Gay San Diego - June 2014

Volume 5 Issue 12 June 13–26, 2014

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SAN DIEGO

GAY

SERVING OUR LGBT COMMUNITY

2 FEATURE

Saturday June 21 Page 9

Hillcrest adds 158 more parking spots New trolley design also revealed Vince Meehan | Gay San Diego The Uptown Community Parking District (UCPD) held a public ribbon-cutting event on June 6, which included the announcement of its new shared-use agreement with the DMV as well as the unveiling of its new “Park Hillcrest” trolley design.

In the long sought-after agreement, the DMV will now make its parking lot — located at 3960 Normal St. and consisting of 158 parking spaces — available for free when it is closed for business.

The trolley is an integral part of the Park Hillcrest project, as visitors who now park in the DMV lot after-hours can also climb aboard the free trolley, which will take them to various destinations along University Avenue as it circles Hillcrest every ten minutes, moving from the DMV parking lot to a $5 valet parking lot at the corner of Fifth and University avenues.

Among those in attendance at the ribbon cutting were State Senator Marty Block, Council President Todd Gloria, UCPD COO Elizabeth Hannon, and Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) Marketing and Communications Program Manager Megan Gamwell.

Italian tastes await

e DINING

Feel the heat

i INTERVIEW

(l to r) Uptown Community Parking District COO Elizabeth Hannon, UCPD President Tim Gahagan, State Senator Marty Block, Photographer John Thurston, Council President Todd Gloria (Photo by Vince Meehan); (inset) the trolley’s backside wrap, featuring Glitz Glam as Carmen San Diego (Photo by John Thurston)

Cheers to progress HBC releases Pride ’14 – a tribute to marriage equality

A true ally

p SPORTS

AFCSL shenanigans

Index Opinion............….….6 Wedding Guide....….….10 Calendar....…….....…13

Morgan M. Hurley | GSD Editor

see Trolley, pg 14

Free to be you and me First LGBT Wedding Expo comes to San Diego Morgan M. Hurley | GSD Editor Hutton Marshall | GSD Assistant Editor

Two years ago, just before San Diego’s 38th annual Pride celebration, MO’s Universe launched its fourth property in the shadow of the new 60’ Pride flag: the Hillcrest Brewing Company (HBC) at the corner of University Avenue and Normal Street.

Touted as the first LGBT brewery in the world — a claim that no one has tried to dispute since — HBC has quickly become a gathering place for craft beer-loving locals both gay and straight, with its standard carry of eight brewed-on-site small batch beers along with a dozen other brands also on tap.

Earlier this year, HBC gained mainstream media attention when Interim Mayor Todd Gloria used its beer in a friendly bet with the mayor of Cincinnati during an NFL playoff game between the Chargers and the Bengals. Then just last month, HBC’s U-Hawle Hefe was the featured libation at Linda Perry’s star-studded event for

Nearly one year ago, on June 27, 2013, same-sex couples in California rejoiced at their reinstated freedom to legally marry as the Supreme Court struck down statewide and national bans on same-sex marriage.

However, the newfound freedom to wed presented the LGBT community with a challenge that has plagued heterosexual couples for hundreds, even thousands of years: how to plan that wedding.

Historically, most businesses that provide the wide range of wedding-related services available have only provided them to malefemale couples planning their weddings.

While San Diego has no shortage of wedding services inclusive of the LGBT community, same-sex couples wishing to tie the knot face the unique challenge of locating them.

Local event planners Jose Valdivia and Veronica Gomez saw a need to connect same-sex couples with LGBT-friendly wed-

see Pride14, pg 14

see LGBT Wedding, pg 11

Classifieds.……………15 Theater.......…......…18

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San Diego Community News Network

COMING JUNE 27TH Best of Gay San Diego awards issue!

See who this year's winners are!

A partipant shares what ‘being loved is’ (Courtesy Jennine Estes)

2

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

Bella cibo!

FEATURE

gay-sd.com

Tastes and surprises await ‘passport’ holders in Little Italy

Participants in last year's Taste of Little Italy experienced tastings from up to 30 of the area's restaurants. (Courtesy Little Italy Association) Vince Meehan | Gay San Diego Little Italy will soon be abuzz with hungry foodies scurrying about the streets for its seventh annual “Taste” event. Nearly 30 restaurants, pubs and bistros will be serving samples of their favorite appetizers, entrees, and desserts for four hours on June 18. Among those participating in this year’s festival is Little Italy’s Indigo Grill.

Deborah Scott, a partner in the Cohn Restaurant Group (CRG), is the executive chef at the Indigo Grill. Scott and CRG also own many other high-profile restaurants in the region, such as The Prado, Vintana, C Level and Island Prime, as well as the popular food trucks Chop Soo-ey and Patty Melt.

Celebrity chefs are the new rock stars of San Diego, and Scott Chef Deborah Scott's Indigo Grill will serve up some surprises at this year's is at the top of that list, having been Taste of Little Italy. (Courtesy Cohn Restaurant Group) featured in San Diego Magazine,

San Diego Home & Garden, Condé Nast Traveler, Sunset, and Food & Wine Magazine.

Scott moved to San Diego from Virginia in the early ’90s and decided to drop roots here in order to follow her dream of becoming a chef.

“My partner was in the militar y and I ended up following her out here to San Diego,” she said. “But pulling up stakes and moving to a new town ever y two years was not an option if I wanted to get serious about being a restaurateur. So we split up and went our separate ways, with me staying in San Diego.”

A few years later, Scott landed the head chef role at Hillcrest’s former Kemo Sabe, where she caught the eye of restaurateurs David and Lesley Cohn.

“It was hard to break up with my partner, but in hindsight, it

was exactly the right thing to do,” Scott said.

Her cooking philosophy is to showcase lots of spice and flavor, but she said presentation is paramount.

“I’m all about presentation and I insist that my chefs follow suit,” she said. “I’m the type of person who finds it difficult to keep my input in check, but you need to let your chefs develop their own styles and personalities, so I’m learning to leave them alone. But when it comes to presentation, that is where I do not compromise.”

Scott enjoys living in Bay Park, which she describes as a fun and vibrant place to live.

“The area has its own cool personality which I really enjoy,” she said. “I like to have a bite at places like Baci or Luce, and then go grab a beer at the High Dive bar. There’s a fun vibe to this place that I really like. And having Bay Park Fish Company right there is awesome, it doesn’t get any better!”

Indigo Grill will be serving a fresh ceviche at the Taste of Italy with a couple of surprises thrown in, she said, adding that she relishes the chance to be involved in the Taste event.

“I always make it a point to be a part of the community, whether that means being in the chamber of commerce, Kiwanis or tasting festivals like this,” Scott said. “Being a part of a family is important to me and I want to give back.”

The Taste of Italy takes place Wednesday, June 18, from 5 – 9 p.m. Each ticket, or “taste passport” includes a map and list of what participating restaurants will be serving. Two different tasting “routes” are available, and passport holders will walk to restaurants on the chosen route, having their passport stamped along the way.

Each route is $29 or both can be purchased for $45. For more info or to buy passports, visit littleitalysd.com.t

Scott's Chop-Sooey food truck is a regular sight at Little Italy's Farmers' Market.

(Photo by Vince Meehan)

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NATIONAL NEWS/COMMUNITY VOICES

Legal activists brace for religious ruling June is the final month of the U.S. Supreme Court’s current session and, while anticipation is not nearly so great this year for the LGBT community as it was last year, there is some concern in the air.

Last year, the wait was about marriage: whether the Supreme Court would declare the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s ban on same-sex couples marrying to be unconstitutional. It declared DOMA unconstitutional and, on a legal technicality, it allowed a lower court decision striking California’s Proposition 8 to stand.

This year, anxiety surrounds two consolidated cases in which employers are seeking the right to discriminate against employees in the provision of health benefits based on the company owner’s personal religious beliefs. It is the type of conflict — religious beliefs versus non-discrimination laws — that has arisen time and again in recent years by employers seeking to discriminate against LGBT people.

“Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores” and “Conestoga Wood v. HHS” are lawsuits brought by the owners of for-profit commercial enterprises — a furniture maker, an arts-and-craft store, and a bookstore (the latter selling Christian-oriented books). The owners of these companies object to a requirement by the Affordable Care Act that employers’ health plans include coverage for contraception. They say they’re not trying to stop the use of contraception; they just don’t want to be involved in funding it.

The Family Research Council submitted a brief in support of the Hobby Lobby employers, arguing that “commercial activity does not preclude or excuse religious observance and often can be a means of exercising religion.”

But an article on salon.com reported the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga owners are involved in political efforts to stop the use of contraception, as well as marriage for same-sex couples, through its donations to the National Christian Charitable Foundation, which funnels millions of dollars into organizations such as the Alliance Defending Freedom which has defended many state bans on samesex marriage.

LGBT legal activists seek two major concerns with a ruling in favor of the employers in these cases.

One is that it could open the door for employers to seek exemptions from providing coverage for other health benefits, such as coverage for the same-sex spouses or partners of employees, reproductive services for lesbian couples, testing and treatment for men at risk of HIV infection, and transgender treatment for people with gender dysphoria. And the other is that employers and individuals might seek exemptions to other laws, such as laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“Given these implications, the Hobby Lobby case is indeed another major moment for the LGBT community,” wrote Ashland Johnson, policy counsel for National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), in an article for NCLR’s website. “The Supreme Court’s

LISA KEEN

KEEN FILES resolution of the case will directly affect our reproductive rights and other health care needs. Equally concerning, it could result in devastating exceptions to protections for LGBT people at the state and local level, jeopardizing literally decades of advocacy and progress.”

Following oral argument in March, Jenny Pizer, Lambda Legal’s director of Law and Public Policy, expressed concern that the court may give certain for-profit companies — those closely held by families or small groups of people (also known as S-corporations) — the ability to claim the same sort of religious exemption to ACA that is currently afforded to religious institutions.

“If they say any for-profit can claim religious [exemptions], obviously, that’s very bad,” Pizer said in March. “If they say only S-corporations can have a religious exemption, that’s less bad, but it’s still bad. There are an awful lot of family-owned businesses.”

Adding to that worr y: On May 5, the Supreme Court surprised some when it ruled in favor of allowing a town board in Greece, New York to open its meetings with a prayer that is specific to a particular religion, usually Christianity.

“To hold that invocations must be nonsectarian would force the legislatures that sponsor prayers and the courts that are asked to decide these cases to act as supervisors and censors of religious speech, a rule that would involve government in religious matters to a far greater degree than is the case under the town’s current practice of neither editing or approving prayers in advance nor criticizing their content after the fact,” wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy for a 5 to 4 majority in Town of Greece v. Galloway.

Other decisions LGBT legal activists will likely be watching for in the next few weeks include: National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning. The case involves the president’s right to make appointments during congresssional recess – a tool President Obama

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has used to get a number of openly gay people into positions.

He used it to get lesbian legal activist Chai Feldblum cleared onto the Equal Emloyment Opportunity Commission and to install gay nominee Richard Sorian as assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services.

McCullen v. Coakley. The Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and NCLR all signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a Massachusetts law that attempts to protect the safety of women seeking abortions by creating a 35-foot setback for any protest outside such facilities.

Riley v. California. No LGBT group filed a brief in this case, but the gay-friendly American Librar y Association (ALA) did, arguing that police should not have a right to search a person’s smartphone contents without a warrant, incident to an arrest.

Noting that smartphone users store sensitive personal data about themselves and their interests on their smartphones, the ALA brief said, “Smartphones are personal computers in ever y sense of the word: if ever y arrest of a person with a smartphone … allows police officers to rummage painstakingly and intrusively through the contents of personal libraries, the loss of constitutionally protected privacy will be great indeed.”

