May 12, 2022 edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

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Vol. 52 • No. 19 • May 12-18, 2022

New SF Supervisor Dorsey is gay, sober, and living with HIV Rick Earl Stokes

Courtesy Steamworks

Rick Stokes, ‘the other gay man’ who ran against Milk, dies by Cynthia Laird

ick Earl Stokes, famously “the other gay candidate” who ran against Harvey Milk for San Francisco supervisor in 1977, died May 3. He was 87. Mr. Stokes died in San Francisco after a brief battle with congestive heart failure, according to an obituary prepared by Curtis Jensen, director of marketing and graphics for Steamworks, the gay bathhouse location in Berkeley of which Mr. Stokes was one of the founders. “Rick was a role model, leader, activist, philanthropist, and business owner who dedicated most of his life to LGBTQ equality and was an early pioneer in the LGBTQ civil rights movement,” Jensen stated. In that pivotal District 5 supervisors race, which Milk won, Mr. Stokes was viewed as the more establishment candidate. “Rick was from the older school of activism,” Jensen said in a phone interview. “Harvey and his group were more cutting-edge.” See page 6 >>

B.A.R.

ENDORSEMENTS U.S. Senate: Alex Padilla Governor: Gavin Newsom Lt. Governor: Eleni Kounalaki Secretary of State: Shirley Weber Attorney General: Rob Bonta Controller: Ron Galperin Treasurer: Fiona Ma Insurance Commissioner: Marc Levine State Sup. Public Instruction: Tony Thurmond

by Matthew S. Bajko

n naming Matt Dorsey as the new District 6 supervisor, San Francisco Mayor London Breed has not only appointed the second gay man living with HIV to fill a vacancy on the Board of Supervisors in recent years but also someone who has personal experience combatting a substance use disorder. An alcoholic who also overused a variety of drugs, including crystal meth, Dorsey has been clean and sober for 19 months as of May 7. “I was very honest about it,” Dorsey, 57, told the Bay Area Reporter about his discussion with Breed when he spoke with her privately last month about his interest in being named the supervisor for the city’s South of Market, Treasure Island, and Mission Bay neighborhoods. “I have spent most of my adult life in recovery.” Breed swore in Dorsey May 9 at Delancey Street, the nonprofit provider of services to substance abusers with a restaurant on the city’s Embarcadero in District 6. Brothers John and Bill Maher, the latter of whom served on the Board of Supervisors, co-founded the agency in 1970. According to a 1988 Los Angeles Times story, Bill Maher was himself “a former Delancey Street resident and reformed drug addict.” More recently, District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin admitted last summer that he had a drinking problem and sought treatment for alcohol use.

C A L I F O R N I A

PRIMARY ELEC TION

Jane Philomen Cleland

New District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, left, is all smiles May 9 as Mayor London Breed swears him into office.

Dorsey will now serve alongside Peskin and gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, until now the lone LGBTQ community member on the board. In June 2018, Mandelman defeated former District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, a gay man who became the first person living with HIV on the board when the late mayor Ed Lee appointed him to the vacant seat in January 2017. “I hope it is meaningful to people who maybe have HIV or have a substance use disorder or are from the LGBTQ+ community,” said Dorsey of his now becoming a supervisor.

Dorsey will serve out the remainder of the term vacated by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) last week and will need to run in November for a full four-year term under the newly drawn boundaries for District 6. The city’s redistricting task force pulled out the Tenderloin and most of the city’s Transgender District from District 6, except for the stretch of the cultural district that runs along Sixth Street, and moved it into District 5. Expected to seek the District 6 seat is queer See page 12 >>

Getting high and falling out on GHB by Adam Echelman

Board of Equalization Dist. 2: Michela Alioto-Pier

Congress (Bay Area) Dist. 2: Jared Huffman Dist. 4: Mike Thompson Dist. 8: John Garamendi Dist. 9: Josh Harder Dist. 10: Mark DeSaulnier Dist. 11: Nancy Pelosi Dist. 12: Barbara Lee Dist. 14: Eric Swalwell Dist. 15: Kevin Mullin Dist. 16: Anna Eshoo Dist. 17: Ro Khanna Dist. 18: Zoe Lofgren

Remember to vote by June 7! We will have more endorsements in coming weeks.

SAN FRANCISCO PROPS No on: H

he fall is so quick that most people can only remember where they landed: in someone else’s bed, on a park bench, or in a hospital room. In fact, the process is so common with Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), or “G,” that it’s called “falling out.” If you take just a drop too much G, you become manic and then drop into an almost comatoselike sleep, wherever that might be. Colin, 53, who asked that his last name not be published, remembers the days of “party and play,” when friends would spill in and out of his apartment while mixing G with meth and sex. “I’d have one partner over. After a while, we’d both get bored of each other, go on to our phones, and scroll on to the hookup apps to see who else was there,” he said. In a week, he could have 19 or 20 men to his house over countless hours until the point of exhaustion. Colin figured it was fine because he never used See page 11 >>

Adam Echelman

After Franz Lao got sober from Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB or G), he became interested in karate again. He sees the process of teaching karate akin to the sponsorship component of the 12-step process, where one recovering person guides another into sobriety.

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4/8/22 11:08 AM

<< Pride 2022

2 • Bay Area Reporter • May 12-18, 2022

SF readies for Pink Saturday, other June Pride Month events by Eric Burkett

NCLR outdoor party

rganizations are in the midst of planning activities for Pride Month in June, including the return of a Pink Saturday dance party in the Castro and an event in Golden Gate Park timed with the observance of Juneteenth. Longtime San Francisco Pride celebration enthusiasts will be glad to hear that an official Pink Saturday is returning to the Castro this year, after an absence of nearly six years. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence stepped away from producing the event in 2015, after saying they could no longer guarantee the safety of visitors. That year the San Francisco LGBT Community Center oversaw it, but the unofficial kickoff to Pride weekend hasn’t been held since. This year the street party will be produced by a different, but familiar, organization. Soul of Pride, the same group that has been putting on performances featuring Black, Indigenous, people of color acts and entertainment for both San Francisco Pride as well as pre-pandemic Pink Saturday performances in the Castro, is this year producing what Castro Merchants Association leadership hope will become an annual event again. No lineup has yet been announced, and calls to Soul of Pride officials were not returned. According to its website Soul of Pride put on a hip-hop dance party in the Castro the last Saturday in June in 2021, which is typically when Pink Saturday was held. The official name of the Pride-eve event has also not been announced although Sister Kitty Catalyst of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence said

Jane Philomen Cleland

Pink Saturday drew a crowd in 2011, with the illuminated pink triangle on Twin Peaks in the background.

that the new event would incorporate “Pink” in its name. “They reached out to me to be respectful of the Sisters’ history,” Sister Kitty stated of Soul of Pride organizers in an email to the Bay Area Reporter. The merchants group is also organizing a family Pride event that same day, not dissimilar to its successful Easter celebration last month. To be located on the 200 block of Noe Street, the event will feature a petting zoo, photos with a Fairy Godmother, and a Best Per-

formers of the Castro contest. The Easter celebration was a massive success, Castro Merchants Co-President Dave Karraker, a gay man, told members at their monthly meeting, May 5. “We had an amazing event for Easter,” he told the group. “We probably had more than 3,000 people roll through. LGBT artists were there, as was the Easter Bunny.” A line of kids eager to have their pictures taken with the holiday rabbit stretched for a block and lasted six hours, Karraker said.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is planning its own June event in the National AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. With the threat of Roe v. Wade being overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the growing onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation in statehouses across the country, opportunities to simply come together are more important than ever, organizers said. NCLR is providing that occasion with Pride in the Park, a family-oriented event Saturday, June 18. The fundraiser, scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m., will feature a slew of activities, including live music, kids’ activities, sign painting, lawn games, drag queen storytellers, and food trucks. More serious programming will address the rising tide of antiLGBTQ activity and legislation. Other highlights will include a special commemoration of Juneteenth, which is June 19 and commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, as well as recognition of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the groundbreaking 1972 federal legislation prohibiting sexbased discrimination in any school or education program that receives funding from the U.S. government. Food and drink will range from pizza, tacos, oysters, and popsicles, to coffee, mocktails, beer, wine, bubbly, and cocktails. Entertainment includes singers Rachel Garlin, and Freddie, as well as live performances by Cheer San Francisco, the city’s official cheerleading team; AfroBrazilian band Batalá San Francisco; Madd Dog 20/20; and others. Although fun is the goal, the event underscores the more serious chal-

lenges that NCLR – and the LGBTQ community – face in the future. “Pride has never been more important than this year in terms of how we unite and show our force as a community,” said Jennifer Bing, director of philanthropy at NCLR. The organization, which was founded as the Lesbian Rights Project in 1977, is currently involved in legal actions in Arizona, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. It is also the only organization suing the state of Florida to overturn Senate Bill 1854, the notorious and first “Don’t Say Gay” bill that was signed into law in March by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, Bing said. “It’s a really important time for the community to come together,” Bing said. Because of the ongoing threat of COVID, NCLR decided to postpone its regular springtime fundraising gala, which would normally attract upward of 1,300 people in an enclosed space, to November 11 and, instead, offer supporters and revelers a chance to celebrate the organization’s 45th anniversary with a smaller, outdoor event, said Bing. She said they’re hoping for 300 to 400 attendees at the June party. Its November gala, however, might serve a double purpose. “Post-election we need to cry or celebrate,” observed Bing, referring to the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress as well as governorships and state legislatures around the country. Tickets to Pride in the Park range from a $60 community rate to $100 per person. Sponsor packages are available, as well. For more information, see the NCLR website . t

UNIT NO.

BEDROOM COUNT

BATH COUNT

SQUARE FEET

FLOOR #

MONTHLY HOA DUES W/O PARKING

PRICE W/O PARKING

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE INCOME LEVEL

203

1,052

$759.57

$402,447

100% of AMI

206

722

$686.36

$352,766

100% of AMI

304

612

$662.45

$293,814

100% of AMI

312

626

$667.19

$292,897

100% of AMI

403

1,052

$759.57

$402,447

100% of AMI

Helping to build meaningful, compassionate connections in our community Shanti’s LGBTQ+ Aging & Abilities Support Network (LAASN) offers emotional and practical support to LGBTQ+ older adults and LGBTQ+ adults with disabilities who face isolation and need greater social support and connection. If you are experiencing isolation, especially now as we are living through the impact of COVID-19, please reach out to LAASN to see how we can be of support. For more information about LAASN services, please email djohnson@shanti.org. If you would like to become a peer support volunteer to an LGBTQ+ older adult or LGBTQ+ adult with a disability, please email acone@shanti.org.

Shanti’s LGBTQ+ Aging & Abilities Support Network is made possible by funding from the City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) and Metta Fund.

4 • Bay Area Reporter • May 12-18, 2022

Volume 52, Number 19 May 12-18, 2022 www.ebar.com

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<< Open Forum

t B.A.R. congressional endorsements W

e are fortunate in the Bay Area to have a solid Democratic congressional delegation. That trend looks to continue even as the 15th Congressional District will select a new representative to succeed the retiring Jackie Speier, who ably represented parts of San Mateo County and San Francisco during her nearly 15 years in office. This primary election will also give voters the first opportunity to weigh in on California’s new junior senator, Alex Padilla, the former secretary of state whom Governor Gavin Newsom appointed last year after Kamala Harris became vice president. Below are our recommendations for Congress in the June 7 primary.

U.S. Senate: Alex Padilla

Alex Padilla is running for a full six-year term. He has been a strong ally to the LGBTQ community. In his Bay Area Reporter endorsement questionnaire, Padilla wrote that he is a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community. “I will continue fighting for a future in which the full civil and human rights of LGBTQ+ individuals are recognized,” he stated. “The assaults on the LGBTQ+ community that we see happening across the country underscore the urgency of passing legislation at the federal level that protects the rights of all LGBTQ+ Americans. I pledge to champion federal legislation, like the Equality Act, that guarantees equal protection for all.” Padilla is a strong advocate for affordable housing and addressing the homelessness crisis that is gripping the state. He has proposed a Housing for All Act that would invest billions of dollars in programs that have proved able to tackle the affordable housing shortage, including the National Housing Trust Fund, and supportive housing for people with disabilities. “Many of the programs in the [Housing for All] bill were inspired by efforts that were pioneered right here in California,” he wrote, “like creating a safe parking program to create parking sites that offer places for those who live out of their vehicles to park overnight.” Funding would also go toward converting spaces like hotels, motels, and shopping malls into housing for homeless and vulnerable individuals, he noted. Padilla stated that he was able to successfully push the Biden administration to extend the eviction moratorium last year, and said the government needs to reallocate federal rent relief funding to communities most in need. Padilla is not widely known among Californians, which is why this election is important. One of his Democratic challengers is Santa Barbara tech billionaire Dan O’Dowd, who’s running a vanity campaign to criticize the safety of self-driving cars. Additionally, the California Democratic Party messed up when it accidentally left Padilla’s name off its list of endorsed candidates in the state voter guide; the party endorsed him back in March, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported. (https://www. sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/alex-padilla-california-democraticparty-17151031.php) Padilla became the first Latino in California to serve in the Senate (and he was the first Latino in state history to be elected to his former position of secretary of state). Representation matters, as we regularly point out, and having his voice in the Senate is crucial for all Californians. We recommend a vote for Padilla on the June 7 primary ballot.

15th Congressional District: Kevin Mullin

This race, as mentioned above, is the only one in which the incumbent is not seeking reelection. The district includes parts of San Mateo County and San Francisco. Current Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D-San Mateo) gets our nod because of his passion and commitment to ensure that our democracy works for everyone. During a Zoom editorial board meeting, Mullin was animated about the recent leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, which has provided the right to abortion for 50 years. “The Roe news is an abomination,” he said. “It undermines the will of the people.” While careful to reiterate that it was a draft opinion that was leaked – the final opinion, expected in late June or early July could be different – Mullin nonetheless was em-

phatic that, if elected to Congress, he would work to protect other rights granted by the court, such as same-sex marriage, that could also be up for reversal. “A whole range of rights are under attack,” Mullin said. He said that there is a desperate need for a “strongly Democratic Senate” and for Democrats to retain control of the House of Representatives. The national outcry over the possible end of Roe could motivate Democratic and liberal-leaning independents to show up not only for the primaries, but the midterm elections in November. Mullin, the Assembly speaker pro tem, has been a strong ally in the Legislature and has received a 100% score from Equality California from 2013 to 2020. He has also supported numerous LGBTQ-related bills authored by members of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus and he authored an Assembly resolution in 2015 condemning the “Sodomite Suppression Act” ballot measure, which a judge declared unconstitutional so it did not face voters. Mullin also discussed what he considers the biggest issue in his district, the affordability crisis, which includes affordable housing, climate change, and building an economy that works for everybody. Mullin is a progressive legislator who will ably fill Speier’s shoes – she has endorsed him, and he worked for her years ago – and be a good addition to the Bay Area’s congressional delegation. We recommend Mullin for the 15th Congressional District.

Other congressional races

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) is running for another term in the 11th Congressional District. Pelosi, who spearheaded the House floor vote on the Equality Act in 2021, is a pivotal ally to the LGBTQ community. That piece of legislation, introduced by gay Congressmember David Cicilline (D-Rhode Island) continues to languish in the Senate and likely will need to be reintroduced next year. Pelosi has done a remarkable job leading a sometimes-fractured Democratic caucus. She almost certainly will be reelected. Over in the East Bay, Congressmember Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) is also likely to be reelected. A staunch ally, Lee, along with Pelosi, was instrumental in helping bring the AIDS Memorial Quilt back home to the Bay Area in 2019. Lee has been a longtime supporter of the HIV/ AIDS community as well as the LGBTQ community. We happily support her reelection in the 12th Congressional District. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) is running for another term. He is an ally to the community and is best known for taking on the Republicans, including former President Donald Trump. East Bay voters should return him to office in the 14th Congressional District. In the South Bay, 17th Congressional District incumbent Ro Khanna (D-San Jose) is a progressive ally who in 2020 introduced the gender-neutral passport bill. (The U.S. State Department last month formally changed its policy to now allow such passports.) He will continue to advocate for climate change policies and Medicare for All. Another South Bay Congressmember is Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto), who represents the 16th District. She has worked to protect the integrity of elections and expand voting rights access. She is a longtime ally. Congressmember Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) rounds out the South Bay delegation and represents the 18th District. She is a strong defender of reproductive freedom and a steadfast ally. In the East Bay, Congressmember John Garamendi (D) is running in the new 8th District after his old seat was divided up. He does not live in the district (members of Congress don’t have to), and while it’s a very diverse district, the power of incumbency makes it likely he will be elected. He has been a good ally to the LGBTQ community and said he would reach out to the community he now represents. This isn’t the first time Garamendi has been affected by redistricting. In the new 9th Congressional District, incumbent Josh Harder has worked to combat

homelessness while in the House. This seat was previously represented by Jerry McNerney, who retired, and includes the East Bay cities of Tracy and Manteca in San Joaquin County. In the 10th District in Contra Costa County, Mark Desaulnier is seeking reelection. He has been a strong ally over the years. In the North Bay, we recommend reelection of Democratic incumbents Jared Huffman in the 2nd District and Mike Thompson in the 4th District. Both have served their constituents well over the years and are allies.

More CA races

[Editor’s note: The Bay Area Reporter’s endorsement of state Attorney General Rob Bonta was inadvertently omitted from last week’s print edition, which also did not include Tony Thurmond for state superintendent of public instruction.]

