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Is San Francisco’s Soul for $ale? Fighting Bullies and Standing Up for Our Rights
Vote No on Propositions B and C
When my partner Phil and I drove to Sacramento in August to sig n paperwork declaring my candidacy for State Assembly, we were acutely aware of just how personal politics Guest Columnist can be. Just a few days before, we were granted the David Campos r ight to marr y one another. The hateful and bigoted efforts of Proposition 8 and DOMA had been defeated, and we were over the moon.
(Editor’s Note: For opposing views on these San Francisco Propositions, please see the back page.) Wit h just days left before t he November 5t h election, the battle over Propositions B and C has A San Francisco Kind of Democrat been rag ing in mailboxes, editorial pages and caRafael Mandelman ble television ads across the City for what seems like an eternity. And yet, for all the noise, many voters remain confused about what exactly they are voting on and why it even matters.
Now, just a few months after this sweet victory, the extreme right-wing bullies are at it again. They are threatening to fight a law allowing transgender youth on school sports teams by placing it on the statewide ballot and making transgender youth the target of a hateful, statewide bullying campaign.
JEFFERY DELVISCIO, FLICKR
As upsetting as this is, I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. California has long been the battleground for LGBT rights. While we once had Anita Bryant and John Briggs, we now have their successors, like Proposition 8 mastermind Frank Schubert. And as Bryant and Briggs once tried to prevent gay teachers from having equal rights in our schools, Schubert is now trying to prevent our transgender students from having the same rights as their peers. Our opponents in California remain dedicated, calculated and well funded. (continued on page 2)
The basic issue is quite simple: Should long-standing height limits along the waterfront be lifted to allow development of 134 units of luxury housing on the Embarcadero? Proponents say the benefits of the project – increased tax revenue, new open space, greater-thanrequired contributions to the City’s affordable housing fund – justify the proposed zoning change. Opponents have a number of concerns – the obscene unaffordability of the residential units, the fact that most of the promised “open space” will not, in fact, be open to the public, potential damage to a nearby sewer line carrying 20 million gallons of raw sewage a day – but in my mind, the main issue remains the height limits and the precedent lifting them establishes for other projects up and down the Embarcadero, and elsewhere in the City. (continued on page 2)
Get Ready to Rumble Tenant concerns abound now, and especially in San Francisco. Each week, I hear things like: “My landlord sent me an email telling me that I have thirty days to vacate.” “My landlord texted me that I have to either get rid of my dog or move out in three days.” “My landlord called me and said I needed to make plans to leave in 60 days because she was selling the house.” In the San Francisco Bay Area rental market, with high rents and low vacancy rates, tenants with such problems are rightfully concerned, especially those who are informed that they have 3, 30 or 60 days to find a new place. The news is dire, one might think. Most tenants who contact me about these notices are not wondering if they are legally valid, but they instead are upset and want to know if there is anything that can be done to slow or stop an eviction. Landlords occasionally deliver invalid notices unwittingly, due to ignorance
son or by mail—US mail—aka snail mail. Of course, if you get a real written notice in your mailbox, seek legal advice and really get ready to rumble. Your position may not be as bad as it might seem. You got a heads up and now have a leg up on the litigation that may come soon. Being forewarned is being forearmed.
Tenant Law Nancy Conway, Atty. at Law of the law, but more often it is a test balloon. Notices to terminate tenancy issued by email, telephone, verbal, or phone texts are not worth the paper they are not written on in the legal arena. If you get such a faux notice, do you call your landlord and gloat? Hell no. You seek legal advice and get ready to rumble. Remember that all Notices Terminating Tenancy in California must be in writing, signed and delivered in per-
Presently I represent a tenant who has severe habitability issues at her rented home. She asked for repairs. Her landlord told her that she did not intend to fix the problems, as she did not have the money for the repairs, and that the tenant should just move out. The landlord, in turn, would waive a month’s rent and give the tenant her deposit back. Before the month was up, however, the landlord issued a three-day notice to pay rent or quit and commenced an unlawful detainer lawsuit. Now my client has a lawsuit, and she needs proof that she notified the land-
lord about the repair issues. I asked her if she wrote the landlord a letter about these problems. She replied, “No.” I then asked her, “Was anyone present when you told your landlord about these repair problems? Where were you when you discussed these issues with your landlord?” And then came the revelation: She did not really talk with the landlord. They texted and emailed each other. My client did not consider this to be “writing” the landlord. These written communications, however, are evidence, writings that can be brought into court. The emails and texts in that context are a great way to prove communications. Just be careful what you type. Think about your text/email being exhibit number one in a jury trial. A tenant who wants to end the tenancy must give a written notice stating the move-out date and mail it by certified or registered mail to the landlord or the designated agent.
Month to month tenancies can be terminated at any time of the month on thirty days notice. It does not need to be thirty days from when rent is due. Delivery of your notice is complete upon deposit in the mail. Of course, if you are breaking a lease or leaving on shorter time than the rental term, include the reasons for your having to vacate and be prepared to be on the hook for some additional rent, which could be taken from your deposit. If you are forced to vacate due to conditions at the property beyond your control, then you may have been constructively evicted and that terminates tenancy immediately. But seek legal advice on this type of situation as soon as possible, and preferably before you vacate. San Francisco-based attorney Nancy M. Conway specializes in civil litigation, tenant rights litigation, bankruptcy, family law, real estate and personal injury.
Under One Roof to Maintain Castro Presence Through Holiday Season, Announces $25K Disbursement to AIDS/HIV Charities
The check will be presented at a Holiday Premier event, which will be open to the public and held on November 1 at the Under One Roof storefront at 541 Castro Street in San Francisco. (RSVP for the event here: https://w w w.facebook.com/ event s/52621752413036 8/ ) T he event will feature special tastings of Barefoot Wines, loca l ar t ists, holiday music, and a few special presentat ions, in addit ion to the presentation of the check. “ We a re ecst at ic about ex tending our stay in our spiritual home in the heart of the Castro,” said Tony Hart, UOR’s Board Chairma n. “ We look for wa rd to havi ng a fabu lou s hol id ay store to s er ve c u s t omer s i n t he C a s t r o a nd u lt i mately, a l l of t he commun it y member s we d i rect ly s u p p o r t t h r o u g h d o n a t i o n s .” (CAMPOS continued from page 1) And the worse part is, the bullying is not just confined to LGBT rights. The Republicans in Washington tried to bully Americans by holding our government hostage. The big banks are bullying homeowners with unfair foreclosures. And here in San Francisco, greedy realtors are bullying tenants with harassment and illegal evictions. Our Assembly District has a proud tradition of electing leaders who don’t cave in or negotiate with bullies, but fight them. Since 1996, we have elected LGBT pioneers such as Carole Migden, Mark Leno and Tom Ammiano. All leaders who have blazed new trails, not just for our LGBT rights, but for all Californians who are being picked on and bullied, such as school kids, the working poor and immigrant families. I would be proud to carry on this tradition in the State Assembly of standing up to these bullies, and legislating to level the playing field. My campaign is about fighting for fairness, equal treatment, and dignity.
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Under One Roof, the non-profit organization that gives 100% of profits from social enterprise initiatives to AIDS/HIV causes and has for more than 20 years, informed the Bay Times this week that it will extend its popup location in the heart of the Castro throughout the holiday season. Additionally, Under One Roof informed us of a $25,000 disbursement for local AIDS/HIV non-profits.
U O R’s p r e s e n c e i n t h e C a s t ro is an exa mple of t he organization delivering on i t s G r e a t e r D E P T H S p l a n . The Greater DEPTHS vision currently outlines the organization’s return to its seasonal and holiday legacy with periodic pop-up sales events, an expanded fundraising prog ram, new partnerships w ith other community-based organizations, a strateg ic focus on ecommerce, a nd a n en ha nced volunteer network. • Development of new f inancia l support
As Supervisor, this has always been my priority. When anti-choice protestors were bullying women outside of Planned Parenthood- yelling at them, video-taping them, and following them to their cars – I passed legislation to keep them 25 feet away from the clinic. When I learned that hundreds of restaurant owners in San Francisco were pocketing the Healthy San Francisco surcharge instead of providing healthcare for their employees, I led the fight to close this loophole and restore the money to the employees for whom it was intended. And when the problem of wage theft in our City reached a pitch, I legislated to ensure that minimum wage laws were properly enforced, and that workers received their due back pay where the law had been broken. My patience for bullies is short, and these are the types of fights you can expect me to lead in Sacramento. I will stand up for the rights of transgender youth to be treated equally in our schools. I will stand up for our undocumented families, who – like mine – are struggling against persecution and fear of deportation, just
(MANDELMAN continued from page 1) Ever since the Fontana Towers went Based on early polling showing that up back in the early 1960s, sparking a the referendum measure would likely citizen revolt against Bay-front over- succeed in killing the project, the dedevelopment, successive generations velopers put forward a second ballot of San Franciscans have watchfully measure (which would become Propguarded our waterfront to prevent osition B) to allow them to emphasize similar conversions of public views its alleged public benefits and give for private benefit. Developers have, them a better shot at winning the votfor the intervening decades, chafed ers’ approval. And here’s the annoyagainst the City’s strict waterfront ing thing for project opponents: even height limits, but those height limits if C loses overwhelmingly, it won’t have nevertheless held, at least until matter if B passes. If the “yes” posinow. tion on either B or C wins, the project is approved, and the height limits are Last June, by an 8-3 vote (with Super- raised. visors Avalos, Campos and Chiu in opposition), the Board of Supervisors I care about waterfront views, and I gave final approval for 8 Washington, do not think the public benefits of the lifting the height limits for the project 8 Washington project justify loosenfrom 84 to 136 feet. By early August of ing our waterfront height limits. But last year, project opponents had gath- Propositions B and C have implicaered more than 31,000 signatures to tions that extend even beyond the waqualify a referendum for this year’s terfront. ballot. That referendum measure would become Proposition C. A “yes” Defeating 8 Washington at the ballot vote approves the project; a “no” vote box will send a message to City Hall disapproves it. and the development community that
• E duc at ion a nd Aw a r ene s s of HIV/A IDS and LGBTQ issues • P a r t n e r i n g w it h c o m mu n it y forces and resources • Ti mely a nd Tempora r y socia l enterprises • Helpi ng H a nd s v i a t he UOR Volunteer Network • Support, the ver y reason UOR ex ists- -t he plan is aimed at p r o v i d i n g hu m a n c a p i t a l a n d generat ing unrest r icted funding donations to HI V/A IDS and (continued on page 18)
to live their lives and contribute to society. I will stand up for tenants facing evictions and homeowners facing foreclosures. The District 17 seat has always been the seat that stands up for our community. And as Tom’s tenure reaches its end, I hope to continue its legacy, which began nearly two decades ago, and remains just as critical as ever today. My recommendations for the November 2013 Ballot: Yes on Proposition A: Help our seniors retire with dignity and stability. No on Propositions B & C: They would exacerbate the housing crisis in San Francisco, creating more luxury condos that are out of reach of most San Franciscans. Yes on Proposition D: It is an important step towards making lifesaving HIV medications more affordable. David Campos is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He is running for the California State Assembly seat of Tom Ammiano.
San Franciscans have had enough of a scaldingly hot real estate market, that they expect our elected officials to wake up, realize the recession is over and start demanding that new development – on the waterfront, and elsewhere - meet our City’s needs, rather than the other way around. And, by the same token, if the voters approve this project, our elected officials and the development community will surely receive an equally strong message that today’s San Francisco is a radically changed place, with the lessons of earlier generations long forgotten and its people ready and even eager to sign on to downtown’s dreams. I know how I’ll be voting: No on B and C. Rafael Mandelman is a member of the San Francisco Community College Board of Trustees. He is also a partner at Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP.
Round About – 29th Annual HRC Gala “Engage: Join The Momentum” was the theme of HRC’s 2013 Bay Area Gala at The Westin St. Francis Hotel. Cochaired by Heather Freyer and Matt Hendry, the program included a surprise appearance by Jason Collins, the first active NBA player to come out. Honorees included actress Laura Prepon, performing artist Dorothy Polash and Intel Corporation. Bay Times photographers Rink, Steven Underhill and Bill Wilson had a busy evening snapping photos of VIPs and the sellout crowd of attendees.
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National News Briefs compiled by Dennis McMillan
Philadelphia, PA - Will Philly Become the Most Queer-Friendly City on Earth? - 10.28
New York, NY - Queer Nation Protests Anti-Queer Policies in Russia - 10.28 Members of Queer Nation directly confronted Russian government officials over that country’s anti-LGBTQ laws during a NYC forum to promote US investment in Russia. “In my experience, anti-gay bigots are dishonest and corrupt as well,” said Queer Nation member Duncan Osborne to the panel. “What assurances can you give investors that their money will be safe in a country with minimal, if any, rule of law?”
When Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter signed legislation to afford equal rights to queers, he said he hoped Philadelphia would become “the most LGBT-friendly” city in the world. Part of that comprehensive legislation requires that new or renovated city-owned buildings include gender-neutral bathrooms in addition to traditional men’s and women’s restrooms.
