December 9, 2010 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

Dim financial picture at SF Pride

Dance-Along Nutcracker

Board of directors decides to furlough staff for a month; new co-chair resigns.

SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band sets sail with gala ‘At Sea!’

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BAYAREAREPORTER

Vol. 40

. No. 49 . 9 December 2010

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

Appellate court hears Prop 8 case

Rich Nichols and Harvey Milk outside Castro Camera in February 1977.

by Matthew S. Bajko three-judge federal appellate panel indicated this week it is likely to allow the lawsuit challenging California’s ban against same-sex marriage to proceed but would narrowly tailor its decision about the anti-gay policy.

In August a federal district court judge struck down the law, known as Proposition 8, as being unconstitutional because it violated the equal protection and freedom of assembly rights of gays and lesbians. He stayed his ruling while the lawsuit, known as Perry vs. Schwarzenegger, is heard on appeal.

The backers of Prop 8 are seeking a reversal of the lower court decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. They have argued that voters had a right to pass the anti-gay initiative in November 2008, which reversed the California Supreme Court’s decision to allow same-sex couples to wed, in order to protect the traditional definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Lawyers for the two same-sex couples and an advocacy group that brought forward the federal lawsuit have challenged whether the group behind Prop 8, known as Protectmarriage.com, has standing to appeal the district judge’s ruling. They contend that only the governor or the attorney general can appeal the decision, and

by Matthew S. Bajko he Human Rights Campaign’s decision to move its Castro store into the former camera shop of the late Supervisor Harvey Milk has infuriated friends of the gay political leader and the

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Matt Baume

Milk’s friends aghast at HRC store plans

Plaintiffs’ attorney David Boies greets a marriage equality supporter as he heads into court for oral arguments Monday.

because they have refused to do so, the appeal should be denied.

In court this week, they also argued that if the group is given standing, then their request to overturn U.S. Chief District Court Judge

Vaughn Walker’s decision should be denied because they have failed to show what harm will come from allowing LGBT people to marry.

A deputy clerk from Imperial County in

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Budget woes greet new lawmakers HIV advocates A optimistic on Brown eople in California’s HIV/AIDS community appear hopeful that Governor-elect Jerry Brown, a Democrat, will work to maintain funding for the epidemic after enduring care Governor-elect and prevention Jerry Brown cuts from outgoing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

But they are also well aware the state is still in a difficult financial situation.

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Lydia Gonzales

by Seth Hemmelgarn

s California’s LGBT legislators were sworn in for a new term, Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called a special session to deal with the state’s $25.4 billion deficit projected through the next 18 months.

Cuts that have been proposed by the governor include large reductions in social services and other areas.

Those sworn in Monday, December 6 included several LGBT lawmakers, bringing the number to seven, a new record for the LGBT caucus.

In the Assembly, three new out lawmakers – all Democrats – took the oath. They are Rich Gordon (San Mateo), Toni Atkins (San Diego), and Ricardo Lara (Los Angeles).

They join out re-elected legislators Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) and Assembly Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles).

Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) and Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) will again serve in the state Senate.

Perez was praised for his leadership Monday, and he was elected by acclimation to remain speaker. Perez is the first out LGBT person to fill the powerful post.

As he nominated Perez, Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) said Perez “has focused

Freshman Assemblywoman Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) speaks at the Capitol on Monday as new lawmakers are sworn in.

like a laser on jobs and economic recovery.”

Atkins said she was honored to make seconding Perez’s nomination her first act as a state legislator. Like Eng, she praised Perez for his work on the economy.

Atkins also said Perez had provided “a voice for fairness and equality for all people in our state,” and she referred to the oral arguments in

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the federal Proposition 8 case that were under way in San Francisco. There, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals was hearing arguments in the federal lawsuit over California’s same-sex marriage ban, which the state’s voters passed in November 2008.

Atkins noted that she and her spouse Jennifer

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 December 2010

COMMUNITY

NEWS

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Castro LGBT museum reopens

by Matthew S. Bajko fter months of permit delays and last-minute construction issues, the GLBT Historical Society will open the doors to its new exhibition space in the Castro this Friday, December 10.

It has been a little more than a year since the archival group closed its first foray into opening a museum in the city’s LGBT neighborhood. Now it is back in a new venue with a five-year lease and two exhibits showcasing numerous items among its collection that have never been shown to the public.

Society officials warn that it is a soft opening and that the installations may not be fully complete until the official opening Thursday, January 13.

Nonetheless, they are excited to be back in the heart of the city’s LGBT community.

“This is a preview exhibit. The doors are open but there still might be some rough edges. Signage still needs to be put in and some electronic displays may not be fully functional, but we want to let people come in and see” the new museum, Paul Boneberg, the society’s executive director, told the Bay Area Reporter Tuesday afternoon.

Several times this year the society has had to push back the opening date

www.bartabsf.com

Rick Gerharter

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Co-curators Don Romesburg, left, and Gerard Koskovich compare a photo of the Baroness Eugenia Von Dieckoff with her actual gown on display as they put finishing touches on the GLBT Historical Society’s new exhibit in the Castro District.

for the museum. Boneberg initially had hoped to be open in time for Pride in June but permit issues caused that deadline to come and go.

The society then had hoped to be open last month and has been racing to install the two new shows into the remodeled storefront at 4127 18th Street. As it became clear that the work would not be completed over the

Thanksgiving holiday, the unofficial opening date was pushed back to this weekend.

“This last project has been more difficult in some ways than we hoped,” acknowledged Boneberg. “We lost six months. We wanted to be open six months ago and we lost it. The permits and build out process was more difficult than we had thought.”

The archival group is renting the space from Walgreens, which signed a lease for the vacant storefront in order to expand its specialty pharmacy that is next door. When neighborhood opposition to those plans derailed the project, openly gay District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty helped broker a deal to allow the national drug store chain to share the building with the historical society.

In return for city approval to use a portion of the space for its expansion, Walgreens agreed to pay for the construction costs to remodel the remaining area for use as an LGBT museum.

The historical society, in turn, will pay reduced rents during the first several years of its lease. Its first payment of $2,000 was made December 1.

“Walgreens did a wonderful job for us. They absorbed all the costs and hassles with permits and made it so we were able to open,” said Boneberg.

New treasures go on display With $100,000 in city funding to help mount the new exhibits, the historical society has created two brand new shows for the museum’s opening. The first is called “Great Collections from the GLBT Historical Society Archives” and was curated by Boneberg.

The show is broken into various categories of the types of material in the archives, from posters and videos to textiles and ephemera. It is meant to educate visitors why various items are collected and preserved by the society.

Included are the pantsuits worn by Phyllis Lyon and the late Del Martin when they became the first same-sex couple to marry at San Francisco City Hall in 2004 and the kitchen table and personal effects that belonged to the late Supervisor Harvey Milk, the city’s first openly gay elected official.

The second, larger show is titled “Our Vast Queer Past: Celebrating GLBT History.” Founding society member Gerard Koskovich; former board member Don Romesburg; and Amy Sueyoshi, who is on academic leave as a director and associate professor of race and resistance studies at San Francisco State University, curated the exhibit. They took inspiration from items donated in 23 of the last 25 years since the archival group was formed.

“When we looked into the archives to see what to put in the show, we pushed ourselves to tell more interesting and less known stories,” Koskovich told the B.A.R. during a sneak peek of the exhibit Tuesday, December 7. “This is all entirely new stuff. The vast majority of documents have never been show in an exhibit at the historical society.”

Romesburg said they have attempted to tell “100 years of queer history in 25 years of the archive.”

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Cannabis dispensary seeks mid-Market space medical cannabis dispensary is seeking approval to open in a vacant storefront in the midMarket Street area across from Safeway. The business, called Apothecary SF, hopes to move into 2095 Market Street, where longtime tenant Gramophone Video and DVD had operated until closing earlier this year.

The city’s Planning Commission is set to vote on the business’ application at the end of January, while its proprietors will be hosting the first of two open houses next week to meet with residents and nearby business owners to answer questions about their plans.

The two entrepreneurs, Ryan Hudson and Michael Thomsen, began working on their proposal for Apothecary last fall and spent eight months trying to find a storefront in the Castro area where zoning would allow them to operate.

“It took quite a while to find a location in the zone and had an owner who was okay with our use. That was no small feat,” said Hudson.

The dispensary would be the second one to open along the northern boundaries of the city’s LGBT Castro District. The Market Street Co-op already operates at 1884 Market Street at Laguna, roughly two blocks north near the LGBT Community Center.

As the Bay Area Reporter reported in August, several other proposals to open medical cannabis dispensaries closer to the heart of the Castro neighborhood in storefronts near the intersection of Market and Noe streets have been hampered by the zoning rules restricting where such businesses can operate. Any site within 1,000 feet of a

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school or youth recreational center is deemed a non-permitable location.

Until two years ago a pot club had operated in a second-floor space on Church Street at 14th kitty-corner to where Apothecary wants to open its doors. Known as the Cannabis Buyers Club, it was the first public medical marijuana dispensary when it opened in February 1994, according to Wikipedia.

It closed in October 2008. A note left on its door said it had done so because it could not comply with city requirements that it install an elevator to make the club wheelchair accessible.

Due to the club’s longtime tenure, Castro leaders have long considered that intersection of Market Street an ideal location for a medical cannabis dispensary. During this year’s campaign for the District 8 supervisor seat, several of the candidates pointed to the area as being a good fit for such a business.

District 8 Supervisor-elect Scott Wiener plans to meet with Hudson and Thomsen to learn more about tbeir business plan. He told the B.A.R. this week that from what he has heard of their proposal so far, “it seems positive.”

The majority of the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro members agree, as the business group voted at its December 2 meeting to support Apothecary’s application. And the Community Advisory Committee for the Market Octavia Plan, which reports to both the supervisors and planning commissioners about projects proposed within the plan area, reviewed the dispensary’s application this month.

“Generally speaking, we think it is an appropriate place to put it,” said

Ryan Hudson, one of two partners in the Apothecary Medical Cannabis Dispensary, stands in front of the proposed site for the facility.

Dennis Richards, a member of the advisory panel. “There used to be one on Church and the neighborhood doesn’t have one. I think it is an appropriate use as long as they do it well.”

Richards, who is also president of the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association, said he didn’t think his residential organization would vote to oppose Apothecary when it comes before it.

“I can’t see why it wouldn’t be supported,” said Richards.

Along with DTNA, Hudson and Thomsen plan to meet with the Mission Dolores Neighborhood Association and the Castro/Eureka Valley

Rick Gerharter

by Matthew S. Bajko

Neighborhood Association to seek the groups’ support prior to going before planning commissioners next month.

They will also be holding two open houses at the storefront from 4 to 8 p.m. on December 15 and on January 19.

“We want to make sure the community has every opportunity to meet us, interface with us, understand our plans, and we want to hear any concerns they may have that would affect our business,” said Hudson. “We want to be good neighbors with a positive influence.”

They hope to be open by late March or early April. Tentative plans

call for the business to operate seven days a week between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The 1,000 square foot store will be handicap accessible and only allow people 18 and over with a valid cannabis user card to enter. It would only sell medical pot and not allow the use of its products on-site.

“There will be no smoking and no medicating on-site,” Hudson said.

While both Hudson and Thomsen are straight, they said they are determined to hire staff reflective of the Castro community.

“In the same vein, it is a priority of ours to employ local residents from the LGBT community as well as disabled persons,” Hudson wrote in an e-mail.

“Our goal is to have a workforce that understands our patients needs and is representative of the community.”

They plan to hire one or two security guards and will restrict entrance to anyone who double parks in front of the store, Hudson told the merchants last week. As for the look of the store, it is still being discussed.

“The design has yet to be hammered out. It will fit the zeitgeist of the Castro,” said Hudson. “We are going for more boutique-y, not seedy.”

Laws governing medical cannabis dispensaries restrict the businesses from turning a profit, so Apothecary plans to operate like a nonprofit. Hudson pledged to funnel any profits from the business back into the community.

“We plan to support community organizations,” he said.

The Planning Commission is set to hear the Apothecary application at its January 27 meeting. The oversight panel meets in Room 400 at City Hall.▼

Newsom hosts holiday open house at City Hall ayor Gavin Newsom and first lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom invite the public to a holiday open house at City Hall Sunday, December 12 from 2 to 5 p.m.

In addition, District 8 Supervisorelect Scott Wiener will be holding his first official act by encouraging people to help support public schools in the district by bringing a charitable donation for the San Francisco PTA to Room 268. Proceeds will be evenly distributed across public schools in the district and contributions are optional, Wiener said.

Those planning to attend the open house should enter on the 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place N EWS side (Polk Street). The mayor and first lady are also helping out with a holiday food drive at the event and ask people to bring non-perishable items for the San Francisco Food Bank.

The open house is free and open to the public, and will provide guests an opportunity to meet Newsom, meet many of San Francisco’s elected officials and department staff, and tour City Hall. Guests will be treated to holiday cookies, hot cocoa, and entertainment by Magik Magik Orchestra.

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Mayor Newsom and the first lady have been invited to this year’s lighting ceremony. Special guests include comedian Marga Gomez, the San Francisco Boys Chorus, and jazz sensation Veronica Klaus accompanied

by Tammy Hall. Nobu Hanaoka, an atomic bomb survivor, will deliver a message of hope. Bay Area Reporter society columnist Donna Sachet will be the emcee.

The Tree of Hope was started by RWF five years ago. The project drew inspiration from a little girl who lived and died nearly half a century ago. Sadako Sasaki was 2 when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

Years later, suffering from leukemia as a result of the bomb, she learned of a legend that would B RIEFS grant one wish to the folder of 1,000 cranes.

She started folding but died 365 cranes short of her goal. Her classmates finished the project and all 1,000 cranes were buried with her.

It is in that spirit that the World Tree of Hope started – it is decorated with thousands of origami cranes that contain wishes for the future.

People can submit wishes online at www.rainbowfund.org. RWF was founded in 2000 and is an international humanitarian service agency based in the LGBT community. It helps people around the world through projects such as hunger and disaster relief.

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‘Tree of Hope’ ceremony coming up The lighting celebration for Rainbow World Fund’s fifth annual “Tree of Hope” will take place Wednesday, December 15 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.

Jeff Cotter, executive director of RWF, said that this year the tree has been renamed the “World Tree of Hope.” He pointed out that the tree, which carries messages from around the world, is a project of the LGBT and Japanese communities of San Francisco.

‘Santa Paws’ at SPCA benefit A special event this weekend with Santa Claus will allow people to have pictures taken with their pets, all to benefit the San Francisco SPCA. Kimpton Hotels will host Santa in the lobby of its Sir Francis Drake Hotel, 450 Powell Street (at Post) Saturday and Sunday (December 11-12) from 2 to 4 p.m.

There is a suggested donation of $20, which includes two photographs

taken by a professional photographer printed on site that will be presented in an SPCA holiday greeting card, holiday refreshments, and pet treats.

Meet the ‘Dog Whisperer’ at Macy’s Cesar Millan, the well-known dog behavior specialist and host of the Emmy-nominated series Dog Whis-

perer with Cesar Millan, will be at Macy’s Union Square for a meet and greet and signing his newest book, Cesar’s Rules: Your Way to Train a Well Behaved Dog on Saturday, December 11 at 1 p.m. There is no cost to attend. Millan will be at the Cellar, downstairs at Macy’s 170 O’Farrell Street.

Saturday is also Macy’s Family Fun

Day, and there will be pet adoption opportunities available.

PrEP forum tonight Several prevention organizations will hold a community forum tonight (Thursday, December 9) on the recently released study on pre-

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 December 2010

OPEN

Volume 40, Number 49 9 December 2010 eBAR.com PUBLISHER Thomas E. Horn Bob Ross (Founder, 1971 – 2003) N E W S E D I TO R Cynthia Laird A R T S E D I TO R Roberto Friedman ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko Seth Hemmelgarn Jim Provenzano CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dan Aiello • Tavo Amador • Matt Baume • Erin Blackwell Roger Brigham • Scott Brogan • Victoria A. Brownworth Philip Campbell • Chuck Colbert • Richard Dodds Raymond Flournoy • Brian Gougherty David Guarino • Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell Robert Julian • John F. Karr • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • David Lamble • Michael McDonagh Paul Parish • Lois Pearlman • Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota Bob Roehr • Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro • Gwendolyn Smith Robert Sokol • Ed Walsh • Sura Wood

A R T D I R E C TO R Kurt Thomas DESIGNER Scott King P H OTO G R A P H E R S Jane Philomen Cleland Marc Geller Rick Gerharter Lydia Gonzales Rudy K. Lawidjaja Steven Underhill Bill Wilson I L L U S T R ATO R S & C A R TO O N I S T S Paul Berge Christine Smith G E N E R A L M A N AG E R Michael M. Yamashita D I S P L AY A DV E R T I S I N G Colleen Small Scott Wazlowski C L A S S I F I E D A DV E R T I S I N G David McBrayer N AT I O N A L A DV E R T I S I N G R E P R E S E N TAT I V E Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863 LEGAL COUNSEL Paul H. Melbostad

Think before you clink ganization in the United At the time, her husband his is the time of year when the ubiquitous States and one of the world’s was in the midst of his presred kettles are popping up at shopping largest providers of social aid, idential campaign and did centers everywhere. Yet these pots, and the offering services like disaster not accompany her to the bell-ringers that accompany them, are not colrelief and food and clothing city. But Ms. Edwards more lecting money that will benefit the LGBT comassistance for the poor. Those than held her own and enmunity. The Salvation Army, a Christian relief orare certainly worthy prodeared herself to the LGBT ganization, has long had anti-gay policies, and grams, but unfortunately, community when she said doesn’t deserve your support this holiday season. with its anti-gay philosophy, that she was “completely As Michael Jones, an editor at we cannot urge memcomfortable” with same-sex change.org, wrote in a post last year, bers of the LGBT commarriage, a position that was “[W]hile the Salvation Army munity to support at odds with her husband, preaches charity work with one ring such endeavors. who favored civil unions and of the bell, they also happen to be There are plenty of stopped short of supporting selling a dose of homophobia with other charitable organimarriage equality. the other ring.” zations that do relief “I don’t know why someIndeed they do. On the organization’s work and serve body else’s marriage has anywebsite, under “Position Statethose in need thing to do with me,” she ments,” there is a section on homowithout the hosaid during a news confersexuality. It begins benignly E DITORIAL mophobia of the ence with reporters after the enough: “The Salvation Army holds Salvation Army. Elizabeth Edwards spoke at the breakfast. “I’m completely a positive view of human sexuality.

While they may lack the fa- Alice Club’s Pride breakfast in 2007. comfortable with gay marWhere a man and a woman love each other, miliar red kettles and bellriage.” She is believed to be sexual intimacy is understood as a gift of God ringers, they make up for it the first spouse of a major to be enjoyed within the context of heterosexby working to further equal rights. If you’re inpresidential candidate to support marriage ual marriage. However, in the Christian view, clined to drop some coins into one of those red equality so explicitly. sexual intimacy is not essential to a healthy, full, kettles, do some research and think twice.

During her remarks at the breakfast, Ms. and rich life. Apart from marriage, the scripEdwards touched on issues of concern to the tural standard is celibacy.”

RIP Elizabeth Edwards LGBT community, including health care and The statement goes on to note that “sexual poverty. “Our health care is in shambles,” she attraction to the same sex is a matter of proElizabeth Edwards, the wife of former presisaid. “The LGBT community certainly knows found complexity.” And interestingly, the Saldential candidate John Edwards, lost her long and understands.” vation Army points out that “whatever the battle with cancer on Tuesday. She was 61. Ms. In spite of her personal battles, Ms. Edcauses may be, attempts to deny its reality or to Edwards was a different breed of candidate wards never wavered from her support of marginalize those of a same-sex orientation spouse, and nowhere was that captured more equal rights and she continued pushing for have not been helpful.” But the statement convividly than on June 24, 2007 when she came to health care reform. The LGBT community has cludes that gays are “called upon to embrace San Francisco and spoke at the Alice B. Toklas lost an important ally.▼ celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural LGBT Democratic Club’s annual Pride breakfast. support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage.”

Basically, the Salvation Army takes a “love the sinner, hate the sin” approach, and while it says that its services are available to all who qualify, without regard to sexual orientation, the bottom line is that the Salvation Army has used its considerable reach and long history to fight against marriage equality and equal rights for all. It certainly does not meet its own lofty tagline, “Doing the Most Good.”

In fact, in San Francisco, one could argue that the Salvation Army did not “do the most good” several years ago when it voluntarily gave up its city contracts to provide meals to seniors rather than comply with the city’s landmark equal benefits ordinance. Thankfully, Project Open Hand stepped in and filled the void. It speaks volumes about the Salvation Army’s own moral compass (or lack thereof) that it would rather give up a program that helps seniors than provide equal benefits for its employees.

