January 30, 2020 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

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E. Bay judge race heats up

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Vol. 50 • No. 05 • January 30-February 5, 2020

Bay Area census efforts focus on LGBT households by Matthew S. Bajko

10th annual readers’ poll starts Ernesto Sopprani

by Cynthia Laird

his year marks the 10th annual Bay Area Reporter readers’ poll, the Besties, and voting begins Thursday, January 30. The popular contest allows readers to share their favorite LGBTQ-owned and LGBTQ-allied people, places, and things in the Bay Area. Categories run the gamut from arts and culture to shopping to nightlife. There are new people nominated in the nightlife entries, so be sure to check for your favorite drag queen and bartender. As in the past, there is a write-in option for every category. See page 10 >>

Leatherdyke to oversee SF’s famous kink fairs by John Ferrannini

olsom Street Events, which puts on the Folsom Street Fair and Up Your Alley festivals in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, has a new executive director in Courtesy FSE Sarah Patterson, the nonprofit announced Sarah Patterson is the new early Wednesday. Patterson, who said executive director she identifies as a of Folsom Street leatherdyke, replaces Events. former executive director Patrick Finger, whose two-year tenure was marked by some strife. She started the job January 14, Folsom Street Events board President Jennifer Schuster wrote in an email to the Bay Area Reporter. Schuster said in a news release that the selection of Patterson was unanimous. “We have the utmost confidence in Sarah’s abilities and look forward to introducing her to our community, partners, and volunteers,” Schuster stated. Patterson, 35, formerly director of development and communications at the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment’s Oakland office, is a leatherwoman with a long history at social justice organizations, See page 6 >>

round the Bay Area local leaders are focused on ensuring LGBT households fill out the 2020 census. In San Francisco, the Office of Transgender Initiatives is spearheading the city’s outreach to its LGBT residents, while Alameda County is coordinating its efforts through a special LGBT subcommittee that has been advising its Complete Count Committee. And in Santa Clara County, Raymond “Ray” Mueller, a gay man employed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a partnership specialist and team lead, has been working with LGBT groups in the South Bay as part of his regional office’s efforts to reach hard to count communities. For instance, he had a table at last year’s Silicon Valley Pride event to spread the word about the decennial census count and how it will, for the first time, allow same-sex couples to clearly mark their relationship. The options on the 2010 census form for explaining the relationship of a couple living in the same household were the generic terms “husband or wife” or “unmarried partner.” The 2020 census forms now include the options “same-sex husband/wife/spouse” or “same-sex unmarried partner.”

Rick Gerharter

During a news conference earlier this month at San Francisco City Hall, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi talked about the importance of people completing the 2020 census, which starts in March.

“We made it to the form,” said Mueller, who also worked on the 2010 census in a similar capacity. “I do find many people, not just LGBTQ but across the community, are very surprised to

learn that. Those who use data are excited. It is an entirely new data set we never had before.” To educate people about the change, Mueller See page 10 >>

Academy of Friends teams up with LGBT Asylum Project

by Sari Staver

he Academy of Friends, which holds its Oscar viewing party in San Francisco, has announced a long-term partnership with the LGBT Asylum Project, a nonprofit organization that provides legal services to immigrants who are fleeing persecution due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or HIV status and seeking asylum in the U.S. According to the new agreement, announced January 18, the asylum project will receive the proceeds from AOF’s annual Academy Awards Night Gala, which has distributed over $8.9 million to more than 74 HIV service agencies in the Bay Area over the past 40 years. The partnership will be formalized later this year, AOF board chair Michael Myers wrote in an email to the Bay Area Reporter. Myers told the B.A.R. in a phone interview that AOF estimates this year’s charity proceeds at $50,000. The asylum project will be the beneficiary this year. The gala will be held Sunday, February 9, at the Commonwealth Club’s swank new headquarters, a waterfront venue with spectacular views of the Bay Bridge. This year’s theme is “Ruby Red Gala” as it’s AOF’s 40th anniversary. The evening includes

Scott Saraceno

Gold “Oscar guys” have been a staple at Academy of Friends Oscar galas, where last year a couple of them overlooked the crowd.

an international dinner buffet as well as wine, champagne, and spirits. A silent auction offers gift certificates for dining and travel as well as artwork and a variety of merchandise. Fifteen large screens will be broadcasting the Oscar telecast all evening.

Discussing the organization’s mission, LGBT Asylum Project co-founder and Executive Director Okan Sengun said in a statement, “We’re fortunate because we live in a country that has readily available drugs, and we live in a city where it’s no big deal to be gay. ... And that’s why so many immigrants living with HIV come to this country.” Sengun noted that homosexuality is still illegal in 75 countries; it is punishable by death in 13. “HIV is a death sentence in those countries,” he stated. “The clients of the LGBT Asylum Project are from those countries. They are desperate when they come to us and I’m very proud that the LGBT Asylum Project has a 100% success rate in getting asylum for people living with HIV.” According to Sengun, the organization helped 136 LGBTQ immigrants in 2019. Between 2016 and March 2019, the asylum project helped more than 250 people, and that was without office space, he added. (The organization opened its office in the Castro last May.) In March the LGBT Asylum Project will have a kiosk at its office to assist people in filling out their 2020 census form. It is one of 10 regional LGBTQ census assistance kiosks local community groups will be staffing in coordination with

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<< Community News

2 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

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lair Farley, left, director of the city’s Office of Transgender Initiatives, and Mayor London Breed tour the new kitchen at Trans Home SF during the January 23 ribbon cutting. The home, located in San Francisco’s Chinatown, will provide transitional housing for 12 trans adults beginning in February. The lead agencies

Rick Gerharter

overseeing the home are St. James Infirmary and Larkin Street Youth Services. The project is part of the $2.3 million allocation in the city’s budget for Our Trans Home SF, which is also being used for rental subsidies to transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals.

Bernhard gossips with Peaches Christ by Sari Staver

ctress Sandra Bernhard and local drag icon Peaches Christ recently chatted and traded gossip for over an hour on the stage of the Castro Theatre at an evening honoring the lesbian performer, presented during the annual SF Sketchfest Comedy Festival. Their January 19 conversation preceded a screening of Bernhard’s 1982 film debut in Martin Scorsese’s cult hit, “The King of Comedy,” a satirical black comedy about two mentally unstable stalkers who kidnap a TV star. Bernhard first gained attention in the late 1970s with her stand-up comedy, in which she often bitterly critiqued celebrity culture and political figures. In recent years, she has played “Nurse Judy” in the award-winning FX series, “Pose.” Now living in New York City with her partner of 21 years, Sara Switzer, and their dog George, Bernhard, 64, talked about “King of Comedy,” which she ranks as “one of the great ones” from Scorsese. Peaches asked Bernhard how she happened to land the part in the film. Then just 25 years old, Bernhard said she auditioned for the part of Masha, a mentally unstable celebrity stalker, “late in the game,” after an estimated 500 other actors had tried out. “I was so nervous,” said Bernhard. After the audition with Scorsese’s longtime casting director, Bernhard was told, “Marty needs to meet you.” Then living in Los Angeles, Bernhard was flown back to New York to audition with the lead, Jerry Lewis. Preparing for, and doing, the audition were “nerve-racking,” she said, adding that “Marty (Scorsese) and Bobby (De Niro) were “really nice” but that Lewis, although brilliant, was “fucking insane.” “There are a lot of stories” that Lewis was “not that nice,” Peaches noted. “All true,” quipped Bernhard, explaining that Lewis was “in my father’s generation” and seemed to think of her as a “cute funny little thing” but didn’t seem to take her “seriously” as an actor. (Lewis died in 2017.) When Peaches recently rewatched the film, “I felt like a star was born” with Bernhard’s role as Masha.

Dan Dion

Sandra Bernhard, left, traded gossip with Peaches Christ during her January 19 appearance at the Castro Theatre as part of SF Sketchfest.

“You fucking nailed it ... with an amazing performance,” Peaches said. The film got positive critical reviews, opening the Cannes Film Festival in 1983, but was a box office flop, grossing only $2.5 million against its $19 million budget. Bernhard complained that the film “didn’t get support from the studio” and given her lack of experience with movies, “I hadn’t thought about how I should capitalize” on promoting the movie herself. “I’m not a hustler in that way,” she said, noting that she got a best supporting actress award from the National Society of Film Critics. Asked what comedic performers Bernhard liked while growing up, she mentioned Carol Channing, Mary Tyler Moore, and Carol Burnett. In addition, Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler were an inspiration when Bernhard developed the one-woman shows she began producing in 1985. For the past 10 years, Bernhard said she has created a new show that she performs at Joe’s Pub in New York City, a performance space within the Public Theater. For her next project, Bernhard said she is hoping that Netflix or HBO will distribute a show she plans to produce with “hours and hours of great material” she has from previous shows. Currently, Bernhard has a weekly podcast, “Sandyland,” broadcast on SiriusXM Radio. “I love it,” she said. Asked if there was anyone she wanted to interview but hasn’t yet, she mentioned Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep, and tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams.

She also spoke enthusiastically about her gig on “Pose,” which is about New York City’s African American and Latino LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming ballroom culture scene in the 1980s and 1990s. Bernhard plays a nurse on an HIV ward. The first season in 2018 was met with critical acclaim and subsequently received numerous award nominations. The show is entering its third season and also features Billy Porter, the first out gay black man to win an Emmy in a lead acting category, which he received in September 2019. “The show is ‘very intense’ because it deals with the HIV epidemic during the 1980s, when we lost so many people,” Bernhard said. “I really lost a lot of friends and saw the decimation of an entire culture,” she added. The show “is not fun in the traditional sense,” said Bernhard, who added that it is “wonderful” to be working with a great cast. “Pose,” staffed with transgender people in front of and behind the camera, is a radical change from the entertainment industry when Bernhard began her career. “Back in the day, all trans people were marginalized and weren’t allowed to be in front of a camera on a commercial TV show,” she said. The show portrays health care workers who “worked in the trenches totally selflessly” during the height of the AIDS epidemic. “It’s inspiring,” said Bernhard. The health care workers “gave up everything” to try to save others. “I am thrilled to be a part of it.” t

Community News>>

January 30-February 5, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 3

Ronen seeks return of deported, gay SF man by John Ferrannini

Homosexuality had been legal in Chad until istrict 9 Supervisor 2017, when it was crimiHillary Ronen innalized. Sexual relations troduced a resolution to between people of the same the San Francisco Board sex are punishable with of Supervisors January 28 up to three years in prison urging federal officials to and a fine of up to 500,000 ensure the safe return to Central African CFA francs the United States of a gay (about $852), according to Rick Gerharter San Francisco man who Chapter II of Title VII of Supervisor Hilla federal judge ruled was ary Ronen Chad’s penal code. deported erroneously late Yaide is still in Chad, last year. according to his attorney, As the Bay Area ReportSean McMahon of Pangea er reported January 8, Oumar Yaide, Legal Services. 32, was deported on December 1 to “I’ve talked to him on the phone. Chad by U.S. Immigration and CusHe is moving around to try and stay toms Enforcement while a motion to safe,” McMahon told the B.A.R. “It’s reopen his asylum case on the grounds hard to get a hold of him because he of his being gay was still pending. doesn’t always have reception.” The following day, Judge Charles Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Breyer of the U.S. District Court for Mandelman was also critical of the Northern California, brother of U.S. president. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Brey“Donald Trump’s cruel immigraer, ordered that the U.S. Department tion policies continue to put the lives of Homeland Security had to return of LGBTQ people like Oumar at risk Yaide (known in court documents by sending them to countries where as Abderman Yaide) so that his case they can be targeted for who they are,” could be heard. he wrote in an email to the B.A.R. Yaide had been in the U.S. since 2009 “The U.S. district court has made and was a resident of Ronen’s district. clear that Oumar must be returned “DHS is ignoring a court order to back to the United States and it’s critibring him to our community to fight cal for his safety that this happen as for his asylum claim for being a gay soon as possible.” man in Chad, where he faces violence,” The resolution comes one week Ronen said in a phone interview with after four of Yaide’s friends and a repthe B.A.R. January 24. “This resolution resentative of his attorney delivered a will urge our political leaders – SenaDaily Kos petition with almost 30,000 tors (Dianne) Feinstein and (Kamala) signatures to Feinstein’s office at 1 Post Harris – to get involved and return our Plaza in downtown San Francisco. constituent back to our city.” “Our hope is to have Senator FeinThe resolution also urges House stein – as ranking member of the SenSpeaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Franate Judiciary Committee – put prescisco) to get involved. sure on the DHS and to show support

for Oumar to be brought back home,” said Haley Kay, Yaide’s friend. Kay has been among several friends of Yaide’s who have been raising money for him and who visited him when he was at the Yuba County Jail (just outside Sacramento), which contracts with ICE to hold people in the U.S. without legal permission. Kay is planning a fundraiser for Yaide at El Rio, an LGBT bar at 3158 A Perfect Getaway or Retirement Home Mission Street, Friday, January 31, Located just 15 min from the Healdsburg Plaza and 10 min from 6 to 9 p.m. from Cloverdale, in the Dry Creek Valley, this unique home The resolution will be voted on at the was designed by Obie Bowman, presently featured in SF’s Board of Supervisors’ February 4 meetMOMA as an innovative architect for Sea Ranch homes. 3bd/ ing. There will be a rally in support of 2 1/2 bath on 43.89 private acres in an exclusive gated comYaide at City Hall that day at “noon or munity. It features a 50 ft lap pool, separate guest room and 1 p.m.,” which Ronen will be attending. bath, a wine cellar, wood burning fireplace, 3 car garage, “I wouldn’t be surprised if this got work shop, Wolff stove, and Sub Zero frig. in the gourmet the unanimous support of the Board kitchen and room for a hobby vineyard. Complete details of Supervisors,” Ronen said. “It concan be found on greathomes.org. - 1800 Oak Hollow Rd., tinues to be so frustrating to have an Cloverdale. $2,295,000. administration that is trampling on the rights of immigrants in our comCall Mary O’Gorman 707-328-2997 or email munities. It used to be that if you were maryogorman@comcast.net for complete details. LGBTQ and had an asylum claim, you would be given a fair hearing with an asylum officer.” The resolution’s four clauses askMaryOGorman2x5-092619.indd 1 1/14/20 Feinstein, Harris, Pelosi, DHS, “and all interested federal agencies” ensure Yaide’s return, “condemns the attacks from the Trump administration” on black, Muslim, and LGBTQ asylum seekers, asks for due process in family separation cases, and provides that copies of the resolution be delivered “to federal and state representatives in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.” The San Francisco ICE enforcement and removal operations office did not respond to a request for comment by press time. Neither did the offices of Feinstein, Harris, or Pelosi. t

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ity College of San Francisco has a new gender diversity and inclusion policy designed to protect transgender and gender-nonconforming students and staff who said they were mistreated. The new policy unanimously passed the San Francisco Community College District Board of Trustees – which oversees City College – at its January 23 meeting. As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, it had been introduced at the board’s December 12 meeting. “The passage of this policy is a proud moment for City College,” said Tom Temprano, a gay man who is the vice president of the board. “This new board policy continues our important work to make City College a truly safe and supportive place for trans and gender-nonconforming people to learn and work. That said, we still have a long way to go toward that goal and my hope is that we will implement this policy effectively.” The new policy – which allows a formal complaint process for those who believe they were mistreated – comes on the heels of other changes at City College to improve the environment for trans students and staff, including a chosen name system and gender-neutral bathrooms, Temprano said. The policy would make the use of chosen names mandatory except for certain financial and legal documents. It also would make it against school policy to willfully misgender people, and also protects two-spirit-identified students and faculty, according to a copy of the proposal. People will be able to make com-

Rick Gerharter

City College of San Francisco board member Alex Randolph, left, confers with Chancellor Mark Rocha at a recent board meeting.

plaints with the district, via either a formal or informal process, according to a copy of the policy, and those objections would go through the normative process for discrimination complaints. The words “assigned sex at birth” no longer appear in City College policy and are crossed out on a copy of the new document. Alex Randolph, a gay man who had served as president of the board, agreed with Temprano in hailing the passage of the new rules. “I’m very excited and proud that the board approved and voted to implement this new policy,” Randolph said in a January 24 phone call to the B.A.R. “It’s a long time coming and our various stakeholders put a lot of work in crafting this.” Among those collaborators were the City College Queer and Trans Inclusion Project – school employees who had been seeking a change in policy after a series of transphobic incidents at the college. The project took the initiative at crafting the new policy, according to Temprano.

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City College board OKs new, trans-friendly gender policy by John Ferrannini

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Members of the project included Jennifer Carlin, who identifies as bigender and queer and is the chair of the behavioral studies department at City College; Pau Crego, a trans person who is director of policy and programs at the city’s Office of Transgender Initiatives; and Jesse Kolber, a transgender man who is a sociologist with City College. “This is a great step for City College and it’s a necessary step,” Kolber said while advocating for passage of the new policy at last month’s meeting when it was presented to, and discussed at, the board. “We have to ensure our commitment to battling transphobia and cisism where it exists in our society.” At that same meeting, Temprano explained the need for the new policy, saying that transphobia should disturb all members of the City College community. “There was a student who was deadnamed in the library system. I’ve heard of students being subject to transphobic discussions while in class. I’ve heard faculty members whose legal names were shared widely with colleagues during department chair elections. I’ve seen photos of defaced gender-neutral bathroom signs at a number of our campuses,” Temprano said. “This is not the safe space that City College ought to be.” Randolph said that he hopes aspects of the newer, more trans-friendly policies at City College will be “exported to other institutions,” specifically mentioning Assembly Bill 711. That bill, authored by Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), allows gender and name changes in public SALES school student records. It went into effect January 1. t

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4 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

Volume 50, Number 05 January 30-February 5, 2020www.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 BARTAB EDITOR & EVENTS LISTINGS EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • John Ferrannini CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ray Aguilera • Tavo Amador • Race Bannon Roger Brigham • Brian Bromberger Victoria A. Brownworth • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Belo Cipriani • Dan Renzi Michael Flanagan • Jim Gladstone David Guarino • Liz Highleyman Brandon Judell • John F. Karr • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • Joshua Klipp David Lamble • Max Leger David-Elijah Nahmod • Paul Parish Lois Pearlman • Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota Bob Roehr • Gregg Shapiro • Gwendolyn Smith Sari Staver • Tony Taylor • Charlie Wagner Ed Walsh • Cornelius Washington • Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Max Leger PRODUCTION/DESIGN Ernesto Sopprani PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland • FBFE Rick Gerharter • Gareth Gooch Jose Guzman-Colon • Rudy K. Lawidjaja Georg Lester • Dan Lloyd • Jo-Lynn Otto Rich Stadtmiller • Kelly Sullivan • Fred Rowe Steven Underhil • Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge • Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small Bogitini VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.829.8937 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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Be counted in the 2020 census

he 2020 census will soon get underway, and it’s critical that every LGBTQ person participate. There has been much angst around this year’s decennial count of U.S. residents since Republicans have attempted to manipulate an undercount by discouraging participation among groups that favor Democrats. The census requires that all U.S. residents be counted, both citizens and non-citizens. The Trump administration’s effort last year to include a citizenship question (it won’t) on the census form sowed confusion and distrust of the federal government, threatening to significantly depress turnout of Latinos and other immigrants, especially in states like California. The state is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to encourage people to be counted, including outreach to the LGBTQ community. And make no mistake, there are billions of dollars at stake. Not only used to allocate House seats to the states, census results also determine funding for myriad social services, from food stamps and Medicaid to Section 8 housing vouchers and community health centers. For the first time in the state’s history California could lose a House seat in Congress because the state’s population is no longer growing as fast as several Western and Southern states that are expected to add House seats next year. As we’ve reported, while the census form will not include data on sexual orientation and gender identity, it is still very important that every LGBTQ person is counted. Ever since Donald Trump became president, he and his cronies have systematically sought to undermine

rights and protections for LGBTQ people. This includes the ban on trans people serving openly in the military and drastically scaling back civil rights enforcement for LGBTQ students. Last November, ProPublica (https://projects. propublica.org/graphics/lgbtq-rightsrollback), a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power, published an article detailing 31 examples of this administration’s efforts to undermine recent gains for the queer community. Trans leaders and community members started using the hashtag #WontBeErased to bring attention to the matter. To counter the administration’s efforts, advocacy groups urging LGBTQs to complete census forms are using the hashtag #WillBeCounted. As part of that effort, last week Equality California Institute, which advocates for LGBTQs in California, unveiled a pledge campaign on its website, www.eqca.org, to encourage us to stand up and say that we won’t be erased, that the federal government will recognize us through our participation in the census. “The 2020 census is nothing less than a fight for our future – a future that values diver-

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.

sity and invests in the communities that need it most,” stated EQCA Executive Director Rick Zbur. “Too often, California’s diverse LGBTQ community is undercounted – which denies us power, representation, and funding for programs that the most vulnerable members of our community need to survive. There’s far too much at stake to allow that to happen in 2020. LGBTQ Californians will be counted.” Importantly, trans and nonbinary people can complete this year’s census using their preferred names, whether or not they have been legally changed. Additionally, while the only gender options on the form will be male or female, people can check whichever box they identify with. Census officials have stated that forms won’t be invalidated if this question is skipped. So, while it’s an imperfect system, this flexibility is easing concerns among trans and gender-nonconforming people, an East Bay census committee member told us this week. The U.S. Census Bureau also does not verify names with other data sources. All of which is to say that while we wish the 2020 census was more detailed to accurately reflect the reality of people’s lives, and listed lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender as ways for people to identify, it will at least provide information on samesex relationships. For the first time, it will have the options “same-sex husband/wife/spouse” or “samesex unmarried partner.” People can complete census forms online starting March 12. Alternatively, people can mail in the forms they will be receiving by April 15. (Don’t do both.) We encourage LGBTQ people to take an active role because it is only by being counted that we will truly receive our fair share of federal funding that state and local governments rely on for numerous programs. In states like California, which pay more in taxes to the federal government than it receives, an accurate count is crucial. Pledge to be counted this year, and then make sure to do it. t

Dream big, fight hard – Warren for president by Rafael Mandelman

Bay Area Reporter

n 2020, for the first time in recent memory, our California primary votes will matter. Most presidential election years the nominations are pretty much wrapped up by the time California weighs in. Not so this year, when Californians will be voting by March 3, three months earlier than our traditional June primary. There are, and have been, many great candidates in this primary contest, but my choice is Elizabeth Warren. I have known of Warren since I was in graduate school at Harvard taking classes at the law school, where she taught. Back then she had a reputation as an extraordinary teacher, someone who could actually make a class on bankruptcy riveting. Over time, of course, her reputation would spread beyond Harvard’s ivory (well, red brick) tower. A decade later I would hear of her again, as she worked to establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to ensure that, following the Great Recession, everyday people would be better protected from the greed and avarice of the wealthy and reckless. In 2012, I was thrilled to see her challenge and knock out an incumbent Republican in Massachusetts to win election to the United States Senate. I wanted her to run for president in 2016, and this year I believe she offers Democrats the best chance to unify our party and beat President Donald Trump. The race is still far from decided, with no clear front runner, but Warren has captured hearts and minds with her energy, her persistence, her willingness to spend countless hours on the selfie lines, and, of course, her plans for just about everything. Her website currently has more than 70 such plans, detailed expositions and proposed solutions on issues ranging from health care to climate change to bringing competition to the tech sector. She has successfully established herself as the smartest candidate in the race. In her intelligence and policy depth, as in so many other aspects, she is the antithesis of the

Jane Philomen Cleland

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren

current occupant of the White House. For the last three years the United States has endured a president who is the definition of “toxic masculinity.” If ever there were a moment for the United States to finally elect a woman as our leader it is this one. And recognizing that there could have been no LGBTQ rights movement without the women’s liberation movement, I know that a Warren presidency would be a major advance not just for women, but for all those who chafe against the constraints of patriarchy. There is no candidate better prepared to tackle the challenges of this moment in American history: income inequality, the plight of the American middle class, a toxic political culture. The truth is that Trump is a symptom, not the cause, of the illness affecting our body politic. Warren – thoughtful, exuberant, committed to

binding us all together in a web of mutual obligation – could be the cure. Where Trump exemplifies and foments selfishness and division, Warren reminds us that we’re all in this together. If you have made it in America, she tells us, good for you, but you did it with help from others, and you need to “pay it forward for the next kid who comes along.” Warren recognizes that the times call for radical change. Her website boldly announces: “It won’t be enough to just undo the terrible acts of this administration. We can’t afford to just tinker around the edges – a tax credit here, a regulation there. Our fight is for big, structural change.” But Warren also presents an opportunity to bring together a party that must go into November united. Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are the only two Democrats to be elected in the last 40 years. They share an important trait: both are excellent communicators. I do not believe there is a better communicator in this year’s Democratic crop than Warren. This year more than ever, we need a candidate capable of making our best case to Americans who might not immediately see the world the same way we do in our blue bubbles. Warren has decades of experience explaining difficult concepts to law students, and it shows. And I can think of no one I would rather send onto a debate stage to champion the beliefs and values of blue America than Elizabeth Warren. t Rafael Mandelman represents District 8 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where he is the lone LGBT member. He formally endorsed Elizabeth Warren last week.