The protestors were met with disdain by the panelists from the Moscow Department for Foreign Economic and International Relations. The department head, Sergei Cheremin, laughed openly. “This is not funny,” shouted protestor Mark Milano. “You should be divesting, not investing in Russia.” One American audience member shouted back, “Gays will be the cultural death of Russia.” Five security guards escorted out the protestors. There were no arrests.
But wait. There’s more. Nutter, city and state lawmakers and gay rights advocates said the legislation makes Philadelphia the first city in the U.S. to offer tax credits to companies that extend the same health care coverage to LGBTQ employees’ domestic partners and their children as they provide to heterosexual spouses and their children.
The protest occurred at the Princeton Club at 15 West 43rd Street, and featured leading Moscow government officials. For the past eight years, Moscow has banned LGBTQ pride marches and demonstrations. This year, Moscow’s highest court barred such events for 100 years. When LGBTQ activists have defied the bans, Russian police have responded with violence and have allowed Russian nationalists and religious conservatives to attack queer activists with impunity.
This also makes Philadelphia the first city to offer businesses tax credits as a way to encourage providing transgender-specific health benefits. “My goal is for Philadelphia to be one of, if not the most, LGBT-friendly cities in the world and a leader on equality issues,” said Nutter, adding that his friend, the late City Councilman John Anderson, was a gay man and a mentor who inspired him 30 years ago to pursue a life of public service.
In June, the Russian government enacted legislation that effectively bans any pro-LGBTQ statement in public or private and on the Internet. In July, a law banning adoptions of Russian children by people from any jurisdiction that allows same-sex marriage took effect. A law allowing the state to remove children from the homes of queer couples is still in play.
In addition to the business tax incentives, the legislation revises Philadelphia’s anti-discrimination law to include transgender people, extends decision-making rights to life partners on medical and other issues and changes city forms and websites to offer options for same-sex couples and transgender people.
“Russian government officials are learning that they can’t come to New York City without being held responsible for their complicity in the oppression of Russian gay men and women,” said protestor John Weir. Yet Russia will host the Olympic Games, and Moscow is the site of the Miss Universe pageant on November 9. Revolting!
Councilman Jim Kenney, the bill’s sponsor, called it, “the next iteration of civil rights and freedom in the U.S.” He added, “Equal protection under the law means equal protection under the law. It doesn’t mean sanctioned by religion or custom or anything else.”
Source: queernationny.org
“This is a city that is truly respecting all its citizens,” said state Philadelphia Democrat Representative Brian Sims, the first openly gay candidate to be elected to the Legislature.
Washington, D.C. - Senate Will Soon Consider Employment Non-Discrimination Act - 10.28
In a state having a law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman, this is a pretty good start towards equality.
The Senate will take up legislation in the coming weeks that would bar discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said.
Source: nbcphiladelphia.com Nashville, TN - Same-Sex Couples File Marriage Recognition Lawsuit in Tennessee - 10.21
Fairfield, CA - Jelly Belly Candy Is Trick, Not Treat for Transgender Kids - 10.28 Jelly Belly Chair Herman Rowland Sr. is using some of his fortune to fund an effort to overturn California’s new School Success and Opportunity Act, which ensures that transgender students are allowed to participate in school programs and activities as do any other boys and girls. Too often, these young people are prevented from participating in gym classes and can’t get the credits they need to graduate. In some schools, transgender students are singled out and treated differently and not allowed to participate in the same activities or use the same facilities as other students. Records show that, so far, Rowland has donated $5,000 to Privacy for All Students, a group whose sole purpose is to repeal California Assembly Bill 1266, allowing transgender students the opportunity to participate in sex-segregated activities and use restroom facilities consistent with their stated gender identities instead of the one on their birth certificates. It was signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown in August. But Privacy for All Students is mounting a huge effort to acquire enough signatures to have AB 1266 repealed. Privacy for All Students is run by Frank Schubert, a press activist for the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which recently claimed that “forcing boys and girls to share bathrooms is bullying.” Contrary to NOM’s statement, AB 1266 did not “force boys and girls to share bathrooms.” A Change.org petition sponsored by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is already actively acquiring support, and needs more activists to sign on.
Four legally married same-sex couples who live in Tennessee filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Nashville, challenging Tennessee laws that prevent the state from recognizing their marriages and treating them the same as all other legally married couples in Tennessee. The couples - who include a full-time Army reservist and his husband and two professors of veterinary medicine - all formerly lived and married in other states and later moved to Tennessee to pursue careers and make new homes for their families. Tennessee law currently prohibits recognition of their marriages and treats the couples as legal strangers. The lawsuit argues that Tennessee’s laws prohibiting recognition of the couples’ marriages violates the federal Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and due process and the constitutionally protected right to travel between and move to other states. “Tennessee is the volunteer state - it is our tradition to honor and applaud those who voluntarily move here to enjoy the benefits of this great state - not deny them benefits and respect afforded them in other states,” said attorney Abby Rubenfeld. “Tennessee traditionally values fairness and family. The time has come for Tennessee law to be true to those values by including same-sex couples who legally married before moving to Tennessee, because this state is as much their home as it is ours.” “Tennessee recognizes the marriages and families of all other couples that were married out-of-state,” argued attorney William Harbison. “It is wrong and unfair for Tennessee law to single out these legally married couples and treat them as legal strangers to one another simply because of who they are.” “Married couples should be able to travel and to live in any state knowing that their family is protected,” added NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter. “Tennessee’s current law hurts same-sex couples and their children without helping anyone.”
This Halloween, Jelly Belly candies should not be in anyone’s trick or treat bag!
So Tennessee better “volunteer” to legally marry same-sex couples.
Source: rawstory.com
Source: nclrrights.org
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would expand protections against discrimination already offered on basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, age and disability to LGBTQ individuals. The bill has stumbled in the past, but has recently gained several key GOP supporters in the Senate. “We tried; it failed in the House of Representatives before,” Reid said on the Senate floor Monday. “But we’re going to take it up here again.” The legislation is sponsored by 53 sitting senators, including Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Mark Kirk of Illinois. It passed the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in July with a 15-7 vote, with help from Kirk and fellow Senate Republicans Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Orrin Hatch of Utah. “Ensuring that our workplaces are free from discrimination is a key part of equality and full rights for all Americans,” Senator Tom Harkin, the chairman of the HELP committee, said. “I am pleased to see that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act will soon come before the full Senate for consideration.” A Senate Democratic leadership aide was “pretty confident” that the bill’s backers could round up the 60 votes needed to overcome procedural hurdles in the chamber. The earliest that ENDA could see a floor vote is next week; this week will primarily be filled with votes on nominations, the aide said. Following Senator Bill Nelson’s announcement Tuesday in support of ENDA, Freedom to Work is teaming with MoveOn.org to pressure the remaining two Democratic Senators, Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) to publicly support ENDA. The group is also applauding Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) for co-sponsoring ENDA. According to data from the Senate HELP Committee, 88% of Fortune 500 companies had discrimination policies that included sexual orientation, while 57% had language banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity. So what are the odds that the House will pass ENDA?
Local News Briefs
Source: politico.com
Milk Club Stages Sleep-in to Protest Possible New Restrictive Legislation
Castro Community on Patrol Celebrates Seven Years of Watchdogging
In response to Supervisor Scott Wiener’s proposed legislation to set uniform, citywide park closure hours, the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club hosted a dramatic sleep-in at Dolores Park. It happened the night before the legislation went before the Board and was meant to draw attention to what some feel is an unnecessary and misguided policy.
Directors and patroller volunteers of Castro Community On Patrol celebrated their 7th anniversary of service to the Castro/Duboce Triangle community on October 22 at Magnet. Over 4,500 hours of donated volunteer time were given, and more than 300 volunteers trained in the one and only community safety patrol organization within the City and County of San Francisco.
San Francisco prides itself on being a place that is welcoming and open to all. Our parks remain one of the City’s greatest public treasures and are spaces of recreation, sport, entertainment and leisure. Opponents of this proposed legislation believe that it threatens the accessibility and openness of our parks and comes on the heels of a rash of recent policies at City Hall that have sought to regulate public spaces, to police bodies and to criminalize homelessness.
Donna Sachet emceed as CCOP recognized some significant members of the Patrol and from the community with special “Pillar of the Community” awards to Sister Eve Volution and Sister Pat n Leather for education efforts with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and the Stop the Violence campaign, and distribution of safety whistles and information; Castro Country Club for their support of CCOP and allowing CCOP to use their garage as their assembly area for three years; and Lieutenant Chuck Limbert, SFPD, for his outreach and education efforts while at Mission Police Station.
With almost 30% of San Francisco’s homeless population identifying as LGBTQ, and many living on our streets and in our parks, we know who the real targets of this legislation are. Many believe that this is yet another attack on the homeless, on queer people, poor people, and people of color, and on the right to exist in public space in our society. The Harvey Milk Club said it has had enough: “Parks are for people, and we believe this policy to be another step in the wrong direction for San Francisco.” The Milk Club staged a sleep-in in one of the finest parks in Supervisor Wiener’s district, Dolores Park, as they took a stand against the attack on homelessness, on public access to public spaces and on “the San Francisco we have come to know and love.” Activists were encouraged to: “Bring a sleeping bag, a protest sign and a piece of your mind!” Because the SF Park Code prohibits intoxication in public parks and acts that could be deemed violent or destructive to property in public parks, the protestors did not risk violating these ordinances. The Harvey Milk Club, before the event, said, “We are engaging in acts of civil disobedience, and don’t intend to needlessly muddy the waters.” Story by Dennis McMillan 4
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“Sergeant Chuck” was honored for being a liaison with the police department for dozens of events. Sachet was also awarded. Others received “Community Guardian” awards: Captain Bob Moser, SFPD, for his outstanding command of Mission Police Station, his unwavering support of CCOP, and taking special care to be sure the Castro is safe as possible; Seth Hemmelgarn for his tenacious and consistent coverage of the community and his consistent support of CCOP; and San Francisco SAFE (Safety Awareness for Everyone). The Castro Partnership with SAFE in the formation of the new Castro Business Watch brings yet one more layer of communications needed to keep the Castro safe and fun. Ptlr. Phillip Huff, CCOP, received “Patroller of the Year” as the CCOP patroller who has undertaken the most patrols to date. Huff is also their part-time staff person. His patrolling efforts, however, are not a requirement of his work assignment. CCOP offers volunteer training on November 7. For questions or more information, email training@ Castropatrol.org. Story by Dennis McMillan
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Money and Finance How To: Convert Your Workplace Savings to a Roth directly from the current plan to the administrator of the account (IRA or other employer’s plan) you are moving it to if you want to avoid unnecessary taxes or penalties. Pay taxes now or later
Money Matters Brandon Miller, CFP & Joanne Jordan, CFP If you are like many people, the majority of the money you’ve set aside for retirement is held in your workplace savings plan, such as a 401(k) or 403(b). When the time comes to draw income from this portion of your nest egg, most or all of the distributions from your plan will likely be subject to income tax. There is a growing appreciation for the idea of “tax diversification” in retirement. That means having access to income sources that are subject to different tax treatment. A good taxdiversification strategy includes a “taxfree” category of assets. A Roth IRA, for example, allows money contributed after tax to grow and receive qualified withdrawals tax-free. You are now allowed to make a direct rollover of assets in a workplace plan to a Roth IRA, provided you are eligible to move the money in the first place. You can move money from a workplace plan when you separate from service (either retire or leave the employer), or in the event of death or disability. Depending on your retirement plan, you may also be eligible for so-called “in-service distributions,” allowing you to roll some of your retirement savings out of a plan and into an IRA before you leave your job. As with any rollover from an employersponsored plan, the money must move
The big question you should ask yourself before converting money to a Roth IRA is whether the benefit of tax-free income later in life is worth the cost of paying taxes now on the converted amount, which is required. All pre-tax contributions and earnings accumulated in your workplace plan that are converted to a Roth IRA are subject to current tax at your ordinary income tax rate(s). Note that not all of the money needs to be converted at one time. To limit current tax liability when executing a direct rollover and conversion to a Roth IRA, you can choose to move just a portion out of the 401(k) and into the Roth in a given year. You should be aware that if the conversion drives your total income to certain levels, higher tax rates might apply and make the conversion more costly. When it makes sense Converting workplace plan dollars to a Roth IRA may be most worthwhile if you: • Expect to be in a similar or higher tax bracket later in life when you need to make withdrawals • Can pay the current tax liability on the converted amount from other available resources without drawing down your retirement savings • Want to reduce your exposure to Required Minimum Distributions later in life. Distributions are required to begin after you reach age 70-1/2 from your workplace plan or traditional IRA. Distributions are never required from
Roth IRAs during your lifetime, so you can maximize the tax advantages by keeping money in the account. • Are trying to create more flexibility to manage your tax liability in retirement by owning a mix of assets subject to different tax treatment Holding off on a Roth conversion While the potential of future tax-free income makes a Roth conversion worth considering, it may not always work to your advantage. Situations where you may want to avoid such a conversion include: • If you own company stock in your workplace plan. There is the potential to take advantage of special tax treatment of these assets when you take a lump-sum distribution, move employer securities out of the plan and take direct control of the assets (referred to as Net Unrealized Appreciation rules). Work with your tax adviser to be sure you meet requirements. • If you expect your tax bracket in retirement will be lower than it is today. Then the cost of converting assets and paying tax on the conversion at your current rate may actually cost you more money in the long run. There are a number of factors that go into a Roth conversion decision. Be sure to explore all of your options with guidance from financial and tax professionals to be sure you are doing what’s best for your long-term financial future. Brandon Miller, CFP and Joanne Jordan, CFP are financial consultants at Jordan Miller & Associates, A Private Wealth Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial Inc. in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.
