San Francisco Bay Times - February 9, 2017

February 9 - 22, 2017 | sfbaytimes.com

A Black History Lesson for Trump

At the National Prayer Breakfast earlier this month, Trump spoke about Frederick Douglass, setting off a firestorm of response.

SEE PAGE 16

2

SA N F RANCISCO BAY   T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

In the News Compiled by Dennis McMillan Deal Reached to Make City College Free for San Francisco Residents Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor Jane Kim this week announced that City College of San Francisco will soon be free of charge, likely starting next fall, for San Francisco residents. The agreement holds that the city will provide $5.4 million per year, effectively buying out the fees normally paid by students. Those fees have run $46 per credit. “Now we can say to California resident students that your City College is free,” Mayor Lee said at a news conference held at City Hall. “This is a good story.” City College Trustees and San Francisco Bay Times columnists Rafael Mandelman and Alex Randolph have been advocating for free tuition at City College for months.

The city-provided funds will also allow certain full-time, low-income students to receive $250 per semester to offset the cost of health fees, school supplies, transportation and other education-related essentials. Certain part-time students will receive $100 each semester. sfgate.com Immigrant Tenant Protection Act Announced Assembly Bill 291, which if passed would strengthen state laws to protect immigrant tenants from intimidation and retaliation in their homes, was announced on February 3 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco), Mayor Ed Lee and others.

AB 291 would bar landlords from disclosing information related to tenants’ immigration status. The bill would also prohibit landlords from threatening to report tenants to immigration authorities, whether in retaliation for engaging in legally-protected activities or to influence them to vacate. “Tenants should not have to live in fear simply because they are immigrants or refugees,” Assemblymember Chiu said. “Trump has declared war on immigrants, and it is clear that ripping apart families through mass deportations could be our new reality.

This bill will deter the small minority of unscrupulous landlords who take advantage of the real or perceived immigration status of their tenants to engage in abusive and illegal acts.”

Jith Meganathan, Policy Advocate for Western Center on Law & Poverty, a co-sponsor of the legislation, added: “Even under ordinary circumstances, immigrant tenants shouldn’t have to fear being reported to immigration authorities by their landlords, who know so much about them. The events of the last two weeks make the need for these protections only more certain.” asm.ca.gov San Francisco to Name Part of Tenderloin as First Transgender Historic District San Francisco politicians, local activists and a hotel and condominium developer came together to announce the designation of the first transgender historic district in the United States. “I’m excited that for the first time ever, and as far as I know in the world, that we are commemorating a social cultural district for the transgender and non-gender conforming community,” said San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim. The location is within the Tenderloin, which is where what is believed to be one of the first LGBTQ protests originated. The designated area will be called the Compton’s TLGB District and will cover six blocks in the Tenderloin district from Market including two blocks of 6th Street. The new historic district gets its name from the Compton Cafeteria riots of August 1966, when police raided the business against trans customers, which sparked demonstrations and riots. lgbtqnation.com

Boy Scouts, Reversing CenturyOld Stance, Will Allow Transgender Boys The largest scouting organization in the U.S., the Boy Scouts of America, recently announced that it would begin accepting members based on the gender listed on their application, paving the way for transgender boys to join. “For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America, along with schools, youth sports and other youth organizations, have ultimately deferred to the information on an individual’s birth certificate to determine eligibility for our single-gender programs,” the organization said in a statement on its website. “However, that approach is no longer sufficient as communities and state laws are interpreting gender identity differently, and these laws vary widely from state to state.” The announcement reverses a century-old policy that drew controversy late last year when a transgender boy in New Jersey was kicked out of the organization about a month after joining. “After weeks of significant conversations at all levels of our organization, we realized that referring to birth certificates as the reference point is no longer sufficient,” Michael Surbaugh, the Scouts’ chief executive, said. The announcement came amid a national debate over transgender rights, with cities and states across the nation struggling with whether and how to regulate gender identity in the workplace, in restrooms and at schools. nytimes.com SF Board of Supervisors Approves Resolution of Support for New LGBTQ Museum The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to approve a groundbreaking resolution calling on municipal authorities, philanthropists and business leaders to support the GLBT Historical Society’s efforts to develop a new LGBTQ museum and public history center in the city. Supervisor Jeff Sheehy introduced the resolution, which was cosponsored by Supervisor Jane Kim. The board voted unanimously in favor of the resolution. “Our communities have existed since time immemorial, yet our histories continually get erased,” said Supervisor Sheehy. “As recently as 1933 in what had been fabulously queer Berlin, Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institute of Sexual Research along with the Museum of Sex were destroyed by the Nazis—and people from our communities were taken to concentration camps. The last 10 days have reminded me of those times. Asserting our right to our history is not only about remembering our past, but is also a powerful act of resistance.” glbthistory.org Bay Area LGBT Leaders Denounce President Trump’s Supreme Court Pick President Trump’s nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court received wide criticism from LGBT community leaders both in the Bay Area and throughout the nation. Judge Gorsuch is a staunch conservative who has previously ruled in favor of employers invoking religious objections to restrict women’s access to reproductive care. Echoing the sentiments of many who oppose the president’s nominee, SF LGBT Center Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe said: “From the day Mr. Trump took office, his chaotic and dishonest administration has worked overtime to undermine and divide our communities. The nomination of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court is just another example of his contempt for (continued on page 26) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

3

Transgender Law Center’s 2017 Plan of Resistance We know that 2017 will be a cruel and difficult year for transgender and gender nonconforming people, but now is not the time for panic, isolation, or doubling down on business as usual. It is a time for us to remember how transgender people have long survived and resisted in moments of crisis: through community.

ties on an unprecedented scale, TLC is expanding the legal support provided to individual trans immigrants.

Through the new Trans Immigrant Defense Effort (TIDE), TLC will recruit, train, and match pro bono immigration attorneys across the country to create a powerful army ready to defend transgender people facing deportation. TLC also plans to work closely with grassroots groups, including SONG, on strategies and community-based efforts to combat police abuse.

It is with this knowledge that Transgender Law Center (TLC) has formed the first steps in a plan of resistance for 2017. It is a plan that relies on and centers on you—that builds on the Center’s existing movement-building strategies and radically restructures how TLC provides legal information and resources in order to harness community power so that the organization can respond to the crises that lie ahead.

TLC is expanding its movementbuilding programming to train up a legion of trans and gender nonconforming leaders across the country who are ready to mobilize. TLC has already held three trainings through its National Training Institute, preparing a cohort of 60 leaders from the South, Midwest, and Southwest to organize against the attacks they know are coming in their states. TLC will provide ongoing training and support to this cohort over the next year.

TLC is launching a legislative tracker, so that you can follow the events happening in your state and f ind the resources you need to f ight back. Through videos, resources, the TLC@SONG partnership, and

Photos courtesy of Transgender Law Center

technical assistance to local activists, TLC will do everything possible to ensure that the tools and expertise developed in this work are made available to the people who will be most impacted by the dangerous legislation being proposed.

TLC is changing the way the organization responds to the legal needs of people who reach out. TLC experienced a 45% increase in requests for legal information or assistance following the election of Donald Trump.

But with that increase in requests also came an outpouring of generous offers to help—from attorneys looking to provide pro bono support to community members who saw this moment as a call to action. To increase

the number of people TLC can reach, the organization is shifting its model to focus on mobilizing volunteers and better connecting folks to existing and emerging resources. This includes a revamp of TLC’s Cooperating Attorney Network, an expansion of its Helpline Volunteer program, and the launch of the new Trans Legal Clinic Calendar, a state-by-state resource that will be updated weekly.

TLC plans to collaborate with community groups and cooperating attorneys across the country to bring legal clinics and legal education on an ongoing basis.

Knowing that the new administration will introduce measures to criminalize and deport trans communi-

For two years, TLC and GSA Network’s youth-led TRUTH program has supported transgender youth and families in sharing their stories, finding community, and shifting the narrative around what it means to be young and trans. In the coming year—as a Supreme Court decision in the case of transgender student Gavin Grimm approaches—TLC will continue this program under the leadership of our national and regional youth councils to mobilize trans youth to protect one another in a hostile climate and speak out against attacks.

ly Trans program to build the leadership of people of color living with HIV, as well as continuing research and digital storytelling workshops through Positively Trans.

These are just a few examples of how TLC is preparing to meet the challenges of 2017. TLC cannot predict all that will happen, and f lexibility and the agility to respond quickly to emergencies will be essential.

Over the coming weeks and months, TLC will roll out more details and calls to action. TLC is already hiring for some new positions to support this work, so please check out the organization’s job announcement page (https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ about/careers) if you are interested in joining the TLC team.

Less than two weeks into 2017, we have already lost at least three transgender people to violence. TLC is joining efforts led by other organizations to monitor and respond to this violence.

TLC will also continue to rely on your support to raise the resources necessary to respond to this ever-growing need. But TLC already knows that the answer to every crisis will lie within us—not as individual leaders, not as an organization, but as a community.

Through a new partnership with NMAC, the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus, Positive Women’s Network—USA, and THRIVE SS, TLC is expanding the work of its Positive-

TLC’s 2017 Plan of Resistance is to rely on the resources, wisdom, and passion of our community—so that you, in turn, can continue to rely on this vital organization.

Transgender Immigrants Among Hardest Hit by Trump Administration Actions

By Ilona Turner After her parents left Peru in search of better economic opportunities in the U.S., Christina Lopez followed. She wanted to be with her family and, as a transgender woman facing violence in Peru, emigrating was a matter of life and death for her.

But when she arrived, things here were diff icult. She had little access to resources and experienced a complicated relationship with her family because of her gender Ilona Turner identity. She became involved in an abusive relationship, and began to have a drinking problem—leading to a DUI charge that ultimately pushed her into immigration detention and deportation proceedings. She was held in detention, in a male facility, for over a year and a half. There she was denied medication she needed to treat her Hepatitis C. Transgender Law Center joined the #not1more campaign, Familia: TQLM, and Get Equal to demand her release—and after months of fighting, she was freed. As Transgender Law Center Program Director Isa Noyola said at the time, “Christina’s case is important because it represents the complex ways transgender communities are criminalized and their actions of survival borne of trauma are used to justify their detention.”

Christina’s story, with the exception of her ultimate release from detention, is devastatingly common. So many transgender immigrants seeking safety in the U.S. are shunned and forced into survival actions, detained in abusive conditions, and sent back to the violence they fled.

Now we have an administration that campaigned on hostility towards transgender people, immigrants, and people of color, and an already dire 4

situation for transgender immigrants has escalated to constant crisis. In just a few weeks in office, President Trump has already moved forward several actions to criminalize and deport transgender immigrants at record levels.

The threats and attacks, of course, go far beyond immigration. From state legislation singling out transgender youth for harassment to a new presidential administration that has pledged to target Muslims, immigrants, people of color, women, people with disabilities and so many other members of our communities, we know that 2017 will be a difficult year across the board for transgender people.

Already, in the wake of Trump’s election, requests to Transgender Law Center’s helpline have doubled. People fear they’ll be denied identity documents that reflect who they are, that they will lose their health care, and even that they will be in danger of violence when they are just going about their day—a reasonable fear given that three transgender people have already been murdered in these first few weeks of 2017.

We do not know for sure what is coming, but we know that this is a moment for our community to come together as we did for Christina. As the attacks become more intense, we cannot allow our government to pit us against each other and convince some of us that others are disposable. We

SA N F RANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

must hold the complexity of each other’s experiences as people are driven to difficult choices by the situations they face, and still honor and protect each other as human beings.

Transgender Law Center’s newly launched Trans Immigrant Defense Effort (TIDE) relies on pro bono attorneys, and needs many more volunteer attorneys to show up for transgender immigrant rights. We are restructuring our legal information helpline to meet increased demand with skilled volunteers. We are compiling and spreading the word about legal clinics held by individuals and organizations across the country.

Transgender Law Center is mobilizing to meet our communities’ needs by turning back to community for support. As a community, we need each other now more than ever.

Ilona Turner is the Legal Director of the Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/

No Ban, No Wall SF: Protest at SF Civic Center Photos by Jane Higgins, Karen Bardsley, Sean Chapin

Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco filled again on Saturday, February 4, with protestors standing against the immigration ban imposed the prior week in the President’s executive order.

As in other cities throughout the U.S., those in the Bay Area opposed to the ban have vowed to continue protesting and proclaiming their views concerning children of refugees and immigrants.

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY   T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

5

Acting Up and Fighting Back at SFO

As we arrived at SFO two Sundays ago to join thousands of people protesting the Trump administration’s detention of Muslim immigrants at the nation’s airports, our eyes welled up with tears. For weeks, we had tried to maintain a sense of equilibrium, attempting not to follow every Internet post about what the new administration might do, or indulge our worst fears. As Mark Twain is thought to have said: “Some of the worst things in my life never happened.”

But now, something was happening.

The U.S. government was detaining or refusing entry to hundreds of lawful immigrants and refugees travelling to the U.S. that weekend and denying future entry to thousands of others, based on their religion or national origin.

We wore our old “Immigration Equality” t-shirts that read on the back, “United by Love, Divided by Law.” We had worn those shirts for years to support LGBT bi-national couples, many of whom until 2013 were denied legal status in America. Suddenly the shirts had a new and different relevance. We imagined innocent Muslim people being detained in windowless rooms elsewhere in the airport. We took heed of the famous words of Martin Niemöller, the Protestant minister the Nazis imprisoned, that were written on homemade signs at the protest: First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.

But as news of the proposed order started to leak, the White House quickly retreated, issuing a statement that very evening that protections for LGBT employees of government contractors would not be revoked and stating that Trump was “determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community” and that he “continue[d] to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights … .” The resistance was having an effect—a small victory.

But we hold no illusion as to the harm that some of Trump’s actions could have on LGBT people and to the anti-LGBT agenda that Mike Pence and others in powerful positions seek to enact. A different version of the proposed order is being circulated at this very moment. And the next day, Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch as his pick for the US Supreme Court. Lambda Legal characterized Gorsuch’s opinions as a federal appellate judge as “open[ing]

PHOTO BY JOHN LEWIS

PHOTO BY JOHN LEWIS

PHOTO BY JOHN LEWIS

PHOTO BY SEAN CHAPIN

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

The next day, Monday, we were scrolling through our email when we were stunned to read an ominous alert from a highly credible source: Later that day Trump might issue another new executive order, this one stripping LGBT federal employees and contractors from protections against discrimination in place for decades and permitting federal discrimination against married samesex couples and other LGBT people in a wide variety of contexts. Although LGBT immigrants and refugees would suffer under the administration’s immigration orders, those orders did not target LGBT people in particular. Now they were coming for us. We felt sickened, vulnerable, and furious.

6

SA N F RANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

We do our best to mind Martin Niemöller’s words. Indeed, everyone, including and perhaps especially Trump supporters, should take heed of Niemöller’s cautionary tale.

After all, Niemöller was not merely a passive bystander to the rise of Hitler; he was a Nazi and anti-Semite himself until the Nazis came after him and his views about the independence of his church. Only then did he gain the wisdom for which he is remembered today.

