May 19 2016 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

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Jennifer Morris stands in the lobby of the Little Roxie.

Morris moves to Roxie by Sari Staver

ongtime film festival programmer Jennifer “Junkyard” Morris has joined the Roxie Theater as a programmer. Morris, a lesbian, has been director of programming for SF DocFest and a programmer at IndieFest for the past four years. Before that, Morris was festival director and director See page 17 >>

SFMTA eyes Castro parking lots for housing

San Francisco’s transit agency is studying turning two city-owned parking lots in the Castro, including the one behind the Castro Theatre, into affordable housing developments. Rick Gerharter

by Matthew S. Bajko

an Francisco’s transit agency is eyeing two surface parking lots in the city’s gay Castro district as potential affordable housing sites. As part of a review of its surplus property that could be repurposed to assist with the city’s housing crunch, the San Francisco Mu-

Zuckerberg hospital set to open Saturday by Seth Hemmelgarn

nicipal Transportation Agency has identified the two municipal parking lots in the heart of the gayborhood as being underutilized. One of the lots, with 20 metered parking spaces accessed from Castro Street, is behind the Castro Theatre and is 6,740 square feet. The second lot, which is entered from 18th Street and exits onto Collingwood, has 28 metered spots on 6,500 square feet spanning two parcels.

SAN FRANCISCO RACES

Congress (Bay Area)

State Senate

Dist. 2: Jared Huffman Dist. 3: John Garamendi Dist. 5: Mike Thompson Dist. 11: Mark DeSaulnier Dist. 12: Nancy Pelosi Dist. 13: Barbara Lee Dist. 14: Jackie Speier Dist. 15: Eric Swalwell Dist. 17: Mike Honda Dist. 18: Anna Eshoo Dist. 19: Zoe Lofgren

Dist. 11: Scott Wiener

Dist. 17: David Chiu Dist. 19: Phil Ting

Judges SF Superior Court Seat 7: Paul Henderson

SF DEMOCRATIC COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE Rick Gerharter

The main entrance to the new Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, which opens Saturday.

The department will also include a radiology unit, so critically ill patients won’t have to go anywhere for CT scans. Additionally, he said, most of the patients’ rooms in the new hospital facility are private. “Currently we have very, very few private rooms, and we only use those for isolation,” such as when a patient’s contagious, May said. He said the biggest challenge has been “orienting and training our personnel to move into See page 17 >>

They are among five surface parking lots the transit agency has identified as ideal locations to build a “mix” of housing and public parking. Two others are located in West Portal and the fifth is adjacent to the Performing Arts Garage in Hayes Valley not far from City Hall. David Baker Architects is working on a feasibility study that will recommend various See page 11 >>

B.A.R. election endorsements State Assembly

an Francisco’s Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center is preparing to move about 200 patients into its new main facility at 1001 Potrero Avenue, which will include expanded emergency services and private rooms. The new site is set to open Saturday, May 21. In an interview this week, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Todd May, said, “We’re very excited. ... It’s a big day for us, and for the city.” May, a straight ally who’s been with the hospital best known as San Francisco General for about 20 years, said, “One major feature is the expanded and enhanced emergency department.” That includes a Level One trauma center. Zuckerberg San Francisco General has “the only trauma center in San Francisco and in north San Mateo County,” he said. “We do about 30 percent of all the ambulance traffic in the city.” The current emergency space is “very small” with “really unacceptable conditions,” May said. “There are patients in hallways.” With the new building, the department will go from 27 beds to 58. “In case of a disaster, we can actually double up occupancy in those beds,” May said, so there could be more than 100 emergency beds if they were needed.

Vol. 46 • No. 20 • May 19-25, 2016

Dist. 17: Joshua Arce, Bevan Dufty, Zoe Dunning, Michael Grafton, Pratima Gupta, Shaun Haines, Frances Hsieh, Rafael Mandelman, Gary McCoy, Leah Pimentel, Rebecca Prozan, Alix Rosenthal, Francis Tsang, Scott Wiener Dist. 19: Kat Anderson, Keith Baraka, Joel Engardio, Mark Farrell, Sandra Lee Fewer, Tom Hsieh, Mary Jung, Rachel Norton, Marjan Philhour

CALIFORNIA PRIMARY President: Hillary Clinton U.S. Senate: Kamala Harris

State Assembly (Bay Area) Dist. 15: Tony Thurmond Dist. 18: Rob Bonta Dist. 28: Evan Low

State Senate (Bay Area) Dist. 9: Nancy Skinner

CALIFORNIA PROPS Yes on 50

DISTRICT PROPS Yes on Measure AA

SAN FRANCISCO PROPS Yes on Props A, B, C, D, E

Remember to vote June 7!

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Community News>>

t Trans woman, accused of threats, freed from jail by Seth Hemmelgarn

transgender San Francisco woman who allegedly wielded a screwdriver at her husband and threatened to kill him has been released from jail after admitting to violating her probation. Precious Rae Jean Luvlee, 44, was already on probation when she was jailed in April after her husband accused her of threatening him at the Tenderloin smoke shop where he works, in the 800 block of Geary Street. Luvlee’s release also follows rallying by supporters and comes as the sheriff’s department examines its policies around transgender inmates. At the smoke shop, Luvlee’s husband, who’s 32 and whose first language is Arabic, said that he’d agreed to let Luvlee borrow his car to visit her family, but then she’d changed her mind and, looking “crazy,” told him, “I don’t want it.” She left, then soon came back and “started screaming really loud in the street. I don’t know what was going on with her,” said her husband, who responded to most of a reporter’s questions about the April 25 incident through an interpreter. He went outside to speak with her, but she was holding “a big screwdriver” over her head “and she wanted to hack me,” he said. “... I got really confused.” Luvlee told him, “I want to kill you motherfucker,” he said. Another man grabbed him, brought him back into

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 5

the shop, and “blocked In a motion for Luvlee [her] way” as she came toto be released on her own ward him, still screaming, recognizance or for her he said. bail to be reduced, DepThen, Luvlee told him, uty Public Defender Hien “I will send my people to Ngoc Nguyen said Luvlee kick your ass” and “she met her husband in Destarted calling people on cember 2015. They got the phone.” married in March, but “I got scared and called they don’t live together. the police,” her husband, Precious Rae Pointing to supportive who didn’t want his name Jean Luvlee letters from Transgender published, said. Gender Variant Intersex Luvlee, whose next Justice Project, a noncourt date is July 1, didn’t respond profit where Luvlee volunteers, and to interview requests. others, Nguyen said she “is beloved, The man who interpreted for appreciated, and known by counther husband expressed animosity less community members as a kind, toward Luvlee, insisting on using charitable, non-violent woman.” male pronouns for her. However, he Nguyen also referred to the fact said that her husband used feminine that Luvlee has missed some court pronouns. dates in the past. He said that those Prosecutors filed a motion April “were from before she secured 27 to revoke Luvlee’s probation, and stable housing with the [homeshe was held on $150,000 bail. Rathless] Navigation Center’s help” at er than file new charges, the district a single-room occupancy hotel on attorney’s office moved to revoke Geary Street close to the shop where her probation, a common practice. her husband works. After she admitted the violation He also said that Luvlee doesn’t May 12, she was allowed to continue have “prior violent allegations or under several conditions, including history,” and that police in the curthat she stay 25 feet away from her rent case didn’t find any screwdriver. husband, submit to 30 days of elecNo video surveillance footage has tronic monitoring, and participate been provided of the April incident, in 26 anger management counselhe added. ing sessions, court records say. Once In the case that originally resulted she’s completed 13 sessions, the in her three-year probation sencourt will consider terminating the tence, Luvlee was charged in Sepremainder. She was released from jail tember 2014 with second-degree later that day. commercial burglary of a Money

Supporters

Kelly Sullivan

Danielle West, development director at the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project, speaks at a May 12 rally in support of Precious Rae Jean Luvlee outside the Hall of Justice.

Mart, possession of a completed monetary document, identity theft, and false personation, all felonies, according to the complaint. She also faced allegations including committing a felony while on bail. The complaint says that she’d previously been convicted of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, forgery of a legal bill or monetary document, and forgery of a document. The earliest of those incidents occurred in 2003 in Santa Barbara County. The September 2014 complaint was eventually amended to include a felony forgery charge. In April 2015, she pleaded guilty to the forgery charge in exchange for the other counts, to which she’d pleaded not guilty, being dismissed, according to court records, which also list her name as Reginald T. Lee.

In a news release last week announcing a May 12 rally outside the Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street, where Luvlee was being held and where she was set to appear in court, her supporters said she should be released on her own recognizance and that the sheriff ’s department should “immediately implement a housing policy centering [around] gender self-determination.” The agency has been working to move female transgender inmates into housing with cis women. Luvlee, who’s black, had been jailed after “she told her abusive husband she was annulling their marriage and he called the police to revoke her probation,” her supporters stated. Vanessa Warri, recruiter and facilitator of the Sheroes Project at UCSF’s Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, asked in the release whether Luvlee would have been jailed “if she were rich? If she were white? If she wasn’t trans?” Luvlee’s husband said that since the incident, he’s thought about divorce, but his lawyer said maybe they could still “fix the relationship.” “I married her for love,” he said. “I feel love for her.” He also said that she’d proposed to him. He believes she married him for money, and he said that he owes his bank $800 to cover checks she wrote. At one point, he said, Luvlee had See page 13 >>

SF supe tours businesses facing closure by Seth Hemmelgarn

an Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin recently led a walking tour of businesses in the Lower Polk neighborhood that are facing closure. The small hike Friday, May 13 included the Gangway bar and Gypsy Rosalie’s Wigs and Vintage Shop, both of which have been popular with LGBTs over the years. Peskin, who represents District 3, was using Small Business Appreciation Month to draw attention to “the plight of neighborhood small businesses amid escalating concerns about displacement and delays to the implementation of the city’s voterapproved Legacy Business Preservation Fund,” according to his office. The fund is the result of Proposition J that gay District 9 Supervisor David Campos spearheaded and voters approved last November. The resource is meant to provide financial assistance to keep the city’s “legacy” businesses open. Prop J defined a legacy business as those that have operated more than 20 years and that the Small Business Commission has found have signifi-

cantly contributed to the history or identity of a particular neighborhood or community and would face a significant risk of displacement. Peskin is set to hold a hearing at the board’s government audit and oversight committee meeting Thursday, May 19 at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall, Room 250, on the implementation of the fund. The stops on Friday’s tour aren’t set to benefit from the fund, but Peskin eagerly praised them. One of the stops was the Gangway, at 841 Larkin Street, which he called “hallowed LGBT ground.” Many say the bar is more than 100 years old. Earlier this year, news emerged that the business, known for the ship’s prow perched above the front door, was being sold. That deal never became final, but owner Jung Lee, 64, is still hoping to sell it. “I’m trying to move closer to family,” who live in southern California, “and I need to retire,” he said, adding it has “nothing” to do with the rent. Lee, who said that he’s talking to four prospective buyers, tried to introduce a reporter to one group of potential owners that happened to be in the bar. They looked uneasy at

the prospect of being interviewed, though, and would only say that nothing’s final. Russell Taylor, 64, who’s been coming to the Gangway for years, said, “There’s nothing wrong with a sale if they can keep it pretty much as it is.” Taylor, who’s gay, said, “It’s a neighborhood bar” that accepts everyone. A few blocks away, at her wig shop, at 1222 Sutter Street, Rosalie Jacques was also facing change. “I have until the end of May,” she said, but “then I’ve got to get out.” Saying she didn’t want to “badmouth” her landlord, Jacques, who started her business in 1957 and moved it to its current spot about nine years ago, didn’t share details of her plight. However, she said, rents have been going “higher and higher” in the area. “It’s not just me,” Jacques said. “It’s the whole neighborhood. It’s very sad to see.” Peskin, who said Jacques is “a great San Franciscan, and I adore her,” said his office nominated Gypsy’s as a legacy business. The designation

Rick Gerharter

Gangway bar owner Jung Lee, left, speaks with Supervisor Aaron Peskin about the history and future of the bar and Peskin’s efforts to jump start the city’s legacy business program.

would make her eligible for thousands of dollars a year in assistance. But Jacques, who hasn’t applied for legacy status, said, “I don’t want a handout. I just want to survive.” She expressed gratitude for what she’s been able to achieve over the last seven decades. “I have loved what I’ve been doing for so many years,” she said. “It’s been such a blessing. Thank you, Lord.” In a news release, Peskin chided

other city officials for moving too slowly to help businesses. “It is extremely frustrating to learn that months after San Francisco voters passed Proposition J to preserve our small businesses, our Office of Small Business has not processed even one application,” he said. “Meanwhile, I hear from treasured neighborhood merchants on a daily basis that they are at risk of closing their doors forever and unable to access the resources that could enable them to negotiate a new lease or supplement their revenue. It’s really unacceptable.” Peskin recently co-authored a $306,250 supplemental appropriation meant to give the Office of Small Business the funding it needs to staff the program. The agency didn’t provide comment for this story Also on Friday’s tour were Cafe Zitouna, 1201 Sutter Street, where the owner insisted guests stay for tea and cakes, and Haji’s Hardware, at 1170 Sutter. Haji Najmabadi, 83, the shop’s owner, said he’s closing at the end of June because “I’ve had enough. So many years, that’s good enough. ... I have a lot to do in the future.” t

City College to hold student film festival by Sari Staver

short documentary about a classically trained male baritone who becomes a glamorous and successful chanteuse is among the films featured at the 16th annual City College of San Francisco student film festival. Vanessa is the behind-the-scenes story of how Erik Calfant, at the suggestion of a friend, turned to drag for the first time to become a successful local entertainer known as Vanessa Bousay. Bousay has appeared regularly at Martuni’s piano bar, Tenderloin Tessie holiday dinners, and was the first drag

to Denah Johnston, a performer to perform at professor of cinema studSan Francisco Opera’s ies at City College. It is “Opera Night at the Ballprogrammed, designed, park” when she sang the and executed by students national anthem before enrolled in the film ex30,000 people. hibition class and brings Filmmaker Daniela in a standing room only Caras’ film is one of 14 audience to the college’s that will be screened 200-seat auditorium, said Thursday, May 19, at the Johnston, a local filmCity Shorts Festival. A maker, teacher, and curareception with live music City College tor who began teaching and refreshments begins Professor Denah the class this year. at 6 p.m. with the screen- Johnston In an interview with ing beginning at 7. the Bay Area Reporter, Johnston, a The festival, now in its 16th year, lesbian, said that over 90 students is one of the most unique film fessubmitted short films for this year’s tivals in the Bay Area, according

festival. Johnston, who teaches fulltime at City College, said the film exhibition class is offered every spring and introduces students to the role of film festivals in the industry by enabling them to produce every aspect of the event. Some of the other films to be screened are Catsistential Crisis (a character study of a cat’s existential crisis); Leaving Evidence for a Future Self (a girl animates her mother’s migration story); How to Make a Movie (a parody of the filmmaking process from script to screen); Cavellini Goes Bananas (a Columbus Day parade tribute to Italian artist G.A. Cavellini); and

Gone Green (a combat veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder tries medical marijuana). This year’s jury included City College Cinema Department faculty Mike Shannon, John Carlson, and Anna Geyer in collaboration with film critic Jesse Hawthorne Ficks, organizer of Midnites for Maniacs; and Lu Ramirez, founder of Cine Mas, presenters of the San Francisco Latino Film Festival.t The event will be held at the Diego Rivera Theatre on City College’s Ocean Campus, 50 Phelan Avenue. Tickets are $3.

<< Open Forum

6 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Volume 46, Number 20 May 19-25, 2016 www.ebar.com PUBLISHER Michael M. Yamashita Thomas E. Horn, Publisher Emeritus (2013) Publisher (2003 – 2013) Bob Ross, Founder (1971 – 2003) NEWS EDITOR Cynthia Laird ARTS EDITOR Roberto Friedman BARTAB EDITOR & EVENTS LISTINGS EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • Seth Hemmelgarn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ray Aguilera • Tavo Amador • Race Bannon Erin Blackwell • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Brent Calderwood • Philip Campbell Heather Cassell • Belo Cipriani Richard Dodds • Michael Flanagan Jim Gladstone • David Guarino Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell • John F. Karr Lisa Keen • Matthew Kennedy • Joshua Klipp David Lamble • Max Leger Michael McDonagh • David-Elijah Nahmod Paul Parish • Sean Piverger • Lois Pearlman Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota • Bob Roehr Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel • Khaled Sayed Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith • Sari Staver • Jim Stewart Sean Timberlake • Andre Torrez • Ronn Vigh Ed Walsh • Cornelius Washington Sura Wood ART DIRECTION Jay Cribas PRODUCTION/DESIGN Max Leger PHOTOGRAPHERS Jane Philomen Cleland • FBFE Rick Gerharter • Gareth Gooch Lydia Gonzales • Jose Guzman-Colon Rudy K. Lawidjaja • Georg Lester • Dan Lloyd Jo-Lynn Otto • Rich Stadtmiller Steven Underhil • Dallis Willard • Bill Wilson ILLUSTRATORS & CARTOONISTS Paul Berge • Christine Smith ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATION Colleen Small VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVERTISING Scott Wazlowski – 415.829.8937 NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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Henderson for SF Superior Court T

his year voters have three solid candidates to choose from to fill an open seat on the San Francisco Superior Court. But one of them, Paul Henderson, is our choice in the race. Henderson is a gay AfricanAmerican man and was a prosecutor in the district attorney’s office. He now works in Mayor Ed Lee’s administration as his deputy chief of staff and director of public safety. He created a program to transition kids out of the criminal justice system and started a hate crimes unit in the DA’s office. Henderson is passionate that San Francisco’s bench reflects the community it serves, and he rightly points out that there is no gay AfricanAmerican man sitting as a judge. Why is that important? Consider what Henderson told us about his first day of work as a prosecutor when he arrived at the courtroom. The judge told him he had to leave and go outside to wait for his lawyer. That’s right. A San Francisco judge mistook Henderson for a criminal defendant. “That wasn’t a moment a shame,” Henderson told us. He wants the public to know that “This judge sees me. The next person who walks in with a box of cases won’t have that.” He worked for over 15 years as a trial attorney with a heavy caseload in the courtroom arguing hearings, defending motions, and conducting trials, taking 46 matters to verdict. In his questionnaire, Henderson also said he developed and implemented a number of programs related to justice reforms before moving into management positions. He also served as a pro-tem Superior Court bench officer resolving criminal cases, and has several years of experience as a hearing officer in Alameda County, where he heard civil appellate cases. Outside of the courtroom, Henderson told us, he has contributed to the legal profession by a deep involvement in public service activities. He has served “alongside numerous boards and agencies designed to create opportunities for others while maintaining a high profile of service.”

money, attending meetings. The only hint of glory comes every election cycle, when the committee makes its endorsements and is courted by candidates. For many years, it was seen as a steppingstone to elected office in the city, but recently, the DCCC has become overrun with elected officials – current and former – who usually win due to their strong name recognition. That’s the predicament we find ourselves in this year, as a record nine members of the Board of Supervisors (out of 11) are seeking seats on the DCCC, in addition to school board members, college board members, and others. Our basic approach to selecting candidates was: have they done the hard work for the party? On that same criteria, we did not reject officeholders out of hand, who had long involvement in the DCCC. The number one qualifier was that the candidates return our questionnaire seeking endorsement of the local LGBT newspaper, along with other questions about their background and philosophy. It was their decision to participate in our process. Finally, we looked at diversity, again, with an eye to qualified LGBT contenders, but also straight allies who have been there in the trenches with us. In Assembly District 17 we have endorsed Joshua Arce, Bevan Dufty, Zoe Jane Philomen Cleland Dunning, Michael Grafton, Pratima Gupta, Shaun San Francisco judicial candidate Paul Henderson About those DCCC Haines, Frances Hsieh, endorsements Rafael Mandelman, Gary As for our selections for McCoy, Leah Pimentel, San Francisco Democratic County Central Rebecca Prozan, Alix Rosenthal, Francis Tsang, Committee, we didn’t line up on the side of the and Scott Wiener. Reform Slate or the Progress Slate. Instead, we In Assembly District 19 we have endorsed chose candidates from both sides of the aisle. Kat Anderson, Keith Baraka, Joel Engardio, The DCCC, which runs the local DemoMark Farrell, Sandra Lee Fewer, Tom Hsieh, cratic Party, is where the grunt work gets done. Mary Jung, Rachael Norton, and Marjan Registering voters, doing outreach, raising Philhour.t He was independently reviewed by the Bar Association of San Francisco and found to be well-qualified from its judiciary committee. If elected, he told us, he wants to exercise his own discretion. That’s something we wish more judges did. There’s no onesize-fits-all formula for dispensing justice, and at the local level, judges should be able to come up with appropriate measures. Henderson told us that he has spent his entire career thinking about complex issues like disparities in the criminal justice system and how to address them. And he said that if elected, he would enhance the bench and promote the values of San Francisco. “I believe my voice and experience should be heard in a courtroom,” he said. Judicial candidates seeking election aren’t allowed to talk about how they would rule on various cases, and furthermore, they can’t disclose their views on any issue because it could affect a future case before them. With Henderson on the bench, San Francisco residents will be getting an experienced, qualified candidate who possesses judicial temperament. He is smart and hardworking. Those characteristics will serve him – and the people of San Francisco – well.

Memories of Harvey Milk and the Castro by Mel Lefer

n 1972 my wife and I bought a four-story landmark 1893 Victorian on 21st Street in San Francisco between Castro and Noe streets, overlooking the Castro district and downtown San Francisco. The quake and fire that destroyed downtown San Francisco in 1906 never reached our home and we lovingly restored it to its original glory. We had just finished a fourmonth training program to become Gestalt therapists at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur. We knew after a few short weeks of living in Big Sur that we would never return to what had been our dream house and our lives in Fairfield, Connecticut; the country club, the beach club, dinners, parties, and New York City. We knew San Francisco and California would be a more meaningful life, and we chose to have it. In the early 1970s you needed photo film to take pictures, and I took many of my wife and my three sons, ages 10, 6, and 2. The smartest, most beautiful boys in the world. The closest film developing store was a few blocks down on Castro Street. When I walked in, Harvey Milk was alone. He walked toward me and greeted me with a big smile that I would always look forward to receiving. I noticed Milk talked like me – kind, with a New York accent. I said, “I just moved into the neighborhood, is it safe for Jews here?” He laughed, came over, shook my hand, and said, “Don’t worry; you’ll be safe in this neighborhood.” From then on he always remembered my name and I his. We both knew we were living in a new era, in the middle of another American revolution. Milk had a brilliant idea, if the gays all came out and lived their lives as who they are, they could change the gay and straight world, and the hidden gay world would be no more. We were the old guys with the new ideas, but

Milk was desperately in love, more than I never letting go of our New York Yiddish-kite. had ever seen him. After he won the election he Milk would talk about how much he missed a called me and told me his boyfriend, Jack Lira, good New York City pastrami on rye. My favorwas very depressed. Lira felt he wasn’t contribite was chopped liver with coleslaw on rye. We uting to the relationship financially, and Milk were both veterans of the Korean War and asked me to give him a job. He worked for me we often poked fun at the Beats and for about four or five weeks and then quit, hippies and we would mimic them. soon after dying by suicide. A short time later, “You cool man? You copacetic? You Milk and Mayor George Moscone were murfloating yet? Yeah, I’m feeling it.” dered by Dan White, a former San Francisco In 1976 I wrote to about 100 supervisor. Whenever I see documentaries of my family and friends about showing Milk passing out pamphlets on street my idea to open a real New York corners, tears come to my eyes. deli in San Francisco. I would I was at the restaurant that night as over only allow $1,000 to $2,000 per 30,000 people holding candles walked in silence person for stock in the company. from the Castro down Market Street toward I told everyone that I knew nothCity Hall; the candlelight exposing the tears and ing about the restaurant business and only one pain and sadness in their eyes and faces. I sadly in 10 restaurants make it. Forty people sent me left the restaurant and joined them. money. It was called New York City Deli and Four months after Milk’s death, I opened my Restaurant and it was on Market Street, one version of a New York-style Italian block from Castro Street. restaurant, at the corner of Castro We were packed from day one. and 24th Street in Noe Valley. It was Milk was there from the begincalled Little Italy. It became the secning. He’d call and say, “Mel, I ond most popular Italian restaurant need my pastrami on warm rye. in San Francisco. When I had talked I’ll be right over.” to Milk about opening that restauMilk and I would sit in my ofrant, he said, “I want to be there fice eating, laughing, drinking opening night.” I often imagined Fox’s U-bet or Dr. Brown’s cream, Milk and I eating there. I am sure Cel-Ray, or black cherry sodas and Dan Nicoletta he would have loved it. eating potato salad made with I lived in the Castro through Hellman’s mayo. The smell of the Harvey Milk the awakenings of the 1970s to the rye bread that I heated before servsadness and despair of AIDS in the ing filled the restaurant and floated 1980s. I owned three restaurants in the Castro out into the street. For dessert we had nut and my wife, a psychotherapist, was on the horns from Leonard’s Bakery on 3rd Avenue board of an AIDS organization. in New York that I flew in every few weeks and Recently, while writing my autobiography, we would reminisce about the old days in New thoughts of my dear friend Milk came rushYork. ing in and I put my recollections into this little In 1977 when Milk decided to run for sustory. I loved Milk very much.t pervisor again, I gave him some money. During the campaign he called me: “Mel, I need 300 bucks to print pamphlets I’m handing Mel Lefer now lives in the North Bay. For out.” Soon after he called again. “Mel, I need the past 31 years he’s been a colleague of Dr. Dean Ornish, leading workshops, teach$500 for more pamphlets. I think I can win ing yoga, and giving talks to professionals this.” And he was right. from hospitals all over the country.

Letters >>

No passport needed to visit Puerto Rico

Thanks to Heather Cassell for her article on the Women’s Building [“Women’s Building to celebrate 45 years with party,” May 12]. But allow me to clarify that people born on the island of Puerto Rico are not immigrants but citizens of this country. We have carried U.S. Citizenship since 1917. But the U.S. invaded Puerto Rico in 1898. Since then we have been a colony of this country, not a territory or a commonwealth. There is plenty of exposure, sadly negative, about Puerto Rico in the U.S. lately; because of our national debt and because of the Zika virus. The press has been biased and sensationalistic. The New York Times falsely reported that 20 percent of the island population would be exposed to this virus within a year, which is untrue. This reminds me of the beginnings of the AIDS epidemic. The Republican Congress denies Puerto Rico going into bankruptcy as other states because we have a hybrid relationship with this country. For some things we are citizens, like sending Puerto Rican troops to wars where we don’t have a voice or a vote to agree or disagree, and to be subject to expensive shipping fares.

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 7

Puerto Rico is sunshine, good food, good music, handsome and hospitable gay people, and is just two hours away from Miami. You don’t need a passport or a visa to fly there. We are mixed, charming, and babaloo. Jorge Rodriguez Sanabria San Francisco

[Editor’s note: We’re sorry that error slipped through the editing process. The online version has been corrected.]

