December 3, 2020 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

Survey: LGBTQ care lacking

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COVID hampers HIV progress

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

Vol. 50 • No. 49 • December 3-9, 2020

Rick Gerharter

Screengrab via SFGovTV

Members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors debated an apartment smoking ban during their December 1 meeting.

Adriana Kin Romero stands outside of Casa Quezada.

LGBTQs back SF rent reduction campaign

Supes OK apartment smoking ban with cannabis exemption

by Matthew S. Bajko

by John Ferrannini

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n amendment to strike cannabis from a proposed ordinance banning smoking in apartment buildings of three or more units passed the San Francisco Board of Supervisors 8-3 at a highly anticipated meeting late December 1, and the ordinance was then approved 10-1 in its first vote before the legislative body.

The amendment was offered by gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who told the Bay Area Reporter November 19 that he would propose an exemption for cannabis smokers if District 7 Supervisor Norman Yee, the outgoing board president and sponsor of the ordinance, would not do it himself.

Yee voted against the amendment, along with fellow Westside Supervisor Gordon Mar (D4) and District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí.

District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton and District 1 Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, who co-sponsored the legislation, voted for the amendment.

As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club had opposed the smoking ban, specifically when it came to cannabis. They were joined by the San Francisco Cannabis Oversight Committee, which authored a letter in opposition to the supervisors November 18.

Cannabis advocates said that since they are not allowed to smoke outdoors, it is in a legally different category from tobacco cigarettes, and making it against the law to smoke cannabis in buildings of three or more units would restrict its use to consumption lounges (currently closed due to the pandemic) and only some private homes.

This concern was echoed by Mandelman as he introduced the amendment.

“I remain concerned that this legislation, though it exempts medical cannabis, does not fully exempt cannabis,” Mandelman stated.

“Tobacco cigarettes and cannabis smokers are in fundamentally different categories under the law.”

In 2016, California voters passed Proposition 64 that allows for the adult use of recreational marijuana. It went into effect in 2018 and allows for cannabis consumption in private residences.

See page 6 >>

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Rick Gerharter

ver the summer Adriana Kin Romero received notice that her monthly rent would be reduced from 50% to 30% of her income. It was a welcome financial respite for the resident at Casa Quezada, a 52-unit supportive housing site for formerly homeless individuals in San Francisco’s Mission district.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Romero could no longer take part in an internship that was paying her $200 a month. She had been paying $75 a month in rent, which went down to $25.

COVID doesn’t halt holiday cheer

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he pandemic hasn’t entirely put a damper on festivities in the Castro, as the annual holiday tree was put up last week near the intersection of Castro and 18th streets and was promptly used as a backdrop for selfies by passersby. The Castro Merchants group decided to go ahead with the tree, but

did not have a lighting ceremony with music, Santa, and his sexy elves this year due to the health crisis. Businesses are hoping for shoppers and outdoor diners in spite of an uptick in COVID-19 cases that placed the city in the most restrictive purple tier over the weekend.

See page 11 >>

Peninsula shelters address complaints

by John Ferrannini

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trans woman’s complaints alleging harassment at two Peninsula shelters have prompted officials to defend their records, as a San Mateo County supervisor advises what LGBTQ people can do if they arrive at a shelter and feel uncomfortable or discriminated against.

Sammy Minyard reached out to the Bay Area Reporter in October with copies of her complaints against the South San Francisco Safe Harbor shelter, run by Samaritan House.

Minyard, 35, provided the B.A.R. with photographs of five complaints she filed; only three regard specific instances of alleged harassment or discrimination.

A complaint filed September 12 and another filed September 16 allege she was interrupted on multiple occasions when taking a shower, which is against Samaritan House policy.

A third, also filed on the 16th, alleges a staff member misgendered her.

“I was taking a shower and a janitor came in and I said ‘excuse me?’” Minyard told the B.A.R. “The janitor is supposed to come in at a certain time. The janitor was playing music very loud and I said ‘hello?’ and he said ‘you need to hurry up and get out’ and I said ‘it’s not your appointed time’ and I threw up my hands and left.”

Regarding the second complaint on September 16, Minyard said she was told to use the men’s

Courtesy Sammy Minyard

Sammy Minyard filed complaints against two Peninsula homeless shelters.

restroom. She also said she has been harassed by other people living at Safe Harbor.

In a statement to the B.A.R., Laura Bent, the chief operating officer for Samaritan House, said she could not comment on specific complaints due to privacy concerns.

“In response, please understand that we are not able to discuss individual cases,” Bent wrote

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in an email. “However, we investigate any time there is a complaint and we are confident that there are no outstanding unresolved issues at this time. We take LGBT and all people’s rights seriously and would not tolerate an actual condition, were we to find one on investigation, nor would our staff operating our shelter services, some of whom are members of the LGBT community.”

Bent also discussed sensitivity training and shelter policies regarding the trans community.

“We have a strong trauma informed and diversity & inclusion training program that all staff are required to participate in,” Bent wrote. “Through this training program our staff learn and review appropriate language in working with the LGBTQ+ population as well as the other populations we serve.

“In addition, we have an engaged and strong culture of empathy and having several staff members who are part of the LGBTQ+ communities enhances the impact of that training,” Bent added.

Samaritan House operates Safe Harbor through the San Mateo County Human Services Agency, with which it is contracted.

District 5 San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, a straight ally who represents Daly City, Broadmoor, Brisbane, Colma, and part of South San Francisco, said that Samaritan House has an obligation to internally investigate.

See page 11 >>

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<< Community News

2 â&#x20AC;˘ Bay Area Reporter â&#x20AC;˘ December 3-9, 2020

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Rainbow Railroad works to save LGBTQ lives compiled by Cynthia Laird

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ainbow Railroad, an international organization based in Toronto that helps LGBTQI people seek safe haven from violence and persecution, is about halfway through its #60in60 campaign to raise $600,000 in the last 60 days of 2020 to save 60 lives.

As of this week, the nonprofit had raised almost $300,000, according to its website.

When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in Through December 31, Rainadvance, you can design every detail of your own unique memorial bow Railroad will be releasing vidand provide your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning ahead eos and other multimedia content When your celebration lasting protectsyou your plan loved ones fromlife unnecessary stress and and financial burden, When you remembrance plan your celebration and lasting in telling the stories of people it has allowing themlife to focus what will matter at design that remembrance timeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you. in on advance, youmost can every helped and explain the global LGadvance, you canofdesign every detail of your ownand unique memorial BTQI experience. detail own memorial provide Contact usyour today about theunique beautiful ways to create a lasting legacy atyour theloved San Francisco Columbarium. and provide loved ones with true peace mind.

Planning ahead â&#x20AC;&#x153;The stakes are high,â&#x20AC;? Rainyour ones with true peace ofof mind.

Planning bow Railroad Executive Director protects your loved onesProudly from unnecessary stressunnecessary and financial burden, ahead protects yourserving loved onesCommunity. from Kimahli Powell stated in a news the LGBT allowing them focus on whatburden, will matter most them at thattotimeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you. release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We now field nearly 3,000 stresstoand financial allowing requests for help a year. At this very focus on what will matter most at that timeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you. we are triaging the cases Contact us today about the beautiful ways to create a lasting legacy moment, of hundreds of LGBTQI people at the San Contact FranciscousColumbarium. around the world who need suptoday about the beautiful ways to create port right now. We need our coma lasting legacy at the San Francisco Columbarium. munity to come together and One Loraine Ct. | San Francisco | 415-771-0717 help us give a chance Proudly serving our Community.

SanFranciscoColumbarium.com at freedom to as Proudly serving the LGBT Community. many people as posFD 1306 / COA 660 sible.â&#x20AC;?

It costs approximately $10,000 to help an LGBTQI person, the organization noted.

In 70 countries, LGBTQI people face criminal charges under colonial-era anti-gay laws that can One Loraine Ct. | San Francisco | 415-771-0717 result in life in prison, the release stated, citing a report by the InSanFranciscoColumbarium.com ternational Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association, or FD 1306 / COA 660 IGLA. In 11 countries, queer people face the death penalty.

PlanningAhead Ahead isisSimple Planning Simple The benefits are immense.

Planning Ahead is Simple The benefits are immense.

The benefits are immense.

Courtesy Rainbow Railroad

The Rainbow Railroad has launched a fundraising campaign to help LGBTQI people seek safe haven from violence and persecution.

Since its founding in 2006, Rainbow Railroad has assisted more than 900 people escape to safe countries. With this campaign, the organization said that it hopes to double the number of people helped by 2022.

To donate, go to https://www. rainbowrailroad.org/ and look for the #60in60 logo. The campaign can also be followed on social media via @rainbowrailroad.

Project Open Handâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s benefit goes online

Project Open Hand, an organization providing medically-tailored nutrition to critically-ill people in San Francisco and Alameda counties, is hosting its annual Hand to Hand gala online Friday, December 4, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are free to view the virtual event.

Attendees will enjoy an evening filled with highlights, including music by the San Francisco Gay Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chorus and The California Honeydrops and a very special greeting by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco).

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program, unlike past events, will be completely virtual and will also include award recognitions, a maskquerade competition, silent auction, and much more. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are honored and humbled to have Speaker Pelosi and the many others who have joined us for this event highlighting our 35year legacy,â&#x20AC;? stated Paul Hepfer, CEO of Project Open Hand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Hand to Hand event is not only a celebration of our work, but it also honors the many supporters who have helped us to continue to provide access to healthy nutrition to individuals with underlying health conditions, since the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the 80s to today amid the COVID pandemic.â&#x20AC;?

Honorees will include former ambassador James C. Hormel and Michael P.N. Hormel, who will receive the Ruth Brinker Visionary Award.

Raymond Mark and Wendell Nickel Jr. will receive Most Outstanding Community Partner, while Levi Strauss & Co. will be honored with Most Outstanding Corporate Partner.

Shireen McSpadden, who is bisexual and runs the San Francisco See page 5 >>

ESS R P T N E D N E P E SF IND ASSOCIATION

December 3-9, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 3

Report: LGBTQ affirming health care lacking in CA

by Matthew S. Bajko

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ealth care settings that are not affirming of LGBTQ patients continue to be a considerable problem in California. And LGBTQ people in need of medical attention often must drive lengthy distances to access services.

