Photographer Rink takes us ‘round About in Photos Page 8
Gary M. Kramer interviews Glenn Close re: Albert Nobbs Page 9
Dr. Betty Sullivan’s Gift Guide for Valentines Page 19
The LGBTQ Newspaper and Events Calendar for the San Francisco Bay Area | July 28 2011 www.sfbaytimes.com
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Bipartisan “Mayors For The Freedom To Marry” Launches
PHOTO BY JOE RAM OS
The Face of Homelessness
By Sister Dana Van Iniquity The San Francisco Public Library is presenting the exhibition, “Acknowledged,” featuring portraits of Project Homeless Connect clients taken by San Francisco photographer Joe Ramos. The photographs are on view January 28-March 25, in the San Francisco Main Library’s Jewett Gallery, 100 Larkin Street. Ramos began photographing the clients of Project Homeless Connect in 2006, with his goal to give a personal
face and voice to homelessness. The mission of Project Homeless Connect (PHC) is to provide a single location where nonprofit medical and social service providers collaborate to serve the homeless of San Francisco with comprehensive, holistic services. All of the individuals that Ramos photographed agreed to have their pictures taken, and were later given copies of the portraits. More than 50 of Ramos’ photographic portraits, in both black & white and color, are on
view, depicting people of all ages and backgrounds, individuals to entire families. Many of the portraits are accompanied by stories based on extended interviews with the individuals or families depicted. These interviews give a voice to those who may not have been heard before.
Francisco, pregnant at the time. She came to PHC to seek access to medical services, which led to her volunteering for the organization. Her desire to be photographed was, as she said, so she had “something to show my brother, to reassure him that I’m doing okay.”
An example includes the portrait, “Ethel.” A descendant of Abraham Lincoln and also part Native American, Ethel sought stardom in Hollywood, and eventually landed in San
In another photograph, “Vanessa, Garry and Son,” the viewer might not think that this family was dealing with homelessness because they look like the quintessential young family. (continued on page 18
PHOTO SOUR CE: FRI ENDF ORTHE RIDE.WORDPRE SS.COM
PHOTO S OURCE : WIKIP EDI A.OR G
Sister Dana with friends Karen Lee Jaffe aka Kitty Tapata, Sister Hellen Wheels, and Lori
Performing artist Liz Primo surrounded by her dancers at the End Up
By Heidi Beeler
Coast to hunt for gold and work on the railroads. Leaders in San Francisco’s new Chinatown wanted to build understanding with the Caucasian pioneers they shared the city with. So they combined their traditional new year’s celebration with that all-American holiday celebratory vehicle – the parade.
cluding, eventually, the LGBT community. The San Francisco Lesbian/ Gay Freedom Band has marched in this parade at the organizers’ invitation almost every year since it was founded in June 1978, and in 1994, Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) became the first Asian LGBT organization to join in.
The founders wanted to foster understanding between cultures, so they not only presented their own traditions, they also invited the larger San Francisco community to participate, in-
Today, more than 100 contingents march in the rain-or-shine parade before a local live and international television audience estimated by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at (continued on page 18)
You could say 2012 comes in like a rabbit and goes out like a dragon. Last Monday, January 24, Lunar New Year celebrations cracked off throughout Asia and Asian communities around the globe, ushering in the Year of Dragon. The celebration (traditionally 15 days) will be capped off here on Saturday, February 11, with that Other San Francisco Parade that flaunts glitter, sequins and queens in fabulous gowns – the San Francisco Chinese New Year’s Parade. This be-
It’s another feather in San Francisco’s cap-of-many-cultures that its Chinese New Year’s Parade is the first and the largest of its kind in the world. It was started in the early 1860s, just after the Gold Rush drew large numbers of Chinese immigrants to the West
Houston Mayor Annise Parker
By Dennis McMillan Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage nationwide, launched “Mayors for the Freedom to Marry” on Jan. 20 at a press conference held at the 80th annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington, D.C. “Mayors for the Freedom to Marry” is a bipartisan group of 80 mayors who have pledged to support the freedom of same-sex couples to marry.
San Francisco Ushers in the Year of the Dragon
ing a Dragon Year (the most powerful and heroic of the zodiacs), and with the first elected Asian-American San Francisco mayor presiding, himself born under the sign of the dragon, you know this year’s parade should be special.
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PHOTO BY JAM IE M CGON N IGAL
January 26 - February 8, 2012 | www.sfbaytimes.com
The group includes mayors from cities and towns - large and small - with diverse geographic, ethnic, and political backgrounds. The list includes the mayors of America’s four largest cities - Michael Bloomberg of New York, Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, and Annise Parker of Houston. It also includes mayors from cities including San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda, California; Juneau, Alaska; Des Moines, Iowa; and Bloomington, Indiana. “Mayors for the Freedom to Marry” is part of Freedom to Marry’s federal campaign to expand public support for ending marriage discrimination. Mayors who sign on will employ tailored strategies for making the case for the freedom to marry in their communities. Many mayors who represent cities in states where marriage is not yet a reality will advocate to pass laws to secure the freedom to marry. Others will make the case to their congressional representatives to end federal marriage discrimination by repealing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). All are making a statement as to why marriage matters in their communities, how it improves the quality of life for their constituents, and how it makes their communities economically stronger. (continued on page 18)
SLDN Launches New Online Toolkit “We urge anyone interested in this assistance to contact our office and let us help,” said SLDN legal director David McKean.
Super Baby Seeks Super Uncles P HOTO BY SL DN
We are a lesbian couple looking for a partnered gay man for a known donor relationship.
By Dennis McMillan
superbabyseekssuperuncles@gmail.com
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) has launched a new online toolkit to assist veterans discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) or the prior regulations prohibiting gay and lesbian service in the military seeking changes to their discharge paperwork. These changes include upgrading of discharge characterizations, modifying the narrative reason for discharge, or changing the reentry code. Guidance from the Department of Defense, released in September 2011 as the DADT repeal was taking effect, provides the pathway for making changes and upgrades. It is estimated that as many as 100,000 veterans may qualify for such assistance.
SLDN has already heard from more than 100 gay and lesbian veterans who were discharged under the discriminatory law, and now want their discharge paperwork changed or upgraded. “Sometimes it’s for reasons of personal pride and setting the record straight about honorable service to our country; but often, there’s also a very practical reason, like urgently needed VA medical benef its or issues of employment,” Sarvis elaborated. Employers routinely request discharge paperwork when reviewing job applicants who have prior military service. “A narrative reason for separation of ‘homosexuality’ or a negative reentry code can mean forcing veterans to out themselves to future employers or being denied employment altogether,” Sarvis said.
“Cleaning up these records is an important piece of restoring dignity and honor to these American patriots, and closing the books on this shameful piece of our history,” said Army Veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis. “SLDN stands ready to assist all those who seek our help.”
Through the online tool, veterans who believe they may qualify are able to connect with the National Archives Veterans Records Office to obtain copies of their discharge paperwork, as well as provide necessary information to SLDN in just a few easy steps in order to begin processing.
Since September, SLDN has served veterans seeking this assistance who were discharged as far back as World War II. An early success was on behalf of Melvin Dwork, a World War II veteran who served in the Navy and was discharged in 1944 for being gay. Dwork sought SLDN’s legal assistance in early 2011 to upgrade his discharge paperwork, and it was granted in September 2011. The result was an honorable discharge in place of the previous “undesirable” characterization, allowing Dwork to qualify for long overdue benefits, and with them, in his words, the satisfaction “of righting a wrong” that was nearly 70 years old. The new online toolkit is available at sldn.org/page/s/vetdischargechanges. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a non-partisan, non-profit, legal services and policy organization dedicated to bringing about full LGBT equality to America’s military, and ending all forms of discrimination and harassment of military personnel on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. SLDN provides free and direct legal assistance to service members and veterans affected by the repealed DADT law and the prior regulatory ban on open service, as well as those currently serving who may experience harassment or discrimination. Since 1993, their in-house legal team has responded to more than 11,000 requests for assistance.
Castro Country Club Safe for Now By Sister Dana Van Iniquity
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2 BAY TIMES JANUAA RY 26, 2012
The building housing the Castro Country Club since 1983 has been sold to a local businessman who intends to keep all the tenants in the building. CCC has been a safe haven for nearly three decades for LGBTQ people in recovery from d r u g s a n d a l c oh o l . T h e b u s i nessma n made t he purchase a fter much consu lt at ion w it h San Francisco Super v isor Scott Wiener, and is committed to helping t he Cast ro Count r y Club f lourish. Representatives of the CCC Adv isor y Board w i l l be meet ing with the new landlord soon to beg i n t he process of developi ng a formal, long-term lease. Securing a long-term lease is just one of s e ver a l st e p s needed to achieve the larger goal of f inancial stability of the Castro Country Club. Identifying a new f iscal agent and long-term operational funding are equally important. Since the building was put on the market nearly two years ago, the com mun it y has r isen to t he occasion to advocate on beha l f of ma i nt a i n i ng a nd st reng t hen i ng this clean and sober space in the Castro. T he Ca st ro C ou nt r y C lub now ha s dozens of dues -pay i ng sup p or t er s , a nd over t he l a st t wo years they have received support
f rom key com mu n it y org a n i zat ion s , i nc lud i n g Fol s om St r e et Fair, Castro Street Fair, SF Pride Fest iv a l , t he D uc a l C ou r t , t he Sister s of Per pet ua l I ndu lgence and, more recently, the Horizons Foundation. “I have no plans to leave as manager of the CCC,” said Terry Beswick, who lives in the apartment above the CCC and serves as volunteer manager. “While we have made a lot of progress, I want to make sure we have accomplished t he goa ls we est abl ished nea rly three years ago.” C C C we lc ome s a nd ne e d s t he community’s feedback and quest ion s . Supp or t er s u r g e a nyone t o j o i n t h e m o n Fe b . 5 f r o m 2-3:30pm at Most Holy Redeemer Church for t he Cast ro Count r y C l u b C o m mu n it y M e e t i n g. I t will be preceded at 1pm with an A A/A l-A non meeting. For those who can’t attend, they w ill send out a repor t on t he d iscussions t hat occur. The repor t w i l l a lso be posted at cast rocount r yclub. org, where a nyone may sig n up to receive CCC communications by e-mail. You may also make a donat ion or receive more in formation by dropping by the club or visiting the CCC website. Contact Sister Dana at sisterdana@gmail.com
National News Briefs Washington, DC- Lesbian U.S. Air Force Officer Attends State of the Union Address- 1.24 Olympia, WA- Washington Preparing to Legalize Gay Marriage- 1.23 Washington is set to become the seventh state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. On Monday, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, said that she would cast the 25th and deciding vote in favor of the issue. In a written statement, Haugen explained that she required time “to reconcile my religious beliefs with my beliefs as an American, as a legislator, and as a wife and mother who cannot deny to others the joys and benefits I enjoy. This is the right vote and it is the vote I will cast when this measure comes to the floor.” It is now expected that the state House has enough supporting votes to pass the gay marriage bill, which Gov. Chris Gregoire also publicly endorsed earlier this month. If the bill does indeed pass, gay and lesbian couples can get married beginning in June of this year, so long as opponents do not file a referendum to challenge it. Opponents have already vowed to fight the measure. A referendum cannot be filed until after the bill is passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gregoire. The next step for opponents is to then turn in 120,577 signatures by July 6. Source: Associated Press
Colonel Ginger Wallace, an openly lesbian intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force, was one of two openly gay people in the First Lady’s gallery seats at this week’s State of the Union Address. The second attendee was Lorelei Kilker, an environmental chemist who was part of the government’s class action suit to secure equal wages for women. Wallace, of McLean, Virginia, and her partner of 11 years, Kathy Knopf, attended the White House reception prior to the address and then watched the speech with others, including Kilker, of Brighton, Colorado, who has a domestic partner and two children. The women sat in a special section of the House balcony to hear the president’s speech. “I could not be more honored or proud,” said Wallace, Tuesday morning ahead of the address. “I’m representing thousands and thousands who have served or are serving…. But it’s truly not about us. It’s about all the gays and lesbians who have served, and those who served and were not as fortunate as I to have full careers, and those who will serve in the future. And it is about our families and partners.” Source: Keen News Service
Anchorage, AK- National Group Joins Fight over LGBTQ Rights- 1.20
Indianapolis, IN- Indiana Becomes 2nd State to Offer License Plate Benefiting Gay Youths- 1.23
Falls Church, VA- Pressure on US Defense Contractor to Protect LGBTQ Employees- 1.24
The national conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defense Fund believes the gay rights initiative on Anchorage’s April 3 city election ballot, combined with existing Anchorage discrimination laws, goes against religious freedoms. The initiative in question would extend legal protections against discrimination to gays and lesbians in Anchorage.