Best book review ever

Tim Pfaff ’s review of Imagine Me Gone [“Therapy days and intimate nights,” May 12] is the best book review I have ever read and possibly the best book review ever written. I have not seen this book yet but now know that I must. Each sentence in the review is so complex that it made me think, while also inspiring a bit of reverence for someone so skilled at writing. Thank you for this distinct pleasure. Kathy Duby Mill Valley, California

Barry Schneider Attorney at Law

family law specialist* • Divorce w/emphasis on Real Estate & Business Divisions • Domestic Partnerships, Support & Custody • Probate and Wills www.SchneiderLawSF.com

415-781-6500 *Certified by the California State Bar 400 Montgomery Street, Ste. 505, San Francisco, CA

/lgbtsf

SF honors transgender history with street naming

by Matthew S. Bajko

a local LGBT and labor activist who died in 2011 alone in a hospital, as his friends and family were not alerted to his becoming sick. It led them to organize the yearly daylong event to highlight various issues LGBT people face as they age. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

an Francisco is set to rename a Tenderloin street in honor of a defunct restaurant that served as a hangout for transgender and queer people in the 1960s. At its meeting Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to christen the 100 block of Taylor Street as AIDS funding, rent Gene Compton’s Cafeteria protection sought in SF Way. Because it would be an City leaders in San Francishonorary street name, the co are seeking to increase rent mailing addresses for busiprotections for HIV-positive nesses and residences on that people using a federal housing block will not change. program as well as dedicate Rick Gerharter As the Bay Area Reporter’s funding for AIDS agencies and online Political Notes column The site of Compton’s Cafeteria and the other nonprofits. first reported in late April, sidewalk plaque that commemorates the On Tuesday gay District District 6 Supervisor Jane 1966 riot that took place there. 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener Kim sponsored the proposal introduced legislation to enafter meeting with several sure that people who receive the corner of Taylor and Turk streets transgender activists earlier this Housing Opportunities for Persons where a ceremony will be held to year. They had sought her support with AIDS rental subsidies would dedicate the new street name. to mark the 50th anniversary of be covered by the city’s rent control Two years ago the city desigwhat became known as the Comprules. There are roughly 250 people nated the 100 block of Turk Street ton’s Cafeteria Riot. in San Francisco currently receiving as Vicki Mar Lane. The honorary Five decades ago one summer HOPWA rent vouchers. street name celebrates the legacy of night – the exact date has been lost to Under current city rules, HOPWA Marlane, who had hosted a popular history – transgender and queer parecipients living in rent-controlled drag revue show at nearby gay bar trons of the eatery stood up to police, buildings are not covered by San Aunt Charlie’s. She died in 2011 at fed up at being repeatedly arrested on Francisco’s rent ordinance. Accordthe age of 76 due to AIDS-related sex work charges and routinely haing to Wiener’s office, it is not known complications. rassed in general. It is believed that the how the loophole came into being, “There is still a long way to go to Compton’s Cafeteria riot took place and it only recently was brought to acknowledge the bravery of these in August 1966, three years prior to the attention of the supervisor. women who stood up for themthe more famous riots at the Stone“We don’t know if it was a draftselves,” said Kim. wall Inn gay bar in New York City. ing error from years ago. But we need “We were murdered, beat up, to fix it and fix it immediately,” said Grayson elder meeting thrown in jail because we couldn’t be Wiener. “We need to keep people Saturday who we were meant to be. I want this housed. The last thing we need is 250 The 50th anniversary of the as a way to give memory to all the people with HIV to become homeless Compton’s Cafeteria riot will also girls and boys who stood up for all because of a bizarre quirk in the law.” be commemorated at this year’s of us at one time to be who we were Wiener is requesting that the board fifth annual Howard Grayson LGBT meant to be,” said transgender activfast track the legislation and waive the Elder Life Conference taking place ist Felicia “Flames” Elizondo, who usual 30-day wait period to schedule Saturday, May 21, at the Cadillac worked with Kim on the Compton’s a hearing on it. Should it pass and be Hotel, 380 Eddy Street street naming. signed into law by Mayor Ed Lee, the (at Leavenworth) in The role the cafrent protections for HOPWA recipiSan Francisco. eteria played in the hisents could be in place by summer. “We moved the contory of San Francisco’s Next Tuesday, May 24, a coalition ference from the Castro LGBT community was of service providers and supervisors to the Tenderloin this brought to the public’s plans to introduce a charter amendyear because that was the attention in 2005 with ment seeking to set aside 2 percent home to LGBT life in the release of the docuof property tax revenues to fund serthe 1950s and 1960s,” mentary Screaming vices for seniors, adults with disabiliSue Englander, conQueens: The Riots at ties, veterans, and people living with ference convener, said Compton’s Cafeteria a chronic, life-threatening illness. in a news release. by Victor Silverman Backers of what has been dubbed Gay former state Asand Susan Stryker. the Dignity Fund include the AIDS semblyman Tom Ammiano will Opened in 1954, the cafeteria Legal Referral Panel; HIV and Aging welcome conference participants to ceased operations in 1972. Ten years Work Group; HIV Long Term Sura day of panels on Compton’s as well ago, on the 40th anniversary of the vivors; Openhouse; Project Open as entertainment by Blackberri and riots, a memorial plaque was inHand; and the Shanti Project. Gay the Mothertongue Feminist Collecstalled in the sidewalk at the corner District 9 Supervisor David Camtive. Along with Elizondo, speakers of Taylor and Turk streets. pos is a co-sponsor along with Suwill include trans youth activist Mia Signage with the new street name pervisors Malia Cohen, Eric Mar, Satya; LGBT historian Ruth Mahis expected to be unveiled the night Norman Yee, and John Avalos. aney, who teaches at City College; of the annual Trans March, which Should they gain a sixth backer and San Francisco State University will take place Friday, June 24. Kim’s on the board, the charter amendhistory Professor Marc Stein. office has been working with orgament could go before voters in The conference’s namesake was nizers of the event to have it end at November.t

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<< Community News

8 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Lesbian heads launch of Spin SF by Heather Cassell

pin San Francisco is providing a hip social club in the heart of the city to bring people of all stripes together for quality craft cocktails, bar bites that are healthy and tasty, and of course pingpong. Priya Sen is the global company’s first woman and out lesbian to head up the launch of the new pingpong social club, which has been a popular enclave in New York and is backed by the Academy Awardwinning actress, Susan Sarandon. Spin SF officially opens Thursday (May 19) with a private celebrityfilled event. “With Susan being in the picture, that only reinforced my view about how progressive Spin is,” Sen, a 35-year-old Indian hospitality professional, told the Bay Area Reporter May 12, the first day the club softly opened its doors across from Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Gardens. “You know, how welcoming they are to people of all races, class, creed, gender, and sexuality.” Sarandon wasn’t available for a comment by press time due to promoting her new film The Meddler. That afternoon, people were stopping, curious as they cupped their hands against the windows to peer in as others were already inside playing a round of table tennis on one of the 19 professional grade pingpong tables or enjoying a craft cocktail that is made in-house. Sen anticipates guests will love the Salt Lick Susan, a smoky mescal with a bourbon salt rim, named in honor of Sarandon, as well as the Top Spin, Back Spin, and Lob, all named after “different ways of playing pingpong,” she said. She imagines the club will be hopping after work with happy hour, clubbers at night, business and convention crowds during the afternoons, and filled with families on weekends. The venue also already has plenty of community events and special nights in the works, Sen and Pieter Vanermen, the 40-yearold chief executive officer of Spin Global, said. According to its website, prices

for pingpong range from $19 per half hour off-peak, to $49 an hour during peak periods. Food and beverages are separate.

Grasping the golden ring

Sen was tapped as general manager at the beginning of this year. It was a big and exciting step for her to bring Spin to life in San Francisco. Since she took the reins she has been actively seeking out a diverse staff and events to be hosted at the space, including actively recruiting and tapping into San Francisco’s LGBT community. “I worked with a diverse crew and I know how important it is to have different people of different opinions,” said Sen. “It’s like a really lovely infusion or amalgam of ideas that come into play.” It’s that combination of communities coming together that is important to Spin as the club holds up as two of its three pillars: community and creativity. The third, of course, is pingpong. “At Spin it’s all about the people,” said Vanermen, who is a straight ally. As an example, he told the story about an evening at Spin in New York where three different tables represented people from three completely different walks of life. At one table was New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz with some models; next to him was a group of Wall Street guys; and at another table was a 93-year-old woman practicing her hand and eye coordination playing pingpong. What happened next is what exemplifies Spin for Vanermen and Sen. “The best thing is that Victor Cruz went to the old lady to take a selfie, instead of the other way around,” said Vanermen. “It is so fun and that’s what Spin is all about. It’s about the energy between everybody playing. “[Priya] has that positive energy that is sometimes hard to find, but she has it and that is the reason why we love Priya,” he added, talking about hiring people that have that infectious positive energy that reflects Spin. “It’s about the energy the

Rick Gerharter

Spin SF staff play pingpong ahead of club’s May 19th opening

people have.” Sen also represents a part of San Francisco’s culture that Spin wants to ensure is included and feels welcome at the club. Spin’s goal is to bring people together. “It’s about being who you are without boundaries,” said Vanermen, pointing out that San Francisco’s culture is about four years ahead of any other major city in the country. “The culture [in] San Francisco is so open-minded,” he continued. “We think at Spin we are the same. We want to be more open. We want to be more liberal. We want to embrace innovation and creativity.” Sen represents the diversity Spin desires, but also she neatly fits into the social club’s celebratory community environment. “Priya is one of those creative persons that is not afraid of coming out and talking to people and make sure she stands for who she is,” said Vanermen. “That’s the same exact thing for Spin.”

We want you

It was with the eye of diversity, community, and hospitality that Sen went out into the various communities that she has been connected to in search of her staff. “It was important to have the crew reflect the vision of what Spin is,” said Sen. “It’s about community

and connection and the LGBT community is a part of our San Francisco community. So, that’s how it all kind of loops around together.” Several of Spin’s new staff agreed, adding that many of them felt relief and a sense of opportunity to get out of the gay ghetto and expand their world, too. “I’m excited to have a power lez to be in charge of me,” said Melvin Leihr, 34, a queer woman who is a server at Spin, pointing out that working around a diverse staff is “comforting.” Even though San Francisco is “very gay-friendly, sometimes when working with people who aren’t there could be some bias, there could be some discrimination.” Having an out lesbian lead the team helps mitigate those issues. DJ Olga T., who asked that her age not be published and selfidentifies as a transgender queer person, agreed, stating that having that “queer base,” made her feel “like I belong here,” she said. In the past she tended to work only in the LGBT community because it “felt safe,” but now she feels comfortable playing music for a mixed queer and straight crowd at Spin. For gay San Francisco native Walter Canas, 29, who is a host, Spin helped revive his vision of San Francisco that even with all of the recent changes, the values the city’s resi-

dents uphold haven’t disappeared. “It’s great to see the city is still maintaining its core values of acceptance and all around free love,” said Canas. “It’s been changing, but joining Spin has made me recognize that we are still here. It’s still the San Francisco I grew up in and an accepting city.” Natalie Purcell, a 29-year-old lesbian who is a bartender at Spin, agreed. “It’s great that Spin has put such an emphasis on community and not just San Francisco as a community, but the LGBT community as well,” she said.

Coming together

Spin already has big plans to bring communities together. Sen envisions events from drag nights to a Burning Man night to friendly competitions between tech executives to raise money for community causes or simply to mingle together, she said. “San Francisco is so weird, fun, [and] quirky right?” said Sen. “I think that Spin fits in really well because that’s the vibe it has.” Vanermen said the establishment already has a “huge pipeline of events.” In New York, where Spin was founded, the club hosts thousands of events – community, corporate, and nonprofit – annually. Sen and Vanermen see that being replicated in San Francisco, including the club’s signature event, the “Dirty Dozen” tournament that pits amateur table tennis players against pros for prizes and a night of fun. Helping the local community is also factored into Spin wherever it is located. “We get so much from the cities where we are in. We get so much positive energy from New York that we give something back and it will be no different in San Francisco,” said Vanermen, adding that the club is also carbon neutral, eco-friendly, and as sustainable as possible.t Spin San Francisco is located at 690 Folsom Street. For more information, visit http://sanfrancisco.wearespin.com.

Events planned for Harvey Milk Day compiled by Cynthia Laird

an Francisco will have two events to commemorate Harvey Milk Day this year, which falls on Sunday, May 22 and would have been the slain gay supervisor’s 86th birthday. The state of California held the first Milk Day on May 22, 2010 to mark the birthday of the first out politician elected to public office in the Golden State.

In 1977 Milk won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors but was assassinated the following year. Harvey Milk Day is considered a day of special significance, meaning public employees do not receive the day off and schools are not closed when it falls on a weekday. For the seventh annual observance, the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club will present a screening of The Times of Harvey Milk,

the 1984 Academy Award-winning documentary, at 3 p.m. at the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street. Tickets are $12 and available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ the-times-of-harvey-milk-birthday-screening-the-castro-theatretickets-25012714703. More information is available at the Facebook page, “The Times of Harvey Milk – Birthday Screening at the Castro Theatre.” Earlier in the afternoon, at 1, gay Supervisor Scott Wiener, whose District 8 includes the Castro, will join other community leaders at Harvey Milk Plaza (Castro and Market streets), to celebrate and honor Milk. The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band will perform. Interested people are welcome to attend.

Gay Syrian refugee to speak at SF church

Subhi Nahas, a gay Syrian refugee who made headlines last summer when he testified before a closed session of the United Nations Security Council, will speak at the Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1329 Seventh Avenue (at Irving) in San Francisco Sunday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. Nahas’ talk is part of Dignity/ San Francisco’s Fourth Sunday Lecture Series. He will speak about his

Dan Nicoletta

Harvey Milk, center, clowning around at Castro Camera with campaign worker Medora Payne and her mother, Gretchen Payne, February 1977.

journey as an LGBT refugee and his work paving the way for other refugees to access places where they will be free from discrimination, persecution, and threat of execution. The lecture is free and open to the public.

ALRP to honor Bob Ross Foundation

The AIDS Legal Referral Panel will honor the Bob Ross Foundation with its Community Partner Award

at a reception Wednesday, May 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Plant Cafe, located on Pier 3 The Embarcadero, #108, San Francisco. The reception is for ALRP’s major donors, said Bill Hirsh, executive director. Ross, the late founding publisher of the Bay Area Reporter, established his foundation in 1996 to give to a broad portfolio of nonprofits. Ross died in 2003; the foundation is now run by Thomas E. Horn, publisher emeritus of the B.A.R. Also being recognized at the reception will be Lisa and Dirk DiGiorgio-Haag, who will receive the James C. Hormel Philanthropist Award. The reception is part of ALRP’s Hopeful Heart Campaign, which aims to raise $100,000 this spring. Those who have donated $500 or more this year are invited as ALRP’s guests. For more information, or to donate, visit http://www.alrp.org/ events/alrp-2016-major-donor-party.

PAWS, Shanti to honor Wilsey, Bashford

This year’s Petchitecture will honor San Francisco philanthropist Dede Wilsey and the late clothier Wilkes Bashford as it raises money See page 17 >>

Community News>>

t Hep C treatment access highlighted at liver confab

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 9

by Liz Highleyman

titis B virus long term but seldom produces a cure. efining and expanding New drugs that work by access to treatment for different mechanisms are hepatitis C, as well as better under development. therapies for hepatitis B, was One of the most effective a major focus at the recent hepatitis B treatments is teInternational Liver Connofovir, which is also used gress in Barcelona. to treat HIV. Researchers Experts estimate that reported that the new tenoaround four million people fovir alafenamide, or “TAF” in the U.S. are living with formulation, is as effective Liz Highleyman hepatitis C and more than against hepatitis B virus as one million have hepatitis B. Protesters carried a banner demanding more access the older tenofovir disoto hepatitis C drugs outside the recent International Both infections can lead to proxil fumarate, or “TDF” Liver Congress meeting in Barcelona severe liver disease includformulation (Viread), but ing cirrhosis, liver cancer, causes less kidney and bone Reinfection after successful treatand the need for a liver transplant. toxicity. TAF was recently approved ment remains a concern, including New surveillance data released in combination pills for HIV, and the reinfection due to sexual transmisthis month by the Centers for DisFood and Drug Administration is sion. One study found that a quarter ease Control and Prevention found now evaluating it for hepatitis B. of HIV-positive gay men who cleared that the number of deaths due to their initial hepatitis C infection were hepatitis C is at an all-time high Expanding global access reinfected within three years. But, acand exceeds those attributable to 60 While the medical mysteries of cording to a study by Natasha Martin other infectious diseases, including hepatitis C may be largely solved, from UC San Diego, hepatitis C sexHIV and tuberculosis. There were broader access to treatment remains ual transmission could be reduced 19,659 hepatitis C-related deaths a goal in the U.S. and worldwide. through scale-up of treatment. reported in 2014 – a 78 percent inApproximately 130-150 million With the medical challenges of crease over the past decade. people worldwide are thought to be hepatitis C largely conquered, focus Hepatitis C prevalence in the U.S. living with chronic hepatitis C and is shifting to hepatitis B. Current anis highest among people age 55 to See page 17 >> tiviral treatment can suppress hepa64, many of whom were infected decades ago. But reported cases of new or acute hepatitis C infection have more than doubled since 2010 – reaching 2,194 in 2014 – and these are largely occurring among younger people who inject drugs in rural and suburban areas of the Midwest and Eastern U.S. “Because hepatitis C often has few noticeable symptoms, the number of new cases is likely much higher than what is reported,” said Dr. John Ward, director of CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis. “Due to limited screening and underreporting, we estimate the number of new infections is closer to 30,000 per year. We must act now to diagnose and treat hidden infections before they become deadly and to prevent new infections.”

Hepatitis B and C treatment

The development of interferonfree therapy has brought about a revolution in hepatitis C treatment in recent years. Unlike the old interferon treatment, which took six to 12 months, caused difficult side effects, and only cured about half of people who tried it, new directacting antiviral drugs can cure more than 90 percent of patients, usually in just two to three months. With several of these drugs now approved, the focus has shifted to optimizing treatment for more challenging patient groups, including people with advanced liver cirrhosis and those with hard-to-treat hepatitis C virus genotype 3. Researchers at the April liver conference presented findings on the newest experimental therapies, including AbbVie’s pipeline candidates ABT-493 and ABT-530 and Gilead Sciences’ velpatasvir and GS857, which join its blockbusters sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) and sofosbuvir/ ledipasvir (Harvoni). Clinical trials showed that these drugs, along with the earlier directacting antivirals, can now cure almost everyone with hepatitis C, and they also perform well in “real world” use. Treatment is equally effective for HIV-positive people with hepatitis C coinfection. Researchers reported that just six weeks of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir appears to be enough to cure people with new or acute hepatitis C infection – at least for HIV-negative people. A similar study presented at the February Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, however, found that some HIV-positive people relapsed with such a short treatment duration.

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<< Community News

10 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Castro gets another star turn in TV filming by David-Elijah Nahmod

he cameras and film crews have packed up and left, but for a few days recently, the Castro and other parts of the city were transformed into the 1970s as part of filming for a gay-themed miniseries. Set to air on ABC in early 2017, When We Rise is an eight-hour drama that will recount the his-

tory of what began as the gay rights movement in 1969 but is now known as the LGBT equality movement. It’s inspired by a forthcoming memoir by longtime gay activist and Castro district resident Cleve Jones that will be published in November. When We Rise is written and executive produced by gay Hollywood A-lister Dustin Lance Black, who won an Oscar for his screenplay

Rick Gerharter

Austin P. McKenzie, with bullhorn, who plays the role of Cleve Jones in the ABC miniseries When We Rise, talks with a member of the production crew while filming a reenactment of the White Night riots in front of San Francisco City Hall.

for Milk, the 2008 biopic about slain gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. Gus Van Sant, who directed Milk, will be calling the shots on select episodes of When We Rise. “It’s called When We Rise because ‘we’ is important,” Black told the Bay Area Reporter. “We goes beyond LGBT. It’s about the interconnectedness of social justice movements. As one group rises, they have to help the other groups come up.” Black also said that in addition to LGBT equality, the series would include the civil rights, women’s, and peace movements. “It’s remarkable that ABC wanted to do this,” said Jones. “They didn’t have to be pitched. That’s a good indication of how far we’ve come.” The miniseries will recount the lives and achievements of a number of real life San Francisco gay activists. Guy Pearce, best known to gay audiences for his role in the classic drag queen road movie Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1993), has been cast as Jones. Austin P. McKenzie, who starred on Broadway in the musical Spring Awakening, will play the younger Jones. Roma Guy, a co-founder of the Women’s Building, will be played by Mary Louise Parker. Carrie Preston

ABC/Ron Koeberer

A gay Pride scene is filmed in San Francisco for the ABC miniseries When We Rise.

has been cast as trailblazing lesbian feminist Sally Gearhart, who’s an honoree at this year’s San Francisco Pride parade. Whoopi Goldberg will be seen as Pat Norman, the first out lesbian to be hired by the San Francisco Department of Public Health and to run for the Board of Supervisors. Out actress Rosie O’Donnell plays the late Del Martin, who with her wife, Phyllis Lyon, co-founded the Daughters of Bilitis, an early lesbian rights organization, in 1955. In 2004 Martin and Lyon became the

first same-sex couple to be married at San Francisco City Hall. Kevin McHale (Glee) has been cast as the late Castro resident Bobbi Campbell, the self-described “AIDS Poster Boy” from the early 1980s. An early member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (Sister Florence Nightmare), Campbell was featured on the cover of Newsweek in 1983, the year before he died. Ken Jones, a gay African-American man who is played in the series See page 18 >>

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Community News>>

SFMTA

From page 1

development ideas for all five of the lots. It is an outgrowth of the “SFMTA Real Estate and Facilities Vision for the 21st Century” report, which the agency adopted in 2013, as well part of Mayor Ed Lee’s Public Lands for Housing program. As the SFMTA explained last year when it sought to hire a consultant for the conceptual feasibility study, while the parking lots generate revenue from fees and meters, the agency wanted to know how much “additional revenue could be captured through feasible and cost-effective development and leasing or sale of improvements on these sites, with no ongoing cost to the SFMTA.” It stated that the city’s goal would be 50 percent of any units developed on the parking lots would be affordable to households of low or moderate incomes. The consultant’s draft report on the quintet of parking lots should be released later this month. “The idea of using public lands for housing is a goal SFMTA enthusiastically supports,” said Rafe Rabalais, who oversees strategic real estate for the SFMTA, during a May 9 hearing before the Board of Supervisors’ land use committee. “We know that, as a city agency with substantial holdings throughout the city, we know we have a role to play in addressing the affordable housing crisis.” Speaking with the Bay Area Reporter by phone this week, Rabalais stressed that the agency’s review of its surplus property is in the preliminary stages and any decisions to move forward with specific developments would not take place until after consultation with the public. “Our intention is to do some initial outreach to key stakeholders in the neighborhood,” said Rabalais. “We will be sharing concepts rather than saying this is what we want to do.” Gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, who represents the Castro and sits on the board’s land use committee, told the B.A.R. he supports building affordable housing on the two parking lots in the gayborhood. “Whether 100 percent affordable or a very high percentage of affordable, it is a great opportunity to bring significant affordable housing to the heart of the Castro,” said Wiener, who noted “there are a lot of different segments of our community in desperate need of affordable housing, such as people living with HIV, seniors, at risk youth, and others.” Asked if he would support a redevelopment project that eliminated the parking on the lots, Wiener would not rule it out, saying doing so would be “a topic of discussion.” Noting that the talks to redevelop the lots are still in the early stages, Wiener said he would wait to hear more concrete plans from the SFMTA before making a decision. “If you put parking in, it increases the cost. We also know our merchants depend on those parking lots. I want to make sure we are sensitive to that and everyone is at the table as we move through those decisions,” said Wiener. “I think there is a good argument for having publicly accessible parking. With that said, I will not draw any conclusions until we have an analysis of what that would mean in the context of specific types of projects.” Both of the lots are relatively small, and it is unclear if it would be financially feasible to include public parking as part of a housing development. Rabalais told the B.A.R. he couldn’t say what might be proposed for the Castro lots until the draft report is released. “The consultant is looking at a variety of scenarios,” he said. “It will depend on the geometry of the sites how many housing units and parking can be accommodated site by site.” Also expressing support for repurposing the SFMTA parking lots

was District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim, who encouraged the agency to also look at sites it owns in neighborhoods she represents, such as the South of Market area. “It is great to see SFMTA is looking very closely at its portfolio for opportunities for affordable housing,” Kim said during last week’s hearing. “I think it is great we are looking at surface parking lots.”

Castro lots long eyed for housing

This is not the first time the Castro’s two city-owned parking lots have been considered as ideal locations for affordable housing. Back in 2007 the AIDS Housing Alliance/San Francisco, which recently changed its name to the Q Foundation, floated an idea of using the sites to build housing for people living with HIV/AIDS. The nonprofit had suggested that both parking lots could be rebuilt with underground parking, ground floor retail, office spaces, and housing for HIV-positive people or those with disabilities. The retail could then employ the residents, offering them some stable income. Two years later the nonprofit released concept drawings for a 65-unit housing development with parking on the L-shaped lot behind Walgreens at the corner of 18th and Castro streets. The design called for four floors built over the existing parking spaces.

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 11

Adjacent to the driveway on 18th Street would be a retail space on the left side and the entrance to the apartments above on the right side. The design plan was dependent upon acquiring the existing building at 4122 18th Street, which had housed Magnet, the gay men’s health center, and is now for lease. As for the L-shaped parking lot behind the Castro Theatre, the proposal called for 35 units of housing above parking. There had also been talk about setting aside two floors of the building for queer performing arts company Theatre Rhinoceros. The preliminary plan for the site also called for acquiring the building adjacent to the entrance to the parking lot, which now houses Eureka Cafe, Sliders, and Care Plus CVS Pharmacy. Nothing ever came of the plans, however, and the proposals were shelved. With the SFMTA now renewing the idea of seeing housing be built on the two lots, the Q Foundation is again advocating that whatever be built benefit members of the city’s HIV and LGBT communities. “We are exploring waking that project back up,” Q Foundation cofounder and director Brian Basinger told the B.A.R. this week. He said city Planning Commissioner Dennis Richards, a gay man who joined the Q Foundation’s board last year, is taking the lead on the nonprofit’s interest in seeing the

two Castro parking lots be redeveloped. Richards has been informally talking to neighborhood leaders about the proposal. “Obviously, we are all concerned with what is happening in the neighborhood around displacement, especially with people living with HIV and AIDS,” said Richards, a Duboce Triangle resident. Should the SFMTA move forward with seeking development propos-

als for the lots, Richards suggested the Q Foundation could team with an affordable housing developer to pitch its plans, which would include building underground public parking. “If there is no parking, I think the merchants will not be happy. There has to be some parking,” he said. “We are still a regional destination. People drive here to come to the Castro.”t

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<< Community News

12 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

VALENCIA CYCLERY

SPRING SALE ONinNOW! We’ve got more bikes stockV & AL ready ride thanbikes any shop in SF. We’vetogot more in stock & CYC ready to ride than shop in SF! MANY ON any SALE! SPRING

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Hybrid/City

Transform CA launches in SJ

Hybrid/City

Kid’s

ongressman Mike Honda (D-San Jose) was on hand in the South Bay city Saturday, May 14 as Equality California brought its Transform California initiative to the area. The statewide campaign, which recently kicked off in southern California, is a project of EQCA and the Transgender Law

Center to promote respect, understanding, and safety for the trans community. Honda, who has a transgender grandchild, said that the initiative “is an important step toward transgender equality.” To sign the coalition pledge and join the movement, visit www.transformcalifornia.com.

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2015 heads to the state nances passed at the city Senate. Assembly Bill level, it also required an Jose has joined the list of cit1887, authored by gay transgender people to ies and states banning taxpayer Assemblyman Evan Low use public restrooms Every Thursday in April between 4 & 7pm funded travel to North Carolina and (D-Campbell), passed that corresponded with take 20% OFF all parts, accessories & clothing.* 1065 1077 Mississippi due to the enactment of & out of the full Assembly theValen gender they were asSALES 415-550anti-LGBT laws in those states. last Monday, May 9 on a signed at birth. *Sales*Sales limited to stock on hand. limited to stock on hand. Mon.Sat. 1 At its meeting Tuesday, May 17 bipartisan vote of 54-21. At the time, the Bay We’ve got m valenci the San Jose City Council adopted “AB 1887 sends a Area Reporter had inready to ride a resolution banning non-essential clear message that we do quired with San Jose ofcity travel within the two Southnot tolerate discriminaficials if they would folSan Jose City ern states. It specified that the city tion in California or Councilman low San Francisco’s lead would no longer cover the costs for anywhere beyond our Ash Kalra in adopting a similar employees traveling to either state borders,” stated Low foltravel ban. Mayor Sam to attend conventions, meetings, or lowing last week’s vote. Liccardo’s office said it other events. In March San Francisco was the would look into the issue. 1065 & 1077 Valencia (Btwn 21st & 22nd St.) • SF Hybrid/City The decision comes as a Califorfirst city to ban taxpayer-funded Unlike Mayor Ed Lee in San FranSALES 415-550-6600 • REPAIRS 415-550-6601 nia bill that would enact a ban on travel to North Carolina due to the cisco, who issued an executive order Mon.- Sat. 10-6, Thu. 10-7, Sun. 11-5 taxpayer funded travel by state empassage of House Bill 2 in the Tar to restrict travel by city employees, ployees to any state that has passed Heel state. The measure not only See page 18 >> an anti-LGBT law since June 25, rescinded anti-discrimination ordi-

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National News>>

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 13

Federal agencies back trans students’ restroom access analysis by Lisa Keen

he National Center for Transgender Equality called it “one of the biggest victories of the transgender community ever,” referring to the May 13 announcement by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice that discrimination against transgender students violates a federal law against sex discrimination. But last week saw two additional historic victories for transgender people, as well as one somewhat stilted step forward on sexual orientation discrimination in health care. In one, as reported last week, the Justice Department announced that it would sue the state of North Carolina because of its new law restricting the use of public restrooms by transgender people. Then last Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued regulations stating that the Affordable Care Act’s prohibition on sex discrimination in health coverage and care includes a prohibition on discrimination based on gender identity. All three developments received widespread media attention. And while national LGBT legal and political groups hailed the advancements, several governors promised a fight on at least two of the issues. In a much less noticed development, the HHS guidelines declined to take a position that the ACA’s prohibition on discrimination based on sex includes sexual orientation. Instead, it said it would cover instances “where the evidence establishes that the [sexual orientation] discrimination is based on gender stereotypes.” Human Rights Campaign spokesman Stephen Peters said Friday that, while HRC is “disappointed that the regulation does not provide sufficient clarity” around sexual orientation discrimination, the prohibition around sex stereotyping “will provide significant protections” for LGBT people.

