2011 09 08

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September 8, 2011 | www.sfbaytimes.com

The LGBTQ Newspaper and Events Calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area | July 28 2011

Baldwin Announces Candidacy to be 1st Openly LGBTQ Senator

Is San Francisco Ready for a Humble Mayor?

P HOTO BY RIN K

Short but Important Hearing for Gay Marriage

Demonstrators keep up the fight as Prop 8 moves through the courts..

Bevan Dufty with daughter Sydney at the Giants LGBTQ night.

By Dayna Verstegen

By Dayna Verstegen Prop 8 proponents and plaintiffs for Perry v. Brown (the case brought by same sex couples claiming Prop 8 is unconstitutional) were in court again Tuesday. This time, proponents of prop 8 are asking the California Supreme Court for permission to appeal the ruling make by Judge Vaughan Walker last year declaring Prop 8 unconstitutional. Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris have refused to challenge the federal court’s ruling because they agree that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.

The California Supreme Court is comprised of seven judges – four women and three men. Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye presided over the oral arguments. Charles Cooper argued for the proponents of Prop 8 and Ted Olson for the plaintiffs. The judges, in attempt to answer the question put to them by the Ninth Circuit Court, asked questions about what the power of the Governor and Attorney General, what officials have the right to appeal federal rulings, and who has the right to defend the state’s interests.

For those of us who are not constitutional attorneys or judges, this might seem to be a minor matter, but in fact, the result will be very important for groups that are targeted by California ballot measures (for example, immigrants, LGBTQs, etc.). There is no legal precedence for an uninjured party to appeal a decision by a federal court. Further, by requesting the right to appeal, the Prop 8 people are attempting to change the California constitution in order to advance their anti-gay agenda.

If the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Prop 8 people, it would mean that elected officials, like the Governor and the Attorney general, who are sworn to uphold the constitution, may lose their power to do so. This of course makes targeted groups like the LGBTQ community more vulnerable to unconstitutional ballot measures like Prop 8.

In its blog, NCLR (National Center for Lesbian Rights) said this: “Unlike the Attorney General and the Governor, initiative sponsors are not accountable to the public. All that is (continued on page 4)

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced on Tuesday that she will run for the U.S. Senate in the seat vacated by Herb Kohl.

By Dayna Verstegen Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) announced Tuesday that she will run for the U.S. Senate in the seat being vacated by Senator Herb Kohl. Kohl has held the seat for thirteen years. Baldwin has also served the state of Wisconsin for thirteen years, representing the 2nd District.

Baldwin was the first openly gay person to ever be elected to the House of Representatives. Other represen-

tatives, namely Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) came out after winning off ice. She was also the first woman that Wisconsin had ever elected to Congress. If she wins this race, Baldwin will be the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate.

Although Wisconsin has a long progressive history, the state has been swinging to the right in recent years with the election of Republican Governor Scott Walker and Republican Senator Ron Johnson, who unseated incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold

in 2010. So, of course, the GOP began salivating for this seat when Herb Kohl announced that he was retiring.

Thus far only Wisconsin U.S. Representative Mark Neumann has announced his candidacy. Neumann, who is antigay, once said “If I was elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn’t be permitted.”

Speculation about other candidates abound, including former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, WI State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, and several state senators. Re(continued on page 3)

20 Dreams In 60 Days: I Couldn’t Have Done It Without You San Francisco

Mansour with members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Mansour’s “prom” on a float at the San Francisco Pride Parade.

By Iris Mansour How would you respond if a stranger with an English accent interrupted your dinner to enquire how to become prom queen?

I was in San Francisco in search of my American dreams - 20 of them. I had 60 days to make a million, to star in a telenovela and become a comic-book hero. Reasoning that if America is the land of opportunity, if a peanut farmer could become president, if Donald Trump could call that thing on his head “hair”, then there was no logical reason why a 28-year-old Brit could not be crowned prom queen.

I was far from home and although I believed that every one of my dreams would come true, I had no idea how.

So I developed a sophisticated strat-

egy: I would talk to anyone that stood still for long enough.

Rob and Charles, the couple next to me in the Thai restaurant, were finishing their meal as I turned to ask for help with my wishlist. There were a few moments of silence. But instead of asking to swap tables, they grilled me with all the intensity of a committee hearing. What did I mean by item 15 on my wishlist? ‘Find an obscure talent?’ Did I mean mine or someone else’s? Or item 7: Star in a soap opera.

Had I considered that a telenovela might be more apt?

And what about my prom coronation?

Were there any alternatives to staging a high school coup to overthrow a perfectly legitimate promarchy? After a few moments, they had the answer.

To be queen, I had to get onto a float

at Gay Pride. This was a eureka moment of epic proportions. My answer was there... but at the same time it wasn’t. Pride was three weeks away.

My network of contacts extended to the man at the bodega and two people I hadn’t seen in 10 years. I quickly realized that one should not underestimate San Francisco’s LGBTQ community, baseball, and fate itself.

By day seven, strangers I’d converted into friends invited me to my first ball game: the Giants were playing the Cincinnati Reds. I’d resolved to sit still and enjoy the game. That’s exactly what I did, for about a second, before a perfect stranger started talking to me.

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

But then I was holding a piece of pa(continued on page 10)

I arrived at Dufty headquarters on Market Street mid-afternoon last Friday. The spare office space (the former Tower Record store) was populated with about 20 staffers, heads bent over computers. It felt like the kind of temporary office typical of campaigns: disorganized and uncomfortable. It was quieter than I might have expected, although I could hear the preparations for the long holiday weekend of campaigning.

My f irst impression of Dufty was that he was soft-spoken. He was not an over-powering presence, nor as verbally aggressive as I am used to with candidates running for office.

He walked me back to a bare wooden table in the back of the space. He pointed out the “mosh pit” of mostly twenty-somethings whom he said were making calls and reaching out to voters online.

Dufty was a natural conversationalist and by the time we took our chairs, he had clued me into his childhood in Harlem and his Jewish mother’s work in the mid-century Jazz and civil rights movement. She sounded like a woman that I would like to know.

Someone with a f lair for exclamation points had written on the round “conference table” in purple marker, “Vote for Bevan!”

We talked for more than an hour, meandering through topics ranging from building the capacity of city services to his personal life (he is single).

He spoke often of his four-year-old daughter, Sidney, that he co-parents with Rebecca Goldfader. The two have been friends for many years and in 2006 Goldfader gave birth to Sydney, Dufty’s biological daughter.

Sydney is a tomboy and wants to be referred to as a boy. Her kindergarten friends are boys. She prefers boys’ clothes and looked very sporty in her Giants jersey when she opened the Giants game during LGBTQ night last week, saying “play ball” over the stadium mic. Dufty describes himself as “accepting and humble” and that was never more evident than when he spoke of handling his daughter’s (continued on page 7)

Equality Organizations Launch Massive Coalition to Protect FAIR Education Act

P HOTO B Y RE X W O C K N E R

tremist effort to censor LGBT people and people with disabilities from history.”

Roland Palencia, Executive Director of Equality California, is leading a coalition to combat attempts to overturn the FAIR Act..

By Dennis McMillan Authored by Senator Mark Leno and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, the FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful) Education Act ensures the fair and accurate portrayal of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights movement and people with disabilities in social science instruction. Anti-equality advocates, including the Capitol Resource Institute, are currently busy circulating petitions for a referendum that asks voters to overturn the FAIR Education Act. Opponents are spreading lies and using the usual scare tactics to misrepresent FAIR. They will need to collect over a half million signatures in order to qualify for a referendum on the June 2012 ballot.

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SB 48, the FAIR Act, requires that LGBTQ Americans and people with disabilities are included and recognized for their important historical contributions in classrooms around the state. Research shows that in schools where LGBTQ people are included in classroom discussions, students are 50% less likely to report being bullied.

Led by Equality California, GayStraight Alliance Network, and the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, a broad coali-

tion of advocates for equality have launched a coordinated effort to protect the FAIR act and to educate the public about its impact.

The coalition includes people of faith; labor organizations; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights groups; disability rights advocates; racial justice organizations; and many other groups who care about equality.

“The movement for LGBTQ rights is among the most diverse social justice movements in the nation, and we are proud to have that diversity represented in our coalition,” said Roland Palencia, executive director of Equality California. “Working together to protect the FAIR Education Act will ensure that students not only learn accurate information about our equality movement, but also about the roles LGBT people have played in movements and historic moments that have fundamentally shaped our nation.”

“The FAIR Education Act enables all California students to learn an honest account of history, which includes the contributions of women, people of color, LGBT people, people with disabilities, and other historically underrepresented groups,” said GayStraight Alliance Network Executive Director Carolyn Laub. “This coalition is determined to protect the FAIR Education Act and stop the ex-

“Learning the contributions made by activists of the disability rights movement is essential to a full understanding of our history, just as an understanding of the civil rights movement and the pioneers of women’s suffrage and the LGBT rights movement are an essential part of our history lessons,” said Teresa Favuzzi, executive director of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers. “The FAIR Education Act truly is a step in the right direction, and it’s important for us to make sure that this landmark victory that promotes understanding in our schools is upheld, because it’s time for our history classes and textbooks to accurately ref lect the rich and diverse history of California.”

The diverse coalition to protect the FAIR Education Act includes (and this is only a partial list to date, because many more are signing on for civil rights): ACLU San Diego, ACLU Southern California, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, Asian Pacific Islander Equality, API Equality LA, Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, California Council of Churches, California Faith for Equality, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, California Teachers Association, Courage Campaign, COLAGE, Equal Roots, Freedom to Mar r y, GA PSN, Get Equa l, GLSEN, Honor PAC, Honor Fund, Jordan Rustin Coalition, LA Gay and Lesbian Center, Latino Equality Alliance, Love Cherish Honor, Marriage Equality Los Angeles, Marriage Equality Silicon Valley, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Orange County Equality Coalition, Orange County Fairview Church, Our Family Coalition, PFLAG-San Francisco, Progressive Interfaith Alliance of Orange County, Sacramento Area Teachers, San Francisco Pride SEIU, Transgender Law Center, Vote For Equality, and Unitarian Universalists Legislative Ministry.

Seth’s Law Against Bullying Passes Senate

students from bullying and harassment,” said James Gilliam with the ACLU of California, and director of the Seth Walsh Students’ Rights Project at the ACLU of Southern California. “Better school procedures and policies to prevent and address bullying will make a safer environment for students who are suffering.”

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By Dennis McMillan

after facing years of relentless anti-

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) authored Seth’s Law..

The California State Senate approved Seth’s Law (AB 9) in a 24-14 vote on Sept. 2. Seth’s Law is designed to address the pervasive problem of school bullying by providing California schools with tools to create a safe school environment for all students. The bill is authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (DSan Francisco) and co-sponsored by a coalition of organizations advancing LGBTQ equality, including Equality California, the ACLU of California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Gay-Straight Alliance Network, and The Trevor Project. The bill is named in memory of Seth Walsh, a 13-yearold gay student from Tehachapi, CA, who took his life in September 2010, 2 BAY TIMES SEPTEM BER 8, 2011

gay harassment at school.

“I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for taking this important step forward to ensuring that schools have the necessary tools to prevent any young person from being bullied, harassed or worse because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression,” said Ammiano. “As a former teacher, I know how important it is for our students to feel safe at school. We have a moral duty to our youth to prevent bullying, and Seth’s Law will help schools protect students, and prevent and respond to bullying before a tragedy occurs.”

“Public schools have tremendous power and responsibility to protect

“Senate passage of AB 9 is especially timely with National Suicide Prevention Week about to begin,” said David McFarland, interim executive director and CEO of The Trevor Project.

“It signals that California lawmakers are invested in the safety of students and want teachers and staff to be better prepared to address the harmful consequences of persistent bullying and harassment.”

Over the past several months, Seth’s Law has raised an important discussion about the need to help schools protect LGBTQ students and other vulnerable youth from bullying.

While California already prohibits school harassment, schools often do not have the tools or knowledge to adequately protect LGBTQ students and others from bullying, which remains a serious issue across the state and the rest of the nation. Students, parents, and school employees often do not know what the rules are or what to do if bullying occurs. (continued on page 8)

National News

Prop 8 Ball Finally Back in Play

By Ann Rostow At long last this morning (Tuesday) the California Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether Prop 8 proponents have standing under state law to appeal their federal court defeat from August 2009.

I know I sound like a broken record by rehashing this whole thing, but after all, today is a legitimate news day.

An oral argument in an actual court!

This is the first real action we’ve seen in this case for months and months.

By the way, can we still refer to “broken records”? The ones that used to skip over the same three notes over and over again? I thought the rise of CDs would bring us f lawless music, and yet when those things fail they’re worse than the old scratched LPs. The skips were irritating. But those fuzzy screeching gaps in a bad CD are horrible and seemingly irrepa-

in federal court when state officials declined to act.

Instead of ruling on this technicality, the Ninth Circuit announced that it would be helpful to know whether or not initiative proponents would have standing under state law. Since the California court had never ruled directly on this point, the appellate judges asked them to consider the matter. After some time, the California court agreed to take on the issue of standing, and after many more months have elapsed, they are finally holding a hearing. We can expect a few more months to go by before they decide, at which point the whole ball of wax will land back in the Ninth Circuit for further examination.

Naturally, if the Ninth Circuit rejects the Prop 8 proponents, they will appeal to the full Ninth Circuit or to the Supreme Court. Here I’d like to cut to a visual image of pages of the

“Why can’t they just tell the truth and accept the consequences? But

going on his mind when he exchanged several emails with a teenage boy and arranged for a paid sex date in a hotel.

But as I said, Hinkle is not our guy.

Hinkle is so last week. This week, we are following the antics of Puerto Rico senator Roberto Arango, another Republican who dutifully cast his votes against gay rights on several recent occasions. Frankly, I didn’t even realize there were any gay measures up for debate in San Juan this year, but I gather there was something about gay marriage and something about adoption rights. No and no, said Roberto.

Arango recently published a self-portrait on Grindr, a naked shot of his rear end taken on all fours through some kind of contortion. Arango resigned a few days later, telling the press that he could not recall if he took the picture, but conceded that it was possible. The lawmaker said he’d been on a diet and lost some weight, so much so that he’d been taking photos of his new physique. This might have been one of them.

He actually said that!

like the toddler alone in the living room who insists he didn’t break the lamp that crashed to the ground five seconds earlier, these adult men roll their eyes to the heavens and expect us to believe that their evil imaginary twin Timmy was the one soliciting online sex.”

rable. And obviously, you can’t use the broken CD experience as an analogy for repeating yourself over and over. The sound of a broken CD is otherwordly and insane, so I’m not sure whether “broken CD” will ever find its way into English phraseology.

But I digress.

The challenge to Prop 8 was originally f iled in federal court against the State of California. When neither the governor nor the attorney general rose to defend the noxious marriage ban in court, the antigay gang that proposed the damn thing was given permission to make their case before U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker.

They lost.

When they tried to appeal, however, they were stymied. They weren’t the original defendants in the case, and they were not technically “harmed” by the outcome. So instead of considering the core issue of whether Prop 8 was constitutional, the Ninth Circuit focused on whether or not initiative proponents could defend their policies

calendar f lying off and drifting into space. We can also add an image of a snow covered orchard. See it turn to spring. Now the trees are full and green. And now the colors change.

Add a soundtrack if you like. Repeat as necessary.

This case is going somewhere slowly.

But as I said, it’s the only game in town this week, so we might as well give it some ink. I gather there’s a sitdown protest this morning in front of the courthouse, but I’m not sure what we’re protesting. Marriage discrimination? Federal rules of procedure?

Whatever it is, I am in solidarity.

Grindr, of course, is an all male smart phone app that is used mainly for hooking up. Perhaps there are few guys out there using Grindr to meet new friends and exchange movie or book reviews. But those rare Grindr users are not posting close-ups of their nude posteriors on the site.

Well, I hardly know what to say. This is getting to be old hat. And as I’ve said before, the real question is not, “Why the hypocrisy?” It’s, “What are they thinking?”. These are not online avatars. They are relatively public men who somehow think they can expose themselves and solicit sex on the Internet without anyone noticing. Are they stupid? Arrogant? Unhinged?

Trying to get caught?

And f inally, they’re such cowards.

Why can’t they just tell the truth and accept the consequences? But like the toddler alone in the living room who insists he didn’t break the lamp that crashed to the ground five seconds earlier, these adult men roll their eyes to the heavens and expect us to believe that their evil imaginary twin Timmy was the one soliciting online sex.

Tinkering With the First Amendment

Can’t Keep that Closet Closed Can you believe we have another antigay GOP lawmaker caught with his pants down in man-on-man cyberspace? No, I’m not talking about Phil Hinkle, the married Indiana house member who set up a date with a guy on Craigslist. Hinkle, 64, later explained to the press that he was not gay, and did not really know what was

So, I have a public school T-shirt lawsuit. You know. The student is told to remove his or her pro-gay or antigay shirt, and promptly threatens a First Amendment challenge. The school says that it is only acting in order to maintain order on campus. Lawyers note that kids do not leave their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate. In general, the T-shirt wins. (continued on page 10)

(BALDWIN continued from page 1) publicans need to pick up four seats to control the U.S. Senate and they will undoubtedly invest heavily to win this one.

Thompson was a college roommate of Baldwin’s father. The third roommate was none other than Steve Miller of the Steve Miller Band.

Thompson is, of course, the most prominent of this crew, but he may be too moderate for the tea-party sipping enthusiasts taking hold of Wisconsin. Fun fact: Thompson and Baldwin have a long history together and maintain a cordial relationship.

In the Democratic primary, Baldwin is likely to face U.S. Rep. Ron Kind and U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen. The primary election for both parties is in September, 2012. The general election is November 6, 2012.

Baldwin is a practical person and a highly strategic politician. It is unlikely that she would enter the race without a high degree of confidence that she could win. She undoubtedly carefully reviewed the monetary costs of winning as well as the political disposition of the state of Wisconsin.

Polling would have been critical and in fact the numbers appear favorable thus far. According to the August results published by Public Policy Poll-

ing, “In a three-way race with Ron Kind and Steve Kagen she leads with 37% to 21% for Kind and 15% for Kagen. And in just a two-way race with Kagen she leads 48-19.”

The battle for this seat is expected to be massive. Among the organizations lining up to support Baldwin is the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

Denis Dison, the vice president of communications for Victory Fund

told Bay Times that “[in recent years] Wisconsin has become a swing state.

It is one of the more high profile seats in the country because there is no incumbent running. It could be a battle royale for this seat. There will be a lot of money spent for this race on both sides.” In fact, Dison speculates that each side could spend more than $10 million.

HRC announced its endorsement of Tammy on the day she announced. (continued on page 4)

BAY T IM ES SEPT EM BER 8, 2011 3

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What a week! Tammy Baldwin announced her historic run for Senate. Prop 8 is in court AGAIN. Homophobes are lurking in every dirty corner.

Despite the ups and downs of our political world, I am aglow. I spent a great day on Sunday in Oakland at the Oakland Pride Festival.

After nearly 14 years in the City, I am a recent transplant to the East Bay. I have quickly come to appreciate warm days and grass and easy parking.

And in the spirit of my new identity, and as the new editor of Bay Times, I happily tottered off to the 10th Anniversary of Sistahs Steppin’ Dyke March on August 27 and Oakland Pride on September 4. What I saw has changed my perspective on the Bay Area.

Two Sundays ago, about 200 women gathered at Astro Park at Lake Merritt for Sistahs Steppin. When we arrived, my party was quickly approached by volunteers to assist with safety because the Oakland Police (the “po po”… I never get tired of that) had abruptly cancelled their support of the event (they did eventually arrive, protecting the marchers at key intersections late in the march). We were unable to oblige because we were carrying the Bay Times banner.

The drumming women began 30-minutes before the appointed start and continued for hours, throughout the march and into the festival grounds after. The drumming was primal, insistent, powerful.

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and State Assemblymember Nancy Skinner spoke passionately prior to the march about the issues facing the LGBTQ community in Oakland. Quan mentioned the long shadow thrown by “that other city” and her pride in the Oakland community. She thanked the group for helping her get elected. Skinner spoke of her lesbian daughter and the various fights for survival that continue for the LGBTQ communities in the East Bay. Retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning and her partner marched.

“I have a profound love for San Francisco. I consider it to be MY city, but it is depressingly white.

Thank God for our API and Latino brothers and sisters. I get tired of looking at a bunch of pasty whites like me. Oakland is a treat for the eyes.”

The following Sunday offered another sunny afternoon for Oakland Pride. This time a few streets were blocked off downtown. Four stages book-ended the grounds. Nearly 100 informational booths, food stands and beer tents lined the streets. Several thousand people wandered the area, picking up free give-aways and eating enormous corn dogs and falafel (the funnel cake was not to be missed).

I met as many people as I could that day and as the dame and I toured the grounds, we loved what we saw. Families of every description… LGBTQ couples with babies, young kids, even teens. Drag queens of every size. Many transgender folks.

(PROP 8 continued from page 1) required to be an initiative sponsor is to submit the text of a proposed initiative and get enough signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot.

In this case, the official supporters of Prop 8 are five individuals. It would be a gross miscarriage of justice - and a blow to California’s democratic system of government - for the Court to rule that a mere handful of private citizens representing only their own narrow interests can make decisions for the entire state.”

The decision that the California Supreme Court will make is not only important to our democratic process, but it will also have immediate impact on our right to marry. If the California Supreme Court rules that the Prop 8 people may not appeal, then

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The assembly of women (and a few men) walked through the streets of Oakland, around Lake Merritt to Snow Park. The streets were not blocked off, nor were they lined with hundreds of thousands of supporters. Reporters and broadcast trucks did not jostle for position. In fact, the only other people around were attending the farmer’s market. The group was buoyed by frequent car honks and fist pumps. We marched for ourselves and each other.

We marched for the women that could not be there

the matter will be back in the hands of the Ninth Circuit Court who will likely dismiss the Prop 8 appeal and LGBTQs will be able to marry again.

If they find in favor of the Prop 8 people, then the Ninth Circuit Court will have to decide if the Prop 8 people indeed should be able to appeal despite the objections of the Governor and Attorney General. If they again find in their favor, then the trial over Prop 8 will begin again and it will be several more years of legal wranglings.

The California Supreme Court has 90 days to rule, but experts believe it’s likely that we will not have to wait that long for a decision.

- Write to Dayna Verstegen at dayna@sfbaytimes.com.

Oakland Pride was a very different experience from San Francisco Pride. SF Pride is about performance. SF Pride is a celebration. Much is taken for granted. The small, but mighty Oakland Pride activities took nothing for granted. The difference was in the attitude. Oakland’s Pride activities create and build community in a way that San Francisco does not (but does really need to). Festival participants made connections that are strengthening the fabric of their community. Hyperbole from a sentimental editor? Perhaps, but I saw a sense of purpose in this event that was exciting.

It should serve as a lesson and a reminder to all of us that our fight is not yet done. We may live in a gay oasis, but we must be careful to avoid complacency. Living in San Francisco, it’s easy to believe that we have overcome the hatred and bigotry that has plagued our community, but just across the Bay, our brothers and sisters do not enjoy the same privileges. They cannot walk safely hand in hand in many areas; their supporters do not outnumber their opponents, lining the streets to celebrate their sexuality and gender identity. But the LGBTQ community of Oakland does clearly have one advantage over their compatriots in the City: they understand that a gathering of queers is still an important and powerful political act, not just a party.

- Write to Dayna Verstegen at dayna@sfbaytimes.com.

Michael Cole Schwartz, Communications Director for HRC in Washington agrees, telling Bay Times that “it’s going to be a tough race. Wisconsin is a purple state. It is neither a Democratic or Republican controlled state. The Republicans have made progress but that is not necessary a long-term trend. I think that it’s a toss-up race. It is a race that Tammy can certainly win if people are volunteering and donating money. But it’s not going to be an easy race by any stretch of the imagination.”

Baldwin will undoubtedly be attacked for her so-called “liberal” voting record. She supported Obama’s health care reform bill and voted against the war in Iraq. In her Tuesday an-

nouncement, however, she emphasized the needs of the middle class, citing job creation, deficit reduction, protecting seniors, a withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Wall Street reform, as top priorities.

In a call with press on Tuesday, Baldwin said, “I know that, in this campaign, we’ll be up against some powerful special interests, but I’ve beaten the odds before. All my life, the naysayers have told me that I can’t win because I’m a progressive, because I’m a woman, even because I’m a lesbian. And I’ve proven them wrong.”

Here’s hoping that she can do it again.

To find out how you can help Tammy Baldwin’s campaign for the U.S. Senate, go to tammybaldwin.com.

The “We Don’t F#*@ Around” Person of the Week - Mark Bingham His cell phone conversation with his mother Alice Hoagland, f light data recordings, and the calls of other passengers conf irm that Bingham rose to the occasion when his fellow passengers and country needed him.