—Lisa Keen is an award-winning journalist who spent 18 years as editor of the Washington Blade.

See more news from Keen and other select veteran gay journalists at keennewsservice.com .t

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

3

Equality on the march

PAU L M C G U I R E

LEGALLY LGBT A number of lawsuits challenging marriage bans are currently making their way through the federal courts in different states. Because cases take so long to reach a decision at the Federal Circuit Court level, parties frequently request a stay of a decision by a Federal District Court judge until all appeals can be exhausted. For a long time it seemed like getting a stay was going to be expected in the marriage cases, most of them challenging state constitutional amendments or statutes that limit marriage to between a man and a woman.

The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed this when both the Utah District Court judge and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to grant a stay after a Federal District

Court Judge in Utah struck down Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage. When the question of a stay reached the Supreme Court, they unanimously ordered a stay. This led to a period of time in between the ruling and the stay, where marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples in Utah were put on hold. A Federal District Court recently affirmed that these marriages should be recognized.

Now in a similar case in Oregon, a Federal District Court judge declined to issue a stay and the Supreme Court declined to grant a stay as well.

What changed from the challenge in Oregon to lead the Supreme Court to a different result? The two cases exemplify a broader issue of the difference between two types of cases challenging marriage bans around the countr y.

In the majority of the cases currently pending, state officials stepped in to defend the ban.

Some officials did this because they truly support the ban.

Others decided that they were obligated to defend the ban even though they personally opposed it. However, in both Oregon and Pennsylvania, the state’s Attorney General determined that the state’s ban was unconstitutional and refused to defend it. Refusal to defend the ban means that once a decision is made at the District Court level, there is nobody to appeal the decision.

see McGuire, pg 7

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GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

COMMUNITY VOICES

My summer YA picks CA L E B R A I N E Y OUT ON THE PAGE My love of books started when I was young. I treasured the way books could make me feel and how they challenged me to see the world differently.

Books sharpened my young imagination and helped provide a safe haven for me while living under the rule of my fundamentalist parents. But there was a problem in ever y single young adult (YA) book I read. There was no one like me. There were no ef feminate boys who were struggling with their crushes on other boys and their longing to see other young men naked and be held by them. And this was perhaps one of the most destructive things about my adolescence. The inability to see myself reflected left me feeling alone and isolated and because of this I was much more vulnerable to the damaging homophobic messages that are alive and well today.

Young LGBT people of color today often face the same problem I did over a decade ago.

They do not see themselves reflected in literature. Young LGBT people of color are curiously absent from most YA fiction, and this absence adds to the faulty belief that LGBT people of color either do not exist or do not write stories. Fortunately, the

number of LGBT writers of color who are stepping in to fill the gap left by mainstream publishing and white LGBT publishing is growing. These authors are refusing to let kids like themselves go unseen and unheard.

Because it is summer and because I have never done a piece focused on YA fiction before, I have decided to briefly discuss some of the authors and books that young LGBT people could and probably should be reading this summer.

Latino/as are quickly approaching majority status in the U.S., which means there are more LGBT Latino/as residing here than ever before. And it is critical that young queer Latino/ as have YA literature that can speak to the issues that matter most to them.

A few of the authors that are helping young Latino/a voices be heard in literature are Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Mayra Lazara Dole, Rigoberto González, Steven dos Santos, Nancy Osa, Charles Rice-González, Alex Sanchez, and Carla Trujillo. There are currently more books for young, queer Latino men than there are for women, but hopefully that will change as more publishers become interested in queer Latina YA fiction.

Some of my favorite titles by these authors are RiceGonzález’s Chulito about a young, gay Puerto Rican in the Bronx; Trujillo’s “What Night Brings,” which features a young lesbian Chicana tr ying to under-

stand her world; Alire Sáenz’s “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” and “Last Night I Sang to the Monster,” both of which feature young, gay Chicano protagonists dealing with issues such as gangs and addiction; and Lazara Dole’s “Down to the Bone” which follows a young Cuban lesbian as she deals with her unsupportive family and the girl she loves.

One of the most commercially successful YA writers for LGBT youth is African American lesbian writer Jacqueline Woodson.

Woodson has an extensive array of books, many of which include gay and lesbian characters.

Woodson’s most notable LGBT YA titles are “From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun” which explores the relationship between a young man and his newly out lesbian mother, and “The House You Pass On The Way” which features a young African American lesbian protagonist.

Other queer African American authors who write for young adults include Craig Laurance Gidney, whose “Bereft” follows a young gay African American man as he deals with issues of faith and family, and Tonya Cherie Hegamin, whose book “M+O 4EVR” is one of the few YA tiles that have an African American lesbian protagonist and the only queer YA novel that addresses slaver y.

Another major author who writes for young LGBT people of color is Chinese American lesbian writer Malinda Lo, whose successful books feature young

Asian lesbians and young white bisexual women as they find themselves in fantastical situations that they must navigate in order to succeed and even sur vive! But Lo is not the only queer YA novelist for Asian and Pacific Islander youth. Paul Yee’s “Money Boy” follows a gay Chinese Canadian as he finds himself homeless and having to navigate hustler culture while Shyam Selvadurai’s “Swimming in the Monsoon Sea” examines the world of a young gay well-todo Sri Lankan who falls in love with a handsome young Canadian man. Rakesh Satyal’s “Blue Boy” takes on issues of spirituality for a young gay Indian youth, a topic that is often not discussed in LGBT circles.

Unfortunately, trans, Arab, and indigenous youth have ver y few options when it comes to YA literature. But we can support the few authors who are writing these stories and prove to publishers that these types of books are needed!

Sara Farizan is an Iranian lesbian author whose debut novel “If You Could Be Mine” just won a Lambda Literar y Award.

The book tells the stor y of two young Iranian lesbians caught in an impossible situation. Farizan also has a new book coming out in October, “Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel” which follows a young Iranian American lesbian as she navigates high school crushes. Be sure to pick that title up this fall!

Randa Jarrar’s “A Map of Home” follows a young lesbian woman of Greek, Egyptian and Palestinian descent, as she deals with issues of migration and displacement.

gay-sd.com Tama Wise is, to my knowledge, the only gay indigenous author for young adults, and his debut novel “Street Dreams” immerses the reader into the world of Australian hip hop and tells the stor y of young gay indigenous man striving to make it in that world.

The only trans of color YA novel that is readily available is “I Am J” by Cris Beam, which tells the stor y of a young trans man of Puerto Rican and Jewish descent who is navigating his transition.

I know by now you might be feeling over whelmed by the immense diversity of LGBT YA literature and wondering how you can get your hands on some of these titles. Well you are in luck. The San Diego Multicultural LGBT Literar y Foundation is hosting an official San Diego Pride event titled “Expressions of Pride.”

Expressions of Pride will take place Friday, July 18 at Diversionar y Theater from 1-5 p.m. prior to the Stonewall Rally, which will be held under the Hillcrest Pride Flag. Expressions of Pride is a literar y festival, and the YA section will have all of the titles listed here, so be sure to stop by and stock up. For more information visit the Foundation at sdliterar yfoundation.org. t —Caleb Rainey has a master’s degree in cultural studies and is a literature enthusiast who juggles several jobs and tries to make time to read. He is also a long-time activist, and the founder executive director of the San Diego Multicultural LGBT Literary Foundation. Contact him at info@ sdliteraryfoundation.org.

NEWS

gay-sd.com

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

and education programs for people with disabilities. Along with visual art ranging from paintings to sculpture to glass blowing, LIFA will feature several live musicians, including American Idol finalist Casey Abrams. For the last 27 years, Torrey Pines Kiwanis Foundation has produced the event and donated 100 percent of proceeds to services for the disabled. Attendees may also enjoy LIFA’s “Restaurant Row,” comprised of several San Diego’s popular eateries such as Stone World Bistro, Homeplate Fries, and Bottaro Pizza. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22. Active-duty military and children 16 and under are free.

Advanced single-day ($11) and weekend passes ($13) are available at ljfa.org.

GAY NEWS BRIEFS PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS San Diegans hit the polls June 3 and the preliminar y results of the Primar y Elections are in. Carl DeMaio received enough votes to ensure a runoff against Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) in their race for the 52nd district congressional seat.

DeMaio, a former San Diego City Councilmember, has received national attention as one of three gay Republicans running for the House of Representatives. Other notable election outcomes were the failure of Propositions B and C, which rejected a City-Council approved update to the Barrio Logan community plan. The measures created a controversial buffer zone between industr y and residents, whom supporters of the plan claimed were victims of pollutants emitted by the shipbuilding industr y. Bonnie Dumanis, amid accusations following newfound information linking her to a campaign-contribution scandal, won the race to secure her fourth term as San Diego’s top prosecutor. The fall General Election is Nov. 4.

THE CENTER TO HONOR SPEAKER ATKINS In light of her recent election by her peers to become California’s 69th Speaker of the State Assembly, San Diego’s Toni Atkins will be honored by the San Diego LGBT Community Center on June 27 for her many accomplishments. Atkins is the first San Diegan, the first out lesbian and the third woman to hold this office.

The celebration will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. in The Center’s auditorium, located in Hillcrest at 3909 Centre St., and will include light appetizers, wine and beer.

The event is expected to fill up quickly, so attendees are encouraged to RSVP as soon as possible at events.thecentersd. org/SpeakerAtkins.

5

(l to r) LGBT military veterans Evelyn Thomas (USMC, from San Diego), Sage Fox (US Army, from Sacramento), and Michael D. Williams (US Army, from Sacramento) at the California State Capitol, holding the resolution that now identifies June 11 as LGBT Veteran’s Day in the State of California. (Courtesy Evelyn Thomas) OLD GLOBE PLAY A STAR AT TONYS “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” which had its world premiere March 8 on The Old Globe’s Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, won a staggering four Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, at the Tony Awards in New York City. The musical comedy won Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Costume Design of a Musical and Best Direction of a Musical at the 68th annual national musical theater award ceremony. Written by Robert L. Freedman, the acclaimed play earned 10 nominations this season, more than any other production. For more info about The Old Globe, visit theoldglobe.org FOOD TRUCKS WHEEL INTO AIDS WALK On Thursday, June 19, the 25th annual AIDS Walk & Run San Diego will get a little jumpstart thanks to several of San Diego’s most popular food trucks. Gathering at The

San Diego LGBT Community Center, which runs the AIDS Walk, food trucks will operate from 5 – 8 p.m. in The Center’s parking lot, located at 3909 Centre St. The food trucks will be donating a portion of their proceeds to the September event, which is the largest one-day HIV/AIDS fundraiser in San Diego County. Participating food trucks include Calexico Creamery, The Juice Wave, the InSlider SD, New York on Rye, and Two for the Road, among others. The Cyber Center will also be open for those who wish to register for this year’s event online at AIDSWalkSD.org. AIDS Walk & Run San Diego takes place Sept. 27.

LA JOLLA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS RETURNS Back for its 28th year, the annual La Jolla Festival of the Arts (LIFA) will once again take over UC San Diego’s Warren Field to present over 200 established artists to raise money for adaptive sports, recreation

#CENTERSUPPORTER MONEY MATCH FOR JUNE Chris Shaw, owner and president of MO’s Universe — which includes Urban MO’s Bar and Grill, Baja Betty’s Mexican Grill, Gossip Grill, and Hillcrest Brewing Company — recently announced he would match any donation made to the The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s #CenterSupporter campaign during the month of June. “I hope you will take me up on this challenge and give to The Center today. It means a lot of me, and to all the people who benefit from the great work of The Center,” Shaw said in a press release announcing the match. Shaw, who is an avid but generally quiet philanthropist for the community, said he made this public “in the hope that, together, we can make our donations go even further.” Shaw further stated that staff at all four locations are also joining into the effort and giving at least one dollar on every shift.

