June 5, 2014 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

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SF Pride sued over shooting

Gay CA controller candidate in tight race

by Seth Hemmelgarn

man who was shot at last year’s San Francisco Pride celebration is suing organizers, claiming they were negligent because they failed to provide adequate security. Trevor Gardner, 24, is suing the LGBT Pride Celebration Committee for “not less than $10 million,” according to the complaint he filed May 29 in San Francisco Superior Court. Gardner, who lived in Los Angeles at the time of last year’s festival, worked as a model for Tropicana Las Vegas Inc. at its booth June 30 near the Civic Center and was taking down the stand when “an altercation broke out in the crowd,” the filing says. “There was an utter lack of security personnel to address the altercation,” or take other steps, according to the complaint. After the fight “escalated, unabated,” one man fired a gun into the crowd. Gardner was shot in the leg and his femur was shattered. “He was left bleeding on the ground” and “with no security present, the shooter was able to nonchalantly exit” the event “and disappear into the abyss of the city,” the court document says.

Rick Gerharter

State controller candidate John Perez hopes his second-place finish will hold up once all the votes are counted.

by Matthew S. Bajko

gay candidate for California controller was holding on to a tentative lead for second place, according to unofficial returns Wednesday morning. With provisional and mail-in ballots still to be counted, gay Assemblyman John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) had a slight lead against two other challengers seeking to advance to the November election. As expected, Republican Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin placed first with 24.4 percent, or

See page 18 >>

sider “the next opportunities for her leadership and the work of the organization.” Laub may be on her way out. The board of the organization, which helps LGBTQ students and their allies organize GSA

because the group “has grown significantly” and the amount of work “really necessitates” eaders of two of San Francisco’s bestbringing someone in for the position,” said known LGBT-related nonprofits are on Valdez. sabbatical, and a recently released report Asked whether Laub is coming back, Valdez suggests that’s a good idea. said, “As of now, the only deciCarolyn Laub, executive sion that has been made is that director of Gay-Straight Alshe is on sabbatical for three liance Network, and Masen months.” Laub had wanted to Davis, executive director take a sabbatical, but the board of Transgender Law Cenwasn’t able to make it happen ter, are taking months-long until recently, she said. breaks from their posts this In an email, Andrew Uehsummer. ling, GSA Network’s board In a May 19 Facebook chair, expressed support for post, Laub announced she’d Laub, saying, “This sabbatical be leaving for three months, is a time for reflection for both beginning June 2. Carolyn and the organization, “It’s been an honor and and an opportunity for Caroincredible privilege to get to lyn to rest and recharge after be part of such a powerful 16 years of serving as founder youth-led GSA movement and executive director.” working for racial, ecoValdez said Laub is being Courtesy TLC nomic, and queer justice,” paid “at her regular salary.” She Courtesy GSA Network she said. “... I’m looking Kris Hayashi is heading up the wouldn’t disclose that figure forward to some time off to GSA Network Executive Director Transgender Law Center during but the group’s tax filing for Masen Davis’s sabbatical. rest and reflect on the past Carolyn Laub fiscal year 2012-13 lists her reand the future!” portable compensation from In an interview, GSA the organization as $109,207. Network deputy director Laura Valdez said clubs focused on creating safer schools, among Davis, the head of Transgender Law Center, the sabbatical is “a great opportunity to reflect other activities, is preparing to bring in an inalso announced his sabbatical on Facebook. on the trajectory” of the organization’s work, terim executive director. There are two finalSee page 12 >> among other benefits. It’s also a chance to conists. An interim director is being brought in

While bystanders took videos on their phones, nobody from the Pride Committee attended to Gardner, who was “bleeding to near death,” according to the complaint. Another man was also shot in the incident. Gardner’s co-worker and someone from another booth came to Gardner’s aid.

719,046 votes, in Tuesday’s primary where give up. I never will,” Yee told supporters in the top two vote-getters regardless of party an email Wednesday morning, adding that, affiliation will face off in the general election due to thousands of ballots yet to be tallied, this fall. “the count continues ... the fight continues.” Perez, who launched a television ad blitz The controller’s race had been one of the in the final weeks leading up to the June 3 more high-profile contests voters weighed in primary, had 21.7 percent, or 638,545 votes, on Tuesday. Having recently stepped down according to unofficial returns Wednesday. from the powerful Assembly speaker post, Elections officials noted that the tally was See page 16 >> based on partial reporting from precincts throughout the state. Less than 2,500 votes behind Perez was Republican candidate David Evans, a certified public accountant, who was holding at third place with 21.6 percent for a total of 636,109 votes. Close behind in fourth place was Betty Yee, a Democrat who represents the Bay Area and northern California on the state Jane Philomen Cleland Board of Equalization. She had 21.5 percent or 632,902 votes as of Controller candidate Betty Yee, third from left, Wednesday morning. watched election returns at a San Francisco res“This morning, I reflect on a taurant with former state Senator Carole Migden, life lesson my parents taught me left, Oakland Port Commissioner Michael Colbruthrough their actions: to never no, and campaign worker Angelica Tellechea, right.

LGBT leaders take sabbaticals by Seth Hemmelgarn

Trevor Gardner

Vol. 44 • No. 23 • June 5-11, 2014

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<< Community News

2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

San Mateo establishes LGBT county commission by Matthew S. Bajko

pushed for the LGBT commission’s creation, told the Bay Area Reporter an Mateo County supervisors in a phone interview shortly after have created what is believed to the vote. be the first LGBT County CommisGay San Mateo County Harbor sion in California. Commission President Robert BerAt their meeting Tuesday, June 3 nardo, who attended the meeting, the five-member board voted unanposted on Facebook following the imously to create the advisory panel. board’s vote that he was “so proud The supervisors will now be tasked to be a part of California history with appointing nine members to today: My county is the first in our the commission, whose terms will state to establish a ‘purely’ lesbian, begin on or sometime after July 1. gay, bisexual, transgender and queer “There was not a single dissentcommission.” ing voice that was raised today, As first reported in the B.A.R.’s which we are really proud to hear,” Political Notes May 12 online colgay college student Jason Galisatus, umn, board President Dave Pine who grew up in Redwood City and was the lead sponsor of the resolution to establish the commission. “This commission will further the cause of inclusiveness, create a resource to help inform future policy decisions affecting the LGBTQ community, and serve as a model for counties and cities in the State,” Pine stated in a release issued by Jeffrey Adair his office following San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, the board’s vote. center, was surrounded by supporters of the Earlier this year new LGBT County Commission that the board Pine’s office and approved Tuesday. county staffers as-

Surrogacy • Adoption • Prenuptial Agreements Divorce • Custody • Parentage Disputes

26-year prison sentence in Mission murder by Seth Hemmelgarn

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sisted a working group of county residents that helped craft the resolution and conducted a survey in the spring to gauge the needs of the LGBT community. LGBT youth issues and LGBT senior needs topped the list. Galisatus, who hopes to serve on the commission, expects the panel’s first order of business will be to conduct a more comprehensive review of what issues LGBT San Mateo County residents, particularly those in underserved communities, are facing. The commission, he predicted, will “bring about sweeping changes to the Peninsula.” The nine commissioners will serve three-year terms. As per the resolution adopted by the board, the commission will meet at least six times a year, implement a yearly work plan, and provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors at least once a year. Gay Assemblyman Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park), a former San Mateo County supervisor who chairs the Legislative LGBT Caucus, applauded the current supervisors for their “bold action” in creating the new commission. “This first of its kind commission for the state of California will provide an invaluable perspective to the board, and reflects our community’s commitment to tolerance and diversity,” stated Gordon.t

amily members of a gay San Francisco man who was strangled to death in 2012 laid bare their grief just before a judge sentenced his convicted killer to 26 years to life in state prison. In early May, a jury found Roland Pouncy, 44, guilty of the February 19, 2012 murder of Richard Sprague, 47, whose body was found early that morning outside 125 Julian Avenue, just blocks away from the Mission district home he’d shared with his domestic partner. Sprague’s sister, Gayle Takashima, 53, briefly looked directly at Pouncy as she spoke in San Francisco Superior Court Friday, May 30, and said she’d told her children that “I wanted Roland Pouncy to remember my face, that I wanted him to understand that every breath he takes is a breath my brother should be taking right now.” “My grief has been so unbearable it has affected every aspect of my life,” said Takashima, who lives in Selah, Washington. During the trial, Assistant District Attorney John Rowland had cited DNA that was linked to Pouncy and that had come from Sprague’s neck as being among the key pieces of evidence in the case. Pouncy acknowledged having Sprague’s debit card with him when he was arrested hours after Sprague was killed, but he said he’d seen Sprague’s body lying on the sidewalk and felt for his pulse before taking the card. In court Friday, Michelle Takashima, 25, Sprague’s niece, recalled her uncle’s kindness and said he was “someone I looked up to in every single way.” Takashima, who lives in Seattle, said she and her uncle had been planning a trip to New York. “Now I have to live every day re-

gretting not spending more time with him,” not having Sprague design her wedding ring, and not getting his advice on the best way to adopt a dog (Sprague had five), she said.

Courtesy SFPD

Convicted murderer Roland Pouncy

Gayle Takashima read a letter from Robert Sprague, her and Richard Sprague’s brother, which said, “This monster Pouncy took away from me my best friend and brother, and for what, a debit card.” Sprague said Pouncy was “a danger [to] everyone,” and “he will not suffer as my brother did ... but at least he will feel the full weight of our justice system.”

Sprague’s family members also spoke of the death of his father, who died months after the murder. “That night he lost his son, he lost the will to go on,” said Gayle Takashima. In his remarks to the court, Pouncy said that he understood the evidence against him, “but at the same time, there were a lot of things that weren’t addressed.” Pouncy said, “I understand the victim’s family loved him very much” but Sprague “also had his faults, too, of doing things.” He didn’t offer specific “faults,” but during the trial, Rowland had said that Sprague had made several ATM withdrawals just before he was killed, and the medical examiner’s office had found cocaine in his system. Friday, Pouncy admitted that he’d smoked crack, but said whatever Sprague “was doing down there ... it wasn’t me” who had killed him. However, “that’s the way the law is, and I have to live by it,” said Pouncy, who apologized to Sprague’s family. Rowland dismissed a seconddegree robbery charge and a special robbery-related allegation, on which jurors had deadlocked and Judge Donald Sullivan declared a mistrial. Sullivan ordered that Pouncy receive 831 days credit for time served. Deputy Public Defender Stephen Rosen represented Pouncy in the case.t

Corrections Due to a reporter’s error, actor Tye Olson was misquoted in the May 29 article, “Film aims to shed stigma around HIV.” Olson, who learned he was HIV-positive at age 22, said, “I felt so disconnected when I discovered I was positive. My world was turned upside down.” Olson was at a recent screening of the film, My Status is Not a Secret, in which he also appears. Due to a reporter’s error, the vote by the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District board on removing Dan White’s name from a sidewalk etching of historical facts was incorrect in the May 15 article, “CBD board nixes White’s name in history walk.” The vote was not unanimous as reported; it was 6-2. The online versions have been corrected.

Community News>>

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 3

Supes told of need for homeless support by David-Elijah Nahmod

ousing advocates urged a San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee to take concrete action to decrease LGBT youth homelessness by 50 percent within five years. At the May 28 meeting of the board’s Budget and Finance Committee, supervisors discussed the issue and noted the importance of housing and job training. “There’s a myth of LGBT affluence,” said gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, who sits on the committee and represents the primarily LGBT Castro district. “We know that many in our community are not affluent. It’s critical that we as a community take care of our own. It’s important to provide housing and job training.” Wiener felt that LGBT seniors, as well as youth, should be included in homeless and low income service programs. “We are blessed to have a senior

population, which was not the case a few years ago,” Wiener said, referring to those who have been lost to AIDS. Bevan Dufty, a gay man who is director of Housing, Opportunity, Partnership, and Engagement in Mayor Ed Lee’s office, addressed the committee. He reiterated what many others have: last year’s city survey that found 29 percent of the city’s homeless population identifies as LGBT. “Twenty-nine percent is static across all ages,” Dufty said. “No matter what age you are, you are twice as likely to become homeless if you are LGBT. As an LGBT person you are an eviction or a job loss away from homelessness.” Dufty said that he was disgusted by the way the homeless were treated by people they encounter. “I call upon our community to see the humanity in the homeless,” he said. He said that the belief that homeless people “want” to be homeless is

“a myth.” tal health services for the chronicates pointed to the high unemployHillary Smith, a young woman cally homeless; $2.8 million in ment rate for homeless youth (71 who found housing with the help of investments for seniors, including percent), and that many suffer from the HOPE program, also spoke. additional food security and meal chronic depression (27 percent), “My parents died when I was support, as well as investments to substance abuse (23 percent), and 15,” she said, which resulted in her prevent and address elder abuse; mental illness (22 percent). ending up on the street. “People and $20.8 million for aid programs Advocates also spoke about the ignored me when I was homeless. at the Human Services Agency. importance of housing. I asked what time is it, people said At the committee hearing, advo“Homelessness prevention must ‘no, thank you.’” include eviction prevention,” She described the help she got said queer housing rights activfrom HOPE, which included getist Tommi Avicolli Mecca. “This ting on General Assistance and must include stronger tenant food stamps. protections. District 8, which “Now I have a home,” she said, includes the primarily gay Casas attendees applauded. tro, has the highest percentage On Monday, June 2, Lee preof Ellis Act evictions and owner sented his 2014-15 and 2015-16 move-in evictions in the city, budget proposal to the board. according to the Anti-Eviction Rick Gerharter It includes $21.6 million in inMapping Project. Almost 2,000 creased investments in homeless Hillary Smith, who is formerly homeless units have been lost since 1997, and eviction prevention, in shel- but now housed because of city programs, and that’s just in District 8.” ter and in other homeless sup- speaks at a Board of Supervisors’ Budget No legislation or funding resports, and in supportive housing and Finance Committee hearing about olutions were introduced at the for veterans, transitional aged LGBT homelessness. She was introduced hearing but the supervisors are by Bevan Dufty, left, director of Housing, youth, and families. working with the mayor on apLee’s proposal also contains Opportunity, Partnerships and Engageproving a balanced budget over $6.2 million in enhanced men- ment for San Francisco. the next month.t

Hospital loses former drag performer’s clothes by David-Elijah Nahmod

nce known as drag performer Bambi, a headliner at Marlena’s, Esta Noche, and Aunt Charlie’s, Rick Libhart is grappling with California Pacific Medical Center, which, he said, lost his clothing when he checked in recently. “I was in for a mystery illness,” Libhart told Bay Area Reporter via phone. “They couldn’t figure it out, I couldn’t breathe, and my blood pressure was high.” He remained in the hospital for five days.

When it came time much for daily necessifor him to return home, ties such as food, clothLibhart’s street clothes ing, or utilities. Libhart were missing. also relies on a daily “I called security, who meal he receives from could not find them,” Self-Help for the Elderly, Libhart said. Patient realong with weekly visits lations was also unhelpto his local food bank. ful, he added. The missing clothes Libhart, 51, suffers managed to end one of from congestive heart his friendships, he said. Jane Philomen Cleland failure. Confined to a “A friend bought me wheelchair, he survives Rick Libhart clothes with the underon a monthly disabilstanding that I would pay ity check totaling $961. His current him back in twoT:9.75” weeks,” Libhart said. rent is $705, which doesn’t leave But when the hospital didn’t respond

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hart’s claim,” Fryer said. “His claim came in when there was a realignment of administrative services taking place. He got into the system when we were making these changes. It was all in the timing. We really apologize and we will make amends. Every time this happens we look to see how we can make things better.” Fryer said that the normal time frame for claim processing was approximately three weeks. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” Libhart said. “They told me this two weeks ago.” t

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to Libhart’s claim for $37, the amount his friend spent at Ross, Libhart was unable to repay the loan. “He ended the friendship, thinking that I was lying,” Libhart said. The stress of the situation exacerbated Libhart’s health issues, and he was forced to return to the hospital in mid-May for a two-day stay. After two months, and calls from the B.A.R., Libhart’s story should have a happy conclusion. Hospital spokesman Dean Fryer promised that Libhart’s claim would be processed this week. “We have no issues with Mr. Lib-

<< Open Forum

4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Volume 44, Number 23 June 5-11, 2014 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko Seth Hemmelgarn Jim Provenzano CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dan Aiello • Tavo Amador Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Philip Campbell • Heather Cassell Chuck Colbert • Richard Dodds David Guarino • Peter Hernandez Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell • John F. Karr Lisa Keen • Matthew Kennedy • David Lamble Michael McAllister • Michael McDonagh David-Elijah Nahmod • Elliot Owen Paul Parish • Sean Piverger • Lois Pearlman Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota • Bob Roehr Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel Khaled Sayed • Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro • Gwendolyn Smith • Jim Stewart • Ed Walsh • Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Jay Cribas PRODUCTION/DESIGN Max Leger PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland Rick Gerharter • Lydia Gonzales Rudy K. Lawidjaja • Steven Underhill Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.359.2612 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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History walk White-washes history W

e are disappointed that the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District board voted last month to omit Dan White’s name from a sidewalk etching that will be part of the Castro History Walk. The CBD board is paying $10,000 to have 20 historical facts about the neighborhood etched into the sidewalk as an addition to the city’s multimillion dollar sidewalk widening project. White, as most readers know, is the disgruntled ex-supervisor who gunned down Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone in November 1978. A jury found White guilty of voluntary manslaughter, a much lesser charge than the original one of first-degree murder. The verdict set off the White Night riots in which police cars were burned and other property was damaged. Police retaliated in full riot gear, beating pedestrians as they swept down Castro Street, and ransacking the Elephant Walk bar. This is San Francisco’s history; this is LGBT history. One of the first questions on most people’s minds when they read the etching will be: Who killed Milk? The CBD created the history walk project in part to engage and educate tourists visiting the Castro. Longtime city residents already know the story of Milk’s life and tragic death; the point of the sidewalk etchings is to make that history more accessible to visitors and younger residents, as well as people new to the area. Omitting White’s name is erasing history. We think the community is mature enough to face the fact that White killed Milk – and see it etched in the sidewalk. We think visitors are, too. This was not just a murder case, it was a political assassination carried out by a former city supervisor against a colleague and the mayor. Our history is rife with incidents of gay-bashing, blatant discrimi-

by Alan Martinez

ears ago I thought that someday I would have a niece who I would play dolls with and have long talks with about her boyfriends. Instead I got a nephew, Chris, who played take-no-prisoners football and ambidextrous basketball. My brother, Richard Martinez, and I would talk sometimes and wonder “where the hell did that come from?” as neither of us was athletic in school and Richard had as little use for playing sports in high school as I did. Yet I would go to games with Richard to see Chris play, not always with a clear sense of what was going on. And yet when he was little Chris loved playing “boat” with me on a log in the Big Sur River and loved the haunted houses I made for him out of chairs and tables and bed sheets every Halloween.

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nation, physical violence at the hands of law enforcement, arson – the list goes on. Do we really want to be a society that edits out uncomfortable facts of history? No. We learn from history and we grow from it. Laws are enacted in response to such incidents. Culture changes. There must be context to those advancements if we are to have an accurate accounting of our past. A project that willfully omits the name associated with an important historic moment in San Francisco – and the LGBT community – is doing the public and history a disservice. In recent years, the rising incidence of mass shootings has moved some journalists and grieving family members not to name the perpetrator. Some media outlets – mostly on TV – have adopted this policy. (We accepted today’s Guest Opinion from the uncle of one of the Isla Vista victims who declined to name the shooter.) Generally, we don’t think this trend serves the public interest. With information instantly available it’s impossible to keep the name of the killer anonymous. We talked about all this recently with An-

drea Aiello, executive director of the CBD. We wondered if the board’s May 8 decision could be revisited. She indicated that the text for the approved etchings was already on its way to the various city departments and headed for stenciling. Moreover, she explained, the discussion was thorough and exhausting for many board members and she did not think they would want to revisit it. Fair enough. But what about mitigating White’s omission? We suggested that anyone with questions about the Milk entries could probably head down to the GLBT History Museum. Then Aiello mentioned that the CBD was likely going to have a website associated with the history walk that would include more facts and information. There are only 20 entries in the planned history walk. Many more facts and other historical tidbits were identified by people during the CBD’s process, including those highlighting people of color and transgender people – other histories that are largely missing from the etchings. Some were more anecdotal than factual. Some conjured up fond memories for people of a certain age, but weren’t necessarily of historical significance, Aiello said. How to alert people to the site the another puzzle. The Bay Area Reporter suggested a QR code be placed at the beginning and end of the timeline so people could access the website with their smartphones. Aiello was enthused with that idea and said she would reach out to city officials about implementing it. And, she said, White’s name would be included on the website factoid about Milk. We think that’s a good compromise given the circumstances. But next time a similar history project is proposed, those tasked with determining our history should not erase one of its central characters. We should be brave enough to embrace a full accounting of our history.t

Not one more

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Alan Martinez, left, and his nephew, Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, at the Alhambra in the winter of 2006.

For all Chris’s demeanor as the straight-up good kid, he had a slyness about him. Some of my favorite times traveling with Chris was when he and I would hatch small conspiracies against Richard – either about watching South Park videos he wasn’t supposed to watch or staying up too late. I was the uncle who let him do and think about the weird stuff. I got to show him around the Alhambra and explain

to him how the architecture of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane worked. We talked about Cicero’s essays and Roman history. And he knew that I had AIDS and about my political activity. Chris wrote part of his college application about me, about how much he admired me. I was kind of stunned. To have the experience, for someone like me who grew up queer and in mortal fear of jocks – to have this gentle resolute young man, my nephew, admire me ... And now he is dead, murdered with five other young students in a totally preventable massacre in Isla Vista, near UCSB. Richard and I, and our family, know that this is a complicated issue. My brother is a public defense attorney in Santa Barbara County and Chris’s mother is deputy district attorney of San Luis Obispo County: they have been dealing with crime, gun violence, mental health issues, and violence against women for decades. They know what they are talking about. Richard has been speaking out about the role of the National Rifle Association, misogyny, and the culpability of the media in this and other massacres in all of his interviews, but all the media outlets (with the notable exception of CNN’s Anderson Cooper and the BBC) were slow to air these comments, instead endlessly focusing on the insanity of the shooter. So I welcome this opportunity to touch on these three issues. The NRA leadership has worked hard to promote its stance that guns aren’t part of the problem. They work to prevent any discussion of gun control. As Hannah Arendt wrote in her book On Violence, when you bring a gun into the room, discussion stops. Every time there is a massacre, the NRA leadership is expert in bringing the metaphorical gun into the room and stopping the discussion on gun control. When Fox News aired the press conference at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff ’s Office, it went so far as to edit out Richard’s mention

of the NRA. We have also said that what is frightening about the killer’s view of women isn’t that his views are monstrous, it’s that his views are so commonplace. He thought that women were objects to get and that they owed him something and that he had a right to manipulate and intimidate women to get what he wanted. It’s so messed up and sad. If you don’t think these attitudes of entitlement are commonplace, just look at the comments sections under postings of videos of my brother. Finally, by repeatedly showing the killer’s photos, posting his video, using his name, and endlessly analyzing an ordinary, lonely, mentally ill young man who had, after all, a fairly commonplace point of view amplified through his pain, the media is giving the killer exactly the sort of fame he craved as the capstone to his twisted plan for himself. And, perhaps more importantly, this gives other lonely young men a roadmap for how to achieve recognition. These angry, lonely young men need help and love and real connection to others, not templates for how to become heroes in their own minds. They need a different culture of manhood to grow up into. Like the one that Richard and many others and I provided for Chris. We don’t care that people tell us that this is beyond solving. I don’t care that I feel sometimes that preventing new massacres is hopeless. Why the fuck should I care about hopelessness? We’re doing this anyway. We’re going to end this ongoing slaughter. And by “we” I mean all of us, including you. Send a postcard, email, tweet, whatever, to every politician: NOT ONE MORE.t San Francisco resident Alan Martinez is the uncle of Christopher Ross MichaelsMartinez.

Letters >>

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

‘Prison’-themed Pride party inappropriate

The apparent absence of a minority voice on the group that decided a “prison”-themed dance party as an appropriate Pride weekend event have missed a very important reality among men of color. Men of color spend an inordinate amount of time avoiding law enforcement, which all too often leads to unnecessarily challenging interactions with law enforcement – often, leading to prison. If current trends continue, one-third of African American males will spend some time in prison during their lifetime. Prison is a very real possibility for African American and other men of color. It is not the fantasy of HBO’s Oz show. Prison is very real and no laughing matter. At the June 28 “We Party – Prison of Love,” one even has the chance to be a “VIP Inmate.” Such an image does not conjure pleasant images for men of color, where driving while black/brown leads to problems with law enforcement. Pride has struggled to become more inclusive and inviting to the marginalized in our community. Why have we decided a party celebrating prison is appropriate? Further, the ticket prices are out of reach to large swaths of people. Are the ticket prices a way to exclude segments of society that may not be “desirable” at the event? These questions need to be answered. Pride organizers are constantly examining why Pride is perceived as a white event. Perhaps the answer to the question is above. Alan Earnest San Francisco

[Editor’s note: The party is being sponsored by Kink. com, Club Universe, Masterbeat, Fresh SF, and XOXO. Pride board President Gary Virginia said the party is not an official SF Pride event and SF Pride is not a sponsor or producer.]

Problematic Airbnb sponsorship

Despite what San Francisco Pride told you, there are many of us who are discouraged, disappointed, and disturbed that SF Pride is being sponsored by Airbnb [“Airbnb joins Pride as sponsor,” May 29]. Indeed, I emailed SF Pride in protest, with no response, the same day it gleefully sold out to Airbnb. Airbnb is a company that flagrantly encourages both landlords and tenants to break the zoning and housing laws in San Francisco, representative of the skimming economy, where skimmers make millions or billions, while residents take all the risks, are misled into getting evicted as tenants, or sued by local government for breaking zoning laws and failing to pay hotel tax.

