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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2018) January 11–24 2018 | sfbaytimes.com
Women’s March 2018 Saturday, January 20 SEE PAGES 13–16 STEVE JAWORSKI/BAY AREA WOMEN’S MARCH
PHOTO BY HERSHELL LARRICK
The Showdown Before the Showdown in Race for SF Mayor
Andrea Shorter We’ve now bid adieu and good riddance to 2017. The shock and aftershocks of President “My Nuclear Button is Bigger than Yours” Trump’s first year in the White House, the increasingly undeniable evidence of climate change ravages upon Puerto Rico and Texas, a new wave of feminism initially spurred on by Hillary Clinton’s failed bid to become the first female POTUS as expressed through the Women’s March, culminated in the torrent of #MeToo uproarious outcries over the sexual harassment and assault allegations against the epidemic perpetrations by movie moguls, award-winning actors and elected officials. We stumble into the New Year’s political realm with little promise or relief that it will be any less anxiety ridden than the last.
(Above) On Thursday, January 4, women leaders, including San Francisco Bay Times columnist Andrea Shorter, and supporters assembled on the steps of SF City Hall to express their criticism of members of the Board of Supervisors who want to appoint a caretaker mayor who would replace London Breed as Acting Mayor. (right) Artwork by Debra Walker on the front page of the San Francisco Bay Times was held up in support of Breed.
so-called progressive and moderate camps of its one horse, one party town is in heightened anticipation of an accelerated race for mayor.
Cliffhanger fates of DACA, the Democratic Party’s blue dog crawl towards dominating the November Primaries, the outcomes of the deepening Mueller investigations, and the supremely serious rally of tweet by tweet threats and insults hurled between the diminished leader of the free world and North Korea’s demented despot Kim Jong-un make for dizzying highstakes poker gambits sliding rapidly into brutal brawls of greasy, grimy street craps. Dices are loaded, bets are placed, and all players and onlookers hold their breaths at the tumbling roll.
The earliest declared candidate, former State Senator Mark Leno, remains the premiere frontrunner and best hope to become San Francisco’s first openly LGBTQ Mayor. There is no other state legislator that has done more to uplift and protect LGBT rights than Leno. Having started his campaign in early 2017 to fortify his competitive edge for the top spot in the previously scheduled first race in 2019, Leno has adeptly fundraised a $400,000 war chest, worked to build coalitions of support, and sought to make himself and his record of prolific and meaningful legislative achievements known to as wide a swath of voters—young and not-so-young— as possible. With a faithful base of LGBT voters, Leno’s rooted popularity extends into diverse communities of color, labor, and small business owners. According to a recent poll of registered voters, Leno leads the pack with 26 percent of voters and is favored as the first-place choice in ranked-choice voting on the 5-month sprint to the June ballot.
Calmer waters have yet to reach San Francisco’s political shores in the aftermath of the unexpected death of Mayor Edwin Lee. With a City still awash in shock, trauma quickly gave way to the queasiness of political machinations and maneuvering to secure the chief executive office. As the country remains roiled in the broad political polarity between parties and factions of those parties, San Francisco’s polarization between the
Acting Mayor London Breed, who is also President of the Board of Supervisors, polled a close second to Leno with 20 percent as a first-place choice. This is an impressive showing for a lesser known district supervisor whose profile has been rocketed into higher orbit by consequence of her succession as Acting Mayor. She is largely and increasingly known for her remarkable ascendance from the public housing projects. She was
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREA SHORTER
Cross Currents
raised by a devoted grandmother, has an older brother in prison and had a younger sister who succumbed to substance abuse in 2006. Breed rose up to eventually become the elected District 5 Supervisor, representing the Fillmore/Western Addition, Hayes Valley, Lower Haight, Haight-Ashbury, Japantown, Alamo Square, North of Panhandle, Cole Valley, and Inner Sunset neighborhoods. She was also twice unanimously elected President of the Board of Supervisors by her colleagues, both moderate and progressive. Brash, bold, shrewd, and courageous, she is a much-celebrated figure among her peers and others. A born and bred native of the streets and corridors of power of San Francisco, she is proving to be a definitively capable leader in executing the duties as Acting Mayor of San Francisco. The June race, at least so far, appears to be moving toward a showdown between Leno and Breed, who declared her candidacy last Friday. A long-speculated contender for the top spot, her perceived advantage as Acting Mayor has set into motion a series of proposals by the progressive block to short-circuit her status as Acting Mayor. The City’s Charter is quite clear about the order of succession in (continued on page 4)
Mark Leno Files Mayoral Candidacy Papers
PHOTO BY RINK
On Monday, January 8, former State Senator Mark Leno was at San Francisco City Hall’s Department of Elections to file his candidacy papers. He is now officially entered in the race to become San Francisco’s next mayor. In remarks to supporters, Leno said he would be an agent of change and would “shake things up.” Among the civic leaders attending were Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, Rafael Mandelman, Bevan Dufty, John Rizzo, Tom Temprano and Aaron Peskin.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK LENO
Leno signed a pledge, based on the Fair Campaign Promise, and challenged all other mayoral candidates also to denounce, renounce and reject “all SuperPACs, in order to keep City Hall in the hands of the people.” markleno.com
PHOTO BY RINK
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In the News Compiled by Dennis McMillan First Transgender Murder Victim of 2018 Announced Shortly After Report on Violence Against Trans People Is Released Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien, 42, is the first known transgender murder victim of 2018. Steele-Knudslien of North Adams, MA, organized and produced LGBT pageants, such as Miss Trans New England. Her husband Mark recently turned himself in to police and admitted to the killing, according to multiple reports. The death, in her home, happened just days after HRC Foundation and the Trans People of Color Coalition released a report documenting the senseless acts of violence that made 2017 the deadliest year on record for transgender people, and particularly for trans women of color. To read the report, go to: assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/A_Time_To_Act_2017_REV3.pdf?_ ga=2.242686722.103674043.1515516749-919521739.1515516749 Legal Recreational Marijuana Sales Begin in San Francisco On Saturday, January 6, legal recreational sales of cannabis began in San Francisco at six dispensaries. One of these was The Apothecarium in the Castro, where State Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Jeff Sheehy and others spoke during the opening. “This is the neighborhood where it all started,” founder and CEO Ryan Hudson said. “None of this would have happened,” he added, without the patients who received healing from cannabis during the AIDS crisis. The speakers were critical of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who rescinded three memos from the Obama era that had outlined a policy of noninterference with state laws on marijuana. Senator Wiener said that Sessions “wants to take us back to the 1950s.” leafly.com and sfgate.com Trump Fires All Members of HIV/AIDS Council With no explanation, the White House terminated members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), amid widespread discontent with President Trump’s approach to the epidemic. PACHA was created in 1995 during the Clinton administration to provide recommendations about the government’s response to the HIV epidemic. The Bush administration continued the council’s charter, and during the Obama administration, the council created and monitored the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. After six members of PACHA resigned last June, the White House terminated the remaining 16 members without explanation via a letter from FedEx. Scott Schoettes, a Chicago-based HIV/AIDS activist and senior attorney for Lambda Legal, was one of the six who resigned in June over Trump’s inaction on HIV/AIDS and said on Twitter that the remaining members were fired. “No respect for their service,” Schoettes wrote. “Dangerous that Trump and Co. (Pence especially) are eliminating few remaining people willing to push back against harmful policies, like abstinence-only sex ed.” washingtonblade.com New Dental Clinic for Low-income and Homeless San Franciscans Opens HealthRIGHT 360, which includes Lyon-Martin Health Services for the LGBT community, this week opened a new dental clinic at its Integrated Care Center (ICC) in San Francisco. With the addition of dental services to primary care, mental health, substance use disorder treatment and wellness services, the ICC is able to provide a higher level of integrated health care to low-income and homeless San Franciscans. “Medical conditions are often intertwined, that’s why we take the time to know everyone before starting treatment,” said HealthRIGHT 360’s dental care director Charmaine Ng, DMD. “Treatment has to respond to each person’s needs. We customize patient treatment plans to accommodate their specific dental needs, medications, health conditions, medical history and social determinants of health.” The dental clinic accepts all patients, whether or not they are currently HealthRIGHT 360 clients. HealthRIGHT 360 accepts Medi-Cal and assists clients in applying for coverage. The dental clinic is therefore open to everyone, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. healthright360.org/ Survey Results for Harvey Milk Castro MUNI Station Reconstruction Published The Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza (FHMP), in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects San Francisco, as reported here previously, announced that the design team led by Perkins Eastman was the winner of a competition to reimagine San Francisco’s Harvey Milk Plaza. The related survey results were recently released. 93% of the responders were local 94114 residents or adjacent. Just over half were daily or weekly commuters, and 40% were local non-commuters. 50% shared that they do not want the plaza to be a tourist destination, while 22% do and 30% do not care either way. The results were split between “rebuild the plaza” and “leave the plaza as-is.” It was concluded that while there are items that most can agree on, there is a significant divide between the support for the FHMP proposal to redesign the plaza to create more space for public gatherings. There is a slight majority that prefers to leave the current plaza in place, such that they desire no additional public gathering space. The summary of the full results is at: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScclDtG8S8bbWd3BffQESOqueIxrxOdCBfdPMGYqLY7lRmAw/closedform AT&T Extends Gender Identity Protections to Thousands of Workers Over 21,000 AT&T wireless workers have reached a precedent-setting tentative agreement that, in addition to curbing outsourcing and raising pay, wins the widest-reaching protections for transgender employees of any telecom industry contract. The tentative agreement, secured by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), provides the first-ever enforceable protections against discrimination based on gender identity in 16 states where no statewide non-discrimination law covering this category exists. The tentative agreement—which also includes the first-ever commitment that AT&T will send a guaranteed percentage of customer service calls to union-represented call centers, rather than contractors—is enforceable across the 36 states covered by CWA’s bargaining unit. Many of these states have laws in place allowing companies to terminate employees for their gender identity or expression. In a (continued on page 26) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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Will Chile Be the First Nation to Win Marriage Equality in 2018? til March 11, however, making it conceivable that the current legislature could pass and Bachelet could sign marriage equality legislation into law before she leaves office. The Bachelet administration is also pushing for immediate passage of gender identity legislation.
6/26 and Beyond Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis As the new year begins, we look to Chile in hopes that the South American nation will become the f irst country to achieve marriage equality in 2018. If successful, Chile will join Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and the territories of French Guiana and the Falkland Islands as the seventh country in South America with the freedom to marry. It appears, however, that the national legislature must act quickly if marriage equality is to become the law in the most straightforward manner. Chile just held presidential and national legislative elections in November and December. Former President Sebastián Piñera— who introduced Chile’s civil union bill in his prior term of office, but who opposes full marriage equality—defeated Alejandro Guillier, the pro-equality candidate whom outgoing President Michelle Bachelet, a marriage equality supporter, hoped would succeed her. President-elect Piñera and the new legislature, a majority of whom support equality, will not take office un-
President Michelle Bachelet first announced her support for marriage equality in her successful 2013 campaign for president. In 2015, the nation adopted civil unions for samesex couples. They provide many, but not all, of the rights and responsibilities of marriage. In 2016, the government agreed to drop its opposition to marriage equality and to introduce pro-equality legislation as part of an agreement pertaining to an ongoing lawsuit seeking marriage equality that LGBTIQ rights advocates had filed with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2012. In August 2017, Bachelet finally introduced marriage equality legislation, saying: “We can’t let old prejudices be stronger than love. We do this with the certainty that it is not ethical or fair to put artificial limits on love, or to deny essential rights just because of the sex of those who make up a couple.” The legislation also provides equal adoption rights for same-sex couples. Public opinion polls have shown over 60 percent support for marriage equality. Legislative action on the measure began in November. Over 100,000 people marched in Santiago in support of swift passage of marriage equality and transgender rights two days before the legislature began work on the bill.
According to the PanAm Post, President Bachelet’s spokeswoman Paula Narváez said that the administration would make marriage equality and gender identity legislation priorities in the remaining weeks before March 11. The Post quotes Narváez as saying, “In the case of marriage equality, we want to open a legislative body that will allow the debate to continue further” and “the Gender Identity bill is very urgent.” If these bills do not become law before Bachelet leaves office, LGBTIQ supporters vow to continue pressure for passage when Piñera and the new legislature take office. Although The New York Times reports that President-elect Piñera promised in the campaign to prevent the marriage equality legislation from going forward in order to appeal to more conservative voters, pro-LGBTIQ equality legislators appear to hold majorities in the new legislature. In addition, LGBTIQ advocates argue that the new Chilean government would be obliged to abide by its prior international agreement to implement marriage equality legislation. We—and the world—will keep our eyes on Chile. The time for full marriage and LGBTIQ equality is now. John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney, together for over three decades, were plaintiffs in the California case for equal marriage rights decided by the California Supreme Court in 2008. Their leadership in the grassroots organization Marriage Equality USA contributed in 2015 to making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.
SHORTER (continued from page 2) the event of the absence, unavailability, and untimely death of the sitting Mayor, whereby the Board President is sworn in to assume those powers. It is also clear that the Board of Supervisors can vote to determine the stay or ouster of the Acting Mayor. Attempts to end Breed’s status as Acting Mayor to “level the playing field” have raised eyebrows, hackles, and holy hell from various quarters of the City. The idea of appointing a “caretaker” Mayor—similar to the late Mayor Lee’s brokered appointment following then Supervisor Newsom’s departure to become Lt. Governor— was met with a large dose of suspicion, upset, and resistance. A coalition of women leaders, African American leaders and others have pointedly expressed their objections to any effort to remove the City’s first African American woman as the Acting Mayor, seeing such a move as not only offensive on the account of an historic first, but also manipulative of the Charter dictates in terms of succession. Concerned leaders who already endorsed Leno, others who haven’t yet endorsed anyone, and still others who have no intention of endorsing anyone voiced their opposition to any such motion or complicity to it through opinion editorials, rallies, and contacts with their Supervisors. The proviso of Ed Lee’s appointment as “caretaker” Mayor was his promise not to run for Mayor. After ten months in the seat, he did seek election as Mayor, much to the suspicion, upset, and resistance of those among the progressive ranks, who have cried foul for nearly 30 years for not having a progressive Mayor since Art Agnos. In fact, Art Agnos has been proposed by them to replace Breed. Reported4
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ly, a reluctant former Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr., polled as the top choice for any such caretaker role. With Breed now officially in the running, we will see what the Board of Supervisors brokers and decides in terms of an interim Mayor. Breed, upon her announcement, indicates that she is amenable to the Board’s decision. As it stands at this writing, Breed as Acting Mayor still maintains her duties as District 5 Supervisor and Board President. Now, as a candidate, managing these exceptionally demanding multiple charges could prove quite the challenge. Evident machinations towards consolidating a progressive majority on the Board could result in a vote to maintain Breed in the interim role, while forcing her relief of her dual role as District 5 Supervisor, and replacing her with a progressive. Should she relinquish to a caretaker and retain her District 5 seat and Board Presidency, in the event she is not the elected successor to Room 200, her losses are minimized for not having also given up her District 5 post. The f irst, last and only woman to serve as Mayor is now senior-ranked U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who upon the tragic assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978, as President of the Board of Supervisors, assumed by Charter the role as Acting Mayor. Dianne Feinstein remains the only woman ever to serve as Mayor of San Francisco. The circumstances of Breed’s assumption of this role following Mayor Lee’s untimely passing have not gone unnoticed, because the only times a woman has served as Mayor of San Francisco have occurred after the deaths of sitting Mayors.
