September 9, 2010 Edition of the Bay Area Reporter

Author Will Fellows returns to a gay bar circa the 1950s.

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But legal experts point to factors that can help LGBT immigrants navigate the system.

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Gay time capsule

– ut e s. in al ko nl on ec r o ers Ch rte p po nd Re , a a s re fied y A ssi Ba cla he ts, s t ar It’ s, w ne

It’s not easy to win asylum

see Arts

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BAYAREAREPORTER

Vol. 40

. No. 36 . 9 September 2010

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

Gov: No appeal of Prop 8 ruling

Gay media ‘in pretty good shape’

Sizzling Oakland Pride!

by Cynthia Laird

Jane Philomen Cleland

alifornia Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told the state Supreme Court Wednesday, September 8 that he has decided not to appeal the Proposition 8 court decision to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger the 9th Circuit.

The definitive statement means the ability of Prop 8 proponents to appeal will depend entirely on the legal standing of the Yes on 8 coalition.

Schwarzenegger had until September 11 to make a decision and, though his position on marriage equality for same-sex couples has been changing, his most recent statements seemed to indicate he would not direct the state’s attorney general to appeal the decision from the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Attorney General Jerry Brown has made clear he would not defend the law.

The Pacific Justice Institute, a conservative legal group, failed September 1 to get a California appeals court to force Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown to sponsor an appeal of the federal district court decision that struck down California’s same-sex marriage ban.

The 3rd Appellate District of California summarily dismissed the lawsuit, Beckley v.

Schwarzenegger, without comment.

In response to Chief U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker’s August 4 decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger issued a statement saying the “decision affirms the full legal protections and safeguards I believe everyone deserves.� Two days later, he issued another statement, urging the judge not to delay enforcement of the decision, saying his administration“believes the public interest is best served by permitting the court’s judgment to go into effect, thereby restoring the right of samesex couples to marry in California.“

Jane Philomen Cleland

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eadliner Martha Wash added some dancers during her performance at Oakland Pride Sunday, September 5 and had the crowd dancing as well. Organizers said that the afternoon event drew about 50,000 people who enjoyed beautiful weather, food, and lots of entertainment, including singer Chaka Khan. Oakland Pride returned this year for the first time since 2005 and had something for everyone, including a shady children’s area and community booths highlighting HIV testing, senior services, and more.

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by Lisa Keen

AIDS Health Project to change name, take on New Leaf interns

by Heather Cassell n AIDS and mental health agency will change its name to reflect the broadening of its services after adopting the training program and interns that were set to start work this month at a mental health agency that will soon shut its doors.

The changes signal a new era for the UCSF AIDS Health Project. The award-winning mental health, substance abuse, and preventative services providers for HIV-positive and AIDS clients and those who are HIV-negative, acquired New Leaf: Services for Our Community’s training program last week, shifting the agency’s mission to serve the entire LGBT community along with the HIV/AIDS community.

Soon, AHP will be known as the LGBT Division of the UCSF Department of Psychiatry at San Francisco General Hospital, said Lori Thoemmes, director of AHP. The name change won’t happen immediately, officials said. “We are saddened by [New Leaf’s] closure, yet

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Rick Gerharter

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ome gay newspapers have closed and the economy is weak, but overall, the state of LGBT media is “in pretty good shape,� one veteran publisher said during a panel discussion at last week’s National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association convention.

The panel, “State of LGBT Media,� kicked off the seventh annual LGBT Media Summit that preceded the national convention.

Mark Segal, publisher of Philadelphia Gay News, was an unabashed booster for the gay press.

He pointed out that gay publications serve a niche market and many are surviving despite the sluggish economy and tight credit market. ‘We’re in pretty good shape,� Segal said. “This is my fourth recession in 35 years.�

Frances Stevens, publisher of the lesbian-oriented magazine Curve, said she thinks the publication will emerge from the recession. “I’m concerned about the state of media as a whole,� she said.

Michelanne Baker, formerly of New Leaf, with Lori Thoemmes, director of the AIDS Health Project

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 September 2010

COMMUNITY

NEWS

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by Seth Hemmelgarn gay San Francisco man said even after another passenger repeatedly shouted “faggot” at him and grabbed his arm, the driver of a city Muni bus let his alleged attacker continue riding.

Larry Richardson, 58, said he was in the front of the number 33 bus when the incident started at 1:35 p.m. on Monday, August 30 as he rode toward his home in the Castro neighborhood.

Richardson said that one stop after he boarded, another man got on and without provocation started yelling “fucking faggot” at him. Richardson said his Muni pass was attached to a rainbow necklace he was wearing.

He said that at Corbett and Clayton streets, the man stood up and grabbed his arm “pretty hard,” but Richardson jerked his arm away. The bus driver stopped, stood up, and told the other passenger to get off the bus, but the man said, “I’m not getting off this fucking bus. You can’t fucking make me get off,” said Richardson.

“The bus driver let him stay on,” he said. “He didn’t call the police.”

The man also said that Richardson would die in the next two days and nobody would know who did it, he said.

During the incident, “Everyone on the bus got completely quiet,” said Richardson, except for a woman who tried to quiet the man. He said there were people in the back of the bus but it was practically empty near him.

Richardson said the man continually berated him until he got off the

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bus at 18th and Hattie streets about 15 minutes after he’d boarded. He said the man stood in the bus doorway and the driver told him to get off, but the man said, “You can’t make me get off this bus until I’m ready to.” The man finally stepped off the bus after a few more seconds, said Richardson.

He said that as he got off the bus at Noe and 18th streets, he tried to talk to the bus driver, but “he wouldn’t even look at me.”

Richardson has submitted a complaint to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which he provided a copy of to the B.A.R. He has also filed a police report.

In his report to the transportation agency, Richardson said that the driver refused to give him his name.

Richardson, who’s disabled, said that Muni is often his only means of transportation, but he’s been afraid to ride since the incident.

He also said that he called police as soon as he returned home, but was told since it wasn’t an immediate threat, “we’ll get an officer out there when we can.”

Police arrived two hours later to take a report, he said.

On Friday, September 3, Officer Albie Esparza, a police spokesman, said in an e-mail that a report had been filed and the hate crimes unit would investigate the incident.

“We will be reviewing the cameras aboard the Muni coach which is standard practice anytime a crime occurs aboard a Muni vehicle,” he wrote.

Tuesday, September 7, Richardson, who first spoke to the B.A.R. last

Courtesy Larry Richardson

Gay man reports assault on Muni Larry Richardson

Thursday, said that after he talked to the B.A.R., and apparently after the paper had contacted police, police called him and said that paperwork on the incident had been lost. Two officers were sent to his home to take another statement from him Friday, he said.

Esparza could not confirm that account this week.

Paul Rose, media relations manager for MTA, wrote in an e-mail to the B.A.R. on Friday, “All I can say at this point is that we are supporting a police investigation on the matter.”

Richardson said the man who attacked him was around 50 years old and about 150 pounds. He estimated the man, who was black, was 6 feet 2.

He said the man had been wearing round headphones “about the size of softballs,” a white shirt, white tennis shoes, and blue jeans with a black stripe below the knee that had “MF” in white lettering.

Last month, 26-year-old Zachary Davenport said he was beaten by a group of youths who repeatedly called him “faggot” on the J Church near Market and Church streets. A 15-yearold boy has pleaded not guilty to felony charges in that case.M

Debate rallies Senator Boxer’s local supporters

by Matt Baume eople packed a downtown bar last week to cheer on Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) in the only scheduled debate with her Republican challenger, businesswoman Carly Fiorina.

The September 1 debate-watching party was organized by the San Francisco Young Democrats and drew a crowd that included dozens of residents, state Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), and Art Torres, the former California Democratic Party chairman who came out as gay during a retirement celebration last year.

Polls show Boxer and Fiorina neckand-neck, with 12 percent of the electorate still undecided. Yee told the Bay Area Reporter that he hoped the debate would highlight the candidates’ differing approaches to job creation.

“Democrats see us as generating jobs from the bottom up,” Yee said.

“Republicans see creating jobs as, ‘let’s go and give all the tax credits to the corporations ... and then hope that through their good graces that they’re going to give us the jobs.’”

Jeremy Wolff, a student at UC Santa Cruz, was concerned about Fiorina’s opposition to the health care reform bill, as well as her failure to vote in most elections.

“If you’re not taking the time to look into the issues facing our state and our country, and to use your ability as a citizen to vote, then I don’t understand how you can ask me to give you my vote,” he said.

Raymond Beltran, a member of the Young Democrats, said that he was disappointed to hear Fiorina oppose marriage equality during the debate.

“Her views on Prop 8, she just completely doesn’t understand,” Bel-

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Matt Baume

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Former state Democratic Party Chair Art Torres, right, was among those who watched the Senate debate between Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina.

tran said. “It was quite appalling.”

Boxer said, “The only way to get the rights that married couples have, is to go for marriage equality. And I think – and I’m glad to say, I believe people are coming around to see it.”

Fiorina did say she supports the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly. Boxer also favors repeal of DADT. Sian Gowan, a volunteer for Boxer’s campaign, was paying close attention to issues like immigration and abortion. Fiorina supports Arizona’s strict new immigration law, while Boxer supports measures such as sanctuary cities and a guest worker program.

On the hot-button issue of choice, Fiorina said that she would support overturning Roe v. Wade. Boxer’s support of a woman’s right to choose is one of the major differences between her and Fiorina.

Torres was wary of Fiorina’s track record. “I’m tired of people who say, ‘I’m a business person, I can take care of the problems of the state of Califor-

nia,’” he said. “Well, if you take care of California the way you took care of Hewlett Packard, we’re going to be in big trouble.”

During her time as CEO of HP from 1999 to 2005, Fiorina oversaw thousands of layoffs. After the company’s board of directors forced her to resign, she received a severance package of over $20 million.

Rick Hauptman has worked or volunteered on all of Boxer’s Senate campaigns since 1992, and recalled meeting her in 1986 when he was on the board of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club.

“The Republicans always put up somebody right-wing to run against Barbara,” Hauptman said. “They have since the very first campaign in 1992, and they’ve done so again. ... And even though Barbara usually pulls out a win, it looks neck and neck until the very end.”

“She always has a tough race,” added Torres, “but at the end of the day, she always wins. And that’s because of people that are here tonight.”M

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9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

COMMUNITY

NEWS

Complaint filed against hotel that houses youth

by Seth Hemmelgarn San Francisco hotel that houses queer youth is facing at least one complaint from an ex-resident.

Devyn Pleasants, 24, former resident of the Castro area’s Perramont Hotel, said she filed a complaint with the San Francisco Human Rights Commission about two months ago after Santosh Patel, the hotel’s property manager, called her “bitch” and other names.

Pleasants participates in the Castro Youth Housing Initiative, which began several years ago as a program to bring supportive housing to homeless youth. Larkin Street Youth Services runs the program, and money for the initiative – including rent paid to the Perramont – mostly comes from the city. The annual cost of renting 13 rooms at the hotel – at $850 per month – is $132,600.

Theresa Sparks, executive director of the Human Rights Commission, confirmed that at least one complaint against the Perramont is being investigated, but she couldn’t discuss details.

Larkin Street staff said they’re addressing residents’ concerns. Managers of the hotel at 2162 Market Street, where the program has rented units since 2006, have been reluctant to talk to the Bay Area Reporter.

Pleasants, who identifies as queer, said that her complaint isn’t based on sexual orientation, but that other residents have filed complaints on that basis. She said incidents with Patel have been unprovoked. She didn’t provide a copy of her complaint, despite requests. Other residents haven’t come forward to the B.A.R. Pleasants said that other problems with the hotel included a leaking heater in her room causing mildew and management holding on to visitors’ IDs during their stays, which is against city rules.

In a letter dated July 25, Larkin Street’s Aimee Armata, program manager for the housing initiative, wrote to Peter Patel, the hotel’s general manager and owner, about concerns with the hotel’s visitor policies.

The letter to Patel, no relation to Santosh Patel, was copied to openly gay Supervisor Bevan Dufty, a longtime supporter of the housing initiative, whose staff provided a copy to the B.A.R. Armata told the B.A.R. that Patel’s response to her letter was that “the issue is still under negotiation.”

As far as anyone being called “bitch,” Armata said residents are reporting that “they’re having really unsuccessful interactions.”

She said that she’s not aware of any of the issues at the hotel being related to sexual orientation.

However, said Armata, “I think the youth have always struggled with having successful communication with the property management at the hotel.”

She said it reached “a particular pitch” around March, but added, “I don’t know if it’s necessarily that things got worse but ... that the youth started to really do some great advocacy around their experiences there.”

Pleasants was one of the people who helped put together a rally in the Castro last month to address youth housing concerns.

Program staff are working with hotel management on a “behavioral memorandum of understanding” that covers “how communications should go,” said Armata.

She said all communication between hotel residents and property management are supposed to go

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The Perramont Hotel in the Castro is the subject of a complaint by a former resident.

Seth Hemmelgarn

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 September 2010

OPEN

BAYAREAREPORTER Volume 40, Number 36 9 September 2010 eBAR.com

PUBLISHER Thomas E. Horn Bob Ross (Founder, 1971 – 2003) N E W S E D I TO R Cynthia Laird A R T S E D I TO R Roberto Friedman ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew S. Bajko Seth Hemmelgarn Jim Provenzano CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dan Aiello • Tavo Amador • Matt Baume • Erin Blackwell Roger Brigham • Scott Brogan • Victoria A. Brownworth Philip Campbell • Chuck Colbert • Richard Dodds Raymond Flournoy • Brian Gougherty David Guarino • Liz Highleyman • Brandon Judell Robert Julian • John F. Karr • Lisa Keen Matthew Kennedy • David Lamble • Michael McDonagh Paul Parish • Lois Pearlman • Tim Pfaff • Jim Piechota Bob Roehr • Donna Sachet • Adam Sandel Jason Serinus • Gregg Shapiro • Gwendolyn Smith Robert Sokol • Ed Walsh • Sura Wood

A R T D I R E C TO R Kurt Thomas P RO D U C T I O N M A N AG E R Tom Dvorak P H OTO G R A P H E R S Jane Philomen Cleland Marc Geller Rick Gerharter Lydia Gonzales Rudy K. Lawidjaja Steven Underhill Bill Wilson I L L U S T R ATO R S & C A R TO O N I S T S Paul Berge Christine Smith G E N E R A L M A N AG E R Michael M. Yamashita C L A S S I F I E D A DV E R T I S I N G David McBrayer D I S P L AY A DV E R T I S I N G Colleen Small Scott Wazlowski N AT I O N A L A DV E R T I S I N G R E P R E S E N TAT I V E Rivendell Media – 212.242.6863

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Muni, we have a problem State Hillary Clinton also spoke out against the unicipal Transportation Agency offistunt, as have dozens of religious leaders of cials who operate Muni need to take various faiths. action in response to at least two asPetraeus is exactly right, and speaks from saults against gay men in the last month. One experience. The political and economic condiman suffered a black eye, the other had his arm tions in Afghanistan are unstable right now. grabbed but was not injured. Both victims reSecurity forces do not have enough training. ported that they were subjected to a And yet one yahoo preacher in the U.S., barrage of anti-gay epithets and were if he goes through with the Koran repeatedly called “faggot.” burning, could touch off deadly, violent In the latest incident, which we responses around the world. We sinreport on this week, the driver apcerely doubt that Jones has accepted his parently did not kick the alleged atresponsibility in this regard. tacker off the bus nor did he pull the People like Jones are so full of their vehicle over and summon police. He also own righteousness that they fail to refused to give the victim his name. consider the possible conseThis points to the urgent need quences of their actions. His for increased training for bus and E DITORIAL church is the same one that tarMuni Metro train operators, begeted the city’s new mayor with a cause it seems protocol was not folhomophobic sign, “No homo mayor,” accordlowed. The bus driver should have immediateing to media reports. While they hide behind ly pulled the bus over and called for back up. their First Amendment rights, they lack any raIt’s not just anti-gay incidents either. Earlitional justification for their actions, with the er this year there were several attacks targeting sole exception of generating attention for Asian Americans aboard public transit along themselves and taunting their perceived enethe Third Street corridor, which led to commies. In this regard, Jones is similar to Fred munity meetings and outreach by Muni leadPhelps and his clan of anti-gay family memers. We think the same effort is needed for the bers who parade around the country shouting, LGBT community in the wake of these two in“God hates fags.” cidents.

Perhaps Jones thought his book-burning San Francisco is a transit-oriented city. It’s the policy of political leaders and the reality of living in a big city that is geographically compact. LGBT people should not be afraid to take public transit and they shouldn’t have to worry that they’ll be called a fag just because they’re wearing a rainbow necklace on a bus.

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idea would catch on given all the protests in the last several weeks aimed at mosques and Islamic centers around the country. If that’s the case, Jones has committed a serious error in judgment. Very few people (besides Jones) have indicated that they think burning a religious text is a good idea.

The LGBT community knows exactly what intolerance looks like, whether it be burning the Koran or banning children’s books about same-sex marriage. We have been – and in many parts of the world still are – persecuted because of who we are and who we love. In the nine years since the 9/11 attacks, Muslims have become the new faces to hate. Bigots always need a scapegoat.

But we can and must rise to a higher level.

Our community must join in spreading the message of inclusion and religious freedom. In San Francisco, longtime activist Kelly Rivera Hart has organized the “Show Tolerance Not Hate Candlelight Vigil,” scheduled for Saturday from 6 to 7 p.m. at Castro and Market streets. As he posted on Facebook, “On the anniversary of extreme hate, we must take back the day and make it a day of love, acceptance, and tolerance. Burn a candle, not a Koran.”

Jones’s book burning serves no purpose other than to stand as a worldwide example of intolerance and ignorance.M

Burning the Koran Terry Jones, the pastor of a small church in Gainesville, Florida, took it upon himself to call for a “Burn the Koran Day” this Saturday, September 11, the ninth anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field. The idea behind Jones’s publicity stunt – and that’s exactly what it is – reeks of intolerance and bigotry. Critics from the White House on down have tried to dissuade Jones from his plan, but as we went to press Wednesday he was reportedly still “praying” about the planned demonstration.

On Tuesday, General David Petraeus, commander of the war in Afghanistan, warned that any video of Americans burning the Koran “would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan – and around the world – to inflame public opinion and incite violence,” endangering the lives of American soldiers, a report in the New York Times stated. Secretary of

LEGAL COUNSEL Paul H. Melbostad

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Prop L will make sidewalks less civil

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by Joey Cain

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viduals for charges, such as obstructing the sidewalk and aggressive panhandling, without requiring a citizen complaint. When these hile buying a $349 statue of Harvey cases have gone to trial, charges have been susMilk may help to keep his ideals alive tained against individuals based solely on the [Political Notebook, August 5] I testimony of officers.” would like to suggest another way to do that – Police Chief George Gascón says he just vote no on Proposition L, the anti-sit/lie law wants a new “proactive tool” so police can act on the November ballot. Harvey himself orgabefore any laws have been broken. When a prenized and fought against an earlier version of vious sit/lie law was enacted in San Franthis very same law when he was alive. cisco in 1968 to use against the hippies, Prop L will make it illegal for every woman, the police “proactively” used it to harass man, and child in our city to sit or lie down and arrest gay men congregating on the on any sidewalk, anywhere, even if they are sidewalks in the Castro. After not blocking that sidewalk. It is a poorly successful constitutional chalwritten law that will result in a diminution lenges, the law was repealed in of everyone’s civil and human rights.

1979. The potential for civil Prop L proponents claim it is rights abuses by the police needed to make our sidewalks safe using this “tool” is obvious and “civil.” However, there are alG UEST O PINION and too dangerous to beready dozens of laws on the books come law in San Francisco. governing the very activities that the What this law will do is: law is supposed to stop. This includes laws Make it illegal for day laborers to sit during against blocking sidewalks, groups encamping their hours-long wait for work. on sidewalks, dangerous dogs attacking Criminalize residents who sit down on a passersby, and harassment of pedestrians. chair in front of their own homes.

The police have said they need a complaint Make it illegal for our kids to sit on the sidebefore any of those laws can be enforced. This walks and play. is simply not true. A report by the Lawyers Encourage the police, through selective enCommittee for Civil Rights dated May 10, forcement, to harass and intimidate poor and 2010 conclusively stated that “... neither the homeless people who use the public space of text of the laws themselves, nor Police Departthe sidewalk to sit during the day, even when ment General Orders, nor the City Charter rethey are not blocking the sidewalk. quires that an officer receive a citizen comOur sidewalks are not just for moving peoplaint to enforce such laws. Moreover, ... San ple from one shopping experience to another, Francisco police officers do, in fact, cite indi-

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as this law would legislate. Sidewalks and streets are shared public space where a multitude of activities take place that creates a community’s and city’s sense of itself. Before any severe restriction on this valuable public resource is enacted there needs to be a proven need for that restriction. Despite numerous requests from several governmental bodies, Prop L’s backers have never been able to provide any documented evidence that this law is needed. That was one of several reasons why eight members of the Board of Supervisors, including Supervisor Bevan Dufty, voted against this law.

The upshot is Prop L will make our streets less civil for the vast majority of San Francisco residents and visitors. Through its broadness, sit/lie gives the police the ability to target any of us who use public space.

Prop L is bad law. Its backers intend it to be used to harass and intimidate poor and homeless people in order to chase them off our streets and out of the city. It does nothing to provide services or care, it creates a whole new class of criminals to fill the courts and jails, and it criminalizes all of us. Let us keep Harvey Milk’s ideals alive by fighting against the injustices he fought against. Please vote no on Prop L. And if you really want to spend $349 to carry on Milk’s ideals, check out the donation page at www.sidewalksareforpeople.org.M Joey Cain was co-chairman of the Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee and is the current president of the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council.

