2012 04 19

Corpus Christi Comes to San Francisco Page 17

Earth Day Is Every Day for LGBTQ Families Page 3

Gertrude & Alice Invite You to A Place at the Table Page 19

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

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April 19-May 2, 2012 | www.sfbaytimes.com

A Greener Rainbow

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PHOTO BY: P HY L L IS C OSTA

PHOTO BY: PHIL HAWKINS PHOTOGRAPHY-philhaw k insphoto. com

Dolores Park’s New Playground Opens

Helen Diller Playground

By Alex Randolph

Rainbow Over Valley View (Special to the Bay Times)

By Dana Rudolph Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a blog and resource directory for LGBT parents.

It’s hard to think of LGBT-specific ways to be green. One could make sure the rainbow f lag hanging in one’s yard is made from Earth-friendly fibers. One could work with local Pride Parade organizers to place recycling bins along the parade route.

Most of us, too, know someone fitting

the stereotype of the “crunchy granola” lesbian who eats only organic food from her local co-op and makes her own furniture from recycled lumber.

The same goes for people f lying, driving, and busing to yet another March on Washington.

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With many same-sex couples rushing to marry, what better gift than a backyard compost bin or his and his reusable shopping bags?

m Melissa

Etheridge could stop spending time on LGBT rights and work full time with Al Gore when she wasn’t on tour.

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I therefore find myself compelled this Earth Day to come up with a list of ways the environment would benefit if LGBT people had equal rights:

We would save trees if LGBT people didn’t need to carry extra copies of our families’ birth certificates, adoption papers, powers of attorney, etc., whenever we traveled.

m

If everyone could marry in their home states and not have to drive to where they can legally wed, they could save on fuel.

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If no one could be fired for being gay or transgender (as they can be in 29 and 34 states, respectively), more people could afford to shop in pricey organic supermarkets. m

m If the LGBT community could stop worrying about the LGBT friendliness of political candidates, we could (continued on page 2)

PHOTO BY: P HYL LIS COS TA

PH OTO S OU RCE : bjo rnstadcellars.com

LGBTQ Winemakers Live Earth Day Every Day

Bink Wines’ Deb Schatzlein & Cindy Paulson welcome Karen Hurst to “Wine Time!”

At the recent Betty’s List “Wine Time” event at Jake’s on Market, winemaker Deborah Schatzlein of Bink informed the packed room that she and her partner Cindy Paulson believe in “caring for our planet and giving back to our communities.”

With a bottle of Bink Lumineux rose in hand, Schatzlein told the Bay Times, “We are sustainable growers, using low-impact, hands-on techniques to craft our small lots of wines that have intense flavor and character. Our artisan pinot noir, for example, is made from vines grown at 900 feet, producing natural acid in the grapes that helps to preserve their rich taste.”

Earth Day is therefore every day for winemakers like Schatzlein and Paulson, and it extends beyond the bottle.

At Stryker Sonoma, for example, all of the buildings “are aesthetic, efficient, in harmony with the landscape, and sensitive to the environment,” forming “an organic whole.” Assistant winemaker Jen Berman shares that one goal at Stryker is to “live lightly upon the land.”

At Bjornstad Cellars in Sebastopol, Greg Bjornstad reminds that such respect for the land helps to shape the unique qualities of individual wines.

He explains, “I’ve worked with each

Greg Bjornstad, winemaker at Bjornstad Wine

grower since 1997 and believe that human relationships also find their expression through grapes and wines.

I believe that each vineyard’s terroir, or sense of place, is def ined by the soil and climate but shaped by the steward.

I n w at er- c on s c iou s C a l i for n i a , dr y farming permits sav v y winemakers to work with the local soil and climate, instead of against it.

Vi nt ner s Jef f Durha m a nd Joey Wolosz, of Poem Cel lars of fer a Cabernet Franc made from fruit sourced from a single dry farmed v ineyard in St. Helena. T he

growing method is not only more Earth friendly, but it also results in a r ichly bod ied, v ibrant w ine with a spicy f inish.

If you’ve shied away from organic w i ne s , due t o pa st d i s app oi ntment or p o or r e v iew s , t her e i s good news. Quality has vastly improved, with many organic wines wow i n g c on noi s s eu r s . He at her Fr e yer of C a st le Ro c k W i ner y tel l s t he B ay T i m es, “O u r 20 0 9 Colu mbia Va l ley Caber net a nd 2008 Merlot are made of f of Badg er Mou nt a i n i n Wa s h i n g t on’s (continued on page 2)

As if on queue, the rain stopped and the sun came out on Saturday, March 31, when the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department was joined by Mayor Ed Lee, City Treasurer José Cisneros, Supervisor Scott Wiener, Director of HOPE Bevan Duft y, Bay A rea philanthropist Mrs. Helen Diller and her family, Meredith Thomas with the San Francisco Parks Alliance, and Nancy Gonzalez-Madynsk i w ith Friends of Dolores Park Playground, and scores of children and their families to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the new world-class Helen Diller Playground in Mission Dolores Park.The celebration had music, arts and crafts, ice cream and entertainment donated by neighborhood businesses for over a thousand children and their families.

Mayor Lee announced that Helen Diller Playground is another great example of our City’s commitment to creating jobs and investing in open, clean park spaces for all our residents to enjoy. “Aptly named after legendary philanthropist Helen Diller, this playground will foster greater community connections for San Francisco families for generations to come,” said Mayor Lee, who presented a resolution declaring March 31st, 2012 as Helen Diller Playground at Mission Dolores Park Day in San Francisco.

The Helen Diller Playground, located in Mission Dolores Park and in the densely populated Mission neighborhood, is perfectly placed to become the go to destination to bring your kids for a day out in the park. “This project underscores our commitment to provide children and family with healthy recreation in our park system,” beamed Phil Ginsburg, San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager.

The major renovation of the Dolores Park Playground was made possible with the help and generous donation of more than $1.5 million from the (continued on page 10)

Activists March on 25th Anniversary of ACT UP Emphasizing that AIDS is not over, more than 200 demonstrators on Good Friday participated in the “Resurrection March of ACT UP.” Marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of ACT UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), the event commemorated the lives of almost 20,000 San Franciscans who have died since the epidemic began and the approximately 16,000 who are living with HIV today.

People with HI V/A IDS and the AIDS activist community gathered for the march from the Mission to the Castro. A sign noted: “We will mourn our dead and fight like hell for the living here in San Francisco and around the world.” ACT UP was known for a confrontational and effective style of direct action that has been widely inf luential for organizers of today’s Occupy movements.

The march linked the issues of gentrification and lack of affordable housing faced by people with HIV/AIDS and our communities today by starting at Wells Fargo, a major profiteer of the housing crisis. “ACT UP was

founded to take on the powers of economic violence and sexual repression that interfere to this very day in efforts to save lives,” said X of ACT UP. “Wells Fargo has made billions, while people with HIV/AIDS struggle to survive and stay in this city.”

The march continued to the steps of Mission Dolores Church to protest the Catholic Church’s continued role in condemning people to die of AIDS globally, as well as the Church’s repression of sexual freedom and health here at home. Several of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence led a litany and exorcism, citing facts and asking demonstrators to shout, “Shame!” after each accusation: January 1987, Pope John Paul II declared homosexuality an intrinsic moral evil; Summer 2008, SF Archbishop Niederauer formed an alliance with the Mormon Church to overturn California same-sex marriage with Prop 8; in March, American Catholic bishops and priests condemned gay marriage at 2,500 pulpits; Pope Benedict XVI condemned Britain’s plans to legalize civil marriage for queers; American bishops opposed adoption of children by gay and lesbian couples; Catholic bishops worldwide concealed child

P HOTO BY RIN K

By Dennis McMillan

The ACT UP 25th Anniversary Rally at 16th and Mission Streets on April 6

molestation by their priests; Catholic officials opposed the right of women to control their own bodies; and Catholic bishops oppose the use of condoms to prevent AIDS. The Sisters shouted, “We call on the Catholic Church to STOP KILLING US!”

Ashes of those who died during the epidemic in SF - especially those of famed ACT UP demonstrator Stephen Fish (mixed with glitter) - were tossed onto the steps of Dolores Church. There followed an old fashioned die-in, with “corpses” traced

BELIEVE IN LOVE

onto the asphalt with chalk. “It was a fantastic job, and good to see old ACT UP guard, new queer young radicals and all the colors of the rainbow and spectrum of our tribe represented,” said veteran activist Waiyde Palmer, who noted Fish’s “glittery afterlife presence.”

The march ended at Harvey Milk Plaza in a commemoration of ACT UP and the many lives lost to HIV/ AIDS, featuring a reading of the names of activists in our community who died during the epidemic in the Bay Area.

(RAINBOW continued from page 1) start worrying about their environmental friendliness. (Some people can do both — but let’s face it, it’s hard to keep up.)

The millions spent on anti-LGBT ballot initiatives ($73 million for California’s Prop 8, for example) could go towards protecting the environment, or any number of other causes.

m

STAGE PRODUCTION

SOUTHSIDE THEATRE AT FT. MASON SATURDAY, APRIL 28 7:00 PM

EXCLUSIVE FILM SCREENING

m If

ultra-right commentators stopped giving off so much hot air about LGBT issues, they would alleviate global warming.

No, that list is not to be taken seriously. There may not be a gay way to save the environment, or an environmentally friendly way to be gay (at least until those Lesbaru — ahem, Subaru — hybrids come out), but in the end, it’s everyone’s world, LGBT and not. It’s up to all of us to save it.

SUNDAY, APRIL 29 2:00 PM

CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYING WITH REDEMPTION THE RESURRECTION OF TERRENCE MCNALLY’S BELOVED PLAY

WWW.CORPUSCHRISTI-THEMOVIE.COM 2 BAY TIMES APRIL 19, 2012

m Equalize estate taxes for LGBT people and we could leave more to our favorite environmental charities.

Originally published on Change.org.

Reprinted by special permission.

(WINEMAKERS continued from page 1) Columbia Valley area. The grapes are most ly organ ic a nd sust a inably farmed. The 2009 Cabernet just received 89 Poi nt s i n W in e Enthusiast Magazine, and 88 Points in Wine Spectator in the ‘Best in the West Under $25’ article.”

This Earth Day you can therefore toast to the hard work of our community’s eco-conscious winemaker s . A s 19 t h- cent u r y t r a n s cen dent a l i st M a r g a ret Fu l ler once wrote, “Wine is Earth’s answer to the sun.” http://www.binkwines.com/ http://www.strykersonoma.com/ http://www.bjornstadcellars.com/ http://poemcellars.com/index.html http://www.castlerockwinery.com/

Earth Day 2012

Use the News Foundation Education Program with

Earth Day is a celebration of our beautiful planet and an expression of hope and commitment to its future.

LGBTQ community members and their families take time to smell the roses. We enjoy backyard gardens, open spaces, parks, trails, beaches and more. Yes, every day is Earth Day! The Bay Times is proud to observe Earth Day with our readers and we invite you to send us your photos from outdoor spots you appreciate. We’d love to see t hem! Please send yours to editor@sf-baytimes.com.

Happy Earth Day 2012, Sunday, April 22nd!

A Sampling of Earth Day Events Saturday, April 21 – Berkeley Earth Day – 12:00 Noon – 5:00 PM, Civic Center Park, MLK & A llston. hesternet.net/events Saturday, April 21 – 2012 Oakland Earth Day – 9:00 A M – 12:00 Noon, multiple locations. oaklandnet.com Saturday, April 211 – The Earth Day Marin 2012 Festival – 11:00 A M – 7:00 PM, Marin Civic Center Lagoon Park. earthdaymarin. org Sunday, April 22 – Earth Day San Francisco – Free event with eco fun for all. 10:00 A M – 6:00 PM, Civic Center Plaza. earth- daysf.org

The new Helen Diller Playground opened on March 31st in Dolores Park. Photo courtesy SF Park and Recreation. Below, Callie Herren, grandaughter of co-publisher Betty Sullivan, tries out her wings.

Chris McEwen and Brad with their children, Jacob and Ellen.

Photo courtesy of Chris McEwen.

Photo by Elizabeth Herren

The Jouvenot-Sells family of Benicia spends time together outdoors in a variety of ways. A lbert holding an earthworm.

Photo courtesy of Yann Jouvenot.

Artist Irene Hendrick in her British garden.Courtesy of Irene Hendrick R ight , M a x B et ha n i s w it h one of h i s mom s enjoy i ng t he new playground structure. Photo by Sue Bethanis.

Person of the Week When it was decided to do a special issue of the Bay Times about Earth Day, Nancy Carleton, our Person of the Week, immediately came to mind. She co-founded Berkeley Partners for Parks and served as Vice Chair of the Berkeley Parks & Recreation Commission, among other positions. One of her greatest achievements was to help create a beautiful community park. The both literal and f igurative grass roots effort should inspire all of us to dream big, work hard, and collaborate with others for the betterment of our neighborhoods.

Here Carleton shares with the Bay Times what happened:

When my partner and I moved into our duplex on Halcyon Court 22 years ago, what had been a turnabout for a short-lived streetcar line was then a stretch of alienating asphalt. At a block party in 1992, neighbors conceived the idea of creating a permanent greenspace on the site. As one of the leaders of the ef fort to create Halcyon Commons—our community-designed park—I attended dozens of meetings to organize neighbors and obtain city approval.