Register the final regulaShannon Minter, tions for implementalegal director of the tion of a provision of the National Center for 2010 Affordable Care Act Lesbian Rights conthat prohibits discrimicurred, saying the rule nation in certain health “recognizes that sexual programs and activities. orientation discriminaThe provision, known tion is inherently based as Section 1557, bars on gender stereotypes, courtesy Dept. of Education discrimination in health so we view it as procare on the basis of race, viding comprehensive Acting Education color, national origin, protection.” Secretary John B. sex, age, and disability. The metaphorical King Jr. The HHS rules state truckload of legal develthat discrimination opments around rights based on gender identity is a form for transgender people came in of discrimination based on sex. The three major areas: education, health, final regulations define gender idenand public accommodations. tity as “an individual’s internal sense Education of gender” and note that this “may The Departments of Education be male, female, neither, or a comand Justice issued to schools a “Dear bination of male and female.” And Colleague” letter for transgender they define transgender identity as students, explaining what existing when gender identity is different laws require of the schools receiving from the person’s physical sex attrifederal funding. The administration butes at birth. prepared the letter in response to an The final regulations cover many “increasing number of questions” issues, including abortion, relifrom schools about what Title IX gious exemptions, and tribal health (prohibiting sex discrimination) plans and allows private lawsuits of the Education Amendments Act to remedy violations. And it covrequires. ers all health care delivery entities The departments’ letter says Title – including doctors – that receive IX “encompasses discrimination federal funding, including Medicaid based on a student’s gender identity. and Medicare dollars. ...” It identifies four areas in which The final rules go into effect July schools should make efforts to en18, but health plans have until Janusure that transgender students have ary 1 to put the changes into effect. equal access to educational proPublic Accommodations grams: ensuring a safe environment As reported early last week, the free of harassment; showing respect Justice Department announced it for the student’s gender identity would sue North Carolina and do “even if their educational records or “everything we can to protect [transidentification documents indicate a gender people] going forward.” Atdifferent sex;” allowing transgender torney General Loretta Lynch made students to use the restrooms and the announcement just hours after locker rooms and single-sex classNorth Carolina Governor Pat Mcrooms consistent with their gender Crory said his state was filing a lawidentity; and ensuring the privacy suit asking a federal court to declare rights of transgender students are valid House Bill 2 (HB 2). The law, protected. passed in March, requires people use Health care public restrooms based on the gender HHS published in the Federal indicated by their birth certificate.

HB 2 also limits local nondiscrimination laws to protected categories included in the state law (which does not include sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination).

Walking some narrow lines

In explaining its final regulations concerning non-discrimination under the Affordable Care Act, HHS noted, “Some religious organizations ... strongly supported a religious exemption, arguing that faithbased health care providers and employers would be substantially burdened if required to provide or refer for, or purchase insurance covering, particular services such as gender transition services.” HHS noted “none” of these religious organizations “asserted that there would be a religious basis for generally refusing to treat LGBT individuals.” Instead, they said “particular services, such as services related to gender transition ... are inconsistent with their religious beliefs.” HHS noted that its final regulations do not displace existing federal law, such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, with respect to religious beliefs. While Section 1557 does not contain a blanket religious exemption, says the rule, “Claims under RFRA” would be examined on a “case-by-case basis.” HHS noted that “many” people and organizations that commented on the proposed regulations asked that the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sex include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Others, it said, argued against that. HHS said that it supports inclusion of sexual orientation “as a matter of policy.” It noted that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins held that it was unlawful sex discrimination to treat a person differently based on his or her “failure to conform to gender-based stereotypes about how men or

women should present themselves or behave.” HHS specifically declined to say whether discrimination based on “sexual orientation alone” – absent discrimination based on gender stereotyping – is sex discrimination under the ACA’s 1557. The Human Rights Campaign said last November it delivered more than 13,000 comments from its members and supporters about the proposed new regulations. HRC noted then that it was concerned the rules did not adequately protect against sexual orientation discrimination. Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund senior counsel Jennifer Pizer said that, while the HHS guidelines are “leaving for a future day whether sexual orientation discrimination per se is sex discrimination,” it indicated “that further guidance may well be forthcoming” as additional case law develops. “Our view is that the protection afforded by the final rule released [Friday] is robust, legally solid, and will be a powerful tool for challenging – and deterring – discrimination,” said Pizer. “It will make a transformative difference as a practical matter. The key is in the definition of ‘sex stereotypes,’ which says: ‘Sex stereotypes also include gendered expectations related to the appropriate roles of a certain sex.’” GLAD Legal Advocates and Defenders attorney Jennifer Levi noted that “lots of groups and individuals” have been working with federal agencies on transgender issues for “many years.” But for many in the general public, the issue is somewhat new. The Washington Post reported Sunday that dictionary searches of the word “transgender” “spiked more than 600 percent” on May 13 and is now at the top of Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s list of top trending searches. The dictionary says the word has been in use since 1970.t

Senate OKs Fanning as Army secretary by Lisa Keen

he Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of an openly gay man to serve as secretary of the U.S. Army – the first openly gay person to serve as the head of any military branch. The confirmation of Eric Fanning, by voice vote, came very quickly May 17 after Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) lifted a hold he had put on the nomination. In a statement Tuesday, Roberts said Fanning “has always had my support for this position” but said he had placed a hold on the nomination in an effort to stop the Obama administration from moving Guantanamo Bay prisoners to Fort Leavenworth. “I believe Eric Fanning will be a tremendous leader for the Army,” said Roberts. Fanning, 47 and a native of Michigan, will take over the reins from Acting Secretary of the Army Pat-

Trans woman From page 5

brought him paperwork for a divorce, but it didn’t look legitimate, and Luvlee had admitted to faking it. In their announcement for last week’s rally, Luvlee’s supporters criticized the sheriff ’s department for “transphobia” and other problems.

Sheriff’s actions

The sheriff ’s department has been making plans to stop housing

rick Murphy. Murphy, a rector of political affairs veteran of the Iraq War at the White House. and a former member President Barack of the House of RepreObama nominated Fansentatives, helped lead ning to replace retiring the push in Congress to Secretary John McHugh repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t last September. Fanning Tell” in 2010. served as acting secreNo one questioned tary when McHugh left Fanning’s qualifications but stepped aside in to serve as secretary. He Eric Fanning January while his nomihas held a series of leadnation was pending. ership positions at the “Eric’s sexual orientaPentagon since 2009, including jobs tion has absolutely no bearing on in the departments of the Air Force, his ability to do this job; nor was it Navy, and Army. Last year, he also the reason for his nomination. But served as a special assistant to newly this milestone of having an openly installed Defense Secretary Ashton gay individual in this high level Carter. He also served on the staff position within the Department of the House Armed Services Comof Defense will help to continue mittee and served as deputy director to set a tone of understanding and of the Commission on the Prevenrespect for the LGBT community tion of Weapons of Mass Destructhroughout the armed services,” tion Proliferation and Terrorism. said Matt Thorn, executive director During the Clinton administration, of the LGBT military support group Fanning served as an associate diOutServe-SLDN.

Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin also applauded Fanning’s confirmation, saying it was “a demonstration of the continued progress towards fairness and equality in our nation’s armed forces.” Fanning was a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund from 2004 to 2007. The group helps LGBT people seek elective office and appointments within the federal government. As Carter’s chief of staff last June, Fanning said he felt like he was the only gay man at the Pentagon when he came out in 1993, the year thenPresident Bill Clinton signed the ban on gays in the military into law. “It’s gone from tolerance to acceptance to embrace,” said Fanning, according to a Defense Department news release on Fanning’s remarks to a group of employees at the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Pride Month event. “We have this community of support whenever we try to do any-

thing or put ourselves forward.” While the secretary position is a civilian one, Fanning’s nomination comes just six years after Congress repealed a long-standing ban on openly gay people serving in the military. It is perhaps ironic, too, that one of Fanning’s biggest advocates in the Senate – Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) – had steadfastly opposed repeal of DADT. McCain criticized the hold on Fanning last month, saying, “Mr. Fanning is eminently qualified to assume that role of secretary of the Army.” He urged Roberts to drop his hold on the nomination. “All I can say,” said McCain, April 28, on the floor of the Senate, “is that the U.S. Army needs this man, Mr. Eric Fanning’s leadership.” Fanning’s confirmation vote Tuesday was taken by unanimous consent, a procedure that allows expedited approval of a matter without debate.t

trans inmates based on their gender assigned at birth. Recently, trans women who are in custody were moved from their unit in County Jail #4, a men’s facility, to County Jail #2, which holds men and women. They’re still not integrated into the women’s population, but Sheriff Vicki Hennessy “is committed to doing it, and it is the focus of a great deal of work,” Eileen Hirst, Hennessy’s chief of staff, said Tuesday. One challenge, Hirst said, is that the national Prison Rape Elimination Act “has a specific guideline

firmed then that an investigation was underway. Tuesday, she said, “What we found when we actually interviewed everybody in the housing unit was that they had heard that he said things. They had not heard him say them. ... No one told us that they had a direct experience of his using transphobic slurs.” That “does not mean that it wasn’t hurtful to them to have heard” the allegations, Hirst added, “but there was no one who had the direct experience of hearing it” from

the deputy. The investigation did uncover “some issues that are consistent with housing transgender prisoners, particularly transgender women, in a facility that is all male,” she said. A prime example is underwear. “There was not sufficient appropriate underwear” for the trans inmates. Now that they’ve been moved to another jail, even though the inmates still “are not in a women’s housing unit ... the appropriate and appropriately sized underwear is available” to them, Hirst said.t

about people being searched by deputies of the gender with which they identify. We will need to write the policy that goes along with that,” then meet with union officials and train deputies. Hirst also addressed allegations that emerged in March that staff had made anti-trans comments to inmates, who at the time were still being held in the men’s jail. In March, an inmate had said Deputy McDowell, whose first name hasn’t been disclosed, had been particularly problematic. Hirst had con-

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Obituary>>

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 15

Intactivist Jonathan Conte dead at 34 by Seth Hemmelgarn

gay San Francisco man who for years spoke out against male circumcision killed himself last week, according to his partner. Jonathan Conte, 34, who went to LGBT Pride and other events and rode his bicycle carrying signs with slogans like “Got genital rights?” had made intactivism “his life’s work,” said Christopher Holden, 42, Mr. Conte’s partner of five years. Since Mr. Conte’s death Monday, May 9 in their Alamo square apartment, intactivists – people who oppose cutting the foreskin from penises – have expressed “so much support,” Holden said, and “that helps, in a way, to know how many people cared for him.” In a YouTube video posted in October 2011, Mr. Conte indicated what drove his work was concern for others. In the video, he talked about how he learned about circumcision when he saw a picture of an intact penis for the first time when he was about 14. Mr. Conte said that’s when he realized part of his body “had been cut away from me.” That led to feelings of “incompleteness, both physically and sexually,” and he decided, “If I as a victim, and other victims, don’t speak out against this practice, it will continue, and more men will continue to experience the painful emotions I’ve had to deal with.” Holden, who described Mr. Conte as “really sweet,” and “caring and vulnerable,” also said he was “very deliberate” and a methodical planner. That was sadly exemplified last Monday. Mr. Conte made him pancakes that morning, which was “unusual,” but “he seemed fine,” Holden said. He recalled how his partner had also given him a “concerned” smile, which seemed a little odd.

courtesy Lindsay Holden

Jonathan Conte

“He was saying goodbye, essentially,” Holden realized later. When he got home from work that day, he went upstairs, played with the couple’s cat, and wondered where Mr. Conte was. Then, he said, “I heard some soft music coming from the bedroom.” He saw Mr. Conte’s feet, and at first he thought he was asleep. But Holden soon saw that there was a bag over Mr. Conte’s head, with a tube that led to a helium tank. “I went over there in shock and ripped it off and tried to do CPR, but of course it was too late,” he said. “It’s very fast acting.” Holden said Mr. Conte had never given any indication he was thinking of killing himself, but he’d probably been planning it for “quite some time.” “There was a side of him he kept very closely guarded,” Holden said. He indicated Mr. Conte hadn’t complained of major troubles, but “he was using up all his money” so he could devote his time to intactivism, and “he was too proud to ask for money.” Holden hasn’t found a note, but he said that’s “not really his personality. I think it speaks for itself.”

The medical examiner’s office hasn’t confirmed the cause and manner of Mr. Conte’s death. Lloyd Schofield, 64, of San Francisco, credited Mr. Conte with building up the movement in the Bay Area. Schofield was the proponent of a 2011 ballot measure that would have criminalized anyone practicing circumcision on boys under the age of 18 within San Francisco. Mr. Conte “was our number one signature gatherer,” Schofield said. The measure was removed from the ballot by a judge. Despite Mr. Conte’s enthusiasm, Schofield said, “He said to me many, many times, ‘People just don’t care.’ ... I think he’d just given it his all.” Schofield said friends know where Mr. Conte’s bike is, but they’re looking for the trailer Mr. Conte had attached to it, which regularly bore anti-circumcision signs. “We strongly suspect he left that trailer in a very visible place so people could see it, as one last attempt to educate,” he said. In an email to the Bay Area Reporter, Cornelius Washington, 57, who writes for the paper and is also an intactivist, said Mr. Conte had “advocated for children’s autonomy to be free of mutilation and restrictions. ... San Francisco has lost a very kind and special man.” Paul Tortora, 60, of San Francisco, an ally of the intactivists, said Mr. Conte “was just a lovely man, just one of those unusual people you meet once and you remember their smile for hours later.” Tortora, who said he’s “genuinely heartbroken,” added, “I know how much he could have done, how much more he had ahead of him.” A memorial is set to start at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the SF Eagle, 398 12th Street.t

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16 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

The unanimous roar by Roger Brigham

had to see and hear it all for myself. Over the past two years I have been delighted to watch the TV broadcasts of Golden State Warriors games as they frolicked through NBA seasons and postseasons with a joyous, selfless passion for the game that is sheer delight in this old coach’s heart. Hell, I have even turned off baseball games to watch them. I was told about the energy and the noise that ricochet throughout Oracle Arena. I knew history was being made. So this week I made it out to a game to witness the spectacle in person. On Monday, May 16, I worked my way into the upper levels of Oracle to

watch the festivities from an auxiliary press box. The Warriors, winners of an unprecedented 73 games in the regular season, had just completed playoff series victories over the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers and were about to open the Western Conference finals against the rejuvenated Oklahoma Thunder, themselves just having obliterated the San Antonio Spurs. The sold out crowd was confident, jazzed, and raucous. Last time I had gone to NBA playoff games was back in the 1980s when I worked in Los Angeles and watched the successive dominance of the Lakers, the Pistons, and the Bulls. I thought the games were loud and festive at the time; until this week, I had no grasp of what

loud and festive had become. ing five. Stephen Curry is the The fans were given goldtwo-time MVP (some players colored T-shirts and bracelets seemed peeved he became that lit up in red, white or blue the first unanimous choice upon computer command. The this year) and has revolutionWarriors have employed the ized the game with his deep slogan “Strength in Numbers” three-point shooting and this year as a nod to the depth jaw-dropping pass skills; Klay of the rotation and the sonic Thompson came back from impact on opponents of the being trade-bait two years ago rambunctious sold-out crowds. to become a top-caliber deThroughout the evening, the fender and be part of the best arena would be transformed shooting backcourt in history; into wonderful coordinated Draymond Green is the team’s light displays as a backdrop to best defensive player and is Jock Talk columnist Roger Brigham checked the personification of its will the drama on the court. It was all very pretty, but the out the action at Monday’s Warriors game. to win; and Andrew Bogut, beginning of the game was unwhen healthy, is a supreme net derwhelming. The crowd was protector. loud, nothing special, and the Barnes? An impressive genHo-hum. Warriors and Thunder were playeralist with erratic scoring who With three and a half minutes reing with little energy and little sucnever seems to fit into the spotlight, maining in the first quarter, Harrison cess. The baskets and misses were and the most likely to leave through Barnes changed all of that. being exchanged with no one take free agency. Now, Barnes is the fifth and decisive action. most forgotten of the team’s startSee page 18 >>

7 great apps for people with disabilities by Belo Cipriani

e all have our challenges, some big, some small, and some that require assistance. As a blind man, I know firsthand the importance of reliable technology, not just for the use of completing chores, but also for mingling with everyone else. Here are seven apps for people with disabilities that enhance anything from socializing to buying groceries.

Disney Movies Anywhere

Disney Movies Anywhere, or DMA, is an app that allows blind and visually impaired individuals to enjoy Disney-Pixar films through a

feature called descriptive audio – a service that has voice talent narrate the non-spoken parts of a movie. While descriptive audio has been around for some time as a special feature on DVDs, or at theatres, DMA now makes it possible to use one’s own iPhone or iPad to watch Disney-Pixar films at the movies, as well as in your home. By using the microphone on the headphones, the app syncs up with the movie and provides the descriptive audio, which is so much better than using the often damaged descriptive audio headphones and dirty box at theaters, or having to have someone with sight click the descriptive audio button

on the inaccessible DVD menus. The current library of movies available is small; however, Disney-Pixar is committed to making descriptive audio a standard feature, and, with time, will grow its number of titles. As someone who depends on descriptive audio for entertainment, I am so happy and grateful that Disney-Pixar released this app, and hope other studios follow this fantastic example.

HandySpeech

This powerful tool gives a voice to those with speech and language impairments, such as oral, head, and neck cancer; muscular dystrophy; Lou Gehrig’s disease; or autism. Available on the iOS and Android platforms, it allows people to handwrite or paste text from another app into the HandySpeech interface, and then have the application read the message out loud. The app can even understand cursive, is available in 13 languages, and does not need Wi-Fi to function. It can be used over the phone, as well as in social and professional settings. It was created by 12-year-old Eric Zeiberg, who developed the assistive technology for his disabled sister. Zeiberg said, “I invented HandySpeech to give a voice to people who find it difficult to or are unable to speak.”

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This app helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing make outbound phone calls. It provides live transcriptions, also known as captioning, and offers an automated voice synthesis. During live conversations, the spoken words appear as text messages on the screen, while the person on the other end of the line hears a phonics voice. My deaf friends and I use it all the time and it’s a great alternative to texting.

Lyft

I started using Lyft about a month ago and must say I am very happy with the service. I know that people with disabilities – especially those that travel with guide dogs and wheelchairs – have had problems with it in the past. And partially, this was the reason why I had not tried the service before. Now, I am happy to share that I find Lyft to be the most accessible taxi service on the market. The Lyft app is fully accessible to the blind via the iPhone and iPad. Lyft also has added an “access” mode for people in wheelchairs to request vehicles with ramps. The app does not allow for a rider to state that they are traveling with a service dog, yet, my guide dog, Oslo, was well received by

Instacart is one of several apps that are great for people with disabilities.

every Lyft driver we met. So, it is clear that Lyft has done a lot of Americans with Disabilities Act training with its drivers. Lyft also hired Marco Salsiccia, who is blind, as its access specialist. “The accessibility and responsiveness of the care teams makes it quite easy to rate and review drivers; accountability is paramount in the ride sharing community, and being able to quickly remove problematic drivers and loudly announce poor experiences keeps the quality of the service high,” Salsiccia said.

Facebook

Facebook just added a feature last month that, in my opinion, makes it the most accessible social media platform. The feature is called Automatic Alt Text and it generates descriptions for pictures on Facebook for the blind and visually impaired – no matter who shares the images. Also, if pictures come into the Facebook platform via another social media entity, it will create the descriptions for the images as well. Now, I am able to know why a picture is getting a lot of likes or laughs, without having to ask someone else to describe it for me. In the future, Facebook plans to add this feature to Instagram as well.

HearYouNow

This free app for the Apple OS works as a sound amplifier and helps individuals who are experiencing some hearing loss, but are not ready for a hearing aid. It was developed by ExSilent, a Dutch manufacturer of hearing aids, and it’s a free download. Using your headphones, you can place your device on your desk at work for a conference call, at a restaurant table, listen to the TV or radio, or simply use it to chat with someone at a party. It is very easy to customize the settings for each ear and one can even record and play back the last 20 seconds of a conversation – just in case you need to hear something twice.

Instacart

Although Instacart does not brand itself as a personal grocery shopping service for people with disabilities, it is definitely gaining a lot of popularity among those of us who cannot drive, or find it tough to carry heavy grocery bags. Its service is only available in a few regions, but I have personally used the app in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York City, Minneapolis, Boston, and Miami. And in all of those places, I’ve received great service. Instacart is available in other regions as well, so I would suggest checking the app for cities where it operates. The options of stores you can choose from differ from one place to the next, yet the retail selections are generally good. Through the Instacart app, I have purchased fresh veggies from Whole Foods, large dog food bags from Petco, bulk purchases from Costco, and canned goods from Safeway. The delivery options are the best I have seen from any personal shopping service, and, in some areas, it can deliver in an hour. Another cool feature is that it allows you to communicate with your shopper either via text messages or the phone. I picked the phone feature and have received calls from the shopper to inquire about replacing an item with something else, or to describe the produce at the store. All in all, a great service for people, like myself, who find it physically tough to carry groceries from a store back home.t

Belo Cipriani is the award-winning author of Blind: A Memoir and Midday Dreams. He is a disability advocate, and is currently the national spokesman for 100 Percent Wine, a premium winery that donates 100 percent of proceeds to nonprofits that help people with disabilities find work. Learn more at www.belocipriani.com.

t <<

Community News>>

News Briefs

From page 8

for Pets Are Wonderful Support Wednesday, May 25 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street. This year’s 21st annual event, which showcases a variety of doggie living spaces, is the first in which the Shanti Project is participating, as it took over PAWS last year in a merger. PAWS helps low-income people who have disabling HIV/AIDS or other illnesses care for their pets. Shanti provides support to people living with AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. Wilsey, president of the board of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, will receive the Champion of the Human-Animal Bond Award. Petchitecture will pay special tribute to Bashford, who died of cancer January 16 at the age of 82. In 1982, Bashford held the first fundraiser for what was then called Pets Are Wonderful Support for People with AIDS/ARC. He was seldom seen around town without one of his beloved dachshunds in tow. Former Mayor Willie Brown, who’s long known Wilsey and was good friends with Bashford, will present the honors. Musical guest will be Paula West.

Hepatitis C

From page 9

each year and an estimated 700,000 die from hepatitis C-related complications, according to the World Health Organization. Due to the high cost of the new antiviral drugs, some government payers and private insurers have restricted access to the sickest patients. Many countries have not yet approved the latest treatments and global access remains limited, although generic versions are starting to become available. Australian physician Dr. James Freeman garnered the most applause at the conference with his report that low-cost generic drugs from China

Roxie

From page 1

of programming at Frameline, the LGBT film festival, from 1994 to 2011. The Roxie, which has two screening rooms on 16th Street between Valencia and Guerrero, is one of the oldest continually operating movie theaters in the United States. A nonprofit, the Roxie features first-run and classic independent films and is home to dozens of film festivals, including the San Francisco International Film Festival. “We’re extremely excited for Jennifer to come on board,” Dave Cowen, the Roxie’s interim executive director, said in an email to the Bay Area Reporter. “Jennifer’s success working with many of San Francisco’s top film festivals has proven to be a tremendous asset to the SF film community over the years, and the Roxie looks forward to working with her to broaden and strengthen our eclectic lineup of films and events.” Rick Norris, veteran programmer at the Roxie, added: “Bringing Junk-

Zuckerberg

From page 1

a brand new building,” with different workflows and designs, “and new equipment.” The patients being moved Saturday are in acute care, which includes people who are in the general medical/surgical, intensive care, and maternal/child health units. Anyone who comes to the emergency department after 7 a.m. Saturday will

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 17

into state-of-the-art sanitation and shower stations for those without access to these resources. All proceeds from the art auction will go to supporting Lava Mae’s mission. Brightworks partnered with Lava Mae earlier this year and is continuing to help by organizing the fundraiser. The evening will include drinks, snacks, and music while viewing and bidding on exquisite student and professional art pieces from around the Bay Area. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased online or at the door. People must be 21 or over if they want to consume alcohol and IDs will be checked. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ an-unbelavable-night-tickets25326685799?aff=eac2 - tickets.

High School students at SF Brightworks, in collaboration with Lava Mae, will present An Unbelavable Night, a silent art auction, Wednesday, May 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1920 Bryant Street in San Francisco. Lava Mae is a nonprofit that redesigns decommissioned Muni buses

Jose Antonio Vargas, the gay undocumented immigration activist, will headline the Greenlining Institute’s 23rd annual Economic Summit, scheduled for Thursday, May 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway in Oakland. This year’s conference theme is “Reinventing California – Solutions from the New Majority,” and brings

together top business, government, and grassroots community leaders to connect, brainstorm, and strategize on important economic issues affecting communities of color. Vargas, founder of Define American and Emerging US, will moderate the opening plenary, examining the role of diverse leadership in society’s biggest problems. The awards luncheon will highlight an array of innovative leaders, including Black Lives Matter, with co-founder Alicia Garza accepting; Youth Alive violence prevention educator Wazi Davis; Causa Justa, Just Cause; Mari Rose Taruc, former state organizing director at the Asian Pacific Environmental Network; and pastor Michael McBride, director of urban strategies and the Live Free Campaign at PICO (People Improving Communities through Organizing) National Network. The day will conclude with a dinner program moderated by sociopolitical comedian W. Kamau Bell and featuring cartoonist and writer Lalo Alcaraz; Truthdig writer and editor Channing Joseph; and choreographer and dancer Antoine Hunter. General admission to the summit is $40. To register, visit http:// greenlining.org/economic-summit/ summit-2016/.t

and India, made available through the online FixHepC buyer’s club, were as safe and effective as brandname products. The treatment regimens used in his study cost around $1,500, compared to $54,000$168,000 for a full course of therapy without discounts in the U.S. “Unrestricted access to generics is the most effective method of ensuring everyone has access,” Karyn Kaplan, from the Treatment Action Group, said at a protest outside the conference. “Governments must overcome patent restrictions to ensure access to generics.” In conjunction with the conference WHO released an update to its guidelines for screening and treatment of people with chronic hepa-

titis C, which promotes transition away from interferon to the more effective direct-acting antivirals. “The updated guidelines are intended to promote the scale-up of [hepatitis C] treatment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where few people currently have access to hepatitis treatment, despite also being where most people with [hepatitis C] live,” according to a WHO press statement. “Because the prices are rapidly dropping, and because the medicines are easy to use, they have the potential to dramatically reduce the number of deaths due to hepatitis C infection.” The European Association for the Study of the Liver previewed its

updated hepatitis C guidelines, with the release of the revision expected in September. Like the U.S. guidelines developed by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the European guidelines recommend that nearly everyone with hepatitis C should be considered eligible for treatment, regardless of liver disease stage. “Every hepatitis C patient has a right to be treated,” said EASL guidelines coordinator Professor Jean-Michel Pawlotsky. Leaders of liver disease associations from the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia released a joint statement on elimination of viral hepatitis at the opening session of the conference, calling for enhanced

efforts to diagnose and treat hepatitis B and C. The joint endorsement sends an “incredibly strong signal to the world that leading scientists think elimination of viral hepatitis is achievable,” said Dr. Gottfried Hirnschall, director of WHO’s global hepatitis program. “What we need now is increased advocacy to make sure plans turn in to real action.” “Elimination as a goal is only achievable if everyone in [the field of] hepatitis speaks in the same voice,” emphasized Raquel Peck of the World Hepatitis Alliance. “Rationing interventions will not deliver elimination – we need a whole new mindset so that no one is left behind.”t

yard into the mix is going to fuelinject a perfect level of savvy fun into programming that is already gaining altitude at a dizzying rate.” Morris, 51, who has also been a Bay Area disk jockey for the past three decades, said the nickname “Junkyard” came about from her love of items other people consider rubbish, primarily rusted pieces of metal and used records. “It could also apply to all the films that don’t make it to the multiplex and would be lost if it wasn’t for independent movie theaters,” Morris said in an interview with the B.A.R. “The Roxie was the very first movie theater I entered when I arrived in SF in the late 1980s and it has always held a special place in my heart,” Morris explained. “The Roxie holds a very special place in the history of independent film here in the Bay Area and I am honored to be able to continue that tradition and introduce new audiences to wonders of film.” She also expressed confidence in the Roxie’s leadership. “While the Roxie has seen its share of ups and downs and varied

leaderships in the past, I feel confident it is in great hands with Dave Cowen and I am excited to be part of its future,” Morris added. Commenting on Morris’ appointment, filmmaker Joshua Grannell, aka Peaches Christ, said in an email, “Jennifer ‘Junkyard’ Morris is one of my absolute favorite Bay Area film programmers. She has been bringing important, underrated cinema to audiences in San Francisco for many years. Her audacious, progressive, fearless programming introduced me to some of my now-favorite filmmakers working in indie film. Morris has experience working with Grannell. “Back in 2005, it was Jennifer who first presented a Peaches Christ short film retrospective at the Castro Theatre for Frameline 29,” Grannell said. “Even I was surprised! Because of that, I was then flown to places like Belgium and Switzerland (and Missouri!) to present that program and eventually made a feature film. She saw something in us back then and took a chance and I’ll forever be grateful.”