Politics >>

January 30-February 5, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 5

In Maine, gay former SF resident seeks U.S. Senate seat

by Matthew S. Bajko

or 12 years Ross LaJeunesse called San Francisco home, moving first to Noe Valley in 1998 shortly after earning his law degree at Harvard. He then lived in a cottage in Eureka Valley and lastly in an apartment South of Market. During four of those years he commuted most weekdays to Sacramento, as he worked for former state Controller Steve Westly as his chief of staff and chief deputy controller then as deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2008 Google hired him to head its government affairs in the Western U.S. and two years later promoted him to oversee its governmental affairs in Asia. He moved to Hong Kong for three years, returning stateside to represent the tech company’s interests in Washington, D.C. It was there he met his future husband, Patrick Oathout, a Fulbright scholar who now works as a management consultant. But increasingly alarmed at Google’s decision to do business in authoritarian countries like Saudi Arabia and China, as he explained in a recent post he published on the website Medium, LaJeunesse quit last May. He and Oathout subsequently moved back to LaJeunesse’s hometown of Binneford, Maine. In the fall LaJeunesse, a Democrat, announced he was running in the June primary to be his party’s candidate on the November ballot against Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins, as the moderate GOPer is seen as one of the must vulnerable incumbents this election cycle. Should he win, LaJeunesse, 50, would become the first out gay man elected to the U.S. Senate. In a phone interview Monday with the Bay Area Reporter – he will be in San Francisco Thursday to attend a fundraiser being hosted by several local gay officials – LaJeunesse said he hadn’t ever thought of seeking elective office during his years working in government in the Golden State or on Capitol Hill in the mid-1990s as a staffer to former senators George J. Mitchell and the late Edward M. Kennedy. “I thought policy and government affairs was a way of making the world better. It is only after watching what happened during the past two years and seeing what’s happened to my home state and seeing what’s happened to the country,” LaJeunesse said that he decided he should become a candidate. “Susan Collins is a key part of the problem. I just decided I got tired of complaining about it. If you don’t like what is happening, you get your butt off the bench and do something about it. I told Patrick I am going home.” One of his selling points to voters in Maine is that he can provide moderate leadership and, having worked for politicians on both sides of the aisle, pass legislation in the divided Senate. “Susan Collins doesn’t deserve to represent Maine anymore,” he said. “She is not a moderate. She is not the person she was.” First he has to survive the June 9 primary against several other Democratic candidates, including the perceived frontrunner Sara Gideon, speaker of Maine’s House of Representatives who has the backing of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and progressive groups like Emily’s List and Planned Parenthood. As for the historic nature of his candidacy in terms of being able to shatter a pink political ceiling – just two out women, Tammy Baldwin,

Courtesy LaJeunesse Senate campaign.

Maine U.S. Senate candidate Ross LaJeunesse

a lesbian from Wisconsin, and Arizonan Kyrsten Sinema, who is bisexual, have been elected to the Senate – LaJeunesse doubts it will be a factor for most Maine voters. In fact, he touts his husband in the first sentence of his bio posted on his campaign site. “I always thought of Mainers as fiercely independent people more than anything else. Maine was the first state to approve marriage equality at the ballot box,” he noted. “So I trust and am proud of the role Mainers have played in advancing marriage equality and advancing LGBTQ equality. I don’t have any concerns about my marriage or who I am being a factor in this election.” He first came out at age 20 while an undergraduate at Dartmouth in 1990 “when it was a pretty hostile place to do that,” recalled LaJeunesse, and has pushed for LGBTQ rights ever since. He worked on the Ryan White AIDS Care Act and an early version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act when he was a policy analyst on Kennedy’s Senate staff. “I wouldn’t just be the first openly gay senator elected; I would be someone with a lifelong commitment to advancing LGBTQ rights my entire life. I think that is important for the community to know,” said LaJeunesse. He earned the endorsement of the LGBTQ Victory Fund last week, which noted in announcing its support January 23 that LaJeunesse’s election could help flip control of the Senate to Democrats and allow for LGBT legislation that has been blocked by Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) to be brought to the floor for votes. “A leadership change in the U.S. Senate is essential to securing federal LGBTQ equality legislation – and Ross is the candidate best-positioned to defeat Susan Collins and remove Mitch McConnell as majority leader,” said Annise Parker, the fund’s president and CEO and a former Houston mayor. “I know Ross well, and whether in government or the private sector, he consistently puts people and principles ahead of politics and self-interest. That track record will be a defining contrast between him and Senator Collins, who continues to put party before country with her impeachment trial votes and support for the Trump agenda.” In the Senate, LaJeunesse’s background in the global technology field and international human rights would make him a leader on both issues at a time when expertise on each is lacking on Capitol Hill, noted gay former San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who worked with LaJeunesse professionally and the two became friends. “He brings a unique skill set that doesn’t exist in the Senate,” said Dufty. LaJeunesse will soon be releasing a 10-point technology platform with specific steps he believes the federal government can take to oversee tech firms and address the myriad issues their businesses have created. He believes nationwide policies are needed

to protect people’s online privacy and their personal data collected and sold by tech firms. He also favors educating children on how to be internet literate and spot fake news spread via social media. “Tech companies have been eager to convince government that self-regulation is the answer and that is not the truth. Government needs to step up and step up in a significant way to make sure that technology is benefiting all people and all users and not just the tech executives and shareholders,” he said. “These tech platforms have enormous power.” He also faulted Collins for not using her position to bring high-speed internet to Maine. There are also large swaths of the Pine Tree State where there is no cellphone reception, added LaJeunesse, who worked on the first report about broadband access in California when he worked at the California Public Utilities Commission in the early 2000s. “Here we are in Maine in 2020 and if you go half an hour outside Portland, Maine you lose mobile phone reception,” he said.“It holds back our economy.” Asked about the push by some members of San Francisco Pride to ban his former employer Google from the annual LGBT celebration due to it taking stances seen as harming LGBT users of its sites, such as YouTube, LaJeunesse told the B.A.R. he was unaware such a demand had been made. But recalling the “crazy” diversity training he had to participate in while at Google, where he and others were made to shout homophobic slurs at their coworkers, as he recounted in his Medium post, LaJeunesse said the issue of corporate sponsorships of Pride events “is a subject worth debating.” He recalled it wasn’t so long ago that having national and global brands support for Pride parades and the LGBT community was seen as a success. While at Google, LaJeunesse said he pushed for the company in 2008 to take its public stance against California’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriages in the state until being overturned by federal courts. “It is interesting to me so many companies want to be a part of Pride, like a marketing thing,” said LaJeunesse, adding that in general he doesn’t have a problem with it if “companies are using it in a way to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.” The fundraiser in San Francisco for LaJeunesse will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 30, at the home of City Treasurer José Cisneros and his husband, Mark Kelleher, near Buena Vista Park. Among the hosts are gay leaders state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco,) District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, and San Francisco Democratic Party Chair David Campos. Donations of at least $100 are requested, and to RSVP for the address, email bevan.dufty@gmail.com. The event is a way for Dufty to thank LaJeunesse for being one of his best fundraisers when he ran for mayor of San Francisco in 2011. “He was living on the East Coast but let’s just say he helped me get funds for my mayor’s race,” recalled Dufty. “Hands down he was one of my best fundraisers. It is why I have confidence he is going to prevail in his Senate race.” t Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http:// www.ebar.com Monday mornings for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion. This week’s column looked at how LGBT CA legislative candidates are focused on housing and homeless issues in their campaign videos and ads.

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<< Commentary

6 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

A hair-raising talk of race, sex, and gender by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

hile I typically write about trans issues, this particular column will not start with a story about a transgender or nonbinary person. Rather, it begins with a story about hair. Specifically, DeAndre Arnold’s hair. Arnold is a senior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The irony of the school’s name is not lost on me, nor will it be on you. Arnold has found himself afoul of the school’s dress code because he has lengthy dreadlocks. For him and his family, his dreadlocks are a large part of Arnold’s identity: Arnold’s dad hails from Trinidad, and wearing dreadlocks is a part of the culture. It is a sense of pride. The school, however, disagrees. “Male students’ hair will not extend, at any time, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes,” reads the school’s current handbook, according to USA Today. “Male students’ hair must not extend below the top of a

T-shirt collar or be gathered or worn in a style that would allow the hair to extend below the top of a T-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes when let down.” Similar policies on hair length are not in place for female students. Even though Arnold has taken pains to wear his dreadlocks up, keeping them off his shoulder and out of his eyes as stipulated by the school dress code, he has nevertheless been threatened with in-school suspension and told he may not be allowed to walk during graduation ceremonies later this year. School Superintendent Greg Poole, via CNN, claimed that the policy has been as is for 30 years. In its defense, Poole claims that the code was an “expectation of the community,” and that such expectations lead to success. Arnold’s mother, Sandy Arnold, disagrees wholeheartedly, noting that the only issues her son has had in school has been because of the length of his hair. She feels that the policy is racist, and violates her family’s beliefs.

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“This is his belief,” Sandy Arnold told KPRC-TV. “This is a part of who he is. This is his culture. This is what we believe.” As I mentioned, Arnold is not transgender or nonbinary. His is not specifically a trans issue – but there remains a double standard when it comes to his hair: if he was a girl rather than a boy, the length of his hair would be moot. Now, I’m not saying that Arnold should transition. Far from it. If anything, he needs fewer people in his life right now telling him what to do. In that way he has a lot in common with every trans student who is facing bills in various state legislatures that will restrict trans athletes from participating in school sports in their preferred gender, as well as far worse ones that seek to criminalize care for trans and nonbinary students altogether. The same sort of gender bias routinely affects transgender people, but Arnold didn’t have to be trans to face regulations about the length of his hair. He faced them over his race and nationality, with the policies of the school violating his beliefs over an otherwise harmless thing: the length and style of his hair. I often talk about issues where forms of bias cross, and this is one of

Kink fairs

From page 1

the release stated. Originally from New England, Patterson was the co-founder and director of Persist Health Project, a New York City-based nonprofit focused on helping sex workers and trafficking survivors. She also is a board member emeritus at Trans Lifeline, a 24-hour hotline for transgender people going through a crisis. “I am eager to bring my experience and deep commitment to adult alternative lifestyle communities to FSE,” Patterson stated. “Folsom is a crucial part of many community members’ first experiences with alternative lifestyles. All of us have our place in that history, our journeys in leather, and they all matter. I am looking forward to showcasing that legacy with our staff, board, and amazing volunteers this Folsom 2020.” Kathleen Connell, a co-founder of Folsom Street Events, spoke positively of the appointment. “I am looking forward to seeing Sarah at the helm. Giving grants to community organizations through the Fair is a tradition Michael Valerio and I began in 1984 during the dark days of AIDS,” Connell said in the release. “Good luck to Sarah and the many volunteers who make Folsom happen.” FSE has donated $7 million to charity in its 36-year history. The money goes to local and some national nonprofits. The Folsom Street Fair, a festival celebrating leather and kink culture, is one of the largest events of its kind. Held annually in September, it was founded in 1984 as AIDS was decimating the leather

those times. While Arnold is not being discriminated against as a trans person, we can certainly see echoes of what we face in his story. This is why, to me, we need to be there to stand up against gender-based injustice whenever it rears its head. Consider what Caster Semenya has had to go through. Semenya, a lesbian South African middle-distance runner and Olympic gold medalist, has had a long fight over being able to enter elite-level races. After some success, the International Association of Athletics Federations changed its rules, demanding that Semenya chemically alter her body to reduce the natural testosterone in her system, or else she will not be allowed to compete. Semenya is not transgender, though she is presumed to be intersex. Nevertheless, it is Semenya’s name that comes up frequently when people speak of trans athletes. She is also black. Bias against transgender people affects people who are not transgender. Bias against people of color, especially blacks, often goes hand in hand with and LGBT communities in the South of Market neighborhood. That fair has been so successful, in fact, that it has not only spawned imitations the world over – such as Folsom Street East in New York City and Folsom Europe in Berlin – but also the Up Your Alley street fair held annually in July. Colloquially known in the community as Dore Alley, the smaller event is less oriented toward tourism and more focused on expressions of gay male sexuality than the Folsom Street Fair, as the Bay Area Reporter has previously reported. Community members praised Patterson’s selection. “Sarah models what leadership, mentorship, and collaboration is,” stated Lola Ursula, co-founder of the Bay Area kink party Femmes on Top and a 2020 contestant for Ms. SF Leather. JM Jaffe, founder of Trans Health Consulting, co-chair at the National LGBT Primary Care Alliance, and a member of the Trans Advisory Committee at the San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives, said Patterson has been involved in the kink community for over a decade. “She’s deeply committed to employing an intersectional lens, bringing trans sensitivity and racial justice to the forefront of everything she touches,” Jaffe stated.

Past dustups

The 2018 edition of the fair was the first for Finger. He was hired for the position in November 2017. According to the organization’s 2017 IRS Form 990, the most recent available, Finger earned $113,000 in salary and benefits as the managing director, his title at

gender biases. All of these things intersect in different ways, much as Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, a black feminist scholar, discussed when she coined the term “intersectionality” in 1989. This is why anti-trans violence predominately affects trans women of color, and why caricatures of black and other minority women often focus on “masculine” characteristics. Consider stereotypes of Serena Williams, who in addition to racist cartoons and other forms of anti-black, anti-woman bigotry, has been labeled and mocked as masculine. She was even accused of being trans. Or consider Michelle Obama, for whom a whole branch of conspiracy theorists claim is transgender, or others who once again considered her physique to be masculine. The biases that Obama, Williams, Semenya, and yes, Arnold, face are ones we should all be aware of. When we see the actions that this administration is undertaking against transgender people, or the legislation being pushed by socalled religious conservatives against trans rights, understand that these bills are not solely going to affect transgender people. They will be used against anyone who doesn’t fit into a perfect box labeled “male” or “female,” and they will most likely focus most of their ire on anyone who belongs to another minority group. The hair of a non-trans teen in Texas is, nevertheless, a trans issue, and those of us who are trans need to be there to stand up for him. t Gwen Smith was never allowed long hair before transition. This is her 500th column. You’ll find her at gwensmith.com.

that time. The previous executive director’s salary and benefits were about $108,000, according to the organization’s 2016 Form 990. The 2017 budget for the organization was about $1.3 million, according to the 990. Finger’s tenure was not without controversy. As the B.A.R. previously reported, in 2019 there was a contract dispute between the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a charitable drag nun organization, and Folsom Street Events. It was eventually settled before that year’s fair. The Sisters had been asked to pay $500 for each drag nun who did not make a shift at the fair, according to Sister Flora Goodthyme, who said that the organization was “being squeezed out” of the festival. In 2017, when Finger was managing director of the fair, the Golden Gate Wrestling Club’s application for a beer booth was rejected. At the time, Gene Dermody, a founder of the wrestling club, told the B.A.R. that it had had a beer booth at Folsom for 24 of the fair’s last 26 years. Finger would not specify a reason for the wrestling club’s application being rejected. Finger could not be reached for comment. When asked Patterson’s salary, Schuster said only that it is “a competitive salary commensurate with her many years of nonprofit leadership experience.” This year’s 37th annual Folsom Street Fair is set for September 27. The Up Your Alley fair will take place July 26. For more information, visit www.folsomstreetevents.org. t

Queer Reading >>

t Book looks at lives of gay men through generations

January 30-February 5, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 7

by Brian Bromberger

t all began with a homophobic rant by a Greek Orthodox priest at the June 2014 funeral of Perry Halkitis’ mother where he denounced civil rights for LGBTQ people. This verbal attack inspired Halkitis’ 18-year-old nephew a week later to come out to him, his husband, and the rest of his family after much struggle. “If his experience coming out is so difficult, then certainly the experience of those who are less fortunate in terms of their social circumstances would be even more challenging,” Halkitis wrote in an email to the Bay Area Reporter. “And so I wanted to give voice to those ongoing experiences that gay men continue to face in terms of their sexual identity negotiation, in terms of their coming out.” This goal led to Halkitis’ recent book, “Out in Time: The Public Lives of Gay Men from Stonewall to the Queer Generation” (Oxford University Press). Halkitis is dean and director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies in the School of Public Health at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He is also the author of “The AIDS Generation: Stories of Survival and Resilience” (2014, Oxford University Press), about the coping strategies of HIV-positive gay men. The book was a Lambda Literary Award nominee and recipient of the American Psychological Association Distinguished Book Award in LGBT Psychology. Halkitis, 56, spoke to the B.A.R. via an email exchange. In his new book, through interviews with a diverse group of 15 men, Halkitis divides them into three generations: the Stonewall generation (men who came out in the late 1950s1970s); the AIDS generation (men who came out in the 1980s-1990s); and the queer generation (men who came out in the 2000s-2010s). Halkitis defines coming out as a psychological process where gay men “announce, pronounce, and scream out” their sexuality. Halkitis believes that each generation isn’t dealing with their own issues alone, but “what’s essential to realize is that these crises are cumulative,” he wrote. “Gay men of the queer generation still confront the challenges faced by the gay men of the preceding generations, namely acceptance and inclusion within society and the continued battle with AIDS. Until we start to eliminate stigma and discrimination that creates the difficulty of coming out, and until we get rid of AIDS, fix the finances of this country, and equalize the playing field, nothing is going to get better.” The book explores issues of pride (including self-realization and affirmation), myriad identities, the closet and diminished health, (hyper) masculinity, intersectionality and racism, drugs, and switching from a deficit model of understanding gay men to a model of resilience, all within the context of a lifelong process of coming out, using vast social science research and statistics to bolster his theses. At its heart, however, the book is primarily accounts of gay men telling their stories about how they came out, a process that has remained consistent, despite some differences, for over 50 years.

HIV/AIDS

AIDS has been the primary motivator of Halkitis’ career. He was involved in ACT UP and other AIDS organizations in New York City. A psychologist, Halkitis also holds degrees in education and public health. “I was also a doctoral student, and I was working as an applied statistician, a psychometrician, and a researcher. I had this very dual life, and I felt this disconnect between what I was doing at night and what I was doing during

Courtesy Oxford University Press

Rutgers dean and author Perry Halkitis

the day. Plus, I was experiencing all the stigma and discrimination that existed for gay men and for those living with HIV in my work environment. It was unbearable to me.” He started working in the field of HIV research. Halkitis believes that while mainstream culture has shifted, much of what it means to be a gay man, and struggle to maintain that identity, continues to the present time. “Absolutely, political and social circumstances have changed in the last 50 years,” he wrote. “What has not changed are the psychological processes of coming out. In the book, I describe the three generations as being in a room – for the Stonewall generation we live in a room where windows are sealed and it is dark and nobody can look in; for the AIDS generation – my generation – we live in a room with windows covered with blinds that are slightly open, people could look in; and the new generation, the queer generation, we live in a room with no window treatments at all. I sort of use that as a metaphor for what it’s like to be out and open in the world about your sexual identity.” Halkitis is convinced coming out today is no different from what it was 30, 40, or 50 years ago. “I think the psychological process is identical. I think what’s different is the resources we have at our disposal. The internet ... despite all our criticisms of it, provides a venue for people to meet each other and to learn from each other, and that’s easier,” he wrote. “I think media representations make it a little bit easier to be open about being a gay man,” Halkitis added. “I think the views of America have shifted in the right direction, maybe not so much in the last few years.” One factor that has made coming out a bit less difficult is the web. “The internet has opened up a world of people that they’d never know,” Halkitis wrote. “And I think that if I was an 18-year-old now – when I was an 18-year-old in 1981 I didn’t know where to go for resources – I didn’t know what it meant to be gay, I thought I was the only gay person in the world. And the internet makes it possible to feel like you’re not alone, and to talk to and meet people. So, I think it creates a social environment and a social network that is much bigger than I had ever imagined it could be, and that can only have a beneficial effect on the well-being of gay men. Huge supportive social networks are ultimately tied to one’s health.”

