San Francisco Bay Times - April 21, 2016 by San Francisco Bay Times

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PHOTO COURTESY OF PROJECT OPEN HAND

April 21-May 4, 2016 | www.sfbaytimes.com

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In the News

Compiled by Dennis McMillan Supervisor Wiener Announces Legislation to Ban Public Spending in States with LGBT Hate Laws Supervisor Scott Wiener is drafting legislation to prohibit City spending in states that have passed LGBT hate laws. The legislation would statutorily ban city sponsored travel to states with LGBT discriminatory laws, codifying Mayor Edwin Lee’s executive order. It would additionally make San Francisco the first jurisdiction to ban city-funded contracting with companies that are headquartered in these states and would ban purchases of goods and services produced in these states. Supervisor Wiener is collaborating with Mayor Lee on this legislation. sfgov.org Activists Urged to Take Annual LGBT Community Survey Participating in the 10th Annual LGBT Community Survey study helps open doors and minds around the world, and influences positive changes for the LGBTQ community. Previous surveys have yielded 45,000 respondents from 150 countries. The ten to twelve minute survey can be found online at http://survey.communitymarketinginc.com/se.ashx?s=359 D342B515CFBDF&CMID=170 Transgender Law Center, Equality California Launch ‘Transform California’ Campaign Transgender Law Center is partnering with Equality California and a coalition of organizations for the launch of Transform California, a statewide public education campaign to raise awareness, understanding and acceptance of transgender and gender nonconforming Californians. Transgender Law Center Executive Director Kris Hayashi said, “We are joining together in a commitment to make California a place where all transgender and gender nonconforming people can feel safe and live free from discrimination.” The statewide launch celebration in Los Angeles was held on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall and was attended by more than 50 coalition members. transgenderlawcenter.org International Humanitarian Organization Publishes First-ofits-Kind Glossary of Terminology for LGBTQ Individuals San Francisco-based Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM), a leading international nonprofit organization devoted to advocating on behalf of the world’s most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers, has released a first-of-its-kind glossary of terminology to assist humanitarian professionals to communicate with people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. The comprehensive, 124-page glossary entitled, “Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression: Essential Terminology for the Humanitarian Sector,” contains the most appropriate and culturally sensitive terms for communicating with LGBTQ individuals. The glossary is written in five languages to ensure its availability in key cultures and locations. oraminternational.org CDC Confirms Gay Sex Can Spread the Zika Virus Men can contract Zika through unprotected sex with other men who are infected with the virus, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said—a finding that adds to experts’ understanding of how Zika can be transmitted. It was only the second reported case of sexual transmission of Zika ever, and the first in which sexual spread of the virus was observed between two men. While

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gay men who want to avoid Zika infection should take note, the lesson here applies to both men and women: Zika infection can be contracted through unprotected anal sex. statnews.com Mayors Form AntiDiscrimination Group in Response to Hate Laws Mayors from around the country are forming a group called “Mayors Against Discrimination” in the wake of recent North Carolina and Mississippi laws they say are discriminatory. The coalition that includes mayors from San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Philadelphia and other cities plans to explore prohibitions on contracting and purchasing from companies in those states in response to the new laws, which critics say discriminate against LGBT people. Mississippi recently passed a law allowing religious groups and some private businesses to refuse service to gay couples. The North Carolina law prevents specific anti-discrimination rules for gay and transgender people for public accommodations and restroom use. edgemedianetwork.com Westboro Bigots Protest at NBA Finals Over League’s Policy Against Gay Slurs The Westboro Baptist bigots brought their special brand of hate to game three of the NBA Finals to protest the league’s policy against gay slurs. Members of the Topeka, Kansasbased church demonstrated outside American Airlines Center in Dallas, displaying their familiar “God hates fags” posters, along with others that included NBA Commissioner David Stern’s photo. The anti-gay extremists were protesting a new NBA policy that prohibits the use of hate speech, including gay slurs. lgbtqnation.com Vow of Silence Taken in Support of LGBT Anti-bullying Crusade This year, the National Day of Silence was observed nationwide last Friday. Since 1996, the goal of the annual National Day of Silence has been to illustrate the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBTQ students. According to the “Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) 2013 National School Climate Survey,” nearly nine out of 10 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school, and more than 30 percent report missing at least one day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. theagencyatbb.com Supervisor Wiener Introduces LGBT Data Collection Legislation to Improve Support for Queer Community Supervisor Scott Wiener introduced legislation to require City departments to collect LGBT data that will help target and improve services and policies to support the LGBT population in San Francisco. The ordinance requires City departments and contractors providing health care and social services to seek, collect and analyze data concerning the sexual orientation and gender identity of the clients they serve. Clients have the right not to provide the data. The legislation was a recommendation by the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force, which was created by gay supervisors Wiener and David Campos in 2012. (See page 10 of this issue for more information.) sfgov.org Better, More Frequent SFMTA Service Coming On April 23, SF Municipal (continued on page 22)

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Do Endorsements Matter? Home Sharer’s Democratic Club. The point is that the club attempts to represent the interests of their stated constituency, and uses those interests as a litmus test for endorsing candidates or doing grassroots activism for specific causes.

Do Ask, Do Tell Zoe Dunning “Endorsed by the San Francisco Democratic Party,” or “Endorsed by the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club.” What does such a statement mean, and does it carry any weight? Why do candidates and ballot proposition advocates care so much about endorsements? Since registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a ratio of more than 6 to 1, it is safe to say Democrats run this city and heavily influence the outcomes of every election, even non-partisan races. With over 30 chartered Democratic Clubs, the County of San Francisco has perhaps the highest number of clubs per capita of any other county in the state, if not the country. So what does a Democratic Club do, exactly? Well, it is generally a community of Democrats with something in common, who wish to have their policy priorities recognized and supported by the party and elected officials. It may be an LGBT Democratic Club, or one that represents African Americans, or a neighborhood club such as the Bernal Heights Club, or a special interest like the

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The power of endorsement–along with the money to publish “slate cards” guiding voters how to vote– and a field organization to distribute literature and to do the visibility and canvassing for their endorsed candidates are the primary ways Democratic Clubs inf luence elections in the city. Not all clubs are created equal, though. Some are able to raise funds to buy ads and to distribute multiple mail pieces for their endorsed candidates. The Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, for example, raises money through its annual Pride Breakfast. Other clubs may endorse, but have less means to get the word out to help their candidates. For these reasons, Alice and the San Francisco Democratic Party (represented by the DCCC), two of the best funded and most recognizable endorsement bodies, are arguably the most coveted endorsements in the city. That is why this year’s DCCC race is so competitive: 60 candidates, including 21 current or former elected officials, are running for 24 seats. The moderates and progressives each seek a majority to control the power of the “Endorsed by the San Francisco Democratic Party” seal of approval. In addition to the DCCC, the clubs are also crucial, and their names don’t always give away their political leaning or how they will endorse. (continued on page 22)

Financial Uncertainty and Labor Unrest at City College, Fighting Democrats, and Soiree 2016 in Review budget; (4) is maintaining appropriate fiscal reserves; and (5) had adopted a plan to address long-term liabilities, including post-employment benefits.

A San Francisco Kind of Democrat Rafael Mandelman City College Update On April 4, the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) released its report on City College’s revenues. FCMAT had prepared the report for the State Community College Chancellor’s office as required under SB 860, Senator Mark Leno’s legislation that secured additional funding to help cushion the financial blow to the College that would have otherwise resulted from its unprecedented loss of enrollment during the recent accreditation crisis. Leno’s bill provided for three years of so-called “stabilization” funding, but his colleagues in the Senate had insisted that the third year be contingent on the College successfully demonstrating it had achieved a set of specific financial benchmarks. Specifically, the College had to demonstrate that it: (1) had implemented effective fiscal controls and systems; (2) had adopted prudent fiscal policies and practices; (3) is applying resources in accordance with an approved

The good news is that FCM AT found that the College has met the required benchmarks to qualify for a third year of stabilization funding. The bad news is that stabilization funding will end after the 2016–17 fiscal year, at which point the College will be facing the loss of approximately $25 million dollars each year going forward unless and until it can significantly restore its lost enrollment. Meanwhile, the College and its faculty union remain distressingly far apart on terms for a contract. There is certainly agreement on all sides that the College needs to increase faculty and staff compensation, but the two sides appear to be nowhere near agreement on what the College can afford in light of the looming loss of so much State funding. After the California State University system recently settled its faculty contract through a fact-finding process, I was optimistic that City College might be able to follow a similar path to a negotiated agreement. With the faculty union now calling for a strike on April 27, prior to completion of factfinding, I am a bit less optimistic, but still hopeful that the two sides will soon somehow find our way to resolution. The Battle for the DCCC The local Democratic County Central Committee election is getting a little more media attention than usual this year, largely because of all the

big names running for a seat on the body. California Democratic Party Chair John Burton is running, as are former Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, former Supervisors Angela Alioto and Sophie Maxwell and nine of the eleven current members of the Board of Supervisors. And, for good measure, there are four current School Board members running and two College Board members running as well, including yours truly. With control of the local Democratic Party (and its much-coveted endorsement) at stake, the pro-business and progressive factions of the local Party have both clearly gone all out to recruit candidates with high name recognition in hopes, on the “moderate” side, of retaining control of the Party, and on the progressive side, of shifting control to the Left. The Democratic Party endorsement is arguably the most influential in our one-party town, and was an important ingredient in the successful 2008 Supervisor campaigns of Eric Mar in District 1, David Campos in District 9 and John Avalos in District 11. With term limits opening up those seats again this year, the Democratic Party endorsement could again be the margin of victory in one or more of those races. Soiree 2016 a Success! The LGBT Center’s Soiree 2016 at Terra Gallery on April 9 was a smashing success, raising more than $100,000 for the Center’s programs and services. The entertainment, curated by the one and only Juanita MORE!, was delightful, and the speaking program was, in my view, just about the right length. Senator Mark Leno reflected on the efforts of (continued on page 22)

Legendary Photographer Rink’s Work Featured in New York Exhibit San Francisco Bay Times photographer Rink, who has been photographing LGBT events in the city since the late 60’s, has a work featured in the major new exhibit, “The 1970s: The Blossoming of a Queer Enlightenment.” The exhibit is on view until June 26 at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art in New York, NY. The exhibit explores the decade between the Stonewall Riots in 1969 up to 1980, when we heard the first rumblings about the pandemic that changed the nature of sexual relationships to the present day.

“This was an amazing period in gay history,” Museum Director Hunter O’Hanian said. “It was informed by the sexual revolution, anti-war efforts and the civil rights movement, which fermented in the 1960s. Feminists clearly found their voice during this period. It was an age when gay men, lesbians and trans folk began to look inward and saw they could possibly free themselves from the social repression that had been forced on them for decades.” He continued, “It was the awakening of a new period of enlightenment in human and social development. The scent of political and personal

freedom was everywhere. One only had to stop and look for it. Culture, fashion, politics and a greater sense of one’s own sexuality exploded on a daily basis.” Rink’s image is one of 115 works in the exhibit that includes the entire “X Portfolio” by Robert Mapplethorpe. Rink’s image documents a noteworthy moment in our history: the first time that a large, organized group of lesbians marched in what was later known as the San Francisco Pride Parade. Rink actually helped to make that happen, having previously invited his friend Harvey Milk to a meeting, where Milk

persuaded the parade committee to welcome lesbian participation. We congratulate Rink on this achievement, and for the honor of inclusion in the exhibit. For more information: https://www.leslielohman.org/ exhibitions/current.html

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San Francisco LGBT Data Collection Legislation This information would greatly assist the city and the nonprofits that serve LGBT clients to quantify and better track the needs of our LGBT population and to identify how well programs are responding to those needs. This legislation was first proposed by the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force in their final report, “Aging at the Golden Gate,” March 2014.

Aging in Community Marcy Adelman On April 12, Supervisor Scott Wiener introduced legislation that, if passed, would mandate five city departments to collect voluntary information on the sexual orientation and gender identity of their clients whenever demographic data is collected. Currently, city departments collect voluntary information on race, ethnicity and gender, but only two departments consistently collect sexual orientation and gender identity data. These are the Department of Aging and Adult Services and the Department of Public Health. The proposed legislation before the Board of Supervisors was assigned to committee for a thirty-day review. It will then be sent back to the full board for adoption in early May. If passed, the legislation would require the Department of Public Health; the Department of Aging and Adult Services; the Department of Human Services; the Department of Children, Youth and their Families; and the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development to collect and analyze sexual orientation and gender identity data.

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“The LGBT Aging Policy Task Force agreed that the city begin asking LGBT questions wherever other data is being collected,” said Tom Nolan, Special Projects Liaison to the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force. “So much of what we know about LGBT seniors is largely of an anecdotal nature. Supervisor Wiener’s legislation will go a long way toward making sure that appropriate vital services are addressed in ways that work for our community.” If passed, the departments will have two years to achieve compliance. The state of California and New York have both passed sexual orientation and gender identity data collection legislation. In October 2015, California passed the LGBT Disparities Reduction Act, authored by Assemblyman David Chiu. In 2014, eight New York state agencies began voluntary data collection of LGBT people who use their services. “The LGBT community faces disproportionate challenges regarding poverty, suicide, isolation, substance abuse, and violence,” said Supervisor Wiener. “We need to improve our outreach and support to all members of our community, particularly the most vulnerable. Data collection would help us improve services for many underserved and disadvantaged parts of our populations. With this information, our city can better serve our LGBT community.”

More on this important legislation in May. Marcy Adelman, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice, is co-founder of the non-profit organization Openhouse and was a leading member of the San Francisco LGBT Aging Policy Task Force.

LGBT Resources for Seniors • Openhouse: 415-296-8995 openhouse-sf.org/ • Family Caregiver Alliance: 415-434-3388 www.caregiver.org • Institute on Aging: 415-7504111, www.ioaging.org/ • National Resource Center on LGBT Aging www.lgbtagingcenter.org/ • Project Open Hand San Francisco: Nutrition Services, 415-447-2300 www.openhand.org/ • SAGE: 212-741-2247 www.sageusa.org/about/ • Shanti Project, Inc: HIV Services and Life Threatening Illnesses, 415-674-4700 www.shanti.org/ Alzheimer’s Association Programs and Services: • 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-2723900, www.alz.org/norcal/; Online Community: www.alzheimersblog.org/lgbt-forum • Memory Clinic, Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center: 408-530-6900, mydoctor.kaiserpermanente. org/ncal/facilities/region/ santaclara/area_master/departments/memoryclinic/index.jsp

PHOTO BY RINK

as h e Larr y H h honore ont Hotel for Staff and volunteers at the Castro Street Fair it w y ft u Fairm evan D Emcee B his award at The . d on n e a h r c e n lu rg a d b p en H an O t c je ro aP

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In anticipation of Project Open Handâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upcoming Taste of the City benefit, we compiled a collection of images from our files. Some are by our legendary photographer Rink. Others were provided recently or in previous years by the staff at Project Open Hand. Some are from related videos available now on YouTube. One is an historic black and white photo showing Project Open Hand founder Ruth Brinker and a chef busily preparing meals. We hope to see you on Thursday, May 5, at San Francisco City Hall for Taste of the City in support of this important organization that provides services to many LGBT community members and others throughout our city.

