2013 08 08

Outdoor Adventures ~ Meet Kim Powell ~ Page 9

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August 8-21, 2013 | www.sfbaytimes.com

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History Repeats Itself

Skip & Ricardo at City Hall Holding an issue of the Bay Times from 1998 (See Their Wedding Story - Page 10)

PHOTO: WILLIAM OAKES AND RICHARD CODDINGTON

Top Bay Area LGBT Concerns Editor’s Note: With Prop 8 thankfully behind us, many have wondered about the future of our community’s efforts, in terms of what should next garner our attention and support.

We asked the leaders of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club to name the top issues facing the Bay Area LGBT community now. Their responses differed, but both mention concerns over housing matters and seniors, so we can expect those two issues, in particular, to merit focus in the weeks and months to come. Here are the full responses: Martha Knutzen, Senior Co-Chair of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club

Tom Temprano, President of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club

State and local issues:

The rampant evictions and displacement of queer residents With real estate speculation at an all-time high, many landlords are using illegal and unethical means to evict vulnerable queer tenants, like LGBTQ seniors, people living with HIV/AIDS, artists and others.

• Making sure the LGBT community is included in economic job expansion in technology • That we are included in public policy plans for affordable housing and improved public transportation • That we are included in plans to improve services for seniors

The growing unaffordability of our city I often reflect that if I were a young queer person looking for a place to move to and be accepted and embraced (as I was almost ten years ago when I came here), I would not be able to afford to move to San Francisco. Couple high rents with a mass exodus of artists and other cultural innovators and you have a San Francisco that is quickly losing its queer community’s next generation of youth to other more affordable cities. (continued on page 13)

On the federal level: • Enacting ENDA and ensuring greater job protection against discrimination • Making sure health care reform includes the special needs of the LGBT community • Making sure immigration reform includes the LGBT community

Call to Service

Do Ask, Do Tell Zoe Dunning It’s not what you think. I’m not talking militar y service; I’m talking board service. Have you ever served on a non-profit’s Board of Directors?

If not, I’m here to recruit you!

Our LGBT community has a rich history and reputation for volunteerism and community activism. We get involved in non-profits because we want to make a difference, typically in regard to a particular issue or to serve a constituency that we care about deeply. In the process, we usually learn more about the issue and, at the same time, meet some really amazing and interesting people.

In 1993, when Dixon Osburn and Michelle Benecke founded Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), they asked me and a half dozen other activists working on gays in the military to form the organization’s original Board of Directors. I was young and idealistic, and wanted to be involved with a mission I felt strongly about. I had NO idea what it meant to serve on a board, or what those responsibilities entail. I quickly

mendous sense of pride when you get to meet the clients/customers/recipients of your organization’s services or products, the opportunity to meet like-minded colleagues you might not have met otherwise, and the chance to contribute your knowledge and expertise for an important cause.

discovered it meant determining mission and purpose, providing financial oversight, being a spokesperson for the organization in my city, and raising money any way I knew how.

I wasn’t exactly prepared for the fundraising aspect – it’s hard to ask friends and family for money. But I found that many in my personal and professional network were incredibly supportive of SLDN’s mission and wanted to support me in my work on behalf of service members impacted

by Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT).

Plus, it gave an excuse to throw some very fun fundraising events!

Choosing a Board is not easy. Some are governance boards that meet primarily to ensure the fiscal health of the non-profit, make decisions and provide priorities to the staff. Others are pure fundraising boards. For example, I serve on the Victory Campaign Board, which exists solely to raise money for LGBT candidates across the country. And others are working boards, where there is minimal or no staff and the board members carry out the mission. This is appealing to those who want to roll up their sleeves and get directly involved.

Whichever model appeals to you, I encourage you to check out the website for Bridgespan, an organization that provides services to match nonprofits recruiting new board members with those interested in serving on a board. Another tremendous resource is your network of friends.

Ask them if they serve on a board. Do they like it? What do they like about it? What are the skills boards look for? The more you learn, the better chance you’ll have at picking the right non-profit for you. I hope you go out there and make a difference.

I served as Co-Chair of the Board for approximately 10 years between 1994 and 2011. It was an honor to be a part of an amazing organization that took a leadership role in the eventual repeal of DADT. One of the greatest benef its were the friendships I developed with fellow board members from across the country. Veterans, civilians, men, women, the L, the G, the B, the T and the straight allies, ranging in age from their 20’s to their 70’s, all united together for one purpose – to strengthen and lead an organization with a mission we wished to serve.

So why should you consider serving on a non-profit Board of Directors?

It is different than being a volunteer or a staff member. There is tremendous responsibility that comes with the opportunity – you are ultimately accountable for the organization and its ability to achieve its purpose. You get to select, support and evaluate the CEO/Executive Director. Often times you are asked to help raise funds. With these responsibilities come great rewards, though – a tre-

Zoe Dunning is a retired Navy Commander and was a lead activist in the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. She currently serves as the 1st Vice Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party.

City College Update, Campos Announces, and Remembering Jazzie Collins

A San Francisco Kind of Democrat Rafael Mandelman It has now been just over a month since the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) announced its decision to terminate accreditation for City College of San Francisco, effective July 2014. Within a week of the ACCJC’s announcement, the Chancellor of the statewide community college system had temporarily suspended the locally elected Board of Trustees and imposed a special trustee with wideranging powers and the charge to save the College.

As the new guy on the Board, I have, of course, been frustrated to be sidelined so soon after taking office in January. But the real frustration is that we are even contemplating the possibility that City College could close next year. As many have observed, the ACCJC does not appear to be questioning the quality of instruction or the programs being offered at City College. Its primary concerns instead appear to be in the areas of finance, administration and governance. The College has serious 2

BAY TIMES AUGUS T 8 , 2 0 1 3

Many people have asked me over the last month what they can do to help. The answer is simple: enroll in a class. Most of City College’s funding is based on enrollment, so a dip in enrollment has a direct impact on the school’s bottom line. Unfortunately, the decline in enrollment since the ACCJC f irst sanctioned City College one year ago has been more of a crater than a dip. San Franciscans also need to let their state and federal legislators know how much they care about City College and how intolerable and outrageous it would be for them to allow this great institution to close.

August’s big local political news so far has been Supervisor David Campos’ announcement that he will be running for a seat in the State Assembly next year. As termed-out incumbent Tom Ammiano’s endorsed pick to succeed him, Campos will be a formidable candidate. Campos has a strong record as a tough negotiator, defender of the public interest and champion of the least powerful among us. Unfortunately, with Board of Supervisors President David Chiu also rumored to be considering a run for the same seat, we may be looking at yet another only-in-San-Francisco political deathmatch that will divide communities and sunder friendships. The

PHOTO BY R INK

challenges in all three areas, some of which frankly have been exacerbated by the ACCJC’s threats to shut the place down, but none of these challenges are sufficient justification to kill an educational institution serving 85,000 students a year.

Host Christina Olague spoke first and introduced speakers at the memorial for transgender actvist Jazzie Collins. fact is that both Chiu and Campos are talented and able public servants, and it’s too bad they cannot both represent us in Sacramento.

Finally, a word or two about a friend who recently passed away entirely too soon. Since Jazzie Collins’ death in early July, many communities have been mourning her loss. For those who did not have the privilege of knowing Jazzie, she was a fierce HI V-posit ive A fr ican A mer ican transgender activist who managed over the last two decades to work on almost every progressive political campaign and cause in town. For those who were lucky enough to know Jazzie, you know what a loss her death is to San Francisco. Rest in Power, Jazzie Collins.

Rafael Mandelman is a member of the San Francisco Community College Board of Trustees. He is also a partner at Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP.

Round About – GaymerX – Steven Underhill The f irst- of-its-k ind Gay merX convent ion, self-procla imed as “ for queer geeks and everybody,” was the focus of Bay Times photographer Steven Underhill’s work on Sunday, August 4. Characteristically understated, Underh i l l obser ved, “I photog raphed a ver y interest ing thing today.”

Funds from a successful K ickstarter project fueled creative director Matt Conn’s vision for the event into reality at the Kabuki Hotel in Japantown. The event drew widespread attention when the Westboro Baptist Church threatened to protest it. Conn and GaymerX co-founder Kayce Brown forged ahead undeterred.

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “Let’s stop focusing on Anthony Weiner’s reDICKulous adDICKtion to exposing his wiener, and instead concentrate on getting openly lesbian progressive Christine Quinn elected the first gay Big Apple mayor!”

And speaking of NYC, I got to interview my favorite Broadway musical veteran, Carole Cook, who will be featured in the August 18th HELP IS ON THE WAY fundraiser for R IC H MON D/E R M ET A I DS FOUNDATION at the Palace Theatre. I said, “Allow me to gush for a moment. I am SUCH a fan of yours for decades now. You are funny, naughty, witty, and very very talented! I am always thrilled when you are on the bill of a fundraiser I am attending.”

ing done the New York production, and one of my best friends became ill with a disease we didn’t know what it was or how you got it. It was a bad time and a death sentence back then.

And I remember there was no organization to help at that time. My husband and I and about 20 friends pooled our money monthly to pay for his rent, food, and animal care - anything we could do to help. And then we began to know a lot of people - way too many - with what we called “the plague.”

How did you get into show business?

Truthfully, I never wanted to do anything else, darling Dana, but I was in Abilene, Texas, for God’s sake. So I went to New York and was told, “Now Carole, to get ahead in this business, you have to sleep around.” Trust me, I slept. A lot. I mean, I’m the most rested girl in show biz.

What’s your favorite musical you were in?

Why?

When did AIDS first touch your life?

My favorites are two I starred in, “Mame” and “Hello Dolly.” Carol Channing was the first Dolly and I was the second. Let’s be honest. Everybody would love to have an Auntie Mame and a Dolly in their lives.

They are two wonderful characters with big hearts who made people smile while questioning themselves.

And who doesn’t love coming down a long flight of stairs in a big red dress and forty handsome men accompanying you?! I told Gower Champion I believe an orangutan could play those parts, the way he fixed it.

I remember it vividly - 1984 when I was doing “42nd Street” in L.A., hav-

Where do you get your over-the-top, really flashy outfits you wear at REAF fundraisers?

She said, “I love Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation for one simple reason: They have their heart where their mouth is. I believe in the cause, and I’ll keep doing it, as I have now for 17 years. And you know, if I’m working for free for 17 years, sweetheart, I have to love it!

What a trashy thing to say, Sister Dana! No, I’m gonna be quite honest with you. I get all my clothes from drag queens, circus performers, and nuns that have gone bad.

Can you please give me a sneak-peek taste of what you are planning to do at the “Help Is on the Way 19”?

My darling, let me be truthful with you. If I told you what I was going to do in the REAF show, you would know, and then I would have to have you killed. So you will not know, because I want you to stay alive, sweetheart!

She said she was excited to come to SF and see her friends here, and then she broke into “San Francisco” as we said goodbye.

So, HELP IS ON THE WAY XIX: TH AT’S E N T ER TA I NM E N T, 19th annual REAF gala, is this year’s all-star benefit concert featuring celebrities from Broadway, TV, film, and the recording industry. It’s jazz, pop and live performance, up close and personal, from some of our favorite performers. The four Bay Area AIDS service agencies that are the beneficiaries are AIDS Housing Alliance, Aguilas, Project Open Hand, and Shanti. Sunday, August 18 at The Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon Street.

