December 27, 2012 edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

A cure for winter blues

Native American agency closes

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

Vol. 42 • No. 52 • December 27, 2012-January 2, 2013

Court halts CA gay therapy ban

CA appellate justice makes LGBT history by Matthew S. Bajko

by Lisa Keen

an Francisco resident Jim Humes quietly made history this month when he took the oath of office to become an associate justice of the state’s First District Court of Appeal’s Division Four. Humes, 53, is the first openly gay justice to be appointed to the California Court of Appeals. After hearing testimony December 20 from Humes’s colleagues inside Courtesy Governor’s Office the state Supreme Justice Court’s San Francisco Jim Humes courtroom, the threeperson Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously approved his nomination to the appellate bench. “I am very honored and humbled to be here,” Humes, whose mother was seated by his side during the hearing, told the commission. “I promise to follow my father’s advice to work hard and to do the best I can. I also promise to be passionate about the cause of justice.” The proceedings happened to fall on the 10th anniversary of the death of his father, Don Humes. His mother, Shirley Humes, said she felt that her late husband was with the family that day and “would be so proud of him.” The Moline, Illinois resident added that during the hearing, “I was thinking he has always been a wonderful son. I am so proud of him.” The Lesbian and Gay Freedom Band surprised Humes, at the invitation of his husband, with a celebratory performance afterwards. Later in the day, at the state Capitol in Sacramento, Governor Jerry Brown presided over Humes’s swearing-in ceremony. Just prior to Thanksgiving Brown named Humes to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Patricia Sepulveda. He also named lesbian lawyer Paula S. Rosenstein to the San Diego County Superior Court. It was the first time that Brown had appointed openly gay or lesbian people to court vacancies since returning to the governor’s office in 2011. Humes’s selection was hardly a surprise, though, as his name has long been floated for a state judgeship. Earlier this year the Los Angeles Times reported that Humes likely would have been appointed to a court vacancy by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger prior to his leaving office. But Humes dropped out of See page 2 >>

Saltzman takes BART seat

ublic transportation advocate Rebecca Saltzman, right, was sworn in to her seat on the BART board by Oakland City Councilwoman Libby Schaaf Thursday, December 20. Saltzman is the first out lesbian to sit on the transit

Elliot Owen

agency’s oversight panel and represents parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Longtime BART board member Tom Radulovich, a gay man who represents San Francisco, was chosen as president for the coming term.

alifornia’s groundbreaking law banning the use of reparative therapy on people younger than 18 will not go into effect on January 1. A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel issued an emergency order December 21 delaying enactment pending the appeals court’s review of a lawsuit challenging the law. Lydia Gonzales The religious right legal group Liberty Governor Counsel sought the Jerry Brown emergency order after federal district Judge Kimberly Mueller ruled December 4 that a group of plaintiffs were “not likely to prevail on the merits” of their legal challenge to the law. The underlying lawsuit is Pickup v. Brown, pressed by four mental health professionals, the See page 12 >>

LGBT nonprofits count on donors by Seth Hemmelgarn

ach December, nonprofits approach people one more time to ask for money as the calendar ticks down to December 31, the last day to make donations for tax purposes. Most messages are similar to the one AIDS Emergency Fund recently sent. An email blast from the agency tells how, despite advances in prevention and treatment, many people “will not suddenly fully recover and re-enter the work force.” Thousands still need help from the 30-year-old organization, which helps people pay for housing, utilities, and other needs. “If the average person interprets the good prevention news to mean that AIDS is over, it will push people living with HIV/AIDS farther off the radar of compassion and generosity,” the message says, before stating – in bold red letters – “That’s why we need your help now, more than ever.” Mike Smith, AEF’s executive director, indicated his agency really means it. Without the help the emergency fund and similar organizations provide, “all the money the city is spending on medical care and everything else is wasted. If people can’t live safely and stably with food and shelter, they’re going to end up at SF General, at the emergency room,” Smith said in a recent interview, referring to San Francisco’s county hospital. Such messages appear to be increasingly im-

Steven Underhill

AIDS Emergency Fund Executive Director Mike Smith, left, presented singer Martha Wash with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the agency’s 30th anniversary gala December 1; AEF, like most other nonprofits, is seeking year-end donations.

portant as local nonprofits look to individual donors for support in a time of budget cuts at the state and federal levels and among foundations. There are also different ways for people to gauge how well their money is being spent. Smith said government funding, which accounts for roughly half of his agency’s revenue, has been “relatively steady.” However, founda-

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tion support has decreased, so AEF’s had to make up the difference with corporations and individuals. Like others, Smith, whose nonprofit has a budget of about $2.1 million and serves 2,250 clients, said even small donations help. He pointed to AEF’s long-running See page 12 >>

<< National News

2 • Bay Area Reporter • December 27, 2012-January 2, 2013

Hagel offers apology as DOD post in jeopardy by Lisa Keen

tioned the timing. “I can’t remember a time when a potential presidential nominee apologized for anything,” Hormel wrote. “While the timing appears self-serving, the words themselves are unequivocal – they are a clear apology.” HRC’s scoring of Hagel’s voting record ranked him at zero in two of his last three congressional sessions, and a 20 out of 100 in the last session he served. Hagel opposed an effort to ban same-sex marriage nationally through an amendment to the federal Constitution.

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n a development illustrating one measure of the LGBT political lobby’s influence on the Obama administration, a Republican former senator said to be a top choice to become the next defense secretary apologized for remarks he made 14 years ago casting aspersions on an openly gay nominee to be an ambassador. But that might not be enough to save former Senator Charles “Chuck” Hagel’s potential nomination, as Republican senators are beginning to distance themselves for other reasons. In a statement issued Friday, December 21, Hagel, who represented Nebraska in Congress, took the extraordinary step of apologizing for his remarks against the nomination of San Francisco resident James Hormel to become ambassador to Luxembourg under President Bill Clinton. At that time, in 1998, Hagel said Hormel’s openness about his sexual orientation was “aggressive,” that it could inhibit his ability to represent the United States in a foreign post, and that Clinton’s nomination of an openly gay person to the position lacked “common sense.” “Ambassadorial posts are sensitive. They are representing America. They are representing our lifestyle, our values, our standards,” Hagel told the Omaha World-Herald at the time. “And I think it is an inhibiting factor to be gay – openly aggressively gay like Mr. Hormel – to do an effective job.” Hormel went on to become the first openly gay ambassador after Clinton used a recess appointment to name him to the diplomatic post. He served from 1999-2000. As senator, Hagel also defended the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on gays in the military. DADT was repealed last year. Hagel’s statement last week was released on letterhead from his current position as chairman of the Atlantic Council, a group devoted

Appellate justice

From page 1

contention to work for Brown on his gubernatorial staff.

Other issues Former Senator Chuck Hagel

to promoting cooperation among countries for security and other global affairs. “My comments 14 years ago in 1998 were insensitive,” Hagel wrote. “They do not reflect my views or the totality of my public record, and I apologize to Ambassador Hormel and any LGBT Americans who may question my commitment to their civil rights. I am fully supportive of ‘open service’ and committed to LGBT military families.” Hagel issued his statement shortly after two of the nation’s largest LGBT political organizations said they were not happy with reports that President Barack Obama is considering Hagel to be his next secretary of defense. Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin issued a statement Friday, calling Hagel’s past comments and his congressional voting record on gay-related issues “unacceptable.” Stacey Long, policy director for another large national LGBT political group, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said her organization is also “gravely concerned” about Hagel’s commitment to equality for gay people. In a post to his Facebook page Friday, Hormel called Hagel’s apology “significant” but ques-

Since January Humes has served as the governor’s executive secretary for administration, legal affairs, and policy. Prior to that he had served as the chief deputy in the attorney general’s office when Brown served

A number of groups have also registered reservations about Hagel’s potential nomination, some arguing that he is not supportive enough of U.S. ally Israel. Retiring Representative Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts), who is both gay and Jewish, told Politico. com that he thinks Hagel would be “very good” with respect to Israel and the defense budget, but he told the Washington Free Beacon that Hagel’s anti-gay comments were a “disqualification from being appointed.” Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) used an appearance on Meet the Press Sunday to say that he didn’t think Hagel would “get many Republican votes” for the cabinet position. “I think it would be a challenging nomination,” Graham said on the NBC program. Obama reportedly invited Hagel to the White House in early December to discuss the moderate Republican’s interests in becoming the next secretary of defense. Current Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is said to be interested in retiring soon from his short term as head of the nation’s military. In other cabinet shuffling news, there is expected to be widespread support from LGBT groups for Obama’s nomination Friday of Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) to become the next secretary of state, succeeding Hillary Clinton.t

as California’s attorney general from 2007 to 2011. The State Bar Commission on Judicial Nominees determined in October that Humes would be “exceptionally well qualified,” and that he “has everything it takes to be an associate justice,” said Lara M. Krieger, the panel’s vice chair. Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, made note of the occasion’s LGBT historical significance in her remarks during last week’s proceeding. Communities rarely have a say when a member is tapped to be “the first,” noted Kendell, adding that sometimes the chosen person’s actions can cause that community “to cringe just a little bit.” Yet in picking Humes to break through the LGBT community’s glass ceiling in the state judiciary, the governor could not have found a better nominee, Kendell said. “With John we are not only making history but making history with the finest possible choice,” she said. “Our community and the state of California could do no better.” Having first joined the California Department of Justice in 1993, Humes served in multiple positions, including chief assistant of the civil division and senior assistant attorney general of the health, education, and welfare section. He had a role in presenting the See page 12 >>

Community News>>

December 27, 2012-January 2, 2013 • Bay Area Reporter • 3

Native American AIDS Project closes by Tom Kilduff

it by declining revenue, the Native American AIDS Project (NAAP), a small organization that served mostly indigent clients, closed its doors earlier this month. Officials with the San Francisco Department of Public Health said that the clients have transitioned to other agencies. An NAAP official said those agencies included the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. “Each client was referred hands-on of where they would be the best fit,” said Darren English, board president and spokesman for NAAP. “Some clients need more mental health assistance, some need a trans program, and some need Latino or Hawaiian approach. And some are perfectly happy going to SFAF.” API Wellness Center Executive Director Lance Toma said that less than 10 high risk transgender clients from NAAP transitioned to his agency. The clients were previously served by NAAP under a collaborative with API, Toma added. “These clients began accessing social support and HIV prevention services at our Trans: Thrive community drop-in center at the beginning of December,” Toma said in an email. Over at SFAF, spokesman James Loduca said that the agency’s Positive Force program is in the process of transitioning some NAAP clients. The foundation also hired one of NAAP’s case manager as a temporary employee, he said. The health department was notified September 11 of the impending closure and became involved in the transition. “Our job at DPH is to support NAAP in closing and linking their clients to new services, which is what we’ve been doing these last two months,” said Tracey Packer, director of HIV prevention who has helped in the transition. “We are also supporting staff with information and references about where any potential jobs may be.” According to internal budgets, five staff members were on payroll, four of whom were full-time. English, who was a client of the agency 18 years ago, said, “the agency had struggled for at least four years.” In addition to a drop in revenue, its lease was not renewed, he said. The agency formally closed December 14. English said that the agency saw about a 50 percent reduction in funding, mostly from foundation grants. “We’ve seen an almost $100,000 reduction every year for the past four years,” he said. “It’s been a steady decline.” An internal budget document, provided by English and dated December 14, shows that NAAP had an ending net income of $11,682.62 after all revenue and expenses were accounted for. The organization, founded in 1994, was located at 1540 Market Street and specialized in culturally appropriate services for Native American and indigenous populations who are HIV-positive. “We dealt with clients who were kicked out of other agencies, folks who had multiple diagnoses, addiction and alcoholism as well as being HIV-positive,” English said. The Bay Area Reporter was not able to speak with former staff members or clients. NAAP received the bulk of its funding from two branches of the Department of Public Health: $125,000 from HIV prevention and $102,000 from HIV health services. According to Packer, “funding was to remain level going into 2013 and into the future.” The agency served 43 clients in

Tom Kilduff

The Native American AIDS Project has closed its doors.

its prevention program, the number of clients on the medical side was not known at press time. The B.A.R. was given copies of projected budgets for fiscal years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 by English. Salaries were modest, ranging from a low of $12,000 to a high of $62,000. But from November 2012 through June 2013, the agency would have to run deficits each month, according to internal documents. NAAP had fallen behind on paying the rent, English said in a December 18 phone interview. The landlord had posted an unlawful detainer (eviction) notice. DPH became involved so that the agency could stay in the building until December 31. The landlord did not renew the lease. “We looked at many options and searched for an affordable location including subletting from another agency,” English said. “We hoped DPH would make NAAP a city program. We looked at everything we could think of.” Toma said that he understands how NAAP’s closure may be difficult for clients. “We know this kind of loss can be very hard for clients and our goal is to create as much stability for them as possible, as quickly as possible,” Toma said. He added that API Wellness Center also provided information to NAAP on all of the men’s, transgender, HIV, and medical services his agency provides so that referrals could be made. “If these clients choose to come to API Wellness Center, they will have access to high quality primary care, dental services, mental and behavioral health services, case management, and critical social support services to keep them healthy and in treatment through this transition and beyond.”