Jeff Ross, founder of DocFest, the Bay Area’s only festival devoted entirely to documentaries, said, “Jennifer Morris is a great pick for programming the Roxie. With her experience at Frameline, IndieFest, and DocFest, I’m sure she will bring a new dynamic to the Roxie’s yearround calendar.” Jennie Livingston, director of the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning, said that during Morris’ tenure at Frameline, “she produced great queer programming at a time when LGBT cinema and storytelling were entering a revolutionary and fertile phase.” In an email to the B.A.R., Livingston, a lesbian who won the Sundance Grand Prize for her landmark film about the New York City ball culture and African-American and Latino gay and transgender communities involved in it, said that when she saw Morris at the major film festivals around the world “and then saw her introduce the films at Frameline, you knew she had her eye on everything worth seeing and spent years soulfully cultivating the eye, the rhythms, and the intuition it takes to put to-

gether a great film program.” In addition to being one of the homes for Frameline for the past 20 years, the Roxie also has a history of screening films of interest to the LGBT community. Earlier this year, the Roxie drew a sold-out house when it featured the John Waters’ classic, Polyester, complete with the scratch ‘n sniff ‘Odorama’ postcards that had been distributed by Warner Brothers when the film was first released in 1981. Morris, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in television and motion pictures from UCLA, also managed the Frameline Completion Fund grant program, which provided $20,000-$50,000 in annual grants for the completion of films that dealt with issues of importance to LGBT communities. She also directed Frameline’s Generations Filmmaker Workshop, a cross-generational educational arts program. In her 17 years at Frameline, the festival’s audience went from 40,000 to 80,000 people per year. The Roxie has a projected 2017 budget of $850,000. Morris declined to state her salary.t

be going to the new building. A bond San Francisco voters approved in 2008 financed the new center. The building cost about $887 million, not including furniture, fixtures, and equipment. The hospital serves more than 100,000 people a year. Many of them are among San Francisco’s poorest residents. May said, “The next opportunity for us is to repurpose the space that we vacate in the current building.” That facility, which already houses

numerous specialty clinics, will also include primary and “all specialty care,” including the pioneering Ward 86 HIV clinic. First, though, the old building “needs to be retrofitted with seismic upgrades and some reconfiguration,” May said. Proposition A, which is on the June ballot, would authorize general obligation bonds in the amount of $350 million to be used for public health and safety measures, including

seismic stability for the old San Francisco General, which is also known as Building 5. If the bond passes, work could begin in June 2017. The public health department, which oversees Zuckerberg San Francisco General, also wants to expand the number of beds available at that site for emergency psychiatric care. Such services are often associated with homeless people, but in a recent meeting with the Bay Area

Reporter, Health Director Barbara Garcia said, “Many of our families have mental health issues,” and many of the people who seek help are “moms calling about their kids.” “In community meetings over and over again, we heard the need for mental health” services, Garcia, a lesbian, said. The new hospital was renamed after a $75 million donation from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Pricilla Chan.t

Additionally, Petchitecture will unveil this year’s “pet idols,” Sky, canine companion to Patrick Lam, and Alex, feline companion to John Sell. Tickets are $200 per person and can be purchased online at http:// www.shanti.org/pages/petchitecture_2016.html. Licensed and vaccinated dogs (leashed) are welcome to attend.

Bloom will benefit API Wellness Center

The Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center will hold its annual benefit, Bloom, Wednesday, May 25 at 6:30 at City View at the Metreon, 135 Fourth Street, fourth floor, in San Francisco. This year’s honorees are JoAnne Keatley, who will receive the BobbieJean Baker Memorial Award. Keatley is director of the Center for Excellence for Transgender Health at UCSF. She has directed multiple federally funded research and HIV prevention projects and has consulted on transgender health at the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health. Last year she was recognized by the state of California for LGBT leadership. Lorri Jean, CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, will receive the Ally Award. The center has long championed and celebrated LGBT

individuals and families and provides services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, according to a statement from API Wellness. Jean, a lesbian, has made health care, housing, and education priorities at the center. Entertainment will be provided by Daniel Franzese, actor and singer who appeared on the HBO series, Looking, and the Rice Rockettes, a Bay Area drag troupe that appeared on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. The evening will also feature a silent auction, food, and beverages. Tickets are $99. For an additional $50 people can upgrade to a VIP ticket, which includes a special reception, a meet and greet champagne toast with the entertainers, and access to the VIP lounge. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/ bloom-2016-tickets-23859783254.

‘Unbelavable’ art auction to help Lava Mae

Vargas to headline Greenlining summit

18 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Castro filming

From page 10

by Jonathan Majors as a young man and by Michael Kenneth Williams as an older man, spoke to the B.A.R. about the importance of the project. “Many African-Americans, Latinos, and lesbians were part of the movement and worked very hard for this movement at a time when coming out had severe consequences,” he said as he watched the filming of a scene next to Harvey Milk Plaza earlier this month. “This series is a remembrance of their hard work and courage.” The scene being shot recreated a speech made by Milk at the corner of Market and Castro streets in 1972. Actor Charles Hernandez stood on a soapbox, miming Milk’s speech as a group of about a dozen extras listened attentively. The speech itself would be added onto the soundtrack when the series goes into post-production. Filming for the series has also taken place in Vancouver, British Columbia. “Young kids all over America know they feel different from their siblings and peers,” Ken Jones pointed out. “We want to encourage them to own that difference and

San Jose

From page 12

Liccardo must work with the San Jose City Council, on which he has a voting seat, to enact such a policy in the South Bay city. Joining him in introducing the resolution were City Council Members Ash Kalra, Magdalena Carrasco, Tarn Nguyen, and Rose Herrera, who serves as vice mayor. The measure passed Tuesday on a 9-1 vote, with one council member absent and Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio the lone vote against, as his policy is to vote against measures that are not directly related to city business. While he voted with the majority, Councilman Johnny Khamis questioned why the city was focusing on just states with anti-LGBT laws. “I am happy to ban nonessential travel anywhere. If it is not essential then we should not be paying for people’s traveling,” he said, later adding, “there are many countries that violate human rights, but we don’t ban travel to those countries.” Herrera countered that the issue was “something we need to take a stand on. It is a violation of civil rights.” Mississippi was included due to its passing a law that allows people to cite their religious beliefs to discriminate based on sexual orientation. “These legislative actions undermine the values of equality and diversity that we embrace in the city of San Jose. A ban on non-essential city travel to these two states clearly communicates that San Jose does not support discriminatory policies,” the San Jose leaders wrote in a May 13 memo announcing their

Jock Talk

From page 16

But on this night he was on and the crowd was about to find out. Turnovers have plagued both teams throughout the season and were problematic this night as well. The Warriors stole the ball, nearly fumbled it away, and it landed in Barnes’ hands. Swoosh went the three-point jumper and ROAR went the crowd. Ahhh, this is what people were talking about. This was a roar. A unanimous roar. A roar that shakes the building and all who are in it to their very bones. Several times that roar came back in the first half. At 8:21 to go

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

to boldly step out in that difference and to make this a better world for everyone.” In late April, the White Night riots were recreated outside City Hall. The riots took place in May 1979, when an enraged gay community stormed City Hall, furious that former supervisor Dan White was convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter instead of murder in the 1978 assassinations of Milk and Mayor George Moscone. They broke windows. They set police cars on fire. They had had enough. It was a pivotal moment in gay history. Gay Castro resident Patrick Henry was cast as a police officer for the filming of the White Night riots sequence. “Filming inside a closed-for-thenight, nearly empty San Francisco City Hall was a spectacular experience,” Henry told the B.A.R. “And, since they were filming scenes that evening which were set in the past, it was a bit of a time-warp to be dressing up in those period-costumes and ‘haunting’ that iconic building. I’d received numerous compliments on my ‘authentic’ appearance in my SFPD uniform.” Henry added that he was grateful

for the guidance many of the extras received from Cleve Jones, a participant in the riots. “He’d routinely provide the extras, and the stunt performers, mostly people aged 30 and under, extraordinary descriptions of the events which everyone was preparing to recreate,” Henry said. “As he generously shared with them the history and emotions behind those times, I could observe that everyone who had received his ‘sermons’ were both entertained and emotionally moved.” The White Night riots filming proceeded smoothly as one large group of extras stood on the steps of City Hall. Another group marched up Polk Street and stormed the building’s steps as several camera operators moved in, out and around the crowd. As the riot began, extras dressed as SFPD officers pretended to beat the protesters, who struck back. McKenzie burst out of the crowd and tried to break up a fight between a protester and a police officer. “No violence!” McKenzie, in character, shouted repeatedly. The scene was shot several times from different angles as Cleve Jones, Van Sant, and Black watched intensely.t

intention to enact a travel ban. Under a travel ban policy it adopted last year, Santa Clara County currently restricts employees from traveling to North Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf last month banned city-funded travel to North Carolina and Mississippi. In late April the Berkeley City Council adopted its own travel ban to so called hate states with antiLGBT laws. Leaders of the East Bay city also instructed the city manager to no longer do business with companies headquartered in North Carolina or Mississippi and look at discontinuing existing contracts with businesses in those states. San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors is expected to take up a similar policy in the coming weeks. The issue came up at Tuesday’s board hearing when gay District 9 Supervisor David Campos asked that a five-year lease with Bank of America for ATMs at San Francisco International Airport be postponed for a week since the financial company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. “I would like to know what this company has done relative to the anti-LGBT law that that state has passed,” said Campos. San Jose leaders this week stopped short of outright banning city agencies and departments from purchasing goods and services from companies headquartered in either North Carolina or Mississippi. In their memo, the cosponsors of the resolution noted the difficulty city staff would have in determining which businesses to avoid as many industries have “extensive supply chains.”

The memo added, “Moreover, there appears a high likelihood that even diligent efforts by city staff to comply will result in violations of this policy, creating unrealistic expectations and unnecessary episodes of ‘gotcha’ politics.” Instead, the resolution advises city agencies “to the extent practicable, and in instances where there is no conflict with law, to refrain from entering into any new or amended city contracts to purchase goods or services from any company that is headquartered in North Carolina and Mississippi.” In a phone interview this week, Kalra told the B.A.R. “the challenge the mayor laid out in the committee meeting is, with a lot of companies, it is difficult to identify where the companies are located.” He added that “the fact the city council is making this statement plays into the judgment of ” city agencies’ procurement decisions. In his own memo to the council, San Jose City Manager Norberto L. Dueñas cited two examples for why a ban on doing business with companies headquartered in North Carolina “would create a significant and immediate challenge” for managing the city’s financial affairs. He pointed out that Bank of America has purchased several bonds issued by the city and finding a new purchaser would be “time consuming and potentially more expensive.” Dueñas also noted how the city buys materials from Lowes, which is based in Mooresville, North Carolina, through a procurement cards program and is unable to block using specific vendors in the p-card system. Both companies are on record in opposing HB 2.t

when the Thunder’s Kevin Durante missed a free throw. At 1:12 when the crowd recognized former Warrior David Lee sitting in the stands. Finally with 42 seconds left, when Curry hit a 31-foot jumper, his first made three of the night, breaking Reggie Miller’s NBA record for consecutive playoff games with at least one three-pointer. That put the Warriors up by a dozen and another home game victory seemed inevitable. It was, however, smoke and mirrors. In the third quarter, the Warriors played with low energy and sloppy execution. They made a brief run when head coach Steve Kerr used a small lineup, but they played with

none of the beautiful offensive flow they had shown time and again, they hurried shots out of rhythm, and Russell Westbrook passed and shot the Thunder to a 108-102 victory. There were a handful of blown calls fans would talk about on their way to the parking lots and to BART, but this game was really lost early when the Warriors failed to be the Warriors. And now the series is on for real. Anyone who though the conference finals were a certain prelude to an NBA Finals rematch with the Cleveland Cavaliers now knows that this will take more than brightly lit bracelets and slogan-covered T-shirts. Win or lose, this will be a helluva series to watch.t

Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-16-552051

In the matter of the application of: ADRIAN ANTHONY ROBERTS, 1390 MARKET ST #2401, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner ADRIAN ANTHONY ROBERTS, is requesting that the name ADRIAN ANTHONY ROBERTS, be changed to ADRIAN A. ROBERTS. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Room 514, Dept. 514 on the 14th of June 2016 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

APRIL 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037060200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BOOM CITY BUILDERS, 522 PRECITA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GARRITT BLANZ. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/14/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/22/16.

APRIL 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037054700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INTER ELECTRIC, 1600 LA SALLE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ELMER MORAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/18/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/18/16.

APRIL 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037058900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALLSTAR CONCEPTS, ALLSTAR PHOTOGRAPHY, 3145 GEARY BLVD #133, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHARLIE ARMSTRONG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/21/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/21/16.

APRIL 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037060400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SENATORIAL COURTESY, 248 GOLDEN GATE AVE #304, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CHUNG PAU CHOY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/22/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/22/16.

APRIL 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037059800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BAIANO PIZZERIA HAYES VALLEY, 100 GOUGH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed IAN ALMEIDA MATOS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/21/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/21/16.

APRIL 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037058800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN FRANCISCO SILENT FILM FESTIVAL 145 9TH ST, #230, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SILENT FILM FESTIVAL, THE (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/21/16.

APRIL 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037051100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: UDC DENTAL GROUP, 3448 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ULLOA DENTAL CORPORATION (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/15/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/15/16.

APRIL 28, MAY 05, 12, 19, 2016 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINSTER ESTATE OF BRADFORD FIELD TOWNSEND IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FILE PES-16-299717

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of BRADFORD FIELD TOWNSEND. A Petition for Probate has been filed by SUN YUN KUO, 1035 BRIDGEWATER HILL ROAD, PLYMOUTH, NH, 03264 in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that SUN YUN KUO 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 25, 2016, 9:00 am, Rm. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later 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: SUN YUN KUO, 1035 BRIDGEWATER HILL ROAD, PLYMOUTH, NH, 03264; Ph. (603) 968-7832.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037069000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CUTIE PIES, 1700 MONTGOMERY ST #101, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARIA DEL PILAR ALVARADO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/27/16.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037060900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BOUQUET CATERING COMPANY, 1821 15TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed STEPHANIE KAZARIAN-SANTORE. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/16/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/22/16.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037074500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AUTHENTIC AFGHAN RUGS, 3900 3RD ST #207, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ABDUL FAHIM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/29/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/29/16.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037074700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: O’LEARY PLUMBING, 1308 PANACE TERRACE, SUNNYVALE, CA. 94087. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DAVID O’LEARY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/24/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/29/16.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037038900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RODAN STUDIO, 457 BARTLETT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed ROSA V. MENDOZA & DANIEL DOUGLAS ROBERT BALDWIN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/07/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/07/16.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037070100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ITANI DENTAL SAN FRANCISCO, 450 SUTTER ST #2318, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed ITANI DENTAL, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/08/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/28/16.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037071900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALEX BAKERY, 431 CLEMENT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed TING YIP INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/28/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/28/16.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037045500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HUMANKIND CO, 475 CONNECTICUT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed JULIE WERTZ DESIGN CO. LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/12/16.

MAY 05, 12, 19, 26, 2016

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Read more online at www.ebar.com

Legal Notices>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-16-551932

In the matter of the application of: JENNA VELASQUEZ-ORTEGA, 3636 MISSION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner JENNA VELASQUEZ-ORTEGA, is requesting that the name ENESSA ELENA VELASQUEZ-ORTEGA, be changed to ENESSA ELENA ESTRELLA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 514 on the 21st of June 2016 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, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037086000

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRACIELA’S, 315 SENECA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JULIO MARTINEZ. 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 05/09/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037076500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AL CLARK PRODUCTION, 268 BUSH ST #2511, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ALBERT CLARK. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/02/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/03/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037084200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JULIA, 5438 GEARY BL, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JULIA ROSE MILLER. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/06/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/06/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037082500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INTAVA HAIR SALON, 323 IVY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed LIENG PHETHSAYA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/10/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/06/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037081400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BUNGALOWE, 797 BUSH ST #102, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed KARAN AGGARWAL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/05/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/05/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037079500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NORTH BEACH CONSTRUCTION, 1443 21ST AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CARLO CAMOZZI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/4/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/04/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037080500

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INNOVATION PLUMBING AND ROOTER, 828 CRESCENT AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed RAFAEL CHAHUAYO ZEVALLOS. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/05/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/05/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037056900

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037049900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SUBSTATION, 2828 JONES ST SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed WHARF HOLDINGS, INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/14/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037072800

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SUZANNE TUCKER HOME, 58 MAIDEN LANE 4TH FLR, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed SUZANNE TUCKER HOME (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/29/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037076400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LUSTER PRODUCTIONS, 68 SAINT MARYS AVE #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed FTBS MEDIA LLC (NV). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/23/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/03/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037083200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: VAKANZA, 2852 CALIFORNIA ST #B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed KIMBERKINI LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/03/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/06/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037088200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MATTERS OF THE HEART, 226 FAXON AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JAYANTICHAPOT@GMAIL.COM. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/11/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/11/16.

MAY 19, 26, JUNE 02, 09, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037099400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MR. BANH MI, 3605 BALBOA ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JIMMY QUACH. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/17/16.

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 19

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MAY 19, 26, JUNE 02, 09, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037094100

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BIOGENIC ENERGY, INC., ONE SANSOME ST #3500, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed BIOGENIC ENERGY, INC. (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/29/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/13/16.

MAY 19, 26, JUNE 02, 09, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037091200

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MAY 19, 26, JUNE 02, 09, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037095700

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE LEGEND HOLIDAYS INC, 283 6TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed THE LEGEND HOLIDAYS INC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/01/10. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/16/16.

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The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ATLAS VOCAL STUDIO, 1232 ARGUELLO BLVD #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JAYMEE SENIGAGLIA. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/11/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/19/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-037077200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NEW ZEN SPA, 1933 UNION ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123. This business is conducted by a general partnership, and is signed HAI MINH SON & JACK LY. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/02/16. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 05/03/16.

MAY 12, 19, 26, JUNE 02, 2016

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Out &About

O&A

Vol. 46 • No. 20 • May 19-25, 2016

www.ebar.com/arts

Welcome to the new Modern S

ome of us thought the day when SFMOMA would complete its much-anticipated expansion project and reopen to the public would never come, but after a three-year modern art version of perpetual winter, the $305 million Snohetta-designed museum finally threw open its doors on May 14 to sell-out crowds. See page 30 >>

An exhibition hallway, with big windows to the east, in the expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Rick Gerharter

by Sura Wood

Essential Almodovar plays the Roxie by David Lamble

courtesy Roxie Theater

Scene from director Pedro Almodovar’s What Have I Done To Deserve This?

s there a single Pedro Almodovar big-screen moment? You be the judge as San Francisco’s Roxie Theater hosts a retrospective of the brilliant Spanish filmmaker’s seldom-seen early works. Early Almodovar Week runs at the Roxie from Fri.-Thurs., May 20-26. See page 22 >>

Photo

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22 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Up the down SFMOMA staircase

Rick Gerharter

The reconfigured lobby in the 1995 Mario Botta building as it rises to the new addition at the expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

by Roberto Friedman

his issue begins two weeks of coverage of the new improved SFMOMA from arts writer Sura Wood. Planning to visit? We’ve been telling people to do as one would at the Guggenheim in NYC, and take an elevator2pub-BBB_BAR_050516.pdf up to the top public floor, the 7th, then work their way

down through each floor of galleries to the ground floor. The long, narrow, winding staircases from one floor to the next are picturesque, yes, but when the museum is mobbed, they seem like they will be quite claustrophobic to navigate. From the San Francisco Chronicle’s SFMOMA coverage: “An archi4/21/16 4:52 PM tectural loss in the expansion was

the staircase at the back of the atrium, a tight back-and-forth framed in bands of dark granite. Now it’s a broad angled path with maple sides, a communal passage rather than contained drama.” The passive syntax of the above makes it seem as if the destruction of the Mario Botta-designed sitespecific staircase was pre-ordained, or in some way necessary, for the expansion. It was not. It was a conscious choice by the architecture firm Snohetta, and a violation to the Botta building. The staircase was iconic enough that it once graced the cover of the SF phone book. It’s quite gone. Also from the Chronicle: “The adventurous staircases between the upper gallery levels aren’t only for circulation: Snohetta’s Craig Dykers says he wants them to conjure up sensations similar to those of the Botta staircase that was lost.” “That was lost”: again, the passive sentence construction covers up the truth, which is that it was an intentional removal of the Botta stairs. Dykers, say instead: “the Botta staircase I destroyed.”

CMY

Almodovar

In its place: an off-center flight of stairs in blond maple that could not be any more out of place in the symmetrical, dark-granite Botta atrium. We could as well be in Bloomingdale’s, ascending to lingerie level – or, given that they kept the oculus, should we say in the Emporium, under the restored dome? It’s a Disneyfied Monticello, in what was once a work of architectural art. Look, it’s a given with young architects that they want to blow up what’s come before them. It was up to SFMOMA museum director Neal Benezra to put his foot down and say, “No, I will not let you destroy the Botta atrium.” In this, he failed.

destined to a long life as audiencepleasers. Both J. Harrison Ghee as the drag queen with a talent for amateur boxing, and Adam Kaplan as the beleaguered shoe-factory owner son of Price & Son, held the stage with aplomb. And you’ve got to love a musical that encourages its audience to be who they truly are – whether crossdresser, capitalist or factory worker. By the final number, everyone’s resplendent in those high-stepping kinky boots – and no one looks better than the beefy, burly, bearded number who’s had his consciousness raised. We love the trajectory!t

High heels

The return of the touring musical Kinky Boots to the Golden Gate Theatre last week (through May 22) had them cheering from the rafters on opening night. The book by Harvey Fierstein based on the movie, and especially the high-spirited songand-dance numbers with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, are clearly

to a mother paying for orthodontic work by agreeing to have her barely teenage son adopted by a boy-loving dentist. (5/22, 23) Law of Desire (1987) Three years later, Maura starred as the transsexual sister of an openly gay filmmaker. In my favorite Pedro moment, Maura’s Tina is walking down a sultry Madrid street with her brother and a young girl they have rescued from the clutches of her self-absorbed mother. Overcome by the heat, Tina spots a municipal streetcleaner hosing down the cobblestones and demands that he turn the hose on her. The new queer-style family is united in an orgasmic episode that corresponds to the extraordinary scene when Marcello Mastroianni tumbles into a Roman fountain in Federico Fellini’s pioneering La Dolce Vita. (5/21, 26)

SHN-SF

J. Harrison Ghee plays Lola in the touring Kinky Boots now at the Golden Gate Theatre.

commercial-breakthrough screwball comedy features a woman (Carmen Maura) so angry at a disappearing boyfriend that she practiSince a deliciously dark sense of cally erupts into flames – indeed, her humor, black at times but also hubed does ignite. Inspired by a Jean mane, dominates Almodovar’s world Cocteau play, Women features some view, it’s useful to recall how most memorable comic misadventures, Americans received their first inincluding the interference with a klings of the motion-picture deluge police investigation when two cops to come. “This just in from Spain. are served drug-laced gazpacho. Generalissimo Francisco Franco is With Antonio Banderas, Julieta Serstill dead.” That 1975 headline on rano and Rossy de Palma. (5/20, 25) Saturday Night Live’s Weekend UpTie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989) date may go down as one of the most This black comedy-melodrama prophetic news bulletins ever delivmarks the beginning of Almodovar’s ered on American TV. Four decades problems with the more squeamish later, General Franco is still dead, elements of his growing American and the nearly three dozen films audience. One-time-porn-starfrom Almodovar are still the best turned-drug-addict Marina (Victoria artistic guide to the extraordinary Abril) is abducted by a just-released period of democracy and personal mental patient (a career-defining freedoms that overtook a society turn for Antonio Banderas) previously thought to be one who proceeds to tie her up of the most repressive on the and rape her so that they planet. can start a family together. The most acclaimed SpanThis film would jump-start ish film writer-director since Banderas’ American career the great Luis Buñuel, Almo(Philadelphia) and lead dovar was born in the small him down the slippery village of Calzada de Calatrapath where he wound up va, literally the “Man from La playing Paul Dano’s dad in Mancha,” the impoverished the domestic comedy Ruby Spanish region. The future Sparks. In our 1994 chat, genius director popped up Almodovar predicted big in Madrid in the turbulent courtesy Roxie Theater things for Banderas in Holyear of 1968, so poor he was reduced to selling used stuff Scene from director Pedro Almodovar’s Law of Desire. lywood once he polished up his English skills. “Antonio at a local flea-market called has this kind of intuitive, El Rastro. A blessing in deep Pepi, Luci, Bom (1980) This very American, very physical style of disguise at the time, Almodovar’s early, hyper-low-budget soap opera acting.” He felt Banderas would shine lack of film-school-training led him can probably best be likened to early in American films once our directors to experiment with stories and perJohn Waters. If raunchy situations learned how to put his style of sex formers, especially talented actresses and over-the-top hapless heroines villainy to good use. (5/21, 25) who would leave their mark on his offend you, give this one a pass. In High Heels (1991) A singer now-34-film career. Almodovar’s brief: Pepi (Carmen Maura) goes (Marisa Paredes) attempts to get distinguishing skill is his ability to from heiress to rape victim to ad back with her long-estranged mix genres with an outlandish huexecutive. Meanwhile the wife of daughter (Victoria Abril). The mor that leaves would-be critics of Pepi’s rapist, Luci (Eva Siva), leaves daughter has moved on, carving his sexual politics speechless. the jerk to jumpstart a lesbian afout a career as a TV news anchor What Have I Done To Deserve fair with Bom (Olivido Gara), a and an off-screen role as the lover This? (1984) Almodovar taught Madrid rock singer. The film was of the station’s owner who, as luck himself cinema storytelling with conceived and shot during Almowould have it, is one of Mom’s exa Super 8 camera he bought while dovar’s poverty period, and its best boyfriends. When the guy turns up working for the phone company. claim on our attention nearly four dead, the mother-daughter bond is His American reputation kicked decades later is its depiction of the strained to the breaking point. off with the deliciously anarchic crazy shoestring world of struggling Almodovar draws his soapWHIDTDT?, featuring the spunky wannabe artists from various walks opera-style plot from 1940s Holwork of Carmen Maura as a methof life and positions on the Kinsey lywood melodramas, many starring addicted Madrid housewife whose Scale. Just remember: the Spanish Barbara Stanwyck. Rather than taxi-driving lout of a husband is not sense of humor differs markedly making fun of that era’s actresses, only cheating and failing to support from most American brands, espeAlmodovar clearly admires their her, but has collaborated with a Gercially from those advocating politidevotion to high-gloss acting comman mistress to fabricate a book of cal correctness. (5/21, 24) bined with the need to sacrifice their Hitler diaries. The film may have Women on the Verge of a own pleasure for the sake of their left American filmgoers nonplussed Nervous Breakdown (1988) This public/private roles. (5/22, 26)t with its non-moralizing approach From page 21

