January 22, 2015 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

High court to hear marrigage cases

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Billy Porter

Adore Delano

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Vol. 45 • No. 4 • January 22-28, 2015

Imperial Council turns 50 Rick Gerharter

Jose Julio Sarria as the Widow Norton in 2011.

Jane Philomen Cleland

CA Hall of Fame honor sought for gay icon

AEF Executive Director Mike Smith, left, presented Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi with an award on behalf of the HIV/AIDS Provider Network in 2009.

Smith to depart AEF/BCEF

by Matthew S. Bajko

by Cynthia Laird

ike Smith, the longtime executive director of the AIDS Emergency Fund and Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, has announced that he is stepping down. Smith told the Bay Area Reporter that he has no immediate plans, but that after 12 and a half years it was time to move on. He said that he looks forward to “the next opportunity” after taking some time off. The news was formally announced Wednesday, January 21. Smith said he will stay on the job while the AEF and BCEF boards conduct a search for his successor and he will remain briefly after that to introduce the new leader to key donors, funders, community partners, and other stakeholders. He anticipates leaving the organizations by early summer. Smith, 54, who was AEF’s first permanent executive director when he took the helm in 2002, is one of the most respected AIDS service organization leaders in the Bay Area. Additionally, Smith is currently president of the San Francisco HIV/AIDS Provider’s Network; he will remain in that role until he leaves. AEF, the older of the two agencies, has its roots in San Francisco’s leather community. It started in 1982 at the height of the AIDS epidemic. The goal was to provide emergency financial assistance to people living with AIDS – to help pay rent, utilities, or other bills – and for years the agency did just that with an unpaid board of directors and volunteers. Over the years, through savvy and popular community fundraising, and public support via Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment federal AIDS programs, AEF grew, but not without its challenges. AEF now has a budget of between $2.1 and $2.2 million. The client base “hovers” around 2,000 San Francisco residents, Smith said. Today, about half of AEF’s budget comes from federal funds, the rest is through funSee page 14 >>

Rick Gerharter

he Imperial Council of San Francisco, which operates the Imperial Court, will mark its golden anniversary this year. John Weber, president of the board of directors of the Imperial Council, joined Empress XXX Donna Sachet and reigning Emperor John

Paul Soto Saturday, January 17 for the unveiling of a poster for the court’s 50th anniversary gala celebration, coming up on February 15. For more on the court’s history, see Sachet’s column in the BARtab section; see next week’s Bay Area Reporter for more coverage.

riends and admirers of Jose Julio Sarria, a gay man and drag queen who left a lasting impact on politics and the LGBT community, are seeking to have him inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Created in 2006 by the California Museum, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his See page 17 >>

City panel to review homeless deaths by Seth Hemmelgarn

an Francisco officials are working to establish a homeless death review committee. The project comes as a transgender person died recently in front of a Castro neighborhood coffee shop. Bevan Dufty, who serves as director of Housing Opportunity, Partnerships and Engagement for Mayor Ed Lee, said, “for the past several months, I’ve been on a mission” to restart the committee, which had existed several years ago in the city. One of the aims of the panel would be to examine the deaths of people like Anastasia, who was found dead December 31 in front of Peet’s Coffee, 2257 Market Street, to see what contacts they’d had with service providers, and what may have been done to prevent the loss. “I believe her tragic death can be a rallying point to make sure we don’t leave people behind,” Dufty said. Anastasia, who was well known in the neighborhood, had refused numerous offers of shelter and other services, according to people who knew her, even though many people said she’d appeared to be in declining health before she died. The city was experiencing a severe cold snap at the time Anastasia was found. The medical examiner’s office isn’t likely to publicly release the cause and manner of her death for several months. Officials have not indicated there were any signs of foul play.

Rick Gerharter

A man sleeps on Noe Street while a sidewalk art sale goes on in the background.

Sam Dodge, who in November joined the HOPE office as deputy director, said his goal is to make the committee “relevant for successfully preventing death and moving people into more stable places, out of homelessness and into care” or housing. Dodge said either he or Dufty would represent the HOPE office on the committee, which would also likely include the medical examiner’s office and other city agencies. One aim would be for medical examiner’s

staff to provide information to homeless outreach workers so they can “immediately” respond to the location where the person died and see if people who knew the subject need help, he said. In cases where the person died of a drug overdose, for example, if the people around them were also using drugs, “maybe they’re ready to reconsider their use,” Dodge said. “... See page 17 >>

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2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

Supes extend upper Market Street zoning rule

Rick Gerharter

A zoning rule to encourage more active retail in the Castro, such as the space at 2175 Market Street, was recently extended by the Board of Supervisors.

by Matthew S. Bajko

n interim rule aimed at limiting the number of banks and office-like uses in ground floor retail spaces along upper Market Street will remain in place for at least another six months as a more permanent version makes its way through the legislative process. Enacted in July 2013, the temporary zoning control had been set to expire by the end of this month. But the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted at its January 13 meeting to extend it through July. Gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, who represents the retail corridor at City Hall, had sought the extension in order to give the city’s planning department time to review the ordinance he submitted that would codify the rule. The legislation is aimed at addressing the issues posed by a concentration of financial and business services in what is known as the Upper Market Street Neighborhood Commercial Transit District. The latest version would extend the zoning controls to the 400 and 500 blocks of Castro Street, several blocks on 18th Street in the heart of the Castro, and the 24th Street business corridor in Noe Valley.

Concerns that developers of new mixed-use buildings along Market Street between Octavia Boulevard and Castro Street would seek banks, title companies, and other non-retail uses as tenants led Wiener to first propose the temporary zoning fix. It requires businesses considered a limited financial service or a professional service use to seek conditional use permits in order to open in a ground floor storefront on upper Market Street. Several landlords dropped their initial leasing plans to seek out local businesses after the new rule was imposed. But as the Bay Area Reporter noted in December, the rule has not always been properly applied. Complaints were filed last fall against two real estate offices for not seeking the required permit approval; both businesses are working with city planners to remedy the situation. The planning commission is expected to take up Wiener’s ordinance to make the rule permanent sometime within the next two to three months. Once heard by the oversight panel, the supervisors’ land use committee would take up the legislation. The board would then need to vote on it twice before it is sent to the mayor for his signature.t

Castro protesters decry lack of diversity

D. Boyer Photography

Protesters shut down the intersection at 18th and Castro streets January 17.

by Seth Hemmelgarn

he intersection of 18th and Castro streets was shut down last weekend as protesters complained about what they described as the San Francisco neighborhood’s lack of inclusion of queer and trans people of color. Dina Boyer, who posted images and text to the San Francisco Bay

Area Independent Media Center’s IndyBay website, said in an interview that the event started at 9 p.m. Saturday, January 17. Boyer, who said she wasn’t part of the protest, got there at 9:30. She said when she arrived, protesters had formed “a massive circle” at the intersection and were chantSee page 18 >>

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4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

SF library revises privacy policy by Khaled Sayed

he San Francisco Public Library’s privacy policy was revised last week, despite concerns by some people that the changes could affect LGBTQ youth and others. At its January 15 meeting, the Library Commission unanimously approved the changes to the privacy policy. The move was made so that the library can implement a new catalog improvement using BiblioCommons. The Canadian-based company’s suite of hosted “Software as a Service” solutions integrates social media for public libraries. City Librarian Luis Herrera did tell the commission that “Biblio-

Commons is now working to update their approach as to how users will be notified of changes to the terms of use, and after five years with the existing terms of use, BiblioCommons will be modifying the language accordingly.” Under the contract signed by Luis Herrera and approved by City Attorney Dennis Herrera, BiblioCommons will be paid $469,940 for providing a catalog to the San Francisco Public Library. According to its website, BiblioCommons started off as a nonprofit youth literacy initiative, not as a software company, but now it is the library catalog for 41 libraries in Canada, 35 in the U.S., and four libraries

in Australia and New Zealand. The company re-launched its services in late 2009, and has been adding libraries large and small ever since. Even though the San Francisco library system is looking to adopt the BiblioCommons system, not everyone is on board. The changes had been opposed by the Library Users Association due to privacy issues associated with having a third party company handling library patrons’ personal information. Peter Warfield, executive director of the Library Users Association, wrote in an op-ed in last week’s Bay Area Reporter that the planned move to BiblioCommons means that parents or guardians of teenage library users (ages 13-17), “whose borrowing and other records are currently confidential at SFPL, would be especially hard hit.” Under BiblioCommons’ privacy policy, Warfield wrote, parents or guardians “may make a request to review and alter the personal information collected from their children on this service, or to deactivate their child’s BiblioCommons account.” Ray Hartz, director San Francisco Open Government, is looking forward to the actual results of the new system. “The library is not just incorporating the library’s privacy policy but the BiblioCommons terms of use,” he said. He added that he will be looking at the terms of use because he does not expect anyone in the management of the library to protect the privacy rights of a library user. He also added that the commission cannot approve these policy changes until it has looked at the terms of use and know what they include. One of the other issues that commissioners discussed briefly were

Khaled Sayed

Peter Warfield, executive director of the Library Users Association, addressed the San Francisco Library Commission at its meeting last week.

the shelves that had held community newspapers at the Fulton Street entrance to the main library. Library staff had the shelves removed in December without notifying local publications, including the B.A.R. This created confusion among publishers, who had distributed their free publications using the shelves. According to a January 12 memo by Karen Strauss, chief of the main library, notification signage that the shelving was being removed was posted on December 5. Warfield voiced his disappointment and pointed out that the library’s decision to remove the Fulton Street shelves was not well thought out. “The library was very cavalier in doing what it did,” Warfield said. “I think when you create a public forum and establish it, you can’t just take it away. It is not legal and certainly not right.”

Randy McClure, library project manager, explained that the shelves weren’t working, especially during bad weather, and the custodial staff had a hard time keeping them clean and inviting for the library patrons. “Over the course of the year we noticed that it wasn’t working,” McClure said. “First of all during inclement weather, when it was raining, we saw a lot of litter. A lot of the publications were vandalized and papers were rendered unusable for the public.” He added, “It was not a welcoming site for our patrons and it became apparent that the publications weren’t reaching the intended audiences.” McClure said that the library is looking for a new location for the shelves on the third or fifth floors. Strauss announced at the meeting that they already have a location for the shelves. However, they are not yet installed.t

Two decisions bode well for City College by Yael Chanoff

ince an accrediting commission first threatened to revoke City College of San Francisco’s accreditation in 2012, students have been continuously unsure whether their school will close. After two game-changing developments last week, the position of the 80-yearold community college is much less precarious, at least for now. First, on January 14, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges changed CCSF’s status. Then, on January 16, San Francisco Superior Court Judge E. A. Karnow issued a tentative ruling that the accrediting commission acted unlawfully throughout the accreditation saga. The judge’s preliminary ruling finds the ACCJC acted unlawfully in several ways, including failing to include enough academics on the team that evaluated CCSF in 2013 and a lack of due process. “ACCJC’s material violations made it impossible for City College to have a fair hearing prior to the 2013 termination decision. The material violations can only be remedied with an injunction allowing City College to have the due process to which it was entitled in 2013,” Karnow’s decision reads. In the January 14 status change, the accreditation committee granted “restoration” status to CCSF. The new restoration status gives the college another two years to fully satisfy the ACCJC that it has complied with all the terms. Without accreditation, the college can’t receive state funding and would invariably close. Both the change of status and de-

Alana Perino

City College of San Francisco’s future looks brighter following two recent decisions over its accreditation status.

velopment in the lawsuit can be seen as victories for CCSF in its fight to stay open, city officials and advocates said. “City College continues to make sure San Franciscans have access to critical education and workforce training to compete and succeed in the 21st century economy. I thank the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges for their reconsideration and decision to keep City College open, providing hope and an affordable college opportunity for every San Franciscan,” Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement praising the restoration status decision. But some community stakeholders are less thrilled about the restoration status, finding more hope in the tentative court ruling. “We are grateful to City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Judge Curtis

Karnow for saving City College,” wrote Dan Choi, a gay City College student, in an email. Choi also ran for City College trustee last fall, and is well known for his civil disobedience to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the former federal policy that prevented gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. “’Restoration status’ is a trap,” Choi added. “It’s intended to force an admission that the college was too inclusive. The best path to City College’s long-term success is returning to its original inclusive, welcoming mission, and honoring the will of the voters and taxpayers.” One of the many changes CCSF has made in order to comply with the ACCJC was to alter its mission statement. Several goals were cut out of the statement, including lifeSee page 18 >>

Community News>>

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Black Lives Matter panel sparks dialogue

Alana Perino

Thea Matthews, president of the Black Student Union at City College of San Francisco, speaks at the Black Lives Matter panel Tuesday.

by Chanelle Ignant and Yael Chanoff

our black women leaders talked about the origin of #BlackLivesMatter, their reasons for being involved in the movement, and what others can do to help during a packed discussion at the Women’s Building Tuesday night. The January 20 panel, entitled “#BlackLivesMatter – United We Win,” was hosted by the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club. Alicia Garza, who identifies as queer, is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter and the special projects director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance. She opened the discussion with the history behind the hashtag and its origin in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in Florida. “A group of friends and I were sitting at a bar, and we were waiting for this verdict,” Garza said. “When George Zimmerman was acquitted, it felt like we got punched in the stomach.”

She wrote about the case and ended her post with the words “Black Lives Matter.” The phrase resonated. Soon Garza, along with Patrisse Cullors, founder of Dignity and Power Now in Los Angeles, and Opal Tometi, executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, had joined forces to help the movement grow. The three queer women had started something big. “We didn’t start this movement. We breathed some life into an idea, into a set of values and vision of what we thought the world should look like,” Garza said. “Black Lives Matter” spread on the streets as demonstrators invoked the phrases in protests following Zimmerman’s acquittal. Since its inception, Garza said, the online #BlackLivesMatter platform also has been used to create space for conversation around other issues impacting the black community. “The fundamental principle behind black lives matter is that our society is built on anti-black racism,” Garza said. For many in the movement, that

racism intersects with dangers they face in society based on sexuality and gender identity. Panelist Janetta Johnson is an organizer with the Transgender, Gender Variant, and Intersex Justice Project. She expressed the urgency of a movement to address structural violence against black transgender women. “Right now if I leave here tonight and I was brutally attacked, I wouldn’t call the police and I wouldn’t call the ambulance. I would just go home and try to take care of myself. Because why re-traumatize myself?” Johnson said. Johnson said that Black Lives Matter can’t be another movement that puts trans people last, and pointed out that there were few black trans people in the audience. “We need support moving forward, and traditionally we haven’t been supported,” Johnson said. When Garza next spoke, she acknowledged Johnson’s points. “We’re queer, so we’re supposed to be a part of the same community. But I have a level of privilege in relation to you. If we’re not having that conversation then we’re not really about this life,” Garza said. For a truly effective movement, Garza said, just “being inclusive” is not enough. “We’re trying to do the work that we need to do, even as queer folks, to make sure that our spaces are – not ‘inclusive.’ That’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about elevating the leadership of folks that are not at the center,” Garza said. The panel also discussed the importance of youth leadership, and Hatim Mansori, a junior at Mission High School and president of the high school’s Black Student Union, gave a quick description of his organizing strategies. T:9.75” As moderator, Milk Club executive board member Mahnani Clay also

asked how police can get involved. “I have friends and family in law enforcement who are sympathetic to the cause and want to help, but have no idea where to start,” Clay said. It was an unexpected question for leaders in a movement largely focused on police brutality. As part of their response, panelists named some of those killed by San Francisco police in recent years. “We still have questions around Alex Nieto, about O’Shaine Evans, about Kenneth Harding,” Garza said. “I’m not going to say I’m police friendly, I’m not going to say I hate

all police. I hate the system,” said panelist Neva Walker, executive director of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth. Walker and a few other panelists said that they, too, had family and friends in law enforcement. Walker said that police who want to help can begin by trying to change the practices of their police unions. San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, who attended the panel, agreed, acknowledging the influence of the police union in city politics. See page 18 >>

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<< Open Forum

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

Volume 45, Number 4 January 22-28, 2015 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman BARTAB EDITOR & EVENTS LISTINGS EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • Seth Hemmelgarn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ray Aguilera • Tavo Amador • Race Bannon Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Brent Calderwood • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Belo Cipriani Chuck Colbert • Richard Dodds • Krissy Eliot 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 • Jim Norrena Rich Stadtmiller • Robbie Sweenie 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

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Here we go again

arriage equality supporters have been anticipating the opportunity in which the United States Supreme Court could decide whether all 50 states must allow same-sex couples to marry. Last week, the justices decided to hear cases from four states involving some 15 same-sex couples. The landscape on marriage equality has changed dramatically since 2013, when only nine states permitted it and California’s Proposition 8 was tossed out on a technicality by the high court. It was the court’s other decision that term, U.S. v. Windsor, however, that provided the precedent with which many lower courts have ruled that such unions are a fundamental right. Since then, the number of states allowing same-sex marriage has grown to 36, plus the District of Columbia. But not all the lower courts agreed. A decision last November in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld state marriage bans in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee, was the trigger for the Supreme Court – it often takes cases where there is a split in the federal circuits. The plaintiff couples in those states petitioned the high court, seeking review. The justices will hear arguments in April; a decision is expected in June, probably right around the same time many cities, including San Francisco, will be celebrating LGBT Pride. Today, 70 percent of Americans live in a state where same-sex marriage is legal. The shift toward support has been rapid, by most comparisons, and same-sex marriage has emerged as a leading civil rights issue. Sure, there

are still pockets of opposition, but anti-gay marriage groups like the National Organization for Marriage find themselves increasingly on the outside looking in: they neither attract major financial donors nor widespread political support. It says something about the evolution among politicians when Republican Jeb Bush, who is looking at a presidential run in 2016, has been forced to clarify his stance on marriage equality even before becoming an official candidate. Granted, as we noted a couple weeks ago, his position is ridiculous, cloaked in the “religious liberty” canard to placate possible donors and supporters, but nonetheless he had to carve out a position. We suspect that by the time the presidential race really starts shaping up, leading candidates will have to further define their position on marriage. Two years ago, just before the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the

Windsor and Prop 8 cases, Democratic politicians at all levels suddenly publicly proclaimed support for same-sex marriage, and even a couple GOPers came on board. Given that presidential hopefuls are already jockeying for donors and supporters, it’s also likely that should the high court decide in favor of same-sex marriage, candidates will welcome the political cover the ruling provides. Some of them, like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, said the issue was “settled” after a state court ruled that his state could not deny same-sex couples the right to marry. There will be some, notably evangelicals, who will continue to rail against same-sex marriage, and there will always be a corner of the Republican Party for them. In fact, the party’s platform is explicitly against same-sex marriage and that might not change next year, but keeping that discriminatory language in the document will hurt the party as it seeks to appeal to minority groups, many of which are more comfortable with marriage equality now that it is available in so many states. We don’t see marriage equality as akin to abortion, which is still a hot button political issue 42 years later. Rather, we predict the country will largely move on to acceptance, much like it did after the high court ruled that interracial marriages were legal. But don’t misunderstand us, there will always be a portion of the population that doesn’t like gays and there will always be some who don’t support our equal marriage rights. They are entitled to their opinion, but they can’t draft laws abridging our rights. That’s why these stealth legislative battles over religious liberty are so dangerous, and that’s where our future efforts need to be directed.t

FDA blood proposal uses stereotypes over science by Evan Low

of sexual orientation. There are people given to sexual promiscuity f you are a healthy, straight, moin all human populations and those nogamous couple, would you go that are not. without sex for one year in order to A third stereotype that the FDA give blood? This is what the Food one-year deferral perpetuates is that and Drug Administration is asking gay men are not relationship orientof gay monogamous male couples. ed. The notion that being gay makes On December 23, the U.S. Food a man less able to fall in love with and Drug Administration proposed another person is illogical and has a rule change that would lift the no basis in reality. In fact, as sameAssemblyman lifetime ban on men who have sex Evan Low sex marriage has become increaswith other men, and replace it with ingly more available across the U.S., a one-year deferral. This means that exactly the opposite is proving true. MSM who abstain from having sex with anThese homosexual stereotypes and othother man for one year may give blood if the ers act to dehumanize gay men, so that they rule goes into effect after public comment. may be thought of and treated differently than The romantic imperative to have sex within straights. This is the very core of discriminahealthy adult males in a same-sex monogation based on sexual orientation. mous relationship makes this one-year deMy opinion and the opinion ferral unlikely to allow more gay men to give of many other medical groups blood. The same romantic impulse affects is that the FDA should focus on straight monogamous couples, yet they are sexual history and risk factors, not asked to abstain from sex for one year to not gender and sexual orientado their public service by adding to the contion when designing the factors tinually inadequate blood supply. Considering for pre-screening blood donors. this reality, the FDA gave up very little ground Many people question in rein their recent announcement ending the gay buttal: isn’t the FDA comprised blood ban. of health care experts that place If straight monogamous couples are not science over stereotypes? Unforasked to abstain from sex before they give tunately, we are all subject to passions and blood, it begs the question: why are gay men prejudices, and have the power to rationalize in a monogamous relationship being asked to views despite the existence of evidence to the do so? contrary. The likely reason is ingrained stereotypes As an example, let’s examine the December of gay men, which falsely claim that gay men 2, 2014 FDA Blood Products Advisory Panel’s are attracted to all men and can’t control their failure to recommend to the FDA a lifting of desires. Homosexual men are typically only the lifetime gay blood ban, even if replaced by attracted to men who spark their interest or a one-year deferral. This was contrary to a desexual desire. The idea that gay men have some cision of a committee of scientists and healthtype of universal sexual desire for all men is care professionals at the U.S. Department of a myth. This myth is the basis for why some Health and Human Services who looked at the straight men fear working with or sharing same or similar evidence a month earlier and locker rooms with gay men, and promotes the who overwhelmingly voted to lift the ban in very damaging idea that gay men are essenfavor of a one-year deferral. Again, I disagree tially predatory, incapable of containing their with the one-year deferral for MSM. However, own desires. the important point is that scientists at the Another stereotype that the FDA policy proFDA were still fighting colleagues to maintain mulgates is that gay men are by their nature the lifetime ban on MSM from giving blood promiscuous and obsessed with sex. Sexual just a mere three weeks before the FDA anpromiscuity is a human phenomenon that is nounced lifting the lifetime ban in favor of the not uniquely linked with one particular type one-year deferral. Scientists are looking at evi-

dence and some are basing decisions off of science and others are likely being unconsciously manipulated by stereotypes. The scientific data that supported the lifting of the lifetime ban on MSM comes from other countries around the world, who have lifted the lifetime ban for a one-year deferral for many years and found it to have no effect on disease transmission. For example, Australia lifted the ban and completed implementation of its one-year deferral policy for MSM in and around 2000, and a study from 2010 published in the journal Transfusion, found no statistically significant increases in transmission of HIV through transfusions after the deferral went into effect ten years prior. [1] This topic is somewhat personal for me as a gay man. In 2013, while serving as mayor of Campbell, California, I was refused the ability to donate blood at a blood drive that the city sponsored with the Red Cross. I felt the wound that only comes from discrimination. This denial led me to reignite the national debate on whether the FDA rule should be dropped in favor of scientific criteria. Congressman Mike Honda (DSanta Clara) and I held a press conference in support of a change to FDA policy that focused on risky behavior instead of sexual orientation. My change.org petition in favor of lifting the lifetime ban on gay blood donations gained 63,147 signatures. Although a one-year ban on sexual activity for gay men may be tantamount to a lifetime ban, since sex is a powerful biological need, this recommendation is at least incremental progress after 32 years of a lifetime ban. This is cause for some optimism, but there is still a long way to go.t Assemblyman Evan Low represents the 28th District that encompasses the cities of Cupertino, Campbell, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, and portions of San Jose, including the Rose Garden, Willow Glen, Almaden Valley and West San Jose. [1] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/10.1111/j.1537-2995.2010.02793.x/abstrac t;jsessionid=7629C0C15061722BBAE41D8B4 C9A9685.f02t02

Politics>>

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Frameline protesters produce own film festival by Matthew S. Bajko

or years they have stood out front of theaters lambasting what was taking place inside. This year, they’re flipping the script. A coalition of groups upset that Frameline, San Francisco’s international LGBT film festival, accepts funding from the Israeli government has decided to produce its own counterprogramming. Called Outside the Frame: Queers for Palestine Film Festival, the alternative film screening will take place at the Brava Theater during Frameline’s opening weekend Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21. It is intended to be a venue for those filmmakers who have signed on to a worldwide boycott of Israel that asks cultural and academic institutions to sever ties with the Jewish state due to its “genocidal policies” toward Palestinians. They contend the Israeli government’s financial support of organizations like Frameline is a form of “pinkwashing,” using the country’s pro-gay stances to detract attention away from its policies toward the Palestinian territories. The dispute with Frameline has been ongoing since 2007, when the protesters first demanded that the LGBT film festival decline funding from the Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest, who is based in San Francisco. Executives with Frameline have defended the consular sponsorship since it helps pay for Israeli filmmakers to attend screenings of their films at the festival and engage with the audience through Q&A sessions. In 2008 and 2009, when the Israeli Consulate did not sign on as a sponsor, the protesters leafleted during Frameline to inform audience members about the issue of “pinkwashing.” In 2010 the Israeli consulate renewed its support of Frameline, leading to public demonstrations during the festival each year since. More recently the protesters have expanded their demands for Frameline to also sever ties with several local organizations they accuse of helping Israel promote its “pinkwashing” campaign, such as A Wider Bridge and the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, both of which were listed as associate sponsors of the 2014 festival. “If they stop taking money directly from the consulate or taking money from groups that are thinly veiled conduits of Israeli support is now what we are looking for,” said Kate Jessica Raphael, a longtime organizer with the group QUIT, which stands for Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism. Raphael stressed that they do not object to seeing Israeli films be screened at Frameline or having the filmmakers participate. Their focus is solely on the financial support Frameline receives from Israeli sources. “I want to reiterate that we are not trying to interfere with artists’ freedom or tell them what kinds of films to show,” said Raphael. “I guess one of the things they constantly say is they are trying to promote dialogue. We are all for dialogue; we are not trying to cut off cultural connections.” Frameline can choose to partner with other organizations that would be willing to pay for a specific filmmaker’s travel expenses, noted Raphael. “They would not have trouble finding somebody to bring that person,” she said.

Barry Schneider Attorney at Law Jane Philomen Cleland

Kate Jessica Raphael is one of the organizers of this year’s Outside the Frame festival.