A volunteer serves up pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.

Ruth Brinker and Chef

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Project Open Hand Nourishes Both Body and Soul In 1985, a San Francisco grandmother and retired food-service worker named Ruth Brinker began to prepare meals for seven of her neighbors with AIDS. She had witnessed so much suffering, isolation and malnutrition. To combat all three, she regularly brought meals to her neighbors’ homes, along with a friendly smile, an encouraging word, and a healthy dose of love. Others heard about what she was doing, and requests began pouring in. Brinker put out a call for volunteers and, with this, founded Project Open Hand, one of our community’s most needed and important non-profits.

and an exclusive dinner at a top San Francisco restaurant. After dinner, guests are then chauffeured back to City Hall for yummy desserts, cocktails and an after party. Longtime San Francisco Bay Times contributor and drag performer Pollo Del Mar will be one of the event’s auctioneers. “Project Open Hand’s long history of work with San Francisco’s most vulnerable is so necessary—and incredibly inspiring,” Del Mar said. “It’s an honor to help increase awareness of the organization’s incredible contributions and raise the much-needed funds to allow its staff to continue providing delicious, healthy, balanced meals to our city’s low-income, disabled, at-risk and in need.”

Project Open Hand’s provided services later expanded, such that the organization now helps to feed seniors and people fighting cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many other serious illnesses. At present, new applications are accepted Drag performer MGM Grande from those suffering from HIV or breast cancer. will also be one of the auctionEven with that limitation, the level of outreach eers. is extraordinary and extends into the East Bay, where the organization has a Grocery Center. “Project Open Hand has been Project Open Hand’s volunteers and workers feeding people in need for 30 MGM Grande prepare 2,500 nutritious meals daily and years,” MGM Grande said. “I’m proud to say provide 200 bags of healthy groceries evthat I used to be a client and received their serery day to help sustain clients. More vices. I’m excited to be a part of Taste of than 125 volunteers work to make all the City this year to draw much needof that effort possible. ed funds as well as awareness to this We at the San Francisco Bay Times cause.” therefore jumped at the chance All funds raised by this event will help to help with outreach for ProjProject Open Hand to continue to proect Open Hand’s signature benevide nutritious meals with love to those fit, “Taste of the City,” which will be who need them the most. The generous and held on May 5 starting at 5:30 pm. caring vision of Brinker, who passed away in This event is a fun and exciting culi2011 at age 89, can therefore carry on if we nary experience that brings those with help to keep this wonderful organization goan appetite for philanthropy to some ing now, and well into the future. of San Francisco’s finest chefs’ tables. Taste of the City begins at San FranFor more information about Taste of the City cisco City Hall with an inspirational and to purchase tickets, please visit http:// program and live auction, followed www.openhand.org/events/taste-city-2016 by complimentary transportation

Roxie’s Story By Tara Blake

When like-minded people come together and collaborate, powerful things can happen. Our fearless founder, Ruth Brinker, proved that over 30 years ago when she started Project Open Hand by cooking meals for her HIV+ friends who were too weak to cook for themselves. Here we are, 31 years later; our team is still chock-full of persevering and passionate minds battling food injustice every day. After 31 years of work, we still hear clients’ stories that completely shake us. As an HIV+ woman of color, Roxie knows what it means to struggle. She has undergone circumstances that have completely derailed her, but she has still managed to build an incredibly powerful reputation for grit. Roxie was born in Tijuana, Mexico, and lived there for eight years before coming to the U.S. with her mother and five sisters. Once they arrived in Los Angeles, her mother left Roxie and her sisters in separate parks throughout the city. She was placed in foster care, and shifted from home to home

Pollo Del Mar

throughout L.A. During the years of shuffle, she met an incredible mentor who wanted to adopt her, but was unable to because he was gay. Roxie says, “I would have had a great dad. It was the only great experience I had in foster care. I’ve encountered everything from sexual to emotional abuse while being in the foster care system, but never from him.” Once she was emancipated at age 17, Roxie was determined to continue her education and joined Job Corps, a trade school where she studied business and medical clerical work. She was two years into her career when she contracted AIDS. The years following, Roxie found herself battling homelessness, violence, and the stigma of being a positive Trans Latina. Her diagnosis eventually left her too weak to walk, so she turned to Larkin Street Youth Services for help and her case manager immediately referred her to Project Open Hand. Roxie says, “At that time in my life, I wouldn’t have been eating at all if I didn’t have Proj-

ect Open Hand. I couldn’t even get out of bed. If food wasn’t brought to me, I would have died. After becoming a client, I was slowly able to re-gain healthy weight.” She began to meet regularly with a nutritionist at Project Open Hand, in addition to receiving groceries and delivered meals. Before Project Open Hand, Roxie said she would go weeks without eating, stressing that the side effects of her medicine were unbearable without food. She continues, “Imagine hearing, ‘I don’t care that you’re Trans or gay. Here’s this meal.’ For people who are feeling lost, depressed, confused in this world, and not knowing when they’re going to eat next, that meal literally changes everything.” Roxie is now in her late 20’s, back on her feet, and working to help those with backgrounds similar to hers. She concludes, “All I ever got from Project Open Hand was love. I was never judged, and people actually wanted to talk to me there. I was acknowledged as a human being, and that can change someone’s entire world. It was indescribable, and it still moves me to this day.” Our community needs an example of what it means not to give up. Roxie is that example, and Project Open Hand will continue mobilizing our neighbors in order to help more people just like her.

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Tara Blake is the Marketing Communications Officer at Project Open Hand.

Hope, Perspective and a Chance for Renewed Energy at Project Open Hand By Mark Ryle, LCSW Last Tuesday I was delivering hot meals on one of our Tenderloin walking routes. My last client didn’t answer her door after several tries, which was unusual for her. I worried as I walked down the stairs, but just as I landed on the first f loor, our client called out to me from the front door: “Hey! I was outside. It is such a beautiful day!” I smiled almost as broadly as she did, grateful for her perspective and energy. Springtime brings hope, perspective and a chance for renewed energy. As we gear up for our annual gala, Taste of the City, I see that, although it is only April, this year has already brought much transformation to Project Open Hand. I am so very proud of where we are, and excited about where we are going. In March, I became the sole CEO with the support of a dedicated board, passionate vol- Mark Ryle unteers and committed staff. Working alongside Simon Pitchford as co-CEO for the last twelve months allowed me to effect a strong transition and to begin to build our next 3-year strategic plan. We maintain our steadfast commitment to the HIV community on numerous fronts, including our successful advocacy for increased Ryan White program funding, allowing us to serve more HIV+ clients. And as our HIV+ clients age, they begin to face other significant health challenges. We eagerly bring our passion and the skills of our 30 years of fighting critical illness to bear this new context and stand by our clients as they thrive into their senior years. Additionally, our groundbreaking “Food = Medicine” pilot study demonstrated the powerful impact of our complete nutritional intervention for people with critical illnesses. This research proves our medically tailored meals program significantly reduces hospital stays and emergency room utilization while increasing our clients’ adherence to their medical treatments. Based on this initial success, we are

Participating Restaurants at Project Open Hand’s Taste of the City 2016 Our thanks go to the talented and generous chefs and staff at these highly rated restaurants that will be a part of Project Open Hand’s “Taste of the City” fundraiser this year. They include: 1760 Alta Bar Agricole Boulettes Larder Cadence SF Contigo Luce

Nob Hill Club at The Mark Hopkins Palio D’Asti Piperade Scala Starbelly The Progress Tosca Cafe

entering a second phase of research specifically focused on critically ill HIV+ clients. Alongside this progress, we face significant challenges. While we remain fully committed to nourishing the most vulnerable among us, as of early April, we have suspended applications for new clients with critical illnesses other than HIV and breast cancer. Current Project Open Hand clients, no matter their diagnoses, will not be affected by this change. We are proud to have expanded our programs to assist neighbors with critical illnesses outside of HIV+ and breast cancer, because we have seen firsthand the positive medical impact our nutrition services. However, the need for our services in expanded populations has proven tremendous, as the number of new applications is greater than we have seen since 1996. Our founder Ruth Brinker faced this same challenge back in 1985 when she began providing her “meals with love” to very sick friends and neighbors. Within months, the demand for services grew 500%. She would be proud that we once again take up the challenge to help those in desperate need for nutrition. We are committed to finding more support for our mission, including engaging other segments of our community through upcoming local events. Our second annual Taste of the City gala, to be held on May 5, will provide both an exciting culinary experience at iconic San Francisco restaurants as well as opportunities for involvement in Project Open Hand’s work. Constantly energized and inspired by our clients, we work every day to ensure they have the means not just to survive, but also to thrive. Without the support of our donors, volunteers, and advocates, we could not persevere on the front lines of this mission. I am humbled by, and grateful for, their assistance, and look forward to working alongside them through all we have left to achieve together. Mark Ryle, LCSW, is the CEO of Project Open Hand.

Project Open Hand Upcoming Events By Tara Blake Our event calendar is at full capacity this year, and there are a wide variety of opportunities to support Project Open Hand’s meals with love, while having fun experiences throughout the Bay Area. We kick off with our annual gala, Taste of the City, to be held on May 5. Starting at 5:30 pm at San Francisco City Hall, this benefit brings those with an appetite for philanthropy to the city’s finest restaurants for a unique culinary experience. Guiding the reception program are two iconic Bay Area drag personalities, Pollo Del Mar and MGM Grande, so guests can count on a fun and lively evening. Reception tickets are still available for purchase at openhand.org/events Or, you could opt to enjoy the city’s scenic offerings, by participating in AIDS Walk San Francisco! We’re looking for walkers of every stripe to join us on July 17 in Golden Gate Park. Participants not only support the work of Project Open Hand, but also help out many other HIV/AIDS service organizations in the Bay Area. More adventurous types should join us on July 23–24 for the Avon 39 Walk to End Breast Cancer.

The two-day event begins and ends in San Francisco, by way of an overnight base camp in Marin County. For the athletes among us, registration is officially open for the 2016 Giant Race on September 11. Fundraise-to-run for Project Open Hand and get free registration and great prizes! Cristina Solorio, one of our top Giant Race fundraisers, is already in training mode. Equally excited about the race and supporting Project Open Hand, Cristina says, “I run for Project Open Hand because their food is nutrition based. As a trainer, I know it’s not just about the workout; it’s about what you’re putting in your body and Project Open Hand chefs are very conscious of what they’re putting in clients’ meals.” Our jam-packed schedule ends on a sweet note with the Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival on September 10 –11. The Ghirardelli Square festivities include chocolate of all kinds, specialty coffees, ice cream, wine and more—plus 100% of the profits are donated to Project Open Hand! Full details for all events are listed at openhand.org/events BAY T IM ES APR IL 21, 2016

Can Meditation Help with My Depression? be able to teach the practice to many psychotherapy patients. Not everyone takes to it, but those who do practice regularly almost always experience profound improvements in their well-being. What I’ve seen is validated by an avalanche of recent research. More and more data is showing that regular meditation practice positively alters brain chemistry. Here are just a few of the documented effects:

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Q: I’ve been dogged by times of really intense depression for most of my life. Anti-depressants have helped some, and I’ve been in and out of therapy for years, but it’s still a struggle. I know you’ve written about meditation in the past. Do you think it could help me with my depression? I’ve tried doing it a few times and it wasn’t very easy to do, but I’m willing to work at it if it can make me feel better. A: I should admit to a strong personal bias here. Over twenty years ago, after a devastating break-up with a partner, I learned to practice mindfulness meditation. The positive effects on my mood were immediate and profound. I’ve been a regular meditator ever since. I’ve also been privileged to

1. Meditation helps the body release serotonin (the so-called ‘happy neurotransmitter’) by inhibiting activity in the stress-producing regions of the brain: the amygdala and the right prefrontal cortex. It also increases activity in the calming region of the brain: the left prefrontal cortex. 2. Another neurotransmitter, GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) plays the principal role in reducing neuronal excitability and inducing a state of calm. People with addictions typically have low levels of GABA, and deficiencies in this chemical can create many other problems, including anxiety, hyperactivity, racing thoughts, and sleeplessness. Recent research suggests that meditation practice stimulates the production of this vital chemical, and thereby improves attentional performance and emotional regulation. 3. Endorphins are hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system

that have an analgesic effect. Joggers have coined the term “runners high” to describe the endorphin rush that follows a long run. Research shows that meditation is also highly effective in raising endorphin levels. 4. Meditation can measurably decrease cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol makes us more alert and able to respond to emergencies, but when we’re under chronic stress, this chemical destroys healthy muscle and bone, causes inflammation, and leads to anxiety, depression, increased blood pressure, brain fog, and insomnia, to name just a few of its negative effects. Recent research at UC Davis showed remarkable decreases in cortisol levels within only a few short weeks of regular meditation practice. (This may be one of the reasons that meditation practice has been shown to decrease cravings in people recovering from addictions.) All of these f indings indicate that meditation can have great value in stabilizing mood, lowering stress and decreasing depression and anxiety. For treating depression specifically, psychologists have developed a form of therapy called Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which combines mindfulness meditation with traditional cognitive therapy. Part of this therapy involves meditating daily for thirty minutes. One

of the benefits of MBCT is that the practices can be taught in an eightweek class format, making it a highly cost-effective form of treatment. Some self-motivated patients can even master the practices completely on their own. The entire program is available in a book and accompanying CD, called The Mindful Way through Depression. I suggest you check it out. MBCT will require much more of your time and effort than taking a pill, or even going to therapy once a week, but I think you’ll find the effort will be worth your while. But meditation will only be only effective if you do it regularly, even if only for a few minutes daily. The best way to establish that habit is to take a meditation class or practice with a group that regularly sits together. Without support from others, it’s very difficult in this over-stimulated and overactive culture to establish consistent practice. Above all, be patient! Progress in meditation is measured in months and years, not days and weeks. The good news is that while the positive effects of meditation develop slowly, they are cumulative and reliable. Tom Moon is a psychotherapist in San Francisco. For more information, please visit his website http://tommoon.net/ or phone him directly at 415-626-1346.

