LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2023)
April 6 –19, 2023 http://sfbaytimes.com
See Pages 8 –9
On June 28, 1970, the first major organized Pride march— Christopher Street Liberation Day— took place in New York City. Just months earlier, on April 22, the first Earth Day was observed as part of a teach-in concerning environmental issues. Both proved to be watershed moments igniting decades of activism for environmental and social justice. Uniting these forces was a no brainer, given the shared mindsets and overarching goals. Consider these simple yet powerful words from the Equitable & Just National Climate Platform: “Our vision is that all people and all communities have the right to breathe clean air, live free of dangerous levels of toxic pollution, access healthy food, and share the benefits of a prosperous and vibrant clean economy.”
According to the Endangered Species Coalition, which works to protect endangered and threatened species, “minorities, including the
LGBTQ+ community, are underrepresented in the [environmental justice] movement’s systems and structures—and simultaneously at the leading edge of the experience of environmental harms. One example where this inequity plays out is access to clean air. It’s well documented that non-white people bear disproportionate health impacts from exposure to air pollution, due to racial segregation, proximity to pollution sources, and other factors. People who identify as LGBTQ+ are likewise impacted by poor air quality, with air-quality related cancer rates at 12.3% higher and respiratory risks from exposure to hazardous air pollutants at 23.8% greater than that of heterosexuals.”
Working to help combat such inequities are individuals like Rikki Weber, who is a San Francisco-based Legal Practice Manager and Litigation Assistant at Earthjustice. As she told the nonprofit Oregon Wild:
“Environmental justice is for all people and achieved by the people. As a queer woman of color, as a person whose layered identities are often pulled apart, compartmentalized and marginalized, I have made it a point to insert my whole identity into my work. I hope that my visibility and the visibility of other LGBTQ+ identified people helps strengthen the environmental movement by allowing us to express our differences and use them to find the commonalities in the ways that we can disrupt the systems that were built to oppress us.”
Over the past several years, several LGBTQ+ environmental organizations have formed. Here are just a few:
Out for Sustainability
https://out4s.org/ The Outdoorist Oath https://www.outdooristoath.org/ Queer Ecojustice Project https://www.queerecoproject.org/
Queer Nature https://www.queernature.org/
Queers X Climate https://www.queersxclimate.org/
Venture Out Project
https://www.ventureoutproject.com/
There is also 500 Queer Scientists ( https://500queerscientists.com/ ), which is a visibility campaign for LGBTQ+ people and their allies working in STEM and STEMsupporting jobs—a group that collectively represents a powerful force of scientific progress and discovery.
Both the environmental and social justice movements need your talents and support, not just during Pride or on Earth Day, but every day. Take a moment to reflect on what you can do to help, formulate specific goals, and then take steps each day to achieve them. If possible, make a conscious effort to pick up trash when in outdoor areas and follow these simple daily guidelines:
https://tinyurl.com/3pmvrpe8
But don’t think of these and related efforts as work, which inevitably will fade off like unfulfilled New Year’s resolutions. For inspiration, look to individuals like Outdoorist Oath founder and drag queen Pattie Gonia, who organizes wilderness hikes, created a job board for queer outdoorists, and even designs eyecatching dresses and wigs made out of recycled trash.
Individuals like Weber and Gonia prove that our community’s creativity and dedication can achieve gains, not only in terms of the LGBTQ+/ Gay Rights movement but also for other movements that need us now. Collectively, we helped make critical strides since that first Pride march in 1970. If we all step up to do our part, we can contribute to achieving both environmental and other social justice goals too.
Ecological justice is a key focus of the San Francisco-based nonprofit Lavender Phoenix (LavNix), which builds trans, non-binary, and queer Asian and Pacific Islander (QTAPI) empowerment. Through organizing in the Bay Area, the organization inspires and trains grassroots leaders, transforms values from scarcity to abundance, and strengthens and upholds vibrant movements.
Ecological justice is one of five areas of interest within LavNix, which began in 2004 as a response to a 6,000-person rally to attack marriage equality held by Chinese Christian leaders in San Francisco.
Initially named the Asian Pacific American Coalition for Equality (APACE), then API Equality, and then APIENC, LavNix evolved to become an emergent national coalition of QTAPI people and allies focused on storytelling, organizing, and advocacy. The other four areas of focus for the organization are: leadership development, community safety, healing & care, and movement building.
The goal of LavNix’s Ecological Justice League is to bring together and inspire QTAPI people in the San Francisco Bay Area to engage and take action to stop climate, environmental, and ecological injus -
tices, particularly as they affect Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) in the Bay Area and worldwide.
In the summer of 2018, LavNix members began to critically discuss the place of QTAPI identity and experience within environmental and climate justice movements.
The Ecological Justice League (EJL) formed shortly after as a means for QTAPIs to show up collectively during this intense period of climate catastrophe. Some of EJL’s first actions in September 2018 centered on supporting frontline communities and grassroots activists most impacted by climate disaster as they mobilized to disrupt closed-door meetings between politicians and business leaders.
Following these initial mobilizations, the group began gathering monthly and decided to prioritize shared political education and internal learning around the underpinnings of climate catastrophe. Inspired by organizations such as Movement Generation and Sunrise Movement, the group focused on local BIPOC-led organizing, rooted in a commitment to real solutions and relationship-building.
Although the league began under the name “Think and Take Action Cohort,” living through the devastating pandemic and early fire season of 2020 emboldened members
to rename the group to the Ecological Justice League. This was more than a name change; it was an intentional choice to pay homage to the visionary, political framework of ecological justice, where all people are committed to the shared stewardship and health of all our ecosystems. The following are five specific goals of the LavNix Ecological Justice League:
1. Educate ourselves and our communities, as QTAPIs, on the impacts of ecological injustices particularly on BIPOC living in the SF Bay Area and worldwide, in a way that is accessible, hopeful, and fun, and builds community.
2. Build and support the leadership of QTAPI community members to take on and support real, rather than false, solutions for climate change and to act collectively as a unique voice in larger movements for climate, environmental, and ecological justice.
3. Provide support as allies and coalition partners to other SF Bay Area BIPOC who are working to end climate and environmental injustices.
4. Engage with grassroots community leaders and members of local regenerative economies to promote climate justice. Challenge and work to dismantle the destructive businesses and state policies that are harming our communities and ecosystems.
5. Build capacity in larger climate, environmental, and ecological justice movements to address and dismantle the systems of ableism, racism, classism, and misogyny that disproportionately impact queer and trans people.
To learn more about LavNix and the Ecological Justice League, we reached out to the organization’s Director, Yuan Wang (she/they).
San Francisco Bay Times: How did you first get involved with LavNix?
Yuan Wang: I joined the organization in 2018 as part of the Summer Organizer Program—LavNix’s annual fellowship to develop young transgender and queer Asian and Pacific Islander leaders. When I
joined the organization, so many people across generations in our community mentored me: from Sammie Ablaza Wills (our thenDirector), to Vince Crisostomo (a pioneer in the queer and trans API community), to the other fellows in the program with me. These folks and others continue to guide and teach me. When I joined the organization, I expected to learn concrete skills that help our community build safety and power, from how to structure a campaign to how to lead a training and more. I did! But beyond that, I also learned how to show up in social change work and in this world as a full person, with no identities left at the door. That summer, LavNix members trained me in skills I’d never considered before: how to identify my needs and ask for help, how to welcome someone fully into a community, how to use history as a tool to help us win a brighter future.
I stayed in the organization as our Trans Justice Community Organizer, then became the Director in 2021.
San Francisco Bay Times: What is the connection between LavNix and the powerful civil
rights organization Chinese for Affirmative Action ( https://caasf.org/ )?
Yuan Wang: Chinese for Affirmative Action is our fiscal sponsor and supports our backend work. San Francisco Bay Times: Tell us more about LavNix’s major areas of work.
Yuan Wang: When it comes to the major areas of our work, some of our current goals include: launching the first-ever Transgender & Non-Binary API Peer Counseling Program (with over 37 counselors signed up!); training transgender and queer APIs on crisis and violence-intervention skills to disrupt interpersonal harm; launching the Dragon Fruit Museum, an online digital sanctuary of more than 100 oral histories from transgender and queer APIs in the Bay Area; leading the 14th year of our Summer Organizer Program to develop new, young transgender and queer API leaders; and so much more.
(continued on page 22)
By David Perry
On the ocean everyone is equal.
Just ask bodysurfer Tyler Wilde, the transgender athlete whose journey is chronicled in the film Gender Outlaw, screening on April 14 at Fort Mason’s Cowell Theatre as part of the 20th Anniversary International Ocean Film Festival.
“When you are in the ocean, you know, it’s like stepping into a different world,” says Wilde as the acclaimed documentary opens. “No matter who you are, you deserve to see that kind of beauty. I want everybody to just embody their truth and see that we can all walk around being our fullest selves and celebrate each other for it, enjoying just the day-to-day beauty that is around all of us, all the time.” The beauty of Tyler’s journey, and his on-the-waves artistry, is on vivid display in the 15-minute film, directed by Peter Williams, a longtime friend of the surfer.
“Throughout our friendship, I have had so many moments where Tyler’s journey has been a life lesson for me,” said Williams. “It was time for me to share that with the world. It’s a story about the resilience and acceptance that Tyler found, and that many transgender individuals have had to explore in their personal journeys as they go through their transition. Tyler is honest and raw about the process, but he also shows us how the joys in his life, bodysurfing and his unexpected community, have helped him find his true self.”
San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival this year will take place from April 13 to 16 at the Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason where 33 films representing 11 countries will be shown and will highlight marine life, the world’s oceans, coastal cultures, and conservation. The festival annually occurs shortly before Earth Day, April 22.
Kit Kennedy
A longtime member of the surf industry, Williams met Tyler, appropriately enough, on the water.
“I think the revelation that Tyler, gender and everything else aside, is a part of this revered old school, body surfing group, means our community is more open than you might think,” Williams added.
Gender Outlaw screens Friday, April 14, at 7 pm as part of the popular “Surf Night” evening of features at the International Ocean Film Festival. For tickets: https://tinyurl.com/5anpwrnu
David Perry is the founder/CEO of David Perry & Associates, Inc. He is on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and is the author of the critically acclaimed mystery thriller “Upon This Rock” (Pace Press, 2020).
Especially anticipated is the festival’s opening night offering Deep Rising, a Sundance Film Festival winner. This up-to-theminute tale of geopolitical, scientific, and corporate intrigue exposes the machinations of a secretive organization empowered to greenlight massive extraction of metals from the deep seafloor that are deemed essential to the electric battery revolution. Other festival offerings include Gender Outlaw (see feature in this issue of the Bay Times); Collision, an eye-opening film about the main cause of death in large whales; and Patrick and the Whale, in which stunning underwater footage explores the fascinating nature of the sperm whale, its complex intelligence, and the species’ relationship with humanity.
“After 20 years we’re still making waves and saving our world’s oceans one film at a time,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the International Ocean Film Festival. “In an era when climate change is topic number one, and the state of our oceans is a daily priority, never has the work of our filmmakers and activist been more vital, or more newsworthy.”
The festival accepts films of all genres that focus on any of the varied aspects of oceans. The subject matter ranges from, but is not limited to, marine wildlife, conservation efforts, ocean environments, coastal cultures, ocean sports and exploration, ocean heroes, and innovative technology designed to help protect the ocean. Films can be documentaries, narratives, shorts, animation, and full-length films from around the world. A number of finalists from the main film festival program will be selected to participate in the world-renowned International Ocean Film Festival Traveling Program. This year’s
Here’s to a Good Life
A healthy mix micro and macro with a dollop of inquiry. Like the world we inhabit, no question is too small, too large, nor impersonal. See a robin, why do you hear your dad whistling? When you encounter a sandhill crane’s cry, what eerie daydream are you inhabiting? Do rain beads on a leaf remind you of your mother’s string of pearls? Does the perfume of magnolia recall your first love? Why do two ladybugs magnified on a bed of pollen translate into bliss? How does a prism comfort your friend? When you hold that photo of a baby bear pushing its mama across a field, do you recall your lover giggling? When your partner painted the front door that unexpected shade of jade— which you have come to love—do you regret your first response?
Language and nature share a love of the small and the enormous. Rearranging the twenty-six petite squiggles of our alphabet into words opens world upon world of question and awe. Even lust and love. Indeed, landscape and language create a bouquet of wonder. Take a walk. Look up. Look down. Or gaze out a window. See that robin. Surprise your new friend with a Spring sonnet.
Kit Kennedy is the Poet-in-Residence of the “San Francisco Bay Times” and at herchurch Ebenezer Lutheran ( http://www.herchurch.org/ ). She has published 5 poetry collections, and for several years hosted the poetry series at Gallery Café. For more information, please visit her blog: http://poetrybites.blogspot.com
(continued on page 22)
John Lewis
It’s sakura or cherry blossom season in Japan! I’d never been in Japan at this celebratory time of the year, so for weeks I eagerly anticipated seeing splashy displays of bright pink blossoms everywhere. Although there are multiple varieties of cherry trees that boast such showy flowers, I was surprised by something different when the vast majority of the trees started to bloom in my neighborhood—and at temples and shrines, or along paths in public parks and on riverbanks, sometimes by the hundreds and even thousands.
The famous flowers of the dominant species of trees (somei-yoshino) were, in fact, an elegant white in color and sometimes a subtle pink, depending on the light and time of day. And I soon came to learn that the flowers are far more than mere objects of beauty in Japanese culture; they represent something deeper and more nuanced: the ethereal and ephemeral nature of life itself.
To be sure, Japanese and foreigners alike consider the cherry blossoms to be magnificently beautiful. I’ve noticed that Japanese people who often appear reserved in public seem much more outgoing when viewing the flowers. Smiles of delight naturally appear. Taking selfies in front of the flowers goes on everywhere. At first, I thought this a particularly modern phenomenon, which could be considered somewhat superficial (even as I did it myself). However, after I visited an historical exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum and viewed countless paintings of Japanese people admiring the blossoms through the centuries, I realized that selfies were simply the modern manifestation of a storied practice.
But as I experienced the blossoms— especially when seeing them en masse in a blur of color or as a single tree placed “just so” in a traditional Japanese garden—they seemed to possess an other-worldly, transcendent quality beyond selfie-beauty. Planting and placement of cherry blossom trees is very intentional in Japan. I’ve come to see the trees as an indulgence in the sublime that can clear and transform mind and spirit, whether it be through sensory stimulation or quiet calm.
