San Francisco Bay Times - August 10, 2017

August 10 - 23, 2017 | sfbaytimes.com

Prepare for Battle, President Trump –Felicia “Flames” Elizondo

RESIST

PHOTO BY KARYN SKULTETY FOR OPENHOUSE

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In the News Compiled by Dennis McMillan NCLR and GLAD File Lawsuit Challenging Trump’s Directive to Ban Trans Military Service On August 9, Lawyers from the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging President Trump’s directive to reinstate a ban on transgender people serving in the military. The suit, Doe v. Trump, was filed on behalf of 5 transgender service members with nearly 60 years of combined military service. It rests on claims of equal protection, due process and estoppel, based on the inequity of the reversal of military policy after thousands of service members followed protocol and informed their chain of command that they are transgender. In addition to NCLR and GLAD, the plaintiffs in Doe v. Trump are represented by lawyers from Foley, Hoag LLP and WilmerHale. The full complaint may be read at: http://www.nclrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/AS-FILEDCOMPLAINT_Doe.v.Trump_-1.pdf Trans Teen Suicide Attempts May Have Spiked Because of Trump’s Tweets Donald Trump’s tweets calling for a ban on transgender people in the military led to more suicide attempts by trans teens, according to statistics compiled by The Trevor Project, which is an organization that runs an LGBTQ teen suicide hotline. Of the approximately 178 contacts per day (on average) received by The Trevor Project, 7.3 percent typically self-identify as transgender. Within 24 hours after President Trump’s tweets regarding transgender military service members, however, contacts from transgender individuals spiked to 17.5 percent of all contacts. Furthermore, in the week after the Texas legislature introduced the anti-trans “bathroom bill,” contacts from transgender young people doubled to 14.7 percent. This is not the first time statistics have pointed to a correlation between public animosity toward a minority and teen suicide.

Earlier this year, researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University examined survey data on teen suicide attempts from two decades and found that, prior to nationwide marriage equality, states that lifted their bans on same-sex couples marrying led to a drop in the suicide rate among LGB youth. lgbtqnation.com Insurer Is Sorry It Used ‘Insensitive Language’ When Denying PrEP Coverage An HIV/AIDS activist recently posted a letter from July in which United Health Care (UHC) denied coverage for PrEP because the patient was going to engage in “high risk homosexual behavior.” That same day, UHC announced that it was ending its preauthorization requirements for PrEP, making it easier for patients to access the medication. PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, refers to the use of medication like Truveda in order to prevent transmission of HIV. PrEP has been shown to be 99% effective in preventing the transmission of HIV if taken every day. As activist Mark King noted on LGBTQ Nation, “high risk homosexual behavior” is a sign that someone needs PrEP, not a reason to deny coverage. On July 1, UHC started a policy to restrict coverage of the drug, requiring doctors to get authorization for the prescription every three months and for patients to fill their prescription by mail instead of at any pharmacy. In a statement, UHC apologized for the “insensitive language” in the letter. “We have corrected our letters, removed the prior authorization requirement for Truvada and members can fill their prescription at the network pharmacy of their choice. This is effective immediately.” lgbtqnation.com All-Gender Restrooms Coming to Every San Jose Unified School District Campus

One of the largest school districts in California plans to put in all-gender bathrooms at each of its campuses. The movement began with San Jose Unified School District’s Lincoln High School more than a year ago. The district now said it is time for the rest of its schools to catch up. “I just hope that all school districts would be as open as San Jose Unified is in making sure they have gender neutral bathrooms for students to be able to use,” said Ken Yeager, a Santa Clara County supervisor. Yeager has been a champion of the LGBT community and he applauds the move.

Students said there have been no issues since all-gender restrooms went up at Lincoln High School. nbcbayarea.com amfAR’s Kenneth Cole Launches End AIDS Coalition at 9th International AIDS Conference on HIV Science At the International AIDS Conference on HIV Science, leaders in the global AIDS response and Kenneth Cole, American fashion designer, amfAR Chairman of the board and UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador, launched the End AIDS Coalition (EAC)—a collaboration of leading AIDS experts, scientists, clinicians, policy-makers, faith leaders, businesses, activists and humanitarians working together to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. “We are at a ‘tipping point’ in the fight against AIDS, with a quickly-closing window of opportunity,” said Cole. “If we do not act now, and act together, to gain control of this global epidemic, it may never be possible and the costs in both funding and human lives would be catastrophic.” The EAC and its partners are working to accelerate progress towards the UNAIDS 2016 Political Declaration to end AIDS by 2030 with increased collaboration, transparency and accountability. Looking at the global AIDS response holistically, the EAC is amplifying and aggregating plans, targets and data from partners across prevention, treatment, cure, and vaccine sectors. edgemedianetwork.com Castro Country Club Receives Legacy Status The Castro Country Club, a clean and sober gathering place for members of the queer recovering community on 18th Street, received legacy business status from the City’s Small Business Commission—something that was first brought up in December of 2016. The club opened in the spring of 1983 as a space to host meetings, hold unstructured peer counseling sessions and offer job-training and skill-building opportunities to those struggling with addiction. Over the years, the Castro Country Club and its volunteers have helped hundreds of community members gain their sobriety. The club is open 365 days a year and boasts a meeting space, a volunteer-operated café and a back patio. “The Small Business Commission is pleased with the inclusion of Castro Country Club on the Legacy Business Registry,” said Stephen Adams, vice president of the Small Business Commission. “The services and social support they provide to individuals in recovery are an invaluable asset to the Castro neighborhood and the LGBTQ community, and the organization contributes greatly to the uniqueness of San Francisco.” hoodline.com Castro Library Landscaping Moving Forward The Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Library is getting a landscaping makeover. This time last year, the City’s Fix-It team—a group of City employees tasked with trimming trees, installing lights and applying fresh paint to curbs and crosswalks, among other things—decided to focus on improving the library on 16th Street. Earlier (continued on page 30) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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A San Francisco Kind of Democrat Rafael Mandelman Three people were recently shot in broad daylight in Dolores Park, just days after a man shot his elderly mother in Corona Heights, just weeks after a 71-year-old San Franciscan was shot and killed atop Twin Peaks, and less than two months after the killings of three UPS workers in Potrero Hill.

I know many of us feel hopeless—we hear so much about gun violence that it’s easy to feel paralyzed or grow inured to what seems like a never-ending stream of gun tragedies. Barack Obama grew increasingly frustrated through his presidency as Congress refused to pass meaningful gun safety legislation through tragedy after tragedy.

But neither paralysis nor indifference are acceptable responses to the challenge of gun violence. President Obama grew frustrated, but he never gave up, and neither can we.

San Franciscans tend to think of our city as an island apart, 49 square miles surrounded by reality. But however unique and special our city may be, there is no escaping America’s epidemic of gun violence. Earlier this year, we saw reports that, notwithstanding an overall decline in violent crime in San Francisco, acts of gun violence were increasing.

Here’s what gives me hope: we are not starting from scratch—powerful, brilliant and motivated people all over America are fighting every day and pushing for a coordinated strategy to end gun violence. I recently donated to Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (https:// momsdemandaction.org/), an organization started by parents of students killed at Sandy Hook. They have offices in all 50 states and are taking on the NRA every day in D.C. They could use our help, time, and donations.

The national statistics are grim indeed. More than 30,000 Americans die each year from gun violence.

Americans are twenty times more likely to die from a bullet than in oth-

In addition to our financial contributions, we also have to make sure that San Francisco is using our loud voice to push change at the state and national level. As an elected member of

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the San Francisco Democratic Party leadership, I pledge to do my part to make sure our party’s platform always includes loud and clear demands for strong gun control.

Finally, these troubling events reinforce the need for a complete overhaul of our mental health services. I have written before in this column about the experiences of friends and family who have suffered from mental illness. And I have, here and elsewhere, expressed my tremendous frustration that the public response to this great public health challenge has been so clearly and terribly inadequate.

While not every shooting death is directly connected to this issue, many are, and we have an undeniable mental health crisis in San Francisco that is affecting every one of us on a daily basis. We see it playing out on our sidewalks, in our parks and plazas, and in our Muni stations. The fact that the Corona Heights shooter had been released from an involuntary 5150 psychiatric hold just two months ago hints at a broader failure to get mentally ill individuals the care they need to keep themselves and others safe.

We must demand a far more robust response to our community’s mental health needs. That means investing additional resources to ensure the availability of mental health and drug addiction treatment and facilities to those who need them, and, in some cases, it means insisting on treatment for those who are incapable of making a reasoned choice for themselves.

In the wake of this summer’s shootings, we should give the families affected by gun violence more than just our thought and prayers. Each of these tragedies imposes on us a moral obligation to ensure that the victims and their loved ones have not suffered in vain.

A New Chair for the Democratic Party At the July meeting of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, the Committee unanimously elected as our new local Democratic Party Chair former Super visor David Campos. To my mind, there is a delicious irony, in this era of Trump, for our San Francisco Democratic Party to be led by a gay man who came to this countr y as an undocumented immigrant. I look forward to working with Chair Campos to cause as much heartburn for Pres- (Top) As chair of the board of the San Francisco LGBT Comident Trump and his Re- munity Center, Rafael welcomed attendees to the Ribbon publican enablers as pos- Cutting Ceremony celebrating The Center’s re-opening in April, 2017. sible.

(Lower) Rafael was invited to serve as a panelist at the San

Francisco Public Library’s 2013 event addressing the topic Strong Showing for “Sky High Rents: Disappearing Non-Profits.”

Leno M a rk L eno’s quest to make history as San Francisco’s first been any doubt, Leno has shown that out gay mayor had some good news he is the early clear frontrunner. recently, with Leno reporting that he raised more than $166,000 in the first Rafael Mandelman is a Deputy two months of his campaign. With City Attorney for the City of Oakmore than two years to go before the land. He has served as a member November 2019 election, it is far too of the City College of San Francisco early to call the race, but, if there had Board of Trustees since 2013, and

PHOTO BY RINK

er developed countries. Regular readers may remember a prior column in which I ref lected on the tragic historic relationship between guns and the LGBT community, from Harvey Milk’s assassination to the Pulse nightclub massacre a year ago.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SF LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER

Too Many Guns, Not Enough Treatment

From a Tweet to the Streets: Staying Woke on Immigration & LGBT People trade to bolster the chances of building his great wall, which Mexico is not going to pay for; to further distract against ‘too close to the red line’ developments concerning the multiple investigations into his financial, campaign, and political dealings with a foreign adversary; or just to throw some transphobic red meat to keep his ‘base’ happy, it’s just wrong, and is yet another horrific, batty signal requiring alert.

Cross Currents Andrea Shorter (Editor’s Note: The popular meme “stay woke” refers to a continuing awareness of issues concerning social justice. For example, many have used #StayWoke at Twitter.)

At the first posting of this column highlighting the need to protect the voter rights of transgender people, our nation’s Commander-inChief launched another misguided, wee hours of the morning ‘twee-dict’ (coined term for policy by tweet) proposing to ban transgender people from military service. Rightfully, the announcement was met with fury, outrage, and protest. If this were a video commentary, this is where we might cue in on-point footage of U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, imparting a fierce shade-throwing eye roll.

As we rallied resistance, it was also made clear that even the Pentagon was reportedly caught off guard by POTUS’ essentially rogue missile directed at thousands of transgender persons serving in the armed services. These service members dutifully and honorably protect our national interests, and all while not incurring the break-the-bank costs for gender-affirming medical care that POTUS claimed as the basis for his pronouncement.

Whether POTUS launched this anti-trans bomb as a preface to some sort of White House budget horse

Regarding the ongoing drive to fashion some semblance of still-unseemly immigration policy to clearly discriminate against people of particular religious and regional affiliations, we must stay ‘woke’ to the implications of religious, racial, and regional discrimination afoot. We should also keep an eye on the implications for LGBT persons seeking asylum, sanctuary, and freedom from grave to lifethreatening oppression beyond our borders.

Immigrants have sought, and continue to seek, entry into the United States and citizenship for all sorts of good reasons. For most, the possibility of creating better lives for themselves and their families remains the greater cause for leaving behind their homeland to seek the aspirations, opportunity, equality, safety and freedom to pursue happiness in the ideal of American promise and progress.

While the current immigration debate does not call for discrimination against those identifying as LGBT, we cannot rest assured that the bold discriminatory postures presented thus far would not extend to create barriers to LGBT people seeking asylum from targeted regions that either do not recognize the existence of our community, or outwardly persecute and oppress LGBT people.

Personally, I think about the numerous friends I have made in the Bay Area over the years who left everything and everyone they knew behind them—family, friends, businesses, careers—and immigrated to America in either political exile or just to experience personal relief from coun-

tries, regimes, and cultures that are clearly LGBT oppressive. They came to America because they were LGBT. Some identif ied as Muslim. Some were refugees from war-torn regions, or were in the throes, or aftermath, of dictatorial regimes.

As they and we know, however, life in America for LGBT individuals comes with major challenges, given that true equality has yet to be achieved here.

As the liberation movement progresses, LGBT immigrants wholeheartedly cherish their right to join the fight for all of our rights to live out loud, proud, and authentically. I cannot imagine our community, or America, without them.

While a ‘no-LGBT’ immigration policy is not on the table now, I remain concerned, given the near-daily rapid-f ire assaults on the senses and sensibilities visited upon us by the temperamental flitters and fits of the Leader of the Free World. With blunder, offense, distraction, blame, whining, and tantrums, he erratically moves from one issue to the next, attempting to appease his alt-right, red meat-hungry base.

It therefore seems perilous not to consider the implications for all newcomers seeking a safer and better life on our shores. Under the circumstances, who knows when your race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other spectrum of humanity in which you live and take pride in, will be up for grabs to be used as a device for division, distraction, or discrimination by tweet.

Stay woke.

Andrea Shorter is President of the historic San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. She is a longtime advocate for criminal and juvenile justice reform, voter rights, and marriage equality. A co-founder of the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, she was a 2009 David Bohnett LGBT Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Ringold Alley Art Walk Opens

Photos by Paul Margolis

Officially known as the San Francisco South of Market Leather History Alley, the newly opened Ringold Alley, long known as a popular cruising spot, is located in Central SOMA between 8th and 9th Streets. Also referred to as “Leather Memoir,” the public art installation in the Alley commemorates the area’s history.

Included are a large granite marker with a plaque installed giving information about the Alley’s past; sidewalk paintings in blue, black, white and red representing the leather flag; and granite stones recycled from street curbs that are polished and engraved with the names of bars, businesses and other establishments formerly operating there.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in front of the LSeven mixed use housing project, with 15 percent of its 410 units designated as below-market-rate. The housing is adjacent to Ringold Alley.

Community and civic leaders attending, including former State Senator Mark Leno and historian Gayle Rubin, spoke about the historical context and framework of the area. The names of individuals and businesses now long gone were acknowledged. To read more, visit Shaping San Francisco’s Digital Archive: foundsf.org

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The Power of Love the men survived two months in a prison with many homophobic inmates. The BBC reported that one of the men was in the final years of medical training to become a doctor, but that his university has now expelled him.

6/26 and Beyond Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Three months ago, a young gay couple in their 20s in Aceh, Indonesia, was caned 83 times before a jeering crowd outside of a mosque after a Sharia court convicted them of the “crime” of the physical expression of their love for each other. According to news reports, vigilantes stormed the couple’s home and found them in bed together.

BBC News described the scene of their torture: “The (gay) men stood on stage in white gowns praying while a team of hooded men lashed their backs with a cane … . A large crowd of observers cheered as the caning took place. ‘Let this be a lesson to you,’ one of the men watching cried out. ‘Do it harder,’ another man yelled.”

