2012 10 18

Meet Our Real Estate & Design Experts Page 12

Mill Valley Welcomes Stevie Nicks Page 25

Special Section on Costuming Page 13

www.sfbaytimes.com

/SanFranciscoBayTimes

October 18-31, 2012 | www.sfbaytimes.com

Halloween Forever 1800’s

PHOTO BY PARK ER PEARSON

Samhain: When the Veil Thins Between Life and Death

Supervisor Scott Wiener

1900’s

Editor’s Note: With this issue we welcome Supervisor Scott Wiener as a columnist for the Bay Times. Whenever possible, we attempt to present information from first hand sources representing diverse viewpoints within the LGBT community. We are honored to include Supervisor Wiener in our strong lineup of columnists.

There has been a lot of news coverage at City Hall lately focused on a few big ticket items (if a naked sheriff scandal breaks out, the media might explode), but I want to report on a couple of important nuts and bolts issues that I’ve been working on that have gone under the radar.

2000’s

This festival is the third and f inal harvest in Celtic pagan traditions. At this time of the turning of The Wheel (of the Year), pagans and witches hold that the Veil - a kind of membrane that exists between the worlds - thins, permitting the Dead to visit the world of the living. A shadowy time of the year, indeed, yet there is life, love, and kinship at this time of cosmic reunion with our loved human and animal companions, friends, acquaintances, and family members that have passed beyond the Veil.

Many of the practices of Halloween originated in or have evolved from old Celtic customs of the veneration of the dead: the warm glow of JackO’-Lanterns to light the way for the dead and to brighten our cooler Autumnal evenings, the festive decorations and costumes worn to welcome (continued on page 28)

Laying the Groundwork: Trees, Buses and Nightlife

City Hall Update

By The Reverend Doctor James C. Lovette-Black Halloween. For many Americans, the word conjures up images or memories of trick-or-treating from door to door dressed as a ghost, witch, goblin, or superhero, with the delight of yummy candies awaiting us and an admonishment to not eat too many of them. For pagans, especially those of the Celtic persuasion, we know this time of the year as the great Sabbat of Samhain (sow-en), one of our most hallowed fire or solar festival celebrations. Samhain represents a balance point in the f low of energies in the cosmos, with its counterpoint at Beltane on May 1st. At the time of Beltane, the Maypole is uplifted (phallic energy) and we circle dance around it (yanic energy) to the joy of fertile life exploding into existence, with universal energy f lowing from the world of the Living into the realm of the Dead. At Samhain, the flow is reversed and cosmic energy flows from the realm of the Dead into the world of the Living, bringing the Dead for an annual visit. It is at this time of the year that witches, pagans, and our friends gather to dance with our Beloved and Mighty Dead, to celebrate the greater circle of all life.

/SFBayTimes

Photos contributed by RINK, Phyllis Costa, Elizabeth Stewart and Jennifer Viegas

Let’s start with trees, specifically the ones that line our streets. For years, the city maintained these trees, but due to lack of funding the Department of Public Works has been passing maintenance responsibilities on to property owners over the past several months. Unfortunately, these owners may not have the resources, inclination or know-how to properly look after our trees. This worries me, as our urban forest is vital to our world-renowned reputation as a beautiful city. I’ve called for a hearing, which is scheduled for November, to discuss what can be done to address this issue. One suggestion would be to implement a sustainable funding stream that would enable DPW’s continued maintenance of street trees. I look forward to hearing more bright ideas on this subject and working with all stakeholders to come to a solution that will allow our trees to thrive.

From street trees we move to streetcars. Everyone has a gripe about Muni, and our mass transit system has a lot of problems that need to be rectified in the long run. However, one fix we can make in the short run is to upgrade our aging fleet. That’s why I introduced legislation, which the Board approved, to purchase 45 new hybrid-diesel Muni buses and to (continued on page 3)

2 BAY TIM ES OCTOB E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

Fixing What’s Broken

Do Ask, Do Tell Zoe Dunning Recently I had the opportunity to speak at Hastings Law School at their Symposium Fixing a Broken System: Rape and Sexual Assault in the Military. I shared with the audience my experiences as a woman who served in the Navy for 22 years. I also discussed some of the lessons learned in the successful repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell that are relevant to those looking to reform the U.S. military’s culture, laws, regulations and justice system when it comes to military sexual trauma (MST).

I learned a lot at this symposium and the statistics are alarming. Women in the military are more likely to be raped by a fellow service member than killed by the enemy. In 2011, there were over 3,000 reports of sexual assaults in the military, ranging from wrongful touching to rape.

Even Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says he believes there were as many as 19,000 such attacks, but many went unreported.

This underreporting ref lects how the majority of victims are too fearful to report the abuse, as many of the perpetrators are their superiors.

Prosecution rates within the military are incredibly low, as commanders have wide discretion on how to proceed. In 2011, less than 8% of reported cases went to trial. Bay Area Congresswoman Jackie Speier currently has a bill before Congress that would reassign the reporting, investigation, prosecution, victim care and oversight of sexual assaults to a new autonomous council. I fully support Congresswoman Speier’s efforts and hope this attention can lead to some meaningful changes in the military.

These courageous women signed up to serve their country, not be the victims of sexual assault at the hands of their fellow servicemen.

On a more upbeat note, I’ve been excited to see the energy and enthusiasm building at the joint Democratic Party/Obama for America campaign headquarters at 2278 Market St. (the old Tower Records space). There was a grand kick-off event featuring

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and watch parties for the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates. We are approximately three weeks out from the election, and there are many critical local Supervisor races and some state and local propositions you will want to brush up on. Everything from funding for schools and local public safety (Prop 30) to funding for San Francisco parks (Prop B) to repealing the state’s death penalty (Prop 34) to the labeling of genetically modified foods (Prop 37) will be on the ballot. I highly encourage you to learn more – the nonpartisan website http://www. smartvoter.org/ has lots of good information. Deadline to register to vote in California is October 22nd.

You can register online at http://registertovote.org.

Finally, I want to express my persona l d isappoi nt ment i n t he recent Boa rd of Super v isor’s vote to rei n st ate Ros s M i rk a r i m i a s S her i f f of S a n Fr a nc i s c o. S a n Francisco has worked hard to become a leader in the protection of victims of domestic violence, and prosecution of those who abuse. I believe the integrity of our Sherif f ’s Department is compromised if its leader is g uilt y of the false i mpr ison ment of h is w i fe i n t he course of a domestic violence dispute. H is rei nst atement dea ls a blow to ef for t s to el i m i nate do mestic violence from our city, and his actions - both the evening of December 31, 2011, and his conduct since – have been below the standard we should uphold for our elected of f icia ls. A s such, I w i l l be introducing a resolution before t he Democrat ic Count y Cent ra l Committee on October 24th asking for t he Committee’s suppor t of his reca l l. I bel ieve t he cit y’s voters should now decide whether this is the best person to serve as t he head of one of our most important law enforcement agencies.

That’s all I have for this month’s c olu m n . Unt i l ne x t t i me, t a ke good c a re of you r sel f a nd each other.

Zoe D unning is a retired Navy Commander and was a lead activist in the repeal of Don’t Ask , Don’t Tell . She currently serves as the 1st Vice Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party and lives in Noe Valley with her wife, Pam, two cats and their golden retriever rescue – how lesbian!

(GROUNDWORK continued from page 1) upgrade 80 buses in the current fleet. of our culture and economy, and I’ve These new and refurbished coaches worked hard to ensure that it flourishwill reduce the breakdowns that cause es. This includes crafting policy and so many delays on our Muni routes. engaging passionate members of the The new buses will also have low community with vision—people like floors that allow for quicker boarding, Naomi Akers. which will reduce loading times and get our buses moving more quickly to This past month I was proud to swear the next stop. With Muni, every step in Naomi to the Entertainment Comand every second saved count. mission. Naomi has been a nightlife advocate and enthusiast for years.

While saving trees and fixing buses As the Executive Director of the St. might not be headline grabbers, they James Infirmary, along with her years are the improvements to our city that of HIV/AIDS advocacy, she brings a affect people everyday. I’m proud to be working on these issues, and others public health experience that will be valuable on the commission. I wish just like them. her luck and look forward to working Okay. Enough of the nuts and bolts— with Naomi on nightlife issues in the let’s talk nightlife. One of the f irst coming year. things I did in office was to call for an economic impact report of the Scott Wiener represents District 8 on the city’s entertainment and nightlife San Francisco Board of Supervisors. More industries so we would understand information may be found at www.scottwiehow our public policies affected this ner.com. You can contact Supervisor Wiener industry. Nightlife is an essential part at (415) 554-6968 or scott.wiener@sfgov.org.

BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 3

National News Briefs compiled by Dennis McMillan

Lynnwood, WA - Santorum Spews Anti-Same-Sex Sewage - 10.15

Washington, DC - Appeals Court to Hear Arguments against DEA - 10.16

At a closed-door Spokane fundraiser for the Family Policy Institute of Washington, former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum entered the campaign against same-sex marriage in Washington state with an apocalyptic warning about its potential consequences on America’s families and churches. “This is a turning point in American history and, yes, the state of Washington,” Santorum argued. “The movement you are fighting is the most important movement to win!” Santorum said it is even more important than the movement to block abortion in America, warning that marriage will “disintegrate” along with the American family if same-sex marriage becomes legal. “This issue will destroy and undermine the church in America more than any other movement!”

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear oral arguments in a case challenging the Drug Enforcement Administration’s rejection of a petition to remove marijuana from Schedule I, the most dangerous category of drugs for which no medical use is recognized. The lawsuit, f iled by A mericans for Safe Access, stems from a rescheduling petition that was f iled in 2002 by the Coalition to Reschedule Cannabis with participation from California NORML and NORML .

The petition was rejected by the DEA in 2011 after applicants sued the agency for unreasonable regulatory delay. In its decision, the DEA summarily discounted substantial scientif ic evidence showing that cannabis has medical eff icacy. The agency has held that only expensive, “Phase 3” FDA eff icacy studies are acceptable, while at the same time making such studies impossible by blocking approval of the necessary research facilities.

Washington, Maryland and Maine are voting on marriage equality in November. No state has ever approved same-sex marriage at the polls, but opinion polls in all three states have shown marriage equality in the lead.

Supporters of marriage equality have amassed an $8.9 million campaign war chest. They have aired TV spots featuring Methodist and United Church of Christ ministers. A group of 63 former Roman Catholic priests is scheduled to endorse Referendum 74.

Congress originally put marijuana in Schedule I when it passed the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, on the understanding that it would be rescheduled in light of the f indings of the Presidential Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse. The Commission’s advice was disregarded after it recommended that marijuana be entirely decriminalized.

“The DEA’s obstruction of medical marijuana represents the worst kind of regulatory dysfunction by self-serving drug bureaucrats,” commented Cal NORML coordinator Dale Gieringer. “The evidence is now overwhelming that marijuana can be an effective, affordable substitute for many more dangerous and costly, yet legal, prescription drugs. If the government can’t get medical marijuana straight, how can we expect it to manage national health care?” Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Joseph Backholm, head of the Family Policy Institute of Washington, is the chief spokesman against Referendum 74, which would make Washington the seventh state to adopt marriage equality. In Santorum’s words, “a secular revolution, a Godless revolution” has swept across every Western European country, which he said “is why they are declining.” Opponents are “on the side of truth,” Santorum told his audience. “You folks are in the front line. You folks are in the foxhole.” And Santorum is an a-hole!

Source: California NOR ML Release

Source: Gay Politics Report Minneapolis, MN - Bachmann Family Values Don’t Include Gay Family - 10.14 US Rep. Michele Bachmann faces Democratic challenger Jim Graves. Queers hope Graves will triumph, because Bachmann is well known for the anti-gay initiatives she helped go forward in Washington as well as her home state, where voters will decide this November whether to pass a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality. That referendum, says Bachmann’s openly lesbian stepsister Helen LaFave, is Bachmann’s “very, very sad legacy.” Bachmann’s husband runs a therapy group to “cure gayness.”

When Bachmann called gays and lesbians sick and evil, and pushed for an amendment to the Minnesota constitution that would prohibit same-sex marriage, LaFave suffered betrayal. “It felt so divorced from having known me, from having known somebody who’s gay,” said LaFave. “You’ve taken aim at me,” she wrote to Bachmann. Referring to her lover Nia, she added, “You’ve taken aim at my family.” Bachmann never acknowledged the letter in any way.

This compelled LaFave “to speak out for fairness for those of us who are being judged and told our lives and relationships are somehow less.” LaFave said, “She publicly described homosexuality as ‘personal enslavement;’ referred to the heartache of having ‘a member of our family’ who was gay; and suggested that gays and lesbians wanted to recruit impressionable youngsters.”

LaFave hopes to marry Nia in Minnesota someday. Asked if she would invite Bachmann to the ceremony, LaFave replied, “I don’t think it would be a very good fit.” Well, not unless the Bachmann blessing would include a fervent “pray the gay away.”

Source: NewYorkTimes.com

Baltimore, MD - There Actually Exist Republicans Who Support Maryland Marriage - 10.15 Republican Paul Singer gave $250,000 to Marylanders for Marriage Equality, the lead group working to pass marriage equality in Maryland. Singer runs the firm Elliot Management in New York City, and has given more than $10 million to marriage equality efforts across the country. “Paul’s leadership on marriage equality continues to amaze and sets an example for other fair-minded members of the Republican Party,” said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a founder of Marylanders for Marriage Equality. “His investment in the equality and dignity of Marylanders reflects the growing bipartisan support to get Question 6 over the finish line in these critical final weeks.” Question 6 calls for civil marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples, and also protects religious freedom. About 30% of Romney voters in Maryland support the measure, according to polling by Hart Research.

“The partisan veil that has previously divided the marriage equality issue simply no longer exists,” said Ted Olson, former Solicitor General in the George W. Bush Administration, who teamed up with David Boies to fight California’s Proposition 8. “Paul’s steadfast commitment to marriage equality serves as an example to those who haven’t considered this their issue or their fight.” Votes by Republican legislators earlier this year enabled the Civil Marriage Protection Act to pass the Maryland legislature.

“Paul Singer demonstrates real leadership yet again on marriage equality,” said Maryland State Sen. Allan Kittleman, a Republican who voted for the legislation. “He realizes, like I do, that Question 6 is about fairness and equality under the law - values we all, no matter party, share here in Maryland.”

Fair-minded Republicans: who knew?!

Milledgeville, GA - Honey Boo Boo’s Gay Uncle Speaks Out for Gay Rednecks - 10.10 Because you demanded a follow-up on Honey Boo Boo’s Uncle Poodle, here it is. As you recall, openly gay Lee Thompson, 29, is known as “Uncle Poodle” to his niece, Alana aka Honey BooBoo, on TLC’s Here Comes Honey Boo Boo series centering on the down-home life of a very chubby little pageant contestant originally seen on Toddlers and Tiaras. “All gay people are poodles to her... and I’m her number one poodle,” says Thompson. Which explains HBB’s comment during an appearance on Anderson Cooper’s talk show when she called Cooper a “very nice poodle.”

“Oh my god, and he wasn’t even out yet!” says Thompson. “I about died. Then about a month later he came out. Not bad gaydar for a seven-year-old… but, well, look who she learned it from.” Honey Boo Boo has grown into a pop culture phenomenon. The rural family’s unapologetically laid-back existence is caught on camera, capturing every food auction, mud fight, road-kill buffet, and bodily function. The family’s Georgia dialects are so profound that the producers add subtitles.

“Things are changing. My husband and I live in Milledgeville because we want to be out in the country. I’m gay, but I’m as redneck as I can get, and we want to be somewhere we can fish and jump on a four-wheeler, go hog wallowing,” says Thompson. “There’s probably 40 or 50 of us [LGBTQs] around here, they’re all open about it, everybody knows it!” Now that’s equality - Hillbilly style!