We have thousands of units of much needed housing removed from the market by Airbnb in San Francisco, even as we face a huge housing and affordability crisis. Ironically, the Housing Rights Committee, the SF Tenants Union, and the San Francisco Apartment Association are in agreement about Airbnb skirting the rules. I work in affordable housing property management, and we will evict if any of our tenants violate the lease to rent their units out on Airbnb. I am gay, HIV-positive, and I spent way too much time homeless, on the streets, trying to find housing I could afford, to stand by and watch SF Pride promote Airbnb as a legitimate sponsor of Pride – and read about it in the Bay Area Reporter. This sponsorship is a disgrace to the hundreds or thousands of LGBT homeless in San Francisco. It’s time for the LGBT community to stand up for social justice, and stop being bought by corporate interests who don’t give a shit about us. Jonathan Bonato San Francisco

More city money for SF Pride

Every June, thanks to the fabulous San Francisco Pride celebration and parade, along with related events around the city, millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender dollars flow into private and public coffers. Paying for the fun and festivities is always a challenge, as the controversy over the donation from Airbnb to Pride amply illustrates. Despite the vast infusion of cash pumping up our local economy, our city government provides only a measly annual $58,000 grant to Pride and, as far as I know, no money comes from Sacramento even though state coffers also benefit from our local Pride celebration, which is open to hundreds of thousands of people and no invitation is required. I’ve been troubled that City Hall for the past six years and the current fiscal year awarded $250,000 to the San Francisco Host Committee, a nonprofit headed by socialite Charlotte Shultz. The committee uses the taxpayer dollars for invitation-only soirees for dozens and dozens of diplomats and friends of Ms. Shultz, and other restricted events that don’t bring in funds anywhere close to what Pride does. Let’s end the wealth-care grant of a quarter-million dollars to the host committee and redirect those funds to Pride. It’s time for City Hall to greatly expand allocation of taxpayer grants to Pride. Michael Petrelis San Francisco

Sisters plan June Pride visit to Shanghai compiled by Cynthia Laird

A documentary filmmaker will accompany the Sisters, who leave June 12. In addition to Bunch, local Sisters expected to make the trip include Roma, Flatulina, Risque, and Pope Dementia the Last. Sister Mutter Katharina from Berlin and Sister Rose from Paris are also part of the delegation.

everal members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be dusting off their habits and jetting to China later this month, where they’ve been invited to participate in Shanghai Pride. Ken Bunch, also known as Sister Vicious Power Hungry Bitch in the group of drag nuns, told B.A.R.’s Bajko wins press club award the Bay Area Reporter that the Sisters will Bay Area Reporter assistant editor Matthew S. be participating in panel discussions and Bajko won an award at last weekend’s 37th anrun a workshop “as well as attend a full nual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards held schedule of activities over 10 days.” by the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club. “We will present to them proclamations The awards were announced at the press from the California state Senate and Assembly club’s dinner May 31 in Foster City. and San Francisco Board of Supervisors as Bajko, 39, who is also the paper’s politiwell as a rainbow flag with personal messages cal reporter, received second place in the embroidered on it from the Sisters,” Bunch newspaper non-dailies news column catexplained. egory for his Political Notebook column. The trip is historic. Bunch noted that ChiFirst place went to Robert Gammon of the na is starting to liberalize regarding LGBT issues “very East Bay Express. slowly.” Michael Yamashita, publisher “We hope to help the activists of the B.A.R., praised the award. come up with ideas to move the “I’m gratified that the Pencommunity forward,” he said. insula Press Club recognized “And yes, we will be wearing our the outstanding journalism costumes and habits.” of Matthew Bajko,” Yamashita According to a factsheet supsaid. “His accomplishments and plied by the Sisters, Shanghai commitment to our profession Pride has been China’s largest is an asset to the B.A.R. and our and most influential LGBT festicommunity. He truly deserves Courtesy Sister Power Hungry Bitch val since 2009. It is organized to this recognition.” promote tolerance, create aware- Local Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence who Bajko, who has been with the ness, and celebrate unity and di- are going to Shanghai Pride include, from B.A.R. since 2001, has received left, Sister Roma, Sister Flatulina, and versity through its events. several other press club awards Homosexuality was decrimi- Sister Vicious Power Hungry Bitch. in recent years. nalized in 1997 and removed from the mental disorder list in 2001, the factsheet states. Brown Boi party in Oakland Over the last 10 years, gay and gay-friendly venues have The Brown Boi Project will have its annual birthday opened, particularly in Beijing and Shanghai. The Chicelebration, dubbed the Brown Boi Affair, Saturday, June nese government may have shown relaxation on its in7 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the student union at Mills Colformal “Don’t support, don’t ban, don’t promote” policy, lege, 5000 MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland. yet it still refrains from any official statements on its posiSee page 18 >> tion toward LGBT equality, the factsheet states.

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<< Community News

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

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women’s motorcycle contingent at 6 p.m. The march will go through the Mission, down 18th to Valencia, up 16th Street, and down Market to Castro Street, where it will merge into the Pink Saturday party. “I feel that it’s more important

to go back to that and show people that we are not just here to throw The San Francisco Dyke March is a party in the park,” said Meredith working around the renovations at Crawford, a 48-year-old lesbian Dolores Park this year by returning who is a committee member of the to its roots with a shorter rally takSan Francisco Dyke March. “There ing place before the march. is a message that we have, although Dolores Park is underit changes from year to year.” going a multimillion-dolElizabeth Lanyon, a lar renovation that broke 29-year-old lesbian commitground in March. The park tee member of the San Franis scheduled to reopen next cisco Dyke March, agreed. summer. The closure of a “There is a political aspect portion of the park has afto the march – we are a part fected some groups. of the LGBT community,” In the meantime, plans said Lanyon. have changed for this year’s The committee hasn’t seDyke March, which starts lected a theme for this year, at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 28 but Crawford and Lanyon with a rally at the corner of both hinted that organizers 18th and Dolores streets. are narrowing it down to the Previously, the pre-march war on women or body image. Jane Philomen Cleland party had been held hours The Dyke March welcomes Cyndi Vee danced at last year’s Dyke March as earlier inside the park. volunteers. For more inforThe 22nd annual Dyke Christina Mohammed and Florencia Manovil mation, visit www.thedykeMarch will kick off with the shared a kiss in the background. march.org.t

City sues SRO owners by Seth Hemmelgarn

or habitable.” A woman who answered the an Francisco City Attorney Denphone at a number listed for some nis Herrera is suing the owners of the Thakors said, “He’s not here and operators of several single room ... wrong number” and hung up the occupancy hotels, claiming “perphone when a reporter asked to speak vasive violations of state and local with Bahavasinh, Balvantsinh, or Kilaws intended to protect residents’ ransinh Thakor. The woman ended health, safety and tenancy rights.” the conversation before a reporter The hotels, commonly known could ask about Lataben Thakor. as SROs, house some of the city’s The man who answered the poorest residents, inphone at a number cluding many LGBTs listed for Kiransinh and people who are Thakor said, “He’s not living with HIV and here.” When a reporter AIDS. mentioned the lawsuit, The lawsuit, filed the man said, “I know May 12 in San Francisnothing. I have no co Superior Court lists idea,” and hung up. Balvantsinh, Kiransinh, As of Monday, the Bahavasinh, and LaSan Francisco Supetaben B. Thakor, and rior Court website Rick Gerharter their affiliated busididn’t show a formal City Attorney nesses, as defendants. response by the defenIn a news release, Dennis Herrera dants. Herrera said the ThaThe hotels included kors, who have contracts with the in the lawsuit account for more than city, have “defiantly thumbed their 800 residential rooms in the midnoses at city inspectors over pervaMarket, Mission, South of Market, sive code violations, which endanand Tenderloin neighborhoods, acger residents and neighbors alike. cording to Herrera’s office. And they’ve billed taxpayers for Among the hotels are the Admiral providing clients of city programs Hotel, 608 O’Farrell Street; Balboa with ‘clean, safe, habitable’ housing, Hotel, 120 Hyde Street; Civic Cenwhen it was anything but clean, safe, ter Hotel, 20 12th Street; and Warf-

ield Hotel, 118 Taylor Street. (A full list is available in the complaint at http://www.sfcityattorney.org.) Alleged violations include blocking tenants from gaining rent control and other rights by forcing them to vacate units before they accumulate 30 consecutive days of residency. Herrera also claims the defendants are guilty of health and safety violations like “rampant” bedbug infestations and “inadequate” fire protection. Tommi Avicolli Mecca, a longtime queer activist who works at Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, said, “I know just from experience around here there’s a number of LGBT folks who are in these hotels. ... I’m really glad the city attorney is doing this. I think it’s long overdue.” State law could result in penalties “of up to $2,500 for each unlawful business act,” among other potential costs to the defendants, according to Herrera’s office. Herrera is encouraging tenants and neighbors to report housingrelated wrongdoing through his office’s http://www.Up2Code.org website or the Up2Code app, or by calling the code enforcement hotline at (415) 554-3977.t

DeFrank LGBT center has new board president

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Shorter rally planned at SF Dyke March

he Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center in San Jose has a new board president, following the resignation of the man who had headed the organization for the last year. Char Reed, who is a lesbian, was named board president following the May 19 resignation of Greg Belaus, 47, a gay man. She had previously served as board vice president. “I’m excited for Char,” said Belaus, pointing out Reed’s recent accomplishment obtaining her bachelor’s degree in women’s gender and sexuality studies at Mills College. “I am very excited to see her in this leadership position.” Belaus, who served as board president since February 2013, announced the leadership change in a May 20 Facebook post.

Belaus served on the board for ers work on a part-time basis under five years. He took over the presia designated grant for the center’s dency during a tumulVintage Program. tuous time at the center The rest of its proafter former longtime grams are run by a president Chris Flood group of about 47 resigned. Belaus will volunteers along with continue as a volunteer others who pitch in for handling the center’s special events. IT, social media, and “I do think that it is website, he said. important to pass on The mostly volunleadership positions teer-run center has to get fresh ideas and Jo-Lynn Otto been a cornerstone for opinions to do things,” Santa Clara County’s Billy DeFrank LGBT said Belaus, who startLGBT community, Community Center ed working with the serving as a main hub board President board to prepare for for HIV and senior Char Reed his stepping down last services for nearly 35 September. “I wanted years. In 2012-2013 it operated on to leave the leadership role when a budget of $153,140, with a deficit things were stable and in a positive of $31,032, according to the center’s light.” IRS Form 990. The center supports See page 18 >> one part-time staff person. Two oth-

Politics>>

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Lesbians win big in local CA races by Matthew S. Bajko

esbian candidates running in local races throughout the state Tuesday proved to be formidable campaigners this spring. Former state lawmaker Sheila Kuehl came in first in her bid to become the first out person elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. She received 36 percent of the vote Tuesday in her race for the board’s newly created District 3 seat, according to unofficial returns Wednesday morning. The Santa Monica resident will now face off against former Santa Monica Mayor and Councilman Bobby Shriver, who netted nearly 29 percent of the vote, in the November runoff election since no one captured a clear majority of votes. A star of the 1950s TV show The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Kuehl became the first out lawmaker to serve in California’s Legislature when she won an Assembly seat in 1994. The race for the open supervisor seat attracted eight candidates, including gay West Hollywood Mayor John Duran. He placed third with 16 percent of the vote. Also on the ballot in Los Angeles County was gay West Hollywood Councilman Jeffrey Prang, who ran in the crowded race for county assessor. He placed first with 18 percent of the vote and will advance to the November runoff against John Morris, who placed in second with 16 percent of the vote. In Sonoma County incumbent District Attorney Jill Ravitch clinched her re-election by netting 64 percent of the vote Tuesday. Her opponent Deputy District Attorney Victoria I. Shanahan came up short with 35 percent of the vote. In San Diego incumbent District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis also sailed to an easy win Tuesday for a fourth term against two challengers. The Republican took first place with 54 percent of the vote, based on unofficial returns Wednesday, enough to avoid a runoff Falling short, however, was lesbian San Diego County assessorrecorder candidate Susan Guinn, who serves on the board of Equality California, the statewide LGBT

advocacy group. She was among a trio of challengers trying to oust the incumbent, Assessor-Recorder Ernie Dronenburg, who sued in state court last year to prevent county clerks from having to marry same-sex couples after the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out California’s ban against such marriages. Dronenburg survived the effort to defeat him with 59 percent of the vote, while Guinn came in second with 29.65 percent of the vote. The history of the state’s same-sex marriage ban, known as Proposition 8, was also an issue in the race for district attorney in Sacramento County. Deputy District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, a Republican and the lesbian sister of Prop 8 campaign mastermind Frank Schubert, faced fierce opposition to her DA campaign from LGBT groups that claimed she could have done more to help defeat the anti-gay ballot measure in 2008. Nonetheless, Schubert sailed to victory in her race with nearly 58 percent of the vote. Landing in second was Deputy Attorney General Maggy Krell, one of two Democrats in the race who had won the endorsement of local LGBT leaders and state politicians such as Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris. She netted nearly 32 percent of the vote Tuesday, according to unofficial returns. In El Dorado County Dylan Sullivan, a superior court commissioner, won her race for the open Office 5 seat on the El Dorado County Superior Court. With close to 60 percent of the vote, Sullivan will now become the first out person to serve on her county’s court. And in Long Beach voters elected City Councilman Robert Garcia as their city’s first gay mayor, the first Latino to hold the post, and, at age 36, its youngest. Garcia survived a runoff race on Tuesday’s ballot by capturing 52.1 percent of the vote based on unofficial returns. Ending his last bid for a Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors seat Tuesday was gay Supervisor Ken Yeager. Barred from seeking a fourth term due to term limits, Yeager ran unopposed for a final third term. He netted 26,818 votes.

SF judge race enters runoff

Sheila Kuehl

Bonnie Dumanis

Anne Marie Schubert

The contest for an open seat on the San Francisco Superior Court appears headed to a November runoff, as none of the three candidates was able to net a majority of votes in Tuesday’s primary. According to the unofficial returns Wednesday morning, criminal defense attorney Daniel A. Flores landed in first place with 45.35 percent, or 36,934 of ballots cast. A married father of two children, Flores had won the backing of

the progressive Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club as well as the Bay Area Reporter. Holding on to second place, with 27.43 percent of the vote, or 22,334 of ballots cast, was lawyer Carol Kingsley, who stepped down from the city’s police commission after entering the judicial race. Her husband, Jack Berman, was among those killed in the mass shooting that took place in 1993 at 101 California Street in San Francisco’s Fi-

nancial District. Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Toney Williams was not far behind in third place with 26.85 percent of the vote, or 21,865 of ballots cast. She had won the endorsement of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club. The seat opened up due to Judge Charlotte Walter Woolard’s decision not to seek another six-year term. The race marks the first time in recent years that no LGBT candidates opted to run for a judicial seat on the local bench.t

Daniel Flores

Carol Kingsley

Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http:// www.ebar.com Monday mornings at noon for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion. This week’s column reported on SF Public Defender Jeff Adachi’s softening stance on Laura’s Law. 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) 861-5019 or e-mail mailto:m.bajko@ebar.com.

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

<< Election 2014

t SF waterfront development measure passes by Matthew S. Bajko

ebar.com

measure aimed at curtailing oversized buildings along San Francisco’s waterfront sailed to victory Tuesday, marking the second time in recent months voters have used the ballot box to voice their concerns about development issues in the city. In November voters easily defeated a luxury condo development known as 8 Washington that had been proposed for a triangular plot of land a few blocks northwest of the Ferry Building. Its detractors had labeled it a “wall on the waterfront” and faulted it for lacking affordable housing on-site. This week voters backed Proposition B, which requires voter approval for any waterfront development that surpasses the existing height limits on the property. The outcome had been expected, and unlike in the 8 Washington fight, no public official stepped up to be the face of the No on B campaign. Even before the ballot measure had been voted on, it had impacted several high profile proposals along the waterfront. The Golden State Warriors abandoned plans to build a new arena and luxury housing on several piers and a bayside lot and opted instead to buy a piece of property in Mission Bay not affected by Prop B. The San Francisco Giants also announced they were re-examining their plans to develop the parking lots south of their waterfront ballpark in Mission Bay. According to unofficial returns Wednesday morning, Prop B passed with 59.42 percent of the vote, netting 53,636 of the ballots cast. The no vote amounted to 40.58 percent or 36,626 of ballots cast. “San Francisco voters resoundingly told the Planning Department to stop bending the rules and bring the decision-making about waterfront development out of the back rooms and out into the open,” wrote Jim Meko, a gay resident South of Market, on the SOMA Leadership Council’s blog. The significantly less controversial Proposition A, an earthquake safety and emergency response

Rick Gerharter

A view from the sidewalk at Piers 30 and 32 toward the site along the Embarcadero that had been proposed for high-rise development before the Golden State Warriors moved the project to Mission Bay.

bond measure, also easily passed Tuesday. Unofficial returns pegged its support at nearly 79 percent. It will provide $400 million in general obligation bonds to repair, upgrade, and seismically retrofit San Francisco’s aging firefighting water infrastructure. The funds will also be used to make other infrastructure upgrades to the city’s neighborhood police and fire stations and create seismically secure facilities for the medical examiner and the crime lab. Two statewide measures also passed Tuesday. Proposition 41, the Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond Act of 2014, received 65.4 percent of the vote. It allows the state to spend $600 million in general obligation bonds previously approved to construct and rehabilitate housing for California’s large population of homeless veterans.

“Thanks to California voters thousands of brave veterans, men and women who risk their lives, limbs and futures for our country, can now have a safe and supportive home for themselves and their families,” stated Prop 41 campaign co-chair Burt McChesney. “The passage of Proposition 41 will provide veterans with a home where they can recover from their injuries and get the services they need to transition back to their pre-war lives, putting California at the forefront of the nation’s efforts to end veteran homelessness and to help veterans receive affordable housing.” Proposition 42, which shifts the burden of the cost to comply with open records laws from the state to local government agencies, also passed. It received 61.5 percent of the vote Tuesday, according to unofficial returns.t

Rick Gerharter

LifeCycle riders en route to LA S

ome of the 2,500 participants in the 13th annual AIDS/LifeCycle left the Cow Palace early Sunday, June 1 on the first leg of the 545-mile ride to Los Angeles. This year’s ride is expected to raise $15 million for programs of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center (formerly the LA Gay and Lesbian Center). Riders who have posted on Facebook report a smooth start. Unfortunately, four cyclists were injured

Monday when they were hit by a truck near Moss Landing. According to KSBW-TV, the California Highway Patrol said that the truck driver was attempting to pull out from a gas station and turn left onto Highway 1 when he hit the riders. The injured riders were transported to a Watsonville hospital. The CHP said that the truck driver did not have a driver’s license and was cited by officers. The ride ends Saturday in Los Angeles.t

A single moment can change everything.

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2014

<< National News

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Houston LGBT ordinance could be challenged on ballot by Lisa Keen

n a battle she characterized as “very personal” and “about me,” Annise Parker, the lesbian mayor of the fourth most populous city in the country, won a victory. She convinced the Houston City Council to establish a law that would prohibit discrimination based on a range of characteristics – including sexual orientation and gender identity – in public and private employment, housing, and contracting. Now, she may well have to take on two bigger fights: one to protect the law from a referendum campaign and another to protect her job from a recall effort. In the heat of debate two weeks before the May 29 vote, Parker said the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance applies to “the range of protective groups” but added, “the debate is about me.” “The debate is about two gay men at this table,” she continued, referring to the 17-member council’s two openly gay members, Robert Gallegos and Mike Laster. “It is very intensely personal.” And that debate continued for more than eight hours on the final hearing, with over 200 people making comments for and against. Most testified for the legislation but many waved Bibles and said the ordinance would “make criminals” of Christians. The vows of recall and referendum were voiced even before the council voted 11-6 to approve the comprehensive law. And they have continued since passage, along with a placeholder website that urges citizens to check back for information about the petition drive. A longtime anti-gay activist in Houston, Dave Wilson, is said to be

orchestrating the recall and referendum effort. Wilson has been quoted by a number of media outlets as saying Parker’s push for the nondiscrimination ordinance was “pure payback” to the LGBT community. Parker is the city’s first openly gay mayor. But most political pundits say they think it will be hard for Wilson and other opponents to gather 42,500 signatures in 30 days for a recall of the mayor. And more impor-

Rick Gerharter

Houston Mayor Annise Parker

tantly, the city charter requires any recall be based on “some ground of incompetency or unfitness for or misconduct or malfeasance in the office.” “It’s not just a matter of gathering signatures,” said Parker spokeswoman Janice Evans this week. “Opponents also have to prove malfeasance or dereliction of duty. It’s not as simple as just not liking

a specific vote. A more likely situation is a successful petition drive to require a vote on repealing the ordinance, which requires 17,269 signatures within 30 days of passage of the ordinance. Opponents have already started the petition process for that.” If a recall or referendum or both make it onto the November ballot, the contest would likely become the most important political battle for the LGBT community this year. It would be seen as a test of the staying power of one of the country’s highest profile gay elected officials and providing a measure for how entrenched anti-gay sentiment is in the South. “I guarantee this recall election will be as big as anything else in November, and it will draw all kinds of attention and money,” wrote progressive political blogger Charles Kuffner. And Houston is an old battleground for gays. In 1985, city voters rejected an effort to prohibit sexual orientation discrimination by a margin of four to one, and the ballot measure didn’t even include the word “gay.” That covered only city employment. In 2001, 52 percent of Houston voters amended the city charter to prohibit any “privilege” based on sexual orientation and to deny domestic partners of city employees the benefits provided to the spouses of married city employees. But after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in U.S. v. Windsor last June that the federal government could not deny recognition to marriage licenses obtained by same-sex couples in states which treat them equally, Parker implemented a policy of providing equal benefits

to city employees who had married their same-sex partners. That immediately drew opposition from a small group of Republicans who filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to stop the benefits from going into effect. A federal judge refused to stay Parker’s directive and the lawsuit is still pending. Some opponents claimed Parker’s benefits violated the charter ban on “privilege” based on sexual orientation, but Parker said the benefits do not violate the charter because they are limited to couples who are legally married, and some same-sex couples obtain marriage licenses from other states. Parker and her longtime partner, Kathy Hubbard, married in California two months later. The possibility of a referendum on the new non-discrimination law strikes many as more likely. If that does become a battleground, it will almost certainly include focus on opponents’ obsession with public bathrooms. The original draft of HERO included language that explicitly protected the right of transgender individuals to have access to bathrooms that match their gender identity. “At the request of HRC and the Greater Houston Partnership, that section was removed but the transgender community is still completely covered by the ordinance,” said Evans, referring to the national Human Rights Campaign and the local business council. “I would note that the language in the original draft was unique to Houston. The fact that no other city had taken this approach was part of the reason for the removal of that section. It brought Houston’s ordinance in line with others.”

The final language also got the stamp of approval from the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, but only after Parker agreed to remove the section specifically protecting transgender people’s access to bathrooms. The section read: “It shall be unlawful for any place of public accommodation or any employee or agent thereof to intentionally deny any person entry to any restroom, shower room, or similar facility if that facility is consistent with and appropriate to that person’s expression of gender identity.” Opponents conjured up images of men entering public restrooms and urinating next to 6-year-old girls. After removing the language, Parker posted a Twitter message saying, “To my trans sisters/brothers: you’re still fully protected in Equal Rights Ordinance. We’re simply removing language that singled you out.-A” But Wilson told the Houston Chronicle that he’s also trying to put a measure on the ballot to amend the city charter to explicitly bar a biological male from using a women’s restroom. The Chronicle reported that the earliest a charter amendment could appear on the ballot would be next May. Meanwhile, the 30-day clock is ticking on the hopes Wilson and opponents of HERO have to force a recall vote or a referendum on the new law. Cathryn Oakley, legislative counsel for HRC’s state and municipal advocacy, said HRC mobilized its members to support the new ordinance and is ready and willing to help defend the law if necessary.t

Public opinion improves on same-sex relations by Lisa Keen

ublic opinion on same-sex relations has improved more dramatically than it has on any other controversial issue with strong moral sensibilities, according to recent data by the Gallup poll organization. When asked to indicate, “Do you believe that, in general, the following are morally acceptable?” 58 percent said yes on “gay and lesbian relations,” according to the poll, released May 30. That’s up from 18 points, from 40 percent in 2001, when the question was first asked. (And 40 percent in 2001 wasn’t the lowest year for the issue. In 2002, moral acceptability of “gay and lesbian relations” was at 38 percent.) “The sharp rise in the share of the public viewing [gay and lesbian relations] as morally acceptable is unmatched by any of the other items on the Gallup survey,” said Patrick Egan, a New York University professor of politics who specializes in public opinion and LGBT demographics. “This reflects broader positive movements in American public opinion on gay rights and gay people that we’ve been seeing over the past two decades.” Gary Gates, a demographer at the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, noted that the Gallup findings on moral acceptability are consistent with the Gallup findings last week that 63 percent of Americans support allowing same-sex couples to adopt children and with another recent Gallup poll finding 55 percent support allowing same-sex couples to marry. “The findings across these three polling questions suggest that Americans’ growing support for same-sex relationships and families is not just confined to a sense of

moral acceptability, but also translates into increasing support for formal legal equality,” said Gates. In the May 30 poll, “gay and lesbian relations” was one of 19 “moral issues” on which respondents were asked to weigh in. Its acceptability

Courtesy NYU

New York University Professor Patrick Egan

level (58 percent) matched that of buying and wearing fur, having a baby outside of marriage, and (at 57 percent) medical testing on animals. The issue that has seen the greatest improvement in public acceptability, after “gay and lesbian relations,” is having a baby outside of marriage. It rose 16 points between 2001 and 2014. Sex between an unmarried man and woman rose 13 points in acceptability. Of the 19 issues, birth control had the highest acceptability rating (90 percent), followed by divorce (69 percent), and sex between an unmarried man and woman (66 percent). Married men and women having an affair ranked the lowest of 19 categories at seven percent, followed by cloning humans (13 percent) and polygamy (14 percent). Public acceptability went down on only four issues: medical testing

on animals (8 percent), the death penalty and wearing fur (2 percent), and gambling (1 percent). Opinion about abortion went unchanged between 2001 and 2014, with 42 percent of the public saying it was acceptable. Gallup has been conducting its “Values and Beliefs Poll” every May since 2001. This year’s poll was conducted by telephone on a random sample of 1,028 adults in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 4 percentage points. The sample is weighted to match national demographics. In the first four years of doing the survey, Gallup asked people about the moral acceptability of “homosexual behavior.” In those years, the response ran between 38 and 44 percent. For three years (20062008), it asked about “homosexual relations.” The response ran from 44 to 48 percent. Beginning in 2009, Gallup asked about “gay and lesbian relations.” The improvement between 2008 (48 percent) and 2009 (49 percent) was only 1 percentage point. Egan noted that the term “gay and lesbian relations” is “definitely a vague” one. So some respondents might interpret it as sexual relations and some might interpret it as same-sex relationships. “My sense is that respondents are interpreting the item as an invitation to render moral judgment on gayness writ large,” he said. The biggest one-year leap in improvement came in May 2003, when 44 percent of the public said “gay and lesbian relations” were morally acceptable, up 6 percentage points from the low of 38 percent. The second biggest leap came in May 2013, when it showed a 5 percent jump over 2012. (That was a year

after President Barack Obama gave his nationally broadcast interview to ABC’s Robin Roberts, expressing his support for same-sex couples being able to marry, and six months after three states approved marriage equality ballot measures.) May 2013 was the high point in acceptance. Polling this year showed a 1 percentage point de-

crease, to 58 percent. This year’s poll was conducted May 8-11, just as an Arkansas judge declared that state’s ban on same-sex couples marrying to be unconstitutional and national media attention riveted to openly gay National Football League draftee Michael Sam sharing a kiss and hug with his boyfriend.t

“I don’t think [Davis] would have taken the time had he not felt we were capable of taking up that mantle of leadership in his absence,” said Harris, referring to himself, Hayashi, and legal director Ilona Turner. Harris said Davis is spending time with family and friends during his break, and he’s “absolutely” coming back. He said the organization’s sabbatical policy allows for Davis and other full-time staffers who’ve been with the group for five or more years to take two months of paid sabbatical. Additionally, Davis is taking a month of paid vacation. According to Transgender Law Center’s 2012 tax filing, Davis’s total reportable income from the group is about $97,000. The report “Creative Disruption – Sabbaticals for Capacity Building and Leadership Development in the Nonprofit Sector” says a survey found that, “A sabbatical can act as a dry run for a future leadership transition. The experience can clarify what the ED’s responsibilities actually are – important information when looking for a successor.” The findings from the report, by Deborah S. Linnell, Third Sector New England; and Tim Wolfred, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, are based on surveys of 61 sabbatical awardees and 30 interim leaders, among other sources.t

Sabbaticals

From page 1

“In just over a week, I am going on a three-month sabbatical,” he said in an April 30 post. “It’s time to take a breather after seven years at Transgender Law Center, and 16 years of trans activism! ... Thanks for the amazing colleagues who are making this possible!!!” In an email, Transgender Law Center deputy director Kris Hayashi, who’s heading the group in Davis’s absence, said Davis “more than deserves an opportunity to rest and recharge” and called sabbaticals “critical.” “In my over 20 years of movement work I have seen too many amazing leaders burn out and leave,” said Hayashi. “This is about showing the same care for ourselves as advocates as we do for our communities.” In an interview, C. Nathan Harris, the group’s development director, said, “I think Masen has been a really remarkable leader.” Under Davis, Transgender Law Center has become “the largest organization in the country advocating for transgender rights,” said Harris. He agreed that the director taking a sabbatical could offer a good opportunity for other staff to show what they can do.