Indiana this week became the second state to offer a specialty license plate benefiting gay youth causes. It is the first plate to help any LGBTQ cause in the state as well.
Through a growing campaign on Change.org, more than 35,000 people are calling on DynCorp International to protect gay and lesbian employees from harassment on the job. DynCorp is one of the largest defense contractors in the US.
The present law prohibits discrimination in employment, loans, rentals, real estate deals and other activities on the basis of race, color, marital status, sex, religion and disabilities. The new initiative would add sexual orientation and transgender identity to the list. Although the initiative made it to the ballot as a result of petitions signed by thousands of voters, both sides are now gearing up for a fight. Holly Carmichael, a lawyer for the fund, told the Anchorage Daily News, “The ultimate concern with enacting something like that is that it infringes on religious freedoms. There’s a huge constitutional concern here.” Carmichael agrees that religious organizations are already protected by an exemption in city law, but she and others at the fund are concerned that private business owners could be forced to hire or do business with people whose sexual orientation doesn’t match their religious beliefs. Source: Anchorage Daily News
The Indiana Youth Group plate bears a logo with hands in rainbow colors reaching up. Around $25 from sales of each $40 plate goes to the group, which serves lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. The Indianapolis-based organization operates an activity center, helps develop Gay Straight Alliances in high schools and assists communities in forming youth services. It now serves about 1,400 youths and young adults ages 12 to 21. “All the money will go directly for services to these young people,” Youth Group director Mary Byrne was quoted as saying in the South Bend Tribune. She said Maryland was the first state in the nation with a specialty plate benefiting gay youths.
Tico Almeida, a civil rights lawyer and founder of the anti-gay workplace discrimination organization Freedom to Work, started the petition after DynCorp settled a suit with a former employee who claimed that repeated anti-gay harassment, including continual verbal slurs in front of managers, was not stopped by officials at the company. Earlier this month, the employee received an out of court settlement for more than $150,000. “If DynCorp is going to continue profiting from billions of dollars from the American taxpayers, then the corporation should have to abide by American values like judging people based on their talent and hard work, not their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Almeida told Passport magazine. “Our taxpayer money should never be used to subsidize bigotry and discrimination.” Other major defense contractors in the United States, such as Raytheon, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, do offer workplace protections for LGBTQ employees. DynCorp International, however, does not include sexual orientation or gender identity in its anti-harassment policy. Source: Passport magazine
“It’s an incredible way for people to support IYG; for people, especially youth, to know about IYG; and for people to show their pride in who they are,” Byrne added. Source: South Bend Tribune
Local News Briefs Gay Straight Alliance Chapters Strengthen Presence in Earlier Grades- 1.15
Gay Domestic Violence Victims Need Greater Support in Bay Area Counties- 1.14
Gay Straight Alliance chapters are gaining a foothold in younger grades, perhaps in response to increased acceptance after publicized suicides of middle school children. According to the national Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, there are now 500 middle school Gay Straight Alliance chapters nationwide, including those here in the Bay Area.
Earlier this month, Santa Clara County’s Domestic Violence Council began studying the lack of services for gay and lesbian victims of domestic violence in Silicon Valley. The council concludes that proper aid for such individuals is lacking.
Critics may argue that middle school students are too young to tackle LGBTQ issues, but supporters of the chapters disagree. Eighth grader Marcel Brown, for example, chose to join his school’s Gay Straight Alliance after other students used a verbal slur against his brother. “I was walking down the hallway with my little brother, and he was messing around with his friends and they called him a ‘faggot,’” Brown, who attends San Francisco’s Everett Middle School, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “And I thought, ‘that’s messed up.’ My older brother is gay.” Membership in middle school Gay Straight Alliance chapters has vastly increased since just three years ago, when only a couple dozen such groups existed. At Everett, where the club started about 5 years ago, students now talk about bullying and slurs associated with sexual orientation. They also try to brainstorm ways to address it. “Thinking it’s too early is really blind to what it’s like in middle school,” said educator Eliza Byard. “Anyone who walks through the halls of a middle school knows what it’s like. The words ‘faggot’ and ‘dyke’ are weapons of choice.” Numerous studies show that bullying, assault and harassment - including incidents related to gender or sexual orientation - are more common in middle school than other grades. Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Community leaders have been galvanized into action due to an incident that took place on December 30 of last year. On that day, a 40-year-old Kaiser nurse was arrested on suspicion of hacking to death her 65-year-old mother-in-law, Yvonne Kirk, with a machete. Authorities say that Sagal Sadiq was enraged that her wife was breaking up with her. Later, Sadiq’s wife told police that she had been abused for some time. She had never reported it. “Same-sex domestic violence is a vital topic that is often overlooked,” Amy Caffrey, a wellknown lesbian therapist who is co-chairwoman of the council, told the San Jose Mercury News. “The most recent homicide is an example of the need for more information and more appropriate services for both the victim and the perpetrator of the violence.” The statistics are compelling. In San Jose alone, where there are 1 million people, 100,000 may be gay and therefore at least 25,000 people could be suffering from domestic violence. In Oakland, a city of nearly 400,000 people, there could be an estimated 10,000 homosexuals suffering abuse from their partners. “I hate to say this, but we’re 20 years behind in what we should be providing to the community,” said Stacy Baird, director of intervention and residential services at STAND! For Families Free of Violence. Source: San Jose Mercury News
BAY T IM ES JANUAARY 26, 2012 3
Continuing My Work For The Community In 2012 I will also work closely with MTA to increase the number of cabs on the street – still woefully inadequate – and to make car sharing easier. And, I will continue to play a leadership role to move High-Speed Rail forward, including electrification of CalTrain and an extension of the system to the Transbay Terminal.
Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011
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Supervisor Scott Wiener
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My first year representing District 8 on the Board of Supervisors was an eventful one. I pursued an aggressive legislative agenda, including passage of legislation to help tenants displaced by disasters, prevailing wage legislation to help low wage workers, legislation to protect neighborhood open space, legislation to address state prisoner realignment to country jails, and long-overdue legislation setting basic standards for commercial dogwalkers who use city parks. I also spearheaded the successful streets and infrastructure bond and worked with neighbors around the district to address challenges large and small. I will continue to work hard for the community in 2012:
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Transportation Our transportation system needs to reform itself and adapt to future population growth. As one of San Francisco’s two Commissioners on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission – the Bay Area’s sixteen-member regional transportation planning and funding agency – I will work to ensure smart funding choices to improve our transit system and to encourage Muni and other transit agencies to reform their work rules and improve their efficiency and performance.
ADVISORY BOARD Tracy Gary Nanette Lee Miller, CPA James C. Freeman Judy Young, MPH Gary Virginia CONTRIBUTORS Writers
Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Melissa Myers, Linda Ayres-Frederick, Annette Lust, Kirsten Kruse, Natalia Cornett, Teddy Witherington, Kim Corsaro, Lori Major, Christine Dumke, Alexandra Bringer, David Grabstald, Kate Kendell, Pollo del Mar, Linda Kay Silva, Albert Goodwyn, Tom W. Kelly, Heidi Beeler, Lynn Ruth Miller, Jeanie Smith, K. Cole, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Kelly Fondow, RoiAnn Phillips, Paul E. Pratt, Terry Baum Dayna Verstegen, Liz Bell.
Protecting HIV Services Ensuring the City’s commitment to those living with or at risk for HIV is one of my most important responsibilities. I will not allow us to retreat from that commitment. When I learned of significant cuts to our federal Ryan White funding, I immediately introduced legislation – co-sponsored by the Mayor and Supervisors Campos and Olague – to make up for that shortfall through June 30. As a member of the Budget Committee, I will work hard to make sure we are compensating for the expected $4.25 million federal cut for next fiscal year. Housing Housing is key to the future of our city. The cost of housing in San Francisco is too high, and we aren’t producing enough housing for our middle class. If we cannot house our workforce, our economy will suffer. On February 13, I will hold a hearing on what the City is doing and should be doing to encourage the production of moderate income housing – so-called “workforce housing.” Our middle class is under enormous pressure in San Francisco, and if we aren’t careful, it will be hollowed out. Moreover, one of the impediments to attracting jobs to San Francisco is the lack of housing for employees. Entertainment/Nightlife Entertainment and nightlife are key drivers of San Francisco’s culture and economy. Our vibrant street fairs, live music scene, and bars and nightclubs help define us as a city. Particularly for the LGBT community, nightlife has provided us with
community space for decades. How many generations of LGBT people entered the community by going out and meeting people in bars and clubs? In 2011, I requested that the City Economist conduct an economic impact study of our entertainment/nightlife industry. As we consider regulations of the industry, it’s important to know what it contributes to our local economy. The study is almost complete, and I anticipate releasing it, and conducting an in-depth hearing on its conclusions, by spring. Public Spaces The Dolores Park renovation will begin later this year, with the community design process now complete. Duboce Park will see a new Youth Play Area that I was able to help fund through the budget and a grant program. I am working to improve Jane Warner Plaza and Harvey Milk Plaza through legislation that will be heard shortly. And, I am very focused on pedestrian safety improvements at intersections like Noe/Market/16th as well as widening the sidewalks on Castro Street. Helping Small Businesses Thrive I am committed to helping small businesses start and grow, which will add to our commercial corridors and create jobs. I am sponsoring legislation to simplify our permit system for restaurants and cafes. The system is overly complex and byzantine. I am also working to improve our food truck permitting system to ensure that both stationary and mobile restaurants can prosper and provide great food choices to residents. For more information or to receive Supervisor Wiener’s monthly newsletter, go to www.scottwiener.com.
