2013 08 22

90th Birthday Party for José Sarria Photo by RINK

August 22-September 4, 2013 | www.sfbaytimes.com

/SanFranciscoBayTimes

/SFBayTimes

José Julio Sarria (December 12, 1922-August 19, 2013)

On Behalf of the Imperial Founding Mother Court of San Francisco it is with our deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of the beloved Founder of the International Court System

Our beloved José Julio Sarria has gracefully and peacefully passed away in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at 7:02 AM in his celebrated 90th year with us all.

José Julio Sarria, Absolute Empress I de San Francisco, the Widow Norton, now prepares for his honored final journey and peaceful internment in San Francisco.

José has placed the trust of his final wishes and arrangements in the honored trust of Absolute Empress XLI of San Francisco, Galilea.

Respectfully submitted, Saybeline Fernandez Secretary-Imperial Council of San Francisco, Inc. Absolute Empress 46 of San Francisco José Julio Sarria, revered founder of the Imperial Court System and legendary pioneer of the gay rights movement, died after a prolonged illness at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he had relocated.

Volumes could be written about the rich and colorful life of Sarria, who was the first openly gay candidate for public office in the United States. Born in San Francisco to Spanish and Colombian parents, Sarria helped to support his family and then his country, following the

attack on Pearl Harbor. Although he was too short to meet the Army’s height requirement, he managed to enlist and used his f luency in several languages during military service, becoming Staff Sergeant.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the multi-talented Sarria gained fame performing at the historic Black Cat Bar, which was at the center of San Francisco’s Beat and bohemian scene. Billed as “The Nightingale of Montgomery Street,” he sang opera and satirical versions of popular songs in his high tenor voice, all

while encouraging patrons to be proud of themselves and to live their lives as openly as possible.

He would also often perform in drag, later becoming the Widow Norton. Joshua Abraham Norton (1819-1880) was the self-proclaimed Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, a celebrated citizen of San Francisco. The very visible Sarria fought against police harassment and supported other LGBT individuals during a difficult time when raids on gay bars were routine.

Empress Donna Sachet, who first informed the Bay Times of Sarria’s death, described it as a “tremendous loss.” Sachet added, “San Francisco and the world have lost an iconic leader and I have lost a mentor and a friend.” So many of us knew, admired and loved Sarria. He will be deeply missed, and never forgotten. All hail San Francisco’s Widow Norton and forever queen, José Julio Sarria!

On September 5, Sarria will lie in state for public viewing from 1-9 PM at Halsted N Grey, Carew and

English Funeral Home, 1123 Sutter Street, SF. On September 6, the funeral will take place at Grace Cathedral, 11 AM. Immediately following the service, Sarria will be buried next to Emperor Joshua Norton. A reception will follow at The Lookout in the Castro. At Sarria’s request, all male monarchs, titleholders and line members are instructed to wear dark suits. Female monarchs, titleholders and line members are requested to wear black/dark mourning attire and veils.(See page 2 for Dennis McMillan’s tribute to Sarria.)

BAY T IM ES DEC EM BER 6, 2012 1

National News Briefs compiled by Dennis McMillan

Sacramento, CA - Prop 8 Is Finally Dead and Gone. Period.

End of Story - 8.15

Springfield, MA - Historic Ruling: Judge Orders Anti-Gay Pastor to Stand Trial for Crimes Against Humanity - 8.15

Those trying to reinstitute Proposition 8 - the voter-backed referendum to ban same-sex marriage in California - lost once again in court last Wednesday, meaning no stop to such legal unions that resumed a few weeks ago.

For the first time, a federal US judge has ruled a persecution of LGBTQ people is a crime against humanity. This sets a precedent ensuring the fundamental human rights of queer people are protected under international law. It comes as a Ugandan LGBTQ advocacy organization filed a lawsuit against prominent US anti-gay extremist Scott Lively. Accused of helping to play a part in the persecution, arrest and murder of gay people in Uganda, Lively’s lawyers requested to dismiss the lawsuit.

In two brief rulings, California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Gorre CantilSakauye dismissed attempts by opponents of same-sex marriage. One was brought

by ProtectMarriage.com, the group that has led legal efforts defending Prop 8, and the other came from a San Diego County clerk who had argued the state had put him in an “untenable position” by compelling him to sign off on marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples.

“Widespread, systematic persecution of LGBTI people constitutes a crime against humanity that unquestionably violates international norms,” said Michael Ponsor, the US District Judge in Springfield, Massachusetts. “The history and current existence of discrimination against LGBTI people is precisely what qualifies them as a distinct targeted group eligible for protection under international law.” He added, “The fact that a group continues to be vulnerable to widespread, systematic persecution in some parts of the world simply cannot shield one who commits a crime against humanity from liability.”

The rulings were the latest in a wave of decisions - at the state and federal level, including the US Supreme Court - that have gone against those trying to restrict marriage in California to between one man and one woman.

The lawsuit states Lively collaborated with key Ugandan government officials and religious leaders that allegedly resulted in the introduction of the “Kill The Gays” bill.

The founder of Abiding Truth Ministries, Lively has made a career of stirring up anti-gay feelings in the USA and across the world. He co-authored The Pink Swastika, which suggests “homosexuals were the true inventors of Nazism and the guiding force behind many Nazi atrocities” and that the rainbow flag is a symbol of the “end times.”

Attorney General Kamala Harris was among those same-sex marriage supporters who cheered Wednesday’s ruling, much as they have the others in recent months.

She gleefully tweeted: “The CA Supreme court has denied the #Prop8 proponents’ request to halt same-sex marriages!”

In 2007, Lively also toured 50 cities in Russia where he is accused of recommending a ban on “gay propaganda.”

“Today, the California Supreme Court denied a petition by our adversaries, effectively ending the last remaining legal challenge to same-sex marriage in the Golden State. This is the final word on Prop. 8,” said Equality California spokespersons. “We are thankful to the California Supreme Court for its decisive action on this critically important issue. Let’s continue this momentum and keep working together toward full and lasting equality in California.”

While the court battle is certainly not over, it will allow the Ugandan group to seek justice for what they believe the deadly Lively has done.

Source: gaystarnews.com

Prop 8 proponents complained state leaders had “silenced more than 7 million Californians who clearly expressed their views.”

Sorry, H8ers, go find another homophobic issue to rally behind!

Source: cnn.com

San Antonio, TX - Gay Veteran, Booed Out of Council Chambers, Speaks Out - 8.20 As a gay US Marine veteran who advocated for the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Eric Alva has grown accustomed to being in the spotlight.

But the San Antonio native said he never expected the boos and hisses directed at him while he addressed the City Council on proposed changes to the antidiscrimination ordinances at a Citizens Heard hearing.

“I said that if this ordinance doesn’t pass, I could be fired from a job and even thrown out of a restaurant, and people started to boo me,” said Alva, 42. “I was real hurt by that. It was unbelievable.”

Alva was the first American injured in the US invasion of Iraq. He received a medical discharge and was awarded the Purple Heart. His prosthetic leg was visible under his khaki shorts at the meeting. “To all you people that preach the word of God, shame on you, because God loves me, like the day I lay bleeding on the sands of Iraq,” Alva responded to the crowd. “And that’s why he saved me.”

Mayor Julian Castro’s senior policy adviser reached out to Alva, when he “wanted to see how I was doing, and even apologized, saying that the mayor was disappointed that I went through all that,” Alva said.

Shortly after he read about statements that Councilwoman Elisa Chan made on a secret recording that bashed gay people, calling them “disgusting,” US Congressman Joaquin Castro (the mayor’s brother) said, “The intolerant views expressed by Councilwoman Chan and the deplorable actions of those who booed a wounded warrior do not represent the sentiments of most San Antonians.” He added, “Our city celebrates diversity and prides itself in supporting our veterans.”

And supporting gays, apparently, since homophobic Chan is under pressure to resign.

Source: mysanantonio.com

Birmingham, AL - Alabama GOP to Decide If Pro-gay Marriage Members Should Be Removed - 8.15 A proposed amendment to the bylaws of the Alabama Republican Party - to be voted on by the Alabama Republican Party executive committee at their summer meeting on August 24 - would remove from the Party’s steering committee any member who publicly supports a position contrary to the most recent GOP platform, which was adopted during the 2012 Republican National Convention. Party insiders say the proposed amendment was written as a direct result of comments made by current Alabama College Republicans Chairwoman Stephanie Petelos when the Supreme Court ruled the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.

“We just [love] freedom and fun. That’s all. Don’t hate,” Petelos posted on her Facebook page after the Court’s decision was announced. She also encouraged her Facebook friends to “like” a page for a pro-gay marriage group called “Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry.”

Petelos said she joined the group because she believes “all people deserve to be treated equally under the law.” Some Party leaders reacted strongly to Petelos’ statements, moving to have her removed from the Party’s steering committee - a position she holds as a result of being elected chair of the Alabama College Republicans.

Petelos agreed to not speak publicly in support of same-sex marriage in her official capacity, but some members of the Party’s steering committee and executive committee feel like the issue is unresolved. Support for same-sex marriage is clearly the issue Don Wallace, the amendment’s co-sponsor and president of the Alabama Republican Assembly, is trying to address. He said, “When the College Republican Chairwoman made official statements in conflict with the party platform’s support for traditional marriage, I believe that requires action by the Republican Party on both procedural and moral grounds.”

New York City, NY - Mayoral Hopeful Christine Quinn’s Spouse Reveals Death Threats As She Makes Campaign Debut - 8.19 Death threats against her spouse Christine Quinn and a rise in gay bashing across the city have given Kim Catullo a lot to worry about as she prepares to make her campaign debut.

“Chris has gotten threats about being gay. It’s hard to accept, and we live in a place that is the most tolerant,” said Catullo, who has lived with Quinn for 12 years and married her last year when New York State legalized same-sex marriage. “I worry about everything, if she is getting enough rest, is she safe,” said Catullo.

She said recent hate crimes against gays in the city - including in the couple’s old block in Chelsea - have been sobering. “When you have strides like marriage equality, you tend to think (prejudice) has passed; then things like that happen, and it wakes you up again,” she said.

With just three weeks to go before the Democratic primary, the famously shy Catullo is going public - appearing at subway stops, senior centers and campaign events. “I love my wife. I want to support her,” said Catullo. “I can’t imagine sitting on the sidelines and making her get to that finish line alone. Anything she needs me to do, I’m going to do.”

She is eager to make the case for her spouse, who has been speaker of the City Council since 2006. “When you think about ... a gay woman becoming mayor of New York City, it is a phenomenal thought,” said Catullo. “I know her heart. I know who she is; and as I tell her all the time, if New Yorkers knew who she was really, as I do, there’d be no question that she would win in a landslide.”

Yes, because equality under the law is immoral?

Unless, God forbid, the idiotic ones want the Weiner exposer.

Source: yellowhammernews.com

Source: nydailynews.com

Local News Briefs Activist and Queer Icon José Sarria, The Widow Norton, Dies at Age 90

California Can Take Meaningful Action on Appalling Anti-LGBTQ Situation in Russia

The LGBTQ community has lost an icon. José Julio Sarria, an historic figure in the San Francisco and worldwide LGBTQ community, who died on Monday, August 19 at the age of 90.

He was creator of the campy but serious fundraising organization the San Francisco Imperial Court, which later became an international foundation. As founder, Sarria created his drag image of The Widow Norton, purporting to be the surviving “wife” of the legendary Joshua Abraham Norton (c. 1819 – January 8, 1880), a bizarre, celebrated SF eccentric who in 1859 proclaimed himself “Emperor of these United States” and subsequently “Protector of Mexico.”

Because of the recent anti-LGBTQ law signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin threatening arrest, detainment and imprisonment for people publicly supportive of LGBTQ equality, this action has resulted in a dramatic increase in hate crimes and public persecution of our queer brothers and sisters simply for expressing who they are or who they love.

Sarria ran in 1961 for the SF Board of Supervisors as the first out gay person to run for public office in the City and possibly in the nation. He garnered 8,000 votes - not enough to win, but enough to make a statement. He helped lay the groundwork for San Francisco’s Compton Riots for transgender rights - predating the Stonewall Riots in New York City. He helped found many first-generation organizations, including the League for Civil Education, the Society for Individual Rights (SIR) and the Imperial Court.

