July 19, 2018 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

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Since 1971, the newspaper of record for the San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ community

Vol. 48 • No. 29 • July 19-25, 2018

Jane Philomen Cleland

Rick Gerharter

Our Family Coalition had a large contingent in last month’s San Francisco Pride parade.

Amid a stack of binders, Mayor London Breed listens to recommendations from her policy transition committees during a summit Saturday at UC Hastings College of the Law.

Brown OKs establishing June as Pride Month

Summit gives Mayor Breed lots of ideas

by Alex Madison

overnor Jerry Brown on Monday signed legislation establishing June as Pride Month by statute in California. While the governor has regularly issued a proclamation declaring June as Pride Month in the Golden State, now the matter is law. Brown signed Assembly Bill 2969, authored by gay Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) and co-authored by all members of the See page 15 >>

$1.8M raised at AIDS Walk

n estimated 10,000 people filled Robin Williams Meadow in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park Sunday, July 15, for the 32nd annual AIDS Walk San Francisco. Above, participants in a nationwide tour of United Synagogue Youth, left, volunteered

Rick Gerharter

at the event and high-fived participants as they started off on the 6.2-mile walk through Golden Gate Park. Organizers said that $1.8 million was raised in support of ACRIA, PRC, Project Open Hand, and dozens of other Bay Area HIV/AIDS service organizations.

by Cynthia Laird

an Francisco Mayor London Breed spent most of Saturday afternoon listening to members of her policy transition committees present their findings, and ended up with a stack of white binders containing recommendations on everything from housing to homelessness to equity to arts and tourism. “I clearly have more reading to do,” Breed See page 14 >>

Fierce opposition voiced for Starbucks by David-Elijah Nahmod

M Rick Gerharter

Attorney General Xavier Becerra

Hate crimes against LGBTs on the rise in SF, CA by Alex Madison

ate crimes in San Francisco and California are on the rise for the third year in a row, according to annual reports released by state Attorney General Xavier Becerra. The reports show that hate crime incidents in San Francisco rose by 30.5 percent and increased by 17.4 percent in the state. Incidents motivated by sexual orientation bias – real or perceived – increased by 18.8 percent in California, more than race motivated hate incidents, which rose by 16 percent. Anti-transgender and anti-gender-nonconforming hate crimes also saw an increase of 7 percent. See page 14 >>

ore than 100 members of the leather and kink communities gathered at the L7 apartment building in the South of Market district Tuesday to voice their opposition to a proposed new Starbucks in one of the building’s commercial spaces. Many were concerned that the opening of a Starbucks in that location, at 1222 Harrison Street, would have a negative impact on Wicked Grounds, an independently-owned coffee shop about a block away that caters to the leather community. The meeting was organized by Wicked Grounds owner Mir Bilodeau, a genderqueer leather dyke who admits that her business has struggled financially to survive. Wicked Grounds was temporarily closed earlier this year. Both Wicked Grounds and the proposed Starbucks are in the heart of the recently established Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District, which celebrates the strong leather and kink history of the neighborhood, supports businesses that serve the leather community, and encourages new such businesses to open. Starbucks representatives Leslie Mitchell and Jeff Hoover also attended the meeting. They served pastries and coffee to attendees. They originally intended to discuss the chain’s plans for the proposed store, which would include leatherthemed decor. Instead, they took a step back and allowed community members to speak.

Rick Gerharter

Miguel Rojas, right, asked questions of Starbucks representatives Leslie Mitchell, left, and Jeff Hoover during a community meeting July 17 about a proposed Starbucks coffee shop in the South of Market Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District.

“You guys have something to say,” said Mitchell as the meeting began. “So we’re going to open up the meeting to your comments.” Emotions ran high as people spoke, with some individuals fighting back tears as they talked about what Wicked Grounds meant to them. Other expressed anger at Starbucks. Lucie Schwartz, a transgender woman, said that she was a journalist who wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle from 1989-99, among

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other publications. “Starbucks is a corporate octopus,” Schwartz said. “There are too many already. There are none in Chinatown or North Beach. Leave us alone! There are too many Starbucks in San Francisco already. Stop transforming our culture for cash.” Schwartz said that she’d like to see a stripper or drag queen clothing shop in the location in lieu See page 15 >>

<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • July 19-25, 2018

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Fletcher to be sentenced in Aiello murder by Alex Madison

Sacramento judge will sentence Kyle Billy Fletcher next month, after a jury convicted him last week in the murder of former Bay Area Reporter freelance writer Dan Aiello. Fletcher, 38, was found guilty of first-degree murder July 12, after a Sacramento County Superior Court jury spent about two days in deliberations. Aiello, a 53-year-old gay man, was found dead in his Sacramento home April 15, 2015, with a belt wrapped around his neck. The two men had known one another for years and were involved in a sexual relationship, according to court testimony and evidence. The jury also found Fletcher guilty of using a deadly and dangerous weapon and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to sell. Fletcher will be sentenced August 24. He could face up to 26 years in prison, according to Deputy District Attorney William Satchell. During closing arguments last week, Satchell argued that Fletcher killed Aiello by pulling on the belt wrapped around his neck and pressing his foot on the upper part of his back for leverage until Aiello suffocated. Satchell’s closing argument

Kyle Billy Fletcher

described Fletcher as a liar and criminal. Fletcher’s defense attorney Donald Dorfman claimed that Fletcher acted in self-defense during the incident and should be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Fletcher pleaded not guilty to his charges. At the time of Aiello’s death, Fletcher told detectives that Aiello was trying to force him to have sex and, in order to prevent it, he used just enough force on the belt to stop Aiello. Fletcher claimed that he left the house after Aiello passed out.

But police, who testified at Fletcher’s earlier preliminary hearing, said that Fletcher didn’t say anything about having just defended himself against an unwanted sexual advance, after they discovered Aiello’s naked body and saw Fletcher carrying a TV from Aiello’s home. During closing arguments, the prosecutor told the jury that the day before Aiello was killed, Fletcher became aware that Aiello filed a financial crimes incident report alleging that Fletcher had stolen $200. Other evidence included Fletcher’s drastic change of behavior after the murder, which was captured on Aiello’s DVR that Fletcher had stolen moments after the killing. Satchell also said the distinct footprint left on Aiello’s back matched the design of the bottom of the shoes that Fletcher was wearing on the day Aiello was found dead. Satchell told the jury this proved that Fletcher used the pressure of his foot to further strangle Aiello. Aiello worked for the B.A.R. as a freelance writer who covered marriage equality and other issues before opening Midtown Moped, a shop in Sacramento where he lived in the back of the store. Aiello’s friend Megan Juring attended the closing arguments, but declined to comment to the B.A.R. t

No jail for rainbow flag theft by Alex Madison

possession of a controlled substance. Campos is still fter being found guilty in custody on $22,500 last month of stealing bail. His next court date is a rainbow flag from the scheduled for July 20. Guerneville Plaza flagpole In addition to comin May, Vincent Joseph munity service, which will O’Sullivan was sentenced specifically be spent cleanto 36 months probation ing up the Russian River, and 100 hours of comO’Sullivan was also fined Courtesy Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office munity service, according $255 and ordered to pay to a spokesman at the Vincent Joseph restitution of $17.50 to Sonoma County District O’Sullivan Beth Streets, a straight ally Attorney’s office. who started a Flag SupO’Sullivan, 55, was sentenced July porters group that has been replacing 13 at Sonoma County Superior Court the stolen rainbow flags. Streets has in Santa Rosa. During his trial, Sobeen following his case very closely, noma County sheriff’s deputy Theoattending most of his court hearings. dore Van Bebber testified that when “I am thrilled beyond words to see he questioned O’Sullivan he didn’t that justice has prevailed, and that our deny taking the flag and admitted that justice system can and does work!!” the flag’s presence on that flagpole ofStreets said in a Facebook post. “The fended him as well as others. judge it made it very clear today O’Sullivan was also caught on a that he did not approve of Vincent surveillance camera stealing the flag O’Sullivan’s behavior and that he had with an accomplice, who has now been no tolerance for his actions.” identified as Michael Tomas Campos. If O’Sullivan does not complete Campos, 35, was booked in the Sohis community service within six noma County Jail July 11 on one count months or comply with all the stanof petty theft, disturbing the peace, and dards of his probation, he will serve

120 days in county jail. As previously reported by the Bay Area Reporter, O’Sullivan also faces a hate crime charge for another incident in May where he threatened to “bomb the gay people in Guerneville” at a local Safeway store, authorities said. He targeted one individual who was the victim in this case, a gay male employee of the Starbucks located inside the Guerneville Safeway store off Highway 116. Other threats and language allegedly used by O’Sullivan during the incident included, “I am going to kill all the motherfucking gays,” and “I am going to blow you up you motherfucking faggot,” according to Robert Maddock, the deputy district attorney prosecuting the case. O’Sullivan pleaded not guilty to the hate crime charge at his arraignment July 12. He is expected back in court July 25 to set a date for jury trial. Sonoma County Deputy District Attorney Matt Hobson is handling the case, according to DA spokesman Joseph Langenbahn. O’Sullivan’s attorney, Chris Chouteau, declined to comment.t

How man in ‘suspicious’ Castro death identified uncertain by Alex Madison

t is uncertain how a man who was found unresponsive in the Castro by San Francisco police last month and who later died identified. Corey Ahrens, 48, of Roseville, California, was found by police early in the morning June 29 in an alley/ parking lot near 18th and Castro streets nearby several Castro gay bars. The San Francisco Police Department is still investigating what it has termed a “suspicious” death. Ahrens’ cause of death is still unknown. The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s office has not yet released its report. Ahrens’ son, Corey Scott Ahrens Jr., 27, told the Bay Area Reporter in a Facebook message that his father

had a wife and two step-children. Ahrens Jr. has been estranged from his father since he was 15 years old and did not answer many questions from the B.A.R. Ahrens Jr. lives in Oroville, California and is married to Sarah Noel Ahrens, who told the B.A.R. that the elder Ahrens’ wife and friends were surprised and devastated by his sudden passing. “We heard from a close friend that was close with his dad, and also, his wife finally reached out to us,” Sarah Ahrens told the B.A.R. in a Facebook message. “All we know from his friends that were close is that he was doing really good and they are devastated about how sudden it was.” On the day the elder Ahrens

was found unresponsive, police responded to a call around 12:50 a.m. about a person down on the ground in the alley/parking lot behind Walgreens on 18th Street. Officers who arrived on scene found an unresponsive man lying on the ground. Aid was rendered to Ahrens, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene. Greg Carey, chief of the volunteer group Castro Community on Patrol, who has been in contact with SFPD regarding Ahrens’ death, said the cameras recently installed in the Walgreens parking lot off Castro Street might have captured what happened. CCOP volunteers were not working that Thursday night or Friday morning.t

Community News>>

t Queer faith leaders issue call to take back religion

July 19-25, 2018 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 3

by Heather Cassell

ueer religious leaders want to be visible and heard in their communities and they need others to come out to take religion back from the radical right. That was the message delivered by five queer clergy and lay leaders who spoke recently about religion and LGBTs at Congregation Sha’ar Zahav. “We have to take back religion from the religious right and own it for ourselves,” said the Reverend Cameron Partridge, Ph.D., rector at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in San Francisco. Rob Newells, associate minister at Imani Community Church in Oakland, agreed. “In my tradition Jesus was really political,” he said. “Separation of church and state is a government thing, it’s not an internal thing. There is no separation of my faith and my politics. “If we are not speaking up,” he said, “then we are ceding it to the other side.” Speakers said that visibility of queer clergy was very important. “It’s really important that those of us who hold faith as an important part of our life live our life out loud as a clergy person, as a spiritual person, as a faithful person, as we do as a queer person,” said Partridge. There are many faith leaders who are LGBT, but they are often “invisible holders of the knowledge,” said Zen Buddhist priest Daigan Gaither. The faith leaders participated in the panel, which was led by out Sha’ar Zahav Rabbi Mychal Copeland, June 14. Copeland, along with panelist Rabbi D’vorah Rose, are co-editors of “Struggling in Good Faith: LGBTQI Inclusion from 13 American Religious Perspectives.”

Rick Gerharter

Congregation Sha’ar Zahav Rabbi Mychal Copeland, left, hosted minister Rob Newells, Rabbi D’vorah Rose, the Reverend Dr. Cameron Partridge, Buddhist priest Daigan Gaither, and Mennonite lay leader Addie Liechty during a recent panel discussion.

The religious leaders talked about the pain of unaccepting churches and the joy of churches that embrace LGBT congregants; the need for visible LGBT clergy in all faiths and denominations; and religion’s role in everyday life.

A faithful struggle

Some of the clergy and lay leaders’ experiences were painful – to the point of having to leave their family to protect themselves – while others held scars of memories of religion rejecting LGBT people. “We understand that suffering and struggling is actually a part of our experience of being a person,” said Gaither about the Buddhist faith. “We have had to struggle to come out to understand ourselves as queer people, but then, even more so, to stay faithful to something, to stay believers in something.” Addie Liechty, a queer Mennonite lay leader, said some in their denomination question whether they should remain a part of the church.

The Episcopal Church was one of the few denominations that were having a constructive and open dialogue about gender and sexuality during the early 2000s when Partridge came out, he told the audience. Yet, despite the ongoing discussion within the church, being transgender wasn’t on the “radar of our conversations” at the time, he said. “It was a fairly terrifying experience to kind of come out at that time and in that context,” the father of two young children said, adding, “I had quite a lot of support.” Since then the church has changed its cannons to embrace transgender leaders and members and continues to seek ways to improve accepting gender-nonconforming congregants, he said “This has been a long journey,” he said. “We’re not there yet, but we have come quite a long way and I’m pretty proud of how far we’ve come. I feel really fortunate.” The Mennonite Church is allowing congregations to decide for themselves how to handle LGBT issues, which caused a rift in the Mennonite Church USA, said Liechty. Thousands of conservative Mennonites have left the church’s ranks. Membership was once around 120,000 and is now around 75,000, “because there wasn’t a hard-enough stance on LGBTQ people,” they said. Panelists agreed that San Francisco is unique with the number of welcoming places of worship and religious leadership, but with that uniqueness comes responsibility to push for acceptance. San Francisco’s Mennonite church, which holds services in Sha’ar Zahav’s chapel, is a haven for Liechty. Its pastor is an LGBT ally. “It’s a space where I sit and forget that I’m LGBTQ because it’s so integrated,” said Liechty. In stark contrast, Newells

he realized it was “the first job I had that I could be as black as I wanted to be and as gay as I wanted to be,” he said. An example of his inability to be a gay black minister happened in 2016. A fire that displaced his staff and clients for around 14 months struck his HIV/AIDS organization. The Baptist congregation’s response “was a little bit questionable to me for a church that professes to be progressive,” he said. “They must not remember that I’m gay or I’m not gay enough for the congregation.” “So, that year I decided that I would be really, really gay at Pride. I wore my rainbow bikini and wings to Pride and nobody said anything to me,” Newells said. However, congregants said something to his family members and his pastor, who called him to have lunch for the very first time in his life. “It was what I needed to do to challenge folks who think they are progressive when they need to be really honest,” he said he told the minister when asked if he thought his actions through. “[The] black church and [the black community in] general have not dealt with LGBTQI issues because in large part many of them still can’t deal with women’s issues.” Newells believes women are the way to change in the black church because many of them are organized activists fighting within the church and many of them are LGBT.

“I know I should stay in this community, but I don’t know if I should stay in the larger Mennonite community,” Liechty, who is a therapist, said. Survival was what drove Gaither to leave his ultra-conservative fundamentalist family when he discovered he was gay. They wanted to send him to conversion therapy. “Growing up as a sissy in Texas, there’s not really a place to hide,” said Gaither, who found his way to San Francisco and eventually to the Zen Center. “There was lots of stuff for me to unpack when I first landed at the San Francisco Zen Center,” he said. “Buddhism is about embodiment. How you live in your body How do you stay connected to your life in the body you have?” Newells didn’t have to unpack his issues being raised in the black churches of the East Bay, in his mind it’s the churches that need to get real. After becoming executive director of the AIDS Project of the East Bay

Different experiences

These experiences were the opposite of Partridge’s, who is a transgender man. Episcopal religious leaders embraced him when he came out. The church leaders asked him to have patience with them as they figured out how transgender leaders and followers could find their place in the church.

See page 14 >>

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4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • July 19-25, 2018

Plans questioned for former LGBT church site by Matthew S. Bajko

lans to demolish the site of a former LGBT church in the heart of San Francisco’s gay Castro district are being called into question by planning officials who would prefer to see the structure be preserved in return for allowing more housing to be built. For close to four decades the LGBTQ-identified Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco called 150 Eureka Street home. But the two-story, 5,550-square-foot building became significantly damaged over time, with access severely limited to certain interior areas. Developer David R. Papale bought the property for $2.325 million in February 2015. MCC-SF that month vacated the dilapidated building and moved in with the First Congregational Church at 1300 Polk Street, where it remains today. Papale has proposed demolishing the building in order to construct two new buildings each with two units of

housing with garage parking for four automobiles. The project would total roughly 13,174 square feet and not exceed 40 feet in height. As currently proposed, the building plans comply with the zoning for the site and do not need to be approved by the city’s planning commission. The oversight body does need to certify the project’s environmental impact report. Yet when the planning commissioners first took up the matter in January, several members expressed disappointment in the small number of units that would result from demolishing a building considered eligible for listing as a state historical resource. They had pointed out that incentives provided by the city and state for maintaining a historic property would allow the developers to build upwards of 20 units, albeit smaller ones, on the site. They postponed voting on the matter to give Papale and his architectural team time to review their

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proposal and return with alternative plans that incorporated keeping the existing building. At the second hearing July 12, however, Papale and his architects did not return with additional proposals. Their doing so infuriated planning Commissioner Dennis Richards, the panel’s lone gay member. He expressed exasperation with both the project sponsor and planning staff for not reworking the EIR to include plans for how to construct housing within the framework of the existing church building. “I am very disappointed we are still here six months later with no progress being made on it,” said Richards. Fellow Commissioner Kathrin Moore said she shared Richards’ disappointment in the proposed plans for the site. “There is historical preservation and cultural preservation which, I believe, this current EIR does not address,” she said. Richards said he was particularly displeased with the notion that a property significant to the city’s LGBT history would be torn down and replaced with only four units of housing in a neighborhood desperate for additional housing that is affordable to LGBT individuals of all ages currently priced out of the gayborhood. “This is my community. This site is important to the LGBTQI community,” he said. “We are just witnessing it be pushed into the dust bin. It is kind of offensive, to be honest with you.” Gary Gee, the architect on the project, said they did look at preserving the building and carving out 18 studio units, roughly 400 square feet, with no parking on site. To which Richards responded, “Those are exactly the kind of units my neighborhood needs.” Possibly constructing eight units inside the existing building was also looked at, said Gee. But Papale’s lawyer Andrew J. Junius, a partner in the firm Reuben, Junius & Rose, LLP, indicated that planning staff had informed them they could not add more than the four units of housing as proposed under the zoning for the site.

Rick Gerharter

Parishioners embrace outside the Eureka Street site of the Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco in 2010.

“We took the department’s lead, which I do believe was the right answer here,” he said. “I completely understand the desire to provide more housing.” Seeking to build more units would not only delay construction, Junius noted but there is no guarantee the zoning change would be approved. So rather than seeing more housing be built within months, he said, it could be another two to four years before the project could break ground. “It is going to be four units or nothing for a long time. That is not a threat; it is a fact,” said Junius. “If you have staff that doesn’t want to work with you on upzoning, where do you start?” Joy Navarrette, the planning department’s principal environmental planner, acknowledged that city staff had discussed upzoning the site. But the department determined it “wasn’t really a solution for this parcel, at this time, in this manner,” she said. Planning Commissioner Rich Hillis said he was ready to certify the EIR and ask planning staff to look at if there was neighborhood support for changing the zoning in the area to allow for denser in-fill housing projects. “It is a mid-block site, so there is not much of a rationale to rezone this parcel,” he said. “This is a perfect housing site.”

The office of newly sworn in gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman contacted Richards in the morning before last week’s hearing. He said they were interested in discussing a zoning change for the site due to neighborhood concerns over the amount of housing being proposed. Mandelman did not respond to a request for comment. To allow time for the supervisor to meet with the developer and planning staff, Richards proposed continuing the matter for two weeks until the planning commission’s July 26 meeting. The oversight body unanimously approved his motion 6-0. Commissioner Myrna Melgar, who had agreed with Hillis that the developer had waited long enough to start work on the project, nonetheless also expressed disappointment that the developers had not presented alternative plans last week. Noting the declining membership at churches across the city, leading to religious buildings being put up for sale, Melgar suggested that city planners should be proactively looking at how best to repurpose the sites, especially since many are located in residential areas. “Are we being proactive in thinking how do we use these structures, many of which are historic structures?” she asked. t

Queer woman enters crowded BART board race by Cynthia Laird

queer bicycle advocate this week entered the crowded BART board District 8 race, and is one of at least two out LGBTQ candidates for the seat. Janice Li, who is advocacy director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, told the Bay Area Reporter that she filed her paperwork Thursday, July 19, for the November election. Li, 31, said that her experience with the bike coalition will help the BART board, which oversees the multicounty rail system. “I’m a total transportation nerd,” Li said. BART’s District 8 is in San Francisco. There are only three BART stations in the district – Embarcadero, Montgomery, and Balboa Park – but they account for some of the transit agency’s busiest. The seat is open because current Director Nick Josefowitz is running for San Francisco supervisor in District 2. Li said there are a couple of reasons she decided to run. “I’m a queer woman of color and an immigrant and want to represent the west side of San Francisco,” she said, noting the district includes the Sunset, Richmond, Parkside, and Lake Merced neighborhoods. Li said that there are a lot of nightlife issues that she hopes to address,

Steven Underhill

BART board candidate Janice Li

since BART currently stops running trains at midnight. And, Li said she is someone who knows transit issues. She plans to run a grassroots campaign and has been endorsed by gay BART board member Bevan Dufty. “Janice has the experience, energy, and drive to make BART more accountable and improve service and safety,” Dufty wrote in an email to the B..AR. “Her knowledge and work on transportation funding and policy underscores, to me, why she will be a great BART director.” Dufty also said it was time voters elect the first Chinese-American woman to the transit agency’s board. The city does not have a queer woman among its elected representatives, Dufty pointed out. There is at least one other LGBT candidate who has taken steps toward

running. William Walker, a gay African-American man who previously served as the student representative on the City College of San Francisco board, has pulled papers, according to the elections department’s website. In an email, Walker confirmed he is in the process of filing to run for the BART board. His priorities include finding more sources of fully dedicated funding for BART, researching how to program or develop underutilized BART station space or surplus property, and studying the feasibility of developing large parking lots into mixed-use developments that incorporate affordable and workforce housing. “Additionally, a long term vision for BART would be a fare-free or flatfare BART system and a truly 24-hour system,” he wrote in an email. Walker, a San Francisco native, said he has ridden public transit since he was a child and is the son of a transit union president. Other candidates listed include Jonathan Lyens, who is blind and works at the San Francisco Department of Public Health; Nia Crowder; Melanie Nutter, a former head of the San Francisco Department of the Environment; and David Lee, who has previously run for supervisor in District 1. The filing deadline is August 10. t

Community News >>

July 19-25, 2018 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Takei launches funny new political app by Tony Taylor

his week, after President Donald Trump sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin and against U.S. intelligence officials who said Russia interfered in the 2016 election, gay actor and political activist George Takei was outraged. During a phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Takei, who first shot to fame as Hikaru Sulu in the 1960s “Star Trek” TV series, was set to discuss House of Cats, his new app that uses Pokemón GO-style augmented reality features. Given the weight of recent political news, however, the conversation’s scope couldn’t have been any further from fiction. (As criticism mounted Tuesday, Trump claimed that he misspoke, and now says he accepts U.S. intelligence on Russian interference in the election.) Launching July 19, Takei said he wants to shout out about House of Cats from “many mountaintops.” House of Cats is the first political app that puts users in the center of the action so they can interact with world leaders and the latest news by creating funny short videos. “Combining politics and cats,” Takei, 81, said, calling from Los Angeles, “[this app is] a wonderful way of commenting on the absurdity of this fake president. We are in both critical times as well as totally absurd times. He’s pretending to be a

Brad Takei

George Takei tries out his new augmented reality political app, House of Cats.

president; a counterfeit president.” Since reinventing himself through social media in 2011, Takei’s followers react in droves to his daily postings, which include memes and photos that often latch onto current events. His outspoken commentary earned him a Shorty Award in 2013 for distinguished achievement in internet culture. Now, through his distaste for Trump’s antics, the icon has found a way to laugh through his frustration. According to a news release, House of Cats users can create, record, and share videos of themselves and their friends with “Trumpy Cat.” The app will also keep users “giggling with funny zingers and short skits,” the release stated.