SF Bay Times Congratulates Sally Elkington, Attorney of the Year This month, the State Bar’s Solo and Small Firm Section honored Alameda County’s Sally Elkington by presenting her with the 2013 Myer J. Sankary Attorney of the Year Award. The Section presents the award each year to someone who has shown dedication to public service, given time and energies to promote access to justice, and demonstrated leadership to the legal community. Elkington exemplifies these ideals. “I get motivation from working with people who have no hope and trying, with my work, to give them some hope,” Elkington says. “If it’s not getting done or someone is not being served, then I want to do something to help.” She maintains a very active solo practice representing debtors in bankruptcy, and also serves on the Board of Directors of the Alameda County Bar Association, and the Volunteer Legal Services Corporation (VLSC) of the Alameda County Bar Association where, in addition to representing the underserved pro bono, she mentors and assists other volunteers. Ann Wassam, the Alameda County Bar Association’s Executive Director, says, “Sally epitomizes the type of attorney this Award was meant to 6
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showcase - leading, mentoring and helping others in the legal community - yet doing so without the support of a larger law firm.” In 2012, Elkington served as president of the Alameda County Bar Association, and played a vital role in developing and running VLSC’s month long Bankruptcy Form Completion Clinic, in which volunteer attorneys help pro per litigants file for bankruptcy. During her term as County Bar President, she also helped establish a long-range strategic planning process for the organization. This year, she was appointed to the Judicial Nominees Evaluation Committee, one of the most timeintensive volunteer positions in the State Bar. United States Bankruptcy Judge William J. Lafferty, III, strongly supports Elkington’s selection as the Attorney of the Year “not based solely on her zeal and energy in doing good works, as impressive as those qualifies are. Of equal value, according to Judge Lafferty, “Sally is just a superb lawyer, who represents her clients with great skill and ardor, and who has earned the well-deserved confidence and trust of myself and my colleagues on the bankruptcy bench in Oakland for her consistently excellent work in our courts.”
Sally Elkington
Elkington traces her devotion to public service from her mother. “My mom was a single parent, who was a ‘home room mom’ and volunteered countless hours. I saw firsthand the difference she made in people’s lives, and I try to follow in her footsteps.” The law is Elkington’s third career. Her undergraduate degree is in physical education, but instead of teaching, she entered the business world. Later, she taught in junior college, and obtained her Masters Degree. She then decided to pursue a career in law and attended the New College of Law in San Francisco. Throughout her life and careers, however, she says one thing has remained constant: “I have always strived to make a difference.”
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Be the Master of Your Own Dream ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Don’t chase a moving target, Aries. Listen to the lessons that have paved your life’s path, and follow your own footsteps to the finish line. Celestial soldiers strengthen your stride now.
LEO (July 23 – August 22) Loosen your grip a little, Leo. Your soul sector is undergoing a “re-org” of sorts. Giving up gratuitous attachments will lighten your load and boost your sense of stability.
better.
Astrology Gypsy Love The Toltec civilization of ancient Mexico was a society of artists, scientists, and spiritualists formed over 2,000 years ago. Dedicated to the masteries of awareness, transformation and intent, Toltecs determined that the mind continuously tells stories about everything perceived by the brain. Furthermore, these stories – termed “dreams” – constitute one’s reality. Astro-channels nudge us now to own our power of choice. Be the master of your own dream.
TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Turn up the straight talk, Taurus. A myriad of miscommunications may muddle your inroads to intimacy now. Avoid tedious twists and turns by keeping it sweet, simple and sincere.
VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) Embrace the learning curves, Virgo. Your brain is bustling in “back to school” mode. Tune into topics that intrigue you most. Fuel mental motors by linking with like minds.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) With so many changes churning on the outside, it’s important to feel strong and steady on the inside. Reboot your general wellness regime, Gemini. Make your temple a top priority.
LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) Listen between the lines, Libra. Spiritual stimulants sparking in your subconscious will rise to the surface soon. Connect with your soul’s center to sync innermost desires with realistic results.
CANCER (June 21 – July 22) Color in the blanks, Cancer. Current questions are striking a chord of inspiration within you. Peaceful is the power of expression. Construct a creative canvas for your cognitive compulsions.
www.AstrologyByGypsyLove.com
SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) Speak your truth, Scorpio. Stellar shifts in your state of being serve to substantiate personal principles now. People want to hear what you have to say. Wield your words responsibly.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) Go for the gold, Sagittarius! A profound planetary push is activating your ambition now. Take stock of what you strive to achieve, and aim your arrow high. You’ve got this.
CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) Consider your community, Capricorn. Standing up for what you believe in will inspire others to do the same. Find fortitude in common ground. Most factions are far more alike than different. AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) Ponder your purpose, Aquarius. Currently, the cosmos beams a meaningful gleam on career and reputation. Revisit how much you’ve accomplished, and sketch out plans for your next noteworthy project. PISCES (February 19 – March 20) Welcome to the astral plane, Pisces! These days, your psychic receptors are more sensitive than ever. Take the time to tap into frequencies that flourish when you focus inward.
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
Who or what do you plan to be for Halloween this year?
8
Alice Espindola
Matthew Denckla
Kelley McCoy
Miss Rahni
Aimee Forster
“French Maid”
“Wonder Woman, because this is the year of women leaders.”
“I will be Tippi Hedren in ‘The Birds’ at the Out and Equal Dinner in Minneapolis.”
“Grace Jones!”
“A Goth Queen”
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Round About – Unmasked
GLBT Historical Society Gala Photos by Rink
“Pioneers of Queer Media” was the theme at Unmasked, the annual gala event of the GLBT Historical Society held this year at The Regency Ballroom. Bay Times co-publishers Dr. Betty Sullivan and Jennifer Viegas were among the featured guests. Also among leaders from media groups were Phyllis Lyon, co-founder of The Ladder; and Randy Alfred, an original co-founder of the Bay Times and publisher of The Gay Life. A line-up of local entertainers performed, and program speakers included GLBT Historical Society’s Paul Boneberg, executive director; board member Steve Gibson; and Gerard Koskovich, media expert. Bay Times photographer Rink was there throughout the evening.
Thanks to the GLBT Historical Society for recognizing
among the
Pioneers of Queer Media
We’ve come a long way. Join us on the road trip to full equality!
eras, m a c , s t a h anions ember! p r u m o o y c b g a n i r G and travel r a road trip to rem fo Saturday, November 9th, 2013 7:00-11:00 pm 6:00 VIP Reception (Sponsors and Major Donors)
Mill Valley Community Center
Dana Goldberg | Comedy & Live Auction DJ Costa | Music and Non-Stop Dancing Stacy Scott Catering | Fine Diner Fare
A benefit for Spectrum LGBT Center Serving the North Bay since 1982
Tickets at: www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 31, 2013
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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.
Relationship guru Illana Berger and her partner Jan Brogan, residents of the Montclair neighborhood in Oakland, were married in a ceremony accompanied by a gathering of family members. Illana’s comment on the occasion: “It was a Great Day!”
Misha Cohen and Carla Wilson, after more than 18 years together, were marred recently at City Hall. The brides welcomed a host of family and friends to their wedding, which was officiated by Steve Tierney. (Photos by Steve Given)
Til Death Do Us Part As a non-denominational minister, I officiate at the full array of life events. Last month, for example, I prepared comments for the memorial gathering of my cousin’s mother, Jo Dixon. I was reminded what I had once heard a Rabbi say regarding funerals versus weddings. At weddings, people are happy no matter what the clergy person says. But at a memorial service, both words and actions are consoling. During life’s difficulties we’re often at a loss for words. Some of us have built thick walls around our emotions. We’ve become used to detaching ourselves from our feelings. We need to recognize that our presence with loved ones during their times of loss is consoling in and of itself. I often ask a mourner to tell me a story or memory about their loved one. Not only does the mourner get to relive a favorite memory, but I also get to learn more about the deceased. A person lives on in the hearts and souls of those lives they had touched. Over the years, I have come across numerous readings that have comforted me during my times of loss. I would like to share three of those. The shortest is by Franz Kafka who wrote, “The meaning of life is that it stops.” I am also touched by a poem by Chaim Stern. “It is a fearful thing to love what death can touch. 10
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because we were there.” Lastly, I would like to share my own rendition of Psalm 23. This Psalm is often recited in times of grief for consolation. “My life is guided by invisible hands. Shall I want more? I am comforted by cool blades of soft, green grass.
Weddings Howard Steiermann A fearful thing to love, hope, dream: to be – to be, and oh! to lose. A thing for fools, this, a holy thing, a holy thing to love. For your life has lived in me, your laugh once lifted me, your word was a gift to me. To remember this brings painful joy.
Quiet waters nourish my soul, feeding me now and for eternity Through the beauty of nature my soul is revived. When I do my best, I travel along paths of justice. Though now I traverse the valley of death, I am not afraid; the shoulders of those before me carry me through fear. As I exhale, long and deep, I am consoled. As I face my demons,
‘Tis a human thing to love,
I am reassured
A holy thing,
knowing the bounty of the universe
To love what death has touched.”
has been placed before me for my use.
I have also been inspired by this stanza of Rabbi Jacob P. Rudin’s prayer on death: “To ask of death
My mind, my heart are full, my thanks overflow.
that it never come
Oh may I be wrapped in blessings of goodness and fullness
is futile, but it is not futility
all the days of my life.
to pray that when death comes for us,
And I will dwell in gratitude and in peace.”
it may take us from a world
Howard M Steiermann is an Ordained Ritual Facilitator based in San Francisco. For more information, please visit www. SFHoward.com.
one corner of which is a little better
Going Global October brought marriage equality to state #14 – New Jersey. As attention now turns to the race between New Mexico, Hawaii and Illinois to see which state will become #15, we are also taking it to another level: Our momentum is going global. In November, we are traveling to Japan to give a series of public lectures and seminars on marriage equality and LGBT rights, and to meet with Japanese LGBT leaders. And while marriage is in the air in Japan – Kanako Otsuji, the first openly lesbian member of the Japanese legislature, held a personal wedding ceremony with her partner Maki Kimura; and Tokyo Disneyland hosted its first samesex wedding ceremony this year – currently same-sex couples cannot marry legally in any Asian country. But just as we are seeing progress at home state by state, we are seeing signs of progress in countries across Asia, ranging from proposed legislation in Thailand for civil unions to a recent poll showing majority support for marriage equality in Taiwan. In the last week of October alone, historic rallies for marriage equality took place both in Vietnam and in Taiwan. In the words
Marriage Equality Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, Marriage Equality USA of Le Quang Binh, organizer of the Hanoi rally: “I believe in people and I think that when everybody speaks out, everyone has to listen whoever you are. So that’s why we do it this way. We mobilize public opinion, LGBT, students, young people so when people speak their opinion, politicians will have to listen. And I believe that politicians are also human beings. They need time to understand.” One of the messages we will bring to Japan is that we can be proud that Asian Americans have been very active in the marriage equality movement, and organizations like
Wedding reception guests joined Bay Times columnist Thom Watson and husband Jeff Tabaco on The Terrace Room’s outdoor balcony at the historic Cliff House Restaurant. Renown for views of Ocean Beach, Seal Rocks at Point Lobos and the Pacific Ocean, the Cliff House is a favorite location for celebration of special occasions in a quintessential San Francisco location.
API Equality have played a prominent role here in California. When API organizations filed an amicus brief in the California Supreme Court case that established marriage equality in California prior to the passage of Prop 8, over 60 API civil rights and community organizations signed on. Among the very first was the Japanese American Citizens League ( JACL), noting that one of the lessons from the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II must be to uphold the civil rights of all groups, including LGBT Americans. In the words of former U.S. Transportation Secretary and Congressman Norman Mineta, “a threat to anybody’s civil rights is a threat to the civil rights of all Americans.” We look forward to reporting back in the coming weeks on our trip to Japan, and the lessons learned as we continue to make progress across all borders and boundaries. John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for nearly three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. They are leaders in the nationwide grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA.
