February 20, 2014 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

Gay Russian wins asylum

Readying for 'Emerald' gala

ARTS

Chita Rivera, live

The

www.ebar.com

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

Ridgely brings event experience to SF Pride

Vol. 44 • No. 8 • February 20-26, 2014

City’s image crux of crack pipe opposition

by Cynthia Laird

he new executive director of the organization that oversees San Francisco’s Pride parade and festival has been on the job just over a month, and is concentrating on sponsorships and retaining the group’s longtime Rick Gerharter contractors to ensure a George Ridgely safe and fun event at the end of June. In a wide-ranging interview with the Bay Area Reporter last week, George Ridgely said that his background in helping run large outdoor events in the city means that he already knows the major players in terms of working with city officials, law enforcement, and community groups. Ridgely previously served as operations manager for the Bay to Breakers foot race and was executive director of the Castro Street Fair. Those two events, combined with running his own gala production company, Pink Collar, means that he has eight or nine years of experience. Ridgely, who said he applied for the executive director position for the third time following last year’s resignation of CEO Earl Plante, said that he had long sought the challenge of running one of the largest Pride parades in the world. “I applied before, third time’s a charm,” Ridgely said. “I’ve always been interested in it. As an LGBT person, I had my eye on Pride. I love what I do and there are only so many large scale events to do.” Ridgely, 50, identifies as gay but likes the word “queer,” he said. He said that it doesn’t bother him that he was twice passed over for the top job. In the past, it was different boards of directors that made the final hiring decisions. “In all of those situations the board did a very thorough job. I met with operations people and staff and I feel they made their decisions based on the information they had,” he said. After the last few years of upheaval with the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee, Ridgely is looking to focus on the parade and festival before branching out into other endeavors. Fundraising and soliciting sponsorships, he explained, would remain a year-round activity. Previous executive directors had sought to incorporate speaker series and other events throughout the year, but financial and management issues have prevented those from taking place in recent years. See page 9 >>

Rick Gerharter

Mayor Ed Lee, left, and Health Director Barbara Garcia are opposed to distributing crack pipes as a way to prevent HIV transmission; emails indicate the mayor’s staff seems worried about the city’s image.

by Seth Hemmelgarn

an Francisco Health Director Barbara Garcia is bowing to Mayor Ed Lee’s office as she opposes trying to cut transmission of HIV and other diseases by distributing crack pipes to drug users, city officials’ emails to each other and interviews with the Bay Area Reporter suggest. Garcia, who quickly became defensive last

week when asked to explain her stance, and Lee’s staff have repeatedly refused to explain their opposition. But emails from Lee spokeswoman Christine Falvey to Garcia and other Department of Public Health staff warn them to be careful of the city’s image. Falvey, who was concerned about a January 24 TV news story about the crack pipe idea, wrote that day in an email to Garcia and her

staffer Colleen Chawla, “Can you clear up with KPIX – don’t want any Fox News SF headlines on this.” Chawla is the health department’s deputy director of health and the director of policy and planning for the agency. Falvey’s email was one of many obtained through B.A.R. public records act requests. See page 12 >>

At long last, baseball fan comes out by Roger Brigham

ctivists often urge athletes and other celebrities to come out of the closet, believing their openness and acceptance will inspire others to do likewise. When Missouri football star Michael Sam came out as a gay man earlier this month in advance of the NFL draft, potentially hurting his draft position and economic prospects, it proved to be the inspiration for one local resident and baseball aficionado to discard the secret that has shrouded his life for several decades. “I’ve never felt comfortable with coming out,” Half Moon Bay resident Norm Coleman told the Bay Area Reporter. “I don’t discuss the subject. But I have to say when I first read the story without knowing anything about [Sam] ... I saw how he was very courageous and strong. My goodness: we know how it is in professional sports. That’s a ‘man’s man’ thing. They don’t tolerate gay guys, although that is certainly changing.” So Coleman, who recently turned 78, decided to be part of the change. He has been in and around baseball all of his life – a Brooklynborn Dodgers fan who grew up watching Jackie Robinson and supplemented his income through the years doing scouting related tasks for numerous ball clubs. Homosexuality was the unspoken taboo, just as earlier there was an unspoken taboo keeping African American players

out of the major leagues before Robinson broke the color barrier. Coleman decided it was time to speak up, come what may. “It’s possible I may lose some jobs,” Coleman said. “I deal with a lot of baseball minor league general managers around the country. That could happen, but I don’t think about it. I’m not concerned about them reading about me in the B.A.R., but yes, I’m concerned. Baseball is even more difficult than football. I can’t imagine a player Courtesy Norm Coleman coming out in baseball.” Coleman has a prize-winning Norm Coleman, right, author of a one-man show about photography shop in Half Moon baseball great Ty Cobb, stands next to a photo of the Bay but is better known among storied player. residents as the author and performer of a one-man play about Robinson in the public library that Coleman baseball great Ty Cobb. stumbled across a book on Cobb, Like most Coleman said his love affair with basecurrent baseball fans, he only knew of Cobb by ball started “when Jackie Robinson came to myth and rumor: great hitter, tough, even dirty, Brooklyn. Growing up in Brooklyn, I didn’t player; a symbol of baseball’s segregation. But know baseball was segregated. All I knew was as he researched Cobb, he came to know what a big fuss was being made when he came up. I he terms his “other side,” a side that truly loved became a big Brooklyn Dodgers fan at the time, and thought segregation should end. not realizing what was involved with him per“I became fascinated by the man who was sonally. I’ve been a big baseball fan ever since.” clearly complicated and misunderstood,” he See page 10 >> It was while searching for a book on

{ FIRST OF TWO SECTIONS }

Families

Network. Share stories.

Confidence + Connection

SAN FRANCISCO, 15 MARCH 2014

THROUGH SURROGACY

WEST COAST CONFERENCE:

www.familiesthrusurrogacy.com

SAN FRAN_strip_indd.indd 1

17/02/14 4:16 PM

<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

LIFE DOESN’T END AFTER 50! Therapy/Support Group for Gay Men Over 50 Get honest and caring support. Explore possibilities. Develop direction in your life.

Psychologist Lic. PSY 9411

Call David Silven, Ph.D. (415) 672-7688

SF chamber cites need for housing by David-Elijah Nahmod

he local economy may be booming, but San Francisco residents said in a recent poll that the cost of housing is their top concern, even outpacing homelessness, business leaders said at a recent breakfast meeting. In the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s annual CityBeat poll, 34 percent of respondents said that the cost of owning a home was their chief concern, up 14 percent from the previous year. Twenty-one percent cited rental affordability as their major issue, up 17 percent from 2013. While 29 percent stated that homelessness and street behavior was the city’s number one problem, the current poll is the first in which housing costs trumped quality of life concerns. On February 18, the chamber of commerce held its annual CityBeat breakfast at the SF Marriott Marquis Hotel. Dubbed “Managing Economic Success,” the primary focus of a panel discussion and speeches was to address the city’s affordable housing shortage, as well as how to manage the rising population. KPIX news anchor Ken Bastida served as the morning’s master of ceremonies. After a short introduction by Bob Linscheid, president and CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the City Beat poll results were shown on screen. The poll of 500 city voters was conducted in January and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent. The chamber’s Workforce Housing Panel then took to the stage. Tim Colen, executive direction of the Housing Action Coalition, served as moderator. He was joined by Sean Kieghran, president of the Residential Builders Association; Oz Erickson, chairman of the Emerald Fund; and John Rahaim, the city’s planning director.

Rick Gerharter

The annual San Francisco Chamber of Commerce CityBeat breakfast included a Workforce Housing panel. Panelists from left were John Rahaim, San Francisco planning director; Oz Erickson, chairman of the Emerald Fund; and Sean Kieghran, president of the Residential Builders Association.

“It’s not news that we’re in the middle of a housing crisis,” Colen said as he introduced the panel. “San Francisco has the lowest rate of housing construction of all the U.S. tech hubs. Seattle produces double the amount of housing that we do. San Francisco has always had rules which make it time consuming and risky to build new housing. Tell your elected officials to make it easier: housing projects should not be subjected to a very long series of hoops to jump through.” Rahaim, who is openly gay, offered a historical perspective on the housing crunch. “There are three issues driving the housing demand,” Rahaim said. “Baby boomers are retiring and moving back to the city; job growth; and the millennial generation is moving into cities. The problems we have today are caused by 20 years of underbuilding. We need to focus on a long term strategy to increase our supply.” Erickson explained that the cost of building new units could affect

their eventual market price, and why there’s been hesitation on the part of developers to build affordable units. “Out of pocket cost is $650,000 per unit for the builder,” he said. “What does that mean in terms of the rents you have to pay? People don’t understand economics. It takes $5,600 per month for a two bedroom in order to make the costs back.” Housing is also needed in the city’s neighborhoods, Kieghran said. “San Francisco needs smaller scale housing out in the neighborhoods,” said Kieghran. “People, often immigrants, often have to put up their college funds and savings for a home. When you have to jump through hoops for one to two years, it’s not worth it.” Rahaim talked about what could be done to increase density. He suggested streets such as the Geary and Clement corridors in the Richmond district as areas where new conSee page 6 >>

Trans woman to pastor Lutheran church compiled by Cynthia Laird

egan Rohrer, a transgender woman who has been running Welcome Ministry, a group that helps homeless people in San Francisco, will be installed as the pastor at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3201 Ulloa Street (at 33rd) during a service Saturday, February 22 at 7 p.m. Earlier that day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Welcome Ministry will be hosting a health and vision event at St. Francis Lutheran Church, 152 Church Street. SF CARES will provide free glasses for those who need them. Rohrer said the event will be “like a mini LGBTQ Connect.” Folks from Project Homeless Connect will help people sign up for cellphone service, a doctor will provide flu shots, and physical therapists will be on hand for free consultations. As for Rohrer’s installation, she said that she would be the first openly transgender pastor of a congregation in the Lutheran church. On Sunday, February 23, Rohrer will be recognized with an honorable mention as an unsung hero of compassion by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who will be in San Francisco for the event, being held by Wisdom in Action, a Bay Area nonprofit.

Black History Month celebration

The Freedom Socialist Party will

hold a Black History Month celebration Saturday, February 22 at New Valencia Hall, 747 Polk Street (at Ellis). A home-cooked Southern supper will be served at 6 p.m. for a $10 donation. The program begins at 7 and includes a Black History Month video and panel of students, teachers, and Save City College activists who will discuss the struggle for racial equality in schools, from the fight for integration to stopping privatization. The venue is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call (415) 864-1278 or email baradicalwomen@earthlink.net.

GAPA 35-plus potluck social

The Gay Asian Pacific Alliance will hold one if its GAPA 35-plus potluck dinners Sunday, February 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. at a location in San Francisco’s Mission district. GAPA 35-plus is a social and conversational group for gay and bisexual API guys 35 and over who meet monthly to have dinner and discuss rap topics. This month’s conversation topic is gay parenting: adoptive/foster/biological children. To RSVP, send an email with your full name and cellphone number to Vincent Baduel, coordinator of GAPA’s 35-plus program, at vincent@ gapa.org. The venue address will be provided in a confirmation email. Upcoming dinners include March 16 in Richmond, where wills and legal documents will be the rap

topic; April 20 in Berkeley, where green living will be discussed; and May 18 in San Francisco, where the topic will be coping and living with or recovery from disability or illness.

Economic justice convening

The Community Housing Partnership and Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) will hold Just Jobs, an employment fair and economic justice convening Wednesday, February 26 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the State Building, 455 Golden Gate Avenue. According to a news release, dozens of local employers will be on hand. There will also be workshops on the changes in arrest record procedures mandated by the new “Ban-the-Box” legislation and resources for people with disabilities returning to work. There will also be information available about local hire opportunities in the upcoming construction work on Treasure Island. At the end of the day there will be a community dialogue on building greater economic justice and opportunity in San Francisco.t

Correction The caption published with a photo February 13 headlined “Valentine’s gift for AIDS groups” should have included the Openhouse agency as among those that received financial donations from the estate of Thomas M. Dross. The online version has been corrected.

Community News>>

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 3

STD rates continue to climb in SF by Matthew S. Bajko

an Francisco saw increased cases of sexually transmitted diseases for the eighth consecutive year in 2013. According to preliminary numbers from the city’s public health department, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and early syphilis continued their upward climb last year. “Clearly, we are concerned there continues to be increases,” said Deputy Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip, the director of disease prevention and control in the health department’s population health division. “We believe the public needs to be aware of that.” Overall reported chlamydia increased from 4,874 in 2012 to 5,089 cases in 2013, a 4.4 percent yearover-year increase. Male rectal chlamydia also increased in 2013 from 1,081 to 1,167 cases for an 8 percent annual increase from 2012. Reported gonorrhea cases increased 1.6 percent from 2,481 in 2012 to 2,521 in 2013. Additionally, rectal gonorrhea among men also increased from 780 cases to 794 cases, marking a 1.8 percent increase. After declines in early syphilis seen in 2008, early syphilis continues to increase. In 2013, reported early syphilis increased by 13.9 percent from 890 cases in 2012 to 1,014. “I don’t know if this is a new normal. I am not sure we are going to expect rates are going to continue to increase,” said Philip. The health department is committed to working “diligently” and partnering with the community to decrease the rates, added Philip, though she acknowledged it is an uphill fight. “There is no silver bullet for this,” said Philip. “Until we get vaccines for these STDs, we are not going to have an easy fix.” The final 2013 numbers won’t be known until later this year, although the majority of STD cases remain among men who have sex with men, said Philip. “It does look like the increases

are primarily, again, among MSM,” Philip told the Bay Area Reporter in a phone interview last week. According to a report based on 2012 data the health department’s STD Control Section released last October, of the 64,681 MSM estimated to live in San Francisco one out of 79 was infected with early syphilis. One out of 34 MSM was infected with gonorrhea, according to the report, and one out of 36 was infected with chlamydia. Compared to their heterosexual counterparts, gay and bisexual men’s risk of early syphilis is 117.0 times higher. Their risk of gonorrhea is 8.6 times higher compared to heterosexual males. And MSM’s risk of chlamydia is 27.2 times higher compared to heterosexual males. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that MSM account for three quarters (75 percent) of all primary and secondary syphilis cases. In 2012 there were 15,667 reported cases of early syphilis, with the rates of primary and secondary syphilis rising 11.1 percent. The increase was seen solely among men, particularly among MSM. “The ever-increasing rates of sexually transmitted diseases continue to threaten the health and well-being of millions of Americans, particularly youth and men who have sex with men,” stated William Smith, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors. “The long-term consequences of these diseases impact the health of the individual, burden our larger health care system, and drastically hinder our continued fight against HIV and AIDS.”

Divergence seen in STD and HIV rates

Health officials have long worried that increased STD rates could lead to increased HIV rates, as having an STD increases a person’s susceptibility of contracting HIV. But HIV rates have remained relatively stable in San Francisco, with new HIV infections steadily declining since 2006. A slight uptick in HIV cases

Courtesy SF DPH

Syphilis cases in San Francisco, as shown by this chart for 20072012, are reported much more among men who have sex with men.

among MSM in 2012, however, has local health officials concerned and closely watching to see if it was just a one-time blip or a sign that HIV may now be mirroring the STD increases. So far there is no indication that the higher STD rates are behind the upturn in HIV numbers from two years ago. “What we can say is there has been increasingly a separation in San Francisco, certainly, between HIV infection rates and STD infection rates,” said Philip. “From all estimates HIV does not seem to be rising at the same rate as those STDs which concern us.” There is growing consensus that changes in how gay and bisexual men practice safe sex are driving the rising rates of STDs not only seen in San Francisco but also across the country and in other nations. Many of the strategies gay and bisexual men are adopting are focused on stopping HIV infection and do not work in terms of protecting them from STDs. “I would like to be able to do more

investigation into that, but it does seem to be consistent with what we are seeing in San Francisco, this idea that gay men are really focusing primarily on HIV prevention and may not be as concerned with having gonorrhea and syphilis,” said Philip. “It might be one explanation for what we are seeing in San Francisco with STD rates continuing to rise.” In a December article titled “Syphilis in the Modern Era – An Update for Physicians” that Philip co-authored with colleagues from City Clinic and her predecessor Dr. Jeffrey D. Klausner, now at UCLA, the medical professionals wrote that the “syphilis epidemic among MSM” has been linked to “a decrease in safer sex practices secondary to HIV prevention fatigue, antiretroviral treatment optimism, and an increase in recreational drug use, especially methamphetamines and erectile dysfunction medications.” Another factor they cite is gay and bisexual men adopting harmreduction strategies like serosort-

1080 SUTTER ST SAN FRANCISCO

HOMES AVAILABLE IN NOB HILL

Retreats offer healing for gay men 2- & 3-BEDROOM

AFFORDABLE BELOW MARKET RATE HOMES

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

by Matthew S. Bajko

GUIDELINES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING HOMEOWNERSHIP:

ooking to help gay men from the “AIDS generation” reconnect and deal with the grief they experienced, Gregg Cassin has revived the retreats he has offered since the early days of the AIDS epidemic. He began in 1989 with what he called the Healing Circle and the San Francisco Center for Living. Over the ensuing decades he led conferences and retreats around the country with AIDS, Medicine and Miracles. Seeing gay men, both HIVnegative and HIV-positive, in their 50s and older speaking out about surviving AIDS and now living into their senior years, something many never expected to face, Cassin saw a need to provide a safe space where they could reconnect with one another and begin to address their emotional and spiritual needs. “There is a powerful healing that takes place when people witness one another’s life experience, whether it is their suffering, whether it is their long held on to grief, or whether it is their incredible resilience, strength and courage. We learn from one another,” said Cassin, 55, who has been living with HIV since the early 1980s. “It sounds corny to say our power is incredibly healing. But when we share our life experiences, wisdom surfaces. It never fails.” In December, Cassin held the first of the new gatherings at the Saratoga

ing – having selective unprotected sex with partners of the same HIVserostatus – and oral sex to decrease their risk of HIV transmission. Such practices “can facilitate syphilis transmission,” states the article, co-written by Dr. Stephanie Cohen, medical director of City Clinic, and Dr. Joseph Engelman, who is on the medical staff at City Clinic. The authors also point to the latest focus in HIV prevention on promoting the early use of antiretroviral medications in order to suppress viral load in individuals and the community as a way to prevent HIV. They note that the biomedical intervention does not hinder syphilis transmission. “This may partially explain the divergence between HIV and syphilis rates among MSM that is occurring in some municipalities,” states the article. “If other biomedical HIV-prevention strategies, for instance pre-exposure prophylaxis, become more widespread, the divergence between syphilis and HIV epidemiology may further widen.” Other contributing factors include the ease of meeting sex partners online and people living with HIV longer, increasing the number of men at risk for syphilis and other STDs. Steps people can take to reduce their STD risk, said Philip, include using condoms and reducing their number of sexual partners. They should also seek treatment at the first sign of an STD infection, she added, and inform their sexual partners they could be at risk. Sexually active gay and bisexual men should get tested for STDs every three to six months. Studies have shown that more MSM in San Francisco report getting tested more frequently than their counterparts in other cities. “We do think we are getting the message out,” said Philip.t

• Buyers must be income qualiﬁed and not have owned a home in the past 3 years. • Buyers must attend a ﬁrst-time homebuyer class. See www.sfmohcd.org. Housing and Community Development lender in order to apply. See www.sfmohcd.org. • Lottery participants are highly encouraged to view the homes prior to submitting an application for the lottery.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Greg Cassin

SIZE

# AVAILABLE

2 BEDROOM

$232,831-$281,151

3 BEDROOM

$274,755-$309,975

PRICE RANGE

BUYER HOUSEHOLDS MUST EARN NO MORE THAN THE INCOME LEVELS LISTED BELOW:

Springs Retreat Center outside Upper Lake in Lake County, about two and a half hours north of San Francisco. In attendance was Vince Crisostomo, 53, who has lived with HIV since 1992. He moved to San Francisco last March after working for an AIDS agency based in Bangkok, Thailand since 2007. Initially uninterested in going, Crisostomo acquiesced to Cassin’s suggestions that he attend. He had been to several of Cassin’s retreats, the last time in the 2000s when he brought a friend who had just tested positive for HIV and was having difficulty coping with the diagnosis. “It helped him to be exposed to other people dealing with their diagnosis more positively,” recalled Crisostomo. See page 10 >>

2 PERSON

3 PERSON

4 PERSON

5 PERSON

6 PERSON

7 PERSON

$77,700

$87,400

$97,100

$104,850

$112,650

$120,400

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// • Open House Dates: Wednesday, February 19th & 26th from 5-7pm Saturday, March 1st & Sunday, March 9th from 10am to 12pm • BMR Informational Workshop: Tuesday, February 18th from 5-7pm at 1080 Sutter St 850 7th Ave, San Francisco • BMR Lottery will be held Tuesday, April 1st at 2pm at MOHCD: 1 So. Van Ness Ave, 5th Floor, San Francisco email: live@blancsf.com; by website: www.blancsf.com; or visit www.sfmohcd.org

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// subject to monitoring and other restrictions. Visit www.sfmohcd.org for program information. Priority will be given to San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and MOHCD Certiﬁcate of Preference holders and households who live or work in San Francisco. 1080 Sutter Street • 415.674.1080 • www.blancsf.com • Sales and Marketing by Polaris Paciﬁc BRE #01499250

<< Open Forum

4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

Volume 44, Number 8 February 20-26, 2014 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko Seth Hemmelgarn Jim Provenzano CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dan Aiello • Tavo Amador Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Victoria A. Brownworth • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Chuck Colbert Richard Dodds • David Guarino Peter Hernandez • Liz Highleyman Brandon Judell • John F. Karr • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • David Lamble Michael McAllister • Michael McDonagh David-Elijah Nahmod • Elliot Owen Paul Parish • James Patterson • Lois Pearlman Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota • Bob Roehr Philip Ruth • Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Jim Stewart Ed Walsh • Sura Wood ART DIRECTION T. Scott King PRODUCTION/DESIGN Jay Cribas PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland Rick Gerharter • Lydia Gonzales Rudy K. Lawidjaja • Steven Underhill Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Scott Wazlowski – 415.359.2612 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

LEGAL COUNSEL Paul H. Melbostad, Esq.

BAY AREA REPORTER 225 Bush Street, Suite 1700 San Francisco, CA 94104 415.861.5019 www.ebar.com A division of BAR Media, Inc. © 2014 President: Michael M. Yamashita Chairman: Thomas E. Horn VP and CFO: Patrick G. Brown Secretary: Todd A. Vogt

News Editor • news@ebar.com Arts Editor • arts@ebar.com Out & About listings • jim@ebar.com Advertising • scott@ebar.com Letters • letters@ebar.com Published weekly. Bay Area Reporter reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement which the publisher believes is in poor taste or which advertises illegal items which might result in legal action against Bay Area Reporter. Ads will not be rejected solely on the basis of politics, philosophy, religion, race, age, or sexual orientation. Advertising rates available upon request. Our list of subscribers and advertisers is conﬁdential and is not sold. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, and writers published herein is neither inferred nor implied. We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork.

The NFL’s homophobic fortress

few days after the NFL’s first openly gay prospective player, Michael Sam, came out to wide praise and positive support, the league’s own hired investigator released a disturbing report confirming a pervasive pattern of bullying in the Miami Dolphins organization. Attorney Ted Wells found that the NFL team has a major problem with workplace harassment that apparently went beyond football players who torment their teammates. The NFL report concluded that three Dolphins players – Richie Incognito, John Jerry, and Mike Pouncey – “engaged in a pattern of harassment” toward Jonathan Martin, an assistant trainer, and another teammate. The raw verbal harassment included homophobic epithets, racial slurs, and crude demeaning comments made about mothers, sisters, and girlfriends. The abuse moved from verbal to physical and included improper touching and sexual taunting, according to media accounts in the New York Times. The report indicates that many in the Dolphins organization knew about the bullying yet did not say or do anything. Incognito’s alleged bullying of Martin first came to light last October, when Martin abruptly left the Dolphins under psychological duress. As a result, Incognito was suspended indefinitely on November 3. The report indicated that while some of the thousands of text messages from October 2012 to November 2013 included profane language by both players, Martin, who is black, felt humiliated by the persistent abuse from Incognito, who is white. There were ugly racial aspects to the bullying, according to the investigation. The Times reported, “The mistreatment began early in the 2012 season, when the intensity – and the frequency – of the insults increased soon after Martin declined to fight back when Jerry, who is black, called him a ‘bitch.’” And there was this: “Sometimes, Incognito would make jokes about slavery in [Martin’s] presence and Martin would be teased for not being ‘black enough.’” Incognito referred to Martin’s sister

in sexually graphic terms. Martin later told investigators that he did not express his anger to Incognito but that he was “extremely upset” as the exchange reminded him how he had failed to defend his family “on the many occasions that his teammates had denigrated them.” The report stated that in addition to Martin, an unnamed young offensive lineman was allegedly taunted with homophobic slurs and, as the Times directly quoted, “touched in a ‘mockingly suggestive manner,’ including his rear end.” It goes on and on citing horrific incidents of workplace harassment that would not be tolerated in any other profession. In a statement posted on the team’s website, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said, “We have just received the report from Ted Wells and will review it in detail before responding relative to the findings. When we asked the NFL to conduct this independent review, we felt it was important to take a step back and thoroughly research these serious allegations. As an organization, we are committed to a culture of teamfirst accountability and respect for one another.” Incognito’s attorney, Mark Schamel, told the Times that Wells’s report was “replete with errors” and denied Martin was bullied by Incognito or “any member of the Dolphins offensive line.” In recent years many NFL players and other

athletes made anti-gay and racist comments publicly, usually through their Twitter feeds or interviews. But in the Dolphins case Wells’s report clearly details inexcusable behavior that was excused by team management in facilities under their control. The Dolphins need to end this by sending clear, decisive solutions. The still-suspended Incognito should be removed from the team. Jerry and Pouncey should be suspended and fired. The NFL must take immediate action: and if it won’t then corporate sponsors must apply pressure. The league, a $10 billion enterprise, is a vast network of licensing deals involving companies and television rights. Employees are well compensated – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell alone was paid $44.2 million in 2012 – and star athletes make millions. The NFL is a professional organization and there’s no excuse for not providing a professional work environment for everyone involved. Gays can serve openly in the military and legally marry in 17 states. Hundreds of top companies, and lots of smaller ones, prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. But heaven forbid a player comes out on a professional sports team or is perceived as “weak.” This last bastion of homophobia is like a fortress, so far impenetrable by gay athletes themselves and groups that support them. Goodell has a gay brother, yet he can’t find his footing when it comes to demanding a safe work environment among the 32 teams. Some team personnel were quoted anonymously in the press, warning that the NFL is not ready for an openly gay player. This is ironic, considering the topic was Sam’s honesty in coming out and putting his potential NFL career on the line. The law of averages dictates that there are gay players in the league today. They’re just not open about it. But given the dysfunctional dynamics in Miami, it’s more difficult to make the case that gay athletes should come out. Yet someone like Sam, who could enter the league in the upcoming NFL draft, can help create real change, and that’s what it will take to penetrate the fortress of homophobia.t

No room for black gay progressives by Kevin Bard

Jazzie Collins. In fact, at my first board meeting, Collins encourf the black exodus out of San aged me to bring law and order to Francisco has taught us anythe club’s horrific bylaw situation. thing, it is that neglect has racist Rules-related issues have been a callconsequences. As it stands now, the ing of mine ever since. African American population hovMy friend William Walker, elected ers around 6 percent, and nothing in 2013, took up the I-am-the-onlyof substance is being done about it. black-person-on-the-board mantle With Black History Month upon us, as outreach chair, a perfect fit, or Courtesy Kevin Bard the best we have to hope for is City so I thought. As a former candidate Kevin Bard Hall throwing some chicken and for SF community college board, watermelon our way one of these he brought a lot to the table, but days – if some corporate entity hasn’t already boy was I surprised when at the Milk holiday booked a private party there first. And speakparty, he wasn’t re-nominated. In all honesty, ing of our city’s titans of industry, is there any Walker did have time constraints, but with point in asking how many African Americans black people barely hanging on, why didn’t the benefit from Google-esque busing? “decision-makers” try a little harder to meet The situation is even worse for black LGBT him halfway? progressives. Over my tumultuous career in The Milk club did recently elect San Francisco politics, I have noticed that African American Mahnani Clay hard-left LGBT circles passively refuse to hire, to the board this year, but as this promote, vote for, and share power with black board becomes more professionalfolks within those circles. Routinely. ized (and dare I say, more opporClassism plays a major role in this of course, tunistic), I sometimes long for the but there is another often-ignored factor: the Collins days. opportunity chasm. Most black LGBT uberI ran for the SF Pride board last progressives don’t speak the language of opporyear in a similar attempt to repair tunity because we rarely, if ever, are given any. its ills, many of which run far deeper than the Merit and opportunity are two separate pheChelsea Manning debacle. Last year was a horrifnomena. Possession of the former does not alic year to be black and part of that organization, ways result in access to the latter, and vice versa. but I ran in September anyway, in part to bolIn this hyper-competitive field of SF politics, ster my Accountability Slate’s diversity claims. even progressive LGBT decision-makers often Nevertheless, almost all African Americans in promote by default those who have warm and elected or leadership roles were shown the door, cozy heterosexual parents, degrees from fancy candidates like myself included. universities, and easy access to trendy living At the height of the pro-Manning protests, quarters. The rest of us tend to find ourselves as we saw left-leaning white activists carrying dark-skinned backdrops that need to be manpitchforks at the pinkwashed doorsteps of the aged (and, if lucky, fed) every now and then. black status quo (then-board President Lisa Let’s take a look at the recent history of the Williams and former CEO Earl Plante). Little Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club board, had been done then or has been done since by on which I served from January 2011 until my slate mates to quell these concerns. The January 2013. In 2010, the Milk board was current SF Pride board, with its cult-like obsomething of a mecca for black LGBT folks session with “civility” and paternalistic attitude with nowhere else to go, including the late toward appointing blacks or other outsiders if

and when they get around to it, proves that this organization still needs structural reinforcement. I could have helped with all of that, if given – you guessed it – the opportunity. President Gary Virginia is doing a great job with what he’s been given, but to claim that SF Pride wants to “Color Our World with Pride” in any way other than by platitudes would be laughable if it weren’t so intellectually dishonest. As for my prospects in last September’s SF Pride election shenanigans, all I have to say is Last Hired, First Fired. But despite all of that mess, Shaun Haines (another black candidate) and I became good friends. He lost his re-election bid to the SF Pride board the same night last year, and, like me, wanted to be reappointed to some of the remaining slots – at first. I guess it would have been typical for us to fight each other for the scraps dangling above our heads, like something out of the Antebellum South, but instead, we bonded over our bizarre situations. After giving up on the SF Pride appointment route and its incessant filibustering, he graduated to the board of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, no small accomplishment. I went to his Alice election, partly to show Haines my support and partly to count how many African Americans will be on Alice’s board in 2014. (Short answer: many.) A friend there told me I got punked at SF Pride. Maybe we all did. If blacks are to survive in this city in any politically meaningful sense, we have to form cross-ideological alliances, like the one I formed with Haines – a Rainbow Coalition of the Willing, leaving no one behind to shiver in darkness, begging for a reservation. At that January Alice club meeting, newlyelected Co-Chair Zoe Dunning (wife of ousted SF Pride board member Pam Grey) told us that if we are not invited to the table, we are probably on the menu. Truer words haven’t been spoken so far this year.t