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9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

LETTERS

Laird says thanks

October. Because the mayor has chosen to ignore the Board of Supervisors’ overriding of his veto of legislation I am writing to thank all your readers who supported requiring holding off turning over these innocent-untilmy recent campaign for the state Senate in the 15th Disproven-guilty youth, at last count earlier this year, nearly trict. I was pleased to have carried the district’s northern 200 families have been devastated by this policy, accordthree counties and cut my opponent’s margin in half from ing to the San Francisco Chronicle. These are young peothe primary. I am also grateful to the Bay Area Reporter for ple, who by and large are here through actions outside publishing an issue-based opinion piece during the camtheir control, and are being sent to countries where in paign. many cases they have no family ties nor have even miniIn a period where there is great disenchantment with mal familiarity. Wiener has no compassion when it comes the political process, it was heartening that over a thouto their situations. sand people volunteered on my campaign, and over two The LGBT community learned a serious lesson in the thousand made a financial contribution. But a mid-sumProp. 8 vote that we had not done our homework mer special election in a gerrymandered disin reaching out to other communities for trict was just too high a hurdle to overcome. If mutual support and understanding. Electing it had been a November election, I would be Wiener would exacerbate that division by degetting ready to be sworn in. I am disapclaring our community is unsympathetic to pointed that the seat will be held – even temthe plight of families with immigrant youth. porarily – by someone that has never supFurther, should Wiener be elected and a ported a gay civil rights bill during his legsimilar issue were to arise at the Board of Suislative tenure.

The issues that were central to my camM AILSTROM pervisors involving undocumented partners of LGBT couples, who as we know cannot paign will still be in play during the Nonow marry here, how would Wiener vote? In vember election. I urge voters to support order to be consistent wouldn’t he need to vote against Proposition 21 to save our state parks, oppose Proposithe LGBT community? Or would he have a double stantion 23 to save California’s landmark greenhouse gases dard, one for the LGBT community and a different one law, and support Proposition 25 to lessen budget gridfor another? lock.

I look forward to continuing to work together on isAlan Collins sues that move California and our area forward.

San Francisco

Support for Nava’s judicial campaign Bravo to Michael Nava for displaying courage in the face of attempts to derail his campaign for Superior Court judge [“Nava unfazed by attacks in judicial race,” Political Notebook, September 2].

Mr. Nava displays precisely the qualities that we need in judges here in San Francisco – beyond the influence of any one group, unwilling to waver in their determination, leaving politicking to the politicians. I have met Mr. Nava recently. His character and intelligence greatly impressed me. His manner portrays both confidence and leadership, while retaining empathy, comfort and understanding.

San Francisco’s entrenched political elite have already taken hold of nearly every aspect of city governance. The judiciary must remain free of their influence. Michael Nava has my full support and my vote.

Bill Hemenger San Francisco

The Proposition 8 legal fight Rex Wockner has lucidly summarized the issues remaining in federal litigation concerning Proposition 8 [“Issues remain in Prop 8 federal case,” August 26]. I agree with much of what he says but I disagree with his statement that if “no one is found to have standing to appeal” Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision “Prop 8 would be stricken from the state constitution, and one more U.S. state would have same-sex marriage.”

California’s Supreme Court has upheld Proposition 8.

A federal district court decision is not binding on a state court – not even on matters of federal constitutional law.

California’s Supreme Court has said many times over many decades that “decisions of lower federal courts on federal questions are merely persuasive.” [Rohr Aircraft Corp. v. County of San Diego, 51 Cal.2d 759 (1959)]. Only a decision of the United States Supreme Court can bind California’s courts.

Further, Judge Walker’s decision does not even bind other federal trial judges. A Plumas County clerk could, for example, refuse to issue a marriage license to a samesex couple on the grounds that Proposition 8 bans samesex marriage. In litigation ensuing from such denial, a federal trial judge sitting in the Eastern District of California could conclude that Proposition 8 does not violate the United States Constitution.

We need the appeal on this case to advance as much as, probably more than, Protect Marriage, which can probably cope quite comfortably with the legal limbo resulting if there is no appeal.

Dan Leer Pleasant Hill, California

Immigration and D8 supervisor race Should undocumented immigrant youth who have been charged but not convicted of a crime be turned over to immigration authorities, guaranteeing their deportation? Supervisor candidate Scott Wiener says they should be, as he stated at the candidates’ forum at Magnet last

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through program staff. Armata also said that two case managers from the program are at the site every day.

Asked about the possibility of ending arrangements with the Perramont, Sherilyn Adams, Larkin Street’s executive director, said their goal is to maintain the arrangement with the hotel, “provided the living environment can be suitable for

Voters should make up their own minds The fight over endorsements by the city’s various politicians and political clubs – and the complaints about the Bay Area Reporter’s distorted coverage of those endorsements – is evidence of just how corrupt the whole endorsement system is among San Francisco’s political machine.

Endorsements tend to reflect one thing – political patronage. Once candidates are elected, they are put in a position of having to please all of those whose support they were given during their campaign – not to mention during their prior political career. Their aim then, is not to do the thing that will provide the greatest good to the greatest number but rather, to continue to please and garner support from their endorsers in order to allow them to get elected again.

Until San Francisco voters start making up their own minds about whom to elect for office – and until candidates start making their positions clear so that voters can engage in that deliberation – San Francisco will keep electing the same breed of politician. This, to many people’s minds, is exactly what has gotten the city into the fixes that it now finds itself with regard to its budget, its over-entitled workforce, and its economic doldrums.

I am voting for the candidates with the fewest endorsements who can actually speak their minds on the issues that face San Francisco.

Daniel Paylor San Francisco

Dumbfounded by new rules at the river I recently returned from a fun-filled weekend in Guerneville with our first-ever River Splash. The resorts were full as were the camp sites but I just don’t understand what’s going on up there. Promoters who bring in event weekends such as Sundance, Lazy Bear, Women’s Weekend, Bear Market, and others are bringing in bucket loads of money to the local community and how are we received? We are threatened with arrests by (embarrassed) sheriff ’s deputies who are carrying out newfangled sound ordinances restricting (daytime) noise levels at pool parties.

Okay, I get it. Guerneville is not the “gay playground” it was in the late 1970s and 1980s. I get that the residential community has significantly (and wonderfully) multiplied, but Guerneville is still considered a resort town.

To have a sheriff ’s deputy come by a pool party on a summer weekend afternoon to threaten to shut down the party because of noise (music) is simply insulting. It downgrades the hard work the businesses and innkeepers do to get business during a short summer window and makes planning events with new hoops to jump through frustrating and quite frankly, very expensive.

I don’t think Guerneville wants to be referred to as a “sleepy resort town,” so why is the county treating it like one? If I’m wrong, would somebody in authority please let us know what the rules for Guerneville in the 21st century are?

young people.”

She said that the Perramont is “better than many” single-room occupancy hotels and noted that affordable rental housing in the Castro is “hard to find.”

Saturday, September 4, when the B.A.R. approached Santosh Patel at the hotel and asked about Pleasants’s complaint, he made a brief phone call to someone, then said, “I don’t have anything to say.” From the space outside Patel’s office, the hotel appeared clean and quiet.

Harry Lit Castrobear Presents San Francisco

As for Santosh Patel calling a resident a bitch, among other problems, Peter Patel said, “I think it’s totally fabricated at this point.”

After telling the B.A.R. to come to the hotel for an interview, he hung up the phone. A couple days later, in a follow-up call, Peter Patel said he was leaving town but could answer questions after Labor Day. He said that he and Larkin Street staff have always worked out their issues.

“You can write whatever you

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John Laird Santa Cruz

Reads great. Less filler. www.bartabsf.com

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 September 2010

BUSINES S

NEWS

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‘Check-in’ to the Castro Street Fair you to remember all the places you visited during your trips.”

During the fair, users who checkhe Castro Street Fair is comin at one of GayCities booths will auing up on October 3, bringing tomatically be awarded a prize or disa crush of visitors from count coupon from local businesses. around the world to the Castro DisGayCities is working with Castro retrict. San Francisco-based gay travel tailers and fair vendors to create an website www.GayCities.com wants array of offers, and to give fairgoers a way to Slusarenko invites any busishare the experience with ness that wants to join this friends worldwide, while promotion to contact him also connecting with at wmatt@gaycities.com.

Castro area retailers.

The Android version of GayCities launched the GayCities app is schedthe “check-in” feature uled to debut by the on its iPhone app end of this month.

B USINESS B RIEFS last spring, and since For more informathen “the app has tion on the check-in been opened worldwide – even in feature, visit www.GayCities.com.

Iraq!” according to community marFor more information on this year’s keting manager Matt Slusarenko.

Castro Street Fair, visit www.castro“Now GayCities users can share their streetfair.org. travel locations with friends. And your check-in points can also help Dancing in the streets

by Raymond Flournoy

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A section of Noe Street will transform into a dancehall once a month, thanks to a new project spearheaded by the Castro Community Benefits District.

Co-sponsored by Cafe Flore (2298 Market Street), the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (www.thesisters.org), and the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association, “Sunday Dancing in the Streets” will close the section of Noe between Market and Beaver streets between 1 and 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of September and October.

On September 19, the theme is country-western music. Bryan Keith Country Band will perform, and www.QueerBallroom.com will provide free two-step lessons for newcomers.

On October 17, swing music takes the stage, as Emily Anne’s Delights performs and www.QueerJitterbug.com provides the free swing dance lessons.

For more information, visit the Castro CBD events page at www.castrocbd.org/content/specialevents.

Showing the trunk for charity

Check out the Bay Area Reporter online at:

www.ebar.com

De La Sole (549 Castro Street) wants to give you a preview of fall shoe styles, while coaxing a few dollars out of you to support the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy.

From 6 to 8 p.m. on September 17, the footwear retailer is hosting a trunk show of fashion-forward shoe line Tsubo’s fall collection. The evening’s festivities will include wine, music, and hors d’oeuvres, with the centerpiece event being a raffle to support the Castro-area school.

Owners Joe Costa and Barry Schmell are the proud parents of a Harvey Milk student, so the subject of school funding is near to their heart. “I’m only sorry to say that I was somewhat ignorant as to just how bad our schools were suffering until my daughter actually attended a public school,“Costa said, adding, “State allocated funds ... for this year

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want to write,” he said.

Tuesday, September 7, reached by phone, Peter Patel again bristled at questions and said that there were “no problems at this point.”

There are currently 21 youth housed in the Castro Youth Housing Initiative. In addition to the 13 units at the Perramont, there are eight

GayCities community marketing manager Matt Slusarenko demonstrates checking in at a Castro location with the GayCities app.

came to a grand total of zero dollars for school supplies. I could hardly believe it!”

Raffle prizes include Tsubo shoes and an iPod Touch, and more prize donations are continuing to come in. Raffle tickets are $1 and are available at De La Sole up until the night of the event.

On the hunt in the Castro On September 12, Best in Show (545 Castro Street) is hosting its first “ScavenGRRR Hunt” – a scavenger hunt – with 100 percent of the $10 “hunting permit fees” going to benefit the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.sfspca.org).

The hunt begins at noon, with registration beginning at 11 a.m.

Teams of two must have a digital camera, and furry teammates are optional. The grand prize is a year’s supply of dog or cat food.

Concurrent to the hunt, Best in Show will be hosting a trunk show of various local vendors, including FYDO beds and mats (www.foryourdogsonly.com), Zobos collars and leashes (www.zobopets.com), Mona’s Munchies treats (www.monasmunchies.com), Michael Tedesco pet photography (www.michaelt-petphotography.com), Pet Camp kennel www.petcamp.com), and the SPCA’s mobile adoption program.

For more information on the

units located in the South of Market and Castro areas. The total annual rent for all 21 units in the program is $230,628. City funding covers almost all of that.

The housing initiative is budgeted to cost $504,000. Of that, $421,231 comes from the city and, besides rent money, covers staffing costs, food, transportation, and move-in costs for clients, among other expenses. The rest comes through private fundraising.

Steven Kasapi

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hunt, visit Best in Show or call (415) 864-7387.

Gayborhood updates Supervisor Bevan Dufty’s legislation to lift the cap on restaurants in the Castro District is expected to go before the Board of Supervisors for a final vote on September 14.

Goodwill Industries is on track to open its pop-up store in the Market and Noe Center (2278 Market Street) on October 2.

A representative from the Gay and Lesbian Historical Society announced at the September Merchants of Upper Market and Castro meeting that construction of their new Castro location has been delayed 60 days. The museum, located at 4127 18th Street, is now forecasted to open in early-to-mid November.

Making contact The Golden Gate Business Association is hosting its September “Make Contact” mixer at Pisco Latin Lounge (1817 Market Street) on Tuesday, September 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will double as the GGBA annual meeting. Entry is free to GGBA members, and $15 for the general public.

For more information, visit www.ggba.org. M Contact Raymond Flournoy at castroshopper@yahoo.com.

Dufty was reached by phone in late August when he was on vacation. He said that he wasn’t aware of specific problems at the hotel and had “just learned a little bit” about the situation in July. He said he wanted to meet with Peter Patel and Larkin Street staff when he returned from vacation.

Peter Patel said Tuesday that he had met with Dufty in the past week, but referred further questions to Dufty, who didn’t immediately respond to a call from the B.A.R.M

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9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

POLITIC S

Gay reporters discuss ethics of outing

by Matthew S. Bajko f there is one thing to learn from hearing gay reporters discuss outing someone in the press, it is that there is no industry-wide standard for when to report on someone’s sexual orientation.

When it matters if a person is LGBT is a decision handled differently by each newsroom and individual journalist. And it is a question that likely will vex the news industry for some time to come, for despite the LGBT community’s gains in recent years, the closet has yet to be completely demolished.

So were the takeaway messages from a panel discussion about outing public figures during the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association’s annual national convention held last week in San Francisco. A similar panel was held at the first convention 18 years ago, and while this year’s discussion was, by far, less dramatic, it too failed to elicit a common rule to be applied in determining when to report on someone’s being LGBT if they are not public about it.

“There is a lot of inconsistency and a lot to talk about. Where is that consistency going to come from?” asked Michelangelo Signorile during a live broadcast Friday, September 3 of his eponymous satellite radio show on Sirius XM’s OutQ channel. “I believe it will come from all of you and everybody else out there who is an openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender journalist in the newsroom as the people who set the standard and lead the way.”

Signorile took part in the panel during NLGJA’s first conP OLITICAL fab in 1992, which was also held in San Francisco. He recalled that back then two gay reporters, the late San Francisco Chronicle scribe Randy Shilts and Andrew Sullivan, editor of the New Republic at the time, both vehemently opposed outing public officials.

“The drama aside, it was the beginning of a very important discussion. Twenty years later people’s positions have changed pretty amazingly,” said Signorile.

Sullivan was one of the leading voices this year attacking the mainstream media for not investigating the rumors that Elena Kagan, Obama’s second appointment to a seat on the United States Supreme Court, was a lesbian.

And the Chronicle‘s political columnists Phil Matier and Andrew Ross outed Judge Vaughn Walker, who oversaw the federal Proposition 8 lawsuit, based on it being “an open secret” and a phone call from a fellow jurist and friend of Walker’s, who said the judge didn’t mind if they reported his being gay. Yet Walker declined to comment himself when contacted by the duo.

Other news organizations then jumped on the story, with reporters for the Los Angeles Times and National Public Radio subsequently filing reports after Walker struck down California’s same-sex marriage ban as being unconstitutional where they referred to the judge as being openly gay.

For NPR, in particular, it was a striking reversal of editorial policy considering the station refused to allow a movie reviewer to tell listeners the names of politicians who were outed in the documentary Outrage.

“News organizations grappled with how to report on those people in that film,” noted Signorile. “Yet when Judge Vaughn Walker was reported on for being gay based on nothing but an open secret ... much of the media across the country picked up on it but months after it was reported, spurned on by anti-gay

Lydia Gonzales

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Radio show host Michelangelo Signorile, left, and panelist LZ Granderson were part of a lively discussion on outing at the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association’s national convention last week.

zealots after he ruled against Prop 8.”

When Signorile asked his panelists if journalists have a responsibility to ask public figures if they are gay, he was met by varying responses. Mike Rogers, who has outed countless politicians and anti-gay religious figures on his www.blogactive.com website and was featured in the documentary, answered simply “Yes.” “Politicians don’t get to decide what stories are written about them, as much as they would like to,” said Rogers, who considers himself a citizen journalist. “Same in the LGBT community. It is actually homophobic to say we can’t report on this angle of somebody’s life, especially when he was the ringleader of the anti-gay campaign of 2004.”

Rogers was referring to Ken Mehlman, the former Republican National Committee chairman and manager of the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign in 2004, which capitalized on anti-gay N OTEBOOK marriage amendments on the ballot that year in numerous states to draw conservative voters to the polls.

At the time Rogers outed Mehlman as being a gay man, yet it wasn’t until last month that Mehlman publicly came out and revealed he is raising money to help pay for the Prop 8 lawsuit.

LZ Granderson, a writer for ESPN and a commentator on CNN.com, however, disagreed that a person’s sexual orientation is always germane to the story. He suggested perhaps the better way to phrase the question is to ask if someone is straight rather than gay. If the person then waffles about being heterosexual, that in itself becomes the news story, he said.

“I just for once would like to ask people if they are straight, especially in Congress or ruling on things impacting LGBT rights. By flipping the script maybe people will see how ridiculous it is, this hounding that a person’s sexual orientation somehow impacts their decision-making process,” said Granderson.

In the case of Walker, he said reporters should refrain from calling him gay until he has confirmed it himself.

“He did not say he was gay, so you can’t report on him being gay,” said Granderson.

While he agreed that in Mehlman’s case it was a question that needed to be asked, Granderson said he also believes that reporting on someone’s sexual orientation when they refuse to address it requires having more than “gossip and hearsay” as evidence.

“The important thing to always focus again on if the information you are reporting on is important to the overall story,” said Granderson. “Take your own sexual orientation out of the equation and ask yourself does the public need to know ... Does the public need to know about a politician’s sexual orientation as that politician is perhaps implementing laws that are antigay? Does it give you more insight and the public more insight behind

motives of a person or possible conflict of interest?”

Michael Triplett, a member of NLGJA’s national board who writes about media issues for the organization’s RE:ACT To Your News blog as well as the website Mediaite, also believes journalists should ask the question if someone is LGBT. But he said it becomes trickier when the person denies, obfuscates, or refuses to answer the question.

“The denial part is a tough one.

For reporters, especially in mainstream media, the question becomes how far do you push it once he has denied it? How many times do you ask again?” asked Triplett.

While NLGJA provides a stylebook for reporters covering LGBT issues, it does not have a policy about when it is appropriate to out someone.

The panelists did lay out some boundaries they would not cross in terms of reporting on a person’s sexual orientation. In June Triplett criticized a reporter at Lavender magazine in Minnesota for going undercover at a Catholic group’s meeting for gay men struggling to be chaste in order to out anti-gay Reverend Tom Brock.

Asked about the article last week and his critique of it, Triplett said he felt the reporter had overstepped by violating the 12-step-like program’s confidentiality policy.

“The fact is the reporter violated that confidentiality,” said Triplett during the panel. “Where does it end? I just don’t think it was worth that level of effort and hurts journalists when they do something like that.”

Rogers defended the methods used to report the Brock story.

“I think the ends justify the means.

When you are proselytizing hate against my family, I get to expose you,” he said.

There is one exception, though, said Rogers, and that is LGBT people serving in the military. Even those gay military members responsible for upholding the armed services’ ban against openly gay and lesbian members, Rogers said he has decided not to out.

“I know a lot of out people in the military and I haven’t outed them because of those complicated issues,” he said.

Granderson said he also sees no reason to out professional athletes he knows are gay if they do not want to be public.

“To me there are athletes who are out but not out in the press. They have partners and teammates who know,” he said. “They are out without making a big announcement about it and I respect that.”

He did offer one caveat.

“I have a rule with athletes I know are gay. I tell them ‘Look dude. If you don’t say dumb shit, I won’t out you.

I catch you saying dumb shit, I am going to tell people about your business,’” said Granderson. M Editor’s note: Matthew S. Bajko serves on NLGJA’s national board and cochaired this year’s national convention.

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COMMENTARY

The past and the future weighed those of Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro. We had a Christian club nestled amongst the y 25th high school reunion stage crew and debate team. In spite is coming up next month. of our largely working class roots, I It was the mid-1980s, the think many fancied themselves in era of Miami Vice and Culture Club, the mold of Alex P. Keaton on Fama neon-colored haze of shoulder ily Ties. pads, thin ties, and Nagel prints.

Cross gender behavior only Reagan was president and LGBT isshowed up once in my high school sues were revolved around one issue: years, during the now-archaic “Slave AIDS. The transgender community Day” when female students were enat the time was largely closeted, and couraged to “buy” one of the males transgender issues were all-but-unfor a day – and 90 percent of the voiced. This was not the era of pioguys would end up in a dress. It was neers like Christine Jorgensen, but a one-day lark, fodder for the yearthat of “Bond Girl” Caroline book and little else. Looking Cossey, a transgender woman over that album, it appears outed by the press and since that every “joke” is about faded back into obscurity. doing the worst drag preThere was gender transsentation ever. gression, don’t get me I hid out that day, avoidwrong. As well as Boy ing any possibility that I George, you had might be “bought.”

Pete Burns of the To say I was in the band Dead or T RANSMISSIONS closet then simply Alive and Annie does not seem strong Lennox of the Euenough. Though I rythmics pushing boundaries. New had a good inkling of my transgenRomantics and Hair Metal both der nature many years prior to high pushed the boundaries on how school, I felt that there was simply much makeup, hairspray, and Spanno way I could address such. I susdex was acceptable for males. pect I was right then, too.