For his actions, he has been honored many times.

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Mark Bingham (right) with his former partner Paul Holm.

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September 11, 2011 will mark ten years since the attack on the United States by Al Qaeda terrorists. On this date, we remember once again a remarkable gay hero and local friend, Mark Bingham. Bingham was a passionate San Francisco rugby player and a charming public relations ex-

Mail to, PO Box 410386 San Francisco, 94141-0386 or fax to (415) 276-1821.

I have a profound love for San Francisco. I consider it to be MY city, but it is depressingly white.

Thank God for our API and Latino brothers and sisters. I get tired of looking at a bunch of pasty whites like me. Oakland is a treat for the eyes.

(BALDWIN continued from page 3)

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There were lots black women and men there. In fact, a very high percentage of the attendees were black. Imagine that? They don’t add to the diversity of their community, they ARE the community.

4 BAY TIMES SEPTEM BER 8, 2011

ecutive who found himself on a high jacked airplane over the state of Pennsylvania. Along with three other men, he used his six foot four inches and 220 pound physique to charge the cockpit and prevent United Flight 93 from being used to attack a target in Washington D.C..

The international gay rugby championship is named in Bingham’s honor. The gym at the Castro’s Eureka Valley Recreation Center features a large plaque honoring him. With You, a fascinating documentary film about Bingham, was screened to great acclaim at this year’s Frameline Film Festival at the Castro Theatre. It was heartrending to hear Bingham’s mother speak about her loss and to see videos of Bingham with her, his boyfriends, his team, and his relatives.

More than 1,200 people rose to their feet and applauded as Alice Hoagland walked down the aisle to ascend the stage.

The film’s message and the knowledge of Bingham’s actions have been a notable answering point to bigots who question the lives and morality of the LGBTQ community. Members of San Francisco’s congressional delegation and Senator John McCain have credited Bingham for possibly saving their lives. This journalist (and his extended family) is thankful because Flight 93 flew over his family’s farm 20 miles from the crash site when it was swarming with young relatives, and his father was at the U.S. Capitol that morning.

For living a life of pride and dignity. For giving each of us, gay and straight, a lesson in heroism. For giving your life to protect others, we have chosen Mark Bingham as our Person of the Week.

- Written by Rink. Write to Rink at rinkfoto12@yahoo.com.

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BAY T IM ES SEPT EM7/12/11 BER 9:03:36 8, 2011 5 AM

LGBTQ Charity Delivers Humanitarian Aid to Guatemala see that LGBT people are engaged and positively contributing to the world.” He concludes, “We are about showing the world who we really are and what we care about.”

Some of the young beneficiaries of the Rainbow World Fund on trip to Guatemala.

By Dennis McMillan Rainbow World Fund (RWF), the only international LGBTQ humanitarian aid organization just returned from a ten-day humanitarian aid journey to Guatemala. Over the course of the journey, 13 volunteers visited orphanages, schools, medical clinics, and human rights’ projects delivering over 1,300 pounds of lifesaving medications, medical equipment, and school supplies, as well as hundreds of stuffed animals and monetary grants. RWF’s mission is to promote LGBTQ philanthropy in the area of global humanitarian aid and development.

This was RWF’s seventh annual visit to Guatemala. Since 2004, RWF has delivered supplies valued at over $1,000,000 and distributed $122,000 in grants to humanitarian-based projects in Guatemala. In addition to delivering much needed aid, the group represented a team of ambassadors for LGBTQ human rights, met with individuals and groups - from school children and rural villagers to shamans and religious leaders - speaking openly of their experiences as LGBTQ people.

The journey’s highlights included visiting an orphanage for HIV+ children, meeting with the street children of Guatemala City, and talking with OTRANS, also known as “The Queens of the Night,” a group of transgender women f ighting for

their survival in Guatemala. RWF also built new and reinforced existing connections with the indigenous Mayan population, exploring common humanity. Historically, Guatemala’s Mayans have been subjected to genocide by their government, had their marriages invalidated, and been denied a voice in the political process.

RWF discovered that the LGBTQ community has a lot more in common with indigenous people than they realized. RWF says establishment and nurturing of these relationships is important for everyone’s survival, here and abroad.

“I came home knowing that suffering and compassion is actually the greatest equalizer between people regardless of their differences in culture, race, gender or social status,” says Laura Tracy, trip participant.

Over the last seven years, RWF has donated over $3 million in humanitarian aid (financial grants/ medicine/ medical equipment) worldwide on behalf of the LGBTQ and friend’s community to those in need around the world.

“Rainbow World Fund’s work is about serving humanity, gay and straight alike,” says Jeff Cotter, RWF founder.

“We are living in a time that tells us our survival on this planet depends on each of us giving more to each other.

The aid that we provide builds relationships and changes misperceptions about who we are. It allows people to

Founded in 2000, RWF is an allvolunteer international humanitarian service agency based in the LGBTQ and friends community. RWF’s mission is to promote LGBTQ philanthropy in the area of world humanitarian relief. RWF works to help people who suffer from hunger, poverty, disease, oppression, and war by raising awareness and funds to support relief efforts and sustainable development projects around the world.

RWF currently supports projects focusing on global HIV/AIDS, water development, landmine eradication, hunger, education, orphans, and disaster relief in Africa, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States. RWF is unique as the world’s first and only LGBTQ-based humanitarian aid organization. RWF also works to raise awareness of the charitable contributions of the LGBTQ community, and to establish connections with non-LGBTQ communities. RWF programs strengthen the LGBTQ community by increasing LGBTQ visibility, serving as a platform for and active demonstration of the queer community’s compassion and concern. “We change how the world sees LGBT people by building bridges based on compassion, help, and hope with the larger world community,” Cotter says.

“People often ask me why is it important for LGBT people to help others beyond our community,” Cotter says.

“I have often been told ‘charity begins at home.’ That may be true, but I believe that we are living in a time when we need to expand our definition of what home is, and realize that the entire planet is our home, and that everyone in it is our family.”

-Write to Dennis McMillan at BayTimesDennis@juno.com

Drink Good - Do Good Carnival Benefits HRC & Bay Times Education Programs see the photos, go to facebook.com/ SnapFiesta.

P HOTO PROVI DED BY SN AP F IESTA

Use the News Foundation is the fiscal sponsor for community programs of the Bay Times through the longstanding Newspaper in Education (NIE) program coordinated nationally by the Newspaper Association of America Foundation and the World Association of Newspapers Young Readers Program.

Snap Fiesta created a unique photo booth experience for event guests.

By Sister Dana Van Iquity

BLACK RHINO Design & Photography

Deborah Dennis deb@blackrhinodesign.com 6 BAY TIMES SEPTEM BER 8, 2011

510.501.5947 blackrhinodesign.com

Drink Good – Do Good is one branch of the Do Good Coalition, which regularly honors two institutions that contribute to the spirit and integrity of San Francisco – premium alcohol and social responsibility.

They periodically host themed events where guests can taste unique alcohol brands, socialize with friends, and directly support local nonprofits with the funds raised.

The August 24 Drink Good – Do Good “No Clowning Around” benefit was held at Gingerfruit to benefit

the education programs of Bay Times and Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Attendees were promised: “No clowns will appear at this event, ‘cause they can be kinda creepy.”

Each guest was issued a special Drink Good – Do Good cocktail glass for the beer, wine, and spirits tastings.

Inside each glass were a red clown nose and a circus action figure. There was an elaborate photo booth by Snap Fiesta, complete with a huge array of props, hats, costumes, and whatever people chose to don in front of a camera that took fun pictures for instant social media publication. To

San Francisco Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s diversity mission has two important and related components. The first is to ensure that diversity is an intrinsic value of HRC’s organizational culture, not just a set of statistics or numbers. The second part of HRC’s diversity mission is to be one of the most successful organizations in the country at uniting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and straight supporters with people of all races and backgrounds to ensure equality for all.

The Bay Times is a free, bi-weekly LGBTQ newspaper in the Bay Area. It first started as Coming Up! in October 1979 as “the gay/ lesbian newspaper and calendar of events for the Bay (continued on page 8)

Practically Speaking about the how…we just believe it will be.

A Better Life Linda Kay Silva

S o , pr a c t ic a l l y s p e a k i n g , how does the law of attraction work?

W h i le t he e x a mple s b e low a r e inst a nces t hat have occur red in and around my life, this does not mea n t hat t h is is how you must apply it in your life in order for it to work. So, let me tell you my own personal Law of Attraction.

The f irst thing we did was make ou r v i s ion b o a r d s . T he v i s ion boards rea l ly enabled me to fo c u s on ot her t h i n g s t h at wer e rea l ly i mpor t a nt i n my l i fe a nd worthy of my time. I created a vision board that centered around travel ing, w r it ing, Harleys, and a physically healthy lifestyle. We created our latest vision boards a year ago.

My pa r t ner L or i’s v ision boa rd was about reach ing inner peace by w ay of g oi n g t o t he O pr a h Winfrey show. L et’s star t t here.

L or i des per ately wa nted to see O pr a h l ive before she went of f the air. She called ever y day for mont hs. One even i ng when she w a s t a l k i n g to her f r iend C a s sandra, another loyal Oprah fan, Cassandra admitted she had not tried calling at all and promised to do so the next day. It only took Ca s sa nd r a t h at one phone c a l l before t he four of us found ourselves sit t ing in Har po St ud ios.

Lori knew we would go…she just didn’t know how. We don’t worry

Many pictures on my vision board are African animals. I had already g one to E g y pt to celebr ate my 50th birthday, and the next major spiritual journey for me would be t he A fr ican Savanna. L ess t han three months after I made the vision board, we found out that our oldest daughter would be going to Swaziland with the Peace Corps.

W here do you think I w ill be in May of 2012?

Besides the vision board, I discovered t hat t h i ng s happen for me i f I spea k about t hem w it h t r ue belief in my heart, and lived my life as if it was going to happen.

On my rad io show one even i ng I asked ever yone to focus on one t hing t hey rea l ly wanted t his to happen that week. For me, I decided that one of my books would be developed into an app for the iPad. I contacted an author whose b o o k I h a d p i c k e d u p for m y iPad and explained to him what I wanted. In less than a week he and I were working feverishly on creating the right vehicle for my book. Because I focused on that one agenda item, because I truly bel ieved i n t he d i rect ion I wa s head ing, t he universe set me up w it h someone who is more t han just an incredible resource, but a wonderful person. What a bonus!

Another thing that was on my vision board was an award. W hile every lesbian and her mother was w i n n i ng awa rd s for book s t hey wrote, none of my 13 had yet to w in. I decided in my hear t t hat this was the year I was going to win a Goldie or L A MBDA award.

Gr a nt e d , t her e i s l it t le a n au t hor ca n do to ma ke somet h i ng like this happen…except believe.

When they told me that my novel h a d been nom i n ated , I h ad no doubt that I would win (and did).

T he i nterest i ng t h i ng is how m a ny people w i l l at t ach word s like arrogant and conceited onto

a human being who simply understands the Law of Attraction and how it works. Instead of stink in’ thinkin’ and naysaying, I choose to focus on the potent ially wonder f u l a s pect s of bei ng a l ive. I choose to look at the glass that is neither half empt y nor half full, but a gl a s s t h at i s over f low i ng with possibilities. That’s what life of fers us ever y single day- - new possibi l it ies, a nd t hat is what I think about w ithin the f irst f ive m i nut e s o f w a k i n g u p . T h i n k about it. Ever y single day begins as a bla n k slate. W h i le some of us would choose to immed iately pa i nt a pict u re f rom yesterday, p e ople who t r u ly l ive T he S e cret know that every day is a new start. Every day is the beginning of what could be a fantastic journey. Every day is chock full of potential joy and happiness.

So how do I make the Law of attraction work for me?

I w a k e u p lo ok i n g for w a r d t o whatever adventure the day w ill br ing. I look at my v ision board and env ision all of the possibilit ies t h at c ou ld h app en on t h i s day. I get i n my ca r a nd I have pretend conversat ions w ith Holly wood producer s t hat wa nt to ma ke a mov ie out of one of my books. I think about how I will react to the day that that happens.

I feel the emotions, the incredible exc itement t hat w i l l come w it h such a g ift land ing in my lap. I l ive each day as if… and in do ing so, have discovered that more than three fourths of the items on my vision board have come true.

That is true belief !

Faith is action based on belief. In a nutshell, The Secret, for me, it’s all about that belief. A nd so far, it’s really changed my life.

So... what will you believe in today?

- Wr ite to Linda Kay S ilva at iamstorm@ yahoo.com.

(BEVAN DUFTY continued from page 1) recent exploration of her gender identification.

In response to the question, “why did you want to become a Dad?”, he said “Because my mom was an incredible parent to me… and I have always wanted to have her legacy continue, to have that sense of amazing possibility that she gave me.”

During our interview, Dufty was very un-candidatial (do you like that word? I just made it up) most of the time. He was self-deprecating and never self-aggrandizing. In fact, he spoke about everyone but himself his mother, leaders in the black community, Sydney, his former partner, his “baby mama,” the campaign staff. But don’t get me wrong… Dufty knows how to campaign and I would not recommend that he be underestimated. He did an excellent job bringing his stories back to key campaign issues. He never left “message” but I was grateful not to feel pitched and this is perhaps one of his best skills on the campaign trail.

Dufty is a reasonable man, he speaks of collaborating, mentoring, and building stronger communities, in particular the African-American community in San Francisco. He spoke at length about his “black agenda.” In fact, he

spent the first half-hour of our time talking about the black community in America since World War II. “You don’t have to be black to have a black agenda,” he said. He documented the rapidly decreasing black population in San Francisco, the disappearance of black-owned businesses, and unemployment rates in the black community.

sues of Bay Times. The Bay Times will publish its endorsement for mayor in the October 8 issue.

Lyon-Martin Health Services Financials Turn Corner

Dr. Dawn Harbatkin is the Lyon Martin Medical Director and Interim Executive Director.

By Dennis McMillan In January of 2011 the historic San Francisco community clinic, LyonMartin Health Services, nearly closed its doors due to significant cash flow issues, partially caused by a debt of over one million dollars. After an unprecedented response from patients of the clinic, community members, clinic staff, and the San Francisco Community Clinics Consortium, an immediate closure was averted, and work began on rebuilding the troubled clinic.

After eight months of dedication from the community planning group, Save Lyon-Martin, the clinic’s Medical Director/ Interim Executive Director Dr. Dawn Harbatkin, Lyon-Martin’s recently elected Board Chair Dr. Marj Plumb, and Lyon-Martin staff, the clinic is now stable enough to open enrollment to new patients.

“Through all the challenges that Lyon-Martin has faced over this year we have continued to offer our exceptional model of care to our current 2,500 patients,” said Harbatkin.

“Now that we have reached a greater level of stability, we can open enrollment to the many other women and transgender people who need the kind of competent and compassionate healthcare that we offer.”

Dr. Plumb spoke about the unique role that Lyon-Martin Health Services plays in the healthcare of San Francisco. “Lyon-Martin Health Services has a 30-year history of providing culturally competent healthcare in a sensitive and caring environment,” she said. “Lyon-Martin began as the only clinic in the world specifically caring for lesbians. The

clinic has evolved to now serve a unique blend of 2,500 underserved women, lesbians, and transgender patients. It is a nationally recognized model for serving our communities and is a sought after training site for healthcare professionals, and true to our historical beginnings, it is a clinic of last resort for patients who don’t fit anywhere else.”

“Seeing the clinic in a position to begin accepting new patients is extremely encouraging”, said Cheryl Simas, a current patient of Lyon-Martin as well as a founding member of Save Lyon-Martin. “The hard work put in by our community helped make this possible. And we’re not done yet.”

In celebration of Lyon-Martin’s announcement to open enrollment for new patients, Lyon-Martin Health Services and Save Lyon-Martin held a ribbon cutting in front of the clinic’s building at 1748 Market Street on Sept. 1. Speakers included Phyllis Lyon, members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, John Gressman, president and CEO of the San Francisco Community Clinics Consortium, Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Tangerine Bringham, director of San Francisco’s Health Access Program, Danny Kirchoff, Equal Justice Works fellow at the Transgender Law Center, Harbatkin, Plumb, and members of the community.

- Write to Dennis McMillan at BayTimesDennis@juno.com.

Read more News @www.sfbaytimes.com

Dufty has a keen understanding of small business development and the impact that it has on the San Francisco economy. He is also adamant about challenging larger companies and Bay Area superstars, like Zynga, Twitter and Genentech (now Roche) to hire more minorities.

Standing up to bullies is a common theme in his remarks and is perhaps an important differentiator for candidate Dufty who believes that racial and sexual minorities need better representation in San Francisco.

“I do see that my responsibility is to stand up to bullies whether they are in Congress or the halls of our schools. I feel that as a gay man, as a parent, as someone who is helping a child make non-traditional choices that I respect, that it is just who I am.”

Watch for more election coverage and candidate profiles in the coming is-

BAY T IM ES SEPT EM BER 8, 2011 7

Mistrial Declared for Teen Murderer of Gay Teen

By Dennis McMillan

P HOTO BY RIN K

A California Superior Court judge conf irmed on Sept. 1 that a jury was unable to reach a verdict in the murder trial of Brandon McInerney, who is accused of shooting his gay classmate, Lawrence King, in 2008.

McInerney was 14 when he killed

Kelly Rivera Hart speaks during protest at Harvey Milk Plaza.

King, age 15, an openly gay teen who, according to defense attorneys, habitually tried to make classmates uncomfortable and had provoked McInerney the day before the murder by asking, “What’s up, baby?”

Jurors deadlocked 7 to 5 in favor of voluntary manslaughter in the emotional two-month trial of McInerney. After 17 hours of deliberations, they could not agree whether to convict him. McInerney’s attorneys presented what prosecutors called a “gay panic” defense, arguing that the teenager was driven to violence by King’s repeated sexual taunts. The jurors’ unanimous opinion rejected the prosecution’s argument that the murder was a hate crime. Prosecutors are not expected to announce until next month whether they will try the now 17-year-old a second time, and whether he will be tried as an adult.

But the fact remains that the killer walked into a computer lab at an Oxnard junior high school, took out a .22-caliber handgun from his backpack, and shot King in the head two times in premeditated murder.

Following the announcement of the mistrial, activists gathered on Sept. 2 in Harvey Milk Plaza to protest. “We gather tonight here in San Francisco and wherever you are to remember Lawrence King and to call for justice,” said organizer Kelly Rivera Hart. “We invite the community to gather in peace to have a moment of

(SETH’S LAW from page 2 )

silence for Lawrence and all LGBTs and all youth that have been bullied and killed just for being different.

And we call on schools to educate them and their assailants, on the government to protect, and society to accept and nurture all of its youth.”

“How many times are we going to let the so-called ‘gay panic’ defense give permission to allow us to be bullied or to be killed?” Hart said. “Murder is murder, and a hate crime is a hate crime.”

“Lawrence King was shot dead only for being gay. What kind of excuse is it that Lawrence f lirted with this boy?” Hart asked rhetorically. “If there is justification for murder because someone came onto someone else, every straight man would be dead. And would a ‘straight panic’ defense be acceptable in court?” Hart concluded.

Many community activists are up in arms over this judgment, and are sending out emails. “It is disappointing that the criminal justice system has failed to bring closure to the family, friends, and community that loved Lawrence,” wrote Joe Solmo-

nese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “In the wake of the mistrial, and in honor of Lawrence, we will continue our efforts to prevent these types of tragedies by working with school districts across our nation to stamp out the ignorance and prejudice that led to Lawrence’s death.”

James Gilliam is the director of the Seth Walsh Students’ Rights Project at the ACLU of Southern California..

“Yesterday, we were shocked when we heard of the mistrial declared in Ventura County on the anti-gay premeditated murder of Larry King,” sa id Roland Pa lencia, Equa l it y California executive director. “The previous night, a number of us from Equality California and the Jordan/ Rustin Coalition attended an antigay and anti-people with disabilities protest and signature gathering at a local South Los Angeles church that seeks to overturn the FAIR Education Act. In our open letter to the Pastor and church leadership, we specifically mentioned Larry King. Instead of welcoming a dialogue about the violence and hostility that antigay campaigns promote inside and outside school walls, we were asked to voluntarily leave the church or be forcefully evicted.”

In a recent national survey, nine out of ten LGBTQ students reported being harassed at school. The problem persists in California as well, with LGBTQ students reporting significant harassment. The California Safe Schools Coalition reported in 2010 that 42% of California students who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, and 62% who identify as transgender, said they had been harassed at least once based on gender nonconformity.

According to the California Healthy Kids Survey, 27% of students who reported harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation said they missed school at least one day during the past 30 because they felt unsafe.

Increased truancy rates lead to a lack of funding for schools.

Besides truancy, the consequences of bullying and harassment can include falling grades, depression, and risk of suicide. Students who reported harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation were four times more likely than their heterosexual peers to attempt suicide.

LGBT Retirement Community

- Write to Dennis McMillan at BayTimesDennis@juno.com.

(DRINK GOOD from page 6 )

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PHOTO BY PHYL L IS COSTA

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Pollo Del Mar and HRC staffer, Densil Porteous at the Drink Good Do Good.

Area.” It is currently being revitalized by publisher Dr. Betty Sullivan of “Betty’s List” as a much needed voice in the community and a source for national and local LGBTQ news.

“We are reconf iguring and making new things happen with Bay Times,” said Sullivan. “It is really a community project, and everything is possible,” she said. Which brings to mind an aff irmation that actress Audrey Hepburn once stated: “There is no such thing as the impossible; because the very word says, ‘I’m possible!’”

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Use the News Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 1998 to assist newspapers and other news organizations in developing education programs of many types. News companies throughout the US and in other nations have teamed with the Foundation to create many initiatives addressing varied topics, including election education, international affairs, basic literacy, parenting, personal finance, volunteerism, career development, health and sexuality, and numerous others.

Contributions to Use the News Foundation will support community education programs of the Bay Times. Among the new projects in development is an LGBTQ youth writing group for journalism and communications, the news business, and media education.

- Write to Sister Dana at sisterdana@ gmail.com.

Out at the Ballgame: LGBTQ Night at AT&T Park Brass Tacks Heidi Beeler

At AT&T Park last Monday, August 29, thirty of us from the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band marched out from the shadows beneath the Splash Zone wall onto the blazing green f ield for the Giants’ LGBT Night and were captured in the JumboTron’s glory. Off field, we’d been mere mortal musicians in bowling shirts. On field, transmitted from the JumboTron, we were rainbowtrimmed Titans bearing horns of fire that echoed beyond the stadium walls. Our drum major, Mike Wong, lifted his arms to conduct, glanced up and caught site of himself 10 times his size, hoisted two storys above the field. Groundling Mike stifled a gasp and forced himself to focus on the wee musicians standing with him beneath the glowing colossus that played above us.

The Great and Powerful Oz understood the power of humongous spectacle, and Major League Baseball has taken that power and used it for good. They’ve taken a live sport requiring the appreciation of more than a century’s statistical improbabilities involving a stick and a small rocketing projectile and turned it into a visual extravaganza that even us non-sportsavvy folk can enjoy. Yes, odd though it may seem, what really makes live baseball exciting is the addition of an enormous TV. After our 300 seconds of pre-game fame, we retreated to the rafters to watch the match. Skyscraper-high images of each player f lashed on screen as stats scrolled beside their faces and driving music pumped from the speakers. Somewhere below my feet, teeny f igures arranged themselves around what looked to be a

P HOTO BY Billy Green

There’s something magic making about a JumboTron.

Not only did the Gay and Lesbian Freedom Band make the JumboTron, but also baseball’s first gay kiss. Heidi Beeler, far left on trumpet, and fellow bandmate play “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch..

5-inch diamond. Due to some trick of the Earth’s curvature from our elevation, every ball hit seem to veer right toward the bay and then inexplicably dropped onto center field or fouled outside the left baseline. There was no correlation between the ball’s apparent trajectory and its landing spot. I realized the Warren Commission must have sat in seats similar to these when it invented its Magic Bullet Theory on the assassination of JFK. The theory made total sense now. The crowd below us roared and I squinted at the field, then looked to the JumboTron to find out what had happened. Seeing the replay on the giant screen, the laws of gravity and physics were restored to the field.

So the JumboTron offered entertainment AND truth – the key Aristotelian elements of drama. It provided a central core to all the game’s happenings. That’s why what happened on the Kiss Cam at the top of the 9th inning was so dramatic.

The Story of “Me”

ing of the categories” sets in. During the years when our minds have the least capacity for mature and balanced assessments, our ideas about who we are and what we can expect from other people solidify into a sense of a solid identity which, once formed, is remarkably resistant to change.

The consequence is that many of us spend the rest of our lives trying to resolve “problems” which are fundamentally fictitious.

Examined Life Tom Moon How many of us know who we are?