Letters >>

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Action against Big Tobacco in San Jose

The Just for Us: LGBT Tobacco Prevention Project would like to thank the Bay Area Reporter for the multiple articles last month that helped to raise awareness about the LGBT community’s high rate of tobacco use [“New year can bring resolve to kick smoking habit,” January 16; “National report shows high tobacco use by LGBTs,” and “Obesity tops concerns in South Bay health report,” January 23]. Particularly alarming for our project was the new report showing that the queer smoking rate in Santa Clara County is three times as high as the general population of that county. Contributing to this epidemic is the fact that tobacco company representatives are going out to bars in San Jose several days a week offering various coupons or $1 packs in exchange for swiping patrons IDs through a machine that gathers their info so they can send more discount offers. One of the most frequently visited locations is a gay bar. This kind of activity encourages our LGBTQ youth to start smoking, makes it harder for the vast majority of smokers who want to quit, and tempts those who have recently quit to start again. One of the main reasons people quit smoking is the high price of tobacco, so these discounts diminish that incentive. Our “Butt Out of Our Bars” campaign is working to change the law in San Jose to stop Big Tobacco from continuing to target us in the places where we gather to meet others and build our community. To find out more, contact me at bdavis@tri-cityhealth.org. Brian Davis, Project Director Just for Us: LGBT Tobacco Prevention Project Tri-City Health Center Fremont, California

Smoke shop owner is pro-gay

years and there is not an anti-gay bone in his body. I know his family and their politics have always been supportive of the gay community. The letter seems so contrived and the writer seems so intent on associating a flu mask with antigay intent that it is clearly transparent and laughable. It’s a bitter “angry at the world type of customer” that we are all familiar with. I urge anyone with even a shadow of doubt to reread the letter for what it is, a pretended story by a bitter customer with a loud voice. Daniel Glazer Hot Cookie San Francisco

Unsettling vote by merchants group

It has come to my attention that at its January 15 meeting MUMC’s, err, Castro Merchants’ board voted to support a conditional use for a new business located at 2301 Market Street. Historically votes for conditional use, change of use, or other matters are usually presented to the general membership for debate and a vote at a regular monthly meeting. In neither Terry Asten Bennett’s President’s letter of January 31 nor at the general membership meeting of February 6 was there any mention of this vote or the reasons the board voted in favor of a conditional use for 2301 Market Street. Insofar as Castro Merchants board meetings are closed to the public, it is unsettling that votes with a long range impact on the neighborhood go unannounced or are made on behalf of the membership with no notice of same. As a 16-year Castro Merchants member, as well as both a past member of the board and an officer, I am troubled by this seeming lack of transparency. Given this one example, one can only imagine what other actions the board takes in closed door sessions of which we are never made aware. This group’s membership deserves and should demand better of its duly elected board.

In response to the letter, “Flu season or anti-gay season?” [Mailstrom, February 6] I want you to know that I have known the owner of the Castro Smoke Shop for over 17

Patrick Batt San Francisco

With allies like these ... by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

NN’s Piers Morgan recently hosted a segment with author and transgender advocate Janet Mock, who was promoting her memoir, Redefining Realness. The interview itself was sadly predictable, with Morgan focusing on Mock’s coming out to her boyfriend, Aaron, rather than the themes of the book. Moreover, the on-air text labeled Mock as “a boy until age 18” while promotions leading up to the piece were sensationalistic. After the interview aired, Mock and Morgan got into a heated tête-à-tête on Twitter, with Mock telling Morgan to “get it the f*k together.” Other members of the transgender community – this writer included – also expressed our displeasure with Morgan. In the course of all the back and forth on social media – which eventually led to a second, still dreadful interview and dissection by a nontransgender “panel of experts” – Morgan remained indignant, feeling that he had been “played” by Mock to “score cheap points.” There was one thing Morgan said that most stuck with me. “As for all the enraged transgender supporters,” he said, “look at how STUPID you’re being. I’m on your side, you dimwits.” I find myself a bit baffled at how one can be “on your side” while referring to people as “dimwits,” but I’ll give him this one pass. I’m sure he was deluged with angry comments of all sorts, and lashing out a bit. The transgender community, as a whole, does have a reputation for being very virulent in its responses to those we perceive as attacking us. That said, I find myself flummoxed at Morgan’s claim to be an ally of the transgender community. Is he claiming such a designation merely for having Mock on his show? Are we supposed to give him a pass for the type of interview he conducted, simply because he gave her an interview at all? If this was the 1950s, any newspaper article – no matter how salacious – was golden. In the 1980s, a televi-

Christine Smith

sion talk-show host was viewed as an ally for not only doing an episode on cross-dressers, but also wearing a skirt on his show. But that was then. Today, there are terabytes of material on, about, and by transgender people available on the Internet. There are decades – even centuries – of information about transgender people. Being an ally in the media means more than simply doing an interview with a transgender person. As a transgender person, I have had the benefit of working with a great many allies over the years. I, too, am an ally both to communities that intersect with my own, to others within my community, and to those well outside of my own lived experience. One of the first and perhaps most important things I have learned – and something I think Morgan wholly failed on – is that it is key to listen. You cannot assume that you can speak for anyone else’s experience. When Morgan had Mock on, he clearly wanted to talk about her relationship, not about her. He was not, seemingly, willing to hear her story or experience, and deprived his audience of hearing it. His guest was Mock, not Mock’s boyfriend, and by probing on this, Morgan wasted time he could have spent finding out about her life experience. He missed a major opportunity to not only show he was an ally, but also that he was willing to grow and become a better ally. By framing Mock as having been “a

boy until age 18” – the age at which she received genital reassignment surgery – is to ignore that the majority of transgender people do not view themselves as members of their birth gender at any age. Noting that Mock was “a boy” is simplistic, and doesn’t represent the experience of transgender people themselves. Again, Morgan missed an important issue here – and one that seems key to Mock’s book. I mentioned the angry response to Morgan’s interview among the transgender community, and the fact that the transgender community often responds in a very negative fashion to bad reporting and examples of socalled allies behaving badly. Truth be told, I agree that sometimes we as a community can get irrationally angry. We often take even the slightest offense very personally. To borrow from Morgan, I am on your side if you feel we come on a bit strong. Yet I also have to point out an important fact: when the transgender community has remained quiet, when we have rolled over, and when we have held our tongue, we have not fared well. We have had to learn to fight back, speak out, and be heard. This is why someone like Morgan claiming to be our ally while misgendering Mock – and while turning an interview into a sensationalist piece of tabloid television – elicited such a strong reaction. We’ve seen that happen for decades, and we like to think that some day we’ll be beyond interviews that treat us like something shocking. A few weeks before Morgan’s interview, Katie Couric interviewed Laverne Cox and Carmen Carrera. This interview, too, was problematic, focusing largely on genitals. The transgender community also reacted negatively. The difference is that Couric did not go on a tirade on Twitter, nor did she threaten to “deal with” Carrera or Cox the next night. Rather, she did a follow-up, explaining that she heard the outcry, and learned from Cox, Carrera, and the community. Perhaps some day Morgan will listen and learn, too. Unfortunately, today appears not to be that day.t Gwen Smith is rather enjoying Janet Mock’s book. You can find her online at gwensmith.com.

ebar.com

<< Politics

weddings • headshots• portraits

415-370-7152

www.stevenunderhill.com • stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

STEVENUNDERHILLPHOTOGRAPHY

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

ebar.com Write for the Best! FREELANCE NEWS REPORTERS The Bay Area Reporter – San Francisco’s largest LGBT weekly newspaper – has immediate openings for freelance news reporters. Responsibilities include: attending assigned meetings or events; necessary interviews; and writing news articles weekly. Coverage includes breaking news, City Hall, health, LGBT organizations, and other matters of interest. Availability should include at least one of the following: weekday daytime hours, evenings, or weekends to cover assigned events. News reporting experience preferred; newspaper background a plus. Candidates should demonstrate ability to write under deadline and be detail oriented. Send cover letter, resume, writing samples to: Cynthia Laird, News Editor,

225 Bush Street, Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94104 or e-mail to c.laird@ebar.com.

EQCA backs Perez in controller’s race by Matthew S. Bajko

Several candidates have filed to run for the seat, including former KPIX news anchor Dana King. Colbruno has yet to form a campaign committee or file the necessary paperwork to raise money. Urged to run by friends and community leaders, Colbruno told the B.A.R. that if any candidate he considers viable runs for the seat then he would drop out.

he state’s main LGBT advocacy group, Equality California, this week endorsed gay Assembly Speaker John A. Perez’s bid to be California’s next state controller. If he wins the race this fall, Perez would be the first out candidate elected to a statewide office and only the second known openly LGBT person to serve in one of California’s eight constitutional offices. The first is believed to be Tony Miller, a gay man and Democratic lawyer. He sought the secretary of state position in 1994 after he was appointed to fill the term of March Fong Eu when she was named an ambassador in the Clinton administration. In 1998 Miller again came up short in his bid for lieutenant governor. Perez (D-Los Angeles) is running against longtime Board of Equalization member Betty Yee, whose seat on the state tax board covers large swaths of the central and northern coastal counties, including the Bay Area. Green Party member and Oakland resident Laura Wells is again seeking the controller’s post, having run in 2010. No Republican has yet entered the race. Under the state’s primary system, where the top two vote-getters regardless of party affiliation advance to the general election, it is expected that Yee and Perez will be battling each other for the seat through November. “California is at the forefront of LGBT equality, and we owe that in large part to the efforts of Speaker Perez,” stated John O’Connor, EQCA executive director, in announcing the endorsement Tuesday, February 18. “We know that his election as controller would break a glass ceiling for openly LGBT candidates for elected office. It would be both symbolic and impactful for LGBT people in California and across the country.” In 2010 Perez’s colleagues elected him as the first openly gay speaker in the Assembly. This summer he plans to step down and turn over the gavel to Assemblywoman Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), the first lesbian lawmaker to hold the powerful post. “I am honored to have the support and endorsement of Equality California in my campaign for Controller,” stated Perez. “I look forward to ensuring LGBT Californians have equal rights and the tools to succeed in school, worksites and communities.” A number of LGBT leaders have also endorsed Perez in the race, including Congressman Mark Takano (D-Riverside); state Senators Cathleen Galgiani and Ricardo Lara; and Assembly members Atkins, Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), and Richard Gordon (D-Menlo Park). But Perez’s support within the state’s LGBT community is far from monolithic, as Yee has also attracted endorsements from a number of LGBT lawmakers and leaders. Among them are state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco); Oakland

SF chamber

From page 2

struction could be planned. “I’m a big believer in affordable housing,” he said. He pointed to the Marina, which he called one of the city’s nicest areas. He noted that neighborhood’s pattern of larger, multi-unit buildings on corners, with smaller houses in between.

Meetings detail SF transit changes

Oakland Port Commissioner Michael Colbruno, a wellknown gay Democrat in the Bay Area, recently pulled papers to run for a city council seat in his hometown. But he did so to encourage another candidate to run. After a well-known Oakland blogger reported on his entrance into the race for the city’s District 2 council seat, Colbruno took to Facebook to explain his reasoning “before the rumors of me running for elected office get out of hand.” Stating that the current field of candidates lacks “the experience and qualifications to run,” Colbruno wrote he hopes Peralta Community College Board of Trustees member Abel Guillen enters the race. “If he does, I will withdraw my filing and throw my full support behind him,” pledged Colbruno, a former planning commissioner for Oakland who once worked as an aide to lesbian former lawmaker Carole Migden. Guillen, who identifies as Two Spirit and dates both men and women, lost a bid for a state Assembly seat in 2012. He currently lives in a different council district and would need to move in order to seek the District 2 seat. “I am seriously considering running as I’ve received lots of encouragement to run from Oaklanders,” Abel told the Bay Area Reporter Wednesday. “I plan on make an announcement either way next week at the latest.” Councilwoman Pat Kernighan, who currently holds the District 2 seat, opted not to seek re-election. She was appointed to the seat when her boss, gay City Councilman Danny Wan, resigned in 2005 to care for his elderly parents. The seat represents Oakland’s Chinatown, Grand Lake, San Antonio, and Trestle Glen districts.

San Francisco transit officials will be conducting meetings over the next several weeks to hear community feedback on proposed route changes to various Muni routes. As the Political Notebook reported last August, significant changes are planned for Muni lines serving the gay-friendly Castro and Noe Valley neighborhoods. Proposed changes to the 37-Corbett serving Twin Peaks, Corona Heights, and the Haight would see the lengthy route be severed into two lines. The new 37-Corbett would solely service Twin Peaks and the Castro’s two Muni Metro stations. A new 32-Roosevelt route would provide service to Corona Heights and a portion of Cole Valley, but would no longer access the Haight. The 48-Quintara/24th Street, which traverses the Mission through Noe Valley out to West Portal, would no longer service residents living along steep streets off Grandview, Hoffman, and Douglass between 24th and 21st streets. To make up for the reduced service in the area, the 35-Eureka would be rerouted along Douglass Street and Hoffman Avenue via 24th and 21st streets. The bus line would continue to start at the Castro Muni station and would be extended to end its run at the Glen Park BART station. While transit officials say the reroutes will speed up bus times, the changes will also eliminate bus stops riders have used for decades and impact parking spaces as bus stops are relocated. Dubbed the Transit Effectiveness Project, it is the first major evaluation of the city’s transit service since the late 1970s. Many riders on the impacted routes, however, remain unaware of the proposed changes. To better educate riders, and gather the public’s input, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is hosting meetings around the city to focus on the changes in store for specific routes in those neighborhoods. The meeting for the changes on the 35 and 48 routes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 3, at the LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street. Two meetings on bus routes citywide are also planned, each to be held at the SFMTA Atrium, 2nd Floor, One South Van Ness Avenue. The first will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 6 and the second will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 8. The public can also send in feedback online via the website http:// www.tellmuni.com. To learn about all of the proposed Muni route changes visit http:// www.sfmta.com/node/97906.t

“Change zoning laws and do this in the Western Addition,” he said. Kieghran suggested that the Board of Supervisors should lose its power to create zoning ordinances. “We need accountability for the long haul,” he said. “Supervisors don’t think about the long haul.” The need for family housing was discussed. “There are so few kids in San

Francisco,” Erickson pointed out. “It’s difficult to build three bedroom units: you have to prove to the banks that your units will sell.” Concerns were expressed for congestion, and the possibility that San Francisco could become as dense as Manhattan. “We’re growing by ten thousand people a year,” said Rahaim. “We See page 7 >>

Rick Gerharter

Assembly Speaker John A. Perez spoke at San Francisco City Hall last week on the 10th anniversary of the “Winter of Love.”

Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan; Long Beach Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske; and West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon.

Gay man pulls papers for Oakland council race

International News>>

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Russian LGBTs seek asylum in US by Heather Cassell

n influx of Russian LGBTs fleeing the Slavic nation is landing on U.S. shores seeking asylum, according to queer immigration experts. Immigration Equality received 120 requests for assistance from LGBT Russians seeking asylum in 2013, Michael Sisitzky, a staff attorney for the organization, said during a recent online panel discussion about Russian LGBT human rights and the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Sisitzky said the number of requests doubled from 2012 to 2013, with the number of requests from Russian LGBTs spiking fourfold a month after President Vladimir Putin signed the anti-gay propaganda bill into law last summer. Immigration Equality is currently working on more than 30 asylum cases for Russian LGBTs when normally it worked on 11 cases from Russia a year, he said. Gay immigration attorney Okan Sengun in San Francisco agreed. “There is definitely an increase in Russian gay asylum applicants, especially in New York and San Francisco,” said Sengun. Two months ago at Christmas a group of gay nightclub workers and their manager, Arkady Gyngazov, showed up at Immigration Equality’s offices in Washington, D.C. Gyngazov, who is the former manager of Central Station Nightclub in Moscow, said life was good for him until recently. “My gay life was quite good,” said Gyngazov, who moved to Moscow from his small hometown in Siberia in 2006. He immediately built a life for himself as an openly gay man in the bustling Russian capital. He worked as a clerk and managed the nightclub, he said during the online discussion with LGBT and human rights experts, which was hosted by the National LGBT Bar Association. “I was never an activist,” said Gyngazov, whose life revolved around the nightclub. He never attended or organized gay Pride events or rallies, the club was his life, but life was rapidly becoming more difficult for him in Moscow. The situation became dire when he and the club were attacked by anti-gay rioters. He found that in spite of how difficult it was to leave his life in Moscow, he had to. He never hid his homosexuality and he didn’t want to begin now. Within the two months leading up to his leaving Russia, “It became more hard to meet my friends [and there were] some problems [that] started in the club,” he said.

SF chamber

From page 6

have a lot of undeveloped land. We also need to develop public transit, biking, and walking as an alternative to driving.” “The city is going to grow by 200,000 people,” said Erickson. “The Bay Area will grow by over a million. It’s going to happen whether we plan for it or not.” After the panel’s conclusion, former Mayor Willie Brown took to the podium to thunderous applause. During his speech, he said that he was alarmed to see organized labor and protesters speaking out against the policy of offering incentives to bring businesses to the city. Many activists have been sharply critical of the tax breaks given to Twitter in order to get the tech giant to set up its headquarters at Market and 8th

Rick Gerharter

Attorney Okan Sengun, left, helped win asylum for his client, Russian asylee Ivan K.

SF man wins asylum

Ivan K., a 26-year-old gay man who isn’t out to his family and didn’t want to have his full last name used because of concern for his family’s safety back in Russia, didn’t want to hide who he was either. Last May he sought and obtained asylum in San Francisco with the help of his friends and Sengun, his attorney. The B.A.R. met with Ivan at Sengun’s office in downtown San Francisco last month. The somewhat shy, but bubbly Ivan who traded Moscow for San Francisco was happy to be safe living and working at Trader Joe’s in the “gay mecca” where he is no longer threatened daily by being attacked simply because he is gay. Unlike in Moscow, he is out at work and surrounded by supportive co-workers – gay and straight – and bosses, he said. In Moscow, where he worked for Johnson and Johnson’s offices, Ivan watched as a new supervisor fired an out gay coworker. Ivan kept his sexuality hidden at work, but it wasn’t the life he envisioned for himself. Living in Moscow, where he moved from his small town in southern Russia when he was 22, he learned to be careful. He didn’t go to or leave gay nightclubs alone, but even taking those precautions didn’t protect him. He became a victim of many anti-gay assaults, he said. One sent him to the hospital with a cut in his eye and bruises. “I had a lot of accidents,” said Ivan, who described the anti-gay assaults as “accidents” and “situations.” “I saw a lot of bad situations.” Ivan began to search for the life he wanted and found it in San Francisco during a visit in 2012, but it would still be a year before he would return permanently. He returned to Moscow, but nearly a year later he suffered his final anti-gay assault. A month later he streets. Other start-ups have also taken advantage of the tax breaks. “There’s no justification for interfering with incentives,” Mr. Brown said. Brown, the city’s first African American mayor, also raised the issue of race. “There are people who don’t want people of different races, colors, and cultures to come here,” he said. “Why haven’t we thought of making Third Street a corridor and rezone it so housing can be built?” Third Street is the major thoroughfare in the Bayview, a largely African American neighborhood. Brown called for the appointment of a housing czar. “The czar would be your and my advocate,” he said. “The czar would ask what are you doing to increase productivity and let the world know.” He called upon the chamber to drive the process to create housing.t

left Moscow to study in Toronto, Canada and then made his way back to San Francisco to visit friends by May 2013. By that time the situation in Russia for LGBTs was rapidly dete-

riorating into a series of violent incidents that were sometimes deadly. Then Putin signed the anti-gay bill into law. “For me, it is dangerous back in Russia and be openly gay,” said Ivan, who holds degrees in engineering and law. “My American friends advised me, ‘Hey you can’t go back to Russia. You should stay here.’” His friends introduced him to Sengun, who used to work for the Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration. Sengun fast-tracked Ivan’s asylum case and within two months, an unusually quick turnaround, his asylum was granted. Asylum is typically a last resort because it is a tedious and long process in most cases, said Sengun. Immigration Equality’s Sisitzky agreed. “Ideally we wouldn’t be in a situation where people have to flee their home countries and activists there could actually work to realize some kind of positive change,” said Sisitzky, who sees asylum as an

“escape hatch” once situations in countries get to a point where it’s no longer safe. “When it gets so bad to the point when those activists who are just everyday people are no longer safe, no longer comfortable [to] live their lives there,” said Sisitzky, “they know that if they make it to the U.S. they can receive a claim for asylum.” Ivan saw his life in Russia as he knew it had ended. He tolerated the situation until he was in fear of his safety if he returned. “It’s very important to love ... and give your love for other people,” said Ivan. He never described himself as an activist, but now he wants to return to school to become a documentary filmmaker to tell gay people’s stories and to create a campaign to help support LGBT Russians. “I want to be who I am. [It] is very important to me to be honest and be open,” said Ivan. “I think that its main part of success [is] to be open and be honest with yourself.”t

e m Ga , n o ! s Ir Just W2 or unemployment income under $100k? Professional tax preparation

Just $97 While you wait.

Done. Clean. Fast. Simple.

Johnston Tax Group Jeff Johnston, EA, LL.M. (Tax) 2327 Market near Noe, San Francisco, CA

415-294-1040

www.johnstontaxgroup.com/bar

<< Community News

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

AOF prepares for ‘Emerald’ gala by Seth Hemmelgarn

San Francisco nonprofit that’s raised more than $8.5 million to support Bay Area HIV and AIDS charities since it started more than 30 years ago is preparing for its annual Academy Awards gala. Academy of Friends will hold “Return to the Emerald City” from 5 to 11:30 p.m. Sunday, March 2 at Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison Street, San Francisco. AOF board Chair Howard Edelman noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the film The Wizard of Oz, and the theme also honors Oz-related works such as the film The Wiz and the musical Wicked, all of which have huge followings in the LGBT community. For the gala, “the feeling is like you’re going to Oz, and when you

enter you’ll be wowed with magic and the mystical, and exciting props and characters,” said Edelman. “It should be a lot of fun.” He quipped that there may not be any Munchkins at the gala, but “I’m sure we’re going to have some Dorothies and witches.” Last year, the organization gave away $75,000 to its benefitting organizations, and Edelman said the goal this year is to exceed that. All of the money raised through gala and raffle ticket sales, and through the silent auction, goes to beneficiaries. AOF uses money from corporate and individual sponsors to pay for the gala. The budget for this year’s event is “just over” $100,000, which is about the same as the cost of last year’s budget. “We’ve raised enough money to

pay for the gala,” said Edelman, so any money that comes in now will go to beneficiaries, including funds from sponsors. There are “no set requirements” for beneficiaries, but money the groups raise is tracked and is distributed to them after the gala, he said. LGBTQ Connection, which is based in Napa, is one AOF’s six partners for 2014. Ian Stanley, the group’s program director, said LGBTQ Connection’s budget is approximately $170,000, and being an AOF partner will help “dramatically.” Among other benefits, the distribution from the gala will help the group expand its HIV prevention offerings. “The San Francisco Bay Area community cares about people living with HIV and AIDS,” said Edelman. “That’s what they show when they

support our organization. ... I wish we had a cure and there was no more HIV and no more AIDS,” but the disease is “still here, and I’m just touched there are still a lot of really caring people out there.” Aside from viewing the Oscar program on large-screen TVs, entertainment will include Melange, which Edelman described as a group “that promotes diversity in fashion.” The organization will do “a high-powered fashion show.” Some of the Bay Area’s finest restaurants and caterers will provide food, and there will also be champagne and wine. General admission tickets are $250 each. VIP tickets are only offered to individual and corporate sponsors. For more information visit www.academyoffriends.org.t

Steven Underhill

The Academy of Friends Oscar viewing party is known for its eye candy, such as dancer Chad Stewart, who performed at last year’s event.

Midsize sedans vary in style, handling by Philip Ruth

his month, we’ll look at three midsize sedans with different powerplants – a turbo four-cylinder (VW Passat SEL), a four-cylinder hybrid (Kia Optima Hybrid), and a V6 (Toyota Camry XLE). Then click over to the web, and we’ll look at the hybrid versus gas benefits with two small hatchbacks, the Toyota Prius C and the Nissan Versa Note SL.

Volkswagen Passat SEL, $31,715, 192-inch length, 28 mpg. Let’s start with the car equipped

with the turbo, which in this case works as a booster for the Passat’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder. This engine has similar power ratings to the larger 2.5-liter four that comes with the lower S trim, but it notches up a couple more miles per gallon, with an EPA rated 24 mpg city and 28 mpg projected overall. That’s competitive with others in this segment, but the long shadow of the Honda Accord is felt here, as that car’s 2.4-liter four pulls 27 mpg city and produces more horsepower and torque than the VW’s turbo. Where the Passat kills the Accord – and pretty much everything else in the

Stuart Morrison Smith

December 7, 1940–February 3, 2014

Stuart (Stu) Morrison Smith died after a brief battle with cancer on Monday, February 3, surrounded by old friends and family members including his beloved husband, Dave Earl. Mr. Smith was 73.

Stu was a lifelong Bay Area resident and a larger-thanlife figure in San Francisco, the city he adored and where he had lived for more than 40 years. A fifth-generation Californian, he was born on December 7, 1940 in Palo Alto to Morrison Stuart Smith and Carolyn Elizabeth Smith, both now deceased.

After attending Foothill College and majoring in philosophy at San Jose State University Stu partnered with a childhood friend to lead an electronics manufacturing firm in Palo Alto. He worked there until the early 1970s, when he departed for San Francisco to enter the bar and restaurant business. From then until the mid-1990s he owned or managed a series of quintessentially San Francisco dining and drinking establishments, including Zott’s, the Chestnut Street Bar and Grill, the Baja Beach Club, 39 Main in Tiburon and Harpoon Louie’s. Stu was a “front-of-the-house” operator - a master publican - seemingly always present and happily working the crowd, telling stories (some of them true) and making his customers feel like they were right at the center of the action. In the mid 1990s, Stu pivoted yet again, this time to a life dedicated almost entirely to serving others. He worked for many civic and nonprofit organizations as both a volunteer and a leader. Last year he received the KQED LGBT Local Hero Award, in recognition of his contributions, at a gala event held at the Castro Theater. Stu’s efforts as an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, with which he was intensely involved almost daily from 1993 until only days before his death, became his passion and served as his philosophical touchstone for all his work that followed with other organizations. He was a sponsor, mentor and friend to innumerable people in recovery. He was Board Chair and later Board Chair Emeritus at the Shanti Project, where he also served as a volunteer for 18 years. He was a board member of the Gladstone Institute and the San Francisco Paratransit Coordinating Council. He served on the San Francisco LGBT Aging Policy Task Force, as a member of the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury, and as a volunteer adjudicator for the District Attorney’s office. He worked with the UCSF AIDS Research Center and the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation. He was actively involved for many years with the Castro Country Club, a clean and sober gathering place and one of his favorite places to hangout and find fellowship. Stu’s passion for hamburgers led him on quests far and wide to find the best burger, and he wrote “The Burger Bible” to share his findings. On Yelp, his tireless and well-documented pursuit of this elusive goal earned him the title “Burger Guru.” He hosted two local television shows – Face 2 Face with Stu Smith and The Drag Show. And he was a frequent contributing columnist the San Francisco Bay Times, opining on an eclectic range of topics from the abuse of handicapped parking privileges to the scarcity of affordable housing in San Francisco. Through the arc of his remarkable life, Stu touched countless people with his gentle wisdom, his sense of humor, his seemingly endless energy, his quiet humility and his uncanny ability to make others feel like they really mattered. He is survived by his husband, William David Earl of San Francisco, his brother, Stephen Baxter Smith of Sarasota, FL, his nieces Samantha Jeanne Smith of Burlingame and Julie Black of Oregon and niece-by-marriage Nancy Carolyn Glover of Campbell, his nephews Spencer Calvin Smith, also of Campbell and Cameron Baxter Smith, of Sunnyvale, his cousin Sharon Anne von Haesler of Lower Lake (CA), and Janet Ely, his former sister-in-law and dear friend since high school. His other brother, Gary Arthur Smith, predeceased him. A celebration of Stu’s life will be held on Sunday, March 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Julia Morgan Ballroom of the Merchant’s Exchange Building, 465 California Street, San Francisco. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Shanti Project at www.razoo.com/story/The-Stu-Smith-Memorial-Fund

Philip Ruth

The Volkswagen Passat comes with comfortable rear legroom and competent handling.