Silent auction and VIP party, 5pm; pre-show gala reception, 6–7:30pm, with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting and martini & margarita bars; concert 7:30 – 10pm; dessert and wine party with the cast, 10-11:45 pm. Tix at helpisontheway.org or (415) 273-1620. See you there!

To c o m m e m o r a t e t h e G A Y A SI A N PAC I F IC A L L I A NC E 25TH A N N UA L M R . A ND

MISS GAPA PAGEANT, GAPA honored old and new Holly wood alike at the Lam Research Theat re at Yerba Buena Center for the A rts dur ing RU N WAY SIL VER SCR EEN (get it? 25 years?

Silver? Clever). The iconic Tita A ida femceed with her usual sass and class. The judges were Rose Chu ng, M iss A sian A mer ica pageant founder; St ua r t Ga f fney, Marriage Equality USA A PI out reach d irector; Joyce Jua nM a n a lo, Kea r ny St reet Workshop manager; Fides Enriquez, New A r t Med ia v ice pres ident , Chi Chi La Woo, Asian American Recover y Ser vices addiction treatment specialist; and Dav id Ch iu, SF Boa rd of Super v isor s president. The show opened with t he si lver screen por t r ay i ng a l l the past Mr. and M iss GA PA tit leholders as “Unforgettable” by Nat K ing Cole played. This was also the step-down for Mr. GA PA Jet h r o a nd M i s s GA PA Jez e bel , bot h of whom enter t a i ned w it h del ight f u l song a nd d a nce a l l even ing. T he st ars a nd st arlets (contestants) were introduced.

Vying for Miss GA PA were A nya, Brenda Dong, Estee Longah, K h m e r a R ou g e, L i l y R o s e, R e v a L e ’ S h o n , Ne l y c e , a nd Yo l a n d a d e P l a n e. R u n n i n g for Mr. GA PA were C.C. K ago, Doncha Vishy uw uzme, Sir W hitney Queers, and Sothea.

Next wa s t he “ Fa nt asy ” pa r t of t he c ont e s t , wher e c ont e s t a nt s d isplayed t heir t a lent s a nd fa ntasies in executions and costuming rang ing from the sublime to the ridiculous - but always quite entertaining, accompanied by illustrative videos overhead.

P HOTO BY RIN K

Sister Dana Sez: Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

Carole Cook

Fu r t her ent er t a i n i n g wer e t he R i c e R o c ke t t e s , a t r ou p e of dancing, lip-synching drag queen s m ade up of t wo for mer M i s s G A PA s , o n e for m e r M r.

GA PA , a nd cou nt les s f i r st a nd s ec ond pr i nc es a nd pr i nc es s es .

They “Shined Bright like a Diamond ,” s i nce “ D i a mond s a re a Girl’s Best Friend,” etc. A lso enter ta in ing was F lora nte A g u ilar with Philippine guitar music.

T he st a ge w a s t hen f i l led w it h the living past titleholders taking their bows. This was followed by the evening wear competition and Q& A from the judges. After judges tallied their votes, trophies were awarded. Boy Next Door and Girl Next Door was by audience vote.

BND was Sir Whitney. GND was L i ly Rose. Favor ite Fantasy was Brenda Dong w it h her hi lar ious wannabe Paula Deen replacement (continued on page 18)

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National News Briefs compiled by Dennis McMillan

Falls Church, VA - Openly Gay Olympic Skater Urges No Olympic Boycott - 8.1

Washington, D.C. - Senator Baldwin Says Gay Blood is Good Blood - 8.4 U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is spearheading an effort to push the Obama administration to overturn the decades-long ban on gay men donating blood. She sent a letter signed by 84 other Democratic lawmakers to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius expressing concern that the ban “continues to perpetuate inaccurate stereotypes against gay and bisexual men and fosters an atmosphere that promotes discrimination.”

Two-time Olympic figure skating competitor, openly gay Johnny Weir, urged in his weekly column that there be no boycott of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, next February to protest the recent escalation of Russian anti-gay measures.

Weir, a three-time U.S. men’s figure skating champion who competed for the United States in the 2006 Winter games in Torino, Italy, and again in the 2010 games in Vancouver, Canada, stated, “The fact that Russia is arresting my people, and openly hating a minority and violating human rights all over the place is heartbreaking and a travesty of international proportions. I respect the LGBT community full heartedly, but I implore the world not to boycott the Olympic Games because of Russia’s stance on LGBT rights or lack thereof.”

Baldwin - who is the first openly gay U.S. senator - and her colleagues are urging that blood donors be selected based on health factors and not sexual orientation. “Our current policies turn away healthy, willing donors, even when we face serious blood shortages,” they wrote.

He exhorted, “I beg the gay athletes not to forget their missions and fight for a chance to dazzle the world. Olympics are history, and they do not represent their host; they represent the world entire. People make their own futures, and should a government ... steal that future, it is, as an athlete, the death and total demolition of a lifetime of work. Support the athletes.”

Currently, they cannot donate blood for the duration of their lives, regardless of when the sexual activity occurred.

Weir said that he intends to compete - despite the risks involved with being openly gay in Russia - next February if he qualifies. “There isn’t a police officer or a government that, should I qualify, could keep me from competing at the Olympics.”

Baldwin’s views are supported by the American Medical Association, which adopted a new policy in June opposing the ban as “discriminatory and not based on sound science,” and urging donation criteria be based on individual health.

The HHS launched a review of the ban in March 2012, but has not recommended any policy changes yet. The ban has been in place since the emergence of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s. It prohibits men who have had sex with men from donating blood because of the higher rates of the transfusion-transmissible infections among their population.

The HHS launched the study last year to determine whether alternate criteria could be put in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply. It’s unclear how the study is progressing or when it will be finished. But Baldwin notes there have been “vast advances” in blood screening technology, and the scientific community’s understanding of the virus has improved dramatically.

Meanwhile there is bad blood between gays and HHS.

Queer activist David Mixner agrees: “While the behavior of the Russian government, Putin and Putin punks are abhorrent, nothing will be changed by boycotting the Sochi Winter Games. In fact, those who are appalled by the treatment of LGBT Russian citizens will lose an incredible opportunity for the world to show their disgust.”

Source: stevenspointjournal.com

Does that go for Stoli vodka too?

Source: PRNewswire.com

Baton Rouge, LA - Baton Rouge Sheriff Goes After the Gays in Parks - 7.29 San Antonio, TX - San Antonio Desperately Needs LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Protections - 8.5 Despite billing itself as an idyllic tourist destination, San Antonio - the seventh largest city in the nation - still does not offer nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ residents or visitors. The Citizens Alliance for a United San Antonio (CAUSA) - of which GetEQUAL is a coalition partner - is seeking to change that. After two years, they are closer than ever to a vote and, until recently, it looked as though they would be victorious.

All of that changed when those opposing the ordinance began spreading lies and misinformation throughout the national media. Since then, statistics show that opponents to LGBTQ equality from across the country are calling City Council members and Mayor Julian Castro 60 to 1. That’s 60 opponents calling for every one person who supports the ordinance!

CAUSA needs activists to call for Kevin Abrams and Calvin Smith, two men who were threatened with arrest for dancing with each other at Far West (a dance hall in San Antonio) if they didn’t leave the premises. And call for Shanenn Yvonne Johnson and Jessica Louise Garcia, two women arrested for trespassing at Rolling Oaks Mall in San Antonio after sharing a kiss. Thirdly, they need calls for Jay Morris-Spriggs, GetEQUAL Texas Co-Lead - after he was the victim of a hate crime at Braunswick Bowl in San Antonio. Police removed him from the building rather than arresting his attackers, allowing them to go free and to torment others.

Christian singles can meet in the park, but not gay men. Sid J. Gautreaux, the sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish, has been sending deputies into public parks to spark up conversations with cruising gay men, suggest they go somewhere to have sex, and then arrest them under “crime against nature” laws. This has happened at least a dozen times since 2011.

There had been no sex-for-money deal between a couple arrested on July 18. The men did not agree to have sex in the park. But the count against the men was based on a part of Louisiana’s anti-sodomy law struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court a decade ago. The task force used the unenforceable law to ensnare men who merely discussed, or agreed to have, consensual sex with an undercover agent.

While Attorney General Hillar Moore refuses to prosecute these men - : “From what I’ve seen of these cases, legally, we found no criminal violation,” - Gautreaux’s office is sticking to its anti-gay ways.

“This is a law that is currently on the Louisiana books, and the sheriff is charged with enforcing the laws,” said spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks. “Whether the law is valid is something for the courts to determine. The Supreme Court did decide on such laws when it invalidated “crime against nature” laws that are simply covers for discrimination.

Contact members of San Antonio City Council (salsalabs.com) urging them to support updating the city code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Continue fighting for progress in places like San Antonio to ensure moving forward in the struggle for full LGBTQ equality from coast to coast!

Bruce Parker from Equality Louisiana said that by the Sheriff’s definition of “inappropriate,” then all Baton Rouge bars should be shut down.

People meet there to find sex partners, after all. It should be noted a local Christian singles group gets together at a local park for a run. Do Christians not use singles events to cruise for potential sex partners? Sure. But they are presumably straight, so Gautreaux and company’s eyebrows remain un-cocked.

Source: getequal.org

Source: out.com

Fort Meade, MD - Manning Guilty of 20 Charges, But Not Aiding the Enemy - 7.30 In a split decision, U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning was acquitted of aiding the enemy - the most serious charge he faced - but was convicted of espionage, theft and nearly every other count for giving secrets to WikiLeaks, a verdict that could see him spend the rest of his life in prison.

The judge, Army Col. Denise Lind, deliberated over three days before delivering a decision that denied the government a precedent that freedom of press advocates had warned could have broad implications for leak cases and investigative journalism about national security issues.

From the courtroom to world capitals, people struggled to absorb the meaning of a ruling that cleared the soldier of a charge of aiding the enemy, which would have carried a potential life sentence, but convicted him of 20 of 22 counts that, together, could also mean life behind bars.

Manning faces up to 136 years in prison if given maximum penalties in a sentencing hearing expected to last most of August.

The defense portrayed him as a “young, naive but good-intentioned” figure. Manning said during a pretrial hearing he leaked the material to expose U.S military “bloodlust” and diplomatic deceitfulness, but did not believe his actions would harm the country. “We won the battle, now we need to go win the war,” Manning’s attorney, David Coombs, said. “Today is a good day, but Bradley is by no means out of the fire.”

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, whose website exposed Manning’s spilled secrets to the world, said, “It is a dangerous precedent and an example of national security extremism.”

“American democracy just dodged a bullet, a possibly fatal bullet,” Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg, said. “I’m talking about the free press that I think is the life’s blood of the democracy.”

136 years? Really?!

Source: ktvu.com

Local News Briefs National Conference of Butch Voices to Convene in Oakland

Assembly Bill 1266 Makes It to Governor Brown’s Desk for Signature

The BUTCH Voices third biennial national conference is taking place in downtown Oakland from August 15 -18. BUTCH Voices, a grassroots organization dedicated to enhancing and sustaining the community of self-identified butch people and their allies, is hosting their conference at the Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway. The conference will open on August 15 with a welcome reception at Club 21, where Oakland Council President Pro Tem Rebecca Kaplan will be speaking.