It’s also important to recognize that the Salvation Army is the second largest charitable or-

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Rick Gerharter

BAYAREAREPORTER

FORUM

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by Molly McKay here is a sea change underway, a global warming that is causing the ice that once kept the LGBT community capped off – or at least invisible to the larger communities we live within – giving way from every different direction. You can feel it all around. It isn’t a linear thaw – where we pick up the politically liberal, then move to the moderates, and finally the conservatives. The cracks are coming from all different places and spaces all at once. The cracks are generated every time someone takes a small, brave action toward challenging the silence and embracing themselves or the LGBT people they love – when a person decides to casually come out to a co-worker, when a same-sex couple walks hand and G UEST hand into their church or synagogue, when a father mentions he has a lesbian daughter to a neighbor, when gay dads both join the PTA together, when a union or a company revises its policy to ensure they receive the full 100 percent Human Rights Campaign rating, when a grandmother insists her grandson bring his partner to Christmas dinner – the net effect is that now we are seeing ever wider expanses of water with the world beckoning us to just come on in with the rest of them.

Over the last 15 years, I have had thousands of conversations with LGBT people talking about why marriage equality is not a frivolous concern of wealthy gays, but vital as a basic issue of economic and social justice and most importantly, because it takes aim right at the heart of homophobia. And, that is exactly what has happened. There has been a cultural shift away

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from focusing on what gay people do sexually (a subject that obsesses devout homophobes) and focusing on who we love, who we are committed to, what our common interests are.

Standing for marriage equality requires that we stand up for the dignity of our relationships and asks those who love us to stand with us and attend our weddings, introduce our spouses and treat them as they would any heterosexual partner. Marriage equality explains who our beloveds are, not just to us, but who they are in relation to our extended family as married kinship. We have been sewn back into the family quilt, our marriages are recorded on the extended family tree with everyone else.

We are integrating. I can foresee that in my lifetime, legalized homophobia will seem as insane O PINION as people who freak out about people of different races marrying and having children together.

This has been yet another historic week for our community and the signs of global warming were all around us. We cheered on wellknown conservative attorney Theodore Olson as he masterfully responded to every question and curve ball thrown by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel of judges to affirm marriage as a civil right and highlight how Proposition 8 stood for nothing but unfounded prejudice and unfair discrimination.

Terry Stewart was our home team favorite who in just five minutes stripped the “rational basis” cited by the opponents down to show its blatant animus at its core and reveal it as inconsistent with all of California’s family law.

Thanks to Eva Paterson of the Equal Justice

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Society, the Reverend Jesse Jackson called into our community rally to state his support for marriage equality. “We cannot stand idly by while Prop 8 seeks to target gays and lesbians for a disfavored legal status, as America’s newest ‘second-class’ citizens,” he said. I received a phone call from the Reverend Amos Brown of the Third Baptist Church offering his support and wanting to brainstorm how we can build bridges of mutual support. The Reverend Roland Stringfellow of California Faith for Equality pulled together a powerhouse of clergy leaders from all different faith traditions whose very spiritual presence of love and support called out the opponents across the street screaming “God Hates Fags” as the shams and bullies they are. There is a coming together for each other that is happening all around us that will have profound benefit not just for gay Americans – but for all Americans as united we continue to forge that vision of One Big Tent America with all hands welcomed on deck ... and you know we don’t destroy, we renovate!

Marriage Equality USA needs more red hens volunteering to step up and engage in education and outreach in every county and in every community. We need leaders willing to make it happen. Read my wife Davina Kotulski’s book Love Warriors: The Rise of the Marriage Equality Movement, which is chock full of suggestions and talking points to get you there. Join us!▼ Molly McKay is the media director of Marriage Equality USA. A copy of Reverend Jackson’s complete statement, and information on how to volunteer, can all be found on Marriage Equality USA’s website (www.marriageequality.org).

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9 December 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

POLITIC S

Lydia Gonzales

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano takes the oath of office for his second term in the state Legislature during the swearing-in ceremony Monday, December 6 in Sacramento.

Ammiano declines entreaties to be SF interim mayor

by Matthew S. Bajko an Francisco supervisors postponed until Tuesday, December 14 beginning the process of deciding whom to appoint to fill the vacancy that will be created when Mayor Gavin Newsom resigns next month in order to be sworn in as the state’s next lieutenant governor.

The political intrigue behind the selection has consumed City Hall ever since Newsom defeated his opponent on Election Night last month. Numerous names have been floated as to whom should be given the post, and in recent weeks progressives have waged a public campaign to see that former Supervisor Tom Ammiano be named interim mayor.

Yet several hours prior to the supervisors taking up the matter of if they should begin trying to elect an interim mayor, the openly gay Ammiano, now a state Assemblyman, withdrew his name from consideration.

A two-time mayoral candidate, Ammiano had faced increasing pressure from progressives to accept their calls for him to take over leadership of Room 200 at City Hall. But having been sworn into a second term in Sacramento Monday, December 6, Ammiano said he had no desire to leave the Capitol and return to San Francisco.

“I sincerely appreciate and understand the recent public efforts asking that I seek the nomination for interim mayor when Mayor Newsom steps down in January to become lieutenant governor but I must respectfully decline any nomination from the Board of Supervisors,” stated Ammiano in a press release his Assembly office distributed to the media Tuesday, December 7. “I was sworn in yesterday for my second term in the California State Assembly and I believe that the same strong progressive values that have inspired my 20 years as an elected official are needed now more than ever in the state Capitol.”

Ammiano said he did not want to take part in what he saw as the “revolving door syndrome” afflicting state government, where lawmakers facing term limits run for other public offices prior to completing the terms they were elected to serve. He added that he has unfinished business in the Legislature he wants to continue to pursue.

“One of the weaknesses of our current state government is a lack of true investment in the various elected offices due to the revolving door syndrome caused by term limits but I am committed to finishing the work that I have begun in Sacramento, including reforming our antiquated marijuana laws, closing the corporate loopholes in Proposition 13, ensuring adequate funding for the ongoing bat-

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tle against AIDS and continuing the struggle for equal rights for our LGBT community,” stated Ammiano.

Termed out District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly had been one of Ammiano’s biggest backers to be interim mayor. And he also had urged that the Board of Supervisors meet as a committee of the whole this week and begin the process of nominating Newsom’s replacement.

Despite having “crossed off ” his number one choice, Daly told his colleagues that he did have someone else in mind for the post, though he did not name the person, and suggested it was time to start considering nomiP OLITICAL nees this week.

“I am prepared to make a nomination. The first person on my list I have crossed off. I am not prepared to nominate one of my colleagues today, but I do have a person in mind,” Daly told his fellow supervisors. “I would like to see some ideas and if there are the votes.”

He also said time was of the essence in allowing whoever is interim mayor to begin putting their team together.

“We now are borrowing time against the next administration in San Francisco. If you follow the regional politics like I do ... last week Oakland Mayor-elect Jean Quan named her 24-member transition committee,” said Daly. “Here in San Francisco, with our process for electing mayors, typically a mayor would have had about a month to put together a transition team.”

While openly gay District 9 Supervisor David Campos voted to push the nomination process back a week, he echoed Daly’s concerns that the person given the job have enough time to prepare.

“I don’t have a problem with continuing this item for another week. I do think not acting, or at least beginning this process, would be a mistake in light of the fact we have a number of challenges we will be facing,” said Campos.

In the end nine supervisors, including openly gay District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who is running to be mayor in next November’s election, voted to wait a week. Only District 11 Supervisor John Avalos voted with Daly against the postponement.

Under rules the board adopted last month, the sitting supervisors have agreed to accept up to 11 nominations during the first round in the selection process. It will take up each nomination in the order it is received, and any current supervisors among the group would have to leave the chambers and be sequestered in their offices without Internet or cell phone access to their colleagues. Nominated supervisors

cannot vote for themselves.

The first person to receive six votes among the remaining supervisors would secure the nomination. It would then be forwarded to the full board. If the person again receives six votes, they would be the interim mayor.

Should no one win during the first round, then the process would start all over again. If the board has not decided on a pick by the time Newsom steps down, then the board president – currently District 3 Supervisor David Chiu – would become the acting mayor and retain his supervisorial seat.

Both Chiu and Campos have been named as possible interN OTEBOOK im mayor picks, whereas Dufty has ruled out being given the post prior to next fall’s election. Also on the list has been Newsom’s gay chief of staff Steve Kawa; Sheriff Michael Hennessey; City Administrator Ed Lee; and former Mayors Willie Brown and Art Agnos.

Another potential pick is openly gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). Leno is considered to have a good chance of receiving six votes if the newly elected supervisors from the even-numbered districts are given the choice after being sworn in January 8.

Asked about his chances this week, Leno said it was not up to him to decide.

“That decision is in the hands of the board,” said Leno, who did add “the information I have is they may not have six votes for anyone but it is not for me to say.”

As for Ammiano, he pledged to work closely with whoever is chosen as interim mayor.

“I look forward to working closely with whoever is chosen to fill the mayoral vacancy so that we are able to solve the daunting challenges facing both the city and the state, making sure that we do what is best for San Francisco and California during the difficult days that lay ahead,” he stated.▼ Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check www.ebar.com Monday mornings around 10 a.m. for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion.

This week’s column reports on LGBT appointees to city panels sworn in or nominated by Mayor Gavin Newsom this month.

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

Got a tip on LGBT politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 861-5019 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

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INTERNATIONAL

NEWS

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by Rex Wockner here is an uneven landscape in protection of LGBT rights in Europe, the European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency said in a comprehensive report to the European Parliament.

“In some EU member states, legislation and practice is increasing the protection of LGBT people, while in others the rights of LGBT persons are being restricted or neglected,” said ILGA-Europe, the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, in an analysis of the FRA report on ho-

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“Additionally, the real-life test remophobia, transphobia, and antiquirement oftentimes leads transgenLGBT discrimination. der people into unemployment and The November 30 report was prosocial marginalization,” the duced in response to the parliagroup said. ment’s request for an inThe FRA called on EU depth examination of the nations to “abolish disituation of LGBT peovorce and genital surgery ple, after anti-gay laws as preconditions to the were proposed or passed rectification of the in some EU nations. recorded sex or alteration ILGA-Europe said the of name on official docudocument also “clearly highlights the hardship W OCKNER’ S ments.” that transgender people “LGBT people in some W ORLD still face in changing EU member states still suftheir legal gender, which fer from violations of their often includes forced sterilization and basic fundamental rights to safety, compulsory divorce.” peaceful assembly and are restricted in their ability to move freely across the EU,” said ILGA-Europe Executive Director Evelyne Paradis. “Some member states are single-handedly blocking the adoption of a new anti-discrimination directive which would level up the protections available to various communities, including LGB people, from discrimination in the areas of EU competence highlighted by the FRA report.”

The co-president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights, Michael Cashman, added: “This report shows the EU might be the world’s most advanced region in terms of legal protection for LGBT people, but also that much more needs to be done for genuine equality.”

The EU agency for fundamental rights is mandated to provide evidence-based advice to decision makers in the EU. The evidence aims at informing EU and national policymakers about fundamental-rights challenges on the ground and at contextualizing debates on fundamental-rights issues. See www.fra.europa.eu.

Member nations of the EU are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Dutch transgender people will get new diplomas Transgender people in the Netherlands have won the right to receive new school diplomas that reflect their correct name and gender.

The change resulted from a legal action against the University of Amsterdam by transgender activist Justus Eisfeld of Global Action for Trans Equality.

The Dutch Equal Opportunities Commission ruled that the university had engaged in illegal indirect sex discrimination against Eisfeld, who had been fighting with the school since 2004.

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They have also strived to reveal hidden LGBT stories through the objects selected for the 23 different displays. A case inspired by the 1978 sales report for the now defunct Old Wives Tales, a feminist bookstore that had been on Valencia Street, led to the topic of “Consuming Queers: The GLBT Marketplace.”

While shoppers can go into any number of gift shops in the Castro and buy gay merchandise, that wasn’t always the case, explained Koskovich, yet people often overlook that fact.

“We are bringing forth these hidden histories,” he said.

Another display centers around the papers of George Raya, one of the first fulltime gay legislative advocates in the country and the first to roam the halls of the state Capitol in Sacramento in the early 1970s. One black and white photo shows Raya, who lives in Sacramento, with then-Governor Jerry Brown, who will be sworn into a third term in the office next month.

David Hartfiel

EU report: Europe is inconsistent on LGBT rights

Transgender people in the Netherlands have won the right to receive new school diplomas that reflect their correct name and gender.

Activist Justus Eisfeld led the charge.

Education Minister Marja van Bijsterveldt responded to the ruling November 30 by instructing all educational institutions to adhere to it.

“I am very happy not only about my own diploma, but especially about the possibilities for all trans people to change their diplomas in the Netherlands,” Eisfeld said. “Hopefully the illegality of trans discrimination in all EU member states will receive more attention. Knowledge is a first step toward a change of practice.”

Kenyan PM: Arrest the gays Kenya’s prime minister, Raila Odinga, said November 28 that people who have gay or lesbian sex should be arrested, and that he wants the nation to have no gay people.

Speaking in a local language at a Nairobi rally, Odinga said: “You, young man, are you mad that you leave these girls and marry another man? Why? Is this not madness? And you girls ... what is wrong with you? ...

Instead of looking for a man, you go looking for another woman. You cannot get children from her. You go looking for other women. Is this right? Is this right? If you get another man sodomizing another, arrest him and take him to the police. Or if a woman is found inserting a finger inside another woman, arrest her and take her to the police. ... We want a clean nation, clean ways, clean ethnic groups, where there are no gays or sodomy.”

Odinga later said his remarks had been misinterpreted by the media and he agreed to meet with LGBT people, according to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, which translated the comments from the Kiswahili language. He said the anti-gay statements actually had not been his own thoughts but rather his paraphrasing of “propaganda” that has been employed by opponents of the nation’s new constitution.

“You know Jose Sarria was the first gay political candidate in the country.

Both he and Raya were Latino men. It is not normally what we think of,” said Romesburg, referring to the long held stereotype that the gay community is made up of primarily white men.

Other panels depict the lives of little known gay pioneers such as Jiro Onuma, the only known gay man to be interned in the Japanese camps during World War II, and Donald S. Lucas, whose work in the 1960s around poverty issues in the Tenderloin led to the creation of the first transgender and LGBT youth organizations.

Due to the large space they have to work with – it is 1,600 square feet – the society is able to display items it could not in its previous galleries. In one corner stands a gown worn by Baroness Eugenia Von Dieckoff (a.k.a.

Henry Dieckoff) to the Grand Ducal Ball in 1983.

“It has amazing stitch work and rhinestones but we have never been able to display it because the cape is 15 to 16 feet long,” said Romesburg.

Another outfit serves as the closing statement of the show: the dress that

In the translation provided by IGLHRC, Odinga does summarize some of the anti-gay propaganda used by opponents of the constitution but he then seems to segue into speaking for himself in the segment of his speech quoted above.

IGLHRC Executive Director Cary Alan Johnson called Odinga’s remarks “a shame.”

“Kenya has been making great strides in terms of recognizing a broad set of human rights, in promoting a live-and-let-live attitude in both law and practice,” Johnson said. “Raila Odinga’s remarks could easily lead to a setback for human rights and a setup for violence. Interestingly, he made these distasteful remarks at a rally in Kibera, one of Kenya’s most impoverished communities. In a place where people have no clean water, lousy housing, poor sanitation and bad health, is homosexuality really the most important issue?”

Malta OKs trans marriage Malta’s Constitutional Court approved transgender marriages November 29, reported Transgender Europe.

In a case brought by Joanne Cassar, the court ruled she now is free to marry her boyfriend.

The decision, which overturned earlier Maltese rulings, cites a 2002 European Court of Human Rights case that established transsexuals’ rights to respect for their private and family life and right to marry.

HRW: Senegal gay ban promotes violence Senegal’s law criminalizing adult gay sex contributes to anti-gay abuse by police and the public, Human Rights Watch said in a 95-page report issued November 30.

The African nation’s Penal Code article 319.3 punishes “unnatural” sexual acts with five years in prison.

“While the law ostensibly criminalizes conduct, not character, it is in fact used as a tool for targeting certain ‘types’ of individuals,” HRW said.

The report explores “the manipulation of public sentiment by some Senegalese political and religious leaders who have been instrumental in creating a climate of virulent homophobia,” the group said. “It also documents the prominent, one-sided, and at times hate-mongering coverage by many Senegalese media outlets.”

The report, “Fear for Life: Violence Against Gay Men and Men Perceived as Gay in Senegal,” includes interviews with dozens of people who have faced threats and violence at the hands of police and others. It is available online at www.hrw.org/node/94451.▼ Bill Kelley contributed to this report.

Laura Linney’s character Mary Ann Singleton wears in the opening scene of the television adaptation of local author Armistead Maupin’s novel Tales of the City.

“The object is meant to symbolize that both gay and straight people come here with the same hopes of coming to San Francisco and making your dreams come true,” said Romesburg.

With the opening of the new exhibit space, the historical society is one step closer to achieving its dream of having a permanent home to showcase the city’s LGBT treasures and forgotten stories.

“I think of this as our first real museum. The space was constructed to our specifications,” said Koskovich.

The museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m.

Sundays. It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays; general admission costs $5.

Due to support from the Bob Ross Foundation, named after the B.A.R.’s founding publisher, the museum will be free the first Wednesday of the month throughout 2011.▼

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9 December 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

COMMUNITY

NEWS

Castro church struggling over staff, finances

by Seth Hemmelgarn church in the Castro neighborhood that’s been the spiritual home to many San Francisco LGBTs for 40 years is facing turmoil. A popular music director was recently fired, and the senior pastor abruptly announced her resignation in August.

The church is also struggling financially.

The resignation earlier this year of Reverend Dr. Lea Brown from Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco apparently left the board with direct supervision of staff, and it fired Stephanie Smith, the popular music director for the Sunday evening service.

In a November 28 statement posted on the church’s website, the Reverend Elder Lillie Brock, of Metropolitan Community Churches, said she realized the last couple months had been “fraught with loss, disappointment, frustration and even anger at times.” She said that although “there is enough blame to go around for a variety of things,” she was more concerned about the congregation’s “spiritual well being.”

She then announced the appointment of Reverend Tony Freeman as a provisional pastor for the next six months, beginning December 1, as the church seeks a new senior pastor.

In an interview this week, Brock, an out lesbian, declined to say why Smith had been fired, since it’s a personnel matter.

Smith was terminated November 2.

Two board members approached after a church meeting Sunday, December 5, declined to talk to the Bay Area Reporter about the situation.

About 100 people are said to have signed a petition supporting Smith, 35, who identifies as bisexual and is also the music director at New Spirit Community Church in Berkeley.

Smith told the B.A.R. this week that she wasn’t given any reason for being fired.

“I am very humbled by the support I’m receiving. In times of struggle and great conflict, you really learn who your friends are,” she added.

Smith, who declined to say what her salary at MCC was, said, “I would say the church is the most amazing place on the planet.”

According to an e-mail from church member Kristine Poggioli sent to petition signers and forwarded to the B.A.R., the board rejected the petition because “our governing laws say we can’t vote on personnel matters.” The board also no longer

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screenwriter of an Oscar-winning movie about his life.

The national LGBT rights organization announced Monday, December 6 that it had signed a lease for the vacant storefront at 575 Castro Street. It will be closing its current shop and action center at the corner of 19th and Castro streets January 5 and plans to open the new location January 7.

An official opening party is planned for May 22, which will be the second observance of the Harvey Milk Day state holiday. The date coincides with Milk’s birthday.

According to HRC’s announcement, in addition to its own branded items, it plans to sell merchandise “emblazoned with the words and images of Milk,” who in 1977 became the first openly gay elected official in California as well as in a major U.S. city. A year later disgruntled former Supervisor Dan White assassinated Milk and then-Mayor George Moscone in City Hall.

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Reverend Tony Freeman

Stephanie Smith

has hiring authority for Smith.

Poggioli, who was elected to the church’s board Sunday, has expressed support for Smith.

In an interview last week, Poggioli said Smith “is someone who’s been here 10 years, knows our history, and knows us.” She also pointed to Smith’s fundraising skills. Smith said she had served on the 40th anniversary events committee, which she said raised upwards of $50,000 or $60,000 this year.

Poggioli, who said her running for the board wasn’t related to Smith’s firing, said that like other groups, the church has been under stress because of the economy.

“It’s tough times for everyone, and the church is the one place you want to go for comfort and community,” she said.

However, Poggioli thinks the board “wanted to clean house so when the new pastor comes, there aren’t any troublemakers.” She said, “Stephanie’s a strong, dynamic leader who’s going to tell you what she thinks and ask questions about money.”

Asked about being outspoken, Smith said, “I do speak my truth, and I am a strong leader.”

bringing stability to the congregation and helping the new board move forward. The board has seven positions elected from the congregation and the senior pastor, who is a permanent member.

Two open positions remain after Sunday’s meeting, when Poggioli was elected and board member Glenn Stover was re-elected.

In his presentation Sunday, Sam Kohler, the board treasurer, presented what appeared to be a dim financial picture.

“We’re not a sinking ship,” he said, but things are tight week-to-week, “to make sure we pay our bills.”

He said the church has gone through about $40,000 in its cash reserve fund in the past three years, and it now has just over $11,000 in that fund.

The church’s actual budget for 2010 is about $446,000. The 2011 budget is approximately $386,000.

MCC-SF’s actual total net income through October this year was listed at about $30,000.

Financial data from November weren’t yet available.

Total budgeted fundraising income for next year is about $28,000, down from approximately $102,000 in this year’s budget.

Brock said in an interview this week that financially, the church is “struggling, like many churches and many organizations in our country right now,” but she expressed confidence the church would survive.

