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April 4 - 17, 2013 | www.sfbaytimes.com

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LGBT Poetry Special Section, pages 12-13

On The Path to Marriage Equality—

From Skim Milk to Harvey Milk: How Our Community Made History at Last Week’s Supreme Court Arguments

By John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney Marriage Equality USA Whether you marched in San Francisco or elsewhere around the country, or traveled to Washington, DC, for the U.S. Supreme Court’s hearings in the marriage equality cases, we have all just participated in history in the making. After going to Washington, we feel more inspired than ever about our community’s work for full LGBTIQ equality.

At the Supreme Court, people camped out for days, even enduring a rare spring snowstorm, in order to get seats inside the courthouse. Outside the court, people gathered

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from all across the country and overseas to bear witness and to put a human face on the issue. Before speaking at the rally on the Supreme Court steps, we met people who had traveled from places as diverse as Mississippi, Hong Kong, Vermont and, of course, California to participate in the historic occasion. Lesbian and gay couples and their families, allies, clergy, and people from every part of our diverse LGBTIQ community came out to stand together before the Court.

Just as the California Supreme Court Justices were moved by the 2004 weddings at San Francisco City Hall taking (continued on page 3)

ANNUAL

Please join us in a Tribute to: Anne V. Coates O.B.E., A.C.E. Academy Award Winning Film Editor Recipient of an Honorary Doctorate ANNUAL EPIDEMIC FILM FESTIVAL Thursday, April 18th, 2013 4pm – 8pm (Seating Starts at 3:30pm) Historic Castro Theatre 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, California

EVENT INDUSTry PANELS: Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 New Montgomery Theatre 79 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 6:00pm: Q&A with Anne V. Coates Interviewed by Turner Classic Movie Host Robert Osborne 7:15pm: Panel Discussion with Actors, Directors and Casting Agents rSVP: Please reply as soon as possible as seating is limited.

800.544.2787 or www.academyart.edu/filmfestival 79 NEW MONTGOMERY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94105

WWW.ACADEMyArT.EDU | 800.544.2787 (U.S. only) | 415.274.2200 Accredited member WASC, NASAD, CIDA (BFA-IAD, MFA-IAD), NAAB (M.ARCH) Visit www.academyart.edu to learn about total costs, median student loan debt, potential occupations and other information.

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place right outside their chambers, we hope that the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are moved by our collective voices. Ultimately, we will succeed at the Court to the extent the Court recognizes our common humanity, through decades of millions of LGBTIQ people coming out and speaking the truth of their lives.

The human face of our community was ref lected meaningfully in comments several Justices made during the oral arguments. For instance, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg explained how the misnamed “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) deprives lesbian and gay couples of over 1,100 rights and protections under federal law, affecting “every aspect” of our lives. She delivered perhaps the most memorable line of the hearings when she concluded that heterosexual couples have “full marriage,” while same-sex couples are consigned to “skim milk marriage.” Justice Ginsberg further explained that when married same-sex couples can file “no joint [tax] return, [receive] no marital deduction [for estate tax purposes, get] no Social Security benefits; [and when] your spouse is very sick [and] you can’t get leave … one might well ask, what kind of marriage is this?”

Justice Elena Kagan noted how DOMA did something that had “really never been done before,” when it targeted an entire class of legally married people to deny them rights under federal law. She cut to the chase when she noted the blatantly anti-gay intent of DOMA, quoting the House of Representatives Report that stated that one of DOMA’s purposes was “to express moral disapproval of homosexuality.” Justice Kagan also shredded the Prop. 8 attorney’s argument that the ability

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to procreate forms the legal basis for marriage. Questioning the attorney whether his argument would justify a hypothetical law prohibiting two heterosexuals over the age of 55 from marrying, Justice Kagan explained to the seemingly befuddled attorney: “I can just assure you [that] if both the woman and the man are over the age of 55, there are not a lot of children coming out of that marriage.”

The procreation argument is a particularly curious one to make to this Court, given that both of Chief Justice John Roberts’ children are adopted.

Justice Anthony Kennedy also evidenced intimate familiarity with lesbian and gay families when he spoke of how Prop. 8’s denying the freedom to marry to same-sex couples caused an “immediate … injury” to the approximately “40,000 children in California … that live with samesex parents, and [who] want their parents to have full recognition and full status.” Justice Kennedy spoke of how “important” the “voice of those children is … in this case.”

But other comments the Justices made at the hearings underscore how “skim milk” is not the only “milk” pertinent to these cases. It is Harvey Milk’s call for all of us to come out and live our lives openly at every opportunity that is ultimately the key to our success at the Court. Two of Justice Kennedy’s other comments at the arguments particularly highlight the importance of the Justices being aware of LGBTIQ people’s lives and our loving relationships. In apparently evaluating the appropriateness of a nationwide decision on the freedom to marry in all 50 states, Justice Kennedy expressed concern regarding what he believed to be the recent nature of sociological evidence about marriage for same-sex couples and

their families: “We have five years of information to weigh against 2,000 years of history or more.” He later told plaintiffs’ attorney in the Prop.

8 case Ted Olson that “the problem with the case is that you’re really asking, particularly because of the sociological evidence you cite, for us to go into uncharted waters,” which may lead to “a wonderful destination,” or maybe “a cliff.”

Justice Kennedy has written the two landmark gay rights cases in the history of the Court, but his comments point to how critical the Justices’ understanding the truth of our lives is to our achieving full liberty and equality under the law. Of course, the truth is that the Court would not be entering “uncharted waters” if it ruled that LGBTIQ people, just like everyone else, have the freedom to marry under the Constitution. LGBTIQ people have been around for well over 2,000 years – indeed we’ve always been around – and we have had loving, committed relationships for centuries and have long been raising children. Our lives and history have already shown that samesex love, relationships, and families are “a wonderful destination.” For years, people were unable to live their lives openly because of obvious discrimination, threats to their safety and well being, and lack of social acceptance and support. What’s new is that in recent decades we have been able to live our lives openly because of the bravery of so many people who have come out and refused to live a lie. Coming out has enabled us to advocate for our full equality and inclusion. Indeed, recent polling results show 81 percent support for marriage equality among 18-29 year olds.

Perhaps most importantly, the Court has never demanded sociological evi-

P H OTO B Y RIN K

On The Path to Marriage Equality

Till Wagner and Benjamin Audrae share a hug during the Marriage Equality Rally at Harvey Milk Plaza

dence of the societal value of heterosexual couples’ marrying as a prerequisite for heterosexuals having the Constitutional right to marry.

The reality is that people – both heterosexual and homosexual – have loving, committed relationships, and many of these couples have children. For those couples who chose to marry, marriage can provide dignity, support, recognition, and protection for their families. The freedom to marry should be a constitutional right of every American without exception as part of our freedom to define ourselves and pursue happiness in our lives — not something to which we must prove we are entitled.

As Harvey Milk said over 30 years ago: “All men are created equal. No matter how hard they try, they can never erase those words. That is what America is about.” And as President Barack Obama proclaimed during his inaugural address just two and half months ago: “[I]f we are truly created equal, then surely the love

we commit to one another must be equal, as well.”

No one knows after oral argument how the Supreme Court will ultimately rule in any case, and the questions the Justices asked during the arguments could be interpreted in a variety of ways. But as we await the high court’s ruling, likely to be announced the last week of Pride Month, the way our community came together last week to stand up for itself both inside the courtroom and across the nation greatly inspires us as we continue on the road from “skim milk marriages” to full LGBTIQ equality. We are f illed with perhaps Harvey Milk’s favorite word: hope.

Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, together 26 years, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. They are leaders in the nationwide grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA.

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Professional Services

A Jealous Boyfriend

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT Q: Last month, my ex-boyfriend was in town and stayed with me. We slept in the same bed because I live in a studio, and there wasn’t any other place for him to sleep. Nothing happened between us. We’re close friends now, but there’s no sexual interest on either side. The boyfriend I’m with now, a guy I do love a lot, sulked the whole time, and finally told me how jealous he was feeling. I got angry because I don’t like not being trusted, and then he got mad at me for being mad, and now we’re in a standoff. You should know that we’re in an open relation-

ship! Isn’t it hypocritical and illogical for him to be upset with me over something like this?

there are probably no relationships in which the issue of jealousy doesn’t arise at some time.

A: If anything is more destructive to a relationship than jealousy, it is contempt for your partner’s feelings. I suggest that you concern yourself less with whether he’s being “logical” and more with what you can do to end the standoff.

I do understand how off-putting it can be to be on the receiving end of jealousy. It usually feels like an accusation, and it’s natural to feel defensive indignation. But if you only respond from that feeling, he’ll not only continue to feel jealous, but also judged and attacked as well. Instead, remember the times in your own life when you’ve been afraid of loss of love, and respond to him in the way that you would have wanted to be treated in those situations. Instead of responding with contempt and anger, and instead of arguing about what’s fair and logical, try to respond from compassion. Let him know that you’re sorry he felt threatened and unhappy during your ex’s visit, and tell him that you want to work together with him to see that he doesn’t have to feel that way again. That kind of generous attitude will do more to convince him that he can trust you than any argument about the inconsistency of his feelings.

Jealousy often gets a bad rap in the gay male community. It comes from insecurity and possessiveness. Guys who are secure in themselves are free from it. We don’t try to own one another. As far as outside sex goes, that’s just a guy thing, and we don’t begrudge each other these harmless pleasures. If I feel jealous about anything going on between you and someone else, it’s my problem to get over, not something we need to work out together. These widespread attitudes can have very harmful effects in relationships. They encourage people to respond to the feeling with scorn.

When people experience jealousy it can cause them to feel ashamed, as if there is something wrong with them for having such archaic, “patriarchal” feelings. But in real life,

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

Holding Hands my hand to take me to the candy store where he bought Pall Mall cigarettes and got me a super-large soft peppermint out of the jar in the window.

Holding hands was always a part of the journey with my family.

Speak Up! Speak Out! Laugh Often!

Karen Williams “Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone’s hand is the begining of a journey.” This quote by Vera Nazarian, author of The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration, makes me think about my mom. She held my hand to cross the street. I have pictures of her as a young mother with three small children, one in the stroller and the other two holding on to the sides of the stroller. As we got older, my brothers and I held hands to walk to elementary school, to go to the park, to run away from bullies and through the fields. I remember my dad holding

I can’t help but notice that holding hands has lost some of its popularity, particularly with younger parents and their children. I was in a mall recently...yes, I hate to admit that I go to the mall... and the average family consisted of adults walking side by side, talking on the phone or texting, with children straggling behind them... way behind them; I was scared for the youngsters, that’s how far behind the adults they were. I wanted to shout out, “Hold their hands!” however, I didn’t want to sound like a crazed woman-of-a-certain age who wasn’t minding her own business.

Yet, it feels like my business in that “We Are The World” kinda way that a global perspective demands.

When and where I grew up, children belonged to the neighborhood and any adult could speak to us, and feel free to dish out reprimands, praise or warnings. The most popular warnings were to look both ways when crossing the street and to hold hands while crossing. I want to yell out to

stop texting and watch your children, to hold their hands in public places to keep them from running off or getting lost in the crowd. Yet, it’s hard for me to get anyone’s attention to issue warnings since faces are pointed down towards electronic devices and not upwards to meet and greet my disapproving eyes. And hands holding phones are not available to hold hands of lovers, friends or errant children.

So let’s start over, begin a journey of togetherness... Let’s hold hands. It’s tender and touching and meaningful and safe. There’s something warm and wonderful about feeling a small hand in mine, peering down into a face filled with love and trust. Okay, if that’s a little too corny, let’s think about protection. It’s practical to hold hands; it makes the young ones feel safe and connected, older folks feel secure, and lovers feel more in love.

Holding hands is a symbol of togetherness in a society that increasingly makes us feel alone. “Reach out and touch somebody’s hand...” Since we’re on this journey together, let’s create the intimacy we long for and hold each other’s hands. It’s worth a try!

“I Wanna Hold Your Hand” is one of Karen’s favorite songs. What’s yours? karen@ sfbaytimes.com

Sister Dana Sez day the historic Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches arrived at the Alabama State Capitol. We held those typical placards stating: “We All Deserve the Freedom to Marry” and “Liberty, Justice, and Marriage Equality.”

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “Well, Spring has sprung, and I hope it’s not an April Fools joke when the Supremes finally decide we queers are not second class citizens.”

Same-sex couples want to marry for the same reasons as anyone else, and they should be able to enter into the legal civil contract of marriage in accordance with their vows of love and lifetime commitment to one another. So we activists held the MARCH FOR EQUALITY from Harvey Milk Plaza to City Hall, marking the 48th anniversary of the 8 BAY TIM ES APRIL 4 , 2 0 1 3

You know who else was looking for a marriage? Snow White, as indicated at Davies Symphony Hall during the Sf Gay Men’s Chorus Show, Snow White And Her Merry Men (directed

by Dr. Timothy Seelig), where 270 choristers joined 19 of the Beach Blanket Babylon cast to help Snow find her prince.

THEATRE RHINOCEROS celebrated 35 years as the longest-running queer theatre anywhere at their annual RHINO BENEFIT at the Eureka Theatre. Executive Director John Fisher welcomed the patrons and brought on the emcee, Tom Orr (“the ‘Wh’ is silent”) who introduced comic Casey Ley, wondering whatever God did with all those circumcision tips of babies the Bible spoke of.