Those are two of the key findings in a landmark online survey launched last year aimed at learning more information about LGBTQ Californians’ experiences accessing mental health Courtesy CA LGBTQ Health services, if they have thought about & Human Services Network suicide, and how they have been imAmanda McAllister-Wallner pacted by anti-LGBTQ bias. is director of the California It is believed to be the state’s first LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. mental health survey of its LGBTQ citizens, and 2,875 Golden State work. We also hope the state funds residents took part in it, just shy of some innovative ideas as well to really the initial goal of 3,000 respondents. address those needs.”

A comprehensive 216-page report In 2016, the state’s Mental Health about its findings, “Surveying the Services Oversight and Accountability Road to Equity: The Annual State of Commission awarded a $1.8 million LGBTQ Communities, 2019,” was regrant spread over three years toward leased in November. the LGBTQ mental health project, It is part of the #Out4MentalHealth which officially began in August 2017. project overseen by the California LGThe commission’s main focus is deBTQ Health and Human Services Netveloping strategies to overcome stigwork and NorCal Mental Health Amerma and it also advises state lawmakers ica. And it ties into the efforts of LGBTQ on mental health policy. organizations and leaders throughout As the Bay Area Reporter noted in the Golden State to better collect sexual a story about the survey launch last orientation and gender identity data in year, the grant marked the first time order to seek state resources for services the advisory panel had funded an aimed at LGBTQ people.

ISO 12647-7 Digital Control Stripproject 2009 since voters created LGBTQ 100 60 100 70 30 100 60 60 100 70 30 100 100 A “We think some of these findings, it with the passage of Proposition 63, and some of what we looked at, are the Mental Health Services Act, in really the first of its kind, particularly November 2004. around looking at time and distance It had been expected that the surtraveled to receive medical care,” said vey100findings have been 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 70would 70 30 30 100 100 released 60 100 100 Amanda McAllister-Wallner, direclast year in late summer, but the retor of the statewide LGBTQ health searchers lengthened the amount of network. “I am really hoping this can time respondents could take part in it. be used to improve access to LGBTQWhile much of the findings had been affirming health care and I think we tabulated and analyzed months ago, have some good ideas about what can the release of the survey was delayed B

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Half of the survey respondents Applications must be submitted online at housing.sfgov.org were LGBTQ people of color and For more information contact Brian Minall (415) 647 7191 ext. 127. about one-third had a gender idenbrian.minall@caritasmanagement.com tity different from the one they were Units available through the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community assigned at birth. Forty percent were Development and are subject to monitoring and other restrictions. ages 25 to 59, and 50% were 24 years Visit housing.sfgov.org for an application and further program information. old or younger.

Six percent lived in rural areas of the state. A supermajority of survey participants – 89% – had health in11/17/20 11:13 AM surance but there were wide differ-Untitled-4 1 ences in the type of coverage they had.

“Medi-Cal is an especially important space saving health care safety net for queer and trans people of color in California,” noted f urniture McAllister-Wallner, who was appointed to California’s COVID-19 Community Vaccine Advisory Committee.

Expanding the program so it covers all income-eligible Californians is one solution LGBTQ health advocates are supporting, while another is providing greater assistance for people to be able to afford health insurance through Covered California.

“We know cost is still a major barrier for many Californians in accessing health care in California,” McAllisterWallner said.

40 100 40 100 3 10 25 50 75 90 100 70 Employment 30 100 40assistance 40 70 40 70 40 40 40 70 40 40 70 40 70 40 40 programs are also key, as most people continue to receive health insurance via their Open Saturday workplace. The better the job LGBTQ Noon-5pm and people can land, the better their health by appointment 70 70 30 30 care will be. 100 40 100 40 40 100 10 40 40 20 70 70 70 70 40 70 40 40 0 0 0 0 3.1 2.2 2.2 10.2 7.4 7.4 25 19 19 50 40 40 75 66 66 100 100 100 80 70 70 100 “Employer-sponsored coverage is Visit our Showroom 415.822.0184 still an important part of the health 1355 Fitzgerald Ave, SF www.roomax.com insurance fabric in California and

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<< Open Forum

4 • Bay Area Reporter • December 3-9, 2020

Volume 50, Number 49 December 3-9, 2020 0www.ebar.com

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US Supreme Court tilts right

A

nyone who doubted that the U.S. Supreme Court would lurch to the right with the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett got a jolt last week when it ruled that science be damned and, by God, churches can be full of congregants just waiting to be infected with COVID-19. The court’s five most conservative members prioritized religion by having dealt a blow to New York state’s restrictions on places of worship when they rejected Governor Andrew Cuomo’s directive. Barrett cast the deciding vote.

The decision was a rebuke of states’ reach of power during a pandemic and is at odds with a decision the high court made in September upholding California Governor Gavin Newsom’s restrictions on places of worship.

In that case, the court took no action, allowing Newsom’s order to stand. The difference?

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was on the court.

Notably, Chief Justice John Roberts sided with science in both cases, but Ginsburg’s death and Barrett’s appointment have significantly changed the dynamics of the court.

With the recent decision, we can expect California religious leaders to head back to court in an effort to get restrictions eased, and look for sympathetic justices to hand over the keys. Already, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has indicated that he may pursue legal action because the purple tier assigned to San Francisco and San Mateo Counties restricts houses of worship to outdoor services. (The Catholic archdiocese also includes Marin County, which so far remains in the red tier, allowing for some indoor services but at reduced capacity.) Conservative religious leaders complain that government is “demoting,” as Cordileone said in a statement, “worship to the same status as watching a movie: ‘nonessential.’ But worship is both a natural and a constitutional right.”

It’s also been documented numerous times over the last nine months that indoor events that exceed recommended capacity, like religious services, proved effective in infecting participants. This is due in large part to the

Barrett, University of Notre Dame; Gorsuch, NBC; Kavanaugh, Supreme Court; Thomas and Alito, public domain

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito were in the majority ruling that New York’s pandemic restrictions interfered with religious services.

proximity of congregants, and activities that expel air, thus allowing the airborne virus to spread.

In San Diego, South Bay United Pentecostal Churches, which was on the losing end of the aforementioned Supreme Court case that included Justice Ginsburg, wants the high court to hear its case, which is pending in a federal appeals court.

This blow to science and public health bodes poorly for future Supreme Court action in cases involving religion. Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which the justices heard last month, is about whether taxpayer-funded foster care agencies can discriminate based on their religious beliefs. As Family Equality, a national LGBTQ organization, noted in a post on its website, “Depending on how the court rules in Fulton, this case could have far-reaching implications for LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities, and children in the child welfare system.” A loss,

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meaning a decision favorable to Catholic Social Services, would be a tremendous setback for the LGBTQ community because of its potentially far-reaching consequences; and yet, it looks like that might happen unless there’s a very narrow ruling. That’s because CSS, whose city contract was not renewed, hasn’t specifically discriminated against any LGBTQ person or same-sex couple. The city yanked the contract because CSS did not comply with its non-discrimination ordinance, not because it actually engaged in discrimination.

One can see where this is headed: the new Supreme Court now has five solid conservative (with Roberts often providing the sixth) votes and is likely to rule in favor of religion in cases in which the religious views of individuals and institutions conflict with other issues or rights.

The argument for religious supremacy will be made in a variety of court cases that will seek to allow discrimination of LGBTQ people under cover of religion – and will force us to defend rights that we thought were won and assured. t

Almost 40 years later, still no AIDS cure in sight

by James May

Bay Area Reporter

t

s we observed another World AIDS Day December 1, I wish I could believe a cure was in sight but unfortunately I cannot. My experience living with HIV and working in the HIV/AIDS sector has shown me what we’re up against – a monolithic pharmaceutical industry that thrives on us swallowing pills for the rest of our lives.

To compound this, the ACT/UP heroes of the 1980s have been replaced by the drug company stalwarts who set the agenda in today’s AIDS organizations. While there are many dedicated staff working in the community, AIDS organizations are now often led by corporate figures with lucrative careers, while people living with HIV are relegated to popping pills and living with social disadvantage, prejudice, and discrimination.

AIDS organizations sprang up at the height of the AIDS crisis and many are still here today, mostly to promote drugs for the pharmaceutical industry. The “health promotion” efforts of AIDS organizations are merely drug promotion.

Any challenge to this agenda is fiercely discouraged. The voices of people living with HIV are not welcome unless we praise AIDS organizations and their pharmaceutical agenda, and no one is employed in the HIV/AIDS sector unless they do the same.

Many with positions of authority in AIDS organizations have taken generous donations from the pharmaceutical industry. They’re happy for us to swallow pills for the rest of our lives if it serves their careers. These people have used their positions in the HIV/AIDS sector for their own gain – while many of their constituents live in poverty.

The conversation around HIV needs to shift away from life-long medication and PrEP (pre-exposure prophy-

Courtesy CDC

The human immunodeficiency virus

laxis) to finding a cure, but this is prevented by AIDS organizations and their colleagues in the pharmaceutical industry. The notion that they can stop this epidemic by medicating millions of people with antiviral drugs is highly unlikely.

This strategy is practically and financially difficult in many Western countries, and impossible in developing nations.

The only legitimate way to solve this epidemic is with a vaccine or cure, as argued by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Laurie Garrett in her 2018 article, “Welcome to the Next Deadly AIDS Pandemic.” “The two greatest resource needs receive little rhetorical or financial attention: a vaccine and a cure,” she writes, “it is impossible to imagine global control of the virus continuing to rest primarily on lifelong, daily drug treatment for tens of millions of people.”

After living with HIV for 20 years, I’m fed up with AIDS organizations and drug companies boasting about one pill after another that can suppress the virus, but can’t eradicate it. Many people endure uncomfortable side effects from these drugs. I’m fed up with relentless articles in the

media about celebrities and charities that are raising money to “help people living with HIV.” There’s a very good reason why the AIDS epidemic drags on. It’s because there’s so much money, employment, power, and prestige to be gained from it. There are too many bureaucrats in the AIDS establishment who enjoy the perks from government and the pharmaceutical industry. Milking this epidemic for all it’s worth has become more important than helping people living with HIV and finding a cure.