And equally important about cherry blossoms and their meaning in Japanese culture is the fact that they bloom for a relatively short period of time. Traditional Japanese waka poets through the centuries have reflected on the transient quality of the sakura’s beauty. One asked: “O, cherry blossom? The moment that I see you bloom—have you already scattered[?]”
Indeed, when the wind blows, cherry blossom petals descend from tree branches, creating a spring snow shower with drifts of petals scattered on the surrounding ground. Another poet contemplated: “What breeze is it—that is not a cause of regret?”
Beyond these expressions of sorrow at the fleeting nature of the flowers, I believe these ancient poets are actually inviting us not just to see beauty at the moment when the cherry tree is in its full glory but to experience a type of beauty inherent in the omnipresent process of change in life itself that the sakura symbolizes. As the revered Japanese haiku master Bashō, who was also queer, wrote:
“Cherry blossom whirl, leaves fall, and the wind flits them both along the ground. We cannot arrest with our eyes or ears what lies in such things. Were we to gain mastery over them, we would find that the life of each thing had vanished without a trace.”
English translation of waka poetry from http://www.wakapoetry.net/
English translation of Bashō from Robert Hass, The Essential Haiku, Versions of Basho, Buson, & Issa 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 grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.
In a world racked by daily assaults on our senses, we sometimes become hardened to the personal impact of bad news. The news of the death of Heklina in London, however, comes as a terrible shock, putting many in the LGBTQ+ and larger community into a painful paroxysm. Few personalities in the past 3 decades have risen to the level of recognition, accomplishment, and affection that Heklina securely possessed.
Known by many from the early days of Trannyshack (later renamed Mother), Heklina hosted and emceed countless events, traveled with an entourage of talented friends, rubbed shoulders with many of the top names in entertainment, delighted hundreds as Dorothy in the annual Golden Girls Live, and moved on to be a partner in Oasis, the club that has become the center of so much in the LGBTQ+ Community, from entertainment of all kinds to celebrations, remembrances, and political actions. Throughout her career in drag, she was known for her shrewd business acumen, creative nature, fostering of new talent, and irascible sense of humor, exemplified so beautifully by that boisterous and deafening laugh.
When Heklina called some years ago, before the COVID-19 pandemic, about staging a roast of me at the Castro Theatre, I shared my concerns about filling so many seats. That laugh rang over the phone; she had no doubt it would be a success. Later, when she asked for a headshot for advance publicity, I sent her two or three images I liked. Within minutes, she called saying, “Gurl, you need some new headshots, something taken in the last decade!” The roast had officially begun.
Undoubtedly, many personal stories will surface in the next few weeks (Facebook is already full of them), some from long-time friends who cherished her company, some from newer talents who give her credit for giving them an opportunity, and some from people who never knew her personally, but benefited from her courageous encouragement of talent, her bold breaking of the bonds of traditional drag, and her tireless support of San Francisco’s creative energy.
The City of San Francisco is unquestionably diminished by her death and our deepest sympathies go out to all her legion of acquaintances, her family and friends, and that handful of individuals who really came to know Heklina and the person behind the drag. I can hear her laughing right now.
Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com
The anti-trans and anti-drag hysteria that is being whipped up around the country in the name of “protecting” children has reached a fever pitch, and the San Francisco Bay Area drag and trans communities are saying “Enough!” On April 8 they are hitting the streets for a rally and march to stand up and speak out against the hate, and are calling on everyone in the community to join them. Drag Up! Fight Back! will bring together drag performers and transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people, as well as allies of all kinds. It is a call to action for everyone to stand up and speak out against the hatred, fear, and disinformation that is being spread by extremists, and to unite in fighting against such harmful and cruel legislation.
The culture wars are in full swing, with the far right fanning the flames of hatred, fear, misinformation, and homophobia. The ACLU is currently tracking over 430 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, fueled by extreme right-wing politicians, media, churches, parents, and more. These bills target everything from what can be said and taught in schools, to which books
can be read, to banning drag performances, and banning gender-affirmative care for trans youth. Even bathroom bills, the popular form of witch hunts from a few years ago, are coming back. The cumulative effect is dangerous, as it affects the safety and livelihoods, the physical and mental health, and the basic rights of all LGBTQ+ people. And students everywhere are getting caught in the middle of these battles as books disappear from library shelves, and teachers are being forced to choose between teaching whitewashed, sanitized curricula or leave the profession.
“These fascist laws are an attempt to silence, criminalize, and eradicate our community,” said Sister Roma, one of the event organizers. “Drag Up! Fight Back! is a call to action for everyone who believes that drag is not a crime and knows that queer and trans rights are human rights. Drag is encouraged, but not required. We’re going to show them how San Francisco responds to hate—with love and joy!”
Organizers of the event include well-known activists and performers including Juanita MORE!, Alex U. Inn, Sister Roma, D’arcy Drollinger, Honey Mahogany, Juicy Liu, Kochina Rude, Per’ Sia, Santana Tapia, and Sister Shalita Corndog. Support and endorsements from organizations and community groups, both local and national, have been pouring in, as activists across the country are taking a stand and speaking out together.
Drag Up! Fight Back! will begin with a rally at San Francisco City Hall at 11 am on Saturday, April 8, followed by a march through the streets of San Francisco to Union Square. There, in the center of the shopping
and tourist district, there will be drag performances, readings by members of Drag Story Hour, and surprise guests.
This is a moment in history when we all need to speak out and take to the streets, whether in boots, sneakers, or stilettos. Show up, bring your friends, show your support. For the most upto-date info:
https://tinyurl.com/DUFB48
Drag Up! Fight Back! is at the forefront of a wave of actions across the country, as the community pushes back against the hate. On Sunday, April 9, the Los Angeles LGBT Center is holding a similar event, Drag March LA. On the national front, the Emmy-winning producers of Ru Paul’s Drag Race and cofounders of World of Wonder, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, have been fighting against the flood of anti-drag bills by partnering with the
Mark May 7 on your calendar, as a coalition of LGBTQ+ media groups and companies announced that they are teaming up to fight back against harmful political and media narratives about drag performers and trans people. The Drag Isn’t Dangerous campaign aims to raise awareness and funds for LGBTQ+ causes and organizations that support drag and trans performers, especially in areas that are under attack. The campaign will kick off with a social media and digital awareness campaign, including a website that offers resources and information on how to support local drag performers and LGBTQ causes.
anniversary. On Sunday, April 16, Sundance Saloon will be celebrating its 25th anniversary with a big party featuring dance performances from 5–10:30 pm, with dance lessons from 5:30–7:15 pm. The celebration will take place at 550 Barneveld Avenue in San Francisco, where Sundance Saloon offers country-western dancing for the LGBTQ+ community and friends every Sunday and Thursday.
ACLU to set up the Drag Defense Fund, to support the ACLU’s fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The campaign has been getting major coverage, and fundraisers are being held across the country to support it.
The centerpiece of their campaign will be a one-night-only telethon event on May 7. Drag Isn’t Dangerous will be hosted by a long roster of drag performers and celebrities and will feature a mix of live and pre-taped performances, appearances, and testimonials from drag performers, LGBTQ+ entertainers, and straight celebrity allies. All net proceeds from the event will be divided among approved charities that support LGBTQ causes and drag performers in need, especially in states where they face discrimination and bans. None of the performers or organizers are taking fees for their work on the campaign. https://tinyurl.com/DID2023
Happy Anniversary, Sundance Saloon!
In happier news, a beloved local institution is celebrating a landmark
There’s a reason why Sundance Saloon has been so popular for 25 years: while it is well-known as a great place to dance, and to learn about country-western dancing, its heart and its mission are so much more. It was created in the late 1990s by a corps of volunteers who shared a passion for preserving countrywestern dancing in the Bay Area, and although its focus is primarily the LGBTQ+ community, it has always provided a friendly home for everyone, and a welcome alternative to the usual bar and club scene. Ingu Yun, one of the founders, describes the scene enthusiastically. “Everyone is welcome! You’ll find men, women, and nonbinary folks all dancing with each other. A 25-year-old will think nothing of dancing with a 75-year-old. No one
(continued on page 22)
An estimated 700 demonstrators in San Francisco participated in the March for Queer & Trans Youth Autonomy on March 31, 2023. Activist and LGBTQ leader Honey Mahogany was among the speakers who addressed the demonstrators at San Francisco City Hall. Similar marches took place nationwide in many major cities, including Washington, D.C. The events were spearheaded by the organization Queer Youth Assemble and were in response to the anti-drag and anti-trans legislation of the past several months.
The organizers created a list of demands for queer & trans youth autonomy that were read at each of the marches and were initially gathered over the span of two months via listening sessions, social media interactions, and in-person conversations. Read the demands here: https://tinyurl.com/yx4825a9
Toot Toot, Heeyyyyy Peep Peep!
I love Easter! Well, let me clarify: I love Easter in The Park with my Sisters and our amazing queer community! It tickles me pink that our anniversary celebration has become one of the most anticipated and beloved annual events in the city, but I’m not surprised. I mean, is there anything more “San Francisco” than a gaggle of drag nuns throwing a free party in Dolores Park with a live stage show featuring incredible local talent and contests to find the best Easter bonnet, Foxy Mary, and Hunky Jesus? I don’t think so!
Now more than ever it’s important to get out and revel in our queerness. While anti-trans and anti-drag legislation is being proposed and passed across the country, this year’s theme, Peep Show, promises to celebrate everything queer, trans, drag, and more!
The day will begin at 10 am with Children’s Easter featuring a special appearance by the Easter bunny, an Easter egg hunt, story time, and other family friendly activities. It’s really sweet. (Side note to parents: If you’ve never been to Easter in the Park, you should know
that the stage show is not programmed for kids. Some parents may want to take the little ones home after Children’s Easter to enjoy their candy. Not my call, just saying ... )
The main event starts at noon when celebrity guest host, trans activist, entertainer, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Honey Mahogany, takes the stage! This year’s lineup features San Francisco favorites Connie Champagne, Kitten Onthekeys, Polesexual, Baloney, The Cockettes featuring Steven Satyricon, Trixxie Carr, Alex U. Inn and The Mommas Boyz, and a Drag Revue starring Linda Summers, Christina Ashton, Nikita Vega, Theresa Giudcoochie & Tony OMFG!
Throughout the day, contestants are invited to show off their Easter spirit competing in the colorful Easter bonnet contest and later, vie for the coveted titles of Foxy Mary and Hunky Jesus. If you feel compelled to join one of our contests this year, just listen for the announcement about when to line up back stage for a prescreening to enter. You must be clever and have a well-conceived character to be considered. Be advised that nudity is strictly prohibited!
By Sister RomaSisters’ Easter - Peep Show is produced by the San Francisco Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc., in conjunction with event partners San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, LoveDolores, JK Sound, and Recology. Peep Show would not be possible without the support of our amazing allies, platinum sponsor Gilead Sciences, and sponsors Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Junipero Gin, Cointreau, and Falcon|NakedSword. The event is free, but donations will be encouraged to support the Sisters’ annual Grant program, benefiting underserved, BIPOC, trans, and other grassroots nonprofits and programs.
I can’t wait to see you there!
Sister Roma, “The Most Photographed Nun in the World,” is an activist, fundraiser, and icon. Follow Roma on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SisterRoma), Twitter @SisterRoma, and Instagram @Sister_Roma. Learn more about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at https://www.thesisters.org/
By Rebecca Rolfe
In celebration of the SF LGBT Center’s 21st Anniversary Soirée, I recently sat down with this year’s returning co-hosts, Sister Roma and Honey Mahogany, to catch up on all things Soirée. The annual celebration is an opportunity for community members to invest in the Center’s services that help thousands of LGBTQ+ people in the Bay Area thrive.
Though Soirée's dinner program has sold out, you can still get tickets to the dazzling after-party! The evening will feature music by DJ LadyRyan, performances curated by entertainment director Juanita MORE!, dancing, open bar, and a lively auction.
You can get your tickets at www.sfcenter.org/soiree-2023
Rebecca Rolfe: What are you most looking forward to at this year’s Soirée?
Honey Mahogany: Last year was a blast—we had so much fun, from the delicious food to the incredible speakers and the wonderful party—I can’t wait to celebrate our community and our Center the way it deserves.
Sister Roma: I look forward to spending an evening with my community. I feel a deep need to connect with others who know that drag is not a crime and that LGBTQ+ rights are human rights. I think we all need this beautiful event to hold each other up and celebrate!
Rebecca Rolfe: As returning Soirée co-hosts, why is it important for you to come back and support the SF LGBT Center?
Sister Roma: Today’s world can be a frightening and dark place for so many in our community, especially queer and trans youth. The SF LGBT Center serves as a beacon of hope where we can find emotional support, practical services, and a safe place to just exist.
Honey Mahogany: For decades, San Francisco has been a sanctuary city for the LGBTQ+ community, and with everything going on across this country, it’s clear that San Francisco will need to be even more welcoming, more of a leader when it comes to supporting our community. It’s important that places like the Center are supported in carrying out this mission and doing the work.
Rebecca Rolfe: What are you excited to see and experience at this year’s after-party?
Honey Mahogany: Any chance to hear Juanita DJ! Any opportunity to see the House of MORE! perform is a thrill and a joy and so very San Francisco. I can’t wait!
Sister Roma: I love the fact that, even if you can’t attend the dinner, you can still buy a ticket to the after-party! I am 100% here for anything produced by Juanita MORE! I mean ... you just know it’s going to be spectacular.
Rebecca Rolfe is the Executive Director of the SF LGBT Center: https://www.sfcenter.org/
Spirits were high in spite of chilly temperatures on Friday evening, March 24, at The Academy SF during the Divas & Drinks event celebrating Women’s History Month and the 50th Anniversary of the SF Gay Softball League (SFGSL), the beneficiary of the fundraiser. Attendees enjoyed women’s history themed drink specials, including the “Who Runs the World?” cocktail.
A presentation of vintage women’s softball team uniforms and caps along with a display of photos depicting teams from Maud’s, Amelia’s, and the Elbo Room was led by Michelle Jester, whose partner Mary Sager supported the work of her former partner Rikki Streicher and Gay Games co-founder Sarah Lowenstein in establishing the Women’s Division of the SFGSL during the 1970s.