The Kia Optima Hybrid comes with great styling, not so great throttle response.

mid-size segment – is in rear legroom, with a measurement that tops 39 inches. Whether you’re hauling clients or cuddling up with your honey at the Twin Peaks overlook, the Passat’s rear expansiveness never gets old. Competent handling also helps the Passat earn its keep. It’s not the sporty European car you were hoping it would be – VW has to appeal to too many buyers for that kind of specialized feel – but there’s enough starch in the suspension to continually feed your confidence. Of course VW’s hot ticket is its TDI turbo-diesel engine, which is available across its car lines and would be my choice. City mileage jumps to 30 mpg, and while horsepower dips to 140, there lies 54 more pound-feet of torque under your right foot than with an Accord LX’s four, and that means clean and clear takeoffs from a stop. That kind of instant power is gratifying indeed. The four grand or so you’ll spend extra for the TDI will be more than made up for in resale value; take a look at used TDI values on Craigslist, and you’ll see what I mean. If I were in the market, the TDI’s benefit might be enough for me to overlook the interior’s slight cheapness. Priced about the same as the TDI is the new-for-2014 Passat Sport, which has larger wheels and upgraded trim. It comes with the 1.8-liter and aims a target at the Accord Sport, which is a car all buyers in this segment should drive before buying.

Kia

Kia Optima Hybrid, $32,725, 191-inch length, 37 mpg. The Optima is a pretty amazing car, but I’d skip this hybrid version. The extra efficiency is great, but initial throttle response is weak enough that I developed a habit of flooring the accelerator and then backing off when the power finally kicked in. That’s a sure way to kill the hybrid’s benefit, and in the city’s stop-andgo, drastic measures are needed to keep the Optima Hybrid in the mix. But back to the amazing part: this Kia’s boutique styling and relentlessly high quality makes this upstart marque seem like it’s older than Oldsmobile and more underdog than Mini. Forget the crap Kia put out out a decade ago; this Optima had ‘luxury sedan’ written all over it, from the elegant sweep of the roof to the gentle hug of the seats. The instrument panel clusters the controls in cozy frame, and the panoramic sunroof that comes standard in the EX feels expansive. Value for the money? Kia makes it look easy. This Optima Hybrid also earned its stripes with emergency handling that prevented a collision with a car that ran a stop sign. I slammed on the brakes and then let up enough for the front tires to get a bite for the steer-around, and unlike some other heavy-feeling hybrids, the Optima was totally cool with all the sudden braking and steering. Like the Passat, it had a reassuring com-

Obituaries >> Roy Gager July 5, 1948 – January 26, 2014 Roy Gager died in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 26, 2014. Cause of death was prostate cancer. Born on July 5, 1948, in San Francisco, Roy will be remembered for his love and support of the arts, his generous nature, and his many friendships in New Mexico and California. Roy graduated with a B.A. in history from Sonoma State University. Most recently he served as a supervisor for Bernalillo County Metropolitan Assessment and

Treatment Services. He worked for many years in the Sonoma County HIV Prevention and Testing Program, as well as Drug Abuse Alternatives Center in Santa Rosa as coordinator of its HIV program, later serving as director of HIV prevention for the state of California. Many friends and relatives, including his brother, Ray Gager, and wife, Deborah Akers, of Portland, Oregon; his sister, Linda, and husband, Gary Schindler, of Petaluma; and nephews Shawn and Ryan, survive him. A memorial service is being planned at a later date. Contributions can be made to the Hammer LGBT Educational Archives Project, P.O. Box 25881, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87125 (www.hammerarchives. com), or a charity of your choice.

Philip Ruth

The new Toyota Camry is muscle-car powerful.

petence that endeared it. I’m sure that either the four- or six-cylinder engine would endear it even more.

Toyota

Toyota Camry XLE V6, $34,120, 189-inch length, 25 mpg. It’s a bit ironic that hybrid-happy Toyota is represented here by a stomping V6 engine, with 268 horses bridling under your right foot. City gas mileage drops to 21 mpg with 25 overall, but who cares? This thing is muscle-car powerful, and its shining moment was passing a smoky old truck heading up to the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin side: it launched up that long hill like it was juiced from a round of squats. Other mid-size sedans have powerful V6s too, so it’s not a Toyota exclusive, but anyone who calls a Camry boring hasn’t been through a week of trying to restrain themselves from attracting some very expensive speeding tickets. The rest of the Camry retains its extremely mainstream focus; it feels simple and durable, like a car you’d buy at Target. Two aspects that took it a little too far down the discount road were leather seating surfaces that appeared vinyl-like and molded fake stitching around the center stack that recalled the tacky door panels of the Chevette on which I learned to drive. Gag me with a spoon! Otherwise it was as you’d expect – comfortable, and easy to use. If you’re buying a Camry, you’ll want to seek out a 2014 model that was built after December 2013, as its crash design was significantly improved on the heels of receiving a “Poor” rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s punishing new offset crash test. Later Camrys earn a “Good” rating, and one look online at the difference between those crashed Camrys shows how much more crumple space the driver has with the upgrades. The post-December 2013 Camry looks no different on the outside but is clearly a safer car, and Toyota gets props for giving more than a damn about safety.t Philip Ruth is an automotive journalist and consultant at http://www.gaycarguy.com.

Community News>>

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

Expanding SF Pride board honors Manning by Seth Hemmelgarn

s it appoints new members and seeks a few more, the board of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Committee has named Chelsea Manning an honorary grand marshal for the 2014 parade. The honor, decided at the board’s February meeting, is part of the panel’s effort to apologize to the community for mishandling a situation last year in which Manning was named a grand marshal before the board rescinded the honor. Manning is the transgender Army private convicted of espionage for releasing classified U.S. documents to WikiLeaks. She is now serving a 35-year sentence at a military prison. New to the Pride board are Michelle Sinhbandith (a.k.a. Michelle Meow), 31, a Pride parade co-host, and Don Wagda, 38, an attorney. In a news release, board President Gary Virginia said Sinhbandith and Wagda “bring enthusiasm, experience and needed media, business

SF Pride

From page 1

Ridgely said he has a “pretty wellrounded idea of what takes place” at Pride. Over the years he has marched in the parade, been on the main stage, attended the VIP party inside San Francisco City Hall, and gone to the festival. Last year, he had a unique vantage spot inside the bunker on Turk Street inside the Office of Emergency Services. “I’m so glad I did that now,” he said.

Sponsorships

The Pride organization relies on corporate sponsorships to cover much of the cost of the parade. The organization, which has a $1.7 mil-

and legal skills to Pride’s board. They are hitting the ground running” as the organization secures sponsors, reviews its governance policies, and prepares for long-term strategic planning. Sinhbandith, an out lesbian, has cohosted the television coverage of the Pride Parade for the past seven years, and she also hosts the San Franciscobased Swirl Radio and Swirl TV. “For all the years I’ve been involved with Pride on the media side, it was a natural evolution to be a little bit more active in the necessary changes,” said Sinhbandith. Wagda, who’s gay, is an attorney in private practice specializing in corporate law, including nonprofit governance, with recent experience in First Amendment litigation. He’s also been involved in organizations including Castro Community on Patrol. “This is a good opportunity for me to bring my skills to bear in service to the organization,” said Wagda. The controversy around Pride’s treatment of Manning last year eventually led to several new memlion budget, also receives some city funding. In addition to the controversy last year of the previous board’s rescinding grand marshal honors for Chelsea Manning, an Army private who was convicted of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks, there was some debate in the community about whether Pride should seek corporate sponsorships, which is also the main reason Pride remains a free event, although donations are requested at the festival gates. “I have not found the temperature to be anti-sponsorship.” Ridgely said of the board. “I think everyone on the board realizes that sponsorships are key to the event.” Funders and sponsors, he continued, want to meet Pride leadership

Courtesy SF Pride

Michelle Sinhbandith (a.k.a. Michelle Meow) is a new Pride board member.

bers being elected to Pride’s board and the resignation of former Pride CEO Earl Plante. “The current Pride board feels we’re publicly apologizing to [Manning] and her supportand the first thing they ask, he said, is about his background. In recent years, social media and tech companies have been Pride sponsors – Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was spotted in last year’s parade – but since then tenants and others have taken issue with what they see as tech workers forcing out longtime residents and an uptick in evictions that many link to the tech sector as well as the development of several market-rate condo buildings. Ridgely said that he would welcome such companies as Pride sponsors. “I hope they would take the opportunity to show their support,” he said. “I am aware of the PR around tech companies but I think support-

Rick Gerharter

Attorney Don Wagda also joined the Pride board.

ers, and making her an honorary grand marshal to make amends for last year,” Virginia said in an interview last week. “She’s worthy of the honor for exposing war crimes and advocating for transgender rights within the prison system.” ing Pride would go a long way to show that they are part of the fabric of the community.”

Contractors

The Pride Committee depends on contractors to run everything from the parade to the main stage to the beverage booths. Most of them have worked for San Francisco Pride for years and almost all are returning, Ridgely said. At times during the interview, Ridgely used the term staff to refer to contractors. “Contractors equal staff,” he said. “We’re all a team.” Audrey Joseph, the longtime main stage producer who has said at various times over the years that

With the addition of the two new members, the Pride board has 10 directors and is looking for another three. Transgender people, women, and people of color are encouraged to apply, as well as people with experience in fundraising, finance, and nonprofit governance. Those interested in joining the board should send an email to president@sfpride.org. The Pride board also decided at its February meeting to no longer allow military recruiters at the annual festival, after recruiters’ presence last year sparked an outcry. Among other reasons for the ban, Virginia cited transgender people not being able to serve openly in the military. Virginia said recruiters haven’t applied for a booth. This year’s Pride festivities are set for June 28-29. The theme is “Color Our World with Pride.” For more information, visit www.sfpride.org.t Full disclosure: The Bay Area Reporter contributes some news content to Swirl Radio.

she would not come back, will be returning, Ridgely said. “I love working with Audrey,” he added. The feeling apparently is mutual. In an email, Joseph said she was very happy that Ridgely was hired as executive director. “Working with George is like a breath of fresh air – finally someone who speaks my language and who understands the challenges,” Joseph said. “I am very excited about George at the helm and feel confident that the contractors will get what they need and their opinions will be respected.” Marsha Levine is the longtime parade manager. Last year she was elected to the Pride board of direcSee page 10 >>

3 big offers. Choose before they’re...

123gone!

Time is running out to take advantage of our best offer ever. Choose from three incredible options.

FREE Classic Beverage Packages* for two, includes wine and spirits

FREE Gratuities* for two

Onboard Credit up to $300* per stateroom

Plus, each additional guest* in your stateroom will receive a FREE Classic Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package and a FREE Internet Package. It’s not too late to enjoy incredible savings on a modern, upscale vacation. Book a Caribbean or Alaska vacation by February 28 and choose the offer that best fits your style. Or, plan a European getaway and choose TWO of the three offers.

Experience it at celebritycruises.com/sf To book, call 1-888-456-7887 or contact your travel agent. *Visit celebritycruises.com/sf for full terms and conditions. Cruise must be booked 11/29/13–2/28/14 (the “Offer Period”). Offers applies to 3-night and longer cruises departing 2/2014 – 3/2015; ocean view and higher staterooms booked at the non-discounted standard cruise fare. Offer excludes Celebrity Xpedition, Transatlantic and Transpacific cruises. Offer applies to new individual bookings and to staterooms in non-contracted group bookings that are named and deposited during the Offer Period. The first two guests choose two options for European sailings and one option for all other sailings: Classic Beverage Package for Two, Free Gratuities for Two, or Onboard Credit (“OBC”); guests must select the same option(s). Triple and higher occupancy guests each receive one 38-minute internet package and one Classic Non-Alcoholic Beverage Package. One Offer per stateroom. ©2014 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta & Ecuador.

6983hd CELsfBayAreaReporter.indd 1

2/14/14 3:39 PM

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

10 ••BBAY AYA AREA REAR REPORTER EPORTER • February February20-26, 20-26,2014 2014

Jock Talk

From page 1

said. “I make it very clear my show deals with racism. He was the poster boy for racism. I did two and a half years of research, reading and talking with people who knew him.” The work is distilled in an 80-minute script, which he has performed from Half Moon Bay to Cooperstown. “I never wrote anything except business letters, and I never acted a day in my life until I started in the local repertory theatre,” Coleman said with a laugh. “But I’m a big ham. The idea of being on stage really appealed to me.” A note of intrigue sounds in Coleman’s voice when he talks about Cobb. “He grew up in the South,” he said. “His father was a liberal-minded man, an educated man, and admired Abraham Lincoln. He grew up in a middle class family and they had some African Americans who lived and worked on the farm. They were friends, boys he played with. But he was part of the American culture, and there were no African American players playing in major league baseball then.” “He does point that out,” Coleman continued, “when he’s asked by a reporter back then that he was the poster boy for racism and he had issues with blacks, he points out baseball was segregated and reminds the audience the military was segregated. He, however, had a big change of heart when he traveled around and saw black baseball in the 1930s and

SF Pride

From page 9

tors where she is vice president but both she and Ridgely said that there would not be a conflict of interest. In an email to the B.A.R., Levin said that she would “make a strong and conservative practice to recuse myself from voting on those items that would seem in conflict with my role as parade manager.” Levine also said that Pride’s bylaws, as well as the California Nonprofit Corporation Code, allow an organization to have a ceiling of 49 percent interested persons serve on a board of directors. “The Controller’s office noted this was allowable in their report of 2010,” she added. “Our legal counsel did not see this as a concern, unless we went past the ceiling,” Levine said. Ridgely said that most of all, he is not looking to “reinvent the wheel” and that he needs to see and experience this year’s Pride parade and festival before possible changes are instituted in the next cycle. He

Retreats

From page 3

The retreat last year, he said, ended up being life changing for him. “I went there and had a lot of baggage,” he said. Unsure about what to do for work and worried about his housing situation, Crisostomo also felt disconnected from the city’s LGBT community, having been away for so long. “At the retreat we were talking about envisioning our future. What do we actually see for ourselves. I got really excited about my future for the first time in a long time,” said Crisostomo, who became friends with a number of his fellow participants. “When I walk into the Castro, I don’t feel like such a stranger anymore. It just really made me feel like this is the place for me to be and what I should be doing.” Cassin has two more retreats already lined up at Saratoga Springs, one this weekend and a second scheduled for early April titled “The Healing Power of Community – Facing HIV Together.” The retreats are designed for “a

1940s. Satchel Paige and all those guys. When he found out they were bringing Jackie Robinson up, he met privately with Commissioner Happy Chandler and said it’s about time we ended segregation; it was a lousy rule. He became more open minded toward the end of his life.” Coleman talked about an educational foundation in Georgia that Cobb started to help the poor afford college “with no racial barrier” and a hospital for the poor he founded. “I’ve talked with women who said they were the first women in their families to give birth in a hospital,” Coleman said. The idea of the unspoken barrier in baseball keeping out African Americans was something to which Coleman, as a closeted gay man, could relate. “I’ve been gay all my life,” he said. “When I went into the army – that was before ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ – they asked me that question, was I gay, and of course I lied. You just didn’t let anybody know, because if you did, you were court-martialed. I was stationed near New York City and would go to the gay bars on weekends. I was about as butch as your can get, but I was also as gay as you could be. I walked that double life.” In recent years, Coleman said, he’s settled down. “My son is 35 and he knows, but it’s not a subject we talk about much,” he said. “I’m not sure his wife knows. I don’t go to gay bars. I don’t drink. I live a very quiet life here in town. I’m at peace with myself. There’s a line in the Bible that says yea shall know the truth and the truth shall set yea free.”t noted that there is a “huge” change in the board this year – in addition to several new members elected last fall, the board appointed two others last week and the Pride Committee is looking for three more people – as well as him being new to the job. “The change in leadership is the big change in Pride for this year,” he said. Asked whether the Pride parade and festival are still needed, Ridgely was unequivocal. He said that his sister, niece and nephews came out for Pride about six years ago when the kids ranged in age from 12-16. “They still talk about it. It was still impactful,” he said. “I’ve been to Pride celebrations for 30 years but there are still a lot of kids” for whom “this is their first experience and I think it’s important for them.” He added that San Francisco’s event is the only televised parade in the U.S., and that the webcast draws over 400,000 viewers. “We reach people way outside our metropolis,” he said. “There are queers in small towns who watch the parade.”t full spectrum of guys,” said Cassin, whether they feel broken or not from having survived the AIDS epidemic. “It is for anyone that lived through this period of time,” he said. “I believe it is for someone who just feels like they just want to honor themselves and our community and what that experience was like.” There is a sliding fee of $199-$449 based on each attendee’s ability to pay, and the cost includes meals and lodging. Cassin has been raising money to offer scholarships for participants with limited funds. One agency that has provided financial support is Shanti, where Cassin recently began working as a peer counselor for the HIV LIFE program. An administrator of the program did not respond to a request for comment by press time. “Shanti has been very generous in providing scholarships and I am incredibly grateful for it,” said Cassin. “I am still hoping other AIDS organizations and individuals will step up and help make sure no one is turned away.” To register for an upcoming retreat, visit www.saratogasprings.com/ retreats/retreats-events.html.t

Legal Notices>> SUMMONS (FAMILY LAW) SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: HUAI CHEN YAP YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: ROVSHEN KERIMOV CASE NO. FDI-13-780509 You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (form FL-120 or FL-123) at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter or phone call will not protect you. If you do not file your Response on time, the court may make orders affecting your marriage or domestic partnerships, your property, and custody of your children. You may be ordered to pay support and attorney fees and costs. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the clerk for a fee waiver form. If you want legal advice, contact a lawyer immediately. You can get information about finding lawyers at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), or by contacting your local county bar association. NOTICE: The restraining orders following are effective against both spouses or domestic partners until the petition is dismissed, a judgment entered, or the court makes further orders. These orders are enforceable anywhere in California by any law enforcement officer who has received or seen a copy of them. NOTE: If a judgment or support order is entered, the court may order you to pay all or part of the fees and costs that the court waived for yourself or the other party. If this happens, the party ordered to pay fees shall be given notice and an opportunity to request a hearing to set aside the order to pay waived court fees. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, 400 MCALLISTER ST., SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. The name, address, and telephone number of petitioner’s attorney, or the petitioner without an attorney, is: IRINA AEROV, 789 CABRILLO ST., SAN FRANCSICO, CA 94102, PH (415) 387-9028 NOV 27, 2013 Clerk of the Superior Court by Timmy Kyu, Deputy. NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served as an individual.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035602500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KML ASSOCIATES, 274 15TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KENT M. LIM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/22/14.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035603400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RC LEADS, 2025 BRODERICK ST. #3, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHRISTOPHER JAMES PORTUGAL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/23/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/23/14.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035603800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LOGAN POTTER SALON, 28 SOUTH PARK, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LOGAN POTTER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/23/14.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035610300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TRINKERS INTL., 888 BRANNAN ST. #1177,SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed TRINKERS INTL (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/27/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/27/14.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035611400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SURE ROOFING & WATERPROOFING, 118 SAGAMORE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SURE ROOFING SYSTEMS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/27/14.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035599800

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035611100

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035590500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SENSATIONAL KIDZ, 2360 GREENWICH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SENSATIOAL KIDZ PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/27/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/27/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ACCESS LIFE & WEALTH MANAGEMENT, 9 HAWKINS LANE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed EDGAR A. CERON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/16/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/16/14.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035598000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FITNESS URBANO, 250 DOUGLAS ST. #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed METAS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/21/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/21/14.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035595900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FLORAL IMAGE SAN FRANCISCO, 3031 W. MARCH LANE #230, STOCKTON, CA 95219. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed LNCJ, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/21/14.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035605400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BARMATT, 1175 CHESTNUT ST. #304, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed OUT OF WORK SUPERHEROES LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/23/14.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035605900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TENDER, 854 GEARY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed 854 GEARY, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/15/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/23/14.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC14-550090 In the matter of the application of: GEYLOR RODOLFO BALMACEDA, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner GEYLOR RODOLFO BALMACEDA, is requesting that the name GEYLOR RODOLFO BALMACEDA, be changed to DILLON BALMACEDA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 10th of April 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC14-550089 In the matter of the application of: SHIREEN YVETTE HUSAIN, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner SHIREEN YVETTE HUSAIN, is requesting that the name SHIREEN YVETTE HUSAIN, be changed to SHIREEN YVETTE WETMORE. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 3rd of April 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC14-550086 In the matter of the application of: DINO MARIO RENAUD, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner DINO MARIO RENAUD, is requesting that the name DINO MARIO RENAUD, be changed to NICHOLAS RENAULT. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 8th of April 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035625700

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035633200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NICK FIT, 379 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NICHOLAS SMITH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/05/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/04/14.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035617100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: APS IMPORTERS, 309 WALLER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CAROL ELLEN BERBERICH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/2814.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035626500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ABANTE LAW, 201 SPEAR ST. #1100, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CLAUDIA JEANNETTE CASTILLO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/31/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/31/14.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035631200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HENG FENG TRADING USA, 652 BELLEVUE AVE, DALY CITY, CA 94014. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ZHI QIANG HUO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/04/14.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035621400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ELEGBEDE BROTHERS; ELE-BROS, 1091 BUSH ST. ROOM 511, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed MASHKOOR ADETUNJI ELEGBEDE & MUAZZAM BABATUNDE ELEGBEDE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/27/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/29/14.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035629411 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BOOST; BOOSTED; BOOST CAR; BOOSTER; GET BOOST; BOOST INC; BOOST CORP; BOOST ME; BOOST NOW; ZEPHYR; ZEPHYR CAR; ZEPHYR CARS INC; 1366 TURK ST. #3C, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ZEPHYR WAY INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/13. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/03/14.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035599400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MISSION TIRES, 3160 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SAN FRANCISCO CAR CARE, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/02/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/21/14.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035603000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MOVING SERVICES, 1567 25TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CAL BAY INC, (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/23/14.

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-034138300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAMBINI MONTESSORI SCHOOL, 2042 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed NORTH HILL LEARNING CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/21/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/21/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SHWE MANDALAY, 2107 32ND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HTUN MYAT OO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/31/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/31/14.

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: ZADIN, 4039 18TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by TWO COUSINS LLC (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/17/12.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2014

FEB 06, 13, 20, 27, 2014

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035635400

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035648300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TOP LINE APPAREL, 5009 3RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SARA FRANCISCA BONILLA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/31/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/05/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TOP MARK TOURS, 435 BROADWAY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARK GITTUS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/11/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/11/14.

FEB 13, 20, 27, MAR 06, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035647300

FEB 20, 27, MAR 06, 13, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035595200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FARM TO VINE TOURS, 3055 CALIFORNIA ST #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JANETTE DECAIRE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/05/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/10/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: S&J SUPPLY, 572 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed SAMUEL GENTHNER & JAMES FERNANDEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/17/14.

FEB 13, 20, 27, MAR 06, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035633300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GT APPREAL, 1563 MISSION ST 2ND FL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GWENDOLINE TAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/02/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/04/14.

FEB 13, 20, 27, MAR 06, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035616500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: II-CHA, 1222 NORIEGA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed IST, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/14/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/14/14.

FEB 13, 20, 27, MAR 06, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035603100

FEB 20, 27, MAR 06, 13, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035652800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOLDEN GATE PARK GOLF DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, 970 47TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed GOLDEN GATE PARK GOLF DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/23/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/23/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KROYER CYCLES LLC, 3210 B 22ND ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed KROYER CYCLES LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/12/14.

FEB 13, 20, 27, MAR 06, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035626100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FIDELITY MORTGAGE, 100 CALIFORNIA ST #1100, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BAY EQUITY LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/01/09. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/31/14.

FEB 13, 20, 27, MAR 06, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-034284703

Tech Support>>

Business Opportunities>>

MACINTOSH HELP

Chiropractic Business

* home or office * 23 years exp * sfmacman.com

Solo female DC retiring, Residential setting; Well equipped, furnished, inventory; Desirable Oakland neighborhood, 20 years same location; Close to schools, shopping, etc.; Access to 2 freeways; Seller has reduced hours - opportunity to increase revenue; Asking Price $49,000; Seller may assist in financing. A rare business opportunity in deed

R ic k 41 5. 82 1 . 1 792

PC Support

Contact Robert J. (Bob) Heger, Broker; dre # 467678; T: 510.384.1043; bob@bizreadybrokers.com

Ralph Doore 415-867-4657

Professional 30+ years exp. Virus removal PC speedup New PC setup Data recovery Network & wireless setup Discreet

Gaylesta2x2_0610CN Gaylesta2x2_0610CN

Counseling>>

FEB 20, 27, MAR 06, 13, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035664400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PIZZERIA DE BRUNO, 1330 9TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BM HOLDINGS, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/18/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SORELLA SWEETS, 2002 BUCHANAN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SORELLA SWEETS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/04/14.

Classifieds The

FEB 20, 27, MAR 06, 13, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035661000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: IGLESIA CHRISTIANA NO TEMAS QUE YO ESTOY CONTIGO, 3476 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed IGLESIA CHRISTIANA NO TEMAS QUE YO ESTOY CONTIGO (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/28/14.

FEB 13, 20, 27, MAR 06, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035634300

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

 Yelp reviews

Visit our website to view profiles of over 150 therapists. PSYCHOTHERAPY –

Robert Norgaard, LMFT (mfc 42553) Psychotherapy + EMDR for Trauma Hayes Valley WWW.ROBERTMFT.COM 415.419.2404

FEB 20, 27, MAR 06, 13, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035654000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE CASTANET GROUP, LLC, 475 CONNECTICUT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed THE CASTANET GROUP, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/27/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/12/14.

FEB 20, 27, MAR 06, 13, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035656400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BENEDICT ARNOLDS, 930 UNION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed FOOD REVOLUTION LLC, (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/13/14.

FEB 20, 27, MAR 06, 13, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035601100

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: BANKERS PREFERRED, 100 CALIFORNIA ST #1100, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business was conducted by a limited liability company, and signed by BAY EQUITY LLC (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/10/12.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ANNA’S COTTAGE COLLECTIONS, 245 WEST PORTAL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed ANNEMARIE HIGGINS & KENNETH L. HIGGINS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/22/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/22/14.

FEB 13, 20, 27, MAR 06, 2014

FEB 20, 27, MAR 06, 13, 2014

Movers>>

Confidential referrals made to licensed psychotherapists who understand our community. Referrals are available to LGBTQ therapists on all insurance plans. Visit www.Gaylesta.org and click on “Find a Therapist.” Or email us at contact@gaylesta.org

Legal Services>>

Household Services>> CLEANING PROFESSIONAL –

Vacation>>

26 Years Exp. (415) 794-4411 Roger Miller

Splendid China- 9 days 2/26-3/6/2014 $999

HOUSECLEANING SINCE 1979 –

Call 650-652-5685 www.ricetour.com

Many original clients. All supplies. HEPA Vac. Richard 415-255-0389

Real Estate>>

For Sale>>

RELOCATING? FREE INFO –

EGRIFTA

Top Gay Realtors Nationwide * FREE Buyers Representation. www.GayRealEstate.com

Three unopened boxes. $45 a box OBO or trade. Contact by text: 415-418-9642.

BAYB AAY AR REPORTERFax to:Fax to: REA EPORTER REA

Maintenance & Upkeep>>

Christian Schmidt

To place your Classified ad, Call 415-861-5019. Then go have a drink & relax...

Experienced Bay Area Immigration Attorney

Specializing in 395 Ninth CAS.F. 395Street NinthS.F. Street CA

UPKEEP & Fax from: Fax from:

Green Card PHONE 415.861.5019 FAX 861-8144 PHONE 415.861.5019 FAX 861-8144 applications through family relations and employment.

Please call for a free phone consultation

(415) 834.0600

CONSTRUCTION –

Foundations thru finished project: electrical, bathroom, kitchens, decks, windows, locks, etc installation. All jobs possible. 25yrs exp. Evan Terzuli 415-816-0609

w w w. l aw b r i d g e s . c o m

Hauling >> HAULING 24/7 –

(415) 441-1054 Large Truck

<< From the Cover

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

Crack pipes

From page 1

“Need to make sure everyone understands the City of SF is not collecting data, exploring this, etc. ... please clear this up ASAP,” Falvey wrote about half an hour after her first message, in another email to Chawla, on which Garcia was copied. Falvey also emailed the news station January 24, after its initial story ran, saying, “Mayor Lee is not aware of this exploration and is not supportive. There are many other HIV interventions that could and should be explored before ever considering this.” KPIX reported that Garcia then said in a phone call, “That recommendation has not come to me. And I’m telling you that if it did, I would say ‘absolutely no, we are not going to distribute crack pipes.’ We have a lot of things to consider for those who are using crack for improving their health. And the distribution of crack pipes is not something I’m going to consider.” At their January 9 meeting, members of the HIV Prevention Planning Council, an advisory group to the health department that sets priorities for HIV prevention in the city, voted unanimously to support an action plan that includes collecting data and exploring legal issues around crack pipe distribution. In a Friday, February 14 inter-

view with the B.A.R., Garcia became combative. When a reporter tried to ask Garcia about Falvey’s emails indicating the mayor’s office is taking the lead on public health, Garcia said, “I understand what you’re trying to get at, but I’m not going to talk about other people’s emails.” Asked then why she’s opposed to handing out crack pipes, Garcia said, “Staff asked to do the exploration. You’re asking if I’m going to distribute crack pipes [which the paper didn’t ask her]. That doesn’t make logical sense. “You just want a lot of newsworthy stupid stuff. I’m not going to do that with you,” she said. Garcia, an out lesbian, said she’d approved exploring “data about the needs of crack users.” She didn’t allow for a chance to ask why she would approve exploring the data if she’s not going to even consider distributing the pipes. Asked whether the mayor had talked to her about it, she said, “That’s the end of this conversation.” She stayed on the phone but refused to answer other questions. Finally, she said, “I’m going to leave now, and I want to give you a happy Valentine’s Day. ... That’s the end of it. Bye.” She then hung up the phone.