Following a four-year process, Halcyon Commons was built in 1996, as neighbors helped remove asphalt, plant trees and f lowering bushes, and lay sod. In the 16 years since, we’ve held f ive work parties a year to keep the park welcoming for humans and wildlife. Neighbors coming together to create and maintain Halcyon Commons not only brought beauty to a harsh streetscape but also gave birth to Halcyon Neighborhood—a new identity for a previously fragmented area.

Frank (foreground) and husband Todd romping in their backyard with sons Kai and Tice. Photo courtesy of Todd Davis Creat ing change can somet imes seem daunt ing. I recommend getting involved where you live and bringing more green to our cities: plant a tree, start a vegetable garden, grow some butterf lyor bee-fr iend ly pla nt s i n balcony pots or your yard.

In t he process, you’l l get t o k now you r nei ghb or s a nd become more ef fect ive at whatever ot her act iv ism you under take.”

Right: Work party at Halcyon Commons

Photo by John Steere

Photo by John Steere

“I’ve been an activist since I was 13, but of all the causes I’ve worked on, none brings greater satisfaction than the small park we created in my South Berkeley neighborhood where there was once a 28-car parking lot.

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HIV/AIDS News Expanding on previous research providing proof-of-principal that human stem cells can be genetically engineered into HIV-fighting cells, a team of UCLA researchers has now demonstrated that these cells can actually attack HIV-infected cells in a living organism.

The study, published in the journal PLoS Pathogens, demonstrates for the first time that engineering stem cells to form immune cells that target HIV is effective in suppressing the virus in living tissues in an animal model, said lead investigator Scott G. Kitchen.

“We believe that this study lays the groundwork for the potential use of this type of an approach in combating HIV infection in infected individuals, in hopes of eradicating the virus from the body,” he said.

In the previous research, the scientists took CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes — the “killer” T cells that help fight infection — from an HIV-infected individual and identified the molecule known as the T cell receptor, which guides the T cell in recognizing and killing HIV-infected cells. However, these T cells, while able to destroy

HIV-infected cells, do not exist in great enough quantities to clear the virus from the body. So the researchers cloned the receptor and used this to genetically engineer human blood stem cells. They then placed the engineered stem cells into human thymus tissue that had been implanted in mice, allowing them to study the reaction in a living organism.

The engineered stem cells developed into a large population of mature, multi-functional HIV-specific CD8 cells that could specif ically target cells containing HIV proteins. The researchers also discovered that HIVspecific T cell receptors have to be matched to an individual in much the same way an organ is matched to a transplant patient.

In this current study, the researchers similarly eng ineered human blood stem cells and found that they can form mature T cells that can attack HIV in tissues where the virus resides and replicates. They did so by using a surrogate model, the humanized mouse, in which HIV infection closely resembles the disease and its progression in humans.

In a series of tests on the mice’s peripheral blood, plasma and organs conducted two weeks and six weeks after introducing the engineered cells, the researchers found that the number of CD4 “helper” T cells — which become depleted as a result of HIV infection — increased, while levels of HIV in the blood decreased.

CD4 cells are white blood cells that are an important component of the immune system, helping to fight off infections. These results indicated that the engineered cells were capable of developing and migrating to the organs to fight infection there.

“We believe that this is the first step in developing a more aggressive approach in correcting the defects in the human T cell responses that allow HIV to persist in infected people,” Kitchen said.

The researchers will now begin making T cell receptors that target different parts of HIV and that could be used in more genetically matched individuals, he said.

Source: UCLA

Sister Dana Sez

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana Van Iquity worries if April showers bring Mayflowers, however will we deal with all those Puritan immigrants landing in town?

We Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence really got our religiosity on this Easter, starting with handing out palm fronds in the Castro on Palm Sunday with Night Ministry, then at the Sing-Along Jesus Christ Superstar fundraiser for the Trans March, and finally celebrating our 33rd anniversary in Dolores Park, including the sainting of longtime photographer Daniel Nicoletta and veteran activist Kelly Rivera Hart. The live entertainment was fierce. Over 20,000 people attended as a wonderful, colorful crowd with so many people in costumes or wearing amazing Easter bonnets. The Easter Bonnet Contest produced a winner in a three-tiered Japanese pagoda hat. And the winner of the Hunky Jesus Contest had crafted an electric guitar made out of a giant cross, plugged in his portable amp and rocked the crowd!

MARVELOUS DISCOURSE stars one of the founders of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Sister Hystectoria (Agnes), in David Finklestein’s visually stimulating, utterly satiating film at ATA on Valencia. Agnes plays the psychic to Finklestein’s bizarre poetic character in an electronically enhanced, colorized, improvisational, way witty wordplay skewering using BBQ pun metaphor. We joined fellow Sister Loganberry Frost and Sister Cass at this special film screening, including Epistolary Fusillades as a part of a shared evening by master filmmaker Mike Kuchar. Reception at Sister Selma Soul’s with author/ actor Finklestein was a special treat.

8 BAY TIMES APRIL 19, 2012

COR PUS CHR ISTI and the “I AM Love” sneak preview tour in SF is April 28-30. Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi is a retelling of the Jesus story, with Jesus as a gay man living in 1950s Corpus Christi, Texas. The show originally opened at the Manhattan Theatre Club in NYC, 1998, to intense protest and bomb threats. Deemed by religious zealots as “blasphemous,” the shock and controversy it created before it opened easily overshadowed McNally’s original intention in creating the piece: inclusive love for all. What better place to launch the “I AM Love” campaign than in the “City of Love” itself: EssEff! Information at Brandon@108productions.org. Saturday, April 28, performance of the play, Corpus Christi, 7pm, Southside Theatre @ Fort Mason Center. Sunday, April 29, screening of the film, Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption, 2pm, Castro Theatre. A VIP ticket includes a Pre-Show Gathering at 1pm with the cast/crew, a “blessing” with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Rev. Dr. Cindi Love of Soulforce, and many more surprise guests.

Sunday, April 29, performance of the play, 7:30pm, First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco small chapel. Monday, April 30, play at 7pm, First Unitarian Universalist Society. The “I AM Love” campaign’s mission is to change the story on religious bullying and homophobia, in all ages and walks of Life, by first learning to Love the Self. Through a screening of the film, combined with performances of the play in select cities, their company will also conduct educational and arts-based workshops alongside gay/religious leaders in less tolerant communities around the country. Fabulous!

MARK LENO needs to be reelected.

So come to the “Spring Cabaret for Mark Leno” on Friday April 20, 7 9pm at Trigger, 2344 Market Street.

Join Mayor Ed Lee along with District Attorney George Cascon, City Treasurer Jose Cisneros and Supervisor Scott Wiener for an exciting event benef iting Leno’s reelection to the California State Senate! Mark continues to do great things for our community and state since the time he was

District 8 supervisor through now as a California senator. Come show your support and give your thanks for all he has done! Featuring performances by Donna Sachet, Kippy Marks, Gy psy Love and Connie Champagne. Yummy bites, open beer, wine and champagne bar. Contributions from $100 - $3,900 will be accepted at the door. Contribute $250 and receive a luxury gift bag with goodies, such as gift certificates to Lime and Trigger, and discounts to other shops and retailers. Contribute $750 or more and receive a package for a fun night out on the town including dinner, entertainment and a limo ride.

You can RSVP by sending an email to f lavorsyoucrave@aol.com with names of guests. If possible, please include your contribution amount. If you cannot attend and would still like to contribute, you may also make a donation of any amount at secure.actblue.com/page/lenospringcabaret.

I’ll see you there!

DANCES FROM THE HEART is Richmond-Ermet AIDS Foundation’s newest benefit show and will feature dancers from 10 top Bay Area dance companies in an exciting evening of dance performances including ballet, modern, ballroom, tango and hula. Dancers are from Ballet San Jose, Smuin Ballet, Company C Contemporary Ballet, Diablo Ballet, ODC dance, Post Ballet, Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, Christy Coté Argentine Tango, Na Lei Hulu and White Tree Fine Art (finalist group in Paula Abdul’s Live to Dance in 2011). All will be presenting dances to help raise funds to support Bay Area AIDS services. Don’t miss this first-time ever, collaborative dance event at Fort Mason Center’s Cowell Theater, located in the Herbst Pavillion, on Monday, April 30, 7:30pm. Come early to meet special guest and honorary co-chair, film (Lil’ Abner, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) and TV (Catwoman) star Julie Newmar. Tickets can be ordered by phone by calling 415-273-1620 or online at helpisontheway.org.

Sister Dana was really bummed out on Income Tax Day, reminded he is still a secondclass citizen. Feh!

Schedule Sacred Time with Your Fantasies ARIES (March 21 – April 19) You’re laboring over tasks that make you feel useful. Yet the more you please others, the less you like yourself. Back up, Aries. Self-worth is the foundation of meaningful service.

LEO (July 23 – August 22) Boost finances and renew your health by focusing attention on whatever you feel makes life worth living. Be authentic, Leo. Abandon values that don’t stand the test of time.

better.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) You may be the zodiac’s quintessential Earth sign, but nowadays your entire essence is ablaze like wildfire. Fan the flames with bold self-expression and pleasureful novelties. Play like a child.

Astrology Gypsy Love Studies show that certain creative channels in our brains can only function when our bodies are idle. In fact, humans ultimately accomplish more by reserving important downtime to replenish and recharge. Innovation happens when we create healthy space for imagination to flourish.

Astro-rhythms encourage us now to prioritize holistic wellness. Listen to your body’s cues.

Schedule sacred time with your fantasies.

Optimize precious energy so your passions can take flight.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Reconstruct creative processes pertaining to your career. Get to the root of what matters most to you, Gemini. Imagine if your dreams could dictate your reality. Act from your soul.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) Now’s your time for “learning by doing.” An ocean of unknown awaits, and the water is warm.

Dive in, Cancer. Teachers will reveal themselves... some as if by magic.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) Zooming in on the details is one of your specialties, Virgo. Just try zooming out sometimes to glance at the big picture. A bird’s eye view can be surprisingly revealing.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) Whether or not you realize it, your spirit is tending to important details behind-the-scenes. Surrender to your subconscious, Libra. Rest your body, and rely on the power of your instincts.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) Searing through to the center of truth is one of your cosmic gifts, Scorpio. This becomes useful as you currently work through a few intimate repressions. Think outside the box

www.AstrologyByGypsyLove.com

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) Lately, attaining optimal career status has transcended from personal ambition to passionate mission. Feeling overwhelmed, Sagittarius? Plug into “source” energy. What motivates you most to serve the greater good?

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) Astro-vibes urge you to dissolve some useless rigidities in your thought process and communication patterns. Lighten up and have some fun, Capricorn. Feeling joyful can be highly productive.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Yes, Aquarius, transformation is complicated. But you have no reason to fear. In fact, the Universe is currently coddling you with celestial support.

Embrace the beauty of unexpected change.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) Relationship dynamics take precedence now, Pisces.

Contrasts between personal needs and partnership criteria could be unsettling. Rest assured your cosmic “identity crisis” will inevitably crystalize even your deepest desires.

Gypsy Love’s astrology readings have helped 1000’s of people attract what they authentically desire.

Equality CA Honors Dianne Feinstein

By Dennis McMillan

ty Awards on April 14 at the Fairmont

has championed the Respect for Mar-

Hotel in recognition of her long-time

riage Act, which would repeal the

Equality California presented the

advocacy on behalf LGBTQ people,

1996 federal law that defined mar-

Equality Leadership Award to Sena-

including legally married same-sex

riage to exclude same-sex couples.

tor Dianne Feinstein at the SF Equali-

couples in California. Sen. Feinstein

She voted against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) when it was introduced in 1996, when very few did so. She has also introduced 13 private bills, more than any other member of Congress, to block deportations of LGBT Californians that would separate same-sex couples and their families. She was the first woman mayor P HOTO BY RIN K

of San Francisco and the first woman senator of California.

“DOMA is wrong,” said Feinstein.

“It is discriminatory and must be repealed.” She called equal treatment

She reminded everyone of the legisla-

EQC A a lso honored JCPenney

ture’s victorious repeal of “Don’t Ask,

with the Corporate Responsibility

we have a long way to go in this march

Don’t Tell” in 2010. She was only a

Award and San Francisco physician

for equality, but stressed she has seen

handful of senators to vote against

Dr. Royce C. Lin with the first-ever

“a lot of positive changes in attitudes

DADT in 1993. “It took too long, but

State Farm Good Neighbor Award.

happening all across our country.”

that pernicious law is no more.” Fein-

Actor Wilson Cruz hosted the gala,

She said, “I believe our legislative ef-

stein concluded, “Today, California is

and Grammy Award-winning singer

forts to achieve equality for this com-

inching closer to restoring marriage

Thelma Houston provided exhilarat-

munity are gaining momentum.”

equality.”

ing entertainment.

for LGBTQ Americans “the defining

PHOTO BY R INK

civil rights issue of our day.” She said

State Senator Mark Leno with honoree Senator Dianne Feimstein

Dinner co-chair Bevan Dufty, MC Wilson Cruz, singer Thelma Houston, and dinner co-chair Deb Kinney

As Heard on the Street . . .

A L L P H OTOS B Y R IN K

How do you acknowledge Earth Day? Asked at the Antique Vibrator Museum Opening at the Polk Street Good Vibrations store

Jukie Schweit:

Mark Espinosa

Sabrina Denebeim

Tom Boyer

“Using organic lotions are important for personal health and the environment.”