Asked if it was partnering this year with the Israeli Consulate, Frameline Executive Director Frances Wallace told the Bay Area Reporter this week that the festival is currently in the process of reviewing its funding policies. “International support and partnerships are important to an organization such as Frameline, that prides itself as a world leader in this field,” wrote Wallace in an emailed reply. “International support allows Frameline to showcase the globe’s best LGBTQ films and present a diverse array of images and story-telling, often provoking meaningful discussion about queer lives outside of the United States.” In terms of the Outside the Frame festival itself, Wallace wrote, “Frameline has always respected the diverse array of queer arts/film events that are at the very core of San Francisco and the Bay Area.” A Wider Bridge founder and Executive Director Arthur Slepian told the B.A.R. in an emailed response that the promoters of Outside the Frame “seem to have a remarkably one-sided and distorted picture of Israel in particular and of the struggles of LGBT people in general” and called the “pinkwashing” accusations “absurd.” “Would [they] prefer to celebrate societies in which people gather to see gay people thrown off of tall buildings to their death, as we witnessed this week in Iraq?” asked Slepian. He added that A Wider Bridge is “proud” to be a Frameline sponsor and applauded its producers “for recognizing Israel’s right to be included in the festival and in the community of nations. Israel’s LGBTQ filmmakers have produced some of the best queer cinema in the world, and their work deserves to be celebrated and seen by as wide an audience as possible.” The idea for producing the Outside the Frame festival was sparked last spring, when the protesters at first had hoped that Frameline would commit to their demands. When it became apparent that would not happen, the genesis of scheduling their own film screening was born. They opted to wait until 2015 to hold it in order to give them time to properly plan a festival people would want to attend in a comfortable theater setting. Along with QUIT three other groups have signed on as lead sponsors: the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network; Mythiliyeen, a queer Arab group based in the Bay Area; and SWANABAQ, which stands for Southwest Asian and North African Bay Area Queers. The organizers estimate they need to raise $10,000 to cover their costs and are seeking public dona-

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Starting February 21, 2015 One of the films that has been submitted to Outside the Frame is the short Bi.das.

tions via the festival’s website at http://outsidetheframefest.org. They also are applying for grants and have already received funding from the Sisters for Perpetual Indulgence and the People’s Life Fund, said Raphael. “We are really keeping it very grassroots-y,” Raphael said. “The vast expense is the space, which is pretty affordable.” They put out a call for film submissions – not only ones focused on the Middle East but also on such topics as queer liberation and anti-capitalism – with a deadline of February 14. A number of filmmakers who are boycotting Frameline have already signaled their support for the Outside the Frame festival and plan to submit their films. Bassam Kassab, 46, executive director of Zarco Films, an independent film production company based in San Jose that has participated in Frameline in the past, is submitting three of his company’s films to Outside the Frame. Kassab, who emigrated from Lebanon and identifies as pansexual, produces Spanish-language movies with queer content. His latest film, Sim Visa, features a Mexican undocumented immigrant with homophobic views who is befriended by a gay couple in the U.S. He is also hoping the festival will screen two short films: Bi.das, which he wrote and features a love triangle between two men and a woman, and Lluvia Fria, about anti-gay bullying written by Alex Perdomo. “I support this festival because I believe in the idea that being progay doesn’t forgive someone for permitting other atrocities against other groups,” said Kassab, who is also a lecturer on water resources at San Jose State University. “This festival is for people who believe in the intersectionality between different issues like social justice and human See page 18 >>

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<< Community News

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

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Singer alleges mistreatment at gay club by David-Elijah Nahmod

longtime gay African American performer alleges he was mistreated when he recently went to a gay club to sing on karaoke night. Oakland resident Blackberri, who uses only one name, has a long history of activism, both in the LGBT and African American communities. The anti-eviction and Black Lives Matter movements and HIV education are among the many causes he’s lent his name to. On January 8, Blackberri, 69, came to San Francisco for an evening of karaoke at Club OMG, 43 6th Street. Blackberri’s friend, Dana Morrigan, hosts a weekly karaoke event at the club, and Blackberri had been looking forward to a pleasant evening of music. He told the Bay Area Reporter that Club OMG management treated him rudely and that he will never return to the club. Blackberri cited his age and his status as an African American man as the reason for what happened that night. “When I entered the club a short Indian man stepped out in front of

Jane Philomen Cleland

Longtime gay activist Blackberri said he was mistreated at a gay club.

me,” Blackberri told the B.A.R. “He asked me ‘where do you think you’re going?’” Blackberri said he felt that the man’s tone was rude and accusatory.

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“I told him I wanted to sing some karaoke and have a few drinks,” Blackberri said. He said that the incident escalated into a back and forth of “fuck yous” between the two men. Blackberri said that he was singled out, that the manager approached no other patron. Morrigan acknowledged that there was an incident between Blackberri and Club OMG co-owner Rakesh Modi. She said that Blackberri had attended a number of her karaoke nights at the club, but that Modi had not been in attendance on those occasions. Blackberri, Morrigan said, was not recognized as a regular customer. “Blackberri came up to me next to my station at the stage in distress,” Morrigan told the B.A.R. “I followed him back to where Modi was standing, and the two disagreed about what words Modi had used when he stopped Blackberri.” Morrigan said that both Blackberri and Modi stepped outside and exchanged more heated words. “I made a feeble attempt to diffuse the situation, and was unsuccessful,” Morrigan said. “Blackberri went off upset and I returned to the bar to get the next karaoke song ready.” Blackberri is convinced that race was the motivation for the incident. “I told him he was being racist and prejudiced against me because I’m black,” Blackberri said. “I did notice as I looked around the bar that evening that the clientele was predominately white.” Modi said that the incident between himself and Blackberri was a misunderstanding. “We acknowledge that Blackberri’s feelings may have been hurt in how the incident unfolded,” Modi said. “But to brand the club as racist or discriminatory is unjust and unfair to everyone involved with the club and what we support.” Modi said that the club’s owners “come from several minority backgrounds and can relate when we feel marginalized.” “Being Indian Americans, brown, and queer men of color, we understand discrimination and would never perpetuate it,” Modi said. Modi said that he’d like to reach out to Blackberri, and that he would be warmly welcomed back to Club OMG. “We honestly feel that warm hugs can resolve this misunderstanding between us,” Modi said. Blackberri isn’t interested. “I said I would never enter again and I mean what I say,” he said in response to Modi’s outreach. “He jumped in the wrong person’s face and I’ll bet he thinks long and hard before he does it again.”t

Community News>>

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

PrEP open house promotes access Center’s CRUSH Project. “Don’t let other people’s words prevent you from keeping yourself healthy – there’s nothing wrong with having sex.” The panel’s experiences illustrate the variability in local doctors’ willingness to provide PrEP. The Bay Area Perinatal AIDS Center has compiled a list of clinicians who are knowledgeable about and willing to prescribe Truvada for PrEP.

2015

JaNuArY 10 – FeBrUaRy 28

Getting PrEP covered

A major focus of the open house was how to access Truvada for PrEP, which costs about $1,000 per month. Medi-Cal and many private insurers cover PrEP and Gilead offers payment assistance programs, but restrictions leave many people falling through the cracks. Bronze level plans available through Covered California (the state’s Affordable Care Act exchange) have lower premiums than silver, gold, or platinum plans but require higher copayments and deductibles for services and prescription drugs, explained Matt Sachs of SFAF’s Magnet health center. Some plans require a several thousand-dollar deductible before coverage kicks in. Many bronze plans will not pay for Truvada for PrEP, but during

Liz Highleyman

PrEP panel members Adam Zeboski, left, Paul Urban, Poppy Rock (not her given name), and Nadji Dawkins discussed the HIV prevention method during a recent open house held by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

by Liz Highleyman

early 100 people gathered at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center in the Castro recently to learn about the latest research on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, and how they can get it. “Every day more San Franciscans are accessing PrEP, but only one in six people who could benefit are getting it,” said Tim Patriarca, director of gay men’s health and wellness at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, which organized the January 11 open house. SFAF’s medical director Dr. Robert Grant of the Gladstone Institutes gave an overview of the latest scientific data on PrEP. Gilead Sciences’ Truvada (tenofovir plus emtricitabine) taken once daily is currently the only PrEP regimen approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but several others are under study. “PrEP works if it’s taken, and there’s some forgiveness for an occasional missed dose,” Grant summarized. “We cannot make any guarantee that someone taking PrEP won’t get infected, but it if happens, it’s rare.” An open-label extension of the international iPrEx trial saw no new infections among gay and bisexual men whose blood drug levels indicated that they took Truvada at least four times per week. While only about one-third of trial participants managed to achieve this level of adherence, San Francisco’s PrEP demonstration project, conducted by City Clinic, found that 92 percent took Truvada at least that often. “We want to get beyond the notion of risky people,” Grant said. “There are risky situations, and people move in and out of risky situations.”

selor at SFAF known for starting the #TruvadaWhore meme, has been using PrEP for about two years, starting in City Clinic’s demonstration project. “I started [PrEP] because I care about my own health and my community,” Zeboski said. “[I experienced] a drastic decrease in fear, anxiety, and stress.” “When there’s something that’s beneficial for your health, why not take it as long as you know the risk?” asked Nadji Dawkins, who receives Truvada through the East Bay AIDS

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PrEP users speak

A panel of PrEP users described their experience using Truvada for prevention under different circumstances. A woman who was identified in the program as Poppy Rock (and who said that is not her given name) said that she took PrEP while trying to conceive a child with her HIVpositive husband. Her primary care doctor refused to provide PrEP and would no longer treat her if she used it. Her mother said she would not be happy about the pregnancy until the woman received a negative HIV test. Despite this lack of support, the woman gave birth to a healthy infant and is now looking toward “PrEP Baby #2.” Paul Urban started taking PrEP because one of his partners is HIVpositive. Unlike the aforementioned woman, Urban’s doctor readily prescribed Truvada and he uses an app to remind him to take it regularly. “I think as long as I’m able to have sex, I’ll be on PrEP,” said Urban. “I prefer the intimacy of not using condoms, and we all know that in the heat of the moment, we don’t use condoms.” Adam Zeboski, an HIV coun-

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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

<< Commentary

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

Out of touch by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

doubt she’d be the one to admit it, but my mother enjoys celebrity gossip. When I was growing up, it was quite common to see her toss a tabloid in the shopping cart, so she could keep up with the latest. A few years after I came out, I was working for an LGBT organization. My mother – who was then only starting to come to terms with the fact that she did not have a son – would query me on various celebrities, trying to find out if they were – as the tabloids claimed – gay or lesbian. I assume she maybe figured that we all have lunch on Thursday afternoon or some such. She asked about Tom Cruise and John Travolta, Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O’Donnell. Some of the ones she asked about I actually had a tidbit or two of info on, but most I had no clue. To be honest, I didn’t much care: the interest in celebrity gossip does not appear to be a genetic illness. One name that came up, all those years ago, was Bruce Jenner. At the time Jenner had supposedly gotten a nose job, I recall, and people started to whisper about it. This was ages before Keeping Up With the Kardashians or, for that matter, the rise of reality television. At that time, Jenner was best known as an Olympic gold medalist and Wheaties box model. I told my mother that I had no clue one way or another, and the subject changed.

Over the last several years, of course, Jenner has been part of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, a reality show focusing on the children of his now-former wife. In the last couple years, Jenner has undergone more plastic surgery, grown his hair out, and taken to earrings and manicures. The tabloids have, not surprisingly, gone nuts. Of course, just like daytime talk shows, trans stories are not uncommon in the tabloids. Like the former, they also tend to focus on the more salacious ones. I still remember some of the stories of transgender people I read in my mom’s old tabloids growing up. As you can gather, they were far more interesting to me than the latest celebrity trysts. The last couple years have been big ones for transgender people, and this includes the celebrity rags. Chaz Bono is still a regular feature in the supermarket lines several years after his transition, and there have been quite a few stories revolving around celebrity children potentially exploring their own gender identities. This week, my spouse and I went to the supermarket, on our weekly stop for provisions. There, on the rack next to the gum and mints was Bruce Jenner, right on the cover of In Touch magazine. Well, mostly Jenner. His head was poorly Photoshopped onto the body of former Dynasty star Stephanie Beecham, and he’s been given a poorly painted-on make-up job. The headline

Christine Smith

claims that this is “Bruce’s Story” of his life as a woman. Much like what I said to my mother back all those years ago, I really don’t know if Jenner is trans. He could be, or he could be just another celebrity on a plastic surgery kick. More than this, I don’t care what he chooses to do with his life. I do care, however, when a tabloid decides to put this sort of story out there. Until this week at the supermarket, the Jenner story was not something I paid a lot of attention to. Celebrities make a living out of being noticed, and Jenner is no different. Furthermore, transgender people have certainly been on plenty of magazines before, including a

groundbreaking appearance on Time magazine last year by Laverne Cox of Orange is the New Black. Jenner’s In Touch photo isn’t like Cox’s Time cover. If anything, it is comical; a hit piece designed to scorn Jenner and – by extension – his ex-wife and family. The overall look of this cover is clownish, a thinly veiled mockery. Whether it fully realized it or not, however, In Touch has painted a broader target than Jenner and the Kardashians. By putting this out, the magazine has put transgender people at risk. I doubt that I was at any risk personally as I spotted this tabloid in the checkout line. I live today in a fairly friendly area, and we’re regu-

lars at the market. I’m sure they’re well aware of my transgender status, and don’t seem to much care one way or another. Perhaps I’m the source of some entertaining breakroom discussion. Others are nowhere near as fortunate. Others are at risk of violence in the home, in their school, at their workplaces, and in their own neighborhoods. This cover only feeds into a culture that – in spite of our advances – still sees transgender people as freaks. That is what they have literally painted Jenner as on that cover. This, too, is what fuels transgender people to self-loathing, to hatred and violence against themselves. When Leelah Alcorn took her life, one of her fears was that – as she was not being allowed to start her transition early – she would always appear masculine. In Touch has opted to display a somewhatmasculine Jenner in bad makeup and someone else’s coat and scarf. What sort of message does this send to the next Leelah Alcorn? Someone else’s mother will pick up this tabloid and think that this really is what transgender people are all about: how will that affect the real transgender people she meets? How many will be harmed?t Gwen Smith will admit to having bought the Weekly World News a time or three. You’ll find her on twitter at @gwenners

S. Bay Pride holds brunch, drag event compiled by Cynthia Laird

ilicon Valley Pride will hold a brunch and drag show Sunday, January 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mosaic Restaurant, 211 S. 1st Street in San Jose. Organizers said that a delicious brunch will be served at their new venue, which will include a “fierce” drag show featuring South Bay drag queens. The featured DJ will be VJ John Miranda and there will be prizes and giveaways. Photographer Lawrence McCrorey will be on hand.

AEF/BCEF

From page 1

draising, and individual and corporate donations. More than a decade later, in 2001, AEF board members and others formed the affiliated BCEF – with its own separate funding stream – to provide financial aid to those with breast cancer. That organization, now an independent nonprofit, currently serves 400 women and families in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties, Smith said. Smith, a gay man, came to AEF after the board determined that it needed professional leadership amid the changing – and challenging – financial picture facing HIV/AIDS nonprofits. At the time AEF was losing $500,000 a year and at risk of closure. In his first 15 months, Smith returned the agency to a balanced budget, with no major impact on clients. “I reduced non-client expenses and non-client personnel services,” Smith said in a phone interview. He also was able to get AEF’s offices out of an expensive lease and move to a more affordable space. After Smith’s arrival, in 2003-04, AEF did institute a lifetime cap for clients and there were some changes to client eligibility rules so that it

The cost is $20 for brunch and $10 for bottomless mimosas.

Trans project seeks funding requests

The Trans Justice Funding Project has released a request for proposals from grassroots trans-led groups, including organizations without nonprofit 501(c)3 status and those with or without fiscal sponsors. The project’s guidelines state that funding – grants are between $1,000 and $5,000 each – is for groups, projects, and organizations

could continue providing assistance to those in greatest need. “AEF was on the edge when I arrived,” Smith said. Asked his biggest accomplishment, Smith added, “The stabilization – it’s set up for a long solid run.” Part of that came from Smith revitalizing AEF’s fundraising, including more individual donors and building relationships with corporate leaders. “That’s something I took on,” he said. AEF has long been one of the most efficient AIDS agencies, with the bulk of dollars going to client services. Currently, Smith said client services represents between 78 and 82 percent of the budget, slightly lower than decades ago, but accounting for increased costs. He is also proud to see BCEF, which was a one-year-old program when he arrived, expand. “Seeing BCEF grow into a $1 million agency has been a real joy,” Smith said.

Board leaders react

Leaders of the AEF and BCEF boards both told the B.A.R. that Smith will be missed, but that a transition plan has been implemented and they expect the leadership change to be a smooth one.

with a budget of $250,000 or less that are located in the U.S. Groups can be established or just getting started. The project does not fund individuals. Additionally, organizations seeking funding must be run by and be for trans communities; support and encourage trans leadership; and guided by a commitment to trans justice and anti-oppression work. The project said that it plans to distribute between $50,000 and $150,000. The deadline to apply is midnight (Eastern time) Sunday, February 15. For more information and to apply, visit www.transjusticefundingproject.org/apply.t Scott Williams, AEF board chair, said in a phone interview that Smith, who he’s known in other capacities for years, was a great leader. Smith, Williams said, advocated “for the needs of AEF and out clients, the most needy people living with AIDS in San Francisco.” “And there’s a long-term commitment to social justice,” Williams added. “I think our organization really stands for that. He’s also done wonderful things for PWAs in the city through the provider’s network.” Williams, an HIV-positive gay man, said that he met Smith years ago when Smith led the Names Foundation, which he started with Cleve Jones following the 1987 March on Washington. They oversaw the last full display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in 1996. Williams came to the AEF board following the agency’s 30th anniversary in 2012, where he was involved in the yearlong fundraising campaign. Heather Vucetin, BCEF board co-chair, wrote in an email to the B.A.R. that it was under Smith’s leadership that the agency saw tremendous growth and was able to expand its service area. See page 17 >>

National News>>

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

Supreme Court agrees to hear same-sex marriage cases analysis by Lisa Keen

here is at least one small nagging question looming over the happy news that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the appeals of samesex couples challenging laws in four states that refuse to license or recognize their marriages. Most legal observers are saying these four cases – from Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky – will be the means by which the Supreme Court will strike down such laws in 22 states. (Thirteen states are still enforcing their bans and nine are still in court defending their bans.) In making its announcement Friday, January 16, the Supreme Court spelled out two questions for attorneys to argue. Question 1 is the big one: Does the 14th Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex? “A yes to the first question is [the] whole ball game. We very much want that,” said Al Gerhardstein, lead counsel for same-sex couples in the case from Ohio, Obergefell v. Hodges (along with a companion case Henry v. Hodges). Question 2 is the nagging one: Does the 14th Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state? The second question presupposes the possibility of a no answer on the first question. Thus the stage is set once again for a dramatic “Most Important LGBT Case Ever Before the U.S. Supreme Court.” A yes answer on Question 1 would

enable same-sex couples to tions of any kind for the LGBT obtain marriage licenses in any population – in employment, of the 50 states. Currently, they housing, anything,” said Nescan marry in 36, plus portions sel. “We would love to see of Missouri and Washington, something that could be apD.C. A yes answer would also plied to other areas.” bolster the likelihood that So the best case scenario LGBT people could rely on exin the appeals from the 6th isting laws for equal protection U.S. Circuit Court of Apand due process arguments in peals would be akin to that other arenas, including emin Loving v. Virginia, the ployment, public accommo1967 decision that struck dations, and adoption. down state bans on interThe cases challenging the racial marriages. That 1967 Defense of Marriage Act decision said that state laws and California’s Proposibanning marriage between tion 8 carried that dramatic persons solely on the basis of mantle in 2013. The deciracial classifications violated sions in those cases struck April Deboer, left, and Jayne Rowse are two of the 14th Amendment’s guardown a key provision of a the plaintiffs in the Michigan same-sex marriage antees of equal protection federal law that prohibited case that’s headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. and due process. With the same-sex couples with mar6th Circuit marriage appeals, riage licenses from receiving the best language would find by any rational reason, the impact federal benefits, and allowed that laws banning marriage might be limited. But if the court same-sex couples in California on the basis of sexual orientation says that laws, such as these, that to marry. But they also signaled violate the Constitution. disfavor LGBT people fail to idento lower courts that the Supreme But even a yes to Question 2 tify a compelling reason to do so – a Court could no longer be counted alone would “at least provide some much tougher hurdle to clear – “the on to tolerate the sort of contortions relief,” said Gerhardstein. decision could have very broad immost courts used to go through to That’s why attorneys for same-sex pact and apply to all other areas” of find a “gay exception” to every rule. couples in three of the four cases on discrimination. “A lot would depend on the wordappeal (all but Kentucky) posed the Nessel noted that, in Michigan ing of the decision, but conceivably question themselves, along with the and other states, some adoption a yes answer on the first question question of whether the states could agencies are attempting to refuse to could provide an important basis refuse to issue licenses. place children with same-sex couples for challenging any other law that The 6th Circuit, in November, beand some bakeries refuse to provide discriminates on the basis of sexual came the first federal appeals court services for same-sex couple’s wedorientation,” said Richard Socarito answer no to both questions. dings, often citing religious objecdes, a longtime LGBT activist who LGBT legal groups have been tions. And the state Legislature, she writes on legal and political issues working with private attorneys on said, is expected to pass laws in the for the New Yorker magazine. the four cases to make the appeals: coming session to enable businesses Dana Nessel, one of the key atLambda Legal Defense and Educato use religious claims to discrimitorneys for the same-sex couple in tion Fund and the American Civil nate against LGBT people. the Michigan case, agreed. If the Liberties Union are working in “In Michigan, there are no proteccourt says the bans are not justified Ohio in Obergefell v. Hodges; the

National Center for Lesbian Rights is working with lesbian attorney Abby Rubenfeld and others in Tennessee in Tanco v. Haslam; Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders is working in Michigan on DeBoer v. Snyder; and the ACLU is involved in Kentucky in Bourke v. Beshear. The LGBT groups and their allies must file argument briefs by February 27. State officials must file their briefs by March 27. Then attorneys for the same-sex couples can file one last reply brief by April 17. That suggests the oral arguments – which have been allotted a total of two and a half hours – will probably be held on April 27, 28, or 29, the last days calendared for oral arguments in the 2014-15 session. “The court may give additional direction to the parties in the cases regarding structuring oral argument on each of the questions,” said Susan Sommer, Lambda Legal’s director of constitutional litigation. “There also may be some variations in the facts and legal issues presented in the different cases that will be taken into account as well in planning for oral argument.” But the LGBT groups and attorneys working on the cases have been “working together, very effectively, for decades toward our shared goal to win equality,” she said. “And I’m confident we will continue to work together effectively in this home stretch.”t

Produce company faces anti-gay complaints

Jane Philomen Cleland

Jose Parra, an employee at Taylor Farms Pacific, handed out fliers at the Market Street Safeway last month as he and members of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club sought to make shoppers aware of alleged anti-gay actions by some employees at the Tracy-based company.

by Seth Hemmelgarn

ocal LGBTs are criticizing East Bay produce company Taylor Farms Pacific after a gay employee filed a complaint of harassment with the state based on sexual orientation and other factors. The gay worker who filed the complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing alleges he was subjected to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The Tracy-based company hasn’t responded to interview requests. The most recent allegation occurred September 15, the man, who wasn’t available for an interview and didn’t give permission to use his name, said in his complaint. From late 2013 through May 13, he said, his co-worker Aida Ortiz sexually harassed him physically and verbally. Among other claims, he says Ortiz grabbed his genitals, rubbed her breasts against him, and touched her “private parts” against his leg. She also told him “that when she bathed, she would think of me and

touch her private parts,” the man complains. When he protested Ortiz’s behavior, she laughed and asked him why he didn’t like women. He reported the problems to his employer but said “to my knowledge,” his employer did nothing. Instead, he says, in June a supervisor told him that his co-worker’s conduct had been found “not to be harassment” and “acceptable,” and the supervisor said there hadn’t been witnesses. Ortiz, who’s listed as a co-respondent in the complaint, couldn’t be reached for comment. The man says that he’s been subject to retaliation since filing his complaint, including two suspensions. Kim Keller, deputy director at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said complaints from two other gay men are expected to be filed soon. San Francisco’s progressive Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club staged a picket outside the Safeway at Church and Market streets in December, calling on the supermarket to demand Taylor Farms “stop the abuse.”

In a Facebook post, the club said Safeway gets its salads from Taylor Farms. The Bay Area Reporter wasn’t able to find the company’s products at the store. Tom Temprano, who at the time was the Milk club’s co-president, said according to Taylor Farms, its products are often relabeled as Safeway’s house brand. Temprano said Taylor Farms employees are “basically in our own back yard.” Learning that “the folks that are working each day to prepare the foods we eat were subjected to such horrible instances of homophobic harassment was really troubling,” Temprano said. He noted the allegation that management had done “nothing,” and said the club’s also concerned because many of the workers are undocumented immigrants. “It struck a chord with membership, and we felt like we had to do something to stand up for these workers,” Temprano said. He said, “Safeway is actually a great employer of LGBT people,” but he wants customers, “especially LGBT shoppers,” to talk to the Safeway’s management and tell them “this is unacceptable.” He said workers should have a safe environment and hopefully “Safeway will apply pressure to make that happen.” Safeway officials didn’t respond to emailed questions. According to Department of Fair Employment and Housing spokeswoman Fahizah Alim, the man’s complaint is “currently pending mediation.” Quality Farm Labor appears to be the primary respondent in the man’s complaint. Linda De Santiago, Quality Farm Labor’s president, said, “We are just a payroll service” for SlingShot Connections, which is listed as a co-respondent. “We don’t have any contact with the employees,” and her company doesn’t do any of the hiring or firing, she said. SlingShot didn’t

respond to requests for comment. In response to emailed questions, Dalisai S. Nisperos, the attorney representing the gay man, as well as two women who’ve also filed complaints of sexual harassment and retaliation against Taylor Farms, said the Department of Fair Employment and Housing hasn’t concluded its investigations. The company “now has the opportunity to respond” to the claims, Nisperos said. Citing attorney client confidentiality, she wouldn’t discuss whether her clients would file lawsuits.t

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<< Sports

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

A fun place to play… The rich get stinkingly richer a fab place to stay!

by Roger Brigham

will have 50 percent of the world’s wealth. With such an alarming pross business leaders from across pect for global economic inequality, the globe to meet this place to prepared play… one wonders what Oxfam would week at the World Economic Forum of the recently concluded a fab toplace toways stay!make in Switzerland talk about National Collegiate Athletic Assoto squeeze the last few nickels and ciation convention, where the rich dimes out of the rest of the popushowed signs of getting ever richer lace, the poverty watchdog group and more powerful and the rest of A funInternational place to Oxfam wasplay… issuing a us are watching from the sidelines. report warning that within a year, I always wondered what would a fab place to stay! 1 percent of the world’s population happen if the massive amount of

money that flows through college football bowl games were ever centralized, and it has taken only one A fun year of a national championship four-team playoff system for us to get a clue. The most discussed headline to come out of the national convention was a decision to allow the NCAA’s five most powerful Division I conferences to offer bigger scholarships in all sports. Where’s the cash for the “full cost of attendance” scholarships going to come from? Why, the 12-year, $7.3 billion Make the football playoff contract the leagues signed with ESPN. But the more impactful developyour home ment is likely going to be the legRachel islative independence the Power 5 sweetSwann home! REALTOR®,Top Producer conferences voted for themselves, esTop 10% Citywide sentially giving themselves the power 415.225.7743 to make their own rules, which other rachel@theswanngroupsf.com Rachel Swann BRE License # 01860456 schools can either adopt or not. REALTOR®,Top Producer TheSwannGroupSF.com Only Boston College voted Top 10% Citywide 415.225.7743 against both motions, and later israchel@theswanngroupsf.com sued a statement explaining its Rachel Swann BRE License # 01860456 Rachel Swann REALTOR®,Top Producer TheSwannGroupSF.com concerns. REALTOR®,Top Producer Top 10% Citywide Top 10% Citywide “Boston College is 415.225.7743 415.225.7743 concerned with continurachel@theswanngroupsf.com rachel@theswanngroupsf.com BRE License # 01860456 ing to pass legislation BRE License # 01860456 TheSwannGroupSF.com TheSwannGroupSF.com that increases expenses when the vast majority of schools are already inREV 2014 Rachel Castro Festival Guide ad.indd 1 9/14/14 5:12 PM stitutionally subsidized,” the statement said. “The 14 Rachel Castro Festival Guide ad.indd 1 9/14/14 5:12 PM consequence of such legislation could ultimately hurt student-athletes if/when programs are cut. This legislation further segregates student-athletes from REV 2014 Rachel Castro Festival Guide ad.indd 1 9/14/14 5:12 PM the general student population by increasing aid without need-based consideration. Legislation already exists for student-athletes in need through Pell grants and the student-assistance fund. We have concerns that the fedRachel Swann eral financial aid formula is sufficiently REALTOR®,Top Producer ambiguous that adjustments for reTop 10% Citywide cruiting advantage will take place.” 415.225.7743 Translation: the Power 5 is paying rachel@theswanngroupsf.com less lip service to its alleged mission BRE License # 01860456 – educating student athletes – and TheSwannGroupSF.com throwing itself into its real mission: WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS making big bucks in television revstevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com enues by producing showcase events for the nation’s gamblers and football junkies. There will be some trickle down money for a handful of scholarships for female athletes in a few big sports, but overall look for a lessening of diversity of sports offerings in non-revenue producing sports REV 2014 Rachel Castro Festival Guide ad.indd 1 9/14/14 5:12 PM and more and more emphasis turning college football into pro football.