He was both a war hero and a renowned female impersonator/opera singer diva at North Beach’s Black Cat nightclub, where gay and straight patrons alike flocked to enjoy this fabulous entertainer.

On August 19, the Monarchs and friends of Sarria gathered for a toast to their adored founder at Castro’s Twin Peaks bar. “Our beloved ... Widow Norton now prepares for his honored final journey and peaceful internment in San Francisco,” said Empress 46 Saybeline Fernandez, SF Secretary-Imperial Council. Sarria placed the trust of his final wishes and arrangements in the trust of Empress 41 Galilea.

So SF Senator Mark Leno has authored Senate Resolution 18, urging CalPERS and CalSTRS against making direct investments in Russia. There are billions of investment dollars at stake, and we don’t want any of it going to Russia while this draconian law is in effect!

By entreating the state’s two largest pension plans to cease Russian investments, a bold gesture is made against hateful policies and a firm stance in defense of equality. Our investments should align with our values, and never reward discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In part, SR 18 states: “Be it resolved that the Senate condemns the Russian government’s attacks on the LGBT community and laws targeting LGBT people and their supporters, including tourists, athletes and other participants in the XXII Olympic Winter Games; that the Senate urges the International Olympic Committee to seek written agreement from the Russian government that the new ‘gay propaganda’ law will not affect those attending, participating or competing in the XXII Olympic Winter Games.”

RIP, Dear José.

It continues, “Be it further resolved that the Senate urges NBC Universal, as broadcaster of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in the United States, to increase awareness of Russia’s homophobic laws and the threat they pose to participating athletes and visitors by discussing them on air at every opportunity, including during the opening and closing ceremonies when millions of Americans will be watching.”

Story by Dennis McMillan

Story by Dennis McMillan

2

BAY TIMES AUGUS T 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

Health News

Friends of Naomi Dr. Naomi Jay, MS, RN (Editor’s Note: We welcome Dr. Naomi Jay as a new “Bay Times” columnist. She is a popular UCSF medical expert, particularly among LGBT patients. Her expertise is in women’s health and the detection and diagnosis of human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly among gay and bisexual men, but we’ve yet to stump her on questions about most medical issues. Her patients and colleagues affectionately created the group “Friends of Naomi,” so we mirror that here, inviting you to read her informative pieces about health matters.)

If you are in the know, you may already be an FON – a Friend of Naomi.

As a women’s health nurse practitioner at UCSF for almost 22 years, I have been providing screening for people considered to be at risk for developing anal cancer. Thousands of people who have been screened or treated by me have joined the illustrious ranks of FONs.

National News So how did a lesbian women’s health care nurse practitioner end up providing care to mostly gay men? I was looking to move to San Francisco to get away from the cold winters of Boston. Dr. Joel Palefsky was looking for an NP with experience in Pap smears and colposcopy to work on his new grant using these techniques to learn about the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) in gay men.

Using the pick-up line that “the anus was just like the cervix,” Palefsky convinced me that this was the fabulous job I was looking for. Together, we pioneered and developed high resolution anoscopy (HRA), the special exam used to identify and treat lesions that could become cancer if untreated. It wasn’t the career I’d planned, but it has become a passion and I am proud to have worked in this groundbreaking field.

there is still much work to be done to prove that screening for anal cancer will help to reduce anal cancers, yet we point out that Pap smear screening in women proceeded worldwide without similar proof.

Fortunately, anal cancer is a rare disease affecting less than 2 per 100,000 people. But certain groups of people have much higher rates of anal cancer. These include HIV positive gay men. Their rates of anal cancer exceed 130 per 100,000. Other people at higher risk are gay men in general, since their rates of anal cancer are 35 per 100,000, and HIV positive individuals in general. Their anal cancer rates are 46 per 100,000.

The Anal Neoplasia Clinic, the first in the world devoted to preventing anal cancer, is located at UCSF in the Helen Diller Cancer Center. Men and women considered at risk for anal cancer are screened for any signs of the different diseases that HPV causes in the anus including warts, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) that are considered to be precancerous lesions, and cancer.

The clinicians in the ANC identify these lesions and treat them to prevent their progression to cancer.

While my career has been focused on Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and the various orifices it effects (the cervix, vagina, vulva and anus, mouth too), I am an expert in women’s health in general, with an interest in health care issues affecting the LGBTQ community. On a monthly basis, I plan to discuss health care issues of importance to our community. If you have a question or an issue you would like discussed, please contact me through the Bay Times.

Screening for anal cancer is still controversial. I and my colleagues agree

Dr. Naomi Jay is a nurse practitioner in the department of Infectious Disease at UCSF.

Check out more

Trenton, NJ - New Jersey Outlaws Gay Conversion Therapy for Minors - 8.20 New Jersey became the second state to forbid gay conversion therapy for minors when Governor Chris Christie signed legislation into law Monday banning the highly controversial practice. California passed a similar law last year. The American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Association are just a handful of professional organizations that oppose this practice, saying it is harmful.

New Jersey’s decision to outlaw gay conversion therapy will not only be looked upon as another major step in gay rights, but it will also be viewed through the prism of the 2016 race for the White House. Christie, a centrist Republican, is considered a leading candidate for his party’s presidential nomination, and his decision to outlaw the practice for children under the age of 18 is likely to be viewed negatively by some social conservatives.

In explaining his decision to ban gay conversion therapy for minors, Christie is expected to emphasize that while he is wary of the “government limiting parental choice on the care and treatment of their own children,” on this particular issue he sided with the experts. The New Jersey senate passed the legislation in late July, but as with any legislation, it ultimately required Christie’s final approval.

“The American Psychological Association has found that efforts to change sexual orientations can pose critical health risks including - but not limited to - depression, substance abuse, social withdrawal, decreased self-esteem and suicidal thoughts,” Christie said in his signing statement. “I believe that exposing children to these health risks without clear evidence of benefits that outweigh these serious risks is not appropriate.”

Christie in the past has stated his opposition to gay conversion therapy and said he did not think homosexuality is a sin.

That’s great, but he would still make a terrible President.

Story by Dennis McMillan

News, Entertainment and more in the BayTimes CALENDAR & RESOURCE GUIDE

at www.sfbaytimes.com

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

3

4

BAY TIMES AUGUS T 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

5

6

BAY TIMES AUGUS T 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

7

P HOTO SOURC E: SM IT HSON IAN IN ST IT UT IO N / BO B ADE L M AN

PH OTO BY: ST UART G AF F N E Y & J O HN LE WI S P HOTO BY: ST UART GAF F N EY & J OH N L E W IS

50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom PHOTO BY SAM UEL TORRES F OR BIL L D OGGETT P RODUC T ION S

“We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr. The community symposium entitled The March on Washington 50th Anniversary: A Bay Area Celebration was held on Saturday, August 17, at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. After the keynote title address by Dr. Clayborne Carson, program sessions addressed selected topics including Social Justice and The Right to Vote: Looking Back, Looking Forward; Civil Rights Movement Legacies: From Seneca Falls, Selma and Stonewall; and Inter-generational Dialogue featuring veterans of the civil rights movement and Bay Area youth organization representatives.

The symposium was presented by Bill Doggett Productions and supported by The Civil Rights@50 Campaign, Sojourn To The Past, members of The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce and the Pacific School of Religion.

ROGER AL L EN F OR BIL L DOGGETT PRODUCTION S

ROGER ALL EN F OR BI LL DOGGE TT PR ODUCTI ON S

ROGER ALL EN F OR BI LL DOGGE TT PR ODUCTI ON S

ROGER ALL EN F OR BI LL DOGGE TT PR ODUCTI ON S

P HOTO BY: STUART GA FFN EY & JOHN L EWIS

PHOTO BY SAM UEL TORRES F OR BIL L D OGGETT PRODUCTION S

ROGER AL L EN F OR BIL L DOGGETT PRODUCTION S

Music was featured throughout the day with the singing of “We Shall Overcome,” “This Little Light of Mine,” and classic spirituals performed by Lawrence Brownlee, a tenor from the Metropolitan Opera, and Damien Sneed, pianist for the Jazz at Lincoln Center series.

Upcoming - Saturday August 24

“Rustin was one of the most important social justice activists in the U.S. in the 20th century,” said John D’Emilio, author of the acclaimed biography Lost Prophet: T he Life and Times of Bayard Rustin. “He was more responsible than anyone for making Gandhi’s philosophy a central feature of the civil rights movement.”

D’Emilio continued, “Rustin had to f igure out how to be an agitator for justice and work ef fectively without people noticing him, because he was a gay man living in an era when the constraints on that were so intense.”

Rustin’s present-day importance has been underscored by the recent White House announcement that President Barack Obama would posthumously award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

8

BAY TIMES AUGUS T 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

PH OTO BY: ST UART G AF F NE Y & JO H N L EW I S

The Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition presents a civil rights rally at San Francisco City Hall, 3:30 -5:30 PM, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March and to honor civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, a gay man who was a prominent strategist of the event.

Vengeance Is Sour one of Mike’s friends. If Mike tells the partner, he can cause Carl a devastating loss. He has doubts about the morality of what he’s contemplating, but he doesn’t question the psychological assumption that getting even will make him feel better. He believes that vengeance is sweet. But is it?

Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT Mike spent five years building a business with his close and trusted friend Carl. In the beginning, everything worked beautifully. The business grew exponentially and was soon highly profitable. But when disagreements developed between them, Carl walked away with all their joint assets. “I tried to fight him in court and lost,” Mike said. “He managed not to break the law, but in terms of basic fairness, he completely screwed me.

And he knows it.”

Mike has an opportunity to get even.

Carl has a monogamous commitment with his partner, but Mike knows that Carl is cheating on his partner with

Kevin Carlsmith, a social psychologist in New York, has done some very interesting research on this belief. In a series of experiments, he set up a group investment game with students.

In this game, if everyone cooperated, everyone would benefit equally, but if someone refused to invest their money, that person would disproportionately benefit at the group’s expense.

Carlsmith put a plant in each group who “defected” and profited at everyone else’s expense. Then he offered some groups a way to get back at the free rider. “Virtually everybody was angry over what happened,” he reported, “and everyone given the opportunity [for revenge] took it.”

Then he gave all of the groups a survey to measure their feelings. He asked the groups who’d been allowed to punish the defector to predict how they’d feel if they hadn’t been allowed to, and he asked the non-punishing groups how they thought they’d have

felt if they had. The punishers reported feeling worse than the non-punishers, but predicted they would have felt even worse had they not been given the opportunity to punish. The non-punishers said they thought they would feel better if they’d have had that opportunity for revenge, but the survey identified them as the happier group. In other words, both groups thought revenge would be sweet, but their own reported feelings contradicted that expectation. “Rather than providing closure, [revenge] does the opposite: It keeps the wound open and fresh,” Carlsmith concludes.

These findings support the age-old wisdom that forgiveness -- which is fundamentally a decision not to hurt the one who hurt you -- is wiser than vengeance. Mike believes that hurting Carl will relieve him of his bitterness, but if he can accept the evidence that this idea is a delusion, then maybe he will forego the dubious pleasure of vengeance -- not just because doing that is consistent with his ideas of right and wrong, but because it’s really the only path to lightening the burden of his own pain.

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

Changes…

Speak Up! Speak Out! Laugh Often!

Karen Williams “If nothing changes, nothing changes” is a slogan I have heard in 12 Step recovery rooms. What a simple truth!

A dear friend recently gave me a coin with this saying inscribed on it. As I was f lying home from Edinburgh, Scotland -- my departure city after sailing through the British Isles on yet another Olivia Travel adventure -- I took time to ponder the slogan’s meaning in view of current events, both abroad and in the States.

Whilst most of the United Kingdom was waiting with baited breath for the birth of Kate and William’s royal baby, President Barack Obama was addressing the tentative nature of race in the United States. The President went as far as to identify himself with the tragic victim of a murder that had drawn nationwide and even worldwide attention. His comments struck me for their sheer humanism -- the subtext pointed to the value and dignity of each human life -- and the reality of the healing that must take place in America around race.