HIV/AIDS is not an epidemic that AIDS organizations and drug companies are racing to resolve. It’s an epidemic that AIDS organizations have built their business upon, and that drug companies are making billions from. Everyone involved is reaping rewards – at the expense of people living with HIV. Rather than begging for more drugs, the LGBTQ community should unite against the AIDS establishment and the pharmaceutical industry to stop this epidemic. We don’t have to accept that HIV is here to stay, and that medicating ourselves is the only way to survive.

There’s still a culture of silence around HIV, but it is silence and apathy that allows the AIDS establishment and the pharmaceutical industry to thrive – because no one questions their agenda or motives.

People have suffered for years over the fallout from HIV. Millions have died or been left mentally and physically disabled. We’ve all been terrorized by this deadly virus, and we need to stand up to the AIDS establishment and the pharmaceutical industry and demand a cure. t James May, a queer man, has written extensively for the HIV/AIDS sector. He’s been living with HIV for over 20 years. He can be reached at james.sc.may@gmail.com.

Politics >>

t For gay councilman, Morgan Hill is a welcoming home

December 3-9, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 5

by Matthew S. Bajko

F

or close to 17 years Rene Spring and his husband, Mark Hossmann, have called Morgan Hill home. And during that time the bedroom community south of San Jose has seen rapid development of new homes and businesses.

An avid hiker who regularly posts photos to his Facebook page of the numerous animals he encounters on his morning hikes, from wild pigs and turkeys to deer and coyotes, Spring decided four years ago he wanted to have more say in the future of his new hometown. So the native of Switzerland took leadership roles in several community groups and served as a planning commissioner for the city.

He is a big champion of Morgan Hill, setting up a popular Facebook page called “It’s Ours, Our Morgan Hill,” to promote the local civic scene. But the coronavirus outbreak has made doing so a bit harder the last nine months, noted Spring in a recent phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter.

“Prior to COVID-19, I was out in our community whenever I had a minute to do so,” said Spring, 56, a program management director for a global software company who has been working from home since March. “I am a people person. I loved doing that and I miss being able to do so to be honest.”

In 2016, Spring decided to run for the District C seat on the Morgan Hill City Council. He was elected, becoming the first known LGBTQ person to serve on the governing body, and in November, he handily won a second four-year term.

“I can bring change. I bring in a voice that was missing on the council before,” said Spring, who became a U.S. citizen in 2006. “I am a voice for the environment. I am pretty creative so I like to think outside the box if I can.”

His swearing in ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 9, on Zoom as the council is meeting remotely due to the health crisis.

“You can imagine I am extremely happy and humbled about it. Down here in our city, we don’t have any polls so you don’t know where you stand,” he said. “As an incumbent you can go either way; people like your track record or don’t.

People like what I was doing, and I am happy my district sent me back.”

He wanted to continue serving on the council so there was a progressive, LGBTQ voice on the body advocating for smart development that includes more affordable housing and office space so residents do not have to commute north to their Silicon Valley jobs.

“I am not in the camp of build as much as you can. I want us to build in a sustainable way and not grow outside the city limits,” he said. “We

<<

News Briefs

From page 2

Department of Disability and Aging Services, will be recognized with the Community Advocate Award.

To watch, bid on silent auction items, or donate, go to https:// one.bidpal.net/handtohand2020/ welcome. People can also watch directly from the agency’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube. com/c/ProjectOpenHand.

For more information, visit openhand.org/handtohand2020.

Barry Schneider Attorney at Law Courtesy Rene Spring

Morgan Hill City Councilman Rene Spring, right, and his husband, Mark Hossmann, moved to the South Bay city nearly 17 years ago.

haven’t annexed one acreage of land since I have been on council, which was the way it used to be in this city.”

Spring is a strong advocate for the protection of Morgan Hill’s rural charms and wild landscape. The city is the gateway into the sprawling Henry Coe State Park, which saw roughly 56,000 acres burn due to the SCU Lightning Complex Fire this summer.

“One of the reasons I ran for council was I really wanted to stop the urban sprawl outside of our city limits.

We still have ag land and open space, that means a lot to me,” said Spring. “I want to preserve it, as do a lot of the people here. It is why they voted for me four years ago.”

Voters throughout Santa Clara County overwhelmingly renewed on the November 3 ballot a parcel tax to preserve open space throughout the South Bay. It has helped protect a large swath of Coyote Valley along Highway 101 between San Jose and Morgan Hill from being bulldozed for warehouses and tech campuses.

“There are endless amounts of reasons for why it is good for the environment. It helps with climate change; it helps protect water, as we need the groundwater.

Besides being amazingly beautiful when take your time to go hike out there, it is extremely important for wildlife,” said Spring for why he backed renewal of the tax and creation of the greenbelt planned for the area. “The cities to the north of us had done a huge mistake and got rid of all their orchards and beautiful ag lands.

Once the land is gone, you can’t get it back. I want our grandkids to be able to enjoy the beauty of the land as much as I can now.”

Spring first moved to the Bay Area in 1998 and met Hossmann, 63, an artist who also works as a mail carrier, that year in San Francisco. They married in 2008, and Spring is a step-dad to the couple’s three adult children and a now a grandfather called “Opa” to three grandkids.

Like many families, they opted not to gather in person for Thanks-

CoastPride night in

CoastPride, which brings together the San Mateo County coastside in support of the LGBTQ community, will hold a “night out, er in” livestream event Sunday, December 6, from 6 to 7 p.m.

Speakers and performers include emcees and CoastPride board members David Oliphant and Tristan Rajaratnam; professional dancer Christopher Childers, who once worked with Michael Jackson, Madonna, and others; Bay Area singer-songwriter John Lester; Jennifer Grais, a graduate of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies and professional singer; Skip the

giving this year due to the pandemic even though their children all live in San Jose.

“That is really tough. We respect social distancing because we don’t live in the same household,” said Spring.

“We do celebrate birthdays in the driveway. We don’t visit in house anymore; it is really hard.”

He has turned to baking, especially breads, while he sequesters at home.

His posts of his finished creations on Facebook have fostered a new way for him to connect with his constituents.

“There are a whole bunch of new bakers in town. It was fun and I am continuing to do it,” said Spring. “The European in me, the Swiss in me can’t go for a walk to the bakery and get fresh croissants. I have to bake it myself when I have a craving.”

He and Hossmann had been living in South San Jose but ended up looking at homes to buy in Morgan Hill since it was more affordable and an easy commute for Spring.

“I didn’t know anything about Morgan Hill when I moved down here,” recalled Spring. “It is an amazing community; I love living here.”

After his first successful council race led to news stories about that him being the first gay elected councilperson in South County, meaning Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy, Spring began to meet other LGBTQ residents of the area. There is a growing LGBTQ community in the three cities, he said, leading to a need for LGBTQ-focused services in that part of the county.

“I want people who live in San Francisco to know there is this wonderful community here. Morgan Hill is less than an hour away; come live here and visit,” said Spring. “You are welcome here. They embrace the LGBTQ community here.” t Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion, will return Monday, December 14.

Keep abreast of the latest LGBTQ political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/politicalnotes.

Got a tip on LGBTQ politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

Needle, an Oakland-based quartet; and Leah Walters, a Bay Area-based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.

There will also be a youth speak out, where young people can tell their stories of life on the coastside and share their ideas for making it a more welcoming place.

The event also serves as a fundraiser for CoastPride has an auction that is now online with assorted items. It closes December 7 at 5 p.m. People can also donate directly by texting PRIDE to 650800-5816.

See page 11 >>

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<< Community News

6 • Bay Area Reporter • December 3-9, 2020

YOUR CHOICES MATTER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Spend the holidays at home, shop local, and help your neighbors in need

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The ultimate holiday gift – and more

by Sari Staver

M

y top pick for a cannabis holiday gift is an extravagant gadget that in the long run could slash your monthly pot bill. And if your holiday gift lists has lower price points, we have those suggestions too.

The device is called Levo and it simplifies the process of home infusion, making it easy to incorporate fresh or dried herbs into most recipes. If you’re currently spending more than you’d like to on dispensary edibles, i.e., prepackaged, getting this machine is a no-brainer. It would also make a great gift for any friend who you know already enjoys cannabis edibles.

When the gadget is on sale you can get the latest model and a bundle of accessories for $199, normally priced at $319. In contrast, another popular gadget, the Magical Butter Machine, is $144.95 when it is on sale. These discounts pop up regularly during the year.

If you’re an experienced baker the preparation probably won’t daunt you.

But if you want to start making your own edibles and have been discouraged by the lengthy, tedious, and frankly, often stinky, methods of infusing butter and oil manually, consider one of these machines.

With the Levo, you’ll be able to skip an hourlong process to decarboxylate the flowers, which is downright smelly in your kitchen while you’re preheating the flowers prior to the infusion process. The oven pre-heat can stink up your whole house, and not with the familiar cannabis smell many of us have grown to enjoy.

The turquoise model is already the best looking appliance in my kitchen and if you decide to buy one, you can feel comfortable that it will serve you for at least three years, the length of the warranty. The Magical Butter product has a one-year warranty.

Both machines do an excellent job infusing butter or oil (I used filtered coconut oil, a favorite among canna cooks).

But if you’re not planning to spend three figures for people on your gift list, think about getting one for yourself and making baked goods as gifts this year. The machine will quickly pay for itself.

Other gift ideas

For those with a smaller budget, here are some other gifts that would be fun to receive.

For your Jewish friends, Dr. Norm’s has released what it claims are the “world’s first” Hanukkah cookies.

Dr. Norm’s was founded by the brother-sister team of Jeff Koz and Roberta Wilson, in honor of their late dad, Dr. Norm Koz, who, the kids wrote on the website, “gave special

<<

Please call to schedule a personalized tour!

SRGseniorliving.com

t

Cannabis

From page 1

Yee, in his role as board president and seeming to expect the passage of the amendment, told Mandelman that “I appreciate your professionalism.”

“I’ll be voting against it [the amendment] because of my moral compass,” Yee said. “I’m going to say to my colleagues: vote the way you need to vote on this one. I’m not going to support this particular amendment. The smoke is still going to be harmful to young kids.”