Attorney General: Rob Bonta

Attorney General Rob Bonta was nominated by Governor Gavin Newsom after the previous AG, Xavier Becerra, was tapped by President Joe Biden to be his health and human services secretary. Bonta, a Democrat, previously represented part of Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro in the Assembly. He was the only AG candidate to return our endorsement questionnaire, and in it, he stated that he’s committed to protecting the civil rights of all Californians, “including California’s vibrant LGBTQ+ communities.” He stated that he will continue to prioritize criminal justice reform, and racial, economic, and environmental justice. One of Bonta’s chief opponents is Anne Marie Schubert, a lesbian who’s the Sacramento County district attorney and the sister of Frank Schubert, one of the masterminds behind Proposition 8, the now overturned California same-sex marriage ban. Schubert is running as an independent but has a more conservative view of law enforcement and would likely take the state away from recent successful legislative efforts to hold police officers accountable. Bonta stated that California needs to build upon community policing as that is a way to build trust in communities. “Law enforcement agencies should resemble the communities they serve,” he stated. He also said he has taken steps as AG to accelerate the public release of peace officer use-of-force and misconduct records that are in the state Department of Justice’s possession. Bonta has done a good job so far as the state’s top law enforcement official. We recommend him for a full four-year term.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tony Thurmond

State schools chief Tony Thurmond is seeking reelection and we recommend him for a second term. During his first term, Thurmond had focused on equity and promoting academic success for students of all backgrounds, his campaign website noted. Of importance to our readers, Thurmond, a longtime ally to the LGBTQ community, has worked to address implicit bias in schools, train teachers and administrators on how to support queer students, develop an inclusive ethnic studies curriculum, and close the achievement gap, the website stated. During the COVID pandemic, he secured rapid COVID tests for schools and administered an additional $5.2 billion for COVID school relief that provided things like computers, personal protective equipment, and mental health counseling. Going forward, Thurmond wants to help public school students recover from more than a year of remote learning gaps by expanding after-school tutoring. He wants California students to be able to read by the third grade by 2026 and has an ambitious plan to accomplish that. It includes providing reading coaches and specialists at schools that need to improve literacy goals, expanding funding, working with parents, and providing books to students and families in need. Successful public schools are essential to California’s future. We recommend Thurmond for another term. t

Politics >>

t With appointment of Dorsey, SF D6 supervisor race begins

May 12-18, 2022 • Bay Area Reporter • 5

by Matthew S. Bajko

he appointment of Matt Dorsey May 9 as the first gay supervisor of District 6 marked the official beginning of the race for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors seat on the November election. At least two Black transgender leaders are planning to also compete for a four-year term representing the city’s South of Market, Treasure Island, and Mission Bay neighborhoods. Queer San Francisco Democratic Party Chair Honey Mahogany told the Bay Area Reporter Monday that they plan to pull papers to run for the supervisor seat within the coming weeks. If elected, Mahogany would be the first Black transgender supervisor in California and the first nonbinary supervisor in San Francisco. “I am someone who has had 20 years of experience getting people off the streets and into care as a social worker,” said Mahogany, who worked in the East Bay and in San Francisco in various capacities to provide support to LGBTQ youth, the homeless, people living with HIV and other individuals in need of help. For the past four years Mahogany served as the de facto chief of staff to former supervisor Matt Haney, who was elected last month to the city’s 17th Assembly District seat. Mahogany was one of the people who had sought to be appointed by Mayor London Breed to serve out the remainder of Haney’s term through the end of the year. Having worked alongside Haney to address the district’s needs, from building thousands of units of housing to providing services to residents, “that is what is going to matter for the voters,” argued Mahogany, who is also a drag queen and part of the collective that owns the queer Stud Bar and is looking to reopen it somewhere in SOMA. Also vying to become the first Black transgender supervisor is Ms. Billie Cooper, who had pulled papers to seek the seat last year when it was thought District 6 would continue to include the Tenderloin where she had long lived. But the city’s redistricting task force last month moved the home of the city’s transgender cultural district into District 5. Meanwhile, a water leak in her apartment last year forced Cooper to move into the Trinity Plaza apartments at Market and Eighth streets, where Dorsey has lived for 12 years. Her forced relocation turned out to be serendipitous as Cooper continues to be a District 6 resident and is planning to run for the redrawn seat. She has already been fundraising for her campaign and has been getting new signatures from District 6 residents to qualify for the ballot in order to replace the ones she had gotten from Tenderloin residents that are no longer valid. Told Monday by the B.A.R. of Dorsey’s appointment to the supervisor seat by Breed, Cooper said she was surprised that Mahogany was not picked. A Navy veteran who is living with HIV and has been in recovery for 22 years due to addictions to cocaine and crack, Cooper questioned Dorsey’s bona fides for being elected to a full term this fall. “What experience does Matt Dorsey have when it comes to the stakeholders in District 6? I have lived in District 6 for almost 40 years,” said Cooper, who now has a campaign website at https://msbilliecooper. org/ that a friend created for her. “What experience does he have dealing with low-income, marginalized, poor Black and Brown people, and white people living in District 6?”

Dorsey, Matthew S. Bajko; Mahogany, courtesy Mahogany; Cooper, courtesy YouTube

The race is on for a four-year term representing District 6 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as appointed D6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, left, will be running against Honey Mahogany, a former staffer to previous supervisor Matt Haney; and longtime community activist Ms. Billie Cooper.

Seeming to intuit that such questions will be raised about him on the campaign trail, Dorsey, who is white, laid the groundwork for his response to them at his swearing-in ceremony. One speaker, Gloria Elle, noted that as a woman of color and a mother who has worked with Dorsey to advocate for the needs of residents in the district she felt that “Supervisor Dorsey understands our challenges.” Breed administered the oath of office to Dorsey, who is also living with HIV and in recovery for alcohol and drug addictions, at an outdoor ceremony Monday in the courtyard of Delancey Street, the nonprofit provider of services to substance abusers with a restaurant on the city’s Embarcadero in District 6. Brothers John and Bill Maher, the latter of whom served on the Board of Supervisors from 1983 to 1995 and also struggled with addiction, co-founded the agency in 1970. “Matt Dorsey represents what recovery can be when we provide the right opportunities to people who are struggling,” said Breed, who introduced the new supervisor as “an extraordinary human being.” In the audience was the assemblymember Haney succeeded, David Chiu, who had vacated the seat in the fall after Breed named him city attorney. Chiu succeeded Dennis Herrera, whom Breed named general manager of the city’s public utilities agency. As city attorney, Herrera had hired Dorsey to be his chief spokesman and worked closely with him in that role for 14 years. “San Franciscans benefited from Matt Dorsey for some two decades, they just didn’t know it,” Herrera told the B.A.R., referring to the largely behind-the-scenes work that Dorsey did while working in the city attorney’s office and more recently as Police Chief William Scott’s director of strategic communications. “San Franciscans benefited and it’s great that they will now have him as a supervisor to continue his great work.” Herrera and Scott both spoke during the swearing-in ceremony, with the police chief admitting he was “a little ticked because we are losing such a great guy.”

Overlapping friendships

The upcoming election is sure to strain relationships among the city’s elected officials and LGBTQ community due to the overlapping friendships and connections that Mahogany and Dorsey, as well as Cooper, have formed over their decades of living and working in San Francisco. Dorsey, for instance, was one of the few LGBTQ leaders who had backed Haney in the Assembly race rather than his gay opponent, former District 9 supervisor David Campos. Yet Haney is unequivocal about his belief that Mahogany is best suited to be elected supervisor of District 6. He reit-

Barry Schneider Attorney at Law

family law specialist*

erated his support for Mahogany in the race to the B.A.R. this week while noting • Divorce w/emphasis on he has known Dorsey for years. Real Estate & Business Divisions “It’s not at all personal. It is about • Domestic Partnerships, Support & Custody who I strongly believe is best to rep• Probate and Wills resent this district,” said Haney. “We www.SchneiderLawSF.com have seen in the past many times the mayor chooses someone and the residents from their own experiences and *Certified by the California State Bar needs choose someone else. I think that will be the same case this time, 400 Montgomery Street, Ste. 505, San Francisco, CA and I hope it will be.” Haney, who also received the backing of Breed in his bid for the Assembly seat, also stressed to the B.A.R. that he doesn’t view the supervisor race as being a proxy battle between himself Reach the largest and the mayor. “It is about who is best to represent audience of local the district,” said Haney, and on that LGBTQ consumers! point he argued that not only is Mahogany “brilliant” but someone who “works well with everyone she meets. She is not an ideologue and is not a Call 415.829.8937 divisive leader.” The awkward position many LGadvertising@ebar.com BTQ leaders in the city now find themselves was evident in the various members of the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, of which Mahogany is a board member, in attendance at Dorsey’s swearing in who declined the B.A.R.’s requests for comment. Most deferred to the club’s official statement, released as the ceremony was taking place. While it commended Breed for naming Dorsey, it also acknowledged she had an “abundance of talented candidates” to choose from, including Mahogany. It added that both are “incredibly qualified LGBTQ candidates.” The club’s statement concluded, “We applaud the mayor’s decision, are thrilled to increase our LGBTQ representation with this appointment, and look forward to working together to increase lesbian and trans representation.” Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in Mandelman demurred when asked advance, you can design every detail of your own unique memorial and provide your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning ahead by the B.A.R. about what impact When your celebration lasting protectsyou your plan loved ones fromlife unnecessary stress and and financial burden, Dorsey’s appointment will now have When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in allowing them to focus on what will matter most at that time—you. remembrance in advance, you can design every on the contest for the seat. He did say that Dorsey “is a very strong appointadvance, you canofdesign every detail of your ownand unique memorial detail own memorial provide Contact usyour today about theunique beautiful ways to create a lasting legacy ment” because “he has experience at the San Francisco Columbarium. and provide your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning ahead with the most pressing issues in San protects your loved onesProudly from unnecessary stressunnecessary and financial burden, Francisco right now.” ahead protects yourserving loved onesCommunity. from the LGBT Lesbian arts commissioner Debra allowing them focus on whatburden, will matter most them at thattotime—you. stresstoand financial allowing Walker, who lost her bid for the Disfocus on what will matter most at that time—you. trict 6 supervisor seat in 2010 then us today about the beautiful ways to create a lasting legacy saw her residence be redistricted Contact into District 9, had publicly endorsed at the San Contact FranciscousColumbarium. today about the beautiful ways to create Breed’s appointment of Dorsey to a lasting legacy at the San Francisco Columbarium. the vacancy. She told the B.A.R. at Monday’s ceremony that she has conOne Loraine Ct. | San Francisco | 415-771-0717 Proudly serving our Community. fidence in his being able to address the SanFranciscoColumbarium.com Proudly serving the LGBT Community. various needs of his neighbors now FD 1306 / COA 660 constituents. “He’s been living in District 6 for 13 years. It is not new to him, and he is not new to the people who live in District 6,” said Walker. Candidates have until early June to file for the District 6 supervisor race. Voters will be able to rank their choices under the city’s instant-voting system with those candidates receiving the least One Loraine Ct. | San Francisco | 415-771-0717 votes eliminated and their voters’ next SanFranciscoColumbarium.com choice tabulated until one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. t

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<< Obituaries

6 • Bay Area Reporter • May 12-18, 2022

Stokes

From page 1

In the Bay Area Reporter’s archives, the paper endorsed Milk in its October 13, 1977 issue. At the time, though, the columnists for the paper had their own say. The late Wayne Friday, then a political columnist for the paper, endorsed Milk in the October 27, 1977 issue. He noted that Mr. Stokes had not gotten the endorsement of “his own political club, the Alice B. Toklas Demo Club.” In the same issue, columnist George Mendenhall endorsed Mr. Stokes. Milk had his own column in the paper and, in that same issue, wrote that Mr. Stokes said at two debates that the only reason he was running against Milk was because of the latter’s use of “a 10-letter word denoting a sex act” when urging people to vote for George Moscone for mayor at his Castro Camera store. Milk and Mr. Stokes had differing approaches to how to achieve LGBTQ equality, and in many ways the race was a generational contest between the more “conservative” approach Mr. Stokes represented, one that had been successful for him for well over a decade at the time, and the more “radical” approach that Milk represented, one more reflective of the youth culture-led ideals of direct action and unapologetic confrontation, Jensen wrote in the obituary. Thomas E. Horn, a gay man who was publisher of the B.A.R. following the death of founding publisher Bob Ross, stated that he knew Mr. Stokes pretty well. “He was an out gay lawyer back in the day when it was hard to be out,” Horn wrote in an email. “He ran for supervisor and sort of was the ‘establishment gay’ candidate in the election when the city converted from at-large to district elections, but Harvey Milk beat him. He was acceptable to the straight liberal establishment. I liked him, but I still supported Harvey.”

Courtesy B.A.R. Archive

Rick Earl Stokes appeared on the cover of the Bay Area Reporter’s May 31, 1972 issue when he was a candidate for the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees.

Former San Francisco mayor Art Agnos said that Mr. Stokes was a mentor to him when he arrived in the city in 1966, explaining to him about gay people and gay rights. Agnos recalled the 1977 supervisors race between Mr. Stokes and Milk. “It was a little tense,” he said in a phone interview. “I supported Rick – he knew how to make government work. He was so much more prepared, in my opinion.” Agnos said that Milk went on to quickly learn the legislative ropes during his short time in office before he was assassinated in November 1978. “Harvey had to learn it all, and he did,” Agnos said. Terry Beswick, a gay man who’s executive director of the Golden Gate Business Association, in which Mr. Stokes was also involved, noted in an email, “When he ran against Harvey Milk for supervisor, he represented the more moderate suit-and-tie element of the community, but through his businesses and groundbreaking advocacy, he touched many lives.”

Mr. Stokes, reflecting on their differences in an interview with ABC 7 in 2019 said, “I thought we’d get further along by pointing out the similarities, finding natural friends to link up with, and seeking different rights.” Asked what the future might have held if the election had turned out differently, he said, “I think that things might have gone more slowly with me, looking back from this vantage point.” Mr. Stokes was portrayed in the Oscar-winning film “Milk” by actor Stephen Spinella. Mr. Stokes was born in Oklahoma on February 27, 1935. After years of struggle with his gay identity, including suffering through regressive reparative therapies and an unhappy marriage, he moved to California determined to find “his guy.” He found him in David Clayton, who was his lover, mentor, and partner in business and life for the next 35 years until Clayton’s death in 1995, the obituary stated. With Clayton’s love and support Mr. Stokes returned to school and became first a teacher then a lawyer. Jensen noted that Mr. Stokes always acknowledged that he was privileged to have Clayton’s support and that it allowed him to dedicate his career to advancing LGBTQ equality, particularly in those pre-Stonewall days when the mere knowledge that someone was gay could get them fired and ostracized from public life. Clayton and Mr. Stokes moved to San Francisco and began a law practice. Mr. Stokes helped “gays and lesbian people caught up in bar raids and police sting operations,” Jensen said, adding that he also assisted them with child custody cases and other issues. As a member of the San Francisco Bar Association Mr. Stokes worked on the non-victim crimes committee and, as a delegate to the State Bar Association, worked for legal reform efforts on behalf of LGBTQ people.

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Part of the movement

First in Sacramento and later in San Francisco, Mr. Stokes set about being part of the early gay rights movement. He formed a gay organization called Association for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) and became an active participant in the Society for Individual Rights. ARC published the Archer, an early magazine dedicated to the gay movement. Mr. Stokes organized previously unthinkable actions like sponsoring a booth about gayness at the California State Fair, an effort that was blocked at the last minute by fair organizers. The obituary noted that he learned a great lesson with that action when he and other activists handed out their flier outside the fair, garnering the group much media attention, including frontpage coverage in both major San Francisco papers, attention they likely would not have received had they not been banned from the event. Agnos gave Mr. Stokes a lot of credit for going to the state fair, noting it was a rural-focused event and Mr. Stokes was there to talk about gay people. “He was thoughtful, smart, and strong, breaking up our stereotypical images,” Agnos said. “His soft voice masked a steely, strong resolve.” Agnos credited Mr. Stokes with being the first generation of strong, influential voices for gay rights. “Today’s generation has not been educated enough about these pioneers,” he said. “Even today’s leaders stand on the shoulders of Rick Stokes. He stepped up and stood out.” While in law school Mr. Stokes organized a public panel discussion between gay men and allies in the religious and political communities that proved to Mr. Stokes the impact one person’s efforts could have in moving equality forward. Mr. Stokes served on the board and as president of another early group, the Council on Religion and the Homosexual, in the 1960s. CRH was the first organization in the U.S. to use the word “homosexual” in its name; previous groups commonly used “homophile” or avoided direct reference to homosexuality or “gay” all together. As president, Mr. Stokes organized the annual CRH conference that brought religious leaders and LGBTQ activists together to discuss issues of equality and justice, and to find common ground and encourage the allyship of the religious leaders in their local community and advocacy for the LGBTQ cause. In today’s highly contentious environment, where religion and LGBTQ issues seem to be at odds, the accomplishments and relationships developed by CRH seem like impossibilities, but they resulted in real action and real advocacy on our behalf, Jensen noted, by local religious leaders in the Bay Area and around the world in the 1960s and 1970s.