After the meeting Sunday, Kohler told the B.A.R. that the board had agreed not to comment, and he wouldn’t talk about Smith or the congregation’s finances.▼

Finances The church’s annual congregational meeting last Sunday generally seemed warm and civil. The congregation has a membership of 284 people. Ninety-five people attended the meeting.

Freeman, who’s held many roles in MCC, including serving as senior pastor at MCC San Diego, said at the meeting that his goals included

HRC plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Milk merchandise to both the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, an alternative public school in the Castro, and the GLBT Historical Society. It has yet to determine how much of a percentage of the sales will go to either group.

“It is Harvey Milk’s vision of hope that continues to inspire the work that we do at the Human Rights Campaign,” HRC President Joe Solmonese stated in the release. “We are the beneficiaries of his groundbreaking activism and are honored to be a part of the future that he envisioned.”

HRC opened its Castro store five years ago and the lease for its current space is up in February. It did not intend to move, said a spokesman, but when the Milk store space became available in March it decided to seek the location, which at 900 square feet, is the same size as the current store.

While Dan Nicoletta, a photographer who befriended Milk, said he feels HRC’s being in the historic retail location is “an awkward fit,” he

does not see a need to “police” who control’s Milk’s legacy.

“Even though lots of people who were/are the antithesis of what Milk stood for continue to brazenly co-opt his name on a regular basis, the 2010 truth of the matter is that Harvey’s legacy is everybody’s now,” wrote Nicoletta in an e-mailed response. “I hope that this new HRC location will truly be an action center as the press release states and not simply a cottage industry. The countless visitors to San Francisco’s LGBT mecca need something more than a T-shirt or a coffee mug to take home to their respective struggles, hopefully HRC will do its part to honor the legacy which it seeks to represent in this instance and provide that.”

But in interviews with the Bay Area Reporter, Milk confidante Cleve Jones and his former speechwriter Frank Robinson, as well as screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won an Academy Award for his biopic about Milk, lambasted HRC for using Milk’s legacy for its own financial gain.

“To start selling Harvey Milk cof-

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LGBT center prepares for cyber upgrade

by Matt Baume he San Francisco LGBT Community Center is preparing for a technological leap with an overhaul of its Internet infrastructure.

The revamp comes courtesy of a $100,000 gift from AT&T, which will be spread across three separate initiatives.

First, the center will create an updated “CyberHub” website that will provide many of the services currently offered on-site. That includes a calendar, list of resources, connections to social media, and mobile accessibility.

The current website hasn’t kept pace with evolving web technology, and is riddled with coding errors.

Missing metadata prevents integration with modern sites such as Facebook, and also lacks accommodations for disabled users.

The center will also use the money to install building-wide broadband. For the first time, Wi-Fi will be available throughout the facility, making it the only public access point in the neighborhood.

In addition, the center will update its existing public workstations, currently several years old. The new CyberCenter will be located on the ground floor, beneath the staircase.

Further adjustments to the building’s layout may come in 2011. “We

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Supervisor David Campos, left, joins AT&T California President Ken McNeely as he presents a check to LGBT Community Center Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe.

tion in January in the hopes of attracting a tenant for the fourth floor.

Rolfe estimated that a tenant could generate at least $100,000 for the center, but added that no final decisions have been made regarding changes to the layout.

Ken McNeely, president of AT&T California, presented a check to Rolfe at a ceremony attended by about 70 people last Tuesday. Before the building was even constructed, AT&T was one of its original sponsors.

Wells Fargo donation will help empower LGBT youth

by Matt Baume hanks to a gift of $20,000 from Wells Fargo, a national network of gay straight alliances with its headquarters in San Francisco can grow its anti-bullying initiatives well into 2011.

GSA Network launched its Make It Better project in October, spurred by a wave of teen suicides and a highprofile campaign by writer Dan Savage to reassure LGBT youth. The Make It Better project includes a website at www.MakeItBetterProject.org and a YouTube channel, both of which highlight actions that students and adults can take to counteract anti-LGBT harassment.

The purpose of the Make It Better project is to act as an anti-bullying clearinghouse, providing youth and supportive adults with productive next steps to make schools safer.

In addition to corporate support, it’s earned endorsements from nearly 100 organizations, including the Trevor Project, the Safe Schools Coalition, and People for the American Way. Wells Fargo presented a $20,000 check to GSA Network on Tuesday at KFOG’s Concert for Kids, a benefit concert for the Toys for Tots program.

The gift will allow GSA Network to augment its Make It Better website with a more comprehensive listing of resources and actions, and to fund additional outreach.

“What’s important about this funding is that we’re going to be able to keep Make It Better going for the next year,” Carolyn Laub, executive director of GSA Network, told the Bay Area Reporter. “We know that there’s a problem ... now we’ve got a clearinghouse of actions people can

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Matt Baume

need to maximize revenue, so we’re looking at bringing in another longterm tenant,” said Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe.

The center is still evaluating the best use of its available space, and will put out a request for informa-

“We’ve had a long relationship with the center,” said McNeely, who is openly gay. “We saw that this is a great need for the community, and it’s something that AT&T wanted to be a part of. We’re in the business of bringing people together, and that’s what the center is all about.”

Supervisor David Campos praised McNeely for leading AT&T’s continued investment in the center.

“I’m so proud to see a member of the LGBT community making a difference in the corporate world,” he said, referring to McNeely. “There will come a time when we’ll look back at this as the beginning of a renaissance.”

Rolfe said that she looked forward to the freedom that Wi-Fi would bring. “We really want to untether you from the lab and create a true hotspot,” she said.

McNeely anticipated a wide variety of users visiting the new facilities, particularly people who don’t have a computer or online access at home.

Combined with the center’s job and education counseling, users will be able to investigate employment and college opportunities, and then immediately apply online.

Spirits were high at the November 30 dedication ceremony.

“Don’t worry,” McNeely joked to his partner as he presented the $100,000 check, “even though it has my name on it, it’s not from our account.”▼

GSA Network officials, including Laura Wadden, left, Jackie Downing, Laura Valdez, board chair Ray Delgado, and Executive Director Carolyn Laub were pleased to accept a donation from Wells Fargo Tuesday.

take, and we can focus people on solutions.”

Among those solutions is www.WriteYourPrincipal.com, a site started by Berkeley activist Jacqui Shine and endorsed by the Make It Better project. Shine’s project organizes letter-writing campaigns to high-school principals, asking them to take action on LGBT bullying.

In the new year, Laub hopes to work with Shine to develop a set of tools to help people compose customized letters.

“The support from Wells Fargo has been really phenomenal,” said Laub. “They’ve embraced the idea of making their community safe, and making schools safe for kids.”

“We fully support the Make It Better Project,” said Maggie Mui, San Francisco market regional president at Wells Fargo, at the concert. “Education is very important to us.”

Headquartered in San Francisco,

Wells Fargo has a history of giving to LGBT causes.

The company is a founding sponsor of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and has had a score of 100 percent in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for several years.

Michael Kyle, a brokerage associate with Wells Fargo Advisors, is on GSA Network’s board of directors.

In addition to its work with Make It Better, GSA Network will host a Youth Empowerment Summit Saturday, December 11 at Horace Mann Middle School, 3351 23rd Street in San Francisco from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a youth dance from 5 to 8 p.m.

All students, educators, and community members are invited to attend workshops and discuss strategies for creating safer schools, and the event is free.

To pre-register for the summit, visit www.gsanetwork.org/yes.▼

Check out the BAY AREA REPORTER online at:

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9 December 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

COMMUNITY

NEWS

SF Pride board furloughs staff; co-chair resigns

by Seth Hemmelgarn he board of directors of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee has decided to furlough the organization’s administrative staff for December in order to save money. Additionally, a board cochair resigned this week.

Shawn Parker, who had been board co-chair along with Nikki Calma, said in a phone interview last week that December is the organization’s slowest month. He said four staff members have been furloughed.

Parker said this week that he resigned from the board December 6, because his workload as a computer consultant “has just gone through the roof.”

“I just couldn’t dedicate as much time as necessary” to Pride, he said.

The board voted unanimously on the furloughs Thursday night, December 2, around midnight, said Parker.

“The board’s been talking about this for several months,” said Parker. “...

There’s a situation where you have to balance is Pride in a position where we can afford to maintain a certain level of staff in a time of year when revenues are not coming in?”

Former Executive Director Amy Andre and ex-Board President Mikayla Connell both announced their resignations in October.

Andre, whose resignation was effective November 19, has refused to tell the B.A.R. exactly why she resigned. Connell had previously expressed a desire to quit, and her term as president expired in October. She had decided not to run again, and her resignation was effective immediately.

The two left the agency, which organizes one of the world’s largest Pride events, with a deficit estimated at up to $90,000, plus almost $50,000 more owed to beverage partners, who were out thousands of dollars from what they were expecting due to what has been described as a “misunderstanding.”

Parker didn’t know last week where the deficit currently stands. He also couldn’t provide an updated figure on how much is owed to beverage partners.

Parker said the board has put its search for a new executive director on hold. He noted the position is “rather costly.”

“Right now with what we owe, our fear is if we were to bring a new ED in, that the expense of the ED may undermine our ability to restore stable financial footing,” said Parker.

While Pride board members serve on a volunteer basis, Andre was earning $105,000 as executive director.

The San Francisco controller’s of-

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exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. The study showed that taking an antiretroviral could be a new tool in HIV prevention.

Panelists include researchers, study participants, and public health officials. The forum is the first chance since the study came out last month that community members, service providers, and researchers will have an opportunity to talk together and ask questions.

The forum will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street.▼

Rick Gerharter

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Shawn Parker

fice is doing an assessment of the organization. The city’s Grants for the Arts office awarded $58,400 to Pride this year.

Parker, who joined the board in 2009, said this wasn’t the first time Pride has furloughed staff. He didn’t know exactly how much in salaries would be saved through the furloughs.

Pride’s office, at 1841 Market Street, won’t be closed, said Parker. He said board members would fulfill normal staff duties such as getting the mail and responding to press requests.

Parker said the furloughs don’t affect the organization’s contractors.▼

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 December 2010

9 December 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 December 2010

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World Cup decision sucks fighting homophobia in soccer founded in memory of Fashanu, the only elite men’s professional soccer omewhere, Justin Fashanu is player to have come out. He endured turning over in his grave. harassment as a player before comHonoring traditional roots? mitting suicide in 1998.

Strategically expanding the sport?

“Both of these countries have exBuilding on existing foundations? tremely poor records on the issue of Playing where human rights are guarLGBT rights,” the campaign wrote on anteed for the many and not reserved its website. “Only last year, the mayor for the select few? Or, who knows – of Moscow deemed a gay pride maybe picking a spot where players march in the capital as ‘satanactually want to play? All ic,’ while participants in the could have been reasonmarch, including Peter able grounds for the Tatchell, were arrested. In Federation InternaQatar, homosexuality is still tionale de Football Asillegal with both lashes and imprissociation to use when deonment often the punishment.” ciding what it wanted to be No sooner were the bid doing in 2018 and 2022. awards announced than Instead, the internaBritish media outlets cried tional governing body and charged corrupJ OCK TALK foul for soccer chose Russia tion. The New York Times and Qatar for the reported that Jerome ValWorld Cup – a decision cke, FIFA general secretary, “was disthat grates on sensibilities like a stadimissive of fresh allegations from a um full of vuvuzelas. former employee of the Qatar bid The decision announced last committee, that deals of $1.5 million week was quickly denounced by the were agreed with two members of Justin Campaign, an organization the FIFA executive committee, and

by Roger Brigham

S

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Milk/HRC ▼

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fee mugs, Milk condoms, whatever merchandise ... for God’s sake no. It is a cheapening of Harvey’s image,” said Robinson, who lives nearby the store. “Harvey essentially gave his life for the gay community and for anybody to go in there and make money off of his image by selling cheap trinkets, I am sorry that is a no-no in my opinion.”

Jones said that anyone who knew Milk and what he stood for would never equate his brand of progressive, grassroots political activism with the Human Rights Campaign, long criticized as being more interested with having access to Democratic political leaders than pushing for LGBT rights.

“Most San Franciscans are well aware of the fact HRC represents the antitheses of Harvey’s own political philosophies and his strategies for organizing,” said Jones, who recently moved back to the Castro. “What it comes down to really is foot traffic. HRC’s got their little T-shirt shop up there on 19th Street and everyday they see the pilgrims coming from all over the world to see the store where Harvey worked and they want a piece of that. I am truly sickened by this.”

He is appealing to HRC to reconsider moving into the storefront, where some of Milk’s ashes are buried in the sidewalk out front and where the annual Milk/Moscone Memorial Candlelight March ends most years on the anniversary of their deaths. HRC officials said the mural inside the store will remain.

“That camera store, I spent so much time there in my youth. It was a place for networking and activism.

It was a place where young people arriving in San Francisco could find welcoming smiles and practical support,” said Jones. “If they wanted to do something with that space to truly honor Harvey’s memory, I think they should collaborate with LYRIC and local service providers to do some sort of drop-in for the kids.”

Black, who spent years researching Milk’s life and interviewing his friends and colleagues as he worked on the script for Milk, told the B.A.R. he is “heartbroken” and “furious” about the news.

“The reason why I was so inspired by Harvey’s story seven years ago when I started researching it was his political philosophy was far more proud and progressive than anything I found with HRC,” said Black.

“I grew up with HRC; I didn’t find it inspiring or effective. It seemed to embrace straight allies over gay people and was satisfied with crumbs of equality and seemed visionless.”

Justin Fashanu

that Qatar had discussed paying $78.4 million to the financially strapped Argentine soccer federation. The wailing and gnashing remains strongest in England. Its bid was humiliated. FIFA’s own technical inspection group had described it as among the most complete, yet it received just two votes – one from He added that to now see “the very organization I thought we needed to get away from buying their way into Harvey Milk’s legacy is a slap in the face.”

The announcement, said Black, has caused him to reverse his policy of not publicly attacking HRC and to openly call for Solmonese’s resignation. The two have not spoken, he said, since they publicly sparred during a panel at this year’s Sundance Film Festival about whether young people are effective activists.

“We have got to figure out how to use this to create some sort of positive change. If we can’t kick HRC out of Harvey’s camera store then we need to change HRC so it is an organization we are proud to have in there. That is going to take a lot of change in leadership at the very top.

I have never said that before, but now, it is clearer than ever,” said Black. “HRC is not the gay and lesbian activist organization we need to win right now. Joe Solmonese is clearly no Harvey Milk.”

The San Francisco chapter of the gay Log Cabin Republican group also criticized HRC’s plans for the retail space, saying in a statement that if HRC “took a page from Harvey’s book rather than relying on empty promises from elected officials that rarely materialize, then we would be much closer to full equality than we currently are.”

England’s own executive committee member.”

Qatar will be building a worldclass infrastructure suitable to host the 2022 World Cup: about $100 billion worth of train stations, hotels, and highways. News that Qatar, which has one of the world’s largest oil reserves, had won the bid sent the stock index of the Qatar Exchange rocketing up 7 percent.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia was breaching the European Convention on Human Rights when it banned Pride parades in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Marchers in those years were arrested by police or beaten by onlookers.

By contrast, same-sex unions are legal in both South Africa, which hosted this year’s World Cup; and Brazil, which will host in 2014.

“Despite their apparent commitment to humanitarian values and the promotion of global solidarity through football,” the Justin Campaign said, “FIFA is sending out a message loud and clear that the rights of the global LGBT community do not even register on their agen-

da. This institutional indifference to the rights of LGBT people is symptomatic of the challenge facing all of us who are fighting against homophobia in football and it is a stark and sad reminder of just how much work we still need to do.”

The beer-guzzling rowdies without which the World Cup would not be the World Cup is also severely restricted in Qatar, controlled through a monopoly, and drinking in public is a crime.

Qatar ranks as one of the wealthiest nation’s in the world, but apparently all the money to go around isn’t enough to pay folks a decent wage: the country’s wealthy have a dark history of importing foreign workers on deceptive contracts to dire working circumstance and the sex trafficking is surely to get a boost when the world comes calling.

Maybe the global spotlight and the political activism it will engender will call attention to the human rights violations and help motivate change. But don’t bet on it. In the meantime, for your World Cup preview amusement, check out www.qatarsuck.com.▼

Respectful of legacy

strongly support,” said Wiener. “It is a far better use than any other retail uses that I can think that could go in there.”

While Wiener said that he understands and respects that “there are diverse opinions about HRC and about the store,” he believes “that having an LGBT civil rights organization occupying Harvey Milk’s camera store is very positive for the community.”

Paul Boneberg, executive director of the historical society, said the archival group has yet to sign a deal with HRC in order to receive proceeds from the sale of Milk items. He said the conversations, so far, “have been very positive,” and he saw no reason why HRC should not occupy the site.

“I certainly think having a nonprofit in there rather than a retail space is a good thing. I am glad they are offering financial support to the museum,” he said.

Openly gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who previously served as the District 8 supervisor, said he couldn’t recall another business’s decision to move into the space causing as much controversy.

He advised HRC to listen to the feedback it is receiving about its plans.

“The landlord certainly has a right to rent it to any legal business. I think it would be wise actually for HRC to be sensitive to voices in the community,” said Leno. ▼

HRC spokesman Fred Sainz told the B.A.R. that the group’s store relocating into Milk’s shop is no different than the other retailers that leased the space. Most recently a high-end gift store had occupied it, and before that, it was home for many years to a store that sold bath and body products.

He added that the lobbying group intends to be respectful of Milk’s memory. He also acknowledged that HRC should have contacted Cleve and other acquaintances of Milk’s prior to the public announcement about leasing the space.

“There is no person in the world I respect more than Cleve Jones. We will just have to work harder to make sure he understands we are in fact going to honor Harvey’s legacy,” said Sainz, who said he tried to reach Jones and Black through the Courage Campaign. “Any good idea is always on the table with us. I think that we are more than happy to call Cleve and talk to him.”

District 8 Supervisor-elect Scott Wiener, a former HRC national board member, said he had advised the organization that he thought it was “a terrific idea” for it to take over the lease.

“The fact that the largest LGBT civil rights organization in the country will have a location in Harvey Milk’s camera shop is something I

Obituaries >> John Louis Michels Jr. October 26, 1951 – October 18, 2010

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John Louis Michels Jr., passed peacefully on Oct. 18, 2010, surrounded by family and friends. He died of a massive brain hemorrhage.

He would have been 59 on Oct. 26. John was born in Chicago to Jack and Jean Michels.

John was always a great thinker and planner and transformed the dusty little Oakville grocery in Napa into a food lover’s dream come true.

This venture was a springboard for a career in the food and wine world that extended to San Francisco and other cities.

John began a spiritual quest that led him to work tirelessly toward finding meaning beyond the material world. As a result he pursued a master’s degree in transpersonal psychology, which he received in June 2010, as well as a certificate in Integral Life Coaching. To John, becoming a life coach in order to help others along their spiritual path was a way of fulfilling his own life’s purpose.

He is survived by his partner,

Gabriel Moses; his children, Gianna and Jordan (Laura); his former wife, Pamela, and her husband, Greg Imbach; his mother, Jean Michels of St. Helena; his sister, Judy Winckler and her husband David; nephews, Chris, Robert (Liz), Steve (Jen), and Jeff (Becky); six grand-nieces and nephews; and his pup, Ripley.

John had an amazing group of friends who shared celebrations, trips abroad, and spirited conversations together. They will miss him terribly. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Human Rights Campaign.

Robert George Sparling September 18, 1959 - October 30, 2010

Robert was given the nickname “Squirrel” by Mr. Lee Ona many years ago. His fiery demeanor and open heart made him a much loved presence in San Francisco’s Gay Community for many years. Robert enjoyed helping people and he and Pushy Phyllis brought back the Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinner Program with the help of

their friends.

Robert enjoyed Lee Ona’s annual Reno bus trips and the yearly Golden Gate Guard runs. He supported the Imperial Court family and was Royal Baby in 2001. He loved his large family in Foster City and spent every holiday with them and his partner Steve Russell.

He enjoyed watching his nieces and nephews grow up and was proud of their achievements. Nicole, Bobby, Shawn, Kalah and George loved him in return.

Robert and Steve rescued a puppy Pit Shepherd mix named Blue from Rocket Dog Rescue two years ago. Blue slept with him, his partner and their Himalayan cat Alex at every opportunity.

He is survived by his brothers Michael, Donald and Ronald, his nieces and nephews, his Uncle Dawson and his partner Steve Russell.

There will be a celebration of life for Robert at the Gangway on Saturday January 15 from 3 to 6 p.m. A party will follow.

Contributions in Robert’s name may be made to Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners, PO Box 420631, San Francisco 94142 and Rocket Dog Rescue, PO Box 460826, San Francisco 94146.

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9 December 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

COMMUNITY

Prop 8 ▼

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southern California near the Mexico border has also sought standing to appeal Walker’s decision. As they have argued about the Prop 8 backer’s not having standing, the lawyers for the plaintiff couples have also argued that the clerk should not be allowed to appeal.

The appellate justices hearing the matter Monday, December 6 indicated they are willing to allow the lawsuit to proceed. Circuit Judge N. Randy Smith, appointed by President George W. Bush, signaled he was uncomfortable that dismissing the lawsuit for lack of standing would grant the governor and attorney general de-facto veto power over voter initiatives, a power that is not granted to them by the state’s constitution.