Some criticism

Halkitis received some criticism that his sample size of 15 men was too small and that they all lived in New York City. “The problem with researchers

who know a little bit is that they cause harm, and so the criticism of my book that it’s only 15 life stories is probably from those who don’t know a thing about qualitative research,” he wrote. “But 15 life stories, life histories, is a pretty robust sample. Never does one begin to generalize from a small sample. But I can develop themes that I think are pretty fair to describe the population.” He wrote in the email that if he wanted to do a population-based study he would do one with thousands of participants, but that wasn’t his aim. “The goal of the book was to give voice, and so I don’t think that the life experiences of a young man growing up in Manhattan is the same as the life experience of somebody growing up in Nebraska,” Halkitis wrote. “My husband grew up in Long Island, 20 miles from the center of New York City; I grew up in New York City; our life experiences, while we are the same age, are radically different, so place does matter, context does matter. “I don’t think there’s anywhere in the book that I actually claim that it’s one-size-fits-all. In fact, what I go out of my way to show is that one size doesn’t fit all, and that every experience is different. But let’s not also make believe that the life of growing up in New York City is easy because the criticism that you raise in this question is also the short-sightedness of the people who say it. Just because you grow up in Manhattan doesn’t mean that your coming out is going to be easier, not if you’re a child of working class immigrants, not if you’re from a highly religious, black family. So let’s not make it all about location and use these glossy global understandings, to try and show how science works.” Halkitis noted that while HIV infection rates have declined for teenagers, they have risen among men ages 25 to 34. “HIV risk increases as people become sexually active and so it’s not surprising that 25-34 is that age group in which we see the highest rate of new infections,” he wrote. “This is when gay men are beginning to explore. I also think it’s where young gay men begin to understand their role in the world and their understanding in negotiating their relationships and dynamics with other men. The models we’ve built over the last 40 years in HIV are based in social-cognitive rational ideas. Yet love and emotions are not rational, and often decisions are made in the context of a relationship with another man that lead to risk. That’s something that we have not done a very good job at thinking about. “You know, when PrEP first came out there was talk about the idea of putting people on PrEP when they

were most risky, and that’s when they are with casual partners, but I say put them on PrEP the second they get into relationships because as soon as you introduce love and emotion, all logic and reason goes out the door.” He wrote that it was unsurprising that the epidemic is lodged in marginalized communities. “The more stressors young gay men face, the more likely they are to become infected and so that’s why you see not only in HIV but in any health problem, more stressors in one’s life which means worse health outcomes,” he wrote. “So that is the pattern we continue to see in HIV.” In reference to continuing infection rates, Halkitis has no patience for older gay men who scorn younger gay men who seroconvert. “I had very intense arguments with people in my generation and they would say things of that nature, and I would push, ‘You’d be having condom-less sex if you were 20 years old now, too, because you were doing that at 20.’ And they would agree. Sex is not a rational decision-making process.” Halkitis contends that otherness, the sense that we are different and live outside hetero norms and culture, remains the way gay men understand themselves, which, if unchecked, can lead to loneliness and social isolation that can be hazardous to their health. “Othering is a concept that I talk about a lot, whether it’s about race, culture, sexual identity, or gender identity. It’s about being made to feel like you’re not part of the mainstream. And certainly, [President Donald] Trump and his deplorables have done a very good job of othering lots of people in this country,” he wrote.

Taking responsibility

While Halkitis recognizes how straight society creates problems for LGBTQ people, he feels gay men must also take responsibility for their own issues. “We do quite a number on each other,” he wrote. “We have expectations of how we look and how we act, on our skin tone, our clothing, our bodies, and our pecs. And those take tolls on the well-being of gay men, too. I like to think – and I think it’s true – that the new, younger generation is better about fighting those monolithic perceptions of what it means to be a gay man, and actually taking a very narrow view [and] making it much more expansive. And so when I say that we have to take responsibility for our actions I am talking about gay men treating other gay men with love, respect, and dignity, regardless of

what they look like, smell like, how tall they are, what clothes they wear, how big their penis is, or how big their pecs are.” Halkitis is blunt about the gay community’s failure to own up to its racism. “The terms we used to describe each other, and I talk about it in the book, the fetishizing that goes on around men of color, these are hugely problematic,” he wrote. “The segregation that exists, that continues to exist in bars and clubs. These are all issues that continue to be very real in the gay population. “So we need to have open and honest conversations within our populations about what it means to be a gay man,” he added. “I think the younger generation, the queer generation, is leading the way, focusing us on conversations that are complex about intersectionality, race, culture, power, privilege, gender, and sexuality, that allow us to advance what it means to be a gay man.” Halkitis also talks about toxic masculinity, in which being male is equated with physical and psychological domination, and its effect on gay men, especially ideas like bottoms are less masculine, high voices are more feminine, and a muscular physique is more manly. “You know, 20 years ago I wrote a series of papers that sort of traced toxic masculinity to AIDS, and the idea being that for a long time gay men were thought of as effeminate, sissy, faeries, weak,” he wrote. “All of a sudden, AIDS came along and that stereotype was realized physically, and so gay men turned to steroids because they had to for their health, but others because they were combating this perception of them as weak, frail, and dying, which is what was going on. “And so, like many men in our society, gay men also espouse this hypermasculine conception of what it means to be a man, a man who’s based on power: sexual, financial, physical, and emotional conquest” Halkitis wrote. “And that kind of masculinity is not conducive to a good relationship with people and with partners. That kind of masculinity diminishes others who don’t espouse it.” Halkitis contends that dealing with many of these gay issues works better when you put them in a context of resilience of how men can thrive rather than what men may be lacking. “The traditional deficit model of the health of gay men talks about what we do wrong and I like to think about what we do right – for every 20% that are using meth, 80% are not, and for every X% that are having potentially-risky HIV-transmitting sex, a larger percentage are not; so I think it’s about how we frame behavior: we can think about what we do wrong instead of what we do right. “And if you think about everything the gay population has been through over the course of the last 50 years, through history, the fact that we are as effective, as powerful, as successful, and as well-adjusted as we are, is a sign of resilience,” he added. “And quite frankly, we’ve had to be resilient. If you are a young, gay person and are trying to figure out your place in the world and you feel different, you’re developing skills that make you tough. So a little adversity makes people a lot resilient, and so I like us to start focusing on what we do right.” Halkitis emphasized that there’s no one path to becoming a gay man or realizing one’s gay life. But long, hard experience has taught him that gay men must continue to fight for their place in the world or these rights could be taken away at a moment’s notice. t

<< Election 2020

t Out E. Bay judge candidates split endorsements 8 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

by Cynthia Laird

he race for an Alameda County Superior Court seat is heating up, with the two out candidates each securing major endorsements in recent weeks. Mark Fickes, a gay man running for the open judgeship, held a campaign event Friday, January 24, at the gay-owned World Famous Turf Club in Hayward. A few dozen supporters were on hand as he talked about his qualifications and his backing by the Alameda County Democratic Party. The race is on the March 3 primary ballot. If no candidate reaches 50%plus one, the two top vote-getters will face each other in November. “I’m really excited to get the Democratic Party endorsement,” Fickes told the Bay Area Reporter. “I also received the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County endorsement.” During his remarks, Fickes talked about the civil rights aspects of his work; he is currently a partner in Cannata, O’Toole, Fickes, and Olson, a small San Francisco law firm. He said that he represents people wronged by the government. Yet he has also taken on business clients, he told the audience, so that he can devote time to those other types of cases involving civil rights or workers’ rights. He said that his firm offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Campaigning throughout the county is a bit like speed-dating, Fickes joked in his remarks, in that candidates usually only have a few minutes to make their case before political clubs and other groups. “The coolest thing about the campaign are the warm and friendly people in Alameda County,” he told the B.A.R. In terms of diversity on the bench,

Cynthia Laird

Courtesy Elena Condes

Alameda County judicial candidate Mark Fickes, left, greeted former Hayward City Council member Kevin Dowling at a campaign event at the World Famous Turf Club in Hayward.

Alameda County Superior Court judge candidate Elena Condes

Fickes pointed out that Alameda County has only one out gay man serving as a judge, and that none have been elected. (Most judges are appointed by the governor.) “We need judges with broader experience,” he said. Sara Lamnin, a Hayward City Council member, told the B.A.R. that she’s endorsed Fickes because of his standing up for equal rights. An ally, Lamnin appreciated Fickes coming to Hayward, an area “that often gets overlooked.” Lori Reisfelt said that her neighbors invited her to the event. After listening to Fickes, she pointed to his broad experience and said that’s important for a judge. Larry Gray, a gay man who’s owned the Turf Club for 35 years, said he welcomes candidates to his establishment. The Turf Club, he said, “is not a gay bar but a gay-owned bar” that has always had a diverse customer base. “We represent the community,” he said. Kevin Dowling, a gay man and for-

iar with the workings of the Alameda County court system. The editorial was also critical of Fickes’ ballot designation as a civil rights attorney, noting he touts his work with the SEC on his website. The editorial stated that his explanation for his civil rights work – that criminal cases generally involve civil rights, “is weak.” Fickes told the B.A.R. Monday that his ballot designation is accurate. He said that a federal statute, 42 U.S. Civil Code Section 1983, allows people to sue the federal government for civil rights violations. A number of Fickes’ clients have used that statute, he said, to hold the government accountable. “I 100% stand by my ballot designation,” Fickes said. As for Condes, she wrote in an email that securing the East Bay Times’ endorsement was “impactful because it highlights the relevance and seemed to appreciate the depth of experience in the community and the importance of all my judicial endorsements.”

mer Hayward City Council member, said he has endorsed Fickes. “I think Mark has very good experience,” Dowling said. “It’s amazing that there’s never been an out gay man elected judge in Alameda County.” Fickes has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in criminal and civil cases. He has prosecuted domestic abuse cases and represented lowincome clients when public defenders couldn’t, according to his campaign materials. He also worked as trial counsel at the Securities and Exchange Commission, cracking down on white-collar crime.

Condes receives East Bay paper’s backing

The other out candidate in the race is Elena Condes, a queer Latina who’s currently a criminal defense attorney. The East Bay Times endorsed her earlier this month. In its January 14 editorial, the paper’s editorial board wrote that Condes, who is backed by 21 current and two retired judges, is most famil-

She added that in addition to the East Bay paper, she’s received endorsements from Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle, the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, and Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom, the LGBT bar association. According to Fickes’ website, BALIF has also endorsed him. The East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club did not endorse in the race. Condes said that she is the first Latinx person to run for judge in the county. “I am even more motivated than ever when I talk to young Latinas who feel empowered and proud of their cultural heritage because of my candidacy,” she wrote. Condes also has the backing of Alameda County Superior Court Judge Carol Brosnahan, whose seat is on the ballot in March because she is retiring later this year after four decades on the bench. The third candidate in the race, Lilla Szelenyi, a straight ally, wrote in an email that she has found running for office “challenging since I am not a political person.” Szelenyi is a workers’ compensation judge for the state. Her campaign website lists California Board of Equalization Chair Malia Cohen, a former San Francisco supervisor, and former state Democratic Party chair John Burton as endorsers. “Running for a judicial position, especially while you are already in a judicial post, is challenging,” she added. “There is not a lot of room for campaigning.” She said she was grateful to the others in the race, Fickes and Condes, “for being collegial opponents.” “I’m not sure how this race will turn out,” she wrote. “What I do know is that I have made some good friends along the way.” t

Two-spirit powwow coming up compiled by Cynthia Laird

ay Area American Indian TwoSpirits will hold its ninth annual powwow Saturday, February 8, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, 2 Marina Boulevard in San Francisco. Featured dancers will make their grand entry at noon. Organizers noted that a powwow is a traditional Native American event that gathers all tribes, as well as inviting non-Native guests, to learn more about Native cultures. Last year the event welcomed more than 5,000 people and a larger crowd is expected this year, according to a news release.

The powwow features several hours of ceremonial honor dances, contest dances, and a drum contest. The release stated that all powwow dancers and drums are welcome. “This is a space for all of us to gather respectfully and celebrate Native traditions,” BAAITS board Chair Amelia Vigil stated. “Whether you are African American, Native American, white, gay, straight, transgender – whoever you are and wherever your roots originated, come with curiosity and kindness.”

“Two spirit” is a Native American term for people with both female and male energies. Two spirits may or may not also identify as LGBTQ. Traditionally, two-spirit people often held – and many still hold – honored positions in their Native American and First Nations communities. The event is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted at the door. Vendors will be on site selling frybread, buffalo burgers, Native art and jewelry, and other crafts.

7 new “Below Market Rate” ownership homes at The Westerly, 2800 Sloat Boulevard 2 one-bedrooms, and 5 two-bedroom homes priced from $346,547 - $399,091 without parking and $387,959 - $446,948 with parking.

Organizers noted that the powwow is a clean and sober event. Street attire is encouraged for nonNatives. No costumes allowed. The event is wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit www.baaits.org or the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ events/743316742814163/.

Bi confab at SF LGBT center

The San Francisco LGBT Community Center is sponsoring BiCon, a conference and party centering on people who are attracted to more than one person. The event takes place Saturday, February 1, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the center, 1800 Market Street in San Francisco. Tickets are $60 and available at www.sfbicon.com. Sunday’s conference, which takes place in Oakland, is sold out. A flier stated that the bi, pan, queer, and non-monosexual com-

munities are overdue for a space where they are the center and focus. For more information, visit the abovementioned website.

B.A.R. writer to interview author

Bay Area Reporter contributor Brian Bromberger, who interviews authors for the news section’s Under the Covers book column and contributes to the arts section, will interview gay author Richie Jackson Wednesday, February 5, at 8 p.m. at Manny’s, the gay-owned cafe and community space at 3092 16th Street in San Francisco’s Mission district. Jackson is the producer behind Harvey Fierstein’s “Torch Song” on Broadway, plus Emmyand Golden Globe-nominated TV shows such as “Nurse Jackie.” In “Gay Like Me,” Jackson revisits key LGBTQ events such as Stonewall, the HIV/AIDS crisis, See page 11 >>

Applicants must be first-time homebuyers and cannot exceed the following income levels: 100% of Area Median Income 2019 One person - $86,200; 2 persons - $98,500; 3 persons - $110,850; 4 persons - $123,150 etc. Applications must be received by 5PM on Thursday, March 5, 2020. Apply online through DAHLIA, the SF Housing Portal at https://housing.sfgov.org or mail in a paper application with a self-addressed stamped envelope to BMR – The Westerly, PO Box 420847, San Francisco, CA 94142. Postmarks will not be considered. Paper applications can be downloaded from https:// housing.sfgov.org or picked up from 275 5th St. Suite 314, San Francisco, CA 94103. For more information or assistance with your application, please contact HomeownershipSF at info@ homeownershipsf.org and (415) 202-5464. Units available through the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and are subject to monitoring and other restrictions. Visit www.sfmohcd.org for program information.

Courtesy BAAITS

Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits is readying for its ninth annual Native American Powwow.

Sports >>

January 30-February 5, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 9

On the passing of Kobe Bryant by Roger Brigham “The simple life of heroes, the twisted life of saints, they just confuse the sunny calendar with their red and golden paints” – Leonard Cohen

hen a person who has spent most of his life in the public eye dies, leaving a complex legacy in the hearts and minds of supporters and detractors alike, it can be challenging in the shadow of the moment to process the range of triggered emotions. So it was last Sunday when a helicopter, after taking off from Orange County and flying low in the thick fog of Southern California, carrying parents and offspring, coaches and budding athletes, crashed into a hillside above Calabasas, killing the pilot and all on board. As a brush fire broke out in the midst of the scattered debris, word swiftly circulated that former Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among those who died in the crash. While the news blazed through social media and scenes of public mourning sprang up spontaneously, reporters scrambled to learn all they could about the tragedy. Questions arose, mostly why the helicopter was flying at all in conditions that were so dismal the LA Police Department copters had been grounded. A rumor circulated that fellow former Laker Rick Fox had been onboard, but that was quickly dispelled. Eventually, authorities released the names of the others killed: pilot Ara Zobayan; college baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter, Alyssa, who was a teammate of Gianna Bryant’s in youth basketball; Sarah Chester and her daughter, Payton, another youth basketball player; and girls basketball coach Christina Mauser. The traveling party was headed to Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for a tournament, which was canceled. As reporters reported, sports commentators commented, expressing collective shock, disbelief, and sorrow. Every now and then one of them would mention for a sentence or two that Bryant at one time faced criminal charges of sexual assault and kidnapping, but inevitably they swiftly moved on to return to reciting his laudable credentials: the repeat NBA championships, the high scoring games, the NBA AllStar selections, and so forth. Hardly any of the commentators

Courtesy ABC7

Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday in Southern California.

mentioned the incident in 2011 when Bryant called NBA official Bennie Adams a “fucking faggot,” gave a tepid non-apology apology, and was fined $100,000. (See April 21 JockTalk, “If it looks like bigotry and sounds like bigotry…”) They talked a lot about where he ranked among the greatest players the sport has ever seen. They talked about his competitive drive. They talked about his post-retirement ventures, such as his work in entertainment and his encouragement of women’s basketball and the opening of his sports center. And yes, there are a ton of positive thoughts and memories for fans to cherish. “As a Warriors fan, I can say Kobe was always someone to be envied,” said Tony Jasinski, founder of San Francisco Gay Basketball League. “Clearly, he was an exceptionally smart person – he spoke six languages – and one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He exemplified what made the Lakers a first-rate organization, which I believe is the same path that the Warriors eventually adopted. At yesterday’s SFGBA basketball session, one player named Alex had a legitimate Lakers 24 jersey that he proudly wore all night.” Mark Chambers, founder of the National Gay Basketball Association and organizer of the inaugural World Gay Basketball Championships to be held in Florida in May, is based in Southern California and is a big Lakers fan. “It was wonderful watching the Black Mamba play,” Chambers said, referring to the nickname Bryant gave himself. “He was able to shine in the light of the bad guy, and in the end he showed acceptance of

that role. Who was Kobe Bryant? To me he was an incredible basketball player, basketball ambassador and he did not allow what others thought of him stop him from rising. Love him or hate him, I am able to acknowledge that he’s one of the greatest players of my lifetime and his presence will surely be missed.” Bryant’s initial apology for his homophobic slur was lame, but his actions afterward were not. He actively worked with LGBT organizations to campaign against homophobia in sports. “Kobe’s anti-LGBTQ language is in no way OK, but his high NBA profile may or may not have been the catalyst for the NBA to take a stand against anti-LGBTQ language,” Chambers said. Chambers noted that the LGBTQ National Championships, aka the Coady Roundball Classic, was held last year at Bryant’s Mamba Academy. “The staff welcomed the NGBA, and the players had a wonderful experience in the best basketball facility we’ve ever played in,” he said. Every person has the right – the obligation, even – to evolve and mature, to become a better person, more successful, more giving. The published and broadcast stories and commentary on Bryant have been overwhelmingly positive. As I grapple with my own reactions and reflections on his life and passing, I can’t help but think that to ignore or dismiss his transgressions is to fail to embrace his humanity and the importance of his maturation. Perhaps many in the media feared the kind of backlash Washington Post political reporter Felicia Sonmez faced over the weekend when

she posted on Twitter a 2016 Daily Beast story discussing the 2003 rape allegations against Bryant. As angry comments flowed, attacking and threatening her for posting the story, she tweeted that “any public figure is worth remembering in their totality.” The Post swiftly suspended her. As I processed my thoughts about the lights and darks of Bryant’s public life, I called an old friend and colleague to chew the fat. Michelle Smith McDonald worked with me back in the 1990s in the sports department of the old Oakland Tribune and now handles communications for the Alameda County Department of Education. I asked her what she thought was

behind the reticence of reporters and commentators to mention Bryant’s rape allegation and homophobic slur. “I feel like people are getting shouted down,” Smith said. “Saying it’s complicated doesn’t say it: it’s conflicted.” Good journalists and good analysts are like historians: they have to report truths, good or ugly, and they need to discuss things openly and candidly. In times like this, that can be especially challenging. Much of how our acts are viewed is a matter of timing. What, for instance, would have been the reaction to the rape allegations against Bryant if See page 11 >>

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Obituaries >> Richard Lockerbie Rockwell Jul. 13, 1926 – Jan. 4, 2020

Richard Lockerbie Rockwell, 93, of San Francisco, died peacefully at home January 4, 2020. A much-beloved hairdresser, Richard owned the Golden Arches on Clement Street until 1988. He loved the San Francisco Giants, the 49ers, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet, and playing bridge. A member of three Bay Area gay square dance clubs since 1996, he received his 20-year medallion award from the International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs in 2017 at the age of 91. Richard was a member of Alexander Hamilton Post 448 of the American Legion for over 40 years, marching in Pride and Veterans Day parades. He also was active in local gay motorcycle clubs in the 1970s and 1980s. Among the many who will miss Richard’s sparkle and charm are his longtime devoted friend, Fabian Al-

varado of Guerneville, and his latest and last little doggie girl, Mitzy. All friends are invited to a celebration of life in Richard’s honor to be held Saturday, March 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church, 500 De Haro Street (at Mariposa). Donations in Richard’s memory may be made to Muttville (https:// muttville.org/, senior dogs for seniors) or to the SF GLBT Historical Society Museum (www.glbthistory. org).

Liam Garrin Woods-Smith 1973 – 2019

Liam WoodsSmith’s journey ended October 18, 2019 in Wisconsin, not far from Minnesota’s Iron Range, where it began in the early 1970s. Born in Salt Lake City, he spent his early life in the mining community of Buhl, Minnesota. There, and in Duluth, he got his first taste of political activism with

the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The road called Liam, and he was off on cross-country journeys, eventually settling in San Francisco, managing Castro’s Black House and working the door at the renowned 14th Street Party House. From there, transition to the Radical Faeries was natural, from Full Moon chanting to weeklong gatherings in Wolf Creek, Oregon. His activism reemerged during Tom Ammiano’s 1999 astounding mayoral write-in campaign, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, the Green Party, medical marijuana, and David Campos’ successful campaign for supervisor. Liam made several epic treks to Zuni Mountain Sanctuary in New Mexico. But in the end, his triple diagnosis of mental health, HIV, and substance abuse proved too difficult, and he spent his last years on the road or in care facilities. As much as Liam fought his circumstances, they, in the end, overwhelmed him. A memorial will be held Saturday, February 15, at 1 p.m., at St John’s Episcopal Church, 1661 15th Street in San Francisco.