We cannot ultimately control what happens in life, but we have enormous power over our intentions and actions. Showing up and speaking out has always been fundamental to the success of the LGBT rights movement. And as a minority, we’ve never been able to win without the help of others. Thirty years ago, queer ACT UP activists summed up Niemöller’s admonition in two simple words: Silence = Death. Those words could not be more meaningful for all people today. We have pulled our old ACT UP t-shirts out of storage, and we know we will be wearing them again very soon.

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the nationwide grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.

PHOTO BY JOHN LEWIS

John Lewis & Stuart Gaffney

We attend demonstrations to speak out, to be counted, and to remind ourselves of hope. We gain inspiration and seek to inspire others, especially young people, to further action. We find comfort and community and often see friends and have some fun as well. At the SFO demonstration, we took particular joy hearing thousands of people from all walks of life chanting: “Immigrant rights under attack. What do we do?

Act up! Fight back!” derived from the ACT UP chants that queer HIV/ AIDS activists created in the 1980s.

PHOTO BY JOHN LEWIS

6/26 and Beyond

Thousands of people were speaking out that day even though they were not necessarily Muslim. They hoped those in detention at the airport could hear their chants of support; they were present at the airport to welcome any detainees who made it through immigration.

PHOTO BY SEAN CHAPIN

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

the door to all manner of assaults on the civil rights of ordinary citizens— including lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people and everybody living with HIV.”

PHOTO BY JOHN LEWIS

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.

City College Accredited, Resisting Trump, and Maintaining Progressive Values suit, but in retrospect it is clear that Herrera understood a basic truth that too many missed: when a bully in a position of power is trying to do unreasonable and harmful things, the appropriate response is not acquiescence, but resistance.

New Alice Mission Statement, Lesbians Who Tech Summit and a Valentine’s Day Reminder

The Resistance Speaking of bullies in power, how on earth are we going to survive another four (or heaven forefend, eight) years of Donald Trump? The great Jon Stewart, appearing recently on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, observed that Trump is “exhausting.

The presidency, quipped Stewart, is supposed to age the president, not the American people.

A San Francisco Kind of Democrat Rafael Mandelman Open and Accredited, For Seven Years!

City College is accredited for the next seven years! After a four-year battle with the Accrediting Commission for Junior and Community Colleges that brought both institutions to the brink of extinction, the Commission announced on January 13 that it would be re-accrediting City College for seven years, the longest possible term.

At a press conference in the Diego Rivera auditorium on the afternoon of the announcement, I thanked a litany of people who had championed City College’s cause, but the greatest applause from the audience came for our City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who early on recognized the injustice and insanity of the ACCJC’s decision to terminate the College’s accreditation and set a team of extraordinary lawyers in his office to work on a lawsuit to prevent that from happening.

Herrera was criticized by the Chronicle and others when he first filed the

But Trump is exhausting, and we blue-leaning Americans are angry, depressed and just plain stressed out. Only time will tell whether our marching, protesting and other expressions of resistance will help save the Republic, but I am pretty certain they are helping save our sanity.

My spirits were particularly buoyed by the Women’s Marches on January 21, and the semi-spontaneous turnout at SFO and other airports across the country the weekend following Trump’s awful executive orders on immigration. Those moments when great masses of decent people have turned out to stand up for our American values have been inspiring, and even hopeful.

Of Unity and Progressive Change The Examiner’s Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez had some interesting ruminations in a recent column on Mayor Lee’s calls for unity in his January 26 State of the City speech. We need to ask ourselves, the Mayor said, “if division at home makes us more vulnerable to attacks from outside.” To Rodriguez, “it sounded like the same old call to stifle any disagreements, but on steroids.” I was at the same event, and the Mayor’s call for unity rang oddly aggressively in my ears as well. During the same speech, the Mayor singled out a number of Supervisors by name for praise, but those Supervisors invariably hailed from the more conservative wing of the Board, with whom the Mayor has allied himself. So much for unity.

The election of Donald J. Trump has not erased the real differences among Democrats locally, any more than it has erased the differences among Democrats nationally. And the notion that it is in the public interest for San Franciscans to stop push(continued on page 22)

Do Ask, Do Tell Zoe Dunning Respite from the Madness I had planned on using this column to rant about the latest Trump executive orders, tweets, cabinet appointments and “alternative facts.” But I decided you probably have had enough of that in your daily news feed. Plus, the moment I write something down, it will be made obsolete by a more outrageous happening within hours of publication. So, I’m dedicating this month’s column to more “good news” developments I support and want to share. Keep on resisting, but take a moment to take care of yourself, and to celebrate positive news as well.

Lesbian Nerds Unite!

Later this month, February 23–26, San Francisco and the Castro will host the annual Lesbians Who Tech (LWT) Summit. LWT describes itself as “The Community of Queer Women In & Around Tech” (and the people who love them!). Over 2,200 lesbians, queer women and allies will gather to network and learn about a variety of

topics including technology + the resistance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and entrepreneurship. There will be a broad spectrum of speakers representing numerous organizations in and around technology, including Facebook, Google, Genentech, Twilio, Amazon, LinkedIn and Tesla. I’ve attended the Summit in the past, and plan on attending again this year— the event carries amazing energy and it’s always a fun experience when women take over the Castro!

For more information, go to http://lesbianswhotech.org/sanfrancisco2017/ New Alice Mission Statement Last fall, the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club drafted and adopted a new mission statement. The reason for the update was to more accurately reflect the current challenges of the LGBT community and the work to be done protecting all marginalized communities. Alice’s Co-Chairs, Lou Fischer and Eric Lukoff, recently sent a communication to its membership summarizing the effort: “It was a long process during which we looked back at our history, surveyed our members and predecessors, and clarified our values. Our work culminated in a statement we can be proud of, and one that we hope will serve as a guiding principle for us in the years to come. It can be found in its entirety on our website, but here is the most salient part: we are dedicated to advocating ‘for human rights, social and economic justice, and equality for all persons.’ This could not be more relevant to the times we live in.”

I applaud Alice and look forward to hearing more about its work to advocate on behalf of a broader coalition, as we #resist the assault on human rights coming out of the White House.

As an aside, I want to publicly applaud former Alice Co-Chair Ron Flynn for his role on the City (continued on page 22)

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

7

Common Ground

Aging in Community Jessica Lehman Last weekend I joined the diverse crowd at San Francisco Airport to protest Trump’s ban on Muslim immigrants and refugees. One of the signs that brought tears to my eyes was a play on Martin Niemöller’s famous quote. (See page 6 to read the full quote.) The protest sign said: “First they came for the Muslims …

And I said HELL NO!” We are now forced, perhaps more than ever before, to stand up, with and for each other. The policies being put forth by Trump and the Republican Congress have at least given us the opportunity to see how hard we are willing to fight to support and protect each other. It won’t be easy, but let us take advantage of the opportunity to build community, find common ground, and work together to create a better world.

As a disabled person, a queer person, and a community organizer, I am terrified by the threats to decimate the U.S. health care system coming from Trump and Congress. I work with low-income seniors and people with disabilities, many of whom depend on Medicare and Medi-Cal (Medicaid) for basic health services, includ-

ing prescription drugs and home care. Trump and Congress plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would end Medicaid expansion and patient protections, and replace our existing Medicaid system with block grants. Block grants would provide a set amount of funding to each state to provide health care services, regardless of how many people need health care. Block grant funding would be woefully inadequate to address health care needs in each state, forcing states to limit eligibility and available services.

Health care cuts are of great concern to seniors and people with disabilities; cuts will also have a major impact on the LGBT community. We are, of course, not separate groups. According to the SF Human Services Agency study on LGBT Seniors in San Francisco, more than 12% of San Francisco seniors identify as LGBT, not including those who do not share this information publicly. Kaiser Family Foundation reports that LGBT people tend to have higher rates of chronic conditions and disability than the general population. For people with HIV, denial of health insurance or other discrimination based on medical conditions was once widespread; the Affordable Care Act finally outlawed discrimination based on preexisting conditions, but is now under attack. Also threatened by politicians are ACA protections related to sexual orientation and gender identity. Our entire community then has a stake in the fight to protect health care programs like the Affordable Care Act. One of the health programs at greatest risk is home care. Governmentfunded home care programs, like In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) in California, allow seniors and people

with disabilities to live safely and independently in their homes, with a home attendant (or caregiver) to assist with daily activities. Our country has long had a bias towards nursing homes; it is much easier to get government funding to pay for a nursing home than for home care, even though nursing homes are much more expensive. Hiring an attendant privately can get very expensive, and so many people rely on Medi-Cal (which funds IHSS) to cover home care.

The LGBT community has a major stake in home care. Older LGBT people are more likely to live alone, are 3–4 times less likely to have children, and may be estranged from biological family, according to Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders. As a result, they may be less likely to have informal caregiving from relatives, thereby needing to hire attendants to provide assistance in their homes.

Nursing homes are often impersonal, unwelcome places, and LGBT seniors may face additional concerns about being out or feeling isolated.

Well-funded home care programs are critical to seniors, disabled people, and the LGBT community. The ACA includes the Community First Choice Option, which gives states an incentive to pay for home care rather (continued on page 26) Dr. Marcy Adelman oversees the Aging in Community column. For her summary of current LGBT senior challenges and opportunities, please go to: sf baytimes.com/ challenges-and-opportunties

Senator Wiener Introduces LGBT Seniors Long-Term Care Bill of Rights Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) last week announced the introduction of SB 219, the California LGBT Seniors Long-Term Care Bill of Rights, which will strengthen protections for LGBT seniors living in long-term care facilities against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status. The bill would protect all seniors living in skilled nursing facilities, immediate care facilities, and residential care facilities.

Equality California is sponsoring the legislation, and Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) is coauthoring the legislation. The bill is also supported by the American Civil Liberties Union and the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

SB 219 protects LGBT seniors from discrimination in long-term care facilities, such as a facility refusing to use a resident’s preferred name or pronoun, denying admission to a long-term care facility, transferring a resident within a facility or to another facility based on anti-LGBT attitudes of other residents, or evicting or involuntarily discharging a resident from a facility, on the basis of a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status.

In addition, the bill requires that all long-term care facilities post a notice regarding this form of discrimination where its current non-discrimination policy is posted.

“Our LGBT seniors built the modern LGBT community and were on the front lines of so many battles to expand our civil rights and fight the AIDS epidemic in its earliest and most horrif ic days,” said Senator Wiener. “They deserve to age with dignity and respect, and that means 8

SA N F RANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

making sure our long-term care facilities have culturally competent policies and procedures in place. Our community of LGBT seniors is growing, and as more and more LGBT people reach senior status, we need to ensure that our laws embrace their reality. While LGBT seniors face many of the same challenges that all seniors face, they also face unique challenges around discrimination, health, and potential lack of family support systems.”

Assemblymember Chiu said, “All seniors should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status. I look forward to working with Senator Wiener, Equality California, and other LGBT leaders to be sure all seniors are protected and respected in longterm care facilities.”

Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California added, “Our LGBT elders deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in the latter years of their lives. Many members of our community do not have children or other family members to care for them, and LGBT people in long-term care facilities can experience conditions that are insensitive, uncaring and sometimes hostile, forcing them back into the closet. This bill will help ensure that all LGBT seniors receive culturally competent care, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.”

San Francisco adopted a similar law in 2015, authored by Senator Wiener when he was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. That legislation came out of a report issued by the San Francisco LGBT Aging Policy Task Force, entitled “LGBT Aging at the Golden Gate,” which

produced a number of policy issue and recommendations.

“This bill makes it crystal clear that in the State of California, the law stands behind lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender seniors and LGBT people with disabilities and mandates respect for their gender identity, gender expression, safety, and privacy,” said Daniel Redman, an attorney who advised Sen. Wiener on the bill and the former legal chair of the San Francisco LGBT Aging Policy Task Force.

According to a 2011 study, “Stories from the Field; LGBT Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities,” by the National Senior Citizens Law Center, 89% of respondents indicated that they believe caretakers would discriminate against them for being LGBT; 43% personally witnessed or experienced mistreatment of LGBT seniors.

“LGBT elders, often without benefit of family or personal advocates, are vulnerable to discrimination and mistreatment in nursing homes and assisted living facilities,” said Dr. Marcy Adelman, a recognized national leader in the area of LGBT gerontology and a San Francisco Bay Times columnist. “This important legislation will provide legal protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status and will ensure LGBT elders receive the highest quality of care possible.” Dr. Adelman is the co-founder of Openhouse, which enables San Francisco Bay Area LGBT seniors to overcome the unique challenges they face as they age by providing housing, direct services, and community programs.

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY   T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

9

Can you keep your lifestyle in retirement?

Let’s talk.

415.623.2450 Brio Financial Group

A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Service, Inc. 44 Montgomery St, Ste 4210 San Francisco, CA 94104-4815 415-623-2450

BrioFG.com

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2016 Ameriprise Financial, Inc., All rights reserved.

Leasing or Buying: Which Option Is Right for You? a limit that fits your lifestyle. With an open-end or equity lease, you agree to purchase the vehicle at a predetermined price at the end of the lease.

With a closed-end lease, you can walk away from the car once any outstanding fees are paid.

Advantages

Money Matters Brandon Miller What’s the best route to acquiring a new and reliable set of wheels? Choosing the make and model of the vehicle you wish to drive, as well as other factors like amenities and mileage, are important. However, from a financial standpoint, one of your most important decisions is whether to lease or buy. Like many financial decisions, there are pros and cons to each option, so consider the following before signing on the dotted line.

Leasing a car When you lease a car, you generally make an up-front payment and agree to make monthly payments for a new car over a def ined period of time.

Lease payments cover the vehicle’s estimated depreciation (how much value the car loses during the time you own it) and finance charges, but they do not help you build equity or ownership in the vehicle. Most lease agreements have an annual mileage limit, and you may incur a fee if you drive more than the amount allowed.

Calculate your annual mileage from the last few years so you can negotiate

Leasing allows you to drive a new car every few years with lower monthly payments and occasionally, with no down payment. When the lease ends, you don’t have to worry about finding a new owner for the car. In many cases, if your car requires maintenance or repairs, the costs will be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty.

Disadvantages Despite offering more affordable monthly payments, leasing rather than buying a car will cost more over time. This is because you won’t be able to sell the car and recoup some of your costs when the lease is up. Additionally, you’ll pay the car’s depreciation when it is at its highest (in the first few years of ownership) and the newer vehicle may be more expensive to insure. Keep in mind that you may be charged a penalty if you want out of the lease early.

Buying a car A big factor to consider when you buy a car is how long you intend to drive it. Knowing your length of ownership will help you prioritize various features, such as the mileage or model year you’d like to purchase. Keep in mind that if you’d like to eventually sell or trade-in your vehicle, some cars hold their value better than others. Regular maintenance and careful driving can help retain your car’s resale value.