“The attorney general and governor with no ability to nullify acts of the people and by just not appealing they do it. My worry is by suggesting they won’t appeal is really saying they are not willing to enforce the proposition,” said Smith. “They gave up, don’t care and say it is over by not appealing.”

Senior Circuit Judge Michael Daly Hawkins, a Clinton appointee, suggested it would be prudent for the higher courts to address the legal issues in the case.

“Why not bring all these issues here so people know who can marry in California and clerks know who to issue marriage licenses to?” he asked.

Circuit Judge Stephen R. Reinhardt, a Carter appointee, also indicated he is unwilling to allow the suit to end based on the standing issue.

“If no officials will defend the initiative, it doesn’t seem to follow the system,” he said. “It is just tossing in the towel. The governor is not allowed to veto this measure.”

He suggested that the appellate panel ask the California Supreme Court for guidance on the standing issue before they rule.

“Wouldn’t it be reasonable to get a legal ruling on this issue then we can reach the merits,” he said.

However, the judges did not appear willing to grant the deputy clerk, Isabel Vargas, standing, and questioned why the clerk for Imperial County was not the one asking to be allowed to appeal the ruling.

“It is an issue that concerns some of us on the panel. Why is there not a single sentence in her affidavit that says she is acting on behalf of the clerk?” asked Hawkins. “The attorney general is the only person allowed to give authority to appear on behalf of the people. Did you ask him to designate you to appear?”

In terms of whether Prop 8 should be struck down or not, the judges seem to be leaning toward allowing Walker’s ruling to stand but have it only apply to the state of California instead of allowing same-sex marriages nationwide or in states covered by the sprawling 9th Circuit.

Because the state allowed samesex marriages to occur for four months, the judges questioned how voters could then take rights away from a certain group of people.

Hawkins pressed Charles Cooper, the lead attorney for the Prop 8 proponents, if voters in the Golden State could also vote to re-segregate schools, to which Cooper replied, “No, your honor.”

Cooper repeated the main argument he made at the trial level, that the voters acted in a “rational basis” when they approved Prop 8 because they wanted to ensure procreation would occur between married heterosexual couples.

Reinhardt, however, interjected that “the argument is a good one for preventing divorce” but didn’t see what it had to do with prohibiting same-sex marriage.

Smith also pressed Cooper what rational basis there was to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples in California when the state already

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CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL NOTICES SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS GENERAL INFORMATION EXTENSION OF TIME FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION The SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT (“District”), 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, California, has extended the proposal submission date for proposals to provide consulting services forBART'S Regional AntiTerrorism and Integrated Law Enforcement System,Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 79HP-120, with proposals due by 2:00 PM local time, Tuesday, January 11, 2011.

Proposers may request a copy of the Request for Proposals (electronic or hard copy) by directing an email to Gary Leong, Contract Administrator, email address: Gary.Leong@bart.gov.

The email request shall include the following information: company name, address, city, telephone number, fax number and designate a contact person and their email address. The email request for the RFP will automatically place each Proposer on a registry to receive any addendum(s) and other document(s) that may be issued under the RFP. Any addendum(s) or other document(s) that may be issued under the RFP will be transmitted to all persons who have requested the RFP through the Contract Administrator in a manner that provides verification of receipt.

Firms that have received the RFP from sources other than directly from the Contract Administrator are required to register with the Contract Administrator, as described above, for their proposals to be considered responsive. Proposals received from firms that did not register with the Contract Administrator, as described above, to receive the official RFP and other documents, may be considered non-responsive. The District will not accept proposals that are submitted by email or by facsimile.

For any additional information regarding this project, please call the District's Contract Administrator, Gary Leong, (510) 287-4717.

Dated at Oakland, California this 2nd day of December 2010.

Jacqueline R. Edwards Kenneth A. Duron, District Secretary San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District 12/9/10 • CNS-2000617# BAY AREA REPORTER

STATEMENT FILE A-033158200

STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE# CNC-10-547304

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

In the matter of the application of DONALD HAROLD DIAMOND for change of name. The application of DONALD HAROLD DIAMOND for change of name having been filed in Court, and it appearing from said application that DONALD HAROLD DIAMOND filed an application proposing that his/her name be changed to JACOB ELIJAH DIAMOND. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Room 218 on the 18th of January, 2010 at 9:00 am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

The following person(s) is/are doing business as 624 BRODERICK TIC, 620 1/2 Broderick Street,San Francisco, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an unicorporated association other than a partnership, signed Marina Coleridge. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/05/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/19/10.

41 ON-SALE BEER AND WINE EATING PLACE DEC.9, 2010

STATEMENT FILE A-033157200

STATEMENT FILE A-033137400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as 1.FABRIX, 2.FABRIC FACTORY OUTLET, 101 Clement Street,San Francisco, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Bruce C. Taylor. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/03/02.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/18/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DCP, 2169 15th Street,#B, San Francisco, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, signed David Coddington. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/10/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/10/10.

NOV. 24,DEC. 2,9,16, 2010

NOV. 18,24,DEC. 2,9, 2010

STATEMENT FILE A-033152700

STATEMENT FILE A-033113900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BERENDT PROPERTIES 2443 Fillmore Street,#272,San Francisco, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Craig Berendt. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/17/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/17/10.

NOV. 18,24,DEC. 2,9, 2010

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BAY APPLIANCE REPAIR, 257 N. Lake Merced Hill, San Francisco, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Yevgeny Elin. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/28/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 10/29/10.

NOV. 24,DEC. 2,9,16, 2010

STATEMENT FILE A-033144300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as FOULADI PROJECTS, One Otis Street,San Francisco, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Alexandra Holly Fouladi. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/15/10.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are : YBL HOSPITALITY PARTNERS, LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at: 20 Yerba Buena Ln., San Francisco, CA 94103-3183. Type of license applied for:

NOV. 18,24,DEC. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-033129600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as 1.LITTLE BAT PHOTOGRAPHY 2.PRETTY FUN THINGS, 1509 25th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Jillian S. West. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/08/10.

41 ON-SALE BEER AND WINE EATING PLACE DEC. 9,16,23, 2010

To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are : DAUNELL AND HIGGINS,LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at: 2323 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114-1617. Type of license applied for:

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as MILO LOUNGE SF, 1706 Post Street,San Francisco, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Ken Chen. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/22/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/22/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BARK SF, 1405 Franklin Street,#307,San Francisco, CA 94109.

This business is conducted by an individual, signed Julia Carcich. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 12/01/10.

DEC. 2,9,16,23, 2010

DEC. 9,16,23,30, 2010

STATEMENT FILE A-033119600

STATEMENT FILE A-033148000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as JGA GARDEN DESIGNS, 49 Lexington Street,San Francisco, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, signed John Alexander. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/02/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/02/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as FRONTLINES NEWSPAPER, 3311 Mission Street, Suite 25, San Francisco, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Chris Finn.

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/11/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/01/10.

DEC. 2,9,16,23, 2010

DEC. 9,16,23,30, 2010

STATEMENT FILE A-033145300

STATEMENT FILE A-033168400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SPECIMEN CLOUD, One Sutter Street,Suite 600,San Francisco, CA 94104. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Jeremy Alberga. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/15/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HAYES VALLEY PET CARE, 55 Page Street, #625, San Francisco, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Mark A. Morris. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco,CA on 11/24/10.

DEC. 2,9,16,23, 2010

DEC. 9,16,23,30, 2010

STATEMENT FILE A-033156100

STATEMENT FILE A-033175200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ALLPOINTE INSURANCE SERVICES,690 Pennsylvania Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Bradley Vaccaro. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/15/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/18/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as REAL LIFE AUTHOR/PUBLISHING, 371 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Donald D. Conely. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco,CA on 12/01/10.

DEC. 2,9,16,23, 2010

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The following persons have abandoned the use of the ficticious business name known as BEAN ISLAND,101 4th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. This business was conducted by a general partnership, signed Tracee Raptis. The ficticious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/30/09.

NOV. 24,DEC. 2,9,16, 2010

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STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #A-0319637-00

The following person(s) is/are doing business as UCSH MEDICAL, 2010 Judah Street,San Francisco, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Sean Hsieh. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/22/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 11/22/10.

To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are : MAJIN ENTERPRISES INC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street,Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at: 1560 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115-3516. Type of license applied for:

NOV. 24,DEC. 2,9,16, 2010

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as TARAVAL PIZZA, 1115 Taraval Street, San Francisco, CA 94116.

This business is conducted by an individual, signed Sameer Beru. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco,CA on 12/02/10.

DEC. 9,16,23,30, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-033151800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as BRANDON HAIR STUDIO, 660 Market Street,#202, San Francisco, CA 94104. This businees is conducted by a corporation, signed Mario Ibarra. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/11/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco,CA on 11/16/10.

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STATEMENT FILE A-033188900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as TRAVELING CAMEL PUBLICATIONS, 335 Berry Street, Suite 301, San Francisco, CA 94158. This businees is conducted by an individual, signed Victoria Northridge. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/18/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco,CA on 12/06/10.

DEC. 9,16,23,30, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-033147600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as URBAN OM, 1661 Tennessee Street, #3E, San Francisco, CA 94107.

This businees is conducted by an individual, signed H.R. Baker. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/30/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco,CA on 11/15/10.

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This businees is conducted by an individual, signed Satoshi Okano. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/06/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco,CA on 12/06/10.

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This businees is conducted by a corporation, signed Vinal Patel. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/16/10.

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DEC. 9,16,23,30, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-033173600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as D.S. SERVICES, 354 22nd Avenue, #2,San Francisco, CA 94121.

This businees is conducted by an individual, signed David Schneider. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/29/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco,CA on 11/3010.

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COMMUNITY

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page 15

grants them nearly all the rights given to married couples.

“What is the rational basis then if homosexual couples have (the rights) and heterosexual couples have the word” marriage? he asked.

Cooper told the panel that under California’s system, “It is the people themselves who retain sovereign political power. They are free to disagree with that court opinion and overturn it, that is what they did with Prop 8.”

At one point in the proceedings, Reinhardt asked Theodore Olson, an attorney for the plaintiff couples, “how far do we have to go” with their ruling, wondering aloud if they should issue a

Lawmakers ▼

page 1

LeSar are “fortunate” to be recognized as a couple.

After being sworn in, Perez told those present that “getting Californian’s back to work and putting California’s fiscal house back in order” are among his goals.

Perez said he’s had “several productive conversations” with Governor-elect Jerry Brown.

Committee assignments In the Senate, Leno has become the chair of the budget and fiscal review committee.

In a phone interview, Leno said Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts are “as blunt and thoughtless an instrument today as when he proposed them this past year.” He said legislators had already rejected the proposals after the governor introduced them the first time.

“I think that as serious as the crisis before us may be, that there are exciting possibilities [with] our new

Brown ▼

page 1

On Monday, December 6, Schwarzenegger called a special session of the Legislature to deal with some of the $25.4 billion deficit that’s projected through the next 18 months.

The 2010-11 budget plan provides an additional $55 million in general fund support for the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program compared to previous years. The legislative budget package augmented ADAP by $7.6 million in order to maintain a prudent reserve in the program, but the governor vetoed that augmentation.

Legislators had also proposed restoring $52 million for HIV/AIDS care and prevention this year that Schwarzenegger vetoed in 2009, but the governor rejected that proposal.

In an open letter to Brown released shortly after last month’s election, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation acknowledged the state’s financial trouble, but said, “[I]t is essential you not turn your back on our state’s most vulnerable citizens, including those living with or at risk for HIV.” According to SFAF, more than 160,000 Californians are living with HIV or AIDS, and another 7,000 are newly infected each year.

“This growing and complex epidemic demands that state leaders respond with substantial funding, appropriate legislation, and administrative action to treat and prevent what remains a devastating disease,” the letter said, calling on Brown to make the changes happen, and offering its help.

The foundation said that ADAP assists more than 37,000 people in the state, and a reduction in ADAP services would mean “advanced HIV

The United States Supreme Court has determined that intimate sexual conduct between same-sex couples is constitutionally protected.”

– Theodore Olson

governor, and it’s a very important position so I’m honored to be offered it” by Senate President pro tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), said Leno.

He said so far, he and Brown have had “some brief conversations.”

Asked about how much people should worry about Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts, Leno indicated he shares sentiments by Steinberg that “given it’s the incoming governor and the newly installed Legislature which will be living with the consequence of the decisions we make, there’s no need to deal with the outgoing governor.”

He also said it’s important to give new legislators “a couple weeks of information gathering before they make their decisions,” especially “given the significance of the decisions we’ll be making.”

Perez’s office announced Tuesday that Ammiano will again chair the public safety committee, and that Ammiano’s also agreed to serve as chair of the select committee on workforce development within the developmentally disabled community.

disease, increased co-morbidities, and even premature death for Californians.”

The foundation also noted that with national health care reform, “Insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny coverage for HIV-positive people.”

Through the expansion of MediCal, which is designed for low-income people, more people living with HIV/AIDS will soon have access to comprehensive health coverage.

The foundation estimates that about 70 percent of uninsured Californians living with HIV/AIDS who currently access Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act services will be eligible for Medi-Cal starting in 2014, according to Courtney MulhernPearson, SFAF’s director of state and local affairs.

The foundation’s letter says “a considerable amount of work must happen to integrate [Ryan White] into the larger health system,” and it encourages Brown’s administration “to work closely with the HIV/AIDS community to carry out a smooth transition.”

Mulhern-Pearson explained in an interview that issues around the transition include ensuring that clinics funded by Ryan White have proper training and infrastructure in place to bill insurance.

She said maintaining adequate ADAP funding would remain the foundation’s top budget priority.

“We always remain hopeful,” she said, about money being restored for HIV prevention and other efforts, “but we also have to be realistic, given that the projected deficit number keeps getting bigger.”

Legislators weigh in Openly gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) also spoke of the state’s tough economic situation, but he expressed hope, too.

In an interview shortly after

Jane Philomen Cleland

Prop 8

NEWS

Plaintiffs’ attorney Theodore Olson talks to reporters following Monday’s hearing.

Legislation introduced Ammiano introduced Assembly Bill 9 on Monday. The bill, sponsored by Superintendent of Public Instruction-elect Tom Torlakson and Equality California, would require school employees to intervene when they see bullying and report it to the school principal and notify the parents of both the bully and the victim. It would further encourage school districts to establish anti-bullying policies.

Ammiano said he would also try to get an LGBT prisoner safety bill signed by the new governor.

Schwarzenegger twice vetoed such legislation from Ammiano.

As far as LGBT-related legislation, Leno said he’s working with EQCA on an education-related item and indicated it would involve bullying, but he declined to provide details.

In a response to an e-mailed question about legislation, EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors wrote the group is “working with several legislators on bills and will [make announcements] in partnership

Brown’s election in November, Leno said, “The state has no additional revenues as a result of Jerry Brown’s election, but I am certain that we will have a more thoughtful and concerned governor in the coming year.” He said at the time that he hadn’t yet met with Brown, but he said HIV/AIDS funding would be among the issues he would discuss with the governor-elect.

Openly gay Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) is also optimistic things will be better with Brown leading the state.

“Nothing is ever a slam dunk here, but there’s a lot more promise” with Brown, he said.

“I think he’s going to be very sympathetic,” said Ammiano. He said Assembly Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles), another out legislator, has HIV/AIDS funding “at the top of his agenda,” and since Perez will deal directly with Brown, “I think we have an in.”

Ammiano acknowledged the state’s financial difficulties, but said, “How we prioritize will change, and I think that’s a good sign” for AIDS funding. He also expressed confidence that although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) will become minority leader in Congress when Republicans take over next month, she will still be able to advocate strongly for HIV/AIDS funding.

Local advocates watchful Dana Van Gorder, executive director of Project Inform, said he still wants to see at least a “substantial portion” of the $52 million for care and prevention restored. He said although ADAP is fully funded through June 2011, he would be keeping an eye on that funding, too.

“We need to watch the program carefully during the course of the year and make sure it doesn’t need any additional dollars,” said Van Gorder. “... Obviously, the economy

with the individual legislators over the next two months.“ “We are working on administrative reforms and regulations in many areas including LGBT health care and insurance, LGBT prisoner safety, and safe schools,” he added, declining to provide more details.

EQCA changes As reported online last Friday, Kors has announced his resignation from EQCA, which supported all of the new LGBT lawmakers sworn in Monday. His resignation is effective March 31.

Leno said he has “at least one or two people in mind” as candidates to lead EQCA, but he declined to share their names. He also said there are “many talented people in our community,” and although Kors “leaves enormous shoes to fill, I am confident Equality California will have a bright future.”

Ammiano, who like Leno has worked closely with EQCA on legislation, said, “I don’t have a clue” about candidates to replace Kors.

He said EQCA’s next executive di-

continues to suffer and people continue to lose jobs,” which has been largely responsible for the growth of the program as newly unemployed people seek assistance.

This week, Schwarzenegger proposed almost $10 billion in cuts and other changes in an attempt to reduce the $25.4 billion deficit. The proposals include millions of dollars in cuts to Medi-Cal, including limiting prescriptions, except life-saving drugs. That proposal would be effective July 1.

After the governor’s announcement, Van Gorder said he and others have gone through the governor’s proposal, “and it does not take any whacks at ADAP.” However, he said they would take a closer look at the Medi-Cal cuts.

Van Gorder pointed out that Brown’s most recently been the state’s attorney general, so he and his staffers will “need to come up to current speed on what thinking there is about a better response to the epidemic.”

He said he’s spoken briefly with Brown a couple of times, and Brown was “clearly supportive and curious” about the state of HIV/AIDS. Van Gorder also said, “We know that for the most part, we work with the governor’s staff and his office of AIDS,” and he said he’s sure Brown will have “a great health staff.”

There doesn’t appear to be much in Brown’s history to indicate exactly how strong he’ll be on HIV/AIDS issues.

This will be Brown’s third term as governor. His first two terms were 1975-1983, ending in the earliest years of the AIDS epidemic. He’s also served as Oakland’s mayor, but there doesn’t appear to be much of a record there, either.

So far, Brown isn’t saying too much publicly about his plans on HIV/AIDS funding.

Evan Westrup, a spokesman for

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broad or narrow decision in the case.

While Olson acknowledged they could tailor the ruling to apply only to California, he added that there is legal reasoning for a broader decision.

“The United States Supreme Court has determined that intimate sexual conduct between same-sex couples is constitutionally protected. How can marriage rights be taken away when a person is engaged in a constitutionally protected activity?” he asked. “That right can not be taken away from individuals in this state. It is discrimination on the basis of sex and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.”

The appellate panel is under no deadline to issue its ruling. No matter how it decides, the case is expected to be appealed to the United States Supreme Court.▼

rector would need to be “someone who’s familiar with Sacramento,” but he pointed out the job also involves fundraising.

Ammiano said his hope is “the priority would be outreaching to minority communities.”

Kors was on the executive committee of the unsuccessful campaign against Prop 8. The No on 8 campaign was widely criticized for virtually ignoring people of color.

Gordon said Monday that Kors had done “an outstanding job,” but “the need for Equality California doesn’t diminish as we continue to fight for our rights.” He said he didn’t have any thoughts on who should replace Kors.

Lara, who is gay and Latino, said Kors had done “a great job,” and he was “sad to see him go.” He didn’t have any names in mind of who would be a good replacement for Kors, but he hopes the group’s next executive director talks to people “from all walks of life,” and a better job needs to be done reaching out to communities of color.▼

Brown, responded to an e-mailed interview request in November by writing, “It is premature at this early stage of the transition for the Governor-elect or any member of his transition team to discuss future funding or policy priorities.”

But in an interview with the Advocate posted on the LGBT newsmagazine’s website September 3, Brown did have a few things to say on HIV/AIDS. When asked about how he’d address HIV funding, Brown said, “We’re $19 billion in the hole,” apparently referring to the projected deficit for 2011-12. He noted that “people affected by HIV” are one group to consider, along with people in nursing homes, schools, and others. “…[I]t’s a tough decision,” said Brown. “And I’ll do it in the most compassionate, thoughtful way that I can as I handle the budget.”

The Advocate interview caught the attention of Brian Basinger, director of AIDS Housing Alliance/San Francisco.

“We need to make sure we’re keeping the pressure on him to make sure HIV funding remains a top priority in his administration,” including making housing needs a priority.

“If you don’t have a home, nothing else matters,” he said.

Housing is one area where funding for people living with HIV/AIDS has helped Jason Skerik, who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1997.

Skerik, 40, lives in San Rafael. He said funding through sources such as Ryan White have helped him with rent and other needs, and he’s also been on ADAP before. He said without help, “I would have surely died.”

He wants to see Brown keep the services healthy. “That’s what I voted for him for, is to take care of those things important to me,” said Skerik.▼

9 December 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

Matt Baume

•

Kenneth Wingard, owner of the Castro store of the same name, is ready for holiday shoppers.

Castro, Valencia corridors offer surprising gifts hen your holiday gift wanderings take you through the Castro and Valencia corridors, keep your eyes peeled for something strange, something stylish, and something that’s a mix of the two.

These two adjoining neighborhoods specialize in the unique, and they do it with flair.