Past and future and circles

English leaves his participation at NAAP on a sad but grateful note. “I have never met a group of people more dedicated to their clients,” he said. “This staff has worked through budget cuts, furloughs. They went three weeks without pay and the clients had no clue. It is heart-wrenching to have to close as NAAP has been such a huge part of my support system, knowing that they were always there.” Many clients, staff, and volunteers will seek support in Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits, which had also been a fiscal sponsor of NAAP. BAAITS Co-Chair Ruth Villasenor spoke highly of the now-closed agency. “The reason you haven’t heard from

the staff, I suspect, is that they are at that place where they are hurting, angry, and sad,” she said. “There is competition for funding where the government pits minorities against each other. You have to have the numbers to prove your services are needed.” Certain Native American-centered activities could easily find a home in more mainstream care services, English believes. “We would have beading classes and a talking circle. When you get somebody’s mind that is focused on a repetitive task like beading, they are more likely to share what they are feeling,” he said. See page 12 >>

<< Open Forum

4 • Bay Area Reporter • December 27, 2012-January 2, 2013

Volume 42, Number 52 December 27, 2012January 2, 2013

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Lump of coal for SFPD

hy on earth are San Francisco Police officers arresting small-time marijuana dealers? That was the question we asked after reading a San Francisco Bay Citizen story last Saturday that detailed undercover buy-bust operations that officers have been conducting since June in the Haight-Ashbury. We don’t think the police department should be expending time and resources on what is considered by many to be a low priority matter. In fact, it’s not just ordinary residents who find the possession of small amounts of weed trivial; state law now makes possession of an ounce or less of marijuana an infraction, the least serious classification. What the cops are really doing is clogging up the criminal justice system with cases that will never go to trial and don’t involve any jail time. What the article seemed to focus on, however, was the decades-long crusade by police Captain Greg Corrales against marijuana and his longtime nemesis, medical marijuana activist Dennis Peron, who is not connected with these buy-bust cases. For years, Corrales has sparred with Peron: first as an undercover officer in the 1970s, and later, working with then-Attorney General Dan Lungren, when they tried to shut down Peron’s famous (or infamous) Market Street Cannabis Buyers Club. Ultimately, a 1996 raid on the dispensary created public sympathy for Peron, who at the time had his Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, on that fall’s ballot. Voters – making California the first state in the nation to legalize medical cannabis – approved Prop 215 overwhelmingly. These days, however, Corrales, the captain of Park Station, is arresting small fries. According to the article, his aggressive strategy meets with the approval of many Haight residents, who complained in February to the Police Commission about open marijuana dealing. Police Chief Greg Suhr transferred Corrales to the Haight, and bingo, buy-bust arrests have more than tripled, the article stated. Corrales used to oversee Mission Station, and when he was named to that post (for the first time) in 2002, some LGBT political leaders and others in the city expressed reservations, including then-Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who

supports marijuana legalization. They were concerned that, among other things, Corrales’s ongoing feud with Peron, a gay man, meant that he might not be the best fit for a police district that includes the Castro’s sizable LGBT population. But during his tenure Corrales proved to be an effective captain who worked well with the community. One thing that did not happen, however, was widespread buy-bust marijuana arrests. Corrales later returned as captain of Mission Station in 2009 and was similarly effective. The reform of marijuana laws is a growing political issue. Last month, two states – Washington and Colorado – approved initiatives to legalize cannabis for recreational use. This, of course, creates potential problems with the federal laws because marijuana remains a Schedule I drug. But President Barack Obama this month told ABC News that the country has “bigger fish to fry” and said it does not “make sense to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have

determined that it’s legal.” California voters narrowly rejected a marijuana legalization initiative in 2010, but backers remain optimistic that the issue could appear on a future ballot and are encouraged by this year’s electoral successes. Of course, we still face the issue of the U.S. Justice Department’s crackdown on medical cannabis dispensaries; but we expect that DOJ officials will hear the president’s recent remarks on recreational use. If the federal government won’t challenge state laws in Washington and Colorado that legalize recreational use, it certainly should not continue its aggressive stance on medical marijuana. Closer to home, San Francisco police should be giving the least priority to these buy-bust cases. If officers – including a captain – have time to bust people in Golden Gate Park for selling $20 bags of pot, maybe they should beef up the homicide detail so that more work can be done on recent – and not so recent – murders of gay and transgender people, which we detailed in a front-page story last week. The police have far more serious matters to pursue than small time busts that will never result in trial or jail time.t

Connecting to others can be healthy by Ben-David Barr

t this time of year when we’re bombarded with scenes of togetherness, belonging, and loving family and friends, it’s important to remember that for some this can be a time of stress, loneliness, and depression. The holiday season can bring reminders of what’s absent or lost in our lives – a perfect partner, loving friends, and connection with our families of origin. For too many in the LGBTQ community, the holidays amplify the feelings of rejection we deal with year-round. In the past, many within our community have been reluctant to talk about how mental health issues affect us. As an oppressed group, these facts have historically been used to justify discrimination against our community. However, current research helps makes it clear that mental health problems within the LGBTQ community are linked to the stresses of living within an unequal society. In America, health disparity research clearly demonstrates that groups experiencing oppression and rejection have comparatively poorer mental and physical health. For instance, African Americans are more likely to have heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems. It is likely that these disparities are related to pressures of living in an unaccepting society. Similarly, as LGBTQ people it should not be surprising that those of us who have experienced rejection, negative judgment, and exposure to stigma may wind up dealing with physical and mental health issues. A substantial body of mental health research reveals that rates of depression, substance abuse, suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms occur at higher rates within our LGBTQ community. For instance, the San Francisco-based Family Acceptance Project’s research has shown that queer young adults who come from rejecting homes are eight times more likely to have attempted suicide by the age of 25 than those from accepting homes. Rejected youth are also at increased risk for substance abuse and contracting HIV.

On the positive side, social research also shows that connection to others helps improve lives, even for those who encounter rejection. What ultimately matters is that we all find ways to resist stigma and rejection. It’s not a new concept. The Stonewall-era LGBT community understood the destructive impact of stigma on our lives. This is why our community’s early advocacy efforts focused on removing homosexuality as a mental health disorder, and why we call our annual parades and festivals Pride events. Collective pride is a crucial antidote to stigma and shame. Efforts to eradicate LGBTQ discrimination are essential. It is just as important that we create individual strategies to resist stigma and build an LGBTQ community that truly cares for one another. What can you do if you find yourself dealing with feelings of depression and isolation? Below are four strategies that can help fight depression and lessen feelings of loneliness: 1. Practice gratitude – actively look for the positive things in your life and let others know you appreciate them. 2. Volunteer – Helping a cause or organization you believe in can put your life in perspective. You’ll also help to build a more positive community. 3. Build your support network – Claim the right to create a family of your choice by cultivating friendships and strengthening ties with others in your world. 4. If you find yourself stuck or unable to put these steps into practice, find help. Many resources are available in the Bay Area including counseling and coaching services, 12-step programs, free support groups, and many welcoming religious groups that offer spiritual support. Resources and support are also available from many LGBTQ organizations across the Bay Area. Community-based LGBTQ groups offering support include: the San Francisco

LGBT Community Center; the Pacific Center in Berkeley; Spectrum in Marin and Napa counties; the Lighthouse in Hayward; the Billy DeFrank Center in San Jose; and the Rainbow Community Center in Contra Costa County. The mission for each of these groups is to serve their communities. I’m thankful for the opportunity the Bay Area Reporter has given me to highlight the services of RCC. RCC has grown from a small startup to an agency offering a host of mental health services and support groups designed to promote community and reduce feelings of isolation. We provide activities for youth, seniors, people on the trans spectrum, for people with HIV, and more. Our low-cost counseling program treats individuals, couples, and families and also accepts Medi-Cal. RCC also provides support and education for parents and families of LGBTQ youth including programs designed to prevent bullying and suicide among those youth. Everything Under the Rainbow, RCC’s thrift shop, opened for business last spring. Its goals are to provide support and job training for gender-variant youth who often can’t find work in their local communities. You can learn more about the RCC online through our website (www.rainbowcc.org). At the RCC, our year-end campaign – Transforming Lives – is currently under way. On our website and Facebook pages we have included stories about the ways members of our community are coming together to help improve their lives and the services available in our communities. I hope that during this holiday season you can find a way to connect with others and that, throughout the coming year, we all can work together to build healthier communities.t Ben-David Barr, MSW, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, California.

Politics>>

December 27, 2012-January 2, 2013 • Bay Area Reporter • 5

Alice club nominates attorney as new co-chair

BarrySchneider_Redesign

by Matthew S. Bajko

he Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club’s board has nominated a deputy city attorney to be its new male co-chair. The city’s more moderate LGBT political club is expected to elevate lawyer Ronald Flynn to the top leadership post at its January 14 meeting. Should Alice members approve the board’s pick then Flynn would help lead the club until 2015. Alice co-chairs serve two-year terms and traditionally then step aside. Flynn would serve alongside female Co-Chair Martha Knutzen for the next 12 months, as her term does not expire until January 2014. Flynn, 50, has been serving as cochair of Alice’s political action committee this past year. He is set to succeed outgoing male co-chair Reese Aaron Isbell. Having joined Alice seven years ago, Flynn said he wants to continue to build the club’s relationships with other groups and constituencies over the next two years. Alice held several joint meetings on LGBT issues this past year with the more progressive Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club and has worked with other political clubs. “I thought I could help with that process,” said Flynn, adding that overseeing the Alice PAC “was a challenge but it was fun.” He will head the club at the same time as City Attorney Dennis Herrera, whom Flynn has worked for since 2006, is running for re-election. During last year’s mayoral race, Alice endorsed Herrera as its number one choice and continues to have close ties to the politician. Asked if being co-chair while Herrera seeks Alice’s endorsement for his re-election bid would put him in an awkward position, Flynn didn’t foresee any problems. “My work and my political activity are separate,” said Flynn, who oversees the construction and public contracting team within Herrera’s office. “Obviously, I am a supporter of Dennis. But I am not the club; I am one member of the club. The club ultimately makes the decision of who to support and endorse.” Well known in Bay Area legal circles, Flynn is a past co-chair of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom, an association for LGBT legal professionals. In 2006 Flynn helped organize a groundbreaking conference about murder suspects deploying “gay panic” defenses in court that was sponsored by thenSan Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris. In 2010 Flynn was part of Herrera’s legal team that worked on the historic federal lawsuit against Proposition 8, California’s voter-approved ban against same-sex marriage. During the trial before now retired U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, Flynn handled the direct examination of Ryan Kendall, a gay man who testified about undergoing reparative therapy to cure his homosexuality. Flynn, who was portrayed by TV actor Todd Waring in publicly broadcasted re-enactments of the trial, is not involved in the preparations for the oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, which will hear the case in 2013. “I would love to be there that day for the argument,” said Flynn, though he is unsure if he will attend. Isbell said he is leaving the club in

Courtesy Ronald Flynn

Jane Philomen Cleland

Ronald Flynn is expected to become the new Alice club cochair.

City Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan will soon be sworn in to a second term.

deft hands. “I am happy to hand the baton off to Martha and Ron for the next year,” he said. Isbell helped steer the club through several tough election cycles in which Alice faced questions on why it backed straight candidates over their LGBT opponents and how it allocated resources in races where it ranked its endorsements. “We had three elections during my time and each had interest and contention and passion. I think that I tried my best to keep the club moving forward as a group,” said Isbell. “We have come out stronger than ever.” Having recently quit working for gay state Senator Mark Leno (DSan Francisco) after nine years as his political consultant and district representative, Isbell is unsure where he will be working in the new year. Interested in the technology field or private sector, Isbell did rule out running for public office himself. “My next year I’ve planned to be much more wide open in doing different things,” he said.

throwing a party from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Faz Restaurant, 1111 Broadway in downtown Oakland. Individual tickets cost $75 and include food. The first 50 people in the door will receive a complimentary Mai Tai, which the invite notes was created in Oakland. Trader Vic’s owner Victor Bergeron is credited with concocting the drink at his famous Tiki-themed watering hole and restaurant in 1944. Kaplan proclaimed the cocktail the official drink of Oakland in 2009. To RSVP online visit http:// www.KaplanforOakland.org/inauguration.

Kaplan announces inauguration plans

Oakland at-large City Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan is planning to celebrate her hard fought re-election with a debt-retirement party following her swearing in ceremony next month. Kaplan, the only LGBT person on the East Bay city’s council, defeated longtime Oakland councilman Ignacio De La Fuente in November. Rather than seek re-election to his District 5 seat, De La Fuente tried to oust Kaplan in hopes it would boost his mayoral aspirations. His ploy failed, and now Kaplan finds herself seen as a top contender for mayor. The current holder of the office, Jean Quan, is up for reelection in 2014, though Kaplan has said she will not run against her former council colleague if she seeks a second term. In the meantime, Kaplan is focused on celebrating her victory and retiring her campaign debt. In late October her campaign reported outstanding debts of nearly $7,000, according to the most recent filing report posted online by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. “Please help us retire the debt from our campaign so we start the year off with a clean slate,” wrote Kaplan in an email her campaign sent to supporters. She and the other incoming councilmembers will be sworn in at 11 a.m. Monday, January 7, 2013 in the council chambers at Oakland City Hall. That evening Kaplan is

Sacto gets second gay politician named Hansen

At least his first name isn’t Steve; otherwise Sacramento would have a hard time differentiating its first two openly gay politicians. Last week Sacramento City Unified School District trustees chose Jay Hansen to fill a vacancy on the board. Hansen’s selection makes him the public school district’s first openly gay board member. The board’s vote December 20 came nine days after Steve Hansen took his oath of office to become the first out LGBT person on the Sacramento City Council. A senior regional manager at Genentech, he won a close contest in November to become the first out LGBT person to win local elective office in the state capital. Jay Hansen works for the California Medical Association as its chief strategy officer and helped start the Sacramento Stonewall Democrats. The LGBT political club had recommended Hansen along with two other people for the school board seat. “Stonewall pledges to support Jay as one of the founding members and longtime supporter of our club,” wrote club President Mario Guerrero in an email praising Hansen’s selection. He is replacing the board’s most senior member Ellyn Bell, who resigned due to relocating for work, according to the Sacramento Bee. Hansen will serve out the final two years of Bell’s term and will face election in 2014.t Due to the holidays the online Political Notes column is on hiatus. It will return Monday, January 14. 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) 8615019 or e-mail mailto:m.bajko@ ebar.com.