Advantages In the long run, buying a car is generally a better bargain than leasing, assuming you keep the vehicle for several years after the loan is paid off. This is because you will own the car and be free of monthly payments at the end of the loan. If you finance a used car rather than a new one, your potential savings are even greater. Buying gives you the flexibility to keep the car or sell it at the end of the loan. You also have the freedom to drive as many miles per year as you like (although high mileage does affect resale value).

Disadvantages Buying a car typically costs you more up-front, in the form of a down payment. While this amount is negotiable, its size will affect the amount you pay in interest and the length of your loan. As a car owner, you are responsible for repairs, which may add up over time.

Making the decision Think about your financial circumstances and preferences when you’re deciding which option—leasing or buying—is right for you. Find a reputable car dealer and ask questions before closing the deal. Compare specific offers with an online lease or purchase calculator, which allows you to plug in actual lease or loan terms.

Ask your financial or tax advisor to help you assess the impact on your financial situation of buying versus leasing a car.

Brandon Miller, CFP is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group, A Private Wealth Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial Inc. in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.

Would You Commit to These Green Cars?

Prius Prime is near the edge of current technology in terms of plug-in gas/electric hybrids. The e-Golf, on the other hand, is a solid pick in terms of current pure-electric offerings, but the advancing EV state of the art means you might prefer another in just a few years’ time.

Auto Philip Ruth February means Valentine’s Day, which has most of us thinking about our romantic lives. For those in relationships, the big VD typically means celebrating the bond and reaffirming the long-term commitment that’s been made.

For those who are dating, the arrival of Cupid’s arrow can spur questions such as, “How long to I want to commit here? And how far do I want this to go?”

These questions arise when you’re thinking about buying a green car, and the two we’re checking out this week provide their own answers. The Toyota Prius Prime typifies the kind of long-term thinking that accompanies a future-charted relationship, while the Volkswagen e-Golf hews more to a dating scenario that is more about the now.

More to the point, the Prius Prime is the one you would buy, while the e-Golf is probably best experienced through a lease. That’s because the 10

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

That’s not to say that VW isn’t keeping the e-Golf in the game. Its 2016 range was listed at 83 miles, and a new lithium battery raises that to a claimed 124 miles. That may not sound like a lot if you’re accustomed to 400-mile ranges from your gaspowered car, but buyers who have held off on choosing an EV as a commuter because of the typical sub-100mile ranges might now be able to justify acquiring an e-Golf.

Toyota Prius Prime

Volkswagen e-Golf

The EV that’s changing the game is the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, which I recently sampled and will cover in an upcoming column. GM pegs the

Bolt’s range at a Tesla-like 238 miles, which nearly doubles that of the eGolf. Bolts retail for about $10K more than comparable e-Golfs, so you do pay for the advantage, but the Bolt nevertheless shows the widening gap between current EV offerings and what’s to come.

So that’s why I’d go the lease route with an e-Golf, and it would likely be the first current EV I’d consider.

Golfs are terrific cars all around— they’re handsome and purposeful, with the solid structure, engaging handling and rich look and feel that characterizes most VWs. The e-Golf delivers these superlatives with the effortless acceleration and tomb-like quietness of a good EV. But what if you want EV efficiency with a long-term automotive partner? That’s where the plug-in Prius Prime shines. Its Chevrolet Volt direct competitor has double the Prius Prime’s 25-mile electric range, but the Chevy’s 420-mile gas/electric range falls far short of the Toyota’s staggering 640-mile claim.

Both the e-Golf and Prius Prime land at the same about-$30K price point and are accompanied with substantial tax discounts. The decision between them comes down to how far you want to go with them, in more ways than one.

Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant at www.gaycarguy.com. Check out his automotive staging service at www.carstaging.com

Do You Need a Certified Wedding Planner?

By Frederick Sullivan and Jaime Botello Yes, my friends, you need a certified wedding planner, you deserve a wedding planner, and you should have a wedding planner! Every engaged couple needs a wedding planner. Planning a wedding can be inherently stressful, and no one should have to suffer through any additional worries.

Before getting into any of the details, let’s talk about something: wedding planners aren’t just for daddy’s little girls, movie stars, and debutantes (no offense to any of those) anymore. Forget what you see in the movies and on television.

That’s not real life. You planning your wedding and wanting to just elope because it’s so stressful? That is real life! And you can do something about it. Planners really aren’t that expensive in the grand scheme of things, and if you find the right ones, they are worth every penny.

Oh, and one more thing—with how hard you are working in your fabulous job that I know you have, why on earth would you want to add another full-time job to your workload? There is a reason that wedding planners exist.

Wedding planning takes a lot of time, so why not leave it to someone who knows what they are doing, and whose job it already is?

We know the biggest thing that it comes down to when deciding whether or not you need a planner is money. Yep, everyone is on a budget; we know that. But the thing is, a planner might not be as much as you think they are. Sure, there are some planners who charge a lot, but there are also some who don’t charge as much.

Just remember you pay for what you get. Certified wedding planners (C.W.P.) are well worth the money spent, but always ask your planner if they are a C.W.P. You have lots and lots of options out there when it comes to planners.

It therefore won’t hurt anything to look around and inquire with planners about what their packages and costs are.

You can have a wedding planner. You need a wedding planner. You have every right to enjoy an amazing, stressfree wedding, and so, yes, you deserve a wedding planner!

Husbands Frederick Sullivan and Jaime Botello run Sullivan & Botello Events (http://sullivanbotelloevents.com) and SnB Party Rentals (http://www.snbpartyrentals.com) Frederick Sullivan and Jaime Botello, who oversee the Weddings & Occasions page for the San Francisco Bay Times, are the talented wizards behind Sullivan-Botello Events (http://sullivanbotelloevents.com) and SnB Party Rentals (650-877-0840, www.snbpartyrentals.com). Both are Certified Wedding Planners with extensive experience in creating memorable, personalized events for special occasions. Their rental service is incredible, offering everything from beautiful gold Chiavari chairs to LED dance floors, and all at competitive prices. They are the creators of the Gay Vanity Wedding Show and are longstanding members of the Golden Gate Business Association, which is the nation’s first LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

Congratulations to Paul and Don! Paul Margolis of San Francisco and Don Grant of Crockett, California, were married at a sunset wedding on Saturday, January 14, 2017. Paul is a contributing photographer for the San Francisco Bay Times and director of OurTownSF. Don is a real estate developer. The small traditional Jewish wedding included both family and former San Franciscans and took place at Lighthouse Restaurant in Fort Myers, Florida, with a dockside view overlooking the entrance to exclusive Connie Mack Island. The couple will be having a wedding reception in San Francisco in the Spring.

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

11

Dysfunctional Family Roles: #3 The Lost Child Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978 Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-601-2113 525 Bellevue Avenue Oakland CA 94610 E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com

The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men.

We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community.

The Bay Times is proud to be the only 100% LGBT funded and owned newspaper for the LGBT community in San Francisco.

Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas Co-Publishers & Co-Editors

Abby Zimberg Beth Greene

Design & Production

Kate Laws

Business Manager

Blake Dillon Calendar Editor

Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence J.H. Herren Technology Director

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT All children in dysfunctional families suffer some degree of neglect, and are also acutely aware of how much chaos, conf lict, and pain there is in the family. In their efforts to respond to these difficult situations, they very often adopt one of four stereotypical roles: the hero, the scapegoat, the lost child, and the mascot. In this, the third column in the series on dysfunctional family roles, we’ll focus on the lost child.

Lost children are unique in that, while the other roles involve strategies for getting attention, the lost child role is all about completely avoiding attention. In the birth-or-

through uniting together. Remember the slogan “Unity in the Community”? It’s important to note that “Unity” starts with YOU!

Mario Ordonez Juan Ordonez Distribution

Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg

ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards are available online at sfbaytimes.com or calling: 415-503-1375 Custom ad sizes are available. Please inquire! The Bay Times reserves the right to reject any advertising at the discretion of the publishers.

Lost children create strategies for hiding in plain sight. They spend a lot of time fantasizing, daydreaming, and creating private worlds that are happier and safer than their families. They like solitary activities such as reading, watching television, and playing video games. They are very attached to their pets, but usually have few friends. They are typically soft-spoken and are described by others as shy or introverted. In school, they are the ones who sit in the back of the class and never ask questions.

They tend to get decent grades, because not doing so would call atten-

Let Your Spirit Soar

Carla Ramos Web Coordinator

CONTRIBUTORS Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Kirsten Kruse, Kate Kendell, Alex Randolph, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Tim Seelig, Cinder Ernst, John Chen Rafael Mandelman, Kit Kennedy, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Bill Lipsky, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Thom Watson, Michele Karlsberg Lyndsey Schlax, Elisa Quinzi, Elizabeth River, Debra Walker, Wendy Ross, Howard Steiermann

der, these children are most commonly the third born. They come along at a time when the energy of the family is spent. By the time the family has applauded all of the hero’s achievements and exhausted their efforts trying to straighten out the scapegoat, there is nothing left for the third-born child. Lost children develop a belief, early in childhood, that they are to blame for the family turmoil because they are too much of a burden on their parents. They believe that they need and want too much. The way to ease the suffering of the family, then, is not to take up too much space in the world—to be quiet, not “in the way,” and to become as close to invisible as possible.

Living the Laughter Lifestyle Karen Williams, M.Ed. Social media is phenomenal. My first “Living the Laughter Lifestyle” column got 196 hits on Facebook, along with 19 shares. Who knew? There is such a radical mix of messages that are sent and received online that it’s quite flattering to be so well received.

In the back of my mind, I’d love to go “viral,” although I really don’t have a clue what that means!

If only good news dominated our messages these days as much as the bad news. We have to remember that we’ve made it through hard times before, and the way that we did it was

You are the most important person in your Universe. No matter what’s going on around us, we as individuals get to decide how we’re going to respond, what action we’re going to take, and where the locus of our focus will lead us. Since the Law of Cause and Effect is always at work, we simply need to get in rhythm with the Universe so that whatever causes we make will yield the best results for our lives.

To realize that you are at one with the workings of your Universe— your life and its sphere of inf luence—makes a huge impact on the world. You may not feel that way while you’re struggling with your own inner demons of jealousy, envy, greed, anger, and foolishness. However, a fierce determination changes everything. I’m sure that there have been times in your life when you fought like hell to keep going, to not give up. In these challenging times, it is imperative that you recall that fighting spirit and use it to win over yourself and to uphold your personal integrity in the face of daunting circumstances. Only then can you truly encourage another to do the same.

tion to themselves, but they usually don’t excel, because that would also make them conspicuous.

When they become adults, they are ill-equipped to be in the world, because their disconnection from their family and from their own inner lives leaves them without knowledge of what they want or what is reasonable to expect from life and relationships.

Inwardly, they feel emotionally empty, left out, lonely, angry, fragile, sad, isolated, powerless, scared, confused, and depressed.

When lost children enter therapy, their first emotional challenge is to uncover and face the depth of the lifelong sadness that their strategy of quiet avoidance has masked. They need to mourn the time they have lost, and the emotional barrenness to which their constricted role consigned them.

Usually, at a later stage, they also need to discover and own the buried anger they’ve been living with all their lives.

A nother important part of their work is to challenge two deeply ingrained and related beliefs. The first is the idea that they have great power to harm others, merely by taking up space in the world. The technical term for this idea is “omnipotence guilt.” In obedience to this faulty be-

lief, lost children avoid relationships with others because they believe that, to have relationships is to inflict themselves on others. They believe that if they open up to other people, they will overwhelm and hurt them with their excessive needs.

The second idea is that other people are too weak, unstable and fragile to depend on. Having grown up in families with unstable and unpredictable parents, they have learned that it is foolhardy ever to depend on other people to meet their emotional needs, and that their only option is self-reliance.

Lost children are well on their way to recovery when they can refuse to live as victims or as pawns in other people’s dramas; when they are able to say “no” to the demands of others without suffering extreme shame and guilt; when they no longer consent to be bit players in their own lives; and when they feel free to focus on their own life dreams and goals.

Next time: The Mascot Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. For more information, please visit his website http:// tommoon.net/

Such fierce personal power is at the core of “Unity in the Community!”

Repeat them often. Make up new ones once in a while.

Here are my tips that may give you a boost in the direction of your own empowerment and enlightenment: Let Your Spirit Soar

Example: I am kind, loving, creative, confident, empathic, intuitive, wise, capable, intelligent, beautiful, warm, nurturing, responsible, sensual, and free.

Look within for your Self. It’s there waiting for some attention.

Well, enough about me! Make up your own … .

Pray, chant, meditate, sit quietly, reflect, contemplate.

Learning to love and trust yourself can take a lifetime. Yet your journey has tremendous value, particularly when it’s shared, not only on social media, but also between friends, family, co-workers, colleagues, comrades and with those who may seem different from us. True unity results from finding the core values around which we can commune and build community.

Let go and let yourself heal.

Laugh, laugh, then laugh some more.

Laugh with others. Laugh alone.

Laugh at yourself!

Rediscover grace.

Love yourself in a different way today.

Pay attention to the part of you that needs love.

Remind yourself that you have a right to be happy.

You are worthy of respect.

Affirm you! Make up affirmations just for you.

Put them where you can see them every day.

It takes tremendous courage to be who you truly are! I’m rooting for you!

In the meantime, enjoy your journey, laugh out loud, and click another “Like” on Facebook! You’ll make someone very happy! © 2017 Karen Williams Karen Williams believes in the concept of many in body, one in mind.

Contact her at karenwilliamscomic@gmail.com

National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco.

Represented by Rivendell Media: 908-232-2021 Circulation is verified by an independent agency Reprints by permission only.

CALENDAR Event listings for consideration to be included in the Bay Times online or print Calendar section should be sent by e-mail to: calendar@sfbaytimes.com. © 2016 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas

12

SF Sketch Randy Coleman Randy Coleman hails from New York, but has lived in San Francisco since 1975. Coleman studied Art History and Architecture at Boston University while working as a resident artist for architectural rendering at a Massachusetts historical society. “All of my life I’ve been an artist,” Coleman says. “To know me is to know that I have a passion for art and architecture.”

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

© Randy Coleman, 2017

GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow Time Slouches On Has it really been only two weeks since last we met, dear readers? It feels like two months, which suggests that our experience of time during the Trump administration may be elongated, like dog years.

I’ve already forgotten half the insane developments of Trump’s first week in office, which I think involved signing a flurry of symbolic executive orders, insulting a number of foreign leaders and reminding a gathering of CIA agents about the time he won Pennsylvania when all the pundits predicted a loss.

More recently, we had the National Prayer Breakfast discussion of the low ratings for Arnold Schwarzenegger, and my favorite, a Black History Month shout out to Frederick Douglass (see page 16) for the “amazing job” he’s been doing. I think we’ve all been noticing lately that Douglass seems to have slavery on the run. And President Lincoln also seems to be in fine form these days. Keep up the good work, guys!

The barrage of incompetent missteps would be enjoyable if it didn’t involve innocent people suddenly barred from the United States, and Navy Seals dead or injured in Yemen. But the successive fiascos have at least restored my ability to watch cable news to some extent. And buried within the muck of recent news was something that passes for a gay rights victory in the miserable context of Trump politics.

