November 5, 2020 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter by Bay Area Reporter

South Bay candidates win

2 lesbians elected judge

Dufty reelected to BART bd.

ARTS

Jaime Wyatt

The

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Serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities since 1971

Vol. 50 • No. 45 • November 5-11, 2020

Vote counting goes on in prez race State Senator Scott Wiener won reelection to a second term.

Rick Gerharter

Wiener fends off progressive challenger by Matthew S. Bajko

ay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) easily defeated queer educator Jackie Fielder Tuesday to secure reelection to his 11th Senate District seat. Joining him in the Legislature will be Assemblyman-elect Alex Lee, the first out bisexual elected to the Statehouse, and gay former Assemblyman John Laird, who easily won a Central Coast Senate seat. Meanwhile, lesbian Senate candidates Abigail Medina, a Democrat running for the open 23rd Senate District seat, and Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), who is running for the open 5th Senate District seat, both were holding on to first place in their contests, according to the unofficial returns Wednesday morning. Either would be the first LGBTQ woman of color to serve in the state Senate if they win. And if both win their races, then California’s Legislative LGBTQ Caucus will number nine members, all Democrats, the largest in its history. Since its creation in 2002, the LGBTQ caucus has had at most eight members at one time. The affinity group for out legislators currently is at seven members. It has yet to see a transgender member and no transgender legislative candidates were on the November ballot. According to the unofficial returns Wednesday morning, Wiener garnered 59.1% of the vote while Fielder received 40.9%. It tracked what Democratic Party insiders had expected to see in the race, and Wiener was one of the first legislative candidates to declare victory on Tuesday night. “I am just so grateful to the voters for seeing my work for the community and trusting in me to represent them in the Legislature,” Wiener, who gathered with his campaign team at a private residence in Russian Hill Tuesday night, told the B.A.R. shortly after San Francisco posted its first returns before 9 p.m. Fielder conceded the race Tuesday night shortly after 11 p.m. when additional returns were posted showing the vote split had remained the same. “We have so far won 127,000 of votes. It’s not enough, but we worked damn hard for See page 11 >>

Marvin Dunson wore his most patriotic outfit to an election night street party on Valencia Street sponsored by Manny’s Cafe.

by Lisa Keen

resident Donald Trump made a shaky pitch early Wednesday morning that he should be declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election and that he would be “going to the U.S. Supreme Court” to make it so. But standing in the way of that plan are outstanding vote counts in Pennsylvania,

Georgia, and Nevada. All eyes are on those states, which likely will determine whether Republican Trump or Democrat Joe Biden achieves 270 electoral votes. The Associated Press, Fox News, and the Arizona Republic newspaper declared Biden the winner in the Grand Canyon State, as of Wednesday morning. Biden has a slim lead

in Nevada, where Democrats have won every presidential election since 2004. Wisconsin showed Biden with a lead. As of Wednesday morning, Biden opened up a lead in Michigan, as Politico reported that a significant number of votes need to be counted in Detroit’s Wayne County, a Democratic stronghold. CNN called Wisconsin and Michigan for Biden Wednesday. See page 11 >> Rick Gerharter

Kaplan, Taplin lead in E. Bay council races by Matthew S. Bajko

esbian Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan had a strong lead in her bid for a fourth term in the city’s at-large council seat against her gay opponent, Derreck Johnson, based on the ranked-choice voting results released to the Bay Area Reporter Wednesday afternoon. And in Berkeley, gay political newcomer Terry Taplin was also in a commanding first place position in the race for the city council’s District 2 seat against the incumbent, Councilwoman Cheryl Davila, who was in second, based on the unofficial rankedchoice voting returns. In Alameda, gay City Councilman Jim Oddie lost his bid for reelection. He landed in fourth place with 19.01% of the vote in the contest for two seats on the council. Meanwhile in Livermore, professional photographer and branding consultant Brittni Kiick, a married mother of two who identifies as pansexual, is winning her bid for the city’s newly created District 3 council seat. She finished first in the two-person contest with 61.38% of the vote. Lambda Democratic Club of Contra Costa County President Devin Murphy, the first Black person to lead the LGBTQ political club, Tuesday became the second gay man to win election to the Pinole City Council. His victory – Murphy took first place with

Courtesy Rebecca Kaplan

Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan

54.01% - had been expected, as just two people filed to seek the two council seats up this year, but their races were on the November 3 ballot due to voters being able to write in a different choice. Moraga Town Council Member Renata Sos, who lives in the city with her wife, took first place with 27.12% of the vote in the race for three seats on the governing body. She won a full term after being appointed to her seat in 2018 following the death of council

member Jeanette Fritzky. Lance Kwan, a gay man who is president of the South Alameda County Young Democrats, appears to have won a seat on the Ohlone College Board in Area 2. He came in third with 20.39% in the race for three seats on the oversight body for the community college. In Berkeley, Andy Kelley, a gay man, and Xavier Johnson, who is queer, are headed to be seated on the city’s rent stabilization board. Kelley was in second place with 12.38% of the vote in the contest for five rent board seats, and Johnson was close behind in third with 12.03%. Lucy Shen, a nonbinary candidate for Fremont Board of Education, was in second place in their contest for the body’s Area 5 seat. Shen, who had been the target of transphobic anonymous attacks on Twitter, had 34.28% of the vote, according to the unofficial returns Wednesday. The first place finisher, Vivek Prasad, was leading with 36.17% of the vote. In San Ramon, 21-year-old Sameera Rajwade, who is nonbinary, fell short in their bid for the newly created District 3 seat on the City Council. They landed in fourth place with 11.51% of the vote. And Carolyn Wysinger, president of the board that oversees San Francisco Pride, See page 10 >>

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REPORT CITES HEALTH GAPS by Bob Roehr

report released last week detailed the need for more federal and research data collection on the health of LGBT people. Bob Roehr “Lesbian, bisexual, Dr. Robert Graham gay, and transgender individuals health disparities. experience unique LGBT is used as an Although the acronym health needs of this umbrella term, and the grouped together, community are often a distinct each of these letters represents concerns,” health population with its own the report, written stated the summary of of Medicine. by the prestigious Institute lesbians, gay men, “Furthermore, among transgender and women, bisexual men and based people, there are subpopulations status, on race, ethnicity, socioeconomicfactors,” and other geographic location, age, the report continued. statement is not While that summary with the LGBT news to anyone familiar it was made in the community, the fact that commissioned by IOM report, which was of Health, adds new the National Institutes to shaping health meaning and credibility had been policy, which that heretofore lacking. are asked Traditionally, IOM committees priorities gaps and to identify research not does paradigm that within a field. “But Dr. Robert Graham fit for this area,” chair news conference said at the March 31 releasing the report. See page 24 >>

Our new look

decided The Bay Area Reporter that we’re 40. to update its look now slight design So we’ve made some of the paper, changes in both sections the case of the with new fonts, and in a new name. Arts and Culture section, website has Most significantly, our for video with been updated to allow now comment stories, and readers can if they directly on our online content are friends on Facebook.▼

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by Seth Hemmelgarn the Bay Area or 40 years now, entertained, Reporter has informed, people in San and frequently miffed Francisco and beyond. Bob Ross – chef, The paper started when and bar culture Tavern Guild president, with business partner insider – launched it was dated April 1, Paul Bentley. The first issue on April 2, Ross’s 37th 1971 but hit the streets all the pages by hand, birthday. Ross pasted up them to local bars. copied them, and delivered took the paper In the beginning, nobody too seriously. he had an “up and Cleve Jones, who said Ross and who was down” relationship with gay icon Harvey Milk, a close friend of slain after his arrival to started reading the paper San Francisco in 1972. sort of a silly “To be honest, it was who now works with publication,” said Jones, “Most of the other the Courage Campaign. have much use for young people didn’t really about it. It was basically just announcements going on at whatever whatever specials were bar.” many early 1970s The front covers of the Imperial Court’s issues were dedicated to See page 23 >>

F Community looks back at 40 years of the B.A.R . Founding publisher Bob Ross

Despite setbacks, LGBT nt’ ‘vibra scene in San Jose is by Seth Hemmelgarn

several setbacks he past year has seen even in San Jose’s LGBT community, census recently as data from the 2010 Bay berg is now the revealed that the South 10th largest city in the country. have made it Recent events, however, with almost 1 million seem that for a city strength in the gay people, there’s not much community there. DeFrank LGBT Last month, the Billy canceled its 30th Community Center had been planned for anniversary party, which tickets had been sold. March 26. Only about 40 Silicon Valley AIDS Last November, the had organized the Leadership Center, which announced its closure. annual Walk for AIDS, before that, in And about three months Committee August, the Gay Pride Celebrationa parade. to hold of San Jose Inc. opted not LGBT organizations Of course, problems at Several San Francisco aren’t unique to San Jose. financially. And agencies have been struggling the DeFrank center people with Pride and indicate they’re all right. and when “We have a vibrant community, that they’re there,” we can engage them, I think San Jose Pride’s joined said Ray Mueller, who board earlier this year. LGBT night One example is last Thursday’steam. Tickets hockey with the San Jose Sharks sold out in 10 days.

marched The Pro-Latino contingent Parade; Pride in the 2008 San Jose sure if there will be officials are not yet year, although the a Pride Parade this for August. festival is scheduled

Rick Gerharter

will generate about Mueller said the event which is August 20$1,000 for this year’s Pride, tickets, ranging from 21. A block of about 300 for the hockey night. $36 to $73, were reserved proves there are “I think the Sharks event to something that isn’t people out there to go a gay bar and have a the usual ‘Let’s go to fundraiser,’” said Mueller.

{ FIRST OF THREE SECTIONS

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been hobbled by The DeFrank center has problems in recent financial and leadership no full-time executive years and currently has Flood, the DeFrank’s director. However, Chris that the center’s board president, indicated appear. He was at a doing better than it might See page 22 >>

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<< Election 2020

2 • Bay Area Reporter • November 5-11, 2020

Gay San Francisco supe candidates fall short by Matthew S. Bajko

eeing additional LGBTQ representation on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors following the November 3 election was always seen as a long shot, as the two gay men who sought seats Tuesday both faced uphill climbs to victory. And it appears neither was able to overcome the odds to win, leaving gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman as the board’s lone out member. Mounting the strongest challenge was former journalist Joel Engardio, in his third bid for the District 7 seat covering the neighborhoods west of Twin Peaks. But as of Wednesday morning he was stuck in second place with 46.66% of the vote behind former planning commissioner Myrna Melgar, who was in first place with 53.34% after six rounds of ranked-choice voting. Should her lead hold, Melgar will succeed termed out Supervisor Norman Yee, currently the president of the board. And Melgar, the mother of a lesbian daughter, will be seen as a swing vote on the progressive dominated 11-member board. She was dual endorsed by moderate Mayor London Breed along with Engardio and also secured the progressive dominated San Francisco Democratic Party’s Rank 1 endorsement in the race. The party’s second choice pick, Deputy Public Defender Vilaska Nguyen, was in third place in the race with 29.48% as of Wednesday morning. Also falling short in their bids for the seat were moderates Ben Matranga, a tech investor who lost to Yee four years ago; former school board member Emily Murase; Republican Stephen Martin-Pinto, a city firefighter; and Kenneth Piper.