Yet things were different in my I doubt I’ll be traveling to my neck of the woods. At my high 25th class reunion, any more than I school you were not out as gay, lesdid my 10th back in the earliest days bian, bisexual, or transgender. Kids of my transition. I might if I was in were beaten for less in my neighborthe area, but it’s not something I hood. This was the edge of East Los have a great desire to attend. The Angeles, California, and I lived in a handful of friends I have kept from lower-middle class neighborhood those days are as close as my e-mail that was largely populated by the inbox or a “poke” on Facebook, and dingy, light industrial quonset huts those who I’ve not kept in touch that dotted the city, churning out with, well, perhaps there’s a good cheap furniture and plastic fingerreason for it. nails. It also consisted of territory I do wonder what they might claimed by three rival gangs. think, though, if I walked in the My high school was, in retroroom, inhabiting a gender different spect, fairly conservative. Fans of than the one I presented as when I Ronald Reagan and George Bush – received my diploma. I doubt it the H.W. variety, not the W. – out-

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would truly shock them, given that word spread about my transition years ago, but maybe a few would.

I’m not sure my high school prom date knows, or the woman I marched with at the graduation ceremony.

Still, to what end would that serve, and would I really want to go back to a place and time that was at the heart so painful for me?

In the course of looking up information about my 25th high school reunion, though, I learned something else. My alma mater, all these years later, has a gay-straight alliance.

Castro: I’m responsible for past anti-gay persecution

by Rex Wockner n an August 31 interview with the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Fidel Castro accepted responsibility for Cuba’s persecution of homosexuals decades ago.

From 1959, when the previous government was overthrown in an armed rebellion, until the 1970s, gays were branded counterrevolutionaries and forced into labor camps.

“Those were moments of great injustice,” Castro told La Jornada. “A great injustice! ... If anyone is responsible, I am.

“It’s a given that at that time, I Conservative British Member of couldn’t occupy myself with this Parliament Crispin Blunt has matter. I found myself immersed priannounced he is gay. marily in the October Crisis [Cuban missile crisis], the war, political questions [but] I’m not going to toss the blame on others.”

Conservative British MP These days, Cuba stages official comes out; foreign minister public LGBT events. denies being gay On May 15, hundreds of Conservative British MemLGBT people marched in ber of Parliament Crispin Havana’s Vedado nightlife Blunt, the government’s district in advance of the minister for prisons and May 17 International probation, announced Day Against HomoAugust 28 that he has phobia and Transphoseparated from his wife bia. They were led by of 20 years so he can emPresident Raúl Castro’s brace being gay. daughter Mariela, who statement issued by W OCKNER’ S hisAoffice heads Cenesex, the Nasaid: “Crispin W ORLD tional Sex Education Blunt wishes to make it Center. known that he has sepaOther IDAHO events rated from his wife Victoria. He deincluded workshops on LGBT issues cided to come to terms with his hoand a huge, officially sanctioned outmosexuality and explained the posidoor drag show May 17 in the city of tion to his family. The consequence Santa Clara, 160 miles (258 km) east of is this separation. There is no third Havana. party involvement, but this is diffi-

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cult for his immediate and wider family and he hopes for understanding and support for them. The family do not wish to make any further public comment and hope that their privacy will be respected as they deal with these difficult private issues.”

Blunt, 50, is a former army officer.

He has been an MP since 1997.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister William Hague released a statement September 1 denying that he’s been having an affair with a 25-yearold male assistant, who nonetheless resigned because of what Hague called “untrue and malicious allegations” that the two are involved.

Hague, 49, acknowledged that he and the adviser, Christopher Myers, had “occasionally” shared a hotel room during the election campaign.

“In hindsight I should have given greater consideration to what might have been made of that, but this is in itself no justification for allegations of this kind, which are untrue and deeply distressing to me, to [my wife] Ffion and to Christopher,” Hague said.

“Any suggestion that his appointment was due to an improper relationship between us is utterly false, as is any suggestion that I have ever been involved in a relationship with any man,” he said.

Tasmanian Parliament moves to recognize foreign gay unions The Australian state of Tasmania’s lower house of Parliament, the House of Assembly, voted September 1 to recognize official same-sex unions and marriages that take place elsewhere in the nation or world.

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COMMUNITY

NEWS

LGBTs face immigration hurdles in United States GBT immigrants in the United States face many hurdles to seeing their applications for asylum be granted. The first of which is a ticking clock.

Under U.S. immigration law, a person seeking asylum has one year from the first day they step foot on American soil to file their paperwork. The deadline presents quite an obstacle for many LGBT people, who either are unaware of the time limit or often have yet to grapple with or come to terms with their own sexual orientation or gender identity.

Even if an asylum seeker does get their paperwork in on time, then they face another series of challenges. Foremost is proving that they are indeed gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, and if sent back to their home country, that they are likely to face persecution for being an LGBT person.

Many lack the resources to hire an immigration lawyer to represent and guide them through the process. And language barriers can further complicate matters.

At a time when LGBT Americans remain second-class citizens and continue to fight for their own rights from local, state, and federal governments, the issue of LGBT immigration to the U.S. is often overlooked.

But advocates and lawyers who handle immigration cases say the issue will only grow as more people around the world come out and flee

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Immigration attorney Ann Lewis

anti-gay persecution.

“There is a lot of work out there,” said Ann Lewis, an attorney in the New York office of Ropes and Gray, which was the recipient of the 2010 Safe Haven Award from Immigration Equality for its pro bono work assisting LGBT asylum seekers.

In 2009 the firm won asylum for 10 clients referred to it by Immigration Equality, more than any other law firm in the country. The asylum seekers included a lesbian from India; a gay HIV-positive Jamaican and his son; a gay HIV-positive Ghanaian; a gay Ukrainian; and a gay man from the Dominican Republic.

Lewis told the Bay Area Reporter that a key first step in a successful

asylum case is to meet the one-year filing deadline. By doing so the process is friendlier than fighting a deportation, she said, and moves rather quickly. Most applicants will wait up to five weeks to be interviewed by immigration officials, and most receive an answer within two weeks, said Lewis.

“People should be aware if you file an affirmative application you are not in immigration proceedings,” said Lewis. “It is a lot less scary and adversarial than federal removal proceedings.”

Just as important is for the asylum seeker to be as truthful as possible during their interview about the anti-gay treatment they have faced.

At times, Lewis acknowledged, it is not easy for an LGBT person to recall past ill-treatment or to understand what sorts of experiences would apply to their asylum case.

“It is very painful. To make a case like this it is difficult; these people often have been closeted since early adolescence or learned to keep their feelings to themselves,” said Lewis.

“We were just talking about a specific case I am working on where the young man didn’t actually think he suffered past persecution. But he had been sexually abused because he was effeminate.”

It took time to have the man, who is from Jamaica, understand what had happened to him in the past, said Lewis.

“In this case the young man was abused by his uncle. In these very macho, homophobic societies,

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by Matthew S. Bajko

SF humanitarian leaves country to join partner

by Matt Baume erry Abrams didn’t want to leave San Francisco. But when the United States denied a visa to his Pakistani partner, the retired IBM employee was forced to relocate to South Africa last month, where immigration law recognizes same-sex couples.

Abrams met his partner Miel online about four years ago.

“We started e-mailing each other, and then chatting by phone, and I was encouraged by a friend to go visit him,” Abrams told the Bay Area Reporter via Skype. Because Pakistani LGBTs face government persecution, the couple is eager to find a country where they can live together in safety.

Abrams asked that the paper not include details that would reveal Miel’s location.

Their search for a home comes in the midst of one of the worst disasters in Pakistan’s history. Weeks of flooding have affected 20 million people, with estimates of 2,000 dead and $4 billion in structural damage.

Miel lives close to an affected area, and told Abrams that he saw relief camps overwhelmed with refugees.

“There’s still thousands of people in relief camps that are still struggling to find food,” Abrams said.

Abrams sent e-mails to 50 of his friends, asking for assistance. The response was immediate, and he was able to wire $2,000 in donations to his partner within days.

Video from the refugee camp shows the money being distributed to the families most in need. In a country where the minimum wage is only about $80 per month, that aid will go a long way, Abrams said.

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Jerry Abrams, right, with his partner Miel.

Corporations and governments have also stepped in to restore the country’s infrastructure. According to the Reliefweb Financial Tracking service, about a billion dollars has been pledged by various organizations, including $150 million from the United States government and $250,000 from Google.

The U.S. State Department has established a relief fund to which Americans can contribute by texting FLOOD to 27722, or by visiting http://state.gov/pakistanrelief.

Abrams laments that both he and his partner are barred from living together in either of their respective countries, even as they work to help one of those countries rebuild.

That could change in the U.S. if Congress passes the Uniting American Families Act. The bill, introduced in 2009, would allow the LGBT partners of American citizens to obtain citizenship under the same laws that

heterosexual couples currently enjoy.

So far, no vote on has been scheduled for UAFA. Grassroots pressure is particularly needed in California, said Immigration Equality communications director Steve Ralls.

“Obviously, Speaker Pelosi is very influential,” Ralls said, referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). “It’s very important for Bay Area residents to let her know that this is a priority. And Senators [Dianne] Feinstein and [Barbara] Boxer are enormously influential.”

Ralls urged supporters to visit http://bit.ly/familiesact to contact their legislators.

Meanwhile, Abrams expects to finish the paperwork to bring Miel to Cape Town within the next month, and remains optimistic about the future.

“We’re hoping within a year or two the laws will change, and we’ll be able to move back to San Francisco,” he said.M

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Cleveland Gay Games: Déjà vu all over again? resented Gay Games during the opening and closing ceremonies in Cologne this year. hen the purported hosts of The 40-page suit alleges the city, the 2014 Gay Games and the commission, and the FGG all the international awarding conspired to cut CSF out of the body of the quadrennial event beagreement, with FGG representacame ensnarled in a legal dispute tives communicating directly with this summer, the knee-jerk response McCall rather than through Doug of many was the cynical observation Anderson, CSF’s founder and desigthat it was Montreal 2006 all over nated contact person; failing to deagain. The reality is the situation is liver an adequate registration system almost the reverse of what it was as required by the agreement; and then, and therein lies the hope that a that CSF representatives walked into cleaner solution will emerge this go a July meeting expecting to meet round. with city representatives Cleveland Synergy Foundato discuss expenditures, tion filed a suit in Ohio only to be ambushed by state court Thursday, SepFGG representatives with tember 2 seeking to regain a letter terminating the the right to host Gay agreement. About the only Games IX in Cleveland in thing the suit doesn’t blame 2014. CSF had signed a lion the city and the FGG is cense agreement with the the free agency deparFederation of Gay ture of LeBron James Games in late 2009 for the Cavaliers.

J OCK TALK from“The the right to host the city of Cleveevent, but in July of this land’s and GCSC’s inyear the FGG informed tentional procurement of the FGG’s CSF it was terminating the agreebreach of the license agreement and ment because non-delivery of varipurported termination of Synergy’s ous financial and performance docrelationship with the FGG was withuments by due dates constituted a out privilege or justification and was material breach of the contract. (See done with actual malice and bad July 22, 2010 Jock Talk.) The city of faith,” the suit alleges.

Cleveland, which was a major finanNone of the parties involved in cial backer of the bid, also informed the suit would comment publicly.

CSF it was withholding payments While the blogosphere is alive until the situation was resolved. with commentaries on the comparCSF is suing the FGG, the city of ative incompetence of the FGG, CSF Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland and the city of Cleveland (the metro Sports Commission, and former commentary on blog.cleveland.com CSF board member Valarie McCall, seems the liveliest and most balwho as a representative of Mayor anced), longtime observers of Gay Frank Jackson’s office, was in the ofGames politics have likened the curficial Cleveland delegation that reprent situation to that of Gay Games

by Roger Brigham

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Benjamin Hahn/Gay Games

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Valarie McCall, at right, joined with other representatives of Cleveland during the opening and closing ceremonies of last month’s Gay Games in Cologne, Germany.

VIII, when presumptive host Montreal walked out of negotiations after more than a year of acrimonious talks, established a rival event, and ultimately tanked to the tune of some $5 million Canadian. Gay Games VIII ultimately went to Chicago after a new bidding process and finished with a slight budgetary surplus.

But legal tilts and near tilts between the FGG and host cities are nothing new – you have an all-volunteer organization running the show and you get all of the strengths and weaknesses that lie therein – and this current skirmish feels entirely different.

Montreal refused to sign; CSF signed. Montreal said it did not want to host the event; CSF and the city of Cleveland both say they still want to host. When Montreal walked, the FGG looked elsewhere; despite its falling out with CSF, the FGG still says it wants the Games in Cleveland.

My gut tells me it works out this time. What clearly emerges from the mess is that both CSF and FGG have had needless distractions on their plates in the past year, distractions of their own choosing. They need to cut out the crap and focus on the task on hand.

The FGG spent most of the last year doing what its primary task

should be in the year before a Gay Games, working with the host to sweat the details to make sure the event is delivered; but also with dithering over how, why and if it should talk with the World Outgames (the event born of its Montreal disagreement) about having a “merged” or co-branded event in 2018 – an event that diehard Gay Games enthusiasts are sure would dilute the sports program to subsidize conferences.

CSF, after shocking itself and the rest of the world by winning the bid in its first try, staged a mini sports festival in February as a kind of kickoff awareness event. It was nice, but it was clear from the exhausted staff faces that they were unprepared for the enormous volunteer work demands of hosting a multi-sports event at this stage of the game.

CSF would have been better focused on say, putting together an informative website that would engage potential volunteers and participants, inform people about who was on their board and what was the difference between nonprofit CSF and the for-profit CSF, and figuring out a transparent way to let the city government know where the money was going and why.

Best hope is the attorneys will find a way for parties to save face and work together. Unlike the Montreal situation, there is not a fundamental disagreement about what the Gay Games should be. Unlike the Montreal situation, there is fundamental agreement that there needs to be oversight and accountability in spending. It’s a bit of a mess at the moment, but it isn’t a lost cause.

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SF Pride director discusses finances, staffing Pride does in order to expand our donor base, expand our membership involvement, and keep pride in the community and active year round.” Among other things, Pride is working on a speaker series called Pride Community Speaks, according to Andre.

by Seth Hemmelgarn

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I have every confidence we’re going to pull through. We’re a very resilient organization and I just always feel so blessed to be part of it.”

Board not tasked with fundraising

– Amy Andre Executive Director, SF Pride Committee had received in 2009.

But in an August 29 e-mail, she acknowledged there was a decline by writing that this year’s total was down from $176,000 last year.

Asked during the interview what she’s doing to ensure financial success for next year, Andre said, “Working hard. What do you think?” and laughed.

A new staff member will be joining the work to help Pride succeed.

Eddie Valtierra, 34, has been hired as the Pride Committee’s new director of sponsorships. Valtierra most recently worked with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, according to Andre.

Andre would not allow the B.A.R. to speak directly with Valtierra, who is gay, but e-mailed comments from him that said, “I have been working for nonprofit organizations my whole career, including other LGBT organizations, and I have developed great fundraising skills. It fills me with pride to have the opportunity to share my skills with this community and San Francisco Pride... .”

Valtierra replaces Lindsey Jones, a former executive director of the Pride Committee who this year served as sponsorship director. Jones was to have filled that position until August 31.

The Pride committee has also been looking for a new director of external relations. Andre said the process for hiring someone for that job is going “fine” and the position would “hopefully” be filled soon.

No live gala Andre also sought to put the best light on the apparent failure of the Forty and Fabulous benefit held earlier this year. Mikayla Connell, president of Pride’s board, told the B.A.R. in a phone interview last month that the event, which was held in May, cost $30,000 to put on, but it only brought in $24,000, leaving a loss of $6,000.

Andre, who indicated she wasn’t familiar with those figures, said that when it comes to events such as the May benefit, money doesn’t just come in at the event itself. She said people might make donations afterward that they wouldn’t have made if they hadn’t attended.

She said it’s “a little difficult to track” how much money Forty and Fabulous might have generated since May, since people don’t necessarily indicate why they’re donating.

An additional signal that the event was unsuccessful came at the August 3 board meeting.

Rick Gerharte

fter weeks of providing little response to questions about San Francisco’s LGBT Pride Parade and celebration’s apparently troubled finances, Amy Andre, the Pride Committee’s executive director, recently met with the Bay Area Reporter to talk about money, staffing, and other topics.

As the B.A.R. reported August 12, Belinda Ryan, Pride’s treasurer, presented a report in August that indicated a net income of negative $42,757.49 through the end of July.

In an interview near the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee’s Market Street offices August 27, Andre said the fiscal year isn’t over until September 30, so she doesn’t know yet whether Pride has broken even. But, she said, “We’re on the right track.”

Andre, who wasn’t at the meeting where Ryan had presented her data, was unfamiliar with the net negative income figure that had been in Ryan’s report.

“I have every confidence we’re going to pull through,” said Andre, who had approached the B.A.R. on August 16 to suggest a meeting.

“We’re a very resilient organization and I just always feel so blessed to be part of it.”

She also said, “I wouldn’t say there’s trouble,” other than the “general economic climate” in which all nonprofits are finding themselves.

Another sign of Pride’s problems came last month during the volunteer appreciation party, when community partner groups received nearly $132,000, a drop from last year’s total of $180,265.31. The funds represent a portion of beverage and gate receipts.

Asked about the drop, Andre said that she thought that the amount distributed had been at least as much as what community partners

Amy Andre

In his report to Pride’s board, Troy Coalman, associate director of development, said that rather than doing a live gala in December, he planned to launch an online gala.

Andre said that she wasn’t disappointed by the December gala moving from a live event to an online activity, calling it “an exciting move” that is part of a trend she thinks is “here to stay.”

Connell said, “For a first-time benefit, [the May event] was extremely successful.” She added the hope is that “we’re going to take that event and build on it and in the future have more great events that will hopefully start making money.”

She also said, “It’s the norm that when you throw an event for the first time, you don’t really expect to make a lot of money.” Pride officials are trying to build relationships “so that one day we will have a thriving individual donor base,” said Connell.

She said Pride officials would continue working on building the individual donor base in hopes of doing a gala in 2011.

“We’re really expanding what

Connell also talked about why board members don’t do more fundraising, rather than hiring staff to do it. She said the group “has never been a money-raising board.

It’s a board of activists” who are there to represent their various communities.

“My intent is to keep it that way,” she said.

When Andre was asked about the board not being involved with fundraising, she expressed confusion about how “fundraising” was being defined and spoke of a “broad-based definition.”

She said fundraising isn’t just people specifically asking for money, it involves generating good will in the community.

Every nonprofit board is a fundraising board in the sense of being a “good will ambassador,” she said, which includes talking about the organization to others “and drawing them into the community that surrounds the organization.”

Toward the end of the recent interview, Andre, who joined the Pride Committee last October, said she didn’t have any regrets from her first several months there, except for one.

“I guess I regret that I didn’t take more photos of [2010 headliners] the Backstreet Boys when they were on our stage,” she said.

The Pride annual general membership meeting will be held Sunday, September 12, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the War Memorial Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Avenue.M

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9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

15

OBITUARIES

Brad Raymond Evans February 5, 1958 – July 13, 2010

Brad Raymond Evans died July 13 at home in Nevada City with his partner by his side. He was 52.

He was born February 5, 1958 in Richmond, California. Brad graduated from Hayward College and had a career as a teacher and financial investor. He moved to Nevada City in 2003 and quickly became part of the community. His many interests were the Monster Gym, swimming, hiking, gardening, music, reading, movies and mainly making friends, Brad had a large presence and a knack for total strangers pouring out their heart to him. His light and com-

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young men who are effeminate are viewed as targets,” she said.

The issue of LGBT asylum and immigration in the U.S. was part of a two-day workshop in San Francisco at the end of June organized by the Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration. Known as ORAM, the local nonprofit brought together advocates, lawyers and activists for a teach-in about the process people must go through when they come to the U.S. seeking asylum.

In 2009 the U.S. granted more than 22,000 asylum applications and accepted less than 75,000 refugees. It is unknown how many

Douglas Paul Satterblom

Harry Lincoln Harkness, beloved father, grandfather and friend, died in Seattle on Aug. 28, 2010. He was born in Bremerton, WA, June 8, 1925, graduated from Bremerton High School, saw combat as a B-17 ball turret gunner

during World War II, earned a BA degree from the University of Washington on the GI Bill following the war, and with his wife, Doris, raised a family in Seattle.

During his years at Boeing he worked on the development of the 747 jumbo jet. In the 1970s he moved to San Francisco, where for many years he was organist at the Metropolitan Community Church and a muchloved member of his community.

Harry Harkness is survived by his children, Ed (Linda), Randy, and Cindy Howard (Jim); his grandchildren Devin, Ned, Reed, Jared, Sam, Maddie, George and Rose; his former wife, Doris; and Peter, Beau and Elias.

A life celebration of Harry Harkness will be held at the Haller Lake Community Club, 12579 Densmore N., Seattle, on Sept. 26, 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the charity of your choice.

Douglas Paul Satterblom passed away at his home in San Francisco, on Friday, August 13, 2010, after a short battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma. He was 49.

Doug was born in Wisconsin on June 29, 1961, and raised in Southern California. After receiving a BS from USC where he spent a semester in Madrid, Spain, Doug went on to earn an MBA from Indiana University. He worked as an Analyst at Levi Strauss in San Francisco for a number of years, and most recently as a Director at Charles Schwab.

Doug approached life with vigor

and stamped his and every life he touched with an inimitable style. He enjoyed cooking, mid-century modern artifacts and vintage pottery, driving a very big Cadillac; cardboard sword fights with his nieces and nephews, and any good time in almost any bar. Doug was also a craftsman and woodworker who made beautiful furniture.

Doug was a passionate supporter of the arts. In 2009, he rode every mile from San Francisco to LA for AIDS/LifeCycle. At the time of his cancer diagnosis, he was training for the 2010 ride.

Doug was a champion donor and fund-raiser for the causes he honored. Donations may be made in his name to the two foundations he loved the most, AIDS/LifeCycle and the Surfrider Foundation. A memorial gathering in San Francisco will be held Sunday, September 19, 2010.

of those were LGBT. “We have no idea how many people are LGBT because no one is counting them,” said ORAM Executive Director Neil Grungras.