As January drew to a close came word that Trump was planning to reverse Obama’s GLBT rights executive order, a policy that banned gay and trans discrimination by federal contractors.

That policy, in turn, protects roughly one fifth of the U.S. workforce. Not only was Trump poised to end the policy, said the rumor mill, but he was also considering a new order that would explicitly allow discrimination based on religious freedom.

Happily, however, the rumor was quick ly dispelled and the White House issued a statement saying Trump was “determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community.” I am waiting for another shoe to drop, but so far it has not. There has been no further talk of religious freedom orders, and even uber Christian Mike Pence told the press that “discrimination has no place in our administration.”

Insiders say we have Ivanka and Jared to thank for preserving the Obama order, but I also read that Trump didn’t really care about bashing our community to begin with and had other things on his mind. I think it’s clear that an antigay executive order, coming on the heels of the refugee ban, would have inflamed the anti-Trump movement like a match in gasoline.

Peloton and Tonic, Please Don’t think we’re out of the woods, my friends. Not only could some new faith-based fruitcake pop out of the oven, but we also have many battles to fight in the state legislatures and in Congress. That said, Trump’s decision to back away from an explicit attack on our community sends a valuable signal to our foes. Thus far, we’ve seen that Trump’s ascendance has emboldened the far right in a number of areas. But his apparent indifference to gay bashing, or maybe even resistance to homophobia, may conceivably help our side going forward.

Like you, I’m guessing, I have mixed feelings about being spared while immigrants and refugees get the full Trump treatment. It reminds me of the famous poem that begins: “First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a socialist … .” I am cheered, however,

when I think of the sign held by one of the airport protestors that said: “First, they came for the Muslims, and I said ‘Not Today Motherf---ers!’” That’s the spirit.

I can’t spend another column complaining and ranting, so I will veer off into a tangent, to wit: my dislike for the pretentious “Peloton” commercials. The self-satisfied, competitive, yuppies getting up at dawn to use their special fitness machines are so irritating, I don’t think I’d buy their products if they were selling caviar and champagne. Plus, I suppose there’s an element of ruefulness in my disdain since my mornings are usually spent guzzling black coffee, eating cold slices of pizza, smoking, doing the crossword puzzle and trying to decide whether or not to finish off the dregs of last night’s cognac. Hey, I rarely do that. It’s never any good.

It’s not just the fitness and the healthy mornings. It’s the complacency of it all. And it’s the cutthroat desire to outrun the other smug people on the Peloton rider list. Who wants to start their day with that kind of vicious energy? For the record, the old cognac is okay if it was poured after midnight.

And you can also just dump it in your coffee. I hate to waste it. Someone should invent a competitive morning video game for people like me: “Marjorie has taken the lead by fixing a Bloody Mary. It’s only seven am!”

“Ann has pulled ahead by going back to bed!”

“Janice is taking a bubble bath with a pitcher of margaritas and a Cuban cigar. Can anyone catch her?”

Picking Our Battles So, let’s talk about Neil Gorsuch.

Here’s the problem. The man is very qualified, and with the glaring exception of Merrick Garland, the Senate has a tradition of confirming qualified High Court nominees, unless their views are demonstrably bizarre. Gorsuch does not have much of a public stance on GLBT law, but he is strongly in favor of allowing religious actors to circumvent public policies that they claim may conf lict with their faith.

Not only did he write the 10th Circuit opinion in favor of Hobby Lobby’s right to avoid providing contraceptives under Obamacare, but he also sided with the Little Sisters of the Poor, a group that objected to filling out a simple government form connected with health insurance.

He is also on record bemoaning the fact that activists rely more on the courts than on the legislative or electoral process, even though such avenues are often closed to civil rights complaints and even though the courts are the obvious venue for protecting civil rights in the first place.

On the positive side, Joshua Goodbaum, one of Gorsuch’s former clerks who is gay, says he never heard an antigay word from the judge, who congratulated him on his (same-sex) marriage and called it “a wonderful thing.” Gorsuch is also reportedly kind, smart, humble and thoughtful. That’s nice, I suppose.

Here’s the thing. We’re not going to get a moderate nominee out of Donald Trump, and there were worse names on his short list for the Supreme Court. William Pryor, for example, is an outspoken enemy of the GLBT community and would have been a flat out disaster. Democrats are therefore probably wise to avoid a filibuster, confirm Gorsuch, and maintain the 60-vote requirement for Senate confirmation. If Democrats force the GOP to “go nuclear” and rewrite Senate rules so that only a bare majority is needed to confirm a justice, someone like Pryor could sail through (continued on page 26) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

13

Valentine’s Day February 14th Photos courtesy of The Cliff House

PHOTO BY BROCKEN INAGLORY

Romance Smolders at San Francisco’s Cliff House

The Cliff House reminds us of some of our love lives: it started out modest, gained a scandalous reputation, got burned in some disasters and then emerged stronger and better than ever.

The stories that it could tell might make even the ghosts at the nearby Sutro Baths ruins blush.

The Cliff House is arguably the most romantic place in San Francisco, and possibly in all of California. Hugging the coast at Land’s End, the Cliff House offers unparalleled views of the vast and moody Pacific Ocean, with the rocky, mysterious Farallon Islands peeking out in the distance on non-foggy days. Sunsets there are so dramatic that they are choreographed, with the window blinds slowly rising like a theater curtain before nature’s colorful show starts.

There is a three-way aspect to the Cliff House, given that visitors can wine and dine in one of three gathering spots within the overall building: the Zinc Bar, Bistro and Sutro’s. Sutro’s actually has a gorgeous light and airy separate Bar & Lounge, so actually this could be a four-way. In any case, the varied offerings allow everyone from singles to large parties to feel comfortable and at ease, even while enjoying such a glamorous, dreamy setting.

“Cliff House has a long history of romance,” Chef Kevin Weber, Executive Chef and Director of Food Operations for the Cliff House, told the San Francisco Bay Times. “Several years ago I received a call from a family celebrating their parents’ 70th wedding anniversary. They were married at the Cliff House in 1937, and wanted all the family here to celebrate. I welcomed them when they arrived and the ‘groom’ asked me if the prices were the same as 70 years ago. I showed the couple the personalized menu we had created for them giving the couple those same prices. They were deeply touched by our efforts and it helped make their day even more special. We really try to make memories for all our guests here at the Cliff House.”

14

We can vouch for that. Members of our team have had their wedding receptions at the Cliff House, first dates, celebrated birthdays there and much more. While we like to stop by for a quick and reasonably priced breakfast or lunch, the Cliff House is still at the top of our list for Valentine’s Day destinations. One reason is Chef Kevin himself. He fell in love with the Cliff House shortly after he moved to the Bay Area, and has worked there for decades.

Under his culinary leadership, the Cliff House has won numerous awards. As the prestigious Michelin Guide notes, “Sutro’s would be worth a trip just for its commanding views of the rugged California coastline. But this SF landmark doesn’t rest on its laurels; instead, it serves surprisingly good food. In season, Dungeness crab is unmissable here, whether in a terrifically colossal crab Louie with avocado mousse and hardboiled eggs, or shatteringly crisp panko-crusted crab cakes over carrot hummus and lemon-tarragon aïoli. The tasty seafood-focused fare goes on to include mussels steamed in Anchor Steam beer and harissa; as well as a sautéed red trout sandwich with fennel, cucumber, and yogurt. After your meal, stroll along the beach or visit the windswept ruins of the Sutro Baths next door.” We should add that there are incredible vegetarian options too, as well as great fare for red meat-craving carnivores.

The menus at all of the restaurants within the Cliff House continue to evolve and change while still keeping classic favorites. As Chef Kevin said, “The Cliff House, although it celebrates many traditions, is always moving forward and staying abreast of current trends. I think, with the different restaurants within the Cliff House, we are able to honor the traditional San Francisco dishes in our Bistro restaurant while the Sutro restaurant is constantly changing to keep up with our clients’

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

desires. California cuisine with global influences would be the best way to describe the focus of our menu here in Sutro’s.”

He added, “Although this Valentine’s Day my partner (Rex) and I cannot be physically together, due to his being in Beijing, I just look out the window looking due west and the beautiful sunsets seem to melt the distance away. I hope everyone finds the love they seek in the coming year, so whether a first date or a 70th anniversary, allow us to be part of the memories you will make here at the Cliff House.”

Kevin and Rex

Valentine’s Day Events From our Coming Up! Calendar, we bring a selection of things to do with your sweetheart, friend or other on Tuesday, February 14.

Tuesday, February 14 – Valentines Day Valentine’s Day Market – 10 am @ San Francisco Ferry Building, One Ferry Building. Ferry Plaza Farmers Market vendors feature flowers and handcrafted treats for your loved ones. ferrybuildingmarketplace.com PillowFightSF – 5:50 pm @ Justin Herman Plaza, 1 Market Street.

An annual public gathering for pillow fighting. facebook.com/ events/407176062954013/?active_tab=about SF Valentine’s Day Make Contact – 6 pm @ Covo, 981 Mission Street (6th and Mission). GGBA’s monthly networking event, this month presented at an hourly and monthly membership coworking space. ggba.com For the Love of Beer – 6:30 pm @ The Commonwealth Club, 555 Post Street. Leaders from top SF brewers bring conversation and samples. commonwealthclub.org Valentine’s Day at Black Cat: A Night in Paris – 7:30 pm @ Black Cat, 400 Eddy Street. A romantic evening of Jazz, sharable plates and drinks featuring legendary cabaret singer Paula West. blackcatsf.com Cupid’s Comedy Allstars – 8 pm @ Punch Line Comedy Club, 444 Battery Street. With several local comedians. punchlinecomedyclub.com Tainted LOVE – 9 pm @ The Stud, 399 9th Street. An opposition to the Valentines Day holiday party.

Anti-Valentine’s Day Power Ballad Sing A Long – 9:31 pm @ Roxie Theatre, 3117 16th Street. Sing along to power ballads and wave fists at the sky to music of Journey, Guns ‘ n Roses, Bon Jovi, Warrant and more at this Independent Film Festival event. sfindie.com

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

15

A Black History Lesson for Trump

A Black History Month Lesson in the Wake of Douglass-gate Our President raised more than eyebrows trying to talk about Black history at this year’s National Prayer Breakfast.

“Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I noticed,” Trump said.

The remark prompted several publications to ponder if Trump even knows who Douglass (1818–1895) was—or “is”—since the President used present tense in speaking of him, and prompted Douglass’ descendants to send The White House a list of the social reformer’s accomplishments: “Frederick Douglass has done an amazing job …

• Enduring the inhumanity of slavery after being born heir to anguish and exploitation but still managing to become a force for solace and liberty when America needed it most, • Recognizing that knowledge was his pathway to freedom at such a tender age, • Teaching himself to read and write and becoming one of the country’s most eloquent spokespersons, • Standing up to his overseer to say that ‘I am a man!’

Alvin Ailey

Josephine Baker

• Risking life and limb by escaping the abhorrent institution, • Composing the Narrative of his life and helping to expose slavery for the crime against humankind that it is, • Persuading the American public and Abraham Lincoln that we are all equal and deserving of the right to live free, • Establishing the North Star newspaper when there was very little in the way of navigation or hope for the millions of enslaved persons, • Supporting the rights of women when few men of such importance endeavored to do so, • Arguing against unfair U.S. immigration restrictions, • Understanding that racism in America is part of our ‘diseased imagination,’

James Baldwin

Billie Holiday

• Recruiting his sons—who were born free—to fight in the war to end the enslavement of other African Americans, • Being appointed the first black U.S. Marshal by President Rutherford B. Hayes, • Being appointed U.S. Minister to Haiti by President Benjamin Harrison, • Serving as a compelling role model for all Americans for nearly two centuries.”

Trump’s Douglass-gate moment caused members of the San Francisco Bay Times team to wonder if the White House might need a lesson on Black LGBT pioneers this Black History Month. Limiting our list to those who have passed on, we offer just some of the many talented individuals whose work made a positive difference in their respective fields, and whose achievements continue to inspire us.

Essex Hemphill

Lorraine Hansberry

Marsha P. Johnson

Barbara Jordan Langston Hughes

Alvin Ailey, Dancer and Choreographer (1931–1989) Josephine Baker, Dancer, Singer, Actress (1906–1975) James Baldwin, Author (1924–1987) Richmond Barthé, Sculptor (1901–1989) Lorraine Hansberry, Writer and Activist (1930–1965) Essex Hemphill, Poet and AIDS Activist (1957–1995) Billie Holiday, Jazz Singer (1915–1959) Langston Hughes, Author (1902–1967) Alberta Hunter, Blues Singer, Songwriter, Nurse (1895–1984) Marsha P. Johnson, Leader of the Stonewall Riots, Transgender Advocate (1944– 1992) Barbara Jordan, Politician, Civil Rights Leader (1936–1996) Audre Lorde, Author, Advocate (1934–1992) Willi Ninja, Ball Culture Dancer and Choreographer (1961–2006) Ma Rainey, Blues Singer (1886–1939) Bayard Rustin, Advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1912–1987) Margaret Sloan-Hunter, Writer and Activist (1947–2004) Bessie Smith, Jazz and Blues Singer (1894–1937) Billy Strayhorn, Musician and Activist (1915–1967) The list could go well beyond the pages of this newspaper, so we invite you to explore online resources such as: http://www.glaad.org/publications/blackhistorymonthkit http://www.glsen.org/article/ black-history-month http://www.lambdaarchives. us/videos/black_gay_history. htm

Alberta Hunter 16

Audre Lorde

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

Richmond Barthé

http://bayardrustincoalition. com/ http://alp.org/

New Conservatory Theatre Center to Present World Premiere of Jewelle Gomez’s New Play, Leaving the Blues Black History Month is a prelude to an event we have been eagerly awaiting for months: the world premiere of Jewelle Gomez’s Leaving the Blues. The play, presented and commissioned by New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC), includes music and imagines the life of legendary Blues singer-songwriter Alberta Hunter (1895– 1984).

Photos courtesy of New Conservatory Theatre Center

In this new play by the celebrated Gilda Stories’ author, Hunter is backstage preparing for a professional comeback, knowing just how many doors to the past it may open. Spanning 60 years, Leaving the Blues imagines a journey through the public life Hunter led as an African-American musician, the private life she hid as a lesbian, and the ghosts that won’t let her forget.

Gomez never forgot the multiple times she saw Hunter perform at the Cookery in Greenwich Village in the mid 1980s. She told the San Francisco Bay Times that she “was mesmerized” by the performer’s energy and charm. “The shows were sold out every weekend and I always came away uplifted by the idea of living that long and still having your art inside you. It was my grandmother, who’d been on the stage herself, who confirmed that Alberta was known to be a lesbian.”

Commissioned to write a trilogy for NCTC, Gomez thought of Hunter again after the successful run of her first play in the trio, Waiting for Giovanni. It was written in collaboration with Harry Waters, Jr., and was a dream play exploring the inner life of author James Baldwin. The work premiered at NCTC in the 2011–2012 Season, and was also developed in NCTC’s New Play Development Lab.