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When asked what some of his LOL, or laugh out loud, moments were while using the app, Takei sounded unsmiling. “Did you see the press conference with Putin?” he asked. “My blood was boiling.” CNN reported that the president’s summit with Putin in Helsinki, Finland Monday, July 16, is already one of the most notorious moments in the tortured relations between Washington and Moscow. Trump’s acceptance of Putin’s denial of election interference accusations leveled by the U.S. intelligence community was not just the most abject display given by any president overseas, it may be the moment that finally validated claims that Trump prizes his own interests above those of America, CNN reported. “We have proof on Putin and there [Trump] was standing shoulder to shoulder saying, ‘I’m with Putin.’ It was outrageous!” Takei said. “This is not a laughing matter.” The key to getting through these dark times, Takei said, is “resilience.” He referenced the Japanese term “Gaman (我慢)” of Zen Buddhist origin, which means “enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity,” according to Wikipedia. “It’s not just bullet-biting, teethgritting strength, but also strength to find beauty and joy under harsh conditions,” Takei added. See page 15 >>

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Vallie Brown named new District 5 supervisor by Alex Madison

n her first full week on the job, Mayor London Breed appointed Vallie Brown to the District 5 seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and swore her in Monday, July 16, at Hayes Valley Playground. Brown, 61, formerly worked as a legislative aide to Breed and is a longtime resident and community activist in District 5, which includes the Western Addition, Fillmore, Hayes Valley, Japantown, Haight-Ashbury, and Inner Sunset neighborhoods. Breed, who was the former District 5 supervisor before becoming the city’s first African-American female mayor, was greeted with applause and a standing ovation from the crowd Monday morning. “When I was thinking about someone who is a strong community advocate, someone who will focus on delivering for the residents of District 5, I can’t think of anyone better than Vallie Brown,” Breed declared. Breed said she first met Brown 15 years ago when Brown was picking up trash in the Lower Haight. The two have worked closely together in City Hall, where Breed said they often got into arguments. “She stands her ground for what is right for the residents of District 5,” Breed said. “She listens to the needs of small business and community members. She makes sure when legislation is introduced that she proposes amendments or raises questions or other issues so that the legislation and the work we do at City Hall can actually have a positive impact on our communities.” Brown first worked in City Hall as a legislative aid to former District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi in 2006. Most recently she was a project manager for the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, where

Rick Gerharter

Mayor London Breed, left, swears in new District 5 Supervisor Vallie Brown Monday at Hayes Valley Playground.

she worked on affordable housing development on public property. After taking her oath of office, a smiling Brown, a straight ally, addressed the crowd at the playground, for which she helped get grant money to improve. “As your supervisor I can’t do this alone,” she said. “It’s the community that makes it a reality, and it will be you the community who will guide me in City Hall. I am your voice in City Hall.” One of her top priorities as supervisor, Brown said, will be to create more affordable housing in the district. She explained that she understands the fear of not having stable housing, telling the story of growing up in Utah as the daughter of a single mother. And, she noted that San Francisco does not offer the same housing opportunities that it did when she first moved to the city as an aspiring artist in 1985. “Right now in San Francisco, families, teachers, nonprofit workers, and bartenders are struggling to stay in San Francisco,” she said. “I stand before you today as your community partner, your supervisor, your neighbor, and I am ready to jump in now.” In 2015, Brown worked with Breed to craft neighborhood preference

legislation, which gives priority to District 5 residents to live in affordable housing built in their community. Bob Barnwell, chair of the public safety committee of the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, attended the event and said he was happy with Breed’s appointment. “I’m really pleased. I’ve worked with her a lot,” Barnwell said of Brown. “She was one of the best legislative aids, if not the best.” Not addressed by Brown in her speech, however, were the homelessness and crime incidents clouding many parts of the district, areas Barnwell said he would like to see improved. “There are a lot more homeless in the area in the last few years. The tents have really started to come back,” he said about Hayes Valley. He also mentioned various incidents of retail store break-ins. Brown attended her first board meeting Tuesday, July 17. She won’t have to run for election until November 2019. Already, Dean Preston, executive director of Tenants Together, a statewide tenants rights organization, has announced he will run for the seat. Preston previously ran against Breed in the District 5 race, but lost.t

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<< Open Forum

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • July 19-25, 2018

Volume 48, Number 29 July 19-25, 2018 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman BARTAB EDITOR & EVENTS LISTINGS EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • Alex Madison CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ray Aguilera • Tavo Amador • Race Bannon Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Brent Calderwood • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Belo Cipriani Christina DiEdoardo • Richard Dodds Michael Flanagan • Jim Gladstone David Guarino • Liz Highleyman Brandon Judell • John F. Karr • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • Joshua Klipp David Lamble • Max Leger Michael McDonagh • Juanita MORE! David-Elijah Nahmod • Paul Parish Sean Piverger • Lois Pearlman Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota • Bob Roehr Adam Sandel • Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Tony Taylor • Sari Staver Jim Stewart • Sean Timberlake • Andre Torrez Ronn Vigh • 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 Steven Underhil • Dallis Willard • 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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Trump is out of his league P

resident Donald Trump’s embarrassing behavior at his news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin ratcheted up the calls for his impeachment from some Democrats and others this week after he took Putin’s word that Russia did not interfere in the 2016 election. It has been demonstrated that Russia, in fact, did meddle in the election, as independent counsel Robert Mueller III made clear with an indictment of 12 Russian agents just before the Helsinki summit. The indictment includes Russian operations meant to instill chaos in the months before Election Day. It has already been shown that Russian operatives hacked into the Democratic National Committee’s emails two years ago. Most disturbing was Trump’s “both sides” argument, similar his equivocation last year after white supremacists rallied in Charlottesville, Virginia. Then, he said there was blame on “both sides,” when clearly the racists and neo-Nazis were at fault and even ended with the death of a counterprotester. Monday, when asked directly whether he believed Putin’s denial that Russia interfered in the election, Trump said there were “two thoughts” on the matter: one from his director of national intelligence, asserting Russia’s involvement, and one from Putin, who denied it. His acceptance of Putin’s denial over America’s own intelligence agencies is something no other president has ever done. It’s un-American, dangerous, and exemplifies all that is wrong with Trump’s presidency. He was unable and unwilling to stand up to Putin, as Republican Senator

John McCain said in a statement. There aren’t “two thoughts” on Russia’s foray to interfere in U.S. elections, rather, there should be no doubt among anyone that the meddling did occur. Trump’s egregious behavior strongly suggests that Putin does possess compromising information about him, though what that is, remains a mystery. He “is wholly in the pocket of Putin,” former CIA Director John Brennan wrote on Twitter, calling Trump’s behavior “treasonous.” As usual, Republicans, fixated on confirming a conservative to the Supreme Court, offered mostly mild comments, if they said anything at all. That’s disgraceful. House Speaker Paul Ryan (Wisconsin), who’s retiring at the end of the year, did say there was no doubt Russia meddled in the U.S. election. As condemnation mounted, on Tuesday Trump tried to walk back his comments. He said he accepted U.S. intelligence on Russian

interference in the election, and said he misspoke at the joint news conference with Putin and meant to say he didn’t have any reason to doubt Russia interfered in the election. In what has become a well-known pattern, however, Trump left just enough wiggle room to cause more confusion. “I accept our intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election took place,” Trump said Tuesday. “Could be other people also. A lot of people out there. There was no collusion at all.” He often goes right up to the line – this time in Helsinki he crossed it. We must not let Trump off so easily. He and the Republicans think that just because the president “clarified” his remarks, the incident is over. Not so. Trump knew exactly what he was saying in Helsinki. Once the anger over his comments became apparent, he simply changed “would” to “wouldn’t,” but that doesn’t make sense in the context of what was said. Russia is likely planning more mischief ahead of this November’s midterm elections, and the president will again demean his intelligence staffers. Count on it.

Quit the Trump-Putin lovers theme

By the way, the New York Times posted homophobic editorial cartoons online showing Trump and Putin as lovers. They have since been removed, but shouldn’t have been, as published content should not be deleted. They were beneath the “paper of record” and diminished what is clearly a serious issue. It is not OK to equate the love that millions of same-sex couples have for one another with these corrupt leaders. The point is they should have never been published in the first place if the editors were more aware of the latent homophobia.t

Why Massachusetts matters by Jim Mitulski

“H

i! My name is Jim, and we’re in the neighborhood today talking about human rights and civil rights for Massachusetts citizens. And, in particular, we want to talk about equal rights for our transgender friends and neighbors ...” This was my opening as I – and friends from Freedom for All Massachusetts – go door-todoor canvassing, engaging as many people as possible in face-to-face conversations about transgender equality. Two years ago, Governor Charlie Baker signed a transgender protection bill into law. Shortly thereafter, a conservative Christian group, Renew MA Coalition, began collecting signatures to put a referendum on the ballot revoking the protections, which cover the usual array of civil rights protections in regard to public accommodations. They have dubbed it the Bathroom and Locker Room Bill, and say it is necessary to strip these protections in order to protect children and adults from having their privacy invaded. Particularly in restrooms. They wield both homophobia and transphobia to frighten people into supporting them, suggesting that sexual harassment and molestation are the inevitable result of equal rights, though not one instance of this can be documented in the two years the law has been on the books. As a result, Massachusetts voters will be the first state to consider the revocation of equal rights for transgender people. Earlier this year a similar initiative failed in Anchorage, Alaska. But proponents sent out flyers to religious groups across the state with a graphic showing an adult man peering over the bathroom stall at a child. Unsurprisingly, this same coalition of religious people and unabashedly right-wing conservatives is passionately dedicated to preventing any legislation that would prevent local law enforcement agencies from functioning as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The Renew MA Coalition and the Keep MA Safe campaign want to be sure that this East Coast blue state doesn’t pass the Safe Communities Act, similar to provisions that Governor Jerry Brown signed into law last October declaring California a sanctuary state. It’s a marker that New England’s most liberal

Courtesy Jim Mitulski

The Reverend Jim Mitulski

state can’t pass legislation that is similar to that already passed by California. Fear of difference is resulting in a fusion of transphobia and anti-immigrant bias. I observed this most painfully when I saw that a Latino congregation in Boston, where I had participated in an immigrant rights rally last year, is hosting an anti-transgender community organizing training put on by the Renew MA Coalition, which is vehemently in favor of continued deportation and even family separation. Massachusetts, the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004, may now become the first state to take away already enacted transgender protections. All around the state, transgender people – as well as friends and allies – are speaking up. In my own traditional Congregational Church in Needham, church member Tracy McKay recently spoke to the congregation about being the mother of two transgender children. McKay’s children are known and loved by the church; they were baptized and confirmed there. She bravely spoke as a parent to the other parents in the room and asked for their support because she wants for her children what every parent longs for, her children’s safety and protection. The Protestant,

Baha’i, Jewish, Quaker, and Unitarian Universalist religious leaders in Needham agreed upon a collective statement urging people to “Vote Yes to Protect,” which concluded with: “We strive to love all people unconditionally as God loves all unconditionally. We are called to love What Is Holy and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We especially want our children and teens to hear this in the clearest possible terms: All children are beloved to us with the same unconditional love that God bestows upon all humanity. This unequivocally includes every child who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, nonbinary, cisgender, or straight. As faith leaders and representatives, we are deeply saddened by, and sorry for, any experience that you have had in a religious setting or community that has, in any way, made you feel less than fully valued as members of the human family. Hear us as we say clearly: God loves you, and you are loved by countless leaders and communities of faith.” And in our little town of 30,000, we have formed the Needham Coalition for Transgender Rights, a collaboration of faith, political, and cultural groups, including the League of Women Voters, the Needham Diversity Initiative, and Progressive Needham. I mention this because local organizing like this is going on everywhere around the state. While optimistic, we know we cannot win this without a lot of support. The simple message is that solidarity among all kinds of people is vital to our success. It can’t just be LGBT people and our friends and families. I remember in 1999 and 2000 working on the No on Knight Proposition 22 campaign in California, an ugly – and successful – initiative banning same-sex marriage. I worked with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (as it was called then) and Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco and others to form the Bayard Rustin Institute. We went door-to-door throughout the city, talking to people about the merits of equal marriage rights. Even in the Castro we found LGBTQ and straight people who were unaware of the upcoming vote. And See page 13 >>

Letters >>

Great leather column

July 19-25, 2018 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Thanks to Race Bannon for an excellent column in last month’s Bay Area Reporter [“Leather Resistance: Kink communities and political activism,” June 28]. Your sentiments echo many people in the gay community, and I’m glad you had the guts to write about it. If we as a people, both gay and straight, exercise our right

to vote in November, we will continue to enjoy what rights we have now. Otherwise, as you said, we will no longer enjoy “our” freedom. Keep up the good work. Always enjoy your column. Tom DiSerio San Francisco

Gay SF man recalls ’86 bid for statewide office

by Matthew S. Bajko

hirty-two years ago Richard Winger decided to mount a bid for secretary of state of California. The Libertarian Party candidate faced long odds, not only for being a member of a minor political party but also because he was challenging the three-term incumbent, March Fong Eu. Nonetheless, he did secure the endorsement of the Oakland Tribune, now known as the East Bay Times. The newspaper wrote that Winger, “a politically minor but intellectually significant” challenger “casts reasonable doubt on Eu’s policies and leadership.” It agreed with Winger, an advocate for improving ballot access for minor political parties, that Eu had done nothing “about California’s scandalously restrictive ballot access laws.” The editorial recommended readers vote for Winger, “if only to send a message to Eu.” It was a high point for Winger’s campaign, which otherwise was largely overlooked by the mainstream press. Perhaps he would have received more media attention had Winger been public about his sexual orientation in his campaign material. Winger didn’t campaign as an out candidate. His news release announcing his candidacy, issued April 10, 1986, made no mention of his being gay or having a longtime partner, Jarrold Kunz, whom he has been with since 1973. (Winger, 74, and Kunz, 85, married in 2013 and live in the city’s Marina district.) Even in a political ad he ran a week prior to the election in the Bay Area Reporter, Winger did not mention his being part of San Francisco’s LGBT community. And the city’s LGBT newspaper did not include Winger in its coverage of that November’s election results; Eu easily won re-election to a fourth term with nearly 67 percent of the vote, while Winger placed fourth with 1.5 percent. “I didn’t put it out there, but I didn’t hide it either,” Winger recalled in an interview with the B.A.R. in early July. The one time he remembers mentioning his being gay was at a candidate forum held by a black political group in Fresno. It didn’t cause much of a reaction, he said. “When you run for secretary of state as a minor party candidate, you don’t get invited to a lot of debates,” said Winger, adding of the Fresno event, “there were so few people there, we just sat around and talked about ourselves.” Born and raised in the East Bay city of Antioch, Winger graduated from UC Berkeley in 1966 with a political science degree. During college he became interested in election law, particularly with rules governing how candidates gain access to ballots. He has been a member of the Libertarian Party since 1972 but is not active with its leadership. Since 1985 Winger has published the monthly

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Rick Gerharter

Richard Winger looked through papers from his 1986 campaign for California secretary of state.

newsletter Ballot Access News, which he mails out to subscribers across the country. He was never involved with gay liberation groups, so didn’t have those alliances to talk about as a way to bring up his sexual orientation with voters. Nor did Winger think at the time that his being a gay man running for statewide office was all that remarkable. “I don’t think I consciously thought about it. I should have, if for nothing else than the historical aspect,” said Winger. “So I regret that I didn’t, but I knew others had run in the 1970s.” His good friend, Gayle Justice, in 1974 ran as an out gay man as the Peace and Freedom Party of California’s candidate for U.S. Senate. Justice died at the age of 72 in 2012. In 1978 the Peace and Freedom Party ran as its candidate for governor of California Marilyn Seals, “a secretary and lesbian mother of three,” as a Venice newspaper described her in an item about her campaign. An online history of the Peace and Freedom Party of California credits Justice as being the nation’s first openly gay candidate for a U.S. Senate seat and Seals as the first out lesbian to run for governor of any state. Over the last 44 years, no out LGBT candidate has won statewide elected office in California. The first to try to break through the Golden State’s political “pink ceiling” as a candidate for one of the two major political parties is believed to have been Democrat Tony Miller. A gay man and lawyer, Miller was appointed secretary of state in 1994 when Eu, who died last year, resigned to join the Clinton administration. He survived his party’s primary that year but lost in November to his Republican opponent, Bill Jones. A New York Times article in January 1994 reported that Miller was “America’s first openly gay candidate for statewide office” but described him as “an unlikely pioneer: a man who has never waved a rainbow flag in a Freedom Day parade and is a stranger in the political clubs of West Hollywood and the Castro District of San Francisco.”

In 1998, Miller again came up short in his bid for lieutenant governor. Sixteen years later gay former Assembly Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) failed to survive the June 2014 primary race for state controller. Now gay state Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) is looking to prove that California voters will elect an openly LGBT person to serve in the state’s executive branch of government. He is running for the open insurance commissioner position, as the current officeholder, Dave Jones, is term-limited from seeking re-election this year. Lara landed in second place in the June primary and is now competing against the first-place finisher, Steve Poizner, in November. A former Republican who previously held the insurance commissioner position, Poizner is running as an independent this year. In a statement Lara’s campaign released touting his primary win, it inaccurately stated that he was “extremely proud to be the first openly LGBTQ statewide candidate in a general election in California.” It overlooked the fact of Miller’s primary win 24 years ago. The third-place finisher in the primary, Dr. Asif Mahmood, last week endorsed Lara in the general election. The Democrat had suspended his initial bid for lieutenant governor to instead run to be the state’s insurance czar and hammered Lara in television ads. If Democratic voters coalesce around Lara come November, then he has a strong shot of winning the race. In the primary, the two Democrats garnered 815,187 more votes than Poizner did. Because current California election law does not allow Poizner to list his political party affiliation as “independent” on the ballot – he is listed as no party preference – Winger predicted that Lara would be the first LGBT statewide elected leader in California come November 6. “I do think he will win because Democrats are so much more in the ascendency. The odds of Lara winning are 60 percent,” said Winger. “Poizner being a Republican will not be forgotten. He will also be hurt by having his party affiliation listed as ‘party preference none’ on the ballot. It makes him look wishy-washy.”

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<< Commentary

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • July 19-25, 2018

Our story to tell by Gwendolyn Ann Smith

hen I was a kid, there was precious little in pop culture about trans issues. Sure, there were movies like “The Christine Jorgensen Story,” where an actor named John Hansen played the title character, or “Dog Day Afternoon,” where Al Pacino’s character staged a robbery to pay for the surgery of his lover, portrayed by male actor Chris Sarandon. There are scores of other examples, before and after these, of men playing trans women in movies. You can go back to Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in “Some Like It Hot,” through John Lithgow in “The World According to Garp,” and Dustin Hoffman in “Tootsie,” all the way up to more recent fare like Jared Leto in “Dallas Buyers Club” and Jeffrey Tambor in “Transparent.” It’s a lot less common to see a story of a transgender man on film, but these roles are also often given to women to portray. You might see the typical farce, such as Joyce Hyser as Terry Griffith in the 1980s teen comedy “Just One of the Guys,” or a far more somber epic like “Boys Don’t Cry,” in which Hilary Swank won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Brandon Teena. Rarer still, of course, is when a female actor plays a trans woman, or a male actor plays a trans man.

Christine Smith

Felicity Huffman, for one, played the lead role in the comedy-drama “Transamerica” in 2005. I actually can’t think of any of the latter off the top of the head. Of course, I bring all these up thanks to Scarlett Johansson. It was just last year that Johansson starred in “Ghost in the Shell,” a whitewashed retelling of Japanese anime. Apparently not learning her lesson, she took the role of Dante “Tex” Gill in an upcoming story of his life, currently titled “Rub and Tug.” Gill was a larger than life character, a mob type who ran massage parlors. He was also a trans man. When Johansson was announced as the star of the movie, there was an outcry. Aside from the fact that she looked nothing like Gill, here

was yet another example of someone of the assigned-at-birth gender of a trans person performing their life on the screen. It didn’t help her case when she – via her publicist – defended her decision to play Gill. “Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment,” read part of the statement, dismissing critics by naming three other stars who portrayed trans people to popular acclaim – and criticism from transgender people. It was a tone-deaf statement, seemingly ignoring everything that people were trying to tell her, while noting that these other celebs gained success by playing transgender people. The thing is, Johansson is coming into this at a time when the landscape is shifting. We are now seeing transgender people getting roles in TV and movies, playing trans characters. Laverne Cox has been a hot commodity for years now, with a role in “Orange is the New Black,” among other projects. Candis Cayne, Chaz Bono, Trace Lysette, Jamie Clayton, and others are appearing more frequently as well, delivering great and authentic performances

as transgender people – and that’s a key point. When Leto portrayed Rayon in “Dallas Buyers Club,” he wasn’t playing a woman. He also wasn’t playing a trans woman. He was playing a man playing a woman. He was missing the portrayal in two key ways, and you got a performance that was in no way authentic to the lives of transgender people. This is what Hollywood seems to want in these roles. It doesn’t actually want an accurate trans portrayal. It wants a man playing a woman, or in the case of Johansson, a woman playing a man. It’s not making a film for transgender people to see a reflection of their own story, but for non-transgender people to feel some sort of strange sympathy for transgender people through their own lens. Johansson, I should add, has since dropped the role amid the backlash over her casting and her response. Those attempting to defend her have been vocal in their displeasure, reminding trans protesters that they have shot themselves in the foot by demanding her removal. They argue that that by not letting A-list celeb be in the film, people will not turn out to see the

movie and people will not learn “awareness” of trans issues. This is nonsense. Right now, on FX, is a series called “Pose.” It premiered in early June. The show focuses on trans lives in the 1980s and features transgender people on both sides of the camera. The stories are authentic, and true, and speak to the trans experience in ways you will never see Leto, or Tambor, or Huffman in their respective roles. These are stories that speak to transgender people, yet also speak to those beyond the community itself. They provide nuance that hasn’t been seen in all the stories that have come before. It has also been popular enough to be renewed for a second season, just a handful of episodes into its first. In short, Johansson – and I hope by extension, Hollywood – is learning an important lesson: trans stories do have merit. What’s more, they don’t need a big non-transgender name in order to slap on a veneer of popular acceptance. That is the direction our stories need to go now, not remain in a mold cast by the exploitative movies of years past. It’s time for our stories to truly be ours to tell. t Gwen Smith wants to see a rich future of trans cinema. You can find her at www.gwensmith.com.

SF Pride partners with GLBT Historical Society compiled by Cynthia Laird

he San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee and the GLBT Historical Society have announced the launch of a multiyear partnership to highlight the historical significance of the 50th anniversary of San Francisco Pride in 2020. The collaboration will enable the organizations to expand public awareness of the connections between understanding histories of LGBTQ people, working for LGBTQ rights in the present, and establishing LGBTQ equality in the future, a joint news release stated. “Both Pride and the GLBT Historical Society are committed to honoring the stories of our elders, encouraging them to share the strategies they have developed in their long lives and struggle,” Terry Beswick, executive director of the historical society, said in the release. “Our organizations pursue a common goal in seeking to build stronger LGBTQ communities by fostering connections between newer generations of activists and longtime organizers in our movement.” The two nonprofits will embark on a number of collaborative efforts

in the two years leading up to San Francisco Pride 50. Three projects are already in the works: SF Pride will donate its historical archives and artifacts to the historical society, which will preserve them and make them available to researchers, historians, artists, and community members. The organizations will jointly launch an oral history project focused on the five-decade story of Pride in San Francisco and the wider history of LGBTQ activism in the Bay Area. The collected interviews will reside in the historical society archives. The historical society will curate several exhibitions about the impact of SF Pride and its place in intersectional movements for justice and equality since 1970. The main exhibition is set to open in advance of the 50th anniversary of SF Pride in June 2020. Additionally, SF Pride has announced the themes for the next two years of the San Francisco Pride parade and celebration, both of which will expand on this year’s theme, “Generations of Strength,” which was created by Larry Lare Nelson. The theme for next year’s SF

Jane Philomen Cleland

The UC Berkeley contingent carried rainbow flags during last month’s San Francisco Pride parade.

Pride will be “Generations of Resistance,” while the theme for SF Pride 2020 will be “Generations of Hope.” “While 2020 sounds far away, we at SF Pride are excited and already planning,” George Ridgely Jr., executive director, said in the release. “Pride is a collaborative celebration, an opportunity to honor our victories, to mobilize against current threats, and to build historical knowledge in our diverse communities.” Next year’s SF Pride events will take place June 29-30. For more information, visit www.sfpride.org.

Eligible non-citizens can vote for school board

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The San Francisco Department of Elections has announced that eligible non-citizens can register to vote for members of the school board in the November 6 election. On Monday, elections director John Arntz said his office has issued voter registration forms to eligible non-citizens. Prospective voters can request a non-citizen voter registration form by calling the elections department at (415) 554-4375, visiting www. sfelections.org/noncitizen/voting, or going to Room 48 in City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, during regular business hours. To be eligible, non-citizens must

be residents of San Francisco, at least 18 years old on Election Day, and parents, legal guardians, or caregivers of children under the age of 19 who also reside in San Francisco. Those who are imprisoned or on parole for conviction of a felony, or currently found by a court to be mentally incompetent to vote, are not eligible. The deadline to register to vote in the November 6 election is October 22. The opportunity for eligible noncitizens to vote for members of the San Francisco Board of Education stems from the November 2016 election, when city voters passed Proposition N, Non-Citizen Voting in School Board Elections, by a vote of 54 percent to 46 percent.