A BBC reporter who witnessed the f logging described how “you could def initely see … [the victims’] emotion[s]” on their faces, how “they were gripping their hands tightly” and how “extremely frightened and shaken” one of them was. The caning took place after

In addition to the obvious trauma these actions inf licted on the couple, the flogging spread fear across the LGBT community in Indonesia—as have anti-LGBT atrocities spread great fear in Chechnya. Recently, 141 people were arrested at what Indonesian police called a “gay sex party” in the nation’s capital Jakarta.

The arrest and f logging horrified us as it did millions of other people around the world, as has the shocking oppression taking place in Chechnya. We felt a visceral connection to the couple, and imagined how terrified we would be if vigilantes broke into our bedroom in the middle of night as we rested in bed together. We ref lected on the threat to the men’s lives in prison and the physical pain and indignity they suffered at the flogging. We wondered if we would have the fortitude to survive such an imprisonment and flogging as they did.

Although we have never endured anything remotely comparable to what this young couple did, we identified personally with their experience because we, like many other LGBT people, have feared for our physical safety and faced public shaming because of who we are and whom we love. Indeed, no other aspect of our being able to marry legally was more powerful than

the sense of dignity it gave us as citizens. As the final words of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark nationwide marriage equality decision reads, LGBTQ people “ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law” and “the Constitution grants them that right.”

But perhaps the most important connection we experienced to the couple was that of love. Amidst all that happened to them, we thought about how much these two gay men loved each other. They risked everything for their love, and the physical and emotional tenderness of their care for each other was more than the vigilantes, the torturers and the taunting crowds could bear. For years, we marched down Market Street as part of marriage equality contingents in the annual Pride Parade, shouting to the crowds, “It’s all about love! It’s all about pride!”

This young gay couple in Aceh inspires us. Our hearts go out to them and are with them. We dare to hope that their love survives. We dare to dream that someday “love wins” in Aceh and in the rest of Indonesia and the world.

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

Richmond Ermet Aid Foundation Supporters Enjoy Underwriter Appreciation Party Photos by Paul Margolis Eichen’s Lighting, established in 1957, is a family-owned and operated lighting center showcasing a broad selection of designer styles for all your lighting needs. With a refreshed look and modern merchandise, Eichen's Lighting offers quality customer service with competitive prices.

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San Francisco Bay Times team members have been fortunate to enjoy the hospitality of legendary host Dr. John Newmeyer at his beautiful Victorian home located near Lafayette Park. We have an on-going conversation with him about his famous Lunar-themed parties.

Underwriters and friends of the Richmond Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF) were treated recently to a special evening soiree, hosted by Dr. Newmeyer, that included cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment.

Performers included Broadway star James Harkness and cast members from Ain’t Too Proud, a play about the Temptations that opens soon at Berkeley Rep. Excitement is building among REAF supporters for the upcoming Help Is On The Way XXII Puttin’ on the Glitz at the Herbst Theater & Green Room on Sunday, August 20. The popular event, produced annually by REAF, will include a line-up of stars (see ad page 28) and will benefit Meals on Wheels and Positive Resource Center. For more information and tickets: helpisontheway.org

Vengeance Isn’t Sweet and walked away with virtually everything. “I tried to fight him and lost,” Mike said. “In law, he was within his rights, but in terms of basic fairness, he completely screwed me. And he knows it.” Their relationship ended, and Mike was left feeling bitter and betrayed.

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

Tom Moon, MFT Mike spent years building a business with his boyfriend, Dave. At first everything worked beautifully: the business grew exponentially and was soon more profitable than either of them had dreamed. But, in time, their romantic relationship ended.

Soon after that, disagreements developed about the basic direction of the company. The disagreements escalated into conflict. It became clear to both of them that they couldn’t work together any longer and would have to go their separate ways.

Unfortunately for Mike, most of the assets were in Dave’s name, something they had both long intended to change and had never gotten around to doing. Dave emptied the accounts

In a series of experiments, he and his colleagues set up a group investment

Next, he gave the students a survey to measure their feelings after the experiment. He also asked the groups who had been allowed to punish the defector to predict how they would feel if they hadn’t been allowed to, and he asked the non-punishing groups how they thought they’d feel if they had. In this survey, the punishers reported feeling worse than the nonpunishers, but predicted they would have felt even worse had they not been given the opportunity to punish.

The non-punishers said they thought they would feel better if they’d had that opportunity for revenge—even though the survey identified them as

the happier group. In other words, both groups thought revenge would be sweet, but their own reported feelings contradicted that expectation.

Carlsmith concluded that revenge stokes our anger, rather than quenching it. His explanation was that, when we don’t get revenge, it’s easier to let go of the wrong and move on. But when we do get it, we constantly have to justify to ourselves what we did by ruminating about the enormity of the wrong that was done to us. “Rather than providing closure, [revenge] does the opposite: It keeps the wound open and fresh,” he said. Instead of helping you to move on with your life, revenge can actually leave you dwelling on the situation and seething in unhappiness.

These findings support the age-old wisdom that forgiveness is wiser than vengeance. Mike believes that hurting Dave will relieve him of his torment, but if he can accept the evidence that this idea is a delusion, he may be able to forego the dubious pleasure of vengeance—not just because doing that is consistent with his ideas of right and wrong, but because it’s really the only path to lightening the burden of his own pain.

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

Photos by Rink

Organizations and agencies were well-represented on Sunday, July 30, to provide information and assistance during the Up Your Alley Fair held annually on Dore Alley, Folsom Street and other SOMA sites. Members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were also on hand as volunteers supporting the event.

San Francisco Bay Times legendary photographer Rink was there capturing images. Among the non-profits participating, in addition to the Sisters, were the AIDS Emergency Fund, AIDS Health Foundation, UCSF Health Alliance, API Wellness, Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) Foundation, SF Department of Public Health, Mission Neighborhood Health Center, Cheer San Francisco and Glide Foundation.

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Kevin Carlsmith (1967–2011), who was a Stanford fellow and social psychologist at Colgate University in New York, conducted some excellent research on the belief that getting even makes people feel better.

His findings suggest that it may have exactly the opposite result.

Up Your Alley Fair 2017

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

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He now has an opportunity to get even. Dave has a monogamous commitment with his new partner, Andrew, but Mike knows that he’s cheating on him with one of Mike’s friends.

If Mike tells Andrew, he will cause Dave a devastating loss. He has some qualms about the morality of what he’s contemplating. He knows the disclosure will hurt Andrew. But like many vengeful people, he has ways of rationalizing that (“He has the right to know,” etc.). But what he doesn’t question is a psychological assumption. Leaving aside the moral questions, he’s sure that getting even will make him feel better. He believes that vengeance is sweet. Is that true?

game with students. In this game, if everyone cooperated, everyone would benefit equally. However, if someone refused to invest his or her money, that person would disproportionately benefit at the group’s expense. Carlsmith planted a secret experimenter in each group and had them convince everyone to invest equally. But when it came time to put up the money, the plants defected, and wound up earning more than those who played fair.

Then he offered some groups a way to get back at the defector. They could spend some of their own earnings to financially punish him. “Virtually everybody was angry over what happened to them,” he reported, “and everyone given the opportunity [for revenge] took it.”

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GLBT Fortnight in Review

By Ann Rostow Trump Sinks to New Low I guess none of us can tell what’s going to happen to the ten or fifteen thousand transgender members of the U.S. Armed Forces. According to Karen Ocamb, writing for the L.A. Blade, the White House is set to release some guidance in the wake of the bizarre July 26 presidential tweet calling for the end of transgender military service.

The pending announcement, “A Guidance Policy for Open Transgender Service Phase Out,” will reportedly recommend that authorities attempt (somehow) to encourage transgender troops to leave the military, while trans officers up for promotion would simply be fired for no reason. Meanwhile, we still don’t know exactly what prompted Trump to target the careers of these patriotic volunteers, many of whom are on active duty risking their lives in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Although Trump claimed the decision was based on cost and military advice, there is no particular cost for transgender troops, and the military has expressed surprise and mistrust for the move. (Indeed, firing highly trained troops is itself extremely expensive.) One gets the feeling Trump believed that a) there aren’t any transgender troops at present so a decision of whether or not to “allow” transgender service could be made, and b) transgender service members are all poised to undergo expensive transition surgeries immediately upon enlisting. In other words, one gets the feeling that Trump is an ignorant brute.

As Ocamb reports, Defense Secretary General Jim Mattis issued a memo August 4 calling for military leaders to remember their training and honor in dealing with the repercussions of this policy change. “Never forget, our willingness to take the Oath of Office and to accept the associated responsibilities means that even citizens who have never met us trust us to do the right thing, never abusing our position nor looking the other way when we see something wrong,” wrote Mattis to all defense personnel. “I am proud to serve alongside you.”

Shoe to Drop Shortly Not surprisingly, Lambda Legal Defense as well as Outserve-Servicemembers Legal Defense Network are planning to challenge the upcoming trans ban in federal court as soon as it rears its ugly head.

Look, you can’t fire transgender soldiers without cause. Most courts look kindly on the U.S. government anytime it claims that “national security” mandates a military policy. But still, there has to be some connection between the stated policy and a threat to the country’s safety.

For decades, the ban on open gay service was justified by the notion that unit cohesion would dissolve if gay and straight troops were forced to mix. That canard finally quacked its last with help from active gay service members themselves, as well as the examples of foreign militaries where discrimination had long ended. It was also useful to recall the relatively recent racial integration of the services, and the lessons from the increased participation of women in the fighting force.

The prohibition on transgender servicemen and women has also been dying a slow death over the last few years. After a thorough review, the Obama administration announced that trans soldiers could serve openly as of about a year ago, while a fully pro-trans policy would be instituted in the summer of 2017. That deadline was delayed for six months by the

Trump administration, and has now been totally reversed. But Trump and company will have a hard time explaining to a judge why the U.S. security environment has mysteriously transformed itself from one year to the next in this regard.

With next to no support from generals or politicians alike, with no financial impact of note, and against the backdrop of our transgender friendly military policies of the last few years, Trump has absolutely no excuse for evicting able-bodied sailors and soldiers from the armed services. No judge or justice would give him a green light, and it could actually be interesting to see him try to make a case. It would be interesting were it not so cruel.

Down Under Insanity Redux For the record, the expression “waiting for the other shoe to drop” is said to originate in the New York City of the early to mid-20th century when the thin walls and ceilings of tenements allowed you to hear your neighbors come home late at night, take off their shoes and drop them on the floor one at a time.

Now, you should know that something is happening in regards to marriage in Australia, a topic that you may recall I have refused to cover in view of the gratuitously convoluted and deeply annoying political machinations that have surrounded the process for oh these many years.

But, seeing the recent headlines, I felt a little guilty. Why should my readers suffer on account of my personal impatience with spineless Aussie lawmakers? So, I started reading the articles, and Hello! It’s the same old impenetrable nonsense about nonbinding plebiscites and free votes on marriage and this party and that party and this activist and that politician and blah blah blah and meanwhile, nothing is being done about the fact that Australia is the largest so-called First World country to maintain a legal ban on recognizing gay couples!

The insanity continues and so, once again, I will retreat and return to this subject only after the country has legalized marriage equality. No more exceptions. It’s insane!

I’ll just leave you with three words to give you an idea of the situation in Canberra: “Non-binding postal vote.”

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old boy got attacked by “sea lice” while wading on the beach near Melbourne and emerged from the water covered in blood from the knees down. This grotesque sideshow provided me with yet another reason to steer clear of Australian news. But also, I had to wonder why the teen was at the beach in the middle of winter. It’s the equivalent of our February down under, right?

Braveheart Did I mention I am in Scotland? Specifically, I am in Stirling, home to the royal castle of numerous kings named James, along with Mary Queen of Scots. It’s also the place where, centuries earlier, Mel Gibson defeated the English king Edward I and liberated his countrymen. Mel Gibson, William Wallace, you know who I’m talking about. “They can take our lives, but they will never take our freedom!”

It’s lovely, gray and cold. Oh, except today, of course, when it is warm and sunny and I’m indoors writing to you all alone with the dog and cat.

Do you care that A’s right fielder Matt Joyce yelled a “gay slur” at a fan and later apologized? For some reason, I don’t. I don’t even know the guy. I can’t find the slur (which I’m guessing is “faggot”) but he said he was deeply (continued on page 30) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

AUGUS T 10, 2017

11

Prepare for Battle,

President Trump

Transgender Veterans and Service Members ‘Should Be Treated as the Patriots They Are’ An estimated 15,000 active-duty, guard and reserve American transgender soldiers received cruel and sudden notice on July 26 that their commander-in-chief viewed them as burdensome and unacceptable. President Trump, through his personal twitter account, wrote: “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you” These words come from an individual who received five draft deferments during the Vietnam War: four because Trump was a college student, and one due to bad feet (bone spurs in his heels). Despite such a background, Trump repeatedly made pro-military statements on the presidential campaign trail as

he disparaged others, such as Muslims. On December 7, 2015, he even said: “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” It is little wonder that Khizr Khan, the Muslim American father of a soldier killed in Iraq, welled up with emotion during the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Referring to Trump’s lack of military service, Khan said: “You have sacrificed nothing and no one.”

The President, however, now appears to be sacrificing transgender service members, and the transgender community as a whole, for personal political gains. His tweets about the military ban are not policy, at least not yet, but they have helped to divert attention away from other issues that his administration would rather not tackle, such as the ongoing Russia probe.

As you can see in this issue of the San Francisco Bay Times, active-duty transgender service members as well as community leaders and transgender veterans, such as Bay Area-based Feli-

Prepare for Battle, Mr. Trump

cia “Flames” Elizondo and Theresa Sparks, are bravely speaking out and fighting back.

They are being supported by high-ranking military leaders, many Republicans, and countless others both in the U.S. and abroad who refuse to accept President Trump’s hateful views.

One influential supporter is Senator John Senator John McCain McCain (R-Arizona), who served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years and is the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. In a statement released the same day as Trump’s tweets, McCain said: “There is no reason to force service members who are able to fight, train, and deploy to leave the military—regardless of their gender identity. We should all be guided by the principle that any American who wants to serve our country and is able to meet the standards should have the opportunity to do so—and should be treated as the patriots they are.”

By Felicia “Flames” Elizondo

We were tired of being harasse d and heck led just San in ving for bein g ours elves . And -positive Mex ican-American woman li As I’m a 71-year-old transgender, HIV Nothe in nent oppo while our upri sing didn’t your to know that I voted for Francisco, it probably won’t surprise you here lion batta ” dent make the news the way the Presi My “Not me among the vember elect ion. In fact, you can count Stonewal l riots did a few is strong. in the Bay Area, where The Resistance years later, it did serve as a “Thank you to the LGBT community! catalyst for change, evented, twee you , 2016 Pride g durin er, Just last summ freedoms s in more people that will threaten your tually culm inati ng in the I will fight for you while Hillary bring 1968 creation of the Naand beliefs.” as soon as one tiona l Transsexual Counthis e brok you the campaign trail, Like most of the promises you made on seling Unit. it proved convenient. al orien- I surv ived bein g kick ed threatened to remove questions about sexu In a mere six months in office, you have icipants, out of the milit ary, lived Part onal Survey of Older Americans Act tation and gender ident ity from the Nati LGBT through society’s attempts antian inted appo kids in publ ic schools, pulled back protections for transgender rt- to outl aw me, and outDepa your ), ently (Rec th.

Mon Pride recog nize Supreme Court justice, and neglected to anyou and law, lasted the AID S epidemimination is legal under federal ment of Justice argued that antigay discr redeseg the of ry versa ic. Desp ite bein g HIVanni Twitter, on the 69th nounced a ban on transgender troops, via posit ive for more than 20 gation of the U.S. military. year s, I’m still here. And unity, but to the service I have I’m still fight ing. comm my to and am I who to just not Now it’s personal— Felicia “Flames” Elizondo given to our country. some advice for young So, I have ted close a as and er, moth my love le also I t.