Assembly Bill 1266, the School Success and Opportunity Act (authored by State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano), is now on Governor Jerry Brown’s desk, and activists need to urge him to sign it! AB 1266 addresses the exclusion of transgender students from classes and activities, and clarifies existing anti-discrimination law to provide clear protections to transgender students.

In 2008, BUTCH Voices was created to unite a cross section of Masculine of Center (MOC) womyn and trans identified people who challenge social norms. “MOC” is a term that recognizes the breadth and depth of identity for lesbian/queer/womyn who tilt toward the masculine side of the gender scale and includes a wide range of identities such as butch, stud, aggressive/ AG, dom, macha, tomboi and trans-masculine.

The movement has its roots in gender justice. The vision was to create space that would counteract the isolation so many people have felt on account of their gender presentation, gender identity and/or sexual orientation.

The mission of BUTCH Voices is to enhance and sustain the wellbeing of all women, femalebodied and trans-identified individuals who are MOC. They achieve this by providing programs that build community, positive visibility and empowerment to advocate for their whole selves - inclusive of and beyond their gender identity and sexual orientation.

They say their community is vast and growing, and they have many identifications that resemble what the world knows as their “butchness.” They say, “We are woman-identified Butches.

We are trans-masculine Studs. We are faggot-identified Aggressives. We are noun Butches, adjective Studs and pronoun-shunning Aggressives. The point is, we don’t decide who is Butch, Stud or Aggressive. You get to decide for yourself!”

Story by Dennis McMillan 4

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Right now, anti-equality organizations are contacting the Governor, asking him to veto this critical bill, which will strengthen the state’s existing nondiscrimination laws and ensure that transgender students have the opportunity to succeed in school.

Equality California says, “We must counter their bigotry, and we need your help by contacting the Governor - via Twitter (@JerryBrownGov), email (via eqca.org), and/or calling his office (916) 445-2841 - to tell him that you want him to sign this bill into law, protecting our youth from discrimination and mistreatment in schools.”

Transgender students in many of California’s schools are facing extreme discrimination because they are being prohibited from participating in school activities, sports programs and facilities consistent with their gender identity. This bill will end the exclusion of transgender youth, but only if Gov. Brown signs it. He needs to hear from activists who are passionate about creating a better world where LGBTQ youth are embraced with equality.

Similar school policies have been successful across the nation, and have already been implemented at hundreds of California schools, and it is time to make sure that all schools treat transgender students fairly. No one should ever be treated differently because of who they are.

Please join Equality California and other bill co-sponsors - National Center for Lesbian Rights, Transgender Law Center, GSA Network and Gender Spectrum - in demanding that transgender young people in our community have a chance to succeed.

Story by Dennis McMillan

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Pope Francis Reaches Out to the Gay Community On the occasion of his election, I wrote about Pope Francis in the Bay Times. I suggested Francis might bring a much needed and new pastoral tone to LGBTQ issues and people. Last week, f lying back from World Youth Day in Brazil, Francis did exactly this in an 80-minute interview with journalists.

Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

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

Guest Editorial The Bay Times was the first newspaper in California, and among the first in the world, to be jointly and equally produced by lesbians and gay men. We honor our history and the paper’s ability to build and strengthen unity in our community.

Fr. Donal Godfrey, S.J.

Francis spoke of the need for gay people to be included, rather than marginalized, in the church. Indeed, he is the first Pope to use the word “gay” rather than “homosexual” or “those who are same-sex attracted.” Francis chose to quote gay positive parts of the Catholic catechism.

(I know it will come as a surprise to some readers to hear that there actually are gay positive parts of the catechism!)

In speaking about priests, Francis said that if someone is gay, follows the Lord, and does good, then who is he to judge? This contrasts with a 2005 Vatican document that, on the face of it, seemed to say that gay people are not welcome as priests.

In his blog, Andrew Sullivan quotes a gay priest friend saying to another gay priest friend that he never thought he would see the day when a Pope accepted his being gay, but not his driving a Lexus!

Francis has not changed the teaching of the church, however, he has changed forever the way we will talk about this issue as Church. In showing us this new tone, he is saying that he opposes homophobia. This different, and much more pastoral, approach will have consequences regarding relations with gay people inside and outside the Church. For example, Francis is affirming the pastoral approach that has been taken by parishes such as Most Holy Redeemer for decades.

And with his respectful attitude he is laying down groundwork for an eventual dialogue on issues regarding sexuality generally. This most likely would take place in a future General Ecumenical Council.

Dr. Betty L. Sullivan Jennifer L. Viegas Co-Publishers & Co-Editors

Ayana Baltrip Balagas

As I said in a letter to The Irish Times: “At long last gay Catholics do not need to hide at the back of our churches at Mass just as once black Catholics did in the United States. Thank you, Francis!”

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Fr. Donal Godfrey, S.J., is the Associate Director for Faculty and Staff Spirituality, University Ministry, at the University of San Francisco.

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PHOTOS BY BILL WILSON (BILLWILSONPHOTOS. COM )

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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 Brandon Miller & Joanne Jordan Photographers Rink, Dennis McMillan, Steven Underhill, Phyllis Costa, Cathy Blackstone, Robert Fuggiti

Photographer Bill Wilson and his spouse Fernando Orlando returned recently from an extended visit with family in Rome. Contributing to the Bay Times his original images of Pope Francis conducting weekly audiences and mass, Bill reported his favorite to be “the one where the Pope is looking directly at me.”

Profiles of Courage and Compassion: Jason Brock got better and better. Now singing is what I do for a living!

SS: Name one of your key mentors and explain how he or she inspired your work.

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CALENDAR Event listings for consideration to be included in the Bay Times online or print Calendar section should be sent by e-mail to: calendar@sfbaytimes.com.

Don't Call It Frisco Stu Smith (Editor’s Note: Jason Brock is a Bay Area-ba sed s in ge r, pe r for m e r, e m cee and actor. He was a f inalist on “T he X-F a ct o r ” a n d s t a r re d i n t h e f i l m “L ove Is Not Enough.” http://www. jasonbrockvocals.net/) SS: How did you become involved in your work?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR If you would like to write a letter to the editor with comment on an article or suggestions for the Bay Times, email us at editor@sfbaytimes.com. © 2013 Bay Times Media Co, Inc. Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas Reprints by permission only.

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BAY TIMES AUGUS T 8 , 2 0 1 3

JB: My family is a family of musicians. I was born around music.

I began singing in public when I was 5 years old or so. My siblings and I sang in church with my mom while she played guitar. I went on to sing in church until I was about 19 when I st a r ted lea r n i ng t hat other people really liked the way I sang (at karaoke bars). So, eventually I was asked to do cabaret & theatre and I kept doing that and

J B: One of my key mentor s ha s been my ver y ow n pia n ist , Dee Spencer. She really helped me to u nder st a nd t he world of pi a no bars and jazz. Dee gave me the opportunity to try dif ferent material in front of audiences when I was just st a r t i ng out. She a lso demonst rates to me how a musicia n can make it in this world without having to work in a f ield that’s not related to music. I’ve progressed a lot as an artist thanks to her gentle guidance.

SS: If you could f ix or solve one major problem in t he Bay A rea, what would it be and why?

JB: Wow, there are so many (and I ’m not c o m p l a i n i n g , b e c a u s e I love it her e). But how a b out MUNI? I think we need a lot more buses and train cars out there, because t hey a re just so crowded!

M U N I is cur rent ly r unn ing below the needed amount of vehicles fairly regularly and I’d like to get to sit down on my way to the Castro once in a while.

SS: A mong your ma ny ach ievement s, wh ich one a re you most proud of and why?

JB: I’m most proud of the fact that I made it on to the TV show T he X-Factor with Britney Spears, Simon Cowel l, L . A . Reid & Dem i L ovato. W hat an honor! W hat a life changing moment in my life.

I had worked ha rd to become a g reat per for mer a nd m a k i ng it onto that show, and into the top 12 contestants, really felt af f irming. I felt like I had really accompl ished my dream. A nd it’s tr ue — I have.

SS: W hat are your future goa ls and aspirations?

J B: Next I wou ld l i ke to get rea l ly st able a nd accompl ished as an entertainer. I’d like to do more television & f ilm and maybe even Broadway. I’d also like to perform in Tokyo and even live there. Big dreams! Oh, and unrelated to my ca reer, I’d l i ke to see ma r r iage equ a l it y leg a l i zed (f u l ly i n t he

Jason Brock

st ates a nd i nter n at ion a l ly) so I can have the option of marr ying my boy fr iend who is a Japanese citizen. This could potentially allow us to live in the same country more easily.

Stu S mith is board chair emer itus of S h a nt i P roje ct , boa rd ch a ir of T h e Paratransit Coordinating Council , a me mbe r of th e Ca stro C ountr y Club Advisory Board and the LGBT Senior Task Force, and producer and host of the public access T V prog ra m “ T he Drag Show.” KQED has honored Stu as a 2013 LGBT Hero.

Errata: In the July 25th issue, the name of Lance Toma was misspelled as Lance Tom. The correct spelling is Toma. We apologize for the mistake.

The Week in Review

By Ann Rostow The Heat Is On August in Central Texas is not a happy time. You know those scenes in horror movies where the scientists are working at the South Pole and have to plod from one metal building to the next in order to confer with a colleague? The laborious hundred-yard trek takes forever. Their breath freezes. Their faces and beards are covered with ice. And their colleague has been half eaten by a mutant Arctic spider, so the whole errand was pointless in the first place. Austin in deep summer is just the same except in reverse and (as a rule) without the mutant spiders.

But at least I have the small solace of being able to enjoy my annual use of the word “canicula,” which is one of those words that becomes pretentious if tossed out more than once or twice a year. (Mentioning the word itself outside of its use in context doesn’t count.)

I haven’t decided whether to use it this week or in the next column. We’ll see where it might apply. But I know it’s available, just waiting for me. The pleasure is akin to writing about an event that destroyed 10 percent of some population and being able to use the verb “decimate” with complete accuracy even as it defies its common definition.

Normally, the torpor that settles into the depth of the canicula saps the energy from our GLBT news, leaving us with a desiccated hull of old stories and dry statistics. But not this year.

The High Court’s gay rights decisions in late June have flowered into many blossoms of new court cases, new legislative optimism, and new attitudes across a range of public forums. The twin victories have strewn a potent fertilizer on GLBT issues across the land, and it seems as if every case and controversy is taken seriously and/or reviewed in our favor. If I can extricate myself from this labored analogy, I’ll compile some examples.

For one thing, it feels as if we are winning the sort of legal disputes that used to be aborted by the first court that took a look. You may remember the two Ohio men, who convinced a judge to order the state to recognize their Maryland marriage on an impending death certificate last month.

(One of the men is dying.) This month, a federal court in Pennsylvania has ordered a law firm to pay a death benefit to the widow of one of their lawyers who died of cancer. Previously, that death benefit of about $50,000 was earmarked for the dead woman’s parents, who disapproved of her same-sex marriage.

The House Republicans who defended the Defense of Marriage Act across the board have now abandoned any and all legal activities, period. They have withdrawn from all pending cases even though they could theoretically have developed alternative antimarriage arguments in the wake of the Windsor ruling.