Barry Schneider, Esq. Experienced Attorney For All Personal Matters

Wills and Probate Certified Family Law Specialist and Conservatorships Domestic Partner and Trust Issues 400 Montgomery St., Suite 505 • San Francisco, CA 94104 415.781.6500 • BSLaw55@gmail.com

Barry Schneider, Esq. Experienced Attorney For All Personal Matters

Wills and Probate Certified Family Law Specialist and Conservatorships Domestic Partner and Trust Issues 400 Montgomery St., Suite 505 • San Francisco, CA 94104 415.781.6500 • BSLaw55@gmail.com

Read more online at www.ebar.com

December 27-January 2, 2013 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034739800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 2M CREATIVE, LLC, 360 Langton St. #201, SF, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed 2M Creative LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/28/2012. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/28/12.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034742600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PMK CONSTRUCTION LLC, 2722 Folsom St., SF, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed PMK Construction 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 11/29/12.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034752100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE LIQUID GARDEN; INTRINSIC EVENTS AND DESIGN. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Thomas Murphy. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/03/12.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034707300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NOBLETON MARKETING GROUP, 2136 Larkin St., SF, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Saralynn Elizabeth Reece. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/08/12.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034748400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NATE FONG PHOTOGRAPHY, 280 19th Ave., SF, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Nathan Fong. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/03/12.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034740100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE GENIUS OF MARIAN, 90 Mirabel Ave., SF, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed WeOwnTV (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/28/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/28/12.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034729400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAYCREST CLEANERS, 201 Harrison St. #C2, SF, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed What Happened LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/20/12.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034747800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ASYA POGODINA PSYCHOTHERAPY, 2645 Ocean Ave. #206, SF, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Asya Pogodina. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/03/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/03/12.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-033814900 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: GREENWAY 420, 965 Mission St. #212, SF, CA 94103. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by Greenway Professional Support Services LLC (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/09/11.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-030906900 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: 2M CREATIVE, 360 Langton St. #201, SF, CA 94103. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by Mehdi Sadeghi Anvarian. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/07/08.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012

SUMMONS SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF ALAMEDA NOTICE TO RESPONDENT: EDWARD BALUYUT AKA EDWARD N. BAYULUT AKA E. BAYULUT, AN INDIVIDUAL AND DOES 1 THROUGH 50, INCLUSIVE YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: UNITED GUARANTY RESIDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH CAROLINA, A NORTH CAROLINA CORPORATION CASE NO. HG12620354 Notice: You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp). your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. The name and address of the court is : HAYWARD HALL OF JUSTICE, 24405 AMADOR ST., HAYWARD, CA 94544, UNLIMITED CIVIL The name, address, and telephone number of the plantiff’s attorney, or plantiff without an attorney, is:

BRUCE A. HATKOFF, SBN 66146, BRUCE A. HATKOFF, A LAW CORPORATION, 18757 BURBANK BLVD. SUITE 100, TARZANA, CA 91356. Date: Mar 08, 2012; Received: Clerk of the Court PAT S. SWEETEN, by Pilipino Jungohan, Deputy.

DEC 6, 13, 20, 27, 2012 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034765600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RILLO LAW GROUP, 111 Pine St. #1400, SF, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Christopher J. Rillo. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/11/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/11/12.

DEC 13, 20, 27, 2012; JAN 3, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034757700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SA BEANG THAI, 312 Divisadero St., SF, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Atthapon Inkhong. 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 12/06/12.

DEC 13, 20, 27, 2012; JAN 3, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034763100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAYVIEW ICE CREAM SHOPPE, 1650 Quesada Ave., SF, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Robert Davis. 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 12/10/12.

DEC 13, 20, 27, 2012; JAN 3, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034756200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SPIRO COFFEE, 826 Van Ness, SF, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed Nob Hill Restaurant Ventures Inc. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/05/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/05/12.

DEC 13, 20, 27, 2012; JAN 3, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034731400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LA SCUOLA INTERNAZIONALE DI SAN FRANCISCO; LA SCUOLA; 728 20th St., SF, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed La Piccola Scuola Italiana Di San Francisco (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/21/12.

DEC 13, 20, 27, 2012; JAN 3, 2013

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034760200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SYNTROPY FITNESS, 168 South Park Ave., SF, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a limited liability corporation, and is signed The Center for Lifestyle Well-Being (CA)The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/07/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/07/12.

DEC 13, 20, 27, 2012; JAN 3, 2013 NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Dated 12/11/12 To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are: GOLDEN GATE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 33 New Montgomery St. #1230, SF, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at 1446 Market St., SF, CA 94102-6004. Type of license applied for

41 - ON-SALE BEER & WINE - EATING PLACE DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 2013 NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Dated 12/07/12 To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are: DOGPATCH CAFE, LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 33 New Montgomery St. #1230, SF, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at 2291 & 2295 3rd St., SF, CA 94107-3125. Type of license applied for

41 - ON-SALE BEER & WINE - EATING PLACE DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034769600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FERNANDO’S HAIR SALON, 5763 A Mission St., SF, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Jose A. Alvarado Garcia. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/13/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/13/12.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034765300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DATEBOOK, 472 Union St. #2, SF, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Melissa Edwards. 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 12/11/12.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034773600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: B&B INVESTMENTS, 125 Gilbert St. #8, SF, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Brent Huigens. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/17/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/17/12.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034776100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FRANCESCA’S FLOWERS & GARDENS, 128 Woodland Ave., SF, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Francesca Perez. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/18/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/18/12.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034775600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CRENELATED DIPHTHONG PRESS, 1526 Anza St., SF, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Sarah Corr. 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 12/18/12.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034760300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FILLMORE LAUNDRY, 1426B Fillmore St., SF, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed PRK Ventures Inc. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/07/12.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034757200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MIKE’S GROCERY & LIQUOR, 2499 Mission St., SF, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BIKO Inc. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/03/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/05/12.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034761400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SF SHEN YUN PRESENTER, 601 Van Ness Ave. #E808,

SF, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed San Francisco Falun Buddha Study Association (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 12/07/12.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034777200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE, 301 Main St., SF, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed Woodstream Advisors LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/18/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/18/12.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034775900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LIME TREE, 450 A Irving St., SF, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Siok Ming Tjong. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/18/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/18/12.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-032369600 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: MIKE’S GROCERY & LIQUOR, 2499 Mission St., SF, CA 94110. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by Basem Hasan Kurd. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/06/09.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-032624900 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: FILLMORE LAUNDRY, 1426B Fillmore St., SF, CA 94115. This business was conducted by a husband & wife and signed by Hang Vuong & Sreewan Vuong. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/10/10.

DEC 20, 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034774200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WAVEWORKS COACHING, 9 COLERIDGE ST., SF, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Anne Elizabeth Moellering. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/17/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/17/12.

DEC 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 17, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034786000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOLDEN KING VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT, 757 CLAY ST., SF, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Philip Vuong. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business

name or names on 12/21/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/21/12.

DEC 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 17, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034776300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BRITTANY BARR CONSULTING, 3501 DIVISADERO ST. #20, SF, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Brittany Barr. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/17/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/18/12.

DEC 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 17, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034784500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: A TRAN’S BAY BIKE SHOP, 1 AVENUE OF THE PALMS #21, SF, CA 94130. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Tammy Sheila Powers. 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 12/20/12.

DEC 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 17, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034774800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 2BY4 PRODUCTIONS, 3560 24TH ST #3, SF, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed Paul Cello. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/15/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/17/12.

DEC 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 17, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034760600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MASON PACIFIC, 1356-1358 MASON ST., SF, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MTomato LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/17/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/07/12.

DEC 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 17, 2013 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-034739100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAM’S CABLE CAR LOUNGE, 222 POWELL ST., SF, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed Sirhed Gallery Market 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 11/28/12.

DEC 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 17, 2013 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-034014700 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: GOLDEN KING VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT, 757 & 759 CLAY ST., SF, CA 94108. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by Philip Vuong & Huong T. Vuong. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/21/11.

DEC 27, 2012; JAN 03, 10, 17, 2013

City and County of San Francisco January 2013 Monthly Port of San Francisco Pier 38 Rehabilitation Project REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) The Port of San Francisco is seeking submittals on proposals to rehabilitate and re-tenant the Pier 38 bulkhead structure and a limited portion of the Pier 38 shed. Contact John Doll at: john.doll@sfport.com RFP Submittal Deadline: February 22, 2013 Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund Support San Francisco’s vibrant arts community by donating to the Voluntary Arts Contribution Fund (VACF). Since its inception in 1984, the VACF has provided $1.2 million in vital support to hundreds of the city’s most beloved arts organizations, serving every San Francisco neighborhood. Your gift will make possible important artistic programs and services, including safety improvements and facility upgrades. Be part of why San Francisco is known around the world as an extraordinary arts destination – support the VACF. For more information, and to make a donation, visit www.sfgfta.org or call 415.554.6710. The VACF is a program of Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund. San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (“SFMTA”) In accordance with requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as set forth in 49 CFR Part 26 (Part 26), the SFMTA hereby noties the public that it intends to establish a goal of eleven percent (11%) participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) on the Central Subway Project, to be attained by race-neutral measures. In Part 26, DOT sets forth regulations pertaining to how a recipient should establish an overall goal. The regulations also include provisions regarding how a recipient should, at the direction of the DOT, express an overall goal as a percentage of funds for a project. To facilitate participation by DBEs without regard to race, ethnicity and gender, SFMTA will implement a small business enterprise participation goal on the Central Subway. Information pertaining to this proposed DBE goal is available for inspection 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, at the SFMTA Contract Compliance Ofce (CCO) at One South Van Ness Avenue, 6th Floor, San Francisco, California 94103, for thirty (30) days following this publication. Comments will be accepted for forty-ve (45) days from date of publication. Comments may be sent to the SFMTA CCO at the above address. CCO can be contacted at 415-701-4443. Department of the Environment The SF Department of the Environment introduces RecycleWhere (www.sfenvironment.org/ recyclewhere): Whether you’re working or living in San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Jose, Contra Costa, or Alameda, the online tool RecycleWhere provides the latest and most convenient recycling, reuse, and disposal options for everything from plastics to couches, and much more! RecycleWhere is collaboration among local government agencies to help each and every person reduce waste. Time for an oil change? The 3,000 mile rule no longer applies to most vehicles. You can Check Your Number by reviewing your owner’s manual or go to www.checkyournumber.org The City and County of San Francisco encourage public outreach. Articles are translated into several languages to provide better public access. The newspaper makes every effort to translate the articles of general interest correctly. No liability is assumed by the City and County of San Francisco or the newspapers for errors and omissions.

<< Community News

12 • Bay Area Reporter • December 27, 2012-January 2, 2013

LGBT nonprofits

Appellate justice

From page 2

state’s arguments in two marquee cases involving same-sex marriage. The first was known as In re Marriage Cases, in which then-Attorney General Bill Lockyer’s office argued that voters had a right in 2000 to adopt Proposition 22, which defined marriages in California as between a man and a woman and was eventually struck down by the California Supreme Court.