Trum p. Whi ise you You see, I love my country with all my hear for my you, Mr. , I am a woman of my word. And I prom more than to make her proud, and to fight your promises are prov ing to be wort hless ited a reign have gay man named Felipe, I wanted nothing you I will also thrive. Because . that I will not only surv ive your attack: . You allies TQ country. So, in 1965, I enlisted in the Navy LGB our and ers, gender veterans and soldi h thought the military would flame inside me, my fellow trans I Hatc n and Orri an, ding wom a inclu be , to allies how new know ely ’t didn unlik I didn’t want to be gay. I t I was have even sparked support for us from some pries Navy the told I when and am, in Vietn teach me to “be a man.” I served a year ble dis- and John McCain. and further punished with a dishonora gay, I was placed in solitary conf inement fought and t, smen asses ir I refuse to be sacrificed as a pawn in your unfa an for what I felt was gender veteran who fought for freedom, trans a As s curcharge to San Francisco. I did not settle disrably the more than 15,0 00 transgender troop ary record now reflects that I was hono culture war, because— as you can see from not will to have the ruling over turned. My milit pride Our . fight that won dy we’ve alrea rently serving honorably in the military— ban will charged.

Your . dden forbi or tten forgo be not will lf in a be banned, and our service to this country ict was difficult, as I struggled to find myse ad, your bigotry will fan Life in San Francisco’s Tenderloin distr like not stop transgender troops from serving this great country. Inste so me, like sissy a hire d woul one no se, cour Of g. bein very world that outlawed my abuse the flames burning inside us. world, I turned to prost itution—and the many of us who had been cast out by the veterans, AIDS epidemic, this army of LGBTQ could surv ive.

Hav ing surv ived rejection, riots, and the nd we that came with it. It was the only way I try, a coun our to ce servi our of d I was just get- elders, and allies is ready to rumble. We are prou ary. milit the in n p, begu Trum only Mr. had age fire, equa lity. You are playing with But surv ive I did, and I realized my cour are committed to finishing the fight for try, coun our for daily fice sacri and veterans who ting started. and unlike the brave transgender soldiers down.

Tenderloin, and was a the in prepare for battle, because we don’t back ered you est gath sugg who I s war. sissie to and been ns r neve have you I built a fami ly from fellow quee of scene unof ficia l gay space at the time and the regu lar at Gene Compton’s Cafeteria, an t one of us War mly, arres to tried er offic e polic A .

1966 st the cafeteria riots that broke out in Augu in his face. the time —and she threw her hot coffee for cross-dressing— which was illega l at flying ding inclu ens,” Que ing eam “Scr e from us This ignited two nights of fierce resistanc . San Francisco stand news ed a vandalized police car, and a torch dishes and furniture, smashed windows,

OPENHOUSE PHOTO BY KARYN SKULTE TY FOR

Dear Mr. Trump,

Felicia “Flames” Elizondo

TAVA and SPART*A Stand Strong Organizations such as the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) and Servicemembers, Partners, and Allies for Respect and Tolerance for All (SPART*A) are needed more now than ever. We are proud of both, as well as their members. TAVA was formed in 2003. SPART*A—a membership organization built by, for and with members from all parts of the LGBT military community—launched in 2013.

SPART*A has created a lengthy FAQ document concerning transgender military issues (https:// d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/sparta/pages/288/ attachments/original/1436834637/Trans_Service_ Implementation_FAQ _FINAL.pdf?1436834637). It is a valuable resource for anyone seeking information and guidance on these matters. If only President Trump and his advisers had taken the time to read it.

Below is TAVA’s response to Trump’s July 26 statement via Twitter: “The proud patriotic veterans and service members of Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) are deeply disappointed by President Trump’s heartless tweet this morning prohibiting transgender military service. Understandably, the nation is in shock and disbelief that a president would turn his back upon those service members that have sacrificed their life for his freedom to tweet such a post.

Evan Young, Major U.S. Army retired, President of Transgender American Veterans Association, said, ‘This morning’s tweet by the President is deeply disappointing. TAVA is actively working with other organizations to create a unified front. We support our actively serving brothers and sisters. As transgender

American veterans, who have proudly and patriotically volunteered to serve in our nation’s armed forces, we feel that assault doubly on our identity, on who we are. Our brothers, sisters, family, and allies were targeted and our freedom and resolve tested. As veterans, we are keenly aware of that price for freedom, and I personally call on each and every one to step up their situational awareness, administer self-care, and be safe out there.’

We must not lose sight of the fact that transgender people have served honorably and for decades. For the last year, transgender persons served openly without an issue. Currently, policies in place do require that transgender recruits complete transition prior to entering into the service. The President’s careless tweet is just that, a tweet and not policy. TAVA will continue to provide unwavering support for our transgender service members and veterans past, present, and future.”

S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

AUGUS T 10, 2017

15

Prepare for Battle,

President Trump

Hundreds Gath Transgender M

Coast Guard Chief Vows to Support Transgender Troops At a recent Center for Strategic and International Studies event held in Washington, D.C., Commandant Admiral Paul Zukunft of the U.S. Coast Guard made bold statements in defiance of President Trump’s proposed ban of transgender individuals in the military.

By Dennis McMillan

“If you read that story, Taylor’s family has disowned her,” Zukunft said.

“And I told Taylor, I will not turn my back. We have made an investment in you and you have made an investment in the Coast Guard and I will not break faith.”

Commandant Admiral Paul Zukunft of the U.S. Coast Guard

“And so that was the commitment to our people right now,” he added.

“Very small numbers, but all of them are doing meaningful Coast Guard work today.”

Zukunft has reached out to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly about concerns following Trump’s threat. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was brought into the discussion by Kelly. They and others supported the move by the Pentagon last year to lift the ban on transgenders serving in the military.

Zukunft at that time last year then said, “The U.S. Coast Guard has been involved in the Department of Defense’s extensive review of this issue, and

will align its policies with the other military services. All qualified people who wish to serve in our Nation’s military should have the opportunity to do so. Today’s announcement is another important step in that direction.”

Trump’s desired ban would clearly represent a devastating step backward. It is hopeful that so many military leaders like Zukunft are standing for the rights of all, and not just some, of those who are under their command.

Fifty-Six Retired Generals and Admirals Issue Warning Concerning Military Readiness On August 1, fifty-six retired General and Flag Officers provided a statement to the Palm Center, a San Francisco-based independent research institute (palmcenter.org). The statement, presented here in its entirety, warns that President Trump’s anti-transgender tweets, if implemented as actual policy, would degrade military readiness.

“The Commander in Chief has tweeted a total ban of honorably serving transgender troops. This proposed ban, if implemented, would cause significant disruptions, deprive the military of mission-critical talent, and compromise the integrity of transgender troops who would be forced to live a lie, as well as non-transgender peers who would be forced to choose between reporting their comrades or disobeying policy. As a result, the proposed ban would degrade readiness even more than the failed ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy. Patriotic transgender Americans who are serving—and who want to serve—must not be dismissed, deprived of medically necessary health care, or forced to compromise their integrity or hide their identity.

President Trump seeks to ban transgender service members because of the financial cost and disruption associated with transgender military service.

We respectfully disagree, and consider these claims to be without merit. The RAND Corporation (https://www.rand.org/news/press/2016/06/30.html), as well as research in the New England Journal of Medicine (http://www.nejm.org/ doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1509230#t=article), found that the financial cost of providing health care to transgender troops would be, at most, $8.4 million per year. This amounts to one one-hundredth of one percent of the military’s annual health care budget.

General John R. Allen, USMC (Retired) General Robert W. Sennewald, USA (Retired) Vice Admiral Donald Arthur, USN (Retired) Lieutenant General Robert Gard, USA (Retired) Lieutenant General Walter Gaskin, USMC (Retired) Vice Admiral Kevin P. Green, USN (Retired) Lieutenant General Arlen D. Jameson, USAF (Retired) Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, USA (Retired) Lieutenant General Willie Williams, USMC (Retired) Major General Juan G. Ayala, USMC (Retired) Major General Donna Barbisch, USA (Retired) Rear Admiral Chris Cole, USN (Retired) Major General Vance Coleman, USA (Retired) Major General J. Gary Cooper, USMC (Retired) Major General Paul Eaton, USA (Retired) Major General Mari K. Eder, USA (Retired) Rear Admiral F. Stephen Glass, USN (Retired) Major General Richard S. Haddad, USAF (Retired) Major General Irv Halter, USAF (Retired) Rear Admiral Jan Hamby, USN (Retired) Major General Marcelite J. Harris, USAF (Retired)

16

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

As for ostensible disruptions, transgender troops have been ser v ing honorably and openly for the past year, and have been widely praised by commanders. Eighteen foreign nations, including the U.K. and Israel, allow transgender troops to serve, and none has reported any detriment to readiness.

Recently, two former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have taken courageous stands in support of our transgender service members. General Martin Dempsey said of our transgender troops that, ‘The service of men and women who volunteer and who meet our standards of service is a blessing, not a burden.’

And Admiral Mike Mullen stated that, ‘I led our armed forces under the flawed ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy and saw firsthand the harm to readiness and morale when we fail to treat all service members according to the same standards. Thousands of transgender Americans are currently serving in uniform and there is no reason to single out these brave men and women and deny them the medical care that they require. The military conducted a thorough research process on this issue and concluded that inclusive policy for transgender troops promotes readiness.’ Admiral Mullen urged civilian leaders ‘to respect the military’s judgment and not to breach the faith of service members who defend our freedoms.’ We could not agree more.”

Rear Admiral John Hutson, JAGC, USN (Retired)

Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Retired)

Major General James R. Klugh, Sr., USA (Retired)

Brigadier General Julia Cleckley, USA (Retired)

Major General Dennis Laich, USA (Retired) Major General Randy Manner, USA (Retired) Major General Dee Ann McWilliams, USA (Retired) Major General John Phillips, USAF (Retired) Major General Dana J.H. Pittard, USA (Retired) Major General Gale Pollock, CRNA, FACHE, FAAN, USA (Retired) Rear Admiral Harold Robinson, USN (Retired) Major General Patricia Rose, USAF (Retired) Rear Admiral Alan Steinman, USPHS/USCG (Retired) Major General Antonio Taguba, USA (Retired) Major General Peggy Wilmoth, PhD, MSS, RN, FAAN, USA (Retired) Major General Maggie Woodward, USAF (Retired) Rear Admiral Dick Young, USN (Retired) Rear Admiral Sandra Adams, USN (Retired)

Rear Admiral Jay DeLoach, USN (Retired) Brigadier General John Douglass, USAF (Retired) Brigadier General Evelyn “Pat” Foote, USA (Retired) Brigadier General Judy M. Griego, NMANG (Retired) Brigadier General David R. Irvine, USA (Retired) Brigadier General John H. Johns, USA (Retired) Rear Admiral Gene Kendall, USN (Retired) Brigadier General Thomas Kolditz, PhD, USA (Retired) Brigadier General Carlos E. Martinez, USAF (Retired) Brigadier General Ronald Rokosz, USA (Retired) Brigadier General John M. Schuster, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General Clara Adams-Ender, USA (Retired)

Rear Admiral Michael E. Smith, USN (Retired)

Brigadier General Ricardo Aponte, USAF (Retired)

Brigadier General Marianne Watson, USA (Retired)

Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett, USN (Retired)

*A 57th Officer, Rear Admiral Sandra Smith, signed this statement after its initial publication.

Brigadier General David Brahms, USMC (Retired)

AU GU ST 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Brigadier Paul Gregory Smith, USA (Retired)

PHOTO SOURCE: U.S. COAST GUARD

Regarding his immediate reaction to Trump’s tweets, Zukunft told attendees, “The first thing we did is we reached out to all 13 members of the Coast Guard who have come out,” The Hill reported. He then referenced a recent Washington Post cover story article concerning Lt. Taylor Miller, the first openly transitioning Coast Guard member.

Trump’s July 26 tweets concerning tra uals in the military, made while the fense was on vacation, surprised even last June, the Obama administration on transgender military service. In re a group called The San Francisco R www.facebook.com/SFresistance/) s cy alerts via social media immediate went out. The group called for a rally Castro that day. Hundreds of proteste and overflowed Harvey Milk Plaza.

The rally consisted of an open-mic men and women to speak their min Megan Rohrer, a trans man and chap said, “I will support every soldier tha make sure they have healthcare.” He is greater than that hate,” and led the a chant: “Out of the bars and into the one of dozens of similar protests held

Protestors carried signs saying, “Tr ity Now,” “The President shall no #DeleteHisAccount!” and “Trans peo den!” One of the placards pictured sian fur hat with a communist symb bad Uncle Sam saying, “I DON’T w Army!” A large banner declared in SIST!” Pride flags and transgender f the big Rainbow Flag in Harvey Milk chanted: “When trans rights are und we do? Stand up, fight back!”

After the rally, the crowd marched and the site of the August 1966 Co Riots by transgenders. After more sp marched to City Hall, which was lit up and white colors of the transgender p

Since no politicos and celebrities were the demonstrations, openly LGBTQ gress and officials from across the U line, in press conferences and at a ra Capitol on Wednesday afternoon.

“We have a coward attacking heroes Jeff Sheehy of the Castro District. “T failed to serve in the military ... beca bone spur that he acquired while pla outrageous and disgusting.”

“His absurd claims about healthcare lous,” said Theresa Sparks, senior adv for transgender initiatives, who serve six years. Sparks, who is also featured paper, noted that when they first start care for trans people in San Francisc claims that the City would go bankru er happened.” She added, “It’s not d er has been.” She noted that Trump li fact, consult with his top military adv

A report released last year, “Assessin of Allowing Transgender Personnel t found that there would only be a .04% in military healthcare expenditures a ly impact on force readiness.”

Mayor Ed Lee called Trump’s tweet inatory at its core.” He said, “This is

Senator Scott Wiener stated, “How lead internationally when our Presi rights at home? Let’s all recommit to m community forward in spite of our big

California Senator Kamala Harris s criminatory and un-American. To th vice members who defend our nation,

Openly transgender Air Force Staf Ireland, on active duty, stated, “I wou try to kick me out of my military. I them [in court].” He continued, “Yo deny me my right to serve my countr qualified and able and willing to give

“This disgusting ban will weaken o Representative Nancy Pelosi.

On the negative end, Energy Secret defending Trump’s decision to ban tr from military service, saying it’s “not standpoint of economics.”

“On yesterday’s date, sixty-nine yea Truman took a stand for inclusion and

Photos by Rink

her in the Castro to Protest Trump’s Proposed Military Ban

ansgender individe Secretary of Dethe Pentagon. Just had lifted the ban esponse to Trump, Resistance (https:// sent out emergenely after the tweets y and march in the ers heeded the call

for transgendered nds. Among them, plain for the SFPD, at comes home and e added, “Our love e demonstrators in e streets!” This was across the nation.

ransgender Equalt troll on twitter. ople are not a burTrump in a Rusbol portrayed as a want you for U.S. n bold caps: “REflags flew beneath k Plaza. The crowd der attack, what do

to the Tenderloin mpton’s Cafeteria peeches, everyone p in the pink, blue, pride flag.

e asked to speak at members of ConU.S. responded onally in front of the

s,” said Supervisor This is a man who ause of an alleged aying golf. This is

e costs are ridicuvisor to the Mayor ed in the Navy for d in this issue of the ted offering healthco, there were wild upt, “but that nevdisruptive and nevied, and did not, in visors.

ng the Implications to Serve Openly,” % to .13% increase and “minimal like-

ted ban “discrimwhat we reject.”

w can our country ident attacks civil moving the LGBT goted President.”

said, “This is dishe transgender ser, I stand with you.”

f Sergeant Logan uld like to see them I would challenge ou are not going to ry when I am fully e my life.”

our military,” said

tary Rick Perry is ransgender people t very wise from a

ars ago, President d justice by signing

an executive order that desegregated the armed forces,” said Rye Young, a trans activist and executive director of Third Wave Fund. “But yesterday, President Trump stood for the opposite by announcing a discriminatory and repulsive policy that would ban patriotic transgender Americans from serving in the military.”