District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston, who has been a tenants rights advocate, said that the issue is “a very complex” one.

“In 20 years of my landlord-tenant

Sari Staver

Levo simplifies the process of home cannabis infusion.

old school care to every patient.” The cannabis cookies are widely available in dispensaries and online.

Since the pandemic struck earlier this year, those crowded smoke sessions where a pipe is passed around are now just a memory. And because it’s often difficult to find isopropyl alcohol wipes, which are also awkward to use, Kushmore has invented a new cleaner for glass smokeware using ultrasonic waves. The company’s complete cleaning kit is $35, which winds up costing about $1 for every item cleaned.

And do you vape cringe when the clouds from your pen waft everywhere? The PHreedom is a gadget that you put over the vape pen and when you exhale the device’s carbon filter eats up the vapor. Each device is good for about 100 rips, the company says. I don’t vape but if I did, this device would be mandatory. The item is $17.99.

If you would like a ready supply of skunk or gasoline to perfume your home when you’re not smoking, Malin & Goetz has a line of room sprays the company says are “earthy, spiced, and rich.” Cannabis eau de parfum is $95 for a 10 ml bottle.

Books are a classic holiday gift. Here’s a coffee table book for the curious stoner who wants to learn more about weed culture or an explanation of the difference between an indica and a sativa. “Weed: Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Too Stoned to Ask” is $19.95 on Amazon.

And if you use one of the gay brands that make cannabis accessories, the other stoners will know where you’re coming from. Pride Concentric Triangles from Higher Standards is a $35 T-shirt that will let others know you’re queer. t Bay Area Cannasseur runs the first Thursday of the month. To send column ideas or tips, email Sari Staver at mailto:sfsari@ gmail.com.

experience, I cannot think of an issue that divided folks, with good intentions on both sides,” Preston said.

“It’s difficult, if not impossible, to find consensus.”

Still, Preston recommended that the legislation return to committee to hammer out the cannabis issue and how the legislation will impact long-term tenants who signed their leases before it was standard to ban indoor smoking in them.

District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen agreed that the issue should be discussed later, saying that the Department of Public Health, which would be tasked with enforcement, can’t be asked to do so due to the pandemic.

See page 10 >>

t

Community News>>

December 3-9, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 7

COVID-19 threatens city’s progress on HIV

by Liz Highleyman

S

an Francisco has made good progress in reducing the number of new HIV diagnoses and promptly getting people into care, but COVID-19 threatens to roll back these gains, health experts said.

While people with HIV do not have a higher likelihood of acquiring the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and appear no more likely to develop severe COVID-19 or die from it, the new pandemic is having a detrimental effect on HIV prevention and care.

“The city is doing great in terms of COVID, but other things are falling by the wayside,” Dr. Monica Gandhi, medical director of Ward 86, the HIV clinic at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, told the Bay Area Reporter. “I’m really concerned that the impact of this pandemic may stop us from keeping our eyes on the goal of combatting HIV.” HIV testing decreased by 54% in April, a month after San Francisco imposed its shelter-in-place order, Dr. Hyman Scott, clinical research medical director at the Department of Public Health’s Bridge HIV reported at the October 6 Health Commission meeting. Drops were seen at DPH sites, UCSF, SFGH, California Pacific Medical Center, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Magnet sexual health clinic.

Scott provided the B.A.R. updated numbers this week, showing that while testing has since increased, the number of tests in October was still 15% below last year’s level. However, the proportion of people who have tested positive for HIV this year has remained steady at just over 1%.

(The city’s annual HIV epidemiology report, released September 10, summarized new HIV diagnoses during 2019 and care metrics for 2018. The data show a 19% decline in new cases, from 204 in 2018 to 166 in 2019. This followed a 13% decline between 2017 and 2018.)

Among people receiving HIV care, viral load testing decreased even more dramatically, falling by 57% in April.

Again, declines were seen at most of the above sites as well as Kaiser Permanente, LabCorp, and Quest. After rising in June, tests dipped again, and the October number was 20% below last year’s level.

What’s more, people with HIV may be having trouble adhering to treatment. In response to the shelterin-place order, about half of the visits at Ward 86 shifted to telephone checkins, according to a report by Gandhi and colleagues published this week in the journal AIDS. After the transition, the likelihood of having a detectable viral load rose by 31% compared with pre-COVID levels, even though the number of appointments stayed about the same. People experiencing homelessness – who already had the lowest rate of viral suppression – saw an even larger increase.

Telehealth visits “may lead to less access to clinic-based social support services essential to achieving viral suppression among vulnerable groups,” the study co-authors wrote.

Gandhi told the B.A.R. that the impact of the COVID-19 response, including social isolation and financial stress, may also be increasing susceptibility to HIV. “It’s a terrible, lonely time. We don’t know the exact impact of COVID on susceptibility, but I suspect that in times of woe and misery, it is likely increased,” she said. The city has seen an increase in sexually transmitted disease numbers and overdose deaths, suggesting ongoing risk for HIV via sex and injection drug use.

Vulnerable people like those seen at Ward 86 often receive multiple social services through HIV clinics, and “telehealth didn’t end up working well for our population,” Gandhi added.

“That connection to a human being

matters. I had a patient yesterday who said, ‘you’re the first person I’ve seen in six months.’”

PrEP use falls off

HIV prevention services have also seen a decline during the pandemic.

PrEP visits at Magnet fell from more than 750 in January to just 65 in April.

At Kaiser, the number of new PrEP prescriptions dropped by 59% in the second quarter of the year, Dr. Brad Hare, Kaiser’s chief of infectious dis-

eases and HIV, reported at the September 24 Getting to Zero Consortium meeting.

And San Francisco is not alone.

Researchers from Fenway Health in Boston recently reported that between January and April, new PrEP starts declined by 72%, the number of clients receiving PrEP declined by 18%, and sexually transmitted disease testing decreased by 85%.

“People are getting mixed messages,” Hare said. “At first we counseled

people not to come in. Now we’re asking people to come in, but we’re finding many are still scared.”

Magnet has continued to prioritize PrEP and STD care during the pandemic, Janessa Broussard, RN, SFAF’s vice president of medical affairs, told the B.A.R. The clinic has made adjustments that allow staff to safely see 70 people per day by appointment, down from 100 a day before COVID; walkin visits have been suspended.

See page 12 >>

Courtesy UCSF

Ward 86 medical director Dr. Monica Gandhi

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This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection.

If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:  Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.  Have any other health problems.  Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.  BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

Get HIV support by downloading a free app at

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Rivendell_Biktarvy_101520.indd 1 BVYC0219_BIKTARVY_D_9-75x16_BayAreaReporter_Chad_r1v2jl.indd All Pages

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BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure.

Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.  Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5  If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP CREATING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020 © 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0219 04/20

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10/7/20 1:01 PM10/9/20 1:11 PM

<< Obituaries

10 • Bay Area Reporter • December 3-9, 2020

Award-winning journalist Deb Price dies

by Sari Staver

D

eb Price, the award-winning journalist and author who wrote the first nationally syndicated column on LGBTQ issues in mainstream newspapers, died November 20 at a hospital in Hong Kong, where she had lived for many years. She was 62.

The cause of death was interstitial pneumonitis, according to Joyce Murdoch, her wife, who was with Ms. Price when she died.

In addition to her work at the Detroit News, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, Ms. Price also taught journalism at Harvard and wrote a number of best selling books, two with her wife.

In an email to the Bay Area Reporter, Murdoch stated that Ms. Price was diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder nine years ago.

“It gradually diminished her lung capacity” but “she remained en-

ergetic and optimistic,” Murdoch wrote.

“She lived life fully, including working at the Hong Kong South China Morning Post” until shortly before she was hospitalized September 3.

Ms. Price’s groundbreaking work covering LGBTQ issues was widely praised by her colleagues.

Joshua Benton, founder and director of the Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University and a longtime investigative reporter at the Dallas Morning News, knew Ms. Price when she was a Neiman fellow at Harvard in 2011.

Posting on Twitter, Benton wrote that Ms. Price was a “was a real trailblazer for LGBTQ people in newsrooms and around the country.”

Discussing Ms. Price’s nationally syndicated column, Benton said, “It’s hard to overestimate how significant this was. This was long before the internet gave Americans a

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window into any topic or community they wanted. Most people got a huge share of their information about the world from the local daily and local TV news.

“Most Americans in 1992 said they don’t know a single gay person,” Benton added. “Then suddenly there was Deb, on the breakfast table next to the sports section. She wasn’t just running in NYC and SF, either – she was reaching people in red states, too.”

Prominent LGBTQ journalist Tracy Baim, publisher of Chicago’s alternative weekly, the Reader, said, “The mainstream news business was quite closed to openly LGBTQ reporters even into the 1990s.”

Baim, who co-founded Windy City Times LGBTQ newspaper in 1985, added, “When Price’s nationally syndicated column began it was truly groundbreaking. It ran in the Chicago Sun-Times, and many other papers, bringing an openly lesbian voice to parts of the U.S. that still had very nascent LGBTQ power structures. Her voice was not just historically critical, but it was also very good.”

Among the positions held by Ms. Price were managing editor of Caixin Global, China’s independent financial publication; Asia commodities editor and Asia finance and markets editor at the Journal; White House and congressional correspondent and deputy bureau chief at the News; and editor at the Post.

Ms. Price and Murdoch met while at the Post. The couple married in Toronto on June 27, 2003, “the first place on the planet that non-resident American gay couples could marry. We were among the very first American couples

A community you can connect with.

t

Courtesy Joyce Murdoch

Deb Price, shown in 2003 in the Detroit News’ Washington bureau.

to be legally married,” Murdoch wrote. Earlier, they’d had a civil union in Vermont and before that, were the first same-sex couple to have a registered partnership in Tacoma Park, Maryland, which, she noted, “was legally meaningless but important nevertheless at the time.”

Murdoch and Ms. Price were the first same-sex couple to have their marriage announced on Post’s wedding page.