Public support of gay rights and marriage equality is growing or holding steady in the aftermath of the decisions. Politicians are jumping on the marriage bandwagon, ducking the subject, or issuing vague remarks that would have been hailed a decade ago as a sign of progress. A raft of new lawsuits has been filed by our legal eagles, while another handful of suits by individuals acting on their own has also been filed. A county official in the Philadelphia area has begun offering marriage licenses in defiance of state law, and although that action is heading for the courts, the move feels less like a symbolic gesture a/la San Francisco in 2004 and more like a harbinger of future state policy.

Is a backlash, or a mini-backlash, in our future? I don’t think so. Instead of two steps forward and one step back, we seem to be moving ten steps for-

ward and six inches back, an encouraging pace indeed.

There Oughta Be a Law The sheriff of East Baton Rouge has apologized for a prolonged park sting operation in which a dozen or so men were arrested for soliciting a felony under the Louisiana sodomy law. After the High Court struck sodomy laws as unconstitutional, they still remained on the books in states, like Louisiana and Texas, where lawmakers simply refused to repeal them on principle.

Of course, the sodomy statutes were unconstitutional. But apparently that didn’t stop the Yahoos in East Baton Rouge from sending undercover cops into the park for a two-year sting fest.

Once the men were arrested, the charges were subsequently dropped by district attorneys familiar with the notion that unconstitutional statutes no longer carry penalties. But they were arrested nonetheless! Not a pleasant process, I’m sure.

In an even stranger case, the distasteful Virginia Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate, Ken Cuccinelli, is trying to restore a version of his state’s flat ban on anal and oral sex that would only apply to 16 and 17 year olds.

Let’s back up for a minute. The Virginia sodomy ban, which applied to everyone, was effectively struck by the High Court along with all the other state bans on consensual noncommercial sex. But naturally, it remained on the books as a symbol of the Loving State’s commitment to, ah, traditional intercourse.

Along comes a 47-year-old guy, who sounds like a bit of a sleazebag frankly, who tried to convince a 17-year-old girl to give him a blow job. Since the age of consent is 15, the man broke no law in his efforts. Nonetheless, he was charged under a law that makes it a felony to solicit a minor to commit a felony. The girl was a minor, but the suggested underlying felony was based on the technically defunct sodomy law. Nevertheless, he spent a year in jail and had to register as a sex offender.

In March, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled in favor of Mr. Blowjob and told Virginia to shove its sodomy law where the sun don’t shine. Cuccinelli has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the state law could survive the Lawrence decision if it applied only to minors under 17, but above the age of consent. Following this line of thinking to its logical conclusion, Cuccinelli’s Virginia would allow a high school junior to have intercourse, but not oral sex--- regardless of sexual orientation, by the way.

I can’t imagine that the justices would bother with Cuccinelli’s appeal, but still! The man’s a freak. Keep an eye on the election this November and hope that Terry McAuliffe can pull out a win. Last month, the Democrat led Cuccinelli by a few points.

Cold War The biggest GLBT news story this week is one that we will be talking about for the next six or seven months.

I am sort of sidestepping the discussion only because I know it will be a major topic of debate for the near term.

I’m talking, of course, about the Winter Olympics in Russia, where just a few months ago, the country instituted a nationwide ban on pro-gay “propaganda,” a law that prohibits pride demonstrations, gay civil rights statements or writings, rainbow f lags, or anything else you can think of.

What do we do about this? It feels too late to change the location. And we know from experience that Olympic boycotts are problematic. Olympic

Professional Services rules, in turn, forbid political statements at the games, so athletes who protest might run into sanctions. Or would they? Although the Olympic officials have been dithering around, I would think that in this situation they could simply turn a blind eye to any athlete who wears a rainbow pin or defies the law in a gesture of solidarity.

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee claims that Russian officials have assured them that the law will not be enforced against visiting athletes. Really? The St. Petersburg politician who authored the first “no promo homo” law in his own city insists that the law’s the law and no one can ignore it. That said, he might just be a rightwing blow hard with no influence on the situation.

Some are calling for a boycott of Russian vodka, Stoli in particular. The brand is owned by a Luxembourgbased parent company, but the ingredients are still Russian and hey, it’s a matter of principle. We’re also boycotting Russian products in general, so you can say goodbye to the little nesting dolls and go buy your caviar from Iran.

I Heart Uruguay So, Uruguay did legalize marriage equality the other day. I was confused about that, but the news is good. And the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has ruled that the middle school girls who were disciplined for wearing plastic bracelets reading “I (heart) boobies” can continue sending their coy breast cancer message.

The school in question argued that the bracelets were too provocative for middle school and could lead to other more salacious bracelets, operating under cover of the First Amendment.

Schools do have the power to regulate disruptive clothing to an extent, but the courts have determined that the booby bracelets are simply not that big of a deal. Further, the Third Circuit judges ruled, the school is not allowed to prohibit a political statement based on the fear that some other sexier manifestation might arise.

Presumably, if an “I (heart) big dicks” bracelet were to circulate, the school could take action at that time.

The news is interesting to us, obviously, because the tension between schools and First Amendment rights so often rises to the surface in gay cases. This time it’s a breast cancer bracelet. Next time, it could be another gay rights T-shirt and a school that claims erroneously that such shirts bring sex into the classroom.

Oh, and how about this little vignette?

Apparently, back in late June, the driver of an airport shuttle in Albuquerque made a gay couple go sit in the back of the bus because they were holding hands and singing. The owner of the shuttle company suspended the driver and apologized to the men, and the mayor has called the driver’s behavior “inappropriate.” See? It’s just as I was saying at the start of this column. This sort of incident would have been ignored or laughed off a few years ago. Now, even the mayor feels obliged to speak out.

Christians Behaving Badly While we’re in New Mexico, keep an eye out for a key state supreme court ruling on whether a wedding photographer has the right to refuse a lesbian client under the state’s antidiscrimination law. Oral arguments were heard in March, so a ruling could emerge any day. And, as you know, this is far from the only instance of a Christian business owner claiming immunity from state laws based on religious freedom.

For example, there’s another case pending in a lower court in Wash(continued on page 18)

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

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 8, 2013

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Fine Tune Your Family Anthem ARIES (March 21 – April 19) The wheels of change are rolling in your favor, Aries. Even though some hills are steep, you’re soulfully inclined to take the leap. Every rebel needs a cause. What’s yours?

LEO (July 23 – August 22) As the zodiac’s beloved thespian, your preference is probably to bask in the spotlight. However, the Universe whispers precious pointers only audible from behind the scenes now. Listen closely, Leo.

better.

Astrology Gypsy Love When composers Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers initially pitched Sister Sledge’s “We are Family” to Atlantic Records in 1979, they were promptly rejected. Yet, despite doubtful label executives, the track’s underground mass appeal was monumental. It excelled as a single, quickly quenching worldwide cravings for sisterly strength and solidarity. Benevolent astro-rhythms beckon us to boogie with the big picture. Fine-tune your family anthem, and grow from grass roots to greatness.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Current uprisings in your spirit sector inspire you to question the powers that be. Don’t let tradition taint personal truths, Taurus. Feed the need to find out for yourself.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) Believe in the beauty of belonging, Virgo. Take pride in the tools and trades that tie you to your tribe. Participate with passion in these opportunities to create with your community.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Feeling pressure to purge, Gemini? Certain circumstances are mysteriously steering you toward new standards of worth and wellness. Heed this clue: The more you let go, the greater you’ll gain.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) The value of your service is sacred, sweet Libra.

Call upon cosmic instincts to help guide you toward career goals. Prioritize your principles now. The right route will reveal itself.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) Tuck away your compass, Cancer. You’re cruising a celestial superhighway where it pays to get lost.

Flashes of innovation will light your path. Discover the wonder of wandering.

www.AstrologyByGypsyLove.com

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) Scale back, Scorpio. Focusing your efforts on matters that authentically move you will furnish the most meaningful results. Tune in, turn on, and take your dreams to the next level.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) See beyond the surface, Sagittarius. You’re surfing amidst waves that warrant your faith in the unknown. Ride this tide without needing to control every outcome. Grow with the flow.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) Cat got your tongue, Capricorn? You could be tempted to discredit thoughts that creep into your consciousness now. Self-censorship isn’t the answer.

The stars summon you to speak sincerely.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Free your mind, Aquarius. Subconsciously, you’re shedding some skin that no longer serves a useful purpose. Revitalize headspace by releasing mental reigns that have already run their course.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) It’s showtime, Pisces! Stellar shifts are seasoning your plate with a colorful combination of courage and creative expression. Embrace artistic impulses to make the most of this sparkly soiree.

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 are the places that you like to surf, or watch surfing, and why?

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Aaron Priskorn

Gabriela Moraga

Jim Strano

Anna Buss

“I like to watch surfers at Ocean Beach and Fort Point since it is so daring.”

“I like to watch surfers at Huntington Beach and have fun with friends.”

“I like to surf on the North Shore of Oahu, and you do not need a wetsuit.”

“I want to take surfing lessons in Santa Cruz, a great surfing town.”

BAY TIMES AUGUS T 8 , 2 0 1 3

Use the News Education Program Maven of the Outdoors – Meet Guide Kim Powell S h e ’s r e n o w n e d a n d l o v e d throughout the Bay Area and beyond as a top g uide for outdoor a c t iv it ie s w it h f r iend s , f a m i l y, school g roups and ot hers. Since 19 8 5, w it h t he fou nd i ng of her bu s i ne s s B lue Wat er Vent u r e s , K im Powel l has been l iv ing her d rea m, a nd she welcomes a l l to live it with her.

It’s sa fe to say t hat K im Powel l is out there! Here are just a few of her recent advent ures: wha le watch ing on Monterey Bay, v isits with the elephant seals at Año N u e v o Po i n t , s w i m m i n g w i t h ma natees i n F lor id a , ex plor i ng rain forests in Belize, kayaking at Loon Lake in the Sierras or Elkhorn Slough near Monterey or the sea caves of Mendocino, or…well, we could go on. What’s more, she does it all with a contagious poise and enthusiasm that rarely fail to i nspi re even t he most reluct a nt participants.

For over 25 years, K im has welcomed thousands on her outings.

Trips for beginners, intermediates k i l led , a nd sea soned pros a re planned. Varying from day-trips at Northern California locales to longer ones visiting distant sites, outings are offered for women, LGBT or g a n i z at ion s , pr iv at e g r oup s , fam i l ies or businesses. Dest inations outside of the Bay Area include Baja California, Caribbean Islands, Micronesia and more.

Equipped with a master’s degree in Environmental Interpretation, her natural curiosity and years of experience, Kim brings an amazing reputation for service and expertise.

Upcoming August 24 th - Kayaking group outing, hosted by the Bay Times a nd “ B et t y ’s L i st ,” at P i l l a r Point Harbor near Half Moon B a y. Fo l l o w i n g t h e p a d d l e there will be an optional visit to Sam’s Chowder House. For deta i ls or to reser ve a space, call 415-601-2113.

For the schedule of all upcoming activities, v isit bluewaterventures.org and enjoy the scenic photog raphy while you’re there. Even the website brings a s en s e of p ot ent i a l a c c om plishment and anticipation of what’s to come.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BLUE WATER VENTURES

Veteran guide Nikki Doyle (left) works with Blue Water Ventures on selected outings.

Welcome Home – California Men’s Gatherings – Labor Day Weekend C a l i fo r n i a M e n’s G a t h e r i n g s (C M G ) i s h av i n g it s S u m me r G at her i n g , t heme d “ We lc ome Home,” on Labor Day weekend, Friday Aug 30 – Monday Sept 2 in the hills of Santa Rosa, CA.