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Fire and police responded to an electrical fire, Friday, January 20th, at 2327 Market Street, the building adjacent to Gold’s Gym. No injuries were reported but apartments in the building’s upper floor suffered smoke and water damaged, according to residents.
Person of the Week: Dr. Laura Rifkin
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When Dr. Laura Rifkin spoke at the 2010 Dyke March, her words rang out like a clarion call to action and self-respect for all members of our community, but especially for our disabled sisters. “We’re disabled and we’re proud,” she said. “We’re proud to be dykes on scooters, using wheelchairs, crutches, service dogs and canes. We’re proud to be all of whom we are.” For the past several years, Dr. Rifkin has served as the Lead Project Director of Fabled Asp. As she recently told Dr. Betty Sullivan, “Fabled Asp is an acronym for Fabulous Activist Bay Area Lesbians with Disabilities: A Storytelling Project.” Dr. Rifkin holds a Ph.D. in Integral Philosophy, with a focus on peace-
4 BAY TIMES JANUAA RY 26, 2012
making. She is Faculty Emerita at the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, SFSU. She was the co-founder of Wry Crips Women’s Theater Group, Special Needs Services for Gay Pride, and Bay Area Pirates, a women’s wheelchair basketball team. Many of you may remember her amazing performances for the AXIS Dance Company, which brings together dancers with and without disabilities. During shows she would place her wheelchair on a trapeze and dance in it. More recently, and through Fabled Asp, Dr. Rif kin has led efforts to collect over 80 stories in four different mediums about disabled lesbian history and culture in the Bay Area. These include videotaped oral his-
tories, audio-booth dialogues in collaboration with StoryCorps, art and film pieces, and digital stories. She and her colleagues hope to preserve these valuable materials for future generations. As Dr. Rifkin gave that now famous speech at the Dyke March, her desire to be a “catalyst for change” came more fully to fruition. That year, and largely due to her tireless efforts, the California State Assembly, the State Senate, the cities of Berkeley and San Francisco all made proclamations honoring disabled lesbians. Dr. Rif kin could easily rest on such laurels, but her work continues and inspires countless others. We are extremely proud to honor her as our Bay Times Person of the Week.
The Week in Review By Ann Rostow Many good Democrats are torn. By rights, President Obama should waltz to reelection if Newt Gingrich becomes the GOP standard bearer. But. BUT. Giant BUT. Is it worth the risk? Is it worth the slim chance that the fates would align to catapult the porcine egomaniac into the White House? Do we not have a larger duty as American citizens to root for Romney, even though he would make our lives more diff icult in the general election? I struggle with this question. Recently, Nancy Pelosi has been making intriguing comments, signaling that she “knows something” that will disqualify Newt from higher office and, by implication, that the secret will not withstand the scrutiny of a campaign season. Gingrich, in turn, has replied that Pelosi lives in a “San Francisco environment of strange fantasies,” which coincidentally, is familiar territory to many of my beloved Bay Times readers. I’ve spent some time in that environment myself. It’s a fun place! I also read that Newt divorced his first wife, Jackie, in part because she lacked the youth and beauty of a future First Lady. We also heard from that Nightline interview with his second wife that Newt believed marrying Callista would help him become President of the United States. The two pieces of gossip suggest that the man has been imagining himself in the oval office for decades. Further, if he is so image conscious, wouldn’t it have made sense to lay off the mashed potatoes and gravy for a year or so before throwing his hat in the ring? Remember, we didn’t have television back when William Taft was elected. Finally, I keep thinking about the New York Times magazine story a few months ago, when Gingrich told the interviewer that he found solace last summer in his wife’s children’s book character, Ellis the Elephant. During those dark days cruising the Aegean, when his campaign hopes seemed shattered, the cartoon pachyderm was a “psychological oasis” and “a ray of light.” What kind of serious statesman says something like this? Honestly. I’m not rejecting the notion that fictional characters can provide us with inspiration. And to be honest, I’ve never read the book in question. But it’s a children’s cartoon book. It’s not an allegory. There’s an infantile streak in Newt Gingrich, manifest in the feeling we get that his ambition and narcissism are based in insecurity, not ideals. The multiple wives, the oblivious selfaggrandizing, the hedonism implicit in his girth and jewelry store bills this is immaturity. There’s a little boy trapped inside him, so I suppose it’s not surprising that when the going gets tough, it helps to snuggle up to a make believe elephant, who, Newt told the Times, he would describe as “happy, positive, creative, interesting.” Enough said. So Tu, Barry? Did you watch the SOTU last night? I only wrote that so I could use the somehow satisfying acronym. But of course we watched it, just as we watched the debate on Monday, as well as all the other debates and all the primary night coverage and all the Sunday talking heads and most of the pundits every other night of the
week, not to mention Morning Joe every weekday and NPR on the ride home after work each day. Yes, we are junkies. We even switch over to Fox News every now and then to relieve the tedium of hearing our own political views reverberating through our living room for the thousandth time. Sometimes, like drunks who fix a pot of coffee to recover for the next binge, we watch something off the DVR, like Kitchen Nightmares or NCIS. “You call yourself a head chef? It’s RAW!” At any rate, there were two gay women sitting in the VIP area during the State of the Union speech. One, an army major who will deploy shortly, and another woman who was part of a successful workplace sex discrimination suit. That’s nice. As we all noticed, President Obama made only a passing reference to gays, but personally, the omission didn’t bother me. He made no mention of any of the so-called social issues, and indeed he basically skipped over large areas of the national agenda. Medicare, health care in general, Social Security, North Korea, crime, drugs - none of these received significant shrift. I bet you’re wondering what “shrift” is. You probably think I know what it is, because I just confidently used it in a sentence. But I confess I have no idea. Outside the context of the common phrase “short shrift,” the word is meaningless to me. Let’s look it up! Turns out a “shrift” is a penance imposed by a priest during confession. The idea of a “short shrift” ref lects the dilemma of prisoners facing imminent execution, who lack the time to carry out an extended ritual. In Richard III, Ratcliffe tells Lord Hastings: “Dispatch my lord, the Duke will be at dinner. Make a short shrift, he longs to see your head.” As you can tell, the word shrift no longer f its neatly into the original sentence. You can’t say: “President Obama gave short shrift to discussions of entitlement programs.” In fact, since shrift is a noun, not a verb, we can’t even say “short shrift” but should say, like Ratcliffe, “a short shrift.” Our conundrum is that the modern expression has transcended its 14th Century roots and now carries a meaning of its own, one nearly severed from its original sense. Now we have two quandaries. Should we root for Newt? How will we employ the word “shrift” going forward? What’s a girl to do? Nervous in Seattle We have some major news this week, news so important that it should have led the column. Yet, sometimes I can only dive into this weekly effort with a topic that sings out “Lead with me! Lead with me!” For whatever reason, Newt sang to me while the imminent passage of marriage rights in Washington state hummed quietly in the corner. Yes, it seems to be true. I say, “eems to be true,” having been slammed in the past by reports of imminent passage of marriage rights that failed to materialize. But this time we seem to be in good shape. We have the votes to pass marriage rights in the state house. We just won the deciding vote for equality in the state senate. And we have the enthusiastic support of Governor Christine Gregoire. Barring calamitous political bumbling, this will happen and it will happen soon.
Professional Services I would be more excited were it not for the fact that marriage equality will almost certainly be sent to the ballot box for a public vote. The citizens of the Starbuck State have already shown their rainbow colors a couple of years ago by defeating a measure that would have repealed domestic partner rights in the state. Will they stand up for us when the subject is full marriage rights? I hope so. And speaking of Starbucks, the coffee empire joined Microsoft, Google, Nike and over 100 other state corporations in supporting our unions. Thanks, People. Meanwhile, marriage equality is also brewing in Maryland, the scene of last year’s failed effort. This time, with the help of Governor Martin O’Malley and a stronger organization, we may have a better chance of nabbing the 71 votes we need in the House of Delegates. But as is the case in Washington, a legislative victory may well lead to a public vote in November. And although we could win such a vote in Washington, a victory in the Crab State would be more difficult. Finally, it also looks as if marriage rights might emerge from the Garden State legislature if our side can drum up a veto proof majority. Last week, Governor Chris Christie said that if the legislature sent him a marriage bill, he would veto it in favor of a statewide vote on the issue. But lawmakers don’t seem inclined to put civil rights on the ballot, even though there’s a chance that gay couples might win one of these elusive marriage battles if given the chance in a progressive state. It seems more likely that we could override a Christie veto, but it would still be an uphill fight. Don’t forget, we are also looking at an anti-marriage amendment vote in North Carolina this May. Then in November Minnesota voters will try to amend their constitution to ban marriage, while Mainers may possibly take a proactive public vote on whether to approve marriage rights if activists decide to roll the dice and file for the ballot. Toss in Washington and/or Maryland, and we’re in for another rousing election year. I know we have almost always lost these campaigns. But times are a-changin’ and we’re not going to lose them forever. The King’s Speech I have other state legislative news, including some particularly nasty stuff coming out of New Hampshire, where lawmakers want gay women over the age of 21 to be tattooed on their earlobes with the letter “L.” That way, various wedding-related businesses in the state can identify them and refuse service under a special exception to the state civil rights laws. I’m not sure about the exact details, but it’s something like that. Let’s just say that I’ve done enough on state legislative news. I read, by the way, about an eightmonth-old baby girl in Newark who came home from day care sucking a dead mouse. Really? Really, day care workers? By the way, since we mentioned a baby, I was reminded of the VW commercial with the guy who goes through his teenaged years and into adulthood looking for fast vehicles, only to change his priority to “safety” once he becomes a father. You’ve seen it, right? Is that not the ugliest baby you’ve ever seen? Why, I wonder, did VW’s ad execs go out of their way to (continued on page 17
Read more @www.sfbaytimes.com and check us out on Twitter and Facebook. BAY T IM ES JANUAARY 26, 2012 5
Speed Withdrawal
Examined Life Tom Moon
Q: Six months ago I admitted to myself that I’m addicted to crystal meth, and I’ve been trying to quit ever since. Right now I haven’t used in eight weeks. I feel horrible. I don’t feel like doing anything. I’m not even having sex, because I can’t get into it without being high. I can go for a few weeks without thinking about using, but then I start having, intense cravings. I thought losing tina was going to make my life better, but the truth is, I’ve never felt so miserable.. A: You’re not doing anything wrong. Virtually everyone who recovers from a serious methamphetamine addiction goes through what you’re describing. A lot of it is physiological. This drug makes you high because it causes an explosion of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which elevates mood and increases physical activity, so a sudden increase in its level creates intense euphoria. But in the days that follow the levels drop far below normal.
Repeated speed use damages cells that produce dopamine, as well as those that produce serotonin, another neurotransmitter important in regulating mood. With prolonged use, levels of both serotonin and dopamine plummet as damage to the brain becomes more extensive. You’re feeling the effects of that damage now: depression, low energy, hopelessness, and an inability to feel pleasure, excitement, or optimism about much of anything. Another complication of early recovery is that the brain knows that it can instantly get out of this unhappy state by getting a dose of meth. That’s one of the reasons why the cravings are so intense at this time. Meth is a powerful short-term anti-depressant. It makes depression much worse in the long run, but that’s the classic challenge of recovery from any addiction – foregoing short-term pleasure in the interest of long-term happiness. It’s no wonder that recovery is so difficult and relapse so common in the early stages of recovery. Most meth addicts need a full year or more of continuous abstinence before they really begin to feel free from the pull of the drug. I’m not saying all of this to discourage you, but because, in my experience, one of the most common causes of relapse is underestimating what a serious undertaking kicking this addiction really is. In order to succeed, it’s vitally important to understand recovery realistically, as a challenging, long-term process. Make not using your daily priority, and do something every day to support your recovery.