Emcee Donna Sachet delighted the crowd by dropping her designer red overcoat to reveal a vintage women’s softball team uniform complete with a ball and glove. Former SFPD officer Lenny Broberg, an SFGSL veteran, made a special appearance to assist Sachet in the auctioning of a basketball autographed by Golden State Warriors’ star Jordan Poole. Watch videos of those moments here: https://tinyurl.com/3k2f3vuw
SF Women’s March founder Sophia Andary, a member of the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women, was introduced by the Commission’s President, Dr. Shokooh Miry. Both spoke with eloquence and passion about the Commission’s mission and the importance of remembering the historic achievements of women in leadership roles, including the Women’s Division of the SFGSL.
Softball League Commissioner Vincent Fuqua spoke on behalf of the SFGSL and thanked current and former softball team members, captains, umpires, and board members for their support during his thirty-year tenure as Commissioner.
Volunteer coordinators Juan Davila and Orlando Diaz organized a raffle benefiting the SFGSL. Sachet and DJ Christie James, presented by Olivia Travel, led the Name That Tune contest that featured Team Another Planet Entertainment with Captain Mary Conde and Team SFGSL with Captain Orlando Diaz.
The evening also included a surprise birthday celebration for San Francisco Bay Times columnist and beloved community advocate Joanie Juster, who addressed guests after being presented with a big bouquet and cake. She attended the event with LGBTQ+ activist Troy Brunet, former president of Lions Clubs International.
Thanks to sponsors Olivia Travel, Extreme Pizza, Bacardí, Golden State Warriors, and San Francisco Federal Credit Union.
The next Divas & Drinks @ The Academy, on Friday, April 28, will be a benefit for Frameline and is being organized with the help of Frameline’s Nguyen Pham, who is also the President of SF Pride. The event will take place during the birthday week for legendary drag performer, fundraiser, and Bay Times columnist Donna Sachet and for “Betty’s List” founder and San Francisco Bay Times co-publisher Dr. Betty Sullivan. They will both be milestone birthdays! It promises to be a very special evening with many surprise guests. We hope to see you there! For more information and to register: https://tinyurl.com/4sk6m4rs
Chilly weather on Friday, March 24, did not impede a spirited group from gathering in the sprawling patio of The Academy for another successful Divas & Drinks, this time celebrating Women’s History Month and the 50th Anniversary of the Gay Softball League. Sophia Andary from the SF Commission on the Status of Women and SF Women’s March kicked things off, followed by President of the SF Commission on the Status of Women, Dr. Shokooh Miry, both sharing thoughts on the importance of women in SF. Next, we celebrated the birthday of one of SF’s most generous volunteers, Joanie Juster. She seemed thrilled and, as always, humble. To introduce the next portion of the evening, Michelle Jester joined us to salute the many SF LGBTQ+ Community sports teams. Michelle’s partner, Mary Sager, was a co-founder of the Women’s Division of the Gay Softball League. But first, we made a fast costume change, revealing a uniform of the SF Knockers, the only official drag team in the SF Gay Softball League, complete with glove and softball! The crowd was in stitches! (Special thanks to our friend Saybeline for the loaned wardrobe.) We then read a roll call, recognizing SF Gay Basketball, Different Spokes biking club, SF Gay Games and Sea Bowl bowling leagues, CHEER SF, Dykes on Bikes ® and Homoto motorcyclists, SF Fog rugby, Frontrunners running club, Tsunami Aquatics swimmers, and finally Team SF Gay Softball. Another surprise of the night was the appearance of Lenny Broberg, beloved member of
the Leather Community, who now lives in Palm Springs. What better way to welcome him home than to entrust him with a live auction! Within 10 minutes, Lenny’s sharp auction talents garnered a top bid of $700 for a basketball personally signed by Jordan Poole and donated by the Golden State Warriors, with the money going to the Gay Softball League. Thank you, Lenny! Remarks from Vince Fuqua, President of the SF Gay Softball League, finished off this lively celebration of their 50th anniversary.
After a short break, Team Gay Softball, headed by Orlando Diaz, and Team Another Planet, led by Mary Conde, competed in Name That Tune, Divas & Drinks-style , with sports-related songs supplied by DJ Christie, courtesy of Olivia Travel With evolving rules and creative scoring, both teams stayed on their toes, but Team Gay Softball League emerged victorious! Once again, all the elements of Divas & Drinks, including Extreme Pizza, Bacardí cocktails, raffle prizes, gift bags, and more, added up to a raucous evening of fun!
On Saturday, March 25, we joined Suzan Revah and Africa America for The Revival Dance at the rooftop deck of the Prosper Hotel. DJ Hawthorne drew folks to the dance floor and everyone mingled as if at a family reunion. The rare dry and warmer weather was perfect for the 360-degree view and a return to the dance floor. Afterwards, we tagged along with Africa America to a well-attended Ducal Court fundraiser at Beaux, where the party never seems to end.
And on Sunday, we saluted Martha Asten of the Cliff’s Variety Store family at Charles Sanderson & Kelley Wagg ’s backyard party in the Castro. She’ll be moving out of the city, but still in the Bay Area and will remain active at the store. We were proud to present a certificate from Supervisor Rafael Mandelman with thanks and permanent SF citizenship.
April Fools’ Day took an interesting turn as we offered Song Pairings: An Evening of Wine & Song at The Academy. Michael Wells, Wine Director for the club and pianist/vocalists Russell Deason and Katy Stephan provided over 50 guests with a tasting of 6 wines bolstered by a variety of musical offerings, including a surprise performance by Eduardo GonzalesMaldonado. Both Russell and Katy brought a variety of fabulous singing and piano to the event. The East Wing annex proved the perfect venue for small tables, lots of socializing, wine tasting, and musical delights. Don’t be surprised if this idea of The Academy partner Nate Bourg returns soon!
In closing, as enjoyable events begin to reappear in San Francisco, remember that many of them could not happen without volunteer support. Next time you see or hear of an upcoming fundraiser or other event that appeals to you, make a call and see if they need volunteers. Be a part of the revival of the good times in San Francisco!
Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com
Saturday, April 8
Drag Up! Fight Back!
Drag March & Rally from City Hall to Union Square
Produced by Sister Roma, Juanita MORE!, D’Arcy Drollinger, Alex U. Inn, Honey Mahogany, & more 11 am - City Hall
12:45 pm Union Square Free!
https://tinyurl.com/DUFB48
Sunday, April 9
Easter in the Park with the Sisters: Peep Show
Legendary Dolores Park event
Music, drag, costumes, fun Hunky Jesus & Foxy Mary Contests Dolores Park 12–4 pm www.thesisters.org
Saturday, April 15
Soirée 2023
SF LGBT Center’s annual gala
Hosted by Sister Roma & Honey Mahogany
Entertainment curated by Juanita MORE!, DJ Lady Ryan City View at Metreon $95 & up www.sfcenter.org
Saturday, April 15
Krewe de Kinque’s Bal Masque XX: The 415 San Francisco themed Mardi Gras gala
Silent auction, go-go dancers, entertainment
Crowning of new King & Queen, Celebrity Grand Marshal Benefiting LGBT Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund
The Cafe, 2369 Market Street 6–9 pm $10–100 https://tinyurl.com/chneryf6
Friday, April 28
Divas & Drinks @ The Academy: Celebrating Frameline47 San Francisco Bay Times-produced event benefiting Frameline Bacardí team and much more The Academy SF, 2166 Market Street 6–10 pm $15 https://tinyurl.com/4sk6m4rs
“San Francisco is a live and let live town. Just be yourself, have a good time and all the laughs you can get, and don’t hurt anybody. That’s all it asks.”
–Robert O’BrienPHOTO BY SHAWN NORTHCUTT Martha Asten, accompanied by Donna Sachet, held a Certificate of Honor presented to her by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman on March 26. Suzan Revah, Donna Sachet, and Leo DaSilva at The Revival Dance at Hotel Prosper on March 25
called for an Extraordinary Session to hold Big Oil responsible.
ency and oversight measures, and we will do whatever it takes to hold oil companies accountable.
Assemblymember Phil Ting
For years, Big Oil has been ripping off Californians, and enough is enough. It is time to hold the oil industry accountable and stop price gouging at the pump.
Since 2015, Californians have been charged what’s been called a “mystery surcharge” of about 30 cents per gallon, which the oil industry will not explain. In 2022, oil companies raised the price of gas in our state to $6.42 per gallon, a historic $2.61 more than the national average. The majority of that increase went straight to big oil companies, leaving them with a record $200 billion in profits for the year.
These price hikes affect all of California, but especially low-income Californians, who cannot afford to keep up with steady increases on gas costs. In order to protect California families, Governor Gavin Newsom
As one of the Legislators who helped craft Senate Bill (SB) X1-2, I’m proud that California will finally regulate an industry that has acted without transparency or accountability. Senate Bill (SB) X1-2 creates an independent watchdog division within the California Energy Commission (CEC) to deter Big Oil from overcharging and profiteering off Californians. The Division of Petroleum Oversight will be overseen and staffed by trusted market experts, economists, and investigators who will analyze the petroleum market to protect Californians and keep consumers well informed.
The CEC will have powers to set caps on what oil companies may charge as well as assess penalties if the oil companies are making excessive profits. In addition, the law requires the industry to be more transparent about both refinery maintenance as well as pricing decisions so that it can ascertain that the industry is not arbitrarily scheduling their maintenance to reduce supply and line their pockets.
Companies at all levels of California’s oil and gasoline supply chain will now report to the CEC. This law also requires the CEC to submit assessments of these reports to the State Legislature and the Attorney General for maximum coherency across our government. These are unprecedented transpar-
Giving CEC the authority to investigate why California has seen unexplained higher gas prices since 2015 and enforcing reporting requirements on the oil industry will ensure greater transparency into our state’s petroleum market and force oil companies to play by the same rules that other industries do.
The price-gouging penalty will keep oil companies’ actions in check and keep money in the pockets of Californians.
Californians cannot afford to keep up with these price hikes. We need real, dedicated experts to keep an informed watch on the oil market to ensure that we do not continue to suffer from price gouging.
We need gas for getting to work, for taking our children to school, and for traveling through our great state and beyond. We cannot continue to allow Californians to be punished by Big Oil. When we hold the oil industry accountable, we keep them from taking advantage of consumers.
Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the Westside of San Francisco and portions of South San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma, and Daly City.
Oakland City Councilmember
At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan
On March 21, the Oakland City Council passed two resolutions to improve the landscape of affordable housing in our community. The first resolution, which was authored by myself and Councilmember Fife, allocates $18 million of the 2022 Affordable Housing and Infrastructure Bond Funds, otherwise known as Measure U funds, for the construction of the Mandela Station Affordable Development in West Oakland.
The Mandela Station Affordable Development is a mixed-use, mixed‐income transit-oriented development at the West Oakland BART station, which includes a proposed 240 units of affordable housing, with 60 dedicated units of homeless housing, and approximately 16,000 square feet of neighborhood retail space, deep community involvement, and racial equity with quality local jobs.
We were also pleased to stand united with Mayor Sheng Thao, Council President Bas, Councilmembers Fife and Jenkins, along with myself, in advancing $63,000,000 of city financing for loans to additional affordable housing developments identified through the Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) New Construction of Affordable
Multifamily Rental Housing Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) process. These funding commitments would be enabled by $13,000,000 of existing funding sources, and by the forward commitment of $50,000,000 of Measure U Affordable Housing Bonds.
Passed by the voters last November, Measure U provides $850 million in bond funding to invest in public infrastructure, preserve and build affordable housing, and improve the quality of life in all neighborhoods throughout Oakland. Of the funds, $350 million are dedicated to the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of interim and permanent affordable and social housing.
As the city undertakes a robust process to advance further projects through Measure U and other funding sources, these resolutions provide immediate action to allocate a small fraction of the total funds in a time-effective way to allow existing projects in our affordable housing pipeline to be funded and built. They also provide the funding in time for urgent state funding application deadlines—so that our local projects can have committed a local match to be able to bring millions more of state and other funding into our communities.
We have the vital goal to build more affordable and workforce housing, and the urgent need to do so to help remedy homelessness and stop losing essential workers. To accomplish this, we must act locally while also ensuring that state funding resources for affordable housing are allocated equitably, and that communities that are promoting environmental sustainability, transit-oriented development, racial justice, and quality local jobs are supported. An important part of how we do that is to put our own money where our mouth is, and Oakland has stepped up to ensure this urgent need is addressed. We urge state funding partners to do so too.
Councilmember At-Large and Council President
Rebecca Kaplan, who is the Vice Mayor of Oakland, was elected in 2008 to serve as Oakland’s citywide Councilmember; she was re-elected in 2016 and 2020. She also serves on the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC). Follow Councilmember Kaplan on Twitter @Kaplan4Oakland ( https://twitter.com/Kaplan4Oakland ) and Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/Kaplan4Oakland/ ).
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 first and only LGBTQ newspaper in San Francisco to be named a Legacy Business, recognizing that it is a longstanding, community-serving business that is a valuable cultural asset to the city.
dr. Betty l. SullivaN
JeNNiFer l viegaS co-PuBliSherS & co-editorS
Beth greeNe, Michael delgado, JohN SigNer, aBBy ZiMBerg deSigN & ProductioN
kate lawS BuSiNeSS MaNager
Blake dilloN caleNdar editor
kit keNNedy Poet-iN-reSideNce
J.h herreN techNology director
carla raMoS weB coordiNator
Mario ordoNeZ diStriButioN
JuaN r davila voluNteer coordiNator
CONTRIBUTORS
WRITeRS
Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Carolyn Wysinger, Leslie Sbrocco, Heather Freyer, Kate Kendell, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Joanie Juster, Julie Peri, Jennifer Kroot, Robert Holgate, Eduardo Morales, Dennis McMillan, Tim Seelig, John Chen, Rafael Mandelman, Tabitha Parent, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Bill Lipsky, Elisa Quinzi, Liam Mayclem, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Derek Barnes, Marcy Adelman, Jan Wahl, Holly Near, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron, Michele Karlsberg, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Lou Fischer, Brett Andrews, David Landis
PhOTOgRaPheRS
Rink, Phyllis Costa, Sparks, Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Karina Patel, Abby Zimberg, Joanie Juster
aDVeRTISINg
Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards http://sfbaytimes.com/ or 415-503-1375
Custom ad sizes are available. Ads are reviewed by the publishers.
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
Submit events for consideration by e-mail to: calendar@sfbaytimes.com
© 2023 Bay Times Media Company
Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas
Eduardo Morales, Ph.D.