Community News>>

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 13

Hayward’s gay prom turns 20 by Elliot Owen

t’s that time of year again – gay prom season – and this year’s Bay Area event is looking to outshine in the usual festive manner. But one thing sets this prom apart from past proms – it’s the 20th anniversary celebration of what’s now become a progressive tradition, the Hayward Gay Prom. Hosted at Chabot College on Saturday, June 7 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. the dance is for youth ages 20 and under. This year’s theme is “Rainbow Over Wonderland.” Project Eden, a substance abuse prevention and intervention treatment center in Hayward, overseas the Lambda Youth Project, a program designed specifically to support LGBTQ youth. In 1995, the Lambda Youth Project approached the City of Hayward about funding a gay prom. After a tense city council meeting attended by both dance supporters and religious protesters, the city council gave about $7,000 to the Lambda Youth Project but the money could not be used for the prom. The nonprofit used other funding sources and the event was held on city property and included a mandated police presence to de-escalate potential conflict between attendees, supporters, and protesters. Today, Lambda receives $30,000 in city funding, $2,000 of which is used for staff time associated with the prom. The “receiving line” outside gay prom is no longer a buffer between attending youth and protestors but now, rather, a welcoming crowd comprised of the Lesbian and Gay Freedom Band, supportive parents, clergy people, teachers, and other allies. Supporters said that the need for gay prom, despite advancements in LGBTQ equality, indicates there’s more work to be done, said Rochelle Collins, program director of Project Eden. “As a straight ally, I’m always profoundly moved after every single prom,” Collins said. “When you’re there, you realize there’s still a need for acceptance. Harassment, homophobia, and bullying are a prevailing problem to this day. It still exists.” Within the last five years, reports of prom-related discrimination have surfaced in Pennsylvania, Utah, Mississippi, Alabama, and even California. Mostly recently, LGBTQ-identified students at a San Bernardino County high school were told last year by the school’s administration to abide by “gender-specific” standards when choosing prom attire. The American Civil Liberties Union quickly approached the school district in support of the students. National Center for Lesbian Rights staff attorney Asaf Orr specializes in issues related to family and youth, and strongly agrees with the need for gay prom. Despite a changing social climate that’s becoming more LGBTQ-inclusive, he said, discrimination is still rampant and most of it goes unreported. “As you get into more rural areas of California, it’s just as conservative and scary as it is in traditionally conservative states,” Orr said. “The ACLU’s case is an example that it happens here in California. One of the issues with prom is that it’s very imbued with tradition. There’s a way it’s supposed to happen and whenever you get those heavy social restrictions, you’re going to marginalize a lot of LGBT kids.” Much of the time, Orr said, LGBTQ kids forgo attending prom to avoid the same harassment they experienced in the classrooms from their fellow students and teachers, harassment that keeps them from attending their classes, too. “If prom is an automatic safe

space, a place where they can feel comfortable and meet other people like them, that’s incredibly powerful particularly for youth that feel isolated,” Orr said. “What’s really important for kids is that they get to be kids, and have a space to do that while society is in this process of changing.” And the changes are happening. Support from community churches and schools has increased, Kaiser Permanente is continuing its fiscal sponsorship of the event for the seventh year in a row, this year providing $2,500. Kohl’s department store provided $2,000 in funding and is sending volunteers for the first time this year. Southwest donated the drinks. The total cost to put on the prom is between $7,000 and $10,000 annually, according to organizers. Collins said that more than 300 LGBTQ and allied youth are expected to attend the dance. With the help of Gay-Straight Alliance Network, every year Lambda Youth Project puts out a gay prom bulletin to GSAs across the state. Students from as far south as Los Angeles, east to Las Vegas, and north to Santa Rosa make the trip

to attend. Youth and LGBTQ-related organizations come from all over the Bay Area to conduct outreach and facilitate activities at the event, too. There is no dress code and parents are welcome to attend or volunteer in support of their children. “It’s a regular dance with food, a photo booth, souvenirs, games with prizes, and adults supporting the youth,” Collins said. “Everybody comes together on that day and Elliot Owen it’s a celebration of acProject Eden program director Rochelle Collins, left, joined with Lambda Youth ceptance.” Zohal Abdi, 19, a Project members and gay prom organizers Jennifer Heastan, Kalli Jacobs, Arianna Rodgers, Mathew Quarless, Brendon Birky, and Haley Barth. genderqueer lesbian from Union City, unsafe space for LGBTQ and allies to experience.” derlined the imporexperience the full ‘prom experiTickets are $25 and can be purtance of acceptance. This is her ence’ they weren’t given in their high chased at Project Eden’s office, second year attending gay prom and schools. It’s still important because 22646 2nd Street, or at the door. won’t be her last, she said. across the country there are couples Chabot College is located at 25555 “Gay prom allows individuals to and individuals facing prejudice Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward. show their true colors and express and choose not to go to their proms. To donate to or volunteer for gay themselves without fear of judgEveryone should have a fun prom prom, visit www.gayprom.org.t ment or exclusion,” she said. “It’s a

<< International News

14 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Gay Cuban physician speaks in SF by Heather Cassell

eople interested in Cuba got insight to the island country’s LGBT rights struggle by gay Cuban Dr. Alberto Roque, who was recently in San Francisco. Nearly 100 people turned out to hear Roque’s May 29 presentation, “Dissident Sexualities: LGBTQI Life in Cuba – A historical background and current challenges” at the LGBT Community Center. The talk, sponsored by the Rainbow World Fund and the Turquino Project, was an overview of the LGBT history and fight for equality in Cuba. Roque provided an academic look at Cuba’s 300 years of struggle against homophobia and the modern LGBT rights movement in the communist Caribbean nation. Homophobia in Cuba dates back well into the 18th century when Spanish colonialists adopted antisodomy laws criminalizing homosexuality. Attitudes that LGBT people were “sick” persisted into the late 1900s, Roque said. The 1959 Cuban Revolution didn’t change life for LGBTs, who were persecuted and sent to reform worker camps by Fidel Castro, who became prime minister – and later president – after the revolution. “Fidel had homophobic statements at the beginning of the revolution,” said Roque. During an in-

terview in 1961 he said, “if you are homosexual you cannot be called a revolutionary.” “A lot of people suffered from discrimination,” continued Roque, but he also noted that LGBTs who were placed in the camps also described a euphoric time. “It was finally the moment to go out of the closet,” he said. Roque noted that Castro, who served as Cuba’s president from 19762008, publicly apologized for persecuting LGBT Cubans in 2010. Yet, the camps weren’t the worst part of the revolution. That distinction, according to Roque, was a fiveyear period in the early 1970s when homosexuality was classified by the state as a “complex disease.” The policies based on the institutionalized homophobia led to what Cubans call “the great five years period,” a very dark time in Cuba where people lost jobs or left school, artists were restricted from creative expression, and basically many people were silenced, Roque told the audience. Discrimination wasn’t over after that dark period. Homophobia reared up again in the early 1980s when Castro opened the boarders, allowing a mass exodus from Cuba. LGBTs were pushed out of the country, according to Roque, classified as being “counter-revolutionary.”

Spring of hope

In spite of the state-sanctioned homophobia in the revolution, a spring of hope also developed during the early 1970s when feminism and sexual education and research led by the late Vilma Espin Castro, current President Raul Castro’s wife, began working to change perceptions of LGBT people. Raul Castro is Fidel Castro’s brother. He officially succeeded his brother as president in 2008, after serving as interim president during Fidel Castro’s medical issues in 2006. Vilma Castro founded the Federation of Cuban Women in the 1960s and then the National Work Group on Sex Education – the predecessor of Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education – in the early 1970s. It took nearly two decades before CENESEX was established in 1989. In some ways, Cuba was advanced when it came to gender identity and AIDS. In 1979, a working group for transsexual care was established. By 1988, Cuban doctors performed the country’s first successful sex reassignment surgery on a male-to-female person, said Roque. Cuban transgender activists need to change their political vision, Roque said. “They still need more and more political approach of their sexuality,” said Roque. “They need to move forward to have this political approach that I’ve seen a lot in America. [American transgender activists] are very political and very radical in their perception and their

AIDS in Cuba. That first case came two years later and the Cuban health care system and government has continued to be proactive, resulting in a low transmission rate, said Roque.

Modern gay Cuba

Rick Gerharter

Gay Cuban Dr. Alberto Roque speaks about homosexuality in Cuba during a talk sponsored by the Rainbow World Fund May 29 in San Francisco.

demands.” Cuba’s medical system continues to have an issue regarding surgery for intersex children. Doctors generally perform the surgeries two years after birth rather than waiting until the children are older where they can better define who they are, Roque said. “These people, they suffer a lot, their families suffer a lot, and in Cuba we are asking moratorium for surgeries,” said Roque. At the same time Cuba was early in recognizing HIV/AIDS and proactive. In 1983, Fidel Castro ordered a National AIDS Commission to prepare for the first case of HIV/

In spite of the changes in public attitudes and the laws protecting LGBT rights in Cuba, the island nation still has a long way to go to change social perceptions of LGBT people, said Roque. “The educational system in Cuba has been very reluctant to start working on these issues in the elementary school and high school,” said Roque, pointing out that there are working groups advocating for change. There are still legislative issues that are pending in Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power, the country’s legislative body. Some of the issues Cuban LGBT activists are currently fighting for include changes in the family code, recognition of diversity and LGBT rights within the family, legal recognition of same-sex relationships, and a gender identity bill, Roque said. In many ways Cuba’s LGBT rights movement is just starting to go public. The first march for Cuban LGBT rights was held in 2008 to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, Roque said. Cuba also hosted the sixth International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association for Latin See page 16 >>

Ellis Act reform bill clears hurdle in Sacramento by David-Elijah Nahmod

state lawmaker’s attempt to reform the Ellis Act has cleared one hurdle but will be amended before its next vote. Senate Bill 1439, which would help mitigate the negative impacts of a recent surge in Ellis Act evictions, passed the state Senate May 29 by a 21-13 vote. The bill, au-

thored by gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) had failed in its first vote a few days earlier, however, Leno was able to have the Senate take it up again, where it received the minimum number of votes to advance to the Assembly. Leno’s bill would apply only to San Francisco and is designed to halt the escalating number of Ellis Act evictions across the city. The

Ellis Act has particularly hard hit LGBT strongholds like the Castro and Latino enclaves such as the Mission. Passed in 1985, the Ellis Act is a state law that allows landlords to evict tenants in order to get out of the rental business. The law’s original intent was to let longtime property owners retire or have family members move into their buildings. In recent years, however, some landlords have used the Ellis Act to quickly turn buildings into tenancyin-common (TIC) units for resale on the market, said a statement from Leno’s office. The units being cleared are often rent controlled and home to the elderly, disabled, and working class people. In a statement, Leno said he was committed to work on amendments to his bill to address the differentiation between small family holdings and business interests that are abusing the intent of the Ellis Act. SB 1439 would require San Francisco property owners to own their buildings for at least five years before they could invoke the Ellis Act. The

Jane Philomen Cleland

State Senator Mark Leno

bill would also ensure that landlords can only invoke their Ellis Act rights once and creates penalties for violations for these new provisions. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, who supports Leno’s bill, was pleased with last week’s vote. “Senator Leno’s bill gives San Francisco the critical tools we need to close a loophole in the Ellis Act that is making it possible for real estate speculators to evict longtime tenants,” Lee said in a statement released by Leno’s office. “I am grateful to the Senate for moving Senate Bill 1439 one step closer to the gov-

ernor’s desk so we can stand up for working families and long time San Franciscans.” Patrick Henry, a 53-year-old longtime HIV survivor, applauded the passage. “I’ve lived in a small apartment building in the Castro for 25 years,” he said. “Having been poz for two decades, Mr. Leno’s success with this reasonable legislation is one more important step toward providing me some security against being evicted from my home.” Housing rights activists also applauded the vote. “The LGBTQ community, especially those of us with HIV/AIDS, are disproportionately the victims of Ellis Act evictions,” said AIDS Housing Alliance Director Brian Basinger. “As Harvey Milk said, ‘you gotta give ‘em hope.’ Today, due to the leadership of my activist friends, and the political savvy of Mark Leno, we now have hope that the worst days of the Ellis Act will soon be a distant memory.” SB 1439 will be heard in Assembly policy committees this summer.t

Obituaries >>

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in mind, evidently, John chose to be a lifelong vegan. John had lived in San Francisco and Berkeley but moved to Costa Rica for the tropical flora and the cheaper rent. He was Jewish but not religious. Genetics do not have to be the only determinant of who you become. A healthy lifestyle can supersede genetics. Good news that.

battling cancer and died in Ohio. He was 41. Michael had family and friends in Ohio, California, Florida, and elsewhere. In San Francisco, Michael was the first Mr. Hayes Valley Leather, and put the title on the map that led to a great 11year run of the title. Michael was also a proud member of Sandy “Mama” Reinhardt’s family (Mama’s Rock Hard boy). He faced

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<< Election 2014

16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Controller race

From page 1

Perez is seeking to become the first out candidate to win a statewide seat and only the second known LGBT person to hold one of the state’s eight constitutional offices. The first is believed to be Tony Miller, a gay man and Democratic lawyer, who in 1994 was appointed secretary of state after March Fong Eu resigned to be an ambassador in the Clinton administration. Miller lost his bid for a full term, and in 1998, he again came up short in his bid for lieutenant governor. Another high profile race with an out candidate was the match-up

the vote, or 26,217 of ballots cast, Campos came in a close second with 43 percent of the vote, or 23,367 of ballots cast, according to unofficial returns Wednesday. “I think this shows we are going to win in November and it shows that Chiu is in trouble,” said Campos in a phone interview Wednesday. “The fact they outspent us 2-to-1 and ran a negative campaign against us with a moderate electorate and a very low turnout and we are within single digits, five points away and closing in, tells you we are going to win.” Chiu did not respond to a request for comment by press time Wednesday. The difference of less than 3,000

aires thought because they did not buy the attacks and they saw them for what they were,” said Campos. “The attacks were a pretext, a cover for the real concern that they don’t like the fact I am trying to hold big companies accountable.” But with a paltry 22 percent voter turnout this week, the candidates will likely be trying to reach a different electorate this fall.

Out candidates advance

Three other legislative races involving out non-incumbent candidates were on the ballot Tuesday. Gay Democratic Campbell City Councilman Evan Low took ﬁrst place with nearly 40 percent of

lators on the ballot Tuesday easily survived their primary races. Gay Assemblyman Rich Gordon (DMenlo Park) netted 59.4 percent as he seeks re-election in the 24th Assembly District. His opponent this fall will be Republican Diane Gabl, who received 28.8 percent. Lesbian Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) took ﬁrst place in her primary race with 59.5 percent of the vote. Her opponent in November will be Republican Barbara Decker, who came in second with 28.3 percent. Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) also placed ﬁrst in her primary race in the 13th Assembly District with

Jane Philomen Cleland Rick Gerharter

Gay Assembly candidate David Campos, left, celebrates the close primary election results with supporters at Virgil’s Sea Room.

between gay San Francisco Supervisor David Campos and his board colleague, David Chiu, a straight ally who has attracted considerable support from within the LGBT community. The two are running to succeed gay Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), who is termed out this fall and has endorsed Campos to be his successor. Despite the presence of Republican David Carlos Salaverry on the June primary ballot, the main question with Tuesday’s vote count was if Campos could bring out a sizable number of his supporters to the polls to demonstrate he would be a formidable challenger against the better funded Chiu come November. And on that score Campos and his progressive supporters can claim victory. While Chiu took top honors with 48.28 percent of

votes between the candidates will help Campos make his case to donors that he can mount a credible challenge to the more moderate Chiu. But it also means that the downtown interests backing Chiu are sure to redouble their negative attacks against Campos leading into the fall campaign. Already the two sides have accused each other of being in the pocket of special interests. And Chiu’s camp has been attacking Campos for his vote not to remove Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi from ofﬁce despite his guilty plea on domestic violence charges stemming from an incident involving his wife in 2011. It does not appear, based on Tuesday’s vote totals, that the Mirkarimi issue was detrimental to Campos. “I think the public showed they are a lot smarter than these billion-

Assembly candidate David Chiu and his wife, Candace Chen, arrived at Lefty O’Doul’s and were greeted by applause from supporters on Election Night.

the vote in his four-person primary race in the 28th Assembly District. The seat covers portions of west San Jose and several Peninsula cities; Low’s boss, Assemblyman Paul Fong (D-Cupertino), currently holds the seat but is termed out this fall. Republican Saratoga Councilman Chuck Page was holding on to second place with 27 percent, according to unofﬁcial returns Wednesday. Democratic Cupertino Councilman Barry Chang was in third with 24 percent. If the outcome holds, then Low is expected to easily win in the heavily Democratic district this fall. Gay Republican lawyer Brad Torgan received 26.4 percent of the vote in his primary race for the 50th Assembly District, which covers West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Malibu. He is the sole candidate running against incumbent Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), who netted 73.6 percent of the vote Tuesday and is all but assured of winning re-election this fall. California Army National Guard state surgeon Dr. Vito Imbasciani, a gay married father of two sons, placed poorly in his race for a state Senate seat in Los Angeles County. One of seven Democrats plus an independent running for the open 26th Senate District seat, Imbasciani netted just 4.4 percent of the vote Tuesday to land in sixth place based on the unofficial returns. The trio of out incumbent legis-

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Out in the World

From page 14

America and the Caribbean Regional Conference last month. “Mariela is quite important. She is the main most important leader, but we need more voices and we need more people to be both,” said Roque, referring to Raul Castro’s daughter, a straight ally who herself spoke in San Francisco in 2012. In recent years, the Cuban media has started to discuss LGBT rights on some radio and television programs, said Roque. While access is limited, the Internet has been important to the LGBT movement in Cuba, he said. Roque noted that while Cuba is conservative in some aspects and progressive in others compared to its neighbors, he advocates for Cu-

50.5 percent of the vote. Her opponent in the fall will be Republican Sol Jobrack, who came in second Tuesday with 31.4 percent. (Her brother Michael Eggman survived his primary race Tuesday in California’s 10th Congressional District and will try to defeat incumbent Republican Congressman Jeff Denham this fall.) Both gay congressional candidates survived their open primary races Tuesday. The state’s first out congressman, Mark Takano, placed first with 44.6 percent in his re-election race for the state’s 41st Congressional District in Riverside County. His opponent in the fall will be Republican Steve Adams, who netted 37.4 percent of the vote Tuesday. In San Diego gay former city councilman Carl DeMaio survived the primary to run against incumbent Democratic Congressman Scott Peters in the state’s 52nd Congressional District. Peters came in first with 42.2 percent, while DeMaio bested two other Republican candidates with 35.9 percent of the vote. “I didn’t get too much sleep last night with our celebrations over our big victory, but I wanted to shoot you a quick email to say THANK YOU!” wrote DeMaio in an email sent to his supporters Wednesday morning. As for two hotly contested Bay Area congressional races, both of the LGBT-friendly incumbents survived their primaries. South Bay

ban LGBTs to reach out and work together with other LGBT activists in the region and elsewhere to learn from each other. “I am very optimistic,” said Roque about the future about Cuba’s LGBT rights movement. “We need to move forward.”

Bringing Cuba to America

Jeff Cotter, founder and president of Rainbow World Fund, was pleased by the turnout for Roque’s presentation. Cotter recently returned from the fund’s third LGBT educational and humanitarian trip to Cuba, May 1625, and is looking at creating better LGBT American and Cuban relations through annual humanitarian trips to the country and developing a speaker series. “We don’t get to hear very many

Congressman Mike Honda (DCampbell) placed first with 48.6 percent and will face fellow Democrat Ro Khanna, who netted 27.1 percent for second place, this fall. In the East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) beat back a challenge from state Senator Ellen Corbett (D-Hayward) to place first with 49.2 percent of the primary vote. Republican Hugh Bussell was holding on to a slight lead of 25.9 percent for second place, according to unofficial returns Wednesday, with Corbett in third with 24.9 percent.

Other statewide races

As for the other statewide races in the June 3 primary, at the top of the ticket Governor Jerry Brown captured 54.5 percent of the vote and will face-off against Republican former Bush administration official Neel Kashkari, who came in second with 19 percent of the vote, according to the unofficial returns Wednesday. Brown is expected to easily trounce Kashkari in November and sail to a historic fourth term as governor. Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco’s former mayor, placed first in his race with 49.9 percent of the vote and will run against Republican Ron Nehring, a former chairman of the state GOP who captured second place with 23.2 percent of the vote. State Senator Alex Padilla (D- Pacoima) placed first with 30.1 percent of the vote in the secretary of state race. He will run against Republican Pete Peterson, who came in second with 29.6 percent of the vote. Outgoing Democratic state Controller John Chiang netted 55.1 percent in the race for state treasurer and will run this fall against Republican Greg Conlon, who netted 38.4 percent of the vote for second place in the primary. California Attorney General Kamala Harris earned the top spot in her primary race with 53.1 percent of the vote. Coming in second was Republican Ronald Gold with 12.7 percent. Democratic Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones secured 53.1 percent of the vote Tuesday as he seeks re-election. His opponent this fall will be Republican Ted Gaines, who netted 41.6 percent in the primary. Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson fell short of the majority vote needed to avoid a runoff this fall for the non-partisan position. He garnered 46.9 percent of the vote Tuesday and in November will likely face off against educator Marshall Tuck, who came in second with 28.6 percent. In the race for the Board of Equalization District 2 race, the seat currently held by Yee, former San Francisco Democratic Assemblywoman Fiona Ma took first place with 82.46 percent of the vote. In a distant second was Republican James Theis with 16.8 percent.t

Cuban voices from Cuba and particularly [from a] gay medical doctor’s perspective on the Cuban health system and the state of the LGBT community,” said Cotter. Cotter said Roque’s visit was a success. “It was really great,” he said. “I think that people got exposed to some new viewpoints on Cuba today and how the LGBT community there is improving their own lives and making a positive impact on society and continuing the revolution.” For more information, visit www. rainbowfund.org.t Got international LGBT news tips? Call or send them to Heather Cassell at 00+1-415-2213541, Skype: heather.cassell, or oitwnews@gmail.com.

Sports>>

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

All-women rodeo team headed to Gay Games by Roger Brigham

or nearly two decades, Deb Freeman of Morgan Hill was an active rider on the gay rodeo circuit, winning several All Around Cowgirl titles until half a dozen back surgeries forced her to retire from the saddle in 2001. The past 14 years she’s continued to coach and help train fellow members of Team Sunshine, an all-women’s team competing in the Bay Area chapter of the International Gay Rodeo Association. This summer, at the age of 57, she and her wife, Karen Beavers, are going to do something they’ve never done before. They’re going to march in the opening ceremonies of the Gay Games. “This will be the first time the Gay Games is having rodeo as an affiliated event,” Freeman said. “We decided this would be a once-in-a lifetime trip.” Not a cheap one, however. Team Sunshine hopes to take five women and four horses and travel in a caravan with other rodeo friends across the country for five days to Akron, Ohio, where the rodeo will be held August 10-11, then trek five days back, medals in hoof and hand. “We’re trying to raise about $10,000 for this trip,” Freeman said. “It will cost us about that much. It’s very difficult to get any kind of sponsorship. Everyone has a fulltime day job and uses our personal funds. We pretty much support ourselves.” The amount of money involved is one reason why rodeo has never been in the Gay Games even though one of the Gay Games founders, Paul Mart, was a rodeo rider, and why this go-round it is an “affiliated” event rather than one which awards Gay Games golds and silvers. Rodeo riders compete for cash prizes and that’s more than just a cultural distinction from the amateur status of the main Gay Games sports: it’s a financial necessity to help underwrite the cost of feeding and maintaining the horses and livestock. IGRA’s hope is that holding a rodeo in a Gay Games setting will expose the sport to queer folks who would otherwise never encounter it. “Over the years, rodeo has dwindled in numbers for various reasons and this is a good opportunity to show it to people,” Freeman said. “There’s just not the attraction of the younger folks to the rodeo and I don’t know why that is. It’s just not happening and I wish I knew why. That’s why this is important. It’s a good opportunity for us.” I asked Freeman what the appeal of rodeo was for her, and the answer was pretty much as I expected: people and horses. “Four of us women kind of formed the team over 20 years and started training and riding together,” she said. “The horses are the biggest appeal. They’re not just our rodeo horses, they’re our family. We love being around them. The [international] association is amazing. We’ve made incredible friends throughout the country who will be friends for life. It’s just great. You compete against each other, but because of the horses and the fact we know what it takes to get to where we’re at, there’s just a bond we form with one another.” Those bonds are indeed strong. Beavers, for instance, did not ride or own horses until she met Freeman in the 1990s. They were married October 25, 2008 before the passage of Proposition 8, California’s now-defunct same-sex marriage ban. Team member Dianna

Fleming did not discover horse riding until she met Freeman and now competes along with her partner, Linda Pieters. I asked Freeman about protests from animal rights groups, which have appeared at rodeos – gay and straight – for years. “Over the years we have experienced that at quite a number of our rodeos, but it has not been an issue at our rodeos for several years because we treat each our horses and our livestock as well as we treat each other. Contractors are carefully vetted for livestock handling, making sure, for instance, they don’t use any ‘shock’ techniques to move animals along. Our personal horses are part of our family so we wouldn’t do anything to hurt them.” Information on Team Sunshine and how to become a sponsor, as well as pictures of their horses, are available at www.tcdeb1.wix.com. Information on Gay Games rodeo is available at www.gaygamesrodeo. org. The website for IGRA is www. igra.com.

Protest works

A social media blitz organized by 19 swimmers and conducted through online petitions and blog postings has caused the nomination of USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus to the International Swimming Hall of Fame to be withdrawn on the grounds that under his watch he enabled sexually abusive coaches to operate with impunity. Olympians such as gay diver Greg Louganis and swimmer Nancy Hogshead-Makar spoke out against Wielgus’s induction, which would have occurred with 14 other inductees on June 13 in Fort Lauderdale, and a change.org petition drew more than 800 signatures.