There are things you can do to make the process a little easier. Some people find anti-depressants helpful during this period, although they won’t make you feel better if you keep relapsing, and may actually be physically harmful if you mix them with meth. It’s also very important that you not try to go through this period on your own. It can be especially helpful to talk with others who have succeeded in staying clean for a year or more, because they’ll serve as visible evidence that recovery is real. Twelve step programs like Narcotics Anonymous or Crystal Meth Anonymous are great resources for finding support. In addition, you can go to a non-twelve step oriented program called LifeRing, which also offers group support. Check their website: unhooked.com. Remember that many people before you have succeeded in getting this drug out of their lives. With sustained effort and commitment, you can be one of them. Good luck! Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. His website is tommoon.net.
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Playing City Hall
Brass Tacks Heidi Beeler San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band at City Hall.
Amoeba b+w
On Sunday, January 8, we musicians from the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band performed for the inauguration of Mayor Ed Lee, sworn in that day as the 43rd mayor of San Francisco by Diane Feinstein. The band was one of many local performers to provide entertainment, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Girls and Boys Choruses of San Francisco, Leung’s White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association, World Arts West, Beach Blanket Babylon and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. It was a symbolic nod to our city’s diversity, and a fitting gesture from Mayor Lee, whose inaugural speech emphasized the need to come together with civility. There’s nothing quite like playing in the City Hall rotunda. You take your place at the top of the Grand Staircase, dwarfed by neoclassical carvings. And when you play, the music ricochets around the marble halls and columns, circling the inside of the enormous dome until you find you’re accompanying your own echo in a room almost as old as the City itself. The inauguration was attended by every living mayor of San Fran-
6 BAY TIMES JANUAA RY 26, 2012
cisco – Diane Feinstein, Art Agnos, Frank Jordan, Willie Brown, Gavin Newsom, even George Moscone’s widow, Gina – and by national and state officials including Nancy Pelosi, Mark Leno, Kamala Harris, Tom Ammiano. In that setting before that audience, it felt like the music echoed back through history. The effect was haunting. The following week, I went to see “Ghost Light” at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and experienced a different kind of haunting at City Hall. Jonathan Moscone – California Shakespeare Company’s artistic director and the youngest son of Mayor George Moscone – has collaborated with Berkeley Rep Artistic Director Tony Taccone to dramatize how his father’s assassination with Harvey Milk in 1978 has impacted his life. The play is part fictionalized personal reminiscence, part psyc holog ic a l e xor c i s m a nd pa r t opportunity for Moscone to set the record straight about his father’s political contributions. The play opens with the character Jonathan wrestling with design concepts of a production of Hamlet he’s
directing. He’s stuck on how to portray Hamlet’s father, the murdered ghost. The entire technical production has ground to a halt because of Jonathan’s Hamlet-esque indecision. Meanwhile, Jonathan suffers from nightmares. He is 14 years old and an otherworldly police officer in City Hall tries to lead Jonathan to his father’s coffin and into the grave. In his dream, the boy resists, and in his waking life, adult Jonathan erupts in emotional outbursts, eventually collapses and is forced to face his own ghosts. The witty, ironic perspective Jonathan’s story brings to the Moscone/ Milk history was particularly interesting for me. Jonathan is a gay man who secretly resents Harvey Milk’s posthumous stellar rise while his father is forgotten. Jonathan reminds us that his father, not Milk, was instrumental in decriminalizing California’s homosexuality in California as State Senate Majority Leader. Moscone made the same horrif ic sacrifice as Milk, championing the same issues. It’s a reminder that our progress has relied on San Franciscans coming together for generations.
Sister Dana Sez
Sister Dana Van Iquity is utterly delighting in the Repugnican primary 3-ring circus Is everybuddy else enjoying the far right fundamentalist Prezzy candidates ripping at each other’s f lesh like I am? It’s more entertaining than any football game to watch these guys punt one another down the primary field, so to speak. Truly wise Democrats will use as campaign ads all these nasty sound bites voiced by one candidate against another. Meanwhile our other enemy, the Pope, once again speaks out against LGBT equality, saying same-sex marriage is a threat to “the future of humanity.” This comes after the elevation of New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan to cardinal, one of the leading anti-LGBT voices in the Church. And Pope Benedict himself is certainly no friend of queers either, writing in a 1986 pastoral letter he wrote before becoming pontiff, that homosexuality was “an intrinsic moral evil” and “an objective disorder.” We need to Occupy the Vatican! Well at least we are Occupying the f inancial district. The A NSWER Coalition, along with Occupy Wall Street West, Occupy SF, and many others are taking the struggle to the streets by occupying banks, foreclosed properties and more. “We charge
Bank of America with war profiteering in Iraq and Afghanistan, foreclosing 45,000 homes every month, and defrauding millions of customers,” ANSWER organizer Stewart Stout shouted at a demo on Jan. 20. For updates, call 415-821-6545.
of the Perpetual Indulgence. Come, drink wine, and show your support!” Novice Sister Violet Sin Bloom says, “We’ll be giving away lots of great gifts, including your chance to win a custom piece of jewelry designed by Lindsay of D&H Jewelers.
What I needed after that was to learn “How to Make Love Like a Porn Star” hosted by two porn actors, my buddy Michael Brandon and Darrell, at Stop AIDS. It was a refresher course on sex safety and hygiene, as well as an up-close “money shot” on behind the scenes with the behinds on set. Check stopaids.org for more of these hot semen-ars.
T HE ROCKY HOR ROR PIC TURE SHOW, the mother of all cult classic musical comedy flicks, is now The Peaches Christ Experience with RHPS star Barry Bostwick (Brad Majors “asshole!”) in person at the Castro Theatre on Feb. 4th, 9:30pm. Peaches Christ, if she may, would like to take you on a strange journey. Stage show, Ray of Light Theatre, SF Sketchfest, shadow cast during movie, costume contest, transsexual Transylvanians, and more. Audiences will not be allowed to throw food or spray water during the screening, so please leave the rice and toast behind and enjoy the film straight-up. Audiences will be allowed to “talk back,” of course, and do the Time Warp. Tix at sketchfest.com.
KREWE DE KINQUE is my Mardi Gras themed fun-raising fundraiser club, and we’re looking for recruits. A great way to get to know us is “Get the Ball Rolling with Queen Garza” on Sat. Jan. 28, 10pm-2am at Café Flore. That will rev you up for the KdK Fat Tuesday Party Bus Bar Crawl on Feb. 21, 6pm-midnight. Call KdK King VII John, 415-424-6005 for info & tix, and tell him KdK Queen VII Sister Dana sent ya! And don’t miss the Feb. 18 KdK Bal Masque IX: “Occupy Bourbon Street! Party with the Naughty-Nine %!” and raise $ for SF AIDS Housing Alliance. SFKinque. com, 415-867-5004. D&H Sustainable Jewelers (2323 Market Street) and The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence partner together for an irreverent evening of wine and whimsy on Saturday, Jan. 28th, 5-8 pm. D&H hosts this very special “Wine Tasting for a Cause: Supporting Our Habits” as an event to benefit The Sisters. Vintner Eric Alvarez says, “We at A Cellar Full of Noise are very excited to be pouring our wines at this, our very first, and not the last event supporting the Sisters
Thrillpeddlers presents “VICE PALACE: The Last Cockettes Musical,” a revival of the 1972 musical revue extravaganza, Jan. 27th - March 3rd (Fri. & Sat. 8pm). Back by popular demand, this limited engagement originally performed by The Cockettes during Halloween 1972 at the Palace Theatre in North Beach - is 12 shows only at Hypnodrome Theatre, 575 10th Street (X by Bryant & Division Sts.) Tix $30 gen. admission or $35 for “Shock Boxes” and “Turkish Lounges” are available at thrillpeddlers.com, brownpapertickets.com/ event/215004 or call 415-377-4202. That’s all for now. Keep watching the Republican’t Party digging ever deeper holes for themselves. Hours of family entertainment!
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I love texting . . . How about reading the cell phone manual to help explain the texting world? Why bother when you can gain real world experience. It’s much like buying that new car and turning on the windshield wipers when you meant to turn on the lights. The manual is right there in the glove box, all 320 pages worth. We humans seem to have a deep aversion to anyone telling us what to do, even when it’s in written form.
Text in the City Karen Williams …better than talking on the phone. No, I’m not 13. I just love the instant gratification of sending messages via text, especially to groups, which can cause problems. I send you a text. You receive the message. It appears personal and if you don’t know to look at the “Details,” it is. Yet, the message was really sent to a list of folks. So you comment back…and the message goes to the entire list, not just to the sender. That’s cool as long as the response is cool. But if it’s not, uh oh! Other texts follow, “Who is this?” and “Why am I receiving this text?” The text that took a few seconds to compose and send has now caused a series of miscommunications and I’m foiled again by my need to share.
Since text ing look s l i ke t y ping and some phones even have the QWERTY keyboard, who needs to look up how to do it? Not me… So off I go into text city, on a journey without a destination or a map. Who knew that repetitive words would selfcorrect, altering my meaning, putting “it’s” in place when I mean the possessive “its!” That I would fall victim to the seduction of a phrase to have its syntax skewed prior to me pressing “Send.” What to do when my message reads like gibberish and I get that sinking feeling that floats up to my brain in a pitiful whine that says “Why didn’t I just call?” Grown folks argue with their lovers by text, initiate break-ups, seek retribution, try to make up via “sexting” and sometimes in the heat of a passionate faux-pas, hurl the cell phone against the wall. Only to run across the room to desperately put the phone back together because the “ding”
signaling a return text prompts us to do so. I almost killed myself running out of the shower, down the hall, into the kitchen where my phone was dinging on the counter; actually, the oven timer was going off. Now, my new text “ding” sounds like someone hailing a cab. An anonymous voice yells out “Taxi!” whenever I have a text, which works when I’m in cities like Cleveland where a taxi on the street is as rare as a rhinoceros in the woods. All I can say is that I’m hooked! I don’t know if there are meetings for people addicted to texting, but if there are, please send me a text. Anonymously! In the meantime, keep those texts coming, unless you want to send me an email. I love email… Contact Karen Williams at karen@sfbaytimes.com Karen Williams, a national reknowned lesbian comic, is Special Ambassador and Advertising Account Executive for the Bay Times.