Early Wednesday Engardio conceded he was unlikely to be declared the winner in an email to his supporters. “We won the most first-place votes, but we lost after ranked choice voting was factored in,” he wrote. “While there are still tens of thousands of votes left to be counted in San Francisco, our outcome is unlikely to change.” The other out supervisor candidate, Spencer Simonsen, a tech start up executive, came in third place with 6.74% against District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who secured a fourth term with 58% of the vote after three rounds of ranked-choice voting. Landing in second place in the contest to represent Chinatown and North Beach was nonprofit executive Danny Sauter with 41.98% of the vote. Coming in last with 4.8% was Stephen Schwartz, who founded and runs the D.C.-based Center for Islamic Pluralism. In the other races for the oddnumbered supervisor seats, District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen sailed to winning a second term as no one filed to run against her for the Mission district. She won with 99.84% of the vote. In the open District 1 seat representing the Richmond district, as Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer opted not to seek reelection, moderate Marjan Philhour was holding on to a slight lead Wednesday morning. Based on the unofficial returns, she was in first place after six rounds of ranked-choice voting with 50.08% of the vote. Close behind in second place with 49.92% was progressive Connie Chan, a former Peskin aide who now works for state Assemblyman Kevin Mullin (D-San Mateo) and was endorsed by Fewer. David Lee was in third with 20.33%, while

Courtesy Joel Engardio

Joel Engardio

Courtesy Marjan Philhour

Courtesy Myrna Melgar

Marjan Philhour

Myrna Melgar

Courtesy Dean Preston

Courtesy Hillary Ronen

Courtesy Aaron Peskin

Supervisor Dean Preston

Supervisor Hillary Ronen

Supervisor Aaron Peskin

candidates Sherman R. D’Silva, Veronica Shinzato, Amanda Inocencio, and Andrew Majalya all received less than 6% of the vote. District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston, a democratic socialist, was headed to winning a full four-year term with 55.20% of the vote after three rounds of rankedchoice voting. Falling short was Vallie Brown, whom Preston ousted last November from the seat that covers the Haight, Fillmore, and Western Addition neighborhoods. She had 44.80% of the vote, while longtime community

activists Daniel Landry and Nomvula O’Meara trailed behind in single digits. In District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, a moderate, was winning his bid for a second term representing the city’s southeastern neighborhoods. With 54.41% of the vote after three rounds of rankedchoice voting, Safaí was fending off a challenge from his progressive predecessor, John Avalos, who had been termed out of office four years ago. Avalos received 45.59% of the vote, while Marcelo Colussi took third with 8.59%. t

Supervisor Ahsha Safaí

Courtesy Ahsha Safaí

NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR SALE IN CIVIC CENTER E L E V A N T, 5 5 5 G O L D E N G A T E A V E , S A N F R A N C I S C O

7 “ B e l o w Mar ke t Rate” ho me s fo r sal e : 2 o ne-bedro o m, a nd 5 two -bedro o m ho mes pric ed fro m $ 347,842 - $399,1 7 8 with ou t p ark in g, an d $ 3 8 9 ,2 6 0 - $ 4 4 7 ,3 6 7 with p ark in g. Three Pa rking spa c es will be ma de av a ila ble to B MR buyers by lo tte r y ran k .

H O W T O A P P LY

1 First, please sign up for a free Program Orientation at H O M E OW N E RS H I PS F .O RG / H O M E B UYE RS 2 Complete homebuyer workshops and individual counseling. 3 Get pre-approved for a mortgage loan by a MOHCD-approved lender. 4 Submit a lottery application before application deadline.

PRICING

APPLICANTS MUST BE A FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER AND EARN NO MORE THAN THE INCOME LEVELS LISTED:

1 person

2 person

3 person

4 person

5 person

MAXI MUM ANNUA L I N CO M E

$89,650

$102,500

$115,300

$128,100

$138,350

BMR UNIT BEDROOM COUNT BATH COUNT

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HOA DUES PRICE WITHOUT HOA DUES FLOOR # WITHOUT PARKING WITH PARKING PARKING

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202

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502

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601

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704

ON E B E D RO O M

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663

$573.05

$636.23

$347,842

$389,260

100%

COMPLETE APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020 AT 5: 00PM. LOTTERY DRAWING DATE IS T UESDAY, J ANUARY 12, 2021. As of March 12, 2020, lotteries are closed to the public but will continue as scheduled. View lottery results at H O U S I NG . SF G OV. O RG within one week of the Apply online through DAHLI A, the SF Housing Portal at HOUSI NG. SFGOV. ORG. Due to COVID-19, lottery. applicants will apply online as we are not accepting paper applications. All adult household members who will be on the title of the BMR unit must complete first-time homebuyer education For more information and assistance with your application, contact HomeownershipSF: (415) 202-5464 or through one of the City’s 5 approved housing counselling agencies in order to apply. info@homeownershipsf.org. For questions about the building and units, contact Loring Racine: (415)287-0792. Applicants can visit H OMEOWNERSH I P S F . O RG / H O ME B UYE RS for upcoming program orientations and workshops. Please sign up right away, as classes tend to fill up quickly. Units are monitored through the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and are subject to owner occupancy and other restrictions. Visit www.sfmohcd.org for program information. Applicants for Elevant must obtain a loan pre-approval from one of the approved participating lenders listed at

O P E N H O U S E D AT E S

All open houses are temporarily cancelled due to COVID-19.

*Certificate of Preference (COP) holders are primarily households displaced in Redevelopment ProjectAreas during the 1960’s and 1970’s. ** Displaced Tenant Housing Preference (DTHP) holders are tenants who were displaced by an Ellis Act eviction, Owner Move In eviction and tenants displaced by fire. ***Neighborhood Resident Housing Preference (NRHP) are residents living in the same supervisorial district or within 1⁄2 mile buffer of the project. Please contact 415-701-5613 or visit www.sfmohcd.org for more information about lottery preferences.

SFMOH CD. ORG/MOH CD-AUT H O RI Z E D - L E ND E R- L I ST to apply. Developer has entered into an agreement with Homeownership SF. As such, developer will not pay cooperating broker commission for the BMR transactions, per MOHCD’s policy for developers working with nonprofit housing counseling partners to support BMR buyer applicants.

All applicants are encouraged to apply. Lottery preference will be given to: *Certificate of Preference, **Displaced Tenant Housing Preference holders, ***Neighborhood Residents and households that currently live or work in San Francisco.

How PG&E is improving Public Safety Power Shutoffs in 2020.

PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFF (PSPS) is a statewide effort to prevent wildfires by proactively turning off power to communities when severe weather is forecast. As California battles historic wildfires, a Public Safety Power Shutoff is just one of many tools that PG&E uses to help keep customers and communities safe.

PG&E is working to make PSPS events smaller, shorter and smarter, by:

Installing over 600 devices that redirect power to limit the size of outages

Using more than 765 advanced weather stations to pinpoint where severe weather is most likely to occur

Adding backup generation in some high fire-threat communities to keep the lights on

Nearly doubling our helicopter fleet from 35 to 65 and adding more field crews to cut restoration time in half compared to 2019

Upgrading our Community Resource Centers (while following COVID-19 health guidelines such as the use of masks and social distancing) by providing water, snacks, and other resources

To learn more ways to prepare for a Public Safety Power Shutoff, visit safetyactioncenter.pge.com

Smaller, shorter, smarter.

<< Open Forum

4 • Bay Area Reporter • November 5-11, 2020

Volume 50, Number 45 November 5-11, 2020 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 CULTURE EDITOR Jim Provenzano ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko • John Ferrannini CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tavo Amador • Roger Brigham Brian Bromberger • Victoria A. Brownworth Philip Campbell • Heather Cassell Michael Flanagan • Jim Gladstone Liz Highleyman • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • David Lamble David-Elijah Nahmod • Paul Parish Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota • Gregg Shapiro Gwendolyn Smith •Sari Staver • Charlie Wagner Ed Walsh • Cornelius Washington • Sura Wood

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Wake-up call on LGBTQ rights

LAAD recently reported in its 2020 Accelerating Acceptance Study that a majority of Americans, both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ, believe that LGBTQ people are mostly protected by federal laws – when, in fact, they are not. While it’s unsurprising that non-LGBTQ people hold that view, it’s striking and alarming that so many in our own community are not aware of how few federal protections we have. GLAAD’s study was conducted online between November-December 2019 among a national sample of 2,506 U.S. adults, age 18 and over, sourced by Clint, a leading sample supplier and aggregator. For example, 89% of non-LGBTQ respondents and 78% of LGBTQ respondents believe it is currently illegal to evict someone from housing because they are queer. In another example, 80% of non-LGBTQ respondents and 65% of LGBTQ respondents believe it is currently illegal to turn away individuals from a restaurant or public place of business because they are queer. Perhaps most surprising of all, given that President Donald Trump announced his ban on trans people serving openly in the military via a tweet that shot around the world, 55% of non-LGBTQ respondents and 53% of LGBTQ respondents believe it is currently illegal to ban physically qualified trans people from serving in the U.S. military. GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis noted that despite landmark Supreme Court decisions like 2015’s Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, and an expansion of non-discrimination employment protections resulting from this year’s Bostock v. Clayton County ruling, there continues to be a lack of awareness about our legal protections. “The findings of this year’s Accelerating

by Andrew Kelly

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The Dublin City Council this year raised the Philly version of the rainbow flag during Pride Month in June.

Acceptance Study highlight a dangerous reality: a significant majority of Americans, even within our own community, are not aware that LGBTQ people are not federally protected from discrimination in many areas of life,” she stated. It didn’t help that LGBTQ issues were absent from this year’s presidential race, a missed opportunity to discuss cases moving through the courts that will affect the LGBTQ community. That’s especially important given that the Supreme Court now has a solid 6-3 conservative majority, with the seating of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. But this new reality demonstrates that the LGBTQ community must look beyond the courts for equality. That

means pushing for LGBTQ non-discrimination laws in states that don’t yet have them, particularly regarding trans students and public accommodations. It’s also a reason why the Equality Act, currently languishing in the Senate, is so important; yet it likely won’t be voted on in that body, so we’ll have to wait until a new Congress is installed next year and then start the whole process over again. Preliminary election results don’t bode well for that prospect, as Democrats look unlikely to capture control of the U.S. Senate, a troublesome development. GLAAD also asked respondents about their comfort level around LGBTQ people in several scenarios, such as having a queer doctor or seeing a co-worker’s same-sex wedding picture. Strangely, the highest response – 39% of nonLGBTQ respondents – said they are or would be “very” or “somewhat” uncomfortable learning that their child has a lesson on LGBTQ history in school. That’s distressing, given that California has a law mandating that students in public schools are taught about LGBTQs in history. The bottom line is our equal rights aren’t fully established just because we’ve achieved marriage equality and some workplace protections at the federal level. We need to be seen by non-LGBTQ people as deserving of equal rights just as they are. The queer community has a lot of work to do not only educating the general population, but our own people. That will take more time, more education, and more of us telling our stories, as so many did during the same-sex marriage fight. Research has shown that non-LGBTQ people are more supportive when they know someone who is queer. That means we must continue to stand proud and come out to our family, neighbors, and co-workers. GLAAD’s new report is a sobering reminder that we have not achieved equality, though we’re closer than ever before. t