Jewelle Gomez

Gomez explained that following such endeavors, “little by little bits and pieces of a story popped up around Alberta: I created fictional characters and embellished small bits I could find about actual people, like her lover. The first image I came up with was the ghost Vaudevillian who guides Alberta’s journey. He’d performed in black face, which was represented by a two-sided, traditional church fan-black face on one side and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in jail on the other.”

“From there,” she continued, “grew the theme of all the masks we sometimes have had to wear. So the piece itself isn’t really biographical, but more like what Audre Lorde called ‘biomythography,’ a mythologizing of her life so we can see and feel the essences of her meaning to us.”

The production of Leaving the Blues has brought together many talents. Its cast features Desiree Rogers, Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, Michael Gene Sullivan, Jasmine Milan Williams, Ant hony Rol l i ns -Mu l lens, Paul Collins, Matt Weimer, and Tai Rockett. The creative team of Leaving the Blues includes musical arrangements and direction

by Scrumbly Koldwyn, scenic design by Kuo-Hao Lo, costume design by Keri Fitch, lighting design by Christian V. Mejia, and choreography by Jayne Zaban, and stage management by Kaitlin Rosen.

The production seems especially important at this time, given the political climate and issues we are facing today.

As Gomez said, “Arts and culture are the tools oppressed people can use to survive and thrive. We can look to the past and see possibilities for our future. With today’s administration that openly embodies such negative, destructive and egocentric ideals, things are going to get worse before they get better. But the future is in our hands.”

“Understanding how others faltered and still made it through adversity should give us energy and hope. I’d like people to believe in the power of art and to take themselves more seriously as social change agents.”

Leaving the Blues runs March 3–April 2. Opening night is Saturday, March 11, at 8 pm. Tickets are $25–50 and available at nctcsf.org or by calling 415-861-8972.

During the run of the show, audiences can enjoy these special events: Live Music Thursdays: live-music pre-show

by Mr. Tipple’s Musicians (from Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio, the local jazz bar located in Hayes Valley/Civic Center) at 7 pm in the lobby.

Onstage Insight, Post-Show Discussion after the following performance: Sunday, March 19, at 2 pm—Panel discussion featuring the cast, moderated by the play’s director.

Low-cost Previews: Friday, March 3–Friday, March 10.

On opening night, the performance will be followed by a reception catered by 16–17 Season Restaurant Sponsor, Mina’s Brazilian.

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

17

LGBT Movie Standouts at The Mostly British Film Festival If the film puts a not-exactly unexpected twist on the familiar coming out/coming-of-age story, it nevertheless presents g rat if y ing messages about pride, shame, and tolerance with humor and grace. There are also some nice, sensitive moments, as when Dan has a heart-to-heart with Conor.

Film Gary M. Kramer The Mostly British Film Festival, unspooling February 16–23 at the Vogue Theater, 3290 Sacramento Street, in San Francisco, showcases a number of films by gay directors, starring out actors, and/or featuring queer characters.

One of the highlights of this year’s program is Handsome Devil, a sure-f ire crowd pleaser about two boarding school roommates, the wiry, red-headed Ned (Fionn O’Shea) and the athletic Conor (Nicholas Galitzine). Ned is a music-loving outsider, marked as a “fag” by Weasel (Ruairi O’Connor), the school bully. In contrast, Conor is a star rugby player and a hero at the school that treats the sport like a religion. The roommates are odd-couple opposites, but they start to bond over music, especially when their English teacher, Dan (out actor Andrew Scott), asks them to perform a duet for a local talent show. Although there is some palpable sexual tension between the boys during a practice session, the magic of Handsome Devil lies in the natural way the boys’ relationship develops and grows. They come to learn more about each other—and about themselves— as their friendship is tested by outside forces.

The actors are all engaging, and the f ilm’s soundtrack is terrific. It’s also hard not to feel a swell of emotion as Rufus Wainwright sings “Go or Go Ahead” during the film’s climactic scenes. Handsome Devil will leave viewers smiling from ear to ear.

A handsomely mounted period piece screening at the festival is A Quiet Passion, by gay f ilmmaker Terence Davies. This gorgeously lit biopic stars out actor Cynthia Nixon as poet Emily Dickinson, and reams of the poet’s verse is spoken throughout this talky drama.

First seen at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, where she rebels against religion, Dickinson returns home, to Amherst, where she tells her father (Keith Carradine) that she wants to write (and publish) poetry. These are her initial expressions of independence, and throughout A Quiet Passion, Dickinson, along with her tarttongued friend Vryling Buffam (a scene-stealing Catherine Bailey), take pains to assert themselves as they consider social mores and issues of love and marriage, religion and death, truth and experience.

Davies, who penned the screenplay, concentrates on episodic mini-dramas, such as Emily’s arguments with her brother Austin (Duncan Duff )

Handsome Devil

A Quiet Passion

Pawno

over his extramarital affair, or her prolonged ill health. Despite the filmmaker’s noble efforts, however, A Quiet Passion is a portrait that is more stuffy than vibrant, and Nixon is rather starchy as the poetess.

Pawno is a sweet and sour Australian entry that showcases the lives of a dozen characters. Danny (writer Damian Hill) works for Les ( John Brumpton) in his pawnshop in the town of Footscray. Les is no-nonsense, while Danny, who has a secret crush on Kate (Maeve Dermody), is more (continued on page 26)

Energized or Exhausted?

Words Michele Karlsberg Michele Karlsberg: Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Julia Diana Robertson: It depends on what I’m writing: a novel, a short story, fiction, non-fiction, an article, a poem. Writing fiction can be very relaxing. It can energize. It can be emotional. Frustrating. Therapeutic. There are highs and lows, depending on where I am in the story. Sometimes I’ll sit at my desk for hours, lost in another world that I’ve created, and I’ll go through a whole range of ups and downs.

Writing poetry, on the other hand, moves quicker, so it’s almost always energizing. It’s more of a speeding train of connected thoughts that have a beat and a rhythm. So, even if it’s based on something painful, there’s an energy propelling you to the end, and the end is near.

Writing a novel takes you down many paths. It can take months or years to perfect. There has to be some level of 18

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

patience. The process of editing can be aggravating at times. Especially when the edits are coming from the outside: delete this chapter, tell the story from this perspective, change the ending. However, when I’m telling a story, with no outside influence, frustration isn’t as much of a factor.

they think—this is a difficult balance.

I was perfectly f ine with strangers reading my work, but people I knew … it was like letting someone read through my diary.

The one exception to this rule is writer’s block.

Martin Hyatt: Many writers (myself included) forget that the writing process begins with creative thinking. When I am in the thinking mode of generating ideas, it feels like magic. However, we are often told that if we aren’t sitting at the desk producing words, it does not count. I need dream time.

The roller coaster of novel writing can shift day-by-day, hour-by-hour.

Depends on where you are in the story. There certainly are moments that are emotionally exhausting, because the connections I have with my characters are so real. I draw from within, so I have to really experience whatever my characters are experiencing.

Despair. Pain. Emptiness. Joy. Fear.

Seduction. Those emotions, because they are so varied and raw, are almost too personal to share. Once the reality of sharing your fiction finally kicks in, there’s a whole new feeling attached to everything you write— vulnerability.

You have to be okay with sharing a piece of your soul. You have to be aware of your reader while not allowing yourself to care about what

Julia Diana Robertson was born and raised in New York. She’s a fiction writer and a contributor to the Huffington Post.

I write in spurts: an entire draft in two weeks, and nothing else for a year.

When the writing is going well, it energizes me, making me feel fully alive and awake. I am very influenced by music. When the music of my writing is going well, it is like a performance of sorts. One good line leads to the next. When it is going well, it is almost like something else is at play.

I am not the most spiritual person, but there is a certain amount of spirituali(continued on page 26)

Speaking to Your Soul ARIES (March 21–April 19) Spring fever hits early for you as your internal flame is currently stoked to a blaze. Channel this energy into meaningful goals, lest your impulsiveness create consequences you might regret.

TAURUS (April 20–May 20) Your battle is internal now. Go within and stare fear down to transform it into the usable creative energy that it actually is.

Astrology Elisa Quinzi We are in a period of intensely heightened energy. With swords drawn, we are challenged to choose our battles carefully. Such energy channeled in the most constructive direction will find victory. Courage and wisdom are the keys.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Not one to rock the boat, you have a tendency to skillfully smooth out the wrinkles in relationships. Right now you’re urged to give voice to your stronger emotions and create a few necessary waves. The added heat can revive sexual bonds as well.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) It takes courage and strength to humble yourself and acknowledge that you need to grow. Hold up a mirror and be willing to make necessary changes. Freedom awaits you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Social justice calls. Use your brilliant mind and communication skills to fight the good fight. Never before have you been in a position to fulfill such an urgent need in the world.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) The surge of vitality arising in you now is best channeled through a creative outlet. Pouring your life force into authentic expression helps you fall in love with yourself more deeply.

CANCER ( June 21–July 22) Taking care not to unnecessarily butt heads with authority, it is a ripe moment for you to claim what is rightfully yours. Take a courageous step toward advancing your position, or at minimum offering your voice to the organization you participate in.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22–Jan.19) A blowout at home isn’t necessary, but a challenging conversation might be. You’re being prompted to express your feelings around a heated topic, and can be direct with grace. Doing so could strengthen close bonds. At the least, it will liberate you.

LEO ( July 23–August 22) It’s time to expand your horizon and refresh your outlook. Shake up the routine by taking a bold unconventional step outside your comfort zone. The universe will reward you for it.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Your dialogue circuits are crackling now as you share your thoughts and feelings more enthusiastically with the people around you. Thankfully, you can access the capacity to listen gracefully too, and should. Be willing to be curious, and eventually you’ll have a breakthrough.

VIRGO (August 23–Sept. 22) Your current challenge is finding the courage to surrender control. Exposing both your vulnerability and your deeper emotions has liberating and transformative results now.

PISCES (Feb. 19–March 20) Eternally the dreamer of the zodiac, right now the energy of a thousand suns at your back presses you to be a doer. Take concrete actions toward manifesting your vision and desires, and your self-worth takes an evolutionary leap forward.

Elisa has been enjoying the art of astrological counseling since earning professional certification many years ago. In addition to astrological knowledge, she brings a high degree of conscious presence to her work, and creates a safe, comfortable atmosphere for sessions to unfold organically. Contact her at futureselfnow@gmail.com or 818-530-3366 or visit www.ElisaQuinzi.com

Wishing you and yours a Happy Valentine’s Day 2017 from the San Francisco Bay Times!

Photos by Rink

Valentines window at Terrasol, a gift shop on Polk Street

Valentines window display at Good Vibrations on Polk Street

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

19

Mission High School Students Share Thoughts on Sanctuary Cities, LGBTQ Studies

By Jenn Bowman ( E d itor’s Note: Teacher Ly ndsey Schlax of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (Asawa SOTA) launched the nation’s first on-site high school LGBTQ course in 2015. She continues to teach LGBTQ Studies, a subject that is now also being taught at Mission High School by Jenn Bowman. In this column, Bowman’s students share their thoughts about LGBTQ-related matters, including their concerns, what they have learned in class and more.

Thanks to both talented teachers, as well as to their thoughtful, intelligent students, for making this column in the San Francisco Bay Times possible.)

Home Sweet Home?

Fiona, 10th Grade, and Isabela, 10th Grade A sanctuary city is a community that has adopted a policy of protecting undocumented residents by not prosecuting or deporting them for violating federal immigration laws. When he was running for off ice, Donald Trump continually pledged to defund and penalize sanctuary cities.

Now that he is president, he followed through on this nativism pledge with one of his first executive orders. In retaliation, San Francisco recently filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s executive order, which calls for the federal government to withhold money from sanctuary cities.

This means that we may have a chance, after all. If this lawsuit succeeds, we will continue to attain federal funding for public necessities such as public schools, parks, museums, etc. On the other hand, if we lose, there will be severe consequences. For example, ICE will likely raid many communities that were formerly safe for all residents. We will lose funding for said public resources. This will create an extremely unsafe and negative environment for all.

People will live in fear that they will be taken, separated from their families, or lose loved ones.

Happy Birthday to Cris Williamson from the San Francisco Bay Times!

Many San Francisco public school students are undocumented. The day after Trump was elected, we saw the tears of our friends who feared for the deportment of their family members.

We also heard our friends’ fears of not being able to realize their dream of continuing their education. If San Francisco loses this case, there will be a considerable dent in the populations at all schools around the city.

This lawsuit could protect these students and continue funding education for everyone. All students need support in the future, and right now.

Her music and voice quickly became an essential part of the soundtrack of a movement, and was the cornerstone of what would become known as “women’s music,” music created, performed, and marketed specifically for and by women. Today that recording, The Changer and the Changed, is still one of the best-selling independent releases of all time.

Now Williamson, also a pioneer as an out lesbian political activist who used music as a connector to build commuSA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

Last year, in my final quarter of 10th grade, my World History teacher recruited me to join the brand new LGBTQ Studies class for my junior year.

I decided to join this class because I was told it would look great for college and give me a boost for being one of the first students taking this class.

Initially, the only reason I was in this class was for the college application, but as time has passed, I became more and more interested in learning about the struggles of such a group as the LGBTQ community. In this class, I am the only straight identified male, and I have learned so much from the experiences of others.

This class has helped me to see the reasons why we need a stronger community and why we should not let anyone down. We can’t be divided, or put the privilege of one group of people above another; we are all the same. This class has taught me that others’ struggles are everyone’s struggles because everyone deserves rights and happiness. We can’t be divided by any reason, no matter what the government does, or who stands up to put others down. We must stand tall, all united. The LGBTQ+ community has suffered a lot throughout the decades, and deserves respect and support in their struggle.

We should learn to love, have compassion, and know that everyone has free will to do what they please and that no one can take that from you.

We must stand united and stand up for our rights together, rise above hate and love each other. We are all one race: the human race. Everyone is unique, and we must accept and love each other.

Sooner Than Later

By Lillian, 10th Grade, and Maria, 10th Grade Students spend much of their lives in school, where they are constantly bombarded with a confusing assortment of opinions that make it difficult to distinguish those from their own morals. When kids start attending school, they are impressionable and are more accepting to different points of view than when they get older. After a mere six years, they go off to middle school, where their opinions and ideas are molded and developed into that of a young adult. Once they reach high school, their opinions are acted upon and become a way of living that affects those around them as much as themselves.

As sophomores at Mission High School, we are constantly in an environment that can seem unsafe and

Student Voices unaccepting. When walking through our hallways, students often hear anti-gay and women slurs that are used with negative intent and no understanding of the impact behind these words. We are lucky to be part of our LGBTQ+ class that serves as a temporary safe haven. If the students hurling such slurs could have experienced a safe and healthy environment when they were younger, and if they had been allowed exposure to positive LGBTQ+ role models and leaders, they might now be able to act in an inclusive manner that could benefit all.