Business leader

Mr. Stokes will also be remembered as one of the founders and owners of Steamworks Baths, one of the longest continuing gay-owned bathhouses in the world, and an industry leader that long set the standard against which other similar facilities are judged, stated Jensen. His leadership in the international chain was active up through recent weeks, the obituary stated. Prior to Steamworks, Mr. Stokes and Clayton’s legacy included their ownership of the Ritch Street Health Club in San Francisco in 1965. That venture, at 330 Ritch Street, represented the first gay ownership of a gay bathhouse in the U.S., the obituary stated. Before

this time, bathhouses were usually owned by people who rarely took care of their facilities or invested in them as part of the LGBTQ community, Jensen stated. Along with a collective of other investors, they created a bathhouse by and for gay men, and made cleanliness and customer service a priority. The couple sold their interest in Ritch Street in 1977 and that same year bought the Mayan Baths in Berkeley and, after a remodel, relaunched it as Steamworks Baths. Over the next 45 years Steamworks Baths grew with locations in several California cities and locations in Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Currently Steamworks has locations in Berkeley, Chicago, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver, British Columbia. Under Mr. Stokes’ visionary leadership Steamworks has long been regarded as one of the best bathhouse chains in the world, winning architecture awards, setting standards for facilities, and for community and health partnerships during the AIDS crisis, Jensen stated. He added that Mr. Stokes always prioritized being an active business partner to the LGBTQ community. With the support and friendship of gay businessman David Goodstein, Mr. Stokes became involved in the Whitman-Radcliff Foundation, which was dedicated to identifying and working to change anti-LGBTQ laws that were being used to harass or inhibit the careers and lives of LGBTQ people, and general law reform that touched on LGBTQ equality. Mr. Stokes was the founding president of GGBA. Beswick wrote in an email that the organization was the first gay chamber of commerce association in the U.S. and “began a movement in LGBTQ economic empowerment.” Mr. Stokes was active in leadership there for many years. “To this day the GGBA and sister chambers around the country have a huge impact on LGBTQ small businesses throughout the country,” Beswick stated.

Other work

In 1971, Mr. Stokes began an effort to get gay and lesbian representation on San Francisco city boards and was the first out gay person appointed to the San Francisco Family Services Agency Board of Directors, where he served for four years. In 1972, he ran as the first openly gay candidate for the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees. He narrowly lost that election but always contended that running as an out gay man, having a very public gay face participating in the normal democratic process for the public to see, was a victory in itself, Jensen stated. According to the B.A.R.’s archives, Mr. Stokes and Milk both served on the San Francisco Board of Permit Appeals. Mr. Stokes was tapped for the body after Milk was “fired” when he decided to run for state Assembly, the paper stated. (Agnos defeated Milk in that 1976 Assembly race.) Mr. Stokes and Clayton were both very active in the United Methodist Church, and Mr. Stokes served as lay leader of his local San Francisco congregation and as a delegate to the National Board of Church and Society, which trains members of the denomination to engage in social justice, in Washington, D.C. The couple were both subjects, along with a dozen or so other gay men and lesbians, in the landmark queer film “Word is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives.” (https:// www.newyorker.com/culture/thefront-row/word-is-out-a-pioneering-documentary-of-gay-voices) Filmed in 1977 it was conceived and produced Peter Adair, and directed collectively by the Mariposa Film Group, consisting of Peter Adair, Nancy Adair, Andrew Brown, Rob Epstein, Lucy Massie See page 7 >>

Community News>>

May 12-18, 2022 • Bay Area Reporter • 7

Pop-ups may help fill Castro storefronts by Eric Burkett

astro merchants, long frustrated by the presence of so many empty storefronts throughout the LGBTQ neighborhood but particularly on Castro Street itself, may find themselves with new neighbors, temporarily at least. An ambitious plan announced at the May 5 meeting of the Castro Merchants Association would, with the cooperation of Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District, neighborhood landlords, and grants from the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, bring short term pop-ups to the district’s longempty storefronts. “This is the number one problem in the Castro right now,” CMA CoPresident Dave Karraker told meeting attendees. Empty storefronts have plagued the neighborhood for years now, as the Bay Area Reporter detailed more than four years ago. The rise of COVID, the homelessness crisis, and a street population severely affected by mental illness have only compounded the problem. At the end of April, the beleaguered neighborhood’s commercial vacancy rate stood at 21.78% said Andrea Aiello, a lesbian who’s the CBD executive director. Those figures don’t include recently burned out businesses, storefronts that are vacant but under lease, or businesses outside the CBD footprint, which begins at Collingwood Street and, largely hugging Market Street, extends to Octavia Boulevard. “The idea is exactly what you think,” Karraker, a gay man, told the B.A.R. in a telephone interview. “To find landlords willing to put in popups, like art, crafts, or entertainment in their vacant storefronts.” The pop-ups would only run for about six months, but Karraker hopes the presence of newly occupied shops will bring more people to the Castro, thereby bolstering already existing businesses, as well. To accomplish the plan, CMA has applied for three grants from the mayor’s economic office, totaling $250,000. Those funds, if approved, would be used for everything from paying for rent to sprucing the stores up, and for publicity and events to draw people to the newly filled shops. There would, however, be quite a bit of work to do beforehand. The effort has the support of gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, said aide Jackie Thornhill. Terry Beswick, a gay man who’s executive director of the Golden Gate Business Association, the first LGBTQ chamber of commerce and a new member of the merchants group, is working alongside Karraker to get the plan going. “I’m seeing it as a place for us to de-

Stokes

From page 6

Phenix, and Veronica Selver. The film was the first to dive into the first-person stories of what being gay and lesbian in America was actually like, covering growing up, love, sex, coming out, professional life, surviving oppression, and the changing environment for LGBTQ people. In the film Mr. Stokes tells the story of being in love with a neighbor boy in his youth, disclosing that relationship to his wife, and being put in a mental institution where he endured a host of horrors including a series of 25 shock treatments. He then discusses his journey to self-acceptance, and finding love and fulfillment as a gay man in California. The film

Scott Wazlowski

The Castro Merchants Association is working on a program to convert vacant storefronts, like the Harvest Market’s former Castro location, into temporary pop-ups.

velop a pilot program,” said Beswick, who formerly served in leadership roles at two of the neighborhoods’ institutions, the Castro Country Club and the GLBT Historical Society, which operates a museum on 18th Street. The funding the merchants group has applied for is not nearly enough resources for it to address all of the problems it’s trying to tackle, Beswick said, but pop-ups themselves are a great way to test business models, giving new business owners a chance to better develop their ideas. Many of the properties aren’t necessarily ready to host such a venture, Karraker noted, and may need a lot of physical work. Finding the landlords willing to participate is another matter, too, but Karraker is optimistic. “We’re going to go after every storefront in the Castro and we’ll find out who wants to work with us and who doesn’t want to work with us,” he said. Those who don’t can expect a negative reaction from the community, he added. The funds will also allow CMA to hire experts in real estate and economic recovery to organize the effort, Karraker said. “One of the challenges we face is that none of us are experts in this,” he said. “ I run a gym. [CMA co-president Terrance Alan] runs a cannabis dispensary.” Back in 2014, the CBD commissioned a Castro retail strategy report. At that time the district had a retail vacancy rate five times higher than comparable neighborhoods, according to Danny Yadegar, a real estate agent who was a consultant on the report. Four years ago, gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman convened a meeting to discuss commercial vacancies along the Church Street corridor

is celebrated as a classic and an important historical record of the gay experience. Mr. Stokes also participated in the film’s anniversary documentary “Word is Out: 30 Years Later,” which caught up with the subjects and told the story of the making of the film. Mr. Stokes’ dedication to community philanthropy included being the longest-running corporate sponsor of the Frameline Film Festival as well as several other LGBTQ film, theater, and arts charities; a sponsor of San Francisco Pride, Folsom Street Fair, and other community events throughout the U.S.; a backer of LGBTQ health initiatives; and a supporter of many LGBTQ political efforts and candidates. Mr. Stokes is survived by his husband of the last decade, Alex Kiforenko.t

when he was running for office. In 2016, the CBD received a $25,000 grant from the mayor’s economic office to begin implementing its retail strategy, as the B.A.R. previously reported. That funding was to

focus on commercial vacancies near the intersection of Church and Market streets. The division of labor for this latest project hasn’t been agreed upon yet, Aiello said in a phone interview.

Nonetheless, “I think it’s a great idea,” she added. That said, Karraker knows when to ask for help. Filled storefronts are more likely to attract potential long-term renters, he said, and with the implementation of a business vacancy tax January 1 this year (it was approved by voters in 2020), and the reimposition of penalties for allowing graffiti to remain on buildings, there’s plenty of motivation for landlords to try and refill empty shops. Unfortunately, the plan won’t be in place in time for Pride Month in June, he said, but will be – hopefully – shortly afterward. Karraker said he’s also optimistic that these efforts will help turn out those people he calls “the caring class,” those folks who are actively engaged in their neighborhoods, who have some expertise that they could bring to the table to the benefit of their community. Small businesses, he said, are “the lifeblood of the neighborhood” and they draw in the crowds to the district’s restaurants, shops, and social hangouts. “We know there’s a wealth of expertise in the Castro, and if those people would step out, we’d be eternally grateful,” Karraker said. “We need hands on the wheel.” t

<< Community News

8 • Bay Area Reporter • May 12-18, 2022

Millions sought from CA, SF for sexual health services by Matthew S. Bajko

ith budget negotiations set to heat up in the coming weeks, advocates for sexual health services are seeking millions of dollars from California and San Francisco officials this spring. Their demands come as both the city and state are currently flush with cash as the economy continues to improve as the COVID pandemic ebbs. There are warnings, though, that the financial picture will not be so rosy in coming years. Nevertheless, advocates and providers of care and prevention for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, along with substance-use treatment, are hopeful of seeing their budget asks be funded this year. “STI rates have reached historic highs and continue to climb in California and across the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has only reminded us that we must be vigilant and responsive when it comes to public health,” stated Amy Moy, chief external affairs officer of Essential Access Health. “Although the state has recently increased investments in STI prevention activities, additional resources are needed to ensure access to STI services for youth, and lowincome, uninsured, LGBTQ+ Californians who face disproportionately high rates as a result of structural and systemic inequities.” State leaders are expecting a $68 billion surplus in the budget this year, leading to suggestions residents could see $200 rebate checks. Governor Gavin Newsom is set to release his budget revision by May 15. In March, San Francisco budget officials projected a $74.7 million surplus for the upcoming two fiscal years. But that was $33.4 million less than the surplus of $108.1 million that had been projected in January, and the cumulative deficit projection stood at $156.2 million by FY 2025-26. As covered by the Bay Area Reporter last year, state lawmakers boosted by $13 million the funding for implementing a plan to end the combined epidemics of HIV, hepatitis C, and STIs. It was less than the $19 million that health advocates had sought and state legislators had initially added to the budget. This year, a coalition of nonprofit service providers is seeking $105 million not only for addressing sexually transmitted diseases but also to tackle the overdose epidemic among intravenous drug users. Newsom is once again expected not to include the funds in his budget, leaving it to state

Courtesy CA Assembly

Sexual health advocates are seeking millions of dollars in the state budget this year.

lawmakers for a second year in a row to add the funding into the budget they adopt. Gay Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell), chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, has pledged to champion the budget request in the Legislature. “With a historic budget surplus, the governor and Legislature have a critical opportunity to improve the health of the most vulnerable and underserved Californians and reinvigorate the state’s efforts to address HIV, STIs, viral hepatitis, and overdose as we begin recovering from the pandemic,” stated Low. “I applaud the governor for proposing unprecedented new investments to rebuild the state’s depleted public health infrastructure, increase access to behavioral health services and substance use disorder treatment, and expand access to health care for all Californians regardless of immigration status. At the same time, however, targeted public health funding remains essential to ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to tackle these growing public health crises that disproportionately impact LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other vulnerable communities.” Craig Pulsipher, the associate director of government affairs for APLA Health in Los Angeles, told the B.A.R. he is “optimistic” about seeing the funding be included in this year’s budget, especially since the LGBTQ caucus has thrown its support behind the ask. “The coalition continues to have strong support from legislative leadership and budget committee leaders. I am very optimistic,” said Pulsipher. “As you know well, we have seen some really concerning increases in overdoses and STI rates, especially over the last couple of years of the pandemic. All of these requests are certainly justified and needed in the community.

We have had a positive reception from the meetings we have had thus far.” With syphilis cases continuing to spike across the state, the coalition is seeking $49 million in one-time funding for a syphilis and congenital syphilis strategy to address the issue. It also wants $8 million in one-time funding for Hepatitis B outreach, screening, and linking patients to care. Another $20 million in ongoing funds would go toward improving the capacity of local health departments and community organizations to provide Hepatitis C outreach, testing, and linkage to care and treatment services. The coalition would also like $750,000 in ongoing funding to make free condoms available in public high schools, middle schools, and schoolbased health centers that opt in to the program. An additional $7 million in ongoing funding is sought to support the expansion of access to STI testing and treatment services for low-income, uninsured LGBTQ+ individuals through the state’s Family PACT program. The same funding ask was made last year but was not included in the budget.

Harm reduction

With overdose deaths up 45% in California since June 2020, $20 million in ongoing funding is being sought for syringe services programs and overdose prevention programs. Most of it would go toward continuing a pilot program called the California Harm Reduction Initiative that was funded at roughly $15 million over several years and is set to expire June 30, 2023. “National Harm Reduction Coalition has surveyed participants of harm reduction programs across the state and found that stigma remains the number one barrier to accessing

treatment, which is one of the reasons it is essential that we fund harm reduction at a commensurate level as other tools to ensure the health and wellbeing of people who use drugs regardless of the cessation of drug use,” stated Jenna Haywood, the group’s associate director of community mobilization. “Our approach to substance use disorder, overdose, and other drug related harms needs to be multifaceted, this means parity of investment between prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery.” The Legislature has to pass its budget by June 15.

SF funding sought

San Francisco officials allocated an additional $2.6 million for local HIV programs over two years in the fiscal budget adopted by the Board of Supervisors last July. In March, people living with HIV and AIDS advocates staged a “die-in” in front of City Hall to demand a stronger local response this year to addressing their needs and reaching the city’s goal of ending new HIV cases. A coalition of advocates and service providers is now seeking upward of $10.5 million in city funding this year for its HIV Community Budget Proposal. It also wants a renewed commitment from city leaders that they will backfill any cuts to San Francisco’s allocation in its Ryan White Federal CARE grant to fund HIV services, currently at about $15 million. Roughly $500,000 of the specific dollar amount ask would go toward covering the cost of doing business for those service providers with Ryan White-funded contracts. Between $2 to $3 million is being sought to maintain current HIV prevention services in the city. Housing subsidies for people living with HIV would receive $3 million, while $2 million is being sought to be evenly split between providing mental health for long-term survivors of HIV and AIDS and intensive case management services for those living with HIV. Between $1 to $2 million is sought for safer consumption sites where drug users could access services to help them become clean and prevent them from overdosing. The city purchased a site in the Tenderloin to potentially use as a supervised drug consumption facility, but it has yet to open. A linkage center opened in the Tenderloin earlier this year to help drug users access services and get tested for HIV, STDs, and COVID. At a May 4 hearing before the Board of Supervisors’ Budget & Ap-

propriations Committee Paul Aguilar, a gay man and chair of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club’s HIV Caucus, stressed the need for the city to fund the various services that will assist long-term survivors of AIDS and HIV like himself. Aguilar, who helped stage the die-in action, has been living with HIV for 34 years. “We are shoved to the side while prevention methods such as PrEP and syringe access get everyone’s attention and focus and funding,” said Aguilar. “We insist these prevention efforts not drain resources for caring for those of us living with HIV for 30 and in some cases 42 years.” The city spends $28.7 million on HIV prevention. As with the statewide focus on the three overlapping epidemics, local health officials are also taking a multipronged approach to how they provide services. They are also developing central access points geared to specific communities, such as gay and bisexual men or transgender individuals, and will be announcing this month new funding allocations based on that model of care. “The goal is to develop locations with a welcoming environment for people in that group,” explained Tracey Packer, director of the health, population health division at the San Francisco Department of Public San Francisco, during the hearing. But a number of longstanding HIV service providers have expressed concerns about the health department’s new approach and how it will severely impact their already strained budgets and ability to continue providing services. Eduardo Morales, Ph.D., executive director of AGUILAS: El Ambiente had laid out his concerns about the pending impact to his agency and its ability to continue providing culturally relevant services to the city’s LGBTQ Latinx community in a letter sent to the supervisors in March. “As you know the Latinx community is overrepresented in HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 cases in SF. AGUILAS looks forward to your continued support that is central to our ability to attract new funding and provide HIV/AIDS prevention services to the Latinx gay and bisexual community especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. Without the continued partnership with SFDPH, our ability to execute the newly acquired funding sources for services that AGUILAS has received recently will be impeded,” wrote Morales, who did not speak during Wednesday’s hearing. See page 10 >>

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t Comics shop welcomes readers of all persuasions

May 12-18, 2022 • Bay Area Reporter • 9

by Matthew S. Bajko

here are no aisles of bookcases overstuffed with comic books at Sour Cherry Comics in San Francisco’s Mission district neighborhood. Instead, tables sporting the latest graphic novels, comics, and fantasy fiction greet customers to the store. What bookcases are in the shop are pushed up against the walls, providing for an airy and inviting atmosphere for comics lovers of all persuasions to browse and hang out in the seating area toward the back of the space. Since opening her store in March, owner Leah Morrett has fielded queries from quizzical passersby wondering if it is a kids’ store due to its breaking out of the mold of a typical comics shop setup. “My goal was to create a meeting space for people of all genders and ages to explore comics and graphics novels,” explained Morrett about how she approached the layout for the store at 3187 16th Street near Guerrero. “People mistake this for a children’s store. It really is not; it’s for all ages.” Morrett, a lesbian who turns 31 Friday, May 13, lives a few blocks away with her wife and wanted to find a storefront she could easily walk to since she doesn’t own a car. The location not only fit that prerequisite but also was big enough to accommodate special events that Morrett hosts. Last weekend, for instance, she held her first Sour Cherry Con in honor of Free Comic Book Day. Special offerings included a making one’s own comic book session, a scavenger hunt, and a poetry open mic. “Making it a profitable endeavor are the events to get people to come in,” said Morrett, who organizes readings, writing workshops, selling parties for new releases, and arts and crafts for kids. “I plan to host bigger events every other month.” The city’s other comic bookstores all “do a great job of being welcoming,” said Morrett, who intentionally is trying not to compete with those within walking distance and will send people to them if she doesn’t carry the comics they are looking for. At the same time, she said, a typical comics store can be hard for some shoppers to navigate. “People tell me how they like to come into the store and not feel overwhelmed,” said Morrett. “Comics stores can often be stuffed.” Her having a limited selection is also due to her financial limitations, acknowledged Morrett. She will only order a limited amount of a specific title, restocking it when it sells out, so as not to strain her budget or be stuck with inventory that people don’t want. “This is a beans and pennies endeavor here,” joked Morrett, who is