Lawsuit filed for locker room access

The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund has filed a lawsuit against the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation for denying a 24-year-old transgender man access to a men’s locker room at a public pool on Staten Island. TLDEF said that on July 21, 2013, Bryan Elliott was asked by personnel at the Joseph H. Lyons Pool in

Courtesy Deb Freeman

Deb Freeman of Team Sunshine, an all-women rodeo team that is headed to the Gay Games.

Staten Island to leave the men’s locker room and use the women’s locker room instead. “What happened to Bryan happens to many transgender people when they use restrooms and locker rooms,” said Michael Silverman, executive director of the fund. “Incidents like this one severely restrict the ability of transgender people to fully participate in society. Be-

ing able to use a restroom without harassment and discrimination is essential to being able to do things like work or use public places. This lawsuit sends a strong message: everyone should have equal access to public facilities. Transgender people cannot be treated as less than full citizens and be denied the use of restrooms and locker rooms just because of who they are.”t

Your support is needed to open Hamburger Mary’s at the Patio Cafe Dear Friends: Two iconic, historic, cutting-edge, LGBT-friendly restaurants for over 30 years in San Francisco, Hamburger Mary’s on Folsom Street and the Patio on Castro Street, are joining together to open a new Hamburger Mary’s at the Patio Cafe. The original Hamburger Mary’s opened in 1972 and the Patio Cafe opened in the 1960’s. Both were gay-owned and operated neighborhood restaurants and both had a large LGBT clientele from San Francisco, the Bay Area, and tourists from around the world. Both establishments have been closed over a decade and both have been sorely missed. Although Hamburger Mary’s has only 12 locations in the U.S, the San Francisco Planning Department considers it (and any retail establishment with 11 or more locations) to be “formula retail.” Therefore we need to show we have neighborhood support to open Mary’s at the Patio. Mary’s will be a fun, casual, place to meet friends, get reasonably-priced food and drinks, and support the community. Each “Mary’s” is locally owned and operated, each is different, and all Mary’s give back to their community. Mary’s bingo events, for example, have raised nearly one million dollars for local charities. Mary’s at the Patio will be a lively and vibrant restaurant, and it will provide jobs to 30-35 men and women. Mary’s will bring back life to the Patio Cafe which has been closed far too long. Mary’s will be good for the Castro and good for San Francisco. Please take a moment to send an email in support of opening Mary’s at the Patio Cafe. Thank you for your consideration. Please send your email to John Kevlin at JKevlin@reubenlaw.com

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

SF Pride

From page 1

Among other problems, he “remained immobile and unable to care for himself for months” and “will have to endure pain resulting from this incident for the rest of his life,” Gardner’s filing says. “A partial bullet” remains in his leg,” and Gardner “will need to endure lifelong medical care” and “has lost wages and lost earning potential,” along with other impacts, according to the court document. George Ridgely, the Pride Committee’s executive director, and board President Gary Virginia declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing its pending nature. Both men joined the Pride organization months after Gardner was shot. Pride officials haven’t filed a formal response, according to the San Francisco Superior Court’s website. The complaint points to several factors that Gardner feels should have made clear to Pride organizers that they needed to do more to ensure safety for people attending the parade and celebration. “Notwithstanding the numerous SF Pride and Halloween shootings and stabbings that have transformed the event into a virtual shooting gallery in the high crime Tenderloin,” where much of the festival takes place, the committee “failed to secure the perimeter of the event in

News Briefs

From page 5

The project, aimed at masculinecenter women, men, two-spirit people, trans men, and their allies, will have Monica Jones, a trans activist from Phoenix, as its honored guest. The party’s theme is “Villain’s Night” and guests are encouraged to “bring their villainous persona whether through full regalia or attitude. There will be music, entertainment, and “great energy,” organizers said on the website. Tickets are $10 or $25 for VIP. For more information, visit http://www. brownboiproject.org

Panel on LGBT senior issues

The Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club will hold a panel discussion on LGBT senior issues in the wake of the recent report issued by the San Francisco LGBT Aging Policy Task Force. The meeting takes place Monday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street. B.A.R. assistant editor Matthew S. Bajko will moderate. Bajko covered the task force’s 18-month tenure that ended in March with its report. Additionally, he received a MetLife Foundation Journalists in Aging Fellowship, a program of New America Media and the Gerontological Society of America, which allowed him to travel to an aging

DeFrank

From page 6

Reed agreed, citing the high burnout rate among volunteers who stay in certain positions for long periods of time. “I feel good about it. I feel like our leadership team has figured out how to work together,” said Reed, 53. She was quick to point out that her tenure as board president is until the annual board elections in September. However, she is excited about using her recent educational work in the new post. “Everything that has to do with my degree has to do with social justice and establishing places where people can get resources and services,” said Reed. “It gives a new lens to look through to build the center and I think it gives credibility for me being in that position.”

2013, allowed individuals to enter the event with little or no security screenings, and failed to maintain an adequate security presence at the event.” While volunteers are typically stationed at entrances to the San Francisco Pride celebration to collect donations, there are no security personnel conducting formal screening such as checking bags as people walk in. The document mentions specific violent incidents associated with Pride, Pink Saturday – an annual Castro street festival that happens in the Castro the night before the Pride parade – and the Halloween parties that used to be held in the Castro neighborhood. In one example that Gardner gives, Stephen Powell, 19, was shot to death around the time the Pink Saturday party ended in 2010. The Pride Committee doesn’t organize Pink Saturday and it was also not involved in the Halloween parties. San Francisco police spokespeople weren’t able to determine whether anyone had been arrested in connection with the shooting of Gardner. The man who shot Gardner “was able to enter SF Pride with a firearm due to the lack of security screening present at [Los Angeles] Pride and ... other comparable events held in other cities,” the complaint says.

Just weeks before the San Francisco celebration, Gardner had worked as a model at the Los Angeles event, where everyone who attended “needed to pass through security screening before entering the event.” Christopher Street West Association Inc., which organizes LA Pride, “hired security personnel to engage in this screening process ... “Gardner’s complaint says. LA Pride officials didn’t respond to an emailed request for confirmation of this information Tuesday, June 4. Asked about the amount of money that Gardner is seeking, Ryan Lapine, an attorney representing him, cited the ongoing medical care he’ll need. Lapine also referred to an infamous lawsuit against McDonald’s, saying, “This isn’t someone who spilled hot coffee on themselves. It’s someone who was shot.” He declined to make Gardner available for an interview, citing concerns about him being misquoted. Gardner filed a claim against the city in December, but Gabriel Zitrin, a spokesman for the City Attorney’s office, said, “We couldn’t see how the city was liable, so we denied the claim.” Lapine said Gardner wouldn’t further pursue action against the city for the shooting. This year’s Pride festivities are set for June 28-29.t

conference in New Orleans last fall and helped with a series of articles he wrote in April on LGBT seniors and issues they face. Next week’s panel will focus on the task force’s recommendations and how the club and the public can help ensure that those recommendations are implemented by city officials. Scheduled panelists include Bill Ambrunn, task force chair; and fellow task force members who coordinated development of specific recommendations: Michelle Alcedo, cultural competency, social services; Michael Costa, health care; Tommi Avicolli Mecca, housing; and Daniel Redman, legal, discrimination.

tertainment will be provided by The Robert Stewart Experience. In other news BCA Executive Director Perry Lang has announced that the agency will change its name in July, becoming the Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness. In a statement, agency officials said the new name aligns with the agency’s core mission, which is to promote health equity and eliminate health disparities in black and marginalized communities in the city. “Our commitment to HIV/AIDS remains strong but we also need to be fresh and relevant to the growing reality of our community, and I trust that we are on the right track,” Lang said in the statement. In fact, BCA has steadily expanded its service menu to include health and wellness through its Rafiki Wellness programs. BCA’s service expansion was a natural progression to a growing number of HIV-positive clients who were aging and developed comorbidities such as kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. BCA’s board of directors officially expanded the agency’s mission to include health disparities in 2005, Lang noted. BCA records more than 3,500 community contacts and conducts more than 200 workshops and classes. Tickets to the soiree are $50 for individuals and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 415-615-9945, ext. 107.t

BCA celebrates community and name change

The Black Coalition on AIDS will hold its annual Soulful Summer Soiree Saturday, June 14 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at its facility at 601 Cesar Chavez Street (between Third Street and Pier 80) in San Francisco. This year’s fundraiser and community awards event will honor Mary Ann Jones, CEO of Westside Community Services, with the Naomi Gray Leadership Award. Other honorees include Carnell Freeman, Visionary Donor of the Year; Hugo Calderon, Volunteer of the Year; and Mark Matthews, Employee of the Year. Former TV news anchor Barbara Rodgers will serve as emcee and en-

Getting on track

County officials praised Belaus’s service. “I appreciate the contributions Greg has made to our community,” gay Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager said in an email. “I know that Greg and his fellow DeFrank board members have been working hard to re-energize center programs and operations.” Yeager worked with Belaus on a number of projects, including the county’s first-ever LGBT health survey. “I wish Greg the best and look forward to continue working with Char as she steps into her new role,” Yeager added. Belaus credited Reed with aiding the process of bringing the center’s HIV program back in line with the county’s policies and procedures and her unique connection to the South Bay’s business community as

a small business owner. Reed said that the center’s HIV program is now doing “fantastic.” The center’s Wednesday night bingo program is also doing well and the board is looking at different ways to attract more people to that event. The center’s board is also focused on getting more community involvement with the center and finding out what services the community needs and wants, said Reed. Reed is focused on the center’s future. “I think that we are moving in the right direction,” she said. Personally, one of the next things Reed wants to do is to connect LGBT college students and programs with the center, she said. “Our young people, college-age students, are going to be the ones fighting the battle next,” said Reed. For more information, visit www. defrankcenter.org.t

Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME & GENDER IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14-550313 In the matter of the application of: JULIE MICHELE BERNSTEIN, for change of name & gender having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner JULIE MICHELE BERNSTEIN, is requesting that the name JULIE MICHELE BERNSTEIN be changed to PAX AHIMSA GETHEN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 10th of July 2014 at 9:00 am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 15, 22, 29, JUNE 05, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035817500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TAQUERIA EL FAROLITO #10, 358 BEACH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed TAQUERIAS EL FAROLITO INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/05/14.

MAY 15, 22, 29, JUNE 05, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035789900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PHATHEADS GALLERY, 1519 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ELDER BRANDON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/17/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/17/14.

MAY 15, 22, 29, JUNE 05, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035839100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: VOLKOV LAW FIRM, 211 GOUGH ST #116, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALEKSANDR VOLKOV. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/15/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035844100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BUMP IT UP, 2176 CHESTNUT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed AIMY TANTUWAYA-REHM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/19/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/19/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035840000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WORLD STARS, 1369 22ND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARGARET K. LEE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/19/07. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/15/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035843400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JIAN MING TRADING COMPANY, 2400 ULLOA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JIAN MING LIU. 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 05/19/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035843500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: XING SHENG TRADING COMPANY, 120 WENDY LANE, EL SOBRANTE, CA 94803. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DENG YONG. 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 05/19/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035820900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: IDEAL STORE, 4214 CALIFORNIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ELENA TUNG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/05/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/06/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035827600

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035842200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SPIRAL TOUCH MASSAGE THERAPY, 1840 48TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARY B. FONTE. 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 05/16/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035840600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN FRANCISCO PERIODONTICS AND IMPLANT DENTISTRY; SFPID; 129 SACRAMENTO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ALEC J. TEMLOCK, DMD, MS, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/15/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/15/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035830600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SYMBIO; SYMBIO, INC; 393 7TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SYMBIO, INC. FAMILY THERAPY AND CONSULTING SERVICES (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/01/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/12/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035833500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PLEASURE WORKS ECOROTIC, 603 VALENCIA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BARNABY LTD LLC (OH). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/08. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/13/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035833600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PLEASURE WORKS ECOROTIC, 1620 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BARNABY LTD LLC (OH). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/08. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/13/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035833700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOOD VIBRATIONS PLEASURE WORKS, 899 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BARNABY LTD LLC (OH). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/08. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/13/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035833900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOOD VIBRATIONS PLEASURE WORKS, 189 KEARNY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BARNABY LTD LLC (OH). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/08. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/13/14.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14-550346 In the matter of the application of: RAYMOND BRENNAN, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner RAYMOND BRENNAN, is requesting that the name RAYMOND BRENNAN be changed to RAYMOND DAVILA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 24th of July 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 29, JUNE 5, 12, 19, 2014 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-14-550351

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ADVANCE HEALTH SF, 528A SAN JOSE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MAGNOLIA NG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/08/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/08/14.

In the matter of the application of: HEATHER TEETER ROCKER, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner HEATHER TEETER ROCKER, is requesting that the name HEATHER TEETER ROCKER, be changed to PEMA TEETER ROCKER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 29th of July 2014 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 22, 29, JUNE 05, 12, 2014

MAY 29, JUNE 5, 12, 19, 2014

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Legal Notices>> FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035851600

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035863800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WELEARN CENTER, 2650A BALBOA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SUMI LEVY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/2214. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/22/14.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAY AREA STRENGTH AND NUTRITION, 150 LOMBARD ST #4, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANDREW BABKES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/12/2014. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/30/2014.

MAY 29, JUNE 5, 12, 19, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035852200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BIEN BIEN, 255 STEINER ST, #602, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed EMILY DULLA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/23/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/23/14.

MAY 29, JUNE 5, 12, 19, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035823100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAYDE MARK DESIGNS, 1112 DE HARO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HEATHER FORBES. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 02/11/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/07/14.

MAY 29, JUNE 5, 12, 19, 2014 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-035838600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LOGOPEDA; PASSION COACHING FOR MEN, 550 FELL ST, #15, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALINA GABRIELA MIHAI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/15/14. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/15/14.

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JUN 05, 12, 19, 26, 2014 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-034554900

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The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as: AMERICAN TRUTH COMMISSION LLC, 2141 FILBERT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business was conducted by a limited liability company and signed by AMERICAN TRUTH COMMISSION LLC (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/27/2012.

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Vol. 44 • No. 23 • June 5-11, 2014

www.ebar.com/arts

On the Twentieth Century T Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art, courtesy of the Estate of David Wojnarowicz

by Sura Wood

Untitled (1990) by David Wojnarowicz, stencil printed with spray paint and collaged papers on found paper.

he San Jose Museum of Art ups its game this summer with Legacy: The Emily Fisher Landau Collection, a traveling show of postwar art organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. This exhibition and Modernism from the National Gallery of Art, which opens Saturday at the de Young Museum, should help fill the gap and feed the appetite of the modern art-deprived in the wake of SFMOMA’s extended absence from the scene during its renovation. San Jose’s wide-ranging survey, with 70-some works by 38 artists – a fraction of the 367 objects New York philanthropist Landau has promised to the Whitney, a gift estimated to be worth upwards of $70 million – the exhibition spans the 1960s through 2002, with the 1980s as its strong suit. The artworks subtly channel or directly comment on the art movements and social and political upheaval of the second half of the 20th century, a period that saw the Cold War, the civil rights struggle, the rise of feminism, the polarizing effects of Vietnam, the expression of openly gay sexuality, and the onset and ravages of AIDS. Landau started amassing art in the late 1960s for what is now one of the world’s largest privately held collections of contemporary art (approximately 1,200 works.) The late Cy Twombly, Willem de Kooning, Carl Andre, Barbara Kruger, Robert Mapplethorpe, Agnes Martin, Martin Puryear, Susan Rothenberg, Mark Tansey, gay, Cuban-born artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres, the sexually uninhibited photographer Peter Hujar, and his lover and friend, agitator artist David Wojnarowicz, both of whom died of AIDS in their 30s, are just a few of the artists who caught Landau’s eye. She became enamored of the New York art scene in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, visiting galleries and studios and cultivating relationships with adventurous younger artists, some of whom were toiling in obscurity when she began collecting their work. Warhol’s portrait of Landau hangs at the entrance to the show; being an art patron has its perks. See page 18 >>

Hadleigh Adams sings out with pride by Jason Victor Serinus

Courtesy the artist

all, rugged baritone Hadleigh Adams, 29, must be one of the straightest spined and proudest bearinged singers on the planet. Both his appearance and his lowerpitched, resonant voice make it hard to believe that during his youth in a small New Zealand farm town, two decades before he journeyed to San Francisco and was chosen for San Francisco Opera’s prestigious Adler Fellow apprentice program, he was teased mercilessly for being gay. “I acted very different,” he explained during an hour-long chat in a café near the War Memorial Opera House. “I acted very effeminately. Not by choice; it’s just how I was.” This didn’t make life easy for him at an all-boys school. “I wanted to fit in,” he says. “I was two years ahead in my academic work because I was a smart kid. I played hockey and tennis, which were the gayer sports from a high-school boy point of view. I also did a lot of music, and I loved music. If you loved music, that meant you were gay. “So it was horrible. I was teased a lot, and had very few friends. But I didn’t really mind it or care, because while I loved my family and my country, which is the most beautiful place in the world, I always knew I was destined for more than a lot of my classmates. Not to say that more is better, or being on the stage or escaping is better, but I knew, from the age of 12 or 13, that I was destined for more in my life.” See page 21 >>

Baritone Hadleigh Adams.

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<< Out There

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Out There’s early summer playlist by Roberto Friedman

ittle-known today, late glamrock pioneer Jobriath released two albums for Elektra Records in the early 1970s, becoming rock’s first openly gay major-label recording artist. Now a new album of un-

released music, As the River Flows (Eschatone), comes out 40 years later. On a track like “Inside,” you can hear how utterly of his time and ahead of his time Jobriath was. The classically trained piano-playing, the nasal vocals, the confident ascent into falsetto: all would become standard glam-rock fare, and Jobriath was there at its very inception. The shrink-wrap on Owen Pallett’s new album In Conflict (Domino) advises, “Please remove this sticker,” and he had us at “please.” The CD wears its heart on its sleeve, so to speak, as the lyric sheet begins on the cover and continues inside. It’s Pallettesque lyrics like, “I’ll never have children, I’d bear them and eat them, my children” that distinguish his songwriting. Jaunty melodies and chorales featuring pop elder Brian Eno dress up the essential

Legacy

From Arts Cover

Painting predominates, though there’s a selection of sculpture and mixed-media pieces. But enjoyment of a show that specifically reflects the taste of a collector (and their advisors) is predicated on whether or not you share that taste. Landau’s proclivities to some extent tilt toward simplicity. Take Agnes Martin’s Rothko-esque “This Rain” (1960), a geometric, minimalist painting

seriousness of Pallett’s work. Songs like “The Passions” are like short gay love stories. “My fingers lock behind your head, you hook your pinkies on my jeans, I’m 28 and you’re 19, compassion, compassion.” “As we try to get it on in bed, you’ve given me your home and head, you put on The Queen Is Dead, I just want to talk instead, compassion, co m p a s s i o n .” Vintage analog synthesizers put the art in these art-songs. Iggy Azalea’s The New Classic (Virgin) begins with the disingenuous disclaimer, “We don’t want to do anything that would scare your children, that’s the last thing we want to do. We don’t want to scare anybody.” Then Azalea and company proceed to do just that, in modern rap pop. Meshell Ndegeocello’s new release Comet, Come to Me (Naïve) is a winner, precise in both lyrics and music. It begins with a nice thought. “Friends, how many of us have them? Friends, ones we can depend on. Friends, before we go any further, let’s be friends.” The new Pixies album Indie Cindy (Pixies Music) sounds like it was created from heirloom Pixies DNA cryogenically frozen from the 1990s. Pixies use metal-rock tropes and infectious riffs combined with pop-music genius to make their

unmistakable sound. The new songs could have been B-sides to Trompe le Monde, but that’s good. And if you doubt what a consummate song-stylist Black Francis is, listen to how many ways he can phrase the epithet, “Bag boy!” Speaking of singers who really put a song across, Out There was in the house at Feinstein’s at the Nikko at the boite’s one-year anniversary celebration last Thursday night. Cabaret stars Michael Feinstein and Paula West performed standards from Gershwin, Porter and other stalwarts of the American Songbook, and proved their mettle in a room full of industry types and pressies. Feinstein’s tribute to the late Maya Angelou was touching; his namedropping was self-serving but adorable, as when he introduced a number, “Liza Minnelli introduced me to Sammy Davis, Jr., because she thought I should know him.” And OT being OT, we set aside time for what we think of as “seri-

ous music.” We’re learning about the oeuvre of French composer Henri Dutilleux, inspired by an essay in the latest issue of International Piano magazine. You can find CDs of his compositions in the clearance bin at Amoeba Music for $2: crazy! IP also provides a nice profile of Luxembourgian pianist Jean Muller, and sheet music for Chopin’s Polonaise in A Flat Major, Op. 53. A cornucopia of riches!

with translucent squares of sand and brackish grey that simultaneously mingle and set each other apart on a winter-white canvas. Nearby is Martin Puryear’s sculpture “Ardea” (1981), an irregular, warped hulahoop circle of painted pine and cedar, spare and Scandinavian neutral. Be sure not to miss Kiki Smith’s small but visceral white bronze and phosphorous sculpture “Head with Bird” (1994). The severed head has a bird perched on its neck, inches away from the unfortunate fellow’s face,

who, one assumes, is beyond pain. Smith, who trained as an emergency med tech, mixes the sacred and the profane in works that are a confluence of feminist ideas, fluid gender and a clinical obsession with bodily functions and dismembered forms that borders on the grotesque. Landau is partial to Richard Artschwager, Jasper Johns (who’s represented by eight color screenprints and two collages), and Ed Ruscha, whose trio of works on view here include the gimmicky palin-

drome “Lion in Oil” (2002), a foray into what Ruscha called “the tangled relationship between art and language.” The title, which reads the same way backwards and forwards, is written across what could be mistaken for a travel poster of a formidable mountain, in shadow except for its sunlit summit. Look closely and note the left side is joined with an inverted version of itself on the right, a clever but ultimately shallow conceit. There’s a smattering of photography and, save for a few forgettable staged pictures shot by Matthew

Romance language

Multiple-threat Richard Neveu talent D’Arcy Drollinger, who Steven Shear and D’Arcy Drollinger reenact a wrote and is pro- romance novel in the video introduction to Mr. ducing and cho- Irresistible. reographing his glamour drag plays Portia, while new musical Mr. Steven Shear (who also plays Mr. Irresistible through June 8 at the Irresistible on stage) plays Jake. The Alcazar Theatre (with music by photo we reproduce here gives new Christopher Winslow), neither meaning to the term, “getting into stars in nor directs the show. But the act.” Tix are available at mrirrethat did not stop him from getting sistible.eventbrite.com. onstage in a cameo tour de force. And we’re still high from the According to the show’s plot, the Meals on Wheels of San Francisco main character Eileen Morchinsky Chefs and Vintners Gala on Sunday (Cindy Goldfield) is obsessed with night, at the Fort Mason Festival Paa romance novel and ends up ordervilion. Luminaries from top restauing a robot based on the man in the rants and wineries offered amazing book. She then has a makeover to victuals, wine and cocktails under become the book’s female lead. The gala chair chef Nancy Oakes. It was show opens with a video portrayal a special feast; thank you, star chefs of the romance novel. Drollinger and vintners!t in full Lucille Ball-in-the-wine-vat

camera. In “Love Letter from the War Front” (1988), a memento of a relationship that ended tragically, unconventional photographer Felix Gonzalez-Torres depicts a marred portion of his typed correspondence with life partner Ross Laycock, who died of AIDS in 1991. That work, along with Peter Hujar’s self-portrait and his photograph of the streetwise Wojnarowicz looking like a hardened, older version of the young street hustler he once was (“David Lighting Up,” 1985), are displayed in a section focused on social issues. Wojnarowicz, whose art became

Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art, courtesy of the artist

Threat and Sanctuary (1969) by Neil Jenney, oil on canvas, with wood frame, part of Legacy: The Emily Fisher Landau Collection.

Barney on the set of his ponderous epic Cremaster 3, what’s here is interesting. Some images, like Robert Mapplethorpe’s “Chest” (1987), a picture of a buff specimen with noteworthy pecs and an enviable six-pack, must have been risqué purchases at the time, especially for an Upper East Side doyenne. The black & white photograph of a male torso segmented into three quadrants with one left blank is an example, albeit a relatively mild one, of Mapplethorpe’s penchant for combining elements of classical statuary and porn, an uneasy juncture where sex is in mind, even when it’s off-

energized politically in the late 80s, spray-painted the silhouette of two men kissing on a map of the world as a petri dish hangs over their heads like the sword of Damocles (“Untitled”). He created the piece, one of many that rage against homophobia and the epidemic, in 1990, after the disease had stolen the lives of countless friends, including Hujar. “When I was told I’d contracted this virus,” he said, “it didn’t take me long to realize I’d contracted a diseased society as well.”t Through Sept. 14. Info: sjmusart.org

Theatre>>

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

Fearless fun & frolics at Club Fugazi by Adam Sandel

an Francisco’s satirical musical revue and local institution Beach Blanket Babylon celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. On Friday, June 6, at Noon, the city will honor the legendary show, known for its outlandish song parodies and outrageous hats, with a celebration at City Hall. As a recent visit to Club Fugazi proved, Beach Blanket Babylon is showing no signs of a mid-life crisis or of slowing down. The show is still a rapid-fire assault on the eyes, ears and funny bone, with its cast of 10 gleefully skewering pop-culture icons, celebrities and politicians of the day. The show was the creation of master showman Steve Silver, and his partner, producer Jo Schuman Silver, has carried on his creative vision since his death in 1995. “Since Steve has gone, it’s very bittersweet, but it’s a labor of love,” she says. “It’s like a higher power that we have to keep pleasing – keeping his vision and constantly updating it.” For the uninitiated, the show’s loose story-line follows a squeakyclean Snow White on a quest to find her Prince, which takes her from San Francisco to many parts of the globe. A variety of larger-than-life characters, including Glinda, King Louis, and pop icons of the day, aid, abet, or distract her on her journey.

