepsera®) • alfuzosin hydrochloride (Uroxatral®) • 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®) • oral midazolam • 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 Do not take STRIBILD if you also take any other HIV-1 medicines, including: • Other medicines that contain tenofovir (Atripla®, Complera®, Viread®, Truvada®) • Other medicines that contain emtricitabine, lamivudine, or ritonavir (Atripla®, Combivir®, Complera®, Emtriva®, Epivir® or Epivir-HBV®, Epzicom®, Kaletra®, Norvir®, Trizivir®, Truvada®)
• have trouble breathing
STRIBILD is not for use in people who are less than 18 years old.
• have stomach pain with nausea or vomiting
What are the possible side effects of STRIBILD?
• feel cold, especially in your arms and legs • feel dizzy or lightheaded
STRIBILD may cause the following serious side effects:
• have a fast or irregular heartbeat
• See “What is the most important information I should know about STRIBILD?”
2. Severe liver problems. Severe liver problems can happen in people who take STRIBILD. In some cases, these liver problems can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). 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 STRIBILD for a long time. 3. Worsening of Hepatitis B infection. If you have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and take STRIBILD, your HBV may get worse (flareup) if you stop taking STRIBILD. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before. • Do not run out of STRIBILD. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your STRIBILD is all gone
• 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 STRIBILD. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking STRIBILD if you develop new or worse kidney problems. • Bone problems can happen in some people who take STRIBILD. Bone problems include bone pain, softening or thinning (which may lead to fractures). Your healthcare provider may need to do tests to check your bones. • 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.
PALIO Date: 11.11.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 23164_pgiqdp_J_Winston_BAR_fi.indd
Winston
The most common side effects of STRIBILD include: • Nausea • Diarrhea 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 STRIBILD. For more information, ask your healthcare provider. • Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking STRIBILD? Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including: • If you have or had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis B infection • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if STRIBILD can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking STRIBILD. - There is a pregnancy registry for women who take antiviral 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. • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take STRIBILD. - You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. - Two of the medicines in STRIBILD can pass to your baby in your breast milk. It is not known if the other medicines in STRIBILD 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 nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements: • STRIBILD may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how STRIBILD works. • Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the following medicines: - Hormone-based birth control (pills, patches, rings, shots, etc) - Antacid medicines that contain aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take STRIBILD
- disopyramide (Norpace®) - estazolam - ethosuximide (Zarontin®) - flecainide (Tambocor®) - flurazepam - fluticasone (Flovent®, Flonase®, Flovent® Diskus®, Flovent® HFA, Veramyst®) - itraconazole (Sporanox®) - ketoconazole (Nizoral®) - lidocaine (Xylocaine®) - mexiletine - oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®) - perphenazine - phenobarbital (Luminal®) - phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®) - propafenone (Rythmol®) - quinidine (Neudexta®) - rifabutin (Mycobutin®) - rifapentine (Priftin®) - risperidone (Risperdal®, Risperdal Consta®) - salmeterol (Serevent®) or salmeterol when taken in combination with fluticasone (Advair Diskus®, Advair HFA®) - sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®) or vardenafil (Levitra®, Staxyn®), for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). If you get dizzy or faint (low blood pressure), have vision changes or have an erection that last longer than 4 hours, call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away. - tadalafil (Adcirca®), for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension - telithromycin (Ketek®) - thioridazine - voriconazole (Vfend®) - warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) - zolpidem (Ambien®, Edlular®, Intermezzo®, Zolpimist®) Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking STRIBILD without first talking with your healthcare provider. Keep STRIBILD and all medicines out of reach of children.
- atorvastatin (Lipitor®, Caduet®)
This Brief Summary summarizes the most important information about STRIBILD. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can also ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about STRIBILD that is written for health professionals, or call 1-800-445-3235 or go to www.STRIBILD.com.
- bepridil hydrochloride (Vascor®, Bepadin®)
Issued: October 2013
- Medicines to treat depression, organ transplant rejection, or high blood pressure - amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®)
- bosentan (Tracleer®) - buspirone - carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®) - clarithromycin (Biaxin®, Prevpac®) - clonazepam (Klonopin®) - clorazepate (Gen-xene®, Tranxene®) - colchicine (Colcrys®) - medicines that contain dexamethasone - diazepam (Valium®) - digoxin (Lanoxin®)
COMPLERA, EMTRIVA, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, GSI, HEPSERA, STRIBILD, the STRIBILD Logo, TRUVADA, and VIREAD are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. ATRIPLA is a trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb & Gilead Sciences, LLC. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. © 2014 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. STBC0120 10/14
PALIO Date: 11.11.14 • Client: Gilead • Product: Stribild • File Name: 23164_pgiqdp_J_Winston_BAR_fi.indd
Winston
<< National News
16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
MAKE CONTACT
Join us as at our signature monthly networking event! Special Guests:
t
Remembering loss on World AIDS Day
A
Learn how your LGBT business can be a part of contracting opportunities leading up to the historic Super Bowl 50!
Tuesday, December 9, 2014 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM The McLoughlin Gallery 49 Geary Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94108 Free for GGBA Members $50 for guests For More Info/Registration Visit: GGBA.COM
Founded in 1974, the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) is the nation’s first LGBT Chamber of Commerce. With over 325 members who live and do business across San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Marin counties, and beyond, GGBA proudly serves as the voice for the San Francisco/Bay Area’s LGBT business community. The GGBA’s mission is to champion opportunity, development and advocacy for our LGBT & Allied business community. Event Sponsor:
ctress Judith Light, a longtime ally and well-known activist for LGBT and HIV/ AIDS causes, accepted the National Leadership Award from National AIDS Memorial Grove Executive Director John Cunningham Monday, December 1 during the grove’s annual World AIDS Day observance. GLBT Historical Society Executive Director Paul Boneberg was also recognized with the Thom Weyand Unsung Hero Award during the event.
Jane Philomen Cleland
Most people with HIV in U.S. not on treatment by Liz Highleyman
L
ess than one-third of people living with HIV in the U.S. are on antiretroviral treatment and have an undetectable viral load, according to the latest figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The bottom line is HIV care and treatment not only work to improve health and prolong lives, but also prevent transmission,” CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden told reporters during a media briefing call November 25. The new numbers (published in the November 28 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) give an updated snapshot of the HIV “cascade of care,” showing how many people are lost at each step in the continuum from testing and diagnosis to starting care to achieving viral suppression.
The CDC estimates that there were 1.2 million people living with HIV in the U.S. in 2011. Of that number, an estimated 86 percent had been diagnosed with HIV, 40 percent were engaged in HIV medical care, 37 percent were prescribed antiretroviral therapy, and 30 percent had achieved viral suppression. The percentage of people diagnosed with HIV shows an improvement from 80 percent in 2008, while the proportion with viral suppression rose slightly, from 26 percent in 2009. The improvement in diagnosis may reflect better screening, suggested Jonathan Mermin, director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/ AIDS. The CDC recommends that all adults should be screened for HIV at least once as part of their routine medical care, while those at increased risk should be tested more frequently. “An HIV test should be as simple to access as a cholesterol check,” Mermin said.
Falling out of care
Shop
this holiday season castromerchants.com/holidays2014
Much of the attrition in the continuum was due to the large proportion of people who had been diagnosed with HIV but did not go on to receive consistent medical care. Most of those in care did receive antiretroviral therapy and most of those reached an undetectable viral load. Among the 70 percent of people who did not achieve viral suppression, 20 percent did not yet know they had HIV, 66 percent had been diagnosed but were not engaged in regular HIV care, 4 percent were engaged in care but not prescribed antiretroviral therapy, and 10 percent were on treatment but did not have undetectable viral load. “For people living with HIV and AIDS, it’s not enough to know – you also have to go for health care,” said Frieden. “For health care systems, for doctors, for health centers, it’s not enough to diagnose patients,
CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden
you have to ... provide them with the most sensitive, effective, culturally appropriate care so that they will get on treatment, stay on treatment, live longer, live healthier, stay out of the hospital, and not infect others.” Addressing why some people may not access or stay in care, Mermin explained, “People with HIV infection often have other life circumstances that can make accessing health care more challenging. HIV infection is associated with poverty, sometimes homelessness, substance abuse – many of those factors can deter people from seeking and remaining in HIV care.” Mermin also acknowledged that it can be difficult for people without health insurance and those who do not have experience navigating a complex health system to receive consistent care.
National versus San Francisco
Looking at just the 15,449 people who were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2011, 80 percent were linked to HIV medical care within three months, acSee page 20 >>
Obituaries >> Joseph Donald Rogers May 1, 1926 – November 25, 2014
Joseph Donald Rogers, 88, born May 1, 1926, passed away November 25, 2014, at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. He was born in Georgia, but had resided in San Francisco for more than 50 years. He was a well-known businessman who owned and operated several establishments over the years, including LeBoeuf Restaurant, Ginger’s, Ginger’s Too, and Ginger’s Trois. Don, as he was known, loved his family and friends. He was gracious, kind, and thoughtful. Don’s positive attitude and his acceptance of others
was amazing. He valued uniqueness and believed everyone was special in their own way. Don was a gentleman and an ambassador for the city of San Francisco. He enjoyed entertaining and sharing the lovely city of San Francisco with friends and family. “Mr. San Francisco” will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace. Survivors: Brother, Kenneth Odell Rogers of Claxton; nieces, cousins, and special friends, whom he cherished. A celebration of life/memorial service will be held at a later time to be determined. Remembrances and or memorial donations for Joseph Donald Rogers may be made to San Francisco VA Medical Center, Attention: Voluntary Services, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
Community News>>
t SF’s perfect HRC score overlooks affordability issues by Yael Chanoff
T
he Human Rights Campaign has issued its Municipal Equality Index, which rates U.S. cities and towns on LGBT equality in their municipal laws, for the last three years. And every year, San Francisco scores a perfect 100. But cities don’t need to address poverty or homelessness in their LGBT population to get a perfect score. So San Francisco earned 100 points, even as the affordability crisis endangers and displaces much of the LGBT population. Tommi Avicolli Mecca, director of counseling programs at the Housing Rights Committee, said that in order to really reflect how city laws affect its LGBT population, HRC would need to take affordability into account. “It’s really outrageous. Giving all the publicity about poverty, homelessness, the elderly. Human Rights Campaign totally disconnects from all that,” Avicolli Mecca said. Last year’s biennial San Francisco Homeless Point-In-Time Count and Survey found that out of a total of 7,350 homeless people, more than one in four (29 percent) identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or “other” for a total of 2,132. It was the first time the report included statistics on LGBT people. Based on the report’s findings and estimates that at least 94,234 LGBT people live in San Francisco, LGBT housing activists estimate that 2.3 percent are homeless. And national studies from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law show that LGBT people are more likely to be poor than the general population – 40 percent of homeless youth are LGBT, and same-sex African American couples live in poverty at more than twice the rate of different-sex African American couples. San Francisco’s District 8, which includes the Castro, has been hit hard by evictions – it’s seen the most Ellis Act evictions in the city, according to Rent Board data beginning in 1997. The Ellis Act is a state law that allows landlords to get out of the rental business and evict tenants. Attempts in the state Legislature to revise the law, led by gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco),
<<
Keshet
From page 8
Celebrating a trailblazer
Longtime gay rights leader and philanthropist Tannenbaum is being honored with the Rosh Pina Cornerstone Award. The award is inspired by Psalm 118:22, a once rejected stone that has become the “chief cornerstone.” The award is meant to honor a Keshet leader whose “extraordi-
Khaled Sayed
Tommi Avicolli Mecca
have not been successful. The impact of evictions on the LGBT community is heightened for seniors. Brian Basinger, executive director of the AIDS Housing Alliance, said that seniors experience evictions at more than twice the rate of the overall population among AHA clients. But race is addressed by only one sentence in the 66-page Municipal Equality Index report – to acknowledge that the report reflects discrimination against LGBT people of color and LGBT undocumented immigrants “only in a general way.” Poverty isn’t mentioned at all. HRC officials acknowledged the report’s shortcomings. “It would be great to have more of an intersectional focus on the MEI,” said HRC’s Cathryn Oakley, who wrote the report. The HRC scorecard does give points for cities that provide services to LGBT youth, seniors, homeless LGBT people, and people with HIV/ AIDS. But these are all bonus points – meaning that a city can get a perfect score of 100 without providing any of these services. “Ideally, providing those services is something we want every city to be doing. But we rate New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles on the same scorecard as Missoula, Missouri and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware,” Oakley said. Both Missoula and Rehoboth Beach have populations under 100,000. Oakley said their smaller size would put them at a disadvantage if cities needed to have services for poor and homeless LGBT people to get a perfect score. nary contributions” have provided a “strong foundation” to fulfill the organization’s mission, according to the Glimmer webpage. “I’m delighted,” said Tannenbaum, 61, who was the board chair of Keshet for three years and has been one of the major fundraisers and strategic planners for the organization. “I’m very thankful and delighted to know that I think it will help continue to move Keshet’s work in the Bay Area forward.”
“In order to make the scorecard fair, we’ve made them bonus points,” Oakley said. HRC did give San Francisco those bonus points. But Avicolli Mecca and Basinger say the picture painted by the scorecard is skewed. The HRC scorecard includes a “municipal services” section, which gives points for cities that have human rights commissions, an LGBT liaison to city executive, and enumerated anti-bullying policies. Municipal services is also where cities can score bonus points for providing services for LGBT youth, homeless, elderly, and people with HIV/AIDS. Avicolli Mecca and Basinger were asked how they would rewrite this section of the scorecard to reflect what they see in San Francisco. And not surprisingly, the score is far from perfect. Municipal Services Housing for homeless LGBT people: 0 One-third of homeless people in San Francisco identify as LGBT. But no housing exists specifically for LGBT homeless. This is a problem, Avicolli Mecca said, because “The reality is many LGBT people will not go to the shelters because they’re so unsafe, there’s so much homophobia, so much anti-queer violence.” Housing for people with HIV/ AIDS: 1 According to Basinger, the city meets about 9 percent of the need for housing for people with HIV/AIDS. This could be remedied in the coming years – Basinger and others are beginning the process of renewing the city’s five-year HIV/AIDS Housing Plan. City provides services to/supports LGBT homeless youth: 1 The city gets a point here – it funds 22 units for LGBT homeless youth at the Perramont Hotel. But with an estimated 800 to 1,600 homeless LGBT youth in the city, that doesn’t meet all the need. City provides protection against evictions for LGBT elderly and disabled: 0 Avicolli Mecca served on a task force to study LGBT seniors in San Francisco. It recommended protections against eviction for the elderly, but the city has not yet implemented any of the recommendations. Officials from the Mayor’s Office of Housing did not respond to requests for comment.t An activist for more than 30 years, it has only been within the past decade that Tannenbaum brought together his gay and Jewish identities. It all happened 11 years ago, when he met his now husband of six years, Alex Ingersoll, 67, who introduced him to Congregation Sha’ar Zahav and brought his Jewish and LGBT worlds together, he said. Tannenbaum added that he See page 22 >>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17
Everyone is welcome!
Sunday Twilight Mass
Contemplative. Candlelit ambiance. A peaceful time for prayerful reflection.
Sundays @ 6:30 PM
For people with busy weekend schedules.
God’s inclusive love proclaimed here!
Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
100 Diamond Street @ 18th, San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 863-6259 mhr.org
ebar.com
SAN FRANCISCO
COLUMBARIUM Meet Your Neighbors AYou’re strong supporter of the LGBT community invited to mix and mingle with the people who will one for many years, the Columbarium has added day share your permanent San Francisco address. a new building.Wine Come see Open our Hall & Cheese Houseof Olympians. Friday, July 19, 2013 2—5pm Celebrate our largest discount ever! RSVP Required: (415) 752-8791 25% off in the Hall of Olympians.
Offer1 Loraine goodCourt—San through 12/31/2014. Francisco, CA 94118 Private tours are available.
Jane Philomen Cleland
AIDS Walk grants distributed
R
epresentatives of 30 Bay Area HIV/AIDS organizations were on hand at the National AIDS Memorial Grove on World AIDS Day (December 1) to receive their checks from this year’s AIDS Walk, which took place July 20 in Golden Gate Park. Project Inform took over the AIDS Walk event this year, and was the lead beneficiary. Executive Director Dana Van Gorder said
that a total of $252,500 was distributed to the other beneficiaries, which will use the funds for various services, including HIV testing, medical care, prevention, and social services. Van Gorder said that 20,000 people took part in the AIDS Walk. In addition to the checks given out Monday, 43 AIDS organizations’ AIDS Walk teams raised and kept $290,000, Van Gorder said.
…and of course we have the Harvey Milk honorary niche.
Call 415.752.7891 Visit us at One Loraine Court in the heart of the Richmond. COA 534
t
Community News>>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19
Tree of Hope at home on Nob Hill by Khaled Sayed
R
ainbow World Fund’s World Tree of Hope is at home in its new space, as a festive lighting ceremony took place Monday, December 1 at Grace Cathedral atop Nob Hill. The tree, which promotes global unity, was erected at the Episcopal church after a misunderstanding with city officials, which would have resulted in the nonprofit RWF having to pay for security services at City Hall, which had been the tree’s holiday home for the past eight years. But the tree looks magnificent in Grace Cathedral, and organizers, as well as church officials, were thrilled with the end result. The World Tree of Hope, as it is formally called, is unique in that it is decorated with thousands of origami cranes, each containing a message for peace or the future of the world. About 12,000 cranes and stars are part of this year’s tree, along with lights. Bishop Marc Handley Andrus of the Episcopal Diocese of California, whose work is focused on key issues such as human rights, justice, and immigration reform, delivered a message of peace at the ceremony. “This beautiful city is still a place where many hopes are born that way,” Andrus said. “The cranes on this tree express thousands of hopes for grace. Behind this beautiful tree, in the largely anonymous flavor of those who made it possible, is the truth that the divine works.” The ceremony kicked off with a concert by the Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Boys Chorus, followed by singer Veronica Klaus and pianist Tammy Hall. Among the people who attended the lighting ceremony were San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Consul General of Japan Masato Watanabe, and comedian Margaret Cho.
ESCAPE TO PALM SPRINGS TERRY MURPHY 760-832-3758
Khaled Sayed
Members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence joined others at the Rainbow World Fund World Tree of Hope lighting ceremony Monday at Grace Cathedral. Those on hand included ABC 7 anchor Cheryl Jennings, left, RWF Executive Director Jeff Cotter, Japanese Consul General Masato Watanabe, Mayor Ed Lee, and professional origami artist Linda Mihara.
“I’m so proud to be part of this, I’m just feeling my fierce humanitarian realness, which is a new exciting reality for me,” said Cho, who has spent the last few weeks in the city performing for and collecting donations for homeless people, including queer youth. (See story, page 8.) “I knew I was going to grow into this. I thought I was going to be a California judge, judging everything,” Cho quipped as she laughed with the audience. The tree gets its inspiration from the story of Sadako Sasaki, who contracted leukemia 10 years after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. While in the hospital, a friend told her about a Japanese legend that the folder of a thousand paper cranes would be granted one wish. Sasaki started folding, but died 356 cranes short of her goal. Her classmates folded the rest and all 1,000 cranes were buried with her.
RWF is an LGBT-led humanitarian group that partners with other agencies to provide financial relief during natural disasters and other services. It has donated over $4.1 million in humanitarian aid over the years. Executive Director Jeff Cotter has noted that the tree is a “gift to the San Francisco Bay Area and the world” from RWF. Lee started off his remarks by thanking Grace Cathedral and Andrus for hosting the event and housing the tree. “We have been doing this ceremony for years,” Lee said, referring to the past City Hall installations, “And I would like to recognize the 200 volunteers who have again come together this year to put together this tree of hope, and the Rainbow World Fund. “You know, amongst all the wishes T:9.75” that we may have for a better world,”
CA BRE# 01346949
See page 22 >>
I can’t schedule an accident. So I got a health plan. Maurice’s business can be physically demanding, and accidents can happen. With a health plan through Covered California, he can focus on his work and not worry about unexpected medical costs. To find free in-person enrollment help, or to see if you’re eligible for financial help paying for your coverage, visit CoveredCA.com. T:7.625”
Are You?
Find health insurance at CoveredCA.com For coverage starting January 1, sign up by December 15
TM
<< Community News
20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
<<
Jane Warner Plaza
From page 7
ceived an upgrade. New pavers, similar to the ones found in the sidewalk in front of the Castro Theatre, were used to demarcate a curved driveway into the gas station. It is a visual element to help both drivers and pedestrians safely navigate the area. “That driveway was always confusing and dangerous for pedestrians,” said Aiello. “This at least helps to define this as a driveway.” A new pedestrian walkway can
<<
HRC index
From page 1
including 55 California cities. San Francisco received 100 points [See story, page 17.] Oakland scored a 93. Oakland lost points in part because municipal workers aren’t guaranteed access to transgenderinclusive health care plans. Transgender people throughout the country are routinely denied care and coverage of medical needs, for general procedures as well as specific gender-affirming care. Many health care plans contain blanket exclusions of transgender health care needs.
<<
Guest Opinion
From page 4
most insurance is covering PrEP to a greater or lesser degree. Minneapolis and Baton Rouge were early adopters. We are working to make that coverage and cost more universal. Studies have shown that participants actually increased, rather than decreased, their use of condoms in certain high-risk activities (Grant, et al. 2010; Cohen, et al., 2014).
Myth #5
“Condoms are more effective than PrEP.” No, when used as directed, Truvada for PrEP is more than 20 percent more effective at protection against HIV than the standard usage of condoms (Smith, 2013).
Myth #6
“Condoms are the only way to prevent other sexually transmitted infections.” No, there are a variety of tools that can help with that. Long-
<<
HIV in U.S.
From page 16
cording to the CDC report. In San Francisco, of the 423 people newly diagnosed that same year, 86 percent were engaged in care within three months, rising to 89 percent for those diagnosed in 2012, according to the Department of Pubic Health’s 2013 HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Annual Report. Most people linked to care were prescribed antiretroviral therapy.