“President Trump has, once again, betrayed the LGBTQ community he claimed to support during his campaign,” Pride at Work Executive Director Jerame Davis said. “Make no mistake—this decision is driven by Vice President Mike Pence’s unending crusade against LGBTQ people.”

In a July 27 letter to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, 19 attorneys general expressed their opposition to the President’s proposed ban on transgender people serving in the Armed Forces. Led by Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin, the letter was also signed by attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Washington D.C. Attorney General Chin said, “Policies that have no factual basis and that marginalize and reject classes of people have no place in the 21st century. This discriminatory policy is illegal.”

Lambda Legal Says ‘See You in Court, President Trump’

In a letter to the military service chiefs, Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the policy on who is allowed to serve will not change until the White House sends the Defense Department a rules change, and the Secretary of Defense issues new guidelines. “In the meantime, we will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect,” General Dunford said in the letter. “As importantly, given the current fight and the challenges we face, we will all remain focused on accomplishing our assigned missions.”

On August 5, Lambda Legal staff attorney Sasha Buchert announced that the organization, with OutServeSLDN (https://www.outserve-sldn.org/), is preparing for legal action concerning Trump’s tweeted military trans ban.

Should the ban of transgender individuals from military service actually occur, Lambda Legal and OutserveSLDN—as reported in this issue—have joined forces and “hatched a plan to sue in a heartbeat.” NCLR and GLAD have already filed a complaint. (See page 5.)

A majority of Americans believe that transgender individuals should be allowed to serve in the military, according to an exclusive Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on July 28. The July 26–28 poll suggested that the country largely disagrees with President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will ban transgender personnel from the armed forces.

But late last Sunday night, the Los Angeles Blade reported that Trump‘s tweets calling for a ban on transgender people in the military have taken the first step toward becoming law. As noted by The Guardian, Trump’s declarations on Twitter don’t have any legal power, but the content of those tweets has been made into “A Guidance Policy for Open Transgender Service Phase Out”

by White House staff, and the White House Counsel approved the policy as legal “guidance.” An unnamed source told the Blade, “The administration want[s] to get rid of transgender service members as fast as they can.”

All images above are by Rink from the Anti-Trump Rally at Harvey Milk Plaza, July 26.

The Guidance Policy holds that the military should encourage early retirement for transgender people and should fire those who are up for promotion in order to purge the military of the estimated 15,000 transgender people in service. The document, which as of this writing is in the process of being sent to the Defense Department, does not mention transgender service members who are currently serving in combat. Currently, any removal of transgendered military personnel remains on hold.

Buchert wrote, “I am a transgender military veteran.

The move to purge transgender military personnel is dishonorable to the thousands of transgender men and women who are serving our country with courage and who are integral parts of our armed services. The safety of all service members—transgender or not—is undermined by a policy like this that distracts from the important missions they have for no valid reason. It is also a slap in the face of the leadership who have worked diligently to develop and implement the current policy which has been in place for more than a year without incident.”

“This mean-spirited and discriminatory attack on our community is capricious, irrational and clearly driven by anti-LGBT forces in the administration who care more about harming transgender people than keeping our nation safe,” Buchert continued. “It is clearly unconstitutional.”

Current trans service members, or trans individuals considering pursuing a military career, are asked to contact Lamba Legal via this link: lambdalegal.org/transmilitaryhelp S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

AUGUS T 10, 2017

17

Prepare for Battle,

President Trump

Our Common Humanity

Aging in Community Dr. Marcy Adelman When I heard that Trump had tweeted a ban on transgender people serving in the military, I was outraged that he was once again singling out and targeting transgender people. Earlier this year, the Trump administration proposed deleting LGBT elders from the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants, which drives the allocation of federal funds to needed elder services. After a successful national campaign by LGBT activists and organizations, with assistance from a bipartisan group of members of Congress, LGB elders were restored to the survey. Transgender elders were not. This was a blatant attempt by the Trump administration to single out trans elders and to deprive them of vital services and programs.

Trump likes to play polarizing politics with himself at the center of the wheel. I don’t know if Trump believes in anything other than wealth and power. He is the dark side of the American Dream, where winning and succeeding at all cost is not a vice but a virtue. He has found a base of supporters—far-right evangelical Christians, alt-right conservatives, the disenfranchised and forgotten working poor—who have lost faith in the political leaders of our country. They will follow him so long as he continues to fire them up with passionate rhetoric. When he is struggling to meet those promises, he is most dangerous. Trump tweeted the ban on transgenders in the military within hours after the Senate failed to repeal and replace Obamacare.

It is hard to believe that Trump cares one way or the other about transgender people. He may have tweeted the transgender ban as a distraction from his failed health care policy or from the Russian investigation or to shore up his base. Whatever the reason for the ban, what is exposed is his treatment of people, not as valuable humans, but as expendable objects.

A furious and spontaneous fire storm of protest erupted in response to Trump’s tweet. Retired transgender service people spoke in passionate and powerful support of their broth-

ers and sister in the military. Felicia “Flames” Elizondo, a San Francisco transgender activist who served as a Navy seaman in Vietnam, wrote in a letter to President Trump: “Our pride will not be banned, and our service to this country will not be forgotten or forbidden.” (See page 15 for the full letter.)

A group of more than 50 retired generals and admirals signed a letter proposing that such a ban would “… deprive the military of mission critical talent, and compromise the integrity of transgender troops who would be forced to live a lie, as well as non-transgender peers who would be forced to choose between reporting their comrades or disobeying policy.”

(See page 16 for the full letter.)

and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) all condemned Trump’s tweet that transgender people no longer can serve in the military. Shannon Minter, NCLR’s Legal Director wrote, “… Trump is purporting to fire 15,000 transgender service members bravely serving our country and to prevent other patriotic transgender persons from enlisting … . Like every American, transgender service members should be judged by their qualifications and performance … . Those who serve our country deserve our gratitude and respect.”

A bi-partisan vote in the House defeated a proposal to eliminate transgender surgery funding for service members.

Across the country, in Houston and Austin, Texas, and Aurora, Colorado, municipal officials responded to Trump’s tweet by encouraging transgender people to apply for positions in their police departments. In Cincinnati, the city’s first openly gay councilmember, Chris Seelback, announced, “If you are dismissed from our military because of who you are, know that you are welcome in the City of Cincinnati and our police department. Seelback continued, I am proud that transgender Americans are defending our freedom, as they have been doing for years, and decades. Transgender people are currently serving openly in our military, fighting for our freedoms that we hold so dear.”

SAGE in New York, Openhouse in San Francisco, Equality Florida, the Chicago Center on Halsted

The outcome of these most recent attacks on transgender service members and transgender elders is yet to

In a speech delivered to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, head of the U.S. Coast Guard, said he would not turn his back on transgender members of the Coast Guard and pledged his support. (See page 16.) Senator John McCain also defended the right of transgender people to serve in the military.

be determined. A new post-tweet transgender policy is currently under review by the Pentagon and the White House. Whatever the outcome of this review, you can be sure that the policy will be challenged in the courts. We are also waiting to hear the Trump administration’s response to the national advocacy campaign to keep transgender elders visible and counted.

Transgender activists, LGBT advocacy organizations, Republicans, Democrats, military leaders from every branch of service, municipal officials and so many others have all spoken out in defense of transgender people in the military. This messy, uncoordinated, spontaneous response says more about who we are and what our future will look like than anything Trump ever does or tweets. We will prevail so long as we continue to reach out to each other, celebrate our common humanity, support each other, and refuse to be turned into a country of us and them.

Marcy Adelman, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice, is co-founder of the non-profit organization Openhouse. She is also a leading advocate and educator in LGBT affirming dementia care and a member of the Advisory Council to the Aging and Adult Services Commission.

President Trump Defies All Logic

By Theresa Sparks Mr. Trump’s recent actions concerning trans Americans who have previously, are currently, or are looking forward to serving in the U.S. Armed Forces defies all logic.

His assertions about cost and disruption are blatantly wrong, and his comments about consulting with his senior military officials turned out to be just another one of his lies. This crazy early morning tweet just demonstrated his total lack of any sense of values or moral compass.

After serving in the Navy for six years during the Vietnam era nearly fifty years ago, I felt really rewarded when I attended a reunion with my former shipmates earlier this year. You know what? Not one comment was made about my appear-

ance, gender or my transition. The conversation only revolved around living and working together during the good times, and the terrifying ones.

The vast majority of men and women in the military don’t care about your sexual orientation, gender identity, or presentation, race, ethnicity, or sex. When I was serving in the Navy, Mr. Trump was cowardly doing everything he could to keep from joining his fellow Americans in service to his country.

It’s just another reason his presidency is such a joke.

Theresa Sparks is Senior Adviser, Transgender Initiatives, in the Office of Mayor Ed Lee and was formerly the Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. Sparks served her country with the United States Navy during the Vietnam War while stationed at the Fleet Intelligence Center, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and later at a World War II-era destroyer.

Trump’s and America’s Very Bad Week: July 21–July 28

By David Perry

Let’s review. Spicer: out. Scaramucci: in (for now). Health Care: a cluster f lack.

GOP Senators: coordinating the uncoordinated cluster flack. DJT channels Il Duce and Adolf at the Boy Scouts Jamboree (hitherto to be known as “Da Trumpen Jüngen”).

On a hot mike, Senator Collins makes a hot mess assessment of Trump: “He’s crazy; I’m worried.”

PHOTO BY RICK CAMARGO

Even for the Trump Error (sic intended), it’s been quite a week. Though I am traveling in Italy, I could not miss the train wreck with a view back home.

And, as midnight wanes in the U.S. Capitol, John McCain rouses himself from a week of cancer-flip-flopsand-inexplicable-votes to put yet another nail in the GOP’s cynical “skinny” repeal of Obamacare. Oh, and Alaska has a new icon: “Mama Bear Murkowski.”

Is it Saturday yet? Prediction: a Tweetstorm cometh.

David Perry, CEO and Founder of David Perry and Associates, is the host/producer for the weekly LGBT television show “10 Percent.” He is an avid maritime historian who has served as the spokesperson for the San Francisco Fleet Week Association. He wrote this piece while in Orvieto, Italy, with his husband Alfredo Casuso.

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ETSY.COM

Sessions: beleaguered and under attack by Trump. Preibus: beleaguered and under attack by Scaramucci.

Transgenders trampled; Gays re-abused. The NY Times prints obscene quotes from the White House Communications Director (a first, I believe, for certain anatomical descriptions above the fold page 1). Who knew that Steve Bannon was attempting auto-fellatio? (God knows no one else would volunteer.)

Have You Seen the Trans Hat? Yes, there’s a version of the “pussy” hat that’s not just pink. It’s designed with trans in mind. Prices range from $12 up, and you can find this and related products by searching on “pussy trans hat” at etsy.com

Is There a Right Time to Take Social Security? rity claiming strategy, based on your income needs, personal savings and retirement goals. Use the following three scenarios to evaluate what timing is best for you:

Money Matters Brandon Miller Social Security benefits are a cornerstone of retirement income for many Americans, yet deciding when to start collecting benefits can be a puzzle, and the solution is different for everyone. You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, or delay it until your 70th birthday. The longer you wait, the larger your monthly benefit will be. There are a variety of ways you can structure your Social Secu-

Starting Social Security early A person who will retire at age 62 is counting on Social Security to help meet income needs once retirement begins. His monthly benefit will be $1,500, 25 percent below what he would have received at age 66, which is his full retirement age.

Those who claim early will receive a smaller monthly benefit. If you are retired or plan to retire early, claiming Social Security before full retirement age may make sense. Social Security can help you cover living costs and prevent you from having to draw down significant sums from your personal savings. This form of cash flow can therefore help to sustain your savings for what could be decades in retirement. If you keep working after you claim, however, and your income exceeds the earnings limit, you might sacrifice some of your current Social

Security benefits until you reach full retirement age.

Claiming benefits at full retirement age A working spouse plans to claim her full retirement benefit at age 66. Claiming helps to provide a cash flow cushion as she and her wife begin a slow transition into retirement.

Her benefit of $2,733 per month would be 32 percent higher if she waited until age 70, but she will collect a minimum of $32,796 per year in benefits beginning at age 66.

Waiting until full retirement age to claim benef its means that your monthly paycheck will be higher than if you began taking them at an earlier age. For a married couple needing an income boost, it may be wise to have the lower earning spouse (who qualifies for a lower Social Security benefit) be the one who claims benefits first. This is because if the spouse earning the higher Social Security benefit is the first to die, the surviving spouse will begin to collect that person’s higher benefit. It therefore may (continued on page 31)

Love Your Job but Hate the Stress? Here’s What to Do • They overreact to small things and often take things personally.

• They blame others and/or feel victimized by circumstances more often than they care to admit.

If you recognize some of these characteristics as yours, please keep reading.

Career Wisdom Julie Gleeson So many of my clients love their work and are deeply engaged in their projects and teams, yet they still often feel overwhelmed and stressed while on the job. Some of the traits of these people (in case you need to tell if you are one!) are: • They move at a very fast pace, usually multi-tasking, and are annoyed by slow people.

• Their mind is busy, and they have forgotten what it feels like to be relaxed without outside help of some sort, such as sedatives or alcohol.

• They take work home most nights and stay up late working.

• They know “what to say” before the person speaking is finished.

Most of my clients have been trying to control these behaviors for years. The more they attempt to get control over their minds and lives, the worse it all seems to get.

Let’s use the metaphor of your mind as a wild bull. There are two ways to control a wild, overwrought, often dangerous (reactive) bull. One is to stake it to a very strong, short pole using a very short rope. It will not relax—in fact, it will be madder than heck!

The other is to turn it out into a huge pasture. In the pasture, the bull will buck and kick for a while, then relax as it finds nothing to fight.

When you quit trying to control your mind, you begin to experience a sense of spaciousness that feels much like that pasture. From there, new things will occur to you that seem like bolts of inspiration out of the blue. This is how the mind works. It likes to be allowed to roam and find the most compelling ideas. It hates constraint.

Wisdom is always available, but when the mind is racing, finding wisdom is like trying to f lick playing cards through the blades of a fan set on high. If the fan begins to slow down, a few cards begin to get through. When you really unplug—such as during a vacation, in the shower, or over a long drive in little traffic—wisdom is everywhere and fascinating. This is where new ideas come from.

The best way to initiate this process is to consciously allow for at least 3 minutes of quiet every single day. Set a timer, and let your mind do whatever it does. There should be no judgment; just practice allowing your brain to experience that gap in all the noise.

Additionally, begin to notice when your mind is busy throughout the day.

During these periods, stop for a moment and just take 5 deep breaths.

Doing so actually adds oxygen to your brain, making you feel instantly refreshed and smarter.

Never wrestle with your thoughts.

Take moments of worry lightly and let them go on their way. The truth is, all thought—just like all breath—is random, transient and is always being replenished.

Learn more about how to free your thoughts and gain career wisdom (continued on page 31)

Luxury Sedans in a Changing Market range, self-driving electric vehicles are just the start of how differently we’ll be relating to our personal cars, if we decide to own one at all.

Auto

These seismic shifts occur alongside smaller movements in the marketplace. One of those has been the decline of the four-door sedan. You’ve probably noticed that most of the recent concept cars have been two-box shapes, like SUVs and crossovers. In these designs, the trunk is axed in favor of a more cavernous living space.

In the LGBTQ community, we’ve seen great change in last half century.

I’m still amazed that marriage equality happened so quickly. Our fight for equal rights continues today.