The travelers on the cruise were happy to trace their roots to their English, Irish and Scottish clans. I trace mine to the Bronx, where I was reared by a West Indian father transplanted to Brooklyn and a mixed race mother grown in Harlem, “Sugar Hill” to be exact. Though I was born in Manhattan, my parents’ emigration to the Bronx was equivalent to crossing the Atlantic in their desire for their family to have a better life. I grew up “gifted” -- skipping the third and eighth grades -- and landed at the Bronx High School of Science, though I tried out for the “Fame” school (High School of Performing Arts) and didn’t make it. Race was the great separater, as I lived in the Bronx with all types of people from every walk of life; yet my gifted classes were all white and out of 3,000 students at Bronx Science, only 30 were black and most of those were girls.

It was the late sixties, and as a young teenager, I watched the idyllic lowincome housing become “projects.”

Drugs came in and dessimated communities. Fathers left. Mothers who had never worked looked for jobs, and kids in the neighborhood began wearing keys around their necks.

I was fourteen years old when I heard Kathleen Cleaver speak brilliantly about racial injustice in a meeting hall in Brooklyn. I attended health and life studies courses at Long Island University conducted by the Black Panthers, and channeled my youthful energies into positive activities for change at UConn in the seventies.

Yet, for the decades of efforts made by countless, nameless, American citizens to counteract racial injustice and achieve equity, we remain racially divided, segregated, and unbalanced in 2013!

Surely things are better, the optimists are quick to say! And yes, I agree.

However, if nothing changes, nothing changes. Until each American citizen is willing to confront internalized and institutionalized racism and racial inequality, have the tough conversations about race, and make active moves towards healing through dialogue, we will remain wounded. Let’s stand up, stand strong, and make the changes we need to make to heal America of racism.

Karen Williams is a change agent. Share your changes with her at karen@sfbaytimes.com.

Welcome home to a l l you Bay A rea women who have retur ned from M ichfest 2013 held Aug ust 6 -11.

PH OTO C O URT E SY O F MW MF

PH OTO C O URT E SY O F C RI S W I LLI AMSO N

Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival 2013

Meanwhile, I was going across town to a high school where kids were being dropped off by limos or driving their own cars at sixteen. We black kids clung together as we protested the Vietnam War, were billy-clubbed by police during peaceful demonstrations on our high school campus, and studied calculus and chemistry. Two dozen of us -- with me out front -marched for civil rights at our high school and were filmed on the evening news.

B ay T i m es send s “ Happy Bi r t hday!” wishes to columnist Karen Williams, who has returned to her home after celebrating her birthd ay wh i le at t end i n g t h i s lon gstanding annual festival founded in 1976. For many, it’s an annual r itual to attend the gather ing w it h t housands of lesbians from t h r ou g hout t he U S a n d ot he r nations.

Check out more from the

Bay Times

@ sfbaytimes.com.

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

9

Real Estate and Design

The First Time- Part 2

tor, etc.) will be the one who actually enables you to close the financial part of the deal. Do not listen to those mortgage reps that do nothing but make promises. Pay close attention to your adviser’s list of “challenges,” and be sure they have the full picture, including all the dirty laundry of your financial past. They’ve heard it all, so there is no need to be shy or embarrassed.

Real Estate Mark Penn Last month, we kicked around the importance of getting the right team members in place – real estate agent, lender (if you’re financing the purchase), title company, and others that you will work with towards your successful purchase. Before moving on to the next topics – I had promised to cover “locating the property” and “writing your offer” – I want to add another important note to the mix, and that is the importance, no, actually the criticality, of getting “pre-approved” by a reputable lender.

If you are planning to finance your purchase (e.g., get a mortgage), and let’s face it – most first-time buyers are not cash buyers – then this step is critical, and whom you choose as your partner here will make or break you throughout the process. Your real estate agent is most likely the focal point who will tie everyone together, but your mortgage representative (aka lender, mortgage broker, loan origina-

After your mortgage representative has gotten all the material information from you (it might be a little invasive, btw), he or she will give you a good picture of your financial ability to make a purchase, and should be able to provide you with a pre-approval letter. A strong pre-approval letter is critical to constructing an offer on a financed property. Most sellers won’t even consider an offer that doesn’t have an accompanying pre-approval letter. And by strong I mean that the loan representative states that you have verified employment, assets, and creditworthiness, and that the only thing left to verify is the property (appraisal) and other specifics to the purchase.

A weak pre-approval letter would be based on information that the buyer has given to their lender, but has not been verified. The less verification, the less weight the letter carries, down to a factor of almost zero. This should all be done well in advance of writing an

offer so that your real estate agent only has to ask your lender for an updated letter and everything is otherwise ready to go. Potential fatal flaw: Do not expect that you can procure a preapproval letter from scratch on the day (or even the day before) you are writing your offer. It is highly unlikely.

OK, so you’ve got your homework done – pre-approval letter in hand and most of your team is in place. It’s time to shop. But ack – I’m out of space, so I need to wrap up for this month.

Let’s just start with this: An old adage in the business still remains, and that is that it’s all about “location.” True – it is more important than probably anything. Start spending some time in what might be your next neighborhood, but keep your eyes open for things that might not otherwise be on your radar. Go to coffee shops, walk through the parks, and get to know areas that you might not otherwise think of. You might just find a little gem.

Next month, we’ll cover more about that, as well as some thoughts about writing your offer.

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

Dr. Felipe Sanchez Paris September 29, 1941 – July 31, 2013 Dr. Felipe (Phillip L) Sanchez Paris, who was for a brief period Acting Director of Elections for the City & County of San Francisco, died at home peacefully in his sleep July 31, 2013.

Born in Gary, Indiana, in 1941, he graduated from Georgetown University and the University of Southern California from which he received an M.A. in 1967 and a Ph.D. in 1973. The majority of his professional career was dedicated to facilitating multicultural education and equity in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. He was recognized as a “change agent” in executive and management circles, and was utilized widely as a consultant in organizational behavior and change.

In 1973, Dr. Paris became the State Title I Coordinator, Continuing Education and Community Service. This federally funded program essentially worked through the institutional members of the California Post Secondary Education Commission. He then moved on to become the executive director of the Multicultural Equity Division of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Portland, Oregon. This technical training and technical assistance center provided services to elementary and secondary school districts in the Pacific Basin and the Pacific Northwest. From 1982 until 2000, he served as a professor of Public Policy and Administration at California State University, Bakersfield, where he was also Acting Graduate Studies Dean.

Dr. Paris was an active lay leader in the Episcopal Diocese of California and a member of St. Gregory of Nyssa Church on Potrero Hill. In 2010, he played a key role in planning the Bay Area interfaith commemorations of the martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. For several years he was a member of the board of Bayview Opera House, which he felt was a natural extension of his commitment to the equal access of all children to quality educational programs.

Dr. Paris is survived by his husband, Otis Charles, the retired Episcopal Bishop of Utah; two brothers Adrian and John and their spouses; nine children and their spouses; eleven grandchildren; four great grandchildren; numerous cousins in Almeria, Spain; and his San Francisco family and friends.

More

News, Stories and Arts &

Entertainment online @sfbaytimes.com 10

BAY TIMES AUGUST 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

Rev. Kamal Hassan, pastor of the Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Ca, was among the leaders from a diverse group of faith and religious organizations who gathered at Grace Cathedral during SF Pride Month in June.

P H OTO B Y R I N K

There will be a Liturgy of Thanksgiving for the Life of Felipe Sanchez Paris on Saturday, August 24, at 3 pm at St. Gregory of Nyssa Church, 500 De Haro Street (at Mariposa), San Francisco. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Gregory of Nyssa Food Bank.

Real Estate and Design

Aging in Place Aging Baby Boomers at a Glance Born between 1946 and 1964 Represent 33% of the American population Largest single generation in American history

First wave reached retirement age in 2011

Project Remodel Jim Tibbs I am writing this article from “my old Kentucky home,” the house where my parents have lived for the past 54 years. My siblings and I are working on a plan for updating the house to meet the changing needs of my parents as they get older. This exercise has prompted me to look at my own house and my own future with a fresh

By 2019 all Boomers will be 55 or over 75% of Boomers live in single family homes and most want to stay there comfort of their own homes. It is not about designing for the geriatric set.

Aging in place is about creating living spaces that are comfortable, efficient and attractive for people of all ages.

If you are planning to remodel or refresh your home, it makes sense to incorporate some of these principles into your plans, no matter your age:

more expensive to install, but are well worth it in the long run. If you want to install a pocket door in the same wall with a light switch, you can frame the wall about 2” wider to create the space necessary for both the door and the electrical box.

Door Openings- One of the best ways to enhance the accessibility of your home is to widen the door openings.

Exterior door openings should be at least 36” to 42” wide and interior door openings should be 32” to 36” wide. These dimensions are about 4-6” wider than the average, which creates a very comfortable transition from one space to another.

Traffic Flow- Every room needs to have a clearly defined and comfortable path for moving through the space. High traffic walkways should be at least 42” wide to allow two people to pass one another with ease. A 36” walkway is ideal in more private spaces, such as a bedroom or home office. If you don’t have the budget to widen your hallways, you can accomplish a lot by limiting the size and quantity of the furniture in your house.

Door Styles- Look for opportunities to replace hinged, interior doors

Next month we will take on accessible kitchens and bathrooms.

with pocket or barn doors whenever possible. The swing of a hinged door takes up valuable space and the door itself impedes movement when it is left open. Pocket or barn doors are

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

perspective. My partner Philip and I plan to retire in the next 10 years and remain in the Bay Area.

Like many of our contemporaries, especially in the LGBT community, Philip and I are on our own without the support of children or family members who live nearby. This puts even more importance on planning ahead so that we can continue to enjoy our independent lifestyle as we grow older.

The concept of “aging in place” is a major trend in home design and remodeling. It addresses the needs of those who want to grow older in the

Sunday, September 1st, 11am-7pm oaklandpride.org BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

11

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our 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 415-601-2113.

On the Occasion: It’s About Time

By Kit Kennedy Yes!

One such sweetened with photos coupled by bouquets, pledges never to go out of fashion whether hip street chic or traditional -silk tie, handed-down string of pearls

Kit Kennedy is the “Bay Times” Poet in Residence.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANNON WENTWORTH

Each knotted luminous & yes legal

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLOWER PLAY DESIGNS

Teddy Witherington and Rob Basham were married at City Hall on Thursday, August 15, the sixth anniversary of their first date. After the wedding, officiated by Rebecca Prozan, assistant city attorney, the couple changed their last name to Basham-Witherington.

They are proud parents of two kittens, Gilgamesh and Illiad, age 3 months. Rob is a sculptor and Teddy is a non-profit administrator with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, having served previously as executive director of SF Pride and SF Gay Men’s Chorus.

Shannon Wentworth, co-founder of Sweet Travel, welcomed her beautiful baby Theron Ambrose Wentworth on March 16, 2013 at 2:24 AM. Shannon and Theron enjoy exploring Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. Asked about the significance of the event, Shannon said, “Is it premature to say I gave birth to a future president or Nobel Prize winner?”

The Vows

!

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

During weddings, I always get a litt le choked up when we come to saying the vows. They are the heart of a wedding ceremony. In truth, a couple is married when they make vows to one another. I have a special place in my heart for people who write their own wedding vows—unique, special and absolutely true. This says a lot about each partner and the st reng t h of t heir com m it ment.

I n my ex per ience, most of t he br ides and most of t he g rooms who have written original vows cry while they are reciting them.

Somehow when t hey recite out loud , look i ng i nto t he face of t hei r beloved, t hey a re deeply moved by the mysterious power of t hese words t hat came to or through them. And they weep. I tell you, I sometimes weep too!

Okay, don’t worr y. There’s still tremendous power in using trad it iona l vow s t hat m i l l ion s of ot he r s h av e m a d e. A f t e r a l l , you a re fol low i ng a deeply es t abl i shed r it ua l t hat ha s been enacted and modeled over cent ur ies in hundreds of cu lt ures.

A nd , a s m a ny c ouples I h ave ma r r ied have told me, “ We’re not writers.” Or, they don’t want t o put a ny mor e pr e s s u r e on themselves than they’re already under, planning the wedding.

However you choose your vows, the important thing is: You are making a vow you intend to keep for the rest of the your life.