<<
News Briefs
From page 5
producing images with her own writing. The open house takes place Saturday and Sunday, December 6-7, from 2 to 8 p.m. at 400 Beale Street, Unit 806. Additionally, Hyder’s work will be featured at the Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th Street in Oakland, through December 27. An opening reception takes place Friday, December 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. The gallery show will feature Hyder’s images from her Budapest Forest series.
Imperial Council gets OK to use city seal
The Imperial Council of San Francisco received the go-ahead from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to use the official city seal on items related to the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Imperial
t
now be found at the northwestern boundary of the plaza, with a series of bollards installed on the street to protect pedestrians from passing vehicles. Still remaining to be done is restriping the crosswalks in the Castro and Market streets intersection to align with the new layout. Citing a moratorium on infrastructure work the city imposed during the holiday season, Castro leaders expect to see construction crews back on Market Street sometime in January to finish the work. Another issue likely not to be
settled until after the new year is how to provide a visual cue to mark the tracks for the F-Line trolley, which stops in the middle of Jane Warner Plaza. A number of potted palms had been used in the past but their return has been derailed for now, Aiello said, because officials with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency expressed concerns about the pots being too close to the tracks. The CBD has returned the tables and chairs it provides back to the plaza but is grappling with how to ensure they are not monopolized by
transient groups of homeless people and others who often use the plaza as a resting place. “We understand it is really important to have seating there and to try to figure out ways to make it a positive space,” said Aiello. “That is what we are going to be looking at moving forward on how to encourage the community to use the plaza as much as possible in a variety of different ways.” One idea the CBD is pursuing is inviting community groups and local nonprofits to set up information tables at the plaza or activate
the space in some way. Next Friday, December 12, for instance, the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee will wrap up its second annual food and toy drive at the plaza from noon to 4 p.m. “We want the plaza to be able to be used by everybody: kids, older folks, middle-age folks, and homeless folks,” said Aiello. “I just don’t want it being taken over by people living on the streets who have dogs and are intimidating others. We want to find a balance and haven’t figured that out yet.”t
California banned this practice with the Insurance Gender Non-discrimination Act in 2005, then reaffirmed the ban in April 2013. Still, some workplaces, including the city of Oakland, have not committed to transgender-inclusive health care policies. Oakland city employees choose from one of several health care plans. But without this protection, some of the plans may not cover transgender-inclusive care. Essentially, city employees themselves will likely need to work to get Oakland to ensure transgender-inclusive health care, according to Anand Kalra, health programs administrator at the Transgender Law Center.
“Typically this is a long, involved process that requires a group of employees to come together and make the case for inclusion to human resources, then for HR to bargain for inclusive coverage with the insurance carriers when the contract is up for renewal,” Kalra wrote in an email. Starting that process, Kalra said, “is probably just a matter of getting the right people in a room together.” Some of those people could be the union that represents city workers. Service Employees International Union Local 1021 representative Terry Meadows said that during upcoming health contract negotiations
for Oakland city workers, requiring transgender-inclusive care in the policy could be put on the table. “I’m in preparation with the members to start putting proposals together,” Meadows said. “If we’ve got individuals that are looking for that, now’s the perfect time for it to be brought up.” The national SEIU Lavender Caucus was recently involved in a successful campaign to require transgender-inclusive care in California Public Employees’ Retirement System plans for state employees. If Oakland does move to guarantee the right to transgender-inclu-
sive health care for city employees, it will be part of a trend. Twelve percent of cities in the HRC index this year offered transgender-inclusive health care, compared to 5 percent of cities surveyed in 2013. “The Municipal Equality Index has become a valuable tool in motivating city and county leaders to step up when it comes to LGBT equality,” wrote Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, in the report. With Worthington’s upcoming City Council item, and possible changes in health care policy in Oakland, that may prove true in the East Bay.t
standing evidence from the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report shows that users of chronic large amounts of alcohol (more than five dinks at a session, more than three times per week), and users of hyper-stimulants (coke, crack, amphetamines, molly, N-bomb) are statistically more likely not to regularly test, not to get proper treatment, to have infections, and to transmit or contract HIV, so reducing exposure to that demographic can help. Among the most successful tools is for sexually active people to get tested for STIs every three to six months. Those who are on Truvada for PrEP can simply add these to the other quarterly tests they need to do. Finding and treating infections rapidly reduces the pool of pathogens in our social networks. With syphilis, any known exposure should be preemptively treated because it can take 12 weeks for syphilis to show positive on a test, and epi-treatment cuts off the risk
of spreading more infections in that time. Another tool – and here’s a novel idea – is to actually have open discussions with partners about testing and treatment practices, viral load, medications, risk strategies, and what you want out of sex. Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B, HPV, menningicoccus, and the flu. Suppressive daily treatment is available for herpes. In anonymous situations where patients feel their risk level may be higher, we have seen clients employ condoms for protection in addition to other risk reduction strategies, even when their condom use otherwise is low (Beehan, et al., tbp 2015).
and PrEP puts the power of prevention into their own hands. Truvada is only the first medication to be FDA approved in a pipeline of several to come – from more pills to adjunct gels to monthly or quarterly shots. Choices will get easier over time, not harder. We need to work on expanding access, and Campos’s leadership here has been invaluable. We also need to focus on the many psychosocial factors that impact adherence and pay for the cognitive-behavioral therapy and other behavioral health counseling that has been proven – with more than a monochromatic six-session approach – to solidify people’s lives and thus, their adherence (Psaros, et al, 2014).
PrEP is about caring and nurturing: it reduces risk and harm and helps people optimize their health; 4) PrEP is about solidarity: it takes away the divide between poz and neg and helps us all look out for each other. When the AIDS pandemic hit, if you had asked many people on the street if they would take a pill that could prevent HIV infection, they would have jumped at the chance. PrEP is an important new tool in the arsenal to combat HIV. In your personal decisions about it, please do not let shame peddlers and prevention denialists – like the HIV denialists before them – derail your health.t
“People who choose PrEP as a prevention tool for themselves will not adhere to the medication.” No, people who choose Truvada for PrEP already have an incentive, not to merely participate in a study, but to address their own personal health,
Here is the truth: 1) PrEP is about responsibility: it puts power into the hands of HIV-negative people to protect themselves and their partners; 2) PrEP is about purity: when used as directed, it is 99 percent effective at preventing infection with HIV; 3)
San Francisco was the first jurisdiction to recommend that everyone diagnosed with HIV should start treatment regardless of CD4 T-cell count or viral load, which is now reflected in U.S. national guidelines. Among people newly diagnosed in 2011, 58 percent achieved viral suppression, rising to 68 percent for those diagnosed in 2012. These numbers are not comparable to the 30 percent national figure for viral suppression reported by the CDC, as the DPH focuses on
outcomes among people who were actually diagnosed in a given year, not all people presumed to be living with HIV, explained Tracey Packer, DPH’s director of community health equity and promotion.
88 percent – there were some striking differences by age. Among young people age 18-24 years, only 49 percent of the total number estimated to be living with HIV had been diagnosed. The proportion diagnosed increased steadily with age, from 74 percent among those in the 25-34 year bracket up to 95 percent among those age 65 or older. Largely due to their lower likelihood of diagnosis, young people were also less likely to enter care
and were only about one-third as likely as the oldest group to have undetectable viral load (13 versus 37 percent, respectively). “It’s alarming that fewer than half of HIV-positive young adults know they are infected,” said Eugene McCray, director of CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. “Closing that gap could have a huge impact on controlling HIV – knowing your status is the first critical step toward taking care of your own health and avoiding transmission to others.”t
Court, a gay charitable group. The supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing the seal’s use November 25. It had previously been approved at a supervisors’ committee meeting. Sponsored by gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener – and co-sponsored by then-board President David Chiu and Supervisor London Breed – the resolution will allow the Imperial Court to use the city seal on appropriate materials related to its golden anniversary gala, set to be held February 15 at City Hall. It is rare that outside groups are allowed to use the city seal, which dates to 1858 (and was updated in 1900) and such organizations must get approval from the board.
family-friendly event runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. through January 4 (ZooLights will be closed December 13, 24, and 25). The display is made up of hundreds of thousands of sparkling LED lights, some of which are in animal shapes, that illuminate the zoo and night sky to celebrate the holiday season. The display will feature designs by Impact Lighting and music powered by KMVQ, 99.7 Now, whose DJ, Letty B, will be onsite for the official opening. New for this year is the addition of a second light show. In addition to the traditional animal characters and holiday themes, the zoo’s African Veldt will be transformed into a prehistoric site made up of dinosaurs, volcanoes, and explosions of light timed to illustrate a unique ensemble of holiday cheer in a “Land of the Lost” Admission for ZooLights is $8 for adults and $7 for children. For more information, visit www.oaklandzoo. org.
Peninsula celebrates Human Rights Day
week, which will be led by Rabbi Callie Shulman of Peninsula Temple Beth El. For more information, visit www. ccsm-ucc.org.
Oakland Zoo offers holiday lights
The Oakland Zoo is set to plug in ZooLights, a festival of holiday lights, Friday, December 5. The
Myth #7
Disparities remain
A closer look at the data behind the overall national figures reveals some notable disparities. While HIV diagnosis rates were similar for men and women and for all racial/ ethnic groups – ranging from 84 to
An interfaith celebration will be held Saturday, December 6 at 7 p.m. at Congregational Church of San Mateo, 225 Tilton Avenue, to celebrate International Human Rights Day. Titled “Coming Together to Bring About Change,” people are invited to join for a dialogue exploring how faith-based communities can make a difference on issues affecting all of humanity, particularly violence against women and ending the practice of child marriage. Speakers will include the Reverend Dr. Penny Nixon, senior minister of the Congregational Church of San Mateo; Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service; and Manisha Gupte, Ph.D., co-founder of MASUM, an Indian women’s organization. The event will conclude with Havdalah, a Jewish ritual that ushers in the new
Race Bannon and Luke Adams are longtime community activists. Bannon writes at http://www. Bannon.com and is also the Bay Area Reporter’s leather columnist. Adams (@DaddyLukeSF) is a drug counselor, minister, and marriage and family therapist intern.
Queer youth homelessness panel in Berkeley
The East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club will hold a meeting on queer youth homelessness Wednesday, December 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the West Berkeley Library, 1125 University Avenue in Berkeley. Club leaders noted in a news release that LGBT youth are disproportionately represented among the East Bay homeless population and have unique needs that may not be addressed by traditional homeless services. The panel discussion will look at the present state of LGBTQ homeless youth, local and national policy trends, and next steps for the East Bay LGBTQ community.t
t
Sports>>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 21
SF FrontRunners celebrate 40th anniversary by Roger Brigham
S
an Francisco FrontRunners, one of the oldest LGBT sports clubs in the country, will celebrate its 40th anniversary Saturday, December 6 at the General’s Residence at Fort Mason. The ticketed event begins at 6 p.m. when the bar opens, music starts at 7 p.m., and club President Dominic Paris will address the gathering at 7:10. The evening celebration continues with a memoriam for members who have passed away (one former club president died less than a month ago), a proclamation from longtime member gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), announcement of awards and officer election results, followed by dinner and a slideshow of the club’s history. More speeches and music, a fashion show, and dancing will close out the evening. A 40-year legacy can be a bit intimidating for younger runners. “I didn’t think that 2014 was the year I should run for president,” Paris told runners on the club’s blog. “I was in ill health, I was unemployed, and I had a thesis to write. Another reason for hesitation is that I would be presiding over the 40th anniversary at age 30. I could make statements like ‘when FrontRunners was founded I wasn’t even born!’ Or ‘in 1974 my mom was a junior in high school!’ The scary part is those weren’t jokes. They are facts.” SFFR holds regular weekly Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday runs as well as numerous annual events, such as the Little Black Dress Run and the Pride Run. Information about SFFR and the gala event are available on the club’s website, www.sffr.org. Web sites, blogs, Facebook pages, email – these are just some of the speedy low or no-cost communication tools that did not exist when SFFR formed in 1974. Back then people got news of the Watergate scandal on television. Even in the burgeoning gay ghetto of San Francisco (the terminology was gay and lesbian back then, not LGBT) there were few options for queerfolk to meet each other outside of bars and recovery groups. That’s where sports groups in softball and bowling and running came in, filling a role in a world that did not allow us in the military, did not allow us to marry, did not
Smallpox Vaccine Study
What A study to develop a vaccine against smallpox for people who are HIV positive Who HIV positive adults, 18 to 45 years of age, with t-cells below 500 Pay Participants will receive 2-3 vaccinations and up to $1350 Courtesy John Kruse
San Francisco FrontRunners past president John Kruse, running in his signature outfit.
have laws protecting our rights to employment, housing, and public accommodations, and raised its collective eyebrows when we sought to adopt. It was a hostile world of Harvey Milk versus Anita Bryant and a couple of hours a week on running trails or a softball field were a great way to relieve the stress – and meet others. Flash forward 20 years to the 1990s – the Clinton era and its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” controversy around gay military service. There was hope for change but we still couldn’t get a president to stand up for our right to marry or serve in the military openly. SFFR, named after Patricia Nell Warren’s iconic gay novel, The Front Runner, was still there helping to ease the way. “I’ve been a runner all my life and was looking for a healthy outlet in the gay community,” John Kruse, who in the 1990s became the first person to hold each of the club’s four elective offices, told the Bay Area Reporter. “At that time there wasn’t much social outlet other than the bars, which didn’t appeal to me. This was a way to meet other people with at least one interest in common. Running feels good, with the exercise and being able to do it outdoors where there’s always something different and interesting going on. And it doesn’t take a lot of equipment.” At the time Kruse decided to participate in a triathlon at the Russian River and accepted a ride from a friend. In the car on the way up was another FrontRunner, Gary
Courtesy Anne Ludwig
Former San Francisco FrontRunners president Anne Ludwig, right, wore a rainbow boa at a Little Black Dress Run.
Beushel. They’d been set up by their friend, the driver. Twenty years later, Kruse and Beushel are still together and have two daughters, now 11. “The first four or five years, all of our babysitters were from FrontRunners,” Kruse, 53, said. And that’s what a lot of SFFR members discover in the club: it’s more than just meeting people with similar interests; it’s meeting the people who can become your formed family. “I joined in 1993,” said Anne Ludwig, a former secretary, vice president, and president. “I had just come out and quit smoking and was looking to meet people in general. I’d been in San Francisco about four years. I had always run, so it seemed like a good place to go. I just showed up on one of the Saturday runs.” She found a welcoming environment and hasn’t stopped running with them since. In a softball league she met the woman who was to become her partner, Leslie Adams, who joined SFFR in 1995. Both Kruse and Ludwig describe holding office in SFFR as hard work but fun and a great way to meet the other members. “A lot of friends, most of our social circle, are from FrontRunners,” Ludwig, 61, said. “There was always somebody to run an event with if you wanted to. It was relaxed – it wasn’t the regular dating scene. It was just a good way to meet people. Our closest group of friends is FrontRunners. We have people who now have their own families and that’s who we spend our holidays with. They’re just as close as our actual biological families.”t
Major League Baseball umpire comes out by Roger Brigham
D
ale Scott very quietly came out as gay in the October issue of Umpire magazine when he allowed the publishers to use a photo of him with his longtime companion and now husband, Michael Rausch. This makes him the first active male official in any of the four major professional team sports to be out publicly. In a follow-up interview with Outsports, Scott said, “My thought process was that there’s a story about my career and how I got started in umpiring and they’re talking to people I have known since junior high and it didn’t seem right to have a whole story and pictures without a picture of Mike and I, someone who’s been with me through this entire process.
A Paid Study for People Who Are HIV+
Courtesy Umpire magazine
Major League Baseball umpire Dale Scott, left, with his husband, Michael Rausch.
We met the October after my first year in the big leagues. Obviously, when I sent that picture, I knew exactly what it meant. In a small way, this was opening that door in a publication that wasn’t going to be circu-
lated nationwide. It could be picked up, but it’s not Time magazine. I made that decision to go ahead and do it because I felt it was the right thing to do. I realized that it could open a Pandora’s box, but this is not a surprise to Major League Baseball, the people I work for. It’s not a surprise to the umpire staff. Until Mike and I got married last November, he was my same-sex domestic partner and had his own MLB ID and was on my insurance policy.” Next season will be Scott’s 30th in MLB.
Pride House planned for Pan Am Games
A Pride House is planned for the See page 22 >>
Details For more information, please call Erika at Quest Clinical Research – (415) 353-0800 or email erika@questclinical.com
www.questclinical.com
ICES
G
D ES
E&
t
22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
<<
Tree of Hope
UPKEEP From page 19
Lee said, “as mayor of this great city I ask you to bring reality to these wishes. These wishes are real because we believe in them, and when we believe in them, action will speak.” The mayor emphasized how hopes can MOVERS lead to change in the world, and how wishes can turn into realities. “Because we work on a peopleto-people basis, our wishes are more than just words,” Lee said. “We actually try to make things happen on worldwide basis, so our leadership, whether on homelessness, housing, climate, or AIDS or on just calling for peace around the world, is truly more than just a call out. It is literally people talking to each other about innovative ideas, and trying to embrace what is good in each other and to learn from each other. That is what it takes to bring about that peace.” Lee also exchanged peace cranes with Watanabe.
<<
Keshet
From page 17
sits on the board of Congregation Sha’ar Zahav. NOTICES He PET appreciates Keshet’s work, SERVICES particularly in the Bay Area, where many “Jews simply don’t affiliate Jewishly,” he said. Keshet’s work is “a way to make sure that the Jewish organizations are truly inclusive,” as well as “assuring that queer folk who don’t connect in any way Jewishly can find a way to appreciate and enjoy that part of their identity,”
<<
Sports Briefs
From page 21
TECH SUPPORT 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, marking the first time such a venue has been offered at the event. Pride Houses have been offered at recent Olympic Games but were not allowed at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. “We don’t want to speak about what’s happening at other games – it’s not our place – but in Toronto and this region it’s an important initiative to showcase diversity,” Pan Am spokesman Teddy Katz said. “We’re trying to make sure that people in all communities can feel a part of the games.” Pride House organizers said their efforts will focus on four areas, including a community hub that will be a centralized space for events, workshops, media interviews, and watching the games. They also plan NEWS to CLASSIFIEDS offer a slate of outdoor concerts, cultural programs, and participatory sports. Canada adds inclusion to its Olympic program
The Canadian Olympic Committee this week announced a new program, #OneTeam Athlete Ambassador, to reach out with educational and awareness programs in Canadian schools. The Olympic committee will partner with Canadian LGBT-rights group Egale and You Can Play to work with Olympians to raise awareness of LGBT issues. “The older I’ve gotten the more I realize that it isn’t up to the gay athletes to come out,” said Canadian Olympic medalist Mark Tewksbury, 46. “It’s up to the organizations to create the environment where people feel safe to be themselves.”
NFL bully report
An arbitrator has reinstated former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who had been on an indefinite suspension after punching out his then-fiance (and now wife) Janay Rice last February in an Atlantic City casino elevator. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this week that four teams were interested in signing Rice, apparently of the be-
Longtime gay rights leader and Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt founder Cleve Jones shared a moving story of a woman who came all the way from Kentucky on Greyhound bus to San Francisco to deliver the quilt panels that she made for her son after he died of AIDS. “The true power of hope is really known only for those who have known despair,” Jones said. “In 1988, when we had our first AIDS Day, despair was all we knew. Thousands of San Franciscans had already lost their lives, and the disease was spreading across the planet. The government was refusing to respond appropriately. A local guy here, James W. Bunn, with Thomas Netter, came up with the idea of the World AIDS Day.” Members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence blessed the tree and did the countdown to the lighting. Wishes will be added to the tree throughout December. Submitting a wish is free and can be done online at http://rainbowfund.org/tree.t said Tannenbaum. “I just find that the more parts of ourselves that we are able to integrate and do it in a way that really combines multiple identities it is both personally gratifying, but it also helps build community,” said Tannenbaum.t Glimmer takes place December 6 from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Jewish Community Center, 3200 California Street, San Francisco. Tickets are $150. For more information, visit www.keshetonline. org/events/glimmer.
lief that the “distraction” of a convicted domestic abuser coming off his worst pro season would be less than the distraction of having a gay defensive standout on board. The arbitrator overturned Rice’s suspension based on the way the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell had bungled their handling of the case, initially suspending Rice just two games, then handing down the stiffer penalty as public outcry mounted and damning video of the incident surfaced. The NFL had said that initially it had been led to believe Rice had struck his fiance with an open hand slap, but reports indicate that within hours of the incident, graphic details of the video showing Rice’s knocking out the woman with his closed fist were widely being discussed among NFL security personnel. With so many teams publicly espousing “zero tolerance” for domestic abuse, it will be curious to see how and if any team that does sign Rice reconciles its decision with that stance. In other news, former Miami offensive lineman Richie Incognito, who was at the center of a bullying scandal a year ago, remains without a team. The Dolphins released Incognito after verbal abuse by him and a few teammates caused fellow lineman Jonathan Martin to leave the team because of emotional stress from the constant bullying of being called the n-word and a faggot. Many players defended Incognito’s behavior as being part of the routine hazing culture of pro football, and many experts predicted that Incognito would be picked up by a new club long before Martin. Martin, of course, signed with the San Francisco 49ers in the offseason and has been starting; Incognito, meanwhile, had a tryout with the Denver Broncos in November but remains unsigned. The appeal of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson’s indefinite suspension was heard by the NFL on Tuesday, December 2. Peterson was suspended without pay after being convicted in Texas of beating his 4-year-old son with a stick.t
Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14550742
In the matter of the application of: KATHRYN ELIZABETH BROKER-BULLICK, 2059 FULTON ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner KATHRYN ELIZABETH BROKER-BULLICK, is requesting that the name KATHRYN ELIZABETH BROKER-BULLICK, aka KATHRYN E. BULLICK, aka KATHRYN E. BROKER-BULLICK, aka KATY BROKER-BULLICK, aka KATHRYN ELIZABETH BROKER BULLICK be changed to KATHRYN ELIZABETH BULLICK. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Rm. 514 on the 3rd of February 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036144100
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036113400
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MINISTRY OF PRESENCE INSTITUTE, 556 JONES ST, #304, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DIOCESE OF CHAPLAINCY SERVICE (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/07/14.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE PICKWICK HOTEL; PICKWICK CAFÉ; 85 FIFTH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed YHB SAN FRANCISCO LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/15/04. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/24/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036146000
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036153300
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036124200
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TOPTENTOPTEN.COM, 530 HOWARD ST, 2ND FLR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BEANSTOCK MEDIA INC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/07/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/10/14.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALLWOOD RECYCLING LLC, 1801 EVANS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ALLWOOD RECYCLING LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/13/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/13/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-033974700
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036152000
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036111500
The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: NVI INVESTMENTS, 1215 FILBERT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by JON H. KOUBA, EUGENE R. HENRY. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/30/2011.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NVI INVESTMENTS, 1215 FILBERT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed EUGENE R. HENRY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/29/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/29/14.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAY AREA TENANT REPRESENTATIVES, 60 WASHBURN, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LESLIE JEAN BURNLEY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/23/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036097600
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BARGAIN OUTLET 88, 201 WAYLAND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KIN CHOY LOW. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/20/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036125000
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MOCK MAN PRESS, 654 5TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JASON BRADLEY THOMPSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/29/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/29/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036105800
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PACIFIC FINANCIAL GROUP, ONE EMBARCADERO CENTER, SUITE 500, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SAMUEL A. SHUMMON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/22/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036133300
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DESIGN DECOROUS, 267 A COLLINGWOOD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JENNIFER KING. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/04/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/04/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036116600
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MOBILE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY, 1058 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DARIEN DE LORENZO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/27/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/27/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036143600
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WORKERS’ RIGHTS LAW OFFICE, 71 STEVENSON ST, #422, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MICHAEL DAVID NELSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/07/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036140400
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RADIANT STRATEGIES, 4096 17TH ST, #315, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANDREW BYRD PERRAUT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/06/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036104901
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036146500
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LIPS AND RHYTHM RECORDS; LIPS & RHYTHM RECORDS; 432 JUDAH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JESSE L. SZYMANSKI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/10/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/10/14.