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The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrated after winning college football’s national championship game January 12.

Oh, and just to show that it isn’t overly concerned about morality and human values, the NCAA caved on its handling of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, settling a lawsuit filed by several state officials that challenged the sanctions the NCAA took against the university after charges were filed against former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky for multiple instances of rape and sexual abuse of young boys on the school campus. One of the sanctions the NCAA agreed to drop last week was the vacating of 111 wins by the Nittany Lions under former head coach Joe Paterno. With the wins restored to the disgraced coach’s record, Paterno, who died in 2012, is now credited with more major college football wins than any other coach, surpassing the iconic Eddie Robinson. Not all were ready to embrace the NCAA’s lack of backbone. “The winningest coach in college football history is once again a man who turned a blind eye to little boys being raped,” wrote Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi. “We’ve cheated the system, bullied our way back into the record books,” wrote Roxanne Jones, a former vice president at ESPN and a Penn State alum. “And we’ve told the world once again that in Happy Valley winning is more important than anything. All those boys who were raped? Well, that’s not our problem. What’s important is making sure coach Paterno’s 409-136-3 [record] is restored.” ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann chimed in by saying, “It is hard to believe that the NCAA and the school could take the most nauseat-

ing, the most horrifying, the most indefensible institutionalization of corruption in American sports – the Jerry Sandusky scandal – and make it worse, but today they just did.”

Gay soccer championship set for Wisconsin

The 2015 International Gay and Lesbian Football Association North American Championship will be held August 9-15 at Reddan Soccer Park in Verona, Wisconsin. The tournament will be hosted by the Madison Area Sports Commission and the Madison Area Youth Soccer Association. “IGLFA is extremely pleased to have the 2015 IGLFA North American Championship II hosted by one of the most progressive cities in the USA, Madison, Wisconsin,” said association Co-President Kimberly Hadley. “It’s also exciting to know that Madison is one of the Top 10 sporting cities in the country, so we should see a great local participation as well. We are very excited to have the tournament hosted at a top quality venue and by experienced hosts who are working closely with our organization to put on a very enjoyable experience.” Event information is available at www.iglfa.org.

Gay rodeo documentary to be shown

The documentary Queens and Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo is set to be shown at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 28, at Century San Francisco Centre Theatre. The documentary follows five members of the International Gay Rodeo Association through one season heading up to the world championships. Tickets are $13 and are available at www.tugg.com/events/12761.t

Wedding announcements compiled by Cynthia Laird

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Jose Troncoso and Carl Schreier

Dr. Jose Troncoso and Carl Schreier were married at their home on 17th Street in the Castro on October 4, 2014, after meeting 14 years ago and waiting for marriage equality and civil rights dust to settle. Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra principal harpist, Rachel Van Voorhees-Kirschman, officiated. The garden marriage was followed by a

six-course dinner in their city home for close family and friends on a warm fall evening. Dr. Troncoso, 55, is a medical doctor for Kaiser-Permanente in Alameda and Oakland and was born in Argentina. Mr. Schreier, 58, is writer and publisher for Homestead Publishing. They met at a massage workshop in Oakland in 2000. Both Dr. Troncoso and Mr. Schreier split their time between San Francisco and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Mr. Schreier grew up.t

Arsons reported in Castro by Seth Hemmelgarn

rson investigators in San Francisco are examining three fires that occurred near each other in the Castro district early Monday morning, January 19. Police responded to a vehicle fire at about 4:13 a.m. in the area of 19th and Castro streets, according to Officer Grace Gatpandan, a police spokeswoman. The fire department extinguished the flames, Gatpandan said, and arson investigators who

responded prior to the officers took over the investigation. Then, at 4:50 a.m., “officers responded to a vehicle and a house on fire” at 18th and Hartford streets, she said in a summary. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the two fires were “across the street from each other.” “Fire crews squelched the more serious fire that burned the facade of a home, scorched the front door and caused an estimated $20,000 in damage,” according to officials,

the Chronicle reported. “Across the street, firefighters quickly contained the other fire, which burned outside a home.” Gatpandan didn’t have information on suspects. A 60-year-old man was listed as the victim in the fires at 18th and Hartford, but no one was injured. In an email, Gatpandan said Monday’s fires appear to be unrelated to several suspected vehicle arsons that occurred in the neighborhood in November and December last year.t

t <<

Community News>>

CA Hall of Fame

From page 1

former wife, Maria Shriver, the Hall of Fame honors residents of the state who have made lasting contributions to society. Honorees receive the Spirit of California medal, and their accomplishments become part of the permanent record in the California State Archives. The list of 90-plus individuals selected to date includes two lesbians and one gay man, as well as a female inductee who has had same-sex relationships but does not identify as lesbian or bisexual. During his time in office since 2011, Governor Jerry Brown has not included any LGBT people among the three classes of inductees he has chosen for the hall. There was no induction ceremony in 2012 due to the Brown administration moving the induction ceremony from December to October. “The governor has long valued the contributions of the LGBT community in California and public nominees will certainly continue to be considered,” Brown spokesman Evan Westrup told the B.A.R. in an emailed response to questions. LGBT advocates are hopeful that Brown will include Sarria among this year’s group of honorees. They have recruited lesbian Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) to serve as honorary campaign chair of the effort.

AEF/BCEF

From page 14

“Mike has presided over the expansion of BCEF’s services into San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and has attracted major corporate funders like Genentech, Oracle, and Safeway to fund this expansion,” Vucetin said. She noted the development and growth of This Old Bag, BCEF’s signature fundraising event that now raises $300,000 annually, and said Smith helped the agency “attract some of the Bay Area’s most influential women who are powerfully motivated to have a meaningful impact on our community as donors to the cause.” Vucetin, a straight ally, is the senior director of development for Stanford University’s Medical Cen-

Homeless

From page 1

It creates an opening that could be well used by the outreach team to talk with people about their options and provide support.” The next step, he said, would be quarterly reviews of medical examiner’s data involving homeless deaths and looking for trends, or areas that may need improvement. For example, Dodge said, if there had been three homeless deaths in the review period, and those people had bracelets from the emergency room indicating they had recently been discharged from the hospital, “we could convene a case study on these three.” Emergency room workers and others could be brought together to ask “how did this happen?” and “see if maybe there’s something we can improve on that point,” he said. In the case of a single death like Anastasia’s, a review could include looking at “what happened? How many times was she reached by outreach workers? What were the offers that were being made?” Dodge said. He said the third part of the committee’s work would involve a report on homeless deaths that the health department is working on. Information collected from the medical examiner’s office could be added to the health department’s data, which may include information on people who died in the hospital. “I’m looking to start the first two processes this month,” Dodge said. “So far the medical examiner’s been very encouraging,” as has the home-

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

“He was the first out gay candidate for public office, paving the way for so many of us over the years. He helped end raids of establishments that catered to LGBT people and helped move our community toward equal treatment under the law, and he founded the International Imperial Court System, which has raised millions of dollars for charity,” Atkins said in a statement to the Bay Area Reporter. “And besides, even with Barbra Streisand, Elizabeth Taylor, and Danielle Steele as inductees, the California Hall of Fame could always find room for a little more elegance.” Sarria, who died in 2013 at the age of 90, made history in 1961 with his unsuccessful bid for a San Francisco Board of Supervisors seat. It marked the first time an out gay person had sought elected office in the U.S. A San Francisco native, Sarria was discharged from the U.S. Army in 1945. Beginning in the 1950s, he rose to prominence with his cabaret shows at the Black Cat Cafe, a now defunct gay bar in the city’s North Beach neighborhood. He would beseech the audience members to come out of the closet, telling them that “united we stand, divided they catch us one by one.” In 1965 Sarria created what became known as the Imperial Court System by crowning himself “Her Royal Majesty, Empress of San Francisco, Jose I, The Widow

Norton.” The title was in homage to Joshua Norton, an eccentric city resident who in 1859 declared himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico. The court system grew into a major fundraising mechanism for a wide variety of causes, from LGBT issues to caring for people living with HIV and AIDS. It now has chapters in 70 cities across the country as well as in Canada and Mexico. As the International Imperial Court System – and the Imperial Council of San Francisco – celebrates its golden anniversary this year, its members decided it would be a fitting tribute for Sarria to be among the 2015 inductees into the California Hall of Fame. “It is not only a salute to the gay community, but choosing him is a salute to the Latino community and a salute to World War II veterans,” said San Diego resident Nicole Murray Ramirez, who was elected an empress of the Imperial Court in 1973 and currently holds the title of Queen Mother 1 of the Americas, Canada, United States, and Mexico. Ramirez, who is serving as chair of the state campaign to induct Sarria, said doing so “shows we come in so many colors and backgrounds and just ... Jose was fabulous.” Gay former San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who led the effort to name a portion of a street in the city’s gay Castro district

after Sarria, the first gay man to be honored in such a way, said having a “heroic individual” like Sarria inducted into the Hall of Fame would be a fitting honor. “I think it is awesome. Anyone who has heard Jose’s story ... you just smile,” said Dufty, now an adviser on homeless issues to Mayor Ed Lee. Sarria would be the second gay leader from San Francisco in the Hall of Fame. In 2009 Schwarzenegger and Shriver chose the late gay Supervisor Harvey Milk as a member of the fourth class to be inducted. They had selected tennis great Billie Jean King, an out lesbian, to be among the first class picked nine years ago. The biographies for both King and Milk posted on the California Museum’s website mention their ties to the LGBT community. Also among the inaugural group was astronaut Sally Ride, but her online bio does not mention that she came out as a lesbian upon her death in 2012. The bio for another member of the first class, author Alice Walker, does not disclose that her lovers have included singer Tracy Chapman. The 2015 induction ceremony has yet to be scheduled but should be held in October. An announcement of this year’s honorees is expected sometime during the summer. Brown and his wife, Anne Gust

Brown, decide on whom to include each year from a list of candidates that have been vetted by the California Museum’s board of trustees to ensure they meet the criteria to be included in the Hall of Fame. “Submissions meeting the required criteria are added to an ongoing master list from which the governor and first lady make their final selections each year,” Westrup noted in his emailed reply. The museum invites the public to submit inductee suggestions via its website. Brenna Hamilton, the museum’s communications and marketing director, said the list of eligible candidates now numbers more than 500 people. “We like to include the public’s voice; that is why we ask people to help us,” said Hamilton. “But we don’t get to make the decision; we just work with the governor and his wife, who are the ones who decide.” Hamilton told the B.A.R. this week that she was unsure if the museum has received submissions on behalf of Sarria. She recommended that supporters of seeing him be inducted use the online nomination form found at http://www.californiamuseum.org/nomination-form. The statewide campaign pushing for Sarria’s induction asks that people who submit letters of support notify it they have done so by emailing Coco LaChine, the director of the campaign, at cocolachine7@gmail.com.t

ter Development office. She lives in Noe Valley and has been chair of the BCEF board from the time the two boards separated in 2012. (She is currently co-chair because she recently gave birth to twin boys and the board’s vice president, Karen Edwards, stepped into a co-leadership position, she explained.) Vucetin also praised Smith for his personnel acumen. “The other thing I would say about Mike, related to both agencies, is that he has taken as great care of our staff as our staff takes of our clients,” she said. “Our staff is quite small, but mighty. Some of them have been with us for a long time, and Mike has helped grow their talents over the years. I credit Mike with ensuring that from a staff perspective, we will have continued

stability and primary focus on our clients long after his departure.”

2006, which has since helped more than 1,000 low-income San Franciscans disabled by HIV/AIDS stay in their homes or move into permanent, subsidized housing. On the fundraising front, Smith secured AEF’s first-ever $1 million gift as part of the agency’s 30th anniversary year. That came from the estate of Thomas Boss, Smith said.

with us, so obviously he was a top choice,” Williams said. According to his website, Miller has placed top officials for many organizations, including Academy of Friends, AIDS Project Los Angeles, GLAAD, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties. In a brief phone interview, Miller said that the search process hasn’t started yet and his first step would be attending the board retreat that both agencies will have this weekend. “It will be a listening tour,” Miller said. “There’s been a lot of change in the HIV/AIDS fundraising arena.” Miller added that he will look to recruit candidates based on what he hears from the two boards.t

less outreach team medical director. Dr. Barry Zevin, the medical director, referred an interview request to health department spokeswoman Rachael Kagan, who declined to comment since the panel is still “being explored.” Dodge has sat on a homeless death review committee in New York, and he said he’s also seen such panels work in Philadelphia. “I have every reason to believe we can make it work here,” Dodge said. Dufty acknowledged that some of the reasons Anastasia may have declined help, and that people who have received assistance in the city have sometimes had bad experiences. “Certainly there are ways in which services to homeless and mentally ill people don’t always meet their needs,” he said. Dufty said he didn’t know what services Anastasia had refused, but “putting her in a traditional shelter was probably not going to work.” Many who knew Anastasia indicated she might have been mentally ill, saying that she often talked to herself unintelligibly. Dufty said San Francisco previously had a committee several years ago, but the “medical examiner’s office has had some peaks and valleys over the years, and this protocol was discarded.” Dufty’s comment was an apparent reference to leadership problems at the agency. A call to the medical examiner’s office about the committee being formed wasn’t returned.

people to see Anastasia alive, said he put a blanket that he’d brought over her at about 8:30 p.m. December 30 as she lay on the bench in front of Peet’s. “She was freezing,” said Lawlor, who had frequently seen her around the neighborhood. “She was totally cold, and a little out of it.” However, he said, when he asked her if she was warm enough, she said, “Yes.” He added, “She seemed like she could mange. ... She didn’t seem like she was on death’s doorstep.” Lawlor, who’s director of community health and clinics at St. Mary’s Medical Center in the Haight district, which sees many people who

‘She was freezing’

Barry Lawlor, 51, one of the last

Housing is key

Smith talked about San Francisco’s current affordable housing crisis and said it deeply affects AEF and BCEF clients. He said that 85 percent of money for AEF clients goes to pay rent. “It’s always been like that,” Smith explained, partly because rent is generally the single largest cost and partly because it’s easier for AEF to cut one larger check than several smaller ones. “It’s clear the city has become unlivable,” Smith said. “We really need new ideas around housing.” One of the things Smith did was create AEF’s Housing Stabilization and Eviction Prevention program in

Leadership search

Williams and Smith said that the AEF and BCEF boards have contracted with Scott Miller Executive Search to find a new executive director. Miller used to work for Korn Ferry before starting his own firm, and has filled numerous executive positions in various LGBT and HIV/ AIDS organizations, Williams said. “And he placed Mike Smith

are uninsured, said the homeless death review committee “would be really helpful.” “We want to be a part of the solution,” he said, and “to make sure no one, homeless or not, is ever disconnected from care.” Many who knew Anastasia use feminine pronouns when referring to her and have indicated she was likely transgender, although it’s not clear if that’s how she self-identified. A staffer at the medical examiner’s office, who referred to Anastasia as “she,” said that the name his agency has for her is Theodore Walton. He said she was 50 years old and had “no fixed residence.”

City seeking volunteers for homeless count

In another homeless initiative, the city is seeking volunteers to help with this year’s count of homeless people, which requires people to walk or drive for one or two assigned routes in pairs or groups of three. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the census for providing funding. The Point-in-Time Homeless Street Count takes place January 29 from 8 p.m. to midnight. Volunteers are most needed in the Sunset and downtown locations. Anyone over 18 is welcome. To register, go to https://www.surveymonkey. com/s/2015SFCount.t

Homeless shelter funds secured M

oney that will be used to complete a homeless shelter welcoming to LGBTs in San Francisco has been secured, officials connected with the project said last week. Bevan Dufty, a gay man who serves as director of Housing Opportunity, Partnerships and Engagement for Mayor Ed Lee, said he was part of a recent meeting with Lee and gay Supervisor David Campos where the mayor “committed to work with his budget staff to close the gap. It is going to take $715,000 to complete the project.” Dufty, who said the money is already at the Human Services Agency, said construction’s been underway since December. “It looks to me as though we should be able to complete it by summer,” he said. He estimated the total cost of the project would be $1.2 million. The space will include 24 beds at 1050 South Van Ness Avenue, where Dolores Street Community Services already runs a shelter.

Advocates and elected officials have been pushing for the space since a March 2010 Board of Supervisors hearing in which several LGBTs told of harassment they had experienced at the city’s shelters. In an interview last week, Campos said, “I think no one expected that this would take as long as it’s taken.” Among other problems, he cited the city’s permitting process and the increased cost of construction during the local “construction boom.” “It’s a big relief that we finally have found the funding to make it happen,” Campos said. “I think it’s very exciting. We are very proud we have been able to work together with the mayor’s office to make this happen.” He said a recently announced shelter project at 16th and Mission streets will include “temporary opportunities for housing for LGBT homeless people.t

– Seth Hemmelgarn

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

City College

From page 4

long learning, adult GED programs, and citizenship preparation. The altered mission statement focuses much more pointedly on students attaining two-year degrees and then moving on to four-year institutions. Restoration status has also been called a “trap” – for example, by Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez in the San Francisco Bay Guardian – because it bars the college from the right to appeal any accreditation termination after the two-year “restoration” period.

PrEP

From page 9

Covered California’s open enrollment period – which runs through February 15 – people have an opportunity to select a new plan that provides better coverage. SFAF, Project Inform, and other agencies have put together a guide to help state residents find plans that include coverage for HIV and hepatitis C treatment or PrEP (http://www.projectinform.org/ pdf/CCguide.pdf). An accompanying formulary guide (http://www. projectinform.org/pdf/CCformularies.pdf) details the availability of specific drugs. Ruben Gamundi, Gilead’s associate director of community medical

Panel

From page 5

“City Hall and the mayor and everybody else essentially subordinates themselves to the police union. That needs to be discussed. That’s true for our department, too,” Mirkarimi told the Bay Area Reporter. Panelist Thea Matthews, president of the Black Student Union at City College of San Francisco,

Protesters

From page 2

ing “Black lives matter.” The slogan has become popular nationwide, especially in light of the fatal deaths of two unarmed black men last year at the hands of white police in Ferguson, Missouri and Staten Island, New York. Grand juries in each of those cases failed to indict the officers, sparking the protests against police brutality. Protests were held throughout the weekend, leading up to Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 19, the national holiday that honors the black civil rights icon. The Castro action included Native Americans who “set up some sort of ritual” that appeared to include burning sage or a similar plant, Boyer said. She said she saw a couple of brief physical conflicts that involved two white men who separately pushed people. One of them also was “accosting people verbally,” she said. She couldn’t hear what he said. Boyer, 50, who’s white and trans-

Political Notebook

From page 7

rights, including LGBT rights.” Seattle resident Dean Spade, 37, is submitting his documentary, Pinkwashing Exposed: Seattle Fights Back, which looks at the protests of the 2012 Rainbow Generations Tour organized by LGBT Israeli groups, including A Wider Bridge. “I think it is great,” Spade, who is queer and transgender, said of Outside the Frame. “For a long time I have followed their work protesting the Frameline festival. I think this is a great opportunity to also feature films that are not going to be submitted to that festival because people are boycotting that festival.” Eric Stanley, a queer filmmaker in

“It is a ticking time bomb for CCSF, not a real solution to the problems the ACCJC has created for us and our thousands of students,” Tim Killikelly said in a statement about the restoration status decision January 15. Killikelly is president of American Federation of Teachers Local 2121, the union that represents CCSF faculty. In Karnow’s ruling as currently written, CCSF has a choice: opt in to the restoration process, or submit to an alternative reconsideration process defined by the court. And after a meeting of the Board of Governors of the California

Community Colleges on January 20, yet another development could benefit City College. The board voted to remove language in the California Code of Regulations that names the ACCJC as the sole accrediting body eligible to assess California community colleges. Now, another accrediting body could potentially be recognized for the job ACCJC currently monopolizes. It remains unclear what path CCSF will take in its fight to stay open and serve more than 64,000 students in San Francisco.t

affairs, explained that the company has a patient assistance program for people who are uninsured, as well as a copay card that covers up to $300 per month. The card is available to anyone and can be obtained at many doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and AIDS organizations. Despite the ACA, many people remain uninsured or underinsured. Some insurance companies have classified Truvada for PrEP as a specialty drug and some require pre-authorization. Also, a federal law prohibits drug companies from offering assistance to people who receive federal benefits like Medicaid or Medicare. “The city knows this is an issue, and when it funds a PrEP program it is likely to first come up with as-

sistance for people without coverage or who fall through the gaps,” said Robert Blue of City Clinic. Blue and Sachs were recently hired as “navigators” under the city’s new program to expand access to PrEP. Initiated by gay Supervisor David Campos and passed by the Board of Supervisors in October, the program received approximately $300,000 for counselors to help people obtain Truvada through existing channels. Advocates are urging the city to also allocate funding for a PrEP drug assistance program to pay for Truvada for people who cannot get other coverage. Washington state started the first “PrEP DAP” and a similar effort is underway in New York.t

encouraged police who support the movement to speak out publically. Garza agreed. “Police should be standing up and saying, this is actually about integrity in our jobs. This is not what we’re supposed to be doing,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do if we think policing should be about solving problems, and not police being judge, jury, and executioner,” Garza added. The panel received a standing ovation, and the people in the

packed room began to stream out onto 18th Street. Being out in public again brought to mind Johnson’s words – her description of what she would do were she to be attacked that very night. Garza said that, after hearing Johnson’s concerns about centering trans leadership, she plans to have a conversation. “We’re going to do a lot of listening. We’re going to ask her, what do you need from us,” Garza said.t

gender, said of the protesters, “I think they’re 100 percent right. ... I don’t see any transgender people working in any of the businesses.” She said she “rarely” has problems in the gay neighborhood. “I have witnessed other transgender people having problems there,” but sometimes trans people go “with chips on their shoulder,” Boyer said. In a post to Facebook Sunday, January 18, Ray Sukin Klauber said protesters “held space at Toad Hall,” the gay bar at 4146 18th Street, “because of its white supremacist history of casting out queer black men from its former incarnation Pendulum.” Klauber said one bar patron “grabbed a white ally by the hair and ... punted a huge trash can” into the demonstration, among other actions. Toad Hall owner Les Natali didn’t respond to requests for comment. Natali bought the former Pendulum from longtime owner Ron Kobila in 2005 and closed it, later reopening it as Toad Hall.

In response to a Facebook message, Klauber said he’d forwarded a reporter’s contact information to others. Tuesday, someone who said she was handling media for the protest but hadn’t personally been there pointed to information protesters have posted to Twitter and she sent a news release. She declined to answer many questions. The woman, whose first name appeared to be Erica but wouldn’t spell her name, said “I grew up in the Bay Area,” and she’s gone to the Castro “maybe” two to three times a month “over the past 12 years.” She wouldn’t discuss her visits to the neighborhood further. “I don’t feel comfortable being personally quoted,” she said. The action was “not about an individual person. It’s about a collective. We want to make sure we’re representing collective experiences. It’s not about just me.” Officer Grace Gatpandan, a police spokeswoman, said there had been no arrests related to the Castro protest.t

San Francisco, is submitting Criminal Queers, a campy prison movie that explores incarceration issues that he co-directed with Chris Vargas. “It has been ready for a while but we have been waiting to figure out the right venue. Year after year Frameline takes money from the Israeli Consulate, so we won’t show it there,” said Stanley. As of now, the organizers do not plan to turn Outside the Frame into an annual event. “We talked about not wanting to create an institution. This is a protest; it is movement building,” explained Raphael, adding they do not want to compete with established queer arts organizations. “We are excited about being able to bring cutting edge content to our community and grateful

for the support of the people who have supported us.” They also “are hopeful it won’t be necessary in the future,” added Raphael, “because Frameline will see the light.”t Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http:// www.ebar.com Monday mornings at noon for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion. The column returns Monday, January 26. Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/politicalnotes. Got a tip on LGBT politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 8298836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036211300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHRYSALIS DEVELOPMENT GROUP, 2838 BUSH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SIUYIN SHALVARJIAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/22/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/22/14.

JAN 01, 08, 15, 22, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036215800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: UNDERGROUND GRILL KINGS, 2543 NORIEGA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed OP GG LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/23/14.

JAN 01, 08, 15, 22, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036181500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INSTA VISER, 760 MARKET ST, #500, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed GOGO TRACKER, LLC (DE). 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 12/02/14.