Source: TheGaVoice.com

Source: Marylanders for Marriage Equality Release

Local News Briefs Lawsuits Challenge Law Protecting LGBTQ Youth from Psychological Abuse

Local Protesters Demonstrate Against Homophobic Archbishop

Two anti-LGBTQ groups, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality and Liberty Counsel, filed a second federal challenge to the new law signed by California Governor Jerry Brown that will protect LGBTQ young people in the state from dangerous and potentially deadly psychological abuse. Senate Bill 1172 was authored by Senator Ted Lieu, cosponsored by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality California, Gaylesta, Courage Campaign, Lambda Legal, and Mental Health America of Northern California, and supported by dozens of organizations.

Reacting to the installation of the godfather of anti-same-sex marriage Proposition 8, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, demonstrators gathered in front of St. Mary’s Cathedral to protest his homophobic political actions that do not represent San Francisco values. Cordileone has called same-sex marriage “a plot by the evil one to destroy the world.” Activists chanted, “We don’t want your theocracy! We don’t want your hypocrisy!” Protesters from Marriage Equality USA carried placards: “We All Deserve the Freedom to Marry.” Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had signs: “Archbishop Is Drunk with Power!” “Arch-bigotry!” and “Stay Out of Politics or Start Paying Taxes!” As Cordileone entered the church, dozens upon dozens of activists pointed their fingers and shouted, “Shame, shame, shame!” over and over.

The law - which goes into effect on January 1, 2013 - prohibits state-licensed therapists who claim to be able to change their clients’ sexual orientation or gender expression from using dangerous practices known to lead to extreme depression and suicide. With Governor Brown’s signature, California became the first state in the country to prevent mental health professionals from subjecting youth to these dangerous practices, which have been rejected by every mainstream mental health association as ineffective and dangerous. One of the plaintiffs in the case is Joseph Nicolosi, a California-based advocate of psychological practices that attempt to change sexual orientation. Ryan Kendall, a victim of these abusive practices and former patient of Nicolosi’s, has testified about his horrible experiences undergoing this therapy and how he almost committed suicide.

“These extreme anti-LGBT groups are grasping at straws with these lawsuits,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell. “This law is no different from a thousand others that protect kids- from prohibiting underage smoking and drinking to requiring parents to use car seats. NCLR will commit all the energy and resources necessary to defend this vital and lifesaving law.”

Story by Dennis McMillan 4 BAY TIM ES OCTOB E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

The Sisters held “A Rosary against Religious Bigotry,” citing the sins of the Church, dating back to January 1987 when the Pope declared homosexuality “an intrinsic, moral evil.” He accused The Sisters of heresy. In summer 2008, then Archbishop George Niederauer and Cordileone formed an alliance with the Mormon Church to overturn same-sex marriage in California. On March 11, 2012, bishops and priests at 2,500 pulpits condemned gay marriage.

They also oppose adoption of children by LGBTQ couples, attempt to eliminate the right of women to control their bodies, oppose the use of condoms to prevent AIDS, and cover up nationwide priest abuse of children.

Meanwhile, Rev. Marc Andrus, Episcopal Bishop of California (who has been very outspoken against Prop 8) was not allowed to be seated at Cordileone’s installation. He was escorted to a basement room and detained by an usher.

Story by Dennis McMillan

T:10.25 in

IS THE PREZISTA ®

EXPERIENCE RIGHT FOR YOU?

There is no other person in the world who is exactly like you. And no HIV treatments are exactly alike, either. That’s why you should ask your healthcare professional about PREZISTA® (darunavir).

Once-Daily PREZISTA® taken with ritonavir and in combination with other HIV medications can help lower your viral load and keep your HIV under control over the long term.

In a clinical study* of almost 4 years (192 weeks), 7 out of 10 adults who had never taken HIV medications before maintained undetectable† viral loads with PREZISTA® plus ritonavir and Truvada.® Please read the Important Safety Information and Patient Information below and on adjacent pages.

Find out if the PREZISTA® EXPERIENCE is right for you. Ask your healthcare professional and learn more at ExplorePREZISTA.com *A randomized open label Phase 3 trial comparing PREZISTA®/ritonavir 800/100 mg once daily (n=343) vs. Kaletra®/ritonavir 800/200 mg/ day (n=346). †Undetectable was defined as a viral load of less than 50 copies per mL. Registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP © Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP 2012 06/12 28PRZ12036B

ABOUT PREZISTA

®

PREZISTA® is always taken with and at the same time as ritonavir (Norvir ®), in combination with other HIV medicines for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. PREZISTA® should also be taken with food.

• It is important that you remain under the care of your healthcare professional during treatment with PREZISTA® PREZISTA® does not cure HIV infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using PREZISTA.® Please read Important Safety Information below, and talk to your healthcare professional to learn if PREZISTA® is right for you.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA®?

• PREZISTA® can interact with other medicines and cause serious side effects.

See “Who should not take PREZISTA®?”

• PREZISTA® may cause liver problems. Some people taking PREZISTA,® together with Norvir ® (ritonavir), have developed liver problems which may be life-threatening.

Your healthcare professional should do blood tests before and during your combination treatment with PREZISTA.® If you have chronic hepatitis B or C infection, your healthcare professional should check your blood tests more often because you have an increased chance of developing liver problems • Tell your healthcare professional if you have any of these signs and symptoms of liver problems: dark (tea-colored) urine, yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, pale-colored stools (bowel movements), nausea, vomiting, pain or tenderness on your right side below your ribs, or loss of appetite • PREZISTA® may cause a severe or life-threatening skin reaction or rash.

Sometimes these skin reactions and skin rashes can become severe and require treatment in a hospital. You should call your healthcare professional immediately if you develop a rash. However, stop taking PREZISTA® and ritonavir combination treatment and call your healthcare professional immediately if you develop any skin changes with these symptoms: fever, tiredness, muscle or joint pain, blisters or skin lesions, mouth sores or ulcers, red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye.” Rash occurred more often in patients taking PREZISTA® and raltegravir together than with either drug separately, but was generally mild Who should not take PREZISTA ? ®

• Do not take PREZISTA® if you are taking the following medicines: alfuzosin (Uroxatral ®), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E.45,® Embolex,® Migranal®), ergonovine, ergotamine (Cafergot,® Ergomar ®), methylergonovine, cisapride (Propulsid®), pimozide (Orap®), oral midazolam, triazolam (Halcion®), the herbal supplement St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), lovastatin (Mevacor,® Altoprev,® Advicor®), simvastatin (Zocor,® Simcor,® Vytorin®), rifampin (Rifadin,® Rifater,® Rifamate,® Rimactane®), sildenafil (Revatio®) when used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, indinavir (Crixivan®), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra®), saquinavir (Invirase®), boceprevir (Victrelis™), or telaprevir (Incivek™) • Before taking PREZISTA,® tell your healthcare professional if you are taking sildenafil (Viagra,® Revatio®), vardenafil (Levitra,® Staxyn®), tadalafil (Cialis,® Adcirca®),

This is not a complete list of medicines. Be sure to tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you are taking or plan to take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

T:16 in

• The use of other medicines active against HIV in combination with PREZISTA®/ritonavir (Norvir ®) may increase your ability to fight HIV. Your healthcare professional will work with you to find the right combination of HIV medicines

atorvastatin (Lipitor ®), rosuvastatin (Crestor ®), pravastatin (Pravachol®), or colchicine (Colcrys,® Col-Probenecid®). Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking estrogen-based contraceptives (birth control). PREZISTA® might reduce the effectiveness of estrogen-based contraceptives. You must take additional precautions for birth control, such as condoms

What should I tell my doctor before I take PREZISTA®?

• Before taking PREZISTA,® tell your healthcare professional if you have any medical conditions, including liver problems (including hepatitis B or C), allergy to sulfa medicines, diabetes, or hemophilia • Tell your healthcare professional if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding — The effects of PREZISTA® on pregnant women or their unborn babies are not known. You and your healthcare professional will need to decide if taking PREZISTA® is right for you — Do not breastfeed. It is not known if PREZISTA® can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV should not breastfeed because HIV can be passed to your baby in the breast milk What are the possible side effects of PREZISTA®?

• High blood sugar, diabetes or worsening of diabetes, and increased bleeding in people with hemophilia have been reported in patients taking protease inhibitor medicines, including PREZISTA® • Changes in body fat have been seen in some patients taking HIV medicines, including PREZISTA.® The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time • Changes in your immune system can happen when you start taking HIV medicines.

Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden • The most common side effects related to taking PREZISTA® include diarrhea, nausea, rash, headache, stomach pain, and vomiting. This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you experience these or other side effects, talk to your healthcare professional. Do not stop taking PREZISTA® or any other medicines without first talking to your healthcare professional You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please refer to the ritonavir (Norvir ®) Product Information (PI and PPI) for additional information on precautionary measures.

Please read accompanying Patient Information for PREZISTA® and discuss any questions you have with your doctor.

28PRZDTC0288R8

PREZISTA® (darunavir) is a prescription medicine. It is one treatment option in the class of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) medicines known as protease inhibitors.

Snap a quick pic of our logo to show your doctor and get the conversation started.

BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 5

IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION PREZISTA (pre-ZIS-ta) (darunavir) Oral Suspension PREZISTA (pre-ZIS-ta) (darunavir) Tablets Read this Patient Information before you start taking PREZISTA and each time you get a refill. There may be new information.

This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.

Also read the Patient Information leaflet for NORVIR® (ritonavir).

What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA? • PREZISTA can interact with other medicines and cause serious side effects. It is important to know the medicines that should not be taken with PREZISTA. See the section “Who should not take PREZISTA?” • PREZISTA may cause liver problems. Some people taking PREZISTA in combination with NORVIR® (ritonavir) have developed liver problems which may be life-threatening. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before and during your combination treatment with PREZISTA. If you have chronic hepatitis B or C infection, your healthcare provider should check your blood tests more often because you have an increased chance of developing liver problems.

• Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the below signs and symptoms of liver problems.

• Dark (tea colored) urine • yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes • pale colored stools (bowel movements) • nausea • vomiting • pain or tenderness on your right side below your ribs • loss of appetite PREZISTA may cause severe or life-threatening skin reactions or rash. Sometimes these skin reactions and skin rashes can become severe and require treatment in a hospital. You should call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop a rash.

However, stop taking PREZISTA and ritonavir combination treatment and call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop any skin changes with symptoms below: • fever • tiredness • muscle or joint pain • blisters or skin lesions • mouth sores or ulcers • red or inflamed eyes, like “pink eye” (conjunctivitis) Rash occurred more often in patients taking PREZISTA and raltegravir together than with either drug separately, but was generally mild.

See “What are the possible side effects of PREZISTA?” for more information about side effects.

What is PREZISTA? PREZISTA is a prescription anti-HIV medicine used with ritonavir and other anti-HIV medicines to treat adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. PREZISTA is a type of anti-HIV medicine called a protease inhibitor. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

When used with other HIV medicines, PREZISTA may help to reduce the amount of HIV in your blood (called “viral load”).

PREZISTA may also help to increase the number of white blood cells called CD4 (T) cell which help fight off other infections.

Reducing the amount of HIV and increasing the CD4 (T) cell count may improve your immune system. This may reduce your risk of death or infections that can happen when your immune system is weak (opportunistic infections).

PREZISTA does not cure HIV infection or AIDS and you may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. You should remain under the care of a doctor when using PREZISTA. Avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection.

• Do not share needles or other injection equipment.

• Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades.

• Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safe sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions on how to prevent passing HIV to other people.

Who should not take PREZISTA? Do not take PREZISTA with any of the following medicines: • alfuzosin (Uroxatral®) • dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Embolex®, Migranal®), ergonovine, ergotamine (Cafergot®, Ergomar®) methylergonovine • c isapride • p imozide (Orap®) • oral midazolam, triazolam (Halcion®) • the herbal supplement St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) • the cholesterol lowering medicines lovastatin (Mevacor®, Altoprev®, Advicor®) or simvastatin (Zocor®, Simcor®, Vytorin®) • rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifater®, Rifamate®, Rimactane®) • sildenafil (Revatio®) only when used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Serious problems can happen if you take any of these medicines with PREZISTA. What should I tell my doctor before I take PREZISTA? PREZISTA may not be right for you. Before taking PREZISTA, tell your healthcare provider if you: • have liver problems, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C • are allergic to sulfa medicines • have high blood sugar (diabetes) • have hemophilia • are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if PREZISTA will harm your unborn baby.

6 BAY TIM ES OCTOB E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

Pregnancy Registry: You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if taking PREZISTA is right for you. If you take PREZISTA while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how you can be included in the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of the registry is follow the health of you and your baby.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed.

We do not know if PREZISTA can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV-1 should not breastfeed because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in the breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using PREZISTA and certain other medicines may affect each other causing serious side effects.

PREZISTA may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect how PREZISTA works.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take: • medicine to treat HIV • estrogen-based contraceptives (birth control). PREZISTA might reduce the effectiveness of estrogen-based contraceptives. You must take additional precautions for birth control such as a condom.

• medicine for your heart such as bepridil, lidocaine (Xylocaine Viscous®), quinidine (Nuedexta®), amiodarone (Pacerone®, Cardarone®), digoxin (Lanoxin®), flecainide (Tambocor®), propafenone (Rythmol®) • warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®) • medicine for seizures such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®, Epitol®), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®) • medicine for depression such as trazadone and desipramine (Norpramin®) • clarithromycin (Prevpac®, Biaxin®) • medicine for fungal infections such as ketoconazole (Nizoral®), itraconazole (Sporanox®, Onmel®), voriconazole (VFend®) • colchicine (Colcrys®, Col-Probenecid®) • rifabutin (Mycobutin®) • medicine used to treat blood pressure, a heart attack, heart failure, or to lower pressure in the eye such as metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol-XL®), timolol (Cosopt®, Betimol®, Timoptic®, Isatolol®, Combigan®) • midazolam administered by injection • medicine for heart disease such as felodipine (Plendil®), nifedipine (Procardia®, Adalat CC®, Afeditab CR®), nicardipine (Cardene®) • steroids such as dexamethasone, fluticasone (Advair Diskus®, Veramyst®, Flovent®, Flonase®) • bosentan (Tracleer®) • medicine to treat chronic hepatitis C such as boceprevir (VictrelisTM), telaprevir (IncivekTM) • medicine for cholesterol such as pravastatin (Pravachol®), atorvastatin (Lipitor®), rosuvastatin (Crestor®) • medicine to prevent organ transplant failure such as cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Sandimmune®, Neoral®), tacrolimus (Prograf®), sirolimus (Rapamune®) • salmeterol (Advair®, Serevent®) • medicine for narcotic withdrawal such as methadone (Methadose®, Dolophine Hydrochloride), buprenorphine (Butrans®, Buprenex®, Subutex®), buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®) • medicine to treat schizophrenia such as risperidone (Risperdal®), thioridazine • medicine to treat erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension such as sildenafil (Viagra®, Revatio®), vardenafil (Levitra®, Staxyn®), tadalafil (Cialis®, Adcirca®) • medicine to treat anxiety, depression or panic disorder such as sertraline (Zoloft®), paroxetine (Paxil®) This is not a complete list of medicines that you should tell your healthcare provider that you are taking. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is one that is listed above. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor or pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Do not start any new medicines while you are taking PREZISTA without first talking with your healthcare provider.

How should I take PREZISTA? • Take PREZISTA every day exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

• You must take ritonavir (NORVIR®) at the same time as PREZISTA. • Do not change your dose of PREZISTA or stop treatment without talking to your healthcare provider first.

• Take PREZISTA and ritonavir (NORVIR®) with food.

• Swallow PREZISTA tablets whole with a drink. If you have difficulty swallowing PREZISTA tablets, PREZISTA oral suspension is also available. Your health care provider will help determine whether PREZISTA tablets or oral suspension is right for you.

• PREZISTA oral suspension should be given with the supplied oral dosing syringe. Shake the suspension well before each usage.

• If you take too much PREZISTA, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

People who take PREZISTA one time a day: • If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by less than 12 hours, take your missed dose of PREZISTA right away. Then take your next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time.

• If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by more than 12 hours, wait and then take the next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time.