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036157600
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALISSA MADDEN DESIGN, 1101 OAK ST #9, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117.This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALISSA MADDEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/17/14.
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036157200
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EHLOH, 272 FREDERICK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CELINE MONGET. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/17/14.
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036119800
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE BARBARY COAST, 478 GREEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed OASIS ENTERTAINMENT LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/13/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/13/14.
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-034625500
The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: TAXI MAVEN, 335 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by CRAFTY CANINES LLC (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/04/12.
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036145300
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SL THERAPY, 2057 DIVISADERO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SHEENING LIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/28/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/10/14.
NOV 27, DEC 04, 11, 18, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036155500
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SABO, 1328 27TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SABRINA LIAO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/08/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/14/14.
NOV 27, DEC 04, 11, 18, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036148900
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NEWHEADSPACE, 1800 WASHINGTON ST #816, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JHANNA CULVER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/12/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/28/14.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JUNA ALINEA - FLORAL AND BOTANICA ENDEAVORS, 1832 48TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JUNALENE ALINEA DEMAVIVAS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/12/14.
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036154800
NOV 27, DEC 04, 11, 18, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036120500
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LONELY LIGHT, 375 DOUGLASS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DANIEL RENE EIBA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/14/14.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GREEN2GO, 211 12TH ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GREENTOGO INCORPORATED. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/19/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/28/14.
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036155200
NOV 27, DEC 04, 11, 18, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036158000
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JT TRANSPORTATION, 2718 WAWONA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JACKY TRAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/14/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/14/14.
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036149300
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NIMBLE VR, 164 TOWNSEND ST #10, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed 3GEAR SYSTEMS, INC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/28/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/12/14.
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036133000
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GREEN COACH, 1388 HAIGHT ST #103, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed PATIENT OUTREACH THERAPIES (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/15/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/17/14.
NOV 27, DEC 04, 11, 18, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036169300
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BEST WESTERN PLUS THE TUSCAN, 425 NORTH POINT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company and is signed 425 NORTH POINT STREET LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/21/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/21/14.
NOV 27, DEC 04, 11, 18, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-033359900
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STONE KOREAN KITCHEN: FOUR EMBARCADERO CENTER, STREET LEVEL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed STONE AGE GROUP, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/15/09. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/04/14.
The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: CLOUDCRANK. COM, 4409 20TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by ERIC WILCOX. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/18/2011.
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036150000
NOV 27, DEC 04, 11, 18, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036183000
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INTERO REAL ESTATE SRVS SF SUNSET: APRIL REALTY, 1788 - 19TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed APRIL FINANCIAL, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/22/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/22/14.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE UPS STORE 6609, 1225 4TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94158. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed JING STORE, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/12/14.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GENE FACTOR, 610 22ND ST #305, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GENE LEE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/04/2005. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/03/14.
NOV 13, 20, 27, DEC 04, 2014
NOV 20, 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014
▼
Read more online at www.ebar.com
Legal Notices>> NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM S. ROBINSON’S LOST WILL; PETITIONER JEFF ALTMAN C/O PATRICIA A. MAYER #133171, LAW OFFICES OF JULIA P. WALD, 1108 FIFTH AVE #202, SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FILE PES-14-298188
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of WILLIAM S. ROBINSON. A Petition for Probate, has been filed by JEFF ALTMAN, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that JEFF ALTMAN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: December 31, 2014, 9:00am, Rm. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Patricia A. Mayer, 1108 Fifth Avenue, Suite 202, San Rafael, CA 94901; Ph. (415) 482-7555.
A PHOTOGRAPHIC COPY OF THE LOST WILL IS ON FILE WITH THE COURT. NOV 27, DEC 04, 11, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036179200
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OUCH! CPR & 1ST AID TRAINING, 1681 20TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KENNETH J. LOO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/01/14.
DEC 04, 11,18, 25, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036180000
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ESQUIRE REALTY, 1360 JONES ST #101, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual and is signed TYLER CASSACIA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/01/14.
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036157500
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036141900
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MUTT MANIA, 647 FELL ST #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JENNA HOOPER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/07/14.
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036143200
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN FRANCISCO ART MARKETING, 22 BUCARELI DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PAVEL VASILIK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/20/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/14/14.
MACINTOSH HELP * home or office * 23 years exp * sfmacman.com
R ic k 41 5. 82 1 . 1 792
PC Support Legal Services>>
Movers>>
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036155000
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 24TH STREET BAR, 3336 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CAROLINE BROWN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/14/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/14/14.
Ralph Doore 415-867-4657
Professional 30+ years exp. Virus removal PC speedup New PC setup Data recovery Network & wireless setup Discreet
Yelp reviews
Pet Services>>
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036174200
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TOYA STUDIO, 1040 FULTON ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOHN JAMES TOYA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/25/14.
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036173300
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MELISSA MAHER COACHING, 427 WEBSTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MELISSA MAHER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/24/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/24/14.
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036179500
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PACIFIC BAY PIPING SYSTEMS, 161 UNIVERSITY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed JM PACIFIC BAY PLUMBING, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/01/14.
Maintainance & Upkeep>> Household Services>>
$250 OFF YOUR DEDUCTIBLE!
(415) 292-2962
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PANDORA KARAOKE; PANDORA KARAOKE AND BAR; 177 EDDY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed PANDORA KARAOKE, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/24/14.
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036174400
For Sale>>
CAT SITTERS WANTED - IDEAL FOR RETIREES/ SENIORS –
CLEANING PROFESSIONAL –
26 Years Exp. (415) 794-4411 Roger Miller
HOUSECLEANING SINCE 1979 –
Many original clients. All supplies. HEPA Vac. Richard 415-255-0389
Notices>> LOOKING FOR A FRIEND –
CAR FOR SALE –
2000 Honda Civic , $1500 ,1 owner , 1.6L DOHC VTEC, 107 000 miles, Manual,blue exterior , interior gray, vin number 1HGEM1156YL039309, (505) 3330965 or humic38@hotmail.com
Worked w/ lesbian friend for 15 yrs in construction office in Los Angeles area. She’s now working for phone company in the San Francisco Bay Area, including suburbs. She started as a lineman. Would like to locate her, its been a long time. Call Walter: 701-516-4653
RARE AVAILABILITY –
SAN FRANCISCO COLUMBARIUM: Ground Floor Niche (limit 2). Steps from Harvey Milk Honorary Niche. Call for details / Private party (510) 551-1154
LOMBARD AUTO BODY
2340 Lombard Street, SF • LombardAutoSF@yahoo.com
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036174000
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014
Join our top home & realty cleaning company in SF. We Seek independent contractors to work part-time w upscale private clients & on real estate prep cleanings. Refs req/3yrs exp/Comp pay. jaxhomecare@aol.com; (415) 350-9060
Tech Support>>
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036155100
DEC 04, 11, 18, 25, 2014
CLEANING PROFS WANTED! –
Counseling>>
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CROWN DIAMOND TRADING, 744 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CYNTHIA THAN THANAYE AUNG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/07/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/07/14.
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FORT 1, 2801 LEAVENWORTH ST #J32, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed FORT 1 LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/24/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/25/14.
Ideal For Retirees/Seniors. Provide loving, safe care in your home for 1 or 2 cats while owner is away. Must have no other pets. Perfect for kitty lovers with feline experience. Jobs can vary from 1 day - 4 months. Reliable, honest, trustworthy! References required. Call: 415.333.1123
Classifieds The
The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SPOT ON SF, 325 NEWHALL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a limited liability company and is signed HOGAN PENROSE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/17/14.
Jobs Offered>>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 23
Hauling >> HAULING 24/7 –
(415) 441-1054 Large Truck
Blogs>>
www.amongthehogs.com
See Our Progress
Michael Kaufmann Business Analyst
“
castro resident
I work every day to help businesses and residents save. I’m proud to work at a company like PG&e, which invests so much into our local communities and is committed to expanding california’s economic prosperity.
”
At PG&E, our customers are our neighbors. The communities we serve as PG&E employees are where we live and work too. That’s why we’re investing $4.5 billion every year to enhance pipeline safety and strengthen our gas and electric infrastructure across northern and central California. It’s why we’re helping people and businesses gain energy efficiencies to help reduce their bills. It’s why we’re focused on developing the next generation of clean, renewable energy systems. together, we are working to enhance pipeline safety and strengthen our gas and electric infrastructure—for your family and ours.
together, Building a Better california
See the FActS IN the BAy AreA Replaced approximately 15 miles of gas transmission pipeline Invested more than $1 billion into electrical improvements Connected more than 62,000 rooftop solar installations
pge.com/SeeOurProgress
“PG&E” refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2014 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved. Paid for by PG&E shareholders.
in the Bay Area
Golly, Molly!
38
Political peril
Danger zone
37
Out &About
33
O&A
31
The
Vol. 44 • No. 49 • December 4-10, 2014
www.ebar.com/arts
Feinstein & Boone light up your life by David-Elijah Nahmod
I
t never snows in the Bay Area, but it will still be a White Christmas with the venerable San Francisco Symphony when old friends and songbirds extraordinaire Michael Feinstein and Debby Boone take to the Davies Symphony Hall stage to honor the holiday season and the legacy of Rosemary Clooney. For Boone, best-known for her mega-hit “You Light Up My Life,” the show has family connections: Clooney was her late mother-in-law. See page 38 >>
Michael Feinstein: "Classic American Music will always live on."
Courtesy SFS
Debby Boone: "We'll concentrate on holiday music.” Courtesy the artist
M
s u
u e
g o er’ m s
d ay i l ho
by Roberto Friedman
L
ast week brought the annual return of “turkey lurkey time,” and Out There dutifully jetted back to the East Coast to attend the expected rituals with our nuclear family. Just as typically, we cushioned “family time” with “OT time” – to wit, several days all to ourselves in Washington, DC, to enjoy plenty of cultural opportunities.
“Regalia” (2011) by Laurel Roth Hope, mixed media including fake fingernails, nail polish, barrettes, false eyelashes, jewelry, Swarovski crystal, and walnut base, part of The Singing and the Silence: Birds in Contemporary Art.
See page 31 >>
{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }
Come celebrate with us!
LGBTQ Family Day Sat. Dec. 6 2014 20% Off Regular Tickets! Discount Code: LGBTQ
www.odcdance.org/velveteenrabbit
Courtesy of the artist and Gallery Wendi Norris
26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
This page intentionally left blank.
t
t
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27
This page intentionally left blank.
28 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
This page intentionally left blank.
t
t
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 29
This page intentionally left blank.
30 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
This page intentionally left blank.
t
t
Theatre>>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 31
Molly Ivins talks back by Richard Dodds
I
t’s hard to go wrong. Give us the words of Molly Ivins and the talents of Kathleen Turner, and for 70 minutes there is bliss in this holiday season. Berkeley Rep is presenting Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, a one-woman show that sketches a biographical framework for the late political columnist’s trenchant writings. Those writings provide for most of what is said from the stage, and Turner brings her own authenticity to Ivins’ takeno-prisoners prose. Turner has performed Red Hot Patriot in several other cities over the past few years and clearly relishes in carrying on Ivins’ legacy. For those who may know the name but not the work, Red Hot Patriot is a good introduction to the journalist who combined rage and humor in her columns. And for those who did follow her writings, the biographical details woven in by playwrights Margaret and Allison Engel may lend added resonance to Ivins’ words. The Engels frame their play around a column that Ivins is struggling to write about her authoritative, archconservative father. That provides an entryway for biographical details as Ivins procrastinates from writing by talking to the audience while projections of vintage photos help illustrate her stories. Reared in Texas in a family of social prominence, Ivins was a six-foot-tall debutante at a ball that made her look like, in her mother’s words, “a St. Bernard among greyhounds.” While her mother considered being ditzy a social achievement, her father, in her words, “had a level of bile that could be triggered by a Shirley Temple.” After jobs at several newspapers, Ivins found her voice at the Texas Observer. “It was my gateway drug,”
<<
Out There
From page 25
The national capital is a great place for art-lovers, since so many museums are free. We make regular pilgrimages to our favorites, including the National Gallery of Art, the Hirshhorn Museum, the American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Renwick Gallery, and the Phillips Collection (this last has an admission fee).
kevinberne.com
Kathleen Turner plays provocatively humorous political columnist Molly Ivins in Red Hot Patriot at Berkeley Rep.
she said of the monthly political newsmagazine, and while it led to a job with The New York Times, her incautious, provocatively liberal voice was not as well-appreciated. “Editors are mice training to be rats,” she says. Ivins returned to Texas, where her writings about state and national politics brought both fans and enemies as her columns were syndicated to hundreds of papers around the country. At one point, she dismisses her own writings as “mainly backtalk of things I wish I had said to my father.” Both Ivins’ writings and public persona showed brash confidence, and Turner is at ease in this guise. But Turner also captures the sorrows and insecurities that Ivins hesitantly acknowledges, and while Ivins’ never-ending battle with alcoholism gets short shrift, it does provide a good line: “Alcohol may lead nowhere, but it sure is the scenic route.” Death is an inevitable presence, including a mysterious wire-copy machine that spits out obituaries;
an upstage collection of forsaken desks and chairs; and even Ivins’ love of the morgue, the old term for a newspaper’s library of clippings that was something like an ink-stained Google search engine. Ivins talks frankly about the recurring breast cancer that took her life in 2007, and seems most angry with herself for allowing herself to be repeatedly cut, poisoned, and burned in the name of modern medicine. Director David Esbjornson, whose Bay Area connections go back to the very first presentation of Angels in America, has staged the production with efficiency and minimal ornamentation. It’s all about Ivins, and with Turner there to carry on the salute, that is a bounty. Molly Ivins had a pulpit from which she preached what she practiced.t
We were pleased to see pieces by some favorite contemporary artists included in The Singing and the Silence: Birds in Contemporary Art, now showing at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. We were already familiar with Laurel Roth Hope’s work, as it has been exhibited at Gallery Wendi Norris here in San Francisco, and it was great to see it showcased in a museum setting. Her “Regalia” (2011) uses such unconventional art materials as fake fingernails, barrettes and false
eyelashes in most inventive ways. The connections between avian plumage and cosmetic paraphernalia are telling. Artist Fred Tomaselli is probably best-known for his phantasmagorical compositions on the theme of drug culture, in which he arranges pills and potions in hallucinogenic, psychedelic schemes. In the work on display at AAM, he foregoes pharmaceuticals for equally eye-popping nature. Referring to “Migrant
Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins will run through Jan. 4 at Berkeley Rep. Tickets are $29-$89. Call (510) 647-2949 or go to berkeleyrep.org.
See page 36 >>
FI N D I N G LOVE I N A WO R LD O F HATE NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER In Association with Dave Madsen & Rick Norris, Executive Producers Present
“Inventive. Electrifying.”
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
“Brave and original.” NY DAILY NEWS
WRITTEN BY
JOE CALARCO DIRECTED BY
BEN RANDLE
Fred Tomaselli, courtesy of Glenstone
“Migrant Fruit Thugs” (2006) by Fred Tomaselli, leaves, photo collage, gouache, acrylic, and resin on wood panel, part of The Singing and the Silence: Birds in Contemporary Art.
NOV 7–DEC 14
BUY TICKETS AT NCTCSF.ORG BOX OFFICE: 415.861.8972 25 VAN NESS AVE AT MARKET ST
<< Books
32 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
Walt Whitman’s bohemian rhapsody by Tim Pfaff
A
ll my life I’ve been asked if I’m related to the sewing-machine Pfaffs (no such luck). And about once a year someone tells me that there’s a beer bar called Pfaff ’s in the poetry of Walt Whitman (I know; connection there plausible, but alas). The latter cropped up with far greater frequency late last summer, which I took as an indication that people were reading Justin Martin’s recently published Rebel Souls: Walt Whitman and America’s First Bohemians (Da Capo Press). But again, no. So let me – no connection, no royalties, no conflict of interest – tell you about Rebel Souls. First impressions to the contrary, it’s not an entire book about Pfaff ’s Restaurant and Lager Bier Saloon, a mid-19th-century Manhattan establishment that became the sawdust-floored host to a colorful coterie of artists and hangers-on. But it is an informed narrative of the ever-looping connections among
the artistic denizens assembled in antebellum New York and, following the cataclysm of the Civil War, scattered across America, Whitman, viewed from our historical perspective, pre-eminent among them. It’s a book that bears its considerable scholarship lightly, taking a cue from the “Bohemians” themselves about how to entertain. Briefly, the literally underground bar (down a flight of stairs off Broadway, and extended in a vaulted room back under the street) was established in 1855 by Charles Ignatius Pfaff, a German immigrant with celebrated taste in both champagne and lager who wanted to start a restaurant of the Rathskeller type. The following year, journalist Henry Clapp, Jr., an American in Paris who had seen the flowering of the artistic enclave at Cafe Momus memorialized in the Henry Murger play La vie de Boheme, and most famously of all now, Puccini’s opera La Boheme, saw Pfaff ’s as America’s Cafe Momus-to-be. There the publicity
hound Clapp became “King of Bohemia.” In one of the book’s more delectable passages, Martin concludes that, while it would be a misrepresentation to call Pfaff ’s America’s first gay bar, “Among the denizens of the saloon’s lager room were assorted rebels and social outliers, including plenty of gay men. Pfaff ’s was a place where gay men could meet, in an era where such matters were not so clearly defined and delineated.” In a paragraph you wouldn’t find in a more formal biography of Whitman, Martin goes on: “Pfaff ’s might best be described as a ‘semiadhesive bar.’ In the quirky language of phrenology, ‘adhesiveness’ was the capacity for intense and meaningful same-sex friendship.” Whitman, who had a deep interest in phrenology, “loved to twist words and phrases, appropriating them, lending them new meaning. In his poetry, he employed a number of coded terms for passionate attachments among men such as ‘com-
START A NEW TRADITION
WITH SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS
DANCERS, PRANCERS VIXENS! & nourse theater
DeC. DeC. DeC.
12 13 13 8 P.M.