JAN 01, 08, 15, 22, 2015 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JENNIE V. MAYBON, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO CASE NO. PTR-14-298395

Notice is hereby given to the creditors and contingent creditors of the above-named decedent, that all persons having claims against the decedent, Jennie V. Maybon, who died on November 14, 2014, are required to file them with the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco at 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, California 94102-4515, and mail a copy to Howard J. Lewis, as trustee of the Jennie V. Maybon Trust, Dated December 06, 2011, wherein the decedent was the settler, c/o Law Office of Justin W. MacNeil, P.O. Box 26024, San Francisco, California 94126-6024, within the later of four months after January 08, 2014, the date of the first publication of notice to creditors or, if notice is mailed or personally delivered to you, 60 days after the date this notice is mailed or personally delivered to you. A claim form may be obtained from the court clerk. For your protection, you are encouraged to file your claim by certified mail, with return receipt requested. Howard J. Lewis, Successor Trustee Jennie V. Maybon Trust Dated December 06, 2011 c/o Law Office of Justin W. MacNeil, P.O. Box 26024, San Francisco, California 94126-6024

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14550830

In the matter of the application of: ROBERT HORVAT & VESELKA BUDIMIR, 615 ORTEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner ROBERT HORVAT & VESELKA BUDIMIR, are requesting that the name ADRIENNE BUDIMIR HORVAT, be changed to ADRIANA BUDIMIR HORVAT. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 12th of March 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036210800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: S9 CONSULTING, 3055 GOUGH ST, #205, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BRIEANNE SENN. 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 12/19/14.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036218300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NELLY REYES IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT, 210 POST ST, #413, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NELLY REYESROSENBERG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/2001. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/26/2014.

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036228100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE NAIL ROOM, 4205 GEARY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed JERRICA LUONG & LINDA HOANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/2015. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/05/2015.

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036225200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FAYES, 3614 18TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed JOSEPH WONG & MICHAEL GERALD MCCONNELL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/2015. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/02/2015.

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036218800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EYE CARUMBA OPTOMETRY, 4 EMBARCADERO CENTER, LOBBY LEVEL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed JOSEPH TORRES O.D., A PROFESSIONAL OPTOMETRIC CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/26/2004. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/29/14.

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036210300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PENABRAND, 608 ELIZABETH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed PENABRAND, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/2005. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/19/2014.

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036203900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HOUSE RULES, 2227 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed POLK STREET PARTNERS, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/15/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/16/14.

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-15550851 In the matter of the application of: RUTH WOO ENG, 418 40TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner RUTH WOO ENG, is requesting that the name RUTH WOO ENG be changed to RUTH YING WOO, and the name CAITLIN NICOLE ENG be changed to CAITLIN NICOLE WOO. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 514 on the 19th of March 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-15550859

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036229400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HERZ APPLIANCES, 1700 BAY ST, #105, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JHONSSON HERNANDEZ. 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 01/05/2015.

In the matter of the application of: DAVID FREDERICK HAYES, 33 ELGIN PARK #10, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner DAVID FREDERICK HAYES, is requesting that the name DAVID FREDERICK HAYES be changed to DAVE HAYES. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 514 on the 24th of March 2015 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015

▼

Read more online at www.ebar.com

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Legal Notices>> STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035901600

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: THE NAIL ROOM, 4205 GEARY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by JERRICA LUONG. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/20/2014.

JAN 08, 15, 22, 29, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036247000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BABALOONS BUILDERS, 4407 18TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOHN JOSEPH TURANO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/09/09. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/13/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036241100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RUG AND CHAIR, 2536 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANNE NEUMAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036237500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STAR LIGHTS S.F., 914 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed YUE HUA CHEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/08/2015. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/08/2015.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 5, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036239400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: VANCE JACOBS PHOTOGRAPHY, 237 CLARA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed VANCE PATRICK JACOBS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/05. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/08/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036237800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HE XIE, 914 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GUO QIANG LAI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/08/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29 FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036237200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ED HSU ACUPUNCTURE AND PHYSICAL THERAPY, 1424 VALENCIA ST #12, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed EDWARD C. HSU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/15/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/08/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036234900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BRAYDEN FASHION, 564 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed YIWEI KUANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/07/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/07/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036212900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CALPE PAELLAS, 428 11TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NICOLAS ULLOA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/23/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/23/14.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036242500

Classifieds The

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036242000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SWAG CABIN, 269 2ND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed RYAN ALLEN SCHENK, JAMES CHO & DAVID ALEGRE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/26/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036241800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BERNAL HEIGHTS PIZZERIA, 59 30TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BERNAL HEIGHTS PIZZERIA, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/2015. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036229500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BRICK AND MORTAR REAL ESTATE SERVICES, 44 GOUGH ST #202, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed KATZ GROUP (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 01/05/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036239600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EAZEMEDS LLC, 2035 OAKDALE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed EAZEMEDS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/08/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/08/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036239500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EMBARKADERO SOCIAL CLUB, 1766 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed WALAC PET SERVICES LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/08/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/08/15.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035421800

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: BERNAL HEIGHTS PIZZERIA, 59 30TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by MEGHAN C. MURPHY & MARIO A. JUNQUEIRA. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/08/13.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036256600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OLD SOD TRANSPORT, 1422 16TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MONICA FEELY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/17/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/20/15.

JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036254200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BETTER WIRED ELECTRIC, 215 SANTA YNEZ AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOSHUA FROST. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/2015. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/16/15.

JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036255800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WASSAM LABORATORIES, 660 4TH ST #297, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PASCAL WASSAM. 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 01/20/15.

JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036252600

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036247600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BASS LEGAL SERVICES, 1847 SCOTT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JUSTIN BASS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/10/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/13/15.

JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036241400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: N AND N PROPERTIES, 2227 UNION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed GEORGE NEWHALL & ELIZABETH WINTER NICHOLS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/09/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/15.

JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036252500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PRIMA CAFE, 215 FREMONT ST # 5B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed HUNG AND HUNG INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/2015. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/16/15.

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JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036241500

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SOLID BUILD CONSTRUCTION; WEST COAST SOUND SOLUTIONS, 98 12TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103-1242. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed WCSS (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 01/09/15.

JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036249200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PIVOT COFFEE, 650 TOWNSEND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ZYNGA INC (DE). 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 01/14/15.

JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036255900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHIBERUS MOTOR & EXPORT, 71 BERTHA LANE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed LIBERUS JIKA & CHINYERE JIKA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/20/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/20/15.

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JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035021700

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: THE HAPPY COLLECTIVE, 158A YUKON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by MICHAEL E. REILLY & AARON KLLC. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/05/13.

JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035754100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RYDAIRE GAMES; RYDAIRE; 227 NINTH ST #44, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed CLAIRE TANG & RYDER BRIGHT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/09/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/15.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MAXEBOY MEDIA, 24 BONVIEW ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MAX STEIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/05/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/16/15.

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: BETTER WIRED ELECTRIC, 258 EUREKA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by JOSHUA FROST & JAMES FROST. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/01/14.

JAN 15, 22, 29, FEB 05, 2015

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JAN 22, 29, FEB 05, 12, 2015 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-036251000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OCTAVIA, 1701 OCTAVIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed KORE RESTAURANT GROUP LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/15/15.

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Out &About

O&A

The

Vol. 45 • No. 4 • January 22-28, 2015

www.ebar.com/arts

k c a B e h t n i t h g i l t o p s n i a g a by Richard Dodds

illy Porter knows what it’s like to be an overnight sensation. He’s done it twice. At least it seemed that way as he accepted the 2013 Tony Award for his stunning star turn as Lola in Kinky Boots. Broadway insiders may have remembered his stop-the-show performance as Teen Angel in the 1994 revival of Grease, but for many of the years after that, he had fallen from the spotlight and eventually into bankruptcy. See page 30 >>

Tony Award-winner Billy Porter will perform songs from his new CD Billy’s Back on Broadway during his upcoming run at Feinstein’s at the Nikko. John Ganun

Three cheers for Peaches & Natasha! by David-Elijah Nahmod

rag icon Peaches Christ will host a screening of the classic film But I’m a Cheerleader on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Peaches will be joined at the big, beautiful Castro Theatre by the film’s star, actress Natasha Lyonne. The evening is being co-presented by SF Sketchfest.

Peaches Christ knows her way around pom-poms.

See page 22 >>

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

<< Out There

22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

It’s Malcolm McDowell’s world by Roberto Friedman

e’re just living in it. Actor Malcolm McDowell is perhaps best-known for his work in director Stanley Kubrick’s classic film A Clockwork Orange. Who can forget the poster of him looking both sinister and oddly jolly in his rampaging get-up? But the range of McDowell’s career over more than four decades is truly astonishing, encompassing many different genres, from time travel (Time After Time) to the future (Star Trek Generations). His long list of films includes O Lucky Man, If, Aces High, The Passage and Get Crazy. In a Mostly British Film Festival special event next month, movie-lovers will have a chance to hear McDowell, a noted raconteur, discuss his varied career, including working with iconic directors Kubrick and Lindsay Anderson, and talk about his memories of shooting Time After Time almost entirely in San Francisco. The event will take place on Fri., Feb. 20, at the Century Club of California, 1355 Franklin St. in SF, an elegant house designed in classical-revival style that was personally remodeled by the great architect Julia Morgan. A reception in the grand dining room begins the evening at 6 p.m., followed by a talk with McDowell in the upstairs

screening room and a showing of Time After Time. Two more films will screen on Sat. & Sun., Feb. 21 & 22, at 11 a.m. The same ticket gets you into all events. Here are a few capsule descriptions of these three films. Time After Time (2/20, 8 p.m., Century Club) McDowell plays H.G. Wells as he pursues Jack the Ripper throughout Victorian England, and then, courtesy of a time machine, through San Francisco circa 1979. The film was shot all over town, including in Cow Hollow, at the California Academy of Sciences, in Ghirardelli Square, Huntington Park and Marina Green. (USA, 1979) If (2/21, 11 a.m., Vogue Theatre) McDowell plays a student at a private British boarding school who, with his buddies, may or may not be plotting a revolution. Controversial when it came out, the film still packs a wallop, especially the surrealistic effects put to good use by director Anderson. (UK, 1968) Aces High (2/22, 11 a.m., Vogue Theatre) In this strongly anti-war movie set during WWI, McDowell plays a disillusioned squadron leader resisting indoctrination. The amazing cast includes Christopher Plummer, Ray Milland and Trevor Howard. (UK, 1976) Ticket info on these films and the rest of the Mostly British Film

Mary McCartney

Pop musician Elvis Costello was part of a rock-star tribute to MTT.

Courtesy SFS

Actor Malcolm McDowell is an upcoming central attraction at the Mostly British Film Festival.

Festival (Feb. 12-22) is available at mostlybritish.org.

Symphony party

McDowell was also part of the program in San Francisco Symphony subscription concerts this past weekend, playing the Devil in composer Igor Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale, with multi-talented pop star Elvis Costello narrating and maestro Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the home orchestra. Find our coverage of the concert elsewhere in these pages. Davies Symphony Hall was also home to MTT’s glamorous 70th Birthday Gala last Thursday night, and Out There was in the house to celebrate. It was a most unusual concert, with a plethora of worldclass pianists performing individually and then, after intermission, in a coup de theatre, on six grand pianos all at once, with the orchestra accompanying, in composer Franz Liszt’s Hexameron, Grand Bravura Variations on the March from Bellini’s I puritani, for Six Pianos. Of course, Liszt was all about the showmanship, and these six stellar musicians – Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Jeremy Denk, Yuja Wang, MarcAndré Hamelin, Emanuel Ax, and MTT himself – are the very definition of virtuosos. We never thought we’d see them performing on the same stage at the same time, and we probably never will again. The whole evening was full of just such spectacular arrangements. Just prior to intermission, six rock stars – Drew Zingg, Phil Lesh, Boz Scaggs, Elvis Costello, Lars Ulrich

NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER In Association with Bob A. Ross Foundation, Executive Producer Enrique & Jason Monagas, Executive Producers David Meders, Producer Present

Moanalani Jeffrey Photography

(Left to right:) Yuja Wang, Michael Tilson Thomas, Marc-André Hamelin, Emanuel Ax, and Jeremy Denk, five of the six pianists performing Hexameron at Davies Symphony Hall.

and Karl Sevaride – performed a special rendition of the Beatles’ “Birthday” (“You say it’s your birthday”) for MTT. And after the Hexameron, MTT donned a party jacket with his initials emblazoned in rhinestones on the back, then re-positioned himself in a director’s chair to contemplate and enjoy the SFS playing the spots off the Overture to his mentor, the late great gay composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. By any measure, this was one extraordinary evening in the symphony hall. We wore a blue oxford shirt in honor of the maestro’s favorite color. The hall was festooned with festive blue balloons. Attendees included CA Gov. Jerry Brown, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, SF mayor Ed Lee, State Sen. Mark Leno, and many other luminaries. Thanks to the SFS press relations department – Louisa Spier, Oliver Theil, Nate Bourg, Amelia Kusar and Lisa Petrie – for letting Out There be a part of it all.

Pronoun watch

“Wickedly funny... witty and tender” VA R I E T Y

Tie a rope to the shore and hang on.

BY CHAD BEGUELIN DIRECTED BY ED DECKER

JAN 23–MAR 1

BUY TICKETS AT NCTCSF.ORG BOX OFFICE: 415.861.8972 25 VAN NESS AVE AT MARKET ST

Award-winning, San Franciscobased queer writer/illustrator and educator Maya Christina Gonzalez has just released a new bilingual picture book for children titled Call Me

Cheerleader

From page 21

Lyonne is proud of But I’m a Cheerleader. The side-splitting 1999 film, a dark satire about gay conversion therapy, was released at a time when LGBT people were finally achieving real visibility in the mainstream culture. It was the second season of Will & Grace and a mere two years since Ellen DeGeneres’ historic coming out. At the time, some people thought that Cheerleader was “daring” or “groundbreaking.” Lyonne saw the film quite differently. “It never occurred to me that it was shocking,” Lyonne said, speaking to the B.A.R. by phone. “To me it’s a sweet movie, a love story.” As far as the veteran performer is concerned, her character’s sexuality was and remains a non-issue. “I feel so creeped out by people who say it’s brave or courageous to play gay in

Tree that contains no gender-specific pronouns, so the main character’s gender is never indicated. Gonzalez wanted to create a gender-neutral book that would be as inclusive as possible. Avoiding gender pronouns “leaves it open to be used for multiple gender expression beyond the binary,” Gonzalez said. “It provides an inclusive perspective of the world.” Just right for children growing up in the 21st century. It’s always a challenge for progressive children’s books to receive attention in the mainstream media, yet the Call Me Tree book was recently included in the prestigious Kirkus Reviews list “Best Children’s Books of 2014.”

End note

Continuing word on the 13th Noir City film festival at the Castro Theatre, ’Til Death Do Us Part (through Jan. 25), is that it’s the queerest year ever for the festival. In its final weekend, films feature bisexual or gay actors including actors Rock Hudson and Dirk Bogarde, writer Cornell Woolrich, and directors Mitchell Leisen and Luchino Visconti. We are and always have been everywhere. Look for our Noir City coverage elsewhere in these pages.t a movie,” she said. “I can’t wrap my head around it. This movie is a very special moment in time for me and my best friend [co-star Clea Duvall]. I love Clea so much.” But when the film went before the public, Lyonne could see that it was more than just a sweet little indie flick. She was told by several younger viewers that the movie changed their lives. “It was then that I thought of the ramifications of this movie,” she recalled. “It was helping people live the lives they live.” The actress is now a prominent cast member in the acclaimed lesbian-centric Netflix series Orange is the New Black. “By the time Orange came along, I thought, Who cares who plays gay or straight?” she said. “The fact that this is still in the conversation is crazy!” Peaches Christ offers her own take on the film. “But I’m a Cheerleader is a really great example of See page 30 >>

Film>>

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 23

More murderous marriages at the Castro by Tavo Amador

his year’s 13th Noir City festival at the Castro Theatre, Til Death Do Us Part, concludes with rare and memorable examples of the onscreen perils of matrimony. Director Edward Dmytryk, blacklisted during the shameful Red Scare era, found artistic refuge in England. His The Hidden Room (1949) stars Britain’s celebrated Robert Newton as a psychiatrist whose wife’s repeated infidelities inspire him to commit the perfect crime, beginning with the murder of her current lover. This is a firstrate example of a classic lockedroom mystery. Screenplay by Alex Coppel. Handsome, gay Dirk Bogarde is The Sleeping Tiger (1954), a troubled youth whom psychiatrist Alexander Knox allows to live with him to better test his responses to treatment options. His wife, the stunning Alexis Smith, knows exactly what therapy the hottie needs, and gives it to him. With Hugh Griffith. Directed by Joseph Losey – his first British film, in which his fascination with class distinctions and steamy sex are already evident. (Thurs., Jan. 22, evening) More noir films were based on gay author Cornel Woolrich’s (1903-68) stories than any other writer. His The Guilty (1947) has two war buddies marrying twin sisters (Bonita Granville playing both parts). Then one of the wives is murdered. Regis Toomey is the cop determined to convict one of the boys. Directed by John Reinhardt. Screenplay by Robert Presnell. The minimal budget resulted in an inventive use of the few sets. Barbara Stanwyck has No Man of Her Own (1950), which is a problem because

Director Edward Dmytryk’s The Hidden Room (1949) stars celebrated British actor Robert Newton.

her boyfriend jilted her and she’s pregnant. Consequently, she poses as the bride of a man killed in an accident, a decision she soon regrets. With John Lund. Gay Mitchell Leisen directed this over-the-top adaptation of Woolrich’s I Married a Dead Man, and Stanwyck memorably chews the scenery. Catherine Tierney and Sally Benson (Meet Me in St. Louis) wrote the screenplay. (Fri., Jan. 23, evening) Bank teller Joseph Cotten fears being caught in The Steal Trap (1950) after he steals $1,000,000 on a Friday night and plans to take the money and his wife (Teresa Wright) to Brazil, from where they cannot be extradited. Surprisingly, she refuses and persuades him to return the loot before Monday morning. But the vault is locked, and he doesn’t know the combination. Directed by Andrew Stone, who also wrote the screenplay. Sexy, handsome, diabolically smooth Louis Jordan torments hysterical wife Doris Day

in Stone’s Julie (1956). The overthe-top finale has flight attendant Day saving herself while on board a plane. With Barry Sullivan. Shot in San Francisco and Carmel. Stone wrote the screenplay. Stone often defied credibility and logic, never as amazingly as in Cry Terror (1958), for which he also wrote the eyepopping screenplay. James Mason and Inger Stevens are a married couple forced by a criminal genius to commit terrible deeds. The crazy, suspense-filled climax has them fleeing through the New York subway system. With Rod Steiger, Angie Dickenson, and Jack Klugman. Like opera, these last two pictures require a significant suspension of disbelief, which will be well-rewarded. (Sat., Jan. 23 matinee)

Carnal crimes

The great, openly gay director Luchino Visconti’s first film, Ossessione (1943) made him famous

Barbara Stanwyck has No Man of Her Own, and it’s a problem.

worldwide. He wrote the screenplay for this unauthorized adaptation of James M. Cain’s The Postman Always Rings Twice, and his frank depiction of carnal adultery and murder raised the ire of the Papacy and Mussolini’s Fascist government, which burned all the prints, except one, which Visconti hid. Clara Calami and Massimo Giroti star. In Italian with English subtitles. Hollywood would tackle this story in 1946, with Lana Turner and John Garfield, and again in 1981, with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange, as the adulterous couples. In HenriGeorges Clouzot’s Les Diaboliques (1955), Vera Clouzot conspires with her husband’s mistress, the mesmerizing Simone Signoret, to murder the abusive man in their lives. They commit the perfect crime, but before they get rid of the body, it disappears. More problems follow. Clouzot wrote the macabre, shocking screenplay. In French with Eng-

lish subtitles. (Sat., Jan. 24, evening) In John Frankenheimer’s Seconds (1966), gay superstar and matinee idol Rock Hudson plays a bored bourgeois banker who fakes his death and undergoes plastic surgery to make himself look younger and more attractive in the hopes of starting a new life. But his fresh identity comes with an unexpectedly high price tag. With gay character actor Will Geer, who would become famous on television’s The Waltons. Screenplay by Lewis John Carlino, from the novel by David Ely. Francois Truffault and John Waters are among the admirers of Leonard Kastle’s sole feature The Honeymoon Killers (1969), based on a true story. Tony Lo Bianco and Shirley Stoler are memorable as the murderous newlyweds. With Doris Roberts, later the mother on television’s Everybody Loves Raymond. Kastle also wrote the screenplay. (Sun., Jan. 25, matinee and evening)t

Burgundy shmurgundy by Erin Blackwell

s I entered the darkened cinema, a character onscreen said with remarkable clarity of diction, “You’re late.” I laughed to myself. Could this be my Brian Wilson moment? Would words from a movie throw me into a devastating bout of paranoia? Perhaps secretly one always hopes a film will refract one’s personal experience, and so constitute an iteration of one’s own particular psychic dilemma. Perhaps not. Anyway, nothing so surreal, psychedelic, or dreadful ensued during the 100 or so minutes the putative lesbian sex fantasia The Duke of Burgundy took to unspool. You can see it, or not, starting Friday, Jan. 23, at Landmark’s Opera Plaza Cinemas. “You’re late” turned out to be the first sentence in a series of scripted sentences in a sadomasochistic ritual enacted by two characters occupying rooms in some sort of villa in some sort of European country, which was probably Hungary, since that’s where director Peter Strickland is said to have shot his film. Trying to figure out where the hell they were was a puzzle that occupied my mind as the characters inevitably repeated their erotic ritual several times, with some but maybe not enough variation. The idea being: all rituals wear thin. As the dom says to the sub, “Not a surprise if you’re expecting it.” The possibly unintended consequence of which narrative arc being, in a bad-dream Brian Wilsonesque parallel universe kind of way, to induce ennui. To set the viewer’s mind a-wandering. I didn’t count how many times zaftig 40something Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen’s face was filmed enunciating in a fairly flawless English accent, “You’re late.” Enough times to make me aware that this script within a script was almost a documentary of an erotic

IFC Films

Sidse Babett Knudsen as Cynthia, Chiara D’Anna as Evelyn in director Peter Strickland’s The Duke of Burgundy.

game staged as a feature film, in which the sadist-in-charge rigidly dictates all gesture, posture, inflection, and affect, again and again. Imagine the actresses scheming to break free of the redundant film’s constraints. That’s the film I want to see, and in a way, that’s the film this film almost is. A bit more true to life, a bit less trope-happy, and Strickland could be an arresting metaphysical film director. Knudsen plays the putative dominatrix, or mean bitch empress of an unlived-in villa stuffed with fantastic Victorian furniture, worn Persian rugs, and dead winged-insects neatly framed behind glass. Her at-home make-up is basic tart, her costumes running from standard-issue naughty lingerie to garish, well-fed, Slavic, ex-Soviet bourgeois chic. Out of harness, she wears baggy men’s pajamas.

And when she lectures a roomful of women devoted to the taxonomy and habits of moths, her makeup is suddenly, disconcertingly understated. A word on fritillaries. The titular Duke of Burgundy, or Hamearis lucina, first defined by Linneaus in 1758, once classed a fritillary, is today considered an endangered species of butterfly. Primarily a woodland denizen, the Duke of Burgundy fed on primroses in dappled sunlight, leading a life that can only be described as a bohemian idyll. The cessation of coppicing in woodlands has tragically decimated colonies. This information isn’t in the film, for which winged insects serve as something for women to bother their pretty little heads about, that’s sufficiently weird to serve as twisted symbols of something-or-other. The ritual of the lecture being interspliced with the ritual of the handwashed panties

is an attempt, one presumes, at simulating, if not stimulating some semblance of Sapphic sexual significance. A word about panty-washing. Who does this? Wide-eyed, scrawny, pert-breasted somewhat-younger actress Chiara d’Anna, whose English is pathetically Italian-inflected. This impossible-to-please submissive schoolgirl stereotype stage-manages the household games, handwriting dialogue for the lady of the house like the accusatory, “You’re late.” We don’t actually see her wash the panties, but we do see drops of water fall from the just-washed panties, in close-up, hung over a clothesline. We get to see the water-drop scene more than once, at suitable intervals. More than we really need to. More than the image warrants. Unless repetition is a strategy, which, in the absence of a full-length story to tell, it reveals itself to be.