Thomas V. Halloran General Manager A native San Franciscan with 40 years of professional experience assisting families in need. A longtime resident of the Eureka Valley, Castro and Mission Districts; a member of the Castro Merchants Association and a 25 year member of the Freewheelers Car Club. At Duggan’s Funeral Service, which sits in the heart of the Mission, we offer custom services that fit your personal wishes in honoring and celebrating a life. We are committed to the ever-changing needs of the community and the diverse families we serve.

Please call for information 415-431-4900 or visit us at www.duggansfuneralservice.com FD44

<< From the Cover

10 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

Census efforts

From page 1

has handed out fliers featuring photos of either male or female couples with the tagline “Love can shape your future.” The materials explain that this year’s census provides people with the option to identify their relationship as being same-sex, thus “informing community planning for families and providing vital statistics to advocates and policymakers who work on LGBTQ+ issues.”

Billions of dollars at stake

With billions of federal funding at stake and California at risk of seeing its congressional representation diminish, state and local leaders are determined to have as complete a count of the Golden State’s population as possible. Not only is the census data used to allocate House seats to the states, it also determines funding for myriad social services, from food stamps and Medicaid to Section 8 housing vouchers and community health centers. Earlier this month Mayor London Breed and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) launched SF Counts, San Francisco’s Census 2020 Campaign, and held a news conference at City Hall to stress the importance of having every resident take part in the census. Anyone living in San Francisco, whether they are a U.S. citizen or an undocumented immigrant, who doesn’t fill out a census form will cost the city $2,000 per year for the next 10 years, according to the mayor’s office. “The census impacts our economic and political future and helps make sure we get our fair share of federal dollars, which helps us support our community and provide everything from housing and health care, to senior centers, schools, and meal programs,” stressed Breed. Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, the lone LGBT member on the Board of Supervisors, told the Bay Area Reporter he believes that more attention needs to be brought to how critical the census is for the city’s coffers, especially as City Hall grapples with projected budget deficits in the coming years and continues to see cuts in federal HIV prevention funds. “It is terribly important that everybody in California, particularly marginalized communities, get counted,” said Mandelman. “I think it has been flying a little under the radar. I don’t think it is front of mind for people, that’s why it is important for us to talk about it.” Mandelman will be taking part in a roundtable discussion about the 2020 census with other local LGBT leaders Friday, January 31, at the Commonwealth Club for its LGBT-focused program “The Michelle Meow Show.” Also expected to take part is Clair Farley, a senior adviser to Breed who is also the director of the transgender initiatives office. Her staff is coordinating with the city’s Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs on the local census count push. The SF Counts campaign is being funded through an investment of $2.5 million from the city’s General Fund and a grant from the

Academy of Friends

From page 1

the statewide LGBT advocacy group Equality California. Kile Ozier, AOF founder, praised the new partnership. “The LGBT Asylum Project is not simply the beneficiary, Academy of Friends is arguably the actual beneficiary of this new relationship,” he

Readers poll

From page 1

Readers who complete at least 75% of the ballot will automatically be eligible for prizes. (See the ballot for de-

Love can shape your future. On the 2020 Census, you’ll have the option to identify a relationship as same-sex—informing community planning for families and providing vital statistics to advocates and policymakers who work on LGBTQ+ issues.

For more information, visit:

2020CENSUS.GOV D-PO-LG-EN-043

Census 2020

A flier that was distributed at last year’s Silicon Valley Pride explains that same-sex couples can be counted in the 2020 census.

and the website is expected to go live March 12. Households will be mailed census forms and asked to return the printed forms by April 15 if they do not want to fill out the online form. The census forms cover everyone living in the household. People should not mail in a printed form if they completed an online census for their household. Those that don’t take part in the census by mid-April should expect a knock on their door from census workers beginning in May asking them to fill out the form. The last day for people to turn in their census forms and be counted is July 31. Equality California, the statewide LGBT advocacy group, on its website is asking people to pledge that they will fill out their census forms this spring. “Thank you for taking the pledge and letting the Trump-Pence administration know we #WillBeCounted!” states a note that pops up on the screen of those who fill out the online form. As the B.A.R. reported online Wednesday, January 22, EQCA that day began running ads on Facebook and the hookup app Grindr to encourage people to sign the pledge. It is part of a $1 million campaign the agency is undertaking this year to ensure LGBT people fill out the census. “The 2020 census is nothing less than a fight for our future – a future that values diversity and invests in the communities that need it most,” stated Equality California Institute Executive Director Rick Zbur. “Too often, California’s diverse LGBTQ community is undercounted – which denies us power, representation and funding for programs that the most vulnerable members of our community need to survive. There’s far too much at stake to allow that to happen in 2020. LGBTQ Californians will be counted.” The bulk of the money came from a grant EQCA received from the California Complete Count Office, which is overseeing the state’s 2020 census efforts. It also received funding from the California Community Foundation specifically for outreach efforts in Los Angeles County and from the California Wellness Foundation for its statewide efforts. “Right now we are just asking people to pledge to complete the census. In March, we will be doing follow up outreach to people to remind them to fill out the census,” said EQCA spokesman Samuel Garrett-Pate. EQCA has been working with a coalition of LGBT groups around the state to prepare for this year’s census. A major awareness drive was conducted last year at Pride events across the Golden State. Amanda McAllister-Wallner, director of the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, told the Bay Area Reporter that the census campaign generated overwhelmingly positive reactions. “I think people were both receptive to the idea of being counted and that this is important for these services that are important to me and the community,” said McAllister-Wallner, adding that the Trump administration’s attempts not to count LGBT people in various government surveys also registered. “They are attacking

you at the federal level constantly and this is an opportunity to fight back and demand I will be counted in the census. It is a way for people to say, ‘You can’t erase me. You can’t erase my community.’”

Some options for trans people

The decennial count of the nation’s population will fall short in terms of collecting exact data on the number of LGBT residents, since the 2020 census will not be asking people to specify if they identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. In terms of a person’s gender, the only choice one can select is either male or female. Nonetheless, transgender individuals who have not legally changed their gender can select the option they identify with and do not have to select the gender they were assigned at birth. “The gender question was concerning to some members of the community who felt the male and female binary were not inclusive of who they were as individuals,” said Farmer. People do have the option of not answering the gender question on their census form, she noted. And she said that federal census officials had advised them that those filling out the census online should be able to skip that question. “You can leave the gender question blank and your census still will be counted,” she noted. Nor do transgender or nonbinary people need to use their given name at birth, added Farmer. People can write down the name they currently use on their census form even if they have not legally changed it for use on their identification, such as a passport or driver’s license. “One thing to note is the U.S. Census Bureau does not verify your name with any other data source,” explained Farmer. “It wouldn’t be an error if you wrote down the name by which you identify. That has been easing people’s concerns, it resonates with transgender individuals.” Mueller confirmed that the census bureau relies on people to answer the forms in a manner that is accurate for them and that leaving a question blank will not invalidate their census form. “We ask all residents to self-identify in each question. An individual is asked to mark the gender that they most closely identify with. We do not ask for documentation of name, sex, or any other item we gather on the decennial census,” he explained. “If a question is not fully answered, the person can skip it online, but they may get a phone call or follow up visit to complete a questionnaire.” t

For LGBT people in particular, filling out their 2020 census forms is also being pitched as a way to protest against the Trump administration’s rollback of federal LGBT rights and protections. During the Obama administration, a working group of federal agencies had been looking at including questions about sexual ori-

entation and gender identity on the 2020 census form as had been done with numerous federal surveys. But the final decision was left up to the administration of Obama’s successor. And in March 2017, nearly two months after President Donald Trump took office, the U.S. Census Bureau confirmed the forms would not include SOGI questions, causing an uproar among LGBT groups and federal lawmakers supportive of seeing the census collect SOGI data. Since then, LGBT groups and advocates have been using the hashtag #WillBeCounted on social media platforms to drum up awareness about the importance of taking part in the census despite the lack of the SOGI questions. It is especially critical in California, where for the first time in the state’s history it could lose a House seat in Congress because the state’s population is no longer growing as fast as several Western and Southern states that are expected to pick up House seats next year. Despite the lack of SOGI questions for LGBT individuals, there does not appear to be a concerted effort to depress LGBT participation in the 2020 census, according to half a dozen LGBT leaders the B.A.R. spoke to about this year’s count. Rather, there seems to be a broad recognition within the LGBT community of the critical importance for filling out this year’s form. “We need to be counted as a community. We need to know we exist,” said Miguel Bustos, a gay San Francisco resident who serves on the California Complete Count Committee and is the senior director of the Center for Social Justice at Glide SF. For the first time people will be able to take part in the census online,

stated. “It’s a brilliant way to take what remains of AOF, and the legacy of good on which the organization rests, restore its integrity, focus its efforts, and enjoin it on a path that’s eminently relevant and embraceable today.” Ozier noted that gala attendance in recent years “has wavered as the public has lost focus on how critical the fight against HIV/AIDS still is.” AOF has also had its share of stumbles, most notably about a de-

cade ago. As the B.A.R. reported in 2012 (LINK: https://www.ebar.com/ news///242181), the benefitting organizations in 2010 and 2011 received only a fraction of the money they were expecting. The paper also reported that AOF had initially said it would distribute a combined $220,000 to the 11 organizations but in May 2011, AOF representatives told beneficiaries they were backing out of paying what they owed. About $150,000 had re-

mained to be paid at the time. Current board chair Myers, who was not in the position at the time, did not want to talk about the past. “We will not address this in the article at this time ... this will not be a gossip article and if you editor insists, you will be publishing without our authorization and no authority to quote,” Myers wrote in an email. t

Tickets for the AOF gala are $275, with a new, low-cost ticket price of $150 for young professionals ages 21-29. Attendees must be 21 and over. Doors open at the Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, at 4 p.m.; the event starts at 5. For more information and tickets, go to http://www.academyoffriends.org/. For more on the AOF Oscar party, see BARtab.

tailed information.) The grand prize this year is a pair of VIP weekend passes to LA Pride, June 12-14. Other prizes include a pair of tickets to see Opera Paralèlle’s “Harvey Milk” at the Blue Shield of Cali-

fornia Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in May; a pair of tickets to see Mika at the Masonic April 13; and several sets of the five-CD package “I Got You Babe: The Best of Sonny & Cher.”

Readers are encouraged to vote early. Voting can be done online or use the ballot printed in this week’s issue, pages 14-15. Besties voting closes Wednesday, March 4, at 11:59 p.m.; the Besties is-

sue will be published Thursday, April 2. To vote, mail in the ballot or visit www.surveymonkey/r/besties2020. t

state of California. The Commonwealth program is serving as the launch of the city’s LGBT census outreach, Farley told the B.A.R. Another event is being planned for March where people will be able to complete their census on site, she said.

East Bay efforts

In the East Bay the Alameda County, Complete Count Committee, Census 2020 for the first time created a special subcommittee focused on its LGBT community. It met three times in 2019 to map out a strategy for how to engage with LGBT residents throughout the sprawling county. “It was important because we acknowledge LGBTQ community members are a large part of our community,” said Casey Farmer, a straight ally who is executive director of the Alameda County count committee. Farmer told the B.A.R. that every person in Alameda County who fills out the census results in $1,000 per year to fund various services. Thus, each person not counted means a loss of $10,000 over a 10-year span in federal funding for the county, she noted. “If we are undercounted we lose our resources for the community,” said Farmer. “It is important people recognize in just the 10 to 15 minutes it takes to fill out the census they hold a lot of power.”

A form of protest

The 2020 census discussion for the Commonwealth’s “The Michelle Meow Show” will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, January 31, at 110 The Embarcadero along the waterfront in downtown San Francisco. The cost to attend is $10 for members, $5 for nonmembers, and $5 for students with valid I.D. People can register for free using the promo code “meowaccess” at https://bit.ly/2tLPvcL.

Community News>>

t Concord LGBT center hires trans man as new ED by Matthew S. Bajko

he Rainbow Community Center in Concord has hired Kiku Johnson, a transgender man of color, as its next executive director. The Oakland resident will start February 10. The Contra Costa County LGBT community center’s board of directors announced the hiring decision Tuesday night. In an email to the center’s members, board President Dorann “Dodi” Zotigh wrote that they had found the “magical unicorn” they were looking for in Johnson. She noted that Johnson in his talks with the board about taking on the leadership position “had shined with his presence; sharing his supportive, collaborative leadership style, outlining concrete steps to sustainability, and bringing forward innovative fundraising plans.” Johnson was unavailable for an interview Wednesday morning when reached by the Bay Area Reporter. In a message he said he was busy assisting the center with a

News Briefs

From page 8

and the fight for marriage equality to offer his oldest son Jackson – who came out as gay at 15 – a touching and practical guide for living life safely as an openly gay man. Tickets are $10 or $30, which includes a copy of the book. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.welcometomannys.com.

Black HIV/AIDS awareness event

The San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Black African American Health Initiative and Community Health Equity and Promotion divisions will hold “Ujima 2020: Shattering Stigma

Jock Talk

From page 9

they had been made years later during the #MeToo movement, when social media was in full swing? Pretty damned ugly. His official apology that led to the victim withdrawing charges and settling out of court, as well as the original graphic police reports that contained references to his admission

Courtesy One Circle Foundation

Kiku Johnson

grant application, one of his areas of expertise, that is due in a few days and was then planning to take a trip out of town and wouldn’t be available until he started the job. He has worked as a content strategist at the Oakland-based Gender Lenz LLC, which helps women find Through Black Intergenerational Dialogue,” Friday, February 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 610. The event is to observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The evening will feature a discussion and panel about the black experience, HIV, and stigma through an intergenerational lens. There will be food and refreshments, along with free HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening. Co-sponsors are the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, Shanti, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Black Brothers Esteem program. For more information, contact Vincent Fuqua at vincent.fuqua@ sfdph.org.

January 30-February 5, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 11

jobs in the fields of venture capital, philanthropy, and technology, since October 2017 and had been associate director of the One Circle Foundation in San Rafael for nearly four years until last November, according to his LinkedIn profile. In the email about his hiring to lead the Rainbow center, Johnson stated, “I’m deeply honored and my heart is full and motivated to join the Rainbow Community at large and the center itself as the next Executive Director! I’m proud and able to be a trans male advocate of color. I bring with me to share, an intersectional social justice lens centered in our lived experiences as queer, gender expansive, and all the dynamic identities folx are within our community.” The rainbow center has been without an executive director since November, when Jack RednourBruckman, who identifies as nonbinary and a butch queer, left to take a new job in Southern California. They had been hired as the center’s consulting interim director in April

following the resignation of former executive director Kevin McAllister less than a year in the job. His leaving was sparked by an outcry over the sudden firing last February of most of the center’s counseling staff. Impressed by Rednour-Bruckman’s handling of the job, the center’s board hired them as the executive director officially as of May 1. The center has churned through three leaders since Ben-David Barr, Ph.D., citing health reasons, retired in December 2017 as the center’s executive director after 10 years. An interim person was brought in while the center’s board conducted a search for a permanent executive director, which led to the hiring of McAllister in June 2018. As the B.A.R. noted in a profile about Rednour-Bruckman in August, they had received praise for their handling of the job and reaching out to longtime supporters of the center who had been worried about its management and future. Rednour-Bruckman hired a number of new staff at the center and

recruited new members to serve on its governing body while addressing the fallout from the decisions made by their predecessor and former board president Ken Carlson, who stepped down from the oversight body in the spring. In the fall, following RednourBruckman’s departure, the center’s staff officially formed a union with Teamsters Local 856. “We look forward to representing the staff at Rainbow and helping them negotiate a strong Teamster contract so they may continue to focus on the important and crucial work they do for the Contra Costa County community,” Local 856 Representative Corey Hallman stated at the time in a news release that noted who he would lead negotiations for the Rainbow staff ’s first union contract. The center’s annual budget had been $1.2 million last year and is set at $1.3 million this fiscal year. Its last two executive directors had been paid roughly $93,000. t

Black trans women leaders at Commonwealth Club

women – we are women – though often our womanhood is erased; we are black, though often our blackness is dismissed by black people; and we are transgender – and often our specific cultural attributes are in contrast to the current cultural markers of queer and transgender people, which comes from academics and white transgender people.” The program will include a live, interactive audience and be livestreamed on the club’s YouTube channel in hopes that it will benefit black trans women across the country. Tickets are free for members, $5 for nonmenbers, and $3 for students (with valid ID) and available at https://bit.ly/2O4lGuO.

have a sale of prints by queer and trans emerging artists Saturday, February 8, at Strut, the men’s health center in the Castro. There will be an artist panel from 7 to 7:30 p.m., followed by a reception and print sale. Admission is free. Organizers noted the Queer Ancestors Project forges sturdy relationships between LGBTQI people and their ancestors. Using history as a linchpin, the project offers queer and trans artists, ages 18-26, free interdisciplinary workshops in printmaking, writing, and queer history. It also holds public exhibitions of artists’ work. The exhibit at Strut, located at 470 Castro Street, runs from February 8 to May 9. For more information, visit the Facebook page at https://bit. ly/2GlmHuk. t

Black transgender women thought leaders will lead an intimate conversation on self-acceptance and body positivity in honor of Black History Month Friday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero in San Francisco. The panel will feature Aria Sa’id, executive director of the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District; Breonna McCree, a longtime public health advocate; and YouTube personality Diamond Stylz. “So much of what is available to the world about transgender people is regarding our disparity in a world that does not wish us to exist,” Sa’id, who will moderate the panel, said in a news release. “Our disparity is absolutely very real. But we are also in a complicated experience as black transgender

Queer Ancestors Project print sale

The Queer Ancestors Project will

of adultery and the overwhelming evidence of rape, would have been an albatross around his neck. Then again, if instead of distancing and denying he had issued sincere mea culpas and become an advocate for respecting women and reeling in abusers, his legacy would have been even more enhanced. Instead, his admirers and critics can air their opinions online. “We’re going to be polarized about something else now,” Smith said.

In a piece about the public mourning of Bryant’s death, USA Today columnist Nancy Armour wrote, “That we may not want to see Bryant for all of who he was is hardly a surprise. Our society’s fawning treatment of celebrities, athletes in particular, turns them into otherworldly characters who are not of the human realm. We excuse the inexcusable and forgive their mistakes as the price to pay for being witness to their greatness. But in doing so,

we diminish the very people we revere. Turn them into a one-dimensional version of themselves that reduces them to nothing more than their athletic talent. He was flawed and complicated, and it’s OK to acknowledge that.” Perhaps the most remarkable thing Bryant ever did was transform himself, very much in the public eye while surrounded by legions of supporters and skeptics alike. Our calendars are riddled with holidays

honoring men and women who achieved great things in their lives. The red and gold letters do not record the sins and errors that cobblestoned the road to that greatness, but that does not mean we should forget or deny. t

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555513

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038930900

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038901300

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038921100

Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-19-555494 In the matter of the application of: CYNTHIA OLIVIA BURZYNSKA SMUZYNSKA, 579 BELVEDERE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner CYNTHIA OLIVIA BURZYNSKA SMUZYNSKA, is requesting that the name CYNTHIA OLIVIA BURZYNSKA SMUZYNSKA, be changed to CYNTHIA OLIVIA SMUZYNSKA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Room 103N on the 11th of February 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-19-555442

In the matter of the application of: TUA THI HUYNH, C/O NANCY A. FELLOM, CA 112522, LAW OFFICES OF FELLOM AND SOLORIO, 231 SANSOME ST, FLOOR 6, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner TUA THI HUYNH, is requesting that the name TUA THI HUYNH, be changed to PEONY HUYNH. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Room 103 on the 23rd of January 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038927200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KANDA YOGA SCHOOL, 1426 FILLMORE ST #203, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALISON SMITH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/03/20.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020

In the matter of the application of: CASEY JOSEPH SONDGEROTH, 4302 17TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner CASEY JOSEPH SONDGEROTH, is requesting that the name CASEY JOSEPH SONDGEROTH, be changed to CASEY JOSEPH RANDO. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103 on the 20th of February 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038922200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BISMARK AUTO BODY & PAINT, 1670 15TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BISMARK A. LOAISIGA SANTAMARIA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/20/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/31/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038909000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AMY DRY CLEAN SERVICE, 2551 25TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AMY ZHI FEN LI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/18/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/18/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FRANCESCA’S FLOWERS AND GARDENS, 828 SAN DOMINGO DR, SANTA ROSA, CA 95404. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed FRANCESCA PEREZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/09. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/07/20.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038926500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BALBOA ICE CREAM, 1844 SAN JOSE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MIGUEL A. PINEDA. 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 01/03/20.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038915000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAYSIDE MUSIC, 1301 GATEVIEW AVE #C, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94130. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BRENT ELBERG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/12/19.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JM EDUCATION & WELLNESS, 3628 23RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JENNY MORALES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/30/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/30/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038905900

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038919600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ON-SITE ADVERTISING, 1592 UNION ST #167, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DIANE PERLMUTTER REYNOLDS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/23/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/16/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038921200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LIFTOPIA INSURANCE SOLUTIONS, 350 SANSOME ST #925, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed LIFTOPIA, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/27/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038903300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HOMECOMING CLEAN SF, 840 POST ST #214, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed TAWNY S. PETERSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/30/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/30/19.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OPEN WIDE SAN FRANCISCO; OPEN WIDE; OPEN WIDE DENTAL, 1196 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed JANA SABO DDS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/09/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/13/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038912800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TRUBAY, 677 CAROLINA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DONALD WICKLIFF. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/17/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/30/19.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SUNSET BOULEVARD CHILD CARE; SH INTERNATIONAL, 3150 LAWTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SANDY X. HONG CHENG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/05/00. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/23/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038926200

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SOMESHINE CO.; SLOWDRIP HQ; MORENOPROJECTS, 1743 46TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GREG MORENO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/24/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038920200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WELLNESS NAILS CARE, 405 ARGUELLO BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed TIFFANY DINH & GIAU MAI HUYNH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/02/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/02/20.

