SF to end COVID health emergency February 28

compiled by Cynthia Laird

Adored in SF

Back in San Francisco Mills was making a name for himself via his drag alter ego and as a member of the group The Sluts a-Go-Go. He had formed it with Miss X and Tippi, born Brian Douglas Mead in Cleveland on June 6, 1952, and several other performers and collaborators. They brought their act to Sydney in late 1979 and became a smash sensation there, as Seligman details in his book.

“They all loved her,” recalled Chandler. “Doris had quite the career there.”

Mills was also adored in San Francisco, he added, crediting his friend for carrying the rest of them, including their fellow drag performer and friend Freda Lay, along with him.

“She was the big saucy blonde,” Chandler, 71, said of Fish. “Tippi was the little petite dumb blonde. I was the brunette, the Jane Russell in the troupe, and Freda was the vacuous blonde. We made quite the quartet.”

In 1981, Mills married a lesbian friend in order to obtain his American green card, per Seligman. (He doesn’t name the woman, as she declined to be interviewed.)

The next year he made his debut along with Miss X as drag models on greeting cards distributed across the U.S. by the San Francisco-based West Graphics. It brought Mills a devoted following from coast to coast, as the ones depicting him as a bag lady sold especially well.

The cards, as Seligman noted, “made Doris’ face if not his name familiar nationwide into the 1990s through dozens and dozens of cards and as many personalities.” They also resulted in Mills being invited to appear on several East Coast television shows for interviews.

Throughout the course of his time in San Francisco, Mills would befriend and collaborate with a host of performers, entertainers, and other drag artists. They included the singer and songwriter Connie Champagne; performer Kate Bornstein; events producer and director Marc Huestis, and the late Chuck Solomon, who founded the LGBTQ-focused Theater Rhinoceros and died of AIDS complications in 1991.

Seligman first met Mills via his now husband Silvana Nova, who had starred with Fish in the hit drag soap opera “Na-

From page 8 ked Brunch.” Huestis had also worked on it, and various episodes of the show ran between 1983 and 1984.

People can continue to choose to wear masks around others in any setting for added protection and people should respect other people’s choices around their health, the release noted.

“I think Doris would be delighted, absolutely delighted,” Nova, 72, said of his husband’s book. “There is not one lie in it, which might be a problem.”

In December 1985, Mills started hosting the Gay Cable Network show “The Right Stuff” about entertainment news. Four years later he penned a “must read” weekly column for the gay San Francisco Sentinel newspaper that covered the city’s drag scene as well as his own life, that of his friends, animal rights, and the Sydney Mardi Gras parade. He gave it up in October 1990 due to his declining health from being HIVpositive, which he also wrote about.

The next month then-mayor Art Agnos declared November 3, 1990 as Doris Fish Day in San Francisco. It coincided with a send off party that doubled as a tribute benefit Mills’ friends threw for him at the Victoria Theater in the city’s Mission district. It was called “Who Does That Bitch Think She Is?” lending Seligman the title of his book decades later.

(A video of Fish performing at the event can be found at https://bit. ly/3XRoUCM)

“I didn’t really realize how beloved we really were until decades later when people would start to talk to me about our shows and say, ‘I never missed a performance,’” said Chan- dler. “She is truly immortal and she sort of dragged us along with her.”

Mills died due to AIDS complications on June 22, 1991, at the age of 38, and his friends buried his ashes by a Monterey Pine tree in the city’s arboretum in Golden Gate Park. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence posthumously sainted him.

By then Seligman and Nova, who both worked for magazines, had moved to New York City. Before becoming a book author, Seligman was an editor at the New Yorker and Food and Wine magazine, and also was a book critic for Bloomberg News.

Snapshot of author’s life

As much as his latest book is a memoir about Fish, it is also a snapshot of Seligman’s life in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS epidemic.

“Doris was emblematic of his times, both as a person whose drag style evolved and a person who brought drag from the fringes to the center, especially during the era of AIDS,” said Seligman, 69, who was born in Louisiana and attended Stanford. “He is also someone who is emblematic of his era, from Stonewall when you still couldn’t tell someone you were gay without fear of violence to a time of the community uniting politically and learning to fight for itself.”

Over the decades since, Mills’ no- toriety as Doris Fish has dimmed outside of drag circles and devotees of his now cult classic drag sci-fi camp movie “Vegas in Space.” Mills and his friends had spent years working on the film, which had its premiere at the Castro Theatre on October 11, 1991 –fittingly on what is celebrated as National Coming Out Day. It became a film festival darling the following year after first being screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

“If you had gone to any number of drag shows in the early 1990s right after her death, any of the queens would have known who she was,” said Ms. Bob Davis, the founder and director of the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive, which is reopening to the public March 31. “Drag is such a visual thing, and he always looked great, the same with Tippi. Doris’s skill with makeup was just jaw-dropping.”

Davis fell in love with Tippi, and the two moved in together following Mills’ death, though Tippi would soon die due to AIDS.

“I tell people Tippi’s death was hastened by grief for Doris,” said Davis in a phone interview with the B.A.R. She also worked on “Vegas in Space,” designing the sound for the film. As for her relationship with Mills, Davis said they never became close friends.