If you’ve been longing for shots of characters reflected in mirrors, or glimpsed through windows, or seen as though with double vision, this is the film for you. Also, if you yearn for hexagonal refractions of light. Or if you like a soundtrack that replaces emotional throughlines, dramatic incident, or real-world sensuality with breathy soprano choruses accompanied by harpsichord, alternating with guitar strumming and ponderous woodwind solos. Call it an homage to, or desecration of vintage Delphine Seyrig and Stephane Audran vehicles. Call it kitsch, harmless fun, privileged male gaze. Call it peek-a-boo lesbian kink for clueless straight people. Call it independent film mimicking smut masquerading as art-house cinema. Call it girl-on-girl action that never takes on a life of its own.t

<< Music

24 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

Big performances in small packages

Kristen Loken

Composer John Adams, the San Francisco Symphony, and pianists Marc-Andre Hamelin & Orli Shaham, following their performance of Adams’ Grand Pianola Music at Davies Symphony Hall. The work was recorded for future release on SFS Media in summer 2015.

by Philip Campbell

Kristen Loken

Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas conducts the San Francisco Symphony and guest narrator Elvis Costello in Stravinsky’s A Soldier’s Tale at Davies Symphony Hall.

usic Director Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony, along with some very impressive guest artists, had Davies Symphony Hall burning with energy last week with performances of two fascinating and inventive works from both ends of the 20th century. Two of the most successful and frequently performed composers of modern times, the Russian Igor Stravinsky and the American John Adams, shared a double bill featuring the former’s cautionary parable L’Histoire du soldat (The Soldier’s Tale) (1918) and the latter’s joyously over-the-top Grand Pianola Music (1982). The scores have little in common other than their remarkably resourceful use of reduced forces to pack a big punch. Stravinsky asked for a lean ensemble that included a septet of orchestral players, a trio of speaking actors, and a dancer (not em-

ployed in the recent performances) to tell his story of a young man who strikes a deal with the devil. Adams, of course, uses more musicians (in keeping with his wittily titled work), but he does not require a full symphonic orchestra to make his exciting and exultant point, either. The program opened with the composer conducting pianists Orli Shaham and Marc-Andre Hamelin; sopranos Micaela Haslam and Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, and alto Heather Cairncross, billed as Synergy Vocals; and some 20 members of the SFS. The battery of percussion, played by three musicians, sounded like a full orchestra themselves. Hearing Adams describe the thrilling days of the SFS and the legendary New and Unusual Music series (held at various off-beat venues around the city), and his memories of the premiere of Grand Pianola Music an amazing 33 years ago, set the perfect mood for the first subscription performances of the name-making score in DSH. The Adams portion of the concert was being recorded for future release on the SFS in-house label, so it made some sense that the composer himself was conducting, though MTT is an excellent interpreter of Adams’ works. It also made marginal sense that one of the original pianists at the original premiere (SFS Principal Keyboard Robin Sutherland) was overlooked for a more recognizable name. It didn’t matter too much, for the chosen musicians all gave their considerable best to a work that requires both enthusiasm and stamina. What did nag a bit more was Adams’ taking the reins, as he has never struck me as the best conductor of his own scores. He is capable, but dare I say he places a more disciplined order on his reckless and brilliant music than it really needs? The results were predictably wonderful, with a characteristically jubilant finish, but MTT would probably have held the ensemble together better without slowing the forward motion. The second half of the night was

given to Stravinsky and librettist C.F Ramuz’s economical setting (performed in English here) of The Soldier’s Tale, from a story of Alexander Afanasiev. Elvis Costello (he partnered with MTT and the London Symphony Orchestra years ago for a recording of his orchestral score Il Sogno) was the narrator. Marvelously mature and richly nuanced British actor Malcolm McDowell (the impish lead of such diabolical tales as If and A Clockwork Orange in his youth) was well-cast as the Devil. Resident company member of American Conservatory Theater Nick Gabriel was the sweet and simple Soldier. Standouts in the septet of orchestral players were Concertmaster Alexander Barantschik, giving real flavor to his violin solos; and Jacob Nissly, Principal Percussion of the SFS since 2013, making an awful lot more noise than one would expect from a lone performer. With MTT on the podium making funny verbal contributions and traffic-directing the musicians and speaking participants, the hour-long piece whizzed by with all the bases covered. Costello started out loud and abrasive, but we could blame the atrocious sound engineering at DSH for that, and after he realized he didn’t need to shout, his delivery framed the action much better. Costello’s sardonic attitude was a good match for McDowell’s delicious characterization of the spiteful devil. If there is a moral to the tale, it would simply be a very modern scolding that you can’t really have it all. Stravinsky wrote the piece when he himself was in a cash predicament, but he ingeniously used his reduced circumstances to write something that could not only reach a big audience on the cheap, but also could indulge his newfound taste for American Jazz. It was a lot of fun hearing the genius composer’s little theater-piece in the amusing English translation, and the luxury casting was icing on the cake.t

Upholding the countertenor voice by Tim Pfaff

clearly remember when you could count the working countertenors on the fingers of one hand. Now you can hear nearly as many in a single Baroque opera production. Against all odds, the challenge for the hundreds of these special singers – “falsettists” who sing in the higher, “head” register of the voice – today is less finding work than distinguishing themselves among their fellows. The great record producer Walter Legge famously said that the sine qua non of a great vocal career was “an immediately recognizable vocal timbre,” and it has to be said that only the most discerning aficionados of this voice type are likely to be able to identify the singer of a recorded countertenor aria. Fifty of them will write me stinging challenges to this. In a bit of his own head-scratching about the glut of Baroquespecialist singers, New Yorker critic Alex Ross, reviewing a 2006 performance of Handel’s Solomon, called countertenor David Hansen “a pure-voiced young Australian who is typical of a new breed of matinee-idol countertenors.” Since then Hansen has gone on to carve out a place for himself with his looks and commanding technique – countertenors are all about technique, and, given their vocally treacherous music, have to be – but also, importantly, with one of the most distinctive, reliable and beautiful voices on the circuit. For evidence look no farther

than his debut solo album, Rivals (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi), with the Academia Montis Regalis under Alessandro De Marchi. There have been other – though not many – present-day falsettists with vocal ranges as high as Hansen’s, but listening to them has sometimes felt like being suspended on the tip of a hot nail. Hansen’s top is, by comparison, cool and even voluptuous, a sound you quickly relax into, fearing neither vocal mishap nor sudden piercing of the eardrum. This is as unusual as it is welcome. The “rivals” in this set of nine arias, many of them first-time recordings, are less the characters to

which they are assigned than the historical Baroque singers – castrati; yes, you can do the math – the matinee idols of their day for whom they were composed, in no small part to show up their onstage competitors and others appearing elsewhere. That’s another vogue in countertenor aria-recital recordings today, but because of his special instrument (not to detract from the work he has done to train it), Hansen comes closer than most in suggesting what these singers might actually have sounded like. Not all of their voices settled into the high treble that is Hansen’s “natural” sound, but castrati were known as much for the power of their voices as for the di-

visions and roulades of florid ornamentation with which they embellished their performances. Hansen has it all, starting with the power. He introduces several of the arias with his principal calling card, an assured messa di voce, whereby a single securely voiced note can be made to swell then taper, both in terms of volume and vibrato. There’s not a trace of stunt when Hansen does it, and the effect is as commanding and melting as it sets out to be. The music may not all be topdrawer, but in the high Baroque second drawer down is still high-quality stuff, and none of these opera arias by Leonardo Vinci (arguably the “emerging” 18th-century opera composer in recording today, claiming five of the nine slots here), Leonardo Leo (whose three arias receive world-premiere recordings), Bononcini and Broschi seem trivial as Hansen sings them. He even finesses the stabbing repeated notes in Broshi’s “Son qual nave” from Artasere (1734) – which in lesser hands could come off like Baroque opera parody – delivering the entire aria with legendary castrato Farinelli’s own embellishments, designed to dazzle, as they do here. What more lingers in memory are Hansen’s fine gradations of feeling and emotion in the slower, less athletic, virtuosic arias, which gratefully make up a substantial portion of this CD. Like many of his contemporaries, Hansen also sings new music, and recently completed a run in Norwe-

gian composer Jueri Reinvere’s Peer Gynt. But to hear him on home turf in every respect, check out the latest release from Australian chamberopera company Pinchgut Opera, Cavalli’s Giasone (pinchgutopera. com.au). Pinchgut uses a performing version of the 1649 score, recorded live in a 2013 performance with ample stage noise. Stick with it. At first it sounds like a well-intentioned conservatory performance, but it quickly settles into Cavalli’s fetching opera about Jason (Hansen) and Medea, and becomes compelling in that way 17th-century operas uniquely can. While you’re in their spell, you can wonder why you bother with Puccini. Hansen’s complete characterization of librettist Cicognini’s Jason includes tackling its comedic aspects, and at his first appearance you could be forgiven for thinking it’s your kid sister joking around and not the Golden Fleece-snatching Jason of myth. But by the time he’s journeyed to “Dormi, dormi,” the great, consuming duet with Celesta Lazarenko’s Medea, you won’t feel – sorry, but it’s unavoidable – fleeced. It’s an affecting opera affectingly done, with a performance from Miriam Allan’s Isisfile that matches Hansen’s in stature. True confessions: all these decades in, consistently championing the voice type, of late I have been close to hanging up on the countertenor voice. Hansen is keeping me on the line.t

Film>>

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 25

Handicapping the major Oscar races by David Lamble

hether you have a chip in the office Oscar pool or consider this august event queer revenge for Super Bowl Sunday madness, the 87th Academy Awards (Feb. 22) provide average San Franciscans with an irresistible opportunity to brag about their cultural IQ. How will 6,000 or so Academy members fill out their ballots for the 24 coveted trophies? This, and the comic stylings of Neil Patrick Harris. Bring it on, baby! We list our choice for each category in boldface. Best picture: Informally dubbed “the producer’s award,” this is the top prize, awarded just before the credits roll. American Sniper Perhaps never in his wildly productive career has a Clint Eastwood project been so neglected by fans and foes alike. Based on the memoir of former Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle’s four tours in Iraq, this is red-meat, real-man stuff, just a tad out of sync in this post-war moment. Birdman, or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance Hands-down the weirdest title of this Oscar derby, with seductive performances from Michael Keaton and Yale-trained Edward Norton. Mexican-born director Alejando G. Inarritu puts a delicious masculine spin on this All About Evelike story of an improbable comeback that teeters along the precipice of an even more improbable crash landing along “The Great White Way.”

Sundance Selects

Boyhood My pick and arguably 2014’s most emotionally challenging movie experience, Texas-born director Richard Linklater’s film tracks the actual boyhood-to-manhood odyssey of one Ellar Coltrane. Mesmerizing time-lapse drama demonstrates how a good kid avoids the pitfalls of his bio-parents’ failed marriage, a mean-drunk preacher stepdad, broken promises and an assortment of true-life-like pratfalls to emerge as a devilishly cute goyboy mensch. With pit-stops from Houston’s “Juicebox” ballpark to the humbling natural cathedral of Big Bend Country, this is the year’s best three hours at the movies. The Grand Budapest Hotel Texan

The parent trap by David Lamble

wo Mothers (out on DVD from TLA) is that rare subtitled queer film that delivers a far more insidious emotional punch than one expects. It’s also an even rarer example of the contemporary “hot-button issues” drama that continues to play out in one’s head long after the German-language credits have rolled. 43-year-old Katja (Sabine Wolf) and 37-year-old Isabella (Karina Plachetka) are at first glance a contented lesbian couple who are starting to drift apart, and whose solution to the problem is to embark on the turbulent seas of middle-age parenthood. It’s good for the audience if not for our heroines that the man they find, the tres-hunky 30-something Flo (Florian Weber), is the kind of erotic creature/playmate who could cause any breathing human to forget or at least temporarily lose track of her vows to her increasingly paranoid mate. “Go back to the computer and show me your men. Why is that guy down there marked?” “He’s a student.” “Does he have any money?” “He wants to help.” “Yeah, isn’t that nice.” “Well, it’s not the worst.” “I would prefer if they’d just want money and no future contact.” “Why would they stay away if they got money?” “I think it’s cleaner if I pay somebody for a service. What’s so special about him?” “He’s likeable, you can somehow picture him. I find him pleasant.” “I want to be the daddy myself.” “But you don’t have any sperm.” Like many lesbian couples in Germany, they discover that the road to a common child is far more arduous than they expected. Most of the sperm banks/fertility clinics do not offer treatment for LGBT couples due to out-of-date, religiously-inspired laws. After finally locating a baby doctor who offers hyper-expensive inseminations for lesbians, the couple discovers that the treat-

Jojo Whilden, courtesy Sony Pictures Classics

Pick for Best Actress: Marion Cotillard in Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s Two Days, One Night.

ments can go on for months before a successful fertilization, if it ever occurs. Katja wants to throw in the towel, while Isabella falls into a funk over the cloud that envelops their once-serene bond. Isabella refuses to give up, and eventually stumbles across a technician who has home-insemination kits. And it turns out there is a seller’s market in “good spunk” out on the Internet. The women embark on a kind of sperm-donor audition search; to her dismay, Katja finds that Isabella will betray their relationship in order to have a kid. Florian has already fathered 20 kids over three years. Even more devastating for the increasing jealous Katja, Florian demands to be allowed to visit the “little nipper” every three months. Isabella is ecstatic, Florian comes in the cup, Katja inseminates Isabella, and the women suddenly find themselves in a very different chapter in their marriage, the kind of uncharted waters that only the strong and truly committed survive. Writer/director Anne Zohra Berrached commands cable-TVworthy performances from her core cast and a large Central Europeanbased supporting ensemble. This is the queer parenting movie for folks who swear they have no interest in the subject, no flesh in that ever-socomplicated game. (75 mins., 16X9 screen, stereo, color, German with English subtitles)t

Favored to win for Best Actress: Julianne Moore in Still Alice.

Wes Anderson is boyish enough to still get carded at salons, and he’s whip-smart cool at making iconoclastic whimsy feel camera-ready. This one will finish out of the money, but it’s still worthy of the bottom half of a Castro double-bill or Midnight for Maniacs tripleheader. The Imitation Game Benedict Cumberbatch is nimble at evoking Alan Turing, the WWII British math genius whose machine, a precursor to today’s computers, was indispensible to the good guys beating Hitler. The film slights Turing’s queer side and his tragic post-war martyrdom. Selma Ava DuVernay’s challenging account of the events behind the 1965 Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, is a singular docudrama benefiting from stellar turns from British screen actors David Oyelowo (a fiery Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) and Tom Wilkinson (a politically torn Pres. LBJ). Sadly, this must-see slice of bloody American history has been shadowed by arguments about whether it has been snubbed in other Oscar categories. The flap

probably partly arises from Academy members unwilling to go wholehog for another civil rights movie after the triple win for last year’s 12 Years a Slave (Best Picture, Screenplay, Supporting Actress). The Theory of Everything Eddie Redmayne’s seductively charming Stephen Hawking is this meticulous biopic’s main claim on Oscar gold. Another solid science project. Whiplash Miles Teller and J.K Simmons are a straight boy/man odd couple who reach an emotional kindling point with some incendiary face slaps and drum moves. Queer boys will definitely find more than a subliminal, unintended connection. (For those keeping score, Birdman and Grand Budapest Hotel lead the field with nine Oscar nominations each, followed by Imitation Game with eight.) Lead actress: Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night This unvarnished performance of a woman asking co-workers to sacrifice their bonus pay to save her job is that rare peek behind the scenes of today’s European economic miracle.

Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything Jones gets the unsunggirlfriend nod for sticking by her man, Eddie Redmayne’s charismatic “black hole” man, Stephen Hawking. Julianne Moore, Still Alice Moore delivers on a neglected, uncomfortable subject: the brilliant person who faces the loss of her very identity to the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl Pike is the missing spouse in this David Fincher-directed drama about how the media spotlight suddenly turns on a supposedly grieving husband (Ben Affleck) when the press hounds have exhausted the usual suspects. Reese Witherspoon, Wild In any other season, Witherspoon’s depiction of a woman who undertakes a spectacular long-distance hike to exorcize her demons might be a fave for Oscar gold. Regardless of the Academy’s judgment, don’t miss this human marathon that reminds one of an earlier entry, Sean Penn’s even darker Into the Wild and its tragic boy-explorer Emile Hirsch. See page 31 >>

THE COMPANY MEN

BILLY PORTER

WAYNE BRADY

January 28 - 29

January 30 - February 1

February 6 - 8

For tickets:www.feinsteinssf.com Feinstein’s | Hotel Nikko San Francisco 222 Mason Street 855-MF-NIKKO | 855-636-4556

095505.01_HNSF_Bay_Area_Reporter_1-22 ROUND #: MECH Trim: 5.75in x 7.625in

Bleed: none

Live: 5.75in x 7.625in

Color Space: CMYK

Fonts: Futura

<< Out&About

26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

Out &About

O&A

Fri 23 DIRT Embodiment Project @ Dance Mission Theater

Katie Gilmartin @ Good Vibrations Berkeley Author of the acclaimed new illustrated murder mystery Blackmail, My Love, set in San Francisco’s queer underground of the 1950s, reads from and discusses her book. 6:30pm. 2504 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. (510) 8418987. www.goodvibes.com

Manuel Villacorta @ Books Inc.

Words with friends by Jim Provenzano

an we all just agree that we have some fabulous local authors, and that the best ones visit as well? We can debate preferences over ebooks versus print, but nothing beats going to a real bookstore to meet a writer in person, or a gay book club that discusses topics of interest to us. Several favorite authors are reading this week, a punk rocker tells all in his bio, and another who’s no longer with us is given a tribute night. Check out plenty of other provocative and fun arts events as well.

Thu 22 Armistead Maupin @ Bookshop West Portal The acclaimed prolific local gay author reads from and signs copies of his latest in the epic Tales of the City series, The Days of Anna Madrigal. 7pm. 80 West Portal Ave. 564-8080. www.bookshopwestportal.com

Blithe Spirit @ Golden Gate Theatre Angela Lansbury stars in Noel Coward’s rollicking comedy about society people and spiritual mediums, where a man’s dead wife is conjured. $75-$185. Tue-Sat 8pm. Wed, Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru Feb 1. 1 Taylor St. (888) 746 1799. www.shnsf.com

Haiku Tunnel @ The Marsh Josh Kornbluth returns with his acclaimed solo show about being a temp worker in a local law office. $20-$100. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Feb. 7. 10162 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Hard Rock Goes Broadway @ Hard Rock Café The drag queen and king song showcase benefits the Richmond/ Ermet AIDS Foundation, with host Bebe Sweetbriar, and performances by Roxy-Cotton Candy, Ana Mae Coxxx, Kitty Purry, Ray Chill, Foryst Craven and Joey Gelato. Donations. 8pm. drink and food specials. Pier 39, Beach St at Embarcadero. 956-2013. www.reaf.org www.hardrock.com

The Whole Body Reboot author discusses his diet and recipe book based on Peruvian Superfoods. 7:30pm. 2275 Market St. 864-6777. www.booksinc.net

Patti Smith @ The Fillmore The iconic rock legend performs her classic post-punk poetic music. $39.50. 8pm. Also Jan. 23 & 24 at 9pm. www.pattismith.net www.thefillmore.com

Shit & Champagne @ Oasis D’Arcy Drollinger’s hilarious nightclub hit, a whitesploitation satire-comedy with action-packed models fighting a drug cartel, returns at the new SoMa nightclub; featuring Matthew Martin. $20-$25. Thu-Sat 7pm. Thru Feb. 14. 298 11th St. at Folsom. sfoasis.com

Glamorgeddon: The Spectacle @ SOMArts Cultural Center Group exhibition of works focusing on a freeform interpretation of glamour. Speical live events thru the run. Exhibit thru Feb. 4. 934 Brannan St. at 9th. www.somarts.org

Harbor @ New Conservatory Theatre Center West Coast premiere of Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin’s gay-themed comedy about an East Coast family’s tumultuous conflicts. $25-$45. Previews. Opens Jan. 31. Thru March 1. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. 25 Van Ness Ave, lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Hick: A Love Story @ Berkeley City Club Terry Baum returns with her show subtitled The Romance of Lorena Hickok and Eleanor Roosevelt, written with Pat Bond, about the secret affair of FDR’s wife. $20 Thu (pay what you can) & Fri 8pm. Sat 2pm & 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru Jan. 25. 2315 Durant St., Berkeley. (800) 838-3006. www.crackpotcrones.com

Tom Ammiano @ Center for Culture and Politics The veteran gay politician and comic offers reflections on his recent duties in Sacramento and a preview of his new comedy routine. 9pm. 518 Valencia St. 863-9977. www.518valencia.org

Fri 23 Abundance @ Shelton Theatre Pultizer Prize winner Beth Henley’s tenderhearted drama about two 1860s mail order brides in the Old West gets a local production. $38. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Mar. 14. 533 Sutter St. (800) 8383006. sheltontheater.org

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. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Extended thru Feb 1. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. www.nctcsf.org

Constantine Maroulis @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The American Idol finalist and Tony Award nominee ( Rock of Ages) performs live, with ecletic music, from Queen to Bernstein. $35-$50 (two-drink minimum). 8pm. Also Jan. 24, 7pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com

DIRT Embodiment Project @ Dance Mission Theater Dance In Revolt(ing) Times series showcases 16 choreogrpahers in a series thru Feb. 1, including: Jan. 23 & 24, 8pm: Nol Simonse, Nicole Klaymoon’s Embodiment Project / Destiny Arts, Esmeralda KundanisGrow, Tanya Bello’s Project. B., Bianca Mendoza’s Binki Danz. Other programs Jan 30, 31 and Feb 1. $20$50. 3316 24th st. (800) 838-3006. www.dancemission.com

Edith Piaf: Beneath Paris Skies @ Cinnabar Theater, Petaluma World premiere of a concert/theatre tribute to singer Edith Piaf, with five singers and a five-piece band; adapted for the stage by Valentina Osinski, Michael Van Why and Lauren Lundgren. $9-$66. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Jan. 25. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma. (707) 7638920. www.cinnabartheater.org

Felix d’Eon @ Magnet We Blaze Away, a new exhibit of art by the unique painter who blends vintage looks with contemporary homoeroticism. Reg. hours Mon-Wed 10am-6pm. Thru Jan. 4122 18th St. 581-1600. www.magnetsf.org

Sets @ Southern Exposure Christy Chan, Chris Kallmyer and Olivia Mole are artists-in-residence in two-week sets, where each perform and create video, installation and other media works. Special performances through the series. Thru March 7. Tue-Sat 12pm-6pm. 3030 20th St. 863-2141. www.soex.org

Spandau Ballet @ The Warfield The ‘80s pop band., reunited, performs classic hits and new music. $42-$67. 9pm. 982 Market St. www.spandauballet.com www.thewarfieldtheatre.com

Tree @ SF Playhouse Previews begin for the local production of Julie Hébert’s award-winning drama about race, family and heritage; a Southern white woman arrives at the home of a Black Chicago man, claiming to be his half-sister. $20-$120. Tue-Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 3pm, Sun 2pm. Thru March 7. 450 Post St. 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org

Wesla Whitfield @ Hotel Rex Society Cabaret presents We’re in the Money, Whitfield and Mike Greensill’s concert of classy jazz music. $35-$60. 8pm. Also Jan. 24, with songs of Harry Warren. Cocktails and small plates available. 562 Sutter St. 857-1896. www.societycabaret.com

X’s and O’s (A Football Love Story) @ Berkeley Repertory

Sat 26

Keith Hennessy @ The Annex

I Am My Own Wife @ Cinnabar Theatre, Petaluma Steven Abbott portrays 32 characters in Dough Wright’s Pulitzer and Tony award-winning play about a “deviant” German who survived the Nazi and Communist regimes. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Feb 22. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma. (707) 7638920. www.cinnabartheater.org

Indian Ink @ Geary Theatre American Conservatory Theatre presents a new production of Tom Stoppard’s drama about a 1930s poet, her relationship an Indian artist, and their descendants’ search for truths about her life. Special events thru the run, including Out with A.C.T. (LGBT after-party) Jan. 28. $20-$120. Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Also Sun 7pm. Thru Feb. 8. 415 Geary St. 749-2228. www.act-sf.org

Into the Cole @ The Marsh Berkeley Aaron Akins’ one-man show, inspired by Nat King Cole, includes songs and personal stories telling how the singer influenced the actor-musician’s life. $20-$100. Fri & Sat 8pm. Thru Feb 7. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Oakland East Bay Symphony @ Paramount Theatre Guest pianist Richard Glazier performs Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F with the symphony; also Shostakovich’s 8th Symphony. $20-$70. 8pm. 2025 Broadway, Oakland. (510) 444-0802. www.oebs.org

Our Town @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley Shotgun Players’ unusual take on the classic drama by Thornton Wilder (a 1915 Berkeley High graduate!) includes live music and a haunting take on life and death in a small town. $23-$30. Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Extended thru Jan. 25. 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org

Queer Open Mic @ Modern Times Bookstore Baruch Porras-Hernandez and Blythe Baldwin cohost the vibrant reading series, with featured comic Irene Tu. 7:30pm. 2919 24th St. 282-9246. www.mtbs.com

World premiere of KJ Sanchez’ captivating docudrama about players and rabid fans of football; directed by Tony Taccone. $29-$79. Opens Jan. 23. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm, Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru March 1. Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2918. www.berkeleyrep.org

Sat 24 Amadeus @ Hillbarn Theatre, Foster City East Bay production of the seven Tony Award-winning drama about Mozart’s rise and fall and his composer nemesis Salieri. $23-$42 Thru Feb 5. 1285 East Hilldale Blvd., Foster City. (650) 3496411. www.hillbarntheatre.org

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

Beats for Boobs @ Mezzanine 11th annual fundraiser and fashion show benefitting local breast cancer charities; includes art, food, raffles, and cocktails. $40-$100 (VIP). 7pm2am. 444 Jessie St. www.beatsforboobs.org www.mezzaninesf.com

Fool La La! @ The Marsh, Berkeley Unique Derique’s holiday clowning show’s fun for kids and adults alike. $15-$35. Daily 2pm, extended thru Feb 28. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Imogen Cunningham @ Harvey Milk Photo Center Exhibit of the renowned photographers Paris in the Sixties series. Tue.-Thu. 4pm-8:30pm. Sat & Sun 12pm-4pm. Thru Feb. 28. 50 Scott St. www.harveymilkphotocenter.org

Keith Hennessy @ The Annex World premiere of Bear/Skin, the provocative performers solo dance with storytelling, about ritual, racism, politics and more. $10-$25. 8pm. Also Jan. 25. 499 Alabama St. Also Jan. 30 & 31 at the Omni Collective, 4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. www.circozero.org

Out&About>>

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27

Keith Haring: The Political Line @ de Young Museum

It’s Everything @ KOFY-TV

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. Other exhibits as well. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. 750-3600. www.famsf.org

Pat Parker Tribute @ La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley

Thu 22

Manuel Villacorta @ Books Inc.

Marky Ramone @ Jewish Community Center The former Ramones drummer discusses his new memoir, Punk Rock Blitzkreig: My Life as a Ramone. $25. $65 (includes signed book and reception). 8pm. 3200 California St. www.jccsf.org

SF Hiking Club @ Samuel P. Taylor State Park Join GLBT hikers for a 5-mile relaxing saunter through grasslands and alongside a peaceful creek in Marin County. Crystal-clear waters and shallow, flat areas offer terrific views of the annual spawning runs of silver salmon and steelhead trout. Bring water, lunch, hat, layers, sunscreen. Carpool meets 10:00 at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores. (530) 330-5524. www.sfhiking.com

The Waiting Period @ The Marsh

The annual tribute to the lesbian poet, feminist and activist includes performances and readings by Judy Grahn, Elana Dykewomon, Jewelle Gomez, Maurisa Thompson, Bill Vartaw, Dan Brady, Auguesta Lee Collins and many others. $10-$20. 7pm. 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 849-2568. www.lapena.org

Community Initiative’s weekly informal discussion group at the dessert shop. 10:30am-12pm. 2239 Market St. 621-8664. www.sweetinspirationbakery.com

Sun 25 Abrazo, Queer Tango @ Finnish Brotherhood Hall, Berkeley Enjoy weekly same-sex tango dancing and a potluck, with lessons early in the day. $7-$15. 3:30-6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St., Berkeley. (510) 8455352. www.finnishhall.com

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

Mon 26 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 10am6pm. 104 Montgomery St., The Presidio. 345-6800. www.waltdisney.org

Rough Reading @ Tides Theatre Phillip Howze’s play-in-progress Tiny Boyfriend, about social conformity, love, faith and family, gets a staged reading. 7pm. 533 Sutter St., 2nd floor. 336-3522. www.tidestheatre.org

Tue 27 Michelle Tea @ Books Inc.