Queer API conference

The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance will hold its triennial national conference in San Francisco July 26-29. Over 400 LGBTQ APIs are expected to attend the conference, the theme of which is “Growing Home.” Attendees will hear from international speakers and participate in more than 100 workshops on an array of topics such as racial justice, immigrants’ rights, LGBTQ equality, trans justice, philanthropy, religious acceptance, and youth organizing. Sammie Ablaza Wells, executive director of API Equality – Northern

California, which is the local host of the conference, said the event provides an opportunity to break down “assumptions” and get to the “root of who we are and what we want to see in the world.” “The conference is a good opportunity for us, for people of similar identities, to actually understand not just what our similarities are, but also what our differences are,” Ablaza Wills, 23, who identifies as queer and nonbinary, said. Nil-Quartelai Quartey, a senior adviser and national LGBT liaison for AARP, said that he appreciates the safe space the conference allows for queer API leaders. Quartey, a gay man, will be presenting results from AARP’s most recent studies that include information about LGBT seniors. The conference will take place at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District, in Chinatown, 750 Kearny Street. Registration ranges from $150 for limited income/students to $350 for corporate/government. For more information, visit http://www.nqapia.org/wpp/.

SFMTA photo archive online

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has an extensive photo archive that has negatives and prints made by transit photographers of the San Francisco Municipal Railway, United Railroads, and Market Street Railway. SFMTA Photo has 20,000 digitized images of city street views, architecture, and transit, including streetcars, cable cars, buses, and infrastructure, all with searchable keywords. The collections go back to 1903 and include the 1906 earthquake and fires. For more information, visit www. sfmta.com/photo. For image use inquiries and questions, email sfmtaphoto@sfmta.com.

LGBTQ family meal in Sonoma

LGBTQ Connection in Napa and Sonoma counties will hold “Family See page 15 >>

Ride to Pride with VTA

Supported, in part, by a Cultural AďŹ&#x20AC;airs grants from the City of San Jose.

<< International News

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • July 19-25, 2018

Global LGBT rights activists challenge Putin, Trump by Heather Cassell

he Human Rights Campaign challenged U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to condemn and end the ongoing persecution of LGBT Chechens as the world leaders met for a summit in Helsinki, Finland July 16. Leading up to the summit, HRC projected a message onto the side of the Presidential Palace where reporters were gathered for the meeting. Reporters watched as a message played in a repeated loop on the side of the palace. “Trump and Putin: Stop the crimes against humanity in Chechnya. Investigate LGBTQ persecution in Chechnya. Bring the perpetrators to justice. The whole world is watching. Silence is deadly. #EyesOnChechnya,” it read. In April 2017, Novaya Gazeta, an independent Russian newspaper, reported that more than 100 male residents in the Chechen Republic had been abducted, held prisoner, and tortured because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation. In the months following the news an estimated 20 men were killed, according to Russian and global LGBT human rights leaders. Putin and Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, a Putin supporter, repeatedly denied reports of LGBT persecution happening in the north caucasus for months. Kadyrov publicly stated there were no LGBT people in Chechnya, and if there were, their families would deal with them, which was widely interpreted as promoting anti-LGBT vigilantism. Putin launched an investigation after a month of international pressure. Months passed before Putin announced a report near the end of last year that found no detainment or torture of LGBT people was happening in Chechnya. Trump has refused to condemn the human rights violations against LGBT Chechens. He has remained silent on the issue even as LGBT Chechens who have escaped and found refuge in LGBT-friendly countries began to speak out. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle condemned the attacks with resolutions. Canada became the biggest supporter of the LGBT victims of Chechnya, working with the Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian-based nongovernmental organization, on resettling some of the survivors. The move threatened Canada’s relationship with Russia, as Russian officials were critical of Canada’s actions. At a rally July 15, HRC global director Ty Cobb was joined by Igor Kochetkov, chair of the Russian LGBT Network, Russia’s largest network of organizations fighting for LGBT

Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva via AP

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday, July 16, in Helsinki, Finland.

human rights, and Viima Lampinen, chairperson of Seta, Finland’s national organization for LGBTI rights. “Trump has unconscionably turned a blind eye to some of the worst antiLGBTQ atrocities in a generation, including monstrous attacks on gay and bisexual men in Chechnya,” Cobb told the crowd, according to a news release from the organization. “HRC is here in Helsinki to demand Donald Trump end his deafening silence, publicly condemn these Chechen crimes against humanity, and call on Putin to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he continued. Kochetkov expressed his gratefulness for supporters around the world. “We are grateful to all people and organizations who support our work in Chechnya. International attention is essential to putting pressure on Russian authorities to take action,” he said in the release. “Russian authorities deny even the mere existence of LGBT people in Chechnya, but with continued international pressure, we aim to stop the persecution, torture, and killing of LGBT people in Chechnya, and ensure that those responsible for these crimes against humanity are brought to justice.” Lampinen noted Finland’s position as a global leader in LGBTI rights. He urged Finnish LGBT advocates to stand up on behalf of queer Chechens and called for Putin and Trump to learn from Finland’s example. “LGBT Chechens are being deprived of their voice, their freedom, and even their lives by state-sanctioned oppression and violence,” he said. “Those of us who have a voice, particularly national governments that claim to support and defend human rights, have a moral and ethical obligation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Gay major general named in Israel

Sharon Afek became the Israel

Defense Forces first openly gay major general July 12. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, members of the general staff forum, and his father, joined Afek July 12 at a ceremony at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv. Being the first openly gay person to hold the position wasn’t lost on Afek. “It’s important for me to act as a role model,” he said, reported the Times of Israel. “Even today, in the year 2018, we still encounter manifestations of ignorance and hatred of others. It’s important to me that young men and women know that there are no glass ceilings in the IDF that limit them.” Afek is a 25-year military veteran. He served in law-related positions before being promoted as military advocate general in 2015, reported the Times of Israel.

Portugal passes trans selfdetermination law

Portugal passed a law July 12 allowing transgender individuals to legally self-determine their gender and name and to prohibit procedures for intersex babies. Portugal is now the sixth European Union country to grant the right to self-determination for transgender individuals following Denmark, Ireland, Malta, Norway, and Sweden. Gender and name change remain independent of any sex reassignment surgery. “Nobody needs a third party to know if they are a man or a woman, a boy or a girl,” Sandra Cunha, a lawmaker from the Left Bloc, argued in the parliamentary debate ahead of the vote, reported Agence France-Presse. Previously, transgender individuals

needed to provide a medical report stating “identity disruption” to government officials when legally changing their gender and name on identification documents. The new law now allows gender and name changes for individuals 16 years of age and older without a medical report with the identity disruption status. Additionally, the law prohibits surgical procedures on intersex babies – those born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male – allowing them to choose their gender later in life. The legislation is now heading to conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s desk for his signature. Rebelo de Sousa, who has been supportive of a bill depathologizing gender identity, vetoed the first version of the bill adopted by parliament in midApril. He wanted a clause requiring a medical report for minors aged 16 to 18, reported the newspaper. The new law includes a clause focused on requiring teenagers to receive parental consent and medical approval for gender and name changes. Advocates hailed the decision but regretted the restrictions on youth. “We congratulate the trans community and its allies in Portugal. This law recognizes the simple fact that trans people are the ones who know best who they are. No doctor or judge can or should get to assess a person’s gender identity. This also includes young people,” said Richard Köhler, senior policy officer of Transgender Europe, in a July 13 statement from the organization. “However, TGEU regrets that those younger than 16 years have no chance to get legal recognition. They are told to simply sit it out, even if legal gender recognition could make a big difference to their lives,” he added. “Self-determination and recognition before the law does not know any age limit.”

LGBT Thai activists hopeful for same-sex partnership bill

LGBT Thai advocates are hopeful that a proposed same-sex partnership bill drafted in 2013 will be passed by November. The Justice Ministry’s Rights and Liberties Protection Department soon could receive a draft of the Life and Partnership Registration Bill for review, Pitikan Sithidej, the department’s director-general, told the Nation. He suggested the bill, which promotes equality for all genders, should fare well under the current government. The bill was resurrected this spring,

raising hopes that Thailand could become Asia’s first country to pass same-sex marriage. In 2013, a gay couple petitioned for legal recognition of their relationship and family the same as heterosexual couples. The ministry’s rights and liberties department that same year took up their petition. However, in 2014, there was a political setback. In May, the bill was brought back to the ministry for review, but critics raised concerns about the language being “life partner” instead of “marriage,” despite being granted the same rights as married heterosexual couples. Former United Nations LGBT expert Vitit Muntarbhorn, who is Thai, raised questions of religion and handling of same-sex marriage. “We need to think about the role of religion, not only in terms of civil marriage but also religious marriage for same-sex couples,” he said. “Should the faith be forced to perform solemnization ceremonies? How will Thailand decide this issue?” Homosexuality isn’t illegal in the country. Buddhism is practiced by 94.5 percent of the country, according to the Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook. According to Buddhist faith, Thai people believe that homosexuality is a sign of sins from past lives, while other religions in the country, such as Muslim and Christianity, cite beliefs, sacred texts, and practices related to homosexuality. Despite a supportive government and a belief that if all stakeholders continue to collaborate the bill will pass, Professor Amara Pongsapich, former chair of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, warned that political forces are still at play too. She noted that the pro-LGBT Life and Partnership Registration Bill still needed a judicial advocate. “We still need a ‘champion’ from the judiciary side to push forward this movement,” she told the Nation. “I have talked with several judges about this issue and I am worried.” It’s uncertain when the bill is expected to go to the National Legislative Assembly, but experts speculate it will be in November. They believe legislators don’t want to delay the bill, and therefore, are fast-tracking it ahead of next year’s election when a new government takes office. “We want the bill to pass and take effect soon. I want to see it in this life,” Kittinun “Danny” Daramadhaj, president of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, who helped draft the life partnership bill, told the magazine. t Got international LGBT news tips? Call or send them to Heather Cassell at Skype: heather.cassell or oitwnews@gmail.com.

Supervised injection demo to open in August by Liz Highleyman

ayor London Breed and members of Glide Memorial Methodist Church this week announced plans to open a supervised injection facility demonstration project in the Tenderloin in late August. Dubbed Safer Inside, the full-scale model will be open to the public from August 28-31. Drug injection at the site will not be permitted during this period. “Having a physical space makes a huge difference,” Glide clinical director Kenneth Kim told the Bay Area Reporter. “While we’re waiting for all the legal issues to be considered, we can move ahead and start engaging with the community about what San Francisco’s version of a safe injection site should look like.” Supervised injection facilities allow people to use drugs under the watch of medical staff, reducing the risk of

Drew Altizer Photography

Mayor London Breed, who was sworn into office last week, announced Sunday that the city will open a safe injection site model at Glide Memorial Methodist Church next month.

overdose deaths. The facilities provide sterile needles, preventing transmission of HIV and hepatitis B and C. They reduce street-based drug use and

improper syringe disposal, as well as offer clients an entry point for seeking addiction treatment and medical care. There are currently about 100 safe injection sites around the world in countries including Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia. Vancouver’s Insite – the first North American facility – served more than 7,300 clients in 2017, according to Vancouver Coastal Health, which manages the facility. More than 3.6 million clients have used the Insite since it opened in 2003, with no overdose deaths. San Francisco is home to an estimated 22,500 people who inject drugs, with around 100 overdose deaths annually – down from around 200 before the widespread use of Narcan (naloxone), a medication that reverses overdoses. The increasing availability of fentanyl, a much stronger opioid than heroin, is a growing concern.

“By moving folks with substance use disorders off the streets and into a supervised and safe environment, we eliminate overdose deaths, eliminate HIV and hepatitis C transmission, and build relationships and connections with participants who use the facility,” said Paul Harkin, Glide’s manager of HIV, hepatitis, and harm reduction services. “The data show that folks who use these facilities use less drugs and are more likely to seek drug treatment. It may seem counterintuitive, but the outcomes are all good.” Although the site is still being designed, it is expected to have several booths where clients can inject drugs they bring from outside, as well as a common “chill” space. Once open for business the injection facility will be integrated with the full range of medical, mental health, and addiction services offered at Glide. Glide worked with Capital One

Design to develop the demo site, seeking input from potential users, nearby residents, and other stakeholders – a process that will continue when the model opens next month. “It’s not just a one-way advocacy exhibit,” Kim told the B.A.R. “It really is two ways, and we’re hoping to get feedback from those who come in who are absolutely against the idea all the way to folks who are saying, it’s about time.”

Legal concerns

Breed, who lost her younger sister to a drug overdose, championed safe injection sites as District 5 supervisor and is continuing the effort in her first days as mayor. Her office did not respond to a request for comment for this story. In February, the San Francisco Health Commission unanimously See page 13 >>

National News>>

July 19-25, 2018 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

Ryan White funds not cut from current grants by Alex Madison

IV advocates are refuting some claims made in a recent online article that the Trump administration is siphoning off current money from federal AIDS funding to pay for costs associated with migrant children who have been separated from their parents. In a recent article, Slate claims that the Trump administration plans to reallocate money from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 to fund the Office of Refugee Resettlement Activities, specifically housing children who are separated from their parents who have illegally crossed the U.S. border. However, some leaders in the AIDS nonprofit sector disagree with Slate’s claims. Ernest Hopkins, director of legislative affairs for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, told the Bay Area Reporter that current programs of the Ryan White foundation will not be affected. “We’d like to make sure that people understand that current programming is not at risk,” Hopkins wrote in an email to the B.A.R. He explained that the federal Department of Health and Human Services helps fund various HIV/AIDS programs annually, including the Ryan White program, which is overseen by the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, and also administers the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The funds, which Slate said are being redirected from the Ryan White program to pay for child separation at the border, are, in actuality, HRSAdonated funds the Ryan White program failed to use during its fiscal year or a three-year eligibility period that follows, advocates said. Hopkins is policy chair of the Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief (CAEAR) Coalition, a national organization with a primary focus on the Ryan White program. The coalition wrote in an email Tuesday to HIV/AIDS organizations that the FY 2016 funds, which are at issue, could have been added to the Ryan White program’s FY 2018 awards, but were instead, reallocated to the refugee resettlement program. “The reallocated funds mentioned in the Slate article were not older than three years, and, as such, were allowed to be reallocated to the Ryan White program,” the coalition stated. The Health and Human Services secretary, “chose, however, to reallocate the funds to ORR before the recent Trump administration’s policy to remove immigrant children from their parents.” The coalition said that in 2017, HRSA staff said that the Health and Human Services department notified Congress of the transfer of FY 2016 Ryan White HIV/AIDS program funds to ORR. “This notification was sent in the form of a letter from the secretary of HHS to congressional appropriations in 2017. The reallocation was finalized in 2018,” the CAEAR Coalition stated. “No one likes a precedent being set of redirecting Ryan White funds to fund a policy we abhor and reject as illegitimate,” said Hopkins, who said the Slate article caused undue stress. “The headlines about the [redirection of funds] across the country have caused great anxiety in individuals who rely on Ryan White for drug access and medical care.” That being said, Hopkins pointed out that people do have cause for concern in that the Trump administration has targeted HIV programs for cuts, claiming that both the Ryan White and the Minority AIDS Initiative have been on the chopping block in the administration’s budget in the past. Another organization, the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors, based in Washington, D.C., sent out a news release disagreeing

with the Slate article. It explains that the Ryan White funds that were returned to the treasury were funds unspent by the program. “[We] believe the funds referenced for transfer are likely those that are not current and therefore not eligible to be allocated to any Ryan White Program grantee,” stated NASTAD’s Murray Penner and Emily McCloskey. “Current fiscal year appropriations have very likely already been obligated to grantees, and it would be very difficult to deobligate those in

order to move them to the reported child separation activities.” Others were quick to condemn the Trump administration when the news hit. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (DOakland) said in a news release, “This is a stunning and cynical breach of public trust. Taking money away from lifesaving HIV/AIDS care to fund jailing immigrant children is completely unacceptable. “Not only am I disappointed to see the Trump administration once again shortchange HIV/AIDS programs – I

am outraged that these funds would be used to perpetrate human rights abuses on innocent children,” Lee stated. “As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will fight this every step of the way.” Her office was made aware of NASTAD’s findings, but Lee did not respond with additional comments. The San Francisco Department of Public Health declined to comment to the B.A.R. DPH oversees funding for the San Francisco Ryan White program. t

Ernest Hopkins

We Belong Together

Bag your clean soft plastics, tie them off, and toss them in your Blue Bin. Learn what goes where at SFRecycles.org

<< Sports

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • July 19-25, 2018

49ers’ out coach Sowers prepared for her role by Roger Brigham

hen 49ers assistant coach Katie Sowers spoke at the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco this week, she was witty, thoughtful, sensitive, down-toearth, intelligent, and candid. In other words, just about everything you’d want in a coach. When Sowers was just a little girl, she knew three things for certain. She loved playing football, she wanted to coach football, and she was attracted to other girls. She and her twin sister, Liz, who is also a football-loving lesbian, would call up every boy in the neighborhood to get them to play. Their father gave them used football gear – smelly and raggedy equipment worn out by the local college team – for a gift one year and they thought it was the most glorious gift ever. The other thing that came through in Sowers’ appearance Tuesday on the club’s “The Michelle Meow Show,” is that she is a planner who puts in the work to prepare for what she wants to do. She knows she’s not ready yet to be a head coach, but that goal should be attainable after she absorbs a few years of football wisdom for other coaches,

Steven Underhill

49ers assistant coach Katie Sowers, center, makes a point to co-hosts John Zipperer and Michelle Meow Tuesday during an appearance on “The Michelle Meow Show” at the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco.

entering all of her learning and experiences in the journal she keeps. Sowers, 32, is the second female coach in the NFL and the first out lesbian. She came to the 49ers from the Atlanta Falcons, where she interned under now Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan, through the Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship, whose application at the time had no box for her to indicate she was a woman or had played professionally in the Women’s Football Alliance. And yet, here she is.

She told the audience she grew up in a very religious Christian family and came out to her mother when she was a junior in college. She’d just broken up with a longtime girlfriend and went into the living room, where she intended to open up to her mother, who was watching television. Before she could say anything, her mother noticed she was crying and asked her what was wrong. “It’s about my best friend,” Sowers began. “We were together a long time, but now we’re not dating.” “Well, Katie,” her mother said after a gulp and a pause, “there’s more to life than people.” Which, of course, the women

found both wise and funny, good for a laugh to replace the tears. Most importantly, it broke the ice and Sowers knew things were going to be OK. There were no women’s football programs at school, so she played basketball (her second favorite sport) and soccer and ran track. She needed a fifth year to finish her degree after her varsity eligibility ran out, so she thought she’d go to her college coach and volunteer to help coach the team. The coach had other ideas. He told her that since she and two other women had graduated, “We got rid of all that stuff. It’s nothing personal. We don’t want you here.” It was the first time she had run smack into outright homophobia, and it was entirely personal. And yet, here she is. “I felt I lost my identity,” she said of the incident. “Sometimes bad things happen to you that put you exactly where you need to be. I knew then I wanted to coach. It inspired me to go on the internet and find a team.” She found a women’s football team to play on in Michigan. “That’s when I realized I can coach.” Even coach men, even though she’s a woman. “Coaching is leading and teaching,” she said. “I don’t think there’s

another situation where you’d say a woman can’t coach or that a woman can’t lead.” She later was quarterback for the Kansas City Titans in the Women’s Football Alliance, eventually becoming the Titans’ general manager. After her internship with the Niners ended in 2017, Shanahan named her an assistant coach last season. Now she is here, assisting the other coaches, working at the games, running workout sessions, acting as a sounding board, and encouraging athletes when they feel they are vulnerable. “Bill Walsh often said the most important thing you can tell an athlete is, ‘I believe in you,’” she said. So that’s what she does, fits in, plugs away at her job, listens to all the football knowledge she can, setting it all down and doing her best to absorb it. She’s part of a staff and a team that looks poised to make a move up in the standings this year, returning to the football relevance that earmarked the franchise so many years ago. She’s excited by the competition, by the chance to be a part, by the chance to grow. And yes, that’s why she is here. She’s not here as a publicity stunt or some touchy-feely effort to humanize a franchise. She’s here because she’s all about football. She’s here because she’s just about everything you’d want in a coach. t

Oakland march makes stance for disability rights by Belo Cipriani

ccording to the online news site Vox, last year’s Women’s March on Washington was one of the largest gatherings of people with disabilities in U.S. history – exceeding demonstrations by disability advocates after the Senate passed the Americans with Disabilities Act decades ago. Now, more than a year later, the Women’s March continues to advocate for women from all backgrounds through its global platform in several cities. But for San Francisco resident Robin Wilson-Beattie, a queer disability advocate and writer, not all Women’s March chapters are inclusive of people with disabilities.

“I was disappointed, but not surprised,” she said, “that San Francisco’s Women’s March did not have this. Nowhere did I see advertised any disability inclusivity or any acknowledgement of the importance of recognizing disability as a women’s rights issue.” The Bay Area Reporter reached out to Women’s March San Francisco for a comment. The public relations team replied immediately with the following: “First, we hear Wilson-Beattie’s feedback and frustration and are glad she was able to find a march that best served her needs,” the statement read. “Women’s March San Francisco organizes around the Women’s March Unity Principles, among which disability rights

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features prominently. From our inception, we’ve considered the needs of our disabled community, providing trolleys for those with mobility issues, locating actions along accessible transportation routes, carving out an ADA area at the front of the stage, and providing ASL interpreters for all our actions.” Women’s March San Francisco is an all-volunteer organization and welcomes referrals from individuals and organizations that could help them improve their services. The organization said, “We consult and also know we can always improve.” Wilson-Beattie, who is 40 and manages a spinal cord injury, as well as a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and depression, traveled out of her city and crossed the bay to Oakland to find a Women’s March chapter that fit her needs. “I signed up to march and volunteer, because the Oakland Women’s March was the Bay Area event that made a concerted effort to involve people with disabilities as an inclusive part of the event,” she said. “Also,” she continued, “The LightHouse [for the Blind and Visually Impaired] was organizing it, so I knew it would be legit.” Lisamaria Martinez, 37, an LGBT ally and director of community services for the San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind, mentioned her organization was contacted to help make Women’s March Oakland more accessible. “Immediately, we jumped in and we helped to coordinate a 2018 pan-disability contingency for the march,” she said. Martinez, who is blind, had participated in the march in 2017, when she was pregnant, as a community member. Now, she was elated to march among her community and to come full circle. “This time around, I marched with my almost 1-year-old daughter and about 50 other people with disabilities or allies,” she said. “It was an

Benson Manica

Queer disability advocate Robin Wilson-Beattie took part in the Oakland Women’s March earlier this year.

amazing day, and I was so excited to share it with other people who have disabilities…” Catherine Kudlick, professor of history and director of the Longmore Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University, marched in the 2018 Women’s March disability contingent. Kudlick, who is 60, blind, and bisexual, feels disability often gets left out of broader political organizing, and she found the disability contingent empowering. “We were pretty much at the front of everyone,” Kudlick said, “which was great for our being visible. At a couple of points, I ended up with the megaphone; I helped come up with a couple of chants to link us to the issues of the day.” “These are tough times,” continued Kudlick, “for anyone who identifies in any way with being marginal – queer, disabled, person of color, and, surprisingly, in 2018, being a woman.” Alison Mata, director of operations for Women’s March Oakland, stated that inclusion has been a priority of the chapter since its inception, and it has partnered with several disability advocates and agencies to ensure it honors its

commitment to accessibility. “Our peace ambassador trainings include disability etiquette and our upcoming activism trainings will dive further into this topic,” said Mata. Mata, 33, an event planner in the San Francisco Bay Area, was inspired by the Women’s March on Washington, but felt she should respond to the movement locally. In addition to planning the march, she has been involved in organizing several clinics and events over the past six months through Women’s March Oakland. “We released a toolkit on removing barriers to voting in the East Bay for International Women’s Day in March, held a voting workshop in May, and hosted the Oakland stop of the Women’s March Power to the Polls tour in June,” she said. In the fall, Women’s March Oakland will be hosting more voting clinics, launching an activism training series, and holding an event on building bridges across differences. To get involved or volunteer, visit http://www.womensmarchoakland. org.t Belo Cipriani is an award-winning author and prize-winning journalist. His new book, “Firsts: Coming of Age Stories by People with Disabilities,” will be published October 1. Learn more at http://www.belocipriani.com.