Therapy ban

From page 1

National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, the American Association of Christian Counselors, and two “Jack and Jane Doe” plaintiff couples on behalf of two “John Doe” minors. The plaintiffs’ request for an emergency order argued that the John Doe minors would face “immediate and irreparable harm to their physical, emotional, and mental health,” and that the mental health practitioners would suffer damage to their careers, if the law is allowed to go into effect. The request also noted that another federal judge in Sacramento granted a preliminary injunction December 3 in a similar lawsuit by a different

made him ill. “It was fixed within a week once they got involved,” he said of ALRP. As he’s been doing for years, Roger Doughty, executive director of the Horizons Foundation, encourages donors to think about the long-term health of LGBT-related nonprofits. Like other agencies, Horizons, which gathers funding and funnels it primarily to LGBT organizations, is relying more on individual contributions. Since the economic downturn, grant making from many private foundations has declined. Doughty said that points to the value of the endowment Horizons has been building. “It’s always going to be true that public money, government money is going to go up and down, up and down,” as is foundation support, Doughty said. Such sources “have thousands of social issues they’re

Isaias Guzman is only 18, but he was immediately able to state that it costs the San Francisco-based GayStraight Alliance Network about $5 to raise $100. Guzman, co-chair of the fundraising committee of GSA Network’s board, learned the figure at a meeting where members were planning how to spend the nonprofit’s money. The network does everything from assisting GSA clubs around the country to supporting school safety legislation. The organization is “extremely efficient,” Guzman, a UC Berkeley freshman, said. Data such as the cost to raise $100 can be important because it offers an indication of how much money a nonprofit is spending on fundraising rather than client services. AEF is one of many agencies that spends much more to raise $100 than GSA Network. To determine that cost, Charity Watch, a national organization that moni-

tors nonprofit finances, excludes government grants and some other revenue from groups’ total income from contributions. Based on the calculation, AEF’s cost to raise $100 is about $44, according to data the nonprofit filed with the IRS for the 2010-11 fiscal year. But Smith said the $44 figure doesn’t take into account the time and money it takes to get the government revenue. “You’re assuming there isn’t a cost to us to get government money,” he said. “To get there, you have to assume that none of us spend any time or any effort, and the government money is handed to us each year, and it’s not,” he said. When the government funds are included, AEF’s cost to raise $100 is approximately $15, which is also what the national watchdog Charity Navigator lists for the group. Smith points to the percentage of total expenses that are spent on fundraising as a better indicator of efficiency. For 2010-11, that figure for his organization is about 14 percent, according to its tax data. The median percentage for the 27 nonprofits that the Bay Area Reporter examined, which includes organizations not specifically related to HIV/AIDS work, is about 10 percent. Financial statements for 2011-12 indicate that AEF’s spending on fundraising has remained steady. Using financial and other data, Charity Navigator gives AEF a rating of three stars overall. (The maximum rating is four stars.) The watchdog group has given the same rating to San Francisco AIDS Foundation, based on data

for the fiscal year ending June 2011. The rating stands in stark contrast to where the agency was about two years prior to that. Using data for the fiscal year ending September 2009, Charity Navigator had given SFAF one star overall. With a budget of about $24 million, SFAF is the largest AIDS-related nonprofit in the city, providing everything from HIV tests to clean syringes for intravenous drug users. The 30-year-old organization assists tens of thousands of people each year. Neil Giuliano, the agency’s CEO, has previously spoken of how he’s been working to increase efficiency since he joined the agency about two years ago. That effort has included cutting some fundraising costs. Whether someone is an individual donor, a participant in the AIDS/ LifeCycle bike ride, or chooses another way to give, “Our responsibility is to be good stewards of our donors’ resources, and their contributions,” Giuliano said, and work to move “toward the accomplishment of our mission, which is to end HIV and AIDS.” How successful SFAF is in its progress toward reaching that goal illustrates a point the Movement Advancement Project included in a report it released this month. “While a certain level of financial due diligence is helpful, the best way to tell whether a nonprofit deserves recognition and support for its work is to look closely at an organization’s programs, activities, and ultimately, outcomes,” says the report from MAP, which works to aid efforts toward LGBT equality.t

The court’s decision, in turn, led to Humes’s involvement in the legal fights over Proposition 8, the 2008 ban against same-sex marriage adopted by California voters. This time he helped with Brown’s briefing, first as attorney general then as governor, as to why the state would not defend the anti-gay measure in court. California Solicitor General Manuel Medeiros noted how ironic it was for Humes, who married his partner of 15 years, attorney Joe Quinn, in 2008, to be involved

in those cases. Yet it also showed Humes’s ability to be impartial in judicial proceedings, Medeiros told the appointments commission, and was just one example of his “integrity” as a public official. “He is a brilliant lawyer and a tough litigator,” said Medeiros, who was a witness to the couple’s marriage. J. Anthony Kline, the senior presiding justice of the First Appellate District, Division Two, voted with Attorney General Kamala Harris and California Chief Justice Tani G.

Cantil-Sakauye to confirm Humes. He joked that the hearing could have been mistaken for a “bar mitzvah” due to the praise lavished on Humes. Kline did ask Humes about his ability to be impartial on cases brought before his court by former colleagues in state government. Humes replied that he intends to recuse himself from any cases he “knew about or worked on” as well as litigation where “any reasonable person could question my impartiality.” Humes served in the Colorado At-

torney General’s office from 1984 to 1986 and again from 1987 to 1993. Humes was an associate at Banta Hoyt Banta Greene Hannen and Everall PC from 1986 to 1987 and at Jay Stuart Radetsky PC from 1983 to 1984. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Denver, a Master of Social Science degree from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois State University. Humes will make $204,599 as an appellate justice.t

set of plaintiffs. “The intra-district conflict,” said the Liberty Counsel motion, “creates an impossible legal quandary for the thousands of Californians affected by SB 1172,” the new law. The law, which bans state licensed mental health professionals from engaging in reparative or conversion therapy with minors, was signed by Governor Jerry Brown earlier this year and was to go into effect January 1. In a joint statement, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Equality California, both sponsors of SB 1172, said the 9th Circuit’s action “temporarily delayed the start date” of the law. California Attorney General Kamala Harris opposed the emergency motion, as did EQCA, which has been granted status as an interven-

ing party in the lawsuits. Represented by NCLR and Munger Tolles and Olson LLP, EQCA argued that many more young people will be harmed if the law is not allowed to take effect. The “balance of hardships and the public interest,” it said, “strongly favor allowing California youth to benefit now from the crucial protections established by SB 1172.” The three-judge panel granting the emergency injunction did not discuss its reasons. The panel included Alfred Goodwin (an appointee of President Richard Nixon), Edward Leavy (Ronald Reagan), and Milan Smith (George W. Bush). Sexual orientation change efforts, which attempt to convert people with a homosexual orientation to heterosexual, are generally referred to as “reparative therapy” or “con-

version therapy.” A small number of mental health care facilities promote the therapy, even though both the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association have said there is no sound evidence that it works and that there is evidence it can pose significant risks of self-destructive behavior to the client. “Every leading medical and mental health organization has warned therapists and parents that these practices do not work and put young people at risk of serious harm, including depression and suicide,” NCLR legal director Shannon Minter said in a statement. Liberty Counsel’s lawsuit argues that the new law would violate the First Amendment free speech rights of the reparative therapists,

as well as several rights of parents and rights of minors to receive information. But Mueller, in making her preliminary ruling on the case, said “nothing in [the new law] prevents a therapist from mentioning the existence of [reparative therapies” and referring potential subjects of the therapy to persons, such as clergy, who are not state-licensed. In the joint statement, EQCA Executive Director John O’Connor pointed out, “California regulates medical providers to protect consumers from all kinds of harmful and fraudulent practices.” In another case, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in federal court in New Jersey, seeking to hold a reparative therapy group liable for consumer fraud.t

fill this gap,” he said. In the last several weeks, members of the Native community were there to mourn with NAAP. At the 14th annual American Indian Child Resource Center Pow Wow at Laney College, the folks at the agency were honored, Villasenor said. As for memorabilia, English said that he wants to donate “pieces of buckskin with the names of those who’ve passed away” to the San Francisco GLBT Historical Society. “Another thing we’ve become known for is end of life,” English said. “Many times we would receive phone calls that there were Native persons in the morgue unclaimed; our staff

became proficient at reuniting loved ones with their families.” And speaking of family, English added, “that is the one thing, family, that was the thread that connected all these Native cultures. You take care of your family. See the guy on the street, that’s your family.”t

trying to address. We are only one, so they’re never really going to fit the bill for our making sure that we gain equality, that we take care of people in our community who need help and support, and that we build the type of community we want. That leaves us, LGBT people ourselves,” he said. The endowment – where the principle stays in place and the earnings will be available for grant making – is worth about $4.5 million. With a bequest the foundation knows is coming, that figure will grow to approximately $6.5 by late 2013.

From page 1

Penny Jar campaign. “It’s still $50,000 a year in change in penny jars, so it really does add up,” he said. Lance Toma is executive director of Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center, which offers HIV testing, primary health care, advocacy, and other services. “We’ve been focused on building our individual donor base,” Toma said, and the organization has seen an increase of about 5 percent in individual donations each year. One reason the nonprofit, which has a $3.9 million budget and 3,000 unduplicated clients, needs the help is “We’ve seen less and less multi-year private foundation grants recently,” Toma said. Besides reaching out to donors through direct solicitations and events, API Wellness has also been collaborating with other agencies. One example is the “Paint the Castro Red” campaign, where, on World AIDS Day, agencies encouraged people to patronize businesses in the largely gay neighborhood, and participating venues donated a portion of their sales. AIDS Legal Referral Panel is another agency that’s been involved in the Castro campaign. Gregory Curatolo, a 57-year-old San Francisco resident who’s living with AIDS, said the nonprofit has helped him with legal issues related to housing, among other things. The housing problem stemmed from poor ventilation in a smoking neighbor’s apartment that allowed smoke to come into Curatolo’s home, which

Native American

From page 3

In this capacity, the beading classes served as an adjunct to group therapy. Traditional healers were frequent visitors and drum circles were frequent events. “NAAP always had an open door policy,” Villasenor said. Toma said the closure of NAAP leaves a void in the city’s HIV programs. “The NAAP closure is a terrible loss for San Francisco’s Native American community and we in the HIV service network must respond to try to

Courtesy Isaias Guzman

Gay-Straight Alliance Network participant Isaias Guzman

Efficiency

On the web Online content this week includes the Out in the World column and an article about last week’s Ellis Act evictions protest. www.ebar.com.

Corrections In the December 20 article, “E-book imagines the end of AIDS,” San Francisco AIDS Foundation staff member Reilly O’Neal’s surname was misspelled. In the December 13 article “LGBT youth leader fights assault charge” it was incorrectly reported that San Francisco

Police testified that the red and blue Cuban flag tattooed on defendant Elvira Zayas’s arm is evidence of her gang affiliation. According to the preliminary hearing transcript, San Francisco Police Sergeant Dion McDonnell described the tattoos and stated that they were not evidence of Zayas’s gang affiliation. The online versions have been corrected.

Recordings 2012

Reciprocal desire

Out &About

Theatre 2012

O&A

The

Vol. 42 • No. 52 • December 27- January 2, 2013

www.ebar.com/arts

Double bills of the year’s best films as Paul y Booth chs’ r a h c a Z Sa tor Ira in direc ights On. eL Keep th

by David Lamble

remember directors Rob Epstein and Artie Bresson posing under the Castro Theatre marquee with then-Castro programmer Mel Novikoff for the 1984 opening of Epstein’s Oscar-winning The Times of Harvey Milk. We dedicate this year’s double-bill top picks to the memory of Novikoff ’s nowshuttered Lumiere Theatre, once San Francisco’s premier firstrun queer film showcase. (The first four pairs are Best Picture nods.) 1. Keep the Lights On begins in a shabby East Village walkup as Eric (Thure Lindhardt), a ruggedly handsome blonde top, arranges a sex-line hookup with a lawyer just coming out, Paul (Zachary Booth). The physical connection is electric, and Eric and Paul are soon a couple bound together by bedroom chemistry but hobbled by career and personal differences. Director Ira Sachs provides a rigorously honest account of how two emo-

tionally incompatible men struggle to preserve a relationship, only to collapse in a burst of mutual candor. (with:) The Master With parallels to Paul Thomas Anderson’s oilman/preacher mud-fight There Will Be Blood, one huge difference is the presence of a towering female character, Peggy Dodd (Amy Adams). As with Blood, where Daniel DayLewis’ bullying oilman and Paul Dano’s duplicitous preacher see through each other, the hard-drinking Freddie (Joaquin Phoenix) and Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), modeled on Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard, are hip to each other’s game. This time, it’s the spiritual conman who’s drinking the milkshake. 2. Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky’s decision to translate his MTV cult novel into a movie where “the gay kid is the coolest kid” pays huge dividends, especially in a breakout performance by the sassy Ezra Miller. Miller’s Patrick, who

Gone, baby, gone! Looking back at the year in fine art by Sura Wood

h, 2012, we hardly knew ye. It’s hard to believe, but it’s indeed that time again when we take stock and reflect on a waning year that has reached its expiration date. Looking back, there was a plentiful supply of interesting shows, such as the idiosyncratic career retrospective for Oakland-based graphic novelist and underground cartoonist Daniel Clowes, of Ghost World and Art School Confidential fame, who went respectable and nearly mainstream with a full-court press treatment at OMCA.

won’t take no guff from his closeted jock boyfriend, becomes a role model and cheerleader for pals Charlie (Logan Lerman) and Sam (Emma Watson). Watson gives her American accent a hefty test-run as a graduating senior saddled with a faithless beau. “We accept the love we think we deserve.” (with:) The Wise Kids Stephen Cone’s ensemble piece, inspired by a Charleston, SC church youth group, tracks the centrifugal forces unleashed when a church’s “good school citizen,” its brightest, sweetest, and most likely to succeed skinny young man (Tyler Ross), allows his heart to pull him off his faith. 3. Lincoln In an epic first act, the equal of anything in the David Lean canon, Steven Spielberg and gay playwright Tony Kushner frame the awful dilemma Lincoln faced in his last four months. Based on Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, See page 14 >>

There were fewer blockbusters at area museums than in years gone by, and while there were missteps, there was an absence of dramatic peaks or howling failures. 2012 saw many notable small shows outside of or embedded in major institutions. The latter didn’t get the press coverage their major sister exhibitions received; one had to look a little harder, and there were payoffs for those willing to invest the energy. The Legion of Honor’s delightful showcase of works by Rene Bouche, a fashion illustrator and art director for French Vogue, whose ink and watercolors, accompanied by his acerbic text, drew a memorable portrait of a down but not entirely defeated postWWII Paris, was a stellar find. Then, mild-mannered Arthur Tress, the Clark Kent of modern photography, rolled into town. Slightly built, bespectacled and openly gay, Tress looks as unthreatening as your neighborhood pharmacist, but beneath that harmless exterior lurks a heart of darkness. Aspects of his disturbing body of work even upset that children’s night-terrors specialist, Maurice Sendak. See page 16 >>

Baritone Brian Mulligan as Richard Nixon touching down in Peking, in San Francisco Opera’s Nixon in China.