Schuman Silver notes that part of keeping the show fresh over the years has been keeping up with audience’s shrinking attention spans. “In the 1980s we had the MTV generation, and now we have the Internet generation,” she says. “So we just do everything faster and quicker.” With many of the songs, skits, and gags ripped from the headRick Markovich lines, politicians of all stripes, from the Clin- Pineapple Princess and Snow White in tons to the Bushes, Beach Blanket Babylon. Michelle Bachmann to the Obamas, are One of Babylon’s veteran perfair game. “You have to make fun formers is Curt Branom, who joined of everybody,” says Schuman Silthe cast in 1994, and plays, among ver. “Republicans love it as much as many roles, the flamboyant King Democrats. The audience decides Louis. “I was in the show before what works and what doesn’t.” Steve passed away, and when he did, Some of her favorite memories it was traumatic,” he says. “We didn’t of the show include a 1997 perforknow if the show would survive, but mance at London’s Covent Garden, he made plans for it to go on.” and its 20th anniversary perforBranom has left the show over the mance at the San Francisco Opera years to pursue other opportunities, House. “We did the 2000 Gore vs. but he’s been performing in it conBush election to Queen’s ‘Bohemitinuously since 2002. “It’s the steadian Rhapsody,’ and we did Obama’s est job in San Francisco, and none 2008 win as a Les Miz number.” With of us take that for granted,” he says. some tweaking of lyrics, that epic Married since 2008 to renowned number is still stopping the show. composer Jake Heggie, with whom

he has an 18-year-old son, Branom’s favorite part of this long-term gig is the ability to hone his stagecraft seven to nine times a week. “It’s given me a lot of confidence, the ability to try new things, and it’s a nice feeling to be comfortable enough to make mistakes. I still get excited before every show.” The daily tweaks to the material, and constant introduction of new bits and numbers, keep the cast on their toes. “Sometimes our director Kenny Mazlow will add or change lines an hour before the show – and sometimes during the show. When we see him come backstage during

David Allen

Curt Branom as the flamboyant King Louis in Beach Blanket Babylon.

the show, everyone cringes.” Some of Branom’s fondest memories include Carol Channing joining the cast one night, for what would become Steve Silver’s last show. A visit from Britain’s Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles was another highlight. “It was amazing to have royalty sitting in our little cabaret chairs,” he says. “We did give them nice cushions, but that was it. And they couldn’t have been more gracious. “Performing for Henry Kissinger as Henry Kissinger for George Schultz’ 90th birthday was amazing. All of the Secretaries of State showed up, and I performed ‘One’ from A Chorus Line as Kissinger. He was howling.” As long as our pop culture continues to churn out Kardashians, Lady Gagas, and Sarah Palins, Beach Blanket Babylon will continue to have grist for its satirical mill. If you’ve never seen the show, or haven’t seen it in a while, its 40th anniversary is a perfect opportunity to treat yourself to one hilarious evening.t Beach Blanket Babylon 40th anniversary celebration, Fri., June 6, at Noon, SF City Hall. Shows: Club Fugazi, 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd., SF. Tickets and showtimes (Wed.-Sun.): (415) 4214222 or beachblanketbabylon.com.

Multifaceted life of a sexual renegade by Richard Dodds

of Spring’s book, and in the case of Samuel Steward, it is not just a pubamuel Steward was a voyeur of lisher’s exploitive come-on. Homo his own life. And it was a life that File enters that world with a mix of begged for voyeurism. But to dracandor and creative suggestion. matize it, well, that’s a formidable When we first meet Steward in aspiration, because it was a life of Homo File, he is in the form of a such disparately fascinating commarionette, elderly in appearance, ponents, lived over so many years, and we will meet this figure again at and often centered on meticulously the end of the play. But for most of recorded sexual activities that could the two-act production, Brian Livveer into dark corners. In Homo File ingston, who bears a resemblance at CounterPulse, writer-directorto Steward’s deceptively modest apdesigner Seth Eisen puts to use an pearance, plays Steward as a shy obarray of theatrical devices that finds server, an enthusiastic participant, a way to parallel a life lived on so and a sly manipulator of his life’s many levels. curious journey. Livingston must At least partly because of his use also employ acrobatic skills as variof pseudonyms to compartmenous maneuvers give a visual repretalize his activities – teaching at a sentation to words being spoken. Shadow puppets are also frequently employed, especially to give discreet and humorous representations of Steward’s graphic recounting of numerous sexual encounters. Public restroom scenes are played out with live actors, but as choreographed encounters stirred on by creatively suggestive notes left by Steward in a niche by a urinal. That’s how he discovered “my talent for penning eloquent smut,” which will become a late-life career when he creates a hustler hero for a series of homoerotic novels under the pen name Phil Andros. The most theatrically traditional scenes take place at Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas’ country home in Mark McBeth Brian Livingston plays Samuel Steward France, where the women in one of his alter-egos as a tattoo artist provide maternal concern for the young writer, who seems in a scene with Carlo Barrera in Seth unable to fulfill his creative Eisen’s Homo File at CounterPulse. promise. You might also expect a traditional approach Catholic university while operating in his encounters with legendary a tattoo parlor on the wrong side of sex researcher Alfred Kinsey, who town, for example – Steward’s name finds in Steward a rare fount of didn’t gain prominence as a gay unashamed homosexual reportage, icon until the publication of Justin but these meetings become creepily Spring’s 2010 biography Secret Hisstylized as Kinsey suggests to an untorian, based on Steward’s own arreluctant Steward that he allow himchives that had been stashed away in self to be abused in staged S&M ena San Francisco attic. The term “sexcounters for Kinsey’s film archives. ual renegade” is used in the subtitle There are five or so songs that

periodically arise, but they more often than not let energy leak from an otherwise forceful forward trajectory. Helping sustain this spirit, while showing impressive versatility as the incredible range of characters who passed through Steward’s life,

are Katharine Otis, Michael Soldier, Ryan Hayes, Matthew Simmons, Carlos Barrera, Rich Hutchinson, and Diego Gomez. Impossible to credit here are the numerous names of all the designers who had a part in creating this extravaganza – an

extravaganza being the only theatrical form worthy of the life of Samuel Steward.t Homo File will run at CounterPulse through June 15. Tickets are $24.99. Go to counterpulse.org.

<< Theatre

20 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Lesbian experiences live onstage by Richard Dodds

hen an audience member is pulled onstage for some participatory bit, it usually involves good-natured laughs at the expense of the dragooned volunteer. It’s unpredictable, but with a safety net. While the woman who found herself moved from her front-row seat to an onstage chair wasn’t required to do much more than sit there in the opening scene of Walk Like a Man, the audience didn’t seem so sure of that safety net when the participant found she was the object of

a character’s first lesbian experience. “I wanted to ignite her pussy until it smoked,” said the actress as part of a flurry of sexual specifics designed to surprise and amuse both the audience and the volunteer. It worked, signaling to the audience that it could breathe easy in the erotically charged vignettes to come. At least that was the case on the opening night of Theatre Rhino’s production Walk Like a Man. All 10 of the pieces, adapted by Laurinda D. Brown from her book of short stories, specifically focus on AfricanAmerican lesbian characters, but the

MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S

SINGING

We’re throwing a 450th Birthday Party for William Shakespeare! Join us – and a few actors! – for a choral and dramatic tribute to his genius! PALO ALTO: June 8th at 4pm St. Mark’s Episcopal Church SAN FRANCISCO: June 14th at 8pm St. Mark’s Lutheran Church OAKLAND: June 15th at 4pm St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Use discount code BAReporter for 35% off!

www.sfca.org/buy-tickets

“If there was ever a contemporary film that illuminates why queer cinema still matters, this is it.” – Film Comment

a film by CHRIS MASON JOHNSON

San Francisco 1985

mixed-race, mixed-gender audience seemed to react as one to most of the stories. Reflecting the narrated nature of the short stories from which they were adapted, many of the pieces employ a character who is alternately speaking to us and dramatically involved with other characters. This technique can help pull us into stories by providing a firsthand observer, whether it is in a humorous tale of sexual insecurities or the anguished recollections of a victim of sexual abuse. The first act ends and the second act begins with the same character in both scenarios. Alexaendrai Bond is first seen David Wilson as a frisky adolescent Desiree Rogers, left, and Daile Mitchum play partners sparring for dominance in in typically girlish atone of 10 playlets that make up Theatre Rhino’s Walk Like a Man tire, whose seemingly benign tale turns dark ed journey into the joys of cunnilinRogers provide an inviting comic as Bond stuns the audience with a gus. Tastes Like Chicken is the telling spin on two women who both perfearless display of wrenching emotitle of that piece. ceive themselves to be the butch half tion. At the start of the second act, Plays about gay men are in plentiof the pair. Who gets out of the car a couple of years later, Monique ful supply, but when a rare lesbian to pump the gas becomes one skirhas transformed herself into Mo, counterpart finds its way to our mish in a light-hearted look at roleso convincingly played by Bond stages, the characters have often playing. that we can believe her co-workers’ been grim and tortured. While Walk Director John Fisher skillfully perceptions of her as a man. Then Like a Man has its share of serifinds the right tones for the pieces, comes the comic turn as a workous moments, the playful mood is and the fi ve very accomplished perplace romance develops, and decepmostly in celebration of love and formers confi dently move among tion or revelation must be chosen. lust unleashed.t the 20 diverse characters. In addiThese stories often end on contion to the aforementioned actors, trived notes that can come too easKelli Crump is tragic and triumWalk Like a Man will run at ACT’s ily. But in the case of a scene titled phant as a character dealing with Costume Shop through June 15. Dom and Dommer, conflicts will Tickets are $15-$30. Call (800) 838unusual motherhood, and Nkechi continue after we leave the charac3006 or go to www.therhino.org. takes us on a delightfully unexpectters. Daile Mitchum and Desiree

Beautiful disaster Q&A W/ DIRECTOR & STAR AT SELECT SHOWS! PRESIDIO: Fri 8:30, Sat 3:50, Sun 6:15 • ELMWOOD: Sat 7:15 • SEBASTOPOL: Sun 1:00

STARTS FRI 6/6

SAN FRANCISCO

BERKELEY

PRESIDIO THEATRE Rialto ELMWOOD 2340 Chestnut St. 1:15, 3:50, 6:15 & 8:30PM

testthefilm.com

SEBASTOPOL

Rialto SEBASTOPOL

2966 College Ave. at Ashby 868 McKinley St. FOR SHOWTIMES: (510) 433-9730 FOR SHOWTIMES: (707) 525-4840

by Jim Piechota

Worst. Person. Ever. by Douglas Coupland; Penguin/Blue Rider, $26.95

ometimes when the protagonist of a novel is a such a total jerk, it’s difficult to enjoy reading the book. Poor manners, abrasive behavior, rudeness, inconsideration, and social prejudice can already be found in abundance throughout our daily travels. Why, then, would we want to read about it during our downtime as well? Douglas Coupland understands this and puts the situation to the test with Raymond Gunt, a vile, curmudgeonly literary creation who happens to be the nasty narrator of his new novel, Worst. Person. Ever. Though in the opening pages, Gunt considers himself to be “a reasonable enough citizen traveling through life with a certain Jason Bourne-like dashingness,” what readers discover is anything but. His ex-wife Fiona, pitying him for being down on his luck and not rich and privileged like her, offers Raymond a chance to make big bucks by working as a cameraman for a gig on the South Sea island of Kiribati for a reality TV series called Survival. He accepts, reluctantly and fearfully, and the next group of chapters becomes an exercise in how vulgar, abusive, and inappropriate one man can be, as Raymond slowly makes his way to the island to begin work on the series. For instance, the airline implausibly deletes his seat for “reconditioning” and places him “in the second seat in a row of four,” which, of course, involves interaction with

children with Bunuel’s syndrome (they’re unable to control their emotions), a grossly oversized passenger, a vomitus of hateful remarks, and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas as in-flight entertainment. But once readers agree to yield to the nastiness that is Coupland’s faithful, dependable, and eternally despicable and grumpy escort named Raymond Gunt, this sequence actually becomes hilarious and addictive, as does the rest of the book.

Coupland, 52, who lives with his partner David Weir in West Vancouver, British Columbia, has a distinguished history of penning books with the capacity to ensnare the reader into the bitingly described realms of baby boomers (Generation X), employees of behemoth computer companies (Microserfs), and dysfunctional families (All Families are Psychotic). Here he

somewhat outdoes himself with the acerbic adventures of a man who calls bossy flight attendants “Lady Cuntly McRazorpanties,” and describes his obese airplane seatmate as resembling “a container of cottage cheese dumped onto a kitchen floor and then sprung to life in human form.” Awful and wincingly scabrous, indeed, but that’s precisely Coupland’s point, no? As the novel and the steady flow of angry tirades progress (and foultempered Raymond continues to digress in his own unique fashion), Neal, the homeless guy gussied up to assist him on the island, ends up taking all the glory from his numerous attempts to get laid. And then there’s the nuclear war about to be triggered. And Raymond hasn’t even reached Kiribati yet! Be forewarned, however, this is not a book for the weak-hearted or the easily appalled. Sensitive, overly PC readers (you know who you are) need not waste their time perusing between these covers, as Coupland’s villainous leading man offends easily with his icy heart and grouchy hate speech, living, as he does, without even the slightest notion of a social filter. But these days, isn’t it vicariously refreshing to read about a man so unbridled and acidic, he spews graphic ropes of hate speech without even a cursory glance backward to see if anyone’s been offended? Coupland has produced a comedic book so over-thetop with tactless, callous, heartless, and pachydermatous attitude, it emerges as an irresistible 300-paged nugget of brilliance specifically earmarked for those with an angel in their heart and a snickering devil on their shoulder.t

Music>>

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 21

Gangs of New York (fully orchestrated) by Philip Campbell

Bernstein with Sid Ramen and Irwin Kostal

t was just about this time last year that San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas closed the orchestra’s 101st season with the first-ever complete concert performances of Leonard Bernstein’s score for West Side Story. There were some special factors allowing the SFS permission from all four rights-holders to give a concert-only presentation. After all, who could have really imagined a full-length version of the iconic show without the unforgettable choreography of original director Jerome Robbins, or a complete enactment of the tough and lyrical dialogue from Arthur Laurents’ perfectly constructed book? Quelle surprise! MTT could envision it, and after a life-long association with the late lamented Bernstein himself (and the Bernstein family), the intrepid maestro got the wheels in motion. The additional promise of a recording of the historic event sealed the deal. West Side Story Based on a conception of Jerome Robbins Book by Arthur Laurents; music by Leonard Bernstein; lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; orchestrations by Leonard

Hadleigh Adams

From Arts Cover

Some of that destiny became apparent to music-lovers on March 31, when Hadleigh joined several other Adlers for a wonderful Schwabacher Debut Recital conceived, coached and accompanied by the brilliant gay song promoter Steven Blier. In the undeniable standout performance of the afternoon, Hadleigh brought to Gabriel Kahane’s song cycle The Memory Place singing as idiomatic, convincing, and virile as John Raitt did for the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Behind his stylistic integrity and deep emotional identification with his songs’ subject matter, he exhibited a rare vulnerability in the final song “Rochester,” which addressed individual and collective complicity in a horrible suicide.

Kristen Loken

Baritone Hadleigh Adams performing at last year’s Adler Gala Concert.

“When I sang that song, I thought of a very good friend of mine who committed suicide while I was in high school,” he says. “I could have gone many ways in my performance, but in the end, I just wanted to be honest with a couple hundred people. That was a very, very hard thing to do, because you don’t always want to be honest. But you know that you have to be, because if you aren’t, you’re lying. You can tell when people are lying.” As Hadleigh, at age 18, knew about himself. He had first sensed he was “different” at age 7, when he had feelings for another boy that were “more than admiration.” Eleven year later, the smart kid who was already in his second year of

Cheyenne Jackson (Tony); Alexandra Silber (Maria); Jessica Vosk (Anita); Kevin Vortman (Riff) San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, Music Director; San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Ragnar Bohlin, Director Recorded live at Davies Symphony Hall June 27-30 & July 2, 2013 (SFS Media) As Cheyenne Jackson, the convincing and heart-breaking Tony of the new two-disc recording, has said in interviews, “This is the best musical of all time, period,” and, “People don’t say, ‘Oh yeah, I kinda like that show’ – they love it!” I think most of us would tend to agree, even if West Side Story has always been something of a standalone achievement. The show’s blend of Shakespearean tragedy translated into the grimy streets of warring New York gangs expressed through modern dance, satire, dazzlingly clever and beautiful lyrics, and a full arsenal of Broadway ingenuity is truly unique. It also has a timeless score that ranges in influence from jazz, Latin rhythms and show-tune chutzpah to near-operatic and symphonic loftiness. a Bachelors of Music program at the University of Auckland found himself as a music leader and head of the worship team in a famed 6,000-member Pentecostal Church in New Zealand. “I was praying and praying and praying, and I knew that my attractions weren’t going away,” he reports. “One evening, when I couldn’t sleep, I went down to this area called The Chauncery. On the back of a fountain I read, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, ‘To thine own self be true, [And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.]’ “I remember sitting at the fountain thinking, ‘If God has given me this, it can’t be wrong. And if God hasn’t given me this, you can’t pick and choose the verses of Leviticus that you like.’ It’s all been said before, but suffice to say, I came out the next day. I told my flatmates, and then went home to tell my family.” It wasn’t until close to the end of our conversation that Hadleigh let slip that his father, upon hearing the news, disowned him. “But I didn’t mind,” he says. “I never minded, because I knew he was going to. When you know something is going to happen, it doesn’t hurt as much. It’s a real shame for him. I’m really sad for him. But Mom’s fine, and my siblings are great.”

Where to now?

This spring and summer, Hadleigh sings small roles in San Francisco Opera’s La Traviata (June 11-July 13) and Madama Butterfly (June 15-July 9). His fall is bigger and busier. In a short span of time, he not only sings the far more important role of Schaunard in all productions of La Bohème, but also performs the Jailor in Tosca and covers (stands by, to step in just in case) the major role of Dandini in La Cenerentola. Many a major artist’s big break has come when they’ve stepped into a role at the 11th hour. If Hadleigh stays in the Bay Area, he hopes to present a recital that follows the narrative of his life, including his coming out. All he knows for certain is that he wants to make a solid career singing at the top level in opera or music theater. “I love and adore music theater,” he declares. “I think it’s grossly un-

The live performances of the complete concert edition of the score were triumphant on a number of levels, not least for showing Bernstein as possibly the greatest musical magpie in American Musical Theatre history. His unforgettable melodies unashamedly borrowed from just about everything that made contemporary music tick in the late 1950s, but his great gift for synthesizing influences into a single voice proclaims his originality. His music, at once both simple and complicated, proclaims his genius. No one appears to get Lenny better than MTT at this point in time, and Jamie Bernstein, the composer’s eldest daughter, states that he knows her father’s score “the way he knows his own heart.” That absorption and that knowledge were immediately apparent during the DSH performances, and they are again manifest from the very first moments of the recording. Luxuriously packaged, exceptionally well-notated and brilliantly engineered, the SACD edition will likely sell itself without much need for ballyhoo in the press or media, but adding some further praise for the performers should make this West Side Story

a clear and absolute must for fans. Cheyenne Jackson was well-nigh ideal onstage, and his unfussy and appealing Broadway style has translated well to disc. Alexandra Silber made an angelic and engaging Maria in person, but she was over-amplified, and it lent a shrill edge to her pure soprano. I suspected she would sound better on the recording, and she does

dervalued. There’s an immediacy that I think opera doesn’t have in this day and age because of all the trappings. I’m not saying music theater is more successful; I’m saying that’s how it can often appear. And the music is of course more representative of what people would hear day to day. “If I could sing Sondheim for the rest of my life, I’d be very happy.

There’s a freedom to music theater that I think is more difficult to have with opera. Into the Woods would be amazing. Les Miz, Oklahoma, Kiss me Kate – there’s so much out there.” Final question: Does he find any connection between his sexual orientation and his identity as a singer? “I don’t,” he says without blinking. “Maybe I will someday. But my main concern is for the art and the

sound just about right now, if a bit recessed at times in the wide dynamics of the spectacular engineering. Of the other soloists, Jessica Vosk remains terrifically idiomatic and dramatically gripping as Anita. Her

sly humor in “America” and gutwrenching sorrow in “A Boy Like That” remind us of a fully realized characterization that almost stole the show. And speaking of showstoppers, Julia Bullocks’ memorable appearance as “A Girl” singing “Somewhere” during the Ballet Sequence still puts a lump in our throat. The SFS Chorus is actually more convincing in audio only, and the guys are especially good in the rambunctious “Gee, Officer Krupke.” Ultimately, we are left with gratitude to MTT and his winning approach to the music itself. He says he was going for an essentially Broadway sound, “but beefed up a bit.” Judging from the performances and the recording, he has succeeded brilliantly. The SFS confidently emulates everything from a cool Third Stream jazz ensemble to a pit band, a jukebox, and the rich smoothness of a big ballet orchestra. SFS Associate Principal Flute player Robin McKee says being a part of the project was “a treat beyond words.” Listeners to the new SFS Media release will think it is not only a treat, but also a wonderful gift to everyone with a life-long love of Bernstein’s legendary score. t

form, and saying words that mean something. I think, at the end of the day, whether you’re gay, straight, or transgendered, that’s what any artist desires.”t For tickets to San Francisco Opera, go to sfopera.com/SeasonTickets/2013-14-Season.aspx or call 1 (415) 864-3330. For Hadleigh Adams’ phone number – he’s single – camp out at the stage door.

<< Out&About

22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

O&A

This Lingering Life @ Z Space Chiori Miyagawa’s multi-character play, inspired by Japanese Noh plays from the 14th century, explores the past and present lives of people dealing with the Buddhist concept of Karma. $15-$50. Wed & Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru June 14. 450 Florida St. www.theatreofyugen.org

Out &About

William Odiorne’s Paris @ Robert Tat Gallery Kegan Marling

New photo exhibit of the artist’s 1920s prints of the beautiful French capital. TueSat 11am-5:30pm (1st Thursdays til 7:30). Thru Aug. 23. 49 Geary St. #410. 781-1122. www.roberttat.com

Fri 6 Shared Space

June bugs by Jim Provenzano

he sixth month is always the busiest for us Ls, Gs, Bs and Ts. The Q’s are just buzzing all over the hive, and the queens are, well, sitting pretty. Get into your Pride month with the dazzling rainbow array of arts events.

Thu 5 AIDS Survivors Summit @ LGBT Center Forum with guests and audience participation about AIDS/HIV issues. 1pm-9pm, with a pre-Pride party for longterm survivors (7:30pm). 1800 Market St. www.LetsKickASS.org www.AIDSsurvivorsSummit.org

Brouhaha @ African American Cultural Arts Complex Queer comedy from Peacock Rebellion, with MC Micia Moseley. $12-$20. 7pm, 9:30pm. 762 Fulton St. 935-5948. www.peacockrebellion.org

Dan Hoyle @ The Marsh The award-winning solo performer premieres his new show, Each and Every Thing, a multi-character play about the search for real community in a hyperconnected world. $20-$50. Thu & Fri 8pm, Sat 8:30pm. Thru July 12. 1062 Valencia St. at 21st. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

David Sax @ Books Inc. The New York Times writer and winner of the James Beard Award for his food reporting reads from and discusses his new book, The Tastemakers: Why We’re Crazy for cupcakes But Fed Up with Fondue. 7:30pm. 2275 Market St. www.booksinc.net

Jason Moran, Imani Winds @ SF Jazz Center Resident artistic director and pianist performs with the Grammy-nominated chamber ensemble. $25-$35. 7:30pm. Moran performs with the Charles Lloyd Duo, June 6, 7:30pm. $30-$70. Moran performs in a special “Jazz and Skateboarding” concert, June 7, 7:30pm, $25-$35. 201 Franklin St. at Fell. (866) 920-5299. www.sfjazz.org

Javier Rocabaldo @ Public Barber Salon The Bay Area gay artist’s iconic Catholic icon-inspired paintings Nature for Sale, blend money and endangered animals; on exhibit thru June. Opening reception June 5, 8pm-11pm. Reg hours 9am-9pm. 571 Geary St. 441-8599. www.publicbarbersalon.com

Jewseum @ Contemporary Jewish Museum

Mr. Irresistible @ Alcazar Theatre Fresh from his hit show Shit & Champagne, D’Arcy Drollinger (with writer Christopher Winslow) has a new musical comedy thriller about the wild misadventures of a manufactured perfect man. $25. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm. Thru June 8. 650 Geary St. www.mrirresistiblemusical.com

New and Classic Films @ Castro Theatre June 5: Jodorosky’s Dune and Woman in the Dunes. June 6: The Grand Budapest Hotel. (7:15, 9:30; also June 7, 5pm, 7:15, 9:30). June 7, Frozen Sing-Along (1pm). June 9, An Homage to La Cage, a live show with Lee Roy Reams, Davis Gaines (7pm; different admission). June 11, The Wind Rises (7pm subtitled, 9pm dubbed). June 12, Joe (7pm) and Red Rock West (9:15). $11. 429 Castro St. 621-6120. www.castrotheatre.com

The Orphan of Zhao @ American Conservatory Theatre BD Wong stars in James Fenton’s new stage adaptation of the a centuries-old Chinese legend of sacrifice and revenge when a young orphan discovers the truth of his heritage. $30-$130. Tue-Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Sun 7pm. Out with A.C.T. night June 18. Thru June 29. Geary Theatre, 405 Geary St. 749-2228. www.act-sf.org

SF Documentary Film Fest @ Various Theaters 13th annual festival of films about an array of subjects. Thru June 19. Roxies Theatre, Brava Theatre and Oakland School of the Arts’ Marion E. Greene Theater. 552-5580. www.sfindie.com

Staying Wild @ CCM Theater American Conservatory Theater’s Young Conservatory students perform Creighton Irons’ musical about eight teenagers who get lost on a Montana hike. $20. Thu-Sat 7:30pm, also Sat 2pm. Children’s Creativity Museum, 221 4th St. 749-2228. www.act-sf.org

Fri 6

The quarterly after-work cocktail party include music of Karina Denike and Michael McIntosh of The Cottontails, flash tours, food and craft demos, DIY activities, snacks and a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. $5. 6pm-8pm. 736 Mission St. at 4th. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org

LGBTQ Veterans and the Military @ SF Public Library How Far We’ve Come, a panel discussion with Dr. Elizabeth Hillman of UC Hastings Law School, retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning who successfully challenged the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy; Dr. Aaron Belkin, founder of the Palm Center; and Major Jeffrey Mueller, Co-Chair of OutServe Servicemembers’ Legal Defense Network Board of Directors. 6pm. Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St. www.sfpl.org

Fri 6 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee @ Center Repertory, Walnut Creek East Bay production of the comic musical about stressed-out spelling bee competitors. $37-$65. Wed 7:30pm. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 2:30pm. Thru June 21. 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. (925) 943-7469. www.centerrep.org

90s Sing-Along Party @ Roxie Cinema Sing and dance along to the 1990s MTV music videos, with lyric subtitles! Right Said Fred, Gloria Estefan, Prince, and many more pop hitmakers. Full bar! Adults only! $10-$15. 9:15pm. 3117 16th St. www.roxie.com

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. (Special 40th anniversary celebration June 6, 12pm at City Hall.) $25$160. Beer/wine served; cash only; 21+, except where noted. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

David Hawkins @ Glama-Rama Exhibit of spooky child-like pen and ink and digital images by the local gay standup comic. Opening reception, June 6, 7pm10pm, with music and comedy. Exhibit thru July 27. 304 Valencia St. 861-4526. www.glamarama.com

Bay Area debut of Chicago playwright Philip Dawkins’ comic drama about young men facing the new gay community. $25$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. thru June 28. 25 Van Ness Ave. lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Macbeth @ Fort Point We Players’ innovative audience participation staging of the tragic “Scottish play” by William Shakespeare returns (after being abruptly closed for the government shut-down). Audience members walk through the historic building as the show takes place in all areas of the fort, including a snack and beverage break during the famous “banquet scene.” $30-$75. Thu-Sun 7pm. Thru June 29. Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 999 Marine Drive. 547-0189. www.weplayers.org

Maestro @ Berkeley Repertory Theatre Hershey Felder, who wowed audiences with his recent Gershwin one-man show, returns as famed conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein in a solo and piano biographical play, in which he discusses and performs excerpts from the creator of West Side Story, Candide, On the Town and other works. $29-$87. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru June 22. Thrust Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. www.berkeleyrep.org