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus -Tales of Our City Photos by Gareth Gooch

The Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, on Thursday and Friday, April 14 and 15, welcomed artistic director Dr. Tim Seelig and the SF Gay Men’s Chorus plus their special guest Armistead Maupin for Tales of the City - Out Lives, Our Heroes, a moving evening of music, song and story. Accompanying the Chorus was the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony and conductor Dawn Harms. Among the highlights of the program were selections from the song suite Naked Man and the musical tribute I Am Harvey Milk. SFGMC’s next concert, Heartthrobs: Biggest Boy Ban Ever, will be June 24 and 25 at the Nourse Theater. sfgmc.org

GLBT Fortnight in Review By Ann Rostow Big Victory For Trans Rights in the Fourth Circuit Sometimes change happens in a single dramatic moment, such as the moment the High Court ruled in favor of marriage last summer. Sometimes, like Sandburg’s fog, it comes on little cat feet. A president, who happens to be a constitutional lawyer, authorizes changes in agency policy. The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights determines that gender identity is protected as part of the category of “sex” in a 1975 civil rights statute. A federal appellate court, one step down from the nine Supremes, decides that this agency policy controls the law in an ambiguous setting. What do you get? Change, or at least a big step forward for transgender rights, and a hard slap in the face to politicians and others in power who would impose craziness on the young men and women of our public schools and universities who happen to be trans. On April 19, a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that a Virginia transgender boy, Gavin Grimm, could pursue his case against the Gloucester County School Board, and that Title IX should protect him from bathroom discrimination. The ruling overturned a lower court that had tossed Grimm’s case and upheld the district’s decision to force the boy into the girls’ room or a separate unisex toilet. The appellate majority decided that the Department of Education’s interpretation of Title IX was controlling law in this case, illustrating that these agency policy revisions are worth much more than the paper they’re written on. The decision puts teeth into the threat that states like North Carolina could indeed lose federal education funding if they persist in what is now, clearly, a violation of the famous law that prohibits sexism in education facilities and programs. It’s not just idle talk or speculation, my friend. A federal appellate court has now confirmed that Title IX covers gender identity in educational settings and forbids school authorities from sending transboys or transgirls to the outhouse. We’re also reminded of the fact that a different administration can still walk back agency policy. A Trump Justice Department could not just delete us again from Title IX, but could also reverse the EEOC’s determination that Title VII protects LGBT workers against bias as well. Indeed, the Fourth Circuit acknowledged that the guiding policy directive from the Department of Education represented administration policy rather than written law, but ruled that this policy controlled the outcome of the case nonetheless. Clearly a different administration could come up with a different policy that could become controlling law for a different appellate court. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen, my dear fellow voters. North Carolina Low Point So. The backlash against North Carolina’s new anti-GLBT law shows no sign of slowing down. Pearl Jam, Springsteen, Boston, Cirque du Soleil, Paypal, Deutsche Bank, and major cities across the country are canceling travel and investment plans. And while few of us have ever heard of the “High Point Furniture Market,” this six-day twice a year spectacle brings over five billion– billion with a “b”– dollars to the state’s economy. High Point is the largest convention for the international home furnishings industry, and has been operating for over a century. This month, the show will go on, of course,

but the money and participation are down thanks to HB2. Governor Pat McCrory has been haplessly pleading his case with various television interviewers, and recently signed an executive order protecting North Carolina’s state workers against gay bias. The order, which McCrory probably expected would mitigate the public outrage, was instead widely viewed as a Band-Aid over a gaping wound. A few days later, Louisiana’s new Democratic governor, Jon Bel Edwards, won praise for signing a similar order, a contrast that left McCrory sputtering in frustrated disbelief. As the last San Francisco Bay Times went to press, Mississippi became the second state to enact an antigay stat ute, passing a law that allows businesses and institutions to discriminate against citizens based on a religious belief in traditional marriage, traditional views of sexual morality and/or traditional views of gender. The negative reaction has been similar to what we’ve seen in North Carolina, but there are a couple of differences. First, Mississippi has nothing close to North Carolina’s high tech business environment. It’s not as if Apple will reconsider whether or not to put a software think tank in Hattiesburg. Second, this type of discrimination is already just fine under current Mississippi law, which does not protect against gay bias in jobs or housing or public accommodation. In the Tar Heel state, by contrast, HB2 effectively repealed Charlotte’s new civil rights ordinance, and pre-empted local anti-discrimination efforts throughout the state. HB2 also requires transmen and transwomen to use their birth certificate bathrooms in all public buildings. For good measure, the North Carolina law also prohibits local labor laws and bans the use of state courts for discrimination complaints. Still, Mississippi’s law is a hot mess, and like North Carolina’s, arguably violates federal statutes and the Constitution. It was no wonder, amidst the continuing and almost universal condemnation, that Tennessee lawmakers just shelved a bathroom bill that once seemed headed for passage. Corporations Are Activists Too If the North Carolina boycott consisted of us and a bunch of movie stars and rock bands, we would not be witnessing the true panic that appears to have overtaken the governor and the legislature. For that, we have the corporate world to thank, a world that has gradually become a major champion of our civil rights. I’m fond of denigrating the Human Rights Campaign for fundraising from the sidelines while lawyers and state activists do the heavy lifting in our fight for civil rights. But among its achievements, HRC has worked for decades ranking America’s companies and advocating for improvement in hiring and employee policies. The business community has also reacted intuitively to the social progress that has built gradually through the turn of the millennium, recognizing that they cannot succeed if they limit their staff and customers to the shrinking faction of the Christian right. For some on the political left, a corporation is an inherent evil. But that’s naive. Some are better than others, but most are just businesses. When Mitt Romney was excoriated for saying “corporations are people too,” he was referring (I think) to the fact that they are run by human beings and that many other human beings rely on them for a paycheck. I would add that corporations have always been considered “people” for certain constitutional rights, and that for exam-

ple, while commercial speech is less valued than individual speech, it is still protected by the First Amendment. I’m off on this tangent because I happen to be very fond of many corporations these days, specifically the long list of those who have told the government of North Carolina to repeal HB2 or face the consequences. The legislature is scheduled to come back into session April 25, and appears to be ready to tinker with at least some parts of the law. They will have to do more than tinker, however, in order to stop the bleeding and begin to repair the reputation of the state. Finally, I noticed that rising Republican star, New Mexico governor Susana Martinez, has just cancelled a May 7 speech in North Carolina, citing “scheduling conf licts.” Scheduling conflicts? I doubt it. The woman’s no dummy. The speech was to be part of the festivities at the North Carolina Republican Party convention.

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Who Dunnit? So, my town is in the news this week. For real! A local Austin pastor is accusing Whole Foods of packaging a cake that reads “Love Wins” on the top (as requested) and adds the word “Fag” in the middle (not requested). Whole Foods insists this could never happen, and says the bakery clerk responsible for fixing up the cake is a member of the LGBT community.

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According to the press, pastor Jordon Brown, who happens to be gay, picked out a plain cake and asked the bakery clerk to write “Love Wins” on the blank area. The clerk did so, boxed it up, sealed it with the price sticker and Pastor Brown went off with the cake, only to discover the non sequitur when he opened the box. Now he’s suing. Here’s the thing. Whole Foods, which is headquartered here in liberal Austin, is not antigay, period. I also believe they wouldn’t lie about the orientation of the bakery clerk. But the word “Fag” is written in the same style, in the same teal blue icing, as the “Love Wins” part. Is it possible that Brown could have matched the word so perfectly as part of an insidious plot? Would he do such a thing to contrive a fake lawsuit? Against Whole Foods? Why? But why would the bakery clerk sink so low? Was his or her attention diverted while a gay basher snuck in with the teal blue icing can and vandalized the cake? The word “FAG” is done quite meticulously, so that seems unlikely. Is the bakery clerk unhinged? Why would Whole Foods issue such a strong defense without checking into the incident further?

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A mystery! I’ll keep on it. Can’t We A ll Just Get A long? (Um, No.) Do you know who’s starting to bother me? John Kasich, the quintessential also-ran who recently suggested that LGBT people who object to North Carolina’s HB2 should chill out. When asked about religious freedom laws and the reaction from the community, Kasich told CNN: “What I like to say is, just relax; if you don’t like what somebody is doing, pray for them. And if you feel as though somebody is doing something wrong against you, can you just for a second get over it?” Kasich has positioned himself as the nice guy in the Republican race, not a diff icult maneuver when juxtaposed with the most despised man in Washington on one hand and Donald Trump on the other. And a couple of times I recall being pleasantly surprised when he told debate moder

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Municipal Bankruptcies Continue to Draw Headlines In the case of Detroit’s bankruptcy, the city’s declining economic fortunes resulted in a notable drop in its tax collections. Other governments have run into problems due to overwhelming pension obligations, financial mismanagement, or various other problems that created a budget crisis. A reality check about debt issuers

Money Matters Brandon Miller What does it mean for investors when a city, country or territory declares bankruptcy? When placed in the context of the thousands of government entities in the U.S., it is an infrequent occurrence. When it does happen, however, it certainly grabs our attention. It is a reminder that municipal bonds, like all bonds, carry some risk. Hundreds of bankruptcies by municipalities have been recorded since the 1930s. The largest ever municipal bankruptcy occurred in 2013, when the city of Detroit filed for Chapter 9 protection from creditors. The troubled city, with a declining tax base, was unable to meet all of its financial obligations and required a restructuring of its debt. Other cities—such as Chicago and Atlantic City, New Jersey and the territory of Puerto Rico— are facing financial challenges that have put them in recent headlines.

Individuals often choose to invest in bonds in order to generate a stream of income on a regular basis. In essence, investors are lending money to the bond issuer, who promises to pay back the principal, but in the meantime, makes interest payments to the investor. Municipal bonds are particularly attractive to some investors because income is generally free of federal income tax, and sometimes state and local income tax as well. Any bond carries risk. One of the most important that investors must consider is the possibility that the issuer will default on debt securities that were sold to investors. Generally, investors tend to think that there is little likelihood that a government entity that issues a bond will default on its obligation. After all, a municipality or other government unit can issue bonds that are backed by its authority to levy taxes on citizens. But this does not preclude the potential for the municipality to run into a financial shortfall. The fact that municipal bankruptcies occur for a variety of reasons and through different economic climates indicates that taxing power alone

will not fully protect investors. Bankruptcy courts will often require these government entities to take steps to improve their financial standing, including selling assets as a way to raise money to help pay creditors. Municipal bonds may work for the right investor Most investors view bonds as an asset class that potentially carries less risk than some other types of assets, such as stocks or commodities. Bonds also tend to perform differently in various market environments than asset classes like stocks. Bonds can therefore play an important role in diversifying a portfolio. That type of diversification may be a valuable benefit for investors, and municipal bonds can play a role. While a municipality may run into financial difficulty, its bonds can remain attractive. Some investors view the unique ability of these bonds to provide income that is generally free from federal income tax (and sometimes from state and local income tax) as being worth the risk. While you consider your options in the bond market, work with a financial professional who can help you to determine what investments make sense in the context of your portfolio and financial goals. Brandon Miller, CFP is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group, 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.

Safer Sex and Safer Cars Both Often Rely on Affordable Prevention Strategies i n g mor e t h a n $30,000, but Subaru and Honda offer it on their more af fordable models. They deserve a look if you prioritize safety, but want to limit your outlay.

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As with sexual health, preventative safety is becoming a big deal in the auto industry, and we see that with two recent test cars, the Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium and the Honda Civic 1.5T Touring. Steve Gibson, Magnet’s director, notes that the center has a “team of navigators” to guide prospects through the system, and that most of their clients pay nothing out of pocket for it. That approach to taking an expensive product and making it accessible to the masses–my Truvada was listed at $1,505 per month, before Healthy San Francisco covered all but the last five dollars–is reflected in the Forester and Civic. While the preventative efforts of Truvada focus on its blocking of HIV from attaching to healthy cells, the automotive safety analogy involves accident prevention. Active braking, whether tripped by radar or laser sensors, stops the car from rear-ending the one in front, which is a common crash scenario. Many carmakers still reserve this helpful technology to vehicles cost-

Subaru still wants you to spend a bit, t hough. Its EyeSight is available only with the $1,000 CVT automatic transmission, which is fair, as the safety system would likely stall a manual when it stopped t he ca r. Buyer s might then specify the 2.5i Premium, which runs Honda Civic $2,900 more than the base 2.5i, and could also tick the box for the $1,295 EyeSight package, for a total of $27,940. Honda, on the other hand, gives the Civic’s lowest trim access to active braking. If you choose the $18,640 Civic LX and add the $800 CVT, along with the $1,000 Honda Sensing package and $835 destination charge, the cost would be $21,275. Both systems worked well, though they seemed a little paranoid in San Francisco traff ic, with the Forester taking issue with cars in front that were also cresting the steep hill during the climb. The red alerts on the instrument panels were unmistakable, and the panic-button feel these systems initially imparted faded into

Subaru Forester

the background. It was nice to know they were there. Otherwise, the Subaru Forester had a clear advantage over the zoomierfor-2016 Civic in terms of visibility. The boxy structure that has defined the Forester for generations puts the driver in the visual catbird seat, while it was easy to feel bunkered-in by the Civic’s severe angles. Just as PrEP has been proven effective, the Forester or Civic are solid choices, whether or not you get their primo safety gear. For PrEP, also check out Nurx.com, an SF-based service that helps you get set up. Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant at www.gaycarguy.com. Check out his automotive staging service at www.carstaging.com

Exciting Developments for Marriage Equality in China when our marriage will be legal in China as well.

6/26 and Beyond Stuart Gaffney My grandparents grew up in a small village in southern China, and raised my mother and her siblings in Hawaii. My grandparents might have thought of themselves as very openminded about marriage when they told my mother she did not have to have an arranged marriage—all they asked was that she marry a man who spoke their same village dialect of Cantonese. But my mother had ideas of her own, and she looked far beyond the family village when she married my father, who is of English and Irish descent. Our family has a history of working for marriage equality, and it wasn’t until 1967 that interracial marriages like my parents’ were legal in all 50 states. Although John and I have been together over 29 years now, our marriage has been legal in all 50 states for less than a year, yet we are already looking forward to a day

Marriage equality activists across the U.S. used to ask for marriage licenses every year as a way to demonstrate the unfairness of marriage discrimination, and to put a human face on the issue as a way to open hearts and change minds. Ultimately, when our marriage license was taken away, we joined others and sued the government. After many ups and downs, we prevailed. We are heartened to see how couples in China and elsewhere in Asia have adopted this strategy of asking for marriage licenses. One brave couple in Changsha, China, asked for a marriage license, and when they were turned down, they sued the government. Sun Wenlin and Hu Mingliang filed the first lawsuit in China for equal marriage rights. When they arrived at their hearing before Changsha Furong People’s Court, they were greeted by cheers from hundreds of supporters waving rainbow flags. Although they lost the first legal round this past week, their case has generated tremendous public interest and support, demonstrating how quickly times are changing. As they plan their appeal, China is engaging in a national conversation about LGBT rights and marriage equality like never before. The New York Times noted that when the People’s Daily wrote and tweeted about the case, they even included a pho-

tograph of the plaintiff couple holding hands, which was a big step for the official newspaper of the Communist Party. LGBT life is becoming increasingly visible in China, where homosexuality became legal in 1997—several years before the last sodomy laws were overturned here in the United States. Shanghai has vibrant annual Pride celebrations, PFLAG chapters are active from Guangzhou to Beijing, and rising support in opinion polls show an unmistakable trend towards equality. In his majority Obergefell opinion for marriage equality, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, “Confucius taught that marriage lies at the foundation of government.” This led to a nationwide social media conversation in China last year, and prompted one Chinese scholar to say that he thinks “the ruling will have a big impact on China and may promote the legalization of same-sex marriage in China.” Although my grandparents did not live to see this day, I hope they would have been proud. Stuart Gaffney and his husband John Lewis were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the nationwide grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide, which happened in 2015.