A couple of weeks ago I of f iciated a memor i a l ser v ice for a

12

BAY TIMES AUGUST 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

M A RI A: In sickness and in health . . .

TONY: To love and to honor . . .

MARIA: To hold and to keep . . .

TONY: From each sun to each moon . . .

M A RI A: From tomorrow to tomorrow . . .

TONY: From now to forever . . .

Weddings Reverend Elizabeth River lovely woma n who wa s a ser ious fan of the SF Opera. A tenor f r om t he SF O p er a c ompa ny sa ng “One Ha nd, One Hear t” from West Side Story. Do you remember it? (Go on YouTube and l isten to it— oh my). Tony a nd M a r ia si ng t h is hea r tbrea k i ng song (heartbreaking because we k now wh at h a p p en s t o t hem) in t he dress shop where Mar ia wor ke d . O n t he i r k ne e s t he y say vows to each other and then sing together “One Hand, One Hea r t ,” wh ich i s, of cou r se, a prayer. Notice how the vows are almost, but not quite, traditional. And notice how the last line of the song changes.

TONY: (Spoken) I, Anton, take thee, Maria . . .

M A RI A: (Spoken) I, Maria, take thee, Anton . . .

TONY: For richer, for poorer ...

M A RI A: Till death do us part.

TONY: With this ring, I thee wed.

MARIA: With this ring, I thee wed.

TONY (Sings) Make of our hands one hand, Make of our hearts one heart, Make of our vows one last vow: Only death will part us now.

M A RI A Make of our lives one life, Day after day, one life.

BOTH Now it begins, now we start One hand, one heart; Even death won’t part us now.

Make of our lives one life, Day after day, one life.

Now it begins, now we start One hand, one heart, Even death won’t part us now. ©Music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Rev. Elizabeth River is an ordained I n t e r fa i t h M i n i s t e r ba se d i n t h e Nor th Bay. For more infor mat ion , pl e a se v i s i t w w w .m a r i n coa st w e ddings.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEDDY WITHERINGTON

Each day special though a few echo through a life

Kerry Lobel and Marta Drury were married on their 11th anniversary in a ceremony officiated by Don Horsley, President of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

As part of the ceremony, Marta’s daughter read a passage written by actress Tina Modotti and presented by her as a toast at the wedding of Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera:

PHOTO COURTESY OF KERRY LOBEL

I don’t believe in marriage. No, I really don’t.

Let me be clear about that. I think at worst it’s a hostile political act, a way for small-minded men to keep women in the house and out of the way, wrapped up in the guise of tradition and conservative religious nonsense. At best, it’s a happy delusion - these two people who truly love each other and have no idea how truly miserable they’re about to make each other.

But, but, when two people know that, and they decide with eyes wide open to face each other and get married anyway, then I don’t think it’s conservative or delusional.

I think it’s radical and courageous and very romantic.

Putting Prop 8 Behind Us: Wedding Bells for Wedding Blues A s t hough wedd ing plann ing weren’t stressful enough on its own, California couples making or reviving plans to marry this summer and beyond have been faced with the additional anxiety of wondering whether the issuance of marriage licenses might be halted and weddings once again put indefinitely on hold.

After nearly five soul-crushing years of waiting on the part of gay and lesbian Californians, their families, friends, and allies, the determination by the U.S. Supreme Court that the Prop 8 proponents did not have standing to repeal the district court’s ruling overturning Prop 8 on federal constitutional grounds rightly was celebrated as a victory for marriage equality in California. It had been a long, painful and ugly fight. But the highest court in the land had weighed in. Game over, man.

Not so fast, responded those who had led the fight against civil equality. Despite defeat after defeat in court after court, including the U.S. Supreme Court and, increasingly, the court of public opinion, as recently as last week the Prop 8 proponents still continued their Hail Mary attempts to stifle joy and quash dreams even as their legal options to strip loving, committed same-sex couples of their freedom to marry all but evaporated.

After being rebuffed by the highest court in the land, the anti-equality forces, joined briefly by San Diego County Clerk Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., turned their sights back to the California Supreme Court.

The Prop 8 proponents hoped they could convince the state’s highest court to set itself in opposition to a higher court’s ruling on a federal constitutional issue. The Prop 8 proponents were set to argue that the district court’s decision applied only to the two plaintiff couples – Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo – or, at most, only to couples living in Alameda or Los Angeles Counties.

Yes, even as the Prop 8 proponents recognized that they could no longer legally prevent all California samesex couples from exercising their constitutional freedom to marry, and even as weddings joyously already were occurring all over California, they still were willing to try to stop any that they could.

marriage license immediately afterwards. Our hopes were buoyed when we heard that the stay would be lifted… and then dashed a few moments later when we learned that his decision would not take effect until the Ninth Circuit could review it, and marriages would not resume before the following week.

Marriage Equality Thom Watson But with the California Supreme Court’s refusal last month to halt marriages even temporarily, and then the unanimous decision of an en banc panel just last week to refuse to hear the Prop 8 proponents’ petition, the legal battle truly seems to be over. California same-sex couples can stop worrying about whether their marriage licenses will be revoked, and start worrying about the important stuff: summerweight linen or black tie? Chicken, beef, or fish? Will we ever figure out the #@$! seating arrangements?

Would any jury convict us if we strangle anyone who shows up at the reception dinner after not having RSVPed? It’s not just an abstract notion for me. Jeff and I have had our plans to marry put on hold time and again due to Prop 8.

In 2008 we had begun planning for a fall 2009 wedding. We hadn’t married during the brief window of opportunity that summer: We didn’t want to rush the planning, we weren’t sure if those marriages would be invalidated should Prop 8 pass, and, perhaps naively, we just didn’t expect Prop 8 to become law.

In 2009, instead of a legal marriage, we held a commitment ceremony, partly as a way to speak out against Prop 8, to proclaim that those who opposed our love had no power to diminish it. In lieu of a registry, we suggested to guests who inquired about gifts that they consider making a donation to a marriage equality organization in our name.

The following year we were one of the first couples standing in line at the San Francisco clerk’s office on August 12, 2010, waiting to hear that Judge Walker’s stay on his decision would be lifted and to get a

On August 16, the Ninth Circuit weighed in and extended the stay indefinitely, again precluding our legal marriage.

On June 28 of this year, after the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the case for lack of standing to appeal, and the Ninth Circuit’s unexpectedly quick decision to lift its stay, we were back at City Hall. This time – after first joining the crowd on the Mayor’s Balcony to see Kris and Sandy be married by Attorney General Kamala Harris – we finally walked out of the clerk’s office with our own license in hand.

Some friends and fellow marriage equality advocates urged us to consider marrying immediately, and voiced concerns over the following weeks that the Prop 8 proponents might succeed in securing another stay on licenses being issued and marriages being recorded as they considered whether to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to rehear the case. We held steady, wanting to wait to hold our wedding when our family and friends could be witness to it, symbolically and sentimentally on the anniversary of our 2009 commitment ceremony, and when we could be sure that our marriage wouldn’t subsequently be challenged or overturned.

That day now is rapidly approaching, even as we celebrate ten years together this year. We’ll be legally married at City Hall on September 26, and two days later will host our reception – a celebration not just for the two of us, but in a sense to honor all who are fighting for civil marriage equality in California and across the country. I’m no longer anxious or stressed about the sky falling on our legal marital status; instead, I just worry whether the San Francisco fog will lift for our big day.

Thom Watson is social media director for the nationwide grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA. BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

13

Stoli, Russian Politics, and the LGBT Community Original Stoli Guy program is to recognize young men who are exceptionally passionate, genuine, and original-invested in their community and leaders of tomorrow, reflective of the Stolichnaya brand and truly also of San Francisco itself.

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.

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

Ayana Baltrip Balagas Design Direction & Production

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

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

Michael Denison Juan Ordonez Distribution

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

Patrik Gallineaux A noted man once penned, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and despite the belief of most that the author was Stan Lee (Spider Man/ Marvel Comics), it was in fact Voltaire to whom this statement should be accurately first attributed.

Voltaire was disturbed by the sickening abuse of authority and privilege by those in power whilst the poor and deprived starved and suffered around him. Just like Voltaire, most San Franciscans share an exceptionally passionate ethic and concern for the well-being of our citizens and especially for the LGBT community ever since a certain Harvey Milk stepped forward from his camera shop on Castro Street and began to expose far more than film, developing a new voice for our community and inspiring the generation that has fought so hard for, and deserves massive credit for, the almost unbelievable breakthroughs we have come to experience today.

I have been traveling a lot lately, in particular cohosting the wonderful Most Original Stoli Guy national tour with GayCities, and this is one of the reasons why I love returning to San Francisco again and again. We have become a beacon of leadership for the rest of the country, and I always feel something safe and special getting to recharge my batteries here in the Bay Area. I always draw from my city for renewed energy with which to hopefully inspire those I meet in the many places in our country not as fortunate to enjoy the same rights and comforts. The very concept of the Most

I was asked a couple days ago, returning from a show in Dallas, if all the drama surrounding the horrible situation in Russia and the subsequent mistaken call to boycott Stolichnaya by some in the community was difficult for me. While it has prevented me from spending as much time volunteering for great fundraising organizations such as The Richmond-Ermet AIDS Foundation, I had to reply that I am beyond grateful for the experience. I have had the opportunity to dialogue with so many wonderful people throughout the country and the world, and I feel it is the greatest privilege, as a proud San Franciscan, to use the voice that Stolichnaya has given me for our community more responsibly than ever.

PHOTO COURT ESY OF PAT RIK GALLINEAUX

Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011

There are a few in our community who possibly are, quite frankly, not using their power as responsibly as they should. They are abusing San Francisco’s respected voice by directing the admirable passion of some in our caring community in the very wrong direction. Just as it is Voltaire, and not Stan Lee, who first penned the phrase at hand, it is actually very understandable how at first some may have been confused or misled about Stoli. It makes perfect sense to me that most would not have known that there are TWO Stoli’s (whaaaaat?), one in Russia owned only by the Russian government and only available in Russia, and the second, the one I work for and owned by SPI, an incredibly

LGBT supportive company that vehemently opposes the actions of the Russian government and has been one of the few companies in the world that has been actively fighting the Russian government for the past decade over just these sort of unacceptable actions. Here’s what happened: The Stolichnaya Vodka brand is owned by SPI Group that – through Luxembourg-based SPI Group – is solely owned by ex-Russian entrepreneur Yury Shefler, who was forced out of Russia over 10 years ago and currently lives in exile in London and Geneva. Yury legally acquired the Stolichnaya brand in 1997. SPI Group currently sells vodka under that name in over 150 countries, including the United States and Canada.

In 2000, within weeks of taking office, the new Russian Government issued an order to confiscate the Stoli brand without compensation to SPI. SPI’s offices were raided and their files taken. The Russian courts, being what they are, supported the government over the claims and Stoli as SPI ceased to be a Russian vodka. To make matters worse, when Stolichnaya split from Russia, Putin set up his own Stoli. Putin’s zombie Stoli is sold only inside Russia, but it retains the same label and packaging. Think of it as Stoli’s evil Russian twin.

But, unless you’re drinking Stolichnaya vodka in Russia, you are not drinking Russian Stoli vodka.

You’re drinking Dutch/Latvian vodka. Boycotting Stoli actually likely makes Putin and the very forces we would wish to fight very happy, and most certainly they should not be so rewarded.

I strongly believe that eventually the essence of truth always comes to light. I am so very inspired by the truth of what I have seen within my company the past three years. I have watched a Stoli company executive, without fanfare or marketing, ride AIDS Lifecycle along with his wife in 2011 to support HIV/AIDS research and care. When Sister Roma contacted me a year ago by e-mail with an urgent ask for Stoli to help sponsor the amazing annual “Project Nunway” fundraiser when no other company had stepped forward, I personally presented the ask to my company in New York the same day, and was given by Stolichnaya the budget to support the event, no questions asked. (continued on page 22)

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

Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards are available online at sfbaytimes.com or calling: 415-503-1375.

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

PHOTOS BY RIN K

ADVERTISING

Stoli Vodka representative Patrik Gallineaux addressed protesters at the Russian Consulate in SF. The emotional protest was aimed at the new anti-gay laws enacted in Russia.