Film>>

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 23

Jane Austen meets Whit Stillman common guy, Stillman’s acute sense of the folly of privilege would be a great and entertaining weapon to display in the run-up to what will probably be a crucial national election. Some of you, especially the Jane Austen fans, may choose to spit on this review; after all, it’s not everyday that we get to submerge ourselves in the wit, wisdom and humor of another, seemingly grander age. For the embattled minority who side Roadside Attractions with my views, I hold up the gleeful Chloe Sevigny and Kate Beckinsale in director Whit Stillman’s Love & Friendship. sarcasm of Steers’ unrepentant Igby, who at the peak makes in keeping us historically by David Lamble of his own travails with rich snobs and emotionally removed from f only he made more films, I’d including his Republican brother. the pertinent themes of his story. probably become a fan. If only exclaims with gusto, “I’m drowning With the rogue-elephant candidate he lived around the corner from the in assholes!” Trump scheming to make the rich Cafe Flore, I might develop a taste In the event that I’ve been unfair even richer while flying the flag for coffee. And if he were gay, I’d to Stillman, I’m appending a bit of of a “populist” out to rescue the probably ask him to move in. Alas! John Whitney “Whit” Stillman is a straight American filmmaker who calls Paris home. And I have the difficult job of not quite “friending” his latest film project, Love & Friendship, opening Friday in Bay Area theaters. Based on an early and somewhat obscure Jane Austen novella, Love & Friendship’s title is Stillman’s, and he has boasted of expanding on what he considers an unfinished epistolary novella about a widow Austen dubbed Lady Susan. Lady Susan is slyly well-played by Kate Beckinsale, who qualifies as a member of Stillman’s film repertory company, having essayed a saucy turn in Whitman’s 1998 yuppie romance, The Last Days of Disco. Stillman is probably still best-known for his “yuppie trilogy”: 1990’s Metropolitan, which garnered him a Best Screenwriting Oscar nomination; 1994’s Barcelona; and my personal favorite, the aforementioned Last Days of Disco. My late British-raised father frequently boasted that he could only abide societies with automobiles and indoor plumbing. Oddly enough, Stillman’s switching the setting of his latest film from his usual gaggle of hip Manhattan Caucasian socialites, with their amusing blend of narcissism and late-20thcentury Western pop decadence, to Austen’s 1790s British pre-Regency period gives his witty, downright bitchy characters (especially Lady Susan and her female pals) an unsettling fish-out-of-water quality. In other words, instead of relishing Lady Susan’s tricky schemes to ensnare eligible bachelors, we are left admiring the proceedings as a bit of creative anachronism rather than, say, an Oscar Wilde-worthy exercise in savage social satire. To his credit and regardless of the century he’s trolling through, Stillman never fails to create a scintillating group of social manipulators, always armed with the gift of gab. Fans of another American filmmaker who’s equally adept at skewering the rich and overprivileged in East Coast American society, Burr Steers, may recall the naughty fun his poor little rich boy Igby (Kieran Culkin) had in getting the upper crust to show their cards for keeping their place among the 1%. Igby Goes Down (2002), with its impish miscreant who refuses to bow to authority (and who gets a cautionary beating from a humorless stepdad), demonstrates the mistake Stillman

my 2012 San Francisco chat with this thoroughly delightful artist, attired in the preppie uniform of striped dress shirt, sleeves rolled up, no tie. Our talk was a true conversation. Here’s one celebrity who’s listening to the questions, not merely dispensing prefab replies. David Lamble: You belong to the

tradition of terrific film comedy writer-directors: Alexander Payne, David O. Russell, and your protege, Burr Steers. Whit Stillman: It’s interesting that you mention those names because, in a sense, we all came out of 1980s filmmaking, and it’s odd now that the 80s are back. Jim Jarmusch was a big inspiration, making Stranger Than Paradise so disciplined and so funny on a tight budget. How did you meet Burr Steers, the haughty bouncer from The Last Days of Disco, whose debut film Igby Goes Down feels like a sequel to your trilogy? He was very good as the “door Nazi,” he has that wonderful accent. He’s Gore Vidal’s nephew. Gore Vidal has a cameo as one of Igby’s disgusted headmasters. Burr’s had a terrific career.

Steven Underhill

Love & Friendship director Whit Stillman at the 59th San Francisco International Film Festival.

Is it true that your parents’ traumatic divorce has provided a career’s worth of material from a hard-earned perspective? There are people who tear their hair out about divorce in America, not me. It can be quite liberating to have your parents divorce. For me, the divorce was good, the remarriage was bad.t

<< Theatre

24 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Return of the drag queens by David-Elijah Nahmod

he big, beautiful Castro Theatre is the place to be on May 28 if you love a big, beautiful drag show. The venerable showplace will be welcoming the latest edition of the nowannual Drag Queens of Comedy. The Drag Queens of Comedy is more than your typical drag show. These queens are seasoned professional actors who bring star power to the Castro stage. Ten drag icons will be seen in performance during a night that promises to tickle your funny bone. The festivities will be hosted by superstar Bianca Del Rio, who took home the top prize for season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The evening will include the comic stylings of Sasha Soprano, who spent her youth right up the street from the Castro Theatre. “Omigish, I miss the Castro I would see while heading home from school in the 90s,” Soprano told the B.A.R. “I remember Presto Print, Ben & Jerry’s, assless chaps, and Donna Sachet!” Soprano admits that she never entered the theater’s hallowed doorways until she first performed there in 2009. “I love the theater!” she said. “It’s so gorgeous and just epic! To me, the Castro is the biggest gay stage in the world. To me, it is everything!” San Francisco icon Heklina also takes to the Castro stage that night. She assures us that drag remains an audience draw. “It’s more popular than ever!” she said. “You

doing stand-up,” she said. “It’s out of my comfort zone, it’s challenging, and it makes me nervous, so there’s a thrill there. And doing it in the Castro? It’s my home turf.” Both performers described their stage personas for any newbies who might be in the audience. “Sasha was created when being famous for absolutely nothing was trending,” explained Soprano. “The Paris Hiltons, the Kim Kardashians. I just make fun of my boy life. I make a mockery of going to dinner at the Olympic Club. I make fun of people that actually think like Sasha. I make fun of ignorance, Sasha Soprano: famous for absolutely nothing. stereotypes, and hate.” Soprano believes in the old adage that have teenage girls wanting to be laughter is the best drag queens. Because of that damn medicine. “I think when you laugh TV show, drag queens are the new at hatred, you bring the pain factor rock stars!” down a bit,” she opined. “From my Heklina added that it’s harder experience in life, you need to laugh. for new queens to create their own And I feel we need to laugh more personas because many are copying now than ever.” what they see on TV. Like Soprano, “Heklina is really just me, with Heklina loves performing in the the personality and energy turned Castro. “I love doing it because up a few notches,” said Heklina. it’s not something I do very often: “It’s not a character that I assume, rehearsing monologues and jokes, it’s me. I sometimes think of my

“Preferred age is 32. Gym memberdrag as a suit of armor, I slip it on ship encouraged. Equinox apprecibefore going to battle. And believe ated. So if you know anyone, and me, backstage at The Drag Queens they may have a summer home in of Comedy is a battle!” the Hamptons, please let me know.” When Heklina appears on the You heard it here first, folks.t Castro stage, she’ll be sharing the spotlight with her “arch-rival” and best bud, superstar Peaches Christ. The curtain will rise on The “We ‘read’ one another and everyone Drag Queens of Comedy at the Castro Theatre at 6 & 10 p.m. on else in the show, but also try to give Sat., May 28. Tickets ($45-$350): up-and-coming drag queens advice,” thedragqueensofcomedy.com. she said, pointing out that this would be a different performance from what they did in Los Angeles, which has since been posted at YouTube. Other queens taking to the Castro stage include New York icon and Wigstock founder Lady Bunny, Coco Peru, and Varla Jean Merman. Drag Race alums Alyssa Edwards, Trixie Mattel and Bob the Drag Queen round out the bill. Sugar daddies, please note: Sasha Soprano might want to meet you after the show. “I’m looking for a wealthy, handsome, hot, insured, employed, owns his home, leases his car – for business purposes only, not because he is broke – over 6’3” Heklina: turned up a few notches. man,” Soprano told us.

All over Schumann by Tim Pfaff

ow splendid of Robert Schumann to be having a year in classical music without having to die or be reborn for it. Remarkable in itself, he’s never gone away, but suddenly he’s everywhere. In celebration, his much-loved warhorse of a Piano Concerto has pranced by on CD four times of late, with yet another being saddled up – and each a horse of a different color. In this piece, my heart will always belong to Martha Argerich, whose numerous recordings of it are notably consistent in

interpretation. But otherwise, vive la difference. I would have thought. First out of the gate was Alexander Melnikov with the Freiburger Barockorchster under Pablo HerasCasado (Harmonia Mundi). He seems at his best in contemporary music and in historically informed performances (HIP) of earlier fare, and as the name of the exemplary orchestra on this recording suggests, this is HIP. Schumann’s concerto for his instrument of choice was long in the gestation because he sought one in which neither the piano nor the

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Celebrate with Us!

St. Peter’s Hall Trinity=St Peter’s Episcopal Church 1668 Bush Street at Gough Street, San Francisco Saturday, May 28, 2016 at 7:00pm Join us as we celebrate the newly renovated St. Peter’s Hall and the 120th birthday of our 1896 Sohmer concert grand piano, on the 20th anniversary of its refurbishing sponsored in 1996 by Trinity Church and the San Francisco Lyric Chorus. Guest artist, noted Bay Area pianist and organist Jerome Lenk, will join Music Director Robert Gurney in performing solo piano pieces and accompanying the singers on the Sohmer concert grand. Featuring soloists Sandy Kameron, Jesse Buddington, Thomas Wade, Elizabeth Roddy, flute, and members of the San Francisco Lyric Chorus and the Choir of Trinity St. Peter’s. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Building Retrofit Fund.

orchestra dominated. His eventual achievement of that balance becomes even clearer when the concerto is performed on instruments like the ones Schumann knew. Melnikov’s enlightened performance, in which he plays an exquisite Erard fortepiano of 1837 (less than a decade before the concerto’s premiere), demonstrates yet again that a small complement of “old” instruments arrives at a balance more naturally. And again, that less is often more. Melnikov, who’s equally confident on the modern piano, fully exploits the sonorities of this Erard. But the revelation – even clearer in the concert DVD that comes with the CD – is the finely detailed way Melnikov partners, in sequence, with the orchestra’s instrumentalists. I’ve never before heard more of the music of this concerto, its pointed interactions, and now I won’t be inclined to settle for less. In this unofficial Schumann year, Harmonia Mundi has been releasing all three Schumann concertos, each coupled with one of the string trios, also on historically appropriate instruments, with violinist Isabelle Faust and cellist Jean-Guihen Queryas, the wonderful final volume of which has just ben released. They’re more than just breaths of fresh air; they’re game-changers. I didn’t know there was such an extreme other end to the spectrum until I heard Jan Lisiecki’s new recording with the Orchestra of Rome’s National Academy of St. Cecilia under its director Antonio Pappano (DG). I prefer taking my “classical” music neat and am more often than not horrified by its use in movies. Take, as Exhibit A, the mortification of Rach 2 (the piano concerto, not the symphony, but let’s not even go there) in Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter, where it’s souped up – recomposed, really, then looped – for maximum treacle, in which stream it already dangles a worrisome number of toes.

So goes Lisiecki’s Schumann Concerto, a gauzy, woozy thing, pulled every which way and at times barely recognizable. Same goes for the fillers, out-of-the-way Schumann solo-piano music plus a creepy little “Traeumerei.” I’ve been a big Lisiecki fan and hope to be next time. May he not be the next Yundi.

Out gay pianist Stephen Hough has never been a middle-of-theroad artist, but his new recording of the Schumann (Hyperion) falls pretty much midway on the spectrum between Melnikov’s and Lisiecki’s. Hough and his exemplary conductor, Andris Nelsons, here with his “old” band, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, establish and maintain a dialogue as intimate as their HIP counterparts,

much of it surpassingly tender. Hough is a shade less instinctive with the piece than Argerich (but then who isn’t?), yet there’s a keen balance of discipline and daring in his strongly individual playing. The rhythmic elasticity is as great as it could be without violating the score, lending the whole piece a sense of suspense that flies in the face of any platitudes about it. The attention is more on its companion piece, Dvorak’s Gminor Piano Concerto – the one, once heard, audiences wonder why they don’t hear more often. The short answer is that its pianistic challenges have to do with the way the music lies, or doesn’t, in players’ hands. Rather like Schumann, Dvorak wasn’t as good a pianist as he wanted to be, limiting his own road-testing of his concerto. Among recordings, comparisons are usually made with the two by Sviatoslav Richter, neither of which, for different reasons, is ideal. If it’s precedent you’re after, look no farther than the several beautiful performances on YouTube by the Czech pianist Rudolf Firkusny, who can be heard both in the “bad old” revision by Vilem Kurz (which sought to smooth over the difficulties, yet is actually quite fetching on its own, fanciful terms), and in Dvorak’s original, which again holds sway today. Hough is not shy of his own virtuosity, but he doesn’t lead with it and weighs in instead with his trademark pellucid clarity, no mean achievement in this onslaught of notes. There’s not the undertow of bewitching Slavic melancholy, but Hough wisely substitutes for it a forthright sense of the real majesty of the music while also indulges its voluptuousness, playfulness and charm. Important as this bold new recording is, Hough has done the concerto the additional boon of touring with it. Advocacy like his is exactly what the piece wants.t

Theatre>>

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 25

Breaking through the color barrier by Richard Dodds

f you let a black man play Othello, it could be a slippery slope where you’ll next expect Jews to play Shylock, the genuinely obese to play Falstaff, and actual teenagers to play Juliet. It will make it hard for audiences to escape reality, says a veteran of the old school. The final example is not lost on the leading lady, who continues to play Juliet and other roles that haven’t corresponded to her actual age in, perhaps, decades. But more unnerving than engendering a fast track to casting verisimilitude are the notions promoted by this black actor that the performances should also be rooted in truth. As rendered in Lolita Chakrabarti’s play Red Velvet, having its West Coast premiere at San Francisco Playhouse, emotional honesty from a black man, even within the confines of a stage role, is unpalatable in a society economically built on slave labor in its colonies. That’s the case in London of 1833, where declining sugar for your tea can be seen as a political statement. Red Velvet pulls from the mists of history the biography of Ira Aldridge, an African-American actor

from New York who, for a while at least, found more welcoming theaters and audiences in Britain. It’s in fact a fascinating story with inherent theatricality that frequently comes through in director Margo Hall’s uneven production. But the playwright can be too keen to push at contemporary parallels, with such references to closing the borders, immigrants taking away jobs, and being on the wrong side of history anachronistically rattling about. Chakrabarti wrote Red Velvet with her husband, Adrian Lester, in mind, and Lester received rapturous reviews when the play debuted in London several years ago. Bill English, artistic director of SF Playhouse, saw it in London, and went about securing rights to present it here. The play has a plum role for SF Playhouse regular Carl Lumbly, and his scenes as the proud, confused, and angry Aldridge are the highlights in what can otherwise be a dramatically creaky affair. Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that Shakespeare fares best, as several short scenes from Othello come alive in ways that the rest of the play often does not. When Lumbly is not frontand-center, the play can become

Ken Levin

Carl Lumbly, left, as an African American actor in 1833 London, meets theater company members (Patrick Russell and Devin O’Brien) as he prepares to play Othello in Red Velvet at SF Playhouse.

a dusty affair, with backstage life at a prominent London theater seemingly envisioned as a stodgy drawing-room comedy. The staging reinforces this impression, perhaps to set the characters in a

hidebound world when Aldridge is not in it, but it’s like an homage to anti-naturalism, and the leavening effect that laughter could offer is too often left to simmer beneath the surface. The whole

story uses the hoary device of the failing Aldridge recalling his story in flashback form for a reporter in provincial Poland as he prepares to go on as, of course, King Lear. Playing the veteran actress who is to be Aldridge’s Desdemona in his Covent Garden debut, Susi Damilano best enters into the world that Aldridge wants to create onstage and that Lumbly manifests. The production also seems most at ease in these scenes, as the relationship between Lumbly’s Aldridge and Damilano’s Ellen Tree develops in ways that break through the mustiness that can surround them. The cast, often playing more than one part, finds erratic success in roles that are sketched out to obvious prototypes. But the production looks good on Gary English’s set and in Abra Berman’s costumes, and it does introduce most of us to a significant historical figure whose story still has resonance. As overheard among the departing opening-night theatergoers, “Now I’m going to have to go to Google.”t Red Velvet will run through June 25 at San Francisco Playhouse. Tickets are $20-$120. Call (415) 6779596 or go to sfplayhouse.org.

Married without children

by Richard Dodds

uirks that once were endearing easily can mutate into habits that become exponentially aggravating. That’s what happens in the first scene of The Empty Nesters, as a long-married couple waiting in line for a tourist attraction begins pushing buttons that are unexpectedly active. “I’m thinking of leaving you,” Frances tells a stunned Greg, but you can’t much blame her for trying to put a pin in his litanies of complaints. We want him to stop, too, but as Garret Jon Groenveld’s play unfolds, Frances gets her chances to be annoying as well. Both think their own behavior is just more of the same old, same old, and besides, who brought the subject up first? You probably wouldn’t seek out this nitpicking pair for company, at least not at this moment in their lives, which can make formulating them into inviting theatrical company a challenge. The Empty Nesters is largely a non-stop argument between the two, and it is the introspection they are forced into and the steady vein of humor in their quarrels amid more serious matters that make them into viable characters. Why those more serious matters have been triggered is signaled in the title, as newbie empty-nesters Greg and Frances have just sent their

youngest child off to college. Having children to rear provided their lives with a format that has suddenly gone missing. “Why doesn’t anybody ever talk about this time?” asks Franny about the transition from active parent to grandparentin-waiting. Indeed, it is not a time widely explored in drama, though most of us can come to the topic from one direction or another. Groenveld is a Bay Area playwright who has often worked in gay themes, and there is strong empathy evident for the lives of these stolidly heterosexual characters. That their son may be gay hardly registers as a matter for concern as Greg and Frances struggle with their out-of-focus lives. And their daughter seemed eager to put them in a rearview mirror, bidding them a quick adieu after delivery to her new dorm room. At least a problem child would have given them something to rally around. The Empty Nesters takes place at the Grand Canyon, where the arguments begin, and at a nearby cafe and hotel where they continue. Specifically, the play opens at the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass-bottom attraction that juts 3,000 feet over the canyon. Both the chasm and the walkway offer obvious metaphors for the characters – “It’s supposed to feel like there’s nothing under you,”

David Allen

Pamela Gaye Walker and JW Walker play a married couple who are adrift after their youngest child heads off to college in Garret Jon Groenveld’s new play The Empty Nesters at Z Space.

says Frances – but Groenveld pushes at metaphorical boundaries in the conclusion that takes us back to the ungrounded Skywalk. Real-life married actors JW Walker and Pamela Gaye Walker play Greg and Frances with the intimate shorthand that couples can offer, and they bring engaged takes on characters that need some

friction to jumpstart their relationship. Longtime Bay Area director Richard Seyd has returned for his first local production since 2004, and he adeptly guides it through its necessarily talk-laden format. The play was developed and presented last year by PlayGround with the same cast and a different director. Perhaps that production had

a more helpful focus on the play’s comic tone: mordant or sitcom, brittle or blithe? At Z Below, it’s mostly sporadic.t The Empty Nesters will run through June 11 at Z Below. Tickets are $30-$58. Call (866) 811-4111 or go to emptynestersplay.com.

<<Out&About

26 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Out &About

O&A

Live in the Castro @ Jane Warner Plaza The outdoor performance series returns, with varied acts each weekend. May 21: Kippy Marks w/ Castro Flaggers. 1pm. Castro St. at Market. www.castrocbd.org

Meklit Hadero @ YBCA The Oakland-based Ethiopian musican’s traditional and modern jazz concert, This Was Made Here: A Diasporic Odyssey. $15-$30. Thu-Sun 8pm. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. 978-2787. www.ybca.org

Michael Feinstein @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko

Sat 21 Butch: Portraits by Meg Allen @ Glamarama

Crash & class by Jim Provenzano

rom the first note, you know a professional’s on stage. From the first scene, you know a film is a classic, or a complete disaster worthy of a parody musical adaptation. Check out great and developing artists this week. For nightlifery, including rock bands and funky fun, check out On the Tab in BARtab.

Thu 19

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi The musical comedy revue celebrates its 40th year with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs; now with new characters like Sia and Bernie Sanders. $25-$160. Beer/wine served; cash only; 21+, except where noted. Wed-Fri 8pm. Sat 6pm & 9pm. Sun 2pm & 5pm. 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd (Green St.). 421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Big Trouble in Little China @ Great Star Theatre Interactive screening of the Kurt Russl cult classic comedy action film, with Mad Dog’s Movie Mayhem providing a screening, live show and after-film dance party, with extra visual effects, martial artists, and explosions! Beer, wine & champagne cash bar. $32-$100. 8pm-1am. 636 Jackson St. www.eventbrite.com

Colette Uncensored @ The Marsh Lori Holt’s new solo show tells the story of the famed French novelist’s pioneering feminist life. $20-$100. Thu & Fri 8pm. Sat 5pm. Extended thru June 25. 1062 Valencia St. 2823055. www.themarsh.org

Dishing Daughters of a Riot: Comptons, Courts, Nuns & Punk @ GLBT History Museum Discussion panel about drag and a preview of the upcoming Brava Theatre show, Daughters of a Riot, with Lol McFiercen, Honey Mahogany, Dulce De Leche and VivvyAnne ForeverMore! 7pm-9pm. May 20: White Night Fright , a special screening of films from the Dan White trial protests, curated by John Raines; 7pm. Also, Dancers We Lost: Honoring Performers Lost to HIV/ AIDS, a new exhibit of photos and ephemera, curated by Glenne McElhinney, about Bay Area dancers who died of AIDS. Thru Aug. 7. Also, Feminists to Feministas: Women of Color in Prints and Posters, a new exhibit of illustrations depicting LBT women of color from the 1970s to today. Thru July 4. $5. 4127 18th St. www.glbthistory.org dancerswelost.org/exhibit/

The Empty Nesters @ Z Below Theatre World premiere of local playwright Garret Jon Groenveld’s new play about parents whose lives change after their youngest child leaves for college. $25-$30. Tue-Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru June 11. 470 Florida St. www.zspace.org

Kinky Boots @ Golden Gate Theatre Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s six-Tony-winning musical based on the film about a shoe factory that gets revived by producing drag performers’ boots; including choreography by Jerry Mitchell. $45-$212. Wed-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sat 2m. Sun 1pm & 6:30pm. Thru May 22. 1 Taylor St. www.shnsf.com

The Last Five Years @ Geary Theatre Amercian Conservatory Theatre’s production of writer-composer Jason Robert Brown’s romantic duo musical play about two 20something New Yorkers (Zak Resnick and Margo Seibert) who rush into marriage. $20-$110. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Tue & Sun 7pm. Thru June 5. 415 Geary St. 749-2228. www.act-sf.org

Lightning in the Brain @ The Marsh Corey Fischer (cofounder of the traveling Jewish Theatre) performs new music-theater work shares tales from his long life of Hollywood, Paris and roaming through America. $20-$100. Thu 8pm, Sat 5pm. 1062 Valencia St. Thru July 9. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

The piano-singer cabaret icon returns to his own intimate nightclub ofr a concert celebrating Academy Awardwinning lyricists Marilyn and Alan Bergman (“The Way We Were,” “A Piece of the Sky”), with Bergman. $80-$95. Wed & Sat 7pm. Thu & Fri 8pm. Sun 3pm. Thru May 22. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.ticketweb.com

Fri 20

Celebrity Trash @ 111 Minna Gallery Jason Mecier’s new exhibit of collage portraits of celebrities made out of junk; including Phyllis Diller, Amy Schumer, and Pamela Anderson. Thru May 29. Reg hours daily 7:30am-5pm. 111 Minna St. www.jasonmecier.com www.111minnagallery.com

Cypress String Quartet @ Maybeck Studio for the Performing Arts, Berkeley The acclaimed music ensemble performs as part of their Salon series. $40-$50. 8pm. 1537 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. Other free and paid concerts at unusual and outdoor venues, plus concert halls, thru June. www.cypressquartet.com

For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday @ Berkeley Rep Kathleen Chalfant stars in Sarah Ruhl’s family drama about a family facing a father’s death and reconnecting to childhood dreams. $29-$61. Tue, Thu-Sat 8pm. Wed & Sun 7pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru July 3. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 6472949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Grey Matter @ The Marsh Julie Katz’ new solo show about various workers at an IT company forced to confront a moral decision. $20, $35-$100. Thu & Fri 8pm. sat 5pm (8:30pm after May 21). Thru June 4. 1062 Valencia St. www.themarsh.org

Mommie Queerest @ Oasis Heklina and Peaches Christ’s musical comedy parody of the famous Joan Crawford biopic. $25 and up. 7pm. Thu-Sat. Thru May 21. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

New & Classic Films @ Castro Theatre May 19: Sudden Fear! (2:30, 7pm) and Experiment in Terror (4:30, 9:05). May 20: Midnites for Maniacs presents a 30th anniversary screening of Pretty in Pink (7:20), and a 40th anniversary screening of the original Carrie (9:15) May 21: Away Days skateboarding doc. (8pm). May 22: the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club hosts a screening of The Times of Harvey Milk, VIP reception 2pm, screening 3pm. May 25: The Graduate (7pm) and Risky Business (9pm). $11-$16. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

Plan 9 From Outer Space @ La Val’s Subterranean, Berkeley

Oscar de

Impact Theatre’s wacky stage adaptation of Ed Wood’s cult classic scifi horror film, considered one of the worst of all time. $15-$25. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru June 18. 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. (510) 224-5744. www.impacttheatre.com

THE RETROSPECT

SF International Arts Festival @ Various Venues

Oscar de la Renta’s designs celebrated confidence. See more than 130 ensem pay tribute to one of the most beloved a

The annual festival of dance, theatre, music, performance art, plus workshops, panels, lectures and receptions features dozens of ensembles and performers (Rotimi Agbabiaka, Sara Porter, Hiroshu Koike Bridge Project, Adrian Arias, Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos, Del Sol string Quartet). Venues include the Cowell Theatre, Fort Mason, Firehouse, The Chapel. $15-$30. Fest passes $60 and up. Thru June 5. www.sfiaf.org

M A R 1 2 – M A Y 3 0, 2 0 1 6

This exhibition is organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco with the colla Renta LLC. Presenting Sponsors: Cynthia Fry Gunn and John A. Gunn. Director’s Circle: D Circle: Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, The Diana Dollar Knowles Foundation, Marissa Ma and Yurie and Carl Pascarella. Benefactor’s Circle: Paula and Bandel Carano, Stephanie a Marcus, and Jennifer and Steven Walske. Patron’s Circle: Mrs. Carole McNeil, Mrs. Komal Sh Mary Beth and David Shimmon, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph O. Tobin II. Additional support is Hopper Fitch, and Mr. and Mrs. William Hamilton. Photo: Steven Meisel / Art + Commerce

Student & Faculty Concerts @ SF Conservatory of Music Performances of classical music by students and faculty. 50 Oak St. 5036322. www.sfcm.edu

The Untamed Stage @ Hypnodrome The new musical by Scrumbly Koldewyn takes us back to Weimar-era Berlin, with a Cabaret/Cockettes styled two-act show of songs, dances and bawdy pre-Fascist abandon, with special guest performers each night. $15. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru May 28. 575 10th St. at Bryant. 377-4202. www.hypnodrome.org

Unusual Movies @ Oddball Films

Thu 19 Plan 9 From Outer Space @ La Val’s Subterranean, Berkeley

Weekly screenings of strange and obscure short films. May 19: Rod Serling unusual clips and The Twilight Zone episode “Of Late I Think of Cliffordville,” with Julie Newmar. $10. 8pm. Also Fridays. 275 Capp St. 5588117. www.oddballfilm.com