After almost thirty years as a psychotherapist I’ve come to the belief that genuine self-awareness is relatively rare. It seems that our egos almost invariably begin, in early childhood, to develop and organize around experiences of what is lacking or missing, and to live from then on in a “story of me” based on these perceptions.

A child who is unloved, for instance, may develop a sense of self based on the identity of “the one who isn’t loved” and tragically, may spend a lifetime trying to solve the “problem of my unlovability.” Some people who escape crushing childhood poverty may spend the rest of their lives trying to escape the perception that they really do deserve the contempt with which they were treated when they were young. It appears that, surprisingly early in life, a kind of “harden-

Since many of my clients are gay men, I’m sensitive to the subtle identities which develop in response to homophobic environments. All too many gay boys learn to identify with ideas such as: “I’ll never be the man I’m supposed to be.” “I will always disappoint others.” “I’m out of step.”

“My feelings are wrong.” “My desires are unworthy of respect.” And so on. For many gay men, ideas like these hang around in the background of their minds long after they have consciously accepted and embraced their sexuality, sometimes with very destructive effects on the course of their lives.

Many very successful people are dogged by “failure” identities, which strikingly demonstrate how often massive evidence to the contrary can fail to disconfirm our grim convictions. When reality and our identities conflict, many of us go through some remarkable mental gymnastics to preserve the identities. All too many successful people experience themselves as impostors, for instance. In the impostor syndrome it is my fail-

Kiss Cam is a segment toward the end of every game when the stadium camerafolk turn their focus on the fans.

The JumboTron catches a couple on screen, and they kiss for the crowd.

It’s like baseball’s momentary version of the Newlywed Game.

In 2009, the Band had played the national anthem for LGBTQ Night, and at that game, the cameras only zoomed in on straight couples despite the night’s theme. So Monday, when the camera aimed first at a straight couple, a snide comment about hetero kissing at our game was forming on my lips. Then low and behold! The camera focused on two men! The LGBTQ Night audience went wild, as Thom Watson and Jeff Tabaco gave each other a big smooch on five-story, high-def TV. The camera cut to another straight couple, whose kiss inspired polite applause. Then a lesbian couple popped onscreen, puckered up, and the crowd cheered its head off again.

ures and disappointments that are real: my achievements and successes, since they conflict with the “story of my failure,” are dismissed as f lukes or con jobs.

Not all our mental maps are about what’s wrong with me; often deep distrust of others is built into the mental landscape. This is the case, for instance, in “the story of my victimization.” It can be very difficult to come to conscious clarity around the identity of “the one who will always be wronged by others,” because this story usually develops in response to actual experiences of (sometimes horrific) victimization or oppression, and challenging the story of victimhood is easy to confuse with denying the reality of those experiences. But when real experiences of victimization congeal into a solid identity we can start to see those around us as perpetrators no matter what they do, and ourselves as the victims of injustice no matter how others actually treat us. Some people with this psychology are very dangerous to others because they perpetrate from the victim stance. And they’re able to do this without guilt because they view themselves as innocents who are merely defending themselves no matter how egregious their actual behavior is. One of the most famous historical examples of this psychology was Adolf Hitler, who avenged himself on millions for the (very real) abuse he suffered as a child.

Fortunately, we aren’t all puppets of our childhood conclusions because our human capacity for self reflection

Although the Giants organization did not confirm by press time, the samesex Kiss Cam spots this year were history making according to the Gay San Francisco Giants Fans group on Facebook, quoted in The Advocate.

Several longtime season ticket holders had never seen a JumboTron samesex kiss before, and another member’s ticket rep confirmed these kisses were a first in Giants’ history.

So how important were the JumboTron kisses? Same-sex couples have kissed on television since the 1990s.

Were a pair of kisses at a home game such a big deal? Earlier this summer the Contemporary Jewish Museum held Hand-holding Day at its Gertrude Stein Exhibit virtually by public outcry. Seeing that pair of 50-foot-tall liplocks at a game known as our country’s national pastime was another victory over invisibility. Every new audience that cheers us on as full human beings means new ground gained. It would seem this has be-

and self awareness can do much to correct distorted self-perceptions. I believe that one highly effective treatment for “the story of me” is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, which is a combination of standard cognitive therapy techniques and mindfulness meditation practice. In cognitive therapy we learn to pay careful attention to our “top ten tunes” – to the recurrent background themes and ideas with which we give meaning to our experience.

In mindfulness practice we learn to be present to our direct experience as it arises, prior to our ideas and interpretations about what it means. In being conscious of what is actually here, we gain access to the freshness and ungraspable aliveness of our immediate experience, and begin to understand that any fixed ideas about ourselves are inevitably one-sided and misleading. That makes it more possible to appreciate the fundamentally unfathomable mystery of our own being.

When we can do that, we can begin to appreciate the enigmatic intimations of these words of the Buddhist meditation master Kalu Rinpoche, “We live in illusion and the appearance of things. There is a reality. You are that reality. When you understand this, you will see that you are nothing. And being nothing, you are everything.

That is all.”

come the summer of queer PDAs in San Francisco.

In the meantime, down on the postage stamp field, our Giants were getting clobbered by the Chicago Cubs, 0-7. After the JumboTron Kisses it mattered less, and the Giants hold several records on support of LGBTQ issues. In 1994, they became the first major league team to promote AIDS awareness with their Until There’s A Cure Day. They’ve hosted LGBTQ Night for nine years. And this year, the Giants became the first pro team to produce a video for the It Gets Better Project. I noticed that the Cubs now also have a video, and the score on that project is Giants 147,073 views, Cubs 27,043 views. Right now, you can’t tell me that the Giants aren’t a leader in their division.

A mega-kiss is still a mega-kiss.

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- Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. His website is tommoon.net.

BAY T IM ES SEPT EM BER 8, 2011 9

Are You the Babysitter?

(ROSTOW continued from page 3)

Parenting RoiAnn Phillips As a white lesbian adoptive mom and stepmom in a family with two young Latinas, I’ve been asked this question more than a few times – at the park, during social events, after the high school dance. Where we are and how much it matters – to me or to the girls – determines how I respond. Early in stepfamily life, Grace let a middle school friend believe for a whole year that I was her babysitter, and I simply looked after her while her mom was on business trips. What her friend thought I was doing in the house all those other times remains a mystery to me.

Another time, our youngest was three. For weeks, I had dropped her off and picked her up from preschool, and once - just once - Kelly had come to pick her up. The next morning, I dropped her off again and one of her girlfriends, probably five years old, ran to meet us at the door. Eagerly, she helped my daughter Eva squeeze her lunch bag onto the shelf, and then looked at me as if for the first time.

“Are you the babysitter?” she asked. I said, “No. I’m her mom.”

She stroked Eva’s silky jet-black hair and looked at me strangely, impressed yet unconvinced. “But you don’t look alike,” she said to me, looking from one of us to the other and back again.

My hair is strawberry blonde, long, less silky than my daughter’s. My skin is pale and freckled. My daughter’s whole body is bronze.

“We have lots of colors in our family, don’t we?” I asked Eva, who was now sitting quietly on a small chair next to us, gazing at me evenly. All morning, she’d been distracted and slow. She hadn’t said a word since we arrived and was clearly content to let me handle this conversation on my own. She wanted to be at home with

Kelly Fondow and RoiAnn Phillips are raising two daughters in Oak Park, Illinois.

our dogs, and probably the television, and shelves of art supplies. I knew she would hold this conversation herself someday. Many times. What I said next mattered.

“Why do you always drop her off?” another friend chimed in, bouncing lightly on her feet as she spoke. My little girl looked at her.

“Because I love her, and I want to see where she spends her day,” I replied.

“No,” the g irl explained. “Why doesn’t her dad come?”

“Ohhh.” I understood. “She doesn’t have a dad. She has two moms,” I told them, with excited emphasis on the two moms.

“Hey – that’s like Nicholas,” the first girl told the second.

I smiled. “Cool,” I said to the girls, as I unfolded myself from the crouched position I’d been holding just inside the classroom door. “I gotta go, Love.” I gave Eva a kiss on the top of her head. She stood, but lingered at the door a moment. Quickly, her new friends pulled her inside, she smiled just a bit, and they disappeared together into the classroom.

In this moment, I understood what I’d heard so many times from political activists and moms, alike: THIS

is why we share about our family. So a five year-old can say simply, “That’s like Nicholas!” when I explain the two-mom thing, and affirm the multiracial make-up of our family. And our children can go about the business of stringing beads and squashing clay with their friends.

In Oak Park, Illinois and in the Bay Area, this is often possible. And in other places, too, I know. But sometimes it takes more courage, and more support, and sometimes still it is nearly impossible.

But wherever we are, as we send our kids back into the classroom this fall, some of us will schedule meetings with each new teacher, and maybe we’ll share resource materials and fact sheets on LGBT parents prepared by the GLSEN or COLAGE. Some of us will offer to read Star of the Week: A Story of Love, Adoption, and Brownies with Sprinkles to a first grade class, and answer questions about international adoption. Some of us will carefully choose our pronouns when talking about the veggie burgers our domestic partners threw on the grill last weekend. Some of us will quietly hope “Nicholas” has already been here. And some of us, because we can, will simply tell it like it is.

- Write to Kelly Fondow and RoiAnn Phillips at kellyandroiann@gmail.com.

She introduced herself as Lou, explaining that her late mother had been called Iris and that my eccentric list was the kind of thing she would have approved of. After taking a closer look, she was confident that she could help. I wasn’t so sure. I’d had a week of let downs, but Lou was resolute. I tested her with the prom queen challenge. I was expecting her to put a hand on my shoulder and slowly shake her head. Instead her answer came straight away: “That’s easy, come on my f loat.” I couldn’t quite believe what I’d heard. Surely she knew that it’s not supposed to be that easy. But I learnt that if fate puts you next to a member of the Gay Pride board of directors, it could.

So Lou waved her wand and three weeks later I was riding on the first f loat of the parade, in a pink dress so large it could be seen through the Hubble Telescope. I waved regally at the crowds, wedged between two dashing underwear models. It was one of the best days of my life, particularly since the people I met that day, the Lou crew as I like to call them, became to feel like extended family With 30 days left, I still had about 15 dreams to go. They were split evenly into: a) I know how to do these in theory, but in practice it would be easier to bring Elvis Presley back to life and b) I really have no clue, HELP! What possessed me in the first place?

Oh, and some people are upset that Chaz Bono is going to be on Dancing With the Stars because he’s a transman. Really? Since when does a slot on Dancing With the Stars require a jump through 1950s All American hoops?

It’s true that a public school’s obligation to maintain order gives administrators the power to shut down highly provocative speech. But “Gay? Fine by me!” hardly qualifies. Even if a fellow student were to react to the sentiment with violence, the school’s duty would be to take the violent student off the campus, not give him or her the proverbial heckler’s veto over Sara’s speech.

There is also a gay cannibal in the news, but I’ll have to look him up.

Here it is, from six days ago: “Russian Cannibal Ate Gay Date,” off the GlobalPost website.

In a letter to the Hoover officials, a lawyer for the Southern Poverty Law Center’s LGBT off ice offered this High Court citation from history’s most famous high school speech case, Tinker v. Des Moines: “Any departure from absolute regimentation may cause trouble. Any variation from the majority’s opinion may inspire fear. Any word spoken, in class, in the lunchroom, or on the campus that deviates from the views of another person may start an argument or cause a disturbance. But our Constitution says we must take this risk. [It is] this sort of hazardous freedom - this kind of openness - that is the basis of our national strength and of the independence and the vigor of Americans who grow up and live in this relatively permissive, often disputatious, society.”

I decided to leave my existential ruminations behind for the weekend.

The Lou crew were going to the Fabulosa Festival. At one point they were trying to get me to pitch my wits in a lube wrestling contest, but I decided that I couldn’t do it to my children.

Not that I have any. But one day I might. And since I already have the makings of an embarrassing mother, I didn’t want to add “Mummy was a lube wrestler to the mix.” At least not until I could afford the child psychologist’s fees.

So off I went, determined to take a day off from my wishlist. I got a ride with Betty, of Betty’s List. Betty had ideas, one of which was to put me in touch with Donna Sachet.

I’d seen Donna, resplendent in red, at a few Gay Pride events. We arranged to meet at a cafe in the Castro and after 20 minutes Donna had offered solutions to my most obscure challenges. As I followed Donna’s advice, my dreams started going off like firecrackers. To ‘unbend the Uri Geller spoon’ she put me in touch with the captivating Walt Anthony, a conjurer and teller of tales. To ‘be a cowgirl‘ she directed me to the Sundance Saloon, and for my cheerleading challenge I should contact America’s Got Talent quarter-finalists, CheerSF. But with ten days to go a few dreams still weren’t budging. I had exhausted all my ideas about wishlist item 9: ‘Be a chorus girl’ and item 20: ‘Get to know Moss Hart’, one of my favorite deceased playwrights. So I stopped

10 BAY TIMES SEPT EM BER 8, 2011

fretting and went to channel Billy the Kid at the Sundance Saloon, where I spent the evening line-dancing to Lady Gaga with some of the nicest cowboys and girls in town. Again, I didn’t have a ride home and Daron, my lovely friend of five minutes, suggested I could go back with him and his friend Steve. During the 15-minute journey it transpired that Steve was the choreographer of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. This got me thinking. We swapped numbers and I got back in touch.

Within a few days they’d managed to put together a chorus line just for me.

I sang an Avenue Q standard, “If You Were Gay”, with 1/52nd of the Gay Men’s Chorus. And Steve, Gadget (star of stage and screen and Steve’s dog) and I also did our very best reinterpretation of “My Fair Lady” - a classic directed by Moss Hart. So two more dreams had come true because of the kindness of complete and utterly wonderful strangers.

Perhaps my 60 days in San Francisco prove that the LGBTQ community is particularly predisposed to helping Brits with their wishlists, in the same way it is to voting Democrat. Who can say? I’m not sure it’s been polled.

But either way, and for whatever reason, thanks. I never knew people like you existed.

Yo u c a n r e a d m o r e a b o u t I r i s Mansour’s American adventure at: www. iris60days.com.

Not that Dancing With the Stars should set the bar for trans-inclusion.

Far from it. But please.

Seems the 21-year-old chef, Ivan L, lured his 32-year-old buddy to his Murmansk f lat, stabbed him to death, cut off his feet and head, and fashioned meatballs out of the torso.

He also uploaded video of the gruesome stovetop scenes onto the Internet. According to a different source, the Independent, the murder took place in the bathtub. After killing his victim, Ivan ran warm water to soften up the corpse for butchering. Oh, and he also made sausages as well as meatballs.

Here’s the kicker. According to the Independent, Ivan faces 15 years in prison, assuming he is found competent to stand trial. Fifteen years? For eating someone? Seems a bit lenient to me. Ivan explained to police that he wanted to try human f lesh. He picked his victim from a gay website because gay men are easier to manipulate and more private than other people. Guys, be careful out there.

Particularly when cruising around the Arctic Circle.

Goodbye Summer

Happily, the school seemed impressed with the SPLC’s reasoning. A couple of days later, Hoover authorities reversed themselves, noting that since Sara’s shirt did not actually pose a disruption, she could continue to sport the gay-friendly expression. I suppose that’s a step in the right direction.

King’s Killer Not Convicted

(20 DREAMS continued from page 1) per with the words “Iris’ to-do list can you help?”

I generally root for the T-shirt, gay or straight, as long as the slogan isn’t mean or obscene. And, luckily for me this time, the shirt was worn by one of the good gals, a sophomore at Hoover High in Alabama named Sara Couvillon, who proclaimed: “Gay? Fine by me!” Sara had worn the shirt several times without incident, but this time, for whatever reason, she was told to take it off “for her own safety.”

Meanwhile, you probably read that Brandon McInerney won a mistrial as jurors in Southern California could not agree on a verdict for the eighth grade killer. Brandon shot his gay classmate, Larry King, in the middle of the school day back in February of 2010. His defense attorneys were trying to win a verdict of voluntary manslaughter, while the prosecutor called it murder. The jury split 7-5 in favor of manslaughter, sending the case into limbo.

Prosecutors will now have to decide whether to retry the 17-year-old, and if so, they will have to decide whether to retry him as an adult even though he was only 14 at the time of the murder (or slaughter, if you insist). Usually I’m not in favor of trying kids as adults, but I really can’t drum up much sympathy for this nasty little bully with a penchant for swastikas.

Call me hard hearted.

Top Chef As for the other LGBTQ news, it keeps slipping out of my head. Usually I keep about five stories at the front of my mind while I write, but this week they are dissolving as quickly as I can look them up. The new CEO of Apple is gay. But I’m not sure that’s a big story. I mean, what can you say? Good luck, Tim!

Summer’s ending, if you didn’t notice.

First we hit “September 1,” which is still summer but doesn’t sound like it anymore. Then comes the end of the Labor Day weekend, when I can no longer wear white shoes or pants without hearing my mother’s voice call out from the afterlife to point out the fashion faux pas.

And yet. We all remember that some of the best summer weekends were always the weekends right after Labor Day. The finals of the U.S. Open are on. The tourists are gone from the New England beaches. The renters are off Long Island. Those are beautiful weekends. Still hot. Still summery.

But nostalgic and timeless. Caught between seasons.

After that weekend’s done, I always remind myself that it’s still technically summer until September 20 or 21.

Whenever. That’s the final “last day of summer” and there’s really nothing else around the corner. By that time, the Halloween stuff is all over the grocery store, the retail world’s decoration parade has begun, and it won’t stop until Easter.

Pumpk ins, Turkeys, Santa, New Years, Hearts, Bunnies. One set of iconic images following the next like clockwork. And then finally, the first of the several “first days of summer.”

Easter Monday. Let the grim procession through winter begin. And speaking of the U.S. Open, is Serena on steroids?

- Write to Ann Rostow at arostow@aol. com.

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Arts&Entertainment Waiting for Giovanni is Jewelle Gomez’s Tribute to James Baldwin Dr. Annette Lust In her world premiere of Waiting for Giovanni, author and activist Jewelle Gomez presents James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room as a dream play depicting the conf licts in the author’s mind. In collaboration with and directed by Harry Waters Jr., and in association with the New Conservatory Theatre Center, Gomez’s play brings an in-depth understanding of the life of the controversial American writer.

The action depicts Baldwin living and writing in the fifties in exile in Paris. He is conf licted about releasing his novel about two men in love in Paris at a time when a play about homosexuality involving a black and a while man could ruin his literary career as well as his role as a black activist.

Gomez dramatically and poetically portrays the author’s fears about how his book will be accepted and if his career will be doomed if he decides to publish. At the end of Act One Jimmy says, “But I don’t remember feeling like my words were boning knives.

Still that’s the image that comes to mind when I think of what they will say of this book.”

In her play Gomez sensitively and empathetically reveals her love, under-

I interviewed Gomez the week before Waiting for Giovanni opened at the New Conservatory Theatre.

BT: How and why did you become interested in James Baldwin and in his novel Giovanni’s Room as well as in the character of Giovanni?

JG: I first read Baldwin's fiction when I was a teenager in the 1960s and fell in love with his use of language. The first novels I read were Another Country and Giovanni's Room and both had gay characters so I felt such relief to know that there were other gay people in the world. The character, Giovanni, is such a tragic figure because he's caught in the underclass of Paris, exploited by a thoughtless American and so in love he can't protect himself.

This book is a chance to give Giovanni's life resonance in ours.

BT: You mention that your play is about a fierce young Harlem man who is true to love, politics and the ghosts in his head? Could you elaborate on this description? What are the ghosts in his head?

I'm painting a picture of a man buffeted about by the conflicts of loyalty and responsibility, something that many who are members of oppressed (continued on page 15)

PHOTO BY LOIS TEM A

Theater Review

standing and admiration of Baldwin’s work and the dilemma it presented due to his truthful revelation of the unabated love between two men that took considerable courage to disclose during the fifties.

Liam Hughes and W.M. Hunter in Waiting for Giovanni at the New Conservatory Theatre.

Exit, Pursued by a Bear: Vengeance is Ursine Theater Review

Lily Janiak

PH OTO BY DAV E N O WAKO W S KI

At some point in Exit, Pursued by a Bear, a zippy world premiere at Crowded Fire Theater Company, I started to wonder why I liked playwright Lauren Gunderson’s four characters so much, even though they derive so

Sweetheart (Andrea Snow), Simon (Reggie D. White), and Nan Carter (Erin Gilley) form an unlikely revenge trio against Nan's unsuspecting husband, Kyle (Patrick Jones).

plainly from trite Southern stereotypes. There’s Kyle (Patrick Jones), a good old-fashioned Georgia redneck.

There’s Nan (Erin Gilley), his battered wife. And then there are Nan’s friends Simon (Reggie D. White), a gay retired cheerleader, and Peaches (Andrea Snow), a stripper-cum-aspiring-actress, who help their pure but passive bestie hatch a crazy revenge plot on her worthless husband, with the help of a bear, William Shakespeare and some duct tape.

actly sure what she wants - except for ice cream. So for all Gunderson’s snappy sitcom lines - “If I were trashier, I’d spit” - her play insists on its theatricality. Her characters, in wresting control of the play from one another, magically turning reality on and off, simultaneously champion and gently mock the enchanting powers of the stage.

At first I thought it might be the absurdity of that plan that gives the production its juice. Nan, Peaches and Simon have no use for prosaic vengeance. In love with the rich possibilities of drama, they engineer a “slow and theatrical” demise for Kyle, one that perfectly completes Nan’s narrative arc and achieves classical catharsis. That’s where the bear comes in; Kyle, a would-be hunter, must become the hunted. So they stage a dramatic reenactment of Nan’s suffering for Kyle’s benefit - he is literally a captive audience - with the hope that he have a glimmer of empathy or pity right before a bear tears him to shreds.

Much as the play relies on sparkly repartee to keep the pace brisk, Gunderson does not shy away from investigating what makes wife beaters beat and what makes battered wives take beating. “I’m one of those women that you look at and think, ‘Why doesn’t she just leave?’” confesses Nan to the audience. “I’m not the bad guy; I’m just a guy,” attempts Kyle. Under Desdemona Chiang’s sensitive direction, you see that he is, or at least that he once was. Now, though, as Emily Greene’s richly detailed scenic design makes clear, Nan’s situation is untenably claustrophobic: the bug spray, plastic cooler and Wild Turkey on top of the fridge, the pond scum texture of the rec room carpet, the TJ-Maxxbought angel wall decorations - this is as good as her life is going to get.

But the directorial reins in this playwithin-a-play prove difficult to hold on to. Simon and Peaches both want more lines. Kyle wants to do some scenes that don’t just show “the bad stuff,” as in from the beginning of their relationship. And Nan isn’t ex-

But in the end, it is the ensemble’s chemistry that makes this production such a winning one. Director Desdemona Chiang brings together a cast who not only have a blast with Gunderson’s fun punch lines but whose abiding affection for one an-

other makes possible their commitment to their ridiculous scheme - and who get you rooting for each, in turn, when, at last, he or she gets to direct a scene.

Exit, Pursued by a Bear continues ( Wed nesday to Sat urday, 8pm) through Sept. 17 at the Boxcar Playhouse, 505 Natoma St.., San Francisco. Tickets ($15 - $30), call (415) 255-7846 or at crowdedfire.org.

Check out Lily’s blog at lilyjaniak.blogspot.com.

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BAY T IM ES SEPT EM BER 8, 2011 11

“Mary Lou” Is Must-See Movie Musical for Queers, Drags & Their Friends

"The Holy Wigs" in a scene from Mary Lou playing at the Castro Theatre until September 21.

Film Review Sister Dana Van Iquity Ma r y L o u , wh ic h m i g ht b e de scribed as an Israeli Mamma Mia!, is having its United States theatrical premiere at the Castro Theat re September 17-21. T h is is a marvelous movie with much more of a message than the A BBA one, but w it h ever y bit of t he glor iously magnif ied music and dancing. It is subtitled, which makes it sometimes dif f icult to follow the songs’ translations and the dancing concurrent ly, but t hat is my on ly c ompl a i nt . T he s on g s (25 of them) are mostly based on aging Israeli rock star, Sv ika Pick, who plays himself in this f ilm and might be compared to a present d ay R o d S t e w a r t . P ic k ’s ebu l lient score ref lects his Eurovision award-winning song writing (i.e.: “ D iva,” made fa mous by si nger Dana International).

Pick is the focal point, as we discover young Meir L ev i’s mother M i r ia m ha s r u n away from her pr e c o c iou s , pr e - pub e s c ent b oy and his father in hopes of becoming a backup singer with her longt i me idol, P ick . T he boy ma kes close friends with adorable Shuli (who wou ld later in h igh school b e c o me h i s p e r s o n a l f a g h a g , wh ich rea l ly ever y g ay boy re quires) and enemies w it h homo phobic school mates. Add to t he mix his unrequited love for handsome jock , Gabr iel, who comes bet ween Meir and Shuli romantically, break ing up this odd triangle.