Kim Seelinger, a staff attorney and clinical instructor at Hastings College of the Law’s Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, noted that the 12-month limit can be a challenge for an LGBT person to meet.

“Either you come to the U.S. and know you are gay but have deeply entrenched shame or your sexual orientation only becomes clear when you are here,” said Seelinger.

Jeffrey Martins, an immigration

qualify. In most cases you can’t see sexual orientation when a person is walking down the street,” said Martins.

The Internet can be a double-edged sword, said attorneys and advocates, in developing facts for an asylum case. At the same time the web – Neil Grungras can be used to source anti-gay acts in a certain ORAM Executive Director country, immigration officials can use it to attorney in private practice in San find gay groups, bars, and pro-gay Francisco, said such cases have been laws in that country. made all the more difficult to prove Sometimes both can be true, because of a requirement that appliclouding the argument that a person cants show “social visibility.” will face persecution if sent back “Now you have a de facto test home. you have to be socially visible to “Mexico is a prime case in

point,” said Linda Tam, a staff attorney and clinical instructor at the East Bay Community Law Center.

On the surface it looks very progay because of the adoption of same-sex marriage in Mexico City, she noted, yet LGBT Mexicans still face harassment.

“If you dig deeper you see a backlash against LGBTs because of the existence of that law,” said Tam. Martins said the main reason many LGBT asylum cases in the U.S. are rejected has to do with the credibility of the person’s claims. Oftentimes, he said, the “judge doesn’t trust you.”

“When you have an LGBT client get as much documentation as possible so if a person’s memory isn’t clear you have lots of proof,” advised Martins. “They love photos.”M

passion will be missed by many.

He is survived by his partner David Marott and their two dogs, Toby and Sheena.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Hospice of the Foothills.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hooper & Weaver Mortuary.

Harry Harkness June 8, 1925 – Aug. 28, 2010

June 29, 1961 – August 13, 2010

We have no idea how many people are LGBT because no one is counting them.”

Supervisors to vote Tuesday on alcohol fee compiled by Cynthia Laird

posal’s main sponsor, did not respond to a request for comment.

he San Francisco Board of Supervisors is expected to vote Tuesday, September 14 on a proposal to impose a fee on alcoholic beverage wholesalers and manufacturers in order to reimburse the city for some of the health costs attributed to alcohol.

The proposed Alcohol Cost Recovery Fee ordinance is being criticized by bar owners and others who say that it would drive up the cost of buying drinks and potentially hurt business.

Demetri Moshoyannis is executive director of Folsom Street Events, N EWS which produces the upcoming Folsom Street Fair and other gatherings. He said his concern is that even though wholesalers would be the ones getting taxed, that cost would be passed on to Folsom Street. He said his organization goes through about 300 kegs of beer at Folsom Street Fair alone.

Moshoyannis said the dilemma they face is, “Do we increase the cost of our beer to the consumer, or have we maxed out? I mean, you can only charge so much for a beer at a special event, otherwise people will just go to the corner store and drink out of a paper bag. Would the city prefer that?

I don’t think so.”

Among other costs the proposal is meant to address are ambulance rides, alcohol prevention and treatment programs administered by the city’s health department, and administrative costs such as enforcement.

Alcoholic beverage wholesalers; people who sell alcohol to retailers for resale in the city; and alcoholic beverage manufacturers, such as brewpubs, would have to pay the fee, which would be effective January 1.

The fee would be 35 cents for a gallon of beer, $1 for a gallon of wine, and $3.20 for a gallon of spirits. Proportionate rates would be established for other quantities in each category.

Supervisor John Avalos, the pro-

Sisters to hold suicide awareness walk

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This week is National Suicide Prevention Week and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will mark the observance by holding an awareness walk Saturday, September 11 at 9 p.m. The walk will start at Harvey Milk Plaza, at Market and Castro streets.

In 2007, the latest year for which national statistics are available, there were 34,598 suicides in the United States.

The Sisters noted that many in the LGBT community experience discrimination, ignoB RIEFS rance, and intolerance, which makes suicide an ongoing issue. While it is difficult to quantify the number of LGBT youth suicides due to the fact that many young LGBTs have not actually come out, the Sisters said that studies indicate that LGBT and questioning youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Those rejected by their family are also at greater risk.

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Healthy sex workshop The UCSF AIDS Health Project’s Reach program will hold a healthy sex workshop Friday, September 10 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at its services center, 1930 Market Street in San Francisco.

The session will look at how to have a fulfilling sex life, fears of rejection, and dealing with sex in the context of drug and alcohol use. The workshop is free of charge but space is limited. Pre-registration is required and can be made by e-mailing Christopher.lynch@ucsf.edu or calling (415) 476-6448, ext. 1.

Social Security benefits workshop Merrill Lynch will host a seminar entitled, “Maximize your Social Security Retirement Benefits” on Saturday, September 11 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Noe Valley Library, 451 Jer-

sey Street in San Francisco. People are welcome to attend and bring a guest.

There is no cost.

Robert Pepper, public affairs specialist for the Social Security Administration, will be the featured speaker.

To RSVP, e-mail Jocelyn_reitzelsullivan@ml.com or call (415) 955-3717.

Film about LGBT parents celebrates 25th anniversary Twenty-five years after its premiere, the groundbreaking documentary Choosing Children – the first film to explore and chronicle the journey taken by lesbians and gay men to become parents after they came out – will return to the silver screen at the Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco, on Tuesday, September 14. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The program begins at 7.

The film, produced by Bay Area filmmakers Academy Award winner Debra Chasnoff and Kim Klausner, was released in 1985. It opened the doors for millions of LGBT people to become parents.

“Before the early 1980s, it was just assumed that if you came out, you gave up the chance and the right to be a parent,” Chasnoff said in a statement. “But a small number of brave lesbians and gay men began to challenge that belief.”

Next week’s screening and reception includes remarks by Superior Court Judge Donna Hitchens, founder of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who is featured in the film. The event is presented by NCLR, Groundspark, Colage, Frameline, Equality California, Our Family Coalition, and Parents Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

The cost is $25 or $10 for students.

For more information or to order tickets, visit www.groundspark.org /choosing/index.html.

Yoga of the Breath seminar The popular Yoga of the Breath for people living with HIV takes place September 24-October 1 at Quan Yin Healing Arts Center, 965 Mission

Street (between 5th and 6th streets).

Course hours are 7 to 9:30 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekend. People living with HIV are able to attend on a full scholarship/no fee basis.

Key features of the course are guided meditation, breathing techniques, practical wisdom, and lowimpact yoga that can increase energy and deeply relax the body and mind, increase focus and harmony. Yoga of the Breath’s primary focus is a unique breathing technique that is said to release stress, support immune func-

tion, and increase awareness.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to practice these techniques at home on their own and join others for ongoing weekly followup sessions.

More information is available at http://us.artofliving.org/hiv/.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required and can be made by contacting yobsfba@gmail.com or call (415) 294-0962.M Seth Hemmelgarn contributed to this report.

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 September 2010

COMMUNITY

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She also disputed the notion that print is dead.

“If I hear one more person say print is dead,” she quipped, adding that according to Wired magazine, “the web is dead.”

While LGBT publications are hanging on, there have been staff layoffs and cutbacks. Stevens noted that Curve’s revenue is derived from advertising, subscriptions, and newsstand sales.

“All three are down a little bit,” she said.

Michael Yamashita, general manager of the Bay Area Reporter, said the paper took a bold move this year by starting a glossy nightlife magazine, BARtab. The monthly publication launched in May. In contrast, Segal said PGN’s nightlife guide, launched eight years ago and since shuttered, was his company’s biggest flop. While it was “extremely competitive” with nightlife guides from neighboring New York City, he blamed the lack of advertising for its demise.

Transmissions That’s a lot for me to absorb. I cannot fathom, even 25 years on, that my high school would have a GSA. It amazes me, given how some who were even perceived as gay were treated, that attitudes have changed there enough to allow for such. Yet they clearly have.

This is what I’d like to see. Rather than seeing those I graduated with all those years ago, and stirring up the old ghosts of a life long left behind, I can’t help but imagine what it might be like to meet with those who are going there now, who are strong enough to meet in an actual

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“Doing so is consistent with California’s long history of treating all people and their relationships with equal dignity and respect,” said the statement.

But Schwarzenegger has twice vetoed bills from the Legislature that sought to allow marriage licenses for same-sex couples, and the Republican Caucus of the California Assembly sent a letter to him August 31, pressuring him to defend Proposition 8.

“The importance of this court case to millions of Californians and indeed to countless other Americans cannot be overstated,” stated the letter. The legis-

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we also feel grateful that we are in a position to pick up much of the work done by New Leaf and continue their legacy of service to the broader LGBT community,” said Thoemmes.

New Leaf officials announced in August that the agency had run out of money and will shutter in midOctober. The agency provided mental health, substance abuse, and elder services to 1,300 clients.

AHP and New Leaf have worked closely together for nearly 30 years.

UCSF’s new LGBT division will carry on New Leaf ’s legacy of LGBT mental health cultural care and competency. The HIV/AIDS and at-risk for HIV programs of the agency will continue as a part of the division, Thoemmes said.

Thoemmes and Michelanne Baker, Psy.D, New Leaf ’s clinical training director, anticipate that some of the mental health agency’s former clients will start trickling into AHP soon.

Between now and October 15, when New Leaf will close, Depart-

We’re all running our publications as small businesses. The freedom to make decisions is so much greater.”

– Michael Yamashita General Manager, Bay Area Reporter “We decided to do a bar magazine and did for six months – it was an absolute dismal failure. The bar owners wanted it and didn’t advertise,” he said.

Yamashita acknowledged BARtab has been difficult to get off the ground, but pointed to customers and advertisers who wanted the glossy format. He said the paper would not be afraid to drop the print product and turn it into an online publication if it doesn’t generate revenue.

Stevens said a mistake she made was spending as much money as she did on Curve‘s website, although the upgraded site allows people to subscribe to the online version of the magazine.

“We are crazy lean and mean,” Stevens said, adding that one effect of the down economy has been a reduction in press trips staffers take.

In terms of media consolidation, Segal was adamant that independent papers are the way to go. PGN actually started as part of a small midwestern chain years ago but Segal said he’s learned from that experience.

“Absentee management doesn’t work very well,” he said.

He did praise Regent Media’s decision to fold the Advocate into its other publication, Out magazine. He said that while the Advocate’s ad revenue was “in the basement,” its brand name

school club – but might yet be able to take the history and knowledge of someone who once walked those 1940s-era Works Progress Administration halls of my old school.

Indeed, it seems like there’s two distinct options: one can look back, with a veneer of civility and the weight of years, and participate in the class reunion rituals. We can talk about what we’ve done, and compliment each other on how little we’ve aged beyond our gawky, acne-riddle teenage years, or one can look ahead.

We could help those who are there now have a bit more than we had then, even if it is only giving them the experiences of an old graduate who learned to survive beyond my teens, 20s, and even 30s.

What I am reminded is that there is a whole new generation out there, those who have grown up in a different world, that where transgender issues are not necessarily more prevalent than they were in the era of shoulder pads and leg warmers – but where we have more rights to be who we are, and where two and a half decades of education and advocacy have reshaped this world.

This is the lesson: look back or look forward – and I’d rather shape a better world than dwell on the past.M

Moderator Matthew S. Bajko, left, asks a question of panelists Mark Segal, Frances Stevens, and Mike Yamashita at the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association’s LGBT Media Summit.

is important and worth keeping.

But in terms of consolidating newspapers that are independent, the panelists didn’t seem to think that would be viable for their publications.

“Consolidation is not very viable for many reasons,” Yamashita said. “We’re all running our publications as small

businesses. The freedom to make decisions is so much greater.”

Segal also pointed to LGBT publications as serving a distinct audience and often emphasizing local news stories.

“We’re all going to be around,” he said.M

World news

New South Wales passes gay adoption bill

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Cynthia Laird

Gay media

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The Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales, where Sydney is located, passed a bill to legalize adoption by same-sex couples September 2. The vote was 4642, following two days of debate.

The measure permits church-affiliated adoption agencies to continue to discriminate against gay couples without fear of prosecution.

One other state, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory allow gay couples to adopt together.

The bill now moves to the upper house, the Legislative Council. M

Gwen Smith did not invent Post-It notes. You can find her online at www.gwensmith.com.

The measure now moves to the upper house, the Legislative Council.

Australia does not allow same-sex marriage but three states and the Australian Capital Territory have same-sex partner registration schemes. Those partnerships also are recognized by the federal government for purposes of all spousal entitlements associated with marriage.

The Tasmanian bill will recognize overseas same-sex marriages only as state civil partnerships, not marriages, because Australian federal law explicitly bans recognition of foreign same-sex marriages.

Bill Kelley contributed to this report.

lators, like the justice institute, argued that the governor’s failure to appeal the decision would jeopardize the “rule of law.”

Pacific Justice Institute put it much more dramatically, saying that, by refusing to defend Prop 8 in court, Brown is creating a “dictatorial precedent whereby he could simply refuse to defend a law in court for which he does not agree.” This, said the institute, would make the attorney general “more powerful than the legislature, the governor, and the people.”

“We are witnessing what is essentially a coup,” said the institute.

In his brief, Pacific Justice Institute attorney Kevin Snider included an affidavit from former U.S. Attorney Gen-

eral Edwin Meese stating, under oath, “Governor Reagan understood it to be his sworn duty to defend all laws and constitutional provisions of the state of California.” He also said Ronald Reagan, as governor, “never refused or declined to defend a state law or state constitutional provision, regardless of his own opposition or dislike for a challenged provision.”

The claim may not be untrue, but it ignores the well-known fact that Reagan opposed the 1978 Briggs initiative that sought to ban gay people from teaching in public schools. And it ignores the irony that Reagan appointed Walker to his federal bench seat at Meese‘s recommendation, according to the conservative Cato Institute.

And it ignores the reality that as governor, Reagan criticized the California initiative process when voters rejected a proposition to reduce state income taxes. In an op-ed piece for the National Review in 1973, Reagan sounded very much like marriage equality supporters in 2008. He said opponents of the initiative to reduce taxes had waged a “campaign of distortion and falsehood” against the measure and that many people who voted “no” were “confused by the TV blitz and newspaper advertising campaign staged by the opposition.”

“It was a victory for political demagoguery,” wrote Reagan, “a triumph for the unsubstantiated charge that sounds convincing in a 30-second television

commercial but which does more to confuse than inform.”

Most political observers seem to think there is very little chance Schwarzenegger will involve his administration in the 9th Circuit appeal of Walker’s decision on Prop 8. Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the governor, told the Bay Area Reporter in August that Schwarzenegger “is not going to appeal” since he agreed with Walker’s ruling.

Meanwhile, the Yes on 8 coalition’s appeal brief to the 9th Circuit is due September 17. A three-judge panel will hear the appeal – and the question of whether Yes on 8 has standing to bring the appeal – during the week of December 6.M

ment of Public Health staff will assess and work with clients to assist them with their mental health and substance abuse needs, as the Bay Area Reporter reported last month.

DPH has been working closely with New Leaf on the transition plan.

One question that was not immediately addressed when New Leaf made its announcement was what would happen to its intern training program for students studying to become therapists.

“Like New Leaf, AHP has been committed to training the next generation of therapists for many years.

Both agencies understand the importance of cultural competency for LGBT clients,” said Thoemmes, a former trainee at Operation Concern, which along with 18th Street Services merged to become New Leaf back in 1995.

“We want to grow the future therapists that have the training and the understanding of the various specific concerns in the community that come up that might not be in broader settings,” continued Thoemmes, adding, “Specialty services such as those provided by LGBT specific programs are critical.”

In session

loved ones who are HIV-negative.

New Leaf’s training program sustained itself through a sliding fee scale of $10-$100, with the estimated average being a $30 fee clients paid for services. Interns saw between five and eight clients. The program brought in more than an estimated $200,000 annually to the agency, according to Baker and Thom Lynch, interim executive director of New Leaf. The volunteer post-graduate program that Baker ran in conjunction with the intern training program raised an additional estimated $200,000 through fees.

According to Thoemmes, AHP’s intern programs are primarily donor supported by individuals and corporate or private foundations. Other services provided by the agency are funded through contracts with San Francisco’s Community Behavioral Health Services. AHP has an annual budget of $6 million. It was founded in 1984.

volunteer trainees. She is currently in conversations with the Pacific Center, Lyon-Martin Health Services, and other mental health agencies about taking on some of the postgraduate interns.

Leslie Ewing, executive director of the Pacific Center, said she is leaving some space open for a few of New Leaf ’s interns. Lisette R. Lahana, LCSW, behavioral health director of Lyon-Martin Health Services, said the agency has the space to grow at its clinic, as funding allows.

Representatives from all of the agencies said they are willing to continue to find ways to collaborate.

AHP will host its annual fundraising event, Art for AIDS, on September 24 starting with a silent auction and reception at 5:30 p.m. and a live auction at 6:45 at the Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center. Limited VIP tickets are $200.

General admission is $100. Proceeds support AHP’s internship programs.

For more information, visit www.artforaids.org.M

Beginning this week, nearly 20 New Leaf interns will start their training on schedule at AHP’s Market Street clinic, officials with AHP, DPH, and New Leaf said.

Those students will join six AHP interns already two months into their yearlong program at the HIV/AIDS mental health agency, said Thoemmes.

The goal is to maintain continuity and minimize disruption in the trainees’ program this year, said Baker. To support the transition, Baker, who has overseen the New Leaf program for about six years, will move to AHP as a temporary clinical psychologist.

Thoemmes and Baker plan to take the coming year to sort out the future of the training programs, both women said.

New Leaf ’s self-sustaining training program, now in its 30th year, will run parallel for the first year with AHP’s clinical and administrative internship programs that have been in operation for more than 15 years and have trained thousands of therapists in cultural competency and care of HIV-positive and AIDS clients and

New homes still needed However, not all of New Leaf ’s training programs will follow Baker to AHP. She is still searching for placements for the mental health agency’s 12 displaced post-graduate

For more information about services, visit www.ucsf-ahp.org or www.newleafservices.org.

9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER 17

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NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are: Alexander Victor Goretsky. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at: 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 101,San Francisco, CA 94107-3457. Type of license applied for:

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JIM MCDONALD ESTATE OF JIM MCDONALD Attempting to locate J. McDonald of Monterey With regards to Photo/Slides of Paris, France visit of Spring 1979.

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To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are: TEN7M LLC. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at: 501 6th Street,San Francisco, CA 94103-4707. Type of license applied for:

41-ON-SALE BEER AND WINE EATING PLACE AUG 26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES To Whom It May Concern: The name(s) of the applicant(s) is/are: SURIYA SRITHONG. The applicants listed above are applying to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 71 Stevenson Street, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94105 to sell alcoholic beverages at: 1532 Howard Street,San Francisco, CA 94103-2525.

Type of license applied for:

41-ON-SALE BEER AND WINE EATING PLACE AUG 26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010

STATEMENT FILE A-032974500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Canine Trade Group, 137 Buchanan Street,San Francisco, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Johan Van Oldenbarneveld. 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 08/17/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032975000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Mission Cafe and Deli, 5457 Mission Street,San Francisco, CA 94112. This business is conducted by a general partnership, signed Po Ka Yim. 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 08/17/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032955900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Best In Tension, 999 Sutter Street, First Floor, San Francisco, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Peter James Donovan.

The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/07/10.

The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco,CA on 08/09/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032962600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Academie De Cuisine Catering, 825 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 416, San Francisco, CA 94109-7891. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, signed David Owen. 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 08/11/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010

18

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 September 2010

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LEGAL NOTICES STATEMENT FILE A-032964500

STATEMENT FILE A-032978700

STATEMENT FILE A-032993400

STATEMENT FILE A-032986200

STATEMENT FILE A-032998200

The following person(s) is/are doing business as 1.TSHIRTS260, 2,ITAGAPPAREL, 425 4th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Robert Jaron. 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 08/11/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as Chrystee’s Janitorial Service, 471 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Christie Mohamed. 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 08/19/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as Architecture & Light, 60 Brady Street,San Francisco, CA 94103. This business is conducted by a general partnership, signed Darrell Hawthorne. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 03/15/96.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/26/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as Adrian Bonilla Hair Design, 300 Divisadero Street,San Francisco, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Adrian Bonilla. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/23/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/23/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010

The following person(s) is/are doing business as ESCAPE TOURS TRAVEL,3071 Wrangler Road, San Ramon,CA 94582.

This business is conducted by an individual, signed Viktoriya Yemelyanova. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/27/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/30/10.

STATEMENT FILE A-032999200

AUG. 26,SEPT. 2,9,16, 2010

STATEMENT FILE A-032958600

The following person(s) is/are doing business as The Blue Chair Studio, 215 Noe Street,San Francisco, CA 94114. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Jesus Marez. 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 08/30/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as Pack Works, 948 Folsom Street,San Francisco, CA 94107. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Noah Goy. 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 08/10/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032962100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as BeiJing Restaurant 2, 3925 Irving Street, San Francisco, CA 94122. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Quansheng Jin. 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 08/11/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032974000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Kingston Recruitment, 339 Crescent Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110.

This business is conducted by an individual, signed David Kingston. 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 08/17/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032973900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Thanh Long, 4101 Judah Street, San Francisco, CA 94122. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Monique An. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/17/71.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/17/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032973800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Crustacean, 1475 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Monique An. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/17/91.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/17/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032974100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Jenny Moore Interior Design,2395 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94123.

This business is conducted by an individual, signed Martha Jeanette Mudter. 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 08/17/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032976200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Rocker Guitars,1350 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, signed John Rocker. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/26/96.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/17/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010

STATEMENT FILE A-032981100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Barnyard Butcher, 866 Jamestown Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124. This business is conducted by an individual, signed James Barnes. 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 08/20/10.