“Au Louvre” pen and ink with color additions from The Morning After: Paris, 1945 by Rene Bouche.

Courtesy FAMSF

2012 at the opera & the symphony by Philip Campbell

e made it through the Mayan calendar, and it looks like we will narrowly miss falling off the fiscal cliff, but one thing we can’t avoid is year-end best (and worst) lists. For music-lovers in the city, the San Francisco Opera and Symphony rarely come up with any flagrant stinkers, so worst offerings are not in review. We are roughly at half-time for the San Francisco Symphony’s 101st season, and the Opera has already completed big summer and fall seasons. Cory Weaver

{ second OF TWO SECTIONS }

Perhaps the biggest single triumph at the SFO came early in the summer with the Bay Area premiere of Nixon in China by John Adams and Alice Goodman. I thought the staging was a little congested at times, and as the notorious Madame Mao, SFO debutante Hye Jung Lee screeched her way through the role’s crazy coloratura with enough scary accuracy to make my eardrums dread her every appearance. Small complaints were completely eclipsed See page 16 >>

<< Out There

14 • Bay Area Reporter • December 27-January 2, 2013

Culture vulture 2012 by Roberto Friedman

here’s more to life than books, you know, but not much more,” Morrissey famously sang on “Handsome Devil.” Last week Out There told you about our year in books, and we’ll finish up this week by mentioning a few cultural events in 2012 that proved there is more to life. Art: Bay Area museum and gallery shows offered much to slake our art thirst, including impressive SFMOMA shows on Cindy Sherman, Jasper Johns, and especially Jay DeFeo, but the art exhibition we saw of most consequence was Ai Weiwei: According to What? at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum (through Feb. 24, 2013). Ai is bestknown for his collaboration with architects Herzog & de Meuron on the design of the main stadium, the so-called “Bird’s Nest,” for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and his installation of 100 million hand-

painted porcelain sunflower seeds in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall in 2010. But his big art-buzz has been harshed by relentless persecution from the Chinese government. That’s because his work can be about things Beijing doesn’t want discussed. Consider Snake Ceiling (2009), created from student backpacks. It’s a reference to the mass casualties at a poorly built school following a recent earthquake. Movies: Our favorite romantic film Plein Soleil (usually mistranslated as Purple Noon, directed by René Clemént in 1960) was released on DVD and Blu-ray this year in a Criterion edition. So now we can warm these cold winter nights with Alain Delon at the peak of his beauty, on the golden Amalfi coast. Based on the same Patricia Highsmith novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley, as Anthony Minghella’s 1999 version, but much, much better. Music (live): San Francisco Op-

Cathy Carver

Rapt

Snake Ceiling (2009) by Ai Weiwei, installation view in Ai Weiwei: According to What? at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC, 2012.

Susannah Biller as Daisy Buchanan in Opera Parallele’s The Great Gatsby.

era offered a lot to savor this year, especially Jake Heggie’s haunting Moby-Dick, which deserves a permanent place in the repertoire. But the opera of the year for us was Opera Parallele’s production of John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby at YBCA, which brought author F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece to musical life. Don’t just take it from us; the show was awarded First Prize in the Professional Division of the Opera Production Competition by the National Opera Association.

Out from the Valley of Ashes! Music (recorded): It’s all a matter of personal taste, of course. Here’s what our ears suggested. Tori Amos, Gold Dust (DG). Beethoven, The Late String Quartets, Cypress String Quartet (CQ). Busdriver, Beaus $ Eros (Fake Four). Melody Gardot, The Absence (Verve). Handel, Atalanta (Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Nicholas

McGegan). San Francisco Symphony, American Mavericks (SFS Media). Spiritualized, Sweet Heart Sweet Light (Fat Possum). Stars, The North (ATO). Curtis Stigers, Let’s Go Out Tonight (Concord). Tedeschi Trucks Band Live, Everybody’s Talkin’ (Sony). M. Ward, A Wasteland Companion (Merge). Onward, eyes wide open, into 2013! t

Nick Flynn’s darkly funny memoir Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, Paul Weitz’s film kicks off with the ravings of a delusional egotist (“America has produced only three classic writers: Mark Twain, J.D. Salinger and me.”) Being Flynn would be a lot less fun if Robert De Niro’s racist, homophobic old ingrate weren’t trumped by arguably the best actor of his generation, Paul Dano. (with:) Ruby Sparks This clever feminist Groundhog Day soars. Writer/actor Zoe Kazan (Ruby) and her real-life squeeze Paul Dano (Calvin) discover to what dark lengths the once-blocked writer will go to maintain his power over Ruby. Little Miss Sunshine co-directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris send up a wunderkind novelist/literary Svengali’s lust/ire as his unruly creation migrates from typewriter to bed to free woman. 5. In the Family For nearly three

hours, director Patrick Wang earns his grip on our emotions. Sixyear-old Chip enjoys a Capra-corn childhood with his not necessarily gay-identified Tennessee dads. Emotional landmines surface between Joey (Wang) and his dead lover’s sister over the fate of Chip and everything this Asian “Bubba” holds dear. (with:) Cloudburst In Canadian director Thom Fitzgerald’s profane lesbian road comedy, Olympia Dukakis forms a tempestuous coupling with the demure Brenda Fricker. Both women make you root for running away from home at 70. 6. Without Mark Jackson’s psychologically acute script walks us through an emotionally naked checklist for a guilt- and grief-ridden character still caught up in the limerence of young love. Without can be enjoyed as anything from a lesbian Spanking the Monkey to a See page 22 >>

Film 2012

From page 13

Lincoln soars as we watch him outmaneuver the fractious men he has chosen for his war cabinet. Spielberg reportedly snapped a camera-phone picture of Daniel Day-Lewis where his silhouette so closely resembled Lincoln’s that the image might have fooled even Civil War photographer Mathew Brady. (with:) Django Unchained Bounty-hunter Christoph Waltz rescues slave Django (Jamie Foxx) from a gang of ruthless traders. The pair seeks to free Django’s Germanspeaking wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) from the clutches of Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), the cruel master of Mississippi’s Candyland plantation. Quentin Tarantino’s blood-soaked vehicle sends up America’s original sin, with echoes of Serge Leone, Richard Wagner, and trashy 70s exploitation classic Mandingo. 4. Being Flynn Adapting from

David James

Daniel Day-Lewis as the title character in director Steven Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner’s Lincoln.

Theatre>>

December 27-January 2, 2013 • Bay Area Reporter • 15

10 best of 2012 on Bay Area stages by Richard Dodds

Andrew Jackson superstar

n making a list of contenders for a theatrical Top 10 for 2012, I wound up with 20 easy possibilities. Not too shabby, considering that in some years coming up with just a requisite 10 has involved a shove here and a fudge there. Different tactics must be employed this time to contract the list to that magic 10 – an arbitrary number yet universally used because, in an anthropological guess, we have 10 fingers to easily count things that don’t go beyond the deca-digit limit. So, in no particular order, here are 10 entries meant to incorporate the best experiences that one theatergoer had in 2012.

To mark its fall move to larger quarters in the former Post Street Theatre, and a name change from SF Playhouse, San Francisco Playhouse leapt into presidential politics with a vengeance with Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson. The ragged stylings of Broadway’s recent thrash-rock musical befit Andrew Jackson, a selfmade hero and self-styled populist who didn’t hide the more brutal realities of the American presidency. The carefully orchestrated chaos under Jon Tracy’s direction told us more about political reality than maybe many of us want to acknowledge.

Seriously funny

Song-and-dance injustice

The very notion of telling a true tale of racially railroaded justice done up in the style of an old minstrel show, with black performers “blacking up,” sounded like a case of good intentions gone wrong. But director Susan Stroman (The Producers, Contact), working with the songwriting team of John Kander and the late Fred Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago), turned minstrelsy back in on itself and defied the odds by creating an entertainment from a notorious stain on our racial history. ACT hosted Stroman’s recreation of the Broadway production that had a short life in New York but was welcomed here.

The ghost and Mr. Moscone

Reactions to Ghost Light, the collaboration between Tony Taccone of Berkeley Rep and Jonathan Moscone of Cal Shakes, were mixed, but what should not be tempered is acknowledgment of the personal and theatrical bravery in confronting a painfully complicated subject. Taccone built his play from conversations with Moscone about the assassination of his father, Mayor George Moscone, and Moscone directed the play that looked at the baggage he himself carried from this unhappy legacy, combined with flashbacks to the dreadful day itself. A gutsy experiment for all involved.

Henry DiRocco

Jared Joseph is one of the minstrels reenacting an infamous trial in The Scottsboro Boys, which ACT snagged after a Broadway run.

Murder, mayhem, and Marat

Thrillpeddlers temporarily left the intimate confines of the Hypnodrome, where its Shocktoberfest productions of short pieces are annually staged, to take on a theatrical epic for which its sensibilities were ideally suited. Under Marc Huestis’ producing umbrella, Thrillpeddlers presented a sprawling staging of Peter Weiss’ Marat/Sade that might seem, under Russell Blackwood’s direction, a madhouse within the madhouse of the script. But the madness was Thrillpeddlers’ signature deceptive looseness that is actually on a carefully laid track.

tracting rabies as the play begins). But Bert V. Royal’s Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead is as much a bittersweet homage to the original as it is a satire of contemporary teenage angst and sexuality. Boxcar Theatre, with an excellent cast under Nick A. Olivero’s direction, found the humor and humanity in Royal’s script, and it even led me to start reading Peanuts again after a 30-year hiatus.

Snoopy in the sky with diamonds

The idea of a stage sequel to the Peanuts comic strip, with the increasingly dysfunctional characters facing high school life, might seem both a cheesy, easy target and a sacrilege to those who grew up with Charles Schultz’s characters (Snoopy is already dead after con-

Lorenzo Pisoni didn’t have to run away to join the circus. He was born into it, and his childhood was spent playing straight man to his clowning father, Larry Pisoni, founder of the Pickle Family Circus. With astounding dexterity and his wise narration, Pisoni let us view the circus from the point of view of a child who longed for a life without a red rubber nose. ACT presented Humor Abuse early in the year, and brought it back for an encore run at the start of the new season. It was reminiscence as seen through a painful pratfall.

Those were the days

Was life really better without all the bells and whistles? Three channels on the TV, rotary telephones on which making a long-distance call was a big deal, and a society in which the road of life was well-marked. In Maple and Vine, playwright Jordan Harrison imagined a community where frazzled urbanites could buy into an Ozzie and Harriet lifestyle. But as director Mark Rucker’s production at ACT revealed, you have to be careful what you wish for. Harrison peeked into the darker issues involved, with a message that the good old days may be best remembered and not relived.

Peter Liu

The jokes, gags, pop culture references, and needling of stereotypes that Mayes (also the director) and Epps (in the title role) hung along the plot of Moliere’s 1666 comedy came so fast that a blink of an eye could mean a laugh lost. But another laugh was already being set up before eyelids had a chance to return to their upright position.

Around the world

Rights of Passage cast its net wide, over most of the globe, to look at the current state of affairs for queer men and women. New Conservatory Theatre Center Artistic Director Ed Decker and husband Robert Leone spent several years conducting interviews both here and abroad that they crafted into compelling theatrical form. The primary focus was on a young Balinese man struggling to reconcile a love for his culture with his love for other men. Director Arturo Catricala helped build a bridge to societies near and far.

Broadway and beyond

Moliere was merrily mauled in A Doctor in Spite of Himself, which showed up at Berkeley Rep in a highly irreverent production concocted by Christopher Mayes and Steven Epps of Minneapolis’ nowshuttered Theatre de la Jeune Lune.

The touring productions presented here by SHN belong in their own category, though three of the year’s offerings deserve to be on any Top 10 list. Jonathan Pryce was mesmerizing as the conniving vagabond in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker. It was impossible not to fall in love with the life-sized equine puppets in the epic War Horse. And the outrageous, hilarious, and oddly lovable Book of Mormon managed to sell out every seat weeks before its run had begun. And a Hasa Diga Eebowai to all. t

Soprano Rosemary Joshua had a similar success with Harmonia Sacra (Aparte), a collection of devotional works by Henry Purcell. Accompanied by another gay early-music genius, Christophe Rousset, and an intimate continuo ensemble, Joshua got to the heart of each piece with haunting depth, Rousset contributing some of his best solo harpsichord playing ever along the way. Historically informed musicianship combined with the best of what the modern world has to offer elevated the Berlin Philharmonic’s Bach St. Matthew Passion, as “ritualized” by gay directorial master Peter Sellars, a two-DVD set that marked the orchestra’s first venture on its own house label, to one of the year’s most compelling releases. Simultaneously uplifting and emotionally

shattering, the live performance revealed more of the music and meaning of the work than any other in my long experience. Christian Gerhaher, the Jesus in that Passion, also peaked as an artist, abetted by the laying down of one of the great vocal mantles of the last century when Dietrich FischerDieskau died in May. Gerhaher’s Ferne Geliebte (Sony Classical) illuminated songs from the Beethoven cycle that gave the CD its title to Berg’s Altenberg Lieder, along the way giving the finest interpretation on recording to date of SchoenSee page 17 >>

Doctor in the house

Andrew Humann played a teenaged Charlie Brown in the bittersweet Peanuts sequel Dog Sees God at Boxcar Theatre.