Then, as soon as Meir graduates f rom h igh school (a f ter put t i ng on a bizarre talent show and almost getting lynched), he sets out to f ind his missing mother. A long the way in his quest, his travel to Tel Av iv brings him into friendship with Ori, who was trying out for T V’s “Israeli Idol” featur ing P ick, but is a lso t he lead voca l-

ist, M iss Sunsh ine, in a sing ing drag troupe k nown as The Holy Wigs. This quintet of queens perfor m s at t he loc a l St age, a g ay bar w ith nightly live sing ing entertainment, energetic and intric ately c hor eog r aphed d a nc i ng, a nd boozi ng. Meir becomes t he w a r d r ob e m a st er for t he D Q s’ i mpres s ive a r r ay of gow n s a nd w ig s. A f ter M iss Su nsh i ne fa i ls to show up for her solo, Meir has to step in, calling himself “Mary L ou,” a fter t he Sv i k a P ick song he a nd h is mot her used to si ng to deat h back in better fa m i l ia l days. Meir’s Mar y Lou soon becomes legendary in town. But the singing queens attract the strangest people – from psychos to gaybashers to closeted military men.

W hat is most impor t a nt to note is that a long his journey to f ind his mother, Meir is challenged to f ind himself. Lover? Entertainer?

Liar?

The Ace of Green – Magic at Hotel Rex Theater Review Liz Bell A three pronged balancing act makes Magic at the Rex a full spectacle of magic, not just tricks.

My companion and I arrived at The Hotel Rex at 7:40 for the 8pm show.

The small library bar was crowded, and buzzing with excitement. The clinking of cocktails could be heard in the background as the patrons made their way to the bar. We confirmed our reservation in front of the intimate salon to the left of the library. It felt as if we had been transported to the 1920s, waiting for a traveling circus sideshow where we paid a nickel to view what surprises may be behind the curtains. We ordered two bourbons and a couple appetizers from the bartender to bring inside the salon.

There was no food service or drink service inside the salon, so plan accordingly.

At 7:50pm a bellow came from the hallway. Mr. RJ Owens, one of the featured magicians shouted, “Mr. and Mrs. John Right, your table is now ready for Magic at the Rex.” He had a Penn look from Penn and Teller; he’s approachable, funny and entertaining. The three magicians, RJ Owens, Sebastian Boswell III, and Adam Sachs, lightheartedly bantered back and forth as they seated each group. “Mr. Boswell, a table for two. The Smiths are here.” Mr. Boswell chimed back, “Hello Smiths, (with raised eyebrows)… likely. Come this way.”

12 BAY T IMES SEPTEM BER 8, 2011

Sebastian Boswell III, RJ Owens and Adam Sachs deliver unexpected sleights at Hotel Rex..

The setting is intimate, as is the performance. I have seen many magic shows and studied many tricks, and really enjoy the mystery of it all. From where I was sitting, there were no apparent setups, trick decks, bogus props or audience placements. There were no illusions there… it was magic.

Mr. Adam Sachs, a true sleight of hand magician, mesmerized us with his “Dark Hair Lady” card performance. He repeatedly shuff led the cards as he told a story that was deliberately complicated to follow, yet visually spoke to the audience. In another act, Mr. Sachs spoke of his fascination with a New Orleans Voodoo shop owner he previously met. Mr. Sachs brought me into a circle of deep secrets and dark magic. However, his interactions were genuine. It wasn’t the same every time, like a rehearsed play.

Mr. Sebastian Boswell III referred to

the book Moonwalking With Einstein, as one of his favorite reads. The book chronicles the idea, “in every way that matters, we are the sum of our memories.” And memory he has (as well as great shoes). An incredible feat of memorizing cards was first for him, not just a few cards, but the complete deck. In between his magic, he determined through audience participation what they were thinking about AND THEN he does what I had never seen before, nor want to again… a trick both amazing and horrifying.

He determined a number that was randomly drawn from a zip lock bag (yes, that sounds familiar right?), but the orifice from which he pulled the matching number is not to be missed.

Mr. RJ Owens, the boisterous man who greeted us with his bellowing voice, returns. He offered humor and magic that uplifted our souls. He combined a good rendition of “Milkshake,” while performing magic by (continued on page 17)

HOT TICKETS LGBT Night with Thunder Fr om Dow n Unde r at t he R r a z z R o o m - It ’s not a n earthquake that will be shaki n g S a n Fr a nc i s c o, it s A u s tra l ia’s Thunder From Dow n Under, the No.1 male revue in Las Vegas according to recent pol ls includ ing AOL and t he L a s Veg a s Re v iew-Jou r n a l’s “ Best of L as Vega s” contest.

The sexy and dynamic show is celebrating 20 years of setting t he s t a nd a r d i n a du lt m a le product ion s . T he a cc l a i med 75-minute production features ha nd some Au st r a l i a n blokes with six-pack abs, broad grins, f l i r t at iou s per son a l it ies a nd g reat dancing. T hunder welc ome s a l l t o p er for m a nc e s ; however, they have never designated a special night for the LGBT community, until now.

Enjoy Thunder Thursday Sept 15 at 8pm at the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nik ko SF for a Special Thunder From Down Under Per for ma nce Welcom i ng T he L GBT Com mu n it y. $35 OR L i m it e d V I P Up C lo s e seats - $55.00; ThunderFromDownUnder.com.

Dutcher Crossing: The Perfect Moment Noorba k hsh i nv ites aud iences to laugh at the stereot y pes about I s la m t hat have ma ny A mericans duck ing for cover.

T h is cr it ica l ly-accla imed ro mant ic comedy is an insightful and funny one-woman show t hat uses a stor y about cross-cultural relationships to discover unexpected common ground among ethnicities, religions and traditions. Tickets $20 Sept. 1 – Oct. 1, Thur-Sat at 8pm. Stage Werx Theatre 533 Sutter St. (at Powell), SF. Tix: brownpapertickets.com/ e v e n t /18 9 5 2 2 o r 415 - 517 3 5 81. I n fo: Z a h r a C o m e d y. com.

Unve i le d by R oh i n a M a l i k - To Ju d g e…or N o t t o Judge? Brava unveils the tales of 5 women who practice trad it iona l Musl i m custom a nd wea r t he h ijab w it h i n a cu lture with dif ferent traditions, languages and sense of humor.

I nt i mate, f u n ny a nd honest , Unveiled answers the forbidden que st ion s: How to wea r t he hijab and why? Through this f irst play, Ms. Malik brings us f ive strong, diverse and powerful cultural tales and explores t he relat ionship bet ween Muslim relig ion and Muslim cu lt ure, not voicing complaint but instigating debate.

Don’t Avert Your Eyes… Five Muslim women in a post-9/11 world l iv i ng i n wester n cu lt ures ser ve tea a nd uncover what lies beneath the veil in t h is compel l i ng one-woma n show. I n commemorat ion of t he 10 -ye a r a n n iver s a r y of the catastrophic 9/11 attacks, Brava is proud to invite critically acclaimed Rohina Malik’s to the Brava stage as she tells stories about love, Islam, culture, language, racism and l ife. Ti x $10 -$25. September The Thunder from Down Under will have a LGBT night at the Rrazz Room 8 -17, 2 011 B r a v a T h e a t e r, on September 15.

2781 24th St. (at York, SF BraS F Fr i n g e Fe s t iv a l - C e l - va Box Of f ice: 415 - 647-2822 ebr at i ng it s 20 t h yea r st a r t- or brava.org ing Sept 7 the 2011 SF Fringe Festival will present 44 shows S h ow Ho b y S a r a Mo o r e over 12 days, September 7 – - A mu lt i- c h a r a c ter tou r de 18, featuring the f inest of in- force of comedienne and perdependent theatre on four San for ma nce a r t ist Sa ra Moore.

Fr a nc i sco st a ges at t he E x it T h is h i la r ious a nd poig na nt T he at er ple x . T h i s ver it able story follows her quirky clown f u n hou se br a nc hes of f i nto a lter- ego, R honda Ha m mers e v e r a l p e r for m a n c e a r e a s , s t e i n , a n d h e r t r av e l s i n a g iv ing you t he i mpression of low-rent circus. The Big Top d r i f t i n g t h r ou gh a n a mu s e - sanctuary provides a haven for ment park attraction with mul- those too weird or strange or tiple spectacles simultaneously queer to live anywhere else. In playing out. Here you can see this backstage world, Rhonda e v e r y t h i n g f r o m a mu s i c a l f inds a home on this “island of fa rce on t he l i fe of Sa lvador misf it toys”. $20, Sept. 8 - Oct Dali to a claustrophobic rendi- 9 at New Conser vator y T het ion of Jean-Pau l Sar t re's No atre Center 25 Van Ness Ave, Exit to a one-woman S/M bed- SF 415-861-8972 or NCTCSF. time stor y. Some of the main org. t heater's spaces cont a i n t a l l cha i r s a nd ba r s t hat prof fer t he a mbience of a 19t h- cent u r y s a lo on , c omplement e d by the fact that you can drink and nibble on snacks as you're entertained. Sets range from dramatic to Spartan, but you can a lways count on an er ud ite, sassy per for mance. 156 E ddy St. SF; for a complete listing of shows and times visit sf fringe.org.

A l l At hei s t s A r e Mu s l i m - Muslim, Iranian-A mer ican comedian and performer Zahra Noorba k hsh ( pronounced Zah-ra Nor-bash) brings back her successfu l one woman show All Atheists Are Muslim to Sara Moore brings her Show Ho to the t he Stage Wer x T heat re. On New Conservatory Theatre through the 10th anniversar y of 9/11, October 9.

Music Legend Herbie Hancock At Zel lerbach Ha l l - G r a m m y Aw a r d - w i n n i n g contemporar y jazz great Herbie Ha ncock lead s a qua r tet fe a t u r i n g d r u m m e r V i n n i e Colaiuta, bassist James Genus

The Dutcher Crossing Winery, nestled in Dry Creek Valley, produces 8,000 cases of award-winning wines each year.

by Heather Cassell Every morning Debra Mathy wakes up and looks out her window across rows of grapevines. She is living her dream as one of the owners of Dutcher Crossing Winery.

Grammy-winner Herbie Hancock will play at the Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley on September 21.

a nd g u it a r i st L ionel L oueke at Cal Performances Wednesday, September 21, at 8 p.m. in Zellerbach Hall. Hancock will perform select songs from h is latest a lbum: T he Imag ine P ro j e ct ; a n i nt er n at ion a l r e cord i ng a nd f i l m col l abor a t ion w ith such renowned arti st s a s Dave M at t hew s , T he Chiefta ins, John L egend, India A rie, Pink, Wayne Shorter, James Morrison and many others. Tickets from $30 -$85.

Wed nes d ay S e ptemb er 21st , at Zellerbach Hall on the UC B er ke le y C a mpu s ; B a nc r of t Way at Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. Tix available through the Ca l Per for mances Ticket Off ice, (510) 642-9988 or calperformances.org.

BottleRockIt! - Wente Vineyards invites you to spend the day bask ing under the L ivermore Va l ley su n, enjoy i ng a full day of music and a selection of estate grown, sustainable wines. Headlined by Givers, The Holdup, Dirty Vegas, A B & The Sea and The Hundred Days, Live 105 Music Director and on-air personalit y Aaron A xelsen w ill g uest DJ, as well as cohost the event with Fifth Generation Winemaker, K a r l Went e.“ T he B ay A r e a has some of the most original a nd i nterest i ng i ndependent bands and Bott leRock It! is a great way to showcase some of this amazing talent. What better way to experience wine and music together when all your s en s es a r e st i mu l ated ," s ay s Went e, a mu s ic i a n h i m s e l f , who will also perform with his ow n ba nd, T he Front Porch.

Saturday, September 10 5565 Tes l a Roa d , L iver more, C A Doors open at 10:30amz Performances beg in at 11a Cost: $20 per per son. Ti x : bottlerockit.eventbrite.com.

A F I E L D, by L i nd a Ay res Freder ick - an absurd ist trag icomedy in which a man, a woman and a pig engage in a da rk da nce for su r v iva l i n t he SF Fr i nge Fest iv a l, E x it Theatre 156 Eddy Street, SF Shows: 9/8 7pm, 9/10 7:30pm, 9/14 9pm, & 9/18 1pm. Tickets $10 at door, $12.99 online sf fringe.org/fringe11/11plays/ a f ield.ht m l. D i rected by Joe Weatherby.

“I get to wake up and see the vineyard and do this day-to-day.

[It] is the most exciting thing,” said Mathy, 41, a former educator with a background in human nutrition and dietetics and physical education. “We hear all the time, ‘God you have the best job in the world.’

Well, we agree.”

Nestled in Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma, Calif.’s wine country, Dutcher Crossing produces its awardwinning handcrafted wines from vineyards that were planted about 35 years ago, and then replanted once during that time.

Mathy is the second owner of the winery founded by Bruce Nevins and Jim Stevens, in 2001. Nevins and Stevens, who operated Perrier North America for over 30 years, officially opened Dutcher Cross’s doors to welcome guests in 2005.

Even though Dutcher Crossing wasn’t for sale at the time, Mathy persuaded Nevins and Stevens to let her buy the winery. The three shook hands during Winter Wineland, an annual wine tasting event, and closed the deal in 2007.

At the time Nevins and Stevens were in the midst of transforming Dutcher Crossing into a state of the art solar powered winery. The men installed a solar electric system that generates enough clean electricity to power 26 average homes daily. The system also spares the air from nearly 29 tons of harmful greenhouse gasses annually; that equates to more than 880 tons over the systems lifespan. An added bonus is that the system will have paid for itself in two more years, according to early estimations, reported RedOrbit.com.

Dutcher Crossing is known best for its San Francisco Chronicle 2009 Gold Medal winning Sauvignon Blanc along with its other flagship wines, Cabernet and Syrah. Mathy and Kerry Damskey, the winery’s original winemaker, now have their eyes set on creating their own unique Zinfandel, from their post in the heart of Zinfandel country.

Together they make every decision about crafting the wines and Nevins and Stevens are only a phone call away when Mathy needs to tap into their expertise. “We are still a young brand and building and growing and having a lot of fun This isthe a paid along way,”advertisement. she added about

the journey of building her wine team during the last four years.

The team of five employees plus three part-time or seasonal staff, help create and sell the winery’s 8,000 cases of award-winning wines annually, double the number it was when she bought the vineyard.

While the winery is growing, Mathy and her team prefer to be a “hidden jewel” in the valley handcrafting all of the wines they produce and knowing their customers. “We like to know our guests and who is drinking the wine,” said Mathy about the nearly 100 wine club members and guests.

Wine visions Mathy grew up drinking German Riesling and Merlot, but her love affair with wine began during a school trip to Rhone, France with her French club. “I remember sitting in an Austrian weingarten near Vienna. I fell in love with the region, culture, cheese, bread and wine,” she reminisced. She continued developing a passion for wine - German whites in particular - throughout college and into her first career as an elementary physical education teacher.

By her early 30s, Mathy had nearly given up on her dream, having already spent a dozen years searching for her winery. A Wisconsin businessman, Mathy’s father put her back on track. “When my dad got sick he asked, ‘Do you really want to do this?’” said Mathy. He knew that her interest was not merely a phase and together they hired an Australian wine consultant Bruce McDougall who mentored and taught Mathy about the ins and outs of the wine industry for the next four years. They searched California, Oregon, and Washington wine regions reviewing hundreds of potential sites, from raw to complete vineyards and wineries.

“We wanted to come to the heartbeat of the wine industry,” said Mathy about choosing California over developing and pioneering East Coast and Midwest wine regions.

Her father didn’t survive to see his daughter’s dream become a reality, but she is reminded every day, when she wakes to the rolling hills of vineyards, of the gift that he gave her. Now Mathy is where she wants to be - in the sunshine in the place she loves, Dutcher Crossing in Dry Creek Valley.

You can taste Dutcher Crossing wine during Wine Time on 9.14 at 2223 Market..

BAY T IM ES SEPT EM BER 8, 2011 13

San Francisco’s Best Cafe Breakfast Lunch Dinner Cocktails

Full Service Bar Pastries Desserts

Singing Praises of Two Women: Legendary Witty Passionate Activists

POP ROX

By K. Cole

Natalia Kills Perfectionist

2298 Market Street • San Francisco, CA (415) 621-8579 • www.cafeflore.com

Judy Collins and Lea Solonga are both appearing at the Rrazz Room in September..

Music Review Suzanne Birrell

For more information and to buy your tickets and Gold Passes, go to sfcocktailweek.com.

LIFESTYLE BEYOND THE GLASS

Judy Collins

Lea Salonga

W it h a sen se of awe about her ca reer wh ich ha s spa n ned over 50 years, Judy reports that she is now more act ive t ha n ever; her latest album Paradise is one of her best yet. Playing over 110 shows a year to sell out audiences around t he world , Judy i s g row i ng her aud ience t hat includes a m i x of all ages. With the recent publication of her children’s book Over the Rainbow, even children are found in her audiences.

A delightful person, a natural entertainer, w ith no pretense, gracious a nd u na ssu m i ng, L ea Salonga appears interested in life as it happens around her. She engages passersby with genuine interest in who they are and what they are about. One gets the sense that the whole world is her stage and we’re all on it with her.

Judy recently performed at all the big festivals in England as well as the “ fabulous” Stan Rogers Fest iva l in Canada and t he Woody Gut h r ie Fest iva l i n Ok l a homa .

She enthusiastically credits festivals as the place “where all kinds of creativity is happening.” Judy believes that “live music is the secret of mental health and physical, spir itual and emotional stability. We need to go to live shows to get a break from compulsivity of our machines,” she said. ”It’s essential to see live music.” With t hat i n m i nd, Judy has fostered the careers of many artists starting almost from the f irst moment she stepped on stage. Her Wildf lower Label is committed to nurturing fresh talent.

Child of the 60s and oft-jailed act iv ist, Judy shared t hat she was “ mo st pr iv i leg e d” t o s i n g at a birthday party for Nelson Mandela, the person she “most admires in the world.” Citing sing ing for President Clinton’s inauguration as one of her proudest moments, she wryly added “during his reign we had no debt.” Judy is currently a representative for UN ICEF, c a mpa ig n s for t he abol it ion of land mines, and is a strong advocate of suicide prevention.

Re l at i n g t o t he S a n Fr a nc i s c o scene, Judy proudly reports that Apples’ Insider Magazine once featured her on the cover after she hacked i nto t he Apple 2C computer to make it work on a Digital Printer. “They said it couldn’t be done,” she bragged.

14 BAY T IMES SEPTEM BER 8, 2011

222 Mason Street, San Francisco.

Ticket s: 8 0 0 -38 0 -30 95 or t herazzroom.com.

Don’t miss this icon of American music! Known for many hit songs including “Both Sides Now” and “ C h e l s e a M o r n i n g ,” h e r s t i l l amazing range and inter pret ive s t y le c ou ple d w it h a n e c le c t ic m i x of music, Judy Col l i ns w i l l take you on a journey of light and hope which speaks to the heart.

Tuesdays - Sat urdays: September 20 - October 1, 2011; 8 pm at t he R R azz Room, Hotel Ni k ko,

This versatile and extremely talented singer, famous for her rolls as a prostitute on Broadway and princess for Disney, reports that her audience is usually is gay couples who know the lyrics to everything, older folks who have seen ever y lea d i n g l a d y s i nc e Et hyl Merman, younger people in their t went ies on a d ate, a nd g roups of g irlfr iends. At her shows L ea a lways per for ms “A W hole New Wo r l d ” a n d s h e a l w a y s p i c k s someone from the audience to get up and sing with her. Practice. Be ready!

Music is not her only passion. Entertained by people as she entert a ins, she t a kes on t heir batt les and concerns as her own. Dubbed “T he P r ide of t he Ph i l ippi nes,” L ea is a socia l ly and pol it ica l ly act ive woma n, ca mpa ig n i ng for hu m a n r i g ht s e v er y w her e a nd t a k i n g on suc h for m id able op p o n e nt s s u c h a s t h e C a t h o l i c Church. It was recently reported by a Reader’s Digest Poll that Lea Salonga is the second most trusted person in the Philippines. Lea laughingly said that her husband advised her never to go into politics if she wants to maintain that trust. Meanwhile she maintains a blog, voicing her concerns about g ay r ight s , re pro duc t ive r ight s to limit family size, adolescence responsibilit y and more. Read it at leasa longa.com/leas- of f icia lblog.

The Black Gaga, K ills brings the dark side of dance in an intoxicating mix of familiar pop vocals, slightly sinister lyrics, and solid beats, care of Kanye West production. A lready opening for Katy Perr y on tour, this album will def initely f ill the gap for those who love the beat but also have a penchant for black vinyl S& M. Best Cut: “Mirrors” Location: Your local sex club, Friday night.

Candye Kane Sister Vagabond Sister Kane has been shaking her ample sisters since the early 80s, and now with her new release cowritten by one of the best blues guitarists Laura Chavez, she’ll be taking her show on the road with some hard blues bi-fuel.

Best Cut: “Walkin’, Talkin’ Haunted House” Location: The Parkside packed.

Will Young Echoes British Pop Idol star, out since 2002 and proudly, delivers what this voice deserves – a strong, sensual and sophisticated collection.

Reminiscent of new wave in its sound and design, but strictly modern in its sensibility, if you don’t download this one, I’d be questioning your sexuality.

Best Cut: “Silent Valentine” Location: The Café’, Wednesday afternoon too early.

W hen asked if she ever suf fered repercussions for her out spoken n at u r e, L e a r e s p ond e d w it h a very emphatic, “Oh, yes!” But it’s not slowing her down.

B ay A r e a C aba r et pr e s ent s a n int imate even ing w it h t he Tony Awa rd Wi n n i ng Broadway St a r L ea Sa lon g a . D on’t m i s s L e a's f irst solo appearance in the Bay A rea since she sold out the Mason ic T heater i n 20 0 5. Tic ket s for Friday, September 16 are sold out . T ic ket s a r e st i l l av a i l able for Saturday, September 17, at 5 pm at bayareacabaret.org or by phone at Cit y B ox O f f ice (415) 392-4400.

Joe McElderry Classic He’s gorgeously pristine in his modeling shots, his hair and his music, but does t hat ma ke for beaut i f u l music?

Here McE lder r y tack les some of t he classics in perhaps the most antiseptic It a l ia n d ict ion ever hea rd out side a h igh school la ng uage cla ss. A h, t he sophomoric arrogance.

Best Cut: “To Where You Are” Location: Not in my house.

Sister Dana Says . . .

Bare Chest Calendar Auction Offers Restrained Debauchery

S t r e et Ev e nt s . R e g i s t r a t ion i s 10:30 am at 440 Castro bar. Walk beg ins 1 pm in a two-mile stroll down Market Street to The Powerhouse/ Hole in the wall ending at The Lone Star. Led by SF PD w ith the best of SF talent to entertain you.

ART FOR AIDS: Benef it for the UCSF A IDS Health Project. 175 moder n a nd contempora r y ga ller y qualit y art pieces. Bring ing together a creative community of artists, galleries, art donors, and a r t pat r on s , s p on s or s a nd me d ia, A r t for A I DS connect s t he a r t world, a com mu n it y deeply a w a r e o f t h e e p i d e m i c’s t o l l , w ith one of the nat ion’s lead ing A IDS prevention and care organizations. Phantom of the Opera st a r a nd donat i ng a r t ist , Fra nc D ’A mbr o s io, o p e n s t he e v e nt .

September 23. Si lent auct ion & reception: 6 pm; live auction: 6:45 pm. Food and drink galore (Ketel One serving cocktails). The Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center, 101 Henry Adams Street.

Tix and details at artforaids.org.

A N N UA L L E AT H E R WA L K : 20th annual LW is a benef it for the A IDS Emergency Fund (A EF ) and the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF ) that provide emergency f inancial assistance to low income men and women to help pay rent, telephone, elect r icit y, medicine, and other v ital needs.

Preceded by 11th annual raising of the of f icial huge Leather Flag at noon in Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro, temporarily replacing the big Rainbow Flag for a week, signaling the beginning of Leather Pr ide and the annua l Folsom Street Fair the following Sunday.

September 18. Producer is Sandy “Mama” Reinhardt, founded

by A r t Tomaszewsk i, sponsored by mamasfamily.org and Folsom

PROJECT OPEN H A ND C O M M E M O R AT E S R U T H BRINKER: The public is invited to a memorial service for Project Open Hand Founder Ruth Brinker who passed away on August 8, 2011. A ser v ice w i l l be held on Mond ay, S eptember 12 at 5:3 0 pm in the North L ight Court of Cit y Ha l l to celebrate her good works and giving spirit. A ll guests a re a sked to enter Cit y Ha l l through the Polk Street main entrance. Since 1985, Project Open Hand has been providing “meals w ith love” to people liv ing w ith ser ious i l l nesses a nd to sen ior s i n Sa n Fr a nc i sco a nd A la meda County and has served as a model for over 100 organizations all over the world. In Ruth Brinker’s words: “A nut r it ious mea l, prepared with care and visually appealing, is an act of love. The love symbolized in a superb meal is in it sel f hea l ing and shou ld be ref lected in ever y meal that leaves Open Hand’s kitchen.”