‘Gay rights’ have failed – time for tough conversations

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Bay Area Reporter

Courtesy Shawn Kumagai

crisis in 100 years to Texas governor Greg Abbott allowing social workers fter realizing I was gay in the to discriminate against LGBTQ people waning years of the Obama era, and the disabled to Trump nominating it always seemed as if there were two a justice with a long history of workdueling factions in the fight to ensure ing with anti-LGBTQ organizations to equality for people like me. There the highest court in the land, the last were the irrational, nut-job religious few years have proved that when we lunatics – the people who proudly politely ask straight cishets to treat us proclaimed that God himself was equally under the law, all it does is put Courtesy Andrew Kelly “again’ it” so they were “again’ it.” us at the mercy of people who hate us Andrew Kelly They’re people who blamed travesthe most. Many are worried about the ties such as the attack on a Floridian appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to LGBTQ bar as God’s repentance for sinners. In the Supreme Court and what implications it will contrast to these people were the calm, rational, have on the future of our rights. However, let me levelheaded policy professionals and debaters adbeg the question – why is it socially acceptable that vancing the cause of gay rights – those who staff appointing one person to an unelected, lifelong organizations such as the Human Rights Camposition has the potential to knock all of us down paign and the American Civil Liberties Union, off the social ladder? Furthermore, why is it acwhich though not specifically LGBTQ, has repceptable for someone to hold the view that their resented queers over the years in numerous lepersonal religious beliefs, the validity of which gal cases. The people who were responsible for aside, should dictate the lives of those who do not debating in front of the Supreme Court on the agree with said views? The problem goes much constitutionality on laws against same-sex mardeeper than a president or a Supreme Court pick. riage. These were the people I looked up to and Simply put, when we argue that being aspired to be like. LGBTQ is “natural” in front of our naHowever, as much of a “Return of the Jedi”tion’s highest political institutions, it esque moment the 2015 Obergefell same-sex only gives the right the opening to marriage ruling was for many a gay youth, myself claim that we are akin to rapists, or included, it was an incredibly short, albeit blissful murderers – both entirely “natuone. I distinctly remember watching coverage of ral” psychological phenomena. Pride events in 2016 and remembering the somWhen we put all our eggs into the ber, vigil-like tone that was struck in comparison same-sex marriage basket, it leads to just a year before, due to the Pulse nightclub to us being able to enjoy tax bentragedy. Since then, things have only gotten efits as our community’s poorest worse. And while it is easy to pin the blame for (and, by extension, most vulnerthe West’s hard turn toward fascism for this on able) members struggle to afford the crushing a growing sentiment of bigotry and disdain for price of HIV treatment or hormones for transithose different than them within parts of the tioning. The fact of the matter is positive change populace, the truth is much uglier. for LGBTQ people cannot come only from legSimply put, “gay rights” – and by extension islation and court rulings – doing so leaves the “trans rights,” “nonbinary rights,” and, indeed, scourge of bigotry still ever present in the spaces “LGBTQ rights” – as in the mode of thinking we inhabit. True, lasting positive change for LGamong many LGBTQ activists that legal protecBTQ people of all stripes will only come once we tions and legislation protecting those belonging to make the positive cultural change that sees all the community should be the paramount of activforms of bigotry viewed as anathema to the soists’ efforts, have failed. The Trump administration cieties we live in – viewing them as the social disand its Republican allies in all levels of our governorder they are instead of a difference of opinion ment have waged a violent assault on the rights of – social changes that not even left-wing stalwarts all LGBTQ people. From allowing health care prosuch as Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) or viders to discriminate against trans and nonbinary Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Dpeople in the midst of the greatest public health New York) are capable of doing.

These changes we can make together involve sticking up for the weakest members of our communities when they are under attack – for a community is only as strong as its weakest are – as well as doing the same when the rights of racial minorities, women, or the disabled are threatened. It also involves holding everyone, including ourselves, accountable for things we say and do while still allowing others and ourselves opportunity to grow as people. And it also involves holding family, friends, and acquaintances accountable for when they say or do things that denigrate our community or other underprivileged communities and cutting them off or disowning them if they refuse to support us – including by voting for candidates that promise to strip us of our rights and dignity. Even if doing this will lead to some tough conversations, and may even lead to ties being severed, for things to truly change in this country, the people perpetuating bigotry will have to first experience social consequences for their actions in much the same way that anti-maskers have been ridiculed to the point where mask wearing is up 20% nationwide over just a few months ago. Overall, no lasting, positive change for LGBTQ people will come until we make the bigotry many of us experience on a daily basis a social taboo on the same level as shouting “fire” in a crowded theater, smoking in an airplane, or the aforementioned anti-mask movement. None of this, of course, is to denigrate the work LGBTQ activists have done in enshrining protections for us into law. However, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and when we legislate our way around bigotry instead of dealing with it by all the means provided to us (when we have the option to do so – I would certainly not advocate for gay and trans people in the rural South to confront people wearing Confederate merchandise), it only provides fascists with an opportunity to seize power riding off the backlash of bigoted people to our rising status within society. t Andrew Kelly (he/him/his) is a freelance writer and journalism student. He currently attends Diablo Valley College and has applied to San Francisco State University.

Politics>>

November 5-11, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 5

Peninsula, South Bay cities elect out council members

by Matthew S. Bajko

eading into Election Day, the only out candidate on the Peninsula and in the South Bay assured of victory was Michael Smith, as the gay Black business entrepreneur was unopposed for the newly created District 4 seat on the City Council in Redwood City. Smith had argued for including it on the November ballot, nonetheless, so voters in his Five Points neighborhood could cast ballots for their first district council person. Smith, 36, who relocated from Connecticut four years ago and has served on the Redwood City Planning Commission since 2018, racked up 1,316 votes, 100% of those cast, according to the unofficial returns Wednesday. Aiming to join Smith on the council in the new District 3 seat was Lissette Espinoza-Garnica, 24, a first-generation queer, nonbinary Chicanx who has lived in Redwood City their entire life. A graduate of Santa Clara University, where they earned an English degree, Espinoza-Garnica was one of two nonbinary local city council candidates running this fall and would become the first to be elected in the Bay Area. As of Wednesday morning, they were in first place with 39.19% of the vote with a 17-vote lead ahead of the second place finisher, Janet Borgens, who was at 38.32%. With the race so tight, Espinoza-Garnica told the Bay Area Reporter they are waiting to see more votes come in, especially as a number of mailin ballots have yet to be counted. “I am not going to call it until Thursday,” said Espinoza-Garnica, adding, “I am optimistic with mail-in ballots we will have even more supporters. I did not expect a close race like this.” Sunnyvale City Council candidate Alysa Cisneros, who is queer, looks to be victorious in the contest for the District 2 seat. Cisneros was in first place with 54.17% of the vote, according to unofficial returns. Also holding on to first place with 50.13% of the vote Wednesday morning was James Coleman in his race for the newly created District 4 seat on the South San Francisco City Council. Coleman, who is bisexual, would be the first out LGBTQ council member in his hometown and, at age 21, the youngest person serving on it. Coleman, who conducted most of his campaign from his dorm room at Harvard, where he is set to graduate in May with a degree in human developmental and regenerative biology, had a 12-vote lead over his opponent, City Councilman Richard Garbarino who previously has been elected citywide and is currently serving as mayor. He had netted 49.87% of the vote. In Santa Clara, gay planning commissioner Anthony Becker, 35, is leading in his bid to become the second LGBTQ person to serve on the City Council. The first was Jamie McLeod-Skinner, a lesbian elected in 2004 who served for eight years and now lives in Oregon, where she came up short in this year’s primary race for secretary of state. One of three people seeking Santa Clara’s newly created District 6 council seat, Becker had a commanding lead with 42.16% of

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the vote, as of Wednesday morning. This was Becker’s third political campaign, as he lost a mayoral bid two years ago and came up short when he first ran for a council seat in 2016. Next door in Cupertino, gay lawyer Joseph “J.R.” Fruen, 41, appears to have fallen short in his inaugural bid to be the first LGBTQ person to serve on the City Council. In the citywide race for two council seats, Fruen was in third with 21.90% of the vote as of Wednesday morning. Gay Morgan Hill City Councilman Rene Spring easily won reelection to his District C seat. He netted 70% of the vote Tuesday. Raven Malone, who is bisexual, appears to have lost her bid to join the Palo Alto City Council. Malone came in sixth with 10% of the vote in the contest for four council seats. Ketzal Gomez, a queer woman of color vying to join the Santa Clara County Board of Education, came up short based on the unofficial returns. Gomez was in second place in the contest for the board’s Area 4 seat with 34.51% of

the vote as of Wednesday morning. In another closely watched South Bay education race, gay Democratic Party leader Omar Torres won reelection to his Area 7 seat on the board of the San Jose Evergreen Community College District. He had 46.34% of the vote, according to the unofficial returns Wednesday. Falling short in the race was Ali Sapirman, who was vying to be the first nonbinary officeholder in Santa Clara County. Sapirman was in third place with 20.86% as of Wednesday morning. t Web Extra: For more queer political news, be sure to check http://www.ebar.com Monday mornings for Political Notes, the notebook’s online companion. This week’s column reported on how the COVID pandemic upended candidates’ election night party plans. Keep abreast of the latest LGBTQ political news by following the Political Notebook on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/ politicalnotes. Got a tip on LGBTQ politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or e-mail m.bajko@ ebar.com.

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<< Election 2020

6 • Bay Area Reporter • November 5-11, 2020

A community you can connect with.

Gloria makes history with San Diego mayoral win by Matthew S. Bajko

Out in the Central Valley gay Tracy City Councilman Dan Tavaan Diego voters have elected the res Arriola, who turned 31 on Elecfirst LGBTQ mayor of one of the tion Day, was stuck in second place Golden State’s largest cities after the in his bid for the city’s open mayor commanding finish by gay Demoseat, as the incumbent is termed out cratic state Assemblyman Todd Gloof office. Arriola, who was vying to ria in Tuesday’s mayoral be the first LGBTQ mayor runoff race. He will also and first mayor of color in become the first person Tracy, was at 31.43% as of of color elected to lead the Wednesday morning. Southern California city. In first place was For nearly two years Glotermed out Tracy Counria, 42, had been seen as the cilwoman Nancy Young odds-on favorite to succeed with 36.22% of the vote. Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a She was leading with 896 Republican who is termed votes against Arriola, Courtesy Gloria for Mayor out this year. Gloria briefly who works as a deputy served as San Diego’s in- Todd Gloria has a district attorney for the terim mayor in late 2013 commanding lead San Joaquin County Disthrough early 2014 due to in the San Diego trict Attorney’s office. the resignation of former mayor’s race. Should he be defeated, mayor Bob Filner amid sexArriola will remain on ual harassment accusations. the City Council, as his After placing first in the term doesn’t expire until March primary, Gloria ap2022. peared set to sail back into In the East Bay Justin the mayor’s office against Sha, 27, landed in sechis opponent, San Diego ond place in the Fremont City Councilwoman Barmayoral race, falling bara Bry, 71. But in recent behind Mayor Lily Mei, months Gloria was met who easily won a second Sha for Mayor campaign with a barrage of false accuterm with 50.66% of the sations involving a purchase Justin Sha came vote, according to the unof a building for city offices up short in his official returns Wednesthat he voted for as well as bid for Fremont day morning. Sha, who his support of a state bill mayor. garnered 25% of the vote, ending homophobic treatwas one of five candiment of LGBTQ young adults faced dates who qualified to take on Mei, with having to register as sex offenders. the city’s first woman and person of With the race appearing to tightcolor to be elected mayor. en in recent weeks, concern within Gay West Sacramento Mayor ChrisLGBTQ circles had grown that Bry, topher Cabaldon, 55, who in 2004 was who faced calls to denounce the antithe first mayor to be directly elected by gay smear campaign against Gloria, his city’s voters, was holding on to first could come out on top. The San place Wednesday morning against his Diego County Registrar of Voters opponent, Martha Guerrero. Cabaldon still had 370,000 ballots to tally as of was at 50% compared to Guerrero’s Wednesday morning. 49.27% share of the vote, with a differBut according to the unofficial reence of just 174 votes between the two. turns, Gloria was leading with 56% of Should the unofficial vote count the vote and Bry was at 43.71%. hold, Cabaldon will have secured his “Tonight, I believe we have made ninth consecutive two-year term as more than history,” Gloria told his mayor. t supporters Tuesday night.