AUG. 26,SEPT. 2,9,16, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032984500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as My ERPA, 2236 Cayuga Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Karl E. Breice. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/23/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/23/10.

AUG. 26,SEPT. 2,9,16, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032986800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Grand Finishes, 336 Claremont Blvd. #5, San Francisco, CA 94127. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Matthew Nikitas. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/92.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/24/10.

AUG. 26,SEPT. 2,9,16, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032959200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Downtown Parking, 1125 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Victor Van Tien. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/10/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/10/10.

AUG. 26,SEPT. 2,9,16, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032977600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Bay Equity Assets Management, 229 N. Lake Merced Hill, San Francisco, CA 94132. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Sam Raiter. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/18/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/18/10.

AUG. 26,SEPT. 2,9,16, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032985400

The following person(s) is/are doing business as PCI, 855 La Playa Street,#159, San Francisco, CA 94121. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Ludek Polcak. 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 08/12/10.

The following person(s) is/are doing business as Saidyan Martial Arts System, 150 Greenwich Street, San Francisco, CA 94111. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Sydney Saidyan. 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 08/23/10.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010

AUG. 26,SEPT. 2,9,16, 2010

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #0313551-00

STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO FILE # CNC - 10 - 547103

STATEMENT FILE A-032965600

The following persons have abandoned the use of the ficticious business name known as China Gate Gifts, INC.,531 Grant Avenue San Francisco, CA 94108. This business was conducted by a corporation, signed Jacqueline Ong. The ficticious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 08/07/08.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #0298779-00 The following persons have abandoned the use of the ficticious business name known as Mission Cafe, 5457 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94112. This business was conducted by an individual, signed Joanne Chung Kei. The ficticious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 12/01/06.

AUG. 19,26,SEPT. 2,9, 2010

In the matter of the application of Sarah Elizabeth Berrin for change of name and gender. The application of Sarah Elizabeth Berrin for change of name and gender having been filed in Court, and it appearing from said application that Sarah Elizabeth Berrin filed an application proposing that his/her name be changed to Sebastian Everett Berrin and his/her gender be changed from female to male. Now therefore, it is hereby ordered, that all persons interested in said matter do appear before this Court in Room 218 on the 28th day of October, 2010 at 9:00 am of said day to show cause why the application for change of name and gender should not be granted

AUG. 26,SEPT. 2,9,16, 2010

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032999400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Noble Management, 600 Polk Street,San Francisco, CA 94102. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Derek Bonner. 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 08/30/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032997800 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Tataki South, 1740 Church Street,San Francisco, CA 94131. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, signed Kenneth Zhu. 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 08/30/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032998500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Supportive Spaces, 80 Austin Street,San Francisco, CA 94109. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Patricia O’Neil. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/30/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/30/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032978400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Core Financial Group Investment and Insurance Services, 101 Montgomery Street,Suite 1300,San Francisco, CA 94104. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Brandon Au. 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 08/19/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032986500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Kwok Shing Hong, 1150 Thomas Avenue,San Francisco,CA 94124.

This business is conducted by a corporation, signed David Cheung. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 01/01/04.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/23/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032989400 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Bay Cities Construction,791 29th Avenue,San Francisco, CA 94121. This business is conducted by a general partnership, signed Michael Arwin. 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 08/24/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032988200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Waxing 4 Men, 660 Market Street,Suite 219,San Francisco, CA 94104. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Steven F. Crovo. 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 08/24/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032989900 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Elsewhere Fibers, 1159 Fell Street,San Francisco, CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Teresa A. McFarland. 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 08/25/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032989500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Poquito, 2368 Third Street,San Francisco, CA 94107. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, signed Richard Vila. 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 08/24/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032996600 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Snicklefritz, 716 Hampshire Street,San Francisco, CA 94110. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Kristie Koehler. 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 08/30/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032999500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as Sweet Lime Restaurant, 2100 Sutter Street,San Francisco, CA 94115. This business is conducted by a corporation, signed Thasanee Ruthaiwat. 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 08/30/10.

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032989100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as 1.Emac Home Loans, 2.LockDesk, 3.www.Lock-desk.com, 88 Kearny Street,3rd Floor,San Francisco, CA 94108. This business is conducted by a limited liability company, signed Brett McGovern. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 06/01/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/24/10.

SEPT.9,16,23,30, 2010 STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTICIOUS BUSINESS NAME: #0327459-00 The following persons have abandoned the use of the ficticious business name known as ESCAPE TOURS TRAVEL, 425 1st Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. This business was conducted by a general partnership, signed Viktoriya Yemelyanova.

The ficticious name was filed with the City and County of San Francisco, CA on 04/30/10.

SEPT.9,16,23,30, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-033004200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as GIZMOWERKS, 39 Alma Street,San Francisco,CA 94117. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Andrew MacBride. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 04/11/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 09/01/10.

SEPT.9,16,23,30, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032980200 The following person(s) is/are doing business as TONGUE PUNCH, 1836 Rivera Street,San Francisco,CA 94116. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Matthew Cook. 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 08/20/10.

SEPT.9,16,23,30, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-033011700 The following person(s) is/are doing business as CHANG HONG MEAT MARKET, 1335 Powell Street,San Francisco,CA 94133. This business is conducted by a husband and wife, signed Chun Yan Lin. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 09/03/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 09/07/10.

SEPT.9,16,23,30, 2010

advertise in the

SEPT. 2,9,16,23, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-033003100 The following person(s) is/are doing business as GUMTREE STUDIO, 500 Clarence Street,Richmond,CA 94801. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Daniel Lunghi. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/31/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/31/10.

SEPT.9,16,23,30, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-033009500 The following person(s) is/are doing business as J. GANZ STUDIOS,363 3rd Avenue,#3, San Francisco, CA 94118. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Jason Ganz. 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 09/03/10.

SEPT.9,16,23,30, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-033005000 The following person(s) is/are doing business as LA LENGUA, 2700 Sutter Street,San Francisco,CA 94115. This business is conducted by an individual, signed Sarah Alexander. 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 09/01/10.

SEPT.9,16,23,30, 2010 STATEMENT FILE A-032982300 The following person(s) is/are doing business as FUNKTECH TRUST CORPORATION, 816 B. Shotwell Street,San Francisco,CA 94110. This business is conducted by a general partnership, signed Matthew Horrigan. The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the above listed fictitious business name or names on 08/20/10.The statement was filed with the City and County of San Francisco ,CA on 08/20/10.

SEPT.9,16,23,30, 2010

BAY AREA REPORTER 415.861.5019

9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER 19

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HOUSEHOLD SERVICES

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Fall book season gets underway

Leavening Ludwig

Glitter and be ‘Gray’

Emma Donoghue’s ‘Room,’ Daniel Allen Cox’s ‘Krakow Melt,’ and fan magazines.

Pianist Richard Lewis plays all five Beethoven concertos.

Theatre Rhino’s ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ opens its run.

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pages 25, 27

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

BAYAREAREPORTER

Vol. 40 . No. 36 . 9 September 2010

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Gay Bar, reissued and original editions.

Ujnf!usbwfm!cbdl!up!b!2:61t hbz!cbs ~ by Tim Miller ~

ay Bar: The Fabulous, True Story of a Daring Woman and Her Boys in the 1950s is a remarkable time-capsule view into how gay folks lived, loved and gathered a half-century ago in a small gay bar in California. Interweaving the charm of Helen Branson’s personal memoir and Will Fellows’ contemporary analysis, this work is a major contribution to gay history.

Fellows delivers an impressive series of commentaries that open up the original work in remarkable ways. It is a compelling story

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with a completely appealing mother hen at the center. I wish I could go to this bar tonight!

up on an Iowa farm in the 1930s and 40s, moved to Los Angeles in the 50s in pursuit of a music career, and killed himself in LA in 1963. Dean asked if I knew of any books that might give him some insight into what it was like to be a gay man in LA in the 1950s. The only thing that came to mind was Gay Bar; the excellent Gay LA had not yet been published. Dean and I were thrilled to find a copy of Gay Bar on the shelf at Quatrefoil Library in St. Paul. Before long, I was beginning my excursion into the long-gone world of Helen Branson and her boys.

Tim Miller: Gay Bar invites us to have a vivid look at what it was like to be gay in an urban area in the 1950s. What brought you to Helen Branson’s book?

Will Fellows: I first became aware of the book when I noticed Gay Bar among the results of an online used-book search. The book’s snappy title and intriguing description stuck in my mind.

But it was quite expensive and not really what I was looking for, so I didn’t buy it. A year or two later I was in St. Paul breakfasting with my playwright friend Dean Gray, discussing a script he was working on. The story centered on his Uncle Irvin, who grew

Assuming you have a handy time machine, could you imagine yourself spending time in Helen’s gay bar? Could we figure out

page 32

Gbmm!tfbtpo!po!Cbz!Bsfb!tubhft-!dpou/ ~ by Richard Dodds ~

‘Coraline’ comes alive As a rabid fan of the 2009 animated version of Neil Gaiman’s not-for-children-only novel, I was most happy to hear that SF Playhouse is presenting the West Coast premiere (Nov. 16-Jan. 15) of a new musical based on the novel Coraline. Not that the musical, which debuted in New York last year, can be anything like its animated counterpart. It’s grownup story theater in which the increasingly scary alternate family that little Coraline encounters through a secret door is a

‘Forum’ fitting Whoopi Goldberg broke the gender barrier by becoming Broadway’s first female Pseudolus when she replaced Nathan Lane in the 1996 revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the

•••SECOND

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OF

TWO

Joan Marcus

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fantasy world that the audience must help conjure.

Gaiman’s book has been adapted by David Greenspan, the gay off-Broadway legend who provided SF Playhouse with its gender-confusing hit She Stoops to Comedy. The songs are by Stephin Merritt, best known for his work with the band the Magnetic Fields. No word yet on SF Playhouse casting, but in New York little Coraline was played by the 56-year-old and amply proportioned Jayne Houdyshell – to give you an idea of the alternative route that the musical’s creators have taken.

More info is at www.sfplayhouse.org.

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ast week was fall-preview time, but space ran out before I could write about all the productions that strike me as highlight-worthy. Theater may continue to be squeezing budgets, but the start of the 2010-11 season seems unusually rich. And so, here is Part II of the list of what is whetting one theatergoer’s appetite.

SECTIONS•••

Mandy Patinkin plays a writer obsessed with Anne Frank (seen here in puppet form) in Compulsion at Berkeley Rep.

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Gay Bar: The Fabulous, True Story of a Daring Woman and Her Boys in the 1950s by Will Fellows and Helen P. Branson; University of Wisconsin Press, $26.95 hardcover, $14.95 e-book.

22

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 September 2010

OUT

THERE

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Polter-gayest! abor Day is over, and we’ve put our white back into the closet.

Time to go to the dark side? No, according to Castro Theatre impresario Marc Huestis, it’s time to “go into the light!� He’s conjuring the Polter-gayest Poltergeist celebration ever, a screening of the classic 1982 horror film with a gala tribute to its star, JoBeth Williams.

Williams will be in on the good gay fun, including a sit-down (or maybe a stand-up) interview with Hostess Huestis; a clip reel celebrating Williams’ work in such O UT classics as The Big Chill, Kramer vs. Kramer and Dexter; a Carol Ann Look-Alike Contest femceed by Connie Champagne; and a spook-alicious Fashion Show put on by the Sick & Twisted Players, celebrating their 20th Anniversary on SF stages.

Huestis claims there are spectral forces guiding this show. “I’m friends

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tthe th he h

with JoBeth, and a few years back we had lunch at a local eatery to discuss this gig. When I mentioned her costar Zelda Rubinstein, all of a sudden the ceiling fell and water came gushing down on the folks at the table next to us, forcing them to flee. It was a scene straight out of Poltergeist! We both cracked up laughing, just kept eating our meat loaf and chicken pot-pie, and that’s when I knew this show must go on!�

The show will go on the night before Halloween, Sat., Oct. 30, at ye olde Castro Theatre.

Sounds like a ghoulish night out. OT thinks it’s about time to take T HERE back the Castro for our favorite gay hell-aday, and it’s for a good cause, as partial proceeds benefit AIDS Housing Alliance/SF. Call (415) 863-0611, ask for Carol Ann, and get a $5 discount.

Hearting Healdsburg Out There jumped for joy at the opportunity to visit the chic new

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h2hotel in Healdsburg last weekend, staying overnight in a sumptuous, bamboo-floored suite and supping on a sultry evening at the inn’s signature restaurant Spoonbar.

In the airy and spacious-feeling lobby, bar manager Scott Beattie prepared rounds from his book happily displayed on the plank, Artisanal Cocktails: Drinks Inspired by the Seasons from the Bar at Cyrus. We gratefully sipped Blade gin, boutique-distilled in Belmont of all places, while Beattie extolled the virtues of his Kold-Draft ice machine, which produces dense, gem-like cubes with no air pockets. Beattie’s creation the John Chapman combines St. George Whiskey, pear eau-de-vie, fruit, ginger and apple foam, garnished with dehydrated apple. Fun fact: Chapman was Johnny Appleseed’s legal name. Spoonbar chef Rudy Mihal’s delectable victuals evinced Mediterranean and Moroccan influences.

We were in flavor heaven enjoying creative presentations of risotto and fried smelt, washed down with Russian River Valley wines.

In the h2h, SF-based architect David Baker has created an energyefficient, environmentally sustainable, eco-conscious hotel, capped with an undulating living roof planted with waves of native succulents, echoing the Sonoma hills. Our traveling buddy Pepi, who himself lives in a David Baker-designed building in SF, the architecturally acclaimed SoMa Studios complex on Howard, could only give an insider’s nod.

Our visit came the same day that the NY Times Travel section featured the h2hotel along with other Sonoma County sights in its “36 Hours� column. As an adorable young hotel staffer brought us our in-suite breakfast with piping hot Frenchpress coffee bright and early that morning, we reflected on our good fortune, living so close to paradise.

Glamour regimens Just in time for this week’s review of Inside the Hollywood Fan Mag by author Anthony Slide, we present this hilarious quotation from Miss Joan Crawford in 1963, which we think worthy of Out There – and Charles Busch.

In the fan-mag article “Hollywood Girls Are Killing Their Own Glamour,� Miss Crawford warned, “I think that any actress who makes an appearance in public without being beautifully groomed is digging her own grave. If only one fan sees you

Poltergeist star JoBeth Williams will bring the 1982 horror film to the Castro.

Zubin Schroff

by Roberto Friedman

Spoonbar restaurant at the h2hotel in Healdsburg is open to the sidewalk.

less than perfect, it can be the beginning of the end.� She then praised Elizabeth Taylor, then just recovering from illness and hospitalization. “She would not permit herself to be wheeled out until her hairdresser had been summoned and done her hair, her makeup woman fixed her face, and a French designer had sent over a beautiful new outfit to wear.�

Stars be like that.

Our non-U nose has been deeply immersed in True Prep – It’s a Whole New Old World (Knopf) by Lisa Birnbach (her follow-up to the 1980 classic The Official Preppy Handbook) with Chip Kidd. It’s where we found this definition of sexual addiction, “a pattern of repeated sexual relationships involving a succession of lovers who are experienced by the individual only as things to be used. “Central Command wonders at the sudden spread of this malady.

One day it’s just Michael Douglas (Allen Stevenson School, Choate, UCSB), and then a decade later, the clinics are flooded. It’s like an Xrated peanut allergy.�

End notes An open house to mark on your calendars: Cal Performances will present the first Fall Free for All, a day of free performances, on Sun., Sept. 26, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on the UC Berkeley campus. Four stages will come alive with music, dance and theater events, a preview of the artistic residencies and collaborations coming this season. Attractions include the Kronos Quartet, SF Opera Adler Fellows, Word for Word Theater, Mark Morris Dance Group, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, and many more.

Info at www.calperfs.berkeley.edu.

The current issue of Architectural Digest announces that the erstwhile Dr. Kildare, estimable gay actor Richard Chamberlain, has put a house up for sale in Maui and is asking $19 million. We wonder if he will toss in a free medical exam.

Late-night host Craig Ferguson came clean on TV: “To be honest, I didn’t understand the hurricane report. I was lost in the eyes of Anderson Cooper. I’m not really gay. I just pretend I am to be funny. Or that’s what I tell the male prostitutes.�M

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9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

23

FILM

The odd couple

by David Lamble he late-summer romance Mademoiselle Chambon begins literally on the oddest note when a French construction worker, Jean (Vincent Lindon), finds himself having coffee at the apartment of his son’s grade-school composition teacher, Mademoiselle Chambon (Sandrine Kiberlain). Invited to his son Jeremy’s class to describe why he enjoys knocking down walls and laying brick for a living, Jean accepts the teacher’s invitation to inspect a window in her apartment. Replacing the window while she naps, Jean finds himself snooping through her things, intrigued by a picture of the elegant blonde woman playing the violin.

Later, as the two share coffee and cookies, Jean is surprised to find himself making a peculiar request.

“This may sound a bit strange. I heard a piece on TV once – could you play me a tune on your violin? Can you say tune?”

“Yes, you can. It would be terrible, you’d be disappointed.”

“I won’t insist then.”

“No. What was the piece you heard on TV?” “I don’t remember. I just know I liked it.”

“It’s been ages since I played in front of anyone.”

“Stand with your back to me, so you’re not in front of me.”

She does, and he’s enchanted. An affair of the most discreet nature commences. He discovers that she never teaches at the same school for more than a semester, and that if he follows this sudden, violent passion, it will

T

mean up-ending everything he thought he loved for an unimaginable future.

Normandy-born director Stephane Brize understands the rhythms and joys of honest physical labor, as well as the perils of the stifling ennui of provincial life. We observe Jean mixing the concrete that holds the bricks, washing his elderly dad’s swollen feet, helping his son figure out the direct object of a transitive verb, and most painfully, weeping in his car when he thinks he’s seen the last of the teacher.

The teacher’s soul is more elusive.

We see her excited as a schoolgirl at the prospect of this forbidden affair, see her not pick up the phone when her mom calls bearing family news, and watch her tell her principal why she’s decided not to extend her contract.

Based on a novel by Eric Holder, the film plays somewhere between the naïve pleasures of middle-period Truffaut, say Small Change, and last year’s haunting Summer Hours.

The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector Vikram Jayanti’s BBC-commissioned doc on troubled rock prodigy Phil Spector misfires so badly that it actually got me to thinking about the secret behind his meteoric career, creating the sounds of my adolescence.

Between 18 and 32, Spector, the disgruntled product of a New York middle-class Jewish high school, created Top 40 chartbusters for girl groups like The Crystals (“He’s a Rebel”) and The Ronettes (“Be My Baby”), graduating to work with rock’s British Invasion aristocracy: The Beatles (“The Long and Winding Road”),

Scene from The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Requiem for a lost empire ate in the third act of David Lean’s astonishingly intimate epic The Bridge on the River Kwai (opening Friday for a week at the Castro), a troupe of British soldiers, whom we have ogled naked to the waist, don green skirts and bras, and proceed to serenade their possibly mad commanding officer, Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness, 1957 Oscar, Best Actor), with an old musichall standard. “If you were the only girl in the world, and I was the only boy.”

The soldier boys mime kisses and jump into each other’s arms to celebrate the completion of a railway bridge that will allow the Japanese Army to extend its supply lines from Bangkok to Rangoon. As their voices waft into the night, we observe an Anglo-American commando team (William Holden, Jack Hawkins, Geoffrey Horne) preparing to blow up the bridge, and with it, a trainload of the Emperor’s top advisors. It’s May 12, 1943, and time is running out.

Bridge on the River Kwai is one of those must-see-at-the-Castro films. It

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would be a sin to download this beauty on any device. Of all the great TVbashing Cinemascope epics from the 1950s and 60s, it’s one of a handful that are as entertaining as originally intended, and capable of teaching us something about our own times.

Along with its David Lean folly-ofempire follow-up Lawrence of Arabia, it would prove vital to convincing Steven Spielberg and George Lucas that they, too, could create their own parallel universes.

Kwai was adapted, from a novel by Pierre Boulle, by Michael Wilson and blacklisted screenwriter Carl Foreman.

Both men received posthumous Oscars following the film’s restoration.

It’s based on events that unfolded during the brutal attempt by the Japanese military to create a railway passage to India in 1942-43. There was a bridge (actually two), a river, a railway, a British officer and a Japanese camp commandant named Saito, but everything else was altered by the filmmakers to give us a better story, and to avoid depicting the 100,000 lives lost during the hideous war’s least roman-

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by David Lamble

George Harrison (“My Sweet Lord”), and John Lennon (“Women is the Nigger of the World”).

Between 18 and 26, my musical world was ruled by dueling AM rock stations: “Fabulous 57, WMCA, home of the hits, home of the good guys,” and Music Radio WABC, the 50,000watt clear-channel behemoth that burned its jingles into the brains of the pre-Woodstock generation. Since rock radio needed a big sound to offset AM’s puny low-fidelity, Spector’s “little symphonies for kids,” with their ear-grabbing backbeats, were the perfect audience hooks for leading out of the news.

The doc features a coherent sitdown chat with its obviously troubled subject. Unfortunately, the career review is illustrated by visually incoherent slices from Court TV’s coverage of his first murder trial. We do learn how hard it was to be a rock Mozart on 60s

Kino Lorber

‘Mademoiselle Chambon’ & ‘Phil Spector’ open

Sandrine Kiberlain and Vincent Lindon in Mademoiselle Chambon.

mono mixing boards, how he never got the respect he thought he deserved (despite his 1989 induction into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame), how he reacted when Martin Scorsese “ripped off” one of his works of genius for the opening needle-drop to Mean Streets, and how he could endure any sound

The agony of Phil Spector’s hair.

in the pop world, except that of the Plastic Yoko Ono band.