“That was a battle I waged because earlier the Post’s bigwigs had declared that gay couples getting civil unions (something Deb and I never had) were barred from the weddings page because they were not in legal marriages,” Murdoch wrote. “Once our marriage was legal, I went all the way up to [then-publisher] Donald Graham to press the Post to follow its own rules: Recognizing legally married couples. It did. Beating the New York Times and other major papers in making that change.

“And our breakthrough was announced on the CNN news crawl. ... And other couples then got there marriages announced by the Post and other places fairly routinely. And many of them wrote to thank us,” Murdoch added.

Ms. Price and Murdoch authored two books, both well reviewed. In 1996, they wrote “And Say Hi to Joyce” and in 2002,

<<

Cannabis

From page 6

“DPH is totally overwhelmed,” she said.

Yee rebuked Preston, and others who wanted to send his legislation back to committee.

“You said we’ve been having dialogue for years; years and years,” Yee said. “I have a feeling you can have dialogue on this for another 10 years and end up in the same place.”

Yee said the rights of smokers should

“Courting Justice: Gay Men and Lesbians v. the Supreme Court.”

On Facebook, Murdoch wrote, “Deb lived energetically, optimistically, bravely, and fully. Her 18 years as a groundbreaking gay columnist changed lives, healed families, and helped our nation progress toward being a more perfect union.

“She was the center of my universe. So much of what I’ve achieved personally and professionally was possible because Deb believed in me, encouraged me, loved me,” she continued. “For 35 years we were a helluva team. She will live on in my heart forevermore.”

In her email, Murdoch stated, “Deb and I always felt that it was our obligation to use whatever power her column gave us personally and professionally to try to make strides for all LGBT folks.”

Murdoch said she hopes to become a Hong Kong permanent resident, a status that would allow her to be there as much as she chooses.

Post pandemic, Murdoch hopes to split her time between Hong Kong; Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the couple also had a home; and traveling to see friends.

“Deb deeply loved Hong Kong; I feel very close to her here,” Murdoch stated. t

not be prioritized over the rights of people not to breathe in secondhand smoke, which he said is responsible for 41,000 deaths a year nationwide, citing U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers.

“Maybe there should be a new tenants’ advocacy group – people who don’t want to smoke,” Yee scoffed. “It’s one of these things, you can’t win.

“At some point, we got to take a stance and say this is enough,” he added.

See page 12 >>

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John Edwin Lind Jr. February 26, 1935 – October 15, 2020

John Edwin Lind Jr. (“Disco John”), 85, born in Louisville, Kentucky, died at home October 15, 2020 in San Francisco.

After obtaining his chemical engineering BA from Cornell and Ph.D. from Yale, he taught at Cornell and Stanford. Frustrated by politics, he left academia for social justice, running the nonprofit Northern California Interfaith Committee on Corporate Responsibility (1979-2014), including testifying before the House of Representatives. John used skills he learned from his father and in laboratories to

make ends meet by doing plumbing and electrical work, which he also did as a volunteer for the Black Panthers.

In the late 1980s John took up club dancing for exercise and fun at the Cat Club, Stud, and Underground SF. With his signature black Levi cutoffs, suspenders, and black compression stockings, he knew he was a curious sight: “I dance in a walker ... obviously this is a little bizarre.” He helped start a social club at Woods Cerveceria and was a regular at Liquid Gold, Swirl, Cafe International, Angel Cafe, and the former Cafe Flore.

Survived by many younger friends and acquaintances, he’s been an amazing inspiration. A Zoom celebration of life is planned for Sunday, December 13, at 3 p.m. Email PTannen9@ gmail.com to attend.

t <<

Community News>>

Rent reduction

From page 1

“I am paying less rent now, which is really good especially with the COVID. It really helps,” said Romero, 50, a transgender woman. “Me and all my neighbors worried about the rent.”

In the spring she and her neighbors contracted the coronavirus, and while Romero ended up having a mild case, she was concerned at first due to being a diabetic.

“I was afraid I wasn’t going to make it. Gladly, I did survive,” said Romero.

Her rent reduction was due to District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney securing a $1 million budget allocation that reduced the rent for more than 500 tenants of supportive housing units in the city who now pay 30% of their income instead of 50%. Haney is now seeking to permanently provide the same rent reduction to 3,000 residents of such units in San Francisco.

It will cost the city roughly $8 million a year, which Haney argues is a worthy investment to help keep the tenants housed and lessen the likelihood they will end up back on the streets because they can’t afford their rent. Most are living off of $1,000 or less a month, so paying $500 each

<<

New coalition forms

A number of LGBTQ leaders are supporting Haney’s legislation and are a part of the #30RightNow Coalition. One of the organizing conveners is Jordan Davis, a transgender resident of a single-room occupancy unit who went on a hunger strike to bring attention to the issue.

“While we support all tenants who are living in SROs, thousands of people of color (especially Black), immigrants, families, seniors, veterans, and disabled people have been struggling for years to pay exorbitant rents for such small & sometimes toxic spaces,” noted the coalition in a post on Medium.

Shelters

Second shelter

Minyard made similar allegations against a shelter in Redwood City operated by LifeMoves, saying that she was told to sleep in a men’s area and severe limitations were put on her freedom of movement in and out of the shelter.

Samantha Peterson, the senior director of marketing for LifeMoves, disputed this.

“LifeMoves policy is to follow our clients’ stated gender identity when arranging sleeping spaces at our fa-

<<

Mandelman, who sits on the budget committee, is not listed among the legislation’s co-sponsors. He told the B.A.R. he hasn’t had a chance to fully review and evaluate it yet.

Jackie Fielder, a queer educator who made affordable housing a centerpiece of her state Senate campaign this year, also told the B.A.R. that she needs to do more research into Haney’s legislation but agrees with the premise.

“I don’t think anyone should be paying above 30% of their income for rent,” she said.

From page 1

“In this particular case, there has to be an investigation. Make no mistake – discrimination against the LGBT community is not tolerated in San Mateo County,” Canepa told the B.A.R. “If these allegations are true, we have to look into if there is a systematic problem at Samaritan House and, then, they should be held accountable if it’s found through investigation that Samaritan House discriminated against Sammy.”

Canepa said that there would “need to be consequences for Samaritan House” if an investigation turned up a systematic problem.

“The last thing we want to do is support organizations that discriminate against people. We’re living in 2020; this isn’t the 1930s,” Canepa said. “Sammy deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.”

Canepa said that the county has a 211 line if anyone wants to report something anonymously. Further, people can be connected to services through the San Mateo County Human Resources Department (https:// hsa.smcgov.org/).

month in rent leaves them very little leftover to pay for food, health care, and other necessities.

Already, the city mandates that new tenants in supportive housing units only pay 30% of their monthly income in rent. It is a standard that federal affordable housing programs have also adopted.

“It is an issue of basic fairness and equity,” Haney told the Bay Area Reporter. “Right now some tenants live in units that arbitrarily have high rent burdens. There is no reason for that, particularly because we have set a standard moving forward for all new buildings of 30% to be the max. We need to bring everyone else to that standard.”

The Board of Supervisors’ budget and finance committee will hear Haney’s legislation at 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday, December 9. Six supervisors are co-sponsors, meaning Haney already has the votes needed to ensure its passage by the full board.

“It is the right thing to do, and I hope my colleagues will agree,” said Haney, who represents the Tenderloin neighborhood where many supportive housing buildings are located.

“These are some of the poorest people in our city.”

Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael

December 3-9, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 11

News Briefs

From page 5

For information on how to watch the event, bid on auction items, or to donate, go to www. coastpride.org.

Trans winter gala coming up

Trans groups in San Francisco and New Orleans will come together for the virtual Transgender Winter Gala Friday, December 11, starting at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

San Francisco’s Transgender District will join House of Tulip in the Big Easy to co-host the event.

Both are Black transgender-led organizations.

The gala will feature live music performances, celebrity special guest appearances, and more – all in support of raising awareness and

John Ferrannini

A meeting room at the LifeMoves shelter in Redwood City.

cilities. We can confirm that this client was assigned to and stayed in the women’s dorm for her entire stay,” Peterson wrote in an email to the B.A.R. “LifeMoves takes great pride in our record of supporting and serving those in the LGBTQ+ community who are experiencing homelessness, including opening one of the first LGBTQ+ shelters in the country.

“LifeMoves is also proud of the great work that our teams have done to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our facilities,” Peterson added.

“We have taken additional precautions at our sites to comply with county health directives, including limiting movement for all clients in regards to their daily exits and re-entrance.”

Peterson wrote that LifeMoves takes steps to ensure LGBTQ inclusion.

“LifeMoves provides cultural competence training each year, which includes training in LGBTQ+ issues.

It is the LifeMoves policy to use the name, preferred pronoun, and gender

identity that clients self-identify with.

This policy is understood and respected by agency staff,” Peterson wrote.

“Each LifeMoves employee is required to review and sign the LifeMoves non-discrimination/inclusion policy prior to beginning employment,” Peterson continued.

“LifeMoves contracts with a range of diversity consultants to both train staff and review our policies,” Peterson added. “We work with a consultant who specializes in LGBTQ+ concerns, and specifically around issues of gender fluidity and transsexuality. In addition to these consultants, LifeMoves also partners with external community stakeholders, including Star Vista LGBTQ+ mental health center in San Mateo to provide services for our clients.”

LifeMoves invited a B.A.R. reporter to visit its shelter on Maple Street in person on November 18.

The shelter is located adjacent to a correctional facility. A sewage transfer station from the facility occasionally

fundraising to address community-driven homelessness solutions in 2021 impacting transgender people of color.

Entertainment includes appearances by Lion Babe, a New Yorkbred funk and soul duo; Jessica 6, an underground dance music culture cult classic band; and New Orleans performance artist Dawn Richard. Others scheduled to appear include Toyna Boyd-Cannon, who was on “The Voice USA;” soul singer Neverending Nina; rap artist and music producer Wazi; and pop vocalist Dominique Morgan.

The event will also feature “Pose” actress and producer Indya Moore, Trace Lysette of “Transparent,” trans activist Raquel Willis, and comedian and actor Ian Harvie, who’s appeared on “Transparent” and “Will & Grace.”