Lois Tema

Jomar Tagatac played a young Balinese man whose sexuality puts him at odds with his culture in the globe-trotting Rights of Passage at NCTC.

Music >>

Classical recordings: 2012

by Tim Pfaff

s with the Oscars, early-year classical-music releases can easily get eclipsed by their bigger, late-year, boxed-set counterparts. Still, Harmonia Mundi’s January release of the Berg and Beethoven Violin Concertos, with Isabelle Faust and Claudio Abbado leading his Orchestra Mozart, showed the kind of music-making that burned itself into the memory; it seemed unlikely that the year was likely to bring a better recording. In a good year for the industry, it did not. Probing interpretations showed how connected these two pillars of the violin concerto repertoire are. The musicians limned the long lines of the soaring works while executing each note in them to perfection, yielding what are now the preferred recordings of both. If it hadn’t been for Faust, Renaud Capucon’s remarkable Berg Violin Concerto, coupled with the Brahms, with the Vienna Philharmonic under Daniel Harding (Virgin Classics), might have made the Top 10 cut. But it was Faust’s year.

Her second and final disc of the Bach solo Sonatas and Partitas, BWV 1001-1003, also for Harmonia Mundi, proved as lofty and penetrating as its predecessor, and her incisive playing in the Shostakovich Sonata, Op.134, with pianist Alexander Melnikov, capped off his brilliant recording of the composer’s two piano concertos (HM). The same combination of keen attention to minute details coupled with a deep feeling for musical architecture made Abbado’s live recording of Bruckner’s Fifth Symphony with his hand-picked Lucerne Festival Orchestra (Accentus) one of the year’s top DVDs. Yet arguably the most important release of the year was of the completed, four-movement version of Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic under Simon Rattle (EMI). A musicologically savvy and cogent completion of the composer’s unfinished (but barely so, really) Finale lent the entire work in new focus. The concert recording was as committed and revealing – fierce, titanic, savage, and transcendent – as anything the orchestra has

done under Rattle. There have been annual recordings of highlights of pianist Martha Argerich’s Lugano Festival, but fine as they have been, Deutsche Grammophon’s new Martha Argerich: The Lugano Concertos puts them in the shade. More about this blazing, four-CD set soon, but suffice it to say that it contains arguably the best of her many recordings of the Schumann Concerto, and the Beethoven First Concerto that begins the set is quite possibly the best ever, brisk, polished, and tirelessly inventive. Joyce DiDonato, who also had a great year on disc, hit the mark at year’s end with Drama Queens (Virgin Classics), a collection of arias sung by (mostly) royals from operas both famous and unknown from the 17th and 18th centuries. It broke the mold of the aria recital disc. With gay early-music maestro Alan Curtis and his snappy Il Complesso Barocco, DiDonato used her winning voice and magnificent technique to express a startling range of emotions, not all of them “operatic” in scale.

<< Fine art

16 • Bay Area Reporter • December 27-January 2, 2013

Fine art 2012

From page 13

Tress’ San Francisco show was gentler, a snapshot of San Francisco and its unique strangeness circa 1964, before the “revolution” and the Summer of Love. Carrying on the proud Bay Area tradition, it was another banner year for photography. Photography in Mexico at SFMOMA revealed our neighbor South of the Border as the home not only of homicidal drug cartels and brutal poverty, but of intense, remarkably muscular imagery in pictures by a dozen artists most Americans never heard of, but should want to get to know. The Radical Camera: New York’s Photo League, 1936-51, one of CJM’s most stimulating shows to date, tracked the history of the League, a group of young, idealistic American, mostly Jewish photographers whose gritty urban, black & white vintage images bore witness to an all-but-vanished New York City. Walker Evans Photographs, a survey at the Cantor Arts Center, offered a broad perspective of Evans’ development, but the Depression remains his greatest artistic subject. SFMOMA’s Cindy Sherman retrospective was an expansive platform for the controversial photographer, a notorious chameleon with a fascination with gender and an electrifying gift for ingenious disguise and masquerade. Read on for more highlights and lowlights of the year that was. Worst decision of the year: The unceremonious “letting go” of curator Lynn Orr by FAMSF, which has been floundering internally since its director, John Buchanan, died at the end of 2011. Orr, a brilliant, gracious and widely respected curator of European art there for the last 29 years, will be missed. Her sudden departure was only the latest in a series of labor problems and stumbles. See below. Most shameless act of nepotism this town has seen came last summer when a collection of photographs belonging to San Francisco high society fixture, budding collector and FAMSF board trustee Trevor Traina occupied several galleries at the de Young, where his mother, Dede Wilsey, is president of the Board. Wealth has its privileges.

Erika Stone

“Lower Eastside Facade” (1947), gelatin silver print by Erika Stone, part of The Radical Camera: New York’s Photo League, 1936-51, through Jan. 21, 2013 at CJM.

Classiest venue: Pier 24, a contemporary cathedral for photography on the edge of San Francisco Bay. Most daring move: SFCamerawork’s relocation to a light-filled loft in the Mid-Market area. Award for the biggest costume party of the year, a walk on the wild side, and a shout-out to grandmothers everywhere goes to Jean Paul Gaultier. Never has so much brash vulgarity, showmanship and gender-bending been gathered under one roof. One emerged from the de Young’s overwhelming show, which mixed enough fashion metaphors to make the head spin, with gratitude for the designer’s nurturing grandmother, not only for encouraging her grandson in his predilection for clothing, but also for her closet, where he unearthed the body-cinching corsets that set him on his career path to Madonna. Greatest joy savored in less than 10 minutes: Black & white footage of Nureyev dancing in a bare rehearsal studio in his practice clothes was a touch of the divine. Best vicarious experience: Perusing the large color photographs of CBS founder William Paley’s opulent Fifth Avenue apartment, where his

Courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art, New York

“Odalisque with a Tambourine,” oil on canvas by Henri Matisse, from The William S. Paley Collection.

Music 2012

From page 13

by the sheer energy and inventiveness of the show. The once-controversial piece was finally at the War Memorial after 25 successful years on the road, and the belated premiere coincided with the 40th anniversary of Tricky

Dick’s bold diplomatic visit in February 1972. Brian Mulligan was brilliant in the title role, and soprano Maria Kanyova made a star turn of wife Pat’s lengthy aria. Their complex and sympathetic performances set the seal on a stunning and historic musical event. Nixon is still relevant after all these years,

paintings dotted the walls like birds of paradise in a garden of earthy delights. The Not Just for Kids Award: The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats. The artwork created by this children’s book author and illustrator is mind-blowing for people of all ages. If you haven’t seen it, go now. Most illuminating perspective: Women at the Chinese Cultural Center. Transformation was key at this eye-opening show, in which straight and LBGT artists addressed feminism, gender and expressions – and repression – of diverse sexual identity in modern China. Who knew? Milestone: What began as an informal printmaking workshop set up by Kathan Brown for her friends in the basement of her Berkeley home grew into Crown Point Press, the influential San Francisco etching studio and fine art-print publisher she founded celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Wayne Thiebaud, Richard Diebenkorn, Chuck Close, Nathan Oliveira, John Cage, Steve Reich and Sol LeWitt are among the 100 artists who have worked there. Most exciting new talent: Not exactly straight outta South Central, though he grew up there, Mark Bradford breezed through San Francisco on his way to the top with a fresh and exhilarating survey, a mash-up of abstract expressionism, pop art, minimalism and black culture filtered through a world view that’s as looselimbed and rangy as the gay, 6’ 8” artist himself. Best Bay Area Artist exhibitions: Jay DeFeo; The Sculpture of Stephen De Staebler. Best gallery shows: The Sphinx’s Riddle: The Art of Leonor Fini at Weinstein Gallery; Tom Chambers: Entopic Kingdom at Modern Book. Epic Fizzle: Nayland Blake’s muchanticipated interactive exhibition at YBCA, FREE!LOVE!TOOL!BOX!, was BLAH!, a case of more hype than substance from the intriguing, unpredictable installation/performance artist who often focuses on sexual and racial identity. Now you see it, now you don’t: The Stuff that Dreams Are Made of: San Francisco and the Movies at the Old Mint. Squishy title and dangling preposition aside, this show, which vanished as quickly as it arrived, thrilled cinephiles, who love to see their scenic city immortalized on film. Those with a high threshold checked out the paintings by Kim Novak, who better not give up her day job just yet.t

and a reminder that great works don’t need a whole lot of re-working to impress. We are glad the SFO is making the most of state-of-the-art stage technology. The use of awesome visual projections in the opening scenes of Nixon and later in the fall season with See page 22 >>

DVD>>

December 27-January 2, 2013 • Bay Area Reporter • 17

Bedeviled by Tavo Amador

he Faust legend can be traced to late-16th-century Germany. It’s about someone willing to trade his/ her soul to the devil in exchange for earthly pleasures. Christopher Marlowe and Goethe dramatized it. The latter’s play was the basis for Charles Gounod’s French opera. In the mid20th century, Douglas Wallop gave it a new twist with his novel The Year The Yankees Lost the Pennant, which was adapted for the hit Richard Adler and Jerry Ross Broadway and Hollywood musical, Damn Yankees. Ira Levin updated it in his best-selling 1967 novel Rosemary’s Baby, which Roman Polanski filmed the following year. It has been released on DVD. Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse (Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes) are a young married couple. He’s a handsome, talented actor who’s appeared on Broadway and television commercials, but hasn’t had his big break. She’s a stay-at-home wife. They move into an apartment in a classic Manhattan Upper West Side pre-war building modeled on the Dakota. The walls separating the apartments are thin, and Rosemary hears strange chants from next door. Rosemary befriends another young woman living in their building. She’s soon found dead on the sidewalk in front of the apartment, an apparent suicide. She had a troubled past, but had been given a home by an elderly, slightly eccentric couple, Minnie and Roman Castevet (Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer). The Castevets soon become part of the Woodhouses’ lives, Guy happy to spend time with them, but Rosemary finding Minnie intrusive. She wants to keep them at arm’s length. Still, Minnie is hard to avoid. Guy loses an important part to another actor, which upsets him. Unexpectedly, that actor goes blind, and Guy, while saddened by the circumstances, is nonetheless thrilled to get the coveted role. He also wants to have a baby, which delights Rosemary. They mark the days on the calendar showing when her best chances of conception are. On one of those nights, Rosemary has too much to drink, unusual for her, and Guy carries her to bed. She has a troubled dream about having sex – but a woman who appears to be the recently widowed Jacqueline Kennedy reassures her. The next day, she’s shocked to know that Guy had sex with her when she was unconscious. He explains that he didn’t want to miss the date. She soon discovers she’s pregnant. Minnie arranges for a leading Manhattan obstetrician, Dr. Sapirstein (Ralph Bellamy), to take Rosemary as a patient, without charging his usual high fees.

Rosemary’s in constant pain, loses weight, looks ghastly. Dr. Sapirstein reassures her that it’s nothing to worry about it. He doesn’t believe in vitamins, but encourages her to take an herbal health drink Minnie prepares. Hutch (Maurice Evans), an old friend and former neighbor of the Woodhouses, is appalled by how she looks – especially after she cuts her long blonde hair into a very short bob. He’s fascinated by the dark history of their apartment building and its association with witches, warlocks, and ghastly, unsolved crimes. Rosemary gives a party for old friends, to which the Castevets haven’t been invited. They’re shocked by her appearance. She breaks down, telling them about how awful she feels, how anxious she is. Then, as suddenly as it began, the pain ends. She begins to feel better. Hutch unexpectedly falls into a coma and dies. Rosemary attends his funeral service. He left her a book about witchcraft, with a note telling her to look for an anagram. The book fascinates and upsets her. Worried about her, Guy insists she stop reading it – and eventually throws it away, angering her. He’s apologetic. She’s haunted by Hutch’s warning. At a used bookstore, she buys several tomes on witchcraft. She grows more frightened. Does she have something to fear, or is she simply losing her hold on reality? The baby is nearly due. She turns to her old doctor (Charles Grodin) for help. He promises to assist her. The suspense mounts as viewers wonder what will happen. Farrow is terrific: intelligent, frail, determined to save her baby, yet at times wondering if what she thinks can possibly be true. She was billed solo above the title, and demonstrates a star quality that she seldom showed again. Cassavetes is wonderful as Guy: sexy, romantic, sympathetic, charming. They are matched by the rest of the cast: Gordon won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. Bellamy, frequently the man who lost the girl to Cary Grant in the 1930s, gives a fine performance in an atypical role. Blackmer and Evans, both leading stage stars, are excellent, as is Patsy Kelly, one of classic Hollywood’s well-known lesbians and an intimate of Tallulah Bankhead. Tony Curtis provided the voice of the actor who lost his eyesight. Polanski wrote the screenplay, earning an Oscar nomination. His direction is fluid, tense, and suf-