Apparent contrast

Garcia’s most recent comments

are in contrast to where she appeared to be on the issue of crack pipes over a month ago. In a January 10 email to Garcia and an executive assistant, longtime DPH staffer Tracey Packer wrote of the B.A.R.’s presence at the previous day’s meeting, during which the crack pipe action plan was approved, and told her that the paper was asking for more information. Packer co-chairs the HPPC and also serves as director of community health equity and promotion for the health department’s population health division. In her email, she said, “I wonder if I can talk to [the B.A.R.] beyond providing information about what happened at the meeting.” She included details of the four-point action plan in her message. “Please advise if I can talk to [the reporter], and any other comments you have,” wrote Packer. Minutes later, Garcia responded, “This is fine,” offering no indication of her opposition to distributing crack pipes. In response to emailed questions last week, Falvey wouldn’t say why exactly Lee opposes distributing the pipes, and she wouldn’t directly answer several questions, including whether anyone in the mayor’s office had instructed Garcia or her staff to come out against the idea. “The mayor and the mayor’s office is relying on the public health

department and public health experts to assess and implement the best interventions for HIV prevention,” said Falvey. She added that the intent of her January 24 emails “was to make sure the correct information was provided to the media. As you know, misinformation can do more harm to our best efforts to prevent HIV transmission, especially by people who may politicize the issue and diminish the good work of the health department and others who are trying to develop programs that will ultimately save lives.” In a phone interview, Lani Kent, Lee’s senior policy adviser on health, said she’s also opposed to the idea, but like the others, she wouldn’t provide specific reasons. “Initially, that’s not anything I would support,” said Kent, who said there was a report that listed distributing crack pipes among other recommendations. “I would want more information” about the benefits of handing out pipes. Kent didn’t have much information on whatever report she was referring to. She said she’d learned of it from Packer. In one email to Kent, Packer had referred to the HPPC’s action plan and said a work group of the panel was being convened. Packer didn’t respond to a request for comment. Even if she did have more information, Kent said she’s not open to

HOW DO YOU MISS A

BILLION

DOLLARS? That’s how much was left behind when Americans prepared their own tax returns last year.

A billion dollars. It’s your money. Get it back with Block.

HRBLOCK.COM | 800-HRBLOCK (472-5625)

S.F. BAY AREA 800-472-5625 Each tax situation is different and not everyone will receive a refund. In a 2013 H&R Block study of tax returns by

14-792

supporting the idea of distributing crack pipes. Asked why not, she said, “I’m just not.” Kent said she has a meeting with the mayor that’s “being calendared.” “I wouldn’t make a stance on anything until checking with my health department,” she said. “ ... I trust my department and their process, and I don’t think they’ve had the opportunity to vet” the recommendations. As for why Lee would take a stance against distributing crack pipes before the data’s been vetted, Kent said the question was being “asked without [the] context” of the other recommendations from the “report.” Some city officials, including District Attorney George Gascón and a spokeswoman for Police Chief Greg Suhr, have expressed openness to the idea of providing crack pipes, as has gay Supervisor Scott Wiener. HPPC member Laura Thomas, who’s also on the HIV Health Services Planning Council and deputy state director for California for the Drug Policy Alliance, said that she and other advocates met with Wiener’s aide Adam Taylor, at Wiener’s office’s request, in early February to brief Taylor on the issue. In an interview this week, Wiener called the meeting “helpful,” but he indicated it didn’t sway him one way or another and he’d “let [the] process unfold” at the health department. Asked whether it would concern him if the mayor’s office were pressuring that agency, he said, “I don’t want to comment on relations in the mayor’s office and DPH. I will say it’s important for DPH to make decisions based on science, and I’ve known Barbara Garcia for a long time.” He said in his experience with Garcia, “I always have the sense she really is approaching issues based on her professional best judgment. I have a lot of respect for her.”

Going ahead anyway

It may not matter much what city officials think of the idea of distributing crack pipes. At least one organization is planning to hand them out anyway. Isaac Jackson, a gay man who serves as president of Urban Survivors Union, said that his group would start handing out pipes on a weekly basis in March. He declined this week to share the specific time or location. San Francisco has years of experience with needle exchange, which is credited with decreasing HIV transmission rates. The risks of contracting HIV from sharing a pipe may not be as great as it is from sharing a needle, but Jackson, Thomas, and others have spoken about the usefulness of engaging with crack users. Advocates say the outreach could help reduce people’s risky sexual practices and ensure that people know their HIV status, among other benefits. Crack pipes have been distributed in cities including Seattle and Toronto for years. People involved in harm reduction efforts there indicated controversy has been minimal, but health department officials say they don’t have data on the distribution’s effectiveness. Locally, Jackson sounds tired of waiting for city support. In an email, he said, “Looking the other way while crack is smoked with broken, blood stained pipes passed on to another user with burnt lips is not an effective policy when it comes to preventing bloodborne pathogens.”t

On the web Online content this week includes the Bay Area Reporter’s online column Political Notes; and a bonus Jock Talk column; www.ebar.com.

Same-sex 'Night'

Life after 'Smash'

Improvisatory art

Out &About

O&A

The

Vol. 44 • No. 8 • February 20-26, 2014

www.ebar.com/arts

Chita Rivera looks back on an unrivaled Broadway career in Chita: A Legendary Celebration at the Venetian Room on Feb. 23.

by Richard Dodds

Chita Rivera created the role of Anita in West Side Story, and reprises her song “America” in A Legendary Celebration.

hita Rivera wasn’t hoping to see any fire-hazard birthday cakes – ones with 80 candles – as she gained octogenarian status last year. “I just wanted to slide in there without any fuss,” she said, but then she got an offer she couldn’t – and didn’t want to – refuse. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS offered to throw her a party in the form of a one-night-only fundraising production, a fully staged show that starred Rivera in a look back at her unrivaled career. “I did their very first benefit [in the 1980s], and it makes me really sad that we’re still doing it. But we made over $400,000 in that one night.” See page 22 >>

Dance & romance from Valentine’s week

Monica Simoes

Hamburg Ballet in John Neumeier’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

by Paul Parish

he B.A.R. dance critic Keith White prophesied 20 years ago that the future of choreography would lie in same-sex partnering, which would open up new ways of showing things we all need to know that can’t be shown more clearly in any other medium.

Holger Badekow

Valentine’s week brought two shows that proved him right. The most interesting things in the grand spectacle A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Opera House lay in incidental same-sex byplay, while nothing in that show was more interesting than the intimacies of the hole-in-the-wall show Dance Lovers, a suite of mostly same-sex duets for “couples, crushes and comrades” that took place in the Joe Goode

Annex in the Potrero on Valentine’s night itself. I hasten to add, though, that the audiences for both shows were ecstatic. The Opera House crowd jumped to their feet and screamed, such was the power and charm of the dancers in putting all this across. Certainly I saw no choreography in the duets for the lovers in the Hamburg Ballet’s Midsummer Night’s Dream that I had

not seen done better before elsewhere. The steals from Balanchine reminded me how much more visionary those moves were in their original setting, though the moves are in themselves interesting, and choreographer John Neumeier did give his dancers plenty of opportunities to sell the material. They rose to the occasion like Olympic skaters – each flashy pirouette, leap, See page 23 >>

{ SECOND OF TWO SECTIONS }

Who are your Besties? Vote in our 4th annual readers poll and tell us who your Besties are and be entered for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Boy George on April 28 at The Fillmore. Vote now at www.ebar.com/besties

<< Out There

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

Short, sweet, but not insignificant

by Roberto Friedman

very year, Out There sees all three Oscar Nominated Shorts programs that arrive in movie theatres in the weeks before the big award show: animated, live-action and documentary. Entries in the first two categories were reviewed in an earlier issue; we saw the shorts in the documentary category, originally announced for two separate programs, last week. Presented in one screening, the doc shorts program lasts a full three hours and 15 minutes, a long sit made less daunting by a 10-minute intermission. But of course the great thing about shorts programs is that if one offering doesn’t appeal, the next one will be coming right along. The Lady In Number 6: Music Saved My Life (directors Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed) profiles Alice Herz-Sommer, the oldest living Holocaust survivor at age 110, still playing the piano every morning in her London apartment. Her Bach and Beethoven are concert-caliber. Karama Has No Walls (director Sara Ishaq) offers on-the-ground footage from the protest that sparked the Yemeni Revolution. Violence and brutality rear their ugly heads, but hope does spring eternal. Facing Fear (director Jason Cohen) tells the story of Matthew Boger, who at 13 was gay-bashed and nearly killed by a gang of neoNazi skinhead punks. Years later, he meets his attacker, now reformed and contrite. (Reviewed last issue.) Prison Terminal: The Last Days Of Private Jack Hall (director

New Mexico environmental artist Ra Paulette creates his own worlds in director Jeffrey Karoff’s CaveDigger.

Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan are off on holiday in director Roger Michell’s Le Week-End.

Edgar Barens) follows Hall, a lifer in a maximum security prison and a WWII veteran, into hospice care. Prisoners volunteer to care for the terminally ill, and thereby find their own humanity. All pretty heavy, no? Therefore our favorite short documentary, the one we hope wins the golden guy, is CaveDigger (director Jeffrey Karoff), which showcases earth artist Ra Paulette, who creates large, intricately decorated caves entirely by hand in the New Mexican desert. It’s hard, back-breaking work, but clearly it’s his heart project. Out There couldn’t help but notice that Nazi imagery figures in three out of five doc short nominees (Lady, Fear and Prison). As someone with whom this era of history does resonate – our grandparents lost most of their families and their

Chronicle film scribe Ruthe Stein programs the proceedings, which is presented by the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation and the California Film Institute. Before the sold-out crowd in the vintage Vogue Theater, including British Consul General in San Francisco Priya Guha, Stein welcomed us to “the only foreign-language film festival presented in English!” The opening-night film, Le WeekEnd, is a comedy about a longmarried British couple celebrating their anniversary with a romantic weekend in Paris. Directed by Roger Michel (Noting Hill) and written by Hanif Kureishi, the movie stars Jim Broadbent, Lindsay Duncan and, in a return to form, Jeff Goldblum. It’s great to see a romantic comedy that for once is not fixated on young lovers meeting cute, but is about the all-too-human struggle to keep a romantic spark alive far into middle age. Of course, as with all long-time couples, Meg and Nick know how to

entire villages in the Holocaust – can we just say to the Academy, “Enough already with the Nazis!” Our German friends are now several generations past the worst period in their (and our) history. Never again, by all means, but also let’s move on. For the record, OT’s favorite entry in the nominated live action shorts is the hilarious Do I Have To Take Care of Everything? (directors Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari), and our pick for animated short is Room on the Broom (directors Max Lang and Jan Lachauer), based on the children’s book of the same name. It’s fun to have skin in the game for some of the more obscure Oscar categories. Bring on the gilded eunuchs.

In Vogue

Last Thursday night found Out There with plucky pal Pepi in tow at the opening-night screening and party for this year’s Mostly British Film Festival, the sixth iteration of this low-profile fest. San Francisco

push each other’s buttons only too well, and they’re also quite capable of devising entirely new ways to drive each other crazy. We laughed, we cried, we related in a homosexual way. The film will have a commercial release in the Bay Area soon.

Hero’s legacy

In the 21st century, the ultimate artistic accolade is to get an endorsement from a major Fortune 500 company. This has finally happened to the internationally legendary Queen of San Francisco, Sylvester. His theme song “(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real” is now the soundtrack to the Peter Pilotto collection’s commercial for Target. As you probably already know, Sylvester willed all of his royalties to help local San Francisco AIDS charities, one of the first ever to do so. So this commodification of the heart and soul of disco seems like plenty good karma to us. As ever, Sylvester makes us feel mighty real.t

Back from the wars /lgbtsf by Jason Victor Serinus

ometimes an album gets passed up simply because it’s impossible to pigeonhole. Such is the case with the deeply communicative music and poetry on Holding It Down: The Veterans’ Dreams Project (PI Recordings). The third joint-undertaking of jazz pianist/composer Vi-

jay Iyer and Australian poet-producer-performer Mike Ladd, the recording is a result of a threeyear collaboration with veterans of color from the wars in Iran and Afghanistan that culminated in world premiere performances at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse in September 2012. If Holding It Down: The Veterans’ Dreams Project doesn’t sound like a bowl of cherries, it isn’t. War is hell, and those who manage to return from these conflicts often carry within them barely managed memories that surface as PTSD nightmares and shellshocked dreams. Iyer and Ladd’s goal is to attempt to bridge the divide between civilians and veterans – specifically soldiers of color, who have a disproportionate presence in the armed forces – by enabling us to hear what post-9/11 veterans’ dreams tell us about ourselves, each other, and by extension, the system that creates these wars. At the root of the project are veterans’ poems, experiences, and dreams. One major contributor is Maurice Decaul, a poet who served with the Marines in Iraq in 2003. Decaul provides lyrics to six of the tracks and lead vocals to four of them. Three more marriages of lyrics and vocals come from Lynn Hill, whose six-year stint in the Air Force included two years piloting drones over Iraq and Afghanistan from a console in Las Vegas. The remainder of the lyrics and lead vocals are from Ladd, who proves himself an acute listener and conveyer of raw emotions. This is art music at its finest. Sixteen of the compositions are by Iyer, the UC Berkeley-educated

2013 MacArthur Genius Fellowship recipient and recent addition to the Harvard faculty who won five awards in the 2012 Down Beat International Critics Poll, four in the JazzTimes extended critics poll, two years’ worth of Pianist of the Year Awards from the Jazz Journalists Association, and Germany’s 2013 ECHO Award. The last and final track is by Bay Area-based performing artist Pamela Z, whose very different and immensely intriguing voice also surfaces via lead and background vocals and some very canny live processing. Instrumentation includes Iyer’s Fender Rhodes, programming and live electronics; Ladd’s analog synthesizer; and additional vocals, guitar, cello, and drums from Guillermo E. Brown, Liberty Ellman, Okkyung Lee, and Kassa Overall. While it’s easy to imagine the music’s ballistic and nightmarish effects, literalism is far less common than you might imagine. In truth, none of the music is common; each response is unique, brilliantly conceived, and totally apt for the words and feelings at hand. Those eager for art that speaks truth need not hesitate.t

Theatre>>

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

What’s the password, Mac? by Richard Dodds

expensive environment is definitely the star of The Speakeasy, an ambitious theatrical experience brought to you by the Boxcar Theatre, which usually makes its home in tiny digs on Natoma Street. Created by Nick A. Olivero and his associates with an eye to a long run, the production allows ample time for just taking in the surroundings and general palavering until the lighting changes to direct our attention to actors who are amidst us semi-incognito at little cocktail tables or at the bar. Two veterans of World War I deal with their issues at one table, while a rural couple tries to spice their life with a taste of the forbidden at another. These and a few other low-key stories periodically arise, amid occasional gangster-moll outbursts, with a couple of large production numbers about the war and the Great Depression that fully command the space, if with heavy-handed tactics. The space mostly outshines the periodic theatrics that can come across

ead the instructions, all the instructions, or you might find yourself as a couple of colleagues and I did as we tried to gain entrance to The Speakeasy. Alone in a frozen-in-time clock repair shop in the Tenderloin, we could have been in an Abbott and Costello movie as we tried to open an array of locked doors in mild panic until one of us leaned against a wall in a darkened tool room and the entire partition gave way to the world we were looking for. We had been satisfied with just finding the place, following a map handed out at a pre-ordained time a few blocks away in the Civic Center, and ended up skipping Steps 6 through 9 on the instruction sheet. But when we bumbled our way into the joint – as in gin joint (modernday cocktails are also available) – eyes widened at the incredible detail that had gone into recreating a 1923 speakeasy, and that amazement grew

Peter Liu

A fully functional cabaret is just one space in The Speakeasy, an elaborate effort at immersive theater that requires secret maps and special knocks just to enter.

as secret passwords signaled that it was time to move into other parts of the labyrinth -- including a nightclub with a band, comics, and singers, and a separate gambling room where dice

were rolling, roulette wheels were spinning, and a dealer eventually wiped out my make-believe fortune at a blackjack table. The extensive, ornate, and clearly

as pesky distractions, while the efforts at straight-ahead entertainment from the cabaret stage are definitely a mixed bag. A pair of comics tells stale jokes with a purposeful flatness that quashes laughter, but there are some brighter moments when singers offer full-out renditions of popular period songs. The visible team presenting The Speakeasy is said to number about 32, but with cast members doubling as hard-working waiters or helpful croupiers, the population seems much greater than that. It seems an exhausting enterprise to present, and there were also signs of some exhaustion from the audience as 11 p.m. approached. Tightening, focusing, and a general theatrical rethinking are in order – and they are definitely worth pursuing when the venue is as astonishing as The Speakeasy.t The Speakeasy is currently selling tickets ($70) through April 26. More info at thespeakeasysf.com.

Butches & femmes in ‘Twelfth Night’ by Erin Blackwell

ove is a many-splendored thing and the most dangerous drug on the planet. Shakespeare knew this better than anyone, and set out to prove his theorem in the 1601 comedy hit Twelfth Night, now experiencing a same-sex revival directed by Minneapolis-based Michelle Hensley at Intersection for the Arts, co-produced by California Shakespeare Theater. “I love the way Twelfth Night explores how falling in love can be an escape from enormous pain, while at the same time taking a clear look at the not always happy consequences of abandoning reality and reason to plunge into love’s delirium,” said the diminutive ash-blonde director to the press release. “Shakespeare performed the tale with a single-sex cast, so I wanted to find out what would happen if the cast was only women instead of only men.” The Bard crammed almost every known comedic shtick into his 10th comedy, with a full range of torture techniques, from mental to physical, including public humiliation, kidnap and imprisonment. He pushes the edge of comedy over the brink of despair into total loss of faith with one’s fellows. This, 10 years before his retirement play, The Tempest, saw him abandon his magic arts forever. Will might be free of his plays, but we never will be. They are robust chroniclers of human behavior in all its moods, follies, vices, virtues, manias, intrigues, farces, surprises and their transcendence.

Even if the middle class deserts him, people in need of rehabilitation will provide a captive audience for the most encyclopedic poetic genius this side of Agatha Christie. Tour sites for this production include Alameda County Juvenile Detention Center, Berkeley Food and Housing Project, Central City SRO Collaborative, Civicorp, Eastside Arts Alliance, OpenHouse, Woolf House, and Youth Uprising. Of the multiple plot-threads in Twelfth Night – including doppelganger siblings, male and female, separated by shipwreck – the one that continues to baffle us is The Martyrdom of Malvolio. If this priggish butler, enamored of his Lady and ambitious for his personal promotion to nobility, were the lead in The Tragedy of Malvolio, he’d shock us less. His fall is a tragic fall, based on a tragic flaw, somewhere between pride, envy, and wrath. The questions Malvolio poses resonate with many of us, although they’re old enough to be considered properly chivalric: Why am I, who devote myself to the service of my Lady, not recognized for my nobility of soul? Why does the drunken rabble invade my territory, and I too weak, because unauthorized, to expel or domesticate it? Why am I placed in this false position? Why am I denied power? Terrifyingly, this vulnerability is played upon by drunken lout Sir Toby Belch, in conspiracy with Her Ladyship’s maid Maria, who tricks Malvolio with a forged letter. The audience is privy to the plot, and we spy on Malvolio along with the

conspirators, and laugh at his ready acceptance of a preposterous promotion from servant to man of the house. We laugh and think that’s the end of it. But it’s only the beginning. Belch is a heartless bully who won’t be satisfied until Malvolio’s been thoroughly shamed for his willingness to believe in a consummation he’s devoutly wished. Expert Shakespearean Nancy Carlin brings the requisite bittersweet gravitas to Malvolio, inadvertantly illustrating the butch lesbian’s existential dilemma with ridiculous yet melancholy dignity. She’s wellmatched by the penetratingly gutsy

Catherine Castellanos as her nemesis Belch. I wish the tomboyish Maria Candelaria would femme-up Her Ladyship so I knew what all the fuss was about. Androgynous Cindy Im, graceful and personable, cast as both Viola and her lost brother, forgets to demarcate her male and female halves. Rami Margron similarly seems much the same whether playing the smug Duke or the trickster Maria, except Maria wears an apron. Patty Gallagher fails to locate the still center of Andrew Aguecheek’s folly. Sarita Ocón plays multiple roles with piratical panache.

PAULA WEST

CHEYENNE JACKSON

VONDA SHEPARD

STEVE TYRELL

February 13 - March 9

March 21 - 22

Jay Yamada

Catherine Castellanos, Patty Gallagher, Nancy Carlin, and Rami Margron perform in close quarters with the audience in an allfemale production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Michelle Hensley for Cal Shakes and Intersection for the Arts.

The surprise hit of the production is a man named Olive Mitra, a versatile musician who accompanies the action on bass fiddle, snare drum, cymbals, vibraphone, ocean drum, wind chimes, two-by-fours, water jug, gong, tambourine, and I’m sure I’m forgetting something. Plays Thurs.-Sun., Feb. 20-March 2, at Intersection for the Arts, 925 Mission St., SF. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m.; there will also be two Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on Feb. 23 & March 2. Tickets are $20 each, available online at www.calshakes.org or by phone at (510) 548-9666.t

March 14 - 16

March 27 - 30

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

089684.02_HNSF_Feinsteins_2014_q1_Bay_Area_Reporter_2_20 ROUND #: MECH Trim: 5.75in x 7.625in

Bleed: none

Live: 5.75in x 7.625in

Color Space: CMYK

Fonts: Futura

<< Music

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

Their need for speed

by Philip Campbell

ebar.com

or regular San Francisco Symphony patrons and subscribers, the last two weeks of concerts in Davies Symphony Hall have been somewhat confusing. Uneven performances and questionable musical interpretations are usually far from the norm, and while some of the results proved at least interesting, both programs were only fitfully successful. It was additionally surprising because of the expectations raised about the two guest conductors, who were both making their SFS debuts. Jaap van Zweden has been Music Director of the Dallas Symphony for six years. At 19, the Amsterdam-born conductor became the youngest concertmaster in the history of the renowned Royal Concertgebouw, and he was named Conductor of the Year by Musical America in 2012, at the same time he took directorship of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. The remarkably busy van Zweden also maintains several other important musical posts while keeping a strenuous touring schedule. Judging by the level of energy he recently exhibited on the podium at DSH, we could all use some of his recipe for stamina. Kind of a disappointment, though, when all that intensity and drive only produced results that never displayed much more than an awesome power and control. Fast and loud may be thrilling, but it seldom sustains. From the very beginning of the concert, a breakneck, sparkling race through Mozart’s Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio, we were alerted to the conductor’s need for speed. That worked well for the brief and sunny Overture, but proved less satisfying in Tchaikovsky’s Fourth

ORC H I D S and all that

JAZZ

GALA BENEFIT PREVIEW THURSDAY FEB. 20, 6:30 -10 PM

Benefits the S.F. Conservatory of Flowers & the U.C. Botanical Garden

PA C I F I C O R C H I D E X P O S I T I O N SHOW & PLANT SALE

FEBRUARY 21 - 23, 2014 FRI D AY 1 0 A M -6 PM • S ATU R DAY 9AM- 6P M • SUNDAY 10AM- 5PM

#1 ORCHID SHOW IN THE U.S. F E S T I VA L PAV I L I O N , F O R T M A S O N C E N T E R , S A N F R A N C I S C O Tic k et s & In f o r m ati o n

w w w. o r c h i d s a n f r a n c i s c o . o r g 650-548 - 6 7 0 0 A California Non-Profit Tax Exempt 501(c)3 Corporation Cymbidium er ythrostylum watercolor by Sally Robertson

Bert Hulselmans, Courtesy SFS

Courtesy SFS

Guest conductor Jaap van Zweden.

Guest conductor Lionel Bringuier.

Symphony at the other end of the evening. Before that bravura (and very, very loud) rendition of the Tchaikovsky, another SFS debutante gave a crowd-pleasing performance of the glorious Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor. Like van Zweden, Simone Lamsma is also Dutch. The 29-year-old violinist was born in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, about 70 miles northeast of Amsterdam. I’m pretty sure that is the only connection between them, but it probably helped that they could converse in their native language when working on the pacing of the performance. And unfortunately, it was pacing (and some questionable tuning) that reduced the strikingly pretty young soloist’s performance to a level of competence that showed more agility than warmth. Her technique may dazzle, but it shows little interpretive flavoring. Like the breathless (and did I mention loud?) exhibition of the Tchaikovsky Symphony that followed after intermission, Lamsma’s

Sibelius was notable for speed, control, and oh, yeah, volume, but it didn’t touch the heart, and I know both scores can yield more subtlety and emotion. The game orchestra members seemed to get a kick out of showing their capabilities in keeping up, and the clearly delighted audience certainly got their money’s worth. Who am I to complain? I confess I’m not totally immune to the occasional thrill ride myself, and it is always a treat hearing the beautiful Sibelius Concerto. The previous week was another story altogether, but another slight let-down in the SFS guest-conductor debut department. Lionel Bringuier created a lot of buzz during his six years as resident conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and he has become Chief Conductor and Music Director designate for the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich for the 2014-15 season. The young (age 27) French conductor, cellist and pianist brought an interesting See page 22 >>

Phaeton’s wild ride by Tim Pfaff

he Gravity of its day, Jean-Baptiste Lully’s opera Phaeton pulled out the stops technologically to tell the story of a man’s fall from space. Although it wasn’t fully staged at its 1683 premiere, that performance took place at King Louis XIV’s new Palace at Versailles, into which the French court had moved only six months earlier. Fully staged shortly after in Paris, where it was hugely popular and staged regularly into the middle of the 18th century, it deployed the most advanced stage machinery of the time to depict the titular young prince’s fall from the heavens after getting his foolish father Apollo, the sun god, to allow him to drive the chariot of the sun “just once” – a case of classical affluenza with catastrophic consequences for the rest of mankind had not Jupiter himself intervened. Phaeton’s Icarus-like wild ride and its flaming denouement would have made for a memorable Act V in the theater, to be sure, though we’ll never know exactly how it looked at the Royal Academy of Music. The scant likelihood of a replica historical production in the increasingly cash-strapped EU makes it all the more important that out early-music polymath Christophe Rousset has brilliantly recreated its music in a live concert performance at Paris’ Salle Pleyel in October 2012, beautifully recorded by Aparte. French Baroque operas are unlikely ever to achieve the kind of popularity – curious in itself – that

Handel operas enjoy on today’s stages, not just because of the rigors of staging them, but because the music itself is so much more demanding and full of spectacles – audicles? – all its own. At this point, Rousset and his ace ensemble Les Talens Lyriques have this music so deep in their veins that they perform it with the brilliance, flair, and surpassing subtlety that are its stock-in-trade. Rousset is not the only gay early-music specialist who favors the French repertoire, but he is the only one in whom French blood flows, and it is that very full-bloodedness – in addition to the supremely secure music-making in general – that distinguishes Les Talens Lyriques’ work. Against the odds, there has been a previous recording of Phaeton, but Rousset’s is the one that captures the drama in full. The Italian-born Lully literally danced his way into the Versailles court, making his progress from the servants’ entrance to the innermost circles of the French court a real-life story that presages Wagner’s. Weird, See page 22 >>

Theatre>>

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

Post-‘Smash’ life of Megan Hilty by Richard Dodds

egan Hilty was showered with accolades for her role as Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in the Encores! revival of the musical. She’ll be reprising a song or two from that score as part of her performance for 42nd Street Moon, which, like Encores!, restages classic musical comedies in stripped-down versions. Hilty said she will be doing “a kind of condensed version of all my greatest hits” as part of Moon’s dinner-and-show fundraising gala at Bimbo’s on Feb. 27. (Info on tickets is at www.42ndstmoon.org.) Those greatest hits would include songs from the Broadway musical version of 9 to 5, in which she had the Dolly Parton role; from Wicked, in which she played Glinda on Broadway and on tour; and from Smash, the recent NBC series about the fictional travails of getting a show about Marilyn Monroe to Broadway. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes famously starred Monroe in the role Carol Channing created on Broadway. In his New York Times review of Blondes, critic Ben Brantley wrote that “Megan Hilty achieves the unlikely feat of wrestling Lorelei from the hands of Monroe and Ms. Channing to make the character entirely and originally hers.” Hilty didn’t have much to say about her glowing notices. “I actually don’t read them,” Hilty said of reviews, blogs, and online forums. “I’m not saying I’m above other people’s opinions, but for as many nice things that people say, it takes just one bad one to stick in your head, and it’s like, do I really want to give people that kind of power over what I’m doing?” For Hilty, with only two Broadway musicals to her credit, getting a lead role in Smash was a life- and career-changing experience. “It opened doors that I never even dreamed I’d walk through,” she said. The high-budget series featured elaborate production numbers, original Broadway-caliber songs, a cast of big names, and a complex plot of romance (gay and straight), adultery, backstabbing, larceny, and big servings of bitchery. While it never achieved large ratings in its two seasons, it had an intense following – especially among many theater folks who often mocked its implausible representation of their world. But Hilty is a real-life example of one of the most pivotal plotlines from Smash. Hilty practically walked from college graduation to a starring role on Broadway without such timehonored dues payments as temping, waiting on tables, and working for nothing in off-off-off-Broadway productions. For reasons to be explained later on, Hilty was rushed into the final auditions for the Glinda standby role in Wicked, which would soon lead to the full-time job itself. “I won’t tell you the other people who were at the audition, but they were much fancier than myself,” she said. “I was shocked that I was even there, and then I walked into the room and the director and all the writers were there. They saw me for like eight minutes, and I got the job.” But this quick trajectory to Broadway had its ramifications. “There were a lot of people who were very upset that this nobody from nowhere got this great job,” she said. “I won’t go into too much detail because they’re still people I work with, and I love them now, but I sure felt it at the time.” In Smash, her casting story was mirrored as Hilty’s character and

colleagues harass the justoff-the-bus innocent who lands the role that Hilty’s Ivy Lynn knows she was born to play: Marilyn Monroe. “That’s why when people say, ‘Oh, Smash was so far from the truth,’ I go, ‘Really?’” Hilty has at least one theory why she was put in the audition express lane. A few weeks before she was to graduate from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, she was part of a senior-class showcase in front of New York talent agents, includCourtesy NBC-TV ing one from the mighty Megan Hilty, right, co-starred with Katharine McPhee as actresses Bernie Telsey agency. competing to play Marilyn Monroe on Broadway in the TV series Smash. Within days she landed the female lead in a new tour but right after that they asked me of Little Shop of “At the end of the first day, back to New York to audition for the Horrors, and agents betwo people were like, ‘Oh my good witch in Wicked.” gan working out a conGod, we’re so glad that you’re But in Smash, Hilty played the tract even before graduactually nice. We thought you villainously ambitious Ivy Lynn, ation. were going to be so mean.’ who would do just about anything “Then I got a phone Even the director said, ‘Yeah, to wrest the role of Marilyn Monroe call saying they cast SeyI kind of thought that, too.’ from the sweet young thing played mour and it’s Anthony And I’m like, really? That was by Katharine McPhee. Hilty apparRapp, and they’re gojust a character I played.” ently played the villain very well, as ing to have to let me go With a wink in her voice, she discovered when she arrived on because now I was too she concluded, “I guess it’s set for a co-starring role in the Sean young,” Hilty said. “I just a testament to my great Hayes series Sean Saves the World. don’t know if Bernie felt bad for me, acting.”t

Courtesy Megan Hilty

Broadway and TV star Megan Hilty is the headliner at the upcoming fundraising gala being presented by and for 42nd Street Moon.