“Our organizations are so excited to, of course, raise awareness and visibility on a social issue that the Transgender District and House of Tulip are dedicated to solving – but also to close out a rollercoaster year with a moment that reminds us to celebrate our lives and joy,” stated Aria Sa’id, co-founder and executive director of the Transgender District, the world’s first legally recognized cultural district of its kind.

Added Mariah Moore, co-founder and co-director of House of Tulip, “What’s exciting is our organizations are building toward a world without disparities, where everyone across all communities have what they need to be healthy, safe, and nurtured.”

The winter gala, which is free and open to the public, will be streamed on YouTube via https:// bit.ly/2Vhlcop. t

“Many are getting by on a meager SSI, Social Security, or G.A. check; and, now with COVID-19, we are trying to shelter in place and stay safe while sharing bathrooms and common spaces.”

The AIDS Legal Referral Panel is among the signatories on the post, as is Community United Against Violence. The Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club voted last month to support Haney’s legislation.

Two lead backers of the rent reduction proposal are Delivering Innovation in Supportive Housing, or DISH, which provides 570 units of supportive housing in the city, and the Supportive Housing Providers Network.

Both are co-lead by Doug Gary, a gay married father, who described the projected $8 million cost to enact the policy as a “rounding error” in the city’s budget.

“I am hopeful because, again, the thing that is hard to ignore is we are spending this money in one silo or another,” Gary told the B.A.R. about seeing it be adopted. “If I am a tenant paying too much rent and make choices that make it hard to pay my rent and get evicted, if I am on the street and end up in the ER at San Francisco General, the city will end up

spending way more money to care for that individual than on their rent.”

The $1 million budget allocation that Haney secured has been a “huge game change,” Gary said, for tenants of DISH’s SRO buildings who had been paying anywhere from $400 to $600 a month in rent.

“In the end we all know, whether talking about racial justice or justice for our LGBTQ community, I don’t mean to be hokey but there is no justice without economic justice,” he said.

“The economics just don’t make sense for the city to invest a lot of money in people’s well being so they can get back on their feet and out of the trauma of homelessness, and if we make these people pay too much in rent we risk they end up back in homelessness.”

Enacting Haney’s legislation is a way for City Hall to ensure people are paying a reasonable amount in rent to be safely housed, argued Gary.

“It is really thanks to tenants living in this housing paying too much for too long standing up for themselves and getting City Hall’s attention that it is even being talked about,” said Gary.

“It is an opportunity to make a difference for our neighbors and to make sure our neighbors don’t become a neighbor without a home.” t

creates a foul smell in the air, though this is “only when the system burps,” Robert Moltzen, associate program director at LifeMoves, said.

Moltzen led the tour, saying that about 10% of the shelter’s capacity of 141 clients (there aren’t that many now, due to the COVID-19 pandemic) identify as LGBTQ. Separate facilities for women and men have made the shelter a popular option in the community, with trans and nonbinary identities respected, Moltzen said. Since the opening of the women’s facility in July 2018, the number of clients served has almost doubled.

This reporter’s inspection of bathroom facilities did not find any mildew, mold, or obvious bacterial growth.

The shelter has not had a single case of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, Moltzen said, and clients are allowed to leave for walks, appointments, work and grocery store runs, but not for recreational purposes in order to keep other clients safe in congregate living.

Minyard is still at the Safe Harbor shelter in South San Francisco and is currently taking classes at the City

College of San Francisco, which she said is a “nice, gender-confirming environment.”

According to a 2019 independent auditor’s report, LifeMoves received $325,780 in block grants for transitional housing and support services in Fiscal Year 2018-19 from San Mateo County, as well as $216,668 as part of a home investment partnership from the county; $5,000 for First Step for Families; $906,500 for Haven Family House, $87,500 for the Elsa Segovia Center/Clara-Mateo Alliance Shelter and $2,141,532 for Family Crossroads; making for a total of $3,682,980.

Samaritan House’s website also contains an independent auditor’s report from 2019. It does not contain an itemized note of forgivable advances (government grants forgiven with conditions), as LifeMoves’ did, but it does state that during Fiscal Year 2018-19, “total donated facilities of $279,249 have been recognized in the financial statements for the sites provided by the City of San Mateo and the County of San Mateo for the Worker Resource Center and the Safe Harbor Shelter programs.” t

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<< Community News

12 • Bay Area Reporter • December 3-9, 2020

<<

Health care

From page 3

is still an important way many LGBTQ people are getting covered,” said McAllister-Wallner. “Unemployment means uninsured as well.”

Issues uncovered

Even though most LGBTQ people have health insurance, the survey found that many don’t access health care due to experiencing stigma and discrimination from medical professionals. Thus, one of the recommendations in the report calls for better, mandatory training of doctors and other providers on LGBTQ issues.

“Our research shows it is needed,” said Poshi Walker, a project co-director with the mental health advocacy group CalVoices, during an online presentation held last month to discuss the survey findings. “A number of providers just don’t have the education they need, and they aren’t going to get it if we continue to make it voluntary.”

Another finding from the survey is the lengthy waits LGBTQ people have in accessing health care, particularly

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HIV

From page 7

People currently receiving PrEP can often get their prescription extended with less frequent HIV and STD testing. But some are choosing to stop PrEP. A recent Magnet client survey revealed that about 15% reported discontinuation and 11% switched from daily PrEP to on-demand dosing before and after sex. Of those who

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Cannabis

From page 10

The supervisors voted 6-5 against returning the ordinance to committee. In the next vote, Mandelman’s

t

mental health providers. Under state regulations, patients should wait no longer than 10 business days to see their primary care providers.

But 35% of survey participants said they waited more than that, and 18% reported waiting more than 15 business days. Fifty percent waited longer than 10 days to see a mental health provider, and a majority said they were unable to access individual therapy in the past year.

“Ten days can be far too long to wait for mental health services,” noted Walker.

Other issues noted by survey respondents included being unable to afford mental health services, unsure of how to find an LGBTQ-competent provider, and unaware if their health insurance covered such services, even though California requires insurers to do so.

“There is not a lot of teeth to making sure insurance companies are actually delivering on the promise of mental health parity,” said McAllisterWallner. “We need to educate the public about these programs.”

The state also has regulations requiring patients to have access to a

primary care provider or hospital within 15 miles or 30 minutes from where they live or work. But 44% of survey participants said they had to travel more than half an hour to see their primary doctor. While some said it only took them a minute over the state regulation, some reported needing to stay overnight in order to see their doctor.

“Our community is not able to see their primary care providers in a timely manner. We know this is an issue,” said McAllister-Wallner. “Primary care is where you go for prevention.

It is the first line in defense of making sure we are leading healthy lives. The fact it is taking such a long time to see a primary care provider is really concerning.”

To reduce wait and travel times, the report calls on state leaders to make sure there are more LGBTQ affirming providers and to increase funding for equity workforce training.

“There is a lot of work to be done to make sure our communities have access to LGBTQ affirming providers in their health network and close to where they live and work,” said McAllister-Wallner.

The survey asked specialized questions for transgender people as well as those who are bisexual or pansexual.

While often invisible at the policy level and in the media, bisexuals accounted for the largest group in the survey, at 52%, compared to 31% of respondents being gay men and 17% lesbian women. Transgender participants were more likely to be bi than the cisgender respondents.

Bisexuals also experience “elevated risk and disparities” compared to their gay, lesbian and heterosexual counterparts, the survey found. Sixtyseven percent of bisexuals said people had treated their sexual orientation as a “sexual curiosity,” while 53% said people have told them they are “simply confused.”

“Most bi Californians are experiencing anti-bisexual experiences.

These are taking place within their families, friends, school environments, but also in the LGBTQ community,” said Tania Israel, Ph.D., a professor at UC Santa Barbara who is director of Project RISE, a research team at the university that develops and studies interventions to support the psychological health of LGBTQ

individuals and communities. “It is surprising to some people. They think it would an accepting community, but bi people experience discrimination from both heterosexuals and lesbian and gay people.”

Increasing bi visibility and acceptance, as well as providing services tailored specifically for bi people will help reduce the stigma and discrimination they face, notes the report.

“Internalized bi negativity can explain some of those health disparities or contribute to some of those health disparities we saw,” said Israel.

The survey results among queer and trans people of color confirmed what has long been known, that they face discrimination within their own ethnic and racial groups in addition to the larger LGBTQ community.

“It leads to high negative health outcomes,” said Luis Parra, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scholar at the University of South California’s Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. “Depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation are high in these individuals.” t

stopped, nearly 40% felt they were no longer at risk for HIV. “We saw a dip in requests for PrEP enrollments in the weeks following the start of shelter-in-place, but there has been an increased demand since then, and PrEP starts are close to preCOVID levels,” Broussard said. “Our PrEP navigation team has worked tirelessly to coordinate the changing needs of clients, such as loss of employer-based insurance coverage and switching pharmacies to allow for

medications to be delivered.”

At DPH’s City Clinic, adaptations have included expanded telehealth, STD self-testing with curbside dropoff of specimens, remote diagnosis of symptoms based on clients’ descriptions, and treatment without a definitive diagnosis, clinic director Dr. Susan Philip told the Health Commission.

Experts agree that with precautions in place, it’s safe for people to return to care.

“We have had some clarifications around what’s considered an essential service, and HIV prevention and care are essential services – it’s not something we consider elective,” Scott told the B.A.R. “Clinics have protocols in place to maintain the safety of both the patients and the staff.”

It remains to be seen how the pandemic will ultimately affect the numbers in next year’s HIV epidemiology annual report. Effective COVID-19 vaccines are on the horizon, but ex-

perts predict it will be several months before the population is fully vaccinated.

“We know there’s less access to HIV testing and that there have been some breaks in treatment for some individuals and in PrEP for others,” Scott said. “It’s still unclear how this is going to change our trajectory for getting to zero. We really want to encourage people to seek care for HIV prevention and testing. We’re all still figuring this out as the pandemic unfolds.” t

amendment passed and in the vote the legislation, as amended, passed its first reading 10-1, with Preston – who had mentioned the potential impact on long-term tenants – voting against.

In a text message, Mandelman expressed pride in his colleagues.

“Tobacco smokers are in a very different position legally from cannabis smokers,” Mandelman wrote.