Kim enjoys guiding families and school groups in addition to conducting outings for adults.

CMG is a California-based nonprof it in which volunteer teams c r e a t e r e l a x i n g , e m p ow e r i n g , all-inclusive, drug- and alcoholfree weekend retreats or “gatherings” for men who are predominantly gay, bisexual, transgender or quest ioning, but a l l men are welcome! T he event is for men 18 and older only. The venue is

l a r g e l y whe e lc h a i r a c c e s s ible.

P re -reg i st r at ion requ i red . S ee website for details. It’s going to be f u n! For more i n for mat ion: http://www.thecm g.org/s umme r or 1-877-984 -3264, x1.

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 8, 2013

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Editor’s Note: Welcome to the third edition of our new Marriages, Anniversaries & Occasions section. Inquire how your social announcement can appear free of charge, or how your wedding services ad can be included at a special rate: Publisher@sfbaytimes.com or 415601-2113.

History Repeats Itself

By Richard Coddington

As I think back on the occasion, I remember t he number of people who f illed the War Memorial Auditorium.

We un ited to celebrate t he recog nit ion of gay and lesbia n couples who decla red their commitment to one another.

It took the community to witness t he occa sion, not l i ke our ma rriage on July 23, 2013, when our friends stood watching as we exchanged rings under the rotunda of City Hall.

In 1996, couples stood in the lobby of the War Memorial waiting their turn to march down the aisle and receive their domestic partners certif icate. When it was our turn to be presented the domestic partners certif icate, it was a surreal feeling.

William told me to “slow down” as I ran toward the stage. A fter we

PHOTOS COURTESY BY SCOTT SHARP

January 31, 1979, at the Nothing Special Bar on Castro. That was the day that I met William (Skip) Oakes. Not in my wildest dreams cou ld I have i mag i ned t hat one d ay we wou ld b e m a r r ie d . We were thrilled to become domestic partners on March 21, 1991. But it wasn’t unt i l M a rch 29, 199 6 , when W i l l ie L . Br ow n Jr. was mayor t hat we par t icipated in the domestic partners ceremony and appeared on the cover of the October 1998 edition of the San Francisco Bay Times.

To carry on the spirit of the domestic partners union, we again donned art deco, vintage hats for our marriage. Unlike the darkness of the War Memorial Auditorium in 1996, we were under the rotunda of the vast sunlit City Hall. We were no longer second-class citizens due to the striking down of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) on June 26, 2013, by the Supreme Court. As luck would have it, Skip’s sister and niece were visiting at the time of the landmark decision. They had just toured City Hall and were happy about our upcoming marriage.

were presented the certif icate, we were asked to say a few words.

The domestic partners event i n 19 9 6 w a s m a d e e v e n more electric since the Defense of Mar r iage Act had gathered enough signatures to be pl aced on t he St ate ballot in 1999. But that did not d a mpen t he s pi r it s of t he pa r t ic ipa nt s. T he seed s for equalit y were planted as couples talked of expanding their families by having or adopting a child.

Given the excitement, all I could think of to say was that we voted for Willie Brown and the potholes had not yet been f ixed. We then retreated to the Green Room to cong rat u late ot her couples a nd have refreshments. At t he t ime, becoming domestic partners was a specia l and spectacular event.

Skip and I decided to dress for the occasion, and that meant wearing suits and hats.

The civ il ceremony for domestic partners remains one of the most pr ofou nd ly memor able d ay s of our lives, second only to our recent wedding. Barbara Lane and Dan Hampshire of San Francisco and Scott Sharp and his daughter Hannah of Carlsbad, California, attended the wedding. A reception was held in our home following the ceremony, which was f illed w ith f lowers from well-wishers.

Above: Skip and Ricardo exchanging rings. Below: With family and friends at City Hall.

Forging a New Destiny When I was f ive years old, I was disappointed when my mother’s b est f r iend Renée a n nou nc ed she was going to wed Tom. I had planned on marr y ing Renée, a vivacious and outgoing woman.

My disappointment turned into g iddy pleasure when I realized t hat it wa s OK t hat Tom wa s now in the picture. I thought I wou ld move i n w it h t hem a nd Tom cou ld suppor t me wh i le I hung out with Renée!

!

Dance to music customized and personalized just for you! email: salsabrate@sbcglobal.net 650.464.3730 or 707.623.0140

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BAY TIMES AUGUST 8 , 2 0 1 3

I believe that I was born gay. My i nterest i n ma r r y i ng a woma n was a n at tempt to fol low societ a l nor ms. W hen I beca me a tad older, my af fections turned to L es l ie Ug g a m s . W h i le I ’ve never been lured by the likes of L iza, Cher or Mar iah, t his si x or seven year old boy was certain that I would somehow meet a nd ma r r y t h is 19 6 0’s si ng i ng sensation!

At age 29, I went down on one knee to propose to a wonderful woman. I wasn’t hiding behind a ‘beard,’ but rather was following t he scr ipt of gett ing a job, marrying someone of the opposite gender, and f inding a house w it h a wh ite picket fence. T he wedding was picture perfect. It included her grandmother making hundreds of knishes for the recept ion, and my g randmot her reciting the age-old blessing over t he c h a l l a h (c er emon i a l bread).

I rec a l l i n a l l t h ree i n st a nces k now ing that I wanted to have a special bond w ith someone. I knew the proper way to demonstrate that to family, friends and

each and ever y day that I have on this earth.

Weddings Howard Steiermann the world was through marriage.

A nd , for wh at e ver r e a s on s , I loved the pomp and ceremony of wedd ing s…t he specia l clot hes, the processional and recessional, and all the energ y that went into t he preparat ions result ing in such a special occasion.

It was my early recog n it ion of t he i mp or t a nc e of w e d d i n g s , actually of all life cycle rituals, that planted the seed that germinated into my interest in, comfort with and pride in of f iciating at seminal moments in people’s lives. It is my soul that gets f illed by t h is work , not my wa l let. I feel most eng a ged when I a m helping others through life cycle moment s , b e t he y f i l le d w it h tears of joy or tears of sorrow.

Hav i ng t he honor of joi n i ng a couple in marriage is a delight.

C e l eb r a t i n g t h e a r r i v a l o f a child brings a smile to my face a nd wa r mt h to my hea r t. T he pr iv i lege of being w it h t he bereaved as they navigate the diff icult waters of a loss touches me deeply and helps me to cherish

I a m gl ad t hat I t hat I ’ve developed t he sk i l ls to lead r it uals. I have gained the empathy necessa r y to lead a nd suppor t mourners. I have developed the spont a neit y to ha nd le t he u nexpected dur ing wedd ings. My soft demeanor allows me to calm nervous f irst-time parents. I am so for tunate and g rateful t hat, through nurturing others, I also nurture myself.

Being a Ritual Facilitator allows me to w itness specia l moments i n ot her people’s l ives. I get a glimpse into their world by hearing their hopes, aspirations and fea r s. I ga i n i nsight i nto t hei r world through meeting biolog ical and/or chosen family.

It t ur ns out t hat I wa sn’t des t i ne d t o for g e a l i fe t og et her with a woman. I’m thankful that Renée and Tom are still part of my life. I’m thrilled that my exwife and I retain a special bond, even though we’re not meant to be life partners. And if I ever do get to meet Leslie Uggams, I’m going to k iss her hand and exclaim that the seven-year-old me was her biggest fan!

If I do walk down the aisle one d ay w it h t he m a n/ love of my life, I w ill have a special place in my heart for whomever is off iciating.

Howa rd M S t e i e r m a n n i s a n O rdained Rit ual Facilitator ba sed in San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.SFHoward.com.

The Joy Continues, The Work Continues Aug ust brings with it more wedd ing bel ls, as equa l mar r iage r ight s t a ke ef fect i n M i n nesot a and Rhode Island, and more and more couples marry in California.

It’s a g reat feel i ng to celebr ate friends’ weddings and to have the freedom to marr y extended to a growing number of states on both coa st s , a s wel l a s i n A mer ic a’s heartland.

Marriage Equality

Wit h t he end of Sect ion3 of DOM A, legally married same-sex couples are beg inning to get notices from their employers about how that Supreme Court decision impacts t heir dai ly l ives, as H R depa r t ment s scr a mble to rev ise t heir pract ices to ensure equa lity in benef its. We remain hopeful that Aug ust may bring marriage equality to yet another state – Illinois – while progress continues in legislatures and courtrooms in st ates a s d iver se as New Jer sey, Pen n s y lv a n i a , V i r g i n i a , Nor t h Carolina, Ohio, M ichigan, New Me x ic o, Ne v a d a , O r eg on , H a waii, and more.

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, Marriage Equality USA tended a rally on the steps of San Francisco Cit y Hall – a familiar venue for marr iage equalit y rall ies for over a decade – but t his time it was a v ig il for justice for Tray von Ma r t i n. A s Rev. A mos Brow n spoke, he mov ingly wove toget her civ i l r ight s a nd L GBT rights into one movement for huma n r ight s a nd d ig n it y, a nd we reca l led how h is boom ing voice e c ho e d o f f t he w a l l s o f e v e r y building in the Civic Center f ive years earl ier when he addressed tens of thousands of us assembled for t he largest protest fol low ing the passage of Proposition 8.

At the same time, we are increasi ngly awa re of t he need to cont i nue t he ongoi ng work for f u l l e q u a l it y i n a l l a s p e c t s o f ou r lives, both for our own communities and beyond. Recently we at-

A nd now we have a new protest venue – the Russian Consulate –

t he site of a communit y ra l ly in the wake of increasing homophobi a t a k i n g hold i n t he wor ld’s largest nation. While we celebrate w i n s for m a r r i a g e e qu a l it y on both sides of the English Channel, w it h bot h E ngl a nd a nd Fr a nce embracing the freedom to marry, event s i n Russia a nd el sewhere are a sober ing reminder t hat progress can be painfully slow – and gains can be reversed at any time by homophobic demagogues.

Truly it seems like this is no time to rest. Yet we would be foolish if we didn’t make sure to celebrate our w ins, as t hat for t if ies us for t he work t hat lies before us. We look forward to seeing you at both the next wedding reception, and at the next rally – for both are important and necessar y reminders of how far we’ve come, and how far we have yet to go.

John L ewis and Stuart Gaf f ney, together for nearly three decades, were pl a int if fs in th e Califor ni a ca se for equal marr iage r ights decided by the Califor nia S upre me C our t in 2008 .

T h e y a re l ea d e rs in t h e n at i onw i d e g ra s s r o o t s o r g a n i z a t i o n M a r r i a g e Equality USA.

On Tuesday, Ju ly 23, Hossein and Patrick Carney were married at SF City Hall. Both are extremely talented and dedicated com mu n it y member s. Patr ic k , for ex a mple, or ig i n ated t he a n nua l P i n k Tr ia ngle i nstallation and commemoration during Pride.