Tue 27 Bill Frisell @ Yoshi’s Oakland Guitarist, composer and innovative alt/experimental/rock musician performs new and selected classic works. $27-$59. 8pm. Also Jan. 28, 8pm, and 10pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

Book Club @ Magnet Contributors to Best Gay Erotica 2015 read and discuss their works, including editor Rob Rosen, and writers Xavier Axelson, Dale Chase and Simon Sheppard. 8pm. 4122 18th St. www.magnetsf.org

But I’m a Cheerleader! @ Castro Theatre

Slinging Satire @ Cartoon Art Museum

2 - Show y r nua PM

Jas @ 8:00

Wed 28

Doo

Art/Act: Maya Lin @ David Brower Center Exhibit of new works by the sculptor/ designer (Vietnam Memorial). Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Sun 10am-1pm. Thru Feb 4. 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley. www.browercenter.org

The internationally acclaimed Chinese sculptor’s exhibit of seven site-specific multimedia installations; the largest art exhibit ever hosted by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. $18-$30. Daily thru April 26. Ferries to and from Pier 33 at Embarcadero. www.AiWeiWeiAlcatraz.org www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/ ai-weiwei.aspx

DNALOUNGE.com

Gen. Admission $28 -VIP premium Pit $40

Lava Thomas @ Museum of the African Diaspora

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Exhibit of contemporary works. Also, The Art of Elizabeth Catlett, and historic exhibits of African cultures. Free/$10. 685 Mission St. www.moadsf.org

Queens & Cowboys @ Century SF Centre Theatre

Barbara Rhine @ Modern Times Bookstore Author of Tell No Lies discusses her book about the love triangle between three radical activists. 7pm. 2919 24th St. 282-9246. www.mtbs.com

Slinging Satire: Masters of Political Cartoons, a timely exhibit of recent works by Mark Fiore, David Horsey, Matt Wuerker, Mat Bors, Jen Sorensen and Tom Tomorrow, plus many others, in left- and rightwing politics, print, web and multimedia formats. Thru Mar. 9. Also, Stranger Than Life: The Cartoons and Comics of M.K. Brown (thru Feb 15). Other exhibits and events. Free-$8. Tue-Sun 11am-5pm. 655 Mission St. 227-8666. www.cartoonart.org

The local chanteuse performs a tribute concert of 20 Diana Ross songs, with an optional five-course dinner by Chef Shawn McFarland. $25 (show C only, two-drink minimum) or $65 (with dinner). 7pm. 2526 Mission St. M 920-0577. www.bebesweetbriar.com Y www.balancoiresf.com

Fotanicals @ SF Botanical Gardens

Fotanicals: the Secret Language of CY Flowers, an exhibition of photographs by artist joSon. Also, see blooming CMY floral displays, including new K Magnolia blossoms (51 species and 33 cultivars!). Free-$15. Daily. Golden Gate Park. 661-1316. www.SFBotanicalGarden.org

Jean Conner @ Gallery Paule Anglim The prolific artist’s exhibit of whimsical collage art from the 1960s to the present. Reg hours Tue-Fri 10am-5:30pm. Sat 10:30am-5pm. Thru Feb. 7. 14 Geary St. 433-2710. www.gallerypauleanglim.com 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

SF Sketchfest and Porchlight present the fifth annual storytelling night, with Derrick Brown, Scott Capurro, Ophira Eisenberg, Shelley McLendon, Frank Portman and Phoebe Robonson. $20. 8pm. 2424 Mariposa St. www.verdiclub.net

1500PM 0 2 , 5th @ 9:

Bebe Sweetbriar @ Balançoire

David Barnett @ Squat & Gobble

Fake It Til You Make It @ Verdi Club

The popular local author reads from and discusses her latest book, How to Grow Up. 7:30pm. 2275 Market St. 864-6777. www.booksinc.net

Thu 29

Author of Choosing to be Free: A Life Story of Rick Turner discusses the life and work of the murdered antiapartheid activist. 4pm. 2919 24th St. 282-9246. www.mtbs.com

Exhibit of scenic landscapes by the local artist. Thru Jan. 31. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.davidbarnettart.com

Michelle Tea @ Books Inc.

One-night screening of Matt Livadary’s fascinating new documentary about the gay rodeo circuit. $13. 7:30pm. 845 Market St. www.tugg.com/events/12761

Peaches Christ and her gaggle of drag queens present a screening of the satirical comedy about a gay conversion camp, with a special appearance by the film’s lead Natasha Lyonne, and a pre-show drag number; part of Sketchfest SF. $25. 7:30pm. 429 Castro St. peacheschrist.com www.castrotheatre.com

Billy Keniston @ Modern Times Bookstore

Heklina & Meat and Cheese Productions Present

At Large: Ai Weiwei @ Alcatraz Island

Brian Copeland returns with his popular solo show, about the tensions of considering suicide, and waiting for approval to buy a gun. $30-$100. Saturdays 5pm. Thru Feb. 7. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Wilde Chats @ Sweet Inspirations

Local nightlife host and singer BeBe Sweetbriar’s new streaming web talk show welcomes local celebrities. 7pm. Audience welcome at KOFY-TV, 2500 Marin St. www.BeBeSweetbriar.com

12/17/14

6:26 PM

<< Books

28 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

Winter books: Read all about them

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

VOTING BEGINS

JANUARY 29 www.ebar.com/besties

FREELANCE NEWS REPORTERS

Write for the best! The Bay Area Reporter, the undisputed newspaper of record for the San Francisco Bay Area’s LGBT community and the nation’s longst continuously-published and highest circulation LGBT newspaper, has immediate openings for Freelance Reporters. Responsibilities include: attend assigned meetings or events; necessary interviews, and writing news articles weekly. Coverage includes breaking news, City Hall, health, LGBT organizations, and other matters of interest to the community. Availability should include at least one of the following: weekday daytime hours, evenings or weekends to cover assigned events. News reporting experience preferred; newspaper background a plus. Candidates should demonstrate ability to write under deadline and be detail-oriented. Send cover letter, resume & writing samples to c.laird@ebar.com Cynthia Laird, News Editor, Bay Area Reporter, 44 Gough Street, Suite 204, San Francisco, CA 94103 415-829-8749

by Gregg Shapiro

scar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench has worked with some of the great gay actors of our time, including Ian McKellan, Simon Callow, Antony Sher, Ben Wishaw, Rupert Everett and the late John Gielgud and Denholm Elliott, as well as gay writer John Logan and gay filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli. Dench also portrayed obsessive lesbian stalker Barbara Covett in Notes From a Scandal and the mother of a gay son in Philomena and J. Edgar. All of these actors, movies and more can be found in the pages of Dench’s new book Behind the Scenes (St. Martin’s). Journalist and biographer James Gavin, who has written about Lena Horne, Chet Baker and “the golden age of cabaret,” turns his attention to legendary singer/songwriter Peggy Lee in Is That All There Is? The Strange Life of Peggy Lee (Atria), detailing the rise and fall of the woman whose hits included “Fever” and songs from Disney’s Lady and the Tramp. Musician and writer Daniel Rachel, the author of The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters (St. Martin’s Griffin), compiled 27 interviews with “British songwriting giants,” including queer artists such as Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe (of Pet Shop Boys) and Joan Armatrading, as well as talented allies including Annie Lennox, Billy Bragg and Lily Allen. Alone: The Triumph and Tragedy of John Curry (Bloomsbury) by Bill Jones follows openly gay British figure skater John Curry from public Olympic glory to the privacy of “a tortured, lonely man of labyrinthine complexity.” Coming Out To Play (Penguin) by Robbie Rogers, with Eric Marcus, is openly gay soccer superstar Rogers’ effort to clarify the “shorthand versions” of his life that have made it to print (and other media) since he came out publicly in early 2013. The book includes 16 pages of photos and three “trading cards.”

Described as “a century of portraits from the photographers of the Chicago Tribune,” the coffee-table book Chicago Portraits (Midway), with a foreword by Rick Kogan and an introduction by Chicago Tribune Picture Editor Michael Zajakowski, begins on a queer note with a 2012 Alex Garcia photo of Brian Bannon, the openly gay head of the Chicago Public Library. Other LGBT portraits include Gerald Arpino, Rudolph Valentini, queer couples Stan Shellbarger and Dutes Miller and Sarah Stigler and Missy Davellis, and LGBT supporters Barack Obama, Richard M. Daley, Studs Terkel, Lady Gaga and others. Drag goddess Jeza Belle’s coffee table cookbook The Harlot’s Guide to Messy Classy Cocktails (Outskirts Press), with an introduction by none other than Lady Bunny, features drink recipes – separated into categories “Aperitif,” “Power Lunch,” “Party” and “Passed Out Drunk in the Alley” – by more than two dozen of her “fabulous drag queen friends from around the world,” including Latrice Royale, Yara Sofia, Kevin Aviance, Tyra Sanchez, Sister Roma and Sherry Vine. “A personal story of a writer’s hunger to be published,” Publishing: A Writer’s Memoir (Bloomsbury) by Gail Godwin, with drawings by Frances Halsband, is an intimate portrait of Godwin’s life as a writer and author of 14 novels and two short story collections, some of which were New York Times bestsellers as well as National Book Award finalists. “The most trusted stranger in America,” Frank Warren, creator of the PostSecret project in which people share their most intimate secrets on postcards and send them to him, has compiled hundreds of these creative confessions on topics ranging from sex, infidelity, weight, sexual and domestic abuse, to love, hate, insecurity, lies and more, into the book The World of PostSecret (William Morrow). Viv Albertine, who played guitar in the influential, all-female, femi-

nist UK punk band The Slits, has her say in Clothes Clothes Clothes Music Music Music Boys Boys Boys (Thomas Dunne/St. Martin’s), in which she details her personal adventures involving Sid Vicious (and Nancy Spungen!), Johnny Thunders (of the New York Dolls), The Clash (specifically Mick Jones) and other musicians, as well as the birth of punk, the men (and women) in her life, and the role of fashion. Sophie Tucker was a real person, but in I Am Sophie Tucker (Prospecta Press) by Susan & Lloyd Ecker (producers of the doc The Outrageous Sophie Tucker), the authors have come up with the first in a three-part series of fictional memoirs about Tucker, also known as the “Last of the Red Hot Mamas.” Waiting for a collaboration between acclaimed songwriter Stephin Merritt (the Magnetic Fields, Future Bible Heroes, the Gothic Archies) and The New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast? The wait is over. Merritt applies his love of word games, specifically Scrabble and Words With Friends, to queer and quippy fourline poems in 101 Two-Letter Words (Norton), each with an accompanying illustration by Chast. This book is an entertaining and educational gift for lovers of language and word play. The title almost says it all when it comes to Justin Luke Zirilli’s The Gay Gospel: A Survival Guide for Gay 20Somethings in America Today (justinlukenyc.com). With a foreword by Michael Musto and an afterword by Billy Porter, the book is separated into sections addressing “Looking,” “Dating,” “Loving,” “Breaking Up,” “Doing It,” “Partying” and “Living.” There are readers who also want to be writers. Steven Pinker’s The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century (Viking) applies cognitive science and other tools to get to the heart of language and writing, to make us not only better writers, but also better readers.t

DVD>>

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 29

Members only by Brian Bromberger

s your dick the polestar of your life? Do you think about your dick constantly? If yes, you are hardly alone, as the new film Dick: The Documentary, just released on DVD by IndiePix Films, makes clear. In August 2008, first-time director Brian Fender posted an ad on Craigslist inviting strangers into his home: “Wanted: Anonymous Naked Male Subjects to appear on camera for interviews.” Over the following year, he brought 63 men from the ages of 22 to 82 into his dining room to reveal themselves physically and emotionally through personal stories about their relationship to their cocks. The movie features a wide cross-section of subjects and backgrounds, covering all orientations, as well as a gamut of professions from monks to ex-Marines. Dick: The Documentary defines shoestring-budget filmmaking. In one of the bonus extras, we see Fender putting up the cardboard red screen in his dining room that serves as a background. We view the men from their chests down – no heads, which initially seems a disappointment, as we would love to see facial expressions as they ruminate about their penises. Yet we quickly become aware that without anonymity, most of these men would be neither naked for the camera, nor as revealing in their answers. The film is not Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Your Dick, But Were Afraid To Ask. It is not really fact-oriented, but rather subjective opinions on questions thrown out by Fender, such as: What do you call your dick? When did you first

become aware of your dick? When did you first see your father naked? When did you start masturbating? Do you remember the first time you showed your dick to someone else? How do you feel about other guys’ dicks? Where did you get information about your dick and sexuality when you were going through puberty? What was your first orgasm like? How big is your dick, and how do you measure it? Does size matter? Along the way, such thorny issues as impotence, prostrate cancer, circumcision, molestation, and religious guilt are tangentially broached. Most of the men are shown stripping off their clothes, and one can almost hear the drum roll as underwear is discarded (hands down, gay men have more attractive and flattering underwear than straight men). One might think that just watching mostly averagelooking men sitting in a chair or standing talking would get boring, but because the topic is universal, the experiences enlightening, and the dialogue so frank, the movie is compelling. This is one picture that could certainly have been longer than the 48 minutes allotted. None of the issues are approached comprehensively, yet we are given “insightful glimpses into the male psyche.” One can’t help noticing whether consciously (to show their erection) or not, almost all the men were touching their cocks as they philosophized about them, perhaps to combat nervousness or promote confidence. Overall the tone is celebratory and sex-positive, and the viewer receives the impression that most of the men are happy, even re-

lieved, to talk about what their dicks mean personally to them. The comments of the participants range from riotous to poignant. One guy, seduced by his friend’s mother, says, “She taught me a hun-

dred tricks, which have served me well through the years.” One chap, lured into sex at 12 by another guy at the library, thought his dick “was broken because all this white stuff started oozing out.” “My dick is like

a thermometer, as it tells me what I am feeling.” “I have been waiting all day to play, and later on it comes time, and my dick won’t get hard. Why have you forsaken me, dick?” “My big dick gives me pride, but I don’t want to let people define me by it. I need to be in a relationship so I know there is more there than just wanting to have sex with a big dick.” “Why does anyone want a big dick? Small dicks are the last thing everyone feels is still okay to make fun of.” “I’m so proud of all the pleasure my dick has given to all the many women I have slept with.” One man didn’t start masturbating till age 20 because he thought he would go to hell if he did. But now he counsels his son that sex is natural and he should enjoy it, get as much as he can without any guilt at all, advising him to treat his partner with respect. Overall, Dick: The Documentary subtly makes the point of how sexocentric men are. It seems one’s dick is paramount to one’s male identity, regardless of one’s orientation. One appreciates the candor of the remarks even if you disagree with a guy’s viewpoint. Maybe if men would be more honest about their common experiences related to their penises, sexual orientation wouldn’t be such a divisive issue. While Dick is no cinematic masterpiece, Fender has thoughtfully “peeled back the mysteries surrounding men’s private parts and explored the unspoken ‘member’ of modern society.” Maybe he will make a follow-up film. Ass: The Sequel Documentary?t Available at indiepixfilms.com and Amazon.com.

Pleasure principles by Jim Piechota

Kinky Gay Sex: A Game Plan by Kit Christopher; Bruno Gmuender Group, $39.99 omprehensively and creatively addressing the ever-expansive rainbow of kinkdom and fetishplay subject matter, the impeccably produced (and very pink) picture book Kinky Gay Sex: A Game Plan, from Berlin LGBT erotic publishing house Bruno Gmuender, covers everything from dirty talk and role-play to water sports and fisting

– and everything in-between. After flipping through the generous, glossy porn-studio still shots provided by Falcon, Hot House, Raging Stallion, Lucas Entertainment, Titanmen, and All Worlds Video among others, Kit Christopher’s creative text will also grab readers’ attention. The narrative is chatty and informational, yet pitched on a relatable, everyman level, rather than as the kind of “scholarly, academic treatise” found in more stiffly instructive books. The book opens with an explora-

tion of dirty talk (aural sex), academically known as “lagneuomania,” and immediately lifts this type of hot sex-chat from old-school, porn-movie-script speech into a how-to guide to lurid language. Christopher offers tips on speaking successfully into your partner’s ear, and counsels on how to proceed when things get awkward. Elsewhere, this horny, edgy guidebook delves into the pleasures of voyeurism (“visual stimulation is the key ignition for starting the sex engine revving for most men”), the hunt for casual nudity in public (also known as “fugitive exhibitionism”), and a short profile of legendary porn star Peter Berlin, who “turned his need for self-display into art.” A chapter on the powerful, choreographed dance of roleplaying, power exchange, and surrender also includes warning labels for re-enacting more intensive fantasies like incest and superhero battles. There’s also a laundry list of fantasy ideas for those who find themselves at a loss for their next kinky infatuation, such as balloon play, humiliation, and “aptemnophilia” (sexualizing amputees). Or perhaps “sploshing” could seem like a fun idea (i.e., “having a vat of butterscotch pudding dumped on you while masturbating”). More commonplace fetishes and kinks are handled with class and a sexy sense of fun as well. Standout sections include leather (including an evolutionary timeline), dom/ sub scenes (from subtle to extreme), S/M dynamics (“transactions of pain”), rubber, golden shower peeplay (“urination variations”), the “erotic burlesque” of power-play games found in professional wrestling, spanking, and practical orgytips such as “expectation management,” which is a kind way of saying douche out any holes you’d like played with or filled. Aficionados of gay porn will sure-

ly recognize many of the tanned, manicured, and meticulously muscled men in the book’s photographs. Sure, these pages are commercially glammed up and expertly lit, but this type of perfection imagery gels well with the graphic subject matter and Christopher’s useful (and often hilariously “real”) sex tips. Much more than just a showand-tell coffee-table book, Christopher’s creation not only saturates the senses with gay porn’s ultra-hot and horny show ponies, but also instructs those with an inquiring mind and an eager libido about how to procure their own sense of “divinely twisted kink” or “demented

little fetish.” It’s a new year, so why not turn up the heat by exploring and experimenting with your sexuality, and investing some time in expanding your erotic repertoire? This provocative, well-rounded, super-sexy manifestation of fantasy will help to cultivate the “dozens of subterranean, deviant desires that you have never investigated.” Kit Christopher, a pseudonym for Berlin-based erotic-magazine editor Thomas Lanier, believes “there’s something radical and transgressive in following your most kinky desires.” Be a good boy, pick up this book and begin expanding your own carnal horizons.t

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30 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

Billy Porter

From page 21

“I know what it’s like to be black and gay and out in this business. And there wasn’t shit for me to do,” Porter, 45, said recently from New York. And so there was no hesitation when he was offered a chance to extend his Kinky Boots contract into 2016. “I don’t want to be bankrupt anymore. I want to work, and they pay me bags and bags of money, praise the Lord. And it just so happens it’s an amazing job that I don’t get tired of doing.” However, that new contract provides Porter with a three-month leave of absence beginning next week so he can perform a new nightclub act that will make one of its first stops at Feinstein’s at the Nikko on Jan. 30-Feb. 1. Many of the songs will come from Porter’s new CD, Billy’s Back on Broadway, which is made up of show tunes given Porter’s own R&B stamp. With a repertoire that includes “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” and “Luck Be a Lady,” most of the songs will be familiar to even casual theatergoers. “That was really the point,” he said. “I found in my creative journey that when you deconstruct a song, the more familiar it is to the lay person, the more interesting it becomes when they have a base of knowledge of what it was originally.” The overriding themes of his musical choices, he said, “are songs of inspiration and empowerment, because I feel like I’m the personification of living that kind of truth while trying to stay hopeful in the lean years. It’s a huge lesson I learned

Cheerleader

From page 22

how dark comedy can help us cope and survive something awful,” she said. “The whole ex-gay conversion therapy, or simply being rejected by a family or community for being queer, has been a reality for so many people for years. The film has a transgressive way of making fun of the whole notion, while also celebrating the stereotypes in a really campy, outrageous way.” Peaches feels that humor is a wonderful way of addressing some of our more serious issues. People will hear your message when they’re laughing and in a good mood. “The whole concept is audacious, and the proof that it is successful is the fact that the film has a huge cult-follow-

on my life toward Kinky Boots, and I just wanted to share that energy.” In Kinky Boots, he plays a crossdressing entertainer who partners with the owner of a struggling shoe factory in a tradition-bound English city to create high-heel footwear that can support the weight of a man’s body. Acceptance and self-forgiveness are major themes in the musical, adapted from a British movie by Harvey Fierstein and with an original score by Cyndi Lauper. (Lauper makes a guest appearance on Porter’s new album, for a “Happy Days Are Here Again”/”Get Happy” medley.) After arriving in New York from Pittsburgh in the 1980s, Porter landed a couple of Broadway gigs that provided a paycheck and little more. Then came his razzle-dazzle performance in Grease singing “Beauty School Dropout” with Little Richard-squared flamboyance. It was a great showcase until it wasn’t. “Don’t misunderstand me. My problem was never in stopping the show. Everybody likes to stop the show. My problem was the archetype I represented was that of a clown, someone who audiences experienced as just a one-trick pony. That’s why I didn’t like showing up at the theater and not having a story. I’m a human being. I’m a black, gay, out man, and if you’re not interested in hearing my story, I’m done.” Porter did land a record deal on a major label after Grease, but that also proved an unsatisfying experience. “I’ve always been out, and that was the problem,” he said. “The label wanted me in the closet and I wanted success, so I agreed not to talk about

it. But I wasn’t running around trying to make people think I was having sexual relations with girls. I wasn’t showing up to red-carpet functions with a girl on my arm. I would just show up by myself.” The new album and the upcoming live performances are giving Porter a chance, he said, “to rejoin the concert world with this new adult version of myself, after trying to be a traditional soul R&B artist.” He’ll launch his v.2 concert persona in high style at Lincoln Center two days before his Feinstein’s run, as part of The American Songbook Series that PBS will tape for later broadcast. And then come April, it’s back into Kinky Boots, at least through January of next year. “If someone wants to put me on a TV show, I’ll be happy to leave,” he said. “But I can’t afford to sit around unemployed waiting for my imaginary opportunity. An R&Bsinging drag queen on Broadway is not something that happens everyday.” If Porter’s at-long-last satisfying success has come frustratingly late, he also sees the wait as necessary. “It couldn’t have happened any sooner because I needed to lead a life that would prepare me for the weight of this opportunity,” he said. “Everyone told me who I was and what I represented would never work, and yet here we are because I trusted in myself. Besides, how often do you get to do something that not only is entertaining, but has a message, and not only does it have a message, but it’s something people actually want to see?”t

ing now,” she said. Peaches addressed the newfound LGBT visibility that was exploding at the time of Cheerleader’s initial release. “It was part of the New Queer Cinema movement that really thrived in the 90s,” she recalled. “So many great queer films were coming out, and I remember being super-impressed by the outrageous art direction, costuming, and overall queerness of Cheerleader.” Lyonne and Peaches will be taking to the Castro stage as old friends. In 2010, Lyonne starred in the horror flick All About Evil, which was shot at various iconic San Francisco locations, most notably the Victoria Theater at 16th and Mission. All About Evil was written and directed by Joshua Grannell, the alter-ego of Peaches Christ.

“We became close during the shoot, and have stayed good friends,” Peaches said. “I feel a real connection to her because she helped me realize one of my biggest dreams, making a feature film. She also helped me to survive it.” Peaches said that she was happy for Lyonne’s escalating career. “When she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Orange Is the New Black, I was a screaming queen, I was so proud!” For her part, Lyonne said that she loves Peaches, and that they both share a deep appreciation for older, classic films. Peaches promises that there will be some real live cheerleading on the Castro stage. “I worked with Cheer SF so we do it right,” she said. There will also be a live interview with Lyonne, conducted by Peaches. “Even though we’ve appeared together onstage in the past, I’ve never had the opportunity to interview her,” the drag superstar said. “I’m really excited.”t

Billy Porter will perform Jan. 30Feb. 1 at Feinstein’s at the Nikko. Tickets are $45-$60. Call 394-1100 or go to hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins for more information.

But I’m a Cheerleader: The Peaches Christ Experience, Tues., Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m., Castro Theatre, 429 Castro, SF. Tickets ($25) & info: sfsketchfest.com.

ebar.com

Matthew Murphy

Billy Porter is taking a break from his starring role in Kinky Boots for a short concert tour with what he calls “a new adult version of myself.”

Actress Natasha Lyonne will appear at the Castro Theatre.

Scene from the 1999 film But I’m a Cheerleader.

Music>>

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 31

Bands on the run by Gregg Shapiro

uture Islands’ Singles (4AD) isn’t a hits compilation, in spite of the album’s title, but it should be. Every song on the album is strong enough to stand on its own, and the combined firepower of the tracks is dazzling. Part of the credit goes to the trio’s lead vocalist Samuel T. Herring, whose soulful wail is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. Irresistible Herring hooks listeners the moment he opens his mouth on “Seasons (Waiting on You).” It also helps that the songwriting, one of the most successful updates of new wave in recent memory, is phenomenal. You can dance if you want to, to songs such as the haunting “Spirit,” the slinky “Doves,” the radiant “Light House,” “Like the Moon” and “A Dream of You & Me.” For sheer beauty, you can’t go wrong with Familiars (Anti) by The Antlers. The Antlers are an all-male trio who incorporate electronics into their sound, with an organic approach including Darby Cicci’s

trumpet. The results are stunning, especially on the grand opener “Palace.” The moody “Hotel” is an invitation to check in and stay awhile, and the moody “Intruders” is welcome. Listeners may find themselves returning to the subtle torch and twang of “Revisited,” and will find it hard to resist “Surrender.” OK Go is probably better known for its inventive music videos than for its music, but that should change with Hungry Ghosts (Parachute/ BMG). Sure, the visually remarkable videos for the New Order-esque “The Writing’s on the Wall” and the funky retro disco hand-clapper “I Won’t Let You Down” are tasty. But here’s the thing: even without the visuals, both songs are special in their own right. The same holds true for the bombastic “Upside Down & Inside Out,” the blippy “Another Set of Issues,” the INXS-y “Obsession,” the soaring soul of “If I Had a Mountain,” the sexy slither of “I’m Not Through” and the soothing “Lullaby.” Kongos, made up of four brothers – Johnny, Jesse, Dylan and Danny

– are the men behind the hit single “Come with Me Now” from their major-label debut album Lunatic (Epic). The Kongos brothers are the progeny of a singer/songwriter, John Kongos (of the 1970s hits “Tokoloshe Man” and “He’s Gonna Step on Again”), who also had a hand in their record (as exec producer/backing vocalist). On its new album Second Sight (Factor/Sonic Tonic/Warner), Canadian band Hey Rosetta! rides in

on a vibe similar to fellow Great White North music-makers Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene. Although they lack those bands’ hipster mentality, there is plenty to appeal to a wide range of listeners. Visionary tracks include “Gold Teeth,” “Neon Beyond,” “Promise” and the irresistible “Kintsukuroi.” Cool CD cover aside, Delta Spirit’s Into the Wide (Dualtone) sounds like the sun-drenched band’s most

accomplished release to date. Calling on a wide range of influences from the 70s through the early 21st century, Delta Spirit’s electrified Americana is at its most refreshing on “Take Shelter,” “Language of the Dead” and the gorgeous closing tune “The Wreck.” Cold War Kids wasted no time following up 2013’s Dear Miss Lonelyhearts with the impressive Hold My Home (Downtown), containing the song “Harold Bloom,” which name-checks the renowned literary critic and religion writer. Lyfe (Western Vinyl) the striking second album by Glass Ghost, features a number of guest artists including queer musician Joan Wasser of Joan As Police Woman fame. There’s no one named Margot in the band Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s; the name comes from a character in Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums. The band’s new album, Sling Shot to Heaven (Mariel), continues the tradition of pretty chamber pop the band has been making for almost 10 years.t

Cyberwar revelations remembered by David Lamble

aking his title We Steal Secrets from a former CIA spy chief, director-prducer-writer Alex Gibney moved into an elite class of filmmakers pushing the possibilities of the intimate epic to the breaking point. It’s amusing to watch a filmmaker who can quote Star Trek Commander James T. Kirk on coping with no-win situations, as well as author F. Scott Fitzgerald. “The test of first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” Out on DVD, We Steal Secrets (Focus Features) opens decades ago as NASA prepares to launch a controversial space probe with plutonium cargo. The NASA engineers are chagrined to discover a cyberworm attacking their launchpad computers. The worm will be traced as far as Australia before the trail goes cold. Later, a longhaired-genius Aussie teen is arrested for hacking into the computers supporting the Aussie/American mutual defense treaty. The teen, raised in a series of makeshift homes and schools, is sentenced to probation and community service. As an adult, Julian Assange will regret his confession, declaring he wasn’t sorry at all. He goes to school, marries, divorces, and raises a son as a single parent.