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a criminal defense attorney, advanced to a runoff election after wo LGBTQ attorneys battled they were the top two vote-getters for the gavel in the in the March primary. race for Alameda CounCondes had bested ty Superior Court judge Fickes in that primary seat No. 2 and it looks by 10,781 votes. like Elena Condes, a LaFickes said he is not tina lesbian, has won it. “ready to concede just According to prelimiyet.” nary results, Condes has “I think it’s not quite 55.9% of the vote against ready to call yet,” Fickes Mark Fickes, a gay man, told the B.A.R. Novemwho has 43.6%, accord- Courtesy Condes campaign ber 4. “The numbers are ing to preliminary results. Elena Condes is what they are, it looks Speaking to the Bay poised to win an like we have a 39,000Area Reporter early No- Alameda County vote deficit. I don’t vember 4, Condes was judgeship. know all the mathematreluctant to declare vicics of it but it looks like tory, though she said about 33% of registered she was “grateful for the voters’ votes have been work people did on my counted, so I think it’s a campaign.” numerical possibility to “There might be make up the difference – about half the votes left I’m not ready to concede to be counted,” Condes just yet – but yes I do said. “We have a strong recognize that the numlead and it looks good bers are a bit daunting.” Courtesy Nancy de la Peña and we are happy about that. It looks like only Nancy de la Santa Cruz gets 300-something-thou- Peña won a seat lesbian judge sand votes have been on Santa Cruz Meanwhile, in Santa counted and hopefully, County Superior Cruz County, attorney if the trends hold, we’ll Court. Nancy de la Peña will be successful.” become the first LGBTQ Fickes, a partner at Cannata judge there. O’Toole Fickes & Olson, LLP, in San Francisco, and Condes, See page 7 >>

Election 2020>>

t LGBTQs win in SF school board, City College races

November 5-11, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 7

by John Ferrannini

n the race to elect four members of the San Francisco Board of Education, incumbent Mark Sanchez, a gay man, is coming in second, according to preliminary results. Sanchez, currently the school board president, is coming in behind incumbent Jenny Lam, who was at 17.32%, and ahead of newcomers Kevine Boggess and Matt Alexander, who garnered 15.43% and 12.92% respectively, according to preliminary results. Sanchez is at 17.01%, early returns showed. Sanchez did not respond to a request for comment. Meanwhile, in the race for four members of the board of trustees that oversee City College of San Francisco, out candidates Shanell Williams and Tom Temprano are coming in first and second place, with 18.07% and 17.39% of the vote respectively, according to preliminary results. Williams is currently the president of the board. Temprano, who is also a legislative aide to gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, is currently serving as the vice president of the board. The top four is rounded out by newcomers Aliya Chisti, who is in third place with 11.60% and Alan Wong, who is in fourth place, with 11.55%. “Though there are still ballots to be counted, I’m grateful to San Franciscans for their vote of confidence in the work I’ve been doing at City College these last four years,” Temprano wrote to the B.A.R. November 4. “City College will be critical to our recovery from the pandemic, and I’m going to make sure we weather our current challenges and come out stronger than ever,” he added. “I’m also glad that we will continue to have strong LGBTQ+ representation on the college board and am going to keep fighting to make City College a truly safe place and welcoming space for our queer students and staff.” Williams told the B.A.R. November 4 that she is “overwhelmed and humbled” to have garnered the most votes in the race. “That’s part of why I’m a little shell-shocked,” Williams said. “It’s been a hard campaign with the pandemic, the California fires, and disagreements with certain constituents on our track record as incumbents. “I feel really honored that San Francisco has continued to support my leadership at City College. I am committed to doing the hard work to protect this institution for our city,” she added. t

Gavels

From page 6

As the B.A.R. previously reported, de la Peña finished first in the March primary and the second-place finisher, defense attorney Annrae Angel, suspended her campaign. Angel’s name was still on the ballot, though she was trailing de la Peña, who had 70.8% to Angel’s 29.1%, according to unofficial returns. De la Peña, a lesbian married mother of two daughters, plans to start in the new position on January 4. “I am extremely happy Santa Cruz now joins many counties in the state of California in having an LGBTQ+ judge,” she told the B.A.R. November 4. “I am looking forward to serving the county of Santa Cruz.”. t

Courtesy Mark Sanchez

Mark Sanchez

Courtesy Jenny Lam

Jenny Lam

Rick Gerharter

Shanell Williams

Courtesy Tom Temprano

Tom Temprano

<< Election 2020

t US House: Pelosi, Takano retain seats; Gómez loses 8 • Bay Area Reporter • November 5-11, 2020

t looks like Georgette Gómez has lost her race to become the first openly queer Latina elected to

the U.S. Congress. The president of the San Diego City Council, Gómez, a Democrat, trailed with 40.5% against fellow Democrat Sara Jacobs, who

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garnered 59.5% in the race for California’s 53rd Congressional District, according to preliminary results. Jacobs will succeed Susan Davis (D), who has served in the House since 2001 and opted not to seek reelection. “As votes here in San Diego continue being counted, the results of the election do not seem to be what we all hoped for. While we did not win this one, I will never give up the fight for equality and justice and a sustainable planet,” Gómez tweeted. “Tonight’s results do not define my commitment to building a more just society, I will continue to do the work along with you all. Thank you to all the volunteers, to the community leaders who supported my campaign, and to my family for being on this journey with me.” Meanwhile in California’s 41st District in western Riverside County, Democrat Mark Takano – the first openly gay Asian American in Congress – has been reelected. He received 64.1% of the votes over Republican Aja Smith, who has 35.9%, according to unofficial returns. Takano has served in the chamber since 2013.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, shown in the 2019 San Francisco Pride parade, easily won reelection Tuesday.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) easily won reelection to her seat representing California’s 12th Congressional District, which covers most of the City and County of San Francisco. Pelosi’s challenger was fellow Democrat Shahid Buttar. Pelosi is leading Buttar 79.2% to 20.8%, according to preliminary results. In a statement late November 3, Pelosi touted the likely Democratic victory in the House of Representatives nationwide, which would of course portend her keeping the speaker’s gavel. “We have held the House, and when all the votes are counted we’ll see how much better we will do than that,” Pelosi said. “Our purpose in this race was to win so that we can protect the Affordable Care Act and so that we could crush the virus, to stop the spread of it.” Pelosi has represented San Francisco in the House of Representatives since 1987. On her way to Congress, she defeated gay Supervisor Harry Britt, the late Harvey Milk’s successor on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in the Democratic primary that year. Britt died earlier this year. In 2007, Pelosi became the first woman and the first Italian American speaker of the House of Representatives, shepherding through the 2009 stimulus package and the

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he won 13% of the vote to Pelosi’s 74%. But as the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, the Buttar campaign imploded during the summer amid a sexual harassment scandal. Buttar’s former campaign manager spoke out, saying he facilitated a “toxic workplace environment” and was uninterested in election to Congress. Buttar released a post-election statement late November 3 touting his accomplishments. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Despite being outspent 15:1, and confronting a corporate media whiteout, our campaign has sprinted through the November election based on people power. Together, we Davids confronted a global Goliath – Washington’s bipartisan corporate establishment – and held it publicly accountable for its continuing failures,” he stated. “I’m indebted to all the supporters who share my vision for this campaign and our country. I’m especially thankful for the time, talent, and tireless efforts of my colleagues on the campaign staff, particularly those who have stuck with us throughout the campaign,” he added. “Finally, last – but far from least – I’m grateful to my neighbors who believed in our campaign and voted for me to represent them in 2018, and again in 2020.” In California’s 14th District, which contains southwestern San 10 Francisco and most of San Mateo Persons County, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D) has prevailed over Re$94,800 publican Ran S. Petel 80.5% to 19.5%, according to preliminary returns. Speier has served in the House since 2008. In California’s 13th District, which covers Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville and much of northwest Alameda County, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D) retained her seat as well. Lee, who has served in the House since 1998, bested Republican Nikka Piterman 91% to 9%, according to unofficial returns. t

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. When Republicans took control of the lower chamber after the 2010 midterm elections, Pelosi lost the speakership, only to gain it again after the 2018 midterms, when Democrats picked up 41 seats. During that session of the House, Pelosi led the charge to impeach President Donald Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors after it came to light he pressured the Ukrainian government to announce an investigation (without evidence) into Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden Jr. for alleged corruption. Trump was impeached in the House but acquitted in the Senate. Buttar, a cisgender heterosexual man who also identifies as queer due to his gender expression being fluid, is nominally a lawyer, though he is listed as inactive on the websites of the California and District of Columbia bar associations. He had garnered a number of endorsements from progressives ahead of the March primary, when

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Congressman Mark Takano was reelected Tuesday.