Obituaries >>

t Tom Gallagher, first out Foreign Service officer, dies by Cynthia Laird

work in San Francisco during the early years of the AIDS epidemic.

om Gallagher, the country’s first openly gay Foreign Service officer who was forced to quit because of his sexual orientation but was later reinstated, died July 8 in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. He was 77. The cause of death was complications from a staph infection, his husband, Amin Dulgumoni, told the Bay Area Reporter in a phone interview. “He was a wonderful man,” Dulgumoni said. “He helped people. He was a caring man.” In 1975, Mr. Gallagher was assigned acting U.S. consul general in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He was 34 and the youngest chief of a major American diplomatic mission in modern U.S. history, he wrote in an obituary he prepared before his death. That same year, he came out as a gay man at a conference organized by the Gay Activist Alliance of Washington, D.C. His coming out forced him to resign from the State Department, he wrote. Mr. Gallagher was reinstated in 1994, when President Bill Clinton lifted the policy of formal discrimination against gay Foreign Service officers. Upon his return, he was first assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, he wrote. Dulgumoni said that Mr. Gallagher was previously married to a woman when he heard about the Stonewall riots in New York City in 1969. He decided that it was time to be himself, Dulgumoni recalled. “I’m glad he did that,” he said. Jacqui Shine, who last month wrote a profile about Mr. Gallagher that was published on Slate, marveled at the history of his life. “He was as astonished as anyone by

Guest Opinion

From page 6

we were able to register many Democrats who had never voted, or had not voted in years. We still lost that vote 61 percent to 39 percent. Transphobia is rampant in our culture, and fostered by our current president and attorney general. Standing up for, and with, the transgender communities has never been more important. We have a government that is willing to ban transgender military members, which, at the same time, is also expelling immigrants once promised citizenship from the military as well. We have a government that is re-allocating unused Ryan White funds needed to care for people with HIV and AIDS to pay for the ongoing incarceration of children and families seeking refuge or asylum, a number of whom are also transgender, and who face certain death if returned to their countries. Californians, we need your help. Donate to Freedom for All Massachusetts. Host a house party, or a benefit. The children of my current congregation just raised $485 with a lemonade stand for RAICES, a Texas-based civil

Safe injection demo

From page 10

adopted the recommendations of the city’s Safe Injection Services Task Force, putting the city a step closer to opening the first supervised injection facility in the United States. “The health department has been working on safe injection services with the full support of the mayor, the city, and the community, and we are still working through legal barriers,” San Francisco Department of Public Health spokeswoman Rachael Kagan told the B.A.R. “It is great to see the growing awareness and support for this approach that we know can save lives and connect people to care.” Indeed, the legal barriers may be substantial. On the federal level, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has indicated

July 19-25, 2018 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 13

Early life

Tom Gallagher

the extraordinary turns his life took, and humbled by, and grateful for, all he experienced – and he had friends from all over the world and all parts of his life,” Shine wrote in an email.

California years

After Mr. Gallagher was forced to leave the State Department, he moved to California to pursue a career as a social worker. According to his obituary, he worked as an emergency room social worker at the UCLA hospital in Los Angeles. And volunteered at what was then called the Gay Community Service Center (now the LA LGBT Center). He then moved to northern California and became a social work supervisor for the Travelers Aid Society of San Francisco, where he developed the first counseling program for children in the Tenderloin. In 1980, Mr. Gallagher became director of Napa County’s psychiatric emergency program. He also did

Mr. Gallagher was born September 11, 1940 in Manhattan, the son of Thomas Sr. and Mary Josephine Murphy Gallagher. He graduated from Holy Spirit School in Asbury Park, New Jersey. He received his bachelor’s degree from Monmouth University in 1962, and his master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. Heather Mistretta, who wrote about Mr. Gallagher for Monmouth magazine, said he “was a dichotomy in the best way.” “He was a gentle and kind man with a wonderfully wry sense of humor, but his unwavering courage compelled him to crash through boundaries that never should have been there in the first place,” she wrote in an email. “Tom’s dichotomous life was full but always had room for one more person who might need his help or a hand to lead the way.” According to his obituary, Mr. Gallagher entered the first Peace Corps group to go to Ethiopia. He was assigned to the small town of Agordot in Eritrea, and was an early supporter of the province’s war for independence (which was finally achieved in 1991). “He was still in touch with students he taught in Eritrea in 1961,” Shine said. He returned to the U.S. and began his first salaried job at the White House, where he worked in the early days of the Johnson administration’s War on Poverty. His obituary states that he wrote the first anti-poverty grants for San Francisco; Dayton, Ohio; and Leslie County, Kentucky, which was the

rights group working to reunite families separated by ICE. If they can do that, think what you can do to express your concern for transgender rights and for human rights. Finally, we need everyone who is eligible to vote in November to show up. Do you have friends or relatives in Massachusetts? Talk to them about this bill and tell them what’s at stake. A vote for a progressive candidate in California is another way to Vote Yes on 3 in Massachusetts. Here’s what happened when I went door-to-door in Malden and Needham. I drew on my experience of the No on Knight/Prop 22 campaign to overcome my shyness about engaging strangers on this topic. I felt a little bit like a missionary for liberation. Some quoted the Bible to me (not knowing I am a minister – that was kind of fun), and I told them that it was because I am religious I supported these rights. And even if I didn’t believe as I do, I would never want to see my religion used to justify discrimination. More often, people would share with me, “Well, I have a gay brother,” and sometimes, “my sister (or my daughter) is transgender.” The best reaction was the guy who invited me in to meet three generations of his Haitian family

in their kitchen, and he translated my pitch, and one by one they nodded in agreement. He said, “We’re black, we’re immigrants, of course we support transgender rights.” Even when I got a negative or tepid reaction, if I was able to keep them in the conversation for a few minutes, they were persuaded to either vote yes to protect human rights, or at least keep an open mind. Now is the time to take a stand – what happens in Massachusetts can send a message to the entire country: transgender rights are human rights, and we all stand together. t

his intention to crack down on those who provide and use illicit drugs. Already at odds with the Trump administration over its sanctuary city policy, a widely publicized, first-in-the-nation supervised injection facility could put San Francisco in the crosshairs. At the state level, a bill sponsored by lesbian Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) and co-authored by gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) that would have allowed selected cities to authorize supervised injection facilities on a pilot basis fell short of passage last year. San Francisco does not intend to wait for federal or state laws to change. The city has a history of implementing innovative public health approaches regardless of the law, including one of the country’s first unsanctioned

needle exchanges and some of the first medical cannabis dispensaries. Both of those efforts were started by activists and later adopted by the city, but advocates and city officials are taking the lead together on supervised injection. “I hope that this demonstration will help dispel some myths and make people more comfortable with the idea,” Laura Thomas of the Drug Policy Alliance, who sat on the task force, told the B.A.R. “I’m encouraged by Mayor Breed’s strong support and Glide’s historic willingness to take risks and do the right thing. I think it’s clear to everyone in San Francisco why we need these services. I hope that we don’t spend much longer talking about it before we start doing it.” Members of the public can sign up for a Safer Inside tour, August 28-31, at http://www.saferinside.org.t

For more information or to donate, visit Freedom For All Massachusetts at www.freedommassachusetts.org, Needham Coalition for Transgender Rights at https://www.facebook.com/NeedhamForFreedom/, Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services at https://www. raicestexas.org, or Progressive Massachusetts at www.progressivemass.com.

poorest county in the U.S. Mr. Gallagher joined the Foreign Service in 1965. His first assignment was to Jidda, Saudi Arabia, where he was mentored by Ambassador Herman Fr. Eilts. Mr. Gallagher planned the evacuation of the American community from western Saudi Arabia during the June War in 1967, and was chosen by Eilts to be one of the last 10 Americans to remain in the Middle East during that war. After his reinstatement, Mr. Gallagher followed his assignment to Madrid with other diplomatic posts. He was appointed country officer for Eritrea and Sudan in the State Department’s Office of East African Affairs. In 1998, he negotiated a truce between the Nuer and Dinka tribes in southern Sudan who were threatening to go to war. Seventeen years later, that war did break out. Mr. Gallagher led the State Department’s efforts to destroy Joseph Kony’s Lords Resistance Army, which abducted 30,000 children into slavery and killed 200,000 people in Uganda and Sudan. According to his obituary, Mr. Gallagher also led the U.S. delegation to a conference in the Hague of 15 donor nations that raised $1.5 billion in food and aid for more than a million Sudanese in the war-torn region. In 1999, Mr. Gallagher was transferred to the U.S. Embassy in Brussels as head of the visa section. His obituary noted that his proudest accomplishment was the refusal of a visa to a radical young Moroccan who wanted to return to his studies in mosquito spraying at the flight school in Opa Laka, Florida in September 2001. The CIA had publicly announced its

concern that al-Qaida was planning to spray poison on an American city. That event did not happen. Mr. Gallagher later returned to the U.S. for other assignments. His final tour at the State Department was at the Office of International Health, where he served as regional adviser for Europe for a worldwide anti-AIDS program. After retiring in 2005, Mr. Gallagher continued to do brief tours for the State Department, serving at 17 embassies and consulates on five continents. Mr. Gallagher received many honors over the years, including from the Foundation for AIDS Research (now known as amfAR); Monmouth University, Distinguished Alumnus of the Year; and NJ Pride, Trailblazer Award. In 2016, the assistant secretary of state for security affairs publicly apologized to Mr. Gallagher for the fact that he had been forced to give up his career 40 years earlier. “He will always be my hero,” Dulgumoni said. In addition to his husband, Mr. Gallagher is survived by his former wife, Carolyn Worrell, who is now a judge in Nevada. At his bequest, Mr. Gallagher’s body was donated for research and education to the Mercer County Community College in New Jersey. Memorial services are being planned at the DACOR Bacon House in Washington, D.C., in September and at Monmouth University.t

of Progressive Massachusetts. He was the pastor of MCC-San Francisco for 15 years when it was located in the Castro district, and

of New Spirit Community Church in Berkeley at Pacific School of Religion for six years.

To read Jacqui Shine’s profile of Mr. Gallagher, go to https://slate. com/human-interest/2018/06/tomgallagher-the-first-openly-gay-foreign-service-officer.html.

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14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • July 19-25, 2018

Mayor Breed

From page 1

said at the conclusion of her twohour policy summit, held at UC Hastings College of the Law July 14 and attended by about 200 people. “The goal is to understand new ideas. I also think there has to be follow-up, especially housing and housing equity.” The mayor noted a theme that many speakers brought up. “All these issues are connected,” she said. For example, Debra Walker, an artist and lesbian who co-chaired the arts and tourism committee, pointed out tourism is an economic engine for the city. “Tourism, including the arts, generates $9.1 billion a year and 81,000 jobs,” Walker told the mayor. “It’s really important that we support tourism and art.” According to the committee’s executive summary, last year the city’s hotel tax brought in over $370 million. Annual payroll in the tourism industry exceeds $2.5 billion, which increases the tax contribution to over $700 million annually. “Beyond economic impact, we know that arts and culture, cultural tourism, and national and international convenings play a leading role in shaping a culture for our city that embraces inclusion, diversity, and creativity,” the summary stated. Walker pointed out the revenue

Hate crimes

From page 1

The statistics alarmed many local and statewide LGBT officials, some of whom blame the exclusionary, anti-immigration and anti-minority rhetoric coming from President Donald Trump and his administration. In San Francisco, Sneh Rao, a gay man who’s director of policy for the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, talked to the Bay Area Reporter about how the White House’s rhetoric is impacting communities across the nation. “It is hard not to view this sharp increase in violence as connected to the Trump administration’s discourse and policies against minority groups, particularly Latinx, Muslim, and LGBTQ communities,” Rao wrote in an email. “I worry that the administration’s rhetoric helps to normalize discrimination and embolden perpetrators of hate violence, both in our state and across the country.” Equality California, the state’s largest LGBT rights group, reminded supporters that the fight for equality is far from over. “With intolerance and hate on the rise across our country, these findings clearly illustrate how much work is left to be done right here in California,” said EQCA

Faith leaders

From page 3

described an incident a couple of months ago at an Alabama church where the entire congregation started damning some young men to hell when they attempted to lead a discussion about HIV/AIDS. The incident reminded him about

Political Notebook

From page 7

Commissioners up for reappointment

San Francisco Planning Commissioners Dennis Richards, the lone gay member of the oversight body, and Kathrin Moore learned last week that Board of Supervisors President Malia Cohen had nominated them for reappointment

“I think London’s idea of bringing us all together and having a discussion and sharing was really inspired.” –Roberta Achtenberg, Co-Chair, Housing Committee

subsidies and clean streets.” Mark Dunlop, a gay man who was on the housing committee, is on the board of the Treasure Island Development Authority. Speaking to the B.A.R. after the summit, he said he was excited “to see action and movement.” “We have land, but there’s still a gap,” he said of TIDA, adding he’s hopeful the percentage of affordable units on the island can be increased to 30 percent, up from 25. The health committee was represented by Diane Jones, a former nurse. Her partner, former health commissioner Roma Guy, provided a copy of the committee’s executive summary. “It’s related to challenges and what the mayor says she wants to do,” Guy told the B.A.R. Among the recommendations are to establish a city priority for same-day diagnoses, medication, treatment, and follow-up, and to assert constantly that HIV is a disease, mental illnesses are diseases, and substance abuse disorder is an addictive disease. The committee also wants to implement safe injection sites – something Breed supports – to reduce the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C, reduce discarded needles on the streets, and refer people to detox and other health care services. On Sunday, Breed announced a safe injection model in the Tenderloin. [See story, page 10.]

Jones pointed out that the city has regularly backfilled federal funding cuts for HIV/AIDS. “That needs to continue; if not we will lose ground,” she explained. Jones also said that the city’s Getting to Zero initiative to reduce HIV transmission to nearly zero by 2020 is key, but that housing is a major component to its success. “We’re not getting to zero on HIV without housing,” she said. Miguel Bustos, a gay man, copresented the equity and equality committee’s report. The group recommended greater communication and collaboration between city departments with the goal of creating a stronger flow of information. And the group suggested that the mayor hold office hours in the supervisorial districts, with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services taking the lead, and that the sessions focus on topics that address equity and equality. Breed seemed to like that idea, telling the audience that she got her government start in the neighborhood services office. The committee also recommended expanding the equity fellowship program being launched in the Western Addition with the Office of Economic Workforce Development and the Human Rights Commission to include Latinx, indigenous, Asian and Pacific Islanders, LGBTQs, the formerly incarcerated, and others.t letter to the U.S. Justice Department opposing a proposal that would end the collection of data related to violence against LGBTQ youth.

to push for “openness” and a “much broader exploration of what is Jewish life,” said Rose. “I think that Judaism has done a really good job around some of the areas around LGBTQI concerns,” Rose said. “I think that there is some really good modeling that can be used, and is being used.” t

produced in that sector can “help connect homeless people to services more effectively, help fund police foot patrols, and many other services.” Much time was spent discussing housing and homelessness. Suggestions included having Navigation Centers in every district, which will likely be a tough sell in the western half of the city, and neighborhoods such as the Castro. Other ideas were partnering with private companies, something the mayor endorsed. The housing committee’s executive summary stated that a consistent supply of housing must be provided at all income levels, especially affordable housing. The committee also recommended fully funding Proposition F, the right to counsel measure for residential tenants facing eviction, by June 2019, as the initiative stated, and implementing a program to protect single-room occupancy affordability to keep people who have no other choice in housing.

The co-chairs also discussed creative financing ideas and recommended putting a general obligation bond measure before voters for at least $500 million. Roberta Achtenberg, a lesbian who’s co-chair of the housing committee and a former supervisor, told the Bay Area Reporter she thought the summit was “inspiring.” “I think London’s idea of bringing us all together and having a discussion and sharing was really inspired. Many of the committees want to keep meeting,” said Achtenberg, who now sits on the board of the Bank of San Francisco. She, too, said there needed to be more creative financing options for housing. “To produce 5,000 units of housing a year, we’re going to have to get creative fast,” she said. Breed was looking for consensus. “How can we get everyone on board to support one thing?” Breed asked. “I want to go to the private sector ... to support more [housing]

Executive Director Rick Zbur in a news release. “These tragic statistics are just one piece of the story. Behind these numbers are parents and siblings and children, students and teachers, co-workers and neighbors – people who deserve to live safe and healthy lives with equal dignity and respect. We owe it to them to continue doing everything we can to end the epidemic of hate and violence in our state and in our nation.” Just days after the July 9 release of Becerra’s report, Senator Kamala Harris (D-California) joined Democratic lawmakers in the Senate and House to introduce the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition of 2018. The legislative ban would mitigate the use of socalled gay and trans panic defenses, in which defendants attempt to blame a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity for their violent, sometimes deadly, reaction. “There is no place for prejudice against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in our country,” said Harris in a news release. “The so-called gay and trans panic defense allows people carry out hate crimes and denies justice to the victims of those crimes.” Lesbian Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) and gay Representative David Cicilline (D-Rhode Island) are among the co-sponsors

of the bill, which was introduced July 13. Harris, who was state attorney general before her election to the Senate, added, “I was proud to be part of the effort to outlaw it in California and am committed to banning it nationwide.” Other supporters of the legislation include the National LGBT Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the American Unity Fund. In the Bay Area, recent reported attacks against members of the LGBT community are being investigated by police as possible hate crimes. Tim Tait, 40, whose drag name is Ginger Snap, was leaving the Eagle Tavern June 9 when he was allegedly attacked, leaving him with two black eyes, a gash on his forehead, a broken front tooth, and other cuts and bruises. Tait could not recall any details of his attacker and filed a police report about a week and a half after the incident. Police had no new information on Tait’s case. Global LGBT rights activist Scott Long was brutally attacked and hospitalized June 9 in Oakland. Long was walking to a friends apartment when a man came out from behind a fence in a neighboring driveway and attacked him from behind with what Long

believes was a tire iron in the East Bay city’s Laurel neighborhood. Though Becerra stated how important data is to creating “smart policies that ensure public safety throughout our state,” he neglected to mention that the majority of hate crime incidents go unreported, according to a recent report released by the United States Department of Justice. In California, a state audit released in May revealed that outdated policies have led law enforcement agencies to misidentify or fail to report incidents. “Although reported hate crimes have increased by more than 20 percent from 2014 to 2016, law enforcement has not been doing enough to identify, report, and respond to these crimes,” Auditor Elaine Howle wrote in a letter accompanying the audit. Some efforts are being made to combat this, however. Last month Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1985 that sets minimum standards for hate crime policies adopted by local law enforcement agencies and will improve hate crime reporting across the state. The bill is authored by Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and co-sponsored by Equality California. Becerra also led a coalition of 10 attorneys general to submit a comment

his HIV-positive friends in southern Africa whose preacher had them bring their medications to the front of the church, where he “threw them on the ground and stomped on their meds,” he said. “This is 2018 and it is still happening,” said Newells. “Being liberal California, I can be out and push envelopes,” he said. “It’s my

responsibility to do that because there are lots of folks that cannot for [their] safety” or who don’t want to leave their families and place of worship for a more accepting congregation. Partridge added, “We need to be doing that work and it’s hard work.” “It happens person by person, relationship by relationship, [and] community by community,” he said.

Others see the Bay Area’s communities of faith as a model for their communities to aspire. “What is being done here is just really important for other people to see what is possible,” said Rose, who also travels around the U.S. and in other countries. Copeland and Rose noted how the Jewish tradition to reexamine and interpret the Torah could be used

to the planning commission. Their terms both expire at the end of July, and the supervisors will now vote on whether they should serve another four years. Two of the more pro-tenant members on the powerful oversight committee, Richards and Moore each have reputations for being tough critics of development projects, particularly those that impact tenants in rent controlled buildings.

But they are also known for making suggestions to how projects can be tweaked to address their concerns and win approval rather than being staunch opponents who vote no.

Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles in the Assembly District 15 race, as well as for the gay candidates running for city council seats this November in El Cerrito, Richmond and Dublin. It will be July 25. The LGBT political club will then hold another endorsement vote for all other fall races at its August 22 meeting. The online version of the column has been corrected. t

Recent attacks

Correction

Last week’s column incorrectly reported when the Lambda Democratic Club of Contra Costa County will hold its early endorsement vote of lesbian Richmond City

Other crime statistics

According to Becerra’s report, the homicide rate in California decreased by 6.5 percent per 100,000 population, while arson and rape rates increased 10.7 and 6.9 percent, respectively. Violent crime in general rose 1.5 percent. The San Francisco Police Department also released its own 2017 crime date report for the city, which showed that the homicide rate decreased by 3.4 percent, homicide by firearms decreased by 5 percent, and non-fatal shooting incidents decreased 15.8 percent. “Reducing violent crime is and will always be our top priority,” said San Francisco Police Chief William Scott in a news release. “We’re working closely with community members and our city partners to reduce gun related violence. Protecting lives and providing safety for the public – particularly our youth – is key to ensuring a vibrant future for everyone.” In San Francisco, car burglaries decreased 5 percent citywide between December 1, 2017, and January 31, 2018. And auto thefts decreased 11 percent in 2017. t

Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion, is going on summer hiatus. It will return Monday, July 30. Keep abreast of the latest LGBT political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/politicalnotes. Got a tip on LGBT politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 8298836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com.

t <<

Community News>>

News Briefs

From page 8

Meal,” an intergenerational LGBTQ luncheon Friday, July 20, at 1 p.m. at Vintage House, 264 First Street, East, in Sonoma. Organizers said they decided to hold the event after hearing from young people and seniors that they

Pride Month

From page 1

California Legislative LGBT Caucus. It passed the state Senate in May with a bipartisan vote of 59-0, and previously passed the Assembly. “California has the largest LGBT population of any state in the union, and the state is home to over 40 LGBT Pride celebrations each year,” said Low in a news release. “I want to thank Governor Brown for adding Pride to the list of celebrations

Takei

From page 5

As a child, Takei was sent to a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II and last month, he wrote a scathing op-ed for http:// www.foreignpolicy.com condemning the Trump administration’s policy to separate migrant families at the U.S. border. “We were imprisoned behind barbed wire fences because we looked like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor,” Takei told the B.A.R.

Starbucks

From page 1

of the Starbucks, or an independent bookstore. Others told the Bay Area Reporter that they would like to see a business that serves the leather community move in. “Give the space to Wicked Grounds at a reduced or affordable rent,” said Teagan Widmer, International Ms. Bootblack 2018, who described herself as a transsexual woman. “Really, anything but a coffee shop. There are a number of shops within walking distance that already serve coffee.” Widmer added that something community-focused was needed. “Maybe work with other local businesses in the area to see what the need is. Maybe a late-night food shop. There’s not a lot of food options in this part of SOMA.” “Starbucks is where I go when I

July 19-25, 2018 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

wanted to make connections across LGBTQ generations. RSVPs are encouraged but not required. Lunch will be served and attendees are asked to bring a dish to share. The Identity Project will be present to take portraits and discuss how people label their gender and sexuality. For more information, visit

http://www.lgbtqconnection.org.

Tiffany Woods, program manager of the TransVision program at Tri-City Health Center in Fremont, will speak on trans health and mental health in the age of President Donald Trump Monday, July 30, at the Commonwealth Club, 110 the

Embarcadero in San Francisco. The program runs from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Woods will be speaking as part of the club’s psychology members forum, and is only the second trans person to do so. (The club has long had LGBT speakers at its other forums.) Woods will be speaking about being on the front lines at a local community clinic at a time

when trans rights are increasingly under threat from the Trump administration. Admission is free for club members, $20 for nonmembers, and $7 for students. For tickets and more information, visit https://www. commonwealthclub.org/ and click on “Events.”t

codified in statute.” Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California, the state’s largest LGBT rights organization, thanked Brown for signing the bill at a time when LGBT civil rights are being rolled back by President Donald Trump and his administration. “In the face of a president who refuses to recognize Pride Month, we’re deeply grateful to Governor Brown, Assemblymember Low, and the entire LGBT caucus for recognizing the LGBTQ community’s

role in California and California’s role in the LGBTQ civil rights movement,” Zbur wrote in an email to the Bay Area Reporter. The bill honors the history of LGBT Pride and the larger modern LGBT rights movement that dates back to the late 1960s at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Manhattan. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, as it had many times before, but on this day the LGBT community fought back. Political organizing soon followed.

Celebrating the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a Pride parade was held in New York City in 1970, the first of its kind. Today, Pride is celebrated all over the world. Locally, San Francisco has had an annual Pride event for 48 years. It is the largest gathering of the LGBT community and its allies in the country. The B.A.R. reached out to the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee for a comment but did not hear back by press time. Though Pride is a time to

acknowledge the progress the LGBT community has made in terms of civil rights and societal acceptance, it is also a time to remind people of the struggle LGBT people still face across the globe, leaders said. “In big cities and small towns, in every corner of our state, Pride is a time for Californians to come together and celebrate our progress – while continuing the fight for full equality,” said Zbur.t

“And for half a century, I was closeted behind invisible barbed-wire fences by being gay and desperately, passionately, wanting to be an actor. I could not pursue that career if it were known that I was gay.” In 2005, Takei began publicly identifying as a gay man, but when his career began in the 1960s he had a difficult time navigating how to interact socially in public. “I saw the gay bars as a sanctuary where I could put my guard down, enjoy a few hours with a bottle of beer and people I was comfortable

with,” he said. “But even in a gay bar I had to be cautious because police raided the place, took [some of] us down to the police station, fingerprinted, and took their photos. Gays were criminalized as we were criminalized, [but] had nothing to do with Pearl Harbor.” Takei added that life is “full of challenges” and what’s important is “facing up to those challenges by actively participating in the community, society, or nation you are in and try to make it a better world.” “In that society, that invisible

barbed wire fence and that driving passion to pursue an acting career,” Takei said, “that combination shaped who I ultimately became.” Taking a break from world events. Takei was asked what he thought of the recent San Francisco mayoral election. Takei came to San Francisco during the campaign to stump for gay former state senator Mark Leno, who ultimately lost to London Breed. “He would’ve been such a great mayor,” Takei said. “Homelessness is such a miserable, painful challenge for San Francisco, and as state senator,

he was preparing for his job as mayor. He was going to deal with the homeless challenge in San Francisco, and I was profoundly disappointed; I really thought he would win.” Takei said he does not know Breed, who was sworn in last week as the city’s 45th mayor. House of Cats is available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play for .99. A percentage of the net profits will be donated to Refugees International. For more details, visit http://www.houseofcats. com. t

want a coffee,” said Zane Rose, who described himself as a femme trans guy. “Wicked Grounds is where I go when I want to cry. I would not be here if it weren’t for Wicked Grounds.” David O’Brien noted that Wicked Grounds was a place where he could be open about his bisexuality. “A lot of people don’t know that I’m bisexual,” he said. “I have to tell people I’m straight in the work that I’m in. Wicked Grounds is a place where I can be myself.” As the meeting progressed, a building resident could be seen staring through the glass windows of the meeting room. He left, returning a moment later with a woman – they both stared through the window. Bilodeau noted their presence. “They’re staring at the freaks,” she said. “This happens to us every day. This is why we need a safe space like Wicked Grounds.”