Those in the community who wish to donate can do so by going to this link events. thecentersd.org/donate. The Center then encourages participants to follow up their donation with a comment on social media using the hashtag #CenterSupporter and adding a shout out to Chris Shaw.

see Briefs, pg 6

Expert Advice

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6

OPINION/NEWS

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

gay-sd.com

Letters

Clarifying some softball stats You state [See “Dugout Chatter: Crazy D Division highlights AFCSL Open Division races,” Vol. 5, Issue 6] “The Masterbatters admit that they have been perennial cellar-dwellers in their history, but not this year.”

But don’t forget that the Masterbatters won the D division in 2007 and when 19-1 in 2008 to win the division again.

After moving up to the C division for three years, we returned in 2012 and are now in the thick of it.

—Scott Tagle, via gay-sd.com

FROM PAGE 5

BRIEFS

Editorial

A reminder of mobile manners

By AT&T National cell phone courtesy month kicks off July 1.

With so many Americans owning a cell phone (91 percent to be exact, according to the PEW Research Center), we could all use a few pointers on cell phone etiquette.

Whether responding to texts during a dinner date, carrying on a conversation in a museum or art gallery, or chatting about private details in public spaces, the majority of cell phone users have most likely been guilty of one of these faux pas at some point or another.

To remind cell phone users to be mindful of others, AT&T has put together a list of do’s and don’ts.

DO: Be mindful of how loudly you are talking in public.

DON’T: Have personal conversations where others can hear you. You never know who may be listening so this is in your best interest as well.

DO: Step aside or leave the room if possible when taking a call in public.

DON’T: Take calls when involved in face-to-face conversations. If you know that you are expecting an important call that you must take, let your companions know ahead of time.

DO: Put your phone on silent when in theaters, restaurants, trains, buses, doctors and dentists’ offices, museums and other enclosed public spaces.

Think of downloading a free app like the one from Cinemark. The free app enables users to switch their phone onto CineMode when entering the theater, which automatically dims their screen and prompts them to set the volume to silent. In return, users receive rewards — such as money off popcorn — for keeping CineMode on for the duration of the movie.

DON’T: Text/email/check your phone while involved in face-to-face conversation. It’s just plain rude and makes the other person feel like they’re not interesting or important to you.

DO: Choose your ring tone wisely — no annoying, offensive or vulgar ringtones. If you want to personalize your ringtone or have a little fun with it, try downloading a ring tone app like Ringtones Unlimited. For $1.99 you can choose from 1,500 unique ringtones, including music and sound effects.

DON’T: Have conversations in cramped or small spaces such as elevators, trains and waiting rooms.

Finally, when it comes to texting and driving, It Can Wait! Visit Itcanwait.com to download the free AT&T DriveMode app, which when enabled sends an automatic reply to incoming texts and emails to let the sender know you are driving and will reply when it is safe to do so. While on the site, take the time to take the pledge to never again text and drive!

— AT&T, Inc., which was founded in 1885 and originally stood for American Telephone & Telegraph, is the second largest provider of mobile telephones in the United States. For more information, visit att.com. t

PUBLISHER David Mannis (619) 961-1951 david@sdcnn.com

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SALES INTERNS Edgar DeLeon Carlos Dervis Charlie Baterina

EDITOR Morgan M. Hurley (619) 961-1960 morgan@sdcnn.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Terrie Drago (619) 961-1956 terri@sdcnn.com

ACCOUNTING Priscilla Umel-Martinez (619) 961-1962 accounting@sdcnn.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR Hutton Marshall (619) 961-1952 hutton@sdcnn.com

Illissa Fernandez (619) 961-1964 illissa@sdcnn.com

EDITORIAL INTERN McKenna Aiello

Sloan Gomez (619) 961-1954 sloan@sdcnn.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER Rebecah Corbin (619) 961-1961 becah@sdcnn.com

Lisa Hamel (619) 961-1957 lisahamel@sdcnn.co

PRODUCTION Vincent Meehan (619) 961-1961 vincent@sdcnn.com

Yana Shayne (619) 961-1963 yana@sdcnn.com

CONTRIBUTORS Chris Azzopardi Charlene Baldridge Dae Elliot Lisa Keen Michael Kimmel Jeff Praught Caleb Rainey Frank Sabatini Jr. Marsha Smelkinson Christine Winter Paul McGuire

WEB DESIGN Kim Espinoza espinozawebworks.com kim@kespinoza.com

OPINIONS/LETTERS Gay San Diego encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email both to editor@gay-sd.com. Include phone number and address for verification. We reserve the right to edit letters and editorials for brevity and accuracy. Letters should be no longer than 350 words in length unless approved by staff editors. Letters and guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or staff.

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NEW SEVEN-MILE BIKE ROUTE CONNECTS CITY Cyclists can now take advantage of the San Diego Bike Loop, a seven-mile network of on-street bicycle lanes aimed to connect riders with the City’s most notable destinations and sights. “The San Diego Bike Loop is a big step forward in our push to create a more bikefriendly City,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer stated in a press release.

“These are they type of low-cost projects that have a huge impact on our neighborhoods and we’re going to be doing a lot more of them in the future.” Made easily accessible by painted street symbols and way-finding markers, the route takes riders through Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy near several attractions including the new Waterfront Park at the County Administration Center, the USS Midway Museum, Seaport Village, the new Central Library, and Petco Park. “Our streets are a key part of our public infrastructure,” Gloria said. “They are not just for cars. They are for people. With more people choosing biking not only as a form of exercise but as a real transportation option, providing safe bikeways is a smart investment.” The project also includes new dedicated bike transit lanes on Fourth and Fifth avenues in Bankers Hill. An entire traffic lane was replaced in each direction to make way for the bike lanes, but street parking was not disrupted. A map of the San Diego Bike Loop and supporting information can be found at sandiego.gov/tsw/pdf/bikeloopmapbrochure.pdf.

MAKE FREE ART ON ‘MASS CREATIVITY DAY’ The New Children’s Museum is in its second year of “Mass Creativity,” a popular outreach effort designed to expand hands-on creativity to audiences that might normally

not have access to them. The eight artist-led workshops of the project take place in carious diverse communities throughout San Diego. Community organizations that participated are Bayside Community Center in Linda Vista, Casa Familiar in San Ysidro; Sherman Heights Community Center ; South Bay Community Services in Chula Vista; St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon; Taiwanese American Community Center in Kearny Mesa; The San Diego LGBT Center in Hillcrest; and the Southern Sudanese Community Center in City Heights. The workshops have been ongoing since April, each employing a “unique, food-themed component” that ties them each in to this year’s “Feast: The Art of Playing With Your Food,” the Museum’s annual fundraising exhibition. The workshops will come together for “Mass Creativity Day,” an all-day celebration of art and creativity held at the Museum June 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers said over 1,200 participants attended last year and they plan to double that in 2014. Mass Creativity Day is free to the public. The New Children’s Museum is located at 200 W. Island Ave., Downtown. For more information, visit thinkplaycreate.org.

AT&T’S ‘LIVE PROUD’ CAMPAIGN Celebrating Pride season and national LGBT Pride Month in June, AT&T recently launched the second annual “Live Proud” campaign, which encourages the LGBT community and its allies to create unique Internet memes to show how they “live proud.” Meant to encourage awareness, empowerment and pride, the campaign will end with a drawing among all the memes posted on social media.

Four winners will be randomly chosen to meet musician Adam Lambert at a private event in New York City. One grand prize winner will spend one-on-one time with Lambert prior to the event. Until August 10, memes may be shared with @ATT or @adamlambert with the hashtag #ATTLiveProud on Facebook and Twitter.t

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COMMUNITY VOICES

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want to come down on Sept. 13 to enjoy any of our beverage gardens at South Bay Pride.

In addition, we will be recruiting volunteers to help out, not only with the “day of” activities of South Bay Pride, but also with our float for the upcoming San Diego Pride in July, as well as our booth at their festival. We would love to see you there. Or, just come by and let us know what you would like to see at South Bay Pride.

DA E E L L I OT T

SOUTH BAY ALLIANCE Making sure we reach across the border Recognizing that San Diego and Tijuana are all part of our LGBTQ community, South Bay Pride participated in the “March against Homophobia” in Tijuana, Mexico this past May 17.

We also proudly sponsored a mixer at Club Fusion afterwards, where we discussed moving forward and serving our entire community without borders.

It was exciting and fun. I want to thank Craig Knudson, Joe Burke and Mar Cardenas Loutzenhizer for organizing our participation. In addition, thank you Osvaldo Casares of Club Fusion for hosting such a great get together!

See us at Out at the Fair South Bay Pride will also have a booth at “Out at the Fair” this Saturday at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Come by and show your support while enjoying our great San Diego County Fair!

We will be handing out “two for one” drink coupons for all of you who

South Bay Pride update All our applications for South Bay Pride Art & Music Festival are available on line. Let me remind you of those before everything gets really, really busy!

First, our “Art in the Park” display has two components: We are recruiting from our local up-andcoming artisans for the opportunity to be sponsored for a FREE booth to display their wares. We were very proud of last year’s display and want to continue supporting our artists.

If you are interested, please visit and apply at southbayalliance.net/ Artapp.html. In addition, we are opening “Art in the Park” display booths for all interested artisans to display and sell their wares from 12 – 6 p.m. on Sept. 13. Our booths are only $100 and come with their own “pop up” canopy.

Second, we are going to have two stages this year with room for a dozen different indie bands playing on them. If you are interested in being one of our acts, please apply at southbayalliance.net/musicapp2014.html. It is our goal that both the music and art aspects of this festival become “stand alone, must see” events that highlight the amazing creative talent we have locally. The deadline for applications is June 15 — that’s this weekend — so apply now!

Third, we are expanding our children’s area to include bungee jumping, inflatables and fun for children of all ages, which will go until 6 p.m.

At 6 p.m., “In the Park after Dark” begins and we continue with the great bands, DJs, beverage gardens, fantastic vendor/exhibitors and dancing until 10 p.m. If you would like to be an exhibitor/vendor, please visit southbayalliance.net/Vendor2014.html.

We will also have water sports available for rent during the day until 6 p.m. Yes, you heard it right, we are arranging to have jet skis, kayaks, and paddle boards for those that want to get wet and enjoy the water.

You can see why I am so excited about this year’s festival. We have a little of everything throughout the day so that our diverse community can enjoy celebrating and affirming equality for all.

A phenomenal woman With the recent passing of Maya Angelou, I cannot help but remember her resiliency, her tenacity, her heart at living her life, and speaking her experience and supporting and encouraging those around her to do the same. This amazing and honorable woman will be missed terribly. I hope that she continues to inspire us all to pursue social justice everywhere.

— Dae Elliott is a sociologist and lecturer working at SDSU since 1994.

She is one of the founding executive committee members and current chair of South Bay Alliance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organized in 2006 with the purpose of building a coalition of the LGBT community and allies for social networking, business promotion and political awareness in South San Diego County. South Bay Alliance has been the organizer of South Bay Pride Art & Music Festival since 2007. Contact her at southbayalliance@gmail.com.t

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014 FROM PAGE 3

MCGUIRE The Supreme Court’s decision to deny the stay in Oregon flows from the issue of standing that was key to the Supreme Court’s decision in the Prop 8 case in California last year. If you recall, rather than California’s Attorney General defending Prop 8, we had the original group of people who placed it on the ballot defending it (they are known simply as the proponents). When the Supreme Court got the case, they refused to address the question of whether or not Prop 8 was constitutional because they determined that the proponents were not allowed to defend Prop 8 in Federal Court.