This week’s test cars are the sedans to which the generations of yore would aspire. The Kia Cadenza and Lincoln MKZ both appeal to buyers who want something of ample size and appointments. Both succeed at first impressions, where they clearly are more than enough for most buyers.

The car industry has also seen its share of changes, and the next decade will host some fundamental shifts to our automotive landscape. Long-

The Kia impresses by feeling expansive. The Cadenza’s instrument panel is defined by long horizontal lines stretching between the doors. Seats

Philip Ruth

Kia Cadenza

Lincoln MKZ

are broad and wide, and the center armrest is beefy.

The Lincoln expresses its value-add with a more individualized feel. In the MKZ, the bright-trimmed center stack cuts a visual swath between the driver and front passenger. This mimics the architecture of the MKZ’s Ford Fusion origins, but MKZ puts a fancier spin on it, complete with gearselector buttons that run down the left side.

In its marketing, Kia aligns the Cadenza with luxury stalwarts like Lexus. The Cadenza’s high equipment levels aim to quell the qualms you might have about laying down 40 large for a car from an economy brand. Ultimately, the Cadenza’s medium-rich plastics fall somewhere between the supple Lexus ES and its down-market sibling, the Toyota Avalon. Kia did a good job here, but the Cadenza is more comfortable than it is memorable.

rience Liaison, access to a “curated list” of restaurants, etc.—are becoming as important as their cars.

The MKZ cranks up the style with the Black Label edition, which has its own color themes (yep, one of them is “artisanal”), added standard equipment, and additional services after the sale. Black Label is a nod toward the direction in which upscale cars are defining themselves, where the “member privileges” they provide— such as an extended maintenance plan, your own Black Label Expe-

The flipside is that sedans are typically cheaper than crossovers. Cadenza sales in particular are a relative trickle, so it’s likely that some Kia showrooms are ready to deal.

Sales figures of these two spell out the sedan’s decline. Kia’s Cadenza moves at a rate of barely five percent of the mid-sized Sorento crossover wagon.

The Lincoln MKZ actually sells in comparable numbers to the MKX crossover, but that’s still big news for a carmaker that had previously focused on luxury sedans.

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

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Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun Francisco Leathermen’s Discussion Group.

Sister Dana sez, “I think it’s time the White House fat cats go on a ‘skinny repeal’ diet!”

It’s Leather Weather, so there was a community gathering at THE GLBT HISTORY MUSEUM for a panel discussion entitled “THE FUTURE OF LEATHER: WHERE WE CAME FROM, WHERE WE’RE GOING” as the perfect prelude to the UP YOUR ALLEY leather fair on Sunday. San Francisco has long been known for its groundbreaking LGBTQ leather and BDSM community. In conjunction with the new “South of Market: San Francisco’s Leather Scene” display in the “QUEER PAST BECOMES PRESENT” exhibition in the GLBT History Museum�s Main Gallery, curator/historian Greg Pennington (member of the leather community since 1977) facilitated a discussion about the leather scene from the 1950s to the present and beyond. DORE ALLEY FAIR was born in 1985, soon to be renamed Up Your Alley fair. I recall that first fair when Sister Mysteria and I, in leather nun drag, filled a coffee can with donations to help fight AIDS— from attendees asking to take our pictures. It was such a successful spur of the moment fundraiser that we had to make several trips to organizers to empty our cache and fill up again and again.

Sister Dana sez, “Hey,Trump! You’re confusing calling America’s White House ‘a dump,’ with the dump you keep taking on the American people!”

2017 “UP YOUR ALLEY FAIR” & Fetish Street Festival in SoMa was July 30. Usually around 15,000 leather men and fetish enthusiasts attend, making it a smaller, but more local, event (read: fewer tourists) than the FOLSOM STREET FAIR in late September. Attendees of Up Your Alley are mostly male, mostly queer, and into BDSM; while Folsom is the more pansexual, genderdiverse fair. THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE were at the gates as ever asking for donations for charity. I was pleased to hear most attendees were very gracious in that department.

This gay male leather nun has apparently become jaded over the years since 1985, because I could find nothing to titillate my senses. Basically, there was nothing new under the sun. And because there WAS sun, there followed plenty of nudity.

Prominent leather community members, authors and scholars took part in the panel, including Gayle RuOne of my fave booths is always the bin, Jordy Tackitt-Jones, Rajat Bare Chest Calendar site, where Dutta, and Race Bannon. Exechunky bare-chested men sell and auutive Director Terry Beswick weltograph their sexy calendars in supcomed the standing room only audiport of Positive Resource Center ence. He explained that the museum & AIDS Emergency Fund. Anothis a project of the GLBT Historier traditional booth is the Steamcal Society, a research center and arworks Baths semi-naked Twistchives that collect, preserve and iner game (right hand - red) where terpret the history of GLBT people the Milton Bradley Co. would sureand the communities that support ly blush. And if you hadn’t already them. Founded in 1985, the society brought your gear for the fair, the ofmaintains one of the world’s largest ficial fair merchandise booth would collections of LGBTQ historical maoutfit you head to toe. The 11th terials. Rubin talked about the earStreet main dance stage offered muly history of leather (with a slideshow) sic and rokkin’ with your cokkin’ out! including leather bars dating back to The SF Dept of Public Health had a the ‘50s and ‘60s and their demise ring toss onto dildoes and plenty of in the ‘80s when realtors took over pamphlets for safer sex info. Mr. S SOMA. Tackitt-Jones spoke about Leather provided a Saint Andrews his book, The Mayor of Folsom Street, a Cross and a sling/table. The usual biography of Daddy Alan Selby— BDSM paraphernalia was available “a big flirt, a mentor, and a gentlefor sale everywhere. man” and daddy to many a leather The sartorial styles ranged from person. The stories brought me back birthday suits to leather, feather, feto a memory of Alan always addresstish gear to semi-drag. The only faing me lovingly as Sister Veronica— even though he knew I was Sister Dana. It was our little joke.

Dutta came from India to America at the age of 8 and came out at age 26. He shared his journey, including coming out of the closets of alcoholism and polyamory to become a proud leatherman exploring his limits. Bannon, a veteran leather expert since 1972, spoke of the proud moment he met icon Tony DeBlase, who first presented the design of the LEATHER PRIDE FLAG at the INTERNATIONAL MISTER LEATHER event in Chicago on May 28, 1989.

He exhorted everyone to create Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana, second from left) their own history. He advised with John Goldsmith, Theresa Sparks and Jasmine Gee people to check out “one of the at Lyric’s Annual Open House. best leather groups around,” San (continued on page 30) 20

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PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

MAGNE-KINK, a social event for San Francisco’s kinky queer community, was put on for the public by Race Bannon, Jared Hemming and STRUT as their fourth annual event and a warm-up for UP YOUR ALLEY weekend with our fellow queer leather and kink brethren and friends. This year’s event featured: DJ Donovan Jones (aka DJ BRD), impact scenes by Geoff Millard (Mr. San Francisco Leather 2017), bondage scenes by Jorge Vieto Jr., puppy play by San Francisco K9 Unit, raffle prizes from Mr. S Leather, Worn Out West and others, complimentary refreshments and complimentary clothes check. MagneKink took place at Strut HQ, 470 Castro Street. We also sang the “Happy Birthday Song” to Race Bannon.

From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 28 Saturday, August 19- Pink Flamingos Take Over Dolores Park @ Mission Dolores Park, 19th and Dolores Street. Dress in your best (or worst) pink flamingo costume.

1-5pm. sffuncheap.com

Monday, August 21-Broadway At The Keys: Tony Award Winner Levi Kreis @ Unity Church of San Francisco, 2222 Bush Street. An evening of piano, vocal performance and southern storytelling. 7:30pm. unitysf.com

Impassioned Whose Streets? Chronicles Black Lives Matter Activism

Film Gary M. Kramer Brittany Farrell, an African American lesbian, mother, and activist, is one of the many impassioned voices in the sobering documentary Whose Streets? Directors Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis chronicle social justice and Black Lives Matter activism in Ferguson, MO, in the wake of the tragic shooting of unarmed African American teenager Mike Brown by 28-year-old white police officer Darren Wilson. The film is largely observational, with remarkable video footage from camera phones and/or from YouTube showing how protesters mobilized—and, more importantly, were treated—in the aftermath of the August 9, 2014, killing of Mike Brown.

The film includes interviews with a handful of fascinating subjects. David Whitt, who created Copwatch to record police activity, is featured in a particularly potent scene where he displays the larger rubber bullets and casings for all of the chemical weapons, like tear gas, which he has collected during protests. Tef Poe, a local hip-hop artist, also expresses heartfelt messages about how his community is affected by police violence.

But it is Farrell who comes across best as she describes her commitment to activism, saying, “As soon as [my] community was at war, my future didn’t matter.” She put her education on hold, and emphasized that she wanted to teach her 6-year-old daughter to think for herself, resist, and participate in democracy. Watching Farrell chant, “We will continue to fight for our rights, and what we believe in … we have nothing to lose but our chains,” is truly inspiring.

The important lessons shared in Whose Streets? are delivered with urgency, taking viewers onto the streets as police attack people on their own front lawns, insisting they stay inside of their houses. Another video has an

African American woman justly arguing with cops at 10:30 pm when they try to enforce Ferguson’s midnight curfew 90 minutes early. Another scene features an African American woman, who just wants to get to her car, being told by the police that she must go back and out of her way, to avoid confrontation.

Folayan and Davis show these, and other, powerful scenes that have taken place in Ferguson, such as peaceful protests and candlelight vigils. These moments form a mosaic that shines light on the stories that have been largely uncovered by the media. One particularly poignant episode involves an attempt to keep the memorial site for Mike Brown going after there has been an effort to end it. Perhaps the most emotionally stirring moment in the film is seeing the citizens’ reactions to the disappointing decision handed down by the grand jury that Darren Wilson would not be indicted for shooting the unarmed Mike Brown.

The filmmakers also depict the rioting that happened in the city over time as waves of anger erupted there. Scenes of businesses being burned or store windows being broken are disturbing, but they vividly express the reactions African Americans in Ferguson have towards the relentless discrimination and racism that exists in their community. When one woman says that a business can be rebuilt, but a life cannot be replaced, her anger is palpable and righteous.

The protests that are organized to unify the community and give voice to the suffering are also rousing. There is a significant event staged on a highway where Farrell and others block traffic. The protest results in Farrell getting arrested. Watching her being led away in handcuffs, while her fellow protesters badger the police asking what Farrell is being charged with, is compelling. While the filmmakers show Farrell meeting with an attorney about her case, as well as her reading a particularly condemning passage of the police report against her, Whose Streets? never reveals the outcome of that particular situation, which is frustrating.

Viewers are privy to other key moments in Farrell’s life, however, from her girlfriend Alexis Templeton proposing to her, to her

daughter’s concern that her mother may be shot by the police for her activism. What makes these and other scenes resonate is how Farrell explains her outlook. She says she challenges the “ideas of normalcy … . If you are not questioning normal, you are not paying attention.” When she later describes how “liberation” motivates her, it is cathartic.

Whose Streets? will certainly appeal to viewers interested in social justice, activism, and accountability.

It may even get their blood boiling as scenes depict discrimination and racism. But the film is cogent in this era of “disrupt and resist.” The importance of Whose Streets? may excuse the film’s f laws of not creating enough of a narrative or detail about many of the interesting subjects featured. There may have been a rush to get the film out in the wake of Trump’s election. But the film is a timely reminder of a national crisis. It is also a testament to the necessity of speaking truth to power and standing up for one’s rights and against oppression, as Farrell eloquently shows. © 2017 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 S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

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The Write Stuff pen and paper. As a writer, I owe a solemn and profound debt to the great Doris Betts, who once explained that her most important job was to “pay attention.” So, I do my best to heed her advice.

Words Michele Karlsberg

Michele Karlsberg: Why did you decide to become a writer, and what is your process?

Ann McMan: It’s no irony that I refer to myself as an “accidental author.” In retrospect, it shouldn’t be surprising. I’ve always had stories to tell—or to re-tell. I am fascinated by the anecdotal tales people freely share with great eloquence in the commonest of places: in line at the post office, growing old in the waiting room at the DMV, or wrangling their kids while navigating scores of frozen chicken nuggets at the grocery store.

Everyday people in everyday places—describing in wonderfully colloquial terms, the simple richness that informs their daily lives. Little things that end up being big things because they combine to form the pastiche of experience that binds us all together like patchwork on a quilt.

So, I write. By accident, at first, but now by design. It has become my calling and my craft. I rise early every morning, carry my coffee back to my studio, and write until the sun is up and shining and until the rest of the day, with its attendant obligations, roars to life. My goal is to complete a thought—usually a scene—before I quit and resume My Regrettable Day Job.™ My trusty iMac has become my profoundest co-conspirator—although I do sometimes (because I’m an unrepentant Luddite) write longhand with

Ann McMan is the author of seven novels including her new release, “Goldenrod” (Bywater Books), and two collections of short stories. She is a 2017 recipient of the Alice B. Medal for her body of work, a four-time winner of Golden Crown Literary Society Awards, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, the recipient of a Silver Medal in the Independent Publisher (IPPY) Awards, and the recipient of the 2016 Rainbow Award for Best Lesbian Book.

Alan Lessik: Writing for me has always been based on inspiration.

When I get an idea, I mull it over in my mind for days or weeks, just letting it ferment. This period is the most crucial for me as a writer, and I don’t write anything down yet. At some point when my brain can’t contain it any longer, I will sit down at my computer and let the words flow. I write until I have nothing more to say.

When I wrote The Troubleseeker, that was six weeks, five to seven hours a day. For smaller pieces, it might be three or four hours. I have a full-time job leading a non-profit school and job training program, so fortunately for me, the evening is my most productive time to write.

Writing so quickly and intensely means the first draft is quite rough. I love the editing and rewriting process as I begin to shape the narrative and discover how to transform the raw material into a compelling story. Even my shorter pieces might go through seven to ten drafts. During this time, I always have some outside readers take a look at what I am writing to see what they find compelling or confusing. Of course, if I am working with an editor, their comments will usually push me further than I think I can go.

Then one day, I realize there is nothing more to say, no more words need to be changed and I am finished.

Alan Lessik is a writer, a zen practitioner, amateur figure skater, and LGBT activist and non-profit leader.

His debut novel, “The Troubleseeker,” was a finalist for the Publishing Triangle’s 2017 Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBTQ Fiction.

His non-fiction works include news articles published in “The Advocate,” “San Francisco Bay Guardian,” and “Frontiers.” His contribution to KQED Radio Perspectives, “Judge Not His Death” (http://ww2.kqed. org/perspectives/2014/08/13/judge-nothis-death/), was one of the most commented on in 2014.

Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity for the LGBT community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates twentyeight years of successful book campaigns.

Happy Birthday to James Holloway!

Photos by Rink

LGBT philanthropist James Holloway’s 60th Birthday was celebrated at the AIDS Health Foundation gallery space on Castro Street on Saturday, August 5. Donna Sachet and Garry Virginia were on hand to serve as emcees, and Gypsy Love, Joanie Juster and Deana Dawn welcomed guests. Former State Senator Mark Leno and Holloway’s longtime friend Cleve Jones were also there to celebrate and share memories.

1978

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR

Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade At the Legion of Honor through September 24 Best known for his depictions of Parisian dancers and laundresses, Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917) was enthralled with another aspect of modern life in the French capital: high-fashion hats and the women who created them. Degas’s fascination inspired a visually compelling and profoundly modern body of work that documents the lives of what one fashion writer of the day called “the aristocracy of the workwomen of Paris.” Despite the importance of millinery as a subject in Degas’s oeuvre, there has been little discussion of its place in Impressionist iconography, until now.

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco bring new light to the subject with the presentation of Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade.