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<< Election 2020

10 • Bay Area Reporter • November 5-11, 2020

Dufty easily wins reelection to BART board

by Cynthia Laird

ncumbent BART director Bevan Dufty easily won reelection to a second four-year term Tuesday, defeating three lesser-known candidates for the District 9 seat, which represents San Francisco. Dufty, a gay man and former San Francisco supervisor, had 66.59% of the vote, according to preliminary returns. While there are outstanding ballots to count, When you plan your life celebration and lasting remembrance in none of his opponents cracked advance, you can design every detail of your own unique memorial 20%, the early results showed. and provide your loved ones with true peace of mind. Planning ahead When your celebration lasting A tireless campaigner and adprotectsyou your plan loved ones fromlife unnecessary stress and and financial burden, When you remembrance plan your celebration and lasting in vocate for social justice, Dufty, allowing themlife to focus what will matter at design that remembrance time—you. in on advance, youmost can every advance, you canofdesign every detail of your ownand unique memorial who served as president of the detail own memorial provide Contact usyour today about theunique beautiful ways to create a lasting legacy BART board last year, spearheadatyour theloved San Francisco Columbarium. and provide loved ones with true peace mind. Planning ahead your ones with true peace ofof mind. Planning ed several programs to provide services to homeless people in protects your loved ones from unnecessary stress and financial burden, ahead protectsProudly yourserving loved onesCommunity. from unnecessary the LGBT allowing them focus on whatburden, will matter most them at thattotime—you. and around stations. With fellow stresstoand financial allowing out directors Rebecca Saltzman and Janice Li and straight ally focus on what will matter most at that time—you. Contact us today about the beautiful ways to create a lasting legacy Lateefah Simon, Dufty has also worked to restore public confiat the San Contact FranciscousColumbarium. today about the beautiful ways to create dence in safety for riders and to revamp the transit agency’s police a lasting legacy at the San Francisco Columbarium. force. One Loraine Ct. | San Francisco | 415-771-0717 Proudly serving our Community. BART has been hard hit by the SanFranciscoColumbarium.com Proudly serving the LGBT Community. COVID-19 pandemic, seeing ridFD 1306 / COA 660 ership plummet and the board has been working to welcome back patrons. Trailing Dufty in the D9 race were David Wei Wan Young, with 18.52%; gay activist Michael Petrelis (9%); and Patrick Mortiere (5.86%). Petrelis recently won a $13,000 settlement from the city of San Francisco stemming from One Loraine Ct. | San Francisco | 415-771-0717 a federal lawsuit he filed over SanFranciscoColumbarium.com First Amendment issues. Joining Dufty in winning reelection was Simon, who repFD 1306 / COA 660 resents District 7 that includes parts of San Francisco, Alameda,

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Steven Underhill

Bevan Dufty won reelection.

and Contra Costa counties. Currently the board president, Simon received 69.31% of the vote in San Francisco; 75.50% in Alameda; and 56.95% in Contra Costa counties. Her opponent, Sharon Kidd, received 30.61%, 24.20%, and 43.05% respectively. In a text Wednesday, Dufty wrote, “I’m ready to secure involvement of the city through Prop C and Mental Health SF to help BART address homelessness and mental illness in our system. It’s absolutely essential that we partner and bring needed change.” He added that his victory was “a relief after such a challenging year – but we need Joe Biden to help transit nationally.” Saltzman, a lesbian mom who represents District 3, was also reelected to another term. She was unopposed so her name did not appear on the ballot. In other transit races, an incumbent easily beat back a challenge from two LGBTQ candidates and a lesbian appears to

Who says there’s no such thing as a FREE BRUNCH?!

Saturday, November 21, 11 AM Avenidas Rainbow Collective and AARP are partnering up to offer you opportunities to volunteer in the community. Join us if you: • Would like to make a difference in the community • Want to be more engaged in your present life • Desire to connect with others • Are a resident of Santa Clara County • Feel hungry for a delicious, free brunch!

Brunch deliveries are limited, so please register ASAP!

We will feature volunteer opportunities that you can perform at home offered by AARP, Avenidas Rainbow Collective, Second Harvest Food Bank, and others.

Registration QR Code (Use your camera phone)

Email Thomas Kingery for registration and information tkingery@avenidas.org

Untitled-1 1

11/3/20 1:09 PM

Jovanka Beckles appeared to win an AC Transit board seat.

have won a seat representing Contra Costa County on the AC Transit board. H.E. Christian (Chris) Peeples won reelection to AC Transit’s at-large seat. Unofficial returns showed that Peeples received 62.36% of the vote in Alameda County and 63.92% of the ballots in Contra Costa County. Challengers Victoria Fierce, a trans woman, and Dollene Jones, a lesbian who once drove a bus for the system, came up short, with each receiving about 24% and 13% in the two counties, respectively. In the bus system’s Ward 1 seat in Contra Costa County, it appears that lesbian former Richmond City Councilwoman Jovanka Beckles bested incumbent Joe Louis Wallace and gay candidate Ben Fong. Preliminary returns show that Beckles received 49.92%; Fong, 28.31%; and Wallace, the current board president, 21.77%. Beckles did not respond to a request for comment.t

Kaplan

From page 1

failed to win her bid for the District 5 seat on the West Contra Costa Unified School District board. She was in third with 25.69% of the vote, based on unofficial returns. As no one ran against them, a quartet of out incumbents was automatically reelected in the East Bay this year. They are gay city councilmen John Bauters of Emeryville and Ken Carlson of Pleasant Hill; lesbian BART board member Rebecca Saltzman, who represents the transit agency’s District 3 covering parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties; and gay Richmond resident Cesar Zepeda, who had been appointed to a vacancy on the board of the West County Wastewater District and will now serve a full four-year term.

Oakland, Berkeley races

If you are a Santa Clara County resident and register before November 14, then you are eligible for brunch to be delivered to your home just hours before the start of the event on November 21st at 11am.

Rick Gerharter

Last week, Kaplan received a major boost and a burst of news coverage with a late endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders (IVermont) of her candidacy. Her challenger, Johnson, was a political newcomer who had the support of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Senator Kamala Harris (California), the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee. As of Wednesday afternoon, Kaplan was at 52.56% and Johnson was in second with 47.44% after the county elections department tabulated the second choice votes of the 6,468 people who chose third place finisher, Nancy Sidebotham, as their first pick. But

Courtesy Terry Taplin

Berkeley City Council candidate Terry Taplin

with more ballots to count, Kaplan had yet to declare victory by the B.A.R.’s press deadline. Schaaf had defeated Kaplan in the 2014 mayoral race and the former City Council colleagues have often been at odds over policy and personnel issues ever since. Johnson, 55, is an Oakland native and opened Home of Chicken and Waffles in the city’s waterfront Jack London Square district in 2004. He lost ownership of the business, however, something he was forced to admit after the news site Oaklandside dug up his bankruptcy records and other court documents. Kaplan, 49, is currently the sole LGBTQ community member on Oakland’s council and one of only a handful of out women currently serving on a city council in the Bay Area. She and her former wife, PaSee page 11 >>

t <<

Election 2020>>

Prez race

From page 1

In San Francisco, reaction to the presidential race was subdued. Brandon Harami, a gay man who is the co-chair of SF Berniecrats, told the Bay Area Reporter Tuesday night, “It’s terrifying.” “Biden may be able to pull through but it’s so disappointing to see people vote for Trump after all of the people who’ve died during the pandemic,” said Harami, who was attending an outdoor election night party for queer state Senate candidate Jackie Fielder, who lost to gay incumbent state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). LGBTQ community wins and losses were also mixed in Tuesday’s elections. Two newcomers won seats in the House of Representatives, but two incumbents are hanging onto their seats by threads as of Wednesday morning. Democrats do not appear poised to take control of the U.S. Senate. While they did win two new seats (from Colorado and Arizona), they also lost one (Alabama). Senator Gary Peters (D-Michigan) was in a tight race and slightly trailing his Republican opponent Wednesday morning. While Democrats still have an opportunity to win another seat in a runoff, they likely will fall short of reaching a 51seat majority. The LGBTQ Victory Fund, which supported 312 openly LGBTQ candi-

morning to have held onto a 2-point lead over his Republican opponent. Gay incumbent Congressman Chris Pappas (D) staved off a tough challenge in his bid for a second term representing New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. Pappas’ Republican opponent had attempted to play up Pappas’ relationship with a male lobbyist for Amazon. Other Democratic LGBTQ incumbents – David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Sharice Davids of Kansas, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, and Mark Takano of California – all easily won reelection. The two brightest spots among the openly LGBTQ winners Tuesday had to be two black gay men in New York – Ritchie Torres and Mondaire Jones. Torres won 88% of the vote in his first bid for the Congressional seat representing the Bronx. Jones won by 14 points and will now represent southern New York. “Most would have thought New York City’s first LGBTQ member of Congress would be from Chelsea or Greenwich Village or Hell’s Kitchen, but the Bronx beat them to it,” said Victory Fund President Annise Parker. “As our nation attempts to tackle systemic racism, police reform, and health care disparities, Ritchie’s lived experience as an out LGBTQ AfroLatinx man will bring an essential perspective to Capitol Hill. Ritchie’s election gives hope at a time when many Americans desperately need it. He will become a role model for LG-

Wiener

From page 1

every single one, and we’re proud of every single one,” stated Fielder, who had joined with her supporters at a food truck park in the city’s Mission Bay neighborhood Tuesday night. In the South Bay Lee declared victory on Twitter Tuesday night in his race for the open Assembly District 25 seat that includes parts of Alameda and Santa Clara counties. He easily bested Republican Bob Brunton 73% to 26.9% to succeed Assemblyman Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) in the heavily Democratic district, according to the unofficial returns. At 25 years old, the Democratic legislative policy adviser who lives in San Jose will be the youngest state lawmaker since 1938 when he is sworn into office Monday, December 7. He will also be the first state legislator from Generation Z. “I am deeply, deeply grateful for my community for electing me to the state Assembly,” Lee told the B.A.R. “It is going to be really amazing to represent my hometown.” Along the Central Coast in the race for the open 17th Senate District seat, Santa Cruz resident Laird easily defeated Republican businesswoman Vicki Nohis 68% to 32%, based on the unofficial returns, to return to the Legislature. “After last night’s vote count was completed, I am leading in all four counties with 68% of the vote – with a lead of over 130,000 votes. I said I wouldn’t formally claim victory until all votes are counted – but it’s clear what direction it’s heading

dates in Tuesday’s election, has, thus far, registered 71 wins and 24 losses, and no results yet in 217 races. Of the 15 openly LGBTQ people running for Congress Tuesday, it appears nine have won – seven of them incumbents. But one of those incumbents, first-term Congresswoman Angie Craig of Minnesota’s 2nd District, had a mere 154-vote lead over her Republican challenger as of Wednesday morning. Just days prior to the November 3 vote, Craig won an important victory at the U.S. Supreme Court. Her Republican opponent attempted to derail the voting by filing a legal action to delay the election until February. The request was based on the sudden death in September of a third party candidate – one who acknowledged, before his passing, that Republicans had recruited him to run as a strategy to defeat Craig. Under Minnesota law, if a “major party” candidate dies within 79 days of a November election, a special election must be held in February. Republicans went to court, arguing the vote had to be delayed, but the courts disagreed. And when Republicans appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency order, Justice Neil Gorsuch denied their request. In New York’s 18th Congressional District, which includes northern suburbs of New York City, gay fourterm Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (D) appeared Wednesday

November 5-11, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 11

Kaplan

From page 10

mela Rosin, separated in 2018 and finalized their divorce last year. In Berkeley, author and poet Taplin set out to defeat Davila as he was upset with her ousting from office in 2016 gay former City Councilman Darryl Moore, one of the few out Black elected offi-

Courtesy of the campaigns

State Senate candidate Susan Talamantes Eggman, State Senatorelect John Laird and Assemblyman-elect Alex Lee

in,” Laird posted on his Facebook page Wednesday morning. “Thank you to everyone who voted, the two thousand donors, everyone who put up a sign or endorsed during the twenty-two months (!) of campaigning. We have a lot of work to do on urgent issues, and I’m looking forward to getting to work on December 7.” Out in San Joaquin County Eggman was leading her GOP opponent, Jim Ridenour, in their contest to succeed termed out lesbian state Senator Cathleen Galgiani (DStockton). Eggman was ahead with 58.6% of the vote compared to Ridenour’s 41.4%, according to the unofficial returns Wednesday, with just 31.2% of precincts in the race reporting results. Should Medina defeat her Republican opponent, Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, she would be the first person

who identifies as queer and the first out lawmaker from San Bernardino County serving in the Legislature. As of Wednesday morning, Medina was in a statistical dead heat with Bogh at 50% of the vote, with Median clinging to a lead of 141 votes. In San Diego gay City Councilman Chris Ward was winning his bid to succeed gay Assemblyman Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) in the 78th Assembly District, as Gloria is poised to become the city’s first out elected mayor. Ward was in first place with 57.5% of the vote, according to the unofficial returns Wednesday, while queer single mom and midwife Sarah Davis was in second with 42.5%. Lesbian Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) easily defeated her GOP opponent, Linda Blankenship, 67.5% to 32.5% to win reelection to her 39th

cials in the Bay Area. The two had a falling out over whether the city should divest from Israel due to its treatment of Palestinians. Having grown up in West Berkeley and living there the last two years with his husband, psychiatric nurse Andrew Godar, Taplin decided to enter the race, one of three people who took on the incumbent. He was in first place

with 62.58% percent of the vote after three rounds of ranked-choice voting, according to the unofficial returns. Davila was in second with 37.42% of the vote. As for Moore, he now lives in Manassas Park, Virginia and was leading in his race Tuesday to be elected to that city’s council. t

BTQ youth in the Bronx and beyond.” Among the other six openly LGBTQ challengers seeking congressional seats Tuesday, all appear to have lost their bids, including Jon Hoadley in Michigan’s 6th Congressional District, which includes Kalamazoo, and Gina Ortiz Jones in Texas’ 23rd, which includes San Antonio. Many thought Ortiz Jones would win the seat from Texas this year. She came within fewer than 1,000 votes of winning the seat in 2018. But in 2020, she fell 12,000 votes behind her Republican opponent.