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Names and Identity (Editor’s Note: Teacher Lyndsey Schlax of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts recently taught the nation’s first on-site high school LGBT course, according to district off icials. She will resume teaching that groundbreaking class next fall. This semester, she is teaching a new Ethnic Studies course. It is a popular elective among the school’s Social Science offerings. In this column, students from her class will be anonymously sharing with the San Francisco Bay Times their thoughts about related matters, and what they are learning.) Student, 12th Grade Names and the act of immigration have become inextricably linked throughout history. In the U.S., the names of immigrants and their families have repetitively become “Americanized” upon entrance. Many ancestral names were altered to promote assimilation, either unintentionally or purposefully. During the late 1800s to early 1900s, Ellis Island was the largest immigration station in the country. About 12 million prospective immigrants from all over the world were processed through there. In the effort, though, many families’ and individuals’ names were changed by immigration officers who were too lazy or who misspelled unfamiliar names incorrectly in the crush of people. They ended up spelling names in the American English fashion. The people usu-

ally just kept the names as they had been written, starting a new family identity for generations to come in their new home. People entering the country often Americanized their names on their own, in order to assimilate into society. This occurrence has shifted the identity of many people, generating new verbal and written identities, indicating a new start and a new way of life, but also the partial loss of one’s history and family ties. Such is one aspect of the fabric of this country: the interweaving of loss and gain, coming and going, the past and the future, existing in a delicate balance that we still live in today. Student, 12th Grade The name ‘Kyra’ was given to me by my father before birth. He was so set on my name being Kyra that he referred to me as such before my parents could even hold me. He has been surfing for most of his life, and named me after a beach in Australia. Because of its spelling, the name is almost always mispronounced by teachers, doctors and people that read it for the first time. I remember the initial time someone got it right on the first try was in a summer camp I took after the second grade; this memory is still very vivid to me. I learned never to mind others’ mispronunciation of my name from a young age, but usually the rest of my school class would correct the teacher.

Student Voices When I was young, I wanted a more common name because I didn’t want to stand out more than I already did. I have met a few other ‘Kyra’s/Kira’s/Keira’s’ in my life, and it seems as though everyone with this name has a strong sense of self; there are no two alike. When I was young, I saw being creative and different as a curse, but I appreciate it now that I am older. My mother always talks about wanting to have named me ‘Olivia,’ or my very Catholic Great Grandmother wanting my name to be ‘Christina.’ According to thinkbabynames.com, “(Kyra) is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Kyra is ‘lord.’ From the male name Kyros, from the Persian and Egyptian word for ‘like Ra, the sun.’ A short form of Kyria, the Greek title of respect for a woman. In Slavonic it means ‘strong woman.’ May also be a Russian name meaning ‘beloved.’” I have also heard from many people that ‘Kyra’ means “killer” in Japanese, but this information comes from a popular anime. I like to think of myself as a “killer woman” from the different translations of my name.

GGBA Make Contact - April 5

(continued on page 22)

Photos by Rink

GGBA President JP Leddy and Vice President of Programs and Events Theresa Ensminger welcomed members and guests to the Fogo de Chao Brazilian restaurant on Tuesday, April 5. San Francisco Bay Times supporters and friends attending included Ruth Linden and Alexander Alznauer of Tree of Life Health Advocates, Moira Wilmes of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, Terry Beswick of the GLBT Historical Society, Gary Virginia of the SF Pride Committee, Jaime Botello of Sulivan Botello Events and many more! On Tuesday, May 24, GGBA’s Mega Make Contact will be held at The Market, 1355 Market Street. More info: ggba.com

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A MONTHLY HIGHLIGHT FROM THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR

Kay Sekimachi: Student, Teacher, Artist

Kay Sekimachi

Produced in close collaboration with San Francisco native Kay Sekimachi (b. 1926), a pioneer in the post-World War II fiber art movement, the exhibition Kay Sekimachi: Student, Teacher, Artist offers a glimpse into the working processes of one of America’s most important weavers. The presentation includes a range of materials totaling over 30 artworks, from small studies to fully realized creations that trace Sekimachi’s evolution from student to artist. It runs through November 6, 2016, in the T.B. Walker Textile Education Gallery at the de Young. During the 1960s and 1970s, the fiber art movement gave textile traditions new expression, pushing them into the realms of sculpture, installation, and performance art. Sekimachi carved out a unique place for herself during this fertile period. Sekimachi is also a life-long

Kay Sekimachi, Study for crossed warp effect, 1980s. Linen, textile dye; 4-layered weave and crossed warp. Collection of the artist. © Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

teacher. For the first time ever, she is sharing her early studies to demonstrate the links between education, discipline, and the mastery of one’s craft. Throughout her six-decade-plus career, Sekimachi has explored the infinite possibilities of the double weave, a technique in which she used one warp to produce two-layer cloth and three-dimensional forms. In 1963, Sekimachi began experimenting with monofilament, a then-new material from DuPont Chemical. The resultant sculptures became a defining moment in her career. This exhibition showcases Katsura (1971), a seminal artwork from this series, and a recent acquisition to the Museum’s textile arts collection. For more information and to purchase tickets: http://deyoung.famsf.org/ exhibitions/kay-sekimachi-student-teacher-artist

Kay Sekimachi, “Wave,” 1980. Linen, transfer dye, buckram (lining); dye painting, double weave on a 4-harness loom, 4 3/8 x 4 3/8 x 18 in. (11 x 11 x 45.7 cm). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; gift of the artist. Image © Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Kay Sekimachi, Wave, 1980. Linen, transfer dye, buckram (lining); dye painting, double weave on a 4-harness loom, 4 3/8 x 4 3/8 x 18 in. (11 x 11 x 45.7 cm). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; gift of the artist. Image © Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Kay Sekimachi, “Katsura”, 1971. Dyed nylon monofilament: 4-layer and tubular weaves on an 8-harness loom, 43 x 15 x 13 in. (109.2 x 38.1 x 33 cm). Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; Foundation purchase, George and Dorothy Saxe Endowment Fund. Image © M. Lee Fatherree

BAY T IM ES APR IL 21, 2016

June is not just for Pride! It’s traditionally the most popular month for weddings, and in advance we’re seeing same-sex wedding cake toppers are now easy to find online. Check on sites like TheKnotShop.com and GayWeddings.com

The Marriage Proposal posal involving a video and embroidered sweatpants, as well as an introvert’s very private proposal with 400 guests present in the form of photographs! YouTube via the DailyDot http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/pride-month-lgbt-proposals-youtube-spotlight/

Weddings Reverend Elizabeth River Last month I wrote about the relationship and marriage of a fantastic couple, Javier and Arthur Leddy, and especially about their proposal. Many other couples I’ve married have told me their creative, surprising and wonderful proposal stories, so I decided to list some links for readers to check out as they contemplate how to memorably pop the question. The Knot https://www.theknot.com/content/proposal-stories-gay-lesbiancouples In this piece there is a proposal during breakfast in bed, one on top of a mountain in the tradition set by a bride’s grandfather, and at a party on the beach. There’s a quick and urgent one that happened just one minute after hearing about Prop 8 being struck down. There is also a dual pro-

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Here we see a couple on the ice before a hockey game, before the big question is posed. There are two separate proposals during concerts. One happens during a flash mob dance in Central Park. The songs “Teenage Dream” and “Rainbow Connection” precede another park proposal. These are all great and inspiring. AfterEllen http://www.afterellen.com/ columns/102557-chicks-gettinghitched-romantic-proposal-ideas How about a proposal made on the beach or with a surprise breakfast in bed? Or what about where you had your first date? Or why don’t you plan a party together, and then turn it into an engagement party right under your partner’s nose? All are included in this fun feature. Rukkle http://rukkle.com/features/gaywedding-proposal-videos/ This is a really lively set. There are proposals at flashmobs, as well as singing ones, and surprise cam-

eos. One proposal is made during a surpr i s e p a r t y, while another provides big drama during a st age performance. Yet another proposal happens simultaneously in person and on video! You can also consider these tips if you are racking your brain, trying to come up with something really fantastic: Think long and hard about the kind of person your partner is. Is she/he an extrovert who can handle a big public surprise? I hope you know this by now if you expect to have a lifetime together in marriage! And what about you? Even if your partner can handle something more public like this, could you? After all, your proposal ought to reflect your social style as a couple. There’s an old saying: Begin as you mean to go on. Look at the story in The Knot’s page, listed above, called “A Family Affair.” The introvert there, Jesse, did not want a big public display, but she did put hundreds of hours of imaginative work into creating a house-sized collage for her Kate of over 400 people and adventures the couple had shared. It served as

an incredible testament to her love for Kate, and to their relationship. If the proposal is to be in public, are you quite certain of the answer? Are you sure your partner is absolutely ready to say yes? Make sure, if you can, that your partner is also not planning a proposal event. The “safest” proposals, of course, are those that are more private. Now that same-gender marriage is legal, however, many LGBT couples want to be as out and open as possible. It’s a natural tendency, as a result, to want to go public. Before you decide on public or private, consider what is most important: this very significant moment between you and your beloved, or whether you both are political enough to make your proposal part of the public dialogue about marriage equality. Rev. Elizabeth River is an ordained interfaith minister and wedding officiant in the North Bay. Please visit www. marincoastweddings.com

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez, Excerpt 2

Photos from the City Lights Bookstore 25th Anniversary Celebration, on April 13

This is the second of the three excerpts from the book that we will be featuring in the San Francisco Bay Times. Please look for our first issue of May to read the third and final entry in the series.)

Gilda had already stepped back onto the road intent on fulf illing the blood hunger inside of her when she saw two men on horseback approaching from the west. They were moving at a good pace, as if racing, but slowed when they spotted her, pulling up short a few feet away. Even from that distance Gilda noted the light of reckless cruelty that she’d seen in Eleanor’s eyes was ref lected in theirs. One man swung down from the saddle immediately. He stood before her with an angry glare that quickly turned into a leer when he realized she was not a man. “This here’s a nigrah gal, we got here. What you doin’ out on the road this hour?”

Gilda still didn’t move or speak. She stood as if frozen, but her mind f looded with the words she’d been given: ‘We take blood, not life. Leave something in exchange.’ But she tasted the acid of hatred inside her mouth and wanted to be full of it; to teach the lesson these two needed to learn.

“She must be mute, Zach. Don’t seem to talk, do she?” The taller man moved close to Gilda and yanked her hair, pulling her face up toward his. The moonlight glistened on her dark skin, unchanged since she’d escaped slavery more than seventy years earlier. Before he could press his advantage, Gilda grabbed his wrist, the crack of bone audible in the night. She twist-

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE YAN

“Yeah, Zach, I think there’s a lesson here for sure.”

PHOTO BY IRENE YOUNG

Gilda didn’t respond but let herself breathe in the smell of the horses and sense their anxiety and dissatisfaction with their masters. There was an idle communication between them and her that went unnoticed by the riders. Gilda felt reassured by the horses’ solid presence, their lack of malevolence, and their easy response to comforting messages she sent them. The other horseman dismounted holding a glistening whip coiled at his hip.

Gilda peered at the braided leather, dark with blood she could smell. She wondered who had been their most recent pupil.

It had been so long since she’d been caught unawares like this. Relenting, she knelt beside him, holding her hands to the wounds on his neck and cheek until the bleeding stopped. She left him little in exchange except a simple recollection of falling instead of the horror of the real memory. His breath was shallow but his life was no longer in danger. Gilda was sickened by her anger and the thrill the confrontation had given her. It was the nightmarish pleasure she’d seen in Eleanor’s eyes so many years before; and a pleasure she feared could become her own. She climbed back up to the road

and stared down at the face of the one who was dead, frozen in the moonlight. She took in his features as she’d been taught and tried to absorb some sense of his deeper, true spirit. His image now took its place in a corner inside herself that Gilda would visit only when she needed to be reminded of how much like her tormenters she might become. Her duty fulfilled she felt the shadow of Anthony and Sorel’s shame lift from her heart.

She turned back toward her farm. Instead of her usual swift pace that made her invisible inside the wind, Gilda took each step with deliberation. She was leaden with exhaustion. Anger had flared and burned out leaving the taste of ashes. One death. She was grateful it had not been two. To learn more about “The Gilda Stories, Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition” and author Jewelle Gomez, please see the April 7 issue of the “San Francisco Bay Times,” https://issuu.com/sfbt/ docs/bt_4.7.16_1-32_issu To purchase the book and to find out about upcoming related events, go to: http:// www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=872 86100095910&fa=description

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE YAN

ed his hand behind his back, raising it so high the pain cut his voice before he cou ld scream. She gave a sharp tug and let go only when she felt his muscles quaking with pain. He whipped around toward her again and she smashed the side of his face with her fist. The snap of his neck broke through the night as his body crumpled into the ditch beside the road.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE YAN

her quickly then let him slip to the ground. She watched the blood continue to stream from his neck, soaking into the dust. She could feel life ebbing from him and was shocked at the excitement it aroused.

From Chapter 3, Rosebud, Missouri, 1921, in which Gilda encounters real danger that she must survive yet not break her vampire family code.

“Maybe we teach one more lesson tonight, hey Cook?”

PHOTO BY JENNIFER VIEGAS

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE YAN

(Editor’s Note: Over the course of three issues, we are presenting excerpts from Jewelle Gomez’s bestselling lesbian novel, The Gilda Stories, which was published 25 years ago. City Lights is honoring the occasion with a special 25th Anniversary Edition of this groundbreaking book that, as author Michael Nava said, “uses the vampire story as a vehicle for a re-telling of American history in which the disenfranchised finally get their say. Her take on queerness, community, and the vampire legend is as radical and relevant as ever.”