Profiles of Courage and Compassion: Lawrence Helman

at 415-503-1386 #3.

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

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

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 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.

Lawrence Helman represents dozens of artists and performance events, including The Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation, Thrillpeddlers, Theater Rhino, The SF Mime Troupe and numerous others. He also does event planning and catering - both in front and back of house duties.

Lawrence grew up in New York City and considers himself first and fore-

14

BAY TIMES AUGUST 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

most a New Yorker. But NYC energy is imprinted in him as he continues his life here in San Francisco. He credits moving to San Francisco 26 years ago with his 2 young sons and then partner James Kuzmiak as being “the best decision I’ve ever made.”

We’re so glad he made the move!

LH: I find inspiration from all of my friends and very talented clients who are performers, writers, filmmakers, photographers and artists.

SS: How did you become involved in your work?

LH: I would make parking meters easy to read and easy to understand.

LH: I met filmmaker Marc Huestis shortly after arriving in SF. He was starting fundraising for a new documentary film project, Sex Is. I asked him if he needed any help, and two weeks later I was producing the film with him. I had never done that before. It took 3 years to raise money to get the film made, but it got produced and we opened the doc at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival in 1993, winning the Teddy Award there for Best Gay Documentary.

SS: Among your many achievements, which one are you most proud of and why?

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

SS: If you could fix or solve one major problem in the Bay Area, what would it be and why?

LH: I am most proud of my work as co-producer on two documentaries: Sex Is (1993) made with Marc Huestis and That Man: Peter Berlin 2005 made with Jim Tushinksi. I am very pleased to be working with Thrillpeddlers and their amazing musical productions since 2009 and for their trust in me. I am also very proud of my current relationship and of my boyfriend and love Bruce Balderson. We have a great time being with each other.

Lawrence Helman

SS: What are your future goals and aspirations?

LH: To be happy — in work and in life — and to be able to continue on my path of self-employment & discovery with the great creative people that I get to work with.

Stu Smith is board chair emeritus of Shanti Project, board chair of The Paratransit Coordinating Council, a member of the Castro Country Club Advisory Board and the LGBT Senior Task Force, and producer and host of the public access TV program “The Drag Show.” KQED has honored Stu as a 2013 LGBT Hero.

The Week in Review

By Ann Rostow RIP Sarria This issue of the Bay Times celebrates Jose Julio Sarria, The Widow Norton, who died of cancer in New Mexico at the age of 90 the other day. When I lived in the Bay Area in the 1990s, Sarria was considered a colorful character in our community, always good for a f lamboyant laugh. But when you consider what this man did for gay rights and gay visibility at a time when we were universally despised and ridiculed, you recognize that beneath the stereotypical diva persona was a tough activist, with the type of courage a Navy SEAL could only aspire to match.

Luckily, none of us in younger generations need face the waves of hatred that washed over our predecessors. For all that we have to complain about (and we still have quite a bit) the world has moved far beyond those days, and we have people like Sarria to thank for that.

Land of Enchantment Stepping Up And speaking of New Mexico, the Clerk of Dona Ana County has decided to offer marriage licenses to samesex couples, even as litigation continues to move through the state court system. You may recall that a clerk in Pennsylvania did the same thing last month, triggering a lawsuit from the powers that be in the Keystone State.

In New Mexico, however, the rogue move has legal foundation in an opinion from the state Attorney General, asking the state high court to declare bans on marriage unconstitutional.

Recently, the New Mexico supremes refused to fast track the two marriage equality cases that are now pending in lower state court. The decision to effectively delay the cases led Clerk Lynn Ellins to determine that samesex couples in her county should not have to wait a year or longer to tie the knot, particularly now that the Supreme Court has struck the Defense of Marriage Act. The High Court’s DOMA ruling has no technical bearing on state law, since it only concerned the question of whether the federal government has the right to discriminate between gay and straight married couples. But there’s no question that its underlying support for equality has had a broad impact on public officials and other courts. And, well, let’s just say that it feels as if the High Court’s twin rulings have tipped the playing field in our direction.

Hawaii, meanwhile, is the latest state to begin a hard push towards legalizing marriage by legislative action.

Hawaii is, of course, the birthplace of court-ordered marriage equality, even though the pro-gay decisions of 1993 and 1996 were rebuffed by voters. But the Hawaii voters who amended their constitution in the late 1990s did not pass the usual type of marriage ban. Instead, the constitutional amendment allowed the legislature to declare that marriage was a heterosexual union. That means that the legislature can reverse itself without violating the antigay amendment, and it looks as if they will work towards that goal this fall.

My Summer Vacation You know, there are other gay marriage stories f loating around this week, but the plot lines remain the same. We want equality. Many people agree that equality is right and inevitable. We are making progress in courts and legislatures.

That said, why belabor the details?

Instead, let me tell you about our trip

to the Solheim Cup in Parker, Colorado, last week. A couple of years ago we went on a lesbian cruise, and there were moments last week that reminded me of such a cruise on land. That said, we wished cruise organizers had been in charge of logistics because much of the week devolved into a zoo of long lines, long waits, long walks and unnecessary mishaps.

We tromped around this lengthy golf course in 95 degree heat at an altitude of God knows how high until we approached cardiac arrest. We had no idea what was happening because there were very few signs. When we arrived at a green, we were quickly displaced by more aggressive fans that blocked any view of the players. When we splurged on the special bar pavilion, they stopped checking passes so the whole place was overrun and the bar lines were 45 minutes or longer.

We had a horrible meal at an expensive French restaurant. The next night, after one too many gin and tonics, Mel and I had one of our rare fights because I could not decide on a restaurant. She suggested I drop her off at the hotel and “go wherever I liked.” We ended up eating cheese and pouting in our hotel room. (At least it was cheaper than the French place.)

To top it off, as many of you golf fans are aware, the American team was quickly in the hole and wound up losing by the largest margin in the history of the Solheim Cup. Our car rental was double the expected price. The hotel pool was set at the temperature of the hot tub. And we got continually lost, even after four or five days of driving the same route. That said, there were a lot of lesbians! I love lesbians, but not even our many sisters could save this trip from near disaster.

Most Annoying State Ever So, I think I read that Thailand was considering marriage equality. As I implied earlier, I’m kind of tired of endless marriage news, so I did not read carefully. Plus, I associate Thailand with child prostitution and soapy tasting lemon grass, so whatever. Still, it would be nice.

I suppose I must add that the New Jersey marriage lawsuit was argued in lower state court on August 15. I’m frustrated by this open-and-shut case, which continues to crawl laboriously through the Garden State courts, even as the outcome is not in dispute.

As you may recall, the New Jersey Supreme Court has already ruled that gay couples must be given the same benefits as their heterosexual neighbors. The pathetic civil unions that were put in place to achieve this goal are clearly insufficient to meet the test of “equality.” And yet the state supreme court has forced us to litigate this complaint from scratch, starting with the lower courts and eventually returning to the justices.

It’s not fair! Let’s imagine that I sued you for $100 and the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that you must pay.

Instead of complying, you only give me $50. I go back to the Supreme Court to demand that the justices enforce the original ruling, but instead of backing me up, they make me file a new lawsuit to get the full amount. That’s exactly what has happened over the last several years in New Jersey and it’s more than infuriating. Add to that the fact that the legislature has also passed marriage equality, only to see it vetoed for no reason by Chris Christie, and you can put New Jersey at the top of the list of States That Should Have Marriage Equality But Don’t Due To Public Cowardice.

Professional Services Christie did sign the ban on reparative therapy recently passed by the legislature the other day, but so what?

Are we supposed to give him a nice pat on the back? I don’t think so.

Juliet and Juliet Sage Continues Do you remember the story of Kaitlin Hunt, the teenage Florida girl charged with some horrible sounding sex crime for having a love affair with a younger classmate? Since the girls were something like 14 and 18, the tryst violated some state law and Kaitlin found herself facing jail and sex offender status. The DA offered a deal that would have given Kaitlin a couple of years of house arrest and would not have forced her to become a sex offender, but the Hunt family declined the deal.

Kaitlin became a cause celebre in the GLBT community, complete with a Facebook page championing her unfair dilemma. And it was unfair.

Teenagers, whether gay or straight, should not be threatened with prison for having affairs for God’s sake. It’s crazy. What should the age range be?

I don’t know. Five years maybe? But in any event, we (the gay community) also felt instinctively that Kaitlin was also being targeted because she and her friend were lesbians.

As you may know, so-called Romeo and Juliet laws exist to make sure that innocent teens don’t suffer the same fate as older predators. In the past, we’ve seen cases where Romeo and Juliet laws don’t apply to gay teens, and at first I assumed this was the situation in Florida. But, in fact, Florida’s Romeo and Juliet law applies to everyone, including Kaitlin. The law, which covers consensual affairs between kids 14 and older who are involved with someone within four years of their age, simply allows the prosecutor to offer exactly the deal that was offered to Kaitlin, to wit a period of house arrest with no sex offender status.

The question remained as to whether Florida had historically turned a blind eye to straight teen “offenders,” but I haven’t read anything to suggest that this was the case. Ergo, although the situation was absurd, it did not appear to be antigay.

But we still supported Kaitlin, because c’mon! We’ve all been there.

The girls were in love, and there’s nothing like being in love when you’re a teenager. It’s insane. I remember when my first love broke up with me, I decided I would quit college, move to her house and lie outside on the street for days and nights if necessary until she changed her mind. (It never occurred to me that this course of action might render me less attractive as a potential girlfriend. And no, I did not follow through with the plan.)

So here’s the latest. Kaitlin, who has been waiting for the next developments in her case, has been arrested and tossed in jail for violating the court’s requirement to avoid contact with her girlfriend. Instead of keeping her head down, she has been texting and sexting hundreds of messages, news reports say. The DA has now withdrawn any and all plea deals and is charging ahead towards trial. Kaitlin, Kaitlin, Kaitlin.

As we mentioned, a teenager in love is not in possession of a right mind, particularly a lesbian if you’ll permit me to generalize. Asking Kaitlin to avoid contact was like asking a hungry dog to stay away from the T-bone you just placed in his dish. But still. Honey, could you have just sucked it up for a few weeks until this ordeal was behind you? As for the DA, do you re(continued on page 22)

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

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

15

LGBT Fall Basketball Season Starts September 11 from 5 to 7 PM. The gym is conveniently located behind Molly Stone’s Market in the Castro. If you plan to play, bring a white t-shirt and a darker t-shirt, as that is how teams are made.

After your first visit, a contribution will be required of $5.

By Tony Jasinski With the fall basketball season starting in just a few weeks, the SFGBA (San Francisco Gay Basketball Association) is seeking new faces at all talent levels. There are a variety of ways to participate.

If you or a friend (and they don’t need to be gay) love to play basketball, please consider signing up for the league or trying Sunday ‘open court’ play. The SFGBA does its best to make everyone feel welcome, and some people just like to keep track of the schedule and attend as fans.

For more information, please visit w w w. s f g b a . c o m o r w w w. f a c e book.com/gaybasketball.

Tony Jasinski is the former president of the SFGBA.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SF GAY BASKETBALL ASSOCIAT ION

For those of you seeking the easiest way to get involved, just show up most Sundays at the Eureka Valley Gym

There are two divisions in the league program, which can accommodate all skill levels. For athletes with less skill (limited prior organized play), the league will have 5 teams vying for the title of the ‘B’ division on Wednesday nights. For athletes with more skill (college ball or significant high school experience, typically), the league will have 5 other teams playing on Thursday nights. Every player is put in a pool and selected in a confidential draft, so most people play with new players each season. Also, this means that no one needs to seek out a team in order to get to play.

Last spring, the program had nine teams, and they hope to grow. The newest SFGBA president, Johnny Nguyen, is excited about this season, since fall seasons tend to be the strongest (we also have a second season annually in the spring). Johnny said, “I want to recruit some new players to keep the league interesting and exciting.”

Round About – Chris Kluwe’s Castro Appearance Photos by Steven Underhill

Bay Times photographer Steven Underhill met veteran NFL punter Chris Kluwe, author of Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies, during his recent appearance at Books Inc. Castro.