Recordings 2012

From page 15

berg’s Das Buch der haengenden Gaerten, settings of gay poet Stefan George’s charged verse. Fortepianist Andreas Staier’s bold, insightful interpretation of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations (Harmonia Mundi) changed the way many of us hear what some people consider the greatest of Beethoven’s piano works. A previous illuminator of the Diabelli was Charles Rosen, one of music’s great minds, who died in December. The opera recording of the year was conductor Christian Thielemann’s of Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten in a complete, live Salzburg Festival performance directed

by Christof Loy (Opus Arte). Although its concept cloyed, the singing and acting sizzled. A close second was Engelbert Humperdinck’s Koenigskinder in a live Zurich Opera production (Decca) featuring Jonas Kaufmann, rightfully opera’s biggest draw, in a role he was born to sing. t

ficiently ambiguous to keep the audience guessing. The ending is ironic. Farrow’s short Vidal Sassoon haircut created a fashion frenzy and reportedly displeased then-husband Frank Sinatra. The film was a smash, although many critics disliked it. Over four decades later, it remains an example of Polanski’s perverse brilliance.t

ebar.com

<< Out&About

18 • Bay Area Reporter • December 27-January 2, 2013

Sea of Dreams

Annum; brrr by Jim Provenzano

hee! We survived 2012 and all its victories and tragedies, fake apocalypses and false prophets; well, most of us did. So let’s get on to the partying, from mild to wild, extra-gay and not-sogay. Some are down and naughty, others upscale and haughty, some are even on water! Whatever you do, regenerate for 2013. And note that some venues may have different holiday schedules than provided, so call ahead. Here are some New Year’s Eve picks:

Mundo Maya @ Galeria de la Raza

The Santaland Diaries @ Eureka Theatre

Exhibit celebrating Mayan culture, with works by Latino/Mayan youth. Thru Dec 29. Tue-Sat 12pm-6pm. 2857 24th St. at Bryant. 826-8009. www.galeriadelaraza.org

David Dinaiko performs Joe Mantello’s stage adaptation of the popular David Sedaris short story. $20-$50. 8pm. Thru Dec 29 (no show Dec 25). 215 Jackson St. (800) 838-3006. www.combinedartform.com

Nayland Blake @ YBCA

The White Snake @ Berkeley Rep

FREE!LOVE!TOOL!BOX! , the former Bay Area artist’s new exhibit of conceptual and assembled found-object, personal installations and artworks, each with queer themes, including a DJ booth with his own large record collection. Also, Nathalie Djurberg’s amazing colorful creature sculptures. $12-$15. Thru Jan. 27. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. 979-2787. www.naylandblake.net www.ybca.org

Aliens, asteroids, and bikinis, oh my, as Mercedez Munro and Patrick Gallineaux cohost a year end party, with Jason Brock, Aki Starr, Cassandra Cass, Latin rock band Peace (photo, above), DJ Cuervo, a champagne toast at midnight and dancing til the wee hours. Extracelestial attire. Guest list a must: StoliVIP@gmail.com 8pm-12am. 401 6th St. at Harrison. www.endupsf.com

Sat 29

Chaos @ Beatbox

100 Years of Rural California @ California Historical Society

Holiday edition of the popular dance night, with DJ Tristan Jaxx, gogo dues and late night fun. $5-$20. 10pm-6am. 314 11th St. www.djtristanjaxx.com www.beatboxsf.com

North African Jewelry and Photography from the Xavier Guerrand-Hermès Collection, an exhibit of nearly 100 pieces of jewelry from Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, plus documentary photographs. Thru Jan 21. $5-$10. Members free. WedSat 11am-6pm. Sun 12pm-5pm. Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission St. 358-7200. www.moadsf.org

NYE @ THENEWBLK Marga Gomez’ Funny Ladies @ Brava Theater Our local lovely laugh-inducing lesbian hosts a hilarious show with comics Aundre the Wonderwoman, Pippi Lovestocking, Lydia Popovich and Eloisa Bravo. Countdown party includes cocktails and music til 1am. $30 and up. 9pm. 2781 24th St. 641-7657. margagomez.com www.brava.org

Juanita More! hosts a New Year’s Eve party at the designer warehouse headquarters, $5 drinks, late night eats, Glamamore performing, Blaksheep Music, Derek Bobus and Ken Vulsion DJing, midnight champagne toast. $45$65. 9pm-6am. 1999 Bryant St. at 18th. www.juanitamore.com

Sea of Dreams @ Concourse Exhibit. Center LunaSea’s annual costume dreamscape New Year’s party, with live music on multiple stages, including Gogol Bordello, Shpongle, Glitch Mob, Quixotic, Pumpkin, Robert DeLong, and dozens more. Enjoy circusy artsy environments and a mostly straight hipster crowd. $79-$145. 8pm-4am. 635 8th St. at Brannan. www.seaofdreamsnye.com

Sundance New Year’s @ Hotel Whitcomb Jason Brock @ St. Aiden’s Enjoy a New Year’s Eve Glitter Explosion, as the former X Factor contestant and local vocal fave performs a concert of popular music. $25. 7pm. Post-show meet & greet 8:30pm. Wine and beer sold. 101 Gold Mine Drive. brownpapertickets.com/event/305761

Masquerade Ball @ Davies Symphony Hall Enjoy a concert of waltzes, with opera soloists, big band Peter Mintun Orchestra, swing music by the Martini Brothers, Super Diamond (Neil Diamond covers), drinks and champagne toast. $85-$195. 9pm-1am. 201 Van Ness Ave. www.sfsymphony.org

The country-western two-stepping crew’s fourth annual New Year’s dance party, with an optional earlier dinner (6pm-8pm), two-stepping and linedance lessons 8pm-9pm, and fun til 1am. $25-$50. 8pm-1am. 1231 Market St at 8th. 820-1403. www.sundancesaloon.org

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

Hedwig and the Angry Inch @ Boxcar Theatre New local production of John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask’s popular transgender rock operetta, with multiple actor-singers perfoming the lead (Arturo Galster, John Lewis, James Mayagoitia, Ste Fishell, Nikkie Arias, Nicole Julien, Anastasia Bonaccorso, and CC Sheldon). $25-$35. Wed-Sat 8pm. Also Sat 5pm. Thru Jan 26. 505 Natoma St. 967-2227. www.boxcartheatre.org

Henry Gunderson @ Ever Gold Gallery Apocalypse Shelter, the artist’s exhibit of works depicting glass skulls and other pop culture end days imagery. Wed-Sat 1pm-6pm. Thru Jan 5. 441 O’Farrell St. 796-3676. www.evergoldgallery.com

Out of Character @ Asian Art Museum Decoding Chinese Calligraphy, an exhibit of modern and ancient scripted art, with numerous special events, workshops and discussions. Free-$12. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Thru Jan 13. 200 Larkin St. 581-3500. www.asianart.org

Howlin’ Rain @ Café DuNord Blues rock band performs three nights, including New Year’s Eve. Vetiver opens. $14-$35 (NYE). 9pm (9:30pm NYE). 2170 Market St. 861-5016. www.howlinrain.com www.cafedunord.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Lea DeLaria @ Victoria Theatre Theatre Rhinoceros presents the talented lesbian comic, actress and swingin’ jazz singer, who performs her annual New Year’s Eve show. $30-$35. 7pm & 9pm. 2961 16th St. at Mission. (800) 838-3006. www.TheRhino.org

The Megatones @ Top of the Mark Swanky New Year’s Eve party with the Nob Hill set and the rockabilly band performing live; Michael Athens on piano for the cocktail set. Reception, dinner and dance 6:30pm-1:30am. $375-$425. One Nob Hill, Mark Hopkins Hotel. 6166941. www.topofthemark.com

‘A Very Cheap and Vulgar Tenderloin Realness NYE’ edition of the R&B oldschool funk dance night, where DJ Bus Station John plays records, Donna Personna holds court and the cell-phonefree zone revives retro cruisy dancing fun, aided by stiff drinks at $3.50, and a midnight cheap champagne toast. $7$10. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

India Adams @ The Rrazz Room Hollywood’s “Secret singing star” (who sang for numerous female actresses on film) performs live. Dec 28 & 29, 8pm. Dec 30, 4pm. 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com

San Francisco Ballet @ War Memorial Opera House The acclaimed dance company performs Tchaikovsky’s holiday ballet, The Nutcracker. $20-$165. 7pm. Tue-Sun 2pm & 7pm. Additional times. Thru Dec 28. 301 Van Ness Ave. 865-2000. www.sfballet.org

Woyzeck @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley

Thu 27 Comedy Bodega @ Esta Nocha The weekly LGBT and indie comic stand-up night. This week, a benefit for Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, featuring Priya Prasad, Kevin Munroe, Gabe Morales and Dave Tomason. 8pm-9:30pm. 3079 16th St. at Mission. www.comedybodega.com

The Lion King @ Orpheum Theatre

Pictorialism @ Robert Tat Gallery

Disney’s long-running musical (and the highest grossing Broadway show in history) based on the animated film makes a return to the Bay Area. $32.50-$150. Tue-Sat 8pm. Sat 2pm, Sun 1pm. (closed or different times for some holidays). Thru Jan. 13, 2013. (888) 746-1799. www.shnsf.com

Pictorialism: The Photograph Becomes Art, a new exhibit of historic prints that visualize the posed, artistic aspect of early art photographers (Alfred Stieglitz, Imogen Cunningham and many others). Thru Feb 23. Tue-Sat 11am-5:30pm. (first Thursdays til 7:30pm). 49 Geary St. Suite 410. 7811122. www.roberttat.com

Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman’s (Argonautika, Arabian Nights) visually stunning mystical drama based on a Chinese legend of romance and magical powers. $22-$99. Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat 8pm. Wed 7pm. Sun 7pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Extended thru Dec 30. Special events thru run. Roda Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Fri 28

Desert Jewels @ MOAD

End of the World New Year’s @ The End-Up

Shotgun Players’ production of Robert Wilson’s re-conceived musical revision of Georg Buchner’s stage play, with music and lyrcis by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan; a tragic tale about a soldier who returns home to find his girl is having an affair. $25-$35. Wed & Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru Jan 27. 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org

Exhibit of 150 large-scale color prints by writer-photographer Lisa Hamilton, and archival selections dating back to the 1880s. Thru Mar. 24. 2013. 678 Mission St. 357-1848. californiahistoricalsociety.org

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi Musical comedy revue, now in its 35th year, with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. Special holiday and New Year’s Eve shows. Reg: $25-$130. Wed, Thu, Fri at 8pm. Sat 6:30, 9:30pm. Sun 2pm, 5pm. (Beer/wine served; cash only). 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 4214222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Bell, Book and Candle @ SF Playhouse Romantic comedy about a mortal man and a witch (the play and film inspired Bewitched ). $25-$30. Tue-Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 3pm. Thru Jan 19. 450 Post St. above Farallon Restaurant. www.sfplayhouse.org

Crones for the Holidays @ Stage Werx Terry Baum and Carolyn Myers’ sketch comedy and improv show with lesbian wit, that pokes fun of holiday silliness. $15-$20. Sat 3pm & 8pm. Sun 3pm. Thru Dec 30. 446 Valencia St at 16th. (800) 8383006. www.crackpotcrones.com

Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws: Gay San Francisco @ SF Public Library Thomas Alleman’s exhibit of fascinating new large-print photos from San Francisco’s mid-1980s gay community, from the onslaught of AIDS to nightlife and arts celebrations. Exhibit thru Feb 10, 2013. Jewitt Gallery, lower level, 100 Larkin St. at Grove. www.allemanphoto.com www.sfpl.org

Earthquake @ California Academy of Sciences New exhibit and planetarium show with various live, interactive and installed exhibits about our ever-shifting earth. $20-$30. Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Jasper Johns, Jay DeFeo @ SF MOMA Two exhibits of the American artists’ works. Thru Feb 3. Also, Paul Klee’s Circus, Alessandro Pessoli, the photo exhibit South Africa in Apartheid and After (Thru Mar 3), and other works and ongoing Modern art exhibits. Free-$18. 151 3rd St. at Mission. Thu-Tue 11am-5:45pm (8:45 Thursdays). 357-4000. www.sfmoma.org

Lawrence of Arabia @ Castro Theatre 50th anniversary restored print of the multiple Oscar-winning widescreen 1962 classic, starring Peter O’Toole as the British soldier’s international adventures in WWI. $8.50-$12. 2pm & 7pm. Also Dec 30, 2pm & 7pm. Dec 31, 2pm only. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

Marvelous Wonderettes @ New Conservatory Theatre NCTC’s production of the upbeat hit OffBroadway musical about three women in the late 1950s who reminisce while singing ‘50s and early ‘60s pop tunes. $22-$50 (fun-pack). Wed-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm. Thru Jan 13. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 8618972. www.nctcsf.org

Out&About >>

December 27-January 2, 2013 • Bay Area Reporter • 19

Tue 1

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. See Tue.