His fellow rider backed away, reaching behind him for the reins of a horse, but his mount deliberately twisted out of reach; and Gilda was upon him before he realized his vulnerability. She caught his whip in her left hand and pulled him backward. He fell to the ground then scurried back off the road to the brush with Gilda bounding behind him. She cracked the whip once over his head, then laid a stroke across his back. That she hit him with his own whip seemed to startle him more than the pain. At the second lash he turned to face Gilda, his eyes filled with rage. He gasped when he saw the swirling amber of her eyes and the sinewy strength of her body, thinking that they’d been wrong, that it was a man. An Indian he thought, confused by the moonlight and his own fear. She cracked the whip this time across his chest, then his cheek, opening the f lesh almost to the bone. Gilda threw the whip down and leapt upon him, twisting his head to expose the pulsing vein in his neck. He was already faint with shock, yet Gilda sensed his disbelieving terror build. She scraped his f lesh roughly with her nails; she’d not felt so hunted since slipping away from the plantation as a girl. It was as if the same men were after her almost a hundred years later. She watched the blood pulse from his neck, searching for what he felt when he lay open the flesh of men. Her chest swelled with anticipation as she understood the terrible joy he experienced at demanding terror and death. She drew his blood into BAY T IM ES APR IL 21, 2016

DUNNING (continued from page 8)

NEWS (continued from page 6) Transportation Agency will be rolling out its fourth round of service improvements in just over a year. Citywide, nearly 20 lines will get more frequent service, eight lines will see expanded service hours, two lines will make new connections to BART and two new Owl routes are launching. The 35 Eureka will connect directly to Glen Park BART. sfmta.com OutServe-SLDN Announces Transgender Paula Neira to be Inducted into Hall of Heroes OutServe-Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), representing the U.S. LGBT military community worldwide, is inducting Paula Neira into its Hall of Heroes. Neira graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1985. A Surface Warfare Officer, she served afloat and ashore as a regular and reserve officer. She participated in Operation Earnest Will, volunteered for a recall to active duty and served in mine warfare combat during Operation Desert Storm. She was a leader in the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. For more than a decade, she has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on transgender military service. In 2015, MANDELMAN (cont’d from page 8) the Center’s founders, who did the early work to make the vision a reality. 2015 Pride Parade Grand Marshal and Center client Belo Cipriani spoke movingly about the support he found at the Center after a brutal mugging in the Castro several years ago left him blind. And Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe reflected in her remarks on the role the Center had played in the community since it opened in 2002, and painted a picture for the audience of some of the changes and improvements that the proposed building remodel will allow. The financing for that remodel, by the way, closed the week following the Soiree, and by the time this article is published, we should be under construction. Exciting times! Rafael Mandelman is an attorney for the City of Oakland. He is also President of the City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees.

she made naval history by becoming the first transgender Navy veteran to have her discharge documentation updated to reflect her correct name by order of the Board for the Correction of Naval Records. outserve-sldn.org Travel Ban Clears Assembly Judiciary Committee A bill sponsored by Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights that would ban state-funded travel to Mississippi, North Carolina and other states that enact laws that permit discrimination against LGBT people has cleared the California Assembly Judiciary Committee. Assembly Bill 1887, authored by openly gay Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell), would ban non-essential, state-funded travel to those states by California state employees. The bill received bipartisan support in its first committee, demonstrating that California is squarely on the side of fairness and justice, and against the blatant discrimination taking place in North Carolina and Mississippi, says EQCA. eqca.org Nebraska Legislature Kills LGBTQ Civil Rights Bill Nebraska may have the nation’s only

unicameral legislature, but the split between progressives and conservatives has been starkly illustrated in a 26–18 vote to shelve a proposed bill that would have prevented employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Senator Adam Morfeld of Lincoln introduced the bill and vowed to bring it back again every year for as long as he is in office. Recent opinion polling showed statewide support for the measure. lgbtqnation.com Pride at Work Reacts to Supreme Court Ruling in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association The Supreme Court voted 4–4 to uphold a decades-old ruling that threatened the continued viability of unions for workers in government, education and other public sector jobs. Pride at Work, a nonprofit organization that represents LGBTQ union members and their allies, celebrates this important victory that will protect the rights of working people and their families. This outcome is particularly important for LGBTQ working people, who are disproportionately affected by workplace discrimination and do not have legal protections in more than half the country. prideatwork.org

ROSTOW (continued from page 15) ators that someone who owns a business should not be allowed to pick and choose their customers based on their own particular religious views. But then, on another occasion, he came out with the same kind of “can’t we all just get along” palaver that basically nullified his previous remarks. His solution for the “religious freedom” debate is for us to shrug our shoulders and for religious businesses to be nicer and for everyone to pray. I also read that Mr. Smarm has a short temper and that part of the reason he has not drawn establishment support is that the Never Trump men in the smoky rooms actually like Cruz better than him. As a person. Think about that. Speaking of the election, I’m an enthusiastic Clinton supporter, although I also like Bernie’s overarching goals, as do most of my ilk. But one of my main criticisms of Bernie’s candidacy

is that the man is too damn old. Why doesn’t this subject every come up in the media discussions? The guy is what, 74? 75? Yes he’s been active on the hustings, but that’s just not something you can keep up for four years straight, let alone eight. I know Clinton’s no spring chicken, but even after a four-year term, she would still be younger than Bernie is now. The modern presidency demands a 70 or 80-hour week (I’m guessing), not to mention a general readiness 24/7 and the ability to turn on a dime. It requires sustained energy, late night calls, mental juggling acts, endless meetings one after another, simultaneous pursuit of long and short term goals, formal events, speeches, military emergencies, conferences, multiple negotiations, foreign travel, constant motion, tremendous stamina. It’s one thing to get through successive campaign events, but the pressure of the presidency in measured in a far higher order of magnitude. The guy’s too old, period. I have to add that I read a poll somewhere that ironically indicated that people under 40 thought his age was no problem, while people over 60 disagreed. (Now I can’t find this poll, so you’ll have to trust me.) Does this mean that the younger generation is less ageist and more enlightened? Hell no. It means that the older generation recognizes how hard it can be to put seven or eight decades in your rear mirror and keep your foot on the gas. I mean there’s a reason the senior dinner special starts at five thirty. People get tired! arostow@aol.com

Even though Alice and the Harvey Milk Democratic Club are listed as LGBT Democratic Clubs, their own political ideology informs their endorsements as much as LGBT community issues do. In different elections, each club has chosen to endorse a straight ally that more closely aligns with their club’s values, over an LGBT candidate. For example, this year the Milk Club is endorsing Jane Kim over our own D8 Supervisor Scott Wiener. In 2014, Alice endorsed straight ally David Chiu over David Campos. These clubs represent their constituency, but more often than not, they represent the values and wishes of their leadership and membership. Clubs do not stay stagnant, either. Some clubs swing between voting for more moderate to more progressive candidates, and vice versa, depending on who their officers or new members are in any year. Clubs can sometime get taken over when supporters for a particular candidate “pack” a club’s membership and swing it. For example, the San Francisco Women’s Political Caucus was fairly moderate, then swung very progressive for the 2014 Assembly race when David Campos supporters joined the club in large numbers. A club’s susceptibility to getting packed depends on the club’s bylaws, and their criteria for becoming a member and voting on endorsements. For some, you can join the day of the election and vote on their endorsements. Others have a waiting time, or a requirement to attend a certain number of meetings or events before becoming eligible. Others have residency requirements (must be a registered democrat in a geographic area), like the Noe Valley Democratic Club. In many ways it mirrors our country’s crazy quilt of primaries and caucuses with varying rules for Presidential candidates.

All this is to say a candidate seeking Democratic endorsements needs to navigate over thirty clubs with varying rules. In a crowded f ield, like this year’s DCCC race, it is important to get name visibility and secure as many endorsements as possible, so your name can be placed on as many slate cards as possible. Ideally a candidate wants a long list of diverse support—labor unions; LGBT, African American, Latino, and Asian American communities; Young and College Democrats; from multiple neighborhoods across the city. You also want the endorsement of popular and senior elected officials to bring cache to your candidacy. When you see a candidate has been endorsed by a Democratic club, you should know they have typically gone through a fairly rigorous process of questionnaires, interviews and club meetings to secure that endorsement. In San Francisco, every endorsement and every vote count. I am fortunate in my own DCCC race to be endorsed by Democratic Leader Pelosi, CA Democratic Party Chair John Burton, Board of Equalization Chair Fiona Ma, Supervisors Scott Wiener, London Breed and many Democratic Clubs. So pay attention when you start receiving mail over the next six weeks as we prepare for the June 7 primary. It will help you to understand who is supporting that candidate, and how broad a base of support they carry. Zoe Dunning is a retired Navy Commander and was a lead activist in the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. She served as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club. She currently serves as the First Vice Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party and as a San Francisco Library Commissioner.

STUDENT VOICES (continued from page 18) Student, 12th Grade A name is inherently a piece of an individual’s identity. Depending on the individual’s decision to keep the original name or not, it may be a reminder of their parents, or where they came from. Sometimes it is only a stamp with no particular history or special meaning besides “my parents just liked the name.” This is my case. It’s hard to identify with a name given to you with no meaning besides its beauty. Even with this missing link to my ancestry, I still had a phase in which I felt disconnected from the name given to me by my parents. At the beginning of my second year of high school, I almost went through the effort of changing my name to Kat. I realize now that many immigrant children do the same in an attempt to be accepted in modern American culture or to avoid racist bullies. Could this, however, also be a piece of teen rebellion? Here I am, white and born in America. What was I running from? I believe we all struggle for a sense of control over our identity around ages

12–15. An immediate, close, and easier change for many can be to choose one’s own name. I also believe, however, that given first names with family meaning can serve as a beautiful connection to parents, and I feel I’ve missed out on this link to ancestry. For more information about the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, please visit http://www.sfsota.org/ Lyndsey Schlax has been a teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District since 2008. She is uniquely qualified to address multiple areas of LGBT studies, having also specialized in subjects such as Modern World History, Government, Economics and U.S. Politics. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, and earned her M.A. in Teaching at the University of San Francisco.

PHOTO BY STEVEN SOLIDARIOS, JOWDY PHOTOGRAPHY

San Francisco Bay Times at the Ballpark

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A hearty group of San Francisco Bay Times staffers, contributors, supporters and friends recently joined co-publisher Dr. Betty Sullivan for a rousing evening of baseball at AT&T Park. The view is from Suite #68 and the game, one of several in the annual pre-season “Bridge Series,” found Giants fans somewhat more satisfied with their team’s performance than were fans of the A’s. Thanks go to Jim Rosenau and BRIO Financial for cohosting and serving up delicious ballpark goodies.

San Francisco LGBT Community Center Soiree The Imaginarium Photos by Rink In keeping with the theme, “The Imaginarium,” a very large and diverse crowd of entertainers, volunteers, guests and attendees filled Terra Galley on Saturday, April 9. Attendees perused the silent auction, enjoyed sampling an array of beverages and tidbits and applauded performances throughout the evening. Congratulations to San Francisco Bay Times columnist Rafael Mandelman, chair of The Center’s Board of Directors; Rebecca Rolfe, Executive Director; and the entire staff and team of volunteers on a great success for this important annual benefit supporting the programs and services of The Center.

20th Anniversary of Marriage Equality USA - Sunday, April 10 Photos by Rink

The Mission Cultural Center welcomed supporters and friends of Marriage Equality USA for a 20th Anniversary celebration on Sunday, April 10. Brian Silva, MEUSA’s executive director, welcomed guests and State Senator Mark Leno presented a proclamation commemorating the occasion. San Francisco Bay TImes contributors and legendary activists Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis joined their colleague Molly McKay in commenting on the organization’s important role in the fight for marriage equality. An array of artifacts, including scrapbooks of San Francisco Bay Times articles, were available for perusal.

BAY T IM ES APR IL 21, 2016

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From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 36 Saturday, April 30 thru May 30 Geoff Hoyle’s Lear’s Shadow. 5 PM. Marsh Theater. $25-$50. (1052 Valencia St.) themarsh.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Thursday, April 21 - Comedy Returns to El Rio. 8 PM. El Rio Bar. $7-$20 sliding scale. (3158 Mission) brownpapertickets.com/event2532029

Interior of the Hormel Center at the San Francisco Public Library

Celebrating 20 Years of the Queerest Library Ever The James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center at the San Francisco Public Library provides an illuminating gateway to a world of learning about our richly diverse community. This invaluable, welcoming portal–with brilliant Program Manager Karen Sundheim at the helm– is connected to the library’s broader collections documenting our history and culture, with a special emphasis on the San Francisco Bay Area. We were therefore excited to learn that the Center’s 20th anniversary this year is being celebrated with a new major exhibition entitled Queerest.Library.Ever. #Hormelat20. The exhibit recognizes the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center’s history as the first library center of its kind in the nation. Named for U.S. Ambassador James C. Hormel (see page 31), the Center has been a source of pride for our readers, San Francisco residents and LGBTQIA advocates for two decades. The exhibition includes rare posters, photographs, correspondence, documents and objects that were careful-

ly selected from the Center and the Library’s impressive archival collections of personal papers and organizational records. The offerings are so extensive that the exhibition spans four locations: the Main Library’s Jewett Gallery, the Hormel Center itself on the 3rd f loor, the 6th f loor Skylight Gallery bridge, and the Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Library. All will be on view through August 7, thanks to the support provided by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. The Jewett Gallery at the Main Library showcases its archival collections with “Celebrating Our Past/ Creating Our Future.” “Lesbian Literary Love” looks at relationships between lesbian authors, publishers, booksellers and readers. “How We See Ourselves” includes alternative gender expression and vintage physique photographs and drawings. Recently digitized materials from the Frameline film and video collections continue this investigation of visual self-representation. “How We Come Together” demonstrates the importance of community, including bars,

community groups, and entertainment. “How We Effect Change” investigates activism and politics. The Hormel Center’s display documents four components of the Center’s history: “Making of the Mural” explains how the spectacular ceiling mural (see pages 32–33) came about; “How the Hormel Happened” recounts the genesis and development of the pioneering affinity center. “Reversing Vandalism” showcases art projects created out of vandalized library books and “LGBTQI Shades” highlights the photo history project documenting the Bay Area’s queer communities.

doll, a queer trivia game, and a rare 1600s broadside. We also highly recommend that you check out the Hormel Center’s website for Queerest.Library.Ever. #Horm el at20. ( ht t p://sf pl.org/i ndex . php?pg=2000881701) There you will find many fascinating, never-beforeavailable programs and materials, including archival histories with photos and anecdotes. We additionally recommend attending the upcoming events associated with the exhibit:

The 6th floor bridge revisits “Out at the Library,” the panel exhibit celebrating the Center’s first ten years. It is once again on display, having traveled all across the country!

April 23: Teens and Queens, the opening program, features The Rising Rhythm Project honoring voguing legends with fabulous and fierce choreography. Other acts will also follow. Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 2:00 pm.

The Eureka Valley branch offers “Queer & Quirky: OBJECTifying Ourselves.” This exhibit displays artifacts demonstrating the relationship of queer culture to dominant American culture, including a Gay Bob

May 17: Lambda Literary Awards Finalists Reading. This annual event features the year’s finest in LGBTQIA writing and poetry. Main Library, Latino Hispanic Community Room, 6:00 pm.

June 2: Twenty-Five Years of Vampire Life: The Gilda Stories Reissued. When Gilda escaped from slavery in 1850, she did not expect to live to see the 21st century. Jewelle Gomez will read from this cult classic and catch you up on what Gilda’s been doing since. Main Library, James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, 6:00 pm. (An excerpt from the book is on page 21. Please also see our previous issue that highlighted Jewelle Gomez and The Gilda Stories.) June 7: From Sleaze to Classics. An Intergenerational Conversation on Lesbian/ Queer Lit. The event will feature Ann Bannon (Beebo Brinker series), awardwinning author Michelle Tea, and RADAR Artistic Director and writer Juliana Delgado Lopera. Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 6:00 pm. June 8: R ADAR SuperStars Program. The final scheduled event presents La Pocha Nostra, La Chica Boom, Chinaka Hodge, and Aya de Leon. Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 6:00 pm.

See additional coverage on pages 31-33 BAY T IM ES APR IL 21, 2016

THEATER:

Cinderella’s Dashing, Talented Prince Was Raised By a Lesbian Couple We are falling in love with the Cinderella tale all over again, thanks to the Broadway show of the same name that SHN presents in San Francisco from May 3–8. First, there are the beautiful Rodgers & Hammerstein songs. Second, the lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all of the moments so many of us remember as kids: the pumpkin, glass slipper, masked ball and more. Last but not least, there is the talented cast, with Andy Huntington Jones as the male lead, Prince Topher.