A day before the wedding, Patrick told the Bay Times, “As an architect, I was honored to have worked on SF City Hall for four ye a r s du r i n g t he r e s t or at ion and was even the team’s liaison to Mayor Willie Brown for the joint-venture of 26 architectura l a nd eng i neer i ng f i r ms a nd made the desig n presentat ions t o M ayor B r ow n a lon g w it h City Architect at the time, Tony Irons. I know every inch of the bu i ld i n g a nd h a d muc h pa s sion for t he project, t herefore the strong desire to be married there.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BILL WILSON (BILLWILSONPHOTOS.COM)

Hossein and Patrick Carney’s Wedding Celebration

Above: Patrick (left) and Hossein serving the Pink Triangle wedding cake.

Below: Family members and friends with the grooms at City Hall.

Bottom: Mayor Ed Lee officiating the wedding.

A fter the cere m o n y, H o s s e i n , P a t r ic k and their guests enjoyed a reception luncheon at the St. Francis Ho tel in Victor’s Palace Ballroom overlooking Union Square, downtown and the Bay Br id ge. T hei r beaut i f u l wed d i n g c a ke a nd c on fet t i wer e both Pink Triangle-themed.

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Round About – Costumes & Couture

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Halloween may be here early this year as LGBT community members are decked out and out and about, cutting f ine images everywhere. Bay Times photographers Rink and Steven Underhill have captured shots depicting characters and creatures of all sorts while attending a diverse array of events, including the Jane Austen Society’s screening of the f ilm Austenland, Runway Couturier’s Runway Contest for New Designers, and the annual Up Your Alley Fair. Take your pick!

Money and Finance Covering Essential Expenses in Retirement

Money Matters Brandon Miller, CFP & Joanne Jordan, CFP Today’s retirees face unique challenges — including prolonged periods of market uncertainty and longer average lifespans — which make thoughtfully planning for retirement more critical than ever. For most, feeling more confident about retirement comes down to the ability to pay for essential expenses — the predictable and recurring costs of life’s necessities. Some of the most common essential expenses include food, home maintenance costs, mortgage or rent payments, taxes and insurance premiums.

How can you cover these expenses?

Since markets will always fluctuate, having a concrete financial strategy that includes guaranteed or stable income sources can help you cover your essential expenses in all market environments. In fact, it’s a good idea to aim to cover 100 percent of your essential expenses with these sources of income during retirement.

If you’re nearing retirement, you may already have one or more sources of guaranteed or stable income in place, most notably Social Security.

You may also have a defined benefit plan through your employer. Yet, no matter how strong these two sources of income may be, they might not be sufficient to cover your essential expenses in retirement. This means that you will likely have to rely on your savings to pay some of your basic living costs.

There are several financial solutions that offer guaranteed or stable income and can help you cover the gap between what you have in place and what you’ll need, for example: • Annuities — Annuities can generate a reliable stream of income throughout retirement. Annuity contract guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. They can provide a stable income for a desired period of time, or for life.

Some annuity contracts may also provide principle protection.

The unique features of annuities offer opportunities for tax deferred future income growth. There are also many different optional features and benef its that may be available for an additional cost with annuities. In return for the benefits they provide, annuities carry a surrender charge and other fees.

• Bank deposits — Most savings accounts, Certif icates of Deposit (CDs) and other deposit arrange-

ments at a bank offer a set interest rate and return of principal, and are protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for up to $250,000 per account registration. (For more information, visit FDIC.gov.)

• U.S. Government Securities — Savings bonds and United States Treasury Securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. They may pay a stated interest rate, or be purchased at a discount of face value. There are many strategies that can be used to generate income with these instruments. Interest income from Treasury bonds is generally exempt from state and local income taxes, but is subject to federal income taxes.

Having the financial security you need to enjoy retirement takes planning and hard work. All of these investment choices can provide a regular stream of income over time, so you can count on payments to help you meet the challenges of an uncertain environment. Consider working with a financial professional who can help you find the best financial strategy for you based on your financial situation and goals.

Brandon Miller, CFP and Joanne Jordan, CFP are financial consultants at Jordan Miller & Associates, A Private Wealth Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial Inc. in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.

Problems with Intimacy is because intimacy is a problem.” I don’t deny that therapy might be of benefit to him in strengthening his relationships, but I do question his hope that any therapeutic process will make them problem-free. I ask him, “Have you ever known anyone who never had problems with intimacy? If not, why do you think it should be any different for you?”

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT Patrick hopes that therapy will rid him of his “problems with intimacy,” which he assumes must be the result of the insecurities he acquired from growing up in a dysfunctional family.

He takes it for granted that his “trust issues” and the other difficulties he has in his relationships are evidence that he’s crazy. After all, everyone knows that love is “the answer.” Why would any “normal person” have “issues” with it? He is counting on therapy to fix all of this.

I suggest to him, “But maybe one reason you have problems with intimacy

I wish there were some psychological process that would make relationships a breeze, but it doesn’t work that way. Connecting with others is work, and there’s no way to guarantee that any attempt to do it will be successful. As far as trust is concerned, relationships really do carry risks.

We all know from hard experience that people are capable of lies and betrayal. No one gets very far in life without being deeply hurt by someone’s dishonest or selfish behavior.

It’s a universal human experience.

And if we’re honest with ourselves, we all know that there are people in our lives that we’ve abandoned or betrayed too – whether the cause was our selfishness or just the ordinary day-to-day dullness, unconsciousness, and insensitivity to which we’re all prone. That’s why, in all signifi-

(HARVEY MILK CLUB continued from page 1) The high number of homeless crisis will only grow worse if we don’t address it immediately.

LGBTQ people Recent statistics showing that 30% of our city’s homeless population is LGBTQ are alarming, but by no means shocking. The shrinking number of services for homeless populations and skyrocketing evictions and unaffordable rents make it clear that this

The loss of queer spaces, both public and private We hear about queer-owned small businesses shutting down so often that we hardly register the news any more. There is a shrinking amount of public space, and freedom to con-

cant relationships, trust doesn’t just spring up out of nowhere. It develops and deepens through hard work, slowly and over a period of years, as and to the degree that both parties consistently demonstrate trustworthy behavior. Getting close is work.

Many people seem to believe implicitly that to be in pain -- to have struggles, confusions, disappointments and frustrations – means that you’re doing something wrong. The unspoken assumption seems to be that there must be some way of doing life so that you don’t suffer; and that if you are suffering, then there must be a cure -- some belief system, or a pill, an insight, a “secret” -- which can eliminate the difficulties of life. The bad news is that there is no such panacea.

There are many joys and satisfactions in life, but even under the best of circumstances life is hard, and there is no way of living it that will completely insulate us from that reality. The good news is that understanding that truth offers freedom from the mistake of taking the difficulties in our lives as evidence that we are defective and need fixing.

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

gregate in public spaces available to queer people as well. With the removal of the benches in Harvey Milk Plaza, which were mostly used by young queer kids who couldn’t hang out in the bars, the new nudity ban and now a proposed nighttime ban on access to public parks, it seems that small businesses are not the only thing that the queer community is being shut out of.

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Arts&Entertainment The Canyons Oscillates Between Gay and Straight nology. And in Hollywood, with its ‘anonymous sources’ and stars keeping lives private, and this dying of cinema…there’s no going back. There’s too much information out there, too many people wanting transparency.”

Film

Gary M. Kramer Bret Easton Ellis, famous for creating louche, amoral characters, has created some fabulously reckless film industry folk in his smart screenplay for The Canyons, now available on VOD. The writer deemed the film--which is both seductive and sinister--a “neonoir,” perhaps because it is a sordid tale of sex, betrayal, and violence set in Los Angeles, 2012.

Christian ( James Deen), is a f ilm producer romantically involved with Tara (Lindsay Lohan). This funloving couple frequently invites guys over for sexual activities that range from voyeuristic masturbation sessions to a fourgy. But despite this arrangement, when Christian suspects Tara of cheating on him with Ryan (Nolan Funk)--an actor in his new movie whose girlfriend, Gina (Amanda Brooks), is Christian’s assistant--he becomes hell-bent on revenge.

Yet one could look at The Canyons not as a noir per se, but as a dark comedy of manners--albeit one where anything goes except lying and betrayal.

“I was thinking about this notion of transparency,” Ellis insisted at the suggestion. “There is this struggle between this old guard that thinks it’s dangerous, and this new guard that thinks transparency is a good thing.

You can’t get away with things you once got away with because of tech-

As such, the f ilm makes Tara and Ryan strivers who, despite having romantic feelings for each other, lie to their lovers, whom they use to better their lives. In contrast, Christian is an intriguing, f lawed protagonist who may do unsavory things, but he is always honest. He is never apologetic, or ashamed.

“That’s who James [Deen] is! That’s how I am!” Ellis said. “Why do I write these characters? I don’t know.

They just resonate with me. I think for every script to work, there has to be something personal in it, something you identify with. People talk about the surface amorality of my characters, but I do not approach them that way.”

He continued, “I identify with Christian. I don’t think he has to be likable. Christian does care about Tara.

It is an important relationship, and I think he loves her. And though he can do whatever he wants (sexually, in their assignations), he feels deeply wounded and betrayed.”

Ellis added, “The ‘audience identifier’--to use the industry term--is Ryan, because he’s so trod upon. He has the least power in the film. I thought of actors I know [to create Ryan] and they do hit a level of desperation and get f---ed over. A lot, and that’s based on someone I know well.”

For the writer, the suspicious Christian reaches his breaking point “after Tara has him make out with another dude” during a fourgy. Ellis finds this moment to be the most shocking scene in the film. He defended it. “I don’t believe you can force shock. You have to have to be drawn to this material. I wasn’t thinking about being shocking.

It was: this is what is going to happen.

I don’t think you can effectively get to someone if you are faking it.”

The three main characters display a sexual f luidity that, like Ellis’, oscillates back and forth between gay and straight. He claimed, “That’s how I am and how I’ve always been. I relate to that, and I like it, and I want to see it. It comes from an emotional place.

You write the book you want to read.

You write the movie you want to see.

I’m not trying to make a statement about sexual fluidity. I like to present (queer sex) in my work. I think it also brings a tension to things and complicates things. And I like to see if the actors go for it.”

different side in another.” The actor is incredibly magnetic here, and yes, he does have a full frontal scene that viewers unfamiliar with the porn star’s talents will appreciate.

Although Tara was written for another actress, Ellis admitted he didn’t have someone in particular in mind.

“Lindsay came in and changed the character. The girl in the script was more vulnerable. I imagined Tara softer, not aggressive and challenging Christian. Lindsay gave it a spin and it worked.” He praised Lohan for being professional--knowing about

While they do, both on screen and off, The Canyons offers enough titillation for viewers expecting a salacious film.

As for the actors, the writer holds Deen in high esteem. He acknowledged, “I was thinking about Deen when I was writing this. I thought of this nice-looking guy being dark. I see that in his porn: a goofy guy next door in one film, who shows a vastly

lighting and angles--despite reports in the press to the contrary. And perhaps the rumors around The Canyons are just one of the industry’s ways of cutting this micro-budget film down to size.

Ellis revealed that the screenplay is “a summation of everything I’ve been through (in Hollywood). Working on indie films--and they’ve more often than not gone off the rails--it’s been frustrating and exhilarating. The Canyons became the expression of that.”

The “moribund f ilm industry,” as Ellis referred to it, is referenced in the fantastic opening and end credit sequences that feature closed movie theatres in various stages of disrepair.