FAMSF_OSDLR_BAR_Mar_PremIsland4c_final.indd 1

A Dreamplay @ Exit on Taylor

Cutting Ball Theater’s production of August Strindberg’s innovative surreal play about a woman who dreams of becoming Indra’s daughter, who descends to earth to experience human emotions. $10-$50. Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru June 19. 277 Taylor St. www.cuttingball.com

Duane Wakeham @ Strut SF Gay Men’s Sketch presents an exhibit of the artists drawings, and works by group members of Wakeham. Special drawing marathon May 22, 2pm-5pm. 470 Castro St. www.markichester.com www.strutsf.com

Flor y Canto @ Modern Times Bookstore Radical Vulnerability, a poetry slam and open mic with queer People of Color: Thea Matthews, Aja Couchois Duncan, Kari Riesgo Bañuelos, and Silvia Oviedo López. 6:30pm. 2919 24th St. 282-9246. www.mtbs.com

The Heir Apparent @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley Bay Area premiere of David Ives’ adaptation of Jean-Francois Regnard’s 1708 comedy about greed, love and lust. $35-$50. Tue & Sun 7pm. WedSat 8pm. Also Sun 2pm. Thru May 22. 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 8434822. www.auroratheatre.org

Home Improvements @ Fraenkel Lab Filmmaker John Waters’ curated group exhibit of unusual re-imagined domestic objects. Thru May 28. 1632 Market St. www.fraenkelgallery.com/ fraenkellab

The How and the Why @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley West Coast premiere of Sarah Treem’s (House of Cards) drama about two women biologists who clash over evolution and gender theories. $35$45. Tue 7pm. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru May 22. Harry’s UpStage, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 8434822. www.auroratheatre.org

The Alan Jay Lerner/Burton Lane musical gets a new gay adaptation by Peter Parnell; a gay florist, past lives and love triangles collide with comic flair. $30-$50. Previews. Opening night May 21. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sun2pm. 25 Van Ness Ave, lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

Red Velvet @ SF Playhouse SF Playhouse’s production of Lolita Chakrabarti’s drama about Ira Aldridge, the 1833 first British African American stage actor. $20-$120. Tue-Thu 7pm. Fri & Sat 8pm. Sat 3pm, Sun 2pm. Thru June 25. Kensington Park Hotel 2nd floor, 450 Post St. 6779596. www.sfplayhouse.org

To Kill a Mockingbird @ Berkeley Playhouse Christopher Sergel’s stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s bestselling novel is performed by the East Bay company. $23-$60. Various dates/times thru May 22. 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. (510) 845-8542. www.berkeleyplayhouse.org

Treasure Island @ Berkeley Repertory Mary Zimmerman directs the West Coast premiere of the stage adapatation of the Robert Louis Stevenson pirate classic. $57-$97. Tue- Thu-Sat 8pm. Tue 7pm. Sat & Sun 2pm. Thru June 5. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Approaching American Abstraction @ SF Museum of Modern Art See the restaged installations and new exhibits of Pop, Abstract and classic Modern art at the renovated and visually amazing museum, with two extra floors, a new additional Howard Street entrance, café and outdoor gardens. Free-$25. 10am-8pm. 151 Third St. www.sfmoma.org

Butch: Portraits by Meg Allen @ Glamarama Opening reception for Allen’s exhibit of photo portraits of masculine lesbians. 7:30-10:30pm. 304 Valencia St. Thru July 3. www.megallenstudio. com www.glamarama.com

Chinaka Hodge @ City Lights Bookstore The local playwright, rapper and poet reads from her new book, Dated Emcees. 7pm. 261 Columbus Ave. www.citylights.com

The Grace Jones Project, Dandy Lion @ MOAD Dual exhibitions of video, performance and artwork about the iconic singer and queer identity; and Dandy Lion: (Re)Articulating Black Masculine Identity. Free-$10. Both thru Sept. 18. Wed-Sat 11am-6pm. Sun 12pm-5pm. 685 Mission St. at 3rd. www.moadsf.org

Hidden Gold @ Asian Art Museum Hidden Gold: Mining its Meaning in Asian Art (thru May 8). Also, China at the Center: Rare Ricci and Verbiest World Maps; Extracted: a Trilogy of Ranu Mukherjee (thru Aug. 14); Chinese Laquerware (thru July 31); Elephants Without Number (thru June 26), and more. Free-$25. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. 200 Larkin St. 581-3500. www.asianart.org

Literary Death Match @ Elbo Room The raucous funny writers’ night includes readers Janis Cooke Newman, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Na’amen Tilahun and Sarah Ladipo Manyika. With judges including columnist Mark Morford and host Adrian Todd Zuniga. $7-$20. 7pm. 647 Valencia St. www.literarydeathmatch.com

e la Renta

Michael Kerner @ Castro Country Club

TIVE

d the best in us—beauty, optimism, and bles in the first major retrospective to and influential fashion icons of our time.

aboration of Oscar de la Diane B. Wilsey. Curator’s ayer and Zachary Bogue, and Jim Marver, Neiman hah and Mr. Gaurav Garg, provided by Mrs. George

Rock of Ages @ Lesher Arts Center, Walnut Creek Center repertory Theatre’s production of Chris D’Arienzo and Ethan Popp’s hit jukebox musical about rock stars who fight the demolition of a legendary music nightclub. $37-$63. Tue-Sat, thru June 25. 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. www.lesherartscenter.org

Sweet Charity @ Hillbarn Theatre, Foster City Neil Simon’s ‘60s musical comedy about a call girl looking for romance is produced by the East Bay theatre company as it celebrates its 75th season. $25-$48. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 2pm. Thru May 29. 1285 East Hillsadale Blvd., Foster City. (650) 349-6411. www.hillbarntheatre.org

Take This Hammer @ YBCA New exhibit of nearly a dozen local activist-artists who work in different media. Thru Aug. 14. Also, Kevin Cooley’s Golden Prospects, a visual survey of water and waste in California. $8-$10. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St. www.ybca.org

The Wild Party @ Victoria Theatre

3/9/16 7:52 PM

Ray of Light Theatre Company’s production of Andrew Lippa’s dark musical based on Joseph Moncure March’s epic poem about a Manhattan party gone horribly wrong. $15-$40. Thu-Sat 8pm. Thru June 11. 2961 16th St. www.rayoflighttheatre.com

Sat 21

Antony and Cleopatra @ Buriel Clay Theatre African American Shakespeare Company’s production of the classic romantic war tragedy. $15-$34. Sat 8pm. Sun 3pm. Thru May 29. 762 Fulton St. www.africanamericanshakes.org

Arts Festival @ Yerba Buena Gardens Weekend concerts of music, dance, poetry and more, thru October. Mission St. at 4th. www.ybgfestival.org

David Wilson

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever @ New Conservatory Theatre Center

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 27

Sat 21 Present Laughter @ Eureka Theatre

Sun 22

Abrazo, Queer Tango @ Finnish Brotherhood Hall, Berkeley Enjoy weekly same-sex tango dancing and a potluck, with lessons early in the day. $7-$15. 3:30-6:30pm. 1970 Chestnut St., Berkeley. (510) 8455352. www.finnishhall.com

Architecture of Life @ Berkeley Art Museum/ Pacific Film Archive New art and film museum, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, with more than 200 new and ancient works dating back 2,000 years. Free-$12. Thru May 29. 2625 Durant Ave., Berkeley. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu

The Future of the Past @ Legion of Honor Mummies and Medicine, thru Aug. 26. Also, World in a Book, A Princely Pursuit and other exhibits. Free/$15. Tue-Sun 9:30am-5:15pm. Lincoln Park, 100 34th Ave. 750-3600. www.famsf.org

Mon 23 Leon Russell @ Yoshi’s Oakland

The veteran rock-blues musician and his band perform; Riley Etheridge opens. $39. 8pm. Also May 24. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

Morris L. Taylor @ Strut

Pink Flora: The View From Here, paintings and photographs by the local artist. Daily until 10pm, Fri & Sat til 11pm.Thru June. 4058 18th St. www.kernercreative.com www.castrocountryclub.org

The author/artist of The Nine Lives of Morris: Great Tales from One Cool Cat. Reads from and discusses his illustrated book about a gay man’s maturity. 8pm. 470 Castro St. www.ninelivesofmorris. com www.strutsf.org

Present Laughter @ Eureka Theatre

Queerest Library Ever @ SF Public Libraries

Theatre Rhinoceros’ production of Noël Coward’s comedy of a man with a boyfriend and girlfriend vying for his attention. $10-$15. Wed-Sat 8pm. Sat 3pm. Thru June 18. 215 Jackson St. at Battery. (800) 838-3006. www.therhino.org

Hormel at 20: Celebrating Our Past/ Creating Our Future, a dual exhibit of archival materials celebrating the two decades of the LGBTQ collections. Thru Aug 7. 100 Larkin St., 3rd floor, and at the Eureka Valley Brnach, 1 Jose Sarria Court at 16th St. www.sfpl.org

SF Hiking Club @ Armstrong Redwoods

San Francisco in Ruins @ Tenderloin Museum

Join GLBT hikers for a nine-mile hike at Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, two miles north of downtown Guerneville. Carpool meets 8:30 at Safeway sign, Market & Dolores. (707) 823-2827. www.sfhiking.com

The Wild Bunch @ SF Conservatory of Flowers New Spring exhibit of oddlyshaped succulents, cacti and fat plants. Thru Oct. 16. 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, Golden Gate Park www.conservatoryofflowers.org

Exhibit of paintings by local artist Jacinto Castillo depicting old San Francisco. Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, $6-$10 ($15 includes walking tour). 398 Eddy St. 351-1912. www.tenderloinmuseum.org

Thu 19

Young Actors’ Theatre Camp Gala @ Mission locale Performers Alysha Umphress and Darren Criss are honored at the 15th anniversary masquerade-themed gala for the theatre workshop for kids. Jason Brock sings; festive and fun attire suggested. Enjoy wine, sodas, auctions and appetizers. $50 and up. 6pm-10pm. RSVP: shawn@campyatc.com

Sara Porter, one of the many performers in the SF International Arts Festival @ Various Venues

Tue 24

John Wood @ Arthaus The Lake, new paintings by the Bay Area artist. Thru June 25. Tue-Fri 11am-6pm. Sat 12pm-5pm. 411 Brannan St. www.arthaus-sf.com

Will Durst @ The Marsh The political comic’s updated solo show, Elect to Laugh: 2016, adds topical jokes about the bizarre election season. $15-$100. Tuesdays, 8pm. Extended thru July 26. 1062 Valencia St. 282- www.themarsh.org

Wed 25

ALRP Mahor Donor Party @ The Plant Café AIDS Legal Referral Panel’s festive awards party, with food, wine and a cash bar. $200 and up. 5:30-7:30pm. Pier 3, Embarcadero #108. www.alrp.org

Altered State: Marijuana in California @ Oakland Museum The first-ever museum exhibition to focus on pot, with art, political documents, scientific displays. Thru Sept. 25. Other exhibits as well. Free/$15. Reg. hours Wed-Sat 11am-5pm (Fri til 9pm). 1000 Oak St., Oakland. (510) 318-8400. www.museumca.org

From Piss to Bliss @ The Marsh Ady Lady’s solo show explores the search for happiness and higher consciousness amid daily life. $20$100. Wed 7:30pm, Sat 5pm. Thru July 9. 1062 Valencia St. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org

Literary Speakeasy @ Martuni’s James J. Siegel hosts the monthly reading series, this time with J.K. Fowler, Miah Jeffra, Peter Kline, Alexandra Kostoulas, and Melissa Stein. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. www.facebook.com/ events/505859789620690/

Thu 26

10 Percent @ Comcast David Perry’s online & cable interviews with notable local and visiting LGBT people, broadcast through the week. www. ComcastHometown.com Omer Yukseker

Out&About>>

Black Virgins are Not for Hipsters @ The Marsh Berkeley Echo Brown’s hit solo show about desire and doubt moves to the company’s East Bay theatre. $20-$100. Thu 8pm Sat 8:30pm. Extended thru June 25. 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. 282-3055. www.themarsh.org To submit event listings, email events@ebar.com. Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication. For more bar and nightlife events, go to On the Tab in our BARtab section, online at www.ebar.com/bartab

<< TV

28 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Fond farewells & right renewals by Victoria A. Brownworth

t’s season/series finale time. No, we’re not talking about Bernie Sanders finally dropping out of the Democratic primary, we’re talking Empire, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Wife and more. It’s also the start of the new and improved Summer Season. So we’re talking some fab new shows, including American Gothic, a new drama from Stephen Spielberg on CBS; The Night of on HBO, from The Wire alum Richard Price; and The Get Down, from Baz Luhrmann, which is going to be Glee meets Fame meets Moulin Rouge. We’re also talking The Biggest News Story of the Year that flew under the radar. Let’s go there first. One of the perils of the media obsession with Donald Trump has been how everything else on the national landscape has fallen onto what daytime dramas call “the back burner.” LGBT people are always on the back burner, so it’s not surprising that a groundbreaking event for us would end up on C-SPAN on a Monday afternoon and never quite make it to the evening national news, when people are actually tuned in. Because Trump said something awful about Hillary and something else awful about Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and something else awful about Sen. Elizabeth Warren and then something scary awful about his financial policies that could end the global marketplace as we know it. But Attorney General Loretta Lynch stepped up for us in a way that should have been the headline. The only headline. She filed a lawsuit, a federal government lawsuit, for us, for LGBT people. And it was magnificent. In response to North Carolina’s massively awful HB 2 law that impacts LGBT people on myriad levels, but which has been reduced in mainstream media to yet another scaremongering “bathroom law” to wield power and be cover for the breadth and reach of the laws. Even most LGBT people don’t realize that these laws – North Carolina this month, Mississippi last month, Tennessee pending – are about making us pariahs everywhere. Not just the T being carded at the bathroom doors in some humiliating exercise that pretends to protect women and girls from the epidemic of rape in America, which is all

about straight men and has nothing to do with trans people. But the LGB these laws seek to disinherit from any semblance of protection in employment, housing, school, public accommodations. AG Lynch, a native North Carolinian, cut through all that. She called these laws akin to Jim Crow. She said they created an atmosphere. She said they violated the Constitution. She said, “Some of you have lived freely for decades. Others of you are still wondering how you can possibly live the lives you were born to lead. But no matter how isolated or scared you may feel today, the Department of Justice and the entire Obama Administration wants you to know that we see you; we stand with you; and we will do everything we can to protect you going forward. Please know that history is on your side. This country was founded on a promise of equal rights for all, and we have always managed to move closer to that promise, little by little, one day at a time. It may not be easy, but we’ll get there together.” The Attorney General of the U.S. ushered in a sweeping civil rights case for us, and it didn’t make the news. Which is the height of irony, because this is what GOP legislators and governors like NC’s Pat McCrory count on. That we won’t ever make the news. If you missed Lynch’s speech, it’s on C-SPAN’s site. Watch it. Take some tissues. It’s breathtaking. It’s our hope Hillary Clinton puts Lynch on the Supreme Court. Because it is Lynch, not Clarence Thomas, who would be the inheritor of Thurgood Marshall’s legacy. And we love her. Speaking of politics, one new summer series we are eagerly anticipating is BrainDead. This political thriller, created by Robert and Michelle King, creators of The Good Wife, which just ended its sevenseason run on May 8, has been described as a cross between The West Wing and The Strain. “We wanted to do a show that was a mix of genre-pulp and highbrow politics,” Robert and Michelle King told Deadline Hollywood. “It seemed like the best way to address the news today – not straight, but as the opening act of a horror movie.” The Kings developed the series idea long before the Trump Train pulled into the station, which makes the concept all the more prescient. Premiering June 13 on CBS,

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WEDDINGS, HEADSHOTS, PORTRAITS

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BrainDead stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who has a long resume of big and small-screen credits, most recently 10 Cloverfield Lane and Mercy Street. She’s also got an Emmy. Winstead plays a young Hill staffer who discovers the brains of Congress members are being eaten/ inhabited by aliens. Sci-fi or hyperrealism? Expect the same mix of dramatic tension, political chicanery and arch humor that characterized The Good Wife. This might be a hit, might be a miss, but it’s got a stellar cast that includes Emmy winner Tony Shaloub (Monk) as a GOP operative and Danny Pino (Law & Order: SVU). Ridley Scott is the executive producer, and it’s summer, so try it. Speaking of Good Wife (still hating-loving-hating that Sopranosstyle finale), it looks like CBS is doing a spin-off with Christine Baranski and Cush Jumbo for their All Access channel. Emmy and Tony-winning Baranski, who made TGW’s Diane Lockhart one of the best older female characters on the tube, is said to have turned down several other major projects for this one. Jumbo, the English actress who joined the cast in season six as Lucca Quinn, Alicia’s African-American law partner, has great chemistry with Baranski. We would love to see something happen there, as we always thought Lucca had great lesbian potential. More to come.

The ax falls

May isn’t just season and series finales, it’s also sweeps month, which makes it cancellation month. A plethora of new shows have been axed, as well as some old favorites. Leaving ABC are Castle after eight seasons and Nashville after four. The latter is a surprise: the show’s leads had recently been talking about the show as if it were already starting the new season. Hmmm. Nashville has had a continuing gay story arc that brought gay to the world of country music. Other gay characters leaving the small screen include those in Fox’s Grandfather’d, ABC’s Agent Carter, HBO’s Girls, TNT’s Rizzoli & Isles (though technically not really lesbians, despite seven seasons of lying in bed together), CBS’ Angel from Hell, Person of Interest and CSI: Cyber. The cancellation of Cyber also marks the end of the CSI franchise, which debuted in 2000. Some faves that have been renewed include Greg Berlanti’s new NBC thriller Blindspot, which has a strong lesbian storyline featuring Marianne Jean-Baptiste (yes, it’s another person-of-color-is-alsolesbian diversity discount, but still powerful). Others: the whole ABC queer-friendly TGIT lineup is renewed: Grey’s Anatomy for a 13th season, Scandal for a 6th, How to Get Away with Murder, which has the best gay sex scenes on the small screen, for a 3rd. The spectacular American Crime, probably the most provocative series on network, will be back for a third season. NBC’s Shades of Blue, where Jennifer Lopez showed she really can act and Ray Liotta stepped out as a bisexual detective, will return for a second season. So will Fox’s pansexual Lucifer, gay Scream Queens and lesbian-laden Rosewood. NBC’s Chicago Med, which also has gay characters, will be back for a second season. NBC’s comedy Superstore returns for a second season, with some queer characters and the alwaysterrific America Ferrera. The creepy wonderful Netflix original dramedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, with one of the best gay characters on the tube, has been greenlighted for seasons two and three. Fox’s two powerhouse dramas Gotham and Empire are both

NBC-TV

Marianne Jean-Baptiste stars in Greg Berlanti’s NBC thriller Blindspot.

returning for third seasons. (Hopefully Gotham will fix the gay problem it had this season.) On the CW all our faves will be back, including the Greg Berlanti LGBT lineup of Arrow and The Flash. Our personal fave iZombie gets a 3rd season, The Vampire Diaries gets an 8th, and Supernatural (yes, those boys are still gorgeous) gets a 12th season, making the show the longest-running in the CW’s history. One show we were happy to see renewed for a second season is ABC’s The Real O’Neals. We totally dissed this show when it debuted in March. We thought it was going to be an achingly bad rehash of The McCarthys, which had failed epically a couple of seasons back. We were wrong. The show is a funny, moving story of a misfit family with the gay teenage son Kenny at the center. Noah Galvin’s Kenny is pitch-perfect. He’s sweet, complicated but not depressive, always trying to get it right with everything from being the good son to being the good gay. He’s believable, fresh and truly fabulous. Real O’Neals pivots off him, but the secondary characters all work in tandem. Martha Plimpton as Eileen, the uptight, hyper-Catholic mother, is terrific, as is the supporting cast. On the May 12 episode, Project Runway’s Tim Gunn guest-starred. Priceless. Grey’s Anatomy has made a concerted effort to get the gay right for the 12 seasons it’s been on the air. But last week’s episode was devoted to the custody battle between Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) over their daughter, Sofia. This is as real as it gets. The bliss of lesbian and gay married life doesn’t always last, in real life or on TV. The couple split up a few seasons ago after an attempt at couples counseling and have shared custody since. Callie was considering leaving Seattle and moving to New York with her new partner, Penny (Samantha Sloyan). But Arizona said she couldn’t take Sofia. Then it all blew up. Callie filed for full custody. Arizona counter-sued. The judge made her decision after an ugly trial where Callie threw everything she could at Arizona, including a misogynist attack on her for being a female pediatric surgeon when she herself is an orthopedic surgeon. Callie, the birth mother, lost. Arizona, the adoptive mother, won. This, given the two could not commit to a shared agreement, was the right move. The judge saw clearly which mother was devoted to the child first, herself second. It was not the woman who gave birth to her, but the one who had raised her by choice and put the child’s needs first. It was a heartbreaking episode for many reasons. Callie is no villain, and Grey’s didn’t portray her that way. Most importantly for viewers, the show explored how biology doesn’t always win out. In a battle between two mothers, the one who didn’t carry the baby might actually be the better mother; with two lesbians, the issue of no father was never even

raised. Which is why GA continues to be a show that centers LGBT people and “normalizes” them in the context of straight society. A brutal episode, but so instructive and believable. Gay is complex on Empire, and the season finale (many spoilers ahead) exemplified just how much. This show always likes to end on a shooting, but were we expecting this? No. We. Were. Not. We saw the promos: “A Lyon will fall.” We knew something would happen. But still, we were so unprepared. Jamal (Jussie Smollett) has got very hot and sexy times with producer D Major (Tobias Truvillion). But D is ultra-closeted, just like Jamal used to be. Jamal is no longer down with that whole “chicks in the streets, dicks in the sheets” thing, so he tells D they are done. “I worked damn hard to walk in my truth.” We get it, but oh, the chemistry. Fast-forward a week, and D and Jamal are back in the studio and D is heating things up again and we are so ready to see that happen when in comes Dad. (D had locked the door in last week’s episode.) D panics, the way closeted dudes tend to do, and acts like Jamal came on to him. Lucious (Terrence Howard) doesn’t take it well. Lucious hasn’t cured himself of his homophobia, and seeing his son having sexy times with his producer propelled him back into the rage place he was in when Cookie first got out of prison. So despite what happened with his own mother Leah, Lucious hisses at Jamal, “The day you die from AIDS, I’m going to celebrate.” Cue the foreshadowing. Then there we are on the red carpet for the ASA Awards. Freda (Bre-Z) goes to shoot Lucious in retaliation for her father, Jamal steps in front of Lucious, and bang. Lucious’ mother goes out to give a statement to the press outside the hospital where Jamal is, what? And fade to black. Will Jamal Lyon be the Jon Snow of this season? The sneak-peak trailer for season 4 of Orange Is the New Black is out. and this exchange among several of our fave black characters caught us up: “Black people. Look at Obama.” “Change.” (fist-bump) “He get to be President, so the rest of us– “ “Get to be in prison.” Boom. It’s gonna be a hella season, yo. It drops June 17. Perfect for Pride Month. King of Queens. That’s what Nightline called RuPaul in a fun segment on May 13. Dan Harris described himself as straight, not very tall, not very good-looking and not queenly. The 6’4” RuPaul was delightful as he explained to Harris how he could drag him up. The two talked the importance of drag in helping some gay men to find themselves and their voices, how drag talk came into the larger lexicon, and how RuPaul turned a moderately successful singing career into a veritable franchise. We have loved RuPaul forever, so it was great to see this segment with him on a mainstream show. The drag mistress noted, “Show biz is not for sissies. Drag is not for sissies,” and explained that the reason he’s done so well is “I’m ambitious.” Fun and inspirational. Also, a new RuPaul show is in the works: Gay for Play. Finally, you know how we love Carpool Karaoke. This week? James Corden with Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Gwen Stefani. Oh yes. Check it out at CBS.com. So for the endless Trumping of America, for the final finales, return of our faves (America’s Got Talent is bringing Simon Cowell back for the new season, beginning May 31) and so much more, you really must stay tuned.t

DVD>>

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 29

Road trip to ambiguity by Brian Bromberger

ave you ever wondered what might happen if you could rekindle an old college romance years later, what kind of impact it might have on your life? Director Hernando Bansuelo has imagined just a situation in his film A Reunion, newly released on DVD by Ariztical Entertainment. This is a road movie with two characters adrift, searching for what they want in life yet not sure how to obtain it. Michael (Michael Lovan) lives in Japan, but returns to Los Angeles to meet up with his former college friend/ex-lover, Josh (Josh Watson). They will drive cross-country to Chicago to attend their 10th anniversary reunion. Part of the challenge of the movie is discerning what their former relationship was in college, though it fizzled out when Michael moved to Japan for work. Whatever transpired was complicated, emotionally messy with unresolved issues, as Michael and Josh possess very different personalities. Michael is playful, spontaneous, charming, annoying, flaky, and manipulative

– the adolescent who doesn’t want to grow up. Josh is more serious, grounded, stoic, thoughtful, sullen, and drinks too much. The movie proceeds in intervals, with major stopping points in Las Vegas; the Grand Canyon; Grants, New Mexico (its granite rocks); then following Route 66 through Arizona, Texas, and Missouri (its limestone caves). They visit an old college friend, Lisa, married, pregnant, and not attending the reunion. Michael recalls a past embarrassing romantic incident involving all three, casting an awkward pall on their visit. Michael can unknowingly hurt other people, which will become apparent. It is not a spoiler to reveal that Michael and Josh will wind up in bed together after a dance of flirtation and rejection, initiated first by Josh, rebuffed by Michael, then jointly agreed upon by both in a tasteful nude encounter after a simmering period of sexual tension. Their previous relationship meant more to Josh than Michael. During one of their post-coital chats he reveals that he hasn’t felt such a real connection with a guy

since college, unable to move on emotionally. “I haven’t let anyone in and see the full me. I haven’t been in love since. I think about what we had, and I miss you.” Michael doesn’t know how to respond, since neither seems able to unpack all this unsettling history. When they stop to visit Michael’s brother, his Japanese wife and two kids, Michael blurts out a bombshell revelation that will have a huge impact on the rest of the trip. Reunion seems to work better as a travelogue (with beautiful natural scenery by cinematographer Aaron Torres and peppy pop music by Roddy Bottum and Imperial Teen) than as a narrative. The low-budget film is semiimprovised, and both Lovan and Watson are given screenplay credit along with Bansuelo in what is clearly a group project. The problem is that the final result is choppy, ambiguous, with an open ending that is not very satisfying. Like all road films, the plot rests in the getting there rather

than the destination. To the casual viewer it might seem Michael and Josh are going nowhere, yet both are struggling to find themselves by reconnecting with each other

despite their emotional confusion and fumbling attempts at intimacy. The ending isn’t tidy because most adult relationships, gay or straight, are messy, inconsistent, with intertwining exhilarating and heartbreaking moments. The film is essentially two people talking to each other in a similar vein to the Beyond Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight and the much-imitated Weekend movies, but these feature far superior conversation than in the lethargic Reunion. Despite its flaws, we are willing to ride along with Michael and Josh because of two excellent likeable lead performances and a realistic bittersweet chemistry and tenderness between them. We are left pondering how people can love each other when neither is sure what they want. Reunion is a frustrating conundrum because with a little more effort on the screenplay (perhaps less improvisation and vagueness) it could have been a small, incisive gem rather than the elusive, teasing bauble it is.t

probably not what you’re looking for from a Drag Race competitor. When it comes to cabaret crooners, there’s a fine line between being the top or over-the-top. Talented actor-singer Telly Leung comes dangerously close to crossing that line on his second album Songs for You (Yellow Sound). A little restraint would have probably made Leung’s interpretations of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature,” the “I (Am What I Am) Have Nothing” medley, “I Just

Had To Hear Your Voice,” and Sondheim’s “Being Alive” less jarring. His reading of “Second Chances,” a song from the recent Broadway hit Allegiances, proves that a little subtlety goes a Leung way. Your Dying Wish Come True (jimandralis.bandcamp.com), the solo debut by Jim Andralis of “gay post-punk sensations” The Isotoners fame, is one of the best solo discs of the year by any musician gay or straight. The song “For a Minute or Two” alone is enough to justify that statement. Also notable are astonishing numbers “Just Driving,” “Good News” (feat. Larry Krone), “It’s Not Love” and bonus track “Someday I Will Lead the Parade.” Boston music legend Rick Berlin (of Berlin Airlift and Orchestra Luna fame) is still going strong in his 70s. The five-song EP Badville (rickberlin.bandcamp.com) by Berlin and The Nickel & Dime Band, featuring the wild “(Like Em) Crazy,” is proof positive of that. Fox Eyes, Whale Heart (bobbyjovalentine.com) by award-winning gay singer/songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine makes a case for answering the question about how Christian music and queer musician can co-exist peacefully. Songs “Ever Since” and “Fox Eyes” are two of the best examples.t

Just a little bit gay? by Gregg Shapiro

ames Franco was recently quoted as saying he’s “a little gay,” which earns his new musical project Daddy (with Tim O’Keefe) a place in this column. Let Me Get What I Want (We Are Daddy/ Kobalt), said to be inspired by the work of The Smiths (and featuring Andy Rourke of The Smiths on bass guitar), probably would have benefited from having a singer of Morrissey’s stature on vocals. That said, there’s enough intriguing material here, much of it about a character named Sterling, to warrant repeated listens. Suggestive without being graphic, songs such as “Lime Green Dress,” “Sword Swallower,” “I Think That I Loved Him,” as well as the rhythmic “You Are Mine,” “I Am on the Sidelines” and “I Am All These Things,” and the spoken-word exercise “Car Ride Home,” give us another glimpse of what the multifaceted Franco has to offer. On Eight Is Enough (kinseysicks. com), its first album with original founding member Winnie (aka Irwin Keller) in a somewhat reduced role (he has since retired from the group and has been replaced by Nathan Marken), dragapella superstars The Kinsey Sicks continue to mine

their trademark a cappella parody tunes. The best and most brilliant of the parodies is “What Does Fox News Say?” (based on Ylvis’ “The Fox”), a new high point for KS parodist-inchief Ben Schatz (aka Rachel). Highlights include parodies “Let It Grow,” “Crappy” and the gross-out “Enemal Crackers,” and originals “There Are Worse Things Than Getting Hurt,” “Why the Fuck Aren’t We Famous?” and “Preach, Shout and Judge (Your Fellow Man).”