You couldn’t ask for a more eclectic blend of perusal and pizzazz than the pop-up Goodwill (2278 Market Street) that just opened near Noe, in the former Tower space. The topselling item this year: Santa pimp cups ($5). Yes, for real. An ostentatious red chalice with “SANTA” rhinestoned across the front, it’s perfect for a mixed drink that means business.

The store has plenty of general holiday decor as well, from garlands to stockings. Grab a frumpy sweater while you can, because they’re flying off the rack, and accessorize your furry friends with a selection of brand-new holiday-themed pet clothes.

For those of us whose shopping lists are dominated by animals, Best in Show (545 Castro Street) has plenty of options. There are squeaky toys of all shapes and sizes, from an abominable snowman to a Santa-hatted hedgehog to a gingerbread house with compartments that drive terriers nuts. If you’re visiting a pet guardian for a holiday party, bring along a dog-friendly winter-decorated cookie, and consider a paw-shaped stocking to hang by the mantle.

You will probably also need to spend a little money on humans.

Scarves are the big gift right now at Kenneth Wingard (2319 Market), as stripey as possible. The store’s also known for its expertly-assembled collection of graphic T-shirts ($29), and this year they have a set of irregularly-bottomed whisky glasses that will save you the trouble of doing your own wobbling.

Scarves are also a hit at Citizen (536 Castro), along with fingerless gloves, warm jackets, and ear-flappy hats. Their seasonal specialty is cozy, warm flannel pajamas – are you detecting a trend? They also carry suspenders.

But there’s more to the season than buying gifts – there’s also crafting and decorating. To satisfy your inner Martha Stewart, cruise over to the annex at Cliff ’s Variety (479 Castro) for the Castro’s biggest selection of ribbons, along with flashy fabrics, thread, and should you need

W

them, wigs. Seasonal placemats and napkins have been big this year, as well as delicate glass ornaments.

For a more floral approach, poke your head into Ixia (2331 Market).

Their organically-grown, additivefree arrangements of flora are sure to be more healthy and lush than the mass-produced bouquets in the supermarket, and the designers have a real artist’s touch. Popular species this year include sand-blasted manzanita branches, powdery-white lichens, and persimmons. Bouquets start at $65; orchids are $100.

Short on space? Head over to

Paxton Gate (824 Valencia Street) for this year’s “it” gift, terrariums.

You can pick up all-inclusive kits ranging from $50 to $150, featuring everything you need to sprout a verdant miniature world under glass.

“We’re all about plant life this year,” said manager Rob Jolin, pointing out some bromeliads anchored in sculptural wood blocks and an array of bold orchids.

Down the street, Paxton Gate Kids specializes in handcrafted Earth-friendly toys that occasionally boast a devious twist. Stuffed ani-

page 20

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by Matt Baume

www.bartabsf.com

19

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 December 2010

•

Matt Baume

20

Gifts ▼

page 19

mal heads on wall-mounted plaques, old-fashioned rope swings ($50), wooden ABC blocks with cart ($58), and edible gardens are a direct route to favorite gay aunt or uncle.

Curiosity Shoppe (855 Valencia) always harbors plenty of surprises, with an always-changing inventory of peculiar crafts. Owner Derek Fagerstrom showed off a wallet dis-

guised as a taco ($6), a pepper mill disguised as a Rubik’s Cube, and a USB stick disguised as a Lego ($32).

“We have all kinds of crazy stuff,” he said.

The selection gets weirder over at 826 Valencia, a.k.a. the Pirate Store.

Where else can you stock up on eye patches, mermaid bait or repellent, blackbeard beard dye, and oh-soclever literature that makes you laugh out loud to make sure everyone around you knows that you got the joke? Popular books in stock include

Matt Baume

Best in Show’s Joe Graham has the perfect stocking stuffer for the pet on your list.

Frost the cat is waiting for customers to peruse books at Borderlands on Valencia Street.

McSweeney’s of course, as well as Judd Apatow’s Things I Found Funny and Lemony Snicket’s The Latke Who Wouldn’t Stop Screaming. And who wouldn’t delight to awake on Christmas morn with a glass eye in their stocking?

For more bookish tendencies, pop over to Borderlands (866 Valencia) and say hi to the nearlyhairless cat. The store’s a treasure-trove for nerds of all shapes and sizes, and friendly guides like Jude Feldman will be happy to show you their favorite picks. Keep an eye out for Surface Detail, an operatic novel set in space, featuring sex slaves and artificial intelligence.

The new anthology Steampunk 2:

Reloaded is sure to have something for everyone, and Catherine Valete’s The Habitation of the Blessed, concerns a man searching for a utopia

coats, hats, mittens, dresses, and sunglasses. Have you been to Therapy (the store)? The boutique for ladies and gents at 545 Valencia Street is a ways north of the heaviest Valencia foot-traffic, but it’s worth the trip. Popular stocking stuffers include candles with printed letters, cute Jonathan Adler items, and crafty birdcalls.

– Derek Fagerstrom Stop in on your birthday for 10 percent off.

Owner, Curiosity Shoppe This year, it’s easy to gather a collection of unforgettable gifts by circling from the Castro to Market to Valendescribed by books that grow on cia and then back again. Whether it’s trees who married a woman whose a trendy ensemble or a quirky knickface is in her chest. You know, that knack, holiday finds are just steps old story. away.▼ And then there’s shoes. And also

We have all kinds of crazy stuff!”

Books for holiday giving

Diet Ginger tale

Cry me a memoir

‘Grant Wood: A Life,’ ‘Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia,’ and more.

‘Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical’ in SJ.

Portia De Rossi’s ‘Unbearable Lightness,’ Ricky Martin’s ‘Me.’

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

BAYAREAREPORTER

Vol. 40 . No. 49 . 9 December 2010

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D DON WE NOW OUR GAY APPAREL

Audience members get into the act at a previous Dance-Along Nutcracker.

~ by Heidi Beeler ~ ou know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer, but Vixen? If you wanna get a load of Vixen, Twilight Vixen Revue will be hoofin’ their holiday packages this Saturday in company with Cheer San Francisco and DJ christopher b at the Gay-la! performance of the 2010 DanceAlong Nutcracker: At Sea! The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band is floating a new, grown-ups-only format for its Dance-Along Nutcracker gala, subtitled “an evening of naughty nauticals,” this year. Set

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on a cruise ship, the show is like a cross between a sun-drenched gay/lesbian cruise and the sort of flapper jazz, burlesque and classical music Noel Coward might have heard onboard the ocean liners of his day.

So what exactly is a Dance-Along Nutcracker?

It’s the annual holiday bash of the SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the show combines all the elements of a reality-show talent search, costume pageant, variety show and Russian ballet.

As the Freedom Band cranks up Nutcracker faves like “Waltz of the Flowers” and “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” the audience straps on tutus and storms the dance floor. Imagine a ballerina’s mosh-pit with tinsel wands and street shoes, and you’ve got the right idea.

Only the Suite portion of Tchaikovsky’s ballet (the Fantasia -famous fairyland dances from the second act, after the Rat King’s been walloped) has been arranged for wind ensemble for the Freedom Band to play. That’s around 45 minutes of music, only enough for half a show.

So each year, Artistic Director and Ship’s Captain Jadine Louie rounds out the program with complementary music on a theme.

For this year’s At Sea show, it’s adventures on the high seas. Guest artists sing and dance between dance-along numbers to give the audience a chance to catch its breath, and to see a little polished spectacle in-between.

The Dance-Along is always about getting the audience into the act and onto the dance floor, and the entertainment at the Gay-la! reception is no exception. The reception theme is Retro Dance Party, a la an Olivia/Atlantis poolside mixer. DJ christopher b is putting together a mix of dance music from a variety of eras.

Cheer San Francisco – the ship’s cabana boys

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Dance-Along Nutcracker ‘At Sea!’ sets sail

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SEASON’S HOMOEROTIC GREETINGS ~ by John F. Karr ~

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hugs, plus some forthright sex shots. Kissed is pretty much skewed toward the butch, but there’s a fair share of playful twinks. Well-known photographers – Roffman, Palmer, Bianchi and more – are plentifully represented. Magnus Hastings provides the best examples of commercial photography; his sharply etched images have presence. I enjoyed the sensuality of Fred Goudon (that’s his shot on the cover), and the manipulated images of Ed Freeman. And I was pleased to meet many artists I hadn’t known: Toby Morris’ tenderness in extreme close-ups; Mark Grantham’s fabulous kiss followed by a fabulous hard-on; Jay Jorgenson’s serenity; Manopoly’s quiet, close-up thrill of a tongue’s just-grazing touch of a lover’s lips. Wilson Models’ stagy, simulated emotion was one of the few, if not only, disappointing contributions. Still, Kissed is a likable collection.

•••SECOND

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ave yourself an erotic little Christmas. Not neurotic, not erratic. But erotic. Think of what a gift eroticism is, and give it to yourself, or a friend. Think of a cozy love seat in front of the crackling fire, the two of you paging through one of three new photo books. Those chestnuts roasting on the open fire aren’t the only nuts that are gonna pop tonight.

The books come from prolific art-photo publisher Bruno Gmunder, in a format that keeps the pricey genre somewhat less expensive while still providing handsomely designed and glossily printed hardbound books of a decent size for photo viewing.

It’s unfortunate that both Kissed: Sensuality in Men’s Art ($47.99) and Jewels: Adoration of the Penis ($52.99) substitute any discussion of the contributing photographers’ work with prefaces of disposable press-release babble. Thankfully, they’re brief, although Kissed wastes another nine pages for a porno short story.

What’s really great is that both of the fat, 260-page books have indexes that provide the artists’ website address, contact information, and even date of birth.

Forty-eight photographers capture men kissing in Kissed.

Though the majority of the photos are of kisses, there are many

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OF

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SECTIONS•••

Steven Klein, C-in2.com

Rich Stadtmiller

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Underwear aesthetics and marketing from Brief Encounters.

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OUT

THERE

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was “turning back the clock to culture wars I had thought, in this day and age, in 2010, we were well beo sooner had we returned yond, but obviously we’re not.” from our visit to the NationThe more things change, the moal Portrait Gallery in Washrons remain the same. It’s still a conington, DC, where we saw Hide/Seek: stant struggle to rescue LGBT artists Difference and Desire in American from decades of invisibility, Portraiture, an exhibition of and in that spirit we present gay and lesbian portraits this photo of author R. in American art, than Tripp Evans (left) and the show was feeding his partner Ed Cabral the news cycle. The taken in front of the NPG removed the house that inspired artist David Wojnarowicz Grant Wood’s iconic 1930 video A Fire in My Belly painting “American Gothic.” from the show when In his new biography the Catholic League Grant Wood: A Life and opportunistic con(Knopf), Evans argues O UT T HERE servatives said it was that Wood was a closetoffensive to Christians. ed homosexual, an imIn the video, a poetic meditation on portant side of his life and work that the suffering of an AIDS patient, has long been suppressed.

Wojnarowicz’s imagery includes a In a similar vein is the project bescene of ants crawling on a crucifix. hind Particular Voices: Portraits of In defiance, the video is being Gay and Lesbian Jewish Writers, an screened 24 hours a day at the DC exhibit of work by American phoart gallery Transformer, whose artistographer Robert Giard tic director Victoria Reis told The (1939–2002) on show Dec. 15-Feb. New York Times that the censorship

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28, 2011, in the Katz Snyder Gallery in the JCCSF. Let’s go to the press materials.

“Giard was a portrait, landscape, and figure photographer who for two decades chronicled a broad survey of contemporary American gay and lesbian literary figures. In 1985, after seeing a performance of Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart dealing with the crisis of AIDS in the gay community, Giard was moved by a sense of urgency. He decided to put his talents as a photographer to use for other gay men and lesbians ‘by recording something of note about our experience, our history, and our culture.’ Giard set about documenting in straightforward, unadorned, yet sometimes witty and playful portraits, a wide survey of significant literary figures, as well as brash new writers on the scene.

“The exhibition consists of selected portraits from his twodecade-long project photographing over 600 gay and lesbian writers, including Allen Ginsberg, Tony Kushner, Adrienne Rich and many others. The Katz Snyder Gallery is open during all regular JCCSF hours, 3200 California St.” More info is at www.jccsf.org/arts.

Holiday vibes Every year at the B.A.R. holiday party, we turn into a Sondheim queen and sing one of his pithiest lyrics: “We got through all of last year, and we’re still here!” OK, we admit it, we’re an S. queen for the rest of the year, too. But it’s always great to celebrate another year down with the gifted writers, photographers, editors, drivers and diverse staff of the paper, as we did last week with dinner and drinks at the elegant Palio d’Asti restaurant in downtown SF. Among other luminaries, we were delighted to chat up some celeb guests: Drummer mag founding SF editor-in-chief Dr. Jack Fritscher, iconic SF photographer Dan Nicoletta, and indefatigable broadcast reporter Jan Wahl.

Look for the fab staff photo in our upcoming holiday issue. Posing for it always takes Out There back to our days of summer camp photos.

“Shortest go in the front!”

Web content This week, find Victoria A. Brownworth’s Lavender Tube column online at www.ebar.com

Grant Wood: A Life author R. Tripp Evans (left) and his partner Ed Cabral pose in their own private American Gothic.

Yep, it was a busy-bee week for your pollinating pal OT, as the very night before, we’d attended opening night of the touring show Shrek the Musical at the Orpheum Theatre.

Our choice had been either Shrek the Musical or Dreck the Cabaret, across town. We’ve enjoyed neither the William Steig children’s book nor the series of animated movies the musical is based on, so we came fresh to the material. Expecting Disneyfied princesses and dragons, we were happy to meet instead the cast of fractured fairy-tale characters, and a hero and heroine who are not just another pretty couple. If the musical’s motto is summed up in the title of its anthem “Let Your Freak Flag Fly,” that’s a concept that goes over well in our little fairytale village.

Upwards w/the arts Congratulations go out to the recipients of the San Francisco Ballet School’s Bob Ross Scholarship, Keith White Memorial Scholarship and Eric Hellman Memorial Scholarship for the 2010-11 school year.

Bob Ross Scholarship recipient Jeanette Kakareka, 17, is from Harleysville, PA. Keith White Memorial Scholarship recipient is Géraud Wielick, 19, from Liege, Belgium.

Eric Hellman Memorial Scholarship recipient is Brett Fukuda, 17, from Washington, DC. Students who receive support from these funds typically go on to greater stardom in the dance world.

Film tip: The prolific director Mike Leigh returns with Another Year, another slice of British domestic life, like Secrets and Lies and Life is Sweet, at which he excels. Another Year, which focuses on a happily wed couple and the strays caught up in their web, will be screened for free at 11 a.m. Sat., Dec. 18 at the Vogue Theater, Sacramento St. in SF. Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen play the charmed husband and wife, and Lesley Manville appears as a lonely work colleague. All are regulars in Leigh’s films. For free tickets, e-mail voguersvp@gmail.com with Year and your name in the subject line, and say how many tickets you want (up to two). You will receive an email confirmation.

And for vintage gossip fans, we conclude with some Merce Cunningham/John Cage lore from a dance historian who was there with the greats, back in the day. “Just for dessert, Steve Paxton [a Cunningham company dancer, who went on to invent contact improv] had five pieces of pie. In a pastry shop in Paris, we ran into Tanaquil LeClerq [Mrs. George Balanchine] and Betty Nichols. Both wanted to dance, so Merce added a trio and duet for Tanny to his solo program. Afterwards, Alice B. Toklas said, ‘It was savage.’

“I think it was Remy [Charlip] who got the idea to advertise the company as America’s Best Fed Dance Company.” Now there’s a money idea!▼

Estate of Robert Giard, courtesy Stephen Bulger Gallery

by Roberto Friedman

R. Tripp Evans, courtesy Knopf

Gays in an American Gothic

Author Stan Leventhal (1987), photographed by Robert Giard.

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BOOKS

I am what I am

by Jim Piechota Unbearable Lightness

by Portia De Rossi; Atria Books, $25.99 Me by Ricky Martin; Celebra Books, $26.95

or visible public figures immersed in the Hollywood limelight, the risk and ramifications of personal exposure are great, whether it be spousal verbal fisticuffs on a taped telephone line, rampant drug and alcohol abuse, or an intimately personal revelation brought to light in a covert restroom arrest. But are the exposure and the consequences worth the risk? Two very visible figures in the entertainment industry recently penned their autobiographies, and both stand proud, brazen enough to buck the secrecy trend and talk about their trials coming out as homosexual in Hollywood.

Portia De Rossi’s elegantly designed “story of loss and gain” Unbearable Lightness describes her life not only as a closeted lesbian, but as a severe anorexic obsessed with counting calories. Born Amanda Lee Rogers in Australia, De Rossi modeled for print and television commercials, officially changed her name at 15, and, while ambitious, abandoned a law degree to pursue acting. This pursuit led to a three-year heterosexual marriage in her 20s to documentary filmmaker Mel Metcalf.

After only a year together, she knew the marriage would never work, recognizing that the “latent fear of my real sexuality was simmering and about to boil.” Her work on Ally McBeal and its spin-off Ally in the late 90s unveiled a beautiful young actress terrified not only of the media’s increasing “public scrutiny” of her personal life, but self-conscious about her physical appearance as well. This insecure self-consciousness morphed into a full-on obsession with food, weight, and crash dieting as De Rossi describes her first nerve-wracking, chain-smoking day on the McBeal set. Years of whirlwind binging, purging, early morning fat-burning workouts, and calorie-deprived “yogurt days” led to a physical collapse on the Toronto set of feature film Cletis Tout when she carried the lead role weighing in at a skeletal 82 pounds.

De Rossi writes in honest and quite gripping detail about the terrors of anorexia and bulimia, when food had become the enemy, and caloric see-sawing was a way of life (“It snuck up on me disguised as a healthy diet, a professional attitude.”)

In 2001, while regaining muchneeded personal strength to recover from her maladies (in addition to resultant osteoporosis), De Rossi (at 168 pounds) met Ellen DeGeneres, but didn’t officially “reconnect” with her until three years later, after an open lesbian relationship with Francesca Gregorini. The author gleefully boasts that “love is everything,” and that it was Ellen’s love and nurturing that healed her suffering.

Married to DeGeneres for two years now, De Rossi recently took her wife’s surname and erased a tattoo of ex-lover Gregorini’s initials from her ring finger.

Equally resistant to the public inspection intrinsic to living a Hollywood lifestyle, Puerto Rican pop singer Ricky Martin (born Enrique Martin Morales) leads off his autobiography Me with an introspective quote about truth, failure, and honesty, from Mahatma Gandhi. Those wise words resonate throughout Martin’s journey from his Roman

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Catholic childhood as an altar boy to success as a member of 80s boy-band Menudo, and onward to a solo career and fatherhood. Though Martin admits to the familial consequences of his involvement in Menudo (“I lost my father,”) he continued into the spotlight knowing his family would find it “impossible to understand how much it was going to take for me to reach what I wanted.”

When he moved to Mexico and graduated to a solo career, his parents still objected to his much-publicized life. A first successful album was followed by an acting stint on General Hospital, where he met and exchanged numbers with a handsome radio station interviewer. (“I stared at him steadily, and when I saw that he did not turn his gaze away, Boom!”) The relationship, while passionate, was short-lived but representative of the kind of powerful emotion that Martin would spend

his life searching for. Women flit in and out of his personal life, some as publicity stunts, others as soulsearching experiments, but as his reputation as a performer and hunky Latin celebrity blossomed, the search for inner truth continued. Martin writes that “being an artist means you are constantly looking for the approval of others.” English-language albums brought more fame, and even as Martin’s chatty if disappointingly guarded autobiography periodically dips into moments of egotistic arrogance (“the entire world was listening to my songs”), his fight to overcome the “ever-lurking contradictory emotions” of his sexuality and become a man true to his desires burns brightly. Denial took its toll on his psyche, while newfound spiritualities like reflective yoga became a transformational wellspring of hope and future prosperity.

Martin beams about being a proud father (by a surrogate mother) of twin boys, Matteo and Valentino, and is creator of the nonprofit Ricky Martin Foundation, an advocate group geared toward the wellbeing of children around the world and the elimination of human trafficking. In March 2010, he officially came out of the closet on his website, commenting how “fortunate” and “blessed” he is, but in this book he keeps the details of his relationships with men shrouded in anonymity.

What took so long to admit what the rest of the world already assumed? “Ever since I can remember I have felt a strong attraction to men,” Martin writes. “It is a man who ultimately awakens my most instinctual, animal self. It is with a man that I can feel myself truly come alive, where I can find the love and passion I seek in a relationship. But I spent a lot of time resisting what I felt.”

Both of these memoirs are intensely personal tributes to lives now unencumbered by secrets and shame, and instead, unified by selflove and pride. ▼

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Tim Fuller

THEATRE

Anne Aimee White stars as Ginger Rogers in Backwards in High Heels, and gets dancing support from Benjie Randall, Matthew Tisdale, and James Patterson, at San Jose Rep.

The Ginger Rogers story, a musical ‘Backwards in High Heels’ comes to San Jose Repertory

by Richard Dodds nergy, imagination, and a great bunch of songs go a long way in making theatrical hay from Ginger Rogers’ life in Backwards in High Heels. The biographical musical at San Jose Rep may be small in scale, but by playfully acknowledging that, its creators know how to make the size work to their advantage. That Rogers’ story is small, at least in ways that usually serve as fodder in bio-based theatricals, is not as easily surmounted by the bright staging but so-so script.