The Canyons is as much a film about the decline of cinema as it is about the decline of love and the decline of trust. In fact, one of the best moments in the film has Tara ask Gina, “When is the last time you went to the movies and it mattered?” It’s an important question for serious moviegoers--the kinds of folks who should see and appreciate The Canyons. (continued on page 18)

Gems of The Bay Kippy Marks In this edition of “Gems of the Bay” I am proud to bring you the multifaceted and talented Bebe Sweetbriar.

“I’m honored that the fans allow me to do what I love to do,” Bebe says.

Born in Sacramento to the loving parents of Joan and Ace Junious, Bebe has 2 sisters and 1 brother and 14

BAY TIMES AUGUST 8 , 2 0 1 3

is the youngest of the family. Bebe was introduced to music by her family. They are deeply rooted in music.

One of her sisters was a back-up/ studio singer for Motown, while her others siblings played musical instruments and sang. Bebe started doing musical theater at age 5. She remembers sharing the stage with Molly Ringwald at a kids’ summer music program. Bebe plays the trumpet, trombone and baritone horn. She is f luent in reading both treble clef and bass clef music.

After attending high school, Bebe stepped away from music to pursue college, a corporate career, and to start a family. She has two daughters: Alessandra and Cydney. Bebe then joined a band called Mahogany Dream, which was together for 4 years. After that she started a band named Second Identity that was together for 2 years. Bebe had been away from music for 15 years until the yearning to perform drew her back with a new sense of self. She

explains, “Drag gave me the niche I needed to start writing and performing my own original creations.”

in the fall of 2013. “It’s a little more sexy than people are used to from me,” Bebe says.

Upon her return to the music industry, Bebe befriended local talent DJ Pornstar and made him her main DJ at several of her local charitable events. This newfound relationship would prove to be a unique one and the two started composing together. This led to a single titled “Save Me.” This single did fairly well and got airplay on then Gaydar Radio’s playlist for a while. The success led to her second hit, “Free to Be Me,” which did extremely well on Gaydar Radio play list in the top 20 for 16 weeks. Since then, Bebe has released 6 singles.

Bebe is also the host of an Internet TV show called LGBTQ Red Carpet, where she interviews high prof ile artists and politicians at major events on the red car pet. I asked Bebe what advice she would give to the next generation of artists. “Try not to think too big,” she shares. “Take little successful steps. I’m not saying don’t reach for the stars, but reach for the stars closest to you. Taking little steps gets you more exposure and serves up more self confidence.” For more info: www.bebesweetbriar.com and www.LGBTQredcarpet.com.

Bebe is a multi-talented artist who sings, hosts, writes a column, and is an actor, interviewer and songwriter.

She is currently working on a new single with rapper/singer and songwriter Eli Mars. Called “Up Against the Wall,” it is scheduled for release

Violinist Kippy Marks entertains audiences worldwide with his inspirational compositions and lively performances that draw from classical, jazz, blues and dance. www.kippymarks.us

DARRYL PELLET IER PHOTOGR APHY

Nothing Sweeter Than Sweetbriar

Interview with Bryan West of Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical Acclaimed out actor Bryan West has a home in Brooklyn with his boyfriend, but we are lucky to have him in San Francisco as one of the stars of Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, which runs from August 21-31 at the Orpheum Theatre. In a nutshell, the show is about two drag queens and a transsexual who get a cabaret gig in the middle of the desert. West plays one of the drag queens, Adam/ Felicia.

“Felicia is def initely bitchy, overly conf ident and naively endearing,” West told the Bay Times. “You’ll roll your eyes and then laugh at what she has to say. I love playing this character because she’s so out there. The costumes are crazy and there are more one liners than I’ve ever had in my life!”

That’s saying a lot, as West is no stranger to show biz. His f irst job was singing country music in Nashville, opening for Tammy Wynette.

He was just 16 at the time. West later joined a pop band in Germany before heading back to the states and to Broadway. He has performed in several well-known shows, including Hairspray, Wicked and Legally Blond.

Priscilla, he says, is “the nearest and dearest show to my heart that I’ve ever done, partly because I was in the original show in New York, so I feel like it is my baby. My character is so outrageous that I feel like I’m more boring in real life than on the stage.”

and more from his Castro base. You might not see him on a tour of Alcatraz, though.

One reason is drag, which he never did before the show. He likens it to “a suit of armor. You feel very empowered when you have it on.”

leading industry-based HIV/AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. During a run of Hairspray, he helped to auction off a wig.

For Priscilla, a backstage tour was offered during the live auction. “I was on stage,” he said, “and I could hear, ‘Three thousand!’ It was Shirley MacLaine. We didn’t even know she was at the show.”

West, who is also a gay rights activ ist, uses much of his positive energ y to give back to the community. For over nine years, he has helped with Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, the nation’s

The touring cast and crew have been on the road for about 9 months, stopping at 18 or so cities thus far. West isn’t jaded about all of the travel, and is looking forward to visiting San Francisco restaurants, clubs

We wouldn’t mind keeping handsome and talented West! But see him while you can at the Orpheum.

“I’ve never been to Alcatraz,” he said. “I’m afraid that if I go out there, they won’t let me back on the mainland. They’ll say I have to stay there.”

Ticket info: www.shnsf.com/online/ priscilla, or call 1-888-746-1799.

Mad Men’s Bryan Batt Brings His Cabaret Show to SF

Shelley MacKay In 1995, the gay romantic comedy Jeffrey hit movie theaters. One of my favorite lines is from a scene where the character Darius, while wearing a Cats costume, describes Les Misérables as a story about, “A French guy who steals a loaf of bread and suffers the rest of his life…for toast.”

The line was delivered by Bryan Batt, and I have been a fan of his ever since.

You might have more recently seen him in the first three seasons of the TV show Mad Men, when he played the closeted Sal Romano, the role for which he won two SAG awards. You might also know him from Broadway, as he has played leading roles in numerous productions. Bryan, who is no stranger to New York and Los Angeles, is bringing his cabaret show, “Batt On A Hot Tin Roof,” to San Francisco this month.

A Southern boy from New Orleans, Bryan fell in love with Tom Cian-

While Bryan has worked on Broadway for over two decades, he was terrified of performing cabaret until recently. “There’s no set, no costumes, no hydraulics,” he explained.

“There’s no fourth wall. The audience is right there and the reason they are right there is to see you.”

most people have never heard before.” Michael Levine will be joining him on piano as Bryan has performed every cabaret show with him since the beginning.

Br yan, a Renaissance man, is a writer as well. He has authored two books, including a memoir- She’s Not Heavy, She’s My Mother- and the design book Big, Easy Style. Both are available online at www.hazelnutneworleans.com.

Societ y Cabaret presents Br yan Batt’s “Batt On A Hot Tin Roof” at Hotel Rex in Union Square, August 15-17. Tickets are available at www. societ ycabaret.com. Follow Br yanBatt on Twitter and learn more about him at www.bryanbatt.com.

Shelley MacKay is a Bay Area-based jazz, pop, r&b and rock vocalist/songwriter.

Learn more at www.shelleysings.com.

Performing in this capacity is something he may never have done if it weren’t for his friend, Barbara Motley, the owner of the club Le Chat Noir. She invited him to be a part of a cabaret benef it for Hurricane Katrina in 2006. He enjoyed it more than he expected to, and shortly thereafter put together his own show.

Bryan describes “Batt On A Hot Tin Roof ” as “a mixed bag of nuts of me.” He performs some of his favorite tunes: a combination of Cole Porter, Billy Joel, a lot of Broadway music “...and some risqué stuff that

P H OTO B Y MI C H AE L H EL MS

Music

f ichia after college when he f irst moved to New York. He’s been out ever since. The couple will soon be celebrating 25 years together and are also newly engaged. Since they have been together for as long as many married couples, I asked Bryan if he had any words of wisdom for other newly engaged couples after the demise of DOMA and Prop 8.

Bryan offered, “It’s work and you get out of it what you put into it.” Work, in his case, doesn’t just apply to the relationship, since he and Tom own two successful high-end design and gift shops, called Hazelnut, in Louisiana.

Check out more from the

Bay Times

@ sfbaytimes.com.

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compiled by Robert Fuggiti

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

“Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical” will open at the Orpheum Theatre on August 21. (Photo: Joan Marcus)

BeGood Anniversary – BeGood Clothing. Free. 6 pm to 9 pm. (2127 Union St.) www.begoodclothes.com. Join the BeGood store and Project Open Hand volunteers as they celebrate the first anniversary of this philanthropic clothing store.

Go Deep – El Rio. Free. 8 pm to 2 am. (3158 Mission St.) www.elriosf. com. Cruisy guys, drag queens and man-on-man lube wrestling make this a night to remember.

Bear Coffee – Café Flore. Free. 6 pm to 8 pm. (2298 Market St.) www.cafeflore.com. A monthly meet-up and social for bears in the Castro.

Dead Certain – Hotel Cartwright. $28. 7 pm. (524 Sutter St.) www.deadcertainsf.com. A psychological thriller by Marcus Lloyd.

Through August 17.

Cubcake – Lonestar. Free. 9 pm.

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

Boy Bar – The Café. $5. 9 pm to 2 am. (2369 Market St.) www.guspresents.com. The Castro’s hottest weekly party with go-go dancers and early drink specials.

August Potluck – Unity Church.

Free. 12 pm to 2 pm. (1420 Santa Maria St., San Leandro) www.bayareacs.org. A monthly potluck for LGBT seniors.

Works in Progress – Plymouth United Church. $5. 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm. (424 Monte Vista, Oakland) 510-701-1022. A women’s open mic night with pot luck dinner.

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Jalwa – Club OMG. Free. 10 pm to 2 am. (43 6th St.) www.clubomgsf. com. Enjoy a night of dancing at this unique, Bollywood themed gay bar.

Ten Percent with David Perry – Comcast On Demand.

Free. 10:30 pm. (Comcast On Demand) www.davidperry.com.

David Perry sits down with Joe Landini, founder of SAFEhouse and The Garage. Perry also chats with Jennifer Maerz, producer of The Bold Italic.

Shangri-La – Endup. $20. 10 pm to 6 am. (401 6th St.) www.theendup.com. Keep dancing late into the night at this monthly dance party.

Salsa Sundays – El Rio. $10. 3 pm to 8 pm. (3158 Mission St.) www.elriosf.com. Enjoy live music and dancing every second and fourth Sunday.

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

Piano Bar 101 – Martuni’s. Free.

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

LGBTQ Support Group – Petaluma Health Center. Free. 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. (1179 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma) www.phealthcenter. org. A positive support group for the LGBTQ community in Petaluma.

Meetings happen every Monday.

Beach Blanket Babylon – Club Fugiazi. $25-$48. 8 pm. (678 Beach

Blanket Babylon Blvd.) www.beachblanketbabylon.com. Beach Blanket Babylon, the world’s longest running musical revue, is a high energy pop culture satire and is the perfect night out with friends.

GLBT Caregiver – SFSU Campus. Free. 1:30 pm. (1600 Holloway St.) www.sfsu.edu. A support group to discuss issues among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s. Meetings occur second Tuesday of every month.

Video Tuesdays – Lookout.

Free. 8 pm. (2600 16th St.) www. lookoutsf.com. VJ 6PAC plays the best in music videos every Tuesday.

Stoli Guy Model Search – Beatbox. Free. 6:30 pm. (314 11th St.) www.beatboxsf.com. GayCities and Andrew Christian bring an enticing competition to find the next National LGBT Ambassadors for Stolichnaya vodka.