Now in Oregon, rather than proposition proponents trying to defend the marriage ban, the conservative group the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) wants to defend it because the Oregon Attorney General doesn’t want to. So far the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied any attempts NOM has made to intervene in the case because their request was made too late. However, I expect their attempt to intervene would have been denied regardless, because the Supreme Court decision in the Prop 8 case made it clear that interested groups do not have standing to litigate in federal court.

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NOM claims that this result is problematic because it allows a state Attorney General to unilaterally decide to leave a law without anyone to defend it. They claim the law must be defended because it was voted on by the people of the state of Oregon.

Those who believe strongly that these cases will ultimately be successful have praised the Attorney Generals in Oregon and Pennsylvania as saving the taxpayers the expense of defending the case all the way to the Supreme Court.

Since the Supreme Court issued the decision in Windsor, all judges agree that state marriage bans are unconstitutional, though this might change once we see decisions from the Federal Circuit Courts.

Cases in Utah, Oklahoma, Virgina, Texas, Michigan, and Idaho are making their way through the Federal Court appeals process. An opinion from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected in the Utah and Oklahoma cases first. Oral arguments have already been heard in the cases originating from Utah, Oklahoma, and Virginia.

—Paul D. McGuire is an openly bisexual family law attorney in San Diego who assists families dealing with dissolution of marriage and domestic par tnerships. He writes a blog on family law and LGBT issues at paulmcguire.com.t

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GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

COMMUNITY VOICES

Feeling younger — growing older

MICHAEL KIMMEL LIFE BEYOND THERAPY

Some of us spend a lot of time and money to look younger than we are. We want to convince other people that we’re not our biological age. While this can be an amusing — and expensive — game, it seems to me that we’re missing the point.

Isn’t it more important to feel younger as we grow older?

If our biological age is 40, we look 30 but feel 80: What’s the point?

In my experience, most people who live long and healthy lives have a purpose: They’ve found a meaningful place for themselves in the world they live in.

I once had a client who had lots of money, cars, homes … but found

himself watching TV all day. He told me that he wasn’t interested in anything. I suggested that we focus on finding something that stimulated him.

Stimulation = aliveness. Without stimulation, there’s no point in getting older. Your stimulation can be your rose garden, career, travels, volunteer work, etc.

As we age, the things that used to excite us often change. As we leave outdated pleasures behind, what do we replace them with?

What excites us now? What do we feel energized by?

Feeling youthful is feeling alive.

Feeling alive is being active in the world. The energy of youth is that

of expression and creation. Ironically, as we age and gain wisdom, we often understand how best to use our resources and talents. But we may hold ourselves back due to self-doubt and a lack of confidence.

At age 20 most of us feel invincible. At age 30, we still feel incredible. But, for many of us, once we pass 40, we feel insignificant.

We question our career choices, over-analyze our friendships and worry about a decreasing sexual drive as we grieve the passage of our “youth.”

It doesn’t have to be this way.

As we age, many of us become discouraged. “I’ll never become (insert your fantasy career goal here) or have the kind of relationship I always wanted. It’s all downhill from here.”

This kind of despair is hard on our mind and body. Instead, we can use our hard-won wisdom to get re-motivated and create the kind of life we want NOW as opposed to the life that ended in disappointment as our youthful fantasies crashed and burned.

So, we didn’t become president of the company or the first female billionaire: What is it that we want NOW? A healthy mid-life “crisis” (whether you have it at 30, 40 or 50) is more like a tune-up. You don’t need to dye your hair, buy an overpriced sports car or dump your partner for someone much younger. Instead, maybe it’s time to go to the gym less and try something you enjoy more, like yoga or hiking. Or it could be time to get your finances in order and plan for the rest of your life.

When you’re starting your life “tune-up,” be patient: Don’t panic. Give yourself time to make

gay-sd.com changes. It may take a year or two to really change direction. Relax and don’t rush the process.

Let’s talk about relaxation and stress: Most of us are quite proud of how busy we are; we even boast of it to our friends. But, are we enjoying it?

Many of us were raised to feel guilty if we relax. Never relaxing is a great way to feel old, worn-out and depressed. Stress speeds up the body’s metabolism, hurts our immune system and is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer and impotence.

How can we relax more? We can start by adding more balance to our life, like leisure activities that are different from our work.

If you have an analytic, left-brain focused job, add activities that are more physical and right brain, like gardening, building a deck, going hiking, fishing or canoeing. Breaking a good sweat may be a good balancing activity for you administrative/CEO types. Carving little breaks into your schedule is a good way to ease your way into relaxing more. Experiment with things that make you feel good, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

Rather than spend a lot of our precious time and money to look younger, wouldn’t it be a much better investment in ourselves to feel younger as we age?

—Michael Kimmel is a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in helping LGBT clients achieve their goals and deal with anxiety, depression, grief, sexually addictive behavior, coming out, relationship challenges and homophobia. Michael is currently accepting new clients.

Contact him at 619-955-3311 or visit lifebeyondtherapy.com.t

OLD HOUSE FAIR • SAT. JUNE 21, 2014

gay-sd.com

South Park and Burlingame featured in June 21 tour

By Christine Winter

Old House Fair includes music, dance, vintage shopping, resources for home revival

By Marsha Smelkinson Although South Park’s Old House Fair has always delivered resources, expert information and insight about the revival, restoration and repair of “old” homes, the event has also become a daylong neighborhood street festival with much to enjoy.

Centered at the intersection of 30th and Beech streets in South Park, just east of Balboa Park and north of downtown, the 16th annual Old House Fair will be celebrated this year on Saturday, June 21st.

Exhibitors, stages, a Vintage Row of colorful vendors, music, dance, festival food and activities for kids and adults will fill the neighborhood streets from 10 a.m.

– 4 p.m. Admission to the festival is free. The event, which is produced by the South Park Business Group, is sponsored by local businesses and presented by Station Tavern, a nearby eatery acclaimed for its own historic architectural design.

Visitors will also receive the valuable Old House Fair Program Booklet, with features on neighborhood history, maps of South Park and Burlingame, and a directory of resources to keep and use in future restoration and repair projects.

“It’s become a wonderful day in San Diego, where families and fans of old house living can find much to enjoy and appreciate,” said the event’s Co-Director Maureen Ceccarelli. “South Park really enjoys welcoming so many people to our neighborhood for the Old House Fair.”

For more information, visit theoldhousefair.com, or phone 619-233-6679.t The 16th annual Old House Fair on Saturday, June 21 features an array of tour opportunities. Visitors to the free festival may obtain info and purchase tour tickets in advance online at theoldhousefair.com or on the day of the event at the intersection of 30th and Beech streets in South Park.

Historic Home Tour

$25 per person 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Docent-led visits to five Homes in South Park and Burlingame.

Includes free shuttle bus to Burlingame.

Trolley Tour

$10 per person, Kids $5.

11, noon, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 Narrated tour through South Park, Burlingame and Golden Hill. Purchase tickets at 30th and Beech.

Walking Tours

By Urban Safaris. Free.

Meet at Info Booth, 30th and Beech streets. 50 minute walking tour.

T

his year’s Old House Fair Historic Home Tour takes visitors through three homes in historic South Park, within walking distance of the free street fair at 30th and Beech streets, and two homes in adjacent Burlingame.

A complimentary shuttle is available for transportation between the Fair and the Burlingame homes.

“People will really enjoy seeing this array of homes,” said Maureen Ceccarelli, who is Co-Director of the 16th annual Old House Fair. “Each house has an interesting stor y to tell, about its histor y and restoration over the years. In all it’s a lovely tour through parts of San Diego’s architectural history through two fascinating neighborhoods.”

South Park’s architectural landscape consists mainly of homes in the Arts and Crafts and Spanish Colonial styles and includes examples of architecture by some of San Diego’s most renowned architects, such as Ir ving Gill and the Quayle Brothers. Craftsman and California Bungalow styles are especially prolific in the South Park area due in part to the fact that the Arts and Crafts movement’s height of popularity coincided with the peak of South Park’s development from 1906 to 1915.

Right next door, Burlingame, with its distinctive red sidewalks, is notable for an eclectic mix of architectural styles. In addition to Arts and Crafts and California Bungalow, there are fine examples of Mission Revival, Prairie School and Art Deco, among others. Following on the heels of the South Park

A young family defied advice and bought this property, located on a quiet street near Einstein Academies in South Park. The restoration, much of it done by the owners themselves in the past decade, is most impressive. An array of “before-and-after” photos will be displayed during the Old House Fair tour on June 21. development, the first lot in Burlingame was sold in January 1912 and the first home completed in March 1912.

Master architects and builders included William Wheeler, Earl Joseph Brink and Edwin (aka Erwin) Norris, just to name a few.

Design and construction in the area were particularly heavy just prior to and shortly after the Panama-California Exposition in 1915, which attracted many people who came to visit and elected to stay in San Diego. Some homes were built as personal residences some were built for speculation (the Old House Fair tour homes in Burlingame are examples of each), and others were built as rental units in anticipation of the projected land boom associated with the Exposition.

Shortly after the Exposition, the Arts and Crafts popularity began to wane. People turned to the more romantic European revival styles for inspiration, especially to the Spanish Style encouraged by the architectural

design of Balboa Park.

Neighborhoods go through transitional periods. As a result, one often sees homes fall into decay. What is remarkable about the homes on this year’s tour is that they have been carefully and lovingly restored to their former grandeur, maybe just in time for next year’s 100th anniversary of the Panama-California Exposition.

Today both neighborhoods remain jewels of historic architecture in San Diego.

They resemble time capsules with small community shopping areas. These thriving areas include a variety of stores, coffee shops, restaurants and bars in the same locations of original proximity to the streetcar system in the early decades of the last centur y.

These close knit communities are passionate about their neighborhoods and their abundance of historical homes.t

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

SCHEDULE MUSIC

Whistle Stop Stage 10 a.m. – Choro Sotaque Noon – Marcia Forman Band 2 p.m. – Jackie Austin Singer Project

KIDS’ CORNER

Balloons and Face Painting Clay and Gardening for Kids Goldline Stage 1 – 3 p.m. – Arte Flamenco

V I N TA G E R O W

Artists, vintage shops, antiques, apparel and jewelry.

PET CORNER

Sponsored by Rebecca’s Second Chance Dog Rescue Adoptions and Micro-chipping

ASK THE EXPERTS

SOHO San Diego Home Restoration of San Diego Local resources — home services, architecture, design, landscaping, glass, flooring, furniture.

HOMES

Realtors specializing in historic San Diego properties.

Tours of Historic Homes and neighborhoods.

S O U T H PA R K This Craftsman property went through several hands before being rescued and fixed up.

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Local independent businesses from Beech St. to Kalmia, with special exhibits and activities for the Old House Fair.

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GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

WEDDING GUIDE

hotels | rings | tuxedo & dress rentals | reception venues photographers | florists | cakes | honeymoons

gay-sd.com

NEWS

gay-sd.com FROM PAGE 1

LGBTWEDDING ding ser vices, and thus created the first-annual LGBT Love is for Ever yone Wedding Expo.

Taking place at The LGBT Community Center on Friday, June 20, the expo will present hundreds of same-sex couples with more than 30 LGBT-friendly wedding professionals from throughout San Diego.

“We wanted to produce an event that promoted values that celebrate love and equality for all,” Valdivia wrote in an email.

“This also allows the LGBT community to become more familiar with inclusive wedding vendors as couples plan their nuptials.”

In addition to bringing in a diverse group of vendors for the expo, Valdivia and Gomez paid particular care to presentation.

Couples are to arrive at The Center at 4 p.m. where they will find a Red Carpet, hosted by featured speaker Jennine Estes, a local marriage and family therapist.

with their personal expression.

One day she hopes to take the project to TED Talks.