People who take PREZISTA two times a day • If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by less than 6 hours, take your missed dose of PREZISTA right away. Then take your next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time.

• If you miss a dose of PREZISTA by more than 6 hours, wait and then take the next dose of PREZISTA at your regularly scheduled time.

If a dose of PREZISTA is skipped, do not double the next dose.

Do not take more or less than your prescribed dose of PREZISTA at any one time.

What are the possible side effects of PREZISTA? PREZISTA can cause side effects including: • See “What is the most important information I should know about PREZISTA?” • Diabetes and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Some people who take protease inhibitors including PREZISTA can get high blood sugar, develop diabetes, or your diabetes can get worse. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice an increase in thirst or urinate often while taking PREZISTA. • Changes in body fat. These changes can happen in people who take antiretroviral therapy. The changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck (“buffalo hump”), breast, and around the back, chest, and stomach area. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also happen. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known.

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Call your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV medicine.

• Increased bleeding for hemophiliacs. Some people with hemophilia have increased bleeding with protease inhibitors including PREZISTA. The most common side effects of PREZISTA include: • diarrhea • nausea • rash • headache • abdominal pain • vomiting Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of PREZISTA. For more information, ask your health care provider.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store PREZISTA? • Store PREZISTA oral suspension and tablets at room temperature [77°F (25°C)].

• Do not refrigerate or freeze PREZISTA oral suspension.

• Keep PREZISTA away from high heat.

• PREZISTA oral suspension should be stored in the original container.

Keep PREZISTA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about PREZISTA Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use PREZISTA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give PREZISTA to other people even if they have the same condition you have. It may harm them.

This leaflet summarizes the most important information about PREZISTA. If you would like more information, talk to your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about PREZISTA that is written for health professionals.

For more information, call 1-800-526-7736.

What are the ingredients in PREZISTA? Active ingredient: darunavir Inactive ingredients: PREZISTA Oral Suspension: hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylparaben sodium, citric acid monohydrate, sucralose, masking flavor, strawberry cream flavor, hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment), purified water.

PREZISTA 75 mg and 150 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose.

The film coating contains: OPADRY® White (polyethylene glycol 3350, polyvinyl alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, talc, titanium dioxide).

PREZISTA 400 mg and 600 mg Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose.

The film coating contains: OPADRY® Orange (FD&C Yellow No. 6, polyethylene glycol 3350, polyvinyl alcohol-partially hydrolyzed, talc, titanium dioxide).

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration.

Manufactured by: PREZISTA Oral Suspension Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V. Beerse, Belgium PREZISTA Tablets Janssen Ortho LLC, Gurabo, PR 00778 Manufactured for: Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP, Titusville NJ 08560 NORVIR® is a registered trademark of its respective owner.

PREZISTA® is a registered trademark of Janssen Pharmaceuticals © Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2006 Revised: June 2012 986588P

HIV/AIDS News Methadone reduces the risk of HIV transmission in people who inject drugs (PWID), as reported by an international team of researchers in a paper published in the online edition of the British Medical Journal. This team included Dr. Julie Bruneau from the CHU M Research Centre (CRCHUM ) and the Department of Fami ly Med icine at t he Université de Montréal.

“There is good ev idence to suggest that opiate substitution therapies (OST ) reduce drug-related mor t a l it y, morbid it y a nd some of t he i njec t ion r i s k b eh av ior s among PW I D. However, to date there has been no quantitative estimate of the ef fect of OST in relation to HIV transmission. This new study provides solid evidence demonst rat ing t he l in k bet ween t hese t reat ment s a nd a reduced risk of HI V transmission,” notes Dr. Br uneau, one of t he si x i nvestigators who worked with Dr. M at t hew H ic k m a n, t he st udy ’s principal investigator and Professor in Public Health and Epidemiolog y at the University of Bristol ( UK). “ T hese resu lt s a re i mpor t a nt given that increases in HIV incidence have been reported among PW I D in a number of countr ies i n r e c e nt y e a r s , w he r e o p i a t e

substitution therapies are illegal or severely restr icted,” adds Dr. Bruneau.

Injection drug use is a major risk f a c t or for t he t r a n s m i s s ion of H I V a nd A I DS. It is est i mated that around 5-10% of HIV infections worldwide are due to injection drug use. Methadone and buprenor phine are the main forms of drug prescribed for addicts and are frequently prescribed as opiate substitution therapies.

The results of this study are the fr uit of an inter nat iona l col lab orat ive ef for t. Aut hors from t he US, Canada, Italy and Australia carr ied out a rev iew and pooled analysis ( k nown as a meta-analysis) of several published and unpubl ished st ud ies from mu lt iple c ou nt r ie s ( i nc lud i n g t he US A , Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Austr ia, Italy, Thailand, Puerto R ic o a nd C h i n a) to det er m i ne the association between OST and HIV transmission among PWID. The nine selected studies looked predominantly at males between 26 and 39 years old and totaled 819 incidences of HI V infect ion w ith 23,608 person-years of follow-up.

After analyzing these studies, the authors found that OST was as-

soc i ated w it h a 5 4% reduct ion i n r isk of H I V i n fect ion a mong P W I D. T here were d i f ferences b et ween t he st ud ies , i nc lud i n g d i f fe r e nt b a c k g r ou n d r a t e s o f HI V infection, making it impossible to calculate an “absolute risk reduction” for HIV infection that wou ld t r a n s l ate to a l l set t i ng s.

A nd not all studies reported adjust ments to t he inter vent ion to take account of other factors that m ight i n f luence t he associat ion between OST and HIV infection.

But t he impact of OST on H I V was strong and consistent in further analyses in the paper. There was weak evidence to suggest that longer duration of OST exposure may be a ssociated w it h g reater benef it.

For Dr. Br u neau, t he resu lt s of t h i s st udy favor t he promot ion of opiate subst it ut ion t herapies: “These therapies can reduce HIV t r a n sm i s s ion a mong P W I D not only in countries in which there is a high incidence of this disease, but a lso in Quebec where t here has been an increase in t he use of i l l ic it opi ates i nt r avenou s ly, par t icu larly a mong yout hs, a nd where access to OST is problematic.”

See

more

Stories

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader, received the Lifetime Achievemen Award at Shanti’s 38th Annual Benefit held October 10th at the SF Hilton. (Photos by Steven Underhill)

@sfbaytimes.com BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 7

Professional Services

Sister Dana Sez blood f lows liberally. Gor y gor y, hallelujah!

By Sister Dana Van Iquity S i s t e r D a n a h o p e s t h i s Ha l l o w e e n won’t be like last year, when he was trick-or-treating and someone screamed at him , “ Take of f that hideous, horrifying , frightening mask!” - when he wasn’t actually wearing a mask. Sigh.

Ha l loween is t he per fect season to see SHOCK TOBERFEST 13: T H E B R I D E O F D E AT H , a n evening of horror and unhinged comedy, ter ror & t it i l lat ion, i nclud i ng one cla ssic Gra nd Gu ig nol thr iller, Coals of Fire and a painful lesson against adulter y t aught by a n old bl i nd wom a n (Leigh Crow); two world-premiere one-act plays (The Twisted Pair with a mad scientist, insane drag queen, and g iant ha l lucinogenic f lies and rats) and (the title show, T h e B r i d e of D ea th, i n wh ich t he my st er iou s s e c r et of yout h for a n ag i ng act ress is unvei led maniacally and beastly bloodily: talented cast includes Annie Larson (G over ness), F ly n n DeM a rco ( R andolph), Zelda Koznofsk i (C y nt h i a), Na nc y French ( M r s.

Of fal), Dalton Goulette (A listair Maxwell), Jim Jeske ( Dr. Stygian), Michael Phillis (Tim), Rory Davis ( Ig nat ius), Bon n i Suva l ( Evely n M a x wel l). Ba sed on ch a r a cter s and story ideas by Flynn DeMarco and Michael Phillis. Directed

by Russel l Blackwood); t wo mus ic a l s (I ’ m a M u m m y, w h ic h shows what show bi z t a lent ca n be unear t hed a fter m i l lenn iums in a tomb) and (Those Beautiful Ghouls with your favorite horror gals and pals singing and dancing and suck ing and bit ing and k illing); plus a scary lights-out spookshow f inale. The second act is a bit long, so v isit the restroom at i nter m i s s ion or r i s k hav i ng t he piss scared outta you! Runs now t h r ou g h Nov e mb e r 17, T hu r s -

DEATH BECOMES HER is both a hilarious movie starring Mer yl Streep and Goldie Hawn, as well as a live drag spectacle pre-show st a r r i n g t he olde st l iv i n g d r a g queens who w ill suddenly, mag ically become youthful: Peaches Christ as Madeleine Ashton and Heklina as Helen Sharp. Beauty is on ly sk in deep, but ugly goes r ight to t he bones. Joi n E r nest M e n v i l l e a t t h e Fo u n t a i n o f Youth Bar in the Mezzanine for mag ical libations! Saturday, October 20th at the Castro Theatre.

Dead celebr it y costume contest.

Audience makeovers. Doors open: 6:3 0 pm for V I P t ic ket holder s , 7pm for general admission, festivit ies beg in 8pm. PeachesChr ist. com. Defy ing natural law before your very eyes.

H A L L OW EEN! T HE B A L L A D OF MICHELE MYERS is a musical mash-up of your favorite slasher horror movies with the scariest television series of all time...The Facts of L ife! star r ing: Tr i x x ie Ca r r, M i ss R a h n i, R aya L ight , F l y n n W it me y er, A ud r a Wol fmann, Steven Sat yr icon, Robert G a m me l , S a mue l P a l me r, K a i Medei r o s , a nd Da nt e Tolomei .

Friday through Sunday, October 19 -21 and October 26 -28 , 8pm, as well as Halloween October 31st at Cou nterPU LSE , M ission @ 9th Street. Tix $20 advance / $25 door, (877) 297- 6805. “ You take the good, you take the bad” and you get slashed in the face! Bloody hell!

What’s really scary is a RomneyRya n ad m i n i st r at ion! A s I sa id last week and must reiterate, I salute my fel low “ta kers” who feel “ent it le d” t o he a lt hc a r e, fo o d , and housing. Does that ma ke us 47% of the 99%?! M ittens is the BA IN of our existence. Kudos to Veep Joe Biden, t he ma ster de bater! Vote Obama-Biden or experience true horror. And please don’t kill Big Bird!

Not scar y, but qu ite fest ive w i l l be the GLBT Historical Society’s a n nua l U N M A SK E D GA L A , October 25th, br ing ing together

neer s of t he GL BT com mu n it y, who have made it possible to take of f t he mask of secrecy and l ive our lives openly,” says Exec Direc Paul Boneberg. “This year, we’re honor ing in part icular the g reat contributions that Bay Area queer f i lmma kers have made to creating GLBT culture and advancing understanding of GLBT people.”

There w ill be food and a hosted bar. Severa l Bay A rea f i lmma kers w i l l ta ke par t in t he ga la as honor ed g uest s . E nter t a i n ment pr ov id e d b y b a r it one Z a c h a r y Gordin, a rising star of opera and the concert stage; the Cello Street Quartet, noted for blending classical tradition with contemporary pop; drag d iva Glamamore; and queer club DJ Hard French. VIP t ickets to Un ma sked are $10 0; g ener a l a d m i s s ion i s $ 6 0. C a l l (415) 777-5455 or visit unmaskedgala.org.

Whether you’re a Shark or a Jet, a Gu y or a D ol l , a L ion K i n g or a Cat , come out a s you r fa vor ite Broadway cha r acter a nd join the GAY & LESBI A N A L L I A N C E A G A I N S T D E FA M AT I O N ( G L A A D ) f o r t h e “Haunted Broadway” Ha l loween Ba l l - a n even i ng of da nce, d r in k a nd Ha l loween revelr y to benef it GL A A D’s culture-changi ng work! Enjoy compl i ment a r y vod k a d r i n k s , w i ne, a nd dev i l ishly delicious hors d’oeuvres on Saturday, October 27th, 7 - 11pm, Metronome at 1830 17th Street @ De Haro. Free roundtrip shuttle ser v ice from t he Cast ro to t he venue w i l l r u n t h r ou ghout t he night. Enter to win the Most Fabulous Costume Contest, and mix and mingle with special sur prise g uests. From helping millions of people take a stand against bullying on Spirit Day, to working with an Ohio mom to speak out against the Boy Scouts’ anti-gay policies, GL A A D i s s h a r i n g t he s t or ie s t hat move us closer to equa l it y. glaad.org.

A nd spea k i ng of SPI R I T DAY, on October 19 t h be su re to go pur ple! Spirit Day is an annual day in October when millions of A mer icans wear pur ple to speak out against bullying and to show

Children’s Halloween Parade with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on Castro Street in 2006 (Photo by Rink)

Read more @ www.sfbaytimes.com 8 BAY TIM ES OCTOB E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

d ay s , Fr id ay s , Sat u rd ay s , 8 pm, w it h s pec i a l H a l loween per formances October 30th and 31st at T h r i l lpedd ler s’ Hy pnod r o me, 575 10th between Bryant and Divison Streets. Thrillpeddlers.com & (415) 377-4202. Be forewarned:

ent hu s i a s t s of L GB T Q h i s t or y for a f u n even i ng at t he Green Room, 401 Van Ness to help support the public history work of the soc iet y a nd it s world-renow ned GL B T H i s t or y Mu s eu m . “ Un masked pays homage to the pio-

their support for LGBTQ youth.

St a r ted by h igh school st udent Brittany McMillan, GL A A D now coordinates Spirit Day every year.

Let ever yone know why you’re a purple people! (continued on page 28)

BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 9

In San Francisco, Every Month Is LGBT History Month or in religious institutions.” This gap leaves our young people w it h no way to appreciate their inheritance from the LGBT people who have gone before them, and it deprives our elders of the honor they deserve for their lifelong commitment to liv ing on their own terms, to f inding pleasure and love against the odds, to creating friendships and inventing family in an often-disapproving society.

What’s more, it means our voices are unheard and our faces are unseen when non-LGBT people learn about history.

Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

P H OTO B Y BI L L WI L S ON

2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-503-1375 525 Bellevue Avenue Oakland CA 94610 Phone: 510-846-8158 E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com STAFF Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas

Guest Editorial

Co-Publishers & Co-Editors

Gerard Koskovich

Ayana Baltrip Balagas Design Direction & Production Abby Zimberg Design & Production

Since 1994, October has been obser ved as LGBT Histor y Month in the United States.

Launched by Rodney Wilson, a high school teacher in Missouri, the celebration promotes understanding of the contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexua l and transgender people have made to our societ y. A s gay histor ian George Chauncey of Yale University points out, “LGBT History Month sends an important message to our nation’s teachers, school boards, community leaders and youth about the vital importance of recognizing and exploring the role of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in American history.”

Juan Torres Advertising Executive Juan@sfbaytimes.com Robert Fuggiti Calendar Editor

Manny Apolonio Assistant to the Publishers

Barbara Brust / Lucille Design Webmaster & Technology Director

Michael Denison Business Manager

Juan Ordonez Distribution

ADVISORY BOARD Tracy Gary Nanette Lee Miller, CPA James C. Freeman Jim Rosenau Judy Young, MPH Gary Virginia Dixie Horning

So why haven’t the GLBT Historical Society a nd T he GL BT H i stor y Museu m pla n ned any special events to mark the observance of LGBT History Month? As a founding member of the Histor ical Societ y and as an exh ibit ions curator at t he museum, I can offer a simple answer: We love the idea of this national celebration, but we also know that in San Francisco, every month is LGBT History Month. For us, supporting the discovery of our hidden histories and sharing our vast queer past with our own community and with the world at large is a daily endeavor.