“Use rechargible sex toys made of long lasting California silicone.”

“For Earth Day, relax, vibrate, enjoy yourself at a spa with organic beauty aids.”

“Support hunters and fishermen because their permit fees pay to conserve nature. ” BAY T IM ES APRIL 19, 2012 9

National News Briefs compiled by Dennis McMillan

Seat t le, WA - Seat t le A rc hbis hop At tempt s To Re move Mar riage Equality – 4.15

Bozem a n, M T - Mont a na Supreme Cou r t Hea r s Appea l of Ma r r iage Equality Case – 4.13

Seatt le’s A rchbishop J. Peter Sartain is one of the homophobes who spoke out against the legalization of same-sex marriage in Washington State. Governor Christine Gregoire, who is Catholic, signed marriage equality into law earlier this year. Now the archbishop is circulating petitions through the state’s parishes to get the rollback on the November ballot.

The American Civil Liberties Union has appealed a district-court ruling dismissing the same-sex domestic partnership case, Donaldson & Guggenheim v. State of Montana, to the Montana Supreme Court.

A bulletin from Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, who testif ied against the same-sex marriage bill, is asking parishes to participate in the signature-gathering ef fort and “do ever ything you can to uphold the traditional def inition of marriage in our state.”

“We bishops have already made known our strong opposition to the redef inition of marriage, and we will continue to do so,” he promised.

Currently, same-sex couples will be able to marr y in Washington this summer. But if equality’s opponents collect 120,577 signatures before a June 6 deadline, those marriages will be delayed until after the November elections. If Washingtonians should vote to roll back equality, the state will continue to of fer civil unions, though legal marriage will be delayed indef initely.

“The Montana Constitution guarantees fair and equal treatment to all people, including gay and lesbian couples,” said lead attorney, James Goetz, of the Bozeman, MT law f irm Goetz, Gallik & Baldwin, acting as a cooperating attorney.

“This case is about giving loving, committed couples the recognition they deserve and ensuring that all families can thrive in Montana. Domestic partnerships are a way for the Montana Constitution’s guarantees of human dignity and protection for all people to be upheld for same-sex couples.” Without domestic partnership recognition, the plaintif fs have been denied the ability to take care of each other and their families. Judge Jef frey Sherlock dismissed the case in April 2011, saying an amendment to the Montana Constitution that def ines marriage as being between a man and a woman had already settled the question, adding that the question of granting gay couples the benef its, without allowing them to get married, was best left to the legislative process. In November, the ACLU said that Sherlock “abdicated his responsibility” in dismissing the case.

Source: Montana ACLU

But Archbishop Sartain may not get as much help as he hoped, since several Catholic parishes have refused to circulate his petition Source: Reuters

Baton Rouge, LA - Archaic Louisiana Legislation Would Codify Discrimination into Law – 4.16 Los Angeles, CA – Researchers Discover Potential Lead to Cure for AIDS – 4.16 There could be a huge breakthrough concerning the war on AIDS. Scientists at UCLA say they have found a way to turn stem cells into cells that fight the HIV virus. (See the UCLA report on Page 8.) Researchers say the discovery could one day potentially lead to a cure for AIDS, cancer and other deadly viruses. They have figured out how to engineer stem cells taken from adult blood and turn them into immune cells that attack and kill the HIV virus.

The breakthrough even surprised them.

Researcher Dr. Jerome Zack said, “We knew that the results were coming down the pike, but when they finally came out, we looked at it and went, ‘That’s pretty good!’”

So far the technique has been successful in attacking HIV in hundreds of lab mice.

“We haven’t fully developed the technology to clear them of HIV, but they are significantly suppressed in the amount of virus that is replicating,” said Dr. Scott Kitchen.

Researchers say human clinical trials are the next step. If those prove successful, the technique could be available to patients in about ten years.

Forum For Equality Louisiana and the Human Rights Campaign are calling on Louisiana State Senator A.G. Crowe to withdraw SB 217, a discriminatory measure that would force state agencies and local governments to write discrimination into public contracts by setting limiting protected classes to just race, religion, national ancestry, age, sex or disability. The bill’s passage would mean entities entering into public contracts with government bodies - including charter schools - could discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and even on things like athletic ability, language competency or political beliefs.

“Senate Bill 217 is nothing more than a power grab that says that only the Legislature can make decisions about discrimination issues in Louisiana. This is a sad attempt by hate groups to not only prevent local governments, school boards and charter schools from having anti-discrimination policies, but also to take away protections many city governments have already enacted,” said John Hill, chair of Forum for Equality Louisiana. “Nationally, this is a losing battle for these extremists as more states expand civil rights; so once again, these groups make Louisiana backward-thinking, not forward-thinking.”

New York, N Y - Mag ic Mike St r ipper Flick Com ing in Late June – 4.13 Steven Soderbergh’s male stripper movie, Magic Mike, is coming via Warner Bros. starr ing hunky actors Matt Bomer as Ken, producer Channing Tatum as M ike, Adam Rodr ig uez as Tito and Joe Manganiello as Big Dick Richie, with Matthew McConaughey as a former st r ipper. B omer wa s i nter v iewed by New York mag a zi ne, Vult ure, regarding his role as an in-the-f lesh Ken doll.

“The dif ference between men at strip clubs and women at strip clubs is that when women go, they want more of an experience. They also go in packs, and they go to laugh. But hey, it’s high time we turn the tables and objectify some men,” said Bomer. “And we’re all dif ferent types. Variety is the spice of life! It’s not just beefcake. We needed a sk inny man, too! I have two routines: Dr. Love and Ken Doll. Yes, [my character’s] name is Ken, and his Ken doll is plasticine, well put together, and it’s a play on the fantasy. What if a … Ken doll came to life? Wasn’t that your fantasy?” Bomer also confessed he was licked by an extra.

Concer n ing h is costume, he commented, “ We prett y much a l l got down to our thongs, although one of us - his thong got kind of ripped of f. That’s not going to make the f ilm.” Damn! Bomer complained he had a hard time with the thong.

Source: Vulture magazine

Source: Forum For Equality Louisiana

Source: NBC news

Local News Briefs Taking Another Step Closer to Equality

Don’t You Want to Live with Madonna?

Christopher Nathan, my friend and fellow Sister, has been pursuing a case to get health benefits for same-sex spouses in the federal court for the Northern District of California. Benefits are currently denied under DOMA. He had a hearing, and Chief Judge James Ware issued a favorable decision.

There is a building of low-cost studio apartments coming available near City Hall. The building is called the Madonna Residence (cool name!), and it is accepting applications for affordable studios here in the Civic Center. Maximum rent is based on your income and ranges from $534 - $777 per month.

“I asked Chief Judge Ware and Rich Wieking, the Clerk of Court, if it would be possible to implement a program to provide health benefits to gay and lesbian employees with spouses,” Nathan told the Bay Times. “Given that heterosexual married couples receive this benefit, I felt it was a way the court could bring equality in the face of DOMA. The ultimate determination was made that I should go through the formal employee grievance process. It was a bit of an ordeal, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 17 years as a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence, it’s that it’s worth it to fight the good fight.”

Amenities include gated courtyard, laundry, kitchenette in each unit and on-site services.

The process to date has taken over seven months, and it’s not over. Chief Judge Ware ordered the Clerk to meet with Nathan to determine a reimbursement amount, but it’s possible Rich Wieking can appeal the decision.

“I hope to see lots and lots of you here,” Brian Basinger, director of AIDS Housing Alliance/SF tells the Bay Times. “It’s a lottery, which means it’s a numbers game. The more of us that apply, the greater our chances of winning.” AIDS Housing Alliance/SF is located at 350 Golden Gate Avenue.

Source: Personal interview by Dennis McMillan

10 BAY TIMES APRIL 19, 2012

AIDS Housing Alliance/SF is located in the Madonna, so they are very interested in having as many members of the LGBTQ and HIV communities living there as possible. So spread the word!

Applications for the lottery will be distributed now through April 25, Monday to Friday only, 9 to Noon and 1 to 4pm.

Source: Personal interview by Dennis McMillan

Super v isor s I nt roduce Leg islat ion to Help LGBTQ Seniors Supervisors Scott Wiener, David Campos and Christina Olague introduced legislation to require the City to plan for the future needs of San Francisco’s growing population of LGBTQ seniors. There are approximately 25,000 LGBT people 60 years of age or older currently living in San Francisco, and that number is projected to double to 50,000 by 2030 as the massive Baby Boomer generation ages. Nationally there are approximately 1.5 million LGBTQ seniors over age 65, a number expected to increase to 3 million by 2030.

The legislation, which grew out of a hearing earlier this year on the subject, will form an 11-member task force, to be selected by the Board of Supervisors from the community and experts in the field. “Our LGBT seniors are the people who built this community, and we need to make sure we are there for them as they age,” said Supervisor Wiener. “LGBT seniors face many challenges common to all seniors, but they also face unique challenges that we as a City need to address.”

Source: Supervisor Scott Wiener

P H OTO S B Y H E IDI BE E LE R

Grand Lake Farmers Market Makes Saturdays Sacred

Brass Tacks Heidi Beeler By: Heidi Beeler If you’re looking for an Earth Day celebration on Gay Standard Time, Splash Pad Park (near Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater) is holding its event 24-hours late, from 9am to noon on Sunday, April 22.

wares among its palm-lined walks and native plant garden beds would be sacrilege.

That’s not to say that the park’s guardian nonprofit, the Splash Pad Neighborhood Forum (SPNF ), is thumbing its nose at Earth Day - only postponing it. Last weekend, SPNF founding member Ken Katz snuck up behind me with a pamphlet and said I couldn’t take pictures of the gardens unless I promised to help weed. His mouth was laughing, but his eyes were dead serious. With all our late spring showers, these people need help weeding.

The transformation of the park from a derelict health hazard into its current grassy hillocks and tree-lined

Splash Pad Park is home to one of the East Bay’s most celebrated farmers markets, the Grand Lake Farmers Market, and Saturdays are sacred.

To do anything other than welcome the California growers, cheese mongers, bee keepers, butchers, fisherman, jewelers, potters, food trucks, kettle corn poppers, musicians and the droves who come to sample their

using the park was a homeless man who named the rats living with him amongst the weeds and litter.

When plans were introduced for a national retailer to redevelop the space,

neighborhood activists organized to preserve the park and bring in a market of local food producers and craftspeople instead. They hired Walter Hood, the UC Berkeley environmental design professor now famous for reclaiming abandoned urban spaces and for designing the grounds surrounding the new De Young Museum.

When Hood’s Fountain Wall went on the chopping block as City redevelopment money ran out, individuals from the neighborhood donated the $50,000 needed for the water feature.

And when Oakland warned that it wouldn’t have the funds to maintain the space, the neighborhood through SPNF agreed to maintain the park in perpetuity.

“In perpetuity lasted about four years,” Katz laughed, noting that the community is very supportive until he needs volunteers to weed.

The market is growing and all the local organic celebs of the Bay Area farmers market circuit make themselves at home here: Happy Boy Farms whose farmers popularized “spring mix” salad; the Waffle Mania truck, whose driver and chef Alain

Dupont hearkens from Belgium; Kassenhoff Growers, whose organic tomato seedlings are chosen to thrive in our climate; and more. This Earth Day, grab a trowel and support Splash Pad Park!

walks with its star farmers market is a triumph of neighborhood action.

Katz told me the park was originally the north end of Oakland’s Lakeside Park. When 580 was built early in the 1960s, the new overpasses chopped it off from Lake Merritt. So the city installed palm trees and fountains with concrete basins to give the park its own life, naming it Splash Pad Park.

Cut off from Lakeside Park’s resources, it eventually fell into disrepair.

Katz said by the 1990s, the only one

(PLAYGROUND continued from page 1) Mercer Fund in honor of San Francisco Bay Area philanthropist Helen Diller, together with funding from the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond and the City’s General Fund. Kids are now able to enjoy several unique and exciting features.

These include a central play mound with an ADA-accessible suspension bridge, built-in slide and climbing nets, custom-made ship-wrecked boats to release kids’ inner pirate, and a 40’ super slide built into the natural hillside behind the playground.

addition to our city’s world-class park system and a perfect reason to get out and play on a sunny day!

About the Author: Alex Randolph is the Deputy Director of Community and Government Relations at San Francisco Recreation and Parks. He served as former Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Liaison to the LGBT Community and as a Legislative Aide to former District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty. He currently lives in the Mission Dolores neighborhood with his partner Trevor Nguyen and is a frequent user of the park on weekends.

The Helen Diller Playground in Mission Dolores Park is a great new BAY T IM ES APRIL 19, 2012 11

Point/Counterpoint: About the Sheriff statement to the world to make Ross an example in this way, to treat him as if he is a human being capable of change and redemption and give him a chance to do the job he was elected to do.

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I believe that the process the city government is engaged in now, in considering the f iring of Ross Mirkarimi from his elected position of Sheriff, to be hugely inappropriate and politically motivated.

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Justice has two components: One is adherence to the law and the other is mercy, or compassion. Justice is not about making an example of one person because of the crimes of the many. It is also not about condemning someone because of his repellent non-criminal behavior.

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Justice is also about discretion, about responding to the specific facts of a particular case. I find that sometimes when I try to talk to people about Ross, they refuse to engage because of their personal experience with extreme domestic violence. People keep demanding that Ross be punished, but he has been punished. He has been sentenced to a great deal of counseling. He has not been allowed contact with his wife and only very limited contact with his son. This is an adequate punishment for his offense.