Oh yes, and we learn the secret behind some of the worst hair-days in rock history. As exploitative as the doc that stirred up so much trouble for the late Michael Jackson, The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector plays at the Roxie.M

BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 September 2010

THEATRE “These men are phenomenal: as fresh as a blade of grass, tightly focused and keenly expressive.”

– The New York Times

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Wilde imaginings

by Richard Dodds cast that is frequently found barreling full throttle across the stage might make you think that the new stage adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray is to be a streamlined retelling of the Oscar Wilde novel. It is indeed a locomotive, but pulling a local rather than an express train, making numerous stops along the track that Wilde laid in 1890.

It clocks in at a little over three hours, and frankly, the journey does not justify such an elongated timetable, even as an abundance of labor is obvious.

Dorian Gray is launching Theatre Rhino’s second season since becoming an itinerant company, and the Eureka Theatre is again the venue for the opening production. The Eureka stage, stripped back to its walls, has never looked so expansive. There are virtually no props, and a couple of chairs are the extent of the scenery.

This further broadens the canvas in which director-adaptor John Fisher, Rhino’s executive director, can express his imaginative, albeit at times curious, vision of Wilde’s novel.

Wilde had yet to write his seminal comedies when Dorian Gray was first published in a literary magazine to reviews that warned readers of the risk of moral turpitude should their eyes scan the pages about a hedonistic young man who stays young while his portrait ages. Wilde toned down the homoeroticism while expanding the novel’s length when it appeared in book form the following year. In the version on the Eureka stage, the homoerotic dialogue is maintained, and so too are the expanded plot and characters.

While Fisher invents some scenes, he largely maintains verity to Wilde’s words. Yet he often makes graphic on

Aaron Martinsen, left, John Fisher, and Jef Valentine play dangerous games in Theatre Rhino’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.

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stage the homoeroticism that was implied on the page in various theatrical styles. There is, for example, the realistic action of a full-on kiss to complement dialogue between Dorian and the painter who so passionately rendered his image, a mimed fantasy of fellatio in a public park, and the sight of the portraitist in expressionistic passion as he virtually dry humps his painting of Dorian Gray.

These numerous styles can seem erratically evoked. Modern-dance movements and stylized performances can abruptly disappear for long stretches of straightforward dialogue. There is risktaking to be appreciated here. Dorian’s sudden embrace of the aesthete philosophy is evocatively rendered by his smelling flowers, which are actually the hands of other actors who sensually embrace his face. But then we have the portrait painter doing awkward jetes that strain the mood, or the time-consuming ritualized dismemberment of his corpse that strains patience at the late hour it takes place.

What is unquestionably admirable is the command the actors have over the intricate dialogue, the range of dramatic styles, and the sheer physi-

River Kwai M

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tic chapters.

As the story begins, Lean’s camera, guided by Oscar-winning cinematographer Jack Hildyard, glides down, as if from bird’s-eye perspective, into a jungle clearing where two gravediggers – led by American Major Shears, a lean and fit William Holden, last-minute replacement for Lean’s first choice, Cary Grant – are burying the most recent casualty of Saito’s bridge brigade.

Major Shears is a variation on Holden’s camp survivor/con artist Sefton, a role he played for Billy Wilder’s darker dip behind barbed wire, Stalag 17.

Holden’s Shears is caustic, dodgy, cynical, anything but a hero, the guy who tells everyone the bitter truth; as one British officer puts it, “a queer bird, even for an American.”

Enter British Col. Nicholson (Guinness), an officer who has been force-marched hundreds of miles through the jungle with the ragtag remnants of his engineering corps following a humiliating surrender to the Japanese after the fall of Shanghai. The drama escalates when Nicholson brazenly refuses Saito’s orders that he and his officers perform manual labor on the bridge. Calling the Japanese of-

cality that is often demanded. The cast, at times, is literally climbing the walls.

As Dorian Gray, Aaron Martinsen smartly builds his performance from an understated introduction to an intensity that remains controlled yet exudes a frightening evil. Jef Valentine provides a period sumptuousness to the role of smitten painter Basil Hallward. Fisher himself plays Lord Henry Wotton, who starts Dorian on the road to degradation, with a steeliness that belies the epigrams he is forever spouting. Maryssa Wanlass, Adam Simpson, Celia Maurice, and Stephen Chun play a cavalcade of characters with a welcome assurance.

The high-class costuming is by Christine U’Ren, the complex lighting

by Anthony Powers, and the multistyled choreography by Lia Metz.

There is certainly a wealth of talent and enterprise on display, but unlike in film, there is seldom an editor’s credit in theater. In this case, however, it is vitally missing.M The Picture of Dorian Gray will run at the Eureka Theatre through Sept.

19. Tickets are $10-$25. Call (800) 838-3006 or go to www.therhino.org.

ficer’s bluff and coming a hair from execution, Col. Nicholson defies attempts to break his will. The showdown between the men climaxes with a preposterous meal in Saito’s hut where the Japanese officer reveals his own weakness for such trappings of empire as corned beef and the finest malt Scotch. Nicholson refuses the bribes, forcing Saito into a shame-inducing capitulation.

The tables are turned, and the prisoner Nicholson contrives for Saito to become a kind of prisoner in his own camp, setting up a showdown when Nicholson’s men build the Japanese a better bridge than they could ever have built themselves. For a manly epic, the actual bloodshed onscreen is modest.

The real mayhem occurs in proud men being forced to surrender some essential part of their souls for the sake of a greater goal. Of particular note is the consummate turn by veteran Japanese actor Sessue Hayakawa, for whom the role of Saito (and its Oscar nomination) represented a career revival and redemption.

River Kwai represents that moment when the British began to make serious hay out of mythologizing their lost empire. A few of the British stars, including Guinness, are said to have thought the picture seriously antiBritish. M

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9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

BOOKS

Solitary confinement things like the shower, the sky, and random faces create a new horror for his young, new life.

Drawing on the “inventive and unsentimental” qualities inherent in children, Donoghue was able to channel the innocent energies of a young boy. She’s brought us wonderful works like the award-winning historical novel Slammerkin, the shimmering story collection Touchy Subjects, 2008’s lukewarm The Sealed Letter, and now this brilliant novel.

In late July, Room was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize, a distinguished international honor. It’s a fitting nod as Donoghue’s latest creation manages to mold terror, love, parenting, innocence, menace, youth, and wry humor into a masterpiece of resilient humanity. M

by Jim Piechota Room by Emma Donoghue; Little, Brown & Co., $24.99

he supremely talented, Dublin-born lesbian novelist Emma Donoghue, now residing in Canada with her partner and two children, has produced Room, a seamless new story about a mother and child held in captivity against their will, and of the strength and fervor required to persevere both inside and outside the confines of their terror chamber.

It is Jack, a boy just turned five, who narrates this touching, intense yarn. He’s cute, affable, yet unaware of any sort of outside world since the room where he lives is the only universe he’s ever known. His mother (“Ma”) is an amazingly patient, resourceful, smart young woman of 26 who spends her time dutifully raising her son by comfortably and carefully creating a pseudo-normal existence out of an absurd, horrifically confined living space.

Donoghue paints this eerie scenario with the steady hand of a seasoned pro, delicately delivering the sad histrionics of Ma’s abduction at 19 and the claustrophobic, desperate conditions they must contend with.

The author fortifies the story with beautifully descriptive language that forms the calming eye lying deep within the escalating hurricane that the story eventually morphs into.

Mother and son live in a locked room in a converted garden shed measuring 11 feet by 11 (Donoghue mapped this out using an online room-decorating website and ideas from Ikea). This backyard prison is presided over by an unpredictable kidnapper dubbed “Old Nick,” and he’s been in charge of their lives for

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Emma Donoghue signs and reads from Room on Fri., Oct. 1, 7 p.m. at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Rd., Corte Madera.

seven years (Jack was born in the shed). He supplies them with food and supplies to sustain themselves, and takes sexual liberties with Ma while Jack sleeps in the wardrobe, listening to the bed creaks and the sex sounds (“I always have to count till he makes that gaspy sound and stops”). Mother and son pass the time reading, doing laundry, watching television, exercising, and conversing as the boy refers to his meager surroundings in one-word identifiers (“Wardrobe,” Lamp,” “Bed,” and the “Rug” on which he was born – the stain still remains). But Jack is growing up, and his Ma knows this; her desperation is palpable, and cresting. She begins to strategize a plan of escape, just one in a series of nail-biting scenes in the book.

Their involuntary captivity is only one prison the two must face, since Jack, once freed, must deal with a new world of unknowns where

Burning desire

by Robert Julian Krakow Melt by Daniel Allen Cox; Arsenal Pulp Press, $15.95

here aren’t too many books out there about gay, Polish, pyromaniac, performance-artist practitioners of parkour, but Daniel Allen Cox’s second novel Krakow Melt is one of them.

This unlikely and entirely successful effort places the Canadian author in the vanguard of young gay writers whose work holds great promise.

In Krakow Melt, Cox tells the story of 25year-old Radek, whose fascination with fire dates back to a childhood tragedy that remains a mystery until the novel’s midpoint. Until this revelation takes place, Radek is your average kick-ass, self-defined radical thinker and Pink Floyd aficionado who suffers in the homophobic climate of Krakow, circa 2005.

Polish-born Pope John Paul is dying while Radek is creating miniatures of famous cities that, at some point in their history, were destroyed by fire. His creations are displayed in galleries where Radek completes the

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installation by burning his creations for the benefit of an invited audience.

At one of these events he meets Dorota, a literature student, sexual adventuress, and agent provocateur.

They team up (not unlike the couple in Michael Chabon’s classic The Mysteries of Pittsburgh) to explore shared interests and a desire to create change. But things do not end well for the protagonists; a sense of foreboding hangs over the novel for most of its scant 151 pages.

Author Cox employs terse, effective prose to reveal the consciousness of his characters and the time in which they live. His ability to create an entire world view and a sense of place – in few pages – is exceptional. In this respect, his style recalls that of another talented gay writer, Jeanette Winterson.

Cox’s personal journey includes a stint as a porn actor, a Jehovah’s Witness, and a resident of Poland during the period in which his novel takes place. Cox’s life experiences effectively make their way onto the pages of Krakow Melt, ground, strained, and transformed into a book as tasty as a really nice kielbasa. M

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 September 2010

Eric Manas

MUSIC

Pianist Paul Lewis tackles all five Beethoven piano concertos with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Ode to Beethovenian joy

by Tim Pfaff ore than a year ago, I wrote about the avalanche of recordings of the Beethoven piano concertos I became buried under waiting for Richard Goode’s long-awaited set to appear. Before the review I submitted appeared, two more sets appeared, and two more have followed them. Tempting as it has been to wonder in silence, three of them are among the readings I have truly been waiting for without actually knowing they were in the works.

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www.bartabsf.com

First out of the box was an historical performance of the G Major Fourth Concerto from September 14, 1953, by Walter Gieseking with the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra under Joseph Keilberth (my esteem for whom just keeps climbing). You already know if you want this one just by my telling you it’s there, so no need going into details. But I can attest that Gieseking’s immaculate technique and taste are, that September night long ago, the portals to a reading of considerable transcendence.

The big-news issue is the just-released set of all five concertos with Paul Lewis – who recently played them all at the London Proms – with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Jiri Belohavek (Harmonia Mundi). It’s as satisfying a complete set as you could want, bracing from beginning to end and without a lax moment along the way. It’s the perfect postlude to Lewis’ extraordinary set of the complete sonatas, with a promised recording of the Diabelli Variations to come before Lewis heads off, he says, into Schubertland for a few years.

Few pianists can lay claim to Lewis’ authority in this literature while also playing it with such unbridled vitality.

His technique as secure and reliable as it is, you quickly stop marveling at the prestidigitation and surrender instead to being led from one fresh vista to another in this well-traveled music. I’ve spent so much time with this music in recent years, I wanted to skip over the two earlier concertos. But the instant Lewis launched into them, the sheer revelry in his playing – mimicking what would surely have been Beethoven’s, too, at this stage in his career – broke down what little resistance was there.

What becomes apparent over the course of this set is that Lewis not only has the measure of the works individually, but also grasps the trail they blaze over the form. It’s precisely the steadiness of Lewis’ musicianship over the course that makes the big transition moments so telling.

Barely has he begun the Third Concerto than we feel how we have entered a new world, one in which the trill is no longer just an ornament but, now, a gesture – on its way to becoming, in the two great final concertos, a shudder. Gravity appears with no sacrifice of uplift or that uniquely Beethovenian sense of unalloyed joy.

The ideal pairing of Lewis and this wonderful orchestra under Belohavek comes into sharpest focus in the extraordinary dialogue of the Fourth Concerto’s central Andante. And just as they are about to vault into the exuberant final movement – over a solopiano bridge that is one of the high points in the instrument’s literature – Lewis makes an atypically individual-

ist move, by arpeggiating the chords over a sustained pedal. At the farthest distance from attention-seeking, it’s a deeply felt moment.

But wait. Between these flashes of vintage/newest, old man’s/young man’s Beethoven came one of the most satisfying Beethoven concerto discs I’ve heard. Till Fellner’s new, live recordings of the Fourth and Fifth Concertos, with Kent Nagano leading the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in concert recordings from 2008 (ECM New Series), adds a degree of poetry that elevates them to the highest plain.

There’s certainly no lack of soul in Lewis’ interpretations, which in fact have a rare inwardness about them. So he makes that amazing solo-piano opening in the Fourth Concerto a moment of aching, anticipatory simplicity. Fellner, not by contrast but on another wavelength, turns it into a whispered confidence that invites you into the very heart of one of the greatest of all concertos.

At the other expressive extreme, too, there’s a bit – but an appreciable, welcome bit – more radiance and bounce in Fellner’s more extroverted, exuberant playing. Both pianists nail that critical syncopation in the theme of the final movement of the Fifth Concerto, a moment that can so easily turn crass. But Fellner vaults higher, brighter and cleaner.

The engineers have suppressed all audible evidence that these are live performances, but the reach and intimacy of Fellner’s playing are a continual testimony to the presence of listeners in whom he is trying to strike a resonance, with whom he seeks to connect. There’s a spin deep inside Fellner’s tone, a sense of probing in the musical line, that evince an exquisite daring, to heighten the refinement of this exalted music and, occasionally, to leap its bounds.M

Ben Ealovage

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Pianist Till Fellner: exuberant.

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9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

BOOKS

Managing the news

by Tavo Amador ovies are both a popular entertainment and the great art-form of the 20th century, although it took awhile for the latter to be recognized. Early audiences were mainly working-class urbanites, both native-born and new immigrants. Silent pictures didn’t require a comprehensive knowledge of English, and thus became an important impetus towards assimilation.

Early in the nickelodeon era, fan magazines began documenting and discussing film personalities, some-

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thing the studios realized would help sell tickets, yet caused them anxiety by focusing on the actors on screen, thereby giving the stars financial leverage.

In his scholarly yet lively Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazine: A History of Star Makers, Fabricators, and Gossip Mongers (University of Mississippi, $40), Anthony Slide covers the rise and fall of the publications that once had a huge influence on what audiences believed about their idols. The sheer number of magazines that once thrived is staggering, although Photoplay was probably the most important. Their heyday was the 1930s, but they remained a powerful force well into the 1970s. Many prestigious writers contributed to them, including Theodore Dreiser, Somerset Maugham, and H.L. Mencken. In general, the writing was good, even if the content was fluff.

Women and gay men were the principal readers, and actresses like Joan Crawford, Claudette Colbert, Shirley Temple in the 1930s to Elizabeth Taylor in the 50s and 60s were most prominently featured on covers and in stories.

The magazines and the studios developed an uneasy, symbiotic relationship. Studios controlled access to the stars, which magazines needed. The magazines, however, promoted images approved by the studio. Shrewd stars like Crawford, whom Slide says “never met a writer she didn’t like,” knew how to use the magazines to gain and retain public affection and loyalty.

A fascinating section covers gay stars. One popular writer, Herbert Howe, promoted himself as a bachelor, with a different date each night.

In truth, he was gay, and his articles are surprisingly daring. He was attracted to Hispanics, and in a 1925 story about the first screen Latin Lover, Spain’s Antonio Moreno (who may have been gay), Howe describes interviewing him as he stepped out of a shower. “One dry hand was extended in salutation while the wet one was employed with a Turkish towel massaging the equatorial zone.” Moreno says, “I like action, you know,” glancing up from “the

vigorous action of the towel upon his left leg.” Howe and Mexico’s Ramon Novarro, whose Latin Lover popularity rivaled that of gay Rudolph Valentino, were romantic partners for many years. Their break-up, writes Slide, precipitated Novarro’s alcoholism and reliance on hustlers, one of whom murdered him.

In the 30s, the magazines featured articles about Cary Grant and Randolph Scott, who owned a home together and were frequently pictured in various domestic poses. In 1933, Hollywood magazine profiled them in an article, “We Can’t Afford a Hollywood Marriage,” in which they lamented the need for a “Hollywood front.” Three years later, Screenland featured “Hollywood Bachelors at Home,” showing them side-by-side by their pool. Grant said, “Every morning when we aren’t working, we jump out of bed into our bathing trunks, make a run for the surf.”

In 1939, Ruth Waterbury wrote about Grant’s “Gay Romance.”

Mainstream audiences appeared clueless, a trend persisting into the 50s, when Movies featured scantily clad, buff gay actors Tab Hunter and Roddy McDowell in an article hilariously titled, “Calling All Girls.” By 1971, things had changed somewhat.

Modern Screen chronicled “Hollywood’s First Homosexual Marriage,” although the men, later identified as Rock Hudson and Jim Nabors, weren’t named.

For decades, the magazines avoided scandal and politics. They were challenged in the 50s by Confidential and other tabloids, which exposed celebrity secrets. It’s not surprising, therefore, that from the late 50s until the early 70s, as her life became more controversial, Taylor dominated magazine covers and articles.

Slide shows that the 1960 election of President Kennedy turned his wife Jacqueline into the first nonmovie personality prominently featured in film magazines. Throughout the 60s, she rivaled Taylor. Often the same article covered them both.

“What Liz and Jackie Did To Get Their Husbands Back,” headlined Screen Secrets in 1969.

Rona Barrett has her own chapter. From 1960-80, she transformed coverage of Hollywood stars, focusing on younger ones who appealed to the growing teenage market.

Older, established gossip columnists like Hedda Hopper and Sheilah Graham were hostile to Barrett, who became the first important television celebrity commentator. Her name appeared on many magazines, and one introduced the concept that would later become the basis for People, which permanently changed fan magazines.

Although People covered movie stars, its attention shifted to television personalities, including soap opera performers, pop singers, and eventually, anyone who was famous.

The prose was short, the pictures plentiful. Scandals were welcomed.

It has successfully adapted to the instant-news world of the Internet.

Creating images is as old as civilization – from the Pharaohs to the Renaissance Papacy to Louis XIV to American Presidents, rulers have used existing media to impress their

subjects and rivals. Fan magazines, however, altered the focus from the politically powerful to those providing popular entertainment in a more democratic age. Slide’s well-illustrated account of how that happened is, therefore, an important, engaging contribution to cultural history. M

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OUT&ABOUT Jerry Springer, the Opera

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The Bridge on the River Kwai @ Castro Theatre Digitally restored print of David Lean’s epic World War II drama, starring Sir Alec Guiness and William Holden. $10. Nightly at 7:30pm. also Sat, Sun & Wed at 1pm & 4:15. Thru Sept. 16. 429 Castro St. www.castrotheatre.com

DanceWright Project @ Dance Mission Theater Modern dance company performs new work; also, Adhesive Dance Group, Copious Dance Theater, and DAC PAC. $18. 8pm. Also Sept. 11. 3316 24th St. 826-4441. www.dancewright.com

Dieci Giorni: 10 Days @ Thick House Theater

Mica Joe

Collaborative opera inspired by Boccaccio’s Decameron, with tales both naughty and moralistic, about love and survival. $25.

8pm. Fri-Sun thru Sept 19. 1695 18th St. (800) 838-3006. www.diecigioni.org

Don’t Ask @ New Conservatory Theatre Center

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abies. That’s the last desperate excuse foes of marriage equality use to claim their superiority to gays and lesbians. Forget that any living species on the planet breeds. Forget that half of all U.S. straight marriages have ended in divorce long before gay marriage was legal in any state.

Forget that many straight marriages are the obligatory result of unwanted babies. Forget logic, is their stance.

But don’t forget to see these shows.

Ray of Light Theatre, whose recent productions of The Rocky Horror Show and Tommy were total crowd-pleasers, brings forth yet another pop culture phenomenon, Jerry Springer, the Opera, the UK smash musical very loosely based on the monstrously trashy TV show, where dreaded paternity tests, catfights and paChoosing Children thetic man-brawls helped unleash the uncultured upon our current culture. $20-$36. WedSat 8pm. Thru Oct. 16. The Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. at Mission.

(800) 838-3006. www.roltheatre.com www.jerrysf.com More often, lesbian and gay couples decide to be parents, as proven in the historic film Choosing Children. The 25th anniversary screening of the groundbreaking documentary about lesbians and gay men raising families in the 1980s will raise funds for the film’s DVD conversion and distribution. The dessert reception includes remarks by the producers, Academy Award winner Deborah Chasnoff and Kim Klausner, and the Honorable Donna Hitchens, founder of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who is featured in the film. Tuesday, Sept. 14 at The Herbst Theatre. $10-$25 and up. 6:30pm. 401 Van Ness Ave. www.groundspark.org Who’s your daddy? More than a few guys I know would choose Kent James, whose hot song, “Who’s Your Daddy,” performed under his previous rock pseudonym Nick Name, remains a classic of gay music. James’ new band Heavy Liquid performs in North Beach with new music at The Grant & Green Saloon, Wednesday, Sept. 15. 9pm. 1371 Grant Ave. at Green.