This landmark exhibition features more than 40 Impressionist paintings and pastels, including key works by Degas, as well as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Édouard Manet, Mary Cassatt, and Henri de ToulouseLautrec. Approximately 40 spectacular examples of period hats—including nine from the Fine Arts Museums’ collections— are also displayed.

“This exhibition highlights several facets of our extensive holdings, which comprises not only exemplary paintings and drawings of French Impressionism, but also exquisite hats of the same time,” says Max Hollein, Director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums. “There have been numerous exhibitions on Degas, but this is the first to focus on his works inspired by the milliners of Paris and to present them alongside the works these artisans themselves were creating.”

Madame Pouyanne (French, active late nineteenth–early twentieth century), designer, Woman’s bonnet, ca. 1885. Label: “Mme. Pouyanne / 4 Rue de la Paix / Paris.” Wool felt, silk velvet, silk embroidery in satin stitches, and bird of paradise, cock, and other feathers, 22 x 16 x 16 cm (8 5/8 x 6 1/4 x 6 1/4 in.). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Osgood Hooker, 51.29.6. Worn by donor’s mother, Ella Goad Hooker Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Highlights include paintings from the Musée d’Orsay, the Art Institute of Chicago, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the St. Louis Museum of Art, which are displayed near hats from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. These works present the social and historical context of the millinery trade, which captivated Degas and his peers.

“Our installation not only provides new insights on paintings by familiar artists such as Degas, Renoir, and Cassatt, but it is also a remarkable opportunity to explore the intricate layers of social, economic, and gendered meaning behind the production, wearing, and depictions of hats in 19th-century French art and culture,” says Melissa Buron, associate curator of European painting for the Fine Arts Museums. “One of the project’s main themes is the changing social roles of women as both creators and consumers of these fashionable accessories.”

Madame Georgette, designer, Woman’s hat, ca. 1910. Label: “Mme. Georgette / 11 Rue Scribe / Paris.” Silk lace and cotton flowers and leaves on wire frame, 20 x 11 3/4 inches (50.8 x 29.8 cm) overall. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Pierre Fraley, 1994108-1. Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

The exhibition is the first to examine the height of the millinery trade in Paris, from around 1875 to 1914, as reflected in the art of the Impressionists and French milliners. From the start of the Third Republic until the outbreak of World War I, there were around 1,000 milliners working in what was then considered the fashion capital of the world. Degas and the Impressionists’ representations of millinery became a central theme within the broader avant-garde ambition to showcase the diversity of Parisian modern life.

“We are excited to share the Museums’ important collection of French-made hats and bonnets from this imaginative period in millinery history,” says Laura L. Camerlengo, assistant curator of costume and textile arts at the Fine Arts Museums.

“We trace the journey of these accessories from creation to wear, hoping to foster a fresh appreciation for the artistry of the milliners and their extraordinary creations, and to shed new light on their lives and the lives of their clients.”

The exhibition is organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Saint Louis Art Museum. The presentation in San Francisco is overseen by Melissa Buron, associate curator of European paintings at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and Laura L. Camerlengo, assistant curator of costume and textile arts at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Degas, Impressionism and the Paris Millinery Trade will be on view at the Legion of Honor through September 24, 2017.

In Detail The exhibition focuses on the intersection between the historical context of the Parisian millinery trade and the contemporaneous, avant-garde art of Degas and the Impressionists. Degas explored the theme of millinery in 27 works, focusing particularly on hats, their creators, and consumers. These are often radical in their experimentation with color and abstracted forms, and are central to his portrayal of women, fashion, and Parisian modern life.

Degas’s largest painting on the theme is The Millinery Shop (1879–86) from the Art Institute of Chicago. In the painting, a woman sits surrounded by six hats, reflecting on the latest fashions for spring and summer. The hats dominate the composition and offer an overview of the range of materials (ribbons, flowers, feathers) and colors (cream, aqua, oranges, greens) used in stylish hats. One bonnet (late 19th century) from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, on display in the same room—a capote toute en fleurs (“all in bloom”), lavishly embellished with ribbon, bows, and silk flowers—might have been plucked directly from Degas’s painting.

Installation view of “Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade” at the Legion of Honor, June 24 - September 24, 2017.

Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

A hat (https://art.famsf.org/womans-hat-530206) from the Fine Arts Museums’ collection, distinguished by an African starling bird with outstretched wings, speaks to the flourishing international trade in luxury materials, especially feathers, which the Parisian millinery industry helped to support.

The millinery shop was a space of fashionable commodities, but it also played host to complex social relationships among elite consumers and the various shop workers. James Tissot brings the viewer into one such establishment in The Shop Girl (1883–85), part of his ambitious series of large canvases featuring la femme à Paris. The viewer assumes the perspective of a 19th-century customer, presumably having purchased ribbon to adorn a hat, and about to exit

through the door—held open by the shop girl to the active street beyond full of men and women in hats.

The emerging, modern fashion industry was supported by the grand department stores and the network of competing, independent millinery shops located in the fashion district around the rue de la Paix. Many artists, including Degas, had studios nearby. His visits to these shops and familiarity with their products led him to create works like the pastel At the Milliner’s (1882) from the Musée d’Orsay. Another artist enraptured by the art of millinery and who was a regular visitor to the famed shop of Madame Virot was Manet. One of his late masterpieces, At the Milliner’s (1881), from the Fine Arts Muse-

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Vintage China Transforms Special Occasion Tables from the Everyday to the Exquisite

By Cherry Levin Many couples ask me why they should consider vintage china for their special occasion tabletop, and I have several rather personal and heartfelt responses to that question.

My initial reply is that vintage china reflects the uniqueness of each distinct celebration, and works to make that event exceptional. More than once, I have asked couples why they would consider using nondescript white plates for a once-in-a-lifetime event. Since couples go to great lengths to select their best clothing, search high and low for outstanding caterers to serve the best food, choose just the right wine or champagne to serve their guests, and cap off the evening with the finest dessert, why would they, if the choice was readily available, not use the “best” china?

Using vintage china evokes memories of the family’s best, not just by creating nostalgia for the past, but also by reminding us of beautiful things made by loving hands and served by caring hearts.

In addition to the sensory feelings of warmth and family that vintage china arouses, the china itself is uniquely created. The numerous hand-painted urns, scrolls, f loral borders, elegant patterns and sometimes woodland features of true vintage china have been eradicated by modern mass marketing techniques. Looking closely at a piece of Spode, Minton, Dresden, Rosenthal, Limoges, Noritake, or my favorite, Meito, (to mention only a few) reveal patterns and designs placed with careful brushstrokes.

Often, upon close inspection, we notice that the china border is also hand-painted. Again, in modern china manufacture, the thick 22-carat gold, silver, or platinum rims—distinctive markers of vintage china—have been omitted or compromised by mass production. More-

over, vintage china comes in distinctive shapes. During the 19th and early 20th century, when most china imported to the United States was made in England, France, Germany or Japan, the china-makers created a variety of unusual shapes. My favorite are the square luncheon plates. I also love the scalloped and f lutededged dinner plates, and enjoy mixing numerous plate sizes and bowls to accommodate a menu that ranges literally from soup to nuts.

Another consideration in using vintage china are the vivid colors. From deep rich tones, such as burgundy and cobalt blue, to muted tones of pastel yellow, pink and green, vintage china creates a visual color palate to compliment any special occasion. Adding beautiful stemware in either a complimentary color, or simply elegant silver or gold-rimmed clear water or wine goblets, serves to complete a tablescape developed uniquely for each event. From bohemian chic to rustic industrial, or bold & masculine to simply elegant, vintage china will take your special occasion table from the everyday to the exquisite.

Cherry Levin is the founder of Cherry’s Vintage Rentals (http://cherrysveryvintagerentals.com/). She brings her knowledge as a professional wedding planner to her vintage rental company, and is known among wedding industry professionals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Levin has worked in a variety of venues an d with num e ro u s event designers, planners, florists, and other vendors.

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

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

© Randy Coleman, 2017

As Heard on the Street . . . Name an LGBT community leader who you think is under-appreciated and should be recognized more for their achievements. compiled by Rink

Gypsy Love

Joanie Juster

Philip Ruth

Gretchen Fleischman

Camille Maran

“Gary Virginia”

“Joe Mac”

“Donna Sachet”

“Peter Poulos”

“James Holloway”

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Crunch the Crunch Crunches basically train your body into poor posture. Isn’t it nice to know you can let go of thinking you should be doing them? The other downside to crunches is that to do them properly, you really need to be lying on your back on a hard surface. I know lots of people, who for lots of reasons, don’t want to lie down on the f loor and many who actually can’t lie down on the floor. What to do instead?

Easy Fitness Cinder Ernst This is the third article in a series about strengthening your core. So far, we’ve discussed core anatomy, we’ve discovered that you can’t spot reduce, and that the pelvic tilt is the #1 ab exercise to master. Check the San Francisco Bay Times archives online for more details.

Today I’m making a case for not crunching. A traditional abdominal crunch is done lying on your back with knees bent and hands behind your head, and then curling your upper back up off the surface. It’s like the beginning of a sit up. The crunching motion does work your abdominal muscles, but crunches also contribute to poor posture.

Here’s what I mean. You know how we do a lot of activities in life that have our shoulders round forward, such as reading, computing and driving? Those activities create posture positions that lead to neck, upper back and shoulder pain. That forward (slumping) posture can also create a hump in your back. (Coming soon: The Posture Perfect, Anti-Hump Training Series). When you think about the motion of a crunch, can you see that it contributes to that shoulders forward position? Crunches can also exacerbate neck pain.

Take Me Home with You!

The pelvic tilt is the starting point for ab training that supports good posture and creates core strength so you can be more mobile and have more fun. Check the archives for directions, or search YouTube for pelvic tilt or Tush Tilt. The pelvic tilt is kind of like a crunch from the bottom of your abdominal wall. The good news is that when you crunch from the bottom, that motion can relieve lower back stiffness while you strengthen your core. Win, win win!

Beginners, start with a basic pelvic tilt on the floor or bed or look up Tush Tilt on YouTube for a chair version.

More advanced exercisers can increase the challenge of the pelvic tilt in these ways: Table Top Tilt: Assume the position, then raise your bent legs into a table top position. You want right angles from hip to knee and from knee to foot, so your knees will be directly over your hips, adding the weight of your legs as resistance to the pelvic tilt. Keep the move small and controlled. If the table top position is too hard, bring your knees closer to your chest and/or bend your knees. Bending your knees shortens the lever and decreases the difficulty.

Dead Bug: Assume the Table Top Tilt position. Do a pelvic tilt and hold it.

Before you add in the Dead Bug legs, practice holding the pelvic tilt in this position while you breathe regularly.

Breathing while you perform a sus-

tained pelvic tilt is a great skill. When you are comfortable holding Table Top with a sustained tilt, then add in Dead Bug legs by slowly straightening one leg forward while you keep a strong pelvic tilt (meaning your spine stays “glued” to the floor or surface while you straighten). Only go as far as you can while keeping your back down. You may have to work up to straightening your leg all the way.

Start by doing one leg at a time. A more advanced version is to move your legs in opposing directions—one going out as the other is coming back to table top. This is where the Dead Bug name comes from.

Build slowly from where you are, in terms of physical fitness. Pay attention to how the exercises feel for you. No particular set of exercises is right for everybody. Find what’s right for you.

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

Azúcar Con Aché Farewell Concert

Lucy

“My name is Lucy! I’ve been called a sweet and sensitive soul. My dream home would be somewhere quiet, where I have lots of room to run and play.

Fetch, long walks, and meeting new people are my favorite activities! I’d love to enjoy these last few weeks of summer with you.”

August 27, 2017

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

Farewell Concert for the Beloved Women’s Salsa Band

To meet Lucy and other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit:

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Tickets: thefreight.org youtube.com/watch?v=NUL9IHP4uV4

Aside from major holidays, the adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–6 pm and Sat–Sun: 10 am–5 pm. Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt!

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2020 Addison Street, Berkeley

Video:

San Francisco SPCA Mission Campus 250 Florida Street San Francisco 94103 415-522-3500

For more information: sfspca.org/adopt

Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup AU GU ST 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Azúcar Con Aché — which the band translates as “sweetness with powerful blessings” — is a multicultural mix of dynamic women playing highenergy Latin jazz and spicy salsa.

Drawing on a wealth of musical traditions from Africa, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Brazil, the band plays creatively arranged standards and tasty originals, singing in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. They have performed at the Fillmore Jazz Festival, the Multicultural Community Center’s Night of Cultural Resistance, the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ Annual Gala celebration, and the San Francisco Dyke March, among others. With Remy Rodriguez on piano; María Cora on lead vocals; Maria Cetto on lead vocals and cuatro; Robin Nzingah Smith on saxophone; Sue “Suki” Kaye, Judy Graboyes, and Michaelle Goerlitz on percussion; and Mwamba Blakwomyn on bass.

San Francisco Bay Times team members have enjoyed many performances by this group and wish them all the best!

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Calendar of Upcoming Events sfbaytimes.com Compiled by Blake Dillon

10 : Thursday Dee’s Keys Piano Bar @ Beaux, 2344 Market Street. A weekly happy hour and live piano bar welcoming singers and featuring Dr. Dee Spencer at the Piano. 4-8pm. beauxsf.com The Mathematics of Love @ Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street. The newest play from awardwinning Chicana playwright Cherrie Moraga spanning five centuries of indigenous history. 7pm; also August 27, 3pm. brava.org LGBTQ Portraits: A Queer Historical Perspective @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. Artist Lenore Chinn with Tirza Latimer, Pamela Peniston and Rudy Lemcke will discuss how LGBTQ artists and sitters have queered the convention of the portrait plus the importance of portraiture. 7-9pm. glbthistory.org

Castro Community on Patrol Training @ Chase Bank Community Room, 2122 15th Street. Held monthly on 2nd Thursdays, the training introduces volunteers to the Patrol Training Model with community leaders in safety and security roles. 8-9:30pm. castropatrol.org

11 : Friday Opening Reception for the Annual Exhibit @ Harvey Milk Photo Center, 50 Scott Street. A collection of images using various media by the Center’s members, staff and volunteers.5-8pm; exhibit August 11-October 7. harveymilkphotocenter.org 5th Annual Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival @ Dance Mission Theater, 3316 24th Street. Urban Jazz Dance Company presents Deaf

United Louder 2017, featuring an international line-up of performers.