The showdown before the showdown in the race to Room 200 is setting the stage for what is yet to happen in the coming five months. With San Francisco’s much heralded value for diversity, the opportunity to finally elect any of a number of historic firsts— such as an openly gay man, or an African American woman, after a long succession of white cisgender straight males and a singular female—is all too delectable. For either better or worse, identity politics of gender, sexual orientation and race are seemingly, and perhaps unavoidably, already shaping the narratives surrounding this accelerated race. As far as “leveling the playing field” to curtail any perceived advantage this historic first of an Acting Mayor might have, one would hope that no matter the results of the Board’s action, the strength of record, ideas, experience, and vision of any truly formidable candidate would prove competitive enough to prevail without tactics or notions having little to nothing to do with “leveling the playing field” so much as simply heading off the pass against another potentially formidable and viable candidate— who happens to be a woman, African American, and a native San Franciscan from the projects. Andrea Shorter is President of the historic San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women. She is a longtime advocate for criminal and juvenile justice reform, voter rights, and marriage equality. A co-founder of the Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, she was a 2009 David Bohnett LGBT Leadership Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Celebrating the Life of Mayor Lee Mayor Lee’s incredible career was inspiring to many of us. The Chinese American community has been a part of San Francisco for more than 150 years, and more than 25 percent of the city’s population is Chinese American. When he became mayor in 2011, it was a milestone for the Chinese American community.
Assemblymember Phil Ting Just one short month ago, San Francisco didn’t just lose its mayor; it lost a champion for social justice and a pioneer for its many different communities with Mayor Edwin M. Lee’s tragic passing. His story began where many American immigrants’ stories began—he was the son of Chinese immigrants and grew up living in public housing. His mother was a seamstress and his father was a cook at a restaurant. Mayor Lee helped out with deliveries at the restaurant before graduating from college in Maine and attending Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. He began his career working in civil rights as an advocate for low income housing at the Asian Law Caucus. He started there as a law clerk and eventually became managing attorney, fighting for the rights of underserved communities in San Francisco by suing City Hall on behalf of Chinatown’s immigrant tenants. He continued his championing of immigrant rights last January by reaffirming San Francisco’s stance as a sanctuary city.
He was responsible for major shifts in city politics. Before he became mayor, he helped the Asian American community engage with the Board of Supervisors, the Mayor’s Off ice, and city departments in order to expand their influence and enact policies they supported. As a result of his work before and after becoming mayor, many more Asian Americans began to get involved in city politics. The reason why many of us even have a seat at the table is because of Mayor Lee. As the mayor of San Francisco, he also defended the rights of the LGBT community. Mayor Lee was a founding member of the Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination coalition, which is made up of a bipartisan group of mayors dedicated to ensuring and preserving LGBT protections. Mayor Lee also backfilled millions for critical HIV services when federal funding was cut, saving thousands of lives. When North Carolina passed legislation to end protections for LGBT people and ban transgender individuals from using the restrooms that correspond with their gender identity, Mayor Lee reacted by banning city-funded travel to North Carolina. As a fellow alum of the Asian Law Caucus, I am incredibly grateful for (continued on page 26)
Responding to the Federal Immigration Chief’s Threats Against All of Us enforcement agency, as it perpetuates racial prejudice, and weakens the community-police relations that are vital to stopping serious crime.
Out of the Closet and into City Hall Oakland City Councilmember At-Large, Rebecca Kaplan A s Oa k land’s Cit y w ide Elected Councilmember, and the author of Oakland’s City Resolution calling for the Administration to cut ties between OPD and ICE, I’m denouncing Federal Immigration Chief Thomas Homan’s recent threats to harass people in California and sanctuary cities. Homan is now threatening to go after both immigrants and those of us public officials who speak up to protect human rights. Let me make this clear —if you are coming for my neighbor, you are coming for me. I won’t back down in my solidarity in the face of these threats. Homan is threatening the safety of the public, directing that more ICE agents enter California communities, arrest people in public spaces, and target people based on national origin rather than focusing on serious crimes. This behavior is entirely inappropriate for someone running a law
I continue to stand opposed to such actions, and will continue to denounce, and refuse to collude in, Trump’s racist agenda. I call upon the Oakland Administration to ensure that there will be no further collusion with ICE, and to retract their prior statements in support of the conduct of ICE in our community. I and others have urged that at times where our most vulnerable neighbors and community members are at risk of being torn from their families, and in some cases, taken from the only country they’ve known, the city must stand in solidarity in support of all of our community, and refuse to participate in Trump’s misuse of federal law enforcement for prejudiced and political purposes. As an active supporter of Oakland’s sanctuary city status, I authored legislation last July calling for the Oakland Police Department to immediately cut ties with ICE; the full City Council unanimously voted and passed the legislation. In August 2017, however, the Oakland Police Department and City Administration authorized assisting ICE agents who were conducting a raid in West Oakland. This led to the detention of someone who is not being charged with a crime, and is now facing deportation. There has been extensive community outcry about the West Oakland raid, and the inappropriate use of
OPD to assist in it. As a result, the City of Oakland Public Safety Committee heard a report and Resolution on January 9, and voted to clarify that OPD will not collude with ICE in such actions, even in providing traffic support. It is not acceptable for the Oakland administration to collude with ICE, as this Federal agency is targeting non-criminals, harassing people based on their national origin, and undermining our justice system. The head of ICE under Trump has publicly stated that his intention is to strike fear into communities, and now he is targeting California and cities like Oakland. The actions of ICE worsen community-police relations, and make everyone less safe, by causing victims and witnesses of crime to be afraid to come forward. Oakland should not be colluding in the Trump Administration’s racist agenda by defending the actions of ICE, otherwise the Oakland Administration is undermining the trust of our community. That is why I, and others, have called for an end to all collaboration between OPD and ICE, including that providing “traffic support” is also an unacceptable misuse of Oakland taxpayer resources. Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan was elected in 2008 to serve as Oakland’s citywide Councilmember; she was re-elected in 2016. She also serves on the Board of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and as the Chair of the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC).
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Redecorate Your Life in 2018
TLC: Tears, Laughs and Conversation Dr. Tim Seelig Is it just me, or have you also been inundated with more than the usual number of e-mails and posts telling you how to let go of the old year and find a happier you in the new one? For many of us, this past year was rough and the suggestions on how to handle that have been an avalanche—along with the usual requisite New Year’s resolutions. We just don’t know what to do. How can we make a difference? Since we can’t seem to change the external, suggestions on internal self-help abound. Self-help is nice, but don’t they think that if I could have found the answer to happiness by myself, I would have done it a long time ago? I would have saved a lot of money on therapists over the years. But I wouldn’t trade my years in therapy for anything. It’s critical for a recovering Baptist. Of course, you already know I’m going to throw in something “fun” from my religious past. It sure puts the fun in dysfunction. For those of you heathens out there who don’t know about this (I envy you), the Southern Baptists have an altar call at the end of every, and I mean every, church service—Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday, too. At that time, with the congregation singing a song encouraging compliance and reminding you of what a wretch you are, people can come forward for three reasons: 1. to get saved (you are supposed to have to do that only once); 2. to join the church and share in the fun; 3. to “rededicate your life” to the Lord, if you have backslidden. Behind the sanctimonious curtain of self-righteousness and piety, the staff often jokingly changed “rededicate your life” to “redecorate your life.” Bingo! That’s what we all do every January. Sure, we make resolutions and hope for big changes. In reality, we are just doing a little redecorating. If we have some funds with which to redecorate, we may spend a little money. We might join some-
thing such as a gym, purchase a Peloton, or subscribe to a weight loss program—again. I know someone who just signed up for a 30-day e-mail program to change his life with a once-aday, soul-lifting exercise. That someone may or may not be my husband, and I may or may not have agreed to join him. Suddenly, Whole 30 looks attractive, or a cleanse, or maybe starting Lent early by giving up, god forbid, refined sugar. Some of us redecorate our lives on the cheap ... mostly with good intentions. Perhaps we change the color of the “drapes” with some Rit dye. The color options these days are quite something. For those of us who don’t have drapes anymore, maybe it just involves discovering a shirt that you haven’t worn in a long time. You know, you put it in the “fat” pile never planning to “need” it again, but are keeping it just in case. Voila, it fits perfectly this year. Time to rejoice. You have a new wardrobe for free! Regardless of how you handle the new year, there are some basic suggestions that show up in every plan. I’ve listed a few. You already know them. • Spend more quiet time in self-reflection. • Wake up each day with gratitude. • Do something physical. • Pay attention to your nutrition. • Prune your energy-sucking Facebook friends. Now! Most years, I can’t wait until February when my friends and I are all back to the real self and life returns to “normal.” In addition to spending lots of time considering how 2018 will be better, the song begs the question, “What are you doing New Year’s Eve?” A lot of people f lee the Bay Area as if it were not one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. Many run off to Puerto Vallarta, Hawaii or Palm Springs for fun in the sun. I hate those FB pics—bitter party of one. A fellow went to NYC to stand in the freezing cold for 12 hours to watch the gayest Swarovski crystal ball drop somewhere between Mariah Carey’s orbs. Mariah asking for hot tea between her songs was the best. I must try that! For us, it was a staycation. It was wonderful. We spent New Year’s Eve, starting about 9 pm, coaxing our small frightened dog out of the very back
of the closet, where she had run when the neighbors started shooting fireworks. They were apparently on East Coast time. Like many, we watched televised celebrations from across the country featuring singers and groups, none of whom we knew except the veteran performer, Brittany. That made us feel older than ever. We watched Anderson Cooper and his new co-host, the uber-gay Andy Cohen. It was just awkward and kind of tragic. I think it’s awesome that there were two openly gay men co-hosting New Year’s Eve, but, as my late Mother taught me to say, “They were not my very favorite.” That bitchy repartee needs to stay in the closet, and we missed Kathy G. Among the fun things we did over the break, two stand out. The first was an all-time favorite, Beach Blanket Babylon. It was worth the price of admission to see their send up of the “Von Trump” family singers singing, “Do is cash we have lots of.” Oh my. It’s not just for tourists, you know! The second was the amazing Kinsey Sicks in Oy Vey in a Manger. Don’t know them? Oh, you must (kinseysicks.com). Ben Schatz, who sometimes goes by Rachel, took Bobby McFerrin’s haunting and sometimes irritating ear worm “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” and turned it on its ear. It’s delicious and is the perfect song to begin the new year with laughter and tongue firmly planted in cheek. They gave me permission to quote just a few of the lines and a bit of the dialogue in the middle. For more, please go to YouTube and listen to the whole thing. Please sing along! Here’s a little song I wrote, I’m probably gonna get a frog in my throat, Don’t be happy—worry. Our history of worrying is long and proud. For every silver lining, there is a cloud. Don’t be happy—worry. Spoken: “ ... I’m worried that Donald Trump won’t be impeached. I’m worried that Donald Trump will be impeached and then we’ll end up with President Pence, who won’t allow himself to be alone in a room with a woman who’s not his wife whom he calls ‘mother.’ Which makes him sound like a character (continued on page 26)
As Heard on the Street . . . What are you looking forward to the most in 2018? compiled by Rink
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Tanya Herrera
Annie Van Buren
Sister Scola
Robin McLean
Miss Chief
“I’m looking forward to so much creating in 2018. I have so many ideas spilling out of my head that my hands cannot keep up.”
“I’m looking forward to exploration of universal health care and medicare for all.”
“Helping raise funds for homeless children at some benefits.”
“The midterm elections”
“To try to make this a better place and to share my taste in drag.”
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SFGMC’s Holiday Shows and Season 40: Unstoppable
PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS PHOTO BY GARETH GOOCH/SFGMC
PHOTO BY GARETH GOOCH/SFGMC
PHOTO BY JUAN DAVILA
PHOTO BY PAUL MARGOLIS
On June 22 and 23, the Chorus will premiere at the Nourse Theater a newly commissioned work by Andrew Lippa, entitled Unbreakable, about the history of the LGBTQ movement. We’ll see you there to enjoy both shows! sfgmc.org
PHOTO BY GARETH GOOCH/SFGMC
During 2018, the Chorus is proudly celebrating its 40th year. The next concert, entitled Bridges, will present the program from the Lavender Pen Tour in conjunction with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. The show will also include the California premiere of Joel Thompson’s Seven Last Words of the Unarmed with special guest Holly Near. Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 29, at Davies Symphony Hall.
PHOTO BY GARETH GOOCH/SFGMC
PHOTO BY JUAN DAVILA
Members of the San Francisco Bay Times team have long been in the audience of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus shows and particularly enjoy the performances presented for the Holiday Season. Attending at least one of the Home for the Holidays shows at the Castro Theatre on Christmas Eve has become a tradition for many in our community, so all three are sure to be standing room only and a huge success every year.
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Vacaville 1956: California’s First Gay Rights Protest
Faces from Our LGBT Past Dr. Bill Lipsky The first known protest in California by a group of gay men against their mistreatment because they were homosexual, authorities said later, really began with a simple misunderstanding. On September 9, 1956, a correctional officer told some 45 residents gathered in the second-f loor day room of Vacaville State Hospital’s K Wing—“the section designated for homosexuals”—that he was going to pick up their “hobby work.” According to a report filed the next day, the “homosexuals in K Wing,” contrary to stated rules, had “accumulated handicraft articles, clippings, pictures and other things with which they have decorated their rooms.” These now would be taken from them and the men would be forbidden from displaying “in their housing quarters” any “items of handicraft, such as doilies, picture frames, etc.”
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LGBTQ News & Calendar for the Bay Area ) CELEBRATING FOUR DECADES (1978–2018
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etter known by the stage name Divine, actor Harris Glenn Milstead (19451988) was an internationally known personality who many San Francisco Bay Times team members remember seeing in the Castro, especially during the late 70s and throughout the 80s. Appearing in more than twenty films, many produced by John Waters, Divine was best known for his drag personality and disco music performances. According to legendary photographer Rink, in this photo Divine is leaving a disco benefit event held in San Francisco in 1978. 8
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When “the officer on duty” explained he was going “to enforce the regulations,” the men were not pleased. “Some of the inmates protested in no uncertain manner,” he explained later. In addition to booing and calling him an “S.O.B. Bull,” they went down to his office and knocked everything from his desk onto the floor. To better understand the disturbance, staff agreed to interview anyone who wished to share his grievances. Beside losing their hobby privileges, inmates complained about “the minor harassments and frustrations” that came from “the restrictions necessarily imposed upon this particular housing unit,” which create “an area of acute sensitivity to homosexual patients.” Even more serious, many also “regard their K Wing housing as a form of daily punishment due to their being homosexuals.” Sharing grievances did not end the enmity. Inmates continued to challenge their treatment as best they could. Some papered over their cell windows; others covered them with shoe polish or soap. Twice they removed furniture from the wing’s day room, taking it to their ward. Finally, on September 23, approximately 25 residents left the cafeteria and proceeded back to the unit unescorted, a serious violation of protocol. That was enough protest for the administration, who now responded swiftly to the events it once charac-
terized as minor. Staff identified eight men it claimed were “constantly fomenting and agitating” an atmosphere of “complete and general disrespect and disregard of authority in Wing K.” Three were moved to Wing S and placed in segregation. Five, “determined not be psychotic” but who “ have not responded to treatment provided,” were transferred to Folsom Prison.