The art of transformation ASIAN ART MUSEUM www.asianart.org/yoga

FEB 21–MAY 25

Yoga: The Art of Transformation is the world’s first major art exhibition about yoga. It explores yoga’s fascinating history and its transformation into a global phenomenon. Highlights include masterpieces of Indian sculpture and painting; pages from the first illustrated book of yoga postures; and a Thomas Edison film, Hindoo Fakir (1902), the first American movie ever produced about India. Stretch out your Yoga experience with two amazing kickoff events. Dance the night away on Feb 21 with MC Yogi, DJ Drez and DJ Sol Rising. It’ll be a feel-good party for the body and soul. Bliss out on Feb 22 with our yoga festival. Take a class with a top notch teacher and enjoy tours, talks and kid-friendly art-making. Tickets and details at www.asianart.org/yoga.

ASIAN ART MUSEUM Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art & Culture 200 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102 415.581.3500 www.asianart.org

Yoga: The Art of Transformation was organized by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution with support from the Friends of the Freer and Sackler Galleries, the Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne and the Ebrahimi Family Foundation. Presentation at the Asian Art Museum is made possible with the generous support of Helen and Rajnikant Desai, The Bernard Osher Foundation, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Kumar and Vijaya Malavalli, Society for Asian Art, and Walter & Elise Haas Fund. Image: Three aspects of the Absolute (detail), page 1 from a manuscript of the Nath Charit, 1823, by Bulaki (Indian, active early 1800s). India; Rajasthan state, former kingdom of Marwar, Jodhpur. Opaque watercolor, gold, and tin alloy on paper. Courtesy of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, RJS 2399.

Media sponsors:

<< Out&About

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

O&A Out &About

Fri 21

Sat 22

Can You Dig It? @ The Marsh Berkeley

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet @ Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley

Don Reed’s autobiographical solo show explores the 1960s: Beatles, Black Panthers, MLK, JFK and the KKK. $20-$50. Sat 8:30pm and Sun 7pm thru March 1. 2120 Allston Way. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

The accomplished New York company, now in its 11th year, performs new works Kylián’s Indigo Rose, Pite’s Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue, and Strømgren’s Necessity, Again. $30-$68 8pm. Also Feb 23, 3pm. Bancroft Way at Dana St., UC Berkeley campus. (510) 642-9988. www.cedarlakedance.com www.calperformances.org

Choreography Showcase @ ODC Theater

Fri 21

Little Shop of Horrors

Feed Your Head David Allen

by Jim Provenzano

ravel along the rabbit hole of adventure to find a cultural icon, myth or symbol that represents where you’ve been or where you’re going, even if that includes man-eating plants. But better yet, just feast on the local bounty of smart art (or orchids that won’t eat you), which may promote new brain cell growth, a prospect that’s probably improbable, but nice to think so. Being eaten by a singing plant; not so much.

Thu 20 Arthur Szyk and the Art of the Haggadah @ Contemporary Jewish Museum New exhibit of 48 fascinating and richly detailed illustrations of Hebrew stories by the early 20th-century artist (thru June 29). Special Writers Corps event with younf SF poets, Feb 20, 7pm. Also; Jason Lazarus: Live Archive, an exhibit of unusual work by the Chicago artist who explores collective public archives and personal memory (thru March 23). Also, To Build & Be Built: Kibbutz History (thru July 1). 2pm-5pm. Free (members)-$12. Thu-Tue 11am-5pm (Thu 1pm-8pm) 736 Mission St. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org

Entertaining Mr. Sloane @ The Garage Skip Emerson and Vintage West Productions production of gay playwright Joe Orton’s dark satire about kept boys, elder abuse, murder and British incivility. $25. Thu-Sun 8pm. Also Sun 2pm. Thru Feb 23. 715 Bryant St. 586-8634. 715bryant.info

Healthier Living @ LGBT Center Openhouse presents weekly workshops for LGBT adults ages 55+ that share information and motivation. Thru March 13. 10am-12:30pm. Community Room 306, 1800 Market St. www.openhouse-sf.org

Hir @ Magic Theatre World premiere of Obie Award winner Taylor Mac’s play about Paige, a mother determined to forge a liberated life for her two kids; Isaac, a discharged soldier, and Max, a third-sex youth. $20-$60. Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Feb. 23. Fort Mason Center, Building D, 3rd floor. 4418822. www.magictheatre.org

Napoli! @ Geary Theatre

Pacific Orchid Exhibition @ Festival Pavilion The 62nd annual flower show showcases thousands of rare and beautiful orchids for sale, along with gardening retailers and other products. $13-$55. Feb. 20 gala preview (benefits the SF Conservatory of Flowers), 6:30-10pm. Feb 21, 10am-6pm. Feb 22, 9am-6pm. Feb. 23, 10am-5pm. Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd. www.orchidsanfrancisco.org

Pan-orama @ The Costume Shop Jef Valentine (who wowed local audiences in Ray of Light’s Rocky Horror Show ) presents his Peter Pan tribute solo show, A Salute to the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. $10. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm. Thru Feb 23. 1117 Market St. www.pan-o-rama. eventbrite.com

Paula West @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The renowned Bay Area jazz vocalist performs an all-new show with her fourpiece band in a special four-week residency at the elegant nightclub. $35-$50; $20 food/beverage min. Thu 8pm, Fri 7pm & 9:30pm, Sat & Sun 7pm. Thru March 9. Hotel Nikko lobby, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.feinsteinssf.com

San Francisco Symphony @ Davies Symphony Hall The symphony performs works by Haydn and Rimsky-Korsakov (2pm; also Feb. 21 at 6:30 and 22 at 8pm). Feb 20, 8pm, pianist Murray Perahia performs works by Bach, Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin. $15$152. 864-6000. www.sfsymphony.org

The Scion @ The Marsh Solo performer Brian Copeland’s new show focuses on privilege, murder and sausage in his retelling of the triple murder crime at the Santos Linguisa Factory. $15-$60. Thu & Fri 8pm. Sat 5pm. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Xxperiments shares new innovative dances by Smuin Ballet company members Darrin Anderson, Erica Chipp, Aidan DeYoung, Jonathan Dummar, Nicole Haskins, Weston Krukow, Ben Needham-Wood, Jane Rehm, Susan Roemer, and Christian Squires. $30. 7:30pm. Also Feb. 22, 2pm & 7:30pm. 3153 17th St. 863-9834. www.SmuinBallet.org

Die Fledermaus @ Lam Research Theatre Lamplighters’ production of Johann Strauss’ musical tale of revenge and temptation. $15-$30. 8pm. Feb 22, 2pm & 8pm. Feb 23, 2pm. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard St. 978-2787. www.lamplighters.org www.ybca.org

Feisty Old Jew @ The Marsh

Thu 20 Jef Valentine’s Pan-orama

Magnificent Magnolias @ SF Botanical Gardens

Charlie Veron’s new solo show about a fictional elder man who hitches a ride with surfer-hipsters, and rants about what he hates about the 21st century. $25-$100. Sat 8pm, Sun 7pm. Thru March 16. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Georgia O’Keeffe @ de Young Museum Modern Nature: Georgia O’Keeffe and Lake George, a new exhibit of paintings focusing on the artist’s New York landscapes. $25. Thru May 11. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. www.deyoungmuseum.org

Theatre First’s production of Jeff Daniels’ comedy about the kooky residents of a deer farm. $15-$30. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun. 5pm. Thru March 8. 1301 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 981-8150. www.theatrefirst.com

See blooming magnolia trees and exhibits. Feb 27, enjoy a night of Magnolia Cocktails ($30, 5:30-7:30pm). Also, daily walking tours and more. Thru March 31. Also, hundreds of species of native wildflowers in a century-old grove of towering Coast Redwoods. Free-$15. Daily. Golden Gate Park. 6612-1316. www.SFBotanicalGarden.org

Gideon’s Knot @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley

Man in a Case @ Berkeley Repertory

The House That Will Not Stand @ Berkeley Repertory

Johnna Adams’ award-winning twoperson drama between a teacher and a problem student’s mother explores issues of personal responsibility, freedom of expression, bullying and blame. $32-$50. Tue 7pm, Wed-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm & 7pm. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 8434822. www.auroratheatre.org

Mikhail Baryshnikov stars in Annie B. Parson and Paul Lazar’s theatre-dancemusic adaptation of two short stories by Anton Chekhov. $45-$125. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed 7pm. Sun 2pm (Jan. 25 7pm). Thru Feb. 26. Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Jerusalem @ SF Playhouse

A Maze @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley

World premiere of local playwright Marcus Gardley’s historical drama about Creole Women in 1830s New Orleans who had common-law marriages with wealthy white men. $29-$59. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm. Also Sat & Sun 2pm.Thru March 16. Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2918. www.berkeleyrep.org

Escabana in da Moonlight @ Live Oak Theatre, Oakland

Local production of Jez Butterworth’s Tony and Olivier-winning witty British drama, where the values of losing ancient Celtic ruins vs. building council flats compare to the loss of family cohesion. $20-$100. Tue & Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 3pm, Sun 2pm. Thru March 8. 450 Powell St., 2nd. floor. 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org

Josh Klipp and The Klipptones @ Palace Hotel The local jazz crooner and his band perform weekly shows at the hotel’s lounge, which draws a growing swingdance audience. 7pm-11pm. 2 New Montgomery. www.joshklipp.com

Julia Jackson @ Stage Werx Theatre Children are Forever (All Sales are Final!), the solo performer’s comic show about motherhood. $15. Fri & Sat 8pm. Thru Mar. 22. 446 Valencia St. www.stagewerx.org

Little Shop of Horrors @ Lohman Theatre, Los Altos Hills Foothill Music Theatre’s production of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s hit Off-Broadway musical based on the Roger Corman film about an alien carnivorous plant that also talks and sings. $13-$28. Thu 7:30, Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru March 9. Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. (650) 949-7360. www.foothill.edu/theatre/shop

Shotgun Players present Just Theater’s production of Rob Handel’s play about three intertwined stories: a teenage girl recovering from a years-long kidnapping, a post-rehab rock band, and an artist dealing with his cult following. $25-$25. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru March 9. 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. (510) 214-3780. www.justheater.org

Next Wave Choreographers Showcase @ Dance Mission Theater See new works by Ramon Ramos Alayo, Traci Bartlow, Byb Chanel Bibene, Delina Patrice Brooks, Colette Eloi, Antoine Hunter, Maia Siani, Susan Voyticky and Jamar Welch; part of the Black Choreographers Festival. $10-$20. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm. 3316 24th St. (800) 838-3006. www.dancemission.com

The Paris Letter @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Jon Robin Baitz’ drama concerns a Wall Street powerhouse who finds his personal and professional life threatened by the unraveling secrets of his past. Feb 19, playwright Jon Robin Baitz joins an aftershow disucssion ($25). $25-$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru Feb. 23. 25 Van Ness Ave. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Public Intimacy @ YBCA Opening night event for the SF MOMA on the Go exhibit Public Intimacy: Art and Other Ordinary Acts in South Africa, a collection of photography, with artists Kemang Wa Lehulere, Athi-Patra Ruga, Sello Pesa, and Vaughn Sadie, among others. 8pm. Thru June 29. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. 3211307. www.sfmoma.org www.ybca.org

American Conservatory Theatre presents Beatrice Basso and Linda Alper’s vivid new translation of Eduardo De Filippo’s poignant Italian comedy about a woman’s black market business during the tumult of World War II in Italy. Special events include Out with A.C.T. Feb 26. $20-$120. Wed-Sun various times. Thru March 9. 415 Geary St. 749-2228. www.act-sf.org

Ubu Roi @ Exit on Taylor Cutting Ball Theater’s production of Alfred Jarry’s 1896 parody of Shakespeare’s Macbeth (the original premiere induced riots, and is considered a pivotal early experimental absurd comedy), newly translated by Rob Melrose. $10-$50. Thu 7:30, Fri & Sat 8pm, Sat 2pm, Sun 5pm. Extended thru March 9. 277 Taylor St. 5251205. www.cuttingball.com

New and Classic Films @ Castro Theatre Feb 20, On the Waterfront new restored print (7pm) and The Night of the Following Day (9pm). Feb 21, Midnites for Maniacs presents a Jesse Hawthorne Ficks double feature: Clue (7:20), Crimes and Misdemeanors (9:30, $12). Feb 22 (2pm, 7pm) and Feb 23 (2pm) the Sing-Along Mary Poppins ($10-$16). Feb 23, Saving Mr. Banks (8:30). Feb 25, Her (2pm, 4:30, 7pm, 9:30). Feb 26, No Country for Old Men (7pm) and A Serious Man (9:15). Feb 27, Star 80 (7pm) and Mulholland Drive (9pm). $11. 429 Castro St. 621-6120. www.castrotheatre.com

Yellow @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Bay Area premiere of Del Shores’ new play about a Southern family, and how a catastrophe forces them to unite. $25-$45. Previews. Opening night March 1. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru March 23. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Mon 24 Heather Gold Rebecca Steele

Hidden Cities @ SOMArts Cultural Center Experiments and Explorations, a group exhibition of interactive and site-specific art that rethink urban space. Tue-Fri 12pm7pm. Sat 12pm-5pm. Thru March 22. 934 Brannan St. www.somarts.org

Marga Gomez @ The Marsh Lovebirds, the lesbian comic’s new solo show, portrays an array of wacky characters, from different eras, each searching for love. $15-$50. Thu & Fri 8pm. Sat. 8:30pm. Thru March 15. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

The Music Man @ Berkeley Playhouse The East Bay youth theatre company performs Meredith Wilson’s Tony Awardwinning musical about a con artist and small town values. $17-$60. Thu & Fri 7pm. Sat 1pm & 6pm. Sun 12pm & 5pm. Thru Mar. 23. Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. (510) 845-8542. www.berkeleyplayhouse.org

Public Education: Civil Rights Battleground @ New Valencia Hall Black History Month discussion panel about the history of integrated schools, City College and other schools’ privatization, and related issues, with Duciana Thomas, Allen-Deon Saunders and Bob Price. $3-$5. 7pm. Optionla Southern dinner $12, 6pm. 747 Polk St. www.radicalwomen.org

SF Hiking Club @ Redwood Shores Bay Trail Join GLBT hikers for an eight-mile leisurely walk on the San Francisco Bay Trail along tranquil lagoons and sloughs near Redwood Shores. Birdlife in this area is plentiful, varied, and very active (bring binoculars). Also bring water, lunch, layers, hat, comfortable walking shoes. Carpool meets 9:00 at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores.(650)615-0151. www.sfhiking.com

The Speakeasy @ Boxcar Theatre Nick A. Olivero’s immersive up-close experiental theatrical spectacle, where audience members enjoy a three-hour retro-drama while gambling and drinking at a “speakeasy” dive bar. $60-$90. Thu, Fri & Sat, admission times 7:40-8pm. Thru March 15. (hush! Address provided for guests only!) www.boxcartheatre.org

Our Vast Queer Past @ GLBT History Museum See the exhibits, Vicki Marlane: I’m Your Lady, which displays video, images and ephemera documenting the pioneering local drag, cabaret and carnival perfomer, known for decades of performances. Other permanent exhibits as well. Reg. hours Mon-Sat 11am-7pm (closed Tue.) Sun 12pm-5pm. 4127 18th St. 621-1107. www.glbthistory.org

Out&About>>

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Sheri DeBow @ Modern Eden Gallery

Fri 21

Nightmares and Daydreams from Beyond Toyland, the artist’s first solo exhibit of beautifully creepy dolls and nocturnal creatures. Also, Nostalgia, a group exhibit of paintings and other works depicting the artists’ childhood toys. Thru March 1. TueSat 10am-6pm. 403 Francisco St. www.ModernEden.com

Public Intimacy

Sun 23 Aiden James @ Hotel Utah The Philadelphia-based indie gay singer performs his romantic songs at the SoMa club. Dawn Thomas opens. $10. 8pm. 500 4th St. at Bryant. 546-6300. www.aidenjamesmusic.com www.hotelutah.com

Calder Quartet @ Hertz Hall, Berkeley The new music ensemble performs string works by Schoenberg and Schubert. $30. 3pm. Bancroft Way at College Ave., UC Berkeley campus. (510) 642-9988. www.calperformances.org

Caruso’s Dream @ 55 Ninth St.

Mon 24

Wed 26

Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehm’s conceptual outdoor performance work with live music and an unusual outdoor venue. Wear warm clothes, bring an FM radio and a mask. 5:45pm. metaphorm.org

Ginger Snap @ Glama-Rama Exhibit of abstract sculptural works by the local drag performer and DJ, at the local hair salon. Thru Mar. 2. 304 Valencia St. 861-4526. www.glamarama.com

Thelonius Monk Institute All-Star Sextet @ Yoshi’s

Chamber Music @ Legion of Honor

Heather Gold @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley

Six accomplished string section members of the San Francisco Symphony perform works by Mozart and Brahms. $55-$59. 2pm. Florence Gould Theatre, 100 34th Ave. 864-6000. www.sfsymphony.org www.legionofhonor.famsf.org

The insightful lesbian comic returns with her sold-out show, I Look Like an Egg, But I Identify as a Cookie, about food, Air Supply, rugby and recipes. Cirque du Soleil clown Ron Campbell opens. $20. 8pm. Also Feb 25, 8pm. 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org

Chita Rivera @ Venetian Room The Tony-winning Broadway musical theatre actress performs A Legendary Celebration, her one-woman accompanied show of songs and recollections from her career. $43-$48. 3pm & 7:30pm. 392-4400. bayareacabaret.org

East Bay Queer Book Club @ Books Inc., Alameda The Intimates discuss Sleeping Beauty, Indeed & Other Lesbian Fairytales edited by Joselle Vanderhooft. 6pm. 1344 Park St. Alameda. www.booksinc.net

Homo File Salon @ Private Home Enjoy muisc, cocktails, food and sitespecific intimate performaces (Michael Soldier, Brian Livingston, and Katharine Otis), talks with queer historian Joey Cain, and others at this fundraiser for Seth Eisen’s multi-genre show about gay iconoclast Samuel Steward. $75-$250. 3pm-5pm. See event page for address. homosalontwo.brownpapertickets.com

Igor Sazevich @ Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station Exhibit of the Inverness painter’s works, at the scenic Headlands arts center. Reg. hours Wed-Mon 11am-5pm. 11101 Highway One, Point Reyes Station. www.galleryrouteone.org

Pick Up the Mic! @ Grand Lake Coffee House, Oakland Sceening of the documentary about queer hip hop performers; also, a Q&A with Juba Kalama and Jbrap, and a live performance with Jbrap and Micah Tron. $10-$15. 3pm. 440 14th St.

Sat 22

Tue 25 Butterflies & Blooms @ Conservatory of Flowers Popular exhibit transforms the floral gallery into a fluttering garden with 20 species of butterflies and moths. Reg. hours, 10am-4pm. Free-$7. Tue-Sun 10am4:30pm. Extended thru March 16. 100 JFK Drive, Golden Gate Park. 831-2090. www. conservatoryofflowers.org

Eric Himan @ Martuni’s

Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and vocalist Lisa Henry guest-perform with the esteemed jazz ensemble. $16-$54 (with dinner). 8pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

Yoga: The Art of Transformation @ Asian Art Museum

2pub-BBB_BAR_020614.pdf

New exhibit of visual art representing the 2,500-year-old health practice. Other ongoing exhibits as well. Free (members)-$12. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. 581-3500. www.asianart.org

Thu 27 Geoff Hoyle @ The Marsh, Berkeley The veteran comic actor returns with his solo show, Geezer, a nostalgic meditation on his lengthy career and life. $25-$50. Thu 8pm. Sat. 5pm. Thru March 1. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Jackie Ryan @ Yoshi’s

The popular gay indie singer-songwriter stops back in town for a solo acoustic concert (guitar and piano!), including songs from his new CD, Gracefully. $8. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.erichiman.com

Terrific jazz vocalist performs with her band. $16-$59 (with dinner). 8pm & 10pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

It’s Everything @ KOFY-TV

Bold Strokes Books presents authors Annameekee Hesik, Carsen Taite, Clifford Henderson, Kathleen Knowles, Heather Blackmore, and Ashley Bartlett, who read from and discuss their work, and sign copies. Free, 5pm-8pm. 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

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

Meditation Group @ LGBT Center New weekly non-sectarian meditation group is led by Daishin Sunseri; part of the Let’s Kick ASS AIDS Survivor Syndrome support group. Tuesdays, 5pm, 1800 Market St. www.LetsKickASS.org www.sfcenter.org

Lesbian Fiction Authors @ SF Public Library

To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com. Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication. For nightlife events, go to www.bartabsf.com, and our new merged section, www.ebar.com/bartab

CMY

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet

Paula Lobo

1/28/14

3:20 PM

<< Fine Art

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

February blooms in the galleries

by Sura Wood

t may be the middle of winter or so says the calendar, but things are blooming at area museums and galleries this month. Take a look. Gallery 16 Jason Jagel: From the Sky, Rivers Look like Snakes Jamming in his Mission neighborhood studio, Jagel is like a jazz musician using pen, paper and gouache as his instruments. His love of music as well as films, comic book art and fiction plays an important role in the disciplined, improvisational style that informs his latest exhibition. Small-scale multimedia works, comics-inspired scenes crowded with all manner of characters, oil paintings, and drawings on board and newsprint, some cut into shapes like children’s book pop-up art, evolve from the doodles Jagel compulsively records with a brushpen in his ever-handy sketchbooks. Turning what he has called “a skittering attention span” to his advantage, he operates like a one-man band, interweaving text and images, working on multiple pieces at once in a process that mimics the way we make up our reality as we go along. (Through March 31.) Berkeley Art Museum Barbara Chase-Riboud: The Malcolm X Steles. Imagine the enigmatic organic forms the Druids might have left behind had they paid tribute to the memory of a controversial, charismatic leader cut down in his prime by an assassin’s bullet, and you’ve an intimation of the apparitions created by Chase-Riboud’s Malcolm X Steles. An artist, poet and author of an historical novel about Sally Hemings, the AfricanAmerican slave believed to be the mistress of Thomas Jefferson, she began the sculpture series named for the fiery slain civil-rights leader in 1969, combining monumental shapes cast in bronze with braided fibers and silks. Six of these imposing abstracted works are displayed at BAM, including “Malcolm X #3”

Courtesy Gallery 16 and the artist

“New Ways of Thinking” (2013), oil on canvas by Jason Jagel.

(1969), composed of fragmented, luminous bronze forms layered over green like an ancient tree petrified in gold, its cotton and rayon skirt grazing the floor; and “Confessions for Myself ” (1972), which was commissioned for the museum’s permanent collection. Shrouded in black ritual garments, it looks like a headless elder or a ruling leader of some science-fiction empire. A prevailing theme across mediums for ChaseRiboud, who has lived in Europe since the 1960s, is the integration of opposites, a subject of her visual art and a novella she penned about the 28-year relationship between Pannonica Rothschild and Thelonious Monk. Also on view: sketches from the late 1990s that incorporate text, calligraphy and historical references to the Queen of Sheba’s Monument

REAL STEAKS. REAL MARTINIS. REAL SAN FRANCISCO.

DINNER

TUESDAY-SATURDAY FROM 5:30PM COCKTAILS FROM 5:00PM

FOUR PRIVATE ROOMS

FOR GROUPS OF 8-80

•COCKTAIL RECEPTIONS •PRESENTATIONS

LUNCH EVERY THURSDAY 11:30AM-2PM

• LUNCH • DINNER CLASSIC SETTINGS FOR EVERY REASON TO CELEBRATE!

659 MER CHA N T ST. 41 5 -78 1 -705 8 | A L F RE DSSTE A K H O U S E .CO M

at Addis Ababa, Man Ray and others. (Through April 27.) Crocker Art Museum Sam Francis: Five Decades of Abstract Expressionism from California Color, glorious color could well be the subtitle of this grand survey. Covering a half-century of Abstract Expressionist paintings and workson-paper culled from Golden State collections, it includes over 103 artworks by the world-class, postWWII California native, born in San Mateo. Some are miniature, measuring a mere two inches, others epic, like the murals that stretch for 10 feet, such as “Untitled” (1980), a joyous acrylic splatter in a springtime palette on white canvas. Francis spent the 1950s in France, and unlike some of his American contemporaries, he was impacted by Asian art and French Impressionism – especially Monet and that artist’s manipulation of color and light – influences that found their way into his painting and gave it an individualistic stamp. The show encompasses works produced in the Bay Area in the 1940s, and in his various California-based studios in Palo Alto, Point Reyes, Santa Monica, Venice and assorted locales. (Through April 20.) This month, Fraenkel Gallery features solo exhibitions by two photographers. Peter Hujar: Love & Lust is the first show to focus on the twin fires that consumed Hujar, who died in 1987, and became his fundamental preoccupations in art and, one assumes, in life. But even the most erotically evolved may find his subject matter unnerving. The 30 sexually explicit black & white images present men in the throes of orgasm, uninhibited depictions of the human body, and pictures of heavy hitters such as Merce Cunningham, John Cage and Lynn Davis. Hujar, better known among fellow artists than to the public, influenced Nan Goldin, who once called him “a magician” who “hypnotized his subjects.” Nine Self-Portraits assembles her recent personal photographs, along with a body of work dating back to the 1990s. Less shocking but perhaps more revealing and emotionally naked than Hujar’s graphic oeuvre, they examine, albeit with subtlety, the terrain of desire and intimacy. The shows run concurrently, through March 8. Jessica Silverman Gallery Tammy Rae Carland: Live From Somewhere. We’ve all experienced it, that feeling of anticipation when the house lights dim and a performance is about to begin. But in Carland’s

Sam Francis Foundation, California/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

“Untitled” (1973), acrylic and oil on canvas by Sam Francis.