CONTRIBUTORS Writers

Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Kirsten Kruse, Teddy Witherington, David Grabstald, Kate Kendell, Pollo del Mar, Heidi Beeler, K. Cole, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Paul E. Pratt, Terry Baum, Gypsy Love, Joel Engardio, Rafael Mandelman, Scott Wiener, Shelley MacKay, Kit Kennedy, Leslie Katz, Karen Williams, Gary Virginia, Stu Smith, Zoe Dunning, Kathleen Archambeau

The Equality Forum in Philadelphia, which has sponsored LGBT H istor y Mont h since 2006, obser ves that “the LGBT community is the only community worldwide that is not taught its histor y at home, in public schools

Filling this void has been the mission of the GLBT Historical Society since our founding in 1985. A look at the numbers will give you a sense of how far we have come. Our archives now contain over 500 manuscript collections, over 4,000 periodical titles, over 5,000 posters, over 80,000 photographs, and over 2,000 hours of f i lm, v ideo and aud io. A nd t hat’s just for starters. We also have a growing collect ion of histor ica l ar t ifacts rang ing from tiny pins for early gay motorcycle runs to the 17-foot-tall 1936 neon sign from the femaleimpersonation cabaret Finocchio’s.

The holdings of the GLBT Historical Society also form the backbone of our exhibitions at The GLBT History Museum. Our long-term show, “Our Vast Queer Past: Celebrating San Francisco’s GL BT Histor y,” draws ent irely on materials from the archives to create a kaleidoscopic view of nearly 100 years of local LGBT life. Given the wealth of our col lections, this exhibition of fers not a comprehensive view, but a starting point for beginning to u nder st a nd t he d iver se a nd fa sci nat i ng queer histor y of our cit y. Keeping this fact in mind, we recently gave the kaleidoscope a shake by refreshing portions of the show and bringing in two entirely new themes.

T he GL BT H istor y Museum a lso of fers us my r iad oppor t un it ies for reach i ng beyond our ow n col lect ions. For instance, the current shows in our Front Gallery and our small Corner Galler y space bring together important documents and ar t ifacts on loan from orga n i zat ions a nd i nd iv idua ls i n t he community. In addition, the museum provides an

idea l sett ing for extend ing our educat iona l m ission. I n t he nea rly t wo yea r s si nce we opened, we have prov ided g uided tours for more than 50 for classes and student groups, and we have sponsored numerous public programs, including panel discussions and f ilm showings.

V i sitor s f rom across t he U. S . a nd a rou nd t he world tel l us how much t hey va lue t he work of T he GL BT H i stor y Museu m. L et me share just two recent comments from our g uest book . A woma n from Ca nada w rote these words: “It is so impor tant to remember the past if we want to build a more open and peaceful future. We can always make the world better for those who are marginalized a nd d iscr i m inated aga inst. It was g reat to see the histor y of the battle for queer rights and to be here today.” And a grade-schooler who came w ith her family dur ing the Castro Street Fair added this lively remark: “I like this museum. It is fun.” That’s just the range of responses we have always hoped to inspire.

The GLBT Historical Society and The GLBT History Museum ref lect the hard work and the generous contributions of countless individuals—and our future growth depends on those same factors. How can you help us continue mak ing ever y month LGBT Histor y Month in San Francisco? By becoming a member of the Historical Society, by volunteering, by attending our exhibitions and programs—and by br ing ing a long your fr iends. A nd come to think of it, we do have one special event planned for national LGBT Histor y Month: Our Unmasked Gala, one of the most festive queer social events of the year, is coming up on the evening of Thursday, October 25. We look forward to seeing you there!

Gerard Koskovich is a founding member of the GL BT Historical Society and an exhibitions curator at T he GL BT History Museum. For more information on the society, the museum and the Unmasked gala , visit www.glbthistory.org.

Photographers/ Illustrators

Rink, Dennis McMillan, Steven Underhill, Phyllis Costa, Cathy Blackstone, Robert Fuggiti

BACK PAGE CLUB Catch Restaurant Fountaingrove Lodge Jordan, Miller & Associates Pelican Art Gallery NAPA Cellars Wines Olivia Travel Thank you to our leading advertisers.

ADVERTISING

Classified Advertising: Refer to the order form in The Classifieds section, which you may mail or fax in, or e-mail us at classifieds@sfbaytimes.com. Deadline is 3 p.m. the Thursday preceding publication. For display classified information, please call Display Advertising at 415-503-1386 #3.

National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco. Also represented

by Rivendell Media., Mountainside, NJ 908-232-2021.

CALENDAR

PHOTOS BY RINK

Display Advertising Rate cards are available by calling 415-503-1386 #3 or e-mail ads@sfbaytimes.com.

A diverse array of protesters turned out for the rally outside St. Mary’s Cathedral during the installation of Archbishop Cordileone on October 4th.

Person of the Week: Grace Floyd

Calendar performers, clubs, individuals or groups who want to list events should mail, e-mail or fax notices so that they reach us by 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to publication. Please e-mail items to be considered for the Calendar to calendar@sfbaytimes.com. We cannot take listings by phone.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR If you would like to write a letter to the editor with comment on an article or suggestions for the Bay Times, email us at editor@sfbaytimes.com. © 2012 Bay Times Media Co, Inc. Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas Reprints by permission only.

10 BAY TIM ES OCTO B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

Many of you who have attended “Betty’s List” events over the years know Grace Floyd. For nearly a decade she has worked tirelessly both in front of and behind the scenes—setting up heavy equipment, organizing volunteers, handling payments and so much more. She is often the warm first presence at the door, welcoming you with a genuine smile and a hug.

She imparts guests with a true sense of belonging and value.

Even if you are familiar with Graceand it’s hard to miss her tall, attractive presence- there are a few things that you might not know about her. First, there’s her own impressive career outside of her “Betty’s List” efforts. For eight years she served as the IT op-

erations manager for the Discovery Channel. She has also held other high tech and management jobs requiring incredible skill, control, savvy and impressive leadership abilities.

She is also now battling ovarian cancer. With characteristic fortitude and generous spirit, she is forging ahead with her life and volunteer work. It’s widely known that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but did you know that last month was National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month? The latter tends to get a bit less hype, which seems in keeping with this near-silent disease. It can creep up on women with few obvious symptoms. In any case, these two cancers have impacted countless indi-

viduals, either directly or via friends, colleagues and loved ones who have struggled with the diseases. Perhaps you have gone through chemo and surgeries, and can relate more closely with what Grace is experiencing.

Recently we’ve seen someone free fall from more than 24 miles up. We watch our country’s top leaders risk their lives for the sake of national security and duty. Athletes go the distance to try and win games. But few of life’s challenges equal the fight against formidable diseases like cancer. It can be a lonely battle, and yet it’s one that we may all at some point face. Please join us in ways that you can to support Grace and the race to find a cure for ovarian and breast cancer.

The Week in Review Apres Mitt, Le Deluge

By Ann Rostow Buzzfeed’s Chris Geidner, the best reporter on GLBT legal issues, has a good piece on the impact of a Romney victory on our challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

To paraphrase, if Romney wins, we’re screwed.

Oh, not totally. It’s still possible that the High Court could strike the Defense of Marriage Act even if the Justice Department changes the official position of the United States government. But it’s somewhat less likely, don’t you think?

You recall that the Obama administration has refused to defend the Defense of Marriage Act based on a conviction that sexual orientation discrimination should be held to a tough legal standard like cases of race or faith-based bias. But that policy, which puts the power of the Justice Department on our side, will simply be reversed if Romney wins the presidency.

Further, since the High Court is apparently waiting until after November 6 to decide whether or not to take review of one or more DOMA cases, it’s pretty clear that the justices would delay the whole process if Romney were to win.

Even though Obama would remain in office until late January, the Court would surely ask the incoming Justice Department to present their views.

Likewise, the status of the House Republicans who are currently defending DOMA would come into play. If the Justice Department reverts to defending DOMA, there’s no need for the House to continue in its current role. Well, just read Geidner’s post.

It’s complicated. Or as Ming Ming of the Wonder Pets would say: “This. Is. Sewious.”

Here in our own trenchant review of GLBT law and politics, we have often harped on the strangely underappreciated impact of Obama’s decision two years ago to put the country’s legal stamp on the notion that gay bias is presumptively unconstitutional.

Remember when everyone was all hot under the collar because Obama had yet to officially come out in favor of marriage equality? Hey, it was great that he did, but in all the hoopla surrounding that symbolic statement, we seemed oblivious to the fact that he had already put his money where his mouth had yet to go. Obama has exceeded our community’s hopes and dreams for a leader, and he has done so, under the radar, using the most effective tactic under his command—- constitutional law. (Recall that I bashed Obama on his lackadaisical approach to gay rights for a full two years prior to February 2011, so I’m not a natural sycophant.)

— Long Island Railroad

as far as we’ve come, we’re still poised on the cusp of equality and now is not the moment to take a step back.

Under these circumstances, it was with profound relief that I watched Obama crush Romney in last night’s debate. I know my biased reaction is not universal, but it’s important that Obama fans like me viewed the debate as a TKO. That means that mild supporters thought he won, and Romney voters felt at least a frisson of disappointment.

Their man was hectoring. He stumbled on issues. His T was way too high. He looked petulant. The “act of terror” vignette was like the pick six late in the fourth quarter that puts your team up by two touchdowns.

And Obama’s last answer put the game away for good.

As for the “binders full of women,” Ladies, let’s give Romney a break.

We’ve all been there.

— Wallowing Out of the Closet Moving on, you may or may not have noticed that the annual Coming Out Day has come and gone. Once a critical strategy for advancing public opinion in our direction, “coming out” has served its purpose and is drifting into the pages of history.

No longer do middle-aged or thirtysomething men and women creep out of closets. It’s something you do in your teens, and it’s not even a closet anymore.

Of course, there are exceptions, and I’m not trying to minimize the difficulty of being gay in many areas of the country or in many conservative enclaves. But things have changed.

And to prove it, I’ve just learned that Honey Boo Boo’s uncle is a proud, openly gay man, who lives with his partner in rural Georgia.

Say what? You’ve never heard of Honey Boo Boo? She is the 7-yearold reality star who recently came out in favor of same-sex marriage. Now, we learn that Uncle Poodle may have had a hand in keeping his niece real.

Honey Boo Boo reportedly heard someone calling a gay man a “poodle.” Her uncle explained that it was a gay slur, but encouraged Boo Boo to use it as an affectionate nickname.

“Make no mistake,” Uncle Poodle told the Georgia Voice, “I am still as redneck as I can get. My husband and I live in Milledgeville because we want to be out in the country, because we want to be somewhere we can fish and jump on a four wheeler, go hog wallowing.”

Here’s the thing. We are all out now.

Not just the single men living in the Castro or the committed lesbians living in Park Slope. The slogan “we are everywhere” used to suggest to the average citizen that his or her doctor or butcher or candlestick maker might secretly be gay. Now the phrase can be taken literally.

The vast majority of GLBT voters are Democrats or leaning left, but back in 2000, 25 percent of the gay vote went to George W Bush. You can attribute Bush’s victory to the dice or slice of any demographic, but the fact is, GLBT Republicans made the difference. Please gay Republicans, don’t do it this time around. You can tack back to the right at the midterms, but stick with the larger community just this once.

I am reminded of the dramatic scene at the New Hampshire diner back before the primary. Mitt Romney approached a grizzled veteran, wearing a flannel shirt and a hat that indicated he had served in Vietnam. “Ah. A Vietnam vet,” chortled the candidate.

When the man asked what Romney thought of gay marriage, Mitt proudly announced that marriage was between a man and a woman, smugly assuming that his position would meet with the man’s approval.

I’m guessing, and hoping, that four years from now, not even a Republican administration will be comfortable leading an antigay charge. But

But then, the man asked why the same-sex spouse of a veteran should be denied benefits. Romney’s aides picked up on possible trouble and

Professional Services whisked Mittens to safety with a cursory goodbye. At once, the press descended on 63-year-old Bob Garon, asking why he cared about the issue.

“Because I’m gay, alright?” Garon growled. “And I happen to love a man just like you probably love your wife.

Alright? And I think that he or she or whatever are entitled to the same rights that I have. I fought for my country, I did my thing, and I think that my spouse should be entitled to the same entitlements as if I was married to a woman.” (Find this on you tube.)

Bottom line? The community of openly gay men and women is not confined to f lorists and PE teachers anymore. We are your mechanics, your veterans, your bankers, your grocers and we can hog wallow with the best of you.

— Don’t Bite Me, Bro My news list this week includes the cryptic entry: “nose inmate,” a reference to a gay prisoner who got into a fight with a homophobe who chomped off his nose. Man alive!

I’d look up the details for you but I think this item transcends the general theme of antigay violence.

First of all, let’s just stipulate that weird and horrible things happen to people in prison. You get stabbed with sharpened toothbrushes, sexually assaulted in the shower, sold to the guy in the next cell for a pack of smokes. Whatever. It seems like a hellish place. But second, anyone who would bite off someone’s nose is a psychopath. Does it matter if a psychopath is also “antigay?” Isn’t that sort of like objecting to the anti-Semitic views of a serial killer?

I also have a story about a Christian man who went “undercover” into the gay community and emerged (cue violins) with a deeper understanding of the trials and tribulations we take for granted. Oh, and a Greek TV censor killed a same-sex kiss on Downton Abbey. Hmmm. Even in the midst of economic, financial and societal crisis, we can still drill down to unearth a nugget of GLBT news out of Greece. Also, why haven’t we seen this same-sex kiss? I’ll check.

Turns out we did see it, although I missed the episode. Apparent ly Thomas, the scheming footman, kissed a visiting duke.

— The Eyes Have It Here’s something. I was just reading about a 10-year-old girl in Burien, Washington, who checked out a Japanese comic book from the local public library. Her uncle, clearly not a Poodle type, was appalled to discover that the publication featured detailed scenes of rough gay sex. (Guys who would like to follow up on this story can search for “Hero Heel” by Makoto Tateno, second volume.)

Honestly, I think society should make it extremely diff icult for 10-yearolds to obtain graphic pornography, whether it be gay or straight. It’s reprehensible for a public library to isolate a gay family book like “Heather has Two Mommies,” a book that was expressly written for kids. But it’s quite reasonable to tuck volume two of “Hero Heel” in the back shelves of the adults-only Manga porn section.

C’mon. If the pre-pubescent set really wants to get their hands on this sort of content, let them sneak around like every other generation. (continued on page 24)

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

BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 11

Real Estate and Design

Kitchen Refresh converting garages and basements into living spaces, creating outdoor entertaining and garden spaces, doing interior decoration, and providing home repair and maintenance services.

Project Remodel Jim Tibbs One of my personal goals in life is to help people create homes that are comfortable, convenient, healthy and inspiring living spaces. This is one of the many reasons that I love my “encore” career as the owner of a home

I am very excited by the prospect of sharing my home improvement knowledge with the readers of the Bay Times. Together we will explore topics as varied as decorating trends, home repair and maintenance tips, and remodeling advice with the goal of helping the readers of this column improve their homes and the lives they lead in them.

To that end, let me kick off this column with a topic that has broad appeal in these tough economic times–updating your k itchen on a budget. I have coined the phrase “Kitchen Refresh” to describe the process of giving your kitchen a new look without going to the expense of a full remodel.

The determining factor for doing a refresh versus a remodel is whether the cabinet layout is satisfactory and the cabinet boxes are in good enough condition to be re-used. If the answer to these two questions is “yes,” then your kitchen may be an excellent candidate for the ideas described below.

1. If the cabinet doors and drawer fronts are in reasonably good shape, clean them w ith Method Wood Cleaner from Target and apply Liquid Gold to hide the scratches.

BEFOR E

design and remodeling business after working for 30 years in the apparel industry at Macy’s and Levi Strauss.

2 If the doors are structurally sound but the finish is shot, paint them with high quality, satin finish paint.

My name is Jim Tibbs and I own HDR Remodeling with my life partner of 33 years, Philip Anderson.