“Given the prohibitions on outdoor

cannabis smoking, the legislation would have amounted to a prohibition on smoking cannabis anywhere for people living in multi-unit apartment buildings. I am glad most of my colleagues agreed we need to add

a cannabis exemption to the ban.”

The passage of the ordinance this week sets it up for a final vote next week, which constitutes its final approval. t

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039178300

& ALMA ESPINOLA, 2011 26TH ST #301, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner ERIK WOLFFINGER & ALMA ESPINOLA is requesting that the name TARTUFINO VAN WOLFINGER be changed to MAURICIO WALK WOLFINGER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 5th of January 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

In the matter of the application of REMI PAYNE, 63 WESTBROOK CT, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner REMI PAYNE is requesting that the name REMI PAYNE be changed to REMI FRANKLIN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103 on the 19th of January 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555998

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039189700

To download the full report, visit https://bit.ly/33kymoO.

Legals>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039181300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as ROUTINE FITNESS, 1601 MARIPOSA ST #406, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SOO MIN HWANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/15/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/05/20.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as AURABEAT NORTH AMERICA, 1830 HARRISON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BRONDELL, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/22/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/29/20.

NOV 12, 19, 26, DEC 03, 2020

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2020

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039180600

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039182800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SYLISKABEAUTY, 46 BRIDGEVIEW DR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SPYNSIR TUCKER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/05/20.

NOV 12, 19, 26, DEC 03, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039182000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as LUZ HOTEL, 725 GEARY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CANDARI INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/06/20.

NOV 12, 19, 26, DEC 03, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555985

In the matter of the application of MITCHELL CLAYTON CONQUER, 145 CASITAS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner MITCHELL CLAYTON CONQUER is requesting that the name MITCHELL CLAYTON CONQUER be changed to MITCHELL CLAYTON SINKLERCONQUER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103 on the 29th of December 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555987

In the matter of the application of YEE MEN CHAN, 491 GAVEN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner YEE MEN CHAN is requesting that the name YEE MEN CHAN be changed to BOBBY YEE MEN CHAN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103 on the 29th of December 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2020

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CALIFORNIA STATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, 2685 22ND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CALIFORNIA STATE REALTY INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/29/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/09/20.

NOV 26, DEC 03, 10, 17, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039186100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as OSCAR LAUNDROMAT, 200 BRAZIL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed OSCAR DUARTE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/26/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/13/20.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2020

NOV 26, DEC 03, 10, 17, 2020

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039183000

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039179200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DR DEE’S MUSIC, 1030 BRODERICK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DIANTHE SPENCER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/15/02. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/09/20.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CHARLIE BARNETT ASSOCIATES, INC, 626 HAMPSHIRE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CHARLIE BARNETT ASSOCIATES, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/02/20.

NOV 19, 26, DEC 03, 10, 2020

NOV 26, DEC 03, 10, 17, 2020

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039142100

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039191700

SEP 17, 24, OCT 01, 08, 2020

NOV 26, DEC 03, 10, 17, 2020

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555994

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555999

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MURACCI’S JAPANESE RESTAURANT, 307 KEARNY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed TAMIKO FUKUDA &YASUYUKI MURATA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/24/20.

In the matter of the application of DEANNA NGO LUONG, 1655 MISSION ST #547, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner DEANNA NGO LUONG is requesting that the name DEANNA NGO LUONG be changed to DEANNA NGOC NGO. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103 on the 29th of December 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 26, DEC 03, 10, 17, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-556000

In the matter of the application of ERIK WOLFFINGER

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BORDERLESS WINE ALLIANCE, 450 VICKSBURG ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BORDERLESS WINE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/19/20.

In the matter of the application of RODERIC LEROY FISHER, C/O ANA DENMARK (SBN 302559), LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ELDERLY, 1663 MISSION ST #225, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner RODERIC LEROY FISHER is requesting that the name RODERIC LEROY FISHER AKA RODERIC LEROY TURNER be changed to RODERIC LEROY TURNER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103 on the 5th of January 2021 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

DEC 03, 10, 17, 24, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN

DEC 03, 10, 17, 24, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039190800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as BOBBY PENNY CLEANING, 1210 DOLORES ST #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ROBERT PENNY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/26/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/19/20.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as OTHER AVENUES FOOD STORE, 3930 JUDAH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed OTHER AVENUES FOOD STORE (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/09/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/18/20.

DEC 03, 10, 17, 24, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039190600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as WHOLE HEART CARDIOLOGY, 2578 PINE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed NICOLE HARKIN MD, A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/19/20.

DEC 03, 10, 17, 24, 2020

DEC 03, 10, 17, 24, 2020

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039191000

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039192600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as GOUGH EXPRESS CLEANERS, 648 GOUGH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed ERIC LI & YANZHEN WU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/12/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 11/19/20.

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Fran Drescher, Blake Lee and Ben Lewis in The Christmas Setup

by David-Elijah Nahmod

O

nce again, holiday movies will abound on your TV screens for the Christmas season, but this year there’s a bit of a queer twist to the festivities. For the first time, holiday films made especially for queerinclusive families are turning up in the most unexpected places.

On December 12, Lifetime TV will premiere The Christmas Setup, a holiday love story featuring two gay men as lead characters. In a romantic twist, the happy couple will be played

by Ben Lewis and Blake Lee, a gay couple who are married in real life.

In The Christmas Setup, Lewis plays Hugo, an attorney in New York who goes home to Milwaukee for Christmas with his best friend Madelyn (Ellen Wong). Hugo’s mom, the bubbly Kate (Fran Drescher) is in charge of the neighborhood Christmas celebrations. She’s also a matchmaker, and when Hugo crosses paths with Patrick (Lee), his old high school crush, Kate does all she can to bring the two guys together.

But then Hugo is offered a huge promotion which would require him to move to London.

As Hugo and Patrick begin to fall in love, Hugo must decide whether or not to take a once in a lifetime job opportunity or to follow his heart.

The Christmas Setup is not unlike the many other holiday films that Lifetime has produced over the years. It’s sweet and wholesome, a little sappy, but ultimately uplifting and enjoyable. Lewis and Lee have amazing onscreen chemistry; no surprise, since they are, after all, a couple.

Drescher, best known as The Nanny in the classic sitcom, is always fun to watch. She steals

The Yuletide’s gay

New gay & lesbian holiday TV movies every scene she’s in, here playing a variation of her famous screen persona.

“This is a movie that is a holiday rom-com that is around a same-sex couple,” Drescher said of The Christmas Setup in a telephone interview. “I feel as someone who’s always been forthright on behalf of gay civil liberties that it’s a great thing. It’s important that we continue to normalize this as part of mainstream culture.”

Drescher pointed out that the filmmakers created a beautiful world for the characters to inhabit and said that The Christmas Setup is a “feel-good film.”

“I play the mother of a gay son and it’s as easy to accept him as a child with brown eyes,” she said.

According to Lewis, he and Lee were shocked to find themselves in Lifetime’s first

holiday movie with a lead gay storyline.

“We feel very lucky to be representing our community in that way,” he said. “Certainly it doesn’t represent the full spectrum of the community, but we hope that it’s a good, and frankly overdue, first step.”

Lewis also spoke of what it was like to act in romantic scenes with his own husband.

“In a ten-year relationship, there are not a lot of firsts,” he said. “But to be acting opposite each other for the first time ever was really interesting because we’re so comfortable with each other. To try and remember what it feels like at the beginning of a relationship, when the initial sparks are flying, all the nerves and the self-consciousness that goes along with that, that was really an interesting and fun and romantic time to revisit. It was a really great experience.”

A.C.T.’s A Christmas Carol (here in 2019).

Christmas, present

A.C.T. & SF Mime Troupe’s ‘Carol’ radio adaptations

by Jim Gladstone

I

t may not have been the worst of times. But it’s been a dickens of a time, for sure.

When it became clear that the COVID-19 pandemic was an anti-gift that would keep on giving through this year’s holiday season and beyond, the creative team behind American Conservatory Theater’s annual production of A Christmas Carol knew it was in for some heavy lifting.

For 43 years, this family-friendly December tradition has charmed Bay Area audiences, provided conservatory students an opportunity to perform with professional actors and, importantly, served as a reliable source of revenue for the non-profit company. It’s a show that has delivered much of its charm through large ensemble scenes and impressive staging, with lavish costumes, lighting effects and puppetry.

Given the necessity of keeping cast and crew members isolated from each other, it

was decided to mount this season’s edition as a streaming audio production. But director Peter J. Kuo knew that a movement-filled, visually intensive show like Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ original novel would require much more than simply recording the existing script.

“About 50 percent of the dialogue has remained and I’ve rewritten the rest,” explained Kuo in a phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter. “Its an adaptation of an adaptation.”

Some of Kuo’s script changes are simply a matter of adapting to the audio medium: “I cut a scene we’ve had the past where characters play Blind Man’s Bluff at a party. I tried to add lines that would help listeners picture it—‘Oh! They’re over there!’, ‘Don’t touch your blindfold!’—but it was really created as a visual scene. The wandering around on stage was what was funny about it.”

While the audio version stands as its own piece—and, thanks to the medium, allows A.C.T. to share its work with audiences far beyond the Bay Area—ticket buyers who have

seen the stage show multiple times will enjoy listening closely to note the clever ways that Kuo has woven together long-loved elements (James Carpenter, a stalwart Scrooge and audience favorite, is back) with new and revised material.

“I realized early on that this was going to be a huge puzzle,” says sound designer Jake Rodriguez, who first worked on an A.C.T. Christmas Carol production 19 years ago. “But as I’m tinkering with the final recording, I feel like it works really well. I don’t think the average audience member will have any consciousness of how complex the sound actually is.

Hopefully it will allow let them form a clear picture in their mind without any effort.”

Available to stream Dec. 4–Dec. 31. $40-$60 per household. www.act-sf.org

Carol, too

There’s another newfangled Carol in town this year: An ironically au-

Get Happy

Also worth checking out is Happiest Season, a lesbian holiday film now streaming on Hulu. Directed by lesbian actress/filmmaker Clea DuVall, the film stars bisexual actress Kristen Stewart. Happiest Season is a charming fable out Abby and Harper (Stewart, Mackenzie Davis), a lesbian couple in Pittsburgh who have been together for about a year.