As Estes greets attendees on the Red Carpet, each will get their ver y own mini #BeingLOVEDIs chalk board.

Inside the expo, a host of exhibitors will await guests in The Center’s auditorium, offering options that span the range of services available, from ceremony and reception venues, to travel planners and photographers.

Competing with vendors for the attention of the couples will be a fashion show on the auditorium’s stage, where Bridal and Tuxedo Galleria and Gentleman’s Tux Club will show off their finest wedding wear. Milagros Winer y will provide samples of their finest selections as well.

At 6:15 and 7:15 p.m., the fashion show will take a breather as Estes presents a 20-minute speech called, “Making love before, during and after the wedding,” which includes a short video she made just for the event that ties in her project.

“The whole event is about

Hundreds of mini #BeingLOVEDIs chalk boards will be given out at the first annual LGBT Love is for Everyone Wedding Expo June 20. (Courtesy Jennine Estes) Estes, whose practice has always catered heavily to the LGBT community, started an interactive outreach project two years ago at San Diego Pride, as a way to connect to people outside of her Mission Valley therapy office.

She knew she wanted to ask people questions about love and relationships, but also needed a clever hashtag that would share well on social media.

One day as she was brainstorming, a powerful image came to her.

“No one ever really talks about what it means to them to be or feel loved,” she said, and #BeingLOVEDIs was born.

The project entails asking random people to complete the sentence #BeingLOVEDIs in their own handwriting on a handheld chalkboard, then Estes documents it on camera.

Pride became the perfect place for the project’s launch, she said, and in fact, a powerful one, as the response was overwhelming.

“What ever yone came back to was being accepted — by yourself and others,” she said. “There are ver y few people in the LGBT community that haven’t had to face adversities or struggles. Those struggles can include being bullied, abandoned, shamed and even physically injured; whether it came from parents, family members, friends, in the outside community or in the press.”

Estes was so touched by the experience, she decided to keep the project moving and kept the original chalk board sign with her wherever she went. She has since amassed thousands of photos of people holding up her #BeingLOVEDIs sign graced

being loved, being found, just being able to have something ver y happy, because some people experience family members that won’t come [to their wedding] and there is hear tache that comes along with that. This is about the joy of it and we’ll be having a champagne toast, too,” she said.

Attendees will also be automatically entered into a raffle drawing with prizes that include an engagement photo shoot by Derek Chad Photography, and a complimentar y stay at the Maui Sunseeker LGBT Resort located in Kihei, Maui. In addition to the champagne toast, there will be food to sample, a dance and schwag bags for ever yone.

Valdivia, who married his partner during the five-month window that marriage was legal in 2008, said that despite being ver y comfortable with his identity, he was challenged when working with wedding ser vices that were unprepared to accommodate same-sex couples.

“A heterosexual couple doesn’t necessarily have to come out ever y time they call a painter and when I would pick up the phone to plan my wedding, the questions I was being asked were usually set up for heterosexual couples,” Valdivia said.

“It was a coming-out experience ever y single time.”

The LGBT Love is for Ever yone Wedding Expo will be held Friday, June 20, from 4 – 8 p.m. at the San Diego LGBT Community Center, located at 3909 Centre St. Tickets are $10 for singles and $15 for couples. For more information or tickets, visit lgbtlifeweddingexpo.com.t

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

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DINING

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

gay-sd.com

DI N I NG WIT H F RA N K S A B AT IN I J R.

(l to r) Beef balls in sweet-sour sauce; Napa cabbage soup with pork; minty catfish larb; Kai kua noodles with chicken (Photos by Frank Sabatini Jr.)

F

orget the trickling water fountains and Buddha statuary. The Original Sab-E-Lee is the smallest and least aesthetic Thai restaurant in San Diego, yet on most evenings a crowd gathers outside the door eagerly waiting to get in.

Located in a charm-less strip plaza at the top of Ulrich Street, the eight-table cash-only restaurant has accrued a veritable cult following for its range of atypical and fiercely spicy dishes originating from Thailand’s northeast Isan region.

It is in this landlocked, agricultural section of that country where hot chilies grow at the drop of a seed, ending up oftentimes in vegetable and meat dishes bearing a bewitching sour flavor.

Little has changed inside the restaurant since it opened in 2008. Dull lace cur tains frame

the windows while tattered printouts illustrating the menu’s spice levels remain tacked to faded yellow walls under raw fluorescent lighting.

As lines begin forming, customers jot their names on a clipboard set upon a metal folding chair at the entrance, at which point the front parking lot serves as their waiting room. But get there an hour before the lunch and dinner rushes and chances are good that you’ll seize a table within minutes.

Som Tum (papaya salad) is an Isan specialty that has crossed into numerous Thai restaurants.

Punctuated with dried shrimp, fish sauce, chilies and lime juice, it’s proved reliably thrilling over several visits. But the salad comes with a firm warning that applies to most other dishes as well.

If you ask for a “three” in terms of spiciness, you’ll end up with nearly a “six” when measured against San Diego’s conservative one-to-10 heat scale. A friend with a steel palate in our group once ordered the duck larb at level eight, only to be practically thrown from the table by the intense heat lacing the minced fowl.

Among the more unique Isan starters are grilled Thai sausages made with pork. Contained in thin, crispy casings, the sausages are fatty but in the most inoffensive way. Their texture offers a soft non-gristly mouth feel and the meat exudes a sour, gingery flavor likely achieved from citrus and aromatic galangal powder.

I’m not sure whether the “fried beef balls” are new or if I never noticed them in past visits. When we asked if they’re made with ground beef, our courteous waiter shook his head no. Steak perhaps?

“Not exactly,” he replied, leaving us to assume the unthinkable. But in his limited English, he assured us that wasn’t the case either. And so we took our chances and ordered a plate of them.

From whatever part of the cow these orbs originated, the meat was slightly tangy and sported the odd, compressed consistency of a hotdog. My companion took charge of the plate since I wasn’t crazy about them, despite their bedding of bright-tasting sweet-and-sour sauce.

I’ve been largely awed by the porridges and entrees. On this visit, the non-spicy Napa cabbage soup with ground pork offered a clear, savory broth accented also by celery, cilantro and black mushrooms.

Kai Kua ordered at level three featured tender, flat rice noodles

strewn with chicken breast medal medallions and scrambled eggs. The spiciness was addicting although ice water was needed after every forkful.

My companion’s level-two catfish larb, however, was overwhelmed by mint and lime juice, thus obliterating the essence of the finely minced fish. Yet in terms of seafood, the curr yinfused pineapple fried rice with

seems better suited for competitive eaters. But then again, nearly everyone who dines here comes with the intention of testing their thresholds to one degree or another.

Note: The Original Sab-E-Lee has a second location at 13223-2 Black Mountain Rd. in Rancho Penasquitos, but is not affiliated with the Sab-E-Lee at 9159 Mission Gorge Rd. in Santee.

The Original Sab-E-Lee

2405 Ulric St. (Linda Vista) 619-858-650-6868 Prices: Appetizers, soups and salads, $5.25 to $10.95; entrees, $7.95 to $11.95 shrimp and plump cashews is a superior alternative. The fruitiness of the dish balances the heat, provided you request it in low numbers.

The menu features dozens of dishes, some familiar and others not so much, such as pad pak boong (stir-fried water spinach with bean sauce), nahm tok (charred beef or pork with chilies and lime sauce), koy nua (spicy raw rib eye with garlic and mint) and salted fish fried rice with eggs, onions and Chinese broccoli.

We were astounded when our waiter told us that “many” customers order their dishes at level 10.

Without the quelling coconut milk common to other Thai cuisine, the thought of ordering something that high from this particular kitchen

07/31/14

—Frank Sabatini Jr. is the author of “Secret San Diego” (ECW Press), and began his local writing career two decades ago as a staffer for the former San Diego Tribune.

He has since covered the culinary scene and other subjects for various print and broadcast media outlets in the area. You can reach him at fsabatini@ san.rr.com.t

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

gay-sd.com

Friday, June 13

World Cup: Flicks will be covering the World Cup matches all week, tonight it is Spain v. Netherlands. 4 p.m. 1017 University Ave., Hillcrest. For the entire World Cup match schedule, visit sdflicks.com.

Voice of Pride contest: Show off your singing skills for a chance to be a festival headliner for Pride weekend and a $1,000 cash prize.

6 – 8 p.m. Flicks, 1017 University Ave., Hillcrest. For rules and guidelines, visit sdpride.org/ voice or contact Urbano Pelicon at voice@sdpride.org.

Saturday, June 14

Guerrilla Pride: Presented

by Canvass for a Cause and “Celebrating Queer Community, not Gay Capitalism.” Workshops, free vegan food, live music, art exhibits and more. 2 – 10 p.m. 2139 First Ave., Bankers Hill.

OUT at the Fair: San Diego Pride has joined forces with the San Diego County Fair to bring you OUT at the Pride. Run Honey, Ricky Rebel, Blackbird Dance Company, and more of your favorite local bands at the Paddock Stage, with DJ Will Z, dj dirtyKURTY and DJ Kinky Loops lighting up the Coors Light “Rock on Stage” all evening. There will also be A Voice of Pride contest, a Newly Married Game, and more.

A $5 shuttle will pick fairgoers up at The Center at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. and return at 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. Fair hours are 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. For Fair tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.

Overdrive: The monthly late - night party presented by Flak Productions returns. DJ Dan De Leon and DJ Josh Whitaker.

Custom lighting, lasers, newly remodeled outdoor patio with great city views. 10 p.m. – 4 a.m. $10 before 11 p.m., $20 after. Spin Nightclub, 2028 Hancock St. For more information, find Overdrive on FB. AFCSL Brunch: Celebrate the end of the AFCSL season with brunch at the Florent Restaurant & Lounge in the Gaslamp. DJ, food stations, player and team awards. 672 Fifth Ave. For tickets visit afcsl.org.

Sunday, June 15

Flaunt Pool Party: Presented

by Artificial People & DJ Tristan Jaxx. Music by Josh Whitaker with an opening set by DJ Marcel.

Swimwear by Rufskin. 12 – 7 p.m.

Hotel Palomar, 1047 Fifth Ave., Downtown. Tickets $15 presale, or $10 before 2 p.m., $20 after. Visit flauntsd.eventbrite.com.

tendees on painting a masterpiece.

Tonight – “Purple Sunset” at 98 Bottles in Little Italy, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Event is 6 – 9 p.m. and is 21+, $45, all supplies included, but registration is required. Corkage fee, $15. For more info, visit paintingandvino.com.

San Diego Padres: Come watch our Padres take on the Seattle Mariners at 7:10 p.m. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., East Village.

Tickets at padres.com.

Painting and Vino: Local professional artists instruct attendees on painting a masterpiece. Today – “Sailboats” at 98 Bottles in Little Italy, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Event is 1 – 4 p.m. and is 21+ , $45, all supplies included, but registration is required.

Corkage fee, $15. For more info, visit paintingandvino.com.

Tea Dance: “Who’s Your Daddy?” presented by the Instigators, this Tea Dance will benefit Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol to help them continue the great work they do for the community. dj dirtyKURTY is on the patio from 2 – 7 p.m. with DJ Taj on the main floor from 7 p.m. – closing. $5 donation starting at 5 p.m. Urban MO’s 308 University Ave. Visit urbanmos.com or call 619-491-0400.

Monday, June 16

World Cup: Flicks will be covering the World Cup matches all week, today it is USA v. Ghana, 3 p.m. 1017 University Ave., Hillcrest. For the entire World Cup match schedule, visit sdflicks.com.

Movie Monday at Croces: “Lost in Translation” is this week’s screening at 7 p.m in the Expatriate Room at Croce’s Park West, 2760 Fifth Ave., Bankers Hill. Call 619-233-4355 or visit crocesparkwest.com – FREE with food or drink purchase.