Several straight allies also attended the meeting. Robin Crawford, 68, told the B.A.R. that he was not a member of the community, but that he was the parent of a 33-year-old transgender nonbinary person. “My kid is assaulted virtually every day,” Crawford, a San Mateo resident, said. “It’s the story of everyone here. I know there are two safe spaces for them. In their apartment and at Wicked Grounds. It’s not a coffee shop, it’s a community center.” Johnny Truant said that he was a former barista at Wicked Grounds, and a member of the SOMA leather community. “Introducing a Starbucks would be disastrous to the community they have struggled to foster,” Truant said of Wicked Grounds. “Many young queer and trans folks would lose their jobs. Countless people would be devastated by losing their third place in

the South of Market, and Starbucks, by its very nature, lacks the ability to be the kind of third place that SOMA needs and wants. I’m guessing your Starbucks will not sell drinks in dog bowls for human puppies. I’m guessing your Starbucks will not allow folks to hang out in fetish or leather gear, or just their underwear. I’m guessing your Starbucks will not sell bondage rope or BDSM books.” The Starbucks reps listened attentively as everyone spoke but did not respond. At one point several people asked them if they had an answer for the issues being raised. “I don’t have an answer for you,” said Mitchell. As the meeting drew to a close, Bilodeau asked attendees to raise their hands if they were in favor of Starbucks moving into the location. Not a single hand was raised, but everyone raised their hands when asked if they

opposed the Starbucks. The Starbucks reps declined to state whether plans with the proposed Starbucks would move forward and told the B.A.R. that they were not permitted to speak to the press. “I feel pleased and surprised that they opened the entire lead-in to dialogue with the community,” Bilodeau said. “I don’t think they realized the fervor, passion, marginalization, and vulnerability of the community. They think if you hang enough leather pride flags everything will be fine, but they don’t realize that Wicked Grounds is a needed resource. I would like to hope that they won’t open their Starbucks, but I’ve learned to never say it’s done until it’s done.” Several building residents were in the L7 courtyard. When asked how they felt about the Starbucks, they declined to speak. t

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038167300

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038193200

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038198500

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-18-554019

Woods to speak at Commonwealth Club

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038181000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: D. MUELLER CONSULTING, 3484 19TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DAVID MUELLER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/06/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/08/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038198300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SALON REYES, 166 GEARY ST #400, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed TODD REYES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/02/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/25/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038194600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOLDEN PHOENIX ALTERATION, 824 STOCKTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed FENGQIU CHEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/05/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/21/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038193600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHEZ SHIVY, 350 LAWTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SIOBHAN K. CUNNINGHAM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/20/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RICHARD CLARK REDBACK BOOTS USA, 145 CORTE MADERA #143, CORTE MADERA, CA 94920. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RICHARD CLARK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/04/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/30/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038191400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MOCKINGBIRD WELLNESS, 3197 16TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARCIA SEGURA. 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 06/19/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038191500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EIGHTEA, 91 6TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed YONGHENG FENG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/21/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/19/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038192100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MIKE & OLIVER, 4040 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed OLIVER BURGELMAN & MIKE ACKERMAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/19/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/19/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LUTZ BATH AND KITCHEN; LUTZ PLUMBING SHOWROOM, 3123 17TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed LUTZ PLUMBING, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/31/13. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/20/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038191700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HAKKA RESTAURANT, 4401 CABRILLO ST, UNIT A, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed TIN SING INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/11/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/19/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038190200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: POLARIS INSIGHT CENTER, 4257 18TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed POLARIS INSIGHT CENTER-A PSYCHOLOGICAL CORPORATION (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 06/18/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038198400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GE DMV REGISTRATION SERVICE; GE TOWING & AUTO REPAIR BODY SHOP; GE TOWING & AUTO REPAIR UNIT A; GE TOWING SERVICE, 5550 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed JUAN G. ESCOBAR & ROSARIO ESCOBAR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/25/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/25/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GE TOWING&AUTO REPAIR BODY SHOP, 1390 WALLACE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a married couple, and is signed JUAN G. ESCOBAR & ROSARIO ESCOBAR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/25/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/25/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038191900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE EMPRESS; EMPRESS RESTAURANT; EMPRESS; 3145 GEARY BLVD #238, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a limited liability company JL REALTY PARTNERS LLC (CA), and is signed 06/19/18. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/19/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/19/18.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037752300

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: EIGHTEA, 91 6TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by BRIAN ZHAO. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/06/17.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-036510000

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: HERRERA ESCOBAR SERVICE, 3327 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by MIRNA EVELYN HERRERA. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/29/15.

JUN 28, JULY 05, 12, 19, 2018

In the matter of the application of: SYDNEY KHOO, 591 25TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121, for change of name having been ﬁled in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner SYDNEY KHOO, is requesting that the name SYDNEY KHOO, be changed to HANSWE KHOO. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514, Room 514 on the 14th of August 2018 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038201200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TADASHI WOOD COMPANY, 2045 CABRILLO ST #5, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RYAN TADASHI HONDA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/20/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/27/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038188200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DUE DATES, 912 IRVING ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SHALINI SHAH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 04/29/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/15/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038203800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ACHIEVERS BOOKS, 730 MADRID ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ART G. MADLAING. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/28/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/28/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018

<< Legals

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • July 19-25, 2018

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038201700

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038201000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SNIDER IMMIGRATION SERVICE, 1438 QUESADA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BRETT SNIDER. 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 6/27/18.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RAFF DISTILLERIE, 1615 INNES AVE #C, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed RAFF BEVERAGE, 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 06/27/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038203300

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038202100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LOVE GREEK LIFE, 27 SEARS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed NICHELLE EMELIA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/28/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038201600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LK KERR BOOKS, 41 MERCED AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LAURA KERR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/31/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/27/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038195300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DYNAMO; DYNAMO DONUTS; DYNAMO DONUT & COFFEE, 2760 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed THREE DOGS AND A CAT INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 12/29/08. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/21/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038204100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 2040 BUILDERS, 2345 BALBOA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed 2040 SERVICES (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 06/28/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038200500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FIX AUTO SAN FRANCISCO - SOMA, 785 BRYANT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a trust, and is signed MARIVIC VILA, TRUSTEE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/26/18. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/26/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038201300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN FRANCISCO PROFESSIONAL MOVERS; EASY MOVE; FOSTER CITY MOVERS; MOVERS BURLINGAME; SAN RAFAEL MOVERS; SIMPLE MOVE, 383 KING ST #1712, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94158. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SPECTRUM MOVERS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/27/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/27/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038200400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: H2 DISTRO; DISRUPTIVE DOSES; TOWN BUDS; HONEY HIVE, 36 SHOTWELL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed H4L 2 LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/26/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/26/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TROOP BEVERAGE CO., 849 AVENUE D, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94130. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed TREEHOUSE CRAFT DISTILLERY, 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 06/27/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038205400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRAPHICUSER LLC, 4789 19TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed GRAPHICUSER LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 08/18/16. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/29/18.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-035295100

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: GRAPHIC USER, 4789 19TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by BRADLEY S. THOMAS. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/09/13.

JULY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2018 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF BOB COGDELL BRADSHAW AKA BOB BRADSHAW IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FILE PES-18-302035

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of BOB COGDELL BRADSHAW AKA BOB BRADSHAW. A Petition for Probate has been filed by JEANNIE THORNTON BRADSHAW in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that JEANNIE THORNTON BRADSHAW be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Aug 01, 2018, 9:00 am, Rm. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: MR. AARON M. PALLEY 260544, NEAL & ASSOCIATES, 6200 ANTIOCH ST #202, OAKLAND, CA 94611; Ph. (510) 339-0233.

JULY 12, 19, 26, 2018

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038210200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LAST WAVE FILM, 156 RISE ST, SAN FRANCISCO CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KINDRID PARKER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/03/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/05/18.

JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038209800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MIND YOUR VIBE, 1630 CALIFORNIA ST #407, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KIMBERLY KHUNARAKSA. 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 07/05/18.

JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038194100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: IMPRINT DISTRIBUTION, 350 TOWNSEND ST #140, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SANJEEV RAI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/20/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/20/18.

JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038203400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HANDY GLASS GUY, 990 FULTON ST #206, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed YUNUS AKBAG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/27/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/28/18.

JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038200100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HERRERA ESCOBAR SERVICES, INC, 3327 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed HERRERA ESCOBAR SERVICES, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 02/14/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/26/18.

JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038211800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ARDEN HOME, 336 HAYES ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CAN AUSSIE INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/01/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/06/18.

JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038212800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AIRAM, 1156 SHAFTER AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed AIRAM INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/02/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/09/18.

JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038205600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SHAMROCK CHILDCARE, 1900 17TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed CATHERINE NAUGHTON FLYNN LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/01/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/29/18.

JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2018 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037719400

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STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037438900

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038216800

JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038214900

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038216000

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: BUSINESS BRA’S, 1415 7TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by MELANIE GARCIA & TRISHA HEIGL. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 01/24/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MC REMODELING, 415 DELANO AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MANLIO GONZALEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/26/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/10/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038217500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: VICTORIA’S HAIR STUDIO, 3410 GEARY BLVD #218, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DAO KHUU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/12/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/12/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038209600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN FRANCISCO ACTING ACADEMY, 1050 SANSOME ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PAUL GHIRINGHELLI. 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 07/05/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE 038207900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: S&K PRODUCTION, 2321 GALWAY DRIVE, SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94080. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JIN GUO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/02/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/02/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038199200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OOVY STUDIOS, 590 6TH ST #206, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed OOVY STUDIOS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 05/04/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/25/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038214700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TANCCA, 776 BROADWAY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed TEA KEY, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/10/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/10/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038216500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OMA SAN FRANCISCO STATION, 1737 POST ST #337, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MONSTER CHEF CORPORATION (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 07/11/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038216700

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: SUSHI SHOH, 406 DEWEY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business was conducted by a general partnership and signed by ALICE HO & YUNRONG CEN. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/10/17.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ITZ NETWORKS, 3327 24TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ITZ NETWORKS, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/18/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/11/18.

JULY 12, 19, 26, AUG 02, 2018

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018

Classifieds

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MOKUKU, 332 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MOKUKU INVESTMENT INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/11/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/11/18.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EL PORTENO EMPANADAS; EL PORTENO; EL PORTENO RESTAURANT, 1 FERRY BUILDING, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed EL PORTENO INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/11/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/11/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038212900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: L’AMOUR DE SAIGON, 321 WEST PORTAL AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed TFLH CORP (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 07/09/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038215900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CONCENTRIQ, 3159 23RD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed CONCENTRIQ PERSONNEL SERVICES LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/11/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/11/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038216200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE HOMESTEAD, 2301 FOLSOM ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed GCBC LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 11/11/05. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/11/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038217800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NOVELA, 662 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed N662, 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 07/12/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038217900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KAIYO RESTAURANT & BAR, 1838 UNION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed UNION STREET HOSPITALITY GROUP, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 07/01/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/12/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-038209700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: VALVOLINE INSTANT OIL CHANGE IH0004, 1799 19TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HENLEY PACIFIC SF LLC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed ﬁctitious business name or names on 06/05/18. The statement was ﬁled with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 07/05/18.

JULY 19, 26, AUG 02, 09, 2018

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Vol. 48 • No. 29 • July 19-25, 2018

Courtesy SFJFF

www.ebar.com/arts

LGBTQ lives explored in SFJFF 38 by David Lamble

Elad Cohen is a deaf gay man who co-parents with a deaf woman in “The Sign for Love,” part of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.

Paul Castro

he 38th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival returns, with 49 programs ranging from a handful of LGBTQ-themed features to bio-tributes including the Castro Theatre’s opening-night treat “Love, Gilda,” an affectionate recollection of “Saturday Night Live” comic Gilda Radner, through the closing-night musical biography of the 1960s Rat Pack song-and-dance man “Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me.” There’s also the black-comedy centerpiece narrative “To Dust,” the next-wave spotlight “The Man Who Stole Banksy,” plus a collection of fiction and doc features from a myriad of countries, including Israel. See page 24 >>

Melissa Etheridge on High Octane by Sari Staver

elissa Etheridge will rock the Bay Area this month with two outdoor evening concerts on the weekend of July 21 and 22. Etheridge, the Grammyand Oscar-winning rock music icon, will sing her greatest hits on Sat., July 21, at Mountain Winery in Saratoga, and on Sun., July 22, at the Rodney Strong Vineyards in Healdsburg. See page 23 >>

Melissa Etheridge: “‘We the people’ will prevail.”

{ SECOND OF THREE SECTIONS }

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<< Out There

18 • Bay Area Reporter • July 19-25, 2018

Avant-garde work set in historic house by Roberto Friedman

few years ago, Joe Goode Performance Group presented “Traveling Light” inside the cavernous spaces of the old San Francisco Mint, a piece that led the audience through that historic building to experience dance, music and storytelling in its various rooms. Goode’s new world premiere “Still Standing” is an art experience in a similar vein. Out There was in the intimate audience for the piece last Saturday night, which led us through San Francisco’s historic Haas-Lilienthal House during the course of the performance. It runs through Aug. 5 there. Advance materials familiarized us with the Queen Anne-style Victorian house, built in 1886 and having recently completed a $4.3 million restoration. Designed by Peter R. Schmidt for William and Bertha Haas, progenitors of a great philanthropic San Francisco family, the

house “embodies so much of San Francisco’s progressive spirit of innovation and resilience. It survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, and remained in the Haas family until 1973, after which it was entrusted to San Francisco Heritage to serve as the organization’s headquarters. “Using real, written, and imagined stories from the dancers and musicians, Joe Goode explores how we find resilience, persist, and reinvent. Some of the questions Goode poses are: What do we want to become? Can we be bold enough to reinvent ourselves?” Billed as an “immersive performance,” the new work features an original score by Ben Juodvalkis with additional music by Tassiana Willis, Lila Blue and Shawna Virago. Last Saturday, the audience gathered in the Victorian mansion’s ground floor rooms to divest ourselves of coats and bags, and don masquerade-style masks. We were implored to keep the masks on for

Damara Ganley, Marit Brook-Kothlow, and James Graham perform in the world premiere of Joe Goode Performance Group’s “Still Standing” at the Haas-Lilienthal House.

the work feels radically intimate, personal. The cast was sometimes literally in our face. It soon became clear, as we encountered performance segments set in rooms, hallways, stairwells, and outside in the back, that the mansion’s very architecture was as much a part of the piece as its songs and dances. This was appropriate: the Haases, after all, were Jews who left oppression in 19th-century Europe and went West to reinvent themselves and pursue freedom. The same could be said of many of us who wind up in San Francisco and the Bay Area. “Still Standing” is a resonant and memorable performance about the adventurous, the oddball, and the restless among us, forever lighting out for the territories in new disguises.t

the duration of the performance, and although they interfered slightly with sight-lines, the face decorations had a curious distancing effect appropriate to the atmosphere. Goode is a choreographer, writer, and director known as an innovator for his propensity to combine

Joe Goode Performance Group’s “Still Standing” plays through Aug. 5 at the Haas-Lilienthal House, 2007 Franklin St., SF. Tickets ($45$65, Pay What You Can at select shows): http://joegoode.org/boxoffice/#stillstanding, or (415) 561-6565.

Melissa Lewis

movement with spoken word, song, and visual imagery, so we knew we were in for a hybrid art experience. The performers who served as our guides through the domicile offered us music, movement, origin stories and provocations. As the audience at any performance is limited to 50,

Golden Boy of the Silver Screen by Tavo Amador

he classic Hollywood studio system that nurtured and promoted film stars had its final flowering during the 1950s. Warner Bros. popularized Doris Day, James Dean, Paul Newman, and Tab Hunter. Hunter, born Arthur Klem in Manhattan, died on July 8, 2018, at 86. Exceptionally handsome, tall, buffed, blonde, blue-eyed, Hunter – named by agent Henry Willson, who also christened Rock Hudson – was labeled the “Sigh Guy,” and had countless teenage girls (and boys) fantasizing about him during the decade. He struggled to hide his homosexuality, but was outed by Confidential magazine in 1955, which revealed that he had been arrested at an all-male “pajama party” in a private home. Fortunately for Hunter, studio head Jack Warner supported him. The story quickly faded. “Today’s headline, tomorrow’s toilet paper,” the mogul quipped.

Hunter had an affair with Anthony Perkins (1932-92), and in the late 1950s they often escorted starlets to Tinseltown events, were photographed, then took their “dates” home and hooked up later. Homosexuality was then considered a mental disorder; it was linked to communism; blackmailers threatened to ruin lives by exposing gays and lesbians. Consequently, the pressure to remain closeted was intense. His abusive father abandoned the family when Hunter was three. His strict mother took him and his older brother to Southern California. She worked on cruise ships and was often away for long periods. At 15, lying about his age, he joined the Coast Guard, but was discharged when authorities learned the truth. He drifted into acting. Dick Clayton, a former actor who would become his agent and lifelong friend, initially guided his career. He debuted in a bit part in “The Lawless” (1950), but it was his bare-chested

e t ê Fatale F

Marine, stranded with Linda Darnell on an ”Island of Desire” (1952), that resulted in readers of Photoplay magazine voting him the year’s #1 star. He made three forgettable films, learning to act under intense, often derogatory critical scrutiny. In 1954, he did well in a supporting role in William Wellman’s “Track of the Cat,” a solid family drama set in the 1890s. “Battle Cry” (1955), based on Leon Uris’ bestseller, made him a real star. He played a callow WWII Marine who loses his virginity to a seductive older woman (Dorothy Malone). The film was a smash. Subsequent pictures, including two in which he was top-billed over Natalie Wood, were inconsequential. Frustrated, he turned to television for better parts and did well, notably as baseball star Jimmy Piersall in “Fear Strikes Out” (1955), a powerful study of mental illness. Ironically, Perkins starred in the movie. In 1957, his version of “Young

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Love” topped the charts and made him a recording star. He was back on the big screen with three films in 1958, including what is likely his finest, ”Damn Yankees,” a musical based on the hit Broadway show. Perfectly cast as the young baseball star Joe Hardy, he held his own with Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston, both from the original production. Unhappy with Warners’ subsequent offers, he bought out his contract, a decision he later regretted. His freelancing began well. Sidney Lumet’s “That Kind of Woman” paired him with Sophia Loren. She’s George Sanders’ mistress who Tab Hunter made the cover of the New York finds love with Hunter’s Daily News’ Coloroto magazine in May 1955. paratrooper. He was effective in Robert Rosin “Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who sen’s western “They Saved Hollywood.” Came to Cordura” (1959), sharing His 1981 teaming with Divine above-the-title billing with Gary in John Waters’ “Polyester” was an Cooper, Rita Hayworth, and Van unexpected success and introduced Heflin. Disappointed at not playing Hunter to new audiences. The pair Tony in the film version of “West was reunited in Waters’ satirical Side Story,” he instead starred on western “Lust in the Dust” (1985), TV’s “The Tab Hunter Show,” which co-starring gay Cesar Romero and ran for a single season (1960-61). Lainie Kazan. Hunter’s parody of He was excellent in the charming Clint Eastwood’s solitary gunman “The Pleasure of His Company” was superb. He worked until 1992. (1961) with Fred Astaire, Debbie His 2005 memoir “Confidentially Reynolds, and Lilli Palmer. It would Yours,” written with Eddie Muller, be his last good picture for several was a well-received bestseller, revealyears. His 1964 Broadway debut in ing an intelligent, ethical man who Tennessee Williams’ experimental struggled with his homosexuality be“The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here fore accepting it and finding contentAnymore,” co-starring a forgetful, ment with Allan Glaser, his partner/ drunk, campy Tallulah Bankhead spouse for 30 years. It was the basis in her last stage role, was a failure, for an excellent 2015 documentary of although it wasn’t his fault. the same name, which marked his last Viewers saw him regularly on screen appearance. Hunter dazzled television. In the movies, he was the SRO crowd at the Castro Theatre very funny as a cemetery guide in following its showing as part of the Tony Richardson’s “The Loved One” Frameline Film Festival. His candor (1965), based on Evelyn Waugh’s and modesty were impressive. satirical novel about the funeral Hunter’s determination to be true business. He continued making to himself despite tremendous presminor movies and acting on the sure to be someone else, his honesty lucrative dinner-theatre circuit. He about his mistakes, his courage, and and Perkins were among the guest his gratitude for his unexpected if stars in John Huston’s “The Life and overwhelming initial success were Times of Judge Roy Bean” (1972), admirable. He made few good movstarring Newman. His small screen ies, but his perseverance, his growth appearances included Hudson’s as a performer, his survival both popular series “MacMillan and professionally and personally, form Wife” (1976). He was one of many well-known names with cameos an impressive cinematic legacy.t

Music>>

July 19-25, 2018 • Bay Area Reporter • 19

Summertime ovations

StevenUnderhill PHOTOGRAPHY

by Philip Campbell

“S

ummer with the Symphony” concerts, the all-purpose two-month fix for staycationing Bay Area music-lovers, continues at Davies Symphony Hall through Aug. 3, but not before rapper, actor, poet, and film producer Common is in the house. His late announcement on the roster shows the San Francisco Symphony’s wide-ranging interest in musical expression and a positive commitment to attracting new listeners. The summer season has already showcased a mixture of traditional classics and American pop standards. Ending the series with hiphop ambassador and multi-award winning Common seems a bold and refreshing move. The idea of featuring him with a symphony orchestra was developed about two years ago by Steven Reineke, Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra. Common has since performed with several orchestras nationwide. The SFS has a close relationship with the NSO, and Steven Reineke will conduct the concert here on Aug. 1. Before DSH goes big-time rap venue, it will morph into luxurious movie palace from July 18 to Aug. 3, presenting George Lucas’ original “Star Wars” trilogy. The Orchestra will perform John Williams’ heroic scores live to picture as the films are projected above the stage. From July 18-21, Sarah Hicks conducts the SFS in performances of “A New Hope”; followed by Emil de Cou leading the Orchestra in “The Empire Strikes Back” on July 26-28; and “Return of the Jedi” plays with conductor Jack Everly, July 29-Aug. 3. The SFS presented Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” (film with live orchestra) earlier in July, but come on now, this is John Williams, and even if popcorn isn’t included, the epic soundtracks alone are worth the price of admission. More budget-conscious Symphony fans take note: on July 22, Jayce Ogren conducts the Orchestra joined by pianist Adam Golka, in its annual free concert at the 81st Stern Grove Festival. The program in-

Vocalist Capathia Jenkins sang Gershwin in a “Summer with the Symphony” program at Davies Symphony Hall.

cludes Sibelius’ melodic Symphony No. 2, and music of Beethoven and Dvorak. Pack some sunscreen and a sweater; weather in the Grove is notoriously unpredictable. Looking back at “Summer with the Symphony” so far, we must single out some highlights and exciting surprises. The opening on July 3, “A Salute to Gershwin,” conducted by Edwin Outwater featuring pianist Andrew von Oeyen in “Rhapsody in Blue” and vocalist Capathia Jenkins, was repeated the following day at Shoreline Amphitheatre for the annual Fourth of July concert and fireworks spectacular. A packed DSH crowd enjoyed a scintillating night of Tin Pan Alley and Carnegie Hall Gershwin that ended with Outwater and those famous tuned taxi horns taking us abroad with a joyful “An American in Paris.” La Jenkins was sensational, too, with a captivating set of Gershwin American Songbook standards, performed with charts Nelson Riddle created for Ella Fitzgerald. Making a memorable SFS debut and putting her own stamp on every number, Capathia’s soulful “Summertime” brought everyone to their feet for a heartfelt ovation. Who could ask for anything more? Last week, violinist William Hagen and conductor Alexander

More name games by Gregg Shapiro

here isn’t much joy to be found on Current Joys’ debut visual album “A Different Age” (Danger Collective). The solo project of film buff Nicholas Rattigan (Surf Curse), Current Joys’ musical inspirations can be found in the cinematic influences of the late queer filmmakers Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Chantal Akerman. A heaviness pervades the disc, with lines like “suicides [sic] too easy/when there’s too much on my mind” in “Way Out Here.” An emotional mood piece from start to finish, including the instrumental “No Words” and “In a Year of 13 Moons” (title borrowed from Fassbinder). A DVD of videos directed by Rattigan is included in the double-disc set. “Doom soul” diva Cold Specks (aka Ladan Hussein) sings, “Learn to find pleasure when you’re doomed” in the song “Exile,” the final track on “Fool’s Paradise” (Arts & Crafts), which sounds like good advice in the age of Trump. A musical homecoming of sorts, in which Cold Specks reconnects with her Somali roots, the 10 tracks are equally exotic and accessible. Standouts include “Rupture,” “Wild Card,” “New Moon,” “Exile” and “Ancient Habits.”