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BAY T IM ES JANUAARY 26, 2012 7
’round About in Photos by Rink Library Commission President Jewelle Gomez, City Librarian Luis Herrera, Hon. James Hormel and Julian Marshborn hosts Gypsy Love and Gary Michael Nguyen at an SF Public Library for book Virginia, Gib Bloton and Suzan Revah at the event discussing Hormel’s new book Fit to Serve. 2012 Tea Dance for REAF at Trigger, Photo by Rink January 15. Photo by Rink
Actress Friederike Becht with Ingrid Eggers, German Gems Festival director, at the Castro Theatre, January 14. Photo by Rink
Honoree Paul Henderson, Supervisors Malia Cohen and Scott Wiener, host John Weber, honoree Julius Turman and emcee Terry Dyer at the Power of One event at Trigger celebrating Martin Luther King’s life and good works, January 16. Photo by Rink
Margo, Dohie and Debra with Robert Quon, pedaling behind them, at the AIDS Life/Cycle Red Dress Kickoff Party at Temple Nightclub, January 21. Photo by Rink Board members Jody Cole and Linda Scaporatti with Suzy Jones and Toni Broaddus at the EQCA Table Captains Party on January 20. Photo by Rink
The Mariposa Project’s Breonna McCree and Marcelle Milion with emcee Garza Peru at Garza’s Health Party benefitting the SF Department of Public Health / Mariposa Project at Café Flore, January 21. Photo by Rink
Anti-abortion marchers carry Defend Life posters in a large protest on Market Street, January 21st. Photo by Rink The film “Word Is Out” gathering at the SF Main Library to introduce author Greg Youmans’ anniversary book Word Is Out: A Queer Film Classic, about the movie on Jan. 10. Filmmaker Andrew Brown, publicist Janet Cole, author Greg Youmans, filmmakers Nancy Adair and Veronica Selver, interviewee Sally Gearhart, office manager Kathy Glaser, filmmaker Lucy Massie Phenix, and interviewee Freddy Gray. Photo by Rink
8 BAY TIMES JANUAA RY 26, 2012
Arts&Entertainment
Glenn Close Discusses the Challenge of Playing Albert Nobbs Film
Gary M. Kramer Albert Nobbs gives actress Glenn Close—who also produced, and cowrote the screenplay and penned the closing song lyrics—a plum part as a woman who poses as a male butler in 19th Century Ireland. On the phone from New York, Close pauses to give her dog Bill, a mutt, a treat so she could talk about Albert Nobbs. Although the character was familiar to the actress, becoming the reserved Albert Nobbs provided a welcome change of pace after playing several over the top characters, ranging from Patty Hewes on TV’s Damages to Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmatians. “Yeah, it was wonderful, really wonderful to play Albert after doing Cruella and Patty,” Close recalled with a laugh. “I’ve had a run of really strong, and really ‘out there’ women, so to go to someone very internal, it was a great challenge—very fulfilling.” And the actress insisted that despite outward appearances, Nobbs is a “she.” “I never think of Nobbs as a ‘he,’” she said adamantly. “She puts on a disguise and looks out at the world with downcast eyes. Servants were not supposed to look people in the eye. They were supposed to face the wall when people passed by.”
Albert’s reaction shots, as well as “her” look and voice are the key to what makes Close’s performance so noteworthy. In one memorable scene, she appears wide-eyed when a stranger, Hubert Page ( Janet McTeer), with whom Albert shares a bed one night, reveals her breasts. Page illustrates that she is practicing the same gender deception as Nobbs, and the two women soon become friends. Other private moments feature Albert wondering about Hubert’s marriage, or silently observing guests in the hotel hallways or during a costume party. At the mention of this latter scene, Close interjected to recount one of her favorite moments in the film, when the hotel Doctor (played by Brendan Gleeson) says to her, “We’re disguised as ourselves.” “Little does he know!...” she says recounting the scene with a laugh. The actress revealed that her inspiration for the character’s comportment and movement was based on Charlie Chaplin. “He’s of the human comedy, and there should be aspects of comedy and sadness [to Nobbs]. His shoes are always too big and heavy, and his pants too long. That aspect is unconsciously comic. I was always very influenced by Laurel and Hardy and Emmett Kelly, that comic clown with Ringling Bros. Circus when I was growing up.” As for the deep male voice, Close learned to develop her lower register
by working with a voice and dialect coach. She ref lected back on something her William and Mary theatre professor, Howard Scammon, taught her. “You can have as great a speaking range as you do a singing range.”
She added, “But that’s tricky,” and indicated that she received notes from her coach about dialect and tone to make sure she was consistently at the right level.
Tone is an important element in Albert Nobbs. The f ilm, directed by Rodrigo Garcia (who has worked with Close twice before, on Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her, (continued on page 18)
Ghost Light — All the World’s a Stage Theater Review
Tom W. Kelly
PH OTO B Y JE N NY G R AH AM
Epic, sprawling, messy, painful, provocative, challenging and insightful, Ghost Light (currently running at Berkeley Reper tor y Theatre) embodies the life and ongoing torments of Jonathan Moscone, the son of San Francisco’s murdered Mayor Moscone. And given the horrif ic nature of post traumatic stress syndrome and its many manifestations, it should be messy. The 2-1/2 hour (includes intermission) world premiere takes the audience on the vicarious and visceral inner-journey of a man
struck by intense personal tragedy. (Note: LGBT audiences will appreciate that playwright Tony Taccone portrays Jonathan’s homosexuality frankly and non-judgmentally.)
the writing credit goes to Taccone (who also wrote Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup, a hit show earlier in Berkeley Rep’s current season) with direction going to Moscone.
Conceived and developed by Jonathan Moscone, the artistic director of California Shakespeare Festival, and Tony Taccone, the artistic director of Berkeley Rep, Ghost Light boasts a mega-theatrical approach as well as large-picture questions. Which characters are real and which are imaginary? Which events are metaphors and which actually happened? What exactly does Jonathan’s character want (and get) during the play? Despite the intensely personal and biographical nature of Moscone’s story,
Time and emotion are splintered “realities” here. Disparate moments careen past the audience, parsing out information along the way, shaping mysteries and then solving, and/ or resolving, them. While watching cartoons on tv, a young boy (played by Tyler James Myers) learns of his father’s murder via a special newsf lash. A split second later, the son is grudgingly talking to a therapist about his feelings. A young, shirtless Loverboy (Danforth Comins) is mysteriously threatened by a gun-toting older man (Prison Guard played by Bill Geisslinger). A grown-up Jonathan (“Jon”) Moscone (brilliantly embodied by Christopher Liam Moore) writhes in indecision as he delves into the script of Hamlet, intensely focusing on the Ghost of the murdered King of Denmark, and thereby reliving the pain of his own father’s demise.
Robynn Rodriguez and Christopher Liam Moore in Ghost Light.
If the play occurs at this particular moment in Jon’s life/career due to his prepping a production of Hamlet, this could be clarified somewhat. Audiences love onstage deadlines, a device used to instill urgency and heighten
“the stakes,” and here the deadline looms for Jon’s costume and set designs for the show-referenced-withinthe-show. But does this “urgency” pose a sufficiently powerful forwardthrust for this piece? One recurring aspect of Ghost Light is son Jon’s resentment that national attention went predominantly to Harvey Milk (and still does) following Dan White’s heinous double murder in November, 1978. But, a first date goes horribly awry when Basil (Ted Deasy), a boyfriend NOT-to-be, mentions the Mayor’s murder and Jon flies into a rage. Jon also bristles when asked if he’s related to the owner of the Moscone parking garage. But… is society not talking enough about the former Mayor… or too much… or not in the right ways? Director Moscone keeps the performers moving constantly as he translates the cerebral into the physical, though some moments feel suspiciously like therapy sessions. The play’s geography resides in the landscape of the mind (via dreams and ample metaphor). And the scenic design by Todd Rosenthal vividly places Moscone’s home literally in the shadow of City Hall, its imposing stony edifice forming the stage’s back wall. Thus, young Jon is seen dwarfed by the consequences of his father’s ca-
reer and its abrupt end. Christopher Akerlind’s lighting and Andre Pluess’ sound designs both create changing locations and moods with robust dexterity, fluidly suggesting ever-changing dreamscapes as well as actual locations. Costumes by Meg Neville and video/projections by Maya Ciarrocchi succinctly furnish the diverse timeframes. Theatre powerfully chronicles human experience and events. Beyond merely telling us an entertaining story, it can also inform us, and future audiences, about history -- people, events and social context. And in this respect, Ghost Light is a supremely important piece, not just for those who were living in the Bay Area at the time of the double-murders, but especially for those who were not. Ghost L ight takes a rough r ide through a brilliant, albeit tortured, man’s psyche, allowing audiences to vicariously experience tragic events. Moscone, Taccone and Berkeley Rep receive highest commendations for this daring, risk-taking and ultimately personal epic. Highly recommended. Ghost Light continues until February 19 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley. Tickets ($17 to $78) at (510) 647-2949 or at berkeleyrep.org. BAY T IM ES JANUARY 26, 2012 9
FILM
San Francisco’s Best Cafe Two Festivals, Two Cities: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Cocktails
Full Service Bar Pastries Desserts
POP ROX By K. Cole
Looking at the 2nd Annual New York Chinese Film Festival and the 5th Beijing Queer Film Festival
B. C. Cliver “Don’t Let Them Tell You Who You Are!”
2298 Market Street • San Francisco, CA (415) 621-8579 • www.cafeflore.com
Film Review Erica Marcus
Valentine’s Soiree
“Let's Laugh About Sex . . . and Love Too!” Dinner & Comedy with Karen Williams
Two cities and two festivals. The New York Chinese Film Festival and the Beijing Queer Film Festival. Two distinct historic cultural phenomena and I had the opportunity to go to both and bring them to you here in print. New York Chinese Film Festival Red Carpet
Featuring Comedy Diva Karen Williams Couples and Singles Welcome | Hosted by the "Betty's List" Team The Bellevue Club @ Lake Merritt | Oakland Cost Per Person: $99 - Reserve for two (Singles or Couple) and save $10 at $188 www.bettyslist.com | 415-503-1375 | BettyEvenetInfo@aol.com Includes three course dinner and glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage choice plus comedy program and post-event mingle and free parking!
Last month, I was standing outside Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall for the Red Carpet Opening of the New York Chinese Film Festival enjoying a beautiful uptown evening. It was the second year that the New York Chinese Film Festival was offering audiences an opportunity to sample some of the new Chinese films coming out and promote better understanding of Chinese culture. I couldn’t help noticing that the crowd waiting to get into the festival was excited.
A few months before the New York Chinese Film Festival, I was in Beijing. Although The Sorcerer and the White Snake might have been screening in one of the new film theaters that have gone up in the last few years, I ventured into the 5th Beijing Queer Film Festival. It took a bit of searching but in a small café not too far from The Drum Tower. I found what I was looking for. There were queer comrades from all over China and many from overseas. I rubbed elbows with a young lesbian f ilmmaker from Yunnan, Beijingbased queer f ilmmakers and programmers including Cui Zi-en, Fan Popo, Stijn Deklerck and Yang Yang. Film festivals are never easy to pull off as the New York Chinese Film Festival organizers will tell you, but during its 10-year-long existence, the Beijing Queer Film Festival (www. bjqff.com) has had some very interesting obstacles. Started in 2001 by a group of Peking University students, the festival is presented every other year by a changing group of volunteers. They are a courageous lot.