When students are educated when their minds are still fresh, it creates a safe environment for LGBTQ+ students to fight against fear and to feel comfortable being themselves. When this is accomplished, we’ll find ourselves with a generation of kind, compassionate, and accepting individuals. We hope that more high schools will offer LGBTQ+ classes in order to create the space for openness and dialogue that we have found here at Mission High School. We hope that the articles we write for the San Francisco Bay Times will inspire other people in our community to call for similar classes.

Mission High School: https://mhssfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/ Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts: http://www.sfsota.org/ LGBTQ Scholarship Opportunities: https://static1.squarespace.com/ static/52c7dc91e4b0c06fbd156f6b/ t/53b63fb8e4b079c1947dbd fa/1404452792563/LGBTQ.pdf Jenn Bowman, a history teacher at Mission High School, is a queer woman, activist, scholar, and queercore lover. With a small group of teachers, she took part in the initial LGBTQ Studies pilot class from 2010-11 in collaboration with the SF LGBTQ Center. This pilot, which offered a class for students on Saturdays at the Center, led to a 2010 school board resolution that promoted the expansion of LGBTQ Studies across high schools.

Cris Williamson CD Release and Birthday Celebration Event Announced Decades before indie labels were the norm, and years before women had any real access to the industry, Cris Williamson was busy changing the face of popular music. In 1975, the twenty-something former schoolteacher recorded The Changer and the Changed for her brainchild, Olivia Records, the first woman-owned woman-focused record company.

20

Unexpected Pedro, 11th Grade

nity, remains a vital and inspirational artist. She has just announced the release of her 32nd album, entitled Motherland, and will celebrate both this new music and her 70th birthday at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage on Saturday, February 11, at 8 pm.

Williamson said, “Last year, I began flirting with the idea of recording the music of my peers, my contemporaries, climbing into other people’s material as if it were my own. Like most musicians, this was how I started in the first place, by choosing songs that really spoke to me, that I could therefore inhabit quite easily.”

She wrote the title song for the new album, but she chose songs written by the following artists for the other 9 songs: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Patty Griffin, Eliza Gilkyson, Jackson Browne, Laura

Nyro, Leonard Cohen and Jennifer Warnes, and John Lennon.

“Recorded at Fantasy Recording Studio in Berkeley, Motherland features an all-star band of sisters and brothers,” Williamson said. “I am so honored to have been produced by Julie Wolf along with some brilliant support from Vicki Randle. These two powerhouses will be joining me for this show, along with my dear pal, Barbara Higbie, who brought such beauty to the project. As well, Shelley Doty, amazing on guitar, as is Zachary Ostroff on bass and Scott Amandola on drums. I can’t wait for you to see exactly what I mean.”

Williamson’s music is sampled in hiphop, used by midwives welcoming life into the world, sung by hospice choirs and so much more. We heartily agree (continued on page 22)

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun shows to come, including a special one for leather enthusiasts.

Sister Dana sez, “The handlers of Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, noted the furry rodent has “predicted” six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow at dawn. So prepare!”

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana Sez: “Flowers, candy, red hearts, and romance is what VALENTINE’S DAY is all about, right? Well, maybe not—at least not in the historical sense. In reality, St. Valentine of Rome was a priest long ago when Emperor Claudius the Second prohibited the marriage of young people— based on the hypothesis that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers, because married soldiers might be afraid of what might happen to their wives if they died. So Valentine secretly married them despite the edict. But Valentine was eventually caught, imprisoned, tortured, and beheaded in the year 269 AD for performing marriage ceremonies. He inspired today’s romantic missives by signing his last letter to a woman, ‘From your Valentine.’”

Winner of five 2015 Tony Awards including Best Musical, “FUN HOME” is based on ALISON BECHDEL’s best-selling graphic memoir. This groundbreaking production, presented at the beautifully renovated historic Curran Theatre, introduces us to Alison at three different ages, revealing memories of her uniquely dysfunctional family that connect with her in surprising new ways. This intimate theatrical experience allows us to look through Alison’s eyes as she reflects on the moments that made her who she is. It is a very well written and acted portrayal of a daughter’s determination to understand and connect with her volatile, brilliant, enigmatic father. The cartoonist relives her often not so fun childhood playing at the Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own lesbianism and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s supposedly hidden homosexuality and sudden death. The passionate production takes audiences on a whirlwind emotional ride, so bring some tissues for both tears of joy and laughter. Now through February 19 at the Curran, 445 Geary Street. https://sfcurran. com/shows/fun-home/ I attended the VIP reception for the newest exhibition at the GLBT HISTORY MUSEUM loaded with tons of works of famed bear cartoonist FRAN FRISCH brilliantly giving a living history of the bear community—”BEARTOONIST OF SAN FRANCISCO: SKETCHING AN EMERGING SUBCULTURE.” Executive Director Terry Beswick—who was celebrating his one-year anniversary on the job— introduced the curator for the show, museum director Jeremy Prince, in his first one-man curating. But not before giving us a taste of museum

The lovely new ownership of the LONE STAR SALOON requested some of us SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE to do a blessing of their space. We were only too happy to fulfill their desire. Sister Adora Penthouse View, Sister Jezabelle, Sister Nova Agra, and Sister Dana evoked the spirit of the bear while cleansing the space with burning bear root and sage. To give a very abbreviated version of our sanctifications: To the bar veneer, we said, “Oh glorious long and hard wood! Hallowed be thy presence! Your girth and length serve many to perfection.” To the bar stools: “Blessed be ye proud, ye fantastically strong! Like our fair City, you are covered in bottoms.” To the urinals: “Here is the land of elimination but also exaltation for cruising. We bless this sacred receptacle.” To the patio: “It is not lost on us that the Lone Star Saloon is indeed a bear bar. In shamanic traditions, the bear is a sacred animal. The primary meaning of the bear spirit animal is strength and confidence—standing against adversity; taking action and leadership. The spirit of the bear indicates it’s time for healing to help ourselves and others.” Then we raised our glasses in communion to the brother-and sister-hood of the bear (followed by lots of growling and roaring from the assembled crowd).

Cheers & beers & bears! Bearlicious!

ARTSAVESLIVES presented an every Tuesday night open mic show at the Castro studio of Thomasina De Maio (welcoming any brave soul who wants to show off ). This particular night we enjoyed the talents of Clyde Always with lively circus barker-like comedic readings and “bad” ukulele playing; Bonita Cohen with a hysterical reading of God as Holy Chicken; Debbie Dorisal giving us stirring original poetry; Kristine Wilson doing sweeet standup; Imad Bitar reflecting on life, energy, and love; and Essex with stories of his traveling with Eartha Kitt and more. Drop in any Tuesday, 518 Castro Street at 6 pm with your material, or just sit back and enjoy others performing.

Cast members from the hit Broadway show “FINDING NEVERLAND” and special guests JAI RODRIGUEZ, KIM NALLEY, and BRUCE VILANCH were onstage at Brava Theater for the latest One Night Only production by Ken Henderson & Joe Seiler for the fabulous RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION cabaret fundraiser, “BROADWAY BACKWARDS!” This was an evening of gender reversal music and comedy— meaning boys sang what girls usually sang, and vice versa.

KIMA EXCLUSIVE ENTERTAINMENT, KIPPY MARKS, CASTRO STREET ARTSAVESLIVES STUDIO AND GALLERY invited us to celebrate the Big 50th Birthday of KIPPY MARKS Sister Dana (front left) and friends, including event organizer Gary Virginia and the re(top right), enjoying a recent Krewe de Kinque party where it’s Mardi Gras lease of his new all year long. Join the gang on Saturday, February 11, at The Cafe (Market & Castro) for the annual Bal Masque XIV with the theme 14 Karat Gold. Info: CD “Fu+ure Posi+ive” #Fu415-867-5004 or mrsfl96@aol.com and Tickets: brownpapertickets.com/ event/2767493 PHOTO BY GARETH GOOCH FOR KREWE DE KINQUE turePositive. The

night was filled with Positive Vibes, Positive Love, Positive food and Spirits and a Positive Future! Kippy gave us incredible live performances inspired from his CD throughout the birthday celebration—on his hundred-year-old violin, Isabella, rendered electric. kippymarks.com SISTER DANA SEZ, “THE ORANGE T-RUMP CAN NEVER BE MY VALENTINE, (EW), BUT THIS NUN SUGGESTS YOU GO TO THESE VERY LOVELY HEART-FILLED QUEER EVENTS: After you see the bearriffic “BEARTOONIST OF SAN FRANCISCO: SKETCHING AN EMERGING SUBCULTURE” at the GLBT History Museum, be sure to check out the Museum’s entire wall devoted to “NOCHE DE AMBIENTE,” showing the life of LGBT Latinex people in SF from the late ‘70s to the ‘90s. http://www.glbthistory.org/museum/ ARTSAVESLIVES will throw another fun monthly reception/party at the studio gallery of Thomasina DeMaio at 518 Castro Street from 6–9 pm on February 10. On display then and all month long are the creative art pieces by Jane Windsor, Fletcher, Robert Beamer, Basul Parik, Corky Engel, Kim McLaughlin, Patrick Parnell, Jim Housely, Liam Peters, Dominic, Joel Hoyer, Jack Stelniki, Ed Schnaars, Tammy Bickel, Precious aka Alex, and Peter Dolittle. The fun also includes talented live performances on stage. As always the food, wine, beer, soda, etc. are complimentary. Limited seating (but don’t you dare take Sister Dana’s chair!). facebook.com/ sfartslave Cloud 9 Theatricals, in association with Lang Entertainment Group and Ray of Light Theatre, are staging the San Francisco premiere of “SILENCE! THE MUSICAL”, the hilarious unauthorized parody of The Silence of the Lambs” playing at San Francisco’s Victoria Theatre (2961 16th Street), held over, now through March 18. SILENCE! The Musical tells the story of rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling (played by Anne Norland who is a dead ringer for the Jody Foster character) as she matches wits with the brilliant but insane cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Scott Hayes) in order to catch the serial killer known as Buffalo Bill (Brian Watson). Clarice faces her own demons (oh, and by the way, these lambs are NOT silent—they’re a troupe of singing and dancing lambs) while racing against the clock to unlock Lecter’s clues before another innocent girl (Hayley Lovgren) is killed and skinned by Buffalo Bill.

It sounds cray-cray, but it’s crazy funny! You don’t have to have seen the thriller movie, but it helps. Leave the kiddies home, cuz this show is bawdy! silencethemusicalsf.com In February, KQED proudly celebrates the diversity of our community with a special BLACK HISTORY MONTH programming lineup on KQED Public Television. For info go to ww2.kqed.org/about/2017/01/23/ february-2017-black-history-month Their Most Imperial Majesties EMPEROR SALVADOR TOVAR AND EMPRESS EMMA PEEL are pleased to announce San Francisco’s 52nd Imperial Coronation, “IMPERIAL BEAUX ARTS BALL: A REGAL BLACK AND WHITE COSTUMED AFFAIR” on February 25, San Francisco Design Center, 101 Henry Adams Street. Doors 5pm, Coronation promptly at 6 pm.

Celebrate the Lunar New Year in the Castro with the GAY ASIAN PACIFIC ALLIANCE (GAPA) FOUNDATION, in collaboration

J O H N S T O N, K I N N E Y & Z U L A I C A LLP

With nine attorneys in two locations, we serve the LGBT community with expertise, experience and sensitivity.

We offer services in: • LGBT Families

• Tax Planning

• Estate Planning

• Family Law

• Trust & Probate Administration

• Elder Law & Benefits

• Beneficiary Representation

• Entity Formation & Real Estate

SAN FRANCISCO

SANTA ROSA

415.693.0550

707.237.7371

www.jkzllp.com | www.jkzllp.com/español

(continued on page 26) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

21

Overcoming Problems When Starting a Walking for Fitness Program

Take Me Home with You!

ing for exercise, that’s good too.

Sprite

Easy Fitness Cinder Ernst

“My name is Sprite! I’m an energetic and zippy Australian Cattle Dog, and I’m looking for a fun-loving companion who likes to go on adventures! I’m the opposite of a couch potato … my ideal day involves lots of running, playing, and socializing. If you have an active, outdoorsy lifestyle and you’re looking for a playmate, we might be a great match!”

Sprite is presented to San Francisco Bay Times readers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s Co-President. Our thanks also go to Krista Maloney for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Sprite.

To meet Sprite and other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit: San Francisco SPCA Mission Campus 250 Florida Street San Francisco 94103 415-522-3500 Aside from major holidays, the adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–6 pm and Sat–Sun: 10 am–5 pm. Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt!

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

For more information: https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/pet-details/34322477 and sfspca.org/adopt

In our last column, we gave you the Easy Fitness system for starting a walking program (http://sf baytimes. com/walking-is-wonderful/). The basic premise is to find your comfortable walking distance right now and start with that. It could be 10 steps, 10 blocks, 2 miles or anything in between. If you don’t know, then just start walking! Keep track and see how far you can go before you start to feel uncomfortable. That will be your starting distance.

Today we’re going to address common situations that could become obstacles to your walking success. First, if you just can’t wrap your brain around this walking program thing, then you might need a small shift in your thinking to create more ease. Think of this walking program, not as a fitness program idea, but as a way to enjoy more life.

For example, one of my clients wrote to me recently that she is walking a good number of steps each day, but mostly for pleasure: museums, playing with grandkids, shopping, etc.

She wondered if that might not count.

Just the opposite is true. Walking that brings you more pleasure, more life and more fun is exactly what we’re going for. If you happen to like walk-

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

We will start with foot pain and what to do about it. First and most obviously, get the right shoes for you. Sometimes having the right shoes can help all of the pain points. If you are in San Francisco, we have some excellent options for guided athletic shoe buying.

The one I have recommended to my clients (and used myself) for 25 years is On the Run at 9th Avenue and Irving.

They have gait experts who will evaluate you and recommend the best shoe for you. The folks at On the Run have generously offered you a 10% discount if you mention this article. If you are not in San Francisco, search for a local option. You will find that the stores specializing in running shoes often have gait experts available. Plan on spending at least $100 for your best bet walking shoes.

An often contributor to foot pain— as well as knee pain—is tight calf muscles. Your calf muscles are at the back of your lower leg. If the muscles there are tight, they can cause Achil-

MANDELMAN (cont. from page 7)

DUNNING (continued from page 7)

ing for Free City College, Airbnb reform, a fairer system of local taxation or more affordable housing is spurious. To the contrary, from Healthy San Francisco to paid sick leave to inclusionary housing, many of the policy innovations that are now broadly accepted across our local political spectrum were initiated by progressives in the face of opposition, or at least skepticism, from the so-called “moderates.”

Attorney’s team that recently filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against President Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, and Acting Attorney General Dana Boente.

Now, more than ever, San Francisco must lead, and that won’t happen if we all simply fall in line behind a corporate consensus that tolerates excessive inequality and hardship for the most vulnerable, and that resists coughing up the new revenue that we need to pay for public services that actually work. It seems to me that we liberals and progressives are perfectly capable of marching down Market Street chanting against Trump on a given Saturday arm in arm with friends in the real estate and tech industries, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to buy into those industries’ agendas the following Tuesday at a Board of Supervisors meeting.