We are fortunate to work with clients throughout the East Bay doing home improvement projects such as remodeling kitchens and bathrooms,

3. If the cabinet doors are beyond repair then consider installing new doors on the existing cabinet boxes.

4. Install pullout shelves and drawer accessories to increase the storage capacity of your cabinets.

AF TER

5. Replace the drawer pulls and knobs with a new profile and finish.

6. Install new counter tops and replace or add a tile backsplash.

7. Replace an oversized countertop microwave with a GE Spacemaker under-cabinet model.

8. Add crown molding to your existing cabinets.

9. Update the light fixtures or add new task and accent lighting where you need it. Dimmer switches help change the mood in the room with the touch of dial.

10. Paint the walls and ceiling in a new color and replace those tired window shades.

Any combination of these improvements will “refresh” your kitchen at a fraction of the cost of a total remodel.

You will be amazed at the difference.

Jim Tibbs is the creative director of HDR Remodeling. If you would like to learn more, please read his blog at http://hdrremodeling.wordpress.com or follow him on Twitter at @HDRremodeling1.

Edit Your Life things, this gave you a little more freedom, a little more time.

Less stuff and less space are going to equal a smaller footprint. It’s a great way to save you some money. And it’s going to give you a little more ease in your life. Kevin Stephens Design Group and Graham Hill started a project called Life Edited Home to further this conversation and to find some great solutions in this area.

SEVEN SQUARED SF SELLING SAN FRANCISCO

Jennifer and George provide the finest, most comprehensive service available.

Their goal is to partner with you as a team to achieve your real estate goals.

Green Bay Area Living Kevin Stephens

www.SevenSquaredSF.com JENNIFER A KAUFFMAN | JAK ZEPHYR REAL ESTATE REALTOR | TOP PRODUCER DRE#01207556 jak@jaksf.com www.sevensquaredsf.com 415-652-8100

GEORGE LANGFORD ZEPHYR REAL ESTATE

REALTOR www.sevensquaredsf.com DRE#01719561 GeorgeLangford@Zephyrsf.com 415.336-8191

12 BAY TIM ES OCTO B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

Did you know that we have about three times more space than Americans had 50 years ago? You’d think that, with all this extra space, we’d have plenty of room for all of our stuff. No. We’ve got triple the space, but we’ve become such good shoppers that we need even more space. Where does this lead? The answer is to lots of debt and huge environmental footprints. Our happiness levels have also flat-lined over the same 50 years.

I want to suggest that there’s a better way. Less might actually be more.

I bet most of us have experienced at some point the joys of less: in your dorm, in a hotel room, camping, or maybe while in a boat. Whatever it was for you, I bet that, among other

Micro-eff iciency homes can help conserve the environment, save you money and bring you more happiness. Picture this: our prototype, a 420 square foot apartment in Manhattan. We want it all: a home office, sit down dinner for 10, room for guests, and our kite surfing gear. By buying a space that was 420 square feet instead of 600 square feet, immediately we are saving $200,000.

Smaller space is going to equal more affordable utilities. And because it’s really designed around an edited set of possessions (our favorite stuff) and really designed for us, we would be excited to live there.

You can start to become more microefficient with three main approaches: 1. Edit ruthlessly. Clear the arteries of your life. That shirt that you haven’t worn in years? It’s time to let it go.

You need to think before you buy.

Ask yourself, “Is that really going to make me happier?” By all means, you

should buy and own some great stuff.

But you want things that you’re going to love for years.

2. Your new mantra: “small is sexy.”

You want space efficiency and things that are designed for how they’re used the vast majority of the time, not that rare event. Why have a six burner stove when you rarely use three? You want things that stack, stretch, and fold. You want to digitize. You can take paperwork, books, movies, and make them disappear by going more digital. Start sharing.

3. Select multifunctional spaces and housewares. A couch becomes a bed.

A dining table becomes a bed. Same space, different uses.

I’m not saying that we all need to live in 420 square feet. But consider the benefits of an edited life. The next time you walk through your front door, take a second and ask yourself, “Could I do with some life editing?

Would that give me more freedom?

Maybe a little more time?”

Kevin Stephens in the CEO of Kevin Stephens Design Group, Inc. He has 17 years of experience in design and 24 years of experience in construction—managing complex projects in the fields of real estate development, building design, landscape design, interior design, site planning, and urban design.

Masters

PHOTO BY CHUCK NICKLOW

of Disguise

From sensibly slutty to outrageously opulent, San Franciscans have a lways been masters of disguise. Given the Bay Area’s world- class ar ts organizat ions and multiple resident designers, it’s no wonder that costume design f lourishes here. With all due respect to talented straight designers, fashion f lair is often gayer than Chanelclad Karl Lager feld wa ltzing w ith stunning Donna Sachet in the Starlight Room.

Gayer than Jane Lynch sporting a tux at an NCLR gala. Well, you get the point.

In this issue we highlight a few San Franc i s c o c o s t u me m a s t e r s . C o s t u me s o n Haight is a local treasure that keeps the Halloween spirit alive all year round. (A tip: Many of the costumes are quite elegant, so if you want to stand out in t he r ight way at a fancy do—wear ing something unique, regal, v intage and glam— consult with their experts.)

Sa n Fr a nc i sco Ba l let i s a l so feat u r ed .

Did you know that San Francisco Ballet is the oldest professional ballet company in America? Find out how this highly accla i med compa ny keeps it s buf f-bod ied dancers looking even better than their already beautiful best.

And if you are thinking of making a costume or more this year, check out Bay Times columnist Heidi Beeler’s amusing piece on how to turn items like Styrofoam balls and glue g un glue into somet h ing wor t hy of Beach Blanket Babylon.

Birthday suits seem to still be in fashion in the Castro, but they leave little to the imagination.

The right costume can add another dimension to your presence, or unlock hidden truths about your character. We therefore hope this section inspires you to live out your own clothing-inspired fantasies this Halloween.

SF Halloween 2012 Preview

By Chuck Nicklow, Owner of Costumes on Haight

ye a r we a r e e x p e c t i n g s u p er heroes to l iter a l ly f ly out t he door due to t he recent Avenge r s , S p id e r m a n a n d B a t m a n mov ies. Stock ing t he store for our anticipated super hero rush was tricky, as we had practically sold out of spandex, capes and mask s of ever y color a fter t he f irst annual Super Hero Street Fair a few weeks ago.

You’ve hea rd of us, si nce ou r name gets thrown around a lot at part ies, local theater events and on the street. “Where’d you get t hat awesome pi n k gor i l la suit?” “Costumes on Haight, of course.” We are a year-round, r ea l -l i fe, h i gh- end , leg it cos tume shop, convenient ly located on, you g uessed it , Ha ight Street, bet ween P ierce and Scott. This time of year, we become quite popular as Halloween approaches.

Fol low i n g t he c u r r ent e vent s s u r r ou nd i n g ou r c om mu n it y, we try to predict what might be popular in the coming season.

We have a n i mpressive rent a l f leet of costumes and many are for sa le a s wel l , but it ’s h a rd to k now what w i l l be popu la r this year. We’ll see the classic cost u mes — such a s va mpi res, pirates and stor ybook charact e r s — m a k e t he i r r ot a t io n s ,

which will make up the bulk of our Ha l loween costuming, but there are always a few surprises.

Each Halloween season has its personality, quirks and idiosyncrasies. Every year pop culture serves up a funky twist that will a f fect ou r prepa r at ion s. T h i s

We can also expect the upcoming elect ion to be a hot topic.

We’ve been stocking up on red, white and blue furry top hats as two dozen Mitt Romney masks ar r ived in st yle, a long side extras of Obama, donkeys and elepha nt s. T hese are t he event s we c a n pl a n for, but w it hout fail, every year there is that one cost ume you cou ld n’t possibly expect. Like a slap in the face, it pops up last minute just before the party starts.

Last election year we scrambled t o g at her a s m a ny pi g no s e s as possible after Sarah Pa l in’s

comment about putting lipstick on a pig. A s luc k wou ld have it , t he fol low i ng yea r we dug out t he leftover pig noses just in time for the Bay 2 Breakers r ace du r i ng t he height of t he sw i ne f lu epidem ic. L a st yea r we endu red a snow stor m-l i ke rush on V for Vendetta masks, monocles, mustaches and fa ke money due to t he 99% move ment, which gained momentum just days before the major Halloween party weekend.

This year we are scrambling to f i nd mor e Bi g Bi r d cost u mes and Sesame Street accessor ies fol low ing t he recent Presidential Debate. We are also ordering last minute bow ties, f lashy shades and other assorted bling a s p o pu l a r it y bu i l d s for t he Ga ng na m St yle phenomenon.

P.S. We have the blue tux jacket.

Costuming the Bay Area is quite a s c ienc e. We a r e a p o pu l a tion of artistic geniuses, boast-

i ng some of t he most creat ive and interesting people coloring our commun it y. Foster ing our com mun it y’s creat ive cu lt ure, we cater to burners, circus and burlesque per for mer s, d rag k i ng s a nd queens, i nd ie f i l mmakers, photographers and musicia ns, a nd t he ever-g row i ng need for fun. While Halloween is our busiest t ime, we are a lways buzzing with the need for st age ma keup for t heater perfor ma nces, ma scot s for music videos, and white beards for the infamous SantaCon. A s boxes of feather boas, f ishnets and masquerade mask s a r r i v e for M a s q ue r ot ic a , w e separate them from the swords, googley glasses a nd medusa w ig s. L uc k i ly, we h aven’t yet p a c k e d aw a y t h e w h i p s a n d handcuf fs from the last Folsom Street Fair.

To view images from this year’s costume stash, please see page 14.

BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 13

PHOTOS BY CHUCK NICKLOW

Costume Tips from a Crowd-Wow Junkie Brass Tacks Heidi Beeler PHOTOS COURTESY OF HEIDI BEELER

O c tob er i s her e, t he n at ion a l season of costuming. Once-andfuture empt y storefronts across t he B ay A r e a a r e f i l le d w it h Halloween store stock skeletons and polyblend spider webs. It’s t hat t i me of year when a [um] young t r umpeter’s fa nc y t ur ns to thoughts of humungous haberdashery.

I don’t know exactly when it started… except that’s not really true.

As with all compulsive behavior, I remember ever y detail of my f irst time… the first time I made the trumpets of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band wear giant hats at our Dance-Along Nutcracker.

band members wear costumes onstage for the second act. And parading into the room, dressed like cartoon characters, space aliens, cowboy s , a c ava lc ade of L i za Minnelli’s, we become a kind of living scenery, it occurred to me early on.

It was 1998. For a couple years, we’d staged t he show at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’ Forum, a wide-open room with a wooden f loor and theatr ical sound and lighting. If you have a show that features your entire audience running out on stage like someone’s pulled a f ire alarm, this place is per fect. Aest het ica l ly, t hough,

In 1998, I thought about how to leverage the bodily scenic possibilities of my section and decided to build upwards. I got giant Styrofoam balls – big 12-inchers you only f ind at specialty f lorist shops. I nto t he su r face of t he snowy balls I hot-glued real carrot noses, chestnut eyes, crooked a r c s o f h a z e l nut s for s m i l e s .

this room is a barn. We’re a community group in a tight economy, so there’s no spare cash for scenery. With an audience elbowing its way into the spotlight, there’s not a lot of room either. But we

14 BAY TIM ES OCTO B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

Then I cinched the giant snowman heads onto my fellow trumpet players’ nogg ins w ith nylon camping straps, like a demented Gr i nch w it h a n R E I membership. Once they stopped crying, it looked terrif ic!

That f irst year was an innocent time. I hadn’t known there was such a thing as Styrofoam burn.

A fter t hat weekend, t hough, it was all over our foreheads, but I d idn’t care. The g iant heads accentuated our ever y nod and sway with those giant carrot noses slicing the airspace above our heads. And the looks of awe from children dancing nearby turned us mere trumpeters into celebrities. I was hooked. With a gleam in my eye and a glue gun in my f ist, I piled up bigger and bigger hats each year. Sw iss A lps and cathedral spires above our Sound of M u s i c nu n h a b it s . Mu p p et heads that wouldn’t look out of place among the g iant balloons at the Macy’s Day Parade. International landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Golden Gate Bridge.

S o, i f you’re look i ng for some ideas, here are a few tips from a crowd-wow junkie:

Build up. Real estate is expensive in our crowded little region.

I know Beach Blanket Babylon is with me on this.

Costume supplies are all around.

My favorite supplies come from hardware stores and bulk supply bins. Irrigation hose, duct tape, PVC plumbing connectors, insulation foam and cheese cloth are fabulous, f lexible materials.

Hot glue rules. Never sew what you can hot glue. It ta kes second s, a nd a s a n added bonus, bu r n i ng you r f i nger pr i nt s of f opens the door to a potential career in crime.

Think lightweight. Bigger is better, but you don’t want to cause spinal injuries. Though an orange safety cone is a quick shortcut to an Alp, they’re heavy on your noggin’. Stick to lightweight materials like PVC pipe and cheesecloth.

Happy cost um i ng! A nd i f you need a place to reprise your look, save it for December a nd t he Da nce-A long Nutcracker, December 8 and 9. (www.sf lgf b.org)

Costumes Take Center Stage at San Francisco Ballet

By Philip Mayard

creat ion by one of t he world’s mo s t p o pu l a r a nd i n nov a t i v e choreog rapher s. Bot h set s a nd c o st u me s w i l l b e de s i g ne d by renow ned opera a nd t heat re desig ner Ju l ia n Crouch, whose c r e d it s i nc lude P h i l ip G l a s s’s Satyagraha for the Metropolitan Opera and the Broadway musica l T he Addams Family. L oca l ly, Crouch ser ved as associate d irector/desig ner for S hock h ea ded P et e r, wh ich wa s per for med at A mer ic a n C on s er v at or y T he ater in 20 0 0. C inderella w i l l be his f irst ba l let, and cer tainly a production that you won’t want to miss.

Fr om dow nt ow n f abr ic s t or e s and wig shops, to arts and crafts outlets in suburban strip malls, it seems that ever yone is thinking about costumes t hese days, now t hat Ha l loween is qu ick ly approaching. At San Francisco Ballet, however, costumes are a year-round endeavor.

A lt hough Bay A r ea aud ienc es c a n on ly see SF Ba l let on t he Wa r M e m o r i a l H o u s e s t a g e f rom D ecember t h rough M ay, the Company’s rigorous touring schedu le — wh ich t h i s yea r i ncluded engagements in Moscow, Ha mburg, L ondon, a nd Washington, D.C.—keeps a full staf f of c o s t u mer s , w i g a nd m a ke up artists, and even a full time “compa ny shoe ad m i n ist rator” busy throughout the year. From concept ion a nd desig n, to creation and upkeep, costumes are a n i nt eg r a l c omp onent of t he ballet performance experience.

Philip Mayard is Associate Director of Marketing & Communications at San Francisco Ballet. For tickets and more information about San Francisco Ballet’s upcoming season, visit sf ballet.org.

What would SF Ballet’s magical production of Nutcracker be without layers of colorful tutus, glittering tiaras, and miles of ornate Victor ia n- era brocade fabr ics?

W hen SF Ba l let presented t he American premiere of Nutcracker in 1944, the budget for the 143 costumes was only one thousand dollars, which included mater ia ls and labor. The velvet coats worn by the party guests in Act I were furbished from old stage curtains purchased at Goodwill.

The company’s current production of Nutcracker, set in San Francisco in 1915 during the Panama Pacif ic International Exhibition, is considerably more elaborate.

T he lav ish product ion feat ures over 3 0 0 c o st u me s , i nc lud i n g t h r e e s et s of “ D r o s s e l me y e r ” costumes for the dif ferent casts.

T he Snow Q ueen’s t ut u a lone took 80 hours to make, and SF Ballet has created f ive, equaling 40 0 hours in constr uct ion t ime on one cha r acter’s t ut u a lone.

You may have seen Nutcracker as a chi ld, but if you’ve never experienced SF Ballet’s extraordinary take on this holiday classic, you’re in for a real treat.