PHOTO BY CAROL ROSEGG

In real life, Huntington Jones was raised by a lesbian couple in Massachusetts, and calls himself “one of the first gaybies.” He walked his two moms down the aisle! What’s more, he is married to Audrey Cardwell, another member of the Cinderella cast. She is a swing, which refers to someone who understudies several chorus and/ or dancing roles. We Andy Huntington Jones as Prince Topher with Kaitlyn Davidson as love that there are lay- Cinderella er upon layer of happiSan Francisco Bay Times: You ly ever afters associated with Huntington Jones and this pro- are in incredible shape! We don’t remember Prince Topher/ duction. Charming from other producWe had a great time catching up with tions ever being so buff. Is the him before he heads to the Orpheum role a very physical one and do Theatre for the San Francisco stop on you have to work out regularly, the national tour. even while on tour? San Francisco Bay Times: You have such a lovely voice with an A ndy Huntington Jones: Josh incredible range. Did you ever Rhodes has choreographed some study opera? In any case, please stunningly beautiful dances with tell us a bit about your back- some really difficult lifts, so it’s imground, training and how you portant to me to make sure I’m in became interested in musical good shape or else I run the risk of injury. Working out is easier for me on theater. the road than in New York because Andy Huntington Jones: I’ve alour wonderful company managers set ways been obsessed with musical theup new gyms for us in every city. It’s atre. Doomed from the beginning. I hard to get bored with a gym routine started studying voice in high school and got a B.F.A from the Universi- if you are constantly accustoming to ty of Michigan where I majored in new spaces. While working out feels Musical Theatre (lots of Rodgers and easier on the road, eating well feels Hammerstein!) and studied voice exponentially harder. We live in howith the voice department. I was ter- tels, often without kitchens, and have rible at opera. That was never an op- to make take-out menus work. Not altion for me. Musical Theatre was always easy. ways my niche. It wasn’t until I was San Francisco Bay Times: Your understudying Prince Topher in the charisma and stage presence Broadway production of Cinderella are so evident. We love how your that I realized how badly I needed to continue studying in the city. Before Prince Topher is very mascumy first performance as Topher, our line, yet is not afraid to be genincredible music director set me up tle, to hit the ultra high notes with a voice teacher in New York and and more, perhaps stretching I’ve worked with him just about every the traditional boundaries of week since. (continued on page 38)

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DANCE:

The Missing Generation: Giving Voice To Longtime Survivors of Early AIDS Through Dance

The Missing Generation is an invitation to witness and heal—through gorgeous high-intensity dance, eloquent gestures, intimate storytelling and luscious partnering. Free rapid HIV testing will be available at the theater on Thursday, May 5. A special Gala performance and reception with the artists is on Saturday, May 7. S a n Fr a nc i sc o Bay Ti me s: Please tell us more about how you created The Missing Generation. Sean Dorsey: I spent two years creating the show. During the first year, I traveled the U.S. to record oral history interviews with longtime survivors of the early AIDS epidemic. After recording 75 hours of oral history interviews, I spent over 500 hours building a soundscore featuring voices and stories from these extraordinary inter-

San Francisco Bay Times: The Missing Generation is clearly a labor of love for you all. Sean Dorsey: Yes, I talk about the show being my “love letter” to a forgotten generation. I created the show after feeling a deep calling to do this work. And performing the show is an absolute marathon. We are dripping with sweat in the first 15 minutes; it’s a very, very physical show that demands we dance full out for 65 minutes with guts and precision and deep humanity. My beautiful dancers (Brian Fisher, ArVejon Jones, Nol Simonse) and I give so much of ourselves to the work and to our audiences.

Sean Dorsey: Dance is the most visceral art form I know. It can move and inspire and transform society and us. But you know, most people feel like modern dance is totally irrelevant to their lives; that they don’t “get” it. I think this is true of much modern dance! My job as a choreographer is to make dances that resonate deeply with people–that people can understand, relate to, and be deeply moved by. That’s what The Missing Generation does. It names and holds our broken hearts–broken by the early AIDS epidemic, broken by loss, broken by isolation, broken by grief–and shows us how we lift each other up and out of heartbreak into community and healing.

San Francisco Bay Times: You are currently on a two-year, 20city tour with the work. What has been one of the most surprising things about performing this work on tour?

San Francisco Bay Times: 75 hours of recorded oral history interviews about the early AIDS epidemic is an incredible resource. What will happen to the interviews now?

Sean Dorsey: Two things: the first is how little young people are being taught about the early AIDS epidemic. This was one of the most important and pivotal periods of contemporary American history, and we are teaching younger generations almost nothing about it. The early AIDS epidemic was a huge crucible for LGBT activism—it’s when lesbians and gay men first came together socially and politically; it’s when trans and queer people created new models for street actions, art-as-activism, die-ins, and political advocacy. It’s when the idea and term “LGBT” was born. It’s when the movement for queer marriage began (largely because people were refused access to their dying lovers in hospitals).

Sean Dorsey: I’m so glad you asked! I am now working on raising mon-

ey to properly archive these interviews in LGBT archives, AIDS archives, schools and universities across the U.S. I have audio, video and written transcripts. We must keep these incredible life stories and buried histories alive, and make them accessible to our communities. I need help to do this. We are accepting tax-deductible donations through our website!

The Missing Generation Sean Dorsey Dance May 5–7, 2016, 8 pm, Z Space (450 Florida Street @ 17th Street, San Francisco) Thursday, May 5: free rapid HIV testing onsite with TRANS: THRIVE Saturday, May 7: Gala performance & post-show Reception with the artists Tickets: $15–25 www.seandorseydance.com

PHOTO BY IVY MAIORINO

We sat down with Dorsey to ask him about the show, LGBT history, grief and inter-generational healing. As he says, “Our culture has totally turned its back on the early AIDS epidemic, as well as its survivors. There is a generation amongst us holding all this trauma and mass death and grief. The Missing Generation invites us to attend to and hold this generation.”

San Francisco Bay Times: What do you think dance offers that other art forms or mediums cannot?

Photos: The Missing Generation Sean Dorsey Dance

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER AND MARK SIMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY

San Francisco communities will also have the rare opportunity to see panels of the AIDS Quilt, on display in Z Space’s lobby. While creating the show, Dorsey interviewed 25 longtime survivors, including lifelong AIDS Quilt caretaker Gert McMullin (Atlanta) and early Quilt activist Evelyn Martinez (San Francisco). McMullin and Martinez worked closely with Dorsey to bring panels to display at the theater.

views—along with gorgeous original music by my team of composers. Then I spent a year in the studio with my dancers, choreographing the work.

The other surprising thing is how deeply passionate young people are about wanting to learn about this history. Our audiences range from 15 year olds to 88 year olds. It’s a very powerful part of touring with this work—bringing multiple generations of people together to witness, to feel, to grieve, to rage, to celebrate, to inspire, to heal.

PHOTO BY IVY MAIORINO

Trailblazing transgender choreographer Sean Dorsey is known for creating powerful dances with transgender and LGBT themes. Dorsey has toured his work to 26 cities across the U.S., and was recently awarded an Isadora Duncan Dance Award for his newest work, The Missing Generation. It is based on oral history interviews Dorsey recorded with LGBT longtime survivors of the early AIDS epidemic. The work returns to San Francisco May 5–7 as part of a 2-year, 20city tour.

BAY T IM ES APR IL 21, 2016

By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “The Democratic Presidential Campaign is getting nasty. C’mon, we’re better than that. Let’s not stoop to Repugnican ways. Just tell us your platform and explain how you’re going to implement it. Play nice, please!” The SAN FRANCISCO LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER held their epic SOIREE! entitled: THE IMAGINARIUM: queers and allies of San Francisco celebrating the creative power of our community’s imaginative minds. “Ours is a flourishing, growing community that has a visionary and revolutionary pulse,” said Center Executive Director Rebecca Rolfe. “At the Center, we know that the collective power of our queer community to imagine and create is immeasurable. Soiree 2016 summons us to unleash our creative powers. To imagine a better future for rising generations.” Held at Terra Gallery, the evening began with a cocktail reception and a few dozen delightful drag queens dancing and carrying on between tables. Entertainment was curated by their Entertainment Director Juanita MORE!, food from our favorite SF restaurants was served, and bars were helmed by some of our beloved Castro bartenders. Senator Mark Leno presented a Certificate of Recognition to the Center. Rolfe spoke excitedly of upcoming plans to expand and renovate the Center building. The night was made lively by Joe Wicht on piano and DJ Sergio Ferdasz spinning for the after-party. They raised $100,000 that will go directly to fund the Center’s services and cultural programs. “Thank you for imagining possibilities for a stronger and healthier community with us, and for investing in the lives of tens of thousands of community members who use the Center each day to connect with one another and who find resources and opportunities to thrive,” said Rolfe. “Imagine where we can go from here.” THRILLPEDDLERS presents THE UNTAMED STAGE: Weimar Berlin Kabarett, a world premiere of a new musical by Scrumbly Koldewyn at the Hypnodrome, 575 10th Street, EssEff. This wild show runs now through May 28, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 8 pm. Music & Lyrics, Concept & Musical Direction by Scrumbly Koldewyn, an original Cockette, which means you’re in for a helluva lotta fun and drag for daze! Directed by Russell Blackwood (Thrillpeddlers artistic director). Act 1 is a Weimar Berlin-inspired cabaret with song, dances, and rude comedy recreating a bygone era in the shocking Thrillpeddlers’/Cockettes’ tradition. You will see lovely lesbians, a trio of dancing exposing exhibitionists, a devil, a pickpocket, drag queens, and a few who have tried and done everything. Act 2 is actually a one-act cabaret musical parable (entitled “The German thing To Do: or How a Cow Changes History”) on the themes of belonging, sex-roles, pseudoscience, fascism, and fear mongering. Visual delights include young male lovers, nudists, and a cow that becomes increasingly self-aware and just might change the course of history. 28

BAY TIM ES APRIL 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

The Untamed Stage derives its name from Trude Hesterberg’s Berlinbased cabaret, which the performer founded in 1921. At the end of WWI, Kaiser Wilhelm’s repressive government was replaced by the Weimar Republic, whose new constitution allowed for no censorship. Berlin kabarett suddenly produced a flowering of politically, socially, and sexually provocative material, in a movement that flourished until Hitler’s ascension in 1933 when most of the performers either left the country or were suppressed. The intimate cabaret theatres became mouthpieces for various artistic movements and social critics, dada-ist anarchists, and anti-nationalists. But they also provided pure entertainment, as typified by the Holler reviews, which could be likened to pocket-sized Ziegfeld Follies. This kabarett is much bawdier, naughtier, and haughtier than the stage show/movie Cabaret. The talented cast includes David Bicha, Cameron Eng, Nkechi Emeruwa, John Flaw, Zelda Koznofski, Noah Haydon, Kim Larsen, Bruna Palmeiro, Steven Satyricon, CJ Smith, Rochelle Urban, Jason Wade, Crystal Why, and Diogo Zavadzki. Guest performers during the 7 week run include: Steve Bolinger, Damien Chacona, Leigh Crow, Lisa McHenry, Carly Ozard, Suzanne Ramsey (Kitten on the Keys), Tina Sogliuzzo, and Andy Wenger. I guarantee that at the end of the show, you will go out enthusiastically singing the extremely catchy Ich Bin Berliner! ARTSAVESLIVES STUDIO, an unusual gallery in the heart of the Castro, 518 Castro Street, held a festive reception to meet the many artists involved with this magnificent exhibit of male artists. SF artist Thomasina De Maio has curated this spectacular show, which remains all month long until the next exhibition. There was local talent entertaining in dance form: working in a big box was Jose Cital, a masked Grace Towers, and executing a flawless flamenco was Damien Alvarez. The theme was “Men in the Castro when it all began,” featuring among others, Tim Burns, Michael Levin, Renato Robles, Jack Stelnikki, Henry Martinez, Jack Mattingly, Larry Bruderer, and Ara Bedoyan with photos, painting, ceramics, and assemblage. Marriage Equality USA celebrated 20 years of grassroots activism and the fulfillment of its mission at Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts with a celebration for current and former volunteers, donors, allies and community partners in the San Francisco Bay Area. Special guests included Senator Mark Leno, California marriage plaintiffs and fellow San Francisco Bay Times columnists Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis, and former MEUSA and MECA leader Molly McKay. The 21st SAN FRANCISCO SILENT FILM FESTIVAL takes place June 2–5 at the glorious Castro Theatre. This year’s edition is jampacked with new film discoveries and restorations, and many of our favorite musicians will be back—as well as some new faces! As a sort of teasing of the upcoming, the Festival held a reception at the McRoskey Mattress Factory, which will also be the site of their opening reception on June 2 at 9 pm, 1687 Market at Gough Streets. In the Girls Will Be Boys category, I highly recommend two cross-dressing films on June 5 at noon. For more info, search silentfilm.org

PHOTO BY RINK

Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun

Sister Dana receives a kiss from artist and curator Thomasina at their joint Birthday Party held in January. Thomasina created the dress Sister Dana is wearing and also the related painting on the wall at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation art space on Castro Street.