Other election news

Fort Lauderdale’s gay incumbent Mayor Dean Trantalis handily won reelection Tuesday night. Lesbian Alexsis Rodgers came in third in her bid to become mayor of Richmond, Virginia. Transgender candidates did well: Sarah McBride (D) became the first transgender person to win a state Senate seat in Delaware, and Taylor Small (D) became the first openly transgender person elected to the Legislature in Vermont. Stephanie Byers (D) became the first openly transgender person to be elected to the Kansas state House and the first transgender person of color ever elected to a state legislature in the U.S. And Colorado incumbent state Representative Brianna Titone (D) appears to have won reelection to her seat, despite Republican efforts to paint her as a “radical” threat to “your wives and daughters.” Senate District seat. In Riverside County, lesbian Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona), was ahead in her reelection bid for the 60th Assembly District seat. Cervantes was defeating her gay Republican opponent, peace officer Chris Raahauge, 56.5% to 43.5%, according to the unofficial results. And gay Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell) easily won reelection to his 28th Assembly District seat in Silicon Valley. He was in first with 74.4% of the vote against his GOP opponent, Carlos Rafael Cruz, who had 25.6%, according to the unofficial returns. Falling short Tuesday was gay Mission Viejo businessman Scott Rhinehart in the race for the open 73rd Assembly District seat in Orange County. He took second place with 42.7% of the vote against the winner, Republican Laurie Davies, who was in first place with 57.3% of the unofficial vote. He had faced steep odds in trying to flip the currently GOP-held seat, even though the incumbent, Assemblyman William Brough (R-Dana Point), who was accused of inappropriate behavior by four women, was defeated in the March primary.

Other races

In the suburbs northeast of Sacramento, lesbian businesswoman and senior advocate Jackie Smith, who used to live in San Jose, lost her second bid to unseat Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Granite Bay) from his 6th Assembly District seat. He took first place with 54.2% of the vote compared to Smith’s 45.8%

Kim Jackson (D) won a state Senate seat in Georgia, becoming the first openly LGBTQ person to win a seat in that body and one of only three Black lesbians to win a state Senate seat anywhere in the U.S. Shevrin Jones (D) won his race for the Florida state Senate, becoming the first openly LGBTQ person to win a seat in that body. Jabari Brisport (D) became the first LGBTQ person of color to win a seat in the New York Legislature, running unopposed for a seat representing Brooklyn in the state Senate. Tennessee elected its first two openly LGBTQ people to its state house: Democrat Torrey Harris, a bisexual from Memphis, and gay Republican Eddie Mannis of Knoxville. In Cincinnati, lesbian Democrat Charmaine McGuffey has become the first openly LGBTQ person to be elected sheriff in Hamilton County, Ohio. Helen Whitener won reelection to the Washington Supreme Court, handily defeating her opponent and becoming the first Black woman to be elected to the court and the second openly LGBTQ person. Marko Liias lost his bid to become Washington state’s lieutenant governor. And, Bryce Bennett appears to have lost his bid to become Montana secretary of state. t John Ferrannini contributed reporting.

based on the unofficial returns. And in Los Angeles, gay Koreatown resident Godfrey Santos Plata (D), an educator who emigrated as a child from the Philippines, fell short in his bid to unseat Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) in the 53rd Assembly District. According to the unofficial returns, Santiago took first place with 56.7% of the vote and Plata garnered 43.3%. “I’m thrilled because we ran to change systems working against us & here we are: showing up strong, against the odds,” Plata wrote on Twitter Wednesday morning. “We’ll post more as we know more. But all I want to do is keep building power w/ you all – whether it’s from the Assembly or not, I believe that we will win.” In San Francisco bisexual escort Starchild, a Libertarian whose write-in votes in the March primary allowed him to be on Tuesday’s ballot against Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), netted 10.1% of the vote. Chiu easily secured a fourth term with 89.9% of the vote. In the city’s other Assembly race for the 19th District Seat, Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) handily defeated Republican John P. McDonnell in his reelection bid. Ting, who in the summer acknowledged he had had an extramarital affair after a conservative online news site broke the news, took first place with 78.6% of the vote and McDonnell netted 21.4%, based on the unofficial returns.t

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<< Community News

12 • Bay Area Reporter • November 5-11, 2020

Horizons to hold virtual State of the Movement panel by Cynthia Laird

orizons Foundation will hold its annual State of the Movement discussion virtually this year, and it promises to be an interesting discussion, coming just a week after the election. The event takes place Thursday, November 12, from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Roger Doughty, president of Hori-

zons, noted that as the pandemic rages on and calls for racial justice ring louder than ever, it’s important to figure out where the LGBTQ community is headed. Community leaders scheduled to participate include Kierra Johnson, the incoming executive director

of the National LGBTQ Task Force; Kris Hayashi, executive director of the Transgender Law Center; Isa Noyola, deputy director of Mijente; and Imani RupertGordon, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Doughty will moderate the discussion.

DAVIS is requesting that the name JEANNETTE LAURA DAVIS AKA JEANNETTE LAURA MANN be changed to JEANNETTE LAURA O’CONNOR. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 24th of November 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

the 19th of November 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

The panel will be recorded and the audio will be captioned, organizers noted. To register for this free event, go to https://www.horizonsfoundation.org/state-of-the-lgbtq-movement-2020/. t Courtesy National LGBTQ Task Force

More News Briefs are online at www.ebar.com.

Kierra Johnson is the incoming executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force.

with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: DAVID W. KNIGHT (SBN 195105), LAW OFFICES OF DAVID W. KNIGHT, 2300 BOYNTON AVE #104, FAIRFIELD, CA 94533; Ph. (707) 422-5411.

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: November 30, 2020, 9:00 am, Rm. 204, Superior Court of California, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94102. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the latter of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined by section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: DAE HEE KIM (SBN 235808), LAW OFFICES OF AMANCIO LIANGCO JR., 605 MARKET ST #605, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105; Ph. (415) 974-5336.

Legals>> ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555931

In the matter of the application of JEANNETTE LAURA DAVIS, 3184 MISSION ST #202, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner JEANNETTE LAURA

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT NOTICE TO PROPOSERS – GENERAL INFORMATION 6M3491 – RAILCAR FLEET DECOMMISSIONING SERVICES The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (hereinafter referred to as “BART” or “District”) is soliciting competitive revenue generating Proposals to the District for the Pick-up, Removal, and Disposal of Transit Railcars consistent with the terms and provisions in this Request for Proposals (“RFP”), on or about October 22, 2020. Proposals must be received by 2:00PM local time, Tuesday, November 17, 2020 as follows: For Special Delivery or Hand Delivery: District Secretary SF Bay Area Rapid Transit District 300 Lakeside Drive, 23rd. Floor Oakland, CA 94612 or By U.S. Mail: District Secretary SF Bay Area Rapid Transit District P.O. Box 12688 Oakland, CA 94604-2688 Phase I of the decommissioning process involved BART decommissioning ten (10) cars, with a remaining ten (10) vehicles to be decommissioned by the end of summer of 2020. This RFP will be Phase II of the fleet decommissioning contract and will decommission 400 rail cars, plus options to complete the remaining fleet, and will be sold to the highest revenue bid offered to the District. The high bidder will be responsible for pick-up, removal, and disposal of the railcars in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal regulatory requirements. The contract will include four vehicle types; eight (8) A2 vehicles, one-hundred ninety-two (192) B2 vehicles, one-hundred twenty-five (125) C1 vehicles, and seventy-five (75) C2 vehicles, however, this is subject to change at BART’s sole discretion. All BART logos will be removed from the cars prior to disposal. REQUIRED REGISTRATION ON BART PROCUREMENT PORTAL In order for prospective Proposers to be eligible for award of an Agreement being solicited on the BART Procurement Portal, such Proposers are required to be currently registered to do business with BART on the BART Procurement Portal online at https://suppliers.bart.gov and have obtained Solicitation Documents, updates, and any Addenda issued on line so as to be added to the online Planholders List for this solicitation. If a prospective Proposer is a joint venture or partnership, such entity may register on the BART Procurement Portal with the entity’s tax identification number (TIN) and download the Solicitation Documents so as to be listed as an online planholder under the entity’s name prior to submitting its Proposal. If such entity has not registered on BART Procurement Portal in the name of the joint venture or partnership prior to submitting its Proposal, provided that at least one of the joint venturers or partners registered online on the BART Procurement Portal and downloaded the Solicitation Documents so as to be added to the online Planholders List for this solicitation, such entity will be required to register with the entity’s TIN as an online planholder following the submittal of Proposals, in order for the entity to be eligible for award of this Agreement. PROPOSERS WHO HAVE NOT REGISTERED ON THE BART PROCUREMENT PORTAL PRIOR TO SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL, (OR FOR JOINT A VENTURE OR PARTNERSHIP AS DESCRIBED ABOVE PRIOR TO AWARD) AND DID NOT DOWNLOAD THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS FOR THIS SOLICITATION ON LINE SO AS TO BE LISTED AS AN ONLINE PLANHOLDER FOR THIS SOLICITATION, WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARD OF THIS AGREEMENT. Pre-Proposal Meeting A highly recommended pre-proposal meeting will be held virtually via Zoom Conference on November 3, 2020. The meeting will convene at 1:00pm. Please RSVP to by 4:00pm November 2, 2020 to Erica Elkington, eelking@bart.gov to receive the Zoom meeting invitation. A site visit to see the railcars in person will be held at BART offices located at 150 Sandoval Way, Hayward, CA 94544 on November 4, 2020 at 10:00am. Masks and social distancing will be required. Dated at Oakland, California, this 22nd day of October 2020. s John A. Mazza John Mazza, Chief Procurement Officer 11/5/20 CNS-3411068# BAY AREA REPORTER

OCT 15, 22, 29, NOV 05, 2020 AMENDED ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555869

In the matter of the application of LI JUAN WU, 577 MISSOURI ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107 for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner LI JUAN WU is requesting that the name LI JUAN WU be changed to LI JUAN WU-WONG. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N on the 1st of December 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 15, 22, 29, NOV 05, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039175900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as PRETTY BABY BRIDAL; SMOKIES TOKE COUTURE; PUFFY P; 1240 20TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed PILAR JOHNSON. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 05/18/15. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/08/20.