Abby thinks that Harper is “the one” and buys her a wedding ring. When Harper invites Abby to spend Christmas with her family, Abby agrees, only to find out a little too late that Harper isn’t out to her conservative parents. Abby agrees to pretend that they’re just friends for the next five days.

See page 14 >> dio-only production from, ahem, the San Francisco Mime Troupe (Strange times call for strange measures, right? And the SFMT hasn’t really been willing to hold its tongue for ages now).

A Red Carol, written by longtime troupe member Michael Gene Sullivan, is billed as a musical “activist adaptation” of Dickens in which labor songs supplant jingle bells.

In Sullivan’s spin, Ebeneezer Scrooge is a corporate banker, the Cratchit clan lives in a homeless encampment and the ghost of Christmas present spooks on behalf of the 99%. Humbuggers may approach this sort of doctrinaire reimagining of a classic with skepticism, but Carol has been endlessly lampooned by figures much less connected with Dickens’ original message than the Mime Troupe (Bill Murray’s Scrooged, anyone? The Flintstones’ Carol? Mr. Magoo?). In many ways SFMT—which has been railing against the evils of capitalism for 60 years—is better suited to adapt this story than any of these passing fancy pop culture characters.

Also, of note this cash-strapped holiday season: While donations are always encouraged, SFMT is offering Red Carol free of charge to anyone who wants an earful.

Marx bless’em, every one.

Available from Dec. 11. www.sfmt.org/t

Read the full article on www.ebar.com

<< TV

14 • Bay Area Reporter • December 3-9, 2020

Lawfully good The Lavender Tube on SVU, Johnny Sibilly and more Evidentially

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit debuted its 22nd season last week. SVU is the longest-running non-animated prime time series (The Simpsons is the longest at 32 seasons.) Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson is the longest-running female lead on TV, ever.

SVU has long been victim-forward, which is not how it goes in real life where sexual assault victims rarely get justice.

Working on the series has impacted Hargitay so much that she created the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 to address victims of sexual assault and abuse. She has also been influential in the effort to get the national backlog of rape kits tested, even producing a 2017 documentary, I Am Evidence, about the issue.

Personals People>>

The SVU season premiere took on police abuse, racial bias, COVID and male-on-male rape. It was a lot. The episode opened with a scene similar to that of Amy Cooper in Central Park this past summer when she called 911 to accuse Black gay ornithologist Chris Cooper (no relation) of threatening her and her dog.

In the SVU version, as police are arresting the Black man, Jayvon Brown (Blake Morris), an Asian man, Dr. Eric Aquino (Chevy Kaeo Martinez), is discovered in some nearby bushes, beaten bloody, his pants around his ankles. He is able to state that he was raped, then loses consciousness. Later we discover he is a doctor who selflessly treats COVID patients, but who has to keep his gay identity secret from his immigrant mother.

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characters of color and only added its first main cast queer character in 2019.

Go, Johnny, go

Mariska Hargitay and Demore Barnes in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

In an aside, Det. Kat Tamin (Jamie Gray Hyder), who is bisexual, tells her partner, Det. Rollins (Kelly Giddish) how she can’t talk to her immigrant family about her identity, either.

Jayvon Brown is not the rapist— which we knew, even if the police did not. But Dr. Aquino—raped by a closeted white man—never gets justice because the Grand Jury believes the perpetrator over the police. So his rapist gets off—which is sadly accurate in rape cases.

The episode is complex and takes a lot of risks, most notably by having a Black woman internal affairs interrogator, Capt. Renee Curry (Aimé Donna Kelly) force Olivia to address her own possible racial biases: Why did she presume the white woman accuser was telling the truth? Did Olivia investigate her—which would have revealed the woman had a history of false accusations? This is an astonishingly good scene and one in which Olivia is left shaken and question-

ing herself—as she should be.

At one point in the episode Olivia says she’s not a Karen and we cringe at the #NotAllWhiteWomen assertion and her insistence at various points throughout the hour that she is not racist. Surely our Olivia knows that all white people are racist to some degree—we are inculcated by our white supremacist society and have to actively fight that indoctrination.

SVU is making the white audience to look at their own racism through a beloved character who is being forced to reassess her own biases—biases Olivia always viewed as pro-victim, but which she now sees as more than that. When Olivia goes to apologize to Brown, he not only does not forgive her, he raises the ante on her culpability through her silence.

SVU has told some important stories over the past two decades.

This arc is one of them. Now the show should ask itself why a series set in New York City has so few

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Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis in Happiest Season

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From page 13

Harper comes from a very dysfunctional family. Her parents (Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber) have spent their lives worrying about what the neighbors will think, while their other two daughters try a little too hard to live up to Mom and Dad’s ridiculously high expectations.

Abby, meanwhile, is beginning to rethink her relationship with Harper after Harper reconnects with an old boyfriend (Jake McDorman), and an old girlfriend (Aubrey Plaza). As her parents’ Christmas party approaches, Harper goes deeper and deeper into the closet as Abby feels increasingly left out.

A far more serious film than Christmas Setup, Happiest Season is nonetheless an enjoyable holiday story. Stewart and Davis are both superb as two young women who genuinely love each other, but who may or may not be able to overcome the obstacles now standing in their way. Steenburgen is especially good as the mom who seems to be more interested in putting her kids on display than she is in accepting them for who they are.

Dashing through

And finally, The Paramount Network offers Dashing in December, which premieres on December 13.

The film, which stars Juan Pablo Di Pace, Peter Porte and Andie MacDowell, will be simulcast on Logo, Pop and TV Land. It’s another sweet, wholesome gay romantic holiday film.

Who doesn’t love Johnny Sibilly?

He did a heartbreaking dramatic turn as Pray Tells’ lover Costas dying from AIDS-related complications on Pose. Now he is starring in his own show.

Logo Live with Johnny Sibilly premiered December 1, and new episodes will drop every Tuesday and Thursday. Check out the teaser for the series where Silbilly twerks his derriere off.

The show is a “live rundown of the day’s trending stories with celebrity guest interviews” according to a media alert and will stream on Logo TV’s Instagram.t

Read the full article on www.ebar.com

Johnny Sibilly

The film’s story is simple. When Wyatt (Porte) returns home for the holidays in an effort to convince his mother (MacDowell) to sell the family’s Colorado ranch, an unexpected romance develops between him and the handsome new ranch hand Heath (Di Pace), who wants to save the ranch and its Winter Wonderland attraction. As they begin to fall for each other, Heath manages to reignite the spirit of Christmas in Wyatt’s lonely heart.

Latin lover Di Pace, a native of Argentina, may make viewers hearts melt with his smoldering good looks. He and Porte are magical when they appear onscreen together. Both actors are gay, and the film features a diverse cast and crew.

Dashing in December may be another sweet and somewhat sappy film, but it’s likable, and it’s good to see so many gay and lesbian characters being included in mainstream entertainment.t

Read the full article on www.ebar.com

Juan Pablo Di Pace, Peter Porte and Andie MacDowell in Dashing in December

t

Books>>

December 3-9, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 15

Capital ideas

Kim Roberts, editor of ‘By Broad Potomac’s Shore’ it’s something I love to do. I have a fascination with how writers create community, how circles of friendships and mutual support intersect.

And all three of these projects are, in a sense, a way to map those circles of connection.

Author and editor Kim Roberts

by Gregg Shapiro

A

s compared to New York, San Francisco or Chicago, Washington, D.C. might not be among the first places the average person thinks of when it comes to poetry.

But thanks to queer poet, historian and educator Kim Roberts, that’s changing. Beginning with her groundbreaking 2018 book A Literary Guide to Washington, DC: Walking in the Footsteps of American Writers from Francis Scott Key to Zora Neale Hurston, Roberts wisely turned our attention to the city’s rich literary history.

Her new book, By Broad Potomac’s Shore: Great Poets from the Early Days of the Nation’s Capital (University of Virginia Press, 2020), narrows her expansive focus from all writers to just poets (132 of them), including a substantial portion of whom were queer. The result is an indispensable collection honoring and celebrating a too often overlooked literary hub, one that is finally getting its chance to shine like a beacon.

By Broad Potomac’s Shore seems like a considerable undertaking,

from research to permissions, and so on. How long did it take from start to finish?

I’m not quite sure where to start measuring this. You could argue that I’ve been working on this book for over thirty years! When I first moved to Washington, DC in 1987 I wanted to learn about the city’s literary history. That was just my way of claiming this place as my own. So, I have been collecting material about some of these authors for a very long time. But when did I know I was actually compiling a book? I’d say about four years ago.

In what ways do you think the years you served as founder and editor of Beltway Poetry Quarterly, as well as your experience editing the 2010 Full Moon on K Street anthology, helped in the editing process for By Broad Potomac’s Shore?

Both those earlier experiences gave me an invaluable background in editing, which of course is a learned skill. I hope I’ve gotten better at it the more I’ve exercised those critical muscles! I know that

By Broad Potomac’s Shore includes a number of queer poets, including Walt Whitman, Natalie Clifford Barney, Rose Elizabeth Cleveland, Charles Warren Stoddard, Alice DunbarNelson and Angelina Weld Grimke. Please say something about the importance of having a queer presence in an anthology such as this.

These are some of my favorite authors in the book! You simply cannot create a survey of American poetry without including the invaluable contributions of LGBTQ+ authors. While Whitman is well loved (and he provided the book’s title), I wish more people knew about Natalie Clifford Barney, the first woman poet to write openly about lesbian desire since Sappho.

Rose Elizabeth Cleveland, a lesbian, served as First Lady for her bachelor brother prior to his marriage—but how often do we talk about queer leaders who occupied the White House? And the Harlem Renaissance-era writers Alice Dunbar-Nelson and Angelina Weld Grimke should, in my opinion, be embraced into the American literary canon right alongside Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston (who both also lived in DC, and who ran in the same circles with Dunbar-Nelson and Grimke. And were both queer as well). This is our sacred literary heritage.t

Read the full interview on www.ebar.com

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