The Marriage of Figaro @ Cinnabar Theatre, Petaluma Mozart’s classic opera is performed by 22 local singers and a 10-piece orchestra. $9-$40. Fri & Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm. Thru June 15. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma. (707) 763-8920. www.cinnabartheater.org

Not a Genuine Black Man @ Osher Studio, Berkeley Brian Copeland’s tenth anniversary run of his compelling autobiographical solo show gets restaged at Berkeley Repertory’s studio theatre. $14-$430. Wed 7pm. Thu-Sat 8pm. Extended thru June 28. Osher Studio, 2055 Center St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

The Speakeasy @ Private Location Boxcar Theatre’s popular Prohibition-era interactive bar, gaming and performance show extends its sold-out run before closing to find a bigger venue. $65-$100. WedSat admissions times 7:30-9pm. Thru June 21. Address given after ticket purchase. www.thespeakeasysf.com

Todd Trexler Posters @ Magnet Opening reception for an exhibit of historic posters (The Cockettes, Divine, Sylvester) created by the late local gay artist. 7pm10pm. Thru June 30. 4122 18th St. www. toddtrexlerposters.com www.magnetsf.org

Triassic Parq @ Eureka Theatre Ray of Light Theatre company’s production of the innovative musical about a female T-Rex who turns male, leaving the herd of singing dinosaurs to question their prehistoric gender identity. $25-$36. WedSat 8pm. Thru June 28. 250 Jackson St at Battery. www.rayoflighttheatre.com

The Vaudevillians @ Verdi Club RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Jinkx Monsoon stars in Major Scales’ musical comedy show. $27.50 ($45 front row and meet & greet). 7pm & 10pm. Also June 7. 2424 Mariposa St. www.brownpapertickets.com www.verdiclub.net

Walk Like a Man @ The Costume Shop Theatre Rhinoceros’ production of Laurinda D. Brown’s Lambda Literary Awardwinning drama about African-Amercian lesbians and their relationships. $15-$35. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 3pm. Thru June 15. 1117 Market St. at 7th. (800) 838-3006. www.TheRhino.org

Sat 7 Chanticleer @ Mission Dolores The Grammy-winning men’s a cappella ensemble performs Russian Dreams, a concert of vocal hymns and folk music. $10-$50. 8pm. 3321 16th St. at Dolores. (Also June 4 in Lafayette, June 6 in San Jose, June 8 in Sacramento). 392-4400. www.chanticleer.org

Sat 7

Daylighting @ Ashby Stage, Berkeley Shotgun Players’ production of The Berkeley Stories Project, Dan Wolf’s play about a young East Bay woman whose day-long walk includes real-life stories from Berkeley residents. $20-$35. Wed-Sat 8pm. 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org

Devil Boys From Beyond @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Buddy Thomas and Kenneth Elliot’s hilarious comedy is about an ace reporter who investigates a Florida colony of elders who are shacking up with alien beefcake guys. $25-$45. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. thru June 28. 25 Van Ness Ave. lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Free to Be @ I’ve Been Framed, Martinez Opening reception for a group exhibit of paintings and sculptures by LGBT artists, including SF painter David Barnett. 6pm-9pm. Exhibit thru June. 411 Ferry St., Martinez. (925) 228-7353. www.ivebeenframedstore.com

Glory Crampton, Franc D’Ambrosio @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The two Broadway singing stars perform Angel of Music, a Salute to Andrew Lloyd Webber, featuring songs from Sunset Boulevard, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar. $35$50. 8pm. Also June 7, 7pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-10163. www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins www.ticketweb.com

Homo File @ CounterPulse

Todd Trexler Posters

The Homosexuals @ New Conservatory Theatre Center

Seth Eisen’s innovative multimedia music-theatre production about the life of gay author, tattoo artist, and sexual raconteur Samuel Steward blends puppetry, projections and even aerial artistry. $25-$35. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm. Thru June 15. 1310 Mission St. 626-2060. www.counterpulse.org

A Raisin in the Sun

The Objects @ ASC Projects

Feisty Old Jew @ The Marsh

Evie Leder’s photo and video installation that uses nude portraits of local gay artists to examine the human form. Thru June 29. 3150 18th St. www.facebook.com/ascprojectssf

Charlie Veron’s new solo show about a fictional elder man who hitches a ride with surfer-hipsters, and rants about what he hates about the 21st century. $25-$100. Sat & Sun 5pm. Extended thru July 13. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Pearls Over Shanghai @ The Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers’ hilarious Cockettes revival returns, with new choreography, costumes, performers, and some of the original cast members. $30-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Extended thru June 28. 575 10th St. (800) 838-3006. www.thrillpeddlers.com

Pen/Man/Ship @ Magic Theatre World premiere of playwright Christina Anderson’s drama about passengers on an 1890s ship bound for Africa. $30-$55. Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2:30pm. Thru June 15. Fort Mason Center, Bldg. D, 3rd floor. 441-8822. www.magictheatre.org

Qinmin Arts @ Kunst Stoff Paper, a performance art installation that blends paper art with pedestrian movement. $10-$20. 8pm. Also June 7. 1 Grove St. www.qinminarts.org

Shared Space 7 @ Dance Mission Theater Todd Eckert and Nol Simonse’s seventh annual shared concert of post-modern dance works. $20. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 7pm. Thru June 8. 3316 24th St. www.sharedspacesf.org

The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism With a Key to the Scriptures @ Berkeley Repertory The West Coast premiere of multiple award-winner Tony Kushner’s epic new play takes on politics, sex, and power in his expansive and brilliant way, by focusing on a Brooklyn Italian family (with a gay son and a lesbian daughter) whose patriarch decides to die. $55-$89. Tue, Thu-Sat 7:30pm. Wed & Sun 7pm. Thru June 29. Roda Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Queer Art Exhibits @ SOMArts Cultural Center Body, Body, Bodies, a group exhibit exploring perspectives on the human form. Also Second Helpings, a group exhibit about “fat politics” (with performance Jun 7, 6:30pm. $12-$20. Thru June 9), and The Most Sincere Gesture, an exhibit about intimacy by four New Orleans-based artists (thru June 9). Opening event for the three exhibits is 2pm-5pm. Thru June 28. Tue-Fri 12pm-7pm, Sat 12pm-5pm. 934 Brannan St. at 9th. www.somarts.org

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 23

Fri 6 Maestro

A Raisin in the Sun @ Bruns Ampitheatre, Orinda California Shakespeare Company’s production of lesbian playwright Lorainne Hansbury’s classic drama about an impoverished African American family’s struggle to overcome oppression. $45-$61. Tue-Thu 7:30pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 4pm. Thru June 15. 100 CA Shakespeare Theater Way Hwy 24, Wilder Road Exit. (510) 548-9666. www.calshakes.org

South Pacific @ Cushing Memorial Ampitheatre Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical based on James Mitchner’s novel is performed at the scenic outdoor ampitheatre. $20-$60. 2pm. Also June 8 & 15. Mount Tamalpais State Park, Highway 1, Mill Valley. 383-1100. www.mountainplay.org

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival @ Esplanade The months-long free summer performance series has commenced, with weekend outdoor dance, music and theatre concerts, on various days and evenings thru Oct. Mission St. at 3rd. June 7, Andre Theirry and Zydeco Magic, 1pm-3pm. June 8, Artists Guild Exhibit, Jessie Square, 9am-5pm. 543-1718. www.ybgfestival.org

Homage to La Cage @ Castro Theatre

Woods to Wildflowers @ SF Botanical Gardens

Celebrate the music of Jerry Herman, La Cage aux Folles the musical, with Broadway stars Lee Roy Reams, Davis Gaines, with cochair Donna Sachet. Proceeds benefit documentary film projects about José Sarria, and Camp Sunburst’s HIV kids camps. $10-$500. 7pm-10pm. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com www.homagetolacage.brownpapertickets.com

See blooming floral displays, trees and exhibits. Also, daily walking tours and more, at outdoor exhibits of hundreds of species of native wildflowers in a century-old grove of towering Coast Redwoods. Thru May 15. Free-$15. Daily. Golden Gate Park. 6612-1316. www.SFBotanicalGarden.org

Tue 10

Yoga: The Art of Transformation @ Asian Art Museum Exhibit of visual art representing the 2,500-year-old health practice. Other ongoing exhibits as well. Free (members)-$12. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. 581-3500. www.asianart.org

Chomp! @ Conservatory of Flowers

Thu 12

They Came From the Swamp, a new floral exhibit of carnivorous plants, includes exhibits, docent talks, and a giant replica model so you can feel like a bug about to be eaten. Thru Oct. 19. Reg. hours, 10am4pm. Free-$7. Tue-Sun 10am-4:30pm. Thru Oct. 19. 100 JFK Drive, Golden Gate Park. 831-2090. www.conservatoryofflowers.org

The Both @ Great American Music Hall Aimee Mann and Ted Leo perform music from their new album. (also June 11 at City Winery, Napa). Nich Diamonds of Islands opens. $26-$51(with dinner). 8pm. 859 O’Farrell St. 885-0750. www.slimspresents.com

Meditation Group @ LGBT Center

Kevin Fisher-Paulson @ Green Apple Books

New weekly non-sectarian meditation group; part of the Let’s Kick ASS AIDS Survivor Syndrome support group. Tuesdays, 5pm, 1800 Market St. www.LetsKickASS.org www.sfcenter.org

The local gay author of A Song for Lost Angels: How Daddy and Papa Fought to Save Their Family discusses his struggle to remain adoptive same-sex parents. 7pm. 506 Clement St. 387-2272. www.greenapplebooks.com

Sat 7

Kevin Berne

Michael Lamont

Out&About>>

Sun 8 Georgia O’Keeffe @ de Young Museum Georgia O’Keeffe: Modern Nature: Georgia O’Keeffe and Lake George, a new exhibit of paintings focusing on the artist’s New York landscapes. $25. Thru May 11. Also, Lines on the Horizon: Native American Art from the Weisel Family Collection, thru Jan. 4, 2015. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. www.deyoungmuseum.org

Intimate Impressionism @ Legion of Honor The exhibition includes nearly 70 paintings from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., featuring the work of 19th-century avant-garde painters such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Vincent van Gogh. Also, the Salon Doré, a reconstructed room from the Hotel de La Trémoille, has re-opened. Free/$25. Thru Aug. 3. Lincoln Park, 100 34th Ave. 7503600. www.legionofhonor.famsf.org

New Exhibits @ Museum of Craft and Design Dogpatch warehouse is now a museum store, gallery and program space. Exhibits include Stoney Lamar sculptures (thru Mar. 23). Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm. 2569 Third St. 773-0303. www.sfmcd.org

Passage and Place @ Alley Cat Books Gallery Multimedia visual arts exhibition, book project and skillshare series of works that explore a queer aspect of incarceration, immigration and other social issues; with works by Grace Rosario Perkins, Sarah Biscarra Dilley, Paper Buck, Zeph Fishlyn, Annah Anti-Palindrome and Lex Non Scripta. 3606 24th St. www.lexnonscripta.com www.passageandplace.tumblr.com

Mon 9 10 Percent @ ComCast 104 David Perry’s weekly talk show features local and visiting LGBT people. Mon-Fri 11:30am & 10:30pm. Sat & Sun 10:30pm. www.davidperry.com

Designing Homes @ Contemporary Jewish Museum Jews and Midcentury Modernism, an exhibit of architectural, furniture, dinnerware, photos, and interior design in postWWII. Also, Arthur Szyk and the Art of the Haggadah, an exhibit of 48 fascinating and richly detailed illustrations of Hebrew stories by the early 20th-century artist (thru June 29). Also, To Build & Be Built: Kibbutz History (thru July 1). 2pm-5pm. Free (members)-$12. Thu-Tue 11am-5pm (Thu 1pm-8pm) 736 Mission St. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org

The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide...

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

Queer Past Becomes Present @ GLBT History Museum Biconic Flashpoints: Four Decades of Bay Area Bisexual Politics, thru Aug. 15. Also, the new exhibit of fascinating historical items and how their legacies are still with us; includes queer youth, Harvey Milk, José Sarria, AIDS and gay bar ephemera and the lesbians of The Ladder. Reg. hours Mon-Sat 11am-7pm (closed Tue.) Sun 12pm-5pm. ($5/free for members). 4127 18th St. 6211107. www.glbthistory.org

Show Boat @ War Memorial Opera House San Francisco Opera’s beautiful production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s classic musical about people in the 1880s who live and work along the Mississippi River. $24-$379. Various times, June 10, 13, 19, 22, 26, July 1 & 2. 301 Van Ness Ave., 864-3330. www.sfopera.com

Laura Deutsch @ Books Inc. Writer, editor and author of Writing from the Senses: 59 Exercises to Ignite Creativity and Revitalize Your Writing shares a miniwriting workshop and discussion. 7:30pm. 2275 Market St. 864-6777. www.booksinc.net

Pride Business Expo @ Hotel Whitcomb The Golden Gate Business Association’s annual showcase of more than 75 local and regional LGBT vendors and professionals includes workshops, panels and receptions. 11:30am-8pm. 1231 Market St. at 8th. 362-4422. www.ggba.com

To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com. Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication. For more bar and nightlife events, go to On the Tab in our BARtab section, online at www.ebar.com/bartab

Wed 11

the gem of the Sonoma Wine Country

Sony Holland @ Level III The acclaimed jazz vocalist performs with guitarist Jerry Holland. Weekly 5pm-8pm. Also Thursdays & Fridays. JW Marriott, 515 Mason St. at Post. www.sonyholland.com

La Traviata @ War Memorial Opera House San Francisco Opera’s new production of Verdi’s classic opera stars Nicole Cabell, Simir Pirgu and Vladamir Stoyanov; in Italian with English supertitles. $24-$379. June 11 (7:30pm), 14 (8pm), 17 (8pm), 20 (8pm), 25 (7:30pm), 29 (2 p.m.), July 5 (8pm; live simulcast at AT&T Park), 8 (7:30pm), 11 (8pm) and July 13 (2pm). 301 Van Ness Ave. 863-3330. www.sfopera.com

Fri 6 David Hawkin’s art

www.healdsburg.com

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Film>>

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 25

Documentaries that hit home by David Lamble

born performance artist/former It makes me ashamed. I’m ashamed Imagine my surprise when this drag diva and now stellar artist/ for them. Look, I didn’t choose to be corny doc spotlighting the allragedy, beauty, superior intelcomposer Armen Ra. Looking a bit gay, I didn’t choose to be Armenian, American virtues of Branson, Misligence and a very dark sense like champion skater Johnny Weir’s it is the way it is. If I could choose, souri, reveals that there, the whole of humor are trademarks of the twin separated at birth, the articuit would be from Spain or Norway. Lennon family rules. The main fothree films I’ve chosen to highlight late girly-boy grew up in a prosEveryone’s happy there! I do feel I cus of this doc, which at times feels from the 13th edition of Jeff Ross’ perous Tehran family of Armenian carry the cross of all gay Armenians like a hundred ballpark national antwo-week documentary jubilee Christian descent. A well-behaved on my back, and that cross is getting them sing-alongs, is how this Ozark the SF DocFest, playing June 5-19 little boy whom adults grew used to heavy. So let’s get out of the closet, Mountains tourist destination expeat San Francisco’s Roxie Theatre, taking to adult functions, the sevkids, be visible, fight, that’s how you rienced a financial meltdown during Brava Theatre, Women’s Building, en-year-old shocked his grownup stop prejudice.” 518 Valencia Gallery, and new this chaperones one night at the opera He’s pretty, witty, year, Oakland’s School of the Arts Courtesy SF DocFest when he demanded to be allowed to sassy, and in-your-face, (OSA) Theater. This year’s special sit in the royal box. and if your taste runs to Scene from When My Sorrow The 1979 revolution degirly-boy provocateurs, Died: The Legend of Armen Ra stroyed the boy’s cloistered then this doc is your and the Theremin. life of high culture and cup of tea. (Northern forced his mom to resettle California premiere, Theremin. While instant riches did in a shabby Boston apartRoxie, 6/14, 18) not follow, Ra did get himself a spotment. Queer-baited and We Always Lie to light on a CNN feature in which he bullied at school, Ra finally Strangers When I was was quoted as calling the Theremin beat up one of his tormen10, my British father his “Maria Callas machine.” Eventors, getting him kicked out subjected me to the cultually he recorded his first album, Courtesy SF DocFest of school and ultimately tural torture of twiceconsisting mostly of music from his Scene from We Always Lie to Strangers promoted to the 80s Lower weekly doses of The Armenian culture, whereupon he Courtesy SF DocFest Manhattan club-kids scene. Lawrence Welk Show. made a rude discovery. “And it was There followed a furious Those who have been subjected to the 2008 crash. Highlights include received well all over the world with Scene from The Internet’s Own Boy: stab at drag-diva stardom, this American Midwestern travesty how the area includes a surprisingly the exception of Armenia. To think The Story of Aaron Swartz. interrupted by bouts of deon PBS fundraisers will understand large gay minority. A tragic subplot I brought the music of the patron pression and binge-drinking how little nostalgia I feel for the old features a coming-out gay dad’s saint of Armenia to millions of perevents include Gaucho’s live set at on the verge of suicide. bandleader’s “a-one and a-two” and fight to retain visitation rights to his sons who never have heard it, and the opening-night party, a 90s SingA miracle at a New York rock club his prime-time female quartet, “the sons, while feeling the need to dump to get hate mail and death threats along Party (Roxie, 6/5), DocFest led him to discover the joys of the fabulous Lennon Sisters.” his boyfriend. (Roxie, 6/6, 10)t from my own people is disgusting. Game Night (6/7), the Roller Disco Party (Women’s Bldg., 6/13) and Dead Man’s Party (6/14). Further info is at sfindie.com The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz Seldom has an exposé film got to me the way Brian Knappenberger’s astute, moving and true portrait of the life and premature death of tech prodigy Aaron Swartz did. Not since my first exposure to the martyrdom of Matthew Shepard or the weird role Twitter appears to have played in the suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi has a story of a young man’s demise moved me to want someone’s head on a pike. It’s unlikely that many reading this will be unaware of the Jan. 11, 2013 suicide in a Brooklyn apartment of a boy wonder whose achievements had included hobnobbing with the techno geek elite as well as fighting off a serious stab at Internet censorship by old-media blue meanies. What makes The Internet’s Own Boy special is the brilliant circumstantial case it builds for the Obama Justice Dept. creating its own enemies list, following in the dubious footsteps of King Richard Nixon. The case against Attorney General Eric Holder and the authorities at M.I.T. might or might not be enough to persuade a jury, but surely it deserves much wider exposure. In brief, Swartz, an advocate of a free and open Web, had Explore the exuberant charm of Mary Blair, one of Walt Disney’s most issued a challenge to government secrecy (in this case involving the inventive and influential designers and art directors. Blair’s joyful clearly unethical practice of chargcreativity, her appealing designs, and her energetic color palette ing the public high fees for access to endure in numerous media, including the classic Disney animated federal court records), and had apparently been targeted for draconifilms Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, and also in an punishment as a warning to the the theme park attraction it’s a small world. growing hacker underground. As a film, Boy has the DNA of a classic martyr’s tale, with haunting childhood video of the boy genius astonishing parents, siblings and friends with his insights about the media revolution. Later, the story moves furiously forward, with a pit stop at Stanford (whose jockschool environment drove Swartz to quit and head east). All through the 105-minute piece we are entertained and seduced by a bright, shaggy-haired Jewish boy with a seemingly endless future ahead of him. (West Coast premiere, Roxie 6/12, 13; OSA, 6/15; opens at the Roxie, 7/4) When My Sorrow Died: The Legend of Armen Ra and the Ther104 Montgomery Street emin This hidden gem spotlights San Francisco, CA 94129 the savage wit and rags-to-rags story of the fabulously talented Mary Blair, concept artwork for Peter Pan (1953); collection Walt Disney Family Foundation, gift of Ron and Diane Disney Miller; © Disney | MAGIC, COLOR, FLAIR: the world of Mary Blair is organized by The Walt Disney Family Museum | © The Walt Disney Family Museum Disney Enterprises, Inc. | © 2014 The Walt Disney Family Museum, LLC | The Walt Disney Family Museum is not aﬃliated with Disney Enterprises, Inc. and uncomfortably honest Iranian-

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<< Television

26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Pride month on the lavender tube by Victoria A. Brownworth

appy Pride Month! We wish every network, especially cable since they have no restraints, were going to highlight the month with LGBT programming, but we’ll settle for what we can get, as always. We thought we might see something fabulous on the 45th anniversary of Stonewall on the History Channel, Discovery or PBS, but that’s not happening. But we do have some choices. One interesting thing we saw: BET has a spot on their website of black celebrities who are pro-gay. It’s kinda strange, but we’ll take it. ABC got us ready for Pride with the Modern Family wedding. We always cry at weddings, and are just engaged ourselves now that same-sex marriage is legal (we tie the knot in October!), this was poignant for us. It’s been 18 years since the first same-sex wedding on Friends, with Newt Gingrich’s lesbian sister Candace officiating Ross’ ex-wife’s wedding. It was a major TV event at the time. Of course our marriages weren’t legal then, so there was really little straights could complain about, given the wedding was a commitment ceremony with no legal standing. Of course complain they did, and loudly. The major drama in that sitcom event was the lesbian sister of the Speaker of the House seemed to be throwing down a gauntlet. Candace Gingrich was trending at that time, and Friends, with a gay showrunner, took full advantage. There have been other gay and lesbians weddings on TV since, although remarkably few, and even fewer that were legal. Bianca Montgomery’s short-lived marriage to Reese on ABC’s All My Children had the couple drive from Pennsylvania, where the show was

set, to Connecticut, the closest state with marriage equality at the time. But when Callie and Arizona married on Grey’s Anatomy several seasons ago, it wasn’t legal, since the show is set in Seattle, and Washington State didn’t have marriage equality then. What that wedding did have was conflict, as Callie’s Latino parents balked at their daughter marrying another woman. Her mother, outraged, refused to attend the wedding. Callie’s father left with her mother, but came back in time to dance the father-daughter dance with Callie. Nevertheless, it was bittersweet. But GA is a drama, and Modern Family is a sitcom. Drama and conflict play differently in comedy. Since MF debuted we’ve known that Jay (Ed O’Neill) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) have a complicated relationship. It’s one of the show’s realistic elements. But in the lead-in to the wedding, that complexity came to the fore in ways we didn’t expect. Mitchell and Cam’s (Eric Stonestreet) relationship has always been a given on the show. They were both out, they adopted a child together, they were coupled as strongly as everyone else. But as we know, there’s something about same-sex marriage that touches a nerve for straights. Mitchell and Cam getting married touched a nerve for Jay. It has been a long engagement. The couple announced at the beginning of the season. There has been hilarity: Mitchell and Cam’s good friend Pepper (played to queeny perfection by Nathan Lane) took on the role of wedding planner from hell, leading to some of the funniest moments on the show ever. But as the wedding got closer, emotions ran high. They ran highest between

Mitchell and Cam, and Mitchell and ble of teenagers and a table of young Jay. mothers with young children. AnWe’re enjoying M & C’s daughter other ABC actress is the ringer who Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons), complains loudly about the disgustwho is turning into a deadpan geing gays. She is supported by all the nius with her arch tone. We know other patrons until two young men, she’s only going to get better. It students at a local college, come in. seemed as if things might not reOffended by the blatant hosolve for Mitchell and Jay. And then mophobia and visibly shaken, one they did. Was there a dry eye in the of the guys complains to the managhouse when Jay walked Mitchell er (also an actor), who then asks the down the aisle? Certainly not from gay couple to leave, upsetting the us. What a fabulous way to end the guy who complained. When Quiseason. nones reveals himself, it doesn’t fix A completely different kind of anything. The women are perfectly gay marriage happened on Fox’s comfortable in their anti-gay attistellar new series Gang Related. Aftudes, some quoting (or misquotter The Shield, we didn’t think we ing) the Bible and Jesus (who never could like another gang-focused said anything about homosexuality) police-procedural set in L.A. We as their rationale, others pulling out were wrong. Gang Related borthe old Adam & Steve chestnut. One rows heavily from The Shield, but middle-aged woman says if her son in all the best ways. Where it differs told her he was gay she would ask dramatically is nearly the entire cast and the characters they play are either black or Latino. There are only three main characters who are white. That factor alone makes this show worth a look. We didn’t expect to see gay characters in this show, let alone a gay wedding between a black gang-banger and his musclebound, be-tatted boyfriend. It was a stunning twist in the early plotting, and surprisingly moving. We also didn’t expect an AIDS storyline. We also didn’t ABC-TV expect RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan starring as a detective in the gang Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and task force. The show’s star Ra- Cam’s (Eric Stonestreet) wedding on mon Rodriguez will be familiar to Modern Family got us ready for Pride. those who watched The Wire, and he brings that show’s grittiness to him to move. Yikes. Given the two the role of Det. Ryan Lopez. Rodriactors actually were gay, it was a bitguez is also fabulous eye-candy. It tersweet moment. The man who will be interesting to see how white stood up for them was terrific, but audiences read this show, where the the other people in the place? Bigracism being addressed is black/Laotry is alive and well in Mississippi. tino and black/Asian. We also found In better news, we’re excited to the discussion of what happens to see that Showtime, which is fond gays in gang culture intriguing and of LGBT viewers, will be reviving heartbreaking. its two groundbreaking queer seThat complexity of being gay ries Queer as Folk and The L Word also hit reality TV this week. ABC’s for Pride Month. It’s hard to believe What Would You Do? is one of those QAF debuted back in 2000, or that shows we say we won’t watch and it’s been five years since TLW ended. always seem to get sucked into for But if you’ve always meant to bingethe full hour. It’s a kind of social juswatch these series, June is the time. tice Candid Camera, with host John Showtime has committed to showQuinones putting actors in situaing the entirety of both series. Much tions involving racism, homophoas we love Netflix, there’s something bia, sexism or some other moral about watching something in real dilemma to see how people will time that feels good when it’s LGBT respond. Will their better natures programming. come out, or will they be shown as Showtime started airing the bigots with no moral center? two series June 2 on the Showtime Both the May 23 & 30 episodes Showcase channel and on demand. dealt with homophobia. On May 23, Back-to-back episodes of these three African-American teens were two dramas (which won a gazilin an athletic store, and one came lion awards from GLAAD, which out to his friends. The friends didn’t isn’t necessarily an imprimatur, but take it well, and were both bullying goes to their historical value) will air and homophobic. A black woman Mon.-Fri. until June 30 on Showin the shop stepped in to tell the time Showcase, followed by another friends they were being bad friends. run on Thurs. from July 3 through “That’s your home boy. That was Nov. 13. hard for him to share that. You need Based on the British series, QAF to treat him better.” She told the teen ran for five seasons. It starred Gale who had come out that it was OK: Harold, Michelle Clunie, Robert he was brave, it would get better, his Gant, Thea Gill, Randy Harrison, friends would understand or they Scott Lowell, Peter Paige, Hal Sparks weren’t his friends to begin with. A and Sharon Gless as gay men and coach comes in, and he’s supportive some lesbians in Pittsburgh. The and hugs the gay teen and tells him series was developed for American that he shouldn’t worry, his friends TV by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipwill get it. It was deeply moving, man. It may or may not hold up, but because these people had no idea there’s been nothing comparable to the three guys were actors. How imtake its place. portant it was that these scenes were L Word ran for six seasons (one played out with African-Americans, of those seasons was just terrible). particularly given the recent controIt will be great to see “Les Girls,” versy over the Michael Sam televised especially Shane and Papi, together kiss. again. The show, set in L.A. with faOn the May 30 episode, things miliar West Hollywood sites, starred went far less smoothly for our acJennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, tors posing as a gay male couple in Mia Kirshner, Katherine Moennig, a restaurant in quaint but bigoted Erin Daniels, Leisha Hailey, Sarah Vicksburg, Mississippi. Our white Shahi, Rachel Shelley and the inimigay male couple sits in a restaurant, table Pam Grier. arms around each other, occasionalShowtime will also be premiering ly kissing. The majority of the other a new lesbian film from TLW crepatrons are women, including a taator Ilene Chaiken, currently show-

runner for ABC’s stellar The Black Box. Showtime announced May 28 that L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin will debut Aug. 8, a 90-minute documentary exploring the lives of Southern lesbians and their families. On the actual anniversary of Stonewall, Logo will be airing a live event. Trailblazers will honor the work of LGBT civil rights pioneers. It will be held at the iconic Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. Hosted by LGBT ally Daniel Radcliffe, it will air Thurs., June 26, at 9 p.m. EST. The show will honor Edie Windsor and her attorney, Roberta Kaplan. Windsor won the landmark 2013 U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned DOMA. Also in the Pride TV line up is the return of HBO’s True Blood for its seventh and final season. The flagrantly pansexual vampire series with longtime gay characters like Lafayette will be doing AIDS metaphor this season: a virus spreads through Bon Temps, putting everyone at risk. Expect to see a lot of Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Sookie (Anna Paquin) as the show returns to its bloody roots. The couple are featured on the cover of the current issue of TV Guide. Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) will also be getting their blood up, which should be delectable. We should also expect Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) to discover anew that a good man is hard to find. Or something like that. True Blood returns June 22. NBC’s The Night Shift debuted last week to good reviews. The twist on this new medical drama is doctors who have just returned from war, including a trauma surgeon, T.C. Callahan (Eoin Macken), who may be suffering from PTSD. One of his friends and colleagues, Drew (Brendan Fehr, whom we’ve loved since Roswell), is gay but deeply in the closet. In a scene between Drew and T.C., T.C. tells Drew, “Maybe you should think about coming out.” Drew replies, “The second I come out, I’m the gay guy. Coming out is not an option.” So many closets, even in 2014. Not surprisingly, Oprah is keeping gay in play on OWN. Lisa Ling, whom we have loved since we first saw her on The View, has done some terrific journalism over the years. This month she returns with her series Our America with Lisa Ling on OWN. On June 5, Ling will be re-interviewing three trans persons she first interviewed back when the show debuted. Speaking of trans persons, Laverne Cox is on the cover of Time this week looking stylin’ in a formfitting teal dress and very strappy little heels. The Orange Is the New Black star breaks some ground there, as she discusses what it is to be trans in America. The cover is perfectly timed: the second season of OITNB premieres June 6, and omg are we ready to see Piper and the gang come back. It’s hard to imagine more buzz surrounding a returning series, especially this original Netflix series. One new addition we can’t wait to see this season is Lorraine Toussaint. She’ll be playing Vee, and has a history with Red (Kate Mulgrew). Meanwhile, NBC’s new sitcom Undateable has a newly out gay guy. Hilarity ensues. If you didn’t get enough of Matt Bomer in The Normal Heart, he was on Ellen last week, and he was delightful. He was also on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. And that’s the LGBT round-up for Pride. So for these queer sightings and more to come (don’t forget RuPaul!), for the lesbianing and the gaying, you know you really must, you must darlings, stay tuned.t