OCT 15, 22, 29, NOV 05, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039174600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as WAX JEWELLERY, 1226 SUTTER ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed DEBBIE MEI WAH CHOU. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 10/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/08/20.

OCT 15, 22, 29, NOV 05, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039172700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as WELLER HOTEL, 908 POST ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed JALASAI BAPU LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/07/20.

OCT 15, 22, 29, NOV 05, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039173600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as BURNT CLAY, 1395 WALLACE AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed CLAY CALIFORNIA LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/07/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/07/20.

OCT 15, 22, 29, NOV 05, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039173500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as FIORELLA SUNSET, 1240 9TH AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed PROSPECT PIZZA SUNSET LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/07/20.

OCT 15, 22, 29, NOV 05, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039157200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as POWERSTREAM LLC, 912 COLE ST #156, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed QUALITY APPLIANCE REPAIR SAN FRANCISCO LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/17/20.

OCT 15, 22, 29, NOV 05, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039168500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as ABU SALIM MIDDLE EASTERN GRILL, 1599 HAIGHT ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94117. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed ABU SALIM LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on NA. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/05/20.

OCT 15, 22, 29, NOV 05, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555926

In the matter of the application of KARLA JESSENIA MELARA, 78 CARR ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94124, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner KARLA JESSENIA MELARA AKA KARLA JESSENIA MEJIA is requesting that the name KARLA JESSENIA MELARA AKA KARLA JESSENIA MEJIA be changed to KARLA MELARA MEJIA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N on

OCT 22, 29, NOV 05, 12, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555944

In the matter of the application of CAROLE EILEEN ACUNA-PICKENS, 2212 POLK ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94109, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner CAROLE EILEEN ACUNAPICKENS is requesting that the name CAROLE EILEEN ACUNA-PICKENS be changed to TACHIRIA FLAMENCO ROMELIA. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 1st of December 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 22, 29, NOV 05, 12, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039168800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as LAW OFFICES OF STANTON & KAUFMAN, 400 MONTGOMERY ST #502, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MARY BETH KAUFMAN. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/01/08. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/05/20.

OCT 22, 29, NOV 05, 12, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039172900

The following person(s) is/are doing business as PAUL WOODFORD SERVICES, 296 COLERIDGE ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed GEORGE PAUL WOODFORD. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/10/97. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/07/20.

OCT 22, 29, NOV 05, 12, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039177300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as SFGIFTBASKET.COM, 201 CLAY ST, 2 EMBARCADERO CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MITRA GHIASI. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/06. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/10/20.

OCT 22, 29, NOV 05, 12, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039168900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as DATARACY, 1583 SCHAEFFER RD, SEBASTOPOL, CA 95472. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed CAMERON HOLL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/14/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/05/20.

OCT 22, 29, NOV 05, 12, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039177200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as ANNA BEAUTY SALON, 4 PERSIA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANA ANAYA GALEANO. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/09/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/10/20.

OCT 22, 29, NOV 05, 12, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039164100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as CHORUS, 2370 MARKET ST #103 PMB 174, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by a corporation, and is signed CHORUS WELLNESS INC (DE). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/17/19. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/01/20.

OCT 22, 29, NOV 05, 12, 2020 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF CAROL ANN DODA IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FILE PES-20-303968

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of CAROL ANN DODA. A Petition for Probate has been filed by THOMAS A. SMITH in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Petition for Probate requests that THOMAS A. SMITH be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. 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: November, 17, 2020, 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

OCT 29, NOV 05, 12, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555935

In the matter of the application of CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL BASKETT, 88 HOWARD ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL BASKETT is requesting that the name CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL BASKETT be changed to CHRISTOPHER KAI BROX. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103 on the 1st of December 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

OCT 29, NOV 05, 12, 19, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039163100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as AW MANERS AND ETIQUETTE, 126 TERRA VISTA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed ANGIE WANG. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/15/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 09/30/20.

OCT 29, NOV 05, 12, 19, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039165300

The following person(s) is/are doing business as MORGEN DEPENTHAL DESIGN, THE XO MASK, 2101 DIVISADERO ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed MORGEN DEPENTHAL. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 07/31/20. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/01/20.

OCT 29, NOV 05, 12, 19, 2020 AMENDED NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF ZETHER MCGRIGER IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO: FILE PES-20-303828

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of ZETHER MCGRIGER. An Amended Petition for Probate has been filed by CECILEY MCGRIGER in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. The Amended Petition for Probate requests that CECILEY MCGRIGER 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

NOV 05, 12, 19, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555966

In the matter of the application of MAYA STICKNEY, 5044 GEARY BLVD #2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118, for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner MAYA STICKNEY is requesting that the name MAYA STICKNEY be changed to MAYA FUJIMURA-STICKNEY. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103 on the 10th of December 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 05, 12, 19, 26, 2020 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE CNC-20-555968

In the matter of the application of RALPH CRISTOBAL RASALAN, 3465 25th ST #8, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110 for change of name having been filed in Superior Court, and it appearing from said application that petitioner RALPH CRISTOBAL RASALAN is requesting that the name RALPH CRISTOBAL RASALAN be changed to RALPH CRISTOBAL RASALAN TIETJEN. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Dept. 103N, Rm. 103N on the 15th of December 2020 at 9:00am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name should not be granted.

NOV 05, 12, 19, 26, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039177400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as YOGA SHA, 4686 18TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, and is signed JOSEPH A. NAUDZUNAS JR. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/26/20.

NOV 05, 12, 19, 26, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE A-039175700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as ZENFINITE CBD, 265 NUEVA AVE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94134. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, and is signed SYNERGY GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE LLC (CA). The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on N/A. The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 10/08/20.

NOV 05, 12, 19, 26, 2020

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cliché. There’s that method, also. When I get that twist, I’m very happy with it. I’m super glad right when you started asking that question, I thought, “Oh, God, I hope he recognized it “Make Something Out of Me,” because I was so proud of that [laughs]! It’s the simplest thing, but you’re getting at how hard or how easy it is – it is very difficult to be simple.

by Gregg Shapiro

ne thing’s for certain, Nashville’s not what it used to be. While there have probably always been LGBTQ folks in Music City, with each passing year (or maybe even minute), that community is becoming increasingly visible, thanks in part to artists such as the newly out singer/songwriter Jaime Wyatt. A distinguished artist whose hard-scrabble life has led to sobriety and embracing her queer identity. Wyatt addresses these subjects on her exceptional new album, Neon Cross (New West), and earns her rightful place among the current crop of reigning country divas. Wyatt, who premiered a new music video for her song “Rattlesnake Girl” via GLAAD and Billboard Pride in October 2020, was good enough to answer a few questions about Neon Cross. Gregg Shapiro: Jaime, I want to begin by congratulating you on the release of your new album Neon Cross, which is being showered with a multitude of favorable reviews. What does that kind of reception mean to you? Jaime Wyatt: It’s everything I would hope for, absolutely [laughs]. I definitely aim to please. Specifically, I really want people to know where these songs are coming from. What kind of experiences these songs are coming from in hopes that it might help somebody else. I’ve definitely gone about living life, I think, the hard way. I think there’s a more efficient way to go about that. I’m really happy the album is well-received and that the message is being received as well. It means the world to me.

Jaime Wyatt

Lesbian country singer’s ‘Neon’ glow

Country songs are known for having a turn of phrase specific to the genre. Your song “Make Something Outta Me,” for example has the chorus “If God made the world out of nothing/why can’t he make something outta me”? Is it fun or challenging to try and maintain that tradition?

Blakk to the Future The Agitprop of Joan Jett-Blakk’s Queer Visibility

It’s both fun and challenging. That is so in-tuned! It’s something I think about a lot. I’ve got this great concept, but what’s the line, what’s the twist? I don’t think it always has to have a twist. Another thing that is really great that I’ve loved for a long time is the way that the Rolling Stones would turn and change a identity and freedom. They were born in the bleak atmosphere of the AIDS epidemic, where homophobia and violence had followed on the heels of the disease and challenged the prevailing attitudes of the era by pointing out that we weren’t all dead and were not going to sit around and be morose in anticipation of death. It was in this crucible that Joan Jett-Blakk was born. In a cover story from April 11, 1991 the Chicago alternative press magazine New City celebrated Daley and Blakk as the king and queen of Chicago. Blakk told the magazine: “We just wanted to increase gay visibility and fight a rising homophobia here in Chicago, but do it in a not-so-tense way that everyone could have fun with.” There is no doubt that Blakk was successful. With slogans like “Chicago Needs A Queen” and campaign promises to turn the police into the fashion police and dye the Chicago river pink on Fridays, he added joy to what would have been an otherwise dull campaign. He even kissed a Chicago cop in a police car (at the prompting of the cop’s partner), an act that sadly still adds an element of anarchical risk to that humor.

While things have changed in recent years, being out in Nashville is still something of a challenge. Country music listeners turned their backs on Chely Wright and Ty Herndon after they came out, but in the interim have embraced people from Mary Gauthier to Brandy Clark. Can you please say something about how you see your role as an out, country artist? That’s a good question. I hope I can articulate this enough because it’s very important to be out and well-studied at country music. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by artists who push the envelope. That’s important because art is supposed to challenge our perspectives. My role being out and being a country singer is important to change the perception of what country music is often associated with. I’ve heard people say that country music is white, racist and homophobic. I want to change that. I want it to be inclusive. I want to be a part of that movement celebrating country music with everyone; that beautiful American tradition. By the same token, people who have considered to be only traditional and have used it to exclude LGBTQ people or people of color or people who didn’t fit in this little box, if they’ve used it for that, they’re sorely mistaken, as well. I want to be a voice and a figure to represent the diversity that is American and country music is American. We should all be able to enjoy this.t www.jaimewyatt.com

Read the full interview, with music videos, at www.ebar.com write-in candidacy for president as a candidate of the Queer Nation Party. With campaign promises to make the White House the Lavender House and have Dykes on Bikes provide national security, Blakk also had prescient notions like enacting national healthcare and (as quoted by Tracy Baim in Outlines: The Voice of the Lesbian and Gay Community) a drug policy of, “Legalize everything, tax the fuck out of it, and erase the national debt.” The campaign had the slogan “Lick Bush in ’92.” If there were any question that Blakk’s campaign increased visibility (and fun), that should be erased by the fact that his appearance at the Democratic National Convention in 1992 was documented by no less of a publication than the New York University/MIT Press journal TDR: The Drama Review.