But then The White Snake saves a human from drowning. Underwater, she kisses the human male and has a revelation. She decides to marry the herbalist but alas, a Buddhist priest trained in the martial arts decides that immortals and humans cannot live happily ever after.
The opening night film, a history of the Beijing Queer Film Festival was surprising and daring for an opening night film. I did not initially think that I would be wowed by it but it was one of the best opening night films I have seen. The production value was raw and authentic; it was funny, heroic and strangely moving. I am really hoping that Frameline programmers will see it and show it this June in San Francisco. Who knows maybe one day the New York Chinese Film Festival will show the film?
After the Lincoln Center big opening splash, New York Chinese Film Festival audiences headed downtown where there was something for everyone in a mainstream kind of way.
Best Cut: “DLTTUWYA” Location: Head banging, right down front
Beijing Queer Film Festiva l Opening Night
The opening night film The Sorcerer and the White Snake was a big budget extravaganza based on the traditional Chinese legend, Madame White Snake. Two female immortal snakes with martial arts training and supernatural powers are cavorting in the mountains. For a second, I thought there might be some lesbian action— the two snakes were obviously very intertwined.
Something for Everyone
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rary action f ilms. My absolute favorite of the entire festival was The Piano In a Factory, a finely crafted whimsical drama that tells the story of Chen, a factory worker employed at a deteriorating steel plant.
B. C. hones her guitar licks behind closed doors, but the body of work she’s built is Gold’s Gym all the way. This melodic hard-to-the-metal cut proclaims the rights of diversity while giving out the big anthem sounds of a Joan Jett Classic. Prepare for the resurgence of the Gay Rock scene with B.C. leading the way, big time!
Matt Zarley “Change Begins with me” A lthough the cut W TF is rated “explicit”, the music is straight ahead pop like we’ve all heard it before. The dif ference is we haven’t seen tunes like this coming out of a gorgeous hunk like this one. So they say the gay community is beauty-centric? Well, sometimes an artist like Zarley is just what the doctor ordered, if only for the album cover sex. Best Cut: “W TF ” Location: The Men’s Room
J. R. “Level Above Life” Hip hop can be cruel, but J.R. has released this foul-mouthed CD you love to hate, because the melodies are catchy, the voice is cool, and well, he is telling it like it is. Although you’ll have to keep this one away from the kids, at least it’s a hip hop that’s trying to say something instead of be cool and dance, you fool. Best Cut: “Trust Issues” Location: Late night bedroom
Exploring Identity and Form
There was the love letter f ilm to Shanghai, Leaving Me, Loving You with some spectacular cinematography, a romantic comedy by the great director Chinese director Feng Xiao Gang, If You are the One II and the epic drama, Aftershock about a family separated during the Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976. I had a friend who survived this earthquake and after hearing his hair-raising stories, this film was a must-see for me.
Although I enjoyed the films I saw at the New York Chinese Film Festival, I did miss films that tested me personally and made me question the status quo. Entertainment has many forms and often the most surprising and unexpected films can bolster you. This was something that the Beijing Queer Film Festival delivered big time. And despite the harassment, more than 500 people attended the festival this year.
There were a number of martial-arts films, Chinese tearjerkers that were somehow cathartic and contempo-
Contact Erica Marcus at linkerica@gmail.com.
Proud 2011 (Compilation) Okay y’all, so with the rain are you missing all those great songs of last summer’s Pride? Cr y no more! This release puts together the hits of last year so you can pop this in your car player and feel all summer and rainbow and well, proud to be gay! Best Cut: “Super Bass ( Jazmine) Location: Any where you need a pick me up, hon!
Photo of The Week
Photographer: Steven Underhill Screen st ar A ng ie Dick inson was t he specia l g uest on Fr iday, Januar y 20th at The Castro Theatre for the 10th A nnual Film Noir City Festival. Dickinson was escorted and inter viewed by Film Noir Festival executive director Eddie Muller. Dickenson and Muller were onstage at The Castro for a live inter view about her extraordinar y career dating back to the mid-1950s. The l ive inter v iew took place in conjunct ion w it h a screening of “The K iller,” the 1964 neo-noir classic in which Dick inson
star red. T he Fest iva l prog ram a lso included t he classic cr ime thriller “Point Blank,” in which Dick inson co-starred with legendar y tough guy Lee Marvin. T h i s yea r’s Noi r Cit y Fest iva l, a ten- day ex t r avag a n za , a l so i nc lude d a D a s h ie l l H a m met t m a r at hon , f r e s h l y pr e s er ve d 35mm rarities, encore screenings and lots of sur prises and featured guests. The Festival’s program continues through Sunday, Januar y 29.
HIV/AIDS Research Update Having a Dog or Cat Helps Women Cope with HIV/AIDS
gins, a professor of nursing at Case Western Reserve University.
A spoonful of medicine goes down a lot easier if there is a dog or cat around. Having pets is helpful for women living with HIV/AIDS and managing their chronic illness, according to a new study from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.
“Pets—primarily dogs—gave these women a sense of support and pleasure,” Webel said.
“We think this f inding about pets can apply to women managing other chronic illnesses,” said Allison R. Webel, instructor of nursing and lead author of the article, “The Relationship Between Social Roles and SelfManagement Behavior in Women Living with HIV/AIDS,” which appears in the online journal Women’s Health Issues. Webel set out to better understand how women manage their HIV/AIDS and stay on track to take their medications, follow doctors’ orders and live healthy lifestyles. She conducted 12 focus groups with 48 women to find out what they did to stay healthy. The women had an average age of 42, about 90 percent had children, and more than half were single. During the focus groups, six predominant social roles emerged that helped and hindered these women in managing their illness: pet owner, mother/grandmother, faith believer, advocate, stigmatized patient, and employee. All roles had a positive impact except stigmatized patient, which prevented women from revealing their illness and seeking out appropriate supports. “Much infor mat ion is available about the impact of work and family roles, but little is known about other social roles that women assume,” Webel said. Being a pet owner was an important surprise, added Webel, who collaborated with co-author Patricia Hig-
When discussing the ef fect their pets have on their lives, the women weighed in. “She’s going to be right there when I’m hurting,” a cat owner said. Another said: “Dogs know when you’re in a bad mood…she knows that I’m sick, and everywhere I go, she goes. She wants to protect me.” The human and animal bond in healing and therapy is being recognized, Webel said, as more animals are visiting nursing homes to connect to people with dementia or hospitals to visit children with long hospital stays.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 33 million people worldwide were living with HIV in 2009. Seizure disorders are common among people with HIV, with up to 55 percent of patients requiring treatment with anti-epileptic drugs, known as AEDs, said Birbeck, a professor of neurology and ophthalmology in MSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine. Until now, formal treatment guidelines did not exist for those with HIV/ AIDS who were in need of AEDs, which treat everything from epilepsy to mood disorders to other neurological ailments. When certain seizure drugs are combined with HIV/AIDS drugs known as antiretrovirals, or ARVs, one or
Spon sor of t he Fest iva l i s t he F i l m Noi r Fou nd at ion, a nonprof it educational resource on the cultural, historical and artistic s ig n i f ic a nce of f i l m noi r a s a n or ig i na l A mer ic a n c i nemat ic movement. The Fest iva l is the center piece of the Foundat ion’s annual programming. Full information about the event is available online at noircity. com To f ind out more about the resources and how to support the Foundation’s work, visit online: f ilmnoirfoundation.org.
more of the combined drugs may become less effective or more toxic. Seizure drugs that decrease HIV/AIDS drug levels – such as phenytoin, phenobarbital and carbamazepine – may cause HIV/AIDS drugs to fail. "Drug interactions between AEDs and ARVs could result in progression to AIDS and/or reduced seizure control," said Birbeck, also a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. "Providing guidelines that help physicians select appropriate therapies for their patients with epilepsy and HIV/ AIDS will ultimately improve patient outcomes and possibly decrease the public health threat of the development of drug-resistant HIV." "Future research should target epilepsy and HIV/AIDS drug combina-
tions where choices are limited, such as in developing countries, to better understand the risks," Birbeck said. "It also is important that patients know exactly which drugs they are taking and provide that information to all prescribing health care providers caring for them." To establish the guidelines, Birbeck and colleagues systematically rev iewed studies published in the medical literature between 1950 and 2010 to determine the prevalence of co-usage of anti-epileptic drugs and antiretrovirals and drug interactions. Nearly 4,500 articles were identified, 68 full studies were reviewed and data from 42 used in the analysis. Source: Michigan State University
Source: Case Western Reserve University Guidelines Stress Caution When Combining Anti-Epileptic, HIV Drugs New guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology will help physicians better choose seizure drugs for people on HIV/AIDS medication, avoiding deadly drug interactions and preventing critical anti-HIV drugs from becoming less effective, possibly leading to a more virulent strain of the disease. Michigan State University's Gretchen Birbeck – who spends several months each year in the sub-Sahara African nation of Zambia researching epilepsy, HIV /AIDS and cerebral malaria – is the lead author of the medical guideline, which was co-developed with the World Health Organization through the International League Against Epilepsy. The research is published in Neurology, the medical journal of the academy, and Epilepsia, the medical journal of the league.