“I think Doris always viewed me as an interloper. I never became close to her,” recalled Davis. “I wasn’t exactly gay, which may have made a difference; I don’t know. Back then was defined as a transvestite.”

Interviewed by Seligman for his book, Davis years later would approach the GLBT Historical Society about mounting a special exhibit about Doris Fish. Plans to mount it were in the works then the COVID pandemic hit, forcing the archival nonprofit to close its GLBT Historical Society Museum in San Francisco’s LGBTQ Castro district.

Titled “Ego As Artform: the Art and Artifacts of Doris Fish,” taken from one of her performances, it is now expected to open sometime in April and run through July. Davis pulled from her own archive’s holdings as well as from the historical society’s archival materials about Fish to create it.

“Doris, to put her in context, was the reigning drag queen of the 1980s in San Francisco,” said Davis. “But this was the era of the ‘Castro clone.’

Everyone was working on being so masculine, so drag was like swimming upstream.”

AIDS society to rotate all conferences

The International AIDS Society has announced that its three conferences will rotate to all regions of the world and that they will continue to offer virtual participation.

The timing of the exhibit coming so soon after the release of Seligman’s book and the various events honoring Fish in Sydney is purely coincidental, said Davis.

“I felt Doris deserved to be seen,” said Davis. “I had the same feeling that this is someone who we should be remembering in the community. Her memory has slipped away.”

Chandler and his wife, Alison, who both identify as gay but are in a monogamous marriage, had met in San Francisco and wed in 1994. They now live in Phoenix and have three adult children, the youngest twins that currently reside with them; their oldest transitioned and now lives with his partner in Seattle.

The couple will be in Sydney for the World Pride festivities, including the opening concert February 24 with headliner Australian pop sensation Kylie Minogue. The next day Chandler will ride in the parade in a pink convertible Cadillac with others from the ‘Vegas’ film, including Nova.

“I have a pink dress to go with the car,” he said.

Sunday, February 26, Chandler will head to the State Library of New South Wales for a conversation with Seligman and a screening of “Hi Spots in a Low Dive: The Home Movies of Doris Fish,” presented by their friend and director, Phillip R. Ford, who was also a member of The Sluts a-Go-Go. He directed “Vegas in Space,” which will also be screened in Sydney on February 28. Ford, Miss X, Nova, and the film’s musical director Timmy Spence are set to take part in the special event.

Going backwards

Seeing the growing backlash to drag events in America from Republican lawmakers and conservative groups across the country, Mills would be horrified, Chandler told the B.A.R.

“It is going backwards in time. Instead of evolving and creating a new and wonderful freedom in the world, it is trying to put braces on everyone’s brains and keep them from being creative, from expressing who they are,” said Chandler, who no longer performs in drag but will reprise his Miss X persona in Sydney. “It is really tragic, the turn it has taken. But it is not surprising, that is how life is: a roller coaster or pendulum that swings back and forth. It doesn’t mean we can stop fighting.” t

The society stated that due to Munich’s proximity to eastern Europe with its rapidly growing HIV epidemic, AIDS 2024 will feature a third co-chair, Andriy Klepikov, representing eastern Europe. Klepikov will join co-chairs Lewin and Christoph Spinner, the release noted.

John S. Wilkie

August 17, 1940 – February 4, 2023 born in 1940 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. In 1964 he graduated from of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. He subsequently obtained his in Ophthalmology in 1970 at the University of British Columbia. He followed this as a Fellow at the Proctor Foundation, University of California in San Francisco returning to Vancouver where he practiced Ophthalmology until 1977. returned to San Francisco and became a partner in the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group until he retired in 1995. He was an active member of critical social initiatives, including the Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights (BAPHR) and the Gay and Medical Association (GLMA), which became the American Association of Physicians for Rights (AAPHR). of travel allowed him to develop great friendships across the globe. He established a for himself in San Francisco, Honolulu, and Palm Springs, while maintaining lifelong relationships in Canada. His friends meant the world to him and in later years, these friends to enrich his life.

Jack was born in 1940 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. In 1964 he graduated from the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. He subsequently obtained his fellowship in Ophthalmology in 1970 at the University of British Columbia. He followed this with a year as a Fellow at the Proctor Foundation, University of California in San Francisco before returning to Vancouver where he practiced Ophthalmology until 1977.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health has announced that the city’s COVID-19 public health emergency declaration will end February 28.

Jack then returned to San Francisco and became a partner in the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group until he retired in 1995. He was an active member of critical social justice initiatives, including the Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights (BAPHR) and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), which became the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights (AAPHR).

Along with the declaration, Health Officer Order No. C19-07y, “Safer Return Together,” as well as additional health orders, will also end that day, according to a news release. The moves put San Francisco in alignment with California, which will end its state of emergency the same day, as Governor Gavin Newsom announced last October.

The health department added that it will be monitoring the ongoing national discussions about COVID vaccination schedules and will adjust the existing local vaccination requirements once federal and state recommendations are made.