Vacaville ca. 1957
T he repor t d id not name the treatment, but the medical staf f had numerous options. They included counseling, castration, electric shock therapy, massive injections of male hormones, mood-altering medicines, aversion therapy, and psychosurgery, popularly known as leucotomy or prefrontal lobotomy. Being under the care of court-appointed medical professionals, the “appropriate” therapy was chosen by an attending physician. Patients had no legal say in their treatment. This worst of times for homosexuals began in 1949, when California created procedures that allowed indefinite detention of “sexual psychopaths.” They granted state trial judges the f lexibility to designate homosexuals charged with sodomy or oral copulation— both illegal—either as criminals to be punished or as mentally ill personalities to be “healed.” Instead of being sentenced to prison for five to ten years, they now could be incarcerated in a state hospital “until cured,” potentially for the rest of their life. Leucotomy, the most notorious “cure,” was developed by the Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz, who won a Nobel Prize in Medicine for it in 1949. The physician credited with popularizing it in the United States was Walter Freeman. His streamlined version of the operation, known as a trans-orbital or “ice pick” lobotomy, took 10 minutes or less to complete; patients were made unconscious with electroconvulsive shock. It could be done anywhere, including mental hospitals that had no operating rooms or even surgeons on staff. Freeman performed as many as 5,000 lobotomies during his career, up to 40 percent of them on homosexuals; some 500 individuals died because of the treatment. In 1971, he announced that he himself had “severed the frontal lobes” of homosexual inmates at California’s Atascadero State Hospital, the most notorious mental health care facility in the state. The next year the public learned that at least three inmates had undergone the procedure at Vacaville.
Help for the helpless came soon after. In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. Then California decriminalized same-sex intimacy. Dr. Walter Freeman studies an X ray before a psycho- No longer mentally ill and no longer being convicted for “homosurgical operation
sexual behavior,” gay men stopped being sent to mental hospitals because of whom they chose to love. New drugs eventually ended lobotomy as a “cure” for unacceptable and antisocial behavior in California, although the state did not ban so-called “gay aversion therapy” until 2012. Vacaville may have been the first protest in California by gay men against their treatment for being members of a sexual minority, but it was not the last. In May 1959, transgender women, drag queens, lesbians, and gay men pelted police with donuts and coffee cups at Cooper Do-nuts in Los Angeles when, once again, they were hassled there by officers. In August 1966, transgender women and gay men stood up for their rights at Gene Compton’s Cafeteria in San Francisco. Other incidents followed, including one at the Stonewall Inn in New York, which ignited a revolution. (Quotations in this article are from documents in “Projects & Pro grams—Incidents—C. M. F., Vacaville 1951–59, Corrections-Correctional Program Services, 1951–59,” F3717: 585, Correctional Program Services Records, Department of Corrections, California State Archives.) Bill Lipsky, Ph.D., author of “Gay and Lesbian San Francisco” (2006), is a member of the Rainbow Honor Walk board of directors.
GLBT Fortnight in Review Roland Schembari and Bill Hartman, Co-Founders Randy Alfred, Founding News Editor 1978 Kim Corsaro Publisher 1981-2011
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CONTRIBUTORS Writers Rink, Sister Dana Van Iquity, Ann Rostow, Patrick Carney, Kate Kendell, Alex Randolph, Heidi Beeler, Gary M. Kramer, Dennis McMillan, Tom Moon, Tim Seelig, Cinder Ernst, John Chen Rafael Mandelman, Jewelle Gomez, Phil Ting, Rebecca Kaplan, Leslie Katz, Philip Ruth, Bill Lipsky, Karen Williams, Donna Sachet, Gary Virginia, Zoe Dunning, Marcy Adelman, Stuart Gaffney & John Lewis Brandon Miller, Jamie Leno Zimron Thom Watson, Michele Karlsberg Lyndsey Schlax, Elisa Quinzi, Randy Coleman, Debra Walker, Wendy Ross, Howard Steiermann, Andrea Shorter, Tom Temprano, Lou Fischer, Karin Jaffie Photographers Rink, Phyllis Costa, Jane Higgins Paul Margolis, Chloe Jackman, Bill Wilson, Jo-Lynn Otto, Sandy Morris, Abby Zimberg ADVERTISING Display Advertising Standard Rate Cards are available online at sfbaytimes.com and by calling: 415-503-1375 Custom ad sizes are available. Please inquire! The Bay Times reserves the right to reject any advertising at the discretion of the publishers. National Advertising: Contact Bay Times / San Francisco. Represented by Rivendell Media: 908-232-2021 Circulation is verified by an independent agency Reprints by permission only. CALENDAR Event listings for consideration to be included in the Bay Times online or print Calendar section should be sent by e-mail to: calendar@sfbaytimes.com. © 2017 Bay Times Media Company Co-owned by Betty L. Sullivan & Jennifer L. Viegas
By Ann Rostow Call Me When It’s Over Before we start, my friends, I have to admit that Mel and I were not crazy about Call Me by Your Name, the movie I’ve been hyping for six months that was supposed to have been a lyrical expression of gay love, starring two beautiful actors and set in a magical summer in Northern Italy. Even though I’m a gay woman, I have always appreciated the male form, and am always thrilled about romantic tales of men in love. And I also don’t mind slow-paced movies, particularly those set in magical summers in northern Italy. Before the film began, I whispered to our other friend who joined us: “I can’t wait to see this movie.” So, I was patient. Time passed. The gorgeous men went swimming. They biked into town. Everyone had breakfast and dinner at the outdoor table on the veranda. Jokes were exchanged. More time passed. After an hour or so, Mel gave me a questioning look, which I ignored. Our friend left to make a phone call. Fifteen minutes later she returned. “You missed nothing,” I snapped in a whisper. Eventually, we just left. It had been at least two hours, and I felt betrayed. Betrayed by the reviewers, the nominations, the film writers’ blather. It wasn’t simply that I disagreed with the general consensus. It was another one of these times when people cannot make unbiased judgments about gay culture. Yes, the movie was languid and lovely. Europe in the 1980s was idyllic and innocent. Rural Italy was as we imagine it should be. The handsome guys had a summer fling. But that was it. And it wasn’t enough. If the main characters had been heterosexual, the reviewers would have slammed it as a yawner with nice scenery. (Editor’s Note: San Francisco Bay Times film critic Gary Kramer holds a different view of the film. See his review and interview at: http://sfbaytimes.com/scorchingly-intense-callname-emphasizes-sensuality-not-sexuality/) It’s a Mad Mad World Mel is reading Fire and Fury while I write, interrupting my efforts every now and then with unbelievable crazy quotes. For once, I almost agree with the irritating David Brooks, who opines (sort of) that opposition to Trump is serious business, while this book is silly gossip. Keep your eye on the ball, his message implies. Perhaps, but it’s possible to eat your vegetables and have dessert, isn’t it? Maybe two desserts. Maybe two desserts, a bag of Fritos and a margarita on the rocks, no salt. Wait. Make that a pitcher. The book is a guilty pleasure without much guilt. And yes, it rings true. The image of Kellyanne Conway making a gun out of her finger and firing it into her head in reaction to something Trump did or said is so real that I feel as if I myself were in the room with her. As for the idea that Oprah should run for president based on her lifetime of success and the great speech she gave at the Golden Globes, I agree with Nancy Pelosi. Yes, based on Trump, she should run. No, based on Trump, she should not run. I’ve always been a fan of good politicians and good lawyers. These maligned professionals are the ones who are trained to perform the tedious and often laborious hard work of governing, and as a rule, they’ve got my vote. Of course, I’d trade Trump or Pence for Oprah in a heartbeat, but I don’t really want another celebrity in the oval office.
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The Russians Are Coming By the way, I just paused to write some headlines and I’m not sure I ever mentioned that one of my father’s best friends was a successful Hollywood screenwriter named Bill Rose. (Not Billy Rose.) Anyway, he wrote It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World while staying at our house in Washington, D.C., and I just found a notebook with the ten-page typed proposal he made to the producers. Pretty cool, huh? He won an Oscar for Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and he named the characters in one of his movies (The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming) after our family—Walt, Elspeth, Peter and the adorable little girl, Ann. He eventually retired to the Isle of Jersey for tax purposes and drank heavily until his death. (Hey! Just read Jersey will vote on marriage equality January 30. Guernsey passed it last year.) The holidays are over, but it takes a little time to get back into the swing of things, so I’m allowed to ramble. I think I told you that they did finally pass marriage equality in Australia, and the law went into effect this month, so that’s done at long last. I’m not sure, however, if I mentioned that Bermuda became the first country to do what California did in 2008, take marriage equality away from its citizens. The Overseas British Territory enjoyed marriage equality for a brief time, thanks to a May 2017 court ruling, but last month, cruel lawmakers decided to pass a statute downgrad-
ing gay couples into domestic partnerships. I do not believe that John Rankin, the British Governor to Bermuda, has signed the legislation, but it’s not clear that he has the authority to veto lawmakers to begin with, so it might not matter. There’s also not much the United Kingdom can do about the situation, even though everyone in Bermuda is a British citizen. The U.K. is rightly hesitant to throw its weight around, now that the sun has indeed set on the British Empire, so Bermuda has the power to run its own government, for better, or as in this case, for worse. If nothing intercedes to reverse the reversal, we can only hope that tourism suffers and dies, choking the life out of the Bermudan economy and making those members of parliament rue the day they chose hatred and discrimination over love and human rights. We are watching Victoria on PBS, just finished season two of The Crown on Netflix, and can’t get enough of the endearing younger generations of the royal family. I think it has something to do with Trump. I want a monarch. Someone devoted to country and duty. I want him or her (I don’t care which!) decked out in sashes and ribbons, maybe a sword at hand, certainly a lot of jewels and a crown. You Stay, Girl! I just read that Justice Kennedy hired a full set of law clerks for the 2018/2019 session that starts this fall. That’s good news, considering there had been a rumor he was considering retirement. Justice Ginsburg, in turn, (continued on page 26)
Randy Coleman hails from New York, but has lived in San Francisco since 1975. Coleman shares that before moving to the Bay Area, he studied Art History and Architecture at Boston University while working as a resident artist for architectural rendering at a Massachusetts historical society. “All of my life I’ve been an artist,” Coleman says. “To know me is to know that I have a passion for art and architecture. I love this project for the San Francisco Bay Times, and hope that you enjoy my sketches.”
SF Sketch Randy Coleman
Some Like It Hot I guess climate change is having an impact on green sea turtles that nest on islands near the Great Barrier Reef. According to Current Biolog y, the warmer the sand, the more likely it is that the turtles will hatch female babies. In the last couple of decades, the baby turtle population on one particular island has risen to 99.8 percent female, threatening the survival of the local turtles. Either the few remaining boy turtles must spend all of their time procreating, or the group will have to find cooler climes. Speaking of gender, the editor of the Burlington Free Press has been fired after a tweet that broke the camel’s back. Denis Finley was hired in 2016, and from the short article I read, he seemed to enjoy being a red man in a blue state, blasting Barack Obama, politicians in general and generally sounding like a jerk on Twitter. Usually, the editor of the local paper would avoid taking public positions outside of the opinion page, but for whatever reason, this guy liked the cyber banter. Recently, however, Vermont lawmakers began discussing whether or not to add a third gender option for the state drivers’ license and, this being Burlington, Vermont, the reaction was positive. Into the mix popped off Finley, who first called the idea “apocalyptic” and then fell into a back and forth with other tweeters. When one of them wrote that “recognition is awesome,” Finley replied: “What if someone said it’s awesome they are going to recognize pedophiliacs on licenses? I’m not being snarky, I’m just asking. Not all recognition is awesome.” The problem is, you can’t just say, “I’m not being snarky,” when in fact you are all that and far, far more. Needless to say, the Vermont twitterverse erupted. “This is despicable,” one particularly articulate woman wrote. “Whether intended or not you equate non-binary recognition with pedophilia. One is a horrid crime, and the other a nod to humans just trying to live authentic lives.”
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The Gannett newspaper chain, owners of the Free Press, dismissed Finley on January 8, three days after the Friday evening exchange.
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© Randy Coleman, 2018
Sister Dana Sez: Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun others make work,” he says. “However, very often I have found it really hard to make my own, to justify my own choices, sometimes even to myself. As a way to free myself from these self-imposed restrictions, I have shifted personae depending on subject matter and interest in various media.” From 2004 to 2009, he produced hand-painted pornographic ceramic plates as Virginia Trembles. As David Six, he produced print work. His current body of work under his own name centers on his husband, Dr. Ralph Thurlow, and his struggle with HIVAIDS neuro dementia. “The work submitted for Strut has all been completed in the last two years and revolves around Ralph’s decline, my increasing care-giving responsibilities, and staying alive creatively. So that Ralph is not just the subject but also a participant in the making of the image and artwork. He is involved in the generation of the paintings, actively drawing on the images, generating subject matter, and in ongoing critical conversations as the work progresses.” Thurlow and Spiher are both long term HIV survivors, long term 12 recovery, and are actively working out the ways and means of dealing with their physical, mental, and emotional health. The exhibit will hang on the Strut walls all January.