Always effervescent Connie Champagne gave us full-tilt Judy Garland

with all the impressive JG mannerisms, belting out songs. Mike Finn strummed the autoharp and sang several lovely tunes.

GL A A D held t he SF M E DI A AWARDS KICK-OFF high atop SF Hilton Cityscape, 46 stories above the dramatic City lights to celebrate 25 years of media relationships and countless hours of media advocacy sending important messages against homophobia and discrimination. The 24th Annual May 11 Media Awards Banquet will honor, among many others, Adam Lambert, one of the best singers to come out of TV’s American Idol. Co-chairs Adam Sandel, John Marez, and Cathy Brooks invite you to this festive party at SF Hilton. glaad.org.

R ICHMON D/ ER M ET A I DS FOUNDATION presented another gorge ONE NIGHT ONLY CABARET with the Broadway touring cast of the Tony Award-winning JERSEY BOYS at Marines Memorial Theater.

We adored Nick Cosgrove (as Frankie Valli), John Gardiner (Tommy DeVi(continued on page 22)

National News Briefs compiled by Dennis McMillan

Lansing, MI - Michigan GOP Committeeman under Fire over Anti-gay Facebook Post - 3.28

New York, NY - With Four New Meningitis Cases in Gay Men, Vaccinations Urged - 3.6

A group of state Republicans is calling for the resignation of Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema over an anti-gay posting on his Facebook page.

Citing four new meningitis cases among gay and bisexual men in New York City since the start of 2013, the city’s health department is recommending that all men who “regularly have intimate contact with other men met through a website, digital application, or at a bar or party” get vaccinated for the bug.

Agema’s posting during US Supreme Court oral arguments regarding the legality of same-sex marriage, was based on an online article titled, “Everyone Should Know These Statistics on Homosexuals,” which appeared under the byline Frank Joseph, M.D. The post depicts gays as sexually promiscuous, rife with sexually transmitted diseases and responsible for “half the murders in large cities.”

“Meningitis symptoms usually come on quickly, and the disease can be fatal if not treated right away,” said Dr. Thomas Farley, the city’s health commissioner. “Vaccination is the best defense. I urge all men who meet these criteria, regardless of whether they identify as gay, to get vaccinated now and protect themselves from this disease before it is too late.”

Dennis Lennox, a Grand Traverse County Republican precinct delegate and former county drain commissioner, issued a statement signed by 20 other Republicans condemning Agema’s “deplorable actions” and calling for his resignation.

“This isn’t about what we believe either politically or as women and men of faith,” the statement said. “This is about common decency and realizing that you cannot win an election by insulting a wide swath of the electorate, whose votes our Republican Party needs to once again form a national majority.”

Agema, who was elected as one of two Michigan representatives on the Republican National Committee in May after having served as a Republican state representative from Grandville, responded to criticism on Facebook by saying he posted facts, and facts make people uncomfortable. “I strongly maintain my position in support of marriage between a man and a woman and I will not back down from my core beliefs in support of strengthening the family,” he added.

The health department first noted the meningitis outbreak on Sept. 27 last year in a media alert that reported four cases of “invasive meningococcal disease” among gay and bisexual men in the prior four weeks. At that time, the department recommended that any HIV-positive man who had had recent sex with another man get vaccinated.

A separate alert that was sent to healthcare providers that day reported on 12 cases occurring since 2010. Four of those men had died. One case occurred in 2010, three occurred in 2011, and eight in 2012. Eight of the men were HIV-positive.

The total number of cases since 2010 has now climbed to 22 with 17 of those cases occurring since the start of 2012.

Three of the five most recently infected men died, and there have been seven fatalities altogether since 2010.

Asked on March 6 if more vaccine would be purchased, a health department spokesperson wrote, “We have ample vaccine available and do not need to purchase additional vaccine at this time.”

Source: gaycitynews.com

Matt Frendewey, a spokesman for the Michigan GOP, wouldn’t comment on calls for Agema’s resignation. “The Republican party believes every American deserves the utmost respect and dignity and we are a party that believes in traditional marriage,” Frendewey said. “But that should never be confused with any form of discrimination or hate.” Agema gives agita!

Source: freep.com

Phoenix - AZ - Proposed Arizona Law Would Police Gender, Public Restroom Use - 3.20 If you think you might need to use a public restroom while you’re out and about, you might want to make sure you have your birth certificate handy. A House panel will consider legislation to make it a crime to enter a public restroom designated for one gender or the other if you are “not legally classified” on your birth certificate as a member of that sex. The measure, SB 1432, also would apply to showers, baths, dressing rooms or locker rooms marked “men” or “women.”

The move comes a month after the Phoenix City Council voted 5-3 to extend its anti-discrimination laws to those who are LGBT. Foes quickly dubbed it the “bathroom bill,” saying the provisions about public accommodations could result in businesses being prosecuted for refusing to let transgender men use the women’s restroom.

Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said the state needs to step in. Otherwise, he said, any man who simply “thinks of himself” as a woman could be free to go into a women’s locker room and disrobe.

Tucson has had an ordinance similar to the new Phoenix law since 1999, and Liana Perez, director of equal opportunity programs, said she has never seen anyone raise an issue or file a complaint about who gets to use which bathroom. “It just doesn’t come up,” Perez said.

Equality Arizona called the measure “a disgusting invasion of privacy and civil liberties for all of us.” They said it even could make criminals of women who, facing a long line at a restroom in a public facility, duck into the men’s room.

Does this remind anyone of Arizona’s hideous “Papers Please” law?

Source: azstarnet.com

Montgomery, AL - Guide Helps Educators Create Welcoming Schools - 3.12 Though LGBTQ students are harassed at twice the rate of other students, a few purposeful steps can help transform a school into a safer place for all students, according to a guide released by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance project. Best Practices: Creating an LGBT-Inclusive School Climate offers advice ranging from ensuring that a school’s antibullying policy explicitly prohibits anti-LGBTQ bullying to recognizing staff members who promote an inclusive school environment. The guide – available at tolerance.org – also offers advice regarding dress codes, gay-straight alliances and ensuring that LGBTQ students are not excluded from school events.

“This best practices guide is about creating schools where all students feel safe and supported,” Teaching Tolerance Director Maureen Costello said. “Every student has a right to attend school without harassment. This guide shows how a few steps can make all the difference.”

Studies have shown that creating a supportive environment for LGBTQ students improves educational outcomes for all students. A recent Human Rights Campaign survey also underscored how the failure to create an inclusive environment harms LGBTQ students. These students reported being harassed at school – verbally and physically – at twice the rate of non-LGBTQ youth.

Harrisburg, PA - Sen. Casey Backs Marriage Equality, DOMA Repeal - 4.14 US Senator Bob Casey, who has faced mounting pressure in recent days to join the rapidly growing number of marriage-equality supporters, announced that he now is in favor of the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act - and full marriage rights for same-sex couples. “After much deliberation and after reviewing the legal, public policy and civil-rights questions presented, I support marriage equality for samesex couples and believe that DOMA should be repealed,” Casey said.

Casey previously backed civil unions for same-sex couples and has said he opposes constitutional bans on same-sex marriage. He has supported pro-LGBTQ measures such as the Employment Nondiscrimination Act and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Casey said he began to reassess his position on marriage equality in 2011 when the Respect for Marriage Act, which would lift DOMA, was introduced for the first time in the Senate. “I began to focus on the issue of same-sex marriage much more intensely than I had before,” he said. Part of that process included considering feedback from LGBTQ Pennsylvanians and their families, Casey said.

LGBTQ students also cited trouble at school/bullying as one of the most difficult problems they currently face, according to the survey. They reported hearing negative messages about being LGBTQ most often at school and from peers. LGBTQ students also were more likely to report that they do not have an adult they can talk to about personal problems.

“These stories had a substantial impact on my position on this issue,” he said. “If two people of the same sex fall in love and want to marry, why would our government stand in their way? At a time when many Americans lament a lack of commitment in our society between married men and women, why would we want less commitment and fewer strong marriages? If two people of the same sex want to raise children, why would our government prevent them from doing so, especially when so many children have only one parent or none at all?”

The best practices guide is being released a year after the SPLC reached a settlement agreement to address rampant anti-LGBTQ bullying in Minnesota’s largest school district, the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

As of this writing, seven Democratic US Senators have yet to publicly express support for gay marriage, and only two Republicans, Rob Portman and Mark Kirk, have done so. What’s the holdup?

Source: spicenter.org

Source: epgn.com

Local News Briefs Queer LifeSpace Signs Long-term Lease in Castro Queer LifeSpace, San Francisco’s only grassroots, low-fee mental health and substance abuse nonprofit agency, today announced the signing of a seven-year lease for a portion of the lower level of 2275 Castro Street. This new location will allow Queer LifeSpace to expand its services and programs to the LGBTQ community with significantly greater office space than its current location at 470 Castro Street.

QLS was founded in July 2011 by four clinicians who met and worked together at New Leaf Services.

On February 7, QLS announced a $60,000 relocation capital campaign for the purpose of building new offices and group meeting rooms in this location, which was in the final stages of negotiation.

“We are extremely pleased to have signed a long-term lease for a convenient Castro location that both meets our budget guidelines and will provide for a greater number of clinical offices,” Executive Director Nancy Heilner said. “This additional office space will allow us to add more clinicians to meet the overwhelming demand we are experiencing in the LGBTQQI community for vital low-cost mental health and substance abuse services.”

Their focus shifts from securing a new, larger facility to raising funds to build new offices at 2275 Market Street and create the financial foundation for continued rapid growth. Over the next two months, they will be hosting donor functions featuring community leaders to provide details on their vision and plans. In addition, they have initiated an Indiegogo.com online campaign to provide an easy method for the community to financially support grassroots lowfee mental health and substance abuse services in the Castro. Interested donors may contact Fundraising Coordinator Ana Zamora for information on upcoming donor functions or contribute online at queerlifespace.org/donations.

Marriage Equality, Cell Phones and the Internet: Supreme Court Justice Flunks Queer History Test The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act on March 27. Among the statements that caught the attention of GLBT historians was a remark from Justice Samuel Alito that same-sex marriage is “newer than cell phones or the Internet.” Historians disagree. Although the first nation to recognize such unions was the Netherlands in 2000, and the first US state was Massachusetts in 2003, the debate over marriage equality has a much longer history, they say.

The periodicals collection in the archives of our local GLBT Historical Society includes evidence from the pioneering homosexual-rights publication, One Magazine, where early articles argue in favor of stable gay couples versus what was seen as an inevitable life of one-night stands.

An August 1953 cover story raises the question of “Homosexual Marriage?” The author argues that legally recognizing same-sex marriage would protect heterosexual marriage by making “adultery” and “promiscuity” unacceptable for both groups. The magazine put the issue on the cover again in June 1963: “Let’s Push for Homophile Marriage.” The writer notes that “there are many homophiles who, like me, find the married homophile life so much more preferable” than casual hook-ups.

For a further look at the historical background, distinguished gay scholar George Chauncey has written a must-read book: Why Marriage? The History Shaping Today’s Debate Over Marriage Equality.

The GLBT History Museum is located in the heart of the Castro at 4127 18th Street. Its hours are as follows: Mondays and Wednesdays - Saturdays: 11 am - 7pm; (Tuesdays closed); Sundays: noon - 5pm. Admission: $5 general; $3 with California student ID. Free for members.

Story by Dennis McMillan

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The LGBT Aging Policy Task Force Community Survey Force determined that there was little information on the estimated 25,000 San Francisco LGBT older adults and seniors. The Task Force research team, under the leadership of K aren Fredr i k sen- Goldsen, Ph.D., who is the Director of the Institute for Multigenerational Health, went to work to develop a community survey to provide the much-needed infor mat ion. T h is survey is now on line.

LGBT Seniors Dr. Marcy Adelman Help San Francisco better understand the aging and health needs of the city’s LGBT senior population by participating in a groundbreak ing study developed by the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force in partnership with the Institute for Mult igenerat iona l Hea lt h of t he Universit y of Washing ton. Your par t icipat ion in t he sur vey w i l l help the city develop policies and prog rams to improve t he hea lt h and well-being of all San Francisco LGBT older adults and seniors.

13811 Campus Drive, Oakland

Encompassing the vitality of the San Francisco Bay Area this open and inviting home flawlessly blends sophisticated style, light filled spaces and exquisite architecture in a coveted location. Sited on over an acre of gated, lush landscape and boasting breathtaking panoramic views, this 6 bedroom, 4.5 bath home is sure to impress.

T he L GB T A g i n g Pol ic y Ta s k Force wa s est abl ished t h is pa st fa l l by t he San Francisco Board of Supervisors with an 18 -month t ime line to br ing back “act ionable” policy recommendations to advance services for, and improve the lives of, LGBT seniors in San Fr a nc i s c o. E a r l y on , t he Ta s k

The price to live in San Francisco today is a million dollars for a modest home or thousands a month for a market-rate apartment. That’s the reality of supply and demand when 800,000 people want to live on a tiny peninsula where Tartine scones and a Bi-Rite Creamery can be found on the same Mission District block.