TS HEADSHO S PORTRAIT

Sneak Peek Photography

Kate Sable, the consistent center of “This Is the Kit,” returns with her fourth album “Moonshine Freeze” (Rough Trade). Regardless of its experimental folk ambience, almost everything you need to know about the recording can be

EVENTS

Prior teamed for “Decadent Romance: Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky.” Damned if I could figure out what decadent romance means, but if overpoweringly romantic melodies count, then the richly tuneful program was just the ticket. Hagen and Prior made their SFS debuts with a concert that featured the young soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and the talented conductor with his elegant shaping of Rachmaninoff ’s Symphony No. 2. Hagen compensated for a slightly recessed sound with sweet tone, breathtaking technique and fiery precision in the arduous passagework. His stratospheric accuracy was matched by Prior’s grasp of Tchaikovsky’s rhythmic pulse. The 25-year-old conductor’s understanding of the big picture was even more apparent as he finished the night with a fine reading of Rachmaninoff ’s achingly beautiful Second Symphony. The big tune of the third movement Adagio has rarely sounded so downright sensual, about as close to a session of passionate musical love-making as one could get. The Orchestra clearly enjoyed themselves, too. Currently in his first season as Chief Conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Prior is definitely one to keep an eye on.t

found in song titles “Riddled with CM Ticks,” “Bullet Proof,” “Easy on the MY Thieves,” “By My Demon Eye” and the opening line to “Two Pence CY Piece,” which goes, “Blood in my CMY mouth, tasting of coin.” James Alex of Beach Slang puts K aside his trademark Replacementsesque rock sound for a lusher approach to making music as Quiet Slang on “Everything Matters But No One is Listening” (Polyvinyl). Contrasting Beach Slang’s raucous rock with strings, piano and a choir, Quiet Slang still makes an impact thanks to Alex’s particular vocal style. The gorgeous “Future Mixtape for the Art Kids” requests that someone “Play it loud, play it fast,” no matter that the orchestration suggests something else entirely. Never fitting and never trying, Quiet Slang “needs the struggle to stay alive” on “Dirty Cigarettes,” “never felt loved” on “Too Late To Die Young,” looks for a kind of salvation on the radio (and in drugs and alcohol) in “Spin the Dial,” and celebrates outcasts who “get out” on “Throwaways.” Finally, Naomi Saalfield, frontperson of Aussie band Hiatus Kaiyote, steps out on her own as Nai Palm on “Needle Paw” (Masterworks). A challenging set of 13 songs that flirt with accessibility before refusing to be pigeonholed and wholly embraced by the listener.t

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<< Theatre

20 • Bay Area Reporter • July 19-25, 2018

Summer in the theater with Sondheim

Ken Levin

George (John Bambery) and his lover Dot (Nanci Zoppi) discuss their future in “Sunday in the Park with George” at San Francisco Playhouse.

by Jim Gladstone

y favorite moment in “Sunday in the Park with George” is when the titular artist, George Seurat, describes the inventiveness of the pointillist brushwork in “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Grand Jatte.” The painting of this 1886 masterpiece provides the plot for the musical’s first act. “What is the dominant color?” Seurat asks his colleague, Jules. “Violet,” Jules replies. But Seurat, played with tightly wired energy by John Bambery in

the thrilling San Francisco Playhouse production running through Sept. 8, urges him to examine the canvas more closely. In fact there is no purple paint to be found. Seurat explains that by placing two distinct points of pigment – one red and one blue – alongside each other, the reflected light rays interact such that violet is created in the eye of the beholder. Before this conversation, the audience has been privileged to observe its underpainting: composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s evocation of Seurat’s strained relationship with his model and

paramour, Dot (Nanci Zoppi – funny, tender, and almost eerily reminiscent of Bernadette Peters, who originated the role). George and Dot struggle with the tension between identifying as strong, separate individuals and the elusive, combinatorial allure of coupledom. And so, when Seurat discusses the creation of violet, it’s a glorious, dizzying moment. The facts of physics and the metaphors of psychology vibrate in tandem on stage, just as red and blue do on canvas, as art and science do in the minds of the audience. We are all together, in a perpetual wrestling match of complement versus counterpoint. The potent ideas that Sondheim and book writer James Lapine are considering here find their way into every aspect of the show. Director and scenic designer Bill English, lighting designer Michael Oesch and costume designer Abra Berman collaborate on a series of visual vignettes that focus on tight details of “A Sunday Afternoon…” before zooming outward, from micro to macro, as unruly bits and pieces merge into a harmonious whole. As beautifully rendered by Dave Dobrusky’s supple eight-piece orchestra, Sondheim’s prickly, repetitive piano-flecked motifs feel urgent (and sometimes annoying) until, in a masterpiece of sonic pointillism, they all come together to form the rich harmonies of “Finishing the

Hat” and “Sunday,” the glorious first-act finale. The significantly shorter and slightly less resonant second act leaps from the 19th century to the 21st, with the putative daughter and great grandson of Seurat, also played by Zoppi and Bambery, wrestling with the artistic legacy of family and the commerce of contemporary art. NextGen George politics and schmoozes his way through a museum show full of fawning funders, daunting critics, and contemptuous rivals. His works, called Chromolumes, cleverly rendered here by projection designer Theodore J.H. Hulsker, are computerized film and laser-light collages that de- and re-construct the original Seurat’s works. Made in collaboration with a composer and an ex-NASA tech engineer, his pieces are at once inventive and derivative. This George’s fond but mixed feelings about his work reflect a tinge of self-critical ambiguity in Sondheim and Lapine’s opinion of their own Act II efforts. But if some elements here feel a bit less elegant – and in the case of Berman’s 1980schic costumes, magnificently, hysterically dated – there are others that underscore the genius of “Sunday”’s overarching concerns. In a show that plays with the physics of light and sound, transposing acts across time is a brilliant gambit. And the movement from George

Seurat’s science-based experiments in color to his scion’s application of computer technology to artmaking is a keen conceit. “Sunday in the Park” has always been a polarizing work for audiences. Its fragmented harmonies, devilishly complex turns of lyrical phrase – “Draw your own conclusion/All you artists do/I see what is true,” “If you can know where you’re going, you’re gone/Just move on” – and recursive ideation in lieu of linear plot make it too much work for many a casual theatergoer. It’s the ne plus Sondheim, and it’s never going to win over anyone who goes in with a sense of resistance. As was Seurat’s intent with his paintings, the show invites engagement, not escapism. Requiring a painstaking integration of technical skill and artistry, performance and design, “Sunday in the Park” is so precisely crafted on paper that almost any flaw in production will prove a kill defect. It’s a pass-fail proposition, and minor critical quibbles are beside the point. In taking on this seminal work of 20th-century music theater, San Francisco Playhouse demonstrates a vaulting ambition and clears an extraordinarily high bar.t “Sunday in the Park with George,” through Sept. 8, San Francisco Playhouse. www.sfplayhouse.org

Oedipal complex among lesbians by Jim Gladstone

uccessful comedy relies on crackerjack timing. Sudden spit-takes. Excruciating slow burns. Perfect pauses between set-ups and punchlines. The program for Theatre Rhinoceros’ production of “Oedipus at Palm Springs” says that the one-act show runs approximately 90 minutes. The opening-night performance last Saturday clocked in at about 110 minutes. Seen in slow motion, someone slipping on a banana peel is more painful than humorous. The 2005 play, written and originally performed by the Five Lesbian Brothers collaborative (Maureen “Mo” Angelos, Babs Davy, Dominique Dibbell, Peg Healey and Lisa Kron), is particularly reliant on the performers’ delivery rather than the plot’s details. The show’s title itself is a spoiler. It hardly takes a Nostradamus – or even a Joni (played here by AJ Davenport), the soothsaying caretaker at the lesbian couples’ resort where the play unfolds – to know where things are going. It’s an allfemale twist on Greek myth, and by the end of the show, one of the drama’s two central couples, Prin (Elaine Jennings) and Terri (Jensen

Power), will discover that, in addition to being lovers, they are biological mother and daughter. The comedy here needs to be brisk and black. Instead, it’s slow and slack. Even within its brief 10day run, this production could be dramatically improved if director Kathryn L. Wood pushed her cast for more rat-a-tat dialogue in the evening’s sluggish first two-thirds. Its current slow-as-molasses pacing allows audiences to notice other time warps on stage. Crew members are downright languorous in rearranging props and furniture during between-scenes blackouts. (The audience actually laughed when, in the midst of setting a table, a stagehand slow-grinded to an interstitial audio clip of Beyonce’s “Baby Boy.”) And somehow, in the flip-phone mid-1990s when the action is set, one of the main characters’ vacation reading is the script to “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” published in 2017. There are two cursed children in “Oedipus at Palm Springs.” First there’s Terri, a 37-year-old adoptee bereft from the death of her adoptive mother and hoping that finding her birth mother will provide a sense of wholeness. And then there’s Basil, the off-stage toddler son of

the play’s bickering second couple, 40something Fran (Eliza Gibson) and Con (Desiree Rogers), whose lives have also been upturned by Mommy Issues. Fran and Con’s often-vicious criticism of each other and their shared “lesbian bed death” bring to mind the poisoned repartee of Edward Albee’s couples. One wonders how their son, still breast-feeding at three, will turn out. The Five Lesbian Brothers’ script brings wit and insight to the crosshatched issues of these women’s relationships: What is the difference between being mothering and being a mother? Where are the boundaries between friendship and intimacy? And the writers’ frank, funny dialogue about sex is refreshing for its lack of coyness and romanticization. The four key cast members display notable individual strengths: Rogers makes Con irrefutably seductive. Gibson’s Fran believably transforms as she begins to drink heavily. Power is affecting in her desperation to please. Jennings’ Elaine is at first a cranky delight, then a gut-wrenching tragic figure. But the cast struggles to make their onstage conversations and interpersonal chemistry feel genuine. Granted, “Oedipus at Palm

David Wilson

Elaine Jennings as Prin and Jensen Power as Terri in “Oedipus at Palm Springs” by The Five Lesbian Brothers, directed by Kathryn Wood, a Theatre Rhinoceros production at the Gateway Theatre.

Springs” was originally written and performed by a close-knit group of friends, intimately familiar with each other’s verbal styles and thought patterns. Still, their efforts also yielded a solid, provocative and very funny script. Challenging and unorthodox, finding humor in even its darkest moments, “Oedipus at Palm Springs” is rarely produced. So just

for mounting it, Theater Rhinoceros deserves praise. But in comedy, timing is everything, and this production should provide audiences with a better time than it does.t “Oedipus at Palm Springs” plays through July 22. Theatre Rhinoceros, Gateway Theater, 215 Jackson St., SF. www. therhino.org

Just desserts by David Lamble

n “The Cakemaker” Thomas, a baker living in Berlin, meets Oren, a furtive Israeli with a sweet tooth. The pair’s erotic coupling involves the invocation of Oren’s lovemaking rituals with his wife Anat in Jerusalem. Following Oren’s death in a motor accident, the grieving baker makes the bold decision to visit his late lover’s widow and young child in Israel. Thomas cautiously insinuates himself into Anat’s life, and eventually becomes a one-man bakery department in the widow’s

Kosher-certified cafe. “The Cakemaker,” acted out in a trio of languages – Hebrew, German and English, with English subtitles – brims over with the world of gourmet desserts, which promises to bring it a lot of repeat business in this Just Desserts-besotted region. Beginning and climaxing with naked man-on-man lovemaking, Israeli writer-director Ofir Raul Graizer spends a big part of his debut feature’s second act persuading us that Thomas would allow himself to be romantically seduced by Anat, a secular woman who is herself bul-

lied by a male relative, Moti (Zohar Strauss), who is as close to a villain as the film can boast. He’s the local rabbinical authority with the power to withhold the Kosher kitchen certificate Anat desperately needs to keep her cafe’s doors open. It’s to the credit of the small cast that the film’s slow pace doesn’t become oppressive. Cheers especially to Tim Kalkhof, who as Thomas is the most emotionally and physically naked and vulnerable of the film’s characters. He comes to both treasure and bitterly regret his choice to invade a bastion of religious ortho-

doxy that is firm if not downright rigid in its bid to stay kosher in the bedroom as well as the kitchen. Complete with baking tips and almost sinfully beautiful close-ups of sugar treats before, during and after consumption, “The Cakemaker” joins a select group of culinary-themed classics – “Bagdad Cafe,” “Babette’s Feast,” “A Private Function” – that allow us to feel as deliciously naughty about our food choices as we have often been made to feel about other carnal pleasures. With Sarah Adler, Roy Miller and Sandra Sade. Opens Friday.t

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6/14/18 5:38 PM

<< TV

22 • Bay Area Reporter • July 19-25, 2018

Season of Trump Baby by Victoria A. Brownworth

o paraphrase Robert Browning, “Ah to be in England, now that Trump Baby is there.” There was something extremely satisfying this week about watching TV and seeing the U.K. treat Trump the way he should be treated, with maximum protests and utter disdain. But the Trump Baby balloon really was a fantastic touch, with his tiny, tiny hands gripping a cell phone for tweeting. Nailed it. We watched the whole process of Trump Baby being raised above the crowds in London, where we lived for a time, and oh, was it fabulous. Bravo to London Mayor Sadiq Khan for giving the world this glorious effigy. There hasn’t been much to look forward to this summer, what with California on fire again, the U.S. Supreme Court literally being stacked against us, and the show-trial-style hearings of Peter Strzok and Lisa Page in Congress being broadcast live in their surreal entirety. The Strzok hearings comprised one of the summer’s best reality shows. Who will ever forget “I’m a dentist, okay? So I read body language very, very well” as the Monty Python-esque capper on the Strzok hearing, where Strzok was asked to read texts aloud in which he called Trump an idiot and a douche. While we disapprove of looksist shaming in most instances, in the case of Trey Gowdy and Louis Gohmert, we make an exception. If you were casting for the guy who looks like an alien playing a human, you get Gowdy. Looking for the guy who epitomizes the not-toobright also-ran? Gohmert’s your man. But Trump Baby was the feel-good news story (after the rescue of those sweet boys in the Thai cave, of course) of the week. Although Sarah Palin getting punked by Sacha Baron Cohen was a solid runner-up. The speed with which the Trump presidency destroys things we hold dear makes it difficult to focus on any one thing for even a full 24hour news cycle. It is with that in mind that we revisit some news that was propelled out so fast by other daunting drama that the long-term impact might be lost. Trump personally hired Bill Shine as his new Communications Director. The person who directs every-

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thing we see on TV and in print from the Trump White House. The person who feeds Sarah Huckabee Sanders her scripts. The person who will define the messaging from here on out: Bill Shine, former copresident of Fox News. It would be seriously worrying enough if Shine were merely a Fox News alum. But it’s so much worse than that. Let’s remember that Trump’s former Communications Director, Anthony “the Mooch” Scaramucci, was dethroned by Chief of Staff John Kelly after the Mooch famously declared that former Trump monsterbehind-the-scenes Steve Bannon “sucked his own cock.” Kelly, who would like to go back to a time when “ladies” were barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, queers were in the closet, and brown children were in cages, found Mooch’s language offensive. So Kelly fired him. Enter Bill Shine, who was briefly back in the news this week because it turns out his wife, Darla, is a bit of a loose cannon who thinks if women are in the Navy and on a submarine, they should expect to be raped by their male co-workers, because “horny guys” will do what they will, and if you agreed to that job, you deserve it. You cannot make this stuff up. But back to Shine. Bill Shine is the guy who was such a terrible leader and human that he was “removed” from his job at Fox News and forced to resign. Shine is the guy who gave a hand wave to extreme sexual harassment and assault at Fox News while women – conservative blonde white women, who America actually gets incensed over when they get hurt – were being abused. Jim Jordan is a scandal 30 years out (rightly, of course), but Shine gets the top communications job in the country after facilitating sexual harassment and assault in the workplace in one of the nation’s top newsrooms. He was in that job until a year ago. If women were ever accorded justice, Shine would never have worked again. “It’s extraordinary that the president of the United States could hire someone like this,” a senior Fox News executive told BuzzFeed News. “This is someone who is highly knowledgeable of women being cycled through for horrible and degrading behavior by someone [Fox CEO Roger Ailes] who was an absolute monster.” Larry Klayman, founder of the right wing Judicial Watch, was aghast at Trump hiring Shine. “Mr. Shine has been alleged to have been involved in some way in at least three lawsuits involving sexual harassment of women at Fox News.” In the era of #MeToo, three lawsuits may not seem like a big deal, but remember, this is Fox News, Roger Ailes was a kingmaker, and two of his victims, Gretchen Carlson and Megyn Kelly, received millions in compensation because the allegations were so extraordinary. According to men at Fox News, Shine facilitated those assaults. One of the most egregious cases was that of Laurie Luhn, a former booking director at Fox whose sexual abuse was so terrible, she suffered a mental breakdown. She told The Daily Beast that Shine tried to have her father involuntarily commit her to shut her up. This next tidbit should alarm everyone interested in a free press: Shine was also accused of hiring private investigators on the Fox News dime to harass journalists investigating the Ailes story. As one GOP White House source told Vanity Fair, “This guy is up to the eyeballs in shit.”

NBC-TV

Trump Baby was the highlight of TV coverage of Trump’s visit to the U.K.

Why did Trump hire Shine? Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly (who “resigned” from Fox News after a campaign against his advertisers was launched) told him to. O’Reilly himself was a serial abuser of women under Shine, and paid one of his own accusers $31 million to be quiet about “non-consensual” sex. Or, as the rest of the world calls it, “rape.” That this story was allowed to fly under the radar with almost no pushback is appalling. While the list of what is appalling under Trump grows by the day, Shine’s history of harassing journalists and facilitating the sexual harassment and assault of women should have kept him out of polite society for the rest of his life. Instead, the very things that got him axed at Fox News made him a seductive choice for Trump. This is who our White House news is now being filtered through. Be afraid.

Dystopian future

Shine is the perfect segue to the Season 2 finale of Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The series has brought Hulu rave reviews and garnered Emmy nominations for both series and stars Elizabeth Moss, Ann Dowd, Yvonne Strahovski and Joseph Fiennes when the Emmy noms were announced July 12. No spoilers, but the season finale, while prepping us for Season 3, left many (including us) scratching our heads and wondering in what direction Offred and the series will take us next. “The Handmaid’s Tale” has felt very much like a parallel storyline of our dystopian future under the Trump-Pence regime. Memes of the handmaids have peppered social media for the past year. So cues from the show are bound to raise eyebrows. If you haven’t streamed this series, this is a good time to do so. The Emmy nominations brought a much-deserved accolade to Darren Criss for his extraordinary work in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.” Criss was nominated for Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. There is stiff competition in the category, including Antonio Banderas for “Genius: Picasso” and John Legend for “Jesus Christ Superstar,” among others, but we think the breadth of Criss’ amazing performance, the nuance with which he presented Andrew Cunanan as both tortured, closeted gay man and vicious, sociopathic serial killer, deserves the win. If you didn’t see the series, binge it. Criss is mesmerizing. Our only surprise is that the Emmys didn’t recognize some of the other players in that amazing series, notably Judith Light. The series itself is nominated for Outstanding Limited Series, and we don’t see anything else in the category that is as good. Ryan Murphy and Bryan Falchuk

should get the win. One of the biggest news stories of the Emmy nominations is also one of the most outrageous. Sandra Oh is nominated for her incredible work in the stunning BBC America drama “Killing Eve.” Does she deserve it? Pardon the pun, but oh yes. So what’s the outrage? It’s 2018, and Sandra Oh just became the first Asian woman to be nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama. Ever. Oh was previously nominated for Best Supporting Actress five times for her work as Dr. Cristina Yang on “Grey’s Anatomy.” Only one Asian actress has won an Emmy: Archie Panjabi won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2010 for her fabulous performance as the leather-clad bisexual goddess Kalinda Sharma in “The Good Wife.” Panjabi was nominated several times for the Emmy, as well as for the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award. TV is notorious for whitewashing awards. When asked how she handled the weight of history with her nomination, Oh told Vulture, “I’ve got to tell you: joyously. I understand that people are going, Oh my God, it’s 2018, what is taking the world so long? I understand that. But I am not there. I am just like, yay. Let’s be happy that we have this moment. Let us build and have confidence and see ourselves in this moment.” Amen. If diversity isn’t built into your series in 2018, you need to ask yourselves why. TV remains a blindingly white and straight landscape. There are still so many series with no actors of color at all. And while we know many states remain majority white, the three most populous are majority people of color. That should be a sign to producers, writers, directors, casting: We all deserve to be seen. Little Asian American girls too young to watch a series like “Killing Eve” will nevertheless hear of Sandra Oh’s nomination. So we are with Oh: Yay! And also: Do better, everyone. Some other notable nominations that made us happy were “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” for Comedy Series, “This Is Us” for Drama Series, and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “Project Runway” for Outstanding Reality Competition Series, the gayest of categories. Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie category has three of our favorite performances of last year in competition, and we wish all of them could win. Jessica Biel’s performance in “The Sinner,” one of our Top 10 series for 2017 (season 2 starts in August), was breathtaking. We still think of it often, it was that good. Sarah Paulson was also superb as the lesbian you love to hate in

“American Horror Story: Cult.” In real life, Paulson’s love affair with actress Holland Taylor is one of those love stories that warms our hearts on a regular basis; her performance in “Cult” was the antithesis of that. Regina King is one of the best actresses on television. Her work in “Seven Seconds” is, like all her work, stellar. She’s been nominated three times, and won twice in this category in the past three years, so Paulson, Biel and the other actresses in the category – Laura Dern, Michelle Dockery and Edie Falco – have her as their stiffest competition. We’re not sure why King is the only black actress or woman of color in the category, but see above about whitewashing. We think Biel should win, but if we could give an award to Biel, Paulson and King, we would. Other out actors and actresses who are up for awards include Lily Tomlin, Kate McKinnon, Tituss Burgess, Louie Anderson and Evan Rachel Wood. We wish them all luck. The Emmys air Sept. 17 on NBC, with “SNL” comedians Michael Che and Colin Jost hosting. We’re not sure what could be gayer than a series about making stuff. Amy Sedaris’ fabulously quirky series “At Home with Amy Sedaris” is nominated for an Emmy for “Outstanding Variety Sketch Series,” and deserves to win, it’s so hilarious and different from anything else. NBC seems to have taken a page from Sedaris for “Making It,” which debuts July 31. The promos are bizarre. The show is hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, and is (wait for it) a crafting competition! The very thing the TV landscape has been missing. Tune in to see if any straight people are involved other than Poehler (always hilarious) and Offerman. Think “The Great British Bake-Off,” but with crafts and nicer hosts. How could it not be the gayest thing ever? Hulu premieres “Castle Rock” on July 25. The much-anticipated series is based on the short stories of horror master and renowned Trump-hater Stephen King. The series is executive produced by the great JJ Abrams, and is described as “the mythological scale and intimate character storytelling of King’s best-loved works, weaving an epic saga of darkness and light, played out on a few squares of Maine woodland.” Yikes. The 10-episode series stars some heavyweights, including Oscar winner Sissy Spacek, André Holland, Terry O’Quinn, Jane Levy, Scott Glen, among others. We could use some solid scripted horror to balance out what’s happening in Washington. So for takedowns of the Orange Menace, madness on the floor of Congress, DIY gayness and a soupcon of horror, you know you really must stay tuned.t

Fine Art>>

July 19-25, 2018 • Bay Area Reporter • 23

Appreciating the late great Peter Hujar by Sura Wood

eter Hujar, now considered one of the greatest American photographers of the late 20th century, was living in poverty at the time of his death in 1987 from complications of AIDS, never having achieved the recognition he craved or deserved. He was 53. A quintessential New Yorker of a certain era and milieu, adventurously pursuing controversial LGBTQ subject matter in his work, he was a well-connected denizen and chronicler of the Lower East Side cultural scene of the 1970s and early 80s. He photographed the underground literati, predominantly male, usually nude, friends and lovers such as David Wojnarowicz, a younger artist and former hustler who was his partner for a spell, then a mentee and fast friend Peter Hujar towards the end of Hujar’s life. Holding a lit cigarette, “Self-Portrait Jumping” (1), (1974), gelatin silver print, Peter Hujar Archive, his gaunt, weary face and courtesy Pace/MacGill Gallery, NY, and Fraenkel Gallery, SF. ancient eyes soberly regarding the camera in a spectral The show’s introductory section photographers and a contributor to 1981 portrait, Wojnarowicz features his earliest-known exhibiglossy magazines. He soon realized would die from AIDS a little more tion print, “Daisy Aldan” (1973), the fashion was not his jam, and by 1973 than a decade later. lesbian poet and sweet-faced high had changed course, committing to Eleven years younger than Avedon, school teacher who nurtured his nathe art photography at which he his mentor, ardent supporter and scent talent; a deathly still image of would excel. Often using a medium collector; nearly two decades senior long-departed residents of the Palformat, twin lens reflex camera, to the more popular, better-known ermo Catacombs; and an exuberant he toiled in his darkroom, turnNan Goldin; and a dozen years older Gay Liberation Front poster (1969). ing out the technically proficient, than the subversive Mapplethorpe, a Hujar’s only overtly political picture, velvety black-and-mid-tone-gray competitor whose aptitude for selfit was taken as the group ran toward prints assembled here. His oeupromotion and mining of a similar him on 19th and Broadway after vre ranged from ruined buildings though different vein of boho gay life the Stonewall riots. Aside from this and landscapes to members of the overshadowed his own, Hujar was cluster, the BAMPFA presentation is animal kingdom, an empathetic notoriously difficult and professionstructured neither chronologically throwback to his companions on ally his own worst enemy. His good the New Jersey farm where, raised nor thematically, an approach that friend Fran Lebowitz, who posed by his grandparents, he spent part leaves visitors to make connections for an early 1974 portrait in her bed, of his childhood. It’s hard to match on their own. Though the curatorecalled that he hung up on “every the majesty of the imperious Great rial reasoning behind some combos important photography dealer in the Dane with the chilly hauteur holdis elusive, others are right on the Western world.” No wonder, then, he ing court, alert and motionless, in a money, like the striking 1985 pichad only eight solo exhibitions in his 1981 photograph, or the heartbreak ture of a snake dangling from a tree lifetime. In what might be viewed as a of a dead seagull in rigor, alone on installed above a 1975 portrait of corrective or perhaps a resurrection, a deserted beach. But Hujar is most louche author William S. Burroughs the Morgan Library & Museum, a identified with portraits of avantin a checkered jacket: Enough said. rather stodgy institution not readily garde artists, dancers, musicians, The product of a father who fled associated with radical, risk-taking writers and transgressive figures in the scene before he was born and an exhibitions, organized “Peter Hujar: his East Village orbit. Some of them, alcoholic mother, Hujar left home Speed of Life,” a major touring retlike the reclining, turtleneck-clad at 16, getting his start in his chosen rospective of over 150 black & white Susan Sontag, weren’t as recognizfield as an assistant to commercial photographs, currently at BAMPFA.