GOOD VIBR ATIONS’ SIXTH A N N UA L I N DI E E RO T IC FILM FESTIVAL (IXFF): from September 17 – 22 at various venues i n Sa n Fr a nc i sco. Ti x a nd deets at GV-IXFF.org. IXFF celebrates t he spect r um of sexua lity in this uniquely San Francisco tradition. Straight, gay, kinky or queer, you will f ind it at the short f i l m compet it ion at t he Ca st ro Theatre on September 22. Indie f i l m queen a nd d r a g c e lebr it y ext raord ina ire, Peaches Chr ist, and Good Vibrat ions’ ow n staf f sexologist, Dr. Carol Queen, welcome you to see what’s hot in New

Zealand, Mexico, France, Israel, North A merica, and beyond, all i n 7 m i nutes or less. Check out t he Ba rba r y Coast t hemed prepar t y in t he Castro T heatre mezzanine for live music, bawdy bu rle s que, c o c k t a i l s , a nd s e x y prizes. Festivities kick of f on Saturday, September 17 at the Victor i a T heat re w it h best- sel l i ng author and sex-posit ive feminist Susie Br ight’s “ How to Read a Dirty Movie.” Susie will bring us t hrough t he anna ls of por n history and illustrate how outspoken women and erotic outliers transfor med and revolut ionized bot h Hol l y wo o d a nd p or n . Su nd ay, September 18 is “A Night of Lust: E x pl icit Erot ic Shor t s by Er i k a Lust” (Spa in) at Rox ie Cinema.

A rtistic hetero porn and erotica from one of Europe’s hottest f ilmma kers. Tuesday, September 20 I X F F ex a lt s g ay por n w it h “A Celebration of Sleaze!” Gay porn panel, cl ip show, and screen ing of “ S mut C apit a l of A mer ic a” at t he SF L GBT Center. Spend an evening with the kings of gay por n a nd enjoy a col lect ion of their favorite scenes followed by a panel discussion exploring the cinemat ic, aest het ic, a nd erot ic v isions of the top gay porn producer s i n t he world f rom por n powerhouses Naked Sword, Treasure Island, Falcon, and Rag ing Stallion. Wednesday, September 21 I X F F celebrates lesbia n a nd queer f i lmma k ing w it h “P ink & White Delight,” an evening with Shine L ouise Houston featur ing a special clip show screening and d i rector Q& A at t he SF L GBT C ent er. Sh i ne L ou i s e Hou st on journeys through some of her favorite selections and speaks about creat ing a susta inable adult ent er t a i n ment c ompa ny t h at e xposes t he complex it ies of queer sexual desire.

- Write to Sister Dana at sisterdana@ gmail.com.

Haunting Circumstance about Young Lesbians in Iran

Bisexual writer/director Maryam Keshavarz has delivered a thoughtful and tense f ilm worth seeing. .

Film Review Gary M. Kramer C ircum stance is a remark able, mu lt i - l ay e r e d f i l m t h a t s e n s i tively depicts the struggles of two teenage lesbians, Atafeh ( Nikhol B o o s he r i ) a n d S h i r e e n ( S a r a h Kazemy), in contemporar y Iran.

Bisexual writer/director Maryam Keshavarz has made a perspicacious drama about minority gender roles, focusing in par t icular on m a le aut hor it y s ubju g at i n g women, and how oppressed people f ind - or create - their independence under state control.

T he s t or y i s b a s e d i n pa r t on Keshavarz’s ow n ex per iences as a teen a g er. T he f i l m de pic t s a family dynamic as Atafeh enjoys a privileged life with her parents Firouz (Soh iei l Parsa) and A zar ( Nasrin Pakkho). She also enjoys a c lo s e i nt i m a c y w it h her b est friend Shireen. When her brother Meh r a n ( R i za S i xo Sa f a i ), en ters the f ilm, he is battling drug abuse. Meh r a n soon becomes a fundamentalist and also involved in the secret police.

Keshava r z def t ly uses v i sua l s specif ically sur veillance cameras - to emphasize the omniscient and ominous power that these young women a r e s ubje c t e d t o d a i l y.

P H OTO C RE DIT - R I N K

Sister Dana Prescribes the “Don’t Miss” Events in the Bay Area

Donna Sachet with the men of the Bare Chest Calendar.

By Rink Visual splendor and f ine altruism best describes the array of handsome men, generous donors, and resourceful party coordinators, who enjoyed the second Bare Chest Calendar Men auction benefit for the AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) and the Positive Resource Center (PRC) at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel on August 23.

But the real stars of the night were the models of the Bare Chest Calendar.

Guys chosen for the calendar must agree to spend an enormous amount of time and effort at events to promote the sale of the Bare Chest Calendar.

Nothing new for guys like Christopher Humphreys and Jay Laude, who each have extensive experience volunteering with non-profits. Humphreys is also infamous for his shirtless quick sales of charity Jell-O shots.

Each of the calendar men was lavishly presented at the soiree by emcee Donna Sachet, who wore a golden goddess gown. Masterful auctioneer Lenny Broberg pitted besotted fans against one another to bid on the guys. There was a moment for the yelling and applauding crowd to run their eyes across their expanses of gym toned muscles, and then each sweaty man was adorned with a Miller Beer-sponsored leather vest and red bowtie.

The event featured two stylized climaxes, and the f irst was when the winning bidders were joyfully invited onto the stage to join the calendar men. The second climax shocked and pleased the audience, and only a glamorous Donna Sachet could seize the moment so well when she glided down the runway to Broberg in a luxurious satin bridal gown and veil.

It was the best of San Francisco, with the professional fundraising talents of Donna Sachet and Lenny Broberg, and the expert guidance of coordinators Thom Grant and Mark Hohenstein, along with the good-natured and alluring calendar men in the historic and accommodating Sir Francis Drake Hotel, all for two wonderful charities.

- Write to Rink at rinkfoto12@yahoo.com.

(JEWELLE GOMEZ continued from page 11) groups feel. As someone expected to 'represent' his Black community he feels he must be accountable for how he lives and what he says. But how does he live for himself, especially if that community isn't sure they want his whole self? The voice of his late father, his fellow writers and the African American community all ring in his head.

At the end of your play you want the audience to think about the struggle for love and to be righteous and take part in that struggle. What is the role of sexuality and social alienation in your play and in the relationship of the two main protagonists in that struggle?

One of t he ways t he cha racter s communicate their forbidden desires is through dancing. Circumstance opens w ith a fantasy belly dancing scene. Ot her sequences have the g irls attending a secret house party, or going to a nightclub. At Atafeh’s home, the g irls bond while sing ing and dancing to “ Tot a l E cl ipse of t he Hea r t” on TV.

Jimmy is fighting the sense of alienation that comes from the potential for being rejected because of his sexuality. He feels deeply connected to the black community but fears the loss of that community if his 'homosexual' novel is out in the open, even though he himself is out. He is always on the margins as a black man and as black gay man.

Keshavarz indicated why dancing is such an important means of expression for her characters, “The idea was for me to express real life and fantasy. The state can never control your imagination.”

Hard to say who the other protagonist is...Giovanni? He's struggling to be 'heard' and knows he can only come into being if Jimmy stays 'faithful' to him and finishes the novel. His lover, Luc, struggles not to be subsumed under Jimmy's need for him

(continued on page 16)

The competition was fierce, fun, and even more furious than in 2010. It went smoothly this year until the overtly primal Will Swagger assumed an athlete’s pre-pounce position and a seemingly mesmer ized Sachet mounted the stage in response (she was expertly led back to her seat by auctioneer Broberg). A straight couple astounded the other donors with a $10,000 winning bid, the highest of the evening.

and sees that need growing out of the hurts he experienced with his father and those who disapprove of him. In the end those hurts are too big for the relationship.

Was Baldwin’s decision to live in Paris due to his feeling he was more accepted there as an African American and a homosexual? Richard Wright, who had introduced me to Baldwin when I was a student at the University of Paris, also felt more accepted as an African American in Europe.

I believe many artists of color felt that Paris was freer and less oppressive. While not entirely free of racism (then or now) Paris was in many ways more open to the art of African Americans and that was comforting.

The atmosphere in Paris that people like Gertrude Stein created earlier through her support of emerging visual artists (many of whom were gay) and the concept of salons where art was discussed and put in a social context made the Paris of the 1940s and '50s even more open to ex-patriots who wanted relief from racism in the US. Waiting for Giovanni plays through September 18th at the New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Ave. For information call 415-8618972 or email box office@nctcsd.org.

BAY T IM ES SEPT EM BER 8, 2011 15

Glee In 3-D is Not for Losers!

Film Review Sister Dana Van Iquity Glee in 3-D begins with a bunch of very young, very loud, very annoying screaming little girls in the audience; which just happened to match the particular audience I was in – girls would scream whenever their favorite Glee character appeared onscreen.

This was a time for you to pick which team you were on (some even wore tee shirts that professed, “Team Rachel” or “Team Finn” or even “Team Chang.” Fortunately all that screaming ceased once the singing began.

The stage and sound is glorious.

Three dimension is used well, with microphones thrust in your face; confetti and streamers coming right at you; and dancers almost landing in your lap. The backdrop is a high-high tech LED screen that f lashes and flares and shows big-big letters and illuminates crystal clear hi-def scenery.

I was disappointed that there was no Sue Sylvester ( Jane Lynch as the crabby coach for the Cheerios squad).

This was misleading, because in a commercial, Sue does appear. I understand that in the home DVD version, Sue will be inserted. And no Matthew Morrison (Glee coach Mr. Schuester). But what we lacked in Lynch and Morrison we got a delightful surprise in Gwenyth Paltrow as the sexy sex-ed teacher doing CeeLo’s “Forget You” (no, not the naughty version).

The opening song establishes the tone perfectly with “Don’t Stop Believin'" done as only the Glee gals and guys can belt it out with gusto and jazzy dance steps. Of course Rachel gets the most stage time, with a lovely duet with Finn, an odd duet with Kurt (she sings the Barbra Streisand “Happy Days Are Here Again” while Kurt takes the Judy Garland counterpart); she does justice to Katy Perry’s “Firework;” and of course she solos a superior Streisand. Finn does a really sensual “Jessie’s Girl.”

My complaint is just way too many cutaway portions of fans getting

Nothing special. Mercedes and SanGleekers will love the stage and sound of Glee 3-D, but no Sue Sylvester. fanatic. Although three scenes did touch my heart: We learn anyone can be a Gleek, including a little person (she calls herself a dwarf ) in high school getting a prom date and becoming prom princess. There is a heart-wrenching tale of an elementary school boy who is forced out of the closet when his book of love notes to a boy – never meant to be seen by anyone – gets exposed to the whole school. But this bullying eventually makes Trenton strong, and he can indeed say, “It Gets Better.” And a third scene involves a tiny tot lipsynching and doing the exact moves of the Warblers’ “Raise Your Glass.”

Adorable.

Brittany as Britney Spears is a really hot number. This time it’s without the giant snake, but her 3-D boobs popping at you are sure to entertain. A sassy Puckerman plays guitar and runs out into the audience to do Queen’s “Fat Bottom Girls.” Mike Chang is a fabulous dancer, enough to cause a miracle in Artie suddenly leaping from his wheelchair to dance all over the stage with Mike in “Safety Dance” and then do a rousing Michael Jackson costumed, crotchgrabbing “Pretty Young Thing” number. Quinn is “Lucky” with Sam.

Nothing special. Mercedes and Santana duet and almost out -Tina Tina Turner with “River Deep, Mountain High.” Kurt’s “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” is mediocre. And what’s with him reaching out and grabbing only girl hands in the audience?! I thought he - and the actor playing him - was openly gay.

For those who prefer an all male choir, the Warblers will f ill the bill with three songs. Blaine, a straight actor, convinces us he’s gay with “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry. “Raise Your Glass” is great. “Silly Love Songs” is just okay.

The best numbers in my opinion were Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and “Loser Like Me” with each character wearing a tee-shirt emblazoned with what they had to deal with in life: “Big Nose,” “Can’t Dance,” “Can’t Sing,” “Likes Boys,” and “Bad Attitude,” for examples.

Do NOT leave before you get slushied in 3-D! And don’t split as the credit rolls, or you’ll miss a great encore fit for the Queen. I got so into the spirit at this gleeful flick that I kind of felt a little out of place not having a big, foam “L” for loser Glee hand to wave around.

(CIRCUMSTANCE continued from page 15) Atafeh and Shireen explore their desires physically, too, but Keshavarz makes their sensuality erotic, not explicit. “It was important for me to show something - not to desex ua l i ze t hem,” she ex pl a i ned about the inclusion of several racy same-sex love scenes. “There are no men i n t he g i rl s’ f a nt a s ie s .

There is more expressed sexualit y in fantasy than in realit y. In t hei r r ea l t i me, it ’s ver y s l i ght what they do. In their fantasy, it’s much more sexua l, more erot ic.

It’s a space where they can really let loose.”

She ex pou nded f u r t her on t h i s p o i nt , a d d r e s s i n g how M id d le E a s t er n wome n s u f fer w he n it comes to representations of sexuality. “It’s something people don’t t a l k about . T here a re so m a ny people that express their sexuality in ways that you just don’t know about. In the narrative, they suffer, but [t heir sexua l it y] is on ly one of t he ma ny reasons is t hat they suf fer. How do you incorporate t he aspect of bei ng M idd le Eastern and gay? There has never been a f ilm about [ Middle Eastern] women that expresses female sexua l it y. A nd t hat ma kes some Iranians uncomfortable.”

T h e f i l m m a k e r, w h o l i v e s i n A mer ica, v isited I ra n reg u la rly ever y sum mer unt i l her cont ro ver s i a l C i rc u m st a n ce (wh ich w a s 16 BAY T IMES SEPTEM BER 8, 2011

shot in Lebanon) prompted her to be banned from Iran. “I’ve always had two passports and never had any restrictions in my travel,” she said. “Before I made this mov ie, I had the unique pr iv ilege to be able to go bac k a nd for t h. Not anymore.”

t he actor took t he role because “He was really afraid of his chara c ter.” She i n s i st s , “ T he t h i ng about [ Mehran] that is so important is t hat he’s pleasant on t he outside, and his [nast iness] is so much underneath the skin. That’s so much creepier.”

Keshavarz also revealed that she has been, “threatened from anony mous sources, a nd been ra i led a g a i n s t b y t h e g o v e r n m e n t .”

However, she a lso boa st s, “ I’ve had emails from hundreds of folks in Iran who are dying to see the f ilm. I’m pretty happy. I had the freedom to make the f ilm.”

One of the f ilm’s turning points involves Atafeh and Shireen being arrested by the secret police.

Keshav a r z s pec i f ic a l ly h ad t he teenagers caught for a crime that d id not i nvolve t hei r sex ua l it y.

However, what happens - and it i nvolves Meh r a n - ch a nges t he course of the g irls’ relat ionship, and is quite haunting.

Circumstance is a courageous drama because it shows how Atafeh and Shireen are both v ictims. It is their reality as well as twists of fate - the “circumstances” of the t it le - t hat t hey must endure i n Iran.

Sometimes this is physical abuse, w it h women’s bod ies bei ng v io lated. A lthough these scenes are d iscretely f ilmed, they are quite hor r if y ing. W hen Mehran is involved, the abuse is mental, and equally shocking.

Mehran is a particularly creepy, t roubl i ng cha racter. H is i nsid ious behavior, surreptitiously videotaping his family, for example, creates much of the f ilm’s tension.

Keshava r z con fesses t hat R i za ,

A nd although Circumstance boxes it s cha racter s i nto cor ner s, t h is astonishing f ilm of fers hope that they may f ind an escape.

See more

Arts & Entertainment @ sfbaytimes. com.

out what to do that summer,” he say s. “ B ei ng f rom t he S out h, I love sweets, especially the salted caramels I’d had during the holid ay sea son f rom Tr ader Joe’s,” he says. With lots of time on his hands, he did some research onl i ne a nd f ig u red out how ma ke the caramels using all natural ingredients.

Food Review David Grabstald T h e r e ’s s o m e t h i n g t o b e s a i d about living in the upper Tenderloin, an area that sometimes reminds me that I might be living, wel l, a ny where el se ot her t ha n San Francisco. Not all bad, mind you, but urban g r it and d iversit y at its best. Of course, when I heard about a new place around t he cor ner from my bu i ld ing named “Hooker’s Sweet Treats” ( hookerssweet t reat s.com), I had no idea wh at to ex pect when I wa l ked t h rough t he door. A l l I knew, with some certainty, is that I’d be giving my money to someone a nd i n ret ur n wou ld be receiving something sweet and satisfying. Go f igure.

Turns out this charming neighborhood cof fee and sweet shop is the bra inch i ld of creat ive ent repreneur Dav id “Hooker” Wi l l iams.

Wi l liams is a good ol’ Sout her n boy from a small town in Louisiana called Bayou Vista. Both his mother and grandmother loved to cook, in true Southern tradition, particularly when it came to making desserts. A nd while he loved to cook , open i ng h is ow n place took a bit more time after moving to San Francisco in 1990.

A f ter at tend i ng school for web desig n, Williams landed var ious creat ive posit ions t hroughout the 1990s and 2000s doing print production at Restoration Hardw a r e a n d c r e a t i v e pr o d u c t io n m a n a g ement at D es i g n W it h i n Reach, before being lured away as a sen ior creat ive ma nager at Red Envelope. Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt in 2008. “ Si nce t he economy wa s i n t he du mp s , I w a s t r y i n g t o f i g u r e

He debuted his f irst sweets - seasa lted d a rk chocol ate c a r a mel s - - at t he g rand opening of a lo c a l a r t a nd a nt ique store, T he Perish Trust. They were a bit hit.

“Everyone kept asking me if they were for sale throughout the evening,” he says. “I f inally realized I should sell them and make some money.”

Network ing also came in handy, especially after meeting the owners of Sightglass Cof fee in SOM A, who not on ly sold h is caramels, but also provided the cof fee beans Williams used after he opened his own place in 2010. “It’s a nice relat ionsh ip,” he says. “ I decided in 2010 to look for a space in the Tenderloin as t he neighborhood is on the verge of being the place to be.” Williams adds he appreciates the areas rough edges as it reminds him of New Orleans or the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

T he for mer c a fé wa s a bit of a mess, a nd i n need of some major r ef u r bi s h ment . Ye l low a nd red ter r a cot t a w a l l s g ave w ay to, as Wi l l iams ca l ls it, “Creole meets a little bit of the Old West.”

Stepping into the space reminds one of enter i ng some of t he old bu i ld i n g s i n t he French Q u a rter, with blue-grey walls, antique f i xt u res from Kev i n R a ndolph, and a wonder fu l feel ing your at home. Gorgeous 1960s wallpaper Wi l l iams found in h is basement a dor n s t he w a l l s , a nd a nt ique jars from the A lemany Flea market are arranged throughout the space, includ ing on t he wooden communa l t able t hat dom inates t he space. “The best par t about this place is that it’s a great meeting place for folks, neighbors who haven’t spoken before, wh ich is probably why I didn’t put in WiFi, so that people have the chance to chat w it h one anot her,” Wi lliams adds.

Ty pically, I’m the f irst to arrive on a Saturday or Sunday mor ning, or sometimes both days, f inding a prime spot around the communal table. Usually, in need of a pick-me-up and a nosh, I’ll order a robust A mer icano ($2.50) or a small French press ($2.50) and a sweet cheddar biscuit ($2.50 each) fol lowed by a luscious, melt-i nyou r mout h sea- sa lted c a r a mel ($2 for 1/$7 for 3 pieces/$20 for 10 pieces). Lately, I’ve also been lust i ng a fter a Hooker’s specia l known as the “third nut,” a sinful concoction of caramels, cashews, almonds, and pecans, sitting on a salted 72% dark chocolate base.

If sugar overload isn’t a concern, take a walk on the wild side with the daily bread pudding special, sometimes drenched in a bourbon caramel sauce ($5), a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie ($3), or a praline cookie.

Fans from around the world clamor to get a piece of Hooker’s Sweet Treats, including electronic music duo The Cr ystal Method and popular Food Network personality Giada de Laurentiis, who ordered boxes of caramels for her friends. Special orders and cateri ng for wedd i ng s a re ava i lable, including custom-made labels on each box. Williams mentions onl ine order ing is ava i lable in t he winter and late fall or the upcoming holiday season. “It’s our busiest time of year, and we’re hoping to have another chocolate product out for the holidays.”

After all, you can never have too much of a good thing, especially at Hooker’s Sweet Treats.

Hooker's Sweet Treats are available at Big Bot tom M a rket, BiRite Market, pot & pantry, Rare Dev ice, Sightglass Cof fee, Trouble Cafe, and of course at Hooker's Sweet Treats cafe!

H o o ke r s Swe e t Tr e a t s : 4 4 2 Hyde St., Sa n Fra ncisco, CA 94109 M o n d a y c l o s e d , Tu e s d a y Friday 8am- 4pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am-2pm.

(MAGIC AT HOTEL REX continued from page 13) determining cards being held by random audience members. Mr. Owens added Rope Magic to his repertoire, changing the routine a bit to show that he is anything but a routine magician.

We had first row seats, but I believe the entire salon is intimate enough that you can see and hear everything.

I really wanted to see a sign in front of the hotel touting “Magic Tonight,” to add to the fun and frolic of the evening.

This show is a must, even if you only “like” magic. It provides a setting reminiscent of early 20th- century

magic shows, while providing the

show, and as we shuff led out, we

entertainment that audience’s today

heard questions like, “Can you be-

demand. Get there early to take in

lieve he did that?” and “How did he

the hotel, the library bar, and for the

ever get that there?” Both of us left

introduction of being seated. This

with glazed eyes, smiling until we

90-minute show provides great com-

hurt, and thrilled with a magical eve-

edy; mind blowing magic plus the

ning in San Francisco.

occasional guffaw. These are awardwinning slight of hand magicians, de-

“Magic at the Rex” (magicattherex.

serving of a large stage, who choose

com) is playing at The Hotel Rex, lo-

to become a part of the audience. The

cated at 562 Sutter St.., and is show-

show is family friendly, however if

ing until Sept. 24th. Go now little

there are no children in the audience,

starling…

it can be a little more risqué.

- Liz Bell is the director of sales and mar-

The three dimensions of these show-

keting for Bay Times as well as avid fan of

men are fully realized during the

magic. Write to her at liz@sfbaytimes.com.

More stories, news, Arts & Entertainment at Bay Times online @sfbaytimes.com

“Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance” was StarStudded REAF Fundraiser Concert

P HOTO C RE DIT - ST E VE N UN DE R H I LL

Hooker’s Sweet Treats

Barbary Coast Cloggers opened Act 2 at the Herbst Theatre event by REAF.

By Sister Dana Van Iquity The Richmond/ Ermet AIDS Foundation (REAF) proudly presented their “Help Is on the Way” 17th annual gala celebration produced by Ken Henderson and Joe Seiler at Herbst Theatre. This all-star AIDS benefit concert, “Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance,” featured celebrities from Broadway, TV, f ilm, and the recording industry. The four Bay Area AIDS service agencies that were the beneficiaries this year included Aguilas, Shanti, STOP AIDS Project, and the YouthAware Program at New Conservatory Theatre Center.

The show opened with Broadway star Patrick Cassidy (42nd Street, Assassins) singing “Lullaby of Broadway” from 42nd Street. Broadway’s Mary Jo Catlett (Hello Dolly!, Pajama Game) and TV’s Diff'rent Strokes actress did a hilarious Julia Child impression and sang her comical “Ode to Sara Lee,” while dissing Betty Crocker. Thea Gill, TV’s Queer As Folk, Dante's Cove and f ilm star of Remembering Nigel, sang “Body and Soul” with her sensual body and soulful voice. Post Ballet principal dancers Robert Dekkers and Christian Squires executed a gorgeous pas de deux ballet. James Darren (T J Hooker, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) gave us some very magical “Old Black Magic.”

Then the trio of B.O.O.B.S.! (Busty, Outrageous, Over-the-top Broads Singing!) with Jessica Corker, Leanne Borghesi, and Soila Hughes did a boobalicious medley of “Defying Gravity” (regarding their ample bosoms going suddenly braless), “You Know You Want It,” and “Pretty Legs and Great Big Knockers.” Recording star Gloria Loring and star of TV’s Days of Our Lives soap belted out a medley of “Power of the Dream,” One Moment in Time,” and “Reach.” Cassidy (TV’s Longtime Companions), returned to sing “Trouble” (“with a capital “T” and that rhymes with “P” and that stands for “pool”) from The Music Man along with the rousing River City Swingers.