Eloise Middleton (510) 386.0547 HomesbyEloise.com

Place your real estate ad in the @ sfbaytimes.com.

i ng L GBT sen ior s. T he d iver se members of the Task Force have enlisted the support and participation of community leaders and organizations to assist with distribution of the survey to ensure that all LGBT seniors are adequately represented in both the research and policy recommendations. “It’s critical for service providers to ack nowledge and af f irm the intersections of identities in the LGBT older adult community. Doing so opens t he door to more col lab orative opportunities and fosters a n ag ing net work t hat suppor t s LGBT older adults wherever they

The Western View Joel P. Engardio

Longtime residents are able to live here if they bought their home decades ago or moved into a rent-controlled apartment when prices were low. Young newcomers can manage if they don’t mind lots of roommates.

There are programs, far from perfect, to house the poor.

But the market is especially tough on the middle class families fleeing San Francisco. We have fewer children than any major American city and the ones we have are often relegated to sleeping in converted closets. We can do better.

For families stuck in a cramped rentcontrolled apartment, there’s an odd creation in San Francisco called the Tenancy-In-Common. The TIC provides hope for more space and a path to home ownership by dividing each f loor of an older building into separate flats that can fit a family. Friends or neighbors pool their resources to buy a building together. Buying in bulk makes each flat more affordable than a single-family home or newer construction condominium.

But there’s a downside. You don’t own your flat outright. You share a mortgage with your neighbors, so everyone’s at risk if someone can’t pay. TIC loans have higher interest rates and can be impossible to refinance. The TIC scheme ends up hurting more middle class families than it helps.

A real solution would be to scrap the confusing TIC model (it-is-and-isn’ta-home) and make each unit a condominium with all the responsibilities and benefits of true homeownership.

The problem is, that’s called condoconversion and those are f ighting words for interest groups and politicians in this town.

10 BAY TIM ES APRIL 4 , 2 0 1 3

To participate in this project, you must be LGBT ( lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender), 60 years of age or older and a resident of Sa n Fra ncisco. T he sur vey is a conf idential questionnaire available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Russian and Tagalog.

To complete the online questionnaire visit: CaringAndAging.org/ survey.

Make histor y by participating in t he su r vey. T he resu lt s w i l l be

used to inform the Task Force’s deliberations and to support recommendations to the San Francisco Board of Super v isors in Januar y 2014.

For quest ions about t he sur vey, contact AgePride@uw.edu. To request a hard copy of the questionnaire, contact Meals On W heels of San Francisco at 415-920-1111.

Dr. Marcy Adelman, a clinical psychologist in private practice, is co-founder of the non-prof it organization Openhouse a nd a m e mbe r of th e S a n F ra nc i sco LGBT Aging Policy Task Force.

Limiting Condo Conversions Won’t Give Us Better Rent Control

Offered at $1,787,000

Bay Times and

The Task Force has a lso placed a specia l emphasis on out reach to prev ious ly u nder represented L GBT com mun it ies, such a s LGBT seniors of color, transgender elders and non-English speak-

choose to receive ser v ices,” said Michelle Alcedo, Co-Chair of the Task Force’s Hea lt h a nd Socia l Services Committee.

The most sacred policy in San Francisco is rent control, which applies to any multi-unit residence built before 1979 (all new construction, singlefamily homes and condos are exempt).

Most TICs are in older buildings. So any talk of converting a TIC into a condo raises cries of “cannibalizing” a limited stock of rent-controlled units in the city.

It’s a scary thought – if it jeopardizes your rent control or mine. But does it? First, let’s consider what “rent control” really means. If you’re fortunate to have a good rent, you’re set. But if a life change requires a move, you’re going to pay market rate no matter how many rent-controlled units are in the city. A vacant apartment can go for any price, which is why finding a rent-controlled unit today will cost as much as one that’s not. Rent control only benefits the generation who got in early or someone willing to pay high now and stay put for a long time.

The rent control status of a TIC is irrelevant when it’s a permanent home for a family and not for rent. What about greedy investors out to evict tenants and condo-convert a building? They’re bogeymen in the TIC debate. Since 2006, buildings with a history of evictions have been ineligible for condo conversion. Most TICs are regular people trying to make it in San Francisco. If they were rich, they would have just bought a house and not bothered with the TIC headache.

That’s why it doesn’t make sense to deny condo conversion of TICs when it will only help the middle class families that San Francisco needs to retain.

My partner and I are lifelong renters.

We’re aspiring homeowners who have worked hard to save money for a down payment without family support. A TIC might be our only chance. That’s why we hope the Board of Supervisors will let more TICs become condos, now that the issue is up for debate.

In a city of 60 percent renters, calling something a threat to rent control is a well-used scare tactic to whip voters and politicians into a frenzy. That’s (continued on page 22)

Real Estate and Design

A Matchless Match homework and getting to know your suitors before making a final decision.

Clarify your needs.

Before you can choose the right contractor, you need to be clear on the services you require to successfully complete your project. Here are four questions to help you sort it out: Do you need help with the up front design, planning and permit work, or just the construction part of the project?

Project Remodel Jim Tibbs

Where is Dolly Levi when we need her? Wouldn’t it be great if we had a remodeling matchmaker who delights in pairing up available clients and eligible contractors? But, alas, we have to figure it out on our own.

As with any budding relationship, establishing a positive rapport is key.

When the chemistry is off between a client and a contractor, everyone suffers. When the chemistry is right, it’s a matchless match.

Finding the right match involves being clear about your needs, doing your

Do you plan to select all of the fixtures and finishes on your own, or do you want someone to consult with on those decisions?

Are you going to manage the project yourself, or do you need a general contractor to coordinate and supervise the project for you?

What are the specialized skills needed to complete the job, such as plumbing, electrical, carpentry…?

Seek out contractors and design professionals who offer the services that you need and want. Don’t assume that all companies are created equal based on the services that they offer.

Do your homework.

This is the list of basic requirements that you should look for in a contractor: (1) licensed by the state with no complaints filed in the last 3 or more years; (2) has Worker’s Compensation and General Liability insurance (If you hire an uninsured contractor, you accept the financial risk for injuries or damage that occurs as a result of the project.); (3) uses sub-contractors who are licensed and insured; (4) has been in business for at least 10 years using the same name; (5) has a physical business office and at least one support person to answer phones and schedule appointments; (6) specializes in the work you want performed; (7) offers a written scope of work and estimate, with clear-

ly stated cost assumptions and a payment schedule; (8) provides you with at least three positive references from recent satisfied clients.

Take time to interview and evaluate prospective candidates.

One of the most common mistakes in this process is letting “price” overrule “people” as the primary selection criteria. Don’t get me wrong. Budget management is important, but so is working with people whom you respect and trust. Take the time to interview prospective candidates at your home, and also at their place of business, to get a clear understanding of how they work and the values by which they operate their company. If working with a gay-owned or gay-friendly company is important to you, check out Pink Spot and the Bay Times for companies that cater to our community.

Even the best working relationships have moments of tension and stress.

Successfully working through these stressful moments is the best indication of a matchless match.

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

Real Estate Mark Penn I remember learning in high school science class that equilibrium is a state of “no force or disturbance in any one direction.” Applying this concept to real estate, one might say that a balanced market – one with “equilibrium” - would have roughly the same number of buyers as it would properties for sale.

Not that many months ago, many parts of the Bay Area’s real estate market were saturated with properties for sale. It was, in many areas, a buyer’s market - buyers had their way when it came to selecting from a wide range of properties in nearly every corner of every market. But now, as the economy has been coming back, and real estate along with it, the pendulum has swung and we have shot past that real estate equilibrium point in a nanosecond.

If you’re a buyer right now, you are probably in competition now for almost every property, and although your agent might tell you that you are a SPECIAL buyer (and I’m sure you ARE), it’s more than likely that every other buyer out there is just as special.

And it’s just as likely that all of those special buyers are competing for the same property, creating a “multiple offer” situation.

What’s a buyer to do? For starters, be honest with yourselves about your expectations. Expect there to be multiple buyers for the same property and talk to your agent about what will make your offer stand out.

Understand also that an offer is not just about price. There are lots of other factors in a purchase contract that might appeal to a seller as well.

Things like length of escrow, minimal contingencies, and even who you

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Dealing in Multiples Today we have many more buyers than we have properties for sale.

(Potential sellers, take note! It hasn’t been this good for sellers in a long time – but that’s fodder for another article.) Our market has gone from having too many properties on the market to not having nearly enough.

The “inventory” of properties for sale has suddenly become so slim that the supply is now far below the demand almost everywhere. The average time a property spends on the market has decreased by 40% over a year ago.

That makes life for hopeful real estate buyers really tough.

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choose as your mortgage company can make a seller happy or have them quickly flipping to the next buyer in their stack of offers.

In some areas as recent as a few months ago, it was possible to ask for seller concessions and give-backs, but we are now in a time where those factors will send your offer to the circular file faster than almost anything else.

Work with your agent as any effective team would work together. Be sure that your agent knows your situation and your personality so that he/ she can tailor their approach to each property that you choose to purchase.

Be honest and open with them, and don’t be afraid of what he or she will think. Ask your agent how you can best work together, and understand that while you really can’t do this by yourself, no agent is “Super(wo)man” and none of us bat 1000 in multiple offer situations.

Lastly, be patient. It will probably take a while, and very possibly more than a few offers before you win in a multiple situation. But keep trying, and listen to your agent. We do this every day. And yes, you ARE special.

A Bay Area native, Mark Penn has been a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker since 2004. He is also active in animal welfare, and is a former educator, facilitator, and air traffic controller. Mark can be reached at mark@MyHomeInSonoma.com BAY T IM ES APR IL 4, 2013

11

“Bay Times” Education Program with Use the News Foundation

Bay Area LGBT Poets National Poetry Month, inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, celebrates poetry and its vital place in our culture.

Throughout this month, schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and more are holding special readings, exhibits, workshops and other events. Many of the poets come from our LGBT community. Their words move, inspire and sometimes even challenge us. One such poet is Richard Blanco, whom President Barack Obama chose to be the inauguration poet back in January.

Now the Bay Times, with the generous help of our Poet in Residence Kit Kennedy, spotlights 8 local LGBT poets. We hope that you will take time to contemplate their words, and perhaps be motivated to write some poetry of your own. As Maya Angelou said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

Kit Kennedy

Considerations: #7 somewhere tomatoes are grown year-round voices seed & slivered moon worm parts earth forget botany: chance & fortitude forget physics: fractal foolishness take me to the ground exchange laughter & f luid show me how heart is forged for trellis & stake how your mouth could never poison Kit Kennedy is Poet in Residence at the Bay Times and is on the Collective of AWE Gallery, SF. Her newest collection while eating oysters is published by CLWN WR BKS, Brooklyn.

Susan Gangel

Janell Moon

Tea And Reasons To say she tastes of salt With just a hint of pepper To see vanilla and want To lift a f inger to my lips To feel the bite and open Your shirt to someone again To ask that nothing ever hurts Not words and not their shadows A bowl of the hottest water asks only to cool down

Taking It Back The Christmas crab weathers many dangers to drop her eggs on the edge of the ocean.

She rests awhile, then turns and eats those babies. I understand wanting to take birth back.

After my son was born, ether confusing time, didn’t want to go through the pain of childbirth again, and there he was all soft and warm, my bubble gum boy.

There have been many times I gave and took back, traded my pink angora sweater to my sister knowing I would be forced to accept a return once the itching started. Another time I left town with the piano tuner but sneaked away to play my own baby grand.

Many times I wished my shoe would loosen but I couldn’t undo the buckle and once when I least expected it. you, with your light eyes and coconut smell, took the love I gave and held it tight.

Susan Gangel lives in San Francisco, and is currently painting her series Concentricities. She teaches creative writing at Canada College and has published the books Inconvenience and Constellations with Kit Kennedy.

Richard Loranger

Jan Steckel

Janell Moon is the Poet Laureate of Emeryville, CA. http:// janellmoon.com/poetry

Richard Schimpf

Revelation You wore a micro mini skirt the day I asked you to cut back the calla lilies.

A chubby nine-year-old girl biked up and down the sidewalk, up and down, up and down.

You bent over to clip a f lower.

The bike stopped short, and in that glimpse of heaven a baby dyke was born.

Jan Steckel’s poetry book, T he Horizontal Poet (Zeitgeist Press, 2012), won a Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Nonf iction. Find her at www.jansteckel.com.

Sun Sonnet A naked tree can tell us everything: chained to the earth, grappling with sky, we f launt our imperfections in the rain as budding eyes. Craven and verklempt, it’s all we can to writhe, stolidly, fatefully arching vesicles toward luscious liquid, saturated air, toward instant light.

And in the wind, twisting, clattering arms, we f ind the f lexibility of heart to wind us for the true imbroglio, the quickening. Oh yes, you know you know: what roots you have, not disparate, reclaim the mortal trunk we have and have again, pulled upward, out, beyond our living ken.

Richard Loranger is a writer, performer, visual artist, and all around squeaky wheel, currently residing in Oakland, CA. He is the author of Poems for Teeth, as well as The Orange Book and nine chapbooks, including Hello Poems and The Day Was Warm and Blue, and is published frequently in zines and journals. www.richardloranger.com

Hew Wolff She Went All Ecphrastic On My Ass She went all ecphrastic on my ass.