8pm on August 11 & 12; 4pm on August 13. realurbanjazzdance.com Queerly Tèhuäntin | Cuir Us Opening Reception @ Galeria de la Raza, 2857 24th Street. A celebration of the new exhibit, exploring the struggle to express nonconventional sexualities and nonnormative gender identities among Mexican or Chicanx and queer or “cuir” individuals. 6:30-9:30pm. galeriadelaraza.org Outside Lands 2017 @ Golden Gate Park. The 10th Anniversary of the annual three-day music festival (August 11-13) featuring Metallica, The Who and more. thespacelab.tv

12 : Saturday The Rosie Rally: Guinness Book of World Records Event @ Craneway Pavilion, Ford Assembly Plant, 1414 Harbour Way South, Richmond. An attempt to break the world record for “The Largest Gathering of People Dressed as a Rosie the Riveter” (10am-12pm) followed by the Home Front Festival (12pm-7pm) with The Klipptones, USS Potomac and more. rosietheriveter.org Queer Open Studios Reception @ Openhouse, 65 Laguna Street. Five queer senior artists open a new exhibit (August 12-25). 1-4pm. openhouse-sf.org Family Dog Rescue – Castro @ 18th and Castro. Weekly mobile adoption event on Saturdays.123pm. wearefamilydog.com

13 : Sunday Love! In The Castro @ Jane Warner Plaza, 17th and Castro. The Castro Business District’s series of live events continues with a Summer of Love-themed one featuring Velocity Circus, Mama Mia, d’Bruzzi & Friends, Miss Shugana & the House of Glitter, DJ Jimmy Strano and Castro Flaggers. 12-2pm. castrocbd.org Binda’s Big Birthday Bash with Pam & Jeri @ Muir Beach Community Center, 19 Seascape Drive, Muir Beach. Potluck lunch plus music and dancing. 12pm. lcampbell731@gmail.com Doing It In the Name of Love, Brothers Unite @ Aunt Charlie’s Lounge, 133 Turk Street. A benefit show supporting the Brotherhood of Emperors Annual Cemetery Pilgrimage hosted by Absolute Empresses Renita Valdez and Misty Blue. 4-7pm. imperialcouncilsf.org Lady Gaga Joanne World Tour @ AT&T Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza. The superstar’s tour comes to SF. 7pm. att.parksanfrancisco.com 28

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14 : Monday It Ain’t Just Genre! Book Readings @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street. Perfectly Queer Reading Series welcomes authors Ralph Josiah Bradsley, Tim Floreen and Bonnie J. Miller to read and discuss their new books. 7pm. dogearedbooks.com Picturing Kinship: Portraits of Our Community Exhibit @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. Photos and paintings by artist Lenore Chinn featuring her work depicting individuals who have contributed to the diversity of the SF cultural landscape. 11am-6pm Monday-Saturday; 12noon-6pm Sunday through September 18. glbthistory.org Flower Power Exhibit @ Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin Street.

Continuing through October 1.

With the role of flowers as symbols of peace during the Summer of Love, the exhibit looks at flowers in Asian art through the symbolism of the lotus, plum blossom, cherry blossom, chrysanthemum, tulip and rose. asianart.org

15 : Tuesday Castro Rotary Club Meeting @ The Sausage Factory, 517 Castro Street. The organization’s monthly meeting welcomes guest speaker John Kaufman from H2OpenDoors. portal.clubrunner.ca/13807 Nightly Illuminated Scenes in Golden Gate Park Inspired

by Rare Tropical Flowers @ Conservatory of Flowers, 100 JF Kennedy Drive. A public display of a light art installation every night through October at approximately 9:15pm. conservatoryofflowers.org La Cage Aux Folles @ SF Playhouse, 450 Post Street. A musical revival by Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman of the Tony Awardwinning musical celebrating love, romance and being true to who you really are. Tuesdays-Sundays through September 16. sfplayhouse.org

16 : Wednesday Smack Dab Open Mic @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street. Co-hosts Dana Hopkins and Larry-bob Roberts welcome Pashtuna writer Kirin Khan discussing her work in multiple genres on issues such as immigration, violence and belonging. 7:30pm. dogearedbooks.com Elvis Presley Tribute @ MakeOut Room, 3225 22nd Street.

Observing the 40th anniversary of The King’s passing, SF Elvis All Star Band performs with Leigh Crow as Elvis Herselvis and DJs Shindog and Cammy presenting Elvis music and videos. 8pm-1:30am. makeoutroom.com

17 : Thursday Butch Voices National Conference 2017 @ Oakstop, 1721 Broadway, Oakland. A four-day conference (August 17-20) including workshops, performances, networking, keynote speakers and more. butchvoices.com MAX 3rd Thursday Happy Hour @ Beaux, 2344 Market Street. Gay men and friends meet for conversation, food and piano performances. 5-8pm. maxsf.org Feline NightLife LIVE: July @ California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, 55 Music Concourse Drive. The weekly CAS NightLife presents an evening for cat lovers to proclaim the love of all things feline. The event will feature a cat video festival, the internet’s funniest feline antics, SF SPCA’s Kitten Coral, discussion by Cat Man of West Oakland and more. 6-10pm. calacademy.org LGBTQ Alumni Mixer @ Raven Bar & Lounge, 1151 Folsom Street. A monthly cocktail mixer hosted by alumni of Ivy League and other colleges. 6:30-8:30pm. president@sfpennclub.com Drag Queen Bingo: Portola Prom @ El Toro Nightclub, 2470 San Bruno Avenue. Hosted by Pollo Del Mar, the Portola Neighborhood Association’s prom will crown its Prom Queen and King. 7-11pm. portolasf.org Comedy Returns to El Rio’s @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street.

Hosted by Lisa Geduldig, featuring Bob McIntyre, Carla Clayy, Kat Evasco, and Ian Williams at the popular Mission bar each month on 3rd Thursdays. 8pm. elriosf.com

18 : Friday Older & Out @ North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Avenue, Berkeley. Group discussions on topics such as dating, loss of friends, going back in the closet to survive, dealing with exes and children, aging and loneliness and Alameda County services. Info: anne@pacificcenter.org or 510-548-8283 ext 126.

Blues Is A Woman @ Custom Make Theatre, 533 Sutter Street.

Pamela Rose and her band, including Tammy Hall, Daria Johnson, Ruth Davies, Kristen Strom, Shaunna Hall and Pat Wilder present a concert on the history of American women blues artists. Thursdays-Sundays through August 27. custommake.org

19 : Saturday Outward Bound City Skyline Challenge @ Hilton San Francisco Union Square, 333 O’Farrell Street. Join Castro Rotary

Club members volunteering in support of the 2-day fundraiser. 7:30am12pm. portal.clubrunner.ca/13807 Pink Flamingos Take Over Dolores Park @ Mission Dolores Park, 19th and Dolores Street.

Hosted by Eliza Chu, the event will recreate a famous photo of flamingos in the park, so dress in your best (or worst) pink flamingo costume and picnic with friends. 1-5pm. sffuncheap.com Oakland LGBTQ Center Volunteer Workshop @ Multipurpose Room, 3207 Lakeshore Avenue, 2nd Floor, Oakland. The organization’s leaders offer trainings for volunteers wishing to support Oakland’s first ever multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, intergenerational LGBGTQ community center. 1:303pm. oaklandlgbtqcenter.org OutWest Dance @ Wischemann Hall, 465 Morris Street, Sebastopol.

Sonoma County’s monthly LGBTQ & Str8 partner and line dancing with lessons, east & west coast swing, country waltz, nightclub two-step and line dancing. 6:30-8pm Lessons/810pm Dancing. outwestdance.com

Summer of Love Exhibit @ ArtHaus, 411 Brannan Street. A 50th Anniversary celebration exhibit of multiple media works curated by James Bacchi and Annette Schutz featuring gallery artists. TuesdaysSaturdays thru September 30. arthaus-sf.com

23 : Wednesday Tapata Trivia Round UP! @ Wild Side West, 424 Courtland Avenue. Host Kit Tapata presents a trivia competition weekly on Wednesdays, mixed with music and live improv, at the popular Bernal Heights location. 7-9pm. tapatatwins.com Perfectly Queer East Bay: Dispatches from Lesbian America @ Nomadic Press, 2301 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. Readings

and book signings by anthology contributors Joan Annsfire, Xequina Maria Berber, Biovanna Capone and Bev Jo. nomadicpress.org The Art and Science of Pinball Exhibition @ Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. A unique exhibit featuring 35 machines, interactive elements and programs celebrating the 200 years of pinball evolution.10am-5pm. Wednesday – Sunday through September 24. chabotspace.org Vickie Randle and Friends @ The Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany. Julie Wolf, Katie Colpitts and Kofy Brown, Gina Villalobos, and Amee Chapman join Randle at the lesbian-owned bar.

9pm. ivyroom.com

More Listings at sfbaytimes.com

Hella Gay – Still Summer! @ The Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. An evening of dance with multiple DJs at one of Oakland’s hottest clubs. 9pm2am. uptownightclub.com

20 : Sunday Trails of the City “Back to Barbary Lane” Walking Tour & Lunch @ 28 Macondray Lane. A three-hour walking tour led by Lorenzo Taylor of MAX, featuring breathtaking views, architectural gems and locations in Tales of the City, followed by lunch. 10-2pm. maxsf.org Dance at The Barge with Stephanie Teel @ Sausalito Cruising Club, 300 Napa Street, Sausalito. Teel’s popular dance event perennially drawing a large crowd of lesbians. 6:30-9pm. sausalitocruisingclub.org 4th Annual Best of LezWrites – Radical Hope & New Resistance @ Potrero Stage, 1695 18th Street. Performances of short humorous pieces on political issues from the LBTQ perspective. 7:30pm.

3girlstheatre.org

21 : Monday The Seen: What You Would Have Seen on Haight Street in 1967 @ SF Public Library Park Branch, 1833 Page Street. An exhibit of then and now photos providing a walk down memory lane of the Haight-Ashbury scene from 1967.

Through December 7. sfpl.org Broadway At The Keys: Tony Award Winner Levi Kreis @ Unity Church of San Francisco, 2222 Bush Street. An evening of piano and vocal performance and southern storytelling by the Broadway star.

7:30pm. unitysf.com Something Rotten @ SHN Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market Street. The story of Nick and Nigel Bottom’s struggle for recognition up against the absurdly popular William Shakespeare. Multiple dates through September 10. orpheumtheatersanfrancsico.org

22 : Tuesday Jefferson Airplane: A Deep Dive Film & Discussion @ SF Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin Street. Rodney Paul leads the discussion of the band’s evolution and participation in the Summer of Love and other events of the 1960s. 6-8pm. sfpl.org

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NEWS (continued from page 5) this year, barricades were deployed to deter homeless encampments from butting against its perimeter, but they were later removed by the City after it was discovered that the fencing didn’t comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Library off icials and Public Works initiated a landscaping redesign project to mitigate community concerns regarding homelessness, litter accumulation, safety and aesthetics around the Castro branch library. Phase 1 of the project is currently underway on the 16th and Prosper facing side of the library.

Phase 1 will feature cobbled paving and boulders, instead of mulch, and drought-tolerant agave, rather than bushy shrubs. The initial phase of the library’s landscaping overhaul will be completed in September. Phase 2— which will include improvements to the parking lot, sidewalks and small plaza adjacent to Pond Street—will begin soon after Phase 1 is finished. hoodline.com Market Street to Restrict Private Vehicles, Install Protected Bike Lanes Changes are coming to Market Street. The thoroughfare will soon ban private vehicles, including ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber.

Instead, the street could see protect-

ed bike and public transportation-only lanes. The initiative is part of the $604 million Better Market Street project. In the works for years, the project is set to bring pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation improvements to 2.2 miles of one of the City’s busiest streets, between Octavia Boulevard and the Embarcadero. Once the project is completed, plans include restricting private vehicles from certain portions of the street. Market between 10th Street and the Embarcadero could only see commercial vehicles, buses and the historic F-Line streetcars. Private vehicles, including ride-share vehicles, are already restricted from turning onto Market from 3rd to 8th Streets.

A study last year showed that the restrictions improved pedestrian safety and reduced speeding and other risky driving behaviors. The changes even had a positive impact on Mission Street, which also saw a reduction in risky driving behaviors. City officials want Market Street to become the premier cultural, civic and economic center of the City. hoodline.com Oakland A’s Outfielder Matt Joyce Suspended for Two Games After Calling Fan AntiGay Slur

Oakland Athletics outf ielder Matt Joyce used an anti-gay slur in an exchange with a fan during a game against the L.A. Angels. As Joyce returned to the dugout, he uttered several profanities at the fan, called him an anti-gay slur and challenged him to fight, according to AP photographer Mark J. Terrill, who overheard the exchange. Terrill said he did not hear the first part of the exchange.

Joyce said after the game. “I was walking back to the dugout and just had a fan yell some vulgar and obscene words. For me, it just wasn’t the right time to say some stuff like that.

I fired back, and obviously as soon as you fire back, you regret saying anything, because it’s just not worth it.”

Joyce was suspended for two games because of the slur. In May, Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar was also suspended for two games after yelling an anti-gay slur at Braves pitcher Jason Motte. Following his suspension, Pillar apologized, saying he was “completely and utterly embarrassed” by his actions. towleroad.com Now Free, City College Enrolling Students for Fall 2017 If you were a state resident on or before August 18, 2016, there is good news: You are eligible to enroll in free

classes at San Francisco City College this coming semester. The Free City Program is the first of its kind in the country to offer universal, free higher education to City residents. Voters approved legislation last November that taxed luxury property sales to help pay for residents’ tuition. “What I’m really excited about is that we are the first city to offer a program like this for anyone regardless of age, income, and grade point average,” said District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim. Free City is for all San Franciscans; homeless residents and foster youth who meet the residency requirement also qualify. New and returning students will simply fill out registration materials as in semesters past with no added paperwork. hoodline.com Out & Equal Searches for New CEO As founder and CEO Selisse Berry steps out of her day-to-day role in the Out & Equal organization, they are looking for the next dynamic leader who will lead one of the world’s premier nonprofit organizations dedicated to achieving LGBTQ workplace equality. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will provide vision and strategic leadership for Out & Equal. The CEO will have se-

nior managerial expertise, financial knowledge and experience, and will oversee the financial stability of Out & Equal. outandequal.org GGBA Wins Big in Las Vegas Earlier this month, nearly 50 Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) members from the City, North, South and East Bay, including 11 Board Members and many Corporate Partners, attended the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) International Business & Leadership Conference in Las Vegas. “All of us were there to make the most of this tremendous opportunity to come together to build our businesses, make lifelong connections and to learn and grow as LGBTQ leaders and entrepreneurs,” said Dawn Ackerman, GGBA President. “The GGBA in partnership w ith our friends and colleagues at the NGLCC and the 57 other Affiliate Chambers across the country and around the world, continuously works to create new opportunities, forward thinking, educational programming and to facilitate and make the connections that our members want and need to be successful and to help their businesses thrive.” ggba.com

ROSTOW (continued from page 11) sorry and claimed it came out in the heat of an argument, etc. I think my indifference has something to do with Trump. I have been forced to shift my level of outrage, and outbursts from people like Matt Joyce don’t top the bar anymore.

In other news of scant interest out of California, Doug Manchester is reportedly in line for U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas, which is what nearly a million bucks in GOP campaign contributions will get you these days, I suppose. If the name rings a bell, as it should, it’s because Manchester and his San Diego hotels were the subject of a GLBT boycott after the man gave six figures to the anti-marriage Prop 8 campaign back in 2008.

Speaking to a Senate panel for his confirmation the other day, Manchester said he regretted coughing up big bucks for the marriage ban, insisting that he did it as a favor to Catholic mucky mucks, and that now he is 100 percent in favor of marriage equality.

Okay then! Ambassador to the Bahamas? Really? I hope he gets sea lice.

Circuit Circus I’ve been mildly confused by the goings on in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit when it

comes to (Title VII) cases of workplace discrimination against gay employees. Like many federal appellate courts, the Second Circuit has a binding precedent in place that dictates against gay or lesbian plaintiffs.

The only way to overcome this kind of precedent is for the full appellate court, a half dozen or more judges depending on the circuit, to hear a case and reverse their old precedent. And, of course, the Supreme Court can overturn old case law as well.

I’ve had no problem with the more straightforward Title VII cases. Since Title VII bans sex discrimination on the job, we’ve been arguing that gay and trans bias is at heart another version of impermissible sex discrimination. As I mentioned, we have to surmount bad case law while we make our case, but we’re doing well. In the (Midwestern-based) U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the full court overturned its own precedent to rule that, yes, sexual orientation discrimination is against federal law. That case went back to lower court for further litigation on the merits.

In the Eleventh Circuit (Florida, Georgia, Alabama), however, a three-

judge panel ruled against a lesbian plaintiff, but the entire court declined to review the case. Here, our lawyers at Lambda Legal plan to appeal this case to the Supreme Court at their earliest opportunity.

Why, I ask myself, do I even need to figure out what’s going on in the Second Circuit (New York, Connecticut and Vermont) considering we’ve got a case en route to the nine justices?

Well, I’ll tell you in a minute.