Before LGBTQ Pride, before gay marriage, before Harvey Milk… there was Harry Hay! We joined CALAMUS in a private home to celebrate the anniversary of the 104th birthday of activist, theorist, visionary, comrade, and modern Gay movement founder Harry Hay. (For added measure he also dreamed up the Radical Faeries!) Throughout the evening we had cake and enjoyed birthday singing, a showing of the 2002 documentary about Harry, Hope Along The Wind, and sharing stories about Harry. calamusfellowship.org SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS (SFGMC with 300 proud gay men) and Dr. Timothy Seelig, Artistic Director, presented the spring concert for Season 38: Expect The Unexpected – TALES OF OUR CITY: OUR LIVES, OUR HEROES at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. It was 40 years ago when author Armistead Maupin penned the very first article that became the international phenomenon of Tales Of The City, bringing the colorful life and times of San Francisco to the entire world. Maupin joined SFGMC for an evening full of stories and music about our home and its heroes, while revisiting this magical work of literature, including the very emotional coming out story, “Michael’s Letter to Mama.” Maupin delighted us with his many really amusing anecdotes. Act I included excerpts from NakedMan, the groundbreaking multi-movement piece originally commissioned and performed by the Chorus in 1996, which chronicled the lives and loves of the men of SFGMC against the backdrop of the AIDS pandemic. Act II included excerpts from the wildly popular commissioned work I Am Harvey Milk by composer Andrew Lippa, which SFGMC premiered in 2013. Especially delicious was “Friday Night in the Castro,” with authentic Castro Clones taking the solos. “Tired of the Silence” was inspirational and could very well be an anthem for queer activism. Tales Of Our City: Our Lives, Our Heroes also presented a world premiere by SFGMC Composer-In-Residence James Eakin. Accompanying the Chorus for the entire evening was an impressive 65-piece BAY AREA RAINBOW SYMPHONY. We had a BALL with our KREWE DE KINQUE Mardi Gras club (which meets every Third Saturday at the Edge) BEER & SODA BUST! At the April event we presented a BIG CHECK to JAZZIE’S PLACE LGBTQ Homeless Shelter, our beneficiary from Bal Masque (continued on page 38)

Intimate That’s Not Us Realistically Portrays LGBT Couples

Film Gary M. Kramer The sweet, unpretentious film That’s Not Us, now out on DVD, was co-written by Derek Dodge and William Sullivan, and directed by Sullivan. This comedy-drama features three couples–lesbians Alex (Sarah Wharton) and Jackie (Nicole Pursell); gay couple James (Mark Berger) and Spencer (David Rysdahl); and straight couple Liz (Elizabeth Gray) and Dougie (Tommy Nelms)–spending a late September weekend together at a New York beach community. While each couple spends their time alone together making love or fighting, all of the characters are dealing with partnership issues involving honesty and (mis)communication. That’s Not Us is consistently warm and engaging, thanks to the assured performances by the entire cast, who improvised most of their scenes. Wharton and Berger, who co-produced, are particularly strong. Sullivan and Dodge, as well as Wharton and Berger, chatted with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about making That’s Not Us. Gary M. Kramer: How did you conceive of the film, the intimate style, and the characters? William Sullivan: The impetus for the entire project was that we were

seeing coming out or falling in love stories. We wanted to do something that ref lected what we go through and experience on a day-to-day basis. That was the trigger that made us write down things we were thinking about. We had an outline for the characters and their arcs, and we wanted to explore these themes—the vulnerability, the physical separation of the gay couple, and the sexual offseason. Derek Dodge: You see people in films trying to find love, or navigating new love, or it’s a breakup movie, but for couples that are together, things always seem easy. Even for couples that have been together for so long, there is still work to do to make love last. We wanted to show everyday obstacles real couples face in long-term relationships. Just because they have a bump doesn’t mean they will break up; they have their partner’s best interests in mind. We particularly wanted to see young gay couples doing that. Gary M. K ramer: Mark and Sarah, your characters have a deep friendship. What helped to develop that relationship? Mark Berger: Each of us did a pretty extensive amount of rehearsal all summer. The night we shot the cig-

arette scene outside the party, there was a sense on the set, and between Sarah and me, that everything fell into place. Sarah W harton: A nd because we had never rehearsed that scene, we didn’t know it was going to happen. Will and Derek weren’t even sure what the shot would look like. It was late and the scene wasn’t working from what was written in the outline. Will told us to take a step back and that moment [prompted] the true nature of the improv, and I felt like I should be smoking… Mark Berger: And we had the idea that smoking should not just be done meaninglessly throughout the film. So for me, the scene was when we were smoking the cigarette like we did behind the gym in high school, like the two badass gay kids f-ing s--t up like we did. It all made sense in that moment, in that scene.

TERRA GALLERY & EVENT VENUE

Gary M. Kramer: What did you bring to your characters and their arcs? Sarah Wharton: There was some discussion about making sure there were moments that showed the good parts of their relationship, and that you saw both sides of both characters. (continued on page 38)

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Subject Matter and Theme

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Words Michele Karlsberg Michele Karlsberg: What is the difference between subject matter and theme in your work? Steven Cordova: Subject matter is a stepping-stone on the way to theme. Without subject, there’s no theme. This is true for all writers, but if you ask the difference between subject matter and theme in my work, one answer I can offer is that HIV/AIDS is often my subject matter, mortality my theme. I’ve recently written a poem entitled “Accelerated Aging Syndrome.” I segue into the poem with an epigraph from a medical journal. “We propose here,” the epigraph reads, “that the premature and accelerated aging of HIV-patients can also be caused by adverse effects of antiretroviral drugs…” Okay, then, my subject matter, my stepping-stones on the way to theme, are aging (I’m 52), retroviral drugs (I take Triumec), and retrovirals’ effects on some patients (I, for one, am chronically tired). Just as climbing stairs isn’t always an easy task, these aren’t always easy

subjects to write about. While I’m not ageist, I’m ageist enough not to want to highlight my age. I also fear HIV/ AIDS, once the social issue du jour, may fall deaf ly on some contemporary ears. Finally, I don’t want to bore you complaining about my health. Following the stairs up, however, I arrive at a theme–mortality! The dark circles under our eyes, our diminishing energy levels and failing memories–we worry about them because they’re all variations on the theme of mortality. I feel like a Debbie Downer here, but I hope I’ve shown how specific, seemingly trivial matters can lead to big universal themes. Steven Cordova is the author of “Long Distance” (Bilingual Review Press, 2010). He lives in Brooklyn, New York. Craig Bennett Hallenstein: The Dolphin is a psychological thriller set in New Orleans against a backdrop of our nation’s one-size-fits-all sex offender registry. Sean Jordan, the protagonist, is an innocent who, when forced to register as a sex offender, is persecuted as if he were a violent predator. Like all stories, The Dolphin is a hero’s journey, with a central character who must overcome obstacles to reach his goals. Sean makes his way in a hostile world, attempting to survive as a precursor to realizing his out-sized potential. His journey is the subject matter of the book.

The theme of The Dolphin is standing one’s ground, rather than being swept away by hysteria, perpetrating horrors on others. In The Dolphin, fear emanates from two sources, TV news and talk radio–both sensationalizing stories to earn ratings and cash. The cautionary tale recalls the “missing kid” era of the 1980s when the nation was gripped by a pervasive hysteria, fueled by emotion-laden images and false information. Instead of demanding facts and standing their ground, most parents succumbed, reigning kids in, restricting their movements, and impeding their development of independence. Demanding that legislators keep kids safe at all costs, parents led the charge that resulted in a sex offender registry that fails to protect children while destroying young people’s lives. The Dolphin’s secondary theme: even when struggling with one’s own adversities, a person can choose to live life with an open heart, loving and ministering to all who show up.

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BAY T IM ES APR IL 21, 2016

Speaking to Your Soul The Scorpio full moon illuminates relationships of all kinds–of self to other; of the micro to the macro. The focus for us is on acknowledging and honoring our deeper feelings to get clarity on the bigger picture.

Astrology Elisa Quinzi

ARIES (March 21–April 19) Those recent new shoots of fiery energy now grasp to take root. Help them to do so by uncovering deeper layers to f ind richer soil. TAURUS (April 20–May 20) You radiate magnetism now. That earthy sensuality gets put to good use to the degree that you let yourself be vulnerable. Tell someone how you really feel. You can’t win unless you play. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) As you humbly shed any parts of your ego that have kept you separate from your

fellows, you step into a larger framework of unity and bliss. CANCER ( June 21–July 22) A truly secure future can only be built on today’s joyful moments. Swim naked by the light of the moon to realign with more soulfully congruent goals. LEO ( July 23–August 22) The world needs your charisma and your creative gifts, but be sure to take some time alone to listen to the more quiet needs of your heart. A healthier balance is calling for your attention. VIRGO (August 23–Sept. 22) If you have been feeling stuck in survival mode, now is a good time to articulate the unfathomable. Let your voice express the deepest parts of yourself. This can lead to connecting the dots at a later date.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You bring to the table more than you have given yourself credit for. As you step into your self-worth, partners and relationship choices mirror that worth back to you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22–Jan.19) Finding the right community is essential, even for solitary Capricorn. Surround yourself with people who resonate with your deep authentic self, and the highest vision for your life is supported.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Go outside and shake off any remnants of that old winter skin. Bathe in this full moon’s light and feel your Self ref lected back. Honoring your soul’s deep needs transforms all your relationships.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20–Feb. 18) The balance between the comforts and responsibilities of home-life and giving your gifts to the larger world is not easy to maintain. But such is your challenge at the moment. Your mission involves contributing to the progress of the planet, and that requires some level of exposure.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) A solo retreat, meditation, and perhaps a sensory deprivation tank experience are all paths to health and harmony. Gaining the mystic’s perspective will help you to bring greater presence and purpose to your daily life.

PISCES (Feb. 19–March 20) The quest deepens. What you put your faith in is revealed in your day-to-day conversations. Remove any impediments that block a clearer connection with your intuition. Then bring that inner guidance system into your dialogues with the people around you. Your word has power.

Elisa has been enjoying the art of astrological counseling since earning professional certification many years ago. In addition to astrological knowledge, she brings a high degree of conscious presence to her work, and creates a safe, comfortable atmosphere for sessions to unfold organically. Contact her at futureselfnow@gmail.com or 818-530-3366 or visit www.ElisaQuinzi.com

As Heard on the Street . . . What is your best dish?

compiled by Rink

Deana Dawn

Michael Housh

Linda Lee

Walter Parsley

Michael Taglizili

“a fruit tart”

“pork chops”

“turkey breast sandwich with mustard, mayo, lettuce, and tomato on honey wheat berry bread”

“salmon”

“cheese bacon pasta casserole”

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Twenty years? Already? By Jim Van Buskirk

This year marks another 20th anniversary; that of Gay by the Bay: A History of Queer Culture in the San Francisco Bay Area, published by Chronicle Press to coincide with the opening of the Hormel Center. Susan Stryker and I collaborated to showcase the collections of the ten-year-old Gay & Lesbian Historical Society and those of the just-opening Hormel Center,

and the result was a rich and enduring friendship. It is a highlight of my life to have been the founding Program Manager of the Center, officially starting in 1992. I met many wonderful people and worked with many important organizations in the process of developing the collections and curating the exhibits and public programs. Having retired in 2007, I was honored to be invited back as guest curator, to help celebrate two decades of collection building (books, periodicals, audio-visual materials, archival holdings), public programs, exhibitions, and even reference service. My original plan was to showcase the wealth of the collections, highlighting their breadth and depth by exhibiting at least one piece from each of the over one hundred and fifty—and

The entrance to the Hormel Center on the 3rd floor

It was wonderful being reunited with my former colleagues, including Hormel Center Program Manager Karen Sundheim, who has done an impressive job developing the Center. Especially helpful to me was Processing Archivist Tim Wilson, whose deep knowledge and attention to detail render him the unsung hero of the Hormel Center’s archival collections. Check out his entertaining and informative blogs at QueerestLibraryEver.blogspot.com. This year marks his 20th anniversary at the San Francisco Public Library as well. I would also like to send a special shout out to my curatorial co-conspirator, Mariah Sparks, the San Jose State Library School student recommended by Exhibit Advisory Committee member Texas Starr (who also edited the clip reel of the Frameline Digitization Project). It was a sincere pleasure working with, and getting to know, Mariah, whose dad (one of them, anyway) David Hatfield Sparks processed the Center’s very first collection, the Lynn Lonidier Papers (“GLC 1”), in 1996. Talk about community and continuity! Be sure to mark your calendar for “Teens and Queens,” the opening program and reception at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 23, which opens with a performance by queer teen dance group Rising Rhythm Project. It will also feature the world premiere theatrical presentation of a specially-created documentary, include brief remarks from dignitaries, and will end with a special blessing from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. It is just

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY

In fact, 2016 marks the 25th anniversary of the first press conference announcing a gay and lesbian affinity center as part of the new main San Francisco Public Library. To understand how this affinity center became an important part of the New Main’s design, check out the exhibits in the Hormel Center’s ceremonial space on the Library’s third floor.

The plan was modif ied to focus on the Center’s second decade, a period during which I was no longer directly involved. It’s been a thrill to see all of the fascinating collections, passionately acquired and patiently proJim Van Buskirk (left) founding supporter James Horm- cessed, being made accessiel and Hormel Center program manager Karen Sundheim. ble to future generations. PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN SUNDHEIM

The universal response when people hear about the 20th anniversary commemoration of the opening of the James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center is, “Twenty years? Already?” On the one hand, it seems like yesterday, and on the other like it has been part of the fabric of the San Francisco Public Library’s commitment to sexual minorities for much longer. Its recent official name change to LGBTQIA Center ref lects the Center’s acknowledgement of the importance of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning, Intersex, Allies, Advocates & Asexuals communities.

continually growing—separate collections. That ambitious attempt was quickly recognized as unfeasible. There was just too much material.

A signature feature of the Library is the unique glass skylight atop the seven-level atrium frequently described as “an art deco nautilus.”

tion, your community commemorated here, please help the Center identify additional archival collections to ensure that future generations will be able to access documentation of the achievements of the many queer communities.

one of several exhibition-related programs. (See page 25 for the full list.) Queerest.Library.Ever celebrates the Hormel Center’s achievements without attempting to comprehensively cover the complex story of queer experience in the San Francisco Bay Area. Perhaps, like me, you have known some of these individuals, and/or participated in some of these events. In other cases, this may be new territory.

These exhibits and their related programming are just the proverbial “tip of the iceberg.” History keeps happening and it is the Hormel Center’s mission to preserve and protect the past for the future. Come explore, remember, learn, and celebrate!

Gaps in the exhibit may, or may not, ref lect lacunae in the current archival holdings. We were particularly dismayed to note the paucity of material representing the non-mutually exclusive categories of communities of color, youth, as well as those of the transgender experience. This is important: if you don’t see yourself, your organiza-

Jim Van Buskirk, formerly the Program Manager of the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center, is a noted book author, freelance writer, public speaker and collections manager. For more information: http://jimvanbuskirk.com/

The LGBTQIA Center’s Namesake, James C. Hormel

He currently serves on the boards of People For the American Way, The Commonwealth Club of California, Grace Cathedral, and Swarthmore College, and is a life member of the Board of Governors of the San Francisco Symphony and a Trustee Emeritus of The San Francisco Foundation. In 1992, he was a member of the Democratic Platform Committee. He was a delegate in the 1992 Democratic National Convention in New York, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1996. Hormel has five children, fourteen grandchildren, and seven great-grand-

Karen Sundheim welcomed Jim Hormel to the Library in January 2012 for a discussion of his book Fit to Serve: Reflections on a Secret Life, Private Struggle, and Public Battle to Become the First Openly Gay U.S. Ambassador.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Jim Hormel, Nancy Pelosi and Michael Nguyen in 2010

The Hormel Center houses a variety of threedimensional LGBTQIA artifacts, including art works, Gay Monopoly and Gay Trivia games, a Gay Pride jigsaw puzzle and a Gay Bob doll.

children. He resides in San Francisco with his spouse, Michael P. Nguyen. Hormel’s memoir, Fit to Serve: Reflections on a Secret Life, Private Struggle, and Public Battle to Become the First Openly Gay U.S. Ambassador, reveals the power that comes from being true to one’s self, and the opportunity every person has to change the world. For more information: http://jameschormel.com/

PHOTO BY RINK

Hormel served as United States Ambassador to Luxembourg from June 1999 to December 2000. He was al-

For mor e t h a n 3 0 yea r s , Hor mel h a s been instrumental in developing resources for organizations serving people affected by HIV and AIDS, substance abuse, and breast cancer. He was a founder of the Hum a n R i g ht s C a m paign, the largest national LGBT advocacy organization, and served as a member of the board of directors of The American Foundation for AIDS Research.