Literally, literarily, verbally, a little scarily, very enthusiastic on my ass.

She wrote a sonnet sequence on my intergluteal cleft, so sensuously Stygian, so sweetly callipygian, and a separate ode in Greek upon the right cheek and the left.

Somehow I’m a wonderment to her, contrarily, contrapuntally, fondly and back-to-frontally, a f irmamental fundament to her.

Hew Wolf f is a software engineer and occasionally published writer whose main distractions include painting, garlic, and the work of Joss Whedon. www.hewwolf f.org

12 BAY TIM ES APRIL 4 , 2 0 1 3

5/18/97 Today toddlers swing plastic baseball bats like drunks and Safeway captures two shoplifters at once but the vegetable section smells like human waste and you call your lover a philandering \ blimp \ an \ idiot \ and geez stop blubbering get drunk with the in-laws I didn’t get that until today, 30th birthday, and on this night I feel like my mom the evening after my birth I don’t mean that in a bad way I just mean What Chekhov said: if a pistol appears it will f ire Is true Stop growing muscles now, Stop smiling at strangers and walk the Castro in peace.

There’s a species of parrot lives only on my block.

Armistead Maupin wrote about him, yeah.

He’s got an amazing voice, and he lives at the top of our sequoia.

Richard Schimpf writes in multiple genres from screenwriting to poetry. He teaches Creative Writing and Screenwriting at Cogswell College, and works as a story editor. His most recent publication is Long Shift (as Richard Formentini). Contact him at rich.schimpf@gmail. com, or on Twitter @scriptwrangler.

Andrena Zawinski

Inaugural Poem My shore, currents of debris upon my breast.

Yet today I call you to my riverside, If you will study war no more.

ABZ Boy Shot in Lucky’s Lot in the Year of the Rat His family turned the supermarket parking lot stall into an altar, lavished it with stalks of quince buds and peach blossoms inside a bird of paradise vase for growth and for luck, for love and for life.

In front of his high school photo, they plated mandarin oranges for wealth and longevity, lit batches of incense in an auspicious red bowl for the journey of the faithful.

Someone else had already turned the parking lot stall into a shooting gallery, someone else made his bones doming this number one son and maybe went running of f to tag tunnel walls tonight, or maybe is getting his Wah Ching eagle claw tattoo, or maybe doing donuts in a street corner sideshow, all his nunchucks and guns aimed at the heavens and missing the mark. (originally appeared in SPIL LWAY: A Poetry Magazine, 2012)

On The Pulse Of Morning, read on January 20, 1993, at the First Inauguration of President Bill Clinton

Andrena Zawinski, founder of the Bay Area Women’s Poetry Salon, compiled and edited the salon’s Scarlet Tanager Books antholog y: Turning a Train of T hought Upside Down. Her Traveling in Ref lected Light won a Kenneth Patchen Poetry Prize from Pig Iron Press; her Blue Light Press collection, Something About, received a PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award. She teaches writing at Laney College in Oakland. http://andrenazawinski.wordpress. com/category/poetry

Armed for slaughter.

The Rock cries out to us today, You may stand upon me; But do not hide your face.

By Maya Angelou A Rock, A River, A Tree Hosts to species long since departed, Marked the mastodon, The dinosaur, who left dried tokens Of Their sojourn here On our planet f loor, Any broad alarm of their hastening doom Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.

But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully, Come, you may stand upon my Back and face your distant destiny, But seek no haven in my shadow, I will give you no hiding place down here.

You, created only a little lower than The angels, have crouched too long in The bruising darkness Have lain too long Facedown in ignorance, Your mouths spilling words

Across the wall of the world, A River sings a beautiful song. It says, Come, rest here by my side.

Each of you, a bordered country, Delicate and strangely made proud, Yet thrusting perpetually under siege.

Your armed struggles for prof it Have left collars of waste upon

Come, clad in peace, And I will sing the songs The Creator gave to me when I and the Tree and the Rock were one.

Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your brow And when you yet knew you still knew nothing.

The River sang and sings on.

There is a true yearning to respond to The singing River and the wise Rock.

So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew The African, the Native American, the Sioux The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek, The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheik, The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, The privileged, the homeless, the Teacher.

They hear. They all hear The speaking of the Tree.

They hear the f irst and last of every Tree Speak to humankind today.

Come to me, Here beside the River.

Plant yourself beside the River.

Each of you, descendant of some passedOn traveler, has been paid for.

You, who gave me my f irst name, you, Pawnee, Apache, Seneca, you Cherokee Nation, who rested with me, then Forced on bloody feet, Left me to the employment of Other seekers — desperate for gain, Starving for gold.

You, the Turk, the Arab, the Swede, The German, the Eskimo, the Scot, The Italian, the Hungarian, the Pole, You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, bought Sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare Praying for a dream.

Here, root yourselves beside me.

I am that Tree planted by the River, Which will not be moved.

I, the Rock, I, the River, I, the Tree I am yours — your passages have been paid.

Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need For this bright morning dawning for you.

History, despite its wrenching pain, Cannot be unlived, but if faced With courage, need not be lived again.

Lift up your eyes Upon this day breaking for you.

Give birth again To the dream.

Women, children, men, Take it into the palms of your hands, Mold it into the shape of your most Private need. Sculpt it into The image of your most public self.

Lift up your hearts Each new hour holds new chances For a new beginning.

Do not be wedded forever To fear, yoked eternally To brutishness.

The horizon leans forward, Of fering you space To place new steps of change Here, on the pulse of this f ine day You may have the courage To look up and out and upon me, The Rock, the River, the Tree, you country.

No less to Midas than the mendicant.

No less to you now than the mastodon then.

Here on the pulse of this new day You may have the grace to look up and out And into your sister’s eyes, And into your brother’s face, Your country, And say simply Very simply With hope — Good morning.

Inaugural Poem One Today, read on Januar y 21, 2013, at the Second Inaug uration of President Barack Obama

By R ichard Blanco One sun rose on us today, k indled over our shores, peek ing over the Smok ies, greeting the faces of the Great Lakes, spreading a simple truth across the Great Plains, then charg ing across the Rock ies.

One light, wak ing up rooftops, under each one, a stor y told by our silent gestures mov ing behind w indows.

My face, your face, millions of faces in morning’s mirrors, each one yawning to life, crescendoing into our day: pencil-yellow school buses, the rhythm of traf f ic lights, fruit stands: apples, limes, and oranges arrayed like rainbows begg ing our praise. Silver trucks heav y w ith oil or paper — bricks or milk, teeming over highways alongside us, on our way to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives— to teach geometr y, or ring-up groceries as my mother did for twent y years, so I could write this poem.

A ll of us as v ital as the one light we move through, the same light on blackboards w ith lessons for the day: equations to solve, histor y to question, or atoms imag ined, the “I have a dream” we keep dreaming, or the impossible vocabular y of sorrow that won’t explain the empt y desks of twent y children marked absent

today, and forever. Many prayers, but one light breathing color into stained glass w indows, life into the faces of bronze statues, warmth onto the steps of our museums and park benches 2 as mothers watch children slide into the day.

One ground. Our ground, rooting us to ever y stalk of corn, ever y head of wheat sown by sweat and hands, hands gleaning coal or planting w indmills in deserts and hilltops that keep us warm, hands digg ing trenches, routing pipes and cables, hands as worn as my father’s cutting sugarcane so my brother and I could have books and shoes.

The dust of farms and deserts, cities and plains mingled by one w ind—our breath. Breathe. Hear it through the day’s gorgeous din of honk ing cabs, buses launching down avenues, the symphony of footsteps, g uitars, and screeching subways, the unexpected song bird on your clothes line.

Hear: squeaky playground sw ings, trains whistling, or whispers across café tables, Hear: the doors we open for each other all day, say ing: hello| shalom, buon g iorno |howdy |namaste |or buenos días in the lang uage my mother taught me—in ever y lang uage spoken into one w ind carr y ing our lives w ithout prejudice, as these words break from my lips.

One sky: since the Appalachians and Sierras claimed their majest y, and the Mississippi and Colorado worked their way to the sea. Thank the work of our hands: weav ing steel into bridges, f inishing one more report for the boss on time, stitching another wound 3 or uniform, the f irst brush stroke on a portrait,

or the last f loor on the Freedom Tower jutting into a sky that y ields to our resilience.

One sky, toward which we sometimes lift our eyes tired from work: some days g uessing at the weather of our lives, some days g iv ing thanks for a love that loves you back, sometimes praising a mother who knew how to g ive, or forg iv ing a father who couldn’t g ive what you wanted.

We head home: through the gloss of rain or weight of snow, or the plum blush of dusk, but always— home, always under one sky, our sky. A nd always one moon like a silent drum tapping on ever y rooftop and ever y w indow, of one countr y—all of us— facing the stars hope—a new constellation waiting for us to map it, waiting for us to name it—together

BAY T IM ES APR IL 4, 2013

13

Lesbian Poetry Reminds Us of Our Song and Revolution And it was a community sing—the poems filled us like the lyrics of our greatest hits on the radio.

Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

The Academy has classics to which it returns: Whitman, Elliot, Frost and others; so too lesbians have ours—poets whose clarion voices are just as wise today as they’ve ever been. We remember Audre Lorde and Adrienne Rich, and rightly so, as the matriarchs of the movement. And many others have songs we can sing to steady our aim toward the liberation of lesbians.

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

Ayana Baltrip Balagas Design Direction & Production Abby Zimberg Design & Production Juan Torres Advertising Executive Juan@sfbaytimes.com Robert Fuggiti Calendar Editor

Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence Barbara Brust / Lucille Design Webmaster & Technology Director

Michael Denison Juan Ordonez Distribution

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

Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Kirsten Kruse, Teddy Witherington, 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, Jim Tibbs, Mark Penn, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis

Guest Editorial Jewelle Gomez I just received a copy of a collection of poetry

by Minnie Bruce Pratt reissued by Sinister Wisdom, our local lesbian journal, produced in collaboration with a publisher. The volume, “Crimes Against Nature,” appeared originally in 1989 and chronicles Pratt’s fight to stay connected with her sons when she came out as a lesbian. It won the Lamont Prize from the Academy of American Poets, not the most progressive literary institution in this world or any other! It was a historic moment so lesbians flocked to the ceremony at the Guggenheim Museum to hear her acceptance speech, and watch some of the Chancellors of the Academy squirm every time the word lesbian was said out loud!

The book reminded me of how significant poetry was to the women’s movement and to developing the lesbian community. We had readings almost every week, often organized around a political event—from attacks on women in the street to nuclear disarmament. Poetry, as it was during the Black Power Movement, was a call to action for lesbians. It was the vehicle to disentangle the complicated issues like patriarchy, militarism, disenfranchisement, poverty, and make them comprehensible to your average lesbian who was not a scholar or card-carrying member of anything.

signs of struggle. /Leave signs of triumph. /And leave signs.”

Novelist Dorothy Allison f irst made her mark with a collection of poetry, “The Women Who Hate Me” (1980). Her delicious southern drawl made rooms of women rise up like there was a fire: “That summer I did not go crazy, /spoke instead to my mama who insisted/our people do not go crazy. /We make instead that sudden evening/ silence that follows the shotgun blast.”

Chrystos’ poems often evoked the sensuality that lesbians held onto despite being told our sexual desire could not exist: “Woman down my throat you stir my heart nectar where bitterness/has fought to seed…” From “Not Vanishing” (1988).

Judy Grahn’s poems seeded the ground for the wild growth of lesbian poetry, started with her book “Edward the Dyke and other poems” in 1971 and included some of my favorite inspirational lines like: “I’m not a girl/I’m a hatchet…”

It’s not that I don’t think there are good lesbian poets today. Poetry slams and online publishing provide the space and instigation for all sorts of writing and performance. What I miss is the community that poetry sustained and the urgent rallying cry growing out of a strong movement for liberation. We need our classic poets and the songs they sing; lesbians who were imagining a new world in our words and trying to move us toward change.

Poets spoke directly to that movement whether we wrote about gender parity or good sex. Individual poets were proud to feel like part of something larger than our single poem.

This month I’m returning to those root poems that still reverberate with the truth of a wild bell rung by a storm. I return, not out of nostalgia, but to reignite. The poems remind me how—against all odds—we survived as lesbians. I’m hoping that National Poetry Month will remind us what our songs sound like and what revolution sounds like!

In her acceptance speech for the Lamont Prize, Minnie Bruce Pratt said: “I hope the poems will somehow move each reader to act to end the ways in which we are all divided self from self, self from life, self from our human loves.” Achè Jewelle Gomez is the author of seven books, including the double Lambda Literary Award winning vampire novel, “The Gilda Stories.” Her last collection of poetry is “Oral Tradition.” Follow her @VampyreVamp

SP ECI AL TO THE BAY TIM ES: PHOTO BY M ICHAEL SABATIN O

Co-Publishers & Co-Editors

Poet Cheryl Clarke delivers a warning against our invisibility in “Living as a Lesbian: A Futuristic Fantasy” (1986): “…don’t be taken in your sleep now. /Call your assailant’s name now. /Leave SOURCE: ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS

STAFF Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas

Elana Dykewomon made history a cautionary tale in the story of the women who, in 1911, jumped to their deaths from a factory fire: “No one knows the price/of comfort, /how much they loved each other/and expected, by jumping, /neither to live nor die/but f ly/released…” From her collection “Nothing Will Be as Sweet as the Taste” (1995).