Then Academy-Award winner (Elmer Gantry) Shirley Jones (Oklahoma, The Music Man) and mother on TV’s Partridge Family, joined her son, Patrick Cassidy, in a love duet of “Till There Was You” from Music Man. That might sound creepy, except when Jones explained she was pregnant with son Patrick during the filming of that movie, and she really never found love ‘till there was Patrick.

Act two began with the Barbary Coast Cloggers furiously clogging away to “Sold, the Grundy County Auction Incident.” Cabaret star Meg

Mackay chose to be a little naughty with her song choice, “Making Love Alone,” about self pleasure and the true joy of knowing just the right touch and speed of one’s own hand.

David Burnham, Broadway (Light in the Piazza, Wicked) and recording star, got everyone feeling good as he sang “Feeling Good.” Cabaret star Kim Nalley gave a moving performance of “Someone to Watch over Me.” White Tree Fine Art's finalists, Ethan and Nikki White, as seen on Paula Abdul's Live to Dance, performed a lovely ballet to Debussy’s lovely “Clair de Lune.” They would later return to interpret “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz. Lisa Vroman, Broadway star of Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables, sang the very diff icult “Glitter and Be Gay” from Candide, which requires the singer to be ahead of the music.

Her props were glamorous glittering gems and jewelry, making up for the ordeal of meaningless sex her character was forced to endure in the musical. “If I’m not pure, at least my fucking jewels are,” Vroman ad-libbed.

Lea Salonga, Tony Award winning (Miss Saigon) Broadway, TV, and film star, sang the melancholy “When October Goes” with its winter chill on romance by Barry Manilow. Cabaret star Jason Brock said he didn’t need Mister Right and would settle for Mister Right Now in a desperate plea to “Get Here Any Way You Can” and then rocked the house with “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” Broadway star Sean McDermott, who was in concert with Barbra Streisand in a Europe 2007 tour, sang “Piece of Sky” from Barbra’s Yentl - holding that last note for what seemed forever.

Carole Cook, Broadway (42nd Street, Radio Gals), TV, and film (Gidget, Guns of Navarone) star, is a legend in the REAF roster of performers. After the show, she joked to me, “There were a lot of queens in this show; but always know that I am YOUR queen!” She is always pulling out the stops to bring tears of laughter (when recounting dish on her co-stars over the years) and tears of empathy (when telling of the many fellow actors and dancers she has lost to AIDS) to the audience.

She closed with her personal philosophy in song, “Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries” (“Don't take it serious; life’s so mysterious; so live and laugh at it all!”).

Then the entire company came to the stage for the grand finale, together sing ing the inspirational R E A F theme song by David Friedman, “Help Is on the Way.”

BAY T IM ES SEPT EM BER 8, 2011 17

CALENDAR

Compiled by Christine Dumke

THE BAY AREA’S ARTS AND EVENTS CALENDAR FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITIES

The Furious Force of Rhymes will perform at La Pena in Berkeley on September 15.

8 Thursday

Captive Gender - Official SF book launch will be on Thursday September 8,2011 from 7-9 pm at the new Modern Times Bookstore 2919 24th Street San Francisco, CA 94110 .

We would love for any and all of you to come participate, we will either ask people to read short passages from their piece or talk briefly about them.

Cántame Tu Vida: Queer Latin@ Shorts This lyrical collection of shorts brings together a sizzling mix of storytelling, struggle y pasión in sharing stories of nuestra gente.

Leather Papis and Vatos, calor colliding with joteria, a light-skinned slam poet slinging dreams and desires, love in a time of revolution, crushed out Brasilero school boys, beautiful Boricuas raising babies, fierce madres whose love knows no borders, and the ritual of saying goodbye to dear hermanas con cariño y respect. Join us as we highlight some of the best in queer Latin@ cortometrajes and stay for the engaging post-screening discussion! 7:30pm San Francisco LGBT Center, 1800 Market ST SF. FREE! Shiprecked - Stories from the Sea: Porchlight Storytelling Series kicks off 10th season with Shipwrecked: Stories from the Sea. Held at the San Francisco Maritime Museum, overlooking Aquatic Park, hear stories of travel gone awry featuring stories from Porchlight regular Anthony Bedard, Captain Frank Frescino, attorney M. Brett Gladstone, writer Jennifer Longo, sailor, Lorraine Palmer and maritime worker Alice Watts. 8p The San Francisco Maritime Museum, Lido Deck (3rd Floor) 900 Beach St. (at Polk). $15 at door or brownpapertickets.com/event/191250. Info: Porchlightsf.com.

SSEX BBOX HOME RUN - A benefit for SSEX BBOX web series! 8pm to 1am at El Rio, 3158 Mission St, San Francisco. DJs + Performances + Queers! DJ BootyKlap (Party Hole). Bring yr fine threads and strut yr stuff for our photobooth! $3 to $10 donation.

Visit ssexbbox.com for more information.

9 Friday

The Hella Gay Comedy Show - Hometown comedian Charlie Ballard, who's been seen on LOGO, Comedy Central and NBC's America's Got Talent, hosts this no-holdsbarred, avant-garde variety show in Oakland.

Gay, straight, bi, lesbian and transgendered comics and performers will gather to entertain with a wide variety of talents, including stand-up, improv and sketch comedy; monologues; music and much more. Ballard designed this monthly show to break boundaries and change the way audiences think about the word "gay." The venue, La Estrellita Cafe, also offers a full bar and dining.

Headlining this show is Casey Ley. Casey

used to host his own morning radio show on PirateCat Radio and is a regular at the Punchlin San Francisco.9p-1:30p at La Estrellita Café 446 E.12th St. Oakland, CA. Info: (510) 465-7188 Tix: $10 at eventbrite. com/event/1926198311.

Texas Rose Country & Western Dance-For Queer Women & their Trans & FTM friends.

Your Dance Instructor - Thom V. 6:30-7:15p Beginning 2-step, 7:15-8p Line Dance, 8:0010:30p Open Dancing 10:30-11p Social.

Great music, friendly community & our usual yummy buffet. Humanist Hall, 390-27th Street, Oakland (btw Broadway and Telegraph ) Entrance $10, $5 with your student ID. World Music Journey: Celtic Harps, African Kora & Hindustani Ragas: A concert benefiting Tibetan Aid Project- Take a musical world journey for a good cause, ¬no passports required. Duo Diana Stork and Diana Rowan will begin the program with enchanting harp music. Daniel Berkman will follow with traditional songs on the African kora, a unique, ancient stringed instrument from West Africa.

Proceeds from the concert will go to the Tibetan Aid Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting education and literacy among the Tibetan refugee community.

Show: 8p Doors: 7 p at Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse: 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley.

Tickets: $22.50 Advance/$24.50 Door 510644-2020 or thefreight.org. Freight and Salvage is wheelchair accessible. Advance tickets: 510-644-2020, Freight & Salvage Box Office, or ticketweb.com. So much diverse talent and for such a good cause, this is an evening not to be missed!

FIRE alumnae Kaylah Marin, Agent Pussy Galore, Celestina Pearl, Cherry Galette, P-Raw: Faery Superstar of the Underworld, Minal Hajratwala, PonyJ, Ava Square-Levias and more! Music by Ben-G and Mo'Zilla.

Doors: 8p. Show: 9p. Cover: $10-$100, sliding scale at The Center for Sex & Culture 1349 Mission Street (btw 9th and 10th) SF. Tixs: brownpapertickets.com/event/190472 Info: SupaStahErotica@hotmail.com.

LGBT Shamanism Classes - Ask questions about any subject and get connected to the Spirits that are here to help YOU! Check the website at sfcenter.org/calendar; or email Liz Dale at lizsanpablo@aol.com.Bring a mat/ pad, extra sweater/jacket, a drum and/or rattle, item for the medicine wheel. Cost is a reasonable $25 per session. Tell your friends including LGBT allies!! Meeting your power animal and teachers can Rock Your World!!

Journey to the Spirit World and see!! Classes will be the 2nd Saturday of each month from 10AM to 12noon in Rm 308.at The Center.

1800 Market St SF

Full Moon Party-Every 2nd Saturday, show off your goods to benefit the Krewe de Kinque charity fund. $100 cash prize for the best moon with guest emcees and celebrity moon judges every month! Free, 7-11pm at Metro City Bar, Market @ 16th St, SF. Info: sfkinque.com Lavender Seniors Potluck - Come out, hoot it up, and share your food at the monthly event for LGBT seniors over the age of 55. This event generally happens on the 2nd Saturday of the month, 12pm at the San Leandro Community Church, 1395 Bancroft Ave, San Leandro.

Sissy Strut!!! - The Handsome Young Men present a Queer dance party with DJs Lil MC, Katie Duck, Ponyboy and Durt plus guests spinning Motown, oldies, doo wop, R&B, and soul jams you love to dance to! Second Fridays @ UndergroundSF 424 Haight St., between Filmore and Webster 10pm-2am $3-$5 21+.

Last Word Poetry Series-On the 2nd Friday of the month at Nefeli Café, join hosts Dale Jensen, Tim Donnelly and Diana Q at 1854 Euclid @ Hearst, Berkeley. 7-9pm. Info: 510841-6374.

10 Saturday

1 8 BAY TIMES SEPTEM B E R 8 , 2 0 1 1

Writers with Drinks - Writers with Drinks combines erotica with literature, stand-up comedy with science fiction and poetry with essays. Plus mystery, romance, memoir, rants and other. All proceeds benefit Center for Sex and Culture. Every 2nd Saturday of the month. 7:30-9:30pm at the Make Out Room, 3225 22nd St, SF. $3-$5 sliding scale.

Info: writerswithdrinks.com.

11 Sunday

A Funny Night for Comedy - Join Host Natasha Muse and her side-kick Ryan Cronin as they welcome a variety of stand-up comedians to the stage, and then ask them a variety of strange questions. It's like a latenight talk show, except it's in the early-evening. And it's not on television. And it's funny.

With special appearances by Mike Spiegelman and Brian Fields with: Headliner Alex Koll featuring Chris Burns, Trevor Hill and Femikaze. The show will be followed by an improv jam starting at 9pm. If you come for the comedy show stay for the improv for free. Doors open at 6:30p, Comedy starts at 7p at the Actors Theatre of San Francisco 855 Bush Street SF. Tix are $10. Box Office: 415-345-1287 or brownpapertickets.com/ event/194666.

J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass: A September Concert - The Pacific Collegium will present Johann Sebastian Bach's B Minor Mass in a free September Concert on Sunday, September 11th at St.Paul's Episcopal Church in Oakland, in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Artistic director Christopher Kula conducts a period-instruments orchestra led by concertmaster Elizabeth Blumenstock, with choruses sung

by Chapel College Men and Boys Ensemble, a group of boy trebles, college students, and Bay Area professional singers.Founded in New York on the first anniversary of September 11th, The September Concert is a global event that envelops the world in music surrounding that date, bringing communities together in celebration of peace and humanity. Children's participation is at the heart of this year's September Concert, as young citizens are the future builders and guardians of a culture of peace. 4p St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., Oakland, FREE This event is all ages and wheelchair accessible.

Heavy Rotation-Check out a queer flavored club for fat women and trans folk, chubsters, size rebels, BBWs, body activists and their friends and lovers. Put some wiggle back in your jiggle every 2nd Friday of the month to benefit size-positive and outsider organizations and activists. $5, 10pm at El Rio, 3158 Mission St @ Precita, SF. Info: elriosf.com.

SupaStah Erotica! - An Erotic Performance Spectacular where everyone is a SupaStah!!!

Hosted by the sexy SupaStah and Recording Artist-On-The-Rise, Vixen Noir!!! Burlesque!

Striptease! Performance Art! Drag! Comedy!

Spoken Word! Poetry! Music! Drama and more Drama! Put on your most come-hither SupaStah garb and join us for a very special night of salacious, obscene entertainment at none other than the Center for Sex & Culture!

With SupaStah performances from liquid-

Writing Group for Senior Women - All women are invited to join an ongoing writers group presented by New Leaf Outreach to Elders for self-expression, creativity, supportive feedback and great company. Drop-ins welcome. The group meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday, 11am-1pm at the LGBT Center, 1800 Market St, Rm 305, SF. Info: newleafservices.org or ligaletto@earthlink.net

Natasha Muse hosts "A Funny Night for Comedy" at the Actors Theatre on September 11.

Men’s Rap Group - Talk, open up, share interests, join men in the Haight- intelligent male bonding and discussion, humor, poli-

tics, culture, friendship ,open discussion at Tika Masala restaurant 1668 Haight St 7:30pm FREE Jon Sugar moderates under the direction of the Gay Artist and Writers Kollective. Contact: gawksf@yahoo.com to RSVP.

12 Monday

Peter Gabriel: New Blood Live in London 3D - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist Peter Gabriel will be showcased in an exclusive in-theater event showing in more than 135 select movie theaters across the U.S. The musical event follows hot on the heels of Gabriel’s sold out U.S. tour. and features reimagined orchestral arrangements of many of Peter’s songs that dispense with the traditional weapons of the rock armoury - no guitar, bass or drums. Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at FathomEvents.com.

Comedy Returns to El Rio! - Comedian/comedy producer, Lisa Geduldig, began her stand up comedy career 22 years ago at El Rio in San Francisco’s Mission District. In commemoration of her 20th year in comedy, two years ago she launched a monthly comedy night, Comedy Returns to El Rio! the second Monday of the month at the club that first put her onstage. Geduldig strives to produce multicultural, multi-everything comedy shows with the variety of shows she produces each year (Kung Pao Kosher Comedy, Funny Girlz). The September show features: Dhaya Lakshminarayanan, Josh Healey, Nathan Habib, Conrad Roth, and Lisa Geduldig @ 8p El Rio 3158 Mission St (@ Precita) SF.Tix $7-$20 800-838-3006 or brownpapertickets.com/event/193398 21+.

TradeOFF - For male-identified sex workersComing together to build community, support one another and share the tricks of the trade.

Porn stars, strippers, models, phone ho's: come out to talk about the real shit that affects you - drugs, sex, cops, asshole tricks and bosses. Or come learn how to be a massage pro, make a hot ad, S&M techniques and more. This is a non-judgmental, harmreduction based space. Come as you are. All ages and experience levels welcome. Transguys welcome. Free, 5-6:30 pm at St. James Infirmary, 1372 Mission St, SF. Info: 415-3416438 or stjamesinfirmary.org

13 Tuesday

Heart Of A Soldier: Honoring Strength Through Song With James Stewart And The SF Opera - One of many heroes on 9/11 was Rick Rescorla, a military veteran who led hundreds to safety in the WTC attacks,

detailed in Stewart’s 2002 book, Heart of a Soldier. Now, Rescorla’s heroism lives on in the San Francisco Opera’s commemorative production of the same name. Journalist Stewart, opera director Gockley and other collaborators will discuss the project’s goals and challenges as well as the creative process leading to this inspiring new production. 5:30p networking reception | 6p program | SF Club Office: 595 Market Street, 2nd Floor | $12 members, $20 non-members, $7 students (with valid ID).

Milk & Honey - A Celebration of Jewish Lesbian Poetry Book Launch- Join contributors Joan Annsfire, Ellen Bass and Elana Dykewomon in moving us toward a new year and new inspirations. 6:30p at the SF Main Library, Hormel Reading Room, 3rd Floor 100 Larkin St. SF Wheelchair accessible.

Free.

SmartyPants Tuesday Trivia with Miss Kitty Tapata - Free to play! Free fresh popcorn!

Prizes! Drink specials! And trust us that with Kitty at the helm, this is not your "average" pub quiz - we turn trivia into a contact sport!

8:30p-10:30p at Stray Bar 309 Cortland Ave,SF.

14 Wednesday

StarAnna at Hotel Utah - When a woman shuts up hundreds of people with her voice, it's a powerful thing. Star Anna--her given name--has been steadily wowing audiences and accumulating a rabid and dedicated fan base (including canonized musicians like the folks in Pearl Jam and Guns & Roses) since she was discovered busking outside a café in Ellensburg, Washington at age 16. Star and her band, The Laughing Dogs, released "Alone In This Together" on July 12th 2011.

The single and title track, "Alone In This Together" features Mike McCready of Pearl Jam on guitar. p Hotel Utah $8 500 4th St at Bryant SF. Hotelutah.com.

Introductory Square Dance Nights - The Oaktown8s will hold two free introductory nights on Wednesday, September 14 and 21 at the Lake Merritt Dance Center (Veterans Building) 200 Grand Ave, Oakland 94610 at 7:00 pm. The New Dancer Program starts on September and includes 16+sessions for $110. oaktown8s.org.

Dream EZ - The Easy Lounge hosts a positive space with a great vibe for women to listen to great music. The night features resident DJs Emancipation (Sistah Sunday) and Black (Sweet Boy) as well as rotating guest

DJs. 8pm-closing at 3255 Lakeshore, Oakland. Info: easy510.com.

Transbay Monthly Social - For all who identify as transgendered, meets 7pm. Kick back, talk, have a good time. No cameras or tranny cruising, please. Quetzal, 1234 Polk St, SF. www.transbay.org.

15 Thursday

Furious Force of Rhymes - Whatever your preconceptions about Hip-Hop may be, throw them out the window. Furious Force of Rhymes explores the stereotypes of swagger and bravado to reveal an irresistible unifying force of global significance. Lushly photographed, bursting with music and dance, this powerful documentary carries you away on a trans-national Hip-Hop Road Movie. Startling and provocative, with an uplifting message of hope and reconciliation, it reveals how a single genre of music connects people as diverse as American Blacks, East German Skinheads, Israeli Jews, Palestinians, African Feminists and French Banlieusards.

Alternately exuberant, moving and humorous, the film is a stirring chronicle of the combustible intersection between politics and art. $5 don. 7:30p at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley. 510- 849-2568.

Generations: A '20s to '80s Salon - A group of men who enjoy each other's company, discuss ideas about life, literature, art and culture, and share their insights and experiences with one another. Generations takes place the 3rd Thursday of each month, 7-9pm at The Center, 1800 Market at Octavia, Room Q11, SF. Positive Force Adventure Group - Get moving with this new monthly daytime workshop focused on a specific activity. Meets 3rd Thursday outside of the STOP AIDS offices for museums, hiking trips—places you want to go. Discussion group and lunch will follow.

Please RSVP to STOP AIDS Project before the event: 415-575-0150.

16 Friday

The Exiles - Workshops and events for women interested in S&M between women.

Meets the 3rd Friday of every month at the Women's Building Auditorium, 3543 18th St, SF. Donation requested. 8-10pm. Latecomers are only admitted at the break, around 9pm.

Info: 835-4739.

Lavender Seniors Lunch Bunch - Lavender Seniors of the East Bay holds a catered lunch every 3rd Friday of the month featuring presentations on topics pertinent to LGBT seniors. FREE. 12:30-2:30pm at North Oakland Senior Center, 5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way at 58th St, Oakland. Info: 510667-9655.

Fraternal Fridays at LOOKOUT-The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBT and questioning young people. With this event, PLEDGE continues to encourage the spirit of camaraderie with which the Castro has long been associated, while bringing attention to important issues challenging the LBGT community.

Funds will be raised through a raffle, offering bottomless draft “Kegger Cups,” and PLEDGE paddle photo ops. PLEDGE parties are held on the 3rd Friday of each month at LookOut. The PLEDGE team is excited about this unique opportunity to help contribute vital resources to the many worthy organizations working to improve the lives of San Francisco’s LGBT community. 9pm to 2am.

LOOKOUT,3600 16th Street, SF. Info: lookout.com.

17 Saturday

Fauxgirls!- Presenting Drag Cabaret at its Best, showcasing both glamour and camp!

The Fauxgirls! Revue features San

Francisco’s finest female impersonators: Victoria Secret, Alexandria, Chanel, Davida Ashton, Tiger Lily, Maria Garza, Mini Minerva and special Guest Stars, plus our very own "boy toy," Bobby Ashton! Showtime is always 10p at Kimo’s Penthouse Lounge, 1351 Polk Street, at Pine. No Cover Charge!

Reservations are recommended at 415-6951239 or fauxgirls.com.

Hot Flash INFERNO-YAY! Finally it's time for our SF relaunch! The same party you've come to love... for women who are spicy hot and well seasoned with DJ WildFire! After our summer hiatus, we are back in the Bay Area at Harlot, 46 Minna St. from 6-10p. We're taking it back to where we started but we're lowering the price!!!!! Just $10. Info: hotflashdances.com.

Lou Sullivan Society Monthly Meeting - LSS provides peer-support and community for FTMs. Meetings are open to all members of the transcommunity (including significant others, family, and friends unless otherwise specified). The monthly meeting is held on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 2-5pm at California Pacific Medical Center - Davies Campus, North Tower, Room B 2/3, 45 Castro Street (between 14th and Duboce), SF. Info: www.lousullivansociety.org/meetings.html.

Queer Jitterbugs Swing Dance Party- free in the Castro. Join Queer Jitterbugs every 3rd Saturday for a free evening of dance lessons.

7pm basic lesson, 8pm-9:30pm dance at Magnet, 4122 18th St, SF. Info: 305-8242.

Transgender Parent Support Group-Are you or your partner a transgender parent? Or thinking about becoming a parent? The Transgender Parent Support Group is an (continued on page 20)

Third Thursday Open Mic - All women are invited to this open mic on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Hosted by Retts Scauzillo.

Drop in for some laughs and bring your songs, poems, prose, instruments, voice or any other talent you might have. Each performer has 5 minutes to do their thing, sometimes more in the second half if time allows.

It is an evening rich with entertainment. Sign up at 7pm. Show is 7:30-9:30pm. $5 at Montclair Women's Cultural Arts Club, 1650 Mountain Blvd. Info: 510-339-1832.

The Bandaloop World Premiere of Bound(less) will be at Oakland’s Great Wall Sept. 15-17.

Peter Gabriel and New Blood, Live in London in 3-D film will play in San Francisco and Dublin theaters on September 12.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Parents & Kids Mamas & Papas - San Francisco Families: Expand your circle of LGBTQ parents, swap parenting tips, and explore concerns shared by all parents as well as those of special interest to our families. Help your kids build lasting friendships with other children growing up with LGBTQ families. RSVP to Julia at julia@ourfamily.org or 415-981-1960, and please indicate if you need free childcare. Ay The LGBTQ Center, 1800 Market at Octavia SF. Families with Child(ren) Ages 0-5 meets Saturdays, Sept. 13, 9:45 am Childcare and kids activities, 10:00am Adult discussion. Families with Child(ren) Ages 5-10 Sept. 6, Family dinner from 4:30-5 pm, Structured discussion and children's activities from 5-6:30 pm

COLAGE - Children of Lesbians & Gays Everywhere, Community and Activism by and for kids, youth, and adults with LGBTQ parents. 1550 Bryant Street, Suite 830, SF. Info: 861-KIDS. Info: colage.org

Transracial Adoption Support Group Relevant and living resources tailored to LGBTQ parents at a highly-participatory monthly discussion group providing candid perspectives and opinions. At the SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market St., SF. Info: ourfamily. org. Adoption SF/Family Builders By Adoption - Informational gatherings every second Wednesday of every other month about adopting a waiting child from the SF Foster Care system. Free pre/post adoption

support. 6:30 pm at the LGBT Center, 1800 Market St., SF. Info: 970-9601 Transgender Parent Support Group - An opportunity to connect with your peers and get mutual support. This group meets every third Saturday of the month and is comprised of a time for socializing and a group discussion.

Drop-ins welcome but ongoing attendance is important to estaQblish group rapport. 10 am-12 pm at the LGBT Center, 1800 Market St., SF. Info/RSVP for childcare: 415-865-5553 TeenZone Gay Straight Alliance in Oakland This group of folks age 13-17 is a space for LGBTQQ youth and their straight allies to hang out, watch films, talk about books and plan fun (continued on page 21)

Check Out the Bay Times CALENDAR and RESOURCE GUIDE ON-LINE at sfbaytimes.com

Staranna appears at Hotel Utah on September 14.

BAY T IM ES S EPT EM BER 8, 2011 19

opportunity to connect with your peers and get mutual support. The group will meet every 3rd Saturday of each month. First half hour will be spent socializing, with the remaining time dedicated to group discussion. Drop-ins are welcome, but ongoing attendance helps to establish group rapport. 10am-noon at LGBT Center, 1800 Market at Octavia, SF. RSVP to Mark at mark@ourfamily.org or 415-9811960, and please indicate if you need free childcare.