TICKETS:
2:30 P.M. 8 P.M.
wElL-sTrUnG
with the Singing String Quartet
SFGMC.ORG OR 415.392.4400
SEASON 37 IS SPONSORED BY
rades’ and ‘adhesiveness.’” The Whitman who strides Martin’s pages, an indefatigable walker until a stroke and other illnesses decked him, is viewed up-close and personal. We read of his serious relationships with Fred Vaughan and Peter Doyle (“the love of his life”), his trials as a poet with a voice America had not previously heard, his loving, even maternal tending to the victims of the Civil War, and his idolization of Abraham Lincoln. Doyle’s singular gift to Whitman was, we learn, his account of the assassination of President Lincoln, since Doyle was, remarkably in retrospect, in the audience of Our American Cousin on that fateful night, and had heard the fatal shot. In more scholarship of the youread-it-here-first variety, Martin informs us that in the third, 1860 edition of Whitman’s magnum opus, “On the title page, the words Leaves of Grass were rendered with little spermatozoa swimming among the letters. Plenty of risqué content can be found in the poems. There’s ‘love flesh swelling and deliciously aching’ and a ‘slow rude muscle’ and ‘delirious juice’ and ‘limitless limpid jets of love hot and enormous,’ and ‘bellies pressed and glued together with love.’” Although the Whitman story is, rightly, the ongoing, recurring and binding narrative of Rebel Souls, Martin is equally effective in chronicling and characterizing the likes of actor Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes; Artemus Ward, “America’s first stand-up comedian”; Fitz Hugh
t
Ludlow, “psychedelic pioneer and author of The Hashish Eater”; actress Adah Isaacs Menden, “the 19th century’s sepia-toned Marilyn Monroe”; and many others, with a dash of Mark Twain – who mentions Pfaff ’s in his overlooked Autobiography, though he does not seem actually to have been there – thrown in for good measure. Their stories interweave in a way that brings a unique sense of coherence to Martin’s essentially “wild” (a word he seems to love) narrative. On an artistic “tour” of the American West, Ludlow and photographer Albert Bierstadt based themselves in San Francisco, which they found the most commodious, Pfaff ’s-like environment west of Manhattan. Martin doesn’t waste the opportunity to remark, “In San Francisco, everything was possible and available.”t
History repeating by Jim Piechota A Gathering Storm by Jameson Currier; Chelsea Station Editions, $20 gay college student is brutally beaten and left for dead in Jameson Currier’s latest novel A Gathering Storm, an impressive work which had been hidden away for more than a decade in the author’s closet. Writing in the aftermath of the Matthew Shepard murder, Currier, relieved to have committed his personal impression of it to paper, squirreled the manuscript away in a box. A copy of it recently discovered in one of his older computers was shopped around again for a publisher without success. Currier has printed the book through his own Chelsea Station Editions company, which aims to publish “work that was overlooked and ignored by other publishers; worthy gaythemed literature that needed to find its way into print.” The novel begins with the hateful beating of Danny, a college student who meets homophobic killers Rick and A.J. in a bar and becomes befriended by them. They deceive Danny into thinking they’re interested in more than just drinks and chatter, and lure him into their truck and out to a field to mercilessly attack him. The narrative volleys between the crime’s aftermath as law enforcement tries
A
to piece together clues and evidence left behind, the community’s reaction to the violence, the perpetrators’ attempts to evade conviction, and Danny’s past leading up to the hate crime. This technique widens the perspective of the characters and draws readers deep inside the minds, hearts, and motivations of everyone involved, including the two haters themselves, revealing the ways and means of their outwardly expressed homophobia. Religion also plays a role in the novel, but is handled evenhandedly if profusely by Currier. Reverend Fletcher, owning up to the true unconditional love he preaches, is positioned directly in opposition to Reverend White, whose “God Hates Fags” position mobilizes into a hatemongering funeral-picketing. See page 33 >>
t
Theatre>>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 33
Proper pandering to fear A
C HANTICLEER C HRISTMAS December 11-23
DEC 13 & 21
St. Ignatius Church 650 Parker Ave, San Francisco Mark Leialoha
A seemingly crazed agitator (Andrew Humann, right) tries to convince a meek doctor (Liam Vincent) that his wife is working for sinister forces in the political satire The Totalitarians.
by Richard Dodds
A
s states are color-coded according to their political leanings, you might say Nebraska is red and white and black and blue. Not the actual Nebraska, mind you, but the one playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb has created for The Totalitarians. In this increasingly riotous political comedy, Nebraska is targeted for a totalitarian takeover by unseen forces backing a politician with troublesome oratory skills. “Sometimes some things just come in my mouth wrong,” the candidate acknowledges to her campaign manager. And if her skillset is also deficient in matters moral and intellectual, Penelope Easter is shrewdly ruthless. She sees in the people of the Cornhusker State a willingness to blindly follow a proper pandering to their fears. “Do you think it’s a coincidence,” she asks, “that Kool-Aid was invented in Nebraska?” (Kool-Aid was indeed invented, in a kitchen sink, in Nebraska.) It’s reasonable that Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin might come to mind at this point, and Penelope Easter would unlikely exist without these forebears. But in Z Space’s The Totalitarians, Nachtrieb is casting his satiric net beyond specific personalities and ideologies. How politicians are packaged and marketed is certainly on the agenda here, as well as dark money, dirty tricks, and family values, but the playwright also displays a giddy sense of the absurd that owes no allegiance to any ideology. The play opens with a young anarchist named Ben in a ski mask delivering his manifesto, but Ben becomes a Kenny, the character from South Park whose hoodie so muffles his voice that only an occasional word or two can be deciphered. The more intense Ben becomes in his rant, the funnier the scene becomes. Poor guy, but just another paranoiafueled nutcase – or so it seems.
<<
Currier
From page 32
Currier admits that the hate crime of Matthew Shepard certainly informed his novel, but the author ventures further beyond that event by exploring other family members involved, how it was treated by law enforcement (including a fascinating chapter on the life of a blood sample), their take on the crime,
Played by Andrew Humann with a boyish vulnerability in delicate balance with conspiracy-laden vitriol, Ben has an increasingly important role as the play approaches a Shakespearean-flavored showdown that is a bit grisly but a lot funny thanks to the warped world that Nachtrieb has established. For much of the play, the focus is on the vivacious candidate and the comparatively mousey political operative who find out together what power feels like. They brainstorm a slogan to arouse the voters without much caring what the words mean. “Freedom from Fear” becomes the campaign catchphrase, and crowds begin chanting “FFF” at her rallies – which, in another inspired touch of Nachtrieb silliness, comes out sounding like a very unthreatening “fuh fuh fuh.” As Penelope, Jamie Jones reminded me first of a steely Stockard Channing before becoming something of a crazy-eyed late-stage Ann Miller as her ascent to power approaches. Those are personal reference points for a performance that creates its own screwy reality that Jones luminously establishes. The character is at once an airhead, a monster, and a seductress, pulling into her spell Francine, the campaign manager that Alexis Lezin nimbly creates in smaller strokes. Left behind in the escalating swirl of events is Fran’s husband, Jeffrey, a meekly agreeable doctor who’s at first happy if his wife is happy. Liam Vincent brings a delightful guilelessness to the role, with an eagerly open face and a gentle manner that remains intact even after he becomes a second ski-masked agitator convinced of Penelope’s sinister motives. Twists become Oedipal before storming into Shakespeare territory for a farcical denouement only slightly undermined by a rather conventional coda of reconciliation. The Z Space production of The Totalitarians is the third and final and the aftermath, how it ballooned outward from a small Southern town to the country beyond. Readers wishing not to relive the atrocity of the Shepard ordeal may want to pass on Currier’s fictive re-imagining, but the book is a wonder of emotive writing and intuitive imagination, and ultimately becomes a fitting tribute to the community-scarring event which inspired it.t
edition of what the National New Play Network calls “rolling world premieres.” Different casts were featured in the play’s two previous productions, but director Ken Prestininzi also helmed the New Orleans debut. He’s clearly keyed into the idiosyncrasies of Nachtrieb’s vibe, or as Penelope calls them, his “idiosyncrasissies.”t The Totalitarians will run at Z Below through Dec. 14. Tickets are $20-$50. Call (866) 811-4111 or go to zspace.org.
Also in: Stanford • Oakland • Petaluma Berkeley • Sacramento • Santa Clara Carmel • Livermore
<< TV
34 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
Lavender Tube after Ferguson by Victoria A. Brownworth
I
t’s been an ugly start to the holiday season, and as always, that ugliness has been broadcast live and in color on the tube. The aftermath of the inexplicable Grand Jury decision in Ferguson put a damper on Thanksgiving nationwide, and has been a lead story on the tube since the Nov. 23 decision was announced. We can’t think of any other issue that has brought President Obama to the TV airwaves with such immediacy, but the President was attempting to set a tone of calm by addressing the outrage and suggesting remedies that did not involve violence. TV doesn’t always want to cooperate with the concept of calm. TV is often about crying fire in a crowded theater, and we think that is what has been happening on the tube since that fateful Grand Jury announcement. TV news as well as tabloid and talk show coverage has been problematic at every level. We’ve been left wondering when TV execs will ever understand how they marginalize us with their straight white male perspective on news that isn’t about straight white males. Most marginalizing of all was the platform given to Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot Michael Brown to death on Aug. 9. Various news sources reported that ABC News paid Wilson upwards of $1 million for an exclusive interview with GMA and This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos. The hourlong interview ran in segments over several days, starting Nov. 26, and appeared on GMA, ABC Nightly News, Nightline and ABC World News Now, stirring yet more controversy. The parceling of the interview was puzzling. When convicted murderer Amanda Knox was released from an Italian prison for the lesbian sex murder of her former roommate Meredith Kercher, a young British woman of color, then-anchor Diane Sawyer did an exclusive interview with her (for which Knox was also paid in the high six figures) and the interview ran on 20/20. Stephanopoulos is now in charge of ABC News content as the network’s lead anchor and senior news producer. So why the bits and pieces when Ferguson is the biggest story in the nation and ABC News got the first (and thus most important) “get” of Wilson? We’d have liked to see Wilson interviewed by ABC’s only black anchor (who also happens to be lesbian), Robin Roberts. We would have liked to have seen a tougher interview with Wilson that made Wilson less comfy. And why was he wearing his police uniform when he’s been off the force since August? We’re pretty sure just having a black lesbian sitting across from him asking questions would have unsettled Wilson’s carefully constructed Fifth Amendment demeanor. But beyond that, Roberts, simply by virtue of being a 50something black woman who grew up in the rural segregated South, would have a perspective that Stephanopoulos could not possibly have. And that’s a perspective we would have liked to have seen: the perspective from the side that gets killed by police, as opposed to the side that does the killing. In the interview, Wilson is succinct that he “feared for his life,” and that Brown was “demonic,” and that he had no choice but to shoot Brown. Which he did 12 times, hitting him 10 times, even after Brown walked away from the alleged altercation. We were surprised that Stephanopoulos, who has taken U.S. presidents and Vladimir Putin to task in interviews, low-balled his
ABC News
Darren Wilson speaks to ABC News.
questions, letting Wilson tell his story, and never challenging his version of events. We expected more. Yet Wilson speaks for himself, and that was still damning. As presented by ABC, the interview shows a remorseless Wilson asserting that he was just doing his job, the kind of proto-Nazi response we are prepped to be repulsed by. Yet Stephanopoulos never pressed Wilson as to why he got out of his police car and pursued a retreating Brown and continued to shoot 12 times until the unarmed Brown was dead. He never challenged Wilson’s version of events. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the interview is Wilson telling Stephanopoulos that he stood over Brown and saw the life drain out of him after he shot Brown in the head. Wilson describes the life going out of Brown with clinical detail. The lack of emotion in his description of watching a teenager he had just killed die is chilling. Yet in response to a question from Stephanopoulos on whether Wilson would be haunted by the killing for the rest of his life, Wilson almost shrugged and said that there was no reason for him to be haunted by the killing. As for remorse, Wilson said he was sorry for the bad choices Michael Brown had made that led to the events of Aug. 9. The full interview can be viewed at ABCNews.com. It’s instructive that Wilson asserts Brown told him he was “too much of a p*ssy” to shoot him. This statement, at the core of Wilson’s defense, is the standard homo-ing of men by men. Whether Brown actually said it or Wilson has heard it before, we will never know. What we do know is that the worst thing men say to each other is comparing them to women. According to every major TV news network, the protests over the Ferguson decision are the most widespread in recent American history, spontaneously erupting in every major city and many smaller towns. So Stephanopoulos failing to put the interview in the context of what Obama called “the often tense relationship between communities of color and law enforcement” was a decidedly missed opportunity. Where were the questions about the fact that in Ferguson, 83% of those pulled over by police were black, yet there were only three black police officers on the force, and the entirety of the city’s hierarchy is white? ABC blew this interview, in our opinion. And also set the tone that Wilson is the victim, rather than the dead teenager. Why was there no context from Stephanopoulos about witness accounts or conflicting coroner’s reports or the fact that the coroner “ran out of batteries” for his camera and thus there are no photos of Brown’s injuries, unlike in any other case in Ferguson
history? And doesn’t the coroner have a cell phone like everyone else in America? And how long would it have taken to send someone out to get batteries? Surely the coroner would have known this case would be important and those photos would be vital to any subsequent legal wrangle? Meanwhile, organized protests called #BlackoutBlackFriday, intended to subvert Black Friday shopping and turn it into consciousness-raising about black lives rather than shopping, took place in many shopping malls and districts across the country. Organizers of the protests wanted black Americans and their allies to withhold their money from businesses. At one of those Black Friday protests, San Francisco lit up the night with lights reading “Black Lives Matter,” which was both beautiful and heartbreaking. Protests and subsequent arrests continued into Nov. 29, Small Business Saturday throughout the U.S. The lit sign in San Francisco reflected the link between LGBT people and people of color in many communities. Many in our own LGBT community have been the victims of police violence. The very roots of our own liberation came out of the reaction of gay men, lesbians and trans persons at Stonewall. Yet we are still victims of police violence and police negligence. It just rarely makes the news, as LGBT people rarely make the news, which is why news services like the B.A.R. remain so vital to our community. Anyone in our community who doesn’t understand the relevance of the Ferguson decision for us needs to pay particular attention to how often LGBT people go unprotected and unacknowledged with regard to crimes against us and how often news about our lives doesn’t manage to make the TV or any other headlines unless we’ve managed to wrest some measure of equality from straight society.
Smashing watermelon
Speaking of headlines and marginalized communities, it’s difficult to imagine what emcee Daniel Handler was thinking when he made a watermelon joke at the National Book Awards last week as he gave black lesbian author Jacqueline Woodson the award for young people’s literature for her exquisite memoir in verse, Brown Girl Dreaming. Yet that’s the kind of story about LGBT people and people of color that makes the mainstream news – and mostly because some straight white guy is at the center of it. The NBAs are the biggest and best literary awards in the country, and Woodson winning the prestigious award is huge. Yet the hugeness of her win was overshadowed by the casual and careless racism of the presenter, himself a terrific writer
and a longtime friend of Woodson. It took Handler several tries to get his apology right. He finally wrote a big, big check ($110,000) on Nov. 28 to the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign of which Woodson is a trustee. For her part, Woodson wrote a searing opinion piece for the Nov. 28 New York Times in which she responded to what happened and more. The problem of how TV news represents us – LGBT, people of color, women, Jews, Muslims – is nowhere near getting fixed. Woodson didn’t make news for her win, she only made news for Handler’s gaffe. That’s the reverse of what should have happened. Yet this is where we still are. This is why we continue to call out the news you’re not seeing in this column, even when it’s difficult to read and even more difficult to assimilate. It’s why we continue to point out how a majority of gay and lesbian couples on the tube are interracial (which is not reflective of real life) because straight white TV execs conflate minorities on the tube, getting the two-for-one deal so they don’t have to broaden their color palette or their LGBT brush. These are ugly realities, and even though tis the season to be merry and bright, our collective oppression can’t be gift-wrapped and set aside for another more convenient time. Speaking of oppression, the world’s largest oppressed group continues to be women, and violence against women is still an issue that gets short shrift. News we wish we hadn’t seen was the Nov. 28 decision allowing Ray Rice back in the NFL after he beat his wife unconscious in a New Jersey casino elevator, then dragged her limp body out of the elevator and dropped it on the floor. The Rices gave an exclusive interview (for an undisclosed amount, but assume six figures) to NBC’s Matt Lauer for the Today show, which ran Dec. 1 and 2 and got a lot of tabloid TV coverage in advance. You can watch it at NBC. com or hulu, but expect to scream at the tube if you do. NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit took on the Ray Rice story last week. The unsettling take pitted the two female detectives against each other – one believing the abusive player, the other not. One feeling the police were going too far in pushing the victim to indict her own paramour, the other doing the pushing. SVU has a complicated history with presenting certain types of storylines, often victim-blaming, and this episode leaned in that direction more than once. Meagan Good, who starred in NBC’s short-lived drama Deception, was convincing and complex in the role of the Janay Palmer Rice character. Unwilling to see herself as a victim, she unwittingly accepted the abuse, even as it also impacted her child. Chad Coleman (The Walking Dead) was superb as the manipulative and abusive sports figure who may or may not have just had a singular slip into violence. Talking about the episode, Coleman told ET, “It’s incredibly important to not turn [the character] into a villain. He’s a human being that made a horrific mistake. I’m sure if he could take it back, he would.” Men who don’t abuse women never quite understand that there are men who do, regularly and purposefully and without remorse. Coleman also explained why it was important to take on the role, telling ET, “We need to work towards healing, so however we can facilitate that conversation where both parties can come to the table and we can find hope and healing, then I’m ready to be a part of that.” The issue of domestic violence
t
is very much in the news, but TV is struggling to figure out how to address it. SVU did a mostly creditable job, especially the conflict in forcing victims to confront their abusers and file charges against them. NBC News led with the Rice story on Nov. 28, and anchor Brian Williams, still in the #1 slot with ratings, said the network would no longer air the video of Rice beating his wife because it was too violent and disturbing. Too violent and disturbing. Which put the entirety of the incident and the new ruling in an incontrovertible context. Which we are certain Williams meant to do. African American actor Terry Crews (The Newsroom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and host of Millionaire) played for the Los Angeles Rams and the Washington R*dskins. He also grew up watching his father beat his mother. He’s been an outspoken advocate for battered women and against domestic violence, which has garnered negative responses from other men, including homophobic slurs and comments. (Crews is not gay.) In an interview with ET’s Kevin Frazier, Crews opened up about how incidents like Rice beating his wife cause him PTSD, and how he thinks sports are broken with regard to violence. Part of what he said was, “Because of my stance on domestic violence and standing [up] for women, I have tons of men coming at me like, ‘You are a punk, you are a punk, look at you, get your skirt and go pop your pecs somewhere.’ This is the mentality I’m talking about, the challenge, the male pride. Pride is a thing that kills you. Male pride is so tough that they feel that any time a woman backtalks it’s they’d rather die than stand for that, than actually have a woman tell them what’s up, and then they would say, ‘Okay, you know what, I got to hit her. I got to lash out.’” Crews explained to Frazier that it was not nearly enough to wear ribbons and other paraphernalia to symbolize being against domestic violence, that much more needed to be done to change attitudes and stop the violence. “The NFL culture, the sports culture, has decided that they are more valuable than women,” Crews said. “I’ve heard people laugh about keeping their pimp hand strong and keeping her in control so that she knows her place. But think about how evil that is for one man to think that he’s actually more valuable than a woman, because as a human being your worth is immeasurable.” And as we know and as we have reported here repeatedly, the misogyny of the NFL is inextricably linked to its homophobia. More men need to speak out the way Crews has. Rice is now a free agent and can return to the NFL if someone hires him. The question is, what message would that send? The NFL is far from cured of its misogyny and homophobia. Either the NFL is going to change the atmosphere that allows that kind of attitude to rule, or it isn’t. Keeping known abusers out of the league would be a good start, in our opinion. Speaking of misogyny and homophobia and victim-blaming, actor Shia LaBeouf revealed on Nov. 28 in a TV interview that he had been tied up and raped during his #IAMSORRY performance art installation in LA several months ago. The reveal was a huge story on tabloid TV and across social media, but sadly prompted the same kind of homophobic response we have come to expect from straight men. Piers Morgan (when is he going back to England?) found it necessary to dismiss LaBeouf ’s claim altogether, calling LaBeouf a “silly little man” for the reveal. Men get See page 35 >>
t
Film>>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 35
False gods of football by David Lamble
I
can’t say that I crawled out of the womb with a fervid hatred of American college football, but that’s not too far from the truth. Happy Valley, a powerful new doc from Amir Bar-Lev about the recent sexual scandals roiling the Penn State university football program and the subsequent downfall of its charismatic leaders, athletic director Joe Paterno and varsity football coach Jerry Sandusky, presents a thesis that I was predisposed to believe. Americans are raised to worship false gods, the burly warrior-athletes who, each fall, take to gridirons across the country in mock combat. Happy Valley presents the worm in the apple of college athletic glory, that some schools, students and alumni are so hooked on touchdowns that they’ve ignored insidious trade-offs. In this story, these involved the sexual abuse of local kids enrolled in an anti-poverty program founded by Sandusky. The interviews with students, coaches, faculty and alumni are augmented by a kind of “combat footage,” dramatic shots of protests pro and con “Saint” Paterno, including an especially vivid fight over a sculpture-garden tableau depicting the coach and his “disciples.” Yes,
<<
Lavender Tube
From page 34
raped. Boys get raped. If we don’t treat all victims fairly and without blaming, we will never get control of sexual violence. Never, ever. On a far lighter note, for several weeks now we’ve been watching previews for NBC’s Dec. 4 live presentation (which will be rerun over the holidays) of Peter Pan. We love musicals, and we love Peter Pan. We also love Christopher Walken, who
Courtesy of Music Box Films
Detail of Joe Paterno from the mural “Inspiration” by Michael Pilato.
at times, the Catholic-raised coach is himself depicted in images that suggest a man approaching canonization. The fall is swift and not pretty. Paterno undergoes a trial by national media (the film is both a record of and a manifestation of this martyrdom), is forced to resign in shame,
and then unexpectedly dies, his 40year legacy in tatters, with a national college regulatory body (the NCAA) going as far as to rescind some of his and the school’s fabled victories and championships. Is there a greater lesson in all of this? Is there any reason for the non-fan to care? Like the recent
steroid scandal that rocked Major League baseball, the Paterno/Sandusky affair suggests that the Greek/ Roman ideal of amateur athletes competing for the selfless glory of school and country is woefully out of date, destroyed by a lethal cocktail of schools pandering to alumni and the flowering of college athletic
is playing Captain Hook. And even though we loathe Girls, we love Allison Williams (Marnie), who is playing Peter Pan. But why is Peter Pan always played by a woman? In the classic 1960 film, the one most of us grew up seeing reruns of on the tube, Peter Pan was played by Mary Martin, star of many musicals, including South Pacific. Martin had also starred in the Broadway version, as well as a live TV performance that was watched by 65 million viewers in 1955, an extraordinary number
that rivaled the Super Bowl at that time. The role of Peter Pan is historically played by a woman and has been since the 1920s, so NBC casting Williams is not unusual. But rather than suspension of disbelief, we are more inclined to think of Peter Pan as lesbian or transgender given the 21st century context. Are there no young male actors fey enough to pass for a boy who never grew up? Do women really replicate boys (we know, acting, but)? See for yourself
what you think of Williams’ boyish charms. We think she looks fab and androgynous as Peter Pan. But what lesbian wouldn’t? Speaking of fantasy, superheroes continue to be the rage. We can’t wait till ABC’s upcoming Marvel’s Agent Carter, a spin-off of Captain America, with Peggy Carter frontand-center. The series debuts Jan. 6. We hope it’s the epiphany we’ve hoped for. We wish we’d bet money on Barbara and Montoya (another one
programs that are not only farm teams for the pros, but that have themselves become pay-for-play powerhouses that all but obliterate the ideal of the student athlete. In fairness, it should be noted that Happy Valley has its online critics who assert that it paints a false picture of the fabled Penn State program. In particular, a blogger who identifies with the school’s athletic glory is very critical of interviews given by Sandusky’s adopted, nowadult son asserting that he, too, was a victim of the abuse. The Penn State program has an especially long reach into the ranks of gay alumni: a close friend of mine is a Penn State graduate who’s very unhappy with the tarnished image of what he remembers as a healthy and constructive college experience. In my case, I reflect that during my college radio days, I often attended Hofstra University football games as a stats-keeper for my college station’s play-by-play account of the games. A few years back, Hofstra announced that “Flying Dutchman” football was being eliminated for lack of on-field success and student interest. As the director of Happy Valley makes perfectly clear, extinction is not a likely fate for the currently embattled but still proud Nittany Lions.t of those interracial gay couples we keep referencing, btw) getting back together before the fall finale last week of Gotham, because we’d have some change. Even though we were sure Montoya was going to be able to woo Barbara back, seeing the two in bed together, finally, in the closing minutes of the episode? Oh yes. We can’t wait to see where that goes next season. Montoya (Victoria Cartegena) has always seemed See page 39 >>
WALT’S
TRAINS NOV 13, 2014–FEB 9, 2015
ALL ABOARD
From Marceline to the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney’s fascination with trains innuenced his personal life and work. Explore Walt’s railroading legacy with more than 200 artifacts, archival video, vintage photographs, and working model trains that will take you on a journey through Walt’s personal collection, Disney lms, and theme park attractions from around the world. att
All Aboard: A Celebration of Walt’s Trains is produced by The Walt Disney Family Museum. Walt Disney, 1951; Collection of LOOK Magazine, photo by Earl Theisen; Courtesy of the Library of Congress; © Disney | The Walt Disney Family Museum® Disney Enterprises, Inc. | © 2014 The Walt Disney Family Museum | The Walt Disney Family Museum is not affiliated with Disney Enterprises, Inc.