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.

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Edith “Edie” Windsor and supporters are surrounded by cameras in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, immediately following the oral arguements in Windsor v United States on Wednesday, March 27th.

Profiles in Passion and Courage: Brian Basinger John the architect and Gene the kleptomaniac, offered dreams that this young gay kid wanted desperately, much like Auntie Mame offered Patrick freedom from rigidity and harsh conformity. John and Gene told Brian that he was “fabulous,” and that’s what he knew he would forever be.

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14 BAY TIM ES APRIL 4 , 2 0 1 3

Don't Call It Frisco Stu Smith One of our community’s many unsung heroes and activists is Brian Basinger, who runs the tiny, but hugely effective, AIDS Housing Alliance/ San Francisco. It is largely kept afloat by his good intentions, passion, dedication and sheer hard work.

Born in the 1960’s in Fort Myers, Florida, and raised by his single mom with help from his grandmother, Brian knew there was something different about him. But until he’d worn his grandmother’s hat one day and been introduced to a gay couple who were close friends with his mother, he had no other reference point for his emerging gay self. The gay couple,

When he came out to his mom, she replied, “Pulease! I’ve known since you were 5.” Like so many of us, he learned he was his own greatest barrier to his dreams becoming reality.

He also remembers asking his mother if she “still loved John and Gene,” and she replied that she loved them both very much. Years later, at a fine restaurant in the Napa Valley, Brian told his mother of his AIDS diagnosis. She gave him a gentle slap and said, “Now that we have that over with,” before resuming their conversation.

Years later, Brian came to California, where he majored in Interdisciplinary Studies and minored in Holistic Health at San Francisco State. He worked as a marketing manager, but big things happened in 2004 when he started his Masters in Public Administration. He was in clinical failure, with none of the existing medications working to help him battle his own HIV, so he found himself volunteering for any clinical drug trials that might help.

At this time, Brian said he received “a late-night house call from God,” who told Brian that he “must organize housing for people with HIV.” Over several subsequent weeks, he and his long-time partner James Nykolay, who is also HIV positive, started saving money from their disability checks. They used the funds to start AIDS Housing Alliance/San Francisco.

The alliance proved to be an immediate, huge success. Since 2004, Brian and his team have assisted hundreds of people, including those who are low income and/or disabled, in finding homes. His work has benefitted LGBT seniors at the 55 Laguna Project. He also helped with the passage of legislation that curbed the explosion of TIC/Condo conversions that were displacing thousands of HIV

Brian Basinger

disabled San Franciscans. Brian additionally co-founded the Dallas Gay & Lesbian Youth Alliance, and is a past president of The Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club.

Brian’s goals for the immediate future include opening a housing co-op for HIV+ individuals who are 55 and older, launching an online emergency housing reservation system for homeless youth, and securing additional funding for LGBT youth emergency housing. He points to Tom Ammiano, David Campos and Tommi Avicolli Mecca as being three of his local, inspirational heroes.

Passion, courage, comm it ment, warmth and humor are the tools most often employed by this amazing San Franciscan.

The Week in Review What’s Black and White and Gray All Over?

By Ann Rostow Everyone agrees that it’s never wise to jump to conclusions based on oral arguments at the Supreme Court. That said, everyone does it anyway and we here at the Bay Times have every intention of adding to the speculation.

Indeed, after listening to the Prop 8 and DOMA discussions on March 26 and 27, there are at least three observations that seem like solid bets.

First, the Supreme Court is not going to issue a ruling that overturns antigay marriage laws throughout the country. Not even the justices on our side seemed eager to settle the issue with one blow, and to be honest, most GLBT advocates did not expect the Court to so do. You may recall when the Prop 8 case was first filed (by Ted Olson and David Boies) that gay lawyers worried we were risking a huge setback for an impossible, or improbable, dream.

Well, the good news is that the justices do not seem likely to issue that huge setback either. Justice Kennedy joined voices on the left in wondering aloud why the Prop 8 case was ever accepted for review to begin with.

His comments, and those of Justices Ginsburg and Sotomayor, suggested strongly that the decision to take the case came from the four justices on the right. They also hinted just as strongly that Justice Kennedy had little appetite for putting Prop 8 back on the books.

The third conclusion we might make is that the Defense of Marriage Act is likely doomed. Even arch conservative Justice Alito expressed doubts about the intrusion of federal power on states’ rights, while Justice Kennedy made no bones about his own reservations. Our champions on the Court, in turn, condemned DOMA as a violation of Equal Protection.

This all sounds good, right? If we follow our three observations to their logical conclusions we would see marriage restored in California, while the federal government would recognize our legal unions throughout the country. But the devil is in the details, and the details remain just as murky now that the arguments are over as they did beforehand.

Here’s the problem: A Supreme Court ruling is not a simple up or down vote.

What really matters is the opinion itself, the precedent it sets, the principle it lays out, the law it articulates.

For example, imagine if the High Court strikes DOMA, but does so in a states’ rights opinion that leaves the issue of our right to marriage recognition ambiguous. Let’s say that the four pro-gay justices write a minority opinion concurring with the outcome, but basing their conclusion on Equal Protection. And let’s say that two or three conservatives write their own antigay dissent. What are we left with? True, DOMA would be off the books which would certainly be a victory. But our legal fight for equality might be set back in the process. Why? Because a majority of the Supreme Court would have decided that, on principle, gay unions do not necessarily deserve the same treatment as straight marriages.

Or imagine another outcome. One underlying issue in both cases is whether or not sexual orientation should be treated like race or gender in the application of Constitutional law. From the arguments, it seemed as if the justices skirted this major debate, for reasons unclear. Perhaps they simply lacked the time to delve into this core question when they had so many other matters to pursue.

But what if five members of the Court agree that sexual orientation discrimination should not be given heightened scrutiny in these or any future lawsuits? Such a statement from the

Supreme Court would be disastrous.

There’s no other way to put it. And even if the Court makes a more ambiguous statement, we would have to read between the lines to determine where the impact falls on a scale of one to ten—- one being sort of okay and ten being very very bad.

So you see there are a number of ways to win and lose at the same time.

Ergo, there are a number of good reasons to stay nervous as we wait for the opinions to emerge in late June.

But for all the dangerous possibilities, there are some fabulous outcomes also within our grasp.

I wrote before that the Court is unlikely to legalize marriage across the board. That’s true, but because it’s unlikely does not mean it’s out of the question. So there’s that.

Second, although conventional wisdom says that Justice Kennedy will strike DOMA on the basis of states’ rights rather than gay rights, that wisdom doesn’t seem all that wise if you think about it. No justice is required to select only one constitutional theory for his or her opinion. So, yes, we know that Justice Kennedy thinks DOMA is a federal power grab, but he may well also agree that DOMA penalizes gay couples unfairly in the process.

Further, assuming that our four allies on the Court are going to articulate the case for equality, why on earth would Justice Kennedy deliberately deny them the fifth vote that would put teeth into that opinion? This is the man who wrote both the Romer opinion in 1996 and the Lawrence opinion in 2003. He has hung his legacy on gay rights and there’s no reason to think that he would undermine his signature jurisprudence in the last decade of his career.

A majority ruling that strikes DOMA on gay rights grounds would be a huge victory indeed. And although such a ruling might sidestep the question of legal scrutiny that we mentioned above, it would likely do so in the least destructive way. The Court, for example, could say that while there are excellent arguments in favor of heightened scrutiny for sexual orientation discrimination, it’s not necessary to reach that issue in this case.

Speaking of sidestepping, I’ve ducked the issue of “standing” in this analysis, simply because there’s enough to talk about without getting into Article III and whether or not the Prop 8 organizers have the right to appeal in federal court to begin with. As you know, there are also questions about the standing of the Congressional committee now backing DOMA, as well as the U.S. government, which appealed the DOM A case even though it agreed with the lower court ruling (normally an Article III nono).

But without getting too tedious, Court observers noted that many justices seemed prepared to simply dump the Prop 8 case on standing grounds, which would allow them to avoid comment on the question of marriage equality per se. If you believe that the four liberal justices wanted to skip the case in the first place, and that Justice Kennedy shares their view, they may well take this route. That would nullify the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, and (possibly after a brief legal skirmish) would outlaw Prop 8 under the ruling

by Judge Vaughn Walker.

As for the standing issues in the DOMA case, while they were discussed, there was less of a sense that the justices would use them to avoid a ruling on the merits of DOMA. After all, just as you can’t be a little bit pregnant, you can’t have a little bit of DOMA. The law has been struck down by the First and Second Circuits, so how can the government recognize same-sex marriages in New York or New England, but ignore them in Iowa or Washington?

Professional Services Marriage Equality All The Rage Let’s take a break from High Court hijinks and take stock of the rest of the gay news of recent days. A zillion more politicians have come out in favor of marriage equality, bringing the number of pro-marriage senators to 50, including two Republicans.

Sounds like Uruguay is poised to legalize marriage soon. Yay Uruguay!

Don’t know about you but I’ll be rooting for them the next time I see their team in the World Cup. The ACLU has f iled a state court freedom to marry suit in New Mexico, where the law is silent on marriage restrictions and where renegade city officials in Santa Fe recently announced plans to issue licenses to same-sex couples.

Also, some couples have filed a federal marriage lawsuit against the state of Utah.

Leaders in providing LGBT accounting and tax specific services.

And I was happy to see Rutgers hoops coach Mike Rice get the ax after watching videos of this lunatic calling his players “fairies” and “faggots” while hurling basketballs at their private parts. Now let’s see some punishment for the enablers in the Rutgers administration that saw this video months ago and gave Rice a slap on the wrist at the time.

By the way, I’m adding a new commercial jingle to the list of annoying songs that I can’t get out of my mind.

Lately there’s been “five dollar subway” and “Mr. Lid.” Now I can’t get rid of the song about Tena Twist adult diapers even though I don’t remember much of the lyrics. You know the ad I mean, with the women dancing and twisting?

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I just tried to look up the words to this and I landed at a site for “adult babies” and “diaper lovers.” Hey, I know we’re all supposed to keep an open mind given our history as a despised sexual minority, but this is really a little out there. Too much for me, anyway.

Who Knows Where?

I return now to tie up a couple of the many loose ends at the Supreme Court, beginning with the following perplexing question: If the Court strikes DOMA, would the federal government recognize a married couple who married in Massachusetts or Iowa, but who now lives in Texas or Oklahoma?

The question seems to be a no-brainer. Of course they would. How could the government possibly force couples to live forever in a state that conforms to their marital status? How could a couple be forced to choose between a job promotion or marriage benefits? Would a military family have to switch from married to unmarried due to a transfer?

And look at the different state laws surrounding first cousins. Does the federal government force cousin couples to remain in West Virginia (or wherever this is legal) in order to stay married for social security purposes?

Answer, no.

In fact, the answer doesn’t seem as obvious to others as it does to me.

(Moi? Wrong? Could it be?) At arguments, Roberta Kaplan, the lawyer for Edith Windsor told the Court that it could strike DOMA and base marriage recognition on the “state of residence.” But how could that be true? And when you answer, keep in mind that the right to interstate travel is fundamental in this country, and cannot be hindered without a “compelling” government purpose.

Finally, one of the most irritating aspects of both oral arguments was the tendency of the justices on the right to make note of the relative newness of same-sex marriage. Justice Alito insisted the concept was newer than cell phones and the Internet. In a similar vein, Justice Scalia pounded Ted (continued on page 22)

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BAY T IM ES APR IL 4, 2013

15

A Dynamic Duality Thrives Within You ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Powerful new developments in your career sector are creating sparks that affect your state of being now. Open your eyes, Aries. Your personal potential is brighter than ever. Shine on.

LEO (July 23 – August 22) Your quest for meaning is expanding in ways that can bring you pleasure. Have faith, Leo. More fun lies within the voyage than at the “finish-line.”

better.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) You’re actively sifting through thoughts and feelings that may only be accessible subconsciously.

Now is the perfect time to plug your ears and hear with your higher senses. Sweet dreams, Taurus.

Astrology Gypsy Love Yin-yang theory is founded upon the concept of sacred interconnection between seemingly contradictory forces in nature. Polar opposites like “light and dark” or “masculine” and “feminine” are mutual complements, actually requiring each other to exist. Current astro-trends radiate with reminders of the dynamic duality that thrives within each of us. Lose lopsided labels and reclaim the fullness of your power. Access all of you.

www.AstrologyByGypsyLove.com

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Honor your hopes and dreams now, Gemini.

Authentic allies exist all around you. Focus on fostering friendships that serve the greater good and resonate with your sense of purpose.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) Sudden shifts in your social status could compel you to revamp your professional philosophy. Take inventory of your talents, Cancer. Skills that have lain dormant are now ready to rock.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) Don’t allow the unknown to throw you off balance, dear Virgo. Cosmic transformation is well underway.