T he above i mages of “ Bi rd Ser va nt” a nd “Gnome” a re Julian Crouch’s planned designs for Cinderella. Set to the mu s ic of S er g e i P r okof ie v, Chr istopher W heeldon’s inter pretat ion combines par ts of both the Charles Perrault a nd Brot hers Gr i mm versions, a long w it h some new elements. In this adaptation, C i n d e r e l l a p l a nt s a h a z e l branch on her mother’s grave, and it grows into an enormous magical tree. Along with four spirits, the tree grants all of Cinderel la’s w ishes. W heeldon gives depth to the story’s characters by portraying Cinderella as more than a victim; the prince plays a bigger role t h a n i n ot her pro duc t ion s .

The l ibretto w i l l be w r itten

by Craig Lucas, a renowned p l a y w r i g h t , d i r e c t o r, a n d screenw r iter who bega n h is career as an actor.

Mark your calendar for SF Ballet’s f irst- ever Nutcracker LGBT Nite Out on Fr iday, December 14 a t 7p m , fe a t u r i n g a p o s tperformance party in the Opera House Dress Circle bar, hosted

by Donna Sachet. M ingle w it h f r iend s a nd SF Ba l let d a ncer s and enjoy music, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and prizes.

A s SF Ba l let moves into repertor y season in Januar y, the vast nu mber a nd enor mous va r iet y of costumes that w ill f ly across t he O pera House st age w i l l be a s t ou nd i n g. I n Febr u a r y, t he Compa ny w i l l present a rev iva l of B ea ux by M a rk Mor r is, a lovely work for nine men featuring striking costumes by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi.

But perhaps the most anticipated work of SF Ba l let ’s up c om i n g season will be the U.S. premiere of Christopher W heeldon’s Cind e re l l a i n M ay. S a n Fr a nc i s c o Ba l let a nd t he Dutch Nat iona l Ballet w ill co-produce this new

A mong ot her awards, Lucas w a s nom i n a t e d for B r o a d w ay ’s 19 9 0 Tony Aw a r d a s author of Best Play nominee P relude t o a K i ss (i n 1991 he was nominated for the Pulitzer Pr ize for Drama for t he work) and again in 20 05 for the book Light in the Piazza.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAN FRANCISCO BALLET

BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 15

Saved by Shanti either of us die so the survivor could buy the deceased partner’s interest out. It was a very standard business move and I didn’t think twice when they mentioned we’d each have to take an HIV test. I truly believed I had nothing to worry about. After all, I was never a bottom and didn’t even practice safe sex because I felt exempt from this plague.

Don't Call It Frisco Stu Smith In 1988, I willingly agreed to an HIV test in order to get insurance for the newest restaurant my straight partner and I were opening in the SOMA financial district: Harpoon Louie’s.

We were each buying a quarter million dollar policy on the other should

The nurse actually came to the work site as we were furiously trying to get our new restaurant and saloon ready to open, to get the cash register ringing after a year of permit and construction delays and escalating costs.

It was done and I never thought about it again until I got my partner’s results and saw he was negative. I wondered about mine, but was simply convinced it couldn’t be positive.

My partner started acting remote and aloof around me shortly after I got his results, and finally I asked him if he’d received mine and he haltingly

said, “Yeah, it’s not good Stu.” I was shocked beyond belief and called my attorney right away and then called the president of the insurance company that wrote the policies demanding they double check their analysis people because it was impossible that I could have HIV/AIDS. I threatened to sue and my attorney suggested I get tested several more times. Each time the result was the same; I was HIV positive.

I was still somewhat in the closet and my restaurants were considered straight, and I played that role for years. I was scared to death, angry and anguished that not only was I out of the closet, but people would now think I was not only gay but a bottom.

My thinking was clouded by my own homophobia and years of denial bolstered by my “heavy drinking” that I now super charged to avoid thinking about the mess I thought I was in.

I remember starting to look for HIV resources in our local papers and the name Shanti kept coming up as a program that was spiritual in nature and offered training to become a volunteer providing practical and emotional support to people living with this terminal illness. I figured that if I took the training myself and got a client, I would learn about what dying of this damned disease would be like.

I also found agencies like Aids Benefit Counselors, which became Positive Resource Center, as well as a host of emerging AIDS service organizations desperately trying to help.

My shame and embarrassment were intense and I couldn’t stand the idea of having AIDS on my death certificate. My solution was to drink more and more. At one point, I went to join a group for newly diagnosed men at an agency I won’t name. I arrived so drunk that the facilitator asked me to leave, which added insult to injury in my addled and self-centered mind.

I then took the two-weekend Shanti training and my life changed dramatically. People were dying like flies and I decided I really wanted to live.

I started to examine the way I’d been living a long time, with increasing reliance on alcohol as a solution. My perspective started evolving and I knew booze would no longer solve my anxiety and pain. This Shanti Project seemed like a great place to start trying to be useful and helpful to someone other than myself.

The scariest day of my life soon became the day that began a transformation from hopelessness to optimism. Many years later, I now get to participate with Shanti Project and thousands of others to seek solutions to the problems men like me face living and aging with HIV. My day of diagnosis was therefore truly a day that helped me make a decision for which I’m deeply grateful a quarter century later.

Live-in Therapists neighbors travel to fantastic places without a twinge of jealousy, if you can happily eat whatever is put on your plate and fall asleep after a day of running around without a drink or a pill, if you can always f ind contentment just where you are, you are probably a dog.”

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT In a recent talk, spiritual teacher Jack Kornf ield said, “If you can sit quietly after diff icult news, if in f inancial downturns you remain perfectly calm, if you can see your

He meant this as a humorous reminder to the group to lighten up on themselves, but I also saw another meaning in his words. Maybe one of the reasons so many of us love our dogs so much is that they have so much to teach us.

When people achieve balance and contentment (usually after years of struggle!) we call it wisdom, but so many dogs seem to have these qu a l it ies w it hout a ny ef for t at a l l. We humans f ind each other compl icated and unpred ictable,

a nd ever yone h a s ex per ienc ed betraya l and duplicit y from our own kind; but our dogs offer us the security of unconditional loyalty and uncomplicated love. We tell ourselves to live in the present and take life one day at a time. Some of us do daily meditation practices to arrive in the here and now – a place dogs inhabit naturally for a lifetime. We spend so much of our lives wondering what will make us happy, while our dogs f ind happiness running after a ball.

Ever yone k nows how impor tant ser v ice dogs are for people w ith physical disabilities, but many are unaware t hat federa l, state and local laws also recognize another class of ser v ice a n i ma ls, ca l led “compa n ion dog s.” Un l i ke service dogs, companion dogs aren’t t r a i ned for a ny s pec i f ic t a s k s ,

but instead provide company for people dea l i ng w it h emot ion a l problems, such as post-traumatic stress, pan ic and an x iet y d isorders, depression, etc. They provide their owners with many healing benef its, including relief from feelings of isolation; an increased sense of well-being; security, selfesteem, and optimism; improved mood; healthier daily habits and a sense of purpose; reliable affection and around-the-clock support. It’s bec au se of t hese demon st r ated hea l i ng abi l it ies t hat la nd lord s should not refuse residency to tenants with companion dogs in their pet-free housing, just as they must t a ke i nto account ser v ice dog s. ( Under federa l law 42 U. S.C . § 3604(f )(3)(B) it is illegal to refuse to make “reasonable accommodations” to impaired tenants if the landlord will not suf fer f inancial

or administrative burdens because of those accommodations.)

The other day I ran into a neighbor who was tak ing his new dog out for a walk and he said to me, “I’d like you to meet my new livein therapist.” It’s touching to see people on t he st reet a nd in t he parks car ing for their dogs w ith a level of devotion equal to what parents feel for their children, and it’s not hard to understand why they do it. We may be the smartest beings on the planet in some ways, but when it comes to emot iona l intelligence and natural wisdom, our pets have a lot to teach us.

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

At this rate, you might think about remodeling your kitchen.

Get a great rate on a Home Equity Line of Credit.

There’s never been a better time to make those home improvements you’ve been thinking about. U.S. Bank is offering a Home Equity Line of Credit at a great rate of just 3.99% APR with no closing costs.2 Not to mention potential tax advantages,3 great service and convenient branch locations.

Start adding value to your home today.

branch

usbank.com/lowrate

Rates as low as

3.99

%

APR1

800.209.BANK (2265)

1. 3.99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is available on Equiline Home Equity Lines of Credit with a U.S. Bank Package and a 70% or 80% loan-to-value (LTV) or less.

Minimum credit limit conditions may also apply and vary, depending upon the market. The APR will vary with the Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal. As of August 1, 2012 the variable rate for home equity lines ranged from 3.99% APR to 8.99% APR. Higher rates apply depending upon the credit limit and a higher LTV. The rate will not vary above 25% APR or applicable state law, nor below 3.25% APR. An annual fee up to $90 may apply after the first year. Offer is subject to normal credit qualifications. Rates are subject to change. 2. Property insurance is required. 3. Consult your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of interest. Some restrictions may apply. Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit are offered through U.S. Bank National Association ND. © 2012 U.S. Bancorp. All rights reserved.

Member FDIC.

BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 21

Locate Synergetic Soul-mates Now ARIES (March 21 – April 19) A divine revolution stirs within you now, Aries.

Changes that have been simmering subconsciously are emerging above the surface. Break down unnecessary boundaries to clear your path toward transformation.

LEO (July 23 – August 22) You’re well advised to engage in some emotional “Spring cleaning” now. Reconcile your root system, Leo. Explore where you came from in order to secure where you’re going.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) Investigate the precious territory that thrives inside you, Sagittarius. Unlock internal mysteries and clear cobwebs in your psyche by venturing into more spiritual conquests. Experience triumphant liberation through meaningful meditation.

better.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Relationships require your attention now, Taurus.

Dissolve personal roadblocks that threaten interpersonal connections. Strengthen existing partnerships and create new ones by examining your definition of “commitment.”

Astrology Gypsy Love Ever notice the camaraderie among strangers when our country brings home the gold, our team clinches the championships, or our spaceship lands on Mars? Energy shifts when sharing the joy of accomplishing mutual goals.

We proudly slap hands, don local colors, and revel together in celebration. Universally, we’re summoned to seek out synergetic soul-mates now. Where do your passions resonate with others? Design your dream team, and play to win.

www.AstrologyByGypsyLove.com

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Your social contributions are extensive, Gemini.

Now it’s time to evaluate your intentions. Does your sublime service demand public recognition, or does it come from a place of intrinsic joy?

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) Your unique talents possess deeper significance than you may realize, Cancer. Current circumstances are providing substantial proof of your cosmic purpose, and it’s your duty to respond creatively. Express yourself.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) Your analytical mind is spinning in circles. Don’t fret, Virgo. You harbor a natural talent for discernment. Weed out worrisome woes and channel anxiety productively by focusing on the positive.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) Affiliations bear more weight than usual these days, Capricorn. Be selectively scrupulous when it comes to friends and associations. Your interactions with others are shaping the outcome of your goals.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) You’re entering a phase marked by hard work and relentless determination. Gains may come slowly, but they’ll be sure and steady. Invest in whatever means most to you now, Libra.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Understanding what you don’t want will help illuminate what you desire the most. Prioritize current and future responsibilities now, Scorpio. Be grateful for the gift of knowing your limits.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) Use your imagination, Scorpio. Take advantage of current opportunities to manifest even your wildest whimsies. Increased inner strength and self-confidence foster this renewed sense of self. Go for it!

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) You’re contemplating the higher meaning of life now, Pisces. What once comprised your belief system is now undergoing further introspection.

Broaden your soulful horizons by taking more calculated risks.

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

As Heard on the Street . . .

compiled by Rink

AL L PHOTOS BY RIN K

What is your favorite Halloween costume of all time and why?

Rosalinda del Moral

Juanita Owens

Mark Rhoades

Felicia Thompson

Frank Woo

“My partner Juanita Owens dressed as Richard Gere in ‘American Gigolo’ because she looks so cool.”

“My partner Rosalinda del Moral dressed as Sofia Vergara because she is so beautiful.”

“I like to wear a pizza delivery man costume because it indulges my white trash fantasy.”

“I like the look of shirtless Jacob in the film ‘Twilight’ because of his sexy abs.”

“A Mormon missionary costume and it is good for getting into the missionary position.”

22 BAY TIM ES OCTO B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

Arts&Entertainment Sexual Chronicles of a French Family: Softcore Worth Exploring comes even more distraught when his mother Claire (Valérie Maës) is called to his school after Romain gets suspended for filming himself jerking of f in biolog y class. Romain’s mother is oddly sympathetic to—not ashamed about—her son’s behavior. She uses this event to explore her family’s sexual passions.

Film

Gary M. Kramer As a teenager in the mid-80s, many of the sexual/sensual images I was exposed to were in the form of soft-core films on late night cable.

The broadcast of these naughtybut-never explicit midnight movies often prompted an invitation for same-sex sleepovers—and by extension, the erotic fumblings that go hand-in-hand with pornography of that kind. Many of these f ilms, I suspected, were edited hardcore movies. And yet, I preferred these less explicit versions that prompted both fantasies and wet dreams.

It was hard not to be turned on by the skin and sex in the safety of a suburban living room. These softcore f ilms were generally unremarkable, and many of the titles have since evaporated from my memory. But the warm and sticky nostalgia I have for those films (and those sleepovers) returned when I saw Jean-Marc Barr and Pascal Arnold’s tenderly erotic film, Sexual Chronicles of a French Family, now available on DVD. This sexy comedy, accurately titled, is full of sensual intimacy. It follows the trajectory of most of the softcore movies of my youth—a simple plot that alternates between scenes of characters talking and scenes of the characters fornicating.

Romain (Mathias Melloul), a horny teenage virgin, laments that everyone is having sex but him. He be-

Her kids include Marie (Leïla Denio), who is adopted, has a hunky boy fr iend Cedr ic (Gregor y A nnoni), who makes love to her outdoors. Then there is her son Pierre (Nathan Duval) having a ménage a trois with both a guy and a gal. Her aging father-in-law Michel ( Yan Brian) pays Nathalie (Laëtitia Favart) for sex, while Romain begins a budding romance with Coralie (Adeline Rebeillard), a classmate.

Cla ire and her husband Her vé (Stephan Hersoen) explore their own sex lives.

The sex scenes in Sexual Chronicles of a French Family are lengthy and shot lovingly. The camera practically caresses the attractive actors’ naked bodies.

In a recent Skype interview, Barr informed me that the DVD is the “sensual” version of the f ilm. A “sexual” version—four minutes longer, and showcasing erections and penetration—also exists. ( These scenes/this version is unavailable in the United States).

Barr said he and Arnold made the film to “explore the sexuality of the characters as an important part of portraying their characters—have them communicate through the physical act.”

He continues, “We went into the sexuality of the character in a real way. We wanted the actors to explore their sexuality through the evolution of their characters,” he said, adding that the sex on screen in several instances is not simulated. He noted that in Gregory Annoni’s sex scenes, in particular, “his energy cannot be faked.”

Barr worked with his courageous actors by explaining the mood and attitude of the characters, and how they evolved in the sex scenes. He declined to take a role in the f ilm (though he would have been perfect as Hervé) because he claimed, “I didn’t want to make a f ilm where Jean-Marc Barr was f-ing. In terms of the message of the f ilm, that would be egotistical.”

lic.” He explains that Lyle, the sexually ignorant character he played in his 2000 film Too Much Flesh (also co-directed by Arnold), was more a chronicle of his sexuality.

Yet when asked if sexual pleasure is selfish, Barr responded, “Everything we do is egotistical. Sexuality is a place you communicate without words. It’s a spiritual thing. But every moment is egotistical. Love is one of the most egotistical experiences there is.”

“Society was dictating not to talk about it,” Barr remarked. “When you control the sexuality of someone, you control them completely.”

He cited examples of the intensity of both Puritanism, which stif led sexual expression, and gay activism of the1960-70s, which helped liberate att itudes. “Societ y was defor med. Cat hol ics cont rol led people for hundreds of years. Your body is the only thing you have to rebel. Sexuality is where you have the freedom of tolerance.”