By Sister Dana Van Iquity Sister Dana sez, “Happy Queer New Year! So, how many of us have already broken our New Year’s resolutions? Go on a diet? Exercise more? Stop smoking? Oh, please, do what I do with my easy-breezy, handydandy Resolution Solution: ‘I resolve to be the best me I can be.’ It’s faultless. You’re welcome.” CASTRO ART WALK—held every first Thursday, 6–9 pm—occurs because participating businesses extend their normal hours to host special events and share artwork with the neighborhood. Each venue will have many works on display and for purchase. This event is free and open to the public. The Castro Art Walk is proudly sponsored by Castro Merchants. Most of the remaining art will be on display all month long. The January 6th Art Walk started out at Art Attack SF, 2358 Market Street, Suite 1, and continued to The Artist’s Gallery, 4406 18th Street-A; Spark Arts, 4229 18th Street; Dog Eared Books, 489 Castro Street; Blush! Wine Bar, 476 Castro Street; Norden Living, 3618 17th Street; 440 bar, 440 Castro Street; GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street; The Apothecarium, 2029 Market Street; and S16 Home, 286 Sanchez at 16th Street. Live music was provided in Jane Warner Plaza from 6–7pm. castroartwalk.com
And speaking of art, SWEET INSPIRATION’s restroom has been substantially made over with new art: owners have installed a new mural depicting us Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Sister Dana (in orange veil and giant cross) proudly shares a wall with Sister Roma and other nuns. Sweet Inspiration (2239 Market Street between Sanchez and Noe) is open 7 days a week from 8 am to 9 pm. KREWE DE KINQUE—the charitable Mardi Gras club founded in 2004—kicked off Mardi Gras season on TWELFTH NIGHT (12 days after Christmas, also known as the Epiphany) for a festive party. Krewe member Donna Sachet offered her lovely Imperial Palace at 21st Street at Castro for our gathering again. Per tradition, masks were required, and beads, costumes, leather/fetish wear, and umbrellas were plentiful! This is always one of our most festive events of the year. In addition to the cutting of the KdK king cake, we secretly announced to “members only” the monarchs elect (King & Queen XV to be crowned at the BAL MASQUE benefiting Larkin Street Youth Services on February 10th at The Cafe). After the potluck of delicious N’Orleans cuisine, we paraded down Castro Street led by Queen XIV Lady CukiCouture to let the GOOD TIMES ROLL with a bar crawl. At our last stop at The Edge, we closed down the bar at closing time. And a good time was had by all! http://lookup-id.com/ dir/202756774136.html
The gallery at STRUT, the Castro hub of health and wellbeing for gay and bi men, is currently celebrating the work of David Spiher, entitled, FORGETTING TO REMEMBER THE CLOCKS. The Art at Strut program has been exhibiting the work of a local Gay or Queer artist once a month for over 14 years. Each month, a different queer artist exhibits his or her works on the walls of Strut. They always have a fantastic and impressive lineup of artists and hold first Friday night receptions allowing us the privilege of speaking with the artists in person. Spiher lives in the East Bay and makes art—currently producing prints and paintings—at the Compound Studios in Oakland. “I have been an assistant for a number of artists, designers, and craftspeople so I am really used to helping
Sister Dana sez, “Check out these Januariffic upcoming events!”
PHOTO BY RINK
ART SAVES LIVES Castro gallery and performance space, curated by San Francisco local artist Thomasina De Maio, will present the JANUARY RECEPTION on Friday the 12th, 6 to 8:30 pm. It will feature live entertainment by local performers such as Irene McCalphin, Ron Jones, Emma Gabriel, Angela the dancer, and more. Most of the artists will be there in person to discuss their works. Complimentary refreshments will be offered.
Sporting handsome smiles during the reception at REAF’s Help Is On The Way for the Holidays 2017 at the Marines’ Memorial Theater were (right) Dennis McMillan (aka Sister Dana) and auctioneer and SFPD officer Lenny Broberg.
Curator and artist Catherine Merrill returns to BACK TO THE PICTURE/Valencia Street with an exhibition, PARADISE LOST, focusing on the human figure. After last year’s highly successful exhibition, Catherine has enlarged her roster and collected all new works for the show. The Opening Reception with the artists is on Saturday, January 20, 6–9 pm at 934 Valencia Street. Artists showing (continued on page 20) S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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Wedding and Event Planners Can Save You Money and Stress in the Long Run By Cristina Galvan Did you just get engaged? Do you want to have a big 40th birthday party or any social event to celebrate a special time in your life? Do you know someone who does, and you want to help? Are there too many things to do? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you thinking your budget won’t cover everything you want? Hire a wedding or event planner to help you every step of the way. With their guidance, you will be led along the right path that doesn’t leave you broke. A wedding or event planner can help to plan and coordinate a special occasion for you, or someone you know. They will sit down with you, get to know you, and discuss your vision and style. They will hear you out, and fully understand what you are envisioning. They know a lot of vendors, and know how to choose them with your budget and style in mind. They will also work alongside them. On the day or night of the event, they will coordinate the entire day or evening and make sure it f lows smoothly. They will work closely with the photographer, DJ, and venue to make sure the timeline is followed as closely as possible. For weddings, they will run your rehearsal and coordinate the ceremony processional, as well as coordinate the grand entrance into the reception. They will check in on the bride, the groom, and the entire wedding party throughout the day. They will do this, and much more! Are you going to have a lot of décor and/or rentals? A professional will assist with this. They will set up décor according to your specifications. They will also let vendors know where to place rentals and f lowers. Everything will look the way you want it to. Leave it all up to a professional to make your wedding or other event look and feel great. They do all the work, so you can relax and enjoy. Overall, you w ill have a stress-free day and evening because of them. They will handle any potential problems that may arise. Even if a vendor runs late, they will be there to handle the situation. They carry an emergency kit in case a button comes off, or if other issues arise. If the timeline is not followed properly, it could throw everything off and all details may fall apart. You would avoid these disasters by hiring a professional who’d be there to prevent them from happening in the first place.
save you money in the long run, so do not short change yourself by trying to go it alone. Please check out Hermosa Weddings and Events to assist you in making your vision come to life (www.hermosaevents.com). Cristina Galvan would love to help make your special occasion everything that you want it to be, including providing assistance in design and destination services.
A wedding or event planner will carry out all the details to make sure that your wedding or event is a complete success. They will even
Frederick Sullivan and Jaime Botello, who oversee the Weddings & Occasions page for the “San Francisco Bay Times,” are the talented wizards behind Sullivan-Botello Events (http://sullivanbotelloevents. com) and SnB Party Rentals (650-877-0840, www.snbpartyrentals.com). Both are Certified Wedding Planners with extensive experience in creating memorable, personalized events for special occasions. Their rental service is incredible, offering everything from beautiful gold Chiavari chairs to LED dance floors, and all at competitive prices. They are the creators of the Gay Vanity Wedding Show and are longstanding members of the Golden Gate Business Association, which is the nation’s first LGBT Chamber of Commerce. 12
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WOMEN’S MARCH 2018 Saturday, January 20 STEVE JAWORSKI/ BAY AREA WOMEN’S MARCH
Women’s March 2018 to Bring #Power to the Polls lence, and promoting the rights of immigrants, workers, and LGBTQIA and disabled community members.
One year ago, an estimated 2 percent of the entire U.S. population participated in the Women’s March, making it one of the largest single-day demonstrations in history. Such estimates do not even take into account the number of participants who marched in solidarity outside of this country. Now, a year into the destructive and nightmarish Trump presidency, it is time to take to the streets again. As LGBT activist Cleve Jones wrote: “Stop Trump! Protest everywhere. January 20, 2018.” We too urge you to heed the call to action, by joining one of the many Women’s Marches that will be taking place on that day throughout the Bay Area. The Women’s March is a national movement to unify and empower everyone who stands for human rights, civil liberties, and social justice for all. Use the tool at the Women’s March Anniversary Event Map to find out which march or related event will be closest to you (http://www.powertothepolls.com/anniversary. html). In San Francisco and throughout California, the theme is “Hear Our Vote.” Women’s March Bay Area (WMBA) has been striving to turn last year’s watershed moment into a movement. On the heels of #MeToo and historic elections in 2017, the upcoming actions will focus on getting out the vote in the 2018 midterms. The march will kick off a year of voter mobilization. The Saturday, January 20, event in San Francisco will begin with a rally at 11:30 am at San Francisco’s Civic Center and will end at the Embarcadero. Participating organizations will be aligned with the Women’s March National Unity Principles (https://www.womensmarch.com/principles) created with the goals of protecting civil and reproductive rights, working for environmental justice, ending vio-
“This is not just a march, but a call to action to get engaged locally about the issues that matter to you,” Sophia Andary, Co-leader of San Francisco Women’s March, informed the San Francisco Bay Times. “2017 was an incredibly tough year, but we made great strides in forming alliances, working together, and cementing our values. This movement is bringing attention to issues that have long plagued this country and this city, and we’re building the skills and taking the actions that we hope will help build the future we want to see.” She and her team told us that, as of this writing, the following speakers have been confirmed for the San Francisco event. More will likely be added in the coming days. • Brittany Packnett, Vice President of National Community Alliances for Teach for America, Co-Founder of Campaign Zero, and a member of President Barack Obama’s 21st Century Policing Task Force; • Kanyon Sayers-Roods, Native American activist, artist and poet; • Aimee Allison, President of Democracy in Color, an organization that focuses on race, politics and the new American majority that worked to elect President Barack Obama and others who carry a social justice agenda; • Cecilia Chung, Senior Director of Strategic Projects for the Transgender Law Center, and a longtime LGBT activist; • Zahra Billoo, civil rights attorney and the Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations; • Olga Talamante, the first Executive Director of the Chicana Latina Foundation; • Sidalia King, Legislative Aide to Toni Atkins, the first out queer woman Speaker of the Assembly; • Viviana Becerra, Legislative Director at the State Assembly; • Rabbi Katie Mizrahi, spiritual leader of the Or Shalom Jewish Community since 2007; • Jenny Friedenbach, Executive Director of the Coalition on Homelessness; • Jacqueline Evans, Peer Organizer at the Coalition on Homelessness;
• Hillary Ronen, San Francisco Supervisor of District 9. “Last year’s election compelled many of us to a level of action and activism that has changed our lives and our communities, forging connections across groups that have otherwise been siloed,” said Jenny Bradanini, Co-leader of Women’s March San Jose. “As is clear from the unprecedented number of women candidates this cycle, the grassroots movement has taken hold. First we marched, now we run!” The WMBA marches are two of eighteen planned across California that Saturday, representing the state’s part of the national movement. It will be a busy weekend because on Sunday, January 21, the official national anniversary of the Women’s March will be commemorated in Las Vegas with the theme #Power to the Polls. Nevada has recent experience with some of the most pressing issues facing women in our nation today, from gun violence to politicians accused of sexual assault. As a swing-state that will shape the Senate in 2018, and as home to a strong activist network, Nevada was deemed to be the perfect place to continue building electoral power. The Las Vegas anniversary event will kick-off a national voter registration and mobilization tour targeting swing states to register new voters, engage impacted communities, harness the Women’s March’s collective energy in advocating for policies and candidates that reflect its values, and to collaborate with partners to elect more women and progressive candidates to office. Finally, please keep in mind that the various Women’s March groups are actively fundraising to help support their planned events. Local organizers informed us that the funds go toward making the marches safe, successful and accessible. We were told that any extra funds beyond meeting those needs will help to support additional actions throughout the year. You can donate to WMBA at: https://womensmarchbayarea.org/donate/ For more information: Women’s March Bay Area: womensmarchbayarea.org Power to the Polls: powertothepolls.com/ S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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WOMEN’S MARCH 2018 Saturday, January 20
Women’s March Oakland Leaders Share Plans, Goals chair of Women’s March Oakland. “When March for Our Future Co-chair Alisha Shaik reached out to us, we jumped on the opportunity to support and mentor young activists who are ready to take a stand and make a difference.”
Women’s March Oakland, like its sister Women’s March Bay Area (WMBA), is readying for the events of Saturday, January 20. The East Bay march and rally, “Hear Our Vote: March for Our Future,” will kick off at 10 am that day at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland. It will proceed up 14th Street and end at Frank Ogawa Plaza, where there will be a “Call to Action Alley” featuring local organizations.
Alison Mata is another leader of Women’s March Oakland. She is also a Program Manager at Women’s Centers International (https://www.womenscentersintl.org/), which is based in Oakland. She has been involved with the Women’s March from the very beginning, ever since she decided not to travel to D.C. in January of last year, but instead to focus on building support for the movement right here in the Bay Area.
Since more than 100,000 women and their allies marched in Oakland on January 21, 2017, Women’s March Oakland has amplified the work of aligned organizations, groups and projects across the greater East Bay. The chapter’s anniversary march and rally this year, as for WMBA’s event, will focus on voter education and participation, as well as on uplifting tomorrow’s leaders.
During a recent interview with the San Francisco Bay Times, Mata said, “Last year’s march was about people coming together in solidarity and to be in an uplifting place after the presidential election. This year, we have three goals: uplift tomorrow’s leaders, register voters, and launch our 2018 platform, including voter education and participation.” She added, “We’re excited about March for Our Future’s involvement in this year’s event. It’s been a great opportunity to support and mentor young activists who are ready to show up and make a difference. They’re taking the lead in ensuring that the rally and march speak to the next generation of leaders in our community. Mata further said that she and her team hope to build on the momentum after the historic wins last November. These included Danica Roem becoming the first openly transgender person elected to a U.S. statehouse seat, Jenny Durkan becoming the first lesbian mayor elected in Seattle, Vi Lyles becoming the first black woman to be elected mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, and more.
The stated mission of Women’s March Oakland is to harness the political power of diverse women and their communities in Oakland and the East Bay to create transformative social change. Women’s March is a movement providing intersectional education on a range of issues and creating entry points for new grassroots activists and organizers to engage in their local communities through trainings, outreach programs and events. Women’s March is committed to dismantling systems of oppression through nonviolent resistance and building inclusive structures guided by self-determination, dignity and respect. “March for Our Future is youth-led, and we felt our march last year needed community youth leaders not only to participate, but also to lead in a real and transformative way,” said Ivonne Quiroz, Co-
“Sexual assault is not new,” Mata said. “For far too long, women have been sexually assaulted and harassed, and silenced—women of color even more so. This is a prime example of the Women’s March goal of ending violence. Women deserve to live full and healthy lives, free of all forms of violence against our bodies.”
PHOTO SOURCE: WOMEN’S MARCH OAKLAND
Alison Mata
The #MeToo movement is also very much on the minds of Women’s March organizers across the nation, as it is with the general public.
She continued, “The #MeToo movement means different things to different women. We’re also seeing a backlash against women who come forward; there are whisperings of women not being hired in order to combat sexual harassment in the workplace. A very important conversation has started, but much work is still needed. We need to address the underlying reason that sexual assault and harassment happen: systemic, structural inequality.” Mata is also concerned about the voting process in the U.S., which is obviously far from perfect. A large percentage of people still do not vote and therefore their voices are not counted. A too-often forgotten obstacle is that, in many cities across the country, more than one stamp is needed on mailed absentee ballots. (continued on page 16)
Women’s March Oakland organizing team
Together We Rise Presents the Definitive Oral and Visual History of the Women’s March Marking the one-year anniversary of the Women’s March, the forthcoming visually striking book Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Around the World is the definitive oral and visual chronicle of this historic event—and the shaping of our current cultural moment, from #MeToo to the record number of women running for office and beyond—as told by the organizers of the Women’s March in partnership with Condé Nast. Starting on its publication date of January 16, Together We Rise (Dey Street Books) will be available in print, as a digital audiobook and as an eBook. Featuring contributions from writers, political figures, actresses, artists, journalists, and other prominent feminists, this book offers an unprecedented, front-row seat to one of the most galvanizing—and ongoing— movements in American history. Among others, you will hear from: • Ashley Judd on delivering the speech of her life (page 149) • America Ferrera on overcoming election grief (page 153) • Roxane Gay on her initial ambivalence to marching (page 283) • Ilana Glazer on marching, chanting, and feeling angry. (page 289) 14
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• Yara Shahidi on being a political teenager (page 237) • Rep. Maxine Waters on bridging the generation gap (page 325) • Not to mention dozens of stories from women around the world, from Singapore to Anchorage, many of whom had never before been politically active or participated in local marches. Yes, we asked for, and thankfully received, a preview copy of Together We Rise, which we have not put down since. Like the somewhat similarly named When We Rise: My Life in the Movement by our own local LGBT activist phenom Cleve Jones, this truly is a musthave work for your collection. In fact, we have the “Rise” books together here in the office, as if to double their positive energy that practically explodes from their pages. The production values of Together We Rise are superb, with the numerous photos bringing the story to vivid life. In this book, you will learn about how the historic Women’s March moment came together: how dozens of women who had never met ended up connecting and working around the clock for months; how organizers (continued on page 16)
WOMEN’S MARCH: BY THE NUMBERS
‘Nasty Woman Band’ Will Be a Highlight at Women’s March Oakland
The below data comes from page 209 of the forthcoming book Together We Rise (Dey Street Books, January 16, 2018).