Congratulations to Rev. Robert Shively who was recently named Pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church of SF where same-sex weddings have been blessed for decades. (Photo by Bill Wilson)
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Project Open Hand Offers Sweet Salvation The 22nd annual Hand to Hand Luncheon, a benef it for Project Open Hand, will take place at 11 AM on December 12 at The Fairmont in San Francisco. The benefit will help the organization to provide free mealspresented with compassion and careto some of the neediest individuals in our community. Hannah Schmunk, Director of Special Events, told the Bay Times, “Project Open Hand’s Hand to Hand Lun-
cheon is a celebration of the incredible culinary talent in the Bay Area. But beyond the decadent food that is enjoyed, it’s a time to think of the individuals who are not sitting at the table, those for whom every meal is precious and sustaining, those who depend on Project Open Hand for their daily nourishment. So we invite you to sit at the Hand to Hand table. As we enjoy an exceptional meal together, we’ll enable Project Open Hand
to provide meals with love to the sick and elderly in our community.”
Front page, top right photo, left to right: Cook Malcolm Chow, Daniel Corey, chef de cuisine and pastry chef Laura Yuen of Luce
Her e we pr e s ent s ome of t he talented local chefs who will be preparing desserts and other dishes for the luncheon. We hope to entice you to attend and to help support Project Open Hand’s important work. For more information, please visit: www. o p e n h a n d . o r g /e v e n t / h a n d - t o hand-luncheon/
Chef David Lawrence of 1300 Fillmore
Chef Francis Ang of Fifth Floor Restaurant
Chef Ygit Pura of Tout Sweet Patisserie
Chef Matt Greco of The Restaurant Wente Vineyards
Chefs Kris Hoogerhyde and Anne Walker of Bi-Rite Creamery
Chef Matthew Dolan of Twenty Five Lusk Chefs James Irby and Trish Temporal of Kuleto’s
Chef Mark Dommen of One Market Street 12
BAY TIMES OCTO B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 3
Halloween is Boo-tiful!!! simple. I remember when my youngest sister, who was about 3 or 4 at the time, was dressed up as a ghost. She wore a white sheet with holes cut out for her eyes. Her “Boo!” was angry and her mood melancholy because she wanted something more elaborate than a bedsheet for her costume.
leather to luxe, bear to bare, and everything in between.
Speak Up! Speak Out! Laugh Often Karen Williams I LOVE COSTUMES! I always have. Dressing up appeals to my imaginative sensibilities and though it is not historically documented, I am convinced that gay people “invented” Halloween. Who but the most illustrious of us would make the most of a night of masquerading that ranges from butch drag to femme fantasy,
Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve — as it was known back in da day — was adapted by Celtic-speaking people as an elaborate pagan festival of the dead, brought to America in the 19th century by Irish and Scottish immigrants. Today, it is celebrated by people of all social, racial, and religious backgrounds, and relished by those of the gayer persuasion. Trick-or-treating by children in costumes did not gain popularity in the U.S. until the 1940s, where the Irish / Scottish tradition of dressing up, carrying jacko-lanterns, and going door to door to obtain food and gifts was part of the ritual that continues until this day.
P HOTO C O URT E SY O F K ARE N W I LLI AMS
When I relocated to the Bay Area in 1980 and strutted my gayness in the streets of San Francisco, I quickly learned that Halloween is the real NATIONAL HOLIDAY!
Kate Clinton and Karen Williams
Though not of any Celtic origins that I know of and raised in the housing developments of the Southeast Bronx, I enjoyed trick-or-treating with my brothers and sisters. Our costumes were often home-made and
This Halloween I attended a party in full princess regalia, wearing a pink feathered tiara and carrying a matching magic wand borrowed from one of my young granddaughters. Upholding my family of origin’s tradition, my outfit was home-made and skillfully put together. The combination of a long dressy skirt, over-thetop lingerie, and a shoulder-length brunette human hair wig with ombre tips was the perfect disguise since no one at the party knew it was me -Karen Williams — dressed up like a “fairy godmother” — as one partygoer described me.
My galpal masqueraded as a revolutionary, complete with enormous Afro wig, black leather jacket, and “Black Power” buttons adorning her dark turtleneck. We called ourselves “The Princess and The Panther” as we tried to figure out some of the costumes. I managed to stay away from the clowns...the only characters that strike more fear than the laughs they expect to generate. There were abundant treats and the only trick I got to perform all night was keeping my body parts in my costume. Here’s hoping that wherever you enjoy All Hallow’s Eve, that you adapt the holiday spirit of San Francisco! Be bold! Be boo-tiful! Be proud! And don’t forget to say “Trick or Treat” and to stick around to see what you get! Karen Williams loves trick-or-treaters. Contact her at karen@sf baytimes.com to f ind out your treat!
Sister Dana Says Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
But now on to happy Halloween news and OUR traditional values (the EssEff ones) with THE SISTERS OF PERPETUA L INDULGENCE, who are putt ing on the annua l CHIL DR EN’S H A L LOW EEN IN THE CASTRO, held again this year in the Gymnasium at Eureka Valley Rec Center, 100 Collingwood Park, between 18th and 19th Streets, Thursday October 31st, from 2:304:30pm. Starting at 2:30 we’ll have face painting, games, and entertainment with Cortez the Magnificent. At 3:30 we’ll begin the costume contest. We have numerous prizes donated by Cliff’s Variety to give away to contestants in a variety of categories. Come bring the kiddies, who are encouraged to wear costumes along with their parents. By 4pm we will head out for our annual Halloween Parade, with festivities wrapping up around 5pm. Not a trick but definitely a treat was BOYS’ LIFE at BeatBox, the first of the OUT MA LE CONCERT SERIES featuring four of the hottest male musicians in the biz. The next Out Male Concert will be in the New Year. Don’t miss it! Performing individually and together, each of them brought their own unique style to the table to create a concert like no other! Fiercely femceed by Bebe Sweetbriar, it featured originals and classics by TV (X-Factor), film, and stage star Jason Brock; out Billboard recording artist Brian Kent, New York City-based singer Justin Utley; and catchy pop songwriter Jeb Havens in his farewell EssEff performance, off to L.A. They had lively backup dancers and DJ Andrew Gibbons spinning. Stupendous! HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN celebrated its 29th ANNUAL HRC SAN FR ANCISCO BAY A REA GALA DINNER at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. Nearly 800 of the Bay Area’s most influential citizens gathered at this event to celebrate the strides
PHOTOS BY RIN K
Sister Dana sez, “The most frightening Halloween costume this year is definitely gonna be the Repugnican Congressional wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing! Boo! Scary!” Scenes from previous years’ Children’s Halloween in the Castro
HRC has made toward achieving equality for our community in 2013, while preparing for the work ahead in the years to come. For more than 30 years, HRC has worked to pass hate crimes legislation, repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” enact marriage equality in double-digit states across the country, and ensure people can come out in their homes, workplaces, and communities. The program opened with a video of all the hate and lies spewed by homophobic organizations and leaders, which did not make for easy digestion of the lovely dinner served. Fortunately, later on a queer-positive video was screene L ieutena nt Gover nor Gav in Newsom was present. Jason Collins, newly out N BA basketball player on the cover of Sports Illustrated, said, “It is an honor to be here. Obviously this spring my life changed, and I am overwhelmed by all the support I am receiving. “We cannot forget the Americans in 29 states who can be fired for being gay, or those in the 33 states who are fired for being transgender,” said dinner co-chair Heather Freyer. The theme was ENGAGE, and co-chair Matt Hendry said, “We honor our awardees, speakers, and special guests ... as the very embodiment of what it means to engage and serve as powerful reminders of the impact that can be made through everyday giving and activism. Frank Woo of the Board of Directors introduced HRC President Chad Griffin. “Our f ight means committ ing harder and digg ing deeper than ever - so we can unite this country under a single banner of fairness, finally bringing full equality, including marriage, to all 50 states,” said Griffin. HRC helped bring marriage to Delaware, Minnesota, and Rhode Island, and sent the Employ-
ment Non-Discrimination Act to the Senate floor with bipartisan support for the first time in more than a decade. “We’ve already accomplished so much together, but equality can’t wait. Let’s make 2013 our biggest year yet. We have got to fight like hell!” Three awards were presented. Laura Prepon received the Ally for Equality Award. She made her TV debut on the long-running sitcom, That 70’s Show as Donna, the girlfriend of Eric Forman (Topher Grace). She stars in the Netf lix original series, Orange Is the New Black, opposite Taylor Schilling as Alex, the nefarious drug-trafficking ex to Schilling’s Piper. Prepon starred as Chelsea Hanson in the NBC comedy “Are You There, Chelsea?” We were treated to clips from some of her work. She said she really enjoyed playing a lesbian, and “I love being on a show that challenges taboos and barriers.” She noted the LGBTQ community has been “so supportive” of her, and is “so honored to be part of this community. HRC grows closer to my heart every year.” Dorothy Polash received the Charles M. Holmes Community Service Award. Polash worked as an actress and pop/rock singer in NYC, where she began her activism by working on the Hunger Project. She is an ardent believer in human rights, a consummate bridge builder, and our greatest ally. Since 2008, she has worked tirelessly with HRC, lobbying Congress on behalf of passage of ENDA, the Matthew Sheppard Hate Crime Bill, repeal of DADT, and downfall of DOMA. She also worked with HRC, Equality California, and the Courage Campaign to repeal Proposition H8. “I will continue my fight for LGBT equality in hopes that someday the struggle will be over, and equality will be law,” she said. Intel Corporation received the Corporate Equality Award, having earned a spot on the HRC Corpo-
rate Equality Index for 11 consecutive years for policies and practices that support their queer employees. Entertainment was prov ided by Mary Lambert, formidable Seattle artist who caught the attention of local hip-hop duo, Macklemore & Ryan, with whom she wrote and sang the same-sex rights anthem, “Same Love,” which has sold over a million copies, peaking at number 11 on “The Billboard Hot 100.” She sang “She Keeps Me Warm” and recited a touching and personal original poem. Jess Godwin, from the Chicago music scene, played keyboards and sang with a sweet combination of the sounds of Alicia Keyes, Sarah Bareilles, and Norah Jones. In addition to classic covers, she sang some of her own compositions from her four EPs: To the Heart of It, Quiet the Room, Klutz, and Jess Goodwin. jessgodwin.com. AIDS LEGA L REFERR A L PA N E L h e l d t h e i r J U S T I C E F ROM T H E H E A RT 30T H A N N UA L R ECEP TION & AUCTION in the Jul ia Morgan Ba l l room at t he Mercha nt s E xchange, raising a record $162,000 to suppor t A L R P ’s free and low cost legal ser v ices and programs for people living with HIV/A IDS. T he A n nua l Recept ion w a s attended by over 4 0 0 g uest s, a lso a r e c or d . D u r i n g t he e ven i n g, A LR P recognized its 30 years of ach ievement a nd honored t hose who have made a last ing d if ference i n t he l ives of people w it h H I V/A I D S . A m b a s s a d o r James C. Hormel presented the A L R P 2013 Cl i nt Hockenber r y Leadership Award to Congresswom a n Na nc y Pelosi, House Democratic Leader. One of Congresswoman Pelosi’s f irst leg islative victories was assisting in the creat ion of t he Housing Opport u n it ie s for Pe ople w it h A I D S program. She also worked to accelerate development of an HI V
vaccine, ex pand access to Medicaid for people living with HIV, and increase funding for the Ryan W hite C A R E Act, t he M inor it y H I V/A I DS Init iat ive, and other prog ra ms v it a l to people l iv i ng w it h or at r i s k for H I V/A I D S . Dur ing her Speakership, d iscret iona r y f u nd i ng for H I V/A I DS was increased by over $500 million. She has personally fought to prevent drast ic cuts in care and t r e at ment f u nd s for S a n Fr a n cisco’s HI V+ communit y, at one point restoring nearly $17 million to the county’s systems of care for people with HIV/A IDS. It would not be going too far to say t hat her work has probably saved the l ives of some of A L R P ’s cl ients. A nd she cont i nues to advoc ate for people w ith HI V and A I DS, calling on the nation to redouble ef forts. Ca lifornia A ssemblyman Tom A mmiano presented t he A L R P 2013 Attor ney of t he Year Award to Selby Lighthill, E sq., a nd t he A L R P 2013 Fi r m of t he Yea r Awa rd to H a n son Bridgett LLP. GLBT HISTOR ICA L SO C I ET Y hosted it s a n nua l U N M ASK ED gala fundraiser, bringi ng toget her ent husia st s of g ay, lesbian, bisexua l, and transgender histor y for a fest ive evening at the Regency Center to support the GLBT History Museum in the Castro. “Unmasked pays homage to t he pioneer s of ou r com mun it y, who have made it possible for GL BT people to take of f our masks and live our lives openly,” said Pau l Boneberg, execut ive d irector of t he GL BT HS. “This year, we’re highlight ing the histor ic cont r ibut ions of Bay A rea GLBT media and two of our own l o n g t i m e v o l u nt e e r s .” E m c e e s were board co -chairs Steven Gibson and Renee Perr y. Enter t a inment included d rag st ars Miss Rahni and Landa Lakes, sw ing dancers Ron Jen k ins and Phot is Pish iaras, and DJ Rapid Fire. A my Sueyoshi and Tom Burtch were honored with the Willie Walker Award, named a f t er a fou nder of t he s o c iet y. Sueyosh i is a H istor ica l Societ y b oa r d memb er who h a s s er ved as an exhibition curator for The GL BT H istor y Museum. Bur tch has staf fed the museum reception desk and assisted with exhibit installation; he is the lead curator of the museum’s current exhibition on the SF Gay Men’s Chorus. (continued on page 22)
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Halloween Safety (and Throughout the Whole Year, Too) the opportunity to give safety planning a second chance. As someone working to build safety and power in LGBTQ communities, I needed to learn to embrace the “safety plan.”
Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011
2261 Market Street, No. 309 San Francisco CA 94114 Phone: 415-503-1375
So, one day, I decided to take my safety plan on a date. We got all dressed up, went to a fancy dinner, ordered a bottle of sparkling water, and stared deep into each other’s eyes. The conversation started with the usual superficial banter… What’s your favorite music? If your personality could be a celebrity, who would it be? Do you prefer glitter or sequins?
525 Bellevue Avenue Oakland CA 94610 Phone: 510-846-8158 E-mail: editor@sfbaytimes.com www.sfbaytimes.com
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
Guest Editorial
But as the night went on, the conversation got deeper. I began to get curious about where safety
Stacy Umezu As you don your costume for the gay High Holy Day of Halloween, don’t forget to make a plan for your safety. Have a travel plan and go with friends if you can. Let someone you trust know your plans. Watch your drink. And remember, above all: Your boundaries are beautiful. It’s more than okay to say “no.”
Design Direction & Production
Abby Zimberg Design & Production Kate Laws Business Manager Juan Torres Advertising Executive Juan@sfbaytimes.com Robert Fuggiti Calendar Editor
Kit Kennedy Poet-In-Residence Barbara Brust / Lucille Design Webmaster & Technology Director
Mario Ordonez Juan Ordonez Distribution
Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Kirsten Kruse, Kate Kendell, Pollo del Mar, Heidi Beeler, K. Cole, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Paul E. Pratt, Terry Baum, Gypsy Love, Rafael Mandelman, Shelley MacKay, Kit Kennedy, Leslie Katz, Karen Williams, Gary Virginia, Stu Smith, Zoe Dunning, Jim Tibbs, Mark Penn, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller & Joanne Jordan, Tippy Marks, Naomi Jay, Jamie Leno Zimron
For the longest time, I was not a fan of “safety plans.” They felt like boring, static, impractical documents filled with endless questions that community leaders were always telling community members to create before they went out for the night. They didn’t feel connected to my life and really didn’t feel connected to the sense of carefree fun that I wanted to experience when I went out with my friends or partner. And, for sure, they could not hold enough weight to be of any use when going to see my family. Fortunately for me, as a staff person at Community United Against Violence (CUAV), I was gifted
own loads. Holding onto grudges is a little like trying to run a marathon while carrying a bowling ball.
Examined Life Tom Moon, MFT
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What I learned is that safety planning is an action, not a thing. It’s a skill that we can practice that is about creating options, listening to our intuition, and following our self-determination. It’s not an
Safety planning is the act of checking in with ourselves before we enter a potentially unsafe situation and asking questions like, “Let’s imagine some different scenarios that might happen today. How would I want to respond if…?” Or, “How would I feel most comfortable going out tonight? What would I need?” Or even, “What have I done in the past that has helped me have the afternoon I wanted?” That way, when we get approached by the cute person staring at us from across the party, we’ll know we’re taken care of because we’ll know our needs and limits. As you get ready to go out today or any other day, we invite you to check out our safety tips at cuav. org/publications. Or, make some of your own and then share them on Facebook or with your friends and neighbors. They’re sure to appreciate this treat. Stacy Umezu is the Programs Co-Director of Community United Against Violence (CUAV).
Exploring Forgiveness, Part 3: The Benefits of Forgiveness
Photographers Rink, Dennis McMillan, Steven Underhill, Phyllis Costa, Cathy Blackstone, Robert Fuggiti, Bill Wilson
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plans came from, if they had dreams, and if they had fears. And as my safety plan started talking, the story started to sound familiar. The safety plan revealed to me my dreams and my fears. In an instant, the plan magically dissolved to uncover my own ref lection. We were one and the same; the ability to plan for my safety had been inside of me all along. I just needed some practice to learn to see it!
obstacle to having fun; it’s what makes sure we get to have the day or night that we envision, where every action we take meets a need or a want of our own.
(Editor’s Note: This is the third of a fourpart series concerning exploring forgiveness.) All of the world’s wisdom traditions seem to be unanimous on at least one point – that forgiving those who have harmed us is wiser than nursing grudges and resentments. One reason this is true is that forgiving means letting go of the past, which lightens our
There is a growing body of research, which demonstrated that forgiveness is beneficial for both emotional and physical health. In more than 1,200 published studies, results consistently show that people who are forgiving tend to have not only less stress but also better relationships, fewer general health problems and lower incidences of the most serious illnesses— including depression, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Why? It seems that forgiveness works, in part, by reducing the caustic effects of being unforgiving – that painful mixture of anger, bitterness, hatred, resentment and fear of being hurt again. The harmful effects of these negative emotions include increased blood pressure, adrenaline and cortisol levels, which have been linked to cardiovascular disease, immune suppression
and, possibly, impaired neurological function and memory. A second way forgiveness works is more subtle. Studies show that people with strong social networks tend to be healthier than loners. People who are angry and remember every slight are likely to lose relationships during the course of a lifetime, while those who are forgiving are more likely to attract and keep a strong social support system, which has multiple health benefits. But so many of us don’t allow ourselves the freedom that forgiveness brings because we’re loyal to our suffering. We all want to be happy, yet one of the most predictable human failings is to cling to our traumas and betrayals as if to let them go would mean to deny or minimize them. To forgive, then, is a kind of spiritual victory of wisdom over delusion, and of love (including self-love) over hatred.
One inspiring example of what is possible for us is the Dali Lama, who bears the weight of the oppression in Tibet and the loss of his culture. Yet, in spite of it all, he remains a very happy and joyful person. He says, “They have taken so much. They have destroyed temples, burned our texts, disrobed our monks and nuns, limited our culture and destroyed it in so many ways. Why should I also let them take my joy and peace of mind?” As the great Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita says, “If you want to see the brave, look to those who can return love for hatred. If you want to see the heroic, look to those who can forgive.” But even if we’re convinced that forgiving would be the better road to take, many of us find doing it very challenging. I’ll talk about how to do it next time. Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. His website is tommoon.net.
at 415-503-1386 #3. National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco. Also represented by Rivendell Media., Mountainside, NJ 908-232-2021.
Profiles of Compassion and Courage: Andrew Freeman such as the Rainbow Room, Windows on the World and the Russian Tea Room. Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants wisely recruited him in 1997, opening the San Francisco door to this talented, ambitious gay man from New Jersey.
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Don't Call It Frisco
© 2013 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas
Stu Smith
SS: How did you become involved in your work?
If you admire the style, look and feel of a Northern California restaurant, hotel, event or other business, chances are that Andrew Freeman had a hand in crafting its image. Before founding Andrew Freeman & Company, he worked for many iconic restaurants,
AF: I was once an aspiring actor who waited tables. Being a waiter led to being a restaurant professional and then to being a hospitality marketing professional. Along the way, I got to work with amazing people, restaurants, hotels and to really learn the
Reprints by permission only.
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The city has been a mecca for him, allowing him to live out and proud. At his namesake business, created in 2006, he takes great pride in his clients and the strong and successful team that he has created.
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business. I also did a small stint in cooking school. SS: Who have been your key mentors? AF: This is such a hard one, as I have many mentors in my life. Though many people won’t know his name, Joe Baum was my first mentor. He is the father of fine dining restaurants. He created the Four Seasons, The Rainbow Room and Windows on the World. He truly showed me that I could combine my love of show business with the restaurant business and that I should push for greatness at all levels. Another mentor was my Mom, who gave me her absolute devotion and love. SS: If you could solve or fix a community problem, what would it be? AF: Homelessness, hands down! I live in NOPA and see so much of it
Andrew Freeman
in the Panhandle. I know there are no easy solutions and it’s heartbreaking, but I wish I could work with a team to fix it, as I believe our city suffers on so many levels because of this issue. Next up would be hunger relief – from senior citizens to young families. People are not getting enough to eat and organizations like Meals On Wheels SF (of which I am on the board) need ongoing support on every level. (continued on page 18)
Fortnight in Review By Ann Rostow Fourteen and Counting Yay! Another free state has joined the growing list of places where American gays can tie the knot. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie basically had no choice but to abandon the fight against equality after the state supreme court refused to suspend a lower court order that legalized marriage effective October 21. In rejecting the stay, the unanimous high court noted that the arguments against marriage had little chance of succeeding on appeal should the case continue. That said, of course Christie did have a choice. He could have easily jumped on the grand stand and insisted on a doomed effort to force the state supreme court to hear arguments and deliver a ruling on the merits of the marriage lawsuit. Yes, marriages would have continued during the appeal, but Christie could have won a great deal of street cred with social conservatives by refusing to accept reality until he saw the river card. Assuming the man is considering a run in 2016, his decision to throw in the towel is interesting. It suggests that Christie believes a pointless crusade against marriage equality would hurt, rather than help, his chances in a general election, while a gracious concession would not doom his primary campaign. He’s betting that the GOP base has turned its obsessions away from marriage, and that the country as a whole is now willing to punish those who continue to lead the charge against same-sex couples. Bottom line. Marriage is now legal in 14 states plus the District of Columbia, and a third of Americans now live in a state where gay men and lesbians have the right to wed. Trying Our Patience in the Mitten State In Michigan, meanwhile, a federal judge has ordered the state’s Prop 8-style lawsuit to trial, a fairly rare outcome that we have only seen twice. Back in 1996, Hawaii’s state court marriage suit went to trial, and although we won, our victory was annulled by a hastily passed constitutional amendment. Second, of course we all remember the Prop 8 trial, another triumph that was put on hold for years until the U.S. Supreme Court finally let the ruling take effect. Normally, however, federal judges don’t order trials unless material facts are in dispute. In marriage cases, the facts are usually stipulated, and the decision involves only a matter of law. Here, as in the Prop 8 case, a trial serves two purposes: It elongates the case itself, buying time for a hot button to cool somewhat, and it inoculates the court against charges that a controversial issue was decided without careful analysis. As for the disputed “facts,” I suppose we’ll hear the usual testimony about how traditional marriage bolsters children and families, as if a ban on our families would somehow encourage the stability of our straight neighbors. (I particularly cringe at the mantra “every child deserves a mother and a father,” as if outlawing marriage recognition would prevent gay couples from having kids.) Here’s Mud in Your Buckeye That Michigan case, by the way, evolved from a challenge to the state’s ban on joint adoption by gay couples. But after the High Court struck the core of the Defense of Marriage Act in Windsor, the plaintiffs expanded the suit into a marriage case. I bring this up because the Windsor decision has set off a chain reaction of somewhat unusual litigation. In addition to the carefully planned strategic lawsuits filed by our legal eagles, we’ve seen court cases pop up organically as if Windsor summoned forth a rain shower on fertile ground.