Hero worship by Ernie Alderete

eroics is the two-volume (Heroics, Heroics II) successor series to photographer Paul Freeman’s spectacular five-book Outback series (Outback, Outback Dusk, Outback Brumby, Outback Currawong Creek, Outback Bushmen), and initial four-book Bondi series (Bondi Classic, Bondi Urban, Bondi Work, Bondi Road) of gay male physique books. In all, that’s 11 books packed with thousands of pictures of scores of choice models. At least one monotone portrait in Heroics resembles the preferable previous Outback format. It’s a hairy naked man in a partially visible gladiatorial helmet, but in a rural setting, his sensational body sandwiched between bare, possibly

burned tree branches, a few leafless ones, two inch-thick branches across the front of his body, and more behind him and into the distance. It’s an excellent composition. The patchwork texture of the branches complements the model’s natural beauty. You hardly notice the Napoleonic military coat loosely draped over his shoulders. Another black-and-white print with the same model features him with his superfluous helmet in fuller view, arms stretched upwards, with only a black studio background. He is so beautiful that he can dominate any prop, but the previously described picture is still his best.t

Former RuPaul’s Drag Race season six contestant Adore Delano really wants to sing. Prior to appearing on Drag Race, Delano (aka Daniel Noriega) made it to the semi-finals on the seventh season of American Idol. After Party (Producer Entertainment), the second album by Delano, boasts the kind of club tunes you might expect, including “Bold As Love,” “Take Me There,” “Foreign Lover” and “Dynamite.” No lifechanging revelations here, but that’s

<< Books

30 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Fairy tales by Jim Piechota

Drag Teen by Jeffery Self; Scholastic/Push, $17.99

penly gay actor, writer, and podcast star Jeffery Self, having appeared in 30 Rock, 90210, Desperate Housewives, and LogoTVs Jeffery and Cole Casserole, seems to have distilled his extensive Hollywood experience into his new novel Drag Teen, aimed at that awkward kind of teenager who fits into high school social circles like a square peg. Self ’s plot is simple and storybook-minded, but at well over 200 pages, the author takes his time and lingers over character eccentricities and (spottily amusing) episodes of silly, bantering dialogue. At the center of this young-adult novel’s

melodramatic neon-pink heart is JT, a chubby teen-queen who loves being gay and adores his hottie boyfriend Seth and bestie faghag Heather. But he’s a restless young man who yearns for the day when he can escape the monotonous, small-minded confines of creatively stifling Clearwater, Florida (home to the Church of Scientology’s worldwide spiritual headquarters) and fully spread his wings to embrace what he feels is his true destiny: becoming a successful writer and a drag queen. Hopes are high, but his grades are not, and with high school graduation fast approaching there’s little time to boost his GPA, even less to begin saving money for college. Enter the trusty boyfriend and the feisty galpal, who have discovered there’s an exciting “Miss Drag Teen” college scholarship pageant taking place in

New York City over spring break. The ensuing road trip becomes one saturated in revelations of who JT’s friends really are, versus who he thought them to be. These discoveries, implausibly shrink-wrapped into the length of the car trip, are the only real weak points in Self’s tale. Some of the details will seem sketchy for adults reading this book, but younger readers will be mesmerized by all the bubbly language and sequined melodrama. Glaringly obvious is JT’s experience with drag (which could fit into a stiletto heel), so his shaky performance – and his willingness to enter the contest to begin with – is a stretch. With an array of colorful characters, the story begins to take shape with an emphasis on “letting yourself go,” and on self-discovery, self-confidence, and identity. Fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race will chuckle

at the references scattered throughout, and older readers who moonlight as queens of the stage will find JT’s drag tour-of-duty entertaining. It’s refreshing to read a quirky gay-teen novel with a main character whose issue isn’t his homosexuality, but is instead focused on his outward self and the social security of those orbiting his life. With adult titles under his belt like Fifty Shades of Gay and the hilariously interactive guidebook Straight People: A Spotter’s Guide, this new, glitzy, Wizard of Oz-esque title branches Self ’s popularity out into the young adult market, with hopefully more to come.t

panels seem to lean toward you, and it’s unclear where the journey begins and ends. The experience is a prelude, not a deliberate one I’m certain, to the sense of disorientation and lack of flow that plague the building. An essential tenet of good design is that we know instinctively where we are as we move through a space, impelled from one area to another without a compass. But it’s easy to lose one’s bearings and get turned around here, not just because it’s a new place, but because the layout doesn’t have an organic logic or a true center of gravity. It wouldn’t be the first project attempting to integrate a new wing that was afflicted with such a problem. A metaphor for the challenge that faced Snohetta is a view of the seismic gap between the old building and the addition seen through a glass panel near the fourth-floor elevator; the separation permits the structures to jostle independently and go their own way in the event of an earthquake. Let’s call it an amicable separation without a satisfying reconciliation. But the real casualty of the Rick Gerharter makeover is the loss of the onceSculptures by Kiki Smith (left) and Marc Quinn are part of the 7th floor sculpture terrace at the expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. gracious Third Street lobby, with its black-and-slate-gray atrium and stairwell that fed visitors into wall,” and others that afford striking entries are problematic. The streetbuilding, or the gateway to an art inSF MOMA a hidden garden of delights that urban views and a ringside seat to level entrance on Howard, a glassstitution? (One must climb a nearby From page 21 awaited on the floors above. Those this booming city. enclosed space occupied in toto by stairway to gain access to a new supremely elegant design elements Pebbled, off-white, fiberglassRichard Serra’s massive sculpture second-floor ticketing area.) As you With a total of 460,000 square have been replaced, in part, with reinforced polymer panels covering “Sequence,” begs the question: Is wend your way through the inside feet – 235,000 more than the existan asymmetrical wood-and-glass the east and west facings seem to this a solo piece of monumental of Serra’s irregular circular maze of ing 1995 Mario Botta-designed “sculptural” staircase that’s unundulate, making the sandwichedpublic art in a civic-minded office rusted steel, the enormous curved building – three times the exhibimoored, marooned right of center in addition that rises above tion space and a 10-story addition in the room; climbing it the original red-brick strucwhose floors are linked by sandis like mounting the deck ture look like a mammoth toned stairwells, the transformed of the Titanic. Light filters ocean liner or a supersized SFMOMA is definitely bigger, better down from Botta’s ocuhunk of meringue. The intein some ways, and in others not. So lus, now essentially a vast rior is tasteful and restrained far, responses to the new edifice, skylight painted a bright to the point of blandness – which has entrances on Howard suburban white; one of the the only place you’re likely to and Third Streets, have ranged from finest architectural features see more blonde wood in a tepid to damning with faint praise of the old building has been single place is an Ikea outlet. along the lines of “it may not be the reduced to a sanitized Las That Scandinavian reserve Taj Mahal or Louis Kahn’s Kimbell Vegas rendering of Mount (Snohetta is a NorwegianArt Museum, but it’s not without Vernon. based firm) is relieved only its charms.” The Howard Street There’s compensation, by the blast of blood-red entrance certainly doesn’t announce however, in the revamped elevator doors framed in itself as the site of a major modern Phyllis Wattis Theater, a black; they reminded me of art destination, and you’d be forsleek and snazzy showpiece The Shining, and I mean that given for mistaking it for Bloomingwith black & white op-art as a compliment. Kudos, too, dales a couple of blocks away. slats on the walls, pale grey to the audacious wayward So why couldn’t we have had an and crème seats, covert soul who came up with the adventurous architectural statemodern lighting and a highcolor schemes for the restment, a dramatic showplace? No end sound system. It’s a rooms; after I got over the Renzo Piano, Frank Gehry, or Zaha stunner, and one can’t help initial shock of one painted Hadid wonderments for us. Grantwishing its boldness prein strawberry crush, there ed, it’s hard to do cutting-edge, vailed elsewhere. was another with contrastunconventional architectural design Can we learn to love the ing indigo doors and purple in this process-oriented town that new SFMOMA? Perhaps everything else. blunts most anything that smacks with familiarity, the passage The galleries are spacious, of the radical or visionary. That of time and a foundation of understated showcases that said, the new SFMOMA has many rewarding experiences, the offer the works in them virtues to recommend it, such as building will grow on us. Afroom to breathe, and visithe large angled windows, some ter all, it’s the art that really Rick Gerharter tors expansive, comfortable with seating, that allow for rest and counts.t viewing, at least until they The Living Wall provides a soft backdrop on the 3rd floor sculpture terrace at the reflection, acres of glass, and a halfexpanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. have to figure out which end dozen outdoor sculpture terraces, Next week: the art at of the floor they’re on. Both including one with a green “living SFMOMA.

Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and select Walmart locations. To charge by phone (800) 745-3000. Limit 8 tickets per person. All dates, acts and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable service charges.

On the Town

Theatrical Fun

On the Tab Vol. 46 • No. 20 • May 19-25, 2016

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Glam on cam Magnus Hastings’ ‘Why Drag’ book by Jim Gladstone

Magnus Hastings

“W Dulce De Leche in a Hitchcock-inspired pose.

hen I was a child, I was the gayest little boy in the world,” recalled the London-bred, Los Angeles-based photographer Magnus Hastings in a recent phone interview. “I liked to dress as a girl, but as I got older I got shamed out of it by my parents. Which is ironic, because my parents are quite liberal.” See page 34 >>

Mr. David (left) enjoys a front row seat as Barbara Liu McDowell takes to the stage at Mr. David for Juanita More! 24 Years of More… Runway Show!

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34 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Glam on cam

From page 33

But Hastings’ fascination with boys in frocks proved unrelenting. Now 42, the self-trained photographer has a blossoming career as the world’s foremost drag portraitist. “I’ve become an observer instead of a participant,” Hastings says. But he feels so intimately simpatico with the queens he shoots that such a division seems overstated. With the vibrancy of David LaChappelle’s work, but none of its jaundiced cynicism, Hastings’ best images feel like true collaborations

with his subjects, drenched in mutual affection. So expect a cheeky, freaky lovefest at the launch of Hastings’ first book, Why Drag? (from local publisher Chronicle Books), this coming Friday at The Stud. Along with the photographer, a full dozen of the 135 queens featured in the stunningly produced coffee table volume will be on hand with performances guaranteed to put some zoom in your lens. “Let me tell you something about San Francisco drag,” says Hastings drawing a contrast between the Bay Area and LA drag scenes. “The queens are so kind to each

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other. They will help each other out with anything. It’s such an expensive city to live in, and so many of these people are just dedicated to the pure artistry of drag. They don’t make much money at their jobs, but they’ll work all week and spend a lot of what they make to put together an outfit for a single performance.” In exchange for appearing in the book, Hastings –who has had his own periods of financial struggle amidst the superficial glamour of his work– gave each queen a selection of images to use in their own publicity. He has more formal business relationships with a few performers, including breakout RuPaul’s Drag Race star Courtney Act, with whom he creates images for licensed products (There must be someone on your gift list who needs a Courtney Act shower curtain, no?). Accompanying the portraits in Why Drag? are the subjects’ brief answers to the book’s titular –pun intended– question. “Because it pays the bills. Hah!” says San Francisco’s Abominatrix. “I use drag as an outlet for my creativity and as a way to express myself as a walking installation. Not everyone appreciates it, but it’s the one thing I’ve found in my life that continues to keep me happy.” “Creating chaos for a better tomorrow,” answers Porcelain, another local, “Warping the mind of reality and pissing on sadness. Being a kaleidoscope of unusual attraction. Questioning my existence in a world full of monkeys.” Perusing the book thoroughly, readers will take note of how much more the participants speak in terms of art, creativity, and happiness than about gender. “I love the new generation of drag queen,” says Hastings, “where each performance can be totally different. There’s not necessarily the need for a queen to stick to a single specific persona. I love queens like Grace Towers, who can wear a beautiful dress and heels with a full beard and hairy legs. It’s not about making anyone think you’re a biological woman.” It’s also, Hastings, emphasizes, not about thinking of yourself as a biological woman. “I feel like straight people are getting confused between transgender people and drag queens. I’ve had people ask me if Caitlin is in my book. Of course she isn’t. I don’t want to confuse the issues. This is a different ball game.” In his introduction, Hastings writes, “a drag queen is generally a gay man who happily lives as a man but has an alter-ego, much like a superhero.” As to his personal preferences in drag performance, Hastings says he’s ready to leave as soon as he sees an electric fan placed on the stage and hears the first few beats of a Beyoncé song. He also has a strong preference for lip-syncing over live singing: “When I see a drag queen, I want to hear a woman’s voice. And men don’t have women’s voices. It breaks the illusion for me. It’s like going to a wedding and they have a live band playing cover versions of hit songs. It doesn’t matter how good the band is. Why don’t you just have a DJ play the original recording?” “When it’s done well, lip sync is the most phenomenally funny thing. You can be in a potato sack if your lip sync’s right. The trick is to get the breathing right. You have to match the singer’s breathing as well as her lips. If you can do that, it’s complete magic.”t Magnus Hastings and several of his ‘Why Drag’ subjects (Peaches Christ, Glamamore, Dulce De Leche, Porcelain, Mutha Chucka, Raya Light and more) will be at Some Thing, Friday May 20. Signing 9pm. Show at 12am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com magnushastings.com

From Top to Bottom: Sharon Needles in a padded cell; Porcelain blends genders sacreliciously; Magnus Hastings’ book Why Drag?; Grace Towers, a MUNIcipal treasure; Photographer Magnus Hastings with another of his muses, Courtney Act. All photos: Magnus Hastings

Read more online at www.ebar.com

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 35

Fashion festivities

All photos: Gareth Gooch

Left: Mercedez Munro works Mr. David couture. Middle: Rahni NothingMore in a Mr. David gown at the de Young Museum show. Right: Mr. David and Juanita More! (center/right) backstage at the Mr. David for Juanita More! 24 Years of More… Runway Show!

by Donna Sachet

wo blockbuster events absorbed our weekend! Friday night, we joined Kevin Lisle and headed to the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park for one of their series of after-hours Friday nights, featuring various special exhibits, live music, dance, panel discussions, and other activities. This night featured Mr. David for Juanita More! 24 Years of More… Runway Show! Not being lucky enough to own a Mr. David original, we donned our best signature Oscar de la Renta, in a nod to the American designer whose retrospective is currently on display at the DeYoung. Blockbuster hardly describes the feeling of this first-time ever event! From the moment we arrived, the buzz of excitement was palpable with guests of every age, attire, and persuasion bustling for the best vantage point in cavernous Wilsey Court. We chatted briefly with Erin Lavery, Johnny Razzaroli, Carlton Paul & Andy Cross, Gareth Gooch, Linda Lee, Nicole Monsoon, Karin Lee Jaffie & Lori Howes, and Reigning Emperor Salvador Tovar. In addition to those there for the fashion show, the crowd was augmented by museum visitors unaware of the uniqueness of this night, but quickly caught up in the thrill of the anticipation. We finally found an excellent spot just outside the dressing room as Mr. David and Juanita More!, swathed in emerald taffeta ruffles over muted bronze silk, arrived surrounded by admirers to take their seats on the front row. Having attended runway fashion shows in New York, Paris, and London, we can tell you that this one had all the trappings of a full-scale fashion happening! After the briefest of announcements, the music swelled and the first models sashayed onto the expansive stage. Models of every gender variation represented many facets of the community and of Juanita’s own social circle, including Honey Mahogany, Katya Smirnoff Skyy, Mercedez Monro, Paju Monro, Mini Minerva, Gina La Divina, Mutha Chucka, and Reigning Empress Emma Peel. Fashions spanned the gamut of Mr. David’s creativity, including fanciful costumes, whimsically exaggerated details, voluminous capes and wraps, dazzling fabrications, bold

colorations, and exquisitely detailed garments. The audience rightfully applauded each entry, giving special attention to their personal favorites. The only interruption came when the sweeping staircase had to be cleared by security due to fire safety regulations, a telling indication of the capacity crowd. As the formal show ended, the crowd swelled forward to congratulate the designer and his muse and within a short period of time, the de Young Museum returned to its more staid setting. What a whirlwind of San Francisco magic!

Cirque Del Arc at Oasis May 24.

Musical moments

reach and assuring that no band member is denied participation due to financial constraints. We were thrilled to join the very talented Leanne Borghesi as guest stars that night, relishing the rare opportunity to sing with a full band accompaniment. Even the audience got into the act, invited by Artistic Director PePatrik Gallineaux (right) cohosts the Stoli Key ter Nowlen to follow lyrics projected on West Cocktail Classic at Beatbox May 19. a big screen and to sing along with their Broadway favorites. Tables were decorated in Broadway show themes and a lively auction and raffle raised additional funds. Among those attending were Mike Proctor, James Holloway, Dana van Iquity, Miguel Gutierrez, Jen Viegas, Josephine Caffese Lotte (celebrating a birthday that night), former Artistic Director Jadine Louie, and the Reigning Emperor Salvador Tovar. Watch for upcoming events of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and support this historic and community loving organization.

Upcoming events

Saturday night, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band performed Spotlight on Broadway in the Empire Ballroom of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. This first-ever openly gay music group in the country was formed in 1978 by the legendary Jon Sims and at the time included a twirling corps, perfect for those earliest Gay Pride Parades. Since then, they have grown to an accomplished musical ensemble, becoming the official Band of San Francisco, joining two presidential inaugural parades, creating the holiday DanceAlong Nutcracker, and performing at countless community events at no charge. This was the first of what Miquel Blazqued promises to become an annual fundraiser for the band, Katya Smirnoff-Skky and Joe Wicht cohost enabling them to continue Cabaret Showcase Showdown at Oasis May 26. their wide community out-

Tonight, Thursday, May 19, the Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic returns to San Francisco at Beatbox starting at 8PM. When Patrik Gallineaux of Stoli Vodka hosts an event, we are there. This is truly an international event with previous competitions in cities across the United States and Canada and the winner receiving an incredible prize package that includes a trophy, participation in Key West’s Pride Parade, a trip to Stoli’s Ibiza Bartender Weekend, and $10,000 for the charity of the winner’s choice. This year’s local judges are Jai Rodriguez, BeBe Sweetbriar, and 2015 North American Cocktail Classic Champion Matthew Mello with entertainment by Jai Rodriguez, Brian Kent, and Leanne Borghesi. Don’t worry, the first 100 attendees also have a part in the judging. Don’t miss it! Tuesday, May 24, we’ll join an exuberant crowd for

Cirque de L’Arc: Puttin’ on the Ritz, at Oasis starting at 6PM, benefiting The Arc of San Francisco, which provides essential services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This night has it all with midway entertainment, silent auction, food and drink. and an allstar drag revue featuring Heklina, Cockatielia, Alexis Miranda, Kandi De-Lite, Serena Jackson, DaftNee Gesundheit, and this humble columnist. Additional performers include Vocal Minority from the Gay Men’s Chorus, Kitten on the Keys, Kippy Marks, members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and The Arc Unstoppables. The whole event is a salute to recently retired Kitty Glamour who added so much to The Arc and leaves the drag community of San Francisco sadly less stellar. It will be a night to remember! The following night, we hope to see many of you at Petchitecture, the annual gala fundraiser for Pets Are Wonderful Support, that recently merged with Shanti. The elegant Fairmont Hotel hosts this year and we will honor longtime supporters Dede Wilsey and the late Wilkes Bashford with entertainment by enchanting chanteuse Paula West and a special appearance by The Honorable Willie Brown. If you’ve never attended this unique event where human supporters mix with canine beneficiaries, you’ll be glad to be there. We can’t say enough about the important work PAWS does to encourage the indescribable humananimal bond and its healing and supportive properties. This recent merge with Shanti promises to benefit the clients of both organizations while streamlining processes and putting funds to most effective use. And on Thursday, May 26, Joe Wicht and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy host the Sixth Annual Cabaret Showcase Showdown Finale at Oasis. Seven singers will compete for the honor of Best New Cabaret Performer, judged by Russ Lorenson, Skip Ziobron, Marilyn Levinson, Paula West, and the writer of this very column. Don’t you love finding the newest, best talent right here in San Francisco? Up next… Pride Month and all the many events vying for your attention! Count on this biweekly column in the Bay Area Reporter to keep you focused on the most essential places to be as this City celebrates once again as no other place in the world!t

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36 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Theatrical fun Young Actors’ Theatre Camp celebrates 15 years by Jim Provenzano

elebrating 15 years, the Young Actors Theatre Camp will host a fun and festive masquerade ball on May 21 that includes musical theatre stars Darren Criss, Alysha Umphress and Jason Brock. Cofounded in 2001 by singeractor Shawn Ryan and his husband, film producer John Ainsworth, the coed camp, located near Santa Cruz, hosts one-day and 11-day stays, with a variety of activities throughout each summer, and a few camps at other times each year. Along with an array of talented teaching professionals, the visiting artists range from actor-director Jonathan Groff (Looking, Spring Awakening) to Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez (the Academy Award-winning composers of Frozen). Voted Best Overnight Theatre Camp and Best Theatre Workshop by Parent Magazine for four years, the YATC (affentionately pronounced “Yattik” by participants) welcomes aspiring theatre artists ages 8 to 18, and attracts a variety of multi-talented performers and producers, who offer master classes on the art and business of theatre. Asked about Criss being given the Inspiration Award at the upcoming gala, Shawn Ryan said, “Darren

Criss was our most popular Master Class Teacher [in 2010 and 2013]. He is truly an inspiration to us all, especially the kids from the Bay Area who have seen that his hard work and dedication to his craft have really paid off.” Ryan’s partner John Ainsworth agreed. “The fact that he is a Bay Area ‘local boy makes good!’ is something really special to our students,” said Ainsworth. “They have a sense of pride knowing someone from their own backyard is having great success in the industry that they dream to work in too.” The Glee and Hedwig and the Angry Inch star was born in San Francisco and is known for his energetic informal performances as well. Criss will return to San Francisco in October for a touring production of Hedwig at the Golden Gate Theatre. Ainsworth mentioned other master class professionals who’ve taught at YATC: Jim O’Heir from Parks and Recreation, Rose McIver, the star of IZombie, Tony nominee Jonathan Groff (Hamilton) and musical and film actresses Sutton Foster, and Lilla Crawford. A Master Class teacher who shared his vocal talents, gay singer and actor Jason Brock will perform at the YATC Ball. Said Ryan, “Jason inspired the

Shawn Ryan and his partner John Ainsworth at a Young Actors’ Theatre Camp workshop.

Students do vocal warm-ups at a recent YATC workshop.

kids to truly find their inner voice and ignore all the ‘haters,’ as he put it. Jason’s appearances on The X Factor had our campers glued to their TVs and we all voted for him every chance that we could.” Alysha Umphress, an accomplished Broadway musical theatre performer, most recently starred in the revival of On the Town. Umphress will be given a Performer of the Year award. With a masquerade party theme, what sort of attire should guests consider wearing? Ryan replied, “Since this is a Theatre Camp fundraiser, we’ve decided to bring out our most fun and festive attire, with maybe a hint of the dramatic masquerade thrown in for fun. I suspect there will be some ticket holders who go all out (a la Hamilton).” Ainsworth added, “It’s true that many of our students, much like Shawn and I, started out being the class clown. I guess there was just something about having all eyes on us that gave us a thrill. That’s actually a part of why we started the Young Actors’ Theatre Camp, a place for all the drama kings and drama queens to come and focus those otherwise disruptive energies into discerning talent.” Asked to recall the highlights of the Young Actors Theatre Camp’s past decade and a half, Ryan noted a few stand-outs. “The highlights of YATC have been every single second, to be honest,” Ryan said. “It’s truly the most magical place on earth. But if I had to pick a couple, Andrea Marcovicci

singing a Pink song called ‘Glitter’ to a stunned audience of campers who she held in the palm of her hand with the timeless art of cabaret.” Ryan recalled an amusing moment with a student. “Once when a reporter was visiting the camp, we were having our Broadway lunch and [the Wicked song] “Defying Gravity” came on the playlist. All the kids lept to their feet, and one young boy jumped on a table at the crescendo of the song. The interviewer looked at me like, ‘Well, aren’t you going to do something?’ And I said, “Yes, I’ve gotta get that kid a broom!” It turned out another staff member already had the same idea and had the broom handled just in time for the high note!”

complishment and proudest project. “Years ago, when we started YATC, I was teaching the kids about auditioning for film and TV,” Ainsworth added. “But I wanted to keep in interesting at each successive camp by raising the production value of the classes for our returning students. So I started producing short films. The kids have written and workshopped a number of scripts that I post on our YouTube channel so that parents could see what their kids had been working on while at Camp. Little did I realize that some of our short films would become as popular as they have become.” The channel (www.youtube. com/user/johnainsworth) now has almost 6 million views and 16,000 subscribers.

Movie magic Ryan and his partner Ainsworth have recently been making the film festival circuit, where their new short film, Randy, about a young man with Down Syndrome, is winning awards, including Best Short Film at the Palm Beach International Film Festival. Ainsworth just Executive-Produced his first feature film, Lazy Eye, from writer-director Tim Kirkman (a Frameline Award winner and Sundance Alumni). So it’s only appropriate that they added film workshops to the camp. “Running the film program for all of our kids really became my film school,” said Ainsworth. “My goal has always been to educate and inspire the kids and ignite their imaginations. This has been my biggest ac-

Working lives So, how do the couple keep a balance between work and their personal lives? “Being married and working side by side each day has been the greatest thing that could’ve ever happened to us,” said Ryan. “I absolutely love that our work and its mission has strengthened us as a couple. Getting to change lives each summer and do it together allows us to really bring our best lives to the forefront of our relationship. The camp has taught us so much about love and inspired us to be the best people and artists that we can be.” Ainsworth said, “Honestly, I think it’s because our passions for the arts and for teaching were so similar that it became a synergistic effect. Either

A group of cheerful students sing at a recent YATC workshop.

Read more online at www.ebar.com

A scenic outdoor vocal workshop at YATC.