The f ilmmaker apparently has no qualms about discussing his own sex life. He grew up in 1970s California and confessed, “We didn’t talk about sex. I was totally Catho-

The f ilmmaker admitted to being f irst turned on “at 14, at 30,000 feet, watching The Last Picture Show on an airplane. When Cybill Shepherd took off her shirt in the swim-

We live in a consumer-driven culture that designates and assigns, categorizes and organizes people, places and things according to predetermined not ions. One of the results is isolation and separation among people. We have to actively seek to connect with one another.

Exercising our creative life force allows us to find ways to come together in spite of our “designations” and sometimes because of them.

pass one another on our journeys.

A smile is a small act that has the potential to convey deep meaning.

ming pool scene, I thought everyone would see my erection!”

He became more sexually active in his twenties. “When I left for France, I had my Henr y MillerJack Kerouac sex and explored taboos. Sex is not something you are ever finished with; it gets better if you keep it alive.”

Sexual Chronicles of a French Family may be one way for the filmmaker to keep sex alive. Barr claimed his lovely little f ilm is about “the joy of sex for all ages. Anyone can find someone to identify with.” He added, “A family doesn’t have to see it together, but if they do, they will have less of a problem talking about sexuality after it. It demystifies the taboo.” © 2012 Gary M. Kramer

The Creative Life freedom of spirit I longed for, in the midst of real challenges. I feel so happy and so fortunate.”

Speak Up! Speak Out! Laugh Often!

Karen Williams “I feel so alive in a deep way these days…alone yet not lonely…youthful though not young… I have a

This is an excer pt from a text I sent to a dear friend as I sought to describe the fulf illment and peace that I enjoy from living a creative life. Creativity is not conf ined to artists, poets, painters, musicians and muses. It is an expression of the dynamism and joy inside every one of us, the manifestation in reality of the appreciation we feel for life itself. We may choose to be creative at our jobs or with our families, in society or while preparing our evening meal, yet the urge is there within each of us as we strive to make meaning out of our life experiences.

For me, something as simple as choosing to smile at people in public is a statement about living a creative life. In American culture, a smile symbolizes openness. For me, a smile means that I am at ease in the world and in my travels; that I am at peace with myself; and I am willing to connect with you as we

My dad a lways emphasized t he importance of a mother’s smile, par t icularly on young children.

He shared with me that a frown would worry them. I kept that in mind while I reared my sons. The side benef it is that smiling – even the “fake it til you make it” type – kept my spirits and energy high as a single working mom.

It helps that my study of humor taught me that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile and that smiling is like a facelift. I can visualize readers of this column smiling like crazy now. It’s certainly cheaper than buying those anti-aging face

creams, lotions and potions that don’t really work anyway.

Recently, I overheard a group of women talking about writers over lunch. One of them loudly concluded that the best artists are those who have everything taken care of for them…financially…so that they have the freedom to write. Wow! I resisted the urge to join their party and correct their misguided ideas, as the names of various artists who overcame their harsh circumstances to become household s/heroes f looded my brain. I simply walked by and smiled…a broad knowing smile…because I am creative and free and wealthy from the inside out. Go figure!

BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 23

Oscar Wilde Lived and Loved with Honesty

Inspiring LGBTQ Prof iles Kathleen Archambeau “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.”

Oscar Wilde Irish writer and playwright 1854 -1900 Known for his quick wit and brilliant commentary on Victorian society, Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde, born in Dublin, Ireland, could never be accused of not being himself. A brilliant student, Wilde came first at Trinity College in Greek and the Classics and won a demyship to Magdalen College at Oxford. There, he was renowned for his aesthetic and

decadent philosophies. He famously decorated his rooms with blue china, sunflowers and peacock feathers, remarking once, “I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china.”

Wilde married Constance Lloyd in 1881 and, together, they had two sons, Cyril (1885) and Vyvyan (1886).

From all accounts, Wilde was a devoted and loving father. The couple was supported by Constance’s allowance, but Wilde’s luxurious tastes required more to support his extravagant lifestyle. Wilde took up journalism and lecturing and, in 1891, published his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which hinted of homoerotic emotions.

Critics panned the “unclean” book.

Wilde replied in his usual epigram-

matic fashion, “Books are well written or badly written. That is all.”

It was, however, in the theater that Wilde found himself and that we, the audience, find him still. From 1891 to 1895, Oscar Wilde wrote the plays, Salome, Lady Windemere’s Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband and his masterpiece, The Importance of Be-

then forbidden from ever again seeing his beloved children. An ear infection following a fall in prison is thought to have led to cerebral meningitis, cause of his death at age 46, in a f leabag hotel in Paris.

It is only now that Wilde receives the acclaim he so richly deserves. Reinterred in the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris in 1950, his epitaph, a verse from Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol, reads: “And alien tears will fill for him/Pity’s long-broken urn,/For his mourners will be outcast men,/And outcasts always mourn.”

His son and only grandson have both written biographies of their ancestor.

ing Earnest. In fact, on our recent trip to Dublin last month, we saw Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance at the famed Gate Theatre. Thinking the play was somewhat dated, we turned to our Irish companions who reminded us that, for the time (1893), Wilde’s portrayal of the challenges women in Victorian society faced was unheard of and, practically, feminist.

Despite la bonhomie of Wilde’s life in London, he was to suffer disastrously for yielding to the “love that dare not speak its name;” it was his sexual liaison with Lord Alfred Douglas that proved fatal. Douglas’ father built an infamous case against Wilde. For the “gross indecency” of being himself, Wilde was tried twice and sentenced to two years of hard labor. He was

Despite condemnation, Wilde embodied his own rule of life, “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance…”

(ROSTOW continued from page 11) In unrelated vaguely Japanese news, I’d like to point out that Paul Ryan has “sanpaku” eyes, the kind that show a lot of white underneath the iris. According to ancient lore, the characteristic presages an untimely death. Both John Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln were aff licted, as were Julius Caesar, Adolf Hitler, Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana.

Advertize in the Bay Times!

24 BAY TIM ES OCTO B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

I’m also reading that people with sanpaku eyes may be in poor physical or mental health and/or may be under a great deal of stress.

Interesting, don’t you think? I also just learned that Paul Ryan’s wife went to my tiny high school outside

of Austin, Texas. I know you couldn’t care less, dear Readers, but it was an odd shock to my system. I gather the wannabe veep is holding a $1,000-aplate lunch here in Austin tomorrow.

I forget Ryan’s wife’s name, but I think we were told that she grew up in Oklahoma somewhere, and that Paul enjoys visiting her hometown where he can noodle catfish.

There was a time when I’d assume Ryan was tossing out these anecdotes in an effort to curry favor with a certain rightwing country cohort. Now, I don’t know what to think. How many gay men were hunkering down with Paul beside the creek with their

arm down the throat of a fat catfish?

Could Paul even tell?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to let go of my gay stereotypes and embrace my gay brothers in the mud f lats and the crawfish ponds. It will take some time, that’s all. I may have to go through a transition period where I imagine these big fellas singing a few old show tunes in harmony in between noodles and wallows. Oklahoma would be most appropriate.

— arostow@aol.com

Round About: Mill Valley Film Festival - Photos by Steven Underhill

L

egendary songstress Stevie Nicks and award-winning actors Dustin Hoffman, John Hawke and Bradley Cooper were among the celebrities at the 2012 Mill Valley Film Festival attended this month

by Bay Times photographer Steven Underhill. Since its founding in 1978, the prestigious Festival has established an impressive record for launching the careers of new f ilmmakers and presenting the best in independent and world cinema.

Nicks arrived with co-director Dave Steward to present the new documentary Stevie Nicks – In Your Dreams.

Hoffman was honored with a special tribute program.

Hawke appears in the upcoming Spielberg f ilm Lincoln, and Cooper stars in Silver Linings Playbook directed by Dav id O. Russell and featured dur ing the Festival’s Opening Night.

BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 25

compiled by Robert Fuggiti

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

Still Black: A Portrait of Trans – SF LGBT Community Center.

(1800 Market St.) www.frameline. org. A documentary brought to life by the stories of six thoughtful, eloquent and diverse transmen.

Women’s Open Mic Night – Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts. $10. 7:30 pm. (1650 Mountain Blvd., Oakland) 510-654-4088. Connect with friends and enjoy an evening of fantastic entertainment at this all-women mic night.

Underwear After Party – Powerhouse. Free. 10 pm. (1347 Folsom St.) www.powerhouse-sf. com. A weekly underwear party with $1 drink specials and free clothes check.

The Ballad of Michele Myers – CounterPulse. $20. 8 pm. (1310 Mission St.) www.michelemyers2012.eventbrite.com. SF’s own original horror musical returns for the second annual year.

Bay Area Young Positives Gala – LGBT Community Center.

Free. 7 pm. (1800 Market St.) www. sfcenter.org. An evening celebrating the community and volunteers who have provided 22 years of service and support to Bay Area youth living with HIV. Frankenstein - Paramount Theatre. $6.65. 8 pm. (2025 Broadway, Oakland) www.paramounttheatre.com. Enjoy a special screening of the original 1931 movie, “Frankenstein.”

Halloween Dance & Costume Contest – Sinbad’s.

“The Bride of Death” will play at the Hypnodrome Theatre on October 30. (Photo: www.davidallenstudio.com) $15. 7:30 pm to 12 am. (141 The Embarcadero) www.bettyslist.com.

Enjoy a fabulous costumed Halloween party with live music by Stephanie Teel Band.

Wanda Sykes – Nob Hill Masonic Center. $40-$60. 8 pm.

(1111 California St.) www.masonicauditorium.com. Quick-witted comedian Wanda Sykes delivers an unforgettable night of laughs and fun.

Beatpig – Powerhouse. $5. 9 pm to 2 am. (1347 Folsom St.) www. beatbigsf.com. Juanita More! hosts this kinky party happening third Saturdays of the month.

Carolyn Mark performs her soulful, folkpunk tunes.

Ellen Robinson CD Release Party – Freight and Salvage. $22.50. 8 pm. (2020 Addison St., Berkeley) www.thefreight.org. Jazz vocalist Ellen Robinson hosts a live performance in celebration of her CD release, “Don’t Wait Too Long.”

When I Grow Up – LGBT Community Center. Free. 2 pm.

(1800 Market St.) www.openhouse-sf.org. Openhouse presents a mixed-media art show featuring the art of local LGBT seniors. Thru October 23.

Mudpuppy’s Mutt-ster Mash Happy Halloween Hour – Mudpuppy’s. $25. 4 pm to 7 pm. (536 Castro St.) www.muttville.org. Bring your dog to this fun Halloween-themed fundraiser and enjoy food, drinks, music and raffle.

Proceeds benefit Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.

Funny Tuesdays – Harvey’s. Free.

9 pm. (500 Castro St.) www.harveyssf.com. An LGBT comedy night hosted by funny-man Ronn Vigh.

Sundayz – Beatbox. $8. 3 pm.

(314 11th St.) www.beatboxsf.com.

The best t-dance party in town with a newly renovated dance floor and state of the art sound system.

Sleeping Beauty Ballet Performance – Mills College Art Museum. Free. 7 pm. (500 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland) www. mcam.mills.edu. As part of the “Monday Night Tights Ballet Series,” the MCAM will perform a free interpretation of “Sleeping Beauty.” Repeats on the 29th.

Zombie NightLife – California Academy of Science. $12. 6 pm to 10 pm. (55 Music Concourse Dr.) www.calacademy.org. A zombie themed night of fun and science with drag performance by legendary Peaches Christ.

The William S. Paley Collection – De Young Museum. $11. 9:30 am to 5 pm. (50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr.) www.edyoung. famsf.org. See highlights of French modernism in this exhibition of more than 60 paintings, drawings, and sculptures donated by Paley to The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Thru December 30.

I Love Cochina Tongas – Lookout. Free. 10 pm. (3600 16th St.) www.lookoutsf.com. Dulce DeLeche co-hosts a fun filled fiesta with surprise performances and drink specials.

26 BAY TIM ES OCTO B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

“Quickies” Indie Erotic Film Fest – Castro Theatre. $10. 7 pm.

(429 Castro St.) www.gv-ixff.org.

An international short-film festival showcasing the best in funny, erotic, queer, explicit and kinky films.

Fever – Endup. $20. 10 pm to 10 am. (401 6th St.) www.theendup. com. An all night dance party with hot DJs and dance mash-ups.

Piano Bar 101 – Martuni’s. Free.

9 pm. (4 Valencia St.) www.dragatmartunis.com. Sing along to your favorite songs with friends and patrons.

Carolyn Mark – Aubergine Bar & Café. $5. 7:30 pm. (755 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol) www.carolynmark.com. Canadian rocker

Masquerade National Juried Exhibition Opening – Arc Studios & Gallery. Free. 7 pm to 10 pm. (1246 Folsom.) www.arc-sf. com. Enjoy the works of forty artists including Irene Hendricks, Linda Abbott, Julie Alland, Ciara Bedingfield and many more.

LGBT Buddhist Meditation – Santa Rosa Shambhala Meditation Center. $10. 7 pm to 9 pm. (709 Davis St., Santa Rosa) www.santarosa.shambhala.org. An open, public event with Budhist teacher Acharya Spiegel.

Women Art Exhibition – Chinese Culture Center. Free. 10 am to 4 pm. (750 Kearny St.) www.c-c-c.org. Thirteen contemporary artists from China and the U.S. explore themes of gender & sexual identity. Thru November 30.

Candlelight Flow Community Yoga – LGBT Center. Free. 7 pm to 8 pm. (1800 Market St.) www.sfcenter.org.

Replenish your energy level with this weekly “Candlelight Flow” class.

Flashback Friday Annual 80’s Halloween Bash – Mezzanine. $25. 8 pm. (444 Jessie St.) www.mezzaninesf.com. A themed Halloween party with nonstop 80’s mashups and live bands.

Alton Brown will be at the Castro Theatre on October 27.

GLAAD’s 2nd Annual Halloween Ball – Metronome SF. $40. 7 pm to 11 pm. (1830 17th

CORNERSTONE CELLARS Committed to creating compelling, exciting wines that speak clearly of the Vineyard, Vintage and Variety

2 for 1 Napa Valley Tasting

at our Yountville Tasting Room 6505 Washington Street, Yountville 707.945.0388

San Francisco’s Best Cafe Breakfast Lunch Dinner Cocktails

Full Service Bar Pastries Desserts

Bring in this ad for your 2 for 1 Napa Valley Tasting

Mason St.) www.bayareacabare.org.

Enjoy a special one-night-only cabaret performance in the historic Venetian Room.

Disney Princess Comedy Show – Deco Lounge. $10. 10 pm.

(510 Larkin St.) www.decosf.com. A hilarious night of standup with comedians dressed up as your favorite Disney Princesses.

Beer Bust – 440. $8. 3 pm to 8 pm. (440 Castro St.) www.the440. com. Drink or bust!

Dina Rao and Dr. Frankie Bashen will appear at OUT Ladies Night, Cafe Flore, November 1.

St.) www.glaad.org. Enjoy a haunted evening of dancing, drinks, and ghoulish fun.

Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein – Mission Cultural Center. $20. 8 pm. (2868 Mission St.) www.lgcsf.org. A musical about the life of acclaimed lesbian writer, poet and art collector Gertrude Stein, and her great love and muse Alice B. Toklas.

An Evening with Alton Brown – Castro Theatre. $35. 7 pm. (429 Castro St.) www.castrotheatre.com. The always entertaining and knowledgeable Alton Brown hosts a night of “food talk” and interactive presentations.

Mary Wilson Cabaret Performance – The Fairmont San Francisco. $40-$75. 7 pm. (950

Sleeping Beauty Ballet Performance – Mills College Art Museum. Free. 7 pm. (500 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland) www. mcam.mills.edu. As part of the “Monday Night Tights Ballet Series,” the MCAM will perform a free interpretation of “Sleeping Beauty.”

The Sound of Music – Julia Morgan Theatre. $17-$35. 7 pm.

(2640 College Ave., Berkeley) www.berkeleyplayouse.org.

Berkeley Playhouse opens its fifth season with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved final collaboration, “The Sound of Music.” Thru December 2.