The Drag Show @ Various Channels Stu Smith’s weekly LGBT variety show features local talents, and not just drag artistes. Channels 29 & 76 on Comcast; 99 on AT&T and 30 on Astound. www.thedragshow.org

Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey’s Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gayfriendly comedy night; special New Year's Day show with Sammy Obeid and Casey Ley. One drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com

Nick Weber: Broadband @ Resipsa Gallery, Oakland Intriguing exhibit of paintings based on imagery from online porn. Saturdays, 1pm-4pm. Thru Jan. 11. 455 17th st. #301. Oakland. www.resipsagallery.com

Really Rosie @ New Conservatory Theatre

Colossus @ Roccapulco Gus Presents’ circuit New Year’s Eve event, with DJs Theresa and Billy Lace. $50 (related events Orgy, $30, Dec 29 at 525 Harrison; Mass, $30, Dec 30 at 1015 Folsom; 3-party pass $100). 9pm-9am. 3140 Mission St. at Cesar Chavez. www.GusPresents.com www.roccapulco.com

Carole King’s musical adaptation of the popular Maurice Sendak children’s book series Nutshell Kids, about some imaginative Brooklyn children; performed by NCTC’s Youth Conservatory Program. Sat 2pm & 4pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Jan 13. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Fireworks by the Bay @ Embarcadero

William S. Paley Collection: A Taste for Modernism @ de Young Museum

GAWK @ Tikka Masala

New exhibit of varied and little-seen Modern Art works collected by the New York art patron with a diverse taste, including paintings by Cezanne, Picasso, Matisse Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and others. Thru Jan. 27. $10-$20. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. (til 8:45pm Fridays) Thru Dec. 30. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. 750-3600. www.famsf.org

Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads @ Gauntlet Gallery Witty group exhibit of pop art in various media, all dealing with imagery from 1980s movies, at the new gallery. 11am6pm Tue-Sat. Thru Jan 17. 1040 Larkin St. (650) 209-0278. www.gauntletgallery.com

Xavier MTW @ Glamarama Foucault at the Food Co., a whimsical visual story exhibit by a new local gay artist, at the fab hair salon. Thru Jan. 5, 2013. 304 Valencia St. www.glamarama.com

Sun 30 Royal Treasures from the Louvre @ Legion of Honor Exhibit of decorative arts, most never seen in the U.S., from the reigns of Louis XIV to Marie-Antoinette, from the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Free-$20. Tue-Sun 9:30am5:15pm. Thru March 17. Lincoln Park, 34th Ave and Clement St. www.legionofhonor.org

Rudolf Nureyev: A Life in Dance @ de Young Museum Direct from the Centre National du Costume de Scène in Moulins, France, this exhibit displays costumes, photos, videos and ephemera documenting the amazing dancing and choreography of the world-famous gay dancer. Thru Feb 17. Also, Chuck Close and Crown Point Press, an exhibit of the painter’s printmaking works; also, permanent exhibits of Modern art. $6-$20. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. 750-3600. www.famsf.org

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 Popular country western LGBT dance night $5-$8. 6:30pm-10:30pm with lessons from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Also Sundays 5pm10:30pm with lessons from 5:30-7:15 pm. 550 Barneveld Ave. sundancesaloon.org

Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet and Harry Denton host 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.harrydenton.com

Mon 31 Bearracuda New Year @ Beatbox Matt Consola, Medic & Freddy and King of Pants DJ the seventh annual ursine auld lang syne celebration. $20. 8pm-4am. 314 11th St. www.bearracuda.com www.BeatboxSF.com

Enjoy a pyrotechnical display from barges in the bay. The best viewing locations are the wide sidewalks on the Embarcadero between Mission and Howard streets, Justin Herman Plaza. No alcohol. 12am. Jon Sugar MCs an intimate New Year’s Eve show at the Indian restaurant, with Electric Bass Bucket, Kemo Kemoss, Main Objective and others. 8pm-1am. 1668 Haight St. www.tikkamasalasf.com

Maceo Parker @ Yoshi’s Enjoy a funky New Year’s Eve with the soul, funk band’s live set. $25-$100. Also Dec 28 & 29 at 8pm & 10pm. Dec 30, 7pm & 9pm. Dec 30, 8pm & 10pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

New Year’s Eve @ 1220 Club, Walnut Creek Bruce Vilanch performs and cohosts the East Bay celebration, with porn stud Michael Brandon, dragstress Holotta Tymes, Markie Dew, gogo guys and gals, finger food buffet, champagne, DJed music. $25. 9pm-2am. 1220 Pine St., Walnut Creek. www.club1220.com

Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni’s Special New Year’s Eve edition of the sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht (aka Trauma Flintstone) and drummer Sally Canjura-Clayton. 9pm-1:30am. 4 Valencia St. at Market.

Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Clay Theatre “A toast…to Rocky!” Ring in the new year with an old favorite, the trans-sexy rock musical film, with the Bawdy Caste performing, and audience participation encouraged. $9.75. 11:55pm. 2261 Fillmore St. 561-9921. www.bawdycaste. org www.landmarktheatres.com

Twilight Cruise @ Red & White Fleet Enjoy a scenic cruise around the bay on a two-hour cruise, with live guitar music, appetizer buffet and a drink, all on the ferry boat. $58. Pier 43 1/2. www.redandwhite.com

Texas Rose New Year’s @ Lake Merritt Dance Center, Oakland The monthly queer women’s and transinclusive Country-Western dance party includes a a tasty buffet, campagne and midnight, beginners lessons and great music. $15-$20. 8pm-12:30am. Grand Ballroom, Lake Merritt Dance Center, 200 Grand Ave. at Harrison, Oakland.

Sammy Obeid at Funny Tuesdays. See Tue.

Royal Baby Finale @ Club OMG The Grand Ducal Council crowns the newest members of their court. 4pm-7pm. 43 6th St. 896-6374. www.clubomgsf.com

Safeway Holiday Ice Rink @ Union Square The popular downtown ice skating rink is open. $5-$10. Open daily 10am-11:30pm thru Jan 21 (except New Year’s Eve; closed at 9:30pm). Powell St. at Geary. www.unionsquareicerink.com

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves @ Castro Theatre 75th anniversary restored print of Disney’s first feature color animated film is shown. Bring the kids! $8.50-$12. 1:30pm, 3:45pm, 6pm. 8:15pm. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

Wed 2 Candlelight Flow Yoga @ LGBT Center David Clark leads various yoga poses and practices, plus meditation and breathing exercises. Bring your own mat and water bottle, etc. $10. 7pm-8:30pm. 1800 Market St. www.4dbliss.com

Fernando Reyes @ Nieto Fine Art Exhibit of the artist’s colorful figure studies and drawings. Thru Jan 7. 565 Sutter St. 393-4511. www.nietofineart.com

John Waguespack @ 111 Minna Gallery Large-scale pop culture icon portraits and paintings by the local artist. Thru Jan. 26. Wed-Fri 12pm-5pm. 111 Minna St. 9741719. www.111minnagallery.com/2012/ new-works-by-john-waguespack/

Play Fair @ GLBT History Museum Play Fair! The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Make Sex Safer, an exhibit of safe sex promotional efforts. Also, For Love and Community: Queer Asian Pacific Islanders Take Action 1960-1990s, an exhibit organized by queer and transgender Asian Pacific Islanders. Mon-Sat 11am-7pm. Sun 12pm-5pm. 4127 18th St. 621-1107. www.glbthistorymuseum.org

Thu 3 Comedy Bodega @ Esta Nocha The weekly LGBT and indie comic stand-up night. 8pm-9:30pm. 3079 16th St. at Mission. www.comedybodega.com

Ezra Jack Keats @ Contemporary Jewish Museum The Snowy Day and the Art of Exra Jack Keats, an exhibit of original artwork from the popular children’s book author/ illustraotr. Thru Feb 24. Also, The Radical Camera: New York’s Photo League. Other exhibits (California Dreaming and Black Sabbath) ongoing. Free (members)-$12. Thu-Tue 11am-5pm (Thu 1pm-8pm) 736 Mission St. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org

To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com. Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication. For more bar and nightlife events, go to www.bartabsf.com

<< Leather

20 • Bay Area Reporter • December 27-January 2, 2013

Rich Stadtmiller

Some final thoughts at the Eagle’s “last hurrah” party on April 30, 2011.

SF Eagle to reopen soon by Scott Brogan

he owners, managers and staff at the SF Eagle have been working tirelessly to reopen the bar. As of this writing, the plan is to have the grand reopening on New Year’s Eve. That’s unconfirmed, although I was told by my source on the inside that if it’s not on New Year’s, it will occur “not long after.” Be sure to check out their website (www.sfeagle.com) as well as this column and calendar for updates. I’m happy to report that the bar has been getting a bit of a facelift since the announcement of the reopening a few months back. It’s not being completely redone, so don’t worry about it losing its unique charm and ambiance. There are no plans to make it into some trendy dance club or anything, with gleaming tiled floors and chrome all over the place. They’re making a few changes, updates and modifications, mostly to the inside – fresh paint, etc. The Sunday beer busts will still happen. They’ve already been planning that calendar and getting various organizations signed up. Also on the horizon are new weekly events both on the weekends and during the week. Stay tuned for more info as their events are confirmed. They’re hiring as well. Email your resume to info@sf-eagle. com. Use that e-mail if you have any other bar-related questions. I’m really looking forward to the reopening. After everything the bar

has been through, it’s up to us as a community to support it, not just at the reopening but all year long. We wanted the bar reopened, and we got our wish. Now it’s our turn to “do the work” and give them our business. For those of you who don’t know, the SF Eagle is located at 398 12th St. (12th & Harrison.) See you there! Sexual Outsiders is the name of the new book by our very own David Ortmann, LCSW, and Richard Sprott, Ph.D. The book isn’t just “about BDSM,” but more of a guide for our community as we, to quote the press release, “wade through the quagmire of unique problems [we] face: coming out to family, friends and partners; distinguishing abusive relationships from healthy consensual ones; finding and developing community; overcoming shame and denial; exploring whether BDSM sexuality can be a healing tool; gaining access to quality, culturally competent psychotherapy; and finding strategies to develop a healthy sexual self-esteem in the face of current medical and social standards that view them as sick or pathological. The book also serves as an educational primer for those whose partners, friends, and family members are involved in BDSM.” I don’t think I could have said it better. The first of several book-signing events took place the evening of Dec. 17 as a special edition of the SF Leathermen’s Discussion Group at the Mr. S Leather playspace on 8th St. Man, the place was packed.

Ortmann and Sprott discussed the origins of the book, their motivations behind it, its relevance, and fielded questions from the standing-room-only crowd. It was a lively and fun discussion. Ortmann pointed out that the book was originally intended for therapists and other professionals in the psychology field, but their publisher wanted it geared to a broader audience. So they did just that and wrote it for us, the community, as well as for everyone else. Ortmann is a psychotherapist, sex therapist and author in private practice, having been published in journals, magazines, anthologies and more. Sprott is a research psychologist in developmental science and a lecturer in the Department of Human Development and Women’s Studies at California State University, East Bay. He has also published in academic journals and has presented papers at community and academic conferences nationwide. Not only are both men pillars of our community here in the Bay Area and around the world, but they’re great guys to know as well. I’m glad that they’re a part of our great SF community. It’s also worth noting that due to their similar yet varied backgrounds and expertise, the book is balanced between the clinical and research. I got my book signed, and once I’ve completed reading it, I’ll post my thoughts here. So stay tuned for that. There are two more book signings scheduled: Jan. 12 at The Paul Mahder Gallery (3378 Sacramento St.), 2:30-6 p.m., and Feb. 9 at Magnet (4122 18th St.), 7-9 p.m. Happy New Year!t

Scott Brogan

Richard Sprott and David Ortmann pose with their new book, Sexual Outsiders, at the SF Leathermen’s Discussion Group special book-signing event on Dec. 17, 2012.

Karrnal>>

December 27-January 2, 2013 • Bay Area Reporter • 21

Streaming & steaming by John F. Karr

id ya hear the one about the porn company that’s morally responsible, socially conscious, and imbued with gay self-affirmation? Oh, I know you’re thinking, “That Karr. What a joker.” Well, there is such a company, a streaming video website curiously named AnterosMedia. It’s barely three months old, although its birth took over two years. Porn vet and fairly recent safe-sex advocate Devon Hunter is its CEO, and one of its performers as well. He’ll tell you all about the company in a video you can access without joining the site at AnterosMedia.com. Click “Resources,” and “About Anteros.” It’s all spelled out in print, too. The company talks a real good line. The name comes from the Greeks, who identified several different types of love. Their god Eros (aka Cupid) was the spirit of sexual desire. The arrows he went around shooting into folks inspired lust. Anteros was his slightly saner brother, the god of reciprocal desire and mutual affection. So the company name reflects that, while the performers may be invigorated with the lust of Eros, they’re more importantly roused by Anteros, and get it on in warm, affectionate, and generous safer-sexual couplings that have respectful scenarios. AnterosMedia wants to satisfy that good old gonadal urge while modeling gay self-worth and affirmation. Does the company deliver? You bet, with only a few qualifications, which I’ll get to. Perhaps most important to viewers, though, is that Anteros delivers hot performers. The current roster lists only 15, but they’re the likes of Colby Keller, Mitch Vaughn, Mike Branson, Connor Habib, Kyle Quinn, and two who make my fingers stiffen and my toes curl as I type, Bryan Slater at his rod-of-steel best, and Philip Aubrey at his most hungrily sparkling. There are three black performers, including Jay Black, and in Spencer Williams, there’s one – what? Some handsome fusion of American-Hawaiian, -Asian, or -Hispanic. The guys appear in 62 videos, with a new one promised each weekend. These are broken out in four categories. First, there are interviews, casually conducted and personable. Then there are videos with kissing and jacking off, which include lots of fondling. You have no idea how sexy fondling can be. Mainstream porn generally skips over it or has performers who go through rote motions. In the Anteros feel-ups, the guys make you feel what they’re feeling. Cock-watchers will go for these scenes – in the Colby Keller/ Bryan Slater session, I got lost in displays of Colby’s big one and Slater’s steel one. And don’t scoff at mutual jack-off sessions – Keller and Mitch Vaughn have one that fried my mind. Another movie category adds cocksucking to the previous menu, with some doozy doings and lengthily indulged, fully sating 69ing. The last category adds full-on fucking to the mix, with some tasty flip-fucks along the way. Slater and Aubry have a two-part honey of a session that, like most of the An-

AnterosMedia

Bryan Slater and Colby Keller tangle at AnterosMedia.com.