Courtesy Philadelphia Museum of Art

“Malcolm X #3” (1969), polished bronze, cotton, and rayon by Barbara Chase-Riboud.

new multimedia exhibition, all the world’s a stage, and not everyone gets to be a player. Carland, who leads a double life as a professor and chair of photography at CCA and the owner of the independent lesbian record label Mr. Lady, looks at the relationship between photography and the seductive immediacy of theater through black & white “dis-

cograms” made with a mirror ball, large-scale photographs investigating death and the ephemeral, Plexiglas ladders and aluminum megaphones from a bygone vaudevillian era, and an enchanted mop alone in a pool of light on a darkened stage, ready for its close-up. Ah, the roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd. (Through March 1.)t

Film>>

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 21

Twin intrigue & Castro attractions

Courtesy Required Viewing/Dada Films

Zoe Kazan as twin sisters Laurel and Audrey in director Jenee LaMarque’s The Pretty One.

by David Lamble

line that keeps bouncing through my skull like a radio jingle first pops up in Woody Allen’s 1978 Best Picture Oscar turn Annie Hall, when a hedonist director (Tony Roberts) tries to seduce a morose writer (Allen) into moving to La-La Land. “Twins, Max. Think of the possibilities!” First-time feature writer/director Jenee LaMarque gives us The Pretty One, a dark comedy/tragedy that takes these possibilities a lot further than I ever imagined. Twin sisters Laurel and Audrey (twin frisky turns from Ruby Sparks creator Zoe Kazan) are living separate lives as The Pretty One begins in the Ventura County burbs. Laurel is helping her portrait-painter dad, Frank (John Carroll Lynch), turn out “copies” of famous paintings. You can see that Laurel hasn’t quite got the knack for this fiddle when her Mona Lisa features lips that betray a lust for the good life. Flash-forward, and we witness the home-return visit of Laurel’s city-mouse twin, Audrey. Through a series of contrivances and coincidences, Audrey convinces Laurel to leave Dad, get a beauty-shop makeover, move to the city, and start life anew. These best-laid plans are overturned in a sudden car wreck that leaves Laurel in traction and Audrey burned to a crisp. Only, hold the presses, the family insists that the surviving twin is actually Audrey, and weak sister Laurel goes along with the gag to the tune of attending her own funeral, then going off to the big city to take over Audrey’s life as a condo owner/real estate agent. The plot thickens and turns increasingly improbable as Laurel/ Audrey falls for the handsome tenant the real Audrey had been about to evict from the condo’s other unit. Then Laurel/Audrey ditches Audrey’s obnoxious, high-pressure boyfriend. The only thing that redeems this Joan Crawford-worthy soap

opera is a focused, disarming performance by Kazan. Spending the first act in technically adroit conversations with herself, Kazan manages to make sense of the proceedings before a third-act happy ending. Pass on this one for another viewing of Ruby Sparks, where writer/actor Kazan shines opposite real-life live-in boyfriend Paul Dano. (Opens Friday at the AMC Metreon.) Coming to the Castro Theatre, Feb. 20-28: On the Waterfront Zoe Kazan’s granddad Elia cleaned up with a waterfront-corruption drama powered by Marlon Brando’s most blisteringly charismatic loner. This 1954 eight-Oscar masterpiece features the screen debut of Eva Marie Saint, and offers an opportunity to compare the acting styles of Broadway vets Lee J. Cobb and Karl Malden with one of the screen’s most dynamic forces of nature. Features the frequently parodied Brando monologue “I could have been a contender” – see Robert De Niro’s Oscar-turn version in Raging Bull. (Plays with the lesser-known Brando vehicle The Night of the Following Day, 2/20) Crimes and Misdemeanors Possibly only Woody Allen could pull off these dueling story-lines: Jewish eye-doctor (Oscar nomination for Martin Landau) solves mid-life crisis by having his mistress rubbed out in a contract killing, while a schlemiel doc-maker (Allen) compares his pompous subject (Alan Alda) to Benito Mussolini. This 1989 gem, alternately poignant and hilarious, is one of the most seriously addictive entries in Woody’s wildly eclectic canon. (On double bill with Clue, 2/21) Sing-Along Mary Poppins Classic Disney multiplied by the pleasures of this uniquely Castro-style karaoke experience. Veteran Disney live-action director Robert Stevenson conducts a jewel of an ensemble – Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Ed Wynn – in one of Hollywood’s greatest fun-for-all-thefamily coups. (2/22-23)

Saving Mr. Banks The insidebaseball account of how Uncle Walt seduced a prim, proper and very severe lady, Mary Poppins creator P.L. Travers, into surrendering her darlings to the Magic Kingdom is beamed down through the star power of Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson. (2/23, 6 & 8:30 p.m.) No Country for Old Men This Best Picture Oscar drama finds the Coen Brothers reveling in the details of how a man (Josh Brolin) flees an inescapable fate. Our hearts race as simple, ordinary sounds – the unscrewing of a light bulb, the deadly beep of a transponder – signal impending doom. The Coens’ doggedly faithful adaptation of Cormac McCarthy finds us riveted by the grotesque ends for characters who swore they deserved better fates. Oscars also for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor (Javier Bardem). (2/26)

Marlon Brandon in director Elia Kazan’s On the Waterfront.

A Serious Man In possibly the funniest yet commandingly philosophical entry in the Coens’ wacky oeuvre, the mischief kicks off in the head of a 13-year-old Jewish pothead (Aaron Wolff) as his slapstick journey towards his Bar Mitzvah parallels the bizarre, trials-of-Job mishaps of his college physics teacher dad (an extraordinarily nimble Michael Stuhlbarg). Newcomer Wolff gets high marks for inhabiting a shrewd little troublemaker who finds precisely the wrong moment to deadpan, “What’s sodomy, Dad?” (2/26)

TICKETS AND PASSES ON SALE

FILM FESTIVAL 2014

OPENING NIGHT

THE GRAND SEDUCTION

STARRING TAYLOR KITSCH TUESDAY MARCH 4 AT 7 PM California Theatre

Oscar-nominated Martin Landau in director Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Mulholland Drive Right up there with Blue Velvet in the David Lynch pantheon of dark comedies inspired by pitiless dream logic, a Hollywood ingénue (Naomi Watts) succumbs to the temptation to explore the fate of an amnesia victim. (2/27) Star 80 Hollywood/Broadway legend Bob Fosse’s final film is a gripping if unsettling account of the death of onetime Playboy centerfold model Dorothy Stratten (Muriel Hemingway) at the hands of a jealous boyfriend (Eric Roberts). (2/27)t

MARCH 4-16 C I N E Q U E S T. O R G

408 295 FEST

<< Film

22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

West Side story by David Lamble

mar, a gripping new West Bank-set thriller that’s the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar submission from Palestine, begins and ends close-up on the face of the film’s handsome title character (promising newcomer Adam Bakri). Over the course of 98 minutes we will watch this face in various states of repose and extreme agitation, will witness it beaten and bloodied during the course of an Israeli security interrogation, will see it responding to jokes, some rather corny, and will come to wonder what the mind behind the face is thinking, what this young man will stoop to doing when the chips are down. It’s a tribute to the art of Palestinian/Dutch filmmaker Hany AbuAssad (Oscar-nominated for his provocative 2005 fiction piece about the fate of a pair of suicide bombers, Paradise Now) that we can develop a deep movie-crush on his sexy boy Omar without necessarily identifying with or even fully understanding his political aspirations. Omar shows just how far we have come regarding the still-messy sectarian war raging through what Christians

pushes a handcart. Almost as soon as the fatal shot is fired, the Israeli authorities are on Omar’s ass, and after a very thrilling chase through an urban market, Omar is captured and subjected to a brutal interrogation by an Israeli intelligence officer (Waleed F. Zuaiter). This depiction of intelli-

Chita Rivera

SF Symphony

From page 16

bill of fare to DSH for his week of introduction to local listeners, and he was notably successful with two of his choices, but the overall impression was seriously impaired by his partnering with a famous guest soloist, the notoriously headstrong pianist Helene Grimaud. Again, sharing a birth-language might have helped the artists mold some compatibility in their shared interpreta-

Adopt Films

Omar (Adam Bakri) shields a female friend (Leem Lubany) who is more than the object of his affections in a scene from director Hany Abu-Assad’s Omar.

Phaeton

From page 16

too, that Wagner’s lifelong obsession with matters of patrimony is foreshadowed in this opera about exactly that: what drives Phaeton to such endless dastardliness is, besides his blind ambition, a challenge to his being the true son of the sun god. Although Lully himself was not of the court of Kinsey VI, the scandals caused by his sexual dalliances with men intermittently interfered with his

gence-gathering torture is far superior to the evasions of the American film Zero Dark Thirty. Told he must spy on his friends and hand Tarek over to the Israelis, Omar appears to comply, but everything in his life conspires to make his every move appear to be a betrayal to folks on both sides.

Paradoxically, Omar’s strength lies in its ability to thrill you into thinking about the unthinkable. The director of this provocative thriller withholds his withering climax to the last heart-throbbing moment as the screen goes black on our gorgeous hero’s face. The envelope, please.t ack, N.Y., as she was looking at a field of snow in her backyard. “It’s beautiful, and I’m looking at my daughter shoveling, and our 145-lb. bull mastiff out there just loving the snow. Lisa is trying to clear a path and picking up you-know-what from the dog. How’s that for an image?” This summer, she’s headed to the Williamstown Theatre Festival to star in The Visit, a not-yet-toBroadway musical by the late Fred Ebb and John Kander. But what Rivera really has her heart set on is a chance to perform the full-out version of Chita: A Legendary Celebration for a run on Broadway. “As a matter of fact, when I finish talking with you, I’m going to try to get this started.” A show like A Legendary Celebration does look back, and she said, “I’m still enjoying all of the memories.” But basically she’s a what’snext kind of person. “We should be living our life and not think about anything else except what you can do to make the world better, what is it you want to do with your life, and just do it. Live your life. Don’t take pictures of it.”t

an autobiography, but she sees A Legendary Celebration as a kind of performing autobiography as she takes us through her life as a ballet hopeful growing up in Wash-

ington, D.C., to a recipient of both the Kennedy Center Honor and the Medal of Freedom in recent years. “I touch on parts of my life,” she said, “but what I mainly care about is the

dance, and teaching future dancers about the different choreographers that they don’t seem to know.” Is there anyone out there who can still offer first-hand education of such breadth? “No, there’s nobody, and I don’t want to be reminded of that,” she said, but not in a preemptory way. Rivera has mixed feelings about spotlighting the matter of age, which is a part of A Legendary Celebration’s promotion, but is not something she wants audiences marveling at. It’s akin to her return to the stage in 1988, following an automobile accident leaving her left leg torn and shattered, as the cartwheeling star of a tour of Can-Can. “That’s one of the hard things, people using an experience that one has had to appreciate what somebody is doing. ‘Isn’t it fabulous that she’s doing that and she’s got 16 screws in her leg?’ or, ‘Isn’t it fabulous that she’s still up there and she can walk from stage right to stage left and she’s 80 years old?’ Why can’t you just take what you see, what the heck, and not think what someone a person of a certain age should be doing?” (Indelicate perhaps to note here, but in the cause of journalistic accuracy, Rivera became 81 as of Jan. 23.) If it seems otherwise at this point, Rivera was in a sunny disposition as she talked from her home near Ny-

tion of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1, but the lumpy, misshapen and rhythmically incomprehensible results proved otherwise. We have always admired Grimaud’s stubborn refusal to think inside the box (or score, in this circumstance), and her refreshing reluctance to conform to traditional performance standards has produced some striking results over the years. Taking a different tack and approaching the classics with a deeply probing mind and personal integrity, along with

enough technical ability to get the job done, has made some Grimaud interpretations a revelation (her Schumann Concerto, for one) and established her as a genuine albeit idiosyncratic superstar. Her run-in with the recently deceased (and greatly lamented) conductor Claudio Abbado regarding interpretive differences led to the cancellation of a recording release and their professional relationship. These things happen – not often and not quite so shockingly, but

remember how Leonard Bernstein actually made a disclaimer before he conducted Glenn Gould in the Brahms First? Pity Bringuier couldn’t blame the recent Grimaud/Brahms fiasco solely on the pianist, but his remarkably willful pushing and pulling of the score couldn’t all rest on the clangorously self-involved soloist. It was unfortunate all around, though no one is giving up on Grimaud for going a bit too far at times. We can see why her fans worship her like a rock star.

Bringuier redeemed his own credibility with a lustrous and beautifully detailed performance of Henri Dutilleux’s Metaboles. I always marvel at the mystery and glistening sound world of Dutilleux, and the young French conductor was in obvious control. The evening ended with another French masterpiece, Ravel’s exciting La Valse. It was a good way to get over the weirdness of the Brahms, and the SFS proved, as always, it can not only roll with the punches, but deliver them as well.t

advancement in the court. Without ever losing his keen focus on musical matters, Rousset infuses the proceedings with the charge of that hothouse atmosphere of the court, absent to a fault in the cooler, fussier readings of Lully from other quarters. To hear how blazing this music is at its peak, listen to the entrance of the Furies at the end of Act III, as sustained an outburst of spitfire orchestral playing as you’ll find. And these instrumentalists can turn from dazzling passages such as that

to strains of innermost “tendresse” at the drop of a chapeau. This also has to be the most magical choral singing, from the Choeur de Chambre du Namur, Rousset has yet elicited. Singing in a broad range of “roles,” his choristers bring the same level of discipline, brilliance, and depth to the music as the instrumentalists do. The solo singing, too, hews to high standards Rousset has set over the years. Rousset doesn’t rely on star-power – though he’s created his share –

to enliven his productions, and he brings off this Phaeton with a cast most of whose names you would not know if you didn’t pay close attention to this micro-scene in the early-music world. And they’re just what are needed, a nearly ideal mix of singers who never take a note off. Properly at the center of the ensemble is the Phaeton of Emiliano Gonzales Toro, a high tenor (but helpfully, here, for character, not a countertenor) with a handsome voice who seems disinterested in

making pretty sounds when dramatically more acute ones will do. He is the protagonist, not the “hero,” of the story, and he doesn’t stint on the character’s disagreeable, conniving, and presumptuous traits. The lower voices capture the ear, the more so since they’re not usually so prominent in Baroque opera. The women are women, not songbirds. That’s what makes this Rousset’s best venture yet into Lully: these musicians to a one say what they mean and mean what they say.t

From page 13

Titled Chita: A Legendary Celebration, and staged with guest stars, backup dancers, and an orchestra in a Broadway theater, the production has been retooled into an intimate show with just Rivera onstage accompanied by a three-piece band. But the songs are still there, the stories are still there, and Rivera’s moves are still there. Taking it on the road every few weeks, a brief swing through California will bring her to the Fairmont Hotel’s Venetian Room for two performances on Feb. 23 as part of Bay Area Cabaret’s season. Rivera’s musical career dates back to 1952, when she landed a dance role in Call Me Madam, with Elaine Stritch in the Ethel Merman role. The choreographer was Jerome Robbins, and they would work together again in five years, with Rivera creating the role of Anita in West Side Story who stopped the show with “America.” Rivera is a veritable encyclopedia of dance through the “golden age” of Broadway, working with such legendary choreographers, in addition to Robbins, as Michael Kidd, Peter Gennaro, Gower Champion, and of course, Bob Fosse, who created starring roles for her in Sweet Charity and Chicago. Rivera has no interest in writing

like to call “the Holy Land.” By its very existence, Omar is a sign of progress, showing just how adept a filmmaker has to be to influence a sophisticated film crowd. Politics aside, you will likely be caught up in the gritty plight of a young Palestinian baker who must scale the massive Israeli security wall just to see his beloved, Nadia (the ambiguously flirtatious Leem Lubany), and who must also be solicitous of the feelings of her strict older brother, Tarek (Eyad Hourani). Tarek teaches Omar and his friend Amjad (Samer Bisharat) the 101’s of urban guerrilla warfare, using small-bore rifles and discarded microwave ovens as targets. As Omar is mustering the courage to ask Tarek for Nadia’s hand, the three young men plot an attack on the nearby Israeli army base. The attack is methodically executed, but under this skilled filmmaker’s vision we can see just how random and feckless the most politically motivated violence can be. As Amjad aims his rifle at the Israeli soldiers behind the barbed wire, his aim capriciously moves among three or four possible targets before dispatching one hapless soldier as he

Martha Swope

Chita Rivera, left, co-starred in the original production of Chicago with Gwen Verdon, to whom she pays tribute in her one-woman show.

Chita: A Legendary Celebration will have performances at 3 & 7:30 p.m. in the Fairmont Hotel’s Venetian Room. Tickets are $48. Go to www.bayareacabaret.com.

Books>>

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 23

Army maneuvers by Brian Jackle

Closets, Combat, and Coming Out: Coming of Age in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Army by Robert Smith; Blue Beacon Books t can be argued that sexuality drove African American private Rob Smith into the military and became his principal preoccupation throughout his five-year career as an infantryman. At 17, Rob Smith was overweight, living at home with his grandmother in Akron, Ohio, and waiting tables at Denny’s. He wanted to attend college, but his family couldn’t afford it, so he thought joining the military might pay for his education. While he had inklings he was gay, it was meeting the army recruiter Corporal Garvin, a blond Adonis, that pointed him toward the possibilities of sexual fulfillment. Smith writes after interacting with Garvin, “I would have done anything he wanted me to do.” Garvin convinced Smith that the infantry was “where the real men go, the best of the best, where they do the fun stuff like shooting, marching, camping, and all that shit you see on the commercials.”

Not wanting to let Garvin down, Smith gets his mother to sign the consent form. A few weeks later, he is heading for basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia. From the get-go, Smith has a rocky start, feeling he can’t do anything right, not even running, and considers leaving. He has a transformative moment talking with his drill sergeant, and realizes he has been running away from failure, family, and crushing loneliness in Ohio. He starts to believe in himself and develop a sense of purpose. Tired of being called gay slurs by his fellow soldiers, and having no one to turn to about his sexual orientation, even a chaplain or mental health expert, Smith calls his mother to tell her he’s gay. She rejects him. Contemplating suicide by concocting a lethal dose of Tylenol and alcohol, in a final act of desperation, he calls his sister, who says she will always love him “no matter who or what he was.” Smith starts visiting Gay.com, where he hooks up with guys for sex, but what he really wants is companionship. He discovers a nearby gay bar, Hide and Seek, where he meets Sgt. Scott, who becomes his first real gay friend. They travel to Denver to

attend a gay pride parade and a bathhouse. Smith soon meets other closeted military men, and no longer feels forsaken. He becomes the best soldier in his unit. After a short stint in Colorado, he’s deployed to Iraq, but before he leaves he tells his straight military best friend, Howard, that he’s gay. Howard had already figured it out, and could care less. Smith has traveled far emotionally, after fearing military men he meets at Hide and Seek will report him for being gay. He comes to realize that “most soldiers are too concerned with their own lives, promotion, and relationships to get too involved in petty dramas of trying to get a soldier discharged.” The rest of the book details his experiences in Iraq, few of which involve sexuality. Eventually he receives orders to return to the U.S. and separate from the Army. In a two-sentence afterword, he writes that on Nov. 5, 2010, he chained himself to the White House along with 12 other military and civilian LGBT activists, to get “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repealed. He started

speaking about his military experiences that year to college students. Critiquing DADT helped him find his voice to talk about other issues affecting the LGBT community, especially youth suicide. “I’ve got the rest of my life to be loved and proud, and to advocate for our rights, to make up for the years I was forced to serve in silence.”

Disappointingly, there is no material covering the years between the end of his military service in 2003 and his metamorphosis into an activist in 2010. Nor does the book contain any insights about the direction of LGBT military life post-DADT, though he mentions there needs to be a nondiscrimination policy enacted in the Military Code protecting LGBT soldiers and transgender service personnel. The first half of the book, essentially his adjustment towards gay life in the hypermasculine, homophobic military during basic training, is brutally honest, with several almost pornographic descriptions of his sexcapades. The rest, concerning his time in the Iraq war, is less riveting, even when he is battling an unbalanced sergeant thirsty for combat and blood. Strangely, Smith comments little on racism in the infantry, even when his fellow soldiers call him Bubba, the black character in the film Forrest Gump. Still, his being African-American, poor, and from a broken family, as well as gay, does provide us with a unique voice rarely heard.t

Hamburg Ballet

derstandable versions of the ways people actually move when they are apologizing as kindly as possible for not beand lift got the heroic treating able to reciprocate. ment from these superbly The kissing duet of Charlie trained and completely comSlender and his fiancé Buckmitted dancers. Although ley White looked at first dantheir vehicle is a fussy, fidgety gerous, as if Slender were putmovement design that gets ting the make on an innocent almost all of its meaning and who’d never felt this before, mood from the music, the and seducing him. Buckley performers won the audience began to respond to the kissby dancing their hearts out. es, whereupon Slender began The audience especialto back up, drawing White ly loved Puck (Alexandr helplessly after him. But then Trusch), who flashed about there was a pause, and White the forest in split leaps and initiated the kisses this time, dazzling pirouettes executing and it was Slender who sucthe commands of the Fairy cumbed and followed him King (Thiago Bordin), trying all around the room trying to squeeze the nectar from the to keep lip-to-lip. More demagic flower onto the eyes veloped. Eventually, as the of the right lover, and mostly lights went down, the pelvises getting it wrong. Most beguilmoved towards each other, ing was the broad comedy and at the end you could not between him and the sleepsee daylight between them. ing gardener Lysander (the The simplicity of it was classuper-hunky Edvin Revasov), sic. who seems to fall asleep like Sheldon Smith and Lisa a horse with his legs straight Wymore had the other wonand his butt in the air; it’s a derful dance – they are marvery pretty butt, and Puck ried, and both teach in major spends a lot of time coaxing dance departments (Mills it into position for squeezing and UC, respectively). Inthe juice onto him. deed, many of the performHamburg’s artistic director ers this night came out of the Holger Badekow is no fine craftsman, but he is UC dance program, and are a bold creator of spectacles. Hélène Bouchet and Ivan Urban of Hamburg used to creating dances with Jurgen Rose’s sumptuous vi- Ballet in John Neumeier’s A Midsummer an idea in them. Smith and sual designs create grandly Night’s Dream. Wymore are adept at comedy, royal apartments and a truly and their dance mimicked the magical forest, and the wedrehearsal/creative process of ding clothes are being sewn leading roles of Hippolyta and the making up a dance for this occasion. on-stage as we watch, which creates fairy queen. Carsten Jung flared It was low burlesque – the premise a special theatrical anticipation and bravely as Bottom (playing Pyrais Mr. and Mrs. Honeydew, i.e., She sets up the finale. mus), and Konstantin Tselikov was asks him, “Honey do this, honey Most of all, he uses music shrewdadorable in red pointe shoes as Flute do that,” but in the lingo of perforly to create his social strata: classic (playing Thisbe). mance theory. The script was very Mendelssohn for the aristocracy, clever [“and maybe now some pelmodernist walls of sound by Ligeti Duo action vic mobilizations”], and they ended to evoke the awesome powers of the Meantime across town, of all the up deciding to be natural, and just fairies, and best of all, disarmingly duets in Dance Lovers, the most did some sweet slow dancing as the adorable hurdy-gurdy music for the poignant to me was that of James lights came down. shop-men who want to put on the Graham, who has a crush on his Each of the dances was charming play for the Duke’s wedding. straight friend Sebastian Grubb, in its way: the other performers were The long ballet suddenly came who loves him back, just not that Chad Dawson and Braden Pells, to life as the rough-hewn men of way. The sweet thing about this Caroline Alexander and Andrew Athens put on their campy classical dance is how much room they give Ward, Jeremy Bannon-Neches and tragedy at the wedding. To hear Vereach other to express the affections Demetria Schioldager. Jess Curtis di’s hit tunes accompany Pyramus’ that are there, and how large the and Rachel Dichter closed the show: fight with the lion and Thisbe’s laemotions become as they animate him naked, her power-dressed, ment gave lift to a heavy evening. the body of Graham: his moves standing stock-still like the farmer Neumeier’s wit rose to Trockadero burst from him in flashing pulses and his wife in “American Gothic,” level at this point. like light from a star. The chunky, exchanging lovers’ sweet talk, him Hamburg Ballet brought their heavily muscled Grubb dances in finally nibbling her ear and getting conductor, who led the SF Ballet orsweetly rounded, amazingly graceher to hold his hand “for a very long chestra with spirit. Helene Bouchet ful small moves that circle back into time.”t brought complex dignity to the himself, in ways that are clearly unFrom page 13

ebar.com

STEVENUNDERHILLPHOTOGRAPHY weddings • headshots• portraits

415-370-7152

www.stevenunderhill.com • stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

The

Tell us who your Besties are! Complete and mail this ballot to the address below before March 5, 2014 or vote online at: www.ebar.com by clicking on the Besties logo You could win one of the following prizes just for voting for your favorite places, people and things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

• Grand Prize: MAUI SUNSEEKER VACATION: Win a 7-night stay at Hawaii’s largest gay-owned and operated resort • Second Prize: SAN FRANCISCO BALLET: Two Tickets to the San Francisco Ballet’s Nite Out on April 4 • Third Prize: SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS HOME GAME & VIP PARKING: Two club level tickets behind home plate and VIP lot parking to a San Francisco Giant’s home game (date to be determined)

COMMUNITY Best LGBT Event _______________ Best LGBT Fundraiser _______________ Best LGBT Blog/Website _______________ Best LGBT Nonprofit _______________ Best LGBT Sports League _______________ RESTAURANTS Best Breakfast _______________ Best Brunch _______________ Best Lunch _______________ Best Dinner _______________ Best Dessert _______________ Best Outdoor Patio _______________ Best Restaurant with a View _____________ Best Late-Night Restaurant _____________ NIGHTLIFE Best Bar Food (place) _______________ Best Mixed Drink _______________ Best Place to Meet Men _______________ Best Place to Meet Women _____________ Best Place to Meet Transgender People _______________ Best Dance Floor _______________ Best Gay/Gay-Friendly Bar ______________ Best Bang for Your Buck Bar ____________ Best Neighborhood Bar _______________ Best Bar with a Patio _______________ Best Bar with a Pool Table ______________ Best Sports Bar _______________ Best Theme Night _______________

PEOPLE/CITY LIVING Best LGBT Activist _______________ Best LGBT Youth Activist (25 and under) _______________ Best Bartender (Individual) _____________ Best DJ _______________ Best Personal Trainer _______________ Best Resource for LGBT Seniors _______________ Best Photographer _______________ Best Local Politician _______________ Best Local Politician You Love to Hate _______________ Best Place to Pamper Your Pets _______________ Best Dentist _______________ Best Healthcare Provider _______________ Best Attorney _______________ Best Tax Preparer _______________ Best Day Spa _______________ Best Place to Get Your Hair Done _______________ Best Nail Salon _______________ Best Place for a First Date _______________ Best Place to Breakup _______________ SHOPPING/SEX/ROMANCE Best Wedding Venue _______________ Best Place to Buy Wedding Attire _______________ Best Jewelry _______________ Best Place to Buy Eyewear _______________

You must answer at least 30 questions and submit to Bay Area Reporter, 225 Bush Street, Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94104 by Wednesday, March 5, 2014 to qualify. Or go to www.ebar.com to submit online. Ballots will be accepted from February 6, 2014 to March 5, 2014. One ballot per person. Bay Area Reporter staff are not eligible for prize drawing. Prize winners and results of the Besties will be published in our 44th Anniversary Issue on April 3, 2014.

Best Bank _______________ Best Bookstore _______________ Best Adult Store _______________ Best Bicycle Shop _______________ Best Clothing Store (Men) _____________ Best Clothing Store (Women) ____________ Best Vintage Clothing Store _____________ Best Shoe Store _______________ Best Place to Get Fit _______________ Best Place to Buy a Car _______________ Best Auto Mechanic _______________ Best Place to Buy Sex Toys _____________ Best Sex Club _______________ Best Cruising Spot _______________ Best Medical Marijuana Dispensary _______________ ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Best Drag Show _______________ Best Fair or Festival _______________ Best Live Music Venue _______________ Best Theater Group _______________ Best Movie Theater _______________ Best Museum _______________ Best Dance Company _______________ EAST BAY Best Politician _______________ Best Bar _______________ Best Restaurant _______________ Best Fair or Festival _______________ Best Reason to Cross the Bay Bridge _______________

NAME ___________________________________* CITY_________________________STATE_______ ZIP__________COUNTRY____________________* EMAIL ADDRESS __________________________* *Required to qualify for prize drawing. One ballot per person.

Trannyshack

Eric Himan

NIGHTLIFE FOOD

SPIRITS

SEX

Lick It!

SOCIETY

ROMANCE

LEATHER

PERSONALS Vol. 44 • No. 8 • February 20-26, 2014

www.ebar.com ✶ www.bartabsf.com

Miss Mahogany, local star on the rise by David-Elijah Nahmod

t seems as though Honey Mahogany is everywhere these days. The season 5 RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant has released an album, and recently played herself on the fourth episode of HBO’s gay series Looking. She’ll soon be appearing at the hot Market Street nightspot Martuni’s. See page 2 >>

Honey Mahogany Brawlio Elias

Cold Soul

Hard French Takes It On The Road For The Winter Ball by Ray Aguilera

f you’ve ever been wandering down Mission Street on a Saturday afternoon and heard the boisterous sounds of ‘60’s soul jams wafting through the air accompanied by the scent of BBQ and sexy San Franciscans of all stripes sweating it out on the dance floor, then you probably know all about Hard French. See page 3 >>

The Hard French crew at their 2013 Winter Ball. Cabure Bonugli (Shot in the City)

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

Honey Mahogany

From page 1

When speaking with Mahogany, her gentle demeanor stands out. Honey Mahogany has a lot of heart, and wants to spread the love around. “Just because you’re a drag queen doesn’t mean you have to be a cunt,” she said with a laugh. Her compassion and love for others may have been nurtured by her day job. When not singing her heart out while clad in stunning gowns, Mahogany becomes Alpha Mulugeta, her boy persona. He does social work in Contra Costa County. Mulugeta works with LGBT youth, people with HIV, the homeless and other at-risk populations. He’s very passionate about that work, which he brings to the table when he transforms into Honey. “Honey started as an extension of myself,” she told BARtab. “I identify as male and prefer Queer. Honey is an extension of the inner femininity that society said I could not be. Honey became a celebration of that femininity. People tell me that I’m so genuine on stage, that I’m a beautiful person inside and out. People get that energy from me.” Honey brought that kind, gentle persona to the Drag Race competition.