Last Drag – SF LGBT Community Center. Free. 7 pm to 9 pm. (1800 Market St.) www.lastdrag.org. A free quit smoking class for LGBT smokers. Meetings happen every Wednesday. Through September 11.

Play with BeBe – Harvey’s. Free.

8 pm. (500 Castro St.) www.harveyssf.com. BeBe Sweetbriar hosts a weekly trivia game night with drink specials and prizes.

Jukebox Grand Opening – Beatbox $10. 9 pm to 2 am. (314 11th St.) www.beatboxsf.com. DJ Page Hodel hosts a new weekly dance party with fun dance beats and impressive visuals.

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.

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.

Pop-Up Wine Bar – El Rio. Free. 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. (3158 Mission St.) www.mugslywinebar. tumblr.com. Enjoy an evening of wine from various queer wine makers and also free oysters.

Bad Girls Cocktail Hour – The Lexington. Free. 9 pm (3464 19th St.) www.lexingtonclub.com. Enjoy $1 margaritas from 9 pm to 10 pm every Friday night.

Hardbox – Powerhouse. $10. 9 pm to 2 am. (1347 Folsom St.) www.powerhouse-sf.com. A monthly party with hot go-go studs, strong drinks and boxing contest.

Merola Grand Finale – War Memorial Opera House. $45. 7:30 pm. (301 Van Ness Ave.) www. merola.org. The culmination of the Merola Opera Program’s summer, the Merola Grand Finale is your last chance to see these talented performers before they embark on the next stage of their careers.

Marriage After DOMA – The Beck Law Group, P.C. Free. 10 am to 11:30 am. (5232 Claremont Ave., Oakland) www.becklawgroup.com.

Learn about tax, immigration, social security, and other legal implications of same-sex marriage.

Amy Schumer – Castro Theatre. $32.50. 8 pm. (429 Castro St.) www. castrotheatre.com. This hilarious comedian comes to the Castro for a comedy show.

Help Is On The Way 19th Annual Benefit – Palace of Fine Arts. $65+. 7 pm to 11:45 pm. (3301 Lyon St.) www.helpisontheway.org.

Northern California’s largest annual star-studded AIDS benefit concert and gala, benefitting four Bay Area AIDS service organizations.

Hero T-Dance – Ruby Skye. $35.

6 pm to 12 am. (420 Mason St.) www.rubyskye.com. Enjoy a fun t-dance party, with special guest and

internationally renowned DJs Wayne G and Moto Blanco.

Beer Bust – 440. $8. 3 pm to 8 pm. (440 Castro St.) www.the440. com. A weekly beer bust at Castro’s best bear bar.

Karaoke Night – Toad Hall. Free.

8 pm. (4146 18th St.) www.toadhallbar.com. Sing your heart out on stage at Toad Hall’s weekly karaoke night.

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

Dance the night away to favorite Motown songs and remixes.

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.

The Bling Ring – Castro Theatre. $11. 5:15 pm & 9:00 pm. (429 Castro St.) www.castrotheatre.com.

Sofia Coppola’s latest tells the story of a group of teenagers who burglarize celebrities’ homes in Los Angeles.

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

Block Party – Midnight Sun. Free.

9 pm. (4067 18th St.) www.midnightsunsf.com. Enjoy weekly screenings of your favorite music videos.

Other Desert Cities – TheatreWorks. $19-$73. 8 pm. (500 Castro St., Mountain View) www. theatreworks.org. TheatreWorks’ regional premiere of the gripping Broadway hit “Other Cities” by Jon Robin Baitz. Through September 15.

Smack Dab Open Mic Night – Magnet. Free. 8 pm. (4122 18th St.) www.magnetsf.org. An open mic night for all, with special guest Neeli Cherkovski. Hosted by Larry-bob Roberts.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – Orpheum Theatre. $60+. 8 pm.

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

Through August 31. An outrageously fun show tells the uplifting story of a trio of friends, on a road trip of a lifetime, who hop aboard a battered old bus and search for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback.

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 8, 2013

17

Round About – Diana Ross at the Golden Gate Theater – Photography by Steven Underhill

A sellout crowd of adoring fans welcomed the lovely Diana Ross to San Francisco on August 6th at the Golden Gate Theater. Bay Times photographer Steven Underhill was there, along with co-publishers Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas, as well as an adoring crowd that enjoyed mutiple sets during the performance.

(OSCILLATES continued from page 14) Getting on his soapbox, Ellis stated, “I see 5 movies a week, and have for a couple of years. American cinema was a place for auteurs, and unless you have a patron like (producer) Megan Ellison, it’s difficult to do that. And while more movies are being made, this idea of the great films of the 1970s happening again--we’re never going back to it. It’s been a depressing summer. There’s one usually good studio tent pole, but not yet. The spring was weak, too.”

However, Ellis remained optimistic.

“I still have the urge to go to a movie, and I like to go to the theatre. It could change, but overall, it seems to be

that people don’t care as much about movies. They gravitate to TV. Being swept away by a wall of images, what does it mean anymore? I wrote that credit sequence as a response to that.”

Ellis also indicated that he wrote The Canyons in response to the new trend of making f ilms. “The studio system is dead, so now we have to move to this new way of--I can’t call it filmmaking--but content creation. It’s devised to be watched on your laptop. We’re selling the film by tweeting about it. In the end, it was a great experience. And it does reflect everything I felt about Hollywood-my switch from entering into the

high-end indie world, which is dying, to this new world of do-it-yourself. It’s been the best experience that I’ve had after projects not happening or happening and going badly. I never wrote a script so fast, and writing it knowing it won’t change gave me freedom. I realize I can never do this any other way.” © 2013 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of the forthcoming “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” You can follow him on Twitter @garymkramer.

(ROSTOW continued from page 7) ington, where a f lorist refused service to one of her regular customers, a gay man who was getting married.

Again, the florist claimed that supplying a gay wedding would violate her religious beliefs. This case has been combined with a complaint brought by the state attorney general against the florist, so the florist faces both her rejected client and the state government itself.

I will save my usual rant over misplaced religious freedom for another

column, but I did read recently that most Americans believe small businesses should be allowed to refuse service to gays on religious grounds.

Interestingly, the same survey noted that most Americans do not believe that atheists should be allowed to refuse service to Christians.

Think about this for a minute. It shows that no matter how far we have come, we still fall far short of winning the hearts and minds of our heterosexual fellow Americans. You cannot simply

(SISTER DANA SEZ continued from page 3) and f inger-lickin’ chicken f lickin’ TEST, the biggest drag king comat t he aud ience. Most Photoge- pet it ion i n t he world , co -hosted nic was a tie between Doncha and by Fudgie Frottage and Sister L i ly Rose. Most Congen ia l wa s Rom a, is Sat urday, Aug ust 17, Sir W hitney. Second Pr ince was SPACE 550 - 550 Barneveld AvC.C. Kago, First Prince was Don- enue, to benef it PAWS - Pets Are cha. M r. GA PA 2013 is now Sir Wonder fu l Suppor t, sfdragk ingWhitney Queers. Second Princess contest.com. was Brenda Dong. First Princess wa s E stee L ong a h. M i ss GA PA A H O M E A T T H E E N D O F 2013 is now Khmera Rouge. May THE WOR LD screens for free for t heir reig n be most prosperous, seniors, Wednesday, August 14th, ea r n i ng much money a nd fa me 2pm, 30th Street Senior Center, for the Asian and Pacif ic Islander 225 3 0 t h St reet , nea r Dolores. communities! openhouse-sf.org.

The entire Folsom Street Events team of staf f, board, volunteers, a nd s p on s or s w a nt s t o e x pr e s s t he i r t h a n k s t o a l l t ho s e w ho made t he U P YOU R A L L EY FAIR such a success, supporting many worthy benef iciaries. U YA w i l l be back aga in next year on July 27. But we’ll see all you pervs at FOLSOM FAIR on September 29!

CUMMING UP! T he 18 t h a n nu a l S A N F R A N C I SCO DR AG K I NG CON 18

BAY TIMES AUGUST 8 , 2 0 1 3

S OU N D S OF S I L E NC E i s t he current art exhibit by Z MCGAR IGL E at M a g net , t he Ca st ro hub of hea lt h and wel lbeing for g ay/ bi men , 4122 18 t h St r e et . “ I’m fascinated by t he const a nt f low of facts and other information pouring into our minds; especially the information our consc ious m i nd deem s i mpor t a nt ,” says McGar igle. “T h is, in tur n, af fects our relationships and how we relate to others. But it’s always ou r u ncon s c iou s emot ion s t h at end up guiding us, making deci-

“believe” that disapproval of gays is a religious commandment any more than you can “believe” that racism is based on scripture and protected by the First Amendment. Well, I should say that you can believe anything you like, but such a belief should not be given automatic credence when a court of law examines your claims. I mean, really. Could the f lorist deny service to a Muslim? Answer, no. arostow@aol.com

s ion s , a nd u lt i mately cha ng i ng us.” He add s, “ Wit h host i le so cieta l messages bombard ing gay men, this process is amplif ied as we juggle even more information, def ining who we are and our relationships to each other as well as our environment.” The gallery includes four acr yl ics on canvas a nd t wo m i xe d me d i a on c a n vas. I, as an i mpr isoned M U N I rider, am especially drawn to his “Infor mat ion Glad ly Given, But Safety Requires Avoiding Unneces sa r y C onver sat ion” w it h t h i s man’s f i xed gaze t hrough piercing grey eyes and lips sewn shut.

Adult f lick pick: Sexo en Barcelona f rom r a g i ng st a l l ion.com es m uy caliente!

Sister Dana sez, “T hree cheers and an alleluia to Pope Francis for saying he was not one to judge gay priests or homosexuality. Never mind the part about homo sex (he’s got a way to go on that one); but he sure can teach a thing or two to Arch-Bigot Cordilione!”

Out & About: GAPA’s Runway 2013 - The 25th Annual Mr. and Miss GAPA Pageant Doors opened at Yerba Buena Center’s Lam Research Theatre for Runway 2013 and the 25th Anniversary of the Mr. and Miss GAPA Pageant. Set thematically to reflect the Silver Screen, the evening’s program was designed to honor both old and new Hollywood alike. A total of 16 Candydates were selected to vie for titles, with Tita Aida leading the way as hostess of the evening. Winners for 2013 were Miss GAPA Khmera Rouge and Mr. GAPA Sir Whitney Queers.

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTOS BY STEVN UNDERHILL

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY RINK

PHOTO BY STEVN UNDERHILL

PHOTO BY STEVN UNDERHILL

PHOTO BY STEVN UNDERHILL

PHOTO BY STEVN UNDERHILL

PHOTO BY STEVN UNDERHILL

BAY T IM ES ES DEC EM BER 8, 6, 2013 2012 19 BAY T IM AUGUST

swim.

Raise Money.

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2nd Annual Swim for L.I.F.E. ®

to benefit the Shanti L.I.F.E. Program

Sunday, August 25th 9am to 12pm Hamilton Swimming Pool 1900 Geary Boulevard . SF

Join swimmers from around the Bay Area to swim a mile in support of the Shanti L.I.F.E. Program®—an HIV health-enhancement program.

Prizes for top fundraisers and longest distance!

Register now by calling 415.674.4724 For more information, please visit our website at shanti.org

Design: Matthew Simmons