Monday Musicals: Superstar Edition – The Edge SF. Free. 7 pm to 2 am. (4149 18th St.) www.edgesf.com. Enjoy clips from your favorite movie musicals and Broadway shows.

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

New Free Dating Website.

SameSexConnections.com

Financing

Is a Reverse Mortgage for You? Are you at least 62 years of age and own your home? Get paid a monthly amount, line of credit or a lump sum payment. You always retain full ownership. Call Lauren Dunlap, Nova Mortgage. (510) 540-7911 / (415) 753-2272.

Insurance

COVER YOUR ASSETS: Insurance for YOUR community. Life, Disability, Final Expense. Aaron Van Arsdale 415-7174984. aaron.insure@gmail.com. Life Agent Lic # 0G10774

Legal Services

You want children, so do I. Let’s talk. For more information about me, visit http:// sites.google.com/site/mike949h/

The Bride of Death – The Hypnodrome Theatre. $25. 8 pm.

(575 10th St.) www.thrillpeddlers. com. A mysterious tale of immortal youth set in the mid 1940’s.

Directed by Russell Blackwood.

Thru November 17.

Lust for Life Gallery Exhibition – George Krevsky Gallery. Free. 11:30 am to 5:30 pm.

(77 Geary St.) www.georgekrevsky gallery.com. “Lust for Life,” is an exhibition by two artists, Louis Grant, and Arthur K Miller, that speaks to the complexities of personal and public identity. Thru October 27.

Easy – The Edge SF. Free. 7 pm to 2 am. (4149 18th St.) www.edgesf. com. Enjoy $1 well drink specials and a fun-loving crowd.

Halloween Freak Out – Beatbox. $10. 8 pm. www.beatboxsf.com. DJ David Harness serves up the best dance beats all night long while Frenchie Davis gives a live Halloween performance.

Community Marketing’s 13th International Conference – Wyndham Parc 55. $495. 4 pm. (55 Cyril Magnin St.) www.communitymarketinginc.com.

Tourism professionals from around the world convene at this international gay and lesbian travel conference. Thru November 2.

Afrojack Halloween – Ruby Skye. $90. 10 pm. (420 Mason St.) www.rubyskye.com. DJ Afrojack spins hits all evening for a special Halloween night party.

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

uits r f m o “Fr s” to nut

CASTRO

FFARMERS’ MARKET FA

WEDNESDAYS

4PM - 8PM

Oct. 24: The GIANT pumpkin returns! Guess the weight & win prizes.

Oct. 31: Happy Halloween!

Trick or treat at the market in your costume for a special farmers’ market prize!

(While supplies last.) See farmers’ booths decorated this spooky evening.

NOE ST. BETWEEN

MARKET ST. & BEAVER ST. 1.800.949.FARM • pcfma.com/castro

More listings @ www.sfbaytimes.com

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

Pets

SURF DOG large dog boarding at Ocean Beach. Queer Owned. sfsurfdogs.com.

(415) 637-7717 DOG TRAINING in Your Home Cindy Gehring, Dog Trainer 408-238-1540, DogHelpNow@gmail.com, www.cindygehring.com

Self Defense

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

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

Therapy

Experienced Psychologist - LGBTQ Issues - Castro - Sliding Scale - Diana Gray, PhD (PSY10607) 415-309-4729

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

Barbara A. Adler, LMFT. PsychotherapyConsultation- Education- Training. barbaraadlerLMFT.com, 415-990-9137.

Massage

Gay-Latino Fiction

El Cerrito Swedish by Rick www.rickoz2.com 510-932-5478 11-11 Daily

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

BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 27

(SISTER DANA continued from page 8) C E L E B R AT I O N S G A L O R E : SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS CELEBR ATED! THE CALL was the 30th Annive r sa r y C e lebr at ion for t he S F A I D S Fo u n d a t i o n a t t he Regency Ballroom. The event began outside, with attendees walki ng t h rough a g aunt let of t hose who have a nswered t he ca l l i n the f ight for HIV/A IDS services: Early A RC/ A I DS act iv ist s, SF A I DS v ig i l protestors, ACT U P activists, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, A I DS Wa lk part icipants, A IDS Lifecycle riders and crew, The Otter Pops, Gay Santa 10K participants, f laggers, leatherfolk, doctors, nurses, and medical professionals.

Inside, two very enthusiasticallyreceived addresses by A mbassador James Hormel and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi were the on ly speeches t hat n ight. Pelosi received an award for outstanding A IDS activism. A ll messaging was accomplished theatrically, in four, eight-minute vignettes. The conce pt , a ccord i ng to creator/ producer K i le Ozier, was to articulate the chronological, sociopol it ica l, a nd emot iona l a rcs of the A IDS epidemic of the past 30 years through these playettes. Act ion took place on t he proscenium stage, on two platform-stages ju xt aposed a mong t he cockt a i lsized tables in the room, and from the encircling balcony overhead.

The f irst act, “Discovery,” was a power fu l, emot iona l i l lust rat ion of t he myster ious and aw ful unknown disease that was suddenly s e ver e l y at t a c k i n g g ay men i n 1981. Act two, “Triage,” was the call to united action by the LG BTQ community to deal with Gay Related Immune Def iciency - or GR I D as A I DS was called then.

The call was abuzz on the California A IDS Hotline. Tim Hockenber r y sa ng “ Just Breat he” at keyboards. Act three, “Def iance,” showed the ACT UP communit y act ively protest i ng a nd demonstrating for awareness and medi-

cat ion: “GEORGE BUSH, YOU C A N ’ T H I DE . W E C H A RGE YOU W I T H GE NO C I DE ! ” shouted act iv ists in the ba lcony.

The f inale was “Empowerment,” when it a l l c a me tog et her i n a r oa d t ow a r d s v ic tor y. Pa n g a e a Global A IDS Foundation showed we cou ld n’t ig nore wh at A I D S was doing to the rest of the world.

The Ryan White Care Act was reaut hor ized. PEPFA R, t he President’s Emergency Plan for A IDS Relief, happened. SF Gay Men’s Chor us sang “Def y ing Grav it y.”

Now t he ca l l is up to L GBTQ volunteers and donors to eventually wipe out this horrible virus.

THE SF LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER celebrated ten years on National Coming Out Day, October 11, with BOLD: an Awards C e r e m o ny H o no r i n g T h o s e Creating a Stronger and Healthier Community, thanking t he Center’s found ing memb er s who, mor e t h a n a dec a de ago, had a d rea m to bet ter t he community by building our home.

A nd recog n i zi ng t hose who followed. “May we all be inspired to carry forward the vision of Brian Friedman, MD, who through his lasting legacy ensured that countle s s i n d i v id u a l s w ou l d r e a l i z e their most authentic and fulf illing l ives,” sa id Exec Direc Rebecca Rol fe, who g ave a s pec ia l t r ib ute to Dr. Friedman, accepted by his sur v iv ing partner, Kev in Pedretti. The Lev i Strauss Pioneer Award was presented to Ceci l ia Chu ng for her t i reless work for the transgender community. The C o m mu n it y S p i r it Aw a r d w a s presented to Sand ra L ee Fewer, Commissioner, SF Board of Education for her work with LGBTQ y o u t h . T h e S t a t e Fa r m G o o d Neighbor Awa rd wa s presented to Joshua Sh r ader, out st a nd i ng Center volunteer. Senator Mark L e no c om mended e a c h w it h a Certif icate of Recognition.

SH A N T I PROJ ECT celebrated 38 years with the “Compassion I s Un i v e r s a l ” b e ne f it a t t he

Hilton, having served over 2,400 cl ient s w it h l i fe-t hreaten i ng i l lnesses. “The need for our services continues to increase,” said E.D. K au s h i k R oy. He t h a n ke d t he more than 15,000 volunteers who have donated their time and energ y over the decades. The Honorable James C. Hormel presented the Shanti Lifetime Achievement Aw a rd to Hou s e D e moc r at ic Leader Na ncy Pelosi, a f ierce advocate in the f ight against HIV/ A IDS and breast cancer, and the f irst to claim during her freshman yea r i n t he House t hat she wa s there to br ing A I DS to the consciousness of Cong ress. She was doubly honored in that the award wou ld be named after her when presented to others in the future. “ I ’m on ly doi ng what you constituents told me to do,” she humbly joked , reg a rd i ng her act ivism. “And I’m proud to represent San Francisco va lues.” She a lso cong rat u lated Dr. Charles Garf ield, who founded Sha nt i. T he James C. Hormel Client Communit y Spir it Award was presented to E d Con nel ly; t he Nord st rom Client Communit y Spir it Award was g iven to Joanne Smit h; and the Charles A. Garf ield Volunteer L eader sh ip Awa rd was g iven to A lex Rivera.

I have just enough room to highly recom mend a v i s it to M a g net, the Castro hub of health and social wellbeing, to enjoy the clever works of local text ile art ist, Jeremy Cha se Sa nder s, i n h is new show, “BRO -M A N(ce).” Sa nder s ex plores t he nua nced layer s of id ent it y i n t he c a s u a l m a le “ u n i for m” of t he f l a n ne l s h i r t a nd baseba l l cap, wh i le play ing w it h word s l i ke “ Bro,” “ Dude,” and suggestive baseball lingo. But please don’t steal the shirt! You’ll u nder st a nd t hat when you v i sit the exhibition.

S ister Dana fer vently hopes ever yone has a safe and insane high holy homo holiday of Hollow Weenie with plenty of tricks and treats!

(SAMHAIN continued from page 1) the Dead, and the drinking of cider to celebrate the harvest and the great bounty gifted to us by Mother Earth.

In fact, gay historian Arthur Evans noted in Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture (pp 11-12) that the pagan practices of ritual transvestism and the wearing of animal costumes were broadly practiced on both May Day at the Sabbat of Beltane and at the Night of All Souls or Samhain.

In the ancient Celtic tradition, the start of a day begins at sunset, so Samhain actually begins at sunset on October 31st and ends at sunset on November 1st. It is interesting that Halloween has taken greater significance in the United States, as many revel in the parties, celebrations, and

festivities for this special season. Who doesn’t like to dress up and dance?

It is instructive to see the commonalities between Dia de los Muertes, the Mexican Day of the Dead, and the ancient holiday of Samhain. Both honor the dead with feasting, costuming, revelry, etc., yet though they originated in distinctly different cultures, they share a common belief in the continuity of life and in communal remembrances of those that have transitioned beyond this life.

If you would like to dance with your dead, on Samhain on October 31st, light a candle (never leave it unattended!) and fill your mind with memories, images, and thoughts of a loved

Hollywood star Betty Grable posing for photographers at Halloween 28 BAY TIM ES OCTO B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

one – human or animal – that has died during the past year. Speak their name aloud and creatively imagine that they are with you, here and now.

If you or they liked to dance, get up and move. It is okay to have transitory sad feelings or thoughts at their passing, as long as one also remembers the shared love, laughter, and joy that we had with them and have again at each Samhain.

In this way, each year at the turning of The Wheel, the great Circle of the Living and the Dead comes together in the Dance and we are reminded, “What is remembered, lives.” A Blessed Samhain to all.

POP ROX

Round About in Photos

By K. Cole

LINDA STONESTREET “Rose Colored Glasses” Some of us have to wear rose-colored glasses to get through life and this sweet rendering of personal stories and poems will melt the ice of reality into a cup of warm wine. Linda has been at this songwriting thing for a long time, even to the point of creating the Northern California Women’s Music Festival up in Laytonville for a few years, so the womyn’s community has benefitted from the generosity of her time and talents. Let’s give back now, and pick this one up!.

Best Cut: “Sweetness and Life” Location: Earbuds, sunrise at Funston Pt.

CHER LLOYD “Sticks & Stones” Not that Cher…in fact, just the opposite. This little-girly-voiced chanteuse hands us more sugary swagger. If radio picked this up and played it about twenty times, well, it would stick like a licked sucker on the sidewalk. Short skirts, high heels, a few gaga-esque tatts and you’ve got the picture. But who will lick this first?

Best Cut: “Playa Boi” Location: Cold Stone Creamery

STARS “The North” Canadian alt-pop artists Stars hand over a nice, 80’s-retro styled pop filet.

Chillwave and Snow Patrol fans will enjoy some really finely crafted electronic keyboard-drenched art with dreamy female vocals in trend with what Massive Attack began in the day.

Seeing this band live will be quite a treat and they roll through our town on the 20th at the Fillmore. I’ll be in line.

Best Cut: “Lights Changing Color” Location: Fillmore front and center

PEPPER MASHAY “Use Somebody” Pepper is working it word to mouth here, with a classical dance diva sound reminiscent of Tina Turner. Gawd knows we need us more mature artists in our CD collections now, don’t we? I fell in love with this off-the-record release and it has inspired me to keep on keeping on. She is currently touring with Bobby Caldwell, formerly backup vocalist for the great Tina herself. You can find this on the Internet and keep it close to your heart.

Best Cut: “Use Somebody” Location: Wedding dance floor, Napa Valley – K Cole has been reviewing music for major publications since it came via snail mail on cassettes. Submissions to Pop Rox by local LGBT artists encouraged. Join on Facebook. com/Pop-Rox-Bay-Times-San Francisco or send it in to: K Cole, Katharinecole@yahoo.com.

Author and activist Dan Savage (3rd from left), founder of the It Gets Better campaign, received the Human Rights Champion Award at the 7th Annual SF Gay Men’s Chorus Crescendo Gala (Photo by Rink)

AIDS Relief Fund for China’s Humphrey Wou surrounded by board members Calvin Ho, Perry Chen, Teresa Spitzer, Noel Sanborn and Dan Chin at the annual Be My Guest Dinner (Photo by Rink)

Filmmakers Ronald Vietz and Marten Persiel with a poster for their film “This Ain’t California” at the closing of the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival at the Castro Theatre (Photo by Rink)

Inventive artist Jeremy Chase Sanders displays a hand woven flannel shirt at the opening of his Bro-Man(ce) New Work exhibit at Magnet (Photo by Rink)

SF LGBT Center’s Rebecca Rolfe on National Coming Out Day with Pioneer Award honoree Cecilia Chung at Bold: An Awards Ceremony (Photo by Rink)

Supervisor David Campos (3rd from left) surrounded by supporters at his re-election campaign fundraiser held at SF Democratic Party headquarters (Photo by Steven Underhill)

Lesbian judge Angela Bradstreet; honoree Victoria Kolakowski, Alameda County Superior Court Judge; emcee Tita Aida; State Senator Mark Leno; and board member Shay Gilmore at the Herbst Theater’s Green Room for the Transgender Law Center Anniversary (Photo by Rink)

SF Giants mascot surrounded by program participants at the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation’s Celebrity Pool Toss (Photo by Steven Underhill) Fun in the famous Phoenix Hotel’s pool at the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation’s Celebrity Pool Toss (Photo by Steven Underhill) BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 29

Castro Street Fair — Photos by Rink

Having fun at the Ping Pong Show game booth

TJ cycling at the AIDS LifeCycle booth of the SF AIDS Foundation

A volunteer and hopeful pet from the Muttville Senior Dog Rescue

AIDS Legal Referral Panel’s Bill Hirsh (left) and friends collecting entrance contributions on Market Street

See more

Academy of Friends board member Matthew Denckla and friends

Stories @sfbaytimes.com Twitter, and find us Facebook.

and follow us on on

30 BAY TIM ES OCTO B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2

Super Heroes surround Gus of Gus Presents on Castro Street

Aimee Forster and Susan Caballero hosting the GLBT Historical Society booth

Panorama of the Castro Street Fair on October 7th as viewed from “the gayest intersection in the world” at 18th and Castro

Imperial Court members welcoming and collecting entrance contributions from arriving participants

The Castro’s own Sgt. Chuck Limbert (left) with SFPD Mission Captain Robert Moser

The women of Cheer San Francisco demonstrating their skills

Staff and volunteers representing Magnet, the popular Castro medical and cultural center

Couture designer Bruce Beaudette making an art statement

Ken Craig (left) and fellow members of the Castro Community Patrol BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 18, 2012 31