“Everyone feels that in order to be fierce you have to be catty,” she said. “Catfights get them ratings. My mindset was that I was going to let my talent speak for itself. I don’t want to be remembered for being catty.” The line between Alpha and Honey is a thin one. “There’s not been a huge distinction between Honey and my boy persona, but now it’s growing,” she said. “Honey is extremely extroverted, she’s there to entertain people.” Her talent is indeed winning out. Honey Love, her newly released CD, has been getting positive notices. The album features a mix of original compositions and covers. “Feeling Good,” a Nina Simone classic, was released as a music video this past November. The website NewNowNext proclaimed that Simone would have been proud of Mahogany’s version. “I made an album from my heart,” Mahogany said. “It’s music that’s true to my life experiences. It’s more of an acoustic album.” She describes “Feeling Good” as “a song of struggling through and surviving, a song of living through grit, but still finding life beautiful.” For her appearance on the new HBO gay-themed series Looking, Mahogany performed “Shoulda Known Better.” “It’s a song about my first romantic relationship,” she said. “I shoulda known better! It’s exciting that it got picked up by HBO.” For the future, Mahogany hopes to

▼

Honey Mahogany’s new CD, Honey Love.

pursue other show business avenues. “I would like to do it all,” she said. “I’d like to pursue modeling as Honey or as a gender-variant model. I’m interested in a musical career, I love writing and recording, and I think I have decent acting chops. Because of Drag Race, people take drag queens more seriously now.” Mahogany hopes that Drag Race fans will join her and pal Sister Roma at The Midnight Sun every Monday night for funtastic Drag Race viewing parties, which also include live performances. And please join her at Martuni’s, 4 Valencia Street at Market, on Sunday, February 23 at 7 P.M. for a Honey Love CD release party. “I’ll be singing with a live band,” she tells us.▼ Please visit Honey Mahogany’s delightfully sweet website, www.itshoney.com

Honey Mahogany.

The Next ‘Big Wig’ Trannyshack’s 15th Star Search EDITOR Jim Provenzano DESIGNERS Jay Cribas, Scott King ADVERTISING SALES Scott Wazlowski 415-359-2612 CONTRIBUTORS Ray Aguilera, Race Bannon, Matt Baume, Heather Cassell, Coy Ellison, Michael Flanagan, Dr. Jack Fritscher, Peter Hernandez, John F. Karr, T. Scott King, Sal Meza, David Elijah-Nahmod, Adam Sandel, Donna Sachet, Jim Stewart, Ronn Vigh PHOTOGRAPHY Biron, Wayne Bund, Marques Daniels, Don Eckert, Lydia Gonzales, Rick Gerharter, Jose Guzman-Colon, Georg Lester, Dan Lloyd, Jim Provenzano, Rich Stadtmiller, Monty Suwannukul, Steven Underhill BARtab is published by BAR Media, Inc. PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT Michael M. Yamashita CHAIRMAN Thomas E. Horn VP AND CFO Patrick G. Brown SECRETARY Todd A. Vogt BAR Media, Inc. 225 Bush Street, Suite 1700 San Francisco, CA 94104 (415) 861-5019 www.BARtabSF.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 LEGAL COUNSEL Paul H. Melbostad Member National Gay Newspaper Guild Copyright © 2014, Bay Area Reporter, a division of BAR Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

by Ronn Vigh

love it here! Is it the best place I’ve ever performed? No. The best place was the many magical nights at The Stud. All those countless Tuesdays. The worst was in front of the vile, homophobic audience at The Exotic Erotic Ball. Yuck!

hen I was a child, the original Star Search always seemed to be on the television in our house and I always thought it was so boring to watch. I particularly never understood the spokesmodel category. However, if the competition was stacked with larger than life drag queens such as Heklina, Peaches Christ and Sue Casa, then I probably would’ve never left the living room. This Saturday, Heklina cohosts the fifteenth Trannyshack Star Search Heklina, Sue Casa and Peaches Christ. competition, the annual epic, “no drags barred” event to find the next would grow to be so successful? big drag star. Heklina took some Trannyshack started very much as time from rehearsal for her Hawaii a fluke, on a dead Tuesday night at Trannyshack show to talk to me The Stud. It was only supposed to last about her experiences as a drag a few months, but once it exploded, I performer and the upcoming thought, “Well, I better learn how to competition. do this!” Maybe one day I will! Ronn Vigh: How long have you resided in San Francisco? Heklina: Going on 23 years now! I, uh, moved here when I was ten. Did San Francisco immediately feel like home or did it take some time to find your way? I immediately felt at home. I never fit in anywhere, it seemed. All that changed the day I arrived in San Francisco. To this day, no matter where I travel to, I always feel glad to come home to our fair city; corny but true. Did you already do drag before San Francisco or was Heklina born here? I did drag in Iceland a couple of times, but Heklina was really born when Trannyshack started. How did Trannyshack develop, and did you envision that it

Can you tell us where your name comes from? What do people most often think your name is derived from? Heklina is derived from the Icelandic volcano, Hekla. People of course think it’s some variation on the word Heckle, which may explain why my name is so commonly misspelled as Heck-lina, which drives me crazy. It is a huge pet peeve, and if I’m booked for a gig and the artwork comes out with my name spelled like that, I immediately cancel! This is the fifteenth annual Trannyshack Star Search competition. Has anybody ever done anything on stage that truly shocked you? With Star Search, nothing really comes to mind that is shocking in itself. But there were years back at The Stud with lots of poop, cum, or what have you. Now that the event is

As you take Trannyshack on the road more often, do you have to alter the show for each city and venue, or is it always anything goes? I try not to, but yes, ultimately you have to. Here Jose Guzman-Colon in Waikiki, I’ve found that they don’t want High Art or conceptual. They want nasty and shocking! L.A. at DNA Lounge, the performances wants things a bit more slick. Seattle have become much larger and more and Portland are politically correct. multi-media huge productions. So, yes, you have to adapt. Do you find your performers and competitors or do they find you? For Star Search, we are looking for new talent. I have spies that go out for me to pick contestants. I rarely go to clubs unless I am working them, so it’s much easier to ask my assistants, “Who is new on the scene?” It’s changed a lot from the days when I actively went out and scouted, spending endless hours calling people during the week. You’re searching for the next Trannyshack star, but if NBC was searching for someone to portray you in a mini-series on Trannyshack, who would you want to play you and why? A much younger Kathleen Turner, or Lili Taylor. Kathleen has the low voice and Lili has my features, sort of. You seem to be hitting the road more and more. What has been the best and worst place you’ve ever performed? Good question! I’m answering these questions from Waikiki and I

Trannyshack does a lot of themes. Was there ever a theme you regretted doing or looked back on and thought, “Well, that didn’t go as planned!” My advice to any drag show promoters is, don’t ever try to be casual, flippant or transgressive when it comes to racial themes. Trannyshack took on everything, and that was the one thing I regretted. Everything else (gender, religion, politics, sex) is fair game, although as far as drag performance or parody goes. As someone who has been a huge part of San Francisco LGBT nightlife and culture, do you have any thoughts on the new show, Looking? Or, could you care less? I couldn’t care less.▼ Heklina co-hosts The 15th Annual TrannyShack Star Search with Peaches Christ and outgoing Trannyshack Sue Casa, February 21 at DNA Lounge. Doors Open at 9:30pm. $15. www.trannyshack.com www.DNAlounge.com

▼ <<

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Hard French

From page 1

The monthly party returns to El Rio for its fifth season on March 1, but if you just can’t wait to shake your tail feathers, the annual Winter Ball takes the Hard French crew, dolls them up in formal finery, and drops them at Santa Cruz’s historic Coconut Grove right on the beach. It’s a once-a-year bonanza of cruising, dancing, and drinking, featuring the vintage grooves of Hard French’s resident DJ’s Carnita and Brown Amy spinning soul classics on 45. To get ready for the party, we sat down with Devon Devine, selfdescribed “Producer/Daddy” of the Hard French crew, to get the tea. Ray Aguilera: Tell us about the Hard French crew. Devon Devine: The Hard French crew consists of myself, Jorge Portillo (Video Wrangler/Art Director), Tim Strong (Producer/ Booty Shaker) and two DJs, Carnita and Brown Amy. How did Hard French come to be? A hot baby dino scissor virgin immaculately conceived five unicorn eggs into a Richard Simmons workout video and then—ta-da! Hard French was born!

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 3

about it. As long as we love the party, you will too. How would you describe the Hard French vibe? Happy, queer, warm, dancey, giggle, cute butts, shades, looks, BBQ, make out really hard. Speaking of “looks,” what are you cooking up for the Winter Ball? One word: Balenciaga! Okay, Can we still get tickets? Yes! We have a limited number of pre-sale tickets available online and at the Pure Pleasure Shop in Santa Cruz. If any first-timers are on the fence, what can they expect at the Winter Ball? We don’t always get the chance to get dressed up and go to a ball, so we decided to throw the prom we’d never had with the people we wish we’d known in high school—drag queens, fashionistas and dirty queers! We thought it would be absolutely mind-blowing to have some of our favorite performers gracing the stage at a classic venue like the Cocoanut Grove. We don’t want to spoil the show, but rumor has it there will be solo numbers, group numbers and lots of gowns involved.

Cabure Bonugli (Shot in the City)

Drag divas and pals at the 2013 Hard French Winter Ball.

Every year we work with Lil Miss Hot Mess to coordinate the King and Queen of the Ball. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill popularity race. We use it to honor folks who work hard to create community. The winners get showered with gifts from local businesses and we donate cash to the charities of their choice.

This is one of our favorite aspects of the Winter Ball, honoring our community members who kick ass! What are the chances of getting laid at Winter Ball? One hundred percent.▼

Hard French Winter Ball: $25. February 22. 9pm-1am. Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach Street Santa Cruz. www.hardfrench.com

Hard French is known for oldschool soul jams. Why did the HF crew decide to start a soul party? Our DJs (Brown Amy & Carnita) grew up listening to soul music at family picnics and backyard barbecues. We grew up on soul and there’s something so innate about it. Soul can cross generations and sets off a dance floor like no other genre. We use 45s because, frankly, if you digitally compress soul music it starts to lose its soul and that is just wrong. Hard French parties are always full of sexy, friendly people having a great time. What is it about your party that brings out the best in people? When we build an idea for a party we start with ourselves. If we like it, we figure our friends will like it and if our friends will like it, we figure their lovers will like it and well... you get the point. No idea is too grand! We usually start off with these huge concepts that involve celebrities and helicopters, but then they end up in really awesome places like a haunted hotel in the mountains or a turn-of-the-century ballroom on the ocean. We just wanna party with our friends, and we’re hella genuine

Cabure Bonugli (Shot in the City) Robbie Sweeney

DavEnd, one of last year’s performers at Hard French’s Winter Ball.

The prom you never had; a lovely couple at last year’s Hard French Winter Ball.

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

STEVENUNDERHILLPHOTOGRAPHY

4 â&#x20AC;˘ BAY AREA REPORTER â&#x20AC;˘ February 20-26, 2014

weddings â&#x20AC;˘ headshotsâ&#x20AC;˘ portraits

415-370-7152

www.stevenunderhill.com â&#x20AC;˘ stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

Yes, SIR

â&#x2013;ź

The Society for Individual Rightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Roots

AUDITED, VERIFIED... ...AND NOW, CERTIFIED! Jim Stewart

Mike Lewis and Bob Paulsen rehearse a production of Jack Fritscherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kweenasheeba.

by Jim Stewart

The

www.ebar.com

Serving the gay, lesbian,

der communities since

bisexual, and transgen

XO\ 9RO Â&#x2021; 1R Â&#x2021; -XQH -

1971

City to embrace Pride

y as the only LGBT Building upon our histor I ounty San Francisco publication in the 9-c audited and verified an g Bay Area possessin a gest reach, the Bay Are circulation and the lar tified LGBT cer a be to ud pro Reporter is now business enterprise. Court victories! by Seth Hemmelgarn

organizers tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a rough year for Francisco of the 43rd annual San n, LGBT Pride parade and celebratio still sounds but Pride chief Earl Plante yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme, enthusiastic about this â&#x20AC;? Empower. , â&#x20AC;&#x153;Embrace, Encourage Francisco Plante, CEO of the San Committee, LGBT Pride Celebration means, said that to him, the theme comof our â&#x20AC;&#x153;embracing all aspects all levels.â&#x20AC;? It munityâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;diversity at the broader also invokes â&#x20AC;&#x153;empowering global LGBT movement.â&#x20AC;? a thought â&#x20AC;&#x153;San Francisco Pride is its inception,â&#x20AC;? leader ... it has been since Plante said. begin This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pride festivities in Civic Cenfestival the with Saturday Sunday, the ter, from noon to 6 p.m. runs from celebration in Civic Center kicks parade The p.m. 11 a.m. to 6:30 and Beale off at 10:30 a.m. at Market and Eighth streets and ends at Market is free, but a streets. The Pride festival suggested. is $5 donation of the streets There will be jubilation in yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic as well, following Wednesda Court. victories at the U.S. Supreme See page 22 >>

the Rotunda stairs Phyllis Lyon is escorted down by Lieutenant Governor in San Francisco City Hall Mayor Ed Lee. Gavin Newsom, left, and Rick Gerharter

by Matthew S. Bajko and

Lisa Keen

the court. It strikes the four liberal justices of because it violates DOMA as unconstitutional protection and due the guarantees of equal process. largely on matbased dissent, The DOMA by Chief Justice John ters of standing, was led courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three other Roberts and joined by the conservatives. See page 22 >>

laborating with the We look forward to col I that participate in ies pan Fortune 1000 com their supplier diversity this program as part ofManning at SF parade r no ho to s ist tivrts. Aceffo ess â&#x20AC;&#x153;gay G Now that we have our official busin ersity, div te mo pro to card,â&#x20AC;? we can continue tside of our ou and in y alit equ creativity and community. Rick Gerharter

Permanente conMembers of the Kaiser and music as they tingent enjoyed the sun Street at last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headed down Market Pride parade.

the U.S. Sun a stunning double victory, issued decisions preme Court Wednesday key provision of that strike down both a Act and Proposition the Defense of Marriage ban. marriage 8, Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s same-sex 5-4 split, was writThe DOMA decision, a and joined by ten by Justice Anthony Kennedy

by Cynthia Laird

Manning was ay Army private Bradley status stripped of his grand marshal in Maryland and is 3,000 miles away s will honor at his court-martial but supporter Pride paLGBT him in Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s San Francisco rade anyway. Support Network The Bradley Manning in San Francontingent, which has marched two years, is the last cisco Pride parades for with activists, probexpected to be teeming , and supporters of ably a couple politicians ower. In a statement the WikiLeaks whistle-bl local supportreleased this week, Manningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s care that the didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ers said in essence that they refused to honor San Francisco Pride board grand marshal. him â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Manning will be their leaking some of Manning, 25, is accused nt documents to 700,000 classified governme cy website. He has WikiLeaks, the anti-secre charges against him, confessed to some of the other charges. on but is being court-martialed the enemy, could The most serious, aiding send him to prison for life. as a grand After initially naming Manning LGBT Francisco San the marshal in late April, e board reversed Pride Celebration Committe Pride board Presiitself two days later. Initially statement, said that dent Lisa Williams, in a a grand Manning name to it was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;mistakeâ&#x20AC;? came out with a secmarshal. Later, the board

continThe Free Bradley Manning parade, gent, shown here in last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sunday. is expected to be larger on Manning couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be ond statement that said ty grand marshal considered for a communi slot because he is not local. ty meeting After a contentious communi recognize declined to May 31, the Pride board Pride celebration. the for way Manning in any Committee board Joey Cain, a former Pride grand marshal, president and a former parade

Rick Gerharter

Manning for was the person who nominated angry, hurt, by turns, the honor. He has been the controversy has and disappointed in how of communication played out, and the lack officials. and transparency from Pride problem at â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a major leadership ,â&#x20AC;? Cain said in Pride that needs to be addressed Bay Area Reporter. a recent interview with the

though Manning To those who say that even specifically gay-reis gay, what he did was not perspective. lated, Cain has a different Bradley Manning â&#x20AC;&#x153;The reason I nominated ty needed to communi LGBT the was because him,â&#x20AC;? Cain said. know about him and embrace gay man who did â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bradley Manning is a See page 6 >>

NS }

{ FIRST OF THREE SECTIO

And with our general-market partner publications, only BAR Media can offer you verified reach to both the LGBT segment and the general market.

Market your business to the audience of Bay Area Thelargest San Francisco Media Company consumers.

Special Combo Rates

The combined reach and readership of the award-winning SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian and SF Weekly provides the strongest and most comprehensive marketing solutions in the Bay Area.

AGE

BUY ALL THREE PUBLICATIONS BUY TWO PUBLICATIONS Full Page ........................... $3000 Full Page ........................... $2500 Call our Advertising Director 1/2 Page............................ $1750 1/2 Page............................ $1500 today at 415.359.2612 1/4 Page............................ $1250 1/4 Page.............................. $800 1/10 Page............................ $500 1/10 Page............................ $400 EXAMINER: GUARDIAN: SF WEEKLY:

FULL PAGE 9.75â&#x20AC;?X11.5â&#x20AC;? 10.13â&#x20AC;?X11â&#x20AC;? 9.375â&#x20AC;?X11â&#x20AC;?

Publication Date: Circulation:

1/2 PAGE 9.75â&#x20AC;?X5.72â&#x20AC;? 10.13â&#x20AC;?X5.42â&#x20AC;? 9.375â&#x20AC;?X5.4167â&#x20AC;?

M, T, W, F 62,716

1/4 PAGE 5.78â&#x20AC;?X5.72â&#x20AC;? 10.13â&#x20AC;?X2.62â&#x20AC;? 4.60â&#x20AC;?X5.42â&#x20AC;?

Wednesday 50,000

1/10 or 1/8 PAGE 3.80â&#x20AC;?X3.78â&#x20AC;? 3.95â&#x20AC;?X2.62â&#x20AC;? 4.60â&#x20AC;?X2.63â&#x20AC;?

Wednesday 65,000

t was February, 1976. Sheldon Kovalski and I walked into the Castro CafĂŠ. We shared an apartment a few blocks away on Noe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jack Fritscher,â&#x20AC;? Sheldon said, nodding toward a table near the back. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hey guys,â&#x20AC;? Jack said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Want to join me?â&#x20AC;? We sat down as Jack gathered his papers toward him into a neat pile. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What you been up to?â&#x20AC;? I said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Getting ready for auditions for my play, Kweenasheba,â&#x20AC;? Jack said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Great!â&#x20AC;? I said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s producing it?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yonkers Production Company at the SIR Center,â&#x20AC;? Jack said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the SIR Center?â&#x20AC;? Sheldon said. He had just moved to the City from L.A. â&#x20AC;&#x153;SIR, the Society for Individual Rights, was established in San Francisco in 1964,â&#x20AC;? Jack said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Five years before Stonewall,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They sponsor all types of gay community activities like dances, art classes, bowling leagues, drag shows, softball games, you name it, and theater, too, of course,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the biggest gay group in the country. They also work with the Public Health Department to help us keep VD in check.â&#x20AC;? Jack glanced at me. I blushed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the auditions going to be held?â&#x20AC;? Sheldon said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Their Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at 83 Sixth Street,â&#x20AC;? Jack said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jack Greenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s directing.â&#x20AC;? Fritscher grinned at me. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d met Jack Green at the Jaguar Adult Bookstore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be try-outs for Lanford Wilsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Madness of Lady Bright as well,â&#x20AC;? Jack said. He nodded at Sheldon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You should try out.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Think I will,â&#x20AC;? Sheldon said. The Society for Individual Rights Center on Sixth Street between Mission and Market was in a twostory four-unit building with a social hall. Opened in 1966, it was the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first gay and lesbian center. A large poster of Queen Victoria hung in the lobby declaring, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even a queen can get the clap!â&#x20AC;? There were sample copies of SIRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slick publication Vector. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d seen it at newsstands around town. It was

Jim Stewart

Jack Green directs a SIR-produced staging of Jack Fritscherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play Kweenasheba.

fifty-cents an issue or eight bucks a year mailed. It included a Playboy of the Month centerfold and highlighted gay trends in San Francisco. It also reported on gay political progress. SIR held Candidatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Night in bars, and had boycotted and picketed Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of California for prosecuting rest-room sex cases. Bob Paulson got the role of John Stack in Fritscherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kweenasheba that Sheldon wanted. Instead Sheldon got the role of Leslie Brightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Young Man Voice in Madness. The star of the stage, however, was Mike Lewis, who played both Curtis in Kweenasheba and Leslie Bright in Madness. The double-billed production was covered not only by the Bay Area Reporter but was also in Date Book â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Arts & Entertainment, the Pink Section of the Sunday San Francisco Chronicle. After the final performance, the cast, crew and stage-door-johnnies were all invited by the Tavern Guild

to celebrate at the Kokpit on 301 Turk Street. It was another example of the mutually beneficial relationship between SIR and the Tavern Guild. SIR would hold fundraiser auctions in the bars and the bars would donate food and drinks for SIR functions. Laws changed. Negative attitudes slackened. The Alcohol and Beverage Control Board relaxed its rules against same-sex dancing in bars. Some of the social and political activities provided by SIR were taken over by other groups or were no longer necessary. Having no strong top-down organization and with a generational rift within it, SIR dissolved by the late 1970s.â&#x2013;ź ÂŠ 2014 writerJimStewart@ hotmail.com For further true gay adventures check out the award-winning Folsom Street Blues: A Memoir of 1970s SoMa and Leatherfolk in Gay San Francisco by Jim Stewart.

▼

Read more online at www.ebar.com

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Eric Himan unplugged Gay singer discusses his new music by Jim Provenzano

hile his new CD Gracefully includes an R&B big band sound, Eric Himan’s latest stop through town will be an intimate, somewhat unplugged, solo show at Martuni’s on Tuesday, February 25. “I wanted to explore and do something different,” said Himan in a phone interview. After funding the album through listener support on the crowdfunding site PledgeMusic, he said, “My expectations were higher. I was able to hire people and have a full band sound. When the musicians lined up, everything filtered around it. It became the project I wanted, bringing a bigger game to the table.” Known for an intimate folkrock sound in most of his previous eight studio CDs (plus two live albums and various singles), this new venture expands the repertoire of the award-winning openly gay singer-songwriter. “My last album was recorded alone, at home. I used to go to studios to record,” including the Los Angeles Jim Hensen Studios, where, he said, “a good song came out of ti, but it wasn’t cohesive. It wasn’t the vibe I was looking for. I wanted a bigger sound that didn’t lose the depth.” Recording continued in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Himan worked with a crew of talented musicians, who also joined him in some live shows. “We performed last summer at the Center of the Universe Festival, and it had a very full sound,” he said. “But it’s hard to maintain that.” For most of his recent gigs, he performs solo and brings his electric guitar, or plays a three-piece set with accomplished musicians Brandon Holder (who has played with Leon Russell) and Matt Hayes (who plays for Wayne Newton). His friendship with Holder led to Himan’s recent good fortune of opening for Leon Russell. So, how did the roving troubador find time to create such a full sound in Gracefully (which, by the way, is dedicated to his grandmother Grace Himan)? “I’m not a writer in terms of arrangements,” Himan said. “I write the structure and the lyrics. Brandon and Matt were given plenty of freedom to be as awesome as they are.” Himan offered an open creative process in the arrangements of horn section and backing vocals, saying, “You can only tell somebody so much without them feeling like a robot. It was more about finding the right players who got the vision. And they were amazing.” Horn player Ryan Tether, whom Himan cited as “just a genius,” composed arrangements which Himan praised as “really dynamic.”

Local fans who’ve enjoyed Himan’s recent concerts, whether at the recent Accidental Bear party at the Eagle, his more rock-focused concert at Café du Nord, or solo shows at other clubs and bars, know that along with his many popular songs, the musician is known for his unique cover versions of popular hits by Fleetwood Mac, Annie Lennox and even Dolly Parton. “My shows used to be about covering whatever I could do to get peoples’ attention in a bar,” said Himan. “With my originals and about 30 covers, I’ve turned that around. I still look for what is good for my voice, and what I find interesting. I like pulling songs out that aren’t covered, that I can hear myself doing before doing it.” But despite Martuni’s being known as a piano bar, where requests are often shouted out, Himan will focus on his own songs. “I don’t need to fulfill everybody’s need to hear those songs,” he said. “In the biggest places I’m playing this spring, in theatres opening for Leon, there’ll be 3000 people, and none of them will be screaming, ‘Play ‘Jolene!’” Despite being an opening act, Himan said he’s found a new respect from fans. “The first time I opened for Leon, I played ‘Waiting for the Thunder,’ [a song he composed as a tribute to Pakistani human rights activist Malala Yousazfai]. When I played it, I got a standing ovation. I’m excited about the rest of the tour. Leon’s audience is really about listening to music, lyrics, and songwriting.” In his own new work, along with the new bigger sound, Himan continues to expand his familiar themes of love, heartache and social justice. “Red Hot Tears” bounces into a fun funky beat with hearty back-up vocals. While the song “Symmetry” at first offers a lilting waltz cadence, the lyrics reveal a story about same-sex marriage and familial antigay resentment. The song “Hard to Please” blends funk and country, while “How Can You Sleep?” stirs longing and desire for a loved one. And he’s often lent a hand to regional causes, as he did when he posed for a photo series produced by the Columbus, Ohio-based Project fight AIDS (see photo, and visit www.Facebook.com/ ProjectFightAIDS ). In addition to his new music, Himan will take advantage of Martuni’s in-house piano by tickling the ivories for a few songs. “I finally feel comfortable enough to perform on the piano, which I put off for a while. In all honesty, I wanted to be the best that I can be.” After his San Francisco show, the singer’s headed up to Portland. When he’s not trekking around the country for shows, he still finds time

Bryan R. Kelling

Eric Himan flexes for the Columbus, Ohio-based Project Fight AIDS.

to do his occasional Tulsa-based cooking show. Yep, he also cooks. But sorry, guys, he has a partner of several years. Himan’s working on an expanded version of his 40-page cookbook, which blends homestyle and ethnic cuisine. “The cooking gets attention, because when interviewers get tired of talking to me about music, there is this sidebar thing,” he said. “Talking about cooking takes them off-guard. Everyone has an opinion about food.”▼ Eric Himan performs Tuesday, February 25, 7pm at Martuni’s, 4 Valencia St. at Market. 48 cover. To buy his music, visit www.erichiman.com

Eric Himan’s new CD Gracefully

THE SF BAY GUARDIAN PRESENTS THE

GOLDIES AFTERPARTY And FUNDRAISER for CounterPULSE

FEATURING A

GOLDEN OLDIES LATE NIGHT HAPPY HOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST DJS

PRIMO & WAM BAM ASHLEYANNE

UNLIMITED BEER

FROM LAGUNITAS BREWING CO. WEAR YOUR FINEST GOLD ATTIRE! RED CARPET PHOTOS AND VIDEO BY UNDER THE GOLDEN GATE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 FROM 8-11PM

FOLSOM STREET FOUNDRY AT 1425 Folsom St, SF (@10TH STREET)

$10 wristbands available at the door and at Getwillcall.com/thegoldies PROCEEDS BENEFIT CounterPULSE

WWW.SFBG.COM/GOLDIESPARTY2014 Eric Himan

<< On the Tab

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

eON THE T-AB f February 20 27

★

Paula West @ Feinstein's at the Nikko

Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon

The renowned Bay Area jazz vocalist performs an all-new show with her fourpiece band in a special four-week residency at the elegant nightclub. $35-$50; $20 food/beverage min. Thu 8pm, Fri 7pm & 9:30pm, Sat & Sun 7pm. Thru March 9. Hotel Nikko lobby, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.feinsteinssf.com

Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. hitws.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Retro disco tunes and a fun diverse crowd, each Thursday. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

VIP @ Club 21, Oakland Hip Hop, Top 40, and sexy Latin music; gogo dancers, appetizers, and special guest DJs. No cover before 11pm and just $5 after all night. Dancing 9pm-3am. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Fri 21 Aiden James at Hotel Utah

Sun 23

s it possible to enjoy a musician’s talent without ever seeing how cute she or he is? Whether they’re gay (Aiden James, Eric Himan) or straight (Jon McLaughlin), we wonder if they shouldn’t also market cuddle toys in their likeness. But really, even if these musicians weren’t so adorable, we’d still be their gleeful shills; really.