While an ominous too-much-toosoon speech by Rogers’ mother about her daughter’s quickly advancing career suggests looming tragedy, the actress actually lived a long, productive life free of drugs, alcohol, scandal, and curse words. There is a dark psychological through-line to Rogers’ life that Christopher McGovern’s libretto acknowledges but curiously up-ends.

That mother and daughter had an unhealthy relationship is well known, but the musical creates its happy ending by reestablishing a bond it has spent more than two hours depicting as arguably unhinged.

Backwards in High Heels began life in Florida three years ago, and is in San Jose as part of a newly mounted four-city tour. The cast of six versatile performers manages to suggest Busby Berkeley production numbers, a cavalcade of husbands, and such celebrities as Fred Astaire, Ethel Merman, Katharine Hepburn, and Jimmy Stewart in addition to Ginger Rogers and her uber-stage mother Lela Rogers. Part of the small-sized fun is seeing the actors take on the succession of characters with high-spirited aplomb.

Director Scott Schwartz and choreographer Patti Colombo use the clever notion of framing key moments in Ginger’s life as movie pastiches, though the effort to meld her story with songs she performed can become strained. When Ginger lands a Hollywood contract, the first-act climax is a glittering production number set to “We’re in the Money,” with the starlet throwing wads of money into the air, and her mother carrying increasingly large pots of money across the stage. A fun number, but out of sync with the story that has come before it.

The song-and-dance numbers are

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the meat and potatoes of the show. Set mostly to familiar Broadway and Hollywood songs, they are skillfully performed and often inventively choreographed. McGovern’s dialogue is not so nimble. “I’ll work harder than anyone ever has,” says Ginger before setting off on her first vaudeville tour.

“There are no second places in show business,” says her prodding mother.

That the story is loose with the facts is an expected liberty in the cause of a dramatic arc, but the flatness of speech and misguided emphases are significant handicaps. Ginger’s multiple marriages are set to the song “Change Partners,” but their failures encouraged by Lela’s ongoing disapproval are treated pretty much as a joke when they must have taken a significant and confusing emotional toil.

Much more time is spent with Ginger arguing on the phone with unseen studio chiefs over billing and salary.

To both Rogers’ credit, and it’s a bravery acknowledged in the script, Rogers fights for meatier roles that could torpedo her career. The big payoff is Kitty Foyle, in which she played an unwed mother – and won an Oscar over Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Joan Fontaine, and Martha Scott. But the musical ends with her acceptance speech, culminating in an orchestral flourish and then the final curtain as she thanks her mother, whom she had seemingly been wisely pushing away, as Lela glows in the background. In a more serious scenario, it would have been a dark, creepy, and ironic moment. Here it’s accompanied by ennobling crescendo and the happy-face finale.

If you’re a fan of TV’s 30 Rock, Anna Aimee White’s take on Ginger Rogers may remind you of Jane Krakowski’s merrily self-involved Jenna Maroney. Despite a solid singing voice and dancing talents strongest in the tap form, there is little in White’s work to suggest the starchy but savvy Ginger Rogers – or even simply a compellingly driven performer. Heather Lee is dramatically effective as the complex Lela Rogers; the comically astute Christianne Tisdale scores as multiple characters, including Hepburn, Davis, and Merman; and James Patterson takes an enjoyably broad approach to various characters, including Jimmy Stewart and legendary choreographer Hermes Pan. Matthew LaBlanca comfortably han-

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THEATRE

Orchestral maneuvers

by Richard Dodds f admiration were a synonym for enjoyment, Lemony Snicket’s The Composer Is Dead would be an ode to joy. As it is not, this curious mashup at Berkeley Rep earns our respect for the labors and imagination on display, but not our bliss in how it moves us. More basically, the material and execution are just not as funny as they so clearly intended to be. Intentionally bad puns are usually met with laughter or groans, but not, as is too often the case here, silence.

This humor gap is surprising in that the words have been provided by David Handler, better known as Lemony Snicket and the author of such clever not-for-kids-only books as A Series of Unfortunate Events.

This is most evident in the first half of the 65-minute divertissement, a newly created film populated with marionettes meant to introduce the audience to “the magic of living, breathing theater.” Yes, the irony of the oxymoron is acknowledged, but it’s still a pre-recorded representation of actions that could be staged live to, perhaps, greater appreciation. After all, the puppets had to be built anyway for the movie, and there is a team of puppeteers on hand for the second part of the show.

That second part of the show, The Composer Is Dead, was originally performed by the San Francisco Symphony in 2006 as a way of introducing young audiences to the instruments of an orchestra. Handler narrated the original program, taking on the guise of a police detective investigating the murder of a composer. He questions the orchestra – not the musicians, but the actual instruments, with personalities matching their sounds, and with possible motives for wanting the composer eliminated. Composer Nathaniel Stookey created the classically flavored sounds to illustrate the various musical modi operandi that the SF Symphony provides via a recording.

In director Tony Taccone’s production at Berkeley Rep, veteran clowner Geoff Hoyle takes on the role of the inspector, while marionettes are outfitted with heads and bodies that somewhat creepily resemble the respective instruments they represent. Set into a faux or-

kevinberne.com

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Geoff Hoyle plays a detective checking on the vital signs of a composer in Berkeley Rep’s The Composer Is Dead.

chestra pit, while the inspector holds forth on a stage set suggesting a Victorian-era paper toy theater, the instruments explain and often bemoan their selective roles in building a symphonic sound. The flutes feel stereotyped by their frequent use to evoke birds, while the violas claim to be perennially overlooked and the tuba is a sad sack. Suspicion then falls on the French horns because, well, they are French.

Jessica Grindstaff and Erik Sanko of the Phantom Limb puppet company created not only the strangely wonderful puppets – human in the movie section, instrumental in the second part – but also the intricately rendered and constantly evolving sets. Too bad that the voices for the puppets, especially in the filmed first

half, are not nearly as interesting as the fabricated bodies they inhabit.

This is the cause of some of the unmined humor, despite Hoyle’s live efforts as a pompous narrator who sometimes gets snared into the movie.

The whole enterprise is a hybrid affair defying categorization, and the audiences who might best appreciate it are also hard to define. Children?

Adults? Music mavens? Puppetry buffs? Plain old theatergoers? I claim membership in that final category, but can’t quite blow my horn for this Composer.▼ The Composer Is Dead will run at Berkeley Rep through Jan. 15.

Tickets are $34-$73. Call (510) 6472949 or go to www.berkeleyrep.org.

Put to the ‘Flute’ test ne by one, Rene Jacobs’ recordings of Mozart’s great operas for Harmonia Mundi have been revelatory, making these familiar staples of the repertory seem new largely by trying to perform them in a way Mozart and company might have. Jacobs’ Don Giovanni, on CD and DVD, was really the first to give us the “dramma giacoso” (comic drama, roughly) the composer and librettist claimed it was, and how different it seemed.

Now, giving us the “Singspiel” (sung play) of Die Zauberfloete as, again, what it says it is, Jacobs has given us a Magic Flute most of us didn’t even know we were waiting for.

It only takes ears to know that Flute is sublime music. But in presenting almost every word of Schikaneder’s play – formerly, the dreaded dialogue – Jacobs proves his case that “no opera loses as much as Die Zauberfloete if one strips it of its drama, above all the spoken dialogue.” His achievement here, loftier even than in his Don Giovanni, is due to an even higher goal. Jacobs makes good on his pledge to realize “that it is not

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only Tamino, Pamina and Papageno who are put to the test in Die Zauberfloete, but all of us, the audience; that the initiation ritual already begins with the Overture and represents a long and arduous path from illusion to understanding.”

I’ve never seen a Flute that didn’t

finally just kill you with cute. Jacobs’ far more daring show might well change more than how you see Flute; it just might change you.

All that’s required not to dread the dialogue is to follow it. The fun starts right away, with Tamino’s entrance “wearing a splendid Japanese

hunting costume,” and we’re off. Jacobs and team make the play enticing not only by using singers who can render the words clearly and vividly. They inflect it in ways that leave you hanging on every syllable, and often move seamlessly in and out of pitched speech and spoken notes, “musicalizing” the text imaginatively and credibly.

The text is further embellished with sound effects, pungent whiffs of music heard elsewhere in the opera, and contributions from the orchestra and fortepiano (the latter Jacobs’ great gift to Mozart opera performance in our time) that are used motivically, as effectively as Wagner uses his leitmotifs, and for the same reason. It’s entertainment of the highest order.

There are pre-echoes, too, of Wagner’s Rhinemaidens in this Flute’s Three Ladies, a trio I’ve usually found deadly dull.

Jacobs’ girls are a lusty bunch the Viennese would recognize, and whose interest in Tamino leaves little to the imagination. Like Wagner’s girls, they’re keenly individuated.

Similarly, the Three Boys don’t sound like truants from the Vienna Boys’ Choir but, in glorious ensemble,

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by Tim Pfaff

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OUT&ABOUT Fri 10

Justin Hall’s Glamazonia

>>

Babes in Arms @ Eureka Theatre 42nd Street Moon’s production of the Rodgers and Hart vintage musical which inlcudes the songs, “My Funny Valentine” and “The Lady is a Tramp.” $24-$44.

Wed 7pm, Thu-Fri 8pm. Sat 6pm, Sun 3pm. Thru Dec. 19. 215 Jackson St. 2558207. www.42ndstmoon.org

Cavalia @ AT&T Park Sweeping and acclaimed multimedia show in a gargantuan tent, with 100 human performers, 50 horses, music and pageantry, aerialists, acrobats, and family entertainment. $64.50-$229.50. 24 Willie Mays Plaza at Embarcadero. Thru Jan. 2. (866) 999-8111. www.cavalia.net

Gay apparel

A Christmas Carol @ ACT

by Jim Provenzano

here will be no “It’s the holidays already?” rants here. Don your gay apparel! Enjoy the irreverent, outlandish pagan-ish and non-traditional events that celebrate more than some guy’s birthday, but also our creativity, our innovation, and our knowing who‘ll be naughty. And that’s nice.

Comics are often at the top of my wish list, and two gay artists are joining up with pals to share their work. Saturday, Dec. 11, Brad Rader will be at Whatever Comics to present his new graphic novel, Fogtown, about a closeted detective in 1950s San Francisco, with a slideshow, sales and signings of books and original drawings. 7pm-9pm. 548 Castro St. www.raderofthelostart.com www.geekinatwhatever.com Meanwhile… Glamazonia Contributors will be at Mission Comics, also Dec. 11. Justin Hall, creator of the trans-superJackie Beat hero comic, and contributors Diego Gomez, Ed Luce, Jon Macy, Fred Noland, and Christine Smith celebrate the new 136-page color Glamazonia graphic novel. Signed drawings and books will be for sale. Free. 7pm. 3520 20th St. Suite B. 6951545. Hall also appears at Whatever Comics, Dec. 15, 7pm-9pm, and Dec. 18, 8pm-10pm, with co-contributors Gomez and Macy, who discuss their graphic novel Teleny and Camille. Whatever’s also hosting a toy drive that day, so drop off a new unwrapped toy for a needy kid. 548 Castro St. www.northwestpress.com www.missioncomicsandart.com Peaches Christ www.whateverstoreonline.com Do a deer, a male reindeer? Find out how when Jackie Beat invades Brava Theater with her viper-sharp comedy and music parody All-You-Can-Eat Christmas. $20-$40. Friday Dec. 10, 10:30pm. Also Dec. 11. (800) 838-3006. www.JackieBeatRules.com Also, Dec. 10, Noël Noir turns Yerba Buena Center for the Arts into the biggest nontraditional celebration in town, with electropunk band Hottub, Sonny and the Sunsets, H.U.N.X., Jill Tracy, Ejector, Honey Soundsystem, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in a runway fashion show and more; free spirits and food tastings. Dress up in your Tim Burton holiday garb. $20-$25. 21+.

Ejector at Noel Noir 9pm-2am. 701 Mission St. www.ybca.org www.noelnoir2010.com After the success of his comic-horror film All About Evil (the DVD makes a perfect gift!), Peaches Christ revives Midnight Mass at the Bridge Theatre with Lewis Jackson’s Christmas Evil, welcoming the director and its 30th anniversary screening. Enter the Scary Santa contest, and enjoy the dragtastic Nativity scene show. $15. Saturday, Dec 11, 12am. 3010 Geary Blvd. www.peacheschrist.com ▼

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PICK OF THE WEEK

Big Top @ Club Eight Joshua J. Cook’s saucy monthly party hosts Homo for the Holidays, an after-party for Jackie Beat’s show (see above) and a benefit for LYRIC, with porn superstar Francois Sagat being followed around by a French TV crew. Half off the cover if you bring an unused gift card for LGBT youth. $5-$15. Saturday, Dec. 11. 9pm-3am. 1151 Folsom St. www.eightsf.com www.joshuajpresents.com

Francois Sagat

American Conservatory Theatre’s annual production of the popular stage version of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic returns. $15-$102. 7pm. some matiness 2pm & 1pm. Thru Dec. 24. 415 Geary St. 7492228. www.act-sf.org

Christmas Revels @ Scottish Rite Center 25th anniversary show of traditional Celtic holiday dances and music. $12-$52. Fri 7:30. Sat & Sun 1pm & 5pm. Thru Dec. 19. 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. (510) 452-8800. www.californiarevels.org

Classic & B-Films @ Castro Theatre Dec. 10, Midnites for Maniacs ($13 for all three films): Just One of the Guys (7:30), Point Break (9:30), Maniac (12am). Dec. 11, Cabaret (2:35, 7pm) and Xanadu (5pm, 9:30). Dec. 12, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (2pm, 3:45, 5:30, 7:15, 9pm). Dec. 14, silent classic Sir Arne’s Treasure with live accompaniment

by The Mountain Goats. Dec. 15, Noir City presents Remember the Night (7:15) and Mr. Soft Touch (9:15). $10. 429 Castro St. 621-6120. www.castrotheatre.com

Coraline @ SF Playhouse

A Perfect Ganesh @ New Conservatory Theatre Terrence McNally’s drama about two women who go on a trip to India in search of enlightenment. $22-$40. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm.

Thru Dec. 19. 25 Van Ness Ave, lower level.

861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Pete Escovedo @ The Rrazz Room Legendary percussionist performs with his vibrant salsa/jazz band. $35-$40. 8pm. Also Dec 11, 8pm; 12th, 7pm. 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095. www.TheRrazzRoom.com

The Play About The Naked Guy @ La Val’s Subterranean, Berkeley Evren Odcikin directs David Bell’s hilarious Off-Broadway hit about schlocky empresarios who produce a Naked Boys show and strike a deal with a porn star to save their theatre. Yes, there will be male nudity. $10$20. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru Dec. 18. 1834 Euclid Ave. www.impacttheatre.com

Shrek, the Musical @ Orpheum Theatre The hit musical based on the Disney animated film plays through the holidays. $30-$99.

Tue-Sat 8pm. Wed, Sat, Sun 2pm. Sun 7:30pm. Thru Jan. 2. Market St. at 8th. www.shnsf.com/shows/shrek

Siddhartha, The Bright Path @ The Marsh Revival of the uplifting popular 2007 Youth Theatre adaptation of the story of the Indian prince and his journey to become the Buddha, with Bollywood dances, music and scenery. $10-$50. Mon-Sun 3pm. Thu-Sat 7:30pm. Thru Jan. 9. 1074 Valencia St. at 21st. (800) 838-3006. www.themarsh.org

Santaland Diaires , Sat.

Holiday edition of the popular drag stage version of two episodes of the classic TV show, with nightlife queens Heklina, Cookie Dough, Matthew Martin and Pollo Del Mar. Guest stars include former Gogos band member Jane Wiedlin. $25. Thu-Sat 7pm & 9pm (no shows Dec. 24/25). 1310 Mission St. at 9th. www.trannyshack.com

Lemony Snicket’s The Composer is Dead @ Berkeley Rep Previews begin for the witty, musical comedy based on the author’s orchestral narrative work; developed by Phantom Limb Company; music by Nathaniel Stookey; directed by Tony Taccone. (Special author talk Dec. 13, 7pm, with Daniel Handler aka Snicket). $14.50-$73. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm. Thu, Sat, Sun 2pm.

Thru Jan. 15. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

The Lion in Winter @ Actors Theatre Local production of James Goldman’s intriguing play about 1183-era English royalty. $26-$38. Wed-Sat 8pm. Thru Dec. 18. 855 Bush St. at Taylor. 345-1287. www.actorstheatresf.org

The Nutcracker @ War Memorial Opera House San Francisco Ballet’s production of the sugary-sweet Tchaikovsky story-score about Clara’s hallucinogenic Christmas Eve. Opening night, 7pm. $39-$200. TueSun 2pm and/or 7pm; some altertate times. Thru Dec. 27. 865-2000. www.sfballet.org

Dave Koz and Friends @ Masonic Auditorium Smooth jazz saxaphonist, who happens to be openly gay, performs holiday songs and hits with Brian Culbertson. $52-$117. 7pm.

1111 California St. 776-4702. www.masonicauditorium.com

GAPA Men’s Chorus @ MCC Gay Asian Pacific Alliance singers perform a benefit concert of contemporary and classical works with accompaniment. $15-$20. 7pm.

150 Eureka St. at 18th. www.gapachorus.org

Go the Hell for the Holidays @ YBCA Gut-wrenching dramas and buckets of blood in a series of arty horror films. Dec 11, 7:30pm: Meat Grinder. Dec 17, 7pm: Night Train to Terror and at 9pm, A Night to Dismember. Dec 18, 7:30pm: Life and Death of a Porno Gang. $6-$8. 701 Mission St. www.ybca.org

H Sale @ Root Division Locally-made art, prints, jewelry, knitwear and more for $50-$100 on sale and exhibit at the cool gallery. 4pm-8pm. 3175 17th St. at South Van Ness. www.rootdivision.org

Holiday Art Sale @ Creativity Explored Exhibit and sale of art works by developmentally challenged artists. Mon & Tue 10am3pm. Wed-Fri 10am-7pm. Sat 12pm-6pm.

Thru Dec. 22. 3245 16th St. 863-2108. www.creativityexplored.org

Party with lunch, DJed muisc, raffles and a service faire for LGBT seniors and people with disabilities. 11am-3pm. 1800 Market St. at Octavia. www.sfcenter.org

Hot & Healthy @ Café Flore Garza hosts a fundraiser for Road Dawgz Homeless Youth Drop-In center. Drag performers Farrokh, Tweaka Turner, Brenda James and more. Raffle prizes, and more.

2298 Market St. at Noe. www.cafeflore.com

Dirty Little Showtunes @ New Conservatory Theatre

The Golden Girls @ CounterPulse

and Cheer SF. $16-$25. 2:30pm & 7pm (Naughty Naughtical adults night with the burlesque Twilight Vixen Revue). Also Dec. 12 at 11am & 3pm. Forum, 701 Mission St. 255-1355. www.dancealongnutcracker.org

Holiday Gayla @ LGBT Center

Musical stage version of the story and animated film about a girl whose family changes in an alternate reality; extended thru Jan. 15. $30-$40. Tue-Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 3pm. Some 7pm weeknights. 533 Sutter St. 677-9597. www.sfplayhouse.org

Tom Orr’s wicked and wacky musical revue of campy parody songs includes six special guest performers. $24-$40. Wed-Sat 8pm.

Sun 2pm. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level.

861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, Thu.

John McLaughlin @ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley

Sat 11 >> Arabian Nights @ Berkeley Rep

Revival of Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman’s popular staging of Powys Mathers’ translation and adaptation of the classic fables; a co-production with Arena Stage. Thru Dec. 30. 2025 Addison St. Berkeley. $18-$73. Tue-Sat 2pm & 8pm.

Sun 2pm & 7pm. Some alternate times. www.berkeleyrep.org

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi Musical comedy revue, now in its 35th year, with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. Special holiday shows, schedules, including under-21 matinees, thru Nov & Dec. $25$80. Wed, Thu 8pm. Fri, Sat 6:30, 9:30pm.

Sun 2pm, 5pm. (Beer/wine served; cash only). 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd.

421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Chaka Khan @ The Warfield Soul diva performs classic hits and new music. Chrisette Michele opens. $45-$82.

8pm. 982 Market St. (800) 745-3000. www.thewarfieldtheatre.com

Country Western Dance @ Humanist Hall, Oakland Women, trans and friends’ social dancing with lessons, live music, and a buffet. $5$10. 6:30-11pm. 390 27th St. at Broadway. www.texasrosedance.com

Dance-Along Nutcracker @ Yerba Buena Center/Arts San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band’s annual festive participatory holiday concert takes on a nautical theme this year, with “Elvis Herselvis” Leigh Crowe, Lia Metz,

Veteran jazz guitar master performs with his group, 4th Dimension. $36-$72. 8pm. Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave. UC Berkeley campus. (510) 642-9988. www.calperformances.org

A John Waters Xmas @ Roxie Cinema Fundraiser for the art theatre presents the gay master of trash cinema, who brings a sleigh full of smut, his holiday camptastic take on the holidays. Post-show reception, food, drinks, raffles, and pre-show video mash-ups. $250. 7:30pm. 3117 126th St. www.roxie.com

The Judds @ Oracle Arena, Oakland Popular country duo sisters perform live. $49.50-$79.50. 8pm. 7000 Coliseum way. www.apeconcerts.com

Krewe de Kinque Leather Brunch @ The Edge 14th annual holiday leather brunch, with a Southern buffet, performances by Donna Sachet, John Weber, Mark Paladini, DivaD, Saybeline & Frankie, plus bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys. $20. 11am-1pm.