Jane Philomen Cleland

Johan Teilzeit, left, joined Sour Cherry Comics owner Leah Morrett and Michael Stevens in standing in front of artist Gus Sawyer’s mural “The Kiss,” showing Wonder Woman locking lips with Zala-El, Superman’s sister.

a sole proprietor and the lone employee at Sour Cherry Comics for the time being. “I opened the store on blind faith completely.” She focuses on carrying queer comics and titles from independent publishers, such as PM Press in Oakland and San Francisco’s Silver Sprocket, which has its own store nearby at Valencia and 21st streets. The LGBTQ-themed “Heartstopper” graphic novel series by Alice Oseman, which recently debuted as a Netflix show, has been a popular seller. Morrett had sold out of the first book in April but did have several copies of books two and three ($14.99 each) in the series available. Due to customer requests, she is also looking to stock more comics and graphic novels with transgender characters. “I am still figuring out what people want,” said Morrett, noting that she personally likes the young adult genre. “About 90% of it is queer-focused. A lot of young readers are figuring out their gender and sexuality.” She does carry titles by DC Comics and Marvel, particularly those comics that feature LGBTQ characters and storylines. Among the titles she has on hand are several hardcover copies of the “DC Pride 2021” ($17.99) special release. “I grew up on Wonder Woman so I had to,” said Morrett of carrying the mainstream titles. Her friend, muralist and painter Gus Sawyer, just completed the mural “The Kiss” in the store featuring

Wonder Woman locking lips with Zala-El, Superman’s sister. It is based on the “Dark Knights of Steel” series released last year by DC and references Gustav Klimt’s famous “The Kiss” artwork. Triangles surrounding the super heroic couple nod to the pink triangle LGBTQ symbol. “I always loved Wonder Woman. I was a huge nerd and played D&D,” said Sawyer, 29, who is nonbinary and transgender and has lived in San Francisco for five years. Sawyer, whose handle on Ins-

tagram is @midnightmarginalia, LINK: https://www.instagram.com/ midnightmarginalia/ works full time as an executive assistant at a financial firm but began doing murals at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their first was for a bar in Oakland; the one at Sour Cherry Comics is the first one publicly accessible in San Francisco. “I did drops and scene painting for a theater in Ohio. I loved the spacing and the size of it,” said Sawyer, who worked there as a stage manager for

a decade. “When the pandemic hit, I was stuck inside with just four walls and endless time, so I decided to start painting murals.” Sawyer also paints pet portraits that people can order via their website at https://www.gussawyer.com/. Depending on the size of the project, the portraits can cost $150 to $300 each and take anywhere from three to six weeks to complete. They will be taking two months off in the fall to recuperate from their top surgery, which requires them not to raise their arms up, so Sawyer said anyone wanting to order a pet portrait as a holiday gift this year should do so soon. An example of their pet portraiture can be found hanging on the back right-side wall of Sour Cherry Comics, as Sawyer did a portrait of Morrett’s dog Benny, a terrier mix who is a part-time greeter at the store. Benny can also at times be found relaxing in his bed in the front right-side window. The yellow triangle mural behind the store’s register stand and the Pride-themed ribbon mural on it were also both painted by Sawyer, who first met Morrett via a poetry group. They offered to assist in decorating the store for Morrett and hope it will be a success for years to come. “I knew I had to help in any way I could,”said Sawyer.“Having a lesbianowned comics book store is huge!” t Sour Cherry Comics is open seven days a week though the hours differ depending on the day. To learn more about the store, when it is open, and its upcoming events, visit http://www. sourcherrycomics.com/ Got a tip on LGBTQ business news? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or e-mail m.bajko@ ebar.com.

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One of artist Gus Sawyer’s pet portraitures is displayed at Sour Cherry Comics.

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<< Community News

10 • Bay Area Reporter • May 12-18, 2022

Changes coming to SF pink triangle display compiled by Cynthia Laird

he annual pink triangle installation atop San Francisco’s Twin Peaks is going to be a little different this year, and volunteers are being sought to help out. While the pink triangle is planned to be on display the entirety of June for Pride Month and will be lighted at nighttime as was the case last year, its daytime presence is being changed, Patrick Carney, co-founder of the project, stated in an email. Instead of the pink tarps that have traditionally been used, Carney stated that this year there will be more than a mile of bright shiny pink streamers that will be hung in rows below each of the 43 rows of LED light strands, as well as hung on the three sides of the triangle. “The pink streamers won’t be flat on the ground, they will be up in the air,” Carney stated. “The layers of hanging 10-inch long streamers may appear as fringe, like the Roaring 20s Art Deco fringe flapper dress.” As the streamers blow in the wind, the shiny surface will lightly reflect and sparkle over the city. “It should be dragalicious,” Carney noted. He added that it’s an experiment this year and he hopes it will be dramatic and highly visible during the daytime. The pink tarps were visible during the day if it was fairly clear, but the streamer plan would up that to a new level. The lights will take over as darkness descends on San Francisco, ensuring that the symbol remains visible day and night. Burning Man’s Velvet Cabal, a collective of LGBTQ camps at that event, will be helping to install the LED lights, Carney stated. The sailcloth borders will be installed Saturday, May 28, starting at 9 a.m., and the streamers will be placed Sunday, May 29. The take down will start July 1. Volunteers can sign up at https://bit. ly/3MXizka. This year’s lighting ceremony will take place Wednesday, June 1, at 8 p.m. It will be preceded by the pink torch procession that will start at Oakland City Hall with Mayor Libby Schaaf and make its

Hossein Carney

Volunteers celebrated after placing the sailcloth tarps and LED lighting at last year’s pink triangle installation.

Courtesy Dee Dee Chamblee

Transgender activist Dee Dee Chamblee

way escorted by members of Dykes on Bikes to San Francisco Mayor London Breed for the lighting. Cheer-San Francisco, the city’s official cheerleading team, will assist in the procession. Carney noted that the pink triangle is a reminder and a warning. It was originally used to brand suspected homosexuals in Nazi concentration camps. It was revived in the 1970s as a symbol of protest against homophobia, and has been used to symbolize LGBTQ+ Pride ever since. People interested in donating to help support the installation can do so at https://bit.ly/388uf4Y

Trans activist to virtually address Marin City church

Transgender activist Dee Dee

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Chamblee will be the guest speaker, via Zoom from Atlanta, Sunday, May 15, at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 101 Donahue Street in Marin City in the North Bay. Chamblee is an advocate and educator within the trans community and has more than 25 years of grassroots organizing experience, a news release stated. She is the founder and director of La Gender Inc., which empowers the trans community on issues such as HIV/AIDS, homelessness, police profiling, and systemic discrimination in employment, a news release stated. In 2011, then-President Barack Obama honored Chamblee as a “Champion of Change” and her Trans Equality blog was featured on the White House’s website, the release noted. St. Andrew Presbyterian Church is a multicultural congregation that welcomes everyone. It has a long history of civil rights and social justice activism. For more information and to access the upcoming worship service, visit https://www.saintandrewpc.org/

Author Gomez honored by NBJC

Lesbian author and San Francisco resident Jewelle Gomez will be one of several Black LGBTQ and samegender loving women and feminine elders honored by the National Black Justice Coalition during its virtual Wisdom Awards Monday, May 16, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. The event is being held in recognition of National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day and will honor the women for their contributions to America’s literary and communication arts tra-

Sexual health services

From page 8

Committee chair District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who called for the hearing along with gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, although he was unable to attend, asked Packer about the pending funding cut to AGUILAS and other agencies. “What happens to those organizations that all of a sudden have significant budget holes and cannot continue to work with individuals they have gained a reputation for serving?” asked Ronen. “It doesn’t appear obvious to me or people in the community if the new organizations that are going to be funded with all that money set to be diverted have that same history and level of engagement and work with the communities they are serving.” Packer did not directly answer Ronen’s question specific to the impact on AGUILAS. She noted that the decision on which service providers are to receive the $8 million in contracts this year has yet to be officially announced. It could be revealed as soon as next week. The decisions will be based on input the health department received from an independent review panel that scored the requests for proposals it received. “The RFP process is not over. I can tell you the health access point for Latinx services will be provided by Latinx service providers,” said Packer,

ditions. Gomez, who was involved in the fight for marriage equality in California, is best known for her 1991 classic “The Gilda Stories,” which won two Lambda Literary Awards for fiction and science fiction. She also previously served on the San Francisco Library Commission. In addition to Gomez, other honorees are: Sheila Alexander-Reid, former director of Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs; Ann Allen Shockley, author of “Loving Her,” (1974) the first novel with a Black lesbian protagonist; Cheryl Clarke, a poet and co-owner of Blenheim Hill Books in Hobart, New York; and Anita Cornwell, who in the 1950s became one of the first lesbians to be published in The Ladder and The Negro Digest. Also being recognized are Andrea Jenkins, a trans woman who’s president of the Minneapolis City Council; Rayceen Pendarvis, a host and emcee of many events in the Black LGBTQ and same-gender loving communities; Barbara Smith, an architect of Black lesbian-inclusive feminism; and Linda Villarosa, an African American journalist, author, and educator. The program will be available on NBJC’s YouTube channel at https://www. youtube.com/user/ NBJConTheMove. To RSVP, go to https:// bit.ly/3shGnaH. For more information, go to https://nbjc.org/wisdomawards-2022_/

LGBTQ older adults to be recognized

The Center for LGBTQ Health Equity will also have a program on National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day May 16. The day of celebration will take place virtually with videos, stories, and retrospectives on the National Honor Our LGBT Elders Facebook page at https://bit.ly/3P2qVc6. Videos can be submitted at https:// www.lgbteldersday.org/

Jack London State Historic Park programs

Family fun and classical music are coming to Jack London Historic State Park in Sonoma County this month.

who acknowledged it is a “challenging process” that “is difficult for all of us.” Several leaders of other HIV service providers, including the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, also expressed concerns about the new approach the health department is taking this year in doling out the HIV contracts. AIDS Legal Referral Panel Executive Director Bill Hirsh, who co-chairs the city’s HIV/AIDS Provider Network, also expressed misgivings about the plans. “While I appreciate the work of our partners at the Department of Public Health and the thoughtfulness that they have put into some of the decisions that they are putting forward, I fear that there are some unintended consequences, which will have the net impact of destabilizing the system of care that we have come to rely upon,” said Hirsh. Committee member District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí pledged his support for the budget request put forward by the HIV advocates and service providers. In particular, he said it was imperative that the city support longterm survivors of HIV and AIDS. “These long-term survivors need our focus, need our support and attention to ensure their health and wellbeing,” he said. Ronen added, “We will keep our eye on this issue throughout the entire budget process.” At the supervisor’s May 10 meeting Mandelman introduced a resolution

First up is the Call of the Wild Weekend May 14-15. The two-day, family-friendly community open house will include activities that celebrate London’s love of nature, storytelling, and music, a news release stated. All visitors that weekend will receive free admission to the park, normally $10 per vehicle with up to nine passengers, according to the release. Visitors can check out the popular Plowing Play Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The event features plowing and harnessing demonstrations and free horse-drawn wagon rides. Meet Clydesdales, Percheron, Shire, and Belgian draft horses and mules and see blacksmiths, spinning demonstrations, and early day gas engines. Sunday is also Family Adventure Day, which includes a guided stroll through Beauty Ranch with a naturalist; and a visit with “bubble scientist” Ron Schultz, who will give kids a chance to create giant bubbles of their own. For more information and to register for free tickets, go to https://bit. ly/3LUVMWi. The following weekend, May 21-22, visitors can wander the park grounds with a classical music soundtrack performed live by pianist Hunter Noack in the Beauty Ranch Meadow. Founded in 2016, “In A Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild” is an outdoor concert series with stunning landscape replacing the traditional concert hall. A nine-foot Steinway grand piano travels on a flatbed trailer to state and national parks and other venues for concerts to connect people to each landscape, a release stated. The concerts will be performed from 6 to 7:30 p.m. both evenings. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and bring a picnic and favorite beverage, plus lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. Tickets to this event are $35. The park entry fee of $10 is not included. For concert tickets, go to https:// bit.ly/3kPpEqZ. Jack London Historic State Park is operated and funded by Jack London Park Partners, a nonprofit organization. For more information on the park, go to https://jacklondonpark.com/. t

calling on the mayor to include the HIV advocates’ funding request in her budget and the health department to not “destabilize the city’s HIV/AIDS testing and treatment safety net by cutting millions of dollars in funding to legacy organizations providing lifesaving services to thousands of residents.” During the hearing, in response to questions about the city covering any federal HIV funding cut this year, it was revealed by Ashley Groffenberger, Mayor London Breed’s budget director, that no reduction is expected this year. Should there be then the city would look at backfilling the money with local funds, she pledged, as part of the budget the mayor needs to release June 1. Ronen made a point to say doing so is a “huge priority” for her as budget chair. “I am assuming the mayor will act as consistently as she always has and any cuts will be backfilled,” she said. t

Correction A news brief item about PRC in the May 5 issue was incorrect due to inaccurate information provided by the PR agency. It should have stated that CEO Brett Andrews was honored as an individual at the San Francisco Community Health Center event April 16. The online version has been updated.

t <<

From the Cover>>

GHB

From page 1

G alone, but sometimes, he would fall out after taking too much. Once he woke up after a party and realized that someone had rifled through his belongings and stolen his credit card and passport. Another time, he woke up in the hospital. While the federal government primarily considers G a date-rape drug, something that people unknowingly take, numerous men and health providers in San Francisco shared with the Bay Area Reporter that G is also a recreational drug at raves and sex parties in the gay community. At the right dosage, it makes people feel a sense of euphoria and heresizeightens their libido. The most common risk for these gay men is accidentally taking too much and falling unconscious, which can lead to sexual assault and, in some cases, death. Much like using alcohol or other drugs, someone high on G is unable to give informed consent during sex. Some knock-offs of G take longer to metabolize, leading some people to question if they took enough and then to consume even more. When their words start to blur and their actions become frenetic, well-informed friends take notice and make sure that the person passes out in a way that’s safe – in a position where they can continue breathing even if they vomit – and in a place where no one might take advantage of them. Justin, who asked that his last name not be published, was wellversed in the various knock-off forms of G, like Gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-Butanediol (BD/ BDO). He had taken care of others when dosing went awry, and others had in turn taken care of him. One night was different though. He went out to dinner with some friends and remembers taking the first dose of G. The next thing he recalls is waking up, strapped to a bed.

May 12-18, 2022 • Bay Area Reporter • 11

He suspects that someone intentionally gave him too much, but his friends denied it. “There’s no way that’s possible,” he doubled-down, feeling gaslit. The experience left him reeling. He entered a drug rehabilitation program afterward, but it didn’t last long before he was using G again.

Finding treatment for G

That’s in part because G is an addictive substance, which targets a neurotransmitter in the brain called GABA. If someone uses G with enough regularity, their body will panic when it’s gone, leading to tremors or seizures. Withdrawing from G can take anywhere from one week to a month. “Like Valium or benzodiazepines, the way to treat it is to give them something similar and then ween them off,” said Ray Ho, managing director of the San Francisco division of the California Poison Control Center. He has handled questions about G since the early 2000s, when circuit parties started to proliferate in the gay community. Back then, he was getting a few calls a month from emergency rooms and doctors who had never seen it before. Those calls are fewer now, and the San Francisco Department of Public Health noted that there hasn’t been an increase of G use in patients at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. Ho suspects that the drop in calls is most likely because health providers today are just more familiar with it. LGBTQ substance-use treatment facilities in San Francisco don’t offer specialized programs for people who struggle to quit G. The authoritative guide of mental disorders doesn’t include any mention of G; the closest equivalent might be “sedative use disorder,” which aligns with the use of benzodiazepines. Many local clinics offer services for generalized substance use disorder and

Graphic by Ernesto Sopprani

This graph shows the number of clients surveyed by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and its Stonewall Project who report using various drugs.

are welcoming to individuals who want to participate in their programs, regardless of the particular drug they use. For example, Lao got sober through Alcoholics Anonymous. “I just changed the word ‘alcohol’ and put ‘GHB’ in,” he said. “But I didn’t get the stories.” Newly appointed gay District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey also struggled with GHB use in the past along with other drugs like meth and ecstasy. In a recent interview about his becoming a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Dorsey disclosed to the B.A.R. that in 2000, during the dot-com era, he would take the drugs with other gay men at private social parties in people’s homes. He also used drugs equivalent to Xanax to help bring him down off his highs. “I got that under control but had a couple relapses since then,” recounted

Dorsey, an avowed alcoholic who has been sober now for the past 19 months. An important part of the substance treatment process for many people involves sharing their – and listening to others’ – experiences about their drug use. To Justin, the fact that there is no designated space for that conversation even at the Stonewall Project, a San Francisco AIDS Foundation harm reduction and substance use treatment program for gay men and trans men, seems to undervalue the role of G in San Francisco’s gay community. (The Stonewall Project has discussed adapting one of the alcohol-focused programs, called Cheers Queers, in order to provide specialized support for people who use G in the future). At the very least, said Justin, “I think it behooves those of us who have that [G] in our story to be talking about it more regularly.”

If it’s not meth, is it a problem?