Thu 20 Bacon, Babes & Bingo @ Supperclub The wild burlesque game show returns, with MC Dottie Lux, DJ Be Smiley, circus acts by Elliot Contortion and Francine Dead, burlesque by Patty Cakes, and prizes galore (kitchen and dinner/dessert menu). $10-$20. Pre-show Happy Hour 6pm-7pm. Game show 7pm-10pm, and a dance party 10pm-3am. 657 Harrison St. at 3rd. www.baconbabesandbingo.com

Fuego @ The Watergarden, San Jose Weekly event, with Latin music, half-off locker fees and Latin men, at the South Bay private men's bath house. $8-$39. Reg hours 24/7. 18+. 1010 The Alameda. (408) 275-1215. www.thewatergarden.com

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

Comedy Returns @ El Rio

Jukebox @ Beatbox

The monthly comedy night (now 3rd Thursdays) this time includes stand-up talents Diane Amos, Zahra Noorbakhsh, Ian Williams, Nathan Habib, and host Lisa Geduldig. $7-$20. 8pm. 3158 Mission St. (800) 838-3006. www.elriosf.com

Veteran DJ Page Hodel (The Box, Q and many other events) presents a new weekly dance event, with soul, funk, hip-hop and house mixes. $10. 21+. 9pm-2am. 314 11th St. at Folsom. www.BeatboxSF.com

Comedy Thursdays @ Esta Noche The revamped weekly LGBT- and queerfriendly comedy night at the Mission club is hosted by various comics (1st Thu, Natasha Muse; 2nd Thu, Emily Van Dyke; 3rd Thu Eloisa Bravo and Kimberly Rose; 4th Thu Johan Miranda). No cover; one-drink min. 8pm. 307916th St. www.comedybodega.com

The Crib @ 715 Dance night for the younger guys & gals; DJ Kidd Sysko. Feb 13 Miley Cyrus concert tickets giveaway! 9:30pm-2am. 715 Harrison St. www.thecribsf.com

Fauxgirls @ Infusion Lounge The monthly drag show includes Victoria Secret, Alexandria, Chanel, Maria Garza, Mini Minerva, Kipper, Ruby LeBrowne, and Lulu Ramirez, and guest performers. Dinner seating starts at 7pm, show 8pm. 124 Ellis st. at Powell. 421-8700. www.fauxgirls.com

La Femme @ Beaux New ladies' happy hour at the new Castro nightclub, with drink specials, no cover, and women gogos. 4pm-9pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Thu 20

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

Nap's Karaoke @ Virgil's Sea Room Sing out loud at the weekly least judgmental karaoke in town, hosted by the former owner of the bar. No cover. 9pm. 3152 Mission St. 829-2233. www.virgilssf.com

Narada Michael Walden Band @ Yoshi's The multi-talented pop, rock, funk producer performs with his band. $25-$63 (with dinner). 8pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 6555600. www.yoshis.com

Pan Dulce @ The Cafe Amazingly hot Papi gogo guys, cheap drinks and fun DJed dance music. Free before 10pm. $5 til 2am. 2369 Market St. www.clubpapi.com www.cafesf.com

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle The weekly live rock shows have returned. 9pm-ish. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Bad Girl Cocktail Hour @ The Lexington Club

La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland DJed tunes, gogo hotties, drag shows, drink specials, all at Oakland's premiere Latin nightclub and weekly cowboy night. $10-$15. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. club21oakland.com

Chaos @ Beatbox Tel Aviv DJ/producer Guy Scheiman returns to spin at the popular dance night, along with host/event creator Tristan Jaxx. 10pm-3am. 314 11th St. beatboxsf.com

Hard French Winter Ball @ Cocoanut Grove, Santa Cruz The popular dance music DJ collective takes it south, to the swellegant boardwalk's Grand Ballroom, with a live show by the House of More! (Juanita More, VivvyAnne Forevermore, Glamamore, and Dulce DeLeche). $15-$25. 9pm-1am. 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz. hardfrench.com

Tue 25 Sharon Corr at Yoshi's

Every Friday night, bad girls can get $1 dollar margaritas between 9pm and 10pm. 3464 19th St. between Mission and Valencia. 863-2052. lexingtonclub.com

Fedorable @ El Rio Free weekly queer dance party, with gogos, prizes, old groovy tunes, cheap cocktails. 9pm-2am. 3158 Mission St. 2823325. www.elriosf.com

Go-Beaux @ Beaux Gogo-tastic weekly night at the new Castro club. Bring your dollahs, 'cause they'll make you holla. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Happy Friday @ Midnight Sun The popular video bar ends each week with gogo guys (starting at 9pm) and drink specials. Check out the new expanded front lounge, with a window view. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. midnightsunsf.com

Jon McLaughlin @ Yoshi's The handsome pop-rock singer-pianist (and Academy Aweard nominee) performs a rare solo show at the elegant nightclub, performing songs from his new CD, Holding My Breath. $20-$23. 8pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

Josh Klipp and The Klipptones @ Palace Hotel The local jazz crooner and his band perform weekly shows at the hotel's lounge, which draws a growing swingdance audience. 7pm-11pm. 2 New Montgomery. www.joshklipp.com

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland Feb 21, a special gogo Dancer Invasion, with 10 guys shaking it. Also, enjoy eight bars, more dance floors, and a smoking lounge at the largest gay Latin dance night in the Bay Area. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Picante @ Esta Noche Weekly show with drag queens and the Picante Boys; hosted by Lulu Ramirez; DJ Marco. 9pm-2am. 3079 16th St. 841-5748. www.jceventssf.com

Shit & Champagne @ Rebel D'Arcy Drollinger's "whitesploitation" drag satire musical play kicks up the laughs; also starring Matthew Martin. $20-$25. Fri & Sat, 8pm. Extended thru March 1. 1772 Market St. at Octavia. www.shitandchampagne.eventbrite.com

Some Thing Mica Sigourney and pals' weekly offbeat drag performance night. 10pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Trannyshack Star Search @ DNA Lounge Heklina and Peaches Christ cohost the 15th annual ultra-wild drag talent show, with judges Honey Mahogany, Holy McGrail and others. $15. 9:30-pm-3am. Show at 11pm. 375 11th St. www.trannyshack.com www.dnalounge.com

Sat 22 Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi Bacon, Babes and Bingo at Supperclub

▼

The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. $25-$160. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 4214222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Imperial Coronation @ Galleria, Design Center The Imperial Court's 49th annual event crowns the new Emperor and Empress, with a special James Bond theme. $65. 5pm doors, coronation at 6pm. Dancing and music until 12am. 101 Henry Adams St. Victory Brunch, Feb 23, 11:30am at The Hotel Whitcomb, 1231 Market St. $40. www.ImperialCouncilSF.org

National Margarita Day @ Lookout DJ Kidd Sysko spins tunes, hostess Jem Jrhova offers Jell-O shots, gogo dancers, food and drink specials celebrating the margerita! 12:30pm-2am. 3600 16th St. 431-0306. www.lookoutsf.com

ShangriLa @ The EndUp The Gaysians and friends dance night takes on an Oscar-themed party, (wear gold!) with DJs Jack Rojo and John LePage. $10$20. 10pm-6am. 401 6th st. www.theendup.com

Themed Nights @ The Brig If you're looking for a new sexual adventure, check out the new space. Weekend events take place Saturdays through Mondays, and the intimate venue with a jail theme offers slings, tables and various spaces for erotic play. Sat-Mon, above PopSex960 at 962 Folsom St. at 6th St. www.BrigSF.com

V @ The Chapel She Said presents a fab women's dance night, with DJs Lady Char and Niki Butler playing R&B, hip hop, Top 40 and club hits; each fourth Saturday. $10. 10pm-2am. 777 Valencia St. www.shesaidsf.com www.thechapelsf.com

▼

On the Tab>>

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle

GlamaZone @ The Café

The classic leather bar's most popular Sunday daytime event in town draws the menfolk. 3pm-6pm, with an '80s-themed dance party 7pm-1am. $5. Also now open daily 11am-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Pollo del Mar's weekly drag shows takes on different themes with a comic edge. 8:30-11:30pm. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Chita Rivera @ Venetian Room The legendary Tony-winning Broadway musical theatre actress performs A Legendary Celebration, her one-woman accompanied show of songs and recollections from her career. $43-$48. 3pm & 7:30pm. 392-4400. www.bayareacabaret.org

Cocktailgate @ Truck

Jock @ The Lookout The weekly jock-ular fun continues, with special sports team fundraisers. 3pm-6pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Liquid Brunch @ Beaux No cover, no food, just drinks (Mimosas, Bloody Marys, etc.) and music. 2pm-9pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Omer Avital Quintet @ Yoshi's

Suppositori Spelling's wild weekly drag show night. $3. 10pm-2am. 1900 Folsom St. www.trucksf.com

Innovative jazz bassist-composer performs with his band. $17-$60 (with dinner). 7pm & 9pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

Disco Daddy @ SF Eagle

Salsa Sundays @ El Rio

DJ Bus Station John's popular post-beer bust disco night at the leather bar. 7pm12am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Salsa dancing for LGBT folks and friends, with live merengue and cumbia bands; tapas and donations that support local causes. 2nd & 4th Sundays. 3pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 The popular country western LGBT dance night; enjoy fun foot-stomping twostepping and line-dancing. $5. 5pm10:30pm with lessons from 5:30-7:15 pm. Also Thursdays. 550 Barneveld Ave., and Tuesdays at Beatbox, $6. 6:30-11pm. 314 11th St. www.sundancesaloon.org

Sunday's a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet hosts the weekly fabulous brunch and drag show. $45. 11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square. 395-8595. www.starlightroomsf.com

Mon 24 Cock and Bull Mondays @ Hole in the Wall Saloon Specials on drinks made with Cock and Bull ginger ale (Jack and Cock, Russian Mule, and more). 8pm-closing. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Irish Dance Night @ Starry Plough, Berkeley Weekly dance lessons and live music at the pub-restaurant, hosted by John Slaymaker. $5. 7pm. 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. www.thestarryplough.com

Mahogany Mondays @ Midnight Sun Honey Mahogany's weekly drag and musical talent show starts around 10pm, with a RuPaul's Drag Race viewing as well. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Monday Musicals @ The Edge The casts of local and visiting musicals often pop in to perform at the popular Castro bar's musical theatre night. 7pm2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

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

Shantee, You Stay @ Toad Hall BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly viewing party of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6, with a live drag show challenge! 8:30-11:30pm. 4146 18th st. at Castro. www.toadhallbar.com

Sports Night @ The Eagle The legendary leather bar gets jock-ular, with beer buckets, games (including beer pong and corn-hole!), prizes, sports on the TVs, and more fun. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Tue 25 Block Party @ Midnight Sun Weekly screenings of music videos, concert footage, interviews and more, of popular pop stars. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 8614186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Bombshell Betty & Her Burlesqueteers @ Elbo Room The weekly burlesque show of women dancers shaking their bonbons includes live music. $10. 9pm. 647 Valencia St. 5527788. www.elbo.com

Eric Himan @ Martuni's

Sat 22 V at The Chapel

Fri 21

The popular gay indie singer-songwriter stops back in town for a solo acoustic concert (guitar and piano!). $8. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market. www.erichiman.com

Ethel Merman Experience @ Beaux The veteran drag singer returns to the new nightclub. You haven't lived until you've heard her sing "Helter Skelter." No cover. 10pm. 2344 Market St. www.BeauxSF.com

Fanboy @ Lone Star Saloon

Jon McLaughlin at Yoshi's

Ink & Metal @ Powerhouse Show off your tattoos and piercings at the weekly cruisy SoMa bar night. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhouse-sf.com

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down at the strip joint. $20 includes refreshments. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Noise Pop Festival @ Bay Area The large-scale multiple-venue festival presents music acts galore, thru March 2. Feb 25 opening night event includes DJ sets by Bob Mould and Shepard Fairey, with musical act Punk Rock Fancy at NWBLK. www.noisepop/2014

No No Bingo @ Virgil's Sea Room VivvyAnne ForeverMORE and Tom Temprano's wacky game night. 8pm12am. 2nd & 4th Mondays. 3152 Mission St. www.virgilssf.com

So You Think You Can Gogo? @ Toad Hall New weekly dancing competition for gogo wannabes. 9pm. cash prizes, $2 well drinks (2 for 1 happy hour til 9pm). Show at 9pm. 4146 18th St. www.toadhallbar.com

Thelonius Monk Institute All-Star Sextet @ Yoshi's Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and vocalist Lisa Henry guest-perform with the esteemed jazz ensemble. $16-$54 (with dinner). 8pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

Trivia Night @ Harvey's BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly night of trivia quizzes and fun and prizes; no cover. 8pm-1pm. 500 Castro St. 431-4278. www.harveyssf.com

Underwear Night @ SF Eagle Strip down to your skivvies at the popular leather bar. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Sharon Corr @ Yoshi's

Way Back @ Midnight Sun

The uplifting Irish pop singer-songwriter and violinist performs with her band. $25$63 (with dinner). 8pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

Weekly screenings of vintage music videos and retro drink prices. Check out the new expanded front window lounge. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

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

Wed 26 Broadway Bingo @ Feinstein's at the Nikko Joe Wicht and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy cohost the weekly fun musical theatre trivia singalong night. Pull up a comfy chair or sofa, enjoy a cocktail or three, and test your Broadway knowledge. Kanpai Lounge, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. No cover. 7pm10pm. 394-1111. www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins.aspx

Dream Queens Revue @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge The classic drag show (2nd & 4th Wednesdays) showcases female impersonator talents featuring Collette LeGrande, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, Bobby Ashton, Sheena Rose, Kipper, and Joie de Vivre. 10pm-12am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Miss Kitty's Trivia Night @ Wild Side West The weekly fun night at the Bernal Heights bar includes prizes, hosted by Kitty Tapata. No cover. 7pm-10pm. 424 Cortland St. 6473099. www.wildsidewest.com

Queer Salsa @ Beatbox Weekly Latin partner dance night. 8pm1am. 314 11th St. www.beatboxsf.com

Thu 27 Circle Jerk @ Nob Hill Theatre Porn performer Max Cameron leads a sexy downstairs event in the strip club's playroom. $10. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www. thenobhilltheatre.com

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

Jackie Ryan @ Yoshi's Terrific jazz vocalist performs with her band. $16-$59 (with dinner). 8pm & 10pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

42nd Street Moon Gala @ Bimbo's Broadway and TV star Megan Hilty headlines a gala fundraiser for the local musical theatre company; enjoy cocktails, dinner, a brief live auction, a Moonglow Cabaret featuring vocalist Klea Blackhurst and performers with the company. Cocktail attire with a dash of red, please. $375$7,500. 6pm-11pm. 1025 Columbus Ave. 255-8207. www.42ndstmoon.org

Pan Dulce @ The Café Enjoy amazingly hot Papi gogo guys, cheap drinks and fun DJed dance music. Free before 10pm. $5 til 2am. 2369 Market St. www.clubpapi.com www.cafesf.com

The gay gamer vent incldue DJs JimmySwear, Badger and Medic; performances by Lol McFiercen and Jem Jehova. 7pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ El Rio

Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey's

Rookie's Night @ Nob Hill Theatre

Strip down to your skivvies at the weekly cruisy SoMa bar night. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhouse-sf.com

Watch competitors shake it for a $200 first prize in stripping, or sign up yourself by 8pm. The audience picks the winner. $20 includes refreshments. 8pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Want your nightlife event listed? Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event. Event photos welcome.

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

Women's burlesque show performs each Wed & Fri. Karaoke follows. $5-$10. 7pm. 3158 Mission St. 282-3325. www.elriosf.com

Underwear Party @ Powerhouse

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

Kink About Town

▼

by Race Bannon

San Francisco’s 18+ Sex Club!

Open daily at 12pm

2051 Market St. at Church St. Info: 415-864-EROS (3767)

ver the past two weeks I’ve attended a number of events that have highlighted for me just how lucky we are in the Bay Area to have such a diverse set of offerings at which us leather and kink folk can gather. If any local kinkster says to me there’s nothing for them to do, my answer is that they’re not looking very hard. As an example, kinky guys have been asking for more dance venues in which they can cut loose to some great music while in their gear. I recently attended just such a dance at Beatbox produced by Patrick Holstine called Wüf, sponsored by Holstine’s company of the same name (www.wufgear.com). Our own Demetri Moshoyannis opened the night with the first set of music followed by another of our own, Brian Maier, bringing the night to a nice crescendo of music and men. It’s nice to see San Francisco getting yet more places where kinksters can get together and have some fun. The event was successful and producer Holstine echoed that. “For the first Wüf being on a Friday night on Superbowl weekend I am impressed seeing a couple hundred folks come through the door.” I won’t go into a detailed reporting of the Rubber Men of San Francisco’s Tenacious rubber fashion show that I discussed extensively in my last column, but this year’s version was again a success. On a more spiritual note, the new Pastor at Metropolitan Community Church San Francisco (www.mccsf. org) was installed and he is none other than Robert Shively, a well-known leatherman in the Bay Area who is often affectionately referred to as Daddy Robert. Anyone who has met Shively knows why MCC fell in love with him and wanted him as their Pastor. As evidence of his popularity within the leather scene, a large group of leather men and women attended his installation ceremony dressed in their finest kink garb. I’d say at least a quarter of the church was filled with leatherfolk. Shively’s installation as Pastor is even more welcome because he is an open and active leatherman with polyamorous relationships. MCC is to be commended for seeing the

Patrick Holstine

DJ Brian Maier pumps out the dance tunes to a thankful crowd of geared up men at the recent Wüf dance at Beatbox.

Erik Will

Christopher Raisbeck (aka Sister Jezabelle of the Enraptured Sling) attended the installation ceremony for Robert Shively as the new MCC SF Pastor.

shining, loving light that emanates from Shively amid what some might wrongly consider an alternative life incompatible with the spiritual leadership that Shively has undertaken at MCC. I wish Shively and MCC a wonderful future in San Francisco. For those leather men and women who are seeking a spiritual home in a church-like atmosphere, you are welcome at MCC with open arms. For some upcoming events, The 15 Association Anniversary Weekend is happening February 21-23. The 15 Association (www. the15association.org) is a social and sexual fraternity for men who engage in BDSM and they are the

Race Bannon

One of the luscious models that walked the runway at the recent Rubber Men of San Francisco’s Tenacious rubber fashion show.

longest-standing gay male BDSM association in the western USA. The weekend features two play parties, a brunch and the anniversary banquet. The Bay Area is lucky to have such an active men’s BDSM organization with such a rich history. Visit their website for information on how to attend these events. On Wednesday, February 26, Leathermen’s Discussion Group (www.sfldg.org) will present one the national kink scene’s brightest stars, Mark Frazier. The topic of the night will be caning, belts and straps, a subject that Frazier knows extremely well. Frazier’s teaching style is friendly and nonjudgmental. So even if the topic is something you’re not entirely sure is your cup of tea, I still think local kinksters See page 9 >>

Leather Events, Feb. 21-Mar. 6, 2014 >>

here’s always a lot going on in the San Francisco Bay Area for leather and other kinksters.

Fri 21 — Sun 23 15 Association Anniversary Weekend Two play parties, a brunch, and the anniversary banquet. Visit website for venue and ticket information. www.the15association.org

Sat 22 Gear Up Men’s Play Party @ Mr. S Dungeon Friendly erotic space where kinky men can socialize with, learn from, and play with other men, $20, 385A 8th St., 9pm. www.gearupweekend.com/play-parties

Code @ The Edge Bringing leather back to the Castro and the Bay Area boys of Leather kick off their pledge drive, 4149 18th St., 9pm. www.edgesf.com

Tue 25 GameGear @ Wicked Grounds Rubber Men of San Francisco’s game night, 289 8th St., 7:30pm. www.rmsf.org

Wed 26

Sun 2

Leathermen’s Discussion Group @ Mr. S Dungeon

Mayor of Folsom Street Fundraiser @ Center for Sex & Culture

Caning, Belts & Straps – a conversation with and demo by Mark Frazier, 385A 8th St., 7:30pm. www.sfldg.org

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

Thu 27 boys Cocktail Hour @ SF Eagle Bay Area boys of Leather hosts a cocktail hour, 398 12th St., 7pm. bayareaboys.org

Fri 28 Sober Kink Together @ Castro Country Club Officially a CMA meeting, but open to all Anonymous 12-step Fellowship members, 4058 18th St., 9:30pm.

Fri 28 — Sun 2 Leather Alliance Weekend Meet and greet, roast, play parties, seminars, Mr. SF Leather contest, community awards brunch, tea dance, and more. Visit website for event specifics and ticket information. leatheralliance.org

Small, informal fundraiser featuring a short reading from the book, Mayor of Folsom Street, a biography of Alan Selby. Sneak peak at the upcoming exhibit, silent auction, open mic of speakers and the launch of the t-shirt fundraising campaign. 1349 Mission St., 5pm. www.sexandculture.org

Mon 3 Board Games with the boys @ Wicked Grounds Bay Area boys of Leather host a game night, 289 8th St., 7pm. www.bayareaboys.org

Thu 6 Bay Area boys of Leather @ After Dark At Exploratorium Bay Area boys of Leather attend this adult night at the Exploratorium, 6pm. www.bayareaboys.org▼

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

It’s the Pits! by John F. Karr

on, is “scruffy, shaggy, tatted, pierced up, long-haired, not s more and more studios always perfect guys from the and websites condone worlds of snowboarding, barebacking, my world is skating, surfing, rock and shrinking. There is less and roll, punk, emo, goth and less to review (and that “less more.” and less” can look pretty I got a good laugh from much the same). the box cover copy, “Armpits And that’s why the ratioare a window to the pubes nalizations of porn producand one can often tell how ers and performers have put a man grooms his crotch me in a Larry Kramer frame by the way he grooms his of mind. They’re becoming armpits.” Huh? A window ever more fond of blithely to the pubes? Wazzat? And tossing off the claims that groomed pits? I never heard HIV is a manageable disease, of such a thing. And while and that barebacking is a pits and pubes doesn’t spend matter of personal choice. as much time on P&P as This is stupid, and wrong the title might suggest, you on both counts, particularly are gonna see nine guys lick that HIV is medically manpits, sniff pits, spit on pits, ageable. Technically, yes, it fuck pits (like titty-fucking a is, if you don’t mind that gal, but right in the armpit), the life-long side affects of and, natch, even cumming such management are both in those pits and then licking HardFriction emotionally distressing and ‘em out. physically discomforting. A rough and romantic moment for James Ryder The entire cast was betterBut fuck health. Let’s talk and Boomer Banks, in Hard Friction’s Relentless. looking than expected, and about that element of perthe amount of smooching sonal choice, especially the was appreciated. There are terview with Cornelius Washington economic outcome of said some of the most creative (published in the Feb. 13, Bay Area choice. haircuts, including a shoulderReporter #7). Quite simply, no one can afford length Mohawk that thrills me, plus “When you really stop to think the medicines that make sero-consome of that shiny shaved crotch, about it,” Banks said, “it really inversion manageable. Here are the and one crotch that’s never been volves a whole lot of other people.” costs for a 90-day prescription of trimmed in its life—it’s crotch au Thank you, Boomer. When a the four drugs I take daily naturel. I got a kick from that guy guy sero-converts, the whole to contain my viral load. palming ice chips under his bushnation pays. Viread, $2,735; Edurant, enclouded balls so we could see My imagination was $2,487; Norvir, a mere them “snake around.” seized by something else $842; and Reyataz, The guys have some good-lookBanks said. He likes sex $3,787. These need to ing cocks, and are a good-looking to be both rough and be refilled four times bunch, some younger but not romantic, and that he’s each year. twinky (well, not counting Dante, looking for an emotional I ask, could you with his knee high boots, sylph’s as well as physical connection. And, manage a yearly total cost of body, and pre-pubescent looking as he’s done just about everything $39,404? Of course not. That crotch), and some older but still he’s fantasized about, he’d like “to amount is shouldered through twenty-something. Young Aiden do it,” i.e., have sex, “in a loving, government programs that are Summers is ready for prime time caring relationship.” funded by taxpayers like you and porn, and lean and mean fucker If that’s the future of gay fantasizme and everyone else. That’s why Mat should probably hitch up with ing, I congratulate Banks. Wouldn’t it I was really struck by something Raging Stallion. Quinn’s a younger be fine to see that sort of wholeheartBoomer Banks said during his indude sporting a cockring and that ed relationship depictravishing Mohawk avec tresses, and ed through the sex men he’s getting plowed by the aptly have in porn? Porn that named Ruckus, whose body roils was both rough and efwith ink, and who seems ready for fusive? I say, go for it, somebody’s dungeon, somewhere. Mr. Banks. Collaborate The movie certainly proved divertwith your directors, ing. Pics at www.Pornteam.com. so that they’ll go for I do have one more thing to get bringing some heart off my chest, so, here goes. into heavy sex. Enable Hey, porn stars—Listen up! I’m producers to bring us calling a moratorium on the folsome porn that’s butch lowing names, so you are barred and benevolent, crazy from using any one of them as yet caring. your nom de porn: Ryder, whether In an attempt to first or last name and in any spelllift my spirits away ing; Phoenix whether first or last from barebacking, I name and in any spelling; Max, watched a pretty good no matter how many x’s; Wolf, new Alternadudes with or without a final e; and Steel, flick, Pits and Pubes. likewise. And, although Porter is a The company credo classy name, a sudden rash of them Pornteam is, “Because normal must be curbed. There are one each guys are everywhere at five of the more popular VOD Quinn with tumbling tresses and Ruckus sites, and, at a sixth site, Porter I roiling with ink schmooch hot, in Pits & Pubes. else,” and the promise, thoroughly delivered and Porter II!▼

Leather

From page 8

would get a lot out of the evening. Also, LDG’s monthly events are not only places to learn and discuss, but just as importantly have become a regular socializing event for the kinky gay men of our area. I asked Frazier why he feels such types of flagellation play are so popular. “Flagellation using canes, belts and straps can appeal to many people for different reasons,” he said. “I believe they are popular because their use can be very tactile. You can start off lightly or can progress into a heavier scene.” Coming soon is one of San Francisco’s biggest leather weekends, the Leather Alliance Weekend

February 28 to March 2. The weekend originated around the centerpiece Mr. San Francisco Leather contest, but has grown to include a meet and greet, roast, men’s and women’s play parties, seminars, community awards brunch, tea dance, and more. Tickets can be bought for each individual event or as a package by going to the website (www.leatheralliance.org) and clicking on the weekend link. Ray Tilton, Producer and Director for the contest and the roast, encourages all segments of the community to attend. “I believe the weekend of events offers something for every leatherassociated person, from kink to social to community,” he said. When I asked Tilton if he felt that the current Mr. San Francisco Leather, Andy Cross, winning International

Mr. Leather might help give the local contest a higher profile, he said, “I do believe Andy winning will help. However, I also believe that it is the overall hard work of the contest staff, its consistency over the last four years, and that the Leather Alliance has a good track record of putting on a great weekend that keeps them coming back in the long run and keeps the weekend and the contest growing and improving each year.” Finally, there is so much going on in our area that there’s no way I can cover it all within this column itself. So make sure to always check out the calendar event listings to see what events you might want to attend.▼ Race Bannon is a local author, blogger and activist. www.bannon.com.

Nob Hill Theatre ADAM KILLIAN FEBRUARY 28 & MARCH 1 th

www.thenobhilltheatre.com ADAM KILLIAN

FEB 28 th & MAR 1 st SHOWTIMES @ 8PM & 10PM

MAX CAMERON

CIRCLE JERK WITH A PORN STAR

FEB 27th @ 9PM - UNDERGROUND PLAYROOM Club Inferno Photo Credit:

▼

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • February 20-26, 2014

Personals

▼

The

Massage>>

People>> HAIRY IRISH/ PORTUGUESE MASSEUR –

Erotic Relaxing Full Body Massage by hairy Irish/Portuguese guy. (510) 912-8812 late nights ok.

MEN 4 MEN MASSAGE I’m Tall Latin Man in my late 40’s. If you’re looking..I’m the right guy for you. $80/hr & $120/90 minutes, 10am-12pm everyday. Just put your body on my table & relax in my hands! My name is Patrick, 415-515-0594 vm & text OK! For a big strong hand man! English & Spanish speaking!! See pics on ebar.com

WARNING HOT GUYS! San Francisco

415.430.1199 Oakland

510.343.1122 San Jose

408.514.1111

SEXY ASIAN – $60 JIM 269-5707

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

STRONG HANDS NEAR DOLORES PARK –

6’3” 205# in-shape tattoo’d blond trim beard CMT masseur w/ strong hands & great technique near Dolores Park SF for 60/90/120mins. Sensual, nude, excellent Swedish, Erotic, Prostate, or Hypno massage for you starting at $85. Call Heron 415-706-9740 for info/appts. See pics ebar.com classifieds.

High quality full body massage & soothing sensual ecstasy In/ $45 Hr. Oakland Near Bart Clean, Pvt., Shower, EZ Park Out/ $65 Hr. Entire Bay Area

Call Shin 510-502-2660 Late Hours OK

FREE to listen and reply to ads! FREE CODE: Reporter

For other local numbers call:

1-888-MegaMates

2586

HOT LOCAL MEN – Browse & Reply FREE! SF - 415-430-1199 East Bay - 510-343-1122 Use FREE Code 2628, 18+

Model/Escorts>>

“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are” —Kurt Cobain

The

Classified Order Form

Deadline: NOON on MONDAY. Payment must accompany ad. If you have a question, call 415.861.5019. Display advertising rates available upon request. Ads will appear in print and online. Indicate Type Style Here

XBOLD and BOLD stop here

BLACK MASCULINE & HANDSOME –

ATTRACTIVE CAUCASIAN –

HOT*CKSKR*24HRS –

Tall, Hung, Handsome, Uncut! Call Angel 415-756-3996

Very discreet, hung, also friendly and clean. In/out. Cedric 510-776-5945 All types welcome. Edgy Escort for Extreme Clients Out * 860-5468 * $150/hr

RATES for Newspaper and website: First line, Regular 10.00 All subsequent lines 5.00 BOLD double price X-BOLD triple price

PAYMENT:

Cash

Personal Check

Contact Information Name Address Number of Issues

Mail with payment to: Bay Area Reporter 395 Ninth Street SF, CA 94103 OR FAX TO: 415.861.8144 OR E-MAIL: simma@ebar.com

Credit Card Payment Name Card Number Expiration Date Signature Money Order

City Classification

Visa

MasterCard

AmEx

Telephone State Amt. Enclosed

415-320-1040 Skot2trot.com

LATIN PAPI –

ebar.com Personals

Zip

▼

Read more online at www.ebar.com

February 20-26, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

Shooting Stars photos by Steven Underhill T

he monthly Lick It party, hosted by Lance Holman, brought sexy Valentine’s Day cheer to the Powerhouse bar. DJ Guy Ruben, a few festive Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, courtly icon Danielle, and a crew of favorite studly gogo guys provided Cupid’s arrows with plenty of targets. Check out more upcoming events at www.powerhouse-sf.com

See more event photo albums on BARtab’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife and on www.StevenUnderhill.com

||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

For headshots, portraits or to arrange your wedding photos

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

Who are your Besties?

Tell us who your Besties are and be entered for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Boy George on April 28 at The Fillmore. Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest continuously-published and highest circulation LGBT newspaper announces Besties, its 4th annual readers choice awards.

Vote now at www.ebar.com/besties. Promote your business to more than 120,000 members of the Bay Area LGBT community, call (415) 359-2612 or email advertising@ebar.com