AGUILAS in San Francisco received three years of funding by the California Office of AIDS to enhance its HIV/AIDS services.
2023 marks the third year of this funding cycle, and thanks in large part to it and the Empowerment Initiative, AGUILAS will be holding a three-day, two-night retreat at Enchanted Hills Summer Camp near Napa for about 51 participants.
If you are a member of the Latinx LGBTQ+ community and would like to attend, please register at the AGUILAS website: https://www.sfaguilas.org/
A sliding scale will be offered when you register for the retreat that will take place from Friday, April 21, to Sunday, April 23, at the scenic Enchanted Hills site located on Mt. Veeder. The camp is owned by the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired whose administrative offices are in San Francisco. At other times of the year, the camp serves blind children, teens, adults, deaf-blind, seniors, as well as families of the blind.
The remodeled facility has cabins with bedding, sheets, pillows, bathrooms, various meeting rooms, dining facilities, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. It is located 10 miles west of Napa and is known for its beautiful redwoods, rivers, and mountain vistas.
According to the Enchanted Hills website: “The experience of summer camp holds countless opportunities for enjoyment and learning in many a person’s life. Whether it’s exploring a trail in the woods or creating a skit as a team to perform in front of an audience, camp provides a wealth of structured and unrestricted moments that contribute to socialization, growth, and development. Founded in 1950 by Rose Resnick, Enchanted Hills was the first camp of its kind on the West Coast to fill a void as there was not one recreational facility for blind children to explore, thrive, and gain confidence.”
The theme of this year’s AGUILAS retreat is “Reconnecting with Our Culture and Ourselves.” The goal is to rediscover the adventure of self-growth and acceptance and to incorporate groups to facilitate this process. The retreat program starts on Friday when participants arrive by 3:30 pm, get situated in assigned cabins, have dinner, and have a welcoming and centering session after dinner.
The retreat is partnering with Queer Arts Featured, also known as Queer A. F., whose offices are located on Castro Street at the store where Harvey Milk had his camera shop. It has a staff with extensive experience hosting a series of interactive healing arts workshops that include movement, reiki, and sound healing.
The workshops by Queer A. F. will be held in several sessions throughout Saturday.
After the last workshop on Saturday, there will be a pool party at about 4 pm followed by dinner and a relaxing evening event. On Sunday morning, artist Juan Manuel Carmona will conduct an interactive art workshop for all attendees after breakfast. He is one of the artists who created the mural entitled Queeroes on the SF LGBT building together with artist Simón Malvaez. All workshops will integrate health promotion, HIV/ AIDS prevention, and PrEP and PEP information.
On Friday, AGUILAS will provide bus transportation for 34 attendees since the road to the campsite is compromised due to the recent rainy weather. All retreat goers will need to have a negative COVID-19 test and must be at the SF LGBT Center on Friday, April 21, at 1 pm sharp to take the bus to the camp location. For those choosing or needing to drive, maps to Enchanted Hills will be provided and you should arrive at the site by 3:30 pm. It is expected that participants will stay at the campsite throughout the three days.
Once you register, you will receive information on the items that you should bring. You will also receive the complete retreat program. In terms of food, dinner will be provided on Friday evening. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided on Saturday. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on Sunday, with the retreat ending after that last meal. I encourage those who are Latinx LGBTQ+ to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to network with other members of our community in such a tranquil and verdant setting. I hope to see you there!
Eduardo Morales, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus, retired Distinguished Professor, and current adjunct professor at Alliant International University. He is also a licensed psychologist and a founder and current Executive Director of AGUILAS, an awardwinning program for Latinx LGBTQ+. Of Puerto Rican decent, he has received numerous distinguished awards and citations, including being named a Fellow of 12 divisions of the American Psychological Association.
Thinking of Trump Arraignment Day, I must say I’ve had just about enough of the pointless nonstop cable news coverage. Hour after hour, we were presented with empty shots of lower Manhattan, featuring live reporters, for no reason. I suppose the assignment editors were anticipating big protests, but since happily that did not seem to be the case, we were left with nothing—like the category four hurricane that turns into a tropical storm, leaving a lonely newsman wandering the beach, staring hopefully towards the horizon. Well, Ann, you might ask, have you tried turning off the TV? And yes, thank you very much, Prissy Missy, I have tried that. But I’m afraid I’ll miss something, like when a crowd formed in a park a block or so outside the courthouse. Perhaps I wrote too soon!
Meanwhile, for weeks and months, we have all been glancing at headlines that tell us that the most important election of the year is about to come down in Wisconsin and that our nation’s future as a Democracy hangs in the balance. If you’re like me, you gave the stories a quick scan, learned it was something about judges and it wasn’t until April, so you moved on to the article about whether Prince Harry is going to his father’s coronation, followed by the one about ChatGPT causing the end of mankind. Now, however, the time has come and I have obediently read several accounts of the Wisconsin supreme court election, as well as the special election for a state senate seat.
But since these election results won’t be finalized until after I finish writing this column, you will likely know more than I do. If you haven’t followed the news, please do check and see whether or not Janet Protasiewicz beat Daniel Kelly to swing the court our way as we so fervently hope is the case. (Editor’s Note: Protasiewicz won!) At stake are reproductive rights in the Cheese State, the future of partisan redistricting, and the legality of a range of ultra conservative statutes emerging from the far-right legislature. Wisconsin Republicans have had a super majority in the Senate since the 2022 election, but a special election will determine whether or not they keep it going forward. Let’s hope that Sinykin beat Knodl.
By George!Before we go on, what do you think of serial liar George Santos, who just introduced a bill to halt U.S. aid to foreign countries that discriminate against gays or women?
Hey, I like it, George! The bill seems unlikely to pass, given the complexity of why America provides foreign aid to various places, but still, it’s a nice idea. According to the State Department website, for example, we give nearly a billion bucks a year to Uganda, where lawmakers just outlawed homosexuality as well as “attempted homosexuality.” I’m not clear on this latter offense, but as my BritBox characters would say, I’ve got “form.”
That said, it seems as if Congress now operates as a reality TV show, where members produce simplistic “bills,” with no chance of passage
By Ann Rostowand not even a chance of evolving into actual legislation. There is no work, no research, no negotiation, no collaboration, no public input, no careful legal drafts. It’s just PR pablum for the politician’s image, like Mr. Santos’ effort discussed above.
But moving on, I was drawn to two seemingly unrelated stories, both of which concern clever tactics that have turned the tables on conservative actors. The first item is datelined Maine, where you may recall that the state offers tuition grants to parents in rural areas that are not served by public schools. The grants may only be used for secular schools, or at least that was the law until some parents sued the state in a case that rose to the Supreme Court.
Last year, the 6–3 Court ruled that Maine’s regulation violated the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause, and that tuition assistance could not be limited to non-sectarian schools. But, anticipating the Court’s decision, the state legislature rewrote the law, requiring schools that accept these public funds to abide by the state’s civil rights laws, which coincidentally protect against GLBT discrimination.
Now, the church schools that indirectly won the previous case are suing again, insisting that the state legislature is just playing games. “Maine lost at the U.S. Supreme Court just last year but is not getting the message that religious discrimination is illegal,” huffed one of the lawyers. But we are no longer parsing the language of a state benefit, we are now asking whether the sim-
ple enforcement of GLBT-inclusive civil rights laws is inherently unconstitutional. Surely that can’t be the case, right? This is the core yes-or-no question that the High Court continues to sidestep.
Our other case comes from Florida, where you remember Governor DeSantis has been messing around with the Disney crowd ever since the company criticized the Don’t Say Gay bill last year. Last month, I went into excessive detail on DeSantis’ attempt to take over a special tax district that encompasses Disney World and the rest of the Disney facilities in the state. Eventually, DeSantis had to scale back his plans, but he still managed to replace the Disney-controlled board with five anti-gay conservative cronies, who were hoping to have some say over Disney content and activities.
But in the weeks that led up to the replacement of these board members, the original Disney guys revised the board’s powers, requiring it to get approval from the Disney Company for most of its decisions. The original board went through all the proper procedures, including making its moves in public, but DeSantis and company simply didn’t notice what they were up to.
“All agreements signed between Disney and the District were appropriate, and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida’s Government in the Sunshine law,” Disney said in a CNN report. The details of the critical meeting in early February were also published in The Orlando Sentinel
According to CNN, the new board is hopping mad and considering legal action, although it’s not clear to me what they can do. No, I do not have the qualifications to speculate on the legal structures that govern Florida special tax districts, but why should that stop me?
“This essentially makes Disney the government,” said a particularly odious new board member, Ron Peri. “This board loses, for practical purposes, the majority of its ability to do anything beyond maintaining the roads and maintaining basic infrastructure.”
Cry me a river!
Law And Order
I’ve just taken a break to hate-watch more boring cable news and am now looking at an overhead shot of Trump’s car driving down some NYC street. They seem to have stopped all other vehicles, which I suppose makes sense even though it’s galling to see him treated with such deference and annoying to be reminded that he was actually President of the United States for a time. I don’t see the park protest, so maybe that wasn’t a thing after all. I guess that demonstration had no more than a few dozen Trumpsters, but was overwhelmed with media. This coverage reminds me of the commercial where a girl pushes her desk into an intersection in the middle of Manhattan and gets everyone else to bring their furniture up as well and clog up traffic in order to promote some software product
(continued on page 22)
In the first half of the 20th century, the North Beach neighborhood was a major hub of LGBTQ and bohemian life, including bars, restaurants, and other social spaces. Venues like Mona’s 440 hosted regular genderbending performances and were a draw for locals and tourists alike. Performers included everyone from local drag kings and queens (or male and female impersonators, to use the language of the time), to nationally renowned singers like Gladys Bentley, who started out during the Harlem Renaissance and became one of the most recognizable blues singers in the country.
Many LGBTQ nightlife spaces, both in San Francisco and around the U.S., were shut down in the 1950s and 1960s during a period of cultural repression. This was one of several periods over the last two centuries in which anti-LGBTQ groups have used fear and misdirection to try to erase LGBTQ people from the landscape. In San Francisco, these efforts go as far back as 1863, when the city passed a law that prohibited cross-dressing (in the language of the time), one of more than 30 cities to pass similar laws around the same period. The San Francisco law was enforced until as recently as 1974.
Today, yet another group of misguided activists seek to erase our history and curtail our right to occupy space.
archives, located downtown at 989 Market Street, are open by appointment to anyone interested in diving deeper into queer history. To book your visit, or to make a contribution to support the organization’s work, visit https://www.glbthistory.org/
The GLBT Historical Society maintains a strong commitment to documenting the diverse lives of LGBTQ communities and is especially interested in receiving
That is why showcasing the long history of drag and gender bending performers—especially during times of repression—is so important. We highlight these stories to provide the direct evidence that we have always been here. And we always will.
These photos are from one of the more than 1,000 individual archival collections held by the GLBT Historical Society that reveal a vast array of LGBTQ life, history, and culture. From drag outfits and massive flags, to deeply personal diaries and correspondence, to organizational records, historic bar signs, ephemera, and more, our archival holdings make up one of the largest collections of LGBTQ historical materials ever assembled. We share our collection highlights at our museum, located at 4127 18th Street in the Castro district. Our
and preserving archival collections that focus on the intersectional experiences of women, people of color, transgender and nonbinary people. If you have materials that fit our mission and are interested in donating them, please consider contacting our archives staff at reference@glbthistory.org
“Mary Watkins is a musician in the highest sense of the word. Pianist, composer, arranger, performer, and cultural thinker.
Mary trained in classical music at Howard University, but of course, it is what we do with training that defines the artist. Ms. Watkins can sit at the piano while waiting for a sound check to begin, play a twominute improvised piano solo that takes one’s breath away and then look up and quietly ask for a little more of the mix in her monitor. She has all the notes but it is knowing which ones to call on that makes her work so inspiring. She has written for symphony orchestras, chamber and jazz ensembles, film, theater, dance, choral groups, and folk singers.”
To learn more about Mary Watkins at Because of a Song, go to: https://becauseofasong.com/mary/
Because of a Song is an online archive, curated by singer/songwriter and activist Holly Near, documenting the extraordinary feminist and lesbian music that burst forth from the heart of Oakland, CA. The archive features over 30 hours of filmed conversations, 4 short films, a curated resource room, a listening room of over 600 songs in 6 playlists, a captioned photo gallery of nearly 200 images, and much more.
https://becauseofasong.com/
Tales From Two Wheels
While the rain over the past couple of months was greatly needed to replenish the aquifers and reservoirs, we welcome the sun and warmer weather that has blessed us over the past few weeks.
In March, the San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® WMC participated in the Andrew Rawson Memorial Ride. The ride was organized by the San Francisco Harley-Davidson® dealership on Mission Street, where Andrew was a sales manager. Andrew, a father to four young children, tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident on Cesar Chavez and South Van Ness following a collision with an SUV in December of 2022.
Andrew’s family and friends at Harley Davidson wanted to send a message about the dangers motorcycle riders face in the poorly designed streets and intersections of San Francisco by gathering as many motorcycles as they could for a ride through the city. Scores of bikes of all kinds (but predominately Harleys, of course) staged at the dealership on Mission Street for pre-ride coffee.
From there, we were kickstands up at about 11 am, receiving a motorcycle escort from SFPD out of town and had a nice ride down to Pacifica Brewery for a sunny afternoon, lunch, and a celebration of life. On behalf of the SF Dykes on Bikes, we were honored to help remember a fellow rider and hope that the day provided a bit of closure for the
members of Andrew’s family, colleagues, and friends.
Alexis Acuna continues to raise funds for the Rawson family at GoFundMe: https://tinyurl.com/yckk4z9t
With engines still warm from the previous week’s ride, patch-holders Stephanie, Melissa, and Enda couldn’t pass up the sunny day this past Saturday and decided to do a last-minute ride to The Marshall Store on Tomales Bay for some Oysters Rockefeller. It’s that time of year, so keep an eye out for those Dykes on Bikes patches when you are on the road. And if you see us out, give us a wave, or better yet, come say hi!
Kate Brown, Ph.D., is the President of San Francisco Dykes on Bikes® Women’s Motorcycle Contingent. https://www.dykesonbikes.org/
JUSTER (continued from pg 8)
cares what you do, or how much you make, or even how well you dance. Everyone mixes and mingles effortlessly with everyone else. Look around, and everyone is smiling. There is no more joyous place to be in San Francisco on a Sunday or Thursday night.”