18 Sunday

What’s Out There Weekend - Discover 25 Bay Area parks and open spaces September 17 and 18, with FREE tours led by expert guides Organized by The Cultural Landscape Foundation, the “Mostly Modern” themed weekend offers insights and exploration of some of the area’s most innovative examples of Modernist landscape architecture and the fascinating people who created them, includ-

ing the Kaiser Center Roof Garden in Oakland (Ted Osmundson), Levi’s Plaza in San Francisco (Lawrence Halprin), and Mitchell and Bowden Parks in Palo Alto (Robert Royston). These are places many of us see daily, but so we know their stories? Info: http:// tclf.org/landscapes/wot-weekend-sanfrancisco including the opening reception at Room & Board and chances to win a weekend for two at the Hotel Rex.

19 Monday

TWERK- Booty Clappin After Hours Lesbian Party, Every Monday,* Droppin All The Booty Clappin Hits*Dirty HipHop/Hyphy/Twerk/ DubStep/Electro DeeJay Andre (Shame Spiral/Faded)m*Droppin That ASS On The Stripper Poles* BRE/ JIBBY BOND/ LIANE/ NICOLE/ BRANDI 10p-3a FREE B4 Midnight $3 After Midnight $10 After 2am Rebel 1760 Market St.(Octavia St.)SF

EVERY WEEK Thursdays

Café Poz Lunch - Ready for a new routine? Make a date with other HIV positive men at Café Positive, a social support event open to everyone. Gab with the guys and have a feast compliments of Café Poz and STOPAIDS Project, usually on Thursdays. 12-1:30 pm at the Castro Country Club, 4058 18th St.., SF. Info: stopaids.org Transgender / Gender-Variant Social and Discussion Group Every Thursday from 5-6:30 pm at Spectrum LGBTQ Center A safe and friendly space to meet new people, share ideas, and have fun!

1000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. #10, San Anselmo, CA 94960 No cost; call 4571115 x 203 for more details www.spectrumLGBTcenter.org Clair’s Drop-in - Free, one-on-one counseling to help transgender community members on their personal evolution, including an overview of TEEI services. It is recommended that you call ahead to verify your walk-in time beforehand. Contact Clair Farley at clairf@ sfcenter.org or call 415-865-5632. Visit the Tr a n s g e n d e r Economic Empowerment Initiative (TEEI) website teeisf.org - Matching dynamic people with sustainable jobs in safe workplaces - for more info. 1-4 pm at the SF LGBTQ Center, 1800 Market at Octavia St., SF. Out In The Bay and This Way Out Weekly program of LGBTQ issues, includes a weekly AIDS update. Every Thursday, 7:30 pm on KALW, 91.7.

Followed by This Way Out, the international lesbian and gay newsmagazine.

Info: www.kalw.org Blur - Transgender & Gender-Variant Support Group Every Thursday 6:307:30 pm Free food! Come and chat with other trans & gv people, facilitated by trans counselors. For 18-25 y.o. youth. At Dimensions Clinic, 3850 17th St.. SF. www.dimensionsclinic.org You are invited to a night of SNAP Talk!, a free group every Thursday where young gay and bi men who are new to San Francisco can talk about sex, jobs, boyfriends, roommates, STDs, and anything else about getting settled in S.F. SNAP Talk! is a drop-in group specifically for gay and bi men in their 20s and 30s who are new to San Francisco.

Come to get support, some to talk, come to just meet people. The group is facilitated by David Gonzalez of SNAP!, and Ryan Horvath, a counselor from the REACH Program of the UCSF AIDS Health Project. Show up at The LGBT Center (1800 Market at Octavia, SF) and look for the sign for the SNAP Talk! group, or, call 415-865-5614 to learn more.

L.O.C. (lesbians of color) is a peersupport group for women 21 years of age and older. L.O.C meets every Thursday at Pacific Center 7-8:30 pm Join them to carry on the tradition of providing a positive space for women of color to engage in pertinent lively discussions, exchange support and information, and to have fun and celebrate each other! Info: contact Randy Page, L.O.C. primary facilitator, at rap1on1@sbcglobal.net, or leave a message for her at (510) 595-8294. Out of respect for people with environmental illnesses, please do not wear fragrance or scented products of any kind at L.O.C. See you there!

Men’s Coming Out Support Group every Thursday 7- 8:30 pm, for men who are questioning or coming to terms with their sexuality. This is a welcoming and supportive atmosphere to talk about what can be an uncomfortable subject matter. This is also a multi-cultural support group, where all ethnicities are welcomed. Drop in group, no intake necessary. Suggested donation $10, no one turned away. At New Leaf Services For Our Community, 103 Hayes Street (near Market St..), SF. Info: 415-626-7000, ext.

452 One Struggle, One Fight General Meeting - One Struggle, One Fight is an anti-oppression direct action group with two missions: Organize peaceful escalation of the LGBTQ movement by participating in and supporting direct action and civil disobedience. And to raise awareness of where our struggles inter-

sect within the LGBTQ community and other oppressed groups. http://onestruggleonefight.com. Every week at the Unitarian Church at 1187 Franklin at Geary, SF. 7-9 pm Sundance Saloon Thursdays - The fun is on THURSDAYS! Line-dancing and twosteppin twice a week, every Sunday and Thursday for the queer communities!

Every Thursday 6:30-10:30 pm $5 at 550 Barneveld Ave, SF.

Fridays

LGBTQ Self Protection classes Self Protection training specifically for the LGBTQ community! Gain survival skills, security, confidence and peace of mind in a supportive learning environment for people of all sexual orientations, genders, ethnicities, and nationalities. Ju Trap Boxing is an effective blend of Small Circle Jujitsu, boxing, Contemporary Jeet Kune Do, and Filipino martial arts. Rapid Assault Tactics is a no nonsense approach to street survival. Every 4th Friday from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm UMAA Defensive Tactics Training Academy 4348 Third St., SF, (415) 671-2055, umaacademy.info/content/lgbt-self-protection.

Trans Yoga & Meditation at TRANS: THRIVE Every Friday alternate between Yoga and Meditation. Wear comfortable clothes, THRIVE provides mats and cushions. All trans-identified and gender nonconforming folks of all abilities and experience are welcome. Wheelchair accessible. 10:30 am - noon, 815 Hyde St.., 2nd floor, btw Sutter/ Bush. Info: www.transthrive.org, or 415-409-4101.

Transgender Support Group For anyone who is transgendered, transsexual, or has gender issues. Beginners welcome. Fridays from 8-9:30 pm Pacific Center, Berkeley. Info: 510-548-8283.

Shake: America’s LGBTQ Talk Show - a live weekly call in show about the LGBTQ community. 9-11 pm on Green 960 AM (The Quake) This used to be known as Queer Channel Radio. Info and podcasts at www.queerchannelradio.com Free Your Mind: Queer Youth Arts and Crafts Fridays from 4 pm-7 pm The Center’s Youth Program fosters a weekly arts and crafts night for LGBTQ youth ages 24 and under. Come and get involved in planning our “Free Your Mind” art exhibit that aims to deconstruct stigmas around homeless and transient LGBTQ youth. Oil painting, wood burning, origami, stenciling and spray painting, jewelry making, stitch ‘n’ bitch, screen printing and fashion fun! Free pizza and snacks provided. Earn $150 stipend for your time (space is limited). If you are interested please feel free to drop in and should you have any questions, contact Beck at 415.865.5560 or beck@ sfcenter.org. The Center, 1800 Market at Octavia, SF.

Saturdays

Faerie Coffee East Bay - Check in with the faerie fam every Saturday! Cum whistle with these witches. 12- 2 pm(ish) at Celtic Coffee Company, 142 McAllister between Leavenworth & Hyde.

Faerie Coffee - Radical Faeries get together for a nice brunch and delightful conversation. Around noon every Saturday and Sunday at the Celtic Coffee Company, 142 McAllister btw Leavenworth and Hyde. Info: http://www. radfae.org Cockfight at Underground SF – First and third Sat. DJs Earworm, MyKill, and DCNSTRCT. $7,9 pm-2 am Underground SF, 424 Haight Street, SF, (415) 8647386 Gay Shame is a Virus in the System.

They are committed to a queer extravaganza that brings direct action to astounding levels of theatricality. They are not satisfied with a commercialized gay identity that denies the intrinsic links between queer struggle and challenging power. They seek nothing less than a new queer activism that foregrounds race class gender and sexuality to counter the self-serving “values” of gay consumerism and the increasingly hypocritical left. Gay Shame meets every Saturday in the Tede

20 Tuesday

Feast of Words: A Literary Potluck: SOMArts Cultural Center presents Feast of Words: A Literary Potluck, a monthly dinner party where writers and foodies come together to eat, write, and share. Join co-hosts Lex Leifheit & Irina to discover local chefs and writers, bring a dish on the monthly theme, and share your work to be entered in a drawing for edibles, books and other prizes! This September Feast of Words welcomes youth literary and culinary guests for the first time in its one-year history. The featured reader and guest chefs come from a collaboration with two Bay Area non-profits which provide skill development opportunities for local youth, 826 Valencia and Old Skool Café. The event will also include a short, on-the-spot writing exercise inspired by the back-to-school theme “Schoolhouse Rocks”. House opens at 6:30pm on Tuesday, September 20 2011 and space is limited.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $5 with a potluck dish, or $12 at the door, cash bar. Come early to enjoy tasty eats contributed by our guest chef and potluck participants. Purchase tickets online atfeastofwords.eventbrite.com. .

Gay Community Circles - Are you a gay man looking for a deeper connection with other gay men in person and outside of the bar scene.

Has internet left you feeling disconnected... kinda like an 'outsider looking in' but not deeply connected to other gay men in your community? If you answered 'Yes'... then Gay Community Circles is for YOU. In just 6 weekly gatherings, you'll meet new friends, deepen intimacy and improve your communication skills to develop your social power and connection with life. Each week is a topic that has specific questions we will each answer and share our stories. Imagine being in a group of other gay men where you get to share what is really on your heart, what it

means to feel both different and connected to the community, and where no one judges you for what you say and how you feel! If you're ready to step outside your 'comfort zone' to open your heart and mind to build deeper more meaningful friendships and loving relationships then Gay Community Circles is for you. Group format: 15 minute discussion on developing greater intimacy and communication skills, group activities, group sharing and connecting. 7p at The Center, 1800 Market ST. SF Phone:(415) 865-5555.

SF/ Lions, Tigers & Queers-SF/ Lions, Tigers & Queers Mixed Queer, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual, and even Straight friendly! Time: 10 PM - 2 AM DJs Becky Knox and Ms. Jackson will be spinning electro, house, club bangers, and panty droppin beats while you get your swagga on. FREE before 10:30, $3 after Underground SF, 424 Haight Street, Queer, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, (continued on page 21)

Mathews Reading Room of Modern Times Bookstore @ 2919 24th St.,SF. 5:30 pm Info: http://www.gayshamesf.org Shootin’ with Care slide show hosted by Terry and the Peer Educators of the Speed Project. Get the skinny on circulation basics, what happens when a vein collapses, avoiding abscesses, tracks, bacterial infections; the pro’s and con’s of different spots; tips to avoid sharing hepatitis and HIV when partying in groups; alternatives to injecting for folks who want to take a break. Come share what you know; the only real expert in the room is you! All welcome to this free slideshow.

Come high, come low, come as you are!

Drop by any time between 7-10 pm at 117 6th Street (the 6th street exchange btw Mission/Howard), SF. www.tspsf.com Events Line: 415 788-5433 Same-Sex Ballroom Dance Program!

4:30-5:30 mixed level Salsa. 5:30-6:30 beginning American Rumba. At Cheryl Burke Dance, 1830 17th St. @ De Haro, SF. $15 per person drop-in, cheaper when you buy in bulk! Instructor: Emily Coles, www.emilycolesdance.com. These classes are geared toward the LGBTQ community. No partner or experience needed!

A variety of ongoing classes. 415-3058242 balboabattle.com 3rd Saturday Swing and Salsa Dance Meet new people and learn dance for FREE with no partner or experience! 7-11 pm Magnet at 4122 18th at Castro. http:// www.queerjitterbugs.com Hayes Valley Follies - Marlena's hosts a weekly revue of the most titillating Bay Area talent featuring drag, singers, syncers, dancers, impersonators and more. 10 pm at 488 Hayes St., SF. Info: marlenasbarsf.com or 864- 6672 Wilde Chats – A loosely structured community-driven group get together every Saturday morning to discuss specific issues affecting us as gay men and our gay community. The group is lead following a “Socratic” model; rather than talk about solutions and answers to problems, the idea is to expand on the days topic by analyzing it and breaking it up into other questions. The discussions typically focus on the hidden/unspoken assumptions, generalities and concepts that we as gay men make, and the differences that our various points of reference imply. 1st, 3rd, 5th Sat, 11:30 Am - 1 Pm. Thai House Restaurant at 2200 Market Street @ Sanchez. Info www.isparksf.com.

Sundays

Bad Movie Night - Every Sunday, come on out to The Dark Room in the Mission to see a crummy movie, scarf down popcorn, and listen to the hilarious ravings of special rotating hosts chosen from the brilliant comedic flock of freaks circling our fair city. $5, 8 pm at The Dark Room Theatre, 2263 Mission St., SF. Info: darkroomsf.com Jock Sundays @ Lookout is a weekly Sunday afternoon/ early evening, high-energy jump fueled by a rotating cast of superstar DJs, including: Stefanie Phillips, Luke Fry, Pornstar, Joseph Lee and Pam Hubbuck.

Packed every Sunday with hot, sweaty, jocular boys - and girls - JOCK is ALL-STAR! Every week proceeds benefit an LGBTQ sports group. 3 pm, $2 door. At Lookout, 3600 16th St. at Market, SF. Info: 415-4310306 or lookoutsf.com DECO’s Amateur Strip Night - The audience at the Deco Lounge every Sunday will vote to award one lucky amateur stripper a CASH PRIZE. Join emcee Nick Parker, DJ Lambchop, hot strippers and good tippers(hopefully) At The Deco Lounge, 510 Larkin St., SF. Every Sunday, sign ups at 9 pm and showtime at 10 pm. No cover. Info: decosf.com Sunday’s A Drag - Harry Denton’s Starlight Room hosts a weekly brunch featuring San Francisco’s finest drag performers and hosts Donna Sachet and Harry Denton. Two shows every Sunday, 12 pm and 2:30 pm. $30 for brunch and show at Sir Francis Drake Hotel, 450 Powell St., SF. Info/res: 395-8595

Mondays

Bay Area Young Positives drop-in group.

Drop-in support group for young HIV positive people. 701 Oak St., SF, 7 pm – 9 pm. Info baypositives.org, (415) 487-1616 Duplicate Bridge - QuickTricks Bridge Club,

7 pm, ACBL duplicate open and 299’er events. Meets in Ellard Hall of Most Holy Redeemer Church, thru gate on Diamond St. at 18th Street. Lesson series too. Info: www. quicktricks.org.

Monday Night Knit - Knit-Knit-Purl-Purl!

Knit-Knit-Purl- Purl! If you haven’t gotten your fixin’ of stitchin’, knittin’ and purlin’, come on down to the LGBT Center tonight where knitters and crocheters will be bonding over coffee. Every Monday, 6:30 pm at 1800 Market St., SF. Info: 235-4821 Gay Mondays at the Etiquette Lounge - A weekly social to benefit the SF LGBT Center with DJs Jeff Stallings and Luke Fry. 7 pm-12 am at 1108 Market St., SF. Info: etiquettelounge. Co. Shooting with Care Slide Show - If you or a friend injects, you are cordially invited to join a conversation about safer injection, vein care and harm reduction hosted by the Speed Project. The Ivy street needle exchange is open 7 pm-9 pm and is a great exchange for those concerned with privacy.

Drop by anytime between 7 pm-9 pm at Tom Waddell Garage, 50 Lech Walesa/Ivy Street near Polk and Grove, SF. Free! Come high, Come low! www.tspsf.com Ten Percent - LGBT-TV for Northern California Mondays - Thursdays, 11:30 am & 8 pm on Comcast Hometown Network Channel 104 in Northern California.

Tuesdays

New FTM/transmasculine group @ TRANS: THRIVE. Groups are open to female-to-male (FTM) people, transguys, butches, studs, genderqueers, two-spirited, third-gendered, questioning folks, trannyfags, trannyboys, boydykes, transmen, papis, transmasculine folks and whatever else you call yourself. About once a month we have a special event. Every Tuesday from 6-7:30 pm Check online calendar for details.

TRANS: THRIVE, 815 Hyde St., 2nd Floor/ Info http://www.transthrive.org Youth Meal Night, Tuesdays from 5 pm-8:30 pm at The Center (1800 Market at Octavia, SF) - this weekly program provides homeless, marginally housed and foster care youth up to 24 years with a nourishing meal, welcoming environment, film screenings, art projects, discussions and a wide array of different community building activities. For more info please contact Beck at 415-8655560 or beck@sfcenter.org Renowned Buddhist Teacher, Tessa Logan, teaches drop-in meditation classes on Tuesday evenings, 7-8:45 pm at the Kadampa Buddhist Temple, 3324 17th St.., SF. Everyone is welcome. $10 donation.

NOTAFLOF. www.meditationinnortherncalifornia.org or 415-503-1187.

Gay Men’s Sketch - a weekly male figure drawing group. Professional, yet intimate and relaxed. Classical nude modeling by a gay male model. Five 2 minute gestures, one 15-min pose & four 20-min. poses. 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Intimate South of Market home studio, open drawing session, no instruction.

A nice group of gay guys - friendly, supportive and non-competitive - who loves drawing the male nude in gay male company. The group is open to men and women of all persuasions . To reserve space, call day of the group that you want to attend: Mark - 415- 621-6294 Weight Watchers LGBTQ Meeting - registration and weigh in starts at 6 pm, discussion at 6:30 pm. At the Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St., Berkeley. Questions? jeanne.obrien@weightwatchers.com Newly diagnosed? Just coming to terms with your diagnosis? This group is for you to help you deal with your HIV diagnosis. Positive Force hosts a weekly drop-in group for you.

It’s a great place to get emotional support and information. For more info about contact Ramon Martinez at 415-575-0150 ext 219 or rmartinez@stopaids.org. Drop in every Tuesday 7- 7:30 pm at STOP AIDS Main Office , 2128 15th St.., btw Sanchez and Noe, SF. St. James Infirmary for Sex Workers offers free, confidential, non-judgmental medical care, massage, acupuncture, peer and substance use counseling, legal and social service referrals and a food/clothing bank. You can check your email, get chair massage, or face acupuncture while you wait and talk to other sex workers. If you get a treatment, its not just a clinic, you can hang out with all your friends who you never knew were hookers, too! Tuesday 12-3 pm, Wednesday night from 6-9 pm, Thursday 6-9 pm Transgender

Health Clinic. Current and former sex workers as well as their partners and families are welcome to drop in. Donations of food, money and clothing welcome. Info: 554-8494 “Harvey’s Funny Tuesdays” Ronn Vigh and Nick Leonard present the best in Gay and Gay friendly comedy in the heart of the Castro. 9 pm sharp at Harvey’s, 500 Castro Street (at 18th), SF. FREE Admission, one drink minimum. Every week new funny acts!

Wednesdays

Fruity Wednesdays Queer Youth space at Larkin Street Drop-In Larkin Street Youth Services offers a safe space to Queer Youth every Wednesday. Each week, youth are served a meal, offered showers, peer counseling and a structured program meant to keep the focus on community building. The First Wednesday of the month kicks off with an Open Mic event for youth to perform and get tested for HIV. The second and third Wednesdays are for cultivating the creative process, with the help of Larkin’s Art Department. The last Wednesday youth are offered workshops on relevant and important issues peers in their community currently face. Drop-In. Larkin Street Youth Services, 1142 Sutter St., SF, 6-8 pm Flyers http:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / p a g e s / F r u i t y Wednesdays Job Seekers Internet Workgroup 10 amNoon. Participants must be at The LGBTQ Center’s main door lobby at 9:45 am to gain access into the building (1800 Market @ Octavia, SF). Get ongoing help with your job search at the Center! The Center’s workforce Development Program is pleased to announce a free, job seekers Internet workgroup. Participants will have access to the Internet, interact with peers to share and receive ongoing advice from a career coach to help manage a productive job search. A one-on-one drop-in session with David Bach, of the Workforce Development team, is recommended prior to joining the workgroup.

For more information, please contact David Bach at 415.865.5534 or davidb@sfcenter. org.

Transgender Support Group meets at the Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center, Mon-Fri, 3-5 pm. Mon. is open to significant others and questioning; Tues-Fri transgender people only. Wed: Alexis Miranda facilitates. 183 Golden Gate Ave. in SF. Info: 415-255-8272.

Farmers’ Market Comes to the Castro!

The market will showcase Northern California’s freshest fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices as an outlet for local farmers - juicy peaches, flowering orchids, flavorful onions and zucchini, sweet strawberries, Asian greens, fresh seafood, crisp green beans, vitamin-packed tomatoes or any other summer produce items. The Castro Farmers’ Market will be here every Wednesday, from 4 pm to 8 pm, on Noe St.. between Market and Beaver St., through Oct. 28.

Speed Project Harm Reduction Drop In Group welcomes gay/bi and heteroflexible guys to talk about what’s up with you & your world. Enjoy donuts & coffee. Needle exchange always available after the group.

Come high, come low, come as you are. 2 pm at 117 6th Street btw. Mission/Howard Info: www.tspsf.com (415) 487-8043 Low-Cost Legal Advice Program - Annie Thorkelson, Attorney at Law, offers $1/minute legal advice and referrals. This service provides a creative, personal and non litigation forum for getting informal answers and creative solutions to most kinds of legal questions, problems and conflicts that arise every day for ordinary San Franciscans. Info: www.legalgroundssf.com/about.html or call Annie at 415-816-6181. Every Wednesdays 4:30 - 6:30 pm at SF Women’s Building, 3543 18th St. btw Valencia/Guerrero, SF.

Redwood City’s Rainbow Skate - Every Wednesday strap ‘em on and slide on down to the Redwood Roller Rink for the 15-year-old skating party for the LGBTQ community. Skate in your skivvies on the Underwear Night (the last Wednesday of every month) and go 70s on the first Wednesday for “Retro Disco Night”. $7, 8-10:30 pm 1303 Main St., Redwood City.

Info: rainbowskate.com.

Lions, Tigers & Queers - DJ’s Lisa De Lux and Becky Knox playing electro, tech, house, and dubstep. $3. Every 3rd Wed, 10 pm-2 am. Underground SF (424 Haight St..),

There’s waaaay more...

Lesbian Vegetarians, San Francisco Boys of Leather, Gay Men’s Basketball, Queer Armenians, Women Poets, Sex Addicts, Dykes on Hikes East Bay, Questioning Youth, Au Cercle des Amis Franco phones, Creative Philosopher’s Club, Let It All Hang Out, MAX (Men’s Associated Exchange), Barbary Coast Boating Club, LGBTQ Alcoholics Anonymous, Bodybuilding Group, Freewheelers Car Club, Nudes In Art, QuickTricks EasyBridge! Gay Architects & Designers, Lesbian Entrepreneur Club, Rainbow Toastmasters, All Girls Roller Derby Training, Heart of San Francisco Aikido, Crystal Meth Anonymous, Caring Kinksters Munch, and much, much more!

sfbaytimes.com - click on Resource Guide

2 0 BAY TIMES SEPTEM B E R 8 , 2 0 1 1

(PARENTS & KIDS continued from page 19) activities. Every second Wednesday of the month, 5-6 pm at the Oakland Main Library Rm 219, 125 14th St., Oakland. Info: oaklandlibrary.org.

Adopt or Foster a California Kid - ASK invites you to an informational session addressing topics related to the foster care system and adoption processes and legalities.

Every first Tuesday of the month except for July 11, 7-9 pm at 7700 Edgewater Dr, Ste 320 Bldg B, Oakland. Info/reg: Andrea at 510 5531748 x12.

Support Group for Pregnant Lesbians - An on-going group for pregnant queers, lesbians, dykes, bisexuals, genderqueer people and their partners led by Laura Goldberger, MFT. This group costs $45 per session(sliding scale may be available), and is held every Thursday night, 6:45-8:15 pm in Berkeley. Info: 510-5245565 or lauragoldberger@sbcglobal.net.

Lesbian Dads and Butch Moms: Genderqueer Parenthood - Explore the dynamic hybrid of motherhood/fatherhood, the internal experience of gender, and the interplay of inward and outward gender expression. Dates to be announced, $75 per person. Contact Maia Midwifery for more info: 925-253-0685 or maiamidwifery.com.

Support Group for Parents of Gender Variant and Transgender Children - Are you raising a child who does not fit in with the expected gender norms? A child who identifies with the “opposite gender”? So are we! Meet other parents and share your experiences, read up on the subject and address your own struggles in order to try and make the world safer for your children. FREE. Meets the third Wednesday of every month in Oakland.

Contact Stephanie Brill for more details: 925253-0685.

(CALENDAR continued from page 20) Bisexual, and even Straight friendly! Shirts optional.