The band is a community mix of amateur and professional musicians, who came together for the first time at last year’s march. It is named for the off-handed insult of Hillary Clinton delivered by Donald Trump in the third presidential debate.
The Nasty Woman band is tuning up for its second public performance: The Oakland Women’s March coming up on January 20.
3,300,000 people marched in the United States alone (with many estimates being much higher). 653 marches took place in the U.S.
Band leader Sara Rosenkrantz
PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS
“We decided to play again,” Nasty Woman Band Originator and Co-organizer Karen MacLeod told the San Francisco Bay Times. “There are even more reasons for women to hit the streets this year. Having a sexual predator as president is very motivating. And everybody had so much fun at last year’s march that we wanted to do it again.” She and Co-organizers Kathleen Attfield and Sarah Rosenkrantz put out the call on social media and worked out this year’s repertoire, which represents decades of women’s struggles. It includes songs like “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” and “I Am Woman,” along with “La Adelita,” “Freedom Highway,” and the “Union Maid.” Attfield explained: “There are so many great musicians in community-based protest bands around the Bay Area, and everybody is welcome to play. Last year, we had members of the Musicians’ Action Group, the Montclair Women’s Big Band, Extra Action Marching Band, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the Brass Liberation Orchestra, and a lot of independent musicians from all around the Bay Area.”
13 places in the U.S. reported a march of one person.
PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS
2,200 permit applications were issued for buses bound for the Washington, D.C., march. 7 continents hosted marches.
There is no denying the seriousness of the purpose, though. Coorganizer and Musical Director Sarah Rosenkrantz explained, “The Nasty Woman Band is an outpouring of sound uplifting women’s rights as human beings. We honor her/story, reject patriarchy and white supremacy, welcome allies, and create music. NWB celebrates all women—and feminists—who work for justice and peace.”
76 years spanned between the age of the oldest speaker (Gloria Steinem, 82) and the youngest speaker (Sophie Cruz, 6) at the D.C. Women’s March.
Organizers post the sheet music for various instruments, and the band has one rehearsal before the march. In addition to the usual marching band instruments—tuba, sax, clarinet, trumpet, trombone and drums—the band expects to include a helicon, bells, a saw, a rolling piano, and a mother-daughter clarinet trio! You can link up with the Nasty Woman Band on Facebook at: facebook.com/NastyWomanBand/
Nasty Woman Band performing at the Women’s March Oakland 2017
Nasty Woman Band members rehearsing on January 7 for the 2018 Women’s March Oakland
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PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS
PHOTO BY K MACDONALD
PHOTO BY GABE MELINE/KQED ARTS
60,000 pussy hat patterns were downloaded before march day from pussyhatproject.com
PHOTO BY KEITH MARSH
PHOTO BY RACHEL P
There is no doubt that last year’s performance was a huge success, given the incredible energy and dancing in the streets for hours. It had a distinctly celebratory tone.
PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS
PHOTO: SF MEDIA BOB STINE
STEVE JAWORSKI/ BAY AREA WOMEN’S MARCH
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WOMEN’S MARCH 2018 Saturday, January 20 STEVE JAWORSKI/ BAY AREA WOMEN’S MARCH
To Go or Not to Go?
Women’s March Oakland (continued) “This is really bothersome, since we see women every day who are living on $900 or less a month and they are already using every penny that they have just to barely get by,” she explained, adding that she and her colleagues are looking at ways of helping such people— both with the voter registration process and with any needed postage.
Women’s March Oakland, like WMBA, is also accepting donations that can be in any dollar amount (f lipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjUxMjI=). The primary website (womensmarchoakland.org/) is packed with helpful information, including a short form (womensmarchoakland.org/the-megaphone/) that allows you to subscribe to a newsletter. You can also download the f lyer for Women’s March Oakland at (static1.squarespace.com/static/58bf572003596ee56b25cce7/t/5a3865c48165f5e58acfdf85/1513645516214/ WMO+2018+poster+11x17.pdf ).
“I’m not going,” I said. “I can’t go. This thing is going to be a clusterf--k.” Even worse than the bathroom issue was the infighting. I was surprised—I didn’t know the name Million Woman March was already taken, and that it was specific to the black community. This idea that at first had seemed so great became a huge problem in an instant. Not only was there no permit, but the march was also racist, a f--k-up in all regards.
Together We Rise (continued)
I thought to myself, “You know what? It’s good that I never believed in a revolution because it’s too hard anyway. I’m staying home.”
PAGE 44 © DINA LITOVSKY_REDUX
But then ... I watched something happen: On social media, no less, where nothing real ever really happens. I started to see people on my Instagram feed posting pictures from the Women’s March office. There was ShiShi Rose and Sarah Sophie Flicker and they were all in the same room, and they had amazing art and great branding and whoa!
Here are just a few quotes concerning some of the included topics: Naming of the Women’s March “There was also that uproar about what some of the people were calling it at first. They had said it’s the Million Women March—being ignorant of the 1997 Million Woman March in Philadelphia, which had focused on uniting and empowering women of color in America.” Vanessa Wruble (page 31) Leadership “A leaderful movement is a movement where there isn’t a singular person whose vision creates the strategy but rather many people who can be visionary leaders. Ideas and power converge into something more powerful than what one leader could do on their own. It is like the force of a finger versus the force of a fist.” Janaye Ingram (page 47) Logistics and Legitimacy “No insurance company would give us insurance. Thirteen companies denied us. I ended up calling my aunt, who’s in the production side of the music business, to ask who insures Coachella, and I called that broker. The Friday before the rally, at five o’clock, he said, ‘You’ve got a deal—but this is the most expensive policy I’ve ever sold.’ The guy insures Coachella! It ended up being $108,000. For one day.” Michael Skolnik (page 122) Intersectionality and Representation “White supremacy and misogyny is in the fabric of the country. We needed people to see and understand that. Since the march, we’ve seen a lot of women get active, get out there, and say, ‘I’m sorry that I didn’t know what you were dealing with, but I’m here now.’” Tamika Mallory (page 276) “When I was approached about the march, I saw it as my opportunity to make sure that communities that I work with—predominantly African American, Latino, poor white, Asian Pacific Islander—were at the center of what would become the Women’s March on Washington. I thought it was important to center these voices ... I know the value of bringing people together—regardless of what specific issue they cared about—and really thinking about how we could intersect, how we could have an inclusive and intersectional movement.” Carmen Perez (page 43) 16
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Now, I’m the kind of person who’s always wandering around saying, “Let’s have a revolution! Let’s go out in the street and demonstrate!” I say that every other Tuesday under normal circumstances. But my friend saying that they didn’t have a permit was enough to stop me in my tracks. And as a Jewish person over age 50, I focus on bathrooms. Which is why I don’t go to Burning Man or Coachella. Where am I going to pee?
To register for a table in the “Call to Action Alley,” please go to: womensmarchoakland.org/register-for-cta-alley
wrest led w ith open conf lict about the march’s name; how an anonymous member of Congress had given the Women’s March social media team access to the Longworth House Off ice Building; and more. Through interviews, photographs, and or ig ina l essays, Together We R i se eng a ges w it h debates and contributes to discussions around activism, feminism, and the organization of the Women’s March movement.
But then, almost immediately, another friend said, “They don’t have a permit. None of this is real. Don’t go. I’m not going.”
Daring Discussions “Women of color had to learn to trust white women, because we felt stabbed in the back by the white community, by white women. Fifty-three percent of them voted for Donald Trump ... So there was definitely—animosity is too strong of a word, but there was definitely mistrust.” Paola Mendoza (page 93) “Not to mention that we had gone from being pretty divided within our own party and within our own progressive movement. A week after the election, we had people from the Clinton campaign, people from the Sanders camp, and people who I still don’t even know who they voted for, you know, working together pretty harmoniously and really grappling with the difficult issues.” Sarah Sophie Flicker (page 94) “If I could be a national surrogate for Bernie Sanders and organize the largest single-day protest after a horrific election with people who worked on the Hillary campaign, then I tell people all the time, ‘Stop with that Hillary/Bernie s--t. We already proved that these two groups of people can work together, ‘cause we were always on the same side.” Linda Sarsour (page 95) The Women’s March plans to share revenue generated from Together We Rise with three grassroots, women-led organizations: The Gathering for Justice, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, and Indigenous Women Rise. We invite you to attend the Oakland book release party at the Laurel Bookstore (1423 Broadway, Oakland) on January 16 from 6:30 pm–8:30 pm. The Laurel Bookstore (http://www.laurelbookstore.com/) has been a longtime distribution point for the San Francisco Bay Times, so we were delighted to learn that this important and historic new book would be featured there. For more information about the party, go to this Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/155642311744825/
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Something had been fixed. They’d figured it out. Rather than falling apart under the weight of the challenges, they were rising. I was ready to root for the march again. Maybe this could be everyone’s march. But there was still a problem. The march was at the same time as Sundance, and my show I Love Dick was premiering there. Maybe I Love Dick could be my feminist contribution, maybe the emails going around about setting up a march in Park City would work out and I could skip D.C. Another day passed. The days were coming fast and furious and people were talking about pink pussy hats. Every single person who had been like, “I’m not going,” was suddenly going. My sister-in-law in Virginia was going. People in New York were taking the train down. But even if I could move my Sundance dates around, I had a new problem: How do you go from L.A. to D.C. to Utah in two days? This is also something that Jewish people don’t do. A five-hour flight means you have to stay for one week. You can’t go for one day. It’s not allowed. As the date grew closer, my head was spinning with how I couldn’t make this plane flight work, and I couldn’t imagine being out on the streets in D.C. without a bathroom, and I can’t figure out how to deal with my travel anxiety. But I can’t miss this day. I can’t let this day happen and say I wasn’t there. I want to be there and I’m going to go ... and I’m going to take my son Isaac, who is 20 and needs to have this in his memory bank, too. I’m going to take my son, and I’ll move mountains to be there. And at that moment, it was an absolute. I was going. I needed to prove to myself that I believed in revolution, that my body mattered, and that I could take my body—this one body that had been witness to decades of patriarchy thieving me out of my power and protagonism—and put it in the streets. This was four days before the march. Within 12 hours I had booked my hotel room and I had purchased four pink pussy hats from Amazon and then collected 10 more from friends. I was stockpiling pussy hats in bulk, terrified that none of the ones I ordered would be there in time. It was like eclipse glasses. Or fidget spinners. We were all getting them and we were getting them right now. And then everybody was going. And suddenly my son and I were at the airport, waiting to get the flight, and all my friends were there. And we all had our hats on. On the airplane, we all took photo after photo of ourselves crowding into rows. The flight attendants were on our side. The seat belt rules seemed to have been waived. We were on our way. From “Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Around the World” by the Women’s March Organizers and Conde Nast. Copyright © 2018 by The Women’s March Foundation. Dey Street Books. Reprinted by permission. www.womensmarch.com/togetherwerise
PHOTO SOURCE: UCLA/HAMMER MUSEUM
“In Oakland, there is a long history of activism and working for social justice issues,” Mata said. “We need to uplift that community and our local organizations. We are asking those organizations to come out for the January 20 march and rally, and to let others know more about them and the good and necessary work that they are doing.”
I remember the f irst Facebook post that popped up, a friend saying, “We’re going to march.” And soon everyone was saying, “We’re going to march.”
PHOTO BY JOHN UBANTE
Since Women’s March Oakland is a 501c3 organization, it is not backing any particular candidates or legislation. Voters in the East Bay city, however, have traditionally played a role in helping to shape progressive politics beyond this region, such as with the powerful Black Lives Matter movement.
By Jill Soloway
From the Coming Up Events Calendar See page 24 Thursday, January 11 - Marga Gomez’s Latin Standards @ Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street. In her 12th solo play, Gomez performs the true story of perseverance and creative addiction passed down from immigrant father to lesbian daughter. Continues through Jan. 28. brava.org
Saturday, January 20 - The Laramie Project @ Peninsula Center Stage, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Palo Alto Players presents the powerful drama based on the murder of Matthew Shepard. Continues through Feb. 4. paplayers.org
Our Great Tchaikovsky Ignites LGBT Audience Feedback for Hershey Felder Photos Courtesy of Hershey Felder Presents
Although known throughout the world and hailed as Russia’s national composer for his beautiful ballets Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, to the outrageous 1812 Overture and brilliant symphonic works, Piotr Tchaikovsky lived under a shadow. He was in perpetual fear of persecution for his sexuality during Czarist Russian times. His story is brought to life through music and characterization in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s production Our Great Tchaikovsky, performed by acclaimed piano virtuoso, actor, playwright Hershey Felder at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, now through February 11. This latest work by Felder, one of the Bay Area’s most admired performers, was launched in 2016 with a hit run in San Diego, and has gone on to play to acclaim in Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, Chicago, and most recently in London, capturing critical raves and sold-out houses. As always for Felder, audience response is gratifying, but his portrayal of Tchaikovsky has struck a chord particularly with LGBT audiences. The performer has received an outpouring of gratitude, as well as personal notes from gay fans that recount their own fears of coming out, thoughts on how the political climate is again shifting, and more. One correspondent described her youthful fears of being sent for “reprogramming,” calling the show a must-see for the next generation of LBGT audiences who may view Our Great Tchaikovsky as a cautionary tale of how changing political winds can affect gay rights. Well-known to Bay Area audiences, Felder has been called “a seductive portraitist, compelling storyteller, and superb concert pianist,” by American Theatre Magazine. This current work was hailed as “fascinating, an absorbing and poignant study” by The Stage UK, while What’s On Stage London lauded Felder as “astoundingly talented,” “magnetic,” and “sensationally good,” noting, “It is a rare privilege to see such extraordinary talent live. Hugely interesting, a very special piece of theatre. Well worth seeing.” An actor, pianist, writer, director, composer, conductor, and producer, Felder has conjured up the spirits of George Gershwin, Frederic Chopin, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Leonard Bernstein, and Irving Berlin. Felder’s solo shows have been seen across America—at the
Composer Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky springs to life through the hands and insight of piano virtuoso Hershey Felder (seen here) in the Bay Area premiere of Our Great Tchaikovsky presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, January 10-February 11, 2018, at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
Geffen Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Hartford Stage, San Diego Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe Theatre, American Repertory Theater, and Cleveland Playhouse, as well as long runs at Chicago’s Royal George Theatre and engagements at New York’s Town Hall, 59E59, and the Streicker Center. Throughout the past 20 years, he has given more than 4,500 performances. Felder has become an enormous Bay Area favorite; audiences packed TheatreWorks’ 2016 regional premiere of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, setting box office records that were shattered in 2017 by Hershey Felder, Beethoven. The newest work marks Felder’s third appearance with the Silicon Valleybased regional theatre. In Our Great Tchaikovsky, he once again brings to life a musical talent, in this case inhabiting Tchaikovsky, whose sexuality was suppressed in his homeland, and is still denied by modern Russia. In this searing and musical portrait, audiences learn of the dramatic turns in the composer’s life, as well as his mysterious sudden death.