Darren Criss (right) with John Ainsworth at a 2010 YATC master class.

one of us could’ve started the camp, but the fact that we did it together and the fact that we have such love for each other and for the business: the total is greater than the sum of its parts. So the business is just like our lives and has so much love... it’s full of heart. If you know us, or you’ve been to the camp, you know.” Ainsworth noted the inclusive environment of the camp setting, particularly for LGBT kids. “Absolutely! As a child I remember feeling and thinking, ‘I don’t know what it is about me, but I’m different.’ There weren’t LGBTQ characters in the media for me to relate to; but today there are numerous, and it’s important to note that they’re positively portrayed, role models and even many out actors that kids today can identify with and look up to. It all leads to better understanding that will hopefully show kids that today, being who you are is exactly who you’re sup-

posed to be. You’re okay, you’re safe, you’re loved, and you’ll be accepted. It doesn’t matter who you fall in love with or choose to marry.” Ryan added, “I think that the world, in general, is a more accepting place than it was, say, 20 years ago when I came out. What we continue to tell the kids is that the most successful and happy artists are the ones who find out who they are and then share that with the world. Just be you and you will find true happiness!” Unless you’re at the masqerade ball, where you can be someone else for a night.t

Read our Q&A with Alysha Umphress on www.ebar.com The Young Actors’ Theatre Camp Maquerade Gala takes place Saturday, May 21, from 6pm to 10pm at a private Mission location. $50. RSVP: shawn@campyatc.com www.campyatc.com

Top: Alysha Umphress Bottom: Jason Brock

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 37

Serving the LGBT communities since 1971

38 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

Mr. David’s Glamfest

From page 33

Gareth Gooch

If so, there were plenty of fits, shivers, and convulsive cheers and applause at the massive runway show of gowns by Mr. David (aka Glamamore), showcasing 200 of his thousands of couture outfits made for drag icon Juanita More. The de Young lobby was packed with hundreds of fans, so many that the crowded staircase had to be cleared for fire code safety. And the stars were burning it up with beauty, ranging from local performers Dulce De Leche, Katya Smirnoff-Skky, Emma Peel, Mercedez Munro, Mutha Chucka, Rahni NothingMore, to hunks Boomer Banks, Stanley Frank, Tyson Lee, Aram Kirakosian, Saturn Jones and many more. Gehno Aviance Sanchez and his crew vogued, and Monique Jenkinson offered can-can kicks. Fabric swirled, twirled and draped. The stellar event on May 13 was captured by several photographers. Here are just a few images from Cabure Bonugli/Shot in the City and Gareth Gooch. For more images, visit www.facebook.com/ShotInTheCity/ and www. garethgoochphotography.com t

1. Brontez Purnell (left to right), Jocquese Whitfield and Gehno Aviance Sanchez vogued and death-dropped. 2. Kenshi Westover worked the runway. 3. Saturn Jones whipped glam. 4. Michael Tempesta bared skin and beared faux-fur. 5. Suppositori Spelling thrilled in royal Disney-inspired queen couture. 6. Alotta Bouteé in a Juanita-print kimono. 7. Beth Bicoastal, Crème Fatale and Jillian Gnarling made a stunning trio. 8. Krylon Superstar took wing in a Mr. David creation.

Shot in the City

Gareth Gooch

On the Tab>>

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 39

Speechless @ Public Works

Boy Bar @ The Cafe

Watch comics and others attempt to make sensible TED-type talks while random images are projected as a goofy Powerpoint presentation. $12$20. 7:30pm (open mic 6:30). 161 Erie St. www.speechlesslive.com

Gus Presents’ weekly dance night, with DJ Kid Sysko, cute gogos and $2 beer (before 10pm). 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Skate Night @ Church on 8 Wheels

On the Tab C

May 19-26

elebrate with classic roc k, tribute bands (The Smiths and Mo rrissey in one week), hip hop que ens (Swagger Like Us) and other musica l choices.

Fri 20

er Like Us @ Oasis ster Wallace at Swagg

Thu 19

Academy of Friends @ Room and Board Check presentation to beneficiaries of the annual Oscar party gala. 6:30pm8:30pm. Free-$20. 685 7th St. www.academyoffriends.org

Big Trouble in Little China @ Great Star Theatre Interactive screening of the Kurt Russell cult classic comedy action film, with Mad Dog’s Movie Mayhem providing a screening, live show and after-film dance party, with extra visual effects, martial artists, and explosions! Beer, wine & champagne cash bar. $32-$100. 8pm-1am. 636 Jackson St. www.eventbrite.com

Bulge @ Powerhouse Grace Towers hosts the fun sexy night. $100 cash prize for best bulge. $5-$10 benefits various local nonprofits. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Maria Konner @ Martuni’s The trans diva and ace musician plays Blues, Rock and more with her trio, and guest singer Kaylah Marin. No cover, open mic, too. 6:30-8:30pm. 4 Valencia St.

Mary Go Round @ Lookout Mercedez Munro and Holotta Tymes’ weekly drag show. $5. 10:30pm show. DJ Philip Grasso. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Michael Feinstein @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko The piano-singer cabaret icon returns to his own intimate nightclub ofr a concert celebrating Academy Awardwinning lyricists Marilyn and Alan Bergman (“The Way We Were,” “A Piece of the Sky”), with Bergman. $80-$95. Wed & Sat 7pm. Thu & Fri 8pm. Sun 3pm. Thru May 22. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.ticketweb.com

Mommie Queerest @ Oasis Heklina and Peaches Christ’s musical comedy parody of the famous Joan Crawford biopic. $25 and up. 7pm. Thu-Sat. Thru May 21. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

The Monster Show @ The Edge The weekly drag show with DJ MC2, themed nights, gogo guys and hilarious fun. $5. 9pm-2am. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

Nightlife @ California Academy of Sciences

Thu 19

Zahra Noorbakhsh at Comedy Returns @ El Rio

Circle Jerk @ Nob Hill Theatre

Themed event nights at the fascinating nature museum, with DJed dancing, cocktails, fish, frogs, food and fun. May 19: Chrome Sparks and Planet Booty perform live. May 26: ‘90s nightlife with DJ Jamie Jams, Outbreak science film discussions, grunge garb encouraged. $10-$12. 6pm10pm, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. 379-8000. www.calacademy.org

Rock Fag @ Hole in the Wall

Porn stud Micah Brandt leads the interactive sex party downstairs at the famed strip club (and performs onstage May 20 & 21). $15. 9pm.729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Enjoy hard rock and punk music from DJ Don Baird at the wonderfully divey SoMa bar. Also Fridays. 7pm-2am. 1369 Folsom St. 431-4695. www.hitws.com

Comedy Returns @ El Rio

D’Arcy Drollinger, aka Baby D, takes you on a sweat-fueled Spandex exercize dancersize class that turns into a cocktail party, with speical guests Fauxnique and Gia with a Liza tribute. $10. 9pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

Lisa Geduldig hosts the monthly comedy show, this time with Yayne Abeba, Zahra Noorbakhsh, Robin Cee, and Yvette Fernandez. $7-$20. 8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com www.koshercomedy.com

Groove on wheels at the former Sacred Heart Church-turned disco roller skate party space, hosted by John D. Miles, the “Godfather of Skate.” Also Wed, Thu, 7pm-10pm. Sat afternoon sessions 1pm-2:30pm and 3pm-5:30pm. $10. Kids 12 and under $5. Skate rentals $5. 554 Fillmore St at Fell. www.churchof8wheels.com

Stoli Cocktail Classic @ Beatbox Donna Sachet and Patrick Gallineaux cohost the bartender drink-making competition, with celebrity judges Jai Rodriguez, Matthew Mello and Bebe Sweetbriar. 8pm-11pm. 314 11th St. www.beatboxsf.com

Thursday Night Live @ SF Eagle Music night with local and touring bands. $8. 9:30pm. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Tubesteak Connection @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge

Comedy Noir @ Balancoire Valerie Branch’s weekly comedy night, where she embodies her faux queen character Pia Messing for some offbeat wit, along with guest performers. $5. 8pm-10pm. 2565 Mission St. www.balancoiresf.com

Dancing Ghosts @ Cat Club Celebrate World Goth Day and Siouxsie’s birthday at the darkwave Goth, post-wave dance night, with DJ Xander. 9:30pm-2am. 1190 Folsom st. www.sfcatclub.com

Freeball @ Powerhouse Let your goods flop free at the loosegym-mesh shorts sexy night, with Element Eclipse and Daniel DeLage, DJs Guy Ruben and Riley Patrick, Proceeds benefit FrontRunners SF. $5. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Friday Nights @ de Young Museum Season 12 of the fun art parties returns, with the Oscar de la Renta exhibit, live music and drinks. 5:30pm9pm. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, www.deyoung.famsf.org

Friday Nights @ Oakland Museum The family-friendly night events returns, with exhibit tours, dancing, food, drinks, and live music. $7-$15. 5pm-9pm. 1000 Oak St. www.museumca.org

Gogo Fridays @ Toad Hall Hot dancers grind it at the Castro bar with a dance floor and patio. 4146 18th St. www.toadhallbar.com

Happy Friday @ Midnight Sun The popular video bar ends each work week with gogo guys (starting at 9pm) and drink specials. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

See page 40 >>

Thu 19 Mommie Queerest @ Oasis

Disco guru DJ Bus Station John spins grooves at the intimate retro music night. $5. No cell phones on the dance floor, please! 10pm-2am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

The Who @ Oracle Arena The powerhouse rock band performs. Slydigs opens. $49-$150. 7:30pm. 7000 Coliseum way, Oakland. (510) 569-2121. www.oraclearena.com

Fri 20

Ain’t Mama’s Drag @ Balancoire Weekly drag queen and drag king show hosted by Cruzin d’Loo. 8pm10pm. No cover. 2565 Mission St. www.balancoiresf.com

I am the future of the LGBT community. I’m 26 and transitioning. I have a lot going on - I don’t need to be mocked, misgendered, or marginalized, and I don’t have time to hunt out news that matters to me. That’s why I read EDGE on my Android tablet. I’m being true to my future - and that’s where it will be.

Sexitude @ Oasis

The person depicted here is a model. Their image is being used for illustrative purposes only.

<< On the Tab

40 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

On the Tab

From page 39

Hard Fridays @ Qbar DH Haute Toddy’s weekly electro-pop night with hotty gogos. $3. 9pm-2am (happy hour 4pm-9pm). 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Ladies of San Francisco @ Club OMG Galilea hosts the weekly “old school drag show” with guest performers and DJ Jack Rojo. $4. 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. www.clubOMGsf.com

Latin Explosion @ Club 21, Oakland Enjoy Latin, hip hop and electro, plus hot gogos galore, and a big dance floor. $10-$20. 9pm-3am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www.club21oakland.com

Micah Brandt @ Nob Hill Theatre The muscled porn stud performs solo strip acts at 8pm, and live sex shows with Brian Bonds at 10pm. Also May 21. $25. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Midnight Show @ Divas Weekly drag shows at the last transgender-friendly bar in the Polk; with hosts Victoria Secret, Alexis Miranda and several performers. Also Saturdays. $10. 11pm. 1081 Polk St. www.divassf.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ Beatbox The saucy women’s burlesque show hosted by Dottie Lux. $10. 7pm-10pm. 314 11th St. www.beatboxsf.com Also Sunday brunch shows (see Sun.) www.redhotsburlesque.com

Some Thing @ The Stud Mica Sigourney and pals’ weekly offbeat drag performance night. $7. 10pm-3am. 399 9th St. www.studsf.com

Swagger Like Us @ Oasis The queer hip hop dance party features Mister Wallace, with DJs davO and Motive. $10. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

Sweet and Tender Hooligans @ Social Hall The Morrissey tribute band performs. $15-$17. 9pm. 1270 Sutter St. www.socialhallsf.com

Taj Mahal Trio @ Yoshi’s Oakland The legendary Grammy-winning Caribbean Blues master and his two bandmates perform at the upscale nightclub/restaurant. $39. 8pm & 10pm. May 21, 7:30 & 9:30. May 22, 7pm & 9pm. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. (510) 238-9200. www.tajblues.com www.yoshis.com

Fri 20 Daniel DeLage at Freeball @ Powerhouse

Mother @ Oasis Heklina’s weekly drag show night with different themes, always outrageously hilarious. May 21: special guest, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8’s Naomi Smalls. $15-$25. 10pm-2am. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Nitty Gritty @ Beaux Weekly dance night with nearly naked gogo guys & gals; DJs Chad Bays, Ms. Jackson, Becky Know and Jorge T. $4. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Saturgay @ Qbar Stanley Frank spins house dance remixes at the intimate Castro dance bar. $3. 9pm-2am (weekly beer bust 2pm-9pm). 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

The mash-up DJ dance party, with four rooms of different sounds and eight DJs. May 21: Bootie Prom, midnight costume contest with $100 prize, Monster Drag Show. $10-$15. 9:30pm3am. 375 11th St. www.bootiesf.com www.dnalounge.com

Club Rimshot @ Club BNB, Oakland The weekly hip hop and R&B night. 8-$15. 9pm to 4am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

Gameboi SF @ Rickshaw Stop Gay Asian monthly dance night, with K-Pop and other grooves. $8-$15. 9:30pm-2am. 155 Fell St. www.rickshawstop.com

Literary Death Match @ Elbo Room

The classic leather bar’s most popular Sunday daytime event in town draws the menfolk. Beer bust donations benefit local nonprofits (Check the website for a list of recipients). 3pm6pm. Now also on Saturdays. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.sf-eagle.com

Weekly Latin night with drag shows hosted by Vicky Jimenez and DJ Luis. 7pm-2am. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Femme, Xtravaganza @ Balancoire

Fri 20

Sweet and Tender Hooligans @ Social Hall

Beatpig @ Powerhouse

Bootie SF @ DNA Lounge

Beer Bust @ SF Eagle

Domingo De Escandal @ Club OMG

Sat 21

Juanita More! and crew’s monthly combo of leather, drag, fabulousness and cruising. $5 benefits Transgender Law Center. 9:30pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Sun 22

The fun Castro nightclub, with hot local DJs and sexy gogo guys and gals. $5. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.Beauxsf.com

The Smiths tribute band performs on a bill with For The Masses (Depeche Mode tribute) and Brownie (Blondie tribute). $15-$40 (with dinner). 9pm. 333 11th St. www.slimspresents.com www.thischarmingband.net

Latin, hip hop and Electro music night. $5-$25. 9pm-4am. 2111 Franklin St., Oakland. www.club21oakland.com

Performers Alysha Umphress and Darren Criss are honored at the 15th anniversary masquerade-themed gala for the theatre workshop for kids. Jason Brock sings; festive and fun attire suggested. Enjoy wine, sodas, auctions and appetizers. $50 and up. 6pm-10pm. RSVP: shawn@campyatc.com

Big Top @ Beaux

This Charming Band @ Slim’s

La Bota Loca @ Club 21, Oakland

Young Actors’ Theatre Camp Gala @ Mission Locale

Soul Delicious @ Lookout Brunch, booze, sass and grooves, with the Mom DJs, Motown sounds, and soul food. 11am-4pm. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Soul Party @ Elbo Room DJs Lucky, Paul, and Phengren Osward spin 60s soul 45s. $5-$10 ($5 off in semi-formal attire). 10pm-2am. 647 Valencia St. 552-7788. www.elbo.com

Sugar @ The Cafe Dance, drink, cruise at the Castro club. 9pm-2am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Writers With Drinks @ The Make Out Room Guy Gavriel Kay, David Lau, Yangsze Choo, Kwan Booth and Ariel Waldman read and recite at the fun literary libation-filled night. $5-$20 proceeds benefit the Center for Sex and Culture. 7:30pm. 3225 22nd St. www.makeoutroom.com

Weekly live music shows with various acts, along with brunch, Mimosas, champagne and more, at the stylish nightclub and restaurant; shows at 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:45pm. After that, T-Dance drag shows at 7pm, 10pm and 11pm. 2565 Mission St. at 21st. 920-0577. www.balancoiresf.com

FTM Munch @ Wicked Grounds Trans guys, men, bois monthly social event with a kink-leather focus (4th Sundays), 1pm-3pm. 289 8th st. www.wickedgrounds.com

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

Jock @ The Lookout Enjoy the weekly jock-ular fun, with DJed dance music at sports team fundraisers. 12pm-1am. 3600 16th St. www.lookoutsf.com

Red Hots Burlesque @ PianoFight The saucy women’s burlesque show now serves brunch before and after the show, with bottomless Mimosas. $15-$25. 2pm. Weekly thru May 29. 144 Taylor St. www.pianofight.com

The raucous funny writers’ night includes readers Janis Cooke Newman, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Na’amen Tilahun and Sarah Ladipo Manyika. With judges including columnist Mark Morford and host Adrian Todd Zuniga. $7-$20. 7pm. 647 Valencia St. www.literarydeathmatch.com

Make Out Party @ SF Eagle Flirty sexy monthly event (3rd Saturdays) with DJ Robin Simmons, and the Nark Magazine crew. 9pm2am. 398 12th St. at Harrison. www.narkmagazine.com www.sf-eagle.com

Sun 22 Kingdom! at Unleash @ Ivy Room, Albany

On the Tab>>

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 41

Station @ Oasis

Underwear Night @ Club OMG

B.P.M. @ Club BnB, Oakland

Prince gets live musical tributes by Krylon Superstar, Saturn Jones, and Lachrymose at the glam, punk, funk music tea dance: DJ Jerry Lee. $10. 4pm-10pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Weekly underwear night includes free clothes check, and drink specials. $4. 10pm-2am. Preceded by Open Mic Comedy, 7pm, no cover. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Olga T and Shugga Shay’s weekly queer women and men’s R&B hip hop and soul night, at the club’s new location. No cover. 8pm-2am. 2120 Broadway, Oakland. www.bench-and-bar.com

Wed 25

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

Sunday Brunch @ Thee Parkside Bottomless Mimosas until 3pm at the fun rock-punk club. 1600 17th St. 2521330. www.theeparkside.com

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 Weekly two-stepping and linedancing fun, with lessons and DJed music (not just country). 5pm-10:30pm. Also Thursdays. 550 Barneveld Ave. www.sundancesaloon.org

Under the Golden Gate @ The Cinch Maria Konner and DJ Dank cohost the lively taping of their fun cable chat show/party, with Ferosha Titties and DJ Sergio Fedasz. 4pm-8pm. 1723 Polk St. www.underthegoldengate.com

Unicorn @ Powerhouse Enjoy a Queer Prom theme at the monthly art party, with art by Scarlet Astrid, Xavier, Carolina Torres and UEL Renteria, performances by Cyanide, Shelix and Fiera. $5. 9:30pm. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

Fri 20 Taj Mahal Trio @ Yoshi’s Oakland

Epic Karaoke @ White Horse, Oakland Mondays and Tuesdays popular weekly sing-along night. No cover. 8:30pm1am. 6551 Telegraph Ave, (510) 6523820. www.whitehorsebar.com

Gaymer Meetup @ Brewcade The weekly LGBT video game enthusiast night includes big-screen games and signature beers, with a new remodeled layout, including an outdoor patio. No cover. 7pm-11pm. 2200 Market St. www.brewcadesf.com

Karaoke Night @ SF Eagle Sing along, with guest host Nick Radford. 8pm-12am. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Leon Russell @ Yoshi’s Oakland The veteran rock-blues musician and his band perform; Riley Etheridge opens. $39. 8pm. Also May 24. 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. (510) 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

Mahogany Mondays @ Midnight Sun

Fri 20 This Charming Band @ Slim’s

Unleash @ Ivy Room, Albany Opening party of the women’s event at the lesbian-owned East Bay bar includes a performance by drag king music group Kingdom! plus DJs Olga and MysDefy. 4pm-7pm. 860 San Pablo Ave., Oakland. (510 526-5888. www.ivyroom.com

Mon 23

Drag Mondays @ The Cafe Mahlae Balenciaga and DJ Kidd Sysko’s weekly drag and dance night. 9pm-1am. 2369 Market St. www.cafesf.com

Tue 24

Bandit @ Slate Bar New weekly queer event with resident DJ Justime; electro, soul, funk; cocktails and food available. $3. 2925 16th St. www.facebook.com/ BanditPartySF www.slate-sf.com

Block Party @ Midnight Sun Weekly screenings of music videos, concert footage, interviews and more, of popular pop stars. 9pm-2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www.midnightsunsf.com

Cirque Del’Arc @ Oasis Heklina, Bevan Dufty, Jerry Coletti and Donna Sachet cochair the festive benefit show for The Arc, the nonprofit resource center for people with developmental disabilities, with performances, auction items, food, drinks, and a tribute to Kitty Glamour. $75 and up. 6pm-10:30pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Cock Shot @ Beaux Shot specials, adult Bingo games, with DJs Chad Bays and Riley Patrick, at the new weekly night. No cover. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

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

Gaymer Night @ Eagle

Monday Musicals @ The Edge

Queer dance party at the stylish intimate bar. 9pm-2am. 456 Castro St. www.QbarSF.com

Sing along at the popular musical theatre night; also Wednesdays. 7pm2am. 2 for 1 cocktail, 5pm-closing. 4149 18th St. at Collingwood. www.edgesf.com

No No Bingo @ Virgil’s Sea Room

Mica Sigourney and Tom Temprano cohost the wacky weekly game night at the cool Mission bar. 8pm. 3152 Mission St. virgilssf.com

Opulence @ Beaux Weekly dance night, with Jocques, DJs Tori, Twistmix and Andre. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

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

Underwear Night @ 440 Strip down to your skivvies at the popular men’s night. 9pm-2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. www.the440.com

Gay gaming fun on the bar’s big screen TVs. Have a nerdgasm and a beer with your pals. 8pm. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

Hella Saucy @ Q Bar

High Fantasy @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Weekly drag and variety show, with live acts and lip-synching divas, plus DJed grooves. $5. Shows at 10:30pm & 12am. 133 Turk St. at Taylor. www.auntcharlieslounge.com

Hysteria @ Martuni’s Irene Tu and Jessica Sele cohost the comedy open mic night for women and queers. No cover. 6pm-8:30pm. 4 Valencia St.

Meow Mix @ The Stud The weekly themed variety cabaret showcases new and unusual talents; MC Ferosha Titties. $3-$7. Show at 11pm. 9pm-2am. 399 9th St. at Harrison. www.studsf.com

Naked Night @ Nob Hill Theatre Strip down as the strippers also take it all off. $20. 9pm. 729 Bush St. at Powell. 397-6758. www.thenobhilltheatre.com

Retro Night @ 440 Castro Jim Hopkins plays classic pop oldies, with vintage music videos. 9pm-2am. 44 Castro St. www.the440.com

Rubber Men/Leather @ Wicked Grounds Gear night with social hour, board games, coffee and fetish gear welcome. 7:30-closing. 289 8th St. www.wickedgrounds.com

Trivia Night @ Hi Tops

Wed 25 The Buzzcocks @ Slim’s

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

Una Noche @ Club BnB, Oakland Vicky Jimenez’ drag show and contest; Latin music all night. 9pm-2am. 2120 Broadway. (510) 759-7340. www.club-bnb.com

ALRP Mahor Donor Party @ The Plant Café AIDS Legal Referral Panel’s festive awards party, with food, wine and a cash bar. $200 +up. 5:30-7:30pm. Pier 3, Embarcadero #108. www.alrp.org

Bedlam @ Beaux New weekly event with DJs Haute Toddy, Guy Ruben, Mercedez Munro and Abominatrix. Wet T-shirt/jock contest at 11pm. $5-$10. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Bone @ Powerhouse New weekly punk-alternative music night hosted by Uel Renteria and Johnny Rockitt. 10pm-2am. 1347 Folsom St. www.powerhousebar.com

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

Buzzcocks @ Slim’s The classic British punk band performs; Residuels open. $36-$61 (with dinner). 8pm. 333 11th St. www.slimspresents.com

Dream Queens Revue @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge Classic bimonthly (2nd & 4th Wed.) drag show with Collette LeGrande, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, Bobby Ashton, Sheena Rose, Kipper, and Joie de Vivre. No cover. 9:3011:15pm. 133 Turk St. www.dreamqueensrevue.com

Floor 21 @ Starlight Room Juanita More! presents a new weekly scenic happy hour event, with host Rudy Valdez, and guest DJs. No cover, and a fantastic panoramic city view. 5pm-9pm. Sir Francis Drake Hotel, 450 Powell St. www.starlightroomsf.com

See page 42 >>

<< On the Tab

42 • BAY AREA REPORTER • May 19-25, 2016

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Ladies night at the Castro dance club. 9pm-2am. 2344 Market St. www.beauxsf.com

Security Project @ Social Hall Former members of Peter Gabriel’s band Jerry Marotta and King Crimson’s Trey Gunn reunite for a special concert. $22-$45. 8pm. 1270 Sutter St. www.socialhallsf.com

Shit Talk @ Oasis

Thu 26

Yuri Kagan’s naughty weekly comedy night. 7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

Big Black Delta @ Great American Music Hall

On the Tab

From page 41

Latin Drag Night @ Club OMG Weekly Latin night with drag shows hosted by Vicky Jimenez. 9pm-2am. 43 6th St. www.clubomgsf.com

Literary Speakeasy @ Martuni’s

So You Think You Can Gogo? @ Toad Hall

Open Mic/Comedy @ SF Eagle Kollin Holts hosts the weekly comedy and open mic talent night. 6pm-8pm. 398 12th St. www.sf-eagle.com

The weekly dancing competition for gogo wannabes. 9pm. cash prizes, $2 well drinks (2 for 1 happy hour til 9pm). Show at 9pm. 4146 18th St. www.toadhallbar.com

Pan Dulce @ Badlands

Way Back @ Midnight Sun

The Latin & hip hop dance night returns, with DJs Adrian and Krazy Spin. $5. 9pm-2am. 4121 18th St. www.sfbadlands.com

Weekly screenings of vintage music videos, and retro drink prices. 9pm2am. 4067 18th St. 861-4186. www. midnightsunsf.com

James J. Siegel hosts the monthly reading series, this time with J.K. Fowler, Miah Jeffra, Peter Kline, Alexandra Kostoulas, and Melissa Stein. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. www.facebook.com/ events/505859789620690/ The sexy, funny weekly male burlesque show returns with a few new handsome talents; choreographed by Christopher James Dunn; Mr Pam MCs. $20. 2 Two-drink min. 9:30pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. 795-3180. www.sfoasis.com

The weekly fun night at the Bernal Heights bar includes prizes, hosted by Kitty Tapata. No cover. 7pm-10pm. 424 Cortland St. 647-3099. www.wildsidewest.com

Wooden Nickel Wednesday @ 440 Buy a drink and get a wooden nickle good for another. 12pm-2am. 440 Castro St. 621-8732. www.the440.com

Zsa Zsa Lusthansa and Friends @ Martuni’s

Thu 26

Christian Heppenstall’s drag persona performs a night of Broadway song, comedy and magic, with Terry McLaughlin and Stephen McFarland, comedienne Ginorma Desmond and magician Bradmagic. 7pm. 4 Valencia St. www.facebook.com/ events/161339157601484/

Electronic synth-pop band performs. Waterstrider opens. $21-$46 (with dinner). 9pm. 859 O’Farrell St. www.slimspresents.com

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

Big Black Delta @ Great American Music Hall

Cabaret Showcase Showdown @ Oasis Season 6 finals of the local competition include a variety of singers (Brooke Michael Smith, Effervescence Jackson, Madison Greenlund, Eric Ward, Nick Quintell, Ted Zoldan and Monica Chinchilla) competing for the top title, with hosts Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, and Joe and Bill Wicht. Judges include Paula West, Russ Lorenson, Donna Sachet, Marilyn Levinson and Skip Ziobron. $15-$25. 7pm. 298 11th St. at Folsom. www.sfoasis.com

Man Haters @ The White Horse, Oakland

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Thu 26

Ash Fisher and Irene Tu cohost Man Haters @ The White Horse, Oakland

Enjoy stand-up with queer comics Irene Tu, Ash Fisher, and guests Kate Willett, Emma Haney, Adrienne Price, Justin Lucas, and for May a Queer Prom theme. $7.70 (for women)-$10 (for men). 7:30pm show; dancing 10pm-2am. 6551 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. www.manhaters.org www.whitehorsebar.com

Thu 26

Zsa Zsa and Friends @ Martuni’s

Read more online at www.ebar.com

Shooting Stars

May 19-25, 2016 • BAY AREA REPORTER • 43

photos by steven Underhill Bay to Breakers

he annual Bay to Breakers invaded San Francisco on Sunday, May 15. Derisively nicknamed ‘Drunk Straight Pride’ by some, the racing event includes serious front-running competitors in the cross-peninsula race, and many, many costumed participants whose partying (and peeing and puking) have been toned down, allegedly. Photographer Steven Underhill managed to find some fun gals and hunky bros, including some gay participants. www.zapposbaytobreakers.com More event photo albums are on BARtab’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lgbtsf.nightlife. See more of Steven Underhill’s photos at www.StevenUnderhill.com.

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For headshots, portraits or to arrange your wedding photos

call (415) 370-7152 or visit www.StevenUnderhill.com or email stevenunderhillphotos@gmail.com

“The Apple Store of dispensaries” -7x7.com

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