Melissa Etheridge

From page 17

The concert, called the “The Rock Show,” will include many of the songs the performer and songwriter made famous over the past three decades. Although the set list for each concert is different, a few songs – “Come to My Window,” “Bring Me Some Water” and “I’m the Only One” – will likely be performed at both shows, according to promotional materials for the concert series. “I’m diving into my catalog to bring the audience all the hits they know and love,” said Etheridge in a telephone interview with the B.A.R. from her home in Los Angeles. “It’s a high-octane summertime concert.” Etheridge said she’ll be performing the concert around the country through September, when she’ll begin touring with her 25th anniversary concert to celebrate her seminal album “Yes, I Am.” Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge gained a huge following in the LGBT community after she came out in 1993 at the Triangle Ball, a gay celebration of President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. “As a lesbian who also happens to be very liberal, I believe deeply

that the Founding Fathers’ vision of our nation was equality for all,” she said. “I feel there’s been a great backlash to the enormous movement forward that we gained” during the Clinton and Obama administrations. The gains made by the left “apparently scared a lot of people who saw the world changing” and supported Donald Trump, “who lit a fire under” many people and frightened them into voting for him. But Etheridge is optimistic that the popularity of the Trump administration is temporary. “In the end,” she said, “I believe the voters will bring about great changes that will prevent any future attempts” by politicians who want to make the “frightening grab for power” we have seen under Trump. Etheridge, 57, the mother of four children, became an advocate for breast cancer research after she was diagnosed in 2004. Despite losing her hair from chemotherapy, Etheridge appeared on the 2005 Grammy telecast to sing “Piece of My Heart” in tribute to Janis Joplin. Her bout with cancer led to her passionate advocacy for medical cannabis, which she credits for helping her deal with the painful months of chemotherapy she faced. For the past 10 years, “I’ve been

trying to bring the topic of cannabis into the medical conversation. I had such tremendous relief [using cannabis], and have learned how much good plant medicine can do,” she said. When California legalized recreational use of cannabis in 2016, the development actually turned out to be a setback for medical marijuana, she said. In addition to new laws making it more difficult for indigent patients to receive free medicine, the new laws also eliminated some products. Etheridge knows because several years ago she launched her own cannabis brand, Etheridge Farms in Santa Cruz, to manufacture and distribute a wide range of products. Among them was a cannabis-infused wine, now deemed illegal by the state. “I put a few bottles away,” she said, “and will revisit the idea” once the legal atmosphere allows it. She plans to introduce a line of other products, including tinctures, vape pens, and flowers. When she’s not on the road performing, Etheridge says she is “very involved” with her 11-yearold twins, who go to school in Los Angeles. She also has two older children, a 21-year-old daughter who is a senior at Columbia U. in New York, and a 19-year-old son whom

Peter Hujar

“Gary Indiana Veiled” (1981), gelatin silver print, Peter Hujar Archive, courtesy Pace/MacGill Gallery, NY, and Fraenkel Gallery, SF.

able then as they are today. He shot transgender Warhol Factory star Candy Darling (1973) under harsh fluorescent light on her deathbed in the hospital, when she was in the last stages of lymphoma. In this farewell to fans, she vamps like a Hollywood star of the Golden Age, performing to the end, which came a few months after this picture, the most widely reproduced of Hujar’s career, was taken. A devotee of Camp, gravitating toward sitters who, he said, “push themselves to any extreme” and are “chic, but in a dark kind of way,” he explored a spectrum of gay desire and gender non-conformity. His specialty was drag performers such as Ethyl Eichelberger, his most frequently photographed personage, who appeared as Nefertiti, Medusa, Jocasta, Auntie Bellum, and here as “Minnie the Maid” (1981), flirtatiously curled on a chair in fishnets, high heels and a blond fright-wig. (Hujar himself once dressed up as Mother Goose.) He shot 50 rolls of film of the Cockettes when they were in New York circa 1971, represented in the show by a demure John Rothermel in jeweled, elbow-length black gloves.

Hujar’s homoerotic male nudes made for some of his most provocative, discomfiting work. Bruce de St. Croix, a Merce Cunningham dancer whom Hujar met at a local laundromat, posed for an infamous 1976 picture in which he’s seated naked on a chair in an empty studio, his hand nursing his erect penis. The image caused such a sensation when it appeared in The Village Voice, Avedon reportedly dashed to the gallery, doubleparked his car outside, and paid cash for a print. In an anteroom next to the main gallery is a frieze of pictures of uniform size, displayed in two parallel rows of disconcerting, vertical pairings, i.e., Peggy Lee presiding over an image of a dead cow; sexy legs above a photograph of a trashed car, etc. It’s a smaller version from Hujar’s successful 1986 show at the Gracie Mansion Gallery, which turned out to be the last hurrah for an artist whose life was cut short the following year. Who knows what he might have accomplished if he’d had the chance?t

she describes as a “wildness man.” If fans miss Etheridge’s appearances in the Bay Area this summer, they can look forward to hearing her new songs, released soon in her upcoming, 15th album. She says they will reflect “the tensions in a Donald Trump-ruled America.” The songs are “guitar-based” and based on “emotional experience.” Emphasizing her optimism, Etheridge says she finds current times to

be “really inspirational.” While she “had to stop reading the news every day,” Etheridge says she is still aware of the political power struggle in our country. “I believe ‘we the people’ will prevail,” she said.t

Through Nov. 18; bampfa.org

Tickets, July 21 at the Mountain Winery ($29-$329): winerysaratoga.com; July 22 at the Rodney Strong Winery ($89$129): www.etix.com.

CRITICS’ PICK

“FASCINATING. PROVOCATIVE.” KENNETH TURAN

“UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU’RE LIKELY TO SEE THIS YEAR, an unflinching, ravishing look at a broken romantic triangle.” THE FORWARD

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STARTS FRIDAY, JULY 20

<< Film

24 • Bay Area Reporter • July 19-25, 2018

Feminist filmmakers featured at SFJFF

Courtesy SFJFF

Scene from director Cynthia Lowen’s “Netizens,” playing the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.

by Sari Staver

s part of a special initiative supported by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the wake of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival will screen two films and will hold a panel discussion focusing on women behind and in front of the lens who are revolutionizing the way women are presented in film. The films and panel discussion are part of the 38th annual festival, held July 19-Aug. 5 at the Castro Theatre and other venues in the Bay Area. The SFJFF section devoted to women, dubbed “Hands On/ Hands Off: Anatomy of a Feminist Film Movement,” will feature two contemporary documentaries that showcase the voices of feminist directors. Director Cynthia Lowen’s new film “Netizens” profiles three

women who were victims of online harassment. Nancy Schwartzman’s “Roll Red Roll” uncovers evidence on social media documenting the assault of a teenage girl by members of an Ohio high school football team. Lowen and Schwartzman will be among the speakers at a feminist film panel, which is free, held at the Castro Theatre on Sat., July 28, at 2:30 p.m., immediately after the screening of “Roll Red Roll.” In telephone interviews with the Bay Area Reporter, directors Lowen and Schwartzman discussed their new films. “Netizens” filmmaker Lowen, who wrote and produced the 2012 documentary “Bully,” which followed five kids and families through “a year in the life” of America’s bullying crisis, said the new film followed the experiences of women who were targets of harassment, and interviewed lawyers, advocates, policymakers, and others who are fighting for online

justice. “Cyber harassment has had horrifying repercussions on these women’s lives,” said Lowen. “From lost jobs, damaged reputations, offline harassment and stalking, these women paid a high price and spent a huge amount of time pursuing justice.” The film portrays the “new generation” of attorneys, advocates, technologists and policymakers who are now challenging the rampant online abuse, said Lowen. The subjects of “Netizens” are Carrie Goldberg, an internet privacy attorney; Anita Sarkeesian, creator of the YouTube series “Tropes vs. Women in Video Games”; and Tina Reine, a financial trader whose career was derailed by a vicious campaign of cyber harassment. “Our team chose these people on the front lines who stood up and said we don’t have to accept online harassment as ‘normal,’ and who demanded that our leaders support justice” for victims, said Lowen. She said the film took two-and-a-half years to produce, from the time she first began research until it premiered at Tribeca this year. Lowen said she believes the film industry has “really started to confront gender inequality” in moviemaking. “For me,” she said, “it was important that this film not be just about women, but made by women who are represented at every level of production and post-production.” Lowen pointed out that her earlier film “Bully” was acquired by The Weinstein Company in 2012,

SFJFF

From page 17

“The Sign for Love” Elad Cohen explores his own life as a deaf gay man from a hearing family who, from an early age, jumpstarted a new family of friends and lovers. Boldly deciding to co-parent with a deaf woman, Cohen (with codirector Iris Ben Moshe) shines a fresh light on a rough-and-tumble frontier society that has traditionally been the only place in the region to embrace gay communities. (Castro, 7/20; Albany Twin, 7/27) “Red Cow” This Israeli-shot feature takes on the audacity of Benny, a red-haired, pot-smoking teen whose life gets beautifully but dangerously complicated when she meets newcomer Yael. Writer-director Tsivia Barkai Yacov grounds us in the lives of adolescents who dare to live large in a region of the world that often prefers young women to be neither seen nor heard. (Castro, 7/23; CineArts, 7/24; Albany Twin, 7/31; Smith Rafael, 8/5) “The Prince and the Dybbuk” Just as a right-wing Polish government has attempted to criminalize honest accounts of the country’s

immediately after its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. The company was founded by Harvey Weinstein, recently accused of bullying and harassing dozens of women in the film industry. “The irony didn’t escape me,” said Lowen, who had met with Weinstein during negotiations years before the accusations were made public. Nancy Schwartzman’s film “Roll Red Roll” takes place in the Rust Belt town of Steubenville, Ohio, in 2012, where the sexual assault of an unconscious young girl went viral on social media after the members of the local high school football team who raped and assaulted her filmed the attack. First-time director Schwartzman said her “entry point” into research on the incident began after she read about the case in The New York Times and subsequently connected with an Ohio crime blogger, Alexandria Goddard, who uncovered the crime after she scoured the social media of team players and discovered many of them were involved in the attack, either as perpetrators or bystanders. The film delves into the role social media played in the crime, as well as interviews with law enforcement, and the ensuing court case, which convicted two boys of rape, one sentenced to at least two years in the state juvenile system, the other at least one year. In our interview with Schwartzman, she emphasized that the film “kept the lens squarely on the rape culture” in society, which “clearly contributed to the incident” and the aftermath. Schwartzman said her “initial thought” about the incident was that although crimes like this take place “everywhere,” the recent popularity of social media “allowed us to take a look at how young men

are talking about this online, as if it were their own private communication.” A “biased” article in The New Yorker about the case “seemed to minimize” what was going on in Steubenville, and “made me want to learn more about what happened,” said Schwartzman. Making the film was “a balancing act,” she said. “It was very complicated to try to look at the rape culture in society while at the same time telling a story that unfolds like a crime narrative.” Screenings at festivals, including Tribeca in New York City and Hot Docs in Nantucket, have been “amazing,” said Schwartzman. “It’s been an incredible opportunity for us to share with audiences the resonant moment of centering boys and men in the conversation” about rape culture. We are presenting “a new perspective on how this issue gets talked about by focusing on the perpetrators and bystanders,” she said. “Of course we are thrilled to be bringing the film to San Francisco, where audiences are typically very engaged.” Following the festival circuit, Schwartzman said she hopes the film will have wide commercial release, including theatres and television, along with an educational campaign geared to athletes and coaches that will focus on prevention and intervention of violence against women. Tickets for both films, which are $11-$15, as well as the panel discussion (free, but requires a ticket) are available at https://jfi.org/sfjff-2018/ tickets-and-passes.t “Netizens,” Castro, 7/27; Albany Twin, 7/29. “Roll Red Roll,” Castro, 7/28, followed by panel discussion; Albany Twin, 7/29.

Courtesy SFJFF

Scene from director Nancy Schwartzman’s “Roll Red Roll,” playing the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.

dark involvement with the Holocaust, this Polish-produced biodoc arrives to examine the life of the man believed to have kicked off a golden age of Yiddish-language cinema. Michael Waszynski was a study in contrasts: openly gay in the late 1930s on the eve of the Nazi invasion of his country, he was also wed to an Italian countess. His direction of the 1937 Yiddish feature “The Dybbuk” was a blessing, while his conversion to Catholicism requires an in-depth examination of the man and his times. (Castro, 7/22; Piedmont, 8/4) “Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes” Whether you discovered them as a college radio DJ like I did, as a hip jazz aficionado, or as an expert on American culture, Blue Note Records was the place in mid-20th-century America to find the best in this country’s original art-form, in recordings from Miles Davis, Coltrane and Monk. Sophie Huber’s doc recalls a time when adults were still relevant in the cultural scheme of things. (Castro, 7/21; Piedmont, 8/5) “Baby Face” (1933) A rare peek at Hollywood “pre-Code wickedness.” Alfred Green showcases a

young Barbara Stanwyck, whose sassy vamp does boys in her dad’s Prohibition Era speakeasy. (Castro, 7/26) “Budapest Noir” (Hungary) Eva Gardos takes us back to 1936 as her countrymen began flirting with fascism. The story revolves around a hard-boiled crime reporter who meets a young woman who quickly turns up dead. Set on the eve of war and Hollywood’s first infatuation with noir, in Hungarian with English subtitles. (The director will appear for an onstage chat with noir expert Eddie Muller at the film’s 7/21 Castro and 7/22 CineArts screenings. Also plays Albany Twin, 7/28; Smith Rafael, 8/4) “To Dust” Shawn Snyder’s film finds an American Hasidic cantor (Geza Rohrig) taking a community college course on death from a professor (Matthew Broderick). (Castro, 7/25; Albany Twin, 7/30; Smith Rafael, 8/4) “Summer” Pearl Gluck sets her lesbian-themed short in a Catskills summer camp. Plays on “Jews in Shorts: Narratives” program. (Castro, 7/24; Piedmont, 8/4)t www.sfjff.org.

Blair St. Clair

Arts Events

Nightlife Events Vol. 48 • No. 29 • July 19-25, 2018

Gooch

www.ebar.com V www.bartabsf.com

Matthew Martin’s greatest hits Entertainer returns to Oasis by David-Elijah Nahmod

opular drag artist Matthew Martin begins a threenight engagement at Oasis on July 26. Best known for his tongue-in-cheek homages to the classic leading ladies of Hollywood, Martin describes the new show as a mash-up of his greatest hits. See page 26 >>

David Burnham

José A. Guzman-Colon

Matthew Martin in the recent Oasis production of Trog!

Veronica Klaus

David Burnham Vocal stage star at Feinstein’s

Veronica Klaus Charming chanteuse returns to Martuni’s by Jim Provenzano

by Jim Gladstone

avid Burnham recently recounted how making the most of a pair of adolescent disappointments led him toward his current career as a concert soloist and leading man. See page 27 >>

{ THIRD OF THREE SECTIONS }

fter more than a year starting renovations to convert an intimate Greek Revival church into a bed & breakfast in pastoral Sharon Springs, New York, celebrated cabaret singer Veronica Klaus returns to Martuni’s for two nights of song with The Tammy Hall Trio. See page 27 >>

<< Cabaret

26 • Bay Area Reporter • July 19-25, 2018

Matthew Martin

From page 25

“I’m doing a tribute to those legendary ladies of the silver screen,” Martin tells Bay Area Reporter. “Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Peggy Lee, Katharine Hepburn; the show is a collage of all the ladies who have inspired me personally. Then I’ll come out as myself and put on my tap shoes.” Martin is quick to point out that his performances, while campy, are in no way meant to disparage his idols. “I do them with great respect, but with humor,” he said. “I’ll be doing Hepburn in The Lion In Winter, Davis as Margo Channing from All About Eve, Judy Garland’s hits. I try to bring something human to my performances.” These ladies have always held a special place in gay men’s hearts. Martin described their appeal. “They’re all survivors in their own right,” he said. “They’re the strong female who overcame oppression in their careers, and they had staying power.” Keeping the ladies fresh in the minds of the public is also part of his act. “I feel like an educator, a Hollywood historian who keeps their torches alive if you will,” Martin said. “I do this so they won’t be forgotten. People have told me that I turned them on to these legends. I’ve told people that Peggy Lee was an extraordinary artist who wrote a lot of her own material. So many artists come and go, but those that endure do so because they’re timeless classics.” Martin often plays to packed houses. He works constantly and attributes much of his success to his parents, who have always been supportive of his artistic pursuits. “So many people have come up to me after shows and told me that they wanted to pursue careers in the performing arts,” he recalled. “They said in tears that their parents wouldn’t let them. I’m so grateful that as a young boy I had parents who supported me. I’m so blessed to have been born into a family that encouraged my entertainment aspirations. They all loved old movies. We had a record album full of snippets from Warner Brothers films, everything from The Jazz Singer to Whatever Happened To Baby Jane.

all photos: mrPam

Matthew Martin as Bette Davis, Peggy Lee and Judy Garland.

I always performed those scenes for them. I had an extended family who were my built-in audience.” Martin was feeling particularly grateful and nostalgic about James Edward Martin, his recently deceased father. “I remember one time when I needed money for my tap classes,” he recalled of an incident recalled from his childhood. “And my dad said, ‘Show me what you can do, kid’. So I tap danced and he gave me the money. That was a big lesson; you don’t get something for nothing. Dad wanted to see how his investment was doing.”

Proving the old adage that the show must go on, Martin traveled down to Palm Springs to perform in Golden Girls Live! two days after his father passed. It wasn’t an easy time for him. “Booker T. Washington said if you want to lift yourself up, then lift someone else up,” he said. “Making other people happy is no small feat. I did a show today at the rest home where my father lived, and I realized while I was there that with all that’s going on in the world these days we need entertainment.” Martin said that he was always open to expanding his performance

repertoire. “The possibilities are infinite,” he said. “I never want to limit myself. There’s so much that I want to do, but you can’t do it all. You name it and I’ll play it, as Judy said.” And though he’s traveled to other cities to perform, San Francisco remains his home base. “I wouldn’t turn down a Broadway part,” he said. “I’ve done shows in New York, but I’m such a San Franciscan, and I can do whatever I want here.” Martin added that he was very grateful to Oasis owners D’Arcy Drollinger, Heklina and Geoff Ben-

jamin for rolling out the welcome mat for all of his shows. “Heklina is making a cameo as Liza to my Judy in the new show,” he pointed out. In spite of his success, Martin remains humble. “I don’t take anything for granted,” he said. “You’re only as good as you’re last performance. When people come with an expectation you not only have to meet it, you have to surpass it.”t Matthew Martin at Oasis, featuring Joe Wicht on piano. July 26 at 8pm, July 27 and 28 at 8pm. $30$45. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Playa in the Grove Photos by Dot & Lucille

his Saturday, July 21, Comfort & Joy presents their third annual Playa in the Grove, a opportunity to experience their fun-loving, day-glo nightlife vibe together with the natural tranquility of the AIDS Memorial Grove. Featuring DJed music (Collin Bass, Hil Huerta), Brian “Chickpea” Busta’s colorful art installation with other artists, flaggers, tarot readings, massage, facepainting and more. BYO picnic and enjoy. 12pm-6pm. Nancy Pelosi Drive at Bowling Green, Golden Gate Park. http://www.playajoy.org/

Cabaret>>

July 19-25, 2018 • Bay Area Reporter • 27

Russ Lorenson

Veronica Klaus at last year’s Martuni’s concert.

José A. Guzman-Colon

Veronica Klaus, with her dogs Pearl and Charisse, in her 1860 Greek Revival former church in Sharon Springs.

Veronica Claus

From page 25

Along with her concerts, said Klaus in a phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter, “I’m looking forward to spending some time in my old garden, to see the progress, to hang out at 20th Century Café in Hayes Valley, seeing everyone at Martuni’s and eating at Zuni.” A former Hayes Valley resident for three decades, and a favorite fixture of the nightclub and cabaret scene, Klaus mentioned a few things she doesn’t miss. “There was a point where I was

walking through my neighborhood,” she said. “Every place had changed to a new restaurant three times as expensive, with lines out the door. I didn’t know anyone. I thought, ‘This is not my neighborhood anymore.’ All the places I played were closed except Martuni’s. It just seems so much more dire.” So, Klaus trekked across country with furniture, including her vintage upright piano, in a 26-foot truck with a few stalwart friends in March 2017. While awaiting permits for her in-progress renovations on the

1860 church, Klaus has been renting a nearby apartment in Sharon Springs, which was dubbed by NewNowNext as “the gayest little town you’ve never heard of.” In addition to occasional local shows, Klaus works at Beekman 1802, the skin care and gourmet food shop created by author Josh KilmerPurcell and his husband Brent Ridge of reality show fame The Beekman Boys. The town also has a growing LGBT population credited with reviving the local economy, and even a gay mayor, Doug Plummer, who co-owns a local hotel. “I forgot how much I missed the

David Burnham

From page 25

“In junior high, I wanted to take wood shop,” said Burnham who brings his cabaret act, Mostly Broadway, to Feinstein’s at the Nikko next weekend, “but I was late registering and the only class I could get into was choir. I didn’t know I could sing until then, but the choir director was really encouraging. He convinced me to try out for the school show, which was The Sound of Music. I really wanted to play Rolf,” he says, recalling this second teenage tragedy, “But I ended up cast as Friedrich.” Said Burnham, “The only big moment that Friedrich has is at the end of ‘So Long, Farewell’ when he sings that prolonged ‘goooodbye.’ So at the second –and last– performance, I stretched it out even longer and got jazzy with the notes. A ham was born.” But Burnham always wanted to serve beefcake along with ham. “In high school, I thought all the guys sounded like girls, and I wanted to sound like a dude. I wanted to be manly. Tucked away in my brain was Annie Get Your Gun, which I’d seem on TV, which John Raitt was in. I went to the record store and got the original cast album of Carousel and worked at imitating the way John Raitt sings ‘If I Loved You.’ That’s how I taught myself to sing.” Burnham’s first big professional break came when he took over for Donny Osmond on a 1997 national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and he quickly went on to Broadway, moving from his native southern California to New York. Cast in A Light in the Piazza, which had its pre-Broadway run at the Orpheum here in San Francisco,

seasons,” said Klaus. “Spring is the most gorgeous thing out here. You forget how fast time flies in San Francisco, with no weather changes.” Klaus spoke amusedly of winter six-foot snow drifts from “forty inches of snow!” and piles of wood split by local workers when a few of the trees on her property had to be cut down. She spoke less lovingly of the local mosquitos and chiggers. With Pompeii-style murals and stained glass in the former church, Klaus said she hopes to finish the work left incomplete by the previous owner. “I came from a small town, Gillespie, Illinois, so it’s not that much different,” said Klaus. “Nestled within this largely conservative area is a supportive wonderful community.” Klaus has had a few close friends visit, including former Bay Area nightlife and portrait photographer Jose A. Guzman-Colon. With her two adorable Chihuahuas, Pearl and Charisse, the singer has become part of the less-then-600 population, and one of few, if any other, trans women in the village.