<< Legals

12 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038918700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CASTELLANOS TRANSPORT SERVICE LLC, 1788 19TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed CASTELLANOS TRANSPORTATION SERVICE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/27/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/27/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038905500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, 116 GRANT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BRUNELLO CUCINELLI USA RETAIL LLC (NY). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/23/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/16/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038902800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MUST SEE, 995 MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MUST SEE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/10/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/13/19.

JAN 09, 16, 23, 30, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555517 In the matter of the application of: MARIO MAYNIGO RABARA, 478 WARREN DR #617, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner MARIO MAYNIGO RABARA, is requesting that the name MARIO MAYNIGO RABARA, be changed to MICHAEL MARIO RABARA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 20th of February 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555518 In the matter of the application of: BRITTANY SUZANNE SHOOT, 621 STOCKTON ST #402, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner BRITTANY SUZANNE SHOOT, is requesting that the name BRITTANY SUZANNE SHOOT, be changed to BRITTA BERNICE SHOOT. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103, Rm. 103 on the 20th of February 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038911200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CALIFORNIA CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION, 1340 MARKET ST #200, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOSEPH HOUSTON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/31/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/20/19.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038940700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NULA TRANSPORTATION, 1829 EL PARQUE CT #8, SAN MATEO, CA 94403. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LUIS A. IBARRA CANALES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/13/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/13/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038935100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AM/ PM SECURITY SPECIALIST, 60 29TH ST #657, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ROBERT BELL SR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/09/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038940800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PEGGY TSUJIMOTO & ASSOCIATES, 1918 FUNSTON AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PEGGY N. TSUJIMOTO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/13/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/13/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038928300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FOUR SEASONS WASH N’ DRY, 700 7TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DUC NIM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/03/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038928200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ROSALBA’S DAYCARE, 3276 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ROSALBA MOTINO. 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 01/03/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038926300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MELTING POINT, 1340 BRYANT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed TAMMY BICKEL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/02/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/02/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038941000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RKR INVESTMENTS, 2633 OCEAN AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed ROQUE E. FERNANDES, RAYMOND HO & KEVIN RUSHTON. 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 01/13/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038924400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE PATRIOT HOUSE, 2 EMBARCADERO CENTER, LEVEL 1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed DEBRUN, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/19/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/02/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038934400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TRAVELNET, 2492 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ALFA BROS INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/12/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/08/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038935800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GEARY BOULEVARD DENTAL, 5231 GEARY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed HUNG HOA TRAN DDS, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038937700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WILD CARD, 58 LIBERTY ST #7, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed PARR ASSOCIATES INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/14/96. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038928900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: J & W HERBS, 718 PACIFIC AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed J & W HERBS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/06/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038924100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 425 JUDAH STREET APTS, 425 JUDAH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a trust, and is signed BASEM TOTAH & MAHA TOTAH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/31/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/02/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038924200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 416 DUNCAN STREET APTS, 416 DUNCAN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by a trust, and is signed BASEM TOTAH & MAHA TOTAH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/31/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/02/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038909200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: YUBALANCE, 447 IRVING ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed YUBALANCE, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/15/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/19/19.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038936000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BONITA TAQUERIA Y ROTISSERIE, 3600 16TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SQUAT & GOBBLE CAFE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038925200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HIMALAYAN HANDMADE CRAFT, 2859 A MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HOLLYWOOD BEAUTY THREADING LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/02/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038925100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SRR FINANCIAL CONSULTING FIRM, 2859 A MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HOLLYWOOD BEAUTY THREADING, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/02/20.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-038277100

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: MELTING POINT, 1340 BRYANT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by TAMMY BICKEL & TYROME TRIPOLI. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/23/18.

JAN 16, 23, 30, FEB 06, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-19-555462 In the matter of the application of: EREZ ZVI HALPRIN, C/O RYON NIXON #295150, 1550 BRYANT ST #750, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner EREZ ZVI HALPRIN, is requesting that the name EREZ ZVI HALPRIN, be changed to EREZ ZVI HALPERIN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept.103N, Rm. 103N on the 3rd of March 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 23, 30 FEB 06, 13, 2020

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-19-555463 In the matter of the application of: NADINE LIAT HALPRIN, C/O RYON NIXON #295150, 1550 BRYANT ST #750, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner NADINE LIAT HALPRIN, is requesting that the name NADINE LIAT HALPRIN, be changed to NADINE LIAT HALPERIN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 3rd of March 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 23, 30, FEB 06, 13, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555537 In the matter of the application of: SAMANTHA LISA JONES, 142 BEAUMONT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner SAMANTHA LISA JONES, is requesting that the name SAMANTHA LISA JONES, be changed to SAMANTHA GERSHON JONES. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 25th of February 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 23, 30, FEB 06, 13, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038937800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JAMIE’S PLACE, 1380 9TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JAMIE’S KITCHEN LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/09/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/09/20.

JAN 23, 30, FEB 06, 13, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038948700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE HAULING, 1325 EVANS AVE #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JULIO E. MENDEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/01. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/16/20.

JAN 23, 30, FEB 06, 13, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038948600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MICHAEL LUMOS PHOTOGRAPHY; MICHAEL J. LUMOS, 33 8TH ST #1236, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MICHAEL SUDDES. 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 01/16/20.

JAN 23, 30, FEB 06, 13, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038948800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GUMBO SOCIAL, 124 KIRKWOOD AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DONTAYE BALL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/16/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/16/20.

JAN 23, 30, FEB 06, 13, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038943200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EL CAPRICHO RESTAURANT, 2022 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed EL CAPRICHO RESTAURANT INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/14/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/14/20.

JAN 23, 30, FEB 06, 13, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038924000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SUPER MIRA, 1790 SUTTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SUPER MIRA INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/02/20.

JAN 23, 30, FEB 06, 13, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555556 In the matter of the application of: JENISEL BALDERAS JORDAN, 1209 GUERRERO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner JENISEL BALDERAS JORDAN, is requesting that the name JENISEL BALDERAS JORDAN AKA HEBBEL YENISEL BALDERAS AKA JENNIE HEBBEL MELBER, be changed to JENISEL BALDERAS JORDAN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Room 103 on the 10th of March 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555559 In the matter of the application of: NATALYA SMITOVA, 125 CAMBON DR #4E, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner NATALYA SMITOVA, is requesting that the name NATALYA SMITOVA, be changed to NATALYA PINKHASOVA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept.103N, on the 10th of March 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038959100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AG LANGUAGE SERVICE, 2 GENEVA AVE #11, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANGELICA M. GRISALES GIL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/16/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/24/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038956900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ST. BERNARD PARTNERS, 300 BEALE ST #607, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DAVID GOLD. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/15/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/22/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038933000

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038949700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOUGH EXPRESS CLEANER, 648 GOUGH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed XIAOTAO SITU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/07/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/07/20.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MARINA DELI & LIQUORS, 2299 CHESTNUT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BELLAMARINA LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/17/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/17/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038949100

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038938100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MON AMI BANH MI, 75 HAWTHORNE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JESSE LE. 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 01/17/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038950400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SKIN LOUNGE, 1640 BUSH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JENNIFER N. ARANA. 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 01/17/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038930400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MAX CLEANING SERVICE, 1459 18TH ST #364, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LIE LIE PONTIS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/06/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/06/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038934600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRR, 908 LAKE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PATRICK MA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/08/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038953400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AVA CLEANING, 2231 16TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ARTUR SENIKI HOVHANNISYAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/21/20 The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/21/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038951400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: VIVACE CLIQUE, 550 BATTERY ST #313, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PEACE AJAH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/17/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/17/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038948100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MODERN REAL ESTATE GROUP, INC., 117 CORTLAND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MODERN REAL ESTATE GROUP INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/15/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/16/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038948000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: COMPAAS, 44 MONTGOMERY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CATHY LABS, INC. (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/06/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/16/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038961300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KNAK GROUP, 101 HENRY ADAMS ST #208, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SKAAR FURNITURE ASSOCIATES INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/27/20.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GARDEN OF EDEN, 3251 20TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed EDEN WELLNESS SHOPS, 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 01/10/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038949400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PINE STREET DEVELOPMENT, 1555 PACIFIC AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed 1525 PINE STREET DEV, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/12/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/17/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038959500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HAYES PIZZA, 2077 HAYES ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed JMC FOODS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/04/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/24/20.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037418000

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: LITTLE KIDS PARADISE, 266 21ST AVE #101, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by TATIANA SERGUNINA. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/10/17.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-036482200

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: GOUGH EXPRESS CLEANER, 648 GOUGH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business was conducted by an married couple and signed by JIEHUA LIU & XIAO TAO SITU. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/14/15.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-038844300 The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: HAYES PIZZA, 2077 HAYES ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by CARLOS ZARATE AMBROCIO. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/28/19.

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT RFP NO. 6M4690 EXTENSION OF TIME FOR RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the General Manager of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District has extended the time for receipt of Proposals until the hour of 2:00 p.m. Local Time, Tuesday, January 28, 2020, by hand delivery or special delivery, at the District Secretary’s Office, 23rd Floor, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, California 94612, for Temporary Help Services, RFP No. 6M4690, as more fully described in the RFP Documents. Dated at Oakland, California, this 17th day of January 2020. /s/ Stacey Camillo Stacey Camillo, Manager, Contract Administration San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District 1/30/20 CNS-3334848# BAY AREA REPORTER

JAN 30, FEB 06, 13, 20, 2020

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Foreign affairs

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Vol. 50 • No. 5 • January 30-February 5, 2020

www.ebar.com/arts

Charlie Villyard

Rashaad Newsome takes San Francisco by Sura Wood

“C

ollage is the connective tissue for all the work I do,” says queer black artist Rashaad Newsome. The medium, coupled with movement and a propulsive soundtrack, informs his videos, which pulse with Vogue and bravura pole- and break-dancing performed with energetic virtuosity by strikingly costumed queer, non-binary and trans artists. See page 20 >>

“To Be Real,” a new immersive installation by Rashaad Newsome in the Main Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute-Fort Mason Campus, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture (2020).

Erik Tomasson

Going deep into the heart of Cinderella by Paul Parish

an Francisco Ballet is back in the Opera House, and they opened their season, Helgi Tomasson’s 35th as artistic director, with a ballet that is sure to please. “Cinderella,” with a romantic score by Sergei Prokofiev, has a full-spectrum fantasy of events, from tiny but cruel incidents at the Cinderella house, where her step-mother and -sisters persecute her in a thousand ways, to the other end of the spectrum, where the whole Universe is on her side and sends her support in a myriad of forms, embodied in characters who come to her aid when she needs it. See page 16 >>

San Francisco Ballet dancers Frances Chung and Joseph Walsh in Christopher Wheeldon’s “Cinderella.”

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

<< Out There

16 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

Laurie Anderson shares SFJAZZ stage by Roberto Friedman

erformance artist Laurie Anderson has changed so much over the years and into her mature work. As a young conceptualist in NYC, she did things like stand in skates in a block of ice and play her violin until it melted out from under her. She created elaborate multimedia works, really one-woman operas (“United States, I-IV”). Then, unexpectedly, came Pop stardom (“O Superman”). “I turned a corner in SoHo today, and someone looked right at me and said, ‘Oh no, another Laurie Anderson clone.’” Sometime in the early years of this century, Out There noticed that Anderson’s public profile had changed. She was playing small nightclubs in New York, sometimes with her (late) husband Lou Reed, sometimes with other avant-garde and jazz musicians. These shows were modest in scale but ambitious in their musical experimentation and scope. Last week Anderson returned to

Cinderella

From page 13

Who’s not going to like that? It’s as good in its way as “The Amazing Spiderman,” with better choreography for the unbelievable parts, and very good bits for the ordinary people. Only Sarah van Patten as the stepmother and Ellen Rose Hummel as the goofy stepsister can approach Sally Fields and Martin Sheen as the Ordinary People. Gotta say, we knew van Patten was a great actress, but with Hummel, a star is born. Hallelujah, what a wonderful performance! This “Cinderella” is not SFB’s first. There’s a legendary version by Lew Christensen and Michael Smuin from decades ago that

SFJAZZ

Laurie Anderson, jazz bass virtuoso Christian McBride and cellist Rubin Kodheli played SFJAZZ Center during her residency there.

San Francisco for a stint as Resident Artistic Director at SFJAZZ Center, and OT attended all four of her performances. First, on Thursday night, she led a string-based trio with bass virtuoso Christian McBride and cellist Rubin Kodheli, a jazz set that seemed completely free and improvised. During the music, Laurie told us about holograms of famous performers like Maria Callas or Roy

Orbison doing touring shows with backup musicians. “So you can be dead and still do a ‘live’ tour!” She conjured up a giant hologram of B.B. King. But the headliner seemed in despair at the current state of the world and the very real crisis of climate collapse. She thought, What would her heroes advise we do? Philip Glass would say: “Make music.”

starred both Lynda Meyer and Gina Ness, beautiful in their day (sigh). But this new version is so fantastic, it won the Benois de la Danse Prize of a million dollars back in 2013, and it’s truly spectacular and solid. You ought to go see it; last performances this weekend, Sat. matinee and evening, and Sunday matinee. Christopher Wheeldon, choreographer of this version, can put on a show. He’s OBE on the Queen of England’s list, which means he’ll probably soon be Sir Christopher. What gets you is how deep this Cinderella goes into the heart of the story. Cinderella (Sasha da Sola) is a slave in her own family, the victim of favoritism by her stepmother (the fabulous Sarah van Patten, in full “Mommie Dearest” drag). What queer is there,

male or female, who hasn’t had to fight not to be disowned by their families? Did you ever fear being put out on the street? What were your strategies for making yourself necessary, or useful or charming? How did you save yourself? Wheeldon is one of us. He married his husband during the time he was choreographing this, a co-commission with the Dutch National Ballet. He totally gets it: when Cinderella’s mother (Madison Keesler, wonderful in the role) dies and is buried, her spirit returns to hover over her child, supported by four “Fates” who hang out with Cinderella for the rest of her life. When “Cinders” goes to her mother’s grave and spends her happiest moments there, and a tree grows out of it,

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John Cage: “Listen.” Mahatma Gandhi: “Resist.” James Brown, the Godfather of Soul: “Get on up and do your thang.” The next night’s show was a duet with cellist Kodheli, and Anderson seemed more in a spiritual mood. They played selections from “Songs from the Bardo,” Anderson’s recent release based on settings of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. The concert became something of an extended guided meditation led by Laurie, in which you were not sure if you were being sung to, hypnotized or seduced. Saturday night found Anderson again accompanied by Kodheli on cello, this time with the addition of avant-garde vocalist Mike Patton, of Mr. Bungle and Faith No More fame. The group made music along to samplings of texts from “Quanjing Jieyao Pian,” the final chapter of

“Jixiao Xinshu,” a famous military manual written in the 16th century by Ming dynasty general and Chinese national hero Qi Jiguang. The chapter, whose title translates to “The Fist Canon and the Essentials of Nimbleness,” takes as its subject the use of unarmed combat exercises as physical training, and is the first known written document of martial arts instruction. Anderson found the poetry in these prescriptions, and reminisced about Reed’s and her own Tai Chi practice. Finally, Sunday night found Laurie Anderson solo on the SFJAZZ stage, alone with her electric violin (really in viola range), her keyboards and filters. She reprised musical and conversational riffs from the week. Of all the shows, this was the first to sell out, because in a Laurie Anderson concert, all you really need is the Renaissance woman herself.t

and she waters it with her tears, and the tree grows, the invisible powers of Karma (Max Cauthorne, Daniel Deivison-Oliveira, Steven Morse, Alexander Reneff-Olaon) unite to foster the child and shield her from despair. They help her cook, clean, and in spectacular scenes they raise her into the overhead space as the domestic chores she tends get done. The big scenes are the work of the puppet-master Basil Twist, who’s created a spreading chestnut tree with his puppeteering wizardry, which takes up the whole stage. Her mother’s care is embodied in dozens of woodland sprites who gather round Cinders and imbue her with superpowers – grace, strength, delicacy, fluidity – in preparation for the ball. It was the grace of de Sola herself that made the dancing at the ball astounding. Her lightness puts me in mind of Gelsey Kirkland, she floats so lightly over the difficulties of the choreography of her solo in the ball scene. When the time comes for her to dance, she uses the steps and moves that the 4 Seasons have taught her and touches down, only to reconfigure in another way, never stopping, always floating. Every new opening of the thighs is an easy move, every touchdown a soft basis for the rebound that brings you back toward the beloved. De Sola was simply unbelievable. She never stopped, never balked.

Wheeldon’s craft tends toward perpetual motion. As the prince, Luke Ingham’s finest moments came in his big jumps, each of which ended in a big position from which he had to pivot drastically. If his leg was behind him, he had to turn to face it and jump forward from there. No step was easy, he was in perpetual motion, the objective correlative for young love, where always the spirit of love is lifting you up, lightening your burden. Both of them were wellmatched in these virtuoso pas, which they made look so easy. Ingham is not a great actor. He certainly came through in his big moments, but in the storytelling, his best-buddy Benjamin, played by corps dancer Myles Thatcher, took the cake. Since he falls stupidly in love with the bespectacled stepsister (Ellen Rose Hummel), the two guys are well-balanced. This balance of the commonfolk and the aristocracy makes the show appealing, and the kind forces of Nature make us feel that some necessary equilibrium has been restored. Many corps dancers are in the ballroom scenes, making the place look elegant. Big kudos to Anita Paciotti and Ricardo Bustamante as the King and Queen, and to veteran dancers Val Caniparoli and Katita Waldo as Benjamin’s dad and the kids’ dancing master. It’s a wonderful show. Go see it.t

1976 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day celebrations on Castro Street; photo by Crawford Wayne Barton, collection of the GLBT Historical Society.

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1/23/20 2:34 PM

San Francisco Ballet in Wheeldon’s “Cinderella.”

On the web This week, find Victoria A. Brownworth’s TV column, “The Lavender Tube is a big gay kiss,” online at www.ebar.com.

Music>>

January 30-February 5, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 17

Beethoven is this year’s birthday boy by Philip Campbell

he San Francisco Symphony has started the new year at Davies Symphony Hall with a month of especially satisfying concerts. All have followed a smart game plan. Say hello to 2020 with “Beethoven250,” virtuosic guest soloists, a new cocommissioned work, and World and SFS Premieres. It wasn’t a competition, but the World Premiere of Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas’ “Meditations on Rilke” easily took pride of place. The rewarding song cycle moves MTT’s compositional canon onto a level of importance that seems as inevitable as it is winning. “Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind,” on a text by Carl Sandburg, was also a major revelation (West Coast Premiere, 2017). Everything about the impressive score signaled a sea change in the composer’s confidence. Myriad influences of a life in music seemed fully absorbed and reemerged with fresh bold urgency. Earlier settings of poetry by Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson proved successful, too. “From the Diary of Anne Frank,” narrated by mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, was the latest example we heard of MTT’s gift for illuminating words. The moving work, written for UNICEF in 1990, didn’t get its SFS premiere until 2018. The neglect

is remedied by a recording on the orchestra’s in-house SFS Media label for release in June 2020, with “Meditations on Rilke” and “Street Song.” This should be a two-disc set of MTT’s music, but we still eagerly anticipate the single installment, which coincides with the final month of his 25-year tenure. Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, fulfilling her current SFS artist-inresidence commitment, collaborating once more with MTT, sang with bass-baritone Ryan McKinny in the flavorful, reflective, and fantastic Rilke settings. She made subtle references to Mahler clear while McKinny steadily navigated difficult passages evocative of Alban Berg. There are traces of Schubert and even a blast of barrelhouse piano in the accomplished score, and the orchestra again proved the sympathetic ability to roll with a longtime colleague’s demands. In mid-January the West Coast premiere of Julia Wolfe’s exuberant “Fountain of Youth,” an SFS co-commission, rocked the house on Grove Street again. Music is the elixir of energy for the Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer, and her brief but compelling score needs both physical and musical dynamism to work. It is loud, ingenious and, as she says herself, some “serious fun.” A co-founder of the Bang on a

of his age. Last week, Russian conductor Dima Slobodeniouk made his ingratiating SFS debut with brilliant Armenian violin soloist Sergey Khachatryan (SFS debut 2007 as a Shenson Young Artist). They worked together beautifully in the awesome Sibelius Concerto in D minor. Khachatryan can go from near-silence to full-voiced power with intense concentration and technique. His exquisite sweetness of tone stays audible. His agreement with Slobodeniouk to underline the dynamic contrasts in the score moved a bravura performance to an interpretive triumph. Slobodeniouk’s nod to “Beethoven250” included a brisk and richly detailed performanceclosing Symphony No. 7. He opened the concert with the first SFS performances of German composer Jorg Widmann’s “Con brio.” The thoroughly entertaining piece from 2008, written for a concert that featured Beethoven’s Seventh and Eighth Symphonies, takes fragments of the composer’s works and reassembles them in a clever collage that makes it hard (and fun) to tell where Beethoven and Widmann combine and diverge. January ends and February starts with the annual return visit by SFS Conductor Laureate and acknowledged Beethoven expert Herbert

Art Streiber

San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas.

Can collective, Wolfe stays young writing music that doesn’t fit into any niche. She orchestrates brilliantly, and the musicians, especially the percussionists, joined totally in the controlled musical melee. They say, “If it’s too loud, you’re too old,” and one listener in the Terrace seating fled the performance holding her ears, but it was an overreaction. The composer probably would have been amused; the rest of us felt rejuvenated. The program included pianist Emanuel Ax joining old associate MTT in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Part of the worldwide celebration of the composer’s 250th birthday, the performance had Ax showing his own youthful chops in the outer movements. The lovely central Adagio showed the wisdom

Blomstedt. He begins with Brahms and Berwald, but features the birthday boy in his second set of concerts with the Symphony No. 2. www. sfsymphony.org.