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What about the possibility that San Francisco could use this situation to create another kind of example -- an example of restorative justice, rather than an example of punishment and exile? Restorative justice is based on practices of Native American communities who believe in the full reintegration of the wrong-doer back into the community. Under Sheriff Hennessey, this city has been a leader in creating a justice system that provides education and support and a path of dignity back into the community. It would be a truly powerful

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I cannot neglect to mention the plight of Eliana Lopez who feels absolutely trampled upon by the San Francisco “ justice” system. Isn’t it just a bit ironic that at every point the legal system refused to consider Eliana’s wishes -- all supposedly in an effort to “protect” her? Again, the law was applied without any discretion. Yes, we need to prosecute perpetrators of domestic violence in some cases when the victim of the violence refuses to cooperate because she is too terrified or browbeaten to do so. But is Eliana Lopez such a victim? She was afraid of Ross taking custody of their child if their marriage ended.

That’s why she agreed to the video of her bruise. But she was not physically afraid of Ross. She has always been very clear about this, and that it is the “ justice” system of San Francisco that has abused her.

I cannot avoid the conclusion that the machine, which has run this city for so long, eagerly grabbed this opportunity to get rid of the only citywide elected progressive off icial.

This is politics at its lowest. It is a very serious thing to kick an elected official out of office. The reality of Ross’s misdemeanor does not justify this. It’s time to restore Ross to his job and let him get on with his work (and his court-ordered counseling), and let his family get on with their lives. And if the voters of San Francisco, who hired Ross, want to fire him -- let them do it through a recall.

Terry Baum has been involved in electoral politics since 1970, when she worked as a personal aide for Bella Abzug. The playwright, director and actress more recently received the highest percentage of any small party write-in candidate for Congress.

Now is the Time to Blow the Whistle

By Andrea Shorter Many of us know the meaning of being battered and bullied. We need a new Sheriff to continue our long struggle against violence at home and in the community.

Remember the whistles you’d see people wearing around the Castro?

Fifteen years ago, San Francisco’s Communities United Against Violence gave whistles to thousands of people to condemn abuse against and within the LGBT community.

The Blow the Whistle campaign caught on and started a conversation about what we all can do to stop abuse. It’s a conversation we’re still having today, as Ross Mirkarimi faces possible removal for pleading guilty to a domestic violence offense.

As our community continues to advance marriage rights and other healthy family relationships, we do ourselves a disservice if we allow an elected law enforcement official to remain in off ice who cannot fully support that cause.

We have a choice. We can turn away from our tradition of calling attention to the devastating impact of violence and abuse affecting our community. Or we can blow the whistle.

The LGBT community is a uniquely important voice in the matter. Our three LGBT Supervisors will be pivotal when faced with a likely vote on whether to remove Ross Mirkarimi from office for official misconduct.

We need our Supervisors to be fair and objective. And they must answer the most important question – can Ross Mirkarimi govern now?

The answer is no. San Francisco doesn’t want a Sheriff guilty of domestic violence -- especially when his office is critical in enforcing laws to protect the victims of those same crimes.

Can those convicted of domestic violence change? It’s possible, but it takes time. As an expert in diversion models like the year-long Batterer’s Intervention Program Mirkarimi is required to attend as part of his sentence, I know that people can change their behavior. But while he is attending this program, is Mirkarimi

capable of effectively governing and conducting business as Sheriff to the fullest extent demanded by the public’s trust?

In the past month, members of the Justice & Courage Oversight Panel of the Commission on the Status of Women have met with Public Defender Jeff Adachi and District Attorney George Gascon to advance reform efforts to make the criminal justice system respond more effectively to domestic violence. As a community, we must demand that our elected officials address a crime that is reported over 4,000 times a year in San Francisco. A Sheriff that has pled guilty to domestic violence is not in a position to advance this work.

For the past 10 years, we have worked to reform the domestic violence response in our criminal justice system. We have come a long way, working closely with the Police, Sheriff, Adult Probation, District Attorney, 911 and others to expand language access, increase victim services, improve training, and demand better data collection for one of the city’s most pervasive crimes. And there is more work to be done among fully dedicated leaders and citizens to make San Francisco a zero tolerance community against domestic violence.

So will it be silence or excuses? It’s time to make noise for safety, health and healing on behalf of our community and our city as a whole. It’s time to blow the whistle.

Andrea Shorter is Commissioner on the San Francisco Commission the Status of Women. She chairs the Justice & Courage Oversight Panel that leads the effort to address domestic violence across city departments.

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12 BAY TIMES APRIL 19, 2012

Wide screen image of Helen Diller Playground @ Dolores Park. Visit the “ZOOM cam” to see how the playground was built: friendsofdolorespark.org/index.shtml

The Week in Review

By Ann Rostow Can I Take Your Order?

Silly me. As my deadline expired last week, I read that several GLBT leaders were over at the White House in a late-afternoon meeting with administration aides. And, since our community has been pressuring the Obama crowd for a gay rights executive order, I assumed that the decision had been made in our favor. I mean, why get everyone over to the West Wing just to dash their hopes? What’s the point in that?

Um, I don’t know, but indeed that’s what the administration did last week. They decided not to add sexual orientation and gender identity to an existing executive order that mandates nondiscrimination policies for federal contractors. If that sounds like a mouthful, let me assure you that a stroke of the President’s pen could have provided protection against job bias for tens of millions of vulnerable GLBT workers.

But my main question was: Why have a meeting to announce the bad news, and in so doing, piss off gay activists and cause a stir? Why not hedge?

Why not make a secret deal to sign the order after reelection ( just before we settle our business with Vladimir Putin)? It seemed clumsy.

My pragmatic side has some sympathy for Obama’s dilemma. Romney has so little fodder for his campaign that he would have fed on this type of executive order for the duration. Not that Mittens would have openly advocated discrimination against gays.

Instead he would have used it as an example of Obama using the public purse to “force companies to undermine their religious freedom.”

Nonetheless, in the empty echo chamber of today’s political media, where off hand comments reverberate for days, this charge could have thundered back and forth for months.

On Thursday, Jay Carney explained that Obama remains committed to ending job bias, but wants to do so by passing the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, a perennial nonstarter in any Congress, let alone one where Democrats lack 60 votes in the Senate. That’s like refusing to make breakfast in a Manhattan apartment until you can set up a chicken coop and produce your own eggs. (Please note that I did not go off on my usual tangent about how much I hate the Employment Nondiscrimination Act.) Obama has done more for us that anyone seems to recognize by placing the Justice Department on the side of equality in virtually all federal gay rights lawsuits. He’s done so without really drawing fire from the right, and his 2011 decision could have historic repercussions well beyond the impact of an executive order.

That said, he must be reelected for the policy to work on our behalf, as a dozen or so federal cases make their way up the courts over the next few years.

For that reason, I’ll give up the order without too much fuss if the decision helps win him another term.

Maybe just a little fuss.

There’s Something About Montana Speaking of lawsuits, there’s an interesting state case, argued last week before the Montana Supreme Court, which I have never fully understood.

Perhaps I would have a better grip on the underlying strategy had I actually read the briefs and the lower court opinion, but then again, there is only so much time in this short life for the unpaid perusal of legal paperwork.

Six gay couples are arguing that Montana’s anti-marriage constitutional amendment should not preclude legislating a domestic partner scheme that offers at least some marital benefits to gay unions. Further, they say, failure to do so is unconstitutional.

unrest, incitement to crime and/or lewdness.

I agree, but it sounds as if the case as argued is too vague for victory. Usually, we find a few couples who are being denied this or that benefit and then state our claim. We don’t just sue for an unspecified partner status. But here’s the other anomaly:

The bracelet is part of a campaign against breast cancer, but for the school it’s a trigger for sex-crazed little boys to disrupt the class and bother the girls. These cases are not always clear-cut, but for my part I come down on the side of the bracelet-wearer. Schools can prohibit, let’s say, Confederate bandanas that could cause a riot. But they can’t confiscate any and all potentially controversial items of clothing.

In California (and now in Nevada), we argue that you cannot offer all the benefits of marriage without extending the status of marriage itself. The “m-word,” we correctly insist, is an integral benefit of marriage and can’t be excised out of the “m-package” under the guise of civil unions.

At any rate, it will be instructive to see how the Third Circuit rules on this matter. We have yet to get a clear High Court decision on the scope of school authority when it comes to gay or antigay clothing, and this case would surely shed light on the subject if it reached the justices.

Elsewhere, we make the claim that the antigay constitutional amendments that exist in over 30 states should not be interpreted to forbid workplace benefits or other arrangements that recognize gay couples.

Giving someone medical insurance for their partner for example, is not the same as “recognizing a same-sex marriage.” Hence the denial of such benefits should be analyzed as a violation of equal protection rather than a threat to the marriage amendment.

A few years back the High Court dismissed a gay T-Shirt case as moot, because the student in question had graduated, but that was basically ducking the issue. And last year a Seventh Circuit panel ruled that a shirt reading “Be Happy, Not Gay” could not be censored, but that was the end of that particular long-running case.

he Montana case seems to fall into an uncharted gap between these two lines of argument. It almost makes me want to read the filings in order to produce a coherent report on the case. But, the key word is “almost.”

Sorry, Montana.

Does Pizza Turn You Gay? Were you aware that pizza boxes cannot be recycled? I was sort of aware of that, but I put my boxes in the bin anyway, because they may be greasy, but they’re still cardboard. What the hell. We’re nice enough to bother to recycle, and they still want us to perform additional triage.

Turns out the grease will damage the recycling apparatus and could even taint your entire bin. I learned this by clicking an intriguing link with a title that said something like: “The Mystery of the Pizza Box.” I routinely fall for these tantalizing sidebars, wasting what adds up to vast chunks of time in pursuit of what turn out to be tedious little anecdotes, useless advice and old news. I suppose the pizza box item was useful, but still. It hardly lived up to its enigmatic teaser, now did it?

Perhaps I should make my section headlines more tempting. I just wrote the one for this particular section as a test. Don’t lie to me. You were dying to read on, weren’t you? The problem is that now, like me, you feel cheated.

I won’t do it again.

Pizza Has No Impact on Sexual Orientation Just thought I’d clear up the business about the pizza before I continue.

Moving on, in the course of my extensive research on interesting things that have little or no connection to GLBT news, I was reading about a Third Circuit case on whether or not a Pennsylvania middle school can ban a bracelet that reads: “I (heart) boobies.”

The case is a kissing cousin of our many school T-shirt dramas, where students are stripped of their gayfriendly garb or told to cover up their homophobic Bible verses. It highlights the constitutional clash between a kid’s right to free speech on campus and the school’s obligation to sustain an educational environment free of

dances

from the heart Bay Area dancers united to fight AIDS DS

April 30, 2012, 7:30pm

fort mason’s cowell theater

sexy, stylish & chic!

Ballet San Jose ★ Smuin Ballet Company C Contemporary Ballet Christy Coté Argentine Tango Diablo Ballet ★ Amy Seiwert’s IMAGERY ODC dance ★ Post:Ballet ★ Na Lei Hulu Nikki & Ethan White/White Tree Fine Art Benefiting Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation Larkin Street Youth Services & Dancers’ Group’s Parachute Fund Special Guest JULIE NEWMAR

Earlier this month, Lambda sued an Ohio high school, where a student was ordered to turn his “Jesus Was Not A Homophobe” shirt inside out.

The student complied at first, but after a little legal research pressed the administration to no avail. Lambda sent them a few letters, and made a federal case out of it a couple of weeks ago. Good luck, Lambda.

Tobacco Road to Ruin What else is new, you wonder. Well, not that much actually. We are all gearing up for the North Carolina anti-gay marriage vote on May 8.

Both Barack Obama and Lung Cancer State Governor Bev Purdue have urged a no vote, but the polls are not encouraging.

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That said, most voters don’t seem to understand that the NorCar proposition not only bans recognition of same-sex marriage, it also bans domestic partnership benefits for both gay and straight couples, and will even roll back local partner recognition in cities or by public employers around the state. Oddly, it is even opposed by Prop 8 proponent David Blankenhorn, a man who testif ied in favor of Prop 8 in court, but who nonetheless claims to support a lesser status for gay couples (a nuanced position indeed).

In theory, a majority of Tar Lung voters believe gay couples should have some kind of recognition. But that kind of majority never seems to coalesce once the antigay crowds sink their sound bites into the flesh of the electorate. We’ll see.

Meanwhile, I was cheered to see that the antigay people in Washington have only collected 4,583 signatures to repeal marriage equality after three weeks of petitioning. They have until June 6 to turn in 120,000 valid names, which means they have to get themselves into gear if they’re going to have a shot at killing our communal hopes and dreams next Fall.

Gay activists are preparing for a marriage f ight, although some believe more effort should be focused on a “decline to sign” type effort in order to prevent the repeal from qualifying for the ballot to begin with. According to the Seattle Times, the most recent antigay ballot measure (a losing effort to repeal domestic partnership) barely made it through the petition phase, ergo we should be able to nip (continued on page 24

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16 BAY TIMES APRIL 19, 2012

Arts&Entertainment Interview with Kelby Johnson of the Documentary “Bully” Film

Gary Kramer The new documentary Bully opens t he conversat ion on bul ly ing by present ing power ful stor ies t hat chronicle how teens are responding to being teased, tortured and t or ment e d i n m idd le a nd h i gh schools across America. The f ilm is a blistering wake up call to the estimated 13 million kids that are ment a l ly a nd physica l ly abused by their peers every year.