KIT’N KITTY’S
QUEER POP QUIZ
Our Great Tchaikovsky is directed by Trevor Hay, who helmed the world premieres of An American Story for Actor and Orchestra, Abe Lincoln’s Piano, Felder as Franz Liszt in Musik, and Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin and was Associate Director for Mona Golabek’s The Pianist of Willesden Lane. In a career now spanning 32 years, Hay has contributed to more than 80 presentations, including the Broadway productions of Jack O’Brien’s Damn Yankees, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Twyla Tharpe’s The Times They Are A-Changin’. Included in his 23 seasons at San Diego’s Old Globe were eleven seasons of the Summer Shakespeare Festival Repertory, as well as work on Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County, directed by Sam Gold, and Felder’s George Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin, and Maestro Bernstein. The show will be presented by TheatreWorks at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View, a beautiful 600-seat theatre that boasts free underground parking for patrons, and is set amongst the main
thoroughfare’s many bistros. It is also easily accessible by Caltrain. With some 100,000 patrons per year, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has captured a national reputation for artistic innovation and integrity, often presenting Bay Area theatregoers with their first look at acclaimed musicals, comedies, and dramas, directed by award-winning local and guest directors, and performed by professional actors cast locally and from across the country. It is currently presenting its 48th season, which will continue with the regional co-premiere of the
SORDID LIVES Who is the driving force behind the Sordid Lives franchise? A) Ilene Chaiken B) Del Shores C) Leslie Jordan D) Harvey Fierstein ANSWER ON PAGE 26
Obie Award-winning Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau (March 7– April 1), followed by the Tony Awardwinning musical The Bridges of Madison County (April 4–29), and the California premiere of FINKS ( June 6–July 1), a stunning comic drama about actors faced with blacklisting or ratting out their fellow performers during the 1960s Red Scare. For tickets ($45-$105) to Our Great Tchaikovsky and more information, call 650-463-1960 or visit TheatreWorks.org
Karin Jaffie as Kitty Tapata hosts Miss Kitty’s Original Trivia Nights at The Wild Side West on Wednesday nights from 8 pm–11 pm, 424 Cortland Avenue in San Francisco. As Tapata says, “It’s free, fun and friendly! To play is to win!” S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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Bisexual Actor’s Real-life Romance Seen in Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
Film Gary M. Kramer Films Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, based on bisexual actor/author Peter Turner’s memoir, recounts his brief but intense relationship with actress Gloria Grahame in Liverpool, in 1979 and 1981. The film, which opens January 12 in San Francisco, has Grahame (Annette Bening) calling Peter ( Jamie Bell) and asking if she can come to stay with him after a health issue arises. Director Paul McGuigan then flashes back to the couple when they first meet as neighbors in a British boarding house through their May-December romance and her eventual death. McGuigan spoke with me for the San Francisco Bay Times about making Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool. Gary M. Kramer: How familiar were you with Gloria Grahame before you made this film? Paul McGuigan: I didn’t know her; it was just a name. I Googled her and suddenly, I saw her face and I thought: Of course! That’s who it is! I got to watch her movies over again, and fall in love with her again through her films. I knew In a Lonely Place and Crossfire and a few others. Gary M. Kramer: You’ve made a series of action films. What caused you to shift gears and film a romance? Paul McGuigan: Every one of us has met someone they fall in love with and who changed their life. I was fascinated by the silver screen femme fatale aspects. It’s a love story, but it can’t be about an old lady dying in a room. We tried to avoid the sentimentality in some way. Gary M. Kramer: Can you talk about your approach to the material? Paul McGuigan: Memory is more fluid than cinema allows it to be. It’s about establishing location and time, so I wanted the actors to walk through their memories and to take the audience with them. That was inspired by Peter’s book, and how he approached the writing of it. I liked the style of the book. It’s slim but condensed. My approach to it was always cinematic, but I had to push and heighten it. It was more like a play at times. Gary M. Kramer: How did you work with Annette Bening on her portrayal of Grahame? I like that she doesn’t mimic the actress, but just “becomes” her.
Check out the new
CASTRO STREET CAM at sfbaytimes.com
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Paul McGuigan: I think that’s interesting, how she approached it. She was interested in the Gloria that Peter knew, not who Gloria was on the screen, when she was acting in other parts. It was important that we didn’t get weighed down having her acting like Grahame. Physically Annette and Gloria are quite similar, and that helped a lot. Annette was interested in speaking with Peter about what she was like, what she drank, etc. She’s a
real student of her characters. That’s how she was able to give this beautiful performance without pushing too hard for Gloria to come out. That enabled us to show the real Gloria. Gary M. Kramer: What can you say about working with Peter Turner, who has a role in the film? How much input did he have in telling his story? Paul McGuigan: Peter was great friends with Barbara Broccoli, who produced the film. She went on a double date with him and Gloria Grahame. Peter was important to us as the oracle of what actually happened. These are the days before the internet, so I was fascinated to see him piecing the bits together of who she was. It’s not a bio, but a love story between two people, one of whom happens to be Gloria Grahame. He said what Gloria was like, not what the film star was like. He adored her and she changed his life forever. Gary M. Kramer: Did Peter work with guiding Jamie Bell on his performance? Paul McGuigan: Yes, Jamie and Peter spoke quite a lot. Jamie has his process, but he was happy to have Peter there when he needed him. But Jamie also didn’t want to cloud it too much with what Peter might have done, or said. As an actor, you have to take some control. Peter has been gracious. So, they got on really well. Peter Turner is so happy Jamie Bell played him.
Gary M. Kramer: In the film, Peter discloses he’s bisexual. Can you talk about that scene? Paul McGuigan: Peter is now living as a gay man. That’s an important moment, where he tells Gloria he’s been with men. He didn’t want secrets between them. She was opening up her life; he felt it was the right thing to tell her. She embraced and loved that about him. Gary M. Kramer: If you could take care of a dying film star, past or present, who would it to be? Paul McGuigan: Aahh! I’m a massive fan of Julie Christie. I would like to talk with her. She always makes me feel like I want to take care of her. She seemed fragile in her movies when she was younger. And I would love to take care of Robert Mitchum. Again, just sit and drink with someone like that. I think of them because they are like Gloria: enigmatic. They didn’t tell you much about themselves; there’s an air of mystery. In today’s world, we know everything about everybody. We know what actors have for their breakfast. There are few actors that keep that mystique. © 2018 Gary M. Kramer Gary M. Kramer is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews,” and the co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.” Follow him on Twitter @ garymkramer
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DE YOUNG AND LEGION OF HONOR
Genre-Nonconforming: The DIS Edutainment Network Through June 10 at the de Young
DIS, video still from “The Couch” with Ada O’Higgins, 2017. Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Presented by the New York-based collective DIS, GenreNonconforming: The DIS Edutainment Network, (aka The Network), reveals a “DIS-topian” take on the future of education—decentralized and open-access, yet communal and physically connected, inviting visitors to experience a twisted hybrid of entertainment and education. Played on a continuous loop on 36 large LED screens in the de Young’s atrium, The Network is the result of collaboration with a group of international theorists, writers, and artists who integrate new technologies into their work.
digital culture in South Africa by the artist collective CUSS Group; and a contribution by the Women’s History Museum.
The Network includes The Restaurant, a cooking show with political themes by Will Benedict and Steffen Joergensen; a nature show on human-animal relations in Africa and Thailand by Korakrit Arunandochai; a video focusing on “general intellects” with McKenzie Wark; a visual essay about the representation of blackness in meme culture by Aria Dean; a talk show on Mother by Casey Jane Ellison, JNCO, JNCO 2, Tractor, and Waterworld; interstitial videos shot and edited on the phone by Ryan Trecartin; a docu-short on “the Seasteading Movement” in Tahiti by Daniel Keller and Jacob Hurwitz Goodman; a report on “reparation hardware” by Ilana Harris Babou; a cartoon by Amalia Ulman; a docu-short on “economic utopias” by Christopher Kulendran Thomas; a Nollywood fictional drama exploring the influence of technology and
“The Network proposes a counter strategy to our incomprehensible moment of post-truth, a click bait cultural landscape that has generated misinformation and overexposure as a general condition,” states DIS.
The viewer is guided through the hour-long program by “The Host”—an avatar created with Chus Martinez, (the director of the Institute of Art at the FHNW Academy of Art and Design in Basel), Culturesport, and Ian Isiah. Interstitial ads and interviews by Darren Bader and DIS connect and disrupt the different “programs.”
“The new commission by DIS provides ample material for an intergenerational conversation about the artistic and social impact of our ever-increasing technological determinacy,” says Claudia Schmuckli, Curator-inCharge, Contemporary Art and Programming. “With The Network, the pioneering young collective has created an expansive multi-media platform that aims to decipher meaning from a constant flux of information and unmask the hidden structures of power and information that shape our lives.” For more information: deyoung.famsf.org/
DIS, video still from “General Intellects with McKenzie Wark,” (produced by Ruy Sanchez Blanco, edited by Manu Barenboim), 2017. Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
CUSS GROUP, video still from “Fully Automated Luxury Influencer,” 2017. Image courtesy of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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CASTRO
Sports-related Injury? Use a Vibrator! could, alleviate my sportsrelated pains.
STREETCAM
“Shouldn’t this cause a lot, and I mean a lot, of pain?!” I exclaimed, wideeyed and in protest.
presented by
Sports John Chen An athlete’s biggest adversary often times is not the opponent; it is the dreaded injury! This unrelenting hurdle pops up at the most inopportune time: when you are driving for the winning basket, sliding into home plate, going for that interception, or sticking that dismount in the hotel room.
sfbaytimes.com
Photos courtesy of John Chen
Worst yet, for the vast majority of social sports hacks like me, it is the nagging pains that come with previous injuries and, god forbid, age! For the last several years—OK, perhaps decades—I’ve nursed shoulder injuries, ibuprofen-ed joint pains (yes, I buy the industrial size bottles), managed ankle sprains and shaken away tingling nerves stemming from something similar to a tennis elbow. All of which, in one form or another, hampered my performance on the court, in the field and, well, you get the picture. If you can relate, raise your hand and read on. If you can’t, please contact me, because I would like to know your secret (young, injury-free freaks of nature readers exempted). So, here I am, staring intently and intensely at a big, thick black vibrator at my friend Dr. Ryne Ibarra’s chiropractic office, wondering how in the world this contraption would, and
“Don’t worry, and trust me, the pain will gradually dissipate and you’ll be asking for more every time you see me,” Dr. Ibarra calmly and gently whispered in my ear. Censored, but there will be more about the vibrator in about two paragraphs. Please do not skip reading, however, because that’s just rude. For the longest time, I didn’t realize chiropractic care is crucial and critical to athletes. I thought it was just for people who needed their back and spine straightened out. Dr. Ibarra dispelled the many myths. Simply put, musculoskeletal manipulation and treatment can drastically reduce muscle, joints and nerve pains caused by overexertion, such as playing lots and lots of sports at any age. In fact, chiropractic care can be preventative, enabling even slightly older (and I do mean ever so slightly) sports hacks like me to go out and enjoy a good game or two of cricket. “Playing sports actually enables people to be social.” These words of wisdom from Dr. Ibarra were like an epiphany. Playing sports helped me to be active and to stay healthy. They helped me to make lots of friends, and to stay connected with them. Just as importantly, they made me more hungry and thirsty so I can eat and drink more, vastly increasing the quality of my life! But, I can’t do any of that if I am in pain. John Ruys, an avid weight lifter, biker and sports enthusiast, was receiving chiropractic treatment while I was at Dr. Ibarra’s office. Ruys told me that chiropractic care greatly changed his life. Several years ago, Ruys was suffer ing from major joint and back
pains that completely derailed his life. Following the advice of his doctor, he sought chiropractic therapy and is now back to his old active routines nearly pain free. Ruys was particularly complimentary of the role the big vibrator played in his recovery and now prevention. I, on the other hand, will be experiencing the full thrust of the vibrator very, very soon. I am excited, eager and somewhat nervous. I know I need to learn to breathe properly and relax, and the pain will dissipate. For all of you weekend athletes out there, no matter your age, join Ruys and me in worshipping the hallowed ground of the ... well ... you know (coy grin). Let’s all feel less pain so that we can enjoy our lives through sports and other physical activities with all the benefits like eating and drinking with friends, rather than sitting on the sidelines or on the couch. By now you must be wondering: What is this big vibrator and how can it possibly help treat muscle pains? I recommend that you find out for yourself! (Editor’s Note: Google “vibrator chiropractor” for a start.) John Chen, a UCLA alumnus and an avid sports fan, has competed as well as coached tennis, volleyball, softball and football teams.
SISTER DANA (continued from page 11) include Jane Fisher, Sylvie Guillot, Susan Kirshenbaum, Catherine Merrill, Stephen Namara, Fernando Reyes, Rick Rodrigues, and Michael Ruiz. backtothepicture.com
January 13, 2 to 4 pm, Twin Peaks Tavern, 401 Castro Street. Applications for submission to the board chairman, Emperor John Carrillo, are available online at imperialcouncilsf.org
Twelve hot men from eleven different countries have stripped down to their Speedos for the 2018 MR. INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM CALENDAR. Proceeds from the calendar support THE LGBT ASYLUM PROJECT, a San Francisco based nonprofit that provides pro bono legal representation for LGBT immigrants who are fleeing persecution and seeking asylum in the U.S. In the two years since its inception, The LGBT Asylum Project has helped 35 LGBT immigrants on their journey from persecution to freedom. To order, click onto lgbtasylumproject.org
Imperial Crown Prince Terrill Grimes and Imperial Crown Princess Cameron Stiehl respectfully request your presence at the annual IMPERIAL CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS BALL, HEROES FOR ASYLUM, on Saturday, January 20, at Halcyon, 314 11th Street. This superhero-themed gala has doors at 5 pm and show at 6 pm. Net proceeds benefit THE LGBT ASYLUM PROJECT. imperialcouncilsf.org
On behalf of their Most Imperial Majesties, Emperor Nic Hunter and Empress Mercedez Munro, it’s time for Application for Emperor and Empress Deadline, Saturday, 20
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AWAT Productions presents MEGABYTES! THE MUSICAL, a world premiere musical comedy revue written and directed by Morris Bobrow at Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter Street (between Powell & Mason Streets in Union Square. January 19–March 3, Fridays and Saturday, 8 pm. Two Low-Priced Previews
will be held on January 19 and 20. The Opening Night is Friday, January 26. The show takes a humorous look at how we navigate technology in our lives. It’s about the frustrations, anxieties, annoyances ... and occasional joys we encounter as we all struggle to cope with the copious challenges created by technology. The point of view of the show is that of the average person using tech devices, not that of a “techie.” The comedy arises from the situations, positive and negative, that the majority of us encounter in working with these so-called “user-friendly” technological tools. This revue format is a series of 20 plus observational songs and sketches, each depicting its own joy and frustration of living our lives in the modern technological age with varying results. megabytesthemusical.com Sister Dana sez, “Hey, Trump. Please stop bragging about having the bigger nuclear ‘button.’ Instead, do us all a big favor: button your mouth and disarm your twitter button!”