Let’s take Ohio, for example. Maybe you remember that two men flew to Maryland a few months ago, got married on the tarmac, and flew back to Ohio where they asked a federal court to force the state to recognize their marriage on the death certificate of one of the husbands (who was on his last legs at the time). The men wanted to be buried together in a family plot that required kinship. Based on Windsor, the federal judge issued an injunction against the state, (the guy died, by the way), and the court is now considering the merits of the underlying principle. Since you don’t issue an injunction unless the plaintiff is likely to win, we could be looking at a breakthrough in this admittedly macabre niche of marriage recognition. The point is, just as it’s impossible to be a little bit pregnant, the notion of recognizing marriage solely for the purpose of death certificates is hard to imagine. Remember, it is marriage recognition, not marriage itself, which was at issue in Windsor. By insisting on recognition rather than a full blown reversal of state marriage policy, this lawsuit stands on very firm ground, indeed it stands on recent Supreme Court precedent. And yet the distance between marriage recognition and marriage itself is a rather small one. Indeed, with so many marriage states it could be considered almost symbolic. Marriage Basically Legal in Oregon Meanwhile, speaking of marriage recognition, I’m not sure quite what to make of the situation in Oregon, where all state agencies have now been directed to recognize same-sex marriages from out of state. An official memo announced the policy in midOctober, based on an opinion by the state attorney general’s office that said the state’s current policy appeared to violate the federal Constitution. Don’t get me wrong! I think it’s great. For all practical purposes it legalizes marriage in the Pinot Blanc State. But Oregon also carries a constitutional amendment that says only a marriage between a man and woman shall be legal or recognized. Usually, and it seems these days that “usually” has been thrown under the bus, an opinion by an attorney general is a useful guidepost without force of law. “Usually” it takes a court to mandate a change in policy, particularly when that change contradicts the explicit text of the state constitution. But not anymore! At any rate, Oregon is also the venue for a federal lawsuit challenging the state amendment, as well as a petition drive to repeal the amendment by public vote next year. Let’s just say that Oregon’s joining our free state list in the near future, and indeed for all practical purposes it already has. Next in Line: New Mexico, Hawaii Finally, we have the rogue clerk syndrome, states where clerks have taken it upon themselves to interpret Windsor as obliging them to issue marriage licenses. In New Mexico, rogue clerks have led the state supreme court to accept what amounts to an emergency marriage case. The justices heard arguments a week or so ago and could interpret the state’s marriage anytime now. New Mexico is the only state that does not clearly outlaw same-sex marriage either by statute or amendment, although by practice it has never allowed a same-sex marriage. For that reason, our allies had already filed suit in the Land of Enchantment, but Windsor and the clerks forced the state to put its foot on the accelerator. Likewise, we had already filed a federal suit against Pennsylvania when a clerk took unilateral action that has led to a state court suit. As for North Carolina where we also have a federal suit
Professional Services in progress, a rogue clerk has issued licenses but hasn’t really processed them. I’m fuzzy on this. The NorCal clerk asked the attorney general for advice, and while the attorney general supports equality, he has agreed to defend state law. I started this item with “finally,” not because I couldn’t spend another 1,000 words on breaking marriage news, but only because I think this is enough, don’t you? Every two weeks we have another new case, another state on the verge of equality, another this, another that. As I write, the Hawaii legislature is poised (we hope) to make marriage a reality (perhaps as soon as next month) a state of affairs that could have led this column were it not for the other equally exciting events of the fortnight. I’m not even getting into the weird lawsuit in Wisconsin (don’t ask), or the disappointing situation in Illinois (where it appears the house cannot bring marriage to a successful vote at this time). I think I just broke a record for parenthetical remarks in one paragraph. Christians Behaving Badly (Again!) So what else is new? Can we lighten up? I read about a straight guy in Omaha who was beaten up for defending his gay pals against a basher. That was nice of him, but it’s not particularly light hearted. Or how about the Christian diners who left the following note for their waiter at a Carrabba’s restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas: “Thank you for your service, it was excellent. That being said, we cannot in good conscience tip you, for your homosexual lifestyle is an affront to God. Queers do not share in the wealth of God, and you will not share in ours. We hope you will see the tip your fag choices made you lose out on, and plan accordingly. It is never too late for God’s love, but none shall be spared for fags. May God have mercy on you.” Say what? According to reports, many locals who read about the incident went out of their way to go to this restaurant, request the same guy, and leave him a nice tip to compensate for his ill treatment at the hands of these despicable customers. Note to Christian couple: check out Luke 6:24-26. And here’s something that annoys me. I keep stumbling over articles that focus on the idea that even though samesex marriage is increasingly within our grasp, there are some gay couples who…wait for it…do not want to get married! What next? Some women don’t bother to vote? Some African Americans don’t like rap music? Some straight men don’t watch football? How about some journalists don’t pursue platitudes? OK. Maybe that last one was a bit far fetched. I Heart SCOTUS News So here are a couple of High Court tidbits that might not involve GLBT rights, but that concern us none-theless. First, the town of Easton, Pennsylvania has decided to appeal the “I Heart Boobie” bracelet ruling to the Supreme Court. We’ve discussed this case in the past, only because the question of whether a school district can ban kids from wearing “I Heart Boobie” bracelets is identical to the question of whether a school can ban a gay T-shirt, or an anti-gay T-shirt for that matter. In this case, some middle school girls were told to take off the cheeky bracelets, which purported to make a statement against breast cancer. The school district claimed, to no avail, that the bracelets were provocative and could disrupt the educational environment. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit agreed with the girls, basically ruling that the bracelets were (continued on page 22)
Read more @www.sfbaytimes.com and check us out on Twitter and Facebook. BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 31, 2013
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Round About — Pre-Halloween in The Castro Photos by Steven Underhill
Bay Times photographer Steven Underhill was out and about in The Castro capturing the sights of the popular pre-Halloween weekend annual promenade — when everybody who is anybody is there in costume being just about anybody you can think of ! What will you be this year for Halloween?
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Arts&Entertainment Sean Thompson, Star of Rodgers and Hart’s “I Married An Angel”
Thompson has been in everything from Shakespeare plays to Sunset Boulevard, but he has never wrestled an angel, or let loose in our culture-rich hub. We caught up with him as he was preparing for the run. BT: What are you most looking forward to during your time in San Francisco? Have you ever lived in the city or visited here before? ST: Prior to working for 42nd Street Moon, I had never visited the Bay Area before. I am from Philadelphia, and that means the landscape and climate here in San Francisco are just
foreign to me. So, I’ve been making it a point to engage what I believe to be my adventurous spirit by simply exploring the hills and valleys, the distinct neighborhoods and serene thinking spots of this very beautiful city. I like to let myself get lost around town; I have found that to be a surefire way of bumping into San Francisco’s really unique culture and vibe. BT: Why did the role of Count Willy and this particular musical appeal to you? ST: To be honest, I had never heard of the Count or the musical before auditioning for this production. When I did start working on it, however, I was instantly attracted to the glamour of the lifestyle the characters lead in I Married an Angel and to the silly fun it is to watch really rich people in a time and society gone by deal with their petty issues and little dramas. This play is about a man marrying a realto-life angel, of course, so that makes it unique and enticing enough. I fell in love with the role when I discovered some of its really lovely ballads, such as “I Married an Angel” and “Spring is Here,” and some of its truly sweet and moving moments between the Count and his celestial bride-to-be. BT: So many of us are Rodgers and Hart fans, but are not very familiar with this particular musical. Although it had an extensive Broadway run in the late 30s, do you think it’s a relatively undiscovered treasure by today’s audiences? ST: I think it is definitely undiscovered. Nine out of ten people I’ve told about coming out here to do this show said to me, “Hmm, I’ve never heard of that.” Even the score seems to be undiscovered, which is a shame, be-
PHOTO BY D AVID AL L EN
Sean Thompson makes his West Coast debut with 42nd Street Moon in a production of the Rodgers and Hart masterpiece, “I Married an Angel,” now playing at the Eureka Theatre in San Francisco. Thompson plays Count Willy Palaffi, a wealthy Budabest banker who seeks a perfect bride. The show is full of LGBT energy, though. In real life, Thompson is a proud member of the LGBT community. The show’s lyricist and author, Lorenz Hart—a legend among Broadway and Hollywood musical buffs—was also gay.
Sean Thompson (center) in Rodgers and Hart’s “I Married an Angel” cause some of this music is breathtak- BT: Are there any elements of the show that you think will resonate paringly easygoing and beautiful. ticularly well with LGBT theatergoBT: Please share some of the high- ers? The plot concerns marriage, and lights of the show, and what we audi- this has certainly been a great year for ence goers have to look forward to. us here in CA, in terms of marriage equality. ST: When you see the show, you’re going to hear some extraordinarily ST: Of course, we know the lyricist talented singers performing mu- and author of “I Married An Ansic that isn’t common to hear any- gel,” Lorenz Hart, was gay, and his more. You’re going to see some top- breathtakingly beautiful lyrics infuse notch dancing, including lots of tap, the show. Gays were intrinsic to the some waltzing, and even a foxtrot. I development of American musical personally guarantee that you will theatre. Think of Cole Porter, Leonfeel charmed and uplifted by the ard Bernstein and Jerry Herman, to final curtain, too. There is no way name a few. Beyond that, there has you’ll leave the theatre w ithout always been an affinity between the blissfully humming away the title LGBT community and the world of tune, “I Married an Angel.” fabulous musicals, and I think this
show should be no exception! And congratulations to Californians now heading down the aisle. Anyone who has recently married their own “angel” should enjoy this light-hearted look at the ups and downs of wedded bliss to someone who might be just a little too perfect. I’m more than thrilled to be performing in such a heartwarming piece. I hope audiences will come with the intention of throwing their cares away for a couple of hours to be delighted — simply delighted and charmed. For information or to order tickets, call (415) 255- 8207 o r v i s i t 42n d S tMoon.org.
Soulful Up and Coming Artist Peter Feliciano
Gems of The Bay Kippy Marks Every now and then there is a young artist where one says, “This person has talent and is going to go places with it.” The f irst time I heard Peter Feliciano’s voice, at the Castro/ Upper Market 2013 summer sunset series, I said, “Wow!” Peter’s voice conveys gentle power. His magnif icent storytelling skills, with their unique twist of clear understanding, are evident. I felt his soul,
Peter was born in 1986 in Brentwood, NY, to parents Elaine Sack and Ric Feliciano. He has three siblings, one older and two younger. His family is steeped with musical talent. Peter’s mother is a music teacher and was a professional performer. His father is also a professional musician who still actively performs. I asked Peter what his first experience with music was. He replied, “I can recall putting a cassette of the soundtrack to the original Fantasia (Disney movie) on, turning it up loud and running around terrified to ‘the dinosaur part’ of the Rite of Spring by Stravinsky. Just the music alone was such a powerful thing. It took me places. It created my imagination.” Peter sang in the school choir and played alto sax in the school band be-
tween the ages of 11-14. By the time he was 15, he had written his first song. Peter played this song for his father and brother. Peter recalls, “I remember my Dad saying, ‘Wow, son! You wrote that?’ It was a great feeling. I thought, hey, I guess I might be able to actually write songs.” And Peter started a journey of composition. PHOTO COURTES Y OF KI PP Y MA RKS
and it was filled with inspiration and passion. I look forward to watching where this special artist will go with his vocal and musical talents. This is why I am extremely excited to share his personal story with all of you.
Not surprisingly, Peter’s biggest musical influences were his parents. But he also mentions being inf luenced and inspired by Paco Dietz, Frank Zappa, Bjork, Beck, Prince, Chris Thile and many others. Peter moved to San Francisco in 2012. He explains, “I felt totally drawn to San Francisco, partly because of the logical thought that music was more accessible, as it’s proven to be, but even with that, I just knew I needed to be here. On a daily basis, I grow deeper in love with San Francisco.” Pet er i s c u r r ent ly p er for m i n g throughout the Bay Area in multiple genres and has just started collaboration with a new band where they are
Peter Feliciano putting together some awesome cover tunes and original pieces. You can see Pete and the Choir Magnificent, with Gary Kotlyar, perform this Saturday, November 2, at 50 Mason Social House at 10 pm. Peter also writes and performs hip hop choruses for Bay Area rapper Telli Prego and producer Onewerd. I encourage everyone to check out and support Peter, who is an up and coming talent.
You can learn more about Peter Feliciano and listen to his creative style at: s ou ndc loud /p et er- fe l ic i a no, y o u t u b e . c o m /r u l e 6 2 p e t e a n d facebook.com/peter.feliciano.3. Violinist Kippy Marks entertains audi e nces worldw ide w ith hi s in spirational compositions and lively performances that draw from classical, jazz, blues and dance. www.kippymarks.us
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The Women’s Craft Movement and the Celebration of Craftswomen By Judy Stone and Dotty Calabrese On Veteran’s Day weekend, Nov. 9-11, the Celebration of Craftswomen—the major fundraising event for the SF Women’s Building —
will be 35 years old. This seems an appropriate time to revisit the women’s craft movement of the 1970s, which provided many of the initial participants in the Celebration and which is largely unknown and unheralded today in feminist and gay history. In the early 1970s, a craft revolution swept the country. It coincided with the burgeoning women’s movement, the gay rights movement, t he back-to -land movement, and all the other movements, which were coalescing in the wake of the Vietnam War protests. Handmade work became a path to a kind of freedom that allowed people to drop out of the traditional job market. For some feminist women, it seemed necessary to create symbolic objects that helped identify a commu-
nity of like-minded women. The powerful symbol for female, with the image of a raised fist, symbolized “Sisterhood is Powerful.” Imagery from women’s spirituality, the female body, and women’s history became meaningful to feminists. Symbols defined those who were Wiccans, or who wanted to resurrect the goddess or pay homage to historical matriarchies. Lesbian feminists also embraced double women’s symbols, the color lavender, the rainbow, and the pink and black triangles (symbols of Nazi oppression of homosexuals.) Many objects that were created during this period became emblematic, and still are today. The feminist craftswomen
ing with their hands could create objects in media that were non-traditional for women at the time, such as
entrepreneurs who could make money by jobbing out production to Asia, putting a lot of woman-owned craft businesses out of business. Many craftswomen had also moved on to perfect their craftswomanship and their creative ideas, not necessarily leaving the fold of the women’s movement, but becoming part of the wider population of craftspeople. Today, the women’s craft movement has evolved into the women’s arts and crafts movement, encompassing a wide variety of work. The sense of community may not be as pronounced as it was 35 years ago, but it is still proudly represented at the Celebration of Craftswomen. Judy Stone and Dotty Calabrese are the Founders of the Celebration of Craftswomen, celebrationofcraftswomen.org/.
came from all backgrounds. Some had formal training; some did not. Many had a sense that they were following in the footsteps of the women of previous generations. It was also understood that women who were work-
cast bronze, leather, wood, stained glass, etc. In the late 1970s, several Bay Area craftswomen had established a small holiday women’s crafts fair in conjunction with Old Wives’ Tales Bookstore on Valencia St. with the intention of benef it t i ng women’s organizations. The San Francisco Women’s Building took over the women’s craft fair in 1980 and grew the event, so that it became the Building’s major annual fundraiser. By the beginning of the 1990s, the women’s craft movement was changing. Feminist and gay bookstores went out of business and handcrafted items were marginalized by ambitious
(UNDER ONE ROOF continued from page 2) L GB T Q supp or t or g a n i zat ion s a l o n g w it h l o y a l c o n s i g n m e nt in need. partners like SF Mercantile, and select loca l ar t ists l i ke K at ie T h e Un d e r O n e R o o f C a s t r o Gilmartin. pop-up, which launched in t ime for Pride month and was initially The holiday themed incarnation dubbed the Summer Bizarre Bazaar, of the Castro pop-up will feature features mostly donated goods to new merch a nd i se a nd fabu lou s ensure opt imal proceeds to help festive trimmings, g iftwraps and its H I V/A I DS A gency Par tners, any t hing else you’d need to cel-
(PROFILES continued from page 14) SS: What achievement are you most proud of? AF: My company! Going into our 8th year, it’s been the craziest ride of my life. I am so proud of what we have created –not only for our clients, but also our commitment to the city and the organizations we love. I am also very, very proud of my charitable commitments—especially for the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation, Dress for Success SF and Meals on Wheels SF. On a side note, the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International honored me as one of the 25 top minds in marketing. I 18
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am also extremely proud to be a great dad to my two beautiful yorkie sisters. It’s a lot of work, but I love them more every day.
ebrate t he hol idays i n st yle- -a l l while supporting our community. Created in 1991, Under One Roof was the f irst non-prof it retail store of its kind. Donations can be made directly at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1421657.