Kent James 693-9565. www.myspace.com/heavyliquidsf Oh, baby! While war-mongering politicians and childish rightwing fundamentalists chomp at the bit to use the anniversary of the World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings as a platform for their agendas of violence, local musician and ultra-cool dude (and real-life daddy) Michael Franti once again brings the Power to the Peaceful Festival to Golden Gate Park’s Speedway Meadow this weekend. The groovy music, arts and yoga festival in the park includes hundreds of green and cultural exhibitors focusing on sustainability and non-violence. Other music acts include Crystal Bowersox, Rebelution, Rupa & The April Fishes, SambaDa, Sellassie, plus Washington DC’s Fort Knox Five headlining the DJ tent. With a benefit on Sept 10, the main outdoor concert on Sept. 11, and more yoga and kid-friendly crafts, group singing on Sept. 12, this is a big fun peace-focused fest. No kidding. Golden Gate Park and Fillmore district (Sept.

12). www.powertothe-peaceful.orgM

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Michael Franti and Spearhead

Ben Randle’s sexually-charged psychological drama about a reckless private and his superior officer in Iraq. $22-$40. Wed-Sat 8pm.

Sun 2pm. Thru Sept. 19. 25 Van Ness Ave, lower level. 861-8972. www.nctcsf.org

What Do We Want From Sex? @ AHP Service Center Hot and Healthy Sex workshop for gay men about negotiating sex, risks, rejection and other issues. Free. 6:30-9:30pm. Registration required. 476-6448. 1930 Market St. www.ucsf-ahp.org

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Antony and Cleopatra, The Taming of the Shrew @ Forest Meadows Ampitheatre, San Rafael Marin Shakespeare’s outdoor theatre production Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy (set in Egypt) and comedy (re-set with a priate theme). $20-$35. Fri-Sun 4pm & 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru Sept. 26. 1475 Grand Ave. Dominican University campus. 499-4488. www.marinshakespeare.org

Beach Blanket Babylon @ Club Fugazi Musical comedy revue, now in its 35th year, with an ever-changing lineup of political and pop culture icons, all in gigantic wigs. $25$80. Wed, Thu 8pm. Fri, Sat 6:30, 9:30pm.

Sun 2pm, 5pm. (Beer/wine served; cash only). 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd.

421-4222. www.beachblanketbabylon.com

Guy Writers presents several short gay plays

by Andrew Black, Rodney “Rhoda” Clay, Bob Hayden, Tom W. Kelly and Edgar Poma; part of the SF Fringe Festival. $10.

10pm. Also Sept. 15 at 8:30pm & Sept 18 at 8:30pm. 277 Taylor St. (800) 838-3006. www.guywritersonline.org

Tarell Alvin McCraney’s first play in his Brother/Sister trilogy. $32-$53. Tue, ThuSat 8pm. Wed 7:30pm. Sun 2pm & 7pm.

Thru Oct. 3. 397 Miller Ave. Mill Valley. www.marintheatre.org

RAW Dance @ The Garage Residential Artists Workshop presents new works by Paul Laurey and Christine Bonasea. Also Sept. 11. Also, Cason MacBride, Susan Blakely and Melissa Hudson-Bell/BreadnButter Sept. 15 & 16. All shows $10-$20. 8pm. 975 Howard St. 5181517. www.975howard.com

The Real Americans @ The Marsh Dan Hoyle (Tings Dey Happen) premieres a new multiple-character solo show based on his road trip to Middle America to explore the profound disconnect in a politically polarized country. $15-$50. Thu-Fri 8pm. Sat 5pm. Extended thru Nov. 6. 1062 Valencia St. at 21st. (800) 838-3006. www.themarsh.org

Spencer Day @ Bankhead Theatre, Livermore Smooth-singing composer/pianist performs his classy music. $12-$40. 8pm. 2400 First St. (925) 373-6800. www.bankheadtheatre.org

Teatro Zinzanni @ Pier 29 Hearts on Fire is the current show at the theatre-tent-dinner extravaganza with new guest chanteuse Liliane Montevecchi, comic Frank Ferrante, twin acrobats Ming and Rui, Vertical Tango rope dance, plus magic, comedy, a five-course dinner, and a lot of fun. $117-$145. Saturday 11:30am “Breve” show $63—$78. Wed-Sat 6pm (Sun 5pm). Pier 29 at Embarcadero Ave. 438-2668. www.teatrozinzanni.com

In the Wound @ John Hinkel Park, Berkeley Shotgun Players, the creative ensemble behind last year’s hit park play The Farm (a hiphop Animal Farm) brings a new version of The Iliad. $10. 3pm. Sat & Sun thru Oct. 3. Southampton Avenue entrance. www.shotgunplayers.org

Light in the Piazza @ Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel’s acclaimed musical about visitors to Tuscany overwhelmed by the power of love. $19-$67.

Tue-Wed 7:30pm. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sat also 2pm. Sun 2pm, 7pm. Thru Sept. 19. 500 Castro St. at Mercy, Mountain View. (650) 463-1960. www.theatreworks.org

New Exhibits @ Oakland Museum of California

Eat Our Shorts @ Exit Theatre

In the Red and Brown Water @ Marin Theatre Company

Group exhibit of works by local artists.

12pm-3pm. Artists’ reception Sept. 11.

134A Golden Gate Ave. www.nom-tlcbd.org

Exhibit of the German artist’s retro-futurist collages. Exhibit thru Sept. 25. Tue-Sat 12pm-8pm, Sun til 6pm. 679 Geary St. 563-1708. www.galleryheist.com

New touring production of the classic Broadway musical about a Motown girl group’s struggles to the top of pop fame. $30-$99. Tue-Sat 8pm. Wed, Sat, Sun 2pm. Thru Sept. 26. 445 Geary St. (888) 746-1799. www.shnsf.com

Jo Kreiter’s astounding acrobatic rope-suspension dance company performs Singing Praises, an outdoor work honoring the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Building.

8pm & 9:30pm. Fri-Sun (9/12 8pm only) thru Sept 17. 3543 18th St. at Valencia.

333-8302. www.flyawayproductions.com

Harvest @ Tenderloin Community Gallery

Mario Wagner @ Heist Gallery

Dreamgirls @ Curran Theatre

Flyaway Productions @ The Women’s Bldg.

Marvin K. White at Smack Dab, Wed.

Martin Moran’s The Tricky Part, Thu.

Oakland Museum re-opens after major renovations. Exhibits include Pixar: 25 Years of Animation, opening July 31, with more than 500 drawings, paintings and sculptures from their hit films (Thru Jan 8, 2011). Also, Bay Area figurative art, Dorothea Lange archive, Early landscape paintings, Gold Rush Era works, California ceramics. Gallery of California Natural Sciences focuses on California’s unique status as a region of extreme biological and geological diversity. $6-$12.

1000 Oak St. Oakland. (510) 238-2200. www.museumca.org

Olive Kitteridge @ Z Space Beyond Darkness and Light @ Femina Potens Exhibit of works by Sonya Genel, Sallie Smith and Silvi Alcivar, each of whom examine the “stained parts of the human condition.” Thru Sept. 26. Thu-Sun 12pm-6pm.

2199 Market St. at Sanchez. www.feminapotens.org

Calder to Warhol @ SF MOMA The first public exhibit of some of the works collected by the Fishers (The GAP empire owners), with some pivotal works by Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Chuck Close and others. Other exhibits include visually striking contemporary works.

Free-$18. Thru Sept. 19. Fri-Tue 10am5:45pm. Thu til 8:45pm. 151 Third St. at Mission. 357-4000. www.sfmoma.org

Chocolate Festival @ Ghirardelli Square 15th annual festival of yummy chocolates, desserts, and more. Also Sept. 12. 12pm5pm both days. Free entry; $20 sample tickets. www.GhirardelliSQ.com

Comedy for Kids With Autism @ Palace of Fine Arts Jenny McCarthy hosts a benefit for the Ryder Foundation and Generation Rescue; Heather McDonald, Josh Wolf Whitney Cummings, and Gary Valentine perform. $150-$500. 7pm. 3301 Lyon St. www.inticketing.com/events/114545

Galileo’s Daughters @ Berkeley City Club Giulio Cesare Perrone’s three-person play about religion, science, and historical controversy. $10-$25. Thu-Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm.

Thru Sept. 19. 1802 Fairview St. (510) 698-4030. www.InfernoTheatre.org

Gay Community Circles @ San Francisco Location Create a community of support, sharing and friendship with other gay men in this 8-week program. Saturdays from 10am - 12pm from Sept 11 thru Oct 30. $50 for entire 8 weeks. www.gaycircles.eventbrite.com

Word for Word’s stage adaptation of Elizabeth Strout short stories, set in a coastal Maine town about a stern math teacher. $20-$40. Wed-Thu 7pm, Fri-Sat 8pm. Sun 5pm. Thru Sept. 26. 450 Florida St. (800) 838-3006. www.zspace.org

Pastor Tom Show @ KUSF Dr. Tom Polcari’s LGBT music and talk show. 4pm. Weekly on 90.3 FM.

Pearls Over Shanghai @ The Hypnodrome Thrillpeddlers’ revival of the comic mock operetta by Link Martin and Richard Koldewyn, performed by the gender-bending Cockettes decades ago, and loosely based on the 1926 play The Shanghai Gesture; with an all-star cast. $30-$69. 18 and over only!

Extended, Sat 8pm, Sun 7pm, thru Dec 19.

575 10th St. at Division. (800) 838-3006. www.thrillpeddlers.com

Photographer: Unknown @ Robert Tat Gallery Exhibit of “accidental art” prints by unknown 20th-century photographers. TueSat 11am-5:30pm. 49 Geary St. #211.

781-1122. www.roberttat.com

Planet Booty @ The Blue Macaw Oakland’s majorly fun funk band performs; I Can Dress Myself and Brad Barton “Reality Thief” also play. 9pmish. 2565 Mission St. 920-0577. www.germart.org www.thebluemacawsf.com

Storm Miguel Florez @ El Rio Trans folk singer performs new music.

Shawna Virago opens. $6-$10 includes BBQ. 4pm-8pm. 3158 Mission St. www.elriosf.com www.stormflorez.com

Trouble in Mind @ Aurora Theatre, Berkeley Alice Childress’ 1955 play within a play about racism in the early Civil Rights movement. $10-$55. Tue 7pm, Wed-Sat 8pm, Sun 2pm & 7pm. Thru Sept. 26. 2081 Addison St. (510) 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org

9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

Eileen Myles, Gina Gold, Larry-bob Roberts and V Vale. Free. 6pm. 100 Larkin St., lower level. www.sfpl.org

Wicked @ Orpheum Theatre Mega-hit musical based on the book about the two famous Oz witches as young college roommates. $30-$99. Tue-Sat 8pm. Wed, Sat, Sun 2pm. Sun 7:30pm.

Thru Sept. 1192 Market St. at 8th. $30.

512- 7770. www.shnsf.com

Smack Dab @ Magnet Kirk Read and Larry-bob Roberts host the eclectic, frequently queer-ish reading and performance series. This month, poet and former member of Pomo Afro Homos Marvin K. White reads from and discusses his new book, Our Name Be Witness. Free. 8pm. 4122 18th St. at Castro. www.magnetsf.org

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Bijou @ Martuni’s Take a walk on the Weill side –Kurt Weill, that is– as his powerful songs are performed by operatically-trained vocalists Darla Wigginton, Carl Pantle, Alyssa Stone and Nellie Bear. Tom Shaw and Joe Wicht accompany and sing, too! $5.

7pm. 4 Valencia St. www.dragatmartunis.com

Drew Boles, Brent Calderwood @ Brainwash

20th Century Modernism Show @ Fort Mason

Carl Pantle at Bijou, Sun.

Queer singer-songwriters Drew Boles and Brent Calderwood perform acoustic and electronic guitar- and piano-based pop and folk music at the hip SoMa café and laundromat. 7pm-9pm. 1122 Folsom St. at Langton. www.drewboles.com www.brentcalderwood.com

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Happy Hour @ Energy Talk Radio

Weekly adults-only jokes at the divey small bar. 10pm. 93 9th St. at Mission.

Interview show with gay writer Adam Sandel as host. 8pm. www.EnergyTalkRadio.com

SF Hiking Club @ McNee Ranch State Park Join LGBT outdoorsy types for an 8-mile hike that takes in Montara Mountain, Devil’s Slide and more. Well-behaved dogs and their humans welcome. Meet 9:30am at the Safeway sign, Market at Dolores. Also, Sept. 15, an after-work 2-mile scenic hike along the Marina Green. Meet at the parking area off Marina Blvd. 6pm. 378-5612. www.sfhiking.com

Sunday’s a Drag @ Starlight Room Donna Sachet and Harry Denton host the fabulous weekly brunch and drag show. $45.

11am, show at noon; 1:30pm, show at 2:30pm. 450 Powell St. in Union Square.

395-8595. www.harrydenton.com

Sundance Saloon @ Space 550 Country-Western dancing with lessons. $5.

Free clothes check. Beginner lessons at 5:30pm, dancing til 10:30. 550 Barneveld Ave. 820-1403. www.sundancesaloon.org

Swing-out Sundays @ Rock-it Room Slim Jenkins and other bands play weekly for your same- and opposite-sex swing dancing pleasure. $5 includes a lesson. 8pm11pm. 406 Clement St. www.SwingChampionships.com

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Al “A. Jay” Shapiro @ James Snidle Fine Art Exhibit of original drawings by the late gay erotic cartoonist and creator of Harry Chess and other muscular comic characters. Open run. Also, the Rodney Thompson Estate collection. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Sat 9am-2pm.

1190 Bryant St. 552-0500. www.jamessnidlefinearts.com

Comedy Night @ El Rio Dan St Paul, James Judd, Yayne Abeba, Joe Nguyen, and Lisa Geduldig serve up the funny stuff. $7-$20. 8pm. 21+.

3158 Mission St. www.koshercomedy.com www.elriosf.com

Compulsion @ Berkeley Repertory Theatre Tony Award winner Mandy Patankin stars in the world premiere of Rinne Groff’s fascinating play about a man’s discovery and struggles to adapt The Diary of Anne Frank into a theatrical production. $14.50-$73.

Tue, Fri, Sat 8pm. Wed, Sun 7pm.

Thu Sat Sun 2pm (no show on some nights; check schedule online). Thru Oct. 31. 2025 Addison St. (510) 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org

Blue Room Comedy @ Club 93 Funny Tuesdays @ Harvey’s Ronn Vigh hosts the weekly LGBT and gayfriendly comedy night. One drink or menu item minimum. 9pm. 500 Castro St. at 18th. 431-HARV. www.harveyssf.com

Jok Church @ Magnet Exhibit of the local longtime gay activist’s dizzying montages of gay subjects, from columnist/socialite Donna Sachet to erotica.

Free. All art sales proceeds go to Magnet and the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy.

Exhibit thru Sept. 4122 18th St. 5811600. www.magnetsf.org

Meditation Classes @ Kadampa Buddhist Temple Tessa Logan teaches drop-in meditation classes. $10. 7-8:45pm. 3324 17th St. 503-1187. www.meditationinnortherncalifornia.org

Yoga Classes @ LGBT Center Fun, friendly weekly classes for beginners or experienced with Bill Mohler. $10-$20.

6:30pm. Also Wednesdays. Room 302, 1800 Market St. at Octavia. www.billmohleryoga.com www.sfcenter.org

Xfe!26 >>

Chris Schiavo @ ArtHaus The Backyard, an exhibit of darkly witty photos of cluttered Queens, New York back yards.

Also a garden installation by Deanna Glory.

Thru Sept. 30. Tue-Fri 11am-6pm. Sat 12pm-5pm. 977-0223. www.arthaus-sf.com

Queer in the USA @ Exit Theatre Film, TV and stage actor Manuel Simons plays eight roles in his solo show about a teenager who wants to sing like Bruce Springsteen but sounds more like Barbra Streisand; part of the SF Fringe Festival. $10-$13. 9pm.

Also 9/16 at 7pm, 9/18 at 1pm & 8:30pm, 9/19 at 6pm & 7:30pm. 156 Eddy st. www.queerintheusa.com www.sffringe.org

Radar Reading @ SF Public Library Author Michelle Tea welcomes writers

Storm Miguel Florez at El Rio, Sat.

Large exhibit and sale of 20th-century decorative arts, furniture, and more in dramatic room settings. Preview gala tonight benefits SF Museum of Modern Art. $150 and up. 7pm-9pm. Regular admission $15. 11am-7pm thru Sept 19.

Festival Pavilion, Buchanan at Bay sts. www.sf20.net

The Bowls Project @ Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Interactive sound sculpture/immersive performance installation by by Bay Area composer Jewlia Eisenberg, with her ensemble, Charming Hostess; an ecstatic investigation of sex, magic and secret desires. Thursday night live performances. Free-$12. Tue-Sat 12pm-8pm. Sun 12pm-6pm. Extended thru Oct. 3. 701 Mission St., Forum and Sculpture Court. 978-2787. www.ybca.org

Ivan Coyote, Jessica Helem @ Modern Times Bookstore Two different queer writers perform, read and discuss their work. $15. 8pm. 888 Valencia St. 282-9246. www.mtbs.com

MEN @ SF MOMA Le Tigre’s JD Samson, Beth Custer Ensemble, and Sylvano Bussotti and SF SoundGroup play the museum’s Haas Atrium; free food, cash bar. Part of the Now Playing series. $9-$18. 6pm-9:45pm. 151 Third St. www.sfmoma.org

Monica Nolan @ Books Inc. Author of the campy faux-retro mystery Bobby Blanchard, Lesbian Gym Teacher reads from and discusses her work. Free.

7:30pm. 2275 Market St. 864-6777. www.booksinc.net

Suggestions of a Life Being Lived @ SF CameraWork Group exhibit of contemporary photos visualizing queer activism, gay communities, and homos in public spaces, including works

by Steven Miller, Killer Banshee Studios, Gay Shame, Kirstyn Russell, Jeannie Simms and others. Tue-Sat 12pm-5pm thru Oct. 23. 657 Mission St. 2nd floor. 512-2020. www.sfcamerawork.org

TechnoCraft @ Yerba Buena Center for the Arts New exhibit of work subtitled Hackers, Modders, Fabbers, Tweakers, and Design in the Age of Individuality, which includes works in many media by dozens of technicians, artists and designers who remake and revision technology, art and culture. Special evening shows with music groups and shows on various Thursday, Friday eves and Sunday afternoons. $12-$15 Exhibit Thu-Sat 12pm-8pm. Sun 12pm-6pm. 700 Mission St. 978-ARTS. www.ybca.org

The Tricky Part @ SF Conservatory of Music Actor Martin Moran’s (Spamalot, Cabaret on Broadway) acclaimed solo stage version of his compelling memoir about his relationship as an underage teen with an older man at a Catholic boys camp, and his journey to face his abuser. One show only. $10-$20. 7:30pm.

50 Oak St. www.thetrickypartbook.com

To submit event listings, email jim@ebar.com.

Deadline is each Thursday, a week before publication.

Sidney June @ Castro Country Club Seeds of Love, the artist’s exhibit of iconic symbol art. Thru Sept. 15.

4058 18th St. www.castrocountryclub.org

Ten Percent @ Comcast 104 David Perry’s new talk show about LGBT local issues. New times: MonFri 11:30am & 10:30pm, Sat & Sun 10:30pm. www.davidperry.com

For bar and nightclub listings, go to our new website and monthly print nightlife guide,

www.bartabsf.com

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 September 2010

LEATHER+

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Adam Schwenk is SF Leather Daddy’s boy XXVIII

by Scott Brogan t was another fun night on the patio at the SF Eagle this past Saturday as this year’s edition of the SF Leather Daddy’s boy contest took place. Vying for the title of SF Leather Daddy’s boy XXVIII were Chris Bosquez, Robert Craig, and Adam Schwenk. All three were excellent in their own unique way and most commendable in the on-stage judging portions, which consisted of fielding a variety of questions from the judges and giving well-presented speeches. Earlier in the evening, each boy was interviewed by the panel of Leather Daddy’s boy XXVII Mikey judges, away from the public. I always Shirts presents the new SF Leather want to know what the judges are askDaddy’s boy XXVIII Adam ing, partly because I’m nosy, and partSchwenk with his title patch this ly because you can tell a lot about a past Saturday night at the Leather person by what they ask. Those judges Daddy’s boy contest at the SF Eagle. were: Scott Peterson, manager of the Powerhouse; Ms. Alameda County 2009 Deborah Isadora; SF Leather years old!) meat is always popular.

Daddy XXII Doug Mezzacapo; I vaguely remember those days Northern CA Leather boy 2008 myself. Vaguely. They made a cute Tyler Fong; and SF Leather couple, and made a hasty Daddy’s boy III Steve Kaexit as soon as the contest jikawa. The large crowd was was over. festive, with a good vibe, inThe contest was co-emcluding a large quotient of ceed by Shirts and the new frisky boys and pups cheerSF Leather Daddy (XXVIII) ing on the contestants and David Myers (who will supporting the previous SF be the title Daddy to the Leather Daddy’s boy L EATHER new boy). Throughout (XXVII) Mikey Shirts. Even the night they auctioned Lenny Broberg brought off a wide variety of leather and kink along his very own cute boy, visiting items (I won some porn!), bringing in from out of state. Fresh (and newly 21

I

Scott Brogan

Scott Brogan

Mark Palladini and Mama Sandy Reinhardt welcome the crowd at the 10th annual Breast Cancer Emergency Fund Dinner in SF on Aug. 27.

a little over 1k from the auction-ticket sales. All money raised at these contests and the Daddy/boy events throughout the year (from the very first one begun by the late Daddy Alan Selby in 1983) benefit the AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF). I’m surprised there wasn’t a representative from the AEF at the event, unless perhaps I missed him/her?