22

As you might imagine, the most common showstoppers when you are walking come from discomfort in your lower body.

The lower body aches include foot, knee, hip and back pain.

We have Easy Fitness fixes for them all!

The other problem I see a lot of is shortness of breath. If you find yourself short of breath pretty quickly, and are not sure why, check with your doctor. Don’t just assume it’s because you are out of shape. If it turns out to be “out of shapeness,” worry not. We’re doing this to get stronger, so you are already pointed in a “build more strength and stamina” direction. Keep your attention on moving forward.

The lawsuit objects to an executive order signed by Trump on Januar y 25 proclaiming: “Sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States willfully violate Federal law in an attempt to shield aliens from removal from the United States.”

The penalty for being a sanctuary jurisdiction? Withholding of federal grants, which would significantly impact the city’s budget and ability to deliver services to its residents.

San Francisco is the first city to legally challenge the executive order, and I’m proud of Ron for his leadership role in the suit.

And finally … Last Call for Returning Overdue Library Books Fine-free!

February 14 (Valentine’s Day) is the deadline for the San Francisco Public Library’s amnesty program, where all late fees on returned books, CDs, DVDs and other ma-

les tendon problems and bottom of the foot pain. If you’ve ever experienced Plantar Fasciitis, then you know it’s better to prevent that bottom of the foot pain. The correct shoes and calf stretches go a long way to safeguarding against foot pain.

Here are instructions on how to stretch your calf muscle. You can do this anywhere. It’s good to do before you start your walk, and during, and after too!

Stand with one leg in front of the other, with both feet pointed forward.

Place your hands on a wall or tree or something else sturdy, flat and upright for support.

Keep your back knee straight, with your heel pressed to the floor.

Push your hips forward while pressing your back heel to the ground, if you need to feel more stretch.

Hold for 10–30 seconds; then do the other leg.

Next time, we’ll look at how to calm knee, hip and back pain, so walking is wonderful the Easy Fitness way!

Cinder Ernst, Medical Exercise Specialist and Life Coach Extraordinaire, helps reluctant exercisers get moving with safe, effective and fun programs. Find out more at http://cinderernst.com

terials will be waived, regardless of how long overdue. I encourage you to take advantage and return your overdue items, clear your record and begin enjoying the Library once again. These amnesty programs don’t happen often (the last one was 2009), so go find that library book you recently discovered when you moved, or that DVD that has been sitting on your shelf for several years, and return it to your branch library by February 14.

That’s all the good news I have to share this month. Take care of yourselves, celebrate successes and keep the momentum going. To #resist is a marathon, not a sprint.

Zoe Dunning is a retired Navy Commander and was a lead activist in the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. She served as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and as an elected Delegate for the Democratic National Convention. She is a San Francisco Library Commissioner and is the former First Vice Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party.

Mayor Lee said during the same address, “Come see what the future of America looks like.” But if we San Franciscans are indeed to lead the opposition to Trump’s vision of the future, we are going to need to up our game. That means more than holding hands and congratulating ourselves on how superior we are to those red-leaning Americans who voted for the orange dude.

with this assessment of her, published in the Boston Phoenix: “She is often considered a treasure, passed hand-to-hand, person-to-person. Williamson is a heroic character whose tireless activism continues.”

Rafael Mandelman is an attorney for the City of Oakland. He is also President of the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees.

For additional information about the Cris Williamson CD Release and Birthday Celebration, please go to www.thefreight.org or phone 510-6442020. The event is close to sold out as of this writing, but hopefully you can get tickets (or have them already).

WILLIAMSON (continued from page 20)

Professional Services

LAW OFFICES OF MILES & TORRES Estate Planning 1393 Noe Street, San Francisco, CA 94131 (415) 308-2307 www.milestorreslaw.com

PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS

NewPer specti ves Center for Counseling

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY   T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

23

PHOTO: SFTRAVEL.COM

Compiled by Blake Dillon

Watch for the “Gum Lung,” the 268-foot-long Golden Dragon, as the star of the show in the annual Chinese New Year Parade, on Saturday, February 11, 6-8 pm (KTVU-TV Fox 2)

9 : Thursday Screening of A United Kingdom – 5:30 pm @ Sebastiani Theatre, 476 1st Street, Sonoma.

Presented by the Sonoma International Film Festival and The Sebastiani Theatre Foundation. sebastianitheatre.com/movie/sneakpeek-united-kingdom MECCA 2.0 Women’s Happy Hour – 6:30 pm @ Hecho, 2200 Market Street. The event returns to

the Castro. facebook.com/events/ 242461222847565/ Portolove Drag Queen Bingo – 7 pm @ El Toro, 2470 San Bruno Avenue. An evening of games, performances, food and drinks for all ages hosted by Van Detta and benefitting the Goettingen Neighbors Group. facebook.comevents/198481 9258471669/?active_tab=about HRC Night at the Theater – Rent – 8 pm @ SHN Golden Gate

Theatre, 1 Taylor Street. Supporting HRC’s fight for LGBT equality, the original rock musical by Jonathan Larson. shn.com Linda Tillery and Oaktown Funk – 8 pm @ Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley. Spearheaded by veteran vocalist Linda Tillery and drumming phenom Mike Clark, Oaktown Fund performs. thefreight.org

10 : Friday Drum Journey with Phillip Scott from Ancestral Voice – 7 pm @ The Center SF, 548 Fillmore Street. Through song, movement, prayer and music, participants explore sacred geographies of traditional peoples from diverse cultures. facebook.com/events/ 1875610822660649/? active_ tab=about Sarah Silverman – 8 pm @ The Warfield, 982 Market Street. Emmy winner Sarah Silverman performs. goldenvoice.com/#/event/328690 Hairspray Drag Experience Musical – 9:30 pm @ PianoFight, 144 Taylor Street. Sugah Betes and Cruzin d’Loo perform. facebook. com/events/1798172020443921/ ?active_tab=about

11 : Saturday NorCal AIDS Lifecycle EXPO – 11 am @ San Francisco Armory, 1800 Mission Street. Find out about the ride and meet other cyclists and roadies. aidslifecycle.org Queer Gaming Day – 2 pm @ Eureka Valley Recreation Center, 100 Collingwood Street. Supporting Glide Memorial Church, the event features table top card and board games. queergamingday.bpt.me The Worlds of Bernice Bing – 2 pm @ San Francisco Public Library, Latino/Hispanic Rooms A&B, 24

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

100 Larkin Street. Presentation of Madeleine Lim’s film exploring the life, activism and art of the abstract expressionist painter, Buddhist feminist, Chinese-American lesbian. sfpl.org Bal Masque XIV 14 Karat Gold – 5 pm @ The Café, Market & Castro Streets. Krewe de Kinque’s annual ball benefiting Homobiles with Grand Marshal Juanita More and DJ Prince Wolf featuring dancing, raffle prizes and crowning of the king and queen. facebook.com/events/19090493464 8948/ Works In Progress Open Mic for Women – 6:30 pm @ Fireside room, Plymouth United Church of Christ, 424 Mounte Vista, Oakland. Includes a pot luck and performances hosted by author and poet Linda Zeiser.

E-mail zeiserpoetmc@aol.com Cris Williamson Birthday Celebration – 8 pm @ Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison, Street, Berkeley. Cris’s CD releases party with Vicki Randle, Julie Wolf, Barbara Higbie and more. thefreight.org

12 : Sunday Love Hurts! A CWO Valentine – 4 pm @ Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland. Dana Sadvana and the Community Women’s Orchestra present a Valentine’s program with music from Faure, Berlioz and Walker and more. communitywomensorchestra.org Love Sick, A New Musical – Closing night @ The Osher Studio, 2055 Center Street, Berkeley. Based on the ancient Hebrew text “The Song of Songs,” the production, set in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, presents the story of one woman’s gradual descent into madness. lovesickmusical.com

Keshet - Tu B’Shvat in the Redwoods – 10 am @ Roberts Regional Recreation Area, 10570 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. keshetonline.org California International Antiquarian Book Fair – Closing day of the 50th Anniversary Book Fair @ Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland.

Annual show presenting rare books, manuscripts, photographs and ephemera. cabookfair.com

13 : Monday Jewelle Gomez in Conversation with Prof.

Ajuan Mance – 7 pm @ Dog Eared Books, 489 Castro Street.

Perfectly Queer San Francisco celebrates Black History Month with Jewelle Gomez discussing the 25th anniversary of The Gilda Stories and her upcoming play Leaving the Blues about lesbian singer/songwriter Alberta Hunter. dogearedbooks.com/castro Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco’s Love Bites: Bite Me Cupid – 7 pm @ Martuni’s, 4 Valencia. Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco’s annual anti-Valentines show. lgcsf.org/bitemecupid/ Nocturnes & Noir Photography Exhibit – Continues through April 2 @ Harvey Milk Photo Center, 50 Scott Street. Dedicated to the life and works of photographer Steve Harper. harveymilkphotocenter.com

14 : Tuesday See the list of Bay Area Valentines Day events included on Page 15

15 : Wednesday Bootycandy – Repeats through March 5 @ Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street. Black Artists

Contemporary Cultural Experience and Brava present Robert O’Hara’s comedy. brava.org

Ammiano, the solo show gives a peak into the world of politics from an insider’s view. themarsh.org

Smack Dab Open Mic – 7 pm @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro St. February’s open mic for queers of all ages and genders and allies featuring author Ed Wolf at the monthly event hosted by LarryBob Roberts and Dana Hopkins. dogearedbooks.com/castro

19 : Sunday

OUT with A.C.T. – A Thousand Splendid Suns – 8 pm @ A.C.T. Geary Theater, 415 Geary Street. act-sf.org

16 : Thursday Academy of Friends VIP Pre-Party – 6:30 pm @ Mercedes-Benz San Francisco, 500 8th Street. Champagne, wine, cocktails, food, live music and mingling at the kick-off party for the Academy of Friends 37th Annual Gala. facebook.com/events/ 720881408070440/ The Real Americans – Continues through February 25 @ The Marsh – Berkeley, 2020 Allston Way, Berkeley. Award-winning actor and playwright Dan Hoyle performs the popular show with new postelection material portraying voices from battleground states and the current state of the union. themarsh.org/dan_hoyle/dan-hoyle-2/ LGBTQ Intercollegiate Alumni Evening at Rent, 20th Anniversary – 8 pm @ SHN Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor Street. Multiple LGBT alumni groups attend the 20th Anniversary of Rent. facebook.com/events/ 212744602500664

Imperial Council SF Earthquake Party – 4 pm @ Aunt Charlies Lounge, 133 Turk Street.

Benefit hosted by Empress Galilea. imperialcouncilsf.org Stephanie Teel Band – 6:30 pm @ Fenix, 919 Fourth Street, San Rafael.

Join Stephanie, Robin Roth and the guys for a rocking evening of music and dancing. fenixlive.com/show/stephanie-teel-band-7/ Star Trek: 50 Artists. 50 Years – Closing Day @ Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland. Features original 2D and 3D art from 50 different artists including Leonard Nimoy. chabotspace.org Fun Home – Closing Night @ The Curran, 445 Geary Street. The awardwinning new musical based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel reliving her childhood at the Bechdel Funeral Home. sfcurran.com

20 : Monday Motown on Mondays – 6 pm @ Madrone Art Bar, 500 Divisadero Street. A series of DJ’s present Motown until 2 am. madroneartbar.com Beautiful Relationships: Flora and Fauna from Around the World – 10 am @ San Francisco Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Avenue. An exhibit of nature illustrations by Rachel Diaz-Bastin open through April 30. sfbotanicalgarden.org

17 : Friday

21 : Tuesday

Thrillpeddlers’ Amazon Apocalypse – Closing Night @ The Hypnodrome, 575 10th Street (at Division Street). A semi staged concert of a musical fantasia featuring music by Scrumbly Koldewyn. hypnodrome.org

Activism, Uprising, Protest in the San Francisco Bay Area – 6:00 pm @ San Francisco Public Library, Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin Street. Aliyah Dunn-Salahuddin, City College of SF African American Studies Department Chair discusses the origins and traditions of Black activism in the Bay Area. sfpl.org

Bauhausfest 2017 / Dancing Ghosts – 9:30 pm @ Cat Club SF, 1190 Folsom Street. Bauhaus fans celebrate the band’s legacy through music, visuals and dancing. sfcatclub.com/events/index.html#17 Dorthea Lange – The Louise Lovett Collection Exhibit – 11 am through April 9 @ Peni9nsula Museum of Art, Burlingame. A private collection of 20 rare photos by the infamous Bay Area photographer Dorthea Lange. peninsulamuseum.org

18 : Saturday Imperial Council of SF Voting Day for Emperor and Empress – 11 am to 6 pm @ three polling stations: Polk – Project Open Hand, 730 Polk Street; Castro, Castro Muni Station; SOMA, Powerhouse, 1347 Folsom Street. facebook.com/events/ 1377620265591812 Oaktown 8s New Dancer Class – 1 pm @ Lake Merritt Dance Center, 200 W. Grand Avenue, Oakland. Modern Western Square Dance for singles, couples, gay and straight with this member organization of the International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs. oaktown8s.org Songs from Stage and Screen – 7 pm @ Martuni’s, 4 Valencia Street.Vandana Bali performs live accompanied by David Aaron Brown. vandana.net Mincing Words with Tom Ammiano – 5 pm @ The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia Street.

Written and performed by

Jackie – 6:15 & 8:30 pm @ The Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street.

The Oscar-nominated film about the days following JFK’s assassination through the eyes of the First Lady. castrotheatre.com LGBT Alumni Mixer – 6:30 pm @ Le Meridien Hotel, 333 Battery Street. Join LGBT alumni group members from many universities. btgala. tigernet.princeton.edu/EventRSVP “Turbulence Ahead” OutLoud Storytelling – 7:30 PM @ Oasis, 298 11th Street. Hosted by Peaches Christ, real-life flight attendants share shocking stories from the sky. facebook.com/events/105542723291154

22 : Wednesday GGBA Rainbow Toastmasters – 7 am @ Small Business Association Conference Room, 455 Market Street. ggba.com Eat, Pray, Laugh – 8 pm repeating through March 11 @ The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley.