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CALENDAR
compiled by Robert Fuggiti
The Cockettes will perform Vice Palace: The Last Cockettes Musical, opening Friday, January 27, 2012
26 Thursday
Openhouse Public Hearing San Francisco City Hall - Join Openhouse and friends for a public hearing on the needs of LGBT seniors. All members of the community are invited to attend this important opportunity to let your voice be heard. 1pm. 400 Van Ness Ave., Room 263. www.openhouse-sf.org
Academy of Friends Toast the 2012 Academy Awards Nominees - The Bubble Lounge. Toast the 2012 Academy Awards® Nominees with wines poured by Merryvale Winery, Sparkling Wines provided by Iron Horse, and Champagne specials. $20250. 5:30-8pm. 714 Montgomery St., San Francisco. www.academyoffriends.org
Onegin is a masterful ballet adaptation of the early-19th century novel in verse, Eugene Onegin, by Alexander Pushkin. $36-285. 8pm. 301 Van Ness Ave. www.sfballet. org/niteout Carmina Burana - Oakland East Bay Symphony. Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana was written in 1936 and is based on a collection of medieval, secular Latin poetry discovered at a Bavarian monastery in 1803. $20-70. 8pm. Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. www.oebs.org Perverts Put Out! - Center for Sex and Culture. Dr. Carol Queen and Simon host yet another brilliant bunch of perverted performers including Sherilyn Connelly,
Jen Cross, Daphne Gottleib, Philip Huang, Juba Kalamka, Kirk Read, Thomas Roche. $10-15. 7:30pm. 1349 Mission St. www.simonsheppard.com
28 Satuday
Grand Opening Party - Good Vibrations Oakland Store. Celebrate the sixth store opening of Good Vibrations, the women and couple focused company that takes pride in providing accurate information on sexuality. Guests can enjoy free sexy prizes and tasty treats. 6-9pm. 3219 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. www. goodvibes.com Saturday Singles, “Brunch Down Under” - Betty’s List. You read that right. “Brunch Down
Under” features a themed menu by Australian-born Dr. Kathleen McGuire, known for her various leadership roles with LGBT performing arts groups, including the Women’s Community Orchestra. $35. 11-1pm. Oakland location. Call to inquire (415) 503-1375
29 Sunday
Rebel Shaman + Women’s Power - Webcast.Take part in the first ever webcast of Rebel Shamans and learn how African/ Diasporic and Indigenous women drew on their cultural traditions to resist colonization. $7-15. 12pm. www.sourcememory.net/webinars
Music/Poetry Extravaganza - La Peña Cultural Center. Featuring:
Cabaret - Fort Mason. Independent Cabaret Productions and Shakespeare at Stinson will present a startling rendition of Tony-award-winning musical Cabaret, directed by Hector Correa. $35 Thurs., $45 Fri.–Sun. 8pm Thurs.–Sat., 7pm Sun. Young Performers Theatre. Building C, Room 300, Fort Mason. www.cabaretsf.wordpress.com
Montclair Women’s Big Band Kuumbwa Jazz Center. The Montclair Women’s Big Band celebrates its thirteenth year with a special first time performance at Kuumbwa Jazz! With a vivid lineup of some of the best jazzwomen in the San Francisco Bay Area, the band combines an audacious sense of swing, tight ensemble work and inspired solos. $20/Adv $23/Door. 7pm. 320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz. www.kuumbwajazz. org
VICE PALACE: The Last Cockettes Musical - The Hypnodrome Theatre. Don’t miss the chance to see The Cockette’s notoriously beautiful, wanton and bizarre spectacle in its limited run of only 12 performances! $30-35. 8pm. Jan. 27 – Mar. 3. 575 10th St. www.thrillpeddlers.com
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Kentucky Fried Spelling Bee Bench and Bar. It’s time for the first annual Kentucky Fried Spelling Bee! Join in for an amazing evening featuring some of the San Francisco Bay Area’s FINEST queers competing for a cash prize in a genuine hella-gay spelling bee & some of the most fun queer drag & burlesque acts in the business performing to spelling-bee inspired music! $10. 7pm. 510 17th St., Oakland. www.benchand-bar.com
30 Monday
27 Friday
Onegin, - San Francisco Ballet. Part of San Francisco Ballet’s 2012 Nite Out Series: John Cranko’s intensely dramatic work
Bay Area Blues Society, The Musical Art Quintet, Genny Lim, Tasha Kame, Umoja, Pablo Rosales, Little Brown Brother (W/ Myrna Del Rio), Manny Martinez, Hector Lugo, Avotcja & Modúpue (W/Sandi Poindexter, Yancie Taylor, Val Serrant, Eugene Warren & Baba Ken Okulolo). $10-25 Sliding Scale. 7pm. 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. www. lapena.org
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss will promote her line of adult toys at the Good Vibrations Grand Opening on Jan. 28
Hear My Song: An Evening with G. Scott Lacy - The Rrazz Room. San Francisco favorite Christopher M. Nelson and Broadway/Film/Television and cabaret star Emily Bergl to guest star with G. Lacy. $20. 8pm. 222 Mason St. www.therrazzroom.com
31 Tuesday
Gay Speed Dating - Press Club. Hosted at the urban wine tasting bar, the Press Club, located at the foot of the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown San Francisco. Participation limited. $30. 6:30pm. 767 Market St. www.datedistrict.org
What To Do When Words Don’t Work - Commonwealth Club of California. Learn techniques to become a better communicator and avoid the entrapment of misleading and unintelligible words in this powerful workshop led by Dan Roam, Founder and President of Digital Roam, Inc. $20. 5:30pm. 595 Market St. www.commonwealthclub.org
Feb. 1 Wednesday
Body Breakthroughs: Participatory - Somatic Movement Healing Lab. Dunaya Dance Studio. Theatre of Praxis is hosing Body Breakthroughs Participatory Somatic Movement Healing Lab for restoring the body and stirring the soul. $15-18. 6-8pm. 3380 19th St. www.theatreofpraxis.com
BINGO - Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center. BINGO is back at the Center every Wednesday night! $15 to play. 7pm. 938 The Alameda, San Jose. www.defrank.org
2 Thursday
Girls That Roam: Ladies Sport Night - Sports Basement. Get prepared for Women’s Ski Weekend and your sporting adventures with great discounts. 6–8pm. 1590 Bryant St. RSVP at info@girlsthatroam.com Gender-free Scottish Country Dance - The Polish Club. Come check out this traditional social set dance, with a queer-friendly twist! LGBT folks and allies welcome; no kilt needed! $5-8. 2-4pm. 3040 22nd St. www.scotish.sf.ca.us Valentine’s Mommy Playdate Good Vibrations. Put down the diaper bag and call the sitter – Good Vibrations has scheduled a special Valentine’s Mommy’s Playdate, a fun, after-hours mixer for moms who want to learn how to put the spice back in their sex lives. 7–9pm. 3219 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. www.goodvibes.com
3 Friday
Country Nights Dance Extravaganza - Lake Merritt Dance Center. Learn to Two-step, Waltz, Swing, & Line dance. Registration includes dance lessons and light refreshments. No experience necessary. $10. 7:30– 11pm. Lake Merritt Dance Center. 200 Grand Avenue, Oakland. www.CountryNightsDance.com
Carol Channing: Larger Than LIfe - Landmark’s Embarcadero Cinema. Footage from the archives show Carol at her best— Without batting a false eyelash, she effortlessly charms audience after audience with her hilarity, relentless energy, and unique beauty, reminding us that before Barbra or Marilyn, there was Carol. $10.50. 7–8:45pm. One Embarcadero Center. www.landmarktheatres.com
The Golden Age of the American Male: Films From Bob Mizer’s Legendary Athletic Model Guild improvised passions of musicians, actors, dancers, and audience members in a laboratory setting to create altered realities of fusion beyond taboos. 8pm. 511 48th St., Oakland. www.eroplay.com/events
Drift SF - Harlot. A party featuring a variety of House Music DJs for women who love women! Our parties are benefits for the Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic: Serving homeless women living with cancer. $10. 6–10pm. 46 Minna St. www.harlotsf.com Films From Bob Mizer’s Legendary Athletic Model Guild - Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Bob Mizer (1922 - 1992) was an American photographer, publisher and filmmaker who was known for pushing societal boundaries in his work. Enjoy a specially curated selection of his groundbreaking work, highlighting the ‘Golden Age of the American Male.’ $8. 7:30pm. 701 Mission St. www. ybca.org
Poetics of Relationship: The Journey from Grievance to Gratitude - Mindful Partnerhsip~ Mindful Divorce. Using an enlightened approach to relationship, divorce, separation and reconciliation, clients are able to transform their lives from grievance to gratitude. $125 or $200 for couples. 2 day seminar Feb. 4 & 5. 1832 Gouldin Rd., Oakland. www.mindfuldivorce.com
5 Sunday
Fortunate Daughter - Stage Werx 446. This latest solo show from writer-performer Thao P. Nguyen tells the story of a woman torn between two families. One family – her loving Vietnamese parents and relatives – keeps pushing her to marry (a man). The other family – her friends in the queer community – continually urges her to come out to her “other” family. $20. 446 Valencia St. www.brownpapertickets.com
Glengarry Glen Ross - Actors Theatre of San Francisco. Winner of the 1984 Pulitzer Prize, David Mamet’s scalding comedy is about small-time, cutthroat real estate salesmen trying to grind out a living by pushing plots of land on reluctant buyers in a never-ending scramble for their fair share of the American dream. $38. 855 Bush St. www.ActorsTheatreSF.org
Sundayz - Beatbox. This venue is a completely renovated warehouse located South of Market featuring skylights, exposed brick, steel lattice trusses, a 25’ ceiling, private mezzanine, and a beautiful wood dance floor. $10 Beer Bust. $15 Booze Bust. 4-8pm. 314 11th St. www.beatboxsf.com
4 Saturday
QComedy Showcase - Martuni’s. Come and enjoy a night of laughs at San Francisco’s best place for queer comedy, now every first Monday. $5-16 Sliding Scale. 8pm. 4 Valencia St. www.qcomedy.com
The Uncomfortable Zones of Fun - Temescal Art Center. Frank Moore, world-known shaman performance artist, will conduct
6 Monday
The Right to Love: An American Family - The Castro Theatre. After Proposition 8 passed in 2008, the Leffew Family began posting their home videos on a YouTube channel called ‘Gay Family Values’ to show how normal and loving a gay family could be. As they pursue their American dream, the opposing political, social and religious opinions that pervade society attempt to strip it from them. $20. 7:30pm. www.r2lmovie.com
7 Tuesday
The News - SomArts. The News is the new place to see fresh, queer performance by Bay Area artists. Starting on Feb. 7, and continuing on the first Tuesday of each month, The News will spotlight performance pieces, experiments, and works in progress by pre-selected solo artists, and groups. $5. 7:30-9pm. 934 Brannan St. www.somarts.org
RADAR Reading Series - San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch. Ellyn Maybe, Nick Krieger, Morgan Bassichis, and Micha Cardenas. Hosted by Michelle Tea who trades cookies for questions! 6pm. 100 Larkin St. www.radarproductions.org
8 Wednesday
Free Love Drag Show - Aunt Charlie’s Lounge. Get in the mood for Valentine’s Day and travel back to an era of free love with this special edition drag show featuring, Collette Ashton, Ruby Slippers, Sophilya Leggz, Bobby Ashton, Sheena Rose, Davida Ashton and Joie de Vivre! 9:45pm. 133 Turk St. www.dreamqueensrevue.com Pariah - The Embarcadero Center Cinema. Winner of the Cinematography Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Pariah is a gritty and heartfelt coming-of-age drama about a bright 17-year-old AfricanAmerican girl who lives with her middle-class, seemingly tight-knit family in Brooklyn. Ready to explore her lesbian identity, Alike finds it increasingly more difficult to conceal her sexual preference. $10.50. Check listing for times. One Embarcadero Center. www. landmarktheatres.com
More News, Stories, and Arts & Entertainment online
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(ROSTOW continued from page 5) find an angry looking ugly baby for their TV ad? Tis a puzzlement. Oh. And the King of the Zulus allegedly said that gays and lesbians were “rotten” during a speech in Nquthu celebrating the 1879 Zulu victory in the battle of Isandlwana. I said, “allegedly.” A tribal spokesperson said that King Goodwill Zwelithiui’s remarks were “recklessly” translated. The battle of Isandlwana was perhaps England’s worst 19th century colonial defeat, so I cannot imagine how the subject of gays and lesbians figured into King Goodwill’s text. Cruise Like A Lesbian I’ve been saving the fun marriage ruling out of Minnesota, where a state appellate court reinstated a freedomto-marry case and in so doing, put us back on the road to exciting legal news in the Land of a Thousand Lakes. Who knows? The case, filed against a county clerk, now goes back to lower court and will make its way back up the ladder in the many months to come, so perhaps “exciting” is overstating the character of the litigation. But it sounds as if
the unanimous three-judge panel told the court to take this case seriously, rather than blow it off by citing an old comment from the U.S. Supreme Court that was not only outdated, but also inapplicable to a state law challenge. I fully intended to talk about that ruling at length, but I have since changed my mind. Why? Because I’m almost done with my column, and it’s time to fix myself a cocktail and continue my last minute preparations for our Olivia Cruise. I will be skipping my column next week as we bask poolside through the Caribbean, so I’m guessing that news will break out all over as it usually does as soon as my back is turned. Look for a Prop 8 ruling out of the Ninth Circuit, as well as progress from the state legislatures that we talked about earlier. What do you think? Car IB ean? Or CARA be an? I’ll find out next week. Sea ya. --Ann’s column is available every week on sfbaytimes.com. You can reach her at arostow@aol.com.