Congratulations to Mikey Shirts for doing an amazing job this past year as SF Leather Daddy’s boy. Shirts’ shoes will be tough to fill. It’s safe to

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Coming up in leather & kink >> Thur., Sept. 9: Wet and WarmMmmm: Hot Wax Playshop with Angela and Iain at the SF Citadel (1277 Mission). This is a hands-on workshop in which you’ll learn how to play with hot wax, keep it safe, and minimize the mess. Class is aimed at intermediate or advanced players, but may be suitable for some beginners.

Doors open at 7 p.m., workshop from 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Admission is $15-$25 sliding scale plus $3 materials fee.

Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Thur., Sept. 9: Underwear Night at the Powerhouse (Dore & Folsom), 10 p.m. Wet undie contest and drink specials. Go to www.powerhouse-sf.com.

Fri., Sept. 10: Pec Night at the Powerhouse, 10 p.m.

Show off your pecs for drink specials. Go to www.powerhouse-sf.com.

Fri., Sept. 10: Fuzz at Chaps Bar (1225 Folsom). For fuzzy men and men who love fuzzy men. Lots of drink specials. Go to: www.chapsbarsanfrancisco.com.

Fri., Sept. 10: Flash “Wild Wild West” at the SF Citadel. In the West, you live fast and die hard, so enjoy the Citadel Saloon to water more than your horse and whet more than your whistle. Dress code: Western, Cowboys, Native American, Frontiers, Victorian, Fetish or Basic black. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $25 admission. Citadel membership required, available at the front door for $10. Volunteer for an hour and get in free! Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Sat., Sept. 11-Sun., Sept. 12: Cleo Dubois’ Erotic Dominance Weekend Intensive for Women: Tops and Switches at the Citadel, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. both days. Make your scenes soar! Gain confidence and Feel the Power!

Explore the heat, heart and spirit of BDSM! Go to: www.sfcitadel.org or www.sm-arts.com/intensives /women.html for details of the weekend’s events, and to get applications. All sexual orientations welcome.

Sat., Sept. 11: Back Bar Action at the Eagle Tavern (398 12th St.). Back patio and bar opened to all gear/fetish/leather. 10 p.m. to close. Go to: www.sfeagle.com.

Sat., Sept. 11: Military at Chaps Bar. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines get serviced! Go-go studs at 10:30 p.m. Lots of drink specials. Go to: www.chapsbarsanfrancisco.com.

Sat., Sept. 11: Open Play Party at the SF Citadel. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $25 per person. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Sat., Sept. 11: Hell Hole Fisting Party. 8 p.m.-2 a.m.

Door closes at Midnight. $25 admission. Free clothes check. For an invitation, visit: www.HellHoleSF.com.

Sat., Sept. 11: Boot Lickin’ at the Powerhouse. 10 p.m. Go to: www.powerhouse-sf.com.

Sun., Sept. 12: Castrobear presents Sunday Furry Sunday at 440 Castro. 4-10 p.m. Go to: www.castrobear.com.

Sun., Sept. 12: Corey’s Seismic Challenge Bike Ride, Bud Light Beer Bust at Chaps Bar. 4-9 p.m. Go to: www.chapsbarsanfrancisco.com.

Sun., Sept. 12: SF Men’s Spanking Party at 385A 8th St., above Mr S Leather. 1-6 p.m. This is not a S&M Leather group. More for guys into Spanking & Spanking Fantasies like traditional Old-Fashioned Spanking over Daddy’s Knee or a Fraternity-style Pledge Initiation Paddling. This is a safe place for beginners to explore their Spanking Fantasies, or just a good place to meet other guys into this fetish. Info: (415) 864-2766, SanFranParty@yahoo.com or check the Bulletin Board www.voy.com/201188.

Sun., Sept. 12: PoHo Sundays at the Powerhouse. DJ Keith, Dollar Drafts all day. Go to www.powerhousesf.com.

Sun., Sept. 12: SF Citadel takes over WaterWorld (1950 Waterworld Parkway, Concord). 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Cost is $20-$33. Go to www.sfcitadel.org.

Tue., Sept. 14: Cock Worship: More than a Blowjob at the SF Citadel. Keri and boy jonathan will share information for both givers and receivers of cock worship, dispel misconceptions, answer questions and even demonstrate their skills on a gorgeous, huge, erect (strap-on) cock! Topics will include technique, ritual, safety, and more! Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Event is from 8-10 p.m. Go to www.sfcitadel.org.

Tue., Sept. 14: 12-Step Kink Recovery Group at the SF Citadel. 6:30-8 p.m. Go to: www.sfcitadel.org.

Wed., Sept. 15: Busted! at Chaps Bar. This week’s edition: Pits. If you love men’s aromatic pits, this is the place for you. No cologne, please! Starts at 9 p.m. Go to: www.chapsbarsanfrancisco.com.

Wed., Sept. 15: Bare Bear, a night at the baths at The Water Garden, San Jose. 6-10 p.m. This event is held every third Wed. of the month. Go to: www.thewatergarden.com.

Wed., Sept. 15: SoMa Men’s Club. Every Wed., the SoMa Clubs (Chaps, Powerhouse, Truck, Lone Star, Hole in the Wall, the Eagle) have specials for those who have the Men’s Club dogtags. See your favorite SoMa bar for details.

Wed., Sept. 15: Underwear Buddies at Blow Buddies (933 Harrison St.), 8 p.m.-Midnight. $12, Buddies membership required, $8 for 6 months. Go to: www.blowbuddies.com.

The Leather Walk is coming up on Sun., Sept. 19. If you plan on having sponsors for your participation, be sure to go to www.mamasfamily.org and download the PDF. The two-mile walk starts with the raising of the leather flag at Harvey Milk Plaza, Market & Castro, at 1 p.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at 440 Castro.

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9 September 2010 . eBAR.com . BAY AREA REPORTER

KARRNAL

Balling hay

by John F. Karr aging Stallion head Chris Ward sure gives good director.

He’s beneficent that way, inviting them in, collaborating with them, grooming protégés and giving his stars a chance behind the camera.

It must be Ward’s good coaching that maintains the company style. In return, they invigorate the brand.

Most recently, he’s given the reins to Steve Cruz. This is fitting, since Raging Stallion is Cruz’s home. It’s where Ward in 2007 provided Cruz’s debut in Lords of the Jungle. Cruz has already directed an RS feature or two on his own, plus several along with husband Bruno Bond for their own Hard Friction Edge niche line. Before these, though, he teamed up on a couple with Tony Dimarco. Cruz didn’t just co-direct Roll in the Hay and Steamworks with Dimarco, but also honed his skill as co-cinematographer and editor. If Ward’s got his own little film school going on, Cruz just earned his Ph.D. Roll in the Hay is well-made and effective. I think its lack of plot is a bonus. The settings of barn and hayloft are evocative enough, and jeans and flannel shirt suit a rural sexo right fine. Most notably, Cruz and Dimarco have pulled a neat trick of making a movie that unfolds real easy without damping down its sex. There’s little braggadocio or hype here; just heat.

Even better, the directors showcase their guys really well. and punchy. And we’re grateful First up is keister killer Spencer Reed and Phoenix give us a Reed, who arrives to rub one out. Trisblesséd SM – that’s bless-ed tan Phoenix pretends to nap, but when Sacramental Moment – when Reed gives himself a little cock lovin’, Reed unloads splooge-ful gobs Phoenix is suddenly wide awake and into Phoenix’s mouth. mooring his mouth on Reed’s kingly Then, for a truly primal treat, cock. But why didn’t a wardrobe or we get salacious Ricky Sinz topping make-up guy, or maybe even a big Paul Wagner. You director or two, notice that know what he is, that Reed’s hat has bent his ear in Wagner? He’s thick. half – you know, the way The dude’s positively clowns and Red Skelton inspissated, which do to telegraph they’re sounds like he’s funny. This ain’t no comdrowning in piss (I’d edy, fellas. The sexo in pay to see that), but is, ingeneral has become a sostead, a fancy word for phisticated enough thickened. Beefed-up biproduct that this sort ceps, huge immovable K ARRNAL of admittedly small deflanks that tail shouldn’t go unnoK NOWLEDGE buttocks, make other guy’s thighs ticed. You wanna play look like toothpicks, and with big budgets and a chewable chunk of cock above tight location shooting and call a sexo a film, balls. And a neck so thick that it’s a nathen you gotta sweat the small stuff. tional monument for vampires. Just When Reed’s not paired with BF ask Alexander Skarsgard what makes Phillip Aubrey, he can seem, oh, dishis fangs tremble. Paul Wagner’s thick tracted. Or is it removed? Proficient, neck. but a little impersonal. You may think I’m not particularly a Ricky Sinz it butch; to me, it’s butch and imperfan. Oh yeah, when he gets going you sonal. can’t ignore him, but I suffer for his atThe directors distract us from that titude – his partners are scum, and he by concentrating on the ministration lets em know it. And although he slobof manful cock that Reed so strongly bers all over a cock with manic attack, metes out upon Phoenix. When Reed he’s not a very good cocksucker. Gags growls, “Make that hole twitch for more than you’d think a bi-boy oughme,” boy, that hole twitches. His withta. He gets by because everything else draw-and-insert are impeccable, hard about him screams, bad boy!

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say that all three contestants would have done well, but in the end only one gets the title. First runner-up went to Robert Craig, with Adam Schwenk winning. Good luck, I’m sure you’ll do us all proud in the coming year.

Speaking of the AEF, just a week prior on Aug. 27, Mama Sandy Reinhardt and Mark Palladini produced the 10th, and I’m sorry to say last, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF) dinner, awards gala and silent auction. Held at the Forest City Lodge, which was the perfect venue, the event attracted a huge congregation of leather folk from all over. Even our very own amazing and hardworking State Senator Mark Leno was on hand to present Mama with a special award for all of her work with the BCEF over the years. Also on hand

providing fantastic entertainment were Kathleen Antonia, Irene Soderberg, Alotta Boutte and Ejector. In the end, 9k was raised for the BCEF. Although this was billed as the final BCEF dinner, in an e-mail just after the event Mama assured everyone “for those worried about this being the last event, it will NOT be. ☺.” I wonder what she and Palladini will cook up next year? This year’s event will be tough to top. And I know how tough it is to top.

Speaking of Mama, be sure to attend this year’s Leather Walk. Produced by Mama and co-sponsored by Mama’s Family and Folsom Street Events (www.folsomstreetevents.org), the Leather Walk is the unofficial opening event of Leather Week. This year, it’s on Sept. 19, with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. at 440 Castro.

The two-mile walk starts at 1 p.m. with the raising of the Leather Flag at Harvey Milk Plaza on Castro & Mar-

Sexo star Paul Wagner.

He’s got a bad boy’s face, a bad boy’s tats, and a bad boy’s way of fucking that’s nigh unto rape. And he doesn’t shave his balls or butt crack, which adds to the mal hombre of it all. Well, whataya know, all of this, which sometimes made me hold him at a distance, works fine in Roll in the Hay. Paul Wagner’s big ol’ butt looks swell getting boffed by Sinz – I like to see a big guy get it, moaning like Wagner does, and sweating up a storm. Sinz has a second scene, with David Novak, that brings on more of the same.

The movie has three other scenes, two solos and a duo that are consistent with their companions. Sum up Roll in the Hay: the delivery’s not frantic, and the sex is, as they say down on the farm, whole hog.M www.RagingStallion.com

ket by the SF Leather Daddies and Daddies boys. It then winds its way down Market and over to the Powerhouse, Hole in the Wall, Chaps, and ends at the Eagle Tavern just in time for the beer bust. Walkers will be led by the SFPD (hot uniform eye-candy on bikes) and entertained along the way by some of SF’s finest performers. It works like any other fundraising walk in that you can get people to sponsor you with donations. To download the sponsor sheet PDF and get more details, go to: www.mamasfamily.org. Note: You don’t have to have a sponsor sheet to walk. Just put on your walking or cruising leather, and join us for a hot time and enjoy the San Francisco September weather. All the proceeds from the event go to the AEF and BCEF. If you cannot make it, you can send a donation by mail, the address is on Mama’s site noted above. See you all there!M

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BAY AREA REPORTER . eBAR.com . 9 September 2010

MUSIC

The past was a blast here’s nothing overtly queer about the Athens, GA band Pylon, unless you count their ability to make irresistible, minimalist early-80s dance music. Consider it a dare not to gyrate when you hear “Crazy” (later covered by R.E.M.), “Yo-Yo,” or “Reptiles,” from Chomp More (Pylon Music/DFA), the expanded reissue of Pylon’s exceptional 1982 sophomore effort Chomp.

Emerging from the same fertile ground that gave us R.E.M., the B-52’s and Indigo Girls, Pylon, led by distinctive vocalist Vanessa Brisco Hay, is perhaps most reminiscent of another female-fronted group of the period, SF’s Romeo Void. Following on the well-worn heels of the 2007 expanded reissue Gyrate Plus (from Pylon’s 1980 debut album Gyrate), Chomp More sounds as fresh as when we first heard it more than 25 years ago. Reissue bonus tracks include the original single version of “Crazy,” a pair of experimental mixes and the non-LP single “Four Minutes.” But it’s possible that Pylon’s most significant legacies are the traces of the band’s sound and style that can be detected in fellow Southerners the Gossip, led by out front-woman Beth

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the code and have any idea what was going on?

I think I would enjoy some evenings at Helen’s. It was a small, low-key gathering place, a modest neighborhood tavern on Melrose Avenue, a few blocks east of RKO and Paramount Studios. Bottled beer and soft drinks only. But I’m sure I would be daunted by the code of conduct that prevailed at Helen’s, as it did at many gay bars of that era.

Men conformed quite closely to the code of conventional masculine conduct. No hugs or kisses, no affectionate touching, no same-sex dancing, nothing that would draw the suspicious attention of the police. By all means, keep your giddy exuberance in check! Private house parties were the place for letting yourself go, but even those gatherings could be risky.

How did Helen happen to become the mother hen of a gay bar?

When Helen opened the bar in 1952, she was in her mid-50s and had managed gay bars for other owners. She had been a housemother in a gay rooming house. She had known many gay men as friends for

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Way to the Forum. 42nd Street Moon is going down the same via comicus for its production of the 1962 musical that originally starred Zero Mostel, running Oct. 6-24 at the Eureka Theatre. It’s one of the more familiar titles for the theater with an original mission of producing “lost” musicals.

Artistic Director Greg MacKellan is at the helm of the musical with songs by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove.

Megan Cavanagh will be playing Pseudolus, the Roman slave longing (and conniving) for freedom, in her third Moon outing. Last seen as the happy medium Madame Arcati in High Spirits, Cavanagh moved with partner Anne Chamberlain to the Bay Area several years ago from Los Angeles, where her movie career memorably began with the role of heavyhitter Marla Hooch in A League of Their Own. In recent years she has played half of a lesbian couple on the Logo series Exes & Ohs. For Forum tickets, go to www.42ndstmoon.org.

Ditto. I hope that somewhere, someone is working on reissuing albums by the Swimming Pool Qs, another Georgian band of the time.

By the time Lou Reed originally released the newly reissued Legendary Hearts (Iconoclassic), he had laid his more flamboyant queer side to rest and married Sylvia Morales. The bisexual Reed appeared to be on a domesticity quest, and it spilled over into the disc’s title track, “Turn Out the Light.” Reed doesn’t completely abandon his edgier side, as you can hear on the mildly rocking “Don’t Talk To Me about Work,” “Martial Law” and “Bottoming Out.” Probably my favorite Reed album, the reissued New Sensations (Iconoclassic) opens with the blissful “I Love You, Suzanne,” which essentially sets the tone for the sensations to follow. Sure, “Endlessly Jealous” seethes with rage and the threat of violence, but its an uncharacteristically bouncy tune. The funky “My Red Joystick” finds Reed embracing the technology of the time, while the title cut is one his most dance-floor-ready recordings, thanks to Fernando Saunders and Fred Maher. The serious Reed is also present on numbers such as “Fly into the Sun” and “Turn to Me.” Recorded a few years before he

collaborated with Reed on his groundbreaking Transformer album, David Bowie’s debut disc Space Oddity (Virgin/EMI) has been reissued in a double-CD set as well as double-LP vinyl to mark its 40th anniversary.

The breakthrough title track, in which Bowie sang about the now-legendary Major Tom, would go on to become a touchstone for the Bowie recordings that arrived in its wake.

The glam pseudo-epic “Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed,” unabashedly epic “Cygnet Committee,”

Royal/Capitol), the latest of the Beasties’ Capitol catalog to get the expanded, remastered edition treatment (following Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head and Ill Communications), includes a 21-track second disc of seriously bonus material. In addition to massive cuts such as “Intergalactic” and “Body Movin’,” Hello Nasty also continues the trio’s exploration of cut-and-paste techniques, resulting in a highly listenable recording that balances their trademark goofiness with sophisticated sounds.M

“Wild-Eyed Boy from Freecloud,” “God Knows I’m Good” and “Memory of a Free Festival” went a long way in laying the groundwork for Bowie (and his faction) for years to come. CD bonus material includes demos, alternate mixes, B-sides, BBC radio sessions and more.

New York’s Beastie Boys probably have more in common with Reed than Bowie or Pylon, and not just because of geography. Reed’s spoken/sung style could be considered a predecessor to rap. Hello Nasty (Grand

same period.

Your book marks California as a charged space where gay people were creating a culture. Why was so much going on in LA and SF in those years?

Men conformed quite closely to the code of conventional masculine conduct. No hugs or kisses, no affectionate touching, no same-sex dancing, nothing that would draw the suspicious attention of the police.”

“Charged space” is an excellent way to put it. Especially after WWII, LA and SF were major destinations for American gays and lesbians in search of community, tolerance, and opportunity. The nation’s pioneering homophile groups – Mattachine Society, Daughters of Bilitis, and ONE, Incorporated – were all born in California in the 50s. The uprootings of wartime introduced many gays from around the country to LA and SF, and many of them chose to remain there after the war.

The economic boom of the 1950s and 60s drew more gays and lesbians to the state, as did the movie, television, and music industries. Gays began to understand themselves as an oppressed minority. By connecting with one another, overcoming isolation and loneliness, they could begin working together to improve their lives.M

– Author Will Fellows years, whom she met when she was working as a palm-reader in nightclubs. So she was quite savvy in managing those who came into her bar, and in her dealings with the police, the vice squad, and the state liquor licensing agency. As a result, her boys felt safe, like baby chicks huddled under a mother hen’s wings. One way Helen protected her boys was by insisting that none of her regulars have any contact with an unfamiliar newcomer until she had a chance to find out more about him. When Helen served a newcomer’s drink in an unchilled glass, it was a sign to her regulars: “This person

is off-limits until I’ve figured out what he’s about and why he’s here and I give an all-clear signal.” Helen could be unforgiving to a customer who flouted her rules, because he jeopardized her boys’ safety as well as her license.

From today’s perspective, Helen was not especially progressive, but for the 1950s she was extraordinary.

In order to create a revival edition of her book, I needed to learn more about Helen. She died in 1977, but I managed to find her daughter and grandson, and my conversations with them were invaluable. I also tried to better understand Helen’s

Author Will Fellows.

perspective by immersing myself in books of the period like The Problem of Homosexuality, They Walk in Shadow, Homosexuality: Disease or Way of Life? and Must You Conform?

I also dived into early homophile periodicals, Mattachine Review and ONE magazine, trying to imagine the circumstances of gays from around the country who were writing heartfelt letters to the editors. I wanted to complement Helen’s voice with the voices of others from that

Will Fellows reads from Gay Bar on Wed., Sept. 22, at Books Inc., 2275 Market St., SF, Info: www.booksinc.net

Obsessive ‘Compulsion’ Stage and screen star Mandy Patinkin makes his Berkeley Rep debut playing the man who helped get The Diary of Anne Frank published in America, then spent the rest of his life in legal battles with publishers, producers, writers, and even Anne Frank’s father. He harbored an increasingly unhinged conviction that he should be the one to adapt the diary in a play, even after his effort was rejected in favor of the play that Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich created to acclaim on Broadway and in the film adaptation.

Rinne Groff ’s Compulsion, running Sept. 13-Oct. 31, was first seen at Yale Rep earlier this year, and after Berkeley it will move to the New York Public Theatre, where director Oskar Eustis is artistic director. The cast of three humans is augmented by puppets who mostly present scenes from the Hackett-Goodrich play. For tickets to BRT’s season opener, go to www.berkeleyrep.org.

‘Come As You Are’ to Brava Instigated last year by The Theatre Offensive of Cambridge, Mass., in

scribed as “theatrical installations,” and attendees can roam and mingle and imbibe throughout the evening.

Tickets are a modest $10, and can be had through www.brava.org.

‘Palomino’ gigolo

Craig Schwartz

by Gregg Shapiro

Megan Cavanagh takes on the male role of Pseudolus in 42nd Street Moon’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

David Cale plays multiple roles, male and female, in Aurora Theatre’s Palomino, the story of a carriage driver-turned-escort.

recognition of Stonewall’s 40th anniversary, the Come As You Are project is a series of nationally coordinated, locally produced performance events about diverse queer sex. Brava! for Women in the Arts launches its

season on Sept. 17 with its one-nightonly participation in the project.

The collection of short pieces, chosen by The Theatre Offensive, will be presented throughout the Brava building by a local cast. They’re de-

Writer-performer David Cale may not look much like a dashing young Central Park carriage driver who discovers a sideline job as a male prostitute, but such is the magic of theater that he has been successfully riding his hansom cab around the country with the Aurora Theatre-bound solo show.

In Palomino, running Oct. 29Dec. 5, the London-born Cale not only plays the carriage driver, who’s actually subbing for a friend, but also the women he pleasures. It is in their descriptions of the encounters that the gaunt, balding, 50-something Cale can take on the visage of an Irish rake. Funny, sad, and surprising are some of the adjectives the show has earned. Go to www.auroratheatre.org for tickets.M Richard Dodds can be reached at BARstage@comcast.net.

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