Released in 2013 by the Minnesota Vikings after more than a decade with the team, Kluwe is now competing for a roster position with the Oakland Raiders. Kluwe made headlines while with the Vikings by openly supporting free speech and same-sex marriage rights.

16

BAY TIMES AUGUST 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

Arts&Entertainment Gay Filmmakers Capture Linda Lovelace’s Fragility in New Biopic her husband, and Sharon Stone gives a terrif ic performance as Linda’s stern mother.

In a recent phone interview, Epstein and Friedman spoke with me for the Bay Times about making Lovelace.

GMK: What intrigued or surprised you about Linda’s story?

Film

Gary M. Kramer

Jeff: I think it was her pivotal place in the history of our sexual culture that intrigued me the most. She’s the Zelig of the 1960s and 1970s— from the birth of the porn explosion to the beginnings of feminism. I was vaguely aware that she was alienated from the porn industry, but I didn’t know the details, so all the details of her story were surprising to me.

The other thing that interested me in that regard is that the way I came to know who she was—or who I think she was—changed radically over the years. My first impression of her was a public presentation that I naïvely accepted at face value. But there is that great gap between how we receive media and news about people and the reality of those people. That whole dynamic interested me.

San Francisco-based gay filmmakers Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein created the compelling new biopic Lovelace, now available through video on demand. The film is as much about the adult f ilm actress Linda Lovelace’s (Amanda Seyfried) meteoric rise to fame as it is about her ordeal suffering abuse at the hands of her husband, Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard). Lovelace chronicles teenage Linda being seduced by Trayner, a Svengali who teaches her how to perform the oral sex act that becomes her claim to fame. However, after she makes the wildly successful Deep Throat, the filmmakers shift gears and retell Linda’s story from her perspective, revealing her husband’s mental and physical cruelty.

GMK: Many of your films, both fiction and documentary, address social, cultural, and political attitudes toward sex and sexuality. What is your interest in sex?

Lovelace makes Linda a sympathetic victim, and Seyfried captures the title character’s fragility well. Sarsgaard is suitably charming and menacing as

Jeff: Who isn’t interested in sex?! Sexuality has a special place in the gay [hi]story, and it very viscerally made the private public. So maybe that’s

Rob Epstein

Jeffrey Friedman

part of it. Sex tells us so much about who we are, and the way we deal with sex is how we are in the world.

GMK: When did you first see Deep Throat, and what was your reaction to it?

Jeff: When I started working on this movie.

GMK: Did you like it?

Jeff: No, it’s terrible! The worst movie!

In some ways it’s kind of wonderful in a 1960s Warhol way. The opening sequence is a five-minute sequence of her driving and nothing happens.

The humor is kind of burlesque humor, which is odd to see in a porn f ilm. The actual blowjobs are just blowjobs. They are impressive. But as a cultural phenomenon I find it fascinating…delightfully weird.

Rob: I saw it in college in a midnight show, which I swear was a double feature with Pink Flamingos. But John Waters said that was not possible. I remember thinking Deep Throat was like a cartoon. Not so much a porn film, but a trashy campy film like Pink Flamingos, which is a much better film.

GMK: What is the appeal of Linda’s story to you as gay men?

people who set out to make a difference and really do change the world.

Rob: Several things. We were interested in the character of Linda Lovelace—who was born L inda Boreman—who had to do her own kind of coming out. First, as a sexual being—a reaction to her oppressive family background. Then as an international porn star. And then, the whole other iteration of her life when she denounced her past. As gay men, we can understand her soul searching, even though it’s a different experience. We were fascinated by that, and all the issues around the sexual revolution and what she embodied.

People think the sex revolution benefited everyone, but originally it was straight men, then women, then gay men. Also, as filmmakers, one commonality we’re attracted to is art on the fringes that makes its way into the mainstream.

GMK: Why did you approach Linda’s story as both a public and a private version?

GMK: Can you discuss why your films are very much about the personal being political?

Jeff: I can’t say it’s a conscious decision. Those are the stories that we find inspiring, and are interested in—

Rob: We’re used to constructing stories and reconstructing stories.

So much of our documentaries are made in editing. When we were first immersing ourselves in the story to figure out an approach, the question was: Who is the real Linda Lovelace/ Boreman? She had a complicated, layered life. We wanted to tell the story that mirrored her psychology that looks back on her life through a different lens—how she presented [herself ] to the world and then told it a few years later.

GMK: Why did you decide to recreate the porno scenes rather than use clips?

Rob: We wanted to do our own take on the film, so we did all of our own recreations rather than use any of the [original] film. We had a great time with that. (continued on page 22)

Trisha Fogleman: The Voice of Psychokitty

Gems of The Bay Kippy Marks In this edition of “Gems of the Bay” I am honored to share the story of female vocalist Trisha Fogleman. She is the lead singer of Psychokitty. She’s also a soprano at SF Sinfonietta, and is a makeup artist too.

Trisha was born in Lafayette, Indiana, to the loving parents of Judith Maupin and Mike Fogleman. They

When Trisha was in the eighth grade, there was a mandatory music program where every student had to take a music test to evaluate his or her musical abilities. Trisha was given a scale vocal test. In the middle of this test the instructor stopped Trisha because he was stunned by her musical vocal ability. He asked, “Why aren’t you singing more?” From that day forward, Trisha started on her singing path. She tried out for the choir and made it into the elite group of singers.

Trisha then had to transfer to another school in Lafayette as a freshman, and found that she had to start from the bottom group of singers again.

But she quickly advanced into the more advanced chorus, and sang with

the Mass Chorus of about 600 kids.

“I had terrific teachers who taught me so much appreciation for music,” Trisha says.

She also plays the flute, although she admits to doing that not as well as she sings. She was also in the marching band and was a flag and riffle guard.

During her junior and senior school years, Trisha became a featured soloist for the Mass Chorus, which recorded a Christmas album.

After graduation, Trisha moved to Chicago and worked in the corporate world for several years. She would sing on occasion, showcasing show tunes and torch songs at the well-known Zebra Lounge. In 1996, Trisha left Chicago and moved to San Francisco.

Here she would sing on occasion, but had a bit of stage fright. She worked through it. She met Dave Earnest, a fellow musician playing around town.

A newfound relationship emerged, with Trisha finding herself becoming the lead singer of Psychokitty.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRISHA FO GLEMAN

adopted Trisha at the age of six. Trisha is the oldest of four siblings. She has one brother and two sisters. “I have always felt a deep passion for music and can remember singing all the time as a child, sometimes even to the dismay of my mother,” Trisha says.

In 2013, Psychokitty released its debut EP, Bring It, produced by Guitar Player Magazine editor in chief Michael Molenda. Bring It is a celebration of super heavy and screaming guitars, Led Zeppelin-approved grooves, and a powerful vocalist who can tear through your heart and soul. For more information, including upcom-

ing concert dates, please visit www. psychokittysf.com, www.facebook. com/psychokittysf.com, www.twitter. com/pkittytrisha, and www.reverbnation.com/psychokitty.

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

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

17

Sister Dana sez, “Just say NO to Welfare Reform 2.0. Why did House Repugnicans refuse to fund the food stamp program? According to Rep. Steve King of Iowa, food stamps aren’t about feeding hungry people; they are an administration conspiracy.

Rep. Louie Gohmert believes food stamp recipients feast on mountains of king crab legs. Laura Ingraham thinks anyone needing help should be shamed at the grocery store. And Fox News ran a one-hour ‘documentary’ called “The Great Food Stamp Binge” full of similar nonsense. Beware!

Republican’ts will shut down the government for their evil vision.”

But enough hilarity (??). Let’s see what happened since last we visited. LIVE! IN THE CASTRO was fantastic!

The every Saturday/Sunday in October event, brought to us by Invest in Neighborhoods, featured Matt Alber in an outdoor free concert in Jane Warner Plaza, Castro & Market Streets. Alber gave us his mostly country compositions on guitar, with some golden oldies like Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and “Some People” serenaded to MC Donna Sachet on guitar. Kippy Marks on electronic violin opened for Alber with awesome electronic violin pieces that got everyone dancing.

The GLBT HISTORICAL MUSEUM held a leatherful reception in their 4127 18th and Castro headquarters to introduce a new multimedia exhibit there highlighting the history of REAL BAD, a queer dance party held in conjunction with the annual leather/fetish Folsom Street Fair.

The exhibit running now through October 27- BE BAD...DO GOOD: ACTIVISM WITH A BEAT - marks the 25th anniversary of the annual fundraiser. Gina Gatta, who curated the show along with Suzan Revah, has been involved with Real Bad for 21 years. Entirely produced and funded by volunteers, the party has raised nearly $1.7 million for local LGBTQ nonprofits. The exhibit explores how compassion, creativity, and club culture coalesced in the Real Bad dance extravaganza starting in 1989. The exhibit features 1980s party ephemera; Real Bad posters; invitations; photos; and a wall-size info-graphic tracing the fundraising impact of the party over 25 years.

An impressive video documentary has been custom-made for the show with the staff of Matthew Johnson, director & producer; Scott Saraceno, editor; Kenshi Westover, art director; Secretary of the GRGR West Board Gatta and Revah, exhibit cocurators, GRGR West Board member Dave Hendrickson; and Dominick Albano, former Real Bad event chair, featured in the short film. Admission to the museum is $5 (general); $3 (California students); free for members of the GLBT Historical Society. glbthistorymuseum.org.

18

BAY TIMES AUGUST 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

T h e R I C H M O N D/ E R M E T A IDS FOUNDATION presented HELP IS ON THE WAY XI X – BROADWAY AND BEYOND at The Palace of Fine Arts, REA F’s 19t h a n nua l ga la a nd Nor t her n Ca lifor nia’s largest annua l starstudded A I DS Benef it produced

by K en Henderson and Joe Seiler. This year’s benef iciaries wer e A I D S Hou s i n g A l l i a nc e, A g u i l a s , P r oj e c t O p e n H a n d , and Shanti. The concert featured celebr it ies from Broadway, T V, f ilm, and the recording industry.

A mong t he per for mers were Jason Broc k , T V (X Fa ct or) a nd cabaret opening with “You’ve Got the Love,” joined by A lex Newell, TV (Glee, T he Glee Project) and

Ja ke Si mpson, T V (Star Search – f inal season Grand Champion) w it h a bouncy “On Broadway;” Newell later returned with a gutw r e nc h i n g “ Me a d ow l a r k ” a nd S i mp s on l at er c a me ba c k w it h Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky.” Jim Ba i ley of stage fame (C a r neg ie H a l l / L ondon Pa l l a d iu m) a nd T V (E d S ulli va n) do i ng h i s fa mou s Judy G a rl a nd i mpression; Dav id Bu r n ha m , Broadway (Wicked, Light in the Piazza) with the operatic “Il Mondo Era V’Uoto” from Piazza. Gorge!

The ta lent cont inued w it h Ca role Cook, Broadway (42nd Street, Radio Gals, Mame, Dolly) TV/ f ilm st a r g iv i n g u s her u s u a l w it t y, naught y, hyster ica l standup and a med le y of her fabu lou s s how hits including “Broadway Baby;” Spencer Day, T V (Star Search)/ cabaret/recording star with a sexy “The Myster y of You;” L oretta Dev i ne, Broadway (D reamg irls)/ f i l m (C ra sh)/T V (G re y’s Anatomy, Client List) w it h a d iv ine “Come Rain or Come Shine;” David Engel, Broadway (La Cage Aux Folles/ P utt ing It Together)/co -founder of Forever Plaid, an original Cagelle from L a Cage doing “I A m W hat I A m ; ” To m L o w e, L ond on’s West E nd st a r (L es M iz , C ATS ) g iv ing an emot iona l L es Miz “ E mpt y Cha i r s a nd E mpt y Ta bles;” Donna McKechnie, Tony Aw a r d -w i n n i n g ( A C h o r u s L i n e) Broadway star reprising her “The Music and the Mirror” from Chor us L ine; L isa Vroma n, Broadway (Phantom of the Opera, Les Miz) and recording star with a Mirror Medley including “I Feel Pretty;” Paula West, jazz/cabaret with a del icious “ Bi l l” from S howboat ;” B.O.O.B.S! ( Busty, Outrageous, O v e r - t he t o p B r o a d s S i n g i n g ) comedy cabaret trio of Leanne Borghesi, Jessica Coker, and S oi l a Hug hes si ng i ng a K al e idoscope , includ ing rap; A rkad iy Polezhaev and Natalija Panina in a stunning pas de deux in contemporar y dance with “Cycle Song: Add it ion;” Sa lsa m a n ia, World Latin Dance Cup champions with sizzling same-sex samba; and SF Gay Men’s Chorus singing (what else but) “Bring on the Men.” The entire cast took the stage for a rousing f ina le of t he thematic “Help Is on the Way.” CUM MING U P! Sister Dana highly recommends these events: S E X A N D T HE C I T Y: L I V E! i s ba c k w it h a l l ne w e pi s o de s .