Jack’s love of travel allowed him to develop great friendships across the globe. He established a brilliant life for himself in San Francisco, Honolulu, and Palm Springs, while maintaining lifelong relationships in Canada. His friends meant the world to him and in later years, these friends continued to enrich his life.

Jack’s wish was to live his final years in the San Francisco home he loved. He was able to do so with the unwavering support of his good friend Steve Wissing. Jack will be dearly missed by his sister Donna, her partner Rita, and the many friends whom he loved. There will be a gathering to celebrate Jack, first in San Francisco, and then later in Vancouver.

Local health officials stressed that COVID continues to impact the city.

Jack was one of a kind. He reminded all of us to enjoy life.

“While the threat from COVID-19 is not over, as both the virus and the tools to re spond to it have evolved over the past three years, San Francisco is now in a significantly better po sition than at any prior time in the pandemic due to the city’s high vaccination and booster rates and the availabil- was to live his final years in the San Francisco home he loved. He was able to do so unwavering support of his good friend Steve Wissing. Jack will be dearly missed by his Donna, her ity of effective COVID treatments,” DPH stated.

Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip will rescind the Safer Return Together order, but she intends to issue new orders that will affect hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other health care and jail settings, the release stated. Under the order, staff in these settings will still be required to wear a mask when interacting with patients, clients, or people who are incarcerated. Masking requirements for the general public will end, DPH stated. Additionally, masking requirements in homeless shelters for both the general public and staff will end. These changes go into effect March 1, the release stated. Those who operate health care or jail facilities can decide to be more restrictive than local health guidelines and may still implement their own requirements, according to DPH.

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“Today’s announcement is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of San Francisco residents, and to the progress that we have made collectively as a city to prevent the worst of COVID-19,” Philip stated February 16. Health officials noted that it remains important for individuals to be diligent about their health and the health of others as the virus is still here. People should stay home if they are sick, continue to wash hands, and keep well-fitted masks, such as N95, KN95, or KF94, on hand.

DPH also encourages people to seek out COVID resources such as at-home tests, treatments for those who test positive, and the updated bivalent booster, which is currently free. Information on these resources can be found at https://sf.gov/topics/ coronavirus-covid-19.

In terms of the federal health emergency, President Joe Biden recently announced it would end May 11.

Gay-owned Oakland eatery marks 3 years with giveaway La Frontera Mexican Restaurant in Oakland, popular for its quesabirrias and burritos, will celebrate its third anniversary Tuesday, February 28, and will give away free quesabirrias to the first 100 customers starting at 6 p.m.

When the COVID pandemic hit, La Frontera owner Valentino Carrillo, a gay man, was uncertain if the eatery would stay open, as the Bay Area Reporter noted in a profile on him in 2021.

According to a news release, La Frontera did close for two weeks in March 2020 while Carrillo decided on the direction to take the restaurant.

With a background in marketing, Carrillo reopened and saw the restau- rant gain in popularity on DoorDash, helping Carrillo go from six to over 20 employees during most of the pandemic, the release noted.

Carrillo also owns the LGBTQ Que Rico Nightclub in downtown Oakland, which opened in 2021, as the B.A.R. previously reported.

He serves on the board of the Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce and the board of Pridefest Oakland.

He recently received the Latino chamber’s Entrepreneurship and Community Excellence Award.

La Frontera is located at 4481 International Boulevard. The anniversary party runs from 6 to 11 p.m. and will feature a DJ and a drag performance at 9.

The in-person components of the International AIDS Conference, the IAS Conference on HIV Science, and the HIV Research for Prevention Conference will rotate among five world regions – Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the U.S. and Canada – and will not take place consecutively in any region, a news release stated.

AIDS 2024, the International AIDS Conference, will take place in Munich, Germany and virtually next July 22-26. Pre-conferences are set to start July 20.

“The global rotation will help ensure that people from around the world have an opportunity to participate in our conferences in person,” IAS President Sharon Lewin stated. “It will also allow us to shine a spotlight on critical HIV issues in every region.”

The IAS will invite bids from potential host cities in Africa for IAS 2025, the 13th IAS Conference on HIV Science, and from cities in Latin America and the Caribbean for AIDS 2026, according to the release. This year’s HIV science conference will be held in Brisbane, Australia in July. The next research for prevention conference takes place in 2024 in Lima, Peru.

“Munich – Kyiv’s official partner city – offers a safe and welcoming space for conference delegates who hail from this region and beyond, including people living with and affected by HIV,” Klepikov stated.

“AIDS 2024 will provide an opportunity to shine a spotlight on one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world, driven by a lack of access to health services for people who use drugs and exacerbated by the disruption and instability of the war in Ukraine, mass migration, and faltering economies.”

In addition to the virtual options for conferences, IAS will continue to offer scholarships to ensure that travel and cost barriers don’t prevent people from the most affected regions of the world from attending. It will also offer discounted registration rates for young people and people from lower-income countries up to 90% below the full registration fee, the release stated. For more information about the society, go to https://www.iasociety. org/. For more information on AIDS 2024, go to https://www.iasociety. org/conferences/aids2024. t