4149 18th St. RSVP to MRSFL96@aol.com 867-5004. www.edgesf.com

Little Gems @ Underglass Framing Exhibit of 17 small works by different artists. Sales proceeds benefit Visual Aid. Thru Jan. 7. Mon-Fri 11am-7pm. Sat 11am-5pm. 268 Church St. www.underglassframing.com

Nutcracker @ Zeum Mark Foehringer Dance Project’s hip shortened one-hour update on the classic Tchaikovsky ballet, with live music. $25.

11am, 2pm, 4pm. Sat & Sun at 11am, 2pm, 4pm (Sat only) thru Dec. 19. 221 Fourth St. www.mfdpsf.org www.zeum.org

9 December . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

Arabian Nights at Berkeley Rep., Sat.

Tue 14 >>

Blue Room Comedy @ Club 93 Weekly adults-only jokes at the divey small bar; David Hawkins hosts. 10pm. 93 9th St. at Mission.

Golden Gate Men’s Chorus @ St. Matthews Lutheran Kevin Berne

The chorus performs “On Yoolis Night,” a selection of historic holiday music, with brass choir and organ. $20. 8pm. Thru Dec. 18.

Also 2pm Dec. 18. 3281 16th St. at Dolores. www.ggmc.org

Of the Earth @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley Shotgun Players’ production of Jon Tracy’s update on The Odyssey, with a focus on the insanity of war. $17-$30. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru Jan. 30. 1901 Ashby Ave. (510) 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org

Open House @ Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito Full day of free events at the lifesaving marine mammal facility, including photos with sea lions, book readings, and film screenings.

Free. 10am-5pm. 2000 Bunker Road. 2897325. www.marinemammalcenter.org

Pearls Over Shanghai @ The Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers’ revival of the comic mock operetta by Link Martin and Richard Koldewyn, performed by the gender-bending Cockettes decades ago, and loosely based on the 1926 play The Shanghai Gesture; with an all-star cast. $30-$35. 18 and over only!

Extended, Sat 8pm, Sun 7pm. Extended again thru April 9. 575 10th St. at Division.

(800) 838-3006. www.thrillpeddlers.com

Revolutionary Nutcracker Sweetie @ Brava Theater Dance Brigade’s feminist world-view rethinking of the Tchaikovsky ballet. $15-$17. 2pm & 6pm. Also Dec. 12 1pm & 5pm. 2781 24th St. at York. www.dancemission.com

Santaland Diaries @ Marin Arts Council Gallery David Yen performs the stage adaptation of David Sedaris’ humor book. $20-$25. 8pm.

Also Dec. 12 at 2pm. 906 4th St. San Rafael. 666-2442. www.marinarts.org

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 Country-western dancing for the LGBT community and friends two night a week, every Sunday and Thursday. Special Holiday Ball and Toy Drive, with $8 admission, or $5 with a new unwrapped donated toy. $5. 21+.

Sundays 5pm-10:30pm, lessons 5:30–7:15pm. Thursdays 6:30–10:30pm, lessons 7pm-8pm. 550 Barneveld Ave., near Bayshore and Industrial. www.sundancesaloon.org

Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet and Harry Denton host the fabulous weekly brunch and drag show. $45.

11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square.

395-8595. www.harrydenton.com

Mon 13 >> Colors of Christmas @ Davies Hall

Peabo Bryson, Stephanie Mills, Ben Vereen and Oleta Adams perform traditional and contemporary Christmas songs and their own hits, with the SF Symphony. $15-$85. 8pm.

Also Dec. 14 & 15. 201 Van Ness Ave. www.sfsymphony.org

Comedy @ El Rio Lisa Geduldig hosts another fun night of laughs, with Enzo Lombard, Yayne Abeba, Lynn Ruth Miller, Reannie Roads and Rebecca Ward. $7-$20. 21+. 8pm. 3158 Mission St. at Precita. (800) 838-3006. www.koshercomedy.com

Wed 15 >>

Angels in America at 20 @ Museum of Performance & Design Exhibit documenting the award-winning Tony Kushner drama, with an array of original costumes, props, manuscripts, video clips, photos, designs and audio interviews.

Wed-Sat 12pm-5pm. Thru Mar. 26. 401 Van Ness Ave. 255-4800. www.mpdsf.org

Christmas at the Disco @ Toad Hall Patrik Gallineaux presents a benefit for the Richmon-Ermet AIDS Foundation, with Stoli drinks, Caroline Lund, Phoenix Normand, Leanne Borghesi, Jason Brock, Donna Sachet, Joan Crawford-Texas and more. DJ Sam LaBelle. 8:30pm. 4146 18th St. www.patrikpresents.com

Reprise @ Robert Tat Gallery Favorite photographs on display at the fine art gallery of historic prints. Thru Feb. 26.

Tue-Sat 11am-5:30pm. 49 Geary St. #211.

781-1122. www.roberttat.com

Smuin Ballet @ Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Local company performs the late Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet, a mix of tap, jazz, ballet and more. Also, two world premieres by choreographer Amy Seiwert and Amy London. $20-$62. Tue-Thu 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm & 8pm. Thru Dec. 24. 701 Mission St. 978-2787. www.smuinballet.org

One Night Only @ Theater 39

Tree of Hope Celebration @ City Hall Rotunda

Affordable Art for the Holidays @ City Art

The cast of Shrek the Musical (Eric Peterson, Haven Burton and others), plus Deborah Gibson and Jason Brock perform their own musical favorites in the concert benefit for the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation. $35$65. 8pm. Pier 39. 273-1620. www.HelpIsOnTheWay.org

Rainbow World Fund’s annual dedication ceremony for the origami-crane-decorated fir tree; Donna Sachet MCs, with the San Francisco Boys Chorus, Veronica Klaus, Marga Gomez and Rev. Nobu Hanaoka. Free.

5:30pm. City Hall. www.rainbowfund.org

Group collective exhibit of varied artists. 7pm10pm. Exhibit thru Dec. 31. 12pm-9pm daily.

828 Valencia St. www.cutyartgallery.org

Terese Genecco @ The Rrazz Room

Sun 12

>>

Curious George Saves the Day @ Contemporary Jewish Museum Fascinating exhibit of 80 drawings by Margret and H.A. Rey, cocreators of the impish monkey books, and how their daring escape from the Nazis in Europe was aided by their drawings. Also, Reclaimed: Paintings from the Collection of Jacques Goudstikker and Black Sabbath: The Secret Musical History of Black-Jewish Relations (both thru March). Thu-Tue 11am-5pm. Thu 1pm-8pm.

736 Mission St. at 3rd. 655-7800. Thru March 13. www.thecjm.org

The exuberant singer and bandleader, aka the lesbian “love child of Dean Martin and Judy Garland,” performs an all-Elvis Presley show. $25. 8pm. 2-drink min. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (800) 380-3095.. www.TheRrazzRoom.com

Janet Fly @ Martuni’s Enjoy a Double-Wide White Trash Christmas with the distant drag relatives of Ethel Merman, Katya Smironoff-Skyy, David Bicha and Joe Wicht at a special toy donation event. Bring an unwrapped new toy. $5. 7pm.

4 Valencia St. www.dragatmartunis.com

Nicholas Hodges @ Hertz Hall, Berkeley

Thu 16 >> Big Gay Christmas Party @ Temple

Dot249 brings a night of no agendas, no speeches, just an evening of joy and good cheer with LGBT groups dot429, GLAAD, NCLR, Reason to Party, and Startout. $30$40. $100 VIP. 8pm-10pm. 504 Howard St. www.dot429.com/events/temple

It’s all a Blur @ SOMArts Cultural Center Exhibit of works by Guillermo Gomez-Peña, Dale Hoyt and Tony Labat. Exhibit Tue-Fri 12pm-7pm. Sat 12pm-5pm. Thru Jan. 28.

934 Brannan St. at 8th. www.somarts.org

Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco @ Exit Theatre Annual whimsical concert, Christmas Crap-Array, with sardonic parodies galore, including gay composer Jack Curtis Dubowsky’s commissioned “My Agnostic Solstice.” $20-$40. 8pm. Also Dec. 17 & 18. 156 Eddy St. (800) 838-3006. www.lgcsf.org

Accomplished pianist performs Beethoven/Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106, “Hammerklavier” Stockhausen-Klavierstück X. $38. 3pm. Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave. UC Berkeley campus. (510) 642-9988. www.calperformances.org

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus @ Castro Theatre

Peaches @ Herbst Theatre

Home for the Holidays, the Chorus’ annual Christmas-themed concert, includes pop songs and classics, with Santas, elves and jingle bell rock, all conducted by outgoing Director Kathleen McGuire. Guest performers include Kim Kuzma, Karen Hart, Donna Sachet and the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco. $10, $20-$60. 5pm, 7pm, 9pm and 10:30pm. 429 Castro St. 865-2787. www.sfgmc.org

Pop electro songstress performs live. Chilly Gonzales opens. $30. 8pm. 401 Van Ness Ave. www.peachesrocks.com www.apeconcerts.com

SF Hiking Club @ Pleasanton Ridge Join LGBT hikers on a 9-mile trek in the East Bay woodlands. Carpool, 9am at the Safeway sign, Market Sundance St. at Dolores. (925) 833-1069.

Saloon’s www.sfhiking.com

Holiday Ball, Sun.

To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com.

Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication.

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 December 2010

SOCIETY

Lighting up the season

by Donna Sachet he Merchants of Upper Market and Castro (MUMC) once again have provided a colorful holiday tree in front of Bank of America in the heart of the Castro, and we officiated at its first lighting at dusk last Monday. A festive crowd of over 100 neighbors spilled onto Castro Street as seasonal music was performed by members of the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus, and the Gay Men’s Chorus. After brief comments by MUMC President Steve Adams, State Senator Mark Leno, Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Treasurer Jose Cisneros, and Supervisor Elect Scott Wiener, a visiting Santa Claus and one of his more nimble elves assisted with the dramatic lighting of hundreds of tiny white lights. Make it a point to drop by to see this holiday tradition, and check out the banner at the corner of 18th and Castro listing the many merchants and sponsors that made it possible.

We are so proud to report that the 18th annual Songs of the Season benefit variety show, produced by Richard Sablatura, last Mon.-Wed. at the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko was the most successful ever, with over 400 people attending over the course of the run, and over $50,000 raised for the AIDS Emergency Fund. Monday night started with a star-studded reception in the lobby hosted by patron Lu Conrad and catered by Taste, followed by stellar performances by SDK trio, Vicki Shepard, Kelly Houston, Abigail Zsiga, Sharon McNight, and the legendary Val Diamond. Among the audience were Badlands/Toad Hall’s Les Natali, The Mix’s Larry Metzger, The Edge’s Ben & Terry Penn, Shanti’s Roy Kaushik, Project Open Hand’s Tom Nolan, Richmond/Ermet’s Ken Henderson & Joe Seiler, Sunday’s a Drag star Cassandra O N T HE Cass, Hector Crawford & Ralph Hibbs, Lenny Broberg, Matt Consola, Susan Fahey, Neil Figurelli, Patrik Gallineaux, Marguerite Judson, Rus-

Steven Underhill

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Kenshi Westover and Cassandra Cass at the 18th annual Songs of the Season.

sell Kassman, Wayne Friday, and Werner Tillinger. Filling Val’s spot on Tuesday night was sensational Paula West, and spotted in the audience were a bevy of Imperials hosted by Emperor Jerry Coletti, Gordy Boe and a lively group from 440 Castro, Tommy Dillon, Dean D’Onofrio, Vick Germany, Joe Granese, Xavier Barrera & Kirk Hahn, Dan Joraanstad & Bob Hermann, Chuck Limbert, and Adam Reeves.

T OWN The final night’s oversold house included the Bob Ross Foundation’s Tom Horn, GLAAD’s Juan Barajas & Kevin Lemons, Harry Denton’s

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Starlight Room’s Michael Pagan, Troy Bronstein, Morgan Von Rueden, Diane Burns & Denise Lever, Ken Ferraris & Matt McClelland, David Gin & Gary Nathan, Jerome Goldstein & Tommy Taylor, Sean Kline & Philip Beers, Jay Harcourt, Mitch Koonce, Gary Virginia, K.C. Dare, James Holloway, Empress Marlena, and an enthusiastic group of Golden Gate Guards. If this list seems exhaustive, it is meant to demonstrate the breadth of attendees, and to offer thanks to so many for their generosity. As patrons sipped Barefoot bubbly and gushed about the show, we were reminded for three glorious nights why we work so hard to deliver Songs of the

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Coming up in leather & kink >> Thu., Dec. 9: Edges Wet Munch at Renegades Bar (501 W. Taylor St., San Jose). 7 p.m. Happy hour for the sex-positive and alternative communities: 4-7 p.m. Go to: www.edges.biz or www.renegadesbar.com.

Thu, Dec. 9: EduKink - Paideia (Learning through Play) at the SF Citadel (1277 Mission). This is a monthly series of playshops. 7:30-10:30 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m. $15-$25, sliding scale. Go to: edukink.tribe.net or www.sfcitadel.org.

Thu., Dec. 9: Heartbeat Happy Hour at Trigger (2338 Market). Benefits Mama’s Toy Drive. Live entertainers. 58 p.m. Go to: www.mamasfamily.org.

Thu., Dec. 9: Locker Room at Chaps Bar (1225 Folsom). Featuring DJ Hotwire. Pumping music at 9 p.m.

Go to: www.chapsbarsanfrancisco.com.

Fri., Dec. 10: Fuzz at Chaps Bar. Hairy men welcome!

DJ Sam, Jager shot specials. 9 p.m. Go to: www.chapsbarsanfrancisco.com.

Fri., Dec. 10: 3rd Annual Trailer Trash Toy Drive at Marlena’s (488 Hayes) hosted by Mark Palladini. Benefits Mama’s Toy Drive. Bring a toy (unwrapped) and enjoy the talents of the trashiest gals in town. 5-8 p.m. Go to: www.mamasfamily.org.

Fri., Dec 10: Women and Trans Play Party, Jack London Square area in Oakland. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $20 person, $35 couple. RSVP to mail@lookingglassarts.com.

Sat., Dec. 11: 14th Annual Holiday Leather Brunch hosted by Krewe de Kinque at The Edge (4149 18th).

Benefits the Positive Resource Center. Enjoy Southern buffet, drink specials, entertainment. $20 with RSVP to MRSFL96@aol.com.

Sat., Dec. 11: Back Bar Action at The Eagle Tavern (398 12th St.). Back patio and bar opened to all gear/fetish/leather. 10 p.m. to close. Go to: www.sfeagle.com.

Sat, Dec. 11: Military at Chaps Bar. Wear your uni-

forms! Featured DJ: Jim. www.chapsbarsanfrancisco.com.

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p.m.

Go

to:

Sat., Dec. 11: Boot Lickin’ at The Powerhouse (1347 Folsom). 10 p.m. Go to: www.powerhouse-sf.com.

Sat., Dec. 11: Lady Thorn’s Community Exchange aka SM Flea at the SF Citadel. 1-5 p.m. $5. Go to: www.smflea.com.

Sat., Dec. 11: Fandango Post-Flea Market Party at the SF Citadel. 8 p.m.-1 a.m., doors close at 11 p.m. $25. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Sat., Dec. 11: Screwup Munch: BDSM for Trans & Queers at Wicked Grounds (289 8th). 7-9 p.m. Go to: www.screwup.info/.

Sun., Dec. 12: Castrobear presents Sunday Furry Sunday at 440 Castro. 4-10 p.m. Go to: www.castrobear.com.

Sun., Dec. 12: Exiles’ Orientation - BDSM Safety Essentials: From Top to Bottom at The Marxist Library (6501 Telegraph, Oakland). 12-2 p.m. Go to: theexiles.org/membership/orient/.

Sun., Dec. 12: SF Men’s Spanking Party at The Power Exchange (220 Jones St). This is a male-only event. You must be 18+ with valid ID. 1-6 p.m. Go to: http://www.voy.com/201188/.

Sun., Dec. 12: Two Mama’s Toy Drives: At the 1220 Club (1220 Pine St., Walnut Creek) and at the Sundance Saloon (550 Barnveld). Bring an unwrapped toy. Go to: www.mamasfamily.org.

Mon., Dec. 13: Peer Rope Workshop at the SF Citadel.

Madame Butterfly & Mr. Madame Butterfly host. $10 donation. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Wed., Dec. 15: Underwear Buddies at Blow Buddies (933 Harrison). Doors open 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Play til late.

Go to: www.blowbuddies.com.

Wed., Dec. 15: Bare Bear – a night at the baths at The Water Garden (1010 Alameda, San Jose). 6-10 p.m. Go to: www.thewatergarden.com.

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9 December . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

DVD

Hustler’s own story

by David Lamble an Francisco filmmaker Joseph Graham’s Strapped (Strand DVD) embeds us with a boyish hustler who spends a melancholy rainy night gliding between apartments in a haunted queer building.

The Hustler, who tries on new first names as smoothly as he sheds his regulation red hoodie, jeans and Tshirt, offers a full-service bar of erotic favors for happy-hour prices – but no kissing, please.

Graham crafts a creepy ambiance in a succession of shabby spaces the denizens call home, which the Hustler appropriates as his stages. Somewhere between an old codger’s leaky penthouse and the dark bowels of the laundry room, we suspect that someone could turn up dead. Sure enough, the Hustler is ambushed in the laundry room by a married guy, a backdoor bandit who quickly turns violent. Rescue comes from an elderly leather guy, Sam (former Colt model Paul Gerrior).

Graham wants us to forget every canard about beastly rent-boys being either scheming sociopaths or delusional losers whose path to destruction is guaranteed by the curtain.

Strapped’s boy, called Adam in the script, plays his clients skillfully, only hinting at baser motives. Adam is a sensual Candide who strives never to reprise his tricks.

A movie rule of thumb holds if the hero is having too good a time too early, he’s due a comeuppance. Graham and his sultry lead, film newcomer Ben Bonenfant, keep us guessing as to whether Adam will elude all who mean him harm. Or will the merry rent-boy someday turn into a gigolo version of Falstaff, who was 40 when he mused that every man “has the face he deserves.”

Kudos to a first-rate production crew, especially director of photography Matthew Boyd for keeping us on edge with a shadowy lighting scheme that could serve a queer vampire tale

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as well as a quirky bedroom farce. Strapped allows us to care for a plucky boy who thinks he’ll never be kissed.

On the record Writer/director Joseph Graham spent a peripatetic childhood – Texas, California, Missouri – with many of his happier memories playing out in St. Louis, where he recalls trips to Cardinal baseball games with his grandfather.

Now happily situated with a boyfriend in the city of St. Francis, Graham is enjoying the fruits of a second hardscrabble indie-film shoot while looking forward to the debut of another movie project, Beautiful Something.

Sprawled out on my black office couch, Graham riffed on the transformational magic of finding the right boy for the first kiss, while his theatre-trained actors shivered during 12 cold nights in a San Francisco warehouse.

“I remember my first kiss, and how it rocked my toes: under a bridge in St. Louis, what a kisser! I wanted the audience to experience that cosmic kiss as the Hustler did, so I was careful during all the other sex scenes to keep the performers separated, you never see them in the same shot during sex. So when we get to the kiss, not only do we have two performers in the shot for the first time, but we have this wonderful music, in-camera and post-camera lighting effects – we almost went a little overboard – but I really wanted the audience to feel this, and the character says, ‘Nobody’s ever kissed me like this before!’

“The older man, Sam, was written specifically for Paul Gerrior, who I had done plays with. What a voice!

What a kindness he brings. Paul was a Colt model in the 70s, and even at 72, he has this great virility to him, not in a threatening or lecherous daddy way, but a kind, wise way. All but two of these actors were straight. It took a good deal of courage and trust on all our parts to move forward.

“I had about 600 people respond to an open call for the Hustler. Half quickly left when they saw what the material was, half of the remainder simply weren’t right physically, and then I tested about 60 people. I needed an actor who could be a chameleon. A good friend contacted me from the Colorado Shakespeare Company, where he was performing with a young actor, Ben Bonenfant. I’ll never forget the first thing Ben said. ‘I read the script, and I got to tell you that it scares me.’ Then he added, ‘That makes me want to do it.’ That’s when I knew I was talking to a real actor.”▼ Strapped DVD includes making-of chat with lead Ben Bonenfant, screen test, music video and trailer, with a song by Halou.

On the Town Season each year.

On Saturday, we wandered out of the Castro to a holiday party at Trax bar in the Haight, where music blared, food abounded, and cocktails overflowed. This intimate spot might seem an unlikely location for a gay bar, but loyal locals and gregarious bartenders make for a lively combination of good humor and camaraderie. Check it out next time you are in the Haight.