Some rewards are only reachable when you let go of the need to control.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) Play nice, Libra. Central partnerships could currently be in a state of flux. You’re a natural negotiator, so use those diplomatic social graces to soothe flare-ups before they become wildfires.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) Routine tasks could rattle your patience more than usual now. Shake it up, Scorpio. Reduce chances of running into a rut by making your workplace a channel for creative expression.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) Feeling friskier than usual lately, Sagittarius? Your lively libido feels limitless now, and the energy is ripe for experimentation. Sample safe and sexy new ways to love outside of the box.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) Spring forward, Capricorn. It’s time to develop a stronger sense of domestic independence. While it’s important to respect where you came from, it’s crucial now to prioritize where you’re going.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Speak up, smarty-pants. Aquarians are traditionally the zodiac’s most vivacious visionaries, but what good is a vision without a voice? Translate innovative ideas into plans of action.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) Rapid ups and downs in your pool of resources could create confusion now. Plan ahead, Pisces. Abundance is everywhere. Scale back on spontaneous spending and indulge in life’s simpler pleasures.

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 author or book do you recommend for “Bay Times” readers?

Cindy Cooper

Anna Conda

John Cunningham

Rotimi Agbabraka

Maryann Rostami

“Chip Conley’s ‘Emotional Equations–Simple Truths For Creating Happiness & Success.’”

“The Man Who Fell in Love With the Moon.”

“Anne Lamott’s ‘Help, Thanks, Wow.’”

“‘Author Chinua Achebe.’”

“Patti Smith’s ‘Just Kids’”

Round About - Easter at Dolores Park In spite of cloudy skies and intermittent drizzle, spirits were high at Dolores Park on Easter Sunday. The morning’s activities for children went smoothly, but the afternoon’s famous featured Hunky Jesus Competition was postponed due to rain. Watch for announcements on the Bay Times Facebook page (SF Bay Times) and in our e-mail announcements too.

PHOTOS BY STEVEN UN D ERHIL L

16 BAY TIM ES APRIL 4 , 2 0 1 3

Arts&Entertainment Let My People Go!

In a recent Skype interview, Buch explained how he came to make Let My People Go! “The starting point for the film came from some short films that starred Maury,” he said. “We created a character — a farcical Jewish gay boy — who was a little bit like me and a little like Maury. I liked the character and wanted to continue exploring his adventures.”

Film

Gary M. Kramer A fabulous and very funny French farce, Let My People Go!, (opening April 19) directed and co-written by out gay Mikael Buch, opens with the previously happy gay couple Ruben (Nicolas Maury) and Teemu ( Jarkko Niemi) splitting up. When Ruben, a Frenchman working as a postman in Finland, comes home one day with nearly 200,000 Euros, he explains to Teemu that the intended recipient of a registered package containing the money — who may now be dead — aggressively rejected it and insisted the postman keep it.

Teemu jumps to the conclusion that his boyfriend is a lying, thieving murderer and kicks him out of their house. To cope, Ruben returns to his dysfunctional family, headed by his overbearing Jewish momma (Carmen Maura), in Paris for Passover.

Ruben’s relationship troubles, however, are the least of his problems after he arrives in France. He soon becomes embroiled in various family crises — extramarital affairs, impending divorce, and bad health among them. Ruben must also fend off the lecherous advances of Goldberg ( Jean-Luc Bideau), an older lawyer who fancies him.

A series of wacky encounters with relatives includes Ruben’s father, Nathan ( Jean-François Stévenin), insisting his non-athletic son play tennis with him. The episode leads to Ruben experiencing a hilarious meltdown, but also provides a pretext for Nathan to introduce his mistress to him. The scene, which is funny before it turns emotional, also serves Buch’s aim of defusing stereotypes.

“I wanted to play with gay and Jewish stereotypes in the film because they play a role in how we love,” he said.

“We have an image about what a Jewish mother is, or how they should act, or how a gay son should act. The father and his mistress is something that doesn’t fit in the family. The father is unhappy because he doesn’t know how to play the part of a good Jewish father.”

As for puncturing queer stereotypes, Teemu generates a hearty laugh — and perhaps a gasp — when he utters one priceless post-coital comment.

Buch, whose mother is from Morocco and his father from Argentina, draws on his gay and Jewish identities to create Let My People Go!, but he acknowledged, “There are as many differences as there are similarities.”

The 29-year-old filmmaker grew up in Barcelona in a small Jewish community, which he described as being “like a big family.” There, he watched

Nicolas Mau r y, Car m en Maura

many films starring the iconic Spanish actress Maura.

“She is a queen!,” Buch gushed.

“When you are a gay teenager who loves cinema and actresses, you can only love her.”

He enjoyed casting Maura against type as a Jewish mother, especially one who was quite different from his own.

“Carmen Maura was so important to my childhood — she was like a godmother,” the filmmaker explained.

“She felt like family. In the end, she’s halfway between my mother and a kind of Bette Davis.”

Maura developed what Buch described as a “maternal relationship” with actor Maury on the set. She is a film veteran, and Let My People Go! was the actor’s first feature. Buch appreciated the bond they forged on set, and scenes between their characters are among the film’s warmest.

Maura’s appearance as well as the candy-colored design of this highly

stylized f ilm will likely lead many to draw comparisons to filmmakers such as Pedro Almodóvar, with whom Maura has worked for years, and Buch’s fellow French director François Ozon. Buch said he deliberately aimed to be seen in that company.

“Like those filmmakers, I have similar appreciation for Douglas Sirk and Stanley Donen and the idea of cinema that is bigger than life,” said the young French director, who confessed, “I am a total drama queen, like Jane Wyman’s character in All that Heaven Allows.”

“Hitchcock said he didn’t want to do slices of life, but slices of cake,” Buch added. “I relate a lot to that idea — giving pleasure to the audience.

Making people happy with a f ilm, but not in a superficial way but one that would make you braver or more daring to face life. That’s what I love about queer cinema.”

Buch then referred to another Hollywood giant, Billy Wilder, saying, “If you’re going to sell the truth, be funny

or they will kill you. When I want to talk about serious issues, it’s better to do comedy rather than be didactic.

It’s a way of talking about real issues in a lively way.”

Let My People Go! is largely concerned with issues of family, relationships, and the misunderstandings that crop up among lovers, siblings, parents, and children. A particularly amusing moment in the film comes as Ruben asks Goldberg for legal advice while the attorney is blowing him.

The scene is a good example of how Buch wanted sex to come across in the film.

“What was important to me was that the sex scenes were lively and joyful, and not raw,” he said. “In Europe, queer cinema has a tendency to show sex as gloomy. I wanted to show sex as playful.”

This sunny comedy offers many moments that viewers are sure to treasure for their playfulness. © 2013 Gary M. Kramer

LGBT Dance Stars Compete in Run-Up to 2014 Gay Games Our own “Dancing with Stars” light up the San Francisco Bay Area with April Follies, the North American Same Sex Partner Dance Association (NASSPDA) Competition and Showcase of Champions, Saturday, April 27th 2013, at Just Dance Ballroom, 2400 Embarcadero, Oakland, CA.

Inspiring LGBTQ Prof iles Kathleen Archambeau

“April Follies … prepare us for the larger comps that draw people from around the world.”

Kieren Jameson, A-Level North American Same Sex Partner Dance Champion

Same-sex partners are forbidden from competing in sanctioned competitions in the US, so NASSPDA formed to give the LGBT community an opportunity to dance and compete. The LGBT dance community in the SF Bay Area is so robust that it sent over 50 dancers to the Gay Games in Cologne, Germany in 2010. North American Same-Sex 10-Dance Champion, Kieren Jameson says, “April Follies is the largest North American competition and therefore it is crucial for us to compete.” Jameson, from New Zealand, currently dances International Standard – Waltz, Tango, Quickstep, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz – with American, Emily Coles Photis Pishiaris, of Cyprus, owner of

Vima Dance in San Francisco, competes with Ron Jenkins of the U.S., in International Standard and says, “We very much enjoy being part of the same-sex ballroom dance community and participating in such wonderful events as April Follies, Dancing in the River City in Sacramento, the Gay Games, EuroGames and more.”

A-Level Latin and International Standard dance partners Sunny Williams and Heather Brockett, U.S., ref lect, “Dancing together as a couple and competing in such a fantastic event makes the hours of practice, the gallons of sweat and tears all worthwhile… to be honest, hadn’t really thought of April Follies as a prep step for the Gay Games in Cleveland in 2014…more like April Follies is the main event that we look forward to every year.”

You can be sure, however, that next summer, all these top-level April Follies competitors will be at the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland competing for Gold.

April Follies, beyond being a high-level competition and showcase of some of the finest LGBT dancers in the Bay Area, is more than that. It is a community event that cuts a wide swath, drawing beginners, seniors, straights and dancers of many forms in addition to International Standard and Latin, American Smooth and American Rhythm — Country Western 2-Step and Waltz, Night Club 2-Step, Tango Milonga, Hustle, Salsa, Merengue, Lindy Hop, East Coast and West Coast Swing, Cha-Cha, Line Dance and even Polka!

shops for beginners and anyone interested will occur from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., with the Showcase and North A mer ica n Cha mpionsh ip Fi na ls, 8-11 p.m. on Saturday. Free BART shuttles and dinner w ith advance reg ist rat ion. T he “ Dancing w it h Stars” has nothing on us!

April Follies, like the Gay Games, are characterized by inclusiveness. During the frequent social dance breaks, all are encouraged to get out on the floor.

Affordable tickets to the Apr. 27th allday comp and evening showcase may be purchased online at: w w w.apr ilfol l ies .com. Volu nteer i ng of fer s generous d iscounted t ickets. The jur ied compet it ion happens from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Dance workBAY T IM ES APR IL 4, 2013

17

My Brother the Devil

Film

Gary M. Kramer My Brother the Devil (opening April 12) is a stunning film about two Egyptian siblings in London. Devilishly handsome Rashid ( James Floyd), who is involved in a drug dealing gang, tries to keep his devil-may-care younger brother Mo (Fady Elsayed) out of harm’s way. However, when Rashid decides he wants out of the drug gang culture, he takes a job offered by photographer Sayyid (Saïd Taghmaoui), and eventually, unexpectedly, become romantically involved with him. Meanwhile, Mo gets involved in the drug gang, much to Rashid’s chagrin.

Writer/Director Sally El Hosaini deftly intertwines familiar stories of gang war, Arab tradition and culture in England, and pansexuality. This stylish drama benefits from its authenticity and the palpable bond between the brothers. In separate Skype conversations, The Bay Times spoke with El Hosaini and Floyd about their outstanding film.

From London, El Hosaini talked about the impetus to make a f ilm about ethnicity, masculinity, and sexuality. “I’m half Egyptian, which is why the brothers are half-Egyptian.

My instinct was to make heroes out of people who don’t already have an iconic representation in cinema—or any representation.”

She further explained that, My Brother the Devi” is dedicated to her late brother, Sherif, and added, “But it’s not autobiographical in any way.”

Instead, El Hosaini did years of research on interracial gangs in London, learning the street language

Fady E l S ayed , J a mes F l oyd

and the male codes of behavior. “I thought about what it means to be a man, and I wanted to see how someone explores their sexuality within in that doubly homophobic environment—the implicit one in the family, and in the urban gang culture,” she indicated. “I could relate to the masks that they wear, and as mixed race, I can understand the contradictory or opposing sides of something. I was fascinated by how they navigated these worlds, and how they switched so readily.”

She cited an example of this duality in a scene when Rashid is dancing with his lover Sayyid, only to transform into a different persona when he gets a call from a drug contact.

From Los Angeles, Floyd also addressed the depiction of masculinity in the film. “Most of the film is about what it means to be a man. These guys put a mountain of pressure on themselves to be men,” he observed.

“They are extremely homophobic, and yet constantly f lirting with one another. All men, and constantly hugging around the neck, touching heads.”

Floyd sees My Brother the Devil being about more than just masculinity, however. “I think it’s a love story between two brothers. It touches on something I find fascinating: When you’re young, your older brother is a God in your eyes. And then you find out that he’s an imperfect human— that’s the interesting thing—that Mo finds that Rashid is the worst kind of imperfect in his eyes because he’s gay.”

Significantly, My Brother the Devil is not a coming out film. Rashid’s sexuality is never really discussed. Floyd acknowledged, “Rashid is basically confused like a lot of 19 year olds.

He’s exploring himself and that is why he never really comes out.”

El Hosaini echoed this point. “There was a huge focus on ‘Is Rashid gay or bi?’ I can’t answer that. He doesn’t know by the end of the film. If the character doesn’t know…. It’s more realistic. I wish there weren’t all these boxes and labels people try to put people in. That’s my viewpoint: pansexual.”

Instead, the filmmaker asserted that she concentrated on making a film about a gay Arab gangster and homophobia, “where the blood ties are, and where they are stronger than prejudice.”

The actor is amazed that he was cast in a key role. He explained, “I’m the opposite of Rashid. My family is not religious or as poor as Rashid’s family. And I’m not gay. Sally wanted to do the whole City of God thing and cast the real guys. All those guys were so homophobic, though, they couldn’t play Rashid. She was forced into casting a professional actor. If it wasn’t for the homophobia in the streets, I wouldn’t be in the film!”