<< Music
36 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
Serving the Castro since 1981
ST M AR KE T
288 Noe Street, SF (415) 431-7210 lamednoe.com
by Philip Campbell
15TH ST NOE ST
Cafe | Restaurant | Catering
16TH ST CASTRO ST
La Mediterranee Noe @LaMedNoe
Operas captured on disc
t
17TH ST
Vincenzo Bellini: I Capuleti e i Montecchi. Joyce DiDonato, Nicole Cabell, Eric Owens, Saimir Pirgu, Ao Li; SFO Orchestra: Riccardo Frizza, cond.; SFO Chorus: Ian Robertson, dir.; Frank Zamacona, screen dir. missed San Francisco Opera’s production of I Capuleti e i Montecchi (The Capulets and the Montagues) when it played the War Memorial in 2012. There was some regret at not hearing mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato as Romeo and lyric soprano Nicole Cabell, in her company debut, as Giuletta, but I figured I would get over it. The lukewarm reviews for Vincent Broussard’s reportedly sluggish staging and drab sets by designer Vincent Lemaire made the loss easier, even if everyone seemed unanimously enthusiastic about the musical performance. Well, bel canto opera is really about the singing, and now, with the release of the SFO Broussard production on EuroArts DVD and Blu-ray, those of us who didn’t see the production live can make their own evaluation of the passionate and annoyingly static staging. The director’s concept is muddled and the look is dreary, but not enough to detract from the thrilling performance by the singers and orchestra. Conductor Riccardo Frizza has confident control throughout, and we can get a visual kick enjoying the weirdly attractive costume designs by legendary French couturier Christian Lacroix. Anyone expecting a Shakespearean scenario should be warned: there are some major shifts in dramatic emphasis in Felice Romani’s libretto. The lovers have already met and are already in love, but are still kept apart by the hatred between their families. The warring clans of the title, and especially the bitterness of Giuletta’s father, set the fatal seal on their tragic affair. When they do find some time alone, they are more concerned with the conflict of their relationship than lovemaking. Each of them seems wretchedly isolated, and Broussard emphasizes their personal struggles with stylized movement and some truly bizarre marks. Giuletta sings her opening romance standing on a sink in her bedroom while reaching for a statue. The more accustomed story is outlined in the flow of Bellini’s wonderful melodies with exquisite solos and duets (but tellingly, no real love duet) and stirring writing for male chorus. Forget the lack of a ball or balcony scene, and settle in for a satisfying wallow in terrific singing with some splendid orchestral accompaniment. DiDonato possesses a voice and coloratura so effortless and beautiful we almost forget how much expert technique she employs. Her Romeo is not only believable, but also a pleasure to hear. The matching of her rich tone with Cabell’s firm soprano marked by beautifully nuanced phrasing brings the temperature to fever pitch whenever they share the stage, and thankfully, that is often and prolonged.
I
Golden Gate Men’s Chorus, Joseph Piazza, Music Director, presents
a GGMC Christmas
silver and gold GOLD MEDALIST 2014 WORLD CHOIR GAMES RIGA, LATVIA
Thursday, December 11, 2014 Saturday, December 13, 2014 Sunday, December 14, 2014 Sunday, December 14, 2014 Tuesday, December 16, 2014
8pm 3pm 3pm 7pm 8pm
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church 3281 16th Street, San Francisco General $25 / VIP $40 Tickets: www.ggmc.org or at the door. Student discount available at the door.
<<
Out There
From page 31
Fruit Thugs” (2006), the museum supplies a blurb worth quoting in full: “Nature has long been part of Tomaselli’s work, both physically and conceptually. Not only is he a regular bird-watcher, he is also an accomplished gardener, amateur beekeeper, and regular fly-fisher. The dazzling array of collaged images is drawn from camping and sporting catalogues, gardening
The rest of the cast make the most of their moments. Popular bass-baritone Eric Owens is commanding in the relatively small role of Giuletta’s father Capellio. Tenor Saimir Pirgu as Tebaldo is stretched in the upper reaches of his voice, but makes the notes and manages to sound exciting and steady. Baritone Ao Li as the physician Lorenzo is also excellent. The stage pictures are undeniably interesting and often striking. The bonus interviews help explain Broussard’s intentions, even if Lacroix’s costumes still trump his imagery. A stage-full of non-singing female chorus members, all looking like Helena Bonham Carter on the red carpet (with large flowers stuffed in their mouths yet), and men dressed in stovepipe hats and frock coats, really pop against the minimal sets. Never mind all that and put this intriguing release into your library for the listening experience alone. It really makes a rather brilliant case for Bellini’s problematic tour de force, and the sound quality is spectacular. Arrigo Boito: Mefistofele. Ildar Abdrazakov, Ramon Vargas, Patricia Racette; SFO Orchestra: Nicola Luisotti, cond.; SFO Chorus: Ian Robertson, dir.; Frank Zamacona, screen dir. The thriving series of performances of San Francisco Opera live from the War Memorial on EuroArts DVD and Blu-ray also includes the fabled Robert Carsen production of Boito’s Mefistofele re-created by Laurie Feldman and directed for the screen by Frank Zamacona during the 2013 season. There may be many chefs on hand, but don’t worry, no one is changing the recipe. The smash-hit show was first seen here in 1989 and again in 1994, and
Carsen’s endlessly inventive staging remains carefully intact, with designer Michael Levine’s eye-popping sets and costumes awesome as ever. There is some real and simulated nudity thrown in this time, but it isn’t very shocking in the context of a spectacle that goes gleefully over-the-top every chance it gets. It’s an exciting night at the opera, and conductor Nicola Luisotti leads a polished orchestra and cast in a video document that lets us savor the splendors of Carsen’s and Boito’s stirringly theatrical presentation. The differences from the 1989 mounting are mostly notable for anyone lucky enough to have seen Samuel Ramey in his prime in the title role. His Satan was sexy, nasty and deliciously droll. Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov is more gruff and intense. He follows in Ramey’s hooves only in the stage directions and puts his own stamp on the role with some rich and powerful singing of his own, creating a satisfying portrayal on his own terms. Tenor Ramon Vargas as Faust starts small but ends well. He gets lost in the shuffle of the bigger scenes, but his performance benefits from the closer scrutiny that video close-ups provide. The incredible Patricia Racette, who seems unable to make a wrong move onstage, sings and acts the dual roles of the horribly wronged Margherita and Elena (the girl who launched those 1,000 ships) with her customary power and commitment. The new release is every bit as stunning as one could hope, especially on Blu-ray. The Ramey enactment survives on a much dimmer Kultur DVD, but with the fabulous sonics of the EuroDisc and the sensational Prologue in Heaven looking better than ever in a superior transcription, this is a bit of SFO history that simply demands a place at home.t
books, and field guides. Tomaselli also collects and incorporates the plants he grows. ‘Migrant Fruit Thugs’ includes huge fig leaves from the artist’s garden and references an incident when he witnessed two rose-breasted grosbeaks devouring his figs.” Also showing at the AAM: photorealist Richard Estes’ Realism, and Untitled – The Art of James Castle, a so-called “outsider artist.” Exciting us at the NGA: El Greco in the National Gallery of Art and Wash-
ington-Area Collections: a 400th Anniversary Celebration; Captain Linnaeus Tripe: Photographer of India and Burma, 1852-1860; and Degas’s Little Dancer. Worth the entrance fee at the Phillips: NeoImpressionists and the Dream of Realities: Painting, Poetry, Music. All right up our arts alley. Finally, a shout-out of thanks to OT’s swell big bro, who took us to lunch at the National Press Club, in its restaurant appropriately dubbed the Fourth Estate.t
t
Out&About>>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 37
Now and at the Hour @ Exit Theater Christian Cagigal and H.P. Mendoza’s ( Colma the Musical, Fruit Fly) unusual documentary performance film about a magician and his Vietnam Vet father’s emotional postwar ordeals. $15-$25. Also Dec 6, 12, 13. 8pm. 156 Eddy St. www.theexit.org
One Starry Night @ Warfield Theatre
O&A
Fri 5
Out &About
Avenue Q
Decemburly by Jim Provenzano
N
ow we can talk about Christmas and pre-Christmas events, and other holiday-themed benefits, galas, parties and comedy shows. It has been unleashed. It is inevitable. Cheer is compulsory. Magic is mandatory.
Thu 4 1964: The Year San Francisco Came Out @ GLBT History Museum Exhibit focusing on San Francisco’s emerging gay culture at the time of the pivotal LIFE magazine feature “Homosexuality in America.” Dec. 4, a panel, GLBT People and the Machine, with Gabriel Haaland and Andrea Shorter. Reg. hours Mon-Sat 11am-7pm. Sun 12pm-5pm. ($5/free for members). 4127 18th St. 621-1107. www.glbthistory.org
Cirque du Soleil @ AT&T Park Lot The Montreal acrobatic circus returns with their new show, Kurious: Cabinet of Curiosities, a steampunk-themed spectacle. $53-$135. Tue-Sat 8pm. Fri & Sat 4:30pm. Sun 1:30pm & 5pm. Thru Jan. 18. Third Street at Terry A. Francis Blvd. (800) 450-1480. www.cirquedusoleil.com
Colm Tóibín @ Books Inc. The acclaimed author ( The Master, Brooklyn ) reads from and discusses his new novel, Nora Webster. 7:30pm. 2275 Market St. www.booksinc.net
The Dance That Documents Itself @ CounterPulse Jess Curtis and video artist David Szlasa’s multimedia multi-performer project that visualizes a San Francisco that’s quickly disappearing. $20-$30. Thu-Sun 8:30pm. 1310 Mission St. www.counterpulse.org
Meg Day @ Modern Times Bookstore Poet and author of Last Psalm at Sea Level (and NEA Poetry Fellow) reads, with guest poet Malachi Black. 7pm. 2919 24th St. 282-9246. www.mtbs.com
The MeshugaNutcracker! @ Marines’ Memorial Theatre Scott & Shannon Guggenheim’s Chanukah musical comedy celebrates Jewish folklore with Tchaikovsky’s score and a Klezmber/Broadway style. $54-$72. Thu-Sat 7:30pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Dec 4-14 (Dec. 25-28 in San Jose). 609 Sutter St. (408) 404-7711. www.themeshuganutcracker.com
Fri 5
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra @ Calvary Presbyterian Church Countertenor Christopher Ainslie performs with the orchestra in a concert of Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus and Zelenka’s Christmas Mass. $25-$50. 8pm. 2515 Fillmore St. 392-4400. www.philharmonia.org
New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre
Promises, Promises @ SF Playhouse
Dec. 4: Lost Landscapes of San Francisco (7:30). Dec. 5 & 6: The Sing-Along Sound of Music. (7pm. Sat & Sun 1pm & 7pm). Dec. 9: InForum with Jared Diamond. Dec. 10: Nightcrawler (2:50, 7pm) and Kill the Messenger (4:45, 9:10). Dec. 11: Pulp (7pm) and Boyhood (8:50). $11-$16. 429 Castro St. 621-6120. www.castrotheatre.com
Burt Bacharach, Hal David and Neil Simon’s lighthearted swingin’ ‘60s Broadway hit gets a local production. Tue-Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 3pm, Sun 2pm. Thru Jan 10. Kensington Park Hotel, 450 Post St., 2nd floor. 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org
Fri 5 Avenue Q @ New Conservatory Theatre Center The local production of the naughty hit Broadway puppet musical returns! (Music and lyrics by Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx; Book by Jeff Whitty). $22.50-$45. Previews; opens Dec. 13. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Jan. 18. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. www.nctcsf.org
Breakfast With Mugabe @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley West Coast premiere of Fraser Grace’s provocative drama about the Zimbabwe president’s MacBeth-ish haunts and therapy sessions. $35$50. Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm & 7pm. Extended thru Dec. 20. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org
A Christmas Carol @ Geary Theatre American Conservatory Theatre’s annual large-scale production of Paul Walsh and Carey Perloff’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge. $20-$110. Evening and matinees thru Dec. 28. 415 Geary St. 439-2309. www.act-sf.org
The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) @ Marin Theatre Company Reduced Shakespeare Company’s production of Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor’s hilarious three-man comedy work about theatre. Tue & Thu Fri & Sat 8pm. Wed 7:30pm. Sun 7pm. Thru Dec. 21. 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. 388-5208. www.marintheatre.org
Faulted @ Thick House Angela Santillo’s new play about an empath and a seismologist graduate student, California’s impending tectonic dangers, and cultural clashes in the Golden State. $15-$50. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm. Thru Dec. 7. 1695 18th St. (800) 838-3006. www.foolsfury.org
The Jewelry Box @ The Marsh
Brian Copeland’s The Jewelry Box
Gavin DeGrawIngrid Michaelson and Mary Lambert perform in a holidaythemed concert of classic songs and original music. $35-$60. 8pm. 982 Market St. www.thewarfieldtheatre.com
Brian Copeland’s solo show about his family’s eccentric holiday memories, when as a six-year-old trying to get employment to buy his grandma a gift. $30-$100. Thu & Fri 8pm. Sat 5pm. Thru Dec. 27. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org
Shakespeare’s R&J @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Joe Calarco’s hit gay retake on Romeo and Juliet returns, this time set in dangerously antigay modern-day Egypt; staged by Ben Randle. $25$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Dec. 14. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org
Something for the Boys @ Eureka Theatre 42nd Street Moon’s new production of Cole Porter’s farcical musical (with book by Dorothy and Herbert Fields) about a trio of wartime characters who renovate a mansion into a boarding house for soldier’s wives. $25-$75. Wed, Thu 7pm. Fri 8pm. Sat 6pm. Sun 3pm. Thru Dec. 14. 215 Jackson St. 255-8207. www.42ndStMoon.org
Superheroes @ Exit Theatre Sean San Jose wrote and directed this new poetic drama about an investigative journalist’s labyrinth-like journey to discover the connections between the CIA and Nicaraguan drug traffickers. $10-$20. Tue-Thu 7:30pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm, Sun 5pm. Thru Dec. 21. Exit on Taylor, 277 Taylor St. 525-1205. www.cuttingball.com
The Totalitarians @ Z Below Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s dark comedy about modern politics and relationships. $20-$50. Wed & Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru Dec. 14. 470 Florida St. (866) 8114111. www.zspace.org
Sat 6 Cinderella @ Buriel Clay Theatre African-American Shakespeare Company’s soulful twist on the fairy tale classic, with original songs. $15-$34. Sat 3pm & 8pm. Sun 3pm. Thru Dec. 21. African-American Art & Culture Complex, 762 Fulton St. www.african-americanshakes.org
Great Dickens Christmas Fair @ Cow Palace The 36th annual Victorian-era holiday-themed display of pubs and theatres, dance floors and music halls, tearooms and shops returns; Victorian garb welcome. $15-$90. Fri-Sun 10am-7pm. Thru Dec. 21. 2600 Geneva Ave. (800) 510-1558. www.dickensfair.com
Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus @ Odell Johnson Performing Arts Center, Oakland The chorus performs Wholly Family, their holiday-themed concert. $20. 7pm. Also Dec. 7, 3pm. Laney College, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. (877) 9870012. www.oebgmc.org
Red Hot Patriot @ Berkeley Repertory Theatre Kathleen Turner stars in the onewoman show, The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, Allison and Margaret Engel’s acclaimed show about the late Texan political columnist. $29-$81. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Jan. 4. Roda Theatre, 20171 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org
Fri 5
Tue 9 Alien She @ YBCA The first exhibition to showcase the impact and ephemera of the Riot Grrrl movement and culture. Free-$15. Exhibit Tue-Sun 12pm-6pm. Thru Jan. 25. 701 Mission St. www.ybca.org
Fred Lyon @ Harvey Milk Photo Center Exhibit of the local photographer’s evocative images in San Francisco: Portrait of a City (1940-1960); book available for sale. Tue-Thu 4pm8:30pm. Sat 10am-4:30pm. Sun 12pm-5:30pm. Thru Jan. 10. 50 Scott St. www.harveymilkphotocenter.org
Jerome Caja @ Gallery Paule Anglim New exhibit of selected tiny artworks by the late local gay/trans artist and nightlife legend; coordinated with the online Jerome Project. 5:30-7:30pm. Reg hours Tue-Fri 10am-5pm (Sat 10:30-5:30). Thru Dec. 20. 14 Geary St. 433-2710. www.gallerypauleanglim.com
Wed 10 Art/Act: Maya Lin @ David Brower Center Christopher Ainslie performs with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Sun 7 Aquascapes @ Conservatory of Flowers Fascinating new exhibit of underwater plant sculptures that resemble miniature outdoor English, Asian and classic gardens (thru April 12). Permanent floral exhibits as well. Free-$8. Tue-Sun 10am-4pm. Golden Gate Park, 831-2090. www.conservatoryofflowers.org
J. Otto Seibold and Mr. Lunch @ Contemporary Jewish Museum New exhibit of works by the beloved children’s book author. Also, Arnold Newman: Masterclass, an exhibit of prints by the influential photographer. Other exhibits, lectures and gallery talks as well. Free (members)-$12. Fri-Tue 11am-5pm, Thu 11am-8pm (closed Wed). 736 Mission St. 6557800. www.thecjm.org
Sierra Boggess @ Venetian Room The Broadway star ( The Little Mermaid, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables) performs a concert of varied songs in her show, Finding the Balance (The Journey Of The Middle Child. ) $30-$50. 5pm. Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St. 392-4400. www.BayAreaCabaret.org
Mon 8 All Aboard @ Walt Disney Museum A Celebration of Walt Disney’s Trains, thru Feb. 9, plus classic art work and ephemera from the park and animated films. Free/$20. Open daily 10am-6pm. 104 Montgomery St., the Presidio. 345-6800. www.waltdisney.org
Eden Hutchinson @ Glama-Rama The hair salon hosts the artist’s exhibit of works, Bitter Waitresses, Hair-Brained Hairdressers & Whirling Dervishes. Thru Jan. 4. 304 Valencia St. www.glamarama.com
Kathleen Turner @ Mark Hopkins Hotel The star of the current Berkeley Repertory production of Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins and many great films and stage productions, discusses her career in acting. $10-$45. 7pm. Peacock Court, 999 California St. www.commonwealthclub.org
Exhibit of new works by the sculptor/ designer (Vietnam Memorial). Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Sun 10am-1pm. Thru Feb 4, 2015. 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley. www.browercenter.org
At Large: Ai Weiwei @ Alcatraz Island The internationally acclaimed Chinese sculpture’s exhibit of seven sitespecific multimedia installations; the largest art exhibit ever hosted by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. $18-$30. Daily except major holidays thru April 26, 2015. www.AiWeiWeiAlcatraz.org
Keith Haring: The Political Line @ de Young Museum New exhibit of 130 large-scale paintings, sculptures and retrieved subway drawings by the late great gay graffiti artist who came to global fame. Free-$26-$41. Tue-Sun 9:30am5:15pm. Thru Feb. 16. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. 750-3600. www.famsf.org
Thu 11 Chanticleer @ Various Venues The Grammy Award-winning a capella vocal ensemble performs A Chanticleer Christmas. $35-$69. Dec. 13 & 21, 8pm: St. Ignatius Church, Parker Ave. SF. Dec. 11, 8pm: Stanford Memorial Church, Serra Mall. Dec. 12, 8pm: Cathedral of Christ the Light, Harrison St., Oakland. (Also Dec 13 in Petaluma. Dec 16 in Berkeley, and other CA venues thru Dec 23). www.chanticleer.org
Kelly Cogswell @ Modern Times Bookstore Author of Eating Fire: My Life as a Lesbian Avenger discusses her book and activist life. 7pm. 2919 24th St. 282-9246. www.mtbs.com
Stranger Than Life @ Cartoon Art Museum The Cartoons and Comics of M.K. Brown (thru Feb 15). Other exhibits and events. Free-$8. Tue-Sun 11am5pm. 655 Mission St. 227-8666. www.cartoonart.org To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com. Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication. For more bar and nightlife events, go to On the Tab in our BARtab section, online at www.ebar.com/bartab
<< Film
38 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
Wandering into the danger zone
t
THE RICHMOND/ERMET AIDS FOUNDATION PROUDLY PRESENTS
✵
✵
✵
✵
✵
✵
✵
✵
✵ Just...who Beyou want to be! ✵
✵
✵ ✵ ✵
DECEMBER 8• 7:30 PM
MARINES MEMORIAL THEATRE FEATURING: THE BROADWAY TOURING CAST OF
Nuri Films
Matt VanDyke in a Libyan prison cell in director Marshall Curry’s Point and Shoot.