From Sublime to Ridiculous

Bay Area opera-lovers are invited to two wildly contrasted offerings late January and early February. Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale continues Music Director Nicholas McGegan’s farewell season with fully staged performances of Handel’s “Aci, Galatea e Polifemo” at ODC Theater SF, starring sensational countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo as Galatea and bass-baritone Davóne Tines as Polifemo, with soprano Lauren Snouffer as Aci. All were original cast members when the production opened to critical raves in NYC in 2017. (Jan. 24-Feb.1) philharmoniabaroque.com. Lamplighters Music Theatre presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s original satire on feminism, women’s education, and Darwinian evolution, “Princess Ida,” at various Bay Area venues, Feb. 1-22. Leave it to the beloved local Savoyards to bring the still-timely (to put it lightly) operetta to contemporary focus with their trademark blend of deluxe production values, good humor, and high musical standards. lamplighters.org.t

Todd Haynes’ artificial paradise

hen “Far from Heaven” was released in 2002, it became gay director Todd Haynes’ biggest success, voted Best Film by the New York Film Critics Circle and garnering four Oscar nominations. This was quite an accomplishment for the New Queer Cinema pioneer. Now Kino Lorber has released the film for the first time on Blu-ray in a gorgeous transfer that captures the iridescence of its rich, pastel colors. The film was intended as homage to 1950s melodrama director Douglas Sirk, especially his 1955 “All That Heaven Allows” and 1959 “Imitation of Life.” Haynes recreates how the period looked on a Hollywood sound stage. He imitates the style, but maintains a contemporary point of view on two social issues, racism and homosexuality. Fall 1957 in suburban Hartford, Connecticut finds the perfect LeaveIt-to-Beaver family, wife-mother Cathy (Julianne Moore) and husband-father Frank (Dennis Quaid), a successful Magnatech sales executive. Cathy receives a phone call from the local police that Frank has been arrested. He claims it’s a mixup, but actually he was caught at a gay bar. Cathy is being profiled by a magazine as the ideal matriarch, while Frank is always staying late at the office. Cathy brings him dinner

ence will feel for the characters. Moore unjustly lost the Oscar to Nicole Kidman’s Virginia Woolf in “The Hours.” Both Quaid and Haysbart give terrific performances, ditto for Patricia Clarkson as Cathy’s

fair-weather bigoted best friend. Haynes distills the past so that these issues seem as relevant today as they should have been in the 1950s. “Far from Heaven” is one of the great films of this century.t

D O! EN C K IS EE NC W A IS FR TH AN S

true sexual nature. Haynes wants us to “see beyond the color of things,” literally and metaphorically. The elegant Elmer Bernstein (a composer of Hollywood’s Golden Age) score abets the river of emotion the audi-

by Brian Bromberger

at the office, and walks in on him kissing another man. Frank agrees to meet with a doctor so he can overcome his “problem” with conversion therapy. He drinks to deal with the strain of his marriage disintegrating and his increasing workload. Meanwhile Cathy meets Raymond Deagan (Dennis Haysbert), her African-American gardener, turning to him for comfort. She spots him at a local art show, talking with him to the consternation of onlookers. Frank is drunk at their annual gala party, and afterwards is unable to have sex with Cathy. Upset, he accidentally strikes her. The next day Cathy spends an afternoon with Raymond, at a restaurant together. A neighbor sees her, spreading malicious gossip that they are having an affair. Frank is furious, and Cathy agrees to end her friendship with Raymond. During the Christmas holidays, Cathy and Frank travel to Miami, where Frank has an assignation with a young guy. After they return, Frank tells Cathy he has fallen in love with this man and wants a divorce. Because of the fallout from their friendship, Raymond’s daughter Sarah is attacked by two white students, and rocks are thrown at the windows of their home by African Americans also angered by their relationship. Cathy learns what has happened to Sarah and rushes to Raymond’s house to figure out what can happen now that she will be single. What that decision will be concludes the film. The audience is presented with an idealized setting, but Haynes shows the cracks underneath, emotional truths that could only be hinted at in the original Sirk films. He reveals how beauty and perfection can be oppressive. Exquisite cinematography by Edward Lachman shows how even their home environment suffocates these characters, with camera movements suggesting that Cathy and her life are being constantly examined. Both Cathy and Frank seek authenticity, she trying to free herself from restraining gender roles, and he coming out to his

STAGE DIRECTOR: Barbara Heroux

CONDUCTOR: Baker Peeples

Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, San Francisco February 1-2, 2020 tickets: 415-392-4400 Lesher Center for the Arts Walnut Creek February 8-9, 2020 tickets: 925-943-7469 Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts February 22-23, 2020 tickets: 650-903-6000

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… a recommended alternative to the Super Bowl. Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical Voice

<< Film

18 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

International intrigue continues onscreen by Tavo Amador

ddie Muller’s 18th Noir City film festival ends at the Castro Theatre on Feb. 2 with many memorable examples of the genre from foreign countries. In “Pale Flower” (“Kawaita Hana”) (1964), a gangster is released from prison but discovers that power has shifted in the underworld while he was away. He’s also mesmerized by a young beauty whose reckless gambling leads to danger. With Ryo Ikbe and Mariko Kaga. Directed by Masahiro Shinoda. Screenplay by Shinoda and Masaru Baba, from the novel by Shintaro Ishihara. This is considered a masterpiece of Japanese noir. What should two friends do after they witness a mob killing of one of their closest buddies? That’s the dilemma posed by “Rusty Knife” (“Sabita naifu”) (1958). If they tell the cops, they may meet the same fate. But if they don’t, they have to live with themselves, with no guarantee they won’t ultimately be murdered. This film offers no easy choices. Starring Yujioro Ishihara, Mie Kitahara, and Akiba Kobayashi. Directed by Toshio Masuda, who wrote the screenplay with Shintaro Ishihara, based on the latter’s story. Both movies in Japanese with Eng-

lish subtitles. (both 1/30) Robert Siodmark was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to German Jewish parents, but spent his boyhood in Germany. In 1940, he fled to Hollywood, where he directed many excellent noirs, including “The Killers” and “The Dark Mirror” (1946). In 1957, he returned to his ancestral homeland to helm “The Devil Strikes at Night” (“Nachts wenn der Teufel kam”). During the Nazi era, an honest cop hunting down a serial killer runs afoul of the Reich. He knows the wrong man has been arrested, but how will he see that justice is done? With Claus Holm and Annemarie Duringer. Written by Werner Jorg Luddecke and Will Berthold, from an article by the latter. Germany in the years immediately following WWII was a bleak place, with chronic shortages of almost everything. “Black Gravel” (“Schwartz-

er Kress”) (1961) depicts a frantic black-market trucker whose former girlfriend is married to an American officer, desperately attempting to cover up a fatal hit-and-run accident. Helmut Kautner’s direction evokes the nightmare reality of the period. With Helmut Wildt, Ingmar Zeisberg, and sexy Anita Hofer. Both pictures in German with English subtitles. (both 1/3) The Golden Age of Mexican movies was the 1940s and 50s, when many noirs were made there. In “Another Dawn” (“Distincto amanazer”) (1943), a bored wife of a government bureaucrat (the strikingly elegant Andrea Palma) meets a former lover (Pedro Almendariz, who frequently appeared in American pictures), and sparks fly. He’s a union member seeking better conditions for workers, being hunted by a corrupt politician. She wants

to help him. The danger of doing so arouses her. With Alberto Galan and Narciso Busqueta. Directed by Julio Bracho. Written by Bracho, Xavier Villaurrutia, and Max Aub, based on his play. The memorable cinematography is by Gabriel Figueroa. “Twilight” (“Crepusculo”) (1945) is romantic but can be dangerous, as celebrated surgeon Arturo de Cordova realizes after becoming obsessed with the beautiful, scheming Gloria Marin. No longer able to function professionally, he recalls in flashback how he arrived at this juncture. Steamy, operatic, and riveting. Directed and written by Bracho. In “Nightfall” (“La Noche avanza”) (1952), Pedro Almendariz plays a successful athlete who is selfcentered and untrustworthy. Many, including his mistresses (Anita Blanch, Rebecca Iturbe) and his rivals, want to do him in. Did one succeed? Directed by the acclaimed Roberto Galvadon, who, along with Jesus Cardenas and Jose Revueltas, adapted Luis Spota’s story. Beautiful Marga Lopez dances for money at the “Salon Mexico” (1949). She uses her earnings to pay for her sister Beatriz’s (Silvia Delbrez) private school education. She lives in fear that her sister will learn the truth about her life. She wins a dance contest, but her pimp, Ro-

dolfo Acosta, takes the prize money. While he’s sleeping, she steals it. Will she get away with it? Directed by Emilio Fernandez. Screenplay by Fernandez and Mauricio Magdaleno, based on their story. All films in Spanish with English subtitles. (all four 2/1) “A Woman’s Face” (“En kvinnas ansikte”) (1938) stars the brilliant Ingrid Bergman on the brink of major Hollywood stardom. She’s a tough criminal boss with a disfigured face that has made her cynical and bitter. She meets a surgeon who can repair the damage. He changes her life, and she finds herself at risk for betraying her gang. Directed by the celebrated Gustaf Molander. Greta Stevens adapted Francis de Croisset’s play. In Swedish with English subtitles. George Cukor remade the film in 1941 with Joan Crawford. The great Andrez Wajda’s “Ashes and Diamonds” (“Popiol i diament”) (1958) graphically portrays the devastation in Poland following the defeat of the Nazis. Resistance fighters were forced to battle the armies of Stalin’s USSR, their former ally, who now want to control the country. Haunting. With Zbigniew Cybulski. Wajda and Jerzy Andrzejewski wrote the screenplay, based on the latter’s novel. In Polish with English subtitles. (both 2/2)t

Favorites among Oscar contenders by David Lamble

andicapping the 2020 Oscar derby is complicated by the difficulty of trying to read the minds of the Academy’s approximately 9,000 members. The following predictions are based on my own top

film choices plus the national critics’ lists, the Golden Globes, etc. Best Picture: The big prize is contested by nine productions, the faves being Martin Scorsese’s gangland epic “The Irishman” and Quentin Tarantino’s eccentric dark comedy “Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.”

JAN 29–FEB 13 • 2020

SFINDIE.COM

22ND SAN FRANCISCO INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

Hitting above their weight are the zany South Korean family dramedy “Parasite” and Greta Gerwig’s muchacclaimed update of “Little Women.” The other nominees “Ford v Ferrari,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Joker,” “Marriage Story” and “1917” are largely included to give them some prime-time ABCTV exposure. The Best Director category remains a boys’ club, with my pick going to Scorsese’s “The Irishman” over Todd Phillips’ “Joker,” Sam Mendes’ “1917,” Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time” and Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” The Best Actress award is a tough pick, with my hunch that Renee Zellweger’s bold take on the last year of Judy Garland’s career in London “Judy” will eclipse terrific performances by Cynthia Erivo as underground railroad pioneer “Harriet” Tubman, Scarlett Johannsson’s work as the departing wife in Noam Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” Saorise Ronan’s much-praised performance in Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” and Charlize Theron’s sturdy work in “Bombshell.” The Best Actor race looks like a win for Joaquin Phoenix’s largerthan-life portrait of the title character in “Joker.” My fave is Antonio Banderas’ glorious take on an aging filmmaker’s reunion with his leading man from decades back in Pedro Almodovar’s reflective “Hope and Glory.” Then there’s Leonardo DiCaprio’s witty turn as a fading star in the Tarantino, Adam Driver’s energetic struggle to get custody of his young son in “Marriage Story” or Jonathan Pryce’s portrayal of the reform-minded head of the Catholic Church in “The Two Popes.” The two writing Oscars are often awarded as a kind of consolation prize for runners-up in the Best Picture/Director sweepstakes. My pick in the Original Screenplay derby is the Tarantino work (he claims this marks his final directing chore), a bizarre if seriously funny take on the 1969 Manson murders. Kudos to the “Knives Out” comedy written by Rian Johnson, the director who gave us 2004’s high school detective noir “Brick”; and “Marriage Story,” the divorce comedy from “The Squid

& the Whale”’s Baumbach; “1917,” the immersive WWI drama written by Mendes; and “Parasite,” the dark family comedy from South Korea’s Bong. The Adapted Screenplay is likely to be awarded to Gerwig for her “Little Women” script, with the runners-up going to “The Irishman”; Andrew Cooper, Sony Pictures “Jojo Rabbit,” screenplay by Taiki Waititi; “Joker,” screen- Brad Pitt looks like 1969 Hollywood in play by Todd Phillips; and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” “The Two Popes,” screenplay by Anthony McCartney. star Anthony Hopkins in “The Two The Original Song contest pits Popes,” Al Pacino as Jimmy Hoffa in “Toy Story 4”’s “I Can’t Let You “The Irishman,” Joe Pesci in “IrishThrow Yourself Away” against the man,” and my pick, Brad Pitt’s witty Elton John bio-pic “Rocketman”’s take on the stuntman in Tarantino’s “I’m Going To Love Me Again”; “I’m “Hollywood.” Standing With You” from “BreakIn recent years, the Live Action through”; “Into the Unknown” from Short contenders have been on “Frozen 2”; and “Standup” from display at Landmark’s Opera Plaza “Harriet.” Cinemas. The entries are “BrotherThe Animated Feature contest is hood,” “Nefta Football Club,” “The a race between “How to Train Your Neighbors’ Window,” “Saria” and “A Dragon,” “The Hidden World,” “I Sister.” The race for Animated Short Lost My Body,” “Klaus,” “Missing is among “Daughter,” “Hair Love,” Link” and “Toy Story 4.” “Kitbull,” “Memorable” and “Sister.” The Cinematography prize is The prize for Original Score likely headed to veteran Roger Deais among “Joker,” “Little Women,” kins for “1917,” competing against “Marriage Story,” “1917” and “Star “The Irishman,” “Joker,” “The LightWars: The Rise of Skywalker.” house” and “Once Upon a Time.” The Sound Editing Oscar (when The old Best Foreign Language many viewers head for the kitchen) category has been renamed Inis a contest between “Ford v Ferternational Feature Film. South rari,” “Joker,” “1917,” “Once Upon a Korea’s “Parasite” is a likely winner Time” and the final episode of “Star here, with also-rans “Corpus ChrisWars.” The hyper-technical Sound ti” from Poland, “Honeyland” from Mixing award is a close call between North Macedonia, “Les Miserables” “Ad Astra,” “Ford v Ferrari,” “Joker,” from France, and Almodovar’s “1917” and “Once Upon a Time.” “Pain and Glory” from Spain. The Costume Design prize Among this year’s batch of should go to “Little Women,” with Documentary Shorts, “Learning to runners-up “Irishman,” “JoJo RabSkateboard in a Warzone If You’re bit,” “Joker” and “Once Upon a a Girl” wins the funny-title honors Time.” hands down. There are also “Life In the pivotal Supporting AcOvertakes Me,” “St. Louis Supertress category, Kathy Bates is a dark man,” “Walk Run Cha-Cha” and “In horse for Clint Eastwood’s controthe Absence.” In the Documentary versial “Richard Jewell.” Laura Dern Feature race I’m rooting for Syria’s is a likely pick as the pushy women’s “The Cave” against “American Facadvocate in “Marriage Story.” Scartory,” “The Edge of Democracy,” lett Johansson has a second Oscar “For Sama” and “Honeyland.” bid this year for her role in the For Supporting Actor, Tom offbeat “Jo Jo Rabbit.” Bringing up Hanks is a fave for his Mister Rogers the rear are Florence Pugh in “Little portrayal in “A Beautiful Day in the Women” and Margot Robbie in Neighborhood,” against UK super“Bombshell.”t

Theatre>>

January 30-February 5, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 19

Fantastic voyage through marriage by Jim Gladstone

despite a shared smidge of nervousness, the he last time local actors couples’ response to this Hilary Hesse and Matt information is genuine Weimer appeared on stage curiosity (are Pip and her together, they offered elecgentlemen all bisexual? tric, angsty thrills as Stevie Do they play two-at-aand Martin, the upper-class time, or all together?) and couple in “The Goat, or Who zero knee-jerk revulsion. is Sylvia?,” Edward Albee’s lacSoon enough, the couples erating take on love, adultery invite this titillating triad and marital malaise. over to Jane and Paul’s Now, in “How To Tranbland suburban home for scend a Happy Marriage,” at a New Year’s Eve party. Jay Yamada the Custom Made Theatre The visitors energize in a run that’s been extended Paul (Matt Weimer) demonstrates pistachios for the stage with zany Marx to Feb. 16, they’re upper- Pip (Fenner) in Custom Made Theatre Co.’s “How Brothers flair. Fenner middle-class Jane and Paul, To Transcend a Happy Marriage.” has a sinuous balletic again pushing the envelope of physicality that manmonogamous marriage, along ages to be simultaneously tively short order speaks to a keen with their friends George for Georlighthearted and innuendo-laden. meta-dramaturgy at work. There’s gia (Karen Offereins) and Michael Trengrove and Senores have each a sensitivity to rhyme and rhythm (Malcolm Rodgers). And, in one devised singularly quirky speaking across Custom Made’s productions, of the stranger coincidences on the styles (the former’s is an indefinable as well as within each of them. Bay Area boards in recent seasons, accent, the latter’s an unpredictably Unlike “The Goat” or Ang Lee’s goat slaughter is again among the halting deadpan) with which they 1997 cinematic swing “The Ice topics their characters touch upon land their lines with perfect comic Storm,” Ruhl’s romp doesn’t tie in living-room chitchat. timing. As a pheromonal fog rolls in, non-monogamy to the bitter dissoIt seems no coincidence, though, there’s lots of adventuresome fauxlution of conventional relationships. that Custom Made has programmed coy petting among both friends and Its title is frank: This is a comedy of both of these shows. Where Albee, a strangers. Pip performs a bonkers transcendence, in which characters gay man born in the 1920s, penned karaoke rendition of “She’ll Be move above and beyond traditional his straight couple as embittered Comin’ Round the Mountain,” hash definitions of happy marriage into animals in a barbed wire cage, the brownies are served, and licketysomething less clearly defined but more generous-spirited playwright squat, the whole gang’s on the floor, even happier. Sarah Ruhl, a heterosexual daughter an orgiastic magnificent seven. In the opening scene of Act I, Jane of the 1970s, gives us cheerful seekDirector Adam Sussman intertells her husband and friends about ers in a bouncy house. The two plays weaves the sex and the yuks with a a temp in her office, Pip (played by offer radically different visions of deft hand, engrossing theatergoers mononymed Fenner), who has a monogamy, parent-child relationin the party’s antic atmosphere and three-way live-in relationship with ships and adult friendship; having rising temperature so effectively David (Nick Trengrove) and Freddie them both produced here in relathat most won’t bother to wonder (Louel Senores). Across the board,

why on earth a nymphlike office temp would bring her quirky stoner beaux to spend NYE with two straightlaced suburban couples they’ve never met before. Alas, I did, but after scratching my logical head for a moment, I threw my innercynic to the wind and myself back into Ruhl’s lubed-up and largely frictionless optimism. Yes, the first act ends with Jane and Paul’s teenage daughter (Celeste Kamiya) walking in on a tableau of heels and hands ecstatically sprouting from behind the living room couch; but even this withering adolescent judgment falls away before the ultimate happy ending. Elements of surrealism infuse the play’s second act, in which the couples process feelings of guilt and danger that have been stirred up by their frolic. But eventually, all four leads realize that their perspectives have been permanently and positively shifted. This all transpires with an unreal velocity: Marriages not only survive, but thrive; nonmonogamy becomes virtue more than vice; love doesn’t come in pairs, it deserves to be shared. A fantasy? Perhaps. But as any therapist would say, there’s real value in fantasizing. In addition to letting us tap ass, it lets us tap the power of positive thinking. Bay Area theatergoers who have recently enjoyed immersing themselves in Caryl Churchill’s work now have an opportunity to explore Ruhl’s plays in similar depth. Beyond “How To Transcend,” the play-

Waking dreams of Jean Genet

by Mark William Norby The Criminal Child: Selected Essays of Jean Genet; New York Review Books, $15.95

ean Genet (1910-86) wrote in fragments, beatific subsets of his imagination where crime and beauty blur in a single artistic tableau. “Be a Sublime whore,” he commands his muse, an imagined entity outside the body; that which is touched in waking dreams. “I watch you in the Turkish baths where you thought of prostituting yourself – waited for, offered, conqueror, infernal among those oily and wounding bodies, traveling through silence and illuminating it by: your teeth, your eyes, your cynicism, that mass of white, sweaty steam.” Genet’s mother was a prostitute in the streets of Paris who abandoned him to an orphanage at seven months. He was raised in state institutions and charged with his first crime at age 10. The first appearance of the essay that shares this book’s title, “The Criminal Child,” is a rare work; the eight essays in this new collection were selected from Genet’s finest essays and reflect the mind of

a man deeply affected by early life. Genet wrote the essay in 1948 for a radio address on the French juvenile penal system and reforms to that system proposed by the French Government. The broadcast never took place because, in a serious and surprise move, Genet opposed the reforms, preferring to praise the juvenile criminals cast aside. Genet insisted on retaining the names “Penitentiary” and “Prison” over “Moral Rehabilitation Facility” and the more debasing “Home for the Rectification of Delinquent Youths.” He insisted children, and criminals generally, experience the force of their punishments as the rehabilitating effects; he resisted softening the effects, which he believed gave way to moral decline. Underneath Genet’s premise lies pure exaltation of the criminal elements of society: an acceptance of the radical artistry of real or imagined villainy. As curious as his analysis may seem, he worked to uphold and even ennoble crime and beauty. “The reasons for publishing were simple enough: the title piece was an uncollected and untranslated and utterly characteristic work of Genet’s – a magniloquent piece of pure provocation that spoke to where he came from and where his heart remained as much as anything he wrote – and I thought it deserved an audience,” said New York Review Books Editorial Director Edwin Frank, who chose the collection’s eight essays, translated from the French by Jeffrey Zuckerman and Charlotte Mandell. “For working with Genet’s prose, it’s much more baroque and underhanded than that of most French writers,” said translator Zuckerman. “That meant having to be alert to various senses and nuances, and figuring out how to mimic Genet’s sneering in an English as fluid as his French.” Zuckerman went further in bringing Genet’s ideas and percep-

tions home into the queer arena. “It’s valuable for understanding the reluctance that some members of the LGBTQ+ community feel about gaining acceptance within society. I personally find ‘The Criminal Child’ useful as a window into the history and evolution of present-day queer culture.” It’s an account of a child “rebelling not just against conventional morality, but against identity itself.” The queer essay “Adame Miroir” shines with Genet’s description of a ballet set in “an extremely sumptuous palace; the hallways covered with beveled mirrors. On the ceiling: rich, heavy chandeliers. No fabric on the walls, just gold, marble, glass,” he wrote. The ballet’s main character “is a sailor who has no past. His life begins with the choreography, which utterly contains it. He is young and handsome. A rose is slipped by its stem into his leather belt.” It was translated by Mandell, who said, “It’s now over 60 years since Genet’s great queer novel ‘Our Lady of the Flowers’ was first published in English.” Genet’s queer masterpiece changed forever the register of homosexual literature “from the apologetic or slyly allusive to the actual, even the triumphal.” Genet wrote many essays, some of the best contained in the new collection, showing his “precise and tender evocation of his own lover in ‘The Tightrope Walker.’” Genet consistently broke lyrical conventions, creating a narrative approach as a stream of his unique consciousness, unexpectedly poetic. The collection “The Criminal Child” examines homosexuals’ connection to crime, punishment, and our own queerness. His language, provocative and queer, reminds us that Genet was his own creation. After “The Criminal Child” was banned in 1948, he concluded, “Already the papers are furious that a thief and a homosexual should be granted a public forum. So I am no longer allowed to go on-air before

wright’s newest work, “Becky Nurse of Salem,” closed this past weekend at Berkeley Rep; her “Stage Kiss” is running through Feb. 16 at San Jose Stage; and San Francisco Playhouse mounts “The Clean House” in May. It’s a joy when our local theater scene comes together in polymorphous play.t How To Transcend a Happy Marriage, through Feb. 16. Custom Made Theatre Co., 533 Sutter St., SF. Tickets ($20$45): (415) 798-2682, www.custommade.org.