SS: What are your goals for the future?
theater where I will star in every production, of course. Annie will become “Andy,” and despite the fact that I will be 60, I will bring the houses to tears with my portrayal of an eightyear-old orphan girl.
AF: More sleep. Taking my company to the next level, and to continuing to evolve. I would like to take my commitment to working with the LGBTQ community to the next level. And, for fun, I want to find the right guy and have a big Jewish wedding. Then, when I retire, I want to make my show biz comeback and open up a dinner
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.
Kill Your Darlings Has Enthralling Moments but Ultimately Fails
Film
Gary M. Kramer “Rupture the pattern” and “break the law” are ideologies that animate the neophyte Beats — Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan), Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe), William S. Burroughs (Ben Foster), and Jack Kerouac ( Jack Huston) — in the ambitious period drama Kill Your Darlings. Director and co-writer John Krokidas certainly ruptures some patterns and breaks some rules telling this beguiling story set in the mid 1940s. Recounting the murder of David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall), the filmmaker uses contemporary music and film snippets played back in reverse. Apparently, Krokidas is more interested in creating mood than verisimilitude, even if Kill Your Darlings is based on a true story. Audiences may be impressed by some of the film’s style and fanciful “dream” sequences, such as when Carr and Ginsberg visit a club and the action freezes temporarily, but this film, often trying too hard, has more wrong with it than it gets right. It’s amusing to see David Cross, who
played Allen Ginsberg in I’m Not There, play Louis Ginsberg, Allen’s father, here, but Radcliffe seems miscast in the central role. The young actor is too slight and scared as the young poet, hiding behind his glasses, rather than looking through them at the big new world, drinking it in, and forming real thoughts about it like Ginsberg probably did. His Ginsberg transforms himself from meek to empowered over the course of the film, but Radcliffe’s performance never quite convinces. Likewise, the character of Lucien Carr, who makes a naughty entrance at the Columbia University Library reciting aloud a Henry Miller line about a cock, is not a particularly seductive coconspirator. As DeHaan plays Carr, he comes across as less “outrageous” than bipolar. Still, Ginsberg falls under Carr’s spell and follows his new friend down to “the land of the fairies” — as Greenwich Village is referred to by Ginsberg’s roommate — to break free of tradition and conformity. At a party hosted by Kammerer, Carr’s lover and college paper ghostwriter, Ginsberg meets William S. Burroughs, who is lying in a bathtub inhaling nitrous oxide. (Ben Foster gives an irresistibly droll performance as Burroughs.) The new friends soon make plans to kill off the old guard and create anew. This means staging a mock suicide and fueling their dreams with Benzedrine. Kill Your Darlings gets the seed of the Beat movement right — the railing against convention — and there is a bit of life in the film when the characters must define themselves against
Daniel Radcliffe (right) as Allen Ginsberg and Dane DeHaan as Lucien Carr
prevailing expectations. When Ginsberg questions rhyme and meter, form and tradition in his Columbia poetry class, or reads a poem he wrote to Carr and Kerouac while sitting in a boat, the film does enthrall. But then there is a leaden sequence of Ginsberg distracting a comely female librarian with the promise of sex so Carr and Burroughs can steal her keys in order to pull off a prank displaying censored material throughout the library. The scene’s narrative importance, that this is the characters’
rebellion against authority, is not lost, but the break-in doesn’t amount to much fun. Nor is the romantic tension between Carr and Ginsberg especially sexy. A scene in which Ginsberg imagines Carr sucking on his finger is far more compelling than a kiss the two men share later in the film. When Ginsberg stares longingly at Carr as the librarian goes down on the future poet, there should be sparks between the two men. Instead it just looks awkward.
Carr’s appeal is best expressed in his ability to motivate Ginsberg to develop a sense of his own self-worth and to challenge convention. But Krokidas too frequently insists on using a cudgel to make the point. Such unsubtle storytelling is most egregious in a montage that crosscuts among three forms of penetration: Kammerer being knifed by Carr, Burroughs injecting drugs, and Ginsberg having anal sex. The murder of Kammerer could profitably have been given greater empha(continued on page 22)
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compiled by Robert Fuggiti
See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com
Upside-Downtown Abbey will be performed on Sunday, November 10 at the Palace of Fine Arts.
Halloween at the Exploratorium – Exploratorium at Pier 15. $25. 6 pm to 10 pm. Celebrate Halloween with this fun and spooky event full of ghoulish delights.
Bryant St.) www.crackpotcrones. com. The Crackpot Crones proudly announce their first Halloween show, Meet the Bride of Lesbostein, a lesbian version of the Frankenstein story.
Randy Roberts Live – Alcove Theatre. $40. 9 pm. (414 Mason St.) www.randyroberts.net. Gender illusionist Randy Roberts performs several entertaining shows.
Janelle Monáe – The Warfield. $29-$45. 9 pm. (982 Market St.) www.jmonae.com. Enjoy a live performance by the always captivating singer-songwriter.
Meet the Bride of Lesbostein – The Garage. $15. 8 pm. (715
Flashback Friday – Bench and Bar. $5. 10 pm to 2 am. (510 17th
room engineering. Girls Got the Blues – Café Du Nord. $12. 8 pm to 11 pm. (2170 Market St.) www.cafedunord.com. Girls Got the Blues is a Bay Area all-female blues band.
Crackpot Crones St.) www.bench-and-bar.com. Celebrating the best in old school music with drink specials all night long. 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.
Scary Cow Independent Film Festival – Castro Theater. $10-$25. 3 pm. (429 Castro St.) www.castrotheatre.com. Scary Cow is a collective of professional and amateur filmmakers that span a wide range of genres. Randy Roberts Live – Alcove Theatre. $40. 9 pm. (414 Mason St.) www.randyroberts.net. Gender illusionist Randy Roberts performs several entertaining shows. Hella Gay – The Uptown. $5. 9:30 pm. (1928 Telegraph Ave.) www.facebook.com/hellagaydanceparty. Oakland’s largest gay dance party with something for everyone.
Warrior Class – Theatre Works. $25-$52. 7 pm. (1100 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto) Winner of the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award, Warrior Class offers insight into the cutthroat world of hardball politics with a taut, topical saga of back20
BAY TIMES OCTO B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 3
Fall Into Vogue – Beatbox. $8-$35. 9 pm. (314 11th St.) www. beatboxsf.com. San Francisco’s premiere Vogueing Ball with Peaches Christ and Mercedez Munro, Miss Gay United States 2013.
The Poetics of James Broughton – James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center. Free. 10 am to 6 pm. (100 Larkin St.) www. sfpl.org. This exhibit explores the poetic world of gay Bay Area poet and avant-garde film maker James Broughton. Through January 16, 2014. Mahogany Mondays – Midnight Sun. Free. 8 pm. (4067 18th St.) www.midnightsunsf.com. A live drag variety show with $5 drink specials all evening. Karaoke Mondays – Lookout. Free. 8 pm to 1 am. (2600 16th St.) www.lookoutsf.com. KJ Paul hosts a weekly karaoke night.
Linda Tillery Singing Workshop – Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club. $35. 7 pm to 8:30 pm. (1650 Mountain Blvd, Oakland) www.montclairartsclub. com. Linda Tillery is teaching an amazing class focused on improving skills in singing while clapping complex rhythms. RADAR Reading Series – James Hormel Center. Free. 6 pm. (100 Larkin St.) www.sfpl.org. This month author Michelle Tea hosts San Francisco’s own illustrator and graphic documentarian Wendy McNaughton.
J. Althea and The Graceland Girls The News – SomArts. $5. 7:30 pm to 9 pm. (934 Brannan St.) www.somarts.org. A monthly spotlight of queer performances and artists.
Blame Sally – Sweet Water Music Hall. $27. 10 pm. (19 Corte Madera Avenue, Mills Valley) www. sweetwatermusichall.com. Enjoy perhaps one of the last Blame Sally concerts for a while as they embark on a hiatus after a couple of year’s touring. Immigration Issues for LGBT Couples – The Commonwealth Club. $8-$20. 11:30 am. Immigration attorney Kelly McCown discusses the options available to LGBT binational couples after the repeal of DOMA. Holiday ICE RINK – Union Square. Free. 10 am. (Union Square) www.unionsquareicerink.com. Kick of the 2013 holiday season at the Safeway Ice Rink.
Jack the Ripper – The Hypnodrome. $30-$35. 8 pm. (575 10th St.) www.thrillpedlers.com. An evening of horror, madness, and song to commemorate the 125th anniversary of “Jack the Ripper.” Through November 23. Zoé – The Warfield. $35-$45. 9 pm. (982 Market St.) www.thewarf-
ieldtheatre.com. Zoé is a Mexican rock band with modern sound and sophisticated lyrics. 4Bidden – The Cellar. $10. 10pm to 2am. (685 Sutter St.) www.cellarsf.com. A fun lesbian dance night playing your favorite throwback songs.
Friday Live – El Rio. Free. 10 pm. (3158 Mission St.) www.elriosf. com. Friday Live is a queer dance party with hip hop and house music. Cubcake – Lonestar. Free. 9 pm. (1354 Harrison St.) www.lonestarsf.com. A monthly bear dance party happening second Fridays. Some Thing – The Stud. $5. 10 pm. (399 9th St.) www.studsf.com. A uniquely themed party every Friday night, with drag performances at 11 pm.
Roaring 20’s Gala – Four Seasons. $250. 6 pm to 11:30 pm. (757 Market St.) www.sfjewelball. org. Join the 61st Annual Jewel Ball benefitting the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. 50’s Rock Sing Along – Gorrin Bros. Hat Store. 5-7 pm. (2926 College Ave., Berkeley) See Facebook: Graceland Girls Rock Band. GALA 31 – Mill Valley Community Center. $150. 7 pm to 11 pm. (180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley) www.spectrumlgbtcenter. org. A benefit serving the Spectrum LGBT Center, with live auction, DJ, photo booth, dancing and more. Hey Girl Hey – Era Art Bar & Lounge. $5. 5 pm to 9 pm. (19 Grand Ave, Oakland) www.oaklandera.com. A lesbian dance party happening every second Saturday.
Jim Brickman – Venetian Room. $43-$48. 5 pm and 8 pm. (950 Mason St.) www.bayareacabaret. org. Bay Area Cabaret presents America’s Romantic Piano Sensation, Jim Brickman in concert. Upside-Downtown Abbey – Palace of Fine Arts. $35-$97. 4 pm. (3301 Lynon St.) www.lamplighters. org. A full-length parody of the original TV series. Jock – Lookout. $2. 3 pm to 9 pm. (3600 16th St.) www.lookoutsf. com. A weekly fundraising party for Bay Area LGBT sports groups.
SF Open Studio Exhibition – SOMArts Cultural Center. Free. 11 am to 3 pm. (934 Brannan) www. somarts.org.View over 400 artworks by SF Open Studio Artists. Gay Bowling – Mission Bowling Club. $15. 5 pm to 8 pm. (3176 17th St.) www.missionbowlingclub. com. Mix, mingle and meet new friends at this weekly bowling social.
pop culture and political antics. Matthew Shepard – Kabuki Cinema. $11. 7 pm. (1881 Post St.) www.matthewshepardisafriendofmine.com. A universal story that highlights the need to make sure young people around the world are not at risk of falling victim to the same story ending Matt was. The Fabulous World of Queer Pulp - James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center. Free. 10 am to 6 pm. (100 Larkin St.) www. sfpl.org. Join pulp icon Ann Bannon, historians Martin Meeker and Jenny Worley, and modern pulp writers for a lively discussion on queer pulp.