by David Lamble
✵ P KINKY BOOTS The cast of MeshugaNutcraker PLUS
Broadway star
American Idol, B’ star
DAVIS GAINES LA TOYA LONDON
Broadway/TV star
JAI RODRIGUEZ
TV/Cabaret star
JASON BROCK
✵
Tickets & Info at ✵ www.helpisontheway.org or 415.273.1620
✵
SPONSORED BY:
oint and Shoot is a brilliant if confounding multicultural documentary opening Friday at Landmark Theatres. Two-time Oscar-nominated doc-maker Marshall Curry uncovers a shy, boyish Baltimore lad who attempts to ward off his fear-based view of the world, as well as curb his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, by traveling to wild and wooly places from Spain through North Africa and on to Saudi Arabia, Syria and Northern Iraq. Equipped with a motorcycle, a camera and two hidden knives, Matt VanDyke is definitely a stranger in a series of strange lands, capable of making some pretty hilarious mistakes about the folks along the way. “I’m filming and photographing, but I didn’t know anything about Arab culture. [I noticed] a lot of guys walking around holding hands. I called [my girlfriend] and said, ‘The Arab world is really progressive. They’re really open about homosexuality.’ ‘You’re an idiot,’ she says, ‘men hold hands over there.’ ‘Really!’” In the next breath, Matt describes his encounter with an Arab squat toilet in a manner that is by turns slapstick-funny, naive, and culturally sensitive. What’s specially endearing about Point and Shoot is that Curry, director of the eco-doc If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, is able to become a kind of video Boswell to a committed adult
“wild child,” a young man with all the right intentions who discovers himself and his “manhood” in an absurdly dangerous place with the aid of two oddly compatible weapons: a camera and a gun. Born to a couple who divorced when he was two, Matt confesses to having been spoiled rotten by a doting mom and grandparents, all of whom were also raised without siblings. We observe a golden-haired boy weaned on a diet of adventure stories. Curry makes deft use of footage from David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia to demonstrate how film can activate a wanderlust gene that is otherwise hard to account for. One litmus test for whether you’ll enjoy Point and Shoot is your reaction to Kelly Reichardt’s perplexing environmental thriller Night Moves, in which three “eco-terrorists” get more than they bargain for in the aftermath of a successful attempt to blow up an Oregon dam. Released earlier this year, Night Moves challenges you to square your purist political aims with the messy human nature necessary to see them to fruition. In Point and Shoot, VanDyke sets out to prove his manhood, both to himself and to his increasingly impatient girlfriend, but the test takes a unexpectedly dire turn when the monstrous regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi is challenged by a rebel group that includes Matt’s Libyan best friend. Where Night Moves resorts
to third-act melodrama to seal the bargain about the “eco-manhood” of a character channeled to a very dark night of the soul by actor Jesse Eisenberg, Matt VanDyke’s real-life struggle to help topple a real-life Arab strongman ultimately finds fulfillment in an ocean scene where he and his buddy symbolically tread on the dictator’s face. This scene thematically matches an earlier animated segment where Curry and VanDyke attempt to explain how six months in solitary confinement in a Gaddafi prison brought our hero to the brink of madness. Years ago I became acquainted with a victim of Gaddafi’s, a psychologically withdrawn Castro book clerk who had lost classmates when a Gaddafi-hired terrorist blew up a plane they were in over Lockerbie, Scotland. My reaction to being touched by this real-life tragedy was to distance myself emotionally from my friend’s pain by lampooning the dictator as “Gaddafi-duck,” a joke derived from the 70s camp novelty record “Disco Duck.” As I mentally compile my list of this year’s top films, I note that fact and fiction (or odd blends of both) can be equally useful in comprehending the demons in our midst, both internally and in far distant lands, the kind we associate with childhood stories told to little boys who can grow up only by conquering their fears, which sometimes leads to slaying real dragons.t
sense of faith, has seen her own feelings change about what family means. She is now a strong and vocal supporter of marriage equality. “It’s been a slow transformation,” she said. “But I have changed because of relationships I’ve had with gay people. I could not place judgment on gay and lesbian people anymore. I know gay people who have deep spiritual lives. My husband, an Episcopalian priest, helped me open my mind to different understandings of Scripture.” Both singers are excited to be celebrating Clooney’s music. “The show is a celebration of her life,” Feinstein said. “She was like my second mom. If I could bring her back, I would.” Feinstein has built a hugely successful career based on his love of The Great American Songbook, the jazz pop standards of one, two and three generations ago. He says that these songs retain an audience even today. “Classic American Music will always live on,” he said. “More young people appreciate it than you think. Even though it seems under
the radar, it will live on.” Both singers promised a variety of offerings when they take to the stage. “There will be some big band tunes and a lot of swing,” Feinstein said. “We’ll concentrate on holiday music,” said Boone. “But swing, that’s my favorite music.” Boone reports that her CD Swing This features a lot of the Vegas swing music that was popularized by the Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. “Didn’t we all want to hang out with them?” she asked. Feinstein promises that there will also be a Hanukkah song, and that he and Boone will perform with Clooney, who will be projected on screen from the Great Beyond. “The show will be a tribute to Rosemary and her legacy,” he said.t
Recreated from an original Cliff House postcard c. early 1900s.
Holiday Parties at The Cliff House The Terrace Room Offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and historic ambiance, the Terrace Room is a truly unique private event venue for groups up to 120. Private Events Direct 415-666-4027 virginia@cliffhouse.com
The Lands End Room Located in Sutro's, the Lands End Room is a semi-private space for smaller parties of 15 – 49 with California coastal cuisine and awesome views. Large Parties Direct 415-666-4005 lauraine@cliffhouse.com
Call to Book Your Event! 1090 Point Lobos • San Francisco • 415-386-3330 www.CliffHouse.com
<<
Feinstein/Boone
From page 25
Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002) was one of the top recording artists of the 1950s. Even after she fell off the pop charts, she continued packing them in at concert halls around the country. She worked almost to the end. When she passed, her reputation as an iconic jazz legend was secure. An occasional actress, Clooney co-starred with Bing Crosby in the hugely successful 1954 musical White Christmas. That film’s title tune became one of her biggest hits. When Feinstein and Boone take to the Davies stage, they will be singing tunes from the film White Christmas along with other classics that will help usher in the holiday season. Boone is thrilled. She told the B.A.R. that she and Feinstein have been friends since they were kids. “We’ve worked together before,” she said. “So we’re going to come together to sing songs and celebrate the holiday season. It’s about friendship and family.” Boone, a Christian with a deep
Michael Feinstein & Debby Boone Sing Songs from the Classic Film White Christmas, Sun., Dec. 7, 8 p.m., Davies Symphony Hall, SF. Tickets: (415) 864-6000, sfsymphony.org.
t
Music>>
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 39
Brave new techno world Steven Underhill
PHOTOGRAPHY
415 370 7152
WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS
stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com
Courtesy the artists
Members of the Paul Dresher Ensemble: decisions are open to the musicians’ imaginations.
by Michael McDonagh
I
“ t sounds to me like a love song
that turns into a fear of love song,” Amy X. Neuberg remarks. It’s composer Fred Firth’s “If I Could.” The occasion? A rehearsal by Paul Dresher’s Electro-Acoustic Band of their 10 composer/10 song-with-images program They Will Have Been So Beautiful, coming up Dec. 5-6 at Zellerbach Playhouse in Berkeley. The rehearsal is in their huge high-ceilinged studio in a warehouse building in West Oakland. Dresher and I enter like two fugitives from justice in a Michael Mann movie. The diminutive singer looks dwarfed by the room chockablock with chairs, two concert grands, boxes, speakers, music stands, and much else, even a vacuum. Neuberg is miked, but even non-miked she’s a force of nature, and if love isn’t a force of nature, what is? The musicians at this 2 p.m. rehearsal are ranged in a semi-circle around Neuberg. There’s violinist/ violist Karen Bentley Pollick, far left; then Jeff Anderle, clarinet, bass clarinet; electric guitarist John Schott; Gene Reffkin, electronic drums; Dresher, electric guitar and electric bass – but here only in organizing,
<<
Lavender Tube
From page 35
to have superheroine powers to us. And really, why did Barbara (Erin Richards) give her up so easily? In more super ero news, out gay actor John Barrowman (Arrow’s Malcolm Merlyn) spoke with Variety last week about his role in the CW’s hit show, as well as his iconic gay crossover role of Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and Torchwood. Jack was the first openly non-straight character on the Doctor Who series, and Barrowman the first out gay actor in the series. The character spawned action heroes and a whole pro-gay campaign in the UK. Which makes Barrowman uniquely able to comment on the spate of superheroes on the tube right now, including on his own show, and when there will be gay ones. Since NBC’s Constantine has so-far blown that chance. Barrowman told Variety, “People aren’t dumb, and people want to see themselves represented on television. You’ve got shows that are still coming out, and I love the fact that American television does have, per capita, the most gay men – and gay women – represented on television, but they’re all a stereotype, they’re all the same. And I don’t mean this in a bad way,
observing and commenting mode, which is of course a lot; Marja Mutru on electronic keyboard, which can produce a real acoustic piano sound; and Joel Davel on marimba Lumina, who does audio programming, part and parcel of the band’s brave new techno world. The atmosphere is intense, even jovial at this three-hour rehearsal without a break. “From the top,” Dresher says, and the band launches into Mexican composer Guillermo Galindo’s “Blood Bolero,” getting its first runthrough here. There are musical challenges on every level – pitch, of course, but also rhythmic co-ordination, and Galindo complicates things by leaving some decisions open to the musicians’ imaginations. Neuberg is asked to provide her own vocal sounds from a list at several points, and Bentley Pollick, on violin, is sometimes instructed to “bow frantically,” plus execute fast glissandi (slides), all of this within a piece where the meter changes often, and the counts are sometimes odd or irregular. But Dresher’s musicians are expert and patiently pencil changes in their parts. The challenges are what it’s about, or as Galindo says in an e-mail, “My role as a composer is to translate the human experience through the
abstract language of sound.” And the subject matter? “Social values, beauty, and in this specific case, the complexities of sexuality and love.” The visual images here are Maya Goded’s photos of “prostitutes and their clients, as well as the love life of elderly people,” and Goded’s photographs are a bit like the late (dead from AIDS) artist Peter Hujar’s ones of people caught in extremis. Next up is Carla Kihlstedt’s setting of her poem “A Gathering Storm,” which sounds less “difficult,” despite sections for Martu’s keyboard part in 5’s and 6’s. Neuberg conveys its “simple” yet multiple meanings like the pro she is. Then there’s Fred Firth’s piece full of complex chords, which seems on the surface more elusive and more challenging than Galindo’s. But Dresher’s band plays it through several times until it makes perfect sense. The rehearsal over, each player packs up and goes her separate way – this is America, right? – as dusk comes on. Then evening. Night. The curtain up in two short weeks. It’s time.t
but [the gay characters are] all kind of effeminate, and we’re not all like that. And that’s one thing about Torchwood that broke the mold – he was a man who liked men, he was an action hero, and that’s why Captain Jack has become so popular, because people grabbed onto it. And I think there will be a network that will take that risk and make that step, and it’s gonna pay off immensely for them, and when they do, good on them. But take the risk – that’s what we did with Torchwood and Doctor Who, right in the very beginning of the series, and by god, it paid off.” Variety asked Barrowman if he thought it would “require a cable network to take that first step before a broadcast network.” Barrowman’s response was interesting, as he also produces. “As long as there are advertisers who are concerned about one group of people rather than the whole group of people, we will be restricted in what we can put on certain shows, because I know certain shows have been boycotted because of some of the choices they’ve made. So yes, it’s going to be left up to a cable network, and that’s why the cable networks are doing so phenomenally well, and I say this as a producer because I produce most of the stuff I do now in the U.K., and so I put stuff on networks. We take risks, we do things that are dif-
ferent as a production company, and the one thing that the cable networks do here is they take risks, and it pays off for them. You’ve clear examples of that with things like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, American Horror Story – you’ve got stuff that really takes a risk.” Barrowman revealed that Arrow’s sister show (brother show?) The Flash will be featuring at least two gay characters: David Singh (Patrick Sabongui) and Hartley Rathaway, aka the Pied Piper (Andy Mientus). Of course, Flash executive producer Greg Berlanti is openly gay, so again, if we are behind the camera, we are represented in front of the camera. Barrowman said, “We need other producers [to represent gay people.] There’s another generation who don’t care who other people sleep with.” True, that. Finally, if you want some muchneeded comic relief, check out Ellen doing her version of 50 Shades of Grey at youtube.com/ watch?v=cnoZeGkhFGo. As she did in her Anaconda video (youtube. com/watch?v=cqp0km5VRj4), the dyke doyenne of daytime nails it – literally. So for the news, the views and all the ews, as well as those flaunting and fabulous gays, you know you really must stay tuned.t
ebar.com
They Will Have Been So Beautiful, Dec. 5-6 at Zellerbach Playhouse. Info: calperformances.org.
KEEP THE GOOD WO ORK GOING G ! Make a tax-deductible donation to one of over 250 SF LGBT nonprofits Contributions support vital services provided to our community. y y.
DONATE ATE – VOLUNTEER – CONNECT A our resource guide to SF LGBT NONPROFITS, ART R S & ATHL RT A ETIC GROUPS
A Program of the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation
A uniquely San Francisco Nutcracker.
DEC 12–29, 2014 Set here in our own “City by the Bay,” San Francisco Ballet’s magical production of Nutcracker has introduced audiences of all ages to the magnificent world of ballet. This holiday season, experience the beauty and athleticism of SF Ballet’s international cast of world-class dancers in Nutcracker, a San Francisco tradition since 1944.
BUY TICKETS TODAY! sfballet.org Lead Sponsors
Sponsors
The Herbert Family The Swanson Foundation
Yurie and Carl Pascarella Kathleen Scutchfield The Smelick Family
Media Sponsor
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET IN TOMASSON’S NUTCRACKER (© ERIK TOMASSON)
43
santaskivvies Run
44
Holiday shows
NIGHTLIFE
DINING
Bohemian Grooves
SPIRITS
W
hile its first run back in 2009 drew a few dozen scantily clad participants, this year’s sixth annual Santa Skivvies Run promises to be the biggest yet, with hundreds of participants running from UN Plaza up Market Street to the Castro district and host bar The Lookout. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s festive fundraiser, inspired by other similar benefit runs held around the country, invades San Francisco on December 6 at 9 A.M. See page 45 >>
On the Tab
SOCIETY
ROMANCE
LEATHER
PERSONALS Vol. 44 • No. 49 • December 4-10, 2014
www.ebar.com ✶ www.bartabsf.com
by Jim Provenzano
46
Bigger, longer, more Santasmic! Last year's Santa Skivvies Run.
Caring Concerts
Steven Underhill
Help Is On the Way rings in the holidays
by David Elijah-Nahmod
H
olidays can be especially difficult for those living with HIV. Every year The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation offers a holiday spectacular not only to entertain you, but to let people with AIDS know that they are not forgotten. The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation was formed by Barbara Richmond and Peggy Ermet. These close friends both lost their only sons to AIDS. Richmond/Ermet honors the legacies of the ladies’ lost children, and of all those whose lives are impacted by the scourge of HIV. See page 42 >>
Carol Channing surrounded by holiday hunks at the 2010 Help Is On the Way for the Holidays benefit at the Herbst Theatre.
REAF’s Executive Director Ken Henderson and Board Chair Joe Seiler.
{ THIRD OF THREE SECTIONS }
. . . where getting clean gets a little bit dirty�
Serving the LGBT communities since 1971
42 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
<<
Steven Underhill
PHOTOGRAPHY
415 370 7152
WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS
stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com
t
Help Is On the Way
From page 41
Richmond/Ermet performances serve as fundraisers for a wide variety of AIDS service organizations which provide critical services such as medical care and food. Raising funds is Richmond/Ermet’s mission statement, but their benefit concerts are also a highlight of the local performing arts scene. Where else can you enjoy the talents of Broadway and cabaret stars, classic TV actors, along with campy comedy, and even some dancing, all in one evening? The 2014 edition of Help Is on the Way For the Holidays will benefit Maitri Compassionate Care and Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. This year’s show features Jai Rodriguez, La Toya London, Davis Gaines, Jason Brock, the cast of The Meshugga Nutcracker, and cast members from the national touring company of the musical Kinky Boots. There will also be a silent auction. But more important, these benefit concerts provide a celebratory community event where talented performers offer their time and talent, local businesses donate their products and efforts, and patrons offer their generous donations. Richmond/Ermet Executive Director Ken Henderson runs the unique nonprofit with his longtime partner Joe Sieler, the board president, and many stalwart volunteers and board members. Henderson answered some questions about Help Is on The Way shows, past and present. David Elijah-Nahmod: What will some of the auction items be this year? Ken Henderson: Live auction items will include a twelve-day cruise to Alaska on Celebrity cruises, an African photo safari, and a walk-on role in Kinky Boots, including tickets to the show and some memorabilia. There will
Ken Henderson and Joe Seiler with actress Michelle Lee.
Ken Henderson and Joe Seiler with actress Lucy Lawless.
also be a limited silent auction in the lobby of the theater before the show starting at 6PM. What might some of the higher end auction items be? The silent auction will have beautiful men’s and women’s jewelry, wine packages, designer handbags, and more. What will the performers be doing in this year’s show? We don’t like to give away what performers are doing specifically, because that ruins the element of surprise. But it will largely be holiday music sprinkled with music
that reflects the spirit of the holidays: love, hope, compassion and caring. And of course, the cast of The Meshuggah Nutcracker will do something from their show for a little Chanukah music. It’s a celebration of the holidays in general. We try to be inclusive of everyone’s beliefs. Can you share any funny stories about past shows? There was the time Jane Russell did our show and asked to meet Lorna Luft, Judy Garland’s other daughter [not Liza Minelli]. When See page 43 >>
Joseph Driste
Rip Taylor and Nancy Sinatra at an REAF post-concert reception at the Herbst Theatre.
Mary Wilson and Leslie Jordan at the 2005 REAF post-concert reception at the Herbst Theatre.
Steven Underhill
Florence Henderson whips the crowd into a frenzy at REAF’s 20th anniversary benefit concert at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre.
Steven Underhill
REAF stalwart, comic actress Carol Cook at the 20th anniversary concert.
...where getting clean gets a little bit dirty�
Frank Pryor
Winnie of the Kinsey Sicks, Ken Henderson and Loretta Devine at a 2004 post-benefit reception at The Herbst Theatre.
t
Read more online at www.ebar.com
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 43
Ho Ho Holidays at the Nikko Feinstein’s brings more cheer than a squad of pom-pom-waving elves
The women of B.O.O.B.S.
by Joshua Klipp
T
is the holiday season and Feinstein’s at the Nikko has a line-up that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit, beginning with Kimberley Locke, aka Billboard Magazine’s “Queen of Christmas.” Ms. Locke has come a long way since giving Ruben Stoddard and Clay Aiken a run for their money on American Idol. The “Eighth World Wonder” hit singer parlayed her national stage to shine a spotlight on AIDS research. “I didn’t choose that work,” says Locke, “it chose me.” In addition to her tireless philanthropic efforts, Locke started an entertainment company to help up and coming artists, has landed on more Billboard charts than reindeer on rooftops, and somehow found time to film twelve new episodes of her YouTube show, Cooking with Kimberley. Asked what she thinks about the latest seasons of American Idol, Locke laughs, “I want them to take
it back to seasons one or two, where you had a choice between a mic with a stand or a spotlight...Strip it back!” On Thursday December 4, 8pm and Friday December 5, 8pm, Locke keeps it real with her spectacular holiday renditions. Following Kimberley Locke’s performances, Feinstein’s has a line up filled with more holiday cheer than a box store on Black Friday. Three local acts - Shawn Ryan, Russ Lorenson, and the cast of B.O.O.B.S. - agreed to take a special Bay Area Reporter holidaythemed quiz in advance of their upcoming Feinstein’s performances. Here are their answers to some seasonal questions. Fa la la la la!t
Kimberly Locke
Russ Lorenson
Tickets for all Feinstein’s holiday performances can be purchased at: www.ticketweb.com/snl/VenueListings.action?venueId=251414 Joshua Klipp is a local writer and leads his jazz band, The Klipptones. www.Klipptones.com
Jose Guzman-Colon
Katya Smirnoff-Skyy
Shawn Ryan
Ho Ho Holiday Quiz! What three words describe your show? Shawn Ryan: “unplanned, off the wall and fun!” B.O.O.B.S.: “Fearless, Fabulously Fiesty and Honest” Russ Lorenson: “Retro. Fabulous. Fun.” Choose one: Jingle bells or candy canes? B.O.O.B.S.: “Candy canes...we love to put sweet things in our mouths.” Shawn Ryan: “Balls, I mean bells. Especially if they jingle.” Russ Lorenson: “Candy canes are the secret ingredient in my ‘Christmas in San Francisco’ martini!” Reindeer or elves? Shawn Ryan: Rudolph, specifically. I can’t be the only one with a red nose at the party. B.O.O.B.S.: “Elves; they are magical.” Russ Lorenson: “I collect Christmas reindeer and have over 500!” Mistletoe or garland? Shawn Ryan: “Mistletoe will get you laid, but Garland sings a mean ‘Swanee.’ tough one.” B.O.O.B.S.: “Mistletoe!” Russ Lorenson: “Hello, I’m gay. Judy, of course.” Holiday Mad Lib (Original: Santa Claus got stuck in my chimney.) Shawn Ryan: “Santa Claus contemplated mightily in my Carol Channing.” Russ Lorenson: “Santa Claus jingled gaily in my snowman.” B.O.O.B.S.: “Santa Claus shimmied loudly in my Broads!”