Oscar noms

From page 25

Lead actor: Steve Carell, Foxcatcher An unsettling portrayal of a truly creepy loner, Carell, with the help of big fake nose, gets under our skin with the depiction of how seriously amok a rich lunatic can run. Bradley Cooper, American Sniper The stolidly dependable Cooper delivers for Clint. Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game Cumberbatch misses the queer soul of his eccentric loner/ war hero. Michael Keaton, Birdman The likely winner of Oscar’s supreme male prize. Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything Eddie steals this queer boy’s heart, and not for the first time. Director: Alejandro G. Inarritu, Birdman My favorite among Mexico’s acclaimed “three Amigos” directors, he once asked me, “Why do the gay boys love Gael [Garcia Bernal]?”

Almost a generation after his adolescent shenanigans, Assange, now sporting a white mane, will emerge as the public face of a new online organization dedicated to exposing superpower secrets. “I’m a combative person. I like combating bastards!” Gibney slips PFC Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning into the narrative in the form of his series of e-mails to a former teen hacker. “Bradass87” first describes his access to a treasure trove of American diplomatic documents and war reports: “Hi, I’m an army intelligence analyst. I don’t have anyone to talk to. I can’t believe what I’m telling you. An entire repository of classified foreign policy is available, it affects everybody on earth. Information should be free!” Later, the messages from cyberspace will turn melancholy, even desperate: “I’m isolated and lonely as fuck! I’m a broken soul!” Gibney’s Manning and Assange are created without the benefit of sit-down chats – or, in the case of the imprisoned Manning, any direct contact between filmmaker and subject. A benefit of this journalistic remove is that Secrets is a nonsensational depiction of each one’s claims to being the story’s true hero, while not red-lining the tabloid potential of their private stories. Assange first rides onto Gibney’s stage with Galahad-like purity, seem-

ingly a selfless pursuer of justice through truth-telling. A one-time admirer calls him “a John Lennonlike revolutionary.” But as the drama heightens, Galahad unravels, and we see a slippery operator with layers of private agendas. The turning point comes when two Swedish women accuse Assange of “sexual assault,” meaning sex without condoms. As Assange’s star fades, thenBradley Manning becomes a more sympathetic figure. The Oklahoma computer genius joins the army as a Bible Belt refugee from a town he describes as having “more pews than people.” Gibney creates an ambush photo-montage: we see Manning on a workplace Coca-Cola high, and in one short video, at a hacker’s confab, he’s standing next to a boyfriend. Seeing the camera, he strikes a flirty pose, recalling the boyfriend’s nickname for him: Jean Harlow. The gesture is poignant as Manning reveals his torturous inner debate about wanting to dress and live as a woman. One of the ironies of this internal gender-identity turmoil is his confession that he almost welcomes getting caught for his document dump to Assange, almost welcomes a life sentence, except for the legacy of his portrait plastered around the world in boy drag. Bonus features: deleted scenes; and then-Bradley, now-Chelsea Manning testifies.t

Richard Linklater, Edward Norton, BirdBoyhood It’s the Texas man This Yalie never fails Golden Boy’s year. He who to please. gave us the word “slacker” Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatchwill prove he’s no slouch in er The oddball drama’s any facet of movie storysole redeeming character. telling. P.S. His boy-actor J.K. Simmons, Whipfind Ellar Coltrane is cerlash A loud, unforgettable tainly worthy of a nominamale presence giving his tion. boy pupil the manly slaps Bennett Miller, Foxhe craves. catcher The film is creepy Animated feature: Big and not my cup of tea, but Hero 6, The Boxtrolls I Miller’s a worthy director have a sneaky feeling about who always looks for the this one. How To Train oddest of God’s creatures. Your Dragon 2, Song of the Wes Anderson, The Sea, The Tale of the PrinDisney Grand Budapest Hotel cess Kaguya Morten Tyldum, The Im- Perennial nominee: Meryl Streep is in the SupportDocumentary feature: itation Game Little-known- ing Actress mix for Into the Woods. CitizenFour A scintillatoutside-Britain director has ing take on an American Supporting actor: Robert Dupeaked in this year’s derby. tech-boy rebel turned exvall, The Judge A trouper gets reSupporting actress: Patricia iled “bride of Putin.” Finding Vivian spect but not the trophy for playing Arquette, Boyhood It’s hers to lose. Maier, Last Days in Vietnam, The an elderly jurist to whom nobody Laura Dern, Wild; Keira Knightley, Salt of the Earth, Virunga else could do justice. The Imitation Game; and Emma Documentary short subject: Ethan Hawke, Boyhood Linklater’s Stone, Birdman flesh out the dance Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1, Joactor alter-ego serves him well as a card. Meryl Streep, Into the Woods anna, Our Curse, The Reaper (La dad coming late to maturity. She’s always in the conversation. Parka), White Earth

Foreign language film: Ida (Poland), Leviathan (Russia) It’s feeling like a Russian year in this catchup category. Tangerines (Estonia), Timbuktu (Mauritania), Wild Tales (Argentina) Adapted screenplay: Jason Hall, American Sniper; Graham Moore, The Imitation Game; Paul Thomas Anderson, Inherent Vice; Anthony McCarten, The Theory of Everything; Damien Chazelle, Whiplash For the stirring of stories adapted from another medium, Chazelle draws up the blueprint for an incendiary “straight dad/son” S/M pitched battle. Original screenplay: Alejandro G. Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and Armando Bo, Birdman Inarritu will get his award, often the consolation prize from the Best Picture derby, after losing to Boyhood’s Linklater. E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, Foxcatcher; Wes Anderson (screenplay), Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness (story), The Grand Budapest Hotel; Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawlert

America’s longest continuously-published and highest circulation LGBT newspaper presents

Besties THE LGBT BEST OF THE BAY

20 15

s ’ r e t r o e p c i e o R h a c e ’ r s r The Bay A 5th annual reade are coming soon! awards Beginning next Thursday, readers can vote online at www.ebar.com/besties or by paper ballot appearing from next week through the end of February.

Readers will cast their votes for their favorite people, places and things in the San Francisco Bay Area. They’ll also be entered in our contest and be eligible to win some great prizes including five nights of accommodations at Maui Sunseeker Resort and much, much more. The winners of our BESTIES: the LGBT Best of the Bay will be announced in our 45th anniversary issue on Thursday, April 2.

MERCHANTS: Align your company’s brand among the best in the San Francisco Bay Area. Call (415) 861-5019 or email advertising@ebar.com for information on advertising during our voting period and in our April 2 Besties edition.

Imperial Court

NIGHTLIFE DINING

Company Men

SPIRITS

PrEP; Mr. Powerhouse

SOCIETY

ROMANCE

LEATHER

PERSONALS Vol. 45 • No. 04 • January 22-28, 2015

www.ebar.com ✶ www.bartabsf.com

Adore Delano Project Publicity

RuPaul’s Drag Race Star Rocks by Max Leger

uPaul’s Drag Race is one of the most amazing television shows ever created. One of the reasons why is because it introduces us to people like Adore Delano. Watching her develop over Season 6 was a joy to behold. Alhough she is only 24, she always comported herself with the humor and grace of an older queen. Her bubbly personality and humorous non-sequiters (favorite catchphrase: “Party!”) kept the overall atmosphere from becoming too bitchy. See page 34

Adore Delano rocks onstage

Dot

BEBE SINGS THE BLUES Bebe Sweetbriar pays homage to Diana Ross by David-Elijah Nahmod

n Thursday, January 29, local drag star and host of countless nightlife events Bebe Sweetbriar will pay homage to one of the music world’s greatest icons. In To Diana Ross, With Love, Sweetbriar will perform twenty of Miss Ross’s iconic tunes from her post-Supremes period. Sweetbriar discussed what Ross means to her, pointing out that her show will be an actual singing performance. Sweetbriar will share her own live vocal stylings when she takes to the stage. The show, along with dinner, can be enjoyed at Balancoire in the Mission. See page 36

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34 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

Project Publicity

Enthusiastic fans at a recent Adore Delano show.

Adore Delano

From page 33

This refreshing attitude was backed up with an incredible stage presence as well as a beautiful singing voice. These talents were already on display when she was a contestant (as Danny Noriega, her boy drag) on American Idol in 2008, where she sassed Simon Cowell and reached #13. She has also produced dozens of videos for YouTube where she sings her favorite pop songs and shares her humorous takes on various topics. What really made me and my Drag Race viewing group consider her a contender for the Season 6 crown was her spot-on impersonation of the late Anna Nicole Smith. Adore made it to the top three (Bianca Del Rio won), and since the show has been busy touring to support her new album titled Till Death Do Us Party. I caught up with her on email while she was bouncing around Australia. After a breif haitus, Delano is back on tour and returns to San Francisco. You have posted a prolific amount of videos on YouTube, as Danny Noriega, Angel Baby, or Adore Delano. What inspired you to start making videos to begin with? I had shit to complain about and I knew other people had to have shared my same views on life, so I picked up the camera. Was your Angel Baby character a precursor to Adore, or will Angel make a comeback at some point in the future? Angel Baby is a YouTube character. She had nothing to do with Adore, and yes, she will never die. BAR 3.75x5 online appointment ad v3.indd 1

8/15/14 10:17 AM

Project Publicity

Top: Adore on the floor. Bottom: Adore Delano with her band.

Clearly you have a very strong relationship with your cousin John/Lil’ Sniper, who is featured in several of your videos, and is now currently your personal assistant on tour. Describe how that relationship developed. John and I grew up together and our siblings are all very close. You also have a very strong relationship with your mom. How does she feel about the public life you have lead over the last several years? She didn’t mind it, although now I know she misses me a lot because we usually spend a lot of time together. I love her. You struck me as having one of the strongest senses of inner peace of anyone who has been on RuPaul’s Drag Race, never reading anyone in a nasty way and willing to take criticism with a sense of humor. Where do you think that comes from? That comes from an amazing mother who raised me right. I knew what I was getting into on the show and my mom told me, “The way you act reflects on the way I raised you.” You also give really clear fierce face, grrl. I noticed it first on Drag Race during a Lipsynch For Your Life, and it’s really strong in your videos, particularly the song “DTF.” Someone could read your expressions across a stadium. Is that something you consciously work at? No, it’s just natural. I make crazy faces!

Your album is musically and lyrically quite interesting and fun to listen to, particularly in contrast to most of the other Drag Race contestants who have put out albums. How involved are you in writing/producing your music? I’m very involved. I co-wrote the whole album; some songs more than others, but Ashley Levy, who co-wrote it with me, is awesome! I noticed that your San Francisco and Sacramento tour dates are the only ones with a band accompanying you. How did you assemble these musicians, and what difference does it make to you in how you perform? I also have band dates in Seattle and Canada. These guys are crazy talented and the performances are definitely more raw and punk with a band. How familiar are you with San Francisco? Do you have any favorite things you like to do or places to visit when you’re in town? I love the Krylon store on Mission and shopping in The Castro. Finally, do you have anything you’d like to say to all the mermaids out there? Just keep swimming! t Adore Delano performs music from her new CD Til Death Do Us Party, live with her band. $22.50 (general admission) and $40 (premium pit/meet & greet). Sunday, January 25, 9pm. DNA Lounge, 375 11th St. www.DNAlounge.com

Read more online at www.ebar.com

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 35

3: mid-1980s The Imperial Court of San Francisco Part to mid-1990s by Donna Sachet

ith the Emperor and Empress Coronations finally aligned, the Imperial Court of San Francisco began to take on a clearer structure, but never lost its sense of fun, as evidenced by the results of the 1985 election when the Monarch Butterfly Emperor XIII, A.N., Ken Wright and the Galactica Absolute Empress XX Sissy Spaceout were crowned. They were known for their outrageous costumes and even had a spaceship lowered in from the ceiling during their step-down. In 1986, out of a field of three emerged the Triple Crown Pegasus Emperor XIV, A.N., Matthew Brown and from a field of four, the 24 Karat Solid Gold Diamond Empress and Night Life of Leather Absolute Empress XXI Sable Clown. Sable shocked many of the old guard with her white face drag, but out of support for her creativity, Empress I Jose appeared at their Investiture in white face and Asian attire. At that same Investiture, Matthew appeared as Julius Caesar and his Empress was carried on stage rolled up in a rug to be unrolled at the feet of the Emperor. These were financially astute and productive monarchs. Matthew produced Folsom Follies, which raised thousands to help those injured in motorcycle accidents. The duo produced one of the most successful Imperial Coronations with a net profit that established a firm financial footing for the Imperial Board for the very first time. 1987 saw the election of the Phoenix Emperor XV, A.N., Patrick McGonigle and the Gemstone Absolute Empress XXII Tina Tanner. Continuing the Imperial Court’s strong ties to the Leather Community, Tina drove her motorcycle in that year’s Pride Parade with Patrick as her buddy rider. In 1988, the Imperial Court embraced the earthquake history of San Francisco as the Shaky Quake Empire Emperor XVI, A.N. Steven Rascher and the Rhinestone Bullhorn Absolute Empress XXIII Lily Street joined City officials at the traditional annual ceremony at Lotta’s Fountain, marking the April 18, 1906 disaster at precisely 5:12AM. Their Investiture featured “Bowling for Titles” at the Japantown Bowling Center; yes, the higher the score, the higher the title! During their year, Lily drove Steven crazy

1: Emperor 13 A.N. Ken Wright and Absolute Empress 20 Sissy Spaceout. 2: Emperor 14 A.N. Matthew Brown and Absolute Empress 21 Sable Clown. 3: Absolute Empress 22 Tina Tanner and Emperor 15 A.N. Patrick McGonigle 4: Emperor 16 A.N. Steven Rascher and Absolute Empress 23 Lily Street

with her shiny bullhorn and Steven started the now annual tradition of a fundraising turn-about night, when the Emperor appeared in drag, as well as “Boys Nights Out” and a Mr. and Ms. Alcatraz camp title. At their Coronation the monarchs had telephones on the dais connected to telephones at the premium guest tables. The Reign of the Leather Lion Emperor XVII, A.N., Jerry Coletti and the 24 Karat Gold Absolute Empress Pat Montclaire set new standards across the International Court System for extensive travel, pompous splendor, and record-breaking fundraising. At their step-down in 1990, they astounded the audience with an elaborate Egyptian-themed entrance with Jerry and Pat carried on a litter by muscular men in loincloths. For the second act, Jerry flew in by wire from the second floor as Batman, a feat never repeated. They were followed by the Friendship Emperor XVIII, A.N., Simeon Traw and the Silver Peacock Absolute Empress XXV Marlena, much beloved by the public and known for their matching outfits, created by Simeon himself. This was the first time an Emperor ran for the

David Nyberg and our first transgender Empress, the Diamond Absolute Empress XXVIII Jackie Reynolds. Theirs was the first Investiture held in the Rotunda of City Hall. That year, the complex process of separation from the Tavern Guild and conversion to a separate nonprofit organization began, resulting in the Imperial Council of San Francisco, advised by the Council of Emperors and the Council of Empresses, finally approved by the state in 1994 and federally in 1995. 1994 began what many refer to as “the golden years” of the Imperial Court of San Francisco, starting with the reign of the Nuts and Bolts Emperor and Empress, Emperor XXII, A.N., Chuck Adkins and Absolute Empress XXIX Anita Martini. Once again, Investiture took place in the Rotunda of City Hall shortly before the building was closed for retro-fitting and repairs after the earthquake of 1989. They were often referred to as the Barbie and Ken Monarchs because of their striking good looks and wholesome images. In 1995, the Amethyst Harmony Emperor XXIII, A.N., Brian Benamati and the Ruby Absolute Em-

title unopposed. Marlena later presided over the second bar ever named after an Empress, namely Marlena’s, the first being Lily’s, named after that Empress and run by her Emperor Steven Rascher. In 1991, the first unopposed Empress candidate won her crown as the Crystal Absolute Empress XXVI Caresse alongside the Unicorn Emperor XIX, A.N., Michael Bowman, who defeated two opponents. Their Oz-themed step-down featured elaborately choreographed production numbers with many court participants. 1992 saw a return to leather traditions and light-hearted humor as the White Wolf Emperor XX, A.N., Douglass Stromberg and MOTZ the G.R.A.T.E. Absolute Empress XXVII Velveeta Mozzarella took the thrones. Her title was a wry play on words in response to Empress Nicole the Great of San Diego, widely respected and thought to be the next leader of the International Court System. Their Investiture eschewed pomp and ceremony, ending in a pizza party. In 1993, the City elected the Midnight Spur Emperor XXI, A.N.,

press XXX Donna Sachet ascended the throne, she being only the second unopposed Empress candidate in history. They traveled extensively, quickly becoming known for their genuine affection for each other and for their singing talents, performing all over the continent in musical duets. 1996 brought the 24 Caliber Emperor XXIV Steven Valone and the Uptown Glamazon Absolute Empress XXXI Cockatielia. He was manager of the popular Castro Station bar and she was well known for her elaborate costumes, choreographic skills, and theatrical performances. In keeping with the separation from the Tavern Guild and its eventual dissolution, the Mr. and Miss Tavern Guild titles were retired that year, supplanted by Mr. and Miss Downtown and Mr. and Miss Uptown and eventually Mr. and Miss Golden Gate. Next week, the Imperial Court enters a period of fast-paced change, youthful outreach, and challenging relevance, as this historic series continues. Once again, we give tremendous credit to the research and records of Emperor Matthew Brown and historian Paul Gabriel.t

4 2 5

1. Emperor 20 A.N. Douglass Stromberg and Absolute Empress 27 Velveeta Mozzarella. 2. Absolute Empress 24 Pat Montclaire and Emperor 17 A.N. Jerry Coletti. 3. Absolute Empress 25 Marlena and Emperor 18 A.N. Simeon. 4. Absolute Empress 28 Jackie Reynolds and Emperor 21 A.N. David Nyberg. 5. Emperor 22 A.N. Chuck Adkins and Absolute Empress 29 Anita Martini. 6. Absolute Empress 30 Donna Sachet and Emperor 23 A.N. Brian Benamati. 7. Absolute Empress 31, Cockatelia and Emperor 24 A.N., Steve Valone

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

36 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

The Company Men Mash-up quartet sings their own way by Joshua Klipp

Wikipedia defines “mash up” as: “A mashup (also mesh, mash up, mash-up, blend, bootleg and bastard pop/rock) is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another.” On January 28 and 29, The Company Men perform their brand of live mash ups at Feinstein’s at Hotel Nikko. The Company Men are relatively new as a band. But as performers they are well seasoned, and as businessmen they are at the top of their ambitious game: Rat Pack style, Hollywood looks, showmanship to the nines, witty banter, tight choreography, and music from every era in four-part harmony which sounds immaculate, every time. They are

perfectionists – from running their own business to controlling their brand, to creating seamless performances – they work non-stop. If you aren’t having the time of your life at one of their shows, they take it personally, and will strategize until you are on your feet dancing in the aisles. So far, it seems to be working. Conceived in a Las Vegas hot tub in 2010, the former Franki Valli tribute band gave up their day jobs to follow a dream. Singers Stuart, Brian, Daniel and Shawn drew upon their collective resources, re-worked their act, and nursed the Company Men into reality. Five years later they’ve got two albums, a lengthy repertoire, tour stops around the world, and kudos from Natalie Cole and Quincy Jones. Not that this comes easily. In addition to balancing family lives,

The Company Men onstage

Bebe Sings the Blues

From page 33

“I owe a lot to Diana Ross,” Sweetbriar said. The drag star said that she would not exist were it not for Ross’ presence and magnetism. She pointed out that when Ross first came to prominence around fifty years ago, segregation was still rampant. Artists like Ross and Tina Turner were treated like secondclass citizens at venues where they played to packed houses. “They had to enter through the back door,” Sweetbriar said. “They experienced a lot of segregation and

Company Men spokesperson Stuart Ambrose notes that rehearsals take about five to ten percent of the group’s time, the other 90 percent is all business. “Brian has the business development background, Daniel does all our website and graphics, Shawn applies the production values he learned from Disney,” sais Ambrose. “We take all the lessons we learned The Company Men and leverage them for the Company Men.” tough to nutshell because it doesn’t From the tip of their branding fit any one particular style. to the soles of their shoes (they are The Company Men describe their partnered with men’s custom shoe sound as “signature mash ups” and maker Cobbler Union), the Com“throwback pop” with influences pany Men sweat the details. from the past six decades, delivered The group’s “genre,” however, is with Rat Pack verve. They mix up Stevie Wonder with Maroon 5, Billy Joel with One Republic, maybe a little Bruno Mars over Franki Valli. “We are very audience responsive,” says Ambrose. “We listen to what the audience asks for, then get to work developing new mash ups . . . We take it as a challenge.” This past year the Company Men unveiled one of its greatest successes to date: a seven-minute mash up comprised entirely of boy band classics. “We’ve been called ‘America’s favorite mash up group,’” Ambrose mused. Throughout the course of an 80-minute show, the Company Men cover the incredible ground of 40-50 tunes, spanning generations, and including a few originals. To say their show is high-octane would be like calling a Lamborghini “quaint.” Since the Las Vegas hot tub, the Company Men have moved up to Las Vegas stages. In 2014 they opened for Kool and the Gang and Bon Jovi in Vegas, and produced their own show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. “A few years ago we sat in the

balcony at Club Nokia and watched Boyz II Men there, and now we were on that stage,” said Ambrose. “Another great night was when we played at an old performing arts venue in Warren, Ohio, and our name was up on the marquee right next to The Temptations.” Not that touring and playing gigs is all Celebration, My Girls and Livin’ on Prayers. Ambrose also recalled a particularly hairy experience after disembarking a cruise ship and becoming stranded in southern Egypt. “It was right after Arab Spring. We got stuck in the middle of this thoroughfare with no ride for nearly two hours…it was a really tense time and eventually we ended up having to race to catch our plane.” The Company Men’s show at Feinstein’s is their first San Francisco appearance, and promise smooth sailing. While Hotel Nikko doesn’t feature a marquee, they know they are performing on hallowed ground. “Feinstein’s is such a great venue,” Ambrose notes. “We can perform anywhere, but what we love most are intimate clubs.” In fact, the Company Men dream of having their own club space sometime in the future, and, based on how these guys go for what they want, it’s just a matter of time. Until then, the Company Men will continue to overlay their professional and artistic skills seamlessly over their dreams, ideas, and six decades of tunes until the result is one perfect mash up of a night.t The Company Men perform at Feinstein’s at the Nikko (222 Mason St.), January 28 (7pm) and 29th (8pm). www.thecompanymen.com www.ticketweb.com Josh Klipp is a writer, choreographer and band leader for The Klipptones.

racism during their growth periods. But they were able to overcome it.” Sweetbriar watched Ross’ growth during her own formative years, and recalls how exciting it was to watch the 1972 Oscar telecast, when Ross was nominated in the Best Actress category for her performance as jazz legend Billie Holiday in the film Lady Sings the Blues. Ross’ talent remains fully intact four decades later, said Sweetbriar, who saw her idol in concert four years ago. “She hadn’t lost her step,” Sweetbriar noted. “She’s still glamorous, and the voice is still there. She still

Dot

Bebe Sweetbriar sings Diana Ross. photo: Dot

Double Bebe Sweetbriar.

has the same ‘ting’ to her voice. Imagine being seventy years old and to still be ‘bringing’ it.” Sweetbriar also recalls seeing Ross perform in Las Vegas many years ago. Ross chose Sweetbriar as one of the people she reached out to during her rendition of the megahit “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand.” “I’ll never forget that,” Sweetbriar said. “She was very gracious and kind.” Sweetbriar’s tribute show will be, she hopes, a reminder to audiences of Ross’ amazing career, which fea-

tured one hit song after another. Many of those songs have become classic standards. “I want to concentrate on her solo years,” Sweetbriar said. “I’ll be singing twenty songs over a two-hour period. I want to remind people of her amazing career.” Sweetbriar’s preparation for the show included watching videotapes of Ross’ acts in Vegas. “My opening is very Vegas and will blow people away!” Sweetbriar promised. She said that she’ll be descending from the ceiling. The show will also include a movie med-

ley, featuring songs from Ross’ film career. There will also be disco era tunes, such as the gay anthem “I’m Coming Out.” “It will be an amazing time for everyone,” Sweetbriar promises, “especially for those who have respect for the icon that Diana Ross is.”t To Diana Ross With Love, starring Bebe Sweetbriar; Thursday and Saturday, January 29 and 31, 7pm10pm, at Balancoire, 2565 Mission. $65, dinner and show. $25, show only. More shows to follow. www.bebesweetbriar.com

Read more online at www.ebar.com

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 37

SHOOTING STARS EXTRA

PHOTOS BY STEVEN UNDERHILL

ELEPHANT WALK ANNIVERSARY @ HARVEY’S

The 40th anniversary of the Elephant Walk was celebrated on Jan. 14 at Harvey’s, where the historic bar used to be located. The night included a discussion panel with Rink Foto, Fred Rogers and Elephant Walk employees, and a disco performance by Sylvester cover singer Amoray, followed by Bebe Sweetbriar’s trivia night, with guest Marga Gomez. Visit Harvey’s at 500 Castro St. 431-4278. www.HarveysSF.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.