Ev e r y We d n e s d ay n i g ht , g r a b a C osmo a nd get ready for t he sex! The smash hit stage adaptation returns, starring the mostly d rag ca st of Hek l i na, D’A rc y D r o l l i n g e r, L a d y B e a r, Tr i x x ie C a r r, L e i g h C r o w, G i a n n i M ic h ae l Lyle, P r i s t i ne C ond it ion , a nd C ook ie Dough. Episodes change ever y three months at Rebel, 1760 M a rket St reet at Oct av ia . Two shows night ly ever y Wednesday, 7pm a n d 9 pm . S e a t i n g i s v e r y l i m it e d . T ic ket s av a i l able s e xa ndt hecit yl ive.eventbr ite.com a nd at t he door (i f you’re ea rly enough).

PEACHES CHRIST PRODUCTIONS wants you to reapply the lip gloss and douse yourself in glitter for S HOWG I R L S: NIG H T OF 1,000 SHOWGIR LS, the return of the decadent, interactive presentation g uaranteed to pack every seat at the Castro Theatre 8 pm on August 24 with your hostess, Peaches Christ. The sweet 16 t h e d it ion i nc lu d e s a ne w l y r em i xed , r e worke d “ Volc a n ic G o dde s s” pr e - s how feat u r i n g new scenes sure to shock, ter r ify, and delight fans and newbies alike. Not only will Rena Rif fel ( Pen ny i n t he f i l m) b e r et u r n i ng as Nom i Ma lone, but a lso Peaches Christ w ill be introducing NOMI-PA LOOZA: multiple N o m i M a l o n e (s) i n v a d i n g t h e Castro stage as performed by Sis-

PH OTO B Y R I N K

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

Singer/Actress Loretta Devine on stage at The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation (REAF) Help Is On The Way Broadway & Beyond concert at the Palace of Fine Arts.

ter Roma, Lady Bear, Honey Mahogany, and Peggy L’eggs!

Rounding out the sparkling principal cast are Ms. Christ as arch nemesis Cr ist a l Con nor s a nd Ti m my S pence a s M r. Ta m mer s Moss. You c a n compete i n t he Nom i M a lone look-a l i ke contest, and don’t forget to purc h a s e a L A RG E p o p c o r n f o r a g u a r a nt ee d p er s on a l i ze d l ap dance by Peaches’ leg ion of live “ dude-g irls,” over a hund red of ‘em! Doors open 6:30pm for VIP t ic ket holder s ( i nc lud i n g e a rl y seating and drinks in the Cheetah Lounge) and 7pm for general admission. Festivities begin 8pm, tix $25 to $45. Rated NC -17: abso lutely no one under 17 admitted. peacheschrist.com.

T he B r o a d w ay mu s ic a l s e n s a t ion, P R I SC IL L A QU EE N OF T H E D E S E R T, p l ay s for t w o weeks only, now through August 31st at SH N Or pheum Theatre, 1192 Market Street at 8t h. Pr isc i l l a s t a r s Wa d e M c C o l l u m ( “ T i c k / M it z i ” ) , S c o t t W i l l i s (“Bernadette”), and Bryan West (“Ad a m/Fel ic ia”) a s t he t r io of fr iend s on a road t r ip of a l i fetime, who hop aboard a battered old bu s sea rch i ng for love a nd fr iend sh ip i n t he m idd le of t he Austra l ian outback, and end up f inding more than they could ever have dreamed. Joe Hart stars as “ B ob.” Ad apted f rom t he 19 9 4 Ac ademy Aw a rd w i n n i ng f i l m, T he Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the musical play showc a s e s o v e r 5 0 0 d a z z l i n g 2 011 Tony Awa rd-w i nn i ng cost umes.

Pr iscilla The Musical features a hit parade of over 20 dance-f loor f avor it e s i nc lud i n g “ It ’s R a i n ing Men,” “Finally,” and “I Will Su r v ive.” A nd of cou r se A BB A galore! Tix range from $45-$210 at shnsf.com and by calling SHN Aud ience S er v ices at 8 8 8 -74 6 1799.

The CASTRO THEATRE present s t he mu s ic a l s pect ac le t hat rocked t he world 4 0 yea r s ago, JESUS CHR IST SUPERSTA R , w it h Ted Neeley, t he or ig i na l “ Hu n k y Jes u s ,” i n p er s on! For one e ven i n g on ly - Aug u st 23 , 2013, A .D. - fans are inv ited to c e lebr at e a nd pa r t ic ipat e i n a l ively Q& A w it h Neeley before the show. Adapted from A ndrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s p o pu l a r a l bu m a n d s t a g e h it , the rock-opera recounts the last week in the life of Christ as told from the point of view of Judas, complete with explosive ‘70s rock songs and groov y dance numbers.

Shot on location in Israel, director Nor ma n Jew ison t a kes an innovat ive approach to t he razz le - d a z z le, e a c h r ole p er fe c t l y brought to l i fe by Neeley, Ca rl A n de r s o n , Yv o n ne E l l i m a n ( “ I D on’t K now How t o L ov e Him”), and Barry Dennen.

This will screen as a double feat u re w it h L IF E OF B R I A N, Monty Python’s gleefully irreverent t a le of a hapless sou l who leads a parallel life to Christ and is mistaken for the Messiah, leadi ng to t rouble w it h t he Roma ns and idiotic followers at every turn. “ We’re ver y excited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the spec(continued on page 22)

Access Your Soul’s Sweet Spot ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Hone in on who you are, Aries. Celestial signals are helping to shape new forms of self-expression.

Break free from limits that restrict the way you live and love.

LEO (July 23 – August 22) Lights out, Leo. Your radiant roar could use some rehab now. The stars strongly suggest that you retreat to a peaceful pad to renew your spirit and rejuvenate your senses.

better.

Astrology Gypsy Love Gary Zukav wrote four consecutive New York Times bestsellers exploring transformation in human consciousness. According to Zukav, everybody’s born to access that “sweet spot,” when the personality fully serves the soul. He calls this concept “authentic power.” Sure, syncing symbiotically with our higher self sounds terrific in theory, but how?

Take it from Glinda, the Good Witch: “You’ve always had the power, my dear. You’ve had it all along.”

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Tout your thinking cap, Taurus. Core beliefs are blossoming now, and informative insights are sure to keep you on your toes. Meld minds with mentors, and mingle with enchanting messengers.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) Join in, Virgo. Pining for perfection won’t serve any purpose now. Fresh new contacts are eager to collaborate. Sign on with an open mind, and be willing to make mistakes.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Juice up with joy, Gemini. Recharge your long-term goals by infusing playtime into your list of priorities.

Leaning into the laughter will light your way toward lasting fulfillment.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) Join in, Virgo. Pining for perfection won’t serve any purpose now. Fresh new contacts are eager to collaborate. Sign on with an open mind, and be willing to make mistakes.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22) Carry on, Cancer. Tie up any loose ends that are tripping you along this pathway of personal growth. Make peace with the past so you can feast on the future.

www.AstrologyByGypsyLove.com

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) Get real, Scorpio. Explore adventures that serve your authentic self. Squeeze out superficialities, and fuel your tank with treats that truly inspire you.

Wander where the rubber meets the road.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) Stimulate your sensual side, Sagittarius. Deep desires and curious bedfellows beckon you now. Tune into emotional instincts to qualify where, when, and how you’ll spend your sexy time.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) Get connected, Capricorn. Transformative twists of fate forge powerful bridges between you and the public now. Surrendering to soulful shifts will help you attract ideal partners and boost your reputation.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Enhance your stance, Aquarius. Cosmic couriers compel you to analyze your aspirations and think differently about the manner in which you serve the world. Deepen the connection to your calling.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) You’ve been commissioned to re-paint your personal portrait, Pisces. Draw inspiration from desires and dreams that risk going dormant unless you weave them more meaningfully into your modus operandi.

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’s your favorite song to dance to and why?

Eoin Marsh

Niki Kekos

Paloma Volares

China Silk

Ginger Snap

“Kylie Minono’s song ‘Better the Daughter You Know’ because I love her songs.”

“Beyonce’s ‘Get Me Bodied’ because it bonds her to gay guys.”

“‘Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets’ because a girl has got to do what she wants.”

“Rhianna’s ‘Only Girl in the World’ because it makes me feel happy and very special.”

“Robyn’s song ‘Call Your Boyfriend’ because it empowers women.”

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

19

compiled by Robert Fuggiti

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

Icona Pop will perform live at The Fillmore on August 30. (Photo: livenation.com)

The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia – Phoenix Theatre. $25-$50. 8 pm.

(414 Mason St.) www.thegoat. brownpapertickets.com. A Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prizenominated script about love, loss, and the limits of tolerance. Also August 23 & 24.

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.

Comedy Bodega – Esta Noche.

Free. 8 pm. (3079 16th St.) www.

estanocheclub.com. Enjoy the weekly comedy variety show happening every Thursday.

Jesus Christ Superstar – Castro Theatre. $11. 7 pm. (429 Castro St.) www.castrotheatre.com. A 40th anniversary screening of the rock-opera musical, and lively Q&A with Ted Neeley before the show.

So You Can Hear Me – The Marsh San Francisco. $15-$35. 8 pm. (1062 Valencia St.) www.themarsh.org. Safiya Martinez’s acclaimed solo show recounts her

A Cause for Paws fundraiser Live Entertainment Raffle and Silent Auction

experiences as a special education teach in the South Bronx.

Sissy Strut – Underground SF. Free. 10 pm to 2 am. (424 Haight St.) www.undergroundsf.com. A dance party playing jams from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

A Cause for Paws Benefit – Martuni’s. Donation based. 3 pm to 6 pm. (4 Valencia St.) www.facebook.com/events/195658697 268871. Enjoy live entertainment, silent auction and delicious martinis, while supporting A Cause for Paws, a non-profit dog rescue organization.

Kayaking for Women – Pillar Point Harbor. $85. 10 am. (Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay) 415601-2113. Join Blue Water Ventures and the women of Betty’s List for a great day on the water and beyond.

Pleasure and Pain – Laney College. $50. 6:30 pm. (900 Fallon St., Oakland) www.oebgmc.org.

The Oakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus proudly present Pleasure and Pain.

Saturday, August 24 3-6 p.m.

Martuni’s Piano Bar 4 Valencia Street San Francisco Skip, owner of Martuni’s, has graciously offered the use of his establishment for this endeavor. Martuni’s will even be opening an hour earlier at 3:00 PM. A portion of the sales of the “cocktail of the day” will be donated by Skip!

20

BAY TIMES AUGUST 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

Swim for L.I.F.E. – Shanti Project. Donation Based. 10 am.

(1900 Geary Blvd.) www.shanti.org.

A fundraising event to raise money for Shanti’s Learning Immune Function Enhancement (L.I.F.E.) Program.

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.

SF Bacon and Beer Festival – Fairmont Hotel. $50-$60. 2:30 pm to 5 pm. The Bay Area’s first Bacon and Beer Festival brings fabulous bacon inspired dishes paired with beers from an assortment of breweries.

Wanted – Q Bar. Free. 10 pm to 2 am. (456 Castro St.) www.sfwanted.com. Enjoy a night of dance and electronic music along with $2 drink specials.

How to Dress Well – The Independent. $15. 7:30 pm. (628 Divisadero St.) www.theindependentsf.com. Songwriter and vocalist Tom Krell, who goes by the stage name How to Dress Well, blends his fabulous falsetto with soulful R&B tones to deliver a unique and captivating sound.