Film>>

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27

Gay life & love in the dance world by David Lamble

he hugely entertaining time capsule Test, set in San Francisco’s protean modern-dance world, makes both harrowing and playful use of that fateful moment when the first blood-test for the HIV virus debuted. It’s 1985, and a lithe, downright pretty young male dancer, Frankie, stumbles upon a vicious oxymoron: how to please an ill-tempered choreographer who hates the idea of a queer-acting dancer performing a piece that is swimming in gay visual metaphors? “I don’t care who you fuck, I care how you dance. Dance like a fucking man! Think what that might mean physically, in your feet, in your hands, in your neck!” Frankie’s less blatantly queer fellow dancers provide straight-acting tips: “When you come out of this turn, watch the head, it’s more manly. If you laugh like this it looks gay, but if you laugh with your head back –” “And if you laugh with a dick up your ass –” Director Chris Mason Johnson puts us in Frankie’s world: pestinfected Victorian flats shared with soon-to-be ex-gay roomies, rotarydial phones with tangled cords, Bronski Beat playing on Walkmans for riding the green-torpedo streetcars, and that chic new bedroom accessory, the condom. Test climaxes gloriously in a late-night dance-

your-ass-off between Frankie (the incendiary, tart-tongued Scott Marlowe) and his slutty new bed-partner, Todd (Matthew Risch, channeling the sarcasm and manly charms of the late Alan Bates). My phone chat with writer/director Johnson began with his creation of Test’s lead character Frankie, and the talented actor who brings him to life on screen, Scott Marlowe. Chris Mason Johnson: “I needed someone who could dance for real. This is the dance equivalent of opera, in the sense that lots of people may be able to sing, but very few people can do opera. And this is that kind of dance – it’s not smokeand-mirrors like Black Swan, the performers actually have to be able to do it. So I basically had to find a dancer who had an instinct for acting – I knew he wouldn’t be a trained actor. Scott had an instinct for just sounding natural, but that’s not enough to sustain a whole movie. So I worked for six months teaching him acting techniques. “I was a dancer 30 years ago in New York, and it was very closeted, and there just wasn’t much of a community for young guys, 1825. There was a way in which the closeted nature of the dance world combined with the scapegoating homophobia of the early AIDS epidemic – you know, when the press was basically saying, “You all deserve it.” That sort of nexus was really powerful – I really filtered a lot

Scene from director Chris Mason Johnson’s Test, opening Friday in the Bay Area.

of my own experience through the character of Frankie.” David Lamble: I liked your reference to Rock Hudson, whose AIDS diagnosis and death in 1985 resonated so powerfully at the time. At one point, the character of Todd says to Frankie, if you get sick you come out by dying. It wasn’t just

the fear of death, it was that your death would be your simultaneous coming out and your branding as a liar. It’s just horrifying to think that so many young men died in those circumstances. One of the problems of marketing Test is that the kind of AIDS movies that people love are deathbed movies, in the tradition of Camille, but

that’s not what this movie is about. I don’t think this story could have been told until much later, like now. Other stories needed to be told, but there’s a little space opened up now for a different kind of story. And audiences are really happy at the end that “you didn’t put us through what we thought you were going to put us through.”t

Consequential acts by David Lamble

associated with acts of neurotic comedy than with acts of protest. My phone chat with director Kelly Reichardt examined her skill at casting young actors against the grain of their established screen images, such as Eisenberg in Night Moves and fellow New Yorker Paul Dano in Meek’s Cutoff, a genredefying drama about a wagon train of settlers who lose their way in an 1845 Western landscape.

Dakota Fanning’s character is sort of the conscience of the group. Jesse is sort of the fundamentalist without any doubts about his ideology or his intuition – he’s evangelical about his beliefs. But Dakota has more gray areas. Ultimately, she’s a more stable person and able to see the ambiguities of the situation.

he brilliant new eco-thriller Night Moves opens in the dead of night in a battered old pickup as a lonely couple, contemplating what many of their fellow citizens would consider an act of domestic terrorism, search for an accomplice. A girl barely out of her teens (Dakota Fanning) asks the beautiful if scraggily Talk about Peter Sarsgaard, appearing young man at the wheel a great actor. What does his (Jesse Eisenberg) about their soonDavid Lamble: How did you cast military vet character represent? to-be partner-in-crime. Jesse Eisenberg as the volatile Peter offered up many diverse “You trust him? Does he know lynchpin, the quiet guy whose views of his character and let me what he’s talking about?” inner rage propels the second half decide in the editing room. I like us“He’s trained by the best: the of the film? ing actors who I can’t see in the part United States Marine Corps.” right away so there’s some As in director Kelly kind of search going on. Reichardt’s previous It’s keeps you away from features Old Joy, Wendy clichés. and Lucy, and Meek’s Would the casting of Cutoff, her characters Paul Dano in Meek’s often feel the most Cutoff qualify for that? alone precisely when I wanted Paul Dano the outward appearvery early in Meek’s Cutances of their lives off, and he was busy with would seem to promsomething else, and then ise fellowship and even that fell through. By community. In Night then I had cast someone Moves, three young else, and then that perpeople on the fringes son couldn’t get into the of America’s influcountry, and I called Paul ential environmental Scene from director Kelly Reichardt’s Night Moves, with a real SOS: “Like, can movement misjudge opening Friday in the Bay Area. you come do this?” He just the consequences of got on a plane, and he’s allowing a dangerous Kelly Reichardt: One night I was said it was the hardest film he’s ever thought to become a deadly deed. in a motel room, and I happened to done. He just has such a great face to As a bemused military vet muses on catch a werewolf movie he’s in. It’s film, I could have shot a whole film the eve of destruction, “God knows not up my alley, but I kept watching just on Paul Dano in the desert. He’s that dam wants to come down!” because I found him so intriguing. super-interesting. Night Moves recalls that brief So I started watching his films, and shining moment in the late 1960s/ The first sign of small craft though he’s a big talker, he’s someearly 70s when, fueled by generawarnings in Night Moves is the one who can register a lot on his tional shifts, sexual politics and a scene where Peter and Dakota face. We had a character who was a post-Vietnam disillusion with are fucking in the boat, and Jesse very secretive person who’s only acpolitics as usual, brave filmmakers is left to possible bitter, jealous cessed through other people. I feel attempted to straddle a growing thoughts. you can see the mechanics of Jesse’s chasm between traditional forms Dakota’s trying to find her way brain at work just through his eyes. of dissent and acts of violence that into the group so that she doesn’t Would you say his character is a could be viewed as treason. The feel like just the money. It’s a power bit paranoid? mood of curdled idealism becomplay because the guys already know This has historically happened ing existential despair is enhanced each other. Ultimately, she wishes with a lot of extremism. Once the by three strong performances, parthat she really was less involved. It’s group breaks up and the individuticularly the passive/aggressive rebel only after the fact that she realizes als are isolated, the paranoia seems played to a chilling perfection by an that she’s involved on every level.t to filter in. actor, Eisenberg, previously more

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PERSONALS Vol. 44 • No. 23 • June 5-11, 2014

by Jim Provenzano

udy Kaye has starred as some of the most iconic musical theatre characters of all time, but you wouldn’t know from her modest tone. The two-time Tony winner (along many other awards), known for a vocal range that works as well for opera, will shift to a more intimate style for her new cabaret show at Feinstein’s at the Nikko on June 12 and 13. Kaye will perform songs by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim in a night of storytelling as well. See page 2 >>

BARtab

Judy Kaye

Healthy Sex with Josh West by Jim Provenzano Jared Hemming (aka Josh West) shows off one of Magnet’s new outreach posters.

es, it’s possible to make a porn actor blush, even when he’s muscular furry power top Josh West. And while it was fun to discuss many aspects of gay sexuality with such an accomplished erotic athlete, it was equally fascinating to talk with West as his off-screen real life persona, Jared Hemming, and his work at Magnet, the gay men’s health center in the Castro district. “My family was very religious, and up until I came out, I was very active in the Mormon Church,” said the surprisingly softspoken Hemming, who was born and raised in Logan, Utah. He even spent two years from age 19 to 21 as a missionary in Japan, which he called “an amazing experience. It wasn’t just about the church, but doing hands-on service. It gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of people.” See page 8 >>

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2 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Judy Kaye

From page 1

“This show is really about not only them but about me and them,” said Kaye in a phone interview from her upstate New York home. “The songs all have signifiance to my relationships with the two gentlemen, and my relationships to theatre.” Kaye worked with each of the composers in Candide, Follies and concert events. Collecting and choosing her favorite songs was what she called “an embarrassment of riches.” Her own career is quite rich as well. Having played Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Mama Rose (Gypsy), Nellie Forbush (South Pacific), Maria Von Trappe (The Sound of Music) and Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun), as well as her Tonywinning featured performances in Phantom of the Opera (1988) and Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012), seeing Kaye perform in a nightclub will be a rare treat for musical theatre fans. Locally, Kaye recently starred in the role she created as Anna Madrigal for A.C.T.’s musical adaptation of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City, as well as A.C.T. co-productions of Sweeney Todd and Souve-

EDITOR Jim Provenzano DESIGNERS Jay Cribas, Max Leger ADVERTISING SALES Scott Wazlowski 415-359-2612 CONTRIBUTORS Ray Aguilera, Race Bannon, Matt Baume, Heather Cassell, Coy Ellison, Michael Flanagan, Dr. Jack Fritscher, Peter Hernandez, John F. Karr, T. Scott King, Sal Meza, David Elijah-Nahmod, Adam Sandel, Donna Sachet, Jim Stewart, Ronn Vigh, Cornelius Washington PHOTOGRAPHY Biron, Wayne Bund, Marques Daniels, Don Eckert, Lydia Gonzales, Rick Gerharter, Jose Guzman-Colon, Georg Lester, Dan Lloyd, Jim Provenzano, Rich Stadtmiller, Monty Suwannukul, Steven Underhill BARtab is published by BAR Media, Inc. PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT Michael M. Yamashita

nir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins. Kaye’s initial rise to Broadway success has its own theatrical twist right out of a Ruby Keeler musical. At first an understudy with a small onstage role in the Broadway production of On the Twentieth Century, Kaye ended up replacing actress Madeline Kahn, then touring in the lead role. While she had performed in Grease as Rizzo, the “understudy outdoes star” angle worked for the media, and Kaye became known as more than a character actress-singer. “I almost didn’t take that job, because I didn’t want to be an understudy,” said Kaye. “It’s one of the most difficult and heartbreaking jobs. You have to study and learn, and yet you have to believe with all your heart that you’re never going onstage. I have such appreciation for those who understudy.” Her own life does have a few other magical moments, like the time her husband to-be David Green proposed to her on a tiny 19-seat plane while on tour for a show. While they were for a while “bouncing off the clouds,” Kayes, said, other show tours have not been easy. “Tours are for the young, “ said Kaye with mock exhaustion. “You get eight-hour bus rides, you get to a town and have some dinner, see the stage, get to your room and maybe take a shower; that was it, then you got onstage.” Kaye’s notoriously worst tour was the 63-city, 18-week touring production of On the Twentieth Century in the early 1980s. “They had shrunk the show, taken away our wonderful porters; actors were doubling and tripling. Thank goodness that amid all that, David and I met each other and became good friends.” Kaye has become much more selective in her theatre travels these days. She balked at deciding which would be her favorites among her famous roles (which include everything from Lucy Van Pelt in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown to Mary Magdeline in Jesus Christ Superstar). Kaye did admit that her San Francisco shows are among her favorites. “I have the most fun with the most elegantly written roles,” said Kaye. “They’re just great, and sometimes hard to find.” For her upcoming Feinsteins concert tribute to Bernstein and Sondheim, Kaye worked with her husband Green, who is also her music director. They premiered the concert to great reviews in New York earlier this year. “We boiled it down to what I wanted to perform, then we put it into an order; segued with my stories of the first times I ever worked with them,” said Kaye. “Between the two of us, David was able to help me solidify it and give it a through-line. I don’t just get up and sing a bunch of songs.”

Kevin Berne

Judy Kaye as Anna Madrigal in the A.C.T. 2011 musical adaptation of Tales of the City.

Asked about her musical versatility in performing pop styles versus the classics, Kaye stated simply, “You learn it the same way you do Mozart; you make the adjustment. Tales of the City, despite the ‘70s style, is pretty much a classic Broadway score. It’s got its own sound, but it’s not a pastiche.” Asked about her preparation for the show, Kaye said she waited until after creating her own Anna Madrigal to read the books and watch the BCC series (with Olympia Dukakis as Mrs. Madrigal). Similarly, she brought her own take on Gypsy, how she learned about the original stage mother, the real Rose Hovick. “I’ve been asked to do it a few more times, but it’s tough,” said Kaye. “It’s basically like King Lear. Vocally, it’s one of the most amazing mountains to climb. I consider playing Annie [in Annie Get Your Gun, another Ethel Merman role] as a mere triathlon by comparison.” Kaye mentioned not only the classic theatre-within-theatre tradition of Gypsy, but Sondheim’s clever lyrical puns, and the emotional toll on Hovick’s life through the story. “I can’t say it’s fun to do,” said

While fans can expect a few classics, there will be a few obscure songs from the greats. “It’s sort of a stream of conciousness chronology,” said Kaye, “with a bit in my life, and theirs. The cogniscenti might know the unusual songs, but maybe not.”

Show Times

One classic musical from which we hope Kaye selects a few songs is Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Kaye has played the role three times, each with some of the most known actors who played Todd: Len Cariou (who created the role), George Hearn, and in the most recent tour to San Francisco, David Hess, with whom Kaye and the cast members also performed musical instruments. “I took a few tuba lessons for that version,” Kaye said. But that was not the hardest duty. “I accepted the proposition of replacing Patti Lupone on Broadway while she was out. When they asked if I would do the road company, I thought long and hard. The thought of going on the road again was pretty scary. The first time I got on the stage in New York when I replaced Patti… I don’t think I was ever as frightened. Because I thought I would screw everybody else up. I don’t wanna be the kid in the orchestra who hits a wrong note. And several of the cast members are also brilliant instrumentalists. For the opening, my first night, I was standing onstage with a triangle. It was dark and the lights came up. I worried I was gonna lay an egg. Even the triangle scared me.” But Kaye is clear to note that,

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Judy Kaye performs in a London cabarat show in 2010.

David Allen Studio

Judy Kaye as Mrs. Lovett in John Doyle’s 2007 Tony Award-winning production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

while obviously a professional who knowns and handles stage fright, she never compares herself to actresses who originated or also starred in roles she’s had. “There’s no point in comparing yourself to another actresses,” said Kaye. “Ethel Merman in Gypsy was the strongest. You can’t compare. Some fans like to comment to me, but, hey; it’s not a competition.” Although, there are those fun awards ceremonies, and Kaye, when asked, mentioned that her many awards are on the piano in her New Jersey home. But one jewel Kaye would like to see re-polished is the role of Anna Madrigal in Tales of the City. The show, which had a successful run at The Geary Theatre, is allegedly being “re-worked” by its creative team (Jeff Whitty of Avenue Q and Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears) before being considered for other stages. For Kaye, creating an original take on the role of the wise transgender landlady was a treat. “People still come up to me, telling me how much they loved it, or that they heard about it and want to see it in New York,” said Kaye. “I wish they would just finish it. I’m not getting any younger!” Despite her many years in musical theatre, Kaye, now 68, can be known for a bit of physical comedy, particularly as the tone-deaf Florence Foster Jenkins in Souvenir, and in Nice Work If You Can Get It, where Kaye swung from a chandelier.

Kaye. “Although to sing that music and wrap your brain and vocal chords around it, particularly the finale song, ‘Rose’s Turn,’ that’s pretty amazing.” Equally challenging was playing the crafty piemaker Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd to three different costars, a role which fortunately has some comic moments amid the grim murders. “I didn’t hear the audience laughing when I did Sweeney Todd,” said Kaye, adding that the chemistry between her male co-stars was the pivot point. “We’re playing this game between us. With each different cast, I listen to the other person on stage. Performing with the likes of Len Cariou can be like sparring.” Unlike such classic and frightening roles, Kaye said her cabaret show will be “relaxing and intimate. I’ve done some of this material onstage, but this concert sort of connects the material.” So, no chandelier-swinging? “The world has seen the last of my chandelier-swinging,” Kaye added with a chuckle. “If I ever write a memoir, it’ll be called High Notes and Low Pratfalls.” t Judy Kaye performs her intimate show celebrating the music of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. $35-$50. June 12 & 13, 8pm. Feinstein’s at the Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com www.judykaye.com

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4 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Gay Grapes Steven Underhill

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Out in the Vineyard

The Twilight T-Dance at Gay Wine Weekend.

by Jim Provenzano

eautiful countryside and delicious food and wine will be enjoyed by hundreds at the fifth annual Gay Wine Weekend, June 13 through 15 at various Sonoma County wineries. Next Friday through Sunday, guests will enjoy wine and culinary delights, music and dancing in a beautiful private estate vineyard, along with VIP Receptions, wine tasting excursions, a champagne brunch, wine auction and pool party in one of the most famous luxury wine destinationssaid Co-producer Gary Saperstein said that this year more visitors will

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attend than ever. “We took the leap to host hotel Macarthur Place,” he said. “With 64 rooms, it sold out over two months ago.” To accommodate the event’s growing popularity, organizers reserved a block of rooms at the nearby Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn, which is a mere two blocks away. “The event is getting a name for itself nationally,” said Saperstein, who noted that about 30 percent of this year’s guests are from out of state. “People are coming from Chicago, Florida, and New York.” Saperstein said that fans are a combination of both wine officianados and tourists seeking a scenic escape. “Wine country in itself is such a destination,” he said. “What a better exposure to it all than to be with tours?” Along with great food and wines, a few celebrities will be in attendance. Colt Studios brings a few of its hunky models each year, and this time popular redhead muscle stud Seth Fornea and his partner Jared will attend. Included in the entertainment is a series of special VIP shows in

whole weekend. Not everyone goes to every event.” So expect ample room at each of the various parties and dinners. The signature event is the twilight tea dance, which Saperstein said has moved to Raymond’s Vineyard, a new location. “We’re mixing it up a little bit,” he said of the popular outdoor party where patrons enjoy a beautiful Sonoma sunset, and this year, with a few food trucks nearby. Out in the Vineyard hosts other events throughout the year, including the always popular Wine Train Tour of gay-owned Sonoma wineries (www.winetrain.com/big-gaytrain). With luxury –and limited– accomodations aboard a train, the event sells out months in advance. The next train tour will be in March 2015. Other events include the Big Gay Grape Stomp Harvest Party in October, where, yes, guests get to stomp grapes barefoot in barrels, (just like that famous I Love Lucy episode), an exclusive South African wine tour, and Out in the Vineyard also hosts private weekends from spring through fall.t For more information, visit www.OutintheVineyard.com

Singer Honey Mahogany

the speakeasy-styled Red Room at Raymond Vineyards with RuPaul’s Drag Race star and San Francisco nightclub hostess Honey Mahogany. Prices vary for each event, meal, tasting and tour. A special $400 VIP package allows access to nearly all the events. The general party pass for $195 includes the four major events. “Last year we had about 600 guests,” said Saperstein. “We’re expecting the same amount, perhaps a little more. But that was over the

Colt model Seth Fornea

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June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

Stamp of Approval by Donna Sachet

ednesday’s ceremony at City Hall to unveil the Harvey Milk US Postal stamp was historic, moving, and spectacular. We’ve attended many events of different kinds in those hallowed halls, but few compare to the powerful image of Harvey Milk’s huge likeness at the top of the grand staircase, the SF Gay Men’s Chorus assembled on the stairs, speakers Anne Kronen-

Francisco, started by our own Jose Sarria, who died last year at age 92. Both here in City Hall and at the White House the week before, the International Court System and its leader Queen Mother Nicole Murray-Ramirez received credit and praise for their vital role. We attended the SF ceremony with Nicole, Sacramento’s Emperor Terry Sidie and Empress Misha Rockafeller, Alameda’s

Members of the Imperial Court and Stuart Milk at the City Hall Harvey Milk Stamp unveiling.

berg, Supervisors Scott Wiener and David Campos, State District Attorney Kamala Harris, Mayor Ed Lee, US Post Office representative Rosemarie Fernandez, and Stuart Milk seated on the platform, and a wonderfully diverse crowd seated and standing all around. Amidst the excitement of this stamp becoming a reality, it must never be forgotten that the prime mover and ultimate champion of this project is the International Court System, whose leadership envisioned such a stamp and whose membership in over 60 cities wrote and solicited letters of support for years. As we are sure you know, the International Court System grew out of the Imperial Court of San

Grand Duchess Tootsi, and San Francisco’s Emperor and Chair of the Imperial Council John Weber, Reigning Emperor J.P. Soto, Empress Marlena, and Keri Hanna. We joined many in the North Light Court for a reception after the ceremony, celebrating with EQCA and Tim McNeely, James Hormel, Bevan Dufty, Carol Ruth Silver, Julian Chang, Strange de Jim, Dan Nicoletta, Bruce Beaudette, Tom Boyer, Anna Damiani, and Bill Wilson. Festivities continued nearby at Chambers restaurant, where we emceed Marriage Equality USA’s awards to National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Arnold & Porter law firm, and retired US

District Judge Vaughn Walker, who played such a pivotal role in the end of Prop 8. His acceptance speech was thought-provoking and inspiring. Among those enjoying the program, refreshing cocktails, delicious bite-sized food, and silent auction were Executive Director Brian Silva, Kirsten Berzon, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis, Sean Livingston, and Joanie Juster. Friday night, we emceed the send-off party for the Positive Pedalers as they embark on AIDS Lifecycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles. What an ambitious trek! This group of nearly 200 seemed fully prepared for the journey, having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from sponsors, vigorously trained for months, and mentally embraced the tremendous challenge and the immense rewards.

Georg Lester

Dressed for a ride at the AIDS LifeCycle send-off party.