A lt hough on ly one of t he f i l m’s f ive cent r a l ch a r a cter s —Kelby Johnson—is openly gay, she prov i d e s a s t r o n g a n d i m p or t a nt voice for t he young queer community. In this Q& A, Kelby talks about her involvement in the f ilm a nd her e x p er ienc e s a s a n out teen.

GK: How did you get involved in Bully?

K ELBY: Ellen DeGeneres did a show on bu l ly i ng a nd my mom wrote on one of their websites and told them what was going on with me. One of t hei r producer s got in contact with Lee [ Hirsch, the director] who called me not long after that.

GK: Why did you want/agree to pa r t icipate a nd tel l you r story?

K ELBY: I think part of it was bei ng i n such a sma l l tow n. I felt I was the only one, and I got to

thinking about it, and there must be millions of k ids who feel this way and they can see it and think “I’m not alone.” This was a great opportunity and a way to express what I wanted to do with my life.

G K : D o y ou w a n t t o b e a n LGBT activist?

K ELBY: I am hoping to. I might g o t o D C for a n i nt er n s h ip t o work with GLSEN [Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network] so hopeful ly doors w ill open for me i n t he L GBT com mu n it y — and hopefully they are receptive.

GK: In the f ilm, you describe being hit by a car and ostracized. How much of the bullying that you faced occurred after you came out?

K E L B Y: B e for e [ I c a me out , I w a s bu l l ie d ] b e c au s e I wor e glasses, or a headband, or l itt le things like that. It wasn’t too bad.

But then, after I came out, it put that target on my back. I was run over by a group of 6 guys. They left, and didn’t stop to check on me. The teachers were joining in with the students on the bullying in school, and t he k ids felt t hey cou ld get away w it h it bec ause they saw the adults doing it too.

G K : Yo u d e s c r i b e b e i n g a cutter and contemplating suicide— what prompted you to stop that behavior?

K E L B Y: I f e l t a f t e r I w e n t t hrough a l l t hat cutt ing and attempting suicide, it wasn’t doing anything for me—it was pushing

me further back. I said, “I’m done w it h Poor Me.” I was ma k ing it wor se for my sel f, Ever y t i me I wa l ked into school w it h cuts on my arm, it made them win—and they did. That was a sense of accompl ish ment for t hem. T hen I stopped because I wanted to be stronger.

GK: You talk about your biggest loss was being not able t o p l ay b a s k e t b a l l — s o m e t h i ng you loved — i n school.

How did you cope with that?

K E L BY: T hat was hard lett ing go of the sports. I’m going to have to get back out there, but I picked my bat t les. I was t r y i ng to st ay away from it as much as I could, so I had to let go.

GK : W hat advice do you have for GL BT yout h about com i ng out i n m idd le/h ig h school?

K ELBY: You need to. For yours e l f — not for a nyone e l s e. You have to be honest w ith yourself.

It’s a huge weight lifted of f your shou lder s. You w i l l go t h rough rough t i mes — you have to —but i n t he end, you’re st ronger a nd it’s better.

GK: W hat is the most harmf u l a spec t t o bu l ly i n g — t he n a me c a l l i n g, t he phy s ic a l abuse, the isolation?

K ELBY: I think for me, the worst part was the isolation. If you have t he n a me c a l l i n g a nd phy s ic a l abuse, you have people to go to, (continued on page 18)

Corpus Christi Play Opens in SF with Added Film Premiere

By Cathy Renna and Nathan Tabak

P H OTO B Y: E J C A MP ej ca mp. co m

A decade a nd a ha l f ago, when Terrence McNally f irst conceived a pl ay t h at de pic t ed Jesu s a nd his apostles as gay men in 1950s Texas, he ex pected controversy.

W hat he d id n’t ex pect was t hat after the outrage had died down, C orpu s C hr i st i wou ld become a n i nter nat iona l success - one t hat L os A ngeles -based 10 8 P roduct ion s hopes w i l l i n s pi r e L GB T a nd a l l ied aud iences a l l around

t he countr y to stand for accepti ng, w it h t he a id of a new f i l m premier ing next weekend in San Francisco.

A s w r it t e n b y fou r - t i me Ton y w i n ner Mc Na l ly, C o rp u s C h r i st i loosely adapts the classic Passion play stor y, but how this familiar plot plays out is a long way from Obera m mergau. T h is Jesus, renamed Joshua, is conceived in a cheap hotel room rat her t ha n a m a n g er. H i s ap o st le s a r e t h i rt een g ay men of v a r iou s w a l k s

of l i fe, from a law yer to a ma le prostitute. In between performing miracles, Joshua presides over a same-sex mar r iage bet ween t wo of h is apost les, Ja mes a nd Ba rtholomew. And Joshua and Judas become lover s, w it h t he lat ter’s betrayal being driven by jealousy rather than thirty pieces of silver.

When news of the play’s Fall 1998 debut at the Manhattan Theatre Club became public in spr ing of that year, the theater, playwright, a nd c a st b e c a me t he t a r g et of he a t e d r het or ic , pr ot e s t s , a n d even death threats from religious conservatives. On opening night, a n e s t i m a t e d 2 , 0 0 0 pr ot e s t e r s were outside the theater. The cont roversy t ranslated into big box of f ice: Corpus Christi’s entire tenweek run sold out weeks before.

Fou r t e e n y e a r s a f t e r t he p l ay premiered in New York, 108 will br i n g t he a c c l a i me d ne w st a ging of t he play, d irected by Nic A r n zen, to Sa n Fr a nc i sco nex t weekend. Saturday’s event, to be held at the Castro Theatre, also kicks of f the preview tour of a new documentary, Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption, which follows

the play’s cast and crew throughout the 2010 portion of their tour.

T he docu ment a r y not on ly features footage of past performances and inter v iews w it h t he cast, but depicts t he play’s h istor y of controversy, from 1998 to recent years. A pivotal sequence depicts t he preparat ion for a June 2010 performance at Dallas’ Cathedral of Hope, a m id st s pec i f ic deat h threats to the cast.

Actor Ja mes Br a ndon, who co founded 108 Productions and has played the lead role of Joshua in 2006, is keenly aware of how Corpus Christi has changed over time - a nd how t he cu lt ura l moment has changed. He notes that the play originally debuted at a time when same-sex marriage was not yet lega l in any state, and when gays could not serve openly in the military.

108 has further launched what it ca l ls t he I A M L ove Ca mpa ig n centered around Playing with Redemption, which the f ilm’s producers and cast intend to use to send a message of hope and rel ig ious acceptance around the country.

Unsurprisingly, however, the San Francisco per for mance has gener ated it s ow n outcr y f rom t he rel ig ious communit y. A n Internet petition has already gathered over 7,0 0 0 s ig nat u res , l abel i ng t he play a nd f i l m “unspea k able blasphemy” and “prejudicial outrage.” It also calls on the Castro to “immediately cancel the showi ng of t h is mov ie a nd play, a nd to of fer a public apolog y to Our Lord Jesus Christ and to all God fea r i ng A mer ic a n s .” 10 8’s c a st and crew have received similarly scat hing comments v ia persona l emails, YouTube comments, and even ema i ls to A r nzen’s mot her in Iowa.

But the potential for protests has only made Brandon more resolute in standing by the play’s message.

Of past protests, he says: “They’ve only deepened my conviction that t h e L G B T c o m mu n i t y s h o u l d have a seat at the table of whatever faith they choose.” And to the latest protesters, he has a simple message: “Be our g uest, and see the play or the f ilm for yourself.

You can exper ience t he love He really stood for, not hate.”

BAY T IM ES APRIL 19, 2012 17

POP ROX

Photo of The Week

By K. Cole

P HOTO SOURC E: N ASA

BLAME SALLY “Live at KVIE Studios” Teetering on the brink of national awareness, our own Blame Sally releases this live recording in support of Public Television and might have finally captured their allure on record for the first time. Showing off the guitar work of Jeri Jones, smashing up a fantastic Fleetwood Mac cover and a version of Chain of Fools, the glimmer of what makes them such a great coalition of artists and inspiring live act just might push them past the fame tipping point.

Best Cut: “Hurricane” Location: Desktop listening late at night

Earth and Moon Taken from the Galileo spacecraft’s position approximately 3.9 million miles away, the image Earth and Moon is a single frame photo. The far side of the Moon is visible with its South Pole, Aitken Basin impact indentation. Antarctica is visible through the clouds surrounding Earth.

(BULLY continued from page 17) they can help you cope. If you are alone and isolated, you have nowhere to turn, and that puts you in a dark place. Luckily I have my parents, who are really supportive of me.

G K : You r f at her i s see n i n the f ilm to be incredibly supportive. What has your relationship with him been like?

K E L BY: My d a d a nd I d id n’t t a l k about it [ before], we never brought it up. But now I feel we’ve become closer a nd more open/ u nder st a nd i n g no m at t er wh at the situation is.

K E L BY: A l l I h a d w a s E l len .

T here was no k nowledge of t he L G B T c o m m u n i t y t o m e . I ’d never seen it or been around it. I learned through Ellen and looking stuf f up on net.

GK : You ta lk about the sup p or t of you r f r ie n d s. W h at role models do you have?

GK: It seems that the administ rat ion i n schools is lacking support for dealing with bullying. Did you f ind that to be the case?

K EL BY: I t hink we d id a g reat job w it h t he school. L ee wa sn’t t r y ing to ma ke t he schools look bad. It’s t hem not k now ing how to ha nd le [ bu l ly i ng ]. It’s easier to sweep it under the rug. That’s the problem. They need to understand this is an epidemic and kids are taking their own lives. It’s the biggest problem in the schools.

GK : W here a re you now?

A re you st i l l w it h your g irlfriend?

DJ HECTOR FONSECA “Star 69 Presents: New York Club Anthems Vol. 3” From the DJ who remixed Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Katy Perry, this club mix release born and bred in New York’s competitive club mix scene brings an international edge to a well-worn genre. Doesn’t hurt that Mr. Fonseca rocks the walkway as well as the mixer (check out the photo).

It takes great talent and a lot of nerve to even get noticed in this fast moving scene, so Fonesca is already doing what other DJs on the west coast can only dream of doing and yes, you can feel the difference.

Best Cut: “Eye Can See You” Location: SF Pride Stage end of Larkin

K ELBY: I dropped out of school but got my GED and now I live in an apartment with my g irlfriend in Oklahoma City. As I said in the f ilm, my friends are the only reason I walked into school and was there as long as I was. We took it day by day. It was scar y, but we had each other’s back.

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Best Cut: “Dreams (Original Radio Mix) Location: Fast convertible speeding north to Napa.

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18 BAY TIMES APRIL 19, 2012

HESTA PRYNN “Remixes & B-Sides” Roxy Music fans have found a new idol.

Fanfarlo’s second release keeps this artsy, alternative world-class band rolling forward into your psyche. Mixes are brilliant. Strings and electronic voices with a lush lyric overlay make for smooth, classy and otherworldly pop. Just what the doctor ordered.

Best Cut: “Replicate” Location: Noise cancelling headphones, pillows and wine.

A Place at the Table with Gertrude and Alice

Professional Services

Kirsten Kruse

The exhibit showcases a timeline, wh ich m i r ror s m a rker s i n L G BTQ histor y against happenings in the straight world. It displays fascinat ing ar t ifacts l ike a book of the 1948 Kinsey study “Sexual B eh av ior i n t he Hu m a n M a le” a nd a 1928 ed it ion of T h e Well of L on elin ess, a nd t he f i r st book wr itten about lesbians by an actual lesbian, T he Grapevine by Jess Stearn. It contrasts events, such as the opening of the White Horse Bar in 1936, the f irst edition of a guide to gay bars in 1963, and the f irst documentary about LGBTQ people, the KQED-produced T he R e j e ct e d, a g a i n st c u lt u r a l d ates l i ke t he 1976 i nvent ion of t he f i r st A pple computer. T h i s let s the visitor realize the chasm between two parallel cultures – gay and straight.

Ot her d isplay s feat u re music s a mple s , l i ke or i g i n a l L P ’s by Cr is Wil liamson alongside CD’s b y M e l i s s a E t h e r i d g e , Tr a c y C h a p m a n a n d Te g a n & S a r a ,

PHOTO COURTESY OF BAN CROF T L IBRARY, U C BERK EL EY

“A Place at the Table,” an exhibit of gay, lesbia n a nd t ra nsgender cu lt u re, i s now at t he Ba ncrof t Mu s eu m on t he UC B c a mpu s .

The exhibit leads visitors around a n i mag i na r y t able seated w it h famous artists that might have attended Gertrude Stein and A lice B. Toklas’ salons at their home in Fra nce. T he f irst showcase features a romantic piece of histor y i n t he for m of a teapot ow ned

by A l ice t hat is f i l led w it h st i l l fragrant rose petals. A round the i m a g i n a r y t a b l e v i s it or s me e t g uest s Chr ist ine Jorgensen, one of the f irst publically recognized trans persons, the Laguna Pueblo berdache potter named Ruth, blues si nger M a R a i ney, mov ie st ar R a mon Novar ro, w r iter James Baldwin, drag entertainer Jose Sarr ia, comedian Margaret Cho and painter John Singer Sargent. Can you imag ine the topics of their dinner conversation?