Easy New Year Fitness
Take Me Home with You! Nancy
Easy Fitness Cinder Ernst Most folks drive themselves a little bit crazy this time of year with resolutions. You know what I mean ... making big promises about weight loss, exercising, closet cleaning or money that are almost impossible to keep. When I was studying for my Medical Exercise Specialist Certification, the instructor pointed out an interesting phenomenon: many exercise resolutions end with injuries, and he sees the resolution makers in his medical office by Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. That’s just a couple weeks of trying too hard to do something that you’re not ready for. At Easy Fitness, we have a good-feeling approach to New Year’s fitness resolutions. Easy Fitness Step One is to make peace with where you are. When you see clearly where you are, then you can f ind the next logical step. You cannot find the next logical step, however, if you are filled with anxiety or self-loathing. That’s why making peace with where you are is important. Make peace without sugar-coating or being mean to yourself. Tell the truth and then ease yourself into peace, and then look for your next step. For instance, “I’m not exercising right now and I never really want to,” might become peaceful with these words: “Fitness has eluded me so far, but I’m going to relax about it intentionally and see what happens next.” Relaxing about where you are is the key to finding peace. Then, you can be successful with your next step. When you are relaxed about fitness, you might won-
der: What if I simply need a different approach? What if this could be easier than I thought?
then give yourself a pat on the back. This is another great and simple coffee-time exercise.
At Easy Fitness, we define fitness as having the strength and stamina to live your life; it has nothing to do with what you eat or how you look. If you adopt the Easy Fitness definition of fitness, you may find that you can relax about the whole concept. You see, building strength and stamina is a simple process involving small efficient strength exercises that can be done in a few minutes each day. Finding fitness does not have to be a big hairy deal!
• Stretches: Look up some stretches on YouTube, or do some shoulder rolls and wrist circles, or f lop over onto your kitchen counter and feel your back and legs stretch ... ahhh.
You start where you are. And, where you are is your perfect starting place! If you are pretty much sedentary, that’s ok as a starting place, because it may be your truth. Find a small bit of exercise you have time for and would be willing to try. Easy Fitness says that exercise can feel friendly and doable. Over time, you can do harder exercises and they will feel friendly, too. Here are some good starting exercises if you haven’t been active in a while and/or you have some injuries: • Walk a short, friendly-feeling distance on purpose with a smile. This could be a lap around your car before you get in, three laps around the house, 100 steps out, then 100 steps back, 10 or 20 marches while your coffee is brewing or whatever works for you. • Get Ups: If getting out of a chair feels easy, do it 5 or 10 times and
• Pick up my book, Easy Fitness for the Reluctant Exerciser, and relax, knowing that you’ve got this. If you are athletic, or have a fitness practice that you’d like to get back to, start reasonably. Maybe go to the gym once or twice at the most this week. Look at your calendar and pick the best day. My clients often find that going once during the week and once on the weekend is a good way to get some momentum going. Relax about f itness. Find a friendly-feeling way to proceed from wherever you are. Listen to your body, tell your brain to quiet down and try not to listen to the New Year fitness hype. Be gentle, appropriate, kind and have fun! Cinder Ernst, Medical Exercise Specialist and Life Coach Extraordinaire, helps reluctant exercisers get moving with safe, effective and fun programs. Her book, “Easy Fitness for the Reluctant Exerciser” (cinderernst.com/easy-fitness-book/), is available in paperback and E-book. She specializes in fitness and rehab for plus-size clients, but her stressfree approach is suitable for all. Find out more at http://cinderernst.com
“My name is Nancy! As you can maybe tell from my smile, I’m a happy-golucky sort of girl. I enjoy meeting new people and showering my favorite humans with lots of love! I also enjoy spending lots of time outdoors, going on long walks and hikes. If you’re looking for an exercise buddy, come meet me!” Nancy 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 Nancy. To meet Nancy, as well as other pets seeking their forever homes, please visit: San Francisco SPCA Mission Campus 250 Florida Street San Francisco 94103 415-522-3500 Aside from major holidays, the adoption center is open Mon–Fri: 1–6 pm and Sat–Sun: 10 am–5 pm. Free parking is available for those wishing to adopt! For more information: sfspca.org/adopt
Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and Pup
Fitness SF Trainer Tip of the Month Yotam Israeli – Fitness SF Fillmore
AGUILAS Holiday Parties Photos courtesy of Juan Davila
Supporters, volunteers and friends of AGUILAS, the award-winning non-profit supporting gay men of Latin heritage, enjoyed the organization’s annual Christmas party held on Thursday, December 14, at the LGBT Community Center’s Rainbow Room. Members also enjoyed together a number of private parties and activities throughout the month of December. To learn more about AGUILAS and its on-going services, call 415-558-8403 or visit sfaguilas.org
Turkish Get-Up “The Turkish Get-Up is a versatile move that trains many parts of your body. Begin on the floor, and slowly bring yourself up to the standing position one step at a time. There’s no limit to what you can do with a Kettle Bell!”
Tore Kelly, Director of Creative & Social Media for Fitness SF, provides monthly tips that he has learned from professional trainers. For more information: fitnesssf.com
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Round About - New Year’s Eve, Christmas Eve and More from the Holiday Season Photos by Rink Our legendary photographer Rink visited many Holiday Season 2017 events and parties. Here is a selection of just some of the images he created. At the San Francisco Bay Times, we are all in awe of the pace Rink keeps almost daily, but we hope you will say hello to him when you see him with his camera out and about.
Just enjoying the views, such as this one taken of Emarcadero Center, was part of the lovely scene enjoyed by those attending the San Francisco fireworks show on New Year's Eve.
Tom Ammiano (far left) and Theatre Rhino artistic director John Fisher (center) led the midnight countdown with the cast of the An Evening with Tom Ammiano & Friends New Year’s Eve Spectacular at Gateway Theatre.
Theatre Rhino’s John Fisher, with event emcee and performer Tom Ammiano, at the New Year’s Spectacular on December 31.
Event hosts Maria Conner and Alexis visited with guests at the booth during the New Year’s Eve Party at Cinch bar.
Performer Cream (right) welcomed guests to the New Year’s Eve Party at Cinch bar on Polk Street.
John Weber and Aja Monet enjoyed the Grand Ducal Court benefit held at the Edge bar on December 9.
Bartenders Michael Brown and David Delgado welcomed guests at the Cinch bar on Christmas Eve. Jim McConnell (center), with a little help from handsome friends, served Jell-O shots at the Edge bar during the Grand Ducal Court benefit on December 9.
GGBA’s Paul Pendergast and Audrey deLucia (center) with a guest at the GGBA Make Contact mixer held at the Bernstein Global Wealth Management office on December 12.
Host and former Elections Commissioner Richard Shadoian sat upon a white ceramic elephant stool while opening his present during the white elephant gift sharing at his annual Epiphany Party held in Cole Valley on January 6. 22
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Beverly Lee, Janelle, Ralph Doore and a guest at the GGBA Make Contact mixer on December 12.
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Aaron Lander and Gina Grahame at the GGBA Make Contact mixer on December 12
Cliff’s Variety sales assistant Louis Cullen helped customers with holiday ornaments and decorations.
A sign placed outside the Art Attack SF Gallery during the December Castro Art walk
Gallery coordinator Thomasina DeMaio and singer Ashley at the Art Saves Lives show opening on December 8.
Artist Paul Madonna with his book and artwork at Local Take during the Castro Art Walk
Michael Yates served food during the Alexander Hamilton Post 448 American Legion’s Post Holiday Day Party.
Singer Irene McCalphin performed during the Art Saves Lives December Art Walk.
Artist Nathalie Fabri displays her work at the Art Attach SF Gallery during the December Art Walk.
Monique Corwin, filmmaker Alexander Irwin and Morningstar Vancil at the Alexander Hamilton Post 448’s Post Holiday Party.
A plaque honoring transportation hero Tom Nolan (center) was unveiled by SFMTA’s Malcom Heinicke and Ed Reiskin.
The Queer Christmas Interfaith Service was held at Harvey Milk Plaza on Christmas Eve sponsored by Sacred Space SF. The event was streamed live on Castro Street Cam.
AIDS LifeCycle rider Richard Bennett of Cliff’s Variety was happliy fundraising for his 10K Club entry in the 2018 ride from SF to LA in June.
On Castro Street, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence blessed the New Year during their monthly first Friday public ritual held on January 5.
Jim Stokes and Marc Owens at the Alexander Hamilton Post 448 American Legion Post Holiday Party
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COMING UP
Compiled by Blake Dillon
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS sfbaytimes.com
11 : Thursday Covered California Drop-In @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. Information will be available on how to sign up for Covered California and secure help paying for meds, hormone surgery, surgeries and other medical needs. 4-6pm. strutsf.org LGBT Alumni Mixer @ Gravity Bistro and Wine Bar, 544 Emerson Street, Palo Alto. The mixer is one in an on-going series providing networking and socializing opportunities for LGBT alumni and their friends. The Bistro serves light food and a wide range of wines and beers. 7-10pm. bertrem@twistedsanity.net Marga Gomez’s Latin Standards @ Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th Street. Gomez will present the final performance of her original work which is based on a personal story that mixes nostalgia, urgency and comic edge. Continues through January 28. brava.org Author Talk: Red Diaper Daughter, Three Generations of Rebels and Revolutionaries @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. Author Laura Bock will read and tell stories from her new memoir, Red Diaper Daughter. Also on January 29 at Folio Books. 7-9pm. glbthistory.org 17th Annual SF Comedy Festival: SF Sketchfest @ Multiple venues. The 17-day festival will present over 700 performances, including those of major comedy stars and up-and-coming comedians as well, from around the world. Highlights include a tribute to Jane Lynch and presentations by Dan Savage, Cameron Esposito, Rhea Butcher, Peaches Christ and many more. Continues through January 28. sfsketchfest.com Man of La Mancha @ The Custom Made Theatre Company, 533 Sutter Street. The Tony Award-winning adaptation of Cervantes’ classic story will be presented on the company’s intimate stage near Union Square. Continues through February 17. custommade.org An Enemy of the People @ Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley. Actors Ensemble will present Ibsen’s parable about the costs of truth, featuring a town in denial of an environmental disaster. Continues through January 27. aeofberkeley.org
12 : Friday Uhaul @ Oasis, 298 11th Street. The event is an on-going party for girls who love girls, held every second Friday, featuring DJs China G and Von Kiss plus go-gos, photo booth and more. 10pm-2am. uhaulsf.com 24
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Sweat & Spunk - Plays Based on Zora Neale Hurston’s Short Stories @ Black Repertory Group’s Cultural Arts Center, 3201 Adeline Street, Berkeley. The Sweat & Spunk series will present theatrical adaptations of Hurston stories celebrating the Birel L. Vaughn Theater’s 54th Season. 8pm. Continues through January 27. blackrepertorygroup.com
13 : Saturday Bayard Rustin Symposium @ Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street, Vallejo. The two-day event is a multidisciplinary gathering celebrating the historic legacy of Civil Rights leader and labor organizer Bayard Rustin. 10am-6pm. Bayard Rustin Symposium on Facebook.com The Yale Whiffenpoofs: Live in Oakland @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Avenue, Oakland. The premiere a cappella male choir will present an evening of pop standards, including jazz ballads, traditional songs and some rock ’n’ roll. 7pm. whiffenpoofs.com MILF! @ The Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany. Two rocker moms and four more women comprise the popular group MILF! which will be joined by the Steel Hotcakes for an evening performance. 8:30pm. ivyroom.com Cabaret The Musical @ The Great Star Theaters, 636 Jackson Street. Presented by theTRIBE Productions, the show is a freshtake on the classic musical. 8pm. greatstarsf.com 2018 SF Surrogacy Conference @ Marines Memorial Club & Hotel, 609 Sutter Street. Two non-profits, Our Family Coalition and Men Having Babies, will present this annual two-day conference bringing together community activists, medical and legal experts, parents and surrogate mothers for workshops and more on insurance, budgeting, legal, medical and psychological aspects of surrogacy. menhavingbabies.org
14: Sunday Drag Me Along Tours with Faux Countess Lola Montez @ Portsmouth Square’s Goddess of Democracy Statue departure point. “The Countess,” who is a San Francisco resident and tour guide (aka Rick Shelton), will present a 2.5 hour walking tour of favorite places while sharing stories of the Barbary Coast, the Gold Rush plus additional tales and lore. 11am every Sunday. dragmealongtours.com “In the Name of Love” - 16th Annual Musical Tribute Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. @ Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive. Featuring Tammy Hall on the piano, JA NUA RY 1 1 , 2 0 1 8
Terrence Brewer on guitar. The program, entitled “Songs of Change,” will include emcee Dana King, five outstanding vocalists plus the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. 7pm. oaklandcentral.com
15: Monday Martin Luther King Jr. Day Thunder From Down Under All-Male Revue @ Cobb’s Comedy Club, 915 Columbus Avenue. For more than two decades, audience members have smiled and swooned during the ninety minute show of pulse-rising dance routines, chiseled abs and barely there costumes. 8pm. Continues on January 16. cobbscomedy.com The Golden Age of Bambi Lake @ Oasis, 298 11th Street. Hosted by Dan Karkoska, the event features punk rock anarchist, transgender pioneer, author, poet and chanteuse Bambi Lake with Kitten on the Keys and Scrumbly Koldwyn of Cockettes fame. 8pm. sfoasis.com
16: Tuesday Together We Rise Book Release Party @ Laurel Book Store, 1423 Broadway. Women’s March Oakland present this benefit event based on the new book of photos and feminist essays produced by the national Women’s March organizers and based on the widespread rallies and marches held on January 21, 2017, the day after Trump’s inauguration. 6:30pm. laurelbookstore.com The Velvet Rage Book Club @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. The weekly Tuesday book club of the SF AIDS Foundation’s Stonewall Project, with facilitators Wade Smith and Christopher Zepeda, explores the complexity of gay identity and culture, HIV, substance use, healing relationship and more. 4-5:30pm every Tuesday. strutsf.org Queer and Trans Open Mic @ Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, 3207 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland. Presented by Spectrum Queer Media and hosted by Kin Folkz and Blackberri, the event provides a safe, alcohol and scent free space for transformative collective self-care with the LGBTQIA2S and Authentic Ally community. 7pm. oaklandlgbtqcenter.org Emerging Scholars Program @ SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street. Hosted by Creative Labor and Queer Cultural Center, the event presents a conversation on Queer Theory with moderators Elena Gross and Julian Wong-Nelson and panelists. qcc2.org Mary Wilson @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko, 222 Mason Street. Supremes founding member Mary Wilson will make her Feinstein’s debut with an evening of classic Supremes hits and favorites form the American Songbook plus stories of
her legendary career. 8pm. Continues January 17. feinsteinssf.com
17: Wednesday Smack Dab Queer Open Mic @ Dog Eared Books Castro, 489 Castro Street. Hosted by Larry-bob Roberts and Dana Hopkins with featured speaker Sylvia L. Blalock who will discuss her works including books of poetry, short stories and a cookbook collaboration. Tapata Trivia Round UP! @ Wild Side West, 424 Courtland Avenue. Kit Tapata hosts the weekly-on-Wednesdays trivia competition mixed with music and live improv at the popular Bernal Heights location. 7-9pm. tapatatwins.com