It was created as an educational all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization, and the welcoming atmosphere was baked into its mission. Not only does Sundance provide dance instruction, performances, and public dance events, but it also serves the community by bringing country-western dance to major community events like San Francisco Pride and the Castro Street Fair. Sundance also encourages volunteerism and philanthropy, raising over $460,000 for other local nonprofit organizations since they opened on April 12, 1998, in a long-gone nightclub on King Street. They moved to their current location at 550 Barneveld Avenue in 2001, and have taught partner dancing (two-step, waltz, and swing) and line dancing there ever since. Their other major project is Sundance Stompede, a huge annual four-day country-western dance extravaganza. People come from all over the world to attend the lively four-day event.
When COVID-19 shut down most in-person gatherings, Sundance Saloon survived by switching to a program of weekly live-streamed line dance lessons every Sunday, and outdoor in-person line dance events every Thursday and Sunday, providing much-needed exercise and companionship during a challenging time. They reopened for indoor dancing in August 2021.
In these hard and fearful times, it is refreshing to celebrate the sheer joy and fun that Sundance Saloon has been bringing to the community for the past 25 years. As they say on their website, “For 25 years it has been a place where folks who never thought they could dance have learned that they can. It has been a place where folks of all types and persuasions instantly feel welcome—and a place that has fostered a community that now reaches globally.” That is something worth celebrating, plus cake, and free admission! More info: https://tinyurl.com/Sundance25
Unfortunately, violence is a part of our society. From random muggings to armed aggressors, learning what to do in a violent situation may save your life, or the lives of others. Two useful classes are coming up this month to help you gain practical skills, presented by Community Patrol Service in cooperation with Castro Community on Patrol, a program of SF Safety Awareness for Everyone.
Active Shooter Basic Training Class: Thursday, April 20, 7 pm–9 pm; Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Ellard Hall, 100 Diamond Street, SF
This classroom lecture-formatted introduction helps you plan and prepare for the possibility of an active shooter or terrorist incident. The training will introduce safety concepts and recommend simple steps for you, your loved ones, and the overall community to consider should you find yourself in this worst of situations. It is designed for individual community members and is suitable for anyone. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/ASClass420
Free Community Self-Defense Class for Beginners: Saturday, April 29, 1 pm–4 pm: The Academy SF, East Wing Meeting Space, 2264 Market Street, SF
This popular class is a very low-impact presentation of some very basic, but extremely useful and valuable self-defense concepts taught by martial arts Grand Master, Ken Craig. This presentation always draws packed classes and rave reviews. The class focuses on teaching a thought-process of graduated risk assessment and threat response and is suitable for anyone 18 years or older. There will be periods of standing and moving, as well as working with other people as part of the practical class exercises. Necessary accommodations can be made for special needs, if arranged well before the class date. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/CSDFB429
That’s it for this week, folks. I hope to see you all in the streets on April 8. Joanie Juster is a long-time community volunteer, activist, and ally.
LAVENDER PHOENIX (continued from pg 4)
San Francisco Bay Times: Please also share more about the LavNix Ecological Justice League.
Yuan Wang: Ecological justice is central to the way LavNix works. We believe our ultimate responsibility as organizers is to help humans come into right relationship with each other and with the Earth—to move away from economies and cultures that are extractive, destructive, and driven by scarcity, and towards communities that are regenerative, healing, and rooted in abundance.
San Francisco Bay Times: Your bio mentions, in part, that you were “born on Ohlone land in Fremont.” The bios of some of your other team members refer to Native American lands as well. It is powerful to consider that all of us live on former long-established Native American lands, with those tribes being part of the extended AAPI community. Why do you think it is important to preserve and honor the Bay Area’s (and other regions’) Native American histories, and how might those help to inform our present response to environmental challenges?
Yuan Wang: The Bay Area is indigenous land. Our office in San Francisco and our work is situated on the ancestral, unceded land of the Ramaytush Ohlone people. This land continues to be of great importance to the Ohlone people. All of our work and the lives of people in the Bay Area benefit from the use and occupation of this land. We hope to affirm sovereignty and power of Indigenous people here through our work. For more information: https://lavenderphoenix.org/
OCEAN (continued from pg 5)
film categories include Environmental, Marine Sciences/Wildlife, Exploration & Ocean Sports, Coastal Island Culture. Animation, Conservation, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Shorts and Female Directors.
Since its launch in 2004, the International Ocean Film Festival has presented over 815 films from 40 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years. www.intloceanfilmfest.org
ROSTOW (continued from pg 19)
or computer system or something. I don’t even know what she’s selling, but I’m not buying! And speaking of commercials in Manhattan, how about the one for the Apple ear thingies that show a woman crossing streets and breezing around the city with no awareness of the outside world whatsoever. She takes them off to order a hot dog and we hear the sounds of the city all around her. But then she puts them back in and wanders into traffic on the wings of her music with not a care in the world. What the hell, Lady? You’re going to get yourself run over and the rest of New York is going to step right over your twitching remains.
Over the Rainbow
Returning to Wisconsin, there was a story out of Waukesha, where the first graders at Heyer Elementary School were all set to sing “Rainbowland” at their concert. “Rainbowland” is a duet by Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus, with innocuous lyrics about being free to be who you are and so forth. Back in 2017, Parton told an interviewer that the song “is really about if we could love one another a little better or be a little kinder, be a little sweeter, we could live in rainbow land. It’s really just about dreaming and hoping that we could all do better. It’s a good song for the times right now.”
A couple of parents complained to school authorities, and the song was taken off the play list for being “controversial.” At first I thought the problem was simply the word “rainbow” in the title. But the concert organizers replaced the song with the Muppet fave “Rainbow Connection,” which is also filled with happy friendly lyrics about being free to be you and me. So, what’s the deal? I’m guessing that the parents didn’t like the association with Miley Cyrus, with her bad gurl rep and polyamorous identity.
Whatever the reason, aren’t you sick of these people imposing their Puritanical sensibilities on the rest of society? No drag shows, no books about gay people, girls must wear skirts, Maine taxpayers have to send kids to Bible school, Disney can’t show a lesbian character, transgirls can’t play sixth grade basketball, transboys can’t use any of the regular bathrooms. And, of course, it doesn’t end with our community. Ask pregnant women or ask the women who would prefer not to be pregnant. I’ll stop there.
Did you know Wisconsinites are called “Sconnies?” My wife doesn’t believe me, but I have done the research.
That’s All, Folks!
We love to make fun of the One Million Moms falling on their fainting couches in horror at some commercial for M&Ms or Gillette razors. But they’re not always targeting gay and lesbian images. This week, they have their sights set on the carrot ads aimed at men with bent penises. According to the Moms, these are too graphic and they’re on too early in the evening when kids might be watching. “Imagine what goes through the mind of a child viewing this ad,” the Moms wonder, aghast. “Parents should not have to discuss PD while sitting at home enjoying family time.”
“PD” as we all know from watching these same ads, stands for “Peyronie’s Disease,” the formal title for the bent penis phenomenon. Doesn’t this discussion make you ask yourself, “Who was Peyronie? And how did he get to be the namesake for the bent penis disease?” Well, I just looked it all up for you!
According to Wikipedia, François Gigot de la Peyronie was an 18th Century barber-surgeon from Montpellier who “became fascinated with phalluses, which later developed into a lifelong obsession.” (I have several close friends who share his interest.)
I wonder if he ever could have imagined that, 280 years later, his name would be known far and wide throughout the North American continent via a system of broadcasting sound and images into people’s homes, and that a particular male deformity would bear his name and be known as an official disease!
I mean, it’s as if in 2300, half a billion people live on Antarctica and, thanks to telepathic mind communication, they are all aware of “Rostow’s Syndrome” that involves the use of pointless verbosity in an attempt to round out the word count of assignments on the cusp of a deadline. Interestingly, “gigot” means leg of lamb, so, by my analysis, his name means “leg of lamb of the little stone.” M. Gigot de la Peyronie described what was later called “Peyronie’s disease” in 1743 in a book on ejaculation dysfunction, which sounds like a provocative read indeed.
arostow@aol.com
This article started out as an experiment. I got the go ahead from the folks at the Bay Times to write an article using the new proliferation of AI tools. I was very excited to give it a try. I expected to have a gay old time (at their expense) and trick them into creating something interesting if not a bit salacious.
My first attempt was to ask them (or is it an it?) to write a 200-word story
pajamas, by the fire with a hot toddy? I am so happy to say that was not the case at all.
Performing arts are alive and well and booming—partially thanks to the absence during COVID-19. We still want to see live things. There is still the thrill of seeing real people doing real art. There is a connection you just can’t get listening to a recording. There is also the everpresent excitement of performers making slight changes, holding a note a little longer, or even a mistake. Everyone loves it when the actors on Saturday Night Live crack themselves up. That’s the human element we love so much.
So, the fear was unfounded. It wasn’t live performances that died out—it was the recordings! People are not buying recordings anymore. I’ve got
• By 2002, CDs had a 95.2% market share and almost a billion were sold.
• The market share of downloaded music was at 1.5% in 2004 and rose to 41% in 2012 when it surpassed CDs.
• Paid digital subscriptions/streaming were at 1.2% in 2005, but then surpassed CDs in 2014 and surpassed digital downloads in 2015. They held a 84.2% record-high market share in 2022.
(To view an animated chart of the various music delivery products by year, go to: https://tinyurl.com/2s4p76jp ) Here’s the smart analysis from the American Enterprise Institute where I got the aforementioned numbers. According to economist Joseph Schumpeter, the “gales of creative destruction” describe the “processes of industrial mutation that continuously revolutionize the economic structure from within, incessantly destroying the old ones, incessantly creating new ones.” Physical music formats (LPs, tapes, CDs) have been “destroyed” and have now pretty much all been replaced with streaming music. And in each successive
about San Francisco, its music, and queer life. In about 2 minutes, I got a fabulous blurb perfect for any travel brochure—probably “stolen” from a travel brochure.
I honed in and added the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.
https://tinyurl.com/2s4p76jp
Wow. I got the most perfect synopsis of the chorus, its history and present. It was perfect, if a little Wikapedia-esque. Still, nothing interesting, so I added San Francisco, leather, drag, queer, fetish. Again, a perfect overview suitable for all ages. It at least included the Oasis and Folsom Street Fair!
The AI entities were smart. They did their work in the blink of an eye. They were perfectly written from a grammar, syntax, spelling perspective. They were well “thought” out. But, in the end, they just weren’t real. There was not a hint of individualism or, goddess forbid, humor. There was nothing to draw you in or keep you interested. So, at least for the time being, my conclusion is that real is better. Much better.
There is obviously one thing AI can’t do: stream of consciousness, my favorite pastime!
This venture made me ponder the “Is It Real or Memorex” commercial from the 1980s where we were challenged to decipher between live performance or cassette recordings; much like my test of live vs. AI.
There were many days, as recordings were perfected, when it was feared that audiences would no longer want to see or hear live performances. Why would they when they had perfection at home, in their
the data. I also know this from firsthand experience since my partner is a singer/songwriter. A large part of his income from 2010 to 2020 was in CD sales on his tours. That has dried up and streaming has done immeasurable financial damage to all independent artists.
The data is startling, and it has changed drastically over the last decades. Of course, the huge decline is due to (not thanks to) digital music and streaming. There is also the decline in CD sales because computers and cars stopped putting those little horizontal slits in their products.
This is fascinating:
• Vinyl records held up to 75% market share from 1973–1985.
• 8-track tapes held a 25% market share between 1973 and 1976 and fell to 0% by 1982, killed off by the arrival of cassettes.
• Cassettes outsold LPs in 1984 and maintained 50% between 1984–1989, killed off by CDs.
• The first CD produced was August 17, 1982. It was ABBA’s The Visitors
• CD sales began to rise in 1983 overtaking LPs in 1987 and cassettes in 1991.
destruction and mutation, the music formats got better, cheaper, more widely available, and more convenient.
All this brought me to pondering how things do indeed rise and fall in popularity and usage. I’m thinking I’ll write an entire article about the things we use in daily life that have been killed off by new-fangled inventions! But, in the end, I guess we chalk it up to progress. I didn’t have enough space here to visit the visual side of things: VHS, Beta, DVDs, and streaming. It does no good to long for the old 8-track days any more than it does to pine away for simpler times of the milk man and rotary phones.
I will, however, grieve a bit for the landfills all over the world littered with vinyl, 8-tracks, cassettes, and CDs. We are sadly a disposable lot. In the end, regardless of what has happened to our methods of delivering music to listeners, I hope and pray we don’t ever give up on humans writing and singing and playing live and in person.
With my recent attempt with AI, I think my “job” writing articles is secure.
Dr. Tim Seelig is the Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.
San Francisco Bay Times: These are organizations that you are personally involved in, is that right?
Dan Ashley: Exactly right. I have supported these beneficiaries for many years and serve on the boards of some of them.
Organizations like Court Appointed Special Advocates, which helps children removed from their homes because of abuse and/or neglect.
Dan Ashley: I’ve been so fortunate to have some remarkable artists perform at this event. We started with Eddie Money, then REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Melissa Etheridge, Patti LaBelle, and Rick Springfield, who performed literally one week before the COVID-19 lockdown. A week later, we couldn’t have done it. The next two years we did wonderful virtual events with Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones, who has been a friend of mine for fifteen years or more. And last year, a very dear friend, three-time Grammy winner Narada Michael Walden, headlined our online event.
After two years of virtual concerts, long-time ABC7 News anchor Dan Ashley is back with an in-person charity event to benefit Bay Area children in need. The San Francisco Bay Times recently asked Ashley to share more information about the upcoming fundraiser.
San Francisco Bay Times: Dan, what is Rock the CASA all about?
Dan Ashley: Rock the CASA is a 501c3 nonprofit charity that I started about ten years ago to raise money to support a variety of causes that help underserved children in need here in the Bay Area.
Also, Friends of Camp Concord (FOCC), which sends kids to summer camp at Lake Tahoe, all expenses paid. In the 27 years that I’ve hosted a golf tournament for FOCC, we’ve sent 12,000 kids to camp. I am a long-time board member of both of those organizations. Also benefiting from Rock the CASA are Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area and Boys and Girls Club of Contra Costa.