I’m not sure how many federal judges in the Second Circuit have ruled on gay Title VII cases, but two such cases have reached the three-judge appellate level, and they’ve had somewhat different outcomes. The full court declined to hear the case of a gay ad executive, but then they turned around and accepted review of a deceased sky diving instructor, who may or may not have filed the necessary paperwork to pursue a Title VII case in the first place.

The sky diver, Donald Zarda, died BASE jumping in Switzerland in 2014, but his litigation lives on. Now, the Trump Justice Department has filed a friend of the court brief arguing that Title VII does not cover gay or lesbian victims of discrimina-

tion, exactly opposite of the stance taken by the Obama administration. Making matters more confusing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a brief that takes the pro-gay position which the agency has held for many years now. I gather that the Commission still has a majority of Obama-appointed commissioners, and that— you guessed it—that status quo will not last forever. As soon as Trump commissioners take control, we can expect the EEOC (which interprets Title VII) will flip over to an antigay stance.

Confusing!

Bottoms Up Everyone’s back and they are preparing to go for late afternoon “tea” on an outdoor patio at the charming hotel on the high street! I have exactly 23 minutes to finish my column if I am to join them, and yet my remaining news items all revolve around Title IX cases. Title IX cases are confusing sex discrimination lawsuits, much like the Title VII cases, except the protagonists emerge from our public schools and colleges. If I go down that road, I’ll be two more hours at least and I will forego the li-

bations and family camaraderie. I am here with my wife, step daughter, sonin-law and granddaughters. (The six of us are a dangerous subgroup amid our larger extended family.)

But seriously, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (even the damn name is confusing) prohibits sex discrimination in public schools and has been construed to prohibit transgender bias in the process. It is this law that protects transgender students against barred bathroom doors, and it is this law that was at stake in the aborted case of Gavin Grimm, a student who was about to present his case to the Supreme Court when the Trump administration upset the apple cart with new agency directives.

Gavin Grimm is now at risk of graduating before his case is decided.

Meanwhile, keep an eye on a similar ruling out of the Seventh Circuit, where transgender student Ashton Whitaker won the right to use the facilities at his Wisconsin high school.

That case may be appealed to the High Court next session. arostow@aol.com

SISTER DANA (continued from page 20) mous DQ I saw was the always delightful Muthah Chuckah. I saw a t-shirt saying: “Gag on my [emoji of an eggplant].” I spied a guy wearing nothing but an apron with the phrase on it: “Our Dad’s the Greatest!” I don’t think he was doing BBQ, and I very much doubt this was an actual biological father. But my favorite t-shirt of all said quite succinctly: “Mighty Gay.” My feelings exactly!

“REUNION: A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION” was the elaborate 60th birthday party of James Holloway, who said on the invitation to his friends: “You are invited to come and remember the fun and fellowship we have had together along the way. Please join with me in celebrating KANREKI, the 60th milepost birthday Japanese style. With Kanreki, we get to return to the joy and freedom of childhood, which sounds good to me!” Gary Virginia and Donna Sachet co-hosted at the ARTSAVESLIVES Castro studio and performance space run by artist 30

SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S

in residence Thomasina De Maio.

The studio was ornately decorated in a red and yellow theme—including balloons, lanterns, and curtains. On stage left was the Japanese symbol for love, and on stage right the symbol for peace. And center stage was a large symbol of Kanreki. Holloway acknowledged the presence of Mark Leno and Cleve Jones—among the celebrities. Donna outfitted James in a fancy samurai sort of red sparkly vest and matching cap. Later on, she added a lovely pair of red high heels “to elevate James to even greater heights,” as she wittily put it. Deana Dawn took the stage dressed as a beautiful geisha to lip sync “Fujiyama Mama” by Wanda Jackson— strutting that stage and waving her fan; followed by “Let’s Have a Party.”

Virginia gave a recitation of James’ impressive bio—all the boards he’s served on, all the honors, all the titles from Mr. September 2004 Bare Chest Calendar guy to Krewe de Kinque co-founder and King. Donna AU GU ST 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

took the stage again to sing an emotional “It Had to be You.” James then told a story of his life while weaving snippets of 16 songs from each era to musically illustrate. He topped it all off with a sing-along that we all sang, “Top of the World” with truly meaningful lyrics: “I’m on the top of the world lookin’ down on creation. And the only explanation I can find. Is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around.” That could only be followed by a huge sheet cake and us gaily singing the “Happy Birthday Song.”

SISTER DANA SEZ, “HERE ARE SOME ‘AUGUST’ EVENTS YOU MIGHT WANT TO ATTEND. ‘AUGUST’ AS IN ‘IMPRESSIVE,’ NOT JUST THE MONTH OF THE YEAR, Y’ALL!” ARTSAVESLIVES STUDIO AND PERFORMANCE SPACE is presenting the AUGUST RECEPTION AND PARTY at the gallery

at 518 Castro and 18th Street on August 11, 6–9 pm, free admission with complimentary food and drink. Studio curator Thomasina De Maio will be featuring more than 20 local artists such as Christopher Wood, William O. Webster III, Michael Lownie, Antonio Castellanos, Ed Terpening, Bill Haught, Daniel Lawrence Carniglia, Fr. John Takahashi, and Wil Fredo Santana—among others. Offering live entertainment will be Magnolia Black, Leigh Crow, Claudio, and many others to delight the spirit and the soul. De Maio tells me that the manager of Blick, Tim McLaughlin, has generously contributed many assorted art supplies for artists’ use at De Maio’s regular Wednesday & Thursday 6–9 pm live model sessions at the studio. Sister Dana attends these regularly, in an attempt to sketch different figures in various poses. Do NOT look for these drawings in the exhibits. They are not worthy. Totes newbie! sfartslave.com

SAN FRANCISCO ELVIS ALL STARS is a live band performing on Wednesday, August 16, as an Elvis Presley Tribute Celebration (40th Anniversary of the King’s passing) at Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street.

Enjoy Elvis Presley songs with musicians Hank Maninger, Mitch Polzak, and Les James, with guest vocalists Elvis Herselvis (Leigh Crow), Fiona Ma, and Ben FongTorres. Best pelvis-shaking contest, photo booth to take pictures with the King, and Elvis midnight snack with peanut butter and banana sandwich bites served. facebook.com/ events/236789966820243/ “WHEN WE BECOME RAVENS” is the current art exhibition of black & white photos by Jordan Joel Pennock at Strut, 470 Castro Street, for the month of August. The Art at Strut program has been exhibiting the work of a local Gay or Queer artist once a month for over 13 years. (continued on page 31)

SISTER DANA (continued from page 30) “When we Become Ravens” explores the radical queer self, gender queer expression, and the power of the radical flamboyant man,” explains Pennock. “Mixed media portraits document the tragedy, the courage, and ultimately the beauty of queer magic.” Pennock is a practicing artist living in the Bay Area. He moved to the City from a rural coastal town in 2004 to earn a bachelor of science degree from UC Berkeley. Currently working in both visual and performing arts, he spends his time training, dancing, performing, and creating new works. His classical training in analogue photography started in high school where he received multiple awards and acknowledgements. He is completing a documentary photography project he has been working on for 10 years called “The Little River Beach House is Burning.” His photographic work tends to center around

environmental portraiture, documentary, and fine art. While aesthetics and beauty are very important to him, themes around people, perseverance over hardship, community, and personal empowerment through faith are major themes in his work.

Some of my faves are “Philip Robert Chamin, Mendocino 2017” in his pretty pink mini-dress; “Nathan & Alan, Mendocino 2017” in their lovely bridal dresses and veils; and of course, who doesn’t love “Grace Towers, San Francisco 2016”?! In many of the B&W photos, the artist has added a little color post-production by hand in pink and purple tones.

There are nearly 50 photos in all.

For any interested queer artists, the deadline for submission or your pieces to be displayed at Strut is August 31. At the Friday reception, Baruch Porras-Hernandez, Communi-

ty Organizer, introduced the photographer. Pennock said, “We are in perilous times, scary times, but also great times to be more and more progressive than ever here in the Bay Area.”

THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE will host their annual PROJECT NUNWAY charity fashion show on Saturday, August 19, at SOMArts, 934 Brannan Street. On its 8th edition, Project Nunway features talented fashion designers paired up with some very special models—us Sisters—to create outstanding runway looks using recycled and innovative materials. The theme for this year is “SINFINITY,” which plays with the idea of a sci-fi extravaganza, celebrating fashion, diversity and the Arts in a true San Franciscan way. To Sinfinity … and beyond! Special guest judges will choose the winning design

with the help of the audience. This year’s beneficiary is EL/LA PARA TRANSLATINAS, an organization for transgender Latinas that works to build collective vision and action to promote survival and improve the quality of life of transgender people in the San Francisco Bay Area. Join the Sisters and the designers for a night filled with cosmic glamour! Tix and info at https://goo.gl/s5s2ds The RICHMOND/ERMET AID FOUNDATION (REAF) presents HELP IS ON THE WAY 23 – Puttin’ On The Glitz, celebrating music, legends & icons, their 23rd Annual Gala as a benefit for Meals on Wheels of San Francisco, & Positive Resource Center on Sunday, August 20, at Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue. VIP Gala Reception: 5 pm (Green Room), Performance: 7:30 pm; Club REAF

After Party with cast: 9:45–11:30 pm (music by DJ’s GoBANG!). Scheduled to appear: Levi Kress, Trent Harmon, Jessica Sanchez, Maureen Mcgovern, David Burnham, Lisa Vroman, Carole Cook, Garrett Clayton, Maddie Baillio, Paula West, Jason Brock, Lisa Viggiano, and Eileen & Leah Bourgade. “Help is on the Way” is Northern California’s largest annual benefit concert benefiting HIV/AIDS and hunger programs.

It’s an elegant evening of wonderful music, delicious food and beverages tastings and, most of all, fun. reaf-sf.org Sister Dana sez, “Gee, what a really novel plan to invite the Democrats into the previously secret draft of a possibly partisan participation in the national health care plan. Note: the preceding was stated in heavy sarcasm. Get a clue, Repugnicans!”

CURATED (continued from page 23) ums’ collection, is an anchor of the exhibition and presents what may be a millinery shop within a domestic space, treated with masterful brushwork.

These complex depictions of modern life are accompanied by a generous selection of flowered and ribboned hats.

The artificial flower trade of the time was so robust that there were an estimated 24,000 flower-makers working in Paris to create botanically accurate flowers: sumptuous silk roses, leaves, and ferns for hats created by Maison Virot, and lifelike imitation geraniums for those by Camille Marchais.

Plumed or feathered hats are also on display, including an ostrich-featheradorned design by Jeanne Lanvin, whose couture house began as a millinery workshop. Another hat, by Madame Pouyanne, is a myriad of tex-

tures and colors created by an artful arrangement of various feathers. In the same gallery are painted depictions of similar hats, including Cassatt’s Portrait of Madame J (Young Woman in Black) (1883), which showcases an elegant feathered and veiled creation, and Degas’s Woman Viewed from Behind (Visit to a Museum) (ca. 1879– 85), which depicts a fashionable woman crowned in the plumage of her hat, absorbed in contemplation in the Grande Galerie of the Louvre.

Men’s hats, though more subdued in their materials than some women’s hats, were an essential part of the urbane flâneur’s outfit and are included in the exhibition as well. These hats held strong undercurrents of masculine privilege. Over the course of his career, Degas showed an acute awareness of the role a hat played in fash-

MILLER (continued from page 19) make sense to have the higher-earning spouse delay claiming until he or she qualifies for the highest possible benefit.

Collecting benefits as late as possible Starting on his or her 70th birthday, a person can begin collecting the maximum benefit. Knowing this, a husband who is the highest-earning spouse waits until turning 70 to first collect Social Security, generating income of $3,224 per month. That is 32 percent higher than the $2,450 monthly benefit he qualified for at full retirement age.

If you choose to keep working, or you rely on your savings until you claim at age 70, you will qualify to receive the maximum monthly benefit. After age 70, the maximum amount does not change, so there is no reason to delay collecting beyond your 70th birthday. Waiting to claim may make sense if you plan to continue working later in life or if you have sufficient assets to satisfy your income needs once you retire without risking your long-term financial security.

ioning identity, including in his own self-portraits. Bowlers like the one worn by Zacherie Zacharian in Degas’s Portrait of Zacharian (ca. 1885) carried working-class associations, but also conveyed bohemian status for artists and intellectuals. Top hats, on the other hand—like one created

by E. Motsch also on view in the gallery—were once ubiquitous but by the 1870s generally were worn only by the middle and upper classes, and by the 1890s were considered formalwear.

Fur felts and silk “hatter’s plush” were used in top hats, but humbler materials like straw were used for canotiers, or boaters, like the one worn by Berthe Morisot’s husband (and Manet’s brother) in her painting Eugène Manet on the Isle of Wight (1875).

The final section of the exhibition focuses on hats from the early 20th cen-

tury and Degas’s late millinery works, the latter brought together here for the first time. By the 1890s, these works had become increasingly abstract and colorful, as evidenced by Degas’s The Milliners (ca. 1882–before 1905) from the J. Paul Getty Museum and presented exclusively in San Francisco’s installation. At first glance, the painting, Degas’s most somber portrayal of the millinery industry, seems similar to The Millinery Shop (1879–86), at the start of the exhibition. A technical study of the Getty’s painting revealed that Degas transformed his original composition: three hat stands hold amorphous forms in the foreground; these were once meticulously painted still-life objects, but Degas decided to paint over them, transforming them into dark, geometrical masses.

More radical is At the Milliner’s (ca.

1882–98), from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, which shows Degas’s interest in a fitting session and the sitter’s experience of observing herself in a mirror. His experiment with color and abstraction led him to reduce the reflected face of his sitter to a blank, white oval. The Milliners (ca.

1898) from the Saint Louis Art Museum, was Degas’s final painting on the theme of hat-making, and it was in his studio at the time of his death. In his characteristic late palette of warm tones, Degas painted two milliners absorbed in study; this sensitive depiction suggests the artist’s appreciation and regard for the milliners as creative artists in their own right.

For more information: https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/degas-impressionism-and-paris-millinery-trade

“Stilettos For Shanghai” for Chechnya at The Castro Theatre Photos by Paul Margolis

A VIP cocktail reception and special premiere screening of the new film Stilettos For Shanghai was sponsored on Monday evening, August 7, by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The event, held at the Castro Theatre, raised funds to support Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM) and Rainbow Railroad, two organizations that assist LGBTQ people who are seeking refuge and asylum from persecution.

Directed by video editor Monet Allard-Wilcox, the film is a documentary about the visit to China by Sisters from SF as international ambassadors to Shanghai Pride 2014. The benefit screening was held in response to the Trump plans to ban transgender individuals from the U.S. military and recent reports of Chechnya’s gay concentration camps.

Be mindful when making decisions Determining when to claim Social Security is something that is best done in the context of your overall retirement plan. Know what other sources of income are available and how those can best be utilized in conjunction with Social Security. Discussing this matter with your financial advisor can help you to make suitable choices for your circumstances.

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

GLEESON (continued from page 19) during our upcoming one-day workshop, “Inside Job: 8 Secrets to Loving Your Work and Thriving.” Please visit www.

CareerWisdomInstitute.com for more information. You can also phone me at 925-408-8422 for a free advisory consultation.

Julie Gleeson is the Co-founder of Career Wisdom Institute and the Founder of The Art of Living, Inc. She brings over 25 years of experience as a consultant in the fields of career designing, couples mentoring and resilience, stress and overwhelm elimination. Julie also co-authored a best-selling book, “Inside Job, 8 Secrets to Loving Your Work and Thriving.” She can be reached at Gleesonj@CareerWisdomInstitute.com or 925-408-8422. Check out her website for more information: www.careerwisdominstitute.com S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES

AUGUS T 10, 2017

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