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DRAGON continued from page 1)
HOMELESSNESS continued from page 1) Originally from Victorville, Calif., they moved to San Francisco to get away from a toxic drug environment. At the time of their portrait, they had been living in a family shelter for several months. “Our son didn’t even realize we were homeless,” Vanessa has commented. Originally from the Salinas Valley, San Francisco photographer Joe Ramos has been photographing for more than 40 years. He studied photography at the San Francisco Art Institute with Richard Conrat, the last assistant to Dorothea Lange, an inf luential American documentary photographer and photojournalist best known for her Depression-era work. Ramos considers himself a documentary photographer, and has
Connect has become a compendium of compelling portraits.
large bodies of imagery from the Salinas Valley and San Francisco’s Mission District.
In a related program, “A Community’s Response to Homelessness” is a panel discussion by homeless advocates and clients on Jan. 28, 2pm, Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium. Speakers include photographer Joe Ramos; Rann Parker, director of the homeless outreach team at Project Homeless Connect; Kendra Stewardson, a Jef ferson Award Winner and a homeless veteran and coordinator of the first Veteran’s Connect; Presidential Service Award recipient Henry Belton, a former Project Homeless Connect client and employee; and Judith Klain, former director and founder of Project Homeless Connect.
Ramos is most comfortable taking portraits, which is evident in his images of people in his documentary work. His sensitivity towards his subjects and the trust they give in return permeate his images with great strength. Since 2006, he has been taking portraits for San Francisco’s Project Homeless Connect, a non-profit that offers services to the city’s poor and homeless in bimonthly events held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. He has taken more than 1,000 portraits at these events, and the archive of images from Project Homeless
FREEDOM TO MARRY continued from page 1) “A majority of Americans now sup- “Everyone here believes in the vital port the freedom to marry for loving, importance of marriage to our concommitted gay and lesbian couples, stituents, to our communities, and according to multiple reputable na- to our country,” she said. “Together, tional polls,” said Marc Solomon, we will work to ensure that our cities National Campaign Director of Free- have what they need to thrive – and dom to Marry. “Many Americans in order to keep our cities competitive who for decades opposed the free- in business and welcoming in culture, dom to marry for same-sex couples we will work hard to win the freedom are rethinking their position, and to marry everywhere and end federal hearts and minds are changing. We marriage discrimination once and for are proud – and thankful – for the all.” leadership these mayors from across the country are showing in support of Mayors who participated in the launch included Laura Friedman of this cause.” Glendale, CA; Bill Finch of Bridge“Mayors for the Freedom to Marry” port, CT; Pedro Segarra of Hartford, Chair Annise Parker, mayor of Hous- CT; Joy Cooper of Hallandale Beach, ton, highlighted the important role of FL; Elizabeth Tisdahlof Evanston, community leaders working together. IL; Jeff Slavin of Somerset, MD; Setti
Warren of Newton, MA; Paul Soglin of Madison, WI; John Callahan of Bethlehem, PA; Sam Adams of Portland, OR and Craig Cates of Key West, FL. Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. Supporters are pursuing the community’s Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, growing the national majority for marriage, and ending federal marriage discrimination. They partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings.
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nearly 3 million. Along with stiltwalking elders, leaping acrobatic lion dancers and giant gilded dragons that undulate up Market Street into Chinatown, there are bands from local high schools and colleges, waving politicians and spangly, corporatesponsored floats. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce (organizers since 1958) open the party to everyone, but it’s the traditional cultural elements that make the parade unique. The Lunar New Year welcomes the spring. Tradition has it that the Lunar New Year reinacts chasing off an ancient mythical monster called the Nian. The Nian pillaged towns on New Year’s Day, stealing crops, livestock and children. The villagers eventually discovered that the color red and loud noises repelled him (apparently when he bumped into a noisy child in a red robe). So on New Year, villagers hung red lanterns, wore red robes, lit firecrackers and banged on pots to scare the monster off. Today’s parade ref lects the traditions stemming from this tale. The ever-present red in every f loat and costume, the huge clusters of exploding firecrackers and the story told by the lion dance all harken back to it. Even the familiar Chinese New Year’s greeting “Gung Hay Fat Choy” offers congratulations for escaping the demon. After more than 30 years, the Freedom Band takes some of its traditions from this celebration. The rainbow sousaphone covers became standard after our first CNY parade when spectators tossed firecrackers at the open bells. And one of our proudest parade moments came marching ahead of GAPA in 1994. GAPA had marched for years in the Pride Parade, but this was the first year they’d march as an openly gay contingent before their families. The group asked to march near us for support, and they offered their marchers masks to conceal their identities if needed. As we marched, the cheering for us all was so enthusiastic that every GAPA member who marched behind a mask at the start had taken it off before they hit the cameras in Union Square. It’s true - there’s no better way to start a new year than with a vanquished demon. CLOSE continued from page 9) and Nine Lives), is shot in a lovely, burnished style. “Albert starts this dream of finding someone who can help her have a business with insufficient information,” Close said. “She’s lived in hotels since she was 14 and doesn’t know anything. She models herself as the perfect Victorian gentleman, and tries to present herself as that, with her formal hat and umbrella. She knows nothing of human contact and intimacy. Albert is naïve. She’s not looking out with a furrowed brow, but with an ‘unknowingness.’” Albert’s naïveté is also evident in how she develops in her relationship with Mr. Page. Albert observes the closeness Mr. Page shares with her wife, Cathleen (Bronagh Gallagher), with a curious eye, wondering aloud if Mr. Page told Cathleen she was a woman before or after their wedding.
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Catering Gloria Swanson- Personal Chef, Cooking Demonstrations. Call 415.552.3232 to discuss your next menu! www.chefforhiresf.com, glofriasws@aol.com
Financing 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 Dunlap, Nova Mortgage. (510) 540-7911 / (415) 753-2272.
Insurance 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
Legal Services B. Scott Levine 510-763-2300 bscottlevine@gmail.com
Massage El Cerrito Hills-I80-Men: Info: www.rickoz2.com
Parenting You want children, so do I. Let’s talk. For more 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
Pets SURF DOG large dog boarding at Ocean Beach. Queer Owned. sfsurfdogs.com. (415) 637-7717 DOG TRAINING in Your Home Cindy Gehring, Dog Trainer 408-238-1540, DogHelpNow@gmail.com, www.cindygehring.com
Self Defense Soko Joshi Judo & Self Defense Club for Women. 415-821-0303 phdshelley@sbcglobal.net
Tax Preparation The Lesbian Tax Mom 510-653-4323 taxmomsusan@yahoo.com
Therapy
Experienced Psychologist - LGBTQ Issues - Castro - Sliding Scale - Diana Gray, PhD (PSY10607) 415-309-4729 Barbara A. Adler, LMFT. PsychotherapyConsultation- Education- Training. barbaraadlerLMFT.com, 415-990-9137.
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Close of fered this insight about the character’s perspective: “She’s worked for thirty years, and you'd think she would know more, but she doesn’t want to know more. It would jeopardize her secret. She tells Hubert she moved around—
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Betty’s Gift Guide: Gift Suggestions From Among Her Favorite Things... Valentines 2012
Good Vibrations - Have you met the JimmyJane products? This may be your day and our local favorite Good Vibrations is the source. New GV store opening in Oakland joins the three in SF and one in Berkeley. Lots of choices to tickle your fancy. Contact www.goodvibes.com and do tell ‘em Betty sent you.
“I’m always searching for an excellent gift that’s sure to make a special one happy. No doubt you are too, so here’s my list and let’s go shopping right now! — Betty
Valentine’s Soiree Tickets Gals who love gals will love “Let’s Talk About Sex . . . and Love Too!” Dinner & Comedy with the very funny Karen Williams, singer / song writer Laura Zucker and the “Betty’s List” Team. Tickets: 415-5031375 or www.bettyslist.com. or any time. Walk-ins welcome at 421 Castro, but reservations recommended. Contact: 415-626 6268. Michael Bruno Luggage & Gifts - We visited Lou Briasco recently and he sold us on the Zuca Sport Bag. Comes in many colors and variations for business travel and pet carrier too. Plus, you can sit on it. Great gift for her or him! Stop by 2267 Market Street or call Lou at 415-5223970.
Gypsy Love - We fell in love with Gypsy Love’s talents when Gary Virginia introduced us. Give a bellydance by classically trained Gypsy to your love for Valentines or book her to liven up an event, private or public. Don’t miss this beautiful dynamo and she sings too. Contact GypsyLoveProductions@yahoo. com or www.g ypsytime.com
Lisa Hair Design - Lisa’s shop, two doors from the Castro Theatre, provides af fordable, comfortable and skilled hair design services. Very popular stop for Castro denizens wanting to look their best for Valentines
delicacies on this menu and so many f lavors to try. Really, order her or him a specialty for Valentines, birthday or any occasion. You will be a hit, Baby! New LGBT family owners are opening the doors with gusto! Visit 2239 Market Street. Contact: 415-621-8664 or www. sweetinspirationbakery.com.
Helena Highway, Oakville and shop online too: napacellars. com. Contact: 800 -535-6400 or info@napacellars.com. Steven Underhill Photography - Steve says give a portrait to your Valentine and he’ll make sure you are looking good. Very talented and wellknown photographer in our neighborhood, Steve shoots guys and gals for portraits, events, models or you name it. Check out his portfolio and smile. Contact 415-370 -7152, sunderhill@aol.com or www.stevenhunderhill.com.
NA PA Cellars Wines - Give her or him a pair and set the tone for your own festivities. We love the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinor Noir. We love winemaker Joe Shirley and his sweet love Mo who may one day sing for us! Big thanks go to Vivien Gay for turning us on to NAPA Cellars and the entire Trinchero Wine family. Make a reservation for their tasting room, 7481 St.
Wild Card - You do need cards and other goodies, so go see the guys at Wild Card, our local shop, 3989 17th @ Castro. A lways great service and surprising selection, including hundreds of cards, rainbow items and price range to meet any budget. Contact: 415-626 -4449.
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Sweet Inspiration - Give your Sweet some sweet inspiration from this Castro favorite shop where cakes and pastries are fresh daily. So many delicious
As Heard on the Street . . .
ALL PHOTOS BY RINK
Should Same Sex Marriage be a Presidential Campaign Issue?
Suzan Revah
BeBe Sweetbriar
Gypsy Love
Don Ho Tse
Mo’Better Foster
“I absolutely agree that it should be. Everyone is equal and marriage should be for everyone.”
“Yes I do. I do believe that marriage should be for everyone who wants it.”
“The answer is yes!”
“It should be an issue, and Obama could OK same sex marriage during his second term.”
“Yes, and it should start at a local level, then at state level, and then at national level for marriage equality.”
BAY T IM ES JANUARY 26, 2012 19
©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