San Francisco Bay Times: So, Rock the CASA raises not just money but also awareness for those causes with an annual concert. You’ve had some amazing headliners over the years.
1. Jett has three albums that have been certified platinum or gold.
2. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
3. Jett is a vegetarian who supports many animal rights groups such as Farm Sanctuary, PETA, and the W.O.L.F. Sanctuary. She has also supported the American Heart Association the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and numerous other nonprofits and groups.
4. She is mostly a self-taught musician, as she did not relate to the folk music that her guitar teacher focused on when she was in school. That turned out to be a good decision, per the next fact here.
5. Rolling Stone magazine in 2007 named Jett one of the top 100 rock and roll guitarists of all time.
6. She was kicked out of operatic vocal lessons due to her then controversial, edgy clothing, and later became a fashion icon.
San Francisco Bay Times: But this year, you’re back in person. We were excited to see that, and to hear about your latest headliner.
Dan Ashley: It really is [exciting]. We will be back at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on April 15 with a rock icon: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts!
San Francisco Bay Times: That’s a great get! What do people need to do to get tickets?
Dan Ashley: First, don’t wait. They’re going fast! For tickets and additional information, just go to: https://rockthecasa.org/ See you at the show!
7. When her earlier band The Runaways toured Japan, they were such a hit that they outsold recordings released by supergroups at the time, such as ABBA and Kiss.
8. When she did not gain support for her solo work from major record companies, Jett founded her own record label, Blackheart Records, in 1980.
9. Jett used her independent record label to promote early hip hop artists, such as groundbreaking hip hop pioneer Big Daddy Kane.
10. Among her tattoos is one on her back, of a labrys, which is often used as a symbol of lesbian and female empowerment.
Joan Jett’s and the Blackhearts on the net: https://www.joanjett.com/
The 66th San Francisco International Film Festival opens April 13 with a screening of Stephen Curry: Underrated, a documentary about the Golden State Warriors point guard, and closes April 23 with Boots Riley’s I’m a Virgo, which stars Jharrel Jerome as a
home to the countryside to attend her homophobic father’s funeral. Estranged from her family, she sets out to claim her inheritance hoping to pay for her gender-reassignment surgery.
The San Francisco International Film Festival 2023 will also give audiences the opportunity to see L’Immensità prior to its May theatrical release. Set in 1970s Rome, this drama has Clara (Penélope Cruz) navigating life with her three children.
The eldest, Adriana (Luana Giuliani), is dressing and identifying as Andrew and his
documentary, Invisible Beauty, about the groundbreaking career of Black fashion model and activist Bethann Hardison.
The various shorts programs include a quartet of queer films: And Then I Was Here, about a genderqueer parent; No More Longing, about a musician starting testosterone; The Melting Creatures, about a transwoman and her daughter; and How to Carry Water, which showcases
Other honorees at the fest include Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith, who will screen their film The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, and Mary Harron, whose film Dalíland, about the surrealist artist (Ben Kingsley), will have its U.S. premiere.
The beauty of a film festival is the opportunity to watch films that might never be shown elsewhere. Here are a half-dozen non-LGBT titles to consider:
Against the Tide is a lovely documentary about two friends who are fisherman in India. One seeks quick money
who ends up working for a couple (Noé Hernández and Diana Sedano) who might be able to provide her with a better life.
Two films from Mexico depict men being coaxed out of their ruts. Love & Mathematics is a charming, offbeat quasi-romance about Billy (Roberto Quijano), a once-famous singer befriending his new neighbor, Monica (Diana Bovio), while Martinez has the set-in-his-ways, 60-something title character (Francisco Reyes) fighting against retirement. This deadpan character study features strong performances from Reyes and Humberto Busto, the young employee who is hired to replace Martinez.
13-foot-tall Black man in Oakland. In between there are dozens of films worthy of attention.
There are a trio of features that depict trans characters.
Something You Said Last Night is an auspicious debut by trans femme filmmaker Luis De Filippis about Ren (Carmen Madonia), a young, unemployed transwoman on vacation with her younger sister Sienna (Paige Evans), and their parents, Mona (Ramona Milano) and Guido (Joe Parro). De Filippis captures the family dynamics through shrewd, claustrophobic framing and scenes that present the characters in both intimate and intense moments. Something You Said Last Night immerses viewers in these characters’ lives and their minidramas, and the dialogue reveals how the ties that bind sometimes strangle.
Peafowl, from South Korea, has Myung (Chois Hae-jun) returning
behavior prompts whispers and disapproval. However, Andrew finds his strength in asserting his masculinity without shame or fear. Giuliani is terrific capturing Andrew’s internal conflict, and Cruz is, as expected, divine.
Two documentaries also feature queer content: Hummingbirds, about two best friends—filmmakers Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and Estefanía “Beba” Contreras, in Laredo, TX— and Joan Baez: I Am a Noise, a documentary portrait of the singer/ activist that includes her struggles with anxiety and depression. Baez is expected to attend the screening.
In addition, out gay filmmaker Frédéric Tcheng presents his new
the “Southern, queer, non-binary, fat photographer and artist,” Shoog McDaniel.
One noteworthy event is an award for documentarian Mark Cousins, who will present his films, The March on Rome, about a Mussolini’s rise to power and the legacy of fascism, and My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock, which examines the filmmaker’s life and work through film clips and commentary.
through dangerous business; the other tries to prevail the old-fashioned way.
Bad Press is a galvanizing documentary about the trials and tribulations of Mvskoke Media journalists who are fighting for freedom of the press, something not guaranteed to Tribal nations.
Daughter of Rage, from Nicaragua, is an absorbing drama about a young girl living with her mother in poverty
And lastly, another film with a local connection, Freemont, is a luminously shot (in black and white) lowkey comedy-drama about Donya (Anaita Wali Zada), whose boring life gets a boost when she gets promoted at the fortune cookie factory where she works. But it is her connection with a mechanic (Jeremy Allen White) that really gives her a new outlook on life. For tickets, showtimes, and additional information, visit https://tinyurl.com/y7ysj4fe
© 2023 Gary M. Kramer
Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @garymkramer
Sister Dana sez, “April showers bring May flowers—but enough with the FLOODS already!”
The legendary Cockettes, featuring original Cockette Scrumbly Koldewyn, emerged to give us COCKETTES: RES-ERECTION, a colorful musical mayhem revue featuring both new songs and classic Cockettes numbers. Assistant Director/performer Birdie-Bob Watt and Producer Dan Karkoska made all this possible. This was not your typical drag show that the rightwing Repugnicans rage against; this was a professional singing, dancing, tapping, teasing, vamping, X-rated cabaret that made you cheer, laugh, and maybe cry a little. Also performing were Jordan “Sunshine” Bontrager, Matt Bratko, Noah Haydon, Christian Heppinstall, Kitten On The Keys, Carl Linkhart, Steven Satyricon, Aaren Shari-ah Smith, Bonni Suval, and more. The fun happened March 23, 24, and 25 at OASIS. And I am particularly pleased to announce they are taking the show to NYC in September. Meanwhile, catch the Cockettes at the Sisters’ Easter in the Park extravaganza!
We Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are celebrating EASTER IN DOLORES PARK on Sunday, April 9. This is the second year returning to an in-person event—again in lovely, spacious, very green Dolores Park. Easter also marks the 44th anniversary of The Sisters, who started when a couple of gay men donned nuns’ habits and went to the Castro on a lark, and thereafter realized there was a need for nondenominational and nonjudgmental ministry.
This year’s theme, “PEEP SHOW,” will explore all the permutations from sugary sweets to North Beach diversions. Showing off our “family values,” the day will begin at 10 am
with Children’s Easter—featuring a special appearance by the Easter bunny, an Easter egg hunt, story time, and other family friendly activities. At the conclusion of Children’s Easter, the community should be advised that the show becomes more adult oriented as the day progresses. While nudity and profanity are prohibited, some parents may find the content objectionable for children under 16 years of age. Of course, there will be plenty of drag on display, so if you are the least bit dragphobic, you should stay home and pout.
At noon, San Francisco trans activist, performer, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Honey Mahogany will take the Main Stage to host a variety show full of fierce performers, surprise guests, and sister miracles. This year’s lineup features San Francisco favorites Connie Champagne, Kitten on the Keys, Polesexual, Baloney, THE COCKETTES featuring Steven Satyricon, Trixxie Carr, and a Drag Revue starring Linda Summers, Christina Ashton, Nikita Vega, Theresa Giudcoochie, and Tony OMFG!
Throughout the day, the audience will take center stage as they show off their Easter spirit competing in the colorful Easter Bonnet contest. And, of course, Easter in Dolores Park would not be complete without the world-famous Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary contests. The contests (traditionally judged by Sister Roma and yours truly) are open to all! Potential contestants are asked to arrive wearing their Easter bonnet, Foxy Mary or Hunky Jesus looks, and line up backstage when the contest is announced from the main stage. There will be an initial screening process to determine which contestants are most divinely fabulous and invited to move on to the stage. Our event is free, although we nuns always encourage donations that allow us to continue doing our good works and giving to worthy charities.
Sister Dana sez, “Happy Easter, everyone—and I’ll see all you peeps in The Park!”
Several hundred San Francisco students and their allies joined a nationwide walkout on March 31 to stand with queer and trans youth protesting conservative attacks on LGBTQ youth rights. SAN FRANCISCO LGBTQ WALKOUT, held on national TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY, assembled
protesters at Patricia’s Green in Hayes Valley before marching to City Hall. Supervisor Matt Dorsey and noted trans advocate Honey Mahogany were among the emotional speakers.
San Francisco drag icon, founder of Oasis nightclub, and community leader Heklina passed away on April 3 while in London with fellow drag performer Peaches Christ in the parody, Mommie Queerest. Rest in peace and power, dear friend Heklina.
Hunter Harvey’s “GO WEST” is currently on display at Schlomer Haus Gallery, 2128 Market Street. Many art works in this show reimagine iconic characters from American pop culture. Through painting, these characters are seen as queer heroes navigating their own personal journeys toward a better world out West. https://schlomerhaus.com/
CASTRO ART MART, which features LGBTQ artists, live music, and drag performances every 1st Sunday of the month, is on May 7, Noe Street @ Market Street (next to the Lookout Bar) 11–5 pm. https://artyhoodsf.com/
San Francisco AIDS Foundation/ STRUT at 470 Castro Street will be exhibiting “QUEER GARDEN” on April 7, 8–10 pm. This is the Art Opening and Reception for the work of JESSJAE. The artist’s name is Jessalyn Ragus, but mostly goes by the art name JesseJae. They moved to San Francisco from a small farming community in the Central Valley in 2011, received a BFA in art from AAU in 2015, and have been working in freelance art ever since. “I am mostly known for my collaged Erotic Tarot Deck, the ‘Tarot Erotique’ and work as a Tarot reader, tattoo artist, printmaker, and painter in acrylic, watercolor and oil,” says JessJae. https://www.sfaf.org/
We members of KREWE DE KINQUE (the social, charitable Mardi Gras-themed club) are overjoyed to announce our anniversary celebration, BAL MASQUE XX on April 15, 6 pm at The Café in the Castro, 2369 Market Street. Costumes, masks, and beads are always heartily encouraged. KDK King & Queen XIX, Mark Hankins, Jr., and Tawdry Hepburnn, invite you to celebrate this year›s Masked Ball—with a spectacular San Francisco-themed, costumed tableaux show, state-of-the-art
(continued on page 36)
Hard for Your Story.” Please enjoy his words here about this year’s noteworthy SAS:
I had planned to attend my first Saints and Sinners Literary Festival for LGBTQ+ Writers in 2020 only to have life get in the way, as we so often say these days, but I finally made it in 2023, just in time to celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary. Much has happened in our world in those three years, but among the many joys of
Michele Karlsberg: The Saints + Sinners Festival (SAS), an annual LGBTQ+ literary festival, ran concurrently with The Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival from March 24-26, 2023, marking its 20th year. Founded by Paul Willis, Greg Herren, and Jean Redmann in collaboration with NO/AIDS Task Force in 2003, SAS began as a creative outlet to showcase the vibrant and diverse LGBTQ+ literary community and offer HIV/AIDS information. The festival celebrates New Orleans as
being a longstanding attraction for LGBTQ+ writers and offers established and emerging authors, as well as students and readers, the chance to network and nurture their craft—and enjoy the joy and fun that is The Big Easy.
When I heard that Gary Eldon Peter would be attending the 20th anniversary festivities, I reached out to see if he would write about this extraordi-
I Have Some Questions for You (fiction - hardbound) by Rebecca Makkai
This is a thought-provoking novel about a successful film professor and podcaster who is compelled to dig into the murder of a high school classmate. It gathers power with every page. Part murder mystery, part campus novel, I Have Some Questions for You is a timely page turner that focuses on racial prejudice, sexual misconduct, the cancel culture, and the inconsistencies of memory.
Hell Followed with Us ( fiction - hardbound) by Andrew Joseph White
A furious, queer debut novel about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors, this is perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Annihilation. Sixteenyear-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him—the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can’t get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with. When cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center.
The Purpose of Power (nonfiction - paperback) by Alicia Garza
Long before #BlackLivesMatter became a rallying cry for this generation, Garza had spent the better part of two decades learning and unlearning some hard lessons about organizing. The lessons she offers are different from the “rules for radicals” that animated earlier generations of activists, and diverge from the charismatic, patriarchal model of the American civil rights movement. She reflects instead on how making room amongst the woke for those who are still awakening can inspire and activate more people to fight for the world we all deserve. This is the story of one
nary LGBTQ literary gathering. His debut novel, The Complicated Calculus (and Cows) of Carl Paulsen, winner of the 2020 Acheven Book Prize for Young Adult Fiction, was published by Fitzroy Books/ Regal House in 2022. As part of the conference, Peter read from his novel and took part in two literary conversations, “Y/A Fiction: Challenges and Opportunities” and “Creating Credible Worlds: Settings That Work
https://www.fabulosabooks.com/
woman’s lessons through years of bringing people together to create change from the mind and heart behind one of the most important movements of our time.
Upcoming Events
Saturday April 15 @ 1 pm (free - Corte Madera store) Felicia Gaston, author of A Brand New Start ... This Is Home This night’s featured book documents Marin City’s founding as a shipbuilding community during WWII, as workers migrated from the American South & Midwest to create Marin County’s only Black enclave. This book focuses mainly on housing and social challenges from 1942 to the present day, showing the community’s fierce strength and resilience.