The Stonewall Project reported that almost half of its 120 clients have used G – but every client who is using G is also using meth. Even though G use is an important piece of many clients’ substance experience, meth is usually treated as the more dangerous drug. A central component of the harm reduction strategy at the Stonewall Project is letting users determine how they want help, so many clients choose to stop using meth but to continue with G because the side effects are not as bad, officials said. Indeed, meth has become a major problem far beyond the LGBTQ community. In 2021, 352 people died from meth-related overdoses in San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Meth also induces psychosis See page 12 >>

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12 • Bay Area Reporter • May 12-18, 2022

Dorsey

From page 1

San Francisco Democratic Party Chair Honey Mahogany, as she had already planned to run for it once Haney had stepped down. Mahogany, a well-known drag queen, had worked for Haney at City Hall as his de facto chief of staff. Mahogany told the B.A.R. Monday that they were “not surprised” by the mayor’s decision and understood she had long known and worked with Dorsey. They plan to formally enter the race for the supervisor seat within the month and believe their having worked with Haney the last four years and gotten to know the district will resonate with voters. “I do believe, though, what the voters of District 6 need is someone with experience in the legislative office and doing the work,” said Mahogany, whose last day working at City Hall was May 3 when Haney was sworn in as an assemblymember. While Haney campaigned for the Assembly seat, he had repeatedly urged Breed to name as his successor Mahogany, who would be the first transgender and nonbinary person to serve on the board as well as the first LGBTQ African American supervisor in the city if elected in November. But as the B.A.R.’s Political Notebook reported last month, Breed faced pressure to pick someone else who was aligned with her more moderate faction within the local Democratic Party. “I think the mayor wanted to appoint somebody close to her who will act in her interests, and District 6 voters will have the opportunity to elect somebody who will act on their interests,” Haney told the B.A.R. “Honey has been in the trenches building housing, delivering on community safety, and working block by block for decades in District 6. She is the most prepared, capable, and determined to deliver the change that they need.” Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (DSan Francisco), who has known Dorsey for two decades, told the B.A.R. that Breed had made “a very strong appointment” in choosing Dorsey. “He’s an incredibly talented, hardworking, committed public servant, and I know he will do a great job on the Board of Supervisors,” said Wiener, who has endorsed Dorsey in the fall race for the seat. “He also brings powerful lived experience to the role, particularly around addiction, which is such a huge challenge in the city.”

SF struggling with overdoses

Dorsey’s appointment comes as the city is grappling with how to respond to an epidemic of drug overdoses that

GHB

From page 11

in many users, creating both a widespread mental and physical health crisis for the city. “In the aughts, when the first meth task force met, it was a problem, and particularly a problematic drug in the LGBT community, but by 2019. ... it was understood to be a huge problem in San Francisco,” said gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. He is also the co-author of the 2019 Methamphetamine Task Force report recommending a series of new actions to tackle the “methamphetamine problem.” Some of those recommendations, like the creation of a trauma-informed sobering site and increasing non-law enforcement crisis response professionals, could support people using G as well, but there’s no mention of G in the 45-page report. Mandelman explained that, based on the medical information he learned in making the report, meth is uniquely addictive and destructive. But he clarified, “If they’re used together [G and meth] and it’s exacerbating the meth crisis, that’s very interesting and troubling.”

Matthew S. Bajko

New District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, left, talked with Harvest Market owner Gil Desaulniers Sunday, May 8. Dorsey was sworn in May 9.

has been far more deadly than the COVID-19 pandemic. Since January 1, 2020, when San Francisco’s medical examiner began tracking the numbers, nearly 1,500 people have died due to a drug overdose. As of May 1, 865 people have died from COVID in the city. Dorsey, as director of strategic communications at the San Francisco Police Department and part of Police Chief William Scott’s command staff, took part in the monthly calls with other city officials to hear the latest tally of those who have died from a drug overdose. He told the B.A.R. that he is “acutely aware” that he is “one bad decision away” from being added to the list. “I think the public health calamity that San Francisco has right now with drug overdose deaths feels to me a lot like the AIDS crisis. It certainly is the biggest public health calamity since AIDS; it has been twice as deadly as COVID-19,” Dorsey told the B.A.R. Sunday, May 8, in his first print media interview since being told by Breed she had chosen him for the supervisor seat. “I think in the same way that those of us who remember those times during the early days of AIDS were wondering where is the outrage at the number of people we are losing, I feel that today as a drug addict.”

Dorsey’s fight with addiction

During the 75-minute interview at Harvest Market on Eighth Street, a short walk from his rented apartment at Trinity Plaza, where he has lived the past 12 years, Dorsey spoke about his struggles with addiction since his teenage years when he would drink alcohol to excess. “I have spent most of my adult life in recovery. December 2, 1992 was my first sobriety date,” said Dorsey. “I identify as an addict and an alcoholic.” He had come to realize that his drinking “was unsustainable” and gave up alcohol for the next eight years. He joked that his first stretch of sobriety “mapped closely to the Clinton administration.” But in 2000 during the dot-com era, Dorsey took up party drugs like

By comparison, in 2021, four men in San Francisco overdosed from a mix of drugs that included GHB, said David Serrano Sewell, the chief operating officer of the medical examiner’s office. Serrano Sewell noted that the “window of detection of GHB is relatively less than other drugs.” If the medical examiner’s office receives the body in the right time frame, staff have the tools to detect it. That window, however, is very short: G leaves the body between three and 10 hours after death. “People who overdose basically become sedated-looking, someone who had an anesthetic, a deep sleep,” the poison control center’s Ho said about G and pointed out that it is still used to treat narcolepsy. “As the dose goes higher, there’s basically the risk that it suppresses your autonomic function, the ability to breathe on your own. That’s where the danger is.” Patients can choke on their own vomit, even if they look fine. It’s similar to what happens when a person drinks too much alcohol. At the hospital, doctors monitor a patient who overdoses on G, checking to make sure of the “ABCs:” airways, breathing, circulation. The problems arise when someone has been left be-

meth, ecstasy and GHB, which he did with other gay men at private social parties in people’s homes. He also used drugs equivalent to Xanax to help bring him down off his highs. “I got that under control but had a couple relapses since then,” recounted Dorsey, who noted that he had “added it up and I have been in recovery I think close to just under 25 years.” One of his hardest relapses came in 2018 when he was again working in the private sector. “I think, for me, I am the kind of person who has struggled with substance use disorder based on more of what I can get away with more than anything driving me to it,” Dorsey explained. “Some people come to it because of trauma and some people are built without an off switch, and I am the latter.” Now that he is a supervisor, Dorsey told the B.A.R. he plans to work with Breed, health officials, and his former colleagues in the police department and city attorney’s office, where he had served as spokesman for former city attorney Dennis Herrera, on figuring out how to open a supervised consumption site where substance users can not only go to consume their drugs but also seek out services to help them deal with their addictions. He suggested to the B.A.R. that the city could use the model that New York City officials have used to open such facilities by partnering with a nonprofit to run them. “I am a believer in supervised consumption sites,” said Dorsey. “I was one of the people when Dennis Herrera was running for mayor, I advocated very strongly he should support it and he did.” Having seen firsthand the legal repercussions that can come from city employees and officials ignoring federal law, such as when former mayor Gavin Newsom ordered his administration to marry same-sex couples in 2004, Dorsey said he isn’t surprised by the fear of seeing city employees staffing a supervised consumption site be held legally liable. “The city has very good reasons

hind for more than 12 hours, when they may have contracted pneumonia or other complications in their respiratory system. At that point, the window of detection for an autopsy has already expired too.

Living through G by the grace of God

When he hears stories of gay men who overdose and die on G or meth, Colin wonders if he would have been next. He thinks about the case of Gemmel Moore, 26, who in 2017 was found naked on a mattress in the living room of Ed Buck, a gay West Hollywood socialite and Democratic Party donor. It wasn’t until another man died in the same apartment in 2019 and a third person had called 911 before the police arrested Buck. He had coerced at least 10 young, Black men to use dangerous levels of meth, G, and other drugs. Sometimes, Buck would inject them with meth while they lay unconscious. Buck was recently sentenced to 30 years in federal prison following his conviction last July in federal court. There’s also the case of Jaxon Sales, whose parents have called on the San Francisco medical examiner’s office and the San Francisco Police Depart-

for why they want to get their arms around the liability issues,” he said. Also key for him is having “political consensus” on the issue, said Dorsey. “One of the most important things is to get our arms around issues of drug addiction in San Francisco,” he said. “I am optimistic that we can.” The grocery store’s owner, Gil Desaulniers, has lived in District 6 since 1983 and has known Dorsey for 15 years, as Dorsey and his colleagues from the city attorney’s office would often lunch there. Desaulniers said Dorsey is well aware of the problems he has faced as a small business owner with people high on drugs coming into his store and causing problems. “He’s heard me complain so many times over all the years. My street is the worst,” said Desaulniers, who recently had eye surgery after a woman attacked him with pepper spray and clawed his face because he had asked her to wear a face mask while in the store. Dorsey “is the perfect guy,” said Desaulniers, to be his district supervisor. “I am happy about it,” he told the B.A.R.

Professional life

One of three siblings in an Irish and Italian Catholic family, Dorsey was born in Bristol, Connecticut and lived for a year in Georgia as a kindergartener. But his parents moved the family back to New England and settled in Westfield, Massachusetts. “It is two towns over from where Art Agnos grew up in Springfield,” noted Dorsey, referring to the former San Francisco mayor. After earning a bachelor of science in speech with an emphasis in political communications from Emerson College in Boston, and newly out of the closet, Dorsey moved to Los Angeles’s Venice neighborhood in 1990 to work on then-San Francisco District Attorney Arlo Smith’s unsuccessful campaign for attorney general. He then moved to San Francisco due to Smith hiring him an investigator in the D.A. office’s Family Support Bureau. Dorsey also served as a deputy press secretary and speechwriter in a part-time capacity for Smith. The Democratic National Committee hired him for a job in Washington, D.C. in 1993 to help promote then-President Bill Clinton’s failed Healthcare Reform Act. A year later Dorsey had started his own political consultant firm Koenig & Dorsey; in 1999 he went to work for a technology PR agency. At the start of the new decade he was back at political consulting until Herrera hired him in September 2002. Dorsey left the city attorney’s office in September 2016 to become a partner ment to investigate the 2020 death of their son, after he overdosed on meth, GHB, and cocaine at the Rincon Hill apartment of an older white man. They allege that SFPD has yet to interview the older man and that staff at the medical examiner’s office dismissed their concerns, saying, “the gay community uses GHB.” (Serrano Sewell, at the medical examiner’s office, previously would neither confirm nor deny that remark.) “There but for the grace of God go I,” said Colin, referring to every time he hears these stories. He is almost one year sober now, but the memories of the highs and lows of substance use still haunt him. After living in San Francisco for 27 years, he feels like the only way to extricate himself from his past is to move away for good. He wants to be a teacher in Nevada. Meanwhile, Justin stands at the steps of the Castro Country Club, a clean and sober coffeehouse and meeting space in the LGBTQ neighborhood that has been integral to his recovery and that of so many others in San Francisco. He waves to passersby, who all seem to know him, whether they are headed to a nearby gay bar or a 12-step recovery meeting. “The world seems more beautiful

and head of the communications practice at Lighthouse Public Affairs, LLC. He joined the police chief’s staff in January 2020. Apart from working for other elected officials, Dorsey served on the Democratic County Central Committee that oversees the San Francisco Democratic Party. He was appointed to it in 2011 and elected to a four-year term on it in 2012, serving as its secretary. But he opted not to seek another term in 2016. “There wasn’t the fire in the belly to do a second term on the DCCC,” he explained. “I had a lot of fun on the DCCC. I learned a good lesson, I think, to not burn bridges with people. It’s funny, a lot of people I never voted with on the DCCC are now personal friends who are being very supportive of me now.” He credits three now-deceased gay men – Dennis Collins, the first gay investigator in the D.A.’s office who was a spokesman on Smith’s campaign, political consultant Jim Rivaldo, and B.A.R. political columnist Wayne Friday – for teaching him about the city’s political landscape. “They showed me the ropes of San Francisco politics the three of them,” Dorsey said. He believes he contracted HIV in 2003 due to condom failure, as Dorsey told the B.A.R. he practiced safe sex. It is why he was an early supporter of PrEP, the medication taken orally that prevents people from contracting HIV. “It is why I am such an advocate for PrEP. Its efficacy is so much better than condoms,” he said. Dorsey has a boyfriend he has been seeing for seven months, but for now, the Brazil native prefers to remain anonymous, he told the B.A.R. A practicing Catholic to this day, Dorsey is a longtime parishioner at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in the Castro LGBTQ district. He asked Father Donal Godfrey, the author of the 2007 book “Gays and Grays: The Story of the Gay Community at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish,” to do the invocation at his supervisorial swearing-in ceremony. “I think spirituality is part of my recovery journey,” said Dorsey, who has attended mass at Most Holy Redeemer since 2004. “I have quarreled with the Catholic Church since childhood. I have accepted I am going to have quarrels with any religious tradition I seek to be a part of.” As for why he hasn’t sought out a more progressive denomination, Dorsey joked that, “with Catholicism, I know the words already and know when to stand up. I know all the basics.”t

to me the more conversations I have with these folks about what the Castro Country Club means to them,” he said and pauses, “I’m getting verklempt.” He is back in school at age 41 and is producing a documentary film. It is called “Meet Me at the Club” – a reference to rave and party culture as well as his sober community at the Castro Country Club. “Gay culture has always centered around bars and clubs, and addiction behavior started at the clubs,” he explains. “But this ‘Club’ is a community center.” t If you’re seeking help, visit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Stonewall Project at https://www. sfaf.org/programs/stonewall-project/ or the UCSF Alliance Health Project at https://alliancehealthproject.ucsf.edu/. This is the third in a three-part series on GHB and the gay community. To read the previous articles, go to https://www.ebar. com/news/news/315055 and https://www.ebar.com/news/ news/315282

Legals >>

May 12-18, 2022 • Bay Area Reporter • 13

Legals >> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557061

In the matter of the application of YIN-JEN WANG, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner YIN-JEN WANG is requesting that the name YIN-JEN WANG AKA ANGELA WANG AKA ANGELA YIN-JEN WANG be changed to ANGELA YIN-JEN FOX. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 31st of MAY 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557062

In the matter of the application of MYKHAILO MYKOLAICHUK, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner MYKHAILO MYKOLAICHUK is requesting that the name MYKHAILO MYKOLAICHUK be changed to MICHAEL ALEXANDER BRUIN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 2nd of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557033

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039689200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as QUEER ARTS FEATURED, 575 CASTRO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DEVLIN SHAND. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/14/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039688000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST & LUNCH, 1217 GENEVA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed UINIVERSAL BREAKFAST & LUNCH LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/13/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/13/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039689600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as RUSSIAN HILL CANNABIS CLUB, 2424 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed A&E GREEN SOLUTIONS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/14/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039689000

In the matter of the application of FATEMEH SADAT SAJJADI, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner FATEMEH SADAT SAJJADI is requesting that the name FATEMEH SADAT SAJJADI be changed to FATIMA SADAT SAJJADI. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 19th of MAY 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LUCC BY ONLLWYN, 1190 MISSION ST #1209, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed LEVEL UP COACHING & CONSULTING (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/12/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/13/22.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039647800

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039689400

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SIDELINE TOWING, 1175 SELBY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ARECAR TOWING INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/02/22.

MAR 31, APR 07, 14, 21, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039681200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as JM PSYCHOTHERAPY, 1644 48TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JAMIE MEDINA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/06/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/06/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039684300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BOB’S CUSTOM FRAMING, 1710A MARKET ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ROBERT HERNANDEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/11/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039684800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SHAMIEH BROS, 605 MARKET ST #600, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ELIAS SHAMIEH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/11/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039689500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as TOPIARY SALON, 646 GOUGH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed HAREGEWOIN KASSAYE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/18/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/14/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039685900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as RE’NEWED BEAUTY CHÅTEAU, 1211 CHURCH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed TIFFANI ELLIOTT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/12/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/12/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039688200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ROOKY RICARDO’S RECORDS, 419 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RICHARD R. VIVIAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/85. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/13/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039691100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as A&K HAIR SALON, 2250 TARAVAL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHANCHIO U. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/16/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/18/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

The following person(s) is/are doing business as COLTON BEVERAGE COMPANY, 849 AVE D, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94130-2000. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed TREEHOUSE CRAFT DISTILLERY LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/12/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/12/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039684000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ADAPT FITNESS, 1395 HAMPSHIRE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed EQUITABLE FITNESS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/14/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/11/22.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-039248600

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as ADAPT FITNESS, 1395 HAMPSHIRE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110-4227. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by MELISSA ASHLEY M. PERAZA. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 02/10/21.