Tuesday, June 17

Trivia Tuesday: Every Tuesday come alone or with a group of friends for a chance to win valuable HBC gift cards. Hillcrest Brewing Company, 1458 University Ave., Hillcrest. Visit hillcrestbrewingcompany. com or call 619-269-4323.

Spaghetti & Showtunes: When was the last time you had an all-youcan-eat plate of fabulous spaghetti for a mere $6? Now that’s a bargain. 5 p.m. – 2 a.m. Urban MO’s, 308 University Ave. Visit urbanmos.com.

Wednesday, June 18

Pictionary: Come play with Tiger … and Sister Ida Know on the back patio. Match your skills, win fun prizes and raise money for a good causes. 7:30 – 10 p.m. #1 on Fifth, 3845 Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest.

Painting and Vino: Local professional artists instruct at-

Thursday, June 19

Food Trucks Fundraiser: Several food trucks gather at The LGBT Community Center parking lot to raise money for this year’s AIDS Walk & Run San Diego. Enjoy lots of your favorite fast foods from 5 – 8 p.m. with music by DJ John Joseph.

3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest. More info visit AIDSWalkSD.org.

#Lez Jungle Pary at Rich’s: The women are at Rich’s tonight for DJ Von Kiss, hot go go girls, jungle décor, LED lighting. 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Rich’s is at 1051 University Ave., in Hillcrest. For more info, richssandiego.com/lez.

LGBT Center. $20. 8 p.m.

Martinis Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest. Visit martinisabovefourth.com.

Friday, June 20

Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Festival: Delicious seventh annual fundraiser on the grass for the Women’s Museum of California on the first Friday of summer.

Wine tastings from 40 vinters, chocolate samplings, and live music from Sue Palmer. 6 – 9 p.m.

North Promedade, Liberty Station near museum at 2730 Historic Decatur Rd., Suite 103. Tickets $50 or group rate (10 or more) $35, visit womensmuseumca.org or call 619-233-7963.

Thursday, June 19 Live Music – Uh Huh Her: With DJ Kim Anh, scintillating synths and drums of rapturous dreamscapes and harmonies over pulsating beats.

21+. Doors 8 p.m. Tickets start at $17. Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros, Solana Beach.

More info at bellyup.com. music, exhibitors, free walking tours.

Docent tours ($25) and trolley tours ($5 – $15) tickets available at theoldhousefair.com.

San Diego Padres giveaway: Come watch our Padres take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:10 p.m., and get a “Beat LA” T-shirt from Mission Federal Credit Union. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., East Village.

Tickets at padres.com.

Hits, Runs & Whores: Annual event pitting teams from America’s Finest City Softball League (AFCSL) in the ultimate drag off, judged by local top drag queens. $500 cash prize. Sunset Temple, 3911 Kansas St., North Park. Tickets $15, visit hitsrunswhores.com.

Sunday, June 22

Sing Along Brunch: Enjoy the new brunch menu while singing along with memorable pop culture tunes. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Gossip Grill, 1220 University Ave. GossipGrill.com.

World Cup: Flicks will be covering the World Cup matches all week, tonight it is USA v.

Portugal. 4 p.m. 1017 University Ave., Hillcrest. For the entire World Cup match schedule, visit sdflicks.com.

Monday, June 23

Front Runners and Walkers: Meet every Mon & Wed at 6 p.m. and Sat at 8 a.m. at southeast corner of Laurel and Sixth avenues in Balboa Park. With close to 200 members in ages ranging from 23 to 72, you won’t be alone. For more info visit frsdweb.org or call 619-835-9131.

Saturday, June 21

Coffee with Todd: Council President Todd Gloria kicks off his coffee sessions once again, this time at the Old Town Market, 4010 Twiggs St. in Old Town. Meet casually with the District Three Council representative and share your concerns and hear the latest news he has to share.

Old House Fair: Join the South Park Business Group for their annual street fair and old home tour.

30th and Beech streets. Food, live

13

Dine In Movie Mondays: The new Gossip Grill has a new address and a new Monday night. You can still get all you can eat spaghetti for just $5 from 6 – 11 p.m., but now you can enjoy it with a great movie inside

the restaurant (patio mongers get music) and a popcorn bar starting at 8 p.m. Gossip Grill is now located at 1220 University Ave., in Hillcrest.

For more info, visit gossipgrill.com.

Tuesday, June 24

Lesbian Meet-up: New weekly early morning business networking meeting, offering a chance to share and support each other’s business or passions. All lesbians in community are invited.

7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Caffe Calabria, 3933 30th St., North Park.

Karaoke with Laura Jane: Join the fabulous and funny Laura Jane as she hosts her twice-monthly Spin Karaoke from 6 – 11 p.m. and enjoy a full menu. Drink specials. Gossip Grill, 1220 University Ave., in Hillcrest. For more info, visit gossipgrill.com.

Wednesday, June 25

Pictionary: Come play with Tiger … and Sister Ida Know on the back patio. Match your skills, win fun prizes and raise money for a good causes. 7:30 – 10 p.m. #1 on Fifth Ave., 3845 Fifth Ave. Bitchy Bingo: With Kiki Masters and Ophelia Later as your hosts, enjoy bingo, a fabulous drag show and prizes. No cover. Visit Lipsusa.com or call 619-295-7900 for reservations.

Thursday, June 26

Painting and Vino: Local professional artists instruct attendees on painting a masterpiece.

Tonight – Matisse’s “Goldfish” at Caffe Bella Italia, 1525 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. Event is 6 – 9 p.m. and is 21+, $45, all supplies included, but registration is required. For more info, visit paintingandvino.com.

Male Box Night: While the girls are playing at Rich’s every Thursday, the boys are invited across the street to Gossip Grill.

Specials and rotating DJs. 9 p.m.

Gossip Grill is now located at 1220 University Ave. For more info, visit gossipgrill.com.

—For inclusion in the calendar, email morgan@sdcnn.com.

Q PUZZLE

MAYAN CULTURE Across 1 Secreted a fluid onto the face 5 Type of market for bears 10 Poet Broumas 14 Morales of “Resurrection Blvd.”

15 Wall Street term 16 Madonna, in a creche 17 Legal wrong 18 Bridge bid, briefly 19 Verb of Verlaine 20 Movie about Armand and Albert 23 One goes from here back into the closet 25 Ariz. neighbor 26 Filmmaker Nishit 29 Brynner of “The King and I” 30 Fez features 33 Hot temper 34 Murdoch with a flower?

36 Comes to rest 38 When doubled, Mork’s good-bye 39 Start of Maya Angelou’s comment

about Albert?

43 “Queen of Country” McEntire 44 Close of “Serving in Silence” 46 Rilke’s I 47 Reef buildup 48 How tops like to see their dates?

51 Thief’s hoard 53 Drive erratically 56 More of the comment 61 Sauteed leftovers, perhaps 62 Mixed-up fruits 63 Lysol target 64 Personal lubricant ingredient 65 Totally absurd 66 “Margaret Mead ___ Me Gay” 67 Part of YMCA 68 End of the comment 69 Pleasured orally

Mayan Culture solution on page 16 Down 1 Astroglide alternative 2 Kahlo’s that 3 “What’s your sign?” for example?

4 Support Metropolitan Community Church, e.g.

5 Type of appeal 6 Pick-me-ups 7 Britten’s “Billy Budd” and “Peter Grimes” 8 Elton’s light in the wind 9 Fast food pioneer 10 Last letter for Socrates 11 Party guy, after a night of cruising 12 Warning from Toto 13 Always, to Shakespeare 21 “Ziegfeld Follies” costume designer 22 The A in GLARP 23 Like faint embers 24 Like Gomer’s Mayberry 27 Caribbean vacation spot 28 Mt. Everest locale

31 Sophie B. Hawkins’ “___ Lay Me Down” 32 “Ben Hur” novelist Wallace 35 Tans at South Beach 37 Shock everyone 40 Do-it-yourselfer’s purchase 41 Sgt. or corp.

42 Bit of resistance on the circuit 45 Enjoy some ladyfingers, e.g.

47 Prompted on Broadway 49 Main argument 50 Garbo, and others 51 Oil source 52 Cicely of “Fried Green Tomatoes” 54 Gore in the library 55 Eat away at 56 George Michael’s band 57 “___ Get a Witness” (Marvin Gaye) 58 “Six Feet Under” creator Ball 59 Type of bang 60 Barrymore of “Boys on the Side”

14

NEWS

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

FROM PAGE 1

TROLLEY Block’s local San Diego office worked countless hours to help secure the additional free parking spaces for the community.

“Christopher [Ward, Block’s local chief of staff] worked diligently negotiating the terms with the DMV, following up and crafting an agreement that is a win-win for the community, the DMV and the parking district,” Hannon said.

“I’m really happy I could help in making this unique partnership a success,” Block said at the ribbon cutting. “The way I saw it, this is state property, and I’m a state senator, so who better to see it through?”

Block added that in today’s economy, the City needs to make the most of its money, and shareduse agreements are the way to go.

“As far as I know, this is the first to be initiated by a community group, so that says a lot about the commitment of the people here,” he said.

Gloria echoed Block’s statements regarding the commitment of Uptown’s community groups.

“Parking is by far the most controversial issue I deal with on the city council,” Gloria said with a chuckle. “I never would have guessed it, but it’s true. Downtown has the same parking concerns and they only dream of having a trolley like this. That’s because outside of funding, community support is the most important thing you need and they just aren’t as organized.”

Though the Park Hillcrest trolley had already been in operation for several months, with the impending news of the DMV agreement, it was decided it would get a new design. Thanks to the HBA, which holds a seat on the UPCD, the trolley now features a “wrap” similar to those found on Hillcrest’s street-side electrical

FROM PAGE 1

PRIDE14 the Los Angeles LGBT Center, “An Evening With Women.”

Last year the brewery launched its first annual Pride beer, a drinkable, low-alcohol, limited-edition brew meant to commemorate pride season.

Called Pride ’13, the inaugural beer was a Session IPA, also called an Extra Pale Ale. “Session stands for ‘multiple in a session,’ so they’re not going to get you too drunk,” said HBC’s head brewmaster Austin Copeland, adding that standard practice for a session beer is 5 percent alcohol or less.

“Pride ‘13 was designed so that people that come to visit San Diego for Pride and came to the brewery, weren’t bombarded with something dark or too hoppy,” said Eddie Reynoso, MO’s Universe marketing and public relations director. “We also want them to enjoy Pride and not get trashed.”

Management at MO’s Universe had long hoped to put this year’s limited-edition pride beer in the White House later this month, during their

boxes. This wrap, comprised of a vinyl printing material from 3M called ControlTac, also includes photos taken by John Thurston Photography.

“The trolley is the talk of the town and is truly a work of art,” Hannon said.

The new wrap consists of images taken of various people from within the local community, photographed from the knees down and splashed across the sides of the trolley. It also has three full figures on the back end of the trolley.

“I wanted to represent motion moving for ward and also convey our tagline of ‘get on. get off. ever yone is doing it!’” Thurston said, explaining the concept of his design. “Plus, I wanted a variety of people to signify the diversity of Hillcrest.”

Those profiled include Thurston’s partner Chet Sewell, drag queen Glitz Glam, and John Magnatta of SoNo Trading Company, among others.

The “below the knees” concept created some unintended challenges that had to be solved with some creative thinking.

“I shot my dear friend Andrew Spurgin, who is a well known chef in Hillcrest, but the image didn’t make it clear that he was a chef,” Thurston said. “I put a meat cleaver in his hand as a prop, but with his apron and industrial shoes, he looked more like a mass murderer than a chef!”