Sunday, April 16 @ 2 pm (free - SF Ferry Building)
Kirthana Ramisetti, author of Advika and the Hollywood Wives From Kirthana Ramisetti, the author of Dava Shastri’s Last Day, comes Advika and the Hollywood Wives, a gripping tale of marriage, scandal, fame, and identity as a woman grapples with life as the new wife of a renowned Hollywood film producer—perfect for readers of Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Wednesday, April 19 @ 5 pm (free - Ferry Building store)
Avgi Saketopoulou, author of Sexuality Beyond Consent
Arguing that we have become culturally obsessed with healing trauma, Sexuality Beyond Consent calls attention to what traumatized subjects do with their pain. The erotics of racism offers a paradigmatic example of how what is proximal to violation may become an unexpected site of flourishing. Central to the transformational possibilities of trauma is a queer form of consent, limit consent, that is not about guarding the self but about risking experience. Dr. Saketopoulou thereby shows why sexualities beyond consent may be worth risking—and how risk can solicit the future.
https://www.bookpassage.com/
attending—the chance to experience a bit of New Orleans in the spring high among them—first and foremost was seeing for myself that the LGBTQ+ literary world is not only surviving these tumultuous and challenging times but also thriving. The vibrant French Quarter, home to SAS, and the warm and sultry weather were the perfect antidote to my long and stubborn Minnesota
By Debra Morris
Ever wondered why shells on chicken eggs are different colors? Some really beautifully-colored eggs can be found at your farmers’ market.
The shells range in color from the usual white, to shades of cream, tan, and brown, to light and dark turquoise.
A chicken’s genes determine the eggshell color. You can tell what color of egg they will lay by looking at their earlobes. A hen has earlobes, you say? Never thought about it? Yes, even though their ears are covered with feathers, the chicken’s earlobes are visible and come in different colors. Whitefeathered chickens with white earlobes lay white eggs. Red or brown chickens with red earlobes lay brown eggs. Blue to green chicken eggs come from the Aracuana, a breed of chicken developed in Chile. Araucanas have also been crossed with other breeds to produce the Americauna, sometimes called the “Easter egg chicken” because of multicolored eggs.
The color of a chicken’s feathered coat is irrelevant to the color of eggs; chickens actually come in a wide range of shapes, colors, and sizes that run the gamut from the strange-looking Frizzled Cochin to the sleek black and white Lakenvelders. Originally, all chicken eggs were probably brown. Over time, selective breeding for white eggs became the norm. It wasn’t until the late 20th century when brown eggs were reintroduced, and then came the return
(continued on page 36)
1 small potato
1 scallion
2 eggs
¼ cup milk
1 pat of butter
1 tablespoon cream cheese
Pinch of salt
Microwave potato on high for 4 to 5 minutes. Allow the potato to cool for at least 2 minutes, then test for doneness. Cut the potato into bite-sized pieces and slice 1 teaspoon of scallions; reserve these to add to the scramble.
Scrambled Eggs
Crack eggs into a bowl. Add ¼ cup milk and a pinch of salt. Using a fork, break all the yolks, and whisk the mixture until it is all the same color and consistency. Add cream cheese and incorporate it into the eggs with your fork. Heat a skillet to medium heat and add a pat of butter. Using your spatula, move the butter around and coat the pan with butter. When it starts to sizzle, add chopped potato and scallion.
Add a pinch of salt and pour in the egg mixture. Keep moving the eggs and use a spatula to keep the eggs off the side of the pan. You want it to be silky, but you don’t want to undercook it so it’s too soggy. You don’t want to overcook your eggs. They will get dry and start to clump up. Pull your pan from the heat and serve.
Looking for a neighborhood restaurant gem that’s worthy can often be a challenge. There are numerous “grab and go” places, or the fine dining options, but often not something in between. It’s hard to find a place where you can sip a wellmade cocktail, sit down, and be served a proper meal that’s well prepared.
So, when Luna Park closed in the Mission District, there was a moment of mourning for the loss of a great American bistro within walking distance of many residents. Thankfully, reincarnation does exist! The new Luna Bar & Restaurant has risen from the
ashes on Valencia Street. It’s a more contemporary culinary adventure from a pedigreed team, the owners of Wayfare Tavern. And yes, the venue still offers an affordable and tasty repast for lunch, brunch, happy hour, or dinner.
The experience starts at the door with Danny, your welcoming host and manager. The atmosphere is boisterous and fun, which at times could get loud. But it’s all part of the ambience, which makes the experience entertaining. The inviting bar, with an illuminated and elevated liquor shelf, lines the first half of the restaurant along the right side, tempting diners to sit and interact. Further back in the eatery, there are warm, maroon interiors that are punctuated by red leather banquettes accented by provocative contemporary art on the walls.
Chef Michelle Mathews has accomplished something unique: making elevated American comfort food more interesting with an Asian twist that surprises and delights. It’s no wonder. Her stints include such notable New York mainstays as Picholine (a Gay Gourmet favorite), and Daniel. Prior to helming the kitchen at Luna, she also worked at San Francisco’s Kaiyo. She keeps a watchful eye on the kitchen, but Luna is the kind of place where Chef Michelle amicably enjoys serving patrons when the restaurant is busy (which is often).
Creative cocktails like a hibiscus margarita and a “gin thang (with watermelon, cucumber and lime)” populate the clever beverage menu. We opted instead for a straight up Chopin gin martini (perfectly executed) and the Skylark Pinot Blanc from Mendocino (dry and crisp, with hints of minerality).
Moving to the salads, I don’t know why warm bacon dressing went out of style. It’s one of the most satisfying accompaniments to greens, mixing hot and cold, savory, and crunchy. Luna does a winter green chicories salad with goat cheese, a soft-boiled egg, buttery homemade croutons, and the aforementioned bacon (with mild anchovy) dressing. It could be a delicious light meal in and of itself.
Next, we shared the juicy pork skewers, which sported a zing of mango and cilantro: a surprising and tangy combination with enough heat to make them sing. For our mains, we shared one of the city’s best fried chicken offerings. This one is not your mom’s: it’s Koji marinated with gochujang, sesame, and scallions—a hot Korean sauce that I could eat every day.
We sampled the Reuben, which instead of coleslaw sported a kimchi slaw, with the expected and deliciously moist brisket, Swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing. It’s an unpredictable but delectable mixture of East and West. Thankfully, the accompanying French fries were extra crispy—the way Mother Nature intended.
The menu also offers a whole fish special, with orange, pistachio, lime salsa verde, chili oil, and salt. We didn’t try it, but it looked eminently appetizing and the neighbors dining to our left raved about it. Also on offer are a tempting Luna burger, poutine, and a local king salmon. For dessert, we opted for the crème brûlée with orange blossom—a taste of spring in your mouth. It’s another example of Chef Michelle’s inventiveness. She takes a normal dish like crème brûlée, and makes it original with an ingredient that’s refreshing and new.
Also, a round of applause for server extraordinaire Daniela, who takes care of every need with aplomb, knowledge, and a friendly flair.
In short, Luna Bar & Kitchen is a great find. And, it’s a first-class
neighborhood destination, wherever you live.
Bits and Bites
I had the pleasure recently of sampling some of the best and most elegant Italian wines on the market today, from a family-run winery in Verona called Sartori Di Verona (which means “tailor” in Italian).
Paired expertly with a tasty luncheon from the new-ish Ula Restaurant & Tapas Bar in Union Square, the wines truly demonstrated their ability to bring out the best in a variety of culinary offerings.
Known for their full-bodied Amarones, Sartori has just released a complex and delicious new white wine, the 2020 Sartori “Marani” Bianco Veronese. As a wine afficionado who prefers clean and mineral white wines, this 13.5% wine is, according to the winemaker, “a white Amarone with broad shoulders.” This full-bodied but approachable vino from Garganega grapes is
fermented only slightly in barrels, so it doesn’t taste oak-y. A yummy zucchini and crab croquette, along with a side of crispy Brussels sprouts, complemented the wine perfectly.
The winery’s 2018 Sartori
“Regolo” Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso (named for the winemaker’s grandfather) is best described as a “baby Amarone.” It’s a mixture of Corvina Veronese, Corvinone, and Rondinella grapes. At 13.5% alcohol, it packs a punch, but in a smooth and resonant way. A fettuccine arrabbiata with olive tapenade brought out the best in this robust, yet refined, wine.
Sartori’s stars, the 2016 “Reius” Amarone Classico and 2013
“Corte Bra” Amarone Classico Riserva, showed their versatility as a great companion to the restaurant’s seared tuna (with dried fruit compote), as well as the lamb shank with red wine jus and mushroom risotto with asparagus and gorgonzola. These wines are sophisticated and classic, with both muscularity (15% alcohol), and dignity. Most of all, they’re tasty. Sartori wines are available at Ula restaurant and also online through Total Wines, BevMo, and Wine.com.
I’m hearing good things about Coho, the new seafood restaurant that took over the old Vasco space in Mill Valley. The masterminds are Luigi Petrone and Felicia Ferguson, the children of Paolo and Domenico Petrone (who started Piazza D’Angelo, and who also operate Spoonbar and Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg).
In the “how clever yet local category,” The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco’s lounge has launched new creative libations that represent a selection of iconic neighborhoods in the city. Cocktail offerings include: Negroni Sevillano (representing North Beach and made with Tanqueray Sevilla, Spanish vermouth, Campari, and orange bitters in a Riedel Rocks glass); Good Fortune (representing Chinatown and made with Tanqueray Rangpur, kumquat/ ginger syrup, ginger liquor, and lime in a Vampire cup glass); and In Love With
Karl (representing “Karl the Fog” and the Golden Gate Bridge and made with Belvedere, red grape and hibiscus syrup, germaine elderflower liquor, aquafaba, and lemon juice in a Riedel coupe glass).
I’m also glad to see there’s a planned rebirth of the famed Café Flore in the Castro. Who hasn’t spent many an hour idling the day away over a strong cappuccino at this pleasant indoor/outdoor corner café at Noe and Market? New owner Serhat Zorlu plans to reopen in the coming months as a sustainable seafood restaurant called Fisch and Flore
Luna Bar & Restaurant: https://tinyurl.com/yc5dsazk
Sartori Di Verona: https://tinyurl.com/3sjb6can
Ula Restaurant & Tapas Bar: https://tinyurl.com/y7bvjjur
Coho: https://tinyurl.com/w8vwxm76
The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco: https://tinyurl.com/yyn9ybvy
Fisch and Flore: https://tinyurl.com/3fddcfmj
David Landis, aka “The Gay Gourmet,” is a foodie, a freelance writer, and a retired PR maven. Follow him on Instagram @ GayGourmetSF or email him at: davidlandissf@gmail.com Or visit him online at: www.gaygourmetsf.com
When a candidate campaigns to become a Grand Duke or Grand Duchess, there is always a representation of colors that allows voters to know whom they are voting for. In most cases, candidates will also have a “catchphrase” and a coronation theme for their step-down. Here is a look back at what those were from 2005–2009.
2005–2006
The 33rd Royal House of New Beginnings and Old Traditions
Grand Duke XXXII Robert Charles
Romanoff (deceased)
Colors: black, blue, silver
Symbol: black leather panther
Favorite Saying: “Dirt”
Grand Duchess XXXIII Colette Le
Grande
Colors: pink, purple, silver
Symbol: platinum brick
Favorite Saying: “Dust”
Coronation Theme: “The Royal Family Returns from Exile”
This Royal House consisted of Regent Monarchs. What is a Regent Monarch, you may ask? A Regent Monarch is someone—usually from within the organization appointed by the Council—who ensures that the current year’s Monarchy runs successfully until the new Monarchs are elected.
2006–2007
The 34th Royal House of Million Mirrors and Broadway Lights
Grand Duke XXXIII Brian Busta
Colors: ruby and diamond
Symbol: shiny disco ball
Grand Duchess XXXIV Renita Valdez
Colors: purple, gold, red
Symbol: burrito bombshell
Coronation Theme: “A Grand Winter Ball at the Hermitage”
Grand Duke Brian Busta is an extremely talented individual. During his reign, Brian would not only design and make their reign’s gay pride float, but he would also design and make their coronation step-down sets. Brian and Renita would perform a Wizard of Oz themed number, for which they received standing ovations. Renita shared, “I told Brian, this is your year to shine, seeing that this was my second time around as Grand Duchess.”
During their reign they would support one of Brian’s best friends, Anaconda, who ran a monthly monster show at the Cinch that featured a great cast and unusual performances. Along with the 33rd Royal House, Grand Duke Brian and Grand Duchess Renita would work together to bring The Grand Ducal Council to the forefront of community news once again. They crowned the 35th Royal House, which expanded the Ducal Council that brought in the House of Glitter.
2007–2008
The 35th Royal House of the Positive Court of Rubies and Diamonds
Grand Duke XXXIV Oliver with a Twist
Colors: ruby and diamond
Symbol: ruby cock
Grand Duchess: XXXV Big D
(deceased)
Colors: red and white
Symbol: 36 karat diamond
Coronation Theme: A Tale of Three Russian Cities”
Grand Duchess Big D was one of the most beloved Grand Duchesses within the organization and within our community. Big D was renowned for her skill as a seamstress. She was also a spectacular wig designer and make-up artist in the LGBTQI+ communities with both Imperial and Ducal Monarchs often presenting her designs and talents at drag shows, fundraisers, coronations, and at other events.
2008–2009
The 36th Royal House of the Abzolute Latin Duke and the Native American Golden Goddess of Glitter
Grand Duke XXXV Carlos Medal
Romanoff
Colors: blue, black, red
Always Saying: “I am innocent and angelic”
Grand Duchess: XXXVI Landa Lakes
Color: royal blue
Symbol: sunshine, leather flag, rainbow medicine wheel
Favorite Saying: “Let’s not wear the crowns”
Coronation Theme: “Russian Booty or Treasure Chest”
This reign would anchor the Grand Ducal Council into years of prosperity and community service, which still remain to date as a pillar of sustainability within LGBTQI+ communities.