APR 21, 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF EUGENE ROBERT STAGNARO IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA: FILE P22-00050

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of EUGENE ROBERT STAGNARO. A Petition for Probate has been filed by ROBERT GAI in the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. The Petition for Probate requests that ROBERT GAI be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: MAY 17, 2022, 9:00 am, Dept. 30, Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa, Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court St., Martinez, CA 94453. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: MICHAEL WOODS (SBN 227665), 395 WEST PORTAL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94127; Ph. (415) 759-1900.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557076 In the matter of the application of DORA WAI HAN WINTOR-SNIDER, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner DORA WAI HAN WINTOR-SNIDER is requesting that the name DORA WAI HAN WINTOR-SNIDER be changed to DORA WAIHAN SNIDER. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 7th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557051 In the matter of the application of RAYSANA HURTADO, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner RAYSANA HURTADO is requesting that the name RAYSANA HURTADO be changed to RAYSANA HURTADO AMADOR. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 26th of MAY 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039694400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as A’SHANNIE PRODUCTIONS, 180 BRANNAN ST #212, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SHANTÉ SAULSBERRY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/19/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/20/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039690900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ESCOBAR BROS RECYCLING & DEMOLITION, 1225 THOMAS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DOUGLAS ESCOBAR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/15/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/11/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039691300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as POST BROKERAGE, 60 FAIR AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHARLES POST. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/07/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/18/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039695500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as NEWMOON BY LENA, 1550 EDDY ST #411, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARLA ALLEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/21/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039690300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as FOG CITY CONCRETE, 115 GLADEVIEW WAY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94131. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ZACHARY NACHTSHEIM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/12/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/15/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039680600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as DE LA TOUR SAINT RAPUNZA, 536 14TH ST #6, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KIRSTEN JANENE-NELSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/29/02. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/06/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039677600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as GENERAL MAX CONSTRUCTION, 322 31ST AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MAXIM OSTAPOV. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/31/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/30/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039695000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CITY TENT, 900 FOLSOM ST #453, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed HUNG GIA HA, ROMERICO RIEMEDIO & AUKUSITINO FELISE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/20/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/20/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039694100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as PAZGEAR.US, 1388 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BUBBLE LOUNGE LAUNDROMAT LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/20/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039696400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ACTUARIAL CONSULTING GROUP LLC, 626 POWELL ST #506, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ACTUARIAL CONSULTING GROUP LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/21/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/22/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039682300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HURD LIMO LLC, 466 23RD AVE #1, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HURD LIMO LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/04/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/07/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039696600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as HEY BIG SISTER PROJECT, 1808 47TH AVE #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed HEY BIG SISTER PROJECT (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/22/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/22/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039677700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as PRIVACYCARE, 1700 VAN NESS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed QUANTA NETWORKS LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/03/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 03/31/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039698200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SF PLAZA HOTEL, 510 BUSH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed KAS HOSPITALITY LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/25/22.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-039378300

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as ESCOBAR BROS RECYCLING, 1225 THOMAS AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business was conducted by an individual and signed by DOUGLAS ESCOBAR. The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 06/23/21.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILE A-037550200

The following persons have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name known as CONSENSUSLAB, 400 MONTGOMERY ST #700, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business was conducted by a corporation and signed by TERRIS BARNES WALTERS BOIGON HEATH, INC. (CA). The fictitious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/07/17.

APR 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557083 In the matter of the application of LIEM DUC NGUYEN, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner LIEM DUC NGUYEN is requesting that the name LIEM DUC NGUYEN be changed to LIEM KADAS. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 14th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557088

In the matter of the application of ROLAND DEREK WETZEL & ANNE GASTON MONTGOERY, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner ROLAND DEREK WETZEL & ANNE GASTON MONTGOERY is requesting that the name JUNIPER BEA MONTGOMERY WETZEL be changed to JUNIPER BEA MONTGOMERY WETZEL. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 14th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557084

In the matter of the application of SON VAN NGUYEN AKA ANDY NGUYEN AKA ANDY SON NGUYEN AKA SON ANDY NGUYEN, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner SON VAN NGUYEN AKA ANDY NGUYEN AKA ANDY SON NGUYEN AKA SON ANDY NGUYEN is requesting that the names SON VAN NGUYEN AKA ANDY NGUYEN AKA ANDY SON NGUYEN AKA SON ANDY NGUYEN be changed to SON ANDY VAN NGUYEN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 9th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557097 In the matter of the application of JORDAN HOPE CERULLO, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner JORDAN HOPE CERULLO is requesting that the name JORDAN HOPE CERULLO be changed to SARAH JORDAN HOPE KAUK. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 16th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039688900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MISSING AUDREY VINTAGE, 1767 STOCKTON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed SABRINA BODNAR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/13/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/13/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039699500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BRUSHED LINE PAINTING, 123 HIGHLAND AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOHN PAUL LOPEZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/27/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/27/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039693100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LVNENG UNLIMITED, 181 MARGARET AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RAYMOND K. YEN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/19/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039700300

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

The following person(s) is/are doing business as WRITERS’ CIRCLE, 1451 JACKSON ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JAMIE LEE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/27/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/27/22.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557082

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039698900

In the matter of the application of CONSTANCE NATALIAH PELKEY, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner CONSTANCE NATALIAH PELKEY is requesting that the name CONSTANCE NATALIAH PELKEY be changed to AARUSHI LALITA DASGUPTA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 7th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557085 In the matter of the application of LOGAN KINSEY BECK, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner LOGAN KINSEY BECK is requesting that the name LOGAN KINSEY BECK be changed to LOGAN KINSEY BERU. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 14th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557086 In the matter of the application of SCOTT DOUGLAS REU, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner SCOTT DOUGLAS REU is requesting that the name SCOTT DOUGLAS REU be changed to SCOTT DOUGLAS BERU. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 14th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LOST BOTTLES, 2199 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed MAYA AND BEN (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/25/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/26/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039699000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CLUB CANTTOLAO SF, 266 ATHENS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CLUB CANTTOLAO SF (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/26/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039697400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SELECT PHYSICAL THERAPY, 402 DEWEY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SELECT PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/25/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

<< Legals

14 • Bay Area Reporter • May 12-18, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039697500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SELECT PHYSICAL THERAPY, 3129 VICENTE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SELECT PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/25/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039697600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SELECT PHYSICAL THERAPY, 230 CALIFORNIA ST #400, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SELECT PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/25/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039697700

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039700500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SUPER DUPER BURGERS, 98 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MISSION 98 SUPER, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/27/12. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/28/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039700600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as THE BIRD, 115 NEW MONTGOMERY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed 115 NEW MONTGOMERY, LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/09/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/28/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039701200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SELECT PHYSICAL THERAPY, 1700 CALIFORNIA ST #530, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SELECT PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/25/22.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CHINGONAS, 105 STEINER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed RED TABLE MANAGEMENT (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/22/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/28/22.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039697900

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039700900

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SELECT PHYSICAL THERAPY, 3222 GEARY BLVD, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SELECT PHYSICAL THERAPY, P.C. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/25/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039689100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as RYZ ELECTRICAL, 2435 44TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed RYZ CONSTRUCTION INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/13/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/13/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039694200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as KUM SUN CHINESE AFFAIRS, 677 JACKSON ST 2ND FL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed INTL CHINESE AFFAIRS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/28/87. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/20/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039682600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ILCHA, 2151 LOMBARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed 2HW INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/08/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039693500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as LELEKA, 40 BELDEN PL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MEREY LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/20/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/20/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

The following person(s) is/are doing business as AZUVO, 12 HILLVIEW CT, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ED CLOUD LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/25/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/28/22.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-2255707200

In the matter of the application of RUO CI KUANG, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner RUO CI KUANG is requesting that the name RUO CI KUANG be changed to LISA RUO CI KUANG. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 7th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557106

In the matter of the application of MARGARET MARY ALIABADI, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner MARGARET MARY ALIABADI, is requesting that the name MARGARET MARY ALIABADI, be changed to MARGARET MARY BOYLE. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 16th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557107

In the matter of the application of ELSA MARLENY CHAVARRIA BLANCO, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner ELSA MARLENY CHAVARRIA BLANCO is requesting that the name ELSA MARLENY CHAVARRIA BLANCO be changed to ELSA MARLENY CHAVARRIA GUILLEN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 16th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557110

In the matter of the application of NHAN MY DANG, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner NHAN MY DANG is requesting that the name NHAN MY DANG be changed to CADIA DANG. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 16th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557111

In the matter of the application of THUY PHUONG TRAN & BRANDON GERARD NG, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner THUY PHUONG TRAN & BRANDON GERARD NG is requesting that the name LINH THUY NG be changed to HOPE LINH THUY NG. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 16th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22-557112

In the matter of the application of QUYEN KIM TANG, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner QUYEN KIM TANG is requesting that the name QUYEN KIM TANG be changed to IVANKA TANG. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 16th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557081

In the matter of the application of JOANNA ROSS YEARY, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner NADIA GUEORGUIEVA SEMERDJIEVA is requesting that the name JOANNA ROSS YEARY be changed to JODY KORNBERG YEARY. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 7th of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557117 In the matter of the application of SHEILA HOLMES, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner SHEILA HOLMES, is requesting that the name SHEILA HOLMES, be changed to SHEILA GLENDA LYNN WILLIAMS,. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 21st of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557118 In the matter of the application of SHIRLEY ANN HUBBART, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner SHIRLEY ANN HUBBART is requesting that the name SHIRLEY ANN HUBBART be changed to SHIRLEY ANN WILLIAMS. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Rm. 103N on the 7th of JULY 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

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ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-22557120

In the matter of the application of SOUMIA CHENBOD, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appears from said application that petitioner SOUMIA CHENBOD is requesting that the name SOPHIA FATIMA CHENBOD LAURENCIO be changed to FATIMA ROSE CHENBOD ATIK. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 21st of JUNE 2022 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039702300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MEDIUM SMALL, 927 LARKIN ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed BRANDT HEWITT. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/29/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/29/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039707600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as XINGXING ART AND LEARNING CENTER, 1101 VICENTE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DEXIONG ZHAO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 11/13/09. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/05/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039707200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as RY DIGITAL MARKETING, 580 CALIFORNIA ST, 12TH FL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RYAN BROWN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/29/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/04/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039708100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SINCERITY REALTY; SINCERITY REALTY LUXURY; SINCERITY REALTY COMMERCIAL; SINCERITY REALTY LAND; SINCERITY REALTY REO; SINCERITY REALTY PROBATE; SINCERITY REALTY REHAB; 1160 BATTERY ST E #100-9928, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARY ANN CADORNA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/05/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/05/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039699700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ULLOA CONSTRUCTION, 2649 SAN JOSE AVE #B, SAN JOSE, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARIO DANIEL ULLOA PEREZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/27/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039710200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as JLY CONSULTING, 3010 21ST AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JEFFERY L. YARNE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/25/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/10/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039699100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as CLEANSWEEP CAMPAIGNS; TBWBH, 50 OSGOOD PL, 4TH FL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed TERRIS BARNES WALTERS BOIGON HEATH LESTER, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/26/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039707800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as VENTURA PARTNERS, 70 OTIS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed VENTURA DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/19/17. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/05/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039693200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as PEARCE AUTOTECH, 751 ELLIS ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed PEARCE AUTOTECH LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/20/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039707100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SJDC TRUCKING LLC, 1543 SLOAT BLVD #320056, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SJDC TRUCKING LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/22. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/04/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039703700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BOSS LADY REALTY, 1700 VAN NESS AVE #1436, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed BOSS LADY REAL ESTATE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/05/21. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/02/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039710500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as AMAYSING DETAILS, 1701 YOSEMITE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed MAYS & HANDAMON LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/10/22.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2022

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by Brian Bromberger

Heartstopper

Netflix gay teen romance's winning formula Kit Connor and Joe Locke in ‘Heartstopper’

get better acquainted, and slowly realizes he’s attracted to him, forcing to ask himself some difficult fearful questions, such as the possibility he might be bisexual. Complicating Charlie’s life is his ex-boyfriend Ben Hope (Sebastian Croft), who is closeted and toxic, having refused to acknowledge Charlie in the hallways, terrified his friends might find out the truth about him. Charlie is also tormented by Harry Greene (Cormac Hyde-Corrin) with homophobic comments. He plays on the rugby team and is friendly with Nick. Charlie has a support system including his protective best friend Tao Xu (William Gao), and their close friend Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney), a black transgender forced to change schools last year to a neighboring all-girls academy, after some cruel behavior, from both students and teachers. She

befriends Tara Jones (Corinna Brown) and Darcy Olsson (Kizzy Edgell), a lesbian student couple. Although long-time friends, Elle maybe falling in love with Tao. And Tao resents the budding friendship between Charlie and Nick. All these well-developed characters interact as they struggle with their own individual changes while maturing throughout the school year.

Authentic attraction

There are so many reasons why “Heartstopper” is so winningly fabulous. The teenagers are actually played by real teenagers, so they look and act like genuine adolescents. The sexy, cute, on-screen frisson between Charlie and Nick feels natural, their attraction authentic. While both actors are good-looking,

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n pre-pandemic days of yore, when people worked in-person at an office, the Netflix series “Heartstopper” (eight approximately 25-minute episodes) would’ve been a favorite topic of water cooler conversation. Instead, this sensational British comingof-age series on first love, friendship, coming out, and mental health, has become the darling of social media, with almost universal critical praise from Instagram and Twitter users. It received a 100% Fresh Rating on Rotten Tomatoes. “Heartstopper” was born as a web comic in 2016 on Tumblr and Taps, but then refashioned into four compulsively readable graphic novels (highly recommended, with plenty of material, some of it darker, for future seasons), but good luck trying to find or buy one, because they are all sold out, the publisher forced to reprint new copies. Author Alice Oseman is also the writer, creator, and executive producer for its television adaptation. “Heartstopper” will warm your heart as you experience falling in love all over again. Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), a student at the all-boys Truham Grammar School (England’s high school) had been harassed the previous year and forced to come out under nasty circumstances. Starting a fresh term, he has a new desk-mate, Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), a rugby player, presumably straight, all-around likable guy. They get along well and Charlie is smitten with him as soon as he says hello, although he appears unlikely as potential boyfriend material. Nick becomes fond of Charlie and as they

they’re not “modelesque” gorgeous, hence audiences can relate to them. Neither Locke or Connor has come out as gay, though there are persistent social media rumors that Locke may be dating Ben/Sebastian Croft off-screen. Yet it almost doesn’t matter if any of the actors are actually gay, since on the Gaydar meter they score close to 10. What’s also refreshing is that both characters exude self-assurance and vulnerability. The series beautifully balances that internal battle of desire and shame when one is examining one’s sexuality. Also, the side relationships of Tara/Darcy and potentially Elle/ Tao both provide welcoming counterpoints to Charlie/Nick. Overall, the series presents being queer as a joyful experience, but not underestimating the challenges of questioning the status quo. See page 16 >> One of the first to exploit the channel, Madonna, is currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of her extremely provocative book of fantasies, “Sex,” photographed by Steven Meisel, the primary mastermind behind the supermodel phenomenon. The book propelled the imagery of gay sexuality into the forefront of popular culture. I reached out to some very talented, learned, passionate and educated entities about the channel, and their music video queer favorites. Paul Parish, dance critic, Bay Area Reporter On music videos and ambisexuality: “Music videos are actually separate from the music. The imagery itself, accompanying the music has a dreamlike existence of its own. The artists were the source of the glamour, and there has to be a mystery about what they are thinking and feeling about gender. The only way to keep anyone’s attention is to go for both.”

I (still) want my MTV queering the once-diverse music channel

by Cornelius Washington

ow that the film and music awards season has passed with more than a little controversy, let’s discuss the greatest vehicle

for the mass communication and marketing of LGBTQ culture. Several months ago, MTV celebrated its 40th birthday, with no mention of the subtext of the channel: the open exploration of the use of ambisexuality as a visual and cultural hook.

RuPaul, Elton John, Madonna, Freddie Mercury

MTV came to Earth (and moon) as a technological stroke of genius. The very concept of a 24-hour, 365 days per year music video channel, for decades, was beyond revolutionary.

James Mabe, photographer “In the channel’s beginning, you saw huge expressions of great creativity produced for very little money, which was part of its charm. When you’re working in a system that does not have any concern about the actual product, that is when art and creativity happen. Money can actually restrict creativity, because money often changes the requirements.” The channel, however, quickly picked up its stride and became the ultimate tool to affect advertising, beauty, self-image, fashion, sex and even politics, including the way we saw music, all using the allure of ambisexuality, a quality not lost on others, worldwide. See page 16 >>

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16 • Bay Area Reporter • May 12-18, 2022

Yasmin Finney, Kit Connor, Sebastian Croft and Joe Locke in ‘Heartstopper’

Heartstopper

Alice Oseman’s graphic novel editions of ‘Heartstopper’

falling leaves or fluttering hearts to convey a swooning romantic moment, add to the overall sweetness, whimsy, and charm of the series. “Heartstopper” is almost entirely focused on the teens, with few adults. The ones featured are significant, even if they’re primarily cameo appearances. Fisayo Akinade plays art teacher Mr. Ajayi, who is gay with a noticeable Pride pin on his lapel. He’s mentor-friendly with Charlie, al-

From page 15

There’s even a retro 1950s ambiance with milkshakes, hugs, and classic rock’n’roll tunes suggesting a wholesomeness, with romance trumping sex (of which there is none here), yet managing not to be corny. Even the animated special effects designed to mimic the series’ webcomic/graphic roots, such as pastel-colored animated

lowing him to eat lunch in the art classroom on days when he’s being harassed by other students. Then there’s Olivia Coleman as Sarah, Nick’s mother, who raises him alone and is very supportive. She only pops up in a few brief scenes in season 1’s episodes. The one gripe about the series is that when you have a towering actress like Coleman, she should be used more frequently and creatively. She’s marvelous, registering a hundred emotions when Nick comes out to her, but that incident is only two minutes long, a waste of such prodigious talent. Finally, yes, that’s gay actor/ broadcaster/comedian/writer Stephen Fry, as the voice of Headmaster Barnes whom you hear on the loudspeaker in the mornings making snarky announcements, reminiscent of his “Jeeves and Wooster” days. “Heartstopper” succeeds brilliantly where two years ago a very similar series, “Love, Victor,” on

I (still) want my MTV

From page 15

Youtube sensation and fashion curator Michael Schiavoni gleefully remembers, “I would run home from school every day to watch it. Every ruffle, feather, shoulder pad, coif, crucifix and knowing look into the camera was thrilling for me. I loved every second of it. It was very reaffirming.” Soon, the ultimate question on MTV was who would outdo the other, utilizing the best and brightest in models, dancers, actors, costume designers, directors, makeup artists and hair dressers, to bring the prestige, sales and drama to a fevered pitch.