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

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ebar.com

Steven Underhill

PHOTOGRAPHY

415 370 7152

WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

stevenunderhill.com · stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

<< On the Tab

38 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

Bf eON THE22T–2A 9 January

★

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland

Punk Rock Night @ The Stud

The festive gogo-filled dance night (Jan. 23: 80s and 90s hits); no cover before 10pm. ($10) 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

The Truants, Shot in the Dark, Parae, and DJ Necromos. $6. 9pm. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com

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

Shit & Champagne @ Oasis D'Arcy Drollinger's hilarious nightclub hit, a whitesploitation comedy with action-packed models fighting a drug cartel, returns at the new SoMa nightclub; featuring Matthew Martin. $20-$25. Thu-Sat 7pm. Thru Feb. 14. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 985-4442. www.sfoasis.com

Fri 23 iddy with anticipation, we’re hoping to catch new nights (Mazel Top), fun new bands (Ting Tings) and returning classics (Spandau Ballet), even a few closers (Supperclub’s closing). But you can’t have everything; where would you put it?

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

Funny Fun @ Club 21, Oakland Weekly LGBT and straight comedy night hosted by Dan Mires. $10. 8pm. 2111 Franklin St. Oakland. (510) 2689425. www.club21oakland.com

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

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. 10pm-2am. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

The Monster Show @ The Edge Cookie Dough's weekly drag show with gogo guys and hilarious fun. Jan. 22: Broadway show-stoppers! $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

My So-Called Night @ Beaux Carnie Asada hosts a new weekly '90s-themed video, dancin', drinkin' night, with VJs Jorge Terez. Get down with your funky bunch, and enjoy 90-cent drinks. '90s-themed attire and costume contest. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Monthly (4th Saturdays) evening of board and card games at the kinkfriendly SoMa café. 6pm-10pm. 289 8th St. www.wickedgrounds.com

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

Beer Bust @ SF Mix The popular Castro bar hosts its weekly softball team beer bust fundraiser. 3pm-7pm. 4086 18th St. 431-8616. www.sfmixbar.com

Big Top @ Beaux Joshua J.'s homo disco circus night, 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

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. Jan. 22, Gallery Crawl, with several galleries showcasing animalthemed art, including a few Andy Warhols, plus drawing activities and other hands-on fun, DJed house music by Roche and techno with Physical Therapy. $10-$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Patti Smith @ The Fillmore The iconic rock legend performs her classic post-punk poetic music. $39.50. 8pm. Also Jan. 23 & 24 at 9pm. www.pattismith.net www.thefillmore.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

Tanya's 31st @ Lexington Club Bartender's birthday at the soon-toclose women's bar. 10pm-2am. 3464 19th St. 863-2052. www.lexingtonclub.com

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

Fri 23 Constantine Maroulis @ Feinstein's at the Nikko The American Idol finalist and Tony Award nominee ( Rock of Ages) performs live, with ecletic music, from Queen to Bernstein. $35-$50 (two-drink minimum). 8pm. Also Jan. 24, 7pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com

Last Supper @ Supperclub The upscale dinner-cabaret nightclub will soon close. Enjoy the last fourcourse meal served to you on a bed, with acrobatics performances. $55$95. 8pm. 657 Harrison St. 348-0900. www.supperclub-sf.com

Spandau Ballet @ The Warfield The '80s pop band, reunited, performs classic hits and new music. $42-$67. 9pm. 982 Market St. www.spandauballet.com www.thewarfieldtheatre.com

The Ting Tings @ Rickshaw Stop Dance music duo (Katie White and Jules De Martino) perform their catchy tunes. $18-$20. 9pm. 155 Fell St. www.thetingtings.com www.rickshawstop.com

Wesla Whitfield @ Hotel Rex Society Cabaret presents We're in the Money, Whitfield and Mike Greensill's concert of classy jazz music. $35-$60. 8pm. Also Jan. 24, with songs of Harry Warren. Cocktails and small plates available. 562 Sutter St. 857-1896. www.societycabaret.com

Sat 24 Bearracuda @ Beatbox Strip down with the bears for Underwear Night, with DJ Paul Goodyear. $10. 10pm-3am. 314 11th St. www.bearracuda.com www.beatboxsf.com

Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.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 @ Club BNB, Oakland Get groovin' at the weekly hip hop and R&B night at their new location. $8-$15. 9pm to 4am. 2120 Broadway. www.bench-and-bar.com

Code @ The Edge Erick Lopez' monthly 'leather in the Castro' night, also the first Stoplight Party (red, yellow or green hanky code). $1 per hanky. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Mother @ Oasis

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

Wicked Games @ Wicked Grounds

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle

Mica Sigourney and pals' weekly offbeat drag performance night. 10pm2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Beats Reality @ Trax

Miss GAPA Khmera Rouge (also a candidate for Empress) hosts a fundraiser for the local food pantry. 4pm-7pm. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Some Thing @ The Stud

Ting Tings @ Rickshaw Stop

Thu 22

St. Aiden's Fundraiser @ Midnight Sun

Sun 25 Queenie TT @ Sunday Funnies

Heklina's new weekly drag show night at the renovated SoMa nightclub. Jan. 24: Pop Tarts tribute (Whitney, Britney, Gaga) with Bea Dazzler, Becky Motorlodge, Grace Towers, Gurleen, Lol McFiercen, Raya Light, Sue Casa, Sugah Betes and more, plus Ella Henderson CD giveways. $10. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www. sfoasis.com

Here’s Looking at You!

EDGE will keep you informe world’s largest LGBT networ the sparkling news, entertai and photos you’ll need in 20

edgeonethene Sun 25 Adore Delano @ DNA Lounge The RuPaul's Drag Race and American Idol contestant performs music from her unique punk/electro/rock album Til Death Do Us Party with her band. $22.50-$40 (meet & greet) and $390 (VIP package). 9pm. 375 11th St. www.dnalounge.com

Afternoon Delight @ The New Parish, Oakland DJs Joshua Smith and Justime welcome house legend DJs David Harness, Page Hodel and Jim Hopkins. 3pm-8pm. 1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. (510) 444-7474. www.thenewparish.com

Beer Bust @ Lone Star Saloon The ursine crowd converges for beer and fun. 4pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Brunch Sundays/ Xtravaganza @ Balancoire Weekly live music shows with various acts, along with brunch, mimosas, champagne and more, at the stylish nightclub and restaurant. T-Dance drag shows at 7pm, 10pm and 11pm. 2565 Mission St. at 21st. 920-0577. www.balancoiresf.com

Diva @ White Horse Bar Ana Mae Coxxx' fun drag show, The Guevara Sisters, Vicodonia Knightingale Amelia D. Ross and others. $5. 9:30pm show. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com

Fake It Til You Make It @ Verdi Club SF Sketchfest & Porchlight present the fifth annual storytelling night, with Derrick Brown, Scott Capurro, Ophira Eisenberg, Shelley McLendon, Frank Portman and Phoebe Robonson. $20. 8pm. 2424 Mariposa St. verdiclub.net

On the Tab>>

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

Husky @ White Horse Bar, Oakland Bears, beers and barbeques at the monthly event (4th Sundays), with hot dogs and more food; music by DJs Sir Ellis and Lifeline. Beer bust $10-$15. No cover. 1pm-7pm. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com

Looking @ Midnight Sun Viewing parties for the second season of HBO's San Francisco-set gay dramedy series. 10pm. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 39

Sunday Funnies @ Club 1220, Walnut Creek

No No Bingo @ Virgil's Sea Room

Valerie Branch hosts the new monthly East Bay LGBT comedy night, with Queenie TT, Justin Lucas, Nina G and Pia Messing (Branch's alter ego). $6. 8pm. 1220 Pine St., Walnut Creek.

Mica Sigourney and Tom Temprano cohost the wacky weekly game night at the cool Mission bar. 8pm. 3152 Mission St. www.virgilssf.com

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

Mon 26 Drag Mondays @ The Cafe Mahlae Balenciaga and DJ Kidd Sysko's weekly drag and dance night, 2014's last of the year. 9pm-1am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

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

RuPaul's Drag Race @ Toad Hall Watch the weekly 7th season hit drag competition at the Castro bar, with Bebe Sweetbriar and Ana Mae Coxxx, prize giveaways during commericals; Shanté, you stay. 8:30pm. 4146 18th St. www.toadhallbar.com

Sprïng @ The Make Out Room Arty electro rock band performs. $15. 9pm. 3225 22nd St. 647-2888. www.makeoutroom.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 27 Bill Frisell @ Yoshi's Oakland Guitarist, composer and innovative alt/experimental/rock musician performs new and selected classic works. $27-$59. 8pm. Also Jan. 28, 8pm, and 10pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

Bombshell Betty & Her Burlesqueteers @ Elbo Room The weekly burlesque show of women dancers shaking their bonbons includes live music. $10. 9pm. 647 Valencia St. 552-7788. www.elbo.com

Cock Shot @ Beaux Shot specials and adult Bingo games, with DJs Chad Bays and Riley Patrick. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

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

ed, as the rk, with all inment, 015!

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

et.com Robin Bacior, Grand Lake Island @ Virococha Four evocative folk-ish alt. bands (Bacior with cellist Dan Binsschedler) perform at the vintage shoppe and performance space, including Owl Paws and Native Sibling. 8pm11:30pm. 998 Valencia St. 374-7048. www.robinbacior.com www.viracochasf.com

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 (closed dec 25). 550 Barneveld Ave. at Industrial. www.sundancesaloon.org

Studio 84 @ Eagle Tavern DJs Tomas Diablo and Donimo’s ‘80s music night. $5. 7pm-12am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre

Karaoke @ The Lookout Paul K hosts the amateur singing night. 8pm-2am. 3600 16th St. at Market. www.lookoutsf.com

Mahogany Mondays @ Midnight Sun

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

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

Dream Queens Revue @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Classic drag show at the intimate Tenderloin bar, with Collette LeGrande, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, Bobby Ashton, Sheena Rose, Kipper, and Joie de Vivre; 2nd & 4th Wed. 9:30pm. 133 Turk St. 441-2922. www.dreamqueensrevue.com

Final Art Show @ Lexington Club It's the final art show at the soon-to-close women's bar; a photo and flyer retrospective of the bar's illustrated illustrious history. 7pm-9pm. 3464 19th St. 863-2052. www.lexingtonclub.com

Trivia Night @ Hi Tops

Weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, and drink specials; different hosts each week. $3. 10pm2am. Preceded by Open Mic Comedy, 7pm, no cover. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Underwear Night @ Club OMG

Wed 28 Bingo @ Club OMG Michael Brandon hosts the monthly (3rd Thursdays) game night $1-$5 for sheets and daubers. 7pm-10pm. 43 Sixth St. 896-6374. www.clubomgsf.com

Bebe Sweetbriar @ Balançoire The local chanteuse performs a tribute concert of 20 Diana Ross songs, with an optional five-course dinner by Chef Shawn McFarland. $25 (show only, two-drink minimum) or $65 (with dinner). 7pm. 2526 Mission St. 920-0577. www.bebesweetbriar.com www.balancoiresf.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 (with a contest at midnight), and dance beats spun by DJ DAMnation. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

The Monster Show @ The Edge Cookie Dough's weekly drag show with gogo guys. Jan. 29: Ladies of the '80s (Paula Abdul, Gloria Estefan, Debbie Gibson). $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Bill Frisell @ Yoshi’s Oakland

BPM @ Club BnB, 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

Mazel Top @ Oasis The new dance night at the new nightclub is for naughty Jewish boys and Shiksa admirers. $5. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. 985-4442. www.sfoasis.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

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

So You Think You Can Gogo? @ Toad Hall

Weekly women's night at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Thu 29

Tue 27

Switch @ Q Bar

Monday Musicals @ The Edge

BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly musical trivia challenge and drag show. 8:30-11:30pm. 4146 18th St. at Castro. www.toadhallbar.com

Bottoms Up Bingo @ Hi Tops

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

Play the trivia game at the popular new sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Name That Beat @ Toad Hall

Juanita More! and her weekly intimate dance party. $10-$15. 9pm2am. 456 Castro St. www.qbarsf.com

Strip down with the strippers at the cruisy adult theatre and arcade; free beverages. $20. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

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

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. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Booty Call @ QBar

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. 9pm2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. 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

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. Jan. 29, Sketchfest Nightlife, with comedy performers all over the space, Peaches Christ, nerd podcaster Sandra and New Wave City DJs. $10$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Pan Dulce @ The Cafe 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

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

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Enjoy retro disco tunes and a fun diverse crowd, each Thursday, with DJ Bus Station John. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com Want your nightlife event listed? Of course you do. Email events@ ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event. Event photos welcome.

40 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

t PrEP: Tipping Point to Put the Sex Back in Leathersex? Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

by Race Bannon

efore you read any further, I know the title of this column is provocative. Obviously I’m going to talk about PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), the once a day pill regimen to prevent HIV infection. I also seem to be implying that leathersex is lacking sex, and yes, in many instances I feel it is. But before you start making too many assumptions, please read on. Then decide for yourself if you agree with me or not. This column was inspired by the recent PrEP Open House organized by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Liz Highleyman reported on that event for this publication and I recommend you read her article in the News section of this issue. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, as HIV was beginning to decimate the gay men’s community, many people began to embrace BDSM and other forms of kink as “safer” alternatives to insertive sex. It was a form of erotic connection that didn’t require what many perceived as dirty, unclean, possibly never-safe sex. I myself was part of the vanguard of people who felt that promoting such erotic alternatives would save lives. Perhaps it did. I hope so. I don’t think many people would argue with this recounting of history. But that was then. The downside is that insertive sex was often demonized, if not overtly, then subtly and pervasively. While the move away from embracing insertive sex was taking place within the leather community, what I refer to as the “pansexualization” of the scene began in earnest. During this time the various genders and orientations within kink, and BDSM in particular, began to mix, mingle and collaborate in unprecedented ways. This had many

upsides, but for the gay and lesbian segments of that pansexual mixture it had what I see as a downside. Heterosexuals in the BDSM and kink scenes had a longstanding habit of separating sex from BDSM play. The no insertive sex rule tended to be common at heterosexual play parties, promoted within their clubs and organizations, and was a key part of the code of conduct amid professional dominants that often played a significant role influencing the heterosexual BDSM world. They had their reasons and I’m not going to debate the pros and cons here, but I think those attitudes started to be adopted by non-heterosexuals as well, further marginalizing insertive sex amid the real fears of HIV. I contend that the deep intimacy that sexual acts can bring about was sometimes sacrificed in the interest of safety. That adaptation probably made sense at the time, but I feel it might be time to reconsider our scene’s underlying anti-sex messaging that still hangs around. It keeps some from more intimate ways of manifesting their kink as a natural extension of their insertive sexual desires. In terms of HIV prevention, we have made tremendous strides. We have instilled an ethos of considering the health ramifications of our sexual choices. Risk assessment is now pervasive in our sexual thinking and is the standard mindset for experienced BDSM and kink practitioners. We know that when HIV positive people are on treatment and undetectable, they are highly unlikely to pass on the virus. PrEP has been added into the HIV prevention arsenal and the effectiveness of PrEP has been scientifically proven.

Race Bannon

Mr. Powerhouse Leather 2015 winner Daniel DeLage (front) flanked L to R by contest MC Lance Holman and judges Andy Cross, Stafford Hemmer, Matt Johnson and Will Victoria.

The often unspoken reality that so many appear to wish to sweep under the rug is that most people do not use condoms consistently with many not using them at all. That’s been the case for a long time. We also know from data that in terms of HIV prevention PrEP is superior to condoms when each is used alone. Having the PrEP tool added into the HIV prevention options addresses the needs of that portion of the population who chooses to have condomless sex some or all of the time. Add in the regular STI checkups that are typically part of the medical protocol when prescribing PrEP and a strong argument can be made that the community, including the leather and kink community, is better served now that more people are starting to use PrEP. Sitting around me at the PrEP Open House were leathermen who I knew are on PrEP. When I’ve chatted with guys like them on PrEP I have heard some rather remarkable statements: “For the first time since I’ve been out as a gay man I am not stressed every time I have sex.” “PrEP has given me and my serodiscordant partner a sex life free from concern.” “I realized after the first time I had sex during a BDSM scene after starting PrEP that I could finally unclench and simply enjoy the moment.” Perhaps now is the tipping point moment when we need to start actively re-incorporating insertive and deeply intimate sex into our kink mindset. Let’s start encouraging sexual intimacy at our dungeon play parties. Let’s start mentioning sex more often when we teach or mentor about BDSM and kink. Let’s stop separating sex from kink and instead embrace both as integral parts of our erotic lives. Let’s no longer demonize kinky people who want to fuck like rabbits. Let’s stop sanitizing our clubs, organizations, classes, leather titles and other institutions and start embracing sex again. Let me use this talk about sex to segue into what I witnessed at the recent Mr. Powerhouse Leather contest. Stay with me.

See page 42 >>

Race Bannon

Mr. Powerhouse Leather 2015 contestants (L to R), Pete Berman, Juan Garcia and Daniel DeLage.

Read more online at www.ebar.com

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 41

Grand Dudefest Hotel

NakedSword

Aleks Buldocek envelopes Seamus O’Reilly, in Hotel Hook-up

by John F. Karr

ou know the showbiz tale where the star breaks her leg and the understudy goes on and is catapulted to stardom? Well, how about this real life tale: because mr. Pam was recovering from surgery she’d had in the spring of 20014, she couldn’t direct Hotel Hook-Up. So the job went to trusted assistant Leo Forte. The result? To paraphrase somebody else talking about some other thing, Hats off, gentlemen— there’s a new director in town! It’s overnight stardom after years in the trade for Forte, who’s done a bangup job on his first time out. Hotel Hook-Up has a texture to its image, a close-up point of view and manner of framing that stamp the film as different from any other director’s work. If Forte continues in the same vein, it’ll be a recognizable, trademark style. It doesn’t hurt that Forte’s got a swell cast, with only one over-exposed player. The curious thing about the DVD is that it has neither Menu nor chaptering features, which is clumsy. Like the title says, the movie’s concentrated encounters all take place in a hotel. Not that cheap, drab motel room we see in so much amateur porn, but a classy, handsomely appointed high-toned joint. We start out in a lounge, where we meet furry stud/bear Alex Buldocek getting acquainted with ginger cutie Seamus O’Reilly. Alex is a succulently classic mesomorph (rectangular shape, with pronounced muscle mass—think Sylvester Stallone, or most any Mr. Universe), and Seamus, despite being delectably short, is a classic endomorph (elongated, fragile—think Ichabod Crane, or Scott Wiener). Their contrasting body types lets Alex envelope Seamus. This kid may be pale and skinny, but he smiles, and is a major sex pig. I adore the thicket of blanched ginger hair in his butt crack, and how Alex gnaws into its hole like a leopard into its prey. Their fucking, which includes an energetic Reverse Cowboy (RC), makes Seamus fire off a fusillade of cum. Alex lands his delicious load on his partner’s tongue, after which Seamus does a clean-up job on the entire length of Alex’s thick, mesomorphic cock. Making a quick departure, Seamus tosses off, “Thanks for the ride.” My sentiments, eggzackley. Thick and furry Nick Sterling tops Brandon Jones, after a smooch-

erama featuring their bulging jocks. A good 69 (during which Nick sticks a finger up Brandon’s butt) is followed by a battering fuck. Then we get Michael Delray, a mildly WASP sort of youngster, making his tasty porn debut by bottoming for FX Rios, a mildly ethnic young stud. The movie’s biggest star is Tommy Defendi, rekindling an old friendship

(or, more accurately, a fuckship) with Joseph Rough. Joseph’s famed for taking it rough, which is how Tommy gives it to him, after some lovely smooching. They’re standing up in a shower, with the water running throughout the scene. I guess there’s no drought in Chicago, and I guess that, unlike at my house, there’s an unlimited amount of hot water; there are no dicks shriveling in ol’ Chi. Defendi’s abdomen goes stunningly taut while he’s fucking, and his orgasm is the Old Faithful variety—hot and high. All in all, Hotel Hook-Up is a most satisfying feature. Back in good health, mr. Pam has presided over the jaunty Dirty Rascals, which cleverly mashes up elements of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Grand Budapest Hotel, while also mashing up two stars of Naked Sword with a small fleet of Bel Ami stars. With sex that is dependable if not outstanding, the movie is more notable for having one of the very few coherent scripts I can recall in porn, written by Jack Shamama, from a story by Tim Valenti. You know I’m no fan of plots in porn, but the clever twists of this one engaged me. mr. Pam’s performers are light-handed and surprisingly spontaneous, with special kudos going to Connor Maguire for an insouciant performance. Attempting to score a chateau’s treasures, Maguire and Tommy Defendi run into a covey of handsome young Czechs with the same idea. A European and an American are paired off in three scenes, and the final scramble for the goods leads to a mass orgy. I’m

NakedSword

Top: Sculpted Gino Mosca with hung hottie Darius Ferdynand, in Dirty Rascals. Bottom: Joseph Rough and Tommy Defendi, getting steamy in the shower, in Dirty Rascals.

impressed once again that Eastern Europeans are each and every one of them so remarkably hung; sheesh, those missile-like cocks. Could it be something in the water? Standouts are Darius Ferdynand making it with sharply cut Gino Mosca—whose grooming and sleek look make him sort of a European Topher Dimaggio. Handsome Dato Foland, with mesmerizing green eyes, makes it

with Tommy Defendi, and a secondary player, Marcel Gassion, made my own eyes and other parts pop by accommodating several large Czech cocks in his ass while his mouth hosts a goodly injection of cum.t www.NakedSword.com Enjoy archived NSFW versions of John F. Karr’s film reviews at www.karrnalknowledge.com

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

42 • BAY AREA REPORTER • January 22-28, 2015

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Leather

From page 40

This segue will make sense. On the Powerhouse stage, three sexy, smart and interesting men competed for the title: Juan Garcia, Pete Berman and Daniel DeLage. As was announced during the contest results, it was an amazingly close point total between all three men. They were all hot, articulate and nice guys. But what really made me happy was the contestants keeping our scene, and the title should they win it, hot and sexy. Sexiness and eroticism were front and center and that’s not always the case at leather contests. Lance Holman, the MC for the night, kept it focused on sex and play with his questions and commentary. The panel of judges, Stafford Hemmer, Will Victoria, Andy Cross and Matt Johnson, also delved into the overtly sexual and erotic with their questions. When it came time for the contestants to give their speeches, the importance of keeping our scene hot and sexy was again mentioned repeatedly. This all heartened me considerably. There have been leather contests I have sat through and at the end of it was hard pressed to point out a single moment when the proceedings were actually hot and sexy. Not so at the Powerhouse that night. In the end, Daniel DeLage proved to be victorious and is the new Mr. Powerhouse Leather 2015. As Daniel carries out his title year, I am sure he will keep the sexy in all that he does. Bravo to the Powerhouse and everyone involved with the contest for helping to do what I think we all need to do – keep the sex in leathersex. So to leathermen, leatherwomen and kinksters of all stripes, go forth and bang like bunnies. Sex is good.

It should be an integral part of our scene and no longer marginalized. Finally, it’s been about a year since I’ve been writing this column. I want to thank my editor, Jim Provenzano for asking me to fill in for the departing Scott Brogan as caretaker of this cherished publication space. Thanks also to the countless readers who have given me such positive feedback. I truly appreciate your readership. May 2015 be an awesome year for us all, and of course filled with an abundance of hot sex.t Race Bannon is a local author, blogger and activist. Reach him at his website www.bannon.com.

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Fri 23

Wed 28

Thu 5 - Sun 8

Sober Kink Together @ Castro Country Club

Leathermen’s Discussion Group @ SF LGBT Community Center

RubbDown @ Various Locations

Officially a CMA meeting, but open to all Anonymous 12-step Fellowship members. 4058 18th St., 9:30pm. www.castrocountryclub.org

Sat 24 Party to celebrate this club’s anniversary. 1347 Folsom St., 6pm. www.sfdefenders.org

Are Leather Titles Necessary? 1800 Market St., 7:30pm. www.sfldg.org

Leather/Gear Buddies @ Blow Buddies Erotic fun for leather and gear guys, $15, 933 Harrison St., 8pm. www.blowbuddies.com

Fri 30 Sober Kink Together @ Castro Country Club

A men’s BDSM play party. 181 Eddy St., 8pm. www.the15sf.org

Officially a CMA meeting, but open to all Anonymous 12-step Fellowship members, 4058 18th St., 9:30pm. www.castrocountryclub.org

Mon 26

Sat 31

Ride Mondays @ Eros

Pre-RubbDown Swapmeet @ Powerhouse

The 15 Association Men’s Play Party @ SF Citadel

A motorcycle rider and leathermen night at Eros, bring your helmet, AMA card, MC club card or club colors and get $3 off entry or massage. 2051 Market St. www.erossf.com

Tue 27 Mr. Powerhouse Leather 2015 winner, Daniel DeLage, during the jockstrap portion of the contest.

Personals

Leather Events, Jan. 23 – Feb. 7, 2015

Defenders/SF 21st Anniversary Party @ Powerhouse

Race Bannon

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GameGear @ Wicked Grounds Game night hosted by Rubber Men of San Francisco. 289 8th St., 7:30pm. www.rmsf.org

Swapmeet hosted by Rubber Men of San Francisco. 1347 Folsom St., 3pm. www.rmsf.org

Mon 2 Ride Mondays @ Eros A motorcycle rider and leathermen night at Eros, bring your helmet, AMA card, MC club card or club colors and get $3 off entry or massage. 2051 Market St. www.erossf.com

Event weekend produced by Rubber Men of San Francisco. www.rmsf.org

Fri 6 SCCLA Bar Schmooz @ Renegades Bar Informal social where friends, prospective members and anyone else who wants to relax, laugh, talk and hang out with like minded people, 501 W. Taylor St., San Jose, 9pm.

Sober Kink Together @ Castro Country Club Officially a CMA meeting, but open to all Anonymous 12-step Fellowship members, 4058 18th St., 9:30pm. www.castrocountryclub.org

Sat 7 Tenacious Rubber on the Runway @ Beatbox Rubber fashion show by Rubber Men of San Francisco. 314 11th St., 2pm. www.rmsf.org

GearBox at RubbDown Play party hosted by Rubber Men of San Francisco. 7pm. www.rmsf.org

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Shooting Stars

January 22-28, 2015 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 43

photos by Steven Underhill D’Arcy’s Birthday

t the new nightclub Oasis, Shit & Champagne star/creator and club co-owner D’Arcy Drollinger celebrated a birthday (we didn’t ask which one). Performers included Heklina, Rahni Nothingmore (whose “Watch Closely Now” number was among the best), plus Persia (who had the honor of spanking D’Arcy in her red rhinestone dress!), Leanne Borghesi, Daft-nee Gesuntheit, Matthew Martin, even Timmy Spence (back in drag and looking good) and many others. Get down to Oasis for their fun array of new events. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com More event photo albums are on BARtab’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at www.StevenUnderhill.com.

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For headshots, portraits or to arrange your wedding photos

call (415) 370-7152 or visit www.StevenUnderhill.com or email stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com