Award-winning comedian Alicia Dattner presents her solo show about a Jewish princess seeking an Indian guru for a one-life stand. themarsh.org Still Here – Portraits of Gay Elders – Daily through Thursday, May 4 @ San Francisco Public Library, Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center, 3rd Floor, 100 Larkin Street. A series of 11 portraits celebrating the lives of older gay men created by local artist Ghee Phua. sfpl.org

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

25

NEWS (continued from page 3) women, LGBTQ people, people of color, immigrants, and the environment. The SF LGBT Center remains committed to supporting those being affected by Mr. Trump’s dangerous policies, whoever they may be. The Center is and will always be a safe space for all. We join the millions of voices across the nation and around the globe who demand that he and his administration irrevocably reject racism, misogyny, and divisiveness.” sfcenter.org LGBT March on Washington Planned for D.C. Pride Weekend A gay activist in New York City has set in motion plans for a “mass” LGBT march on Washington on June 11, which he hopes will be similar to the recent Women’s March on Washington that drew hundreds of thou-

sands of people from across the country. Organizer David Bruinooge said he was inspired to create a Facebook page announcing the march on Jan. 21 while he was watching the Women’s March on Washington. He said he intentionally chose June 11 for the march because it is the same day that D.C.’s Capital Pride Festival is scheduled to be held on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. near the U.S. Capitol. Bruinooge said his thought was the march would start in the morning and end at the site of the Pride festival. Ryan Bos, executive director of the Capital Pride Alliance, which organizes the D.C. Pride events, including the Pride Parade set to take place on June 10, said he has spoken with Bruinooge and expects that Capital Pride officials will collaborate with the march organizers so the march

LEHMAN (continued from page 8) than nursing homes. As Congress attacks health care, we all must fight to preserve Medicaid dollars, the Community First Choice Option, and all incentives for states to pay for home care to allow so many of us to stay in our own homes, with the people we love, and surrounded by the communities in which we feel comfortable.

What can we do to protect health care for seniors, people with disabilities, LGBT people, and all of us? We can call our legislators, join marches or donate f inancially as we are able, and encourage our friends, colleagues, families and neighbors to do the same. Today, and every day, call your legislators to urge them to speak up against block-granting Medicaid or defunding home care.

Medicaid and home care are not widely understood and will not get the same national attention as other issues, making it easy for Republicans to move quickly to destroy these programs. We must do our part to let Congress know we are watching. The website http://5calls.org is an easy way to prepare to call Congress. Senior and Disability Action and our allies are holding teach-ins about Medicaid and the ACA, to help people understand what the programs are and how to advocate for them.

If you’d like to get involved, please email: info@sdaction.org

Pawno doesn’t offer much in the way of dramatic tension, but there is a nice camaraderie between the characters, from Danny and Les in the pawnshop to Kate and her bookstore colleague, Holly (Naomi Rukavina), and Carlo (Malcolm Kennard) and Pauly (Mark Coles Smith), who are friends that hang out on the streets of Footscray.

A modest slice-of-life story, Pawno is hardly groundbreaking, but it is a passable time filler.

Also of queer interest are three older films screening at the festival. Underground, a recently restored 1929 silent feature, is the sophomore effort by gay filmmaker Anthony Asquith.

The story, which Asquith also wrote, concerns Bill (Brian Aherne), a uni26

Top DOJ Lawyer Joins Lambda Legal Lambda Legal announced the hiring of Sharon McGowan, a top attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, as the organization’s new Director of Strategy.

“Sharon McGowan is one of the most influential and effective LGBT rights lawyers in the country,” said Rachel B. Tiven, CEO of Lambda Legal. “At the Department of Justice, Sharon has been a forceful voice for our community, helping usher in an unprecedented era of progress for LGBT rights.

She has had a hand in virtually every major achievement on LGBT rights to come out of President Obama’s administration, from the department’s

tive people who took life-saving early HIV medications that were highly toxic in this regard. Equality California is sponsoring the bill. Insurance companies consider procedures to correct lipodystrophy to be cosmetic, and therefore refuse to cover treatment. However, for people with HIV who experience the condition, it is not a cosmetic need, but a medical necessity due to the significant physical and psychological impacts on these individuals. The early HIV medications that caused lipodystrophy are no longer prescribed, so there is a finite population in need of this treatment. The HEAL Act requires that all health insurance plans governed

by California law must cover medical treatment to correct HIV-associated lipodystrophy. sen.ca.gov

decision to stop defending DOMA to its position that discrimination on the basis of sex encompasses discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

She is a brilliant legal thinker and formidable advocate. As Lambda Legal prepares to vigorously defend LGBT rights during the Trump presidency, Sharon will be an indispensable part of our team.” lambdalegal.org Senator Wiener Announces Bill Requiring Insurance Coverage of Medical Procedures for Long-Term HIV Survivors Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced the HEAL (Help End Antiretroviral-related Lipodystrophy) Act, which will require insurance companies, as well as government programs, to cover medical treatment for lipodystrophy, a fat-redistribution condition impacting many HIV-posi-

ROSTOW (continued from page 13) This is a scary time. I find myself easily overwhelmed by the hatred and divisiveness that we are up against and by the sheer number of issues being thrown at us, and I know I’m not alone in that feeling. While I am saddened, and outraged by Trump’s executive orders and by Congress’s plans, I am inspired to see so many people taking action. It is especially heartening to see people standing up in solidarity with each other’s communities, recognizing that we are all in this together. Health care is simply one example of how LGBT issues are senior issues are immigrant issues are disability issues. By fighting with and for all of our communities, we can beat back the attacks on marginalized people, save lives, and strengthen connections with each other. As the protest chant goes, “When we fight, we win!”

Jessica Lehman is Executive Director of Senior and Disability Action, a non-profit organization that educates, organizes and mobilizes seniors and people with disabilities to fight for rights and social justice. She leads the national Organizer’s Forum, a project of the National Disability Leadership Alliance, and serves on the board of Hand in Hand: the Domestic Employers Network.

KRAMER (continued from page 18) of a dreamer. They entertain—and are entertained by—the various denizens who enter the shop, from Tony ( John Orcsik), a man with a naughty little secret, to Jennifer (Kerry Armstrong), a woman whose son has run away. One of the more touching moments has Les helping out Paige (Daniel Frederiksen), a transsexual who is harassed on the street and needs a loan. While most of the supporting characters have only one or two scenes, Frederiksen and Armstrong make their brief moments poignant.

and the D.C. Pride events will complement each other. washingtonblade.com

formed attendant in the London tube and Bert (Cyral McLaglen), a power station worker, who are both attracted to Nell (Elissa Landi). Melodrama, as they say, ensues.

Sidney Lumet’s sparkling 1974 adaption of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express features an allstar cast, including the late bisexual actor Anthony Perkins and the late gay John Gielgud as two of the suspects interrogated by Hercule Poirot (a fantastic, and Oscar-nominated Albert Finney). The film’s editor, Anne V. Coates, is being honored at the festival.

Lastly, Mona Lisa, the 1986 Neil Jordan film, gets a spotlight during the festival’s “Film Noir” night. The late Bob Hoskins gave a career-defining (Cannes-winning, Oscar-nominated) performance here as an ex-con who falls in love with the high-class call girl (Cathy Tyson) he drives around London. It is almost a spoiler to reveal the film has a queer twist. © 2017 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the coeditor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S FE B RUA RY 9 , 2 0 1 7

if Trump gets a second High Court pick.

If, on the other hand, Democrats maintain the status quo, the High Court balance remains unchanged from Scalia days. We can then hope that Trump does not get the chance to make another nomination, but if he does, he will at least have to think about the hazards of winning Senate confirmation without Democratic support.

But-but-but, I can hear you, what about what they did to us by refusing to take a vote on Merrick Garland! We can’t let that stand! Well, I totally agree. Yet we can’t hold up a nominee for four years. I suspect there will come a time when the shoe is on the other foot and a Republican president seeks to fill an open seat on the High Court in his or her last year in office. If Democrats have the power, they will have the chance to exact revenge for Merrick Garland. His name will not be forgotten anytime soon.

Arguments Set For High Court Transgender Case Whatever happens, Gorsuch will not be confirmed in time to hear oral arguments in the transgender rights case, Gloucester County School Board v GG. These have been scheduled for March 28. That means our Fourth Circuit victory will be heard by the eight-member Court. A tie will confirm the Fourth Circuit’s trans-friendly opinion, although it will not create binding law. And if Justice Kennedy were to vote with his four liberal colleagues, we might luck into a major High Court precedent.

But it’s also possible that the case, ostensibly an examination of the scope of Title IX’s ban on sex discrimination in public schools, will be focused on another issue. The Fourth Circuit panel relied on the Obama administration’s interpretation of Title IX, concluding that it was bound to follow the Education Department’s (protransgender) reasoning. In accepting review, the High Court indicated it

would evaluate how much deference courts owe to government agency guidelines when the law these agencies enforce is ambiguous.

So guess who believes strongly that courts should not be obliged to follow the wisdom of government lawyers and bureaucrats? Neil Gorsuch!

In fact, it’s one of his pet peeves, from what I can tell. This makes me wonder whether or not the justices will take his views into account as, I don’t know, a friendly gesture? Alternatively, perhaps they’ll quickly rule another way before he can take his seat.

I keep reading that Gorsuch’s view on this question is conservative, but it seems to me that courts should decide the law, taking agency interpretations into account, but not necessarily being bound by what is essentially an executive branch opinion. The executive branch changes every four or eight years buffeted by political winds. Why should political appointees decide whether or not Title IX’s ban on sex discrimination means that schools must let transgender kids use the facilities they prefer? I liked the answer given by the Obama contingent and embraced by the Fourth Circuit. But I might not like the version of Title IX that emerges from a Trump cabinet.

Will SCOTUS Take the Cake?

Finally, New York Law School Professor Art Leonard writes that the High Court has shown an interest in Masterpiece Cakeshop v Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Yes, this is one of the antigay bakers who got bailed for rejecting a gay wedding client in defiance of the state anti discrimination law.

The High Court has already rejected one of these cases involving an antigay photographer out of New Mexico, but according to Leonard, the justices have requested the lower court record in Masterpiece Cakeshop, which apparently signals serious consideration.

If the Court were to take this case, and if Gorsuch were conf irmed, it might get very ugly indeed. Gorsuch

KARLSBERG (continued from page 18) ty involved in my creative process.

I am not always in control of it. I don’t always know where it comes from or if it will come again. So when it is going well, I try to seize the moment. During those times, I am energized. I am reminded why I write in the first place.

On the flipside, most of the time, it is not flowing in that way. During those times, it is exhausting. I feel like the words will never come.

It is slow going, and it drains me more.

Overall, sometimes after ten pages I feel refreshed, and sometimes after ten words, I feel drained.

Martin Hyatt’s first novel, “A Scarecrow’s Bible,” won the Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction, and was nominated for the Ferro-Grumley, the Violet Quill, and the Lambda Literary Award. His new novel, “Beautiful Gravity” (Antibookclub, 2016), was recently named a Stonewall Honor Book by the American Library Association.

Website: www.martinhyatt.com Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBT community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates twenty-eight years of successful book campaigns.

(who is referred to as “Grouch” by my automatic spell checker) seems likely to advocate extreme deference to religious freedom, and could easily rule that Mom and Pop businesses have every right to discriminate against GLBT clients, regardless of state civil rights laws. Writing for the Hobby Lobby majority at the High Court, Justice Alito made clear that religious beliefs were not enough to justify ignoring civil rights laws, using the example of laws that prohibit race bias in the workplace. But how about civil rights laws that prohibit gay bias in public accommodation? Would those take precedence over faith-based objections as well? Maybe not.

Finally, I was just reading a piece by Michelangelo Signorile, who considers whether Gorsuch, like Scalia, believes that states should have the right to outlaw consensual, adult private sex between same-sex partners.

Gorsuch, like Scalia, is an originalist, looking to the intent of the founding fathers for insight into the meaning of the Constitution.

Perhaps I’m just being optimistic, but I don’t think the man who might be our first GenX justice would go there.

Scalia’s antigay positions were not simply based on originalism. He was viscerally antigay and saw little difference between a government ban on gay sex and a government ban on child molestation. We were perverts to him, unnatural and immoral, and rightly regulated by a disgusted majority. I can’t guarantee that Gorsuch wouldn’t side with Scalia in an imaginary repeat of Lawrence v Texas, but somehow I don’t think he would.

That said, the GLBT rights cases of the future are a different kettle of fish, and it seems unlikely that Gorsuch would put the interests of gay customers ahead of Christian bakers. arostow@aol.com

SISTER DANA (cont’d from page 21) with STRUT, SF AIDS FOUNDATION, AND OUR FAMILY COALITION. “ENTER THE ROOSTER” will be hosted by Reigning Miss GAPA Juicy Liu, with Special Appearance by Reigning Mister GAPA Jeffry. This event will be full of fun, food, and entertainment to celebrate the Year of the Rooster! Doors open at 7 pm.

Show starts at 8 pm, Saturday, February 18 at Strut, 470 Castro Street. This event is family friendly, free and open to the public.

Sister Dana sez, “Happy Chinese New Year in the Year of the Rooster—or as some call it: Year of the Cock! Celebrate appropriately!”

Round About - All Over Town

Purple lighting at Civic Center Auditorium on Inauguration Day signaling anti-bullying and the joining together of red and blue

Photos by RINK

Castro Patrol members Brian Hill, Diana Wheeler and Kyle Wong with SFPD Lt. Lenny Broberg at the SFPD Chief’s LGBT Town Hall held at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center on January 9

Emcee Ken Craig with panelists at the SFPD Chief’s LGBT Town Hall on January 9 Poet, artist, sculptor and signer/songwriter Debbie Dorisal read her poetry on January 13 at the Art Saves Lives art show opening at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Gallery Space.

Singer Whitney Mills performed at the Art Saves Lives opening on January 13.

Gallery coordinator Thomasina DeMaio (center) with friends at the Art Saves Lives opening on January 13

Artist Michael Staley displays his beaded horn artwork at the Art Saves Lives opening on January 13.

Last Men Standing star Jesus Guillen, Donny Rios and Marty Fritz at the Art Saves Lives opening on January 13

The birthday cake for Edgar Allen Poe at his 208th “Poe Pourri 5” party on January 19

Singer Connie Champagne with emcee Jim Jeske at the 208th birthday party for Edgar Allen Poe on January 19 Coral Etkin, gallery stage manager Kristine Wilson, Lynn Breedlove and Rumi the Havanese at the Art Saves Lives opening on January 13

Berlin & Beyond Film Festival director Sophoan Sorn (right) with Festival president and Goethe Institute director Sigrid Savelsberg at the Film Festival’s press conference on January 18

New co-presidents Kimberly Alvarenga and Carolina Morales welcomed members at the historic 40th Anniversary meeting of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club on January 17.

Aaron from Family Dog Rescue at the 18th and Castro intersection on January 21 with a pup wearing a sign that says “Adopt Me”

Writer Kate Carroll de Gutes with her Lambda Literary Award-winning memoir Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear at the Dog Eared Books Castro reading on January 18

Reader Marilyn Fowler with her Edgar Allan Poe book at the 208th birthday party held on January 19

Smack Dab coordinators Larry Roberts and Dana Hopkins welcomed guests at the Dog Eared Books Castro location on January 18.

Raffle winner Cody Nichols at the 208th birthday party “Poe Pourri 5” held at Dog Eared Books on Castro, January 19

A standing room only turnout enjoyed the Smack Dab reading at Dog Eared Books Castro on January 19 S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES F EBRUARY 9, 2017

27

WE FOCUS ON HIV TO HELP YOU FOCUS ON

TODAY

Ask your doctor if a medicine made by Gilead is right for you.

onepillchoices.com

© 2015 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. UNBC1848 03/15

UNBC1848_KC1_BayTimes_10.25x16.indd 1

3/25/15 3:44 PM