This show is open to visitors Mon – Fr i, 10 a m – 4 pm unt i l Ju ly.

You can also access most of it via the web at the Bancroft L ibrar y website.

a nd book s l i ke Tal es of t h e C it y

by A m i stead M aupi n, My Ant oni a by W i l l a Cat her a nd Val e ncia by Michelle Tea. While some of the art ifacts in the show may b e i nt i m a t e l y f a m i l i a r, ot he r s of fer fa sc i nat i ng t idbit s of new information.

Haas Fund enabled the multi-me-

The exhibit was made possible by t he Fr iend s of t he Ba ncrof t L ibra r y w it h generous suppor t of the Walter Haas Jr. Fund, which was also the f irst to support the freedom to marry movement. The

also intended it to be a learning

dia component of the exhibit. Organizers also credited the FA I R act, which makes it possible that educators can use this exhibit to teach secondar y school students a b o u t L G B T Q h i s t o r y. T h e y tool for students at UC Berkeley who may not have a strong backg r ou nd i n L GB T Q i s s ue s a nd community.

Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor Scott Wiener join namesake Helen Diller at the ribbon cutting ceremony opening the new Helen Diller Playground in Dolores Park.

Photo courtesy of SF Parks and Recreation

Read more @www.sfbaytimes.com and check us out on Twitter and Facebook.

BAY T IM ES APRIL 19, 2012 19

Professional Services

Inspiring LGBTQ Prof iles Kathleen Archambeau “ To a l l t h e a m a z i n g k i d s t h a t wa t c h o u r s h o w…wh o are con stantly tol d NO that they can’t be who they are or have what they want because of who they are by the people in their environm ents or by bullies at school, well, screw that, kids!”

Chris Colfer, Glee Star 2011 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor Acceptance Speech A star in the television series, Glee, Chr istopher (Chr is) Pau l Col fer stunned ever yone from his Centra l Va l ley hometow n of Clov is, Ca l i for n ia. I n 2011, Col fer wa s

n a med one of T i m e m a g a z i ne’s 100 Most Inf luential People in the world. In characteristic humility, he cred ited ot her s. “ I’d say t he group that most inf luenced me in the last year is the crew of Glee,” he said. “They work just as hard as we do and often don’t get the praise…” A nd, of his new-found hero, “I think Oprah k inda’ sets the bar for ever ything this per iod.” Chris Colfer pulls of f being h i msel f in t he super f icia l world of Hollywood. His latest tweet: a t a le of h is adopt ion of a n older Tabby cat at an animal shelter.

But it wasn’t always easy for Colfer. He was bullied so badly in 7th and 8th grade that he was home schooled. His younger sister, Hannah, suf fers from severe epilepsy.

Fortunately, he had understanding parents who were accepting of his gayness early on. In a Trevor Project v ideo, Colfer tells teens, “I k now what it’s like to be bullied and teased every single day…

Know that you are loved and you are not alone. I promise it gets so much better.”

Bu l ly ing had an un intended consequence: It made Colfer incredibly, “quick on his feet.” His Speech and Debate teacher gave Chris advice that he took to heart. “ I f you t r u ly ow n who you a re, no one can ever use that against

you.” In high school, Colfer excelled in speech and debate, was pr e s ident of t he Wr it er ’s C lub and editor of the school’s literary magazine.

Col fer had few act i ng cred it s – theater roles in West Side Story and T he Sound of Music and a starring role in a shor t f i lm, Russel F ish: T h e S a u sa ge a n d E g gs In c i d e n t – when G l ee’s creator, Rya n Murphy, des ig ned t he role of Ku r t Hummel for him. Of the Hummel role, Colfer says that Kurt “puts on a very conf ident…persona, but under neat h it a l l, he’s t he same a n x ious a nd sca red teen ever yone is/wa s at some poi nt…He’s a tough guy in designer clothes.”

In the series, Colfer can show of f his “high F ” – F5 -- countertenor vocal range.

As one of the youngest television actors to come out and star in a hit television series, Chris Colfer knows triumph. Colfer’s Glee stint began in 2009, when he was just 19. He plays openly gay student, Kurt Hummel, in now the fourth sea son of t he s how. I ron ic a l ly, Kurt’s love interest the past t wo sea son s i s Da r ren Cr i s s , a Sa n Francisco native and ACT graduate, who is straight.

C h r i s C ol fer ’s g r e at est a c c om plishment in his 21 years: “inspiring kids to be yourself.”

New Works Ahead and Final Weekends Theater Corner

Read more & the Calendar @sfbaytimes.com and check us out on Twitter and Facebook.

Linda Ayers-Frederick Custom Made Theatre’s product ion of Tony Kushner’s A B r ight R o o m C a l l e d D a y c om p let e s it s run on Apr il 22. Catch the play c r it ic s a r e c a l l i n g “s i mpl y i n cred ible!” Remaining shows are Fr i- Sat 8pm; Sun 7pm. Save $5 on all tickets using code: Kushner at http://w w w.custommade.org/ tickets.

T h e Me m be r of t h e We d d i n g pr e v iew s on Ju ne 7, open s Ju ne 8 , and runs through July 1, 2012, at the Douglas Morr isson Theatre, 22311 N. T h ird St reet, i n Hayward. It’s a rarely seen rev iva l of Ca r son McCu l ler s’ poig na nt coming of age drama. Adapted by McCu l ler s from her ow n novel, the play tells the story of twelveyear old tomboy, Frankie, a restless, bored and lonely soul. Think Chekov crossed w it h Ten nessee Williams. Tickets $10 -$28. (510) 881-6777; www.dmtonline.org A good t i me wa s had by a l l at Tue s d ay s To o l a s t w e e k w he n Claudia K raehe and Lynn Ruth M i l ler wowed t heir aud ience w it h a double bi l l of solo work.

More fab works at Stagewer x at 4 4 6 Va lenc i a . C hec k out t hei r prog r a m m i ng at st a g ewer x .or g as well as upcoming tuesdaystoo. com shows.

Unscr ipted T heat re is now presenting Act One, Scene Two at Phoen i x T heat re, w w w.u n- scr ipted . com for more details.

Just in from Dr. Annette Lust: The 29 th Fringe Festival of Marin w ith new short one-acts and so los by Bay Area playwrights performed by San Francisco, North, South and East Bay actors plays at Meadowlands Ha l l at Do minican University of California through April 29th weekend. Two programs with eight short pieces in each promises a diversity of ar-

20 BAY TIMES APRIL 19, 2012

tistic talent in premieres ranging from light and dark comedy and d r a m a t o d a nc e, s on g, a n i m a l and pantry tales.

A mong t he pieces presented i n Program One are: G e or g e D y s t r a’s c ome d y D i r t y Questions, in which a tax inspector inspects the activity of an elderly prostitute; Monologues: Old L adies Talk About Sex, wr itten and perfor med by play w r ight comed ian Carol Sheldon; Noah, T he Play by Charley Lerrigo which enacts the big f lood before the fact; and Pamela Rand’s All Gone, a fast-paced slapstick comedy sketch.

P r o g r a m Tw o i n c l u d e s p i e c e s for you n g er a s we l l a s m at u r e aud iences: Id e nt it y T h ef t by Bi l l Chessman, a comedy t hat quest ions how much of your ident it y and life are really yours; Point of V i e w by Su za n ne Bi r rel l i n t he Roshomon st yle; A nnette Lust’s i mag inat ive t a le How T he O nion Was Nearly Scorched that animates vegetables who show how Onion S oup wa s i nvented ; Hit t in g T h e H i g h N ot e s i n wh ic h Va lent i n a Osinsk i plays a singer dreaming of becom ing a celebrated opera s t a r ; L i n d a Ay r e s - F r e d e r i c k ’s Cant at a #40, wh ich por t rays a n American student barely escaping f rom Ea st B erl i n; a nd Gaet a na Caldwell-Smith’s dark comedy of a rich couple’s world falling apart in Wallis and Finnie in Cloud Cuckooland.

Add it iona l play w r ight s presenting new work are: David Hirzel, Don Samson, Melinda E. Lopez, Pat r icia Mor in, M ichael Ferg uson, and Rod McFadden.

The Festival runs thru April 29, Fr idays & Sat urdays 7:30 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. & Sat. April 21st at 2 p.m. Meadowlands Hall, Dom i n ic a n Un iver s it y, 5 0 A c a c i a Ave, San Rafael.

Tickets $5 -$20. (415) 673 -3131, jea n lust@ aol.com or w w w.fr i ngeofmarin.com.

Bad Dating Advice

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT W hen Keit h met M ig uel, he instantly had feelings for him that he hadn’t felt for anyone in years.

He saw t he rea l possibi l it y of a rel at ion sh ip, a nd when M ig uel reciprocated his interest, they began to date.

K e it h w a s d et er m i ne d “ not t o blow it this time,” so he was caref u l to obey a l l t he dat i ng r u les he’d leaned over the years. In order to make sure he didn’t appear too needy he put on a cool, casual attitude that he didn’t really feel.

He made sure he kept the intensity of his feelings to himself, so as not to fr ighten M ig uel away. W hen M ig uel ca l led or texted him, he didn’t answer right away so as not to appear too eager. For the same

reason, he’d let a couple of weeks go by between dates, even though he was thinking of him every day.

A fter dating “casually” for a few months, Miguel stopped responding to him. Keith was devastated, but he wa s c a ref u l not to show those feelings. One evening they ran into each ot her, and, under the inf luence of some liquid courage Keith asked him, “Why didn’t we work out ? ” M i g ue l s e eme d puzzled by t he quest ion, a nd replied “I d idn’t think you were interested.”

Keith had followed all the dating adv ice he’d been g iven over t he years -- don’t appear demanding or needy; try to accommodate the other person’s presumed need for d ist ance and boundar ies; ma int a i n a cool, noncha la nt facade; hide your rea l needs and w ishes – and it was fol low ing that ver y advice that drove Miguel away.

T h is caut iona r y t a le h igh l ight s what I bel ieve is t he best st rateg y for handling any dating situation, which is don’t strategize at all.

Most people in my experience enjoy dating about as much as they enjoy job interviews, and a lot of that discomfort may be due to being overly invested in impression management.

W hen you tell the person you’re d at i n g t he t r ut h , e x pr e s s you r rea l need s a nd feel i ng s. Act i ng from your genuine desires you accomplish three things. First, authenticity increases your general feel ing of happiness and fu l f i l lment, and being happy and fulf illed are among the most attract ive qua l it ies you can of fer as a p er s on . S e c ond , by e x pr e s s i n g your real needs, you will f ind out early on whether or not a potential partner is able to meet those needs. Not everyone is capable of meet ing your needs, and t here’s nothing wrong with that. If you’re aut hent ic, you’re more l i kely to f ind that out early on so that you can move on and save both of you a lot of potential grief. You’ll also both know early on if you are genuinely compatible.

T h ird, and most impor t ant, whenever you are your authentic self in a dating situation, you give yourself a powerful and important message -- that you have faith and conf idence that you’re worthy of bei ng loved ex a ct ly a s you a re right now.

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

A Horny Old Goat in Berkeley Albert Goodwyn T he l i g ht he a r t e d A n a t o l i s a character-dr iven comedy of m a n n e r s . A r t h u r S c h n i t z l e r ’s Aust r ia n play tel ls of a ch ron ic lot har io, some of t he women he seduces, and h is sneer ing, cy n ical best friend. Anatol lives in the

conquest. In the end, one of them

ness for his fr iend. He cr it icizes

catches on to him just as he is pre-

h im br ut a l ly a nd merci lessly

paring to wed someone else.

while goad ing him on and mentoring him in his quest for more

Actor M ike Ryan sk illfully proj-

women . K n i f fen’s s u p er c i l iou s

ect s a n A natol i ntox icated w it h

at t it ude a nd h i gh l y e x pr e s s ive

h is ow n a morous at t ract ions.

f a c i a l mot ion s s how t h at he i s

Ryan can hold stage from a chair,

mildly astounded by the breadth

and his broad, slight ly pompous

of A natol’s activ ities, even as he cast igates h im. W h i le A natol restlessly frets all over the stage, Max stands by stoically as a judging presence.

Delia MacDougall plays all of the women w it h su r pr i s i ng dex terity. She makes distinct transitions from a heav ily accented Russian cou ntes s t y pe to a d it z y oper a diva who cannot even remember wh ich opera she just per for med in. Delia makes grand entrances for ea ch i n dec ided ly d i f ferent costumes.

Annie (c. Delia MacDougall) breaks up with Anatol (l. Mike Ryan) as Max (r. Tim Kniffin) looks on

bourgeois elegance of late 19t hcentury Vienna. He believes that a l l t he women he has been w it h tortured him by being unfaithful.

He thinks all women are cheating liars, but he is a liar and a cheat too. He ask s h is fr iend Ma x for

and mannered gestures ma ke his character more sy mpathet ic.

A natol’s frenet ic stage crossings act ively use t he whole space.

T he y a r e pl a i n ly mot iv ated by nervousness about his self-inf licted predicament. Ryan projects a

help. Character development in

keen sense of inner conf lict as we

the play is minimal. The story arc

watch him fret and stew, willfully

r ises qu ick ly. T he nat ure of t he

complicating his own situation by

conf lict is quick ly revealed, and

duplicity. His best friend Max is

you know this won’t resolve easily.

frequently present when the next conquest is in his chambers.