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Hulu, was seriously flawed. They both centered on sexually-questioning main characters falling in love with an openly gay friend. But here the actors were in their twenties, were unquestionably straight (scoring 0 on the Gaydar meter) and didn’t act or talk like normal teenagers. The trials of Victor’s mother were more captivating than the gay protagonists, both of whom felt dull, bland, lacked depth, or exhibited any sizzling chemistry between them. “Heartstopper,” in comparison to “Love, Victor,” proves gay teen romances can work well if you are faithful to your source material, both in how it is convincingly told and cast. Even for those viewers over forty for whom an openly gay high school affair of the heart would have been inconceivable, the film rings so true with its emotional honesty and relatability, that one can vicariously experience a fantasy romance by filling in a classmate crush as your own personal Nick, replacing the virtu-

Michael Johnstone, costume designer “All of those professionals helped shed light on gay/queer culture. I remember Eurythmics, Bronski Beat and others bringing awareness of outsider aspects. It was very inspiring to see Elton John, Queen and many others reach out to the world.” David Faulk, costume designer and Johnstone’s life and business partner “MTV was one of the last water cooler-type of shared experiences in a social landscape far beyond conformist society. It had different and extremely expressive cultural voices.” Chris Royer, former Halston model, Halstonette “The world of style and high fashion was key on MTV had now reached out to me. My response was immediate. I remember the rap group TLC as being very fashion-forward, hip, sexy and edgy. I was very happy to see supermodel Cindy Crawford on her show, “House of Style.” She put Kate Moss in a vintage handkerchief Halston dress, and she looked stunning! I’m sure that Halston would have been very pleased. Cindy was a great catch for MTV to really help people see and understand fashion.”

ally-impossible with the it-shouldhave-happened. “Heartstopper” has earned its cultural moment, securing its place, as perhaps the best gay teen romance created for television. Here’s hoping –no, insisting– that Netflix renew this delightful, delectable series for a second season. t

Olivia Colman in ‘Heartstopper’

David Leddick, Revlon’s former International Creative Director for over 20 years, and ICD for L’Oreal Cosmetics, offered his laser-cut opinions about the icons of MTV. “I directed a lot of commercials for L’Oreal Paris, and in commercials and videos, you want to see movement. No one moved like Michael Jackson, and if they moved like him, you knew where they learned the moves. Whitney Houston was a superb talent, 100 years ahead of her time; extremely beautiful. Prince was obviously a genius. He will be remembered more for his music than his music videos. Janet Jackson is sassy, modern, very intelligent and everything that she does has excellent construction. Makeup artist and author Kevyn Aucoin internationalized makeup beyond cheeks, lips, and nails, etc. He was as important as any of his celebrity clients. Video director and celebrity photographer Herb Ritts was obviously the inheritor of George Hurrell, George Hoyningen-Huene and Horst. Herb made everyone look deceptively natural and sexy. I don’t think that he cared too much about getting into their personalities, but, that’s him creating images. That’s Hollywood.” See page 17 >>

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May 12-18, 2022 • Bay Area Reporter • 17

7 Days Sethi & Soni’s trapped-together dramedy

by Gregg Shapiro

S E B HE

ay back when, in the early 2000s, the Duplass brothers, Mark and Jay, were at the forefront of what turned out to be a shortlived, but nevertheless influential film sub-genre known as mumblecore. The less said about that the better, because they have thankfully moved on to far superior things, including producing the acclaimed 2021 movie “Language Lessons” (which Mark co-stars in and cowrote) as well as the newly released “7 Days” (Cinedigm). Both films are excellent, and due to their intimate natures, can be traced back to mumblecore. Co-written by gay life- and creative-partners Roshan Sethi and Karan Soni, “7 Days” is directed by Sethi and stars Soni. The film is bracketed by an effective device in which arranged-married couples are interviewed about their experiences. This both sets the tone and nicely ties up things at the end. Opening in March 2020 during the very early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ravi (out actor Soni) and Rita (Geraldine Viswanathan) meet, masked and gloved, for a picnic date at a reservoir that turns out to have all but dried up. Easily upset researcher Ravi is greatly distressed by this, while the more laid-back, unemployed Rita is nonplussed. Both in their 20s, Ravi and Rita are being urged by their mothers to meet an Indian mate and get married, and each is taking a different approach to the pressure. Ravi goes through a series of Zoom interviews with potential spouses, while Rita is carrying on an affair with a married man she calls Daddy (voice provided by Mark Duplass). During the picnic, both of their phones blow up with multiple COVID warnings, including orders to

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Karan Soni and Geraldine Viswanathan in ‘7 Days’

shelter-in-place. Here’s the conflict: Ravi is without a car (it’s in the shop for repairs) and there are no available hotel rooms. Rita, who presents herself as a “traditional” girl, offers Ravi her couch. He hesitantly accepts, and then each of them must explain the situation to their respective mothers. Rita is anything but traditional and her house, with its unusual American West décor, is a pigsty. Regardless, the pair is about the embark on “the longest first date ever.” At first, an uncomfortable hilarity ensues, involving Rita’s vibrator, Ravi being forced to wear selections from Rita’s wardrobe after spilling something on his clothes, Ravi’s discovery of Rita’s eating and drinking habits, and, ultimately, Rita spiking Ravi’s drink with alcohol (he’s a strict non-drinker and vegetarian). Some more serious moments occur as they begin to open up to each other about their families (Ravi’s parents are divorced) and their futures (Rita is adamant about not getting married). They even dance! Hungover Ravi forgives Rita all the while freaking out about the

rising COVID numbers. He cleans and cooks, which calms him. He also discovers that Rita is a painter. But to get him not to look at the canvases, she tells him they are of “aggressive vaginal imagery.” Being in close quarters begins to have a strange effect on them. Ravi dreams about Rita. Rita calls “Daddy” at two a.m., even though she knows he’s isolating with his wife. Rita blows up at Ravi and says cruel things to him before leaving the house unmasked. The next morning, Ravi is dressed and ready to leave. Rita apologizes to him and lets out a cough causing him to freak out. From this point on, “7 Days” takes its most serious turn as Rita develops COVID symptoms and is eventually hospitalized with the virus. No spoilers here! Suffice to say that the honest and authentic writing and acting continue all the way until the closing credits. As with “Language Lessons,” “7 Days” is a nearly flawless two-character movie that elevates the genre to new and exciting heights. Rating: A- t

I (still) want my MTV

From page 16

However, when I interviewed RuPaul, he said, “Working with Herb Ritts was a meeting of the minds, and you see what we got. We inspired each other’s work. A lot. I miss him.”

Fetishes & faves

MTV also celebrated grunge, garage and heavy metal music. Awardwinning fetish porn star and producer, Jared Erickson, has very positive memories. “I really admired the way MTV did not shy away from fetish imagery in all genres of music and its videos,” he said. “Let me start off by saying that the metal group Judas Priest and leather lead man Rob Halford deserve the most credit for bringing authentic leather fetish gear to music videos, and he also had an excellent voice. The fact that he is from the Bay Area and bought his gear from San Francisco’s Mr. S Leather and other stores in the city made me respect him all the more. I enjoy all of the leather metal groups and hair bands, but, Rob is the first and best.” MTV influenced every aspect of how many gay people lived their lives in the gym, at the barber shop/beauty parlor, nightclubs, school, the baths

and bedrooms, but, no one could have ever predicted the heartfelt representation of the bold, beautiful Pedro Zamora, the world’s first openly gay HIV-positive reality show star on “The Real World: San Francisco.” Zamora’s authenticity staggered and humanized the gay community worldwide. He is truly the angel of MTV. The title of ‘Diva Assoluta’ of MTV undoubtedly belongs to Madonna. No one has come close in scale, scope or daring. David Leddick opined, “She is The Great One. No one else has done as much to advance gay sensibility in music videos and culture. As far as the “Sex” book, she really made the world look at gay people. She put the talent of the gay community in people’s faces and made people have to look at us and deal with it. She had this perfect attitude about it. She’s a great icon for both gay people and feminists. She’s just like, ‘F.U.’” I thought that one of the great voices that has gone underrated with her effect on pop music and music videos is Mariah Carey. I reached out to Black gay cultural anthropologist Bob Mathis-Friedman, M.A. His opinion of the diva is, “I think that Mariah is a genius. She has a hand in everything she does, and is brilliant in marketing herself. I’ve no-

ticed that others have tried to market her, but, they don’t know what they’re doing. She really is the queen of singer-songwriters, and she’s the queen of Christmas. That is the ultimate marketing move.” When I asked Bob who was MTV’s most influential openly gay person, his answer was swift and sure. “The openly gay person who’s benefited most on MTV is RuPaul. MTV embraced and legitimized him as an artist on their extension channel, VH1. They gave him his own television show in the 1990s, and are in partnership with him again with ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race.’” The influence and inspiration that MTV sparked within the gay community is summed up pretty nicely by Jacob Kircher, Senior Lead Visual Merchandiser for a major clothing chain. “As Madonna and Whitney gave way to Britney and Christina, I knew that there was a place for me. I see the gay influences, and they all inspire me, a little adopted Latino boy from out of the Midwest. They let me know that there were people like me in the world, and that I was not alone, so I moved to San Francisco to live my life.” Watch our Top 20 LGBTQ-intensive music videos on www.ebar.com.t

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Olivia Newton-John, Prince, Grace Jones, George Michael

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18 • Bay Area Reporter • May 12-18, 2022

Dogjoy

Lesbian daring music duo

by Gregg Shapiro

Dogjoy’s full-length debut “Sober Nights” was released digitally as well as on cassette. Why did you decide to do a cassette as opposed to, say, vinyl? Cassettes have been making a huge comeback for years now and we love ‘em! Plus, vinyl is way more expensive to manufacture. We wanted to put out some sort of physical album so decided on that with the resources we had.

ueer duos have been a part of the modern LGBTQ music landscape for years. Remember Romanovsky and Phillips? The Indigo Girls? Erasure? Tegan and Sara? Two people can make cool music as easily as three or more. More recently, we have Hey, King! (Natalie London and Taylor Plecity) and Man On Man (Roddy Bottum and Joey Holman), as well as St. Petersburg, Florida-based lesbian duo Dogjoy. A musical duo as well as a couple, KK and Jasmine of Dogjoy are purveyors of evocative electropop, as is evident on the full-length cassette, “Sober Nights,” and digital EP “Hardcore Fun.” Gregg Shapiro: How did you come up with the name? [Sings] “Philosophy… is the talk on a cereal box. Religion… is the smile on a dog.” Edie Brickell (writer of the song “What I Am”). Is there anything more joy-inducing than man’s best friend? As my dog Coco’s human, I definitely agree! How many dogs do you and Jasmine have? We have one sweet old girl, Lucy. A 13-year-old, 70-pound Lab/Pit mix. How long have you been living in St. Petersburg, Florida? Jasmine’s been here for about eight years and I’ve been here for three.

Dogjoy’s sound is best described as electronic dream pop. What musical acts would you cite as influences on Dogjoy? Mmmm, dreamy [laughs]. We love Tobacco, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Sophie, Gorillaz, Caribou, Clams Casino, Kimbra, MIA, Fever Ray, Floating Points, Burial, Mike Dean, Trent Reznor, Tangerine Dream, Lil Peep, Danger Mouse, Jean-Michel Jarre… [pauses] and Gaga!

Dogjoy

What brought you there? We both grew up in different parts of Florida but ended up in St. Pete, ’cause it’s the coolest! What do you like best about St. Pete? A huge local economy supports this city. It’s so reassuring that things can still stay local and close to home. Tons of businesses and artists are doing their thing here. Plus, it’s beach weather every day [laughs].

Harts’ Desire by Jim Gladstone

few years back, plans were afoot to remake “Hart to Hart,” the 1979-84 television series (plus eight subsequent tele-movies), which featured Stefanie Powers and Robert Wagner as wealthy, glamorous one-percenters who solved crimes as an amusing side-hustle. Long a gay favorite in syndication, the new version was to center on a male couple; the show’s back-

There are a lot of Pride festivals in Florida, but St. Pete’s is said to be the best – have you attended? Yes. We’ve gone to a few independently in the past, never together. What would it mean to Dogjoy to perform at St. Pete Pride? It would be radical! We’re still figuring out our audience, who’ll ultimately love Dogjoy, but if it were up to us it’d be the girls, gays, and theys.

“Sober Nights” opens with the romantic “Valentine.” As a couple, how much of your songwriting is about being together? Probably all of it [laughs]. I love the references to the periodic table in “You In Another Life.” Are one or both of you science geeks? Thank you! I think we’re both just geeks, in general. Maybe word geeks more than science geeks, but I wouldn’t be lying if I said we have a kid’s chemistry set somewhere in the house [laughs].

“You In Another Life” is an exuberant dance track. With summer approaching, what would it mean to you if the song became a staple at Key West and Provincetown tea dances? It would literally be the best thing in the world if that happened! “Super Glue,” from Dogjoy’s recent EP “Hardcore Fun” is an instrumental track. What was the inspiration for the song, as well as the video? Technically, I’m singing through a vocoder so I’m not sure if that counts as instrumental. Depends on which member of Daft Punk you ask, I guess [laughs]. The inspiration is that we wanted to release a heavy AF EP shortly following “Sober Nights” to show everyone who’s boss. The video was inspired after I became enamored with CPR dolls a few months ago and found out they make baby CPR training dolls. I needed to have one, and needed to write his origin story. Pride festivities are, once again, returning. Has Dogjoy had the opportunity to perform at a Pride festival in the past? If not, what would it mean to both of you to be able to do so? We haven’t yet because we’re a super new band. But, of course, that would be a dream come true. I know things will get better in the world and we’ll find ourselves there one day! t www.dogjoy.bandcamp.com

Mark Nadler’s meet-cute musical at Theatre Rhinoceros

ers placed reboot calls to potential leads including Alan Cumming. Alas, that project never came to fruity fruition. But this week, San Francisco’s Theater Rhinoceros hosts the debut of an altogether different Hart to Hart project from gay cabaret ace Mark Nadler, abrim with its own bonanza of queer bonafides. A product of Nadler’s own extensive archival and biographical detective work, “Hart’s Desire” is a

sort of Golden Age mash-up that draws on the legacy of its unrelated titular duo. Lorenz Hart (1895-1943) was the diminutive, lovelorn gay collaborator of Richard Rodgers. His evergreen lyrics for songs including “Isn’t It Romantic,” “Blue Moon,” “My Funny Valentine” and dozens more are infused with his own frustrated longing. Moss Hart was a bisexual, psychotherapy-immersed playwright and husband of actress and quiz show panelist Kitty Carlisle. His barbed humor and snappy dialogue, co-written with George Kaufman, animated Broadway hits including “The Man Who Came to Dinner” and the Pulitzer-winning “You Can’t Take It With You.”

Pastiche born of pandemic

When Nadler found himself with time on his hands during the

Mark Nadler

pandemic, he turned his attention to this long aborning project. Said Nadler, in a recent interview with the Bay Area Reporter, “I always thought it would have been wonderful if these two men who had to hide their sexuality during their lives had the opportunity to write a musical together with an openly gay storyline.” Nadler, a renowned interpreter of the Great American Songbook, has headlined the Algonquin, Town Hall, Carnegie Hall; appeared on Broadway accompanying Dame Edna Everage; and won a 2009 Bay Area Critics’ Award for Outstanding Solo Performance for his Gershwin show “His Lovely Wife, Ira.” For “Hart’s Desire,” he has created a theatrical mix tape. “I’ve assembled excerpts of dialogue that Moss wrote for many different plays and paired it with Rodgers & Hart songs,” he said.

“Hopefully, it feels as if the two Harts actually worked together on it.” Nadler will be debuting “Hart’s Desire” as a solo performance. “Because it’s technically cabaret, I don’t have the rights issues to deal with that a full production would require,” explained Nadler. “And frankly, I don’t think the Hart estates would ever approve the songs being used for this gay plot line. “But it’s a real musical!” he explained. “I’ll be playing eight characters, male and female … and the orchestra. I’ll even be doing a tap number. The challenge is to make it clear for the audience which character I am at any given time.”

Deep research, deep feelings

The plot is not a biography of either Hart. Instead, it leans into the storyline of Moss’ play “Light See page 19 >>

Film >>

May 12-18, 2022 • Bay Area Reporter • 19

‘Port Authority’ Danielle Lessovitz’s tales of the gritty by Gregg Shapiro

ractically every queer person worth their weight in gold lamé, sequins and bugle beads has watched “Pose” since it premiered on FX in 2018. When the third and final season aired, many of us feel a sense of sadness about having to say goodbye to these characters that we have grown to care about and love, like family. There is hope that the popularity of the award-winning series means that there could be more movies and TV shows exploring the ballroom scene and its habitués. One such movie has arrived in the form of writer/director Danielle Lessovitz’s “Port Authority” (Momentum/eOne). Where “Pose” presented a portrait of balls and voguing in the early years, “Port Authority” takes a present-day approach.