18: Thursday MAX SF’s Third Thursday Happy Hour @ St Regis Hotel, 125 3rd Street. Gay men and their friends meet to socialize and enjoy the scene. 5-8pm. concierge@maxsf.org How Has Hollywood (Mis) represented Homosexuality? @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. Queer cultural historian Jim Van Buskirk will investigate Hollywood’s depiction of LGBT characters through mainstream movies of the 60s and 70s, including Myra Breckinridge, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Children’s Hour and The Killing of Sister George. 7-9pm. glbthistory.org Comedy Returns to El Rio @ El Rio, 3158 Mission Street. Hosted by Lisa Geduldig, the January program of this monthly event will include Yayne Abeba, Sid Singh, Nick Leonard and Abhay Nakarni. 7pm. elriosf.com. Queer Ancestor Project Exhibition 2018 @ Strut, 470 Castro Street. The opening reception and print sale for the new exhibit presenting the works of queer and trans emerging artists with a closing receptions on May 19. 7:3010pm. queerancestorsproject.org Well Strung @ Feinstein’s at the Nikko, 222 Mason Street. The all-male string quartet returns to Feinstein’s and will perform pop/ classical mashups featuring tunes made famous by Stevie Nicks, Rihanna, Queen, The Beatles, Lady Gaga, Henry Mancini and more. 8pm. Continues January 19 and 20. feinsteinssf.com MTT Conducts Bernstein’s Candide @ Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue. San Francisco Symphony presents a concert version of Bernstein’s wildly popular comic operetta Candide. 8pm. Continues through January 21. sfsymphony.org
19: Friday Friday Music Video Party Night @ White Horse Bar, 6551 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland. A video music party every Friday night at the historic White Horse in Oakland. 9pm-2am. whitehorsebar.com Castro Harm Reduction Night @ Strut, Group Rm 1, 470 Castro Street. A welcoming place for gay, bi, MSM interested in exploring their relationship to drugs, sex dating or whatever you want to discuss with the group and facilitators Francisco Escobar and Rich Lugo. 6-7:30pm. strutsf.org
20: Saturday Women’s March 2018 @ San Francisco, Oakland and Bay Area Locations. One year after the historic 2017 March, women and their supporters will once again gather in cities throughout the Bay Area and the U.S. for women’s rights, human rights, social and environmental justice and to encourage participation in 2018 midterm elections. 11am-2pm. womensmarch.com Citizen Queer - Stories of A&PI Queer Men @ Location TBA. The first of a six-session workshop on personal narrative/ storytelling by and for Asian and Pacific Islander Gay, Bisexual and Queer and trans men. 1-3pm. apiwellness.org Official Women’s March After Party: Hear Our Vote Fundraiser @ Mars Bar, 798 Brannan Street. Music and dancing will be provided at this benefit supporting the She Should Run organization. 3-10pm. Official Women’s March After Party on Facebook. Castro History Tour @ Starting at Harvey Milk Plaza. An informative walking tour led by activist Cleve Jones and featuring a downloadable recording. 1-4pm. detour.com/sanfrancico/castro The Laramie Project @ Palo Alto Players-Peninsula Center Stage, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Palo Alto Players continues its season with the powerful drama based on the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998. Continues through February 4. paplayers.org
21: Sunday Imperial Gala and Introduction of Candidates @ Encore Karaoke Lounge, 1550 California Street, 2nd Floor. Hosted by the Imperial Council of San Francisco with Emperor Nic Hunter and Empress Mercedez Munro, the event is a benefit where the candidates for the offices of Emperor and Empress of San Francisco are introduced. 4-7pm. imperialcouncilsf.org
Minus Zero Presents: Musicians for Planned Parenthood @ The Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany. A host of performers come together to create a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood. 4pm. ivyroom.com Stephanie Teel Band @ Half Moon Bay Brewery, 390 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay. The popular dance band leader, along with percussionist Robin Roth, will present an evening of blues, fun, R&B plus dancing. 5-8pm. stephanieteel.com
22: Monday The Shape of Water @ Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street. An imaginative fairy tale set against the backdrop of Cold War America circa 1962, the film received seven Golden Globe nominations. Starring Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer and more. 7 and 9:30pm. castrotheatre.com
23: Tuesday Joyce Carol Oates and Jonathan Santlofer- It Occurs to Me That I Am America @ SF Public Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin Street. Oakes in conversation with editor Santlofer will discuss the new anthology of original short stories from thirty bestselling and award-winning authors. 6:30pm. sfpl.org Rent: The 20th Anniversary Tour @ San Jose Center for Performing Arts, 255 S. Almaden Boulevard, San Jose. Inspired by Puccini’s La Boheme, Rent is considered one of the most important musicals. The story follows a band of bohemians who are struggling to keep their heads above water. 7:30pm. Additional times and dates through January 28. san-jose-theater.com
24: Wednesday Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association Meeting @ Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, 4235 19th Street. The neighborhood association serving many Castro dwellers holds its first meeting of 2018 and will discuss the proposed redevelopment of Harvey Milk Plaza. 7-9pm. evna.org Crime and Safety Forum @ SF LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street. S.F. Police Officers’ Association and Community Alliance for Jobs will present a community discussion on crime in District 8. 6-8pm. sfcenter.org Fighting Back: Disability & the LGBTQ Community @ GLBT History Museum, 4127 18th Street. The monthly “Fighting Back” series presents a multigenerational conversation about relations between the LGBTQ and disability communities. 7-9pm. glbthistory.org
25: Thursday Gayface (Queer Vibezzzzzz) @ El Rio,3158 Mission @ Cesar Chavez. Happening in the venue’s Front Room with tunes by a local DJ, the event is a queer gathering held every Thursday. 9pm-2am. elriosf.com Remembering Our History: A Conversation with BALIF Founders and Early Members @ Pillsbury Withrop Shaw Pittman, 4 Embarcadero Center, 22nd Floor. Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) presents a panel discussion with Roberta Achtenberg, Mark Seneca, Hon. Ronald Albers and Hon. Mary Morgan. 6-8:30pm. balif.org S AN F R ANC IS C O BAY T IM ES
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TING (continued from page 5)
NEWS (continued from page 3) bold step to address this inequity, the agreement’s language establishes full LBTGQ protections that provide a vital supplement to anti-discrimination laws by outlining a clear process for redressing discrimination through the union grievance and arbitration process. cwa-union.org More Accurate Method Developed to Track New HIV Infections Researchers at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute have led an effort to develop a more accurate way to gauge the incidence of HIV infections in large populations. The new method is predicted to improve research and prevention strategies worldwide. The process correctly identifies new vs. long-standing infections—an important distinction for determining where to target public health measures and research, and for evaluating whether interventions are successful at reducing HIV transmission. The Vaccine Institute has worked to create a way to measure HIV incidence that takes into account the unique features of the current epidemic, while also capitalizing on recent insights into how the virus and the body interact during the early phases of infection. edgemedianetwork.com Key LGBT Military Organizations Merge The Military Partners and Families Coalition (MPFC) has merged with OutServe-SLDN. “As the co-founder of MPFC, I can say OutServe-SLDN has been vital to the fight for equality for the LGBT military community, and I can’t wait to build on our success following this union,” said OutServe-SLDN Board of Directors Ariana Bostian-Kentes. She said that by incorporating MPFC’s programs, OutServe-SLDN will ensure safe and reliable access to quality healthcare to LGBT servicemembers and their families, provide a support network for partners and families of deployed servicemembers, host virtual training sessions on important issues to LGBT military families, and provide direct training to inform existing military culture about LGBT families. She concluded, “In the face of so many challenges, our work is more important than ever. We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and leverage our collective power to make this country we love equitable for everyone.” outserve-sldn.org
Out & Equal Welcomes New CEO Out & Equal Workplace Advocates has announced that Erin Uritus is the new Chief Executive Officer of the 20+ year organization. She will start as the leader of one of the world’s largest LGBT professional organizations on January 15. Uritus, along with over 60% of Out & Equal’s partners including the federal government that the organization works closely with, will be based in Washington, D.C. “Erin joins Out & Equal with unparalleled domestic and international experience as an executive in the corporate, government and nonprofit sectors—a critically important combination to us at Out & Equal,” Board Chair and Comcast Senior Vice President Michael Cox stated. “Her visionary leadership will bring the organization and the entire movement to further workplace equality for the LGBT community to the next level. As the Chair of the Board of Directors and as a major sponsor of the organization, I have full confidence Erin will lead all of us to a future where our country’s largest companies and governments around the world embrace diversity, prioritize inclusion, and enact equality.” outandequal.org Report Shows Zero Out of 100 Megachurches Are LGBTQ Affirming Though many churches do not explicitly say they are anti-LGBTQ , a new report published by Church Clarity has found that out of the country’s one hundred largest churches—by definition, megachurches—exactly zero are “affirming” to LGBTQ people. The organization takes it as a sacred mission to spare LGBTQ people of faith the shock and emotional distress of joining such a church. Church Clarity cofounder Tim Schrader, himself a Christian, told NBC News that the new study focused on megachurches because of the “influence” megachurches have on people of faith in America. The organization’s website offers a “Search for a Church” function and a summary of the 538 places of worship it has researched so far. The numbers are not encouraging; according to the figures at the site, 145 of those churches are “Clear: Nonaffirming,” while another 229 are “Unclear: Non-affirming.” Only 31 are “Clear: Affirming.” nbcnews.com
Mayor Lee’s accomplishments as an Asian American trailblazer, and as a champion for many of San Francisco’s diverse and vulnerable communities. His public service and career opened the doors that many of us were locked out of before. Mayor Lee will be remembered for his tireless work to improve the lives of every San Franciscan during times of both great prosperity and extreme hardship, and I hope that we can strengthen his legacy by continuing his efforts to make San Francisco a better place to live. Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the Westside of San Francisco along with the communities of Broadmoor, Colma, Daly City, and parts of South San Francisco. SEELIG (continued from page 6) in “Psycho.” Which reminds me of Donald Trump!” I worry about you. I worry that you don’t worry enough. If you don’t got something to worry about, You’ve got something to worry about. Oy oy oy oy oy something always could go wrong. That’s the moral of this song. Something could go wrong. If you’re creative and you’re smart, suffering can be an art. It’s not too soon to start. Wow, that was fun! But I would never leave you with such a cynical view of life for the new year and our future, short or long term. Another amazing thing happened over the holidays. We luckily happened to catch Dan Buettner on the Commonwealth Club broadcast on KQED. Thank goodness for them! Dan is the author of The Blue Zones of Happiness: Lessons from the World’s Happiest People. He had done exhaustive research into the people of the world to find the secrets that make them that way.
In other Supreme Court news, I’m not sure what to make of the fact that the High Court declined to review a horrible decision by the Fifth Circuit, upholding Mississippi’s outrageously unconstitutional “religious freedom” law. We know virtually for a fact that the four left-of-center justices could not support a law that allows businesses and organizations to discriminate on the basis of moral opinions as long as said opinions are loosely tied to “faith,” an amorphous concept. Given that these four would likely want to reverse the Fifth Circuit, why didn’t they band together and accept the case, a decision that only requires four votes? One possibility is that they feared they could not find a fifth vote in favor of all that is right and good in the world. Another is that they agreed with a technical aspect of the Fifth Circuit’s ruling, to wit the idea that the case is premature since no one has yet to be injured by the law, and therefore no one has legal standing to challenge it.
QUEER POP QUIZ ANSWER (Question on pg 17) B) Del Shores Del Shores, a native of Winters, Texas, is the “grand master of Southern low-life sensibilities,” according to Variety. Known for red-hot poking fun of small-town Texans and their kin, Shores’ sharp writing is tinged with rosy hope for the consciousness awakening of big-hearted bigots.
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SA N FRANCISCO BAY T I ME S
JA NUA RY 1 1 , 2 0 1 8
“In order to be happy, you need: something to do; someone to love; something to look forward to; some way to give back.” I am one of the very, very lucky ones who can easily identify all four of the above. That’s enough for me in this new year! The rest are just details. Here’s my new year’s resolution: I am going to redecorate my life. But I’m going to do it more than once a year. Maybe I’ll even return the XXL to the fat pile. Maybe I won’t. That becomes less important with every year. What I will do is love my family, love my friends, love my job and this city, and even try to love myself each and every day. Happy redecorating. Dr. Tim Seelig is the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus.
ROSTOW (continued from page 10) hired clerks for 2018/2019 and another group for 2019/2020. You go, girl!
KIT’N KITTY’S
As we were listening, just before the show ended, the interviewer asked what the bottom line to being happy was. He reeled this off and I don’t think I will ever forget it.
That’s the most encouraging, and also the most likely theory. It’s worth keeping in mind as well that in states like Mississippi, there’s nothing keeping a business from discriminating against gays to begin with. That lack of protection is bad enough, but at least a city or a county could install a civil rights ordinance. With this new law, however, such an ordinance would be unenforceable. We’re still waiting to see if the Court will let stand the Seventh Circuit’s Title IX transgender rights ruling, the case of a transgender boy, Ash Whitaker, who won the right to use the boy’s facilities at his Wisconsin school. Remember that the Court previously took review of a similar trans school victory, the Gavin Grimm case out of the Fourth Circuit. The Court changed its mind after the Trump administration withdrew the Obama team’s legal policy that had been a major factor in the Fourth Circuit’s reasoning. The point
is that the Court wanted to examine the subject (it seems) so they might put Whitaker on their docket. Speaking of the Whitaker case, I should mention that over the holidays, a federal judge in Illinois ruled against a bunch of “concerned” parents, who were trying to overthrow the transfriendly policy of their school district. The 14-page decision pointed out that the Seventh Circuit just issued a Title IX opinion in favor of a transgender student, which is now binding law. I gather that the parents had argued that the Whitaker decision was really terrible and so outrageous that it shouldn’t really count as a precedent. Um, that’s not how it works, kids. Time’s Up, Steven I can’t stop without introducing you to a Baptist minister named Steven Anderson, who is fighting a petition urging the government of Jamaica to cancel his pending visit. According to his foes, Anderson celebrated the Orlando shootings and has called for women to stay at home and have children. Speaking to the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner, Anderson defended himself against the charges. Anderson told the paper that teaching women to stay at home is not an attack “because women are actually a lot happier when they are doing what God intended them to do, and getting married and having children.” As for the part about celebrating Orlando, Anderson said that was a lie. “I never praised or celebrated the Orlando shooting. That part is not true. All I said was that I didn’t feel bad for the people who died because they were disgusting pedophiles anyway that deserved to die, according to the Bible, but I didn’t celebrate it or praise it because, obviously, I don’t think it is right for people to take violent measures against these people. I don’t believe in violence.” Obviously! arostow@aol.com
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JANUARY 11, 2018
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