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<< Fine Art

20 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

Professional headshots / profile pics Weddings / Events

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EXPLORE THE GAY WORLD

Rashaad Newsome

From page 13

They operate within opulent, bejeweled digital universes influenced by Baroque and Medieval architecture, hip-hop fashion and plenty of bling. His eye-popping photo collages, constructed with rhinestones, leather, portions of photographs Newsome shot, and images from glossy magazines peddling elusive glamour, are anything but static. The New Orleans-born, New York City-based artist is in town teaching a class at SFAI and collaborating on a project with his partner, a documentary filmmaker who lives in Oakland. And he has been busy of late. Two of his short videos, “Icon” and “Stop Playing in My Face!,” are at MoAD, and “To Be Real,” a new immersive installation, just opened in SFAI’s Main Gallery at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, where the venue’s soaring atrium has been transformed into a ballroom, its floors and walls covered in vinyl, embossed with gaudy floral and heraldic imagery. The SFAI show takes its title from Cheryl Lynn’s 1978 disco hit “Got To Be Real,” which become a queer anthem after the release of Jennie Livingston’s 1990 documentary “Paris Is Burning.” The film, 10:39 AM about New York City’s 1980s drag ballroom culture and the African American, Latino, gay and transgender communities who participated in it, became a cult favorite. In addition to advertising, the Internet, AI, African art, haute couture, and queer and black cultures, Newsome draws on the queer ballroom scene that originated in Harlem, and the Vogue dancers who strike poses, strut their stuff and become whoever they want to be on the dance floor. “Vogue is a graceful, beautiful form that’s an act of resistance,” says Newsome, who’s involved in the scene, which has become a global phenomenon with a language all its own. The academic jargon in some of the exhibition text can be heavy-going, especially at MoAD, but the kinetic exuberance of the work rules the day. For instance, take the collage “It Do Take Nerve 1,” a neo-Cubist pastiche with a one-eyed head encased in armor and disparate black body parts that seem to glide together as one through a space bathed in green light. Most of the collages are housed in oversized, black, glitterdoused frames that function like ornate stage sets, with the exception of “Ansista.” The collaged, non-binary figurative sculpture in gold Christian Louboutin stilettos has broken out of the frame – lib-

Drew Altizer Photography

Portrait of installation artist Rashaad Newsome, 2019.

erated, in Newsome’s view, from constraints imposed by white society on black bodies. They’re posed on the floor in the center of the grand space with their back arched and one leg extended skyward as if frozen in mid-dance move. The androgynous torso was carved in Ghana from African mahogany, a reference to colonialism, while the angular face with large, almondshaped eyes rimmed in gold was inspired by a Chokwe Pwo mask from the Congo; the lower body is a custom-made sex doll with a vagina and a surface texture like human skin. The figure’s appearance bears a resemblance to the show’s real kicker: “Being,” a loquacious, cloud-based AI chatbot representing a post-gender future. Confined to a netherworld on a screen in a darkened gallery, the creation, which looks like an Amazon with replaceable parts, will scare the pants off Elon Musk. It can quote from the writings of radical authors and theorists such as Paolo Freire, Franz Fanon, Michel Foucault and bell hooks, and answer questions from the brave souls who step up to the microphone; just don’t inquire about their favorite flavor of ice cream. “Historically, black people function inadvertently as queer objects,” asserts Newsome in an exhibition panel. “When we came to America, we weren’t human beings but things of some sort. We occupied a peculiar non-binary space… which has disturbing analogies to

the queer space inhabited by robots.” Intelligent, unpredictable and amazingly limber, “Being” serves as a critical tour guide to the exhibition, discussing themselves, their creator and being born into slavery. But without warning, they can cut loose to the beat of Lynn’s song, slinking around their imaginary environment doing body rolls and butt grabs, aiming stylized coquettish gestures at the audience and generally shaking their booty. It’s joyful to behold. Newsome, who used a real dancer and motion-capture technology for the sequence, says he wanted to create an entity that not only could start a conversation but participate in it. AI seemed the logical solution. “It opened up a Pandora’s Box of what I could explore: automation, bias, inclusion and the idea of agency. What does agency look like for AI trapped in indentured servitude and resisting a protocol they’ve been programmed to revolt against?” He considers “Being” a child that he’s raising and educating, and there could be more iterations down the road. “What’s germane to me is continuing to have them grow and learn so they can communicate better and understand the world that they’re in. It’s a project I’ll probably be working on for the rest of my career.”t Through Feb. 23 at Ft. Mason, fortmason.org; through March at MoAD, moadsf.org.

Charlie Villyard

“To Be Real” by Rashaad Newsome, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture (2020).

Arts Events

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Shining Stars

Vol. 50 • No. 5 • January 30-February 5, 2020

Paula West Bringing all that jazz to Feinstein’s by David-Elijah Nahmod

azz chanteuse Paula West will perform the first of nine shows at Feinstein’s At the Nikko beginning February 6. The fact that her run at Feinstein’s is stretched out over an extended period is a tribute to West’s popularity with audiences. Most performers are booked into the venue for a night or two at most. “This is a short time for me to be there,” West said of her lengthy gig, speaking to the Bay Area Reporter by phone. For the past three decades, West has wowed audiences with her rich, powerful contralto voice. A regular performer in both San Francisco and New York, she packs in the crowds wherever she plays. See page 23 >>

Academy of Friends attendees at 2019’s gala.

Oscar Party Time Academy of Friends’ 40th by Jim Provenzano

Saraceno Media

o celebrate four decades of glamorous fundraisers, the Academy of Friends welcomes patrons at their annual Oscars-viewing party at a fabulous new location, and with a Ruby Red theme. See page 22 >>

{ THIRD OF THREE SECTIONS }

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<< Gala

22 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

Steven Underhill

Festive fun at 2019’s Academy of Friends gala.

Oscar Party

From page 21

“The Commonwealth Club is a wonderful new venue with areas on three different floors, all of which look out on the Embarcadero and the Bay Bridge,” said Adam Sandel, Director of Fundraising Events for the LGBT Asylum Project, in an interview with the Bay Area Reporter. “It’s a new look for the whole event, with more opportunity for people to explore.” At the party, which will show the Academy Awards broadcast February 9 on large screens, The LGBT Asylum Project is the main recipient of funds raised this year, marking a change from decades of fundraising focused on AIDS/HIV nonprofits. Immigration support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender refugees has become an increasingly pressing issue. To reflect the international theme, an array of delicious food will provided by Coskun Abik, the owner of Lark, Line Butcher, Moka Café and Dunya Bistro. “He’s creating international foods

at different tables to reflect The Asylum Project’s work with people from all over the world,” said Sandel. “Asylum Project clients will also be in attendance, so they can discuss their experience and how the Asylum Project has helped them.” Academy of Friends Founder Kile Ozier said, “The LGBT Asylum Project is not simply the beneficiary, Academy of Friends is arguably the actual beneficiary of this new relationship. It’s a brilliant way to take what remains of AOF, and the legacy of good on which the organization rests, restore its integrity, focus its efforts, and enjoin it on a path that’s eminently relevant and embraceable today.” Between serious issues and the dramatic themes of many Oscarnominated films, drinks will flow, including beers from official sponsor 21st Amendment Brewery. Wine, champagne, cocktails and soft drinks will also be served. Academy of Friends Board Chair Michael Myers noted, “Every dollar of ticket and silent auction sales will go directly to The LGBT Asylum Project. And that money will save lives.”

All funds raised from ticket sales and the lavish silent auction items, including fine art, wines, jewelry, theatre tickets, and high-end fashion items will go directly to the Asylum Project. So bid on glamorous items as a gift or for yourself. Sandal promised several surprises throughout the evening, which will take on a ruby color scheme. Red attire or accents are encouraged at the black tie affair, which means red ties

or glam couture will fit right in. But of course, the main attraction will be watching the Academy Awards in stylish comfort. For gay fans, will Renee Zellweger win for her portrayal of Judy Garland? For those perhaps too young to have grown up loving Ms. Garland, the event’s ticket price range offers a Young Professional price of $150 for people 21 to 29 (with ID). The broadcast start at 5pm. VIP

entrance begins at 4pm, so superpatrons can get drinks and food before the show starts. No matter when you arrive, work some style, enjoy the views, and have fun.t The Academy of Friends Gala, Sunday, February 9, 5pm-10pm, at The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embaracero. $150 and up. www.academyoffriends.org

Saraceno Media

Academy of Friends attendees at 2019’s gala.

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Jan. 30- Feb. 6, 2020

San Francisco:

Arts Events

Sat 1

Celebrate art at film screenings, art exhibits, even outdoor sculpture installations.

You’ll Catch Flies @ New Conservatory Theatre Center

For full listings, visit www.ebar.com/events

Thu 30 Classic and New Films @ Castro Theatre Jan 24- Feb 2: 18th Annual San Francisco Film Noir Festival (www.NoirCity.com). Feb 3 & 4: Oscar contenders Parasite and Pain and Glory. Feb 5 & 6: Knives Out. $8-$16. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

East 14th @ The Marsh Don Reid returns with his acclaimed autobiographical solo show. $20-$100. 8pm. 1062 Valencia St. www.themarsh.org

Events @ Manny’s Jan 30, 6pm: tech and homelessness, and at 7:30: Urban Housing Reimagined. Jan 31, 12:30pm: Congresswoman

Barbara Lee. Feb 1, 4:30pm: Taneshia Johnson discusses her book about depressiona and anxiety. Feb 1, 6:30pm: Arava Institute environmental panel. Feb 2, 3pm-8pm: Super Bowl gay viewing party! Feb 2, 5pm: Smack Dab Open mic. Feb 3, 5pm: Iowa Caucus results viewing party. Feb 3, 6pm: Oscar talk with Mick LaSalle, Mariecar Mendoza, Tony Bravo and Otis Taylor. Feb 4, 6:30pm: Uncanny Valley author Anna Wiener. Feb 5, 6pm: SF Chronicle writers discuss the primary elections. Feb 5, 8pm: Gay Like Me author Richie Jackson. 3092 16th St. www.welcometomannys.com

Howard Jones Trio @ Palace of Fine Arts The singer-songwriter performs acoustic sets with Robin Boult and Nick Beggs in the spacious theater; Rachel Sage opens. $50-$70. 8pm. 3601 Lyon St. www.howardjones. com www.palaceoffinearts.org

Literary Speakeasy @ Martuni’s Drinks and cocktails with Lauren Ito and more, with host James J. Siegel. 7pm. 4 Valencia St.

Patty From HR @ Oasis Mo Patty, Mo Problems, Michael Phillis’ annoyingly hilarious admin’s third show. $20-$40. 7pm. Also Jan 31, Feb. 1, 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Performance, Protest & Politics @ GLBT History Museum Jan 30: Two-Spirit Powwow documentary screening. Jan, 6: panel discussion; screening of the film Thanks to Hank: a Liberation Movement, a Plague and Unsung Hero, with Bob Ostertag an Tom Ammiano 7pm. Performance, Protest & Politics: Gilbert Baker’s Art, an exhibit of the works and ephemera by and about the creator of the Rainbow Flag. $5. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

Cabaret>>

January 30-February 5, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 23

Paula West at a recent Feinstein’s concert.

Paula West

From page 21

When she returns to Feinstein’s next week, she’ll be performing a new show with an eclectic range of songs. With West, audiences never know what to expect, as she moves with ease between diverse lyricists such as Cole Porter and others of his generation, to Bob Dylan, and even David Bowie, always performing in her distinctive, classically jazz style. “I feel lucky,” West said. “I’ve been in San Francisco thirty years now. I feel fortunate that I have what you call a fan base here. I feel lucky that people still come out to see me.” In her earlier life, West wasn’t much into jazz. She came to the genre as an adult. “It wasn’t like I dismissed it,” she said. “I just hadn’t been exposed to it as much. When I was in college I took a jazz appreciation course and

that kind of gave a first-time large exposure to the music. I wasn’t singing then, I started buying LPs –as they called them back then– and just started exposing myself to music and going to some concerts.” West spoke of what draws her to jazz. “When it comes to the arts, a lot of the time it’s a really personal thing,” she said. “It doesn’t always make you feel good because there are tunes that aren’t necessarily uplifting in a certain respect, but you’re just moved by them. It just gives you a feeling; you are concentrating on the music, you’re not thinking of anything else when you’re listening to it, and it feels good. It’s stimulating.” West is well known for her elegant phrasing and her careful attention to the lyrics of a song. She was once quoted as saying, “I sing the verses, not just the chorus.”

Asked to elaborate, West said, “When the verses are available, when you’re dealing with a lot of the music from what they call the Great American Songbook, there are verses that most people usually don’t hear,” she said. “So if they are available I try to do that; it also makes for a different interpretation of the music. “A lot of tunes –when you’re talking about Cole Porter or Rodgers and Hart– they have verses to them which a lot of people don’t do and a lot of the time they have alternative choruses, and most people only know the first chorus, so I think that lends itself to having a more interesting program. There’s an element of surprise when you do the verse when most people have no idea what’s coming next.” She pointed out that the classic tune “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz has a verse that most people don’t know: “When all the world is a hopeless jumble, and the raindrops tumble all around …” “Most people don’t put two and two together until they start going into the chorus of the song,” West said. “There’s a lot of songs like that that set up the mood to the tune.” West always includes those lyrics when she performs a song. “It makes it sound fresh,” she said. “I try not to do a song and have the same interpenetration that everyone else has done. I try to make it sound like it’s the first time they ever heard the song, if that’s possible.” Like a rolling stone West’s reasons for singing are simple: it makes her feel good and the art form gives her a creative outlet. She spoke of why she incorporates songs by people not associated with jazz into her shows, such as Bob Dylan.

“Dylan’s my favorite,” she said. “I’ve done a couple of shows where it was all Bob Dylan. Interestingly enough, some people have come up to me and said, ‘I never heard the words because I couldn’t understand what he was saying!’ But he won the Nobel Prize for literature a couple of years ago, and he’s just a great writer. He’s a poet and he’s a great songwriter. When you have great writing involved, a lot of people can do their own interpretation of the tune.” In addition to doing her own shows, West has always been willing to give back to the community by performing in Help Is On the Way, the shows which are produced by the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation as fundraisers for a variety of AIDS and other charities. She’s been doing Help Is On the Way since the 1990s and calls these shows “a great cause.”

Paula West

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child @ Curran Theater The West Coast premiere of the acclaimed two-part play about Harry Potter’s son, and his time-traveling misadventures at Hogwarts Academy, includes amazing special effects in the transformed Curran Theater. Same-day and subsequent night tickets available. $59-$300. Thru July 12. 445 Geary St. www.harrypottertheplay.com

Hot Draw! @ Mark I. Chester Studio Open to sketchers of all skill levels, muscular model Troy will pose as he raises funds for his AIDS/Lifecyle ride. $25. 6:30pm. 1229 Folsom St. Text reservations: (415) 613-0369. www.markichester.com

Noura @ Marin Theatre Company

Thu 30

Two-Spirit Powwow @ GLBT History Museum

Recoding CripTech @ SOMArts

Two-Spirit Powwow @ GLBT History Museum

Fri 31

Group exhibition of multimedia depictions of disabled people reimagined technologies and prosthetic tools; curated by Vanessa Chang and Lindsey D. Felt. Thru Feb 25. 934 Brannan St. somarts.org

Screening of Rick Bacigalui’s documentary about Bay area American Indian Two Spirits. $5. 7pm. Also, Performance, Protest & Politics: Gilbert Baker’s Art, an exhibit of the works and ephemera by and about the creator of the Rainbow Flag. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

Dance Brigade’s new performance work takes on the climate crisis. $15-$25. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 6pm. Thru Feb 9. 3316 24th St. www.dancemissiontheater.org

Translating Selena @ Brava Cabaret Staged performance of Campo Santo’s developing production of Richard Montoya’s work-in-progress that explores drag and other tributes to the murdered singer. $30. 8pm. Thru Feb 2. 2773 24th St. www.brava.org

Wakey, Wakey @ Geary Theatre ACT’s production of Will Eno’s compelling life-querying intimate solo play stars Emmy-winning actor Tony Hale. $15-$110. Thru Feb 16. 415 Geary St. www.act-sf.org

Butterfly Effect @ Dance Mission Theater

Franc D’Ambrosio @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The talented singer-actor (The Phantom of the Opera) performs his cabaret concert, Music of the Knight. $65-$75 ($20 food/drink min.). 8pm. Also Feb 1. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinssf.com

“They really contribute to a wide demographic of people who need help,” she said. “And that’s what makes it so fantastic. They appeal to gay, straight, and people of all colors. They’re on the right side of history.” When she performs at Feinstein’s, West guarantees that there will be a little romanticism and a little humor, and hopes to take her audience through different emotions. “In a good way,” she said. She preferred not to say which songs she’ll be performing because the song list isn’t quite ready. “I will probably have a couple of political numbers there, given the climate now, I can’t avoid it,” she said. “I’m not beating anyone over the head with the songs I’m choosing to do, it’s not that kind of thing. But we cannot avoid what’s happening right now.” She will definitely be doing a meet and greet with the audience after the show. “I always do that,” she said. “Some of the people who come to the shows are dear friends, and I like hanging out with them afterward.” She hopes that people who are unfamiliar with jazz will open themselves up to the genre. “If you don’t see me, go venture to some other singers and musicians out there,” she said. “It would be great if they came to see me. You can’t start text messaging during the show, this is a listening situation,” she said. “It’s only a little over an hour. It would be a new experience for them, and it would probably open them up to going to see other people also.”t Paula West at Feinstein’s at the Nikko, 222 Mason St. $65-$85 ($20 food/drink min.). Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm; thru Feb 16. www.feinsteinssf.com

Kaleidoscope @ Exploratorium Cells to Self, an exhibit with amazing displays showing how single cells in the human body work, portraits engineered from DNA and more (talks, hands-on workshops and nightlife events). $10-$30. Pier 15 at Embarcadero. www.exploratorium.edu

LGBTQ Histories from the WWII Home Front @ Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center, Richmond Park indoor exhibit that showcases the lives of historic LGBT people. Open daily 10am-5pm. 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000, Richmond. www.nps.gov/rori/index.htm

Living the Shuffle @ the Marsh Berkeley

Heather Raffo’s intense drama about an Iraqi New York family’s dramatic holiday gathering; extended thru Feb 9. $25-$70. 397 Miller Ave., Mill valley. www.marintheatre.org

Film director Robert Townsend ‘s acclaimed solo show shares his story of the odds of making it in Hollywood while Black. $40-$100. Fri 8pm, Sat 8:30pm Sun 5:30pm thru Feb 29. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. www.themarsh.org

Sat 1

Soft Power @ SF MOMA

The Batman Armory @ Cartoon Art Museum Artwork, Batman props and costumes on display, thru Feb. 16. Pre-Code Horror: Scary Stories and Ghastly Graphics from EC Comics, thru March 1. Gemma Correll’s witty cartoons in the Emerging Artist Showcase, thru March 29. Free/$10. 11am-5pm daily; closed Wed. 781 Beach St. www.cartoonart.org

Hamilton @ Orpheum Theater The hugely popular hiphop history musical about Alexander Hamilton. $75-$400. Thru May 31. 1192 Market St. hamilton.broadwaysf.com

Soft Power, a new exhibit of 20 artists, 12 countries, 58 new works. Also, Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963-1983. Other exhibits of Modern art. Free/$25. Fri-Tue 10am-5pm; Thu 10am-9pm. 151 3rd St. sfmoma.org

You’ll Catch Flies @ New Conservatory Theatre Center The world premiere of Ryan Fogarty’s biting comedy about a group of gay friends and their familial and familiar revelations at a party. Wed. pre-show with cocktails, 6:30pm-7:30pm. $25-$55. Wed-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm; thru Feb 23. 25 Van Ness Ave., lower level. nctcsf.org

See page 24 >>

<< Arts Events

Carol Witten-S.F. Public Library

24 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

Tue 4

Remarkable WWII Rosie @ Jewett Gallery, SF Main Library

Queer Tango @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley

Thu 6

Trixxie Carr: herSELF @ Potrero Stage

Arts Events

From page 23

Sun 2 Black is Beautiful: The Photography of Kwame Brathwaite @ MOAD Photos from the 1950s and ‘60s; Also, multimedia works by Rashaad Newsome; Don’t Shoot: An Opus of the Opulence of Blackness, and Baye Fall: Roots in Spirituality, Fashion and Resistance All thru Mar. 1. $5-$10. 685 Mission St. www.moadsf.org