Leyna Bloom, Fionn Whitehead and other cast members in “Port Authority”

The alliterative Paul (Fionn Whitehead) from Pittsburgh on probation, steps off a bus at the titular station and is utterly unprepared for what New York City has in store for his 20-year-old self. To begin with, his halfsister Sara (Louisa Krause), who was supposed to meet him there and provide a place for him to stay, never shows up. When he finally connects with her, she expresses no interest in giving him a place to stay, although she does give him some cash. While being mugged on a subway train, Paul is saved by Lee (McCaul Lombardi), who not only secures him a place to stay at a Lower East Side homeless shelter but also offers him a job working on

his repo/rent collection gang. Despite his kindness to Paul, Lee has an unpleasant side illustrated in his undisguised homophobia. At the shelter, Paul sees Tekay (Devon Carpenter) voguing in the stairwell. One night, Paul follows Tekay to a ballroom rehearsal for the House of McQueen. While there he sees Wye (trans actress Leyna Bloom in her film debut) and recognizes her from having seen her outside of Port Authority. After being asked to leave (Paul kind of sticks out like a sore thumb), Wye comes after him. They talk and the spark between them is palatable. Before you can say Romeo and Juliet, these potentially star-crossed lovers embark on an unlikely romantic relationship. However, where Wye is always her authentic self (even if Paul is clueless), Paul struggles to keep his stories straight while also trying to figure out who he is. Trouble arises when Tekay (Devon Carpenter) recognizes Paul from being with Wye. He confronts him, asks him how long he’s been a “chaser,” and makes it clear that he will protect the vulnerable Wye. Complicating matters is that Nix (William Dufault), a member of Lee’s crew, witnesses the interaction.

Harts’ Desire

Nevertheless, Paul and Wye’s relationship intensifies. They share personal family stories. They become increasingly intimate. They have a serious disagreement and make-up sex. But Paul’s crumbling façade can only be maintained for so long. An altercation between Lee, Nix and Tekay, puts Paul in an awkward situation. Paul arranges to introduce Wye to Lee, and as you might expect, it backfires on him. Wye cuts off Paul. Even with a conclusion that

you could see from a mile away through oversized false eyelashes, as Paul’s two worlds collide during eviction proceedings at the House of McQueen, there is enough dramatic tension to make it work. As for the final scene, taken directly from the tearjerker handbook, it works solely because Bloom and Whitehead have the chops to pull it off. Rating: B t

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Up The Sky,” a farcical backstage drama full of crisscrossing unrequited male-male romances. Set in 1943, it includes not only classic tunes like “The Lady is a Tramp” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” but treasures that Nadler uncovered in his research. “In the Library of Congress,” he recalled, “I found the chicken-scratched melody by Richard Rodgers for lyrics that I’d found in a book on Lorenz Hart. The song is called “Good Bad Woman” and it had never been performed. The melody didn’t exactly scan with the lyrics, so I added my own chords. Another song, ‘Smart People,’ existed only as lyrics, so I wrote the music trying to approximate Rodgers’ style.” While he’s never written a book musical before, Nadler, 61, brings not only his expertise on the Harts and performance experience to bear, but also a period studying sit-com writing under the tutelage of Bill Idelson, who wrote for “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and television’s “Odd Couple.” Nadler says he feels personally connected to some of the deeper themes in the lives of Hart and Hart that the show lightly touches on. “I think that gay men often have this fantasy and this pressure that they should always upgrade and get something better than what they already have in terms of romance,” he said. “But in this show, you have an older gay man who is really in touch with his limitations, but falling in love with someone in his twenties. You have to think about the extent to which,

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as the song says, you’re “Falling in Love With Love.”

Supporting queer creativity

The creative seed for “Hart’s Desire” was planted over a decade ago when Nadler provided piano accompaniment for Theatre Rhino artistic director John Fisher’s own play about Oscar Levant and Arnold Schoenberg. “Back then,” said Nadler, “John encouraged me to develop a oneman show about Larry Hart. That started me thinking about how much I love Moss Hart’s bitchy, snappy repartee, and how the two of them had a lot in common.” Theatergoers who appreciate Theatre Rhinoceros’ support of such inventive, original, homo-

(last seating 9:45pm) centric endeavors may want to provide their own support for the Rhino by attending not only “Hart’s Desire,” but the one-performance-only Rhino Extravaganza benefit that will take over the Gateway Theater following Nadler’s final matinee performance on Sunday, May 15. The show will feature song, dance, drag and comedy from Bay Area talent along with food, drink and prize drawings. ‘Hart’s Desire,’ through May 15. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Rhino Extravaganza, Sunday, May 15. 7pm. Both at the Gateway Theatre. 215 Jackson St. $50. www.therhino.org www.marknadler.com

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<< Books

20 • Bay Area Reporter • May 12-18, 2022

Illustrated man by Gregg Shapiro

hicago-based gay visual artist Dan Crowley is a creative person with a considerable adult following. Working in multiple media, including sculpting, painting, and illustration, Crowley has established himself with pieces in private collections as well as public and commercial exhibitions. He even had a popular comic strip, “Uncle Dan,” that ran for three years in the now-defunct gay publication, Nightspots. With his first book, “Danny, Growing Up Gay & Creative” (Rattling Good Yarns Press, 2021), Crowley enters the world of all-ages books. As he writes, “It’s not easy growing up in a world that tells you to hide who you are,” and via a series of illustrated vignettes, Crowley tells his story of learning who he was and how he became himself. Gregg Shapiro: Dan, I’d like to begin by congratulating you on the publication of your first book ‘Danny, Growing Up Gay & Creative.’ How long was the book in the works? Dan Crowley: This was the project I decided to focus on when quarantine time struck on March 12, 2020. I had several book projects in pieces and wanted one of them to be completed during that time. I worked on it

one of Dan Crowley’s portrait finger puppets

gay artist and writer Dan Crowley

all during the lockdown. I decided on this book because I needed to be sure to send out healing thoughts to people who are going through this now. Were any of the drawings in the book already in existence or did you create them specifically for ‘Danny: Growing Up Gay & Creative?’ All 50 drawings are new and were drawn for this book. Some of the images are based on old family photos. Who do you see as the target audience for the book? When booksellers ask about a target audience, they want to know what part of the store to put your book in. My book deals with childhood and growing up so it wound up being labeled a children’s book, which in a way it is. But I want people who are grown to see it too, and to remember the moments in their lives that are like mine. Since it’s not a traditional story in terms of plot, such as having a beginning, middle, and end, how would you describe Danny: Growing Up Gay & Creative to potential readers? So far, my story doesn’t have an end, true. This book is fifty drawings showing a gay child developing from birth up till his high school gradua-

Dan Crowley’s ‘Martian #7” sculpture

author Dan Crowley

tion. It’s a one-character book full of those moments when being gay or creative popped out. The moments that were my “shame” I turned into my glory. By focusing on Danny having his moment and not the adults’ reaction to it, I explored the freedom I had and what I did with it naturally. Thankfully, Barbra Streisand and other strong female icons including Mae West, Liza Minnelli, Helen Reddy, Bette Midler, Joan Crawford, and Glenda Jackson provided comfort and inspiration to you and many others. Those women are depicted in the book. I love to sing. For me, it was always about emotional release. Singing along with Barbra started when I was six and would see her sing on talk shows in black and white. She taught me how to release feelings through music. I wish I had a film of my 11-year-old self singing “Maybe This Time,” full of tears and heart. Yes, powerful women have always caught my eye and taught me something. You have had a successful career as a visual artist. Are there any projects at which you are currently at work that you would care to mention? Throughout my very long career I’ve done all sorts of projects. I’ve done window display, poster design, sculptures, paintings; all sorts of

things. Right now, I’m learning about publishing. My first book was a learning curve. I have a couple other books that I’m working on and, as always, sculpting commissions for portrait puppets keep coming in. I’ve done those for over thirty years now! My Etsy page, Dan Crowley Studio, is filling up with new work for the holidays. You mentioned other books in the works. Would one of them be based on your popular series of famous people in history depicted as frogs? Two new books in the works, but neither about frogs. I began drawing my frog characters when I was in seventh grade. My Fargo Frog was to be my Mickey Mouse. From the be-

ginning, I also drew my frog as characters from history and pop culture, but then people wanted their portraits done as frogs, too. I’ve done many paintings of them at this point, lots from my old family photos. Would they wind up in a book? I don’t know yet. One of the exciting things about following where my interests take me is that I get surprised! “Danny, Growing Up Gay & Creative” by Dan Crowley, $12.95 paperback. t rattlinggoodyarns.com etsy.com/shop/DanCrowleyStudio Read the full interview on www.ebar.com.

Strong Weightlifter inspires new kids’ book by David-Elijah Nahmod

ay author Eric Rosswood wants LGBT kids to believe in themselves. In his new children’s picture book “Strong.” Rosswood tells the story of Rob Kearney, a gay strongman who trains himself to lift hundreds of pounds. As the story progresses, Kearney learns with the help of his husband to fully embrace who he is without worrying about what other people think of him. Rosswood coauthored the book with Kearney. The book is short, simple, and to the point. Each page features a drawing by Nidhi Chanani. Each drawing comes with a short text that tells Kearney’s story. The book poses a simple question for its readers: what makes you strong? In Kearney’s case, his strength comes from not only his ability to lift heavy weights, but also from his ability to proudly be who he is. In an email interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Rosswood revealed that he first discovered Kearney’s story in an online article and was quite taken with him. He found the story inspiring and felt that it would also inspire young people, so he reached out to Kearney on Twitter and asked him if he’d like to collaborate on a children’s picture book. “I interviewed Rob multiple times so we could identify the best story arc

author Eric Rosswood

“Strong” by Eric Rosswood

for this book,” Rosswood said. “He’s a wonderful guy with a big heart.” The book follows Kearney through his childhood, when he was found to be an unusually strong kid. When he was 17, a teacher introduced him to Strongman, a competition which tested strength. Kearney began training. He ran, swam, and lifted weights, eventually being able to lift four hundred pounds. Whenever he finished training, Kearney would change into his colorful street clothes, which he felt were more representative of him. At one weightlifting event, Kearney meets Joey, and the two fall in love. Joey notices that Kearney always changes into drab colored clothes

when he lifts weights, saying that strongmen don’t wear bright colors. “Well then,” said Joey. “I’ll wear bright colors with you.” As the two train together, Kearney prepares for a major competition. Not only is he now wearing brightly colored clothes, but his hair is also dyed to match the colors of the rainbow flag. With Joey’s help, Kearney learns to stop worrying about what other people think of him and finds joy in presenting himself as he truly is. “There are very few LGBTQ+ role models in children’s literature and I think that needs to change,” said Rosswood. “When I heard Rob’s story, I thought this is something kids need to

know about. They need to see openly queer people thriving and succeeding in life. Because when a young person sees another person like them achieving greatness, they think to themselves, I can do that too. And that’s how we create positive change.” Rosswood feels that a book like “Strong” is especially needed now, with Florida having passed the socalled ‘Don’t say gay’ bill, which forbids teachers from acknowledging that gay or trans people exist in any classroom from first through third grades. Other states like Texas are now threatening to do the same. “Bills like that are so damaging to kids,” said Rosswood. “When they

have to draw pictures of their families in school, there’s nothing wrong with them sharing a picture of them with same gender parents. Being pro-family is about being pro-all-families. These hateful laws send messages to children that there’s something wrong with them and/or their family. We need to combat that at every opportunity. In addition to voting to make sure that supportive people are put in office, we also need to surround kids with positive reaffirming messages that they are valid. We hope this book does that.” The author feels that there’s another simple but important message in “Strong,” that once a person has accepted themself for who they are, they can achieve anything. He also believes the book has universal appeal, that it will not only appeal to gay kids, but to lesbian and trans kids and even to kids who aren’t queer. “The story of ‘Strong’ is about finally being able to be your true, authentic self,” he said. “But there’s also so much more to it. The story is about all the different ways we can be strong. It’s not just about physical strength. It’s about finding your inner strength, and I think that’s something we can all relate to regardless of one’s orientation or identity.” t ‘Strong’ is available at Fabulosa Books, 489 Castro Street, at Books Inc, and on Amazon. https://ericrosswood.com/

May 12-18, 2022 • Bay Area Reporter • 21

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Calendar >> LGBT Events @ Fabulosa Books May 12, 7pm: Jack Lowery (‘It Was Vulgar & It Was Beautiful: How AIDS Activists Used Art to Fight a Pandemic’) May 15, 4pm: Mark Abramson (‘Arlene Francis & Me -Pandemic Diaries from Castro Street 2020’). May 16, 7pm: David Ebersole (‘99 Miles From L.A.’). In-store and online monthly book club group discussion of literary works. 489 Castro St. www.fabulosabooks.com Queer Book Club @ SF Center Youth ages 16-24 are welcome for a discussion of Kacen Callender’s ‘Felix Ever After.’ May 16, 4:30pm. 1800 Market St. www.sfcenter.org Queer Words Listen to online literary chats hosted by author Wayne Goodman, with guests Kelliane Parker, Brian Broome, Michael Nava, Vi Khi Nao, Anne Shade, Brontez Purnell, Christopher Castellani, the late Leslie Cohen and many others. queerwords.org

‘AirOtic’ @ Great Star Theater

Going Out, Homing’s In May 12-20

Good luck finding a more comprehensive and LGBTQ-inclusive collection of arts, nightlife and community event listings. Although it hasn’t been in print for a while, we’ve been listing events all through the pandemic, and you can come out, come out, wherever you are, like Munchkins and enjoy the relative relaxation of health guidelines.

Dance, Opera, Theater AirOtic @ Great Star Theater Touring company of sexy male and female aerial performers brings their dazzling show to the Chinatown stage. $40-$135; thru June 12. 636 Jackson St. airoticshow.com/airoticshow.com Anything Goes Sutton Foster stars in the recorded stage production of the classic nautical musical comedy; streaming at anythinggoesmusicalcinema.com Dear San Francisco @ Club Fugazi The ‘high-flying love story’ weaves local history with acrobatic theatrics and live music by The 7 Fingers company, now with new cast members, and a full food and beverage menu; extended through summer 2022. $35$99. 678 Green St. clubfugazisf.com

‘Encore!’ @ New Conservatory Theatre Center Encore! @ New Conservatory Theatre Celebrate NCTC’s milestone birthday with a magically melodious performance of iconic numbers from a songbook of over 50 musical productions, featuring hit songs from blockbuster mega-musicals and hidden gems from indie darlings. $40-$60. May 13-June 12. 25 Van Ness Ave. www.nctcsf.org Epiphany Dance Theater Antoine Hunter’s ‘Native Land, Native Hands, a site-specific work exploring the historic oppression and racial injustice toward Bay Area Deaf communities and communities of color, May 7 at UC Berkeley and May 14 in San Francisco. epiphanydance.net Harry Potter & the Cursed Child @ Curran Theater The special-effects-filled stage play about a mystery at Hogwarts returns in a new shortened two-act version. $69-$349; extended run. 445 Geary St. sfcurran.com Harts’ Desire @ Gateway Theatre Theatre Rhino presents singer, pianist, tap-dancer and comedian Mark Nadler’s solo show of Broadway musicals. May 12-15. $ 215 Jackson St. www.therhino.org

Monument, or Four Sisters (A Sloth Play) @ Magic Theatre Sam Chanse’s world premiere comedy with claws asks how to build resilience after unimaginable loss. May 11-29. $20-$70. 2 Marina Blvd. magictheatre.org Octet @ Berkeley Rep Three-time Tony Award nominee Dave Malloy’s off-Broadway hit, a ‘chamber choir musical,’ merges eight internetobsessed people who meet in real life and tell stories musically. $29-$124; thru May 29. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. berkeleyrep.org On the Town @ Saratoga Civic Theater South Bay Musical Theatre production of the classic musical about a trio of randy sailors on shore leave in 1950s Manhattan; music by Leonard Bernstein; book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. $24-$54. May 14-June 4. 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga. southbaymt.com The Paper Dreams of Harry Chin @ SF Playhouse In Jessica Huang’s drama, During the Chinese Exclusion Act, Harry Chin, a Chinese national, entered the U.S. by buying forged documentation. Like other “Paper Sons,” Harry lived the rest of his life keeping secrets, even from his daughter. $30-$100; thru June 18. 450 Post St. www.sfplayhouse.org

Music Cal Performances @ UC Berkeley Music and dance concerts and more at Zellerbach Hall and nearby theaters. May 12-18, streaming online: Mark Morris Dance Group’s ‘Layla and Majnun,’ with Silkroad Ensemble performing a dance about a 7th-century Arabic love story. Bancroft Way at Dana St., Berkeley. calperformances.org Feinstein’s at the Nikko The upscale nightclub presents cabaret concerts; May 12 & 13: Seth Rudetsky’s ‘Big Fat Broadway Show,’ a funny insightful show about classic –and incredulous– musical performances. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. feinsteinssf.com San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Enjoy music videos and programs online. www.sfgmc.org San Francisco Opera Recorded and live performances, plus artist panels, including the five-episode ‘In Song’ series sfopera.com

Smuin Contemporary Ballet The company’s Dance Series 2 - P.S. Forever Smuin includes Confessions by Val Caniparoli, Renaissance by Amy Seiwert and Showcase by Smuin works by current Company Artists Tessa Barbour and Brennan Wall. May 19-22: Mountain View Center for the Arts, 500 Castro St. May 27-28: Sunset Center, San Carlos Street at 9th Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea. smuinballet.org Talk to Your People @ The Marsh Dan Holye’s multi-character solo show’s a comic, nuanced, and thought-provoking inquiry into some of the most-talked-about issues of this era; extended thru May 28. $25$100. Thu-Sat, 7pm. 1062 Valencia St. themarsh.org

Fauxnique & Viktoria Naraxsa at Boxblur IRC Benefit @ Catharine Clark Gallery

Literary Boxblur IRC Benefit @ Catharine Clark Gallery Benefit for International Rescue Committee’s relief efforts in Ukraine. The evening will begin with a special performance authored by Pussy Riot’s Viktoria Naraxsa that centers narratives by LGBTQ+ refugees from Russia and Ukraine, with live readings by Zeina Barakeh, Tony Bravo, Ellen Sebastian Chang, Jason Dewees, Monique Jenkinson, Liliya Rattari, and others. Following the performance, Monique Jenkinson will read from her new memoir, ‘Faux Queen: A Life in Drag,’ followed by a conversation with writer Matt Sussman (books available for purchase). May 15, 6:30pm. $5$500. 248 Utah St. cclarkgallery.com