(above, clockwise from left) Ian Gladd, Bernadette Gladd, John Thurston, Chet Sewell, Lily Gladd. (right) HBC board member Eddie Reynoso rings the bell with Hillcrest Town Council Chair Luke Terpstra (Photos by Vince Meehan) Thurston said he solved the problem once he remembered he had a chain of sausage links in his fridge, which he had Spurgin drape past his knees for another photo. That did the trick.

Gloria said that he hopes the success of the trolley and shared-use agreement will serve as an example for other communities to follow.

“I’d love to see the day when communities like Downtown, Golden Hill, and South Park all have trolleys that link up,” he said.

"Lily," the new Park Hillcrest Trolley. It's free! (John Thurston) LGBT Pride celebration on June 28, just two days after the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to rescind Prop 8 on June 26. Unfortunately, the powers that be shifted the rules for sending products to the White House, but in this case, San Diego still wins.

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of marriage equality in California, as well as the advances in marriage equality across the nation since that date last year, HBC just released Pride ‘14: Marriage Equality Belgian Session Ale. Another limited edition product, Copeland said 27 kegs of the Belgian Session Ale have been produced so far, with 27 more on the way. They expect sales to last through the summer.

“If it goes well we might have to brew a third,” Copeland said.

Copeland and his new assistant James Fox came up with the Pride ’14 recipe, a blend that is easily drinkable, but unique in its style.

“I wanted to do something that was nice and light and crisp that had a good finish that would be a perfect summer beer, but also something that was a little different,” he said.

“Our Pride ’14 beer is a great way to raise awareness around the coun-

gay-sd.com

try with people being more and more on board with marriage equality,” said Joey Arruda, co-owner and general manager of HBC. “The feedback has been awesome. People like it. They like the lightness and the flavor, the sweetness to it.”

Copeland said the beer has a low-hop profile, with all of its noble-style hops from a region of Germany near Belgium, and a “clean pilsner malt base.” He’s never seen a Belgian session, so this brew is truly unique.

On Thursday, June 26, HBC will have an official launch party for the beer, with staff dressed in wedding garb, Pride ’14 t-shirt giveaways while supplies last, and a complimentary toast to marriage equality.

Pride ’14 is currently only available at HBC and other MO’s Universe locations, but after the official launch, the beer will be available to other bars through distribution.

The beer’s label was designed to promote all the states where marriage equality has become legal, although according to Eddie Reynoso, MO’s Universe marketing and public relations director, state-wide bans on same-sex marriage are dropping so fast, they’ve had trouble keeping up.

Reynoso said a large amount of the proceeds from the sale of Pride ’14 will go to local and and other nonprofits that support the march for marriage equality. MO’s Universe will be matching up to $20 thousand in cash donations and offering in kind donations to local LGBT events.

Copeland, who first joined HBC as brewery assistant at the company’s launch in July of 2012, took over for former head brewmaster David White this past October. Prior to joining

“That way if someone from the East Village wants to go to Little Italy or Hillcrest for diner and drinks, they can hop on the trolley and not have to worry about driving.”

A special guest attending the event was nine-year-old Lily Gladd.

“The trolley has a wheelchair ramp in the back and I thought I should feature a disabled person in my design,” Thurston said.

“As it turns out, my partner is a special needs teacher at Gage Elementar y School and he told me about one of his students named Lily, saying she’d be a great model for the shoot.”

Thurston said he later learned that Old Town Trolley, operator of the Park Hillcrest Trolley, name each one using a women’s name like a ship.

“By chance, they had named our trolley Lily and I just about fell over when I heard that,” he said. “It was just so meant to be.”

In a poignant moment during the ceremony, Lily reached out

and touched her image on the side of the trolley with a smile as Thurston beamed.

“I just about lost it there,” said Thurston. “I thought for sure I was going to cry.”

“Lily’s image will remind ever yone that the Park Hillcrest trolley is accessible to all,” Hannon said. “We are most grateful to Lily and her parents, Ian and Bernadette Gladd, for her par ticipation in this communitywide project.”

The DMV is available for public parking from 6:30 p.m – 3 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and from 7 a.m. – 3 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays. The Free trolley operates from 5 – 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 9 a.m. – 2 p.m on Sundays.

For more information, visit parkhillcrest.com —Gay San Diego Editor Morgan M. Hurley contributed to this report.t

(l to r) Austin Copeland, HBC brewmaster, and Joey Arruda, co-owner and general manager. (Courtesy MO's Universe) HBC, Copeland was a self-described “beer nerd” and is truly a home-brewer success story.

“I actually worked at the DA’s office,” he said of his former full-time career. “I traded law for brewing. It’s now long weeks, long days, and a lot of work, but I love every minute of it.”

Before stepping up to the top spot, Copeland was already putting his personal touches on the beer menu, personally creating recipes for U-Hawle Hefe, the Blond Ale, and the Double IPA Hopsucker.

The San Diego native has been a lifelong ally of the community and feels in many ways the opportunity to work at HBC was very serendipitous.

“I don’t want to say fate or the universe willed it or not, but my dad was gay and grew up in San Diego,” he said. “He owned a salon Downtown and he died of AIDS in the early ‘90s back during the crisis.

“One of the big things I’ve wanted to do once I became head brewer was to make Steve’s Imperial Red Ale — a Red Ribbon AIDS beer — for World AIDS Day.”

The brewery has lots of other things planned, mostly after Pride season has come and gone, but expect them to be getting much more interactive with their customers regarding tastings, infusions and experimenting.

“We are such a small brewery but we want to pull back on some of the stuff we have right now and then make certain things seasonal so we can bring in the Pride beers, the Austin’s AIDS beer in December, and other styles that are out there,” Arruda said, citing the Long and Stout as an example. The popular dark beer was recently put on hiatus until the fall since it is not traditionally a summer beer. That frees up their taps for other options but some have missed it.

“Its just about getting people used to the idea,” he said. “It keeps people interested.”

The Pride ’14 Launch Party will be Thursday, June 26 starting at 7 p.m. at Hillcrest Brewing Company, located at 1458 University Ave. For more information, visit hillcrestbrewingcompany.com.t

gay-sd.com

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16

BUSINESS & SERVICES

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from pg. 13

INTERVIEW

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Gee Golly, It’s Dolly Courtesy Dolly Parton Records

Legend talks boobs, drag and Christianity Chris Azzopardi | Q Syndicate

W

hen Dolly Parton calls you, greeting you by name with her unmistakable Tennessee twang, it’s a good idea to immediately establish that the lady on the line is the actual legend herself.

“Am I talking to the real Dolly or is this an impersonator?” I ask, just to be sure.

Proving she’s as sharp as the icon she’s become over the last six decades — easily the most honored female country music artist of all time, inspiring drag queens galore –— Parton is quick with her comeback: “Oh, there’s no such thing as a real Dolly. I’m as real as you’re gonna get!”

“Very” real, as it turns out.

Currently promoting her 42nd studio album, “Blue Smoke” which was just released May 13, Parton talked about the country music community evolving beyond labeling gay people “perverse,” addressed rumors of her recent lesbian wedding and dished “tit tips” to drag queens (more stuffing, girls).

Chris Azzopardi (CA): Outside of the rhinestones and big platinum hair, why do gay people identify and empathize with you?

Dolly Parton (DP): Did you say empathize or sympathize? [Laughs] I think there’s some of both! Actually, I’ve been around so long people just kind of feel like they know me. They’ve seen me enough. I’m more like a favorite aunt or an older sister or somethin’, so I just think people know so much about me they just feel like I’m part of them. I hope that’s what they think. That’s what it seems like!

CA: I see you as our fairy godmother.

DP: [Laughs] Yeah, I do look like the fairy godmother!

CA: You’ve acknowledged that you felt like an outsider since you were a kid.

“Coat of Many Colors” really is about feeling dif ferent. What role has that feeling of being an outsider played in the relationship that you have with the gay community?

DP: Well, I do believe that I have a lot of gay fans because I think they do accept me as I am — the differences in me — and I think they know that I see that and love that in everybody else. I am not a judgmental person. I’m a very loving and accepting person. I try to see the good in everybody and I don’t care who people are as long as they’re themselves, whatever that is. That old saying “to thine own self be true” — no truer words were ever spoken, and I’m just honored and proud to be accepted.

CA: It’s more than just you being nonjudgmental. You said growing up you felt different, something many gay people can empathize with. Do you sense that relationship?

DP: Yes, I do. I’ve always felt that. I’ve always felt that’s one of the things that’s drawn my gay fans to me. They do know that I do feel different, and all of my life I will be different. I always have been. But I enjoy and appreciate and respect that difference in myself just like I do in other people. God made me the way that I am and it’s my business to be true to that.

CA: If everyone was free of judgment like you are, what might the world be like?

DP: It’d be a lot better, I can tell you that. But people love to hate, and it’s just unfortunate but that’s the way it is. People like to judge, they like to condemn, they won’t accept anything they don’t understand

— that’s just too bad. We have to work at those things anyway, but most people are not willing to. A lot of people are just blind and they’re not seeing through the spiritual eye, and we need to look that way and then we would be more forgiving, more loving and more accepting.

CA: You were one of the first major country artists to advocate for gay rights. Why did you decide to take that step and stand up for LGBT equality?

DP: Why wouldn’t I stand up for everybody, for all people? In the country field, we’re brought up in spiritual homes, we’re taught to “judge not lest you be judged,” and it’s always been a mystery to me how people jump all over things just to criticize, condemn and judge other people when that is so un-Christian — and they claim to be good Christians! We’re supposed to love one another. We’re supposed to accept and love one another. Whether we do or not, that’s a different story. But that’s what we’re supposed to do.

CA: What are your thoughts on the progress the country music community has been making as a whole when it comes to embracing its gay listeners?

DP: In defense of a lot of people, they didn’t have as true of an understanding as they do now. Now people really see that this is real, these are real people with real feelings, that this is who they really are. I think a lot of people, anytime you talked about gay people, thought “perverse.”

Now, they’re being more educated that this is who people really are. There’s just been so much made of [gay rights] in the last two or three years, and it’s been brought to the front so people can really see it and be like, “Yeah, I guess there are a lot more gay people than we ever knew! I have a better understanding of it now. I know that these people are for real.” I think they’re getting that now.

I think it was just a lack of knowledge.

And when you’re with someone, of course you should have your rights. You’re gonna be with who you’re gonna be with even if you star ve to death and have no privileges and no rights. I think people understand that more now.

CA: You’ve been such a wonderful ally to us ... so much so that people have actually mistaken you as a lesbian yourself.

DP: [Laughs] Well, you know what, it’s true. In fact, there was some story recently [in the “National Enquirer”] where I was supposedly marrying my longtime friend Judy (Ogle) and that my husband was OK with it!

I thought, “Where did they come up with all this?” I am not gay, but if I were, I would be the first one running out of the closet.

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

17

for the first dance at a gay wedding?

DP: I would be honored. That would be a beautiful wedding song, “From Here to the Moon and Back” — wow! People often use “I Will Always Love You” — I wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a wedding song too — and it really kind of speaks to that, but yeah, “From Here to the Moon and Back” would be a beautiful wedding song. If you get married, you can play it!

CA: What is something about your life that people would be most surprised by?

DP: I can’t imagine a thing that people don’t already know about me. I think people would be surprised at how really at-home I am. I look like a party doll but I’m ver y home-lovin’. I’m a homebody, and I’m family-oriented. I don’t get out much unless it’s a special occasion. So I guess people might be surprised at just how calm I really am.

CA: When you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see?

DP: I see ways to improve myself. I’ve never been a true beauty and I’m always thinking, “I need to do this, or I could look better than that,” but I guess we all have that.

CA: You’ve said that drag queens do you better than you. Have you learned anything about yourself from watching people impersonate you?