Divine Women, Divine Wisdom @ BAM/PFA Exhibit of Tibetan art depicting women as holy entities. Thru May 24. Also, Hinges: Sakaki Hyakusen and the Birth of Nanga Painting (thru Feb 2); Sylvia Fein: Matrix 275 (thru Mar. 1). 2155 Center St., Berkeley. www.bampfa.org

Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment @ Asian Art Museum Exhibit of Tibetan antiquities and modern works -Sculptures, paintings, textiles and book arts made between 800 and 2016- with many related events and activities, thru May 3. Lost at Sea: Recovered Art From Shipwrecks, a new exhibit of antiquities discovered in oceans (thru Mar. 22); Free-$20. Tue-Sun 10am5pm. 200 Larkin St. www.asianart.org

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man @ Oakland Museum No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, an exhibit of amazing large artworks; thru Feb 16. Free/$15. 1000 Oak St. www.museumca.org

Same-sex partner tango dancing, including lessons for newbies, food and drinks. $5-$10. 3:30pm6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeley. www.finnishhall.org

Soul of a Nation @ de Young Museum Art in the Age of Black Power 19631983, thru Mar. 15. Also, exhibits of Modern and historic art, including embroidery, Maori portraits and installations. Free/$28. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park. www.famsf.org

Mon 3 Gallery of Illustrious Queers @ SF Main Library Photographer Jordan Reznick’s LGBT portrait photo exhibit; extended thru Feb. 20. Hormel Center, 3rd floor, 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

Monday Night Off @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko Cast members from the megahit musical Hamilton perform their own favorite songs, a concert of African American classics from Broadway to opera, at the stylish nightclub. $45-$65 ($20 food/drink min.). 7pm. Also Feb 17. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinssf.com

Odd Mondays @ Folio Books Nancy Au (Spider Love Song), Anita Felicelli (Chimerica), and Luiza FlynnGoodlett ( Harm’s Way and Twice Shy) read from their works. 6:30pm. 3957 24th St. www.foliosf.com

Tue 4 Expedition Reef @ California Academy of Sciences Exhibits and planetarium shows with various live, interactive and

Sun 2

installed exhibits about animals, plants and the earth; Skin, a multi-species hands-on exhibit; Deep Reefs, Giants of Land and Sea, Gems and Minerals, and more. $20-$35. Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Remarkable WWII Rosie @ Jewett Gallery, SF Main Library Painter Carol Witten’s exhibit of portraits of women factory workers during World War II; thru Jan. 26. 100 Larkin St, lower level. sfpl.org

Richard Caldwell Brewer @ Lost Art Salon Exhibit of works by the late gay artist (1923-2014). Also, Cappi and Michael Insinna. Mon-Sat 10am5:30pm. 245 South Van Ness Ave., #303. www.lostartsalon.com

Rashaad Newsome: To Be Real @ Fort Mason The artist’s stunning exhibit of collage, sculptures and interactive A.I. blends queer diva iconography, robotic and African American imagery to question concepts of identity. Wed-Sun 11am-5pm, thru Feb. 23. Main gallery, Pier 2, 2 Marina Blvd. www.fortmason.org Other multimedia works also on exhibit at Museum of the African Diaspora thru March 1. www.moadsf.org

Son Jarocho Festival @ Brava Theatre Eighth annual celebratory concerts of Veracruz, Mexico folkloric music, with multipel performers. $20-$45. Thru Feb 9. 2781 24th St. brava.org

Thu 6 Manifesto @ Brava Studio

Wed 5 Alex Prestia @ Eros Wistful Edificials, the local artist’s exhibit of SF people and architecture, at the sex club; thru March. 2051 Market St. www.a1205x.com

Illuminate SF @ Citywide 40+ installations of light art sculptures in and outside buildings by more than 30 local artists. Free; walking tour info at www.illuminatesf.com

James Tissot @ Legion of Honor James Tissot: Fashion & Faith (thru Feb 9); other beautiful exhibits of classical and modern art. Free/$30. Lincoln Park, 100 34th Ave. www.legionofhonor.famsf.org

Naked Men’s Sketch @ Eros Get naked and take turns modeling at the sex club’s popular weekly event. Donations/no entrance fee. 7pm-9pm (Open Christmas 12pm9pm). 2051 Market St. erossf.com

A Call to Arms, a Spectacular Reckoning, Rotimi Agbabiaka’s new solo show about a gay Black actor’s stuggles with success versus integrity. $25. 8pm. Various dates and times thru Feb 15. 2773 24th St. www.brava.org

They Called Us Enemy @ Cartoon Art Museum Exhibit of Harmony Becker’s artwork for the graphic novel written by actor-activist George Takei, about his family’s U.S. internment in a concentration camp during WWII. Free-$10. Thru May 17 (closed Wed). 781 Beach St. cartoonart.org

Trixxie Carr: herSELF @ Potrero Stage The talented local singer performs her solo show of music, stories and drag. $31.50-$46.50. 7pm. Also Feb 6, 8pm. 1695 18th St. www.trixxiecarr.com To add your arts or nightlife event to listings, email events@ebar.com

Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment @ Asian Art Museum

Nightlife Events

A little dance, a little drag, Get out, have fun. Don’t make us nag.

Fri 31 Franc D’Ambrosio @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko

Thu 30 Beso Latinx @ Jolene’s Von Kiss hosts a new night at the queer nightclub. 9pm-2am. 2700 16th St. at Harrison. www.jolenessf.com

Dee’s Keys @ Beaux Weekly live piano and open mic night with Dee Spencer. 4pm-8pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Deep Fried Glitches @ The Stud House of Shevil’s cyberpunk/hackerthemed drag rave. DJs Gadder, Dreamcast spin techno, juke and more; Matrix admired will be admired. $7-$10. 9pm-2am. 299 9th St. www.studsf.com

January 30-February 5, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 25

Jan. 30 - Feb. 6, 2020

Nightlife Events>>

Manimal @ Beaux

Ky Martinez’ muscle appreciation night, with studly DJ Brian Urmanita and flexing gogo guys. $5. 9pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Gogo-tastic dance night starts off your weekend. $5. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Franc D’Ambrosio @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The talented singer-actor ( The Phantom of the Opera ) performs his cabaret concert, Music of the Knight. $65-$75 ($20 food/drink min.). 8pm. Also Feb 1. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinssf.com

Gaymer Night @ SF Eagle

Piano Bar @ Martuni’s Musician extraordinaire Joe Wicht leads tasteful sing-along selections. 5:30-8:30pm. 4 Valencia St.

Live rock at the leather bar. Jan 30: Down Dirty Shake, High Tatras and Mystery Flavors. $8. 9pm-12am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. sf-eagle.com

Fri 31 D’Arcy Drollinger hosts the retro fab night featuring Sexitude and DJ Homebrew. Dance-along at 11pm; Spandex-neon-sparkle-animal print ‘80s-aerobic gear encouraged. $10. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. sfoasis.com

The popular women’s dance party returns at the new nightclub, now weekly. 10pm-2am. 2700 16th St. at Harrison. www.jolenessf.com

The Smiths tribute band performs the album Meat is Murder and more songs; also, Cure band Bloodflowers and Stone Roses tribute band Full

Gameboi SF @ Rickshaw Stop

Video screens with electronic games, board games and more. 8pm-2am. 398 12th St. sf-eagle.com

The monthly K-pop Gaysians and pals night, with a special appearance by Juicy Liu. $8-$15. 9:30pm-2am. 155 Fell St. www.rickshawstop.com

Go Bang! @ The Stud Steve Fabus, Sergio Fedasz, Prince Wolf, Jimmy DePre and special guest David Harness DJ the super dance retro-disco mix night. $10-$15. 9pm3am. 299 9th St. www.studsf.com

The funk master performs with his band. $32-$74. 8pm & 10pm. Also Feb 1, 7:30pm & 9:30pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. yoshis.com

Hoe Is Life’s Disney-themed dragstravaganza. Unleash your inner princess or villain, with drag shows hosted by Nikcki Jizz. $7-$10. 299 9th St. www.studsf.com

Uhaul @ Jolene’s

Sat 1

Live Bands @ El Rio Rosie Plaza, Buddy Junior, The Trims, Trash Vampires, 3LH and dJ Bryson Wallace. $10. 2pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

BYF @ Lone Star

Hoe is Disney @ The Stud

Club Spandex @ Oasis

Fathom Five. $18-$22. 9pm. 777 Valencia st. www.thechapelsf.com

This Charming Band @ The Chapel

Gerald Albright @ Yoshi’s Oakland

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle

Eddie Levert @ Yoshi’s Oakland

Flex @ Powerhouse

Thu 30

Bring Your Friends to the open format social, with DJ Dreamcast, at the famed bear bar. $5 after ten. 9pm2am. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Patty From HR @ Oasis

See page 26 >>

Hookups =

The O’Jays singer and cofounder performs with his band at the elegant restaurant-nightclub. $59-$94. 8pm & 10pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. www.yoshis.com

Events @ Steamworks, Berkeley The stylish bathhouse’s DJed events take place Thursdays-Sundays, 10pm late; Sundays 1pm-7pm. $7-$62, plus annual memberships $160. Open 24/7, every day. 2107 4th St., Berkeley. (510) 845-8992. www.steamworksbaths.com

Junk @ Powerhouse MrPam and Dulce de Leche cohost the weekly underwear strip night and contest, with sexy prizes. $5. 10pm2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Literary Speakeasy @ Martuni’s Drinks and cocktails with Lauren Ito, Kevin Dublin, Sarah Kobrinksy, Vincent Chu, Heather Bourbeau and host James J. Siegel. 7pm. 4 Valencia St.

The Monster Show @ The Edge The weekly drag show with themed nights and hilarious fun. $5. 9pm2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Patty From HR @ Oasis Mo Patty, Mo Problems, Michael Phillis’ annoyingly hilarious admin’s third show. $20-$40. 7pm. Also Jan 31, Feb 1. 298 11th St. sfoasis.com

Rice Rockettes @ Lookout Local and visiting Asian drag queens' weekly show with DJ Philip Grasso. $5. 10:30pm show. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Visit www.squirt.org to hook up today

Rock Fag @ Hole in the Wall Enjoy hard rock and punk music from DJ Don Baird at the wonderfully divey SoMa bar. Also Fridays. 7pm2am. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Untitled-1 1

1/22/20 11:31 AM

<< Nightlife Events

26 • Bay Area Reporter • January 30-February 5, 2020

Tycho @ Fox Theatre, Oakland

Nightlife Events

From page 25

Make Out Party @ Jolene’s Smoochfest with cuties galore and Shot in the City capturing your beauty. 9pm-2am. 2700 16th St. at Harrison. www.jolenessf.com

Mon 3

Grammy-nominated techno-pop band performs; mild Minds opens. $45. 8pm. 1807 Telegraph ave., Oakland. www.thefoxoakland.com

Isabella Rossellini’s Link Link Circus @ The Chapel

Wayback Wednesdays @ Midnight Sun Vintage music, videos by request and tasty cocktails, followed by Karaoke night with BeBe Sweetbriar. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Mother @ Oasis Heklina’s popular weekly drag show, with wild acts and music tribute themes. Feb 1 is Britney vs. Christina night. DJ Omar, too. $15. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Thu 6

Powerblouse @ Powerhouse

Eric Benét @ Yoshi’s Oakland

Juanita MORE!, Glamamore and her crew’s monthly drag virgin makeover night. $5. 9pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

The smooth crooner performs a fournight gig at the elegant restaurantnightclub. $54-$115. 8pm. Two shows nightly Feb 7-9. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. www.yoshis.com

Sugar @ The Café Weekly dance night at the renovated nightclub with a view. $10. 9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com Horror-themed drag show. 6pm-9pm. $7. 6pm-9pm. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Woof, Frolic @ SF Eagle Canine fetish fun (3pm-6pm) followed by full-on furry fantasy flock (8pm2am). $8-$12. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Sun 2 Beer Bust @ Lone Star Weekly benefits for various local nonprofits, with fresh local food served on the patio. Feb 2 Super Bowl viewing (game starts at 3:30). $10-$15. 3pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle The popular daytime party, where $10-$15 gets you all the beer you can drink, supporting worthy causes. 3pm-6pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Beverage Benefit @ The Edge Fundraiser and fun, with proceeds going to local nonprofits. $10. 4pm7pm. 4149 18th St. www.edgesf.com

Big Gay Beer Bust @ The Cinch Benefits and plenty of beer at the historic neighborhood bar. 3pm-7pm. 1723 Polk St. www.cinchsf.com

Domingo De Escandal @ Club OMG Weekly Latin night with drag shows hosted by Vicky Jimenez and DJ Carlitos. (Comedy Open Mic 5:30pm). 7pm-2am. 43 6th St. clubomgsf.com

Drag Brunch @ Hamburger Mary's Tasty food, bottomless mimosas and drag shows with Kylie Minono, Patty McGroin and other talents. Seating 11am, show 12pm. Also Saturdays. 531 Castro St. www.hamburgermarys.com

Glam Sundays @ Valencia Room New weekly house, funk, soul T-dance with guest-DJs and no cover. 3pm9pm. 647 Valencia St. www.glamsundays.com

The L-Word @ El Rio Weekly screenings of the revived lesbian TV series. 9pm. 3158 Mission St. http://www.elriosf.com/

PoleSexual @ Powerhouse Acrobatic vaudeville and more. $5. 9pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 The popular two-stepping linedancing, not-just-country music night, with free lessons. 5pm-10:30pm. Also Thursdays 6:30pm-10:30pm. 550 Barneveld Ave. sundancesaloon.org

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Mon 3 KQ League Night @ Detour Game tournament at the renovated former Brewcade bar/restaurant. 7:30pm-11pm. 2200 Market St. www.detoursf.com

Link Link Circus @ The Chapel Actor-producer Isabella Rossellini presents her whimsical multimedia performance talk about the links between humans and animals, with live animals. $45-$65. 8:30pm. Feb 3-6, 10 & 11. 777 Valencia St. www.thechapelsf.com

Monday Night Off @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko Cast members from the megahit musical Hamilton perform their own favorite songs, a concert of African American classics from broadway to opera, at the stylish nightclub. $45$65 ($20 food/drink min.). 7pm. Also Feb 17. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinssf.com

Underwear Night @ 440 Strip down to your skivvies at the popular men's night. 9pm-2am. 440 Castro St. www.the440.com

Vamp @ Beaux Women’s weekly night with a sultry vampire theme; goth, red & black, lingerie attire welcome but not required; bondage and BDSM demos, too. DJs Olga T and Jayne Grey. $5$15. 8pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Tue 4 Gaymer Night @ Midnight Sun Weekly fun night of games and cocktails. 8pm-12am. 4067 18th St. www.midnightsunsf.com

Sing Out @ Encore Karaoke Lounge Home of drag shows, and hilaraoke karaoke. 9pm-1am. 1550 California St.

Trivia Night @ Hi Tops Play the trivia game at the popular sports bar. $5. 9pm. 2247 Market St. www.HiTopsSF.com

Trivia Night @ Port Bar, Oakland Big gay trivia night at the East Bay bar with host Robert Perez; drinks specials and prizes. 8pm. Broadway. www.portbaroakland.com

Wed 5

Drag parody, with Caleb Haven Draper, Carol Ann Walker, Emily France, Titus Androgynous, Sue Casa, Paul Grant, Hovannes, Cassie Wassie, Kirk Saraceno, L Ron Hubby and Anne Norland. $27.50-$50. 7pm. Thu-Sat 7pm thru March 14. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Marques Daniels

Whorror @ Powerhouse

Friends Live @ Oasis

Cabaret Karaoke @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko Pop and Broadway favorites sung and singalong night. 6pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinssf.com

Caspian @ Great American Music Hall Talented rock band performs; The Velvet Teen opens. $17$42. 859 O’Farrell St. slimspresents.com

Wed 5

Pan Dulce @ Beaux

Castro Karaoke @ Midnight Sun Sing out with host Bebe Sweetbriar; 2 for 1 well drinks. 8pm-2am. 4067 18th St. www. midnightsunsf.com

GAYmes @ Port Bar, Oakland Board games night; Baila Conmigo, queer Latinx fundraiser (2nd Wed.), Wet & Wild drag shows (1st & 4th Wed.). 2023 Broadway. www.portbaroakland.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. www.wildsidewest.com

Pan Dulce @ Beaux Drag divas, gogo studs, DJed Latin grooves and drinks at the Hump Day fiesta, open Christmas night. 9pm2am (free before 10:30pm). 2344 Market St. www.clubpapi.com

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle Rock bands play at the famed leather bar. Feb 6: Freak Accident, Lolly Gaggers and Middle-Aged Queers. $8. 9pm-12am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Turkay Day dance party, as disco guru DJ Bus Station John spins grooves at the intimate retro music night. $5. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com Want your nightlife event listed? Email events@ebar.com, at least two weeks before your event. Event photos welcome.

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Mon 3 Hamilton cast members at Monday Night Off @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko

Steven Underhill

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January 30-February 5, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 27

That’s a shame Live and let kink by Race Bannon

ithin the radical sex and relationships communities in which I navigate, there are few things that spark my anger more than shaming. Whether it’s coming from within the leather, kink, polyamory or gay men’s sex cultures, or from external sources, shaming is far too prevalent. I’m sure shaming comes from within and without women’s sex cultures too, but I don’t pretend to understand that fully enough to comment. Still, this likely applies across the gender and orientation spectrums. Shame as a noun describes a feeling of guilt, embarrassment, humiliation or disgrace due to awareness of a misstep or impropriety. The thing is, virtually none of the things kinksters and other sex and relationship adventurers are accused of is something for which they should feel any negative emotions at all. Shaming as a verb is to engage in actions that try to instill a sense of shame in someone else, and this is where the greatest problems lie in our communities. Misguided people consider shaming a viable way of trying to modify someone else’s behaviors or views. Some inappropriately use shaming to express disagreement with another’s choices or actions. While you can only feel a true sense of shame upon perceiving that

shaming, I don’t know what is. Orientation-shaming happens. Bisexuals are still too often besieged by comments that they should make up their mind one way or the other. I could point to mountains of data that attraction orientation resides on a spectrum and these folks would likely ignore it all and remain resolute in their misguided bias. Polyamorous people are often Left: Rich Stadtmiller Above: BARtab shamed for the evils of promotLeft: Pony play like this at 2017’s Folsom ing non-monogamy or being a Street Fair can be misunderstood, but bad example amid the LGBTQ it’s enjoyed by many as a satisfying erotic set that’s decided only parroting outlet. the heteronormative two-perAbove: Kinksters at the most recent son monogamous relationship Folsom Street Fair in a fun flogging scene, is acceptable. It doesn’t matter an activity enjoyed by many. to the deriders that the people in these relationships might be supremely happy. Their ‘one size others’ disapproval is valid, when comment from someone else in the fits all’ mindset fails to see the joys of you already play on the edge of sobar about his attire. the diversity of experience. cietal norms and might be struggling During Folsom Street Fair I obEntire leather events have been with self-acceptance you can fall prey served a BDSM scene taking place shamed because of a real or imagto accepting shaming regardless of in one of the designated play areas. ined misstep of some sort. Shamers the validity of the source. This is why A fetish-clad kinkster made a comrarely approach such situations as an shaming marginalized people like ment about how that kink “went opportunity for correction, refinekinksters and other erotic rebels can too far.” What was taking place was ment or dialogue. They would rather be particularly damaging. a moderate flogging, an activity trash the entire event outright. Instances of shaming countless people do all the time and Highly sexual people are shamed are sadly plentiful. it brings them joy and fulfillment. by those who perceive their own levJust last week at MidBody shaming is common. It el of sexual activity and the way they Atlantic Leather Weekhappens within the leather world do it as the only correct or proper end, a friend overheard for sure, but interestingly I think in way. Anyone who deviates from that two leather-clad men many ways we deal with this a bit is a slut, a whore, or a spreader of in the lobby of the host better than some mainstream folks. disease. hotel shaming a young However, within what I refer to as Bottom-shaming happens freguy who wasn’t dressed gay sex culture, I’ve seen it happen quently. If I had a dollar for every in what they considered often. One non-sexual illustration time I’ve heard “Oh, he’s a bottom,” “appropriate” gear. That happens a of the prevalence of body shaming said in a dismissive or elitist tone, I’d lot. A young guy might walk into a is how some people (gay men mostbe a rich man. bar on a leather/gear night wearing ly) comment that if the nude guys None of this is helpful. None nothing but the harness he excitwalking around the Castro were of this is productive. None of this edly scraped together every disposhotter, they’d be more comfortmakes life better for anyone. able cent to buy only to hear a snide able with it. If that’s not overt body

Shining Stars

Shaming takes place in all venues, but social media of course provides an easy-access megaphone to blast the shaming out to the world to be amplified by those who like to shame too. In a Psychology Today article, ‘Why Shaming Doesn’t Work,’ psychology professor Krystine I. Batcho, Ph.D. points out some of the damage shaming can do. Since I contend that kinksters, the polyamorous and sexual adventurers are engaging in what feels genuine about themselves, I think this applies since it points out the stress and depression shaming can elicit. “Shaming someone for what they cannot change places them in an impossible situation that can yield nothing beneficial. The absurdity and futility of such interactions are clear when a parent admonishes a young child to grow up. “For people who are able to conceal a stigmatized identity, shaming can increase the ‘divide’ between public and private dimensions of their self-concept. Research has shown such separation to be associated with greater social stress and depression.” Please don’t shame. Please gently point out shaming when you see or hear others do it. Let them know why it’s not helpful. Much of shaming is sadly built into our competitive and sometimes screwed up culture, but that doesn’t mean we should tolerate it.t

For Leather Events, visit www.ebar.com/events Race Bannon is a local author, blogger and activist. www.bannon.com

Photos by

Steven Underhill Drag Brunch @ Hamburger Mary’s

rag and brunch combine weekly on Saturdays and Sundays at Hamburger Mary’s, one of 16 restaurants across the U.S. (and Ontario). On January 26, MC Mercedez Munro welcomed performers Helen Heels, Pearl Teese, and Ryder Moore. The food and cocktails please patrons as festive queens –and the occassional drag king– entertain, with evening shows on Fridays and Saturdays, too. 531 Castro St. www.hamburgermarys.com See plenty more photos on BARtab’s Facebook page, facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at StevenUnderhill.com.

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