Grand Duchess Landa Lakes is the Mother of the House of Glitter. She is a Chickasaw writer, musician, activist, and artist. She founded drag performance groups in San Francisco, including the Two-Spirit Native American drag troupe, the Brush Arbor Gurlz, and the creative and campy House of Glitter. She is also the West Coast Mother of the Vogue House of Lauren, International, and is the recipient of the national pageant title Jewel of the Galaxy. Her notable honors include the New York Fresh Fruit Festival Performance Award and the KQED LGBT Local Hero Award. She has served on the Grand Ducal Council Executive Board, and has received many awards within the council for her service, Landa Lakes served many years as Co-Chair of the Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) and remains on the Board. Landa has chaired the BAAITS Two-Spirit Powwow protocol committee since its creation 12 years ago. She also co-founded the Weaving Spirits Native Art Festival. It is noted that Grand Duke Carlos Medal Romanoff and Grand Duchess Landa Lakes were the very last Royal House to have their coronation at the famous Cathedral Hill Hotel on Van Ness before it was torn down.
On September 22, 2023, the Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco will celebrate 50 years of Camp and Fundraising. The celebration will take place at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Please consider becoming a sponsor.
Inquiries: 50thanniversary@sfducal.org
Tickets ($60) are on sale through August 25, 2023, with a hard stop on that final date. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime historic event!
https://www.sfducal.org/
Kippy Marks is Grand Duke XL of The Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco. He is the first ever elected African-American Grand Duke.
SISTER DANA (continued from pg 28)
lights and sound, and festive decor. Earn some beads on the dance floor with DJ Sergio Fedasz & hot Go-Go dancers bumping up the party. The Celebrity Grand Marshal will lead a Second Line Parade, and the new King & Queen XX will be crowned. Bid on exciting silent auction items, take a chance on great raffle prizes, enjoy Jell-O shots, the fab drink special, and full bar service. Proceeds will benefit the LGBTQ+ Ukraine Emergency Fund managed by locally-based RAINBOW WORLD FUND assisting LGBTQ Ukrainians in and out of the country. BTW, our masked ball theme is “The 415,” the beloved area code of our origin. “Let the Good Times Roll!”
https://tinyurl.com/415Party2023
The March SOMA SECOND
SATURDAYS—a joint project of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District, Folsom Street, and the SOMA West Community Benefit District—had to be cancelled, due to leaking from the severe storm at the Folsom Street Community Center. But they will return to the fresh air on Saturday, April 8, noon to 5 pm. 12th Street, between Folsom and Harrison. Artists! Artisans! Entertainment!
https://www.sflcd.org/
“WOKE” has become the MAGA maggots’ latest boogeyman against Democrats. A study has found that since 2017, the number of times Fox News has used “woke” has grown from double digits (96 times) to triple digits (339 occasions) in 2018, 2019, and 2020; but in 2021 and 2022, the “woke” usage numbers have quadrupled. In 2022, the w-words were stated a mind-boggling 1,087 times!
Sister Dana sez, “Let’s us progressives drop the use of ‘woke’—and if we absolutely must use it, properly turn it to the grammatically correct
‘awakened.’ We need to WAKE up!”
Across the country, state legislatures have been proposing and enacting an increasing number of bills that are harmful to the drag, transgender, and gender-nonconforming communities.
The ACLU is currently tracking 430 anti-LGBTQ bills, fueled by extreme right-wing politicians, media, churches, and more. These bills target everything from what can be said and taught in schools, to which books can be read, to banning drag performances, and banning genderaffirmative care for trans youth. The cumulative effect is dangerous, as it affects the physical and mental health of trans people, the safety and livelihoods of drag artists, and the basic rights of LGBTQ people everywhere.
Therefore, DRAG UP! FIGHT BACK! on April 8 is a rally and march in support of the drag, trans, and gender-nonconforming communities, and a call to action to stop the hatred being directed toward them.
The Rally begins at 11 am at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton Goodlett Place, and the March begins from City Hall at noon, then proceeds to Union Square for performances.
I am so thrilled that in response against “Don’t Say Gay” antiLGBTQ Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the WALT DISNEY COMPANY will host a massive LGBTQ rights OUT & EQUAL CONFERENCE in Central Florida this September 11–14. Sister Dana sez, “That’s so gay, so: say gay!”
Kyrsten Sinema is now fundraising on a Republican website—and she’s doing big money events with Republican donors. It makes sense because Sinema is a hero to Republican donors after watering down the Democratic economic
FARMERS’ MARKET (continued from pg 30)
of those breeds with bluish-colored eggs, although breeders and farmers were obviously familiar with them. Eggs of different colors are essentially identical in flavor, with the taste itself determined by the chicken’s diet. Have you ever cracked open a farm-fresh egg to discover a deep rich yellow yolk? Compare that to the pale-yellow yolks you get in supermarket eggs. Pasture-
WORDS (continued from pg 29)
winter. But more than that, for reasons that I can’t quite explain but anyone who has been to SAS would immediately understand, New Orleans is essential to SAS, and SAS is essential to New Orleans. In other words, it’s impossible to imagine the festival happening anywhere else.
When I studied the festival schedule, I immediately recognized my dilemma: how to be in two or even three places at once? So many great panels and only one of me. How to choose? Whatever I attended, I came away with new perspectives on the rich and varied world of LGBTQ+ literature both past and present, eager to check out fantastic writers I’d never heard of, and grateful for the opportunity to finally hear others I’d long admired discuss their work in person.
I was also honored to be a panelist myself for two discussions, one on the challenges of writing YA work, especially in this age of book banning, and another focusing on the
agenda—raising Pharma prices and giving tax breaks to billionaires and Wall Street. Sister Dana sez, “We knew it was unfortunate that Sinema is openly bisexual, but now we know that unfortunately she is a closeted Republican!”
Now, progressive Arizona Congressman Ruben Gallego is running for Sinema’s seat in the U.S. Senate in Arizona. Ruben voted to keep bank regulations strong and to protect everyday people. He has a long history of fighting for progressive causes and a proven track record of electability in Arizona, a state that proved in 2020 and 2022 that real Democrats can win statewide.
FABULOSA BOOKS, 489 Castro Street, on April 13, 7–9 pm, is having a free reading by Orlando Ortega Medina of his riveting novel THE FITFUL SLEEP OF IMMIGRANTS. Attorney Marc Mendes, the estranged son of a prominent Rabbi and a burned-out lawyer with addiction issues, plots his exit from the big city to a more peaceful life in idyllic Napa Valley. But before he can realize his dream, the U.S. government summons his Salvadoran life-partner Isaac Perez to immigration court, threatening him with deportation. Exciting!
The far-right’s crusade against education has reached a new level.
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION reports a record number of demands to censor library books in 2022: 1,269 demands amounting to a staggering 74% increase from 2021. Sister Dana sez, “Ironically, one of their banned books is ‘FAHRENHEIT 451,’ a book warning against autocrats banning books—the title being the temperature at which books burn. Wow! What a BURN against today’s ‘bad’ book-banning Republicans!”
raised chickens are free to roam and eat insects, grass, and other natural foods in their environment. They are free to consume the dietary minerals they need, which are passed down to the eggs and the shells.
Get your eggs from the Castro Farmers’ Market for the prettiest colors and the best flavor you can find. Visit Clara’s Egg Farm from Watsonville. Compare them to the
role of setting in fiction, both topics near and dear to my writer’s heart. Our conversations were vibrant and wide ranging, the questions from the audience thought provoking and perceptive. To exchange ideas with my fellow panelists and other attendees was, like so many other aspects of the weekend, both formal and informal, invigorating and revitalizing, and made me eager to return to my own work with a fresh perspective.
And then there were the author readings. Each writer has eight minutes to read, and admittedly I was skeptical: how much can you learn about a writer and their work in such a short amount of time? As it turned out, way more than I could have possibly imagined. What I loved most about the readings was the range of writers and experience: icons of the LGBTQ+ literary world with established careers and multiple books sharing space and community with emerging writers reading in
grocery store eggs. We bet you’ll notice the difference in quality and flavor.
Debra Morris is a spokesperson for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA). Check out the PCFMA website for recipes, information about farmers’ markets throughout the region and for much more: https://www.pcfma.org/
public for perhaps only the first or second time.
Before I knew it and much, much too quickly, it was time to say goodbye. The good news is that SAS 2023 won’t be my last, and I can’t wait for SAS 2024, 2025, and even more to follow.
Gary Eldon Peter is the author of two works of fiction: “Oranges,” a short story collection; and “The Complicated Calculus (and Cows) of Carl Paulsen,” a young adult novel. He lives and writes in Saint Paul, Minnesota. You can learn more about him and his work at https://www.garyeldonpeter.com/ Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBTQ+ community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates 34 years of successful marketing campaigns. For more information: ht tps://www micheleka rlsberg com
ARIES (March 21–April 19)
As you’ve shed old layers, you’ve made space for greater good to come into your life. Stay positive and trust your inner guidance. Life is trying to give you a gift. Open yourself to receive.
TAURUS (April 20–May 20)
Your appreciation for beauty reflects your strong resonance with nature. On the mountain top, your perspective widens and your spirit is invigorated. Go listen for earth wisdom to re-inspire your mojo.
It’s time to take a stand and lead ourselves. We are called to charge ahead to create the new destiny. Everything that’s not love must be integrated; digested by love. When we harmonize with our surroundings, we find the way through, and with little struggle.
Elisa Quinzi is a certified professional astrologer who brings a strong spiritual perspective, as well as over 20 years of experience, to her work with clients. Contact her at futureselfnow@gmail.com or at 818-530-3366 with your exact birth time to schedule or to ask questions.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20)
You, Gemini, are often at risk of being distracted by endless stimuli. So, specify the future you want to manifest by outlining a vision you can navigate toward. Ask yourself how good it can get and then bear witness to its unfoldment.
CANCER (June 21–July 22)
The cosmic winds are blowing you in the direction of a cherished goal. Overcome your false sense of self and interrupt a family pattern by charging toward your destiny. Humbly surrender control as needed along the way.
LEO (July 23–August 22)
Your real quest begins now. Trust your intuition; it’s stronger than ever. Life responds in proportion to the degree of faith you have in it. Shine your authentic light and the right audience will be drawn.
VIRGO (August 23–September 22)
Have the courage to expose your real vulnerabilities to another. Your soul craves to be fully seen and accepted. Facing the thing you fear the most will free up massive amounts of creative energy.
“My name is Molly! I am a twelve-year-old female Chihuahua looking for my forever family. I’m a pint-sized princess from the Fresno Humane Society. I’m still discovering for myself that humans are not here to harm me. I’ve been making progress and even like to climb onto the laps of some folks (sans petting for now). As you can see, I am also an intent listener, so if you are seeking a confidante who won’t break your trust, I’m your gal!”
Special Foster to Adopt
The SF SPCA has a special offer for a special dog! Molly has been at the shelter for several months and it’s time to find her forever home. Do you think Molly might be your one and only, but need to make sure she is a good fit first? You can foster Molly to find out! If you’d like to do a week-long foster trial period with Molly, with the end goal of adopting her, please come check her out.
You can also meet Molly virtually before choosing to adopt. For more information, please email adoptions@sfspca.org
LIBRA (September 23–October 22)
Have the courage to ask deeper questions. You can handle the truth. You must. Trust that you can have what you want, and stay true to your ideal.
SCORPIO (October 23–November 21)
Losses are humbling, but they clear space for new energy to come in. Your world has become too small, and the universe wants to give you with abundance. Allow room to expand.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22–December 21)
The wind is in your sails, so take a leap and express your true nature. Creative ventures have support, as well as romantic overtures. As you shine, everyone shines.
CAPRICORN (December 22–January 19)
Now is a great time for optimism in your interactions with family. It is too easy to look at relatives through the same old lens. But as you see the best in them, you will evoke the best in them. Be better to experience better.
AQUARIUS (January 20–February 18)
The atmosphere is ripe for you to utilize the law of attraction. Be intentional with your thoughts and notice how people around you mirror the energy you’re giving out to them. Be generous to receive what your soul craves.
PISCES (February 19–March 20)
Pisces is no stranger to dreaming. But you are not here just to dream. You are also here to bring your deep soulful vision into expression on this earth plane. Value your vision enough to back it with effort and diligence, and not only will you get to enjoy the fruits, but so will so many others. You are needed, Pisces.
Molly
Jeshua and Emma at Fitness SF Transbay
“Accountability is the best aspect of Personal Training. It’s the first step in making real, tangible changes that will vastly improve your life.”
Tore Kelly, Director of Creative & Social Media for Fitness SF, provides monthly tips that he has learned from professional trainers. For more information: https://fitnesssf.com/
Molly is presented to San Francisco Bay Times readers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s CEO. Our thanks also go to Paradise Osorio for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Molly.
To meet Molly in person, visit the SF SPCA Mission Campus @ 201 Alabama Street. It is open for appointments from 10 am–6 pm (Monday–Wednesday, Friday–Sunday) and 1 pm–6 pm on Thursdays.
For more information: https://www.sfspca.org/adoptions/
The Castro Art Mart, held on the first Sunday of each month, has been described as a “mini block party” where neighbors, friends, and families gather to peruse and shop. The event, organized by the Castro Merchants Association, happens 11 am–5 pm on Noe Street between Market and Beaver Streets (next to Lookout), and features LGBTQ artists, live music, and drag performances. It is a no smoking event. Upcoming dates for it are May 7, June 4, and July 2. https://tinyurl.com/34n5wk53
presented by http://sfbaytimes.com/
Captivating artist Fyodor Pavlov pays tribute to the seminal Smith-Waite Tarot Deck® imagery by creating a hand-painted tarot deck in watercolor and ink that is informed by his personal queer and trans experiences. The result is a tarot deck that is familiar and timeless while exploring new and diverse representations of gender, sexuality, and culture. Pavlov
introduces queer and non-binary identities while staying true to the canonical
The only thing that makes a murder mystery better is drag queens.
Dragatha Christie Murder Mystery for $29.99.
Each hair clip from Solar Eclipse is made of individually cut and handpainted acetate pieces. These clips are made of cellulose acetate, an eco-friendly, biodegradable material made from recycled wood pulp. Assorted shapes and styles from $5.99 to $21.99.
https://cliffsvariety.com/
ince our founding in 1936, Cliff’s Variety has been constantly growing and evolving in response to the needs of our customers. Our buyers strive to keep our selection fresh, on-trend, and competitive. We carry the best of everything from hardware & tools to cookware, garden supplies, toys, crafts, and gifts. We also offer re-keying and lock repair, knife sharpening, glass, acrylic & wood cutting. Light fabrication, pipe threading, and cable crimping are among the many other services we offer at Cliff›s Variety. If your project has gone a little beyond your abilities, we’re here to help.