Among the riders, roadies, and supporters were Sean Ray, Parker Trewin, Michael Eisman, Lucas Montgomery, Bradley Roberts, Bryan Duke, Gabriel Zendejas, Tim Wood, and SF AIDS Foundation’s Neil Giuliano. By the way, the event took place in a vacant business space at Market and Church; what a great, creative use of empty property in the Castro! We wish all the thousands of participants in AIDS Lifecycle a safe and satisfying ride! The Imperial Court’s Mr. & Miss Gay Pageant kicked off at Toad Hall last Saturday with many former titleholders performing, emceed by Emperor Berlin and Empress Galilea. The Jello shots flew, the tips amassed, and everyone seemed to have a marvelous time. Early indications are that three guys and three girls will compete on Sat., June 14, starting at 6PM at Hotel Whitcomb, 1231 Market Street. This classic judged pageant competition always draws a festive crowd and often leads to winners who go on to become community leaders and major fundraisers. See you then and there! Sunday night’s Star Chefs & Vintners Gala at Fort Mason again transformed the metal and concrete Festival Pavilion into a sprawling ballroom and successfully raised over two million dollars to support Meals on Wheels SF, supplying essential meals and welcome visits to homebound elders and those dealing with major illnesses. Each year, Lu Conrad takes us to revel in the amazing generosity of the over 900 attendees, this year dressed up more than ever with sharp tuxedos, beaded gowns, and frilly cocktail dresses, none to out-

Meals on Wheels SF

A trio of chefs at Star Chefs & Vintners Gala at Fort Mason.

do Lu’s own custom-made sequin jacket. During the bustling cocktail hour, we met up with Executive Director Ashley McCumber, Taste Catering’s Susana Munoz, Tout Sweet’s Yigit Pura, Susan Magley, Andrew Freeman, Charles Zukow, Ken Zuckerman, Scott Beattie, Robert Fung, and others. Once inside the dining room, we enjoyed a four course feast with fellow attendees Rick Hamer, Frank Stein & Paul May, Thomas Foutch & Milton Mosk, and Thomas Larsen, where the amazing chefs, headed up by Boulevard’s Nancy Oakes, were brought on stage for accolades. Dessert and coffee followed, where we chatted with The SF Chronicle’s Kristine Shine, Sherri Burke, Kurt Stammberger, and too many others to name. Michael Schaefer, active member of Mama’s family, supporter of many title holders and causes, and the first Mr. Hayes Valley Leather himself, died recently in Ohio, where he had moved to be closer to family and to attend to ongoing medical issues. We send him off with the word he often used in mock amazement: “Gurl!” Next column: your complete guide to SF Pride activities! Get ready for a mammoth celebration!t

eON THE TAB f June 5–12

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

t Georg Lester

<< On the Tab

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Sat 7

Fri 6

★

Bad Girl Cocktail Hour @ The Lexington Club Every Friday night, bad girls can get $1 dollar margaritas between 9pm and 10pm. 3464 19th St. between Mission and Valencia. 8632052. www.lexingtonclub.com

Bearracuda

Bearracuda @ Rickshaw Stop DJ Rotten Robbie spins tunes at the beartastic dance event's '80s night. $10. 9pm-2am. 155 Fell St. www.bearracuda.com

Doll House @ Midnight Sun Patty McGroin's fun afternooon fundraiser/ beverage bust includes drag shows, gogo guys, Jello shots. $10. 4pm-7pm. 4067 18th St. www.midnightsunsf.com

Fedorable @ El Rio

Fri 6

The Vaudevillians

elebrate summer and sexy sultry silliness. Sing along to live, screened or drag-synched acts. Summer’s here, so break out the fake fur and fleece, and keep singing.

Thu 5 La Femme @ Beaux Ladies' happy hour at the Castro nightclub, with drink specials, no cover, and women gogos. 4pm-9pm. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

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

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

Jason Moran, Imani Winds @ SF Jazz Center Resident artistic director and pianist performs with the Grammy-nominated chamber ensemble. $25-$35. 7:30pm. Moran performs with the Charles Lloyd Duo, June 6, 7:30pm. $30-$70. Moran performs in a special "Jazz and Skateboarding" concert, June 7, 7:30pm, $25-$35. 201 Franklin St. at Fell. (866) 920-5299. www.sfjazz.org

Jewseum @ Contemporary Jewish Museum The quarterly after-work cocktail party include music of Karina Denike and Michael McIntosh of The Cottontails, flash tours, food and craft demos, DIY activities, snacks and a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. $5. 6pm-8pm. 736 Mission St. at 4th. 655-7800. www.thecjm.org

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

Pearls Over Shanghai @ The Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers' hilarious Cockettes revival returns, with new choreography, costumes and cast members. $30-$35. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru May 31. 575 10th St. (800) 838-3006. www.thrillpeddlers.com

Shoshana Bean @ Feinstein's at the Nikko The Broadway singer (Hairspray, Wicked) performs music from her secon CD, O'Farrell Street, aher interpretations of vintage soul songs of the 1960s by Sam Cooke, Etta James, Otis Redding and others. $35-$50. 8pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.ticketweb.com

St. James Infirmary Party @ Temple The sex worker healthcare nonprofit celebrates 15 years with a sexy party. DJs: David Harness, Ricky Sinz, Victor Vega, Carol C, Floozy Flo. In the VIP Room, hostess Princess Pandora, lap dancing, table dancing & more. In the dungeon, BDSM demos, kinky play and dancing hosted by Kink.com, plus gogo dancers, pole dancers and porn hotties, a photobooth, lounge and bottle service on the balcony. $20-$50. 21+. 9pm-3am. 540 Howard St. www.stjamesinfirmary.org

Kris Delmhorst @ The Chapel Boston folk singer-guitarist performs. $18-$20. 9pm. 777 Valencia St. www. krisdelmhorst.com www.thechapelsf.com

Magic Parlor @ Chancellor Hotel Whimsical Belle Epoque-style sketch and magic show that also includes historical San Francisco stories; hosted by Walt Anthony; optional pre-show light dinner and desserts. $40. Thu-Sat 8pm. 433 Powell St. www.SFMagicParlor.com

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

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

Friday Night @ de Young Museum Nightlife events at the museum take on different themes. $20-$35. 6pm-8:30pm. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. www.deyoung.famsf.org

Glory Crampton, Franc D'Ambrosio @ Feinstein's at the Nikko The two Broadway singing stars perform Angel of Music, a Salute to Andrew Lloyd Webber, featuring songs from Sunset Boulevard, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar. $35-$50. 8pm. Also June 7, 7pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-10163. www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins www.ticketweb.com

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

PRIDE2014 2014 Whether you listen to the Devil or the Angel on your shoulder this year... stay in touch with the latest latest in Pride event coverage, LGBT news and entertainment!

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland Enjoy eight bars, more dance floors, and a smoking lounge at the largest gay Latin dance night in the Bay Area. Happy hour 4pm-8:30pm. Dancing 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St. (510) 268-9425. www.club21oakland.com

Manimal @ Beaux Gogo-tastic night starts off your weekend. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. beauxsf.com

Some Thing Mica Sigourney and pals' weekly offbeat drag performance night. May 30, a special Malificent-themed night. 10pm-2am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

The Speakeasy @ Private Location Boxcar Theatre's popular Prohibition-era interactive bar, gaming and performance show extends its sold-out run before closing to find a bigger venue. $65-$100. Wed-Sat admissions times 7:30-9pm. Thru June 21. Address given after ticket purchase. www.thespeakeasysf.com

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

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

Themed Nights @ The Brig

Fri 6 Glory Crampton

T Time @ 50 Mason Social House This benefit talent show for the Trans March features comics Luna Michella, Irene Tu, Justin Lucas, and Natasha Muse, music by Diana Reagan, and burlesque with Red Hots Burlesque and Francine Dead. $10. 7pm-11pm. 50 Mason St. www.facebook.com/transmarch

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

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

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

The Vaudevillians @ Verdi Club RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Jinkx Monsoon stars in Major Scales' musical comedy show. $27.50 ($45 front row and meet & greet). 7pm & 10pm. Also June 7. 2424 Mariposa St. www.broanpapertickets.com www.verdiclub.net

Sat 7 Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. $25-$160. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 4214222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Beer Bust @ Hole in the Wall Saloon Beer only $8 until you bust. 4pm-8pm. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle The classic leather bar's most popular Sunday daytime event now also takes place on Saturdays! 3pm-6pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Bootie SF @ DNA Lounge The weekly mash-up dance night, with resident DJs Adrian & Mysterious D. No matter the theme, a mixed fun good time's assured. $8-$15. 9pm-3am. 21+. 375 11th St. at Harrison. www.BootieSF.com www.DNAlounge.com

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

Go Bang @ The Stud Sergio Fedasz and Steve Fabus' monthly groovy disco night this month includes guest DJs Sharper Image and Redux DJs from Chicago. $7. 9pm-3am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.gobangsf.com www.studsf.com

Hard French @ El Rio DJs Carnita and Brown Amy spin an allvinyl girl group '60s afternoon of fun, with a rousing live soul set by Midtown Social. $8. 2pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com

Honey Soundsystem @ Public Works The groovy DJ collective welcomes guest DJ Steffi. $10-$15. 9pm-4am. 161 Erie St. at Mission. www.honeysoundsystem.com

Jon B @ Yoshi's Oakland The handsome pop singer-keyboardist performs music from his new CD Comfortable Swagg. $34-$37. 7:30pm & 9:30pm. Also June 8. 7pm & 9pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

On the Tab>>

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Sex & Drag & Rock ‘n Roll @ Midnight Sun

Sun 8

Mutha Chucka hosts the wild Castro drag night, this month Dragzilla! a toast/parody of the legendary huge drag queen at Pride parades; with Dulce De Leche, Uphoria, Sugah Betes, Glamamore and others. 10pm; two shows. 4067 18th St. www.midnightsunsf.com

Beer Bust @ Lone Star Saloon

SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band Benefit @ Tom & Jerry's House Wine and music fundraiser for the local music ensemble, a gourmet luncheon, silent auction, vintage California wines, music by Band members, and a fabulous view from the "famous Christmas tree house." $60-$100. 2pm-5pm. 3650 21st St. www.musicandwine.bpt.me www.sflgfb.org

Underworld @ Sound Factory Dance it up at Jock Strap Night, with DJ Shawn Perry. $20-$30. 10pm-6am. 525 Harrison St. www.guspresents.com

The ursine crowd converges for beer and fun. 4pm-8pm. 1354 Harrison St. www.lonestarsf.com

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle The classic leather bar's most popular Sunday daytime event in town draws the menfolk. 3pm-6pm. Now also on Saturdays! 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

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

Resilient @ OMG The free monthly dance/social event (Second Sundays) by and for HIV+ guys and allies; dance under the dome to beats from the best local DJs while our dancers work up a sweat. 5pm-9pm. 43 Sixth St. www.facebook.com/RESILIENTSF www.clubomgsf.com

13 Licks @ Q Bar Weekly women's night at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

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

Bombshell Betty & Her Burlesqueteers @ Elbo Room

Brunch @ Hi Tops

The weekly burlesque show of women dancers shaking their bonbons includes live music. $10. 9pm. 647 Valencia St. 5527788. www.elbo.com

Enjoy crunchy sandwiches and mimosas, among other menu items, at the popular sports bar. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey's

Full of Grace @ Beaux Weekly night with hostess Grace Towers, different local and visiting DJs, and pop-up drag performances. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Tue 10

Sat 7 Jon B @ Yoshi’s Oakland

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

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

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

Mon 9 Cock and Bull Mondays @ Hole in the Wall Saloon Specials on drinks made with Cock and Bull ginger ale (Jack and Cock, Russian Mule, and more). 8pm-closing. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Drag Mondays @ The Café

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

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

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

Piano Bar @ Beaux Singer extraordinaire Jason Brock hosts the new weekly night, with your talented host and even you singing. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

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

Wed 11 Bottoms Up Bingo @ Hi Tops Play board games and win offbeat prizes at the popular sports bar. 9pm. 2247 Market St. 551-2500. www.HiTopsSF.com

Dream Queens Revue @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge San Francisco's classic drag show, featuring Collette LeGrande, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, Bobby Ashton, Sheena Rose, Kipper, and Joie de Vivre. No cover. 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. 133 Turk St. 441-2922. www.dreamqueensrevue.com

Sony Holland @ Level III The acclaimed jazz vocalist performs with guitarist Jerry Holland. Weekly 5pm-8pm. Also Thursdays & Fridays. JW Marriott, 515 Mason St. at Post. www.sonyholland.com

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

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

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

Thu 12 The Both @ Great American Music Hall Aimee Mann and Ted Leo perform music from their new album. (also June 11 at City Winery, Napa). Nich Diamonds of Islands opens. $26-$51(with dinner). 8pm. 859 O'Farrell St. 885-0750. www.slimspresents.com

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

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

Judy Kaye @ Feinstein's at the Nikko The multiple award-winning stage actresssinger ( Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Phantom of the Opera, Gypsy, Tales of the City) performs a new intimate show celebrating the music of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. $35-$50. 8pm. Also June 13, 8pm. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. (866) 663-1063. www.ticketweb.com

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

Thu 12

Mahlae Balenciaga and DJ Kidd Sysko's weekly drag and dance night. 9pm-1am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Homage to La Cage @ Castro Theatre Celebrate the music of Jerry Herman, La Cage aux Folles the musical, with Broadway stars Lee Roy Reams, Davis Gaines, with cochair Donna Sachet. Proceeds benefit documentary film projects about José Sarria, and Camp Sunburst's HIV kids camps. $10-$500. 7pm-10pm. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com www. homagetolacage.brownpapertickets.com

Irish Dance Night @ Starry Plough, Berkeley Stallion Saturdays @ Beaux The gogo-tastic night returns, with hunky dancers Michael Tempesta, Sticky Ricky and Jimmy Durano; lap dances upstairs in the lounge, hosted by Sister Roma. $4. Free before 10pm. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

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

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

Sat 7 Midtown Socail @ Hard French

Mahogany Mondays @ Midnight Sun Honey Mahogany's weekly drag and musical talent show starts around 10pm. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

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

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

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

The Both (Aimee Mann & Ted Leo)

Mad Manhattans @ Starlight Room The new weekly event includes classic cocktails created by David Cruz, and inspired by the the show Mad Men, plus retro food classics like prawn cocktails and Oysters Rockefeller, all with a fantastic city view. 6pm-10pm. 21st, Sir Francis Drake Hotel. 450 Powell St. www.starlightroomsf.com

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

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

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

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

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. June 12, an SF Design Week event with music by indie rockers Small Black, R&Bers Beacon, ISO50, plus visual artist Azael Ferrer, interactive video installations, garden of illuminated paper flowers, and more. $10-$12. 6pm-10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

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

The Tubes @ Yoshi's The 80s pop band is still going strong, and performs their hits, plus new music. $29-$34. 8pm. 1330 Fillmore St. 655-5600. www.yoshis.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie's Lounge Tenth anniversary of the intimate groovy retro disco night with tunes spun by DJ Bus Station John. $4. 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

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

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • June 5-11, 2014

Josh West

From page 1

“I knew I was excited by men, and I had my fantasies,” said Hemming of his then-deeply secretive desires. “But I couldn’t admit it to myself.” He dated several girls, “but nothing physical, because we couldn’t do anything before marriage.” After completing a Marketing degree at Utah State University, Hemming continued his studies in graduate school at the University of Memphis. Through those years, despite his growing awareness of being gay, Hemming got married and remained so for four years, until he divorced at age 25. “Six months into grad school, I realized it wasn’t working out. At that point, I left the Mormon Church.”

but they now remain a couple. Since then, as Josh West (a name he chose), Hemming has performed in more than 150 gay scenes and features, including Raging Stallion, Men Over 30, the appropriate Extra Big Dicks, online bondage and SM scenes for Kink.com, including gay and bisexual scenes.

Josh West with his partner Peter Axel.

Josh West in a publicity shot for Colt Studios

Around 2000, Hemming began to explore his gay desires online. “AOL chatrooms were the big thing then,” he said. His first sexual experience was with two men who were partners. “They had a really good social circle, and me being curious, I became friends with them. Initially, it was a lot of hookups that became friendships, but also some guys that just remained friends.” But despite the relatively open environment with gay bars, Hemming had a romantic relationship with a man in Nashville, a four-hour drive away. At the same time, he struggled with his family and their ties to the Church of Latter-Day Saints. “The Mormon culture thrives on being nice, but often it’s a superficial kind that’s not on a deep level. But in the South there’s a deeper sort of kindness.” After returning to Utah through his mother’s illness and death of cancer, Hemming found an uneasy balance after coming out. “No one would talk about it,” he said. “It’s changed since then, but at first it was difficult. It’s very much different now. They’ve met my partner, and they’ve become more accepting.” But back then, as he worked at a bank for five years, his desires became more a part of his life. “I wanted to expand my horizons.”

Screen Time

After performing in several solo webcam shows, Hemming had become a fan of gay porn, specifically San Francisco-based Titan Studios. He sent a few photos, and got a call within a week. In September 2005, he performed his first sex scene in Turned On: ManPlay 23. “My first shoot was a threeway,” he said, “and they were both bottoms, so they kept me busy.” Hemming quickly learned the difference between sex on-camera versus sex in private. “I didn’t know what to expect, but then the cameras and lights get turned on, and I just tried to find my aggressive sexual place, to focus my mind, even though there were all those distractions.” During his fourth Titan job, in 2006 Hemming met his current partner, porn actor Peter Axel, and moved to San Francisco. At first he was part of a threeway relationship,

From the stylized theatricality of Titan’s Funhouse to the outdoor epics of Colt, Hemming said he enjoys the professional nature of the traditional studios such as Falcon. He also enjoys the role-playing, including playing a tow truck driver in Joe Gage’s Arcade on Route 9. “I actually got to drive the truck, so I felt really cool,” he said with a chuckle. Of such epics, Hemming explained the shooting schedule. “You have one day of just B-roll, with dialogue and non-sex shots. Titan would have, say, an oral day and a fucking day. They split it up like that.” Among his more unusual scenes are those with Titan Rough and Kink.com’s various titles for Bound Gods and Bound in Public. This was familiar territory for Hemming, who blushed while admitting, “I was kind of extreme from the very beginning. From the get-go, I got into the kinky stuff.”

bottom gradually opening up, to communicating to gauging where you’re at; with my experience, I was able to show that. You don’t want to go too deep, either.” And what of rope use and safety issues? “You can be put in unusual positions, so, yes, you should stretch beforehand,” he said. “Sometimes it gets to be really intense, so you have to breathe, and be aware of what you’re feeling, to make adjustments.” Hemming recalled directorparticipant Van Darkholme’s skills. “He knew where to make adjustments, and every time we’d do a scene, we always had a safe word.” In contrast to their theatricality, another aspect of Darkholme’s shoots are the before and after interviews, where viewers are reminded how these are real people sharing an intense theatrical sexual experience. “Having that interview before, you have to think more, be more aware of what you’re saying,” said Hemming. “When you’re done, there’s an intense reaction, because there is aggression and a big dynamic between the performers. You kind of get this natural high from it. At the end, you’re exhausted, but you feel good.” From high suspension to black rubber bodysuits, to group orgies on location, Hemming’s performances pushed the boundaries of porn perfromance. “Van and I had a very interesting relationship,” said Hemming. “He has a very specific vision. Sometimes he really pushes, and if I wasn’t feeling it, I would push back. Generally, I’m a very easygoing person, but sometime I’d have to stop and sit back for a moment.”

Health Advocate

With HIV transmission a continued public concern, due to what producers have called restrictive laws, and the growth of bareback video shoots, Hemming has concerns as well. Although he was speaking for himself, he’s obviously

Josh West in a scene for Kink.com

Although mostly a top, Hemming did bottom for a few titles, including with Ray Dragon, and in a bondage outdoor shoot at the Russian River. “There was some really creative rigging when I was tied to a tree,” he said. Asked about the health issues related to such extreme sexual acts, we segued back to Hemming’s job at Magnet as Community Organizer. Originally a trained HIV test counselor, Hemming volunteered and continues to organize events, and showed off the saucily worded outreach campaign posters, which will appear at local sex clubs and select bars. To be clear, Hemming’s views do not necessarily reflect those views of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation or Magnet. He offered his personal perspectives as we discussed specific sex play, including fisting. “The biggest health concern with that is Hepatitis C; whether there’s stretching, there’s almost always some kind of blood involved in that. They need to be careful, and the person fisting needs to wear gloves.” Hemming sees an aspect of porn depictions of such acts as somewhat instructional. “When it shows the

become more informed through his work with Magnet. “In the gay porn world, it really isn’t talked about much,” Hemming said. “There are forms and paperwork about status, but it’s not generally disclosed. I always do safe sex scenes, so I was always using condoms. That’s what’s kept me feeling okay.” Hemming said that his partner is HIV-positive, “but it didn’t stop me from engaging and creating a relationship with him.” To be safe, he also uses the prep prevention treatment, “to give me an extra sense of security. I feel like it’s an added tool for us. It’s not for everyone. If you’re having sex and using condoms, as long as you’re protecting yourself. But for people who aren’t using condoms, why not add this extra layer of protection to try to keep from getting HIV?” Hemming admits that most of his HIV-positive friends sero-sort and don’t use condoms with other HIVpositive partners. As for the growth of bareback sex in porn, he said, “I’m not a fan of bareback porn, because I think there are too many See page 9 >>

Read more online at www.ebar.com

June 5-11, 2014 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

Donuts Don’t Quiver by John F. Karr

ast week’s TitanMen features threw us into a couple shower stalls and a meat locker. This week, a pair of Titan Rough features throw us into a sling, and, boy, what a show we get. I swore off fisting flicks a while ago. Most of them left me feeling battered—and not in that good, extremesex way. But how could I not watch the jubilantly raw Thor Larsson? He’s only made five flicks, all for Titan Rough, and what I think is his best is the recent rosebud-flaunting,

torso, and gets asshole smeared all over his face before his tongue burrows into the bull’s eye of Thor’s boiling butthole. And then he fucks the dude silly. Now, if all you want is a hot suck ‘n fuck, you’ll stop at the fifteenminute mark. Past that, there’s Crisco in the cooze, and a corkscrew dildo of scary width and weight. Silver handles it masterfully, snuggling it deep, wiggling and rotating it, tapping it, and then suddenly getting vicious with it, pulling out and plunging in. The same sort of stuff goes on when Silver’s fist, and then his fists,

TitanStudios

Brute-looking Matt Stevens is Nick Prescott’s captive, in Titan Rough’s Foul Play.

dildo-digesting, don’t leave a fist unswallowed scene with top man Allen Silver, in the rowdy kink of Daddy Fist. One of the things I like best about Thor, beside his delight in big rubber toys, is that he has a rollicking good time spreading his ass open wider than anyone else has, or turning out his sphincter until it’s a high ridge circling a deep crater, a vast ring-around-the-rosie. It looks like a donut surrounding a vortex. Except that a donut doesn’t quiver. Watching Silver lick his way all around it while Thor trembles and moans is just too much. And what a joyride Thor’s on when riding a fist! There’s no fake porn-machismo, no grunting, “Yeah, man. Fuck that man-pussy.” What there is, is screaming and yelling and laughing and an unparalleled partnership with Silver. In his extravagant sex mode, Thor’s personality is so open to the camera. For me, that makes the scene real. When they come face to face for a lip lock, Silver’s silvered hair and salty beard is almost a mirror image of Thor. Silver also mirrors Thor’s exuberance. He passionately kisses Thor, fiercely punches his chest and

Josh West

From page 8

risks. People need to be responsible for their own sexual health. If we are going down that bareback road, we need to be sure what our status is before engaging in sex, which isn’t common in the gay porn world. Some of the companies are doing testing, but others aren’t. Even a rapid HIV test has a six-month window. So if you had some type of exposure, it still couldn’t be seen and you may not know.” Hemming also mentioned other sexually transmitted infections like syphilis, chlamydia and gonnorhea as statistically being on the rise in California. Hemming also recalled losing several friends to AIDS, and considers his current work “part of a personal voyage of giving back in some way.” He mentioned that Magnet sees more than 14,000 clients a year. Asked about the effective prevention methods and messages for healthy sexuality, Hemming said,

plug, but a tunnel, and Ayres pulls out the stopper and pisses through it into Blake’s bum. A fat red dildo goes in there next, with a deep fisting follow up. Husky Mack Manus wears a fancy pair of designer chaps and a cock ring while his fat cock is serviced by Christopher Wells, who, like Blake Oscar, is making his film debut. Wells has a blond’s complexion and cock coloring, with a ginger goatee encircling rosy lips. His stiff prong is highlighted by a chrome cock ring (Oh, gee, oh, joy, C-rings are scattered liberally around most everyone in Deep Fist). He’s anointed with piss, receives a closely observed fuck, plus a double fisting which provokes his orgasm. Industrial music gets a bit relentless in this last scene, but it helped me realize (and appreciate) that though the sex in Daddy Fist is aggressive, the movie in general lacks aggression. It isn’t mean. It’s just three tough scenes of bamboozlement by dildo and fist. And, oh, with lots of piss. Ball stretchers are a specialty of Titan Rough’s Foul Play. Mack Manus sports one that looks to be at least three inches (I counted seven notched rings on it). Mack’s a macho presence whose fuck ‘n fist is more traditionally porn-like in his scene with Thor Larsson, who is his usual mesmerizing self. Next up, Matt Stevens—his arms stretched wide in suspension—wears a red stretcher. It’s a scene with no fisting,

are inside Thor. The two guys collaborate on a boisterous paw poking. When Thor cums, he sprays and sprays his cum all over, and Oh, Blanche, how he reacts. Laughing, almost crying, flaggin’ his dick and shouting. And he’s been hard throughout the entire scene. Kudos to director Paul Wilde for setting the tone (subsequent scenes may not be so quite over the top, but TitanStudios are nonetheless effecA stinky gym sock makes a swell gag for tive), and, along with Dirk Caber and Jesse Jackman, in Foul Play. Jasun Mark, getting throughout the movie but lots of piss—in which Rough such steady, secure videography, Exclusive Nick Prescott mauls evwith clear, appreciable close-up. ery part of Matt’s body. Matt’s kind Now there’s only room for of brute looking; I wanna see him thumbnail descriptions of the other some more. two scenes in the two-hour Daddy The final scene of Foul Play abanFist. When Blake Oscar—tattooed, dons kink sex for a uniform fetish, PA-ed, ginger but balding, with a with Dirk Caber and Jesse Jackcropped beard—gets down like a man donning and doffing a variety dog to lick top man Ethan Ayre’s of rugby outfits as they have some boots, we see the plug sticking outta decent sex.t his butt. How swell for him—it’s been there throughout their preliminary make-out. Turns out, it’s not a www.TitanRough.com

“Wagging your finger at someone, saying ‘Don’t do that,’ is just not working. You can tell them, but the reality is, people forget. Things happen. Judgment isn’t always right. We need to be aware that people make decisions, and try to support them.” Asked about the choices people make to do porn, Hemming said he knows a variety of people who have different reasons. “You do have people who get caught up in it,” he said. “You can get caught up in a crazy state and get lost in it, and that’s not healthy, because you’re caught up in one thing. The gay porn world is actually very small. Some people are having fun, and others are taking it too seriously.” He also offered comments on the large-scale availability of online porn, and how fewer people are paying for it. “It’s really changed that world. The rates for performers have gone down, budgets for locations have gone down, and it’s really changed the industry, and not in a good way.” But his focus may soon shift offset. “I feel like my life is moving in

a different direction,” he said. With his own education, Hemming considers himself lucky, and is narrowing down his work in sex on tape. “I had a really good substantial career at it, but it doesn’t translate into my MBA work,” he said. “My education helped me transition back.” He offered a few words of caution for those considering porn as a career. “For me, I think it was just getting outside of Utah, and finding an outlet for the exhibitionist side of me,” he said of his initial decision. “But I also met people and traveled all over and had a great time. The biggest balance is not to make it your fulltime job, but keep it on the sidelines. Otherwise, you’ll be unable to maintain that after several years. Most people can’t. Having a good balance of reality that I can come back to, that’s the difference for me.”t Magnet, 4122 18th St. 581-1600. www.magnetsf.org. Josh West’s NSFW Twitter account: https:// twitter.com/JoshWestxxx

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he Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center’s annual gala, held May 29 at City View Metreon, included fabulous guests who enjoyed cocktails, hors d’eouvres, live entertainment, a silent auction and a great view. Donors supported the nonprofit’s health and testing clinic, its programs for youth, gay men, and transgender services and outreach programs. www.apiwellness.org See more event photo albums on BARtab’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lgbtsf. nightlife and on www.StevenUnderhill.com See this and other issues in full page-view format at www.issuu.com/bayareareporter

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