21 Wednesday

LDG Annual Fetish Fair 2011 - The SF Leathermens Discussion Group is hosting its eighth Fetish Fair at the S.F. Citadel on Wednesday, September 21st. The fair will consist of a dozen or so demonstrations of male-on-male kink, spread over three hours, 7:30 pm till around 10:30 pm.

Demos have included whipping, spanking and paddling, electrical toys, violet wands, hot wax play, CBT, urethral sounds, fisting,

Seniors

Mission/Noe LGBTQ Issues Forum, Every 2nd Thursday of the month, 10 am at 30th Street Senior Center located at 225- 30th Street (at Dolores), 3rd Floor conference room. Bernal Heights LGBTQ Discussion Group, Every 4th Thursday of the month, 1 pm at Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center located at 515 Cortland Avenue (across from the library). *NEW* South of Market LGBTQ Discussion Group, Every 2nd Friday of the month, 10 am at Canon Kip Senior Center located at 705 Natoma Street (@ 8th St.. across from Harvest Market). Hope to see you there!

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS! Do you care about low-income housing welcoming to LGBTQ seniors and people with disabilities? OpenHouse, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping LGBTQ older adults connect with housing, services and community, needs your help! They are seeking dedicated volunteers available for 10 hours per month project, call 415-296-8995 and ask for Michelle Alcedo at ext. 5,

Old Lesbians Organizing for Change - A network of lesbians over age 60 organizing against ageism and for social change.

For more information call 415 388-5001.

San Francisco Prime Timers - Local chapter of Prime Timers Worldwide, an international organization of older gay and bi men and younger men who admire them.

Usually there is a featured speaker and refreshments following the meeting.

Meets 2-4 pm on the first and third Sundays of each month at First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin @ Geary, SF. Info:552-6641 50+ Support Group for Men - A discussion

and support group for gay men on life’s aging issues. Meets on the 2nd Thurs of every month, 4 pm-5:30 pm, at the DeFrank Center, 938 The Alameda, San Jose. Info: 408-293-2429 or defrank.org

Project Open Hand Senior Lunch - Come out to lunch at the Castro Senior Center Mon-Fri at 11:45 am! 100 Diamond St. @

Straight Spouse Network - Support group meeting in Oakland for the heterosexual spouses or former spouses of LGBTQ partners meets 4th Tuesday of every month, 7:3010 pm, Info: 510-301-0630.

Childcare for Radical Change - The Bay Area Childcare Collective provides trained, competent, and politicized childcare providers to grassroots organizations and movements composed of and led by immigrant women, low-income women, and women of color with a long-term goal of building a multi-generational movement with parents, women and children at its center. Info: 541-5039 or childcarecollective@lycos.com.

Maia Midwifery & Preconception Services: Childbirth education classes specifically for lesbian and bisexual women. Classes help to foster long term bonds between families having babies at the same time. Support groups also. Sliding scale, scholarships available.

Also holds groups on pregnancy, insemination, advanced insemination and just for non-biological moms and moms-to-be. For more information please call: 925-253-0685 or www. maiamidwifery.com.

Mamas and Papas - Supportive and informal drop-in Saturday discussion groups where LGBTQ parents and guest speakers explore issues faced by parents and those specific to our community. Free childcare provided.

Childcare opens at 9:30am, parents meet from 10-11:30 am at the LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market St., SF. Info: mamaspapas. blogspot.com.

Future Gay Dads: Are you gay, single and know you want to have kids? Looking for a way to meet other guys who want the same thing you do? A dating/social network is forming for guys who want to meet other guys for whom play piercing, bondage, and more. You might see a puppy or two sniffing around at the ends of leashes, rubbermen decked out in latex and neoprene, hot wrestlers going at it in singlets or jocks, or gear guys in sports uniforms. Info: sfldg.org

On Stage

Bandaloop World Premiere of Bound(less) At Oakland’s Great Wall Sept. 15-17 International pioneer of aerial movement Project Bandaloop will celebrate its 20th anniversary season with the premiere of Bound(less) in three free performances September 15-17 at The Great Wall in Oakland. The multimedia work represents

18th St., SF. $1.50 suggested donation.

Info: 863-3507

Acting & Storytelling Classes for Seniors

offered by Stage. All classes held at First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison at 27th, Oak. Info: 510-444-4755.

Lavender Seniors Monthly Potluck Bring

food to share with other LGBTQ folks over 55. This only happens once a month, people!! And eating with friends is fierce. These events happen in or around the East Bay.Call Peggy at 510-6679655.

Lesbian & Gay Aging Issues Network of the American Society Group raises

awareness about the needs of older lesbians and gay men and encourages multidisciplinary dialogue among service providers, policymakers, researchers and other professionals. 974-9600.

eventually creating a famliy is important. Call 841-1922.

The SF LGBTQ Center has free childcare available for those visiting the building. Arts & Crafts, dramatic play, storytime, toys, and tons of fun! All ages welcome w/ RSVP. 1800 Market. Info: 865-5553.

Family Builders By Adoption / SF Child: Adopt a waiting child. No fees. Pre/post support.

Once a month LGBTQ Drop-In support group with films, videos, speakers. SF LGBTQ Community Center, 1800 Market. Info: 510272-0204.

Drop-In Playgroup Meet with other parents while your children play with other children.

Jewish Family and Children’s Services, 1710 Scott. Tues & Wed, 1-2:30 pm. Info: 359-2455.

Saturdays Are Special: The Randall Museum has drop-in, hands-on art and science workshops for kids from 1-4 pm. Also, meet and feed the animals from 11-1 pm. 199 Museum Way, SF (above Castro). Info: 554-9600.

Parents Place offers groups and workshops.

Drop-in Wed & Thurs, 1-2:30 pm. 1710 Scott, SF. Info: 359-2454.

Adopt a Special Kid launches a 21st Century family recruitment campaign to find permanent and loving homes for the most vulnerable children. 7700 Edgewater, Suite #125, Oak. Info: 510-553-1748, ext. 12 or 888-680-7349 or www.adoptaspecialkid.org.

Our Family Coalition: The Bay Area’s primary LGBTQ family organization provides referrals, advocacy, networking, social events, educational workshops and Domestic Partner Registration. Info: 981-1960.

Janaki, Daughter of the Dirt, will be presented in three shows only at the Mission Cultural Center on September 16 - 18. the culmination of two decades of creating innovative works that respond to and interact with environments and audiences around the world and features six dancers and a live band who will make the Great Wall their dance floor. In addition to the premiere performances of Bound(less), Rudolph and performers will host a conversation and multi-media event about their work and the creation of Bound(less) on Thursday, September 8. Special free sneak preview performances of excerpts from Bound(less) will be given September 8 and 9 at Mint Plaza in San Francisco prior to the full premiere in Oakland. Info: projectbandaloop. org.

Marga Gomez’s Not Getting Any Younger Gomez spills the beans in her 9th solo show - a comedy about lies, vanity and the good old days. This ‘coming of middle age’ story begins during an idyllic childhood visit to a dairy cow’s boudoir in the Bronx. Afterwards, Gomez endures a youth marked by adult hostility and is forced to live by the maxim “children should be seen and not heard.”

She perseveres through these soul crushing early years with the false hope that when she’s older she can order children about. But in 2011, children call the shots, adults shoot botox and Gomez has to put up with young salesclerks calling her Ma’am, driving her toward murder at a Forever 21 department store. The show plays on Thursday and Friday at 8:00p Saturday at 8:30p and Sunday at 3:00p from September 8 – October 23, 2011 (opening night September 15) in the Studio Theater at The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia Street. For tickets visit themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055.

Janaki - Daughter of the Dirt by Virali Gokaldas-“Who carves the path you walk?”

Written, and rewritten, talked about and analyzed over thousands of years, The Ramayana is a saga about good versus evil.

It is integral to the cultural consciousness of

India - complete with gods, talking animals, and demons. Come join a young woman, Lalitha, as she explores the connections between the traditional tale and her own dilemmas, with the help of her own personal superhero Sita - and learns the striking truth about her ancestors and herself. Janaki Daughter of the Dirt is a story of ancient archetypes that reflects modern day dilemmas. It is the journey of a young woman who looks to her own personal superhero, Sita also known as Janaki, for answers to life's problems. Only this Sita is not the perfect woman as is portrayed in the ancient Ramayana, one of Hinduism’s most known and revered epics. 3 shows only! September 16-18, 7pm Fri& Sat, 3pm Sun at Mission Cultural Center 2868 Mission St SF. Tix $20$40 at brownpapertickets.com/ event/193784. Info: sirentheatre.org.

JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED - An improvised play in the style of Jane Austen Directed By Dan O’Connor and Paul Rogan.

Jane Austen only wrote six novels in her lifetime, but they are some of the most beloved tales of love and misunderstanding, wit and wisdom, and passion and betrayal ever written. Now, for the first time in two centuries, Improv Theatre will deliver a new Jane Austen story every night. Passionate, willful women flirt and verbally joust with handsome, brooding young noblemen.

Hearts are broken, secrets are revealed and true love wins out in the end. Or does it? The essence of Austen’s brilliant and timeless romantic comedies and social satires is brought faithfully to life by this expert team of funny and gifted actors, whose recent explorations of great literary figures include Shakespeare, Dickens, Sondheim, and Tennessee Williams. Friday & Saturday, Sept 9 & 10 at 8pm Sunday, Sept 11 at 2pm – matinee at Bayfront Theater - Fort Mason Center, Building B, 3rd Floor, SF $30 general admission. $25 seniors and students. $20 Matinee Tix: improv.org.

Gallery

An Interfaith Art Exhibit: Diverse Visions of Harmony- Opens with a reception September 17, 6-9 pm at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, Oakland, 1433 Madison St. Some 90 pieces from 40 artists include paintings, photography, ceramics, beadwork, stained glass, metal work, sculpture, fabric and mixed media. The public is invited to meet the artists, view the art and enjoy refreshments. The exhibit runs Tuesdays -Saturdays, noon to 5p through October 22.

For group visits call (510) 832-7600 or email info@iccnc.org in advance to arrange a visit.

The Center is wheelchair accessible; Call to arrange wheelchair access.

Gendered Images: The Feminine Divinepresents female depictions of deities that transcend time and geography. This collection of images highlights the goddess figure and the power of women as faithful practitioners, while underscoring the creative, nonviolent and nurturing qualities of women through the ages. a national juried exhibition. The exhibition will run from September 8 to December 16, 2011. Doug Adams Gallery, Graduate Theological Union. 1798 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley, CA Free admission. Regular gallery hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10a - 3p Please visit website for scheduled events: care-gtu.org.

SHIFT- The San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of newly commissioned solo projects by Bay Area artists Elizabeth Axtman, David Huffman and Travis Somerville. Opening Reception: Friday, September 16, 6-8p, Exhibition Dates: September 16 - December 10. Gallery at 401 Van Ness: Wednesday through Saturday, 12-5 pm. Info: sfartscommision.org.

Senior’s Support Group Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Discuss issues around

senior relationships, feelings of isolation and feelings of aloneness. The group is facilitated by two seniors and is specially structured to provide emotional support for your peers in your journey through the LGBTQ community. A good place to make new friendships and participate in affirming emotional support. All seniors welcome. The Lighthouse Community Center, 1217 A Street, Hayward. 510881-8167.

Senior Men’s Group - A support and conversation group for gay men. 2nd & 4th Thurs, 1:30-3:30 pm. Pacific Center, 2712 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. Info: 510548-8283 or pcseniormen@sbcglobal.

Net Senior Men’s HIV Support Group - For

gay/bi men 55+. Process all-encompassing issues with HIV and being older. Fri, 11 am-12:30 pm. 103 Hayes St., SF. Info: 626-7000 x415.

The Pacific Collegium will present Johann Sebastian Bach's B Minor Mass on September 11 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Oakland.

Check Out the Bay Times CALENDAR and RESOURCE GUIDE

ON-LINE at sfbaytimes.com

BAY T IM ES S EPT EM BER 8, 2011 21

CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE Co n n o i sseur G reen s by M a i l

Discretely, Securely, and Reliably to Your Door. All 50 states!

EastBayCompassion@yahoo.com

(510) 434-6390

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

www.getcoastal.com/suiteholiday.htm Web-Sites Development, Marketing, Management, and Hosting for small businesses. Affordable.

E-Commerce, database, and more. Will work with existing sites. Call 415-885-2978 or www.digitalcloud9.com.

TAX PREPARER SERVICES

The Lesbian Tax Mom 510-653-4323 taxmomsusan@yahoo.com

LEGAL SERVICES B. Scott Levine 510-763-2300 bslevine@pacbell.net

information about me, visit http://sites.google. com/site/mike949h/

Gay Man Looking to be a Known Donor for a Lesbian/Couple. 5’10’’, excellent health, HIV neg., with high fertility numbers, educated (Masters), athletic, attractive, and descend from two loving and long-lived Spanish families. www.gayfamilyoptions. com/item/221 Known Donor / Co-parent of Color Wanted.

Single bi vegan Jewish woman, 37, healthy, seeks grounded African-American, Latin or Arab man or gay couple. Reply via e-mail to coparentwanted@ yahoo.com.

Maia Midwifery and Preconception Services: Innovative methods of fertility awareness, connections between sexulality and fertility, exploring donor options, increasing insemination effectiveness, and step-by-step guidance. Conception support groups also offered. Call 925-253-0685.

Rainbow Flag Sperm Bank: Identity released when child is 3 months old. (510) 763-7737.

ENTERTAINMENT Terry Photo Real Hot Musclemen Backstage Pump & Oil. DVDs at “The Magazine,” 920 Larkin, SF. Tues/Sat 12-7pm. Order online www.terryphoto. com Free Erotic Photos: Seeking models to participate in erotic photography. You get CD-Rom at hi-res b&w photos. See narrative.com/epp for examples.

INSURANCE

Visit www.TravelingwithLeo.com

T

North Shore, Haleiwa, Hawaii. Big surf, beautiful sunsets, big waves. 1 bed/2 bath condo, quiet. $1,225USD per week includes deposit, tax and cleaning. Info@staynorthshore.com.

"Green" Mountain Cabin $85/nite 4 BR Slp 5. No. Mendo Cnty www.blackhawkweyr.com Exceptional Guerneville 2br home on wooded hillside. Spa, woodstove, WiFi, dog-friendly. $185/ night. 415-648-9333 or www.pachamamahome.info Sante Fe, NM- house swap. Retired gay attorney looking for house swap with someone in San Francisco who wants at leasts one month each year in Santa Fe. jdfree3@netzero.com www.chalet-loulou.com

SURF DOG large dog boarding at Ocean Beach.

Queer Owned. sfsurfdogs.com. (415) 637-7717

VOLUNTEERS

Didgeridog Doggie Daycare & Overnights. Where small dogs play while you're away! www.didgeridog. com

Puerta Vallarta Villa, in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, open to the Pacific Ocean, pool, private spa, walk to beach, close to Old Town.

Jim 707-225-4158.

W.O.M.A.N. Inc. needs volunteers for 24 hour crisis line; bi-lingual/cultural. L/Bi/TG women encouraged to get involved! 415-864-4777, Ext. 308.

PARENTING

You want children, so do I. Let's talk. For more

Gay Softball Team- Powerhouse hustlers need experienced pitcher and players for 2006 season. Please call (415) 826-6858 or email coachmark10@yahoo. com

Cozy Sea Ranch home for 2 welcomes you. Short walk to ocean/recreation center/golf. Hot tub. Call Kennedy Rentals: 707-884-9601. Ask for The Double-H.

MASSAGE El Cerrito Hills-I80-Men: Info: www.rickoz2.com

Gay Men’s Basketball: Every Sunday, 5-9pm, Friend’s Gym, 6th St. between Howard St. and Folsom St.. www.gaybasketball.com

REAL ESTATE FINANCING

TRAVEL

Is a Reverse Mortgage for You? Are you at least 62 years of age and own your home? Get paid a monthly amount, line of credit or a lump sum payment. You always retain full ownership. Call Lauren

Discover the secret spots of Bahia/Brazil with Leo.

Next Deadline for Classifieds: September 15 INSTRUCTIONS: Type or neatly print your ad exactly as you wish it to appear. Regular type is 75 cents per word, bold type is $1.50 per word. Add up the total cost of our ad. If you wish your ad to appear in more than one issue, multiply the number of times you wish your ad to run times the cost of the ad. If you run the same ad copy for 6 consecutive issue, you can deduct a 10 percent discount from the total; 16 times deduct 15 percent; 26 times, de-duct 20 percent. $10 minimum on all ads.

BT/SF CLASSIFIED REPLY BOX MAIL PICK-UP OR FORWARDING: If you do not have a PO Box and do not wish to use your name, address or phone number in your Classified ad, you may rent a BTSF Classified Reply Box for $15. Mail forwarded daily. Boxes remain active for two months.

AD COPY DEADLINE is Monday afternoon at 5pm the week of publication. All ad copy must reach us by that date. No exceptions. Ads cannot be taken over the phone. All ads must be prepaid. No refunds. Changes in ongoing ad copy cost $5 each in addition to any cost for extra words.

MAIL COUPON TO: Bay Times San Francisco PO Box 410386 San Francisco CA 94141-0386

Ad Copy

T

Guaranteed

(510) 465-3148

dewitt_hoard@hotmail.com Dunlap, Nova Mortgage. (510) 540-7911 / (415) 753-2272.

REAL ESTATE Stop Paying Rent! For many people their rent is a mortgage. Do yourself a favor! Email realestatehunter@yahoo.com.

THERAPISTS Pietro “Peter” Carnini, MFT. (MFC42943). Direct, interactive, authentic counseling for individuals and couples. 415-846-7691.

NOTE: Web addresses and phone numbers count for 2 words each ___ Check here if you wish to order a Bay Times Classified Reply Box ___ number of words bold type at $1.50 per word...................................=_________ ___ number words regular type at 75 cents per word...............................=_________ COST OF ONE INSERTION....................................................................=_________ ___ Number of insertions: Multiply by cost of one insertion for total cost of ad.........................=_________ DISCOUNTS for 6 or more insertions: subtract 10% of total cost of ad.......=_________ For 16 or more insertions: subtract 15% of total cost of ad.........=_________ For 26 or more insertions: subtract 20% of total cost of ad.........=_________ TOTAL COST OF AD INCLUDING ANY DISCOUNT.........................=_________ ___ Enclose $15 for Classified Reply Box (includes mail forwarding)......=_________ TOTAL ENCLOSED........=_________ METHOD OF PAYMENT: ___ Check ___ VISA ___ MasterCard ___ AmEx Card #_______________-_______________-________________-______________ Card Security Code:_______________

Card Name (print)_____________________________________________________ Auth. Signature_______________________________________________________ CardAddress_________________________________________________________

Or Fax to 415-626-0987

City________________________________________ State/Zip________________

Or E-mail information to: classifieds@sfbaytimes.com

Phone________________________________________________________________

COACHING

ST U CK ? shift happens

Certified career & life coaching by phone (anywhere) www.awayoutofnoway.info

(415) 678-9597

Addicted to sex or porn? Visit: therapists.psychologytoday.com/36740.

Compassionate and interactive psychotherapy for the LGBTQ community. Experienced, caring lesbian therapist. Sliding scale. Offices in Berkeley and Sebastopol. Heidi Harrison, MFT (MFC33484).

(707) 888-8186.

Robert Holum, LMFT, www.robertholum.com, (415) 398-2467. Individuals, couples, families, children; experienced in HIV/ AIDS mental health.

Sliding scale, credit card payment available. Lic. No. MFC 40503.

Rochelle Wald, PhD, LCSW (LCS13786) Psychotherapy, Enneagram counseling, Sexological support; 415-826-8215.

Afraid of wearing out your friends? Want a therapist to give helpful feedack and one that doesn’t just say “uh-huh” and “how do you feel about that?” I am warm, compassionate and interactive. 20 years experience. First Session Free. MFT, 23666. (510) 525-2341. www.womenspsychotherapy.com Affordable psychotherapist. 17yrs. experience, interactive, gay-friendly. Individuals, couples, families.

Noe. Carla Durkin, MFT. (415)255-6394.

Low fee psychotherapy UC Professor. Dr. Gene Hightower. 510-548-4206.

gaytherapist.com

2 2 BAY TIMES SEPTEM B E R 8 , 2 0 1 1

Easy

PhD(c), LCSW, CHT

Meridian Psychotherapy Center provides empathic Feminist Therapy Referral Project has been providing careful, confidential therapy referrals to East Bay women therapists since 1971. Sliding scale, insurance. (510) 841-1261. Paid for by participating providers.

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T

Clinical Hypnotherapist

Now accepting rental reservations. Spacious 3 BR, 3.5BA vacation home on edge of Tahoe National Forest. www.VRBO.com listimg 296841.

PETS

The AIDS/HIV/Hep C Nightline needs sensitive, caring, non-judgemental listeners to support those living the daily challenge of HIV and Hep C. 415984-1902.

Safe

DeWitt A. Hoard

VACATION RENTAL

COVER YOUR ASSETS: Insurance for YOUR community. Life, Disability, Final Expense. Aaron Van Arsdale 415-717-4984. aaron.insure@gmail. com. Life Agent Lic # 0G10774

SPORTS

USING HYPNOSIS AND NEURO LINGUISTICS

GayDaysTampaBay.com

Mt. Shasta private vacation suite. $50.00 per night per person. 530-926-0432.

The UCSF-AIDS Health Project is looking for volunteer HIV test counselors and phlebotomists.

Phlebotomists must have current California Phlebotomy License. Contact Francis at 415-4766443 or fsalmer@itsa.ucsf.edu.

STOP SMOKING

TRAVEL WITH US. Our members, gay men over 40, have been staying in each others’ homes, having good times, making new friends and saving $$$ as they travel for over 10 years. Travel Lambda Connections Club. www.TLCclub.net

Having difficulty coping? Supportive, empathic insight-oriented therapy can help you sort things out and effect change. Experienced, accepting, interactive therapist offers sliding scale rates for individuals and couples. Insurance accepted. Specialties include overcoming anxiety/panic, the coming out process, dealing with HIV/AIDS, help with self-defeating behavior patterns, relationship issues and sexuality (compulsive sex, dysfunctions/inhibitions). Michael Wallin, MFT (lic. MFC34339) (415) 626-1300.

Caring Walnut Creek Therapist. Sensitive to loss, life changes. Opportunity to feel better while letting go of baggage. Larry Krieger, LCSW (LCS 12716) 925-324-2276.

Judith Tucker, MFT (MFC33792) offers empathic, interactive therapy in Walnut Creek for your concerns about relationships, identity and transitions.

Couples and individuals. (925) 296-0245.

Non-judgmental psychotherapy for people exploring gender or sexuality, considering transitioning, identifying as trans/genderqueer/intersex/butch/ femme/etc. I'm a compassionate, honest therapist, aware of diverse cultures, genders, and types of sexual expression. Couples welcome. SF. Laura Goldberger, MFT (license #MFC36388), 415-4405332.

Psychotherapy and Counseling. Bring your daily life into alignment with your desired destiny! Doris Bersing, Ph.D. (PSB 28487) Clinical Psychologist with 25 years International experience. Fluent in English, Spanish and French. Coming out issues, sexuality, self-esteem, depression, relationships, PTSD. Available in San Francisco and Marin.

Supervised for CA lic. by PSY 10506. Contact 415331-4521 or bersingdoris@aol.com for free initial phone consultation.

Patrick Neer, Psy.D.: (PSY17183) offers dynamic, compassionate, depth psychotherapy for individuals and couples. Berkeley. 510-734-1390.

Supportive, Caring, Experienced. Individual and couples therapy for sexual minorities. Patrick Calilfia, MFT 37972. 415-652-4624.

THERAPY GROUPS Female Partners of FTMs. Lesbian, Bisexual,

Tom Moon,

MFT

Lic. No. MFC 12297

Psychotherapy and Consultation EMDR 415.626.1346 tommoon.net Over 30 years in service to the community

HOUSE SITTING Lesbian + 2 cats Ready to house sit for you Anywhere in Bay Area 408-891-3680

PROFESSIONAL CONCIERGE At Chore Service415-336-5168 manny@atchoreservicesf

SELF DEFENSE TRAINING Soko Joshi Judo & Self Defense Club for Women 415-821-0303 phdshelley@sbcglobal.net

JOB WANTED Seeking Buyer or Expediter Position 408-891-3680

ROOM RENTALS Seeking Room for Rent Prefer LGBT household Unfurnished up to $600 SF or other Bay Area location plcosta@comcast.net

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BAY T IM ES S EPT EM BER 8, 2011 23

©2011 Napa Cellars, Oakville, CA

napa REDEfInED At Napa Cellars, we’re putting a modern spin on classic Napa wines, combining Napa’s legendary terroir with contemporary sensibilities to create delicious wines that possess all of the character you’ve come to expect from Napa, but with an attitude and price that we think you’ll find rather refreshing. In doing so, we’re redefining what Napa wine can be. Cheers!

NapaCellars.com