Blakktivism

Joan Jett-Blakk in Chicago, circa 1991.

by Michael Flanagan

oan Jett-Blakk’s campaigns for mayor of Chicago and San Francisco –and for President– were never really about attaining political office. But there’s no question that they increased visibility and generated a good deal of positive press in a very bleak time. Terence Alan Smith began performing in drag in Detroit in 1974, calling himself a blend of Divine, David Bowie and Grace Jones. By

1991 he was living in Chicago and was one of the founding members of Queer Nation Chicago. It was in Queer Nation Chicago that Smith became Joan Jett-Blakk and ran a writein campaign amid the reelection campaign of Richard M. Daley. Daley was initially elected in 1989 and his reelection was such a given that the campaign was generally perceived as a pretty dull affair, so Blakk added an element of fun to the race. Queer Nation Chicago formed in September 1990 with goals that included visibility,

On top of the humor, it’s estimated that Blakk won several thousand votes, although this was never documented by the board of elections. A testament to the success of Blakk’s campaign came in 1992, when Blakk marched with Queer Nation in Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. At a time when gay contingents were being kicked out of parades in Boston and New York, they were cheered and Blakk was name checked by the crowd. When you’ve successfully become Queen of Chicago, what’s next? Clearly, a run for the presidency! On January 17, 1992 (his 35th birthday, which made him eligible to run) Blakk announced his

The famous Joan Jett-Blakk poster

See page 14 >>

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14 • Bay Area Reporter • November 5-11, 2020

Share your joy

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Roadkill We hate-watched House for years because Hugh Laurie was so mesmerizing (and because Olivia Wilde played the unapologetically sexual lesbian Thirteen). We loved Laurie in The Night Manager, also. Now Laurie is back as Peter Laurence, a sketchy Cabinet minister who’s just won a libel suit in a splendid four-part political thriller on PBS Masterpiece, Roadkill, which premiered Nov. 1. Roadkill is just so, so good. Written by David Hare (Collateral, The White Crow), the dialogue is snappy, arch and thoroughly engaging. The pacing is quick, the intrigue loaded, the cast stellar. Helen McCrory (Peaky Blinders, MotherFatherSon) is snarky Tory Prime Minister Dawn Ellison, who is everything Theresa May wished she’d

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hroughout the pandemic, we have repeatedly told our Twitter followers to “share your joy.” So when we saw on CNN that Megan Rapinoe proposed to her longtime girlfriend Sue Bird, we were thrilled. Bird said yes and so did we. The ultimate lesbian sports power couple engaged? Maybe we can shake some decency out of 2020 yet.

10/13/20 12:05 PM

Joan Jett-Blakk

From page 13

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In 1993, Terence Smith moved to San Francisco, telling Owen Keehen in Outlines, “I do not want to see another snowflake in front of my nose as long as I live.” In San Francisco he launched Late Nite with Joan Jett Blakk initially at the Kiki Gallery with Steve Mounce as his co-hostess Babette and eventually at Josie’s Juice Joint and Cabaret. But the world of politics would beckon again in 1996, when he ran against Bill Clinton with the motto “Lick Slick Willie in 96.” In an article in the SF Weekly that year, he was quoted as saying, “When I’m elected president, we’re gonna use stadiums for what they should be used for: lions and Christians.” Blakk promoted his fiscal belttightening by saying that since he was both the president and first lady, the country would save money. It was during this campaign that Blakk promoted his candidacy with a poster of him seated in a rattan chair with the caption “By Any Means Necessary,” which appropriated both the image of

been. Sarah Greene plays Charmian Pepper, the journalist intent on taking Laurence down. Saskia Reeves, Patricia Hodge, Pippa BennettWarner and others are equally good. The plotting is too good to give too much away and you will want to savor Laurie’s fabulous performance as the slithery Peter, who keeps a mistress, a wife, and some children. Peter also has a boatload of enemies, any one of whom could take him down. The intrigue is really good and will remind some viewers of House of Cards. There is a lesbian subplot that is twisted into the main plot and when it is revealed early on, it’s a shocker.

one night when we caught Don Lemon quoting one of her lines, we knew she had fully arrived and was in the Zeitgeist for good. Satire has been hard to pull off in the pandemic and with a president whose real-life actions are so over the top that, really, isn’t he his own satire? Cooper says yes, he is. Her pieces expose him: venal, dullwitted, narcissistic, corrupt, misogynist, racist. They are funny, yes, and if you watch Cooper enough, you will soon see her when you hear him. Yet she has brought an edge and a nuance to his dangerous buffoonery that no one else has. The TikTok videos went so viral that soon everyone wanted to talk to Cooper. She was on talk shows and podcasts and her once-modest Twitter following exploded into the millions. She even lip-synched a video for the Democratic National Convention. Now she has a special from Netflix: Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine, which just dropped. If you liked the videos, you will love the special. When Cooper reenacts the infamous Access Hollywood tape with Oscar-, Tony- and Emmy-winning actress Helen Mirren as Billy Bush, you will be howling. They snap towels at each other. Cooper signs autographed photos and downs TicTacs by the handful. Mirren laughs just like Billy Bush did in conspiratorial “locker room talk” entre nous. It’s perfection.t

Read the full column at www.ebar.com

Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine We are pretty proud of the fact that Sarah Cooper followed us and our work on Twitter even before we followed her. Now we just try hard not to look stalkery as we scroll through her timeline, putting little hearts on everything and leaving gushy messages of support and high fives. Sarah Cooper is funny; so funny. The Jamaican-American comedian got us through some tough times with her brutal lip-synched TikTok takedowns of Donald Trump which Hugh Laurie in Roadkill –inexplicably– a lot of cis het millennial white dudes didn’t like. But Huey P. Newton of the Black Panther Party in a rattan chair from 1967 and the title of Malcolm X’s speech. I asked Smith/Blakk about the appropriation of the image and he replied, “I thought it would be fun to fuck with the Black Panthers a bit. They weren’t known for their stance on gay rights, so I felt like updating them a bit.” Blakk’s final campaign was for Mayor of San Francisco in 1999. Unfortunately, he did not use ‘Lick Slick Willie in ‘99’ as a campaign motto. A colleague of Blakk’s told the B.A.R.’s Wayne Friday that he would definitely enter the race, until or unless either Tom Ammiano or Carole Migden entered the race. I asked about this run, and if he dropped out and he said, “Yes. I’d been a big fan of Willie Brown, but he said some stupid shit about not being rich enough to live in San Francisco and I just lost it. Tom, who is a friend, entering the race made it a much more serious race, so I dropped out.” In 2018, Tarell Alvin McCraney and Tina Landau staged the play Ms. Blakk for President at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater. It was

reviewed by both The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune. Regarding the tribute, Smith/ Blakk told me, “I am humbled by all this attention. Who knew that wanting to stir shit up and inject some thoughtfully ribald humor into politics would be recognized thirty years later? It blows what’s left of my old mind!” I asked for Blakk’s solution to the current environment and he said, “Vote. We have never been up against anything like this and we must stop it before it gets any worse.” Blakk’s candidacies were writein campaigns that may be seen as marginal by some, but I view them in a different light. At a time of great distress and hopelessness, he added a spirit of joy to what had been particularly dire times. There is a great deal of power in that. It’s worth reflecting on in the midst of another epidemic. The ability to appropriate and reimagine cultural iconography is powerful and should give us hope and tools for change.t

Read the full article at www.ebar.com

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November 5-11, 2020 • Bay Area Reporter • 15

Bambi Lake diagnosed with cancer Lake has also been a songwriter. In 1989 she wrote “The Golden Age of Hustlers,” a slow, quiet, and haunting tune which recalls the Polk Street of long ago, when the neighborhood was still a gay enclave. It was a time when pretty young hustlers plied their trade up and down Polk Street, in search of men who would give them the money they needed to get a room for the night. “It’s a very layered song”, Lake told the B.A.R. in a 2017 interview. “It’s cautionary, it’s confessional, it’s a love song to a boyfriend I had. It’s the tragedy of hustlers, and the glamour. It covers a lot of ground.” The song was adopted by awardwinning performer Justin Vivian Bond, who stars in a music video of the song. Bond, a former San Francisco resident, has made the song a staple of her shows and has performed it all over the world. “She’s been inspirational to a lot of people as far as her ability to navigate her own path,” Watt said of Lake. “Her growing up watching shows in Redwood City gave her the dreams to be like the stars she saw on the stage. She’s always been channeling Garbo, Nico, Bowie. In telling her story she gave a lot of other people power, as well as giving power to herself.” Bambi Lake performing at Oasis, with Birdiebob Watt accompanying.

by David-Elijah Nahmod

eople expressed shock and sadness when it was announced on Facebook that transgender performer Bambi Lake had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving treatment at Zuckerberg General Hospital. According to the post by her friend Birdie Bob Watt, Lake was requesting no visitors, telephone calls only.

In a brief telephone interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Watt referred to Lake as “a trailblazer.” Lake is a beloved performer in San Francisco’s queer underground scene. Her performing days go back a half century, when she was part of the legendary Cockettes. She has worn many diverse hats during her colorful life. Lake has been a street hustler, a porn actor and a solo cabaret artist.

authentic life. She has inspired so many in the queer and trans community; a fabulous songwriter and chanteuse. I have been a fan since I met her back in the ’80s, when San Francisco was a very different place. I feel fortunate to have had her grace the stage at Oasis numerous times. We are sending her lots of love during this difficult time.” Lake has been frank and candid regarding her struggles with addiction and homelessness, and of surviving the AIDS pandemic. A few years back, she starred in Sticks and Stones: Bambi Lake in 2014, a short film by documentary filmmaker Silas Howard. The film included archival footage of several of Lake’s

Unsinkable

In 2005, Lake released Broadway Hostess, a solo album. In the 1990s she co-authored, with Dog Eared Books Castro manager Alvin Orloff, a memoir entitled The Unsinkable Bambi Lake, proving her remarkable storytelling skills. “Bambi Lake is a true original,” said D’Arcy Drollinger, owner of Oasis, the popular South of Market nightclub where Lake has performed. “Outspoken, outrageous, Bambi Lake in 2012. glamorous, prolific, but most of all unapologetic for living a truly

Vin C

shows and chronicled her various struggles over the years. Lake has performed in cabarets even during her time as a sex worker. “Bambi Lake is a trans pioneer,” said Dan Karkoska, who produced a number of shows with Lake, including The Golden Age of Bambi Lake, which was a sold-out hit at Oasis. “A punk poet, a chanteuse, a San Francisco legend. Starting with The Cockettes and the Angels of Light in the ’70s through David Bowie glam and into L.A. punk shows doing Marlene Dietrich to the crowds before the shows. They loved her. In the 1990s, she reinvented herself, writing her autobiography The Unsinkable Bambi Lake and created her chanteuse personality in the cafes and clubs of San Francisco.” Karkoska recalls the wild applause and emotional response that Lake received at the Oasis show. This past January, Lake performed at the Cockettes Are Golden 50th Anniversary Show at the Victoria Theatre. “Bambi is always easy to work with and enjoys getting up on that stage and performing,” Karkoska said. “The audiences love her. Not only is she amazingly talented but she also represents San Francisco of the past. I am so sad to hear that she is not well. I wish her a speedy recovery. I am looking forward to producing her next show.” “She loved the fact that when we did shows the younger people were as interested in the stories as those who knew them,” said Watt, who pointed out that Lake is not dead yet, and is not thinking about how she’d like to be remembered. “I’m hoping for her to stabilize,” Watt added. “Then they would send her home. If she’s capable of performing, I hope we could do something.”t

Lithuanian love story

ay activist and filmmaker Romas Zabarauskas discusses his third film, the intense and passionate The Lawyer, about a bisexual Syrian refugee and his legal advocate. Read it on www.ebar.comt

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nfused with all the mystique and mystery that New Orleans is known for comes If We Were Electric, an enchanting, hypnotic debut story collection from Patrick Earl Ryan. Read the review on www.ebar.com.t

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