To prepare for the role, Floyd admitted he “did everything Rashid would do: boxing, hanging with gangs, eating certain foods, staying up so late.”

He also confirmed, “Everything but deal drugs and have sex with Saïd Taghmaoui.”

Rashid’s struggle with his sexuality is only one facet of My Brother the Devil.

The film is mostly an emotional story that depicts the gang life of the two teenage siblings.

El Hosaini emphasized why the violence, which is very vivid in the film, (continued on page 22)

Grateful rhythmic melodies reverberate with her lush harmonies. The chord structure is both innovative and listenable. The clarity of Victoria’s voice shimmers with a disarming quality and her lyrics are authentic. She coproduced the EP with Bradley James Falconer.

Music Shelley MacKay Grateful is not only the title track of Victoria Theodore’s original debut EP, it is also the best way to describe her as both a musical artist and a human being. The Bay Area native tours internationally with legendary artist Stevie Wonder, playing keyboard and singing backup vocals.

She also teaches piano and performs her own shows locally when she is in town.

See more

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

and follow us on on

18 BAY TIM ES APRIL 4 , 2 0 1 3

While Victoria’s resume may seem intimidating, she is humble and glows with the positive energy her music emits. I witnessed this firsthand when I had the pleasure of meeting her while singing with her at a vocal jazz competition in 2010. Since then I have had the privilege of sharing the stage with her several more times.

Victoria’s music is “pop informed by jazz and classical.” Her joy-infused

“I love melodies” says Victoria. With a BA in Music from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and her Master of Arts degree in Classical Piano Performance from Stanford University, much of her training focused on the melodies of late romantic composers.

While Victoria has been performing her own music for years, she wrote much of the material for her new album in 2012. “I try to be authentic with what I write, so that my music comes from my heart as opposed to being manufactured. My music reflects who I am so that I can perform it honestly.”

The title track “Grateful” sets the tone for the EP. “Even when we have bad days...those who live honestly understand there’s so much to be grateful for,” says Victoria.

Stevie Wonder tops Victoria’s list of musical inf luences. “His knowledge of music is vast, and his work ethic is so consistent. I can’t help but want to emulate that,” she says.

Victoria has always been drawn to the storytelling aspect of Sting and Bonnie Raitt’s music. Then there’s Annie

Lennox who’s “the ultimate artist in many ways.” In addition, she enjoys a wide variety of artists from Esperanza Spalding to Katy Perry and her music reflects her eclectic tastes. She says, “You will get a little bit of a lot of things, but what will connect it all is the love for the music and a sense of joy that pervades all of it.”

On April 13th, Victoria will be performing at The Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland as part of a duo with her long-time friend, Kymberly Jackson, jazz flautist. On April 20th, she will be performing at the TEDx event at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, where she will debut a brand new piano composition. On April 26th, she will be featured at a fundraiser for Oakland Public Conservatory. Grateful EP’s are available for purchase at her shows. For more details and a full schedule of events, go to www. victoriatheodore.com. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

May the Road Rise Up to Meet You

Since her arrival in San Francisco in 2000, Dr. McGuire’s meteoric rise to leadership in the international LGBTQ community has been marked by a multitude of achievements, honors and accolades. With a nod to the haunting words of Nobel Prize winner Williams Falkner, we believe that Dr. McGuire’s legacy in San Francisco and the Bay Area . . . will not merely endure, it will prevail. We wish for her safe passage, continued success and frequent returns for performances and visits with friends and loved ones here.)

A Dozen Years and Then Some: Bay Area Memories and Reflections

By Dr. Kathleen McGuire On a wintry night in 1989 in Melbourne, Australia, my brother Lawrence and I were at a party with musical theatre geeks and heard an exciting album of men’s choral music. This was my introduction to the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC). Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would, eleven years later, reside in San Francisco, let alone earn a living leading the iconic gay ensemble.

This month I am moving back to Australia, so it is time for me to bid a fond farewell to San Francisco, my adopted home since 2000.

I came to San Francisco after completing my doctorate at the University of Colorado at Boulder, having won the SFGMC artistic director position through competitive audition. The decade to follow would be filled with joy, some heartache, and times of great celebration. It’s a challenge to summarize it into a few short paragraphs, so perhaps this will become the foreword for the book I will pen some day. Until then, these are a just a few memories of my (almost) 13 years in San Francisco.

SFGMC was emerging from the devastation of AIDS, having already lost more than 200 members. Through the ‘90s, the Chorus focused on survival. As a colleague put it, the Chorus was like a warship adrift at sea, fighting to stay afloat after a barrage of attacks, without an anchor or a safe port. We set about finding safe passage. Several trusted community

P H OTO B Y ST E VE N UN DE R H I LL

(Editor’s Note: The “Bay Times” is proud to present a farewell message from Dr. Kathleen McGuire, a master conductor and artistic director known to many of our readers who, for many years, have seen her familiar figure with baton standing before one or another large group of performing artists.

with such luminaries as Stephen Schwartz and Carol Channing, but my proudest moments occurred in our outreach appearances. Singing for inmates at Vacaville prison on World AIDS Day, 2003. Visiting Park Day Elementary School in 2002 for the grand f inale of an LGBTthemed week; the 6th graders sang to us: “It’s Okay To Be Gay” (a song they wrote themselves). Touring to towns and cities in central and northern CA, raising awareness and hundreds of thousands of dollars for their health service organizations. And within our own community, helping gay men - physically and emotionally scarred from the ravages of HIV and homophobia - to find a new and courageous voice alongside their stouthearted brothers in the Chorus.

I arrived in San Francisco as a classical musician, but I soon found my voice as a social justice advocate.

The music was the means by which I could serve as a conduit for 200 men to change hearts and minds in truly meaningful ways. Some of the concerts that stand out in my memory including SFGMC Does Queen (2002), Oh Happy Day (2004), and our Gilbert & Sullivan parody about Don’t Ask Don’t’ Tell: USS Metaphor (2007). Our goal was to entertain while sharing a message, whether it was celebrating the life of a gay icon, adopting spirituals and sacred music in a queer context, or protesting inequality.

San Francisco is a unique global hub for change, and I am proud to have been part of one exciting era. A pinnacle was the same-gender marriages of 2004: a palpable turning point as spirits were raised and joy abounded in our city for the first time since the horrors of the AIDS pandemic.

SFGMC sang “Chapel of Love” on the steps as thousands flocked to City Hall. Senator (then Assemblyman)

get the 30th anniversary of Milk/ Moscone assassinations. I filled out a permit for SFGMC to sing with Holly Near on the City Hall steps, anticipating an audience of 150 or so. To our surprise, a crowd of at least 1000 appeared, and the hovering media helicopters drowned out our singing.

Only in San Francisco…

In the words of Armistead Maupin, our city is full of “people whose passion and kindness and sensitivity have provided a constant source of strength.” I fell in love with San Francisco, and became a US citizen in 2011.

My rich Bay Area experience has included directing the Oaklandbased Community Women’s Orchestra, serving alongside Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon as Minister of Music at the Congregational Church of San Mateo, and founding Singers of the Street (SOS): a choir of San Franciscans affected by homelessness. I am now f irmly committed to working with those who are marginalized, believing that the cause of poverty in the US is not lack of money, but rather fear of those who are different. Being seen and valued can truly changed a person’s life.

I am returning to Australia primarily to be with my family, but also to serve as the Vice Chair of Faculty at the new School of Hard Knocks Institute, providing cultural and well-being opportunities for those who are disadvantaged. I have also been appointed as the Director of Music at Queen’s College at my alma mater, the University of Melbourne.

I invite everyone to come to my farewell concert, featuring the all-queer rock band Critical Bliss (in which I play bass guitar) on Saturday, April 6, 4 – 6 PM at BeatBox, 314 11th Street at Folsom. Entry is free and donations will be collected for Singers of the Street. For more information, visit: www.singersofthestreet.org

leaders suggested that the Chorus needed to look outward and return to serving the men and women who had supported them during the years of struggle. So that’s exactly what we did.

Over the years, SFGMC has done such amazing things as performing at Carnegie Hall, producing awardwinning recordings, and has sung

Mark Leno presided over my own marriage under the dome, amid hundreds of reporters from near and far who clamored for stories in a giddy frenzy.

Over the years I have developed a deep respect for San Francisco’s politics and politicians. LA has its movie stars, but San Francisco’s rock stars are her politicians. I’ll never for-

Thanks for the memor ies. I st ill c a l l Aust r a l ia home, but I w i l l leave my heart in San Francisco.

Dr. Kathleen McGuire served as artistic director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus 2000-2010, was an SF Pr ide Community G rand Marshal in 2006, and is a recipient of the KQED Local Hero and ABC7 Prof ile of Excellence awards. For more information, visit: www.kathleen-mcguire.com BAY T IM ES APR IL 4, 2013

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compiled by Robert Fuggiti

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s. Meeting occur second Tuesdays of every month.

D’Rivera and the Assad Brothers – Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley. $22-$48. 8 pm. (101 Sproul Hall, Berkeley) www.calperformances.org. Grammy awardwinners Paquito D’Rivera and the Assad Brothers perform “Dances from the New World.”

Beyond Possible: 50 Years of Creating Radical Change - San Francisco Public Library. Free. 6 pm.

(100 Larkin St.) www.sfpl.org. The Rev. Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani speak about their efforts, in an engaging conversation with Bevan Dufty, the director of the city’s HOPE (Housing Opportunity, Partnerships and Engagement) and a former San Francisco supervisor.

Understanding Government Benefits for LGBT Seniors – Hotel Kabuki. Free. 10:40 am to 12 pm. (1625 Post St.) www.education. ioaging.org. NCLR Staff Attorney Angie Perone will be speaking at the conference about the intersection of various government benefits for LGBT seniors.

Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma will be at the Hypnodrome Theatre through June 1. (Photo: Danny Nicoletta)

CUAV Open House – CUAV. Free. 6:30 pm to 9 pm. (427 South Van Ness Ave.) www.cuav.org.

Community United Against Violence (CUAV) hosts an open house in celebration of their work and accomplishments.

Nightlife – California Academy of Sciences. $12. 6 pm to 10 pm. (55 Music Concourse Dr.) www.noisepop.com. Enjoy a fun evening of science, cocktails and live music.

OUT Ladies Night - Cafe Flore. Free. 5:30 pm. (2298 Market St.) www.cafeflore.com. Enjoy

cocktail specials, great food, music and speed dating with hosts Dr. Frankie and DJ Flirty G.

Tantra for Gay Men – LoveJourney. $285-$320. 9 am.

(Saratoga Springs) www.lovejourneytantra.com. A three day men’s workshop where participants are offered tools and opportunities for conscious sensuality, sexually fulfilling lifestyles and open-hearted, accepting connections. Through April 7.

Benefit Concert for the

Roxie Theater – Verdi Club. $25. 8:30 pm. to 12:30 am. (2424 Mariposa St.) www.roxie.com. A fundraising event to support the Roxie Theatre, San Francisco’s oldest continually operating theater.

The 5th Annual Flow Show – Dance Mission Theater. $20. 8 pm.

(3316 24th St.) www.theflowshow. org. “The Fifth Annual Flow Show” will feature award-winning performers on hoops, juggling, Maori poi and other forms of movement with unique props with a culturally-based but decidedly contemporary spin.

Hills to Hollers CD Release Party – Freight & Salvage. $22.5. 8 pm. (2020 Addison St., Berkeley) www.freightandsalvage.org. Barbara Higbie, Linda Tillery and Laurie Lewis celebrate the release of their first CD with a live performance.

Miss Coco Peru: She’s Got Balls – Castro Theatre. $28-$35. 8 pm to 10 pm. (429 Castro St.) www.castrotheatre.com. Drag sensation Miss Coco Peru stars in her brand new comedy show.

Go BANG! – The Stud. $7. 9 pm.

(399 9th St.) www.studsf.com. A monthly disco party with fierce dancers and flashy dressers.

Roxanne Worthington’s Zaubermarchen Opening – A Woman’s Eye Gallery. Free. 1 pm to 4 pm. (678 Portola Dr.) www.awegallery.com. A magical display of paintings and mixed media art.

Through April 28.

The Annual Pat Parker Tribute – La Peña Cultural Center. $10-$20. 7 pm to 9 pm.

(3105 Shattuck Ave.) www.avotcja. org. Enjoy an evening paying tribute to Pat Parker.

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Transamerica Rock ‘n’ Roll San Francisco 1/2 Marathon – Fort Mason Center. $105. 7 am.

(Buchanan Street and Marina Boulevard) www.runrocknroll.competitor.com. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series takes over the Bay for the Inaugural Transamerica Rock ‘n’ Roll San Francisco Half Marathon.

I Look Like an Egg, But I Identify as a Cookie – Shotgun Cabaret. $20. 8 pm. (1901 Ashby Ave.) www.shotgunplayers.org. In this innovative, smash-hit debut, solo performer Heather Gold sifts through the complexities of sexuality and identity with baking’s simple truths.

Monday Night Bluegrass – Amnesia. Free. 6 pm. (853 Valencia St.) www.amnesiathebar.com. Enjoy a night of Bluegrass music every Monday night at this Mission bar.