Sunday’s Toys for Tots event at the St. Regis Hotel exceeded all expectations as the toys mounted under the tree, and hundreds of smartly dressed guests mingled. This privately financed party has been gathering toys for children for years. We caught up with Chris Carnes, Alice Hill, Lance Holman, Mario Diaz, Jason Dorn, Joel Goodrich, Mark Calvano, Adam Sandel, Kevin Shanahan & Michael Montoya, Billy Curtis, Bill Hemenger, Spencer Garrett, Jared Sherer, Kurt Giusti, Michael Rubinstein, and Patrick Stanton.

The coming days and weeks are jammed with events. We make this handful of recommendations for the immediate future: Fri., 12/10, 9 p.m.,

Backwards ▼

page 28

dles the tricky role of Fred Astaire and several other roles, and Benjie Randall is fine in a variety of roles.

Backwards in High Heels is refreshing simply as a new musical presented with considerable panache. It also has the comfort of an old shoe, as classic songs and a backstage story

Steven Underhill

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Brandon Styles, Jan Wahl and Donna Sachet at the B.A.R.’s holiday party at Palio d’Asti restaurant in the Financial District.

Noel Noir at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; Sat., 12/11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Krewe de Kinque’s Holiday Leather Brunch at The Edge; Sat. & Sun., 12/11 & 12, SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band’s Dance-Along Nutcracker at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; Mon., 12/13, 8 p.m., Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation’s One Night Only with the cast of Shrek at Theatre 39; Wed., 12/15, 5 p.m., Rainbow World Fund’s Tree of Hope dedication in City Hall, and 9 p.m.,

Toad Hall’s Christmas at the Disco.

And a little advice in the rush of holiday events: remember to give in three ways. Give some money (a generous check, a raffle ticket purchase, or a tip to a performer), give some time (volunteer at Under One Roof, at an event, or at a charitable agency), and give some care to yourself (a quick out-of-town getaway, a manipedi, or an afternoon nap). Your holiday season will be so much richer and more memorable.▼

peppered with nostalgia and populated by showbiz legends provide an easy hook. But whatever distinctively dramatic vibrancy lurks in the Ginger Rogers story largely goes missing. When an early beau asks her if she ever gets lonely in her quest for fame, she responds, “I have Mama and the Lord.” It’s a telling answer that in the end remains the same, with tragic implications that instead become the redemptive finale to

Backwards in High Heels.▼ Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical will run at San Jose Rep through Dec. 19. Tickets are $29$57. There is an LGBT Out ’n’ About performance with pre- and postshow receptions on Dec. 10, and special-rate tickets must be purchased by phone at (408) 3677255. All other tickets are available at www.sjrep.com.

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BOOKS

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Lawrence, Lamarr, Wood & others Recent book releases: some suggestions for holiday giving

by Tavo Amador or many people, books are an easy gift selection, and one that recipients truly appreciate. Several new, intriguing titles should make holiday shopping quick and enjoyable.

Grant Wood: A Life by R. Tripp Evans (Knopf, $37.50) is the definitive biography of the painter best known for “American Gothic.” Tripp argues that Wood (1891-1942), who lived most of his life with his sister, was a closeted homosexual, and discusses the men in his life, one of whom was his secretary. Their relationship resulted in Wood’s being fired from a teaching position at the University of Iowa. Tripp covers the artistic influences on Wood, his impact on other painters, and his place in American art history.

Michael Korda’s Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia (Harper, $36) brings fresh insights into a complex and much-discussed individual. Lawrence (1888-1935) helped create the states comprising the modern Middle East after the dissolution of Turkey’s Ottoman Empire at the end of WWI. Had Western European leaders heeded his advice, countries would have been established based on ethnic identities and traditional borders.

Instead, artificial states like Jordan and Iraq were set up, and Britain and France were given “protectorates” over much of the area. Lawrence’s great victory at Aqaba opens the narrative, but what is most compelling is Korda’s assessment of his sexual orientation. In Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1922), Lawrence ecstatically

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recounted being raped while a prisoner of the Turkish Bey. As Korda points out, Lawrence admitted to sexual arousal during the episode, and later was regularly flogged by a male aide. But Korda agrees that in a technical sense, Lawrence, who hated to be touched, died a virgin.

“Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid,” quipped the decidedly non-virginal Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000).

Stephen Michael Shearer’s Beautiful (Thomas Dunne, $29.99) recounts the unlikely life of one of classic Hollywood’s most acclaimed beauties. Born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler in Austria-Hungary, she started in films in 1930, and in 1933 became notorious for a Czech movie, Ecstasy, in which she’s glimpsed running nude through the woods and later faking an orgasm.

Her then-husband (she would have six) bought up all the copies he could find. The prudish Louis B. Mayer reluctantly signed the stunning actress to an MGM contract, renamed her, and cast her opposite Charles Boyer in Algiers (1938), a huge success. For the next decade she was a major star, even if her performances seldom impressed. Her career peaked in Cecil B. DeMille’s Samson and Delilah (49), and ended with The Female Animal (58). Despite her languid presence and messy personal life, Lamarr was quite intel-

ligent. In 1941, she and a friend patented a telecommunications method called “frequency hopping” that is now widely used in cellular phones and other technology. In 1965, she was arrested for shoplifting, but the charges were dropped.

The following year, her autobiography Ecstasy and Me created a scandal by discussing details of her sexual exploits, including letting a lesbian perform cunnilingus on her while in her car, as she waited for a light to change. Before its release, Lamarr unsuccessfully sued the publisher, saying that story and others were the inventions of a ghost writer.

Was Kay Thompson a lesbian?

Did she and Judy Garland have an

affair? No, insists Sam Irvin in Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise (Simon and Shuster, $26.99).

Thompson (1909-98) is best-remembered for her spectacular performance as the Diana Vreeland-like editor in the Audrey Hepburn-Fred Astaire musical Funny Face (1957), and as the author of popular stories about a little girl who lives in the Plaza Hotel and has wry observations about the adults around her.

Thompson worked in MGM’s music department and coached Garland, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and others, assisting them in developing their signature styles. When MGM fired Garland, Thompson helped create her acclaimed concert act,

which culminated with a legendary 19-week run in 1950 at the Palace Theatre on Broadway, resurrected for an equally triumphant 1961 Carnegie Hall appearance. Thompson herself had a celebrated nightclub act that featured the young Andy Williams and his brothers as back-up singers. Although married twice, Thompson’s thin, mannish appearance, tailored clothes, deep voice, and intimate friendship with Garland resulted in endless speculation about her sexual orientation. She was Liza Minnelli’s godmother, and helped shape her famous club act. A notorious perfectionist, she regularly turned down offers to perform, ultimately going broke. Minnelli moved her into her Manhattan apartment, where she lived until her death.

Flying for the holidays is fraught with delays, and a good murder mystery helps the coping. In A Question of Belief (Atlantic Monthly Press, $24), Donna Leon’s engaging protagonist Commisario Guido Brunetti is eager to escape Venice’s unbearable heat by taking a family holiday in the mountains. But his longtime colleague Vianello needs help when his mother, under the influence of an astrologer, starts giving away her money. Brunetti’s investigation takes as many turns as Venice’s famous canals. The corruption and danger lurking behind the gorgeous architecture and sumptuous villas of La Serenisima are usually missed by tourists, but revealed

by Leon, who keeps this long-running series fresh. Happy page-turning!▼

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9 December . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

35

FILM

Monarch butterfly

by David Lamble t’s a stretch to label The King’s Speech a prequel to The Queen, Stephen Frears and Peter Morgan’s humanizing portrait of the royals under media siege for their implied snub of Diana. But in subtle ways, director Tom Hooper’s moving account of how a sickly boy kicks his fear of daddy, King George V, and becomes a wartime monarch the British people still fondly recall, as well as father to the current Queen, allows us to see these superprivileged stand-ins for God and Nation as frail, resilient reeds before the gathering storm of WWII. Penned by David Seidel, the film puts the royals in crisis mode, and shows how an agonizingly shy Duke of York – more observational, nonmethod acting from Colin Firth, last year’s peerless A Single Man – overcomes a paralyzing stammer to address his subjects across the Empire via BBC shortwave radio. All tubes and whirling motors, the BBC’s transmitters rumble like the engine room of a great ship, making even the glibbest of speakers feel unworthy.

The story opens in 1925, when the then-Duke of York was a family em-

I

barrassment with his horrifying inability to get through perfunctory remarks at a royal industrial fair. We see how an inability to talk on “the wireless” leaves this future Emperor feeling more than symbolically naked.

The Duke confronts his inadequacies by viewing newsreel footage of Hitler’s guttural attacks on everything the Duke represents. His young daughter, Elizabeth, asks innocently, “What’s he saying?” The reply: “I don’t know, but he seems to be saying it rather well.” The movie shows that this buttoned-up man could only relax during story time for Elizabeth and sister Margaret.

We see why the dying George V feared leaving the throne to a human bowl of Jello. “Who’ll stand between Herr Hitler – the jackboots – and Marshal Stalin – the proletarian oblivion: you?” It’s a tribute to Firth and Rush that we forget other matters of state during the movie’s drastic compression of time and history.

The film provides short shrift to the British establishment’s fears that Bertie’s brother, Edward VIII, was unfit for the throne as much for his Nazi sympathies as for his flamboyant mistress, the twice-divorced Wallace Simpson, who hosts a weekend

Colin Firth in The King’s Speech: how a sickly boy becomes King.

castle soiree like a bootlegger’s wife.

The King’s Speech gets a huge boost from the odd-couple chemistry of the future monarch and his nervy therapist, Oscar-winning Geoffrey Rush. Upending centuries of royal prerogatives, Rush’s Lionel Logue insists on seeing the future king in his home office – “My game, my turf, my rules” – where his teenage boys are treated more like princes than the Duke, whom he calls “Bertie.”

The movie plays out in Logue’s drab quarters, where the third-rate

Back to the nest

by David Lamble n Lena Dunham’s astutely observed, wryly funny, beyond mumblecore comedy Tiny Furniture, a young woman with an Oberlin College degree in film studies – of no practical value unless you’re a filmmaker – returns to the airy womb of her successful artist mom’s TriBeCa loft. It’s only to find herself caught in the crossfire between mom’s exasperation, her kid sister’s turf-controlling attitude, two boyfriend candidates bad for different reasons, a pissed off excollege roommate, an absurdly controlling childhood friend and a dead hamster in mom’s high-tech fridge.

In all of this emotional chaos, Aura (the deadpan-funny Dunham) is desperately trying to earn a little self-respect while sinking under the total ennui of jobs she feels wildly overqualified for, like daytime “hostess” for a snotty little restaurant with a pill-popping, hunky blonde chef, who has the nerve to warn her about the date-raping busboys. It’s enough to make a gal feel like crawling into the fetal position in her old room, under a smelly old comforter. That’s until she has to deal with a YouTubesuccessful comedian who mooches gourmet dinners and fine wine from her mom’s (Laurie Simmons) stash while refusing to put out.

For LGBT audiences, Tiny Furniture offers a nervy, emotionally subtle portrait of a young straight woman testing her social, sexual, and career boundaries, while striving to

Joe Anderson

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Scene from Tiny Furniture: caught in the emotional crossfire.

succeed in an impossible hip world where the men are unavailable, and the women pose problems of a whole different order.

Filmmaker Lena Dunham and I bonded at first sight and were soon devouring gourmet cashews and comparing notes on our favorite male movie hotties. Upon a second viewing, I noted that her social comedy has more than a whiff of a thwarted lesbian subplot.

Lena Dunham: I’ve had a lot of these relationships with girls where you sleep in the same bed, you cuddle, and I really tried to express that here in what I was doing.

David Lamble: That provides a nice bonus subtext. Also you can see why your character lets Jed stay over too long even though he’s clearly not

going to be a boyfriend. I think this is where gay men and straight women can have a lot in common – sometimes we do see men the same way.

Gay men coming out are attracted to men, not necessarily gay men, and the whole coming-out process forces us to do things to adapt our free-ranging desires to actual possibilities.

That’s a fascinating point: I think a straight man’s sexuality is set in a way that a gay man’s or straight woman’s isn’t. (Opens Friday.)▼

Shakespearean actor cajoles, flatters and bullies his prickly pupil. The teacher engages in a series of pedagogical pranks that in an earlier age would have earned him lodging in the Tower of London. Firth does the Duke’s stuttering transformation as if he were an especially slow schoolboy

whose behavior has to be rewarded by petty wagers and playtime with Logue’s sons’ model airplane kits.

Firth astutely plays the Duke as a human clenched fist. The film’s heartbreaking epiphany derives much of its thump from the actor’s unwillingness to yield too glibly to our wishes that he loosen up faster than Bertie did.

Missing her Harry Potter frightwig, Helena Bonham Carter steals a slice of the movie as a no-nonsense royal wife – the future Queen Mum, who lived to be 101 – who stumbles on Logue’s Hobbit-like quarters as if she had a yen for a downscale fishand-chips shop.

This Oscar-bait (almost certainly for Firth) tour de force should leave you laughing and perhaps shedding a tear for a very human monarch. If The King’s Speech has done its job, you’ll feel a lump in the throat when a trembling Duke hears the dreaded words, “You’re live in two minutes, your Royal Highness.” ▼

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MUSIC

Dance-Along and girls – will lead the crowd in everything from the electric slide to the Macarena and the Hokey Pokey.

They’ll also toss around some of their signature stunts, and serve hors d’oeuvres between numbers.

After the reception, the main show begins, and this year it’s been spiced up for the adult audience in the evening. Twilight Vixen Revue, an allqueer showgirl burlesque troupe, will bump up the ol’ bump-and-grind with a steamy chair-dance. Lia Metz belts out her winning show-capper “Show Off” from The Drowsy Chaperone, which has her tap-dancing in nothing but high heels and a sequined bustier before the number ends.

Cheer SF joins the cast onboard the cruise ship for the main show, and a cadre of cast dancers led by Kelly Collins and Corinne Levy round out the feature numbers, playing sailors, crew members and tourists. Emceeing the whole shebang is Leigh Crow, combining the roles of ship’s purser and cruise director. Leigh played Clara

Rich Stadtmiller

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Members of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band perform at a previous Dance-Along Nutcracker.

McCoy in last year’s Dance-Along, Blazing Nutcrackers!, and is probably best known for her drag Elvis persona, Elvis Herselvis. She currently fronts two local bands – the Mighty Slim Pickens and the Whoa Nellies – so you know she knows how to work a mike and the room.

The GAY-la! performance offers the kind of ship’s amenities you’d expect on a luxury cruise. Enter the Forum on Saturday night, and you’ll be greeted like you’ve walked up the gangplank. Island and holiday cocktails will be served at cabaret tables by the cabana boys and girls. Then you’ll be shown to that staple of any cruise, the “Midnight Buffet,” where you can fill your plate again and again and secretly worry about your thighs, as all good cruisers do. You can shop dutyfree for tutus, tiaras and fairy wands at the Tutus R Us Boutique.

So would a classical composer like Tchaikovsky be spinning in his grave to see his holiday ballet set on a cruise ship with burlesque dancers, cabana

Magic Flute ▼

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messengers from the other side.

As with the earlier installments in the series, Jacobs’ ace Akademie fuer Alte Musik Berlin is simply astonishing in the musical feats it pulls off, particularly at his sometimes breakneck tempos. These musicians are incapable of playing anything without character.

Clearly based on a live production at Aix in 2009 (but recorded in a Berlin studio a year ago), this is an ensemble effort at an exalted level.

The second act’s Papagena as Little Old Woman – a veritable concerto of croaks – is but one of countless brilliant miniatures that combine to form a breathtaking mosaic. Jacobs regular Sunhae Im is winning as Papageno’s girl. Anna-Kristiina Kaapola’s Queen of the Night and Marcos Fink’s Sarastro secure the upper and lower registers of the vocal music with performances cauterized of cliché.

Papageno becomes the main character with the masterfully inflected performance of Daniel Schmutzhard, whose protean characterization of

boys and drag kings in sailor drag?

“How do you know that Brahms didn’t write the Hungarian Dances for some of his drinking buddies and lady friends?” asked Artistic Director Jadine Louie. “I love show and dance music. I love wit and good dancing. That’s why I love our guest artists this year.”

If you like your Dance-Along family-friendly and burlesque is a wee bit much for your wee one, the daytime shows feature shipside hijinks with most of the crew – Leigh Crow, Twilight Vixen, Lia Metz and the cast dancers – but without the saucy cleavage and boys in short-shorts. When the Dance-Along was first launched, it was a gay fancy-dress party performed once. 25 years later, it’s grown into that and a full-on kids and family show, where tots are out there dancing with the adults for three daytime shows. “[One year] I turned around at the end of the show to face four little girls staring up at me and holding their fairy wands like conducting batons,” Louie said. “I guess that what I am most proud of is having had a part in creating an environment where things like that can happen.”

This show will be Louie’s 13th Dance-Along on the conductor’s podium. To what does she attribute the show’s longevity? “‘Dance-Along Nutcracker’ sounds like a one-liner, so it’s hard to imagine how it can be a whole show, much less one that has lasted for 25 years,” she said. “You have to experience it to understand why. It’s funny, it’s topical, it’s harmlessly ridiculous, but most of all, it’s a place where everyone else’s glee from the middle-aged couple dancing like they’re still in love to the bearded daddies wearing tutus with their kids is infectious. A community where the fun is at no one else’s expense is worth keeping, don’t you think?”▼ Heidi Beeler plays trumpet in the SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band.

Dance-Along Nutcracker GAY-la!, 7 p.m., Sat., Dec. 11; family-friendly shows, Sat., 2:30 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.; at YBCA. Info: www.DanceAlongNutcracker.org or (415) 978-2787.

birdcatcher is a thing of continual wonder. Daniel Behle’s luscious tenor leaves no corner of his role, all too often generalized, unexplored, and German soprano Marlis Petersen – the world’s current Lulu of preference, rumored for that role in a forthcoming project with Claudio Abbado – as Pamina gives her best recorded evidence to date as a vocal actress of inestimable value. Long before her “Ach, ich fuehl’s” shows you that you can hold your breath for three minutes, she will have stolen your heart.

Referring to the Keochel numbers that fairly accurately catalogue Mozart’s works chronologically, an old squeeze of mine used to say, accurately enough, “By the time you’re approaching the 600s, you’re getting pretty near the godhead.” The Magic Flute is K. 620, and by its finale, Jacobs’ new Flute takes us as near the divine as we could likely tolerate.

Mozart’s string quintets take us through the 500s and up to K. 614.

They’re still, unconscionably, connoisseurs’ fare, but the new recording of them by The Nash Ensemble (Hyperion) provides another peek at the other side.▼

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9 December . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

BOOKS

BAYAREAREPORTER

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Jewels, however, is treasurable. Oh, man, I love this book. And not just because I love cock, but because the images are mostly fine. With a whopping 70 photographers (including a few graphic artists), this glamour collection of cock shots shows the penis in all its states, but mostly hard. The photographers venerate; almost all seem to know the importance of their subject. Few of the images are casual, fewer yet vacant calendar shots, and none are jokey, not even the cartoon art. Even a mildly sacrilegious image is sacred (you’ll have to see it). And there’s only one banana. I sure wish there was a law against the suggestive use of bananas in art; they’re just too ob-

thirds of that total are accounted for just by the couple of scanties I bought last year (crotch-lifter, mesh, and package-cradler). Sheesh, that stuff is expensive! You’ll see a lot of it in this entertaining and informative collection.

What’s that? Informative? Yes, and fascinatingly so. The book’s first half discusses the design aesthetic, reasoning behind those concepts, and marketing techniques of 12 popular underwear brands. With pictures.

For example, Andrew Christian’s “background as a clothing and accessories designer is apparent not only in choice of fabric, the level of detail and construction but also in the way the lines are represented – with seasonal changes and ads that are closer to runway presentations than catalogues.” I get a kick out of

This glamour collection of cock shots shows the penis in all its states, but mostly hard. The photographers venerate; almost all seem to know the importance of their subject. Few of the images are casual.” vious. Like cigars as a signal of masculinity. Gimme a break.

It would be hard not to enjoy the bulge bonanza of Brief Encounters ($43.99). This overview of undergear gathers an arousing bunch of images. The garment that once dare not speak its name – unmentionables! – now chorales itself from Olympian-size billboards. Propelled largely by gay men, the undie industry now reaps profits of $5 billion a year, in the US alone! I think two-

this bit: “The line is a pioneer of enhancing underwear, which range in look from optimistically real to laughably unreal.”

“AussieBum embodies iconic Australian culture, presenting the Aussie bloke as a masculine, downto-earth guy who’s sexy without trying.” Just how un-gay is the AussieBum guy? The book claims, “The AussieBum guy would never make an effort to be sexy; he simply is.” On the other hand, the Canadian company Bon Bon “is pretty gay, from the bright colors to the buffed, waxed, and lightly tattooed models.”

The book’s second half is full-page photos, sans text.

But I wanted more. Clearly, this was the book that should have had 260 pages, not a mere 96. So this bit of fluff may fluff your bits, but like a DVD that you’d rather Netflix than buy, Brief Encounters might not be something that needs to reside on your bookshelf forever.

You’re welcome to come over and browse through my copy – but only if your skivvies are suitably bulgeenhancing. ▼

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38

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 December 2010

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39

PERSONALS

PEOPLE

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