<<
Help Is On the Way
From page 42
Lorna came over to meet her, Jane asked, “How’s your mother?” Jane’s sister, who was accompanying her then, leaned over and said, “I think you mean her sister!” To which Jane replied: “Oh, whatever!” Do you have any favorite performers from the past? Carole Cook is our own grand diva and has appeared in more of our benefits than any other performer. But there have been so many great performers who donate their time and talent and who like doing our
shows. A few have even contacted us and asked to be in our shows again rather than waiting to be asked. I guess that says something about how well we treat our stars. One of my alltime favorite singers who appeared in our very first benefit, was Nancy LaMott, for whom the song “Help Is On the Way” was written. Nancy died of uterine cancer just about six months after that first benefit. She had been a close friend of Doug Ermet, and through him had become a good friend of ours, too. Do you have any dream guests who’ve yet to appear? People have always asked from
Shawn Ryan: Merry Little Xmas (Saturday Dec. 6, 7pm; Sunday December 7, 7pm). The New York Times describes Shawn Ryan as “a charm that is rare.” After making the semi-finals on America’s Got Talent, Shawn appeared on CBS’ The Mentalist for which he received a GLAAD Media Award Nomination. Russ Lorenson: 9th Annual Christmas in San Francisco With Russ Lorenson & Friends (Thursday December 11, 8pm). Russ and the spectacular Kelly Park Big Band return for Russ’ Christmas in San Francisco show with plenty of seasonal tunes in store. Dave Admiani & The No Vacancy Orchestra with Special Guests: Sinatra’s 99th Birthday Celebration (Friday December 12, 8pm). A “Sinatra” birthday party for Mr. Swoon, who would have been 99 years young. With more special guests than a pack of rats, Los Ange-
les based Dave Damiani brings Ol’ Blue Eyes to the Bay. Tovah Feldshuh: Tovah: Out of Her Mind (Saturday December 13, 7pm; Sunday December 14, 7pm). 6-time Tony & Emmy nominated Tovah Feldshuh premieres her onewoman show, which features songs from Gershwin to Judy Collins, and a gallery of hilarious characters. B.O.O.B.S.: Unwrapped for the Holidays (Wednesday December 17, 7pm). San Francisco’s bawdy cabaret holiday trio, B.O.O.B.S.! (Busty, outrageous Over the top, Broads Singin’) invites you into their musical cleavage as they unwrap past and present favorites from Broadway to pop and everything in between. Sharon McNight: Twisted Christmas: a Druid’s Guide to the Holidays (Thursday December 18, 8pm). Back by popular demand, “Twisted Christmas” is an irreverent look at holiday traditions through the lens of alternative holiday songs.
Yvonne Flores: Under the Mistletoe (Friday December 19, 8pm). San Francisco born Yvonne Flores brings to the stage decades of experience with the industry’s best with her show that features remakes of the your favorite holiday classics. Katya Smirnoff-Skyy: Katya...A Holiday Spectacular (Saturday December 20, 7pm; Sunday December 21, 7pm). The Bay’s favorite Chanel counter lady by day, drag chanteuse by night, and alleged one-time lover of William Shatner, Katya SmirnoffSkyy was hailed as San Francisco’s “Best Drag Act” of 2008. John Lloyd Young: An Evening for Friends (Wednesday December 31 at 7:30 & 10:30pm). The original Tony-winning star of Broadway’s Jersey Boys and Clint Eastwood’s recent film adaptation, John Lloyd Young brings to the stage classic ‘60s R&B standards with this set of songs from his new album My Turn.t
the very beginning why we don’t get Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Cher, etc. While all those would be great, stars like that don’t fly up on their own and perform in local benefits. If they were to come, they’d bring an entourage of managers, hairdressers, musical directors, and band members.
care. Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS will be a lesser beneficiary: they provide funding to agencies nationally. Working with them helps us to attract touring companies of Broadway shows for our benefits such as this one with the cast of Kinky Boots.
side effects to most drugs and not everyone has access to them. If you don’t have private insurance, they can be very expensive. Too many young people have cavalier attitudes about sex these days and don’t use protection. We’re closer than ever for finding a cure for HIV but we don’t have it yet.t
Can you say something about this year’s beneficiary organizations? Maitri Compassionate Care is the last dedicated AIDS hospice in the Bay Area. Maitri provides around the clock care to people in their last stages of life as well as those requiring full time or 24-hour short-term
AIDS is no longer front page news. Can you remind people why this matters? There is too much apathy about AIDS these days. Yes, new drug therapies have helped make AIDS a manageable disease, but it’s still not a disease that you want to have to manage. There are still unpleasant
Help Is on the Way For The Holidays: Just Be Who You Want to Be. December 8. Silent auction: 6:30pm. Show at 7:30pm. $50-120. Marines Memorial Theater, 609 Sutter St. www.helpisontheway.org
Serving the LGBT communities since 1971
44 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
Bohemian Grooves
t
by Donna Sachet
W
e attended a marvelous new production of La Boheme at the War Memorial Opera House recently in the delightful company of John Brosnan, Chad McLaughlin, and Kevin Lisle. The sets were creative, the costumes beautiful, the singing impressive, and the interpretation intriguing and convincing. Just to be in the Opera House is always a treat, especially since its complete renovation. Few cities can boast of such a wonderful home for such an incredibly talented group of performers! Treat yourself to an opera during the holiday season! The birthday party of Marlena, the Magnificent, Absolute Empress XXV of San Francisco, was a sparkling celebration of friends and admirers at Twin Peaks Tavern last week. Marlena looked marvelous after a recent bout of bad health and personally greeted every guest. Beyond the locals, Terry Sidie of Sacramento arrived with a coterie of friends from the State’s capital. It all ended with the guest of honor blowing out two candles on a lush cake and thanking all for their love and support. Never count Marlena out of the picture; she has many more years of community involvement ahead of her! The next day, the Imperial Council kicked off the latest Mr. Cowboy/Miss Cowgirl Contest, where interested parties sell raffle tickets to win the title. Thousands of dollars have been raised over the years with this simple formula, often leading to actively involved title-holders who went on to become important community leaders. Watch for the two candidates out
Rich Stadtmiller Courtesy Paul Margolis/ OurTownSF.org
A candlelight display at the National AIDS Memorial Grove’s gala.
and about selling raffle tickets and give them your support. The finale is on Sunday, Dec. 14, at Balancoire, 2565 Mission, from 4-7PM. On Saturday, it was time to turn our attention to a canine friend who recently underwent serious and expensive surgery, none other than Harry, the dog companion of Gary Virginia! The Edge hosted a raucous afternoon of silent auction, raffle prizes, and performances all to help defer the expenses of his recent operation. Friends of Harry and Gary gathered from far and wide and the event ended with a chorus of Hello, Harry, led by this very columnist. It always feels good the see the community unite, if even just for an afternoon, in support of a friend and activist. One of the most unique annual events in our community is Light in the Grove, a beautifully serene display within the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park.
Marlena at the Mr. SF Leather judge’s table earlier this year.
Steven Underhill
It’s football season at The Edge!
Courtesy Paul Margolis/ OurTownSF.org
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (right) and her openly gay assistant Dan Bernal, who co-chaired the Light in the Grove event.
We attended last Sunday night with Gary Virginia and marveled at the dramatically lit ancient trees, fog draped waterways, sparkling lights in branches suggestive of fire-flies, and the Circle of Remembrance luminous with candlelight. After a leisurely stroll, we arrived at the huge, clear tent, filled with
Courtesy Paul Margolis/ OurTownSF.org
Donna Sachet at Light in the Grove gala fundraiser.
attendees enjoying passed and buffet food, cocktails, and camaraderie. It obviously took a tremendous team to pull this event off and they are all to be congratulated, particularly under the suddenly rainy conditions that preceded that night. We know for a fact that Randy Schiller and his team were struggling in the mud for days in order to create this magical environment and those tireless efforts paid off. Co-Chairs Dan Bernal and Tom Raffin started the program with music from popular local singer Tim Hockenberry and then proceeded to give the microphone to Executive Director John Cunningham, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Wells Fargo’s Mario Diaz to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Ken Henderson & Joe Seiler of the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation. What fitting recipients! Their acceptance speeches were full of gratitude and humility. Even the downpour during the program could not dampen the spirits of these attendees, including Tim Seelig of the SF Gay Men’s Chorus, Brett Andrews and Joe Tuohy of Positive Resource Center, Mike Smith of AIDS Emergency Fund, Beth Schnitzer, Susan Magley, Tom Taylor, Andrew Freeman, B.J. Stiles & Steven McCollom, Jeff Doney & Xavier Caylor, and Tom Nolan. There are many annual fundraisers, but make sure to include this one in your schedule
next year for the great cause, for the splendid party, and for the incredible visual presentation. We emceed the lighting of the Castro holiday tree a few days ago and if the enthusiastic crowd is any indication, this neighborhood is in for a record-breaking holiday season of sales. Check out the newly improved Castro for all your shopping, drinking, eating, and other pleasures! We remind you again of a new and ambitious party this Saturday, Dec. 6, at Beatbox called Believe: SF Gay Nightlife Gives Back! Bring an unwrapped toy and some cash to support the Marines’ Toys for Tots Foundation and enjoy an evening of music and friendship. All your friends will be there, so why not show up yourself? Then, there’s the REAF Help is on the Way for the Holidays on Mon., Dec. 8, at Marines Memorial Theatre, Drag Queens on Ice on Thurs., Dec. 11, in Union Square, SF Gay Men’s Chorus’ Dancer, Prancer, & Vixen holiday concerts Fri. and Sat., Dec. 12 & 13, and the Lesbian/ Gay Freedom Band’s Dance Along Nutcracker on Sat. and Sun., Dec. 13 & 14, at Yerba Buena Center. And save a little energy for the 5, 7, and 9PM Christmas Eve concerts of the Gay Men’s Chorus at the Castro Theatre. We know this time of year can be exhausting, but you always have January to rest up! Happy Holidays to all!t
Courtesy SF Opera
La Boheme at San Francisco Opera.
t
Read more online at www.ebar.com
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 45
SFAF Steven Underhill
The herding participants at 2013's Santa Skivvies Run.
Double undie fun at the 2013 Santa Skivvies Run.
Steven Underhill Rick Gerharter
Cip Cipriano leads the pack at the rainy first Santa Skivvies Run in 2009.
Steven Underhill
Suppositori Spelling (upper left) MCed last year's post-Run Santa Village.
Santa selfie.
Steven Underhill
2013 Santa hunks.
Steven Underhill Monty Suwannukul
Heklina (center) hosted the run fun at the Lookout in 2012.
<<
Santa Skivvies Run
From page 41
The route begins at UN Plaza, follows Market Street for approximately 1.6 miles, and ends at Lookout. Cheer them on along the route with Cheer SF, AIDS/LifeCycle’s Rest Stop 4 and Team Unpopular, and select drag performers. Now in its third year, at the finish line, participants can enjoy Santa’s Village on Noe Street between Market and Beaver Streets. Festivities include a photo opportunity with Santa, confections from Hot Cookie, a Santa-themed “Walk Off ” competition, and a special performance by Stephen Brannan and Jacqui Arslan from the cast of Beach Blanket Babylon. The event supports the foundation’s free, local HIV prevention and care services that benefit thousands of clients annually, especially in hard-hit neighborhoods like the Castro and the Tenderloin. “Each year, the level of enthusiasm for Santa Skivvies Run grows. This year, we’re branching out from the Castro, and we’re excited about giving folks a brand new course.” said Neil Giuliano, SF AIDS Foundation CEO. “Santa Skivvies Run is a fun way to give back to the community. And our runners are passionate people. They’re literally willing to run around in their underwear and raise funds for the cause.” Lookout bar owner Chris Hastings, who’s sponsored the event since its beginning, answered a few questions about the Run’s history. Asked about the growth of the event over the past five years, Hastings said, “I think the event grew primarily because it is so much fun, and such a unique San Francisco event. The growth was very organic; each year we saw people who participated come back the
next year with more friends. It’s become a holiday tradition for a lot of people.” The growth in numbers of donations and participants is impressive. Said Hastings, “The first year (2009) we had about 30-40 participants; and things just took off from there. In both 2012 and 2013 we have had over 450 participants and raised over $50,000 each year.” Hastings mentioned that the Skivvies fundraising isn’t directed to a specific service at SFAF; it goes towards all of their services. SFAF provides free services like drug and alcohol use counseling, HIV testing, needle exchange, and support for people with HIV. The event’s origins are said to go back to a Boston event in 2006 called the Santa Speedo Run. In freezing weather, men and women ran in Speedos and other Christmas-themed skimpy outfits for a local charity. Since then, multiple variations have emerged in Atlanta, Long Beach, Denver and many other cities. “I don’t know if Boston was the first, but I believe it was the largest,” said Hastings. “We wanted a name that was a good fit for San Francisco, a little bit silly, and was as inclusive as possible.” Thus the ‘Skivvies’ name. While the unrelated Santacon takes place the same day, it raises funds for no causes (except bars). The Skivvies participants may face a dual Santa street invasion. And with so many more participants, the new route seems longer, but is basically the same distance, just in a different direction. It should provide a great visual to even more people. “In years past, Lookout was both the start and finish line with the route wandering through the Castro, but it is still only 1.6 miles,” said
Elfin leggings at the 2013 Santa Skivvies Run.
Hastings. “The decision was made to move the event to a Saturday and have it come up Market St. with the intention to broaden our audience and allow the event to continue to grow for years to come.” So, how do participants strip down in one area and get dressed in another? “There will be changing stations at Civic Center,” said Hastings. “Participants can drop their belongings and ‘non-skivvies’ there and we will transport them to Santa’s Village in time for participants to pick them up after the event.” Yes, there is an after-party, held after the run on Noe Street, right at Café Flore. “We have a lot of fun things planned for the village,” said Hastings, who mentioned photo booths, live performances by some outstanding local talent, a runway contest for participants, and awards to the high fundraising individuals and teams. “The festivities will wrap up on the street by noon, at which point we will take the party back inside Lookout,” said Hasting. With beverage sponsors including Hendrick’s Gin, Jack Daniels Honey, Matagrano, Milagro Tequlia, Southern Comfort and Stoli, hopefully, after all that running around in holiday undies, some hot toddies will be on the drink menu! Registration is $50. Participants can register the day of the event, December 6, from 7:30 A.M. to 8:30 A.M. at UN Plaza, Market Street between 7th and 8th streets. Onlookers are welcome and encouraged to make a contribution to San Francisco AIDS Foundation at the event. The after-party takes place at Market Street at Noe, and at the Lookout, 3600 16th St. To register or learn about volunteering opportunities, visit www.santaskivviesrun.org.t
Steven Underhill
Gals get running at the 2013 Santa Skivvies Run.
<< On the Tab
46 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
Pussy Party @ Beaux
Bf eON THEr 4T-1A 1
Women's happy hour, with all-women music and live performances, 2 for 1 drinks, and no cover. 5pm-9am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com
★
Enjoy hard rock and punk music from DJ Don Baird at the wonderfully divey SoMa bar. 12pm-2am. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com
Decembe
Rock Fag @ Hole in the Wall
Thump @ White Horse, Oakland Weekly electro music night with DJ Matthew Baker and guests. 9pm-2am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com
Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge
Drag Queens on Ice
Thu 11
I
t’s a Santa-silly season. Get out your red and white drag, your red Speedos, your reindeer antler hats and your jingle balls.
Thu 4 Beats Reality @ Trax Resident DJs Jim Hopkins and Justime welcome guest DJs and play groovy tunes. Weekly, 9pm-2am. 1437 Haight St. 864-4213.
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
Club Yass @ City Nights Frisco Robbie presents a new 18+ LGBT weekly night, with live sets by guest performers, DJ TwistMix, with a Latin room up front, gogo guys and gals. $10. 9:30-3am. 546-7938. www.sfclubs.com
Dining Out For Life @ Various Sonoma Restaurants Enjoy delicious meals as 80 participating Sonoma restaurants donate 25% to 50% of every bill to local AIDS/HIV nonprofits, including the Sonoma Food Bank (www.FFTfoodbank.org). diningoutforlife.com/sonomacounty
Fuego @ The Watergarden, San Jose Weekly event, with Latin music, halfoff locker fees and Latin men, at the South Bay private men's bath house. $8-$39. Reg hours 24/7. 18+. 1010 The Alameda. (408) 275-1215. www.thewatergarden.com
Funny Fun @ Club 21, Oakland New weekly LGBT and straight comedy night hosted by Dan Mires. $10. 8pm. 2111 Franklin St. Oakland. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
Mary Go Round @ Lookout Suppositori Spelling, Mercedez Munro and Holotta Tymes host the weekly night with DJ Philip Grasso, gogo guys, drink specials, and drag acts. 10pm2am. 3600 16th St. lookoutsf.com
The Monster Show @ The Edge Cookie Dough's weekly drag show with gogo guys and hilarious fun. Dec. 4: Girl groups show. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com
My So-Called Night @ Beaux Heklina hosts a new weekly '90s-themed video, dancin', drinkin' night, with VJs Jorge Terez and Becky Knox. Get down with your funky bunch, and enjoy 90-cent drinks! '90s-themed attire and costume contest. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com
Nap's Karaoke @ Virgil's Sea Room Sing out loud at the weekly least judgmental karaoke in town, hosted by the former owner of the bar. No cover. 9pm. 3152 Mission St. 8292233. www.virgilssf.com
Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. $10-$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org
Pan Dulce @ The Cafe Amazingly hot Papi gogo guys, cheap drinks and fun DJed dance music. Free before 10pm. $5 til 2am. 2369 Market St. www.clubpapi.com www.cafesf.com
Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle The weekly live rock shows feature local and touring bands. 9pm-ish. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com
VIP @ Club 21, Oakland Hip Hop, Top 40, and sexy Latin music; gogo dancers, appetizers, and special guest DJs. No cover before 11pm and just $5 after all night. Dancing 9pm-3am. Happy hour 4pm8:30pm 2111 Franklin St. (510) 2689425. www.club21oakland.com
Fri 5 Aimee Mann's Christmas Show @ The Fillmore The folk-rock-pop singer, along with Ted Leo, her collaborator with The Both, and other musicians and comics, perform in Mann's music and comedyfilled holiday concert. $35. 9pm. 1805 Geary Blvd. www.thefillmore.com
Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi
Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www. hitws.com
Beer Bust @ SF Eagle The classic leather bar's most popular Sunday daytime event now also takes place on Saturdays! 3pm-6pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com
Black Xxxmas @ Factory Industry and Gus Presents' leathery cruisy circuit dance party will help you burn off the holiday calories, with DJs Abel and Jamie J. Sanchez. $25-$35. 10pm-4am. 525 Harrison St. at 1st. www.industrysf.com
Go Bang! @ The Stud The disco classic DJ night, with Sergio Fedasz and Steve Fabus, celebrates six groovy years. $8. 10pm-3am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com
Kindred The Family Soul @ Yoshi's Oakland The Philadelphia husband and wife duo return for a concert of soulful music at the stylish nightclub/ restaurant. $32. 7:30pm & 9:30pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com
Kink Meet-up @ Wicked Grounds The SM-friendly café and boutique hosts an introductory meet-up for the curious and kink-experienced. 6pm7pm. 298 8th St. 503-0405. www.wickedgrounds.com
CRISP , REFRESHING
TASTE.