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

Dance the night away to favorite Motown songs and remixes.

Camelot – SF Playhouse. $30$100. 7 pm. (450 Post St.) www. sfplayhouse.org. Camelot is the timeless and powerful love triangle between legendary King Arthur, his Queen Guinevere and his best friend Lancelot. Through September 14.

Block Party – Midnight Sun. Free. 9 pm. (4067 18th St.) www. midnightsunsf.com. Enjoy weekly screenings of your favorite music videos.

Video Tuesdays – Lookout.

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

Annual Board Meeting – Lyon-Martin Health Services. Free.

6 pm to 9 pm. (1748 Market St.) www.lyon-martin.org. The Board of Directors of Lyon-Martin Health Services will hold its annual public meeting to share important updates and progress made over the past year.

Cocky Wednesdays – The Edge SF. Free. 7 pm to 2 am. (4149 18th St.) www.edgesf.com. A weekly underwear contest with cash prizes.

MGMT – The Warfield. $35. 8 pm.

(982 Market St.) www.whoismgmt. com. Electro-punk rock band MGMT is sure to deliver a show you won’t want to miss!

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.

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

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

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 searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback. Through August 31.

Movie Night at the Center – LGBT Community Center. Free. 4 pm. (1800 Market St.) sfcenter.org.

Enjoy a free LGBT-themed movie screening on the last Thursday of every month.

Icona Pop – The Fillmore. $25. 9 pm. (1805 Geary St.) www.livenation.com. The fun and upbeat London based duo from Stockholm comes to the Bay Area for one night only.

Spamalot – Hillbarn Theatre. $23$40. (1285 East Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City) www.hillbarntheatre. org. An outrageously funny musical adaptation of the legendary comedy, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Through September 22.

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

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

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.

Shakespeare in the Park – San Francisco’s Presidio. Free. 2 pm.

(Main Post Parade Ground Lawn) www.sfshakes.org. For the first time in their 31 year history, the SF Shakes stage a free production of Macbetch. Through September 15.

Pride Party – Club 21. $5. 9 pm to 4 am. (2111 Franklin St.) www. club21oakland.com. Celebrate Pride at Oakland’s largest Latino gay bar, with hot go-go dancers and live performances.

Oakland Pride Extravaganza – White Horse Inn. $15. 9:15 pm.

(6551 Telegraph Hill) www.whitehorsebar.com. Kick of Oakland Pride with an amazing lineup of performances from some of your favorite Drag Race stars.

Oakland Pride – Downtown Oakland. Donation based. 11 am to 7 pm. (20th St. and Franklin St.) www.oaklandpride.org. Enjoy live music, performances and entertainment during Oakland’s annual Pride celebration.

Sundayz – Beatbox. $8. 3 pm.

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

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

Honey Soundsystem – Holy Cow! $7. 10 pm. (1535 Folsom St.) www.honeysoundsystem.com. An eccentric Sunday dance party with strong drinks and fun mash-ups.

Mahogany Mondays – Midnight Sun. Free. 8 pm. (4067 18th St.) www.midnightsunsf.com.

A live drag variety show with $5 drink specials all evening.

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

Ten Percent with David Perry – Comcast On Demand.

Free. 10:30 pm. (Comcast On Demand) www.davidperry.com. For his 200th original show, David Perry interviews Howard Bragman, openly gay ABC contributor and uber publicist to Hollywood’s elite.

13 Licks – Q Bar. $4. 10 pm to 2 am. (456 Castro St.) www.qbarsf. com. A weekly lesbian dance party.

Funny Tuesdays – Harvey’s.

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

Meow Mix – The Stud. Free. 9 pm. (399 9th St.) www.studsf.com.

A weekly cabaret variety show with drink specials.

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.

Meditation Group – San Francisco Public Library. Free. 12 pm to 12:45 pm. (100 Larkin St.) www.sfpl.org. A weekly meditation group to find calmness and peace.

Castro Farmers Market – Noe St. at Market. Free. 4 pm to 8 pm. (Noe St. at Market) www. pcfma.com. Enjoy fresh produce and locally made foods and delicacies. Happening every Wednesday.

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

21

(EDITORIAL continued from page 14) When GLAAD asked Stoli to help create a first-ever parade f loat, my company made every resource available, including my time. One of the proudest accomplishments of my life will always be the privilege of riding down Market Street with GLAAD and a cast of over a dozen of SF’s most amazing artists and drag talent in 2012 as GLAAD took home a “Most Fabulous Float” award.

When Stoli wanted to give back via the Most Stoli Guy Program, I suggested we be able to give five dollars to the community for every person through the door at our Stoli Guy events. My company listened, and I could not be happier that, in conjunction with GayCities, 1K is being donated to Sister Pat N Leather’s incredible work on the Sisters’ “Stop the Violence Campaign” (Stoli first partnered with this program in 2011).

Just last Friday, in San Diego, we were able to raise another 1K for the global humanitarian work of the St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation via the wonderful Rev. Albert Ogle. And just last month, I was given by Stoli sponsorship money to buy uniforms for a San Diego marching band who could not afford them,

(LOVELACE continued from page 17) Jeff: It was more fun to recreate it.

You couldn’t have all the stuff behind the camera if you were using the real footage.

GMK: You present surprisingly little nudity and sex on screen. Was that deliberate?

Jeff: It was never our goal to show as much sex as possible. But when the story calls for it, we tried to make it sexy. There’s some real intimacy.

There’s nothing shocking in what we show. It’s a story of a woman’s sexuality as it evolves, so we wanted to show Linda becoming free in her body, and claiming her body.

GMK: What can you say about exploring the line between passion and pain?

Rob: Whoa! That’s deep!

(ROSTOW continued from page 15) ally want to put this kid behind bars?

Is that why you went to law school?

Young Love Finally, speaking of prison, my friend and colleague Kim Corsaro inspired us to watch the first season of Orange is the New Black on Netflix. It’s one of those potato chip series, much like Homeland and House of Cards, which you can’t stop consuming from one episode to the next even as the clock strikes midnight and later.

even though Pride rules prohibited any Stoli logo branding. Watching that band pass by me on Hillcrest Avenue, with no one but me and a handful of company executives knowing what we had been honored to do, will always be one of the happiest moments in my life.

It is this sort of quiet giving, only a few examples out of hundreds I have witnessed, which inspires me in the spirit of San Francisco to keep working as hard as I do with a company that meets the very high standards we as a community expect. And as such, we should expect that anyone within our community so blessed with a voice loud enough to represent San Francisco do so with the proper facts and intentions at hand, as the power of our community is large and important, certainly with a legacy to uphold.

And getting back to the idea of great power and the idea that perhaps it might be attributed to a superhero, who might my personal “Justice League” be? Well, most certainly Gary Virginia would be Batman always f ighting for truth through the darkness. Donna Sachet would

GMK: Well, it is Deep Throat!

Rob: [Laughs.] That has a lot to do with what defines us and how empathetic we are to other people’s experience, how we relate to sexuality defines who we are. Empathy or lack of it is expressed through sex.

GMK: Linda comes across as very naïve, then very sympathetic. Why did you present her character in this way?

Rob: She was very young in that relationship with Chuck, by the nature of those kinds of relationships where there’s passion and pain and you’re as young as she is, I imagine that it was difficult for her to get out of that cycle.

GMK: So do you see Lovelace as a cautionary tale?

It almost, and I repeat almost, made me want to go to prison myself. I can only hope that if Kaitlin is sent away, she emerges with a fabulous book or movie deal, assuming she’s a good writer. Surely Hallmark or Lifetime will consider an offer.

And now, I find myself with another paragraph to write. Not enough space for a new topic, and yet it’s too soon to draw this column to a close. Oh, but here’s a perfect tidbit for the Bay Area reader. In fact, maybe you already know that Steve Young and his wife are supporters of same-sex marriage,

clearly be my Wonder Woman blonde edition. Brian Kent would be Green Lantern, giving back to Amnesty International one dollar from every Stoli cocktail served at his truly inspirational entertainment destination called “BeatBox.” Stuart Milk, who recently led the struggling LGBT community of Latvia, where Stolichnaya is produced and shipped, would be my Superman.

All of us, and hopefully all of you, using San Francisco Superpowers for good will eventually defeat homophobia, hate, fear and oppression, whether here in the United States where we are entering a glorious new era, or overseas in Russia where, well, not so much. But one thing I can tell you is that we are going to need all of our energy, born of education and enlightenment, pointed in the right direction and not at each other to start defeating Dr. Doom globally. So please, let’s ditch the kryptonite.

Patrik Gallineaux is Stoli’s national LGBT ambassador. He is also a board member of The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation and is a member of the GLAAD Leadership Council.

Jeff: I hope people look at public stories of real people more skeptically or think about them more critically.

Or be inspired by her story, a woman overcoming adversity.

Rob: We thought of Linda as the first reality superstar. She was an average working-class girl who suddenly became internationally famous. There are advantages and disadvantages to being in that spotlight. She was of a different time and era, and spent the rest of her life having to overcome it. © 2013 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” You can follow him on Twitter @garymkramer.

and even put a “No on Prop 8” sign on their lawn back in 2008.

Now, the masterful Mormon quarterback and his wife are scheduled to speak to gay Mormons at a conference in Salt Lake City, in part because Steve’s wife’s brother is gay. Did you already know that? Sorry, it takes time for these things to travel to Central Texas.

Hey. Speaking of Steve Young, are you ready for some football? arostow@aol.com

(SISTER DANA SEZ continued from page 18) tacular Jesus Christ Superstar, and we are honored to host Ted Neeley at the Castro Theatre,” says Keith Arnold, f ilm programmer of the Castro Theatre. “Paired with Monty Python’s hilarious Life of Brian, it’s going to be a super ‘70s double feature not to be missed!”

22

BAY TIMES AUGUST 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

Friday, August 23, Q&A 6:30; JCS 7pm; Life of Brian, 9:15pm. The Castro’s Mighty Wurlitzer Organ is played before each show, so be sure to clap along to “San-Fran-Cisco!” castrotheatre.com.

Adult flicks picks: Alumni, falconstudios.com and On Tap, titanmen.com.

Sister Dana sez, “Could some superwealthy super-progressive with a heart please buy Detroit, so Motown won’t become no-town?!”

Round About – All Over Town

Troy Coalman and his fiancé Alejandro Blanco paused, while sharing menu delicacies at Catch Restaurant, to send a “Thank you!” message to the Bay Times and all who helped out at the Pride Parade when Troy was injured and assisted on site by volunteers and Parade medical staff. (Photo courtesy of Troy Coalman)

The Drug Policy Alliance’s Laura Thomas with Michael Siever, who directed the Stonewall Project, were panelists at an open community discussion, co-sponsored by the Alice B. Toklas and Harvey Milk Democratic Clubs, at the SF LGBT Community Center. (Photo by Rink)

Smuin Ballet company members enjoying festivities during a post-performance celebration.

(Photo by Steven Underhill)

Lance Brittain, Kylie Minono and Jonathan Foulk at the Midnight Sun for the Mighty Real Disco Video Party benefiting Project Open Hand and the AIDS Emergency Fund. (Photo by Rink)

Attending the Celebration of Life for author and therapist Jack Morin were emcee Michael Graves and Don Clark, author of Loving Someone Gay. (Photo by Rink)

Frank Enrique Martinez and Nate Durand at the Mighty Real Disco Video Party. (Photo by Rink)

Host Cookie Dough on stage at the popular 1980s show held at the Edge Bar. (Photo by Rink)

Matt Alber on stage performing recently at Jane Warner Plaza at the intersection of Market and Castro.

(Photo by Rink)

Co-curators Suzan Revah and Gina Gatta at the opening of the Real Bad Party’s “Be Bad, Do Good Activism with a Beat” exhibit at the GLBT Historical Society Museum in the Castro. (Photo by Rink)

Project Open Hand’s Hannah Schmunk with host Bebe Sweetbriar at Harvey’s Mighty Real Trivia night benefiting Project Open Hand and the AIDS Emergency Fund. (Photo by Rink)

The Cheer SF squad performing at Jane Warner Plaza (Photo by Rink)

BAY T IM ES AUGUS T 22, 2013

23