PHOTO BY RINK

Hormel is an alumnus of Swarthmore College, where he has established a faculty chair in social justice. He received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where he subsequently was Assistant Dean and Dean of Students. He is a life member of the Visiting Committee of the Law School. In 1986, he established the James C. Hormel Public Service program at the Law School.

ternate representative of the U.S. delegation to the 51st United Nations General Assembly in 1996. He also was a member of the U.S. delegation to the 51st U.N. Human Rights Commission.

PHOTO BY RINK

James C. Hormel has devoted his life to the advocacy of basic human rights, social justice and the well being of all individuals.

The Hormel Center welcomes award-winning writers such as Lillian Faderman. BAY T IM ES APR IL 21, 2016

James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center Mural: Into the Light

Read about the making of the Into the Light mural and find out who is featured in it at sfpl.org/LGBTQImural

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“Admiring the magnificent mural in the Gay and Lesbian Center at the new Main Library at a recent preview: Ayse and Bob Kenmore, who are in it, which is only fair, since they paid for it. James C. Hormel cut the lavender ribbon to dedicate the center, which is also only fair, since he underwrote it.” —Pat Steger, San Franciso Chronicle, 1996

BAY T IM ES APR IL 21, 2016

All or Nothing

Inside Out Fitness Cinder Ernst A small exercise step is the heart of Inside Out Fitness. Over time you will string together more and more small steps and find yourself to be someone who is exercising regularly with ease.

Meet Ruth Linden at The Art Of Aging Gracefully COLORS Resource Fair

FONTS

Julius Sans One

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Quattrocento Thursday, April 7, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Jewish Community Center Francisco PMS 7533 U PMSof 557San U PMS 660 U PMS 652 U 3200 California Street, San Francisco

This free event will feature lectures by UCSF experts, informational booths, yoga, meditation, chair Pilates, mindfulness-based stress reduction, Brain Boot Camp and more! Learn more: jccsf.org/aginggracefully

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Physical benef its include increasing strength, which is the first building block of reducing pain, increasing stamina and improving mobility. Imagine all of the things in your life that would get better if you felt strong, energized and mobile. Exercising appropriately also helps you to sleep better, lifts your mood, decreases stress and tension, and often improves your work, home and sex life! Some studies conducted in the last 5 years have surprisingly shown that exercise does not contribute much to weight loss, so you might be able to take that off the benefits list…phew. All of the above is sure to increase your general well being. The emotional benefits of exercising with ease include a confidence boost that comes from doing something you know makes you feel better. When you exercise with ease, you are certain that you are on the right track for you. You know that because you feel relaxed about your fitness level. Can you even imagine? You have decided to find your own way, and you are do-

ing exactly that. Being successful with Inside Out Fitness (doing what I said I would do about exercise consistently and without struggle) is a moment-tomoment thing. You become present right here and now in your body, and just take the next small step. Imagine feeling happy and relaxed about your body. The opposite of Inside Out Fitness is the all or nothing approach. All or nothing is what happens to most people when they try to improve their fitness level. Traditional fitness programing is based on pushing for “the all,” even though it mostly does not work. It has probably happened to you along the way. You feel like you have to follow some exercise prescription and that prescription is simply too much for you right now. You feel like you “have to,” and at the same time you don’t have the time or energy to do it. Or maybe your body hurts and you cannot imagine how you can get past that. So all or nothing often ends up being nothing. If you do actually get started with the “all,” it is often not sustainable. You run into something and lose your momentum and then you are stuck back at “nothing.” It is really hard to get started again in most cases. People often get sidelined by injury when

jumping into a fitness program with the “all or nothing” mindset. All or nothing usually leads to driven behavior (all at any cost), or being stuck and frustrated (nothing). A strong case therefore exists for starting with small steps. Small steps are the heart of Inside Out Fitness and the antidote to “all or nothing.” Small steps string together, so you can exercise with ease and get the benefits of doing so. Most of us have been trained to believe the all or nothing approach is what is needed, and so when you begin with small steps, you might have some negative self-talk. I suggest you just say to yourself, “Thanks for sharing, but I’m trying something new.” Then take your step. A small step with a lot of bang for your buck is a “get up.” That is right; you just get up and down from your chair a few times. If your knees hurt when you get up from a chair, then this is not the right exercise for you at present. In the next column I will talk about getting past knee pain. Here is to standing strong and moving forward. Cinder Ernst, Medical Exercise Specialist and Life Coach Extraordinaire, helps reluctant exercisers get moving with safe, effective and fun programs. Find out more at http:// cinderernst.com

Remembering Harry We are very sad to report that Harry, the beloved pal of LGBT Community Leader Gary Virginia, died on April 15, 2016, at age 11 after a long illness. Both Gary and Harry were featured on the cover of the November 26, 2015, issue of the San Francisco Bay Times. Gary is seeking help in retiring the debt of Harry’s medical costs. Please contact Gary directly to do so: https://www. facebook.com/gary.virginia

Take Me Home with You!

Elvis

“Hi there! My name is Elvis, but you can call me The King, if you’d like. I ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog…and I’m lookin’ for love! Just like my namesake, I’m a sweet, sensitive guy. I’m looking for a quieter home and someone special who doesn’t mind taking things slowly. After all, only fools rush in, right?”

Elvis is presented to San Francisco Bay Times readers by Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, the SF SPCA’s Co-President. Our thanks also go to Krista Maloney for helping to get the word out about lovable pets like Elvis. To see Elvis and other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit: San Francisco SPCA Mission Campus 250 Florida Street 415-522-3500 Aside from major holidays, the adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–7 pm and Sat–Sun: 10 am–6 pm. Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt! Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup

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Professional Services Planning Ahead is an Act of Love › Wills and Living Trusts › Medi-Cal › Durable Powers of Attorney › Incapacity and Conservatorships 415-359-0223 www.caelderlaw.com wenzellaw@sbcglobal.net

Member National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Astrological Counseling speaking to your soul

Elisa Quinzi (818) 530-3366 www.ElisaQuinzi.com futureselfnow@gmail.com

N ewPer spec ti ves Center for Counseling

BAY T IM ES APR IL 21, 2016

See many more Calendar items @ www.sfbaytimes.com

compiled by Jennifer Mullen dance shorts and Let’s Get The Rhythm. sfdancefilmfest.org/lets-getthe-rhythm/

• 21 : THURSDAY

Comedy Returns to El Rio El Rio Bar. $7-$20. Sliding scale. 8 pm. (3158 Mission St.) Monthly comedy this month featuring Maureen Langan,Victor Escobedo, Bob McIntyre, Morgan, and Lisa Geduldig. brownpapertickets.com/ event/2532029

Howard Brenton’s Anne Boleyn - Marin Theater Com pany. (397 Miller Ave, Mill Valley) $10-$58. 7:30 pm.This play catalogs the downfall of King Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn and her rise into the household of the King of England during the Reformation. Through May 8. marintheatre.org

• 22 : FRIDAY

• 29 : SATURDAY

Opening Night of Yes to Everything - Exit Theater. $15$20. 8 pm. (156 Eddy) Written and performed by Ady Lady and directed by David Ford, this solo comedy features Candace Roberts, a singer/ songwriter, filmmaker and performance artist. Fridays and Saturdays through May 7. brownpapertickets. com/profile/5930

Dancers We Lost: Honoring Performers Lost to HIV/ AIDS Photo Exhibit - GLBT History Museum. $5 donation. 7–9 pm. (4127 18th St.) Photographs and more presented in a dance-history project honoring performers who died due to complications of HIV/AIDS. dancerswelost.org/exhibit/ Through August 7. facebook.com/ events/570571539782901/

• 23 : SATURDAY

“Teens and Queens” - Koret

Auditorium, Main Library. 20th Anniversary of the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center exhibition opening event with the Rising Rhythm Project honoring legendaries, followed by acts celebrating LGBTQIA pioneers and youth. Exhibit is in four library venues and includes an online exhibition. Through Aug. 7. facebook.com/James-C-Hormellgbtqia-Center-of-San-Francisco-

Public-Library-146487331384/ Same-Sex Ballroom Championship “April Follies” - Just Dance Ballroom. $20-$50. 9 am-11 pm. (2500 Embarcadero, Oakland). 14th Annual April Follies event. aprilfollies.com/ Arisa White at the Write of Way Literary Festival - SF Art Institute. 7:50 pm. (800 Chestnut St.) White reads excerpts from her new book.

• 24 : SUNDAY

Leave it to Diva Band Performance - People’s Park (Berkeley). Free. 4 pm. leaveittodivaband.com/

• 26 : TUESDAY

Queer Youth Meal Night LGBT Center, Rainbow Room. Free. 5–7 pm. (1300 Market St.) Youth Meal Night is a safe space to meet friends, have a free dinner and more. facebook.com/sfcenteryouth?_ rdr=p

• 27 : WEDNESDAY

AOF’s Art & Wine Event Clift Hotel’s Velvet Room. $20. 6:308:30 pm. (495 Geary Blvd.) Academy of Friends annual Art & Wine Auction benefitting HIV and AIDS services. eventbrite.com/e/academyof-friends-art-wine-auction-at-theclift-hotel-tickets-24630032089?disc ount=AOFSupporter2016

Adjacent Shores: Hughen/ Starkweather - Thacher Gallery, Gleeson Library. Free. Noon-6 pm. (2130 Fulton Ave.) Last day of the exhibit presenting artist team Amanda Hughen and Jennifer Starkweather’s mixed media works on wood panels and paper mapping the Pacific Ocean and forces that shape the Bay Area’s ever-changing shorelines.

Lost Footage of Cecil Williams, Film Screening and A GLIDE Talk - Glide Memorial Church. Free. 6 pm.(330 Ellis Ave.) Glide and Tenderloin Museum present a screening and talk with Rev. Cecil Williams, Janice Mirikitani, Hon. Willie L. Brown, Jr., Randy Shaw, and director Robert Zagone. eventbrite.com/e/lost-footage-ofcecil-williams-film-screening-a-glidetalk-tickets-24350956366

• 25 : MONDAY

LDG: Erotic Comics and Art Mr. S. Leather. 7:30 pm. (385 8th St.) Justin Hall and Jon Macy show their unique artwork. sfldg.org/all-programs/april-2016

Karaoke Night - SF Eagle. Free. 8 pm–12 am. (398 12th St.) This week’s special guest host is DJ Sav Blanc. Every Monday. facebook.com/ events/981253571966284/ Monday Night Marsh - The Marsh. $8. 7:30 pm. (1062 Valencia St.) An ongoing works-in-progress series, featuring local emerging solo performers. Happening every Monday. themarsh.org

• 28 : THURSDAY

San Francisco Public Library Presents “Dances for Camera” - Koret Auditorium. $15. 5:30-7:30 pm. (100 Larkin St.) Highlights from the 2015 festival, including award-winning screenReverend Cecil Williams preaching at GLIDE in the 70s: “He loved walking among the congregants, stopping to talk, racing back onstage, dancing to the music and making his point,” his wife and GLIDE co-founder Janice Mirikitani said.

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• 30 : SATURDAY

25th Anniversary of The Gilda Stories Oakland Launch Party - Laurel Books, Oakland.. Free. 7 pm. (1423 Broadway Ave.) Author Jewelle Gomez and the famous lesbian vampire story. Geoff Hoyle’s newest solo show Lear’s Shadow - The Marsh. $25-35 sliding scale, $55$100 reserved. 5 pm. (2120 Allston Way, Berkeley). Lear’s Shadow tells a fool’s story in a solo performance. Also on Thursdays at 7:30 pm. Through June 18. themarsh.org

KEVIN BERNE

Emch, Florez and Virago play at the Lost Church. $10$15. 7:30 pm. (65 Capp St.) Presented by Freshmeat and Bad Flower Productions. ticketfly.com/ event/1133127-fresh-meat-productions-bad-san-francisco/a9f824b2

The How and the Why - Aurora Theatre Company. $35-45. 8 pm. (2081 Addison St., Berkeley). Two women of different generations clash over what it means to be female. auroratheatre.org. Tuesday at 7pm; Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm; Sunday at 2pm; Through May 8.

George Villiers (David Ari) and King James I (Craig Marker).

KEVIN BERNE

Queer Open Mic - Modern Times Bookstore. 7 PM. Hosted by Baruch Porras-Hernandez and Blythe Baldwin with a special guest.

David Ari as Thomas Cromwell and Liz Sklar as Anne Boleyn

• 1 : SUNDAY

Maitri Bliss 2016 AIDS Fundraiser hosted by Leslie Jordan - Mission Bay Conference Center, UCSF. $225+. 4 pm. (1675 Owens St.) Ballet troupe Man Dance Company and Oakland jazz vocalist Branice McKenzie will also be performing. maitrisf.ejoinme.org/Bliss

• 2 : MONDAY

Bay Area Young Positives Drop-In Group. Free. 7 pm. (701 Market St.) Drop-in support for young HIV positive people. baypositives.org

THIS APRIL AT THE MARKET A SPREAD OF SPRING PRODUCE Spring has arrived, and with it, cherries! Try some of Alpine Blue’s sweet cherries; partner them with a fresh baguette from Feel Good Bakery, or an artisan cheese from Tres Bien Creamery! Check out eggs from Shelly’s Farm pasture-raised hens, and stock your fridge for Sunday morning brunches. A bouquet of flowers from the market can top your table, too!

PRIZE DRAWING MONTH! Win gift certificates to local businesses and events. Enjoy family-friendly activities or a night on the town, on us! This is the last week to enter; use Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to post photos geotagged at the market, or use the hashtag #castrofarmersmarket! April’s prize is a $40 gift certificate to La Mediterranee Restaurant and a bag of seasonal produce! PCFMA.ORG

1.800.949.FARM

fb.com/castrofarmersmarket

• 3 : TUESDAY

DESIGN : LOGOMAN : logomantotherescue.com

Two-Day Golf Workshop Sharpen Your Short Shots and Love your Long Game - Chardonnay Golf Club, Napa. $599. 8:30am 5pm on both days. Taught by LPGA Professionals Rebecka Heinmert and Jamie Leno Zimron. rebeckaheinmert.com/retreat/raise-yourgame-womens-golf-school

PHOTO BY CHARLES MARTIN, 2014.

Leave it to Diva Band Dance - La Peña. $12 advance, $15 at the door. 8 pm. (3105 Shattuck, Berkeley). www.leaveittodivaband.com

Hysteria Feminist and Queer-Friendly Comedy Martini’s. Free. 6 pm. (4 Valenica St.) Hysteria feminist and queer-friendly open mic. facebook.com/hysteriacomedy

• 4 : WEDNESDAY

The Doctor is In: CROI Update - Strut. Free. 6:30-8:30 pm. (470 Castro St.) The Doctor Is In offers twice-monthly opportunities to ask for guidance from HIV specialist Dr. Joanna Eveland of Mission Neighborhood Health Center, the Positive Force co-facilitator, and members of your community. Email pforce@sfaf.org to RSVP. strutsf.org/event/the-doctoris-in-croi-update/?instance_id=5611 Blur: Transgender and Gender-Variant Support Group - Dimensions Clinic. Free. 6:30 pm. (3850 17th St.) Facilitated chat with trans and gv people. For 18 to 25-year old youth. Every Thursday at Dimensions Clinic. dimensionsclinic.org