A natol is so paranoid t hat once

Director Barbara Ol iver has made t h is product ion pla in ly comic, but there are elements of profound dept h even w it h some slapstick. Anatol was just a horny old coot . Ca st i ng D i rector Jes sica Heidt made a clever choice in using an older gent like Ryan to play the part of an active satyr.

Tim’s age is indeterminate and irreleva nt. He is A natol’s c y n ica l but well-meaning friend. He’s to be Best Man at Anatol’s wedding, if it happens.

Anatol runs through May 13 at Aurora Theatre Company, 2081

he has brought a woman into his

Ma x is t he ant it hesis of A natol.

Add ison St reet , Berkeley, Ca l i-

bed, he then tries to prove she is

Ti m K n i f fen pl ay s h i m a s st i f f

for n ia. Ticket s ($30 to $55) a re

seeing another man. Then he can

and cool, w it h no emot iona l at-

available online at auroratheatre.

dump her and move on to the next

tachment except a strange fond-

org or by phone at 510.843.4822.

BAY T IM ES APRIL 19, 2012 21

The Perfect Family Is Anything But Movie Review Sister Dana Van Iquity T h e P e r f e c t F a m i l y i s t he s t or y of s ubu r b a n s u p er mom E i le e n C le a r y (d e l i g ht f u l l y pl aye d b y Academy Award nominee Kathleen Turner) who is the ultimate Catholic - so much so that she is nominated for the extremely coveted Catholic Woman of the Year Award at her local parish. Eileen is a liv ing saint, never failing to help the needy – with daily visits to old Mrs. Punch, for example.

Eileen is a shoe-in for the award, running against her best friend/ f r e ne m y A g ne s D u n n ( S h a r on Lawrence), who is also a nominee.

Everyone in the parish agrees that E i leen more t ha n qua l i f ies a nd shou ld w in, especia l ly since her running mate has a slight blemish in her record, which would surely disqualify her.

Having been recommended highl y b y Mon s i g nor Mu r phy (t he charming Richard Chamberlain), Eileen now needs to convince uptight Sister Joan (Rebecca Wackler) t hat she is t he r ight woman for t he t it le. In add it ion, Ei leen mu s t p a s s one v er y i mp or t a nt test, introducing her family to the church board and impressing the

v isit ing Bishop Donnelly ( Hansford Rowe).

pily of f iciate the odd gay wedding or two.

No bi g t h i n g, r i ght ? Ever yone knows the Clearys are the perfect fa m i ly. A h but t hat’s where t he plot thickens, and a dysfunctional family emerges. We discover Eileen’s ma r r iage is i n t rouble a s her recovering alcoholic husband ( Michael McGrady) is planning on leaving her. Her of f beat drunken son ( Jason R itter) is cheating on his w ife and hav ing a hot af fair with the town manicurist. And Eileen f inds to her dismay that she has a ver y out lesbia n daughter ( Emily Deschanel) who wants to mar r y her g irlfr iend (A ngel ique Cabral) and have a turkey-baster baby with her. And not all Catholic of f icials are against same-sex m a r r i a ge, ev idenced by l iber a l Father Joe (Scott Michael Campbell), a rogue priest who will hap-

Turner is the conf licted and comical matriarch, alongside a bright ensemble cast including R ichard Cha mberl a i n a nd M ichael McGrady. Newcomer director A nne Renton keeps the pacing swift and gives us an honest, modern family tale, while wr iters Claire V. R iley and Paula Goldberg combine just the right amount of seriousness and lev it y into the mix, reminding us that no family is ever truly perfect.

Here’s a helpful hint: Do not leave t he t he a t e r b e for e t he c r e d it s have rolled, or you will miss the true ending.

T he Perfect Family premiered at the 2011 Tr ibeca Fi l m Fest iva l a nd comes to the Sundance Kabuki in San Francisco beginning May 11.

“Thriving Resilience” Is Art Seen Through Positive Eyes

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Ba c k t o t he P ic t u r e G a l ler y i s ex hibit ing “Thr iv ing Resi l ience … L i fe t h rough Pos it ive Eyes” in their galler y at 83 10th Street and Mission. It features seven Bay A r e a a r t i st s c u r r ent l y pr o duc ing work while living with HI V/ A IDS. The pieces are examples of vibrant strength and brilliant determination to overcome a severe and somber aspect of their lives.

Bold colors, re-invented canvas, a nd jeweled imager y emphasize a sparkling dedication to life. “A por t ion of our commission sa les are benef itt ing the A I DS Emergency Fund, and we are hoping to send them a generous donation,” says Derek Harg rove of Back to the Picture. Participating artists i nc lude R ic h a r d B ol l i n g br oke, Chance Carstensen, Martin Freeman, Jerry Frost, Joel Hoyer, Ken Jones and Matthew McHale.

Bollingbroke is in his 25 th year as an ar t ist. “I d idn’t choose to be an artist; somehow it chose me,” he s ay s . T he tec h n ique for h i s piece in a series, “Calla Lilies,” is a sheet of Plexiglas and oil-based in k, creat ing un ique pr ints t hat ref lect every nuance of the brush. “ I love it s elega nt, free-f low i ng energ y and its edging towards abstraction,” he notes.

Carstensen’s mixed media, “OneWay ” a nd “ Blue,” descr ibes h is works as a poetic series of words, wh i le Fr eem a n c ut s up h i s old pa i nt i n g s t o c r e at e ne w work s i n h i s “ L ook i ng T h rough” a nd “Sunset,” fooling the viewer’s eye w it h paper and canvas st r ips to resemble glass t i les, copper and 22 BAY TIMES APRIL 19, 2012

enamel. He is now dow n to just scraps to recycle.

Frost’s artistic process in the abstract a l lows him to express t he ma ny level s of h i s l i fe t h rough color, text ure a nd i l lusion on a two dimensional surface – “pushi n g a nd pu l l i n g t he pa i nt a nd bringing it to a place of comprehensive completion is always my goa l.” H is t hree oi ls on canvas, “Cheers,” “Attitude” and “Blues M a n ,” a r e m a d e w i t h p u t t y k nives, smudge rags and penci l.

The only brush stroke seen is in his signature.

Hoyer began to incorporate water gilding in 1968 in his egg tempera pa int ings. In his three-piece se-

Derek Hargrove, Curator

some inspiration coming from his dreams. “I paint when I’m feeling low, and sing when I’m happy,” he says.

McHale’s chalk, pastel on paper pieces, “ Sat urday w it h Da lton” and “Sunday with Dalton,” translate t he ma le for m in bold contrasting color and lines. He states, “I am f irst and foremost an artist. I was draw ing and sketching people before I could talk. Draw-

Exhibit partially benifts the Aids Emergency Fund

ing is my f irst language.” His life

ries, “Mandela for a New Century,” the wood is sized with rabbit skin glue, covered in linen, soaked in the glue with nine coats of Gesso, applying gold with a liquor of water and alcohol. The surface is burnished with a gilder’s agate.

E x pr es s ion i st movement of t he early 20 th century, including the

Jones u s es m i xed med i a i n h i s abst r act nude oi l , “ Dayd rea m” a s pr i m it ive, i nt ros pect ive a nd

d raw i ng s a re i n f luenced by t he

Nabis, Faudists, Cubists, and pop art of the ‘60s, such as Andy Warhol and A lex Katz.

The exhibition runs through May 5, Monday – Fr idays 10a m to 5 pm and Saturdays 11 am to 3 pm.

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

Historically speaking, the Bay Times began in 1979 as a Calendar for the LGBTQ community. The title was Coming Up!

compiled by Manny Apolonio

the beautiful Flora Grubb Gardens.

PWG Diner – Café Yu Long.

7pm. (743 West Dana., Mt.View) RSVP pwg.suester@yahoo.com.

Celebrate the last PWG dinner and the owner’s retirement of Café Yu long.

70’s Disco Spring Fling – Brix Nightclub. $5 donation. 9pm to 2am. (349 South 1st St., San Jose) www.brixnightclub.com. The funkiest disco dance party in the Bay. Prizes awarded for the best dressed.

Radically Gay: The Life of Harry Hay – SF Main Library.

Free. 9am to 8pm. (100 Larkin St.) www.sfpl.org. Exhibit continues: Curated by Joey Cain; explores the life, ideas and contributions of Hay, who is considered the founder of the modern Gay Movement.

Struggle, Then and Now: Intergenerational Voices on the Bay Area Lesbian Movement - La Peña Cultural Center. Free. 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

(3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley) www.auntlute.com. Highlighting the legacy of the lesbian movements in the 60’s and 70’s and the impact it has had on lesbian/bisexual women and their allies in the Bay Area today.

Make it right: Joint Benefit for Immigration Rights – The Home of Al Baum & Robert Holgate. 6pm to 8pm. (Address provided upon RSVP) Contact epalacios@NCLRights.org. Join NCLR and Immigration Equality for a joint benefit to fund each organization’s important ongoing immigration work.

Ask Our Docs: Cock Rings and Things – Good Vibrations Berkeley. Free. 6:30pm to 7:30pm.

(2504 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley) www.events.goodvibes.com. Dr. Charlie Glickman answers your questions about the purpose and pleasures of cock rings in this comfortable workshop.

Kulang Ang Dasal – ODC Theater. $25. 8pm. Also April 21. (3153 17th St.) www.odctheater.org. Three world premieres and one revival of works by Labayen and new piece by guest choreographer Laura Bernasconi & Frederick Gaudette.

James Bond 50 Anniversary Film Series – Castro Theatre. $10.Various times. Thru April 22.

(429 Castro St.) www.castrotheatre.com. The Castro Theatre will screen 8 of the best of Bond films in a weekend-long extravaganza of double and triple features, all presented in 35mm.

Inside Job: The Secrets of Career Success – Career Wisdom Institute. $175. 9:30am to 3:30pm. (1036 Country Club Dr., Moraga) www.careerwisdominstitute.com. Hate your job? Find the secrets of satisfying and lucrative work, and discover that passion and heart have both spiritual and cash value in today’s market.

Tease-O-Rama Burlesque – Bimbo’s 365 Club. $12 presale/$15 door. 7pm. (1025 Columbus Ave.) www.teaseorama.com. Featuring almost 200 performers from around the world, with a special guest headlining appearance from Cirque Du Soleil’s Zumanity!

Godless Perverts: Atheism and Alternative Sexualities – Center for Sex and Culture. $10. 7pm to 9 pm. (1349 Mission) www.sexandculture.org. An active conversation uncovering the role of atheists, agnostcs and skeptics in sexuality.

Tease-O-Rama Burlesque will perform at Bimbo’s 365 Club on Saturday, April 21st. queer dance party happening every third Saturday.

Anthem – City Nights. $20. 5pm to midnight. (715 Harrison) www. juiceboxpresents.com. A fun T-dance party playing current and classic hits.

Earth Day Eco Event – Civic Center Plaza. Free. 10am to 6pm.

(335 McAllister St.) www.earthdaysf.org. Celebrate Earth Day with live music, workshops and art, in the heart of San Francisco.

The Tommy Igoe Big Band – The Rrazz Room. $25. 7:30pm.

(222 Mason St.) www.vendini.com.

Tommy Igoe performs live along with 15 of the Bay Area’s finest, including members of Tower of Power, Santana and The Doobie Brothers.

Food Pantry Luncheon – Rainbow Community Center.

Free. 12:30pm to 1:30 pm. (3024 Willowpass Rd., Concord) www. rainbowcc.org.

Yoga With Ashae – LoveJourney 5:30 to 7pm. (Address provided upon RSVP) www.tantraforwomen.com. www.lovejourneytantra.com.

StartOut SF Presents: Entrepreneur Networking Event – Rickshaw Stop. Free. 6pm.

(155 Fell St.) www.startout.org. A fabulous event to meet and exchange ideas with successful LGBT entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs and community supporters.

24th Annual Lambda Literary Awards Finalists Reading – SF Public Free. 6pm.

(100 Larkin St.) www.sfpl.org.

Come hear the Lammy finalists read from their nominated work.

Featuring Justin Chin, Jim Provenzano and many others!

Business Funding Factory – SF LGBT Center.

Free. 5:30pm to 7:30pm. (1800 Market) www.sfcenter.org. A workshop presenting different resources to help clients understand how to utilize and manage various financial tools.

Project Inform presents Swimwear for a Cause – Flora Grubb Gardens. $75. 11am to 2pm.

(1634 Jerrold Ave.) www.projectinform.org. Celebrating 25 years of leadership in the fight against HIV/ AIDS with a wonderful brunch in

Mindful Meditation Group – The Sequoias Retirement Community. Free. 11am. (1400 Geary) www.ncphs.org. Mediate with instructor David Lewis who has practiced meditation for 40 years.

☞ Luscious Birthday Dance! – Roosters Roadhouse. $11 presale/$15 door. 7pm to 11:30pm.

(1700 Clement Avenue, Alameda) www.bettyslist.com. Featuring MILK live band and DJ Flirty G, celebrating Betty’s birthday and benefiting Use The News Foundation.

Speakeasy – The Old Mint. $75 general/$125 VIP. 2pm to 5pm. (88 5th St.) www.shanti.org. Celebrate the eleventh anniversary of the

Business Opportunities Parenting Graphic & Web Designer www.imagineit-design.com lori.au3@gmail.com

Catering

Gloria Swanson- Personal Chef, Cooking Demonstrations. Call 415.552.3232 to discuss your next menu! www.chefforhiresf.com, glofriasws@aol.com

Dating Service

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New Free Dating Website.