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-themed shows now through the New Year. $25-$160. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com
Friday Night @ de Young Museum Nightlife events at the museum take on different themes. Free/reduced admission. 6pm-8:45pm. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. www.deyoung.famsf.org
Happy Friday @ Midnight Sun The popular video bar ends each work week with gogo guys (starting at 9pm) and drink specials. Check out the new expanded front lounge, with a window view. 4067 18th St. 8614186. www.midnightsunsf.com
Literary Death Match @ Elbo Room
Gym Class @ Hi Tops
Scott Hutchins ( Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist) , Emily Epstein White, John Leary, Maisha Z. Johnson and Janine Kovac read and/ or judge and this literary night. $10. 7:15pm. 647 Valencia St. www.elbo.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
Kimberly Locke @ Feinstein's at the Nikko
Manimal @ Beaux Gogo-tastic night starts off your weekend. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com
The stellar vocalist (American Idol season 2) performs her Christmasthemed cabaret concert. $25-$40. 8pm. Also Dec. 5, 8pm. ($20 food/ drink min.) Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. ticketweb.com
Some Thing @ The Stud Mica Sigourney and pals' weekly offbeat drag performance night. 10pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com
Legends Live @ Warfield Theatre The Glide Memorial Church annual Holiday Jame includes performances by Joan Baez, Rita Moreno, Paula West, Renel Brooks-Moon, the Glide Ensemble chorus in a benefit concert for the church. $65-$250. 7pm. 982 Market St. www.thewarfieldtheatre.com
The intimate groovy retro disco night with tunes spun by DJ Bus Station John. Special Thanksgiving night party! $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com
Sat 6
Vittles @ Eagle Tavern
Thu 11
Smashing Pumpkins at The Warfield
t
Put some meat in your mouth at this food-fab event with DJ Bulldog Mike. Enjoy glazed ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread and pumpkin pie, while it lasts. $7 per plate. 8pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com
Brand:Bud Lig Item #: PBL20 Job/Order #: 2
Bootie SF @ DNA Lounge Celebrate eleven years of the weekly mash-up dance night, with resident DJs Adrian & Mysterious D. No matter the theme, a mixed fun good time's assured. $8-$15. 9pm-3am. 21+. 375 11th St. at Harrison. www.BootieSF. com www.DNAlounge.com
La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland DJed tunes, gogo hotties, drag shows, drink specials, all at Oakland's premiere Latin nightclub and weekly cowboy night. $10-$15. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
Club Rimshot @ Bench and Bar, Oakland Get groovin' at the weekly hip hop and R&B night at their new location. $8-$15. 9pm to 4am. 2120 Broadway. www.bench-and-bar.com
Fri 5 Rita Moreno in Legends Live
ght 01410615
263938
t
On the Tab>>
Mr. S.F. Eagle @ Eagle Tavern Gage Fisher hands over his title at the annual leather contest. 3pm-5pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com
Santa Skivvies Run @ UN Plaza to Lookout The festive fundraiser for the SF AIDS Foundation where hundreds of men and women strip down to holiday-themed undies has expanded to accommodate its hundreds of participants. The run starts at 9am at Civic Center's U.N. Plaza, treks 1.6 miles west on Market Street to the Lookout bar at 16th and Noe. The event concludes with a Santa Village, drag acts, and performances by cast members of Beach Blanket Babylon. Register $50 (7:30-8:30am or in advance online). 9am. www.santaskivviesrun.org
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 47
Beer Bust @ SF Mix
Salsa Sundays @ El Rio
The popular Castro bar hosts its weekly softball team beer bust fundraiser. 3pm-7pm. 4086 18th St. 431-8616. www.sfmixbar.com
Salsa dancing for LGBT folks and friends, with live merengue and cumbia bands; tapas and donations that support local causes. 2nd & 4th Sundays. 3pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com
Big Top @ Beaux Joshua J.'s homo disco circus night returns, now weekly, with guest DJs and performers, hotty gogo guys and drink specials. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.BeauxSF.com
Brunch @ Hi Tops Enjoy crunchy sandwiches and mimosas, among other menu items, at the popular sports bar. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com
Brunch Sundays @ Balancoire Weekly live music shows with various acts, along with brunch, mimosas, champagne and more, at the stylish nightclub and restaurant. 2565 Mission St. at 21st. 920-0577. www.balancoiresf.com
Sierra Boggess @ Venetian Room The Broadway star ( The Little Mermaid, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables) performs a concert of varied songs in her show, Finding the Balance (The Journey Of The Middle Child. ) $30-$50. 5pm. Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St. 392-4400. www.BayAreaCabaret.org
Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 The popular twice-weekly countrywestern dance night includes linedancing, two-stepping and lessons. $5. 6:30-10:30pm. Also Thursdays 6:30pm-10:30pm. 550 Barneveld Ave. at Industrial. www.sundancesaloon.org
Sunday's a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet hosts the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show. $45. 11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com
Toys for Tots @ St. Regis Ballroom Tenth anniversary big (mostly straight) party, where donations of toys are admission. Games and teenage unwrapped new toys are especially needed. 4pm-7pm. 3rd St at Mission. RSVP: ToysForTots.SF@gmail.com
Trailer Trash Gurlz @ The Edge Enjoy a campy drag show at this toy drive and fundraiser for Camp Sunburst; bring a new unwrapped toy or gift card for Mama's Family Toy Drive. $10 beer bust, raffles, Jell-O shots. 4pm-7pm. 4149 18th St. 8634027. www.edgesf.com
Yaelisa y Caminos Flamencos @ Yoshi's Oakland The vibrant Spanish dance and music ensemble performs. $24. 7pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com
Mon 8 Cock and Bull Mondays @ Hole in the Wall Saloon Specials on drinks made with Cock and Bull ginger ale (Jack and Cock, Russian Mule, and more). 8pmclosing. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com
Drag Mondays @ The Cafe ©2014 A-B, Bud Light® Beer, St. Louis, MO
Trim: 8.75 x 7.75 Bleed: none Publication: Bay Area Reporter Live: 8.5x7.5
Shawn Ryan @ Feinstein's at the Nikko
The talented singer-actor brings his Merry Little Xmas music and comedy show to the intimate nightclub. $25$40 ($20 food/drink min.). 7pm. Also Dec. 7. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.shawn-ryan.com ticketweb.com
Sun 7 Beer Bust @ Lone Star Saloon The ursine crowd converges for beer and fun. 4pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com
Beer Bust @ SF Eagle The classic leather bar's most popular Sunday daytime event in town draws the menfolk. 3pm-6pm. Now also on Saturdays! 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com
Mahlae Balenciaga and DJ Kidd Sysko's weekly drag and dance night. 9pm-1am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com
Epic Karaoke @ White Horse, Oakland
Closing Date: 7/1/14 QC: CS
GlamaZone @ The Cafe Pollo del Mar's weekly drag shows takes on different themes with a comic edge. 8:30-11:30pm. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com
Jock @ The Lookout The weekly jock-ular fun continues, with special sports team fundraisers. 3pm-7pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com
Holiday Bazaar @ Wicked Grounds Shop for leather, kink and other sexy BDSM items from local craftspeople, including author Jay Wiseman (3pm5pm) signing copies of The Erotic Bondage Handbook. Bazaar 7am11pm. 298 8th St. 503-0405. www.wickedgrounds.com
Liquid Brunch @ Beaux No cover, no food, just drinks (Mimosas, Bloody Marys, etc.) and music. 2pm-9pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com
Wed 10
Mondays and Tuesdays popular weekly sing-along night. No cover. 8:30pm-1am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com
Help is on the Way @ Marines Memorial Theatre The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation's 13th annual holidaythemed benefit cncert features Jai Rodriguez, LaToya London, Davis Gaines, Jason Brock, cast members from the Broadway touring production of Kinky Boots, plus silent and live auctions, and VIP champagne and dessert after-party. $50, $120 and up. 6:30 auction. 7:30pm concert. 609 Sutter St. 273-1620. www.helpisontheway.org
Irish Dance Night @ Starry Plough, Berkeley Weekly dance lessons and live music at the pub-restaurant, hosted by John Slaymaker. $5. 7pm. 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. thestarryplough.com
Glass Animals at DNA Lounge
Karaoke @ The Lookout Paul K hosts the amateur singing night. 8pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com
Mahogany Mondays @ Midnight Sun Honey Mahogany's weekly drag and musical talent show starts around 10pm. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com
Monday Musicals @ The Edge The casts of local and visiting musicals often pop in to perform at the popular Castro bar's musical theatre night. 7pm-2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pmclosing. 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com
Monet Owens @ Yoshi's Oakland The Bay Area soul/R&B vocalist performs a concert, at the East Bay nightclub/restaurant, with guests Brian Collier, and Victoria Theodore. $19. 8pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com
Name That Beat @ Toad Hall BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly musical trivia challenge and drag show. 8:30-11:30pm. 4146 18th St. at Castro. www.toadhallbar.com
No No Bingo @ Virgil's Sea Room
Gay Skate Night @ Church on 8 Wheels LGBT night at the former Sacred Heart Church-turned disco roller skate party space, hosted by John D. Miles, the "Godfather of Skate." Actually, every night is gay-friendly, including Saturday's Black Rock night (Burning Man garb encouraged). Also Wed, Thu, 7pm-10pm. Sat afternoon sessions 1pm-2:30pm and 3pm5:30pm. $10. Kids 12 and under $5. Skate rentals $5. 554 Fillmore St at Fell. www.churchof8wheels.com
Meow Mix @ The Stud The weekly themed variety cabaret showcases new and unusual talents; MC Ferosha Titties. $3-$7. Show at 11pm. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com
Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down at the strip joint while onstage strippers entertain. $20 includes refreshments. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com
Piano Bar @ Beaux Singer extraordinaire Jason Brock hosts the weekly night, with your talented host –and even you– singing. 9pm2am. 2344 Market St. beauxsf.com
Showdown @ Folsom Foundry
Mica Sigourney and Tom Temprano cohost the wacky weekly game night at the cool Mission bar. 8pm. 3152 Mission St. www.virgilssf.com
Weekly game night for board and electronic gamers at the warehouse multi-purpose nightclub. 21+. 6pm12am. 1425 Folsom St. www.showdownesports.com
Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni's
Switch @ Q Bar
Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht (aka Trauma Flintstone). 9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.dragatmartunis.com
Weekly women's night at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com
Underwear Night @ 440 Strip down to your skivvies at popular men's night. 9pm-2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. www.the440.com
Tue 9 Block Party @ Midnight Sun Weekly screenings of music videos, concert footage, interviews and more, of popular pop stars. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com
Bombshell Betty & Her Burlesqueteers @ Elbo Room
Trivia Night @ Hi Tops Play the trivia game at the popular new sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com
Wed 10 Academy of Friends Reception @ Gump's The nonprofit known for the festive annual Oscar party shares the scoop on next year's big gala, their recipients, all with festive cocktails, wines and bites. $20. 6pm-8pm. 135 Post St. eventbrite.com
See page 49 >>
The weekly burlesque show of women dancers shaking their bonbons includes live music. $10. 9pm. 647 Valencia St. 552-7788. www.elbo.com
Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey's Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gay-friendly comedy night. Dec. 2; Thai Rivera headlines. one-drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com
Ink & Metal @ Powerhouse Show off your tattoos and piercings at the weekly cruisy SoMa bar night. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com
Mon 8 Monet Owens at Yoshi’s Oakland
Serving the LGBT communities since 1971
48 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
Sweatin’ Wood
t
by John F. Karr
O
WARNING HOT GUYS! San Francisco
415.430.1199 Oakland
510.343.1122 San Jose
408.514.1111
FREE to listen and reply to ads! FREE CODE: Reporter
For other local numbers call:
1-888-MegaMates
24/7 Friendly Customer Care 1(888)634-2628 18+ ©2013 PC LLC MegaMatesMen.com
TM
2586
ne recent TitanMen movie rewardingly dares to go where others fear to tread, while another is graced with at least one scene that’s also a departure. And though the movies take entirely different tacts to arouse us, there’s something else that links the pair together. It must be that Jesse Jackman is mighty popular, because the Exclusive performer at TitanMen is prominently featured on the boxes of both Morning Wood and Sweat. His friendly, open face and sweet baby blues sort of distract from the familiarity of those titles. But let’s face it, there are only so many variations that can be spun from the buzz words of gay porn’s limited naming pool. For both these flicks, I easily find four others that are currently available with the same title. Still, if the names of these movies aren’t particularly creative, they’re at least apt, and shouldn’t keep you from either flick. The daring of Morning Wood is that it offers relief from the standard hard sell of most porn. Oh, the guys of Morning Wood aren’t softies. It’s just that they get the time as the sun is rising to cuddle and, most important, to connect in a way that’s usually disregarded. So we get just what the title promises—sunny, laid back mornings in which languid lads truly enjoy each other’s company, before the imperative of an early in the day erection exchanges drowsy canoodling for energetic pre-brunch boning. Both of the movies have three scenes, each at least a generous and unrushed half-hour long. In true TitanMen style, almost everyone in both casts is bearded, and all but two guys have furry chests. In Morning Wood, this includes the three tasty Exclusive performers Dario Beck, Nick Prescott, and, of course, Jesse Jackman. They’re joined by porn stalwarts Josh West and Tom Wolfe, along with the (near) debut of Ty-
TitanMen’s Morning Wood and Sweat
ler Edwards. Altogether, they’re personable guys who’ve been coached into greater openness by director Jasun Mark. Jackman and West are the first couple. I like watching big guys fuck, and this pair are solid. Before that, there’s satisfying TitanMen sucking, and excelNick Prescott and Tyler Edwards canoodle lent rimming (this before cock-slamming, in Morning Wood. pre-breakfast West seems particularly hungry) caught in Seeing him here, I can only requiexcellent videography. The secsition the Titan execs, “Please, sir, I ond pair are the extra attracwant some more.” tive Dario Beck and Tom Sweat takes place in various locaWolfe, at their best in a tions of a gym—the locker room, swell RC. the weight room, the physical therThen we get simulapy room. Troy Daniels is first, and taneously sunny and he’s a fine-featured looker. Tall at sizzling Nick Prescott, 6’2”, the lean, uncut Daniels most with newcomer Tyler recently got gangbanged at another Edwards. They loll on studio. In his Titan debut, he gets some handsome purple more personal attention from stursheets; I’d like a set of those. Eddy top Hunter Marx than a gangwards has a stocky body and a sucbang can provide. Daniels loves to culent stiffie that’s well deployed as rim, is a very active and vocal bothe tops Prescott. As far as I can tell, tom, and will be welcomed back. Edwards has done only one other In the second scene, smooth and scene, for a B-tier streaming site. svelte top man Alex Graham gets a massage from Matt Stevens. Dirty blond and personality-rich Stevens has that brand of butch that lies within the Chad Brock, Brad Kalvo zone of husky, hairy, rugged and randy. The generalized massage he applies to Graham rambled on for some time before Graham’s boner revivified my interest. I can certainly roll with the hand job it receives, which, after several hypnotic moments, becomes a mouth job. You know what follows, and studly Stevens gets a good boning. He may look like a top, but he spreads his cheeks like a wide receiver. And like flocked snow on a Christmas tree, his stark white cum is vivid decoraTitanMen tion on his furry torso. Delightful debauchery with Dirk Caber and Jesse Jackman, in Sweat. Sweat saves the best for last, with spouses Jesse Jackman and Dirk Caber showing why they may be the First Family of Smut. Without sacrificing a whit of the butch attitude and fierce fuckery that most performers assume while making out, these guys couch their interaction in personal terms, and drop in some smiles, a chuckle, a lascivious twinkle of the eye. So, instead of going blankly stone-faced with that look that’s often mistaken for macho, they seem engaged, and more important, in tight contact with each other throughout their experience. I especially appreciated Caber attentively jacking off Jackman to climax while fucking him. And after the orgasmic paroxysms subside, there’s conspiratorial laughter. Caber and Jackman delight in their debauchery; that really draws me in.t www.TitanMen.com
t <<
Read more online at www.ebar.com
On the Tab
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 49
Mon 8
From page 47
Bondage a GoGo @ Cat Club The (mostly straight) kinky weekly dance night, where fetish gear is welcome; DJs Damon and Tomas Diablo play electro, goth, industrial, etc. 9:30pm-2:30am. 1190 Folsom St. www.bondage-a-go-go.com
Bottoms Up Bingo @ Hi Tops Play board games and win offbeat prizes at the popular sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com
LaToya London at Help Is On the Way
Bromance @ Beaux DJ Kidd Sysko spins tunes for the bro-tastic midweek night, with $2 beer pitchers, beer pong, $1 shots served by undie-clad guys. It's like a frat house without the closet cases. 8:30-10pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com
Dare 2 Bare @ Club OMG New weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, no cover, and drink specials. 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com
Dream Queens Revue @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge More sparkly than the Union Square Christmas tree, it’s San Francisco's most fabulicious drag show, featuring Collette LeGrande, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, Bobby Ashton, Sheena Rose, Kipper, and Joie de Vivre. No cover. 9:30pm-11:30pm. 133 Turk St. 441-2922. www.dreamqueensrevue.com
Battlecross @ DNA Lounge Thrash and metal night with Royal Blood, War of Ages (bear metal), Wretched, and Glass Animals (a spooky cool band from London). $15$18. 8pm. 375 11th St. www.dnalounge.com
Good Times @ Bench and Bar, Oakland Olga T and Shugga Shay's weekly queer women and men's R&B hip hop and soul night, at the club's new location. No cover. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway, Oakland. www.bench-and-bar.com
Miss Kitty's Trivia Night @ Wild Side West The weekly fun night at the Bernal Heights bar includes prizes, hosted by Kitty Tapata. No cover. 7pm-10pm. 424 Cortland St. 647-3099. www.wildsidewest.com
Open Mic/Comedy @ SF Eagle Kollin Holts hosts the new weekly comedy and open mic talent night. 6pm-8pm. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com
Rainbow Skate @ Redwood Roller Rink Weekly LGBT and friends skate night, with groovy disco music and themed events. $9. 8pm-10:30pm. 1303 Main Street, Redwood City. www.rainbowskate.net www.facebook.com/rainbowskating
Red Hots Burlesque @ El Rio Women's burlesque show performs each Wed & Fri. Karaoke follows. $5$10. 7pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com
Rookies Night @ Nob Hill Theatre
The Monster Show @ The Edge
Watch newbies get nude, or compete yourself for a $200 prize. Audience picks the winner. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com
Cookie Dough's weekly drag show with gogo guys. Dec. 11: a special Cyndi Lauper tribute night, with cast members from the Broadway touring musical Kinky Boots judging the kinky boots contest. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com
So You Think You Can Gogo? @ Toad Hall The weekly dancing competition for gogo wannabes. 9pm. cash prizes, $2 well drinks (2 for 1 happy hour til 9pm). Show at 9pm. 4146 18th St. www.toadhallbar.com
Trivia Night @ Harvey's BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly night of trivia quizzes and fun and prizes; no cover. 8pm-1pm. 500 Castro St. 4314278. www.harveyssf.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
Pussy Party @ Beaux Women's happy hour, with all-women music and live performances, 2 for 1 drinks, and no cover. 5pm-9am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com
Russ Lorenson @ Feinstein's at the Nikko The performer's ninth annual Christmas in San Francisco concert includes guest singers Carly Ozard and the 16-piece Kelly Park Big Band. $25$40 ($20 food/drink min.) 8pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. ticketweb.com
The Russian River bar's country music night attracts cowboys and those who like to ride 'em. 8pm-1am. 16220 Main St., Guerneville. (707) 869-0206. www.queersteer.com
Thu 11 American Football @ The Fillmore The alt. pop trio performs their intimate polyrhythmic music. David Bazan opens. $25. 8pm. 1805 Geary Blvd. www.thefillmore.com
Bulge @ Powerhouse Grace Towers hosts the weekly gogotastic night of sexy dudes shakin' their bulges and getting wet in their undies for $100 prize (contest at midnight), and dance beats spun by DJ DAMnation. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com
Drag Queens on Ice @ Safeway Holiday Ice Rink, Union Square The seventh annual ice skating party with drag stars Mutha Chucka, Holotta Tymes, BeBe Sweetbriar, several Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, MC Donna Sachet and many other talents; 8pm-9:30pm. Other festivities, including special events, continue thru Jan 19. $7-$11. Skate rentals $6. Powell St. at Geary. 781-2688. unionsquareicerink.com
LGBT comedy night hosted by Dan Mires. $10. 8pm. 2111 Franklin St. Oakland. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com
Gym Class @ Hi Tops
Sierra Boggess at The Venetian Room
Enjoy amazingly hot Papi gogo guys, cheap drinks and fun DJed dance music. Free before 10pm. $5 til 2am. 2369 Market St. www.clubpapi.com www.cafesf.com
Wrangler Wednesday @ Rainbow Cattle Company, Guerneville
Funny Fun @ Club 21, Oakland
Sun 7
Pan Dulce @ The Cafe
Enjoy cheap whiskey shots from jock-strapped hotties and sexy sports videos at the popular new sports bar. 10pm-2am. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com
Thu 11 American Football
Smashing Pumpkins @ The Warfield Billy Corgan and Jeff Schroeder are joined by Mark Stoermer (The Killers' bassist) and Brak Wilk (Rage Against the Machine drummer) in a concert of the original band's music, and songs from the new CD, Monuments to an Elegy. $49.50-$60. 8pm. 982 Market St. smashingpumpkinsnexus.com www.thewarfieldtheatre.com
Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 The popular twice-weekly countrywestern dance night includes linedancing, two-stepping and lessons. $5. 6:30-10:30pm. Also Sundays 5pm-10:30pm. 550 Barneveld Ave. at Industrial. www.sundancesaloon.org
Thump @ White Horse, Oakland Weekly electro music night with DJ Matthew Baker and guests. 9pm-2am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com
Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Retro disco tunes and a fun diverse crowd, each Thursday; now in its tenth year! $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. auntcharlieslounge.com Want your nightlife event listed? Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event. Event photos welcome.
Serving the LGBT communities since 1971
50 • BAY AREA REPORTER • December 4-10, 2014
Personals
▼
The
Massage>>
People>>
*EXCELLENT NUDE MASSAGE* –
Tall blond inshape CMT nr SF/ Dolores Park 60/90/120 min sessions, Swedish, Prostate, Erotic, or Hypno-Massage from $90. Strong hands. Call Heron: 415-706-9740
MEN TO MEN MASSAGE
I’m a Tall Latin Man in my late 40’s. If you’re looking, I’m the right guy for you. My rates are $80/hr & $120/90 min. My work hours are 10 a.m. to midnite everyday. 415-515-0594 Patrick call or text. See pics on ebar.com
MACK’S TABLE MASSAGE 415-350-0968 MAN’S MASSAGE – All Pro (415) 378-2195
WARNING HOT GUYS! San Francisco
415.430.1199 Oakland
510.343.1122
SEXY ASIAN $60 JIM 269-5707
San Jose
408.514.1111
ebar.com Personals
FREE to listen and reply to ads! FREE CODE: Reporter
For other local numbers call:
1-888-MegaMates
TM
24/7 Friendly Customer Care 1(888)634-2628 18+ ©2013 PC LLC MegaMatesMen.com
2586
HOT LOCAL MEN – Browse & Reply FREE! SF - 415-430-1199 East Bay - 510-343-1122 Use FREE Code 2628, 18+
“The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” — Lucille Ball
Model/Escorts>> BLACK & HUNG – Maxwell 415-748-6379
FUN 9X7 TOP –
HOT*CKSKR*24HRS – Edgy Escort for Extreme Clients Out * 860-5468 * $150/hr
Vince 415-225-4310 $150
The
Classified Order Form
Deadline: NOON on MONDAY. Payment must accompany ad. No ads taken over the telephone. If you have a question, call 415.861.5019. Display advertising rates available upon request. Indicate Type Style Here
XBOLD and BOLD stop here
ADVERTISE! The Bay Area Reporter reaches more LGBT consumers than any other advertising medium in the nine county San Francisco Bay Area.
RATES for Newspaper and website: First line, Regular 10.00 All subsequent lines 5.00 Web or e-mail hyperlink 5.00 CAPS double price BOLD double price X-BOLD triple price PAYMENT:
Cash
Personal Check
Contact Information Name Address Number of Issues
Mail with payment to: Bay Area Reporter 44 Gough St. #204 SF, CA 94103
Credit Card Payment Name Card Number Expiration Date Signature Money Order
City Classification
OR E-MAIL: BARLEGALS@GMAIL.COM
Visa
MasterCard
AmEx
Telephone State Amt. Enclosed
Zip
We’re also proud to be the only LGBT print publication with both an audited and verified circulation. Call (415) 861-5019 to market your business to more than 120,000 Bay Area readers.
t
Read more online at www.ebar.com
Shooting Stars
December 4-10, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 51
photos by Steven Underhill Manimal at Beaux
M
animal, the weekly Friday event at the spacious nightclub Beaux, draws fans of pop and house dance music, cute (make that hot!) gogo guys, and a fun mixed and diverse crowd. Stop by 2344 Market Street for early happy hour, mid-week events, and weekend fun, too. www.beauxsf.com More event photo albums are on BARtab’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at www.StevenUnderhill.com.
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For headshots, portraits or to arrange your wedding photos
call (415) 370-7152 or visit www.StevenUnderhill.com or email stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com