Gay Bowling – Mission Bowling Club. $15. 5 pm to 8 pm. (3176 17th St.) www.missionbowlingclub. com. Mix, mingle and meet new friends at this weekly bowling social. Full bar and restaurant inside club.

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise – San Francisco Public Library. Free.

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

Dr. Robert Lustig, Director of the UCSF Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health, shares tips and knowledge for living a healthier lifestyle.

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.

GLBT Caregiver – SFSU Campus. Free. 1:30 pm. (1600 Holloway St.) www.sfsu.edu. A support group to discuss issues

Plane Queer: The History of Male Flight Attendants – GLBT History Museum. $5. 7 pm to 9 pm. (4127 18th St.) www. glbthistory.org. Historian Phil Tiemeyer discusses his new book, “Plane Queer: Labor, Sexuality and AIDS in the History of Male Flight Attendants.”

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.

Gym Class – Hi Tops. Free. 10 pm. (2247 Market St.) www. hitopssf.com. Enjoy a night of fun at Castro’s only gay sports bar.

An Evening with Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert – Orpheum Theatre. $70-$195. 8 pm.

(1192 Market St.) www.shnsf.com.

Two chefs. Two unlikely friends. Two very different careers and philosophies sharing one stage.

Cubcake – Lonestar. Free. 9 pm.

(1354 Harrison St.) www.lonestarsf.com. A monthly bear dance party happening second Fridays.

Flashback Friday – Bench and Bar. $5. 10 pm to 2 am. (510 17th St.) www.bench-and-bar.com.

Celebrating the best in old school music with drink specials all night.

12th Annual Breast Cancer Program Event – The Old Mint. $100. 3 pm to 6 pm. (88 5th St.) www.shanti.org. Shanti Project hosts an evening with cocktails, silent auction and entertainment with all proceeds benefiting the Shanti Breast Cancer Program.

Hey Girl Hey – Era Art Bar & Lounge. $5. 5 pm to 9 pm. (19 Grand Ave, Oakland) www.oaklandera.com. A lesbian dance party happening every second Saturday.

Open Mic Night for Women – Plymouth United Church. $7-$10.

6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. (424 Monte Vista, Oakland) 510-701-1022. An evening for creative women to share spoken stories, poems and readings.

Ekphrastic Poetry Collective – A Woman’s Eye Gallery. Free. 1 pm to 4 pm. (678 Portola Dr.) www.awegallery.com.

Jane Green, Kit Kennedy, Sherri Rose-Walker, and Nancy Wakeman respond in words to Roxanne Worthington’s Tales of Magic exhibit.

Man, Oh Man – Napa United Methodist Church. $15-$25. 5 pm.

(625 Randolph St., Napa) www. oebgmc.org. The Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus is proud to present “Man, oh Man” - music for men throughout the ages.

2013 Cherry Blossom Festival – Japantown. Free. 10 am to 6 pm. (1737 Post St.) www. sfcherryblossom.org. Enjoy a dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community. Also April 13, 20 and 21.

Premiere: The Cliff House Documentary Film – Balboa Twin Theater. $10. 7 pm. www.cinemasf.com. Hundreds of rare archival photographs, motion picture footage, interviews with historians and current Cliff House staff come together to tell a fascinating story.

Piano Bar 101 – Martuni’s. Free.

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

Motown Monday – Madrone Art Bar. Free. 6 pm. (500 Divisadero St.) www.madroneartbar.com.

Dance the night away to favorite Motown songs and remixes.

The Assad Brothers will be at UC Berkeley on April 10.

(Photo: Fadi Kheir) Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma – The Hypnodrome Theatre. $30. 8 pm. (575 10th St.) www.thrillpeddlers.com. “Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma,” is a full-length, restored version of The Cockettes’ 1971 musical extravaganza. Through June 1.

More listings @

www.sfbaytimes.com

Last Drag Quit Smoking Class – San Francisco LGBT Community Center. Free. 7 pm to 9 pm. (1800 Market St.) www. sfcenter.org. A free quit smoking group for LGBT and HIV positive smokers.

Meditation Group – San Francisco Public Library. Free. 12 pm. (100 Larkin St.) www.sfpl.org.

A weekly meditation class promoting inner peace and connectedness.

Booty Call - Q Bar. $4. 10 pm to 2 am. (456 Castro St.) www.qbarsf. com. Juanita More! hosts this weekly party with hot guys, strong drinks and fun dance mash ups.

Shantala Shivalingappa – Herbst Theatre. $35-$50. 8 pm.

(401 Van Ness Ave.) www.sfperformances.org. Shantala Shivalingappa brings a captivating, contemporary sensibility to India’s millennia-old theatrical dance form, Kuchipudi.

Funny Tuesdays – Harvey’s.

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

Coco Peru will be at the Castro Theatre on April 6.

BAY T IM ES APR IL 4, 2013

21

SAN FRANCISCO... MAKE YOUR

Cinco de Mayo COUNT FOR KIDS!

(ROSTOW continued from page 15) Olson with the question of exactly “when” the Constitution mandated same-sex marriage.

But the objections are, or should be, easily resolved. Legal marriage may be new, but the same-sex couples seeking recognition are decades old.

Marriage equality will not mean that gay couples will suddenly decide to get together, live together, have families.

This has been going on both in and outside the shadows for a long time, and it will continue with or without equal treatment under the law. Equal treatment under the law, needless to say, is a little older than cell phones.

And “exactly when” did the Constitution mandate marriage equality?

Each time the High Court has ruled that marriage is a fundamental right, and each time the High Court has struck discriminatory laws under the Equal Protection Clause. That’s when.

Amor

for

MAY 2, 2013 - 6:00 PM

Tastings, Tequila and Temptations

Join us for an evening celebrating the vibrant culture of Mexico in support of needy children in Oaxaca.

Food, music, upscale Tequila, silent auction and more. Kids under 12 see the museum for FREE. Your donation of $25 (12 and over) supports educational expenses, books, food, shelter during school breaks and the building fund for a new center to serve Oaxacan students and their families.

Please come out and support this great Bay Area evening for the entire family!

Get Tickets

http://events.vidachildren.org

Get Tickets

The Children's Creativity Museum 221 Fourth St. San Francisco, CA 94103 More Info: (415) 525-4596

Close to 1,000 of our fabulous friends filled the SF Design Center Galleria to celebrate the LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER’s 11th Anniversary with STUDIO 11. “The entertainment, food, beverages, and company were simply fantast ic, and we f i l led t he space w it h L GBT communit y and spir it,” said Execut ive Director Rebecca Rolfe.

T he d isco t hemed par t y included compl i ment a r y L i za M i nel l i fa ns. E mcee Tit a A id a brought on the entertainers: A lotta Boutte was Donna Summer; Honey Mahogany gave us RuPaul fabulosity; Miss Rahni sang and danced; Sean Dorsey Dance did a sexy pas de deux; and Ambrosia Salad was the Bianca Jagger.

EASTER OCCURRENCES: A t t he S I NG - A L O NG J E S U S C H R I S T S U P E R S TA R on G o o d Fr id ay at V ic t or i a T he at re, we nu n s pa s sed out pa l m fronds, money-changers’ money, a n d c o m mu n i o n w a fe r s w h i l e v iew i ng t he f l ick . A CH U N KY J E SUS CON T E ST a lso helped raise funds for the ANNUAL SF TR ANS MARCH. (CONDO continued from page 10) certainly the case around legislation that would give relief to TICs on a decade-long wait list to become condos (a lottery currently allows 200 conversions a year). The proposal has so many amendments and brokered deals catering to interest groups on both sides, it’s hard to say what the final result will be. But the fastest and easiest way to produce more middle class housing is to clear the backlog of thousands waiting to convert their TICs. We also need a better lottery system so future renters have a clear path to affordable homeownership through a TIC.

By K. Cole

The real question is when did we recognize that gay couples fall under those precedents? Even if the answer to that question is five minutes ago, once that realization hits home there’s no justification for further inaction. arostow@aol.com

(SISTER DANA continued from page 8) to), Michael Lomendas (Nick Massi), and Miles Jacoby (Bob Gaudio), but on press night he was replaced beautifully with understudy Tommaso Antico.

POP ROX

We Sisters held a Saturday ritual and dedication of the NUNS OF ABOVE boulder monument in the AIDS Memorial Grove in honor of Sisters who have passed on.

FALLOUT BOY “Save Rock and Roll” After declaring they were ‘‘going on hiatus” back in 2007, usually the code for “we’re breaking up,” it is a pleasure to have new music and a tour. Fallout Boy has come a long way since the early pop punk days, but in this case industry success is a very good thing.

Best Cut: “Phoenix” Location: Race on the Great Highway

ZOMBIE CHR IST HAUNTED HOUSE in the vacant storefront at 2278 Market Street was a scary delight. Clever artists from Faeb oy C ol le c t ive a nd ot her s h a d created a labyrinth of black light and t insel f i l led w it h queer d isplays themed around Easter and rel ig ion, as a fund ra iser for t he SF Therapy Collective and Open House.

THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE, INC. threw ou r a n nu a l pa r t y i n t he pa rk .

Heav y rain called a close to our party, but watch out for the postponed but upcoming “Hunky Jesus Contest” in the near future.

There is no room to fully promote T I N S E L TA RT S I N A HO T COM A , t he restored version of The Cockettes’ 1971 musical comedy, now through June 1, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 8pm, The Hypnodrome, thrillpeddlers.com.

COLTON DIXON “A Messenger” Over-produced like only an American Idol winner can attain, this release by Dixon continues the legacy worthy of any Disneyland light parade. Religiosity aside, this guy needs to get his hands dirty before we can believe he’s got the guts to stay in the biz.

Best Cut: “This is Who I Am” Location: Church-lite

S i st er Dana sez , “Hey, Michelle S hock ed , I am shocked at your overt homophobia. You truly are a punk!”

I hope enough supervisors will have the courage to vote for real reform, because limiting condo conversions won’t give us better rent control. It will only hurt more people suffering from San Francisco’s high cost of living.

Joel P. Engardio lives on the Westside. He serves on the board of directors of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and Plan C, a San Francisco organization that advocates for moderate solutions and legislation (including condo conversion). Follow his blog at www.engardio.com

DJ JOE GAUTHREAUX “Party Groove: White Party Vol. 13” Every spring the new DJ mix CDs roll out for the Pride season and this one is my number one spin for this year. DJ JG knows how to remix without obliterating the melody and finally, we have some contrast from the snare beat “speed up” section. Fun’s “We Are Young” and Gaga’s “Someone Like You” are standouts. Dance on!

Best Cut: “We Are Young” Location: Absolute Stage

(MY BROTHER continued from page 18) is so prominent, “I wanted it to be re- you f linch. It happens a lot in these alistic, and not sensationalized. My areas of London.” only concern was not to glamorize it.”

She continued, “What shocked me is El Hosaini emphasized that the realhow it comes out of nothing, there is ism was of the utmost importance to not this gradual escalation. There is the film’s creation—and success. “I didn’t want to make a phony film that extreme boredom, and they wait for has Arab characters that don’t come something to happen. The impact of across as authentic. There are a lot of that [violence] they deal with the rest films like that in the UK. To be 100% of their lives. That interested me.” authentic was important to me.”

In one critical scene, the filmmaker creates a moment of calm and stillness to show what she called, “that moment when their masks dropped and they are children and they are scared.”

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Floyd agreed. “The violence is very realistic, because that’s how it goes down. It’s a naturalistic f ilm, and Sally wanted to tell the truth of the Postcode gangs. [ Postcode gangs are gangs demarcated by zipcodes in multiethnic London.] There have been a lot of films set in this world— the urban film genre. Most of them are condescending, unrealistic, and glamorize the violence, sex, and drugs. The violence here had to make

She concluded, “But it is a fiction— written in realism—but you can’t ignore the poetry of that. It’s abstract.

I used to write poetry as a teen—and that really affects film. It’s a similar discipline, poetry—rhythm, images, and how you boil things down to the one right word. In film there are images that are metaphors, and layers.

My film was an emotional story, and that was the heart of it—the emotion between these two brothers, and that allows a space for the psychological aspects of story.”

In My Brother the Devil all these elements—psychology, family, violence and sexuality—resonate strongly. © 2013 Gary M. Kramer

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE “The 20/20 Experience” We love a man in a suit, and JT is bringing his high style look back to the charts. This R&B chill release will satisfy your addiction to snapping your fingers, girls!

Best Cut: “Suit & Tie” Location: SF LGBT Center Soiree 2013

- 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, Attn: Pop Rox, 308 Jones Street, Ukiah, CA 95482. Katharinecole@yahoo.com

Round About - SF Gay Men’s Chorus & Beach Blanket Babylon Photos by Steven Underhill

PHOTO BY RINK

The legendary Beach Blanket Babylon joined forces on March 25th and 26th with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus to present a rousing joint program, entitled Snow White

& Her Merry Men. Conducted by Dr. Timothy Seelig, the concert, held at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, featured the spectacular BBB costuming and ensemble performances perfectly in sync with SFGMC’s wall of sound created by the combined voices of more than 300 men in the Chorus.

BAY T IM ES APR IL 4, 2013

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24 BAY TIM ES APRIL 4 , 2 0 1 3