Sex and the City Live – Rebel. $20. 7 pm. (1760 Market St.) www. velvetrageproductions.com. Enjoy hilarious renditions of you favorite episodes, in drag.
Bay Times Wishes You a Safe and Happy Halloween!
Peter and the Starcatcher – Curran Theatre. $40-$160. 8 pm. (445 Geary St.) www.peterandthestarcatcher.com. A musical play takes a hilarious romp through the Neverland you never knew. Amaluna by Cirque du Soleil – Grand Chapiteau at AT&T Park. $92-$165. 8 pm. (24 Willie Mays Plaza ) www.cirquedusoleil.com. An alluring performance about a mysterious island governed by a goddess. Through January 12, 2014.
Karaoke Night – Toad Hall. Free. 8 pm. (4146 18th St.) www. toadhallbar.com. Sing your heart out on stage at Toad Hall’s weekly karaoke night.
Beach Blanket Babylon – Club Fugazi. $25-$130. 8 pm. (678 Green St.) www.beachblanketbabylon.com. Enjoy Steve Silver’s famous musical revue packed with hilarious
Randy Noak in Dirty Little Showtunes. BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 31, 2013
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(DARLINGS continued from page 19) sis in the film. While his stalking behavior comes across as a nuisance to Carr — and by extension, Ginsberg — and the depth of Carr’s affection for him is very much in doubt, the suggestion that they do him in seems extreme. After Carr does kill Kammerer, the film wrestles briefly with Ginsberg’s quandary over whether to help him mount his “honor slaying” defense, where the sexual orientation
of the victim and attacker are critical to the verdict, but the issue turns melodramatic when he takes up his qualms with his mother ( Jennifer Jason Leigh), who is institutionalized. All of which diminishes the climax of a film intended to help us understand young men eager to make their mark. In the end, the impression they leave is unsatisfying.
© 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.
(ROSTOW continued from page 15) no big deal. Now, for reasons unclear, the school district has decided to go all the way to the top. I can’t imagine the High Court will take this case, because the facts here are so innocuous. Still, I mention the petition, because if the Court should accept review, we’ll have to watch closely. Second, on November 6 the High Court will hear arguments on the question of whether a small town in New York can start the vast majority of their board meetings with a Christian
prayer. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has already agreed with plaintiffs that the prayers constitute an impermissible entanglement with religion, breaching the wall between church and state if you will. So why did the High Court agree to take a look? It’s a little frightening to think that the Supremes might want to weaken the wall, but what else could they have in mind? The High Court has delivered controversial and conf licting rulings on the separation of church and state over the last decades. Most recently, in 2005, the justices
threw everyone for a loop by ruling that a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Texas Capitol was fine, while another one at a Kentucky courthouse (or somewhere like that) was unconstitutional. Oh, they had their reasons. But let’s just say that the one-two combo did not result in a coherent legal rationale. In view of the existing mess, you have to wonder what they’re up to now. arostow@aol.com
(SISTER DANA SEZ continued from page 13) Attending as special g uests were representatives from the Nationa l L esbia n a nd Gay Jou r na l ist s A ssoc iat ion, a s wel l a s h i stor ic queer med ia , i nc lud i ng Ach e: A Journal for L esbians of Af r ican Descent (1989-1993); the Bay Area Reporter (publishing since 1971); “Fruit Punch” on KPFA Radio (1973-1995); “ T he Gay Life” on KS A N Radio (1977-1984); T he Ladder: A Lesbian Review (1956 -1972); San Francisco Bay Times ( publishing since 1978 and the oldest fully LGBT funded , ow ned a nd oper ated paper in the Bay A rea); the syndicated t ransgender column “Transm iss ion s” ( publ i sh i ng s i nce 20 0 0); and Trikone Magazine ( publishing since 1986). PROJECT INFOR M believes it is possible to create the f irst generat ion free of H I V and hepat itis C within the next decade. To ach ieve t hat d rea m, t hey focus their work in four areas: drug development, bio -med ica l prevent ion, educat ion, and health care access. Project Inform encourages t he development of better treatment s a nd c u res for bot h H I V and Hepat it is C. They advocate for i n novat ive, med ica l ly-ba sed prevent ion st rateg ies, prov id ing up -to - date, l i fe-sav ing infor mat ion to help people l iv i ng w it h H I V a nd Hep C ma ke t he best choices regarding their treatment and care. And they press governments to set pol icies and assure u n l i m it e d a c c e s s t o a f for d able health care that will one day end t he H I V a nd Hep C epidem ics. Producers Henr y Lucero, Christopher Berini, and Emi ly Ma r i ko - Sa nder s presented t he EV ENING OF HOP E - A N IGH T OF L IF E S AV I NG FA S HION f u nd r a i ser for PI at Metreon Cit y View. Fash ion ista Hek l i na, d ressed in puss-pr int micro-mini and big big platinum w ig, was mistress of ceremonies, enter t a i n i ng w it h her eight d iver se (old, you ng, fat , t h i n) urba n/ st r eet ba c k up d a nc er s to “Eaten A live.” Later she and her g a ng wou ld ret u r n to s i ng a nd dance proudly to “Proud Mary.” T he hei ght of t he even i ng w a s a f abu lou s C on dom C out u r e Fa s h i o n S h o w, w i t h m o d e l s work ing t he r unway in desig ner haute cout ure condom gow ns fashioned from fabr ic, shiny foil packs of condoms, and condoms t hemselves i n a l l color s. T h ree of my faves had a gorge rainbow
Check out
bustle and train of condoms; exaggerated epau let s of gold condom w rappers; and a man r ight out of Mad Max Thunderdome in black leather and black condoms. Hot! E xec ut ive D i rector Da n a Va n G or de r a n nou nc ed t h at n i ght they had raised $200,000, which does not count funds ra ised t hrough t he auct ions br i l l ia nt ly barked out by Lenny Broberg. Dana spoke of his recent cancer scare, hav ing recovered and become more energ i zed t ha n ever to f ight aga inst H I V/A I DS a nd He p C . “ We c ont i nue to pr es s for wa rd w it h a g reater sense of urgency,” he said. He lauded the original founder, the late Martin Delaney. P roject I n for m honored four of their staf f, David Evans, A lan McCord , A nd rew Rey nolds, and A nne Donnelly. They pres e nt e d t he T hom a s M . K e l le y L eadership Award to K at h leen C l a n o n , M . D. , UC S F D i v i s ion of H I V/A I D S a k a Wa r d 86, East Bay A IDS Project, and Organizat ion to Achieve So lut ion s i n Subst a nce - A bu se aka OASIS. Board Chair Christopher Esposito announced PI wou ld be a lead benef ic i a r y i n next year’s A IDS Walk San Francisco. CUMMING UP! P ROJ ECT N U N WAY V: DIS SIDENT FUTURES brings THE SIST E R S OF P E R P ET UA L INDULGENCE’s annual fashion gala back to the place of its glorious birth in the grandest fashion, feat ur i ng emcee Ja ne Wied l i n of The Go- Go’s, Sister Roma, and g uest judge Pandora Box x of RuPaul’s D rag R ace. Bay A rea funketeers, Planet Boot y, Honey Mahogany, and SpacEKraf T will pr ov ide t he s ou ndt r a c k a s t he Sisters turn out their best sashay and shantay, bedecked in original h igh-fash ion (and h igh- concept) looks created from recycled mater ia ls in col laborat ion w it h lo c a l des ig ner s. Si ster Da na w i l l be modeling his look from Trash MashUp designs. Worrrrk! Saturday, November 2nd, 7pm, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission Street. ybca.org. T H E R I TA H AY WO R T H O F T H I S G E N E R AT IO N i s w r itten and per for med by Mex ican-
Italian actor, play wright, performance coach, and award winning c o - s c r eenw r it er Ti n a D’ E l i a , directed by Mar y Guzmán, Wednesdays and Thursdays, November 6t h t h rough November 21st , 8 pm at T he G a r a g e, 715 Br yant at 5th Street, 715br yant. org, (415) 518 -1517. A one-woman wow! C E L E B R AT I O N O F L I F E i n honored and loving memory of the iconic and extraord inar y legacy of San Francisco’s beloved STE V EN R ASCHER, Emperor XVI A fter Nor ton of Sa n Fra ncisco, is Saturday, November 2nd, The A RC, 180 11th Street at Howard, 6 -9 pm. Per Steven’s request: no mourning attire; instead a happy, stylish & fun-f illed celebration. Ve lvet R a g e P r o duc t ion s pr es e n t s “F R I E N D S : T H E O N E W H E R E E V E R Y B O DY ’ S I N DR AG! ” Don’t miss t heir latest production, 5 weeks only, starring Heklina, D’A rcy Drol linger, L eig h Crow, Na nc y Frenc h , Gerri Lawlor, and Steven LeMay. Must end November 21st. Rebel, 176 0 M a rket at Oct av ia S t r e e t . Tw o s h o w s n i g h t l y e ver y We d ne s d ay, 7 a nd 9 pm . friendsliveeventbrite.com. N F L punter Ch r is K luwe was one of t he f i r st pro -footba l l players to st a nd up for LGBTQ r ight s, a nd he w rote a now-legendar y letter defending his football buddy Brendon Ayanbadejo when Brendon wa s at t acked by Mar yland state delegate Emmett C. Burns, Jr. Join Chris, NCLR’s E xecut ive D i rector K ate K en dell, and Senior Legislative and Policy Strategist Geof f Kors for an evening of cocktails, fun, and lot s of fo otba l l pu n s at NC L R M E N ’ S N I G H T. T h i s e v e n t is not just for men; ever yone is welcome a nd encouraged to attend. Wednesday, November 6th, 6 -8pm, Infusion Lounge, 124 Ellis Street. RSV P by November 5 to Da n i Sirag usa at DSirag usa@NCLRights.org. Po r n o c o p i a : f l i c k p i c k o f t h e week: Diversion, titanmen.com. Sister Dana sez, “Contrary to their motto, Virginia is NOT for lovers - if yer queer - cuz Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli wants to ban same-sex marriage and make oral sex a felony. Seriously?!”
News, Entertainment and more in the
BayTimes CALENDAR & RESOURCE GUIDE at www.sfbaytimes.com
22
BAY TIMES OCTO B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 3
Round About – All Over Town
Musical Director for Norm Lewis, Darius Frowner; Bay Area Cabaret founder Academy of Friends’ Christopher Berini and Matthew Marilyn Levinson; and Associate Producer Michael Williams, surround Denckla at the AOF Beneficiary Announcement Party at Broadway star Norm Lewis (2nd from right) at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel where Bay Area Cabaret performances are held in the historic Venetian Sui Generis in the Castro. (Photo by Rink) Room. (Photo by Ayana Baltrip Balagas)
Fiorello’s Artisan Gelato’s staff members welcomed attendees at Mill Valley Film Festival 36 (Photo by Steven Underhill)
Howard Edelman, AOF board chair, and Alice Espindola, Gala Cahir, addressed the crowd gathered at Sui Generis for the AOF Beneficiary Announcement Party. (Photo by Rink)
Representing the 2014 Academy of Friends Gala beneficiaries at Sui Generis were Rachel Hill, Shanti Project; Anita Chorda, Project Open Hand; Michael Smithwick, Maitri; Ian Stanley, Napa LGBT Connection; and Vidal Antonio Lopez, Clinica Esperanza. (Photo by Rink)
Dallas Buyers Club star Jared Leto arrives for the screening at Mill Valley Film Festival 36. Leto is a member of the band Thirty Seconds to Mars. (Photo by Steven Underhill)
City College’s Rafael Mandelman with Castro Community on Patrol’s Brian Hill, Greg Carey and Dan Estabrook with Supervisor David Campos and the proclamation of honor presented at CCP’s 7th Anniversary Reception at Magnet. (Photo by Rink)
Andizea and Atabria served gourmet cookies from Alfajores Bakery in Oakland at the annual Art for AIDS benefit for UCSF’s Alliance Health Project held at the Metreon. (Photo by Rink)
Volunteer Eric Fura at the Art for AIDS beneift. (Photo by Rink)
Mill Valley Film Festival 36 officials and featured guests at the Opening Night Reception. (Photo by Steven Underhill)
Hon. James Hormel, ALRP’s Bill Hirsh and Dan Bernal of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s office at the AIDS Legal Referral Panel Reception held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom. (Photo by Rink)
Roma Guy, Supervisor David Campos and Kate Monica Klein at the Campos for Assembly Campaign Kickoff at Blackbird Bar. (Photo by Rink)
Terrance Alan, Senator Mark Leno, Supervisor Scott Wiener and Mark Rennie at Wiener’s re-election campaign kickoff held at Beaux bar. (Photo by Rink)
Project Runway’s Mondo with photographer Duane Cramer at the Project Inform Evening of Hope fashion event held at the Metreon. (Photo by Rink) BAY T IM ES O C TO BER 31, 2013
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