SameSexConnections.com

Pets

Financing

SURF DOG large dog boarding at Ocean Beach. Queer Owned. sfsurfdogs.com. (415) 637-7717

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) 5407911 / (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

B. Scott Levine 510-763-2300 bscottlevine@gmail.com

Massage

El Cerrito Swedish by Rick www.ricko2.com 510-932-5478 11-11 Daily Marilyn Pittman, left, It’s All The Rage, extended through May 27th. Right, Kulang Ang Dasal, will perform at the ODC Theater April 20-22nd.

Not Getting Any Younger – The Marsh Berkeley. $15-$35. 8pm.

Thru May 19. (2120 Allston Way, Berkeley) www.themarsh.org. A ‘coming of middle age’ story which begins during an idyllic childhood visit to a dairy cow’s boudoir in the Bronx.

CLASSIFIEDS

Legal Services

Judea Eden Band – El Rio. $10.

4pm to 8pm. (3158 Mission St.) www.judeaedenband.com.

Celebrate the CD release of Jude Eden band and enjoy a live show.

Hella Gay – Uptownnightclub. com. $7. 9pm to 2am. (1928 Telegraph Ave.) www.uptownnightclub.com. The Eastbay’s largest

The Poets that Inspired Me – SF Public Library. Free. 6pm. (100 Larkin St.) www.sfpl.org. Four poets will read the work of the poets that have inspired them, along with their own work.

April Follies – Just Dance Ballroom. $15-$40.Various times.

Thru April 29. (2500 Embarcadero, Oakland) www.aprilfollies.com. A weekend long same-sex ballroom dance competition with dinner and showcase.

Your listing could be here!

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. Psychotherapy- ConsultationEducation- Training. barbaraadlerLMFT.com, 415-990-9137.

Gay-Latino Fiction

www.BellicoseBoys.com features two Mexican-Americans: An academic Harvard and an athlete Matt-the-jock.

BAY T IM ES APR IL 19, 2012

23

The Cockette’s “Hot Greeks” extended at Hypnodrome Theatre through May 19th.

Shanti Breast Cancer Program with emcee Donna Sachet.

Corpus Christi: I Am Love – First Unitarian Universalist Society. $15-$50. 7pm. (1187 Franklin St.) www.corpuschristi-themovie.com.

A retelling of the Jesus story, with Jesus as a gay man living in 1950s Corpus Christi, Texas.

Spring Open Studio 2012 – Hunters Point Shipyard. Free. 11am to 6pm. Also April 29. (1 Rankin St.) www.shipyardartists.com. Explore more than 150 artist studios.

The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later – New Conservatory Theatre Centre. $31.

2pm. (25 Van Ness Ave.) www.nctcsf.org. Ten years after the brutal death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, five members of Tectonic Theatre Project returned to Laramie to try to understand the long-term effect of the murder.

Sex, History& Lesbian Outlasws – Montclair Women’s Cultural Art Club. 4pm to 6pm.

(1650 Mountain Blvd., Oakland) www.montclairartsclub.com. A provocative and entertaining conversation between author Jeanne Cordova and songwriter Margie Adam.

Corpus Christi: I Am Love – First Unitarian Universalist Society. $15-$50. 7pm. (1187 Franklin St.) www.corpuschristi-themovie.com.

A retelling of the Jesus story, with Jesus as a gay man living in 1950s Corpus Christi, Texas.

Monday Musicals: Superstar Edition – The Edge SF. Free. 7pm to 2am. (4149 18th St.) www.edgesf.com. Enjoy clips from your favorite movie musicals and Broadway shows 2 4 BAY TIM ES APRIL 1 9 , 2 0 1 2

Corpus Christi: I Am Love – First Unitarian Universalist Society $15-$50. 7pm. (1187 Franklin St.) www.corpuschristi-themovie.com.

A retelling of the Jesus story, with Jesus as a gay man living in 1950s Corpus Christi, Texas.

From the Heart – Cowell Theater. $30-$50. 7:30pm (Cowell Theater, Fort Mason) A collaborative evening of dance featuring dancers from prominent Bay Area dance companies.

The News – SOMArts Cultural Center. $5. 7:30pm to 9pm. (934 Brannan St.) www.somarts.org.

Featuring performances by Burning Monk Collective, Chelsea Kosta, Karl Cronin, Omer Gal, PRjKT13, and creator, curator and host Kolmel WithLove Four Agreements Wisdom Circle – Love Journey. www.lovejourneytantra.com. www.tantraforwomen.com.

Alive and Active – Rainbow Community Center. Free. 7pm.

(3024 Willow Pass Rd.) www.rainbowcc.org.

Trivia Night – Harvey’s. Free.

8pm. (500 Castro St.) www.harveyssf.com. Bebe Sweetbriar hosts weekly trivia night with food and drink specials.

Maureen McGovern – The Rrazz Room. $35-$45. 8pm. (222 Mason St.) www.therrazzroom.com.

McGovern continues the celebration of her new show “Dangling Conversations,” with classic songs by iconic singer/songwriters.

Transwomen’s Support Group – Rainbow Community Center. Free. 7pm to 9pm. (3024 Willow Pass Rd.) www.rainbowcc. org.

(ROSTOW continued from page 13) this measure in the bud if we put our minds to it.

To make matters more complicated, the anti-marriage crowd is collecting names for a different ballot measure that operates under different rules. In addition to the repeal, they are also aiming to define marriage as a union of one man and one woman, and for this they need 241,153 names by July 6.

I gather that you have to vote “yes” on one of these things and “no” on the other, a complication that will surely baff le voters on both sides of the issue, if both these nefarious proposals make it to the polls.

I suppose I could look up the latest news on our fight to save Maryland’s marriage law, our effort to restore marriage equality in

fruits “From ts” to nu

Maine, and our battle against an anti-marriage amendment in Minnesota. But the above discussion of North Carolina and Washington has proved exhausting. I must rest.

Don’t Say Tennessee A quick word count indicates that I don’t have room to relate the many bad things that are going on in the Tennessee legislature this week. Be thankful, dear readers.

It also suggests that I have room for two or three final paragraphs which I will use to berate the insurance company that runs those Goody Two Shoes commercials where ordinary people go out of their way to help others.

Do you think opening the door for a blind woman is some kind of un-

usual gesture? Neither do I. But the scene that really annoys me is the one where a guy stands aside at the grocery line to let a mother with a child in a cart through the check out line ahead of him. The man does not have a cart. He has two or maybe three items tucked in the crook of his arm.

Look, there’s no reason on Earth for the man to give up his place in line. What? Are women entitled to check out before men regardless of the volume of their respective purchases? This isn’t chivalry. It’s insanity. It’s mindless copywriting, and it bugs me.

--A new column by Ann is available every week at sfbaytimes.com. You can reach her at arostow@aol.com.

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More for Earth Day

You Can Help Celebrate Betty’s Birthday 2012 We’re celebrating Betty’s birthday this year at several events coming up soon and you are invited too.

Questions: bettyeventinfo@aol.com

T hu r sday, Apr i l 26t h – Cel lo Heaven with Barbara Higbie, Jami Sieber & Joan Jeanrenaud @ Yoshi’s Oakland – 25% off ticket with promo code “BET T Y ” at online

Earth Day Activities

bulletinboardideas.org

Illustrating the power of Internet d i s per sa l , t h i s “ R a i nbow Ear t h Day ” has emerged as a popular image in use for Earth Day 2 012 on s c ho ol bu l let i n boards, non-prof it newsletters and other applications.

L G B T Q f a m i l i e s w i l l e nj o y Earth Day activities leading up to and on Sunday, April 22nd, the of f icial date of Earth Day in the US this year.

Resource g u ides for teacher s, st udent s , pa r ent s , g r a nd pa rent s a nyone who’s i nt er est ed include:

• Newspaper Activity -

Make a Papier-Mâché Globe Using Newspapers.

Instructions: caboose.com/ papier-mache-globe.html

• Bake Earth Day Cookies, Cupcakes and More Instructions: pinterest.com/kellylhardy/earth-day/

Alaska’s glaciers, with few exceptions, are “retreating” due to global warming.

Numerous examples are included in NASA’s interactive State of Flux “Global Climate Change” Image Gallery: climate.nasa.gov/sof/#Reservoirgrowth_Mali.jpg Bay Times recently profiled Rev. Stacy Boorn of Herchurch in San Francisco.

She is an avid photographer. By special permission, we are happy to present her breathtaking image of the Sawyer Glacier. More of her dramatic images from Alaska and elsewhere can be viewed at awegallery.com. Photo by Stacy Boorn SFBayTimes10x8:Layout 1 4/10/12 4:20 PM Page 1 (Special to the Bay Times).

• Picnic for the Planet – Use Local Ingredients to Create a Picnic Basket.

Instructions: nature.org/ earthday/fun/picnic-friendlyrecipies.xml

• Read Earth Day Poems – Share Poetry by Literary Greats.

Examples: apples4teacher. com/holidays/earth-day/ poems-rhymes

• Create an Earth Day Craft – Make Something Fun! Instructions: enchantedlearning. com/crafts/earthday Recipes: cookiesandcups.com/ earth-day-cupcakes

checkout (yoshis.com). 510 Embarcadero West @ Washington.

Friday, April 27th – 1) 4:00 PM – 5:0 0 PM – “Bay Times L ive!”

Podc a st / R ad io Show @ Ca fé F lor e (c or n e r M a r k et & N o e).

For t he Bir t hday E d it ion of t he s how, jo i n e xe c ut i v e pr o d uc er Jen Viegas who welcomes Bet t y with Gary Virginia with featured guests State Senator Mark Leno, Cmdr. Zoe Dunning, pianist John Steiner and more. No cost to attend. Questions: 415-503-1375.

2) 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM - “Do Ask, Do Tel l” Pa r t y @ L i me i n sup por t of Zoe Dunning for Demo c r at ic C om m it t e e i n A s s embl y District 17 – 2247 Market Street, San Francisco. RSVP to 415-69234556 or info@zoedunning.com.

A l l cont r ibut ion s welcome. No one turned away.

Sat u r d ay, Apr i l 28t h – “ Lus cious Birthday!” East Bay Dance Par t y @ Roosters Road house A lameda – 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM, Featur ing M I L F! The Band and DJ F l i r t y G. 170 0 Clement Avenue. $11 pre-event @ bettyslist. com / $15 door. Benef it for Use The News Foundation.

Thursday, May 12th - Freda B Classic Schooner Sunset Sail on San Francisco Bay – 7:00 P – 9:00 P M w it h b oa r d i n g at 6:3 0 P M a nd opt iona l cockt a i ls pre- a nd post- sail. Departs from Sausalito Marina. $65 per person includes NA PA Cel la r s W i ne Ta st i ng @ bettyslist.com or 415-503-1375.

NO on A

Don’t Mess with Success!

KEEPSFGREEN.COM Paid for by Keep San Francisco Green; No on Prop A, A Coalition of Recology, Labor, Business, and Environmentalists. Major Funding by Recology, A Resource Recovery Employee-Owned Company FPPC #1344802 BAY T IM ES APR IL 19, 2012

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Around About - Spring Events

“Pumps and Circumstance” was the theme of the annual Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence activities held in Dolores Park. The Children’s Egg Hunt and Games followed by the Easter Bonnet and Hunky Jesus Contests made for a day of fun for thousands who attended, some in costumes and some not!

Photo by RINK Photo by RINK

Photo by RINK

Photo by RINK

Photo by Steven Underhill

Photo by RINK

Photo by Steven Underhill 2 6 BAY TIM ES APRIL 1 9 , 2 0 1 2

Photo by RINK

Photo by RINK

Around About - Spring Events

“Wine Time!” participants enjoyed all varieties of Bink Wines poured by winemaker Deb Schatzlein at Jake’s on Market. Photo by Phyllis Costa

Team Funky Monkey’s cyclists Tom Kober and James Loduca at an AIDS Life/Cycle party at Q Bar. Photo by Rink

Host Joey Cain cutting the St. Honore Cake at the 100th Birthday Party remembering Gay Liberation founder Harry Hay. Photo by Rink

Good Vibrations’ Sharon Lee and Mike Korcek at the Antique Vibrator Museum Party at the Polk Street store. Photo by Rink

Council of Global Equality’s Julie Dorf with event co-chair Deb Kinny, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Rabbi Camille Angel at the EQCA Dinner. Photo by Rink

Obama for America’s Peggy Moore (center) is welcomed by Alice B. Toklas Club leaders Reese Isbel and Cmdr. Zoe Dunning. Photo by Rink

BAY T IM ES APR IL 19, 2012

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“Bravura dancing! Performances steeped in spontaneity and terrific comic timing.”

—Voice of Dance

Don Quixote Apr 27–May 6

Now featuring all-new scenery and costumes!

Maria Kochetkova in Tomasson/Possokhov’s Don Quixote (© Erik Tomasson)

Tickets going fast!

Best availability May 1–2 415.865.2000 or sfballet.org LEAD SPONSOR:

SPONSORS:

Mrs. Jeannik Méquet Littlefield

Suzy Kellems Dominik

MAJOR SPONSORS:

Stephanie and Mory Ejabat

Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation Larry and Joyce Stupski

2012 Story Ballet Sponsor

2012 Season Media Sponsor