DP: Most of the drag queens are about six feet tall already ... and then they put on those high heels! I ain’t big as a minute, so I always think, what I’ve learned about myself is, I’m not tall. I’m definitely even shorter than I knew I was!

But actually, I am very honored when the drag queens all do their thing because I think it’s a big compliment. I get a big kick out of some of them. Some of them are really good! Some of them are … comical.

CA: Some of them are so good you once lost a look-alike contest that you were in.

DP: [Laughs] I entered one of the Dolly look-alike contests down on Santa Monica Boulevard at one of the gay clubs down there — I lived right up the street — so I just kind of over-exaggerated myself and went and joined the party and walked across the stage.

I got less applause than anybody. It’s pretty bad when I lose a Dolly Parton look-alike contest!

CA: If you were a drag queen, what would be your drag name?

DP: P. Titty … like P. Diddy!

CA: And right into Judy’s arms?

DP: Yeah, who knows! I might’ve said, “Judy, you wanna get something going with me?” [Laughs] But our friendship is just a precious friendship.

CA: What tips do you have for drag queens who want to get your bust size just right?

DP: Oh heavens ... I’m so little is why my boobs look so big. But (drag queens) are already big! They’re gonna need to really do some paddin’! I’m larger than life, so just get them boobs the way that they fit into proportion to your body. Put it out there, whatever your imagination is of me.

CA: What do you say to “From Here to the Moon and Back,” your love duet with Willie Nelson on “Blue Smoke,” being used

—Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBT wire service. Reach him via his website at chris-azzopardi.com.t

18

THEATER

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

CHARLENE BALDRIDGE

gay-sd.com

THEATER REVIEW

Bard’s ‘beard’ at the beach Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’ heavy on concept, music “If music be the food of love,” playgoers will most certainly come home sated from the Lamb’s Players Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”

Playing the clown Feste (in this case the hotel pianist) Cris O’Br yon is at the big black grand piano most of the time, eliciting double-dip tips in his huge glass brandy snifter.

In celebration of 20 years at their Coronado location, Lamb’s Producing Artistic Director Robert Smyth, who also plays the clown Toby Belch, sets the sunny comedy upon a Hotel del Coronado set created by Mike Buckley. The year, 1949, was a good one for Jeanne Barnes Reith’s costumes (the spectator shoes are to die for). The idea is redolent of San Diego Opera’s 1999 and 2005 Hotel Del production of Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte,” in which the young men were also clad in naval uniforms.

Viola (adorable, mustachioed Catie Grady) is a shipwrecked heiress who washes up on the shores of “Ilyria.” Thinking her twin brother Sebastian (Charles Evans Jr.) drowned, she disguises herself as the lad Cesario and goes into ser vice of “Duke” Orsino (Jason Maddy), Captain of the naval base. Viola has loved Orsino from afar for many years.

In the course of her ser vice she is

“Twelfth Night”

by William Shakespeare THROUGH JULY 6

Tues 7:30 p.m., Wed 2 and 7:30 p.m., Thurs 7:30 p.m., Fri & Sat 2 and 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m.

Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave, Coronado, Tickets $22 – $62 lambsplayers.org or 619-437-6000 sent as emissar y to the object of Orsino’s affection, Olivia (Christy Yael-Cox), who owns the hotel and admits no gentlemen callers because she is in deep mourning for her brother. Surrounding Feste in the hotel lobby are Olivia’s hangers on, her uncle, Sir Toby (Smyth) and a suitor, Andrew Aguecheek (Brian Mackey).

Manifest with Mackey’s hilarious rubber legs and silly smile, Andrew is Toby’s drinking companion.

The perfor-

mance is definitely another gem in Mackey’s crown.

Complications include the pranking of Olivia’s supercilious hotel manager, Malvolio (Brian Rickel), by the hotel’s head housekeeper, Maria (Cynthia Gerber), And the most joyous of all, the appearance of Sebastian, who promptly falls in love with Olivia.

Cuts, obviously instituted to bring the show in at two and a half hours, rob onlookers of Shakespeare’s homoerotic elements — most specifically Orsino’s consternation over his attraction to another man.

Because of this, the revelation of Viola’s femaleness is robbed of full impact. But never mind, the text, uniformly Americana 1949, is well spoken, the plot clear, and Jon Lorenz’s score makes up for any lack of Shakespearean intent and usual practice.

Smyth’s casting of Orsino’s Ensigns, Curio and Valentine, with singers Jacob Caltrider and Jesse Abeel is brilliant. So is Jon Lorenz’s setting of Shakespeare’s songs, among them the aforementioned “If Music Be the Food of Love,” plus “O, Mistress Mine,”

(l to r) Caitie Grady and Christy Yael Cox in Lamb’s “Twelfth Night” (below, l to r) Grady and Jason Maddy (Photos by Ken Jacques) and “Come Away Death.” Others in the company are Jeffrey Jones and, Carrie Heath. Deborah Gilmore Smyth, who also assistant directed, is the choreographer.

Memorable moments include Aguecheek and Cesario’s Hotel del-inspired tennis-racket duel with fight choreography by Maddy, and the initial appearance of Sebastian, looking so much like Cesario he takes one’s breath away. Another joy of the production is the giddy and girlish love of Olivia for Cesario. Yael-Cox, co-

founder of Intrepid Shakespeare Company, is far from the usual dour Olivia.

—Charlene Baldridge moved to San Diego from the Chicago area in 1962. She’s been writing about the arts since 1979, and has had her features, critiques, surveys and interviews included in various publications ever since. Her book “San Diego, Jewel of the California Coast” (Northland Publishing) is currently available in bookstores. She can be reached at charb81@gmail.com.t

SPORTS

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JEFF PRAUGHT

Bill French's Sol team hopes to win their second consecutive C Division playoff and World Series berth (Photo by Grady Mitchell

it, and then be the home team at 11:45 a.m. against the winner. The Outlaws enjoyed this seed last year and lost to Sol, so they will be looking to avenge their 2013 failure.

The B division had no drama going into the final weekend, as league rules offered World Series bids to all three teams. The Spikes (20-2) were the class of the division, while The Loft B (11-11) and Strike Force (11-11) finished well back. The Loft earned second place by virtue of its 4-2 head-to-head record over Strike Force during the season. Both the Spikes and Loft have accepted World Series berths.

The D division was, by far, the craziest. Four teams were fighting for second place on the league’s final day. The #1 on Fifth Hitmen were in the best position, as they were the only team that controlled its own destiny. Because they swept the season series with Babycakes, the Hitmen could clinch second place, and a World Series berth along with first-place Pecs, with victories over the Flicks Fireballs and Bourbon St. Krush. Babycakes needed to go 2-0 and have the Hitmen lose once in order to clinch second place. The Fireballs could clinch second by winning both games and having Babycakes lose once. The Loft D needed to go 2-0 and have both Babycakes and Hitmen go 0-2 to secure second.

19

DUGOUT CHATTER

Wild finish to AFCSL season

A typical Spring season in America’s Finest City Softball League ends with at least one World Series bid up for grabs on the final day among the three divisions (B, C, D) of play.

This year, two C teams and four D teams were playing with their playoff lives on the line on Sunday, June 8, at Mt. San Miguel Community Park on the league’s closing day.

The C Division, with 12 teams divided into two divisions, hands out its two World Series berths in a different way than the D division.

The C team with the best overall record earns the first berth and for the fourth year in a row, it went to Flicks (15-1). They defeated the Viejas Stars and D-Bar Shameless to grab sole possession of first place. The second berth gets awarded to the winner of a playoff among the next three teams in the standings. Those teams were the Hillcrest Brewing Company Outlaws (14-2), Mariposa Sol (13-3) and Lestats Wicked (10-6).

Heading into the final weekend, the Outlaws and Sol knew they had already clinched a spot in the three-team playoff, with the only question being which team would earn the top seed — and an allimportant first-round bye — in the playoff. The Outlaws, who earned a forfeit victory over the Tigers (2-14), clinched that top seed by virtue of Sol’s 11-8 loss to the Stars.

The bigger question was who would be the third and final team to make the C playoff. Wicked needed to win its first game at 8 a.m., which they did with a 14-8 victory over the Martinis’ Eagles.

They then needed the Stars to lose one of their two remaining games, and when Flicks down the Stars 4-3, Wicked had clinched.

Wicked and the Stars faced each other once during the season, with Wicked prevailing 14-6 on April 6, so despite each team finishing 10-6, Wicked won the tiebreaker.

The C Division playoff will take place at Kit Carson Park on Sunday, June 22. Wicked will be the visiting team in the first game against Sol at 10:30 a.m. The teams met just once and it was on the first day of the season, with Sol winning 11-10.

Getting that first-round bye was essential for the Outlaws, as they will get to watch these two teams go at

GAY SAN DIEGO June 13–26, 2014

Needless to say, only one team received the outcome of their choice. Muddying the waters was the fact that Babycakes, while desperately hoping to finish second in just their third year of existence, had announced that they would not be attending the World Series if they qualified. So, the other three teams’ chances of going increased.

The Fireballs actually had the clearest path: wins over The Loft D and Hitmen would give them the berth because the Fireballs would win any possible tiebreaker.

The 3 p.m. game between The Loft D and the Fireballs was a classic. The Loft jumped out to a 9-1 lead with time running out, but the Fireballs mounted a furious rally to take an 11-9 lead. Time expired roughly 30 seconds after the Fireballs made their third out during their rally, offering The Loft D one more chance to bat. They took advantage, putting up four runs. But the Fireballs were the home team and they stormed back with three runs of their own on a walk-off triple by Seamus Kennedy, securing a dramatic 14-13 victory that kept Flicks alive and eliminated The Loft from contention.

So the fate of the second D Division berth then came down to the 4 p.m. game between the Hitmen, who were the home team, and the Fireballs. Perhaps worn out from

their emotional comeback victory, Flicks could not muster any offense in the first two innings, as the Hitmen jumped out to a 5-0 lead. The Fireballs rallied yet again, pulling even at 5-5 with five minutes remaining. The Hitmen managed to plate a run in their half of the inning, and when time expired, Hitmen had a 6-5 victory and had clinched their first-ever World Series berth.

The Hitmen (15-7) and Babycakes (15-7) finished tied, but Hitmen swept the season series, giving them second place outright.

With five teams settled and one more C team to be determined, there will be a total of six Open Division teams representing San Diego in the World Series. The weeklong tournament will be held Sept. 22-27 in Dallas, Texas.

On a personal note, I wanted to congratulate a few people on terrific seasons. Evan Morris and David Lewis put together a Spikes team that dominated this season, after taking the 2013 season off, and it was great to have them return to the division. Hopefully my Loft B team can meet the Spikes in the B division title game.

In the D Division, congratulations to George Biagi and Babycakes, who had never come close to a winning season but really put it all together and finished with the second-best record. And of course, kudos to Austin Jacobsen for managing the Hitmen to the World Series. He inherited the team without any managing experience and not much of a winning tradition, led them to a second-place finish in the April Phoenix tournament, and had just enough to edge the fierce

competition this spring.

AFCSL goes on hiatus until its abbreviated Fall Season, which begins in September. That six-week season is generally played just for fun, with no berths on the line. It marks a great opportunity for new players to get involved and for existing ones to try out different positions. For more information about the league, visit afcsl.org.

—Jeff Praught is actively involved in the LGBT sports community, where he plays in the local softball (AFCSL), football (SDAFFL) and basketball (SD Hoops) leagues. He has served on AFCSL’s board of officers in various capacities and is currently the commissioner of SD Hoops. He can be reached at dugoutchatter@gmail.com.t

Roman Jimenez pitches the Flicks Lawmen to their fourth straight C Division title (Photo by Grady Mitchell)