Klaus’ ongoing GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $19,000 of her $100,000 goal (https://www.gofundme.com/veronicaslyrichouse). Plumbing, a new kitchen and a septic tank are among the future projects. But Klaus said her decision to move to upstate New York was not an economic one. “It’s not that much less expensive to live here, with a car, and the renovations,” she said. “The job options are harder here. Everyone is farming or doing their own thing, some kind of craft or business.” Klaus plans to soon serve intimate dining experiences, as she had done in her San Francisco apartment, along with hosting concerts. And what can guests expect of her upcoming Martuni’s concert? “It will reflect my new philosophy and I’ll sing lots of old favorites.”t

Burnham also understudied Matthew Morrison in the lead. Following the close of that critically acclaimed but commercially challenged musical on Broadway, Burhham stepped into the role of Fiyero in Wicked, a role that’s often a stepping stone to Broadway stardom, having been played by Norbert Leo Butz, Taye Diggs, and Andy Karl among others.

style singing chops to use in musical voiceovers for animation. He’s been featured on South Park and done early demos during the production of Disney films. “I’m on the road for concerts at least a couple times a month,” he says. “I like the sense of creative control I get in putting together my own performances. That’s why, if I go back to Broadway, I’d prefer to do it in a role I was involved in creating rather than replacing someone. Even when I worked on Light in the Piazza, because I was Matthew’s understudy from the beginning, I got to really dig into the role and understand all of its dimensions.” Burnham’s creative inclinations have also led him to some promising behind the scenes work. “I collaborated on writing a musical called Happy 50ish. It’s a midlife crisis story. That’s been done Off-Broadway in Las Vegas and is running right now in Florida.” He’s also recently begun a promising collaboration with Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go’s, who are currently represented on Broadway by Head Over Heels, on a new musical centered around the Stonewall Riots. After his show at the Nikko, Burnham will spend August in San Diego, starring in a new production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. “I jumped at the opportunity to play Quasimodo,” says the guy who once feared sounding too girly. “Because he’s not your stereotypical leading man.”t

David Burnham’s second album, One Day.

But Burnham felt the west coast calling, and not in regard to traditional Hollywood dreams. “I’m very family-oriented,” he explains. “And my whole family is out here. Also, I’m a gardener. I love to work in the yard and grow vegetables, and out here I can afford to have a little place with a garden. I came back here to regroup and I realized that acting on Broadway wasn’t the only goal for me.” Rather than subjecting himself to the constant grind of auditions, Burnham has built a significant business for himself as a touring concert performer, doing solo shows and gigs with symphony orchestras. Burnham also puts his Broadway-

Veronica Klaus performs at Martuni’s July 28 at 5pm and July 29 at 7pm. $30. 4 Valencia St. To purchase tickets, send via PayPal voilaveronica@gmail.com

David Burnham performs at Feinstein’s at the Nikko, July 27 and 28 at 8pm. $19-$45 ($20 food/drink min.) Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com www.davidburnham.com

<< Cabaret

28 • Bay Area Reporter • July 19-25, 2018

Blair St. Clair

Drag star sings, dishes, and glams up Oasis

by Dan Renzi

San Francisco:

1-415-692-5774

18+ MegaMates.com

lair St. Clair did not win Season 10 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, but that hasn’t stopped the trajectory of her rapidly rising career. Her YouTube video “Now or Never” has almost two million views; that song is a track on her album Call My Life, which launched at No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Album sales chart. She’s the first drag queen to claim that honor. (RuPaul’s highest ranking on that chart was in 2016, with “Butch Queen,” which hit #3.) And her upcoming show at Oasis on July 21 is but a mere stop of a worldwide tour. Touring the world as the drag queen du jour takes her a long way from her home in Indiana, where St. Clair (real name Andrew Bryson) started dressing in drag with the help of his mother. (The name “Blair” is in honor of a character in the TV show Gossip Girl.) How is St. Clair handling this rapid rise to success? We chatted with Miss St. Clair about how her life has changed since being on Drag Race, her favorite make-up tips, and what she has planned for her show at Oasis. Dan Renzi: What do you have planned for your show at Oasis? Blair St. Clair: I will be performing some music from my album, Call My Life. I lip-sync some songs, and some songs I sing live. But when I lip-sync, I perform an act and create a story line. How much has your career changed after being on Drag Race? I was doing drag in my hometown of Indianapolis, where we have, really, just one bar for drag performers, and it is only open on Fridays and Saturdays. So if you take a handful of queens, in one city with one venue to perform at twice a week, there was little opportunity. And I wanted to push my boundaries and perform more, but the furthest I ever got was in Illinois and Ohio. Now, after being on national television, RuPaul’s Drag Race has given me a platform to go all over the world. A lot of my audience is younger, and a lot of it comes from out of the country. Brazil has a huge fan base. I had no idea.

Blair St. Clair

Do you find a difference between expensive products versus the cheap stuff? It’s not always the product; it’s the execution of the product. There are brands that are going to inevitably have more pigmentation, but you can be the worst makeup artist in the world, and have the best products, and still not get great results. The so-called “drug store” brands aren’t necessarily inferior products. They’re just made so you can run in and grab them quickly. They’re made for convenience.

Drag Coven

Playmates and soul mates...

Does being on a reality show give you the credentials to perform a full-length solo show at Oasis? Are you up to the challenge? Let me answer your question with a question. Do you think that today, in my profession, that I would project myself into a world of these incredible, very talented performers if I didn’t have as much passion or desire to work with them? I ask myself questions like that daily.

Drag Race has a history of contestants revealing personal details while standing on the runway, and you had a few rather emotional moments when you revealed details of your past about being sexually assaulted and also abusing alcohol. In that moment, on the runway, why do you feel the urge to share those details and spill your guts? Try putting yourself into my heels. When you step onto that runway, you are under so much criticism, you’re putting your brand, your job, your life on the line. In an interview, I had mention I had some dark periods in my past. And at that moment, I had been suppressing my feelings for so long, when Ru asked me about it again on the runway, I reached a mental breaking point. So it was a release. But this was in the middle of a competition, and many queens have done it. Do you feel sharing these things helps you connect with the judges? Or were you thinking beyond the judges, and connecting with fans of the show? I never said or did anything just to impress the judges. I was just trying to find a way to get people to connect with how I was feeling. When you’re mixing real lives with reality television, there are a lot of lines that can get really blurry. It’s really hard to explain unless you’re in that situation. Do the producers encourage you to share deep, dark details on the runway? The producers never try to make you do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. I was never in a situation when they said, ‘You need to talk, and this is what you need to talk about.’ But they would present it like, ‘This is an opportunity to talk about something if you feel the time is right.’

But the drag scene in San Francisco is more than just lip syncing songs in a bar. It can be next-level performance art. I think it is important to bring all forms of drag, all forms of entertainment and artistry, to perform with each other. So I am beyond excited to perform at Oasis. And anyone who would question if they are ready to perform on that caliber of a stage, I would say that’s exactly when they are ready. You are an amazing makeup artist. What is your best makeup advice for drag queens? It’s summer, so I like anything that makes people look a little dewy, a little glossy; any kind of a shimmery powder highlighter, although I recently discovered liquid highlighter, versus anything that makes people look cakey, because drag queens tend to look very powdered.

Do you have a good tip for making inexpensive products work? Eyeliner and mascara work, no matter what you have.

Do you guys ever talk to RuPaul off-camera? Never. No. Why do you think that is? I think RuPaul is the epitome of a strong businessperson. His numberone priority is his television show, and he wants to keep it a television show. I respect him a lot.t Top to Bottom: Blair St. Clair’s album, Call My Life; performing live, in one of her flawless outfits.

Blair St. Clair performs at Oasis’ Mother on Saturday $10-$15. 10pm3am (11:30pm show). 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com instagram.com/blairst.clair

Arts Events>>

July 19-25, 2018 • Bay Area Reporter • 29

Arts Events

July 19-26

Sunday in the Park With George @ SF Playhouse Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine’s fascinating musical about painter Georges Seurat and his sculptor grandson gets a local production. $20-$125. Tue-Thu & Sun 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Also Sun 2pm. Thru Sept. 8. 450 Post St. 2nd floor, Kensington Park Hotel. www.sfplayhouse.org

Sun 22 Melissa Etheridge @ Rodney Strong Vineyard, Healdsburg The folk-rock music icon performs an outdoor concert at the scenic winery. $89-$129. 6pm. 11455 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg. rodneystrongconcertseries.com

Tue 24 Peter Hujar: Speed of Life @ BAM/PFA, Berkeley

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

Thu 19 Classic and New Films @ Castro Theatre July 19: SF Jewish Film Festival, thru July 29. Opening night: Love, Gilda, the biopic about SNL comic actress Gilda Radner. 6:30pm. 429 Castro St. http://www.castrotheatre.com/

Hawker Centre Festival @ Asian Art Museum Sample delicious food from local chefs, with cocktails, DJed ‘90s hip-hop and R&B, all at the beautiful museum; hosted by Top Chef contestant Chef Tu David Phu. $65-$125. 7pm-10pm. 200 Larkin St. http://www.asianart.org/

The Hunchback of Notre Dame @ Victoria Theatre Bay Area Musicals’ acclaimed new production of the Disney Menken/ Schwartz/Parnell Broadway musical based on the novel and animated film. $35-$65. Thu-Sun 7:30pm, 8pm, 2pm. Thru Aug. 5. 2961 16th St. www.bamsf.org

Natasha Dennerstein @ MOAD The local poet reads from her new work; part of the Poets Speak: Community Voices program. 5pm. Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission St. www.moadsf.org

Oedipus at Palm Springs @ Gateway Theatre Theatre Rhinoceros’ production of The Five Lesbian Brothers’ dark comedy about two vacationing couples. $20. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 3pm. Thru July 22. 215 Jackson St at Battery. www.TheRhino.org

San Francisco Mime Troupe @ Dolores Park The acclaimed theatre company returns with Rotimi Agbabiaka, Joan Holden and composer Ira Marlowe’s new political satire, Seeing Red: A Time-Traveling Musical, where a disgruntled Trump voter goes back to the Socialist movement of 1912. Free ($20 donations). At parks and venues throughout Northern California, thru Sept. 9. sfmt.org

Fri 20 Angels in America @ Berkeley Repertory Tony Kushner’s multiple awardwinning two-part epic drama about the 1980s, AIDS and politics, returns to the Bay Area. Part One: Millennium Approaches and Part Two: Perestroika on separate dates, and a few double-header days; free events and talks, too. $40-$100. Tue-Sat 7pm. Most Wed, Thu Sat & Sun also 1pm. Thru July 22. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. www.berkeleyrep.org

Queer Tango @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley Bay Area Playwrights Festival @ Potrero Stage Six plays by Jon Bernson, Dustin Chinn, Kristiana Rae Colón, Patricia Cotter, T.D. Mitchell, and Madhuri Shekar, with panels, parties and discussions, too. $10-$90. Thru July 29. 1895 18th St. www. playwrightsfoundation.org/ bapf2018/

Katie Morton @ Strut

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

Stern Grove Festival @ Golden Gate Park Weekly live outdoor music concerts in various genres. July 22: SF Symphony. Thru Aug. 19. www.sterngrove.org

Hand to Hand, the artist’s exhibit of painting; thru July. 470 Castro St. www.strutsf.org

Mon 23

White @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley

Barbara Lewis: A Second Look @ Lost Art Salon

Shotgun Player’s production of James Ijames’ comic play about a white male artist, snubbed for arts funding, who hires a Black woman as his front. $8-$40. Thru Aug. 5. 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. https://shotgunplayers.org

Sat 21 Art + Pride @ Harvey Milk Photo Center Group exhibit of Pride-themed photography and mixed media dozens of by LGBT artists and photojournalists. Thru July 22. 50 Scott St. harveymilkphotocenter.org

Formal Dimension @ Maybaum Gallery Inaugural group exhibit of works. Artists’ reception July 21, 6pm-8pm. Thru Aug. 31. 49 Geary St. #416. maybaumgallery.com

Diez Fridas @ Mission Cultural Center Intimate exhibit of interpretations on Frida Kahlo. Tue-Sat 10am-5pm. Thru Sept. 5. Chin Kana Gallery, 3rd floor. 2868 Mission St. www.missionculturalcenter.org

Grease @ Julia Morgan Theatre, Berkeley Berkeley Playhouse’s student production of the 1950s-themed hit musical. $22-$40. Thru Aug. 5. 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. www.berkeleyplayhouse.org

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.roseitheriveter.org

Lyndsay Tunkl @ East Bay Venues The conceptual artist and author hosts a tour of historic areas with the theme of collective fears of death, related to her work Parting Practice: Rituals for Endings and Failure. Lake Temescal (July 21) and Mountain View Cemetery (July 22). http://lindsaytunkl.com/

Exhibit of mixed media works by the prolific painter, photographer and print artist; with Gravel & Gold, a women’s crafts collective. Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 245 South Van Ness Ave. http://www.lostartsalon.com/

Expedition Reef @ California Academy of Sciences Exhibits and planetarium shows with various live, interactive and installed exhibits about animals, plants and the earth; Deep Reefs, Giants of Land and Sea, Gems and Minerals, and more. $20-$35. MonSat 9:30am-5pm. Sun 11am-5pm. 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. calacademy.org

Godless Perverts Book Club @ Wicked Grounds Brittney Cooper’s Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower, is discussed at the kinkfriendly SoMa café. 7pm-9pm. 289 8th St. wickedgrounds.com

Tue 24 Perfectly Queer @ Dog Eared Books Authors Nick White, Lucy Jane Bledsoe, Dave Madden and Hilary Zaid read from their new works; refreshments and door prizes. 7pm. 489 Castro St. dogearedbooks.com

Peter Hujar: Speed of Life @ BAM/PFA, Berkeley Exhibit of photos by the New York 1970s-’80s art/celebrity scene gay photographer who died of AIDS in 1987; thru Nov. 18. Also, Way Bay 2, a large group exhibit of 200+ works of art, film, performance and archival materials; thru Sept 2. Cecelia Vicuna: About to Happen, thru Nov. 18. Ongoing film series at the Pacific Film Archive. Berkeley Art Museum, Pacific Film Archive, 2155 Center St. bampfa.org

A Place to Belong @ Strand Theater American Conservatory Theatre’s student production of Marisela Trevino Orta’s play that explores the impact of gentrification, LGBTQ+ intolerance and other social issues. $5-$30. Thru July 27. 1127 Market St. July 28 & 28 at Destiny Arts Center, 970 Grace Ave., Oakland. www.act-sf.org

Wed 25

Thu 26

After the Thrill is Gone @ MOAD

Comedy Returns @ El Rio

Fashion, Politics and Culture in Contemporary South African Art. Also, Digitalia: Art & the Economy of Ideas, and Emerging Artists exhibit, each thru Aug. 26. Free/$10. Wed-Sat 11am-6pm. Sun 12pm-5pm. Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission St. www.moadsf.org

Guest-host Dan St Paul, Michael Meehan, Karinda Dobbins, and Priyanka Wali perform cool comedy. $10-$20. 7pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

The Clyde Always Show @ The Marsh The Bard of the Lower Haight’s comic monologue solo show. $20$100. Wed, 8pm thru Aug. 29. 1062 Valencia St. www.themarsh.org

Respect: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom @ Oakland Museum New exhibit that visualizes the movement and sound of the music genre, with many live events through the run, including Friday night parties and performances. Free-$16. Wed-Sun. Thru Aug. 12. 1000 Oak St., Oakland. www.museumca.org

Trans Resistance is Beautiful @ LGBT Center Group exhibit of original art from trans liberation activist-artists Micah Bazant, Chucha Marquez, Ethan X Parker, Art Twink, Amir Khadar, Rommy Sobrado-Torrico, Mojuicy, Edxie Betts, and others. Thru July 27. 1800 Market St. www.sfcenter.org

Literary Speakeasy @ Martuni’s Authors and poets Anne-christine d’Adesky, Cassandra Dallett, Louis Evans, Keith Mark Gaboury, and Jared Roehrig read, with host James J. Siegel. 7pm. 4 Valencia St.

Matthew Martin @ Oasis The local actor-singer, drag icon (and tap dancer!) returns with a new live cabaret show, channeling Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Peggy Lee and other divas. $27-$40. 8pm. July 27 & 28, 7pm. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Serge Gay, Jr. @ Strut Exhibit of vibrant colorful works by the local artist; thru July. 470 Castro St. www.strutsf.org

Sex in the Streets @ GLBT History Museum Sex in the Streets : Akimbo, AIDS & Cultural Activism (1989-1992), an illustrated talk with historian Isabelle Alfonsi about Boy With Arms Akimbo and queer activist art. $5. 7pm. $5. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org

<< Nightlife Events

30 • Bay Area Reporter • July 19-25, 2018

Nightlife Events

July 19-26

Thu 19 April Kidwell’s I, Nomi @ Oasis

The Playground @ Club BNB, Oakland Revamped night at the popular hip hop and Latin dance club. $5-$15. 9pm to 3am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Sugar @ The Cafe Dance, drink, cruise at the Castro club, with DJs Gay Marvine, Taco Tuesday and Matthew XO. 9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Sun 22 Aftermath @ SF Eagle Post-beer bust T-dance with DJs Sharon Buck and Dave Gandy. 7pm12am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Jock @ The Lookout

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

Thu 19

Madame @ Oasis Glam drag and dance night, with Glamcocks, D’Arcy drollinger, Lady Hyde, DJ Omar guy and gal gogos. $10. 10pm- 298 11th St. sfoasis.com

Comedy Returns @ El Rio

MakeOut Party @ SF Eagle

Guest-host Dan St Paul, Michael Meehan, Karinda Dobbins, and Priyanka Wali perform. $10-$20. 7pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Smoochfest and cruising with all types, with DJs C. Bass and Adam Kraft; free Jell-O shots in Shot in the City’s photo booth. $10. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

I, Nomi @ Oasis April Kidwell’s darkly comic show based on the wacky character in Showgirls, spun off from Showgirls the Musical. $20-$35. Also 20, & 21. 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

John Lloyd Young @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The Broadway and film star of Jersey Boys returns with a concert of contemporary, classic and musical songs. $67-$110 ($20 food/drink min). 8pm. Also July 20 & 21. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com

Make @ Museum of Craft and Design Enjoy wine and craft-making at a new monthly (3rd Thu) hands-on party. $20. 6pm-9:30pm. 2569 3rd St. https://sfmcd.org/

Martini Thursdays @ Trax The Haight gay bar offers cheap gin & vodka cocktails. 1437 Haight St. http://www.traxbarsf.com/

My Bloody Valentine @ Fox Theatre, Oakland The rockin’ Irish band returns for a stop along their U.S. tour. $50-$70. 8pm. Also July 20. 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. www.mybloodyvalentine.org

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 The Country-Western line-dancing two-stepping dance event celebrates 20 years. Free thru April 29; $5 after. 5pm-10:30pm. Also Sundays. 550 Barneveld Ave. www.sundancesaloon.org

Fri 20 Chunk @ Lone Star Saloon Bears & cubs social, with DJs Carlos Souffrant and Cake by the Pound, plus gogo bears. 9pm-2am. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Creature @ The Stud The Plams featuring Shannon Funchess and La Frida. 10pm-4am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Lick It @ Powerhouse Lance Holman’s leather thumping grooves night with DJ Blackstone. $5. 10pm-1am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

The Music of Kander & Ebb @ Hotel Rex Jill Gould, Ryan Doyle, Jessica Fisher, Christopher Nelson, and pianist G. Scott Lacy sing classic musical theatre songs by the comper/lyricist duo ( Cabaret, Chicago ). $30-$60. 8pm. 562 Sutter St. societycabaret.com

Sat 21 Beatpig @ Powerhouse Juanita MORE! and crew’s monthly diverse butch, queen, drag, muscle party. $5. 9pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

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

GAMeBoi SF @ Rickshaw Stop The gay Asian guys and pals dance night feature K-Pop, hip hop and cuties. $8-$15. 9:30pm-2am. 155 Fell St. www.rickshawstop.com

Enjoy the weekly jock-ular fun, with DJed dance music at sports team fundraisers. 12pm-1am. NY DJ Sharon White from 3pm-6pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Luv 4 Luv @ The Stud Shenanigans with Narcissister, Chrissy, Persia, Fiera Kochina Rude and other queens. $? 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Tropic of Eden @ Oasis Tropical queer rooftop party, with DJs Deity and Nicki spinning house, tropical, reggae and global grooves. $5. 2pm-7pm. 298 11th St. sfoasis.com

Mon 23 The Fixx @ The Independent The innovative ‘80s band returns. $25. 8pm. 628 Divisadero St. https://www.theindependentsf.com/

Musical Mondays @ The Edge Sing along to shows tunes on video, lip-synched, and live, at the Castro bar. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Piano Bar 101 @ Martuni’s Sing-along night with talented locals, and charming accompanist Joe Wicht. 9pm. 4 Valencia St. at Market.

Tue 24 Gaymer Night @ Midnight Sun Weekly fun night of games (video, board and other) and cocktails. 8pm12am. 4067 18th St. http://www.midnightsunsf.com/

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down with the strippers at the clothing-optional night. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

The Psychedelic Furs @ Masonic Hall The British alt-rock band returns. $45$55. 8pm. 1111 California St. http://www.thepsychedelicfurs.com/

Vice Tuesdays @ Q Bar Queer femme and friends dance party with hip hop, Top 40 and throwbacks at the stylish intimate bar, with DJs Val G and Iris Triska. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Wed 25 Club 88 @ Flore New weekly piano bar sing-along night with alternating hosts Maria Konner, Kitten on the Keys and Alan Choy. 9pm-12am. 2298 Market St. www.flore415.com

Dick at Nite @ Moby Dick Grace Towers’ weekly drag show at the fun local bar, featuring a wide array of local talent. 9pm-12am. 4049 18th St. http://www.mobydicksf.com/

Dirty Alley @ Powerhouse Mr. S Leather takes over the Powerhouse for their annual pre-Up Your Alley event. Dark demos by the Mr. S Crew, with dirty dancers, DJs Leatherman and Juan. 1347 Folsom St., 9pm-2am. www.powerhousebar.com

Playa in the Grove @ Nat’l AIDS Memorial Grove Comfort & Joy’s annual festive outdoor party, with DJed music (Collin Bass, Hil Huerta), Brian “Chickpea” Busta’s colorful art installation with other artists, flaggers, tarot readings, massage, facepainting and more. BYO picnic and enjoy. 12pm-6pm. Nancy Pelosi Drive at Bowling Green, Golden Gate Park. http://www.playajoy.org/

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. 647-3099. www.wildsidewest.com

Thu 26 Ambush @ Underground SF Mr. Drummer ‘79 returns to celebrate the Ambush (1973-1986) which was a favorite hangout for many SF leathermen and bikers, with DJs Mozhgan and Matthew Paul. $10, 424 Haight St., 9pm. https://goo.gl/6tS3ua

Cigar Social @ SF Eagle DJ MC2 plays grooves at the pre-Up Your Alley Weekend cigarfest. $5. 9pm-2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Circle Jerk @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down with the strippers at the uninhibited play party in the downstairs arcade, with porn studs Dante Martin and Santos (The famed strip club closes in August, so get in there!). $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Queer Karaoke @ Club OMG KJ Dana hosts the weekly singing night; unleash your inner American Idol ; first Thursdays are Costume Karaoke; 3rd is Kinky Karaoke 8pm. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

SF Slam 5 @ El Toro Nightclub Drag queens and pro wrestlers, oh my! Reigning Empress Pollo del Mar MCs the wild pro wrestling show, a benefit with Wrestling for Charity. $20. 7pm-10:30pm. 2470 San Bruno Ave. wfcwrestling.ticketleap.com

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Lips and Lashes Brunch @ Lookout

Heklina’s popular drag show, with special guests and great music themes; DJ MC2 plays grooves. July 21 is an ‘I Love New York’ theme with RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Blair St. Clair. $10-$15. 10pm-3am (11:30pm show). 298 11th St. www.sfoasis.com

Juanita MORE! and DJ Frisco Robbie’s new weekly event, with Latin, Hip Hop and House music, gogo gals and guys, and a drag show. $5. 9pm-2am. 2023 Broadway, Oakland. portoakland.com

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Drag shows and brunch at the central restaurant-café, with hostess Camille Tow. Shows at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm. 2298 Market St. www.flore415.com

Mother @ Oasis

Gigante @ Port Bar, Oakland

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Green Eggs and Bam! @ Flore

Weekly show with soul, funk and Motown grooves hosted by Carnie Asada, with DJs Becky Knox and Pumpkin Spice. The yummy brunch menu starts at 12pm, with the show at 1:30pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

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July 19-25, 2018 • Bay Area Reporter • 31

Shining Stars

Photos by Steven Underhill 20th Anniversary @ The Cinch

elebrations for the twentieth anniversary of The Cinch Bar’s ownership by Bob Thornton and Robby Morgenstein, held on Saturday, July 14, included a festive array of drinks, food, and a live performance by Maria Konner. The historic bar, opened in 1973, remains one of the Polk Street district’s last gay bars. Visit The Cinch at 1723 Polk St See plenty more photos on BARtab’s Facebook page, facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at StevenUnderhill.com.